For the past four years, the utilization of the Safe Children Coalition’s Youth Shelter has exceeded its contracted bed days. Yet, the organization celebrated a major step toward a larger facility with a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 26. Staff and supporters gathered at Sawyer Road on the planned site of the nearly 9,000-square-foot building, which, as the only youth shelter in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, will provide temporary emergency housing for up to 200 youths annually.
CEO Brena Slater said the occasion took her back to the start of her career, which began at a shelter.
“I fell in love with the positive changes that I saw in the children there, and now, so many years later, that this is coming, I’m so honored by all of our donors, the people who helped us to do this youth shelter,” she said.
Siesta Key Beach proudly boasts a sign reading “#1 Beach in the USA.” However, the beach may have an even larger reputation to claim. TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice awards recently ranked it in fourth worldwide.
The beach came in behind Elafonissi Beach in Greece, Banana Beach in Thailand and Eagle Beach in Aruba, in the category of Best of the Best Beaches.
“Kick back on the white sand, go swimming in the clear water or simply admire the sunset — it’s up to you,” reads the listing.
before the storm
Ian
Ian Swaby
Vice President of Communications and Community Engagement Jacqueline House and President and CEO Brena Slater speak at the groundbreaking.
Ian Swaby
WEEK OF FEB. 27, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
300 Approximate units proposed for a multifamily development on North Tamiami Trail between 17th and 18th streets. PAGE 4A
$11.5 MILLION
Legislative appropriations submitted on behalf of the city for storm resilience projects. PAGE 5A
22 YEARS The amount of time Erin Minor spent as executive director of Harvest House. PAGE 6B
CALENDAR
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, March 6, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Downtown Master Plan Committee — 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Sarasota County School Board work session — 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 4, Board Chambers, Landings Administration Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd. (black awning entrance).
“Following last year’s devastating hurricane season, the city’s 2025 appropriation requests focus on coastal and infrastructure resiliency.”
Interim City Manager Doug Jeffcoat. Read more on page 5A
Circus Trail workshop set for March 5
An update on the progress of the Circle Trail Extension and opportunity for public input will be provided at a community meeting 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, at The Harvest Sarasota, 3650 17th St.
The meeting will include a brief overview presentation of the project followed by an open house to interact with the project team and ask questions.
The project will create a trail connection for bicyclists, walkers and other activity users along the east side of Circus Boulevard
from approximately one-fourth of a mile south of Bobby Jones Golf Club and continue three-fourths of a mile to the northeast corner of the golf course to Sarasota County s 17th Street Park.
This trail extension will create key connections within both the shared-use nonmotorized trail and Gulf Coast Trail networks.
“This project is an opportunity to strengthen our residents’ connectivity to and usage of one of our most cherished nature paths,” said Sarasota Chief Transportation Planner Alvimarie Co-
rales in a news release. “By gaining insight from our community, the extension and subsequent improvements will come from a holistic approach and ultimately satisfy the goals put forth by our Transportation Master Plan.”
Input from the public meeting will be considered for the 30% design portion for the proposed trail. The current project planning phase is scheduled for completion in summer 2025.
Meeting materials are available on the project website at SarasotaFL.gov/CircusTrailExtension.
FDOT restricts bridge lighting schemes
The Ringling Bridge will no longer be illuminated in colors by special request that promote or celebrate individual causes. The Florida Department of Transportation has informed the city of Sarasota that the lighting of FDOT-owned facilities, such as the Ringling Bridge, is now reserved for government-observed holidays only.
Under the revised policy, effective Feb. 1, 2025, “lighting combinations will be limited to the recognition, commemoration or promotion of government holidays.” The lights will default to red, white and blue, and any alternative lighting combinations will be determined by FDOT.
Local organizations that had requested and received approval from the city and FDOT for a special lighting scheme on the Ringling Bridge in 2025 to bring awareness to their cause are being notified by the city about the policy change.
One Stop Cares names new leader
One Stop Cares, a nonprofit affiliated with affordable housing developer One Stop Housing, has named Audrey Abraham as its new executive director. With more than 20 years of experience at One Stop Housing, Abraham brings a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by working families. Abraham’s first role at One Stop Housing was as property manager, then advanced to regional manager, where she gained insight into the financial and personal hardships many residents experience. In her new role, she will oversee One Stop Cares’ mission-driven initiatives, ensuring that essential services reach residents of One Stop Housing’s workforce housing communities.
One Stop Cares is dedicated to using housing as a platform to create positive social impact, bringing vital resources directly into affordable housing communities. With 100% of donations directly funding One Stop Cares initiatives, the organization ensures that every contribution makes a tangible difference in the lives of those it serves.
Andrew Warfield
An extension of Circus Trail is planned to continue through Bobby Jones Golf Club and into 17th Street Park.
CITY OF
New and underway arts and cultural projects in Sarasota require nearly $1 billion in philanthropy to bring to fruition. Organization leaders say there is enough to go around.
GIVING
ANDREW WARFIELD | STAFF WRITER
There are philanthropic campaign efforts for capital projects by nonprofit performing arts and cultural organizations in and around the city of Sarasota that add up to $900.5 million in needed giving to bring them to fruition.
Breaking it down, there are plenty of projects to go around:
■ The Bay park, $100 million
■ Sarasota Orchestra Music Center, up to $425 million
■ Sarasota Performing Arts Center, $203.5 million
■ Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Master Plan, $112.5 million
■ Florida Studio Theatre McGillicuddy Arts Plaza, $57 million
■ Sarasota Players’ renovation of Payne Park Auditorium, an estimated $2.5 million.
Some of the money has already been raised, most notably $110 million by Selby Gardens, $60 million by Sarasota Orchestra, $45.6 million by Florida Studio Theatre and $65 million by the Bay Park Conservancy, but with those dollars already given and the need for some $619.9 million more, it begs the casual observer to question whether there is enough largesse in a nonmetropolitan market to fund all them all.
The answer is yes, according to leaders of the organizations who describe Sarasota and the surrounding area as an epicenter of generosity with a unique distinction.
According to Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell, an onlooker to the flurry of fundraising activity, Sarasota possesses a giving base unlike any other area in Florida.
“This is a community of a lot of retirees, and in conversations that I’ve had with others throughout the state, Sarasota is special in that our retirees, when they come down here, many of them either move their philanthropy or make significant philanthropic investments here that they don’t necessarily do in other places in Florida,” Russell said. “I think of Palm Beach as an example. They view themselves as snowbirds. They make some philanthropic investment in Palm Beach, but they maintain their philanthropy in the places they come from.
“Here, we have people who really come to this community, see the uniqueness of the community and decide to make their philanthropic investment here. You don’t see that as much other places as we see it here.”
Although there is some degree of organizational crossover among local arts and cultural benefactors, Russell said each has its own support base that comprises the majority of their individual giving. Professionals, who manage all of them, do the groundwork to ensure the capacity is there before embarking on aggressive growth plans.
A $60 million anonymous gift to the Sarasota Orchestra, he said, is such an example.
“I think a lot of people in this community are saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that was out there,’” Russell said. “They did their homework. They knew that they could get that kind of gift. I think too many people would underestimate what’s out there, what the capacity is that we have.”
That capacity will be tested by the following:
SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MUSIC CENTER
Because the new center is still in the design phase, the Sarasota Orchestra has yet to set its capital campaign goal, but early estimates are the facility on 32 acres it owns on Fruitville Road just west of I-75 will cost $375 million to $425 million.
Said President and CEO Joseph McKenna, “Sarasota has a storied legacy of supporting the arts and fostering community through enriching cultural experiences. These experiences are among the many reasons more people are choosing to call our region home. As we and our peers expand to keep up with the community’s rapid growth, we are confident philanthropic support will grow with us and the region’s passion for the arts.”
SARASOTA ORCHESTRA
Project: Music Center
Location: Fruitville Road just west of I-75
Estimated cost: $375 million-$425
million
Capital raised: Campaign not yet underway, but seeded by a $60 million gift from a single donor Next step: Architectural design process that will help set the fundraising goal for the project and endowment to be approved by the board of directors in early 2026.
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE
Having raised $46.5 million of $57 million needed to build the McGillicuddy Arts Center adjacent to its current facilities, CEO Richard Hopkins takes a somewhat contrarian view. Raising the capital for the project, he said, wasn’t easy.
“I know that it has been hard for us,” Hopkins said. “Each organization has its own circle of funding. I think the biggest competition will be between SPAC and the orchestra. They are both mammoth projects. The orchestra is clearly in the lead. They have their property, seed money and no pushback. They are independent and not asking for taxpayers to foot the bill.”
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE
Project: McGillicuddy Arts Plaza
Location: 1200 block of First Street
Cost: $57 million for Phase 1 and 2
Capital raised: $45.6 million Next step: City approval of building to include 24 residential units and 33 hotel rooms above a parking structure and three new performance spaces.
SARASOTA PLAYERS
Also just getting started, and on the other end of the cost spectrum, the Sarasota Players initially estimated it will need $2.5 million — which is subject to change — to renovate and freshen up Payne Park Auditorium for its productions and to serve as a home to various smaller performance organizations in the area.
“I have no doubt that our project and all the others will be successful due to the combination of the philanthropic generosity in this community, our status as the arts capital of Florida and the overall economic impact of arts and culture in this community,” said CEO William Skaggs. The Sarasota Players have yet to launch their capital campaign.
SARASOTA PLAYERS
Project: Payne Park Auditorium renovation
Location: 2100 E. Laurel St.
Estimated cost: $2.5 million Capital raised: Campaign has yet to begin Next step: Design interior spaces.
THE BAY PARK
Meticulously navigating the public-private venture landscape while bringing in all projects on time and at or under budget, the Bay Park Conservancy is in its second phase of redeveloping 53 underutilized city-owned acres into a green gathering space that doubles as a stormwater purification system.
Estimated at a total of $200-plus million — its share 50% of that total — the BPC has raised $50 million in private contributions and $15 million in government grants to add to $9 million in city capital, $48 million in tax increment finance district-backed city bonds for Phase 2, evenly divided between the city and county. The combined endowment and cash reserves goal will be $30 million to $40 million by the time the park is completed. The Bay is generally regarded as a model for public-private ventures, led since its inception by Founding CEO AG Lafley in a volunteer capacity.
BAY PARK CONSERVANCY
Project: The Bay
Location: North Tamiami Trail from Boulevard of the Arts to north of 10th
Street Cost: Approximately $200 million-plus Capital raised: $65 million Next step: Construction of Phase 2 and planning for Phase 3 and beyond underway. A $60 million anonymous gift to the Sarasota Orchestra.
SARASOTA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The second of the two most significant, to some extent somewhat similar, performing arts facility efforts, the SPAC is a public-private effort of the city of Sarasota — perhaps Sarasota County — and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. In the conceptual design stage, that project is now estimated at $407 million. Located within The Bay park, the project is eligible for a 50-50 cost split, meaning the foundation is on the hook for raising $203.5 million in a capital campaign that has yet to begin.
Presuming approval of an implementation agreement in March, the city, and if it participates, the county, would provide the public share via tax increment financing revenues on taxes on improved property values.
“Sarasota has a long history of philanthropic generosity — particularly toward arts and culture — and continues to attract high-net-worth individuals who recognize the value of investing in cultural institutions,” said Foundation CEO Tonia Castroverde Moskalenko.
SARASOTA PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION
Project: Sarasota Performing Arts Center
Location: The Bay park, 655 N. Tamiami Trail
Estimated cost: $407 million, 50% private philanthropy Capital raised: Campaign has yet to begin Next step: Secure implementation agreement with the city of Sarasota to continue the design phase.
MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS
Selby Gardens completed the first phase of its three-phase master plan and raised more than $110 million, 99% from private philanthropy. The budget for Phase 1 and the underway Phase 2 is $98.1 million but has not been established for Phase 3. It is raising additional funds for endowment and operations.
MARIE SELBY MEMORIAL GARDENS
Project: Downtown Campus Master Plan Phase 1 and 2
Location: 1534 Mound St.
Cost: $112.5 million Capital raised: $110 million
Next step: Break ground on Phase 2 by the end of 2025 with completion by the end of 2027. Phase 3 time frame and budget are yet to be determined.
New development planned for North Trail
This motel property at North Tamiami Trail and 18th Street will be razed to make way for a 300-unit multifamily complex.
ANDREW
Although no plans have been revealed, a developer has had a pre-application conference with the Sarasota Development Review Committee regarding an upcoming rezoning request for parcels covering the east side of North Tamiami Trail between 17th and 18th streets.
At 2.88 acres, the property addresses are 1716, 1750 and 1770 N. Tamiami Trail. Developer MCRT Investments is seeking to rezone the property from North Trail to Urban Mixed Use and intends to build approximately 300 multifamily units utilizing the commercial centers and corridors attainable housing density bonus. Of the 300 units, approximately 30 would be identified as attainable. Those numbers may vary depending on the final design of the project.
The site is partly vacant; the remainder is occupied by the Sunshine Inn and Suites. The local government designated the restaurant building as historic. What the developer intends to do is submit an application for a certificate of appropriateness for demolition to the Historic Preservation Board. The city approved a demolition permit for the structure in 2021.
The project is anticipated to include a clubhouse amenity area and internal courtyards. The design will ensure compatibility with surrounding uses and will further develop the North Trail area as the northern gateway into the city.
SARAVELA, ROUND TWO
The DRC also held the first resubmittal hearing for Saravela, a 271-unit
multifamily development planned on a 1.7-acre site on the east side of North Tamiami Trail between Fourth and Fifth streets. It will include 30 attainable-designated units, taking advantage of the downtown zone districts’ affordable and attainable housing density bonus.
The project made its first appearance before the DRC since its original submission in December 2024.
The eastern portion of the site stands in the Downtown Bayfront zone district and western part in the Downtown Core. As a result, the height of the structure will vary with 18 stories along Tamiami Trail and 11 stories bordering the neighborhood to the west, including one bonus floor as permitted by the affordable housing ordinance.
The property is across North Tamiami Trail from the luxury Cordelia by Lennar apartments in The Quay and across Fifth Street from the BLVD condominium tower. Vacant commercial buildings currently occupy the site.
Saravela will be required to make a second resubmittal to the DRC.
Andrew Warfield
This motel property at North Tamiami Trail and 18th Street will be razed to make way for a 300-unit multifamily complex.
Sarasota seeks $11.5 million in storm resiliency appropriations
Local legislative representatives sponsor bills for funds to protect parks, St. Armands and Van Wezel from future storm events.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
State appropriations on behalf of the city of Sarasota totaling $11.5 million have been submitted as bills to the Florida House and the U.S. House of Representatives. All of the bills address weather-related vulnerabilities brought to the forefront during last year’s trifecta of severe tropical weather systems. The bills are the result of city staff preparing reports regarding local needs prior to this year’s legislative sessions.
“Following last year’s devastating hurricane season, the city’s 2025 appropriation requests focus on coastal and infrastructure resiliency,” said Interim City Manager Doug Jeffcoat. “The much-needed funding would address vulnerabilities to withstand future hurricanes, storm surges, and sea level rise at our coastal parks, St. Armands Key and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, which lost two months of shows and revenue due to Hurricane Milton flooding.”
The appropriations requests are as follows:
ST. ARMANDS RESILIENCY
PROJECT — HOUSE 1858
Sponsor: Florida House Rep. Fiona McFarland
Amount requested: $3.5 million
Project description: To address critical stormwater and coastal infrastructure vulnerabilities at St. Armands Circle and key public areas of St. Armands. The project will employ advanced mitigation strategies, including: ■ Hydrological and environmental
impact studies to identify weak points in stormwater systems and predict future flooding scenarios
■ Infrastructure resilience upgrades to improve drainage systems, seawalls and roadways to withstand Category 5 hurricane impacts
■ Evacuation route protection to ensure evacuation corridors remain operational during emergencies, benefiting residents and tourist.
Key Components of the project include:
■ Advanced modeling tools to predict storm surge and rainfall impacts
■ Community workshops to incorporate local feedback and ensure public engagement
■ Coordination with the town of Longboat Key and the Florida Department of Transportation to align evacuation and resilience strategies
OCEAN TECHNOLOGY AND CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL ECOLOGY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION — HOUSE 1860
Sponsor: Florida House Rep. Fiona McFarland
Amount requested: $1 million
Project description: Deploy an advanced network of ocean monitoring systems in Sarasota Bay to collect critical environmental data. Specific components and functions include:
■ Sea level monitoring stations:
Provide precise tracking of changes in sea level to support regional adaptation plans
■ Wave height and current sensors: Help in understanding physical dynamics critical to marine navigation and recreation
■ Water quality and nutrient sensors: Track pollution sources, nutrient loading and harmful algae bloom precursors
■ Storm surge and drainage sensors: Measure surge impacts during extreme weather events for better emergency response
Key Partnerships for this project include Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which will provide scientific expertise to ensure data accuracy and usefulness, and Flor-
ida Department of Environmental Protection, which will aid in aligning this project with state environmental goals. The system will integrate with the Beach Condition Reporting System, enabling residents and tourists to access real-time conditions benefiting recreation, tourism and public safety.
CITYWIDE COASTAL RESILIENCY
HAZARD MITIGATION – HOUSE
1861 Sponsor: Florida House Rep. Fiona McFarland
Amount requested: $3.5 million
Project description: To address vulnerabilities of parks, seawalls and stormwater systems by strengthening infrastructure to withstand future hurricanes, storm surges and sea-level rise. The project includes shoreline stabilization, seawall improvements and drainage enhancements across multiple city-owned properties, including:
■ Ken Thompson Park (shoreline stabilization, sidewalk repairs and lighting upgrades)
■ Bird Key Park (seawall and roadway restoration)
■ Whitaker Park (pier and seawall improvements)
■ Centennial Park (pier and parking lot improvements)
■ Saprito Pier and Lido Key (stormwater drainage upgrades)
VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS
HALL HAZARD MITIGATION –HOUSE 3469
Sponsor: Florida Rep. James Buchanan
Amount requested: $3.5 million
Project Description: The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall faces significant flooding risks due to its shoreline proximity. In 2024, Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton caused flooding and structural damage, highlighting the urgent need for hazard mitigation. Built in 1969,
the structure lacks modern flood defenses, making it vulnerable to storm surges and rising sea levels.
The project includes:
■ Installation of flood barriers around the building
■ Implementation of wave-absorbing breakwaters
■ Upgraded drainage and pumping systems to prevent infiltration
■ Backflow prevention devices and waterproofing for critical systems
■ Accessibility and ADA compliance enhancements
“These funding requests are critical as our community recovers from the 2024 hurricane season and proactively plans for a resilient future,” said Jeffcoat. “We greatly appreciate Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. James Buchanan and Rep. Fiona McFarland for sponsoring appropriations requests on behalf of the city of Sarasota.”
File photo
St. Armands experienced catastrophic flooding from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton in 2024.
Hyatt redevelopment rebranded
Under the name 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, the Quay-adjacent project will include 117 luxury condos.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Although it has not received a full blessing of the city, developer Kolter Urban has announced the launch of sales for 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, currently the site of the Hyatt Regency hotel. Although imminent, the project has yet to receive full sign-off from the city’s Development Review Committee. It also faces a March 17 appeal before the Sarasota City Commission brought by the developer of the nearby One Park and
One Park West, which is challenging a critical code adjustment approved by the Planning Board, among other claimed irregularities.
The Planning Board granted the requested adjustment on Dec. 11.
The project will replace the Hyatt Regency and adjacent parking structure with two towers, one comprising 117 luxury condominiums and the other a Hyatt Centric-branded hotel. It was originally planned for 224 condominiums and 166 hotel rooms under Hyatt’s Thompson Hotels flag. Whether the number of rooms has changed was not revealed in a news release announcing the project.
In the news release, Kolter Urban President Bob Vail describes 1000 Boulevard of the Arts as, “A standout development that embodies our commitment to delivering exceptional luxury living in Sarasota. This
new project offers a unique opportunity to live in one of the most dynamic and sought-after areas of the city combining elegant residences with world-class amenities.”
The property abuts The Quay, where Kolter Urban is currently building its second Ritz-Carlton Residences condo tower on Blocks 7 and 8, adjacent to the south side of the Hyatt site. It’s also adjacent to Block 9, where Property Markets Group of Miami and MoneyShow of Sarasota plan to build One Park West, a sister condo tower to One Park, which is currently under construction on Block 1 at the corner of U.S. 41 and Boulevard of the Arts.
The primary objections of PMG are a portion of Kolter’s eastern tower overhangs an alley separating the two properties, which amounts to taking of a public easement, and that an inadequately sized turning
ABOUT 1000 BOTA
Ranging from 1,200 to more than 3,000 square feet, the residences will be one-, two- and three-bedroom units, each featuring ceiling heights up to 12 feet, private terraces with glass balcony railings. Designer kitchens will include European cabinetry, quartz countertops,and premium Thermador stainless-steel appliances, according to the news release. Owners’ suites include walk-in closets and spa-like bathrooms with glass wall partitions, soaking tubs per plan and Grohe fixtures.
Residences are arranged into a distinct series based on view corridors. On the north side of the building, The Bay Residences offer views of The Bay park and Sarasota Bay. The Harbor Residences on the west side provide views of Quay Harbor, Sarasota Bay and beyond. Prices will start at $1.4 million.
The adjoining Hyatt Centric Harborside Hotel will include a grand ballroom, meeting rooms, pool bar and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, all located on the amenity level adjacent to the residential amenity floor. At the street level, 8,830 square feet of street-level commercial space is planned to include an independent restaurant at the corner of Quay Commons and Boulevard of the Arts.
template for garbage trucks in the shared alley will force them onto Block 9 property.
For good measure, PMB also alleges the plan is in violation of the city’s Engineering Design Criteria Manual in multiple points, including:
■ At 33 feet in width, the primary driveway exceeds a 24-foot limit for commercial driveways.
■ Proposed curb cuts violate provisions of the Comprehensive Plan and the EDCM pertaining t and promoting the existence and maintenance of pedestrian sleeves and bicycle lanes.
■ The approved adjustment interferes with both Quay 1 and 9’s and the public’s pedestrian access to the multi-use recreational trail and to the bay, including vistas of the water.
■ Kolter’s traffic study conclusions were inaccurate.
FREE LECTURE SERIES
March 2025
Don’t Let High Blood Sugar Keep You Down
Even with diabetes, life can be sweet .
Diabetes management isn’t what it used to be — and that’s a good thing. We’ve come a long way and we’re pushing further every day. In this free lecture series, learn about the latest breakthroughs in diabetes management, and hear directly from the experts about all the ways people are living and thriving — when they’re in control, not the diabetes. A brief Q&A follows each presentation.
Thursday, March 13, 4:30-5:30pm
} Linh Gordon, RN, CDCES - Diabetes Empowerment
Wednesday, March 26, 4:30-5:30pm
} Joyce Verdejo, RDN - Outpatient Dietitian Thriving Beyond Diabetes: Steps to a Healthier You
Thursday, March 27, 4:30-5:30pm
} Manivel K. Eswaran, MD - Advances in Diabetes Management
Linh Gordon, RN, CDCES
Manivel K. Eswaran, MD
Joyce Verdejo, RDN
Courtesy image
A rendering by SB Architects of 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, which will include 117 condominiums in the west tower (right) and a Hyatt Centric Harborside hotel in the east.
The attractions of Amara, diverse and extraordinary, know no equal. This begins with its Golden Gate address — for the Point is one of those rarest of natural wonders — an enclave that looks across the bay and back to the city — once-in-a-lifetime views that are yours every day. Add your name to our early interest list. SOMETIMES, LOOKING BACK IS THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AHEAD.
How $115 billion is spent
We are fortunate our lawmakers are not like New York’s. Even so, we should know how lawmakers spend our money.
OK, there are too many numbers on this page. You can definitely get a case of “MEGO” — My Eyes Glaze Over — just looking at them. But every now and then, it’s good for all of us to keep tabs on what our governor and legislators are doing with all that money we send them.
All that money: $115 BILLION a year.
That is a huge amount of money.
Comparatively, the Texas state government budgets $321 billion a year; the New York budget is $230 billion; and the Georgia state government budgets $66 billion a year. Or put another way:
Florida spends $5,024 for each of its 23,014,551 residents. Texas spends $10,294 for each of its 31,183,290 residents. New York spends $11,578 for each of its 19,867,248 residents. And Georgia spends $5,906 for each of its 11,180,878 residents.
It looks like Floridians have a good deal — that is, if you’re one to favor low taxes, limited government and more liberty.
That approach certainly produces convincing benefits. If you read Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed 202526 budget highlights, he points out how his and the Legislature’s management of state government has resulted in remarkable economic results. To wit:
■ Florida leads the nation in the number of new business creations, with more than 3.4 million businesses created since 2019.
■ Florida’s unemployment rate in December 2024 was 3.4% versus the national unemployment rate of 4.1% Florida’s unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 50 consecutive months, and as of November 2024, was the lowest among the top 10 largest states in the nation.
■ Private sector job growth increased 122,800 from December 2023 to December 2024, a growth rate of 1.4% and higher than the national rate of 1.3%
■ As of December 2024, Florida employers have added jobs for 52 of the past 56 months. November 2024 marked the first time Florida’s total nonagricultural employment exceeded 10 million jobs.
All of that comes about because of Florida’s overall quality-oflife climate — favorable weather (notwithstanding a few hurricanes); favorable lifestyle amenities (beaches, et al); favorable business climate; and no state income tax. Those factors combined bring about another essential ingredient to economic growth and prosperity: population growth.
We know, of course, many Floridians want the population growth to stop. And to be sure, if the Legislature became dumb enough to reverse course and adopt the New York state approach of horribly high taxes and regulations, the Florida economic miracle would disappear.
Many of us can remember how bad things were from 2008 through 2010 during the big recession. Population and economic growth stopped. Unemployment soared. It was awful.
And here is one other factor to take into account: Florida’s No. 1 export — tourism.
Longtime Florida economist Hank Fishkind told us years ago that Floridians live on an automatic 20% discount. Tourist-generated sales tax revenues cover roughly 20% of the cost of state and local government in Florida. Be nice to our visitors.
But all that goodness aside, let’s get back to the governor’s proposed budget.
One of the governor’s jobs is to submit to the Legislature how he would like to spend the state’s tax money.
Think about that. If someone handed you $115 billion and told you to divvy it up around the state, how would you possibly prioritize who gets what?
Indeed, it’s illuminating and instructive for every interested Florida taxpayer to see how DeSantis wants to “invest” your money. (“Invest,” of course, is a politician’s way of avoiding the word “spend.”) To his credit, if you’re at all interested in your state government’s handling of your money, it would be worth your time to read the governor’s 28 pages of budget “highlights,” in which he itemizes where he wants much of
TO READ DESANTIS’ ITEMIZED PRIORITIES, GO TO:
■ YourObserver.com/Opinion or ■ FocusOnFloridasFuture.com/ PDFLoader.HTM?File=OverView. pdf
that $115 billion to go.
For about 30% of the budget, or nearly $34 billion, neither DeSantis nor the Legislature has control.
That’s money that must go toward funding Florida’s share of federal Medicaid.
That leaves about $81 million.
And then, as you can see in the top table, 41%, or $48 billion, goes toward public education.
Now you’re down to $33 billion to cover the rest of the state’s needs and wants.
SUBSIDIES FOR A FEW?
The following are some of the special allocations and tax cuts in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget.
■ Creation of a corporate income tax credit — totaling $100 million
— incentivizing investments in new ventures in research, innovation, science and engineering
■ “A permanent extension of the sales tax exemption for Data Center Property to incentivize artificial intelligence infrastructure growth — valued at $3 million — to create jobs and place Florida at the forefront of research and technology”
■ $82 million — Sales tax holiday in July on outdoor recreation purchases (camping, fishing, kayaks and canoes) with a sales price of $500 or less; tents with a sales price of $200 or less; plus tickets for events, museums, the arts and more
BY
THE NUMBERS
WHERE YOUR FLORIDA TAX MONEY GOES
Of the $115.6 billion in annual revenues poring into the state treasury, here is how Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes that it be spent. Mind you, roughly 70%, or $33.7 billion, of the Health and Human Services budget and roughly 30% of the entire budget is mandated to be spent on Medicaid. (Dollars in millions) Proposed % of
DESANTIS’
in millions)
■ $87 million — 14-day backto-school sales tax holiday, exempting clothing and accessories priced up to $100, school supplies up to $50, learning aides and jigsaw puzzles up to $30 and computers and accessories up to $1,500
■ $72 million — Two 14-day disaster preparedness sales tax holidays, including generators priced at $3,000 or less
■ $18 million — Seven-day tool time sales tax holiday on specified tools and equipment used by skilled workers
■ $8 million — “Second Amendment Summer” sales tax holiday between Memorial Day and July 4th on ammunition firearms and related accessories.
■ $27 million — Two-month marine fuel tax holiday provides a 29.5 cents per gallon reduction of the motor fuel taxes levied on commonly used boat fuels
Source: Office of the governor, Florida House
It becomes a process of picking winners and losers.
Here is one minor highlight from his proposed budget: “(I)nvestments in Florida’s deer and wild turkey populations and to design and construct new shooting sports and archery facilities in Liberty and Polk counties.” Really?
Or, how about this one: $50 million for the Sun Trail Network. This is the statewide version of Sarasota’s Legacy Trail. The Legislature approved plans in 2015 to develop free-access trails for bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the entire state.
Here’s the point: You’re encouraged to read the highlights of the governor’s proposed budget. That may trigger you to raise obvious questions: Why are taxpayers funding certain projects
and programs? Indeed, many of them are subsidies for a few at the expense of the many.
That is especially true when you look at all of the governor’s proposed tax holidays. While the positive side of these holidays is that they cut taxes, they cut taxes only for special groups.
We’ve argued repeatedly that rather than play that game, cut the state sales tax for everyone.
Altogether, Floridians are fortunate. While we all can question and criticize how the state’s lawmakers spend our tax dollars, DeSantis and the Legislature live up to DeSantis’ title for his budget — “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” — far better than most states. But they still can do better.
HOW DESANTIS FUNDS UNIVERSITIES
Gov. DeSantis’ budget recommends allocating $3,819,834,981 of tax revenues as follows to the state universities:
University of Florida
Florida State University
University of Central Florida
$660,499,229
$559,764,018
$336,023,014 University
Florida
Florida
University
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MATT WALSH
Ringling transfer to New College
Dear Ringling Patrons, FSU Alums, Locals and Visitors, As former board chairs, trustees and donors of The Ringling Museum, we are writing you, our fellow citizens, about the governor’s proposal to allow New College to take over The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art. It is clearly a waste of taxpayer resources to disrupt a proven Florida State University-Ringling partnership that has delivered significant benefits to our students, state and local community.
The Ringling has enjoyed a marvelous 25-year partnership under FSU’s excellent and supportive stewardship. FSU has provided infrastructure, resources, expertise, programs and master’s and Ph.D. level student programing to The Ringling. FSU has benefitted from its association with the museum’s nationally recognized collections, educational programming and Gulf Coast footprint. Each has enhanced the reputation of the other. A takeover by an institution that lacks FSU’s resources, infrastructure, experience, expertise, academic programing and strategic plan would significantly harm The Ringling and FSU.
The Ringling Museum estate contains 66 acres of land. The property includes Ca’ d’Zan (the Ringling mansion), the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, the Historic Asolo Theater, Bayfront Gardens, and other buildings and grounds. The museum has been recognized as one of the top six art museums in the United States for visitor experience and one of the most visited museums in the U.S. The strong arts community and history of Sarasota/Manatee drive tourism and the historic Ringling is the crown jewel of a rapidly growing Gulf Coast.
While the physical proximity of New College to The Ringling may seem convenient, the proposal would negatively impact taxpayers, The Ringling and FSU in the following ways:
1. Burden to taxpayers n The cost of transferring the stewardship to an institution much smaller than either FSU or The Ringling and without the resources, infrastructure, expertise and plan, will be costly to our community and the state. This change could bring protracted lawsuits by donors or others.
2. Risk to collection and asset security
n Potential sale of post-1936 art collection and buildings.
n Disruptions to programs, performances and professional curatorial level exhibitions.
n Absence of plan for maintaining standards, certifications and its national museum accreditation.
n Disruption to donor relationships. Key donors are signaling an end to contributions and others plan to remove The Ringling from their wills.
n Risk to future acquisitions and donations.
3. Loss of academic and professional integration
n The Ringling enhances FSU’s stature as a world class university with its integrated programing.
n FSU students pursuing advanced degrees in arts administration, museum studies and museum education gain invaluable hands-on experience through The Ringling.
n The unique partnership between the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Conservancy, and FSU Theatre Department creates distinctive educational opportunities unavailable at New College.
4. Jeopardy to facility preservation and management
n New College cannot match FSU’s facilities management capabilities required for the museum — an institution both
larger and more complex than New College itself.
n FSU preservation experts and architects provide an ongoing invaluable resource to the historic and partially restored Ca’ d’Zan, and the museum. New College has no such experts.
n Annual review of the Hazardous and Comprehensive Facilities Assessment Reports by professionals at FSU and The Ringling staff is required to deal with the complexity of the museum’s buildings and grounds. New College does not have the staff, expertise nor infrastructure to assume this role.
5. Imperiled emergency response n FSU’s rapid emergency and recovery team prevented damage to the buildings and collections in the aftermath of the 2024 hurricanes. As an example, FSU provided an emergency chiller in just
24 hours, preventing catastrophic mold damage to the collection and facilities.
n New College lacks the expertise, staff or a facilities network to handle such a crisis.
These are just a few of the concerns we want to share about this proposal. The Ringling and FSU have spent 25 years building a thriving, productive, mutually beneficial relationship, cultivating donors, collections and awareness of our two incredible organizations globally. We are asking the citizens of and visitors to Sarasota to help by becoming involved and calling representatives in the Florida Legislature requesting their support of this thriving FSURingling synergistic collaboration. Thank you for your time and consideration.
NANCY PARRISH ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS TO PROTECT THE RINGLING
The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art from Florida State University to New College of Florida. Courtesy image
City should treat public’s treasures with care
The City Commission is scheduled to make a decision on the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation’s proposed $400 million Van Wezel replacement on March 3. They should vote to end this unsupportable and extremely expensive vision and invest in protecting our city’s signature structure.
It is, in the words of Sarasota School architect Carl Abbott, “Sarasota’s icon.”
The distinctive color selected by Frank Lloyd Wright’s widow raised eyebrows from the beginning. But in the words of longtime City Manager Ken Thompson “if a building doesn’t provoke discussion, then it probably isn’t a successful piece of architecture.”
Championed by former Mayor David Cohen, co-founder of the West Coast Symphony (now the Sarasota Orchestra), the Van Wezel put Sarasota on the map as the arts and culture center of Florida’s west coast.
The landmark purple hall was designed by William Wesley Peters of Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy firm, Taliesin Associated Architects. Peters also served as site architect for New York’s Solomon Guggenheim Museum. Sarasota’s award-winning seashell-shaped structure was described as acoustically perfect when it opened in 1970 with a performance of “Fiddler on the Roof.”
But by the late 1990s, when I served on the City Commission, the costs of keeping the lights on at the purple hall required a fresh look at the programming to include Broadway productions. After studying the geography, demographics and market trends, the city made the strategic choice to enlarge the stagehouse to fit bigger shows. Since the 2000 remodel, the Van Wezel has been recognized as the best touring theater in the world seven times. But the flytower — made taller to accommodate bigger sets — adversely impacted the unamplified acoustics.
This prompted the Sarasota Orchestra to begin exploring building a dedicated symphony hall, which it decided to build on land it purchased on Fruitville near 75. That is its prerogative.
But I can’t help wondering if the public and the orchestra wouldn’t be better served by merging efforts with the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation philanthropists pushing for a new hall in the city?
If not, then the LAST thing the city of Sarasota should be doing is competing with the orchestra for funding now and bookings once the new structure is built.
The replacement cost of Sarasota’s placemaking purple theater is almost $100 million (estimated by Staebler Appraisal and Consulting). That makes it the city’s most valuable asset.
As stewards of the public’s goods, city officials must take basic measures to prevent damage from future storms.
Karins Engineering estimated that a removable water barrier (like the aquafence that protected Tampa General from storm surge) could be installed for under $1 million.
If we’d had one in place for Hurricane Milton, the Van Wezel could have avoided almost $10 million in flood damage.
Protecting our city’s crown jewel is the right thing to do, and the Wright thing for Sarasota!
MOLLIE CARDAMONE FORMER CITY COMMISSIONER
Once again, city ignores residents
Shame on Sarasota’s Planning Board for approving the mammoth Obsidian tower to be built at 1260 N. Palm Ave.
This absurdly tall structure — by far the tallest in all of Sarasota County — will house a mere 14 ultra-wealthy, likely part-time unit owners while permanently blighting our skyline.
Despite massive opposition from residents, including petitions signed by more than 4,000
citizens, clockwork appearances before the city and even citizenfunded advertising campaigns, the board green-lighted the plan by a vote of 4-1.
The lone dissenting vote?
Chairman Dan DeLeo, citing a “tremendous amount of evidence in this record to turn this building down.” And even though one board member stated he “hates this building” and another said it would “shock my wife when I tell her tonight,” they approved the project anyway.
In the coming decades, people will stare at this awful tower and say, “How on earth did THAT get approved?” Our city officials are ignoring the best interests of their constituents.
Perhaps they can learn a lesson from the Sarasota County Commission, which just resoundingly rejected a proposed housing development near the Celery Fields after similar vocal resident opposition. But perhaps they aren’t interested in listening to us at all.
THOMAS WAITE SARASOTA
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity
I am saddened by Matt Walsh’s Opinion in the Jan. 23 Observer. Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States. Walsh is ecstatic. I am not.
I am fearful that our democracy and rule of law are under attack, even since last week with the fusillade of executive orders — essentially unconstitutional decrees that have shut down our government, stopping programs that impact the lives of millions of our fellow citizens and humanitarian services we provide abroad that enhance our security at home.
Not to mention his pardon of the Jan. 6 criminals who are now back among us plotting further violence.
Walsh characterized the BidenHarris administration and the
Obama and Clinton presidencies as “catastrophes” deserving to be shamed “for what they inflicted on American families.” Unbelievable and untrue. His screed about Anthony Fauci is equally outrageous. I am thankful that President Biden pardoned him.
The 20 years of the Biden, Obama and Clinton presidencies were times of great prosperity for American families. Clinton left us a robust economy and a balanced budget; Obama led us out of the Great Recession of 2008; and Biden, with Dr. Fauci’s help, led our recovery from the ravages of COVID, a return to a healthy economy and passed historic legislation with unprecedented job growth.
Walsh’s selective memory does not erase these clear benefits to American families as a result of their leadership.
The truth as I see it is that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have left our country far better off than they found it. They deserve our thanks, not vitriol.
America needs unity, not divisiveness, calmness and not disruption.
I urge all Americans to pay attention to what is coming next. Our democracy continues to be at risk.
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
Have something to tell us? Send your letters to Michael Harris at MHarris@ YourObserver.com.
RAYMOND ROITMAN SARASOTA
File image
The Purple Ribbon Committee has until June 30 to submit its report with suggestions for repurposing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
City begins traffic calming plan update process
Sarasota city staff is in the initial stage of developing an updated plan to slow vehicle traffic on city streets.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
What to do about speeding on the city’s roadways was on the agenda as Sarasota’s transportation planning staff hosted a public workshop on Feb. 19 to seek input for developing a new traffic calming plan.
Sarasota already has a traffic calming plan, which was established in the 1990s, Senior Traffic Planner Corinne Arriaga told the audience in the City Hall Commission Chamber. Out of that came new measures, such as speed tables, which are wider than traditional speed bumps. The new measures evolved into a transportation master plan that included a newly created neighborhood prioritization process; this shifted from an engineering-based approach to transportation in the 2010s.
Prior to the development of the master plan, all proposed improvements were brought before the City Commission, when hearings were held to gather public feedback prior to approval and implementation.
“As we moved through that process, we were getting a lot of complaints from residents that they weren’t being notified that a speed table was getting installed or whatever traffic calming improvement was being implemented,” Arriaga said.
The city updated the process to provide eligibility to neighborhoods that don’t score highly for certain treatments that aren’t permanent alterations to roadways. Now, the city is gathering data through both public engagement and an online survey to craft the next generation of traffic calming throughout the city.
“Traffic calming is a set of roadway treatments that can alter a driver’s behavior so it can reduce negative
KEEP CALM AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
To take the traffic calming plan survey, visit the project website at SarasotaFL.gov\TrafficCalmingPlan. Comments may be made by mail or email to project manager Corinne Arriaga at 1761 12th St., Sarasota, FL 34236 or Corinne.Arriaga@ SarasotaFL.gov.
impacts that motorists can have on pedestrians and cyclists,” Arriaga said. “What it can really do is help reduce speeds and vehicle crashes.”
Such devices include speed bumps, humps and tables, traffic circles; chicanes, bends or deviations; narrowed lanes; raised intersections and more.
The process will be rolled out in phases. They are: n Phase 1: A citywide speed study and identification of the highpedestrian areas
n Phase 2: Developing evaluation matrices for the collector and arterial road data
n Phase 3: Determining eligibility for certain treatment solutions in neighborhoods Currently, in the data gathering state of Phase 1, a digital survey is available and will continue until April 20. In fall 2025, staff will begin to develop traffic calming plans for the neighborhoods and for the areas that aren’t affiliated with neighborhoods. By winter, staff will begin developing the report with a target of spring 2026 to present to the City Commission.
6:34
on a vessel just outside the mooring fields near Selby Gardens told an officer that earlier in the day he confronted the dweller of another boat about illegal dumping into the bay. Although it escalated into a minor issue at the time, he said the man complied and corrected the issue.
The dispute, however, was not over. Later in the day, the complainant observed the subject circling his boat on a dinghy expressing his intention to “kill him.” He said the man had not brandished any weapon, but for the sake of his safety, he went ashore to effect separation and call law enforcement. He did not wish to press charges but wished to have the incident documented should he need to file for a protection order or have further adverse interactions.
SUCKER PUNCH?
700 block of North Osprey Avenue
Dispute: A woman described in the incident report as “very scattered and rambling” told an officer she arrived at her boyfriend’s apartment and knocked, and that’s when the door opened and the man punched her in the ribs, then closed the door. She claimed she immediately went across the street to call law enforcement.
The officer spoke with the subject’s brother, who was in the apartment at the time, who denied the alleged incident occurred. He added that before the woman approached the apartment, he looked out the window and warned his brother that “she’s here.”
The subject told the officer the two were not dating, and they had not been intimate for more than six months. He advised he was outside of the apartment smoking marijuana when the woman arrived. His brother saw her and advised him to go inside and hide. A second brother, who was also in the apartment at the time, said he did not witness the woman approach the apartment.
With several witnesses offering a contrary version of the alleged incident, the officer determined no battery occurred. When the woman was informed of the outcome, she acknowledged and left on foot without rebuttal.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18
NOISE CALL ESCALATES
11:48 p.m., 2300 block of Bayshore Road
Noise disturbance: An officer arrived at Indian Beach Park in response to a noise complaint, finding three subjects by the park across the street from an unattended car from which loud music was emanating with the engine
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12
RINGLING BRIDGE ROAD
RAGE
6:45 p.m., 700 block of Ringling Causeway Road rage: During a road rage incident, a complainant told the officer he was cut off by another vehicle while crossing the Ringling Bridge. Sounding his horn in objection to the reckless maneuver, the offending driver became provoked, responding with the universal single-finger salute and shouting profanities. The complainant then stated the other driver threw cigarette butts and an unknown liquid onto his vehicle. Whether the vehicles were in motion at that time was not included in the incident report.
Since there was no apparent damage to the complainant’s vehicle, no direct threats were made and no crash occurred, the complainant wanted to have the incident documented.
running. Two of the subjects were holding open containers of an alcoholic libation, in violation of city code, and the third appeared intoxicated but was not holding a beverage at that time.
While conducting a records check on the two violators, the officer observed the third party — who was eventually arrested — walking down the stairs and into the park in violation of posted hours at the city park, which is closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The officer contacted the subject to inform him of the transgression and requested his identification. Refusing to provide ID, he turned and walked away, prompting the officer to detain him as he began to resist arrest. According to the report, the subject was then pushed to the ground, resulting in a small facial laceration. Ultimately, the report reads, the officer, “sat on the defendant’s buttocks area, immobilizing him and potentially preventing further injuries to both of us.”
The subject was then transported to Sarasota County Jail and “charged accordingly,” according to the report, which offered no further description of the disposition of his two companions.
Sarasota Square Mall demolition begins
Developer Torburn Partners is planning a redevelopment to include up to 1,200 apartments and 690,000 square feet of commercial space.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Having spent more than $50 million to acquire properties that comprise the former Sarasota Square Mall, Illinoisbased developer Torburn Partners, with offices in Fort Lauderdale, is spending another $1 million to raze most of it in preparation for redevelopment according to sister publication Business Observer
The publication has reported that demolition is underway, with Torburn having been issued a permit to clear the site — save for three big box buildings — from Sarasota County in December 2024. The mall’s address is 6201 S. Tamiami Trail, just south of the Sarasota city limit.
Escaping the wrecking ball are Costco and JCPenney, which will remain in operation during and after construction, and the space that formerly housed the AMC Sarasota 12 theater, which ceased operation amid a nationwide corporate realignment in October 2024.
Torburn previously spent $35.3 million to acquire most of the mall property before buying the final piece, the JCPenney building, for $18 million in August 2024.
Including outparcels and park-
ing, the entire mall property occupies approximately 93.5 acres. In its place, Torburn is planning a town center-style multiuse development planned to include up to 1,200 apartments on the north side of the property along Sarasota Square Boulevard; more than 690,000 square feet of commercial, retail and office space; and an event lawn for outdoor activities and events.
Torburn secured site plan approval from the Sarasota County Commission in April 2024. It shows a free-standing Costco, JCPenney and AMC buildings — all previously attached to the mall — three separate apartment developments next to the Costco parking lot, a variety of specialty retail and restaurant sites, a grocery store and potential medical space with the event lawn in the center. Interior circulation will provide vehicle access to multiple parking lots scattered throughout the site.
The County Commission approval includes special code exceptions, including:
n Bar with outdoor entertainment after 10 p.m. or outdoor dining after 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, or after 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday n Indoor entertainment after 10 p.m. n Outdoor recreation
Workers have begun tearing down Sarasota Square Mall, which will be redeveloped into a mixed-use lifestyle center.
n Outdoor entertainment after 10 p.m.
n Special events in conjunction with an approved outdoor recreation use
n Garden center with outside merchandise Outdoor entertainment may occur only in the commercial/ office area of the development or on the lawn area, which is located in the center of the development buffered from surrounding neighborhoods by residential and commercial structures.
Photos by Elizabeth King
Demolition of Sarasota Square Mall is underway in preparation for a mixed-use redevelopment.
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SPORTS
FAST
BREAK
led
Kali
to a 3A-Region 2 championship with an 18-point night in a win over Windermere Prep on Feb. 21.
Three Sarasota prep basketball teams won regional championships this past week and have advanced to the state semifinals at RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
The Sarasota boys team pushed its win streak to 18 straight when it defeated top-seeded Osceola (Kissimmee) 64-61 on the road on Feb. 20. John Lackaff (19 points), Oliver Boyle (16 points) and David Young (15 points) led the way to victory. The Sailors will play Windermere in the Class 7A state semifinals on March 7 at 3 p.m.
The Cardinal Mooney girls held off Windermere Prep in a 71-60 win to capture the 3A-Region 2 title on Feb. 21. Four players scored in double digits, led by Kali Barrett with an 18-point night. Cardinal Mooney will play Miami Sports Leadership & Management in the 3A state semifinals on Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. Booker girls basketball controlled Arcadia DeSoto County 74-37 on Feb. 21 to win 4A-Region 3. Marayah Stuart powered the win with 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and seven steals. The Tornadoes will play Melbourne Palm Bay in the 4A state semifinals on March 4 at 5 p.m.
... The Booker baseball team matched its season win total from last year this past week alone. The Tornadoes defeated St. Petersburg Gibbs 18-4 on Feb. 18 and then beat DeSoto County 6-4 on Feb. 21.
Quote of the Week: “I think our senior group is great this year. I think we have one of the best senior groups we’ve ever had. It’s totally drama-free. We’re all super close and great friends, so I think the dynamic and the chemistry is here. I think this year is the best year we’re going to have so far.”
— Sarasota softball senior Sommer Speers
“We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and we’ve pushed through it and now we’re in the final four.”
Sarasota prep softball PLAYERS TO WATCH
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
Abig season awaits high school softball teams in the Sarasota area. Several area teams are loaded with senior leadership and standout players with collegiate potential. That means most teams are setting lofty standards for themselves, including winning district championships and making it into the state tournament.
Here are the top Sarasota-area prep softball players to watch in 2025:
ALLISON COLE | RIVERVIEW
Stats don’t get much better than Cole’s were this past season. Despite debuting in varsity softball as a junior last year, Cole dominated on the mound and at the plate.
She hardly left the pitcher’s circle, throwing 124 2/3 of Riverview’s 150 innings last year with a 14-5 record, a 1.40 ERA and an eye-popping 232 strikeouts.
Cole also hit .492 with 19 RBIs and six doubles and played first base when she wasn’t pitching.
“I didn’t come out until my junior year because I was scared of a new team,” Cole said.
“New coaches, new girls and a whole different environment. I was scared of making new friends. I was very anxious, but I got pretty comfortable. We all got close with each other. I’m confident now and I love it here.”
ELLA TRANDEM | RIVERVIEW
A senior catcher, Trandem is essential to everything the Rams hope to accomplish this season.
She’s built a strong relationship with ace Allison Cole, which empowers her to keep Cole calm in the circle and know when to call which pitches.
Trandem is a force at the plate, too. Last season, she hit .362 with 23 runs, 17 RBIs and a team-high seven doubles.
“Allie is a raw talent, but we have the same struggles when it comes to the sport with anxiety and being nervous,” Trandem said.
“So we kind of understand each other, and instead of feeding off each other, I think we help each other to calm down. We make it fun instead of making it scary.”
SIERRA LIPTON | RIVERVIEW
Returning talent, senior leaders and new faces are aplenty this spring.
After struggling to overcome mistakes during a sophomore season, Ramsden worked on her self-confidence in travel ball and backed that up with an impressive junior year.
This year, she said she’s working on becoming a better leader, and wouldn’t mind a few more home runs along the way.
“We actually had a really good year my sophomore year, the year that I struggled,” she said. “We were (21-5). We had a really good season, and that was probably the most fun season I’ve had. Last year was rough, so this year, I want to have a season like we did my sophomore season. We have all the potential in the world. This team is full of talent. I think we could go far this year.”
MADY PINT | SARASOTA
Pint is another important senior leader for Sarasota who plays outfield and middle infield. She was one of the Sailors’ top hitters last season with a .377 batting average, 18 runs, 10 RBIs and seven stolen bases.
Pint said she prides herself on her ability to overcome mistakes and slumps, but that’s something that’s taken her some time to master.
“I had to work on my attitude when I struggled,” Pint said. “Last year, I struggled a lot, so I worked on telling myself that it’s fine and I can get through it. It honestly gave me motivation for this year to work harder. This offseason I hit every day after school and was always here doing workouts with the girls.”
SOMMER SPEERS | SARASOTA
A slap-hitting speedster, Sommers bats second, plays center field and is yet another senior ready to lead Sarasota.
ally want to help get my team together so we can win games against better teams.”
AVA PROFFITT | CARDINAL MOONEY
A sophomore second baseman and outfielder, Proffitt was one of many young Cougars last season who had to adjust to varsity softball while also being tasked with a full-time starting role.
Despite saying it took her time to feel comfortable, her stats don’t reflect it. She quickly turned into a topof-the-order bat for Cardinal Mooney, hitting .469 with 34 runs, 18 RBIs, six extra-base hits and six stolen bases.
“The pitching was sometimes difficult to get used to and having to fill a position as a freshman on varsity was scary, just with the pressure,” said Proffitt who said she went to hitting coaches, played travel ball and did speed and agility work this offseason. “As a freshman, you can make mistakes.”
ERIN GRIFFITH | CARDINAL MOONEY
Griffith was a shutdown pitcher for Cardinal Mooney this past season as a sophomore. She pitched 43 innings, allowing just 25 hits on the way to a 1.79 ERA, a 6-0 record and 52 strikeouts.
She was more than effective at the plate, too, with a .476 batting average, 15 runs and 14 RBIs across 51 plate appearances.
This season, Griffith is hoping for even better results in the pitcher’s circle, where she throws a fastball, changeup and curveball.
“My goal is to have 100 strikeouts this year,” Griffith said. “It’s kind of a reach, but I’m a junior, so I still have one more year.”
VALERIA HOWARD | BOOKER
Another team captain alongside Trandem, Cole and Isabelle Bain, Lipton brings defense, speed and contact hitting to the Rams. She primarily plays shortstop and worked on her agility this season to further improve her defense and become a weapon on the basepaths. If last season’s stats of a .365 batting average, 27 runs and five triples are any indication of what’s to come, she could be in for a special senior season.
“I did agility training with ladders and sprints and I used to have an agility trainer at my gym,” she said of her offseason work.
“I wasn’t slow necessarily, but I knew to take it to the next step I had to be faster. I also did weightlifting here, and I knew that would help build strength in my legs.”
CARLEY RAMSDEN | SARASOTA
A key senior for Sarasota, Ramsden leads off and plays shortstop. Last season, she hit .333 with 18 runs, 17 RBIs, six doubles, three triples, three home runs and six stolen bases.
Sommers said she’s best at tracking balls hit into the gaps on defense, but she is a weapon on offense, too. Last season, she hit .354 with 18 runs, 11 RBIs, two triples and a team-high 11 stolen bases.
“I definitely focused on hitting a lot,” Speers said of her offseason work. “I’m primarily a slapper, which is what I’m going to college for, but I like being able to do everything. So I really focused on hitting and being comfortable with my natural swing and not just slapping. That was a huge point of focus for me this past fall.”
OLIVIA LOCKHART | CARDINAL MOONEY
A young Cougars team played a softer schedule last season, but the stats Lockhart put up were ludicrous.
Despite being a freshman, the shortstop hit .721 with 36 runs, 52 RBIs and 22 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, along with 21 stolen bases.
Lockhart said she grinds in the offseason by lifting weights, playing travel ball and practicing on the side, but even she didn’t expect such a standout debut season.
“I want to do relatively as good as last year,” she said. “It’s hard to do better than that. I re-
Booker won no more than two games in a season from 2020-23 but turned the corner last year in a 6-8 season. Howard, a captain last year, is back for her senior season.
The outfielder and third baseman said she’s best at defense, but her biggest improvement has been becoming a coachable player and leader.
“I had to learn how to understand what I’m doing wrong and fixing it,” she said. “I had to put my pride to the side.”
GABRIELA AVILARAMIREZ | BOOKER
Avila-Ramirez joining Booker this year as a freshman is one of the reasons head coach Shatoya Davis is so optimistic about the future.
The catcher, pitcher and second baseman said she’s best at catching, but is expected to be an impact player in the pitcher’s circle, too.
“I really want to get my timing down and taking a second to collect myself when I’m pitching,” she said.
— Marayah Stuart, junior, Booker High girls basketball SEE PAGE 21A
Barrett
Cardinal Mooney
Photos by Vinnie Portell
Cardinal Mooney sophomore Olivia Lockhart gets comfortable at the plate during a game at Sarasota High on Feb. 20.
Cougars sophomores prove they can play
a stolen base. “I think we’ve shown them that, so what? We can still play and be a good team.”
Of the Cougars’ four impact sophomores, Zaun might have the most motivation.
Imade my first rounds to the Sarasota-area high schools this past week to highlight the top baseball players to watch for this season.
When I stopped at Cardinal Mooney, the Cougars were talking about state championship aspirations.
I must admit, I was skeptical.
Cardinal Mooney lost seven of its top players from last season. That meant the Cougars were going to be forced to turn to some of their younger talent. That move usually doesn’t lead to winning records, let alone competing for championships.
However, Cardinal Mooney is proving its skeptics wrong — myself included — through a 4-1 start.
Four sophomore players — Brady Zaun, J.D. James, Colton Hyde and Michael Geaglone — have become fixtures on the field, and they’ve been playing as if they’re seasoned seniors.
PLAYING WITH AN EDGE
For those on the outside looking in, there’s not much of a silver lining to losing talented veteran players.
Don’t tell that to these sophomores, who are up to the challenge of filling the void.
“I’m sure people were (doubting us) because we lost, you could say, our best player, and last year, we had a bad record, so people were like, ‘Oh, they’re going to be bad this year,’” said James, who has hit .421 with five runs, three RBIs and
His older brother, Eddie, was a star for the Cougars last year, hitting .431 with 11 extra-base hits, 13 runs and 16 RBIs in 24 games as the starting shortstop.
However, Eddie decided to transfer to Venice, while Brady stayed with the Cougars.
So far, Brady has done a fine job of replicating that production as the leadoff batter and starting centerfielder. He’s hit .480 with a .519 on-base percentage, five runs and four RBIs.
“He’s definitely made me work way harder to get better,” Brady said of Eddie. “Seeing how good he’s doing, I want to follow his footsteps.”
Hyde is fueled by a different kind of motivation.
The son of Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, Colton said he hardly played for Cardinal Mooney’s junior varsity team last year during a frustrating freshman year.
So far, he’s been one of the Cougars’ go-to arms and a muchneeded backup catcher.
He’s taken just three at-bats, but has scored five runs. On the mound, he’s thrown the second-most innings on the team (10) with a 1.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10 strikeouts thanks to a fastball that he said tops out at 88 mph.
“At tryouts, I didn’t know if I was going to make the team or not,”
Hyde said. “I didn’t play much on JV last year, so I wasn’t expecting (to make the team), but when I found out, I was really excited.”
DON’T OVERLOOK AN UNDERDOG
Allow me to use a cross-sport reference to drive home a point.
Every year during March Madness, there is a scrappy team that upsets a blue blood program in a way no one saw coming.
Those upsets happen for a few reasons.
One is the underdog team is playing without pressure and expectations with a hunger to prove the world wrong for underestimating them.
Another is the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is a singleelimination tournament, and anything can happen in one game.
That scrappy underdog team could be Cardinal Mooney in the Florida High School Athletic Association single-game elimination tournament later this year, if it can make it that far.
Most of Cardinal Mooney’s most challenging games are ahead of them, and a hot start doesn’t mean much now if they can’t keep it up.
After talking to them and watch-
“I think it gives us an edge against teams.”
— Michael Geaglone
ing them on the field, however, I’m done doubting them.
“I think it gives us an edge against teams,” said Geaglone, who has struggled at the plate early this season, but hasn’t allowed a hit through four innings on the mound.
“We have confidence in ourselves and we have a lot more to play for.”
Vinnie Portell is the sports reporter for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.
WHERE CARDINAL MOONEY’S SOPHOMORES RANK IN TEAM STATS
BRADY ZAUN Batting average min. 10 at-bats (second), hits (tied for first), runs (tied for first), RBIs (fourth)
J.D. JAMES Batting average min. 10 atbats (third), hits (tied for fifth), runs (tied for first), RBIs (fifth)
COLTON HYDE Innings pitched (second), ERA (tied for first), Ks (second)
MICHAEL GEAGLONE Innings pitched (tied for third), ERA (tied for first), Ks (tied for third)
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PUBLISHING: PRINT: Thursday, March 27 ONLINE DIRECTORY: Thursday, March 20
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Vinnie Portell
Cardinal Mooney has four sophomores, Michael Geaglone, J.D. James, Colton Hyde and Brady Zaun, making a big impact during a hot start to the season.
Brady Zaun, J.D. James, Colton Hyde and Michael Geaglone have led Cardinal Mooney to a hot start.
Marayah Stuart
Booker girls basketball has been on a tear this season, and junior guard Marayah Stuart has had a big hand in that success.
Stuart’s season averages of nine points and four-and-a-half rebounds per game don’t jump off the page, but she prides herself on her defense, and that showed itself in a big way this past week.
The Tornadoes shut down their opponents — Tampa Chamberlain and Arcadia DeSoto County — to win the 4A-Region 3 and advance to the state semifinals in Lakeland against Melbourne Palm Bay on March 4.
Stuart scored 10 points with three rebounds, three assists and six steals as Booker beat Chamberlain 61-20 on Feb. 18 and followed that up with 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and seven steals in a 74-37 win over DeSoto County.
When and why did you start playing basketball?
In my third grade summer, going into fourth grade. My sister played basketball for a travel team. I was just going to practice for fun and it was something I enjoyed doing, so I just kept playing. It was a sixth grade team and I ended up starting, so I was like, ‘This is something I could actually do.’
What has been your most memorable moment this season?
Probably the last game, winning the regional championship. This is the first time in my high school career that I’m going to the final four, so that was a pretty good moment for me.
What’s gone right for Booker girls basketball this season?
The ability to push through and fight through anything that comes our way. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and we’ve pushed through it and now we’re in the final four. We have practice every day, two to three hours a day. Sometimes, two practices a day. We’ve had the mental ability to push through those practices.
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Vinnie Portell at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.
What’s your favorite meal?
I love eating pasta. My favorite is chicken Alfredo from Olive Garden.
What’s your favorite TV show or movie?
My favorite TV show is “Money Heist.” It’s a show I can keep watching. I never get tired of that show.
What are your go-to warm-up songs?
Typically, I listen to gospel music before games because it calms me down. I can’t listen to quote-unquote hype music because my adrenaline rushes. I like “Intentional” and “That’s Who I Praise.” Those are my go-to (songs) before a game.
What’s been your most humbling moment in basketball?
Probably my freshman year. I went to Bayshore High School. I went in thinking I was going to start and I didn’t start for the whole first half of the season. It actually made me work for my spot instead of it being handed to me. Also, coming here to Booker, you’re never guaranteed a spot no matter how good you are. (Coach Ty Bryant) makes you work for what you get.
Who’s your favorite basketball player and why? I would have to say Sydney Colson because she gets her job done on the court, and off the court, her personality is great. She’s a funny person and caring.
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“The more things change, the more they remain the same, in that we have grown and gone quite a ways, but we’re still in the same place, in so many places.”
“My dad kept up shop. We polished our shoes, and he drilled us. ‘Right face, left face, forward, march. To the rear,” he said.
A staff sergeant in World War II, Wade C. Shaw served in General George Patton’s Third Army, helping transport troops and supplies on the famous Red Ball Express.
The 1944 trucking operation supplied the American troops as they faced the German troops during the Battle of the Bulge.
COURAGEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS
Former Sarasota mayor
Willie Shaw recalls his African American family’s history of military service.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Willie Charles Shaw has worn many hats. He’s served in the U.S. Air Force, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service and a city commissioner and mayor of Sarasota, and he is a reverend at Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church.
The hat of a veteran is one he’s proud to wear every day, and in fact, he keeps a collection of about 14 different caps representing different aspects of the service, which is still growing in size.
His service is important to him not only because of how it impacted his own life, but because of its significance to his family, which stretches back in Sarasota for generations.
He said many people may not be aware of how many Black citizens served in the military, such as his father Wade C. Shaw, who served in World War II, or his uncles Clarence Wells and Henry Limbrick, who served in World War I.
Yet he emphasizes his family’s story is not unique.
“There’s history, and then there’s our story. Our story is not always as well-told,” he said.
A RICH HISTORY
You’ll often find Shaw at the Greater Newtown Historical Gallery, where he loves sharing the history of New-
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town, Sarasota’s predominantly Black community.
A native of Sarasota whose family extends back in the area for generations, he has memories of growing up in Newtown, and effortlessly recalls the names of people and places.
Shaw was born in 1947 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, under segregation.
“We didn’t go to the beach. We had to go to the Skyway for a beach…” he said. “I remember colored and white water fountains on what is now Fruitville.”
Shaw says the influence of his father, a truck driver for a lumber company, was important to him as he was growing up, when he attended the Booker schools and performed work helping his parents, including his mother who worked as a housekeeper, in their jobs.
He said while his mother taught him how to keep many aspects of the home in order, his father helped him to assert himself, also serving as a father figure to many of his friends.
“You had to be able to speak up and speak out,” he said.
He also calls his family “very much military-minded.”
Afterward, he headed to Japan with his truck company following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as part of what Shaw said he thinks was an occupation troop.
He spent the rest of his time in the military there until his return home.
Shaw said he doesn’t know his father’s inspiration for serving, but it likely arose from his time in a Black unit of the Civilian Conservation Corps which built Myakka River State Park, and from which many people chose to enter the military.
According to the National World War II Museum, more than 1 million African American men and women served in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces in roles not limited to nurses, engineers, truck drivers, gunners and paratroopers.
However, Shaw’s family’s history of service goes back even further, to others including his uncles Clarence Wells and Henry Limbrick, who served in World War I, or his cousin Jerry Hempfield, who served in the Spanish-American War.
Wells was part of the Quartermaster Corps, a military unit that supplied troops with food, equipment and services, while Limbrick received a small stipend from the VA due to injuries from poison gas, until his death in about 1968.
FOLLOWING IN FOOTSTEPS
Shaw chose to enlist in the Air Force in 1967 at the age of about 19, as an individual that was due for the draft during the Vietnam War.
“It was just a part of me to serve, being a part of it, my uncles, my dad, cousins kinfolk, that participated,” he said.
He performed the role of security, serving as an air policeman and then a security policeman.
“My military experience for me was not only exciting, it was engaging,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to do. My four years there, I wouldn’t take anything for that experience.”
He said with the troops being integrated, he enjoyed the experience of meeting many different people, and maintains many friendships.
His first tour of duty brought him to Osan Air Base in Korea. During his
13 months there, the taking of the USS Pueblo occurred.
This ship is the only ship of the U.S. Navy currently on the “commissioned” roster while held captive.
From there, he returned to the United States, where he was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas, overseeing aircraft of the Strategic Air Command as the youngest sergeant on the base.
One quality he says he developed in the military was an appreciation for jazz, as a result of being exposed to music by the greats of the genre.
“I tell people all the time, there’s two ways to listen,” he said. “You can listen to it, or you can listen at it. If you listen at it, you hear what you want to hear, but if you listen to it, you become a part of it.”
He says he also developed qualities that helped him upon leading in the military, eventually becoming a city commissioner and mayor.
“I went in, being obedient, being able to follow orders,” he said, noting afterward, he became a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, serving as a steward chief, steward vice president, and local union president.
“Coming out of the military, I had accountability, responsibility,” he said.
He said some people are surprised when they learn of the Black community’s military contributions throughout history.
For instance, he says the site of Robert L. Taylor Community Complex was once a site where African American service members stationed in Sarasota and Bradenton would gather to dance.
“We were there in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War. We’ve been here all along,” he said. He says the recognition of Newtown as a historical preservation district in 2024, which will prevent the area from being gentrified as others have, is an important step forward.
He says an important part of change is the opportunity for people to learn the past, and the Black community’s contributions to history.
“I’m open to share this, Black, white, the persons of Sarasota,” he said. “I love doing that.”
Willie Charles Shaw
Willie Shaw has a collection of military hats.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Historical photos adorn the walls of the Greater Newtown Historical Gallery.
Leashing up and lacing up
Although it was cool outside the morning of Feb. 22, it wasn’t too cold to enjoy a morning outdoors with dogs — or for Brett Keyser’s pup, Zuma, to reclaim her first-place title in this year’s Satchel’s Fifth-Annual Get Your Mutt Movin’ 5K Run and Walk 2025.
“Last year was a little warmer, so she was kind of lagging behind, but this year she was pulling me in,” said Keyser, who came in sixth place among humans.
After last year, he was eager to return.
“We had to defend our title,” he said. However, he also wanted to enjoy the experience of the event, held by Satchel’s Last Resort.
“It’s just a great run, and she loves running, and I love running. It’s the only dog race that I know about,” he said.
The event supported the organization, a no-kill animal shelter and sanctuary whose mission is to take in animals with nowhere else to go.
It also featured a festival with offerings that included a pet agility course, a photo booth, a “pie-eating” contest with whipped cream-covered frisbees, a pet costume contest and more.
“This event means so much to Satchel’s,” said Jill Creevy, the organization’s board president.
“We are all about community, and this brings together so many people in our community.”
— IAN SWABY
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Kate Johnston and her niece, Tovah Johnston, 11, run in the race.
Rhett Fledderman, 10, (left), Zuma, the first pup to finish the race, and Brett Keyser, approach the finish line.
Shuggy, a Satchel’s rescue, enjoys whipped cream during the pie eating contest provided by Tracy Addison.
Bali, a Bengal cat who belongs to Laura and Tom Walker, participated in the event. Laura Walker says he walks on a leash like a dog.
Chevera Moor and Debra Honda (“Alaka’i Debra”), of Halau Hula ’O Kilakilapilialohaikapu’uwai, welcome racers to the finish line.
Photos by Ian Swaby
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Diverse voices unite in education
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Although severe weather may have canceled the opening ceremony for the Embracing Our Differences art exhibition currently on display, the nonprofit and its supporters were still able to come together a month later on Feb. 21.
The Embracing Our Differences 2025 Annual Luncheon, held at The Ora, shone a spotlight on the organization’s educational initiatives.
While it may be best known for the exhibition, the nonprofit describes its main focus as education.
The event welcomed speakers from local schools, including Isabella Cicala, a senior at Sarasota High School, Bryson Day, a senior at Venice High, and Brooks Tracey, an art instructor at Sarasota Middle.
Among the various educational initiatives are Unity Days, Embracing Reading Day and Coexistence Clubs.
For two years at Sarasota High, Cicala has led its Unity Day, a workshop of various activities intended to foster communication and cooperation.
“Being a part of this event has allowed me and my fellow students to show our true selves in a safe place where we can trust that nobody will judge us, laugh at us or tease us just because we believe in something different or have endured something traumatic,” she said.
Tracey said he has formed many relationships and connections with the organization, with six of his students having their works selected for the exhibition.
He said for one former student it opened her eyes to the opportunities available to her.
“I still have the memory of getting the opportunity to share with her the news that she was going to be a part of the show, and I still remember her trying to hold back tears of excitement,” he said.
President and CEO Sarah Wertheimer said she is “so fortunate to be able to work with students and teachers like these every day, stu-
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dents who have the courage to be themselves, and teachers who have the passion to inspire them.”
Wertheimer noted recent obstacles faced by the nonprofit.
Last year, it lost a $60,947 state grant when Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in arts and culture grants in June, and also was denied $46,696 in July by the Sarasota County Commission, which also denied grant requests from the Chalk Festival and WSLR/Fogartyville Community Arts and Media Center.
A video played at the event said art and creative writing submissions for the annual juried competition continued to break records this year, with 10,124 submissions from 122 countries, 46 states, and 511 schools, 45% of which came from the local community.
Wertheimer announced a fundraising goal of $300,000, noting a $100,000 challenge match by Eliza and Hugh Culverhouse and stating $115,000 more was needed to unlock that match.
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Judge Charles Williams, Sarah Wertheimer, Isabella Cicala and Bryson Day
A FAMILY EFFORT
CONTINUING A LEGACY
At age 27, in 2010, Erin Minor became executive director of Harvest House, which her parents, Jim and Peggy Minor, founded in 1992.
On Feb. 20, after 22 years with the organization, she handed a symbolic object, an oversized key, to her brother Dan Minor.
The event made the 2025 Home Again Luncheon, held at Michael’s On East, a passing of the torch besides its role as a yearly fundraiser
for the organization.
On Feb. 22, Erin stepped down to enter the role of vice president of community leadership at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, with Dan assuming the additional role of CEO at Harvest House.
“I believe in divine timing, and I really do feel like it was divine timing for Dan moving into this new role,” she said. “If I were to ever move, it had to be the right time, the right place and the right position, and this hit all three things. So it’s just that moment in time where it’s like, yes, yes, yes. It all makes sense.”
Harvest House credits Erin Minor with realizing its vision and expanding its impact of actions, including her successful pursuit of grants on levels from federal to local.
The nonprofit focuses on meeting needs in Sarasota and Manatee counties, including affordable housing, addiction recovery, workforce development and food security.
A media release said in 2024, it served 576 households, including more than 800 individuals, through housing and community-based case management.
Erin said Dan has been an instrumental part of its workings for 21 years. Now, it is his turn to lead its mission.
“I’m elated and also feel the great weight of the responsibility of carrying on something that is so wellrespected in our community,” he said.
He said he looks to continue doing what Harvest House has done, which is “carrying a level of dignity and integrity with the way that we serve those that are in our care.”
He said he will focus on two main priorities, which are more affordable housing in Sarasota — with a project specifically for seniors — and the building of a mental health wing in Harvest House.
“If there’s room left over, we want to continue to innovate, because the needs of Sarasota, Manatee County and beyond are constantly changing, and I want us as an organization to do what we’ve always done, which is adapt in real time for the needs of our community, and have the kind of partners in the philanthropic world and supporters who will support these quick changes to address the needs that are in our wheelhouse for Sarasota,” he said.
Erin said she was glad to pass the organization on to her brother.
“It’s an honor for me to pass it on to a family member who’s been by my side for years,” she said. “He’s kind of been behind the scenes, but leading with me, and so obviously, it’s very
personal for our family to carry the legacy on, and I couldn’t be prouder to hand the torch up to him.”
According to figures provided the day of the luncheon, the event raised more than $300,000, including matching funds contributed by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Jerry and Fay Bainbridge, surpassing last year’s fundraising total of $250,000, The event also showcased testimonials from two clients, a woman identified as Farah, whose story was relayed by staff member KK Burchell in a video, and Barb Allen, who spoke at the event.
“The success of Harvest House and its programs, is personal,” Allen said. “It’s personal because I stand here today as proof that it works. It’s personal because I know what it feels like to believe you’re too far gone, and it’s personal, because I know there’s people sitting in jail, moms living on the street, trapped in addiction right now, people just like me who are waiting for someone to believe in them.”
While on stage, Allen was gifted with funds to cover the remaining $1,500 down payment on her home. During requests for donations, attendee Kathy Brown agreed to sponsor something that Farah’s young daughter, who has special needs, had wished for: a trip to Disney World for around $2,000.
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IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Erin Minor, CEO and executive director of Harvest House, celebrated the new leadership role of her brother, Dan Minor, at this year’s Home Again Luncheon.
Rabbi Elaine Glickman and Katie McCurry, vice president of advancement at Harvest House
Photos by Ian Swaby
Dan Minor accepts a key from his sister, Erin Minor.
Abraham Lincoln revisited as teacher of valuable leadership lessons
A New Jersey college professor and Abe Lincoln aficionado, at a Southwest Florida event, details why one of the most famous Americans ever is also an underappreciated leadership expert.
By Mark Gordon
It’s hard to overlook Abraham Lincoln.
For starters, the 16th U.S. president signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, ending slavery in the country. It’s also well known that Lincoln was physically hard to miss, standing six-foot-four, the tallest of the 46 U.S. presidents. And, of course, he was so celebrated for telling the truth that his famous nickname, Honest Abe, lives on 159 years after he was assassinated.
What is sometimes overlooked with Lincoln—despite the 16,000 books written about him—is the set of soft skills he learned, and then exhibited, about leadership throughout his life. This is the message Louis Masur, a Lincoln expert and Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University in New Jersey, shared in Southwest Florida in 2024.
Masur was a keynote speaker for a Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. Speaker Series event. His talk, “Lessons of Abe Lincoln: How Effective Leadership Can Change the World,” was given at the Tribby Arts Center at Shell Point in Fort Myers. In a virtual interview, Masur remarked, Lincoln “saved the union and freed the slaves, but what made him such an incredible leader during such a divisive and partisan time?”
Masur, who has researched, taught, and spoken about other historical figures, says Lincoln remains his No. 1 educational and leadership muse. Masur has distilled Lincoln’s leadership into a few powerful lessons:
Education: Lincoln’s dedication to selfeducation was critical to his success. Despite his father’s disapproval of reading, Lincoln’s “love of learning” played a pivotal role in his ability to lead. When Lincoln became president in 1861, he had no formal military experience, except for volunteering in the Black Hawk War. To prepare, he read military strategy books from the Library of Congress, immersing himself in the details of military tactics.
Diplomacy: Masur points to Lincoln’s letter to General George Meade after the Battle of Gettysburg as an example of his restraint. Lincoln wrote a letter to express disappointment that Meade didn’t pursue Confederate General Robert E. Lee after the Union victory. However, Lincoln ultimately chose not to send the letter, recognizing that chastising his general would be counterproductive.
Empathy: Lincoln’s empathy and ability to step outside himself were hallmarks of his leadership. Masur tells a story of Lincoln writing a condolence letter to the daughter of a friend who had died in combat. In the letter, Lincoln wrote, “You are sure to be happy again,” sharing his own experience with grief. This ability to connect with others helped him lead with compassion.
Principle over power: Lincoln’s commitment to principles is another lesson Masur highlights. During the 1864 presidential election, Lincoln refused to postpone the vote, even though he risked losing. He believed that “We cannot have free government without elections.” This resolve to uphold democratic principles, even in times of war, defined his legacy.
Masur’s insights emphasize that Lincoln’s leadership was as much about character as it was about strategy. “I just never tire of reading about him and thinking about him,” Masur says.
Join us for an engaging speaker series featuring two of the nation’s leading historians. Dive deep into American history as our expert speakers bring the past to life with captivating stories and fresh perspectives.
Reprinted from the Business Observer
IN OUR GARDEN FOR MUSIC, WINE & CHEESE
The Paisley Craze, a talented band playing all your favorite music from the 1960s, covering the incredibly wide range of styles of that historic decade.
Performers include Marty Bednar, Bob Dielman, Bob Lunergan, and Dave Mankes. AL#8979
From history classrooms to competition
Although Sarasota Middle School teacher Jennifer Jaso says there is plenty of history students can learn in the classroom, she wanted to offer them the chance to go even further.
For 18 years, she has been involved with the National History Day Contest, having led an effort to bring the competition to the district level.
On Feb. 22, the contest returned to Selby Library, giving around 800 students the chance to showcase to a panel of judges their work performing research and exploring sources that could include the National Archives and the Library of Congress.
It was a chance for them to present results of research they had started in August on this year’s theme of Rights and Responsibilities in History.
The contest is the preliminary opportunity for students to participate at the Florida History Day Contest and the national level of the competition.
Students who participate in the program, which also welcomes students from private schools and homeschool students, research a topic of their choice, creating exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites and papers.
For Tommy Burkhardt, a sixth grader at Sarasota Middle School who plays soccer and tennis, the topic was one that combined his interest in sports with an issue still relevant today.
He chose to write a paper on the Munich massacre terrorist attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
“It really stood out to me how the joyful Olympics where we’re all supposed to be unified every four years, turned into such a massacre,” Burkhardt said.
“Because they are so invested in the topic that they chose, it gives them a chance to really dig deeper and find something beneath the surface, as far as how this impacted short term, but how it also impacts on a much larger scale,” Jaso said.
The attacks occurred when the Palestinian militant organization Black
September infiltrated the Olympic Village and killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team, taking nine team members hostage.
Burkhardt said what drew him to the topic is the long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it continues today.
He set out on a search for primary and secondary sources, with some sources including the book “One Day in September” and the Israel Forever Foundation.
Burkhardt spoke with both of his sets of grandparents, who were alive at the time of the events, to understand their perspective, coming to understand how shocking the tragedy was to them.
“His grandfather called this morning. He’s like, ‘I learned some things from your paper that I didn’t know before,” said his mother Shannon Burkhardt.
Shannon Burkhardt said the experience raised some questions.
“I think probably one of the most educational things for him is having to stretch his brain and figure out, what are, what are my rights? What are my responsibilities? What is the government’s responsibility?” she said.
Ian Swaby
Tommy Burkhardt
STEPSTOBEACH
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FRIDAY, FEB. 28 TO SATURDAY, MARCH 1 QUILTS IN PARADISE
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd. $10. View more than 200 show quilts and enjoy vendors, auctions and more. Visit FriendshipKnotQuilters.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
MINDFULNESS AND NATURE CONNECTION WITH UF/IFAS EXTENSION SARASOTA COUNTY
10:30-11:30 a.m. at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Free. Learn about using mindfulness to connect with nature. Participants will enjoy activities and a story trail for the picture book “Charlotte and the Quiet Place.” The first 12 families will receive a goody bag to take home. Registration recommended. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
SUMMER KICK-OFF YOUTH ACTIVITY FAIR
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Philippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free. Youth are invited to plan for their family’s summer. Enjoy demonstrations, entertainment, food truck, free items and more. Participants can obtain an event passport and submit it after visiting all vendors to be entered for a drawing of swag prizes. Visit Facebook.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 1 TO SUNDAY, MARCH 2
SARASOTA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at J.D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive. Free. More than 70 artisans will present creations, including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, glass and much more. Attendees will have the chance to engage with artists and learn about their work. Visit ParagonFestivals.com.
PSYCHIC & HOLISTIC EXPO
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail. $10; free for children 12 and younger. Attendees can take an aura photo, have a private session with a psychic or medium, experience a reiki energy healing or shop for crystals at this event featuring healers, mediums, clairvoyants and holistic products. Visit EventBrite.com.
BEST BET
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
BAY FEST
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Discover the underwater world in this family friendly event by Sarasota County and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. View showcases of local marine life, learn from experts about conservation efforts, explore the coast on a kayak tour and more. This event is part of Good to be Green Months at The Bay. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
DANCE AT THE BAY: SALSA AND SUNSETS
6:30-8 p.m. at The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Learn Latin dance moves and then put them to practice at a Latino-inspired dance party while the sun sets over Sarasota Bay. Bring family, friends, a date, or come on your own. The Nest Café will be serving margaritas, beer and more. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY — WATERCOLOR WITH LORI GEORGE
2-4 p.m. at Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road. Free. Join artist Lori Loveberry George and explore underwater ocean life, focusing on the shapes and colors of the octopus and its habitat. Learn easy techniques of color mixing and application, as well as how to make a deckled edge on watercolor paper. Registration required. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
4, Inka Perez, 7, and Nila Schreiber, 7, discover some stuffed marine friends.
A Siesta Cove home tops sales at $5 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
ASiesta Cove home on Siesta Cove Drive tops the week’s sales. Charles and Lauren Lomangino, trustees, of Boca Raton, sold the home at 5418 Siesta Cove Drive to Karen Kuppler, trustee, of Sarasota, for $5 million.
Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, five-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 4,306 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.5 million in 2021.
SARASOTA
GRANADA
DEFCO
at 3523 Jacinto Court to Peter and Ashley Burroughs, of Sarasota, for $1,872,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,985 square feet of living area.
RUSTIC LODGE
Mission Property Partners LLC
sold the home at 2425 Temple St. to Logan Estis, of Myakka City, for $1,765,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,894 square feet of living area.
THE LANDINGS
H. Brune Levering Jr., of Concord, Massachusetts, and W. Joshua Levering, of Montclair, New Jersey, sold their home at 5127 Kestral Park Place to Kelly and Jon Baldwin, of Sarasota, for $1.49 million. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,698 square feet of living area.
INWOOD PARK
Ocean Builders of S.W. Florida Inc. sold two properties at 1875 Fifth St. to Cheri Campbell and Sarah Whitney, of Burlington, Vermont, for $1.2 million. The first property was built in 2024 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 1,515 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2024 and has one bedroom, one bath and 518 square feet of living area.
PALM AVENUE VILLAS
William and Jane Knapp, of Sarasota, sold their home at 523 S. Palm Ave. to Thomas and Barbara Finn, of Longboat Key, for $1,095,000. Built in 1998, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,919 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.4 million in 2022.
ADAMS HEIGHTS
Emily Virginia Heffernan and Richard Kline, of Bellevue, Washington, sold their home at 4510 45th Court to Christopher Allen Corde and Danielle Corde, of Sarasota, for $742,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,202 square feet of living area. It sold for $244,400 in 2015.
PURTZ
Lynn and Carol Sanden, of Lake Placid, sold their home at 2135 Hyde Park Circle to Saweda Bright Exantus and Nadin Exantus, of Sarasota, for $665,000. Built in 1964, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,801 square feet of living area. It sold for $339,900 in 2005.
GULF GATE WOODS
Jonathan and Joy Sue Andrew, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, sold their home at 7173 Antigua Place to Randall and Betsy Ridenour, of Sarasota, for $634,000. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,598 square feet of living area. It sold for $270,000 in 2015.
Robert Stanley Gold and Barbara Ann Gold, of Berea, Kentucky, sold their home at 2417 Carlisle Place to Ronald and Cindy Lynn Walton, of Sarasota, for $510,000. Built in 1971, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,471 square feet of living area. It sold for $205,000 in 2012.
KENWOOD
Janet and Cort Martin sold their home at 2295 Hibiscus St. to Kristopher Dillon Wilson and Victoria Toledo-Wilson, of Sarasota, for $629,000. Built in 1977, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,401 square feet of living area. It sold for $146,000 in 2010.
SIESTA KEY
SIESTA KEY
Thomas Schlender, trustee, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 6835 Peacock Road to Geoffrey Raker and Jill Raker, trustees, of Sarasota, for $4.5 million. The first property was built in 1976 and has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,345 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1974 and has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,259 square feet of living area. They sold for $786,500 in 2022.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
TEN35 SEASIDE
FEKRA LLC sold the Unit 408 condominium at 1035 Seaside Drive to 1035 Seaside 408 LLC for $2.5 million. Built in 2023, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,646 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.35 million in 2023.
SARASOTA: $4.5 MILLION
Sarasota Bay Club
Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 1127 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Ernest and Kristin Brown, of Sarasota, for $4.5 million. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,295 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.2 million in 2021.
PALMER RANCH: $1,125,000
Esplanade on Palmer Ranch
Laura Anne White and Maria Dagostino, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5405 Manchini St. to Phillip and Joy Feerrar, of Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, for $1,125,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,301 square feet of living area. It sold for $609,600 in 2018.
OSPREY: $3,335,000
Southbay Yacht and Racquet Club
Christopher and Michele Ann Brown, of Osprey, sold their home at 419 Yacht Harbor Drive to Jeffrey Allen Brinckerhoff and Michele Brinckerhoff and Jill Corey Brinckerhoff, of Osprey, for $3,335,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,417 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.5 million in 2024.
NOKOMIS: $1.6 MILLION
Sorrento East Chandra Hanson, of Austin, Colorado, sold her home at 4678 Silent Creek Way to Vladimir and Aileen Kovalev, of Nokomis, for $1.6 million. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,914 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,225,000 in 2019.
Source: Sarasota County, city
Photo courtesy of realtor Adnan Dedic
The home at 5418 Siesta Cove Drive was built in 2021 and has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,306 square feet of living area.
Vascular Surgery
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Dr. Gaby Ghobrial brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Vascular Surgery.
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WILD FLORIDA
Myakka marks backcountry
New trail markers will enhance wayfinding and help rangers locate park visitors in need.
MIRI HARDY CONTRIBUTOR
Park visitors who venture into Myakka’s extensive backcountry will notice an important new wayfinding feature: Trail intersections are now marked with numbered posts.
With nearly 200 miles of trails, Myakka’s backcountry offers an unparalleled and increasingly rare opportunity to experience expansive Wild Florida ecosystems. But to date, most park visitors did not venture into the backcountry, largely due to a lack of clear wayfinding and trail markers.
In the past, many park visitors who ventured out to the backcountry got lost, which resulted in a negative and potentially dangerous experience for them and also created a substantial drain on park resources.
park’s required regular schedule of prescribed burns.
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Board Certified, American Board of Surgery, Vascular Surgery
Hospital Affiliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors Hospital; Sarasota Memorial Hospital
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and
Over the past few weeks, Friends of Myakka River and Florida Park Service volunteers have placed 192 unique trail markers to aid navigation. As each marker is a unique point identifier, park rangers will now be able to locate easily those who are lost or need assistance.
Fabricated by MC Metal Works, a Sarasota-based small business, the laser-cut markers were custom designed for the park. They are intentionally unobtrusive, so as not to detract from Myakka’s wild and scenic vistas.
To protect sensitive ecosystems, they have no painted or plastic parts that could deteriorate and pollute the environment.
Since the majority of Myakka’s backcountry natural communities are fire dependent, the markers are aluminium, which are fireproof and don’t combust. They’ll therefore be able to withstand the
This impactful project was made possible by a Two for the Trails grant from Athletic Brewing Co., awarded to Friends of Myakka River. Named after co-founder and CEO Bill Shufelt’s family tradition of taking two brews to toast posttrail adventures, this grant program donates up to $2 million annually to nonprofits working to protect and restore local trails, waterways and urban green spaces around the world.
To further enhance accessibility to the park’s off-the-beaten-path areas, four trailhead kiosks with maps will soon be installed. But even without a map, the markers already add value to those who get turned around in the backcountry: All markers were placed with the number facing south, in the northwest corner of intersections.
Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations, and our own. Follow us @FriendsOfMyakkaRiver.
Miri Hardy
Myakka’s trail marking was made possible thanks to Friends of Myakka River volunteers and a generous grant from Athletic Brewing.
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A Century of Care, A Future of Hope
In 1925, the people of Sarasota County came together to open a new hospital — their only hospital. With just 32 beds, it was named simply Sarasota Hospital.
One hundred years later, we have grown into something extraordinary: a healthcare system with two full-service hospitals, a Level II Trauma Center, a renowned cancer institute, comprehensive rehabilitation services, a dedicated behavioral health pavilion, and a vast network of outpatient and physician services. Today, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System stands as an award-winning symbol of excellence, recognized nationwide and respected worldwide.
While our name and reach have expanded, our mission remains steadfast. The promise endures: to safeguard our community’s health, to be there for our neighbors in times of need, and to carry forward the trust that has defined us for a century.
Because at our core, we are still a community hospital. And some things will never change.
