WCW4-23

APRIL 2023 

Megan 

Howell, MS 

Executive Director 

and Founder: 

Second Heart Homes 

Also in this issue: 

■ Travel Feature: 

Tiny House Rentals 

■ Happening this month 

at The Hermitage 

■ Dining In: 

Travel Related Recipes

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2 WEST COAST WOMAN APRIL 2023

APRIL 2023 

contents 

EARS 

Editor and Publisher 

Louise M. Bruderle 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Contributing Writer 

Carol Darling 

Contributing Photographer 

Evelyn England 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Kimberly Carmell 

Assistant to the Publisher 

Mimi Gato 

West Coast Woman is published 

monthly (12 times annually) by 

LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, 

President. All contents of this 

publication are copyrighted and 

may not be reproduced. No part 

may be reproduced without the 

written permission of the publisher. 

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 

and artwork are welcome, but return 

cannot be guaranteed. 

HOW TO REACH US: 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Here are our columns: 

n Out & About: includes 

fundraisers, concerts, art exhibits, 

lectures, dance, poetry, shows 

& performances, theatre, film, 

seasonal events and more. 

n You’re News: job announcements, 

appointments and promotions, 

board news, business news and 

real estate news. 

FOLLOW US AT: 

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WCWmedia 

WCW 

35 

YEARS 

Feel the need to get away? Check out our 

TRAVEL FEATURES 

A Philadelphia Family’s 

life and contributions to 

American History 

If you like history, especially the kind with a powerful 

and interesting narrative of courageous people, 

you’ll enjoy the latest exhibit at the Museum of the 

American Revolution in Philadelphia. 

p20 

New Sarasota Travel Trend: 

Tiny House Rentals 

Usually with hotels, bigger is better as travelers want 

suites, balconies, eat-in kitchens, large pools and 

beach access. A “Tiny House” vacation rental may 

seem contrary to best practices. That is, until you 

actually see them. 

p18 

Devon Horse Show & Country 

Fair, May 25-June 4 

It’s definitely a “horsy” event for professional riders of all types, 

but also an enjoyable experience for non-equestrians as well. 

From the elegant art of dressage to hackney carriages to the 

high-flying jumpers, there’s a lot to take in at the Devon Horse 

Show & Country fair held every year in Devon, PA. 

p22 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 

west coast 

WOMAN 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

7 Out & About: listings for things to do 

live and/or online 

9 healthier you: The Renewal Point 

11 focus on the arts: Sarasota Orchestra 

13 happening this month: 

The Hermitage’s Artist Retreat 

Travel-related Recipes 

from around the Globe 

DoubleTree by Hilton is sharing the official 

bake-at-home recipe for the brand’s popular 

chocolate chip cookie. Check out the other 

recipes we have from around the world. 

p26 

15 open for business: Monarch Dance 

Studio Opens In Bradenton 

16 west coast woman: Megan Howell, 

MS, Executive Director and Founder - 

Second Heart Homes 

18 travel: Tiny Houses New hotels in 

Florida to check out 

20 travel: Florida Hotels News & Specials 

22 travel: Devon Horse Show & 

Country Fair 

23 travel: Can Spontaneous Travel make 

us happier 

24 travel: American History through 

a Philadelphia Family’s story 

26 dining in: Travel-related recipes 

28 healthier you: 

How electronics affect sleep 

30 What is Craniosacral Therapy? 

■ on the cover: Megan Howell, MS, Executive Director and Founder of Second Heart Homes. 

■ Image: Evelyn England. 

APRIL 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

West Coast Woman 

Megan Howell 

Megan Howell is the Executive Director of Second 

Heart Homes. This one-time waitress at Patrick’s saw 

a homeless man one night and made it her mission to 

engage, meet him, and make sure he was okay. 

From that auspicious moment of kindness came 

the inspiration to open Second Heart Homes, a nonprofit 

“dedicated to providing permanent housing 

to those with mental illness who have experienced 

or are at-risk of homelessness,” according to their 

website. The “mantra” of her organization is dignity, 

Megan Howell quality of life and self-sufficiency. 

Photo by Evelyn England Second Heart Homes works with some of the 

most chronically homeless in Sarasota and Bradenton and offers them 

support and encouragement while preparing for a new life of no longer 

being homeless. It’s a labor of love, skill and compassion. Read how she 

and her team do it all in this issue. 

Congratulations are in order 

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters won the Siesta Key 

Chamber of Commerce 2022 Large Business 

of the Year back in January of this year. 

CB’s has been a member of the Siesta Key 

Chamber since the late 1970s and this is 

their first time winning this award. According 

to co-owner Aledia Tush (whom WCW 

profiled), “When my husband Lee and I purchased 

CB’s back in 1976, we never dreamed 

of this award. So much of our success is 

due to our community support, a staff team 

led by manager, Doug Forde, who cares 

about every single customer, and to our 

son, Mason Tush, III, whose innovation and 

boldness have helped us make tremendous 

Aledia and Mason Tush 

leaps. I am humbled, proud, and grateful.” 

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters is the largest on the water Bait & Tackle Shop 

in Sarasota. Congratulations, Aledia! 

And congratulations to Harvest 

House who, on March 

1, officially opened its new 

Life Enrichment Campus 

(LEC). “We have built a place 

where love is louder, and the 

light is brighter. For decades 

to come, the LEC will be a 

symbol of breaking barriers 

to human prosperity,” says Erin Minor, Harvest House CEO. 

The facility is Harvest House’s first infrastructure expansion dedicated 

to wrap-around support services. For more about Harvest House, 

visit harvesthousecenters.org 

Girls Incorporated’s Celebration 

Luncheon April 20 

Girls Inc. of Sarasota County has announced that 

Claudia Cardillo, Renee Phinney and Cynthia 

S. Howard will be honored at its 33rd Annual 

Celebration Luncheon on April 20 at the Sarasota 

Municipal Auditorium. Luncheon chairs are Dr. 

LaShawn Frost and Kay Mathers. 

The Girls Inc. Visionary Award is a board-nominated 

award designated to honor those who not 

only believe in the mission of the organization, 

but also see the larger vision for the organization 

in the community and region. Girls Inc. is recognizing 

Claudia Cardillo with this award. 

Claudia is a long-term supporter and board 

member at Girls Inc. and was instrumental in 

helping to set up businesses processes with 

experience from her career working at Ricoh International, Lenox China 

and Johnson and Johnson until her retirement. 

Additionally, Claudia has supported Girls Inc. as a Champion for Girls 

donor and volunteered her time for 8 years on the board of directors as 

vice chair of the board and chair of the development committee. 

The She Knows Where She’s Going Award will be presented to Renee 

Phinney and Cynthia Howard. The She Knows Where She’s Going 

Award recognizes individuals who are role models for women and girls 

in our community, have been supportive of Girls Inc. and its programs, 

and have demonstrated commitment to community activities, professional 

organizations or non-profit work that demonstrates a belief in 

contributing to others. 

Renee Phinney is a partner and vice president of sales at Palm Printing 

where she’s worked for 30+ years. Renee’s career has been focused 

on building relationships and partnerships with local businesses, 

including more than 15 local nonprofits. Renee has a long history of supporting 

local non-profits like Girls Inc. and is a big believer in inspiring 

women to take on leadership roles. 

Cynthia S. Howard, a Florida native, retired two years ago from the 

law firm of Fergeson Skipper, where she was a legal assistant with over 

40 years of experience in the legal field. Cynthia serves as co-chair of 

the Advisory Council for Safe Children Coalition Achievers Program 

that empowers youth to set and achieve their goals in their educational 

and personal lives. She serves on the executive committee of the Sarasota 

NAACP and is a liaison with the local Black newspaper, Tempo News, 

by contributing stories about events in the community. 

In addition to these awards, two Girls Inc. girls will be recognized 

this year. The She Knows Where She’s Growing Award will be presented 

to a middle school student, and the Strong, Smart, and Bold 

Leadership Award will honor an outstanding member of the Girls Inc. 

high school program. 

Sponsorships are now available and individual tickets are available 

at girlsincsrq.org or by calling 941-366-6646. 

More WCW in the News 

Meg Lowman, Executive Director of the TREE 

Foundation and founder of Mission Green, has 

been awarded The Explorers Medal for 2023 

from The Explorers Club, a multidisciplinary, 

professional society dedicated to the advancement 

of field research, scientific exploration 

and resource conservation. 

Nicknamed the “real-life Lorax” by National 

Geographic and “Einstein of the treetops” by 

the Wall Street Journal, Lowman, known as 

“CanopyMeg,” pioneered the science and exploration 

of the eighth continent — forest canopies. 

Over 45 years, she has designed the toolkit for 

arbornauts: slingshots, ropes, hot-air balloons, 

walk ways, and construction cranes for wholetree 

exploration, not just the forest floor. The 

award ceremony takes place this month in New York City. 

Lowman is a fierce advocate for big trees and endangered forests. 

“We must save our eighth continent if we are to save ourselves,” she 

says. Her recent successes include creation of a UNESCO Man and 

Biosphere Reserve surrounding a Malaysian canopy walkway, and 

partnership with Coptic priests in Ethiopia to save the country’s last 

remaining church forests. 

Meg Lowman 

photo credit Carlton Ward Jr. 

Each year, The Explorers Club bestows five major awards in different 

categories. The Explorers Medal has previously been given to individuals 

such as Jane Goodall, Sir Edmund Hillary, and James Cameron who 

described the Medal as “… the Academy Awards of Exploration.” This 

year is the first time since 1914 that all five awards have been won or 

shared by women. 

The TREE Foundation was founded in 1999; the Mission Green 

initiative was founded in 2020. Learn more at treefoundation. 

org or mission-green.org. 

Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue. 

You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com. 


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out &about 

Special Events 

On April 19, Josh Provides will 

host its 5th annual Interactive 

Dinner & Auction at Michael’s On 

East. Guests can take part in silent 

and live auctions and cook their 

own gourmet meals, guided by 

Michael’s co-owner Phil Mancini 

and Michael’s chef, Jamil Pineda. For 

information, contact Andria Bilan at 

info@joshprovides.org. 

▼ 

The Women 

Contemporary 

Artists Members 

Spring Exhibition 

Women Contemporary Artists 

present the WCA Annual Art Exhibit 

at Art Center Manatee, 209 9th St. 

West, Bradenton. The exhibit will be 

on display from April 25-May 19. 

The public is invited to the opening 

reception to meet the artists on April 

27, from 5-7 pm. There is no fee for 

this event. 

The event will showcase the work of 

the WCA whose membership includes 

painters, photographers, sculptors, 

ceramicists, printmakers, mixed 

media artists, fabric artists and more. 

Event info: www.artcentermanatee. 

org. For more info on WCW, visit www. 

womencontemporaryartists.com. 

▼ 

Mote Marine 

Laboratory & 

Aquarium 

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium 

has on exhibition, “Voyage to the 

Deep,” presented by Flying Fish. 

The interactive exhibition will be on 

display until May 21. 

“Voyage to the Deep” is based on 

Jules Verne’s famous 1870 novel, 

“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” The 

exhibition brings to life the deep-sea 

adventures of Captain Nemo, his fantastical 

Nautilus submarine and the 

mythical world he inhabited. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to 

join in the undersea odyssey. Guests can 

climb aboard the five-part interactive 

Nautilus submarine, which includes 

a bridge, control room, salon, living 

quarters and engine room to explore. 

The exhibition’s educational content is 

approachable for all ages, and it covers 

topics such as marine life, submarines 

and various maritime archaeology. 

Through a collection of settings 

and props, guests will imagine they 

are submarine captains. Visitors can 

take up the controls at the helm, peer 

through the periscopes, crank the propeller, 

test out the bunks and explore 

Captain Nemo’s Cabinet of Curiosities 

full of wonderful marine specimens. 

This indoor, “underwater” playground 

includes speaking tubes, a squidthemed 

slide, puzzles and an Atlantis 

Performance stage, creating a one-ofa-kind 

visitor experience. 

Tickets and visitor information: 

mote.org/visit. 

▼ 

Musica Sacra 

Next up is Magnificat by John 

Rutter and other smaller works. The 

concert is on April 17 and conducted 

by Dr. Robert Parrish. Tickets and Info: 

www.musicasacrasarasota.org. 

▼ 

Venice 

Symphony 

Next up is 

Fairytales and 

Flutes, April 

21-22, with Jim 

Walker. The 

season finale 

features one 

of the greatest 

flute players of 

our time. Jim 

Walker, former 

principal flute of 

the Los Angeles 

Philharmonic, 

solos on Mozart’s 

Flute Concerto 

in G Major, John 

Williams’ The 

Face of Pan and 

Mancini’s 

Pennywhistle Jig. William Walton’s 

The Wise Virgins Suite, based on 

the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, 

music from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping 

Beauty and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer 

Night’s Dream round out the concert 

and season. 

Tickets: www.thevenicesymphony.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota Ballet 

Program 7 runs April 28-29 at the 

Sarasota Opera House. Divertimento 

No. 15. Choreography by George BalanchineMusic 

by Wolfgang Amadeus 

Mozart. The Four Temperaments with 

Choreography by George Balanchine 

and Music by Paul Hindemith. Western 

Symphony Choreography by 

George Balanchine Music – American 

folk tunes arranged by Hershy Kay. 

Tickets: www.SarasotaBallet.org or 

call 941-359-0099. 

▼ 

Artist Series 

Concerts of Sarasota 

Feder Duo, Cheryl Losey Feder, 

harp, and Abraham Feder, cello, will 

perform on April 9, 4 p.m. at Temple 

Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, 

Sarasota. 

Losey and Feder began their orchestral 

careers on the same day in 2008 as 

they both assumed principal positions 

in the Sarasota Orchestra. He introduced 

himself as she was tuning her 

harp, and the rest is history. He is now 

assistant principal cellist of the Detroit 

Symphony and she a sought-after soloist, 

chamber musician and recording 

artist. They return to Sarasota for a 

program of music for harp and cello, 

including their own transcriptions of 

music by Bach and Johann Strauss, Jr. 

The Lunch & Listen Series spotlights 

gifted young artists in concert 

at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 12:15 

p.m. Canadian cello sensation Cameron 

Crozeman with Meagan Milatz, 

piano, close the Lunch & Listen Series 

on April 27 in a program inspired by 

composers’ vacation trips. 

Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or 

call 941-306-1202. 

▼ 

Choral Artists 

▼ 

Women Contemporary Artists present the WCA Annual Art Exhibit at Art Center 

Manatee on display April 25-May 19. Image: Marjorie Sayer - “At the Beach” Event 

info: www.artcentermanatee.org 

The Choral Artists of Sarasota 

has Bach Du Hirte Israel, höre (Shepherd 

of Israel, hear us) Cantata, BWV 

104 and Mozart Requiem, K.626: Passages 

of life expressed through the 

beauty of majestic choral music: Bach’s 

pastoral setting of the Twenty-third 

Psalm paired with Mozart’s Requiem, 

a poignant and dramatic contemplation 

of eternity. 

Guest artists: Adelaide Boedecker, 

soprano; Laurel Semerdjian, alto; 

John Kaneklides, tenor; William Socolof, 

bass. Held on April 16, 7 p.m., at 

Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm 

Avenue, Sarasota. 

For tickets, visit www.ChoralArtists 

Sarasota.org or call 941-387-4900. 

La Musica 

Coming up: 

• Fireworks: April 11, 7:30 p.m. 

Pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. Sarasota 

Opera House. Enjoy string playing virtuosity 

in a series of Baroque masterworks. 

The second half of this concert 

picks up where the previous Festival 

program ended, following the development 

of the string octet into the 20th 

century with the powerful Octet by 

George Enescu. 

Performers: Wu Han, piano; Chad 

Hoopes, Paul Huang, Kristin Lee, 

James Thompson, violins; Matthew 

Lipman, Milena Pajaro-van de 

Stadt, violas; David Finckel, Keith Robinson, 

cellos 

Selections include: Telemann Gulliver 

Suite in D major for Two Violins 

from Der Getreue Musik-Meister; 

Telemann Concerto for Four Violins in 

D major, TWV 40:202; Tartini Sonata 

in G minor for Violin and Continuo, 

“Devil’s Trill”; Handel/Halvorsen Passacaglia 

in G minor for Violin and 

Viola and Enescu Octet in C major for 

Strings, op. 7 

• Grand Friendships: April 15, 5 p.m. 

Pre-concert talk at 4:15 p.m. Sarasota 

Opera House. As a tribute to La 

Musica’s co-founder and longtime 

Associate Artistic Director Derek 

Han, Wu Han has designed a program 

that explores the musical friendships 

between composers Johannes Brahms, 

Antonin Dvorak, and Harry Burleigh. 

Throughout music history, composers 

have consistently turned to chamber 

music as the medium through which 

to convey their deepest feelings and 

most personal thoughts, and this program 

is no exception. 


Hoopes, Kristin Lee, violins; James 

Thompson, viola; Keith Robinson, cello 

▼ 

Selections 

include: 

Burleigh Southland 

Sketches for 

Violin and Piano; 

Brahms Piano 

Quartet no. 3 in 

C minor, op. 60; 

Dvořák Piano 

Quintet in A 

minor, B. 155, 

op. 81 

• Grand Statements: 

April 

8, 7:30 p.m. 

Pre-concert 

talk at 6:45 p.m. 

Sarasota Opera 

House. The 

opening concert 

of the 2023 

Festival begins 

with one of Beethoven’s 

finest 

trios ever written 

at that time and closes with Mendelssohn’s 

beloved Octet in E-flat major. 


Hoopes, Paul Huang, Kristin Lee, 

James Thompson, violins; Matthew 

Lipman, Milena Pajaro-van de 

Stadt, violas; David Finckel, Keith 

Robinson, cellos 

Selections include: Beethoven 

Piano Trio in G major, op. 1, no. 2; 

Strauss Sextet for Strings from Capriccio, 

op. 85; Shostakovich Prelude and 

Scherzo for String Octet, op. 11 and 

Mendelssohn Octet in E-flat major for 

Strings, op. 20. 

https://www.lamusicafestival.org/ 

festival/concerts-events. 

The Sarasota 

Orchestra 

Masterworks: A Hero’s Life on 

April 1-2 at the Van Wezel with Carlos 

Miguel Prieto, conductor; Gil Shaham, 

violin; Sarah Gibson – Virginia 

B. Toulmin Foundation Commission. 

Korngold – Violin Concerto and R. 

Strauss – Ein Heldenleben 

• Great Escapes: Sounds of Spring. 

April 12-15. Michelle Merrill, 

conductor 

• Pops: Broadway Bound on April 

21-22 at the Van Wezel. William 

Waldrop, conductor. Carmen Ruby 

Floyd, vocals 

• Chamber Soirées: Schumann and 

Brahms on April 23, Holley Hall. 

Schumann – Märchenerzählungen 

(Fairy Tales) Brahms – Piano Quartet 

No. 3. 

• Discoveries: Musical Postcards 

on May 13, Sarasota Opera House. 

Joseph Young, conductor | Bokyung 

Byun, guitar 

Villa-Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras 

No. 9; Rodrigo – Concierto de Aranjuez; 

Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 

4 (Italian). 

For information, visit www.Sarasota 

Orchestra.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota Orchestra’s Free Parks 

Concerts showcase musicians of the 

Orchestra in a chamber music setting. 

Capacity at the outdoor venues is limited. 

Admission is free, but register to 

reserve a space at SarasotaOrchestra. 

org. Next up: G.T. Bray Park Amphitheater 

with Sarasota Brass Quintet on 

April 30. Information: Sarasota 

Orchestra.org. 

▼ 

Designing Women 

Boutique 

Next up in their Salon Series 2023: 

Know Your Bench on April 12, 11:30 

am-2 pm. Featuring Dana Moss Circuit 

Court Judge Sarasota County, 

Maria Rhule Circuit Court Judge Sarasota 

County and Andy Mchugh Circuit 

Court Judge Sarasota County. Held at 

Designing Women Boutique, 1226 N. 

Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $25. 

Visit designingwomensrq.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota 

Art Museum 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling 

College presents Richard Benson: 

The World Is Smarter Than You Are, 

on view through May 7. Benson was 

an American photographer, printer, 

and educator. Organized by the Philadelphia 

Museum of Art, The World 

Is Smarter Than You Are is the first 

in-depth survey of Benson’s own 

photography. 

The exhibition includes approximately 

100 works that convey Benson’s 

exploration of photographic processes, 

his embrace of technologies old and 

new, and his deep empathy for his 

human subjects as well as the objects 

and environments they have built. Including 

prints from the late 1960s until 

shortly before Benson’s death in 2017, 

the exhibition traces his ever-evolving 

quest for prints. 

Benson was a gifted and celebrated 

teacher, was also a beloved professor 

and dean at Yale University. The Sarasota 

presentation of the exhibition 

includes a selection of artworks on paper 

by 10 notable artists who studied 

and worked with him at Yale: Dawoud 

Bey, Lois Conner, Jen Davis, An-My 

Lê, John Lehr, Andrea Modica, Arthur 

Ou, John Pilson, Caitlin Teal Price, and 

Sarah Stolfa. 

Sarasota Art Museum is located at 

1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Information: 

SarasotaArtMuseum.org. 

▼ 

Art Galleries 

From April 1-28, Art Uptown Gallery 

will feature bronze sculptures — 

“Emotions in Motion by James Gabbert.” 

The human body has its own 

language. James captures the beauty 

and emotion of the human form in 

motion to provide the viewer the 

opportunity to share that emotion or 

to complete the story it inspires. 

Meet the artist at the First Friday 

public reception on April 7, 6-9 p.m. 

Gabbert will also be at the gallery on 

April 8 from 11-5. 

Art Uptown Gallery: 1367 Main Street 

gallery. Info: www.artuptown.com 

▼ 

Sarasota Orchestra’s Harmony 

Gallery has a Bonnie Childs Exhibition 

titled: Tropical Birds in Paradise. 

Childs is a self-taught watercolor artist 

living and working in Venice. Her 

work is inspired by the environment 

that flourishes on the Gulf Coast. She 

paints vibrant Florida tropical birds 

– a representation of the paradise she 

feels grateful to call home. 

Exhibit dates: April 4-May 12. Public 

reception: April 20, 5-6:30 pm. 

The Harmony Gallery is at Beatrice 

Friedman Symphony Center at 709 

North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Free 

and open to the public. Visit www. 

sarasotaorchestra.org. 

▼ 

continued on page 8 


out and about continued 

At Art CenterSarasota through 

April 29: 

• Solo Exhibition: “Jeanne Guertin- 

Potoff” showcases new, mixed-media 

artwork. Their broad range of diaphanous 

color fields evokes a profound 

sense of depth. The artist creates this 

dimensionality with her unique layering 

technique of collaged, transparent 

tissue and bursts of acrylic color. 

• Solo Exhibition: “Rebecca Zweibel” 

Features a variety of sculptural 

and functional ceramic vessels with 

gestural, colorful, and intimate surface 

designs. 

• Solo Exhibition: “Karen Arango” 

presents the artist’s latest series of community-focused, 

documentary photographs. 

These explore the personal stories 

of local Hispanic individuals, and 

their battles with mental health and the 

mental healthcare system. 

• Juried Show: “Large-Scale Works” 

showcases art that make a big impact, 

both visually and physically. Mary 

Davis Wallace, the public art planner 

for the City of Sarasota, will jury 

this exhibition. www.artsarasota.org. 

▼ 

At The Ringling 

The Ringling has Gods & Lovers: 

Paintings and Sculpture from India. 

On a smaller, much more intimate 

scale, The Ringling’s recently 

opened Gods & Lovers: Paintings and 

Sculpture from India in the Center 

for Asian Art’s Pavilion Gallery provided 

a rare opportunity to get up 

close to works from the 16th, 17th and 

18th centuries from a variety of cultures 

in India (along with a few much 

older pieces from John Ringling’s 

original collection). You do want to 

get close, to study the details of these 

“miniatures,” many originally intended 

for elite patrons to browse in privacy 

and designed as book leaves and 

such. On view through May, 2023. 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 

Sarasota. Info: www.ringling.org. 

▼ 

Sarasota 

Contemporary 

Dance 

SCD closes its 17th season with a 

comeback of its “Evolving/Revolving” 

showcase in which the company 

revives previously staged works to 

expand and deepen their meaning 

into evening-length performances. 

For RECLAIM, SCD’s striking work of 

“Jehanne” returns to the stage, studying 

Joan of Arc’s strident and powerful 

cultural influence in the Hundred 

Year’s War, accompanied by live 

music with original composition by 

Mark Dancigers. This work honors the 

human SPIRIT by demonstrating the 

resilience that has taken the company 

to this point and will continue its forward-motion. 

Dates: April 27-30. 

All performances will be held at the 

Jane B. Cook Theater at the FSU Center 

for Performing Arts. Additionally, SCD 

will be offering Virtual Tickets Friday - 

Sunday at the same dates and times. 

Tickets: www.sarasotacontemporarydance.org 

or by calling Box Office 

at 941-260-8485. 

▼ 

Theatre 

▼ 

At Manatee Performing Arts Center: 

• Driving Miss Daisy. This Pulitzer-winning 

play was 

the most successful play 

to be put on in the Bradenton 

Kiwanis Theater 

and is returning to bring 

this heartfelt tale to more 

audiences. Dealing with 

race relations in the 

south, unlikely connections, 

and the passage of 

time, Driving Miss Daisy 

follows the relationship 

between the widowed 

72-year-old Daisy Werthan 

and Hoke Colburn, 

the African American 

man hired to be her 

chauffeur. Runs April 

5-23. 

• Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 

Sunset Boulevard. Based 

on the Billy Wilder film, 

the musical version of 

Sunset Boulevard is a tale 

of faded glory and unfulfilled 

ambition. Andrew 

Lloyd Webber’s Tony 

Award-winning masterwork 

of dreams and 

desire in the land called 

Hollywood includes the 

lush, swelling standards “With One 

Look,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye” 

and “Perfect Year.” Runs April 

27-May 14. 

Box Office: 941-748-5878. Manatee 

Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Avenue 

W., Bradenton. Tickets: www.manateeperformingartscenter.com. 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

has Dreamgirls which chronicles one 

fictional Motown group’s rise from 

obscurity to superstardom. Through 

gospel, R&B, smooth pop, disco and 

more, Dreamgirls explores themes of 

ambition, hope and betrayal, all set in 

the glamorous and competitive world 

of the music industry. Runs through 

April 9. 

Closing the season is “Big Sexy: The 

Fats Waller Revue.” Thomas Wright 

“Fats” Waller was an American jazz 

pianist, composer, singer and comedic 

entertainer. His Harlem stride piano 

style influenced the sound of modern 

jazz piano. Tunes include “Ain’t Misbehavin,” 

“Honeysuckle Rose,” “Lulu’s 

Back in Town,” “Your Feet’s Too Big” 

and “The Joint is Jumpin’.” Jacobs will 

direct. Show runs April 19-May 28. 

Call the Box Office at 941-366-1505 or 

visit westcoastblacktheatre.org. 

▼ 

▼ 

Art Uptown Gallery will feature bronze sculptures — 

“Emotions in Motion by James Gabbert.” They’re at 1367 

Main Street gallery. Info: www.artuptown.com 

Asolo Rep has Chicken & Biscuits 

runs through April 13. This new 

play introduces us to the Jenkins 

family, as they gather to celebrate 

the life of their beloved and recently 

deceased father and grandfather, the 

Revered Bernard Jenkins. When an 

unexpected guest reveals a secret, 

they all discover that nothing brings 

a family together like a big side of 

drama. This new Broadway comedy 

explores family, the joy of reconciliation, 

and the power of love. 

• Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual 

Help runs through April 22. Take 

a trip back to 1973 with the Irish 

Catholic O’Shea family in this boisterous 

and moving new memory play 

introduces us to young Linda, as she 

recalls a week she’ll never forget. 

When Linda’s mother instructs her to 

tell her sister about the birds and the 

bees, things quickly snowball into a 

potential crisis after the conversation 

is overheard by the parish priest. 

Secrets are unintentionally revealed, 

and a quick-witted group of women 

realize what really matters as they 

work to protect their family reputation 

and each other. 

Tickets: asolorep.org. 

Asolo Conservatory has Love’s 

Labour’s Lost, April 7-23. By William 

ShakespeareDirected by Jonathan 

EpsteinShakespeare surely had a way 

with words, but his characters have 

difficulty reconciling words with 

actions. The King of Navarre and his 

friends swear to avoid women. That’s 

easier said than done when the gorgeous 

Princess of France and her 

ladies arrive at court. This Shakespearian 

cascade of adventure features a 

forest chase, lovers lost and found, and 

an ending full of hope for true love. 

For more information, visit asolorep. 

org/conservatory. 

▼ 

The FST Cabaret series has Reel 

Music by Richard Hopkins, Rebecca 

Hopkins, and Sarah Durham 

runs through June 25. The Last 

Match by Anna Ziegler is a fast-paced 

play diving into the intense world 

of professional sports. Set during 

the semifinals of the U.S. Open, The 

Last Match follows Sergei Sergeyev, 

an up-and-coming Russian 

phenom, and Tim Porter, a great 

American superstar in the twilight 

of his career, during one of the most 

important matches of their careers. 

Plays in FST’s Bowne’s Lab. 

• In their Stage III Series, they have 

Paralyzed by Etan Frankel that runs 

through April 21. Leigh and Lee 

are two strangers who have little in 

common besides their names—she 

is a Type A statistician and he is an 

aggressive former athlete. But the 

discovery of a mysterious suicide 

note in a hotel bathroom sets their 

lives on unexpected paths that go 

anywhere but according to plan. Paralyzed 

tells a striking story of guilt, 

personal responsibility, and the 

power of forgiveness. 

Visit www.floridastudiotheatre.org/ 

▼ 

▼ 

At Venice Theatre: 

• April 28-May 14: Death 

of a Salesman by Arthur 

Miller. This Pulitzer and 

Tony Award Winner tells 

the story of Willy Loman 

who made his living 

riding on a “smile and a 

shoeshine.” About to lose 

his job and haunted by 

missed opportunities and 

a troubled past, he continues 

to chase his elusive 

American Dream while 

his wife struggles to help 

him. 

• The Brothers Doobie 

will perform on April 17 

at 7:30 p.m., Venice Community 

Center. Inspired 

by the Doobie Brothers 

superior song writing, The 

Brothers Doobie delivers 

powerful harmonies and 

a fun-filled high-energy 

performance covering a 

catalog of Doobies hits 

spanning both the Johnston 

and McDonald eras. 

• 50 Years After: A Tribute 

to the Woodstock 

Generation is on April 30 

at Venice Community Center. Featuring 

South Dakota Rock and Roll 

Hall of Fame artists Uncle Zeek. With 

music by Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, 

Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and more. 

Tickets: venicetheatre.org. 

Key Chorale 

American Roots: CSN Crosby, 

Stills & Nash Folk Rock featuring The 

Lubben Brothers is on April 22, 4 p.m. 

and Sunday, April 23, 5 p.m. Key Chorale 

Chamber Singers explore the 30 

year discography of the folk rock group 

Crosby, Stills & Nash, and other artists 

known for their intricate vocal harmonies 

and timeless melodies. 

Tomorrow’s Voices Today, High 

School Choral Festival is on May 15. 

Celebrate the power of choral music 

through an inspired performance by 

more than 200 singers of all ages, from 

high school students to seniors. This 

intergenerational choral festival has 

inspired countless high school students 

by encouraging music-making 

at the highest level. 

Tickets: keychorale.org. 

▼ 

House and Garden 

▼ 

Upcoming events presented by the 

University of Florida/IFAS Manatee 

County Extension: 

• April 11—Food Waste Prevention 

& Composting. According to Project 

Drawdown, reducing food waste is 

the #1 l action individuals can take to 

mitigate climate change. This class 

is being held during Food Waste Prevention 

Week to bring awareness to 

the problem and to provide strategies 

everyone can implement to reduce 

food waste including prevention and 

composting. 

• April 14—Plant Propagation for 

Beginners. Join UF/IFAS Extension 

Master Gardener Volunteers and 

learn how plant propagation is a great 

way to get more plants for the price 

of one. Methods covered include 

collecting and starting seeds, stem 

cuttings and division. This will be a 

hands-on class. 

• April 18—Grafting & Air Layering. 

Join UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture 

Associate Professor Dr. 

Andrew Koeser and Residential Horticulture 

Agent Alyssa Vinson for an 

introduction to grafting and air layering. 

The class will be hands on. 

• April 20—No Stem Left Behind. Join 

UF/IFAS Extension for a conversation 

about how to get the most out of 

your backyard garden. Carrot greens? 

You can eat ‘em, Sweet potato vines? 

You can eat ‘em. They will discuss 

planting and care of common Florida 

vegetables and fruits along with their 

nutritional benefits and recipes. 

• April 21—Native Plants for Florida 

Yards. Adding native plants to your 

landscape has numerous benefits, 

from conserving water to attracting 

more birds and butterflies to your 

yard. Native plants can provide enormous 

beauty and new levels of enjoyment 

to your outdoor experiences. 

Learn which plants will do the best in 

which conditions. 

• April 29—Spring Plant Sale. Native 

plants, pollinator plants, wildflowers 

and more. Proceeds go to the operation 

and maintenance of the Master 

Gardeners’ Educational Gardens and 

Greenhouse, and to support Master 

Gardener educational and outreach 

programs. 

Located at the UF/IFAS Extension 

Manatee Office, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto. 

Visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu. 

ensembleNewSRQ 

Featuring this season’s final 

co-commission, “WAVES,” by Sebastian 

Currier (a Hermitage Artist Retreat 

fellow). Based on the eponymous 

novel, The Waves, by Virginia Woolf, 

this work for soprano, small ensemble, 

and electronics, reflects the thoughts 

of different women and girls—from 

a young child to an 80-year-old 

woman—ultimately representing just 

one woman’s life unfolding over a single 

day. “WAVES” is paired with Anna 

Thorvaldsdottir’s “Entropic Arrows,” 

and “firn,” the second work of enSRQ’s 

season exploration of Yaz Lancaster’s 

music. April 18, 8 p.m. 

For tickets, visit www.ensrq.org. 

▼ 

At The Van Wezel 

A sampling of upcoming shows: 

• Mean Girls – April 11-16. It’s the musical 

from book writer Tina Fey, composer 

Jeff Richmond, lyricist Nell Benjamin 

and director Casey Nicholas. 

The story of a naïve newbie who falls 

prey to a trio of lionized frenemies. 

• Cats runs April 18-20. CATS tells the 

story of one magical night when an 

extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for 

its annual ball to rejoice and decide 

which cat will be reborn. Original 

score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, original 

scenic and costume design by 

John Napier, all-new lighting design 

by Natasha Katz, all-new sound 

design by Mick Potter and new choreography 

by Andy Blankenbuehler. 

• Tom Jones: Ages & Stages Tour will 

take place on May 13. 

Pre-show dining is available through 

Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is 

located inside the theatre. Reservations 

can be made on VanWezel.org or 

through the box office. 

▼ 

Art Classes 

Registration continues for Art Center 

Sarasota’s 2023 adult education 

season, which runs through April and 

continued on page 10 

▼ 


healthier you 

Feeling Good About 

Aging 

Our age is more than just a 

number. It is a combination 

of factors – some we can 

control and some we can’t. 

For example, we can’t control our determinant 

genetics or what accidents may 

befall us (that is, unless you knowingly 

participate in high-risk activities), but we 

can control our lifestyle choices. Regardless 

of your age, there are steps everyone 

can take to maximize their health and 

wellbeing. “Even in middle age, making 

long-term lifestyle choices is beneficial,” 

says UCI Health geriatrician Dr. Sonia 

Sehgal. “The sooner we adopt healthy 

lifestyle habits, the greater the benefits.” 

“Quitting smoking, eating better, 

controlling stress, and exercising daily are 

key building blocks to healthy aging. It’s 

important to establish positive habits as 

soon as possible.” 

Is “midlife crisis” a real thing? 

In a word yes. 

People often refer to the proverbial 

“midlife crisis,” a term introduced 

in 1965 by a Canadian organizational 

psychologist and defined as a period of 

psychological distress that affects some 

people in middle age. This can occur in 

our 40s to our 60s. It’s a time when people 

may assume different life roles than 

they expected. Some become caregivers 

for aging parents. For both men and 

women, hormones fall… for men this is 

usually a slow, but sure, decline; for women 

it can be a cataclysmic fall. Children 

grow up and become independent adults. 

And loved ones accumulate health issues 

that may be life-limiting. 

This is a great time to renew investment 

in our own health – focusing 

specifically on preventive measures to 

ensure that the future is a long, vibrant 

and healthy one. For patients at The Renewal 

Point, we focus on the Four Cornerstones 

of Healthy Aging – Hormone 

Balancing, Detoxification, Nutrition, and 

Physical Conditioning. 

· Hormone balancing improves sleep, 

mood, weight control, cognition, cardiovascular 

health, strength, bone health, 

sexuality, vitality, serenity and more. 

· Toxins steal our health. Metals toxins, 

environmental chemicals, and biological 

toxins are ubiquitous in our environment. 

Everyone is exposed to toxins at 

PAID ADVERTORIAL 

different levels (depending on the air, 

water, and food) and everyone’s body 

handles them differently. At The Renewal 

Point we can run panels to see if 

toxins are interfering with your health. 

Then, if needed, we can develop a plan 

to clear them from your system. 

· Nutritional deficiencies contribute to 

cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and 

overall poor health. Finding these deficiencies, 

then correcting them, are keys 

to living a longer, healthier life. 

· Physical conditioning is a must as we 

age. But what kind of exercise is appropriate 

for us in our 60s and 70s, especially 

when we have developed wear and 

tear over the last half century? At The 

Renewal Point we apply a combination 

of Physical therapy/Physical conditioning 

program aimed at an individual’s 

goals and over-all physical condition. 

If you are experiencing symptoms, 

disease, and/or a mid-life crisis that is 

holding you back from living the life you 

imagine, no matter your age, we are here 

to help! We use state-of-the-art assessment 

methods that allow us to find and 

target the root of the problem and restore 

your health and wellbeing. For more information 

we encourage you to visit our 

website at TheRenewalPoint.com or 

call our office at 941-926-4905. 

————————————————— 

Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM is an expert in 

Integrative Medicine. With over 25 years 

of experience in hormone balancing, 

a Board Certification in 

Integrative Medicine, 

a Post-doctoral Certification 

in Metabolic 

Endocrinology, and a 

Fellowship in Anti- 

Aging, Regenerative, 

and Functional Medicine, 

Dr. Watts has put 

together a Hormone 

Balancing Program that 

has helped thousands 

of patients renew their 

love and vigor for life. 

Dr. Dan Watts 

MD, ND, MSMN 

The Renewal Point 

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota 

Phone: 941-926-4905 

www.TheRenewalPoint.com 

Congratulations Girls Inc of Sarasota on receiving the 

Pillar of Inspiration Award from National Girls Inc! 

Thank you for all you do for girls everywhere! 


out and about continued 

features more than 100 classes, workshops, 

and open studio sessions. 

Classes are offered Monday through 

Saturday and cover a diversity of topics, 

including painting, photography, 

sculpture, mixed-media, drawing, 

and pastel and taught by more than 

25 art instructors. 

To register and for more information, 

visit www.artsarasota.org or 

call 941-365-2032. 

Art Center Sarasota has its Summer 

Art Camp 2023 offering 10 

weeks of creative fun through 

August 4, 9:30 am-3 pm, Mon- 

Fri. For creative kids ages 6-10 and 

emerging artists ages 11-15. Registration: 

www.artsarasota.org. 

Local History 

Manatee Village Historical Park 

has Living Off the Land: Florida’s 

Pioneering Efforts to Make a Living. 

The exhibit explores the various ways 

settlers in the mid-1800s through the 

early 1900s took advantage of readily 

available natural resources of the land 

and sea. 

As Manatee County developed 

during the Pioneering Period (1830- 

1918), a number of commercial activities 

grew out of the environmental 

realities people moving into the area 

built upon. One of the earliest brought 

fishermen who set up seasonal camps 

along our shores. These fishermen 

set up semi-permanent Fishing Ranchos 

where they caught and prepared 

schools of mullet and other fish for 

Cuban markets. 

In the 1840s, when the first waves 

of American expansion into the area 

started, sugar production became a 

major economic engine. At its peak, 

there were over a dozen sugarcane 

plantations established within the 

Manatee River area. By the mid-1800s 

and early 1900s, Florida’s population 

was growing along with its economic 

prosperity. With the development of 

steamship lines, connected to the first 

railroads, local businesses began to 

send products to ports and destinations 

around the nation and throughout 

the world. 

Living Off the Land: Florida’s 

Pioneering Efforts to Make a Living 

will be available on-site at Manatee 

Village Historical Park through 

November, 2024. 

Manatee Village Historical Park is 

located at 1404 Manatee Avenue East 

(SR64) in Bradenton, Florida. For more 

information, call 941-749-7165, or visit 

www.manateevillage.org. 

▼ 

Art Around 

the State 

At The Dali: the shape of dreams 

through April 30. The Shape of 

Dreams explores 500 years of 

dream-inspired paintings from the 

16th to 20th century, demonstrating 

how artists throughout time have 

depicted a profound yet universal phenomenon 

of human experience — the 

dream. The exhibition will examine 

how Western artists have depicted 

dreams for very different audiences 

throughout time, exploring the continuity 

and disconnections between the 

past and present. 

The exhibition features a selection 

of art on loan from American institutions, 

including the National Gallery of 

▼ 

Art, Detroit Institute 

of Arts, 

The New Orleans 

Museum 

of Art, Saint 

Louis Art Museum, 

Hirshhorn 

Museum 

& Sculpture 

Garden, Chicago 

Art Institute 

and Metropolitan 

Museum 

of Art. Several 

works from 

The Dalí’s permanent 

collection 

are placed 

in dialog with 

these works. 

The exhibition 

includes some 

reproductions to ensure visitors can 

experience the essential images to our 

curated story of dreams. 

Drawing on the irony that dreams 

are an intense visual sensation most 

often taking place when the eyes are 

closed, the exhibition inspires questions 

about the very nature of reality 

and encourages viewers to examine 

dreams through different lenses — 

psychological, religious and metaphysical. 

Works by Frida Kahlo, Paul 

Delvaux, Pat Steir, Philip Guston, Max 

Beckmann, Lodovico Carracci and 

Odilon Redon, many of which are 

monumental canvases, address manners 

of representation and consider 

how the waking world influences the 

dream. The exhibition seeks to understand 

how these artistic expressions 

shape the imagination. 

Information: thedali.org. 

Selby Gardens 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

has Seeing the Invisible at its Historic 

Spanish Point campus. The most 

ambitious and expansive show to date 

of contemporary artworks created 

with augmented-reality (AR) technology, 

the exhibition launched last 

year at 12 botanical gardens around 

the world. Selby Gardens is one of 

four inaugural sites that will continue 

to host the show for a second year, 

through September 2023. Six new 

garden and museum sites will join the 

global exhibition in October. 

Seeing the Invisible features works 

by more than a dozen internationally 

acclaimed artists, including Ai Weiwei 

of China, El Anatsui of Ghana, Isaac 

Julien CBE RA of the United Kingdom, 

and Sarah Meyohas of the United 

States. At Selby Gardens’ Historic 

Spanish Point campus, the show’s 13 

AR works are installed in carefully curated 

locations throughout the 30-acre 

preserve. Visitors engage with the art 

through an app that can be downloaded 

to a smartphone or tablet. 

Seeing the Invisible is the first exhibition 

of its kind to be developed 

as a collaboration among botanical 

gardens around the world. The same 

commissioned artworks are placed in 

outdoor settings at the participating 

institutions, creating parallels and 

contrasts between them. The AR nature 

of the exhibition has allowed for 

the creation of expansive, immersive 

works that engage with existing features 

of the natural landscape, going 

beyond the limitations of what is possible 

with physical artworks. 

▼ 

For more information visit www. 

selby.org. 

UF/IFAS Extension 

Sarasota County 

April 18—Reclaim Your Yard from 

Mosquitoes (webinar) Program will 

cover general information, the mosquito 

life cycle, and what works & what 

doesn’t in protecting yourself from 

mosquitoes. 

In this program you will learn about 

the life cycle of mosquitoes found in 

Florida and what you can do to reduce 

mosquito breeding sites around your 

home. Reducing breeding sites is critical 

to lowering the number of mosquitoes 

and protecting yourself and your 

family from bites. Instructor: Carol 

Wyatt-Evens, Extension Agent, Chemicals 

in the Environment, UF/IFAS 

Extension Sarasota County. 

• April 26—Biorational Pesticides: 

Eco-Friendly Pest Control (webinar) 

This program will discuss biorational 

pesticides- what they are, how they 

can be used, and their advantages and 

disadvantages as pesticides.Biorational 

pesticides is a term that covers 

a broad range of low environmental 

impact substances or products typically 

derived from natural or biological 

origins. This includes biological pesticides 

as well as synthetic biorational 

materials. Learn about the products 

that can provide control of pest problems 

while also being environmentally 

safe. Class instructor: Carol Wyatt- 

Evens, Chemicals in the Environment 

Agent, UF/IFAS Extension 

• April 28—Beneficial Insects in the 

Florida Landscape (webinar) Common 

beneficial insects found in the 

Florida urban landscape and their role 

in the ecosystem. 

With an estimated 12,500 insect 

species in Florida, one could easily get 

overwhelmed when trying to identify 

backyard insects, an amazing and 

important part of the ecosystem. 

Insects are pollinators, predators, 

decomposers, and detritivores. These 

are the ‘good bugs’, that serve as 

nature’s best (and cheapest) pest control 

as well as major players within our food 

system and recycling of organic matter. 

In this webinar, we will cover insect 

identification and feeding behaviors. 

Learn how to use integrated pest management 

strategies in support of a beneficial 

insect and a healthy ecosystem. 

Register only at ufsarasotaext. 

eventbrite.com. For more information, 

call 941-861-5000. 

▼ 

The 

Venice 

Farmers 

Market 

Runs 

April – September: 

Saturdays 

from 8 a.m. 

to Noon. 

Fresh Florida-grown 

produce, 

delicious 

baked items, 

wild-caught 

seafood, 

artisan 

handmade 

food items, 

homemade pickles, kettle corn, local 

honey, gourmet prepared food to 

eat, and don’t miss our wide array 

of green space vendors offering 

tropical plants, potted herbs, citrus 

trees and fresh-cut flowers, creative 

art and crafts, live music and much 

much more. 

The Venice Farmers Market at City 

Hall, 401 W. Venice Avenue, is one of 

four non-profit community markets 

under the Friends of Sarasota County 

Parks donates proceeds after operating 

costs back to the local community. 

www.thevenicefarmersmarket.org/. 

La Musica has “Grand Friendships: on April 15—a tribute to La Musica’s co-founder 

and longtime Associate Artistic Director Derek Han with La Musica Artistic Director 

Wu Han, piano; Chad Hoopes, Kristin Lee, violins; James Thompson, viola; Keith 

Robinson, cello. www.lamusicafestival.org/festival/concerts-events 

At The Straz 

▼ 

▼ 

On April 14, Straz Center for 

the Performing Arts in Tampa 

enjoy “Broadway’s Best Hits” an 

extravaganza featuring musical hits 

from Broadway’s best known and 

most loved shows performed by artists 

Elona Krasavtseva and Helen Avramenko, 

both from Ukraine and now 

performing in the US. 

The show also features New York’s 

rising star Vitaly Volodin. The cast includes 

musical direction by Alex Nakhimovsky, 

the 2019 winner of the 

Global Music Awards who has signed 

on to direct Broadway’s Best Hits live 

band and backdrop the vocals. For 

tickets, visit www.strazcenter.org. 

At Bookstore1 

Sarasota 

April 8—The Fun Widow’s Book 

Tour: A Reading and Conversation 

with Bestselling Author Zoe Fishman. 

From the author of Inheriting 

Edith comes a brave new novel about 

the intersection of art and grief and the 

tragic loss of her own husband in 2017. 

Mia used to be fun. She was the 

class clown; a member of the mile 

high club; the mom who made her 

sons giggle with her bad British accent 

and well-placed tickles. But three 

years after the death of her husband, 

there’s no time for that. She’s the only 

parent they have. 

Now, her memoir is out and she has 

to promote it. But how to sell herself 

when her heart is still broken? And 

so her three best friends —Chelsea, 

Rachel and George_organize her book 

tour in their respective hometowns. 

With her father Ira on deck for the 

boys, Mia sets off on a week-long journey 

to San Francisco, Chicago, and 

Atlanta: her hometown. 

▼ 

However, Mia’s not just going for 

herself. Armed with her trademark 

agenda, she plans to fix her friends’ 

lives as a means of repayment for all 

they’ve done. And reluctantly visit 

Judy, her new stepmother, because she 

has to--not because she wants to. But 

even the best agenda is often rendered 

useless by reality, and Mia realizes 

that the stories she’s been telling herself 

are just that. Stories. 

If she can rewrite who she is now by 

revisiting who she was then, maybe 

she can reignite the flame in all of 

them. This is a free event, but registration 

is required. More information and 

RSVP here: www.sarasotabooks.com. 

• April 22 and April 29—Local Author 

Book Fair from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

outside in the breezeway at. Local 

authors will be signing books. Authors 

and their works will be announced 

at: www.sarasotabooks.com. 

• April 19 at 11:00 a.m.—The Short 

and Satisfying Book Club led by 

Georgia Court. The Short and Satisfying 

Book Club is for those looking 

for a shorter read that is ripe for discussion. 

April’s selection is The Hour 

of the Star, Clarice Lispector’s final 

masterpiece. 

About Hour of the Star: Narrated by 

the cosmopolitan Rodrigo S.M., this 

brief, strange, and haunting tale is the 

story of Macabéa, one of life’s unfortunates. 

Living in the slums of Rio 

and eking out a poor living as a typist, 

Macabéa loves movies, Coca-Colas, 

and her rat of a boyfriend; she would 

like to be like Marilyn Monroe, but she 

is ugly, underfed, sickly and unloved. 

Rodrigo recoils from her wretchedness, 

and yet he cannot avoid the realization 

that for all her outward misery, 

Macabéa is inwardly free. She doesn’t 

seem to know how unhappy she should 

be. Lispector employs her pathetic 

heroine against her urbane, empty 

narrator—edge of despair to edge of 

despair—and, working them like a pair 

of scissors, she cuts away the reader’s 

preconceived notions about poverty, 

identity, love and the art of fiction. In 

her last book she takes readers close to 

the true mystery of life and leaves us 

deep in Lispector territory indeed. 

A fee of $13 is required for participation. 

This includes a copy of Hour of 

the Star to be picked up at Bookstore1 

and the book club meeting. 

Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple 

Ave., Sarasota. Registration for 

all book clubs: www.sarasotabooks. 

com/bookclubs, or call 941-365-7900. 

West Coast Woman has been 

publishing since 1989 and 

cover the two-county area 

that includes Sarasota, Bradenton, 

Venice, Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, 

Longboat Key, St. Armands and Anna 

Maria Island. We are ad-supported so 

that means our publication is FREE 

and is located at over 600 quality 

locations from doctor's offices to 

fitness centers to health food stores. 

In addition, we are in newspaper 

boxes in prime locations such as post 

offices and busy streets. 

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? 

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WestCoastWoman.com 


focus on the arts 

Get Ready to Dance! 

The Music of Motown Featuring Crystal 

Monee Hall Comes to Sarasota in May 

There’s nothing quite like the 

music created by the artists 

of Motown Records in 

the 1960s, a decade during 

which the beloved label 

churned out over 100 chart-topping hits 

from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin 

Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations, and 

others. More than 60 years later, the songs 

of Motown continue to captivate music 

lovers of all ages and walks of life. 

“You hear a Motown drum riff, you hear 

the horn sounds, and you know exactly 

where you are; you’re in a particular 

time and place,” says vocalist Crystal 

Monee Hall. “It’s iconic in R&B 

and soul music. Somehow, there 

is a heft and a very strong reality, 

and then a levity to it, too. It’s light 

and fun, but we’re talking about an obsessive, 

never-ending love, and we’re doing 

it with a smile on our face and a wiggle in 

our hips. I think only music can do that, 

and Motown does it like nobody else.” 

Hall has fond childhood memories 

of watching her parents dance to these 

timeless tracks on vinyl in their family 

home. As she prepares to perform these 

songs alongside Sarasota Orchestra in a 

program titled Dancing in the Street: 

Music of Motown, the sheer impact and 

lasting effects of Motown have become 

even clearer for her. 

“It’s all still fresh, and it all still feels 

good,” she says. “The music is all about 

love, one way or the other. The themes 

are incredibly universal, so everybody 

gets it; no matter what age you are, what 

race you are, what region you’re from, 

the music really communicates their 

feelings.” 

Hall’s mother was also a singer, and her 

love of music started early on, when she 

sang gospel at church. She continued with 

choir throughout high school, but also 

developed a love for literature and eventually 

decided to pursue a career teaching 

English at a high school near her hometown. 

However, she quickly grew restless 

and longed to be on stage herself. 

“I could not stop singing,” Hall remembers. 

“I taught for about a month. I 

resigned, went to New York, and started 

auditioning. I took the first gig I got, 

which was on a Disney cruise ship. I replaced 

Jennifer Hudson. Of course, this 

was before she was Jennifer Hudson. 

We were all kids.” 

That Disney cruise ship gig lasted a 

year, until Hall landed a spot in the cast 

of RENT, which is when she says her life 

as a New York City artist “really began.” 

Today, Hall enjoys a thriving, dynamic 

career as a singer, songwriter, actress and 

instrumentalist, but it hasn’t come easily. 

“As women, we’re sort of conditioned 

to make ourselves small and to walk into 


Crystal Monee Hall 

rooms with apologies. That’s something 

that I have had to get over in my artistic 

career and to just sort of lean into the fact 

that I have something to say and something 

to offer, and that it is not only my 

right but my responsibility to take up all 

of the space,” Hall says. “That’s been essential 

for me, as a performer, just in general. 

As a woman artist, as a Black artist, 

as a queer artist, as all of the things … 

just to be unafraid and to walk into the 

room knowing that what I have to offer 

is something that nobody else can offer. 

What you got is cool, there’s nothing lacking 

in it. Tell yourself that every day, and 

you will believe it.” 

Sarasota Orchestra will present Dancing 

in the Street: Music of Motown featuring 

Crystal Monee Hall in its annual 

Outdoor Pops concert, May 5 and 6 at the 

Orioles’ Ed Smith Stadium. Hall encourages 

audience members to “get ready to 

have a party” with smash hits like “Ain’t 

No Mountain High Enough,” “I Heard It 

through the Grapevine,” “My Girl,” and 

more. Hall particularly enjoys singing 

Diana Ross’ “Touch Me in the Morning,” 

a song that she says she wouldn’t have 

initially chosen. 

“It’s such a beautiful challenge, and 

I’ve gotten to the point where I love, love, 

love to sing that song every single night,” 

she says. “Also, Stevie Wonder is my legend 

and icon. I get to sing ‘Superstition,’ 

which is cool because most of the time, 

the boys get to sing that one.” 

About the Concert: 

Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown 

featuring Crystal Monee Hall, is on May 

5 and 6 at the Orioles’ Ed Smith Stadium. 

Tickets available online and through 

the Box Office. Call (941) 953-3434 

or visit SarasotaOrchestra.org 

— Contributor: Chelsey Norris 


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happening this month 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat 

Greenfield Prize Weekend is April 14-16 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat 

(Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director 

and CEO) in collaboration 

with the Greenfield Foundation, 

presents the 15th year of the 

Hermitage Greenfield Prize Weekend, 

April 14-16, culminating with the Hermitage 

Greenfield Prize Dinner on 

Sunday, April 16. 

This event – celebrating 2023 HGP 

winners Lorenzo ‘Rennie’ Harris 

(Dance & Choreography) and Sandy Rodriguez 

(Visual Art) – will also feature 

musical performances, including a 

selection from last year’s HGP recipient 

Angélica Negrón. Additional performers 

and guests will be announced at a later 

date. Tom and Sherry Koski serve as 

Co-Chairs for this year’s gala dinner, 

with Honorary Co-Chairs Steven High 

(Executive Director, The Ringling Museum 

of Art), Nate Jacobs (Founding Artistic 

Director, Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe), Virginia Shearer (Executive 

Director, Sarasota Art Museum), and 

Iain Webb (Director, Sarasota Ballet). 

The events begin on Friday, April 

14th at 5:30pm at the Asolo’s Cook 

Theater in the FSU Center for Performing 

Arts with “Aleshea Harris 

Presents,” featuring newly commissioned 

work from playwright, theater 

maker, and 2021 Hermitage Greenfield 

Prize winner Aleshea Harris. 

Her critically acclaimed plays include 

Is God Is, What to Send Up When It 

Goes Down, On Sugarland, and Brother, 

Brother. Described by The New York 

Times as “a rarefied theatrical intelligence,” 

Harris’ work seeks to honor the 

tragedies of the past and present while 

allowing for a potential hope to come. 

Then, on Saturday, April 15th, the 

Hermitage presents two events on its 

Manasota Key campus honoring the 

distinguished recipients of this year’s 

prize. Both artists will receive six 

weeks of residency time as Hermitage 

Fellows to develop their projects, as 

well as a $30,000 prize to support the 

work. “Sandy Rodriguez: Putting Sarasota 

on the Map,” begins at 2pm in the 

Hermitage Palm House (indoors) and 

showcases the work of this year’s visual 

art recipient, Sandy Rodriguez. 

She will be joined by two jurors 

from this year’s selection process, 

renowned multidisciplinary artist 

and Hermitage alumna Anne Patterson 

and Creative Capital President 

Christine Kuan, Rodriguez will show 

examples of her work which often 

use topographical representations to 

merge societal issues past and present 

and discuss her process, including 

using hand-processed, locally sourced 

materials for pigments. 

The celebration continues on the 

Hermitage Beach at 6pm with “Rennie 

Harris: Street Dance Pioneer,” 

a conversation with the first-ever 

Hermitage Greenfield Prize recipient 

in dance and choreography, Lorenzo 

2023 Hermitage Greenfield Prize 

Winner - Dance - Rennie Harris 

2021 Hermitage Greenfield Prize 

Winner - Aleshea Harris 

‘Rennie’ Harris, alongside jurors Joseph 

V. Melillo (Executive Director 

Emeritus, Brooklyn Academy of Music) 

and Charmaine Warren (founder 

of “Black Dance Stories”). 

Melillo has been a longtime friend 

of the Hermitage and was the first 

member of the Hermitage’s esteemed 

National Curatorial Council, and Warren 

is a celebrated dance writer and 

historian. Rennie Harris has dedicated 

his life and his company, Rennie Harris 

Puremovement, to preserving and 

celebrating hip-hop culture through 

workshops, demonstrations, and public 

performances and has revolutionized 

the relationship of this quintessentially 

American art form’s relationship 

to the broader dance community 

in the process. 

2022 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Table 

2023 Hermitage Greenfield Prize 

Winner - Visual Art - Sandy Rodriguez 

2021 Hermitage Greenfield Prize 

Winner - Angelica Negron 

“One of the most thrilling aspects 

of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize 

is bringing three cycles of winners 

to Sarasota in one exciting weekend 

of events and programming,” said 

Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO 

Andy Sandberg. “Considering we 

awarded two prizes this year to celebrate 

a milestone season, this means 

we have four unique disciplines of 

HGP recipients represented at once 

with the brilliant talents of Aleshea 

Harris in theater, Angélica Negrón in 

music, Sandy Rodriguez in visual art, 

and Rennie Harris in dance.” 

With the exception of the Hermitage 

Greenfield Dinner on April 16th, the 

events on April 14th and 15th – like all 

Hermitage community programs – are 

free and open to the members of the 

public (with a $5/person registration 

fee). Registration is required for all 

events at HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

About the Hermitage 

Artist Retreat: 

Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary 

Season, the Hermitage is a non-profit 

artist retreat located in Manasota 

Key, Florida, inviting accomplished 

artists across multiple disciplines for 

residencies on its beachfront campus, 

which is on the National Register of 

Historic Places. Hermitage artists are 

invited to interact with the local community, 

reaching thousands of Gulf 

Coast residents and visitors each year 

with unique and inspiring programs. 

Hermitage Fellows have included 15 

Pulitzer Prize winners, Poets Laureate, 

MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellows, and 

multiple Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar 

winners and nominees. Works created 

at this beachside retreat by a diverse 

group of Hermitage alumni have gone 

on to renowned theaters, concert halls, 

and galleries throughout the world. 

Each year, the Hermitage awards the 

$30,000 Hermitage Greenfield Prize 

for a new work of art, the newly announced 

$35,000 Hermitage Major 

Theater Award for an original theater 

commission, and the Aspen Music Festival’s 

Hermitage Prize in Composition. 

For more information, visit 

HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

About the Hermitage 

Greenfield Prize: 

The Hermitage Greenfield Prize is 

a fifteen-year partnership between 

the Hermitage Artist Retreat and the 

Greenfield Foundation. Rotating between 

the fields of music, theater, and 

visual art, this prestigious national 

prize seeks to bring into the world 

works of art that will have a significant 

impact on the broad as well as 

our artistic culture. The Hermitage 

Greenfield Prize is awarded annually 

and includes a Hermitage Fellowship, 

as well as a $30,000 commission for a 

new piece of work to be created within 

a two-year time frame. A residency at 

the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota 

Key (Sarasota County, Florida), 

provides valuable time and space in 

which to conceive and complete the 

work. Past winners include Angélica 

Negrón, Music (2022); Aleshea Harris, 

Theater (2021); Helga Davis, Music 

(2019); Martyna Majok, Theater (2018); 

David Burnett, Photography (2017); 

Coco Fusco, Visual Art (2016); Bobby 

Previte, Music (2015); Nilo Cruz, Theater 

(2014); Trenton Doyle Hancock, Visual 

Art (2013); Vijay Iyer, Music (2012); John 

Guare, Theater (2011); Sanford Biggers, 

Visual Art (2010); Craig Lucas, Theater 

(2009) and Eve Beglarian, Music (2009). 

For information, visit HermitageArtist- 

Retreat.org, or call (941) 475-2098, Ext. 2. 


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^ Jewish crafts 

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^ Limonana station by Michael’s On East 

^ Trees for Israel with JNF 

^ Notes for the Kotel (Western Wall) 

in Israel with Hadassah 

^ Challah braiding activity with Baca 

Bread (challah available for purchase) 

^ Nosh on falafel, malawach, burekas 

and more (Kosher options available) 

A Celtic Celebration • March 17-18 

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FINAL CONCERT OF THE 2022-2023 SEASON 

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open for business 

New Monarch 

Dance Studio Opens 

In Bradenton 

Offering an extensive selection 

of dance and dance-infused fitness instruction 

FOR ADULTS 

Independent dance instructors share 

their unique talents and bring creativity 

to life on the dance floor. Our stateof-the-art 

studio features a 1,300 

square foot sprung maple dance floor, 

specially crafted by O’Mara Sprung 

Floors Company, provid-ing unmatched 

support with a 70% shock absorption 

rate for all dance styles. 

Conveniently located 1/2 mi off I-75, to serve greater Manatee county, 

including North River areas, Lakewood Ranch, and Sarasota. 

862 62nd Street Circle East, #103, Bradenton, FL 34208 

(941) 201-5608 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: 

Lifelong dance 

student and arts 

enthusiast Winifred 

Strange had seen 

firsthand the problems 

that dance teachers have 

finding good rental space for 

their specialized classes. For almost 

ten years, she had followed 

her instructor all over Manatee 

County to different studios. 

“About a year ago, I started thinking 

about creating a studio and the idea just 

grew,” said Strange. She enlisted the help 

of her dance instructor, Bonnie Gray, 

and local realtor Kris Kesling-Hays and 

started looking for a suitable studio. The 

trio found a space located at 862 62nd 

Street Circle East, just off of I-75 and renovations 

began. Of course, as long as she 

was designing a space from the ground 

up, Strange wanted to fill it with all of the 

amenities that dance and dance-related 

businesses need to thrive. 

For dancers, that means actually starting 

at the ground. Strange had danced on 

a sprung floor before and knew that her 

studio had to have one. The new space 

now boasts a world-class floor of suspended 

maple made by O’Mara Sprung Floors 

of Flint, Michigan. This floor is not only 

strong enough for percussive dance, but 

soft enough for the “give” that all dance 

styles prefer. “We also had to install a new 

air conditioning system that will protect 

the floor,” said Strange. 

The studio has wall-mounted ballet barres, 

a wall of mirrors, a professional sound 

system, and a smart television. A kitchenette 

and dressing room are available. 

The Monarch Studio is operated by a 

new local organization, the Dance Alliance 

of Bradenton. The Alliance is made up 

of a group of dance and fitness educator 

entrepreneurs who will share the space. It 

has an umbrella website, www.danceallianceofbradenton.com, 

with individual pages 

for each member. Gray is the program 


director of the 

Alliance. She has 

been teaching 

dance in southwest 

Florida since 

1982 and in Bradenton 

since 2001. 

Gray explained 

that dance is a 

great form of exercise for adults. “In addition 

to the cardiovascular benefits, dance 

works the whole body, increases flexibility 

and supports cognitive ability. Best of all, 

it’s fun. You don’t have to worry about coordination 

or rhythm, anyone can dance.” 

A semi-retired stage performer, Gray and 

her company “That’s Dancing! Dance Education 

for Adults,” offer classes in Broadway-style 

tap and jazz, hula and Polynesian 

classes, Balletone Fitness and Hot Hula 

Fitness. Home to the award-winning Starfire 

Dancers and Aloha Stars, the Monarch 

Studio also hosts the Diva Dance Program 

which will be offering adult classes. Other 

dance and fitness educators are expected 

to hold classes at the studio soon. 

In addition to day and evening, classes, the 

Monarch Studio is available to the public 

for events, small parties and private gatherings. 

For more information, visit www. 

danceallianceofbradenton.com or email 

info@danceallianceofbradenton.com. 

(Dance Teachers: check us out for studio space rental 

for your classes!) 

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Megan 

Howell, MS 

She’s the Executive 

Director and 

Founder at Second 

Heart Homes. 

Their mission is “to revive 

the dignity of the homeless 

and mental health community 

through housing, support, 

and love” through eight 

locations with 49 beds 

across two counties — 

and it’s working. 


Just about every sentence 

Megan speaks 

comes with phrases 

like, “meet them where 

they’re at ” and “love 

them for who they 

are.” These are words spoken 

about those experiencing homelessness 

coupled with mental health challenges. 

There’s no clinical talk, no “big picture” 

discussions about society’s failures, no finger-pointing. 

Instead, empathy informs her work and 

her organization’s unique one-on-one approach. 

Years ago, while working as a waitress 

at Patrick’s (while also attending college), 

Megan saw a homeless man one night 

and made it her mission to engage, meet him 

where he was, and make sure he was okay. 

Megan’s face lights up recalling the time 

when he told her he was ready to change and 

walked her to her car. He had “fallen through 

the cracks” for 25 years, but her daily connection 

with him kept him going. 

From that encounter, she envisioned assisting 

more homeless individuals. As with 

most nonprofits, hers started small in 2016 

by subleasing housing and offering “care coordination” 

as she calls it. A business mentor 

suggested a more sustainable model, so in 

January 2020, Second Heart Homes became 

a nonprofit and now has eight houses (five 

for men; three for women) with 49 beds total 

spread across two counties. 

This is a new organization, but one dealing 

with an old problem: homelessness, but 

their approach is what makes Second Heart 

Homes so different. “Our high-touch, tailored-services 

approach is unique because 

it provides both short-term and long-term 

housing and care that revives dignity, establishes 

stability, and teaches independence,” 

says their website. 

“We provide housing, case management 

support, skill building workshops and arts 

integration. Clients come to us based on their 

commitment to address their mental and 

physical health, remain sober and achieve 

personal goals toward self-sufficiency with 

healthy routines and hobbies. It is impossible 

to address these realms when you are homeless,” 

says their website. 

Beyond offering a supportive environment, 

Second Heart assists in a myriad of 

ways. Some need help with insurance. One 

man needed help getting his benefits restored. 

Another had his right to vote restored. 

Fourteen are employed. And in one touching 

example, a man was finally able to reunite 

with his father after 20 years. 

They’ll also learn practical things like 

computer skills, but also interpersonal skills 

and how to take better care of themselves. 

Their website notes that three clients are now 

enrolled in college or trade school. 

Homelessness and being at-risk are the criteria 

followed very closely by “a commitment 

to addressing their issues,” she explains. And 

it’s never a handout - always a “hand up,” 

Megan explains. They teach life skills and 

they monitor and manage constantly, she explains. 

“Stay as long as you wish if you follow 

the rules and pay your fees,” she states. 

The goal is to prevent chronic street homelessness. 

Clients come in often battered by 

the rough experience of living on the streets. 

Through Second Heart they gain and achieve 

stability through supportive housing. Care 

plans are individualized, Megan explains. 

The “Catch 22” for many is you can’t get a 

job without providing an address or place 

where you live. And you can’t get a place to 

live without an ID. And possessions? The 

constant moving about on the streets means 

things are stolen, lost or left behind thus they 

have almost nothing. 

In one home, which is decorated in a 

charming ‘60s motif, one woman is off to 

work soon and another is headed to an appointment. 

Later into our interview, another 

woman arrives back from her job. The home 

is spotless and they’re expected to keep 

things clean and manage their own space. 

Rooms are cozy with a bed, closet, dresser 

and TV. Megan gets to know them all, knows 

their schedules and chats with them to see 

how they’re doing. 

As for those eight properties operated 

by her nonprofit, none receive city, state or 

county funds. Support comes completely 

from donations - foundations and individuals, 

“making the community part of the solution,” 

as she puts it. 

A recent art auction fundraiser helped to 

fund another home which will be for women 

in Manatee County. “We raised $56,000 that 

evening to help us open our eighth home, 

provide therapy services, provide laundry 

detergent, toilet paper, day planners, work 

shoes, new mattresses, job training, case 

management, birthday cakes, and, of course, 

love,” Megan wrote on Facebook. 

With that additional property, Second 

Heart is now able to serve 49 people. Megan 

notes it is estimated there are 200 homeless 

women in our community. 

Along with seemingly endless compassion 

comes incorporating art into Second Heart. 

Megan explains that, “Local art and nature 

make our supportive housing feel better than 

a house and more like a boutique home with 

a support system.” 

Ringling students will help with new murals 

called “super graphics” inside the homes. 

“Art is not a luxury,” says this former origami 

teacher, “it’s for everyone.” Megan visited 

over 30 types of housing and came up with 

her own vision including art. She mentions 

Paul Sykes of Art Avenue who hosted a reception 

and auction last year that generated 

$50,000 for Second Heart Homes and who has 

also helped with some of the art. 

Second Heart Homes has a staff of five (including 

Megan) along with three full-time care 

managers and Director of Operations, Athyna 

Smith. Megan no longer needs to reach out to 

people on the streets. In fact, over 70 nonprofits 

reach out to Second Heart Homes wanting 

to place clients needing housing. 

The nonprofit has a board that includes 

Sarasota County Court Judge Erika Quartermaine, 

former Herald-Tribune opinion 

editor Tom Tryon, businessmen David Lyons 

(chairman), David Welle and Jim Doyle, and 

businesswoman Claudia Barnett. It’s a board 

she says, “that goes above and beyond the 

call of duty.” 

Megan has a Masters in Psychology. A 

self-reliant person, she has gotten by working 

multiple jobs - gigs like working at music 

festivals and teaching origami and, of course, 

being a waitress. 

She herself experienced homelessness 

as a child. Her mother and brother, who is 

autistic, had to leave a situation involving 

domestic violence. It was something they 

experienced briefly, but it no doubt left its 

mark on Megan as she watched her mother 

get her brother the right care. “People wanted 

to give up in him. She [her mother] read 

about speech therapy and taught him how 

to speak.” He earned his diploma and has 

worked at a store ever since. That experience 

taught Megan that, “maybe there’s a different 

way,” of working with people, adding she got 

that from her mother. 

And that story at the beginning of this article 

about Megan working with that homeless 

man? Due in large part to her efforts, a man 

who had been homeless for 25 years became 

a homeowner in 2020. 

STORY: Louise Bruderle 

IMAGES: Evelyn England 

More about Second Heart Homes 

There are many ways you can get involved. 

You may want to donate items, but what helps 

most and offers the most flexibility for Second 

Heart are donations. 

Donation made to Second Heart Homes at 

FlanzerTrust.org will be matched (up to 

$500). For information, visit secondheart 

homes.org/ or call 941-201-9353. 

FREE LIVING WILL 

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Revocable Living Trust: 

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No additional costs required other than filing fees if applicable. 

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1800 Second St. Suite 895 Sarasota, FL 34236 1305 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg, VA 24503 

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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, 

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New Sarasota Travel Trend: 

Tiny House Siesta offers small but funky accommodations 

The Flamingo Tiny House 

Red Lifeguard Stand Tiny House 

WISH 

YOU WERE 

HERE!! 

w 

Red Lifeguard Stand Interior 

Tiny, But So Much Room! 

The Starfish! 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths! 

Usually with hotels, bigger 

is better as travelers want 

suites, balconies, eat-in 

kitchens, large pools and 

beach access. So the concept 

of a “Tiny House” vacation rental 

may seem contrary to best practices. 

That is, until you actually see them. 

Off a forgotten side street on Stickney 

Point Road is a row of Tiny Houses 

in bright Lifesaver candy colors that are 

accommodations that you can rent. You 

could easily miss this location since it’s 

on a small offshoot off Stickney Point 

on what’s called “Avenue A.” 

First, the location on Stickney Point 

is convenient. You get a running start 

on the crowds heading to Siesta Key 

and the beaches. Tiny House Siesta 

offers 13 homes including one double 

wide and one single wide. Once inside 

you might see a sitting area, a kitchen 

area, TV, bathroom to the back, and, in 

some units, a ladder to the “upstairs” 

which is where you sleep. But this isn’t 

the way they all are - they’re unique in 

their configurations which also makes it 

interesting and fun to choose. 

Some also have a front deck or back 

patio area. Each unit is on wheels, but 

they’re not mobile homes in the traditional 

sense as the ceilings are higher 

than you expect and they’re kitted out 

with modern day conveniences, but 

with a retro look. 

The Flamingo Tiny House is one of 

the smaller units with one bedroom, 

one bath and sleeps two and was once 

occupied as a permanent residence. 

The master bedroom is in a loft that 

has a full set of stairs for access. The 

house features double burner cooktop, 

large refrigerator, toilet and shower, 

fully stocked and functioning kitchen, 

awning windows, futon couch and flat 

screen TV. It also has internet access, 

air conditioning, cable TV, a grill and 

there’s a patio. 

A bigger unit stands out not just for its 

bright red color, but for its quirky interior. 

The Red Lifeguard Stand Tiny House 

as it’s called, has two bedrooms and 

one bath and sleeps four-five with two 

queens and a futon in the living room. 

Enter through the bright red, lifesized 

replica of a Siesta Key lifeguard 

stand, and you’ll see two stools beneath 

a surfboard-shaped breakfast bar. Pass 

through the living room, which is decorated 

with just a touch of beach-kitsch, 

and enter the galley kitchen with an 

induction stovetop. 

Dine inside at the table for two, 

or outside under the patio umbrella 

with seating for four. Slide the bright 

red barn door aside and check out the 

the full-size bathroom (all units have 

regular plumbing) with rainfall style 

shower head. 

On the second level (reached by either 

stairs or a ladder), you’ll find two queen 

sized beds, each on opposite sides of 

the home. For an April rental, the rate is 

@ $220 per night and that includes tax 

and cleaning fee. (Be sure to check their 

website for up to date rates.) 

On the larger side, The Starfish unit 

has two bedrooms and two baths and 

sleeps seven and can best be described 

as a modular rancher. It has an open 

kitchen, dining room and living room. 

Amazingly, it has a king bed in the 

master bedroom, twin bunk beds in the 

second bedroom and a pullout sofa in 

the living room—and two full baths, 

too. As a bonus, there’s private, fencedin 

outdoor seating. 

As part of your stay, Tiny House Siesta 

provides all linens and bath towels, 

starters for toilet paper and paper towel 

and travel-size bath gel and shampoo. 

This can be your launchpad for not 

just Siesta Key, but also south to Spanish 

Point, Myakka State Park, Venice 

and more. North is Sarasota and its 

array of attractions and gazillion dining 

options, but Siesta Key really has everything 

you need. 

Why do people choose them? They’re 

very cool looking inside and out is my 

first impression and you feel like you’re 

in a hip camper, but don’t have to deal 

with the fuss. 

Exterior looks can be deceiving since 

they are surprisingly spacious inside 

with their windows, skylights and elevated 

ceilings. 

If you’re someone who will be out a 

lot and you’re not in need of the traditional 

hotel experience, this is for you. 

For more information, visit www.tinyhousevacation.gosiesta.com/ 


“We’re there when you can’t be” 

Family owned 

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Just call Ron 

& Janet Bognar 

Whether you are a seasonal resident or a Florida 

native who loves to travel, you no longer need to 

worry, we will inspect your home daily, weekly 

or biweekly so you have peace of mind. 

We are licensed and insured. 

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ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 

Ever Onward Season 27 

JIJI, guitar 

April 20, 5:30 pm 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

Selected by the Washington Post as 

“one of the 21 composers/performers 

who sound like tomorrow,” JIJI is known 

for her virtuosic performances of music 

ranging from traditional classical to 

free improvisation, played on both 

acoustic and electric guitar. The first 

guitarist to win the Concert Artists Guild 

competition 1st prize in 30 years, JIJI has 

performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie 

Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and has 

been featured on PBS and NPR. 

Call us today 

for your appointment! 

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Cameron Crozman, cello 

Meagan Milatz, piano 

April 27, 11:00 am 

performance followed by 

lunch at Sarasota Yacht Club 

Named “Canada’s next big cello 

star” by CBC Music, Cameron 

Crozman is making a name for 

himself as the next superstar cellist 

of the classical music world. His 

program, titled “Wanderlust,” 

features music inspired by 

composers’ vacation trips. 

This project is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, 

the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida (Section 286.25 Florida Statutes); The Exchange; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; 

National Endowment for the Arts; the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. 


Here’s news on Hotel openings, 

tips and specials 

Opal Collection adds Four Coastal Properties in Florida 

Opal Collection recently added four more properties 

to its portfolio of Florida hotels and resorts: The Atlantic 

Suites on the Ave in Delray Beach; The Capri 

Inn in Naples; The Lucie on Hutchinson Island; and 

Reefhouse Resort & Marina in Key Largo. Like the 

other Florida properties in the Opal Collection, these 

four additions are located on the coastline, thus offering 

sunrises or breathtaking sunsets. 

The Atlantic Suites on the Ave is located just one 

block from the Atlantic Ocean on iconic Atlantic 

Avenue in Delray Beach. The all-suite hotel offers 

a sanctuary for a family retreat or distraction-free 

homebase for an extended stay with ocean views and 

residence-style accommodations. 

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels 

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels offers close 

proximity to Walt Disney World theme parks 

with extra perks and savings exclusively for 

hotel guests. 

The magic is calling this season with a 

spectacular line-up of events and celebrations 

including EPCOT International Festival of 

Arts through July 5. 

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels guests 

receive additional savings including hotel 

packages and promotions with weekday rates 

starting at $120. Plus, travelers from the Sunshine 

State can save even more by booking the 

Florida Resident Disney Weekday Magic Ticket, 

a special two-day ticket for $175 plus tax. 

The Resort offers complimentary daily 

bus shuttle service to all Walt Disney 

World theme parks for Hotel guests. There’s 

A boutique-style hotel in the heart of Florida’s 

Paradise Coast, The Capri Inn offers 

guests style and a superb location, just a 

short stroll from downtown Naples. Formerly 

Trianon Old Naples, the Inn has been fully 

reimagined with oversized bathrooms, and 

terraces or balconies. 

A private cottage for guests seeking the 

most spacious and secluded accommodation 

has also undergone a complete renovation 

and includes two bedrooms with its own 

private gated entrance, full kitchen, washer 

and dryer, and living room with a fireplace. 

Situated oceanfront on Hutchinson Island, 

The Lucie is a haven along Jensen 

Beach, offering views of the Atlantic Ocean. The 

Lucie offers rest and rejuvenation between adventures 

exploring Jensen Beach, and nearby Port 

St. Lucie and Stuart. Explore any of Hutchinson 

Island’s 17 beaches. 

Reefhouse Resort & Marina in Key Largo, is 

situated on 17 acres overlooking Key Largo Bay. 

Guests enjoy beach access, a heated outdoor 

pool, and on-site dining options and a full-service 

spa. From the marina, guests can book a fishing 

charter, dive or snorkel trip at Pirates Cove Watersports 

or spend the afternoon on a paddleboard, 

kayak and more. 

For more information or to book a reservation, 

visit OpalCollection.com. 

more so sign up for special offers and 

seasonal promotions at disneysprings 

hotels.com. 

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels 

include seven properties located in the 

Walt Disney World Resort. The Disney 

Springs Resort Area Hotels includes B 

Resort & Spa, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton 

Orlando, Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando, 

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, Hilton 

Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Holiday 

Inn Orlando Disney Springs, and Wyndham 

Garden Lake Buena Vista. 

Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor 

Sunseeker is the $618 million resort 

being built by Allegiant Travel Co. in Port Charlotte. 

Travel + Leisure Magazine 

ranks Orlando Number 8 

The magazine has listed Orlando as number 8 in its 

“18 Cheapest Places to Travel in 2023” feature. They 

mention the expense of Walt Disney World and Universal 

Orlando ($100 for a one-day ticket), but adds 

that there’s plenty to see and do in Orlando. 

They have a “things to do in Orlando for free” article 

that includes places like Disney Springs (located 

within Walt Disney World), where you don’t have to 

pay to visit. 

Universal Orlando’s CityWalk offers plenty to see 

and do steps from the theme parks. Go for a stroll 

in Lake Eola Park. Birdwatch along Shingle Creek 

Trail. Browse art at CityArts. See vintage cars in Old 

Town in Kissimmee. Hike in the Tibet-Butler Preserve. 

Head to Cocoa Beach. Unwind in Kraft Azalea Garden 

located in Winter Park, just north of Orlando.Check 

Out International Drive and Icon Park. Attend the 

Thursday Night Market. Go on a Florida-style safari 

on Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Hunt for murals in the 

Mills 50 District. See the City from the Orlando Urban 

Trail— from Lake Highland Park to Mead Botanical 

Garden in Winter Park. 

Stop and smell the roses at Harry P. Leu Gardens. 

Take a free brewery Tour at Ivanhoe Park Brewing, 

Deadwords Brewing Company or Brewlando. 

Watch a Free Movie in the Park at À La Cart 

Orlando which features classic movies on Mondays, 

with on-site food trucks and wine bars. Full article 

here: www.travelandleisure.com/cheapestplaces-to-travel-in-2023. 

When complete, the resort will have 785 rooms, two 

pools, a spa and salon, an adults-only rooftop retreat, 

60,000 square feet of meeting space, a 

harbor walk and an 18-hole golf course. 

They’ll also have 20 dining options 

from casual eats on the water to fine dining 

including seven stand-alone restaurants, 

eleven bars and lounges, two 

poolside offerings, and a 25,000 square 

foot multi-dining experience. 

Get one step closer to paradise when 

you take advantage of their introductory 

offer with exclusive rates, a complimentary 

view upgrade, free self-parking 

or airport shuttle, a VIP welcome gift 

and a chance to attend their Grand 

Opening weekend celebration. Reservation 

are available starting October 23. 

www.sunseekerresorts.com/ 


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Devon Horse Show & Country Fair 

May 25-June 4 

For equestrians and non-equestrians alike 

The Dixon Oval comes alive 

with show jumping 

and other events at the 

Devon Horse Show 

The competition is top notch 

and a beautiful spectacle 

of rider and horse 

It’s definitely a “horsy” event for 

professional riders of all types and 

manner of horse and carriage. From 

the elegant, precise and demanding 

art of dressage to the bygone day of 

hackney carriages to the dashing and daring 

do of the jumpers, there’s a lot to take 

in at the Devon Horse Show held every 

year in Devon, PA. 

And what if you’re not a “horsy” person? 

Well, you’re in for a delightful experience 

that would convert and enthrall anyone 

who has never mounted a horse. The Devon 

Horse, timed for Memorial Day weekend, 

offers two weeks of events to enjoy 

a delightful setting and to view beautiful 

animals that perform amazing feats of 

graceful movement. 

But it’s also a country fare serving 

old time treats like lemon sticks and tea 

sandwiches. They also offer their famous 

French fries, pizza and ice cream—all the 

real deal and not the poor quality stuff you 

may find at a ballgame. You can even opt 

for fine dining with wine. 

The grounds of the fairground are converted 

into a little village, in shades of their 

trademark baby blue and white, with shops 

made to look like old time storefronts. Shop 

for horse-related gear, but also beautiful 

clothing, traditional items for the home, 

artwork and much more. Plus, as an added 

bonus, they let you walk the stables and 

meet competitors from around the world. 

Oh, yes there’s also a competition. 

The Devon Horse Show has in-hand, 

jumpers, hunters, carriages, and gaited 

events. Since 1896, the Devon Horse Show 

is the oldest and largest outdoor multibreed 

horse competition in the United 

States. Over the two-weeks, competition 

move from younger riders to professionals 

- many who compete on the circuit and 

sometimes at the Olympics. 

The internationally recognized show 

plays host to athletes and enthusiasts 

across the disciplines of hunter/jumper, equitation, 

show jumping, saddle seat, coaching, 

carriage driving, sidesaddle, breeding 

The grounds are converted into 

a little village with shops 

made to look like old time storefronts 

and much more. 

And the events are categorized as amateur 

or professional, youth and adult. 

I have a preference for the jumpers and 

I’ve stood at the rail and watched these creature 

huff and puff right by me as their rider 

carefully lines them up for the next jump. It 

is a true thing of beauty seeing 1200 pounds 

of horse glide in silence over rail that is eight 

feet high with a rider on its back. 

You can also get under cover in the 

grandstands for very reasonable prices and 

stay out of the sun and also avoid those 

occasional spring showers. 

There are various events all day and into 

the evening such as their Dog Show on May 

25 and the colorful Ladies Day on May 31 

(get out those big hats). 

Devon is located about 40 minutes from 

Philadelphia Airport and is in the heart of 

what is called “The Main Line” where you 

can easily enjoy lots of attractions including 

Longwood Gardens, Brandywine Museum 

of Art, Valley Forge or any number of 

festivals and farmers’ markets along with 

beautiful late spring/early summer weather. 

Get tickets by calling 610-688-2554 

or at devonhorseshow.net. Profits go to 

the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair 

Foundation, which supports the Bryn 

Mawr Hospital. 

— STORY: Louise Bruderle 

There are lots of dining options 

including al fresco 

on the grounds 

Ladies Day is one of the 

most popular events 

complete with showy hats 


Can Spontaneous travel 

make us happier? 

While some travelers plan 

their vacations weeks or 

even months in advance, 

reveling in anticipation of 

the next getaway, others 

book their trips spur-of-the-moment, avoiding 

planning stress altogether. 

So, how does the average American 

prefer to travel? Are we spontaneous travelers, 

ready to pack our bags at a moment’s 

notice? Or are we meticulous planners who 

leave nothing to chance? A recent study* 

offered some surprising insights. 

Spontaneity is the ultimate 

expression of freedom 

Being spontaneous means living in the 

moment and doing what feels right in 

an instant versus planning everything in 

advance. In fact, from a psychological 

perspective, being more spontaneous promotes 

overall well-being and happiness. 

Emma Kenny, one of Europe’s leading 

psychologists, explains: “One common 

stress is the decision making involved in 

the holiday planning process. This is why 

forgoing the methodical organization that 

so often goes hand in hand with a planned 

holiday and instead choosing to enjoy an 

impromptu break can be so liberating.” 

Spontaneous travel forces us to live in the 

“here and now,” freeing us from both daily 

stresses and worry about the future. And 

while packing a bag and getting on a plane 

for a new destination may undoubtedly 

seem scary, it’s a worthwhile step to take: 

“[It] creates a ‘can do’ attitude and will 

remind you of the limitless possibilities 

that are out there. And because you have 

no clear set agenda, or plans, every step 

you take will involve a sense of adventure 

which is truly freeing,” say Kenny. 

Americans are increasingly 

choosing spontaneous travel 

The study revealed that 77% of responders 

consider themselves spontaneous 

travelers, and nearly half (46%) said that 

booking a spontaneous trip felt more exciting. 

Americans are also increasingly booking 

trips to destinations they know nothing 

about, suggesting that spontaneous and 

flexible travel may be the new travel norm. 

In fact, 56% of participants admitted to 

arriving at an airport without a fixed destination 

and booking their getaway on the spot. 

Between travel restrictions, PCR tests, 

pre-travel forms, and 

quarantine regulations, 

the last two 

and a half years have 

made spontaneous 

getaways virtually 

impossible, imposing 

a high level of planning 

and organization 

on all trips. Travelers 

had little to no room 

for impulse decisions. 

Skyscanner’s Global 

Trends and Destination 

Expert Laura 

Lindsay says: “The 

impact of the pandemic 

and ever-evolving travel restrictions 

has reignited the appetite for spontaneous 

travel with three fourths of US respondents 

(75%) saying that the events of the last twoand-a-half 

years have made them want to 

be more spontaneous.” 

What’s more, being spontaneous and 

flexible can actually pay off. Lindsay points 

out that “‘Everywhere’ is currently the 

most searched ‘destination’ for US travelers 

on Skyscanner right now.” That’s 

because users are finding enticing roundtrip 

deals for as little as $49 on domestic 

getaways and $158 on international trips. 

Tips for booking a 

spontaneous trip 

Skyscanner offers these tips using their apps. 

■ Go everywhere. If you’re traveling 

spontaneously, the journey is the destination. 

So if the goal is to get out into the 

world again, Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” 

search tool to discover new places as well 

as great flight deals to get you there. Type 

in your departure city or airport and enter 

“everywhere” as your destination. They 

show deals on places near and far, in order 

of cost. 

■ Flex your dates. Already have a destination 

in mind? Use Skyscanner’s “whole 

month” or “cheapest month” options to 

help you find the cheapest day to travel and 

take the plunge on your next adventure. 

■ Pro tip: If the price on your dream destination 

is not what you hoped just yet, set 

up a price alert for the route you want to 

watch, and we’ll notify you as soon as the 

price goes down. And when it does, drop 

everything and go. 

■ Book one way. Round-trip flights aren’t 

always the cheapest options. Sometimes 

mixing and matching airlines on the desired 

itinerary can yield bigger savings. 

■ Find a spontaneity buddy. Birds of a 

feather flock together. Being spontaneous 

can take practice because it means letting 

go of control. So find like-minded people 

who will help encourage you and give you 

that extra push to get back out there. 

Want to learn more about the benefits of 

spontaneous travel? See Skyscanner’s 

complete study. 

*Research conducted with OnePoll in 

August 2022 with a sample of 1,000 US 

respondents. 

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APRIL 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 23

A Philadelphia Family’s life and contributions to 

American History 

More than 100 Historic Artifacts tell the story of James Forten’s Life and Family 

If you like 

history, especially 

the 

kind with a 

powerful and 

interesting narrative 

of courageous 

people, you’ll enjoy 

the latest exhibit 

at the Museum 

of the American 

Revolution in Philadelphia. 

At the Museum, 

they call it, “starting 

with a thread” 

meaning they find 

a strand of a story 

and then weave it 

into a bigger story. 

The Forten family, 

displayed in all its finery in 

this exhibit, is like a beautifully 

woven quilt. 

The Museum of the American 

Revolution, opened to 

the public on April 19, 2017 

(the 242nd anniversary of 

the first battles of the war, 

at Lexington and Concord, 

on April 19, 1775), is a newer 

museum in the city and 

unique in that it focuses on 

James Forten (1766-1842) was 

born free in Philadelphia – just a 

block from where the Museum now 

stands. 

the period in American history 

centered around the American 

Revolution. 

It’s an important period 

for the obvious reasons, but 

one with many layers and 

complexities as the museum 

eloquently outlines and explains. The 

story of free Black Philadelphian James 

Forten and his remarkable family, from 

the Revolutionary era through the Civil 

War and Reconstruction, is covered and 

displayed in over 100 historical objects - 

some loaned by his descendants. 

The special exhibition, Black Founders: 

The Forten Family of Philadelphia, 

opened during Black History 

Month, runs through Nov. 26, 2023 and is 

included with regular Museum admission. 

Black Founders explores the Forten 

family’s roles in the Revolutionary War, 

business in Philadelphia, and the abolitionist 

movement from 1776 to 1876, 

including their roles in helping to start 

both the American Anti-Slavery Society 

and the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery 

Society in 1833. 

During those 100 years, the family also 

took an active role in defending voting 

rights and civil liberties for African Americans. 

The exhibit focuses on three generations 

of the Forten family, from James 

Forten and Charlotte Vandine Forten to 

their children and grandchildren, who 

supported the Union cause during the 

American Civil War. 

Poster advertising for Black soldiers 

to enlist in the Union Army. 

A historic Bible (c. 1838) owned by the Forten family, on loan from 

Atwood “Kip” Forten Jacobs, James Forten’s great-great-great-greatgrandson. 

The exhibition features historical 

artifacts, works of art, textiles, and documents 

from nearly 40 lenders and the 

Museum’s own collection. Rare historical 

objects on loan from descendants of the 

Forten family include a family Bible that 

has been passed down through generations 

of the Forten family and become 

a “living artifact” as births, deaths, and 

marriages are recorded. 

The exhibit also has videos, audio 

experiences, and tactile interactives, 

including a partial recreation of James 

Forten’s sail-making workshop that 

visitors can step inside to discover 

replica tools and a workbench like those 

used by Forten. You’ll also find a scale 

model of the Royal Louis, the privateer 

ship that Forten served aboard in 1781, 

as well as a touchable cannon from the 

1700s. You can even try on clothing like 

that worn by 18th-century sailors, similar 

to what James Forten wore as a teenaged 

sailor during the Revolutionary War. 

At a listening station, visitors will 

hear the music of Francis Johnson, 

James Forten’s friend and the first 

African American composer to 

publish his compositions. The music 

Nathan Alford Tate portrays James Forten. 

is performed by pianist Steven Page, 

multi-instrumentalist B.E. Farrow, 

vocalist Candace Potts of the Jeremy 

Winston Chorale, and the Chestnut Brass 

Company, and includes “The Grave of a 

Slave,” a poem written by James Forten’s 

daughter Sarah L. Forten that Francis 

Johnson set to music. 

Also featured in the exhibition is 

a recent painting, titled “Brave Men as 

Ever Fought,” by nationally renowned 

historical artist Don Troiani, which 

depicts a 15-year-old James Forten 

looking on as Black and Native 

American troops in the ranks of the 

Continental Army’s Rhode Island 

Regiment marched west through 

Philadelphia on September 2, 1781. 

What makes the Museum so unique 

and enjoyable is its ability to add 

more to narrative of the American 

Revolution through personal stories 

and unique artifacts. Everything is easy 

to understand and suitable for all ages. 

James Forten’s and his family’s story add 

immensely to the texture and richness of 

our understanding of that transcendent 

period in US history. 

Exhibit Info: 

Black Founders is located in the Museum’s 

first-floor Patriots Gallery. Tickets 

can be purchased at AmRevMuseum. 

org, by calling 215.253.6731, or at the 

front desk. 

About James Forten 

James Forten (1766-1842) was born 

free in Philadelphia – just a block from 

where the Museum now stands – and 

heard the words of the Declaration 

of Independence read aloud for the 

first time on July 8, 1776. Of the more 

than 500,000 people of African descent 

living in the United States at the time, 

more than 90 percent were enslaved; 

James Forten was part of a small, but 

growing, population of free people of African 

descent. 

At just 14 years of age, 

Forten joined a privateer ship 

to fight for American independence 

during the Revolutionary 

War. He was captured 

and held captive on a prison 

ship for seven long months 

before being freed during a 

prisoner exchange. He later 

became a successful business 

owner, philanthropist, and abolitionist, 

and raised a large 

family with his wife Charlotte 

Vandine Forten. 

Visiting Philadelphia 

When to go? Spring is a perfect 

time as is fall. Summer 

often draws visitors to places of historical 

impact particularly due to the nation’s 

birthday in July, but also the kids are out 

of school so it gets busy. 

Philly draws lots of people to the Independence 

Mall area for a slew of great 

reasons: the sheer history that took place 

in the 18th century and its priceless symbolic 

objects and places: The Liberty Bell, 

Independence Hall, Ben Franklin’s many 

footprints, Carpenter’s Hall, First and 

Second Banks of the United States, the 

Betsy Ross house, Quaker Meetings houses 

and their historical burial grounds - to 

name a few. 

Many sites are being refurbished so 

check in advance as to hours of operation. 

Like any big city, it can be overwhelming. 

Doing a bit of reading ahead of time about 

colonial Philadelphia also helps. 

There are loads of restaurants, pubs 

and takeaway places of every type and 

price point in what is called Old City 

which is near the Mall. As for hotels, I 

have stayed at the Hotel Monaco twice 

and find it to be the perfect place to 

launch a visit. But, make sure you get a 

room the overlooks the Mall - you won’t 

regret it. 

— STORY: Louise Bruderle 


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how it can help you in another section of this issue 

Downtown Sarasota • 941-321-8757 

Google “Advanced Craniosacral Therapy Sarasota” for more info 

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dining in 

Travel-related Recipes from around the Globe 

F Česnečka (Garlic Soup) 

Česnečka (Garlic Soup) T 

F Galatoire’s Shrimp Remoulade 

Galatoire’s Shrimp Remoulade T 

Recipe courtesy of Galatoire’s Restaurant, New Orleans. Shrimp remoulade is in every 

New Orleans cook’s arsenal of favored dishes. This is the restaurant’s most popular 

dish and most frequently requested recipe. The sauce is best made a day in advance 

and refrigerated, then all that’s left to do is toss in the shrimp, plate and serve. 

According to Czech lore, Česnečka (garlic soup) will cure just about anything, even 

the common cold. It certainly tastes rich and comforting. So, if you feel under the 

weather, make a big pot of this simple soup of broth, potatoes, garlic and cheese to 

help you feel better. 

INGREDIENTS: 

4 thick slices rye bread, cut into large 

pieces 

1 Tbsp olive oil 

2 Tbsp butter 

1 C yellow onion, diced 

6 cloves garlic, minced 

8 C low sodium chicken or beef broth 

2 lg potatoes, peeled and chopped 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp pepper 

4 oz Emmental or Swiss cheese, cut 

into 1/2-in cubes 

2 Tbsp dill, chopped 

2 Tbsp flat leaf parsley, chopped 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place bread pieces on a baking sheet; drizzle with olive oil, 

tossing to coat. Bake until deep golden brown, about 9 minutes. Set aside. Place butter 

in a medium pan over medium heat; add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 

until translucent and softened, about 3 minutes; add broth; bring to a boil over high 

heat. Add potatoes, salt and pepper; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, 

about 20 minutes. To serve, place croutons and cheese cubes in individual soup bowls 

and ladle soup on top; garnish with dill and parsley. 

Prep time: 5 minutes. Cook time: 32 minutes. Makes 4 servings. 

INGREDIENTS: 

3/4 cup chopped celery 

3/4 cup chopped scallions (white and 

green parts) 

1/2 cup chopped parsley 

1 cup chopped yellow onion 

1/2 cup ketchup 

1/2 cup tomato puree 

1/2 cup Creole mustard or any coarse, 

grainy brown mustard 

Mince the celery, green onion, parsley, and yellow onions in a food processor. Add the 

ketchup, tomato puree, Creole mustard, horseradish, red wine vinegar, paprika and 

Worcestershire. Begin processing again and add the oil in a slow drizzle to emulsify. 

Chill for 6-8 hours or overnight. 

Correct seasoning with additional horseradish if desired after the ingredients have had 

the opportunity to marry. 

In a large mixing bowl, add the sauce to the shrimp and toss gently to coat. Divide the 

lettuce among six chilled salad plates. 

Divide the shrimp evenly atop the lettuce and serve. 

Serves 6. 

2 tablespoons prepared horseradish or 

to taste 

1/4 cup red wine vinegar 

2 tablespoons paprika 

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 

1/2 cup salad oil 

48 jumbo shrimp, peeled, boiled and 

chilled 

1 small head iceberg lettuce, cut into 

thin ribbons, washed, drained & dried 

F DoubleTree Signature Cookie 

DoubleTree Signature Cookie T 

INGREDIENTS: 

1/2 pound butter, softened (2 sticks) 

3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated 

sugar 

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 

2 large eggs 

11/4 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1/4 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon 

juice 

21/4 cups flour 

1/2 cup rolled oats 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon salt 

Pinch cinnamon 

22∕ 3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet 

chocolate chips 

13/4 cups chopped walnuts 

DoubleTree by Hilton is sharing the official bake-at-home recipe for the brand’s popular 

chocolate chip cookie, so at-home bakers can enjoy it at home. 

The warm chocolate chip cookie welcome is synonymous with DoubleTree hotels 

worldwide, and travelers look forward to receiving one, fresh from the oven, upon 

their arrival. More than 30 million are consumed every year, and the DoubleTree 

chocolate chip cookie even became the first food to be baked in orbit during experiments 

aboard the International Space Station. Copycat recipes have been shared online 

for years, but only now has Hilton released the official version to create at home. 

Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed 

for about 2 minutes. 

Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, 

then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl. 

With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for 

about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix. 

Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. 

Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with 

parchment paper about 2 inches apart. 

Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and 

center is still soft. 

Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour. 

Cook’s note: You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat 

oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 

2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft. 

Makes 26 cookies 


happening this month 

Forks & Corks 

Food and Wine Festival 

April 18-24 

Support local independent 

restaurants and “Eat Like A Local” 

It was 20 years ago that the Sarasota-Manatee 

Originals (“SMO”) 

was founded: a collaborative of 

independently-owned and operated 

restaurants and culinary innovators 

committed to uniting the energies of local 

restaurants and celebrating the food and 

friendship that is indigenous to our Gulfcoast 

dining experience. 

Today the Originals are over 60 restaurants 

strong and provide diners with unique local 

flavor from the northern tip of Anna Maria 

Island down to the southern beaches of Venice, 

and every neighborhood in between. 

In 2008, Forks & Corks was designed as 

a fun and engaging showcase of the enormous 

talents of our area’s locally-owned 

restaurants, highlighted by an esteemed 

cast of visiting winery owners and winemakers 

from all over the world. It is considered 

one of the area’s biggest social 

celebrations of the year. 

The 16th Annual Forks & Corks 

Food and Wine Festival 

The Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival, 

hosted annually by the Sarasota-Manatee 

Originals, returns to Florida’s Suncoast 

with a palate-pleasing menu of events, ranging 

from popular University Master Classes, 

to an enticing Virtual Auction and a bountiful 

selection of Food and Wine Experiences 

from which to choose. The Festival’s signature 

event, The Grand Tasting, sold out in 

January in under one minute. Foodies and 

fun-seekers are encouraged to make reservations 

now, as seats are filling quickly! 

The 2023 Festival will offer many opportunities 

to participate, and for visiting vintners 

and SMO Members to showcase their 

talents in the local restaurants that we are 

so fortunate to have in our community. The 

Festival, presented by Audi Sarasota 

and Suncoast Porsche, is made possible 

by generous sponsors, donors, SMO 

business partners, wine distributors 

and importers. 

This year’s epicurean event will include: 

■ FORKS & CORKS ONLINE 

AUCTION (April 18-23) 

The annual Food and Wine Auction features 

rare and highly sought-after wines, 

winery tours and tastings, and one-of-akind 

dining and party experiences made 

possible by generous donations from wineries 

and friends of Sarasota-Manatee Originals. 

The Auction will open for previewing 

on Thursday, April 13 with real-time bidding 

April 18-23. 

■ SMO FOOD & WINE 

EXPERIENCES (April 20-22) 

An array of “Food and Wine Experiences” 

will be available during the Festival, including 

Winemaker Dinners, unique food-andwine 

pairings, special menus and more - offered 

at participating Member Restaurants. 

■ FORKS & CORKS UNIVERSITY 

(Saturday, April 22) 

Led by panels of wine industry professionals, 

Master Classes are always a festival 

highlight. This year’s classes will present 

a rare opportunity to learn about wines 

from those instrumental in crafting them, 

accompanied by a guided tasting. Classes 

are held in Michael’s on East Ballroom and 

attendees also receive complimentary admission 

to an Open House wine tasting at 

Michael’s Wine Cellar that afternoon. 

■ RETAIL TASTINGS 

(Saturday, April 22) 

Forks & Corks partners with area retail 

wine shops each year, giving the public an 

opportunity to sip and shop while meeting 

visiting winery principals. 

■ GRAND TASTING 

(Sunday, April 23) 

After a two-year hiatus, SMO is thrilled 

to see the return of The Grand Tasting, 

which takes place in The Ringling Museum 

Courtyard. Unsurprisingly, there was a lot 

of pent-up demand for this event and it 

sold out the moment tickets went on sale. 

Mark your calendar for the next sale date – 

Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 7pm. 

■ TRADE TASTING 

(Monday, April 24) 

Open exclusively to wine retailers and hospitality 

professionals, the Trade Tasting gives 

local wine buyers the opportunity to meet 

visiting winery owners and winemakers. 

About Forks & Corks 

and Where to Get Tickets 

Forks & Corks is the Original’s main 

annual fundraiser, bringing critical marketing 

dollars to the organization to 

promote dining in local, independently-owned 

restaurants -while also providing 

an impactful opportunity for its Member 

Restaurants to highlight their product offerings 

and engage with the community’s 

locals and visitors. 

Details on the festival and tickets to 

Forks & Corks events are available at Eat- 

LikeALocal.com Follow @941Originals 

on Facebook and Instagram for updates. 

PRESENTED BY AUDI SARASOTA AND SUNCOAST PORSCHE 

The 16th Annual 

Culinary Celebration 

APRIL 20-24, 2023 

FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCES 

Three days of wine and food festivity thoughtfully presented by 

our Member Restaurants! These events will include wine dinners, 

unique food-and-wine pairings, special menus, tasting experiences 

and more throughout our Gulf Coast community. Many winemakers 

or winery principals will be in attendance. 

UNIVERSITY MASTER CLASSES 

The Master Classes are a highlight of the Festival each year! 

Led by panels of world-renowned industry experts, these engaging 

wine seminars are designed for those who want an educational 

experience accompanied by guided tastings. This year’s classes 

will present a rare opportunity to learn about wine with those 

instrumental in crafting them. Seats are filling quickly! 

ONLINE FOOD & WINE AUCTION 

Our virtual auction promises a swank collection of lots featuring rare 

and exquisite wines, winery tours and tastings, and special dining 

and party experiences made possible by generous donations from 

wineries and friends of Sarasota-Manatee Originals. Preview the 

auction beginning April 13, with real-time bidding from April 17 

at 8AM to April 23 at 3PM. 

Visit eatlikealocal.com 

or scan the QR code to 

learn more! 


healthier you 

How Electronics 

Affect Sleep 

Helping Children Diagnosed With Epilepsy 

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can strike 

ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. In fact, 1 in 

26 people will have a seizure during their lifetime. 

The stigma and social isolation; the uncertainty of 

when the next seizure might occur; and the fear of 

SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) are the 

frightening realities for many families in our community. 

JoshProvides pulls back the curtain on epilepsy, through 

community awareness, education, offering a monthly 

Epilepsy Support Group, and providing seizure 

detection & alert devices, transportation assistance and 

assistance with medical services. Our families are NOT 

defined by their disorder…they are warriors who will 

overcome these obstacles thanks to your support! 

Mission: To improve the quality of life for those 

living with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. 

(800) 706-2740 | JoshProvides.org 

The 2011 Sleep in America Poll 

from the National Sleep Foundation 

included questions about 

the use of electronics before bed. 

The survey found that roughly 

four in 10 Americans bring their cell 

phone into bed when trying to fall asleep. 

This behavior was particularly common 

among adolescents and young adults 

between the ages of 13 and 29. Additionally, 

six in 10 respondents claimed to use 

a desktop or laptop computer within one 

hour of going to bed. 

Tempting as it might be to use your 

computer or phone before bed, studies 

have shown these devices can interfere 

with sleep by suppressing the production 

of melatonin , a natural hormone released 

in the evening to help you feel tired and 

ready for sleep. This leads to neurophysiologic 

arousals that increase feelings of 

alertness when you should be winding 

down instead. 

Why Do Electronic Devices 

Keep You Up? 

The biological clock in healthy adults follows 

a 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. When 

the sun rises in the morning, your body 

produces cortisol, a hormone that makes 

you feel awake and alert. As daylight fades, 

the body releases another hormone, melatonin, 

that produces feelings of sleepiness. 

Electronic back-lit devices like cell 

phones, tablets, readers, and computers 

emit short-wavelength enriched light, also 

known as blue light. Fluorescent and LED 

lights also emit blue light, which has been 

shown to reduce or delay the natural production 

of melatonin in the evening and 

decrease feelings of sleepiness. Blue light 

can also reduce the amount of time you 

spend in slow-wave and rapid-eye movement 

(REM) sleep, two stages of the sleep 

cycle that are vital for cognitive functioning. 

Children are particularly vulnerable to 

sleep problems stemming from electronic 

devices that emit blue light. Numerous 

studies have established a link between 

using devices with screens before bed and 

increases in sleep latency, or the amount 

of time it takes someone to fall asleep. 

Additionally, children who use these devices 

at night often do not receive enough 

high-quality sleep and are more likely to 

feel tired the next day. 

Certain types of household lighting can 

also affect melatonin production at night. 

One study found that bright bedroom 

lighting can decrease the nocturnal production 

of melatonin by as much as 90 

minutes compared to dim lighting. 

In addition to causing sleep problems, 

blue light can also cause retina damage. 

Unlike blue light, red, yellow, and orange 

light have little to no effect on your circadian 

rhythm. Dim light with one of these 

colors is considered optimal for nighttime 

reading. Portable e-readers like the Kindle 

and Nook emit blue light, but not to the 

same extent as other electronic devices. 

If you prefer to use an e-reader such as a 

Kindle or Nook, dim the display as much 

as possible. 

Tips for Using Technology at Night 

Avoid using computers, smartphones, and 

other blue light-emitting devices in the 

hours leading up to bedtime. However, this 

may not be an option for certain people, 

such as those who work or study at night. 

If you need to use one of these devices in 

the evening, the following strategies can 

help you sleep longer and better. 

• Decrease Your Daytime and Nighttime 

Electronics Use. Using electronic devices 

for long periods during the day can negatively 

impact sleep too, especially among 

adolescents. Common effects include 

shorter sleep duration, longer sleep onset, 

and more sleep deficiency. Talk to your 

teenagers about excessive electronics exposure 

and, if need be, impose restrictions 

on their daily use. 

• Establish a Relaxing Bedtime Routine: A 

regular bedtime that ensures an adequate 

amount of rest is essential for healthy 

sleep. The hour before bed should consist 

of relaxing activities that don’t involve devices 

with screens. 

• Make Your Bedroom a Screen-Free Zone: 

While a lot of people prefer to keep a television 

in their bedroom, watching TV before 

bed is generally discouraged due to the 

negative effect it can have on your sleep. In 

fact, we recommend removing all of your 

electronic devices from your bedroom – 

and encourage your kids to do the same. 

• Keep the Bedroom Lights Dim: Light intensity 

is measured in a unit known as lux. 

Some studies have shown that normal indoor 

light levels of 100 lux or more can suppress 

melatonin production and interfere 

with your sleep-wake schedule. Dimmer 

indoor lighting affects your melatonin production 

to a much lesser extent. 

• Use Nighttime Mode: Many cell phones, 

tablets, and other portable electronic 

devices are equipped with a “nighttime 

mode” that is easier on the eyes before 

bed. As one study noted, the most effective 

nighttime modes reduce blue light emissions 

and decrease the display’s brightness 

setting. You should manually dim the display 

if your device does not automatically 

adjust the brightness in nighttime mode. 

• Invest in Some “Blue Blocker” Glasses: 

You can purchase orange-tinted eyeglasses 

specifically designed to shield your eyes 

from blue light emissions. This may not 

be ideal, especially if you don’t like wearing 

glasses, but some studies have found 

them to be very effective. Blue light blocking 

glasses are relatively inexpensive, and 

you should be able to find a decent pair for 

less than $100. 

SOURCES: National Library of Medicine, 

Biotech Information, National Institute of 

Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention 


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your healthier health you 

Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

CST treats the whole body physically, physiologically, mentally, emotionally and energetically 

Clients come to me because they are in physical 

pain such as neck, back, pain and TMJ as well as 

for chronic headaches and migraines. 

Pain and stress caused by 

shortened Fascia 

Fascia (strong connective tissue) encases all 

our muscles, organs, brain and spinal cord. 

Whenever fascia shortens any place in the 

body, the entire network of fascia creates an 

increased tension affecting the functioning 

of our physical body as well as our organs, 

our brain and spinal cord. 

Our body is the history of every major 

trauma we have experienced physically and 

emotionally beginning with birth issues, falls, 

head trauma, car accidents, childhood abuse 

issues, death, divorce and other emotional 

issues. Our body tries to minimize each trauma 

by shortening fascia to isolate the energy 

coming into the body from that trauma. 

Shortened fascia results in pain, loss of mobility 

and range of motion, organs becoming 

less efficient and with parts of the brain and 

spinal cord becoming stressed. 

To keep the brain functioning, the body 

transfers some of your functional work play 

energy (7:00 AM-10:00 PM) to the brain resulting 

in less energy to make it through each 

day. As we age, the accumulation of all the 

tightened fascia, from every major trauma 

in life, begins to restrict every aspect of our 

body’s functions resulting in pain, loss of mobility, 

mis-functioning organs, loss of energy, 

as well as our brain losing some its sharpness. 

How Craniosacral 

Therapy Works 

The Craniosacral Therapist creates a safe 

place, with gentle holding techniques, that 

engages your body’s ability to self correct, 

reorganize and heal itself with the release 

of some of that tightened fascia during 

each session. As the Craniosacral Therapist 

engages your body, you will feel fascia releasing. 

As the fascia releases, pain begins to 

decrease, range of motion and mobility improve, 

organs begin functioning better and 

with less stress on the brain feels, it returns 

the energy it borrowed at the time of each 

trauma resulting in an immediate increase in 

your energy levels. Rarely does anyone leave 

from my first session not feeling better. 

Short Leg Syndrome 

Eighty-five percent of my clients have one 

of their legs pulled up 1/2 to 1 by shortened 

fascia. The tension from short leg syndrome 

on the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae at bottom 

of the spine) is transferred up the dural tube 

that encases the spinal cord into the lower 

and upper back, the neck, the cranium and 

The physical stress in bodies caused by shortened 

fascia (connective tissue) shuts down 

energy flows to certain organs. Short leg syndrome 

by ½ to 1 in (where one leg is pulled up 

by shortened fascia) shuts down energy flow to 

the spleen (an important part of your immune 

system) and the small and large intestine. With 

the release of that shortened fascia, energy returns 

to these organs. 

the brain. Headaches, migraines, TMJ and 

neck problems can originate from the fascial 

stress in the sacrum. 

Releasing this sacral stress increases energy 

in the bladder, sex organs, kidneys and 

the chakras as well as releasing major stress 

in the upper part of the body. 

Cause of Shallow Breathing 

A great majority of the clients who come to 

me for various problems are also shallow 

breathers. Fascial stress in the diaphragm 

restricts the depth of breathing by restricting 

energy flow to the lungs, the pericardium 

and the heart. With the release of fascial diaphragm 

restriction, the client immediately 

starts breathing deeply and energy is restored 

to the pericardium and the heart. 

Shoulder blades that are cemented to the 

body also restricts how much the rib cage can 

open and thereby also restricting depth of 

breath. Without proper breathing, your cells 

do not get enough oxygen. Everyone, especially 

people suffering from bronchitis, asthma 

and COPD as well as shallow breathing can 

benefit when the fascial stress is released. 

Specialized Training 

to work with Brain 

Dysfunctions 

Just as the body physically gets stressed from 

physical and emotional trauma, the functioning 

of the brain is also affected by fascial stress. For 

our brains to remain healthy, we need dynamic 

production of craniosacral fluid which performs 

the important function of bringing nourishment 

to all the cells in the brain and spinal 

cord as well as cleansing all the metabolic 

wastes given off by those same cells. 

Once the craniosacral fluid cleanses these 

metabolic wastes, efficient drainage of these 

metabolic wastes into the lymph system is 

absolutely necessary. Research has shown, 

that at night, craniosacral fluid cleanses amyloid 

plaques from the brain. If the drainage 

is inefficient, then the brain is being bathed 

in a toxic slurry. How does 15 or 20 years of 

your brain being bathed in a toxic slurry 

affect you: senile dementia, Parkinson’s, 

Alzheimer’s and other brain dysfunctions? 

A Craniosacral Therapist, who has received 

training in working with the brain, can reverse 

that stress on the brain that eventually can 

result in those brain dysfunctions. As we all 

know, the proper functioning of the body is 

dependent on a healthy functioning brain. 

Babies and Children can benefit 

■ Our little boy Leo, four years of age, had a 

difficult birth and at 7 months was put on antibiotics 

for an ear infection and as a result developed 

c-diff. His development came to a stop. 

At 3 years, with the help of an OT, he started 

to walk and talk. In spite of the improvements, 

he was unable to answer questions and his 

communication skills were very poor. Leo 

had very poor muscle tone, a lot of stress in 

his body and physical activities such walking, 

jumping and climbing were difficult for him. 

Beginning with the first session with Terry, 

he began showing improvement and with each 

following session. Everyone from his teachers 

to his grandparents noticed an increase in his 

■ “I was in awful pain and the 

MRI showed 2 pinched nerves 

and stenosis. I scheduled surgery. 

My daughter suggested Craniosacral therapy. 

After only 2 visits the pain was reduced to 

advanced craniosacral about 80% and therapy I canceled the surgery. I went 

for a 3rd visit and I am about 90% better.” 

■ “Simply Amazing! One visit was all it took for 

Terry to relieve 85% of my year long, nagging 

(sometimes severe) neck/shoulder tightness/ 

pain!! My breathing improved tremendously.” 

physical strength, as well as improvements in 

comprehension, speech and communication 

skills. For the first time, he started participating 

in class lessons and interacting with his 

classmates. Terry has made a huge impact on 

getting Leo to a place a little boy should be at 

age four. We cannot thank Terry enough. 

■ Terry’s treatment helped our 6 week old 

baby boy from recent hospitalization into 

the first series of healthy bowel movements 

when seemingly nothing could help. Our son 

was able to latch onto the breast and for the 

first time completed his feeding. He was much 

calmer after working with Terry. 

■ “He was able to relieve tension that I have 

been carrying around for 15 years or more. 

I left his office table with more energy than I 

have had in years.” 

■ “I began working with him because I was 

dealing with anxieties, depression and lots of 

emotional pain inside and out. You don’t realized 

how much stress can cause damage to 

your body, mind and soul. I can say Terry was 

a big help.” 

Terrence Grywinski 

of Advanced 

Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049 

Testimonials from Clients 

SOURCE: 

■ Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049. Terry has specialized in Craniosacral 

Therapy since 1994 when he began his training at the Upledger 

Institute. Described by his teachers, clients and colleagues 

as a “gifted healer”, Terry’s intuitive sense and healing energy 

provides immediate and lasting relief from injury, pain, mobility 

issues as well as dysfunctions of the body and the brain. Part 

of Terry’s ongoing education, he has completed 4 craniosacral 

brain and peripheral nervous system classes which enables him 

to work at a cellular 

level and with brain 

dysfunctions. 

Call 941-321-8757 

for more information, 

Google Advanced 

Craniosacral 

Therapy. 

■ “On a recent vacation to Siesta Key, I re-injured 

my back. I found Terry online. I can say 

with complete joy that was the best decision 

I made in the history of my back pain. I have 

sought many modalities and visit a CST regularly 

and never have I had such a healing in 

my entire body. 

After 3 sessions, I made a 16-hour drive 

home with no pain or discomfort in my entire 

body. Unbelievable. My body has a sense of 

moving freely and that is completely new. I’m 

advanced craniosacral therapy 

so grateful to Terry for his knowledge, for his 

sensitivity to my needs and his kind generosity 

in healing my body. I will see him when I return 

next year.” 

■ “I am a snowbird who spends 7 months 

in Sarasota. I have had back problems for 25 

years. Terry’s techniques have led to a great 

deal of release and relief in areas that have 

been problematic. I have been seeing him over 

the years when my body says ”it’s time”. Usually 

after a few sessions, I can tell a huge difference.” 

30 WEST COAST WOMAN APRIL 2023 

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CORESRQ, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) 

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The mission of CoreSRQ is to 

inspire a healthier community 

through innovative wellness and 

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of all ages, backgrounds, abilities. 

SOUTH BRANCH 

8301 Potter Park Dr. 


941-922-9622 

Experience the beauty and 

power of choral music! 

Dr. Joseph Holt 

Artistic Director 

Mozart Requiem 

Dr. Joseph Holt, Artistic Director 

Passages of life are expressed through the 

beauty of majestic choral music: Bach’s pastoral setting 

of the twenty-third Psalm paired with Mozart’s Requiem, a 

poignant and dramatic contemplation of eternity. 

Guest artists: 

Jenny Kim-Godfrey, soprano 

Krista Laskowski, contralto 

John Kaneklides, tenor 

William Socolof, bass 

Great Voices. 

Powerful Music... 

Experience It! 

Sunday, April 16 | 7 pm 

Church of the Redeemer | 222 S. Palm Ave, Sarasota 

ORDER YOUR TICKETS NOW! 

Call 941.387.4900 or 

visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org 

Scan for program details & tickets: 


Renew & Restore Health 

at The Renewal Point 

The Renewal Point, founded in 2003 by 

Dan Watts, MD, ND, MSNM, is an 

Integrative Medical Practice 

focused on the 

FOUR CORNERSTONES OF HEALTH 

HORMONE 

BALANCING 

NUTRITIONAL 

HEALTH 

PHYSICAL 

CONDITIONING 

TOXIN 

ELIMINATION 

Over 30 years of experience and 

numerous board certifications and credentials, 

Dr. Watts is an expert in the Science and Art 

of Integrative Medicine. 

Benefits of becoming a patient of The Renewal Point: 

Experts in Integrative Medicine and Bio-identical Hormone Balancing 

Treatment/Therapy Adjustments Based on Symptoms, not just Lab Values 

Use of Bio-identical Hormones - Identical to the ones Your Body Produces 

Individualized Plan Created by Experts 

Program Approach Allows for Optimal Outcomes 

Use of Bio-identical Hormones - Identical to those Your Body Produces 

For more information call 941.926.4905 

Age Management | Men's Health | Gynecology | Bio-identical Hormone Balancing | Strength & Conditioning 

Weight Loss | IV Therapy | Brain Health | Toxin Elimination | Digestive Health | Heart Health 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34233 

941.926.4905 | www.TheRenewalPoint.com 

BOARD CERTIFICATIONS: American Board of Integrative Medicine, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, Post-doctoral Master's in 

Nutritional and Metabolic Medicine 

FELLOWSHIP: American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine: Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine FELLOWSHIP: American College of Surgeons

WCW4-23

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