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APRIL 2023 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA, LLC
Becoming a Citizen By Em Becker
INGE STANTON’S OBIT & INSPIRING LIFE
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GETTING TO KNOW THE ARTIST IN THE LANDINGSKAREN GUNDERSHEIMER
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The United States of America has historically attracted people from all over the world seeking new opportunities. One Landings resident, Valentina Valentini Bruno, decided to follow her heart to America after falling in love with her now husband, John Bruno. She recently took her Oath of Citizenship after five years of pursuing naturalization. Becoming a U.S. citizen requires dedication and discipline, traits Valentina embodies, as shown through her impressive scientific career. Valentina was born in Cagliari, Italy, where she progressed through her education, earning a master’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in Toxicology. After spending a few years working as a post-doctoral scientist, she became an assistant professor in Pharmacology at the University of Cagliari. She specialized in researching the neurobiology of addiction and other brain disorders. Her passion for science is what initially brought Valentina to the United States. In 2012, Valentina spent three months as a visiting scientist at The Ohio State University,
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NEWCOMER EVENT A BIG SUCCESS
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PHOTO SHOP: SEASCAPES AND OTHER WATER IMAGES, PART 2
Columbus, Ohio, to work in John Bruno’s lab with a special visa. Through her work, she met and fell in love with John. In 2015, Valentina decided to move to America to live with him. She loved the energy of the big university and appreciated the financial support scientists receive in America. However, she did have to adjust to the cold winter with her little dog, Bilbo. Valentina and John married in 2017. Around this time, she realized that she wanted to become a part of the American way of life and decided to start the naturalization process. The process was a long five years and required her to continue renewing her green card (initially earned with the marriage), providing her with permanent residence. She also had to pass a written and oral test to complete naturalization. In 2018, while undergoing the process of naturalization, John retired, and the pair moved to Florida to live in Longboat Key. Valentina left her position at the University of Cagliari after her realization that her heart was here in America, along with her desire for citizenship. She started to work for a scientific company based in the Netherlands as a consultant and service support for U.S. customers. After their move to Longboat Key, they were disappointed by the lack of community and decided to try out Sarasota instead. They couldn’t find a high-rise overlooking the marina that suited them, and by chance discovered The Landings. They immediately felt comfortable at The Landings and knew it was a special place to live. Though it differed from home in Italy, she was passionate about The Landing’s funloving energy.
Va lent i n a cont i nued to prepare for the nat uralization process by studying 100 possible questions about civics, geography, and politics. She had to answer six questions out of ten correctly for the oral test and accurately write a sentence for the written test. After passing both tests, she took her Oath of Citizenship. Valentina is proud to say she is both Italian and American and maintains du a l c it i z e n sh ip. S h e considers how her story holds different value than other situations she has seen. Valentina is aware others might move to America out of necessity and is grateful to have the privilege of this move to be a choice. She had the opportunity to choose to follow her heart and love. H e r f a m i l y b a c k i n It a l y supports her choice to become a n Amer ica n cit i zen. Her du a l c it i z e n sh ip a l lows for easy t raveli ng bet ween bot h countries. She misses her family but k nows t hey now h ave a vacation opportunity to visit. She understands the importance of speaking to her family back home and tries to call her mom daily. This August, she turns 90, and Valentina will be there to celebrate with her. Valentina advises those who move from home to “keep in mind what your priorities are and keep in contact with your family as much as you can.” Though her family is in Italy, Va l e n t i n a h a s f o u n d m o r e family and friends through the community in The Landings. Her good friends Dee and Judi
organized a lunch cruise around Sarasota Bay to celebrate her Oath of Citizenship. Valentina was delighted to see more than 50 of her friends from The Landings had come to celebrate her citizenship with her. Many partygoers wore red, white, and blue attire, with Valentina sporting red lipstick, a white top, and blue trousers. She was impressed to see all her friends recognizing America and her newfound citizenship. The two-hour cruise consisted of a delicious lunch, chatting with one another, and enjoying the beautiful coastline of Sarasota Bay. It was an emotional day for Valentina, and she couldn’t be more grateful to those who came out to celebrate with her. Though Valentina followed her heart to America after falling for John, she also fell in love with America. On her newfound citizenship, Valentina says, “now I can vote and help to ensure that the America that I fell in love with remains”.
The Landings Rocks Out at Annual Pool Party
By Carolyn Friday, Landings Social Reporter Photos taken by Rick Waller
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KID’S CORNER, MAZZY CACIC
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T h e p o ol s ide at L RC wa s rockin’ and rollin’ under the stars on a perfect spring evening last month. Lisa Rott and the Island Hoppers revved up the c r owd w it h t u n e s f r om t h e Beatles to Dua Lippe. Partygoers grooved and jitterbugged for hours. And, perhaps amazingly, no one fell into the pool. Norm Olshansky led a congal i ne a rou nd t he pool a s t he festivities kicked off. “So many people have been looking forward to this party, and it took a strong team to coordinate all the parts and pieces for this complex event for more than 140 people,” said
Paige Packman, chair of the LRC Social Committee. Co-chair of the event, Ingrid Weimer, and her committee spun a “Bali-Hai” scene with beach ball lights floating in the pool, sand & shell centerpieces on the tables, ban ners, colorful leis, funky palms, and umbrellas! So many thanks go to Ron Pierce, Wayne Trotter, Dawn Smith, and our own Olivia for the set-up. Yu m m y g y r o s a n d o t h e r Mediterranean-style dishes were pr ov ide d by M ag g ie on t he Move, a St. Petersburg-based food truck- although not without a few t im i ng issues. But not
even those hiccups could spoil the mood. Ever yone le f t sm i l i ng a nd humming and looking forward to next year’s big pool party. “At least half a dozen people asked me why can’t we do this event monthly? That is truly a testament to a great party,” said Paige. I f you m i ssed t he f u n, p h o t o g r a p h e r R i c k Wa l l e r s n ap p e d s om e l ive ly g r oup photos, which you can download f r o m t h i s l i n k : h t t p s : // photosbyrick.smug mug.com/ LRC-Pool-Party-March-2023/nBN3mST.