The celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr. Day spanned Sarasota, including not only the various events of Newtown, but also another at Temple Emanu-El on Jan. 19.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Tribute brought together the community to celebrate the legacy and teachings of the civil rights leader.
Dedicated to Don Malawsky, who led the event’s establishment nine years ago, it featured the music of gospel singer Brenda Watty and seven speakers spanning different faiths, from the Rev. Charles McKenzie to the temple’s Rabbi Michael Shefrin.
“We’re really honored to do it,” said Rabbi Elaine Glickman.
perform.
Tuning into the town
The library may be a place for quiet, but on Jan. 22, there was the sound of opera in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium at Selby Library.
The 2025 John Goodman Performance and Lecture Series featured highlights from studio artists of the Sarasota Opera, with the public largely filling out the seats to hear classic arias and ensembles.
“It’s really lovely to get to actually have events like this,” said singer Gabrielle Barkidjija, stating it allowed performers to meet the public, present solo repertoire and sing in a more intimate setting.
The free events by Sarasota Music Archive, which also often include lectures, continue through March 19.
$0.10
Estimates for performing arts center’s repairs total $17 million. SEE PAGE 3A
Area troop marks 70th year. SEE PAGE 1B
does the roundabout art program go now? SEE PAGE 5A
Ian Swaby
Tony McGrath, 14, Henry Webber, 13, and Michael Pote, 13, celebrate Troop 50’s anniversary.
Courtesy image
Brenda Watty and Don Malawsky
Ian Swaby
Jesse Martins and Gabrielle Barkidjija
Andrew Warfield Poly has been installed in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street.
WEEK OF JAN. 23, 2024
BY THE NUMBERS
$17 MILLION
Karins Engineering estimate to repair, upgrade and floodproof the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. PAGE 3A
$340,906.50
The cost to install Poly in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street. PAGE 5A 1926
The year the Leonard Reid House was built, which is now an African American cultural arts center. PAGE 4B CALENDAR
n Purple Ribbon Committee — 5:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Feb. 3, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
“A lot of the historic property owners do recognize that in order to fix up their buildings and to make them viable again, it’s a significant investment. Some can make that investment. Some cannot.”
Sarasota Planning Director Steven Cover Read more on page 6A
Parked outside the expansive walls of glass during the Jan. 14 grand opening ceremony of the new Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport was an Allegiant Air
Airbus A320 sporting a custom marine life-themed wrap promoting the Sarasota-Bradenton area as a tourism destination.
The design of the aircraft, which is scheduled to be based at SRQ, showcases the area’s marine life from starfish and seashells to splashes of colors emblematic of Florida’s coastal
environment. During his remarks prior to snipping the ribbon to celebrate the five new gates, SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo said it was the first time in the airline’s history that a plane had been emblazoned by a travel destination marketing effort.
The $63,231 cost of the design was divided between the Visit Sarasota County, Bradenton Area Conventions & Visitors Bureau.
“This branded aircraft is yet another way we’re strengthening our region’s status as a must-experience destination nationally,
helping to not only invite more visitors but also keep local businesses thriving and residents employed,” said Visit Sarasota County President and CEO Erin Duggan in a news release.
In 2017, Visit Sarasota County, Bradenton Area Conventions & Visitors Bureau and the airport created the Airline Marketing Program to incentivize airlines to bring new routes into the area. Since its inception, the joint marketing effort has highlighted Sarasota and Manatee counties in more than 40 destinations.
Transit expert starts urban speaker series
Kicking off the 2025 Urban Studies Speaker Series on Monday, Jan. 27, will be author and bus transit expert Jarrett Walker, who will address the role of transit in the challenges the city and county face when wrestling with the issues of affordable housing, traffic and an updated downtown Sarasota master plan. Walker’s presentation will begin at 6 p.m. at the Aloft Hotel at 1401 Ringling Blvd.
Walker is the president of Jarrett Walker + Associates of Portland, Oregon, a consultancy that contracts with public transit agencies to evaluate and redesign their bus networks. The firm has completed transit redesign projects in dozens of cities around the world including Houston; Moscow, Russia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Dublin, Ireland. In Houston, Walker proposed creating a grid of bus routes with frequent service rather than focusing on expanding coverage, resulting one year later in an 11% increase in ridership on weekdays and a 30% increase on weekends. The event is sponsored by Hoyt Architects. Admission is $20, For tickets, contact Britany at Hoyt Architects at 941366-6066 or by email at Studio@ HoytArchitects.com.
County government holds job fairs
Sarasota County Government will hold job fairs in January, February and March 2025. Hiring managers will be on-site to screen and interview job seekers who wish to apply for open positions. The job fairs will be held Friday, Jan. 24, at Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd. in Venice; Thursday, Feb. 6, at Shannon Staub Library, 4675 Career Lane in North Port; and Tuesday, March 25, at Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road near Sarasota. Hours for all three are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Candidates should bring their resumes to the event and be prepared to meet with hiring managers and county staff, possibly leaving with a job offer.
To view all job openings or to apply online, visit SCGov.net/Jobs.
Andrew Warfield
An Allegiant aircraft will carry the Sarasota-Bradenton brand on routes to and from SRQ Airport
Van Wezel repairs may total $17 million
The draft Karins Engineering report to the city’s Purple Ribbon Committee includes systems upgrades and flood proofing, but not expanding or reconfiguring seating.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Whether it becomes a complementary facility to a new performing arts center or continues as the city’s primary show venue, the cost to affect repairs, preserve and protect the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is approximately $17 million.
During its Jan. 13 meeting, Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee received the draft of the latest report from Karins Engineering on the structural integrity of the Van Wezel.
The report is the lynchpin in the committee’s deliberations on a reuse recommendation of the building should the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center be built nearby.
While the 409-page document is filled with technical details ranging from waterproofing, seating options, acoustics, utilities and more from basement to rooftop, what stood out was the cost to mitigate maintenance issues, improve functionality and flood-proof the building, Karins and its assembled team of engineers and consultants received an object lesson in flood vulnerability of the Van Wezel in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which left $10 million worth of damage.
Led by Karins Engineering Principal David Karins, the report suggests options to protect the building from a 500-year flood event range from $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Besides flood barriers at key locations around the building, those options include wave energy absorbing breakwater, a higher flood barrier along the bay and an AquaFence, a removable flood wall that can be deployed in advance of storm events.
An example of the use of the latter is Tampa General Hospital, which used an AquaFence to protect its facilities from flooding during the 2024 hurricane season.
The question becomes, then, should $17 million be invested in the
55-year-old building that may not have a long-term future as the city’s primary performing arts venue, or does the prospect of spending $17 million usurp an investment upwards of $400 million on a new hall on the opposite corner of the parking lot, which is currently under design by the Italy-based architecture firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
“There are things that are easy to make a decision on. For example, improving the flood resistance of the building in general and the property as a whole,” Karins told the committee.
“That’s a pretty easy decision to make, given what’s just happened to us. Changing the seating bowl and adding premium seating space, things like that are more subjective. Hopefully, you all will be able to make some good recommendations to the City Commission, but we should have enough information now that we’re dealing with facts and figures and not just speculation.”
Inside the building, the big-ticket items at $5 million each are components replacement and maintenance of the electrical and HVAC systems, plus another $1 million to upgrade the fire protection system.
No costs for reconfiguring the seating bowl to add aisles and any premium seating options were included, nor adding restroom facilities — which are in short supply for the capacity — and acoustic improvements.
The theater, Karins said, “Is generally OK for amplified music, and for unamplified sound it’s deficient” and is adequate for “smaller bus and truck shows.” Any expansion of the seating capacity, which is inadequate for first-run off-Broadway shows, will push the cost beyond $40 million, the threshold of the 50% FEMA rule that prohibits improvements to a structure exceeding half its market value unless the entire structure is brought into full compliance with current flood regulations. The appraised value of the Van
“You can continue to maintain the building indefinitely, so it comes down to how comfortable is the community with the risk associated with some catastrophic event. Our team was looking at not just seven to 10 years, we were looking at a longer life.”
Karins Engineering Principal David Karins
Wezel, according to the report, is just more than $80 million.
Committee member David Rovine asked Karins if there is a short-term fix should the new performing arts center move forward, or should the city consider a longer-term solution for the Van Wezel.
“You can continue to maintain the building indefinitely, so it comes down to how comfortable is the community with the risk associated with some catastrophic event,” Karins said. “Our team was looking at not just seven to 10 years, we were looking at a longer life.”
The finalized Karins Engineering report will be presented to the committee at its Feb. 24 meeting. The next meeting of the Purple Ribbon Committee will be 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, when it will be briefed by the Bay Park Conservancy on developments in The Bay park and its effects on the Van Wezel.
The Purple Ribbon Committee has until June 30, 2025, to submit its report on suggestions for repurposing the Van Wezel
Arts Hall.
Marlon Brown named chamber director of government affairs
ormer Sarasota City Manager
Marlon Brown hasn’t strayed far from government. After retiring in October 2024, Brown has been named director of government affairs for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
Brown was city manager since January 2021, previously serving as deputy city manager for 11 years. Brown’s new role will be to advance the chamber’s legislative agenda, focusing on issues important to business owners including affordable housing, talent and workforce, lack of child care options for working parents, smart economic development, transportation and water quality.
“His regional experience in working with both city, county and state government, as well as his work with many community organizations, makes him a solid fit for this role,” said Sarasota Chamber President and CEO Heather Kasten in a news release. “We are thrilled and honored to have him join our team.”
Brown’s retirement concluded a
31-year career in city and county administration, all within the state of Florida. His first day at his new post was Friday, Jan. 17.
“I am joining an organization that I consider one of the best of the best in the state of Florida, especially at a time when public policy decisions have become critical to the success, or failure, of Sarasota’s vibrant business sector and are specifically impactful to our small business sector that do not necessarily have the resources to represent their interests,” Brown said in the news release.
“I am excited and ready to fully embrace this new challenge and to begin my next chapter.”
Adds Chamber Chairman Joe Hembree, “Marlon’s expertise and passion for community building enable him to champion our public policy and governance initiatives. We’re confident his leadership will not only amplify our advocacy efforts but also translate into tangible improvements in Sarasota’s quality of life.”
Retired City Manager Marlon Brown has been named director of government affairs of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
With Poly installed, what’s next?
Questions loom about the future of the city’s Art in the Roundabouts program.
Now
of determining what’s next for the plan to install sculptures in three other roundabouts along U.S. 41. Prior to the skyrocketing construction and materials costs in the aftermath of COVID-19, the plan to install sculptures in roundabouts at 10th Street, Fruitville Road and Gulfstream Avenue was central to the city’s Art in the Roundabouts program. The dual purpose is to highlight Sarasota’s arts legacy by placing significant pieces in highprofile locations while enhancing safety by serving as a visual cue on the approach to the traffic circles.
Fabrication of Poly was delayed beginning in early 2020 because of global supply chain issues after the beginning of the pandemic, and installation stalled by the quickly escalating cost far exceeding preCOVID estimates.
The city had budgeted $514,000 for construction of roundabout pads at 10th and 14th streets. For the first round of bidding, only one was submitted — that by Jon F. Swift Construction — at $743,651.70 for 10th Street and $389,737.70 for 14th Street, a total of $1,133,380.40. That was more than double the $514,000 the city had budgeted for the two foundations.
The City Commission then directed the Public Art Committee — then under the leadership of Mary Davis Wallace, the city’s former public art
Seagrass is one of two U.S. 41 roundabout sculptures that will be placed in a different location on city property.
administrator — to identify alternate locations for the Poly and Seagrass, which was the piece selected for 10th Street. The thought at the time was, because of the more rigid Florida Department of Transportation standards for installing art on a state highway and the few contractors authorized to do so, it would be less expensive to place those and other pieces on city right of way.
As it turned out, not so much.
More rounds of bidding finally reduced the installation cost of Poly to $340,906.50, which the City Commission approved on July 15.
That leaves Coleman, the Public Art Committee and the City Commission to wrestle with what happens with Seagrass, which still awaits fabrication, and eventually perhaps The Sun Always Shines, which was chosen by the committee but has yet to be considered for approval by commissioners.
None of that, Senior Communications Manager Jan Thornburg said, is likely to be a topic of discussion until after naming a new city manager.
“One of the elements that staff is keeping in mind not just in the public art area, but many of our
departments, is that we are launching a search for a new city manager,” Thornburg said. “When we get a new city manager on board, this will be one of the areas that individual will be looking at and taking into consideration.”
Like Poly, Seagrass is specifically selected for its intended location, further complicating the placement of the sculpture. The committee did identify possible locations for both Seagrass and The Sun Always Shines, but that matter has not advanced to the City Commission.
“I expect we’re going to be looking at all of the options and probably bringing them to the City Commission at some point in the future,” Coleman said. “I can’t really speak to any kind of timeline on that, but we’re definitely looking at all the options, and then it will end up going to the commission for what their direction is.”
Included in that relocation discussion is the city’s signature sculpture, Complexus, which is in the midst of an extended stay at the Sarasota Art Museum after having been removed from its prior location for the construction of the Gulfstream Avenue
A Sarasota native, Coleman is a graduate of University of Florida with a degree in community health education. Having grown up in an artistic family, while in Gainesville, she worked at the campus arts and crafts center and was gallery director of the Reitz Union Art Gallery.
“I ended up being kind of entrenched in art despite going for health education,” said Coleman, whose mother was a local sculptor and grandmother attended
roundabout. But first, Complexus needs its own work.
“We’re going to reach out to the John Henry studio for further evaluation of the structural integrity,” Coleman said of Complexus. “It’s beyond the scheduled maintenance
the Chicago Institute of Art and plied her trade both in Chicago and in Sarasota. “I really grew up in the Sarasota art scene. I hung out at the art center all the time, went to all the craft fairs and that sort of thing.”
She joined the city in 2021 as marketing outreach coordinator and also worked with her predecessor in crafting the city’s Public Art Plan 2030. She was named public art administrator on Nov. 27, 2024.
plan. It had a 10-year maintenance plan when it was donated in 2012, although it was painted in 2022, so now we need to look at structural integrity or anything like that.”
ABOUT CIERA COLEMAN
Courtesy images
Sarasota Public Art Administrator Ciera Coleman.
SELLING AIR
Owners of historic properties in the downtown area now have an incentive to help preserve their buildings while monetizing a portion of their redevelopment potential.
By unanimous vote at its Jan. 21 meeting, the Sarasota City Commission approved an ordinance that creates a voluntary transfer of development rights program for historic properties. Now, owners of buildings in sending zones may sell a portion of their by-right redevelopment density to those in receiving zones within the downtown zone districts and
some surrounding neighborhoods.
The program then attaches a deed restriction to the owners of historic properties prohibiting redevelopment — buildings can be replaced but not enlarged in the event of fire, flood or other acts of God — and buyers can apply additional square footage and a limit of two stories in height to their development projects.
How much density may be transferred depends on the size of the sending structure and the zoning of the receiver.
By definition, an eligible sending property is one that could be redeveloped to its permitted zoning density. An eligible receiving property is one that may acquire that unused density
to add to its base density when developed. Height cannot be acquired, but can include two additional stories beyond zoning code limits providing the additional density necessitates.
The program is the result of a privately initiated effort by the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of development pressure here in the city, particularly in some instances with historic properties,” Planning Director Steven Cover told commissioners. “A lot of the historic property owners do recognize that in order to fix up their buildings and to make them viable again, it’s a significant investment.”
Enter the historic preservation alliance about a year ago, Cover said, which approached staff about developing the TDR program, modeled after a program in St. Petersburg.
“This has been a community-led project from the beginning, and in recognition that our historic preservation tool kit has been insufficient to prevent the loss of our historic buildings, the historic preservation transfer of development rights program is the realization of extensive
research,” said Erin DiFazio, program director of the alliance. “Over the past year, (there was) collaboration between the alliance and planning staff to build out a data-driven, unifying and functional process that will invite strong community participation and hopefully protect our walkable, historic city.”
How much the development rights are worth is a private transaction between the seller and the buyer. The owner of a sending property can sell all or part of its development rights to a single receiver, or even portions of it to multiple receivers. Those rights can also be resold by the receiver to the owner of another eligible property within a receiving zone.
Eligible properties for both ends of the transaction are identified in overlays for sending zones, receiving zones and zones that are both sending and receiving. They cover all of the downtown zone districts and neighborhoods, such as Park East, Gillespie Park, Laurel Park, Burns Court and others.
The program isn’t limited to historic-designated properties. It is also available to contributing structures, those of similar character and scale, within a historic district.
A receiving property is not granted additional height simply by the transfer of by-right dwelling unit density, said Senior Planner Brianna Dobbs.
“Additional height up to two stories is only available when transferring buildable square footage, and that’s excluding the Downtown Bayfront properties, as they cannot receive any additional height, only the additional density,” she said.
After unanimously endorsing the TDR program on Nov. 13, by a separate 3-2 vote, the Planning Board recommended staff explore allowing up to four stories of additional height for receiving properties.
In its second of the two-part vote, the City Commission excluded that recommendation for now.
Mayor Liz Alpert supported further investigation into the extra two stories, adding it could provide more flexibility to the program and “possibly that might make the difference between somebody being able to sell their development rights and somebody not.”
ELIGIBLE SENDING PROPERTIES
Designated historic buildings that qualify for the TDR program are located within sending zones and are individually referred to as sending sites. The unused development rights that are sold to new developments are located within receiving zones, individually referred to as receiving sites.
An eligible sending site is defined as: n A building locally designated by the city of Sarasota as a significant historic property n A building located within the city of Sarasota local historic district and identified by the city as a contributing property to the historic district n A building individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places n A building is located within a historic district and the National Register of Historic Places and listed as a contributing property to the historic district n A nonhistoric designated property identified as a contributing structure to a historic district
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
City Commission OKs transfer of height and density rights program for downtown historic properties.
File image
The former S.H. Kress store in downtown Sarasota is an example of a property that would be eligible to transfer its by-right developable height and density to a developer of a receiving site.
The Gulf of America: Yes!
Given what Mexico has done to the United States, Mexico doesn’t deserve to have that wonderful body of water named after it.
There was so much to like in Donald Trump’s inauguration speech. But from our vantage point down here, the part to like best was his vow to change the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
That immediately sparked chatter, speculation and hope around Longboat Key that Longboat’s “Main Street” — Gulf of Mexico Drive — would undergo the same name change.
Assuming Trump will get what he wants, it would be awkward for us to be driving on a road named for a body of water that no longer exists and with the name of country that isn’t one that has treated us like dirt.
Perhaps there will be many who think it arrogant in this part of the United States of America to want to change the name of that (mostly beautiful) body of water. But considering what Mexico has done to the U.S., especially in the past 20 years (e.g. central hub and launch pad of an invasion of illegal immigrants and central distribution hub for one of our nation’s biggest killers — fentanyl), that country is not deserving to have a major body of water named in its honor.
So we’re going to assume Trump will prevail in this name war. And we’ll assume our state legislators will go along with the name change as well — especially given Gulf of Mexico Drive is a state highway.
Who knows how or how long this can and will take. But our 47th president certainly has sent strong messages this name change is high on his priority list.
With that, we hope the Florida Department of Transportation and the Longboat Key Public Works staff have already begun lining up the street sign makers.
Meantime …
There is much for the pundits to unpack from Trump’s inauguration address. That was quite the long to-do list. It would be worthwhile to compile the list and keep score — put boxes next to each item and cross them off as he proceeds.
As is typical Trump was blunt and clearly in tune with the way Americans feel — sick to their stomachs and wallets with what his predecessor and his puppet masters did to the U.S. the previous four years.
Indeed, it was rich to sit and watch the Bidens, Harrises, Obamas and Clintons scowl as Trump called out each one of their catastrophes.
FLORIDA’S COMPETITIVENESS:
They deserved to be shamed for what they inflicted on American families.
Perhaps one line captured how absurd the state of the country became over the past four years when Trump — the president of our government and leader of the free world — felt compelled to have to declare “that henceforth it will be the official policy of the United States government that there will be only two genders — male female.”
Never in the history of the world has that been an issue.
Can you imagine George Washington or Abraham Lincoln making such a pronouncement. It’s a testament to how far down we’ve gone.
As is his way, Trump made his hyperbolized pronouncements of how great America is to become. But give him credit. We need a leader in the Oval Office who has big visions and also a track record of getting things done.
Our favorite phrases and lines:
■ “The Golden Age of America begins right now.”
■ “Proud, prosperous and free”
■ “The revolution of common sense”
■ “We will forge a society that is color blind and merit based.”
FAUCI’S PARDON
Of all the Biden pardons, the most sickening was that of Anthony Fauci, liar in chief about COVID. Millions of Americans died unnecessarily because of Fauci’s hands-on, direct roles in the pandemic — from the origins of the virus; to his blatant undermining of the effectiveness of ivermectin; to his coverups (with Pfizer and others) that the so-called “vaccines” were safe and effective — even though he and Pfizer knew they were not and have proven disastrous. Fauci has millions of dead Americans’ blood on his hands. And yet he walks free. The pardon of Fauci (and his family members) reveals the true character of Joe Biden. And amazingly and obviously, none of this bothers him in the least. —
■ “The impossible is what we do best”
■ “Bring back free speech to America”
■ “We will not forget our God” — Matt Walsh
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When Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, spoke last week at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 kickoff brunch, he captivated the audience with startling statistics about Florida.
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment
In the Jan. 9 Observer, Jon Thaxton presented the rationale related to county’s Comprehensive Plan for denying the change in zoning for the Smith Farm, adjacent to Celery Fields, for high density housing by the behemoth developer, D. R. Horton.
It was in response to a previous Observer column by Matt Walsh, who laid out his premise that a recommendation to deny the zoning change was favoring the birds over the people, or more aptly, over the developers who reap the profits.
The Sarasota Planning Commission voted to deny the zoning change, but the final decision will be made in February by a vote of the Sarasota County commissioners. Presented here is an additional justification for denying the zoning change.
Walsh invoked the rights of the people for housing and stated that the objections by the environmentalists to the zoning change were “laughable.” What is well “laughable” is his suggestion that the “Stargazers” and the Sarasota Audubon Society buy the property.
The Suncoast Stargazers are a
club serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties operating only on donations with no membership fees!
Funding of the Sarasota Audubon is through minimal dues and private donations, and it took many years to raise the $1.3 million in private funds to build the Nature Center at the Celery Fields.
Apparently, an offer was made to the Smith Family via the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program to purchase the property at assessed value, but ostensibly a higher offer was provided by D.R. Horton.
The ESLPP is a Sarasota County voter-approved program designed to acquire and protect natural lands and parklands. The criteria are rarity, quality, connectivity, manageability and water quality, benefits all apropos to the Celery Fields location.
Now for how Celery Fields is “for the people” as well as the environment, birds and other wildlife.
The Sarasota Audubon Society has a 60-year history of volunteerism by many hundreds of local and seasonal residents and recently chronicled in the book “Sarasota Audubon Society: An Historical Perspective*.”
The primary focus of the Sarasota Audubon Society has been
at Celery Fields since the late 1990s and volunteers have offered numerous environmental programs for hundreds of both area youth and adults. The programs and projects were greatly expanded in 2015 with the opening of the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center.
Celery Fields, including “Mount Celery” (the observation hill at the location), are also regularly utilized by people with a wide range of interests, from endurance training to access to a quiet and peaceful environment. The list includes walks, jogging (individuals and high school track teams), endurance training on the hill (fire department), nature education for youth and adults, yoga groups, plein air art classes, and sighting and recording of birds and other wildlife.
A high-density housing development on the adjacent Smith Farm property would directly impact many of these programs and activities.
Two boardwalks were constructed out into the wetlands of Celery Fields, one of which is adjacent to the Smith Farm at
Raymond Road. Over 120,000 visitors from around the world come to Celery Fields each year and many use the boardwalks for better viewing.
Over the past several years, 900 area school children and teachers have been bussed and dropped off at the Raymond Road boardwalk to learn about water quality and the importance of different habitats to animals and plants through a program offered by the Sarasota Audubon Society.
Both the safety of the children and their outdoor experience would be negatively impacted with the proposed housing development. Many of the other programs and activities listed above would also be disrupted with the increased traffic, noise and potential flooding. The necessary increased lighting would also be detrimental to the bird habitat.
There is no scarcity of new housing developments in Sarasota and Manatee counties, just look at Lakewood Ranch or Wellen Park in Venice with 10,00 residents and plans to accommodate 50,000 residents in 22,500 homes.
The protection of the Celery Fields environment is very beneficial to thousands of local residents as well as to the plethora of visitors to the region.
The fields and facilities are for everyone, now and in generations to come, to learn about and appreciate nature in quiet, peaceful surroundings.
Why should we allow a behemoth developer to reap more profits and diminish one of the best accessible natural areas in the entire region? Choose people and nature over a high density housing development.
RAYMOND A. YOUNG EMERITUS PROFESSOR AND SARASOTA RESIDENT
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Emerson Lakes,℠ the distinctive new retirement community by Erickson Senior Living,® is now accepting reservations!
Our first phase of construction is now underway. It includes the beautiful Coral Ridge Clubhouse and three residence buildings: Sandhill Point, anticipated to open in the fall of 2026, followed by Laguna Springs and Mangrove Run, opening in the first half of 2027.
Here are just a few resort-style amenities you can expect when you live at Emerson Lakes:
• Multiple dining venues
• An outdoor pool with a walk-up bar
• A state-of-the-art fitness center
• Pickleball and bocce ball courts
• Outdoor fitness center with meditation garden
• Fire pits
Courtesy image
A plan to build 170 homes on a 50-acre piece of land adjacent to Celery Fields did not win the recommendation of the Sarasota Planning Commission last month.
PALMER BLVD. APEX RD.
PALMER BLVD.
CELERY FIELDS RAYMOND RD.
SMITH FARMS
Celery Fields is a popular walking location that is home to more than 240 bird species.
Sarasota Winn-Dixie to close, reemerge as Aldi
The conversion could take several months, the company said.
ASarasota Winn-Dixie supermarket will be closing in February as it converts to an Aldi store, a spokesperson for Aldi has confirmed.
Signs on the facade of the WinnDixie in the Southeast Plaza, at the corner of Bee Ridge Road and McIntosh Road, announced the news to customers.
“The store will reopen to the community as an Aldi over the next several months,” the spokesperson told the Observer in an email.
Fast-growth and low-cost grocer Aldi announced the acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket in 2023 as part of parent company Southeastern Grocers’ divestiture plans. The acquisition included approximately 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Employees at the Bee Ridge Road Winn-Dixie will be able to be the first to apply to newly converted Aldi stores, or transfer, the spokesperson said.
“Aldi is committed to doing its best to minimize the impact and provide support and opportunities to associates at converting stores, including the option to remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to a neighboring store.”
Aldi added new stores in Lakeland in 2023 and converted Winn Dixie stores in Lakeland and south Tampa in 2024.
The chain is known for keeping its prices low by cutting back on frills, such as a deli counter and pharmacy, and keeping things simple.
Aldi also requires customers to pay 25 cents to use a shopping cart (It’s refunded when you return the cart.) and does not provide bags for
customers to carry their purchases from the store.
Aldi also carries a limited number of brands. The company says 90% of its products are private label.
Winn-Dixie traces its roots back to the 1920s, when the Davis family opened a store in Miami and began expanding with other stores, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record, sister paper of the Observer.
The company established its headquarters in Jacksonville in 1944, and after a series of transactions, the company was named Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. in 1955.
Winn-Dixie struggled in the early 2000s and went through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 2005 and 2006.
Winn-Dixie merged with Bi-Lo Holdings in 2012 to form Southeastern Grocers.
Southeastern went through a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 2018, with a group of investment funds taking control of the company.
The company filed plans for an initial public offering in 2020 but pulled the IPO off the market in January 2021, and it has been the subject of buyout rumors since that time, the Jacksonville Daily Record reports.
Photo by Jim Dela
The Winn-Dixie in the Southeast Plaza, at the corner of Bee Ridge Road and McIntosh Road, is being converted to an Aldi, the company said.
SATURDAY, JAN. 11
4:50 p.m., intersection of Main Street and Lemon Avenue
Impaired person: An officer responded to a call regarding a male subject who was observed screaming at passersby and throwing objects at vehicles.
Upon arrival, the officer observed the subject acting irate and disorderly. Having been aggressive toward others, uttering racial epithets, threatening violence and generally making a nuisance of himself, the subject was secured in handcuffs without issue. He was asked if he had taken drugs, which he denied, but the officer believed him to be under the influence.
When he began to be searched, the subject reacted by smashing his head against the patrol vehicle and was guided to the ground for his own protection. He was then transported to the hospital by emergency medical responders under the Baker Act.
LOCKED OUT
3:20 p.m., 800 block of South Tamiami Trail Civil disturbance: A woman displaced from her home due to hurricane damage was staying in a hotel and storing her belongings, with permission, in a storage unit that was leased by a neighbor. After clothing and some household items had been stored there for about three weeks, she told an officer she was denied access to the unit by her neighbor when she was ready to retrieve them. This was because the neighbor accused her of stealing between $1,500 and $1,900 and a flashlight. She denied stealing any money and advised she was actually tasked with returning the flashlight to a local retailer.
The complainant was advised that the matter was civil in nature and she would need to take the neighbor to court to retrieve her items.
While on scene, the woman called the man, who requested her assistance with unloading his truck and that they would meet later to possibly retrieve her belongings.
FROM VICTIM TO INMATE
11:43 p.m., 2800 block of Leon Avenue
Disturbance: Officers were met with approximately a dozen people, most of whom were yelling at one another. Once they were able to separate the parties, it was determined the core argument was between four individuals.
Two of them were arguing about one of them “messing around the house too much,” the report read without further specification regarding what “messing around” means. When a third individual attempted to de-escalate the situation, a fourth joined in before other bystanders became involved. In the process of the investigation,
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
ACTING UP
8:30 p.m., intersection of Main Street and Lemon Avenue
Disturbance: While on routine foot patrol, officers happened upon a nattily dressed “young man wearing a pink sideways hat, pink shorts and a white T-shirt,” as described in the incident report. He was carrying a green bottle and walking unsteadily.
“Based on my training and experience, I believed this green bottle to be an alcoholic beverage. Also based on the male’s actions, I believed him to be intoxicated,” an officer wrote.
The subject was advised that he was in violation of the city’s open container law as well as obstruction of pedestrian traffic flow. Meanwhile, another unidentified male began recording the encounter, yelling that they did nothing wrong and informing the officers that they were ignorant. It was believed the subjects were streaming on a recently canceled and soon resurrected social media platform and that they were attempting to elicit a reaction from the officers for the delight and entertainment of their audience.
The subjects claimed the contents of the bottle were nonalcoholic and were being disorderly despite families and children in the area. The officers exercised discretion regarding the open container issue even though the bottle-holding, pink-clad subject refused to allow officers to examine it.
Because the subjects continued filming and causing more of an issue over continuing with the investigation, the report was filed for informational purposes only and no further action was taken and the subjects were not identified. Later, it was noted, a 911 call was received regarding the same individuals continuing pursuit of their film careers at Payne Park.
one party made allegations that she was hit in the head from behind by an unknown object and that one member of the group held a knife to her back and threatened to kill her. “It should be noted,” the report reads, “that (the alleged victim) was severely intoxicated and hysterical throughout.” She also presented no injuries that would back up her claim. All witnesses to the event said no knife was brandished during the altercation.
As a bonus, the woman who claimed to be hit and threatened was confirmed to have three outstanding warrants for arrest in Sarasota County. She was arrested and transported to Sarasota County Jail within further incident.
Science textbooks, cell phone use up for discussion
The school board will vote on a list of finalists for K-12 science textbooks, and will discuss cell phone policies.
SWABY STAFF WRITER
When the Sarasota County School Board convened on Jan. 14 for its first meeting of the new year, it set some goals for the meetings and workshops ahead.
Some of those included a vote on recommended science textbooks, as well as discussing policies around cell phone use.
The school board is set to vote on the adoption of its recommended K-12 science textbooks on Feb. 18.
On Jan. 14, the board held a hearing for the books, which had already been reviewed by the district adoption committee, and voted on at the school level.
The five speakers at the podium voiced concerns that specific Florida editions of textbooks resulted in censorship, inquiring about what materials were excluded.
“I have been in public education for over 50 years, and this is the first time I ever remember a public hearing on the adoption of textbooks,” said Carol Lerner of Support Our Schools. “In my experience, textbook selection was always left to professionals, AKA teachers.”
“If we do have textbooks that are deficient, we need to have supplemental materials, curriculum planning materials, to help the teachers augment what is in the textbooks with real science,” said Michael Weddle.
Most board members did not comment during the meeting, but will still be able to do so at the adoption hearing on Feb. 18.
However, board member Liz Bark-
er said she had a “slightly different lens” on the textbooks, having been part of the K-5 math textbook adoption committee.
“As a parent, I can feel upset and disappointed that we have restricted the options to review for our students, and I do; I don’t think it’s fair that my students, because they are in Florida, have less information when it comes to science than students in other states.”
She also offered her thanks to the committee’s work.
“It is hours, and hours, and hours of painstaking reviewing and rating textbooks... It is a not a willy-nilly process,” she said. “It is very structured, and it is useful, and productive.”
The school board also agreed to hold discussions on cell phone use in classrooms at a future workshop.
Board member Tom Edwards, who raised the topic, said while the district was in compliance with state statutes, there was no reason there could not be a more restrictive policy.
“I don’t have an argument in this fight, I really don’t,” he said. “I think that the data is out there that cell phone usage and social media is damaging to students’ mental health, and I also think that it has been confirmed that it’s a distraction academically, but while talking to the community over the last year, in a campaign mode, I was having countless conversations with parents about the issue from both sides of the conversation...”
He said he encountered parents who were fearful about the issue of not having contact with their children on a daily basis, as well as par-
POSSIBLE TEXTBOOK CHOICES
ELEMENTARY
McGraw Hill, Discovery, and Savvas
MIDDLE SCHOOL General science: McGraw Hill, and Savvas
Physical Science: McGraw Hill
HIGH SCHOOL
Astronomy: National Geographic Cengage Chemistry: McGraw Hill, and National Geographic Cengage
Forensic: National Geographic Cengage Physics: Pasco Scientific, and Kiddom
Marine Science: McGraw Hill, and National Geographic Cengage Biology: McGraw Hill, and Savvas
Enviromental: Savvas, McGraw Hill, and National Geographic Cengage
Earth Space Science: McGraw Hill, and National Geographic Cengage
Anatomy: McGraw Hill, and National Geographic Cengage
ents with other concerns, suggested the school board discuss the topic to “put it to rest” and “find out what is the perfect fit for Sarasota.”
Board member Bridget Ziegler noted she had previously discussed the topic during a recent school board retreat.
“I will say, it’s an issue, just where I’m coming from and where I’ve been consistent is, it has been proven, over and over again, through studies, that it does have a detrimental impact on mental health, on developing minds,” she said. “It is a distraction, so it is counterproductive to the mission of our school district, full stop.”
She said a “bell-to-bell” ban was an appropriate solution, stating she did believe there has been less disruption in certain classrooms since the district’s policy was tightened previously.
“I think, again, it makes me cringe when we approve multimillions of dollars in mental health, and yet we don’t have a policy that really cuts out a device that we know is a massive driver, is an impediment to mental health,” she said, stating she didn’t “mind being the one on the island” and understood the “very serious, real concern” of any type of security threat. She said she would like Super-
intendent Terry Connor to present updated information before they enter the conversation.
Board Chair Tim Enos said, noting he was present in the district during a zero-tolerance policy and referencing input during public comment, that, “As we heard from today, just as an example, if we took cell phones away, we don’t want people to intentionally violate it and it become more aggressive.”
He mentioned the possibility of putting up antennae to stop Wi-Fi services, and said he would “greatly appreciate” a discussion. Barker called it an “absolutely necessity” to have the discussion.
“I would add that caveat as a mom of older children, who do have cell phones in school, and I think use them responsibly most of the time, that you’re exactly right, Ms. Ziegler. We as parents live with a lot of fear. We want our children, when they get on the bus in the morning, to come home to us in the afternoon, and there is a level of comfort to watching that little red dot go through all the classes and the cafeteria.”
She said she had not decided one way or another and was “very torn,” but welcomed the conversation and the chance for parents to offer their input.
SPORTS
The Cardinal Mooney girls varsity basketball team (12-9), the defending Class 3A Region 2 champions, have rattled off five straight wins dating back to Jan. 10. The Cougars most recent victory came over Orlando Lake Highland Prep, the defending Class 4A state champions, when Cardinal Mooney won 65-58. Seniors Kali Barrett and Riley Martin led the Cougars in scoring with 15 points each.
... On the boys’ side, the Cougars (18-1) have been on a tear this season, with their most recent victory coming over the IMG Academy Regional team 53-35 at home on Jan. 20. The Cougars have been led in scoring by sophomore guard Jamaal George, who is averaging 15.8 points per game and junior guard Malakai Cuffy, averaging 13.8 points per game.
... On Jan. 14, Riverview High announced that Mark Cristiani would be stepping in as head coach of the football team after the resignation of former coach Josh Smithers earlier this month. Cristiani, who was previously the head of strength and conditioning and varsity defensive line coach, takes over a program that went 4-6 this past season. Cristiani is a former U.S. Special Operations soldier with three combat deployments as a member of the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.
... The Riverview girls varsity soccer team, ranked 10th in Class 7A by the FHSAA, finished out its regular season with a 10-3-1 record, losing 2-0 to North Fort Myers, the 18th ranked team in the nation, on Jan. 16. Senior Rachel Paule led the Rams in scoring and assists this season, with nine goals and nine assists for a total of 27 points on the year. Riverview will next play the winner of North Port and Lehigh Acres Lehigh in the semifinal game of the Class 7A District 12 tournament at home on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
SARASOTA CREW COACH DEFINES WINNING. PAGE 17A
a natural feel for the game.”
OUT ON THE PITCH
The Sarasota Rugby Club is back in 2025 with a new home in Ridge Wood Heights.
DYLAN CAMPBELL SPORTS REPORTER
They come from all walks of life. Some are college graduates with corporate office jobs and 401ks; others are more blue collar, plumbers, electricians and the like. Some come from stable families, looking for a weekend hobby, while others hail from broken homes.
Their backgrounds — where they come from, who they are, how much money they make — does not matter. Because when they are on the pitch, donning the trademark black and white striped collared shirts, they are all part of the Sarasota Rugby Club.
The club’s founder, an Englishman by the name of Gary Johnson, has been playing and coaching rugby in Sarasota since the late 1990s.
The idea behind creating the club, which officially incorporated into a nonprofit in 2010, was simple: to create a place that would welcome people of all experiences to the sport, both young and old.
“I’ve played rugby since the late ’90s and early 2000s here, coaching and managing teams since then and eventually we decided to start a foundation to encourage youth to play the sport,” said Jones. “All of us in the rugby community had kids at the time and realized how expensive it was to play soccer or lacrosse or American football, and we just wanted to give people the opportunity to play a sport that wasn’t going to cost an arm and a leg.”
Sarasota Rugby Club, which, in addition to a competitive men’s team of about 40 players called the Sarasota Surge, also has a Youth Academy with tiered teams per age group, is designed to create a pathway for athletes into a sport that is outside of the traditional athletics offered in the states.
Although rugby has grown in popularity in recent years in the United States with the advent of the first professional league, Major League
occur. Head coach Ross Galbraith said for new members looking to join the men’s team, that first moment of contact is the litmus test for if they want to pursue the sport.
“That first hit separates those who are serious about it from those who might’ve just watched a few clips of rugby on Instagram,” said Galbraith.
“Sometimes it can be over from the first hit they take and they don’t come back. Other people embrace it.”
The way the players tackle one another, however, differs vastly from that of American football. In rugby, there is a strict rule preventing any contact by a tackler on a ball carrier above the shoulders.
Rugby and the success of USA rugby, the sport, one of the predecessors of football, is not mainstream.
Americans don’t watch rugby on TV. It’s not a varsity sport commonly found at most high schools, and while there are collegiate rugby organizations, it is not a varsity sport recognized by the NCAA.
Then why should Americans care?
Because the sport, Jones maintains, has something to offer for all athletes, particularly those looking for a home. The mechanics of the sport are partially what lend itself to building discipline, character and teamwork in young athletes.
“The premise of rugby, compared to other sports like football and soccer, is that it requires a level of discipline and accountability on the field that translates to life off of it,” said Johnson. “There is no showboating or disrespect shown to the other team. Additionally, rugby is constant. The action never stops, forcing you to rely on your teammates more than any other sport that I’m aware of. You can’t just quit on a play.”
FULL CONTACT
This isn’t even to mention the contact aspect of rugby. Yes, rugby is a fullcontact sport — players on offense are tackled to the ground by defenders — that is played without any sort of protective gear, save for a mouth guard and occasional skull cap. The hits are hard and injuries do
While there are similar rules at different levels of American football, they can be difficult to enforce. Players are sprinting as fast as they can, wielding protective gear like a helmet and shoulder pads as weapons.
Jones says that it makes for a collision sport, as opposed to a contact sport.
The action never stops in a rugby match. Two teams of 15 players play for 80 minutes on a field just wider than that of a football field, trying in vain to advance the ball to the other team’s try zone to outscore their opponents. When a player is tackled, they must forfeit the ball, but the action goes on.
The fluidity of the game is what allows for athletes like that of a high school lineman to have the ball in their hands and score, something that might never happen in American football.
A HOME WITHOUT A HOME
On Jan. 18, the men’s team, which is roughly 40 people ages 21-35 years old and travels competitively around the state, kicked off its season at the Sarasota chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Ridge Wood Heights. Perhaps even more notable than the game was the location — Jan. 18’s match was Sarasota Rugby’s first game at its new home field. Sarasota Rugby is centered around the community. From the sport itself
to those around it, the club prides itself on having a welcoming presence.
Last April, however, Sarasota Rugby found itself without a home. Since 2015, the club had called the field at the Sarasota International Cricket Club home. Sarasota Rugby had everything it needed — space, lights for nighttime practices and a clubhouse for players to dress in. In a complete surprise, Jones was told at the end of April that Sarasota Rugby would have to vacate the area because the lease was bought out by a different organization. It left the club scrambling to find a new home in time before the season started this January.
“We were at a total loss,” said Jones. “The board had a lot of meetings trying to find somewhere to play, and we fell into this conversation with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, who have a field at their location. They’re an absolutely great bunch of people with similar goals to ours in supporting the community.”
MAKING AN IMPACT
While Galbraith, who played professionally in Ireland, is highly competitive — “second place is first loser in my book” — his favorite moments during his tenure with the Sarasota Rugby Club are those from when he knew he made positive impact on the lives of his players.
With the Youth Academy, Galbraith has gotten to see some of his players come up through the system from the time they were children. Some of them come to the Sarasota Rugby Club in need of a home. Galbraith is humbled to have helped given them that.
“Players come from all different backgrounds, including broken homes,” said Galbraith. “I’ve had some players tell me that I’m like a father or a second father to them, and it’s things like that which make it worthwhile. If I can impact someone’s life through sport and put them on a better path, then that’s a good legacy for me to leave behind, that’s for sure.”
“Lacrosse was the sport that stuck with me. I loved it immediately. I seemed to have
— Ava Kozicky, senior, Sarasota High girls varsity lacrosse. SEE PAGE 18A
Courtesy Image Cardinal Mooney High senior Kali Barrett leads the Cougars in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game.
The Sarasota Surge Rugby Club gather together during halftime of its home match against the Lakeland Lancers on Jan. 18. Sarasota won 17-7.
Photos by Dylan Campbell
Sarasota Rugby Club President Gary Jones watches his team from the sideline at its new home field on the grounds of the Sarasota chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
The Sarasota Surge protect the ball after one of their players goes down in the team’s match against Lakeland on Jan. 18. Once a player is tackled they must forfeit possession of the ball to one of their teammates, but there is no stoppage in play.
Casey Galvanek is more than just a high school coach
Sarasota Crew coach overcame team issues en route to coaching the U.S. men’s four boat to a historic gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games.
Winning, in sports, is the easiest thing to define. It is completely binary: a team or player either wins or loses. In a race, only one entity can finish first. There is no in between.
There are stats of course, to track individual success. A basketball player might average 20 points per game despite playing on a poor team or a softball pitcher could have a low ERA but a poor win-loss record due to a lack of run support. This doesn’t mention the aspects of sports that are perhaps the most fundamental to what athletics are all about — the heart, hustle and character that athletes display on the playing field, especially in the face of adversity. There is so much that can be learned about ourselves and one another through sports that goes beyond the box score. And yet, that record remains. Did a team win or lose? Did it finish first or somewhere else in the race?
There is a finality to it that cements sports as a forum for competition and not just participation.
It’s funny, then, that Casey Galvanek, head coach and president of Sarasota Crew, who coached the U.S. Olympic men’s four boat to a gold medal win in Paris this past summer, defines winning differently — at least when coaching at the youth level.
“I tell the kids what you define as winning is wholly different from what I define as winning,” said Galvanek, who was named the 2024 Rowing News Coach of the Year. “When you leave here a better person, that’s me winning. When you win a gold medal, that’s you winning.” While Galvanek takes a different
approach to coaching Olympic athletes for Team USA — after all, elite, adult rowers are different from even a high-level high school rower much less a novice — he still delineates the separation between his personal success and that of the team.
When the U.S. men’s four boat won gold in Paris with a time of 5:49.03, placing itself atop the podium in the event for the first time since 1960 and edging out second-place New Zealand by 0.85 of a second, Galvanek didn’t receive a medal. It’s not customary for the International Olympic Committee to recognize coaches for medal-winning performances at the Games.
What he got — along with receiving the Order of Ikkos from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, a recognition of medal-winning coaches from the athletes — was the relief and satisfaction he got the most out of his athletes.
‘JUST A HIGH SCHOOL COACH’
Galvanek’s path to gold started in early 2023, when the boat’s crew of Olympic veterans — Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady, Justin Best and Nick Mead — was originally formed. Although Galvanek had Olympic coaching experience, his time with this particular boat got off to a rocky start.
Galvanek was familiar with the rowers. He coached three of them as members of the Junior National team, but familiarity didn’t gain him any leverage with the boat. If anything, it was a roadblock.
“If you have any background with an athlete from when they were a kid, they still consider you to be
a kids coach,” said Galvanek. “I’d known them, but it’s a hard boundary. They want to row for their coaching heroes, the guys who’ve had books written about them — and then you have me, who they know from the Junior National team and Sarasota Crew.”
While Galvanek and his boat initially butted heads, there was a common understanding between them: Galvanek knew the group had the capacity to win medals; it was a matter of making the changes in training and technique.
The boat’s potential began to show in September 2023, when it took silver in the 2023 World Rowing Championships, finishing with a time of 6:06.37, a scant two seconds behind Great Britain’s time of 6:04.35. Winning silver secured the boat a place in the Olympics, but not that of the crew within the boat.
A decision about the boat had to be made: USRowing selection camp, which could appoint four
entirely new rowers to the boat, was set for March 2024.
The crew went to Josy Verdonkschot, USRowing’s Chief High Performance Officer, and asked what it would take to keep the boat together.
“After they’d asked him, my boss came to me and said ‘Do you think that they can make up the two seconds on the Brits with the same boat?’” said Galvanek. “I told him that I think we can make up the two seconds and the 1% of additional speed in the Olympic year, because everyone peaks for the Olympics. Their training volume goes up, their physicality goes up and their speed increases.”
For a boat to win gold at the Olympics, Galvanek said, almost everything has to go perfectly during the race, while things don’t go perfectly for the other boats. The gap in speed between boats is almost nonexistent, making the margin for error microscopic.
A missed stroke, an incorrect transfer of weight, a wrong move in the steering of the boat can take a crew off the podium.
In the end, however, the men’s four stayed perfect, outlasting a late surge from New Zealand to clinch gold. For Galvanek, the victory was a mix of jubilation and relief. Not only does winning a gold medal do wonders for USRowing by increasing funding and exposure for the next generation of athletes, but it fulfilled what Galvanek characterizes as one of his ultimate responsibilities as a coach.
Years before, Galvanek had heard from a former promising rower about an experience some of the rowers had on the 2016 Olympic team, which failed to medal.
The rower told Galvanek the crew had said their experience was just “OK” and was part of the reason he’d never tried to make an Olympic team himself. It was a piece of information that still haunts Galvanek.
“These athletes have to look back on the last three to four years and say, ‘Was this adventure worth it?’” said Galvanek. “An incredible responsibility that I have as a coach is that I’m not going to do anything that makes one of these athletes on any level, be it high school, collegiate or international, communicate to the next generation that it was just okay. They’re choosing to give up their lives and you have to give them what they need to be successful on this path, so that the next generation can also have a positive experience.”
Courtesy Image
Sarasota Crew head coach Casey Galvanek brings a gold-medal pedigree to his coaching at the youth level. Galvanek coached the U.S. men’s four boat to gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Dylan Campbell is the sports reporter for the Sarasota/ Siesta Key Observer Contact him at DCampbell@YourObserver.com.
OF THE WEEK
ATHLETE
Ava Kozicky
Ava Kozicky is a senior attacker on the Sarasota High girls varsity lacrosse team. Last season, Sarasota posted an 8-7 record, fueled on the offensive end by the efforts of Kozicky. As a junior, Kozicky scored a team-high 77 goals in 15 games, while also leading the team in assists with 28. Sarasota opens on Feb. 11 against Fort Myers Bishop Verot, with Kozicky set to be the focal point of the offense once again.
When did you start playing lacrosse and why?
I started playing lacrosse when I was going into seventh grade. I originally did gymnastics, but I broke my neck, so my parents took me out of that. I was living in Minnesota at the time and picked up lacrosse and volleyball that year. Lacrosse was the sport that stuck with me. I loved it immediately. I seemed to have a natural feel for the game. My grandparents got me private lessons as well, so I was able to progress quickly, which made it fun.
What’s the appeal?
I like how fast the pace is. There’s always something going on, unlike in, say, football, where they’re stopping all the time. I like the pace and how many opportunities there are to show what you can do.
What’s your best skill
In general, I’d say attacking, but more specifically, my ability to make hard cuts and change direction. I feel like I catch my defenders off guard a lot, leading me to get open looks in the middle of the field.
What are you working on to improve?
My shot selection and accuracy as well. I actually had my stick
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Dylan Campbell at DCampbell@ YourObserver.com.
stolen a month ago, so I’m still working on getting used to this one and breaking it in. I had my old one for three or four years, so this has taken some time to adjust to.
What makes you confident about the team heading into this season? The commitment of our girls. We’ve had a higher number attending captain’s practices this season than in previous years. They’re not mandatory to go to, but it’s highly encouraged. Since I started playing for this program, we’ve been on the rise, posting better records every year.
What’s your favorite food? Poke bowls. I love seafood.
What’s your favorite movie or television show?
My favorite show right now is “Lost” on Netflix. I’m on the sixth season.
When I was watching two episodes a day, I actually saw one of the main characters walking past me at SRQ Airport while I was watching the show.
What’s your favorite subject?
Math, just because it comes naturally to me.
What are your hobbies?
I love to hang out with my friends and go to the beach. I like to play other sports besides lacrosse to just to stay athletic. If my friends are playing volleyball or going for a run, I’ll join them.
What’s the best advice that you’ve received?
Rejection is just redirection. I heard
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YOUR NEIGHBORS
70 years of Scouting
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
For Andrew Whitlow, 23, the environment of Troop 50’s 70th anniversary celebration at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church was as if little time had passed.
“I walked in here and I’ve seen people that I haven’t seen in over half-a-decade,” he said. “The relationships are all the same. Everyone grew up doing the same thing.”
As the longest continuously running Boy Scout troop in Sarasota County, Troop 50 has been supported by the church since its founding in 1954.
The celebration, held Jan. 19, included a recognition of the troop during the church service, followed by a short outdoor ceremony and the unveiling of the Troop 50 Eagle Wall of Honor inside the Don Collins Scout House.
Since the Boy Scouts of America program was founded in 1911, only
Boy Scouts Troop 50 has been supported by Pine Shores Presbyterian Church since its inception 70 years ago.
5% of Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Throughout Troop 50’s existence, 135 Scouts have attained that rank.
“That’s huge,” said Scoutmaster Alister Munroe.
A CULTURE OF SUPPORT
According to Assistant Scoutmaster Bill Morris, the program’s longevity comes down to two factors.
He wrote that the troop enjoys “an active and fun outdoor program and second, the amazing support of our parents, adult leaders and our friends at Pine Shore Presbyterian Church.”
Munroe called the group “a big family,” and said its activities continue “with all the trials and tribulations, all the hurricanes, all the flooding.
“A lot of people in this community, members of mine, of our troops, have been affected by all those recent storms, but they’re still here,” he said. Munroe has been Scouting for about 15 years, and part of the troop
for nine years, with his son, Alister Munroe III, who recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and serves as a leader in the tourist district of the Southwest Florida Council.
“I’m very outdoorsy,” said Munroe. “I grew up in (Grenada). I want him to have the kind of same experience.”
He said he can also see the impacts of his son’s experiences.
“I think the biggest thing for him is knowing that he’s so committed to others and helping people. His lead-
ership just shines through, and we absolutely love it.”
Munroe also said he himself was inspired by the values of Scouting to become an engineering and technology teacher at Brookside Middle School, where he has been able to attract students to the program, including Michael Pote, 13, who joined three years ago.
“It originated with Mr. Monroe giving me a little pamphlet because he saw the potential that I had, and
then I came here, and I agreed with him; it’s really fun, and it’s kind of just like a second life,” Pote said. Pastor Alex Evangelista, who joined Pine Shores Presbyterian Church last year, said he was eager for the chance to support the troop.
“It was so exciting to hear, not only does Pine Shores support and collaborate with the longest running Scout troop in the county ... but of course, even partnering with them and giving them the Scout house, I think, is a testament to how much they really believe in the mission of what the Scouts do for the community.”
The wide range of activities the group practices include boy-led campouts, cave spelunking, backpacking, target axe throwing, canoe trips, surfing on the East Coast, fishing, trips at High Adventure Bases and many others. The organization also promotes opportunities for community service, leadership training, speaker forums, merit badge experiences and more.
Morris, whose son, Tommy Morris, an Eagle Scout, is majoring in aerospace engineering at University of Central Florida, said the importance of Boy Scouts is the ability to get back to a way of life in the outdoors and “reset the biological clock, especially for the adults, the parents, the dads.”
“I think parents need a resource that they can go to for their kids, kind of ground them again, back to some of the values that were instilled in our lives ... by putting down the phones and the electronics and being able to go outside and engage and have relationships and friendships,” he said.
The pinnacle of achievements, of course, is to become an Eagle Scout.
Samuel Dorrill, 17, said after he joined Troop 50 about 10 years ago, he was inspired to attain the rank by his father, Alan Dorrill, who was an Eagle Scout with another troop. However, the environment of the troop itself also played a role.
“You do have a ton of kids ... that I’m seeing constantly get Eagle Scout, that are constantly successful through the program, to where it seemed realistic for me to achieve it myself,” he said.
Morris says that many of the organization’s Eagle Scouts go on to become soldiers, first responders, engineers, lawyers, doctors and Ivy League students.
Attendees, including Dallas Seedorf (center), salute during the beginning of the proceedings recognizing the anniversary.
Todd Menke, Alex Evangelista and Alister Munroe stand in front of the wall of Eagle Scouts.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Samuel Dorrill, 17, and his father, Alan Dorrill
A forward march
Lou Murray, a follower of Martin Luther King Jr., was drafted into the Vietnam War at the time he was marching for King’s causes.
“I was in combat, and so when I got back home, I was in Atlanta, and the first time I saw his grave site ... I broke out and cried and couldn’t stop crying, because I didn’t realize that I hadn’t mourned.”
For Murray, Martin Luther King Jr. Day brought to mind the idea of furthering King’s dream of taking his people to the “Promised Land.”
“We got to take his dreams to the next level, and also, things look kind of grim now because of what’s going on politically,” he said. “This is the time to do it ... Just like God gave Moses everything he needed to take his people to the Promised Land, my people have all they need to take their people to the Promised Land.”
The day’s celebrations began with a memorial breakfast and awards ceremony at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, which recognized individuals for their contributions to Sarasota’s Black community.
Nominee Mary Butler of the Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association called receiving the recognition “awesome.”
“I like to say, ‘I am the dream,’ because (King) talked about that,’ and so, 60 years later, this is the dream, it is happening; it really is happening, and so I am a part of it,” she said. “It makes it so cool, and so special.”
FREE LECTURE SERIES
February 2025
Staying On Rhythm: Keeping the Beat with Advanced Cardiac Care
Everyone walks to the beat of their own drum, but what if that beat gets a little… off? At Sarasota Memorial, our award-winning cardiac care utilizes the latest in technological innovations to prevent and repair arrhythmias, atrial fibrillations, and irregular heartbeats, setting your heart back in sync so you can live life at your own pace. During this free lecture series, hear directly from the experts about emerging technologies changing the future of healthcare. A brief Q&A follows each presentation.
Tuesday, February 4, 4:30-5:30pm
} Martin Espinosa Ginic, MD, FACC - Ventricular Tachycardia, update in Therapeutic Options
Thursday, February 6, 4:30-5:30pm
} Robert Eckart, DO, FACC, FHRS - Concomitant Watchman Procedure for Heart Rhythm Disorders
Thursday, February 13, 4:30-5:30pm
} Antonio Moretta, MD, FHRS - New Advances in Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Tuesday, February 18, 4:30-5:30pm
} Brian P. Betensky, MD, FACC, FHRS - The Mysterious PVC: When to Worry
Cornelius Spann, Chris Wagner, Mary O’Connor, manager of health care equity with the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, and Eric Dunn
Leaders of different faiths came together to celebrate, including the Rev. Wesley Tunstall, of Sarasota, who led the walk, and Rabbi Stephen Sniderman, of Longboat Key.
Stefante Randall, Sandra DiPentima, Ericka Randall and Latricia Gambrell, of Lambda Omicron Omega Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., cleaned up the park, then read books to children with Second Chance Last Opportunity, as their Day of Service project.
Photos by Ian Swaby
This year’s honorees were Eula T. Bacon, program director of Bridges to Educational Excellence Learning Center; Dr. Vida Farhangi, medical director of Sarasota Memorial Internal Medicine in Newtown; Dannie Frazier Brown, retired educator and co-founder of the Sarasota MLK Celebration Committee; Mary Butler, president of the Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association; and Thomas Fairley, executive director of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross.
“The
Inaugural Neuhaus Lecture
House of history
IAN SWABY STAFF
WRITER
alter Gilbert remembers sitting on the front porch of the Leonard Reid House as a child during the 1960s, waiting for his mother to pick him up.
At the time, Ethel Reid Hayes and Viola Reid, the daughters of African American pioneer Leonard Reid, lived there.
“It looks the same, it looks a little different but I’m sure they’re happy too,” said Gilbert, who is a board member of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.
In 2022, the home was relocated to Newtown, and early this month, it celebrated its one-year anniversary as an arts, history and cultural center.
Currently, the center is offering the first exhibit curated by the SAACC, “When I Rise Up: The Power of Black Artists.”
“It’s been very well received,” said Board Chair Washington Hill, stating that events like a reception welcoming the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota on Jan. 16 showed the center’s ability to engage the public.
“Because we’re on the board, we’re all trying to introduce people we know to the work, and tonight is inviting folks from my church,” said Brock Leach, a community minister at the church who is a board member of the SAACC.
The exhibition highlights Harlem Renaissance artists Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden and others they inspired, incorporating African artifacts and pieces from the a watercolors art class held at the house.
“There’s no other place in town where (the public) can actually see this type of art and have those types of conversations,” Hill said. “It’s a step forward in bringing African American history to Sarasota, and it’s very important that it’s here, that it’s located here.”
The single-story, frame vernacu-
LEONARD REID HOUSE
“When I Rise Up: The Power of Black Artists.” Open through Thursday, Jan. 30. Leonard Reid House, 2529 N. Orange Ave. Visit TheSAACC.com.
lar-style house, built in 1926, is historically designated both nationally and locally.
Its original owner, Leonard Reid, helped establish Sarasota’s first Black community, Overtown, now the Rosemary District, and was considered the “right-hand man” to Sarasota’s first mayor, J. Hamilton Gillespie.
Reid lived much of his life in the house with his wife, Eddye, and their two daughters, Ethel Reid Hayes and Viola Reid, who both contributed to the community as educators.
The SAACC raised the money to renovate the house, which was deeded to the city of Sarasota by a developer and then leased to the SAACC.
During the reception, Vickie Oldham, president and CEO of the SAACC, took a portion of her speech to honor the late Clifford Smith, who served as a liaison at City Hall.
The home hosts art classes, spoken word performances, festivals and events by various organizations, and Oldham said she was open to other uses as well.
Ian Swaby
Washington Hill, Mydahlia Glover, Brock Leach and Walter Gilbert
SPINE ISSUES?
Taking the helm
The Sarasota Power & Sail Squadron, a local nonprofit, frequently operates in conjunction with the United
In fact, it shares the feature, with that service branch, of a changing of the watch ceremony, which it held Jan. 19 at Laurel Oak Country Club.
The 73rd annual ceremony, the occasion welcomed the new Bridge, including the organization’s sixth female commander, Barbara Warshaw.
“I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a good organization, and I really believe in the education that they offer to the public,” Warshaw said, encouraging the public to take the boating classes.
The organization offers the classes from its clubhouse on Hyde Park Street and Tuttle Road and emphasizes civic duty through activities like boat inspections and fire extinguisher demonstrations alongside the police.
The ceremony also honored the contributions of other members, including outgoing commander Austin Dickinson.
Dickinson said with many nonprofits to choose from, boat safety was still a critical need in Sarasota due to its geography.
— IAN SWABY
Photos by Ian Swaby
Sylvia Wedge, Carla Sullivan and Dan Sullivan
The new Bridge includes Dan Sullivan, Domini Wood, Renee Nadiv, Lois McKenzie, David Siesel, Cmdr. Barbara Warshaw, Dennis Holly, Sam Doak and Perry Page.
Barbara Warshaw, the new commander, accepts the flag.
Hurricane-delayed Sharktoberfest returns
Hurricanes Milton and Helene have disrupted many area events, but attendees certainly didn’t leave Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium high and dry at its rescheduled “Sharktoberfest” on Saturday evening.
Attendees packed the aquarium courtyard, where costumed stiltwalkers milled about, underwater divers waved their steins at onlookers while surrounded by moseying sharks, and of course, most of the craft beer vendors offered samples of the available brews.
Veronica Perrelli, Mote’s director of events and guest experience, said the center was grateful to all 625 ticket holders for adapting and continuing to support its conservation efforts, completely selling out the event.
“For us, it’s all about educating the public,” she said. “We see this is a different group from those visiting the aquarium day to day, who want to come out for a night event. Educating but also having fun.”
The third annual Sharktoberfest offers community members a unique after-hours view of the center’s inhabitants, particularly those housed in the 135,000-gallon shark tank.
Mark Miller, an attendee who dressed for the occasion in his lederhosen, said he enjoyed the Oktoberfest spirit and appreciated having a
“It brings the community together and helps people understand how important the estuaries are,” he added.
The aquarium is home to sharks and rays of all sizes, from the diminutive bonnethead sharks to the gentle giant nurse sharks.
Visitors had the opportunity to see the Shark Zone tank from above, chattering with delight as a speedy sandbar shark made its rounds at the water’s surface.
Blair Morrow, of Meg Goddess Designs, showcases one of her fossilized shark teeth available at her booth.
— DANA KAMPA
Big Top Brewing Co. features its special brew supporting Mote. Mark Miller sports his lederhosen.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Julie Mastropierro gives the mechanical shark a spin.
Divers cheerily waved their steins in greeting to attendees at Saturday’s Sharktoberfest.
From left, Troy Schneeberger, Sarah Harnden and Sunny Dingman dress in their festive best for Sharktoberfest.
What Would the Founding Fathers Think of America Today?
It would be nearly impossible to overestimate the reverence afforded America’s celebrated founding fathers. They were real men whose brilliance launched our country, and they vigorously discussed and debated the important political issues of their time.
By focusing on key writings and speeches of founders such as Washington, Jefferson, Adams and others we can certainly speculate what they’d think about the issues of today. That’s the fascinating and unique idea behind the Observer’s upcoming event in Sarasota on February 6th. It will be presented by renowned Brown University Professor Wendy Schiller, Chair of the Department of Political Science.
Here’s an example. The partisan hostility of our two major parties
has certainly frustrated nearly everyone. It turns out that the “Father of our Country” and our very first President was concerned about that very issue. In George Washington’s words from his famous farewell address in 1796, “There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and keep alive the spirit of liberty. But then he went on to assert “the constant danger of excess” and ended by referring to a political party as “ a fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance topresent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume”
Another subject area that was discussed thoroughly at the start of our country and continues to be a major focus today is the role of religion. While many believe
that the Founders felt that religion should be kept entirely outside political life, that’s really not what most of them felt. James Madison wrote that all men are “equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience”. In actuality the founders were less concerned about religious influences on government than they were with any effort to exclude some religions and favor others. That is what they had experienced as citizens of England and was what they were primarily concerned with. One more example would be concerns about economic and wealth inequality. Many think of this as an area of concern only in recent times, e– launched in large part by the now well known “occupy Wall Street” movement in 2011. In fact, it was a subject ad-
vanced by many founders, and some of their thinking was quite advanced. Thomas Paine wrote of the need to “make some provisions for people become poor and wretched not only at the time they become so. Would it not, even a matter of economy, be far better to devise means to prevent their becoming poor?”
And finally, apparently federal spending has been a hot button
Dive into the past with our exciting speaker series, featuring renowned scholars from top universities. Each lecture brings history to life with fresh insights and captivating stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
issue for as long as our country has been in existence. It was Thomas Jefferson who wrote
“That same prudence which in private life would forbid paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public monies” Sounds a lot like something you hear every day on TV!
Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want
Share them at YourObserver.com/Contests/Pet-Pics
and for a
There
A spin with fame
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
It happened due to a couple of mistakes, skill at “Wheel of Fortune” puzzles and a fortuitous connection over banana pudding.
When Sarasota’s Jenn Walker attended an event affiliated with the game show at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with a friend, they thought its host Mark L. Walberg was the more widely known Mark Wahlberg.
“That’s really the only reason she wanted to go and the only reason I agreed to go,” Walker said.
Amid the crowds, Walker missed the opportunity to register to appear on stage, so she decided to apply for the regular “Wheel of Fortune,” a decision that ultimately led to her becoming a contestant on Dec. 5. Walker has long-held memories of the show, which date back to watching it—and “Jeopardy!”—while shelling beans and peas with her grandmother, Maxine Corley, and mother, Debbie Almond, growing up in Georgia.
It came to the point when she watched the show with friends, they would comment on her puzzle-solving skills. However, she also thinks part of the reason she was selected was her answer of “banana pudding” in a questionnaire about herself.
She said in her office at Risk Services, she has won awards for her banana pudding, and was told the answer spoke to co-host Vanna White, whose banana pudding recipe has garnered a reputation.
A period of waiting then followed the interviews and test puzzles in the application.
“I literally thought, like they must have chosen someone else and hadn’t thought anything else about it, so it was kind of a surprise when I got the email,” she said.
When traveling with her daughter, Kaleigh Kelley, and sister, Trina Salts, to Culver City, California, where the show was taped on Sept. 28, not all went as planned.
A tattoo she had recently added
to her back kept coming uncovered, and had to be patched up with tape and cotton pads her sister ordered.
Then, after she arrived at the studio, she grew nervous as she watched the contestants in front of her miss answers she was sure they would have realized without the attention of cameras, while she also worried she would sweat through the bandages on her back.
“I was a wreck. I was a nervous wreck,” she said.
Ultimately, she came away from the experience with a trip to Portugal and Spain, although some controversy did ensue among fans of the show over a decision by host Ryan Seacrest.
As the last person on stage eligible to answer a question, Walker did not sound her buzzer, meaning she couldn’t claim a $2,000 prize despite providing the correct answer of “Well-Balanced Meal.”
“Literally as soon as it buzzed, I was like, ‘Oh my God, oh my God Jennifer, I cannot believe you missed that,’” she said.
However, she eventually came to terms with the mistake.
Now, it’s back to life as usual for Walker, although she looks forward to the 17-day trip in August.
“Being on the show didn’t make me feel any different,” she said. “I think it was a cool experience, and I’m so glad I got to do it. It was so much fun.”
Jennifer Walker competes on “Wheel of Fortune.”
Photo courtesy of Eric McCandless
Leading into 2025
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s New Year’s Kickoff Brunch honored Observer Media Group CEO Matt Walsh and featured Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year by turning the spotlight on two individuals, one in the local community and one at the state level.
Held Jan. 17 at The Ora and presented by Shumaker, the New Year’s Kickoff Brunch attendees saw Observer Media Group’s founder and CEO Matt Walsh presented with the Spirit of Sarasota award, and the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Mark Wilson, offering the keynote speech.
The award, sponsored by HH Staffing Services, honors an individual who has “made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of the Sarasota area business community.”
Walsh and his late wife, Lisa Walsh, started the company in 1995 with the acquisition of the Longboat Observer, and it currently includes seven newspapers, four websites, four magazines, social media channels and a podcast. Walsh is also co-founder of the Gulf Coast CEO Forum and has served on numerous nonprofit and industry boards.
“I firmly believe that every newspaper is obligated to be a builder of this community, and we strive to do that every day at the Observer,” Walsh said. “I tell my colleagues that they are also the glue that holds the community together, to keep you informed — informed of the good, help you celebrate the good and sometimes keep you informed of the bad, and I tell them they are catalysts for a strong economy.”
He said other roles of a paper are to bring buyers and sellers together and help the local community prosper,
and thirdly, to “be a strong, unwavering voice on its editorial page for what is right and good.”
“We should make you think, and it’s in your interest, it’s in everyone’s interest, that we positively make the case for a free market-driven economy, that we are the watchdog of government, and that we are a steadfast advocate and defender of individual liberty,” Walsh said.
Afterward, Wilson shared wideranging data on Florida and Sarasota, highlighting their economic strengths but also spotlighting areas to improve.
“If Florida was a stock, I would literally be cashing everything I had to buy as much of this stock called Florida that I could buy,” he said, also stating that if Florida were a mutual fund, he would find Sarasota “one-hundred percent, absolutely,” deserving of inclusion in that fund.
He highlighted four major issues he had observed in the state, which included people being out of work, often due to child care; a shortage of affordable housing; lawsuit abuse; and the prevalence of traffic, and he closed out the speech by discussing the importance of the next generation.
He said the community should support young people pursuing career roles, such as that of a mechanic, outside of those more conventionally seen as high-paying such as a doctor or lawyer.
“We have completely done a disservice to an entire generation,” he said. “There are so many cool jobs in Florida that pay six figures after two or three years out of your technical training.”
He said Sarasota was excelling at third-grade reading scores, surpassing the state average of 55% at 70%,
and was six points above the state average of kindergarten-readiness at 57%, but called for the community to bring rates to 100%.
“Nothing will matter to economic development or quality of life more than getting it right on the front
end,” he said. Sarasota Chamber President Heather Kasten highlighted some upcoming initiatives of the chamber as it enters the New Year.
She said less than 48 hours prior, a group of chamber leaders had
visited Charleston, South Carolina to explore best practices in areas including affordable housing. Although the group is still synthesizing the findings, they were eager to share their knowledge with Sarasota. The chamber team is also headed to Tallahassee in three weeks as part of the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Fly-In.
Board Chair Joe Hembree noted that last year, the Sarasota Chamber’s CareerEdge program granted $100,000 to 13 local employers and is projected this year to provide training and development to over 300 individuals; its Opportunities For All internship program provided 30 students with work experience, and its Leadership Sarasota program saw unprecedented participation by high schoolers, with 43 students.
He also said the chamber’s Fast Track program, beginning in two weeks, will train HVAC technicians, plumbers and certified nursing assistants.
The chamber, he said, is now home to over 1,500 business members representing over 60,000 employees in the region, with a goal of gaining 1,600 members in 2025.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson speaks to attendees.
Sarasota Chamber chair Joe Hembree, Observer Media Group CEO Matt Walsh and Sarasota
Kasten.
KEEP THE WORLD AT BAY. By the water, in the water, on the water. Whenever you wish. Wherever you want. All this, steps to Sarasota, yet secreted privately away on Golden Gate Point. This is the incomparable life Amara, unquestionably, Sarasota’s most exciting and remarkable residences, ever. Add your name to our early interest list.
The Blvd of Sarasota condo tops sales
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Acondominium in The Blvd of Sarasota tops this week’s real estate. Rachel Mcaree, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1804 condominium at 540 N. Tamiami Trail to Michael Fieri, trustee, of Sarasota, for $7 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, five-and-twohalf baths and 6,145 square feet of living area. It sold for $5.5 million in 2020
SARASOTA
BLOCK 6
John and Katherine Holland, of Lake Forest, Illinois, sold their Unit 1101 condominium at 401 Quay Commons to Ellyn McColgan, trustee, of Sarasota, for $6.2 million. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,647 square feet of living area. It sold for $4 million in 2021.
AQUALANE ESTATES
Jill Brook, of Truckee, California, and Jan Thomson, of San Diego, sold their home at 1624 Stanford Lane to Michael Harrison Oliver and Roxana Ioana Oliver, of Sarasota, for $4,725,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,161 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2017.
CHEROKEE PARK
Joshua and Caroline Weiner, of Seattle, sold their home at 1623 North Drive to John and Lauren Wohlwend, of Sarasota, for $4.45 million. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,215 square feet of living area. It sold for $2 million in 2021.
THE BLVD OF SARASOTA
Daniel and Donna Brierton, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 1503 condominium at 540 N. Tamiami Trail to Steven and Joann Stein, of Sarasota, for $3.9 million. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,671 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,799,000 in 2021.
KENTWOOD ESTATES
Sheila Ann Martin, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1542 Eastbrook Drive to A. David Slater, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2.6 million. Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,915 square feet of living area. It sold for $535,000 in 2013.
McCLELLAN PARK
Jeremy and Donna Baskin sold two properties at 1750 Seminole Drive to Michael and Tammy Taaffe, of Sarasota, for $2.35 million. The first property was built in 1941 and has three bedroom, two baths, a pool and 2,438 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1941 and has one bath and 324 square feet of living area. They sold for $1,175,000 in 2020.
BAYSO SARASOTA
Raymond and Joan Galeotti, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 811 condominium at 301 Quay Commons to Harriet Mosson, of Montecito, California, for $2.15 million. Built in 2023, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,072 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,537,600 in 2023.
Matthew Helmerich, trustee, of Milwaukee, sold the Unit 1605 condominium at 301 Quay Commons to Stephen Vander Sluis and Pamela Vander Sluis, trustees, of Madison, Wisconsin, for $1.61 million. Built in 2023, it has two bedroom, three baths and 1,752 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,213,400 in 2023.
VALENCIA ROSEMARY PLACE
TOWNHOMES
Katherine Sekowski, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, sold her home at 1258 May Lane to Alice and Ernest Martelli, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, for $1.05 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,291 square feet of living area. It sold for $975,000 in 2022.
SARASOTA BAY CLUB Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 304 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Francis and Catherine Burzik, of Sarasota, for $995,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,424 square feet of living area. It sold for $555,000 in 2017.
SIESTA KEY
GULF AND BAY CLUB F506 LLC sold the Unit 506 condominium at 5740 Midnight Pass Road to Christopher and Melissa Tomasso, of Sarasota, for $2.35 million. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,004 square feet of living area. It sold for $750,000 in 2016.
MIDNIGHT COVE Bogey Buster LLC sold the Unit 474
condominium at 6342 Midnight Pass Road to Siesta Key Ventures LLC for $1.4 million. Built in 1977, it has two bedroom, two baths and 1,214 square feet of living area. It sold for $757,500 in 2010.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com
Other top sales by area
SIESTA KEY: $5.9 MILLION
Seagrove Ferdinand Crovato, trustee, sold the Unit PHN condominium at 1000 Seagrove Lane to Cheryl McCurdy, trustee, of Sarasota, for $5.9 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,093 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.15 million in 2009.
PALMER RANCH: $900,000
Prestancia
Gloria Lauriello, trustee, of Syosset, New York, sold the home at 4174 Escondito Circle to Vadim Golikov and Nina Novichkova, of Sarasota, for $900,000. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,179 square feet of living area.
OSPREY: $1 MILLION
Villas at Osprey Harbor Village
Ronald and Angela Migedt, of Nokomis, sold their Unit D2 condominium at 14021 Bellagio Way to Charles and Julie Hernandez, of Osprey, for $1 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,187 square feet of living area. It sold for $705,000 in 2021.
NOKOMIS: $555,000
Sorrento East
Morten Grepperud and Mary Britt Sundsbo, of Norway, sold their home at 305 Degas Drive to Carmel Amelia Slevin Noah and Hope Marshall, trustees, of Santa Rosa, California, for $555,000. Built in 1978, it has two bedroom, two baths, a pool and 1,776 square feet of living area. It sold for $199,000 in 2017.
YOUR CALENDAR
FRIDAY, JAN. 24
ARTS &
FROSTED CANDLES
2-4 p.m. at 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Create a candle with a frosty coating to suit the ambiance of the chilly weather. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
SATURDAY, JAN. 25
THE Y: BOOTCAMP
8-8:45 a.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This 45-minute workout uses body-weight exercises and intervals to improve strength and conditioning, build muscle strength, reduce body fat, increase cardiovascular fitness and maximize calorie burn. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 15
TO SUNDAY, JAN. 26
ALLMAN PROMOTIONS
ANTIQUES SHOW
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Municipal Auditorium 801 N, Tamiami Trail. $8. View elegant antiques from 50 national and regional exhibitors. Visit AllmanPromotions.com.
SUNDAY, JAN. 26
SUNDAYS AT THE BAY FEATURING
DAVID CHIRIBOGA AND DAVID MUÑOZ
4:30-5:30 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Guitarists David Chiriboga and David Muñoz will present Spanish guitar music ranging from iconic classics, to original rumba flamenco pieces. The duo will be joined by guest percussionist Haris Sirbubalo. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
MONDAY, JAN. 27
CREATION STATION YOUTH LAB: TEA LIGHT LANTERNS
3 -4:30 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Create a lantern with a winter scene silhouette that glows with the help of a tea light candle. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket. com.
TUESDAY, JAN. 28 MEET THE PUPS
4-5 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Meet therapy dogs and their owners, and enjoy the benefits of spending time with therapy pets. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
BEST BET SATURDAY, JAN. 25 TO SUNDAY, JAN. 26
22ND ANNUAL ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE ART FESTIVAL
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at. 1 St. Armands Circle. Free. Local and national artists spanning fine art mediums fill St. Armands Circle with gallerystyle booths at this outdoor event. Featured will be life-sized sculpture, paintings, fine jewelry, handcrafted apparel, glasswork, decor and more. Visit ArtFestival.com.
THURSDAY, JAN. 30
BRINGING LITTLE WOMEN TO LIFE: A JOURNEY THROUGH MUSICAL THEATER AND PERIOD COSTUME DESIGN
2-4 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. The Sarasota Players invite attendees to delve into the world of musical theater, exploring key scenes and songs from its production of “Little Women: The Musical,” as well as the magic of musical theater. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
CINEMA AT THE BAY: THE RED VIOLIN
7-9:10 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free outdoor movie under the stars as part of Ukes & Fiddles Weekend at The Bay. “The Red Violin” (R rating) is the story of a red-colored violin that inspires passion as it makes its way through three centuries, across multiple countries and owners. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
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Miami artist Ancizar Marin at St. Armands Circle Art Festival.
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DOUBLE FRONT FLIPS by Michael David & Jeff Chen, edited by Jared Goudsmit
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