Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 4.25.24

A rising fascination

Dracen Arnold, 10, was excited to learn all about air and air pressure at Selby Library on April 22 — but it wasn’t in a “by the book” fashion. He was one of the kids who had the chance to slide back and forth across the floor of the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium aboard the “hovercraft” in the event “Mad Science: Up, Up, and Away.”

The hovercraft, created by Mad Science of Greater Tampa Bay, demonstrated how an air cushion beneath a surface could counteract air pressure from on top

“I loved it; it was really cool,” he said of the experience.

The event was part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days, a 15-day festival of free educational events for children and families held in various locations, including Sarasota County’s libraries, from April 20 to May 4.

An event to float boats

Ed and Amanda Wilds may have flown from Texas just to visit the Suncoast Boat Show, and they were not disappointed.

Presented by Boat Owners Warehouse, the show took place April 19-21 at Marina Jack along 65,000 square feet of dock space.

Attendee Dani Dumi said he comes to the show, now in its 42nd year, each year with his friends due to its accessibility, calling the scene “gorgeous.” It featured boats both in water and on land and also included vendors with other related products and the Kids Fishing Clinics to keep younger guests entertained.

“What we like about the show is how friendly all of the people here are,” said Michael Sparks, stating it was a topnotch experience in comparison to other boat shows. “We go to the shows in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach. We go to them all.”

WALKING ON SUNSHINE

WEEK OF APRIL 25, 2024

CALENDAR

n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, May 6, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

n Sarasota Planning Board regular meeting — 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

“I went into this thinking we should never get rid of the David because it’s such a unique thing. I don’t want to see David again.”

Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert on the city logo. Read more on page 3

Downtown drivers will have to find an alternative route to Ringling Boulevard between Orange and Osprey avenues as a nine-month project to convert the intersection of Ringling and Pine Place into a roundabout begins.

Construction to replace the signalized intersection is expected to begin on Monday, April 29. Westbound lanes between Osprey Avenue and Rawls Avenue will be closed beginning April 29. The full intersection will close to traffic beginning Saturday,

May 4. The average daily vehicle count through the intersection was 7,300 in 2022. Although the intersection will be closed, access will remain open to the U.S. Post Office, Sarasota County Administration Building and adjacent properties and businesses.

The work on the intersection comes in advance of Benderson Development’s redevelopment of the County Administration Building after the county vacates by the end of 2025. The city’s project team is coordinating

with the contractor, Ajax Paving, to minimize impacts to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

The project will include warning lights for pedestrian crossings, paver brick crosswalks, a landscaped center island and improvements to surrounding green spaces. This project will complete a string of roundabouts along Ringling Boulevard including Palm Avenue, Pineapple Avenue and Orange Avenue.

Construction is expected to conclude by January 2025.

SPD hosts National Drug Take-Back Day

The Sarasota Police Department will partner with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

The event will allow residents to prevent pill abuse and theft by removing from their homes and properly disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Although the drop box in the lobby of SPD headquarters is available year-round, residents are encouraged to bring unwanted drugs to the headquarters at 2099 Adams Lane or the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center at 1750 17th St. Officers will collect only tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

Voter advocacy group touts Aug. 20 primary

To encourage informed participation in the upcoming primary election, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County is kicking off a getout-the-vote campaign. Designed to reach full-time and seasonal residents who are registered to vote in Florida.

The League’s 2024 “Your Vote is Your Voice” campaign is designed to emphasize the importance of the August primary, eliminate confusion regarding who can vote and to provide voters with the information they need to register to vote and renew their vote-by-mail status.

Not all races in the Aug. 20 election are primaries. It is likely to be the final election for two school board members and the District 1 County Commission seat.

Only 36% of voters voted in the 2022 primary.

“There’s too much at stake in the August election to have just a sliver of our residents take part,” said Shawn Barteit, president of League of Women Voters of Sarasota County, in a news release. “That’s why we are launching the most ambitious and comprehensive educational outreach plan in our history.”

For more information, contact Barteit at President@LWVSRQ.org.

Dumping David?

City commissioners remain divided over whether to include the likeness of the statue of David in the city’s logo redesign.

By 1988, Sarasota was fully immersed in its identity as a city of the arts. So its leaders at the time decided to adopt a silhouette of the famous — some might say infamous — bronze replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David, which stands in the courtyard of The Ringling Museum of Art, as central to the city logo.

With David peering over their shoulders on April 15, as he always does during City Commission meetings from behind the dais, current leadership debated whether he should remain as the iconic symbol of the city, or be replaced by something more contemporary.

After contracting Sarasota-based branding and marketing firm DreamLarge to guide the city through a new city seal design process in 2022, it went in-house to create a new logo, tasking Marketing and Outreach Coordinator — and graphic artist — Ciera Coleman, for the work.

Her assignment was threefold: refresh David, modernize David, and do something else entirely.

The April 15 meeting was the first opportunity for commissioners to officially discuss the project with Coleman. They first saw a range of concepts from all three options during a Feb. 12 informal workshop, when they offered suggestions for refinements. At both the workshop and the most recent meeting, they clearly leaned toward  “something else,” a geometric acronym for City of Sarasota, the letters COS evoking the city’s role in contemporary architecture, eschewing centuriesold art.

But they also weren’t ready to dump David just yet.

“David is unique to Sarasota,” Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch said. “It’s the only one that exists in the hemisphere to have that exact size and material, so it is a unique piece of art.”

Mayor Liz Alpert, though, is clearly opposed to David as the city’s ongoing identity, going so far as to say she never wants to see it in any future designs.

“I went into this thinking we should never get rid of the David because it’s such a unique thing,” Alpert said. “I don’t want to see David again. I’m looking at these other iterations and I’m just like, what is this doing there?

I just think we should just do a total rebrand and get rid of the David in my view.”

While her colleagues at the dais were divided on that point, they appeared to be open to suggestion.  Commissioner Erik Arroyo was ready to move forward with “something else.” Ahearn-Koch and Debbie Trice wanted to see refinements of a couple of David options — perhaps incorporated into a more modern approach — while Kyle Battie appeared planted firmly in the middle.

“David has become so iconic that it is recognized probably even outside of the state of Florida,” Trice said. “I’m wondering who is the audience

for this logo? Is it so the people at the city of Sarasota can say, ‘Rah, rah, we’ve got a pretty logo,’ or is it representing the city in the wider scope of the state and possibly beyond the state?”

NO ‘SNAKE DAVID’

Among Coleman’s design options in the Refresh David category was the full-length statue superimposed over a stylized capital S, which she noted appears to give him a tail. Ahearn-Koch and Trice referred to it as “Snake David,” which sealed the fate of that prospect.

There was some consensus to a concept of David superimposed over what could be described as an ocean wave or a paint brush stroke, evoking two notable identifying characteristics of the city. The motion eventually made by Trice, included some refinements to that concept.

Similar to the Feb. 12 workshop, though, the momentum moved toward the COS concept, which Coleman said offers versatility in branding various departments and events with images contained within the geometric shapes. It also brings the city into the 21st century, and responds to public input that the city’s identity has now advanced beyond only the arts.

“Being a city with so many accolades, we do have now a worldwide audience, which could be argued as a reason to want to have a logo that is not potentially mistaken for Flor-

ence, Italy,” Coleman told commissioners. “It gives us a lot of opportunity to utilize it in ways that are very dynamic and could be representative of not just one aspect of the city.

“The amount of answers that we received with regard to what Sarasota means to people was so varied, and this is something could potentially encompass all of those things.”

That approach resulted in designs that can include David as part of Sarasota’s identity rather than the entirety of it. In addition, the COS concept offers branding opportunities that look toward the future while also incorporating the city’s history.

“We wanted to design a logo that is modern, dynamic, creative and unique to showcase the city of Sarasota as an arts leader, highlight our city’s natural features and beauty, honor our city’s unique history and look toward an aspirational future,” Coleman said. “We’d also like to create some congruency with the city seal and the overall brand identity of the city.”

That congruency is found in the color palette of the design produced

THE BEACH COMES

FIRST

In her research for data to guide a new city logo, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Ciera Coleman conducted a branding survey in which 95% of respondents live in Sarasota, 85% of them full-time residents. Of the responses, when people think of Sarasota, it showed: The beach: 27.64%

The bayfront: 17.56%

The arts: 12.96%

Downtown: 12.22%

Ringling Bridge: 8.44%

Ringling Museum/Ca D’Zan: 5.23%

City skyline: 3.18%

St. Armands Circle: 3.10%

Ringling Brothers Circus: 1.53%

Newtown Historic District: 0.30%

Other: 7.84%

“I definitely got a lot of feedback where there were people who didn’t understand the connection to the David or why it was so important to the city of Sarasota,” Coleman told city commissioners. “The statue of David is not unique to Sarasota. It is a replica. But what we have here with the Sarasota modern architecture movement, and that’s why we were so intrigued by it, is that it was unique to the city of Sarasota, It’s not just modern architecture. It’s modern architecture that was adapted to our climate and adapted to the needs of our city.”

by DreamLarge, that concept incorporating public participation in the form of a design contest from which elements were curated to achieve the finished product.

Setting no time frame to revisit the logo, commissioners instructed Coleman to bring back five options with further refinement and to facilitate additional public input. To the latter, City Manager Marlon Brown pointed out no members of the public signed up to speak on the subject, but that Coleman will forge ahead.

“We’re still trying to make everybody happy,” Coleman said. “We’ll see how that goes.”

Universal bliss notwithstanding, once a new logo is selected the rebranding process can take years, perhaps as many as five, to fully implement across the city’s many assets. For example, regularly scheduled replacements, such as signage, that are regularly budgeted can be transitioned gradually rather than absorbing 100% of the costs at one time and out of phase.

“We are proposing a phased approach, which would be over the course of maybe three to five years,” Government Affairs Director Jennifer Jorgensen told commissioners. “From a cost perspective, doing a phased approach also allows us to utilize operational budgets and operational expenses that are already out there for a brand refresh. It’s already in the budget, so that is what we would be proposing for any phased logo transition for this situation.”

Abating grace

City paid parking changes include reducing grace period to one hour in city-owned garages.

Among the multiple changes the Sarasota City Commission recently adopted to the city’s paid parking program, three of them required a legislative public hearing to amendment the city code.

On March 4, City Parking Division staff gave a presentation to the City Commission recommending proposed changes to the parking program, which received approval for all but the three required amendments to the code. Those changes included:

■ That parking meters accept credit card payments only.

■ To keep the exemption from paid parking and parking time limits on Sundays and holidays, while clarifying that public safety-related parking enforcement may still occur.

■ Reducing the initial free parking period in city-owned parking garages from two hours to one hour.

It was determined by staff that no businesses would be impacted by the amendments, but they would result in a potential of $150,246 in additional revenue from individual users. That revenue is projected as a result of a reduction of the grace period — or free parking — from two hours to one hour in city-owned parking garages, prompting debate among commissioners divided over that issue.

The grace period reduction coincides with plans to implement a gateless garage system, which is intended to not only result in savings in maintenance and personnel costs, but also to more efficiently move vehicles, particularly as many leave at the same time following an event. Commissioners were sharply divided on losing that free hour,

with the amendment approved by a 3-2 vote with Erik Arroyo and Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed.

Parking Division General Manager Broxton Harvey said enforcement of the new garage policy will be implemented gradually, mostly with warnings for the first three to six months until parkers become accustomed to the change.

“What is the possibility that I could get a ticket even if I stayed less than two hours?” asked City Manager Marlon Brown of the gap between old policy and new.

“If you stayed less than two hours, we’ll more than likely give you a warning.”

Harvey added that habitual offenders will likely not be so fortunate.

Previously, the city commission approved the adoption of other parking changes including:

■ Convert 80 free parking spaces on Benjamin Franklin Boulevard along Lido Beach from free parking to metered parking.

■ Eliminate parking citation waivers for first-time offenders.

■ Initiate Centennial Park boat ramp parking fees at $5 for single vehicles and $10 for vehicles with boat trailers.

■ Initiate a fee of $1 per hour for use of electric vehicle charging stations in city-owned garages.

■ Increase appeals fee from $7.50 to $25 to cover the cost of the magistrate. Customers who win the appeal do not pay the citation or appeals fee.

New player emerges for Payne Park Auditorium

UnidosNow wants to propose a plan to renovate the building without expansion for a Hispanic/Latino hub.

Even as the Sarasota Players have begun the process of working toward approval of their plans to expand Payne Park Auditorium, a new player has entered the stage.

During its first meeting before the city’s Development Review Committee on April 17, The Stage at Payne Park, a subsidiary of the Sarasota Players, heard of plenty of issues to be addressed prior to its next round before the panel of city department representatives.

But in the days prior another local organization, UnidosNow, submitted notice to the city that it has plans to only renovate the existing building whereas The Stage plans to triple the size of the structure, rendering the existing facility as backstage and office space.

For the time being, though, UnidosNow will have to wait its turn.

Former Sarasota city commissioner, mayor and UnidosNow board member Kelly Kirschner has submitted an unsolicited proposal to lease the facility from the city. In an email to city officials, he wrote, “Beyond serving as a vital hub for the Latin community and centralizing UnidosNow administrative offices in the auditorium, we would seek to partner with CreArte Latino to host Spanish-language theatrical performances and educational events open to the entire community.”

As the city has already agreed in principal to a lease with the Sarasota Players — formerly The Players Centre for Performing Arts — pending approval of its plans, City Manager Marlon Brown responded to Kirschner in an email that the pro-

cess of approving or denying plans proposed by The Stage must first work its way through approval or denial.

Presuming it receives full DRC sign-off, plans for The Stage will go before the City Commission for consideration.

“Just a heads up that this discussion should just center only on if the negotiations with the Players fall through,” Brown wrote in an email to Kirschner. “(City Attorney) Bob Fournier will have to weigh in on the discussion since we are in the middle of discussions and negotiations with the Players since this was directed by the City Commission.”

Meanwhile, civic activist Kelly Franklin pressed Fournier in an email on when the city may entertain the

UnidosNow proposal. Fournier responded that there is no set due date for The Stage’s application, no set date for when the City Commission may discuss a final plan and vote on either the lease or the major conditional use and site plan.

The commission has final say as Payne Park Auditorium is zoned Government.

“I would think that the major conditional use/site plan would have to be approved prior to consideration of a lease, although both matters could be discussed at the same meeting,” Fournier wrote to Franklin.

For now, though, there appears to be no appetite for halting the process with The Stage, which was formed by Sarasota Players to raise funds, plan, build and operate the facility.

“If the City Commission is not willing to consider the expanded proposal, then perhaps the applicant should be made aware of that now before they are put to the time and expense of preparing, submitting and processing their application only to ultimately be denied,” Fournier wrote. “On the other hand, if the City Commission is open to consideration of the expanded proposal, then it might be advisable to provide clarification to the city manager that he still has authorization to consent to the filed application for development approval on cityowned land.”

Franklin’s objection to the expansion proposal is, in part, that it violates the deed restrictions of the park deeded to the city in 1925 by Calvin

and Martha Payne. That was under the premise that the land be used for “a park, playground and kindred uses and for no other purpose.”

Whether an expanded auditorium onto green space is considered a “kindred use” may be subject to interpretation. And there is precedent. Payne Park Auditorium was built inside the park in 1962.

SITE PLAN CHALLENGES

In its first meeting with the DRC, plans presented by The Stage met several obstacles that must be overcome prior to DRC sign-off. Some were minor — missing calculations for bicycle and handicapped parking, stormwater retention area documentation, demonstration of adequate waste container facilities, etc.  Others were more complex. Turnaround capacity for fire equipment was deemed inadequate, two water lines run perhaps beneath the planned expansion and must be relocated, and a grand tree that stands where the north side of the expansion would be built must remain.

“We’ve looked into trying to move some of the structure,” said project consultant Marty Black, who was a key player in building the Atlanta Braves spring training complex in Wellen Park near North Port. “We’ve got the utility mains that are close to the south side, so maybe we need to have a discussion on how to do that because the reclaimed water lines serve a good portion of the downtown area. We don’t necessarily want to shut down those lines to move them. That would be quite an impact to the community.”

Senior Arborist Donald Ullom, though, wouldn’t budge on the grand tree.

“I’m loathe to allow the removal of a grand tree on city property when we’re working so hard to maintain those, so we’re going to ask for you to redesign,” Ullom said.

In addition to a resubmittal to the DRC, because the application shows an increase in intensity since the first community workshop in September 2023, a second session will be required.

Deal breakers

FAA memo details agency’s initial denial of airport land sale to New College. An appeal is likely.

n To ensure that that airport owner or operator pays not more than fair market value in the context of a commercial transaction for the acquisition of land or facilities on such land.

n To enforce any terms contained in a Surplus Property Act instrument of transfer.

the Federal

Administration’s preliminary denial to sell 31 acres of airport land to New College, and all indications are that he will, he now holds the agency’s specific objections to the deal.

Two days after he received a letter from the FAA stating that it will not permit the airport to close on the $11.5 million deal, he received a determination memo from the FAA’s Orlando Airports District Office that provided the basis for the decision.

That memo was dated March 14, 2024, a full month before he was notified by the FAA.

The memo notes changes in federal law that require the FAA to revisit whether its approval is needed for certain types of airport projects and actions. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, in general, limits the agency’s authority to directly or indirectly regulate an airport operator’s transfer or disposal of certain types of airport land.

Exceptions include areas where the FAA retains authority are:

n To ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft or safety of people and property on the ground related to aircraft operations.

n To regulate land or a facility acquired or modified using federal funding.

n To ensure an airport owner or operator receives not less than fair market value in the context of a commercial transaction for the use, lease, encumbrance, transfer or disposal of land; any facilities on such land; or any portion of such land or facilities.

n To exercise any authority dealing with passenger facility charges. Not all of those applied to the airport’s proposal to transfer property currently leased to New College, but the initial letter received on April 15 highlighted some issues, which included what it called invalid real estate comparables to determine fair market value and the existence and future plans to include residential use adjacent to airport property.

The letter referenced the “Section 163 Determination” document, which was not included. That memorandum arrived two days later. It specified that the FAA has authority over the disposal of SRQ property as the land was transferred from military to civilian use in 1947 under the Surplus Property Act of 1944 and, like all commercial airports, it accepts FAA funding.

“This determination only addresses FAA’s approval authority for this project,” the memo reads. “It is not a determination that the project complies with the sponsor’s federal grant assurances. The sponsor (airport) must continue to comply with all of its federal grant obligations.”

MANY STRINGS ATTACHED

When airport owners or administrators, in this case the SarasotaManatee Airport Authority, accept funds from FAA-administered airport financial assistance programs, they must agree to a 39-item list of obligations that require airports to operate in accordance with specified conditions.

With regard to SRQ, the determination memo states SMAA must continue to comply with all of its federal grant obligations, including but not limited to:

n Grant Assurance No. 5, Preserving Rights and Powers.

-

the purpose of

whether the ALP (Airport Layout

change for the proposed disposal requires FAA approval, we have determined that the proposed disposal would have no impact on aircraft operations at, to or from SRQ and would not adversely affect the safety of people or property on the ground adjacent to the airport as a result of aircraft operations,” the determination letter reads. “We have also determined that the proposed disposal would not have an adverse effect on the value of prior federal investments to a significant extent. Therefore, the FAA lacks the legal authority to approve or disapprove changes to the SRQ ALP to reflect the proposed disposal.”

Where the FAA does have authority, though, are areas in which the FAA determined the airport’s application to be incomplete.

n Land use: “A release request in accordance with Form and Content of Requests for Release, is required to be submitted for the property in question.”

n Applicability of National Environmental Policy Act: “The (SMAA) will be required to perform an appropriate environmental review consistent with NEPA.

n Airport layout plan: An updated ALP and property map should be submitted to the Orlando District Office.

In addition to those included in the determination memo, objections in the denial letter included:

“The FAA does not believe the proposal demonstrates a benefit to civil aviation or the national airspace system, other than providing for some operational income that may fund undisclosed aeronautical development. However ... there are concerns with the appraisal for the land, existing lease and the proposed fair market value of the property.”

NO PRAISE FOR APPRAISALS

In its initial denial of the sale of airport land to New College, the FAA identified what it determined were incompatible commercial land sale comparables.

They included:

n A self-storage facility of 732 units 40 miles away from the subject property.

n An undisclosed commercial space located approximately 26 miles away.

n A pending sale property zoned for institutional/commercial/industrial located about eight miles away.

n A pending sale for property zoned as “open use rural” located about 10 miles away.

n A pending sale for planned development of residential multifamily located about six miles away.

“These comparable sales are not thought to be similar to the highest and best use of this property, which the (SMAA) states are medical/institutional/charitable office and meeting space.

Note, the highest and best use should be airport/light industrial, or possibly commercial use.”

“The highest and best use of the property has been identified by the sponsor-commissioned appraisals as ‘office space for speculation/ development.’ The area has been zoned as property for medical, charitable and institutional development, which could include office space and meeting space, but residential and recreational use is not necessarily specified. It should be noted that FAA guidance requires all airport properties to be zoned airport/light industrial, consistent with federal grant assurances.”

“It appears the appraisal was conducted for only 8.85(+-) acres of airport property instead of the expected 30.94(+-) acres ... The appraisal was unclear on the rental valuation and also did not include a review appraisal as suggested by FAA guidance.”

Neither Piccolo nor New College officials provided further comment about the FAA’s preliminary determination. Any appeal may be made either to the Orlando Airports District Office, the Atlanta Regional Office or directly to FAA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

An attack on religion?

A new Biden rule on immigration is forcing thousands of foreign-born clergy to leave their churches, temples and synagogues.

The arrogance of the Biden administration and its unelected, authoritarian regulators and the fecklessness of Congress know no bounds. You might also say the Biden administration’s obvious assault against Christians is marching forward with punitive force.

We say all of that in the wake of an announcement in this week’s Sunday bulletin at St. Martha Catholic Church.

Pastor George Suszko announced that the Rev. Krzysztof “Chris” Frost is leaving St. Martha and the United States because of the Biden administration’s surprise change in green card rules in March 2023 — and because of Congress’ subsequent lack of will to act.

New rules — imposed by the Department of State and not legislated by Congress — are forcing Father Frost out of his job and back to his native country of Poland at the end of May. He must be out of the country before May 30; if not, he will be banned from entering the United States for 10 years.

Father Frost, 45, has been serving at St. Martha four-and-a-half years. Previously, he served parishes in Buffalo and Brooklyn. He started his ministry in the U.S. in 2012.

All the while, he has been working legally with an R-1 visa, with the intent to apply for a green card for permanent residency status.

The R-1 category is a religious worker visa that allows foreignborn religious workers — of all religions — to work 30 months in the U.S. Father Frost has extended his R-1 visa five times, legally.

After being settled at St. Martha for two years, in 2022, he qualified to begin the process to qualify to apply for a green card. He spent an entire year off and on gathering documentation about his health and history, proving he met immigration standards to apply for a green card.

In early March 2023, after exhaustive red tape, he finally completed the documentation and sent it to his lawyer in Buffalo. A week later, his lawyer called him with the bad news.

The Department of State — without notice to anyone — changed the rules. The federal government stopped the process on all religious worker applications for green cards. The change meant his R-1 status would end, forcing him to leave the country.

“I missed the deadline by one month,” Frost said. “After so many years here and filing all the papers — it’s just unbelievable. It’s like being told you were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but they gave it to someone else.”

THOUSANDS FORCED OUT

Frost is far from being alone. He is one of thousands of foreign-born priests, nuns, rabbis, imams and other religious workers all over the U.S. who are being forced to leave their jobs and go back to their places of origin. The Los Angeles diocese is losing 60 priests; Brooklyn is losing 30. The diocese of Venice here will lose two other priests in August.

Why did the State Department change the rules?

Of the five people interviewed, in a report in the National Law Review and in documents from the American Immigration Lawyers Association, no one understands why the Biden administration did what it did. Nor has the Biden administra-

tion explained explicitly why. But here is what it did:

State Department bureaucrats issued an immigration bulletin in March 2023 in which it said for the past seven years the green card applications for so-called neglected or abused minors from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras were being placed in the wrong greencard category. So by fiat, they decided to put the minors in the same category as religious workers and declared that applicants who applied prior to March 2018 would have priority.

This essentially gave preference to 55,000 slots previously set for religious workers to the minors who came through the southern border by the thousands as asylum seekers in 2014 and 2015.

“For religious workers and the communities they currently serve as R-1 nonimmigrants, this means they will not be able to become lawful permanent residents before their nonimmigrant status expires,” according to a letter the American Immigration Lawyers Association sent to Secretary of State Andrew Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas. “For most, the only option is that they leave” the country.

For more than a year now, the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, the immigration lawyers association and other religious groups have written letters, lobbied the State Department and Congress.

The immigration lawyers provided Homeland Security with four detailed steps that could resolve the issue for religious workers. An assistant Homeland secretary responded last October in a onepage letter. Ultimately, she concluded: “… Only legislation can fully address the important concerns you raise.”

Frost gave us copies of responses to requests for help he sent to Rep. Greg Steube and Sen. Marco Rubio. As Frost interpreted them: “Blah, blah, blah.”

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-California, filed a bill last June to fix the matter, but GovTrack, the legislative tracking site, gives the bill a 2% chance of it being enacted.

Frost is blunt about Washington not fixing the problem: “It’s a pure lack of will.”

Said Pastor Suszko: “It will have to be a new government. A new government can change it.”

Suszko himself is concerned. Unless the rules and law are changed, he too will lose his work visa and be forced to leave his pastorship at St. Martha and return in November 2026 to his home country of Poland. Suszko has been on his first assignment in the U.S. at St. Martha for the past two-and-ahalf years.

WORSENS CLERGY SHORTAGE

The adverse consequences of this ruling go beyond the clergy themselves. Suszko said St. Martha needs at least four priests to meet the demands of the parish, visiting the sick in hospitals and overseeing St. Martha Catholic School. Now it will be down to three.

What’s more, this brilliant regulatory decision-making comes when Catholic parishes around the country — as well as other Christian denominations — are already

Because of new Biden immigration rules giving preference to unaccompanied minors

struggling because of a shortage of clergy.

According to The National Catholic Reporter, a Catholic University of America study of priests indicated 24% of priests serving in the U.S. are foreign-born (8,900). And of those, 15% were ordained outside the U.S., said Brandon Vaidyanathan, chair of Catholic University’s Department of Sociology and the study’s lead researcher.

“If we assume, for instance, that foreign-ordained priests are largely on visas — that’s a large chunk of your 15%, given just the priest shortage, and the number of parish closures,” Vaidyanathan told The National Catholic Reporter. “A single priest is sometimes responsible for three to five parishes. So you can imagine with that situation, losing 10% to 15% of your priests, that becomes a serious crisis.”

For now, the Diocese of Venice says it does not have a shortage of priests. “Not yet,” said diocese Chancellor Volodymyr Smeryk. “But we could in the long term. It takes up to six years to finish in the seminary.”

Nonetheless, when you hear the Rev. Frost’s story and frustrations, you can multiply that by the thousands across the country.

“You have to deal with all your belongings,” Frost said. “I’ve already shipped two boxes (back to Poland). I have two more. I’m selling my bike, my computer. I have to close my bank accounts.

“I still can’t believe after almost 12 years, I cannot do what I love to do,” he said.

Frost will be returning to his hometown of Chelmno, an 18,000-population city in northern Poland. “My mother is counting the days,” Frost said. He hasn’t seen her or his brother or sister in more than three years. Traveling back to Poland during that time would have jeopardized his visa status.

Frost said he would like to come back to the United States and continue his ministry, but it’s not likely.

HOW THE VISA SYSTEM WORKS

The following is excerpted from a National Law Review article written by lawyer Raymond G. Lahoud: The R-1 visa, a nonimmigrant or temporary visa granted by the U.S. government to individuals working in religious roles, lasts up to 30 months and can be extended for five years. This type of visa allows religious organizations to recruit proficient and skilled religious professionals from foreign countries. To become permanent residents, immigrants often apply for green cards. The number of green

cards available annually is set by Congress and is categorized based on factors like family relationships and employment skills. Unfortunately, the backlog for certain categories can be extensive.

Historically, faith leaders had shorter wait times for green cards.

But in March, the State Department announced that applications for neglected or abused minors from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador had been in the wrong queue for nearly seven years. These applications were then

To return, he would have to wait a year to apply for another R-1 visa, which then would take another six to eight months to obtain. A green card would likely take another five to 10 years.

“I see on YouTube thousands of illegal immigrants crossing the border and then get picked up by Uber and taken to a hotel,” Frost said. “I’m tired of the whole process and really discouraged.”

ASSAULT ON CHRISTIANS?

As we’ve often noted, the famed economist-philosopher Thomas Sowell said there are no solutions to problems, only tradeoffs. And in making the tradeoff — to give preference to unaccompanied (illegal) minors from Central America over religious workers serving millions of congregants, the federal government clearly demonstrated what the famous libertarian writer and newspaper columnist of the 1940s, Isabel Paterson, said about government:

“Government is solely an instrument or mechanism of appropriation, prohibition, compulsion and extinction; in the nature of things, it can be nothing else, and can operate to no other end.”

What’s more, she wrote: “It is a fundamental error to suppose that a law may do some good and cannot hurt anyone. Whether it does any good or not, a law enforced must hurt someone.”

As his administration has done throughout his term, Biden and his immigration bureaucrats are hurting thousands and thousands of clergy, their families and hundreds of thousands of Christian, Jewish, Muslim congregants throughout the United States. Whatever government touches, it always makes matters worse. What’s more, it’s difficult not to suspect or see this deporting of mostly Christian clergy as another Biden administration assault on religion and Christianity.

added to the general queue alongside those of clergy members. As a result, only applications filed before January 2019 are currently being processed. This change has left faith leaders whose visas are expiring with no other option than to leave their congregations behind. The wait time for green cards has become so long that some estimate it to be at least a decade. This lengthy wait is likely to discourage religious organizations from hiring foreign-born workers, even as there is a growing demand among immigrant congregations.

City budget season begins

Discretionary spending will be impacted by a $3.4 million hike in pension funding.

Before the Sarasota City Commission begins the 2025 budget process, it first learned of the city’s financial condition at the conclusion of its most recent full fiscal year, 2023.

During the commission’s April 15 meeting, Financial Administration Director Kelly Strickland reported the city finished FY2023 with $98.5 million in revenue, nearly 20% more than the budgeted income of $82.6 million, a difference of nearly $15.9 million.

That excess wasn’t derived from property taxes. Rather, all revenue sources such as franchise fees, sales taxes, permits, service charges, public safety premium taxes, investment earnings, etc., came in at higher than budgeted levels, with the exception of various miscellaneous revenues, which were received at 91.8% of budget.

Also, FEMA reimbursed the city $4.2 million for expenses incurred during Hurricane Ian, and the city received $3.3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. That was topped by the city’s investment earnings which, budgeted at $50,000, totaled $1.7 million, or 3,498% of budget.  Commissioner Erik Arroyo asked Strickland for an explanation of that eye-popping leap in investment earnings.

“Because we only budgeted to get $50,000,” Strickland said. “We had such a bad year the previous year, the last few years, and it really isn’t a good idea to rely on interest income.

So we budgeted very low.”

All that extra revenue came in

handy as the general fund expenditures for the fiscal year were nearly $94.5 million, the $4 million excess revenue over expenditures padding the general fund balance to a total of $36.2 million. The percentage of unassigned fund balance at nearly $30 million to expenditures at $94.4 million is 31.8%, exceeding the city’s fund balance policy and the recommendation of the Government Finance Officers Association of 17% to 25%.

“Each year during the early stages of the budget process we estimate what our change in assessed values will be,” Strickland said, adding that FY2023 actuals exceeded estimate by just more than 3%. “We estimated we were going to have a 10% increase in assessed values and we actually had 13.2%.”

All of that data sets the stage for the upcoming FY2025 budget sessions, and one purpose of the financial condition update was to receive a wish list from commissioners for capital improvement projects for the upcoming year.

On July 1, the county property appraiser’s office provides its official estimate for next year’s assessed values, which forms the basis of the preliminary budget that will be presented to the commission. By the end of July, the ad valorem rates are set and the budget figures sharpened.

A consensus opinion of the commission for capital project consideration is the development of a 3D modeling of the city, a detailed digital representation of infrastructure that can be used to simulate realworld plans such as traffic impact and the height and effects of proposed buildings.

“My usual thing is the affordable

housing issues, and this would be along the lines of staffing,” said Commissioner Debbie Trice. “I think we need somebody who’s going to plan how the city is going to respond and is going to provide those services to the developers and to the residents.” Arroyo, an advocate of alley beautification, said he’d like to see at least one alley project in the capital improvement plan. City Manager Marlon Brown told Arroyo he can expect such a proposal forthcoming, and that it will be funded by the penny tax.

Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch revived the idea of creating park districts and dedicating funding to each to facilitate more local management of the parks. That idea has failed in the past, failing to garner unanimous commission vote to set millage rates for each district. Brown said the idea can be revisited, but the earliest consideration would be fiscal year 2026.

The commission’s budget workshops will begin in July. Until then, Strickland left commissioners with much to think about.

“What we’re looking at now for our fiscal year 2025 budget is we have a (consumer price index) increase of 3.8%. Looking at the estimate of what our expenditures were last year, that’s a million dollars. We are currently in union negotiations, so we don’t really know what the outcome

“Each year during the early stages of the budget process we estimate what our change in assessed values will be. We estimated we were going to have a 10% increase in assessed values and we actually had 13.2%.”

of that is going to be. We also have potential salary increases for the non bargaining, again, because we’re not that far along in the budget process, we don’t know what that will be at this time.”

The city’s pension contribution will also increase by $3.4 million, the impact of poor interest income returns from fiscal year 2022 resulting in underfunding.

“Our unrealized losses are huge, so what we have to do in our pension funds is we have to make that up,” Strickland said. “Thankfully they don’t make us do it all in one year, but our upcoming contribution is quite a large change.”

COPS CORNER

an altercation occur in the intersection. An unknown male driver said that while stopped in traffic protestors walked around his car and someone struck his windshield, causing it to crack. The man did not know who caused the damage. The officer made several attempts to gather pertinent information, but the subject refused to provide details and continued yelling. The man was instructed to move his vehicle out of the roadway to continue to investigate the incident.

The male subject and his wife left in the car and did not return.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

10:36 p.m., Gillespie Avenue

Dispute: Vehicle headlights purposefully shining in the direction of an outdoor party led to an altercation between neighbors, leaving a dent in the side of the vehicle. While one man was holding a

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

DOG DUTY DERELICT

1:30 p.m., 1500 block of Pompano

Avenue Dispute: Hearing a loud argument, a neighbor called law enforcement to investigate an altercation. The two men involved live in the same house and were arguing over an unfed dog.

Officers spoke with the renter of the house, who stated that his friend and now roommate had lost his home a few months ago, so he offered to live with him temporarily. He advised the man is now refusing to leave and they are not particularly compatible.

He told the officer that he had asked the sofa surfer to watch his dog the night prior and feed it in the morning. The man did not feed the dog, and the argument ensued.

An officer advised the renter of the home of the civil eviction process and no further action was warranted.

small party on his property the neighbor, perhaps agitated by the activity, parked a vehicle in the direction of the frisky fiesta, illuminating the activity in an unwelcome fashion and refusing requests to cease and desist. That prompted the host to pick up a glass Modelo bottle and throw it at the vehicle. An officer interviewed the vehicle owner who advised the bottle tosser could be identified by his shirtless attire. The officer located the party host, who was indeed shirtless. He admitted to throwing the bottle at the vehicle in frustration. The perpetrator’s friend confirmed the series of events, adding that there had been ongoing issues between the two men. The subject was issued a notice to appear in court on a charge of criminal mischief in lieu of physical arrest.

SPD welcomes new officers

that police officers are clamoring to move to Florida.”

Of the nine new officers, eight were in attendance. The recruits, who will now begin field training with an assigned field training officer, are:

n Aaron Applebee

n Andrew Capozzi

n Frank Gomez

On April 18, all nine became newly minted officers of the Sarasota Police Department, eight of them taking advantage of the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, which pays $5,000 after taxes to recruits after two years of service and who have never previously served in the state. The ceremony, held at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center, featured a keynote address delivered by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. She touted the bonus program as one factor that has helped attract approximately 6,250 of 25,000 new officers from out of state since the program began in 2022. Florida’s support of law and order, she said, is a key factor for the state’s in-migration, not the least of which is among law enforcement personnel.

“The fastest growing population of those wanting to get into the state of Florida are police officers, and I think it speaks volumes that nearly 70% of those were swearing in today came here from out of state,” Moody said. “You have answered our call and it is a mistake to believe that people preparing to move to the state of Florida has no relation to the fact

n Leslie Kismartoni

n Dominika Kluszczynska

n Zachary Manning

n Jamisha Peterson

n Kassidee Plumley

n Joseph Saia “It takes a very special person to answer the call,” Moody said. “I’m mindful of that every time I put my arm around a police officer for picture and I feel the vest I know you’re all wearing, wanting to answer the call to stand on the line between good and evil. It takes a very brave, selfless person.”

As they were individually introduced, badges were pinned onto the new officers by family members and friends, who also posed for photos with SPD Chief Rex Troche. Then they listened to Moody’s parting thoughts of what is expected of the new officers.

“We will ask you to be a role model for others in the community,” Moody said. “It’s not just about being the strength and a guardian and a hero for those of us who need your protection. It’s about those 10- and 12-year-olds who are hearing that call right now, that one day they want to be just like you.”

Grand Opening of 9 Models by the Area's Finest Builders

NOW INTRODUCING THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.

With new models to tour and tremendous sales activity, Wild Blue at Waterside is excited to introduce its newest release of luxury homes. The new waterfront community by Stock Development boasts an enviable location in Lakewood Ranch, luxury single-family homes by the area’s finest builders, and incredible amenities. The extraordinary lifestyle includes a 13-acre sports complex, and a spectacular social clubhouse, with indoor and outdoor dining, two pools, a movie theater, fitness center, and a 9-hole premier putting course. It’s no wonder Wild Blue at Waterside is fast becoming one of the most sought-after communities in Sarasota.

VISIT TODAY, TOUR OUR BEAUTIFUL MODELS AND CHOOSE YOUR DREAM HOME!

Sales Center: 8396 Sea Glass Court, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240 l 941.313.3852 From University Parkway turn south onto Lorraine Road and follow the signs to Wild Blue at Waterside WildBluelwr.com

IF YOU GO

15 SOUTH BY NAPULÈ

What: Grand opening

Where: 15 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, is having its grand

opening

When: 6-8 p.m. on April 27.

Info: Officially open starting April 29. Restaurant hours will be Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m.

Call 867-8081 or visit 15SouthByNapule.com/ for more info. information.

will provide an upbeat energy with a dance floor, full bar and balcony to look upon St. Armands Circle. Di Ferdinando plans to bring back the nightlife atmosphere with live bands, salsa dancing nights and DJ parties.

As Di Ferdinando plays the frontman, all things food will be handled by his longtime friends and business partners, Antonio Mancini and Giancarlo Di Cosmo. Di Ferdinando and Di Cosmo met when they worked together at a Soho House concept in London. After years of staying in touch and keeping tabs on each other’s careers, Chef Di Cosmo joined the team to head the kitchen with his creative dishes and love for authentic Italian food.

Former Napulè pizza maker and Vesuvio Frozen Pizza owner Mancini will man the multiton gold-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven. Customers

will be able to watch his careful process from their seats as he makes his iconic wood-fired pizzas and fresh bread.

15 South By Napulè prides itself on the authenticity of its Italian cuisine.

“The flour is imported from Italy and everything is just made so fresh here,” said Rodriguez. “I have never worked with Giancarlo and Antonio, but I definitely trust Alessandro to bring in the best chefs to give the most authentic Italian experience.”

The menu will be similar to Napulè’s authentic Italian menu but will have Di Cosmo’s twist on it. It will include fresh pasta made from scratch, Neapolitan-style woodfired pizza and a full bar of with specialty cocktails, wine and beer on both floors.

Having Mancini, Di Cosmo and Rodriguez as part of his staff shows the family dynamic Di Ferdinando has wherever he sets up shop. Rodriguez started working with Di Ferdinando when she was 17 and now her daughter works for Napulè as well. They hope to provide the same close-knit, friendly dynamic with their customers, too.

“I feel excited to be opening up this week,” said Di Ferdinando. “We are prepared to adjust things as we go because things don’t always go as planned.”

Di Ferdinando emphasized that his team is doing everything to make 15 South by Napulè a place full of memories with loved ones, eating top-tier Italian cuisine and dancing the night away.

You’re cordially invited to the grand opening of Gracewater at Sarasota, where the magic of Florida living comes alive! Nestled on 139 acres of pure bliss, Gracewater is not just a community; it’s an experience waiting to be discovered.

Mark your calendars and join us for a grand opening like no other, filled with excitement and entertainment on Sunday, April 28th from 12 PM to 3 PM. Here’s what’s in store:

• Indulge your taste buds with mouthwatering delights from Smokin’ Momma Lora’s BBQ and cool treats from Carousel’s Icery

• Groove to the live tunes of Hot Club of SRQ as they set the perfect vibe.

• Be amazed by the illusions of Illusionist Pete Michael, captivating audiences of all ages.

• Enjoy a variety of entertainment including stilt walkers, balloon twisters, mini-golf, bounce houses, and more!

• Plus, win exciting prizes including golf for two with a cart at Bent Tree or Tatum Ridge, as well as gift cards to local Sarasota businesses, including options perfect for the whole family. Gracewater at Sarasota awaits to welcome you with open arms to a lifestyle that exceeds expectations. See you there!

SPORTS

Fast Break

The Sarasota Paradise pre-professional soccer team announced April 22 that kids under 16 will receive free admission to its home games for the 2024 season. Tickets are now on sale at SarasotaParadise.us. The team’s home slate will kick off at 7:30 p.m. June 1 against Swan City SC.

... The Cardinal Mooney High boys lacrosse team secured a district tournament championship April 18, defeating The Out-of-Door Academy 16-3 in the finals. Senior Mason Sheffield led the way with four goals, while junior Jamison McCusker had a goal and six assists.

... Venice High quarterback Ryan Downes announced April 22 his intent to transfer to Booker High for the 2024 football season. Downes, who will be a senior in the fall, completed 13 of 15 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2023. Downes also ran 28 times for 200 yards and seven touchdowns.

... Booker High girls track and field senior Terrietta Smith won the 100-meter dash (12.14 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (25.38 seconds) at the Sarasota County Championships, held April 18 at Booker High. Smith also helped the Tornadoes win the 4x100meter relay (48.60 seconds) alongside junior Ibre Edwards senior Jakai Peterson and junior Fa’leece Crawford. The Tornadoes finished third as a team.

... The Sarasota Crew rowing club won the overall team championship at the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association Sculling Championships, held April 13-14 at Nathan Benderson Park. The Crew had first-place finishes in the Girls Varsity 4x, the Girls Lightweight 4x, the Girls Second Varsity 4x

“I’d say I fell in love with it when I was 8, right after I hit my first home run on the little fields.”

— CAIDEN CABRAL, sophomore, Riverview High baseball. SEE PAGE 18

FEELING A DRAFT

Defensive lineman Jacques Bristol believes he can bring run-stopping and leadership to a franchise.

For Jacques Bristol, the grind has not stopped. Since his Central Michigan University football season ended in November, Bristol’s mind has been on one thing: reaching the NFL. Bristol, a Booker High alum, has been back in Sarasota, working on his skills and his mindset every day, hoping for a phone call that changes his life. That phone call could come this weekend.

The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday night and runs through Saturday evening in Detroit. By the draft’s end, 257 players will have their name called on the draft’s stage. Bristol could be among them. In 2023, Bristol had 44 total tackles (18 solo), eight tackles for loss, four sacks and five quarterback hits while playing on the interior of the Chippewas’ defensive line. His TFL and sack numbers led the team. Bristol — who is listed by Central Michigan as 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds — started 42 of the 57 games he played with the Chippewas over four seasons and was named a team captain six times.

Like many football players, getting to this point has been a dream of Bristol’s since he was young. He started thinking it a possibility back at Booker High, when he first started receiving interest from colleges.

Getting those early offers changed the way Bristol thought about football and his own future, he said.

“Football is one of the ways you can get out of your environment,” Bristol said. “Once I got those offers, it was

like, ‘OK. Somebody believes in me. I have a chance.’ I feel like God gave me a stepping stone for every goal I wanted to accomplish.”

Bristol made his presence known early at CMU. As a freshman, Bristol recorded a safety during a road game against the University of Miami. It was the first game his family was able to attend, Bristol said, making the moment special. It’s tied for his favorite football memory alongside winning the Sun Bowl 24-21 over Washington State University in 2021.

Despite consistent production over his five-year career — players received an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic — Bristol is not guaranteed to hear his name called at the draft. He’s not as large as a typical interior lineman in the NFL, and playing in the MidAmerican Conference with CMU meant Bristol was not going against a top level of competition every week. But Bristol did manage to open eyes when he and CMU played Michigan State University in week one of the 2023 season. In addition to being a Big Ten Conference school, Michigan State features former Riverview High wide receiver Jaron Glover and former Venice High defensive back Charles Brantley.

CMU lost 31-7 to Michigan State, but Bristol had seven tackles and two tackles for loss. Bristol said the game “felt like home” to him, and he wanted to make a good impression against the other Sarasota-area players. Bristol said he has been working with local strength and conditioning specialist Trevor Vance daily, focusing on his explosiveness out of his stance. Bristol said he wants to

JACQUES BRISTOL’S NFL DRAFT PROFILE

School: Central

Michigan

University

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight:

295 pounds

2023 production:

44 total tackles (18 solo), eight tackles for loss, four sacks and five quarterback hits

Career produc-

tion: 144 total tackles (71 solo),

28 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and 15 quarterback hits

40-yard dash: 5.02 seconds

20-yard split: 2.85 seconds

Vertical:

29.5 inches

Bench press: 22 reps

Shuttle run: 4.53 seconds

Three-cone run: 7.37 seconds

(Athletic testing

results from Central Michigan pro day)

become a more versatile player to fill any role an NFL team might require of him. Bristol said he received good feedback from attending the Tampa Bay Buccaneers local pro day on April 11, calling it “one of the best experiences of my life.”

“Being able to talk to the coaches and get that NFL mindset and energy, I have never had that before,” Bristol said. “It opened my eyes. I know now that I really want to do this thing.”

Bristol said the coaches told him consistency is key. Every snap matters in the NFL; if he can bring 100% effort on every play, he has the chance to make it.

Bristol said he will be watching the draft at home with a group of family and friends. Even if his name is not called during the draft itself, Bristol could sign with a team as an undrafted free agent. He could also receive an invite to a team’s training camp. That option would not come with a contract right away, but it would give him a chance to prove himself. In the end, that’s all Bristol wants.

“I feel great,” Bristol said. “This is all a blessing. I have no words for it, honestly. I’m just star-gazing at the moment right now.”

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

In remembrance of some Sarasota NFL stars

Combined, Sarasota’s high schools have had 25 players record stats in the NFL.

With the NFL Draft taking place in Detroit this week, hundreds of new players will enter the NFL’s ranks, Booker High and Central Michigan University alum Jacques Bristol hoping to be among them.

Only 25 players from Sarasota high schools (Booker, Riverview High and Sarasota High) have recorded stats in the NFL regular season. Before the next crop of players hear their names called, here are five of our area’s 25 players to make it and how they fared on the sport’s biggest stage.

MARLON MACK (BOOKER HIGH)

Mack, a running back, starred for the Tornadoes before heading to the University of South Florida in 2014. All Mack did there was set records: he became the Bulls’ all-time leading rusher with 3,609 yards, the allpurpose yardage leader with 4,107 yards and the career touchdown leader with 33 touchdowns. He did all of that in just three years, after which he declared for the 2017 NFL Draft. Mack was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of that draft, pick No. 143 overall. After a quiet rookie season, Mack made a name for himself in 2018, rushing for 908 yards and adding 108 receiving yards in 10 games. 2019 was just as strong, and Mack recorded his first 1,000-yard rushing season (1,091).

It remains Mack’s only 1,000yard season. After 2019, Mack has been bombarded by injury woes. He tore his Achilles tendon in week one of the 2020 season and missed the rest of the year. He was limited to six games in 2021, then would bounce around the league, trying to find a long-term home. In 2023,

Mack signed with the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 4. Five days later, the team reported that Mack had again torn his Achilles tendon and would miss the season.

Mack is currently a free agent.

SAM SHIELDS (BOOKER HIGH)

Shields was a star wide receiver (and sprinter) at Booker, and began his career at the University of Miami as a receiver, too. Before his senior season in 2009, Shields switched to defensive back, where he blossomed and was named the team’s Most Improved Player. One strong year was not enough for an NFL team to draft Shields in 2010, but he did draw interested as an undrafted free agent, or a UDFA.

Shields signed with the Green Bay Packers and impressed his coaches so much that the team named him its third cornerback at the start of the regular season. Shields would continue to improve and eventually become one of the team’s starters.

Unfortunately, Shields’ career would be plagued by concussions. After suffering his fourth career concussion in 2016 and missing the rest of the season, Shields was released by the Packers. Shields did not play in 2017, but came back to play a final season with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.

Shields finished his career with 265 tackles and 19 interceptions.

TIM JOHNSON (SARASOTA HIGH)

Johnson was a stout defensive lineman at Sarasota High before attending Penn State University from 1983 to 1986. Johnson’s final season with the Nittany Lions became his best: Johnson had 33 tackles and five sacks. His play helped Penn State win the Fiesta Bowl 14-10 over the University of Miami. The team was named the consensus national champion by media outlets.

In 1987, Johnson was taken in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would stay

with the Steelers for three years before heading to the team then known as the Washington Redskins, now the Washington Commanders. Johnson had his best seasons with Washington, winning Super Bowl XXVI in 1991 and making the 1992 Pro Bowl. In 1996, Johnson played a final season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Johnson finished his career with 480 tackles, 31.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He was inducted into the Sarasota High Hall of Fame in the inaugural Class of 2017.

RICHIE JAMES (RIVERVIEW HIGH)

James starred as an offensive weapon at Riverview and at Middle Tennessee State University, where he became the Blue Raiders’ all-time leader in receiving yards (3,261) and receiving touchdowns (23). Like Mack, James set the records in just three seasons, then declared for the NFL Draft in 2018.

James was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the draft, pick No. 240

overall. He played for the 49ers for three seasons before signing with the New York Giants in 2022 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023, with whom he won Super Bowl LVIII in February.

Throughout his career, James has not found much success as a receiver — with the exception of 2022, when he caught 57 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns with the Giants. But he has made an impact as a kick returner. James has returned 151 kicks for 2,015 yards and a touchdown.

After his one-year deal with the Chiefs expired, James became a free agent.

DAVID BAAS (RIVERVIEW HIGH)

Baas was an offensive guard for the Rams, and a strong one. He set a Rams record with 70 pancake blocks as a junior — the kind of block where you put the defender flat on their back. He received All-USA honors from USA Today before heading to the University of Michigan in 2001. He started at

left guard for the Wolverines before moving to center as a senior. That move proved to be a good one: Baas was awarded the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center.

Baas was selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft, No. 33 overall. He would stay with the 49ers through the 2010 season. He signed with the New York Giants in 2011 and helped the team win Super Bowl XLVI the following season, taking down the New England Patriots 21-17.

Injuries to his neck and knees would cut Baas’ playing career short. His final season was in 2013. He started 84 games and played in 122 games during his career.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Caiden Cabral

Caiden Cabral is a sophomore on the Riverview High baseball team. In games against South Fort Myers High and IMG Academy Royal on April 18-19, Cabral went 4-7 with a double, a triple, a walk and five RBIs. For the season, Cabral is hitting .271 with six extra-base hits and 15 RBIs.

When did you start playing baseball?

I started when I was 4 years old. By the time I could walk I had a bat in my hand. I was always out at the fields. I’d say I fell in love with it when I was 8, right after I hit my first home run on the little fields.

What is the appeal to you now? Baseball is everything to me. I love the game and the atmosphere.

Everything I do revolves around baseball, whether I’m working on my own or with my dad (Shawn Cabral) or with my teammates. It’s just fun to play.

What is your best skill? Hitting. I would say hitting for power, but I try not to think about it like that. When I try to hit for power, it does not go well for me. (Laughs.) I try to stay simple and try to get whatever hits I can.

What have you been working to improve?

My approach at the plate. Like I said before, I know I can hit the ball far, but when I try to do that, my swing tends to leak (lose power) a little bit. This year I’m just trying to stay up the middle.

What is your favorite memory?

My last game on the little fields. My dad was coaching third base for my team. Before my last at-bat, he said something like, ‘Might as well end it with a homer.’ The first pitch, I hit a home run. I stood at the plate and looked at him for a second. It was a cool moment between us.

What is your favorite food? Chicken and rice with a little bit of yum-yum sauce.

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

hard to think of things that don’t involve baseball. I like to go to the beach and work out. I’ll play some video games as well. MLB: The Show is probably my favorite game right now. What is your favorite school subject? I like my history class a lot. I have a good relationship with my teacher (Sarah Poole) and when you have that, it makes the class a lot better. What is the best advice you have received? Stay humble on the field. If you’re not humble, the game will humble you.

Finish this sentence: “Caiden Cabral is ... ” ... Funny.

PAINTING THE TOWN

The Avenue of Art enters its third phase, with 100 sidewalk paintings set to be added to the existing 210 by the end of the month.

A CITYSCAPE EVOLVES

When your artwork will serve as a permanent fixture of the city, finding the right section of sidewalk is a must.

At first, Sarasota artist Maggie Davenport had her sights set on the east side of South Pineapple Avenue, but after she noticed a certain painting on the other side, she changed her mind.

She thought the patterned sun of her design would complement the historical painting below it depicting two Calusa natives in the outdoors.

“As a visual artist, you’re always taking in composition,” she said. “Well, how does that piece work with this piece? And how might they speak to each other?”

Davenport calls the juxtaposition of the artwork a storybook experience for the community, but if that description is apt, it is a story that has not been fully painted yet.

The Avenue of Art, which was created by the Sarasota Chalk Festival, entered its third phase recently, and will see 100 paintings added to the previous 210 by the end of April.

Artists from around the community, and the world, have contributed to the project and continue to do so.

The appeal of the Avenue of Art endured after it was introduced in 2021 to commemorate the county’s 100th anniversary while serving as a socially distant alternative to the Sarasota Chalk Festival.

The city of Sarasota funds reserved for the chalk festival were reallocated to that project, which was adopted into the city’s Public Art Plan.

According to Bill Baranowski, manager of the Sarasota Chalk Festival, the result has been an added sense of identity for Burns Square.

“On a daily basis, we’re seeing people stopping, taking pictures, looking around, and then all of a sudden they are like, ‘Oh, there’s a knife shop here;’ ‘Oh, here’s a juice bar;’ and they know the neighborhood because of this kind of thing.”

Denise Kowal, founder, chief curator and CEO of the Sarasota Chalk Festival, said the project has seen artists from countries such as Turkey, Australia, Colombia and Italy.

“It brings a lot of opportunities and brings a lot of joy to a tremendous amount of people,” she said.

Kowal said whatever the subject of the painting, be it an octopus or something else, all images spotlight an aspect of the community.

“It gives us an opportunity to talk about things that have to do with

our community that people may not have thought about before,” she said.

The hand-painted sidewalks went on to receive awards from the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation for the writing explaining the artwork, which can be accessed using QR codes on the paintings.

Although previously the furthest extent of the project, which covers areas of South Pineapple Avenue and South Orange Avenue, was south to Oak Street, the paintings are now set to extend to Mound Street.

QR codes are also being replaced, while writers are being paid to create additional material. For this phase, all artists are receiving stipends through city funds, with supplies

WALKING THE AVENUE OF ART

The walk begins in front of The Exchange, 539 S. Orange Ave. Proceed north to South Orange Avenue to Laurel Street, then cross to the west side of South Orange Ave. Proceed south toward The Fountain Kitchen & Wine Bar before heading north along South Pineapple Avenue, to Dolphin Street. At Dolphin Street, cross to the west side of South Orange Avenue and head south, ending the walk at the corner of South Pineapple Avenue and Oak Street. Once the third phase is complete, visitors will be able to find paintings on both sides of South Orange Avenue, south to Mound Street. Visit ChalkFestival.org.

provided by Sarasota Paint. Kowal said the costs involved in the project for the Chalk Festival, a nonprofit, are multifaceted. The cost of the phase when completed is estimated at $80,000 and includes everything from paying writers and artists to insurance and space rental. There is also in-kind support amounting to roughly $300,000 that includes bookkeeping, artistic production, volunteer hours and more.

ART IN THE OUTDOORS

The Florida sun hasn’t been a deterrent to artists who enjoy working outside. In fact, Davenport barely notices the heat. On her first day, she found she was still eager to continue painting by the end.

Despite the permanent nature of the work, she enjoys a sense of creativity in the work.

“If I think about it too much, it ruins the process. I’m just an intui-

tive painter. It’s just whatever comes through me.”

Like Davenport, Truman Adams, a 2000 Ringling College of Art and Design graduate, finds that when working on a large piece, his body becomes his instrument.

Adams has long been an outdoor muralist in Sarasota, and he has contributed multiple pieces to the Avenue of Art.

“I loved the movement. Instead of just having to use my wrist, I got to use my whole body in the movements of making the art, and that’s why I like working so large,” Adams said.

The work does not end with adding paintings; preserving older works is also a priority.

Kirsten Pruitt, who graduated Ringling College in 2023, was excited to find the opportunity available to perform restoration work.

“It means I can put my name into Sarasota, leave something there,” she said.

Participants are not limited to individual artists; nonprofits along the streets also had the chance to become involved as well.

The Child Protection Center, an organization that provides services to victims of child abuse, is employing eight artists, some of them staff, to help tell its story.

Children come to the center on difficult days, explained Douglas Staley, its executive director, so it wanted to feature uplifting images.

“It’s a cool way for us to represent the children that we serve, but also represent the community with a continuum of art,” he said.

Also involved is SEE Alliance (Social Equity Through Education Alliance), an organization that serves as a hub of youth social justice and LGBTQ+ activism.

The paintings in front of the organization’s building, many of which will be created by the young people involved with the organization, will be centered on social justice, highlighting events like the 1955 beach wade-ins that led to desegregation.

“I think highlighting the moments that we’ve experienced as a community, that have mattered and changed our history, is a reminder of why we’re doing the work we do today,” said Zander Moricz, founder and executive director.

Meanwhile, those from beyond Sarasota have also been inspired by the project.

Cathy Polland, from Medford, Oregon, loves returning to paint at the Avenue of Art.

“We’re all really sharing that gift and that inspiration,” she said. “That’s where my heart’s at, and I love it, and I’ll be back anytime and every time.”

“I think it really speaks to authenticity,” Davenport said. “And I think as Sarasota transforms as a city, it’s really important to me to contribute and be part of the things that I love about the city, which is the arts community, the interaction between the people, just the hip, fun vibe that it has on the edges.”

A helping hand for nonprofits

The Giving Challenge helped once again to strengthen nonprofits in Sarasota County.

arasota once again showed its philanthropic spirit from April 9-10 during the 2024 Giving Challenge.   Hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in conjunction with The Patterson Foundation, the biennial Giving Challenge provides funding to more than 700 nonprofit organizations across Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

It also offered matches on all unique donations between $25 and $100, provided by The Patterson Foundation.

The Observer spoke with a few of the smaller nonprofits who gained high numbers of donations and donors to learn what plans they have for the funds and how the funds will help benefit the community.

CIRCUS RING OF FAME

Bill Powell, chair and CEO of the Circus Ring of Fame, said the Giving Challenge keeps providing increasing returns. He said the prospect of the matches has been attractive to donors, but that it helped to be a little creative with the process. This year, the nonprofit roped in renowned circus performer Bello Nock, who has been actively involved since 2022, for a series of short videos.

“Our learning curve increases each time we do it,” Powell said, stating this year saw a 30% increase in the organization’s ability to raise funds, with $23,313 in donations and $19,421 in matches raised.

Every sport has an awards show, Powell said, and the goal of Circus Ring of Fame is to ensure that the circus arts are honored in the same way. The funds raised will help with the production costs of more bronze

2024 GIVING

CHALLENGE STATISTICS

Amount raised: $17,244,298

Donors: 53,305

Organizations: 724 Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Road Visit: GivingChallenge.com

plaques in the Circus Ring of Fame, which can be found at St. Armands Circle Central Park, and their accompanying biographies, as well as the production and distribution of the nonprofit’s annual awards ceremony.

He called the awards ceremony the “Circus Arts version of the Academy Awards or the Grammys.”

Funds will help ensure that everyone who presents the awards is “first class.” In 2022, the ceremony moved out of St. Armands Circle, partnering with Circus Sarasota to rent a space.

“We think it’s very well done,” he said. “It’s been very well received by the global circus arts community.”

MAST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The MaST (Math, Science and Technical) Research Institute at Sarasota High School has an ambitious goal: to lead students in pursuing science projects of their own creation.

For many students, the cost of such an endeavor isn’t feasible, and according to Andy Harshman, who has led the MaST program for the last 16 years, the Giving Challenge has helped meet students’ needs.

“It was the easiest fundraiser we had ever done and made the most money that we’ve ever been able to make,” he said, noting the nonprofit has been involved with the challenge since close to its inception in 2012.

This year, MaST raised $19,270 in donor gifts with $17,095 in matches.

Originally, the program, which has existed since 1995, was self-funded. Previously, students would pay for their own experiments or any travel

they required, with the laboratory relying on small donations. In 2011, it had started its own booster organization.

Now, Harshman said it can basically provide for the requirements of the projects of all students, with about 75% of funding going directly to research projects.

The impact of the program, Harshman said, extends beyond high school.

It benefits students who are applying for college, while many students will go on to publish their research in scientific journals as undergrads.

“It’s definitely good for people who are really curious and want to try different things because you don’t have to stick to one thing,” said Imre Williams, a freshman, who is working on a project to model the paths of comets and asteroids using AI. “I could do this project, and then I could do a completely different one, so if you’re still trying to figure out your interests, it’s good for you.”

DIVERSITY: THE VOICES OF SARASOTA

Bern Cattanach, president of Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota, said the organization carries out a mission of embracing humanity and promoting equality and inclusion, a mission that is made easier through music.

“We believe music tends to build bridges and not tear them down,” she said.

Nonetheless, she said there are more finances involved in running a

choir than might be expected.

“We actually did very well this year,” she said. “Our 50-member choir raised just shy of $25,000, and we are a small nonprofit.”

At the same time, the organization, a chorus focused on inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, has not raised dues on members in 10 years.

The group also gives scholarships to members who are not able to pay.

During the Giving Challenge, the nonprofit raised $13,405 with $11,505 in matches.

Some of the costs the funds may help to cover include those of an accompanist and conductor, music and learning tracks, uploading the music online and royalties for the music to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and to Broadcast Music.

The nonprofit also pays for membership to an online choral networking site, Chorus Connection, which costs a choir of its size $720 per year.

Then finally, there are two additional ensembles to be created — one for tenor and bass and one for soprano and alto, both of which will bring together the best singers of each groups. “We were thrilled that we won’t have to penny pinch for a little while,” Cattanach said.

She said the group is also excited that in mid-July, it will be attending GALA Festival Minneapolis, which brings together 120 choirs and over 12,000 singers from around the world.

Undergraduate:

Board

What’s Your Personal Inflation Rate? Inflation is not a one-size-fits-all number.

A new school

The Science Education Aquarium is working with the Sarasota and Manatee school districts, including a new Sarasota K-8 school in development.

ABenderson Park should make that easier.

You can’t control inflation. But you can make financial decisions designed to reduce its effects.

Finding your personal inflation rate will help you manage your finances more effectively than just thinking of inflation as an average, slightly relevant number. In fact, you don’t need to think of this as a specific number. Instead, think of it as an exercise to evaluate which areas of your budget are most exposed to higher inflation.

Review your expenses and look at wide categories such as real estate, travel, healthcare, and entertainment. Spending priorities will vary by person, even within the same family.

Inflation affects everyone, but differently. That’s why it makes sense to think about how inflation impacts your personal finances. After all, the most common measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) really only tracks inflation for the average urban consumer. And nobody in the Sarasota area is just average! 1582 Main Street J.L. Bainbridge

Remember to revisit your inflationrelated information regularly, especially when economic factors change or for major life changes such as buying a house or funding a child’s education.

Knowing your personal inflation profile is crucial for smart financial planning. It helps you predict how much additional you’ll need to save based on rising costs. If certain expenses, like healthcare, are increasing, you might consider investing in those areas to benefit from their growth.

Understanding your inflation rate also helps you make more informed decisions about spending and saving for the long term, ensuring your budget fits your retirement planning needs as well.

JL Bainbridge family wealth advisors are fiduciaries with a duty to act first and foremost in their clients’ interests.

JL Bainbridge offers free hourlong financial reviews with one of their advisors. To reserve a time for yourself, visit their website, call, or scan the QR code below.

(941) 365-3435

jlbainbridge.com

t the same time progress continues on Mote Science Educational Aquarium, Sarasota County Schools and aquarium staff are involved in a joint educational effort.  With the aquarium’s more accessible location will come new programs benefiting students in both Sarasota and Manatee counties.  Sarasota Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor said plans are in the works for the whole county, although particularly for an upcoming K-8 school at the intersection of Lorraine Road and Clark Road.

“We really want to develop a real strong tie with that particular school around some of the programs, because it’s a STEM-focused school ... but not just with that K-8,” he said. “I see partnerships with all our schools across the county in some capacity.”

On April 5, the aquarium invited representatives of the Sarasota County School District and the School District of Manatee County for a walkthrough tour of the facility, which is targeting a February 2025 opening date.

Amber Platowski, the curriculum coordinator for the School District of Manatee County, and Rachael O’Dea, Sarasota deputy superintendent and chief academic officer for the Sarasota County School District, said after the aquarium opens, they will do everything possible to get all the approximately 50,000 students in Manatee County and 42,000 in Sarasota County to the site.

The aquarium’s location in Nathan

THREE LEARNING LABS

“This will be a much larger facility that can handle more students,” Platowski said. “And their (three) learning labs have expanded our programs.”

The Marine Ecology Lab, the Biomedical/Immunology Lab and the Ocean Technology Lab will offer students new opportunities in various disciplines.

“We say animals, microscopes and robots,” said Aly Busse, Mote’s associate vice president of education, in explanation of the three labs.

The Marine Ecology Lab will feature animal habitats and contain tanks with marine life that will give the students hands-on experiences. The Biomedical/Immunology Lab will investigate new medicinal compounds from the ocean while exploring conservation-related questions. The Ocean Technology Lab will allow the students to test autonomous underwater vehicles and tools.

O’Dea said the new facilities are “completely dedicated to creating experiential hands-on learning in different fields in science.”

“We’ll be aligning that to our standards and making sure that our students have those opportunities in those classrooms as part of their unit of study, sometimes in the middle, sometimes at the end; it really depends on where it lends itself best,” she said. “That is our goal, definitely, to have as many students move through that experience

She said although some Sarasota County schools feature their own science laboratories, the offerings at Mote will increase the breadth of what is possible.

“Honestly, in Florida, there’s really not anything like that, where you have the aquarium with marine life, and the laboratory learning process. It’s pretty wonderful.”

“It’s going to be an amazing benefit,” Connor said. Platowski said the school districts have been working with Dr. Kristen Ranges, who is the Mote SEA coordinator. Ranges’ role is to work with local high schools to offer programs at Mote that are in line with the school’s curriculum.

Busse said besides the wildlife, and scientists and biologists, the students will be exposed to high-tech equipment that has been purchased for all three labs.

O’Dea said the programs are important for helping schools to produce future marine scientists and biologists.

“That is the plan,” she said. “We need to feed that industry. We need to expose our students to job offerings.”

When Sarasota’s school district announces the principal of the new K-8 school in late May, it will partner specifically with Mote’s program designers to establish the framework for the unique curriculum program, which the district could replicate at other schools.

The new K-8 campus, located in Skye Ranch near the intersection of Clark Road and Lorraine Road, is slated to open in August 2025.

However, the establishment of Mote SEA will not mark the first involvement Sarasota County Schools with the aquarium.

District staff say the ongoing partnership has led to a curriculum built around interdisciplinary connections which includes hands-on activities, laboratory experiments, field trips and interactive demonstrations.

ZERO COST FOR STUDENTS

Another benefit is cost: The schools districts will be able to bring students for free to Mote. Previously at the City Island facility, it cost $18 per student to visit on a field trip.

BY THE NUMBERS

Some key figures as the Mote Science Education Aquarium comes to life:

■ 0 cost for a student visiting Mote on a field trip

■ 3 learning labs to inspire visiting students

■ 11 (the thickness in) inches of the acrylic that makes up the viewing windows of the Gulf of Mexico tank

■ 18 feet in length of the sawfish, which will be the biggest animal at the aquarium

■ 700,000 anticipated attendance the first 12 months

■ $107 million committed dollars to the fundraising campaign

■ $132 million estimated cost of building the aquarium

In addition to the learning labs, the Science Education Aquarium will have four Workforce Development Labs on the second and third floors of the aquarium: the Aquaculture and Fisheries Lab, the Conservation Lab, the Coral Lab, and the Veterinary Clinic and Diagnostic Center.

Interns and program participants — who will include high school students, undergraduate and graduate students — will have the opportunity to work alongside Mote scientist mentors.

Mote also offers free classroom kits, professional development opportunities and after-school and summer programs. It has been involved in the Sarasota County Schools STEM Fair, providing judges and special awards, and has used the EdExploreSRQ platform to provide opportunities for outreach and field trips.

On April 5, Paltowski, O’Dea and Busse stood in front of the areas that will become the labs and talked excitedly about the future possibilities. Busse said it is all about igniting the students’ curiosity, which will allow them to understand the conservation of the marine ecosystems in their own backyards. “As the spaces are filling out, you can visualize everything,” Busse said. “We want the students to know that oceans are a place for them ... aquariums are a place for them.”

Connecting with the community and the earth

Kids weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty during Earth Day at The Bay on April 20, bringing up millipedes from the soil.

I am pleased to recommend Dr. John Massey for his professional care, especially for those of us who

Evaluation

• Hearing Aid Consultations

• Hearing Aid Fittings

• Rehab & Preventive Hearing Consultations 412439-1

“I did not expect the kids to like it so much,” said Alex Thompson, of Sunshine Community Compost, which offered the digging activity. There was quite a bit more to dig into.

Other activities at the event included a giveaway of 50 trees by the city of Sarasota and the city of Sarasota Earth Day Celebration Tabling Event, which allowed the community to engage with other environmentally focused nonprofits.

Meanwhile, Suncoast Remake Learning Days offered stations hosted by various Sarasota nonprofits, including the Sarasota Butterfly Club, Art Center Sarasota, First Thousand Days and others.

“This is awesome. It’s literally one of the best events put on by The Bay Park,” said Vlad Ladchuk. “The fact that they’re offering free trees is amazing.”

Jeff Vredenbrurg, sustainability manager with the city of Sarasota, agreed.

“What better place to have an event like this than the jewel of the city and 53 acres that really centers on the environment?” he said.

424060-1

Saturday, April 27

12 - 5

GIVING TREE GALLERY

5 N Blvd of the Presidents St. Armands Circle

941.388.7754

Ahome on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Frank and Martha Forward sold their home at 2006 Casey Key Road to Jeffrey King, of Monaco, for $5.6 million. Built in 2008, it has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,810 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.8 million in 2006.

Other top sales by area

SARASOTA: $3.9 MILLION

San Remo Estates Adnan Dedic sold his home at 1410 Siesta Drive to Jeffrey Koffman and Toni-Anne DeNicola, of Sarasota, for $3.9 million. Built in 1979, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,119 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.2 million in 2023.

SIESTA KEY: $3,875,000

Ocean View

Sandra and Craig Szmania, of Sarasota, sold their home at 8217 Midnight Pass Road to Brendan Cooney and Denise Cooney, trustees, of Elmhurst, Illinois, for $3,875,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,411 square feet of living area.

PALMER RANCH: $1,525,000

QUAIL DRIVE

Douglas and Amey Smith, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1509 Quail Drive to Kenneth Wayne Blume and Jessica Landrus Blume, of Sarasota, for $3,425,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,264 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.1 million in 2021.

LAKE CLUB

Cecile Lee Upshaw and Sheila Ann Upshaw, of Franklin, Tennessee, sold their home at 1706 Spring Creek Drive to Kathleen Rudolph, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2,925,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,446 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,575,000 in 2020.

FLOYD & CAMERON

Richard and Louann Kitchell, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1822 Loma Linda St. to Robert and Ellen Beth Knapp, of Sarasota, for $2,285,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,551 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.45 million in 2020.

SARABANDE

Richard and Barbara Bailey, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 33 condominium at 340 S. Palm Ave. to David and Carol McClenahan, of Sarasota, for $2.24 million. Built in 1998, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,437 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,125,000 in 2010.

MARK SARASOTA

Hollandia Property Group LLC sold the Unit 812 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Victoria Phillips, of Sarasota, for $1.77 million. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 1,559 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million in 2021.

Afzal Tarar and Maria Celada, of Miami, sold their Unit 920 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Young Ho Chang and Jung-Yeon Sandy Chang, of Vienna, Virginia, for $1,595,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,498 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.3 million in 2022.

THE LANDINGS

Stephen Front and Ann Mitchell Front, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4975 Peregrine Point Way to Philip and Kathleen Kercher, of Sarasota, for $1.65 million. Built in 1981, it has four bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,768 square feet of living area. It sold for $312,000 in 1994.

BURNS COURT VILLAS

Patricia Austin, trustee, sold the Unit 22 condominium at 557 S. Palm Ave. to Howard and Sherry Davis, of Sarasota, for $1.55 million. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 2,052 square feet of living area. It sold for $1 million in 2016.

THE CONDOMINIUM ON THE BAY

William Gaylor III, as Personal Representative, of Venice, sold the Unit 1108 condominium at 888 Blvd. of the Arts to Peter Mebel, of Newton, Massachusetts, for $1.19 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,642 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 1999.

David Alan Daffner and Christopher Landon Daffner, trustees, of Westminster, South Carolina, sold the Unit 608 condominium at 888 Boulevard of the Arts to Leslie Gray, of Fort Worth, Texas, for $1,041,400. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,642 square feet of living area. It sold for $217,000 in 1997.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

POINSETTIA PARK Barbara Johnson, trustee, and Richard Johnson, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1800 Webber St. to M&J Pham Development LLC for $1.15 million. Built in 1954, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,406 square feet of living area.

ONLINE

The Country Club of Sarasota Curtiss Rutsky and Jacqueline Van Hetzand, of Bradenton, sold their home at 3917 Spyglass Hill Road to Arkady and Natalie Koltun, of Sarasota, for $1,525,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,805 square feet of living area. It sold for $955,000 in 2016.

OSPREY: $1.41 MILLION

Oaks II

Lee Roy Lumpkin and Lisa Lumpkin, of Delmar, New York, sold their home at 853 Mac Ewen Drive to Brian Edward Thede and Linda Mary Fox, of Mamaroneck, New York, for $1.41 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,082 square feet of living area.

Chuck Drager Chuck is the perfect fit for intimate gatherings to concert stage settings. He performs regularly in Las Vegas and at private and public functions around the country. He is the entertainer of choice for countless corporations and country clubs.

rhythm guitar. His expertise spans across generations, contributing to numerous bands including pop, country, hard rock, and easy listening.

423396-1

YOUR CALENDAR

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

ARBOR DAY AT THE BAY: PUT PARK PLANTS IN POTS 9-10 a.m. at The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Help The Bay replant buttonwood seedlings in pots to enable them to grow for future use in other parts of the park. The event is part of Good to Be Green months at The Bay — celebrating all things green. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

ARBOR DAY AT THE BAY: LEARN FROM AN ARBORIST

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free. Join a lunchtime discussion about trees, landscaping and more with local Arborists Don Ullom and Jeremy Wilhelm. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

TO SUNDAY, APRIL 28

INK MASTERS TATTOO EXPO SARASOTA

1-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. $25 ($5 off before 5 p.m. on Friday). Tickets are available at the door only. Hosted by Ink Masters Tattoo Show, this expo features live tattooing all weekend by more than 100 award-winning tattoo artists from around the country. Also find custom jewelry, temporary tattoos and food. Visit WorldTattooEvents.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

FREE OUTDOOR WORKSHOP ON WORLD TAI CHI DAY

10-11 a.m. at Senior Friendship Centers Sarasota Campus, 1888 Brother Geenen Way. Free. Celebrate World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, which sees tai chi practiced at 10 a.m. in countries across the world. Senior Friendship Centers hosts a free outdoor class to encourage seniors to embrace the health benefits of the gentle martial art. Visit FriendshipCenters.org.

THE ART OF IKEBANA FLORAL EXHIBITION

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Explore the art of Ikebana in an exhibition by the Sarasota chapter of Ikebana International. The arrangements celebrate nature using both local and exotic materials. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.

BEST BET

53RD ANNUAL DEVEREAUXKAISER CAR SHOW

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sarasota County Fairgrounds, 300 Ringling Blvd. $5 donation for spectators. Free for kids 10 and under. Hosted by the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund, this show features classic and antique cars, trucks and motorcycles and more. Visit DKCarShow.com.

COSPLAY CLUB

2-4 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Make objects for cosplay or everyday wear using thrifted and ordinary materials including hats, capes, swords, tunics, arm and leg guards, animal ears and antennae, tails and more. VisitSCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.

SARASOTA BABY SHOWER

10 a.m. to noon at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 John Rivers St. Free. Find raffles and prizes at this event sponsored by Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County and the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota. Visit HealthyStartSarasota.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 2

SARASOTA SISTER CITIES: CHEF AMALIA

5-6 p.m. at Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium, Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. This installment of the SSC Community Speakers Series, held in honor of Cinco de Mayo, features the renowned TV personality and chef Amalia of Guadalajara, Mexico, who will lead a conversation exploring the unity and generosity of food, followed by a meet and greet at Circo restaurant. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.

“TRX

Ritz-Carlton

401 Quay Commons #1101 Sarasota, FL 34236

3 bedrooms 3 full, 1 partial

3 bedrooms 3 full, 1 partial

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota

3,798 SqFt.

3,798 SqFt.

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota

401 Quay Commons #1101 Sarasota, FL 34236

3 bedrooms 3 full, 1 partial

Experience upscale waterfront living at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota. This premier condominium community offers legendary services and a range of amenities. Step into a world of elegance with fine touches, designer accents, and upgraded features, including custom cabinetry. This 3-bedroom residence with over 3,700 square feet seamlessly blends open-concept living spaces with ensuite accommodations. Enjoy over 1,000 square feet of patios with stunning views of Sarasota Bay, the city lights, and the Gulf of Mexico. The kitchen features top-tier appliances, a spacious island, and a wet bar for entertaining. The master bedroom offers a tranquil retreat with a designer-tiled bathroom and access to the lanai. Resort-style amenities include a pool area, fitness center, club room, game room, and 24/7 valet service, providing a luxury lifestyle beyond expectations.

Perry Corneau

Your Ritz-Carlton Connection

(941)650-4626

$ 6 ,500,000

3,798 SqFt.

Experience upscale waterfront living at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota. This premier condominium community offers legendary services and a range of amenities. Step into a world of elegance with fine touches, designer accents, and upgraded features, including custom cabinetry. This 3-bedroom residence with over 3,700 square feet seamlessly blends open-concept living spaces with ensuite accommodations. Enjoy over 1,000 square feet of patios with stunning views of Sarasota Bay, the city lights, and the Gulf of Mexico. The kitchen features top-tier appliances, a spacious island, and a wet bar for entertaining. The master bedroom offers a tranquil retreat with a designer-tiled bathroom and access to the lanai. Resort-style amenities include a pool area, fitness center, club room, game room, and 24/7 valet service, providing a luxury lifestyle beyond expectations.

perry.corneau@compass.com

Experience upscale waterfront living at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota. This premier condominium community offers legendary services and a range of amenities. Step into a world of elegance with fine touches, designer accents, and upgraded features, including custom cabinetry. This 3-bedroom residence with over 3,700 square feet seamlessly blends open-concept living spaces with ensuite accommodations. Enjoy over 1,000 square feet of patios with stunning views of Sarasota Bay, the city lights, and the Gulf of Mexico. The kitchen features top-tier appliances, a spacious island, and a wet bar for entertaining. The master bedroom offers a tranquil retreat with a designer-tiled bathroom and access to the lanai. Resort-style amenities include a pool area, fitness center, club room, game room, and 24/7 valet service, providing a luxury lifestyle beyond expectations.

sarasotacondominiums.com

Perry Corneau

Perry Corneau

Your Ritz-Carlton Connection

Your Ritz-Carlton Connection

(941)650-4626

(941)650-4626

perry.corneau@compass.com

perry.corneau@compass.com

sarasotacondominiums.com

sarasotacondominiums.com

Experience upscale waterfront living at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota. This premier condominium community offers legendary services and a range of amenities. Step into a world of elegance with fine touches, designer accents, and upgraded features, including custom cabinetry. This 3-bedroom residence with over 3,700 square feet seamlessly blends open-concept living spaces with ensuite accommodations. Enjoy over 1,000 square feet of patios with stunning views of Sarasota Bay, the city lights, and the Gulf of Mexico. The kitchen features top-tier appliances, a spacious island, and a wet bar for entertaining. The master bedroom offers a tranquil retreat with a designer-tiled bathroom and access to the lanai. Resort-style amenities include a pool area, fitness center, club room, game room, and 24/7 valet service, providing a luxury lifestyle beyond expectations.

Perry Corneau

Your Ritz-Carlton Connection

(941)650-4626

perry.corneau@compass.com

sarasotacondominiums.com