wcw SEPT 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023 

CEO at 

ArtCenter Manatee 

A NEW BUILDING 

is on the Horizon 

Also in this issue: 

■ Arts: Key Chorale’s 

Season 

■ Good News Dept. 

■ Preserved: Arcadia’s 

Opera House

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2 WEST COAST WOMAN SEPTEMBER 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023 

contents 

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: 


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: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 

WCWmedia 

focus on the arts 

Key Chorale announces Season 39 – experience a U.S. 

premiere by an Iranian composer based on an ancient 

Persian love story, be swept away by the Argentine Tango, 

be immersed in Johann Sebastian Bach, and experience 

the harmonies of Eric Whitacre and Morten Lauridsen. 

p18 

feature 

The 2024 Forks & Corks Food and 

Wine Festival is back. The five-day 

epicurean event now runs Jan. 25-28 

Get the details and ticket info on 

p13 

dining in 

September is Mushroom Month - 

go beyond the Basic Button. 

p24 

EARS 

WCW 

35 

YEARS 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 

west coast 

WOMAN 

feature 

Read about how the Heard Opera House has 

been recovered as an Arcadia Landmark. 

More than a century old, it serves as a 

resilient reminder of town’s history. 

p28 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

7 Out & About: listings for things to do 

13 feature: Forks & Corks 

Food and Wine Festival 

14 healthier you: The Renewal Point 

15 health: all about craniosacral therapy 

16 west coast woman: Carla Nierman 

18 focus on the arts: Key Chorale 

19 your health: e-cigarettes and vaping 

20 good news in our community 

22 you’re news 

24 dining in: Mushroom Month 

26 travel news: Mello on Anna Maria 

28 feature: Heard Opera House 

Recovers as Arcadia Landmark 

29 healthier you: Meet Dr. Cifra 

■ on the cover: Carla Nierman 

■ Image: Louise Bruderle 

SEPTEMBER 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

West Coast Woman 

Carla Nierman, 

Executive Director 

at ArtCenter Manatee 

Congratulations to Carla Nierman, the executive director 

at ArtCenter Manatee and her hard-working staff, volunteers, 

donors, funders and fans. This month they will break 

ground on their new building which will not only transform 

the ArtCenter, but also downtown Bradenton. 

So it’s fitting we are profiling Carla in this month’s 

WCW. She’s been a stalwart at ArtCenter Manatee having, 

Carla Nierman as she puts it, worked every job there and thus knows the 

Photo: Louise Bruderle 

organization very well. When we met months ago, there 

was excitement in the air as the architect’s drawings showed a beautiful and 

striking design that will also increase their space from the current 10,000 sq. ft. 

to a 28,000-square-foot facility renamed the Herrig Center for the Arts. 

ArtCenter Manatee has been around for 86 years and the nonprofit visual 

arts center offers, “a platform for artists of all age and experience levels to 

create, exhibit, and market their work,” according to their website. They also 

“connect artists with the skills, information and services they need to make a 

living and a life.’ 

And there’s more, by staying downtown, they will contribute greatly to 

Manatee County’s and Bradenton’s goal of becoming “a destination for the arts 

by making art accessible to individuals and businesses through our classes, 

exhibits, events, and artisan gift shop.” 

Read more about the woman who has been at ArtCenter Manatee for 17 years 

— 10 as Executive Director — and who is leading the way in a very exciting 

time for not just the Center, but also for Bradenton. 

Kudos to the Players of Sarasota 

The Players has formed The Stage at Payne Park LLC (The Stage), a wholly-owned 

subsidiary nonprofit organization of The Players, Inc. The new 

organization intends to remodel the existing Payne Park auditorium for its new 

home at a cost of $8 million. The Players 

will match dollar for dollar all community 

donations up to $4 million, reducing 

the future capital campaign fundraising 

amount to $4 million. 

The Stage will offer “an inclusive environment 

that inspires cultural creativity, 

acts as an incubator for the performing 

arts community to thrive, and gives aspiring 

performers a platform to produce 

left to right: Brian McCarthy, board member for 

The Players; William Skaggs, CEO of The Players; 

Bill Porter, chair of The Players Board of Trustees; 

Bill Rusling, co-chair of facilities committee for 

The Players; Steven Butler, artistic director for 

The Players 

and showcase original productions,” 

according to a press release. The 299-seat 

auditorium will feature flexible space for 

a diverse lineup of performances, workshops, 

and community events. To learn 

more, visit TheStagePaynePark.org. 

A year ago - Ian wreaked havoc 

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Sanibel and Captiva islands with 155 mph 

sustained winds just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 as a Category 4 hurricane. 

Winds were just under the cut-off for a Category 5 distinction, which is 157 

mph or higher. 

Hurricane Ian was the third-costliest ($113 billion) weather disaster on 

record, the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 

Labor Day hurricane, and the 

strongest hurricane to make 

landfall in Florida since Michael 

in 2018. 150 people died in Florida 

due to Ian. 

Due to some amazing luck, if 

that’s the word, Sarasota County 

was mostly unscathed by Ian 

though there was damage in 

south county most notably Venice 

Theatre, which lost its main stage. 

Much of the damage was from flooding brought about by a storm surge of 

10–15 ft. The cities of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Naples were particularly hard 

hit, leaving millions without power in the storm’s wake and numerous people 

forced to take refuge on their roofs. 

Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island bore the brunt of Ian’s 

powerful winds and its accompanying storm surge at landfall, which leveled 

nearly all standing structures and collapsed the Sanibel Causeway and 

the Matlacha Bridge to Pine Island, entrapping those left on the islands for 

several days. 

WCW is printed by Breeze Printing in Fort Myers, just 30 minutes from Fort 

Myers Beach. They hardly skipped a beat even though it took awhile for power 

and internet to be restored to the plant. Trucks couldn’t get in or out due to a 

large stretch of I-75 being underwater. 

And they did this with the staff and general manger having to deal with homes 

without power and internet while some were flooded out. It was hard to reach 

the plant’s manager since her phone service was on and off and also because 

there were few locations to charge up. 

Long story short, I helped her navigate how things were going down there - 

when power would come to her plant and her home - from up here in Sarasota. 

She gave me zip codes, I went online and looked up when power would be 

restored to the plant and to her home. I also told her about the status of roads —I- 

75 for one — being shut down. She had no idea it was flooded. 

I also posted nonstop —perhaps annoyingly to some — updates that I received 

from local and state authorities on to my personal and business Facebook pages. 

I knew that many people couldn’t access news except for an occasional glance on 

their phones. How fragile we are and how weak we are when faced with nature’s 

full force. 

Nonprofits: Need Help with 

Communications? 

Local PR chapter launches pro bono 

program, ‘Mission Mavericks’ 

The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association 

(CWC-FPRA) launched a new endeavor, as part of its commitment to “give back” 

to the community. In the coming program year, the chapter will provide pro 

bono communications 

support in an area of 

acute need to nonprofits 

and/or eligible for-profit 

companies through the 

“Mission Mavericks” 

program. The application 

window is now open. 

The program is open 

to 501(c)(3) nonprofits 

and for-profit companies 

(considered on a 

case-by-case basis, with 

priority going to newly-established 

entities The 2022-2023 Board of Directors of the Central West Coast chapter 

with a social purpose or 

of the Florida Public Relations Association. Photo by Nancy Guth 

intention) in need with limited or no PR, communications and/or marketing 

staff. The organization or business must be based in or conduct significant 

business/activities in Sarasota, Manatee and/or DeSoto counties. In order to be 

considered, the organization must demonstrate an acute PR, communications, 

or marketing need. 

Applications will be accepted through October 1; applicants will be notified 

of their status by October 31. All project work will be conducted between November 

1, 2023 through February 28, 2024. 

Learn more and apply at cwcfpra.com/mission-mavericks. Direct any questions 

to Hunter Carpenter, CWC-FPRA Community Liaison, at community@ 

cwcfpra.com. 

Coming Up in West Coast Woman 

Here’s what we’re working on now: 

■ October: Lifelong Learning Issue 

■ October: Women’s Health 

■ November and December: Focus on the Arts 

If you want to be a part of any of those issues, email us at westcoastwoman@ 

comcast.net. 

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 

Someone say Fall? 

The 12th Annual Tour de North 

Port “It’s the Green Pumpkin!” is on 

October 22. Registration is open for 

this organized on-road scenic bicycle 

ride that offers routes of 15, 35, or 65 

miles through some of North Port’s 

most beautiful, natural settings featuring 

the Florida pine flatwoods and 

the parks that border the Myakkahatchee 

Creek.The Tour de North Port 

is not a race. Breakfast, catered lunch, 

homemade desserts, fully-stocked rest 

stops, mobile SAG. More information 

and $50 pre-registration available 

at www.peoplefortrees.com. Doors 

open at 7 a.m. for breakfast and checkin. 

Group starts begin at 8 a.m. from 

Imagine School, 2757 Sycamore St. in 

North Port. Contact: Alice White, 941- 

468-2486. 

▼ 

Artist Series 

Concerts 

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota 

will present 26 concerts during 

its 28th season, Stars Ascending. 

The season – runs from October 1 

through May 14, 2024 and offers 

a diverse range of intimate musical 

experiences featuring emerging 

and established classical, jazz, 

pops, and chamber artists presented 

at eight venues throughout Sarasota 

and Manatee counties. 

The season opens October 1 with 

a concert in the new Sunday Best 

Series presented at First Presbyterian 

Church in Sarasota. Chicago-based 

collective Nexus Chamber 

Music creates unique and engaging 

classical music experiences; this 

program features piano trios by 

Haydn, Brahms, and Ravel. 

For more information, visit Artist 

SeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 

306-1202. 

▼ 

Key Chorale 

The season kicks off on September 

23 with “Tango.” Billboard Top 

10 Duo Ben & Winnie join Key Chorale 

to celebrate the passion and 

sizzle of the Argentine Tango. Bandoneonist 

Ben Bogart, pianist Winnie 

Cheung, and 4 traditional tango 

dancers take you to the streets of 

Buenos Aires. 

On October 13-15, Key Chorale 

Chamber Singers and Church of the 

Redeemer presents its unique take 

on Oktoberfest, with a 3-day festival 

celebrating the music and genius of 

Johann Sebastian Bach. Enjoy four 

amazing concerts featuring the stunning 

virtuosity of soprano Mary Wilson, 

trumpeter Aaron Romm, vocalists, 

and chamber orchestra. Concluding 

with a Biergarten Experience 

of German food, beers from Calusa 

Brewing, and music from Bill Milner’s 

Oompah Band. For more information, 

visit www.keychorale.org. 

▼ 

Special Events 

“Step Into the Light: A Mental 

Health Summit” is a free event presented 

by Sunshine from Darkness 

that will empower attendees to learn 

new coping skills, promote mental 

health wellness, and reduce the stigma 

of mental illness. 

The event is on October 28, 9 a.m.- 

▼ 

2:30 p.m. at Robarts Arena (3000 

Ringling Blvd., Sarasota). The goal of 

Step Into the Light is to create a safe 

and welcoming environment where 

attendees can connect with others 

and access valuable community 

resources. Keynote speaker Linda 

Larsen will speak on “Breaking the 

Silence: One Woman’s Ongoing Journey 

to Mental Well-being.” 

Other speakers will delve into 

a wide range of mental health 

approaches and topics such as anxiety, 

depression, children’s mental 

health and generational trauma; 

guests also can take part in a wide 

range of interactive experiences, 

including yoga, art and music therapy, 

virtual reality and more. 

Whether you’re a client, clinician, 

parent, or advocate, you won’t want 

to miss this opportunity to learn from 

experts, connect with others, and 

access valuable community resources. 

The Summit is a prelude to the 

Sunshine from Darkness 2024 Inspiring 

Hope Dinner, which will be held 

on January 12, 2024 at the Ritz-Carlton, 

Sarasota. For more information, 

visit stepintothelight.sunshinefromdarkness.org. 

The Roots of Black Music in 

America is on September 30 at 

Selby Library at 2 p.m. in the Jack 

J. Geldbart Auditorium. Producer, 

songwriter, teacher, and troubadour, 

Karlus Trapp presents his delightful, 

educational and entertaining presentation 

“The Roots of Black Music 

in America.” 

It is a 100 year journey back 

through time, and offers a fresh perspective 

through song, story, and history 

to learn about the music of America’s 

black musical giants. Hear Scott 

Joplin during the birth of Ragtime. 

Dance to the Charleston in the 1920’s. 

Play air guitar with Chuck Berry or 

sing along with the Supremes in the 

60’s in the motor city. From public 

libraries and arts centers, to school 

groups, to senior centers, Karlus has 

presented this show solo or with 

ensemble to thousands of people 

since its inception. 

▼ 

“Sights and Sounds at Waterside 

Place” is at Lakewood Ranch. It’s a 

new performing and fine arts series. 

▼ 

The Van Wezel’s final Friday Fest concert is on September 22 and features Jah Movement. Bring blankets or lawn 

chairs, take in the music and the sunset by the bay, and enjoy food and beverages from local vendors. 

Upcoming performances include 

West Coast Black Theatre Troupe in 

September; the Sarasota Ballet Studio 

Company. In October: Asolo Repertory 

Theatre, in November; Outof-Door 

Academy’s group concert 

featuring sounds of the season from 

chorus, band and orchestra students. 

Coming up: 

• The Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe performs on September 15, 

6:30 p.m. 

• The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company 

performs on October 13, 6 p.m. 

The events are free and open to the 

public; there is limited seating at the 

Plaza, but attendees are welcome to 

bring their own seats. Food and beverages 

available from Waterside Place 

merchants. 

For more information on shows, 

dates, and times, visit lakewoodranch. 

com/sights-sounds. 

Fun Raisers 

Girls Inc of Sarasota County has 

its 6th Annual Totally Tailgate on 

Saturday, September 9, 6:30 p.m. 

at Michael’s on East. Enjoy tailgate 

food, competitive corn hole, beer garden, 

multiple screens to watch your 

favorite sports teams and live music. 

girlsincsrq.org/totally-tailgate. 

▼ 

ALSO Youth “Expressions Exhibition” 

is an art showcase featuring the 

works of youth artists in Sarasota and 

Manatee Counties. “Expressions Exhibition” 

is on September 7, 5-7 p.m. at 

the Sarasota Opera House. 

The Expressions Exhibition will 

include a silent auction of local artists’ 

works, live music, free lite bites, and a 

cash bar. Artwork in various mediums 

submitted by youth from Sarasota and 

Manatee County will also be showcased 

in celebration of their creative 

expressions. Info: givebutter.com/ 

expressionsexhibit. 

▼ 

At The Bay 

Ride and Paddle at The Bay. 

Experience the flora and fauna at The 

Bay through a guided kayak nature 

tour. Offered every Saturday at 8:30, 

a.m. join in for a free, 2-hour, intermediate-level 

tour through The Bay’s 

restored mangroves and to the north 

▼ 

and south of the park, allowing paddlers 

to explore Sarasota Bay and 

learn more about The Bay Park from 

Ride & Paddle’s experienced guides. 

Next dates: September 9, 16, 23 

and 30. Location: The Bay Park- Kayak 

Launch, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, 

Sarasota. Reservations: www.thebaysarasota.org/. 

Get to Know 

Southface Sarasota 

Southface has a Green Drinks 

Meetup on September 21, 5-7 

p.m. Join them at Sun King Brewery. 

It’s a sustainably good time every 

third Thursday of the month. Join 

Southface Sarasota members and 

local experts to talk sustainability and 

network over drinks at the Sun King 

Brewery. No registration required. 

The event is offered in partnership 

with Green Drinks Sarasota and the 

USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council). 

Held at Sun King Brewing, 1215 

Mango Ave., Sarasota. Information: 

www.southface.org/sarasota/ 

▼ 

Van Wezel Updates 

and Friday Fest 

The Van Wezel has its free, outdoor 

summertime concert series, Friday 

Fest. The final concert is on September 

22 and features Jah Movement. 

Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take 

in the music and the sunset by the bay, 

and enjoy food and beverages from 

local vendors. 

The Van Wezel has The Rocky Horror 

Picture Show, the longest-running 

theatrical release in film history, 

on September 30 at 8pm. Fans will be 

able to meet and talk with Barry Bostwick, 

star of this original cult classic in 

person. His iconic portrayal of “Brad 

Majors” has thrilled generations of 

fans for nearly 50 years. 

The show will also feature a costume 

contest, a performance by the 

local Shadow Cast and a memorabilia 

display with artifacts and costumes 

from the movie. The Shadow Cast 

acts out the movie on stage while the 

movie plays on screen. VIP tickets are 

available and include a meet and greet 

with Barry Bostwick. 

Bored Teachers: We Can’t Make 

▼ 

This Stuff Up! Comedy Tour is on 

October 13 at 7 p.m. Bored Teachers, 

presents the funniest teacher-comedians 

in the world all on one stage. The 

tour includes the most hilarious and 

well-known teacher comedians in the 

business with millions of combined 

followers as well. 

Fresh off the success of another 

Backstreet Boys world tour, pop icon 

Nick Carter has announced his “Who 

I Am” U.S. tour. The tour will mark 

Carter’s return to the stage as a solo 

artist after seven years, with the singer-songwriter 

set to perform tracks 

from his solo catalog–along with select 

Backstreet Boys favorites and new solo 

music–for audiences across the United 

States. The “Who I Am” Tour at the VW 

is on October 20. 

Pre-show dining for both shows is 

available through Mattison’s at the Van 

Wezel which is located inside the theatre. 

Reservations can be made on Van- 

Wezel.org or through the box office. 

Tickets: www.VanWezel.org 

Family Eco Walk 

UF/IFAS Extension has Take 

a Child Outside Week – Incredible 

Insects EcoWalk. Join UF/IFAS 

Extension Sarasota County to look for 

and learn about insects on September 

26, 9-10:30am. Held at Sleeping 

Turtles Preserve, North 3462 Border 

Rd., Venice. Minors must be accompanied 

by an adult guardian. 

Join a UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota 

County educator on a tour through the 

Preserve while we look for and learn 

interesting facts about insects, as well 

as how to collect, identify, and appreciate 

all the six-legged crawlers among us. 

Learning more about insects is vital, 

as they are essential for the proper 

function of all ecosystems, serving as 

food for other creatures, pollinators, 

nutrient recyclers, and more. 

Register only at ufsarasotaext. 

eventbrite.com. For questions or further 

information, call 941-861-5000 or 

email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu. 

▼ 

Farmer’s Markets 

Fresh Harvest Farmers Market 

at Wellen Park runs to December 29 

and is open 9 am to 1 pm. They’re the 

newly launched weekly farmers market 

in Downtown Wellen. Fresh Harvest 

offers a selection of local goods 

from nearly 40 local vendors. 

Vendors offer a wide variety of locally 

grown and produced food, including 

herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned 

and preserved fruits and vegetables, 

syrups, baked goods, pickled foods, 

fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs, 

milk and prepared food and beverages. 

A limited selection of craft vendors 

also participate in the farmers market. 

For a listing of participating vendors 

and more information on Fresh Harvest 

Farmers Market, visit wellenpark. 

com. Downtown Wellen is at 19745 

Wellen Park Blvd., Venice. 

▼ 

Bishop Museum 

of Science and 

Nature 

The Bishop has SHE ENGINEERS 

through December 31, 2023. SHE 

ENGINEERS is a bilingual (English 

and Spanish) poster exhibition 

highlighting eight women in 

▼ 

continued on page 8 


out and about continued 

various engineering fields. In their 

own words, the women share their 

passion and what inspired them to 

become engineers. 

The Bishop Museum of Science and 

Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Information: 

bishopscience.org. 

Sarasota 

Art Museum 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling 

College presents Stephanie J. Woods: 

my papa used to play checkers runs 

through September 17. In her first 

solo museum exhibition, Woods presents 

new multidisciplinary works 

inspired by her firsthand experience 

of West Africa and with themes focusing 

on transatlantic cultural continuity 

and memories. 

• Also on display is The New Black 

Vanguard Photography Between 

Art And Fashion though September 

17. The exhibit presents artists whose 

vibrant portraits and conceptual 

images fuse the genres of art and fashion 

photography in ways that break 

down long-established boundaries. 

The New Black Vanguard: Photography 

between Art and Fashion, 

presents artists whose vibrant 

portraits and conceptual images fuse 

the genres of art and fashion photography 

in ways that break down 

long-established boundaries. 

Their work has been widely consumed 

in traditional lifestyle magazines, 

ad campaigns, and museums, as 

well as on their individual social-media 

channels. The images open up 

conversations around the representation 

of the Black body and Black 

lives as subject matter; collectively, 

they celebrate Black creativity and the 

cross-pollination between art, fashion, 

and culture in constructing an image. 

This exhibition includes select 

works from these groundbreaking 

contemporary photographers: Campbell 

Addy, Arielle Bobb-Willis, Micaiah 

Carter, Awol Erizku, Quil Lemons, 

Namsa Leuba, Renell Medrano, 

Tyler Mitchell, Jamal Nxedlana, 

Daniel Obasi, Ruth Ossai, Adrienne 

Raquel, Dana Scruggs, and Stephen 

Tayo. A salon wall also features images 

created by other young Black photographers 

contributing to this movement 

while simultaneously proposing 

a brilliant re-envisioned future. 

Visit sarasotaartmuseum.org/ 

visit to learn more. Sarasota Art 

Museum is located at 1001 S. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. 

▼ 

Hermitage Sunsets 

@Selby Gardens 

The first installment of five “Hermitage 

Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” 

programs will feature award-winning 

writer, actor, and Hermitage Fellow, 

Halley Feiffer. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat ’s popular 

series, “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby 

Gardens,” continues into its fourth year 

as part of the Hermitage’s 2023-2024 

season. The outdoor series — a continuing 

collaboration between the Hermitage 

and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

— features performances and explorations 

of works-in-progress by Hermitage 

artists-in-residence and alumni. 

“Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” 

events are currently scheduled 

to take place at Selby Gardens’ 

▼ 

Downtown Sarasota campus 

and its Historic Spanish Point 

Campus in Osprey. The first of 

these events is “The Blurred 

Line Between Humor and 

Heartbreak: A Playwriting 

Workshop,” where award-winning 

writer, actor, and Hermitage 

Fellow Halley Feiffer will 

invite participants into the 

creative process on Thursday, 

October 5, at 6pm, at Selby 

Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota 

Campus, 1534 Mound St., 

Sarasota. Admission is free, 

but registration is required ($5/ 

person) at HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

Feiffer is a WGA, Drama 

Desk, Drama League, and 

Outer Critics Circle-nominated 

writer and actor. She is currently 

writing and show-running 

Season 12 of Ryan Murphy’s 

hit television series American 

Horror Story, starring Emma 

Roberts and Kim Kardashian. She is 

also writing the book for the Broadway-bound 

stage adaptation of Thelma 

& Louise with Neko Case composing. 

Her television and film roles include 

HBO’s Mildred Pierce, Flight of the 

Conchords, and Bored to Death, and 

the films The Squid and the Whale, 

Gentlemen Broncos, and He’s Way 

More Famous than You, which she also 

co-wrote. She is currently developing a 

film adaptation of her play The Pain of 

My Belligerence with Lena Dunham’s 

Good Thing Going for her to direct. 

“Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby 

Gardens” events include: 

• October 5, Downtown Sarasota 

Campus 

• November 30, Historic Spanish 

Point Campus 

• January 25, 2024, Downtown Sarasota 

Campus 

• March 28, 2024, Downtown Sarasota 

Campus 

• May 23, 2024, Historic Spanish Point 

Campus 

Art Galleries 

▼ 

The first installment of five “Hermitage Sunsets @ 

Selby Gardens” programs will feature award-winning 

writer, actor, and Hermitage Fellow, Halley Feiffer on 

October 5 at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota 

Campus. 

At Art CenterSarasota: On view to 

September 30: 

• Lauren Mann, solo exhibition. 

Artist Talk: September 7, 5:30-7 pm. 

Registration: $5. Lauren Mann is a 

portrait artist based in Clearwater, 

FL, who specializes in colored pencil 

drawings inspired by pattern, color, 

and the personalities that surround 

her. Mann has exhibited in shows 

including “Fresh Squeezed” at the 

Morean Arts Center, “Intimate Interiors: 

Figures in Space” at the Gainesville 

Fine Arts Association Gallery, as 

well as “The Nonseniors” and “Realize” 

at the 4Most Gallery in Gainesville, 

Florida. Mann’s drawings seek 

to express familiar emotions through 

unique and intimate portraits 

• Iren Tete, solo exhibition. Tete is 

an artist originally from Sofia, Bulgaria 

who is currently based in Gainesville, 

FL. Iren is a Visiting Assistant 

Professor at the University of Florida 

and was recently Visiting Faculty in 

Ceramics at Alberta University of the 

Arts in Calgary, Canada. 

Tete has had solo exhibitions at 

Galleri Urbane (Dallas, TX), Gallery 

371 (AUArts, Calgary, Canada), and 

The Lee Dam Art Center for Fine Art 

(Marysville, KS), among others. Her 

work has been exhibited in Nebraska, 

Texas, New York and Florida. In 

2020, she was selected as an Emerging 

Artist by Ceramics Monthly Magazine. 

Iren has completed residencies 

at the Archie Bray Foundation for the 

Ceramic Arts (Helena, MT), Zentrum 

für Keramik (Berlin, Germany), Northern 

Clay Center (Minneapolis, MN), 

among others. Her work was featured 

in the Latvia Ceramics Biennale and 

beinnale Officine Saffi (Milan, Italy) 

• Ry McCullough, solo exhibition. 

Artist Talk: Thursday, Sept 14, 5:30-7 

pm. Registration: $5. McCullough is 

an artist and educator, working in 

Tampa, FL. He earned his BFA from 

Wright State University in Dayton, 

OH, where he concentrated in areas 

of printmaking and sculpture. Upon 

completion of his undergraduate 

work, he served as the Director of 

Sculptural Studies as well as teaching 

printmaking at Stivers School for 

the Arts. He has exhibited nationally, 

internationally and is the founder of 

the Standard Action Press Collaborative 

Zine Project. 

Location: 707 N. Tamiami Trail, 

Sarasota, www.artsarasota.org. 

▼ 

from walking the beaches of 

Florida’s west coast searching 

for shark teeth. 

Paul will be at Island Gallery 

and Studios on September 

26, from 10 am to 6 pm. 

Island West Gallery and 

Studios is located at 456 Old 

Main Street in downtown 

Bradenton. Visit www.islandgalleryandstudios.org. 

At The 

Ringling 

The John and Mable 

Ringling Museum of Art 

has Mountains of the Mind: 

Scholars’ Rocks from China 

and Beyond which runs 

through June 23, 2024 in 

The Ringling’s Ting Tsung 

and Wei Fong Chao Center 

for Asian Art. The exhibit 

features a selection of scholars’ 

rocks and related paintings and 

prints, including rocks recently donated 

from the extensive collection of 

Nancy and Stan Kaplan, a new acquisition 

funded by Lucia and Steve Almquist 

and paintings on loan from the 

Dongguan Lou Collection. 

Scholars’ rocks are collected from 

remote geographic locations, where 

they have been formed by natural 

elements over millions of years. The 

stones may then be carved, polished 

and inscribed before being displayed 

in a custom-made stand to enhance 

their visual appeal. Scholars’ rocks are 

both natural objects and products of 

human creativity. 

Mountains of the Mind will feature a 

wide array of scholars’ rocks in various 

shapes, textures and geological properties. 

The rocks are further contextualized 

by paintings, prints and texts that 

illuminate their cultural importance 

for scholars across the centuries. The 

stones have been appreciated and admired 

in China for more than a thousand 

years; historically, connoisseurs 

displayed their stones in their studios 

alongside paintings and other treasures, 

where they served as a focus for 

meditation or creative contemplation. 

In addition to Chinese objects, 

Mountains of the Mind includes Japanese, 

Korean, Canadian and Italian 

objects, demonstrating how the 

appreciation of scholars’ rocks has 

diffused from China across East Asia 

and beyond. 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 

Sarasota. Info: www.ringling.org. 

Island Gallery and Studios has 

“Expressions of Anna Maria Island 

Sunsets: A Retrospective” Drawings 

by Larry Paul, September 1-30. 

Paul’s sunset series drawings are 

expressions of the sun setting over 

Anna Maria Island. This retrospective 

reveals the evolution of the series’ 

drawings from the very first drawing 

completed in 2017. Personal, yet open 

and outwardly expressive, the series 

presents an abstract expressionistic 

quality with an overlapping and abutting 

color technique that contrasts and Theatre 

brings the movements together at the At Florida Studio Theatre: Divas 

same time. The typical colors are easily Three, a celebration of the artists 

inspired by a wild brilliance afforded whose musical impact earned them 

by the mix of sunsets, storms, essences the coveted title of “Diva.” In this 

of sailing, and open, blue water. dazzling Cabaret, three powerhouse 

female vocalists deliver the 

Paul is an award-winning artist 

who creates unique works of art using biggest hits by some of music’s most 

Prismacolor colored pencil, inks, and influential women, such as Aretha 

graphite. His art bears a talent that Franklin, Carole King, Celine Dion, 

currently includes multiple series and Whitney Houston. Featuring 

and sub-series of numbered “experiments” 

embracing impressionistic the Name of Love,” “Total Eclipse of the 

classics like “We Are Family,” “Stop! In 

realism and abstract expressionism Heart,” and “It’s Raining Men.” Divas 

drawing styles. From impressionistic 

old doors and windows, realistic September 10. 

Three runs in the Court Cabaret to 

plant drawings, and expressionistic Tickets at FloridaStudioTheatre.org 

interpretations of sunsets, Paul’s art 

derives from decades of inspiration FST Improv Presents: As Seen on 

▼ 

▼ 

▼ 

TV, an original sitcom created on the 

spot. Featuring a never-before-heard 

theme song and commercials, As Seen 

on TV includes all of the elements of 

one of America’s favorite forms of televised 

entertainment. Runs Saturday 

nights through September 30. 

Visit www.floridastudiotheatre.org/ 

The Players Sarasota has Ruthless! 

Runs September 28 – October 

15. Eight-year-old Tina Denmark 

knows she was born to play Pippi 

Longstocking, and she will do anything 

to win the part in her school 

musical. “Anything” includes murdering 

the leading lady. 

▼ 

Held at 1130 Theatre, 3501 S. Tamiami 

Trail Suite 1130, Sarasota. Tickets: theplayers.org 

Manatee Performing Arts Center 

has Songs For a New World. This contemporary 

song cycle weaves characters 

and history together, illuminating 

the timelessness of self-discovery. 

With a rousing score that blends elements 

of pop, gospel and jazz, featuring 

tight harmonies and daring vocals, 

Songs for a New World transports its 

audience from the deck of a Spanish 

sailing ship bound for a new land, to 

the ledge of a New York penthouse. 

▼ 

Runs September 14-24. Box 

Office: 941-748-5878. Manatee Performing 

Arts Center is located at 

502 Third Avenue W, Bradenton. 

Venice Theatre has Reefer Madness 

running September 8 to October 

8. The campy, over-the-top musical 

Reefer Madness, last seen at VT in 

2008, pokes hilarious fun at the 1936 

cult film. Don’t eat the brownie, and 

don’t smoke the demon W**d. 

▼ 

At the Pinkerton Theatre, 140 

Tampa Ave. W., Venice. Info: venice 

theatre.org/ 

Selby Gardens 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

has Diving Into Nature with the iconic 

art of Sarasota designer and illustrator 

John Pirman. The exhibit will 

feature Pirman’s celebrated artwork 

inside the Museum of Botany & the 

Arts and outside in the Gardens of the 

Downtown Sarasota campus. 

John Pirman: Diving into 

Nature will be on view through 

September 17. The show comprises 

works spanning Pirman’s long career 

in New York City and now in Sarasota, 

along with pieces from his formative 

years growing up in Ohio. 

Several images of Selby Gardens 

scenes will be printed in large format 

on aluminum and set directly in the 

locations that inspired them. Selby 

Gardens downtown location is at 1534 

Mound Street, Sarasota. 

Selby Gardens at www.selby.org. 

The virtual gallery is on view through 

Sept. 30. 

▼ 

Summer Movies 

at Sarasota 

Opera House 

Sarasota Opera again has its 

Summer Classic Movies at the Opera 

House. 

• From Here to Eternity: September 

15 at 7:30 p.m. This Best Picture 

winner is a portrait of life on a Hono- 

▼ 

continued on page 10 


2023 

2024 

NOV 9 

NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS 

2023 

SEASON 

Intimate musical experiences. 

Season 28 | Stars Ascending 

Join us for a diverse range of 26 concerts featuring emerging and accomplished 

classical, chamber, jazz, and pop artists from around the globe. 

DEC 2023 

MORT SKIRBOLL Z”L JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 

MAR 2024 

DEC 2023 

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK SERIES 

APR 2024 

JAN 28 

INT’L HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY 

2024 

For more information, 

visit jfedsrq.org/events 

FEB 25 

FEDERATION CELEBRATES 65 YEARS 

2024 

FEB 28 

TEVYE IN NEW YORK! BY TOM DUGAN 

2024 

MAY 19 

ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY 

2024 

NEXUS Chamber Music 

October 1 • 4 pm • First Presbyterian Church 

Back by popular demand! 

This Chicago-based chamber music collective creates unique and engaging 

classical music experiences. NEXUS co-founder Alexander Hersh and 

Marlboro Music Festival alums Stephanie Zyzak and Evren Ozel 

perform piano trios by Haydn, Brahms, and Ravel. 

ILYA YAKUSHEV 

October 10 • 7:30 pm 

Historic Asolo Theater 

Winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition, 

Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev has astounded 

audiences with performances at Weill Recital 

Hall at Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall in 

San Francisco, and with major orchestras across 

three continents. He will be joined by a string 

quartet, including concertmaster Daniel Jordan, 

for Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet and 

Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” 

ArtistSeriesConcerts.org | 941-306-1202 

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. 

EMBRACE 

THE NATURAL 

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Implant Removal — Breast Lift — Fat Grafting 

Breast Augmentation 

Tummy Tucks — Liposuction — Body Sculpting 

Arm & Thigh Lifts — Breast Reduction 

Sovereign Plastic Surgery 

Alissa M. Shulman, M.D., F.A.C.S. 

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 

1950 Arlington Street • Suite 112 • Sarasota 

941- 366-LIPO (5476) 

www.sovereignps.com 


out and about continued 

lulu Army post just before the attack 

on Pearl Harbor and focuses on two 

rebellious privates and a tough but 

fair-minded sergeant who’s swept into 

a torrid affair with his Commanding 

Officer’s wife. Starring Burt Lancaster, 

Montgomery Clift Deborah Kerr, Frank 

Sinatra, and Donna Reed. 

• The Treasure of Sierra Madre: September 

29 at 7:30 p.m. This film is a 

treatise on greed and what gold does to 

the souls of three miners, circa 1920s, 

as they set out to find the precious 

mineral in the mountains of Mexico. 

Oscars went to John Huston for Screenplay 

and Direction, and his father, Walter 

Huston, who won Best Supporting 

Actor for his performance as an old 

prospector. Starring Humphrey Bogart, 

Tim Holt, Walter Huston, Alfonso 

Bedoya, and Bruce Bennett. 

• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: October 

13 at 7:30 p.m. This “cartoon noir” 

follows detective Eddie Valiant as 

he seeks to clear the name of a toon 

rabbit framed for murder. A blend of 

live action, animation and allegory 

set in 1947 Los Angeles. Starring Bob 

Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna 

Cassidy, Charles Fleischer, and Kathleen 

Turner. 

• The Addams Family: October 27 

at 7:30 p.m. When long-lost Uncle 

Fester reappears after 25 years in the 

Bermuda Triangle, Gomez and Morticia 

plan a celebration to wake the 

dead. But Wednesday barelyhas time 

to warm up her electric chair before 

Thing points out Fester’s uncommonly 

“normal” behavior. Starring Anjelica 

Huston, Raúl Juliá, Christopher Lloyd, 

and Dan Hedaya. 

Information and tickets can be 

found at SarasotaOpera.org. 

Art Around 

the State 

The Norton examines two artforms 

which have maintained worldwide 

popularity for centuries: Chinese 

and Japanese blue-and-white 

porcelain and indigo-dyed textiles. 

Including more than 20 porcelain 

objects, dating from the 1500s to 

the 1900s, and seven textiles, dating 

from the 1700s to the 1900s, Classic 

Blues highlights the decorative techniques 

of hand-painting and stenciling 

used across both media. Other 

techniques featured include ceramic 

design transfers, known as decals, and 

resist dyeing methods utilizing woodblocks, 

tie-dye, batik, and applique for 

textiles. Runs to November 19. 

Examples from this exhibition 

include four methods of resist-dyeing 

and the applique technique which 

artisans traditionally used to make 

humble fabrics into works of art. 

https://www.norton.org/exhibitions/ 

classic-blues-cobalt-blue-porcelainand-indigo-dyed-textiles. 

1450 S. 

Dixie Highway West Palm Beach. 

▼ 

The Boca Raton Museum of Art 

has Benn Mitchell Photographs: 

Hollywood to NYC. From the age of 

13, when he received his first camera, 

Mitchell produced photographs 

that capture a particularly American 

vitality. Born in New York City 

in 1926, he sold his first photograph 

to “Life” magazine when he was 

16. Then, at age 17, he headed west, 

gaining permission from Warner 

Brothers to frequent the studios, 

▼ 

shooting Hollywood 

stars on various sets 

and sound stages. One 

of his most valued 

photographs in this 

exhibition features 

Humphrey Bogart in a 

rare moment of respite, 

having a cigarette 

break between takes. 

After two years of 

duty as a navy photographer, 

he returned 

to New York City and 

worked as a photographer 

in a large commercial 

studio. In 1951 

he started a commercial 

studio. Finally, he 

retired to Boca Raton, 

where he and his wife 

Esther avidly supported 

the Museum, donating many of 

Mitchell’s photographs to the collection. 

The Museum is located at 

501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Runs to 

October 22. 

More info at: bocamuseum.org 

▼ 

Island Gallery and Studios has “Expressions of Anna Maria 

Island Sunsets: A Retrospective” Drawings by Larry Paul, 

September 1-30. 

An exhibition showcasing Salvador 

Dalí’s rarely seen drawings, 

“Where Ideas Come From: Dalí’s 

Drawings” features newly conserved 

works on view for the first time in more 

than three decades. 

Experience the opportunity to see 

Dalí’s fragile works on paper, highlighting 

the artist’s creative process 

throughout the many phases of his 

career on view through Oct. 22 at The 

Dalí Museum. 

The exhibition chronicles the movement 

of the Surrealist’s imagination 

through more than 100 pencil, pen, 

charcoal, watercolor and gouache 

works, many of which have been 

secured in the Museum’s vault for 

more than three The Dalí Museum 

organizes “Where Ideas Come From” 

chronologically, presenting works that 

date from 1916 to 1974. Four sections 

— Early Period; Surrealism; Nuclear 

Mysticism, Classicism and Religion; 

and Late Period — feature studies for 

major oil paintings, portraits, experimental 

drawing techniques and commercial 

projects, including film. 

The Early Period opens with student 

sketches, book illustrations, poster 

designs and self-portraits that demonstrate 

Dalí’s journey from Classicism 

to Cubism and eventually anti-art. 

The works also showcase his natural 

mastery of drawing and painting techniques. 

Dalí learned to draw at a young 

age and adopted the approach of Old 

Master painters in his work. 

The Dalí anchors the Surrealism 

section with studies for such 

works as “The Weaning of Furniture 

Nutrition” (1934), illustrations for 

the poetic novel “Le Chants de Maldoror” 

(1940) and examples of Dalí’s 

experimentation with various Surrealist 

drawing techniques. This section 

also features “Study for ‘Disappearing 

Images’” (1939) which marks 

the beginnings of “Old Age, Adolescence 

Infancy (The Three Ages),” a 

significant 1940 double image oil 

painting in The Dalí’s collection. 

Following World War II, Dalí coined 

himself a classicist and “Nuclear Mystical 

painter.” This section includes 

illustrations for works by the Italian 

poet, writer and philosopher Dante 

Alighieri and the ballet “Tres Picos,” 

familiar motifs of exploding watches, 

flies, disintegrating figures and 

religious-tinged images of dissolving 

angels. In “Study for Soft Watch 

Exploding” (1954), the sketch for “Soft 

Watch at the Moment of the First 

Explosion,” Dalí presents an object 

that has disintegrated into nearly 

unrecognizable particles. Transformations 

and studies for “The Sacrament 

of the Last Supper” (1955) and 

“Christ of St. John of the Cross” (1951) 

round out this section. 

The final section, Late Period, 

includes diverse selections with 

small studies of “The Hallucinogenic 

Toreador” (1969-1970) and 

“Galacidalacidesoxiribunucleicacid 

(Homage to Crick and Watson)” 

(1962-1963), both in the Museum’s 

oil collection. The exhibition concludes 

with the 1974 “Iceberg” 

sketch, a self-portrait Dalí gifted to 

the founders of The Dalí Museum, A. 

Reynolds and Eleanor Morse. 

Visitors to The Dalí can try their 

hand at drawing like the Surrealist 

icon. A series of instructional videos, 

sketchpads and pencils are available 

for visitors to create symbolic Dalinian 

imagery or other ideas inspired by 

the exhibit. Visit TheDali.org. 

▼ 

Season 

▼ 

At The Baker Museum—“Naples 

Collects 2022-23.” As a follow-up 

to the Naples Collects exhibition of 

2016, this exhibition is developed 

with the intention of sharing the 

most inspiring and engaging art 

from among the collections found 

in Southwest Florida. The paintings, 

sculptures, works on paper and 

mixed media pieces in this exhibition 

allow us to share with the museum’s 

visitors some of our community’s 

most prized possessions. 

They also provide a rich overview 

of artistic production, ranging from 

modern masters to cutting-edge 

contemporary artists. Many of these 

objects complement the strengths 

of The Baker Museum’s permanent 

collection, while others propose new 

areas of exploration and inquiry. 

Most importantly, these works showcase 

and celebrate the interests, 

tastes and experiences of collectors 

in the area, all while underscoring a 

shared passion for the visual. Runs 

to October 15. Location: 5833 Pelican 

Bay Boulevard, Naples. Info: 

https://artisnaples.org/about/ 

Also at the Baker Museum - Prison 

Nation. Organized by Aperture, 

New York, this exhibition addresses 

the unique role photography plays 

in creating a visual record of incarceration, 

despite the 

increasing difficulty 

of gaining access 

inside prisons. Featured 

artists include 

Nicole Fleetwood, 

Lucas Foglia, Bruce 

Jackson, Emily Kinni, 

Jesse Krimes, Jack Lueders-Booth, 

Deborah 

Luster, Zora Murff, 

Nigel Poor, Joseph 

Rodriguez, Jamel 

Shabazz, Sable Elyse 

Smith and Stephen 

Tourlentes. On view 

through September 

17. 

Sea Turtle 

Nesting 

It’s that time of year, when sea 

turtles make their way to the shore 

for nesting season. Despite spending 

the majority of their lives in the 

ocean, adult female sea turtles lay 

their eggs on dry land. Between their 

ocean home and sandy nesting sites, 

they travel hundreds or even thousands 

of miles each year. 

As you walk along the beach during 

this season, keep your eyes peeled for 

any signs of turtle tracks leading up 

to the dunes. Remember to give these 

amazing animals plenty of space and 

respect their nesting areas. 

Sarasota County beaches play host 

to the largest population of nesting 

sea turtles on the Florida’s Gulf 

Coast. Sea turtle nesting season 

runs through Oct. 31. In this time, 

residents are urged to keep light out 

of sight and remove unused beach 

furniture and coastal structures 

during that time. 

Each season, there’s an average of 

more than 200 sea turtle nests per 

mile along Sarasota County’s coastline; 

however, only one out of every 

1,000 hatchlings survive to adulthood. 

Most die from predators, and 

the exhaustion and starvation caused 

by disorienting bright, artificial lights. 

Here’s how to help sea turtles beat 

the odds: 

• Each night, remove all furniture 

and recreational items from the 

beach and store them in an area 

landward of the beach and dunes. 

• Properly dispose of trash. Sea turtles 

ingest plastic bags, and garbage attracts 

predators that eat turtle eggs. 

• Knock down sand sculptures and 

fill in holes before you leave the 

beach so turtles have direct access 

into and out of the water. A turtle 

that falls into a hole cannot get out. 

• Reduce use of flashlights on the 

beach at night. 

• Recreate in locations away from 

marked nesting areas. 

• Property owners must either extinguish 

all white lights visible from 

the beach or replace them with 

amber or red light-emitting diodes 

(LED) or low-pressure sodium vapor 

(LPS) bulbs and pair them with 

shielded fixtures. 

For questions or assistance, visit 

scgov.net. 

Coming up: 

2023 Brunch on the Bay, the 

fund-raising event for the University 

of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee 

campus is on Sunday, Nov. 5, 11:30 

▼ 

a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Chairs are Lisa Krouse 

and Rod Hershberger. 

Brunch on the Bay again will feature 

fine cuisine from area restaurants 

and caterers served on the 

campus courtyard, with proceeds 

supporting student scholarships and 

campus expansion initiatives. 

The USF Federal Credit Union is 

returning as the title sponsor of the 

2023 Brunch on the Bay, as part of 

the credit union’s pledge of $1 million 

in new support for scholarships, 

event sponsorships and other programs 

at USF. 

Earlier this spring, architects began 

designing the $61.7 million Nursing/ 

STEM building, which will be home 

to a myriad health, engineering and 

other academic programs. 

No construction timeline has 

been set for the Nursing/STEM 

building, which will be built on the 

north side of the campus courtyard. 

Already under construction on the 

south side of the courtyard is a $42 

million student center and residence 

hall. The first-ever residence 

hall on the Sarasota-Manatee campus 

will be home for as many as 200 

students when it opens for the fall 

2024 semester. 

Tickets for Brunch on the Bay: 

www.sarasotamanatee.usf 

Show off your sustainable products 

and services at the 2023 Green Living 

Expo. Join us on December 2-3 for a 

unique opportunity to connect with 

Suncoast residents who are ready to 

take the next step to go green. Showcase 

your green solutions for energy 

conservation, waste reduction, water 

protection, local food, and nature conservation. 

Apply online now to save 

$250. ufl.qualtrics.com. 

▼ 

A new exhibit is coming to The 

Ringling this October: Guercino’s 

Friar with a Gold Earring: Fra 

Bonaventura Bisi, Painter and Art 

Dealer, an international loan exhibition 

exploring a rare portrait of Fra 

Bonaventura Bisi by the Italian Baroque 

painter Giovanni Francesco 

Barbieri, also known as Guercino. 

The Ringling acquired the portrait 

in 2015. Through 35 works from 

institutions in Italy and the United 

States—including oil paintings, miniatures 

in tempera on parchment, 

drawings, prints, and published writings 

of the period—the exhibition 

explores the portrait by revealing the 

fascinating life of Bisi, who was also 

known as Il Pittorino. A Franciscan 

friar from Bologna whom Guercino 

depicted wearing his religious habit 

and a gold hoop earring, Bisi was also 

an artist, art dealer and connoisseur-adviser 

to important collectors, 

including Prince Leopoldo de Medici. 

The exhibition also examines Bisi’s 

artistic training, his painted miniatures, 

his relationships with Guercino 

and other Bolognese artists and 

intellectuals, his tenacious pursuit 

of artwork for his patrons, and his efforts 

to promote the appreciation and 

collecting of drawings as an art form. 

The Ringling’s portrait of Fra Bisi 

by Guercino will be joined by other 

paintings, drawings and prints from 

the museum’s Italian Baroque collection. 

A related exhibition, 500 Years of 

Italian Drawings from the Princeton 

University Art Museum, will also be 

on view in adjacent galleries of the 

Searing Wing. 

▼ 


4420 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

941.260.8905 

www.shellysgiftandchristmasboutique.com 

Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm 


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LINDA LARSEN, BSW, MFA, CPAE 

Transform Your Mental Health 

Journey at Our Empowering Summit! 

OCT 28, 2023 • 9 am - 2:30 pm • DOORS OPEN/INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES AT 8 am 

ROBARTS ARENA, SARASOTA • FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

INTERACTIVE 

EXPERIENCES: 

• Art Therapy 

• Restorative Yoga 

• Music Therapy 

• Virtual Reality 

Therapy 

• Mindfulness 

• Neurofeedback 

• EFT (Emotional 

Freedom 

Technique/Tapping) 

• Child-Centered 

Therapy/ 

Centerness for 

Children 

Discover a brighter path to mental health and wellness at the Step Into 

the Light: A Mental Health Summit! Join us for an empowering and 

transformative event on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at Robarts Arena in 

Sarasota, Fla. 

Open to the Public, Free Admission 

Seize the opportunity to manage your mental health and connect 

with a supportive community. This summit empowers clients, 

clinicians, parents, and advocates with insights, coping skills, and 

resources. 

Engaging Speakers and Inspiring Talks 

Keynote speaker Linda Larsen shares her journey from despair to 

hope. Experts discuss anxiety, depression, trauma, children’s mental 

health, and navigating the system. Gain knowledge and guidance. 

Connect and Learn from Experts 

Step Into the Light for an immersive mental health experience. 

Learn from experts, engage in critical conversations, gain coping 

skills, and access transformative community resources. 

Step out of the darkness and into the light. 

Together, we can make a difference. 

Register today at SunshineFromDarkness.org 

Scan the QR code with the camera on your phone, visit 

SunshineFromDarkness.org or email Marlene@SunshineFromDarkness.org. 

“Have No Fear! Taking Steps Toward 

Understanding and Coping with Anxiety” 

REBECCA ETKIN, PH.D. 

Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine 

“It Wasn’t Supposed to Happen to Me” 

DAVID ROMANO 

Mental Health Advocate and Therapist 

“What, How and Why to Stop the Cycle” 

SIDNEY TURNER, PH.D. 

Founder Resilient Retreat 

“State of the Union, Coping Skills and How 

Parents Can Help” 

JENNIFER KATZENSTEIN, PH.D., ABPP-CN 

Co-Director Center for Behavioral Health, Pediatric 

Neuropsychologist, Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital 

“System of Care” 

LAURA CARSON, M.A. 

Behavioral Health System Coordinator Florida 

Department of Health in Sarasota County 

“Lived Experiences: The Family Consumer Voice” 

SARAH MILLER, CRPS-F 

Family and Peer Services Director and Family 

Navigator at NAMI 

“Seeking Help with Accessing Children’s Mental 

Health and Behavioral Health Resources” 

KIMBERLY KUTCH, MA, MS, ED.S, CPM 

Human Services Manager 

Sarasota County Health and Human Services 


feature 

The 2024 Forks & 

Corks Food and 

Wine Festival is back 

The five-day epicurean event now runs Jan. 25-28 

The 2024 Forks & Corks 

Food and Wine Festival, 

hosted by the Sarasota-Manatee 

Originals, 

will take place January 

25-29. Grand Tasting tickets 

go on sale in October. 

A full five-day slate of food-andwine 

themed fun is planned, including 

the always-popular University Master 

Classes (January 27), a bountiful selection 

of wine dinners at area restaurants (January 

25-28), oodles of wine shop tasting events 

(January 25-27), a trade tasting (January 29) 

and the much-anticipated Grand Tasting at 

The Ringling Museum of Art (January 28). 

“We are thrilled to announce that due to 

survey responses, guest comments and popular 

demand, Forks and Corks Food & Wine 

Festival is moving to January in 2024,” said 

Sarasota-Manatee Originals Board President 

and Café Gabbiano Owner Marc Grimaud. 

“This year will mark the 17th anniversary of 

Forks & Corks, which has become one of the 

top food and wine events in the Southeastern 

United States.” 

“We are excited to be registering 60+ owners 

and winemakers from across the globe to 

participate in our 2024 events. Over fifteen 

of the world’s most famous wine producing 

countries will be represented at the event, 

along with delicious tastings from the Gulf 

Coast’s Sarasota-Manatee Originals Members,” 

said Sarasota-Manatee Originals Winery 

Chair and Co-Proprietor of Michael’s On 

East - Michael Klauber. 

Forks & Corks’ most sought-after event 

is the Grand Tasting which will take place 

on Sunday in the historic courtyard of The 

Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. Guests 

will savor delicious dishes presented by over 

50 Members of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, 

while sampling from a collection of 

more than 300 unique wines from around the 

world. There will be live, local musical entertainment, 

and a wine shop is also available, 

where patrons can purchase the various 

wines, making Forks & Corks one of only a 

few festivals in the Southeast to provide the 

opportunity to purchase their favorite wines 

onsite during the event. 

Due to the unprecedented demand for 

tickets, ticket sales for The Grand Tasting 

launch on two consecutive Tuesdays: 

On October 10 at 9 a.m. there is a pre-sale 

of the VIP and Early Access tickets 

• VIP ticket holders ($450+ each) receive 

a variety of perks including a $150 wine 

voucher for the onsite wine shop and 

complimentary valet parking, as well as 

entry into the Forks & Corks VIP Tent 

presented by The Scout Guide Sarasota 

with covered seating, and exclusive VIP 

tastings and engaging demonstrations 

• Early Access tickets ($350+ each) include 

a $50 wine voucher 

• Both VIP and Early Access Ticket 

holders will enjoy expedited early access 

to the Forks & Corks wine shop with a 

Champagne Reception as well as early 

event entrance into the Grand Tasting in 

the Ringling Courtyard 

On October 17 at 7 p.m. General Admission 

tickets ($175+ each) will be available and 

historically have sold out in a matter of minutes. 

All Forks & Corks Grand Tasting tickets 

will be available online only. For more 

information, visit www.eatlikealocal.com 

The Online Food and Wine Auction will 

include a collection of lots featuring rare and 

exquisite wines, travel, and one-of-a-kind dining 

and party experiences. The Auction opens 

for bidding on Monday, January 22 at 8am and 

ending on Sunday, January 28 at 3pm. 

About Sarasota-Manatee Originals 

The Sarasota-Manatee Originals (SMO) 

is a community collaborative 

of over 60 independently 

owned and operated restaurants 

in the Sarasota and 

Manatee Counties on the 

central Gulf Coast of Florida. 

Their mission is to promote 

the community's local, 

unique, independent dining 

establishments. SMO supports our Member 

Restaurants who help define the Suncoast, 

give it character and make it a memorable 

region to visit and live. SMO urges the community 

to support our local independent 

restaurants here and across the country and 

we encourage the general public to always 

“Eat Like A Local.” 


healthier you 

3 Possible Causes 

of Persistent Brain Fog 

It’s a common complaint in our modern world 

Brain fog is a common complaint 

in our modern world. 

At The Renewal Point, we often 

see patients with brain fog as their 

major complaint. While brain fog is not 

considered a medical condition, it is a 

term for a specific group of symptoms 

that can affect your ability to think. 

An Integrative/Functional approach 

involves determining the patient's exact 

root cause and addressing it with an 

individualized approach, based on an indepth 

intake consultation and specialty 

lab results. 

Brain fog is typically characterized 

by a constellation of several symptoms 

including: 

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Difficulty multitasking 

• Forgetfulness 

• Short-term and long-term memory loss 

• Cognitive impairment 

• Feeling spacy or confused 

• Difficulty finding words 

• Mental exhaustion 

It is important to recognize that these 

symptoms can be attributed to many 

health conditions or may be a signal of a 

more serious underlying health condition. 

Please discuss any concerns you have with 

your Integrative Healthcare Provider. 

Possible Underlying Causes 

of Brain Fog 

There are numerous root causes of brain 

fog. Here are three of the most common 

reasons: 

1. Mold and Heavy Metal Toxicity 

External toxicants such as mold or 

heavy metal can cause brain fog. Some 

molds produce chemicals that can lead 

to brain fog. Heavy metal toxicity, such 

as too much mercury, aluminum and/or 

lead, has long been linked to brain fog 

symptoms. 

2. Post-Viral Syndrome 

Viruses can cause systemic inflammation. 

Recently, we have found Epstein 

Barr virus acutely active in many 

patients. There are many other varieties 

of viruses and parasites that can be included 

in this category, i.e. Lyme, West 

Nile Fever, Babesia, etc. 

3. Menopause and Perimenopause 

Brain fog is a common complaint for 

women going through perimenopause 

and menopause. Fluctuating hormone 

levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone 

shifts, not only affect energy 

levels but can cause symptoms such as 

forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, 

and brain fog. 

Functional Medical Labs 

to Find the Root Cause 

of Brain Fog 

• Toxin and toxicity testing would include 

mold and heavy metal testing. 

• Viral and parasite testing can often 

tease out a pesky biologic poison affecting 

the body. 

• Comprehensive hormone panels, done 

at appropriate timing in a patient’s menstrual 

cycle, many times reveal hormone 

imbalances. When these hormones are 

rebalanced, it often helps immensely. 

Summary 

There are many potential causes of brain 

fog and uncovering what may be the root 

cause is key to reversing the symptoms. 

Utilizing a Functional/Integrative Medicine 

approach, reducing toxins, balancing 

hormones and squelching dangerous 

biologic organisms can help improve 

brain fog symptoms. For more information 

about our services or to schedule a 

consultation, please give us a call at 941- 

926-4905. We are here to help! 

————————————————— 

SOURCE: Dr. Watts, 

MD, ND, MSNM and 

Deb Spinner, ARNP, 

MSN, are experts in 

Integrative Medicine. 

With over 25 years 

experience in Hormone 

Balancing, a 

Post-doctoral Certification 

in Metabolic 

Dr. Dan Watts 

Endocrinology, and a MD, ND, MSMN 

Fellowship in Anti- The Renewal Point 

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR 

Aging, Regenerative, 

and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts 

has put together programs that have 

helped thousands of patients renew 

their love and vigor for life. 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota 

Phone: 941-926-4905 

www.TheRenewalPoint.com 

PAID ADVERTORIAL 


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.” 



EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

ArtCenter Manatee 

In the illustration above Carla Nierman is imagined in the new home of ArtCenter Manatee which breaks ground this month. 

Downtown Bradenton will have a beautiful new addition when ArtCenter 

Manatee opens its new center in 2024. The center has been fortunate 

to have steady, constant leadership in Carla who has been there 17 

years and has done it all at ArtCenter Manatee with the past ten years as executive 

director. “I’ve seen art transform lives. Art is so healing on so many levels… 

it’s about expressing our hearts and souls.” 


Time to Review Your Financial Plan 

Amanda can help you assess and 

assist with a “check-in” on your 

personal finances. 

Call today 941-914-1560. 

Amanda E. Stiff, MBA 

Financial Advisor 

owntown Bradenton will 

have a beautiful new addition 

when ArtCenter Manatee 

opens its new center 

that’s set to break ground 

this month. 

And it will be striking, like 

a beautiful work of art that will 

draw more visitors to their exhibits and 

more to their classes while sending a clear 

message that the arts are vibrant in Manatee 

County and in downtown Bradenton. 

I had the opportunity to visit their 

current location at 209 Ninth Street West 

in downtown Bradenton. I’d been there 

before a few times, especially to see their 

watercolor exhibits, but this time it was 

behind the scenes, where the offices are. 

It’s a bit cozy there on the back end, and it’s 

obvious top priority are the exhibits and 

classes, but even they’re small for such a 

growing community. 

The center has been fortunate to have 

steady, constant leadership in Carla who 

has been there 17 years and has done it all 

at ArtCenter Manatee beginning at “ground 

level” as she calls it, with the past ten years 

as executive director. 

“The beauty of it is I learned all about the 

organization” and that means she’s worked 

with artists, collectors, members, and the 

community at large while assuming more 

responsibilities over the years. 

The ArtCenter was founded in 1937, 

moved a few times and has been at their 

current location since 1953 where they 

have a nearly 10,000 sq. ft. building with 

three galleries with exhibits that change 

monthly, and five classrooms that offer 

over 300 classes every year (all summer 

2023 classes sold out). 

They also have a gift shop, the Live Artfully 

Artisan Boutique, and an art library 

featuring over 3,000 art volumes. In all, Art- 

Center Manatee receives over 30,000 guests 

a year. Currently, staff totals five and all are 

masters of the multi-task. 

That will change when a new 

28,000-square-foot facility, renamed the 

Herrig Center for the Arts, will emerge. They 

won’t be moving to another location. Instead, 

the new two-story building will be built adjacent 

to the existing facility at the intersection 

of Ninth Street West and Third Avenue 

West. This will push the physical structure 

back from the street, opening up an “Artist’s 

Plaza” to Ninth Street West and creating a 

sculpture garden and green space. 

This green space, according to their 

website, “becomes a catalyst for artist 

exposure; it is an exterior market space 

where artists can present their work to the 

pedestrian walking by, creating an area of 

conversation and commerce.” 

The plaza will lead directly to the main 

entrance of the building. This in turn opens 

up to the Instructor’s Gallery, “which is a 

linear core of visual transparency, and connects 

to the other spaces of the building.” 

Construction is estimated to be completed 

by the end of 2024. 

What got the ball rolling was back in June 

2022, when the Center received a $1 million 

gift for its building fund from the Bishop 

Parker Foundation. The Center has received 

support from the Bishop Parker Foundation 

for its children’s education programs 

for over 10 years. The new art center will 

triple its space for children, she adds. 

Since then, Carla and her team have 

worked hard to raise the estimated $15 

million needed to build, with $9 million 

already raised. The new art center will be 

named the Herrig Center for the Arts in 

honor of the Steve and Natalee Herrig Family 

Foundation, which donated $2 million 

to the cause. 

“A gift of this level will help to move the 

Center’s campaign forward and will allow 

us to continue to impact lives through our 

classes, exhibits, and other programming,” 

Carla notes. The fundraising has now 

launched the public part of the campaign. 

The new facility will double the amount 

of space available at the center's current 

building and will include not just the interior 

courtyard, but nine classrooms, a large 

gallery, office and storage space, as well as 

updated technology and utilities. Many arts 

organizations, especially in Sarasota, are 

moving out of downtown. By staying downtown, 

ArtCenter Manatee will help in redeveloping 

downtown as an arts center. “We 

like being downtown,” Carla notes as the 

center is halfway between Lakewood Ranch 

and the beach. While they did explore other 

locations, her board voted unanimously to 

stay downtown. 

Already in the area are the Bishop Museum, 

the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Island 

Gallery & Studio and the Bradenton 

Riverwalk - the latter being just a five-minute 

walk to the north. With more space, the 

center can expand its programming. Day, 

evening and weekend art classes for adults 

and children will be offered year-round. And 

their classes, she adds, are intentionally affordable 

adding, “this is not an elitist sport.” 

If you’ve never been, the Center attracts 

artists from all over the state. Their watercolor 

exhibits draw artists from around the 

world. They offer open juried shows where 

anyone can submit, and curated shows 

where artwork is chosen. Every year they 

have an exhibition by the Florida Suncoast 

Watercolor Society. The touring International 

Watercolor Society exhibit makes its only 

Florida stop at ArtCenter Manatee. 

Words that Carla uses frequently are, 

“shared experience or art” and “making art 

accessible to all.” Carla also feels strongly 

that, “The arts are a powerful tool that help 

communities grow and individuals connect 

with each other across all boundaries.” 

The mission of ArtCenter Manatee is “to 

provide a welcoming, professional environment, 

educate novice and experienced 

artists of all ages, provide galleries to exhibit 

and market original artwork and enhance 

the visual arts in Manatee County through 

special events and outreach programs.” 

Originally from Michigan, Carla lived on 

Siesta Key in the seventies then in New York 

City, then back in the eighties to care for her 

elderly parents. Her mother was an artist 

who painted in oils while raising six children. 

Carla recalls that she “grew up with 

artists and at art shows” and several of her 

siblings are artists as well. “I just take care 

of artists,” she says, smiling. 

Actually, Carla has had a career not just 

at the Center, but also as a businesswoman 

who owned her own business. So with 

the family arts DNA combined with her 

business acumen, it’s helped her to, “think 

outside the box…be a bit more experimental…using 

both sides of the brain.” The 

new building will be a melding of form and 

function with what’s called a “pre-patina 

copper” that will change over time. Floors 

will be polished stained concrete. 

It’s never easy to raise large sums of money 

especially for a new building. Researching 

a new space started back in 2018 after she 

and her board concluded it was time. Building 

anew was also more cost-effective than 

doing a retrofitting of the current space. 

The campaign launched and ran right 

into the start of the COVID pandemic. “No 

one wanted to talk to us,” she recalls. They 

created e-cards and videotaped a tour that 

were sent out. Donations started to come in. 

“I’ve seen art transform lives. Art is so 

healing on so many levels…it’s about expressing 

our hearts and souls.” “We are all 

different but art brings us together.” 

For more information, visit artcentermanatee.org 

or call 941-746-2862. 

STORY & PHOTO: Louise Bruderle 

AccessAdvisorsLLC.com 941 914-1560 | Astiff@AccessAdvisorsLLC.com 

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

Securities are offered through Level Four Financial, LLC a registered broker dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services are offered 

through Level Four Advisory Services, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Level Four Financial, LLC, Level Four Advisory Services, LLC 

and Access Advisors, LLC are independent entities. Neither Level Four Financial, LLC, Level Four Advisory Services, LLC nor Access Advisors, 

LLC offer tax or legal advice. 


focus on the arts 

Key Chorale announces Season 39 – 

ONE OF A KIND 

ey Chorale, the 

Suncoast’s premier 

symphonic chorus, 

under the baton of 

Artistic Director 

Joseph Caulkins, announces 

Season 39. This season you’ll 

experience a U.S. premiere by 

an Iranian composer based on 

an ancient Persian love story, 

be swept away by the Argentine 

Tango, be immersed in 

the genius of Johann Sebastian 

Bach, and awe-struck by 

the spine-tingling harmonies 

of Eric Whitacre and Morten 

Lauridsen. Combine that 

with dynamic collaborations 

with The Sarasota Ballet, The 

Circus Arts Conservatory, 

Artist Series Concerts, Modern 

Marimba, and The Venice 

Symphony and Key Chorale 

knows you will agree, Season 

39 is truly “One of a Kind.” 

Season 39, concerts at a glance: 

2 September 23 – Tango, celebrating the Argentine Tango 

2 October 13-15 – Bachtoberfest – 3-day festival with 

Bach & Beer 

2 November 18 – CEASAR: Power. Fate. Conquest. – 

An Artist Series Concerts collaboration 

2 November 26 – Wintertide, with The Sarasota Ballet’s 

Studio Company 

2 February 10 – Triumph of Love, U.S. Premiere of a 

Persian Love Story 

2 February 20 – Tomorrow’s Voices Today, High School 

Choral Festival 

2 February 23 & 24 – Disney’s Maestro, A Tribute to 

Alan Menken – A Venice Symphony collaboration 

2 March 22 & 23 – Cirque des Voix ® with The Circus 

Arts Conservatory 

2 April 7 – Light & Gold: Luminous and lavish settings 

by Eric Whitacre & Morten Lauridsen 

2 April 23 & 24 – The Crown Jewel Finale – A Venice 

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your health 

What You Need to Know 

About E-Cigarettes and Vaping 

as Smoking Cessation Tools 

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T. Grywinski specializes in difficult issues with great success 

A 

re you looking to quit 

smoking? Have you tried to 

quit several times with little to 

no success? Are you frustrated 

and running out of ideas that could help 

you kick the habit for good? You are not 

alone! In fact, 7 out of 10 tobacco users 

want to quit and may struggle with these 

same questions. 

Some tobacco users might be tempted to 

turn to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, 

vape pens, and other vaping devices) to 

ease the transition from traditional cigarettes 

to not smoking at all.1 Though this 

may seem like a novel option for some, 

the question we must ask is whether using 

e-cigarettes or vaping is better for you than 

using tobacco products. 

According to Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., 

director of clinical research at the Johns 

Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention 

of Heart Disease, there are several 

important factors to consider: 

1 

2 

3 

E-cigarette aerosol is NOT harmless 

“water vapor.” 2 The aerosol used in 

e-cigarettes contains chemicals that 

can be harmful to health, including: 

• Nicotine 2 

• Ultrafine particles that can be 

inhaled deep into the lungs 2 

• Flavorings such as diacetyl, a 

chemical linked to a serious lung 

disease 2 

• Volatile organic compounds 2 

• Cancer-causing chemicals 2 

• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, 

and lead 2 

The nicotine in tobacco and vaping 

products is addictive. According 

to Dr. Blaha, nicotine is a toxic substance 

that raises your blood pressure 

and spikes adrenaline which increases 

your heart rate and the likelihood of 

having a heart attack. 1 Emerging data 

also suggests links to chronic lung disease 

and asthma. 1 

Electronic cigarettes are just as addictive 

as traditional ones. 1 Many 

e-cigarette users get even more nicotine 

than they would from a combustible 

tobacco product as many vaping 

devices offer extra-strength cartridges, 

which have a higher concentration of 

4 

nicotine to get a greater hit of the substance. 

1 This can be counterproductive 

to an individual’s goal to quit as higher 

doses of nicotine result in a stronger 

nicotine addiction. 

E-cigarettes are not an FDA approved 

cessation tool. 1 E-cigarettes 

have not received Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) approval as smoking 

cessation devices. 1 There are many 

FDA approved products on the market 

that are effective for quitting nicotine 

including the nicotine patches, gum, 

and lozenges. 

If you are a tobacco user looking to quit 

smoking, help is free! Gulfcoast South 

Area Health Education Center (GSA- 

HEC), as part of the Group Quit option 

of Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way 

program—offers free tobacco cessation 

sessions that are available to help someone 

quit all forms of tobacco. 

These group cessation sessions, held virtually 

and in-person, provide information 

about the effects of tobacco use, the benefits 

of quitting, and will assist you with 

developing your own customized quit 

plan. Free nicotine replacement therapy 

in the form of patches, gum, or lozenges (if 

medically appropriate and while supplies last) 

are provided with the session. 

Attendees will also receive a participant 

workbook, quit kit materials, and follow up 

support from a trained tobacco treatment 

specialist. Contact us today at 866-534- 

7909 or visit www.tobaccofreeflorida. 

com/groupquitcalendar to schedule a 

class or learn more about the program! 

References: 

1 Blaha, M. J. (2022, January 20). 5 vaping facts you 

need to know. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved 

August 5, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truthsyou-need-to-know-about-vaping#:~:text=2%3A%20 

Research%20suggests%20vaping%20is%20bad%20 

for%20your%20heart%20and%20lungs.&- 

text=It%20causes%20you%20to%20crave,of%20 

having%20a%20heart%20attack. 

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, 

June 23). Quick facts on the risks of e-cigarettes for 

kids, teens, and young adults. Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 5, 2022, 

from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_infor- 

mation/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of- 

E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults. 

html?s_cid=OSH_emg_GL0004&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_7KXBhCoARIsAPdPTfhcsghfeM1Nt942E9T9NEC5ZacheqTfaRJoU10p52M2wpiyEe8h- 

9pQaAqhPEALw_wcB#why-is-nicotine-unsafe 

How Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

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He is effective and lovely.” 

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good news department 

Safe Children Coalition awards scholarships to 

2023 Achievers 

Bishop Parker Foundation Awards $ 400,000 to 

Second Heart Homes 

Achievers program graduates Ariel (second from left) and Anastasia Samedi (far 

right) with mother Kanani (center), an Achievers PUSHY Parent Award recipient, and 

other family members. 

The Safe Children Coalition’s Achievers 

program recently honored graduates and 

awarded $31,800 in college scholarships 

to “Class of 2023” high school graduates 

as well as returning college students who 

were engaged with the program as teens 

and have continued their involvement 

through Zoom career cluster sessions and 

community service during the holidays. 

A total of 38 scholarships – 12 incoming 

freshmen and 26 continuing college students 

– were awarded. Contributing to 

this year’s program and scholarship funding 

were: the Harry Sudakoff Foundation, 

Bay First National Bank, the A. Jean Battie 

Scholarship, Marilyn & James Heskett 

Charitable Foundation, Tracy Ross Memorial 

Scholarship, and others. 

Addressing the guests were Kathleen 

Cowan, SCC’s VP of Child Welfare, and 

Chief Rex Troche of the Sarasota Police 

Department as well as several program 

alumni, who spoke about their Achievers 

experience and how it helped them to 

succeed in college. 

The Achievers program empowers atrisk, 

minority and other disadvantaged 

students to set and achieve goals in both 

their educational and personal lives, encouraging 

continuous growth in the areas 

of personal development, college preparation, 

community service and leadership, 

cultural enrichment, and career options. 

The program ultimately increases student 

participation in school programs, decreases 

school absenteeism and dropout 

rates, and prevents delinquent behavior. 

The program, which has served thousands 

of students in the community for 

over 30 years, is open to all middle and 

high school students in Sarasota County. 

Approximately 113 students participated 

in the Achievers program during the 2022- 

2023 school year. 

Neal Communities Supports Venice Main Street 

Neal Communities has donated 

$15,000 to Venice 

MainStreet to sponsor its 

Friday night concert series 

and marketing efforts. It 

is the second consecutive 

year that the homebuilder 

has supported the entertainment 

series in downtown 

Venice. 

For more than 35 years, 

Venice MainStreet has 

hosted special events like the Friday night 

concert series in the city of Venice’s historic 

downtown district. On the 2nd and 

4th Fridays of each month, free music performances 

take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

in Centennial Park. Last year, the concert 

series, which is open to the public, drew 

an attendance of 15,000. 

Last year, Neal Communities was the 

first corporate sponsor of the event and 

donated $15,000. This year’s sponsorship 

makes a total of $30,000 that the homebuilder 

has put toward the event. 

Venice MainStreet is an accredited Main 

Street organization through the Florida 

Main Street Program and Main Street 

America. Its mission is to preserve and enhance 

the character, beauty and economic 

vitality of historic downtown Venice. The 

organization achieves its goals through 

marketing, promotions, special events 

and historic preservation advocacy. 

For information about Venice Main- 

Street’s events, visit www.VisitVeniceFL.org. 

Adell Erozer, Executive Director of the Bishop Parker Foundation and Megan Howell, executive 

director and founder of Second Heart Homes 

The Bishop Parker Foundation recently 

authorized a $400,000 grant to Second 

Heart Homes, which provides housing, 

support services and love to homeless 

adults with mental-health challenges. 

The grant – the largest single gift to 

Second Heart Homes since its founding 

in 2019 – will be used to purchase a third 

home dedicated to taking homelessness 

people off the streets of Manatee County. 

An additional home will complement the 

organization’s six properties in Sarasota: 

All told, more than 50 homeless people 

will be off the streets. 

“We are so grateful, from the bottom 

of our hearts, for this generous gift from 

the Bishop Parker Foundation. It will help 

us make a true impact on homelessness 

in Manatee County,” said Megan Howell, 

executive director and founder of Second 

Heart Homes. 

Human services and health are among 

the Bishop Parker Foundation’s focus areas. 

During their years in Bradenton decades 

ago, Edward and Lillian Bishop, and 

Mary Parker, supported many institutions 

– and often individuals – responding to direct 

human needs, especially those dealing 

with hunger and homelessness. 

“Our Foundation has long recognized 

food insecurity, homelessness and lack of 

accessibility for mental health services as 

major challenges in our community. We are 

excited to partner with Second Heart Homes 

to address these complicated issues in our 

community,” said Adell Erozer, Executive Director 

of the Bishop Parker Foundation. 

For more information, visit Bishop- 

ParkerFoundation.org and Second- 

HeartHomes.org. 

Sarasota Memorial Recognized as Role Model 

for Best Practices and Life-Saving Care 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital received top 

awards from the American Heart Association 

(AHA) for providing life-saving care 

to patients experiencing heart and stroke 

emergencies. 

Part of its national “Get 

With The Guidelines” annual 

quality review, the AHA recognizes 

hospitals not only for 

following best practices, but 

for doing so consistently, year 

after year, ultimately leading 

to more lives saved, shorter 

recovery times and fewer readmissions 

to the hospital. 

James Fiorica, MD, chief 

medical officer of Sarasota 

Memorial Health Care System, 

credits the hospital’s superior performance 

and patient outcomes to the 

expertise of clinicians, as well as the 

commitment of hospital leaders to research-based, 

high-quality care. This year, 

Sarasota Memorial’s Sarasota and Venice 

campuses received awards with multiple 

honors for their dedication to best practices 

and life-saving care for cardiac arrest 

and stroke patients. 

continued on next page 


good news department continued 

Grants to All Faiths Food Bank support Mobile 

Pantry program 

Caldwell Trust Company Trustees Select Tidewell 

Foundation 

All Faiths Food Bank volunteer Arlene Hull loads a community member’s car with food 

during a mobile pantry. 

Recent grants are supporting All Faiths 

Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry program, 

which provides access to healthy foods 

to community members in Sarasota and 

DeSoto counties who are experiencing 

food insecurity. 

Two recent contributors to the food 

bank’s Mobile Pantry program are Ameriprise 

Financial, $5,000, and the Masala 

Giving Circle, $10,000 (for mobile pantries 

in Newtown). 

Mobile pantries provide community members 

with fresh produce, meats, and groceries 

at sites throughout the community, all 

year long. Some mobile pantries distribute 

pre-packed grocery boxes and others offer 

the opportunity to shop, farmers’ market-style, 

and choose what they want. 

“Through our Mobile Pantry program, 

and by working together with partner 

agencies and programs, we are able to 

meet people where they are and reach 

underserved populations,” said All Faiths 

Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank. For more 

about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

Hermitage Artist Retreat Receives Regional and 

National Grants 

Andy Sandberg, Hermitage 

Artistic Director and Chief 

Executive Officer 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has received 

several grants that will support 

the Hermitage’s mission and community 

programming. The Hermitage offers oneof-a-kind 

artistic programming with a focus 

on community impact, 

education, and social justice. 

The Hermitage provides 

artists the opportunity 

to create new works 

of art across all artistic 

disciplines. 

These artists give back to 

the community by presenting 

their works in progress 

to audiences throughout 

our region before they go 

on to national and international acclaim. 

The Hermitage welcomes nearly 100 of the 

world’s leading artists to Sarasota County 

each year. Their free community programming 

now includes over 50 events annually 

at locations throughout the Gulf Coast region. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation 

(GCCF) is continuing its support of the 

Hermitage with a $40,000 Arts Appreciation 

Grant in support of the Hermitage’s 

mission: to inspire and foster the most influential 

and culturally consequential art 

and artists of our time. 

The Hermitage became one of Gulf 

Coast’s “Arts Appreciation” grantees in 

2021, following multiple years of ongoing 

support and partnership. This grant 

was made possible through the Venice 

Endowment Fund, the Agnes Gnewikow 

Charitable Fund, and the Margaret Lehman 

Endowment Fund. 

An additional $15,000 in 

community program support 

came from The Exchange 

of Sarasota, which 

awarded a grant for “Hermitage 

North” programming 

and the Hermitage’s arts 

education initiative. Part of 

these funds were awarded 

through The Exchange’s 

new Elizabeth Lindsay Arts 

in Education grant program. 

Additional gifts of support include a 

grant for improvements designed to enhance 

artist facilities from the Frank E. 

Duckwall Foundation, a Capacity Building 

Grant from the Community Foundation of 

Sarasota County (CFSC) to support professional 

development, a grant from the 

Camilla & Earl McGrath Foundation toward 

the Hermitage’s nationally renowned artist 

residency program and free community 

programming, with continuing grants 

from the Amphion Foundation, Sustainable 

Arts Foundation, and Plantation 

Community Foundation to show support 

for special Hermitage programs in dance, 

music, family residencies, and more. 

Delesa Morris, M.S., CFRE, Interim President of Tidewell Foundation, stands between Caldwell 

Trust Company board members CEO/president R.G. “Kelly” Caldwell, Jr., Tom Stuhley, Giving 

Project Chair Mack Reid, and Marge Maisto. 

In its 30th year, Caldwell Trust Company, 

has selected the Tidewell Foundation 

as the recipient of the Trustee’s annual 

$5,000 donation. Tidewell Hospice provides 

comprehensive care and support to 

individuals and families facing advanced 

illnesses, grief, and loss. 

To date, Caldwell trustees have donated 

a total of $43,000 and have supported 

these local organizations: 

• Sarasota Military Academy, Cadet to Cadet 

Training, $3,000 (2015) 

• State College of Florida, BSN Nursing 

Scholarship, $5,000 (2016) 

• Take Stock in Children, Two-Year Florida 

Prepaid Scholarships, $5,000 (2017) 

• Children First, Inc., Families First Institute 

Grant, $5,000 (2018) 

• Take Stock in Children, Scholarships, 

$5,000 (2019) 

• All Faith’s Food Bank, Covid-19 Response 

Feeding Program (Boys & Girls 

Clubs, Girls Inc., and Children First), 

$5,000 (2020) 

• Easter Seals SW Florida, Inc., $5,000 

(75th Anniversary Gala, 2021) 

• Church of the Redeemer, Barnabas Aid, 

$5,000 (2022) 

• Tidewell Foundation, Children’s Grief 

Blue Butterfly Program, $5,000 (2023) 

The $5,000 donation from Caldwell Trust 

Company will be utilized by the Tidewell 

Foundation to expand the bereavement 

support programs, enabling them to 

reach more individuals and provide vital 

assistance during their most vulnerable 

moments. This contribution will further 

empower the foundation to continue 

making a meaningful difference in the 

lives of those they serve. 

Helping to Reduce the Digital Divide 

How do disadvantaged youth and low-income 

families compete without a computer 

or laptop in today’s world? According 

to Mark Sharff, a Guardian ad 

Litem volunteer in Manatee County and a 

member of the Sarasota Technology Users 

(STUG), it means that most are left behind, 

unable to easily access educational 

and career training opportunities. 

Sharff explains that’s why, in 2004, The 

Children’s Guardian Fund teamed up with 

the Sarasota Technology Users to collect 

and refurbish used computers and laptops. 

Since the launch of the STUG Refurb 

Project, 20,689 renovated digital devices 

have been donated to residents of Sarasota, 

Manatee, and DeSoto counties. 

The recipients include disadvantaged 

school children, low-income adults and 

seniors, individuals in recovery programs, 

veterans and others trying to emerge 

from homelessness. In 2013, the program 

was expanded to provide computers directly 

to students in the Sarasota County 

Bill Crowe and Mike Hutchinson with the 

Sarasota Technology Users Group. 

Photo courtesy of STUG 

school system. 

The group partners with more than 25 

regional nonprofits to assist in distribution, 

including The Children’s Guardian 

Fund, Goodwill, Women’s Resource Center, 

Career Source, SPARCC, Take Stock in Children, 

Janie Poe, Literacy Center, and dozens 

of other area charities. 


you’re news 

Accolades 

■ Carey Beychok of RE/MAX 

Alliance Group was recently recognized 

in the 

2023 “America’s 

Best 

Real Estate 

Professionals” 

rankings 

by Real- 

Trends 

+ Tom 

Ferry. That 

Carey Beychok 

places her 

among the 

top 1.5% of 1.6 million real estate 

professionals in the United States. 

Beychok generated more than $23 

million in sales in 2022. 

To qualify for the “America’s Best 

Real Estate Professionals” list, individual 

agents must have completed 

at least 50 transactions or closed 

$20 million in sales volume during 

the year. 

A lifelong resident of Southwest 

Florida, Beychok’s entire career has 

been in the real estate industry, first 

as a new home sales representative 

for several area builders, and now 

as a Broker-Associate with RE/MAX 

Alliance Group after running her own 

brokerage firm for many years. Her 

family has been building and developing 

real estate locally since 1946. 

Beychok is a Certified Luxury 

Home Marketing Specialist 

(CLHMS) and has earned the Certified 

New Home Specialist (CNHS) 

and Residential Construction 

Certified (RCC) designations. She is 

based in the Sarasota office at 2000 

Webber Street. 

Board News 

■ ArtCenter Manatee has announced 

the election of three new 

board members. Jan Pullen, former 

Head of School at St. Stephens in 

Bradenton. Jan is an accomplished 

and respected administrator and 

educator. She served at St Stephens 

for 35 years before retiring in 2023. 

Jan is a sustaining member of Service 

Club of Manatee County. 

Joining Jan is Carol Bintz. Carol 

is a retired COO of the Toledo 

Museum of Art where she held 

executive positions for 25 years. The 

Ohio Museum Association voted 

Carol Professional of the Year for 

her leadership and service. Carol is 

also a member of Bradenton Rotary. 

Andrew Gerth joins Jan and 

Carol on the Board. Andrew is a 

financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. 

Andrew follows the Merrill tradition 

of participating in the communities 

they serve. 

Other members include: Rob Moran, 

President; Christine Meyer, 1st 

Vice President; Bruce Body, Treasurer; 

Carol Krah, Secretary; Roberto 

Andreos, Member-at large; James 

Brandys; Ted Camp; Linda Enberg; 

Mary Hoagland; Donna Morrison; 

Daryl Shepherd; Kathy Simon-Mc- 

Donald; and Jacquelyn Taylor. 

For more information visit www. 

artcentermanatee.org 

Laura Spencer 

■ William G. and Marie Selby 

Foundation has elected Laura 

Spencer as its newest board member 

of the private 

foundation. 

Spencer 

retired in 2022 

after a career 

spanning 

almost 40 

years and is 

known for her 

business acumen, 

financial 

expertise, 

thoughtful focus on problem solving, 

and knowledge of our community 

and foundations. 

Most recently, Spencer was the 

Chief Financial and Administrative 

Officer for the Community Foundation 

of Sarasota County for 10 years. 

She began her career with 

Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in Tampa, 

followed by nine years at Kerkering, 

Barberio & Co. CPA’s before joining 

Tervis Tumbler Company in 1997. 

She spent 14 years at Tervis, where 

she held several key leadership 

roles during a significant period of 

growth in the organization, including 

the role of President and Chief 

Executive Officer from 2006-2010. 

Spencer joins current board 

members Barbara Zdravecky, Keith 

DuBose, Susan Hines, Carolyn 

Johnson and Tom Tryon. Susie 

Bowie is President and Chief Executive 

Officer. Visit SelbyFdn.org to 

learn more. 

■ The Board of Trustees of Selby 

Gardens has elected Dr. Joel 

Morganroth as Chair and Teri A 

Hansen as Vice Chair for its 2024 

fiscal year. The 

Selby Gardens 

Board also 

elected Bruce 

E. Sorensen, 

a managing 

director with 

financial-services 

firm 

Baird, to a 

Teri A Hansen 

three-year 

term as a trustee, 

and it reelected seven members 

to new three-year terms. 

Morganroth is an academic cardiologist 

who last year served as Vice 

Chair of Selby Gardens and chaired 

the Board’s Finance Committee. 

Hansen is president and CEO 

of Charles & Margery Barancik 

Foundation, a private foundation 

in Sarasota. She has more than 30 

years of experience in philanthropic 

leadership, including previous roles 

as president and CEO of Gulf Coast 

Community Foundation. Hansen 

chaired the Selby Gardens Advisory 

Committee for the past several years. 

New Selby Gardens trustee 

Sorensen is managing director of 

Baird’s public finance group. He has 

over 30 years of industry experience, 

including expertise in local 

government, economic development, 

and charter school finance. 

He previously served on Selby 

Gardens’ Advisory Committee. 

The Selby Gardens Board also 

reelected Jean Weidner Goldstein, 

Katherine Martucci, and Margaret 

Wise to their third three-year terms 

as trustees and Daniel “Pat” Ball, 

Keith Monda, Mike Quillen, and 

Jeannie Russell to their second 

three-year terms. The other members 

of the Selby Gardens Board 

of Trustees are Aaron Bellamy, Morgan 

Bentley, Mary Braxton-Jospeh, 

Ariane Dart, Norbert P. Donelly, 

Renée James Gilmore, Marcy 

Klein, Cornelia Matson, Marianne 

McComb, Audrey Robbins, Pauline 

L. Wamsler, and President & CEO 

Jennifer O. Rominiecki. 

■ The Hermitage Artist Retreat 

has announced that Carole 

Crosby has been elected President 

of the Hermitage Board of Trustees 

after four years as a member 

and two seasons as Chair of the 

Hermitage Governance Committee. 

Crosby succeeds Robyn Citrin, 

who concludes her two-year term 

as President and will remain on 

the Hermitage Board. Both Crosby 

and Citrin became trustees in 

the same season Andy Sandberg 

was hired as Artistic Director and 

CEO. The Hermitage also this year 

welcomes Terry Brackett as a new 

member of the Board of Trustees. 

■ Aviva Senior Living, a not-forprofit 

senior rental residential community 

located in The Meadows 

of Sarasota, has welcomed Patrick 

Mulva and Meredith Dropkin to its 

Board of Trustees. 

Originally 

from Wisconsin, 

Patrick 

Mulva served 

as an executive 

at ExxonMobil, 

including his 

most recent 

role as Vice 

Meredith Dropkin 

President, 

Controller 

and Officer of the Corporation, for 

nearly 38 years. 

With an undergraduate degree 

from the University of Notre Dame 

and a Master of Business from the 

University of Texas-San Antonio, 

Mulva brings with him decades of 

business knowledge and strategy. 

In addition to his professional work, 

he is an avid supporter of not-forprofits, 

having served on the boards 

of the Toronto United Way, Dallas 

United Way, Washington’s Institute 

of Flight, the Edmonds Center for 

the Arts and most recently serving 

as a Board Trustee for Florida 

Studio Theatre. After retiring from 

ExxonMobile in 2014, Mulva spent 

time in Washington state before 

relocating to Sarasota in 2018. 

Joining Mulva on Aviva’s Board of 

Trustees is Meredith Dropkin, Director 

of Public Relations at Sarasota-based 

marketing firm Grapevine 

Communications. Dropkin graduated 

from Syracuse University, where 

she studied marketing and public 

relations. Her early career was spent 

as a reporter for Sports Illustrated 

before she transitioned into communications. 

As a public relations 

expert, Dropkin has helped companies 

and organizations achieve 

record-breaking profits and secure 

national and local press coverage. 

With their addition, Aviva’s Board 

grows to 15 individuals and the 

community’s President & CEO, Jay 

Solomon. For more information 

visit www.avivaseniorlife.org. 

■ Hershorin Schiff Community 

Day School – a Jewish day school 

that serves children of all faiths in 

preschool through eighth grade – 

has announced its 2023-2024 board 

of trustees. President of the Board 

is Rachel Saltzberg, Vice President 

is Barbara Rodkin, Melissa 

Walsh is Treasurer, and Robert 

Landman is Secretary. 

New to the board this year 

are Colleen Blumenthal, MAI, Benjamin 

Edelman, 

Nikhil 

“Nik” Joshi, 

Esq. and 

(returning 

member) Dr. 

Wendy Katz. 

They join 

continuing 

trustees Lori 

Colleen Blumenthal 

Dorman, 

Esq., Gregory 

Farrington, Ph.D., Lillian 

Lincoln Lambert, Rabbi Michael 

Shefrin, Rick Siegel and Fred 

Starling. Richard Hershorin is a 

Lifetime Member; with the recent 

and untimely death of former board 

President Mitch Blumenthal, the 

board granted him Lifetime Member 

status posthumously. 

In the wake of Blumenthal’s passing, 

longtime CDS leader Rachel 

Saltzberg has returned to the role of 

President of the Board. Saltzberg has 

been involved with the school since 

arriving in Sarasota in 2004 with her 

husband and newborn daughter. 

Colleen Blumenthal, MAI, who 

has been appraising real estate and 

consulting owners and investors for 

over 30 years, specializing in seniors 

housing and healthcare since 1992. 

In addition to her duties as Chief 

Operating Officer of HealthTrust, 

she has served as the task force lead 

on the American Seniors Housing 

Association’s State of Seniors Housing 

for the last 15 years. 

Benjamin Edelman is a newscast 

producer at WWSB ABC7 News in 

Sarasota, where he produces the 5 

p.m. show. He’s a Sarasota native 

who graduated from Community 

Day School in 2011. In 2020, he 

directed the horror/comedy feature 

film “Santastein,” which is currently 

gearing up for a 2023 festival 

run. Edelman can also be seen on 

ABC7’s morning lifestyle show, 

“Suncoast View,” every month for 

his movie review segments. 

Nikhil “Nik” Joshi, Esq. is a 

Florida Bar, Board Certified as a 

specialist in Labor and Employment 

Law. Practicing since 1997, he has 

over two decades of experience representing 

employers and business 

owners, and takes pride in providing 

thoughtful, pragmatic advice 

and counsel to his clients. 

Returning to the board is Dr. 

Wendy Katz, B.S., M.A., ED.S, Ed.D. 

For more than 40 years, Katz has 

served as a teacher, principal, mentor 

and administrator at the K-12 

level in the public school system in 

Sarasota County as well as serving 

as a consultant to multiple independent 

schools from pre-K-12. 

For more about Community Day 

School, visit communityday.org or 

call 941-552-2770. 

■ Child welfare agency Safe 

Children Coalition has announced 

its 2023-2024 board of directors. 

Brian D. Goodrich is the new 

chair of the board, Lee Lipton is 

vice chair and Tony Gamelin is 

treasurer. New directors are Arlene 

Buckmaster and Rob Goldstein; 

(From l-r) New Safe Children Coalition 

chair of the board Brian D. Goodrich 

with new directors Arlene Buckmaster 

and Rob Goldstein 

they join continuing directors Ken 

Alexander, Jamara Clark, David 

Fairey, Ann Marie Jones, and Michael 

Rahn (immediate past chair). 

Brian D. Goodrich is an attorney 

and shareholder at Bentley Goodrich 

Kison, P.A., a commercial litigation 

law firm located in Sarasota. 

Arlene Buckmaster is a real estate 

professional with HouseMax Realty. 

She serves in her community as a 

sustaining member of the Junior 

League. Rob Goldstein is the former 

Chief Executive Officer of Menorah 

Life in St. Petersburg, Fla. Recently 

retired, he spent the past 24 years 

directing operations, managing a 

major expansion, and developing 

new programs and services for the 

Jewish-sponsored senior living 

community.For more information, 

visit sccfl.org. 

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dining in 

September is Mushroom Month 

F Lion’s Mane Mushroom “Crab” Cakes 

Lion’s mane mushrooms are 

large, white, shaggy 

mushrooms that resemble 

a lion's mane as they grow. 

INGREDIENTS: 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Shred the Lion’s Mane mushroom to resemble lump crab meat. Transfer them to a large 

skillet with 2 tablespoons of water and pinch of salt. 

Cook the mushrooms over medium heat, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes 

until all the water from the mushrooms has released. Set aside and allow the mushrooms 

to cool. 

In a large bowl, add mayo, Dijon mustard, egg, Worcestershire sauce, onions, parsley, 

Old Bay seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined. Set aside. 

Once the Lion’s Mane has cooled, strain/squeeze out any excess moisture from the 

mushrooms. This will help avoid any soggy crab cakes. 

Fold the mushrooms into the mixture until well combined. Stir in the panko breadcrumbs 

then form the mixture into 4 patties that are 1/2-inch thick. Set aside. 

In a large skillet, heat olive oil at medium heat. Pan fry the patties for 3 minutes on 

each side until golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce. Garnish with 

chopped parsley. 

INGREDIENTS: 

2 tablespoons vegan 

butter 

3/4 cup walnuts, 

toasted and finely 

chopped 

1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs 

2 tablespoons minced shallots 

1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Lion’s Mane Mushroom “Crab” Cakes T 

Yield: 4 patties 

8 ounces Lion’s Mane mushroom 

2 tablespoons mayo 

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 

1 large egg 

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 

1/4 cup diced sweet onions 

1 tablespoon finely chopped 

fresh parsley plus more for 

garnish 

1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay 

seasoning 

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 

Salt and pepper to taste 

1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs 

2 tablespoons olive oil for pan 

frying 

Lemon wedges and tartar sauce 

for serving 

Cremini mushrooms 

are wonderful to use 

in pastas, soups, casseroles, 

risottos, omelets, 

quesadillas, tacos, tarts, 

bruschettas and salads, as 

well as for making sauces 

and gravies. 

F Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms 

Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms T 

Go beyond the Basic Button 

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley 

Salt and pepper to taste 

12 large cremini mushrooms, 

cleaned, stems removed 

Olive oil for drizzling 

Preheat the oven at 375ºF. Place the mushrooms on a baking sheet. Set aside. 

In a skillet, melt the butter at medium heat. Add the toasted and chopped walnuts, 

panko bread crumbs, minced shallots, spices, salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes. 

Evenly spoon the filling into each mushroom (about 1-2 teaspoons each). Drizzle extra 

olive oil on top of the stuffed mushrooms. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the mushrooms 

are cooked and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm. 

F Chorizo and Mushroom Blended Burgers 

Combine Mexican chorizo, 

beef and mushrooms for an 

umami-packed burger. 

INGREDIENTS: 

8 ounces crimini mushrooms, 

finely chopped 

1 lb ground beef 

4 ounces Mexican chorizo, 

casing removed 

1 teaspoon smoked paprika 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili 

powder 

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 

Salt + pepper to taste 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

4 hamburger buns 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

In a large bowl, add finely chopped crimini mushrooms, beef, chorizo, paprika, garlic 

powder, chipotle chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix together until well combined. 

Form into 5 patties. 

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook blended burger patties approximately 

2-3 minutes per side, or to your preferred level of doneness. 

Remove blended burger patties from heat and toast buns in the same skillet. Assemble 

blended burgers with your favorite toppings. 

Here’s a creative twist 

with these vegetarian 

“scallops” made from 

trumpet mushrooms. 

The mushroom scallops 

are browned and cooked 

until tender. Then drizzle 

of nutty, caramelized 

brown butter and vibrant 

thyme. 

Yield: 4 servings, 

3 scallops each 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Yield: 5 burgers 

F Trumpet Mushroom Scallops w/ Brown Butter & Thyme 

Trumpet Mushroom Scallops w/ Brown Butter & Thyme T 

INGREDIENTS: 

Chorizo and Mushroom Blended Burgers T 

5 tablespoons unsalted 

butter 

16 ounces trumpet mushrooms 

4 sprigs of thyme, plus extra for garnish 

To make the brown butter, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium 

heat. Swirl the butter in the pan as it begins to foam and continue to cook about 2 

to 3 minutes. When brown specks start to appear in the butter remove it from the heat 

and set aside. 

Slice the mushroom into 1-inch thick rounds, for 12 total mushroom scallops. 

Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high 

heat. Add the thyme sprigs and stir them around the flavor the butter. 

Add the mushroom scallops. Spoon half of the brown butter over the scallops and cook 

3 to 5 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown. Flip and spoon the remaining 

brown butter over the top of each. Cook 3 to 5 more minutes, until tender. 

Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme leaves before serving. 

Optional toppings: Mexican crema, 

guacamole, queso fresco, sliced 

red onions, cilantro leaves, sliced 

jalapeños 

Fine sea salt 

Ground black pepper 

Mushroom Myths Versus Facts 

• You should throw out the stems 

when preparing mushrooms. 

Let’s clear the air on this one. You 

should be SAVING your stems and using 

them for stocks or sautéing them 

with the rest of the mushroom. 

• Mushrooms aren’t substantial 

enough to be healthy. 

FALSE. Mushrooms are full of vitamins 

and minerals, such as selenium, potassium, 

and niacin. 

• You should only cook mushrooms on 

low heat. 

Don’t be afraid to crank up the heat 

next time you cook with mushrooms. 

A higher heat will result in savory, 

golden brown mushrooms. 

Source: www.mushroomcouncil.com 


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“Mello on the Beach is thoroughly modern, 

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feature 

Heard Opera House Recovers as 

ARCADIA LANDMARK 

More than a century old, it serves as a resilient reminder of town’s history 

Major repairs have been 

completed, and the Heard 

has been restored 

to its original form. 

The two windows in the main room of the 

opera house are being filled in 

to prevent future 

hurricane damage. 

The Heard takes up half of the 

100 block on W Oak St. 

Krissy Constantino (left) 

and Danny Mastrodonato 

stand at the bottom 

of the Heard’s steps. 

The antique shops lining 

the streets of Arcadia’s 

town center attract their 

share of visitors, but a 

short walk up a flight of 

stairs to the Heard Opera House is 

the fastest way to a trip back in time. 

The Heard, recently restored to its 

early 20th century glory and repaired 

after damage done by Hurricane Ian, 

stands again as a symbol of resiliency 

in this DeSoto County town 45 

minutes east from coastal Manatee 

and Sarasota. 

The Heard, built in 1906 by J.J. Heard 

originally with a bank on the ground 

floor and theater space upstairs, has a 

history of leading Arcadia back from disaster. 

A fire swept through the downtown 

a year before the Heard opened, 

leveling virtually every building. 

Ever since, such diverse tenants as a 

theater, an antique shop, a dentist, 

the tax collector and others have 

done business in the Heard, which 

occupies half of the 100 block of West 

Oak Street in the historic district. 

A music school occupies space there 

now, along with an event planner 

and more. An instrument shop and 

screen printing business also reside 

in the site Trip Advisor calls DeSoto’s 

No. 1 visitor attraction. 

Danny Mastrodonato, the building’s 

42-year-old live-in caretaker who occupies 

an apartment below the Heard 

with his family, said history is repeating 

as the Opera House returns to its 

glory and its place as a gathering spot 

in DeSoto County’s biggest town. 

“The whole entire town started here 

again,” he said. “After the hurricane, 

we got damaged really bad. A lot of 

people did, so we had to do the same 

thing. We had to become the central 

place again.” 

Principally, Ian’s winds blew in the 

two windows in the main theater 

space. The pressure, once inside, 

crumbled a wall, sending cement 

blocks smashing through the floor 

and surrounding walls. 

“The back wall of the stage fell and 

crushed our apartment,” Mastrodonato 

said. “We lost our apartment. 

We lost our business. We lost our 

building all in a few hours.” 

Mastrodonato almost lost his family, 

too. He said his wife, 41-year-old Krissy 

Constantino, had a last-minute 

notion to evacuate, likely saving their 

lives. Constantino owns the on-site 

music school and works as the building’s 

second caretaker. The damage 

sustained in the storm was so severe 

that the building was condemned for 

two months. After working with city 

officials to create a list of necessary repairs, 

the building has reopened and 

restoration work has been completed. 

All repairs were paid for out of pocket 

and with the help of local donations, 

according to Mastrodonato. Because 

the building is owned outright, no 

federal or state assistance was available 

for repairs, he said. 

The owner, Marginy, Inc., which is run 

by 80-year-old Jean Vavrovsky, has 

had to pay upwards of $920,000 so far 

to rebuild. With these repairs, the decision 

was made to restore the building 

to as close to original as possible, 

including keeping 117-year-old ceiling 

tiles and wood floors. They are even 

able to use wood sourced from the 

same forest used in the original 1906 

construction. The building and the 

land have an assessed value of about 

$258,600, according to the DeSoto 

County Property Appraiser. 

But the value to the community is far 

greater, said City Administrator Terry 

Stewart. “Most communities work 

very hard to take care of the basics, 

you know, water, sewer, trash pickup, 

you know, keep your roads in good 

shape, open, things of that nature,” 

Stewart said. “But when a community 

gets to the point that they can begin 

investing or people are investing 

in bringing things like arts and cultural 

activities to a community, that’s 

one of the things that truly adds to 

the quality of life.” 

To ensure the Heard remains a lasting 

investment, the two windows that 

were blown out during the storm were 

not replaced, as an engineer suggested 

this would be best for structural integrity. 

As all major repairs have been 

completed, Mastrodonato wants people 

to know that the doors are open, 

and business is in full swing. 

Visitors can enjoy various activities, 

and new ideas are always welcome. 

Wednesday nights are band nights, 

with dozens of people coming together 

to enjoy and play music. People can 

play pool, record a podcast, learn to 

play an instrument or just hang out in 

the space, according to Mastrodonato. 

“Come up these stairs and it’s going 

to change your life,” Mastrodonato 

said, leading the way from the street 

level to the space once popular with 

local performers until Hurricane Donna 

ripped off the roof in 1960. “Everyone’s 

welcome up here.” 

Life returned to the opera house in 

1989 when it was made into an antique 

store that doubled as a museum. 

In 2021, Mastrodonato and his 

wife, started a petition to return the 

opera house to its original use. The 

petition garnered over 1,000 signatures 

and was presented to Vavrovsky, 

at which time he agreed to turn the 

space into a community center. 

To keep up with the opera house’s 

most recent happenings, follow 

them on Facebook at https://www. 

facebook.com/OperaHouseArcadia/. 

The opera house is open Monday 

through Saturday and located at 106 

W Oak St. 

SOURCE: This story is courtesy of the 

Community News Collaborative, made 

possible by a grant from Charles & 

Margery Barancik Foundation. Written 

By Sarah Owens, Community News 

Collaborative. You can reach Sarah 

Owens at slowens@cncfl.org 


healthier you 

Dr. Cifra 

Receives Prestigious 

Back Pain Treatment Award 

Local doctor Dr. David 

Cifra was recently recognized 

by the International 

Medical Advisory 

Board on Spinal Decompression. 

This advanced training and presentation 

took place at the National 

Spinal Disc Disorders training 

facilities in North Palm Beach, 

Florida. The certification was 

presented by the Co-Chairman of 

the International Medical Advisory 

Board on Spinal Decompression 

(I.M.A.B.S.D.), Dr. Eric Kaplan. 

Dr. Kaplan is one of the leading 

experts in the field of Spinal Disc 

Disorders & is the creator & lead 

instructor of the only university 

based certification program known 

as the National Spinal Decompression 

Certification program held 

annually in Dallas, Texas. 

The International Medical Advisory 

Board on Spinal Decompression 

is constituted by 10 Medical 

Physicians & 10 Chiropractic 

Doctors, including Orthopedic 

Surgeons, Neurosurgeons & Neuroradiologists 

who have obtained 

NATIONAL Non-Surgical Spinal 

Decompression University based 

certification and have demonstrated 

an exemplary level of excellence 

in the diagnosis and treatment of 

Spinal Disc Disorders. 

This advanced certification is 

provided in conjunction with DISC 

Centers of America which sets 

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options for the alleviation & 

treatment of Spinal Disc Disorders 

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neck pain, sciatica, numbness, 

tingling, pins & needles & more. 

Dr. David Cifra continues to 

provide the latest & most cost-effective 

options for the treatment of 

Spinal Disc Disorders. His facilities 

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Dr. David Cifra is committed to 

providing 1st class care to patients 

who often travel from long distances 

to seek out a Doctor who has 

made a commitment to help his 

patients avoid narcotics, epidural 

injections & unnecessary surgeries. 

Non-surgical Spinal Decompression 

provides safe, gentle & 

effective relief for upwards of 90% 

of patients that qualify for care. 

——————————————— 

Dr. David Cifra is located at: 

1215 S. East Ave., Suite 210, Sarasota, 

FL 34239. His Office number is: 

941-358-2224 (Mobile: 315-345- 

7390) and his website is: 

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com. 

He is presently accepting NEW 

PATIENTS on a limited basis and if 

you contact the office within the 

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can bring about remarkable 

improvements in many 

aspects of life. Due to the 

sensitive nature of hormone 

balancing, it is imperative 

that you work in partnership 

with an experienced 

provider and program. 

Reasons to Participate in Bio-identical Hormone Balancing 

• Restoring mental and physical balance 

• Enhancing athletic performance 

• Gaining control over emotions 

• Reducing anxiety and depression 

• Improving relationships 

• Losing and managing weight 

• Normalizing sleep/wake cycles 

• Increasing energy and focus 

• Boosting intimacy and sexuality 

• Improving bone strength and joint health 

Call today 941.926.4905 

Dan Watts, MD, ND, MSMN 

Board Certification: 

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 

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

Strength and 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 

Deb Spinner, APRN, MS, NP-C 

Board Certified Advanced 

Registered Nurse Practitioner 

Specialties Include: 

Gynecology 

Bio-identical Hormone Balancing 

Metabolic Weight Loss 

IV Therapy 

Family Medicine

wcw SEPT 2023

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