wcw AUGUST 2023

AUGUST 2023 

Also in this issue: 

■ Arts: Sarasota’s 

Free Little Art 

Gallery 

■ Good News Dept. 

■ Travel: US Botanic 

Garden in DC 

■ Health: 

Stay Hydrated

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2 WEST COAST WOMAN AUGUST 2023

AUGUST 2023 

contents 

EARS 

Editor and Publisher 

Louise M. Bruderle 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Contributing Writer 

Carol Darling 

Contributing Photographer 

Evelyn England 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Kimberly Carmell 

Assistant to the Publisher 

Mimi Gato 

West Coast Woman is published 

monthly (12 times annually) by 

LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, 

President. All contents of this 

publication are copyrighted and 

may not be reproduced. No part 

may be reproduced without the 

written permission of the publisher. 

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 

and artwork are welcome, but return 

cannot be guaranteed. 

HOW TO REACH US: 


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 

WCW 

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YEARS 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 

west coast 

WOMAN 

dining in 

Foods that Start with “C” as in Cappuccino 

Cheesecake, Cajun Stuffed Pasta Shells 

with Creole Sauce, Cornmeal Crackers and 

Cremini Mushrooms with Cashew Cream 

Sauce over Linguini. Cheers! 

p27 

Women’s 

Equality Day 

is on 

August 26 

focus on the arts 

Sarasota’s Free Little Art Gallery reopens its 

tiny doors under new management. Launched 

as a community project during the COVID-19 

pandemic, the artist’s project moved to a new 

location with the same goal. 

p13 

travel feature: 

a blooming attraction 

Check out the US Botanic Garden, 

Washington, DC, an oasis of beauty 

and serenity in the nation’s capitol. 

p28 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

7 Out & About: listings for things to do 

13 focus on the arts: Sarasota’s 

Free Little Art Gallery reopens 

15 all about craniosacral therapy 

16 west coast woman: 

Artist Linda Richichi 

18 good news in our community 

20 travel: US Botanic Garden in DC 

22 staying healthy: Stay Hydrated 

24 you’re news 

27 dining in: Foods that Start with “C” 

29 it’s personal: Blobfest 

30 happening this month: 

Women’s Equality Day 

August 26 

■ on the cover: Artist Linda Richichi. 

■ Image: Louise Bruderle 

AUGUST 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

She’s a working artist and an art instructor. Linda’s 

paintings are collected by many across the U.S. 

and beyond and she has won many awards for her 

creative efforts. 

This profile of Linda should be of great interest 

to WCW readers since it’s predominantly women 

who attend Linda’s online, in studio and on location 

classes. 

What sounds like sheer bliss are her art trips. 

Linda had one this summer to Provence in France. 

Linda Richichi They paint, then critique after dinner in the evening 

Photo: Louise Bruderle - maybe over wine? 

Her artist statement says, “For me, painting is 

a pilgrimage – a journey into the soul and the mystery of creation. 

Through color, lines and brushstrokes I portray the essence of my subjects 

at their highest moments. Each color, line and shape is carefully 

curated to take the viewer on a joyous journey. 

“Whether I am painting on a sun-drenched beach in Florida or Maui, 

in the Hudson Valley, near Italian castles or French chateaus, my plein 

air paintings capture the spirit of nature at their most inspiring times.” 

Virginia Haley 

Nancy’s BBQ has Returned to Sarasota! 

Nancy Krohngold, owner of Nancy’s Bar-B-Q, “downtown’s original and 

only BBQ joint, has left Lakewood Ranch and returned home to downtown 

Sarasota,” according to her Facebook page. 

She writes, “Nearly three years 

after our original downtown 

store shuttered at the end of its 

lease and in the midst of COVID, 

Sarasotans still clamor for us to 

reopen downtown and so we are.” 

Her Lorraine Corners Lakewood 

Ranch store closed July 

8. Her new location will be one 

well-known to Sarasota dining 

out fans: Nancy’s Bar-B-Q will be next to where the Blue Rooster used 

to be and is now Food+Beer. Her new address is 1525 4th Street, in the 

Rosemary District, across from Station 400 Sarasota. 

As many of you know, 13 years ago Nancy’s Bar-B-Q was a “stealth” 

pop-up cart at a different venue every Friday at lunchtime. At her new 

location they’re open from 11a.m. seven days a week with her full menu 

of smoked meats, salmon, wings, appetizers, loads of sides plus a full bar. 

WCW profiled Nancy when she was at her last Sarasota location near 

Burns Court on Pineapple Ave. in downtown Sarasota. Details: nancysbarbq.com. 

Erin M. Duggan 

West Coast Woman 

Linda Richichi 

Virginia Haley Has Time to Travel now 

Happy retirement to Visit Sarasota County (VSC) President 

Virginia Haley who started with the organization in 

1999. Visit Sarasota County markets our region to tourists 

and visitors from around Florida, the country and the 

world. 

Virginia completes her 24-year tenure in September. 

And her hard work can be seen in the growth in tourism 

in Sarasota County — one of the fastest-growing tourism 

markets in the U.S. 

Stepping into her shoes is Erin M. Duggan whom the Visit 

Sarasota County Board of Directors voted to appoint. Erin 

is currently VSC’s Vice President. She’s been with VSC 

since 2005, serving first as Public Relations Manager then 

Brand Director and most recently as Vice President since 

2016. 

VSC is a great resource for anything related to travel 

in our area. If you prefer to talk to a visitor information 

specialist, call or text 941-706-1253 or visit their downtown 

Sarasota Visitor Center located at 1945 Fruitville Rd., 

Sarasota. Info: www.visitsarasota.com 

Worth Noting: 

Women’s Equality Day is Aug. 26 

The continuous struggle for 

women’s participation and 

equality in all spheres of life and 

society is observed on Women’s 

Equality Day on August 26. 


commemorates the passage of 

women’s suffrage in the U.S. 

and reminds us of the hurdles 

overcome by the heroic women 

who faced violence and discrimination 

to propel the women’s movement forward. 

In the early 19th century, American women, who generally couldn’t 

inherit property and made half of a man’s wages in any available jobs, 

began organizing to demand political rights and representation. 

By the early 1900s, several countries including Finland, New Zealand, 

and the United Kingdom had legalized voting for women as the movement 

continued to sweep across the world. 

In the U.S., the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was first introduced 

in 1878, but it failed to gain traction. It wasn’t until women’s 

involvement in the World War I effort made their contributions painfully 

obvious that women’s suffrage finally gained enough support. Women’s 

rights groups pointed out the hypocrisy of fighting for democracy in 

Europe while denying it to half of the American citizens at home. 

In the U.S., decisions about who could vote were left up to the states. 

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, ensures voting rights for everyone 

regardless of gender. Today, Women’s Equality Day celebrates the 

achievements of women’s rights activists and reminds us of the unique 

daily struggles that women face, and in this case, overcame. 

Women’s Equality day was first celebrated in 1971, designated by Congress 

in 1973, and is proclaimed each year by the United States President. 

In every U.S. presidential election dating back to 1984, women reported 

having turned out to vote at slightly higher rates than men, according to 

the Census Bureau. 

Blobfest, Phoenixville, PA 

It’s personal in a full circle kind of way. Many years 

ago I would often go to Saturday matinee movies in 

my hometown of Havertown, PA. One weekend back 

in the ‘60s the featured movie was “The Blob” - an 

amateurish, borderline campy movie made in 1958 

about a “carnivorous amoeboidal alien that crashes 

to Earth from outer space inside a meteorite, 

landing near the small communities of Phoenixville 

and Downingtown, Pennsylvania.” 

Fast forward and there I was at the Colonial Theatre 

in Phoenixville this past July 14, experiencing 

the movie again, but this time as a volunteer as 

compared to the last time when I ran out of the 

movie theatre. Find my recollections in this month’s issue. 

Coming Up in West Coast Woman 

The heat will eventually let up. Hurricane season will end, also 

eventually. We’ll one day be able to step outside and stand in our yards 

and not melt. For now, we’re inside working and putting together another 

great season of special issues, interesting content and beautifully 

designed issues for you to enjoy in print and online. 

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 

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 Saturday, October 

28 from 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. 

▼ 

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. 

▼ 

Hard Heart 

Burlesque 

Hard Heart Burlesque is 

at McCurdy’s in downtown Sarasota. 

Step back in time for Hard Heart 

Burlesque when they do the “Time 

Machine” on August 20. Presented 

by Florida burlesque favorites 

Marina Elaine and Karma Kandlewick. 

They’ll pay tribute to the past, 

present, and future in an evening of 

song, dance, striptease, and variety 

through the decades. Tickets: www. 

mccurdyscomedy.com 

▼ 

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: August 5, 12, 19 and 

26. Location: The Bay Park- Kayak 

Launch, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, 

Sarasota. Reservations: www.thebaysarasota.org/. 

▼ 

American 

Jewish 

Committee 

(AJC) Lecture 

Series 

August 23—Belle Yoeliu, 

AJC Chief Advocacy 

Officer. The State of Jewish 

Affairs: Around the World 

with AJC. 

There is never a dull moment 

for the Jewish people 

and the State of Israel. Join 

them for an in-depth conversation 

as they tackle 

some of the most challenging 

current events and how 

they are impacting our 

community. 

Advance reservations 

required. To RSVP, call 

AJC at 941-365-4955 or 

email sarasota@ajc.org. 

Held at Michael’s On East, 

Sarasota. $39 per lecture includes 

luncheon. 

▼ 

Get to Know 

Southface 

Sarasota 

Southface has a Green 

Drinks Meetup on Aug. 17, 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 lineup of bands this year 

includes: 

• August 11: TEN76 

• September 22: 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. 

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- 

▼ 

Island Gallery and Studios, 456 Old Main Street, 

Bradenton, has paintings by Jim Wheeler, August 1-31. 

Wezel.org or through the box office. 

Tickets: www.VanWezel.org 

Tree Care 

Workshop 

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee 

County’s Residential Horticulture 

Program is hosting a community 

and HOA focused workshop at Palma 

Sola Botanical Park on August 22. The 

workshop begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs 

until noon. 

Participants will learn about proper 

tree maintenance, developing contracts 

for tree management, the importance 

of long-term tree care in communities 

and can engage with representatives 

from the Manatee County Neighborhood 

Services team and professional 

arborists in a panel discussion. 

This workshop is ideally suited for 

those in leadership positions within 

their community who are responsible 

for community-level landscape 

decisions. 

For more information, the agenda, 

and to register, go to: www. 

eventbrite.com. 

▼ 

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. 

Bradenton Public Market 

runs to August 26, 9 

am to 2 pm on Old Main 

Street and 3rd Ave. West in 

Bradenton. The Market was 

founded in 1979 in a downtown 

Bradenton parking 

lot. Over the past 44 years, 

the Market has grown and 

evolved to fill Old Main 

Street with produce, local 

artisans, and prepared 

foods. Info: realizebradenton.com/market. 

▼ 

Bishop 

Museum of 

Science and 

Nature 

In the field of engineering, 

human achievements 

receive the most recognition, 

but Eco Engineers, 

the new temporary exhibit 

at the Bishop Museum of 

Science and Nature, shifts 

the spotlight to the flora 

and fauna that shape ecosystems 

with their own 

engineering feats. 

The exhibit pays homage not only 

to furry friends like beavers, but also 

to plants like red mangroves and live 

oaks that leave an indelible mark on the 

landscape. The exhibit is divided into 

three zones, including the land, water’s 

edge, and sea sections. Giant photos of 

the featured species fill the space, creating 

an immersive environment. 

A selection of photos bring each 

species to life, with the largest photos 

measuring about 3 by 6 feet. The 

coral photos, lent to the Bishop by the 

Coral Restoration Foundation, will 

stun visitors. 3D elements, like corals 

and a beaver skull from the museum’s 

collections complement the photos 

and text. Eco Engineers runs through 

September 3. 

Laser Light Nights at The Bishop 

Museum of Science and Nature runs 

through September 2, 7pm and 9pm. 

Break out the big hair and acid-washed 

denim every Thursday, Friday, and 

Saturday night and prepare to rock 

out to some of your favorite artists. A 

variety of food options and drinks are 

available for purchase onsite. 

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. 

Sarasota Art Museum is participating 

in Blue Star Museums, a program 

that provides free admission to U.S. 

military personnel and their families 

this summer. The Museum, which 

already provides free admission yearround 

to veterans and active-duty 

military members with ID, will also 

offer free admission to their families 

through September 4 through its participation 

in Blue Star Museums. 

Visit sarasotaartmuseum.org/ 

visit to learn more about visiting Sarasota 

Art Museum during the Blue Star 

Museums program and preview its 

current and upcoming exhibitions. 

Sarasota Art Museum is located at 

1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

Art Galleries 

To August 25, Art Uptown Gallery 

will display their artists’ creative 

interpretations on the theme: 

“FLORA.” The gallery will offer paintings 

and flower-filled collages, pleinair 

landscapes, abstract and traditional 

florals, decorative glass, ceramics, 

whimsical garden sculptures, bronze 

and glass mosaics to enchant visitors 

with a variety of “plant-based” fine 

art. FLORA ’s First Friday opening 

public reception will be on August 4 

from 6-9 pm. 

Art Uptown Gallery, 1367 Main St., 

Sarasota. Info: 941-955-5409 or www. 

artuptown.com 

▼ 

At Art CenterSarasota: On view 

August 24 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 

▼ 

continued on page 8 


out and about continued 

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. 

Island Gallery and Studios has 

paintings by Jim Wheeler, August 

1-31. “Around the World” is an exhibit 

of photographs that have been digitally 

and/or manually enhanced with the 

addition of acrylic over-painting for a 

unique “painterly” look. 

Wheeler is originally from Chicago 

and has lived in various locations 

around the country before settling 

in Florida 25 years ago. A long-time 

painter of acrylics, he studied art 

under a French painter named Marini. 

Jim has been a photographer since 

the age of 16. He was an award-winning 

photographer and judge with 

the Cleveland Photographic Society. 

Jim’s photography has been published 

nationally for many years, and 

through this, he evolved into digital 

photo manipulation. 

Meet the artist on August 5, from 

10 am to 6 pm. Island West Gallery 

and Studios is located at 456 Old Main 

Street in downtown Bradenton. Gallery 

hours are 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday 

through Sunday. 

Visit www.islandgalleryandstudios.org 

or call 941-778-6648. 

▼ 

At The Ringling 

Reclaiming Home, Contemporary 

Seminole Art runs through September 

4. This group exhibition marks 

The Ringling’s first presentation of 

contemporary art by Native American 

artists with ancestral, historical, and 

present-day connections to Florida. 

An imperative step toward establishing 

a meaningful relationship with the 

Native American artistic community, 

▼ 

Reclaiming Home will highlight 

the breadth and depth of 

the artwork by Seminole, Miccosukee, 

and mixed-heritage 

artists from Florida with the 

important work by internationally-recognized 

artists. The 

exhibition will expand the conceptual 

framework of Native 

American art made in Florida 

today and provide a fuller understanding 

of the complexities 

of issues within the art of the 

Seminole diaspora. 

Artists include Noah Billie 

(Seminole), Wilson Bowers 

(Seminole), Houston R. Cypress 

(Miccosukee), Alyssa Osceola 

(Seminole), Jessica Osceola 

(Seminole/Irish), Brian 

Zepeda (Seminole), Corinne 

Zepeda (Seminole /Mexican), 

and Pedro Zepeda (Seminole). 

Presented with the important 

work by the internationally-recognized 

artists of Muscogee 

(Creek) and Seminole 

descent from Oklahoma and 

beyond—Elisa Harkins (Cherokee/Muscogee 

[Creek]), C. 

Maxx Stevens (Seminole/Muscogee 

[Creek]), Tony Tiger (Sac and Fox/ 

Seminole/Muscogee [Creek]), and 

Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie (Taskigi/ 

Diné [Navajo]/Seminole)—the exhibition 

will expand the conceptual 

framework of Native American art 

made in Florida today and provide a 

fuller understanding of the complexities 

of issues within the art of the Seminole 

diaspora. 

Reclaiming Home is also the first 

collaboration between Florida’s Ah- 

Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of Seminole culture 

and history, located on the Big 

Cypress Indian Reservation, as several 

important loans from the museum 

will be featured in the exhibition. 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 

Sarasota. Info: www.ringling.org. 

Theatre 

At Florida Studio Theatre, Ken 

Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors begins 

August 2 in the Gompertz Theatre. 

One hotel suite, four tenors, two 

wives, three girlfriends, and a stadium 

filled with screaming fans. It’s 

1930’s Paris and the stage is set for 

the concert of the century…as long as 

producer Henry Saunders can keep 

Italian superstar Tito Merelli and his 

hot-blooded wife from causing utter 

chaos. Runs to August 20. 

▼ 

• Their Summer Cabaret has The 

Surfer Boys, a tribute to the band 

credited for creating pop music’s iconic 

“California sound.” In this lively 

music revue, four Broadway veterans 

bring The Beach Boys’ biggest hits to 

life with classics like “California Girls,” 

“Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” 

and “Surfin’ USA.” The Surfer Boys is 

in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret through 

August 13. 

• Next up is Divas Three, a celebration 

of the artists whose musical impact 

earned them the coveted title of 

“Diva.” In this dazzling Cabaret, three 

powerhouse female vocalists deliver 

the biggest hits by some of music’s 

most influential women, such as Aretha 

Franklin, Carole King, Celine 

Dion, and Whitney Houston. Featuring 

classics like “We Are Family,” 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has playwright Dave 

Harris, presented in partnership with Westcoast 

Black Theatre Troupe on August 18 at 6:30pm at 

Westcoast Black Theatre. 

“Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Total 

Eclipse of the Heart,” and “It’s Raining 

Men.” Divas Three runs in the Court 

Cabaret to September 10. 

Tickets at FloridaStudioTheatre.org 

Beginning August 5, 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. 

▼ 

• FST Improv Presents: Fast Times 

at John Hughes High, returns for an 

exclusive performance on August 

12. Inspired by films as The Breakfast 

Club and Risky Business, FST Improv 

cast members will shape an all-new 

story celebrating the abundant awkwardness, 

hormones, and dreams of 

American teenage life. 

• Bringing the Summer Improv Season 

to a close is FST Improv Presents: 

The End of the World, which performs 

for one night only: September 

2. Disaster has struck the planet and 

the future of humanity is at stake. The 

world’s only hope is for FST Improv to 

record a movie telling the true story of 

the end of the world, leaving their film 

behind as a warning to any future civilization 

looking to make a go of it here 

on Earth. This 90-minute improvised 

disaster movie performance will have 

audiences rooting for FST Improv’s 

performers to beat the odds and survive 

the end of the world. 

• Taking the Bowne’s Lab stage 

in Tournament of Fools and Comedy 

Roulette are returning cast members: 

Kevin Allen, Tori Baird, Taylor 

Bungo, Cameron Clements, Christian 

Corpora, Valerie Dale, Sylvia 

Day, Sarah Durham, Darryl Knapp, 

Will Luera, Shawn McWhinnie, 

Kathryn Parks, Keegan Penny, Sal 

Piccolo, Christine Reagan, Autumn 

Steiner, Joshua Thomason, AJ Trinci, 

Danielle Trzcinski, and Matt Walker. 

Jim Prosser or Helena Rankin will 

alternate as musical improvisers on 

the piano at each performance. 

Visit www.floridastudiotheatre.org/ 

The Players Sarasota has 

The Graduate running from 

August 16-27 at 1130 Theatre, 

3501 S. Tamiami Trail Suite 

1130, Sarasota. 

Terry Johnson’s stage 

adaptation of The Graduate, 

based on the novel and the 

iconic 1967 film, is a bitterly 

hilarious dark comedy, full of 

rapid-fire dialogue between 

fascinating and horrifying 

characters. This play explores 

family dysfunction, parental 

expectations, crumbling 

marriages, and the naive, yet 

disillusioned, dichotomy of 

youth, against the shiny backdrop 

of affluent Southern California 

in the 1960s. 

▼ 

Tickets: theplayers.org 

Manatee Performing Arts 

Center has Something Rotten! 

Welcome to the Renaissance! 

Set in the 1590s, brothers 

Nick and Nigel Bottom are 

desperate to write a hit play 

but are stuck in the shadow 

of that Renaissance rock star 

known as “The Bard.” When a local 

soothsayer foretells that the future 

of theatre involves singing, dancing 

and acting at the same time, Nick and 

Nigel set out to write the world’s very 

first musical. But amidst the scandalous 

excitement of opening night, the 

Bottom Brothers realize that reaching 

the top means being true to thine own 

self, and all that jazz. 

▼ 

Runs August 10-20. Box Office: 941- 

748-5878. Manatee Performing Arts 

Center is located at 502 Third Avenue 

W, Bradenton. 

Venice Theatre has The Cemetery 

Club through Aug 13. A funny, 

sweet-tempered, moving romantic 

comedy about three Jewish widows 

who meet once a month for tea before 

going to visit their husbands’ graves. 

Last year’s version sold out so they’ve 

brought it back with the same cast: Jan 

Wallace, Gina Scarda, Loretta Zullo, 

Jim Parise, and Sandi Wall. 

▼ 

At the Pinkerton Theatre, 140 

Tampa Ave. W., Venice. Info: venice 

theatre.org/ 

Programs at the Hermitage Artist 

Retreat continue with celebrated 

playwright Dave Harris, who comes 

to the Hermitage as part of the recently 

announced partnership with New 

York’s Roundabout Theatre Company 

and their Underground Series 

▼ 

• “From the Heart of Philly: The Works 

of Dave Harris” with Hermitage 

Roundabout Fellow Dave Harris. Presented 

in partnership with Westcoast 

Black Theatre Troupe on August 18 

at 6:30pm at Westcoast Black Theatre, 

1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, 

• “Secret Song: Unraveling the Mystery 

of Berg’s Lyric Suite” with Hermitage 

Fellow Hilan Warshaw. Presented 

in In partnership with Sarasota 

Opera on August 23 at 6pm, 61 N 

Pineapple Ave, Sarasota. 

Registration is required. $5 per person. 

To learn more, visit https:// 

hermitageartistretreat.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. For information, 

visit www.selby.org. 

Selby Gardens also has its 43rd Annual 

Juried Photo Exhibition. This 

year’s exhibition will again be conducted 

virtually, with digital photos 

entered through an online portal and 

all accepted submissions displayed 

in an online gallery for the duration 

of the show. The open call for submissions 

will run from August 7-14. 

Photographs that are entered for 

consideration for the show must have 

been taken at or of either Selby Gardens 

campus—Downtown Sarasota 

or Historic Spanish Point—within the 

past year. The five entry categories are: 

· Living Art - Express your creativity 

and artfully interpret nature through 

the play of light, color, and composition. 

· Make a Splash - Showcase the scenic 

beauty of the aquatic environments 

at Selby Gardens’ two bayfront campuses. 

· Plant Portraits - Capture the character 

of the plants that are the real 

stars of the show at Selby Gardens. 

· The Birds and the Bees - Highlight 

the wonderful wildlife at the Downtown 

Sarasota and Historic Spanish 

Point campuses. 

· Black and White - Convey the beauty 

of nature at Selby Gardens through 

the elegance of black-and-white photography. 

Complete rules and requirements 

are at www.selby.org. The virtual gallery 

is on view Aug. 29–Sept. 30. 

Summer Movies 

at Sarasota 

Opera House 

Sarasota Opera again has its 

Summer Classic Movies at the Opera 

House. 

• Vertigo (1958) — August 11 at 

7:30 p.m. Set among San Francisco’s 

renown landmarks, Scottie Ferguson, 

an acrophobic detective is hired to 

shadow a friend’s suicidal wife, Madeleine. 

After he saves her from drowning 

in the bay, Scottie’s interest shifts from 

business to fascination with the icy 

alluring blonde. When he finds another 

woman remarkably like his lost 

love, the now obsessed detective must 

unravel the secrets of the past to find 

the key to his future. Directed by Alfred 

Hitchcock, starring James Stewart, 

Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. 

▼ 

• The Great Escape (1963) — August 

25 at 7:30 p.m. In 1943, the Germans 

opened Stalag Luft III, a maximum-security 

prisoner-of-war camp 

designed to hold even the draftiest 

continued on page 10 


Your 

Jewish Federation 

Intimate musical experiences. 

Discounted tickets to all concerts 

are available through August 15! 

Season 28 | Stars Ascending 

A diverse A diverse range range of of 26 26 concerts presented at eight at eight venues venues 

featuring emerging and and accomplished classical, classical, chamber, jazz, 

and and pop pops artists from around the the globe. 

Joseph Parrish 

Oct. 18, Plantation 

Golf & Country Club 

Hina Khuong-Huu, Mar. 31 & Apr. 1 

Fischer/Weisenborne Residence 

Trio Gaia 

May 14, State College of Florida 

provides 

opportunities 

for all ages to 

engage 

schmooze 

celebrate 

The Queen’s Six 

Dec. 17, First Presbyterian Church 

Learn about all 

upcoming events 

by visiting 

JFEDSRQ.org/Events 

For more information, contact Trudi Krames 

at tkrames@jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0037 

See full schedule of 26 concerts at ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 

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. 

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out and about continued 

escape artists. In doing so, however, 

the Nazis unwittingly assemble the 

finest escape team in military history 

who worked on what became the 

largest prison breakout ever attempted. 

Directed by John Sturges, starring 

Steve McQueen, James Garner, 

Charles Bronson, and James Coburn. 

• From Here to Eternity (1953) — 

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

Picture winner is a portrait of life on 

a Honolulu 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. Directed by Fred 

Zinnermann, starring Burt Lancaster, 

Montgomery Clift Deborah Kerr, Frank 

Sinatra, and Donna Reed. 

Information and tickets can be 

found at SarasotaOpera.org. 

Art Around 

the State 

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 

▼ 

▼ 

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. 

Tampa Museum of Art has Identity 

in the Ancient World on view 

through March, 2025. Today, we recognize 

various expressions of identity, 

such as personal, social and national 

identity. Certain frames of identity are 

well-defined or fixed, others are based 

on personal choice or may change over 

time. Think of economic class and social 

status, education and profession, 

culture and nationality. Also, language, 

lifestyle, musical preference, 

personal companionship, political 

allegiance or religion. These frames of 

identity may invoke a sense of belonging 

or form exclusive alliances. They 

▼ 

At The Baker Museum in Naples: Ida O’Keeffe. Untitled (Lighthouse 

with Sailboat), 1932-33. Part of the permanent collection. 

may also provoke feelings of marginalization, 

even policies of segregation. 

Or, they may create demands for acceptance 

and equal treatment. 

This exhibition engages the public 

to reflect upon the differences and 

similarities between the ancient world 

and our contemporary society. Some 

themes the visitor may encounter include 

masculinity and femininity, intimacy 

and ethnicity. 

In the ancient world such expressions 

of identity could not always be 

articulated explicitly because the 

terminology for voicing thoughts 

about personal, cultural and national 

frames of identity often did not exist. 

That is not to say that Egyptians or 

Persians, Greeks or Romans did not 

experience a sense of belonging to a 

certain group sharing a cultural, linguistic 

and historical heritage. They 

recognized biological differences 

between men and women, and they 

believed that certain social roles belonged 

to the different genders. Ancient 

societies were unambiguously 

patriarchal and hierarchical, with 

certain political rights held as privileges 

of well-defined classes. Others 

were excluded – such as enslaved persons, 

peasants, women and/or resident 

aliens (even when living in the 

same country for generations), who 

had little or no rights. 

Tampa Museum of Art, Cornelia 

Corbett Center, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, 

Tampa. tampamuseum.org/ 

At the MFA - Tom Jones: Here 

We Stand which features more than 

100 works spanning 1998–2021. The 

exhibition is the first major retrospective 

of the Ho-Chunk photographer’s 

work. For over twenty years, 

Jones has created a visual record and 

exploration of his Ho-Chunk community. 

The show comprises over a 

dozen series, ranging from the documentary 

to the conceptual. Jones’s 

photographs examine identity and 

geographic place with an emphasis 

on the experience of Native American 

communities. To August 27. 

The MFA is located at 255 Beach Dr 

NE, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org 

▼ 

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 Season 

▼ 

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 

▼ 

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Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm 


SPEAKERS TO DATE 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 

“Breaking the Silence — One Woman’s Ongoing 

Journey to Mental Well-Being” 

Linda Larsen, BSW, MFA, CPAE 

Transform Your Mental Health 

Journey at Our Empowering Summit! 

SATURDAY, OCT 28, 2023 • 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM 

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, FL. 

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. 

ANXIETY 

“Have no Fear! Taking Steps Toward 

Understanding and Coping with Anxiety” 

Rebecca Etkin, Ph.D. 

Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine 

DEPRESSION 

“It Wasn’t Supposed to Happen to Me” 

David Romano, 

Mental Health Advocate and Therapist 

GENERATIONAL TRAUMA 

“What, How and Why to Stop the Cycle” 

Sidney Turner, Ph.D. 

Founder Resilient Retreat 

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH 

“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 

NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM 

“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 & Behavioral Health Resource” 

Kimberly Kutch, MA, MS, Ed.S, CPM 

Human Services Manager 

Sarasota County Health and Human Services 


focus on the arts 

Sarasota’s Free Little Art Gallery reopens 

its tiny doors under new management 

Launched as a community project during the COVID-19 pandemic, 

artist’s project moves to a new location with the same goal 

Elizabeth Goodwill and Barbara Gerdeman, co-owners of Creative Liberties Artist Studios & Gallery and new curators hosted a ribbon cutting 

ceremony to reopen the gallery’s doors at its new home with Judy Robertson as the guest of honor. —Alejandro Romero/Community News Collaborative 

The homemade project 

that helped bring a 

neighborhood together 

during the COVID-19 

pandemic has taken on 

a new, broader purpose, evolving 

in its mission to demystify art and 

artwork. 

Judy Robertson, the founder of 

the Free Little Art Gallery, demonstrated 

that it’s not always the size 

of the art installation that matters, 

but rather it's the content that 

makes the difference. “This has 

been a very loved thing. It makes 

me a little sad, but it's like it's going 

off to college and I will visit it often,” 

Robertson said. 

When Robertson opened the Free 

Little Art Gallery SRQ in her front 

yard in 2021, she was searching for 

something that others in her community 

could look forward to amid 

the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. 

Like the familiar Little Free Library 

concept – people can stop by the 

free gallery to take an art piece 

home or leave one for others to enjoy 

or take. 

“I think when the pandemic first 

hit, we were all outside walking 

and we'd be walking across the 

street from each other,” Robertson 

said. “And when I first opened that 

gallery, it was still the case. I'd go 

out there, but I was. We all kept 

our distance, but it was a common 

meeting place.” 

Art has revolved around Robertson’s 

life for as long as she can 

remember. She says she first got the 

idea to create her own miniature 

gallery after stumbling across the 

Free Little Art Gallery concept online. 

Having been a graphic design 

artist for 45 years she says of all the 

creative projects she’s worked on, 

she is most proud of the Free Little 

Art Gallery SRQ. 

“I think it's because it built 

community in the neighborhood. I 

was able to interact with kids and 

encourage them in their creative 

life,” Robertson said. “I could see 

the spark of a little 7-year-old, you 

know, with doing wonderful art.” 

But after nearly two years since 

opening the gallery Robertson 

announced that she was ready to 

pass the baton to someone else and 

began her quest to find a new curator 

and home fit for the gallery. She 

says several people reached out to 

her online and was taken aback by 

the interest of so many. 

After the extensive search and 

interviewing process, Robertson 

found what she describes as the 

perfect home for her passion 

project. 

Followers of FLAG SRQ can once 

again visit the free gallery at its new 

home in front of the Creative Liberties 

Artist Studios & Gallery located 

at 901 B Apricot Ave in Sarasota. 

“To actually, like, see this here finally, 

it's just kind of like it proves 

more of the serendipity of the craziness 

that has happened,” Elizabeth 

Goodwill said. 

Goodwill alongside Barbara 

Gerdeman co-founded Creative 

Liberties in November of 2021 with 

the goal of helping other artists gain 

exposure by providing a supportive 

community space for them to create 

and sell their work. 

Goodwill says she’s been a follower 

of the Free Little Art Gallery 

SRQ since it first opened and would 

even visit it at times to drop off 

some of her own art. She says once 

she learned that Robertson was 

looking for a new home for the gallery, 

she hoped they would be the 

ones to chosen by Robertson. 

Gerdeman says the mini gallery’s 

concept of making art freely accessible 

to everyone falls within the 

mission they had in mind when they 

first were coming up with the idea 

for what service Creative Liberties 

would offer the community. 

“There's a lot of things that are 

happening now to build a stronger, 

The newly installed Free Little Art Gallery SRQ 

is now open to the public 24/7 and can now be 

found at 901 B Apricot Ave in Sarasota as part 

of the Limelight District. 

not only community for the artists 

themselves, but, like I said, to make 

art accessible to, you know, members 

of the community,” Gerdeman 

said. Goodwill and Gerdeman say 

they won’t be the only ones curating 

the gallery’s exhibitions. They 

plan on having different artists 

overseeing it to keep the art flow 

fresh for its frequent visitors. 

Though a bittersweet goodbye 

Robertson plans on visiting the 

gallery to drop off some of her own 

artwork. She says she’s excited to 

see the gallery blossom and sees 

the unlimited potential it can reach 

in continuing to service the Suncoast 

community. 

The gallery now joins the upcoming 

Limelight District which 

is becoming the new hub for local 

artists outside of the Rosemary District 

found in the heart of Downton 

Sarasota. As for now Goodwill and 

Gerdeman say they plan to keep the 

gallery open to the community 24/7 

and anyone is welcome to take or 

drop off some of their own art to 

add to the gallery’s exhibition. 

Author: Alejandro Romero. This story is 

courtesy of the Community News Collaborative, 

made possible by a grant from 

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. 

You can reach Alejandro Romero at alejandro23@cncfl.org 

—Alejandro Romero/ 

Community 

News 

Collaborative 


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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.” 

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16 WEST COAST WOMAN AUGUST 2023 

Aworking artist and art 

instructor in Sarasota, 

Linda’s work is 

collected around the world and 

has received numerous awards. 

“For me, painting is a 

pilgrimage – a journey into 

the soul and the mystery of 

creation. Through color, lines 

and brushstrokes I portray the 

essence of my subjects at their 

highest moments.”

TTe 

Graauate 

She’s a working artist 

and an art instructor 

in Sarasota. As you 

know, there are lots 

and lots of artists in 

our area, two large art 

centers and dozen of galleries. So what 

makes this artist stand out? Well, lots of 

awards for one thing, and her art is exhibited 

here and on Martha’s Vineyard and 

in collections across the U.S. Linda also 

teaches art classes online, locally and by 

taking groups abroad. 

Her subject matter is landscapes, 

painted in oils. They’re vibrant images 

— maybe even vibrating — because 

the colors are so striking. From Linda’s 

website, “For me, painting is a pilgrimage 

– a journey into the soul and the mystery 

of creation. Through color, lines and 

brushstrokes I portray the essence of my 

subjects at their highest moments. Each 

color, line and shape is carefully curated 

to take the viewer on a joyous journey.” 

And that’s what makes this artist different. 

A painting she did entitled “Bay 

Shore Dusk” that includes a view of the 

Bay Shore area of Sarasota (south of 

The Ringling Museum) won Plein Air 

Magazine’s “Best Landscape” in the 

Plein Air Salon in 2021. I lived in that 

neighborhood and loved how she captured 

the curve and the views, its natural beauty 

and energy. 

This skilled artist’s plein air paintings 

“capture the spirit of nature at their most 

inspiring times,” she explains. Linda has 

been conducting painting workshops 

since 2002 in the US and abroad. Her 

workshops abroad have been to Greece, 

Italy and this past July, to Southern 

France. Prior to departing, she teaches her 

students online and then they travel to 

their destination, paint together and then 

critique after dinner. 

The call to create came early in Linda’s 

life — make that really early as she recalls 

being age two when she remembers 

thinking, ”I am an artist!” She had her first 

portrait commission at age 16 and excelled 

in competitions. 

She graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s 

Degree in Fine Art from SUNY and 

followed that with a scholarship from the 

Pastel Society of America to attend the Art 

Students League in New York City. 

There were no galleries in her 

hometown of Montgomery, New York, 

so she’d travel to places like the Met in 

New York City or abroad to the Louvre in 

Paris. Not sure of her direction, she “tried 

business” as she puts it, working at IBM, 

even did detective work, but generally 

didn’t like it. However, a stint with Mary 

Kay Cosmetics taught and gave her the self 

esteem she was lacking. 

A pivotal moment in her life came when 

Linda was living in Parkland, Florida, 

when a strange package and unexpected 

package was left at her door. Fortunately, 

the police came and the package turned 

out to be harmless, but she recalls saying 

to herself, “I’m going to die and not be an 

artist.” She made a course correction in 

her life and dedicated herself to her art and 

became a full-time artist. 

As with artists, her career evolved from 

pastel portraits to Plein Air painting. 

When Linda describes Plein Air (defined 

as a style of painting produced out of 

doors in natural light) she describes it as 

“the feelings” of the outdoors and not just 

the look of outdoors. She also found that 

Mother Nature was the healing energy she 

needed. This began her realization that art 

can help us to heal. 

Thus her teaching and unique approach 

centers on “closing down the logical, 

critical mind and going to the intuitive.” 

Doing so facilitates “accessing the muse 

within,” as she explains it. “I see what I 

see, but I feel the color. It’s not what you 

see — it’s what you feel.” 

Linda offers online instruction called 

“Landscape Alchemy” where students 

can learn “how to transform sketches into 

a poetic body of art.” She describes the 

course this way: “The truth is, you can 

learn the secrets to masterful landscape 

storytelling by delving deep into the 

alchemy of design, color, and message, a 

powerful combination that will bring your 

landscape to life. The trick is to transfer 

what you know onto your canvas.” 

Linda is busy with her art not just 

teaching, but also working on painting 

commissions. This past summer she had 

four assisting her including three interns. 

In addition to her annual European art 

retreats, she has had various workshops 

through out the years that are 2-3 days in 

length. She’s taught at ArtCenter Sarasota 

and ArtCenter Manatee locally, as well as 

around the country. And she’s working on 

a book. 

“With years and years of classical 

training under my belt, my hand can easily 

follow my heart when creating a work of art 

that not only represents the scene, but also 

allows the soul of the place to come forth.” 

Linda was voted America’s Best Intuitive 

Artist in 2012 because one of her gifts is her 

highly intuitive sense. 

Students are often a bit intimidated 

by learning a creative art — especially 

for the first time. But with a teacher who 

believes that we can all create when we 

shut down the logical, critical mind and 

open ourselves to the intuitive, allowing 

our creative side to emerge, it seems a lot 

less daunting. “The answers are in us,” 

she says. 

STORY: Louise Bruderle 

IMAGE (THIS PAGE): Sorcha Augustine 

For more information, visit www.richichiart.com. 

Linda’s work is on display locally 

at 530 Burns Gallery Lane Sarasota and at 

Nikki Sedacca Gallery, 23 Winter Street, 

Edgartown, MA. 

Auuust 17-27, 2023 

Auuust 17-27, 2023 

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good news department 

Women’s Resource Center Receives Grant for 

“Pathways to Success” Program 

Jamie Kahns, senior vice president and Sarasota-Manatee market manager for Bank 

of America, with Ashley Brown, WRC’s CEO and president, and members of the WRC’s 

board of directors. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation awards Forty 

Carrots with $53,000 investment 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation awarded 

Forty Carrots Family Center three grants totaling 

$53,000 dedicated to Partners In Play (PIP) 

in Sarasota County and mental health services 

for families affected by Hurricane Ian. This 

funding is made possible through the Community 

Health Endowment Fund, Anna V. Pfister, 

Nellie Mae Koss and Helen K. Hadden Memorial 

Fund, and the Hurricane Ian Recovery Initiative 

at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

With these grants, Forty Carrots is able 

to provide its parenting education program, 

Partners In Play (PIP) groups at no cost 

to children and families at Sarasota County 

libraries and mental health support for families 

to not only recover from the hurricane’s 

trauma but also develop the coping skills they 

need as they rebuild their lives. 

“This generous funding from Gulf Coast 

Community Foundation wraps our children 

and families in support from prevention work 

happening at our PIP groups to interventions 

and treatment in mental health therapy. Disasters, 

no matter where they come from, impact 

our community every day. Having Gulf Coast 

Community Foundation’s ever-ready support 

to respond allows us to support recovery from 

the mental and emotional damages often left 

unseen and yet are far more enduring,” said 

CEO of Forty Carrots Michelle Kapreilian. 

“We are honored to provide support to Forty 

Carrots Family Center who embody their 

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) has been 

awarded a $25,000 grant from Bank of America 

for its “Pathways to Success” initiative. 

“This program supports individuals pursuing 

post-secondary education,” notes Ashley 

Brown, WRC’s CEO and president. “By weaving 

together scholarships, programs, mentoring 

and direct financial support, the Pathways to 

Success program supports women who are going 

back to school with the goal of increasing 

their earning potential. It removes financial 

barriers and provides students the vital resources 

they need to thrive academically.” 

According to Brown, Pathways to Success 

stands in the gap for people trying to make 

the most of their lives. She explains that the 

largest people living in poverty in our region 

are women, ages 25 to 34, 55 to 64, and 75- 

plus. “Three out of four single parent mothers 

do not make a sustainable wage,” says Brown. 

Pathways to Success, explains Brown, “offers 

our clients a game-changing combination 

of financial support, programs, resources, 

and social support.” Bank of America is 

providing essential financial support and 

resources to Sarasota-Manatee women who 

are working to further their education and 

contribute to their local community. 

The funding will help women gain the 

knowledge and skills required to increase 

their career prospects, alleviating some of 

the stressors of pursuing higher education. 

Brown recalls a moving conversation with 

one successful participant. “They told us that, 

‘Pathways allowed me to move forward with 

an experienced professional to guide me. 

That allowed me to do more than just get 

through each day. I’ve learned to set longterm 

and short-term goals and make plans to 

keep moving ahead in life.” 

To learn more about the services available 

at WRC, call 941-256-9721 or visit mywrc.org. 

Partners In Play (PIP) group 

mission of nurturing healthy child and family 

development through research-based, 

relationship-centered education and mental 

health services. Forty Carrots stands strong 

as a pivotal resource for families in our 

region. Their work is inspirational and important,” 

said Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 

Director of Community Leadership 

Kameron Hodgens, Ph.D. 

Since 1993, Forty Carrots Family Center has 

served families in Sarasota & Manatee counties, 

ensuring good beginnings that last a 

lifetime for children through its expertise in 

Parenting Education, Mental Health Services, 

and Early Childhood Education. Rated 4-Stars 

by Charity Navigator, Forty Carrots serves families 

from all walks of life, with 94 percent of 

families receiving services free of charge. Visit 

www.fortycarrots.org for more information. 

To learn more visit GulfCoastCF.org 

The Exchange Awards $ 500,000 

to Local Arts Groups and Students 

The Exchange has awarded 

$500,000 to 24 regionally based 

arts and cultural organizations 

and 14 high school and college 

students. Additionally, five organizations 

are recipients of the 

new Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in 

Education grant. 

Karen Koblenz, The Exchange’s 

executive director and CEO, explains 

that the new Elizabeth 

Lindsay Arts in Education Grants 

Program is intended to “encourage 

local art organizations and 

educators to work collaboratively 

to design and develop artistically 

creative and innovative projects 

involving the visual and performing arts 

benefiting students grades K-12.” 

Grants may include curriculum-based residencies, 

workshops, arts-related day trips, 

assemblies/performances and out-of-school 

experiences. Elizabeth (“Liz”) Lindsay was the 

co-founder of The Exchange and a long-time 

pillar in Sarasota’s art community before her 

death in 2022. 

Koblenz points out that the organizational 

grants are for specific projects and outreach 

programs, including performances, exhibitions, 

education initiatives and special series. 

She explains that The Exchange’s board 

bases its granting decisions on the longterm 

stability and financial health of the 

organizations, the program’s overall appeal 

to the public and the impact these programs 

will have on the surrounding community. 

Individual scholarships are awarded based 

on grade point averages, the individual’s artistic 

goals and achievements, and letters of 

recommendation. 

Koblenz adds that The Exchange is especially 

interested in programs that promote 

a vibrant and engaged community. “The cultural 

arts industry plays a pivotal role in our 

region’s economic health and serves as a 

magnet for tourism.” Monies used for these 

grants and scholarships were earned entirely 

through the organization’s 15,000-squarefoot 

consignment boutique in downtown Sarasota. 

Since 1962, The Exchange has awarded 

more than $9 million in grants to local 

non-profits and high school and college students 

pursuing a higher education in the arts. 

The grant recipients for the 2023-2024 fiscal 

year are: 

Organizational Grants: 

• Art Center Sarasota 

• Arts and Cultural Alliance 

• Artists Series Concerts 

Neal Communities Donates $ 5,000 toward 

Kiwanis Club of North Port 

Neal Communities, donated $5,000 to the 

Kiwanis Club of North Port Foundation to 

help with a proposed project to construct a 

Storybook Stroll reading program and Little 

Free Library along a walking path at one of 

North Port’s neighborhood parks. 

Pine Park is located inside Country Club 

Ridge, a North Port neighborhood off McKibben 

Drive that was devastated by Hurricane 

Ian. The small neighborhood park includes 

a volleyball court, playground, picnic pavilion, 

picnic tables, outdoor grill and a paved 

Karen Koblenz and Elizabeth Lindsay 

• Asolo Repertory Theatre 

• Choral Artists of Sarasota 

• Ensemble New SRQ 

• Florida Studio Theatre 

• The Hermitage Artists Retreat 

• Key Chorale 

• La Musica di Asolo 

• Perlman Music Program 

• Ringling College of Art & Design 

• Sarasota Ballet 

• Sarasota Concert Association 

• Sarasota Contemporary Dance 

• Sarasota Opera 

• Sarasota Orchestra 

• Sarasota Pops Orchestra 

• Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative 

• The Players 

• Urbanite Theatre 

• Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, 

Inc. (Van Wezel) 

• Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

• WSLR 

Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education Grants: 

• Embracing Our Differences 

• The Hermitage Artist Retreat 

• Key Chorale 

• Ringling College of Art & Design 

• Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative 

The scholarship recipients for the 2023- 

2024 fiscal year are: 

• High School: Marina Berardi, Maija Boelkins, 

Beatrice Divinagracia, Kaitlyn Haley, 

Hannah Kesten, Sydney Payne, Eabha 

Phelan, Mehak Sendhu, Danae Tran 

• College: Kenna Bartlett, Jack Beatenhead, 

Danny Bo DeLongaig, Abigail Holdway, 

Lindsay McKenna, Noelle Prouty, Zoe Rizzo, 

Madisyn Wandall 

The Exchange is located at 539 S. Orange Ave. 

in Sarasota. For more information, call 941- 

955-7859 or visit www.sarasotawex.com.us 

walking trail which the Kiwanis Club hopes 

will one day be the home of a Storybook 

Stroll program 

The vision is for Storybook Stroll to be 

constructed with sturdy holders that allow 

laminated book pages to be viewed along 

the looped trail. The concept is that children 

in wheelchairs or strollers will be able to 

read pages of the book as they move along 

the pathway. For information visit www. 

KiwanisClubofNorthPort.org. 

continued on next page 


good news department continued 

Hermitage Receives Grant from Barancik Foundation 

A $400,000 grant from Charles & Margery 

Barancik Foundation has been awarded to the 

Hermitage Artist Retreat and will allow the 

Hermitage to further its commitment to offering 

innovative new work without censoring or 

inhibiting the creativity of these talents. 

Over the past several seasons, 

the Hermitage has expanded its 

community programming, taking 

steps to ensure these unique 

work-in-process presentations 

are accessible to all. Each year, 

the Hermitage welcomes nearly 

100 of the world’s leading artists, 

and our free community programming 

now includes over 50 

free events annually at locations 

throughout our Gulf Coast region, 

offering audiences rare insight 

into the creative process. 

This grant from Barancik Foundation 

will help provide the Hermitage with 

more flexibility and resources to manage the 

complex layers of protecting artistic integrity. 

As an incubator for diverse and original works 

across all artistic mediums, the Hermitage 

offers experiences to artists and audiences 

alike, inviting leading artists from around the 

world to its beachfront campus on Manasota 

Key and offering rare ‘sneak peeks’ of bold 

and original new works to the members of 

our community. 

“These candid, often interactive experiences 

provide an unparalleled level of access to 

some of the world’s leading creators, writers, 

and performers,” says Andy Sandberg. “As 

our programs and collaborations continue 

to evolve and expand throughout our region 

and across the nation, we are deeply committed 

to protecting every Hermitage Fellow’s 

freedom of artistic expression – this will always 

be core to our values. This means that 

our growing Hermitage audiences are getting 

a rare and always authentic look into the 

creative process of these diverse and accomplished 

talents.” 

Past Hermitage programs have ranged from 

concerts with Grammy and Tony Award-winning 

composers and performers, readings 

and conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winning 

authors and playwrights, open studios from 

some of the world’s leading contemporary 

artists, candid and inspiring talks with creative 

trailblazers, and more. 

This recent $400,000 grant from Barancik 

Foundation is designed to help support these 

efforts, including the Hermitage’s growing 

community outreach and education initiatives, 

enhancing this prestigious national 

organization’s support for its artists and returning 

alumni talent, and broadening the organization’s 

reach and impact in schools and 

underserved communities all while providing 

artists with the ability to explore their craft 

and achieve their greatest potential, unencumbered 

by censorship. 

“One of the many things the Hermitage 

does well is intentionally engage with audiences 

that might not otherwise have access 

to creative experiences,” commented 

Barancik Foundation President | CEO Teri A 

Hansen. “Andy and team truly demonstrate a 

collaborative spirit that is enriching the arts 

and culture of our region.” 

For more information about the Hermitage, 

visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org. For more 

information, visit BarancikFoundation.org. 

Art Center Sarasota Receives Two Grants 

Art Center Sarasota received a $6,033 grant 

from the John and Tana Sandefur Foundation 

and the Gus Lobenwein Memorial Fund of the 

Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

The funds were used to purchase Donor Perfect, 

a donor management system. 

Majors students have selected include 

Kinsey Robb, Art Center Sarasota’s executive 

director, “We needed an updated donor 

management system to build a stronger 

philanthropic effort with our supporters 

and the Community Foundation was there 

to help. Their commitment enables us to focus 

on our mission while strengthening our 

organization.” 

Art Center Sarasota also received a $500 

grant from the Michael Saunders & Company 

Foundation. The grant, which was sponsored 

by Linda Driggs, an artist and real estate agent 

with Michael Saunders & Company, will help 

fund the center’s fall Youth Saturdays, a free 

program that provides arts education and 

inspiration to youth ages 6-15. The weekly 

3-hour sessions enable young people to learn 

about art, explore their creative sides, collaborate 

with other students, and have fun. 

Robb says it’s “exciting to see the many 

ways our members bring Art Center Sarasota’s 

mission to their companies for funding 

opportunities. Linda is not only an advocate 

Zoe Sarnak at Nathan Benderson Park 

of the work we do in the community, she is 

also an Art Center Sarasota member, has taken 

a series of art classes at the Art Center, and 

is a talented artist in her own right.” 

Art Center Sarasota is located at 707 N. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. For information, visit 

www.artsarasota.org . 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Board Approved 

Final Fiscal Year 2023 Grants 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf 

Coast) Board of Directors approved over 

$1.5 million in grant awards this week. The 

funding, approved at the final Board meeting 

of the foundation’s 2023 fiscal year, included 

grants supported by legacy donors who 

established funds that allow Gulf Coast to 

fulfill the donors’ philanthropic goals and 

support the causes most important to them 

in perpetuity. 

“I am pleased to share that our Board of 

Directors have approved nearly $40 million 

in grants to our nonprofit partners this past 

fiscal year,” shared Phillip Lanham, president 

| CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “I 

am grateful for the Board’s support, as these 

contributions will provide nonprofits in our 

region with meaningful financial resources to 

create transformative and positive impact.” 

Grants approved by the Gulf Coast Board 

were made to support instrumental community 

projects and causes. These grants 

include: 

• $440,000 to support Venice Theatre and 

rebuild the Jervey Theatre destroyed by 

Hurricane Ian. Venice Theatre 

is now, per capita, the largest 

community theater in the United 

States and is a vital part of 

the cultural, educational, and 

economic landscape of Sarasota 

County. Supported by Gulf 

Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund, 

this grant brings the foundation’s 

total support since last 

year to over $600,000 to help in 

this critical rebuilding project. 

• $150,000 to Bay Park Conservancy 

to support the operations, 

maintenance, and care of key 

features at The Bay Park. Gulf 

Coast has invested over $1.2 million into 

The Bay to ensure it remains a thriving and 

sustainable community asset for years to 

come. Generously supported by Gulf Coast’s 

Venice Endowment Fund and the Katherine 

Naismith Witten Fund. 

• $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 

Suncoast to support year-one staffing of 

its expanded Mentoring Center. The new 

100-person capacity center will be a transformative 

space that will increase their 

reach from 1,500 to 2,000 youth, their families, 

and the community. Supported by the 

generous Gould Family Trust Foundation 

and Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund. 

• $340,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota 

and DeSoto Counties for the second installment 

of Gulf Coast’s $1 million commitment 

to support the rebuilding of the Gene Matthews 

Club in North Port destroyed by Hurricane 

Ian. The new club will provide services 

to 575 members annually, approximately 

300 youth in the summer, and over 250 

during the school year. Supported by Gulf 

Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund and the 

generous Gould Family Trust Foundation. 

• $50,000 to Education Foundation of Sarasota 

County to support at-risk students with 

resources to graduate and to create seamless 

pathways for students to move into 

higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs. This grant 

will enhance student outreach and facilitate 

communication between partners, enabling 

Education Foundation to hire a part-time 

collaboration coordinator to assist the director 

of PLANit Sarasota in engaging with 

over 40 partners. Supported by Gulf Coast’s 

Venice Endowment Fund, the Odile Robertson 

Field of Interest Fund, and the Arthur E. 

and Audre B. Smith Charitable Fund. 

• $18,000 to Ringling College Library Association 

to support and sponsor the 2024 Town 

Hall Lecture Series which brings influencers 

from the world stage to Sarasota, with a 

goal to expand horizons, stimulate conversation, 

and inspire the community. Supported 

by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation 

Fund and the Joseph A. Schasney and Marion 

W. Schasney Endowment. 

• $125,000 to Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 

to continue support for the regional 

workforce development program, Career- 

Edge Funders Collaborative. Established in 

2010 as Gulf Coast’s nationally acclaimed 

Suncoast Technical College and CareerEdge 

workforce and business innovation initiative, 

Gulf Coast has given over $1.7 million to 

this program. Support for the $125,000 grant 

comes from Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment 

Fund and the generosity of the A. Hamilton 

and Edith T. Gardner Fund. 

• $75,000 to State College of Florida Foundation. 

The grant will provide instructional 

equipment for nursing students and aspiring 

nursing students to continue to address 

the critical shortage of registered nurses in 

Southwest Florida. Supported by the Gulf 

Coast Community Foundation Fund, Gulf 

Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund, and the Ed 

and Barbara Strobel Fund. 

• $710,000 in Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 

Arts Appreciation Grants across 13 

cornerstone arts organizations in our region 

to bring world-class talent and beauty 

to Florida’s Cultural Coast. Those grantees 

are: Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota 

Opera, Sarasota Orchestra, Ringling Museum, 

Venice Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, 

Embracing Our Differences, Circus Arts Conservatory, 

Hermitage Artist Retreat, Venice 

Symphony, and Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe. 

To learn more visit GulfCoastCF.org. 


travel 

Check out the 

US Botanic Garden, Washington, DC 

Oasis of beauty and serenity in the nation’s capitol 

IF 

I worked in Washington, DC, 

I would have my lunch outside 

at the US Botanic Garden. 

I’d also go inside and surround 

myself with tropical moisture on 

a cold winter’s day. And if a lot was weighing 

on my mind, I’d pop in and walk among 

the orchids. You get the idea. Tropical 

gardens, conservatories, and the like, are 

peaceful retreats that are also invigorating 

and refreshing. 

The US Botanic Garden is unique in that 

it sits on the National Mall - that dense 

space where US history and its many 

treasures are on display in a variety of 

museums and national monuments as well 

as our working government. The Garden, 

located next to the Capitol Reflecting Pool, 

was on the wish lists of George Washington, 

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison 

who all wanted a national botanic garden 

for the young nation’s capitol. 

Thus the history of the U.S. Botanic 

Garden coincides with the history of the 

U.S. itself, and, with their efforts as well as 

others, one was established on the National 

Mall in 1820. According to their website, 

The Botanic Garden has been in continuous 

operation since 1850 and in its current 

location since 1933. 

The Garden is a living plant museum 

that shows the importance of plants to 

not just human beings, but the earth’s 

ecosystems as a whole. It offers a historic 

conservatory that houses courtyard gardens, 

themed garden rooms, and special 

exhibits. 

The Garden extends to its outside 

grounds where there are plantings that 

represent different environments from 

around the United States. Across the road 

from the conservatory, Bartholdi Park is a 

showcase for plant combinations centered 

around a beautiful fountain. 

Exactly what is a botanic garden? Today, 

cultivation and preservation, as well as 

botanical displays and carefully-selected 

plant collections is what sets a botanic garden 

apart. The International Association 

of Botanic Gardens decided in 1963 that a 

botanic garden is a place ‘open to the public 

in which the plants are labelled.’ 

All modern botanic gardens have a role 

in plant science, conservation and inspiring 

the public to appreciate the vital role 

of plants and fungi to life on Earth. Today, 

there are 1,775 botanic gardens in 148 

countries world-wide so that explains in 

part why they are so popular. 

The “wow” factor is how lush the interiors 

of the Garden’s buildings are. You 

can climb metal stairs and walk among 

the sub-tropical and tropical plants from 

around the world and get misted and feel 

transported. It’s also a “wow” to see such 

diversity in nature and come face-to-face 

with plants that give us many products that 

are vital in health, but also for enjoyment 

(like chocolate). 

7 

Latest exhibit: 

The United States Botanic Garden has an 

exhibit sharing the stories of agriculture – 

from the people that grow the food and the 

important cultural connections food provides 

to modern techniques and scientific 

innovations that make agriculture more 

sustainable and productive. “Cultivate: 

Growing Food in a Changing World” is on 

display through December 2023. 

Visitors can learn how inventive ideas 

in agriculture, both scientific and social, 

sustain and enrich life and how growing 

and cooking food connects people with 

each other and their communities. You 

can see dozens of colorful varieties of 

corn and learn about the wild relatives 

of modern plants we eat, go hands-on to 

explore the science of agriculture through 

microscopes and hand lenses, dive into the 

stories of the many different peoples that 

have farmed the land through the centuries, 

and enjoy the smells of the plants that 

connect several local chefs with their food 

cultures. 

Find upcoming programs at www. 

USBG.gov. 

7 

History: 

The United States Botanic Garden is the 

oldest continuously operating public 

garden in the United States. The Garden 

is rooted in the nation’s heritage. During 

the late 18th century, George Washington 

had a dream of a national botanic garden 

and was instrumental in establishing one 

on the National Mall in 1820. Washington's 

letter written in support of a botanic 

garden in the new federal city is in the archives 

of the Library of Congress. 

The institution traces its beginning to 

1816, when the constitution of the Columbian 

Institute for the Promotion of Arts 

and Sciences in Washington, D.C., proposed 

the creation of a botanic garden to 

collect, grow and distribute plants of this 

and other countries that might contribute 

to the welfare of the American people. 

On May 8, 1820, President James Madison 

signed a bill passed by the U.S. Congress 

designating land for the garden to 

the west of the Capitol Grounds, from First 

Street to Third Street between Pennsylvania 

and Maryland Avenues. 

This facility functioned until 1837, shortly 

after the organization stopped holding 

meetings. In 1842, the idea of a national 

botanic garden was reestablished when 

the United States Exploring Expedition 

to the South Seas (the Wilkes Expedition) 

brought a collection of living plants from 

around the globe to Washington, D.C. 

These formed the first permanent collection 

of plants for the U.S. Botanic Garden, 

and four plants in the Garden today date 

back to this expedition. The plants were 

kept in a specially constructed greenhouse 

behind the Old Patent Office Building 

while a new Conservatory for the Garden 

was constructed between 1842-1850. 

The Victorian Conservatory opened to 

the public in 1850 and the U.S. Botanic 

Garden has been in continuous operation 

and open to the public since this date. 

The Garden moved to its present location 

in 1933 and includes the Conservatory, 

which was renovated from 1997-2001; 

the gated outdoor gardens, which opened 

in 2006; and Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens, 

which were created in 1932. 

The U.S. Botanic Garden maintains more 

than 9,500 accessions, which equates to 

about 44,000 plants. These are used for 

exhibition, study, and exchange with other 

institutions. The Garden's noteworthy 

collections include economic plants, medicinal 

plants, orchids, carnivorous plants, 

cacti and other succulents, aroids, plants 

of eastern North America, bromeliads, cycads, 

and ferns. 

7 

Visiting the U.S. Botanic Garden 

Learn about the importance and fundamental 

value and diversity of plants, as 

well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, 

therapeutic, and ecological significance. 

There’s excellent public transportation in 

the area since it’s just off the Mall. Try to 

Metro - it’s clean, affordable and easy to 

navigate. 

H Location: 100 Maryland Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 

H Hours: open every day of the year 

from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with the National 

Garden staying open until 7 p.m. from 

Memorial Day until Labor Day. Bartholdi 

Park is open every day from dawn until 

dusk 

H Admission: Free 

H More info: www.USBG.gov 

H Virtual 360 degree tour: www.google. 

com/maps 


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staying healthy 

Hydrating for Health 

Why Drinking Water is so Important 

About 

two-thirds of your body 

weight is water. All your cells 

need water to work. Water 

is also the base for all your 

different body fluids, including 

saliva, blood, urine, sweat, 

and joint fluid. No living thing can survive 

without water. 

How do you know if 

you’re drinking enough? 

Your body loses water when you sweat, 

go to the bathroom, and even when you 

just breathe out. So, you need to drink 

enough water to replace what you lose. 

When you don’t drink enough water, you 

can become dehydrated. 

Signs that you’re getting dehydrated 

include feeling very thirsty and having 

headaches. Your mouth or skin may feel 

very dry. And your urine may get darker 

because your body is trying to conserve 

water. Drinking fluids should be enough 

to relieve mild dehydration. 

If dehydration becomes severe, it can 

cause confusion, fainting, an inability to 

urinate, and rapid heartbeat and breathing. 

At this point, it can be life-threatening, 

and you should seek medical help fast. 

Drinking liquids may not be enough to 

replenish your body’s fluids. You may need 

to be given fluids intravenously—through 

a needle or tube inserted into a vein. 

Recent NIH-funded research suggests 

that avoiding dehydration may not be 

the only reason to make sure you drink 

enough fluids. Dr. Natalia Dmitrieva, a 

heart researcher at NIH (National Institutes 

of Health), has studied the longterm 

effects of not drinking enough 

water. In one study, her team found 

that middle-aged people who were not 

adequately hydrated were more likely to 

develop chronic diseases. The diseases 

included heart failure, diabetes, chronic 

lung disease, and dementia. 

These people were also more likely to 

age faster and die younger. So, staying 

well hydrated might help you stay healthier 

as you get older. 

The best way to avoid dehydration is to 

make sure you drink enough fluids every 

day. Ideally, you should get your fluids 

from water or other low-calorie beverages, 

such as plain coffee or tea, or sparkling 

or flavored waters. Nutritional beverages, 

such as milk or milk alternatives, or 100% 

vegetable juice, are also good options. 

Relying on soda, sports drinks, or other 

sugary beverages for most of your fluids 

can add many calories to your diet, and 

they have little nutritional value. 

How much you should drink each day 

depends on many factors, including 

your age, where you live, and your body 

weight. And your body doesn’t always 

lose water at the same rate. For instance, 

when you exercise or are active in hot 

weather, you sweat more and so need 

to drink more. But experts generally 

recommend drinking around 9 cups of 

fluids a day for women and 13 cups for 

men on average. 

Certain diseases, like diabetes or chronic 

kidney disease, and some medicines 

can make you urinate more often. You 

also lose a lot of water when you throw up 

or have diarrhea or a fever. In these cases, 

you need to drink more water to avoid 

getting dehydrated. 

Dmitrieva has changed her own drinking 

habits based on the results of her research. 

“When I started to see the results 

of these studies and then started seeing 

how much I drink, I realized that I drank 

less than needed,” she says. “Then I just 

started to take one liter of water with me 

when I go to work. And I make sure that 

during the day I drink this one liter.” 

Tips for Staying Hydrated 

o Drink when you feel thirsty, if not before. 

o Get your fluids from water or other 

low-calorie beverages, such as plain 

coffee or tea, or sparkling or flavored 

waters. 

o Carry a bottle of water and refill it as 

needed during the day. 

o Drink at regular times. For example, 

drink with meals. 

o Drink water before, during, and after 

exercise. 

o Drink extra fluids during hot weather or 

when you are sick. 

o Get medical help right away if you 

experience confusion, fainting, rapid 

heartbeat or breathing, or can’t urinate 

Benefits of Drinking Water 

Getting enough water every day is important 

for your health. Drinking water 

can prevent dehydration, a condition 

that can cause unclear thinking, result 

in mood change, cause your body to 

overheat, and lead to constipation and 

kidney stones. Water has no calories, so 

it can also help with managing body 

weight and reducing calorie intake when 

substituted for drinks with calories, such 

as sweet tea or regular soda. 

Water helps your body: 

o Keep a normal temperature 

o Lubricate and cushion joints 

o Protect your spinal cord and other 

sensitive tissues 

o Get rid of wastes through urination, 

perspiration, and bowel movements 

o When you are in hot climates like 

Florida 

o When you are physically active 

o When you are running a fever or having 

diarrhea or vomiting 

Everyone should consume water from 

foods and beverages every day. Although 

there is no recommendation for how 

much plain water everyone should drink 

daily, there are recommendations for how 

much daily total water intake should come 

from a variety of beverages and foods. 

Daily total water intake (fluid) is defined 

as the amount of water consumed from 

foods, plain drinking water, and other 

beverages. Daily water intake recommendations 

vary by age, sex, pregnancy status, 

and breastfeeding status. Most of your 

fluid needs are met through the water 

and other beverages you drink. You can 

get some fluids through the foods that 

you eat—especially foods with high water 

content, such as many fruits and vegetables. 

Drinking water is one good way of 

getting fluids as it has zero calories. 

Tips to Drink More Water: 

o Carry a water bottle with you and refill it 

throughout the day. 

o Freeze some freezer safe water bottles. 

Take one with you for ice-cold water all 

day long. 

o Choose water over sugary drinks. 

o Opt for water when eating out. You’ll 

save money and reduce calories. 

o Serve water during meals. 

o Add a wedge of lime or lemon to your 

water. This can help improve the taste. 

o Make sure your kids are getting enough 

water too. Learn more about drinking 

water in schools and early care and 

education settings. 

Healthier Drink Options 

Of course, there are many other beverage 

options besides water, and many of these 

can be part of a healthy diet. 

o Low- or no- calorie beverages 

o Plain coffee or teas, sparkling water, 

seltzers, and flavored waters, are lowcalorie 

choices that can be part of a 

healthy diet. 

o Drinks with calories and important 

nutrients 

o Low-fat or fat-free milk; unsweetened, 

fortified milk alternatives; or 100% fruit 

or vegetable juice contain important 

nutrients such as calcium, potassium, 

or vitamin D. These drinks should 

be enjoyed within recommended 

calorie limits. 

o Drinks with sugar alternatives: Drinks 

that are labeled “sugar-free” or “diet” 

likely contain high-intensity sweeteners, 

such as sucralose, aspartame, or 

saccharine. According to the Dietary 

Guidelines for Americans, “replacing 

added sugars with high-intensity 

sweeteners may reduce calorie intake 

in the short-term…yet questions remain 

about their effectiveness as a long-term 

weight management strategy 


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you’re news 

Accolades 

■ The Sarasota Memorial Research 

Institute and Florida State 

University College of Medicine 

held their first joint Interprofessional 

Research Conference at 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Sarasota 

campus in May. 

The event, along with the groundbreaking 

of SMH’s new Research & 

Education Institute, reflects the local 

health system’s national reputation 

as a teaching hospital and expanding 

commitment to clinical research. 

More than 150 healthcare professionals 

gathered to learn about 

innovative research projects and 

clinical studies led by multi-disciplinary 

specialists from across the 

region. The event featured dozens 

of individual and group poster, 

panel and podium presentations 

by physicians, pharmacists, nurses 

and other clinicians and a keynote 

address by National Institutes of 

Health award-winning researcher 

Irshad Chaudry, PhD. 

Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical 

Officer James Fiorica, MD, presents 

the 2023 Distinguished Physician & 

Innovation Award to GYN Oncologist 

Beverly Long, MD. 

SMH and FSU leaders also presented 

nine research and innovation 

awards at the event. 

The 2023 award recipients are: 

• SMH Distinguished Physician 

Research & Innovation Award – 

Beverly Long, MD 

• SMH Distinguished Nurse 


Bridget Drafahl, PhD, C-ONQS, 

CNS, RN 

• SMH Research & Innovation 

Excellence Award – Colleen 

Lindner, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC 

• SMH Distinguished Pharmacy 


Pamela Lewis, RPh 

• SMH Pharmacy New Investigator 

Research Award – Jonathan 

Summerlin, PharmD 

• FSU Emergency Medicine Resident 

Research Award – Emily 

Wheeler, MD 

• FSU Emergency Medicine 

Distinguished Faculty Research 

Scholar Award – Sagar Galwankar, 

MBBS, MBA, MPH 

• FSU Internal Medicine Resident 

Research Award – Stephanie 

Williams, MD 

• FSU Internal Medicine Distinguished 

Faculty Research Scholar 

Award – Robert Smith, PhD 

For information, visit smh.com. 

NBP dragon-boat paddlers 

■ Ten NBP dragon-boat paddlers 

were selected to represent 

Team USA this summer at the 

16th International Dragon Boat 

Federation (IDBF) World Dragon 

Boat Racing Championships. The 

biennial event will be held this year 

in Pattaya, Thailand on August 7-13. 

Hundreds of contenders competed 

at national events over the 

last two years vying for a chance 

to compete on the world stage this 

summer. Team USA members are 

chosen in age groups and for boat 

size, which includes standard boat 

crews of 10 paddlers and small 

boats crews of five paddlers. Each 

boat also has a drummer at the bow 

and a steerer who stands in the 

stern of the boat with a long oar. 

NBP’s newest team member, 

Paul Hoffmann, is a threetime 

Team USA member, making 

the roster in 2019, 2021 and 2023. 

NBP team members selected for 

the second time to represent Team 

USA are steerer Angela Long and 

paddlers Mandy Boyers, Doreen 

Clyne and Don Bickel. Making 

their world debuts are paddlers Brian 

Long, Dana Trimble, Duneska 

Grant, Joni Carone and drummer 

Paula Murray. 

The NBP conservancy provides 

coaching, clinics, timing, logistical 

support, promotion and communications, 

as well as equipment for 

the program and its paddlers. 

Appointments 

■ Erin Silk has taken the leadership 

reins for the Economic Development 

Corporation of Sarasota 

County. Silk first came on with the 

EDC in 2019 

as director 

of business 

development 

services and 

rose to the post 

of chief operations 

officer in 

November. She 

has worked 

Erin Silk 

closely with 

Lisa Krouse, who has served as CEO 

since 2021. 

Silk will continue to focus on economic 

diversification in the community. 

The region has continued 

to make strides in that direction, 

growing its manufacturing sector. 

She stressed the bulk of that is clean 

manufacturing. 

The new CEO has been with the 

organization through sometimes 

fractious periods with the county. 

But she said public-private partnerships 

remain the key to the organization’s 

success. And she noted 

the region remains a desirable one 

where CEOs often move even before 

considering relocating businesses 

or launching new ones. 

“Our region is undergoing transformation, 

and we are at a pivotal 

point when it is more important than 

ever to focus on workforce retention, 

foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem, 

and support diverse job creation 

while sustaining the environment 

that makes our County such a 

special place to live, work and play,” 

she said. “With a thoughtful eye on 

our history, I am excited to bring an 

innovative approach to our future.” 

■ Danielle Hughes, Team 

Coordinator of the Child 

Protection Team (CPT) at the 

Child Protection Center (CPC), 

has been named next year’s cochair 

of Sarasota County’s Sexual 

Abuse Response Team (SART). 

This will be Danielle’s second 

time serving as a chair for SART. 

Danielle has served as a child abuse 

expert for 17 years at the Child 

Protection Center, where she leads 

the Child Protection Team in coordinating 

and providing intervention 

services in cases of children who 

are suspected victims of sexual 

abuse, physical abuse and neglect. 

Services include medical exams, 

forensic interviews, psychological 

and psychosocial assessments, and 

court testimony. CPT is a legislatively 

mandated program and the 

only provider authorized by the 

state to perform these intervention 

services in Sarasota County. 

Danielle’s additional contributions 

to improving the welfare 

and safety of victims include her 

founding of the PAWS (Pet Advocates 

Working in the Suncoast) pet 

therapy program, her service on 

the Department of Health’s Quality 

Assurance Team, member of the 

Critical Incident Rapid Response 

Team, member of the Child Death 

Review, member of the Child 

Interview Advisory Committee, 

and Supervisor of the VOCA Victim 

Advocate/Administrative Duties. 

Danielle’s expertise has also been 

utilized in training Child Protection 

Team Case Coordinators across 

Florida. For over 40 years, CPC has 

been serving Sarasota and DeSoto 

Counties in the State of Florida. 

For more information on CPC, 

visit www.cpcsarasota.org or call 

941-365-1277. 

■ Ringling College of Art and 

Design has appointed Dr. Tiffany 

Holmes as Vice President for 

Academic 

Affairs. Holmes 

has served at 

two peer institutions, 

first for 

18 years at the 

School of the 

Art Institute 

of Chicago 

(SAIC) as 

Dr. Tiffany Holmes 

a full-time 

faculty member, department chair, 

and dean, and then for five years at 

the Maryland Institute College of 

Art (MICA) in Baltimore as its vice 

provost for Undergraduate Studies 

followed by her interim appointment 

as provost in 2021. 

In her role as VP for Academic 

Affairs, Holmes will serve as a 

strategic and innovative leader on 

campus. She will work closely with 

the College’s senior leadership 

team, academic department heads, 

faculty, and the members of the 

Board of Trustees to develop and 

execute strategies that will enhance 

Ringling's academic excellence 

and success. 

Holmes has developed training 

programs to support equitable faculty 

hiring processes resulting in 

more diverse faculty hires, provided 

opportunities to engage more 

BIPOC speakers, and collaborated 

with faculty to build community 

and appreciate the individuality 

and unique perspectives both 

students and faculty bring to their 

classrooms. 

■ Lisa Scrafford has joined RE/ 

MAX Platinum Realty as a Realtor 

in the Wellen Park office. A member 

of the Seaside Living Group team, 

she brings extensive knowledge of 

the Florida Suncoast, specializing in 

residential real estate from Sarasota 

to Punta Gorda. 

Scrafford lived in Santa Fe, New 

Mexico, for 35 years before moving 

to Venice in 2013. Prior to discovering 

her love for home design and 

real estate, Scrafford had a long 

career in nursing. The Wellen Park 

office is located at 19503 S. West 

Villages Parkway, Venice. Scrafford 

can be reached at lisa@seasidelivingfl.com. 

■ Tammy Oakes has joined RE/ 

MAX Platinum Realty as a Realtor 

in the Venice 

office. She 

has 35 years 

of real estate 

experience, 

specializing 

in residential 

resales, new 

construction, 

second homes 

Tammy Oakes 

and vacation properties. 

Prior to her career in real estate, 

Oakes worked in hotel group sales. 

She said she joined RE/MAX Platinum 

Realty because it offers the 

best of both worlds, blending the 

international recognition and resources 

of the RE/MAX brand with 

the small boutique feel of RE/MAX 

Platinum Realty. The Venice office 

is located at 307 W. Venice Avenue, 

Venice. Oakes can be reached at 

realtortammyoakesllc@gmail.com. 

■ VISIT FLORIDA’s Board of 

Directors has elected Jennifer O. 

Rominiecki, president and CEO of 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, as 

Chair for the 

2023-24 fiscal 

year. Rominiecki, 

who 

is currently 

Vice Chair 

of the state’s 

official tourism 

marketing 

corporation, 

Jennifer O. Rominiecki 

she began her 

one-year term as Chair on July 1. 

Rominiecki has served on the 

VISIT FLORIDA Board since July 

2020. During the 2022-23 fiscal 

year, she has chaired the organization’s 

Industry Services, Small 

Business and Rural Development 

Council, in addition to serving as 

Vice Chair. VISIT FLORIDA’s Board 

of Directors consists of tourism-industry 

experts from across the state 

who, along with the members of its 

committees and councils, provide 

guidance, input, and insight into 

the evolution of VISIT FLORIDA 

programs, processes, and messaging. 

The organization’s 2023-24 

Board of Directors will serve from 

July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. 

Rominiecki has served as Selby 

Gardens’ chief executive since 2015. 

After arriving, she repositioned the 

institution as The Living Museum®, 

enacting a new operating model 

that has yielded increases of 75% 

in membership and 74% in overall 

earned revenues. 

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healthier you 

Dr. Cifra 

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6208-0721 

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 

the gold standard in training & 

research of the latest & most effective 

options for the alleviation & 

treatment of Spinal Disc Disorders 

which often cause low back pain, 

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 

are considered state-of-the art and 

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 

next 7 days you will be given a 

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dining in 

CRUST: 

FOR THE CRUST: 

Foods that Start with “C” 

Stir together shortbread crumbs and melted butter until crumbs resemble wet sand. 

Press mixture evenly onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Place in refrigerator while 

preparing filling. 

FOR THE FILLING: 

F Cappuccino Cheesecake 

Cappuccino Cheesecake T 

This coffeehouse-inspired 

cheesecake is 

light, creamy 

and not overly 

sweet. And it’s 

no-bake. Use 

instant espresso 

powder for 

a more pronounced 

coffee 

flavor, but 

instant coffee 

granules are 

an acceptable 

substitute. 

Makes 

10-12 servings 

1 cup finely crushed shortbread cookies 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 

FILLING: 

3/4 cup whole milk 

1/4 oz. (1 envelope) unflavored 

powdered gelatin 

24 ozs. cream cheese, softened 

8 ozs. sour cream 

Pour milk in small saucepan and sprinkle powdered gelatin evenly over surface. Let 

stand for 2 minutes. Place pan over low heat and cook while stirring just until gelatin is 

dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. 

Beat cream cheese in stand mixer fitted with whip attachment at medium speed until 

smooth. Beat in sour cream, sugar and vanilla until well mixed; gradually beat in gelatin 

mixture. 

Combine instant espresso powder with 1 1/2 tablespoons hot water; stir until dissolved. 

Gradually add coffee mixture. 

Spoon batter into pan over crust and spread evenly. Cover and chill until set, about 4 

hours. To serve, loosen cheesecake from sides of springform pan using a small knife or 

offset spatula. Remove springform collar. 

Pipe or spread whipped cream over top of the cheesecake; sprinkle with cinnamon. 

Store in the refrigerator. 

These crackers are made with simple ingredients 

– cornmeal, herbs and a little butter. 

Makes about 40-50 crackers 

INGREDIENTS: 

1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 

1 tsp. dried basil 

1 tsp. dried oregano 

1/2 tsp. garlic powder 

1/2 tsp. baking powder 

1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided 

1/2 cup stone ground yellow cornmeal 

1/2 cup cold water 

1 1/2 tsp. unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces 

DIRECTIONS: 

3/4 cup sugar 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

3 tablespoons instant espresso powder 

2 cups whipped cream 

Cinnamon for garnish 

F Cajun Stuffed Pasta Shells with Creole Sauce 

FILLING: 

Cajun Stuffed Pasta Shells with Creole Sauce T 

1 pound jumbo pasta shells 

4 tablespoons unsalted 

butter, divided 

4 andouille sausage links, 

sliced 

2 large boneless skinless 

chicken breasts, diced 

1 large yellow onion, 

chopped 

3 celery stalks, chopped 

1 jalapeño, seeded and 

diced (optional) 

1 red bell pepper, seeded 

and diced 

1 green bell pepper, seeded 

and diced 

3 medium tomatoes, seeded 

and diced 

2 dried bay leaves 

2 sprigs fresh thyme 

1 teaspoons Creole 

seasoning 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

1/4 cup sliced scallions, for 

garnish 

1 (15-ounce) container 

ricotta cheese 

1 1/2 cups shredded 

mozzarella cheese, divided 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

F Cornmeal Crackers 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Set out 2 baking sheets, preferably light colored. In small 

bowl, combine flour, basil, oregano, garlic powder, baking powder and half the salt. 

In small saucepan, mix cornmeal and water until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat 

while whisking constantly until most of cornmeal clings to whisk in a ball and just starts 

to steam. Transfer cornmeal to small mixing bowl. 

Using spatula, spread hot cornmeal to cover bottom of bowl. Add butter and with your 

CREOLE CREAM SAUCE: 

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

1 cup half and half 

1 cup whole milk 

1 tablespoon Creole seasoning 

Bring large pot of cold water to boil. Season with plenty of salt and throw in pasta shells. 

Cook until almost done. It’s better if they’re slightly under-cooked, as they’ll continue to 

cook while baking. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. 

Set large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and once melted, 

throw in sausage. Cook until browned and crispy on all sides, about 4 to 5 minutes. 

Using slotted spoon, transfer sausage to plate or platter, leaving the drippings in the 

skillet. Add chicken to hot skillet and cook until browned as well, about 5 to 6 minutes. 

Transfer to the plate with sausage. 

Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to skillet and add veggies, bay leaves and thyme. 

Cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Season with creole seasoning, salt and pepper. 

Remove from heat and let cool slightly. 

In large bowl, combine ricotta cheese with 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Add cooled 

veggie and meat mixture and stir until well combined. 

Cornmeal Crackers T 

See CREOLE CREAM SAUCE directions on next page 

fingers carefully work hot cornmeal and butter into soft 

ball. Flatten cornmeal to cover bottom of bowl. Add dry 

ingredients and with hands, work them into cornmeal just 

until blended, pliable dough forms. Don’t overwork dough. 

Place sheet of baking parchment on work surface. Pat 

dough into 4-inch by 6-inch rectangle and place in center 

of parchment with narrow edge toward you. Working 

always from center out, push rolling pin towards top, then 

bottom, then each side. Repeat until dough is 8-inch by 

10-inch rectangle. If dough is irregularly shaped, trim and 

piece pieces around edges, pressing them into place. 

Cut dough crosswise in half. Setting one half aside on a 

baking sheet, rotate piece remaining on parchment so 

narrow side faces you. Roll it out to roughly 6 inches by 9 

inches. Lifting parchment on one long side, release dough 

against your hand, then lay it back down on parchment. 

Repeat to release dough on other side. Roll dough to get it as thin as you can (less than 

1/16 inch if possible), to about 7 inches by 10 inches. With tines of fork, pierce dough 

all over, about every inch. Using sharp, thin knife, trim sides to make them even. With 

ruler as guide, cut dough into 1-inch by 2-inch strips. Sprinkle half of remaining salt over 

pieces. Arrange pieces of dough on one of baking sheets, placing them 1/2-inch apart. 

Bake crackers 12-15 minutes, or until almost firm and lightly golden. Crackers will be 

unevenly colored with dark brown patches. Crackers harden as they cool. 


dining in continued 

Cremini Mushrooms with 

F Cashew Cream Sauce over Linguini T 

Creminis resemble white mushrooms, 

but with a brown cap and 

are also known as baby bellas or 

browns. Makes 6 servings 

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INGREDIENTS: 

3 cups mushroom broth, divided 

1 small-medium potato, peeled, 

cut in 1-inch pieces 

1 cup raw unsalted cashews 

12 oz. linguini, fettuccini or wide 

noodles 

2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 

1 small-medium onion, chopped 

1 stalk celery, cut in 1/4-inch 

slices 

Salt and freshly ground black 

pepper 

1 tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme 

1 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary 

1 lb. cremini, baby portabella or 

brown mushrooms, cut in 1/4-inch 

slices 

DIRECTIONS: 

In small pot, bring 1½ cups broth, potato and cashews to a boil. Cover and reduce 

heat to medium high and cook until potato is fork tender, about 10 minutes. Using 

handheld strainer, pour broth into small bowl and retain potato and cashews in 

strainer. Rest strainer over bowl. 

Cook pasta according to cooking directions and keep warm. 

3 Tbsp. finely ground flaxseed, 

preferably golden 

1-2 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley for 

garnish, optional 

While, potatoes, cashews and pasta cook, in large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over 

medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, pinch of salt and few grinds of fresh pepper and 

sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add herbs and sauté 1 minute. Transfer onioncelery 

mixture to large bowl, cover with foil and set aside. 

Using same skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, 

pinch of salt and few grinds of pepper and sauté until mushrooms are brown, 

about 5 minutes. Add sautéed mushrooms to bowl with onion-celery mixture and 

mix together. 

In high-speed blender add half vegetable mixture. Recover remaining mixture with 

foil to keep warm. Add potato, cashews and flaxseed. In 2-cup liquid measuring 

cup, pour in reserved mushroom broth (original 1½ cups will have reduced during 

cooking). Add additional broth to measure 1½ cups. Add broth to blender. Purée all 

on high until smooth. 

Return sauce to skillet over medium heat and simmer until heated through, about 

5 minutes. Stir in additional broth if necessary for desired consistency. 

Divide pasta among 6 large bowls. Ladle sauce over pasta and top with remaining 

mushroom mixture. Garnish with parsley, if using, and serve. Alternatively, toss all 

pasta with sauce, top with mushroom mixture and garnish with parsley, if using, 

before plating. 

continued CREOLE CREAM SAUCE directions from previous page 

CREOLE CREAM SAUCE: 

Set medium saucepan over 

medium-high heat and add butter. 

Once melted, whisk in flour and 

cook for about 30 seconds. Slowly 

add half and half and milk while 

continuously whisking. Lower heat 

and cook until sauce has thickened. 

Season with Creole seasoning and 

hot sauce. Preheat oven to 350°F. 

Pour about a cup of sauce into 9 

by 13-inch baking dish and spread 

in an even layer. Fill each pasta 

shell with about a tablespoon or 

so of filling and place in baking 

dish. Continue filling all shells and 

placing them snugly into baking 

dish. Pour on remaining sauce and 

sprinkle with remaining mozzarella 

cheese. Bake until bubbly and 

melted, about 15-20 minutes. 

Place under broiler (keeping an 

eye on it) for the last 5 minutes of 

cooking. Garnish with scallions. 


it’s personal 

FACING DOWN THE BLOB AT 

BLOBFEST 2023 

Annual event marks the low-budget, yet popular ‘50s horror movie 

Street Fair featuring multiple bands 

and over 70 vendors 

On Sunday, there was the Runegades 

Blob Run, and a self-guided driving 

tour of filming locations featured in 

The Blob. 

STORY and IMAGES: Louise Bruderle 

Movie poster for the film from 1958 

It’s personal in a full circle kind of 

way. Many years ago I would often 

go to Saturday matinee movies 

in my hometown of Havertown, 

PA. One weekend back in the ‘60s 

the featured movie was “The Blob” 

- an amateurish, borderline campy 

movie made in 1958 about a “carnivorous 

amoeboidal alien that crashes to 

Earth from outer space inside a meteorite, 

landing near the small communities 

of Phoenixville and Downingtown, 

Pennsylvania.” 

Sounds like fun except the movie terrified 

me - especially when there’s the 

scene with a full movie theatre and 

the Blob starts coming out of the projection 

room and on to the people below 

and they stampede and scream— 

in best horror movie style—out of the 

theatre. It was then that I quietly and 

quickly exited the movie theatre, leaving 

my friends behind and not getting 

my dollar’s worth of the doubleheader. 

Fast forward and I was watching the 

movie “Them” on TCM (another terrifying 

movie about giant ants attacking 

and killing people in New Mexico) 

around Halloween and wondered 

about The Blob. I did a little searching, 

and lo and behold there’s something 

called the Blobfest taking place July 

14-16 in Phoenixville, PA, in the exact 

movie theatre where those people 

fled the Blob in the movie. 

The following year, I looked at the 

site again and volunteered for their 

Cool merch for sale 

including your own 

mini “Blob” 

You meet the coolest 

people at Blobfest 

The runout itself 

famous “Blob Run Out,” which takes 

place on opening night when they reenact 

the movie’s iconic moment and 

my childhood bogeyman. 

I then signed on to become a volunteer, 

selling merch prior to the 

reenactment. The Blob’s likeness— 

something I chose to call Smucker’s 

Strawberry preserves —was imprinted 

on t-shirts, fridge magnets, pennants, 

posters, patches and pins. I sold lots of 

stuff, using my sales skills having sold 

ads at WCW for ages. I also was near 

the exit so I could join in the runout 

and, if need be, run out early. 

The movie is cheesy and low-budget, 

but fun in a campy kind of way. The 

plot is basically this: a blob crashes to 

Earth, then absorbs a mechanic at a repair 

shop. The lead character, Steve (a 

young Steve McQueen), recruits Tony 

and his friends to warn people about 

the Blob. When Steve notices that his 

father’s grocery store is unlocked, he 

and Jane go inside to investigate. 

The janitor is nowhere to be seen. 

The couple is quickly cornered by 

the Blob and they seek refuge in the 

walk-in freezer. The Blob oozes in 

under the door, but quickly retreats. 

Steve and Jane gather their friends 

All calm 

and set off the 

town’s fire and airraid 

alarms. The 

responding townspeople 

and police 

still refuse to believe 

them. 

The Blob then enters 

the Colonial Theater 

and envelopes the projectionist, 

then oozes 

into the auditorium. 

Screaming people flee 

the theater in panic. 

Steve and his pals retreat 

to a diner and a 

fire breaks out. Long 

story short, they find 

that CO2 fire extinguishers 

repel the Blob 

and the police and everyone else in 

small-town America show up and 

blasts the bugger who shrivels up 

and goes away, but is not completely 

destroyed. 

Blobfest as it’s called, has been taking 

place since 2000. It has probably done 

more for the former manufacturing 

town of Phoenixville than anything 

else. They close off the street and 

restaurants move tables outside and 

there are booths and games (it’s family 

friendly) and all kinds of silliness. 

The evening started with a live stage 

show featuring Aurora Gorealis and 

Beach Creeper, the Shorty’s Short Film 

and Mx. Blobfest Universe Contests. I 

had finished my volunteer shift and 

went to look outside the front of the 

theatre. It was easily 20 deep in people 

in all directions. People actually wait to 

see people running out of the theatre. 

On cue the doors to the auditorium 

fling open and everyone runs out and 

I was one of them — this time fearless. 

It’s great fun, seriously silly, and many 

of the people I chatted with have been 

coming for years. 

After the reenactment of the runout, 

they had the Blob Ball with live music. 

On the next day they had a Blobfest 

BLOB FACTS 

• The film was the first production of 

Jack Harris, a film distributor from 

Philadelphia, and was reportedly 

inspired by a discovery of star jelly 

in Pennsylvania in 1950. 

• Twenty-eight-year-old Steve Mc- 

Queen received $3,000 for his starring 

role. He turned down an offer 

for a smaller up-front fee in return 

for a 10% percent share of profits, 

thinking that the film would never 

make money; he needed his signing 

fee immediately to pay for food 

and rent. However, The Blob ended 

up a hit, grossing $4 million at the 

box office. 

• The film’s tongue-in-cheek title 

song, The Blob was written by Burt 

Bacharach and Mack David. It 

became a nationwide hit in the 

U.S., peaking at #33 on the Billboard 

chart on November 9, 1958. 

• The Blob premiered as the B 

film on a double feature with I Married 

a Monster from Outer Space 

• Beware! The Blob, a sequel directed 

by Larry Hagman, was released in 

1972 

• A remake with the same name was 

directed by Chuck Russell in 1988. 

• The Blob itself was made from 

silicone, with increasing amounts 

of red vegetable dye added as it 

“absorbed” people. 

BLOBFEST 

Location: Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge 

Street, Phoenixville, PA. Website: thecolonialtheatre.com/blobfest/ 

The theatre, in addition to the annual 

Blobfest, has a variety of events, concerts 

and shows. Visit thecolonialtheatre.com/events/ 

Getting there: Phoenixville is in Chester 

County, PA, 28 miles northwest 

of Philadelphia. It’s in Bucks County 

which has lots of history, charming 

small town and lots of covered bridges 

but no Blob. 


happening this month 

Women’s Equality Day is on August 26 

It marks the ratification of the 

19th Amendment which women fought for the right to vote 

The right to vote, 

the cornerstone 

of democracy, 

belongs to all 

citizens — but 

this wasn’t always 

the case. Until recently, 

most countries denied 

voting rights to half of their 

population: women. 

By the early 1900s, 

several countries including 

Finland, New Zealand, 

and the United Kingdom 

had legalized voting for 

women as the movement 

continued to sweep across 

the world. In the early 19th 

century, American women, 

who generally couldn’t inherit property 

and made half of a man’s wages in 

any available jobs, began organizing to 

demand political rights and representation. 

In the U.S., the 19th Amendment to the 

Constitution was first introduced in 1878, 

but it failed to gain traction. It wasn’t 

until women’s involvement in the World 

War I effort made their contributions 

painfully obvious that women’s suffrage 

finally gained enough support. Women’s 

rights groups pointed out the hypocrisy 

of fighting for democracy in Europe 

while denying it to half of the American 

citizens at home. 

It was resubmitted numerous times 

until it was finally approved by both the 

House and Senate in June 1919. The bill 

needed to be approved by two-thirds of 

the states, so suffragists spent the next 

year lobbying state legislatures to gain 

support for the bill. 

Because a Constitutional amendment 

requires approval from two-thirds of the 

states, 36 of them had to ratify the 19th 

Amendment before its passage. 

On August 24, 1920, Tennessee became 

36th and final state to ratify the 

amendment, which passed by only one 

vote. That one vote belonged to Harry 

Burn, who heeded the words of his 

mother when she urged him to vote for 

suffrage. Secretary of State Bainbridge 

Colby signed the amendment into law 

on August 26, 1920. 

Fifty years later on August 26, 1970, 

Betty Friedan and the National Organization 

for Women organized a 

nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality. 

Women across the political spectrum 

joined together to demand equal opportunities 

in employment and education, 

as well as 24-hour childcare centers. This 

was the largest protest for gender equality 

in United States history. There were 

demonstrations and rallies in more than 

90 major cities and small towns across 

the country and over 100,000 women 

participated, including 50,000 who 

marched down Fifth Avenue in New 

York City. 

In 1971, Representative Bella Abzug 

Women’s rights groups pointed out the hypocrisy of fighting for 

democracy in Europe while denying it to half of the American 

citizens at home. 

(D-NY) introduced a successful bill 

designating August 26 of each year as 

Women’s Equality Day. Part of the bill 

reads that Women’s Equality Day is a 

symbol of women’s continued fight 

for equal rights and that the United 

States commends and supports them. It 

decreed that the President is authorized 

and requested to issue a proclamation 

annually in commemoration of woman 

suffrage and the 1970 Strike for Equality. 

A bit of History 

The 19th Amendment gave women the 

right to vote nationally on August 18, 

1920, so why is Women’s Equality Day on 

August 26th each year? 

The simple answer is that even when 

a constitutional amendment has been 

ratified it’s not official until it has been 

certified by the correct government 

official. In 1920, that official was U.S. 

Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby. On 

August 26, 1920, Colby signed a proclamation 

behind closed doors at 8 a.m. at 

his own house in Washington, D.C, ending 

a struggle for the vote that started a 

century earlier. 

The New York Times ran the story 

about the document’s signing on its 

front page and noted the lack of fanfare 

for the historic event. 

Colby had been asked by women’s 

suffrage leaders Alice Paul and Carrie 

Chapman Catt to allow groups in Colby’s 

office for the document’s signing and 

to film the event. Instead, Colby told 

reporters that “effectuating suffrage 

through proclamation of its ratification 

by the necessary thirty-six States was 

more important than feeding the movie 

cameras.” 

The Times explained that Colby was 

concerned about the rivalry between 

Paul and Catt and wanted to avoid a 

public scene at the signing. 

“Inasmuch as I am not interested in 

the aftermath of any of the friction or 

collisions which may have been developed 

in the long struggle for the ratification 

of the amendment, I have contented 

myself with the performance in the 

The 19th Amendment was resubmitted numerous times until it was 

finally approved by both the House and Senate in June 1919. 

simplest manner of the duty devolving 

upon me under the law,” Colby said. 

A package of documents from the 

state of Tennessee had arrived by train 

in Washington around 4 a.m. It included 

the official ratification document from 

the state legislature. 

How Tennessee became the 36th state 

to ratify the amendment on August 18, 

1920, was a story in itself. Congress had 

passed the proposed amendment a year 

earlier, and it was supported by President 

Woodrow Wilson. 

By the middle of 1920, 35 states had 

voted to ratify the amendment, but four 

other states—Connecticut, Vermont, 

North Carolina and Florida—refused 

to consider the resolution for various 

reasons, while the remaining states had 

rejected the amendment altogether. 

So, Tennessee became the battleground 

to obtain the three-fourths of 

states needed to ratify the amendment. 

Harry T. Burn, a 24-year-old legislator, 

was set to vote against the amendment, 

but switched his vote on the Tennessee 

state house floor at the urging of his 

mother, assuring the 19th amendment’s 

ratification. 

Yet, even after Burn’s deciding vote, 

anti-suffrage legislators tried desperately 

to nullify the previous vote. 

In 1971, Representative Bella Abzug 

championed a bill in the U.S. Congress 

to designate August 26 as “Women’s 

Equality Day.” The bill 

says that “the President 

is authorized and 

requested to issue a 

proclamation annually 

in commemoration 

of that day in 1920, on 

which the women of 

America were first given 

the right to vote.” 

In 1972, President 

Richard Nixon issued 

Proclamation 

4147, which designated 

August 26, 1972, as 

“Women’s Rights Day” 

and was the first official 

proclamation of Women’s Equality 

Day. On August 16, 1973, Congress approved 

H.J. Res. 52, which stated that August 

26 would be designated as Women’s 

Equality Day and that “the President is 

authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 

in commemoration of that day 

in 1920 on which the women in America 

were first guaranteed the right to vote”. 

The same day, President Nixon issued 

Proclamation 4236 for Women’s Equality 

Day, which began, in part: “The struggle 

for women’s suffrage, however, was 

only the first step toward full and equal 

participation of women in our Nation’s 

life. In recent years, we have made other 

giant strides by attacking sex discrimination 

through our laws and by paving 

new avenues to equal economic opportunity 

for women. Today, in virtually 

every sector of our society, women are 

making important contributions to the 

quality of American life. And yet, much 

still remains to be done.” 

As a footnote, the amendment certification 

process has changed since 1920. 

Now, the Archivist of the United States, 

who heads the National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA), is responsible 

for finalizing the ratification process. 

Back in 1920, Secretary Colby’s 

attorney reviewed the documents that 

arrived from Tennessee. Today, NARA’s 

Office of the Federal Register reviews 

the documents and writes the proclamation 

for the Archivist of the United 

States to sign. 


Timeline 

July 19-20, 1848 

Seneca Falls Convention 

The first women’s rights convention 

organized by women, including suffragists 

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia 

Mott, is held at Seneca Falls, New York, 

sparking the movement that leads to the 

passage of the 19th Amendment. 

August 26, 1920 American Women 

Gain the Right to Vote 

The U.S. Congress adopts the 19th 

Amendment, also known as the ‘Susan 

B. Anthony Amendment,’ giving women 

the right to vote. 


INTO REALITY FOR OVER A DECADE 

Women Owned 

& Operated 

WHO WE ARE 

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we know how important it is for you to make your vision a reality. 

Rated 4.9 on Google 

PlanetStone.com • 941-212-8037 

For more than a decade, our Planet Stone team 

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As a women-owned & operated company, we 

are proud to be your trusted choice for all your 

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even outdoor spaces, we know how to make 

your vision become reality. In 2022, our team 

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VISIT US AT OUR DESIGN CENTER AT 601 6TH AVENUE WEST • BRADENTON, FLORIDA

wcw AUGUST 2023

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