Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 2.13.25

Energized about science

When Fruitville Elementary third grader Julian Turner came across images of potato batteries and lemon batteries, he had an idea for a project: which was better?

Using supplies including electrodes, alligator clip lead wires and lemons and potatoes selected for consistency, he investigated.

“It was about a tie, because the lemon did better in voltage, but the potato did better in current, so when they had their boxing match, it was a draw,” he said.

After receiving first place in mathematics and technology science at the Sarasota County STEM Fair, he showcased his project at the STEM Fair Family Expo, held Feb. 11 at Robarts Arena.

An instrumental event

A little over a year ago, Suncoast Sand Fleas approached The Bay, asking to host a celebration of World Ukulele Day on Feb. 2, in the park.

However, as Frances Bermudez, the park’s activation program manager, rounded a corner, she was impressed. She compared the sound at last year’s event to a symphony orchestra.

She decided this year’s celebration would be more intentional, and the park held an official event, Ukulele Celebration Honoring World Ukulele Day, on Feb. 1, 2025.

She said the event drew a turnout of close to 200 people, including 100 players from groups including Aloha Ukulele, Bradenton Ukulele Movement, Siesta Key Strummers and the Cowboy Chord Club.

$0.10

Proposal shrinks SPAC

WEEK OF FEB. 13, 2025

BY THE NUMBERS

“We now have a significant leadership gift, which signals to others that this vision is a good one, and it deserves to be supported.”

Sarasota Orchestra President and CEO Joe McKenna.

Read more on page 6A

Checkers site slated for mixed-use project

Aformer fast food restaurant on Ringling Boulevard in downtown Sarasota is being transformed into a five-story building that will include residences and a popular upstate New York eatery.

MRM Management, which has owned the property since 2002, says when complete, the project will feature rental apartments, retail space and a restaurant venue.

The property is at 2101 Ringling Blvd., across from the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial

Center. Until about a year ago, it was occupied by Checkers. The Checkers, on a much-trafficked site a block down from the Sarasota County jail, sat empty for months; it was protected by a wrap-around fence. The building was recently demolished.

MRM wrote in an email that what’s replacing Checkers is Tony Harper’s Pizza & Clam Shack. The family-owned chain of four restaurants was founded in 1992 and is a New York mainstay known for its homemade pizza, fresh seafood and a family

friendly atmosphere.

This will be its first location outside of New York. The others are in Old Forge, Inlet and Lowville.

Lisa Murphy of MRM says in an email the company expects the building to have about 24 apartments including studio, one- and two-bedroom units. Some of the units will be dedicated to staff rentals as well as short- and longterm rentals.

In addition to Tony Harper’s, the hope is to have at least one retail store and a coffee shop.

Beach University returns in March

Sarasota County’s annual Beach University series returns to Siesta Key Beach in March. The series offers free, one-hour educational sessions each Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The program is an initiative of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, with assistance from local volunteers, to explore topics about the coastal environment. This year’s lineup includes:

■ March 6: Water: It’s All Connected

■ March 13: Sarasota’s Wild Beaches

■ March 20: From Reefs to Trails: Protecting and Enhancing Our Coastal Environment

■ March 27: Exploring Biology and Research Techniques for Florida Manatee Conservation Sessions are held at the Siesta Beach Pavilion at 948 Beach Road. Bring a chair for the interactive, outdoor learning experience. No registration is required, but space is limited. For more information, call 311 or 941-861-5000 or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.

Traffic calming plan town hall scheduled

The city of Sarasota will host a public town hall meeting for residents to learn about and provide input into the launch of the city’s Traffic Calming Plan. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at City Hall at 1565 First St.

Following a brief presentation that highlights the goals and vision for the plan, an open forum will be held for attendees to share feedback. Each participant will be given two minutes to speak. The first stage of the Traffic Calming Plan will include information gathering and public engagement. Following the public meeting, a digital survey will be offered to gather information from residents on areas of concern and recommendations. This survey will run from Feb. 19 to April 20, 2025. More information about the initiative is available on the city’s website at SarasotaFL.gov.

The architect for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center has scaled plans back to two buildings with an option for a future second, smaller theater.

“When the (Renzo) Piano team saw what’s going on here, what they began to see was a cultural axis, the relationship of original buildings that could form something significant for the city.”

Jerry Sparkman

REVISED SPAC PLAN: 2 BUILDINGS, $407 MILLION

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

In the five months since the architects at Renzo Piano Building Workshop revealed their preliminary concept for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center, much has changed.

The main theater capacity has grown from 2,500 to 2,700 seats.

The four-building complex has been trimmed to two with an option for a third — a 700-seat theater — in the future.

The long-standing best guess estimate of $375 million for the project is now a more firm, $407 million, factoring inflation projections.

And, included is a worst-case scenario assumption that Sarasota County will not contribute its tax increment financing revenues, collected in a two-block area surrounding The Bay, to cover 25% of the cost.

What hasn’t changed is the plan to relocate the site for the new theater complex from inside The Bay park to its eastern edge along North Tamiami Trail to become a northern extension of the park’s Cultural District, as well as a covered cultural promenade to extend from the south end of the park at Boulevard of the Arts to the north end beyond 10th Street.

On Tuesday morning, the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation appeared before a City Commission workshop and later in the day before a crowd of approximately 200 residents and other interested parties at a town hall-style meeting at Municipal Auditorium, just a few hundred yards south of the proposed SPAC site.

The morning meeting provided a detailed update of the facility, including the cost, in advance of a March vote on an implementation agreement between the city and the foundation. That vote marks the next crucial step in the joint venture effort dating back to 2018 to, as part of the Bay Park Master Plan, bring a larger and more resilient primary performing arts facility to replace the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

The Genoa, Italy-based Renzo Piano addressed that resiliency by moving the location of the facility as far from Sarasota Bay as possible and crafting a design that elevates the buildings well above the FEMAidentified flood levels.

“Our architects, because of their vision of resiliency and sustainability, have lifted these buildings off the ground,” Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation President and CEO Tonia Castroverde Moskalenko said at the town hall meeting. “These buildings will be 20 feet off the ground. There will be activation at the ground level, but the idea is to protect them from the elements and from severe weather.”

The refined drawings are still preliminary, Castroverde Moskalenko said, as there remains potential movement in the building locations.

In September 2024, Renzo Piano presented a four-building campus of, from south to north, a multipurpose building, a 700-seat theater, the main lobby and, finally, the main theater. Cost realities trimmed the plan back to two structures with the multipurpose building remaining in its planned location above the 10th Street Canal and the main theater on a portion of the boat launch lot at Centennial Park, which is being incorporated into The Bay park.

The multipurpose building, which serves as the primary point of entry, and main theater stand above open public space connected by a raised walkway. Much has changed, said Jerry Sparkman of the project’s architect of record Sweet Sparkman,

but not everything, including the symmetry between the preferred location with the rest of the Cultural District, whose row of historic cultural buildings is being preserved as part of The Bay Phase 2.

“When the (Renzo) Piano team saw what’s going on here, what they began to see was a cultural axis, the relationship of original buildings that could form something significant for the city,” Sparkman said.

Approval of the implementation agreement will allow Renzo Piano to begin the next design phase. Mark Carroll, Renzo Piano’s project partner-in-charge of the project, told the City Commission via Zoom Tuesday morning that final design remains two years away.

That design could move the main theater to south of the canal, in part because of design challenges to accommodate tractor-trailer show loading intermixing with boat trailers. To avoid that, the architects are considering a ramp taking trucks over the Centennial Park lot to the first floor of the theater 20 feet above.

Moving the theater appears unlikely, though, because view corridor restrictions from the condo towers across Tamiami Trail would limit its height — specifically the fly loft above the stage — unless the first floor elevation is lowered to accommodate the viewshed.

That, though, defeats the flood resiliency intent. With that uncertainty remaining, though, Castroverde Moskalenko told town hall attendees changes could still be made.

“I do want to stress, underscore, that all of the renderings and all of the concept designs are flexible because we are still studying all of the site locations,” she said.

Parking plan proposed for future SRQ airport growth

The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority hears parking expansion could cost over $220 million.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

With the January opening of Concourse A and the underway wholesale improvements in Concourse B, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport has now turned its focus to outside the passenger terminal.

Anticipating some 4 million enplanements by 2050, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Board of Directors at its Jan. 27 workshop received a report from its parking consultant that calculates, at full build-out if needed, 4,400 spaces anchored by a new four-level parking structure atop the current shortterm and rental car lots.

The airport currently has 2,700 spaces across its short-term, longterm, shade, remote and satellite lots. The calculation includes boardings only rather than total passenger count, for inbound passengers have either already parked, are being picked up, or are renting cars.

The plan also includes an increase in rental car parking from 290 spaces to 520.

Airport staff has worked with the consultant for about a year, beginning with seven long-term options whittled down to two, plus a shortterm proposal that includes a parking structure. Three surface lots have opened within the last 14 months to not only expand capacity, but to provide capacity lost to the eventual parking deck construction.

The plan is based, both in the short and long terms, on planning activity level (PAL) “triggers,” according to SRQ President and CEO Rick Picco-

INVISIBLE IMPROVEMENT

Now 90% operational at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is a capital improvement passengers will never see.

The airport has invested approximately $46 million in a new baggage screening system to more efficiently scan checked bags and send them on their way to outbound aircraft. The prior system, according to SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo, was three sections that operated independently — until one of them broke down.

“Now it’s all interconnected, so if one section area breaks down bags get diverted to another automatically,” Piccolo said.

The prior systems, tasked to clear about 1,000 bags each per hour, were among some of the oldest in the country. The new machines can each scan 2,000 bags per hour. On standby is a fourth scanner that can be activated during peak travel times.

In addition to operations, the system also offers fiscal efficiency as well.

“We have about 20 people on our payroll who did nothing but stand around the bagging system because, if it broke down, we had to move those bags by hand. If it didn’t break down all day, they didn’t do anything. They’d just stand there and wait and see if something breaks down.”

The new baggage scanning system is expected to be fully operational sometime in March.

lo. Those benchmarks will guide his successor — he is retiring this year — and future board members on when to embark on the next phases of the parking master plan.

Besides passenger parking, the plan factors growth in rental car activity and parking spaces needed to accommodate more rental vehicles.

With current planning activity level as the benchmark — 2.13 million enplanements in 2023 — PAL 2 is set at nearly 2.8 million.

“We think sometime between

2026

According

four-story deck that would include 2,790 public parking spaces, just more than the airport’s current total parking capacity, plus 940 spaces in the adjacent long-term surface lot. Public parking would be located on levels 2-4, with rental car operations and parking on level 1.

The estimated cost of $223.5 million is why those enplanement triggers in advance of the capacity needs are built into the program. With no taxing authority, the SMAA will need time to secure the capital.

“The first thing is going to be putting together a revenue bond issue and having that ready for when the trigger has to be pulled,” Piccolo said. “That takes about a year to put all the documents together to get your bond ratings and to negotiate with the airlines because of our signatory agreements. Then, if in 2026 it’s time, the financing will be in place, the bonds can be issued and the concept and its cost will be done.”

FLEX PLAN

Should SRQ continue to expand in

accordance with its 2050 master plan, it would add eight more gates to Concourse A and seven more in a new Concourse C for a total buildout of 32 gates to accommodate just more than 4 million enplanements.

Should that remain on trend, the SMAA will have Phase 2 and 3 options available to either consolidate quick-turn rental car operations immediately west of the garage and shift long-term parking to what is now Rental Car Road to the south, or to keep and expand those functions where they are today.

None of those triggers is anticipated until about 2040, when boardings, according to projections, would be more than 3.3 million.

The intention is to not spend money on more parking until just before it is needed — if it is needed.

“We want to have a plan, but we want to have enough flexibility so that you don’t over build, you don’t under build, and you don’t pull the trigger too soon or too late,” Piccolo said. Future boards and future management here will have to make those judgments based upon the data.”

That flexibility also accounts for continued advancements in autonomous vehicles that may deliver passengers’ return home on their own, particularly when considering a plan

“We want to have a plan, but we want to have enough flexibility so that you don’t over build, you don’t under build, and you don’t pull the trigger too soon or too late.”

SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo

that goes out 25 years into the future.

Vehicle sharing may also be a factor in reducing parking needs.

“In some cities they have cars in different locations and people basically use them like their own,” Piccolo said. “People might bring a car here and somebody else who leav-

ing the airport may take that car to a hotel and leave it there for someone else to take. There are all those things to consider.”

In addition to more parking, future phases include a second-level roadway between the garage and the terminal that will separate departure

drop-offs and arrival pickups. Baggage claim would be moved from its current location into the garage area adjacent to ground transportation and parking. That will free up the current baggage claim area for more ticketing space or some other function.

A sound investment

An anonymous donation of $50 million will help the orchestra realize its goal of building its new music center on Fruitville Road.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

The Sarasota Orchestra recently received a $50 million boost toward a capital campaign for its planned Music Center on its 32-acre site at 5701 Fruitville Road.

A  long-time benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous, had previously donated $10 million to help the orchestra to purchase the land at a cost of $14 million. The five-fold follow-up donation is intended as a catalyst to raise the money needed to build the new facility, currently estimated at $375 million to $425 million.

Expected to open in the 202930 season, the Sarasota Orchestra Music Center is under design to include a flexible-use performance space, multiple rehearsal and practice rooms and native landscaping to ensure a resilient and park-like setting. The facilities will add capacity for Sarasota Orchestra and other regional performing arts organizations that are challenged to secure performance and rehearsal dates.

“A lot of times donors will have questions about the project,” Sarasota Orchestra President and CEO Joe McKenna told the Observer. “In this case, this anonymous donor felt that it was important to make a statement that this vision should go forward and that they have a lot of confidence and credibility in the organization.”

The Sarasota Orchestra Music Center will elevate the region’s reputation among world-class arts destinations, according to a new release.  McKenna said while a capital campaign to raise funds for construction will not begin in earnest until the concept design of the music center is

MUSIC CENTER FEATURES

■ 1,800-seat concert hall, including a center aisle.

■ Flexible performance space with 700 removable seats to accommodate a range of programs.

■ Modern patron conveniences including aisles for more easily accessible seating, modern air handling and related technology for audience comfort and safety, and ample parking with covered valet and drop off areas.

■ Rehearsal and practice rooms suitable for ensembles of all sizes, serving the orchestra’s education and festival programs and community arts organizations.

■ Music library storage for the orchestra’s collection of sheet music and archives, as well as adequate workspaces for preparing music for performances.

■ Backstage dedicated areas for musicians to comfortably store cases, warm up and prepare for performances.

■ Event space and reception area.

■ Orchestra administrative offices and storage space.

■ Approximately 12 acres dedicated to wetlands, water features, natural parks and trails.

revealed, which is scheduled to occur by the end of March, the orchestra is in an “active early phase” of speaking with potential donors.

“We now have a significant leadership gift, which signals to others that this vision is a good one, and it deserves to be supported,” McKenna said. “We’re talking to numerous donors, and that work will be ongoing over the months ahead. This is what I would describe as a breakthrough moment. This is a significant gift,

probably in the top five largest gifts ever to an American orchestra, so that puts us in a very special place.”

Conceptual design of the music center is underway by a team of architects and engineers led by

acoustician and theater planned Stages Consultants; architect firms William Rawn Associates and HKS, and landscape architect OJB Landscape Architecture. Once that conceptual plan is completed, a more

refined project estimate cost will be made.

“That’s all coming along. These projects are journeys and they’re a marathon, not a sprint,” McKenna said. “Clearly we’ve passed a big mile marker with this extraordinary gift. A gift of this size and scope is a really powerful statement about our community, about our organization and about the belief in the future for what we will provide to the region.”

Among the available philanthropic opportunities for the capital campaign, McKenna said, are naming rights for specific aspects of music center facilities and programs.

“These projects have naming rights opportunities and donors making leadership gifts are interested in where they might place their legacy,” McKenna said. “Some prefer to place their legacy in education or toward the music festival or the orchestra itself. Some are really interested in making sure the endowment grows.”

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Deaths rose under Bondi

Fewer Americans are drug addicts, yet more people are dying from drug use. Law enforcement’s crackdown on opioids just caused users to shift to fentanyl.

When President Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be the nation’s top lawyer, he emphasized her track record cracking down on drugs and fentanyl and essentially promised to take that approach nationwide to save many lives.

And if you remember, Bondi was trumpeted during her terms from 2011-2019 for cracking down on “pill mills,” putting in place restrictions on prescription pain killers and suing the CVS chain for causing the opioid epidemic with loose prescription practices.

Unfortunately, according to Florida Department of Health data, drug overdose deaths in the state nearly doubled from 13.7 per 100,000 residents in 2011, when Bondi took over as the state’s attorney general, to 25.1 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2019 when she left office.

During the pandemic in 2020, overdose deaths increased dramatically nationwide and in Florida. While overdose deaths have since gradually decreased, they are still well above pre-pandemic levels at 30.8 per 100,000 residents in 2023.

There are several things going on here that provide important lessons and tell us what we can expect in the next four years.

Bondi is a national champion of what is called the “overprescription” hypothesis, which blames rising rates of opioid overdoses starting in the early 2000s on increasing prescribing of opioids starting in the 1990s. There is some truth in that.

As opioid prescribing increased in the two decades before 2010, prescription opioids became the leading cause of drug overdoses.

The response that Bondi helped to champion, which was followed in most states and funded with federal grants, was prescription drug monitoring programs, which are state laws limiting the number of pills a patient can receive.

The Drug Enforcement Administration also ordered prescription opioid manufacturers to reduce opioid production.

These approaches made perfect sense to policy makers at the time. Bondi made her implementation of the E-FORCE PDMP a centerpiece of her accomplishments as state attorney general, and it probably makes sense to you reading this.

The problem is that everyone involved in drug policy, including

Bondi, had a steady drumbeat of evidence that the PDMP approach caused a rapid increase in opioid overdose deaths. This was true in states nationwide, including Florida, where the rate of opioid overdose deaths remains far more than double where it was in 2010.

Look at the accompanying graph showing what happened in five states and Washington, D.C., when prescription monitoring was put into place between 2000 and 2020.

As prescription rates declined, opioid overdose deaths rose.

At first thought, this seems counterintuitive. But these results should have been easy to expect, and easy to see in the annual data on opioid prescriptions and overdose deaths.

Our history of drug prohibition consistently shows that when government restricts access to something people want, it drives demand to the illicit market.

In this case, abuse of prescription opioids was a growing problem, but it was a fairly safe way to consume opioids. Once PDMP cut off that supply, just as alcohol prohibition in the 1920s pushed bootleggers to switch from beer to potent bathtub gin, opioid traffickers switched to fentanyl and its ilk.

Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that pain reliever abuse rates have flattened out since 2002, while heroin and fentanyl abuse rates increased only after opioid prescription rates started to decline.

You can see this clearly in the lower accompanying graph on opioid mortality in Florida. When PDMPs were enacted in 2011 and prescription opioid prescribing declined, deaths from fentanyl and heroin began to skyrocket.

You would think policymakers in Florida and nationwide would look at these data and suspect that PDMP and similar policies are not working. But you would be wrong.

Instead, they have clung to a simple narrative, often used by Bondi in her press releases, that PDMPs reduced deaths from prescription opioids, ignoring data showing vastly more deaths from other opioids.

It is particularly tragic that we are seeing rising overdose deaths at a time when the United States is enjoying an appreciable drop in drug addiction rates.

Opioid addiction, in particular, has been dropping for years.

In 2002, 9.4% of Americans were addicted to a drug, including 0.7% of Americans addicted to opioids.

In 2019, the last year measured with a comparable standard (DSM-IV), 7.4% of Americans were addicted to substances with 0.6% of those being addicted to opioids.

Additionally, record levels of naloxone and addiction treatment medications are being distributed, which means more people received addiction treatment in 2021 than any other year in American history.

Fewer Americans are addicted to drugs and more of those who are addicted are receiving medicationassisted treatment for addiction, yet more people are dying from drug use.

The reality is that drug addiction and drug-related deaths don’t have much of a relationship. Drug-related deaths are almost solely caused by the safety of the drug supply, which is made more dangerous by

AS OPIOID PRESCRIBING DECREASES DEATH RATES INCREASE

FLORIDA OPIOID MORTALITY AFTER PDMP IMPLEMENTATION

drug enforcement like PDMPs.

The shift from prescription opioids to fentanyl and heroin meant those with substance use disorder began dying at such a high rate that overdoses are spiking despite a shrinking population of regular drug users.

Which raises the question of why do we still have too many people with a substance use problem?

Researchers point to a plethora of causes, including poverty and financial distress, severe fears and anxieties and difficulty getting mental health treatment and addiction treatment. The summary, as best we can tell, is that many people have something in their head or in their life that they are so desperate to escape that they will use even a very dangerous drug like fentanyl to get that escape.

Making a drug illegal has done little to reduce the number of people wanting it. But the false narrative of the drug war is easy to explain and easy to pursue.

Unfortunately, trying to figure out why people are hurting so badly,

and even more difficult, how to help them deal with it in a healthy fashion, is extremely difficult.

No surprise, policymakers tend to choose the easy route, regardless of whether it works. Bondi was no different. Nevertheless, there are other ways that can work.

In France, policy makers addressed their overdose epidemic by relaxing regulations on medication-assisted treatment, which combines addiction therapy with less-dangerous prescription opioids.

The result was a 79% drop in overdose deaths in four years.

We don’t expect Attorney General Bondi to have learned from what her drug policies wrought in Florida or to change her approach when applying it nationwide. So we can look forward to at least another four years of exceptional opioid deaths that could be prevented.

Adrian Moore is vice president of the Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota. Jacob James Rich is a policy analyst at Reason Foundation.

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From Governing Magazine, Alan Greenblatt, Jan. 30:

There have been no real changes to Republican Ron DeSantis’ power as governor, but the way he’s being treated in Tallahassee has changed a lot since his first term, when he got essentially everything he wanted out of the Legislature. It was just a year ago that DeSantis returned to Florida after his unsuccessful bid for president … With his return to Tallahassee,

there were real questions about whether he’d still dominate the state as he had before.

This year, it seems that legislators are determined to establish their independence. On Jan. 27, they overrode DeSantis’ line-item veto of $57 million in legislative support services. That may sound like they were feathering their own nests, but it was the first time the Legislature has overridden DeSantis — or any Florida governor,

for that matter, since 2010. All but one lawmaker voted for the override. “This veto was at best a misunderstanding of the importance of the appropriation,” said House Speaker Daniel Perez, “or, at worst, an attempt to threaten the independence of our separate branch of government.”

A bigger fight was soon to come. DeSantis appealed directly to President Trump to lobby legislators to strengthen an immigration bill meant to align the state with the administration’s enforcement efforts. Lawmakers were happy to

accommodate Trump’s requests — they’d named the bill after him — but they preserved a provision designed to ding DeSantis. The bill would shift most responsibility for immigration enforcement from the governor to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. After the bill passed Jan. 28, DeSantis vowed to veto it. It’s not certain that legislative leaders will have the votes to override the governor on this one. But it’s clear that they’re no longer afraid of picking a fight with him. “Threatening others to get your way isn’t leadership, it’s immaturity,” Perez said.

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City dedicates 14th Street roundabout sculpture

When the New York artistic husband-and-wife team of Josh de Sousa and Nancy Hou collaborated on their submission for a sculpture as part of Sarasota’s Art in the Roundabouts program nearly five years ago, they were no strangers to the city.

Having first visited here a decade ago, they applied their shared initial experience with the area to create Poly, which now stands in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and 14th Street. As the din, and occasional roar, of traffic circled the roundabout, the city held a dedication for the sculpture under the shade of the adjacent

Whitaker Gateway Park.

There, de Sousa shared the collective vision for the sculpture to a small crowd of city staff, elected officials, Public Art Committee members and nearby residents.

“About 10 years ago, when Nancy and I first visited Sarasota, we were struck by the natural beauty and rich cultural history of this place,” de Sousa said. “Years later, when it came time to propose a sculpture here, we wanted to evoke how light reflects through crystal clear water and how wisps of clouds contrast against a bright blue sky, and we wanted to celebrate the diversity of artwork that Sarasota artists have produced over the years.

“Ultimately, we sought to create a

mission to instruct the committee to seek alternative, and hopefully less expensive, locations outside of the Florida Department of Transportation right of way, where costs were believed to be higher because of regulatory conditions and a limited number of state-approved contractors.

sculpture that serves as a vessel, one that’s polyvalent in form and meaning and open for public interpretation.”

During her remarks, Mayor Liz Alpert said she was uncertain the day would come when Poly was installed in its intended location.

Selected by the Public Art Committee and approved by the City Commission in 2019, both the fabrication and installation of the piece faced significant obstacles before finally being mounted in early January 2025.

Fabrication of the 20-foot, 2.7-ton piece was halted in 2020 because of pandemic-related global supply shortages. Then prohibitive costs to build the foundation delayed installation and prompted the City Com-

In July 2024, though, the City Commission approved a bid of $340,906.50 for the foundation, $132,906.50 more than the cost of the sculpture.

“I didn’t think we’d ever get to this day, so we are just so thrilled,” Alpert said. “There was talk of not putting the sculptures that were chosen in the roundabouts due to the cost of the mounting and the base of the sculpture, so it was very dicey for a while. I’m so thrilled that we had the opportunity to put this in the roundabout where it belongs, where we planned for it to be.”

City Engineer Nik Patel called the event a milestone, setting the precedent for future projects that blend

infrastructure with art, perhaps setting the tone for what was planned as the next roundabout sculpture installation, “Seagrass,” four blocks south in the roundabout at 10th Street.

Two blocks south of that in the roundabout at Fruitville Road, the Public Art Committee has selected “The Sun Always Shines,” which has yet to be approved by the City Commission.

Wayne Gaither, director of the Florida Department of Transportation Southwest Area Office, said the state welcomes future installations.

“We recognize that transportation is more than just roadways. It’s about moving people, it’s about shaping communities and it’s about enhancing the spaces that we travel through,” he said. “This project is a perfect example of how infrastructure and art can work together to form a more vibrant and a more engaging environment for our communities.”

Breathtaking Waterfront

More multifamily coming to Sarasota’s Main Street

A 142-unit mix of condos and apartments is planned for Main Street and Osprey Avenue.

ANDREW

More multifamily residences, including some affordable units, are planned as redevelopment continues its eastward march along Main Street. Having its initial appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Feb. 5 was High Line, a 142-unit project planned to include 16 attainable-priced residences on the site of former offices of Michael Saunders & Co. on the northeast corner of Main Street and Osprey Avenue.

Listed as owners of the site and the project are limited liability corporations MOP North and Jebcore 2. According to state records, the principal of MOP North is the Mark S. Kauffman Revokable Trust. The principal address of Jebcore 2 is that of JBCC Development, headed by co-founders Clinton Conway and Jim Bridges.

With 142 multifamily dwellings, which will be a mix condominiums and rental apartments, the plan for High Line includes approximately

6,660 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor fronting both Main Street and Osprey Avenue. It will utilize the attainable housing bonus density provisions of the Downtown Core Zone District, bringing it to 126 market-rate units. Parking garage access will be off First Street on the north side of the project.

Besides the usual assortment of comments offered by staff that must be addressed prior to DRC sign-off, a conflict arose over the number of attainable units that must be provided per code.

Staff’s calculations came to 16.05 units required as a portion of the bonus density, which must be rounded up to 17, while George Scarf of Hoyt Architects countered his number came to 15.97. That issue remained unresolved by the end of the hearing. The development will have separate lobbies and elevators for the condos and rental units.

For now, the commercial space is planned as a restaurant, according to project consultant Joel Freedman.

Challenge match reached to name Florida Studio Theatre expansion

Still undergoing staff review, Florida Studio Theatre reaches capital campaign goal to name its multiuse expansion McGillicuddy Arts Plaza.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

On the same day Florida Studio Theatre had its second appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee, the organization announced that its planned multiuse expansion is now officially McGillicuddy Arts Plaza. That designation was pending the successful conclusion of a $4 million challenge match by benefactors Ed and Susan Maier to support Phase 1 of the project, which was recently achieved.

Florida Studio Theatre is planning a nine-story building on a surface parking area next to its current facilities on First Street. It will include 24 residential units, 33 hotel rooms and 24,152 square feet of nonresidential space. The apartments and hotel will provide short-term and long-term housing for visiting performers and employees of the downtown arts community.

Below the hotel and residences — which besides structured parking comprises the first phase — is planned a second main stage theater, two new cabaret theaters and restaurant and bar facilities, all as part of a

second phase of development.

According to a news release, Florida Studio Theatre remains $1.5 million away from its $46 million capital campaign goal. To fill that gap, an anonymous donor has issued a new giving challenge in which the donor will match up to $250,000.

“Thanks to the generosity of our FST donors, the Maier Match is now complete and we are one step closer to breaking ground,” said Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins in the news release. “The new McGillicuddy Arts Plaza will provide firstclass housing for our visiting artists, improved parking for our audience and celebrate the essence of American theatre with three new intimate theaters.”

The plaza originally was to be named the Mulva Arts Plaza in recognition of a donation by Pat and Mary Mulva. The Mulvas later made a surprise announcement, donating the naming rights back to FST. That resulted in the Maiers’ challenge match campaign to name the plaza in honor of long-time benefactors Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy.

“This is the largest gift that Susan and I have ever given to a single organization, and we were thrilled to hear

that the $4 million Maier Matching Challenge was met,” said Ed Maier in the news release. “It’s a testament to how strongly the Sarasota community shares our commitment to making the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza a reality.”

As for the staff approval process,

enough unresolved matters remain to require another resubmittal to the DRC. Because the project is within a downtown zone district, the project needs only administrative approval pending any requested adjustments that may require scrutiny of the Planning Board.

STEAMing ahead

The National Certificate for STEM Excellence requires a total of five teachers to commit to the certification program.

However, Wilkinson Elementary School honored 10 teachers the night of Feb. 6, as the first school in Florida, and one of 120 in the country, to receive the certificate.

Held in conjunction with the school’s Family STEAM Night, which featured various activities across the campus, the ceremony also honored 15 community partners including clubs, associations, foundations and educational and religious institutions.

The process has taken two years to complete, and the school also worked with the certification agency to create a campuswide plan for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education.

A true STEAM integration program on a campus takes every teacher,” said Principal Susan Nations.

She noted the school is a Title

I school, with more than 70% of students requiring free and reduced lunches.

“It helps give them those experiences to fill that gap and really connect the real world to their learning,” she said.

Students took to the stage to describe their experiences with STEM education.

Fifth grader Nathalie Carcamo Moreno described activities at the school, including working with a student club to create robots, program drones, and program AI to read facial expressions.

“We have to think creatively each step of the way and communicate with our team to problem-solve,” she said.

Afterward, Superintendent Terry Connor complimented the students, stating the certification “takes a lot of work” and is a “rigorous process.”

— IAN SWABY

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THURSDAY, JAN. 30

BOXED IN 9:44 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Illegal dumping: The owner of a small downtown retail establishment complained to an officer that his neighbor was dumping cardboard boxes in his waste receptacle in the alley behind his business. He wanted the refuse removed from his bin and placed on the offender’s property.

An officer met with the subject, who advised he was unaware of the private use of the dumpster and agreed to remove the offending cardboard.

He advised he was opening a new restaurant in a few weeks and had large amounts of waste of which to dispose.

SUNDAY, FEB. 2

FOUR CALLS IN 24 HOURS

9:14 a.m., 500 block of North Jefferson Avenue

Civil dispute: For the fourth time in 24 hours, officers responded to a civil dispute between two subjects. On this occasion one subject said his roommate had locked him out of the building after, in an effort to avoid further conflict, he stepped outside the back door to relieve himself — rather than in the bathroom — in communion with nature. When he returned to the back bedroom door, he alleged the female housemate locked him out.

His access blocked, a brief argument ensured, before the woman called law enforcement, she said, because he approached her and falsely accused her of locking his bedroom door. She reiterated to the officer she wanted the man to leave the premises.

As in their previous interaction, the same responding officer advised the woman of the civil process of eviction and cautioned her against denying the man access to the room in which he resides.

The man advised he hoped to be able to move within a few days.

TUESDAY, FEB. 4

ROUNDABOUT VANDALISM

8:45 a.m., intersection of Ringling Boulevard and Pine Place

Criminal mischief: The project superintendent of the recently opened new roundabout at the intersection

FRIDAY, JAN. 31

BEDTIME BATTLE

10:50 p.m., 3600 block of Pin Oaks

Street

Family disturbance: A juvenile hiding from his father in a clothes dryer called an officer because the youth was afraid of getting in trouble for not following orders to go to bed. It was a dispute that turned into a game of hide-andseek, as the defiant youth was hiding and running from room to room. He had also locked himself in a bedroom, apparently not his own, which resulted in the frustrated father breaking down the door.

The juvenile said his bedtime was 10 p.m. but he was refusing. His father eventually began yelling at him due to the rebellious behavior, at one time grabbing him by his ankle as he hid behind a sofa. The officer explained that his father can grab him as a result of his misbehavior. The youth said he was never struck by his father.

The boy’s mother eventually arrived home as the incident was ending. She received a description from the officer of the incident, and the boy a lecture about being disobedient. No further action was taken.

arrived on the job site to observe that, sometime overnight, unknown subjects had destroyed landscaping and spray painted a racial slur on a median. The complaint had the landscaping replaced prior to calling law enforcement and estimated the damage at as much as $1,000.

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A sea of shells

The Sarasota Shell Show is about more than just the spectacle — it’s also about understanding shells and that they were once home to living creatures, according to Debby Alexander.

Alexander said many members of the Sarasota Shell Club can tell people where a shell came from, what creature lived inside it and its entire history.

She said the club’s focus on education is why it decided to bring back an education area when it was held Feb. 9-10 in the Potter Building at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Meanwhile, the show’s displays combined the artistic and scientific aspects of the club, showcasing members’ creations, as well as private collections. Attendees could view everything from shell jewelry to rare rocks and minerals and a raffle.

“This is a big endeavor,” said Alexander, highlighting the artistic portion of the show, which she chairs. “We have 22 different women. Each has their own expertise.”

One attendee who enjoyed the experience was Kenan Fleck, who decided to become a member of the club before leaving. The club donates all of its profits from the show to organizations including Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island, marine biologists conducting climate research, the replanting of manatee grasses, scholarships and more.

— IAN SWABY

SPORTS

Fast Break

The Sarasota baseball team pitched a collective no-hitter when it defeated Gulfport Boca Ciega at home Feb. 10 in the first game of its season. Senior Blake Norman made the start and recorded the win, striking out seven and walking one over four scoreless innings of work. Juniors Jacob Zeman Mason Ondercin and Cesar Garmendia kept the slate clean in relief.

... At the plate, sophomore Braedon Mackay went 1-for-3, driving in two runs with a double and a walk. Junior Jeremy Flores went 1-for-2 with a walk, a double and two RBIs.

Quote of the week: “I think when we get down to Lakeland, everything changes because the court is bigger,” said Marlon Williams, head coach of the Cardinal Mooney girls basketball team of the environment at the state championship tournament in Lakeland’s RP Funding Center. “It’s a different atmosphere. The energy is different. You’ve got to focus a bit more because that shot you might take in a high school gym is a little different in that arena.” Cardinal Mooney is hoping to make it to its fifth state final appearance in five years after defeating Tampa Catholic 63-50 in the 3A-District 8 title game Feb. 8.

“I love how we all support

and

congratulate each other, but also push each other to our limits, which I think is important.”

Basketball teams compete for district titles

Recapping how Sarasota’s teams fared in their respective district tournaments.

DYLAN CAMPBELL SPORTS REPORTER

From Feb. 3-8, Sarasota’s high schools competed in their respective district tournaments. For some programs, the tournament was the end of the line. For others, the tournament was a stepping stone to the regional and state tournaments later this month.

Win the district tournament and receive an automatic bid into the regional tournament. Lose in the district tournament and risk leaving your team’s fate in the hands of FHSAA’s MaxPrep rankings — the four district champions and next four highest ranked teams per regional bracket advance to the regional tournament.

BOYS

SARASOTA: 25-2, 7A-DISTRICT 12

CHAMPIONS

For the second season in a row, BJ Ivey’s Sailors have captured the Class 7A-District 12 title, defeating Lehigh 58-52 at home Feb. 7. The Sailors battled through star sophomore Johnny Lackaff running into foul trouble early in the first half to gut out a victory that earned them the No. 2 seed in Region 3 of the 7A state tournament, which begins at home Feb. 12 against Kissimmee Poinciana.

In the state tournament, where points come at a premium against high-powered offenses, Ivey said that his team needs to remain true to its nature as a defensive-minded machine.

“We’ll have to continue to maintain our defensive identity,” said Ivey. “We feel like we’re a very good defensive team, and we can’t lose sight of that, especially in the playoffs where defense and rebounding are huge. We have to defend at a high level. We have to rebound. We have to execute our plan offensively.”

RIVERVIEW: 14-12, 7A-DISTRICT 12

SEMIFINALISTS

While Riverview’s district tournament came to a close with a 79-69 loss to Lehigh on Feb. 5, the Rams did well enough down the stretch to earn a spot in the 7A state tournament, where they’ll face off with no.

1 seeded Seminole Osceola Fundamental High at Seminole on Feb. 12.

Although their record isn’t flashy, it’s that way for a reason — the Rams punched their ticket to the state tournament based upon their strength of schedule and quality play against good teams.

For the battle-tested Rams to keep their season alive, they’ll have to play a more consistent level of basketball throughout the whole game, said first-year head coach Jeff Harris.

“A lot of times this year, we’ve played three good quarters of basketball,” said Harris. “In the tournament, one bad quarter will send you home. If we can be disciplined and consistent throughout the game, I think our chances are pretty good.”

BOOKER: 13-14, 4A-DISTRICT 11 SEMIFINALISTS

The Tornadoes fell to the defending 4A state champions St. Petersburg Gibbs 81-43 on Feb. 5, but don’t let that loss take away the fact that this is still a Booker team that earned a spot in the 4A state tournament due to its ability to hold its own in a tough district and region. While the Tornadoes don’t have a steady presence at point guard, they do have scoring talent on the perimeter.

Junior 6-foot-4 small forward JP Lattimore and 6-foot-2 senior shooting guard Chris Perets lead the Tornadoes in scoring, averaging 14.2 and 14.1 points per game, respectively. If Booker can get rolling offensively, then the Tornadoes may have something to say in the state tournament, at least in their opening matchup against Seminole High on Feb. 12.

CARDINAL MOONEY: 24-3, 3A-DISTRICT 8 SEMIFINALISTS

Cardinal Mooney’s brilliant first season under head coach Curt Kassab came to a close on Feb. 5, in the Cougars 69-52 semifinal loss to Tampa Catholic. Unfortunately for Cardinal Mooney, a dominant record was not enough to gain entry into the highly competitive 3A state tournament. Of the eight teams in Region 2 of the tournament, three hail from Mooney’s District 8.

While it’s a damper on an extremely successful season, Cardinal Mooney does have plenty of reason to be optimistic about the years to come. The team’s three leading scorers in 2025 were sophomore Jamaal George, junior Malakai Cuffy and junior Sam Reindel.

“I’m elated with the buy-in and development from this year’s group,” said Kassab. “Anytime you walk into a program that has lost nine seniors and the majority of kids hadn’t seen varsity minutes before, you don’t know what to expect.”

GIRLS

RIVERVIEW: 20-5, 7A-DISTRICT 12

FINALISTS

Riverview fell to Venice 71-66 in overtime of the District 12 title game at home Feb. 8. The game, which had Riverview come back from a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to force overtime, became the highscoring affair the defensive-minded Rams typically avoid.

While Riverview does have the talent to score the ball in droves— sophomore Taylor Davidson leads the team in points and rebounds per game with 12.5 and 9.0, respectively — look for the Rams to slow things down and control the pace of the game with lockdown defense when they host Lakeland George Jenkins in the opening round of the 7A state tournament at home Feb. 13.

BOOKER: 17-6, 4A-DISTRICT 11

CHAMPIONS

The Tornadoes won their fourth consecutive district championship when they knocked off the visiting Gibbs 72-46 at home Feb. 8. Booker was led by a massive night from senior Jsiyah Taylor, who scored 22 points, which helped Booker lock up the No. 1 seed in Region 3 of the 4A state tournament.

“This is probably the hardest district title that we’ve won since I’ve been here,” said head coach Ty Bryant. “It’s a very inexperienced team with a couple of new parts to it, but they were able to push through and persevere. It’s going to get harder though — as you move through the playoffs, every game gets a little tougher and the basket doesn’t look as open, so you’ve got to work a little harder to keep the girls focused during a long high school season.”

CARDINAL MOONEY: 19-9, 3A-DISTRICT 8 CHAMPIONS

Cardinal Mooney won its fourth district championship in five years when it beat visiting Tampa Catholic 63-50 at home Feb. 8. The Cougars were bolstered by a balanced offensive attack. Sophomore Madi Mignery scored 17 points, senior Sy’monique Simon scored 15 and senior Kali Barrett added 14.

It’s a win that gave the Cougars the No. 1 seed in their region of the 3A state tournament, where they’ll hope to secure a title after finishing as the state runner-up for the past three seasons.

“There are no excuses,” said head coach Marlon Williams. “There’s no excuse for us to not be prepared. There’s no excuse for us to not be mentally ready and there’s no excuse for us to not have energy for every minute of every game.”

Cardinal Mooney volleyball star appointed to the Air Force Academy

Senior Zoe Kirby excelled in four varsity sports throughout her high school career.

Zoe Kirby often compares herself to others — but not in a bad way. She doesn’t pine after what other people have or stew in jealousy over another person’s achievements.

Instead, she uses that comparison objectively, as a measuring stick. An only child, the Cardinal Mooney senior didn’t have siblings to compare herself to, the natural companions and rivals from which to grow. For Kirby, comparison is not the thief of joy. It’s the catalyst for growth.

“What pushes me is seeing other people achieve greatness,” said Kirby. “I base a lot of the things that I want to do not off of other people, but on what they’ve accomplished. I see what they’ve done and I want to beat it.”

On Feb. 5, Kirby officially signed to play volleyball at the United States Air Force Academy next season, the culmination of a high school athletic career that has seen her excel at four varsity sports and find her path along the way.

Kirby’s journey, from playing volleyball in the YMCA at 8 years old to committing to a Division I school to winning regional titles in weightlifting, is one defined by hard work.

Kirby, a middle-hitter on Mooney’s volleyball team, has the physical tools of an elite athlete. She stands around 6 feet and is a weightlifter in the 199-pound class.

Her mentality, that of a quiet, strong leader, and willingness to push herself, are part of what has made her into the athlete that she is today. Outside of just her physical skills, those were the qualities that made first-year volleyball head coach Allan Knight name her as one

of the captains before the start of her senior season.

“She immediately struck me as a leader, someone who could take the team from point A to point B,” said Knight. “I saw that she has a work ethic that’s above and beyond just being a force as a hitter and a blocker.”

Middle hitter, Knight noted, is perhaps the most demanding position on the court. He said that it’s akin to running a suicide for the entire game — responsible for attacking and blocking, the middle hitter sprints to and from the net, taking up space and reading the opponent’s sets.

Without Kirby, he said, the Cougars would fall apart.

Her high-water mark of the season came during Cardinal Mooney’s 3-0 victory against Venice on Sept. 19 and in the Cougar’s 3-1 defeat of Tampa Berkeley Prep, the Class 3A state runner-up, on Oct. 1.

“She’d come at them with power, hitting balls straight down in front of their defenders to where they’re getting PTSD from being fired on so often,” said Knight. “They’re taking body shots from Zoe and balls are hitting the floor in front of them and bouncing into their faces. That sets a tone and lets us execute our game plan, which is a big responsibility.”

There was a moment in Kirby’s athletic career where she had to make a choice. It was the start of her sophomore year, the year that she started to take volleyball seriously ahead of potential college recruitment — colleges can come into contact with student-athletes the summer after their sophomore year — and she had to decide

whether volleyball was going to be a hobby or a pursuit.

“I said to myself, ‘I either have to step up or step down,’” said Kirby. “So I decided to take the step-up route.”

The step-up route meant dedicating more time and effort off the court to improve her on the court performance. It was then Kirby decided to join the girls weightlifting team, with the idea that it would increase her strength and explosiveness, two core skills of a middle hitter.

Weightlifting did that, in spades, but it also brought an entirely new passion into Kirby’s life. Kirby quickly took to the sport, with her father, who Kirby said she is extremely close with, building her a home gym.

In her first season, she unexpectedly won her district championship and punched her way to the state championship meet. Last season, she placed fourth in the state championship. This year, Kirby looks to podium at the state meet in Lakeland, after being crowned the Class 1A-Region 4 champion in the Olympic 199-pound weight class.

PATTERNS

To put it lightly, Kirby is a math wiz.

A National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (math honors) member with a 4.2 GPA, Kirby sees aspects of her life through patterns. Like the units in her AP Calculus class, rotations in volleyball are just patterns, connected through time by muscle memory. In track and field, the throwing motion of the javelin and shot put are akin to the movements found in the snatch and clean and jerk of Olympic weightlifting.

Patterns are part of why Kirby, whose immediate family is not in the military, chose the Air Force Academy. While the warm coaching staff and team were an encouraging factor, Kirby knew above all that she wanted to be pushed.

Like her current schedule, that of the Air Force Academy is highly regimented — there are set times for practice, class, school work, eating and sleeping. Kirby has thrived in that environment, where some may see restriction, she sees structure and support.

At the Air Force Academy, Kirby will move from one pattern — her life at Cardinal Mooney, replete with friends, teammates and a familiarity that can only come from being a high school student — to another. She’ll face obstacles and hardships, as the life of a college student is not always an easy one, especially for those at a military academy, but the data shows that she’ll pick up her new pattern of life as a cadet fairly quickly.

Elizabeth Lawson

Elizabeth Lawson is a junior weightlifter on the Sarasota High girls weightlifting team. Lawson, who transferred to Sarasota from Venice this year to take part in the school’s Circus Arts Magnet Program, placed fifth in the 154-pound division of the Girls Traditional 3A-Region 3 Championships on Feb. 1 to punch her ticket to the state championships Feb. 14-15 in Lakeland. Lawson put up a total score of 320, lifting 145 in the clean and jerk and 175 in the bench press.

When did you start weightlifting and why?

I started my freshman year at Venice, which is two years ago, now. A couple of my close friends had started doing it and it looked really interesting. I was looking for a sport to do myself and decided to give it a shot.

What’s the appeal?

I love the community at meets. I love how we all support and congratulate each other, but also push each other to our limits, which I think is important.

What’s your best lift?

My favorite lift and the one that I’m best at is bench press. It has always come the most naturally to me out of all the lifts.

What has gone right for your team this season?

We had a lot of girls place at districts and we all went to regionals, which was a big accomplishment for us. Just continuously improving, honestly, that’s been the most important thing.

What was your experience at the regional meet like? It was super intense, but we had a good time. There’s a lot of commotion with so many happy people and sad people in the same place that it kind of gets ingrained in your head.

If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Vinnie Portell at VPortell@ YourObserver.com.

What’s your favorite weightlifting memory?

Coach Schafer was driving us to Southeast High for one of our very first meets of the season. We were all in the back just singing really, really badly, which I think somehow helped Coach Schafer’s driving. She had to focus on the road to drown us out. It was super funny.

What’s your favorite food?

I’d say bagels with cream cheese, but not a little bit of cream cheese. You have to put a lot of cream cheese on it. I’m partial to everything bagels.

What’s your favorite movie or television show?

“10 Things I Hate About You.” It’s a top three movie for me.

What’s your favorite school subject?

Anything science related. I’m taking chemistry right now and just love the challenge of it.

What kind of music do you listen to? I love anything from Fleetwood Mac and The Cranberries to Billie Eilish. I’ve recently gotten more into Clairo.

What are your hobbies?

I like to go paddle boarding or do anything outside. I don’t do well sitting still.

Finish this sentence. Elizabeth Lawson is ... Dependable.

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Dogs Can’t Floss: How Nutrition Plays a Role In Dental Health

By Nicole Kenedy, DOGPerfect Operations Manager

A dog’s dental health plays a big role in their overall health, including gut function and hygiene. Here’s how you can support your pup to keep them healthy and happy:

Oral Hygiene

Just like us, dogs need regular brushing with a soft toothbrush and canine toothpaste to maintain clean teeth and gums.

Gut Health

Bad breath could be a sign of underlying gut issues. Probiotics support a healthy GI tract and help with oral health concerns. At DOGPerfect, we offer a range of options, including supplements, dental wipes, powders, chews, and dental bones.

Chew Time

Engaging in chewing activities is beneficial for your dog’s dental and mental health, as it not only provides enjoyment but also helps control plaque and tartar and supports gum health.

DOGPerfect offers a variety of premium chews like raw bones, bully sticks, antlers, and more. Whether your dog is a puppy or a senior, we can guide you to the best options for their unique chewing needs.

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STANDING UP FOR SARASOTA

Comedian Carmen Ciricillo was always in search of positivity and laughter. After he visited Sarasota in 1992, it was the place he wanted to call home.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Carmen Ciricillo may have never had the chance to perform stand-up comedy with Johnny Carson or David Letterman, as was his aspiration for many years.

Nonetheless, he’s toured nationally at clubs, events and businesses, and also discovered a community he was glad to call home: Sarasota.

When he first visited the area in 1988, he remembers standing on the deck of what was then Hemingway’s Retreat (now Daiquiri Deck St. Armands.)

“I was blown away … ” he said. “It was very Hawaiian. It was beautiful, the beaches, the weather, and I was living in hell. LA was hell.”

At the time, he said, he was only thinking about how the crowded nature of Los Angeles didn’t suit him.

“I feel like I didn’t pursue (Sarasota). I didn’t go after it. I didn’t know it existed,” he said. “I fell upon it. And if you are interested in a place that still feels like a place where you can raise a family, where you can live a great life, Sarasota is one of these places that still exists for a lot of people.”

FINDING THE SUNSHINE

In 1987, after Ciricillo had returned to his childhood home of Cleveland following his time in college, he found his life directionless.

“I filled out the LSAT. Then I tore it up, I taped it back together, I submitted it, I took the test and I never checked the score because I didn’t want to be a lawyer,” he said.

Instead, he started performing stand-up, a skill he’d honed while in college.

“I started doing stand-up because I was kind of the guy that didn’t know where to go,” he said. “My dad wasn’t really there. He wasn’t around a lot, and he actually got shot when I was 14 years old. He was already divorced from my mother … I was kind of looking for, ‘Where do I fit in the world?’”

After his family moved to the Quad Cities area in Iowa, he attended University of Iowa, where he was first on a trajectory for medicine, then for law, ultimately obtaining a bach-

elor’s in business administration.

However, when he signed up as director of the student union of entertainment while in search of an item for his resume, he began to find his calling.

Ciricillo describes being fascinated, at a young age, by personalities he saw on TV, such as Steve Martin. He says he was someone who was always “playing around in class” and “didn’t like serious things.”

His early comedy drew from his childhood in Cleveland, where he had been responsible for opening and closing his father’s pizza shop with his cousin Frankie Regalbuto, a wrestler whom he looked up to more as a father figure.

He would discuss other topics — like Batman, who fascinated him as a child — and even some he wasn’t interested in.

“I actually wrote jokes about politics that I didn’t even understand because I was not really interested in politics ... ” he said. “I kept hearing at that time, when I started, that Reagan was selling arms to (Iran), and my joke was, why not legs?”

He said he enjoyed the ability to instantly understand what an audience thought about him, based on how they responded.

“Comedy became this outlet for me. I just want to laugh,” he said. “I just want to have a good time. I don’t want to feel sad no more. I don’t want to see rooms of people crying anymore, because that’s what we had in Cleveland. It was a lot of sadness.”

He says once he met his wife, Kelly Ciricillo, after college, he never again questioned the direction of his life.

He and Kelly both wanted a family, and their relationship eventually led them to Sarasota, but not before it took them to a place often sought after by aspiring comedians: Los Angeles.

“Everyone’s pushed together in one area, which just causes people to go insane,” he said.

When a man stepped out to slash their car tires after Ciricillo accidentally bumped his vehicle with his car door in a parking lot, it was the last straw for the couple, then in their 20s.

“I mean, it just stunned me,” he said.

“Why? Why would he do that? And looking at her and looking at the

“I fell upon it. And if you are interested in a place that still feels like a place where you can raise a family, where you can live a great life, Sarasota is one of these places that still exists for a lot of people.”

Carmen Ciricillo

able for someone like himself, who came from a family of contractors: construction, an industry his son Domenic Ciricillo has also entered.

Carmen Ciricillo has performed for numerous local construction businesses and organizations, including the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, and for 25 years, has operated Construction Comedy School, where he provides continuing education to licensed contractors, with a humorous spin.

He says he is the only comedian in Florida licensed to teach this curriculum.

Meanwhile, he and Kelly became involved in Sarasota’s school system as his children were growing up, frequently volunteering.

Shannon attended Cardinal Mooney High School and then University of Central Florida, while Stephanie and Domenic attended Riverview High School and later the University of Florida.

“My wife was someone who really understood community and how to raise a family,” he said. “I just listened to her guide. She absolutely knew the right way to raise those kids.”

car, just realizing this is too much for us.” Afterwards, he visited Sarasota, where his mother and much of his family lived, becoming one of the first to perform at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre after its opening in 1988.

“There’s something about being in Sarasota, even in the middle of summer, the peak of the heat, looking up at that pure blue sky and hearing those cicadas ... and seeing the moss in the trees, that makes me feel I’m at home,” he said. “This is the place where I love to be.”

That visit was followed by the 1992 Los Angeles riots, in which Kelly Ciricillo had to evacuate from her workplace and enter a lockdown, at a time Carmen Ciricillo was traveling.

As a result, they came to call Sarasota home that same year.

By 1997, they had two children, Shannon and Stephanie, and were planning on a third child, who would be their son, Domenic. Touring no longer held an appeal for Ciricillo.

“I didn’t want to do that at all,” he said. “I would rather stay home. Build a Bug’s Life tent. Watch Barney. Go to Toys R Us. Go to Einstein Bagel, go to Southgate Mall. That’s what we did. Go to the beach.”

According to Ciricillo, traveling wasn’t the glamorous part of being a comedian.

“There’s a big spotlight on you for 60 minutes, and then you feel like darkness for the next 23 hours,” he said. “Especially if you’re by yourself in Evansville, Indiana, or Youngstown, Ohio, places where it’s a little town, you don’t have any family or friend or community or structure, you don’t have your gym, you don’t have your Publix.”

Staying home meant he would have to establish a niche, which he found in a blue-collar comedy genre suit-

Now, with those days behind him, he’s back on the road again, but with Kelly by his side.

He likes to still spend time in Sarasota, a place he says still retains its small-town feel despite the changes and development it has seen, and which he believes is undervalued.

He’s been telling a certain joke recently.

“People up (north) always say it’s hard to live up there,” he said.

“You’ve got to be tough. If you shovel snow, you could have a heart attack.

I’m like, ‘I don’t think you understand, and we have the same problems in Florida. Try dragging a cooler with two cases of beer to the beach.

You can have a heart attack, too.

Especially with a cooler with those little wheels, you’ve got to have some strength.’”

Valentine’s vibes for all

it was a romantic

others, it was a chance to gather with friends.

Paddi Juliano was excited to spend an evening that included her friend from Buffalo, New York, Magda Shea, a new Sarasota resident, while couples joined hands along Palm Avenue.

Heart & Soul on Palm, this month’s edition of the Fresh Friday’s block party on Feb. 7 brought together music by Kluv & The United Funk Foundation, food drinks and photo opportunities.

Props available included not just a wall of flowers, but also a RollsRoyce from the Sugar Champagne

Bar set to open at 127 S. Pineapple Ave. in March.

The high-end bar is the project of entrepreneur Ronnie Shugar, now chair of the Downtown Improvement District, which runs the event.

“It’s truly an honor to be here and be part of this event,” Shugar said.

He said the collaboration between Joe Grano, president of the digital marketing agency NextMark, the Sarasota City Commission and the Downtown Improvement District “really brings the community together.”

— IAN SWABY

Fortunately

ers,

“This

Over

“It’s

Storytelling spectacle

It wasn’t just stories that were alive on Feb. 8; the environment of Ed Smith Stadium was filled with activity, with a large turnout for the fifth annual Storybook Street.

Ana McClendon, director of outreach for the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, which hosts the free event, said she was “elated” to see the event finally reaching full capacity.

The event began in 2021 as a drive-thru experience during the pandemic, and McClendon said it had never been close to capacity before, this year serving about 940 people, with 20 free books per family.

Throughout the year, the organization works to gather the books, while dozens of volunteers help sticker each one with a bilingual Spanish and English reading tip and a QR code for the organization’s website.

The event’s variety of experiences tying in with the books are provided on an entirely volunteer basis by area organizations, and McClendon said they allow children to make connections that foster a love of reading.

“It could be listening to professional violinists from the Sarasota Orchestra. It could be putting together boxes with the Sarasota Children’s Museum,” she said. “Whatever it is, it is watching or experiencing something hands-on, tangible, visible and really magical for them.”

— IAN SWABY

Two Siesta properties top this week’s sales

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

William Crouse, trustee, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 100 Ogden St. to Brian and Loren Donovan, of Sarasota, for $6.4 million. The first property was built in 2007 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,712 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1947 and has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,027 square feet of living area. They sold for $6.1 million in 2024.

SARASOTA

MIDWOOD MANOR

Jonathan and Linda Fox, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1727 Waldemere St. to William and Jane Oskin for $2.3 million. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,930 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,000 in 2003.

VUE

David and Susan Macrae, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 603 condominium at 1155 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Jeffrey and Linda Limbocker, of Sarasota, for $2,225,000. Built in 2017, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,718 square feet of living area. It sold for $2 million in 2022.

KANAYA

Jenny Neal Duffey and Nevin Lee Duffey Jr., trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 401 condominium at 505 S. Orange Ave. to Jonathan and Helen Turner, of Sarasota, for $1.95 million. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,003 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,085,000 in 2019.

BAYSO SARASOTA

Christopher and Laurie Ying, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1802 condominium at 301 Quay Commons to Todd and Lora Stern, of Sarasota, for $1,688,000. Built in 2023, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,864 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,490,500 in 2023.

THE LANDINGS

Michael Marcone, of Fernandina Beach, sold his home at 5104 Flicker Field Circle to Patrick Joseph Wright and Suzanne Williams Wright, of Avon Park, for $1.65 million. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,553 square feet of living area. It sold for $394,000 in 2008.

WASHINGTON PARK

Michael Lang, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1858 Oak St. to Jeffrey Simmons and Marie Simmons, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1,592,000. Built in 1926, it has three bedrooms, three

Swaby

HIBISCUS PARK

baths and 2,075 square feet of living area. It sold for $340,000 in 2004.

Thomas and Christina Lewis, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 642 Lafayette Court to Jovanka Ouimet, of Sherborn, Massachusetts, for $552,500. The first property was built in 1949 and has one bedroom, one bath and 740 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1949 and has one bedroom, one bath and 440 square feet of living area. They sold for $540,000 in 2021.

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

John Kidd and David Kidd sold their home at 1310 Pomelo Ave. to Charles Pennetti and Sindia Velazquez, of Sarasota, for $900,000. Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,385 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2003.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit

322 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Nancy Kemper, of Sarasota, for $810,000. Built in 2003, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 1,170 square feet of living area. It sold for $380,000 in 2014.

HARBOR HOUSE

Raymond and Theresa Pilot, of South Pasadena, sold their Unit 43 condominium at 174 Golden Gate Point to Agnes Peterson, of Sarasota, for $775,000. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,367 square feet of living area. It sold for $295,000 in 2011.

GRANADA

Vitezslava DiTaranto, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3521 Almeria Ave. to James DiTaranto, of Sarasota, for $700,000. Built in 1953, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,677 square feet of living area. It sold for $548,000 in 2020.

FOREST LAKES COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES

Nicole Gallodoro, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, sold her home at 3521 Sea View St. to Duane and Marlene Chupp, of Shipshewana, Indiana, for $675,000. Built in 1970, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,905 square feet of living area. It sold for $125,000 in 2015.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Malia Homebuyers LLC sold the home at 2077 Sunnyside Place to Benjamin Jacobi and Amie Ouellette, of Clearwater, for $675,000. Built in 1954, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,905 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,000 in 2024.

SCHOONER BAY

Lisa Mudd-Keenan, trustee, of Meridian, Indiana, sold the Unit 6738 condominium at 6738 Schooner Bay to Alan Siracusa and Angelie Roman, of Sarasota, for $649,900. Built in 1987, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,250 square feet of living area. It sold for $580,000 in 2021.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Other top sales by area

SARASOTA: $4,495,000

Prime Christine Ottoson sold her home at 907 Pomelo Ave. to Georgia Rossi, trustee, of Pittsburgh, for $4,495,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four-anda-half baths, a pool and 4,289 square feet of living area. It sold for $2 million in 2010.

PALMER RANCH: $2.25 MILLION

Legacy Estates on Palmer Ranch

William Bernard Flaherty Jr., trustee, of Fort Myers, sold the home at 5348 Greenbrook Drive to Lev and Olga Klempner, of Sarasota, for $2.25 million. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,686 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,167,700 in 2022.

OSPREY: $2,225,000

Oaks II

Theodore and Sandra Broome, of Osprey, sold their home at 874 Mac Ewen Drive to Frank and Carlyn Chulick, of Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, for $2,225,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,930 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,735,000 in 2023.

NOKOMIS: $1,115,000

Preserve at Mission Valley Reed Eldredge and Susan Geipel, of Fallon, Nevada, sold their home at 774 Vanderbilt Drive to Larry and Peggy Fisher, of Nokomis, for $1,115,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,981 square feet of living area. It sold for $787,400 in 2020.

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YOUR CALENDAR

SUNDAY, FEB. 9 TO SUNDAY, JUNE 29

GEORGE HARRISON: A GARDENER’S LIFE

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. Free for members; general admission (adults) $28; general admission (ages 5-7) $12; guests $12; free (ages 4 and under). This multisensory exhibit uses plants to celebrate the life and legacy of George Harrison, best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles. According to Selby Gardens, Harrison’s identity was deeply tied to gardening, with him describing himself in a 1979 interview in Rolling Stone magazine as “just a gardener” and dedicating his 1980 autobiography, “I Me Mine,” “to gardeners everywhere.” Visit Selby. org.

FRIDAY, FEB. 14 TO SUNDAY, FEB. 16

SARASOTA GEM SHOW

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail. $5. Browse gems by a variety of vendors in this show by H&R Gem Shows, with vendors including Afghan Tribal Arts, Bead N’ Sisters, Beads in Vogue, Ralph Barber and many others. Visit HRGemShows. com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 15

FIRE STATION 8 OPEN HOUSE

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Station 8, 840 Apex Road. Free. These family friendly open house events are held on Saturday each month at different fire stations. Attendees can meet firefighters, explore fire apparatus, learn about fire safety and prevention, practice hands-only CPR, learn how to use an AED, and receive car seat safety inspections and bike helmet fittings. Visit SCGov.net.

SUNDAY, FEB. 16

SIGNATURE ARTISTS AT THE BAY: WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE: JAZZLINKS

4:30-5:30 p.m. at 100 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This performance, with a Harlem Renaissance theme, will feature the music of jazz icons including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway and is part of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Jazzlinks program acknowl-

BEST BET

FRIDAY, FEB. 14

TO SUNDAY, FEB. 16

THUNDER BY THE BAY MUSIC & MOTORCYCLE FESTIVAL

5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd. $15 in advance; $20 at gate; free for ages 12 and under; special tickets up to $550. This annual event benefits Suncoast Charities for Children, having raised $2.8 million in the past 26 years. Activities include motorcycle stunt shows, a charity motorcycle ride, a bike show, a motorcycle “sound off” competition, biker games and others. Headlining music acts include Blue Oyster Cult (Friday), Grand Funk Railroad (Saturday) and Creed Fisher (Sunday). Visit ThunderByTheBay.org.

edging the experiences of African Americans at different points in history. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19

DANCE AT THE BAY: BOLLYWOOD

DANCE WITH MEGHA VAID

6:30-7:30 p.m. at The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This class, inspired by Bollywood, the film industry of India, welcomes dancers from beginners to advanced and is led by instructor Megha Vaid. Participants are encouraged to dress up in bracelets, earrings and other colorful attire. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

Abraham Lincoln revisited as teacher of valuable leadership lessons

A New Jersey college professor and Abe Lincoln aficionado, at a Southwest Florida event, details why one of the most famous Americans ever is also an underappreciated leadership expert.

By Mark Gordon

It’s hard to overlook Abraham Lincoln.

For starters, the 16th U.S. president signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, ending slavery in the country. It’s also well known that Lincoln was physically hard to miss, standing six-foot-four, the tallest of the 46 U.S. presidents. And, of course, he was so celebrated for telling the truth that his famous nickname, Honest Abe, lives on 159 years after he was assassinated.

What is sometimes overlooked with Lincoln—despite the 16,000 books written about him—is the set of soft skills he learned, and then exhibited, about leadership throughout his life. This is the message Louis Masur, a Lincoln expert and Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University in New Jersey, shared in Southwest Florida in 2024.

Masur was a keynote speaker for a Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. Speaker Series event. His talk, “Lessons of Abe Lincoln: How Effective Leadership Can Change the World,” was given at the Tribby Arts Center at Shell Point in Fort Myers. In a virtual interview, Masur remarked, Lincoln “saved the union and freed the slaves, but what made him such an incredible leader during such a divisive and partisan time?”

Masur, who has researched, taught, and spoken about other historical figures, says Lincoln remains his No. 1 educational and leadership muse. Masur has distilled Lincoln’s leadership into a few powerful lessons:

Education: Lincoln’s dedication to selfeducation was critical to his success. Despite his father’s disapproval of reading, Lincoln’s “love of learning” played a pivotal role in his ability to lead. When Lincoln became president in 1861, he had no formal military experience, except for volunteering in the Black Hawk War. To prepare, he read military strategy books from the Library of Congress, immersing himself in the details of military tactics.

Diplomacy: Masur points to Lincoln’s letter to General George Meade after the Battle of Gettysburg as an example of his restraint. Lincoln wrote a letter to express disappointment that Meade didn’t pursue Confederate General Robert E. Lee after the Union victory. However, Lincoln ultimately chose not to send the letter, recognizing that chastising his general would be counterproductive.

Empathy: Lincoln’s empathy and ability to step outside himself were hallmarks of his leadership. Masur tells a story of Lincoln writing a condolence letter to the daughter of a friend who had died in combat. In the letter, Lincoln wrote, “You are sure to be happy again,” sharing his own experience with grief. This ability to connect with others helped him lead with compassion.

Principle over power: Lincoln’s commitment to principles is another lesson Masur highlights. During the 1864 presidential election, Lincoln refused to postpone the vote, even though he risked losing. He believed that “We cannot have free government without elections.” This resolve to uphold democratic principles, even in times of war, defined his legacy.

Masur’s insights emphasize that Lincoln’s leadership was as much about character as it was about strategy. “I just never tire of reading about him and thinking about him,” Masur says.

Join us for an engaging speaker series featuring two of the nation’s leading historians. Dive deep into American history as our expert speakers bring the past to life with captivating stories and fresh perspectives.

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