Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 9.11.25

They will rock

you

The Album Ensemble at Music Compound is composed of 15 students, from ages 13 to adult, along with four instructors.

Nonetheless, the group repeatedly takes on ambitious projects, the latest of which is its upcoming performance replicating the “Greatest Hits” album of the rock band Queen.

“Every member of Queen was a master of his craft, so the level of skill required to reproduce the original records will test our students to the limits,” said Album Ensemble co-creator Iain Harris.

The performances will take place 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, at Music Compound, 775 Bell Road. Tickets are $10. Visit MusicCompound.com/ Music-Compound-AlbumEnsemble.

Raising glasses to fundraising

The Sarasota Wine Festival, which is held by the nonprofit SRQ Forward Foundation, managed to raise over $21,000 for Women’s Resource Center.

The foundation announced on Sept. 5 that a formal check presentation had taken place during an event at Dive Wine & Spirits.

“Their generosity is not just an investment in education — it’s an investment in the future of women in our community, empowering them to pursue their goals, achieve stability, and build brighter lives,” said Ashley Brown, CEO and president of Women’s Resource Center.

The nonprofit helps provide support, resources and services to women of all ages and backgrounds.

$0.10

Midnight Pass: Here to stay?

WEEK OF SEPT. 11, 2025

BY THE NUMBERS

$18,000

The base price for search firm chosen to lead the search for a new Sarasota city manager PAGE 4

$31

Proposed Sarasota County stormwater fee increase for the average home, which commissioners did not support PAGE 6

3 The number of current Sarasota Police officers who worked on Sept. 11, 2001 when President George W. Bush was in Sarasota PAGE 17 CALENDAR

n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Sept. 15, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Sarasota City Commission special meeting (budget hearing) — 5:30 p.m., Sept. 15, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

“For anyone to accuse or insinuate

that we have not been genuine or acting in the best interest of the county and its assets is disheartening and just wrong.”

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Nicole Rissler. Read more on page 9

Visit Sarasota County wins Flagler Award

For its efforts to help sustain travel and tourism to the area in the wake of the 2024 hurricane season, Visit Sarasota County has won the Silver Flagler award for its rebranded annual meeting, the Indicators & Insights Summit, which brought together more than 100 hospitality leaders in fall 2024. Given during the recent 2025 Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Orlando, last year’s annual summit pivoted from its scheduled program to provide travel insights, recovery fore-

casts and an opportunity to unite and rally as an industry sector.

Named for Henry Flagler, regarded as the “Father of Florida Tourism” according to a media release, the Flagler Awards is an annual statewide program hosted by Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing organization.

Each award is selected by a panel of industry judges and evaluated based on the campaign’s quality, effectiveness and creativity.

Visit Sarasota County will

again host its Indicators & Insights Summit on Nov. 18, with a focus on how tourism works for local businesses. This year’s program will also include the tourism bureau’s Haley Hall of Fame Award, which will honor seven regional hospitality movers and shakers.

The half-day summit will be held at the Carlisle Inn from 8 a.m. to noon. Tickets are available to business leaders and residents at https://bit. ly/2025VSCSummit.

Buc-cee’s is coming to Port Charlotte

Buc-cee’s, a national travel center chain known for its abundance of fuel pumps and massive retail stores, has purchased land for $11.5 million in Port Charlotte. The intended use for the Port Charlotte property is a “Buc-cee’s family travel center, according to the deed filed in Charlotte County.

The land buy came about a month after Charlotte County commissioners approved resolution allowing Benderson Development to proceed with its mixed-use project called Harborview.

The planned development will span 653 acres near I-75 between Harborview Road and the Peace River. The mixed-use development will contain 655,000 square feet of commercial space and nearly 4,000 residential units as well as 350 hotel rooms and 50,000 square feet of office/medical space.

School system may close Wilkinson

Sarasota County’s school district may close Wilkinson Elementary School as the school board discussed during an Sept. 9 workshop. Students would be relocated to Gulf Gate, Brentwood and Alta Vista elementary schools, each that have capacity “teetering at 50% and below,” said Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor.

Additionally, Connor said, the district could choose whether to sell its central offices located at The Landings and move to a facility such as Wilkinson.

Connor cited factors including declining enrollment and students who applied for the Family Empowerment Scholarship not being properly accounted for by the state.

He said the district needs to push its facility usage to the maximum to avoid potential takeovers through Schools of Hope, a controversial state program that allows charter school operators to utilize the facilities and resources of public schools.

The potential closure is part of a broader plan to revamp the utilization of schools, which Connor said also highlights 12 other schools of significant concern.

NATURE OPENED IT,

county intends to keep it that way

Sarasota commissioners begin formulating short- and long-term policy to protect Midnight Pass.

Water in 11-month-old Midnight Pass runs deeper, extends farther and flows through in greater volume these days than it has since October’s Hurricane Milton finished the job September’s Helene started by reopening the south Siesta Key waterway.

Now, more than 40 years since Midnight Pass closed the last time, Sarasota County leaders are devising plans to not only keep it open in the short term but also for the future.

Less than three weeks after the pass, which flows between Siesta and Casey keys, was torn all the way open by wind and waves on Oct. 10, 2024, survey teams began weekly measurements of its area, depth and flow at a consistent location.

Those measurements indicate Midnight Pass might just stick around past infancy.

Among the most telling:

n Since late April, a key segment of Midnight Pass has never measured less than 1,000 square feet in area and upward of 1,400 square feet throughout the summer. It was less than half that upon initial examinations.

n Also, since late April and at the same location, water depth has never been shallower than around 11 feet, reaching around 15 feet throughout the summer and as deep as 17 feet. It had been as shallow as 7 feet earlier.

n Water flow between the Gulf and Little Sarasota Bay through the pass increased to a rate in July sufficient to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools in a minute, compared with half that rate in April.

n The center point of the pass, while wobbling north and south from time to time, has remained essentially within about 100 feet.

Though quick to caution about Midnight Pass’ young age and the natural fluctuations that come with coastal features of that age, evidence points to a relatively consistent, naturally made waterway, said Mike Jenkins, a senior principal engineer with ATM Geosyntech, a coastal management company hired by Sarasota County to keep tabs on Midnight Pass.

“To date, this pass has remained open post-Milton and is exhibiting behavior consistent with an evolving, unstabilized coastal inlet,” he said, explaining that only passes that have been engineered with jetties or dredging can be considered stabilized. “So, it is open as of post-Milton.”

The Sarasota County Commission heard Jenkins’ presentation on Tuesday as a portion of discussion on their role in keeping the pass open. Inlet management is one of the most regulated segments of coastal engineering, commissioners were told, involving multiple state, local and even federal jurisdictions.

Permits can take years for fullscale dredging or structure building, Jenkins said. But the ongoing data collection, paid for with a state grant, is key to not only justifying potential efforts to keep the pass open but also to signal when emergency action might be needed, action that is far more streamlined and without the same regulatory requirements.

Jenkins said the weekly surveys will allow experts to “raise our hands” if signs point to impending trouble.

A RALLYING CRY Midnight Pass has long been a bumper-sticker worthy issue for boaters, politicians, environmentalists and residents in Sarasota County, especially on Siesta Key. Even Sarasota County’s official policy position on the pass employs an exclamation point in proclaiming Keep Midnight Pass Open!

The pass opened in 1920 by a hurricane and closed in 1983 as a means of erosion control by two landowners who surreptitiously used sand dredged up nearby by the Army Corps of Engineers in the Intracoastal Waterway. Since then, numerous ideas and proposals for reopening the pass or pumping seawater across the narrow sand spit have come and gone, mostly rejected because of cost and permitting obstacles.

In the end, Hurricane Milton did the job in hours, for free and without anyone’s permission.

“You know, we’ve been trying to do this for 70 years, and I met with a group, and I told them ‘Finally, you elected me, and I got it done for you,”’ joked Commissioner Ron Cutsinger.

Now, state authorities acknowledge Midnight Pass indeed meets the criteria of a proper pass and not simply a transient result of wind and waves. Thus, Sarasota County Commissioners are solidifying the position that Midnight Pass will remain open no matter what, either with stopgap efforts fueled by an emergency action or more defined and regulated means further into the future.

“October 10 of last year was a terrible day for the county, but there was a silver lining that Midnight Pass opened again,” said county Public Works Director Spencer Anderson.

KEEPING IT OPEN

One of the key issues in keeping Midnight Pass open is the difference between emergency actions to head off imminent shoaling or effects of a storm versus implementing plans to more broadly and systematically dredge the channel or build jetties or other structures to armor it against the sea.

Jenkins told commissioners that three factors could trigger an emergency response, such as land-based diggers clearing the way to maintain a “hydrologic connection” between the Gulf and Little Sarasota Bay. Jenkins’ three triggers are:

n A reduction in the weekly area measurements to 500 square feet

n Movement of the pass’ center point beyond the 100-foot range

that has been observed over the past 11 months n A storm that cuts off the connection between gulf and bay.

“I think these three items are a fantastic starting point,” said Commission Chair Joe Neunder, asking Jenkins what some other trigger points might be. “Is there an environmental component one might be able to argue down the road?”

Jenkins reminded commissioners that his three-bullet list was not “all inclusive; this is where we are today. It could certainly grow and evolve to include more elements.”

Neunder said law enforcement and commercial boat-tow operations have used the pass of late, perhaps connecting to a safety-related trigger point, as well.

“There’s a multitude of items that I’m probably not aware of,” Neunder said.

Jenkins said the ecosystem of the bay is also adjusting to the presence of additional saltwater flushing from one end of the system to the other, which could also point to an additional area of concern, should the pass again begin closing.

“Right now, we’re focused on keeping the inlet open. At some point, there are going to be those broader issues and how we’re going to optimize the inlet instead of just keeping it open,” Jenkins said.

Those kind of considerations would likely lead to more formal management plans that have to look more holistically at the area rather than simply maintaining tidal flow.

Approvals for broader dredging or construction of jetties require consideration of beach-erosion effects along adjacent shorelines. Permitting through such agencies as Florida Department of Environmental Protection can take years, Jenkins said,

“The relationship we have with FDEP is vital,” Commissioner Teresa Mast said. “So I’m very appreciative of the very arduous process that you’re going through because I do think it builds a baseline. It gives us something that says historically this has happened, here’s the positive impact it’s had on water quality, the seagrasses, you can go on and on and on.”

COMING SOON

The Public Works Department’s Anderson said more than half of the initial $500,000 state grant to conduct the weekly data collection at Midnight Pass remains unspent, but commissioners said it’s probably not too early to begin thinking of funding sources that can continue that survey work.

Also, informational signs might sprout in the area, advising boaters and others about the fragile seagrasses and wildlife there.

Beyond that, commissioners said they would like to develop a version of the presentation they received as a Town Hall-style session during which scientific experts, residents with deep historical knowledge about the previous version of Midnight Pass, government leaders and others can meet with the public.

Mast said there is a wealth of local knowledge about the history and effects of Midnight Pass that could add to the conversation.

Though no format or dates were agreed on, County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said he would begin putting such an event together.

“I’ve been here my whole life, and we joke around about tubing through it,” Commissioner Tom Knight said.

“This is so important to our community, our water quality. All I know is it looks much different from when I grew up here, but it looks much better now that the pass is open.”

CAN’T ‘PASS’ IT UP

A new geological feature doesn’t pop up every day. Here’s a list of nongovernmental groups examining Midnight Pass: n Florida Department of Environmental Protection

n United States Geological Survey n United States Army Corps of Engineers n Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

n Mote Marine Laboratory

n New College n University of South Florida n University of Florida n University of Central Florida n University of Delaware n University of North Carolina n Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

DEEPER, LARGER, HERE TO STAY?

Survey

Search firm named for city manager pursuit

Sumter Local Government Consulting wins out over two other firms.

Nearly five months and two interim city managers since parting ways with its first search firm, the Sarasota City Commission has selected a new firm to help recruit its next city manager.

Now 11 months since the retirement of Marlon Brown, the commission at a Sept. 9 special meeting chose the self-described “hungry” and “scrappy” upstart in Sumter Local Government Consulting of Alpharetta, Georgia, over the large and well-established MTG Impact Solutions of Northfield, Illinois.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to hire Sumter, with Vice Mayor Debbie Trice opposed.

The selection quickly followed virtual interviews with both firms. A third firm that was under consideration, Slavin Management Consultants of Norcross, Georgia, voluntarily withdrew from consideration.

Founded by 15-year local government executive Warren Hutmacher, the 4-year-old Sumter pursued Sarasota as a resume-builder as it seeks to establish a greater foothold in Florida. Hutmacher told commissioners they would work with him and him alone throughout the process.

“I made it purposeful today to appear by myself without my team behind me to let you know that you’ll be working with me,” Hutmacher said. “I’m the president of the firm, and I can make any and all the decisions that are necessary for the best interest of the search. You’ll only be working with me directly.”

As a demonstration of Sumter’s

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hunger for the job, its bid of $18,000plus with additional expenses restricted to pre-approved advertising costs and travel is less than half of MTG’s cost of $45,000 plus travel. Prior to withdrawing, Slavin proposed a highly specific not-toexceed cost of $25,722.25.

More than cost, the majority of commissioners were impressed with what they called Sumter’s “innovative” practices, not the least of which is a portal that will provide them with constant access to all correspondence, resumes and other materials via the portal.

Also, semifinalists will be subject to 45-minute video interviews by Sumter, which will be shared with commissioners. Sumter will tour Sarasota and speak with community stakeholders to gain a better understanding of what the city seeks in a new administrator, produce a 15-page or more brochure about the community to use as a recruitment tool and tap into its database of 25,000 local government professionals.

All that sat well with four commissioners except Trice, who felt a greater comfort level with the larger, more established MTG.

“I just feel that with MTG, we would more likely to get the better candidate who would stay in place for a longer period of time, and it would be a crap shoot with Sumter,” Trice said. “I mean, that’s why they reduced their price to buy our business.”

Trice motioned to hire MTG, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Mayor Liz Alpert said at first she wasn’t sure why Hutmacher, who was most likely watching the interview online, would even bother trying to follow the MTG presentation.

“I was truly blown away,” Alpert said of Sumter. “I think they would both do an excellent job. I just felt like there was an edge with Sumter, and I was just blown away by their presentation.”

Tiger Bay meeting delves into prospective PAC debate

Program on Purple Ribbon report puts Sarasota Performing Arts Center at center stage.

Tiger Bay Club held a forum on the Sarasota Purple Ribbon Committee report, and a debate over a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center broke out.

That inevitable outcome occurred at the organization’s Sept. 4 meeting at Micheal’s On East as a packed room of members and guests on both sides of the issue heard a panel discussion moderated by Jon Thaxton, director of policy and advocacy of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The scheduled topic of the cityappointed committee’s recommendations for repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall quickly exited stage left as the spotlight took focus on the merits of how, why, where — and even whether — a new primary performing arts venue.

The panel members included:

n Drayton Saunders, co-chairman of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation

n Marty Hylton, Purple Ribbon Committee member and president of Architecture Sarasota

n Mollie Cardamone, former Sarasota city commissioner and mayor

n Dave Bullock, Sarasota interim city manager

As a prologue, Thaxton read some relevant published comments.

“The cost of the design is all wrong for Sarasota, and taxpayers are going to be burdened with bond repayments for years,” he read, adding concerns about budgeting transparency and higher priorities on which to spend the city’s resources.

“I thought, ‘Sounds like a good Tiger Bay program,’ but it couldn’t have been a Tiger Bay program because those quotes all came from the 1987 and ’88 newspapers,” Thaxton said. “Tiger Bay was founded in ’87. Those quotes came from the late ’60s because the controversy then was whether or not to build a new performing arts hall, which came to be known as the Van Wezel.”

Thaxton brought that up, he said, because contention is historically part of the “Sarasota decision-making DNA” and that such controversy is nothing new to the community.

Addressing the committee’s report, delivered on Aug. 18 after two years and 28 meetings to the City Commission, which in summary recommended an investment of $17 million for interim fixes and added resiliency to the Van Wezel to keep it operating optimally for at least seven years if and until building a new facility. It characterized the 55-year-old building as outmoded for contemporary performances and increasingly vulnerable given its close proximity to Sarasota Bay.

Bullock told the audience he had

earlier that morning transmitted an action plan to the City Commission focused on safeguarding the building envelope plus protecting and addressing deferred maintenance of interior and mechanical systems.

The Van Wezel sustained $10 million in water damage from the storm surge brought by Hurricane Milton

The Van Wezel has the funds for that work in its fund balance reserves, and Bullock said it will be put to use.

“Why is a Van Wezel important? It’s also a business, and to the city it’s what we call an enterprise fund,” Bullock said. “An enterprise fund is supposed to generate all the revenue it takes to build and maintain and operate the facility. And for the first time I believe the city’s history, since (Executive Director) Mary Bensel has been here, the Van Wezel has created a very significant reserve, which we’re going to use some of now to take care of the lessons we learned.”

Bullock said the plan, which will take two years to complete, is a nearly $10 million endeavor, some work already completed and much of it in progress.

That was the breaking news. The remainder of the program was highlighted by civil discourse between the new PAC supporter Saunders and Cardamone, who represented the opposition faction.

“You can look around this room and look at what others have had to fight through to get to consensus to change this community,” Saunders said of the assembled membership. “We have never done a project of this size as a community. ... That takes time, and I think sometimes you have to go slow to go fast. I’m excited about the future because I think we’re pivoting from going slow to going fast.”

The Sarasota PAC pace is on the brink of acceleration as the Performing Arts Foundation and City Commission awaited the Purple Ribbon Committee report before revisiting an implementation agreement to

take the project to the next step of the design phase. That item has yet to be placed on a City Commission agenda.

Among her concerns, Cardamone said, is the cost of a new PAC. Estimated at $400 million, the capital investment would be an evenly divided public-private venture, the public portion from tax increment financing district revenues on the improved tax value of downtown properties surrounding The Bay Park, such as The Quay.

“The cost includes 1,000 more seats than what Van Wezel currently has,” Cardamone said. “We have 1,741 seats in the Van Wezel, which was slightly enlarged, and the stage house was built when I was in office

with a $20 million price tag. ... It has served its need as far as bringing Broadway to Sarasota.

“I don’t see the need for that,” she continued regarding the possible 2,700 seats. “Our figures show that we don’t often sell out the Van Wezel, so why are we adding 1,000 more seats to make this probably the biggest hall on the west coast of Florida?”

That will be among the essential questions considered as the characteristically contentious debate over growth in Sarasota continues.

“If a new facility is never built,” Bullock said, “there will be some group of future folks sitting here talking about the future of the Van Wezel, which will then be 100 years old.”

ERIC GARWOOD

DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR

Steve Suau told Sarasota County commissioners last week that an increase in stormwater assessment fees probably wasn’t warranted.

The engineer and hydrologist hired to conduct an independent audit was not alone.

Speaker after speaker before the county’s fourth informational workshop on the broad topic of stormwater agreed even before Suau said his first word.

“This isn’t Monopoly money,” resident Connie Neeley said. “It comes from our wallets.”

And by the end of Friday’s session, each of the five county commissioners agreed. County commissioners were given a pair of increase proposals to consider. The county staff had recommended the higher of the two as a way to catch up on myriad projects to smooth out rainwater flow through miles of ditches, creeks, tributaries and canals.

But with millions in storm aid rolling in and $18 million in reserves, questions were raised about the need.

Ultimately, it was only the county’s newest department head of the county’s newest department — Ben Quartermaine of the stormwater department — who was lobbying for an increase. Although votes were not permitted in the less-thanformal setting, the commissioners all signaled no desire to bump the annual fee $31, from $112 to $143 for the owner of an average home. They were last raised in 2022.

“Thanks for keeping a smile on your face, even though we kind of drug you through the keyhole backwards,” Commissioner Teresa Mast told Quartermaine.

That’s not to say status quo is the solution.

Suau’s recently completed audit of stormwater practices, finances and supporting laws also recommended a new way of approaching projects based on the stormwater department’s broad mission of sediment management and mitigation.

In other words, maintenance.

The solution to that goal, Suau said, is a sort of cost-benefit analysis that wasn’t always done before

green-lighting projects. He said taking a new look at projects already in the planning stages could result in a reordered list, based on the biggest bang for the bucks. So could doing a lot of engineering work in house?

“We’ve known this maintenance was a priority,” he said. “The project prioritization has not caught up to that priority. The reevaluation has not caught up to that decision that I think the county made several months ago that we need to get on top of maintenance. That should happen, because you may very well find that if you do, you don’t need to increase the assessment.”

Suau used as an example a pair of projects on a list to be paid for with the county’s surtax fund, not stormwater funding. Neither, he said, had the cost-benefit analysis performed, nor had they been meshed in with a hierarchy of other stormwater projects. He said there was about $50 million in surtax-funded projects under consideration that could be reordered.

“Everywhere I look, it seems like there are opportunities to find revenue,” Suau said. In recommending the rate hike, Quartermaine said that in the early portion of a reevaluation process, there might not be enough savings to get by on existing rates. In addition, he said, with more projects on the docket, a 20% vacancy rate in his department would likely have to be addressed to accomplish the work. He added that rate reductions could easily take place in years beyond as additional savings of Suau’s recommendations take hold.

Commissioners said his department has an $18 million reserve and the potential for general fund money in the midst of fiscal year 2026 should the need arise.

A Century Old Story

A story that began over 100 years ago and is still being written today. Once a beloved landmark, now an enduring icon reborn. Mira Mar is the future of luxury living in Sarasota, grounded in the grandeur of its past, and offering an unparalleled residential experience in the heart of downtown.

One of Sarasota’s few remaining flagships of the great Florida Land Boom of the 1920’s, it is with great pride that we restore the Mira Mar to it’s rightful place as a gleaming icon of Sarasota.

Rising elegantly above South Palm Avenue, the revived and resplendent Mira Mar presents a limited collection of 70 estate-style residences across two 18-story towers. Each home is designed to the highest standards, with sweeping views, refined interiors, and private access to best-in-class amenities.

Mira Mar is more than a residence — it’s a return to grace.

Ron DeSantis is dead wrong about AI

The Governor seems to convey his fears of negative results over the benefits of AI usage.

This summer, Gov. Ron DeSantis has spoken out several times about AI, emphasizing his fears about the negative consequences for society of the use of AI.

He has not, however, made any mention of the many beneficial uses of AI, such as in medical research and online search.

Crucially, he has clashed with the Trump administration and Congress over whether AI should be regulated by the federal government or by the states.

The White House AI Action Plan supports a federal moratorium on new state and local laws regulating artificial intelligence.

In this instance what the Trump Administration has is right — a federal moratorium on state and local laws and regulations governing the design and performance of AI models is justified to preserve innovation and interstate commerce, in keeping with the basic principles of federalism in the United States.

Many states have passed or are considering multiple AI bills that are technically complex and politically charged, singling out this technology for extra regulation on issues like discrimination, child safety and housing. This avalanche of legislation is especially troubling because existing laws in all these areas apply equally to AI, and the current need to single out the technology is highly dubious.

In making the case for a federal moratorium, many observers correctly point to the danger of a “regulatory patchwork” in which up to 50 states may make widely varying rules and stifle important and useful innovations. There is no natural reason for data to stop at state borders, meaning virtually all economic activity involving AI is interstate commerce.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution recognized interstate commerce as essential for both economic prosperity and political unity, placing its control in federal hands. In addition to reducing inefficiencies arising from inconsistent state laws, federal powers over interstate commerce using AI prevent large states such as California from gaining the de facto power to regulate the new technology across the entire country.

AI is a foundational technology with an impact many expect to be on par with the internet or personal computers.

Like those technologies, AI is already spawning an abundance of applications for a wide range of uses. This makes the development of AI extremely important, but also highly uncertain. There is no single finish line in the “AI race.”

While building the technology and its countless applications will require massive efforts, they cannot be coordinated toward a single goal.

This fundamental uncertainty is the source of AI’s great potential. AI breakthroughs will be made not only in university laboratories, but by firms, workers and entrepreneurs in our market economy. This process of innovation will ultimately lead us toward finish lines we can’t yet even imagine.

Nothing about AI places the technology or its applications outside the reach of any existing laws or government agencies with respect to any policy. Just as we remain early in the process of finding out what AI can do, we have much to learn before concluding that AI

requires different laws or approaches to regulation. But proponents of restrictive AI legislation today are guilty of exactly this mistake.

State bills seeking to govern the design and performance of AI systems are not typically written with today’s chatbots in mind. They are concerned about what future AI technology might do, or what our future energy and data center needs might be.

Supporters of such efforts do not appreciate that transformative technologies and the societies they transform change together. Those who worry about AI replacing workers, for example, usually miss that such technological changes happen over time rather than all at once. Workers, therefore, can and do adjust to new technology.

As the path of AI’s development becomes clear over the coming years and decades, speculative and restrictive laws will do more harm than if they were simply outdated rules that missed the mark. Government regulation influences the course taken by technology. When that course is based on flawed assumptions, we fail to realize the benefits of technology fully and often don’t know what those benefits might have been.

Compounding these difficulties and potential for misunderstanding is the expansion in the list of technologies commonly called “AI.”

Once associated with science fiction and futurism, the term “AI” gained widespread use in the last few years, after generative AI chatbots powered by large language models were introduced.

However, people now frequently apply the term to many algorithmic tools widely used for years or even decades.

There is no current need to single out AI over and above other technologies or means of expression, for regulation or enforcement beyond existing laws.

Nonetheless, the political temptation of singling out real or imagined use of AI is too great for many to resist. Users of AI technology in housing and labor markets are singled out for more oversight and compliance under anti-discrimination law.

Large AI developers are singled out for more transparency rules, seemingly at the discretion of state officials. Images of political figures created using AI are singled out and banned in the lead-up to elections. AI-powered human resources software suites face extra scrutiny.

AI is a foundational technology with an impact many expect to be on par with the internet or personal computers.

The correct approach toward AI in Florida is to enforce existing laws and regulations.

Indeed, Congress’ AI moratorium proposal from earlier this year explicitly exempted from federal preemption “generally applicable” state and local laws and regulations. Comprehensive legislation targeting AI may prove desirable in the future, but that day has not arrived.

While some might consider such a level-headed approach from the federal government unlikely, expecting similar restraint in 50 statehouses at once, or even Tallahassee, is all but impossible. Absent a moratorium, state legislators would nevertheless be well advised to exercise and advocate such restraint.

Florida lawmakers could pass legislation that affirms the applicability of current laws to AI and establishes basic individual freedoms with respect to computing.

Bills such as the Right to Compute bill passed in Montana and introduced in an increasing number of states provide an important blueprint for those who see the importance of restraint to make that case and partially mitigate the efforts of overactive colleagues.

A torrent of bills singling out AI in misguided attempts to solve what amount to guesses of future problems would threaten the open climate of innovation and entrepreneurship that has greatly benefited the United States in recent decades. But uncertainty, misunderstanding, political incentives, and media hype conspire in the current moment to produce this outcome in statehouses across the country. Florida should be the exception, focusing on enforcement against bad acting with or without AI, rather than legislators trying to outguess a technology they barely understand.

Max Gulker, Adrian Moore, and Marc Scribner are policy analysts at the Reason Foundation.

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Repairs for Hermitage still a year away

Parks

and rec department says it is moving as fast as the process allows.

In its quest to purchase the Manasota Beach property it leases from Sarasota County, officials and supporters of the Hermitage Artist Retreat have intimated that the county has been remiss in affecting repairs of 2024 hurricane damage there.

Not so, countered Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and National Resources Director Nicole Rissler,

who told the County Commission at its Sept. 9 meeting her department is acting as quickly as the bureaucratic process — much of it beyond the county’s purview — will permit.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton pushed tons of sand and upward of 4 feet of water into beachside buildings Hermitage leases from the county, and rather than waiting for the government to respond began removing sand, making some repairs and boarding up buildings to resume a semblance of normal operations.

WHAT’S AHEAD

According to Rissler, the status of work on the Hermitage campus to date includes:

n Receipt of contractor A2’s (pronounced A-squared) scope and proposal for the design and engineering for the restoration of the campus.

n Staff met with A2 and its design team twice in recent days to discuss the proposal and ways to expedite repairs.

n A meeting with grants, contracts and parks staff is being scheduled to discuss timeline and options for contract amendment to keep moving forward.

n Capital projects staff are also supporting the review of the proposal to look for any areas of concern or areas of efficiency.

n Complete campus restoration timeline is still unclear absent design, engineering and permitting, but rough estimates pending state and local permitting and historical designation approvals is a minimum of a year.

properties, Hermitage has made an offer to acquire the historic beachfront county property and assume all maintenance and repair obligations.

In requiring Hermitage officials to cease and desist, they were informed their recovery efforts had run afoul of state and local procurement policy and that official procedures must be followed.

Acknowledging the county has a full plate of storm remediation projects across all its parks and other

Rissler told commissioners the county has secured a design-build contractor for engineering of Hermitage repairs and that staff is working with the company to expedite the process to the extent possible.

Even at that, restoration of the property is likely more than a year away.

“The need for design, engineering and permitting has to be completed, but rough estimates, pending state and local permitting and historical designation approvals, is a minimum of a year,” Rissler said.

So why does it take so long? Rissler asked herself rhetorically.

“This campus is historically designated. It sits on a barrier island, and it’s complicated, to say the very least, when you talk about permitting and approvals,” she answered herself. “Why do we need all this civil engineering? That’s because the Hermitage unauthorized moved tons of sand away from the buildings, but it didn’t get surveyed. It hasn’t been graded, and it hasn’t been designed for proper drainage in the future.”

As a result, Rissler said, there could

be ponding or flooding. Because the buildings are of wood construction and had 4 feet of saltwater in them, all electrical systems must be redesigned and replaced to minimize fire risk.

“If we don’t properly mitigate for future loss, we won’t be eligible for any future funding from FEMA as they won’t pay for repetitive losses that we haven’t worked to mitigate,” she said.

Rissler’s impassioned presentation to commissioners included a rejection of any implication that the county has neglected the issues at the Hermitage campus, which consists of 8.5 acres and multiple buildings.

Construction costs are not yet known due to design work needed for proper repair and mitigation efforts.

Staff will proceed with full campus restoration plans, Rissler said, unless directed otherwise by the commission. A full presentation is being prepared for the commission to receive in October, which will include details for repairs, restoration, alternate delivery methods and other factors for consideration.

“If we change course, staff are developing a discussion related to the land conveyance proposal from the Hermitage,” Rissler said.

Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg told the Observer he was surprised that the issue was discussed at Tuesday’s meeting.

In a letter he sent to Rissler and County Administrator Jonathan Lewis on Wednesday, he wrote, “Had we known the Hermitage repairs were going to be discussed yesterday … some of our trustees and staff and I would have happily made ourselves available to address any of the concerns that were raised.

“For the record, we have yet to receive any notice from you or any county official regarding the concerns you mentioned in the report. We have not been made aware of outstanding violations aside from your mention at (Tuesday’s) BCC meeting.”

Hermitage officials say they want to acquire the site to finish recovery efforts they’ve started. Short of following FEMA protocols, however, any repairs they make may not, literally, hold water in the long run and disqualify Hermitage from future recovery relief.

An officer was dispatched to a call regarding a road rage incident by witnesses who saw three vehicles chasing a fourth in the 1700 block of Alta Vista Street. Witnesses at nearby residences called 911 to report that a driver of a white van informed them that he was being chased.

The witness who placed the call said he saw a black Chevrolet Trailblazer occupied by three males was chasing a white minivan occupied by one male. Another officer observed a vehicle matching the description leaving the area southbound on South Orange Avenue and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle was occupied by three young males who matched the description of the suspect vehicle as described by the witnesses.

The three admitted they were involved in the incident but claimed they were not the instigators, and that the driver of the white van had initiated a verbal altercation with the occupants of the BMW.

As the story goes, the BMW, the Trailblazer and a white Crown Victoria were traveling together to the same destination along South Tamiami Trail. The driver of the white van, accusers allege, became aggressive toward the occupants of the BMW and threw a metal pipe at the vehicle, resulting in a significant scratch, then left the scene. In response, the drivers of the three vehicles attempted to follow the van in order to persuade the driver to stop and/or obtain the license plate number.

The driver of the BMW said when the van approached his vehicle on the left side the driver yelled at him to “fix your car,” augmented by several profanities. What specific repairs the van driver thought needed to be affected, nor why he cared, was not included in the incident report.

That encounter sparked the chase, during which at one point, when stopped, the drivers engaged in a shouting match before the van drove away. Shortly afterward, the vehicles came back in contact with one another at an intersection, which is when the van driver is al-

FRIDAY, AUG. 15

FRIDAY NIGHT (LOW)LIGHTS

10:47 p.m., 3200 block of North Orange Avenue

Fight: With multiple fights taking place simultaneously at the football stadium, an officer responded to a high school where they observed several large groups of juveniles fighting in the concourse area. The SPD officer, who was advised by a school system officer to assist in ordering subjects to leave the area, witnessed several large groups of teenagers engaging in fights.

Despite being given orders to vacate the premises, two juveniles dropped to the ground began fighting directly in front of the officer. Concerned that lack of intervention might lead to injury or trigger even more fisticuffs, rather than employing diplomacy the officer effectively deployed pepper spray, which resulted in a cessation of hostilities.

As the spray wafted into the late night air, several other subjects dispersed. Police on scene were not able to determine the cause of the outbreak of conflict. There were no injuries reported, and none of the combatants wished to file a report.

Because of the number of brawlers and the absence of backup, the SPD officer determined the most prudent course of action was to assist with dispersing the violent crowd to prevent further incidents. None of the juveniles involved were detained.

leged to have thrown the metal pipe.

Witnesses in the vehicles and along the chase route generally confirmed the sequence of events with one twist: Two of them alleged the driver of the Trailblazer at one point brandished a firearm, a claim denied by the occupants of that vehicle. Because of those allegations, however, the owner of the Trailblazer was asked to consent to a search of the vehicle, during which two firearms were located. That resulted in an arrest of the owner for possession of firearms.

Meanwhile, the BMW owner produced a photo of the white van and license plate, whose owner was identified. The BMW owner claimed the damages to his vehicle at $5,000 and wished to press charges once apprehended.

You can feel confident and secure at Emerson Lakes,℠ a premier senior living community coming soon to Lakewood Ranch and now accepting reservations!

• Freedom from worries Our quality construction means you and your loved ones can relax knowing you’ll be safe and comfortable during and after the storm.

• You don’t have to go it alone Our dedicated employees and full-time maintenance team work around the clock in severe weather.

• Life doesn’t stop for the storm Every building on our campus will be connected so you’re just steps away from amenities like the fitness center, restaurants, medical center, and more.

“Our experience with Hurricane Ian was fantastic. All the planning that the staff did kept us very informed. We could go down to the common areas, have meals, mingle with friends, and meet new friends.”

—Kathy F., Resident of an

DINGBAT DOES DIVERSITY

Luke Manual’s theater troupe welcomes performers of all ages, sizes, colors, physical abilities and sexual orientation.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The term “diversity, equity and inclusion” is taking a beating these days. It’s being dropped from corporate and university recruitment policies and banished from government websites. But DEI is living large at Luke Manual’s Dingbat Theatre Project in Sarasota. Located in its new permanent home at 7288 S. Tamiami Trail, Dingbat is everything its name implies. It’s zany, it’s off the wall and it’s fun. Think party in a box — a black box theater with 70 seats. This is Luke’s party and everyone’s invited, and we mean everyone

IF YOU GO ‘I’M

When: Through Sept. 21

“We have a super-diverse cast of people,” Manual says. “We’re committed to nontraditional casting, oftentimes gender diverse. We’re creating opportunities for plus-size people, people of color and others who might not be included in traditional theater.”

There’s no danger of someone walking into Dingbat Theatre Project and seeing something they don’t want to see. Manual’s inclusive mission is clearly conveyed by incorporating the rainbow colors associated with LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or questioning) into the theater’s logo.

Many Sarasota arts patrons know Manual from the socially distanced shows that Dingbat put on outdoors at The Bazaar at Apricot and Lime during COVID-19. Others know them (Yep, that’s their preferred pronoun!) from their days at the Venice Theatre or the Loveland Center Performing Arts Theatre in Venice.

Dictionary.com defines “dingbat” as an “eccentric, silly or emptyheaded person,” but the word also has alternate meaning, primarily in the printing world, where dingbats are ornamental type used to divide sections of text.

Manual’s not sure where they first learned about the word “dingbat,” but Manual had the name long before they had the wherewithal to create an inclusive, accessible theater company.

“I like funny names,” explains Manual. “I’ve had this name in my back pocket since high school. When I was an undergrad, we started a troupe called the Basket Cases, and Dingbat was an alternate option. Now that I’m a fully grown-up person, I decided to use it. Dingbat is the message.”

Manual may have been thinking about having their own theater one day, but they credit longtime Venice Theatre Artistic Director Murray Chase for encouraging them to “get creative” when the pandemic shut down arts venues in 2020.

A native of Mississippi, where Manual attended college, Chase gave Manual their first job as a digital development associate at Ven -

ice Theatre, after Manual moved to Florida in 2018.

Along with Brian Finnerty, now production manager for the Sarasota Players, Manual staged Dingbat’s first show in December 2020.

Nearly five years later, Manual can’t remember the full name of that Christmas show Dingbat staged outdoors at the Bazaar at Apricot and Lime, along with pianist and singer Michelle Kasanofsky. For the record, it was called “Brian and Luke’s Amazing Terrific Jaw-Dropping Fantastical Spectacular Tremendous Excessive Live Holiday Jamboree.”

The now-legendary Christmas extravaganza was the first in a string of shows that Dingbat produced at the Bazaar, Kim Livengood’s shopping and eating emporium at 821 Apricot Ave. Among those that followed were “Shrek,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “The SpongeBob Musical.”

Originally, the shows took place outside in The Bazaar’s courtyard with the audience masked and socially distanced, but as the pandemic threat receded, Dingbat was moved inside one of The Bazaar’s spaces, Manual says.

Whether the shows at The Bazaar were held inside or out, “I always got a great turnout,” says Livengood. “If

you go to one of the (Dingbat) shows, you’re guaranteed that the talent is going to be incredible.”

LEANING ON FRIENDS AND FOUND OBJECTS

The disruption of the 2020-21 season gave normally harried performers and marketing folks more freedom than they normally had. That helped get Dingbat’s productions off the ground, say Manual’s collaborators. “Everyone wasn’t so bogged down in season,” says Amanda Heisey, now marketing and PR director at the Sarasota Players. “People could be more collaborative.”

Nevertheless, resources and casts were scarce for Dingbat’s pop-ups, which relied heavily on “lots of found objects,” Heisey says, in addition to unconventional casting that saw actors playing several roles each in shows such as “Shrek.”

After Manual got a job at the Loveland Center, a facility for people with intellectual disabilities, Dingbat was able to produce cabarets and musicals in Loveland’s Performing Arts Theatre from July 2023 to April 2024. Among them were

“Chicago,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “It’s a Bird ... It’s a Plane ... It’s Superman.”

Landing the rights to perform “Chicago” was a coup of sorts, Manual says, because “every theater across the country applies to produce it. Venice Theatre had the rights but wasn’t able to do the show because of COVID.”

Jeffery Kin, longtime artistic director of The Players (now the Sarasota Players) and founder of the Sarasota Living Arts Festival, says Manual reminds him of his early days in Sarasota back in the 1990s. “I was just an actor with Equity card that landed in Sarasota,” Kin recalls. “My day job was managing a paper store on Main Street. At night, I started doing one-off shows like ‘The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me,’ which we did at Burns Court Cinema, and ‘The Kathy and Mo Show.’ That’s how I started, by doing one-off pieces and pop-ups in strange places.”

Working together on Dingbat productions brought Finnerty, a talented choreographer and actor, closer to fellow performer Heisey. After the opening night performance of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” Finnerty proposed to Heisey on stage. The two were married in January 2024.

In “Hedwig,” directed and choreographed by Finnerty, Heisey was transformed into Yitzhak, a Jewish drag queen who is the husband and backup singer to the titular aspiring East German rock singer, played by none other than Manual.

These days, Manual is collaborating with their own romantic partner, Gretchen Beaumier, on such Dingbat productions such as “I’m Going to Marry You, Tobey Maguire.”

Billed as a “Y2K farce,” it follows a starstruck teenager, played by Jamie Saunders, who kidnaps her heartthrob, the star of “Spider-Man,” played by Tom Horton. In the play, Mark-Alan does double duty as a poster of Tobey Maguire who comes to life and Brenda, a nosy real estate agent.

Manual directs “Tobey Maguire,” which runs through Sept. 21. They also handle scenic, sound and projections design, while fiancée

Beaumier is co-director and gets credit for scenic and lighting design.

If you’re starting your own theater, it helps to have connections, and Manual’s got lots of them. Beaumier’s father is involved in construction, and some of his friends pitched in to help Dingbat on the $100,000 buildout of its new space.

Among the firms that donated labor or materials are Hoyt Architects, Bright Electric, Service Contracting Solutions, AIS Framing and Drywall and Ackerman Plumbing.

Permitting and construction for Dingbat’s new space was completed just days before it was due to open its first show of the 2024-25 season, a reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” “It was really down to the wire. We had a few days over the Thanksgiving holiday to get ready,” Manual says. In addition to serving as a home for

“We have a super-diverse cast of people ... We’re creating opportunities for plus-size people, people of color and others who might not be included in traditional theater.”

— Luke Manual

its interpretation of classic musicals and its off-the-wall cabarets, Dingbat’s lobby and backyard will be available to other groups to rent.

As with any startup nonprofit, donors are key to Dingbat’s survival. Among those making contributing $2,500 or more in the 2025-26 season are Dr. Jeffrey Hamblin and Mark-Alan, Osprey Consulting, Jeff Cima, Gulfcoast Community Foundation and Terry and Debbi Austin. Dingbat’s twisted take on classics runs the danger of turning off purists, but most patrons know what they’ve signed up for. Those ready to veer off the beaten path will welcome upcoming shows such as “Dingbat’s Winnie-the-Pooh” (Dec. 5-17), a PG-13 version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” in March 2026 and “Dingbat’s Romeo & Juliet” in June 2026.

According to Manual, part of Dingbat’s mission of accessibility is affordability. Toward that end, Dingbat schedules a pay-what-you-wish night for each of its shows . Walking into the pay-what-youwish night for “Tobey Maguire” was a bit like attending a college alumni gathering where everyone’s either newly graduated or retired. The greyhairs are the bedrock of Sarasota’s arts scene, but those wondering where to find young patrons need look no further than Dingbat. Why are they there? For the fun and the forbidden, of course.

LIKE IT HOT n ............ Wed-Sun | 1/21-25/26

RIVERDANCE 30–THE NEW GENERATION n .......... Tue-Thur | 1/27-29/26 | 7PM THE BEAT GOES ON n ................. Sun | 2/1/26 | 7PM

MJ: THE MUSICAL n ................. Tue-Sun | 2/3-8/26

THIS WEEK

OUR PICK

‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’

Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether she’s singing songs made famous by Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she leaves the audience with something they never knew before. What’s more, her cool costumes evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12

Where: FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. Tickets: $39 and up Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

‘THE LAST PICTURE SHOW’

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

$12

Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

THURSDAY

JAZZ THURSDAY AT SAM

5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum Free for members; $30 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Nebraska native Jeremy Carter has toured and performed with global icons including Los Pericos, Tony Monaco and Terrace Martin. With his Jeremy Carter Quartet, he brings his energy and artistry to jazz/fusion. The evening features extended hours in the galleries, Bistro and museum shop.

DON’T MISS

‘THE HIGH LIFE: CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE BIRDS’

It’s last call for “The High Life.” Organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, the exhibition features 70 breathtaking works of birds in a variety of locales, including the wild, the studio and the museum. The photos are displayed in the Museum of Botany & the Arts and outside throughout the gardens, where

FRIDAY

FOLK JAZZ: HUNGARIAN STYLE

3 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free Visit SCGovLiibrary.LibraryMarket. com.

Join Tamás Nagy on guitar and vocals, with Jack Berry on bass and Jared Johnson on drums as they explore the contribution of Eastern European influences to folk and acoustic jazz. Seating is first-come, first-serve. No registration required.

some appear right at home in Selby’s tropical paradise overlooking Sarasota Bay. Runs through Sept. 14.

IF YOU GO

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13

Where: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. Tickets: $28; $23 online Info: Visit Selby.org.

‘A BAND CALLED HONALEE’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 Palm Ave. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

The subtitle to Florida Studio Theatre’s summer cabaret show is “A Tribute to Peter, Paul Mary … and Friends,” but any self-respecting folk rock fan can spot the play on words in the name “A Band Called Honalee.” ICYMI, it refers to the mythical land made famous by the children’s song “Puff the Magic Dragon.” The incarnation of the Band Called Honalee appearing in Sarasota includes Brian Ott, Michael Grieve, Geoffrey Neuman and Sigrid Wise. Runs through Oct. 26.

COLLEEN ORENDER

8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

$25-$30; $15 students Visit WSLR.org.

Set in Texas,“The Last Picture Show” is a coming-of-age tale that catapulted director Peter Bogdanovich and leading lady Cybill Shepherd to stardom. Based on Larry McMurtry’s novel, the film features an all-star cast, including Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn and Cloris Leachman.

‘NUNSENSE’

7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre’s Raymond Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice $40

Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

Join Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina and the rest of the nuns as they stage a madcap variety show to help defray the cost of funerals after a culinary disaster. “Nunsense” debuted Off-Broadway in 1985 and has since morphed into a global musical comedy phenomenon. Murray Chase directs Venice Theatre’s production.

Tampa native Colleen Orender brings her “Swamp Stompin’ Tour” to Sarasota. Orender began her music career at the tender age of 5, when she started singing with her grandpa’s country band. Now based in Nashville, she has teamed up with Michael Davey to create a new sound that has been compared to the likes of Amy Winehouse and Julie London.

TUESDAY

‘ART DECO: THE GOLDEN AGE OF ILLUSTRATION’

10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

The Sarasota Art Museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the exposition that kicked off the Art Deco movement. More than 100 eyecatching posters from the Crouse Collection as well as industrial furniture, home furnishings and other objects loaned by the Wilsonian-Florida International University are on display. Runs through March 29, 2026.

Contrasts, October 12, 4:00 pm

Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner Nicholas Eanet with Jungeun Kim, Natalie Helm, and Bharat Chandra performing works by Schubert, Dvorak, and Bela Bartok’s Contrasts, which was commissioned by Benny Goodman.

Legacy, October 19 & 20, 4:00 pm

Celebrate the dedication of Dr. Joseph Holt as a star of Sarasota’s music scene for the past 16 years. Holt, Daniel Jordan, and Christopher Schnell present an all-Russian program exploring composers’ responses to Soviet oppression.

The Queen’s Six, October 28, 7:30 pm

They performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and now return to Artist Series Concerts after a sold-out concert in 2023. Their vast repertoire promises a memorable evening of royal fun!

Urbanite Theatre goes big for its 2025 Modern Works Festival

The female playwriting contest opens with Phoebe Potts’ ‘Too Fat for China.’

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Anyone who has ever met Summer Dawn Wallace knows she is a relentless optimist. But the artistic director of Urbanite Theatre is also a realist who knows how to live in the now.

Wallace’s not sure if Urbanite’s annual Modern Works Festival celebrating female playwrights will be back next year because of economic and political headwinds. But she’s determined to make this year’s festival the best in its six-year history.

Wallace has expanded Modern Works from one week to two this year and has added a full-blown production to kick off the festival, which runs from Sept. 10-21 at Urbanite’s black box theater in downtown Sarasota.

At the same time, she has cut the number of staged readings of the three plays in competition from three to two.

“This is a really challenging time in terms of grant funding. This festival wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of female donors,” Wallace says. “There’s like 33 people working on the festival. We believe in paying artists a living wage, even the people who screen the plays.”

What Urbanite has dubbed as the “headlining production” of Modern Works is Phoebe Potts’ “Too Fat for China,” an autobiographical tale that follows a comic storyteller and a selfdescribed “professional Jew” as she tries to adopt a baby both in the U.S. and overseas.

Back in 2010, Potts wrote a graphic novel called “Good Eggs,” which chronicles the author and her husband’s struggles to conceive in both a humorous and heartbreaking way.

A resident of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Potts’ “day jobs” have included union organizing, teaching after-school art programs and helping adults and children learn the Torah through visual methods.

Last year, the keynote speaker of the Modern Works Festival was playwright Lauren Gunderson, known for such plays as “I and You,” “Silent Sky” and “The Book of Will.” (Gunderson fans will be glad to hear that her sendup of the fantasy romance world, “Lady Disdain,” will be produced by Asolo Repertory Theatre in June 2026 in a rolling world premiere.)

Speaking of rolling premieres, this year’s keynote speaker at the Modern Works Festival will be Nan Barnett, executive director of the National New Play Network, an alliance of 100 professional theaters dedicated to developing, producing and sharing new work.

Through its Rolling World Premiere program, the organization funds the development and production of plays, which then debut at three or four theaters across the country.

Modern Works attracts bold-faced names as speakers, but its raison d’etre is its playwriting competition. A panel of paid female screeners selects three plays to be read live by real actors during the festival, where adjudicators, panelists and audience members decide who will take home a $3,200 prize.

This year’s three finalists are:

n “1999,” Stacey Isom Campbell’s play about three women whose lives intersect in the aftermath of #metoo trauma;

n “Ahoy-hoy,” Jenny Stafford’s tale about American innovation in the 1870s that gets its name from the greeting that Alexander Graham Bell proposed for answering the telephone; and

IF YOU GO

2025 MODERN WORKS FESTIVAL

When: Sept. 10-21

Where: Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second

St. Tickets: Tickets for “Too Fat for China” are $44; $30 for under 40; $5 for students. Individual play readings are $32; $27 for under 40; $5 for students; $99 for a pass; a pass including all four shows is $125.

Info: Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

“This is a really challenging time in terms of grant funding. This festival wouldn’t be possible without generosity of female donors.”

Summer Dawn Wallace, artistic director of Urbanite Theatre

n “Screen Time,” Sarah Cho’s exploration of raising kids in an era where parents are inundated constantly by online advice and supposedly helpful apps.

Some of these festival plays may be produced by Urbanite in future seasons, the way that Brenda Withers’ “Westminster” and Rosa Fernandez’s “A Skeptic and a Bruja” were.

“The Apiary,” another Modern Works finalist, will make its regional premiere at Urbanite from March 20 through April 19, 2026.

While there are no guarantees that the plays in competition will be produced, in the theater world, receiving a staged reading for your play is a big deal, especially at a venue such as Urbanite, which has made a name for itself with its fearless exploration of new works.

To the casual theatergoer, it may not be immediately apparent that the Modern Works Festival is dedicated to showcasing the new work of female playwrights and to celebrating women in theater because the words “women” and “female” are not in the festival’s title. But if you know, you know.

Who comes to Urbanite for the Modern Works Festival and finds free parking in the Whole Foods garage across the street? According to Wallace, “Urbanite diehards who really love new works. It’s a different kind of experience. Audiences are really having the opportunity to see a play in development.”

It should be noted that Modern Works attracts male patrons and actors for its play readings, audience talkbacks and parties.

At Modern Works, playwrights are in the driver’s seat, Wallace says. They can tinker if they want to, but they don’t have to make script changes. But the pace can be frenetic for dramatists and actors. “It’s fast and furious,” she says. “There are 16 hours of rehearsal for the staged readings.”

One of the things Wallace enjoys most about Modern Works is watching the barriers between audience members break down during the course of the festival. “In the beginning, the audience is pretty quiet,” she says. But as they get to know each other, it takes more of an effort to get patrons to settle down so that a reading or discussion can start on time. “They just can’t stop talking because they are so excited. It’s a great thing to see,” Wallace says.

Over the past decade, Children First’s fall events have collectively provided nearly $1.3 million in support of children and families from low-income backgrounds.

Hosted annually on the last Wednesday of October and the first Saturday of November, the Flip Flops & Fashion Luncheon and Rockin’ Lobster Beach Party are more than just fundraisers—they showcase family empowerment. As the leading provider of comprehensive early childhood education and family strengthening services in our community, this critical funding provides children and families from income-eligible backgrounds with the resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency and long-term success.

Now in its 18th year, Flip Flops & Fashion offers guests a unique blend of philanthropy and fashion. Dining on delicious fare from Sharky’s on the Pier, attendees watch as volunteers showcase the latest styles against the stunning backdrop of the Gulf. Presented by Bealls Inc., this event is not just a fashion fête; it’s a celebration of community impact. Iris Johnson reflected on beginning at Children First as a parent, building a career spanning almost two decades with the agency, and watching her twins—both graduates of the program— grow into staff members carrying the mission forward.

Celebrating its 13th year, Rockin’ Lobster offers a relaxed, seaside experience with live music and mouthwatering dishes. Presented by JPMorgan Chase and set against the Venice Fishing Pier, this event is a testament to the power of community coming together for a cause. For Brittney Stackhouse, Children First not only supported her journey as a teen mother but also inspired her leadership as a Policy Council representative, underscoring the agency’s role in transforming lives.

While these events create memorable experiences, they are critical to the ongoing mission of Children First. With every dollar raised, more children and families gain access to the resources they need to break the cycle of poverty and achieve lasting success.

For more information, please call (941) 953-3877 ext. 1126 or visit childrenfirst.net

Hello Beautiful

An escort in history

Sarasota police officers recount protecting President George W. Bush during his visit to Sarasota on Sept. 11, 2001.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

The moment the news broke that the first plane had crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, the world changed.

The Sarasota Police Department and the other forces protecting President George W. Bush during his visit to Sarasota that day had to immediately adapt.

Capt. Demetri Konstantopoulos, Det. Maria Llovio and Capt. John Todd are among a handful of staff who were serving the department and who still remain there today.

They are some of the few law enforcement personnel who carry the memories of how an assignment in the presidential escort changed from merely a proud moment, to a role in one of the most tragic days in the country’s history, in which almost 3,000 people lost their lives.

Last week was the first time the three officers sat down together and shared their stories of that day.

POISED UNDER PRESSURE

At the time, the three officers belonged to a speciality street crimes unit consisting of six individuals.

While they were relatively new to the department, Llovio says they weren’t intimidated by protecting the president. They knew they had the training and experience to prepare them for that moment.

“I think we were ready and willing and able to do what we had to do at the time,” she said.

At every single intersection was at least one police officer that day, from where President George W. Bush was staying in Longboat Key, to Emma E. Booker Elementary where he was headed, Todd recounts.

“We were just a small part of it, but certainly proud and excited to be a part of it,” he said.

Konstantopoulos recalls that day began as a “gorgeous day.”

Yet, Llovio says when she thinks about what happened, with officers alternating across the streets to protect the president, it still brings her chills and tears to her eyes.

After arriving on Sept. 10, Bush

SEPT. 11, 2001

This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2001, before the attacks took place, shows the three officers with their unit. Front row: Maria Llovio (currently detective), Dan Riley, Demetri Konstantopoulos (currently captain), and Sgt. Monica Quarmby. Back row: Officers Calvin Williams, John Todd (currently captain) and Scott Mayforth (currently deputy chief).

because of the belief Bush was still in the area.

Personnel were posted to different areas to guard critical infrastructure, something that continued across the next few days. Areas of concern included the water supply, the bridges, fuel stations and City Hall, where Llovio stayed that night.

Todd recalls guarding a water treatment facility and New Pass Bridge.

was staying at Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key, where the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort now stands, and was making an appearance at the school to raise support for an education bill.

From their position near Lido Key and Bird Key, the focus of the three officers was guarding the president as the motorcade passed off Longboat Key and through St. Armands Circle.

The multijurisdictional undertaking also involved other local and federal partners, including the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Secret Service.

Once Bush had arrived at the school, the unit was to stand by before escorting him to the airport. But just before his arrival, the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

At first, as the news played over the car radio, the officers believed the same as the rest of the public — that someone had crashed a small plane into the tower by accident.

Minutes later, as Bush was reading to a group of elementary school students, Chief of Staff Andrew Card whispered into Bush’s ear, “A second plane has hit the second tower. America is under attack.”

The officers were suddenly redeployed, and it was now an exigent circumstance to return the president to the airport. Konstantopoulos recalls at that point, the police radio “exploded” with activity.

“I’m pretty sure we were all pretty stunned for a second; we didn’t know what was going on,” Llovio said.

“I know my adrenaline was through the roof,” Konstantopoulos said. Lights and sirens activated, they

drove from Bird Key Park to the elementary school. From there, the force was directed to leapfrog — to cycle amongst one another across different intersections — to expedite Bush’s trip back to Air Force One.

Any open driveway or street, or any other potential danger, had to be guarded before the president moved on to the next section.

Llovio said amid the heightened responsibility and potential dangers, her mindset was unchanged.

“I think in the moment when you have to act, you just act,” she said. “You do what you’ve got to do. Those feelings come later, I think, when you’re in a safe place and you go back and you think about it.”

“You have to adapt, and I think that’s what we all did, is we found our own, ‘Where can I go to help?’” Konstantopoulos said. “What intersection can I jump into to block? And I think it goes back to our training and experience, and we just fell into that response role.”

Once there, they were redeployed in different surrounding areas.

They had to be on the lookout for weapons, whether that be a sniper or a surface-to-air missile launcher that might be targeting the plane, Todd said.

“Nobody knew how big this thing was going to get at the time,” he said.

“I think that was the primary concern at the time,” Llovio said. “The target was New York and the towers, but in that moment, you had to think that he was going to be the target.”

Konstantopoulos calls the takeoff of Air Force One an image “forever” burned into his brain.

The near-vertical takeoff, performed by commander and pilot Col. Mark Tillman, was intended to avoid any threat at the end of the runway.

“Maybe it went, I don’t know, 50 feet, and then the nose went up, and then it shot off like a rocket,” Konstantopoulos said.

“The heat from the plane just hit you in the face,” Llovio said. “There’s an adrenaline crash, and then you start shaking.”

From there, the officers went to a division conference room, where they joined a group in watching the attacks unfold.

“I just remember the shock and really the emotion watching the first tower come down,” Konstantopoulos said. “And by then, we all understood that America was being attacked.”

“You could hear a pin drop,” Llovio said. “I remember it was eerie, and I think at that point, the command staff started talking about calling people in and getting ready for what was to come next.”

Concern still remained that Sarasota could become the next target

“You’re wondering, why would they target this facility, but certainly not wanting to be the person that dropped the ball and allowed something like that to happen,” he said. Yet amid the heightened demands, staff also had to contend with the same confusion that existed amongst the general public.

At that point, nobody knew where the president was.

“This was nationwide, I’m sure, but there were so many unknowns,” Todd said. “Where was the president?’ ‘What’s going on?’ ‘Is our city going to be under attack as well?’ That we didn’t get answers for quite some time ... We were no different.”

After remaining airborne for much of the day, Bush would address the public from Washington, D.C., that evening.

A few days later, the situation became more challenging for the department, as Hurricane Gabrielle struck near Venice on Sept. 14, causing lasting power outages in Sarasota and adding to the manpower required. Nonetheless, Konstantopoulos says he found himself encouraged by the patriotism and unity he saw throughout that time. One example was when he was helping another officer direct traffic at Bahia Vista Street and U.S. 41 during the power outages.

“People were stopping and saluting us, not that we deserve that, because we were just doing our jobs, but it was clear and obvious that this tragedy brought out the best in Americans,” he said.

Today, Konstantopoulos and Llovio have been with the department for 27 years, and Todd says he has been there for 26.

“Somehow, I was given a gift to be able to do this kind of work ... ” said Llovio, who now works under Todd in the Criminal Investigations Division. “I do violent crimes, crimes against children, homicides and I see a lot of ugliness and sadness, but I was given a gift to be able to do that, and to bring some kind of closure or healing for families, and I wouldn’t trade this job for anything.”

“I think we’re, all of us, driven by purpose,” Konstantopoulos explains.

In telling the story, his purpose is to help a new generation to understand the experience of that day.

“We have new officers here that maybe they weren’t even born (before) 9/11 and will never grasp the feelings of that day and understand that, we’re the greatest country on earth, but we’re not immune to something like this ... ” he said. “We have to be ready at all times, you just never know ... and if we can pass that down to this next generation, then we’ve done our jobs.”

Wednesday, September 17 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Four-legged stars walk the red carpet

Satchel’s Last Resort tries to create a distinct theme for its fundraiser each year.

Last year’s event featured a Taylor Swiftinspired theme, and the year before that offered armchair vacations theme, where dogs or cats could be photographed at stations representing different destinations.

“We feel like we have to up the ante every year, so this year we came up with Oscars,” said Board President Jill Creevy.

Held Sept. 6 in the courtyard of Big Top Brewing, the “Pawscars” fundraiser welcomed attendees with a red carpet placed at the entrance.

Prior to the event, Satchel’s supporters were able to vote for the shelter’s cats and dogs in categories like “Best Supporting Snuggle” and “Best Nap Scene.”

A set of movie posters displayed the event also featured the winners, along with the cats and dogs of supporters.

The no-kill shelter is focused on rehabilitating and rehoming dogs and cats that will

WINNING PUPS

n Best Supporting Snuggle: Lemonade n Best Dramatic Paws: Luke n Best Zoomie: Rae n Best Tail Wag: Sawyer n Best Window-Sill Soliloquy: Zazu and Rafiki n Best Head Tilt: Drax n Best Treat-Motivated Performance: Sassy n Best Nap Scene: Kanga n Best Performance at an Offsite Event: Wade n Lifetime Achievement in Treat Begging: Thor

not be taken in by any other organizations.

The fundraiser celebrates the birthday of Satchel, a dog who belonged to the shelter’s founders Page and Michael Knoebel, and who would have turned 36 on the day of the event.

— IAN SWABY

SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE

Sarasota, FL

Approx. 1,692-3,733 sf

From High $500's 2 Amenity Centers Quick Move-Ins Available

MODEL CENTER

792 Blue Shell Loop Sarasota, FL 34240 941-361-2536

PALMERA AT WELLEN PARK

Venice, FL

Approx. 2,375-3426 sf

From High $700's

Gated with Amenity Center Quick Move-Ins Available

MODEL CENTER 18188 Foxtail Loop Venice, FL 34293 941-361-2537

Sarasota’s Tyler Burke (“Turbo Tyler”) enters the Globe of Death during the 2024

Classic rock bands highlight 2026 Thunder lineup

Night Ranger and .38 Special top the musical acts for the February fundraiser at Sarasota County Fairgrounds.

OBSERVER STAFF

If you watched MTV in the 1980s, you’ll know at least two of the three headline acts for the 2026 edition of Sarasota’s Thunder by the Bay Music & Motors Festival.

Rock band Night Ranger and Southern rock band .38 Special will join country star Montgomery Gentry as the Feb. 13-15 event’s featured musical acts at Sarasota County Fairgrounds.

Celebrating its 50th year performing, .38 Special is expected to perform music from a new album.

Those three, along with a supporting case of other acts has the “Music” part covered. Anchoring the “Motors” portion of the annual event will be special guest Paul Teutul Jr., of Paul Jr. Designs, star of the Discovery Channel’s “American Chopper.” He’ll be on hand to talk to festival guests about all things on two wheels.

This three-day weekend event will also feature vendors, a bike show, motorcycle rodeo and food. Among the highlights:

n “Cars & Country” Sunday Car Show, hosted by Pete Tromboni, founder of Sarasota’s popular Cars & Coffee event

n Motorcycle & Car Charity Dice Run, which will raise money for charity and concludes at the festival

Additional festival fundraisers include a sporting clay target shooting tournament and “Taste of Thunder,” featuring wine and spirit tastings from around the world paired with food.

“For nearly three decades, this festival has been a significant charity fundraiser in addition to being a celebration of music, community, and fun,” said Suncoast Charities for Children’s Executive Director Lucy Nicandri. “As we head into our 28th year, we’re thrilled to bring in some exciting new additions that we know attendees will love — while keeping the heart and spirit of the event alive.”

Tickets go on sale Oct. 1, beginning with general admission for $15. Also, premium-experience tickets will be available, with better access and seating options. On-site weekend camping is also available.

PR

Medical School: San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PR

Residency: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY

Certification: Board Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine

Hospital Affiliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Sarasota Doctors Hospital

From club to community

High school junior Jack L. said he was reserved and soft-spoken when he started with Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties in the eighth grade.

However, as he took to the stage to share his story, he credited the organization, for which he serves as a board member, with the growth he experienced, noting his participation in multiple programs.

“I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I can give back to an organization that has given me so much,” he said.

On Sept. 5, the 19th Annual IPG (Intertape Polymer Group) Leadership Breakfast, held at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, celebrated the organization’s mission while honoring two community leaders with the 2025 Leadership Award.

The honorees were Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design, and Heather Kasten, president and

CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

President of the college since 1999, Thompson formerly held roles that include the founding

and executive director of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the CEO of Flint Cultural Center in Michigan. A former chair of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design, he serves on its board as well as on boards of other organizations.

The 2025-26 school year will be his last year as president, with his tenure set to end in May 2026.

He told attendees that leadership is “not about titles, or accolades or being the smartest person in the room,” but about showing up and listening, to help others realize their potential.

“That’s what we strive to do at Ringling College, and that’s exactly what the Boys and Girls Club does every single day with these young people, and that’s why this award means so much to me, because it comes from a group whose mission and impact are not only aligned with my values, but also aligned with the values of the college,” he said.

He noted that Ringling College continues its engagement with the organization, which includes bringing up to five Boys & Girls Clubs members to participate in various studio classes in the college’s summer pre-college program.

Judy’s Recovery Story:

Finding strength after stroke through support and determination

It was a typical day for Judy Waldoff as she prepared math intervention lessons for her students. Suddenly, Judy started feeling unwell and decided to end her lesson planning early. As Judy stepped off the front steps of the school she realized: “I’m having a stroke!”

Judy couldn’t recall how she made it home — but she remembers seeing her husband Joe standing at the back

door of their home as she was trying to get out of the car. “It felt like my feet were all tangled together,” she recalled. She also couldn’t move the left side of her body, another telltale sign of a stroke.

The road to rehabilitation

After Judy was stabilized, she sought inpatient rehabilitation at Encompass Health. When she arrived, she

couldn’t walk, move or even sit up on her own. “I’m going from a person who goes from 200 miles per hour to doing absolutely nothing for myself,” Judy said. “They taught me how to brush my hair — how to put my clothes on.”

Prior to joining the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce as president and CEO in 2019, Heather Kasten served in the same roles at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.

She has also long been involved in the region and community, serving on boards and advisory councils that include CareerSource, United Way Suncoast, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

She also received nationwide recognition when she joined the 2025 Class of Certified Chamber Executives.

Kasten said when she thinks about the impact of the club in the community, she is reminded that leadership is a daily choice rather than a title.

“Today’s teens face pressures that most of us adults have never had to navigate: constant comparison, nonstop noise, and the sense that one mistake can follow you forever,” she said. “That’s why places like this club matter. It gives young people something rare and valuable: a safe, steady place to figure things out and to practice being the person that they want to become.”

— IAN SWABY

From sitting to standing and walking

In therapy, Judy’s conditions felt overwhelming but with the help of her physical therapist, she could see the start of a new journey. “Mrs. Judy’s progress was like nothing I’ve ever experienced in recovery,” said Gary, her physical therapist. “She was distraught and had to battle through those mental barriers before making any progress. One day you are standing in front of a mirror trying to get her to stand up straight. By the grace of God, Judy was able to start moving her hand, and she improved from there. Watching her progress and knowing that we had a small part in her recovery — it’s humbling.”

Judy’s road to recovery was no easy feat, but the support of the Encompass Health team gave her the willpower she needed and changed her life. “You can feel it in the way they treat you when you are here,” Judy said. “I was thinking, this is just going to be a hospital. I’ve never imagined going to a place like this.”

St. Armands rides high

St. Armands Circle has played host to a plethora of curiosity-inspiring vehicles over the years, from the 1966 maroon Roadster that appeared in the 2009 “Star Trek” film to a 1956 Jaguar formerly owned by Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and all manner of stylish, rare contemporary cars.

The first car show of the season, Exotic Cars on the Circle, delighted onlookers with a variety of interesting wheels on Sept. 6. Proceeds from registration fees, sales of Christmas ornaments and other donations went to the Flight to the North Pole charity.

Wife-and-husband duo Sylvia Gillotte and Sidney Ettedgui are the leaders of the nonprofit, which began in 1985.

Gillotte said she appreciates the car community’s ongoing support for their aim to bring as much holiday cheer as possible to families with terminally ill children.

Sage Auto Studios and Ferrari Drivers SRQ hosted the annual car show, which

drew Porsches, Lamborghinis and, of course, Ferraris.

Along with plenty of new entries this year, the car show also welcomed some fan favorites, including the Batmobile owned by Eugene Nock.

The vehicle famously appeared in the 1960s “Batman” TV series and 1966’s “Batman: The Movie.”

Nock said nothing brings him pride like supporting organizations such as Flight to the North Pole over the years with the Gotham crimefighter’s famous ride.

This year’s Flight to the North Pole celebration is planned for Dec. 12 at Feld Entertainment.

Ettedgui said the organization has grown to support at least 400 children. For information on how to donate, visit FlightToTheNorthPole.org.

The next car show scheduled for St. Armands is Ferraris on the Circle, taking place on Nov. 1.

— DANA KAMPA

Car owner Gary Curry brought to the Exotic Cars on the Circle show his 2005 Ford GT, modeled after the Ford race car that finally dethroned Ferrari in the 1960s as the top-of-theline racing machine.

Harbor Acres home tops sales at $9.28 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

John and Carol Bruno, of Naples, sold their home at 1333 Vista Drive to Stuart Barzman, trustee, of Sarasota, for $9.28 million. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,844 square feet of living area. It sold for $7.85 million in 2021.

SARASOTA

BAY VIEW HEIGHTS

Pham Waterfront LLC sold the home at 1783 Bayview Drive to Adam Bruce Heeter, trustee, of Powell, Ohio, for $3.2 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, fourand-two-half baths, a pool and 3,640 square feet of living area.

GRANADA

Mission Property Partners LLC sold the home at 1559 Bay Road to 1559 Bay Road LLC for $2.55 million. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,336 square feet of living area.

HOLIDAY HARBOR

Thomas Heitmann sold the home at 7760 Holiday Drive to Curtis Potter, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2,425,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,502 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,595,000 in 2016.

PHILLIPPI GARDENS

John Brown sold his home at 2151 Lusitania Drive to Curtis Potter, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2 million. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,443 square feet of living area. It sold for $2 million in 2023.

HOMELANDS DEVELOPMENT

Timothy Casart and Kristine Alvtegen Casart, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2265 Clematis St. to Karen Turley, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1,652,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,285 square feet of living area. It sold for $320,000 in 2018.

SANSARA

Michael and Pamela Hogan, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 802 condominium at 300 S. Pineapple Ave. to Jeffrey Plank, of Weston, Massachusetts, for $1.65 million. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,291 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,885,000 in 2021.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 524 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Dawn Albrecht-Parys, of Sarasota, for $1.4 million. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. It sold for $751,000 in 2016.

AQUALANE ESTATES

Larry and Julia Schroeder, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1637 Stanford Lane to Thomas and Jennifer Lynch, of Sarasota, for $1,192,500. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,825 square

feet of living area. It sold for $193,000 in 1996.

THE LANDINGS

Anthony Paul Martinez and Krysta

Elise Johnson-Martinez sold their home at 4665 Pine Harrier Drive to Cecilia Galaviz Hilerio, of Sarasota, for $1.15 million. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,499 square feet of living area. It sold for $675,000 in 2020.

PAYNE PARK VILLAGE

Jason Ficks, of Winfield, Pennsylvania, sold his home at 2401 Ezzell Court to John Catalano and Ana Claudia Lacerda, of Sarasota, for $797,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 1,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $675,000 in 2022.

SOUTH GATE

Sarasota Home Advisors LLC sold the home at 2825 Pinecrest St. to Kersten Damosh and Seth Johnson, of Sarasota, for $700,000. Built in 1960, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $460,000 in 2022.

GROVE LAWN

Myron and Terri Nickel, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2151 Datura St. to Penny Efaplomatides, of Totowa, New Jersey, for $625,000. Built in 1953, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,022 square feet of living area. It sold for $245,000 in 2016.

PINE SHORES ESTATES FL Traders LLC sold the home at 6350 Glencoe Ave. to Ana Misetic, of Evanston, Illinois, for $530,000. Built in 1957, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,015 square feet of living area. It sold for $200,000 in 2020.

VILLAGE GREEN CLUB ESTATES Andrew Hodgson, of Sarasota, and Judy Brown, of Parrish, sold their home at 3336 Pembrook Drive to Bianca Rae Ventura, of Sarasota, for $525,000. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,790 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2020.

GULF GATE WOODS George and Kimberly Custer, Ryan Custer, Nicholas Custer and Dainelle Custer Mazza sold their home at 2301 Cass St. to Ailyn Del Valle and Alain Jose Del Valle, of Pflugerville, Texas, for $520,000.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,780 square feet of living area. It sold for $518,000 in 2024.

SIESTA KEY

GULF AND BAY CLUB

Averill Babson, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, sold her Unit 702 condominium at 5790 Midnight Pass Road to Joseph Charles Harsanyi and Maria Harsanyi, of Pasadena, Maryland, for $1.15 million. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,335 square feet of living area. It sold for $555,000 in 2005.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com.

Other top sales by area

SIESTA KEY: $1.2 MILLION

Gulf and Bay Club

Richard Mullern, trustee, of Dayton, Ohio, sold the Unit 402 condominium at 5740 Midnight Pass Road to Robert and Heather Bland, of Bloomington, Indiana, for $1.2 million. Built in 1986, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,337 square feet of living area. It sold for $729,000 in 2010.

PALMER RANCH: $1 MILLION

Sandhill Preserve

Norman and Carole Klingerman, of Sarasota, sold their home at 11176 Roseate Court to Marc Burrell and Lisa Liceaga, of Sarasota, for $1 million. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,704 square feet of living area. It sold for $645,000 in 2019.

OSPREY: $660,000

Park Trace Estates

Jan Chrostowski and Cate Kalkhoven Chrostowski, trustees, sold the home at to Barry Heller Properties LLC for $660,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,153 square feet of living area. It sold for $770,000 in 2024.

WEST FLORIDA’S PREMIER POOL BUILDER

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13

RUN & WALK CLUB FOR ALL

7:30-8:30 a.m. at The Nest, 1055

Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Runners and walkers new and experienced are invited to this program that aims to provide a community for all ages and levels of ability. Coach Elisha, a certified running coach and personal trainer, who provides a recommended route and plan each week, leads the club. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

LIBRARY STORY TIME AT THE BAY

YOUR CALENDAR

10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Reading Room, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. The Sarasota County Mobile Library will bring books for different ages and interests to The Bay. Learn about library services and get a library card. Bring kids for squirrel-themed storytime sessions lead by a local librarian. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 14

SUNDAYS AT THE BAY FEATURING

SHELBY SOL

6-7 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free performance by Shelby Sol during this concert series featuring a different local performer each week. A Tampa-based musician, Sol blends influences including Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, India.Arie Simpson and Moonchild, and has performed at events including Gasparilla Music Fest and Tampa’s Black Heritage Festival. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

DANCE AT THE BAY:

DANCING WITH DONALD

6:30-7:30 p.m. at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Join Donald Frison, resident choreographer at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, for a line dancing session. Each month, Frison teaches a new style of dance, such as the Cha-Cha Slide or the Cupid Shuffle. The event is part of Hispanic Heritage Month at The Bay, held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16

TEEN CRAFT ZONE: CLAY SEA TURTLES

5-6:30 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Ages 11-18. Create a sea turtle-themed bowl using air-dry clay with the help of Pop Up Art School. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.

BEST BET SATURDAY, SEPT. 13

AND SUNDAY, SEPT. 14

THIRD ANNUAL ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE ART FESTIVAL WITH CRAFT MARKETPLACE

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 1 St. Armands Circle. Free. Explore creations from local and national artists and crafters, including festival favorites and emerging artists, while enjoying the shops and restaurants of St. Armands Circle. Visit ArtFestival.com.

TERTULIA LATINA: AN EVENING OF SPANISH LITERATURE & LIVE MUSIC

6-8 p.m. at Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. Cost is $5.35. Hear from Latin American authors as they share their work, accompanied by live instrumental music, in this event by CreArte Latino Cultural Center and Bookstore1Sarasota. A “tertulia” is a social gathering with literary and artistic overtones. Visit EventBrite. com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17

TIME SIFTERS LECTURE SERIES: ‘TWO SHIPWRECKS OFF OF DOMINICA’

5:45-7:15 p.m. Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium 1331 First St. Free This month’s lecture by the Time Sifters Archaeology Society is “Two Shipwrecks off of Dominica, the 18th and 20th century,” presented by Marie Meranda. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.

FLORAL SHADOW BOXES

3-5 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Create a shadowbox of paper flowers created using a Cricut cutting machine. All materials are provided. First come, first seated. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18

CINEMA AT THE BAY: ‘WEST SIDE STORY’

7:30-10 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free outdoor movie under the stars at The Bay from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This week’s movie is the original “West Side Story.” Visit TheBaySarasota. org.

SPORTS

FAST BREAK

Hudson West lit the gridiron ablaze. The sophomore quarterback and Division I recruit racked up 326 yards and five touchdowns on 22-for-35 passing, leading Sarasota (2-1) to a decisive 47-20 victory over North Port (0-3) the night of Sept. 5. The Sailors were aided further by Viktor Monoki’s 170 all-purpose yards and pair of scores. Just this past Sunday, Division II Bentley offered the senior wide receiver. Sarasota’s road trip rolls on to St. Petersburg to battle Gibbs this week. ... Through sunshine, clouds or lightning, the Cougars cruised. Cardinal Mooney football (2-1) eased past Rockledge (0-3) to the tune of a 39-3 score. The contest was called midway through the third quarter due to inclement weather. Senior wide receiver Kymistrii Young — a Purdue commit — has guided the offensive attack, leading all pass-catchers with 217 yards on just 12 receptions entering Week 3. A visit to Tampa Berkeley Prep on Friday now looms for the team.

... In Clearwater, Booker football translated its positive momentum from a week ago. The group took down Calvary Christian (2-1) via a 43-21 effort to reach 2-1 this fall. Dylan Wester — a senior wide receiver — was lethal in the passing game for the Tornadoes, tallying 145 receiving yards on seven catches and two touchdowns to boot. Three different players scored on the ground for coach Carlos Woods’ crew, which now shifts its attention to defending Class 4A state semifinalist Naples.

... Sarasota Christian boys golf triumphed in its third consecutive match last Thursday by a one-stroke margin against Gulf Coast HEAT. Junior Isaiah Miller stepped up to the final hole with the match tied, and sunk a par to win it for the Blazers. His mark of 41 on the outing was bested only by junior Hayden Rogers’ 40. The group has Lakewood Ranch Prep on the docket for Thursday.

“My goal is I just want us to have a winning season ... and hopefully we go really far. I just hope we do our thing.”

TALENT, DEPTH DRIVING RAMS

Riverview girls volleyball won four of its first six matches as district title defense rolls on.

JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER

No abundance of results was necessary for Jason Mocherman to realize what he has at his disposal. Less than one month of the season has transpired.

He doesn’t yet know how far his team might go. He just knows what he sees every day he enters the gym.

“This is by far the most talented team I’ve coached,” said the thirdyear coach. “We’re deeper than we’ve ever been. The camaraderie on the team is better than I’ve ever seen.”

Riverview girls volleyball is off and running this fall — to winning results, at that. The Rams claimed four of their first five matches, and in that time, outscored the opposition by a combined 12-6 in sets.

After suffering a sweep at the hands of Palm Harbor in the 2024 Class 7A regional quarterfinals, Riverview defeated that program 3-1 to kick off 2025. The team then expanded its resume by toppling Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Braden River without allowing more than one set to each.

Only Venice and Bradenton Christian have solved the squad as of Monday. The former is a defending regional finalist in 7A, whereas the latter plays several levels below in Class 2A.

The Rams’ winning start is nearly a mirror image of last year’s campaign, which also began with a 4-1 record, but to the tune of a plus-8 set differential and against a different set of foes. They would eventually secure the honor of 7A-District 12 champions.

But that’s the past. This is the present, and for Mocherman’s staff, learning how to reap rewards from an even more plentiful pool of talent is

an ongoing process.

“We’re a little deeper across the net. We’ve got weapons across all six positions,” Mocherman said. “We just haven’t quite figured out how to utilize the weapon in every single situation. Right now, it’s about setting a baseline, and we’ve worked really hard to set a quality baseline.”

Last season’s team leaders in kills, aces, blocks, digs and assists are all gone. The graduation of stalwarts Gabrielle Meese, Courtney Parrish and Mia Gagliardi played a big part in that.

To replace lost production, Riverview returned 50% of its 2024 roster. Six of those seven returners are seniors — each now composing their high school volleyball swan songs.

Jadyn Brester is one of those crucial cogs.

The right setter/outside hitter/ middle blocker racked up 127 kills on 352 attempts as a junior, placing second among her teammates in kill percentage per MaxPreps. She also ranked fourth in total sets by appearing in 65 of the 71 played by the Rams.

With new setters to work with, Brester is still adjusting to the oncourt components around her, but also understands the responsibilities that come with the role she stepped into.

“I’m very vocal, but I’m not the most cheerleader-y person, and I know as a senior. I’m trying to be better at that,” Brester said. “I’ll try and make an action like a dig or a kill to get the team fired up — that’s a way I try to lead.”

Also back in the fold are junior outside hitter/defensive setter Lyla Bailey, senior defensive setter Lola Hinrichs, senior right setter/middle blocker Brooke Rogers and senior outside hitter/defensive setter Aubrey Mocherman. Each of them sat high on the stats sheet in some respect when all was said and done last fall.

Bringing back such a group has reduced the hurdle of bond-building to no hurdle at all. The focus instead can be squarely on converting camaraderie into chemistry.

Riverview volleyball's Jason Mocherman looks on during a match. The third-year coach previously led the program to the 2024 FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinals.

“This

is by

far the most talented

team I’ve coached ... The camaraderie on the team is better than I’ve ever seen.”

Riverview volleyball coach Jason Mocherman

Hinrichs sees it as the Rams’ distinguishing strength.

“We’re definitely very close in relationships on and off the court, which helps with the molding of the team,” Hinrichs said. “If we don’t like each other off the court, it’s going to be really hard to like each other on the court.”

A tough regular season is only just getting started. Mocherman made a point of not scheduling any easy opponents in the interest of preparing for the postseason rather than building up their record.

That much was evident when Venice and Bradenton Christian dealt Riverview sweeping defeats on Aug. 26 and Sept. 4, respectively.

And even with the benefit of established connections, there’s work to be done. The coaching staff still hasn’t found a concrete starting lineup among its 15 players despite trying various combinations.

“Volleyball is such a mental game. We’re physically strong, but I feel like we’re not as mentally focused as we need to be on the court,” Mocherman said. “It’s a tenacity that, this team as a whole, just hasn’t found the ability to do together.”

But he knows there’s a little something extra to this team.

Something different. Something special.

Made possible by a potent blend of talent and camaraderie, these Rams have a certain potential he hasn’t seen before in his tenure. The road ahead can unlock it.

NELSON’S NOGGIN JACK NELSON

New sportswriter is back among the palms

knew I would miss palm trees upon boarding my flight to Boston. They appeared increasingly smaller beneath me as the plane ascended, and amid the bittersweet sentiments I felt as a new UCLA graduate, a strange reality sank in. Those swaying fronds were behind me for good.

No more would I regularly stroll around a campus decorated with them. No more would I regularly attend sporting events where they encircled the venue.

Like many others who journey to tropical areas of the globe, I came to associate these trees with a certain sense of reassurance — a sign of peace and relaxation ahead. But the education I absorbed over four hard years tells me otherwise.

Aesthetics aside, palm trees do little good for the climate around them. They produce a negligible amount of oxygen, offer sparse shade and they guzzle up water. The Climate Science degree hanging on my wall always reminds me of that much.

Then again, science didn’t bring me here to East County and Sarasota. There are different stories to be told.

I’m honored to introduce myself — Jack Nelson — as your newest sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Florida has been my home for just over a week, but my excitement about this new opportunity has been building up for far longer.

My detour from STEM student to sports nut seems odd, but to me, it’s not much of a detour at all. I grew up in the golden age of Boston professional sports. It was only natural to admire championship culture and idolize superstars.

By the time I departed from my hometown of Scituate, Massachusetts, for college, a love for the wide world of sports burned bright. But it was never cultivated as an athlete myself.

A lion’s share of my playing days were spent on the diamond. When my time in the dugout began to outweigh my time on the field, I tried my hand at tennis. Both careers were ill-fated, so, like many other journalists past and present, I turned to writing to feed my hunger.

Admittance to UCLA felt like a stroke of luck. Joining the Daily Bruin was a stroke of genius.

My start with the school’s independent, student-run newspaper was a humble one — covering men’s tennis matches remotely as a freshman during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporting at the Rose Bowl and Pauley Pavilion three years later felt that much more rewarding because of it.

Working as a student journalist is how I discovered the blueprint to who I am now. Time has passed

since my graduation in June 2024, but to this day, it’s impossible to forget such a foundation.

More recently, I served as a high school sports clerk for MassLive, an experience which showed me the ever-valuable, yet often-daunting nature of prep coverage. Either beads of sweat rolled down my face in the heat or my fingers lost feeling in the cold as I furiously wrote stories from the passenger seat of my car.

You can also find my byline in the NBA and USA Basketball — opportunities that, at one point, had me sitting at the same table as LeBron James and Stephen Curry. I sure can’t dunk, but I sure love writing about one.

A new adventure has arrived. And even if the plentiful Sabal palmettos suggest otherwise, this will be no vacation.

I intend to give my all in the interest of bringing untold stories to life. From the outset, I seek to understand the ins and outs of this thriving athletic community at the heart of southwest Florida.

That process begins with having conversations and building relationships. Whether it’s a casual introduction, a formal interview or anything in between, I fully believe that maintaining trust is paramount to my position.

I’ll never sway from the facts that fuel my storytelling. Quality, accuracy and speed are the tenets of my daily grind. I expect nothing less of myself, and you reserve the right to expect nothing less either in that regard.

That being said, the journey has only just begun. I plan on hitting the ground running, but as I’m getting my bearings, help is greatly appreciated by this 23-year-old reporter. Tips, story ideas, questions, concerns and more are always welcomed.

It was a big decision to leave my life behind in Massachusetts. The gravity of it all hit me when the Amtrak auto train I was supposed to take here was canceled — after I had already driven all the way to Virginia — and I wound up driving all 20-plus hours alone.

To make such a move, I always told myself it would have to be the right position, and the right time. Both are true beyond a shadow of doubt. How wonderful it is to see those swaying fronds once more. They look more beautiful than ever.

Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.

Noah Chieffo

Players spend an entire game assembling the sort of numbers Noah Chieffo put up on Sept. 5. He merely needed a quarter.

Riverview football (2-0-1) endured a lengthy lightning delay and fought on past midnight to secure a Week 3 home victory over Palmetto (1-1) in 38-35 fashion.

Chieffo is a senior wide receiver/ tight end playing his first and only season with the program. The 6-foot-5, 208-pound Venice transfer tallied 185 yards and two touchdowns on just five catches in the opening quarter.

When and why did you start playing football?

I just love it. I loved hitting when I was little ... I love the violent part of it. When I was 4 years old, I was driving by and I saw people playing football. I told my dad I wanted to play it, and ever since, I’ve just been playing football.

What’s been the highlight of your season so far?

It would be my teammates and coaches, because I’ve never had teammates and coaches that acted the way they have since I transferred from Venice. The coaching staff and my teammates have been amazing.

What’s the most humbling moment you’ve had as a player?

Getting to our level and knowing that you have a lot more work you have to do to get up to where you need to go. Knowing that you have to work hard to get where you need to be.

What are your goals for your senior season with Riverview?

I want us to go very far. I’ve known Riverview since I live 30 minutes away in Venice, so I know how Riverview is. My goal is I just want us to have a winning season, have a great season and hopefully we go really far. I just hope we do our thing.

If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be? Odell Beckham Jr. — that is my dog. I loved him even before the one-

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

handed catches. I love his tattoos, love the way he runs his routes. Odell Beckham Jr. for sure.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

If I had to live somewhere — stay, settle down in the place I really want to live — it would have to be New York. I want to live in New York so bad. But for a vacation, I’d want to visit Paris or Hawaii.

If you were stuck on a desert island with only one item, what would you bring?

I’d have to go with a bag of supplies.

I’d probably get deodorant, clothes (and) maybe some food. Depends on how long I’m staying there. If I’m staying for a long time, I might just have to tough it out and just get a bottle of water.

What is your favorite meal?

My stepmom just came up with this Alfredo. I’m not going to lie, (my favorite) used to be steak and mac & cheese, but ever since she made that, I’m going to have to go with chicken Alfredo. She makes her own type of dish, but I call it chicken Alfredo and it’s so good.

What is your go-to, pregame music?

This is a Florida rapper. His name is Hotboii and he gets me (energized) every time. He’s (been) my favorite rapper ever since I moved to Florida and gets me hyped for every game. That’s all I need to listen to. I literally have a whole playlist just of him.

Finish this sentence. Noah Chieffo is ... Ready to put in hard work, ready to get down to business and definitely not ready to quit – never.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

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