Families didn’t have to travel far for a good book during Tuttle Elementary School’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go with a Good Book!” on April 24.
Hosted in partnership with Suncoast Remake Learning Days and Rotary Club of Longboat Key, the event included various stations, each with a different “destination.”
For instance, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee provided VR goggles to simulate the experience of “the places you’ll go” with a book, while students read aloud at a reading gazebo.
A photo booth and a hot dog stand were on offer, and students who filled their passports at all of the stations received a free bag.
A day for good deeds
While the literal meaning of the Hebrew word “mitzvah” is “commandment,” the word can mean “good deed.”
On April 27, Temple EmanuEl held its 17th annual Mitzvah Day, bringing together more than 400 volunteers of varying ages for projects benefiting local charitable organizations, such as Goodwill Manasota, All Faiths Food Bank, Suncoast Blood Bank and many others. Activities included creating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards for memory care residents, painting a home for a family entering transitional housing, volunteering at an animal shelter, gift-wrapping hundreds of books for a Title I elementary school, cleaning up beaches and cooking dinner for families of sick children.
DAD POWER
Runners, families take part in annual Ringling Bridge event. SEE PAGE 24
City estimates $17 million remains in post-storms damage. SEE PAGE 3
Courtesy image
This mural was painted on an exterior wall of Heroes’ Village by local artist Tim Jaeger.
Courtesy image
First grader Dante Jurado, his father, Earl Jurado, and his sister, pre-K student Aria Jurado
Courtesy image
Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Brenner Glickman and Rabbi Michael Shefrin donated blood.
Ian Swaby
Erik Wydner pushes his kids, Noah Wydner, 7, and Ellie Wydner, 5. “I push them in every race,” he said.
Helene and Milton.
Busy agenda kicks off active month for City Commission
May is promising to be hectic as a month of contentious issues begins with revisiting Hyatt redevelopment decision and another request to cover commissioner legal expenses.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF
FWRITER
ollowing two consecutive meetings, each lasting just more than two hours, the pace is picking up for the Sarasota City Commission as it enters an already-busy budget season.
An ambitions May schedule, which includes a special meeting on May 13 to consider an appeal of staff and Planning Board approval of the controversial Obsidian condo tower at 1260 N. Palm Ave. and a city manager search workshop on May 22, begins with a full agenda at its regular commission meeting on Monday, May 5.
On the agenda is an affirmation of a prior approval of a Planning Board adjustment to allow developer Kolter Urban to relocate an existing driveway by 68 feet to the east to accommodate its redevelopment of the Hyatt Regency property, approval of a final subdivision plat application to develop a portion of the Sarasota Station property and approval of final subdivision plat application to create 13 new lots and a private rightof-way on vacant property at 4529 Old Bradenton Road.
The commission will also consider reimbursing former Commissioner and Mayor Erik Arroyo for legal expenses incurred as a sitting commissioner in 2024. In addition, the agenda includes a discussion about the next steps in its new city manager’s search process.
HYATT REDEVELOPMENT
Kolter Urban, developer of two RitzCarlton Residences condo towers in the adjacent The Quay master planned development, is planning to demolish the 50-year-old Hyatt Regency hotel and parking structure to make way for a two-tower project. It includes a 174-room Hyatt Centric Harborside hotel and 117 condominiums in the east tower — branded
1000 Boulevard of the Arts — and a second condo tower to the west, both over a single podium.
The driveway relocation is being challenged by Quay 1 and 9, the partnership of Miami-based Property Markets Group and investor MoneyShow of Sarasota, which is developing One Park on Block 1 in The Quay and has received approval for One Park West on Block 9, both mixed-use condo towers.
Quay 1 and 9’s objection to the project extends beyond the driveway relocation, though, contending the project surrounds Block 9 to the lot line, incurs on its portion of a shared alley, Kolter Urban’s traffic impact study on Boulevard of the Arts is flawed and the design presents a safety hazard for pedestrians.
The commission previously upheld the Planning Board’s adjustment at a March 17 meeting by a 4-1 vote.
SARASOTA STATION
To help fund development of One Stop Housing’s long-planned affordable housing project on its former light industrial site at 300 Audubon Place, developer S.S. Sasquatch purchased a portion of the site where it plans to build 69 market-rate townhomes.
The developer is seeking final plat approval for the property zoned industrial Light Warehouse, which does not permit residential development. The developer, however, is employing Florida’s Live Local Act, which preempts local regulation from prohibiting multifamily or mixed-use residential development in an area zoned industrial, providing at least 40% of the residential units are affordable.
One Stop Housing is planning the affordable rental component to complement the for-sale townhomes to meet that requirement. The plan also required multiple Planning Board adjustments, which it approved.
THE SANCTUARY
Overshadowed by the larger projects is a modest development planned for a vacant 4.8-acre site at 4529
Old Bradenton Road, where property owner Old Bradenton LLC is requesting commission approval of a final subdivision plat to create 13 new lots and a new private street on the west side of Old Bradenton Road between 44th and 46th streets.
The application received full Development Review Committee sign-off on Dec. 18, 2024.
MORE COMMISSIONER LEGAL FEES
Finally, the commission will consider a request by Erik Arroyo for the city to cover $10,285 in legal fees he incurred for his defense against complaints filed by some residents with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
The complaint stems from Arroyo serving as a registered agent for an organization attempting to activate
the city-owned Ken Thompson Park while he was a sitting commissioner. The company, Ride Entertainment and its subsidiary, Park Golf Entertainment, proposed, among other things, building a “park golf” course in the City Island park, docks for water taxi service, a restaurant and other attractions. While cleared of any wrongdoing, Arroyo is seeking compensation as state statute favors reimbursement and payment of attorney fees to avoid creating a disincentive for citizens to run for public office and to avoid creating a disincentive for public officials to bring up matters of potential interest. Last year, the city covered $25,000 in legal expenses incurred by Commissioner Kyle Battie related to a defamation lawsuit brought by resident Kelly Franklin, which was dismissed by the 12th Circuit Judicial Court.
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Old Bradenton Road Courtesy
Mother's Day Gift Guide
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CAFÉ ON ST. ARMANDS
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Join us at Café on St. Armands this Mother’s Day for an unforgettable culinary celebration! Pamper her with exquisite dishes like a Rack of Lamb, Chicken Al Limone, & our decadent Black Forest Cake. Visit our pop-up flower truck on the Circle to pick a stunning bouquet for Mom! Make it a day to remember & a meal to treasure!
MCCARVER & MOSER
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McCarver & Moser Jewelers has sophisticated design collections from around the world. We provide customer service that exceeds expectations with our knowledge, hand crafted designs and a personal concierge team that represents over 115 years of experience. Making our customers happy and beautiful is our passion.
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For 52 years, Bartlett Jewelers has been the trusted source for beautiful gifts. Find the perfect present for your mother among our wide selection of fashion jewelry, colored gemstones, and both mined and lab-created diamonds, all at a range of prices to fit any budget. Celebrate her with a gift as radiant as she is, a lasting symbol of your love. Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm.
SAIL AWAY STUDIO (SAS) COASTAL CHIC BOUTIQUE
6612 Gateway Ave • Sarasota, FL 34231
508-971-4410 • www.instagram.com/SailAwayNewport
Come in and find something as unique as she is! From Euro, chic, clothing, jewelry and accessories for Mother’s Day. To fine soaps and house warming gifts and enjoy our superb customer service. You won’t be disappointed! Open Mon-Thur 11am-5pm & Fri-Sat 10am-6pm
Your perfect Mother’s Day gifts can be found at Molly’s! Named Best Gift Store in Sarasota for 5 years, you are sure to find something special to give or get for yourself. Beyond gifts, enjoy their large selection of quality shoes, jewelry, apparel and accessories too.
Sarasota County faces deficit in baseball stadium fund by 2027
Projected to spend all of its fund balance on maintenance at its two spring training stadiums, Sarasota County is working on a plan to replenish its reserves.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Owning two baseball stadiums serving as Major League Baseball spring training sites brings more than a measure of prestige to Sarasota County. It results in $190 million-plus in economic impact to the county each year.
It also comes at a cost.
At their April 23 meeting, Sarasota County commissioners were told by Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Nicole Rissler that maintenance and repair obligations at both Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium and North Port’s CoolToday Park will deplete the sports stadium fund balance by fiscal year 2027 unless there are adjustments.
Ending fiscal year 2024, there was $22.6 million in the fund balance for repairs and maintenance obligations at both ballparks. This includes $18 million in work required at Ed Smith Stadium, which the county acquired from the city in 2008. That leaves a projected $7.35 million at the end of the fiscal year. Most of that spend is to replace two aging HVAC systems besides other projects at the stadium last renovated 16 years ago.
The stadium opened in 1989.
Scheduled work in fiscal year 2026 leaves only $313,807 in the fund, and the end of fiscal year 2027 projects a deficit if $1.8 million. By the end of FY 2029, the fund will be nearly $6.6 million in the red.
“What we’re asking is to provide some direction to us regarding next steps for development of some funding options, or a plan to move forward and make sure that we are not in a place where we have to come back next year and say, ‘We’re short $5 million,’” Rissler said. “We’d be looking for additional revenue through one of the TDT (tourism development tax) funds to make sure
that we are covering the shortfalls that you’re seeing,” Rissler said.
That direction came in a unanimously approved motion to direct staff to craft a model to assure full funding to meet county obligations for both stadiums and bring the plan back to the commission for consideration as budget season continues.
The blow was somewhat softened by the Baltimore Orioles ownership’s commitment to the city via a planned $23 million investment in an expansion of its facilities at Ed Smith Stadium to build a player development center that includes expanded parking, renovations of practice field 1 at the complex, an indoor training center featuring climate-controlled batting cages and a covered training structure with pitching mounds and batting tunnels.
That investment by the Orioles’ ownership indicates a long-term commitment to stay in Sarasota.
Prior to voting to direct staff to devise a funding plan, commissioners unanimously approved the Orioles’ expansion plans, which remain subject to approval by the city.
Portions of a two-penny surtax allocation generate tourism development funds, yielding $43.93 million annually. Currently, 16% of that fund is earmarked for sports stadiums, $7,175,397.
The Sarasota County Commission will discuss staff-provided options for obtaining additional stadium funds from tourism development tax revenues, surtax allocations, or other sources.
Rissler said she expects those funding options to be presented to the commission in May and, once directed, will go before the county’s Tourist Development Council for review and comment. A public hearing would follow.
“Right now, as it stands, we’re kind of four stops away,” Rissler said.
DEVELOPMENT
ED SMITH STADIUM EXPENSES
$16,000,000
Tyranny of Trump’s tariffs
Who is ripping off whom in international trade? How can Donald Trump know more about tariffs than 250 years of economic evidence? Tariffs punish everyone.
Before the November 2024 presidential election, we offered this cynical (but true) assessment: After the votes are counted, all we really do when we replace a Democrat with a Republican in the White House, or vice versa, is trade one autocrat for another. One president’s and political party’s versions of interfering in our lives versus the other president’s and party’s versions. They both stink.
Nevertheless, when the choice was Trump versus Harris, we sided with closing the borders; banning men from girls’ sports; no electriccar mandates; fewer regulations; lower taxation; no DEI military; and emptying the swamp.
Few paid much attention to Donald Trump’s tariff talk. Eyes glaze over quickly when candidates start talking about “balance of payment deficits,” and “reserve currency exchange rates.”
But Trump buttressed his support when he talked about those things in terms that resonate with the average American: “China has been ripping us off for decades. No more!” … “We’re going put America first and bring back all those beautiful manufacturing jobs.” … “No more unfair trade.” Oo-rah!
But in a repeat of the Obama and Biden elections — of the feckless national media not investigating Obama’s anti-American beliefs; or Biden’s open-border plans — the press did nothing to goad Trump into explaining how his tariff plans were going to affect our lives.
So we are getting what we got the first time around — Trump’s chaos. Liberation Day? Ha. No one is feeling it. Quite the opposite.
The stories of business disruption and chaos have become a tsunami of adverse consequences. Here are just a couple examples from local conversations in the past few days:
■ Mark Rutledge, CEO of Sarasota-based World Precision Instruments, maker of sophisticated instruments that analyze human cells in the development of pharmaceuticals, told us WPI is shifting supply chain strategies to minimize the cost impact of the tariffs. His company has parts manufactured in Germany and China and distribution offices in a dozen countries. “We’re not only redirecting supply routes, we’re also looking at dual sourcing in countries other than China,” Rutledge told us. No doubt about it, he believes, WPI’s sales will decline.
■ Despite Trump’s recent cherrypicking for automakers, a Longboat Key resident who has been a manufacturing engineer and executive for multiple companies in the automotive industry told us if Trump sticks with his mayhem, some automotive suppliers can easily fall into bankruptcy.
Consider: If automakers require suppliers — many of which import parts from Asia — to live with pretariff contractual pricing and not pass along the cost of the tariffs to the manufacturers, those higher costs will wipe out the suppliers’ already thin profit margins.
And if that occurs, manufactur-
TARIFF EXPERTS FROM 1776-2025
From Adam Smith in 1776 to Thomas Sowell in 2025, read a compendium of history’s experts on tariffs. They’re unanimous: They’re bad for everyone. Go to YourObserver. com/Opinion.
ers, in turn, will have to curtail production, reducing the supply of new cars and, inevitably, result in raising the sale prices of all cars and loss of jobs throughout the chain — contrary to what Trump has promised.
■ A personal story: Daughter Kate runs a 450-student ballet school in Colorado Springs, which includes a retail store that supplies students with ballet shoes and dancewear. For 2025, the plan was to open a second store.
But last week, suppliers notified her of growing disruptions to manufacturing and shipments. We put plans for the new store on hold.
Stories like this are everywhere. Everyone is adversely affected.
And yet, there seems to be only seven people who think Trump’s reciprocal tariff plans make sense: Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trade adviser Peter Navarro, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Steve Miran, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.
But now put those seven names next to 25 of the nation’s most noted conservative and libertarian economists and 1,700 more economics professors, fellows, scholars, policy experts and business leaders, all of whom came out April 18 against Trump’s tariffs. All of those noted economic experts authored and signed “The AntiTariff Declaration: Reaffirming America’s Prosperity and A Call to Reject Harmful Tariff Policies. (Go to Anti-Tariff.org/#Declaration.)
“For 250 years,” the declaration says, “the United States of America
has demonstrated to the world that a people left free to innovate and produce for themselves, and for all who trade with them, will enjoy increasing abundance, higher standards of living, and greater security both economically and militarily.”
In one of the bullet points, the declaration says: “The administration’s protectionist policies repeat the catastrophic errors of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 … Rates resembling Smoot-Hawley are being imposed upon a significantly more integrated global economy, risking a similarly devastating outcome for ordinary Americans.”
One of the 25 co-authors of the declaration is Florida State University’s eminent economist, Randall G. Holcombe. We asked Professor Holcombe to explain for our readers the concept and effects of “balance of payments deficits.” Holcombe shows how trade deficits actually benefit Americans (see below).
Ever since Adam Smith penned “The Wealth of Nations” in 1776 — 250 years ago — economists the world over have never wavered over their support for free trade and the harm tariffs inflict on the masses.
But Donald Trump and his advisers know better. Such hubris.
To be sure, there is much in the federal government that needs disruption and elimination. But the question on so many minds is this: Did Trump and his advisers not do what we all do when we’re about to make a big decision? We ask ourselves: What are the likely consequences of the decision?
Paraphrasing economist/philosopher Thomas Sowell: Worldwide trade wars have a devastating history. “All that happens is you get a great reduction in international trade.” What’s more, if Trump is constantly changing the rules, uncertainty will reign. “That is a formula for having people hang on to their money,” Sowell says. “And when a lot of people hang onto their money, you can get results such as you got during the Great Depression of the 1930s.”
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans
RANDALL G. HOLCOMBE
While the Trump administration’s economic policies are aimed at least partly toward eliminating the nation’s balance of payments deficits, Americans should understand that they benefit from those deficits.
A balance of payments deficit occurs when the value of goods imported exceeds the value of goods exported. In short, we are getting more than we are giving up, and that’s good for Americans.
We have to pay for those goods, of course, and one issue critics raise is that a balance of payments deficit means that American dollars are flowing overseas. That’s correct, but what happens to those dollars?
Some of those dollars stay overseas. The U.S. dollar is the world’s reserve currency, which means that many transactions not involving the U.S. are undertaken with dollars. Dollars are cheap to create, so when foreigners obtain dollars to use in their transactions, we benefit by cheaply printing up dollars and getting valuable goods in return. Those dollars that stay overseas impose no cost on us. Some of those dollars come back into the country in the form of foreign investment. President Trump seems to like it when foreign businesses or individuals invest in the U.S., but where do they get the money to invest in the U.S. economy? They get money to invest in the U.S. by selling goods to us. It comes from our balance of payments deficit.
More foreign investment increases the productivity of our economy, and foreigners like to invest in the U.S. because it is the safest and most productive economy in the world. Foreign investment adds to domestic investment. There is not a fixed amount of investment, so foreign investment does not reduce domestic investment. It adds to the investment Americans are under-
taking. More investment in the U.S. economy, wherever it comes from, benefits the U.S.
The balance of payments deficit benefits Americans because:
• 1) We can consume more in foreign goods than we export to foreigners. Because we get more in terms of foreign goods we import than we give up in American goods we export, our standard of living rises.
• 2) Many of the dollars we pay for those goods stay overseas so people in other countries can use
Randall G. Holcombe, the DeVoe Moore professor of Economics at Florida State University, was one of 25 renowned American economists who authored on April 18 “An Anti-Tariff Declaration. He wrote the above column for the Observer.
Dr. Holcombe is also Senior Fellow at the Tallahassee-based James Madison Institute; a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, California; and is a Research Fellow at the Law & Economics Center at George Mason
them for their transactions. It costs us almost nothing to produce dollars. A balance of payments deficit means we send cheap-to-produce dollars overseas and get valuable goods in return.
• 3) Many of the dollars that go overseas come back as foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Greater investment increases the productivity of our economy. Those who object to our balance of payments deficits argue that American jobs are being shipped overseas and that this has resulted
University. He is vice president of the Mont Pelerin Society (2024-2026) and past president of the Public Choice Society and the Society for the Development of Austrian Economics.
Dr. Holcombe is the author of 20 books and more than 200 articles published in academic and professional journals. His books include “Political Capitalism: How Economic and Political Power Is Made and Maintained” (2018); “Liberty in Peril: Democracy and Power in American History” (2019); and “Following Their Leaders: Political Preferences and Public Policy” (2023).
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in de-industrialization of the U.S. and reduced our national security. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, U.S. industrial output has increased by 50% since 1990. While it did show substantial dips during the 2008 recession and during the 2020 COVID pandemic, it has bounced back since then.
While it is true that manufacturing employment as a share of the labor force has been falling, that’s mostly because manufacturing is becoming more automated. U.S. manufacturing output is near an all-time high.
While some argue that the balance of payments deficit is taking American jobs, the current unemployment rate is 4.2%, which most economists would call full employment. It’s difficult to argue that the balance of payments deficit is costing American jobs when the economy is at full employment.
The U.S. has run a balance of payments deficit every year since 1975, and during that half-century, the American economy has prospered. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reports that real output (GDP) is 60% higher today than it was in 2000.
Americans who think that our on-going balance of payments deficits are hurting the economy are mistaken. Our balance of payments deficits benefit Americans.
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Price uptick leads to pause in Bird Key Yacht Club rebuild
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Residents of Bird Key eagerly anticipate the upcoming construction of a new clubhouse at the yacht club. While leaders say they remain fully committed to moving the project forward, they decided to take a 90-day breather to address an unexpectedly high final estimate.
Days before the Bird Key Yacht Club held its annual regatta, it received a final project estimate 25% higher than anticipated, according to Bird Key Yacht Club Vice Commodore Tony Britt.
He attributed the surprise increase to the “soup of uncertainty” surrounding the financial climate at both national and international levels.
“In general, there is a great deal of economic uncertainty right now,” he said.
The club is working with Tandem Construction, and Britt said members have found a good partner in the company. Up to this point, the entire project came to about $22 million to $23 million. But for a project of this scale, a 25% increase adds about $6 million overall.
“No one saw it coming,” Britt added, noting previous quotes for the schematic design and design development stages had been on par with the club’s expectations.
He believes most of the increase can be a cushion subcontractors added to their estimates to cover potential increases in the cost of goods and other financial concerns.
Britt said club leaders, with the support of the Bird Key Homeowners Association, decided the best course of action was to pause demolition plans for 90 days, giving them an opportunity to search in-depth for places to cut costs and finalize permitting.
Project designers will appear before the Sarasota Planning Commission on May 14 and city commissioners in mid-July.
While the club considered continuing with the demolition or fully postponing the project for a year, Britt said it decided the best course of action was to keep the current clubhouse temporarily running to see if the uncertainty abates and costs come down.
Regardless of the challenges that arise, Britt said the club appreciates members’ support of the rebuild and it remains committed to getting it done, even on an amended timeline. If all goes to plan, he anticipates they will begin construction in early September.
Brian Leaver, president of the Sarasota-based construction company, said he is committed to doing everything he can to make sure the club can break ground in the fall.
“We are behind the scenes, working for them to get the project where it needs to be,” he said. “We have a lot of positive energy in working toward making this happen.”
He agreed with Britt that market instability is a main contributor to the increase, affecting the cost of both materials and labor.
“The uncertainty in the marketplace related to tariffs has a number of trades in our marketplace nervous, so much so that our subcontractors are telling us their prices are sometimes only good for 10 days,” he said. Leaver explained this insecurity leads tradesmen to significantly raise their prices to ensure they don’t get left in a lurch.
“Our industry has seen enormous price increases over the last four to five years, since COVID occurred,” he said. “We haven’t seen them going down. We’ve started to see them leveling out a little bit.”
Even with his experience, Leaver said it remains difficult to predict when the market may again begin to level out. But he said the club has the option of moving forward with plans to build the main clubhouse now and finalize the details later on, when ideally the market will have settled.
THE WEEK
ATHLETE
Kaitlyn Will
The Cardinal Mooney softball team (12-5) is on the right track after bringing its program back in 2019.
Several young players, like sophomore Kaitlyn Will, have the Cougars in position to be even better in the near future.
Will, who transferred from Inspiration Academy with her sister, Michelle Will, is a pitcher and first baseman.
She leads the team in innings pitched (411/3) and strikeouts (42) while also being one of the team’s top hitters with a .426 batting average, 20 hits, 15 runs, 13 RBIs, seven extra-base hits and eight stolen bases in 16 games.
When and why did you start playing softball?
I started when I was like 6. My mom played softball and my dad played baseball, so it kind of just like a given thing because they played it.
What’s been the most memorable moment this season?
Probably beating CCC (Clearwater Central Catholic) because our team hasn’t beaten them in like eight years. On the mound, it was a big thing for me, coming in as a transfer and being able to pitch that game.
What’s gone right for you personally this year?
Being able to connect what I do in practice hitting into a game and being able to do the correct form that I’ve worked so hard on and using that mentality in the batter’s box.
What’s been special about this Cardinal Mooney team this year?
How connected we are. Even during a game we can go out and have fun, and I can play with (Michelle Will) for one last season.
What’s your favorite all-time softball memory?
Last season, I hit my first homer over the fence, and the next day, (Michelle) hit one over the fence for a walk-off.
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
Girls.”
What’s your go-to warm-up song? I usually just listen to country music by Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen.
If you’re not playing softball, what are you doing? I’m either at the beach, playing with my dogs or hanging out with my friends.
What are your goals at Cardinal Mooney?
My big goal here is to be able to win state, and as a personal goal, to get to 100 strikeouts.
What’s been your most humbling moment in softball?
Last year, I broke my back. I fractured it in two places, so I was out for a couple of months. So I had to start at zero and build my way back up since I lost all of that time.
Finish this sentence. Kaitlyn Will is …
A COMMUNITY CANVAS
For Ireland Adisna, 14, art started with drawing stick figures when she was 3.
“Basically, it’s all I can think about,” she said. Her mother, Caitlin Cranfill, confirms she does artwork “basically every day” and “all the time.”
Currently, she likes drawing “spooky creatures,” including cats and “a lot of whacky stuff.”
“I think it was because I started getting into the dark side of my imagination at one point,” Adisna said.
She also enjoyed the chance to showcase and sell her artwork to the public on April 26.
“We’re going to sell every paint-
ing out there,” said Tom Murray, a co-founder of Creative Kids SRQ, during Youth Art Fest 2025.
Murray later confirmed all paintings did indeed sell out, as they had at the organization’s VIP night at Art Ovation Hotel on April 24.
The event, which took place along Palm Avenue and featured displays of kids’ art, vendors and live music by Compound, was a major expansion of the last year’s art fest held at Palm Avenue Fine Art.
GETTING
CREATIVE WITH THE EVENTS SCENE
The organization began with outreach work co-founder Anna Leyson had been doing for the past 10 years that started in Nashville, Tennessee, and moved to Washington, D.C.
After Leyson moved to Florida, she was looking to bring similar programming to Sarasota.
The nonprofit’s founding team comprises Anna Leyson, Kristen Berry and Tom Murray.
Murray said this year’s event became possible after Michael Saunders, founder and CEO of Michael Saunders & Co., entered Palm Avenue Fine Art, where he is manager.
He introduced himself and told her about the concept of a gallery walk along Palm Avenue, which was followed by her becoming the title sponsor for the event.
Leyson said the impact of the nonprofit can extend beyond Sarasota, for the organization is also discussing the idea traveling to other cities with pop-ups and has received submissions of art from other states.
“Our goal is to support, encourage, give opportunities for kids to grow into their fullest artistic expression, so that they can impact their community ... and to color the future, because the trend that we’re going in right now, is not very bright,” she said. “We need that. We need that soul back into the world, and we’re trying to remind them of what’s inside, so today was a little, tiny example of what we can do.”
Leyson said the team still had hoped to see more vendors and art submissions, but the attendance reached at least 1,000.
She said they wanted about 60 vendors, but had about half that.
“We wanted bigger numbers, so in our general team, it’s like we didn’t hit the mark,” she said. “For me, as long as everyone’s happy and having a good time, then that’s a success, and we learned a lot this year, even though there are some things we could do differently.”
For young artists, having their art seen by the public will be a
step towards a potential career.
Following her acceptance into Booker High’s Film & Animation Program, Adisna is taking steps toward the field of animation.
“It’s amazing because I’m not artistic at all, so it’s great seeing her be expressive, and I’m also so proud of her for having her art in the festival,” Cranfill said. “It’s amazing.”
“It’s fun because I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Charlie Queen, 9, after selling his painting of a sunset.
Even though he sold the work, it wasn’t his primary style of painting.
“I like to paint a lot of things, like abstract art,” he said. “I’m not the best at realism, but I do it sometimes.”
Charlie Queen, 9, showcases his sunset painting.
Spencer Brown, 4, assembles some colorful
Ireland Adisna, 14
Photos by Ian Swaby
Michael Saunders and her grandson, Beckett Saunders, 7, work on a pottery project.
Allison Kellison, 8, buys a crochet Pokeball from Camille Feaser.
Taking steps for education
With 17 participants, Tuttle Elementary assembled the largest team for the Education Foundation Ringling Bridge Run.
“We know we’re supporting an organization that will give back to our school, and it’s fun to see all the educators out here too, our friends, they’re all excited and it’s a beautiful morning,” said Principal Patti Folino.
However, there were thousands of participants as the run returned for its second year on April 27.
The run supports the foundation’s mission and helps fund services for students and teachers, including helping kids design
post-secondary plans and providing them with mentors, scholarships and celebrating teachers.
The races included a 10K and 5K, which began and ended at The Bay and crossed over the John Ringling Causeway and back, with a one-mile fun run option as well.
The event also featured student musicians and an expo at The Bay.
“It is amazing to be able to run over the iconic Ringling Bridge on a beautiful spring morning with thousands of runners with us,” Education Foundation CEO Jennifer Vigne said. “It’s very special, and to do it for a purpose and a cause makes it even more meaningful.”
— IAN SWABY
Diego Chappa, 6, and his brother, Tadeo Chappa, 8, showcase their medals.
Participants, including Scott Parrish (front), make their way over the bridge.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Jazmine Davis claims a medal at the finish line.
Katelyn Garner cheers to show some spirit along the race course.
Hank Stump, 3, his mother, Casey Stump, and his sister, Lucy Stump, 2, watch the race.
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YOUR CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MAY 3 TO MONDAY, MAY 5
CINCO DE MAYO BLOCK PARTY
Begins noon Saturday and ends at 10 p.m. Sunday at El Melvin Cocina Mexicana, 1355 Main St. Free El Melvin offers this three-day celebration of Cinco de Mayo featuring live music, outdoor bars and street food, LED robots and other entertainment, VIP tables and “the best margarita in Sarasota.” Visit SarasotaFL.gov.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
REMAKE LEARNING: DELICIOUS
SCIENCE WITH SUB ZERO
2-3 p.m. at Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road. Free. Ages 5 and up. Participate in a scientific demonstration by Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream and learn STEM concepts as ice cream is flash frozen using liquid nitrogen. First-come, first-served. Get your ticket at the youth desk starting at 1 p.m. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 3 TO SUNDAY, MAY 4
18TH HUNGARIAN FESTIVAL
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Sarasota County Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Adults, $15 per day; youth 12-18 years, $10 per day; kids under 12, free. Some of the offerings at this festival celebrating Hungarian culture include archery and falcon shows and folk music and dance. Visit SarasotaMagyarFesztival.com.
5TH ANNUAL DOWNTOWN
SARASOTA SPRING CRAFT FAIR
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Selby Five Points Park, Central Avenue and First Street. Free. Browse arts and crafts that include jewelry, pottery, ceramics, photography, painting and clothing, all of them handmade in America, ranging from $15 to $3,000. The event also includes a green market with plants, orchids, exotic flora, handmade soaps, gourmet spices and freshly popped kettle corn. Visit ArtFestival.com.
SUNDAY, MAY 4
OPERA AT THE BAY: PAGLIACCI
Noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Presented on the LED screen at The Bay, this series features profession-
BEST BET FRIDAY, MAY 2
FRESH FRIDAYS: AMERICAN ROUTES
7-10 p.m. at Palm Ave.
Free Fresh Fridays hosts a “high-energy celebration of music, community and coastal charm.” The event features Sarasota’s Derek Lersch, a nationally touring country-rock performer and will include complimentary light bites and free giveaways. Visit DowntownSarasotaDID.com.
ally produced and filmed versions of each opera of the Sarasota Opera House’s recently completed season. Food will be available at Buonissimo Mobile Italian Kitchen. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
DANCE AT THE BAY: SALSA & SUNSETS
6:30-8 p.m. at The Nest, The Bay, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Learn Latin dance moves and then participate in a Latino-inspired dance party at sunset. The evening begins with a free Latin dance lesson from a Fred Astaire Dance Studios instructor, which is followed by the Latino-inspired dance party hosted by DJ Benny. The Nest Café will be serving drinks including margaritas and beer. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
Ian Swaby
Emmanuelle Nobert, a performer from Karen’s Hora Loca dressed in a costume based on “The Mask” and Deirdra Sampson
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