East County Observer 6.22.23

Sweet event for Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

Thirty members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance purchased a golden ticket to a chocolate tasting with the real life Willy Wonka, Norman Love. The sold-out event was held at Norman Love Confections in UTC.

“It’s part of a series we call ACES — Activity Centered Events,” said LWRBA Events and Programs Coordinator Janeth Gonzalez (above, right, with Cherri Kessler). “It’s a members-only event at a member’s business.”

Love shared his experiences from “stumbling into the business” to creating a line of artisan chocolates for Godiva. Members sampled white chocolate with a key lime pie ganache, Tahitian caramel with vanilla, and an intense dark chocolate made with cocoa beans from Ghana.

‘Sunny lifestyle vibe’ at Waterside

Nicky Mayforth is ready to bring what she calls a “sunny lifestyle vibe” to Lakewood Ranch with the opening of Marmalade, a salon and clothing boutique, at Waterside.

Jenna DiLorenzo and Mayforth (above) opened Marmalade’s first location in Sarasota in 2001 and opened a location in Siesta Key in 2019, and now Waterside.

The duo celebrated the grand opening of Marmalade in Waterside June 15.

“Jenna wanted to do hair, and I wanted to own a clothing boutique and we wanted to have fun,” Mayforth said. “But we also wanted to build a community of people who feel like they’re walking into our living room every time they come in. We’ve achieved that.”

Mayforth said it’s incredible to open in Waterside. She said she’s looking forward to getting to know a new community.

Meet and greet ... your dog

COMPLETED WORK

Anyone who considers adopting a dog from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue will have the opportunity to spend time getting to know the dog first.

The nonprofit’s new meet-andgreet pavilion gives people a chance to play with their potential pup.

The outdoor pavilion has four caged-in small areas and one larger one. It also has ceiling fans, water fountains and water bottle fillers, and a bathroom. There will be WiFi available across the nonprofit’s grounds so people can fill out adoption paperwork as they are playing with the dogs in the pavilion.

“If somebody sees a dog they like, we can bring them in here and they can spend quality time (together),” said Rob Oglesby, the development director of Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. “This is going to be used a ton. This section right here is going to be big for the adoptions.”

At least 20 dogs were able to meet their new owners in the meet-andgreet pavilion June 10.

The meet-and-greet pavilion is the newest complete part of the rescue’s Journey Home Capital Campaign, which is an expansion of the nonprofit’s facilities and services.

Construction continues on the new 23,000-square-foot welcome and education center, which will include a veterinary clinic, parvo and maternity ward, education center, a cat room with “catios,” event center, and kitchen. The improvements also include a two-bedroom apartment that can be used for students on a veterinary externship or possibly an employee.

The seven catios are screened-in areas with ceiling fans so the cats can be inside or outside. People will be able to sit in the cat room and play with the cats. Once complete, the cat

room will be able to house 60 cats.

The event center will give the nonprofit opportunities to host birthday parties, weddings, its summer camp and other events and activities.

Oglesby said a weeklong camp is being hosted twice this summer, but with the expansion project expected to be completed by the end of the year or during the first quarter of next year, Nate’s will be able to expand the weeklong camps to dates all summer.

The event center has a partition to be able to make the center into two rooms or one large room. It also leads to a 26-by-52-foot covered patio.

The welcome and education center also will have a catering kitchen.

Outside the welcome and education center are nine cottages that are close to completion. Hurricane Ian destroyed two of the new cottages.

Oglesby said once the cottages are complete, the nonprofit will have 17, allowing Nate’s to care for more animals.

Nate’s Honor has been working on the now $12 million expansion since 2018, when the nonprofit announced

n Approximately 5,000-squarefoot intake building that includes an area for animals to be vaccinated and tested before being grooms, 42 kennels so dogs can be isolated, a cat isolation area, food pantry, kitchen, laundry and surgical suite

n 4,300-square-foot training facility that includes a puppy training room, office space, observation room and a room set up like a home to help dogs adjust to a home setting

n Walking area that includes a quarter-mile loop around a lake with a fountain and pergolas and benches as a resting area

n Shaded dog runs where trainers can have playgroups for dogs

n Bone shaped pool

n Meet-and-greet pavilion

IN PROGRESS

n Work on the last nine cottages

n Construction of the 23,000-square-foot welcome and adoption center that will include a veterinary clinic, parvo and maternity ward, cat room, education and community center, a two-bedroom apartment and possibly a Belgian waffle and ice cream store.

the project. The rescue broke ground in 2019.

Oglesby said it’s been a long process, but he’s excited to see it coming together.

“I’m here every day, so it doesn’t look like it’s coming together because I’ve seen it moving at a snail’s pace, but if you leave and come back, it’s amazing,” he said. “If you were here three weeks ago, (the meet-andgreet pavilion) was not here.”

Oglesby said although the project has taken longer than expected

to complete, he’s relieved to have it done in phases.

The rescue completed its approximately 5,000-square-foot intake building in October 2021 followed by its 4,300-square-foot training facility in January 2022. Since then, adoptions have been taking place in the training facility until the welcome and education center opens.

“It’s been the perfect storm of everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, but everything happens for a reason as well,” Oglesby said. “Imagine if we had a 23,000-squarefoot building, 17 cottages, and two almost 5,000-square-foot buildings handed to us all at once. We would have drowned.”

Work continues on the 23,000-squarefoot welcome and education center at Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.

BY THE NUMBERS

$12 MILLION Cost of expansion

$9.3 MILLION Amount raised

¼ MILE Distance around the pond for volunteers to walk the dogs

120 Parking spots after construction

23,000 Square footage of welcome and adoption center

4,000 Square footage of training center

5,000 Square footage of intake building

8 Number of acres on the property

17 Number of animal cottages after construction

120 Dogs the rescue can house after the project is complete

60 Cats the rescue can house after the project is complete

A meet-and-greet pavilion is the newest addition to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue’s $12 million expansion.

EAST COUNTY PROJECTS IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The total recommended funding for the CIP is $3.8 billion. District 1 is targeted for 40% of those funds with far more projects (155) than any other district. District 5 has 102 projects on the CIP.

“It’s going to be skewed because you’ve got the port, Piney Point (phosphate facility) and the (Manatee) dam all in District 1,” District 1 Commissioner James Satcher explained about why his district is receiving so much more money on the CIP than the other districts. “Everyone needs drinking water, and it’s all in District 1. And we’re spending money to make roads that go north/south in my district.”

District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said a “bigger slice of the pie” going to Districts 1 and 5 also are due to population growth in those areas of the county.

“Most of 44th Avenue was built with impact fees from District 5,” she said.

Here’s a list of the major projects proposed for East County over the next five years:

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

n $12.1 million. Lena Road from south of 44th Avenue East to Landfill Road.

n $38.1 million. Lorraine Road from State Road 64 to 59th Avenue East.

n $23.7 million. Upper Manatee River Road from north of State Road 64 to the Fort Hamer Bridge.

Budget focus remains on roads

Recommended budget includes $492.5 million for road projects and $89.2 million for parks projects.

STAFF WRITER

It was just under a year ago when Manatee County commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, noting that the emphasis was heavily placed on roads and parks. When Acting Manatee County Administrator Lee Washington presented his recommended $2.1 billion FY 2024 budget to commissioners last week, not much has changed.

Once again, a growing Manatee County, which now has more than 412,703 residents (per Census Reporter), has made roads and parks the top priorities.

Of the recommended $2.1 billion budget, $492.5 million is targeted for road expansion projects. Another $89.2 million will go toward park facilities.

Washington told commissioners his recommended budget places a high priority on public safety, infrastructure and services for citizens.

Other main priorities in the budget include $190 million to run the Sheriff’s Office and $23.1 million for Public Safety. The county has budgeted $66.1 million in building improvements and has set aside $9 million for salary increases.

While that total budget amount is under the FY 2023 approved budget of $2,358,762,650, Commissioner

Vanessa Baugh said it likely will surpass the previous year’s budget amount after the county can accurately determine the amount it will receive from property taxes. The assessment of property values is due by July 1, with an estimated 17.5% increase in home values over last year.

“(The property appraiser’s office) is almost always very conservative in that figure, so when the property appraiser announces the actual figure on July 1, at that point, we will truly know how much money we have for the budget this coming year that will start Oct. 1,” Baugh said. “Is it more money than what was projected before? It generally is, and it could be $4 to $10 million more that we can sit back and come up with some projects that we’d like to do, but were afraid we couldn’t afford in this (recommended) budget.”

After the property appraisal figures are released, Washington will present commissioners with a proposed budget.

Final approval of the budget is scheduled for Sept. 19. Two public hearings will be held in September that will focus on the budget. The new budget takes effect on Oct. 1, which begins the fiscal year.

Commissioners still can vote down or pull items from the proposed budget.

Commissioners also can add items that weren’t recommended by the county administrator.

Here is a look at some of the priorities in the budget.

ROAD PROJECTS FUNDED

Besides the major road projects,

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FY24-28, BY DISTRICT

the county still has to maintain and make its existing roadways safer. The recommended budget will provide Public Works with $87.9 million in 2024 for continued road maintenance to keep up with the growing usage, including the road resurfacing and sidewalk repair programs in the unincorporated areas of the county.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manatee County’s population increased by an estimated 7.4% from April 2020 to July 2022.

Additional transportation improvement requests include “Next Signal” guide signs that help motorists know what crossroad is coming up. Other improvements include speed management and multimodal safety measures at intersections and on thoroughfares.

Then, of course, come the major road projects.

“As far as the budget (in East County), we’re in pretty good shape,” Baugh said. “We’ve got Lorraine Road, Upper Manatee Road and Fort Hamer (road improvement projects) all in the budget.”

All of those projects are included in the FY 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan, along with extensions for Lena Road and 44th Avenue East and an intersection improvement at Players Drive and Lorraine Road.

Lena Road will be extended south of 44th Avenue to Landfill Road. Lorraine will expand to four lanes from State Road 64 to 59th Avenue East, and Upper Manatee River Road will expand to four lanes north of S.R. 64 to the Fort Hamer Bridge.

PARKS IMPROVEMENTS COMING

While Premier Park doesn’t have a lot of line items on the 2023-24 budget, four major projects are included in the CIP—locker rooms for the sports campus, a pickleball and racket center, a soccer multipurpose building and a 50-meter swimming pool.

“Premier is going to stick by the word ‘premier.’ It’s going to be the best of the best,” Baugh said.

Under the recommended CIP, $10.4 million goes to the pool and $3.2 million to the pickleball and racket center in 2025. The soccer multi-purpose building was previously funded for $2.2 million and plans are underway.

PARKS n $1 million. Lakewood Ranch parking expansion. n $18.9 million. Premier Sports Complex swimming pool.

n $2.4 million. Braden River Park baseball field improvements.

POTABLE WATER

n $14.3 million. Upper Manatee River Road north of State Road 64 to Fort Hamer.

SOLID WASTE

n $7.8 million. Lena Road gas expansion

WASTEWATER

n $10.2 million. 44th Avenue East from 44th Avenue Plaza East to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard (reclaimed).

n $15.8 million. 44th Avenue East from 44th Avenue Plaza East to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard (wastewater).

“We’re going in stages (at Premier Park), and right now, we’re in the design stage. It’s about 30-40% at this point,” Baugh said. “When recess is over, there will be a vote as to whether or not to go ahead and finish up the design and start with the pickleball courts first.”

Set to open on the complex in September, the Lakewood Ranch Library will add $437,024 to the budget for operating costs. The $17.7 million it cost to build was already funded, and three custodian positions at a cost of $195,676 were forward funded from the last adopted budget.

As Premier Park continues to introduce new facilities, Lakewood Ranch Park is due for an update. Manatee County Sports and Leisure Services asked for $85,000 to upgrade the three full-size basketball courts on site.

“(The courts) are seeing signs of aging. They have the old gooseneck style goals, so we would upgrade the goals and address safety concerns with the cracking courts,” Deputy Director Molly White said. “Years ago, we did the tennis courts. The pickleball courts are getting ready to be resurfaced, so this will finish out (the hard surfaces of) that park.”

The outdated gooseneck posts, double rims and plastic fan-shaped backboards will be replaced with full-size, clear, rectangular backboards with breakaway rims.

White also requested $66,768 to add four golf carts to the department’s fleet, one of which would go to Lakewood Ranch Park so attendants can get to and from the athletic fields faster during events.

A shade structure and “destination playground” are included in the recommended CIP. Destination playgrounds are worth traveling for, so they draw more visitors than the average neighborhood playground. A nearby example is the circusthemed playground at Payne Park in Sarasota.

While commissioners are on recess until the third week in July, the property appraiser’s office will release its “certification of values,” which is the total taxable value of all properties in the county. The budget reflects a preliminary estimate that shows a 17.5% increase in property values. Property taxes account for $394.6 million of revenue in the 2024 recommended budget, a nearly 19% increase from the 2023 adopted budget of $332 million.

Mick mansion up for sale

You

Case in point: Although Mick Jagger’s longtime girlfriend, Melanie Hamrick, has put her Lake Club home on the market for $3.5 million, don’t expect to check the place out at an open house.

“The notoriety makes it trickier because you have all the curiosity seekers that you have to weed through,” says RE/MAX Alliance Real Estate Agent Christine Spelman. “I could never do an open house on this house. It’s only private tours.”

The house is listed in Hamrick’s name and not in the name of the Rolling Stones frontman. Hamrick, who has family in the area, is a former ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre.

The couple bought the home at 15809 Clearlake Ave. in October 2020 for $1.98 million. Spelman is the couple’s Realtor and also a family friend. She says Jagger and Hamrick love the area, but with two busy schedules, they simply can’t visit as much as they would like.

“It is a magnificent house — 5,725plus square feet, four en-suites, fiveand-a-half baths. They have spent the last two years with two professionals decorators redoing it, making it light and airy,” Spelman says. “The house was originally built with privacy in mind with water on two sides, a park out front and one neighbor, so they took that to the next level with a lot of landscaping and a lot of cameras.”

Spelman says the couple had a rough start in Lakewood Ranch because of a frenzy caused by celeb-

rity seekers. She keeps an eye on the house when Jagger and Hamrick can’t be there and says they still receive mail from all over the world to that address.

Spelman, who’s been selling homes in the area for 12 years, also receives regular text messages from people saying they swore they just saw Mick Jagger around the corner, to which she typically responds, “No, you didn’t because I know he’s not here.”

The publicity caused the couple to add three camera towers on the outside of the property, along with extensive landscaping to prevent prying eyes from seeing inside.

The exterior of the home also features three terrace balconies and a bell tower in the back that overlooks the water for a gorgeous sunset view. Inside, there are two staircases. One is private and leads to a master suite.

What will people do to see the inside of Mick Jagger’s bedroom?

One person made a full price offer of $3,499,000 with one stipulation: to meet the owner. Spelman rejected that offer and changed her restrictions since giving six private tours June 17. Buyers must show proof of funds to get inside.

While Jagger’s icon status might draw more interest to the listing, it doesn’t up the price.

“We knew it would bring more attention, but we didn’t put extra dollar value for that.”

Mick Jagger sightings are now less likely in Lakewood Ranch, as the rock star’s girlfriend, Melanie Hamrick, has put her Lake Club home up for sale for $3.5 million.

Car lot opponents out of options

a car dealership,” Baugh said. “There is no mass development like that commercial property in the area. It’s going to be huge.”

After the board’s approval, O’Sullivan filed two cases — one against Manatee County claiming they violated both the land development code and the Sunshine Law, the other against Manatee County and Cox Properties claiming the rezoning was not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

“We’re

two different judges and they basically said, ‘We believe the county,’ and that’s it.

“We’re just sitting back, and who knows who will really start growling when they start building the place. It’s a space where there’s nine subdivisions around it.”

The dealership, planned for an 18-acre parcel at the northwest corner of State Road 64 and 117th Street East, was approved by the Manatee County Commission in October 2020 by a 4-3 vote.

District Five Commissioner Vanessa Baugh voted against the project.

“It’s just a terrible location to put

“Both of those cases are now closed. The one shows it’s open because the county was moving for attorney’s fees,” said Fred Moore, the attorney for Cox Properties.

“There’s nothing (stopping Cox) as far as moving forward under county approvals, but I don’t know if there are other approvals necessary — the state water district, the federal government, other items — that wasn’t part of my engagement.”

Manatee County filed and won a motion to request the repayment of tax costs and attorney fees from Save Gates Creek, but the county attorney’s office didn’t respond to phone and email messages asking if they planned to follow through.

Some trees and debris have started to be cleared on the property. Kris Cox didn’t return several calls for comment on plans for the lot.

Save Gates Creek and its Neighborhoods Inc. is out of legal options following a two-year legal battle to stop the dealership.

The art of business

The multipurpose shop is a coffee and wine bar, art gallery, home decor store and event space.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

In Italian, Via la Casa means “street of the home.”

Now co-owners Gabriella Moss and Silvia Costa hope their Via la Casa, San Marco Plaza’s newest business, is like a home to their patrons. It serves as a coffee shop, wine bar, art gallery, home decor store and

IF YOU GO

Via la Casa. 8209 Nature’s Way, Suite 121. Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit VialaCasa.art.

event space all in one.

Moss, 28, owns the shop with her mother, Costa. Both women live locally — Moss in Greenbrook and Costa in the Concession.

The coffee bar, furnished with bar stools, is front and center when entering Via la Casa, but there are more comfortable couches and chairs to choose from as well. If the furnishings seem too nice to risk spilling on, Costa said they’re not.

“The rugs are not very expensive,” Costa said. “The couch is made for sitting. I sprayed Scotchgard on the chairs. That’s why we have super rustic tables, cutting boards and things like that, so you’re not scared of spilling or scratching.”

FREE PUBLIC EVENT for “Baby Boomers”

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FREE LUNCH

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Stonewood Grill and Tavern 415 University Pkwy, Sarasota 34201 RSVP 941-212-3398

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Denny’s 3701 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota 34233 RSVP 941-231-5545

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IHOP 6320 SR64 East, Bradenton 34208 RSVP 941-344-2151

With the exception of a few oneof-a-kind pieces like the 19th century table from France or the box that was turned into a table, the furniture is for sale, too. Just ask and it’ll be ordered. The “box” table originally held a model airplane until Costa thought it would make a good coffee table, so she stained and varnished it.

Costa, 57, is the artist behind the 18 oil paintings that adorn Via la Casa’s walls. Most are originals, but walk around with Costa and she’ll make you guess which ones aren’t. The replicas are archival pigment prints done on canvas. They’re museum quality with a lifespan of 200 years. Originals run from $12,000 to $70,000, and prints from $500 to $2,000.

“I priced them where I wouldn’t regret selling them,” Costa said. “I’m a perfectionist, and it’s realism. When you look at the painting, you think you’re looking at a photo. It takes a lot of hours.”

A larger 48-by-72-inch painting can take Costa up to 180 hours to finish. She works off photographs. One of her favorite pieces is called “Yellow Dress.” Moss is the woman wearing the dress. The idea to open an art gallery came first. Everything else snowballed from there.

“I said, ‘There should be home decor in the midspace, and we’ll create a home with the art and the furniture underneath it,’” Moss said. “Then I thought, why not blend it into a coffee shop as well?”

When Costa heard coffee, she added wine. The mother-anddaughter team work well together, each with a different skill set. Costa has a background in merchandising and focuses on the decor and inventory, while Moss earned a material science engineering degree from the University of Florida and handles the bar, marketing and social media.

They only butt heads over the budget. Moss is the more fiscally conservative of the two. As for shoppers,

Via la Casa fits any budget. The home decor items range from $10 hand towels to an $800 ceramic platter handmade and imported from Italy.

“If you can’t afford a painting, buy a cappuccino,” Costa said. “You can just have a coffee, look around at all the paintings and merchandise, and

enjoy yourself.”

Alexis Jones was looking for a spot to grab a coffee on her way home from work to the Residences at the Green.

“We don’t have a lot of smaller coffee shops in Lakewood Ranch. I teach tennis, so I’m usually on the search for coffee after lessons,” Jones said. “The coffee is very good. It doesn’t taste acidic, and it doesn’t have an aftertaste. The banana bread was really good, too, and gluten free.”

Jones plans on returning, but she’s bringing her mom next time, and that’s exactly the response Moss hopes to hear.

“This is a place to connect,” she said. “We have the opportunity to connect with the community and also provide a place that the community can connect, whether meeting with friends or for business.”

The shop is closed Sundays and Mondays to host private events, and the current hours may expand with employees. For now, Via la Casa runs on a staff of two: Moss and Costa.

They’re tweaking and evolving as they go. Wine tastings start next month. For now, the focus is on getting to know their customers and offering that little something extra you can’t find at a Starbucks. For one, the iced coffee is served in a red wine glass.

“It’s more beautiful, and everybody wants to feel special,“ Costa said. “Everybody comes here and has a story to tell, and by the end, we’re kind of friends.”

OVER $121 MILLIO N SOLD AND PENDING IN 2023 OVER $199 MILLIO N SOLD AND PENDING IN 2022

“Donna is a true professional. She has the uncanny ability to make you feel important and heard at all times, regardless of how busy she is.” – Eric G.

“Donna is the ultimate professional in this market. She has command of all facets of selling property for its highest value. Her attention to detail is second to none.” – Donald H.

“Donna

GOODBYE POLITICS

After more than 10 years serving Manatee County as commissioner, Vanessa Baugh walks away to concentrate on her family.

Vanessa Baugh, the senior member of the Manatee County Commission, has resigned from her post with 1.5 years remaining on her term.

Baugh, who was serving her third term in representing District 5 and more than 10 years overall, said family concerns have caused her to bow out early.

The staunch Republican was first elected in 2012.

An email to her fellow commissioners on Friday morning read:

“Commissioners, the day has come to announce my retirement from the Manatee County BOCC. One thing I have come to realize is that one of the most important things in life is family. This week has reinforced that it is time to take care of my husband (Don Baugh), children and grandchildren and to be a bigger part of their lives.

“I have forwarded the governor my retirement letter effective July 31. Representing Manatee County has been such an honor, and I will always cherish and be proud of the accomplishments during my tenure.”

She added, “When I got involved, I thought I could make a difference, and I think I have.”

Baugh called her resignation “bittersweet.”

“I have loved representing District 5,” she said. “I have worked very hard and I feel like many people (in her district) have become like family to me. But the time comes when you need to have your priorities.”

Baugh, who owns Vanessa Fine Jewelry on Lakewood Main Street with her husband, said she decided to run for the Manatee County Commission in 2012 because the Lakewood Ranch business community approached her about running for office to gain more representation for that sector of the community.

“Businesses were losing their line of credit at that time,” Baugh said. “We were losing a lot of banks. I had

had two stores at the time (the other in Sarasota). I needed to concentrate on business.”

Instead, she ran for commissioner, defeating John Colon in the primary and James Golden in the General Election.

In 2016, she earned another fouryear term by beating Kathleen Grant with 53.13% of the vote. As still is the case, Baugh said at the time that roads were her main concern.

Although she said she didn’t want to serve more than two terms, she ended up winning a third term in 2020 because she felt those in the race would not benefit the county.

She said working to get the diverging diamond project built at the Interstate 75 and University Parkway interchange was one of her top achievements.

“We had it on our (capital improvement plan) for 2035,” she said.

She went to the Rep. Greg Steube and Sarasota County officials for help in speeding up the project. It opened in 2017.

She is proud that Manatee County “is building more roads than ever before in its history.”

“We worked year after year to get Manatee to prioritize roads,” she said.

Another of her top achievements, she said, was moving the county toward building a library in Lakewood Ranch. The Lakewood Ranch Library will open late this year.

“I am sad that I am leaving office before it opens,” she said. “I hope I get invited.”

She has been surrounded by controversy as well.

In January, she settled with the Florida Commission on Ethics on her role in setting up a COVID-19 vaccination clinic that only served two ZIP Codes of East County residents. She organized the event without notifying the other Manatee County commissioners and came under fire from some members of the community who felt the affluent Lakewood Ranch residents were

rience tough times in office.

“I don’t think there is an elected official, one who has done anything of value, who doesn’t have highs and lows,” Boyd said.

“Vanessa was relentless,” Boyd said. “She wouldn’t give up on something that was important to her community. She has taken representing Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding area very seriously. We will miss her.”

Rep. Tommy Gregory, a Republican representing the 73rd House District that includes parts of Manatee (Lakewood Ranch) and Sarasota counties, said serving 10.5 years in one of the nation’s fastest growing counties is impressive in itself.

“I would say she has been a hardworking, public-service, elected official,” Gregory said. “She was never a ‘yes’ vote or a ‘no’ vote on anything. She was a warrior, and warriors are always missed.”

Despite some controversial moments, Baugh said she doesn’t regret her time in office.

“This county and our values and morals are worth fighting for,” she said. “Unfortunately, that has gotten ugly.”

She said the period during COVID-19 was her toughest time in office.

“It was tough for the county, the state, the country,” she said. “You realize that so many of your friends and relatives had passed away from a disease we had never seen before. Figuring out what to do was a very tough task.”

Baugh’s successor will be selected by Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve out the rest of her term.

“That person will have to be prepared to be changed,” Baugh said. “And it does change you.”

While Baugh is leaving office, she said she will be available to the county if anyone wants to call her. She said she hopes the current commissioners “understand the importance of working together as a board, that no one has more authority than another.”

“I wish them the best,” she said.

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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“She was never a ‘yes’ vote or a ‘no’ vote on anything. She was a warrior, and warriors are always missed.”

—

Tommy Gregory

“I am not that innocent, young lady with all those ideas of what we should do and how we should do it. I have been to war. I have scars. I am thankful this community has stuck with me.”

Want to volunteer? The time is right

You’ve been sitting around your Lakewood Ranch home telling your significant other that it is, indeed, time to give back to the community.

But you say you don’t know how.

Here’s how.

Call 843-415-3436 or send an email to gamafn@gmail.com.

Operators are standing by.

OK, I’m kidding about the operators are standing by part. Actually, the person standing by is Annemarie Neubecker, a Lakewood Ranch Community Fund board member who is assembling a volunteer force for the fund, which raises money that is granted to area nonprofits.

In the past, much of the “volunteer” work performed by the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund has been done by its board members, but over the last year, the fund’s board has started a more aggressive strategy of hosting events to assure more money is available to the local nonprofits.

Those two events, The Soirée at the Ranch (Nov. 9 at Lakewood Ranch Country Club) and the Run for the Beads (Feb. 10, 2024 at Waterside Place) need volunteers to grow. In other words, they need you.

The diversity of needs is actually the best part. Do you like setting up chairs and tables for just one day a year because you have a busy schedule and are crushed for time?

Annemarie has a job for you.

Perhaps you would like to work one day in February, just pointing runners in the right direction?

Annemarie has a job for you.

Perhaps you can’t stand for very long, but would love to sit at a table and take tickets? Maybe design is your thing, and you could decorate the Soirée in a way that would make a five-star hotel jealous? Neubecker said some people are really tech crazy, and that would be a big help.

Some people love to make community connections and would be

perfect to help the fund find sponsors. Others have leadership skills and like to be in charge of a team or a unit. Perhaps you have solid administrative skills, which are much needed.

Call 843-415-3436 or send an email to gamafn@gmail.com.

Operators are ... well ... you know.

Neubecker said that there are plenty of volunteer options for both leaders and worker bees.

And no matter what kind of volunteer lands at the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, Neubecker said the nonprofit is likely to receive another enormous benefit.

“First and foremost, we are wanting to build awareness of the fund, and one way is to engage people from our Lakewood Ranch communities into our projects,” Neubecker said.

Not only does the fund gain volunteers to do some very important tasks, it picks up ambassadors along the way.

“They will be the mouthpiece for the fund,” Neubecker said.

Of course, every volunteer task is important.

“We learned that when we had our two major events, because of where we held those events (the Soirée was at Esplanade and the run was at Waterside Place), we could engage those communities in the work. “

But relying on the kindness of one community to fill roles on short notice was not a good strategy for the long run.

Esplanade residents made a huge difference at the Soirée. Event chair Nancy Sykes lives in Esplanade, and that community responded with 35 volunteers to help both the fund and Sykes. Hopefully some of those volunteers will be longtime volunteers no matter where in the area the event is held.

“They did everything from helping with decorations, planning for audio visual, arranging and setting

up items for the auction, to working at the event,” Neubecker said. “They greeted people and helped to guide them around to different parts of the venue. Some would sell raffle tickets.”

She said one benefit of having volunteers registered with the fun is the ability to clearly define roles and even give some training if needed.

“There is a recognition piece,” Neubecker said. “They will know what their role is.”

It would also allow the fund to perform an orientation of volunteers along with giving them recognition for their effort, a basic “Thank you.”

While the Run for the Beads would seem to be more straightforward in terms of tasks, Neubecker said she had a committee of 10 volunteers who served as planners. Ahead of time, volunteers were seeking sponsors, researching awards, and working closely with Fit to Run, the company that manages the run. She said more than 25 volunteers were needed to put on the event, and even that was not enough.

“It was hard to find the right people to volunteer, and in the process, simultaneously plan the event,” Neubecker said. “If we had a network, a way to be able to retrieve volunteers, we would be able to pull people from that resource.”

Neubecker was asked what makes a good volunteer.

“Someone who is willing to jump in and take on any task,” she said. “Someone who has the time, because volunteer work is time consuming.”

With that said, she emphasized that volunteers can pick their own time commitment. It could be those who just want to work one day or it could be those who want to be part of the planning effort.

“We need people who have specific talents,” Neubecker said. “An example was a woman on our

committee had an eye for color and design, and for the Soirée she arranged the pieces on the table. We want to identify those special talents and have recognized them ahead of time. We can pull that information.” Neubecker said more Lakewood Ranch Community Fund events are likely on the way.

“Definitely, we have two events now for sure,” she said. “There already is discussion for two or three more.”

So how do you keep volunteers coming back?

“If you recognize a skill they have, and you capitalize on that. Something as simple as having a leadership quality, they will respond,” Neubecker said. “We look for something like someone who is persuasive. I saw that last year on my race committee. And we had some challenges.”

No matter the skill, Neubecker says she looks for one quality in most volunteers.

“An upbeat personality,” she said.

“It can be a daunting task to put on a big event, and you want cheerleaders. That is one of the most important features. We don’t want a negative person on a committee.”

Hopefully, the reward for volunteers is the self-satisfaction that comes with helping the community.

“I do volunteer tutoring, and I find it so rewarding,” Neubecker said. “It is what keeps you coming back, seeing the benefit of your work. Our volunteers for the Soirée, I kept hearing as we were cleaning up, that it was so great. You could feel the energy in the room, a team effort. Everyone felt like they contributed.”

Seeds of ecology

Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch spearheads effort to plant microforest in Greenbrook.

Restoration ecologist Charles Reith was thrilled 15 members of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch showed up June 17 in Greenbrook to spread sheets of cardboard and mulch to prep for the planting of a microforest.

But he said the actual labor involved took a backseat to something else.

“Everyone who works on it, learns from it,” Reith said of the microforest.

Reith, who has more than 25 years of experience working in energy, mining, agriculture, environmental remediation, waste management and academia, is hoping such projects go viral.

“Today we are doing something that will be good for the environment for 200 years,” he told the group of volunteers. “This is a high performance microforest that will deliver 10 times more ecological benefit. It means flood protection, wind protection, cooling and wildlife habitat.

“This will be a 100-year forest that will grow in 10 years.”

Rotarians have supported six such projects in the region, including one in Heritage Harbour and two at the Celery Fields in Sarasota.

“We are taking spaces that are not being utilized,” said John Freeman, a member of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch. “We are taking grassy areas, and with the help of master gardeners, making it bio diverse.”

Freeman said the target areas are generally grassy areas that must be mowed by schools or municipalities.

In the case of the Greenbrook project, which borders the Heron’s Nest Nature Park lake, Lakewood Ranch’s Inter-District Authority must maintain the .3 acres involved.

TREE TIMES THE EFFORT

What: Microforest in Greenbrook

Who: Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch holds a volunteer day

Where: Along Heron’s Nest Nature Park lake in Greenbrook

When: June 17

First step: A layer of cardboard was put down over 0.3 acres and then 6 inches of mulch was put over it

What’s next: More than 1,500 native trees and shrubs will be planted in about six weeks

“They are spending resources on it,” Freeman said.

Freeman said the purpose of the cardboard is to “cook” the soil underneath.

“This is going to be a perfect environment for earthworms,” said Reith, who in 1990 received the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award from President George H.W. Bush for his volunteer work on environmental justice in the South Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The group quickly laid out of cardboard before spreading the mulch. In approximately six weeks, volunteers will return to plant more than 1,500 trees and plants. Among the trees will be sycamores, red maples, oaks, magnolias, hickory and long leaf pine.

ONE PARK SARASOTA: AN EXCEPTIONAL RESIDENTIAL CENTERPIECE, DESIGNED WITH THE CITY IN MIND

One Park Sarasota remains fully committed to fostering a good partnership with the City of Sarasota and the local community to bring this oneof-kind luxury development to life for the residents of Sarasota to enjoy. Nestled in the heart of The Quay, One Park has developed an unmatched presence and level of interest from those within the Sarasota real estate market. Boasting stunning residences and a high-end range of public and private amenities, it has caught the eyes of buyers looking for a wholly luxurious residential experience. With its creatively inspired aesthetic, extensive offerings, and top-notch ambiance, One Park Sarasota is poised to not only redefine luxury, but also serve as a prime example of what luxury can be as the city expands and looks toward its bright future.

Beyond Elegant Interior Design

One Park Sarasota is more than just a residence; it’s a commitment to an unparalleled quality of life for its inhabitants. Every aspect of this luxury property has been meticulously designed to enhance the comfort and convenience of its residents, creating an environment that is both elegant and inviting, exceeding the expectations of residents and visitors alike.

One Park Sarasota’s residences, expertly designed by the renowned Hoyt Architects, exude an unparalleled level of sleek sophistication to perfectly capture the essence of elevated waterfront living.

They consist of 123 fully finished two, three, and five-bedroom units and six penthouse units that immerse residents into The Quay’s tranquil bayfront ambience. Every unit is equipped with 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, a contemporary lighting package with recessed lighting, dimmers, and lighting control, fully built-out closets, and a midnight bar in select primary bedrooms. Notable features also include expansive outdoor terraces with glass railing and summer kitchens, as well as an unprecedented level of efficiency through PMG smart home technology, delivering seamless personalization with a touch of a button. With these aspects in hand, one’s residential experience is not only pleasing to behold, but key for a more relaxed everyday life.

“One Park will be a one-of-a-kind development, with a flawless blend of finishes and understated designs, emphasizing beauty and functionality of the building, all while staying faithful to Sarasota’s established aesthetic,” said Gary Hoyt, President & Chief Executive Officer at Hoyt Architects.

Fostering Community Engagement

A key element of luxury living is an engaged and thriving community. One Park Sarasota will foster just that for both its residents and those at The Quay through a spacious and exquisitely designed breezeway above Quay Commons. This secure passageway will provide convenient access to The

Quay and The Bay Park, transforming the common space into a dynamic pedestrian walkway adorned with widened sidewalks and vibrant greenery. This one-of-a-kind communal area will serve as an engaging hub for both Sarasota locals and One Park Sarasota residents, creating a lively and safe atmosphere for making connections or taking a moment to enjoy the surrounding scenery as one travels. One Park Sarasota will also deliver plentiful gathering and communal spaces on the ground floor for the general public to partake in and enjoy at their leisure. The developers of One Park have planned over 13,000 square feet of retail space at the building’s base. This dedicated area will offer top-notch retail options, dining establishments, and outdoor café seating catering to individuals seeking to socialize with friends, seek shelter during inclement weather or hot summer days, or shop for the latest trends just steps away from home. This retail space will also contribute to the area’s vitality and commercial activity, ensuring the community’s energy and stability is sustained for years to come.

Amenity Spaces For Everyday Living

For One Park Sarasota residents, engaging experiences do not only exist outside the property or on the ground floor. Numerous leisure activities and five-star opportunities lie within the building itself, courtesy of 63,000 square

feet of expansive amenity space. Elevated offerings include a private One Park Wellness Spa, a resort-style pool, a state-of-the-art fitness studio with high-tech exercise equipment, executive office suites, a wine room, a private theater room and golf simulator room, a children’s playroom, and hospitality suites. Additional services led by the dedicated concierge staff include valet parking, package delivery, and dog walking. Daily access to this dynamic range of amenities ensures residents never are far from enjoying serenity, comfort, and enriching activities, nor experiencing the greatness of waterfront living in Sarasota.

Embracing a New Standard of Luxury

One Park Sarasota is establishing a new standard for luxury living in Sarasota. Its ideal location, purposefully designed spaces that foster a seamless sense of community, and its meticulously crafted living spaces are second to none and showcase an appealing bayfront lifestyle unlike any other.

To witness this unparalleled residential experience firsthand, interested parties are encouraged to visit the One Park Sarasota sales gallery. With the finishing touches being placed on its new model primary bathroom and various other spaces to explore, it gives a pictureperfect glimpse into this iconic property coming soon to Sarasota.

To schedule an appointment at the sales gallery, located on 20 N Lemon Avenue, please visit OneParkSarasota.com

call 941-232-7036.

< PUGILISTIC PREMIERE: “That Must be the Entrance to Heaven” packs a mean punch. 15A

MUSICOLOGY TALE: “Black Pearl Sings” opens at FST’s Keating Theatre on June 28. 14A >

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT CREATING A CANDY-COLORED WORLD

“You’re wearing my colors,” exclaims Niki Butcher when a visitor wearing an aqua-and-pink dress arrives at the Venice gallery she shares with her husband, photographer Clyde Butcher.

Niki’s pastel-tinted photographs have their own room in the gallery, which is dominated by the massive black-and-white works of her husband.

Clyde’s stark environmental photography is often compared to that of the legendary Ansel Adams, whom he cites as an influence on his work.

Niki’s photographs also capture nature. It makes sense since the Butchers own a home and studio in Big Cyprus National Preserve in Ochopee. They’ve also shared cars, campers and boats in their 60-year journey together, which began in Palo Alto, Calif.

Like her husband, Niki starts out by taking a black-and-white photograph. But then she applies pastel pigments to the print and uses cotton swabs and balls as paintbrushes. What’s left behind is a candy-colored dream.

A TRIP TO OLD FLORIDA

Earlier this year, Niki published her first book of photographs, “Daydreaming,” which brings together her work spanning more than five decades.

Step inside the gallery room with Niki’s photographs and you’ll discover that the much-ballyhooed Big Sky of Montana has nothing on the panoramas of Florida, especially when they’re enhanced by the artist. In addition to large photos of mangrove, cypress and palm trees and idyllic sandy beaches, Niki’s room and her book feature smaller scenes of Old Florida.

These run-down fishing shacks, general stores selling a little bit of everything and salty, sun-dried characters are still around in the Sunshine State. Long after they’re gone, these vestiges of Old Florida will live on in Niki’s photographs.

For a woman whose creations depend upon embellishment, Niki is remarkably free of artistry. She doesn’t try to smooth out the rough edges of her life.

At 78, Niki’s not in a hurry, but maybe she never was. She’s delicate

but not frail and appears ready for whatever life sends her way. She’s the able first mate to Clyde’s skipper.

For many years, Niki was too busy helping with Clyde’s business and tending to her children to be a real artist. But then fate intervened.

As she recounts the story of her life, she pauses and asks: “Do you know what happens to a marriage when a child dies?”

Yes. Very few survive. What’s more, siblings also carry the weight of the loss.

Niki’s transformation from helpmeet to artist came after her son Ted was killed by a drunken driver in 1986. “Not long after Ted died, we were booked at an arts show in Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan,” she recalls. “Being around all those young people got me missing Ted so much.”

While the Butchers were in Ann

Arbor, Niki met a young man in a wheelchair who was cheerful and did not appear to feel sorry for himself because he was disabled.

BECOMING A REAL ARTIST

Shortly after that encounter, Niki said she decided to stop taking pictures of stuffed bears, rocking chairs and other saccharine subjects, work that was designed to open wallets at art shows.

She decided to create art that spoke to her. “It was Ted who helped me see what I needed to do,” Niki says.

When they got married in 1963 after meeting on a double date, Niki had studied fine art at a junior college, and Clyde was working as an architect. He was the breadwinner; photography was just a hobby.

But then he lost his job in one of California’s periodic real estate busts. According to Niki, a close

“The sun sets in the West, and I was used to sunsets over the ocean. I really liked that.

Once we moved to the Gulf Coast, I was happy again. The sun set in the right place.”

friend suggested that Clyde take down his photographs that were hanging on the walls of the Butcher house and sell them at an upcoming art fair.

By this time, the couple had moved to Los Angeles. Clyde’s photographs found favor with Angeleno art lovers.

“He made more in that one weekend that he had in a whole month as an architect,” Niki says.

PRODUCING FOR THE MASSES

Clyde’s photographs were so popular that a friend approached him about starting a business to sell reproductions of Clyde’s images  through department stores like Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penney.

“Back then, photography wasn’t really considered art, so we put a clock in the corner of the photograph and they became wall clocks,” Niki says. Fast forward a few years. The Butchers and their financial partner own a company called Eye Encounter based in Akron, Ohio, with 200 employees. After selling Eye Encounter to a corporation, the Butchers decided to hit the road and then the sea, all the while raising two kids. Along the way, Clyde gave up color photography and destroyed all his negatives. According to Niki, he lost the rights to most of his images when they sold their company. As former Californians, the Butchers love sunshine, the ocean and natural beauty. They didn’t

want to go home after selling their business in Ohio so they decided to give Florida a try.

But they didn’t get it right the first time — they settled on the East Coast. The people were nice enough, Niki says, but she couldn’t get her bearings.

“I was used to sunsets over the ocean. Once we moved to the Gulf Coast, I was happy again. The sun set in the right place,” she says.

The turning point in their lives, though, was when they were able to buy a property in Big Cypress, a stepping stone into Florida’s dark and wild interior. Clyde found the landscape that would cement his reputation as an environmental photographer.

But before visitors started coming to the Butcher Gallery in Big Cypress, Clyde and Niki had to hit the road to sell their art.

Long before the #vanlife craze hit social media, the Butchers were parking their camper in places like Central Park West in New York City to attend art festivals.

ALWAYS HAPPY TO COME HOME

Wherever the Butchers travel, Niki’s always happy to come back to Florida and its “weird and wonderful people,” she says. “There’s nothing like it.”

A visitor to a crowded open house in May at Clyde Butcher’s Venice gallery, located in a warehouse district, could rightfully assume that their success was predestined. That would be a mistake, Niki says.

“When you go to art fairs, you meet so many talented people. Why did we succeed with two galleries while other people are still selling at art shows? Because we had the experience of running a business,” she says.

These days, the Butchers’ daughter Jackie and son-in-law Neal Obendorf play a major part in the business, particularly since Clyde’s recent stroke. Even the grandkids are getting involved.

As Clyde and Niki celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this year, the couple knows their legacy is in good hands.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

‘THE MAN I LOVE’ LECTURE

11 a.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail

$10

Visit OlliRinglingCollege.org.

This Osher Lifelong Learning Institute class recounts the 10-year affair between Kay Swift and musical giant George Gershwin, which lasted until Gershwin died. Swift was the

OUR PICK

BLUESTAR BAND PRESENTS

‘REAL DEAL BLUES’

Offseason got you singing the blues?

The antidote might be “Real Deal Blues” with Bluestar Band, featuring Johnny Guitar, who claims to have been living the blues his entire life. Guitar will be joined by former retinal surgeon Oren “Doc” Plous on keyboards, Chicago blues veteran Kevin O’Connor on guitar and Sarasota radio host Velvet Hammer on bass. The band will

first woman to completely score a hit musical.

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR

2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $15-$20

Visit CircusArts.org.

Heidi Herriott, a third-generation American circus artist, presides over performances by hand balancers, clowns, jugglers and aerial rope artists, just to name just a few. Tickets are affordable, thanks to a partnership between the Circus Arts Academy and The Ringling. Runs through Aug. 12.

‘FAIRY TALE’

4:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail

From $30

Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Flutist Jasmine Choi and pianist Michael Adock play Dutilleux, while Jennifer Frautschi plays violin on Schubert’s “Piano Quintet in A Major.” The concert also features the works of Janacek, DeFalla/Kreisler and Kreisler. The festival continues through June 24.

‘REEL MUSIC’

6 p.m. at Florida StudioTheatre’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $34-$39

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

“Reel Music” celebrates the movies

THE SURFER BOYS

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret,1265 First St. $18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

From the group that brought you

The Jersey Tenors comes a rousing tribute to the band that took America on a “Surfin’ Safari” in the early 1960s. Runs through Aug. 13.

‘SHEAR MADNESS’

8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $25 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

There’s been a murder in a Sarasota hair salon, and it’s up to FST audiences to outwit the suspects and catch the killer in this interactive comedy. Runs through July 2.

FRIDAY

‘RISING STARS’

2:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail From $15 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The works of Fanny Mendelssohn, Brahms, Strauss, Ravel and other composers will be performed by the fellows studying at the Sarasota Music Festival. The festival continues through June 24.

SHINDIG BAND

7 p.m. at Centennial Park, Venice

artists who have been in residence on its Manasota Key campus. Details of the show have not been announced.

‘Traditions and Transformations’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

From $29 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The works of Debussy, Ligeti, Beethoven and Mendelssohn will be performed. The festival continues through June 24.

SATURDAY

‘BEETHOVEN AND SCHUMANN’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

From $30 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Nicholas McGegan conducts piano soloist Robert Levin playing Beethoven’s Piano Concert No.

4. The works of Emily Cooley and Schumann will also be performed.

DON’T MISS

‘BLACK PEARL SINGS!’

Set during the Great Depression, “Black Pearl Sings” tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a Library of Congress musicologist who wants to record undocumented slavery-era music and an African American prisoner who has the knowledge that the researcher needs.

IF YOU GO

When: June 28, Runs through July 30.

Where: FST’s Keating Theatre, 1265 First St.

Tickets: $25 Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Punching on heaven’s door

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Franky D. Gonzalez’s “That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” just premiered at Urbanite Theatre. The play revolves around a quest for the title of World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

Fisticuffs aside, this isn’t your typical boxing play. It flips genre expectations. “Rocky” it isn’t. It’s more of an anti-boxing play. We’ll explain why later. For now, let’s talk about what it is. There are four contenders vying for the heavyweight title. All happen to be Latino. All have paid a heavy price to be in the competition.

Armando (Edgar Miguel Sanchez) defected from Cuba to make the boxing big time. His father considers him a traitor to the revolutionary cause. Was it worth it? Armando’s starting to doubt it. He’s discovered that boxers don’t age as well as wine.

Edgar (Peter Pasco) emigrated from Mexico as a child and blames himself for his mother’s death on the journey to America. He hopes that winning the title will earn him an “extraordinary ability” visa. (In the ring, Juan gives himself the visa’s name — “Extraordinary EB-1”.)

Juan (Juan Ramirez Jr.) hates the sport of boxing. But it’s the only thing he knows, and he keeps it up to support his family. Manuel (Rodney Nelson) is living in his champion brother’s shadow — and carries the weight of his sibling’s suicide after a powerhouse punch turned off his opponent’s lights.

Permanently.

The story builds from there, but I won’t spoil it. Let’s just say it’s far from basic.

Kathleen Capdesuner’s direction makes the most of Gonzalez’s shattered structure. In boxing, keeping an opponent off balance is a tried-and-true technique. You feint, get the opponent to lunge, make him lose his center of gravity. That’s what the text demands. That’s what Capdesuner does.

Tom Hansen’s set isn’t a realistic boxing ring; it’s more like a boxing ring turned inside-out. (An accurate re-creation would make it hard for the actors to move around on stage.) Caroline Eng’s sound design and Ethan Vail’s lighting smartly evoke the playwright’s half-worlds. The black hole is a key motif in this play. Vail brings it to life without elbowing you in the ribs.

The actors make me forget that they’re actors. This doesn’t feel like looking at a performance. It feels like I’m looking at different people. I don’t mean it as a compliment. It’s just a fact.

Diego Villada’s fight choreography is brilliant. It’s possible to fake contact — championship wrestling proves it. But Villada takes a different approach. He shows you the movement patterns without impact. But this is boxing not ballet. The fight direction conveys the brutal, visceral violence of the sport. The actors’ moves feel real. (And so does their sense of pain and physical damage.)

You can tell that Villada’s fiercely trained them. Beyond accuracy, their punches, blocks and dodges are characterization.

The boxers’ moves tell you who they are. (That’s baked into Gonzalez’s script — and he has a keen grasp of boxing’s in-the-moment strategy.) Villada gets it. And makes sure you get it.

Gonzalez’s work is a higher level of difficulty. The playwright has a long list of bravura techniques. Mundane realism isn’t one of them. Gonzalez’s speech is

heightened. His dialogue feels like poetry — and sometimes feels like a contrapuntal fugue.

His well-drawn characters don’t sound like each other. His boxers often talk to people who aren’t there — ghosts, memories.

It’s soliloquy in disguise. These X-rays of the soul remind me of Chayefsky at his best. Or Shakespeare. Technique aside, Gonzalez’s implied philosophy sets his work apart. Yes, you heard right. “Philosophy.”

“That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” is a philosophical play with boxing gloves. Its philosophy is why it flips genre expectations. Boxing plays (and movies like “Rocky”) typically get you root-

ing for one boxer to follow their dreams and win. Even if they lose, they’re still a winner. It’s a feelgood genre, with some notable exceptions like “Raging Bull.”

“Entrance to Heaven” is more of an anti-boxing play. (Anti-genre, not anti-sport. Just to be clear.)

Gonzalez makes you root for all four contenders. Then he makes you question their dreams of boxing glory. And all dreams, for that matter.

“ ... The weight of a dream suffocates the soul,” says the boxer Armando. The price the pugilists pay just to be contenders doesn’t seem worth it. Winning the title doesn’t magically solve anyone’s problems. There are no winners. Even if you lose, you win.

“Boxing” is clearly a metaphor for the human condition on this Earth. Life is a struggle. If you’re a Latino on the outside looking in, the struggle is harder. There are winners and losers. Your choices determine which one you are. Time is a one-way street. There’s no going back.

Gonzalez contrasts that with another metaphor. A special kind of black hole (i.e., heaven’s entrance) that Juan’s mother told him about when he was a kid. Within its singularity, life isn’t a struggle. Here, every possible choice happens simultaneously. There is no time. And no need to go back.

And that’s just the short version.

This play has a lot going for it. Sometimes it feels like too much. And that’s my only beef. I sometimes lose the metaphysical thread in all its various complications — and keeping the thread is what I’m good at.

Gonzalez needs to play a game of creative Jenga and take out some of the philosophical meandering without making the narrative structure collapse. That’s a surface criticism. A matter of style, not the heart.

“That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven” has miles and miles of heart.

It’s not afraid to break your heart.

Boxing meets black holes in Urbanite’s pugilistic premiere ‘That Must be the Entrance to Heaven.’

YOUR NEIGHBORS

An MVP day for dads

The Hernandez family might not be huge Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, as evidenced by Alessandro

Hernandez’s Miami Dolphins jersey, but they are fans of Dexter Jackson, the former Buc.

“We’re FSU people, and he played at FSU,” said mom Annya Hernandez of Jackson’s time at Florida State University.

The Summerfield residents were at the Mall at University Town Center on Saturday for the Dad’s Day Block Party presented by Tri County Air Conditioning and Heating. And while dad Nick Hernandez was the man of the hour, it was Alessandro who received the special treat.

Jackson chatted with the family about FSU before letting Alessandro try on the Super Bowl ring he won with the Buccaneers in 2002 when he was named Most Valuable Player.

Jackson, along with three other former pro athletes, were the block party’s main event. Jackson and Shelton Quarles signed autographs on behalf

Fedotenko and Darren Puppa signed on behalf of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

O entertained with batting cages, ax throwing and a sword fighting performance by the Steel Ring Academy. Gofruit was selling specialty lemonades with fruity flavors like mango and watermelon, and Bathe

A Bin pulled up their big, pink truck to demonstrate how a garbage can gets clean again.

Lakewood Ranch residents Zavier and Jaslyn Lumbsden celebrate their dad, Samuel, at the UTC Dad’s Day Block Party on June 17.

Mini tasks, big lessons

Julia Hill grabbed Perfection’s lead rope and started running with her.

“Wow, she’s fast,” Hill said catching her breath.

Hill, who is 9, has been spending every day getting to know Perfection during Hundred Oaks Farm’s mini horse and donkey camp.

She, along with other campers, learned how to clean stalls, groom and feed the horses and donkeys, walk them and more.

“I love taking care of Perfection,” Hill said. “She’s sweet and a very good runner. She answers you if you ask if she’s a good girl. She’ll stomp her foot or nod.”

Campers started their morning June 13 cleaning each of the stalls before grabbing a brush and combing the horses’ and donkeys’ hair.

Then they spent time walking their new miniature friends.

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 25

LIVE MUSIC AT JIGGS LANDING

Runs from 5-8 p.m. at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. E., Bradenton. The live music lineup at Jiggs Landing includes Donnie Bostic (Thursday), Soundwave (Friday), The Divebombers (Saturday) and Al Fuller (Sunday). All shows are free except the Friday and Saturday night shows, which have a $5 cover. For more information, go to JiggsLanding.com.

GIRLS NIGHT PICKLEBALL

Begins at 6 p.m. at UMR Sports, 131 Upper Manatee River Road, Bradenton. This Girls Night Out pickleball session is a chance for women to learn the game of pickleball with their friends. Registration is $40. To RSVP, call 737-0362. For more information, visit UMRSports.com.

STAR GAZING

Runs from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Greenbrook Adventure Park 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and Sidewalk Science Center present a special look at the night sky with powerful telescopes. Those 8 years old and older can participate. The cost is $5 for residents; $15 for nonresidents. Go to MyLWR. com for more information.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Begins at 7 p.m. at the Waterside Place Plaza. The Sights and Sounds music series continues with original songs and works created by artists who have been in residence on the Hermitage’s Manasota Key campus. The Hermitage has provided space and time to many of the exciting musical theater writers working in the industry today. Seating is limited, so feel free to bring a lawn chair. No outside food or drinks are permitted. The event is free. Fore more information, go to MyLWR.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 25

FARMERS MARKET

Runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakefront Drive in Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch will run year-round every Sunday. Vendors will be offer-

BEST BET

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

MUSIC AT THE PLAZA

Runs from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch. Singer Mylon Shamble will entertain those who stroll through Waterside Place’s selection of restaurants and businesses. The entertainment is free. For more information, go to WatersidePlace.com.

ing seafood, eggs, meats, dairy products, pastas, bakery goods, jams and pickles, among other items. Other features are children’s activities and live music. For more information, visit MyLWR.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK

Begins at 9 a.m. at Waterside

PlacePark, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities offers yoga that is free to residents; $10 for nonresidents. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28

BINGO FOR ALL

Begins at 10 a.m. at Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosts Bingo. For more information, go to MyLWR.com.

MONDAY, JULY 3

FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE

Begins at 5 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. This year’s NBP Fireworks on the Lake event will feature live music by Kettle of Fish, a kids entertainment zone, various food trucks, and an optional 5K run among other activities. The fireworks show will begin approximately 9 p.m. General admission tickets are free, though Regatta Island parking is $30; South Island parking is $20 for cars; $50 for RVs. VIP Viewing Experience tickets are $75 per person. For more information, visit NathanBendersonPark.org.

2023 SUMMER LUNCH & LEARN SERIES

Proudly Sponsored by Williams Parker Attorneys at Law

June 28 | July 19 | August 23

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Michael’s On East, Sarasota

Only $39 Per Lecture—Includes Luncheon!

Rebecca Klein

AJC’s Director of National Political Outreach

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023

Finding Common Ground in a Hyper-Partisan Environment

In an increasingly polarized political climate, finding areas of common interest can be challenging. Issues of concern for the Jewish community often bridge the partisan divide and provide an opportunity for meaningful conversations.

Benjamin Rogers

AJC’s Director, Middle East and North Africa Initiatives

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023

The United States, Israel, and the Arab World: Where do we go from here?

As we prepare to celebrate the third anniversary of the Abraham Accords, where have there been successes, and where have there been challenges? Join us as we discuss the ever-shifting dynamics of U.S. – Middle East relations.

Belle Yoeli AJC’s Chief Advocacy Officer

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023

The State of Jewish Affairs: Around the World with AJC

There is never a dull moment for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Join us for an in-depth conversation as we tackle some of the most challenging current events and how they are impacting our community.

Reservations Required.

RSVP Online at AJC.org/Sarasota/summer2023

Or Email: sarasota@ajc.org Or Call AJC at 941.365.4955

Hawk Island home tops sales at $3,395,000

Ahome in Hawk Island topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Scott Lidberg, of Gulfport, sold his home at 3715 Hawk Island Drive to Steven and Lee Augustine, of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, for $3,395,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,161 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.5 million in 2019.

CONCESSION

Stephen and Jennifer Moore sold their home at 8435 Lindrick Lane to Christopher Brett Berlin and Christie Blomquist Berlin, of Bradenton, for $2.75 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 4,819 square feet of living area.

COUNTRY CLUB

Walter and Linda Sullivan, of Wenham, Massachusetts, sold their home at 7015 Portmarnock Place to Shunqing and Fen Liu, of Lakewood Ranch, for $2.44 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,348 square feet of living area.

Frank and Allison Dippold, of Bradenton, sold their home at 13634 Legends Walk Terrace to Christopher Ryan and Amie Nolan Ryan, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,705,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,648 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,475,000 in 2022.

Frank and Sharon Wright, of Sanford, North Carolina, sold their home at 7031 Twin Hills Terrace to Bradley and Monica Lodge, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,195,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,820 square feet of living area.

WATERFRONT AT MAIN STREET

Michael and Anne Temple, trustees, of St. Petersburg, sold the Unit 2-303 condominium at 10520 Boardwalk Loop to Walter and Linda Sullivan, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1,399,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,557 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in 2020.

Beatrice Gardner, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 3-304 condominium at 10510 Boardwalk Loop to Therese Joan Richard, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, for $650,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of living area. It sold for $428,700 in 2019.

EDGEWATER

Stephen Peter Bishop and Robin Michelle Bishop, of Portland, Maine, sold their home at 8119 Waterview Blvd. to Richard Gordon Anderson and Nancy Davis Anderson, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.22 million. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,560 square feet of living area. It sold for $710,000 in 2015.

TIDEWATER PRESERVE

Michael and Carol Burdelik, of Englewood, sold their home at 1106 Overlook Court to Dennis Leonard Stafford and Patricia Jean Stafford, of Bradenton, for $1.2 million. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,249 square feet of living area. It sold for $480,000 in 2015.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

Ralph Richard Williams and Carol Lynne Williams, of Ontario, Canada, sold their home at 15406 Castle Park Terrace to Robert Enright, of Penfield, New York, for $1.14 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool

and 2,401 square feet of living area. It sold for $622,100 in 2017.

RYE WILDERNESS ESTATES

Brian and Heidi Allwood sold their home at 611 167th Blvd. E. to Michael and Kristen Klei, of Bradenton, for $1,075,000. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,000 square feet of living area. It sold for $613,600 in 2018.

BRIDGEWATER

Roland and Stephanie Portner, of Parrish, sold their home at 13408 Swiftwater Way to Jeffrey and Jessica Bouthillier, of Bradenton, for $1,025,000. Built in 2015, it has six bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,930 square feet of living area. It sold for $681,000 in 2015.

PRESERVE AT PANTHER

RIDGE Michael McSwain and Kerri McSwain, of Parrish, sold their home at 21803 Deer Pointe Crossing to Allison and Frank Dippold Jr., of Lakewood Ranch, for $989,900. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,932 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $475,000 in 2016.

GREYHAWK LANDING

Ronald and Sheri Palermo, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their home at 303 Petrel Trail to Richard Paul Jr. and Kimberly Paul, trustees, of Bradenton, for $975,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,863 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,475,000 in 2022.

Brian Patrick Bennett and Margaret Earlene Bennett and Peter James Bennett and Danielle Bennett, of Bluffton, South Carolina, sold their home at 357 Blackbird Court to Robert and Kelly Brumbaugh, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for $815,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,932 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $438,500 in 2017.

Erin Louise Wilson and Cary Leigh Jones, of Bradenton, sold their home at 12411 Aster Ave. to Ryan and Katherine Reid, of Bradenton, for $650,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,380 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $378,000 in 2017.

ESPLANADE

Robert and Bonnie Prater, trustees, of Havre de Grace, Maryland, sold the home at 5222 Castello Lane to Shawn and Robyn Johnson, of Bradenton, for $875,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 2,581 square feet of living area. It sold for $455,000 in 2018.

HERITAGE HARBOUR

Chad Kilmer, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 8309 Heritage Grand Place to Dennis James Costa and Jennifer Ann Marie Costa, of Wausau, Wisconsin, for $835,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,907 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $418,200 in 2013.

SUMMERFIELD David Schlott and Elizabeth Vanderlaan-Schlott, of Ontario, Canada, sold their home at 12238 Clubhouse Drive to William Frazee and Joseph Feinstein, of Lakewood Ranch, for $815,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,746 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $360,000 in 2013.

DEL WEBB

Steven Charles Bishop and Joann Bishop, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6928 Chester Trail to James Donathen and Mary Ellen Donathen, trustees, of Bradenton, for $775,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,972 square feet of living area. It sold for $446,100 in 2016.

James Donathen and Mary Ellen Donathen, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6714 Haverhill Court to Robert and Kayla Stein, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, for $599,500. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,543

square feet of living area. It sold for $342,200 in 2017.

LAKEHOUSE COVE AT WATERSIDE

David and Cristiana Heintz, of Sarasota, sold their home at 890 Seascape Place to Evan Kraus and Patricia Turk, of Sarasota, for $775,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,907 square feet of living area. It sold for $468,600 in 2020.

COACH HOMES AT LAKEWOOD

NATIONAL

Dawna Kelch and Mary Kathleen Gribbins, trustees, sold the Unit 2522 condominium at 5940 Wake Forest Run to Patricia Kehoe, trustee, of Bradenton, for $740,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet of

living area. It sold for $395,000 in 2021.

RIVERWALK Deborah Stickel and Stephen Stickel sold their home at 7337 Loblolly Bay Trail to Claudia and William Hamlin, of Lakewood Ranch, for $717,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,842 square feet of living area. It sold for $407,000 in 2017.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Fast Break

Braden River High rising junior kicker Brunno

Reus won a kicking competition at a University of South Florida camp held June 8, kicking a 52-yard field goal to win it. Reus also hit a 47-yard field goal in the Pirates’ spring game, a 27-20 overtime road win over Pinellas Park High on May 19.

On June 8, Dolores Andrew (two under par) won the Nine Hole Women’s Golf Association individual low net event held on Palm Aire Country Club’s Champions course. On June 14, Bernie Somoza and Bob Webb (three under par) won the Men’s Golf Association best ball event, also held on the club’s Champions course.

Former Braden River High pitcher Tyler Dyson made his 2023 debut for the Florida Complex League Nationals (Washington Nationals) on June 6. Dyson had previously not pitched since 2021 because of injury troubles. Dyson has made four appearances as of June 19, holding a 4.26 ERA.

Lakewood Ranch-based women’s golfer Jacqueline Putrino will play for Oklahoma State University in 2023. Putrino, who took online classes prior to college and won two individual Florida High School Athletic Association state titles, was previously enrolled at Florida State University.

Former The Out-of-Door Academy football Head Coach KB Belton was named the head coach at Lennard High on June 15. Belton coached ODA for one season in 2020; the Thunder went winless in the regular season but made the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs because of COVID-19 adjustments and reached the SSAC Championship, losing 20-19 to Bishop Snyder High.

Big goals for Mustang grad

THE TOOLS TO GET IT DONE

Lakewood Ranch High grad Diego Freyre is betting on himself.

Instead of starting his posthigh school soccer career at a college, Freyre has joined the Pro Sportz Alliance program, which brings recently graduated soccer players from the United States to Germany. There they have approximately two months to play games for PSA against German soccer clubs at various professional levels of the sport.

At the end of the two months, players who impress the clubs they play against can be offered full-time contracts.

“I just hope I’m able to say at the end of this that I made it,” Freyre said.

Freyre said he had never heard of the program until he received an email from the organization that asked him to participate. Freyre said he was interested from the jump, despite his lack of German language knowledge and the fact that the twomonth tryout is unpaid, meaning he has to spend his own money to be there. Freyre would do anything to move closer to his dream of playing professional soccer, he said.

Freyre said the organization held an initial tryout for the program at Braden River Soccer Club in May to see if any local players were good fits. Freyre performed well enough to earn the invite. Freyre, who didn’t know anyone else in PSA before joining, arrived in Meppen, Germany, on June 10.

It’s a small town, Freyre said, and it looks like something out of a “Harry Potter” book, complete with tall, brick buildings and streets paved with Belgian blocks instead of concrete. Freyre said he has been taking German language lessons with the Duolingo app to make conversation with the locals, though younger people in the area know a bit of English.

Diego Freyre has at least one well-regarded soccer mind who believes he can make it in Germany: Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer coach Vito Bavaro, who instructed Freyre for three seasons.

Bavaro said Freyre the necessary skills to make it as a professional overseas — but it will be a challenge. If he applies himself, Vito said, he can overcome it.

“It will be totally on Diego whether he makes it,” Vito said. “But he has all the tools to do it. Diego has a great love of the game. He has great feet on the ball, and I think the diversity of play in Europe will enhance his style of play.”

“My first thought was, ‘I’m actu ally here,’” Freyre said. “‘I have a chance to do this.’ This is all I have wanted to do for a while now. As long as I can get in, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

On the field, it’s up to each indi vidual to show off his ability — and it gets intense, which is exactly what Freyre wants.

“We’re a team, but we’re also playing for ourselves,” Freyre said. “It feels like everyone here played in MLS Next, which is the highest level a junior

player can play in the U.S. Everyone is good, and we’re trying to get a contract. The competition is great, and I know I have to be at my best to stand out.”

Freyre spent his freshman season at Braden River High before playing his final three seasons with Lakewood Ranch. With the Mustangs, a program with perennial state championship aspirations, Freyre earned more playing time as he aged. As a junior, Freyre recorded 18 points (six goals) in 21 games, the third-most on a team that went 18-2-1. As a senior in 2023, the Mustangs’ record fell to 11-7-3, but Freyre led the team with 35 points (15 goals).

For Freyre, the chance to continue his career is worth spending his own money and overcoming a language barrier. Freyre was born in Lima, Peru, and leaned the game from his father, Willy Freyre, when he was 3, and played often with his friends and his family. He moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2014, but his affinity for the game never left.

“This is my passion,” Freyre said. “To be honest, I can’t always put it into words. It is something that, when I do it, it makes me calm. It takes me away from my problems. I can just be me and go play and win.”

“ My shot is a weapon. I can really crack one sometimes.”

— Lakewood Ranch’s Hayley Roberts SEE PAGE 10B

“This is all I have wanted to do for a while now. As long as I can get in, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

Diego Freyre

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

Softball star’s defense is certified gold

McCray was named an NJCAA All-American and a Gold Glove winner for her play at Florida SouthWestern College.

Sydney McCray was built for greatness.

It is a refrain she has heard from her family since she began playing softball. Her father, Rodney McCray, was a professional baseball player best known for running through an outfield wall to make a catch while with the Chicago White Sox organization.

Sydney McCray said he instilled that same sense of toughness and determination in his kids. Her brother, Grant McCray, is an outfielder in the San Francisco Giants organization and is ranked as the team’s No. 5 prospect (No. 2 outfielder) by MLB.com.

After winning two state championships with Lakewood Ranch

High under former head coach T.J. Goelz,  McCray headed in 2023 to Florida SouthWestern College, a top-tier junior college program.

Other members of the title-winning Mustang teams landed at NCAA Division I programs, but McCray was not bothered by her destination, despite putting up equal or better numbers than many of her high school teammates. As a senior, she hit .438 with three doubles, three triples, two home runs and 18 RBIs while adding 14 steals and playing stellar defense in centerfield.

“I’m excited to play softball wherever,” McCray said. “I’m playing at the next level. Not a lot of girls can say that. So, regardless (of school), I come in with the attitude of, ‘I’m going to make this an experience.’”

When McCray finishes her twoyear degree in 2024, she likely will have lots of DI suitors. McCray and FSW won the National Junior College Athletic Association National

Championship on May 27, defeating Northwest Florida State 10-6.

It was the program’s third-straight title. Along the way, McCray earned big-time personal honors as she was named to the NJCAA AllAmerican second team on June 6 for hitting .410 with eight doubles, six triples, two home runs and 44 RBIs, while adding 26 steals.

On June 12, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced that McCray had been awarded a Rawlings Gold Glove for her centerfield defense. She made a single error in 2023 as she won the first Gold Glove in FSW history.

McCray is not surprised that she has dominated.

“My dad always tells me that I’m the best player on the field,” McCray said. “So I don’t care what anyone else says. That thought of ‘You are the best’ never leaves my mind. For me, and my brother, too, this is what we do. This is natural.”

However, the Gold Glove did mean a lot to her. She was not made aware of winning the award before the official announcement. She was scrolling through social media when she saw the announcement and decided to watch it, not realizing she was a contender.

McCray said she shed a tear when she saw her photo pop up. Defensive effort is what her family is known for, she said, and she will go to father and her brother for advice when she needs it. Grant McCray’s advice tends to be more focused on the mental side of defense, while her father will point out physical changes she can make. She’s proud to carry on the tradition the two of them have set.

“The king of the grass, the queen of the grass — that’s our thing,”

McCray said. “We go get the ball.”  McCray’s attitude helped her adjust to the college game, but so did her high school career. Goelz, McCray said, transformed not only her physical skills but the way she viewed practice as a tool.

“He taught us to practice faster than we play, so games will slow down for us,” McCray said. “And he engraved the sport’s fundamentals into our bodies. Everything became muscle memory.” She brought those skills to Florida SouthWest, where she said she not only found instant success but instant friends. Everyone at FSW is playing there to prove what they can do. As a result, the school gets a slew of international players.

McCray said getting to know her teammates was a rewarding experience, as everyone has a unique

story, and one of her best friends on the team, Laura Vigna, played on Italy’s Olympics softball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for instance.

McCray said a 5 a.m. conditioning test conducted during the team’s fall season helped bring the team together, and everyone passed the test. They knew that if they could trust each other to do that, they could trust each other to do anything.

Wherever McCray goes after FSW, there’s little doubt she will find success at a higher level. I watched in 2021 as McCray, forced out of the Lakewood Ranch lineup by an ACL injury, took copious notes from the dugout every single game and shared them with her teammates postgame. I watched in 2022 as McCray, a speedster, returned from her ACL injury and

worked her way back into form. She scored on a passed ball in her first game back and only got better from there.

I have seen few athletes more determined to stick around the sport they love, and she’s always improving. So if an All-American spot and a Gold Glove is what she earned as a freshman, her encore as a sophomore will be something special.

Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Hayley Roberts

Lakewood Ranch’s Hayley Roberts is a tennis player in the Class of 2025 who attends online classes through Florida Virtual School. She is ranked by the Tennis Recruiting Network as a five-star athlete and the No. 77 player in her national class as of June 19.

When did you start playing tennis?

My parents (Brian Roberts and Shelley Roberts) put me in a group lesson when I was 5 years old. I just took to it right away, more than the other sports I was trying at the time, like swimming and lacrosse.

What is the appeal to you?

I enjoy competing. I like that tennis is an individual sport. I like playing for myself, with that responsibility. I like team tennis, too, and I’m excited to play that again when I get to college.

If you would like to make a recommendation for the East County Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

What is your best skill?

My mobility and my power. My shot is a weapon. I can really crack one sometimes.

What have you been working to improve?

Adding variety to my game. I’m using drop shots and slicing my backhand. I’m trying to have tools that my opponents do not have.

What is your favorite tennis memory?

I played in the Brewer Team Cup in March in Mobile, Alabama. Teams were randomly put together. My team was called the Diamondbacks. We didn’t know each other before then, but we had great chemistry right away and we won the whole thing. We all became close, and it made me look forward to playing more team tennis in college.

e your current goals?

My goal is to keep improving my game as much as I can. I’ll be focusing on that this summer, developing my skills through training. our favorite school

It changes every year, but this past year it was English. I like creative writing. I like when I can add something of my own to an assignment.

What is the best advice you have received?

My coach Chris (Marquez) always tells me not to worry about anything unless he tells me he’s worried. It helps me not worry about the little things and focus on the big things that need attention.

Finish this sentence: “Hayley Roberts is …” … Humorous. I like to laugh a

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