The gift of giving For St. Jude Catholic Church/ Hispanic-American Center, a key mission is helping underserved populations.
Essential support each year comes from the Kathleen K. Catlin Foundation of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
The church received the $10,000 grant on Aug. 22, 2025, and allocated $7,000 to the Christmas component of its Program for the Needy, which works with Toys for Tots.
With those funds, the church purchased and distributed 280 $25 food gift cards, reaching 505 children younger than 12. In addition, every registrant received a whole chicken donated by an Ellenton business.
The remaining money was used to buy groceries for the St. Jude’s Food Pantry, which provides support to the community each week.
Driven to serve
First 1,000 Days Suncoast is an organization devoted to helping families during pregnancy and during a child’s early months, when brain development is at its highest.
The three-county initiative is supported by numerous partnerships, and on Jan. 26, it teamed up with First United Methodist Church of Sarasota.
Some 7,832 wipes and 6,312 diapers were collected for families in need.
“It brings us great joy to bless families and children in this way,” the said Rev. Brett DeHart, the church’s pastor, in a media release.
“There will be big smiles — and sometimes tears of joy — with every package given to the families,” said Janice Houchins, coordinator for First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
$0.10
Signs point different ways
Ian Swaby
BY
THE NUMBERS WEEK OF JAN. 29, 2026
67 Years Hob Nob diner operated on North Washington Boulevard before closing in 2024. It will reopen this spring. PAGE 5A
$200 MILLION
Anticipated investment in a new aircraft assembly, sales and service campus at SRQ airport. PAGE 9A
5 High schools from which 100 sophomore and junior football players were chosen to take part in Urban Meyer’s Urban Edge mentorship lecture series.. PAGE 15A
CALENDAR
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Feb. 2, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
n Sarasota Planning Board regular meeting — 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
“This will be the very first time Pilatus is going to build airplanes outside of Switzerland.”
Pilatus Business Aircraft CEO Markus Bucher at the Swiss aircraft manufacturer groundbreaking at SRQ Read more on page 9A
Rissler new assistant county administrator
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Sarasota County Commission, County Administrator Jonathan Lewis announced he has selected Nicole Rissler as the next assistant county administrator.
That decision, as required by the county charter, was unanimously affirmed by the commission.
“I am proud for her because of how she always carries herself,” said Commissioner Teresa Mast in making the motion to affirm.
“She really brings a high
level of performance that she expects from herself and everybody that surrounds her.”
For the past seven years, Rissler has served as director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. Her new role was effective as of Wednesday.
“Nicole’s passion for public service makes her the right fit for our team,” Lewis said in a news release. “She is an innovative leader who is always looking for ways to be better.”
Rissler has more than two decades of public sector and
nonprofit leadership experience.
Her background also includes executive roles with Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy and Visit Sarasota County.
“It’s an honor to be selected for this role,” Rissler said in the release. “I’m proud to serve an organization that values collaboration, innovation and public service. I look forward to serving the county administrator as we help the county’s dedicated team fulfill the board’s mission, goals and priorities.”
Political power pair buy Sarasota condo
Political commentator and adviser James Carville and his White House staffer wife, Mary Matalin, are the new owners of a home in Sarasota, property records show.
The power couple known for their views on the left (Carville) and on the right (Matalin) in early January closed on a unit in The Condominium on the Bay, along Boulevard of the Arts.
Property records show they paid $1,915,000 for the 1982-built condo with three bedrooms, three baths and about 2,300 square feet of living space. The condo is not the first property they have purchased in Sarasota.
In 2013, they bought a unit in the Renaissance building and a unit on Golden Gate Point. They list their home address in Alexandria, Virginia.
Buchanan says he won’t seek re-election
Ten-term U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida’s 16th District announced Tuesday he will retire at the conclusion of his current term after 20 years. Buchanan, vice chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, will leave office as the longestserving Republican to represent Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
District 16 represents eastern Hillsborough County and all of Manatee County, though the Longboat Key resident once represented the northern segment of Sarasota County. His term comes to a close in 2027.
“Serving the people of Southwest Florida has been the honor of my lifetime,” Buchanan said in a news release. “I came to Congress to solve problems, to fight for working families and to help ensure this country remains a place where opportunity is available to everyone willing to work for it. After 20 years of service, I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch and begin a new chapter in my life.”
Over his career, 51 of his bills and legislative initiatives were signed into law.
File photo
Nicole Rissler, seven-year director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has been named the new assistant county administrator.
Location, location, location
The three Ls, and a few other factors, drive what the Realtor Association of Sarasota-Manatee defines as a ‘segmented market’ for 2026.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Some may call it stabilized, others a market correction.
Either way, since the frantic real estate boom amid the pandem‑ ic years of 2020 to 2022, the local market has retreated to more of a balance both in terms of inventory and pricing.
Whether that balance favors the buyers or the sellers in part depends, as is always the case in real estate, on location. Lower land costs in farther flung suburbia brings lower prices than resales standing on lots in more urban environs.
The Realtor Association of Sara sota and Manatee has released its year‑end 2025 real estate market report for both counties. Through out 2025, the region experienced contrasting trends not only between the two counties, but also single family homes vs. their condo/town home counterparts.
In summary, the report says, “The 2025 figures highlight that there is no single narrative for the Saraso ta Manatee housing market. Sin gle‑family homes remained resil ient with modest price easing and healthy sales volumes. Condos and townhomes, particularly in Sarasota, faced significant price adjustments and slower sales.”
In December 2025, Sarasota’s single‑family market closed the year with 711 sales, up 17.7% from December 2024, with a median sale price of $485,000. The townhouse/ condo sector, meanwhile, recorded 295 sales, up 15.2% over the Decem ber 2024, but saw the median price slide to $345,000.
In Manatee County, December single‑family sales slipped to 612 homes, down 5.6%, with a median price near $491,500 while condo/ townhouse sales climbed 13% to 244 units as the median price dipped to about $307,500.
What does it all mean?
“When anyone asks me, ‘How’s the market?’ my first question is always, ‘What market?’” said David Crawford, 2026 RASM president and broker/owner of Catalist Realty. “And then they say, ‘The real estate market.’ And I follow up again with, ‘Which real estate market?’ Even in Sarasota and Manatee counties we truly have multiple markets, not only between single family homes and condo or townhome proper ties, but also between resale inven tory and new construction coming to market.”
There are also contrasts between Sarasota County and Manatee Coun ty markets across all measurables, as demonstrated below: 2025 REAL ESTATE DATA
■ Sellers accepted a median 93% of original list price
Manatee County
■ Transactions: 7,521, up 0.5%
■ Median sales price: $475,000, down 5%
■ Average sales price: $635,041, down 5.6%
■ Average days on market: 104
■ Inventory*: 2,687, 4.3 months supply
WHAT IS THE RASM?
The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee represents some 9,000 members across the two counties. It serves as a local board for the National Association of Realtors, providing members with education, advocacy, networking, MLS technology and market data.
■ Sellers accepted a median 94.6% of original list price
* = As of Dec. 31, 2025
TOWNHOMES AND CONDOS Sarasota County
■ Transactions: 3,295, down 4.3% Median sales price: $325,000, down 15.3%
■ Average sales price: $514,980, down 26.7%
■ Average days on market: 112.
■ Inventory : 2,231, 8.1 months supply
■ Sellers accepted a median 90.5% of original list price
Manatee County
■ Transactions: 2,719, up 4.8%
■ Median sales price: $310,000, down 8.6%
■ Average sales price: $347,008, down 12%
■ Average days on market: 115
■ Inventory * : 1,480, 6.5 months supply
■ Sellers accepted a median 92.6% of original list price
* = As of Dec. 31, 2025
INTEREST AND INSURANCE
STABILIZATION
According to Crawford, the market retreat from the anomaly of pan demic era pricing and activity are in part a normalization, but also the result of weather concerns in the wake of the 2024 hurricane season and the resulting rapidly rising cost of homeowners insurance.
THEY’RE STILL COMING
Despite severe weather concerns spawned by recent active hurricane seasons, people are still coming.
Florida cities dominated the nation’s migration in 2025, as the U-Haul Growth Index ranks 10 cities among the top 20 in the nation attracting new residents. Sarasota was ranked as the No. 18 growth city in the U.S. for 2025 as determined by the company’s database based on net-inbound, oneway rental traffic. Florida overall was second-most popular state for inbound moves, trailing only Texas.
Among Florida cities ranked in the top 20 were:
■ Ocala, No. 1
■ North Port, No. 2
■ Kissimmee, No. 4
■ Clermont, No. 5
■ Fort Lauderdale, No. 7
■ St. Augustine, No. 8
■ Daytona Beach, No. 9
■ Panama City, No. 10
■ North Fort Myers, No. 12
■ Sarasota, No. 18
The U-Haul Growth Index analyzes more than 2.5 million one-way transactions.
A quiet 2025 hurricane season has somewhat eased those concerns, but shoppers still prioritize the tropical weather threat in their purchasing calculations.
“I think that factor has been brought to the forefront and to the beginning of the equation where now a lot of our conversations right off the bat are ‘What was the impact? Were these properties damaged? Where is the flood zone?’” Crawford said.
“Now it’s the first question they ask.”
Second to weather and resulting insurance costs are mortgage inter est rates, which for now are settling between the upper 5% to lower 6% range.
“Historically, we’re sitting at a pretty good spot, and I think people who maybe have been waiting on the sidelines thinking interest rates were going to really pull down are now finding that they’re not going to pull up significantly or pull down significantly,” Crawford said. Insurance reform legislation at the state level has also stabilized, if not reduced, the cost of homeown ers’ insurance as more carriers have returned to the state. Also factoring into overall costs are homeowners association and community invest ment district costs, which are more prevalent in suburban developments than inside the city limits, affecting overall costs.
“We can all have an idea of what a sales price is, but what really mat ters is what your total monthly cost is going to be,” Crawford said. “That’s factoring your HOA, your CDD, what is your tax is going to be, and then determine what the true cost of ownership will be. That’s how you can try to compare apples to apples.”
For 2026, those apples appear to be ripe for continued population growth, providing a positive outlook for the real estate market.
“With so much nuance and so much that has changed in cost of insurance, property taxes, flood insurance and interest rates, it really is a very segmented market,” Craw ford said. “Taking all of that into consideration, we’re feeling pretty good about overall sales unit vol umes for this year. I think all the data is pointing to a strong season.”
LOOK WHO’S LOOKING
Courtesy images
David Crawford is the 2026 president of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
The prices of condos in Sarasota and Manatee fell in 2025.
Single-family home prices also declined in Sarasota and Manatee.
City joins no-drill coalition
Sarasota Commissioners unanimously approve a resolution against a new federal offshore oil- and gas-leasing program.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
The city of Sarasota has gone on record as officially opposing any opening of oil and gas exploration off the Gulf Coast of Florida. On Jan. 19, the City Commission, with no discussion other than the urging of approval by Jen AhearnKoch, unanimously adopted a resolution that puts the city in alignment with multiple coastal jurisdictions. They include Sarasota and Manatee counties, Okaloosa County, the city of Destin and the city of St. Pete Beach, all of which cited risks to coastal economies, fisheries, environmental resources and long-term resilience.
Presented by Sarasota Public Works Director Nikesh Patel and City Engineer Sage Kamiya, the resolution was drafted in response to a policy shift by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which on Nov. 20, 2025, through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, released a draft 2026-2031 Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
It introduces a newly designated “South-Central Gulf of America” planning area to allow future offshore lease sales in federal waters east of the Alabama state line and closer to Florida’s west coast than previously permitted.
The program would reverse the Biden administration’s moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing, which, for now, remains in effect through 2032.
In addition to the local jurisdictions, Florida’s Congressional delegation issued a bipartisan letter
dated Dec. 4, 2025, urging the Trump administration to uphold the existing moratorium and oppose any expansion of offshore drilling off Florida’s coasts.
The “whereases” that precede the “now wherefore” in the resolution include:
n Sarasota is a coastal municipality dependent on clean water, white sand beaches and thriving marine ecosystems that support a robust tourism and recreation economy.
n The city’s economy, public health and ecological integrity would be significantly threatened by offshore drilling and its associated risks.
n The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf resulted in the largest marine oil spill in history, causing extensive and lasting environmental, economic and public health harm across Florida’s coastline.
n Coastal tourism, fishing and outdoor recreation industries generate more than $250 billion annually and support millions of jobs across the country.
n Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 banning oil drilling in state waters.
TO EMAIL US Email press releases, announcements and Letters to the Editor to: Kat Wingert, kwingert@yourobserver.com
Display Advertising: To obtain information, call 941-366-3468, Ext. 345. Classified Advertising / Service Directory: For information and rates, or to place an ad, call 941-955-4888. Hours 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To place a classified ad online, visit www.YourObserver.com, or email your ad to classified@yourobserver.com.
your
To subscribe: Please call Donna Condon at 941-366-3468, Ext. 301, or email dcondon@yourobserver.com
12166 Old Big Bend Road, Suite 210 | St Louis, MO 63122 314-966-7111 | www.cvcaudit.com
Andrew Warfield
Sarasota City Engineer Sage Kamiya (left) and Public Works Director Nikesh Patel presented the federal offshore oil- and gas-leasing opposition resolution to the City Commission.
New owner reopening iconic drive-in this spring
The Original Hob Nob will be operated with support from The Breakfast Co. founders.
ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER
Plans are under way to reopen a longtime Sarasota restaurant that closed in 2024. The Original Hob Nob Drive-In, which opened in 1957, will come back to life this spring under the ownership of Sarasota resident Troy King with the support of his family, who founded locally based restaurant chain The Breakfast Co.
King grew up in Sarasota eating at the Hob Nob, an open-air restaurant along Washington Boulevard known for its burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes and diner food. He later took his children there, according to a statement. He learned about the opportunity to bring the brand forward while he was working on renovations at the business through his construction and remodeling company, King & Sons LLC.
The Karras family, which owns the property at 1701 N. Washington Blvd., confirms it has leased it to King.
“Troy sees this opportunity not as a reinvention but as a responsibility to protect something meaningful to
the community and ensure that a local landmark restaurant stays open for the next generation,” according to the statement.
When the business reopens, the menu will feature items like smash burgers, crinkle-cut fries, shakes and onion rings as well as national beer brands and rotating local craft selections.
Previous Hob Nob owner Cary
Grand Opening CELEBRATION
Spicuzza leased the property and ran the restaurant there from 1991 to 2024. On his last day in business, Spicuzza told the Business Observer, a sister publication to the Sarasota Observer , that consumer behavior as well as inflation and labor costs contributed to his decision to shutter, in addition to his desire to retire.
Spicuzza owns eight lots surrounding the Hob Nob, he said previously, including a laundromat and car wash, which he planned to run in retirement.
“Troy hopes to work together with Cary on restoring the (restaurant) parking lot to its previous size, given Spicuzza’s ownership of the surrounding lots,” according to the statement.
Currently, there are about 13 parking spots around the Hob Nob perimeter.
“Community engagement will remain central to the Hob Nob’s identity,” the statement says. “Plans include sponsoring local events such as classic car gatherings, bike nights and other activities that bring people
together, a continuation of the Hob Nob’s long history of supporting Sarasota traditions. The restaurant also plans to publish stories from its past as part of its ongoing connection with the community.” King, also a retired law enforcement officer, says he is focused on long-term stewardship of the business. To preserve the “personal, local and welcoming” feel, he will partner with his stepson Dimitri Syros, who co-founded The Breakfast Co., and the team from that business, according to the statement. The Breakfast Co., established in Sarasota in 2020 by Sryos and his mother, Terri SyrosKing, has four locations in Sarasota and Manatee.
“As Troy looks ahead, the goal is simple: to preserve what people love while creating space for a new generation to make memories of their own,” the statement says. “For many in Sarasota, Hob Nob has always been more than a place to get great food at affordable prices: It’s a place to gather. This spring, that tradition continues.”
OR
Elizabeth King There are just over a dozen parking spaces at the restaurant.
File photo
The Hob Nob Drive-In has been a staple on the north end of the city since 1957.
Ringling College names new president
Davis Schneiderman will be the globally known arts college’s seventh president in 95 years.
ELIZABETH KING AND MARK GORDON BUSINESS OBSERVER
The Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota has a new president: Davis Schneiderman, a professor, official and senior leader at Lake Forest College in Illinois for nearly 25 years.
Schneiderman was introduced as Ringling College’s seventh president during an event and news conference on the school’s campus last week. He will start at the college June 1, according to a statement.
Schneiderman will replace Larry Thompson as president; Thompson, who announced he would be retiring last April, has been at the helm of the school for 27 years and will lead the college through the end of the 20252026 academic year.
“Ringling College stands at an exciting moment in history,” Joel Morganroth, chair of the Ringling College board of trustees, said at the news conference.
When Thompson was selected as president in 1999, he was an “outlier,” Morganroth said — he was an attorney whose resume included being the founding director and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
“It turned out that choice … was like winning the lottery,” Morganroth continued. At the time, Ringling had an operating budget of $15 million; it is now 10 times that amount. The endowment was under $4 million and is now 20 times that, according to Morganroth.
During Thompson’s tenure, student enrollment more than doubled, to 1,722. The college also built 14 buildings under Thompson’s leadership and upped academic offerings from six majors in 1999 to 26 today. Nearly 500 faculty and staff work there.
“I am excited to be passing the
baton to such an inspiring and capable leader in creative education,” Thompson said in a statement accompanying the event. “I have every confidence that Dr. Schneiderman will steer Ringling College and our campus community steadily and confidently forward. I believe he is fully committed to upholding our institution’s mission and vision, and our dream of becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world. He will continue to have my full support.”
Schneiderman has had an academic career that spans “art and design practice, institutional leadership, and the integration of emerging technologies into creative education,” according to the statement.
Most recently, Schneiderman was the founding executive director of Lake Forest College’s Krebs Center for the Humanities, which connects creative practice, technology and public engagement. Anchored by a museum collection housed in an inspirational Italianate home, the Krebs Center operates as a publicfacing cultural institution — integrating exhibitions, symposia, artist residencies and community programs with regional, national and international artists and writers, according to a statement. Schneiderman also spent five years as Lake Forest’s provost and faculty dean. The college is north of Chicago, on Lake Michigan.
“Everything I’ve done when I reflect has led me to Ringling,” Schneiderman said at the press conference. “I see in Ringling a powerful creative incubator.”
A central focus of Schneiderman’s work, he said, has been around AI and its intersection with ethics, humanism and creativity. “I am confident that Ringling will thrive in the age of artificial intelligence, because this is a human-powered institution that believes in the power of creative
humans,” Schneiderman said at the event.
With a Ph.D. in English from Binghamton University in central New York State, Schneiderman began his career at Lake Forest College in 2001 as an assistant professor in English, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has an undergraduate degree from Penn State and a master’s from Binghamton.
“I have been privileged to know Davis for many years and have been consistently impressed by his innovative thinking and leadership at Lake Forest College and across higher education,” Lake Forest College President Mike Sosulski said in the statement. “Davis has helped move the college in bold and exciting directions, and his impact will be felt for years to come. While he will be greatly missed at Lake Forest, we congratulate him on this welldeserved appointment and wish him every success as president of Ringling College of Art and Design.” Ringling College of Art and Design, a private, nonprofit, fully accredited college that offers the bachelor
of fine arts degree in 11 disciplines and the bachelor of arts in two, was founded in 1931.
“Ringling’s students will help shape our world to come, and this is an institution whose future is more than bright: it’s positively shining,” Schneiderman said in a statement.
The hiring of Schneiderman was overseen by a Presidential Search Committee assisted by the executive search firm Russell Reynolds and chaired by Ringling College of Art and Design Board of Trustees Vice Chair Ali Bahaj.
“We conducted a rigorous and thoughtful process, one that included numerous listening sessions with stakeholders, multiple rounds of interviews, extensive discussions among committee members and careful consideration of each candidate’s leadership experience, vision and alignment with Ringling College’s mission and values,” Bahaj said at the event. “On a personal note, I found our new president to have key characteristics and qualities that define visionary leadership, including high intellect, the ability to
LONG TIME
Larry Thompson, having been president at Ringling College for 27 years, is in some rare air. The average tenure of a college president was 5.9 years in 2022, according to an American College President Survey from the American Council on Education. That was a drop from 6.5 years in 2016 and 8.5 years in 2008. In addition, University Business, an online magazine for higher education leaders, reported in a 2022 story that only 11 college presidents had been in the role with the same school for more than 30 years. Over the past 27 years, Dr. Thompson has built a remarkable foundation for creative excellence, championed our vision with unwavering commitment and positioned Ringling College as a national leader in art and design education,” Ringling College Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Joel Morganroth said at the event announcing Davis Schneiderman as Thompson’s replacement.
“Dr. Thompson, we are profoundly grateful for your many years of service and leadership,” Morganroth added. “It is upon this strong foundation that we now look toward the next chapter in Ringling’s history.”
carefully listen and to ask thoughtful questions and to pursue and implement necessary changes.”
A published novelist, writer, and multimedia artist, Schneiderman is a frequent speaker on creativity, technology and higher education, with appearances at national and international conferences and cultural venues, the school says. Schneiderman and his wife, Kelly Haramis — an actor, writer and former journalist with the Chicago Tribune — have two college-aged daughters, the release states, “and the family looks forward to making Sarasota their next home.”
Courtesy image
Davis Schneiderman with Larry Thompson
Uncompromising Quality
Mira Mar Residences are defined by a relentless commitment to quality - where thoughtful planning, precise construction, and elevated materials come together to create homes of lasting distinction. Every detail, from structure to finish, reflects an approach rooted in craftsmanship, durability, and handson oversight guided by an exceptional professional development team.
This methodical, quality-first approach ensures that Mira Mar is more than beautiful - it’s exceptionally built to endure and exceed expectations. The result is a collection of luxury residences that balance refined design with the confidence of construction done right.
At Mira Mar, luxury isn’t just what you seeit’s how it’s built.
Real cost of public notice
State lawmakers keep saying public notices are a cost issue that needs fixing. They’re missing the point.
Longtime wisdom has it that when things go wrong or sideways inside a business or an organization, more often than not, the root of the misfiring and mistakes can be traced to this: communication. Actually, it can be traced to misinterpretations, miscommunication or simply lack of communication.
“You didn’t tell me to do that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed this?” “I’m sorry, I thought you meant … ” “Why did you hide that from me?”
Or: “You need to be more transparent.”
In Florida government, at all levels, transparency has been a hallmark of good government for 60 years. In 1967, the Legislature enacted Florida’s Government-inthe-Sunshine Law, at that time the nation’s most advanced legislation requiring open meetings and prohibiting public officials from conducting deals in the proverbial back, smoke-filled rooms.
It’s safe to say if you polled most elected county, municipal and school board officials, they likely would tell you they hate Florida’s Sunshine Laws. The laws most definitely inhibit the officials’ ability to negotiate with each other and discuss sensitive ideas in private. But at the same time, they likely also would admit Florida’s Sunshine Laws, government transparency and public notice laws are essential to good government.
Altogether, these laws benefit the state’s citizens and businesses. They are crucial to an informed electorate and a functioning democracy. Sunshine, the saying goes, is a great antiseptic. These laws should be safeguarded and protected vigilantly.
LESS TRANSPARENCY TRENDS
And yet, the trends for transparency over the past two decades have been headed in the opposite direction — in Florida and nationwide. Most especially in one specific area: public notice. And it’s all because of the internet — and too many lawmakers losing sight of what is more important.
Government transparency is about 360 years old. The London Gazette in 1665 was the first newspaper to begin publishing notices from the king’s court. A century later, in 1789, the Acts of the First Session of the First U.S. Congress required the secretary of state to publish all “bills, orders, resolutions and congressional votes” in at least three publicly available newspapers.
Ever since then, newspapers in the U.S. and U.K. have been the primary and most effective repositories and distributors for governments to serve public notices to their constituents. And it has always been a logical, fair business transaction. Governments paid newspapers for the ink, paper and distribution of vital government information to keep their constituents informed.
But 30 years ago, the internet mushroomed, and over that time — especially in the past decade — readership of print newspapers declined precipitously. These days, when you hear any legislator talk about newspapers, the standard line is “nobody reads print newspapers any more.” (That’s false, by the way.)
That certainly was evident last week during two hearings of the House Civil Justice and Claims
Committee in Tallahassee. The committee overwhelmingly passed two bills that would give all government agencies and storage center owners the ability to publish their public and legal notices on any government or publicly accessible website.
The bill would still include newspapers as an option, but legislation has no regard for standards that lawmakers applied to newspaper public notices for decades.
The arguments for doing this were today’s mantras: 1) No one reads print newspapers. 2) “We’re modernizing,” said Rep. David Smith, R-Seminole. 3) Requiring notices in newspapers (in print or online) is just a subsidy for newspapers. 4) Allowing public notices on government (or any other) websites will be a huge money saver for taxpayers.
‘SEE WHAT’S CHEAPER’
The last argument is always the closer for the lawmakers. Eliminating legal and public notices in print newspapers is going to save taxpayers gazillions of dollars, they claim. Mind you, never, ever in that argument in the 25 years of watching this dance have we seen one lawmaker produce an actual dollar figure showing the proclaimed wonderful savings. But in Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature, it’s just standard political correctness to sound fiscally conservative without proof.
When Rep. Philip Wayne Griffitts Jr., R-Bay County, sponsor of one of the bills, was asked what would be the criteria for, say, a tax collector to post his or her legal notices on a public website or in a local newspaper and its website, Griffitts responded: “See what’s cheaper.”
Which takes us back to the beginning — communication.
Here is the key question: What is the best and most effective way for state and local governments in Florida to communicate important government actions to Floridians?
You never hear that discussion. Indeed, what are the objectives of public notice? Transparency and communicating effectively to the broadest and relevant constituents.
Granted, this issue is not a lifeor-death. And contrary to what legislators constantly say, nor is it a money issue. Public and legal notices about government actions and budgets, about foreclosure sales and storage center sales are issues that directly affect Floridians’ lives, pocketbooks and property. And those matters deserve the most effective notice, not just the cheapest.
Over the past two decades, our company has argued for a more competitive and market-based approach to public notices. It makes sense to give government agencies, banks, lawyers and storage center owners choices.
But rather than just say let there be a free-for-all and race to the lowest cost, there are compelling arguments for traditions and guardrails that would take effectiveness into account.
Tradition: For nearly two-anda-half centuries, Americans have been accustomed to seeing their governments’ public notices in newspapers. People in tune with government know that is where you will find government notices. At the same time, newspapers have adapted — publishing notices not just in print but also mandated to post them on their websites (for free).
There is a lot of value in that newspaper tradition.
This is crazy.
Zipping through the Florida House of Representatives are three bills, perhaps as many as five, aimed at eliminating or drastically reducing Florida’s ad valorem (property) taxes.
That’s the not crazy part. The crazy part is these bills stand a decent chance of appearing on Florida’s November ballot as constitutional amendments.
Don’t take this the wrong way. We all would love to eliminate our property taxes. But as the cliche goes, the devil is in the details.
With news cycles running in minutes these days, you might remember last winter and spring when Gov. Ron DeSantis called for the elimination of property taxes. He said it’s ridiculous that no one really owns his or her property here; we’re just renting it from the state because of the annual local property tax.
And to emphasize the point, DeSantis noted that Florida’s property taxes have risen 75% since 2019 — from $32 billion to $56 billion, up 10% a year.
After a minor snit between DeSantis and Speaker Danny Perez over Perez saying DeSantis blurted a populist idea but offered no substance on how to do it, Perez charged a special House committee to spend the summer and fall formulating plans to cut property taxes and then come to the 2026 session with proposals to go on the November ballot.
The 36 members of the House Select Committee on Property Taxes did their job.
They analyzed state taxes, property value assessment
Admittedly, print newspaper readership has plummeted. But there still are many communities, particularly in small towns, where the local weekly print edition is a lifeblood of community information. And in those communities, public notice advertising is one of the sources of income that helps sustain those papers.
If shifted completely to government or obscure websites, you easily can end up with what is spreading nationwide: Local news deserts. No one watchdogging local government. In those towns, crime goes up. Voter apathy rises; voter engagement declines. The smalltown economy suffers.
Our company is an anomaly. Our print readership remains near historic highs. Indeed, we’re planning to expand one of our print editions 50% in 2026.
Likewise, the readership of our newspapers’ websites continues to grow. In 2025, our seven papers around Florida had weekly online audiences of 205,000 readers.
Indeed, if you made a chart of the number of readers who go to the websites of their local newspapers, you would find newspaper websites to be the top or one of the top sources for disseminating local news.
Many newspapers are still pillars in their communities, but in a different, “modernized” way.
Now consider what lawmakers are advocating — that important public and legal notices be allowed on any government agency or any publicly accessible website designated by an agency. No big deal? There are more than 2,500 government agencies in Florida. Imagine if
methodology, agricultural exemptions, budget forecasting, revenue collection, fire districts, special districts, debt financing, municipal utility rates, fiscally constrained counties, ratio of ad valorem versus other revenue, ratio of homestead versus non homestead, Save Our Home exemptions, millage rates, school taxes and public safety budgets.
After all that, Chair Toby Oberdorf concluded: “Local government property tax is increasing at an unsustainable rate. … It is time to put money back in the hands of Floridians.”
Sounds great. But there is a big “but.” It’s the unseen. While Florida voters may eagerly vote to eliminate or drastically cut their property taxes, no one knows or can predict the unintended consequences. And there will be big consequences.
How will Florida’s 411 municipalities, 67 counties and myriad water districts and special districts make up that lost revenue?
Two choices: either cut services or raise other taxes and fees. These bills still need threefifths approval in the House and Senate. But as they move forward, perhaps wise lawmakers might realize it would be crazy to give Florida taxpayers a choice to cut their taxes without also explaining in ample time and explicitly, the likely consequences.
A constitutional amendment such as this, if adopted, would be the most consequential change to Florida’s tax structure since the state enacted a sales tax in 1949. It affects $56 billion. This issue should not be rushed. — MW
they all posted their public notices on their sites.
Hardly anyone would see them — ever. No one wakes up in the morning and fires up his phone or laptop to search, say, the West Coast Inland Navigation District’s website for its public notices. Even now, with agencies allowed to publish on their county’s website, readership is minimal.
Here’s the point: With the proliferation of websites (177,000 websites created per day worldwide), dispersing public and legal notices to myriad obscure, little-known, hard-to-find government websites is not improving or broadening transparency. It will make government less transparent.
There is a counter to this lesstransparency movement.
Self-serving as this may sound, the Florida Press Association more than a dozen years ago created FloridaPublicNotices.com. It is the largest public notice website and database in the state and has the largest audience. It’s easy to find; free to access; and the press association is investing to make it even more user friendly and effective.
The press association is “modernizing” — not just to be the cheapest, but to maintain and improve transparency.
Every year for more than 25 years, legislators in Florida and around the country repeat the false mantra that newspapers are dead. So they want government to control public notices (like the fox running the henhouse).
But in their efforts to modernize and save taxpayers’ money, they of-ten overlook that public notice — broad-based and effectively targeted — serves as a vital ingredient to our democracy.
This is not a life-and-death issue, but it’s one that could benefit from a more thoughtful approach and discussion than what is proposed now. In this age of AI, the digital world and an upended media landscape, this issue deserves a worthy, in-depth discussion, a discussion that looks ahead and answers: What is and will be the most effective way for state and local governments to notify their citizenry in the AI age?
Public notice is transparency. Less transparency inevitably leads to distrust and trouble. In my world, this year’s public notice bills would be tabled.
President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com
Sports Reporter / Jack Nelson, JNelson@ YourObserver.com
Staff Writers / Ian Swaby, ISwaby@ YourObserver.com; Andrew Warfield, AWarfield@YourObserver.com
Digital News Analytics and Marketing Strategist / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com
Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com
Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com
Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com
Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com
Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com
Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon @YourObserver.com
Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned. Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta
MATT WALSH
Pilatus begins construction at SRQ
Global business jet manufacturer breaks ground on $200 million sales and assembly campus.
With the ceremonial turn of the shovels, Swiss business jet manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft on Jan. 23 marked the start of construction of Phase 1 of its sales, service and manufacturing facilities at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
The $60 million, 71,000-squarefoot first phase, which will house its sales operations, will take approximately 18 months to complete. By the time the total project is finished, Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher told the groundbreaking audience the
investment could reach upwards of $200 million.
Pilatus Aircraft currently assembles all of its planes at its Stans, Switzerland headquarters. Plans are to assemble the company’s PC-24 twin-engine business jet at SRQ once its Phase 2 assembly plant is completed. The base price of a PC-24 is just less than $11 million and typically costs upwards of $12 million to $14 million.
“This be the very first time Pilatus is going to build airplanes outside of Switzerland,” Bucher said at the groundbreaking. “We started thinking about a U.S. strategy about three years ago, and very early on we learned that the wealth is moving out of California and into Florida. So Florida, from a Pilatus point of view, is the second most important state where business aviation is happening.”
When the project was announced in August 2024, Pilatus and airport executives said they anticipate the eventual creation of some 350 jobs
WORKER SUPPLY CHAIN
Pilatus Aircraft positions itself as an innovator in apprenticeships. Among its reasons for selecting SRQ is the burgeoning aviation ecosystem on and around the airfield, part of which will provide a trained workforce for maintenance and assembly of aircraft. Recently opened is the magnet Team Success School for students in grades 6-12 who are embarking a path toward aviation careers. In addition, Manatee Technical College is building a new airframe and power plant school, which expects to graduate 40 to 50 students annually with FAA licenses for aircraft maintenance.
no other OEM (original equipment manufacturer) is. Number three, we wanted to have a decent plot of land that we can lease for a long time.”
with an average wage of $80,000 per year. In addition to manufacturing and sales, SRQ will provide a new maintenance base to serve its Western Hemisphere customers.
Pilatus will lease two parcels totaling 17 acres on the “north quadrant” of the airfield just off Tallevast Road for 40 years at $400,000 per year. The site is adjacent to the recently opened fixed-base operator Sheltair.
Gradually expanding its North American footprint, Pilatus now operates sales and maintenance facilities in Broomfield, Colorado; Westminster, Maryland; Rock Hill, South Carolina; and Atlanta, with current employment totaling about 400. The company already operates a PC-12 and PC-24 completion facility in Broomfield. At SRQ, it will create approximately 200 new jobs over the next five years and, according to Bucher, more beyond that.
“Why did we select Sarasota? We said we wanted to be in Florida. That was number one,” Bucher said. “Number two, we wanted to be where
In addition, more than half of Pilatus’ supply chain for parts and equipment for its manufacturing originates in the U.S. An assembly facility here will provide greater efficiencies than shipping all those supplies to Switzerland.
Initially, Pilatus will assemble the shell of the aircraft here, which will then be flown to other facilities for painting and interior finishing. Bucher hinted some of those operations may also be eventually be located here, in addition to pilot training.
“We’re bigger than Piper, we’re smaller than Gulfstream and we believe we serve a market in the U.S., where there is the highest demand in the class of the PC-12 and the PC-24, so that’s why we are investing $200 million here,” Bucher said. “We are also looking forward to develop other sites that we have in the U.S.” Bucher said Pilatus’ presence at SRQ will indirectly support additional employment in Sarasota and Manatee counties as it attracts highnet worth clients from around the world.
The area’s resort atmosphere is ideal for lodging, dining and entertainment of its demographic.
“This is a long-term investment that will lead to a production and assembly facility right here at SRQ,” said SRQ President and CEO Paul Hoback. “These are business jets that are going to be made in America and for the American transportation industry. We can’t wait to see the impact that you have on this entire region, and we are so proud to welcome you to paradise.”
Image courtesy of Pilatus Aircraft
A rendering of the planned Pilatus Aircraft facilities at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
Andrew Warfield Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher speaks about his company’s plans for its $200 million campus at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more
TUESDAY, DEC. 30
6:41 p.m., 700 block of Benjamin Franklin Drive
Dispute: Having only recently met and spent one night together, a man was already demonstrating tendencies of jealousy when his new girlfriend dared to speak to another man. An officer responded to a resort on Lido Beach where he encountered the woman in the lobby, where she was crying and “visibly upset,” according to the incident report.
The man had left her there to fend for herself.
She said she had only recently met the man and had spent the night in a hotel room off University Parkway. How they came to be at a Lido Beach property was not explained in the report. However, she told the officer the subject began arguing with her after he saw her talking with another man in a hot tub. She advised the incident never became physical and she just wanted a ride back to her hotel and planned to fly home the next morning.
Her listed address in the incident report is in Rockford, Michigan.
The woman was given a courtesy ride to her hotel and escorted by an officer to her room. The man, who was not identified, was not located and had already retrieved his belongings from the room.
CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED
9:10 p.m., 2100 block of Hibiscus Street
Dispute: A call about a possible battery turned out to be a dispute between a man and his ex-girlfriend at his home. An officer met with the man, who said he had just returned home when his scorned ex arrived, yelling at him and asking where was his “new girlfriend.”
He advised she followed him to the house and began banging on the windows before entering through the front door. He demanded her to leave, to which she complied. Then, for an inexplicable reason, he attempted to stop her from backing out and she accidentally ran over his foot.
The complainant said he was not injured and did not wish to press charges. He further advised that
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
CAMERA SHY
9 a.m., 1700 block of Morrill Street
Civil dispute: A dispute over the angle of a security camera pitted two neighbors against one another as a woman left a note by the door of the home next door requesting she remove the camera that faced her residence.
In the note, she stated her bathroom was on that side of the house and the camera was a violation of her privacy.
The camera, though, was pointed at ground level and the bathroom in question is on the second floor and, further, the window is covered.
The complainant said she suffers from PTSD and believes the neighbor installed the camera “just to stress her out,” according to the incident report.
An officer explained to the complainant that law enforcement cannot force the neighbor to remove the camera and that she would have to pursue the matter in civil court.
although they were dating, they were not in a domestic relationship, therefore no residency had been established. He also said he preferred the incident not be documented, but was advised that, because of the nature of the call, documentation was required in the event the woman returns.
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
FAMILY UNTIES?
2:18 p.m., 900 block of Myrtle Street
Civil dispute: A tenant complained about her landlord cutting the power to the lights in the house she rents. The landlord is a male who shares the same last name, although the nature of their relationship was not disclosed in the incident report. Given the animosity over $25, though, an educated guess is feasible. The owner sublets
the house, from which the complainant was moving in a week. The pair have a verbal agreement with no rental agreement in writing.
The woman said the landlord had threatened to turn off all utilities in the home unless she paid the additional $25. She said he advised he would take civil action against her, which an officer said is his right, but that he could not conduct an unofficial eviction by intentionally shutting off utilities.
Concludes the report, “Their issues will be ending next week when she moves out.”
LETTERS
Orchestra, SPAC should combine efforts
Both the Sarasota Orchestra and the Sarasota Performing Arts Center are proposing to build separate venues, each costing approximately $400 million. Each is dependent on raising most of that through contributions from the Sarasota community; $800 million dollars is a lot of money, even for Sarasota. The answer may be to build one facility that accommodates the needs of both organizations.
What then do we do with the Van Wezel?
The Burns Court Cinema is well past its best-if-used-by date. The Van Wezel could be repurposed as the venue for a new Burns Court Cinema. It might then be possible for the annual Sarasota Film Festival to have all is programs at one location.
RAY KNOWLES SARASOTA
Bumps on U.S. 41 a nuisance
Driving on U.S. 41 between Bee Ridge Road and Stickney Point Road, the white painted bumps in the road are extremely aggravating.
A construction error applied too much material to these white lines, and they are bump after bump. This may seem like no big deal to some, but it’s the only north-south road we have besides Interstate 75.
The next time you drive this stretch of road, count the bumps you and your car are hit with.
There are 10 of these mini speed bumps, and I’m afraid there is nothing we can do but endure.
I have called the Florida Department of Transportation and highway safety people — no help. They said it would be fixed when they repave U.S. 41 in two to four years from now!
TIM GABRIEL SARASOTA
41 new townhomes planned for Limelight District
A new proposal is breathing new life into a partially built and then demolished multifamily project on Aspinwall Street.
residential project intended to breathe new life into what the city calls the Limelight District on the edge of the Park East neighborhood made its first appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Jan. 21.
Dubbed 414 Lime Avenue, Homes by West Bay of Riverview is seeking to build 41 attached single-family units on a 1.91-acre site at North Lime Avenue and Aspinwall Street. It’s the site of a previously approved project that was abandoned while under construction and had since been demolished and the site cleared.
The developer is seeking an administrative adjustment to reduce the zone-required minimum lot size from 1,800 square feet to 1,350 square feet.
The adjustment is needed to achieve the development goals, according to project consultant Kimley-Horn, because of restrictions imposed by both North Lime Avenue and Aspinwall Street being designated as primary streets in the city’s zoning code. The property is zoned Downtown Edge with a designated future land use of Urban Edge. The reduction in minimum lot size would not affect the permitted maximum base density of the development per code.
As currently planned, 11 of the 41 lots already exceed the current minimum lot size and three more are larger than 1,700 square feet.
The reduced minimum lot size would apply to the remaining 27 units.
Preliminary designs show threestory townhomes with rooftop decks and elevators. With a number of staff comments remaining to be addressed, a second submittal of the project to the DRC will be required.
MIDTOWN PLAZA WINS PARTIAL SIGN-OFF
Receiving partial sign-off seven months after its initial submittal to the DRC is the proposed redevelopment of the southern portion of Midtown Plaza at 1299 S. Tamiami Trail.
Owner Midtown Associates and principal Gavin Meshad proposed the repurposing of 5.57 acres of the 7.51-acre property — anchored by Michael’s On East — to build a 145room hotel, 91 apartments, 5,800 square feet of retail space and a parking structure.
The project will require demolition of a long-vacant 45,860-squarefoot grocery store space formerly occupied by Winn-Dixie, which closed in 2018. In addition to the northern portion of the property, the outparcel Starbucks location will remain in place.
SPORTS
Urban Meyer plans to expand his Sarasotabased program in its second year.
JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER
The mislabeling of student-athletes always bothered Urban Meyer. To this day, nearly eight years away from the college football sidelines, it still does.
He’s visited countless homes and high schools on recruiting trips. He’s seen the broken families and impoverished environments in which some of his players were raised.
He’s watched those same players graduate, though still bearing the “bad kid” label placed upon them by outsiders. They never saw the hearts Meyer saw.
“He’s not a bad kid. He’s from a really tough situation,” Meyer said. “So how do we all help that tough situation?”
The 61-year-old former coach voiced those frustrations to a crowd of old friends Jan. 21 by the pool of his Sarasota home. He shared similar sentiments about the fact that many players came to his programs lacking the skills necessary to tackle real life.
Meyer couldn’t understand why some kids were never taught such principles as communication and leadership, just as he couldn’t understand why they were mislabeled.
In March 2025, he joined with the Sarasota Police Department to found “The Urban Edge,” a five-day mentorship course providing highschool age sophomore and junior student-athletes with the tools to take ownership of their lives.
This year marks an expansion. Hosted by the New College of Florida, it will be a five-night lecture series spread from Feb. 17 to March 24, serving 100 football players from Booker, Cardinal Mooney, IMG Academy, Riverview and Sarasota.
“I always looked at coaching as your job is to fill the toolbox,” said Meyer, who was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 9, 2025. “Our job here is to fill the toolbox.”
Roughly 20 student-athletes from each school were selected based on who coaches believed would make the most of the experience. All of them will be taught five pillars — leadership, communication, fiscal responsibility, interpersonal skills and career planning.
“I’m up against a really good group of
and I’m just honored to be able to compete against them.”
MENTOR MOVE
retired from
The seed for the idea was planted long ago. While coaching Florida from 2005-10 and Ohio State from 2012-18, Meyer started Real Life Wednesdays, a career-development program.
Mentorship, though, wasn’t the reason why he jumped into a car with Rex Troche, chief of police for the Sarasota Police Department.
The two drove around Sarasota together as good friends. Meyer brought up Real Life Wednesdays, wondering how it could be translated locally. Troche ran with it. They settled on Booker for the pilot. Coach Carlos Woods, then defensive coordinator under Scottie Littles, recognized an impact beyond the subject matter itself.
“It was a struggle just getting those kids there every day on that time frame,” he said. “And he was dead serious. If those kids were a minute late, Urban didn’t play that. So it really taught them accountability.”
Meyer had three mentees — thenjunior safety Karaijus Hayes, thenjunior cornerback Chauncey Kennon and then-sophomore defensive lineman Maleek Lee. As early signees, Kennon and Hayes now play for Florida State and FIU, respectively.
A bond blossomed between Hayes and Meyer. The former coach was so pleased with how the safety approached the program that he gave Hayes his personal phone number and a promise.
POLLING THE COACHES
The four Sarasota-area football coaches involved in The Urban Edge were each asked what life skills they want their athletes to have once they graduate from high school. Here were their answers:
CARLOS WOODS, BOOKER: “One of the most important things is financial literacy. We’re thinking about these guys with NIL deals now ... You’re going to have a lot of people after you, talking to you and pulling you in different directions, and you have to have the knowledge to understand that and the confidence to say, ‘No.’”
JARED CLARK, CARDINAL MOONEY: “What does it mean to build relationships? You hear all the time that the most important thing is relationships,
but how do I do that?” MARK CRISTIANI, RIVERVIEW: “For young men, the ability to use resources and ask for help. That’s something that sometimes is frowned upon when you have a group of guys who fancy themselves as alpha males, but relying on other people and needing other people to get in spaces or get in front of somebody — that’s something that can take them a long way.”
AMP CAMPBELL, SARASOTA: “It’s all about being responsible. Also, making sure that kids are understanding what life is all about and knowing how to handle adversity. Life is going to be a storm, but how you handle that storm matters.”
“If you call me, anytime, the answer will always be yes,” Meyer said, according to Woods.
He hasn’t just stamped his name on a program that puts local leaders in front of athletes. He’s gone out into the community himself.
This year, Meyer delivered the first presentation on Feb. 17 about leadership. That’s a lifelong tool he crafted over 17 seasons, a 187-32 record and three national college football titles.
But it’s also one of several he possessed upon graduation in 1988 from Ohio State with a master’s degree in sports administration. He felt it was up to him whether he took life by the horns.
“If I didn’t do it, that was my fault,” Meyer said. “I came from a very good family, and was very welleducated ... So I had a jump start on everybody.”
Not all high schoolers in 10th and 11th grade possess a packed toolkit. Some have their futures mapped out, but many are still figuring out what they want to accomplish.
The Urban Edge isn’t about putting student-athletes on professional paths, but it does intend to give them a grasp of what skills they’ll need to conquer their eventual careers.
That can range from how to be an engaged conversationalist to how to manage finances, and everything in between.
“We all were that age once. I can remember thinking, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’ I had no idea,” said Cardinal Mooney coach Jared Clark. “High school kids sometimes don’t even know how to stand tall, look me in the eye and speak up.”
At a Jan. 21 fundraiser, Meyer took a break from laughs and banter to reflect on the program. Cigar smoke dissipated and cocktails stopped flowing as the crowd listened.
He called forth each high school coach and supporting members of the program to each say some words. Their consensus: Its impact is real. No longer in a position to offer scholarships or prepare players for the NFL, this is Meyer’s new way of guiding kids toward a better future.
“I’m hoping this will become a national program,” he said. “And people will say it started in Sarasota.”
He’s past the days of pushing players on the gridiron. No longer does he concern himself with dropped passes or missed blocks.
Meyer wants kids to eventually be labeled as winners in life beyond the game.
FAST BREAK
LWhile at Florida, Urban Meyer coached the Gators to the 2006 and 2008 BCS National Championships — and coached Heisman Trophywinning quarterback Tim Tebow.
“He’s not a bad kid. He’s from a really tough situation. So how do we all help that tough situation?”
— Urban Meyer
egendary football coach Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, stopped by Cardinal Mooney on Jan. 21 for a recruiting visit. He’s entering his second season at the helm of North Carolina following a 4-8 finish in 2025. Belichick — like many other Power Four coaches — was intrigued by junior quarterback Davin Davidson, whose recruitment has taken off this month. From Jan. 20-25, the three-star recruit received offers from Florida State, Charlotte, North Carolina, Iowa, Virginia Tech, Miami, Duke, Florida and Kentucky. Davidson is fresh off a season in which he led the Cougars to the FHSAA Class 2A state title with 2,360 passing yards and 23 touchdowns against six interceptions on a 64.6% completion rate. ... District meets for FHSAA girls weightlifting were held across the state last weekend. Booker, Cardinal Mooney, Riverview and Sarasota didn’t finish top three as teams in their respective districts, but there were individuals among them who rose to the occasion. Senior Elizabeth Lawson of Sarasota swept the 169-pound weight class at the Class 3ADistrict 11 championship by placing first in Traditional and Olympic styles. Riverview senior Sutton Odegard (119 lbs) won gold for Olympic and silver for Traditional. Seniors Shelley DiLorenzo (119 lbs) and Cecelia Velotta (139 lbs) of Cardinal Mooney both placed first in Olympic and second in Traditional at the 1A-13 meet. Booker, meanwhile, got its best showing from junior Lila Dickey (139 lbs) at the 2A-12 meet via her bronze sweep. ... Sarasota Christian girls basketball is 12-6 this season, as of Jan. 26, behind the onetwo punch of senior forward/ guard Brenda Bresciani and eighth-grade forward Nikki Olupitan. Bresciani has averaged 16.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game with 11 double-doubles in 16 games played, per MaxPreps. Olupitan, meanwhile, has put up 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in her second varsity season. Their regular season concludes at Braden River at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29 and vs. Bradenton Christian at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 30.
Image courtesy of Caroline Melby/ Cardinal Mooney Athletics Cardinal Mooney football has hosted several college coaches for recruiting visits this month, but last week, arguably the greatest NFL coach of all time stopped by.
Photos by Jack Nelson
Now
coaching, Urban Meyer is active during the college football season as a studio analyst for Fox Sports.
Image courtesy of Florida Athletics
Urban Meyer is joining forces with high school football coaches to offer mentorship.
From left: Booker’s Carlos Woods, Riverview’s Mark Cristiani, IMG Academy’s Greg Studrawa, Meyer and Cardinal Mooney’s Jared Clark (Sarasota’s Amp Campbell not pictured).
NELSON’S NOGGIN JACK NELSON
Baseball breakdown
The high school season begins Feb. 9, but preseason tournaments will be underway sooner.
Break in that glove and dust off those cleats. Baseball will soon be back in full swing throughout Sarasota.
Although no local teams reached the state championships last season, some made a run in regionals. Others have since brought in new coaches or will welcome back familiar talents.
Here’s everything you need to know about the area’s high school baseball teams ahead of the Feb. 9 start to the regular season:
CARDINAL MOONEY
Coach: Mike Mercurio (fifth year)
Last season: 21-9 overall, 3-1 in Class 2A-District 11, reached regional semifinals
Some teams have to worry about the seniors lost from 2025. Cardinal Mooney isn’t among them.
Just four Cougars from last season graduated. Tanner Jackson is the most notable departure, having contributed a .385 batting average and .433 on-base percentage with a third-most 91 at-bats.
His absence will sting, but with so much production returning, this squad is poised to take a step forward. Junior outfielder Brady Zaun — the hits leader — is back, as is senior infielder/right-hander and Davidson commit Wyatt Hossenlopp, who led in RBIs.
There’s also a bona fide ace in the bunch.
Junior right-hander/infielder Colton Hyde, who’s committed to Michigan, posted a sparkling 1.26 ERA across a team-high 61.1 innings pitched last season. The presence of senior right-hander
David Johnston will make life even harder on opponents.
With five of six leading hitters returning and solid arms to support them, the Cougars boast firepower on both sides of the ball.
SARASOTA
Coach: Sterling Pell (first year)
Last season: 22-8-1 overall, 4-3 in Class 7A-District 8, reached regional semifinals
Sarasota will ride a tide of change into the season. At the wheel stands a new captain, hoping to steer the ship toward calm waters.
Sterling Pell is the man in question. Once a pitcher for Florida Atlantic in 2002-03, he now takes over one of the state’s most storied high school programs.
His predecessor, Greg Mulhollen, stepped down after a four-year tenure in which the Sailors went 70-42-1. No exodus of players followed, though.
Continuity is on this team’s side. All six of its top hitters from last season are back in the fold, including all three who hit above .300 — senior infielder Patrick Drymon (.378), senior shortstop/outfielder Mark Metcalf (.361) and junior third baseman/right-hander Braedon Mackay (.309).
The major loss is Blake Norman, who graduated after posting a 1.65 ERA through 42.1 innings. But a sensational season from senior right-hander Cesar Garmendia could be in store after his 1.02 ERA through a team-high 54.2 innings pitched in 2025.
Sarasota is an eight-time state champion, and ultimately, still trying to recapture the glory of that coach Clyde Metcalf era.
SARASOTA CHRISTIAN
Coach: Ray White (second year)
Last season: 14-8 overall, 4-1 in Class 1A-District 11, reached district semifinals
There was positive movement, no doubt, in Year 1 under coach Ray White for Sarasota Christian. The team improved from 11-12-1 in 2024 to 14-8 in 2025.
Coaching, though, can only do so much.
The Blazers have a star-sized hole to address. Randall Collins has moved on to college after a stellar year at the plate in which he batted .533, ripped 32 hits and racked up 33 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
His departure will be a tough one — even with essentially the entire roster retained. Individual seasons like that don’t just happen.
Some solace can be found in junior infielder/pitcher Evan Poznanski and senior center fielder/ pitcher Justin Brock, who batted .381 and .367 last season, respectively. Freshman third baseman/ first baseman Andrew Moldovan is an intriguing young talent.
junior. And pitching will be crucial if the Blazers struggle at the plate.
BOOKER
Coach: Pat Sweeney (third year) Last season: 10-10 overall, 4-1 in Class 4A-District 10, reached district semifinals
On paper, a 10-10 finish isn’t much to celebrate. But it was plenty reason for Booker to smile in 2025.
The Tornadoes tallied more wins last season than in the preceding three combined. Just like the Blazers, though, they’re forced to move forward without their star. Sophomore first baseman/pitcher Dameer Watford transferred to The Out-ofDoor Academy.
on Year 3, he still has impact players in senior outfielder/pitcher/first baseman Joshua Azevedo and senior infielder/pitcher Kevion Carey. Azevedo hit .379 with a team-high 23 runs in 2025, while Carey proved reliable with a .510 on-base percentage.
If even more victories are to come, though, additional talents will need to emerge.
RIVERVIEW
Coach: Mark Sobolewski (first year)
Last season: 7-18 overall, 3-3 in Class 7A-District 8, reached district semifinals
It was rough sledding for Riverview in 2025 en route to its third consecutive losing season. Only six players hit over .200.
Mark Sobolewski has arrived to change that.
The first-year coach was a third baseman in the Minnesota Twins organization from 2008 to 2013, and was University of Miami’s secondleading hitter as a freshman. But more important, he played at Sarasota during his high school days — Sobolewski knows this area’s baseball scene well.
He’ll be supported by a heavy senior presence. Four of the Rams’ top six hitters from last season were juniors. The other two graduated, including Caden Sladek, who batted a team-high .328.
Look for Riverview to lean on senior second baseman/righthander/catcher Caiden Cabral and senior outfielder/right-hander Alastair Simonson, who hit .306 and .297 last season, respectively. There will be question marks on the mound following the graduations of Morgan Peggs and Mason Peluso, but Sobolewski has the know-how to properly address problem areas.
On the mound, senior second baseman/pitcher Rowan Baum will shoulder the load, having turned in a 1.43 ERA across 34.1 innings as a
Watford’s freshman campaign was captivating. Along with 19 RBIs, he owned a .458 batting average and .587 on-base percentage, leading Booker in all three categories. Fittingly, his first game with ODA will be against his former team.
As coach Pat Sweeney embarks
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
File image
As Sarasota High’s baseball team seeks success under first-year coach Sterling Pell, it will have senior right-hander Cesar Garmendia back on the mound. He posted a 1.02 ERA in 2025 in 12 appearances.
Elizabeth Lawson
Art and sport have gone hand-inhand for Elizabeth Lawson. The senior is enrolled in Sarasota High’s Circus Arts Magnet Program, but on Jan. 24, she stepped away from the Big Top and into the gym. She brought home gold in both styles of the 169-pound weight class at the FHSAA Class 3A-District 11 girls weightlifting championship. By lifting a total of 330 pounds in Traditional and 255 in Olympic, she completed a sweep. Lawson is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.
How was your experience at districts and what did you take away from it?
It was definitely a really good meet. I went up a weight class from last year, so that was a good experience — to get a new group of girls to compete against. I really wasn’t expecting to place in Olympic at all because I don’t snatch very much. My strengths are definitely in clean and jerk and bench.
How did you get into this sport?
I started doing flying trapeze down in Venice, where I used to live, and I wanted to get stronger for trapeze. So I found weightlifting — a couple of my friends introduced me to it. And from there, I became so passionate about it, and it’s become my sport.
How do your skills in circus arts translate to weightlifting?
The weightlifting side definitely helps in being stronger for circus. But the more technical sides of circus — like the little muscles we use just pointing our toes or straightening our legs — that really helps in the super technical side of weightlifting and the tiny movements that are involved with that. Mobility, too. I’ve gotten a lot more flexible with both.
Why have you stuck with weightlifting after all these years?
It has such a good community around it. It’s such a good group of girls. Yes, we’re a team, but it’s also a self-competing sport. You’re
If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Jack Nelson at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
competing against yourself, but you have that team backing you up and supporting you and cheering you on. And not just your team — anybody from any school is always cheering you on.
What highlight or moment from your career have you never forgotten?
Last year, when I had sprained my ankle really bad, I was in a boot. I got to districts and it was my first time back. I placed first at districts and I went up on the podium wearing my boot, because I couldn’t walk on it, but I had lifted on it and placed first. That was super exciting and a really big accomplishment.
What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you?
“Be persistent.”
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be and why? Olivia Reeves. She won gold in the most recent weightlifting Olympics. She’s just a beast; she’s insane. I can’t even imagine lifting that much weight.
What’s something unique about you that not a lot of people know?
I’m pretty crafty. I like to do a lot of arts and crafts.
Finish this sentence. Elizabeth Lawson is ... Determined.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Your Florida Future Starts
You’ve seen the sunshine, now it’s time to make the move with confidence. Join our free seminar to learn the smart, financially savvy steps to make Florida your legal home. We’ll
Professor J. Cohn MD, FACC, FAHA
YOUR NEIGHBORS
TOP MARKS
Sarasota High’s Ryan Chase explains the challenges and joys that come with running a high school and being named Principal of the Year in Florida.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Principal Ryan Chase doesn’t mind getting into the weeds.
While walking the grounds of Sarasota High School, if he sees any weeds along the way, he’ll stop and pull them himself.
He says he’s not doing it for recognition, but so that others see that no job is too small for anyone.
However, he was recently recognized for something big when he was named as the 2026 National Association of Secondary School Principals Florida High School Principal of the Year.
The honor includes the potential to become one of three finalists for National Principal of the Year.
It comes amid Sarasota High School attaining an “A” school grade in 2025, its first since 2019, with six out of 10 evaluative categories ranking the highest in the school history.
The school also experienced a 10% increase in its graduation rate over
two years, reaching 97%, the highest in its history.
But for Chase, his role is a mission that is deeply personal.
When he was in school, he says he was affected by teachers who ultimately guided him to become a firstgeneration college student.
He has spent his career in education, starting out in Manatee County Schools. He came to the Sarasota district in 2013, and has steadily moved up the ranks prior to his current role: assistant principal at Sarasota High, principal at Brookside Middle School.
Each day, Chase wakes up “very, very early,” usually checking his email and calendar from home, something he does before bed as well.
“The last thing you want is some emergency or crisis going on with a student or staff member, and then miss it because it’s something that I’m kind of always on 24/7 as a principal,” he said.
In the morning, he will greet students outside and deliver announcements.
“I love being able to get on and talk to the students, and remind them of our expectations and interact with them in that way,” he said.
No day is ever the same.
However, days will involve meeting with staff and students, observing teachers in classrooms and providing coaching, and dealing with
MORE ABOUT RYAN CHASE
Chase holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in social studies education from the University of Florida and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Chase was Sarasota County Schools’ 2025 Principal of the Year. He was named the 2022 University of Florida Alumni Association’s National Leader of the Year, and a 2021 40 Gators Under 40 Honoree for the University of Florida Young Alumni Award.
disciplinary concerns.
Then there are the small tasks, like the cafeteria duty he elects to perform, which involves carrying out garbage, cleaning and talking to students.
He says it’s a great way to connect with them and ask them how their days are going, and that they are encouraged to clean up their own table spots as a result.
“I don’t believe that we have to ask somebody else to do something that we can do, like if I can pick up trash, or if I can pull that weed, or if I can take a student somewhere and walk them to class, or pick up an ID and find where the kid is and bring it to them, I don’t need somebody else to
“I think what I wanted to really bring to the table here was to build a culture that was focused on taking Sarasota High to the next level, and I wanted Sarasota High to earn its spot in being the No. 1 option for education in this area.”
Ryan Chase, Sarasota High principal
do all those things for me,” he said. “I can do those things myself.”
DO WHAT WORKS
Sarasota High School is not an outlier in its increasing graduation rates.
For the 2024-25 academic year, the district achieved a graduation rate of 94.3%, a 1.8 percentage point increase from last year’s rate, which also broke district records.
Raising that rate involves working with the district staff, who visit each school individually. Chase said starting with a rate below 90% was a challenge, but something he knew could be overcome.
“The one thing when I got here that I thought was most important was to understand that Sarasota High was already a great place,” Chase said. “I think what I wanted to really bring to the table here was to build a culture that was focused on taking Sarasota High to the next level, and I wanted Sarasota High to earn its spot in being the No. 1 option for education in this area.”
He says his team focused in on the needs of individual students, whether that was related to GPA, credit deficiency, a need for testing, or not enough attendance, before rallying around that student with services and support.
“The award is really a recognition of our entire campus,” Chase said. “It’s not just me, it’s our admin team, it’s our teachers and our staff. It’s our students and our community who support everything that we do here and have believed in me as their principal and allowed our work to excel.”
He attributes the team’s success to factors that include a focus on data, as well as allowing testing and testing-prep opportunities for those who need them.
He says at the start of the year, the school had 198 students requiring either an English Language Arts test, or a math test, or both, but by the end of the year, that number was reduced to two.
A third component, he says, is the mentoring aspect, which includes supports like the program No Cap Get Your Cap, which was implemented under his tenure and is now in its third year.
That program was recognized in the 2025 Little Red Schoolhouse Awards, from the Florida Associa-
SEE PRINCIPAL, PAGE 8B
• Monthly fees - what’s covered and what’s not?
• Financial stability - how healthy is the association?
• Pet policies- will your furry friend be welcome?
• Rental rules - can you rent it out when you’re away?
• Amenities & lifestyle- poolside chic or private retreat?
• Price ranges - what’s available for your budget right now?
Sarasota’s condo market is growing fast, and it pays to have someone who knows the buildings, the developers, and the best opportunities before they hit everyone’s radar.
Ryan Chase is principal of Sarasota High School.
Ian Swaby
Streetside sizzle
hat started in a parking lot in St. Petersburg about three years ago with about 10 tents has grown into a festival with dozens of vendors.
Co-organizer Vishal Vellody said his Indian background helped inspire the Saigon Night Market festival that debuted Jan. 24-25 at J.D. Hamel Park in Sarasota.
“One of the most important things is just hanging around making fresh food and hanging out with family,” he said. “We took that idea, and that’s kind of what Saigon Night Market is.
The event, which drew about 5,000, showcased family owned small businesses with cuisine from countries including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and some from cultures outside Asia.
Attendees waited in line to taste dishes like takoyaki, a ball-shaped Japanese dish of fried dough stuffed with savory ingredients, while others perused crocheted key chains and other Asian-themed items.
Vellody said in typical Asian cultures, there are fewer hurdles to selling street food, but the festival gave others the chance to enjoy that experience.
“We ensure that everyone’s insured and official, but still bringing that street food vibe,” he said.
— IAN SWABY
Angelica and Romeo Sin of Bestie Asian Express prepare orders of noodles.
Jay Poon holds a container of takoyaki with his wife, Sadie Poon.
Sandro Mangione, 4, and his father, Mike Mangione, take to the microphone for karaoke.
Andrew Mendoza holds Baby Boy, a bluetongued skink showcased at Emit’s Adventure.
Mina Anderson-Wolfson holds a guinea pig, Brownie, at the Emit’s Adventure tent.
Skewers are prepared at G & S.
Photos by Ian Swaby
IS AMARA. The attractions of Amara, diverse and extraordinary, know no equal. This begins with its Golden Gate address — for the Point is one of those rarest of natural wonders — an enclave that looks across the bay and back to the city — once-in-a-lifetime views that are yours every day.
Taking the helm
ceremonies have attracted people that are older than myself, I also get the opportunity to learn from them.”
Sarasota Power & Sail Squadron completes 74th change of watch.
other means to be more relevant to today’s customer, today’s audience.”
avid Siesel says the nature of groups in the United States Power Squadrons has changed since he was a commander at Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.
However, one thing that remains constant is the annual Change of Watch ceremony as new leadership steps in to replace the old.
On Jan. 25, at Laurel Oak Country Club, the Sarasota Power and Sail Squadron hosted the ceremony as a new bridge consisting of six individuals was installed.
Siesel was sworn in as commander, replacing Barbara Warshaw.
“I think it provides continuity,” he said. “I think that so many rituals in other areas of our life have gone to the wayside, and also, since these
Siesel said he hopes to focus on helping the squadron adapt to realities of a changing world.
He said the organization, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, plays an important role in boating safety and is a good starting point for those who have specific questions on safety or need courses, whatever type of boating they are planning to do.
Siesel has been a member of Sarasota’s squadron for about six years and part of the overall organization for 15-16 years, and says he hopes to remedy a decline in volunteerism not specific to the organization.
“I think I can work on messaging,” he said. “I think I can work on new ways to maybe package and communicate through social media and
Warshaw said she had a good year as commander, with the support of her team, and that the organization put nearly 400 people through its boating classes at different levels.
“I had objectives when I came on board, and one of them was to get people involved, get them to take our classes, join the squadron and then get out on the water, and we have increased our membership because we’ve been able to get more students, and we’re getting them involved,” she said. “Now it’s up to David to keep them involved.”
“Barbara Warshaw has done an amazing job, and I hope to be able to do the squadron proud,” Siesel said.
ABOUT THE CLUB
The Sarasota Power and Sail Squadron, founded in 1952, is one of the largest in the national organizations with close to 410 local members, according to its website. It is an all-volunteer organization that does everything from holding educational courses for boaters to helping check waterways for changes that affect nautical charts. It also has civic and social programs and holds monthly lunches on the first Thursday at Marina Jack with a speaker. Learn more at Sarasota-Boating.org.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Photos by Ian Swaby
Cmdr. David Siesel; Assistant Administrative Officer, First Lt. Perry Page; Assistant Administrative Officer, First Lt. Lois McKenzie; Secretary, Lt. Cmdr. Domini Wood; Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Doak; and District 22 Commander Ron Jones.
Immediate Past Commander Barbara Warshaw is honored with a plaque from Commander David Siesel.
Secretary, Lt. Cmdr. Domini Wood applauds during the ceremony.
$4,185,000
$1,699,000
FRIDAY, JAN. 30
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT AT THE BAY: ‘E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL’
7-8:55 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. The outdoor screening is rated PG. Registration requested. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 31
FRIENDS OF SELBY LIBRARY
SILENT AUCTION
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Proceeds go toward library programming including arts and crafts, youth storytime supplies and music performances. Donated merchandise includes theater tickets, jewelry, art, gift baskets, photography sessions, restaurant gift cards and wine. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
HONORING WORLD UKULELE
DAY
Noon-1 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Celebrate World Ukulele Day. Feel free to bring along your own ukulele with a stand, chair and music. Registration requested. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SUNDAY, FEB. 1
SUNDAYS AT THE BAY
FEATURING SHELBY SOL
4:30-5:30 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Shelby Sol blends the influences of Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, India.Arie and Moonchild. Registration requested. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SARASOTA JEWISH FOOD FESTIVAL
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 Lockwood Ridge Road. Free. Sample traditional Jewish favorites including selections from The Original Wolfie’s menu. Also, arts and crafts. Visit TempleSinai-Sarasota.org.
MONDAY, FEB. 2
WRITE NIGHT: OVERCOMING ISOLATION & PROCRASTINATION, TOGETHER
5:30-8 p.m. at Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. Free; $7 optional ticket to defray event cost. RSVP or ticket required. Visit EventBrite.com.
BEST BET
SATURDAY, JAN. 31
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES AND CELTIC FESTIVAL
8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd. $15-$35. Showcasing Scottish culture and featuring traditions, performances and athletic competitions, this event is comprised of individuals from local and regional groups. The main event is preceded by the Friday Night Celtic Jam from 5-10 p.m. Visit EventBrite.com.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4
FILM SHOWING: ‘FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA’ WITH LAURENCE COTTON
5:30-7 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Join producer Laurence Cotton for a film screening of “From Sea to Shining Sea: Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of ‘America the Beautiful’” followed by a Q & A session. Registration required. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
ARTS & CRAFTS: EMBROIDERED
VALENTINE CARDS
2-4 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. All materials are provided. Seating is first-come, first-serve. Adults only. Pick up your line-up tickets at the Reference Desk. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
THURSDAY, FEB. 5
RINGLING UNDERGROUND
8-11 p.m. at John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road. Children 6-7 $5; adults $15. Enjoy live music and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard, with two food trucks offering food and beverages. The band lineup includes Emo band Ending Apathy (8 p.m.), indie rock band Pilot Waves (9 p.m.) and the headliner, three-piece noise rock band Rugh (10 p.m.). Visit Ringling.org.
Just the basics
The initiative by Booker High’s sophomore class president provides free feminine products in girls’ bathrooms at the school.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
When she became class president during her freshman year at Booker High School, Ava Donoghue had the idea for Booker Basics already in mind.
She says in middle school, many friends found themselves in the embarrassing situation of having to walk across campus after getting their periods to obtain supplies, while she would carry extras for her friends.
She saw a need that, across the country, she says isn’t being met.
“It’s just a natural process that happens to most women, and not having the products that they need when that time does come, it’s unfortunate, because we always have toilet paper, and we always have a baby changing station, most of the time, and where are the period products?” she said.
Her initiative, Booker Basics, which she is now continuing as sophomore class president, offers free pads and tampons in all the girls bathrooms at Booker High.
When the program was launched, it had QR codes for surveys, which she says nearly all female class members participated in, providing high ratings. The work also involved reaching out to Florida organizations. The person who ultimately responded was Sarah Parker, executive director and president of Voices of Florida Fund, an organization defending reproductive freedoms.
“Within days, the posts on Instagram blew up, and everybody was just like, ‘This is so cool. This is amazing,’” Donoghue said. She says support has since slowed but remained stable.
The initiative has also received a hefty amount of support from Rose Ladd, a library and media aide at the school who has helped to promote it in the community.
Finally, it underwent a recent upgrade, thanks to a partnership with small business Aunt Flow, and a donation of $5,000 from Patty Smith and the Eluned and Edward Russell Charitable Foundation.
The original plastic dispensers had always jammed she said, but recently, new metal dispensers from Aunt Flow were installed, and a supply of its products offered.
The large bathrooms in buildings 4 and 8 have dispensers holding 100 pads and 100 tampons, with smaller dispensers for other bathrooms that hold 50 of each.
“A lot of people thank me in the hallways,” Donoghue said. “If they ever see me walking down, they’re like, ‘I just used Booker Basics. It’s awesome to hear that people are actually using it respectfully.”
Donoghue hopes that in her junior year, she can expand the program’s to more areas of the county.
“I want girls from different schools to have that same access,” she said.
“A
lot of people thank me in the hallways ... It’s awesome to hear that people are actually using it respectfully.”
— Ava Donoghue
Courtesy image Ava Donoghue stands beside one of the dispensers.
Life revolves around the spectacular 30,000-square-foot clubhouse—now under construction and opening this fall. This is where neighbors become friends over resort pools, shared meals at indoor-outdoor dining venues, and rounds on the premier putting course. With a golf simulator, fitness center, cinema, and stunning waterfront homes by the region’s most sought-after builders, this Lakewood Ranch community is Sarasota’s most distinctive address for those who value connection as much as luxury.
Use your healthy habits to find fabulosity
When considering goals, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But small habits gives us the power to achieve larger — and lasting — change.
I’ve been health coaching a lot of the same clients for going on 15 years now. Naturally, a few of us have gotten pretty friendly. So, I decided to take some of them out for tea and dessert to celebrate the New Year. As their coach I’m aware of their eating habits, and I know that this group likes a good dessert as much as I do.
I thought for a minute the dessert part was a bad idea when a couple of them wouldn’t eat a piece of cake. But when I dug in myself, moderately of course, the party got started. I asked them if they wanted to share things that were important in their lives over the past year.
As we went around the circle, they spoke of daughter’s weddings, losing a job, getting pregnant, becoming a gym rat, outliving heart disease, surviving cancer and menopause, the joy of grandchildren, joining a pickleball league, fishing, golf and a trip to China.
Maybe because I was their host, the conversation drifted toward how getting fit, eating healthier and reducing stress changed their lives. They shared about feeling invisible, putting on belly fat, having no energy and feeling like a lump. One remembered tearing her hair out, saying, “My doctor told me I need to do something. I’ve got serious health issues, but I hate to exercise, I’m stressed all the time and I love sugar. What do I do?”
She said I told her, “We are going to fix this. We’re going to design a program together you can look forward to instead of dread.”
My coaching style is to start people wherever they may be physically and emotionally and get them on their way smoothly and pleasantly, one small goal at a time. If the first experience is pleasant, you’ll
want more. Sustainability is the key to a healthier life. And that’s what happened with these clients. But something else happened. They said reaching their goals had given them the self-confidence to pursue things they would never have dared to try; that the change in their bodies had kindled a change in the way they saw themselves. Instead of feeling invisible, they felt fabulous, and that fabulosity spilled into the rest of their lives.
As much as I would love to take all the credit for this transformation, I checked to see if there’s any science behind this phenomenon, and here’s what I found. When you achieve a major life goal, your brain shows you the new pathways through a process called neuroplasticity, a kind of brain rewiring. It triggers a new mindset that sees growth and challenges as opportunities instead of obstacles. You feel like you can go on to the next goal. And you can. It boils down to a healthy body triggers a healthy mind.
Pretty cool, huh?
Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video company. She is a certified health coach, exercise physiologist and wellness consultant for Manatee County government employees and has a private practice. Visit MirabaiHolland.com or contact her at AskMirabai@MovingFree.com.
tion of School Administrators, for graduating 99% of the students enrolled, students who were not initially on track to graduate.
It is led by athletics director and boys basketball coach BJ Ivey. “Mr. Chase is remarkable with his understanding of where we sit in terms of graduation rate and what we need to do to make sure that we’re helping kids graduate from high school,” Ivey said.
Chase says teachers are also invested in students’ success even outside of formal programs.
Raising the school’s effectiveness was an initiative of working through the school’s processes, through a philosophy of “autopsies without blame,” Chase says.
“It’s picking it apart for the concept of making it better, not to blame somebody … because when we make something better, we are essentially improving the lives of students, improving the lives of adults,” he said.
In fact, he says when he started in the role, part of the task involved reevaluating his own practices and communicating his expectations.
“It came from this idea that expectations have to be clear and assumptions can derail a process,” he said.
“They can derail a company, a business, a school. They can create frustration and resentment, and if you’re willing, as the leader, for me, to just reflect on that and say, ‘What can I do better, rather than what can other people do?’ That made all the difference for me.”
LEADING A CULTURE
Shannon Nelson, instructional facilitator for exceptional student education, thinks the school’s culture has grown “tremendously.”
“He is very academically driven, but also engaged in every aspect of the school, from the sports to the drama, to everything,” she said. “He’s involved, and everybody knows he cares.”
Ivey likewise says Chase has “poured” himself into multiple areas, including athletics, with a positive effect on the school’s culture.
“He attends a lot of events, and then he’s passionate when he’s there;
FREE LECTURE SERIES
February 2026
All the News in Circulation:
The leading edge of cardiovascular care and cardiac repair
The human heart is an incredible machine, beating roughly 100,000 times a day without rest, endlessly pumping and contracting to its own bioelectric rhythm. It’s a lot of hard work—and the kind that can’t be obstructed or interrupted. During this free lecture series, hear directly from the experts about the latest life-saving possibilities in minimally invasive surgery and structural heart repair, as well as how patients are benefiting from lasting lifestyle changes designed for cardiovascular longevity. A brief Q&A follows each presentation.
} Brian P. Betensky, MD, FACC, FHRS - The Mysterious PVC: When to Worry
NEW LOCATION! SMH-SARASOTA
Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute - First Floor 1880 Arlington Street, Sarasota, FL 34239
he’s competitive,” Ivey said. “Obviously, he wants our teams to do well and gets very, very excited when they do, and definitely pours into the players and the coaches — just makes sure that they feel that they’re valued and supported, and what they’re doing really matters.”
Nelson said Chase goes “above and beyond for stakeholders; for instance, when five senior cheerleaders participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last year, Chase showed up in support.
“He took the time out of his day on a Saturday to attend a fundraiser at a Publix that was nowhere near where he lives, just to help their cause,” she said.
Chase says he knew in eighth grade that he would be a teacher, but doesn’t know if he expected being principal of Sarasota High School, or principal of the year statewide.
“I don’t think I could have written that part of the story,” he said.
However, he’s glad to be writing the history of Sarasota’s namesake school in its 112th year.
“What I’m proud to say is that we are working every day to prove who we are, to earn who we are,” he said. “We’re not sitting back and letting someone define us. We’re proud to be Sarasota High.”
Jeffrey E. Rossi, MD
Ricardo Yaryura, MD
Daniel L. Molloy, MD
Brian P. Betensky, MD
Robert Eckart, DO
Courtesy image
Ryan Chase greets senior Daniel Sanchez.
Red Rock Terrace property sells for $6.2 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ellyn McColgan, trustee, sold the home at 3930 Red Rock Way to Lyndon and Lauren Pullman, of Sarasota, for $6.2 million. Built in 1966, it has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.5 million in 2018.
SARASOTA
LOMA LINDA PARK
2375 Floyd St LLC sold the home at 2375 Floyd St. to Guy Gibson and Amy Ludtke, of Sarasota, for $2,085,000. Built in 2025, it has five bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 3,595 square feet of living area.
OYSTER BAY ESTATES
Barry Lee Collier, of Franklin, Tennessee, sold the home at 1610 S. Lake Shore Drive to David Hoff and Patricia Hoff, trustees, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, for $1,775,000. Built in 1964, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,821 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.07 million in 2019.
ONE HUNDRED CENTRAL
Caldwell Trust Co., trustee, sold the Unit E715 condominium at 100 Central Ave. to Mari Lynn Cheatham and Michael Adkinson, of Sarasota, for $1,425,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 2,173 square feet of living area. It sold for $885,000 in 2006.
Diane Marie Blinn, trustees, sold the Unit PH-05 condominium at 100 Central Ave. to Anita Jean Ochab and Regina Vandroff, of Sarasota, for $1,085,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,707 square feet of living area. It sold for $820,000 in 2013.
PINE BAY
Constantine Atsidis, trustee, and William Estill sold the home at 1436 Pine Bay Drive to HB Land Holdings LLC for $1.3 million. Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,408 square feet of living area. It sold for $362,500 in 1998.
PAYNE PARK VILLAGE
Michael Ralph Lepore Jr. and Tina Marie Lepore, of Sarasota, sold their home at 321 Gowdy Road to Martin and Susan Rosica, of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, for $1.1 million. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,443 square feet of living area. It sold for $880,000 in 2022.
SOUTH GATE
Luke Hunsberger and Julia Szabo, of Shady, New York, sold their home at 2516 Tanglewood Drive to Jesse Bono, of Sarasota, for $850,000. Built in 1959, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,767 square feet of living area. It sold for $152,000 in 1997.
Beza Capital Development LLC sold the home at 2424 Hamlin Lane to Kenneth Kovacs and Drew Jacobsen, of Sarasota, for $608,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,312 square feet of living area. It sold for $282,000 in 2025.
EMBASSY HOUSE
George Zielinski, of Ontario, Canada, sold the Unit 203 condominium at 770 S. Palm Ave. to Margaret Hayter, of Sarasota, for $750,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,284 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2013.
SUNSET TOWERS
RJRumpus-SRQ Enterprises LLC sold the Unit 601 condominium at 11 Sunset Drive to Jane and George Keenan, of Sarasota, for $737,500. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,389 square feet of living area. It sold for $140,000 in 1988.
ADAMS HEIGHTS
Isobel Helen Wright and George Ritchie Wright, of Scotland, sold their home at 4620 Guava Court to Zachary and Nadine Cox, of HeberOvergaard, Arizona, for $525,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,719 square feet of living area.
THOMPSON
Tambo Development LLC sold the home at 2350 Hyde Park St. to Stephen Harvey Jr., of Seabrook, New Hampshire, for $503,300. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,444 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2024.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
Bradley Serpico, of Hampshire, Illinois, sold his home at 2110 Goldenrod St. to On the Coast Rentals LLC for $500,000. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,397 square feet of living area. It sold for $449,000 in 2021.
SIESTA KEY
SIESTA’S BAYSIDE
Moetown LLC sold the home at 940 Siesta Key Place to Stephen Joseph Mouton, of Fort Collins, Colorado, for $1.68 million. Built in 1970, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,451 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2012.
Joseph and Joyce Kouba, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4894 Oxford Drive to Steven Parker and Clare McWilliams Parker, trustees, of Sarasota, for $762,000. Built in 1967, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 1,470
SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 12B
Other top sales by area
SIESTA KEY: $3,845,000
Bay Island Shores Joseph and Elizabeth Arme, of Sarasota, sold their home at 810 Siesta Drive to Mark and Shelley Heller, of Sarasota, for $3,845,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,622 square feet of living area.
PALMER RANCH: $1,525,000
Prestancia
Tanji Banta sold the home at 4177 Escondito Circle to Miriam Blanche Thompson, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1,525,000. Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,669 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.5 million in 2021.
OSPREY: $1.7 MILLION
Meridian at the Oaks Preserve
Paul and Nancy Schachter, of St. Augustine, sold their Unit 1003 condominium at 409 N. Point Road to Pavel Hillel and Susan Hillel, trustees, of Osprey, for $1.7 million. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,778 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,025,000 in 2019.
NOKOMIS: $1,325,000
Mission Valley Estates
Alan Maio and Ann Byrne Maio, of Myakka City, sold their home at 1245 Hanoverian Circle to John and Danielle Rendemonti, of Nokomis, for $1,325,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,741 square feet of living area.
Courtesy of Realtor Liz Arme
The home at 810 Siesta Drive was built in 2005 and has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,622 square feet of living area. It sold for $3,845,000.
square feet of living area. It sold for $186,000 in 1996.
HORIZONS WEST
Anne Gourley, of Belfast, Ireland, sold her Unit 702 condominium at 6140 Midnight Pass Road to Michael Lee Bratcher and Christine Louise Bratcher, of Louisville, Kentucky, for $1.35 million. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,296 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.3 million in 2005.
CRESCENT ROYALE
George and Mona Unser, of Fairfield, Connecticut, sold their Unit 300 condominium at 757 Beach Road to 6509 Dolphin Cove LLC for $875,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,181 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2004.
CASTAWAY COVE
Jackson and Annette Hodges, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 4A condominium at 9226 Midnight Pass Road to Surf Investors LLC for $800,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,223 square feet of living area. It sold for $406,000 in 2016.
JAMAICA ROYALE
DMJR Properties LLC sold the Unit 89 condominium at 5830 Midnight Pass Road to William and Penny Reichhart, of Coldwater, Michigan, for $650,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 921 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2019.
ISLAND REEF
Alan Brown and Doris Shari Brown, of Ontario, Canada, sold their Unit 204-G condominium at 8773 Midnight Pass Road to Thomas and Cheryl Sand, of Lockport, New York, for $575,000. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,303 square feet of living area. It sold for $343,000 in 2013.
PALMER RANCH
ESPLANADE ON PALMER
RANCH
Michael and Joan Sheckells, of Chester, Maryland, sold their home at 5449 Lampiasi St. to Randall and Joan Belsley, of Morton, Illinois, for $725,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $426,900 in 2020.
PROMENADE ESTATES
David Edward Seibel and Lisa Lynn Seibel, of Nokomis, sold their home at 12689 Promenade Estates Blvd. to Adrian Kent Beckie, of Sarasota, for $510,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,045 square feet of living area. It sold for $435,000 in 2021.
OSPREY
BAYSIDE
Eleanor Hartle, of Leesburg, Virginia, sold the home at 3957 Waypoint Ave. to Colby Elmer Richart and Wendy Lance Richart, of Osprey, for $900,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,328 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,5000 in 2018.
WILLOWBEND
Jason and Barbara Berkowitz, of Osprey, sold their home at 523 Habitat Blvd. to Robert Greenfield and Gabriella Temesvari, of Osprey, for $750,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,314 square feet of living area.
Thomas Bielefeld, trustee, of Tucson, Arizona, sold the home at 640 Crane Prairie Way to Robert Bradford and April Bradford, trustees, of Millersport, Ohio, for $745,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,534 square feet of living area. It sold for $775,000 in 2021.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
THURSDAY, JAN. 29
FRIDAY, JAN. 30
SATURDAY, JAN. 31
SUNDAY, FEB. 1
SAME DIFFERENCE by Paul Coulter, edited by Jared Goudsmit
Luis Campos
The Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only.
*All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher.
*It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.
Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
