WCW 6-24

JUNE 2024 

Nelle S. Miller 

President & CEO, All Faiths Food Bank 

Also in this issue: 

■ Travel: Sunseeker Resort 

■ Ringling’s New Gallery 

■ Project Pride Events 

■ Lots of Good News

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2 WEST COAST WOMAN JUNE 2024

JUNE 2024 

contents 

Editor and Publisher 

Louise M. Bruderle 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Contributing Writer 

Carol Darling 

Contributing Photographer 

Evelyn England 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Kimberly Carmell 

Assistant to the Publisher 

Mimi Gato 

West Coast Woman is published 

monthly (12 times annually) by 

LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, 

President. All contents of this 

publication are copyrighted and 

may not be reproduced. No part 

may be reproduced without the 

written permission of the publisher. 

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 

and artwork are welcome, but return 

cannot be guaranteed. 

HOW TO REACH US: 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Here are our columns: 

n Out & About: includes 

fundraisers, concerts, art exhibits, 

lectures, dance, poetry, shows 

& performances, theatre, film, 

seasonal events and more. 

dining in: 

Keeping it Light and Easy. It’s 

hot, so here’s some easy to 

make, lighter fare to enjoy. 

p20 

The Ringling 

Museum’s new 

The Greatest 

Show on Earth 

Gallery 

The Greatest Show On Earth 

Gallery is a multi-sensory 

experience of 50 years of 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & 

Bailey in its newest permanent 

exhibition space. 

p12 

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 

36 

YEARS 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

travel feature 

Sunseeker Resort 

opened last fall. It’s large 

(22 waterfront acres 

with 785 guest rooms 

and parallels Charlotte 

Harbor, affording some 

beautiful views. 

p22 

website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 

west coast 

WOMAN 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

7 Out & About: listings for things to do 

9 healthier you: The Renewal Point 

11 happening this month: Pride Month 

12 focus on the arts: 

Ringling’s New Exhibit 

14 healthier you: Chinese Medicine 

15 health: all about Craniosacral Therapy 

16 west coast woman: 

Nelle S. Miller, President and CEO, 

All Faiths Food Bank 

18 focus on the arts: Sarasota Circus 

20 dining in: keeping it lighter 

22 travel: Sunseeker Resort 

24 focus on the arts: 

The MFA in St. Petersburg 

26 good news 

28 you’re news 

■ on the cover: Nelle S. Miller, President and CEO at All Faiths Food Bank. 

■ Image: Louise Bruderle 

JUNE 2024 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

West Coast Woman 

Nelle Miller 

Executive Director, All Faiths Food Bank 

Nelle Miller 

Image: Louise Bruderle 

She came on board in January of this year after 

longtime CEO Sandra Frank retired at the end of 

December. Few organizations can boast such a 

smooth handoff when you consider that Nelle had 

been not just a board member and board chair of 

the All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB), but also a veteran - 

one could stay stabilizer - of many organizations in 

Sarasota. 

AFFB is a sophisticated, multifaceted organization 

that fed 67,857 people last year—that’s more 

people than live in the City of Sarasota (@60,000). 

Nelle gave me a tour of their sprawling facility east of I-75. We walked through 

a huge warehouse with food stacked up high like at Home Depot except these 

items were canned goods, cereal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, etc. 

We also walked past a cooler where perishable items were stored and 

through a large staging area where volunteers were filling bags for their program 

that feeds kids every summer. 

Seeing as this is summer and kids are out of school and not receiving meals 

there, and they won’t be getting their usual AFFB backpacks, AFFB will provide 

food to another 38,000 children through their summer hunger program. 

From their website, “All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign Against Summer 

Hunger has become our community’s strongest line of defense against child 

hunger. Through our partners and summer programs, we work hard to make 

sure children receive the help they need.” 

Find out more and you can help by sending a donation or volunteering. Visit 

www.allfaithsfoodbank.org/campaignagainstsummerhunger 

Read more in my interview about this dynamic CEO and learn more about 

AFFB. More on AFFB can be found here www.allfaithsfoodbank.org/ 


You probably have read about the Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor that 

opened last fall. We had a two-day visit there recently. It’s different in that 

you’re on the Harbor - not 

the Gulf - but it is a beautiful 

view if you purchase a room 

with that view. My first 

impression was how large it 

is; second impression is how 

many restaurants there are. 

It’s also only 45-60 minutes 

from Sarasota and, if 

you have family or friends 

flying in to join you, Punta Gorda Airport is just 15 minutes away. It’s not a 

bustling area - Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda - but I think that’s part of the 

appeal. Chill out, relax, eat, go to the spa, hang out at their beautiful pools. Not 

a bad agenda. Read our feature in this issue for more details. 

Jewish Federation’s New Ora 

I had the chance to visit Ora, the beautiful new event facility on the campus of 

Jewish Federation on McIntosh Road 

in Sarasota (just south of Fruitville 

Road). It’s modern, open and so spacious. 

And very flexible - meaning 

you can have a large event in their 

10,000 square foot ballroom, but 

they can also accommodate smaller 

events, too. 

Add to the mix 400 parking 

spaces that make it contrast greatly 

with certain other large venues in 

downtown Sarasota where the valet parking is a major negative factor. Any and 

all are welcome at The Ora, too. Find more at https://theorasrq.com/ . 

Marking an Anniversary 

Harvest House’s dynamic CEO Erin Minor is marking her 20th 

anniversary. Harvest House is a nonprofit that provides 380 

beds of affordable housing and wrap-around services for people 

in need of food security, addiction recovery, and workforce 

development. 

We profiled Erin some time back just as they were building 

a new 11,000-square-foot addition on the corner of 17th 

Street and Beneva Road called the Life Enrichment Campus in 

Sarasota. Now completed, it has classrooms, offers therapy, and 

Erin Minor 

houses administrative and community-based activities. 

Quoting from social media, “Throughout her 20 years of service, Erin has 

been the cornerstone of reliability, always supporting our community's most 

vulnerable members. Her heart is woven into every aspect of Harvest House, 

emanating warmth and kindness to all who cross our threshold.” 

“Erin's leadership has been a beacon of hope, fueling aspirations and fostering 

triumph in numerous lives. Her influence permeates our community, 

resonating with those who yearn for a brighter future.” 

Great News for Newtown 

The Newtown Historic District is now officially listed in 

the National Register of Historic Places, the City of Sarasota 

announced. With over 700 contributing resources, the 

Newtown Historic District is now the single largest historic 

district within Sarasota and the largest Black historic 

district in the state of Florida, based on the number of contributing 

resources. 

The district boundaries roughly are Myrtle Street to 

the north, 19th Street to the south, Seminole Gulf Railway 

tracks to the west and U.S. 301 to the east. Kudos to the city of Sarasota 

h=which has been working on this process since 2009. 

Vickie Oldham deserves a lot of credit for her substantial contribution and 

notable dedication in documenting Newtown’s history. Kudos also to City 

Vickie Oldham 

Grants Coordinator Amy E. Jones for shepherding the application through the 

government process. 

A Newtown Historic District webpage with frequently asked questions is 

available via www.Sarasotafl.gov. 

Information about Newtown Alive can be found at www.NewtownAlive.org. 

2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season 

(June 1 – November 30) 

The threat this year is greater 

than ever, with Colorado State 

University (CSU) predicting an 

extremely active season with 

23 named storms, including 11 

that will become hurricanes and 

five reaching major hurricane 

strength (Category 3 or higher). 

Take care of things that 

require a bit more time, but 

which will have you prepared 

and ready to respond when 

the warnings come. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) offers these top tips which are covered in greater detail at noaa.gov/ 

hurricane-prep: 

• Strengthen your home if possible 

• Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions 

• Develop an evacuation plan 

• Create a communication plan with a hand-written/printed list of contacts 

• Assemble disaster supplies 

Having a comprehensive disaster supply kit assembled and ready is critical. 

The State of Florida offers a detailed, printable checklist which can be found 

at floridadisaster.org. This list covers items in several categories including 

general, phone numbers, clothing, special needs, first aid, food and water, 

important documents, vehicle readiness and pet care. 

Even with the best preparation, equipment and systems, Mother Nature is a 

powerful competitor. Heavy rainfall, widespread flooding, water main breaks 

from uprooted trees and loss of power to pumping stations may result in loss of 

water pressure and contaminated water which can cause illness. 

For drinking or cooking with water during these limited periods, a rolling 

boil for a period of at least one minute is sufficient. Alternatively, bottled water 

may be used. Stay safe! 

Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | 


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 

Project Pride SRQ kicks off Pride 

Month in grand style, as the community 

is invited to enjoy an evening 

filled with flowers, a DJ, cool country 

performances, and surprises. Dive Bar 

Wine & Spirits will be on-site to craft 

specialty cocktails and some of Sarasota’s 

finest restaurants will offer light 

bites and desserts. 

The Grand Carnival takes place on 

June 1, 8-11 p.m. at the Sailor Circus 

Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. 

Tickets include open bar, light bites 

and entertainment. Proceeds benefit 

Project Pride’s programs and events, 

which aim to celebrate and unite Sarasota’s 

diverse community by providing 

social connections and by supporting 

Sarasota’s LGBTQ+ people, businesses 

and organizations. Visit ppsrq.org for 

information and tickets. 

Project Pride SRQ, Senior Friendship 

Center & Golden Girls Solutions 

present “Silver Pride Sarasota,” celebrating 

LGBTQ+ ages 50 and better. 

This event celebrates the senior members 

of the LGBTQ+ community. The 

free afternoon program will feature 

live music, vendors, food trucks, and 

more from community partners. 

Takes place on June 8, 12-5 p.m. at 

Senior Friendship Center, 1888 Brother 

Geenen Way, Sarasota. Valet and 

individual parking available. Visit 

ppsrq.org for information. 

▼ 

CoolToday Park, the Spring Training 

Home of the Atlanta Braves, has its 

Movie Nights again. The 2024 Summer 

Movie Night lineup offers something 

for everyone. Enjoy Paw Patrol Mighty 

Movie with little ones, make your 

Father’s Day celebration extra special 

with a movie for Dad, Mission Impossible: 

Dead Reckoning, and end Shark 

week festivities with a screening of the 

Shallows on their 40’X80’ scoreboard. 

Summer Movie Nights are on most 

Sundays during June and July inside 

the stadium at CoolToday Park. 

Movies and Dates: 

• June 2nd- Wonka 

• June 9th- Paw Patrol Mighty Movie 

• June 16th- Mission: Impossible- 

Dead Reckoning 

• June 23rd- Barbie 

• June 30th- Back to the Future 

• July 14th- Arthur the King 

• July 21st- Ghostbusters: Frozen 

Empire 

• July 28th- The Shallows 

The movies will be shown on the 

scoreboard and will begin at 5 p.m. 

Children ages 3 and under will receive 

free admission, while tickets for ages 

4-9 are only $3, and ages 10+ are $7. 

Tickets are available at the CoolToday 

Park box office, online at cooltodaypark.com/movies, 

or by calling 941- 

413-5004. 

Parking is free, seats will be available 

in the seating bowl. The Superior 

Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill will 

be open for dinner. 

▼ 

The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 

has a collaborative effort with 

State College of Florida’s 26 West Center 

to launch a series of workshops 

aimed at empowering entrepreneurs 

and fostering business growth. 

The “Empowering Entrepreneurs: 

Unleashing Business Growth” workshop 

series is tailored to support 

businesses at all stages of development, 

whether they are established, 

newly launched, or in the planning 

phase. Led by industry experts from 

▼ 

26 West Center, 

participants will 

receive insights, 

best practices, 

and lessons to 

enhance growth 

potential. Each 

workshop can be 

attended individually 

for $45, 

or attendees can 

opt for the full 

series of three 

workshops for a 

bundled price of 

$120. All workshops 

will be 

held at the Sarasota 

Chamber 

of Commerce 

building. 

The series consists 

of three 

workshops: 

• Blueprint for 

Success: Crafting 

Your Business 

Plan Workshop 

is on June 4, 

6-8 p.m. 

• Social Media 

Marketing for 

Small Business 

Workshop is on 

July 9, 6-8 p.m. 

• Boost Your 

Brand: AI Marketing 

for Small 

Business Workshop 

is on August 6, 6-8 p.m. 

Participants in these workshops will 

receive expert guidance but will also 

have access to workshop materials 

through the SCF online learning management 

system during and for two 

months following each session. 

To register, visit sarasotachamber. 

com or call (941) 955-8187. 

Savor Sarasota 

Savor Sarasota runs June 1-14. 

Nearly 30 restaurants throughout 

Sarasota County will feature multicourse 

menus for only $25 per person 

for lunch and $40 per person for dinner. 

Enjoy everything from Peruvian 

plates and French crepes to fresh 

local seafood. 

Now in its 19th year, Savor Sarasota 

is more than just an annual dining 

event – it’s a celebration of Sarasota’s 

diverse culinary landscape—from the 

barrier islands of Longboat Key and 

Lido Key to the downtowns of Venice, 

Sarasota and Englewood—and the talented 

local chefs who bring it all to life. 

Whether you’re craving classic 

comfort food, international cuisine or 

contemporary creations, chef-curated 

menus allow you to sample a variety of 

dishes and flavors while taking advantage 

of great deals. Select restaurants 

offer additional deals during Savor 

Sarasota—look for wine pairings, 

cocktail flights or opportunities to 

upgrade your prix fixe menu. www. 

visitsarasota.com/savor-sarasota 

▼ 

Choral Artists 

▼ 

It’s Primary exhibit has art by Liz 

Cole. On exhibit to June 13 at Lexow 

Gallery, Unitarian Universalist Church 

3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. 

Image: The Red Door 

Next up for Choral Artists is 

D-Day Commemoration Journey: 

June 3-11. They’ve been invited by 

Historic Programs, which partners 

with the Department of Defense, 

Office of Commemorations, to be the 

principal choral ensemble for the 80th 

D-Day anniversary commemorations 

in France in June. 

In addition to participating in commemoration 

ceremonies at the cemeteries 

in Normandy and Brittany, the 

group will perform a concert in the 

town square at Sainte-Mère-Église in 

Normandy and also at L’église de la 

Madeleine in Paris. Choral Artists is 

inviting the public to join them on this 

journey. For more information, contact 

info@ChoralArtististsSarasota.org. 

Ring Sarasota 

Not your traditional handbell 

choir, Ring Sarasota is dedicated to 

enhancing handbell ringing as an art 

form. The Sarasota‐based group, under 

the direction of former Navy bandleader 

Rick Holdsworth, showcases 

over 200 individual handbells and 

handchimes that create a symphony of 

sound with special effects mimicking 

the piccolo, percussion, trombone, and 

even the Tibetan singing bowl. 

Their next performance on June 14 

at 6 p.m, is entitled “Sights & Sounds” 

and will be at Waterside Place, Lakewood 

Ranch. Free. For information, 

visit RingSarasota.org. 

▼ 

The Great Outdoors 

Master Gardener Volunteer 

Mobile Plant Clinic is on July 7, 10-2. 

Visit their mobile plant clinic located 

at the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market, 

1561 Lakefront Dr, Sarasota. Master 

Gardener Volunteers are available 

to share their horticulture knowledge 

and assist with plant questions. 

Meet in person at the bookstore at 

The Mark, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. in 

Sarasota. The book club is $18 which 

includes a copy of The Kite Runner to 

be picked up at Bookstore1 any time 

before meeting. 

▼ 

Tour Rye Reserve on July 20, 

9-11 a.m. The Preserve is at 905 Rye 

Wilderness Trail, Parrish. Take a 

hike through upland habitats along 

the beautiful Rye Preserve and learn 

▼ 

about Florida’s 

native plants, 

natural history, 

and early settlement 

of the area. 

Suitable for all 

ages. Repeats 

every month. 

Register: www. 

eventbrite.com. 

DeSoto/Riverview 

Pointe 

Preserve Tour 

is on July 13, 

9-11. Casually 

stroll through 

the beautiful 

Riverview 

Pointe Preserve 

and learn about 

Florida’s native 

plants and 

inhabitants of a 

coastal environment. 

Suitable 

for all ages.Tour 

begins in the 

parking area of 

DeSoto National 

Memorial 

Park and enters 

into Riverview 

Pointe Preserve. 

Register: www. 

eventbrite.com. 

▼ 

UF/IFAS 

Extension Sarasota 

County has these events: 

• ABCs of Edible Gardening, Summer 

Style is on June 5 at noon. Make 

the most of your edible garden by 

using the summer time to your advantage. 

This class is part of the “Sarasota 

County Starter Kit: A Guide to Living 

on the Suncoast” series, which provides 

new residents with a range of 

information, from saving on utilities to 

dealing with wildlife. 

Enjoy Q&A with speakers Dr. Rod 

Greder, Sustainable Agriculture Agent, 

and Mindy Hanak, Community and 

School Garden Coordinator. Questions: 

941-861-5000. Register: www. 

eventbrite.com 

▼ 

• June 6, 9-11 a.m.: EcoWalk: Unique 

Preserves of Sarasota County - 

Lemon Bay Park. Join in to learn more 

about unique Florida ecosystems. 

Take a leisurely stroll through beautiful 

preserves that have been preserved 

in Sarasota County and learn 

more about what makes these areas 

so unique and important, the plants 

and animals that inhabit them, how 

to be watershed wise, and the management 

issues faced when trying to 

preserve these lands for future generations. 

Questions: 941-861-9900. Register: 

www.eventbrite.com/e/ecowalk-mangroves 

. 

• Demonstration Garden Tour: Twin 

Lakes Park on June 17, 10-noon. Join 

Sarasota County Master Gardener 

Volunteers on the 3rd Monday of the 

month to explore the Florida Friendly 

gardens at Twin Lakes Park. The 

garden integrates beautifully into the 

natural environment, using Florida-Friendly 

Landscaping techniques 

that you can adopt for your home or 

business landscape. 

There is no charge. Much of the 

garden is ADA accessible, but parts of 

this tour may involve traveling along 

uneven terrain through grass, gravel, 

or mulched areas. Register: www. 

eventbrite.com 

• Your Connection With Sarasota 

Bay. Welcome To The Gulf Of Mexico 

on June 19 noon to 1 p.m. During this 

webinar, you will learn about your 

connections with Sarasota Bay and 

the Gulf of Mexico.This class is part 

of their “Sarasota County Starter Kit: 

A Guide to Living on the Suncoast” 

series, which provides new residents 

with a range of information, from saving 

on utilities to dealing with wildlife. 

Not a new resident? No problem. 

Each of these courses can help any 

community members, and all are welcome. 

During this webinar, you will 

learn about your connections with 

Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.. 

Register: www.eventbrite.com 

• Pollinator Trivia Night (Online) is 

on June 21, 7-8 p.m. Show off your pollinator 

knowledge and compete with 

others for a chance to win a special 

prize!In honor of National Pollinator 

Week, join us for a pollinator-themed 

trivia night, hosted completely online 

by the folks at UF/IFAS Extension 

Sarasota County. 

Tune in from the comfort of your 

own home and learn about Florida’s 

pollinators, including the critical service 

they provide and the food they 

help produce. Hosts: Jackie Lebouitz, 

Chemicals in the Environment Agent, 

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota CountyForest 

Hecker, Florida-Friendly 

Landscaping Community Educator, 

UF/IFAS Register: www.eventbrite. 

com/e/pollinator 

• Event Title: Energy Upgrade Workshop 

(In-Person) on June 27, 2-3 p.m. 

Learn energy-, water-, and cost-saving 

strategies at home. Attendees will 

receive a free Do-It-Yourself Energy 

Saving Kit that includes ENERGY 

STAR LED light bulbs, WaterSense 

faucet aerators, a smart power 

strip, weatherization materials and 

outlet insulating gaskets, and more. 

Attendees will also learn low and 

no-cost tips, which combined with 

kits can save up to $560 per household 

per year on energy costs. Advance registration 

is required. Register: www. 

eventbrite.com/e/energy 

• Event Title: All About Alligators 

on July 3, noon-12:30. Alligators are 

an important native species, yet one 

that is often misunderstood or feared. 

New residents will learn about this 

fascinating Florida species, its importance 

in the ecosystem, and how to 

safely co-exist while minimizing alligator:human 

interactions. Register: 

www.eventbrite.com 

At Bookstore1 

On June 12 the Poetry Book Club 

features “Change Your Life” by Rainer 

Maria Rilke. The book club is led by 

Doug and is for those who like to read 

and discuss poetry. Change Your Life 

is a new edition of Rilke’s most essential 

work translated by poet Martyn 

Crucefix. Meet in person at the store. 

The book club is $20, which includes 

a copy of the book to be picked up at 

Bookstore1 any time before meeting. 

▼ 

• On June 25 the Banned Book Club 

discuses “This Book is Gay” by Juno 

Dawson. It’s the bestselling young 

adult nonfiction book on sexuality and 

gender. Meet in person at the store 

The book club is $13 which includes a 

copy of This Book is Gay to be picked 

up any time before the meeting. 

continued on page 8 


out and about continued 

This candid and uncensored exploration 

of sexuality and what it’s like 

to grow up LGBTQ also includes real 

stories from people across the gender 

and sexual spectrums, not to mention 

hilarious illustrations. 

Dawson is a bestselling author of fiction 

and nonfiction for young adults. 

She is a columnist for Attitude magazine 

and a key LGBTQ+ activist with 

the charity Stonewall. Her writing has 

appeared in Glamour, The Pool, Dazed 

and the Guardian. 

Book bans in public schools have 

recurred throughout American history. 

Over the past years, the scope of such 

censorship has expanded rapidly. In 

response, PEN America has collated 

an Index of School Book Bans, offering 

a snapshot of the trend. The index 

provides a comprehensive list of books 

banned in the first half of the 2022-2023 

school year. View the index here: www. 

pen.org/2023-banned-book-list/. 

Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple 

Ave. Sarasota. Registration: www. 

sarasotabooks.com. 

Selby Gardens 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

has Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia 

O’Keeffe which examines the work 

of major artists through the lens of 

their connection to nature. 

The exhibition runs through June 

30, 2024, at Selby Gardens’ Downtown 

Sarasota campus. It explores 

the impactful mentoring relationship 

that developed between artists Yayoi 

Kusama and Georgia O’Keeffe based 

on their personal correspondence at 

a critical point in Kusama’s artistic 

development. This show also explores 

the ways in which the work of both 

artists is rooted in nature, befitting an 

art and horticultural experience set in 

a botanical garden.” 

In the mid-1950s, Kusama was a 

young artist living in Japan, where her 

future was very uncertain. Seeking 

advice from a more established female 

artist, she wrote to Georgia O’Keeffe, 

whose work she greatly admired but 

whom she had never met. 

To Kusama’s surprise, O’Keeffe 

responded, thus establishing a correspondence 

that gave the young Japanese 

artist the courage to move to 

America and pursue her career in New 

York City, which was then the center of 

the art world. Kusama’s decision, with 

O’Keeffe’s encouragement, forever 

changed the course of modern art history. 

Tickets: https://selby.org/ 

▼ 

The Circus Arts 

Conservatory 

Summer Circus Spectacular runs 

June 14-August 17. The Ringling presents 

in collaboration with The Circus 

Arts Conservatory of Sarasota a funfilled 

show for the entire family. The 

Summer Circus Spectacular showcases 

some of the finest circus artists from 

around the world, performing acts to 

thrill audiences of all ages. 

Opening night performance and 

reception is on June 14, 7-9 p.m. 

Visit circusarts.org or call the Box 

Office at 941-355-9805 or visit www. 

ringling.org 

▼ 

Florida History 

Lecture Series 

Join the Sarasota County History 

Center while expert speakers and staff 

explore the history of how Floridians 

▼ 

8 WEST COAST WOMAN JUNE 2024 

have tamed nature. 

Florida lives in most American 

imaginations as a place with sunny 

weather, luxurious beachfront homes 

and endless fun and ease. The reality 

isn’t too far from that, but there are 

some trade-offs. Florida’s climate can 

be hot, humid and stormy at times, 

not to mention the occasional threat 

of thunderstorms, hurricanes and 

forest fires. Inhabitants of Florida 

have had to learn to combat, live with, 

learn from, and weather the natural 

environment and natural disasters 

throughout the history of our state. 

Designing for the Sunshine State: 

How Creative Architecture Made 

Florida More Livable is on June 18, 

2-3 p.m. at the Osprey Library and 

History Center. Presented by: Dr. Josh 

Goodman, Manager, Sarasota County 

History Center Jorge Danta Spector, 

Sarasota County Historic Preservation 

Specialists. 

Info: scgovlibrary.librarymarket. 

com/event. 

At the Van Wezel 

Coming up (partial list): 

• June 21-Friday Fest: Kettle of Fish 

• September 20- Friday Fest. K-Luv 

and The United Funk Foundation 

as part of Friday Fest, the free, outdoor 

summertime concert series. 

The events run from 5-9 p.m. and 

are located on the lawn of the Van 

Wezel. Bring blankets or lawn 

chairs, take in the music and the 

sunset, and enjoy food and beverage 

from local vendors. 

• Shrek – The Musical has been 

rescheduled for September 24-25. 

Pre-show dining is available 

through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel 

which is located inside the theatre. 

Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org 

or through the box office. Tickets: 

www.VanWezel.org 

▼ 

The Hermitage 

▼ 

Savor Sarasota runs June 1-14. Nearly 30 

restaurants throughout Sarasota County will 

feature multi-course menus for only $25 per 

person for lunch and $40 per person for dinner 

They have two exhibits: 

• Impact: Contemporary Artists at 

the Hermitage Artist Retreat will 

be on display through July 7, 2024. 

This exhibition features work from 

ten nationally and internationally 

celebrated Hermitage alumni artists, 

including two Hermitage Greenfield 

Prize winners, and the exhibit is curated 

by former Hermitage Curatorial 

Council Member Dan Cameron 

Over the past two decades, each artist 

has been a Fellow at the Hermitage 

Artist Retreat on Manasota Key — a 

unique experience that contributed 

to their creative processes. The exhibit 

will feature work across a range of 

media, including sculpture, painting, 

installation, video, photography, printmaking, 

ceramics, and textiles. Artists 

include: Diana Al-Hadid, Sanford 

Biggers, Chitra Ganesh, Todd Gray, 

Trenton Doyle Hancock, Michelle 

Lopez, Ted Riederer, John Sims, Kukuli 

Velarde and William Villalongo 

• The Truth of the Night Sky: A Hermitage 

Collaboration featuring the 

work of Hermitage Fellows Anne Patterson 

and Patrick Harlin is on display 

through September 29. 

Multidisciplinary visual artist Anne 

Patterson and composer / soundscape 

artist Patrick Harlin have joined forces 

to develop this one-of-a-kind immersive 

experience. 

The exhibition will feature several 

works by Patterson, expanding upon 

Harlin’s original composition Earthrise, 

an orchestral piece inspired by 

the eponymous 1968 photograph 

taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William 

Anders on humanity’s first-trip 

around the moon. With each step, visitors 

will travel imaginatively through 

space and time. 

Free and open to the public with a 

$5 fee. Registration required: HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat also 

has “Standing at the Beach’s Edge: 

London to Sarasota” on June 7 at 

6:30pm, presented on the Hermitage 

Beach. This newly added program features 

2024 Hermitage Major Theater 

Award winner Chris Bush, an Olivier 

Award-winning playwright, lyricist, 

and theater maker based in the United 

Kingdom, in conversation with 

Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO 

Andy Sandberg. 

Bush’s impressive body of work 

includes the hit musical Standing at 

the Sky’s Edge, which recently won 

her an Olivier Award and a UK Theatre 

Award for Best Musical. Following 

sold-out runs at the National Theatre 

and Sheffield Theatres, the acclaimed 

production transferred to the West 

End earlier this year. Register at HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

▼ 

At The Ringling 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art has Mountains of the 

▼ 

Mind: Scholars’ Rocks 

from China and Beyond 

which runs through June 

23 in The Ringling’s Ting 

Tsung and Wei Fong Chao 

Center for Asian Art. The 

exhibit features a selection 

of scholars’ rocks and related 

paintings and prints. 

Scholars’ rocks are collected 

from remote geographic 

locations, where 

they have been formed by 

natural elements over millions 

of years. The stones 

may then be carved, polished 

and inscribed before 

being displayed in a custom-made 

stand to enhance 

their visual appeal. Scholars’ 

rocks are both natural 

objects and products of 

human creativity. 

• The Embodied exhibit 

runs through September 

21, 2025 in the Searing 

Wing and includes highlights from 

The Ringling Collection of Modern 

and Contemporary Art. The figure is 

one of the oldest records of our existence 

as a species capable of storytelling; 

depictions of the human body 

constitute some of the oldest subjects 

in art. Embodied expands on the definition 

of the human figure by bringing 

together diverse representations in 

painting, sculpture, fiber, video, and 

mixed media by some of the most 

exciting artists working in the twentieth 

and twenty-first centuries. 

• On the Road Photographs of the 

Traveling Circus and Carnival by Jill 

Freedman and Randal Levenson runs 

through August 25, 2024. This exhibition 

features the work of two photographers, 

Freedman and Levenson, 

who entered the world of traveling 

entertainers—circus (for Freedman) 

and carnival (for Levenson)—in the 

1970s. Their images reveal the distinct 

sensibilities each brought to their projects 

and offer a glimpse of what life 

was like on the road with the circus 

and carnival. 

For photographer Jill Freedman 

(American 1939-2019) the allure of 

the circus was one of wanderlust and 

the possibility of “packing up your 

tent and slipping into the night.” The 

plucky photographer traveled with 

the Beatty-Cole Circus, documenting 

the “backstage everyday life of this 

ancient, closed society and the people 

who live in it” at a time when the traveling 

circus as a way of life was dying 

out. Freedman’s black and white images 

are gritty and offer up the tattered 

and hardscrabble aspects of life on the 

road, but she also homes in on the personalities 

and sense of community at 

the heart of circus life. 

Randal Levenson (American, 1946- 

2022) also went on the road, but he documented 

the unique world of traveling 

carnivals and sideshow performers 

beginning in 1971. Not merely a spectator, 

Levenson also immersed himself 

in the life and day-to-day work of the 

itinerant carnival, working alongside 

carnies to hammer in stakes and raise 

tents. In contrast to the grainier documentary 

approach that Freedman took, 

Levenson used a larger format camera 

on a tripod, posing his subjects and 

creating more formal compositions 

with vivid details of his experiences. 

Tickets: ringling.org. The John and 

Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 

Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota. 

Theatre 

Manatee Performing Arts Center 

has the Royal James Theater’s “Murder 

By The Book.” Murder mystery 

writer Agatha Christie loved keeping 

whodunit aficionados guessing with 

clues that ended in surprising and 

climactic revelations. But none of her 

fictional works could compare or were 

as fascinating as a real event in the 

author’s life that startled millions and 

made front-page newspaper headlines 

around the world-and which is the 

inspiration for the new mystery play 

by B. J. Mohr. Runs June 13-23. 

• Disney’s Winnie The Pooh Kids 

Show—Pooh Bear and all of his friends 

from the classic children’s books and 

animated film band together to rescue 

their friend, Christopher Robin. 

Welcome to the Hundred Acre 

Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once 

again in search of honey. Along the 

way, he meets his pals, Tigger, Piglet, 

Rabbit, and Owl, but soon discovers 

that Christopher Robin has been captured 

by the mysterious Backson. As 

they prepare for a rescue operation, 

the animals learn about teamwork, 

friendship, and, of course... sharing 

snacks. Date: June 14 

Box Office: 941-748-5878. Manatee 

Performing Arts Center, 502 Third 

Avenue W., Bradenton. www.manatee 

performingartscenter.com/ 

▼ 

At Asolo Rep: 

• Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical 

runs through June 9. Propelled 

by a jazz-infused score, one of America’s 

greatest dramas reaches new 

heights in this searing story of a lone 

juror who demands that our legal 

system lives up to our ideals. Feel 

the power and hope of America in 

this groundbreaking musical about 

our potential to work together to create 

a better world. Visit asolorep.org. 

▼ 

Florida Studio Theatre has The 

World Goes Round running June 5-30 

in the Gompertz Theatre. Five individuals 

find themselves navigating 

through the world, with its glories, 

indignities, hopes, and quiet dreams. 

Filled with humor, romance, drama 

and nonstop melody, it is a celebration 

of life and the fighting spirit. From 

Cabaret to Chicago, featuring songs 

including “Mr. Cellophane,” “Maybe 

This Time,” “Cabaret” and “New York, 

New York,” interwoven into a harmonious 

story. 

• Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear 

Louise begins on July 3 in FST’s 

Keating Theatre. When two strangers 

meet by letter during World War II, a 

love story begins. U.S. Army Captain 

Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed 

in Oregon, begins writing to 

Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress 

and dancer in New York City, hoping 

to meet her someday if the war will 

allow. Ken Ludwig tells the true story 

of his parents’ courtship, and the 

results are anything but expected. 

• The Outsider By Paul Slade Smith 

begins on July 24 in FST’s Gompertz 

Theatre. Ned Newley doesn’t even 

want to be governor. He’s terrified of 

public speaking, and his poll numbers 

are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive 

Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined 

to fail. But his political consultant 

sees things differently: Ned might 

be the worst candidate ever to run for 

office. Unless the public is looking for... 

the worst candidate ever to run for 

office. A timely comedy that skewers 

▼ 

continued on page 10

healthier you 

$3 OFF w/code WCW 

DAILY TROLLEY TOURS 

ENTERTAINING • INFORMATIVE 

SEX, SLEEP, SOUND 

MIND AND HEART 

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Really 

Necessary After Menopause? 

Psychic 

SUNDAYS 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

“This unique tour is a relaxing and 

interesting experience!” 

-Linda 

Guided by psychic Deni Dreazen, visit Pixie Dust Giftshop, enjoy a 

Sound Healing Immersion led by Kaylene Mccaw and walk the labyrinth. 

Along the way, experience mini tarot and spirit gallery readings. 

Sundays • 1:00 PM 

Energy, Healing & Readings 

Enjoy orange or pineapple mimosas while you wait to board. 

Having practiced clinical 

medicine and OB-GYN for 52 

years, specializing in Bio-identical 

Hormone Replacement 

for over 25 years, in my opinion, the 

answer is NO. Hormone replacement is 

NOT necessary for life after menopause. 

However, if you are approaching menopause, 

in menopause, or after menopause, 

there are a few things you should 

consider… 

Firstly, the era of menopause brings 

about the acceleration of the aging 

process, affecting sex, skin, bones, 

mood, sleep, cognition, heart and many 

more aspects of getting older. Secondly, 

hormone replacement can slow down, 

stop and reverse many of these changes. 

Thirdly, natural, Bio-Identical Hormones 

have been found to be much safer 

than the pharmaceutical, or otherwise 

chemical versions, of replacement 

hormones. So, while hormone replacement 

is not necessary after menopause, 

research has shown that it can improve 

the quality and length of your life. 

Results from Research 

on Bio-identical Hormones 

From the Early vs Late Intervention Trial, 

Sept. 3, 2019- “Molecular biochemical, 

preclinical and clinical studies 

have furnished a wealth of evidence 

supporting estrogen’s cardioprotection 

in post-menopausal women without 

adverse effects.” 

From Neurotherapeutics July 16, 2019- 

“The decline of Estradiol has been associated 

with several changes in the brain, 

including cognitive changes, effects on 

sleep and mood. Treatment with Estradiol 

(in post-menopausal women) has 

been shown to improve behavior and 

morphological changes seen in menopause…including 

a number of neuropsychiatric 

disorders such as: Alzheimer’s 

disease, Schizophrenia and depression.” 

In a recent publication, Testosterone 

reduces neuronal secretion of Alzheimer’s 

b-amyloid, Gouras, XuH and Gross found 

that testosterone therapy decreased the 

signs and morphologies of Alzheimer's. 

Dr. Dale Bredeson, Professor of Neurology 

and author of best seller, The End of 

Alzheimer’s, has shown that the combination 

of Estradiol and testosterone 

(when replaced in their bio-identical 

forms) reduced cognitive loss and Alzheimer's 

up to 40%. 

How about safety? Fornier has been 

following 85,000 women in France for 

almost 20 years. In a peer-reviewed 

study, he found that the incidence 

of breast cancer in post-menopausal 

women was the same as a woman not 

on any hormones. In other words, 

the relative risk of breast cancer for 

women on bio-identical hormones is 

zero. Whereas Fornier also found that 

the relative increase for women replacing 

with pharmaceutical or otherwise 

chemical hormones increased their risk 

up to 60%! Holtorf, in another recently 

published article found the same thing, 

“the bio-identical hormones are much 

safer than their pharmaceutical/chemical 

counterparts.” 

For those wanting to learn more 

about the research behind Bio-identical 

Hormones, you can find thousands of 

articles on the NIH or US Library of Medicine 

websites concerning the efficacy 

and safety of bio-identical hormones. 

Additionally, What Every Woman Should 

Know about Hormones by Dr. Pam Smith, 

is a best-selling book with a thousand 

science evidence-based references regarding 

Bio-identical Hormones. 

At The Renewal Point, we use a combination 

of testing methods to ensure 

that we are targeting the root of the 

problem. By utilizing lab values, patient 

symptoms, and patient history, we are 

able to design a Bio-identical Hormone 

Balancing program that is unique to 

each patient’s specific needs. And, since 

hormone levels inevitably change as we 

age, we closely monitor each patient 

over time, to determine when changes 

are needed. 

If you are experiencing bothersome 

symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, 

and/or aging, we encourage you 

to give us a call ~ we are here to help! 

Visit us at https:// 

www.therenewalpoint.com/ 

—————————— 

SOURCE: Dr. Watts, 

MD, ND, MSNM and 

Deb Spinner, ARNP, 

MSN, are experts in 

Integrative Medicine. 

With over 25 years 

experience in Hormone 

Balancing, a 

Post-doctoral Certification 

in Metabolic 

Endocrinology, and a 

Dr. Dan Watts 

MD, ND, MSMN 

The Renewal Point 

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR 

Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, 

and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has 

put together programs that have helped 

thousands of patients renew their love 

and vigor for life. 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota 

Phone: 941-926-4905 

www.TheRenewalPoint.com 

ARCHITECTURE TOUR 

Art Deco | Mid-Century Modern | Mediterranean Revival 

Wednesdays 10:30 AM 

On this mainland architecture tour led by Guide 

Ed Simays, see Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, & 

Mid-Century Modern Structures with a focus on the 

Sarasota School of Architecture. 

WHO KILLED THE CIRCUS QUEEN? 

MOTIVE. MEANS. OPPORTUNITY. 

Thursdays & Saturdays 7:30PM 

Includes Complimentary Beer/Wine Before Boarding 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

“My Whole Family Loved It!” 

-Jane 

Step right up to solve the murder of Dahlia the Queen of the High Trapeze 

on this interactive Murder Mystery Musical Tour where 

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SHOW! 

DiscoverSarasotaTours.com 

941-260-9818 

1826 4th Street, Sarasota | FREE Parking! 

PAID ADVERTORIAL 


out and about continued 

politics and celebrates democracy. 

• Rhinestone Cowgirls runs to July 

28 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret. A journey 

through all things country music, 

celebrating its evolution from humble 

beginnings to the giants of the music 

industry today. Three powerhouse 

vocalists help you relive classics such 

as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Tammy 

Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man,” and 

Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” 

as well as new favorites like Carrie 

Underwood’s “Last Name.” 

• The Music of Laurel Canyon Featuring 

Buffalo Rhome begins on June 

18 in FST’s Court Cabaret 

One of the best musical places in 

the ‘60s and early ‘70s sits just above 

the Sunset Strip. Laurel Canyon 

became a nest of creativity, immortalizing 

artists like Joni Mitchell, 

Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, 

Nash & Young and The Mamas and 

the Papas, all of whom called the 

neighborhood home. Enjoy hits like 

“Desperado,” “California Dreamin’,” 

“Turn, Turn, Turn,” and “Love the 

One You’re With.” 

• The Four C Notes - Recreating the 

Music of Frankie Valli and the Four 

Seasons begins August 6 in FST’s 

Goldstein Cabaret. Four guys, vintage 

dance moves, and a trip down memory 

lane with the Frankie Valli and the 

Four Seasons catalog. Featuring all of 

your favorite hits, including: “Big Girls 

Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t 

Take My Eyes Off You,” and “Let’s 

Hang On.” 

• Cabaret has The Flip Side — sardonic, 

ironic, and even histrionic, 

these tunes are full of moronic 

characters and sophisticated lyrics 

that reveal the present state of our 

world—the good, the bad, and the 

funny. With songs like “I’m My Own 

Grandpa,” “The Ballad of Sigmund 

Freud,” “Still Gonna Die,” “Killed by 

a Coconut,” and others, this offbeat 

Cabaret pays tribute to some of the 

best comic songwriters of the 20th 

Century. Runs to June 16. 

Location: 1241 North Palm Ave., 

Sarasota. Tickets: www.floridastudiotheatre.org. 

At Urbanite Theatre: 

• OAK runs through June 30. At The 

Wake Of A Dead Drag Queen playwright 

Terry Guest returns to Urbanite 

with the new Southern Gothic horror, 

OAK. This gripping tale transports 

audiences to Odella Creek, a town 

whose citizens are isolated by fear 

and riddled with temptation. Step 

into the darkness and experience the 

terror firsthand in the world premiere 

of OAK. For information, visit www. 

urbanitetheatre.com 

▼ 

At The Galleries 

▼ 

Creative Liberties’ “True Colors: 

Celebrating Pride” has works in 

a color scheme that represents one 

of colors on the LGBTQ+ progressive 

flag. The artworks will be displayed 

throughout the exhibition space 

grouped together by color through 

June 29. 

Creative Liberties Artist Studios 

and Gallery continues its season’s 

offerings with Featured Artists: 

Works on Display at 901B Apricot 

Avenue will be on view through 

June 29. 

For information about Creative 

Liberties, visit www.creativeliberties.net. 

The Limelight studios are 

open to the public, Thursday-Saturday, 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. The 

Rosemary artists residency 

at Gaze Gallery is 

open Monday to Friday, 9 

a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 

a.m.-5 p.m. 

“IT’S PRIMARY” 

exhibit celebrates the 

Power of Color in Art with 

Liz Cole. On exhibit to 

June 13 at Lexow Gallery, 

Unitarian Universalist 

Church 3975 Fruitville 

Road, Sarasota. Gallery 

Hours: Sunday 10am to 

1pm, Tuesday through Friday 

10am to 1pm. 

“IT’S PRIMARY” is a 

vibrant exploration of the 

elemental power of color 

in art. Liz Cole has created 

a collection of paintings 

that invites viewers to 

experience the energy 

and intensity of red, yellow 

and blue, as well as 

the rich nuances created 

when these colors are 

combined. The result is a 

body of narrative works 

done in her signature style 

of acrylic and handmade 

collage. 

Liz is a storyteller 

with a paintbrush, who 

reaches back into memory 

moments and brings 

them into her paintings. Known for 

her intense colors, she brings joy and 

energy to the whimsical narratives 

she paints. Her paintings have layers 

of color and patterns of markings that 

invite the viewer into an imaginative 

world of images. 

▼ 

All Angels Church has an exhibition 

of Byzantine Style Icons by 

Christine Simoneau Hales through 

June 28. 

Since the beginning of Christianity, 

icons have been revered as aids 

to prayer and contemplation. They 

are visual reminders of the saints 

and gospel stories that have inspired 

Christians throughout the ages. 

Hales has studied for many years 

and now teaches and produces icons 

for churches and private collectors. 

Hales is sought after for her modern, 

yet traditional icons for churches all 

over the world. She has won several 

grants and awards for her painting and 

is now a local Sarasota iconographer. 

She will share her own collection of 

icons she has crafted in the ancient 

Byzantine Tradition using egg tempera 

paints and gold leaf gilding on 

wood panels. Gallery hours: Mon- 

Thurs. 9-1, and Sundays 11:30-12:30 

(June- no Sunday hours). Info: 518- 

965-4833. 

▼ 

Art Center Sarasota 

• Cycle 6: through July 27: Annual 

Juried Regional Show: “Beyond Comfort.” 

This is Art Center Sarasota’s largest 

juried show of the year and encompasses 

all four gallery spaces. The juror 

is Virginia Shearer, executive director, 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College 

of Art and Design. This year’s show, 

“Beyond Comfort,” invites artists to 

express their perception of beauty and/ 

or the grotesque in contemporary art 

and society. 

Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. Info: www. 

artsarasota.org 

▼ 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has “Standing 

at the Beach’s Edge: London to Sarasota” 

on June 7 with playwright Chris Bush 

Selby Gardens has Clyde Butcher: 

Nature Through the Lens at the 

Historic Spanish Point campus on 

view to August 31, 2024. Featuring 

extraordinary, large-format wildlife 

prints by this well-known landscape 

photographer and conservationist, 

Clyde Butcher: Nature Through 

the Lens gives viewers the chance to 

engage with Clyde Butcher’s artwork 

against the backdrop of our Historic 

Spanish Point campus. selby.org 

▼ 

Ringling College Galleries has 

Jack Dowd: Last Call. Immerse yourself 

in an installation featuring a 

22-foot mahogany bar adorned with 

13 life-size characters. Delve into the 

evocative world of Dowd’s “27 Club” 

series through 13 large pastel drawings, 

alongside a collection of sculptures 

and paintings that illuminate the 

career of Jack Dowd. 

The installation emerged over two 

years and was finalized in early 2001. 

The sculpture debuted at the John and 

Mable Ringling Museum of Art in a 

two-month exhibition later that year. 

The mahogany bar, meticulously 

designed and built by Jack Dowd and 

his assistant, his son Jon Dowd, comprises 

26 pieces and incorporates cutting-edge 

lighting and sound systems. 

The creation of 13 life-size characters 

and the construction of the 22x10x14- 

foot bar stand as a labor of love and a 

pinnacle achievement in Dowd’s illustrious 

fifty-plus-year career as an artist. 

On view from June 6-August 16. 

In-person viewings are free and open 

to the public. Opening reception is 

on June 7, 5-7pm, free and open to the 

public. For more information, 941- 

359-7563. 

▼ 

Sarasota 

Art Museum 

The Truth of the Night Sky runs 

to September 29. Multimedia artist 

Anne Patterson and composer Patrick 

Harlin collaborated to create 

▼ 

▼ 

an immersive installation. 

Patterson, a 

synesthete who sees 

color and shape when 

hearing music, and 

Harlin expand on his 

composition, Earthrise. 

The orchestral piece was 

inspired by the eponymous 

photograph taken 

from Apollo 8 in 1968— 

an iconic image that 

sparked a movement 

to care for the environment. 

• Molly Hatch: Amalgam 

runs to April 26, 

2026. Hatch’s newly 

commissioned “plate 

painting,” Amalgam 

(2023), was created specifically 

for Sarasota 

Art Museum. Consisting 

of more than 450 

earthenware plates 

hand-painted in white, 

blue, and gold luster, 

the abstract lines and 

shapes in Amalgam are 

drawn from a variety 

of historical ceramics 

from around the globe. 

Visit www.sarasotaartmuseum.org 

Arts 

Advocates 

Arts Advocates member artists 

exhibit monthly in the Arts Advocates 

Gallery, located in the Crossings at 

Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail 

in Sarasota. Suzanne Havens’ “Seeing 

With Imagination” will be on exhibit 

June 1-29. 

Following a career in marketing, 

Havens moved to Venice, Florida in 

2007. In 2020, her photo won best 

in show at the 40th Annual Selby 

Gardens Juried Photographic Exhibition. 

Afterwards she became one 

of six volunteer photographers for 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. 

Admission is free. 

• On June 4, 4-6 p.m. in the Arts 

Advocates Gallery, Arts Advocates 

member Jess Pope presents the art 

talk, “The Transformative Power of 

Movement and Human Connection” 

in celebration of Pride Month. Raised 

in a strict Pentecostal family, Pope was 

taken to a ballet by a neighbor when 

she was seven years old. Her life and 

dreams were changed forever. Pope’s 

work as a dancer and choreographer 

derives its point of view through issues 

of gender, erotic power, and queer 

mothering, leaning into the intersections 

of her experiences. Cost: $5 for 

non-members. 

• The Arts Advocates’ collection of 

Sarasota Art Colony and Florida 

Highwaymen works is on permanent 

display in the Arts Advocates Gallery. 

The gallery is open every Saturday 

from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Admission is 

free. Free docent-guided tours are 

available for visitors who wish to 

learn more about the art and written 

information is available for self-guided 

tours. 

To learn more, visit ArtsAdvocates.org. 

At The 

Dalí Museum 

Reimagining Nature: Dalí’s 

Floral Fantasies presents Salvador 

Dalí’s best-loved botanical print 

▼ 

suites sourced from The Dalí’s collection. 

This exhibition features three 

rarely displayed suites of botanical 

prints made by Dalí between 1968 

and 1972, highlighting some of the 

most treasured works on paper in the 

Museum’s permanent collection. On 

display together for the first time in 

two decades, these astonishing works 

transform renderings of fruits and 

flowers, reimagining them as surreal 

creations at the height of the Pop era. 

Crafted late in Dalí’s career, the 

three suites from the Museum’s 

vault, Flora Dalínae (FlorDalí), 1968, 

FlorDalí (Les Fruits), 1969 and Florals 

(Surrealist Flowers), 1972, were created 

when Dalí’s printmaking practice 

was becoming increasingly prolific. In 

these prints, Dalí often painted over 

original botanical illustrations, such 

as those by the 18- and 19th-century 

artists Pierre-Antoine Poiteau and 

Pierre-Joseph Redouté. The works in 

this exhibition transform these traditional 

depictions of fruits and flowers 

by juxtaposing incongruent elements, 

incorporating dream-like characters 

and iconic symbols often seen 

throughout Dalí’s career, such as flies, 

ants and melting clocks. 

In addition to the print suites, a 

selection of Dalí’s paintings incorporating 

botanical imagery along 

with archival material, including 

floral advertisements designed by 

the artist, will be on display in the 

exhibition. 

Included in the price of admission. 

Runs to October 20, 2024. Tickets: 

thedali.org/exhibit 

• The 8th Annual Emerging Artist 

Exhibition at the Gallery at Creative 

Pinellas is an exhibition of 

work showcasing the creations of 

their 2024 Emerging Artist grant 

recipients. This eighth annual exhibition 

features original work by ten 

exceptional artists: Kaitlin Crockett, 

Vanessa Cunto, Thomas Sayers Ellis, 

Fran Failla, Tyler Gillespie, Antonia 

Lewandowski, David McCauley, 

Harriet Monzon-Aguirre, Gaby Rosa 

and Luci Westphal. This will be a 

chance for viewers to support and 

acquire stunning pieces from these 

up-and-coming artists. the exhibition 

will run through July 21, 2024, at 

the Gallery at Creative Pinellas. 

The Emerging Artist Exhibition 

will be on display with artworks for 

sale through the closing at the Gallery 

at Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham 

Road, Largo. The Gallery is 

open Wednesdays through Sundays 

from 10am – 5pm. The reception, 

talks and exhibition are free and 

open to the public. 

For details, visit creativepinellas. 

org/ 

Attention Arts 

Organizations: 

Have you sent your season schedule 

yet? We’ve received lots of them so 

far, but do we have yours? If you want 

coverage in West Coast Woman this 

fall, make sure to send your schedule 

to: westcoastwoman@comcast.net. 

Each year WCW publishes a Season 

Preview in November and December 

where we highlight some of the many 

upcoming events. Every month our 

extensive calendar of event includes 

art exhibits, museums, theatre, choral 

music, orchestras, fundraisers, 

festivals, shows, ballet and so much 

more. Don’t miss your opportunity to 

be a part of it all! 


happening this month 

Project Pride 

announces Pride 

Month events 

LGBTQ+ advocacy organization to celebrate 

love, diversity and equality – and fun – 

during ‘Grand Carnival In Bloom’ and 

‘Silver Pride Sarasota’ events 

As local organization Project 

Pride SRQ settles into its new 

headquarters in the Rosemary 

District, it is now preparing 

for two major events to mark 

Pride Month in June. On June 1, it will 

present the Grand Carnival In Bloom; on 

June 8, it will be a partner in offering Silver 

Pride Sarasota. 

Event organizers are looking forward to 

launching Pride Month in grand style with 

the Grand Carnival In Bloom, an evening 

filled with flowers, a DJ, country performances, 

and assorted surprises. Dive Bar 

Wine & Spirits will be on-site to craft specialty 

cocktails and some of Sarasota’s finest 

restaurants will tantalize guests’ taste 

buds with lite bites and desserts. 

The Grand Carnival takes place on Saturday, 

June 1, 8-11 p.m. at the Sailor Circus 

Arena (2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota). 

Tickets, which include open bar, food and 

entertainment, are $125/VIP (enables early 

entry at 7 p.m.), $85/general admission; 

door price is $150, subject to availability. 

Major sponsors include CAN Community 

Health, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, 

McCarver & Moser, and SRQ Beats. Proceeds 

from the event will support Project 

Pride’s programs and events. 

On June 8, Project Pride, Senior Friendship 

Centers and Golden Girls Solutions 

will present Silver Pride Sarasota, celebrating 

LGBTQ+ ages 50 and better. This free 

event celebrates our senior members of the 

LGBTQ+ community; the afternoon program 

will feature live music, vendors, food 

trucks, and more from community partners. 

Takes place on Saturday, June 8, 12-5 

p.m. at Senior Friendship Center (1888 

Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota). Valet and 

individual parking will be available on-site. 

“Pride Month offers the opportunity 

not only to celebrate love, diversity and 

equality – which we do all year-round – but 

also to welcome the wider community to 

join us,” said Project Pride President Jason 

Champion. “The goal of Project Pride isn’t 

just to foster a stronger and more cohesive 

LGBTQ+ community – it is to create a 

more inclusive and welcoming community 

for all who live, work and visit here. We invite 

everyone to come and celebrate Pride 

Month with us.” 

For more about Project Pride and its 

Pride Month events, visit www.ppsrq.org. 

––––––––––– A B O U T ––––––––––– 

Project Pride SRQ 

Project Pride SRQ is a Sarasota-based 

nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding 

awareness and understanding of the 

LGBTQ+ community by creating strategic 

partnerships with local organizations, businesses, 

and governments towards a shared 

goal. From providing youth scholarships to 

organizing local gatherings, Project Pride 

has brought together LGBTQ+ and allied 

partners since 2019 to build capacity, support, 

and a vision for an all-inclusive community 

where everyone is equally united, 

supported, and celebrated in Sarasota and 

beyond. For more information, visit www. 

ppsrq.org. 

On June 1, Project Pride SRQ will present ‘Grand 

Carnival In Bloom,’ with proceeds benefiting 

Project Pride’s programs and events 

Project Pride SRQ and partners will present ‘Silver 

Pride Sarasota,’ a free event celebrating LGBTQ+ 

ages 50 and better, on June 8 

Project Pride SRQ has 

appointed its inaugural 

executive director, Paul Lotierzo 

New Project Pride 

SRQ executive 

director Paul 

Lotierzo 

Provided photo/Project Pride SRQ 

The Project Pride SRQ board has named 

Paul Lotierzo as the organization’s first-ever 

executive director. Lotierzo recently left a 

position as chief development 

officer at Civic 

Influencers, a nonpartisan 

nonprofit dedicated 

to amplifying the voices 

of young voters; prior to 

that, he served for three 

years as director of development 

with Athlete Ally, 

a New York City-based 

organization dedicated to 

ending homophobia and 

transphobia in sports. 

Lotierzo also spent six years at Immigration 

Equality, a nonprofit dedicated to providing 

free legal representation for LGBTQ and 

HIV+ refugees, where he supported successful 

fundraising initiatives that increased 

the organization’s operating budget into the 

multi-millions through strategic corporate 

sponsorships and major donor support. 

Early in his activist career, he was also on 

the Greater New York Steering Committee 

of Human Rights Campaign as Pride cochair 

for Long Island. 

Stepping into this new role at Project Pride, 

Lotierzo sees a vision for organizational 

growth that “champions inclusivity and allyship 

in every facet of Project Pride’s work. 

By acknowledging the complex realities of 

those we stand with, we can foster a more 

visible, inclusive, and united front in the 

ongoing fight for equality.” 

“Project Pride is excited about the next 

chapter in moving Pride forward in Sarasota,” 

said Project Pride board president 

Jason Champion. “Paul is the perfect fit for 

us because of his experience fighting for 

LGBTQ rights, his corporate connections, 

and sheer tenacity.” Visit ppsrq.org to learn 

more about Project Pride. 

How Can 

Acupuncture 

Benefit Me? 

Acupuncture balances the body and enhances 

the bodies genuine healing process. Which 

benefits everyone, from early signs of an illness 

to severe to chronic lingering symptoms. 

941.955.8882 

Located at 

Dr. Luo’s 

Oriental 

Medicine 

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Ste 104, 

Sarasota FL 34237 

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Dana Laganella Gerling, Esq. 

Marla Stewart Owczarek, Esq. 

Estate Planning, Probate, 

Trust Administration 

and Elder Law 

Dr. Deborah 

Scandin AP, RRT 

Acupuncture Physician 

Dr. Deb has over 25 years 

combined experiences in 

Acupuncture, Respiratory Therapy 

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Offices: East Bradenton 

(941) 756-6600 www.gerlinglawgroup.com 


focus on the arts 

The Ringling Museum’s 

The Greatest Show on Earth Gallery 

An Immersive, Family-Friendly Exploration of 

50 Years of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 

The John and Mable 

Ringling Museum of 

Art Circus Museum’s 

next act, The Greatest 

Show On Earth Gallery is a multisensory 

experience of 50 years of 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 

– starting in the 1960s – with its 

newest permanent exhibition space 

for Children of all Ages. 

This latest addition to the museum 

celebrates the era of modern circus 

that began with Irvin Feld’s purchase 

of Ringling Bros. and Barnum 

& Bailey in 1967. The Greatest 

Show On Earth Gallery modernizes 

the museum’s expansive history of 

the circus by exploring the first fifty 

years of the Feld Family’s stewardship 

during which the spectacle of 

the show brought the circus experience 

to new heights. 

“This exhibit will serve as a dynamic 

testament to the vitality and 

innovation of modern circus,” says 

Steven High, executive director of 

The Ringling. “We are thrilled to finally 

have permanent gallery space 

dedicated to the Ringling Bros. and 

Barnum & Bailey Circus era that 

many of our visitors remember.” 

The new exhibit continues the 

story, found throughout the Circus 

Museum, of how Ringling Bros. and 

Barnum & Bailey grew to become 

one of the most well-recognized 

brands in the world. The gallery 

space is designed to evoke the 

excitement of seeing a live show, 

while also representing the full 

spectrum of the production experience 

from both front- and back-ofhouse 

perspectives. 

Visitors can explore artifacts, costumes, 

and media footage in an engaging 

and multisensory experience 

throughout the exhibition area. 

The Experience: 

Located at the culmination of a 

timeline of the history of circus in 

America, an authentic Ringling 

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey marquee 

will draw visitors to the entry 

portal to The Greatest Show On 

Earth Gallery. Once inside, visitors 

can explore the four sections of the 

exhibit at their own pace: 

Introduction to the Feld Family’s 

Stewardship of Ringling 

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey – a 

combination of video, artifacts, and 

text introduce visitors to how three 

generations of the Feld Family have 

continued to re-invent the circus for 

modern times. 

Evolution of the Ringling Bros. 

and Barnum & Bailey – Moving 

behind the curtain, visitors 

find original costumes, props 

and design documents that 

represent the variety of talents 

that come together for 

every production. Interactive 

stations give visitors a chance 

to revisit many of the greatest 

acts to appear with Ringling 

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 

in the last fifty years. 

The Show - The excitement, 

energy, and spectacle that 

define The Greatest Show On 

Earth inspired this innovative 

experience that presents 

a dynamic combination of 

video, lighting, and original 

circus wardrobe to showcase 

acts popular during the first 

fifty years of the Feld Family’s 

leadership. 

Memories of the Ringling 

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 

– As visitors make 

their way out of The 

Show, they pass by a 

display of souvenirs 

and memorabilia 

representing decades 

of memories created 

for audiences of 

Ringling Bros. and 

Barnum & Bailey. 

Throughout the exhibit, 

many individual 

stories that are each 

a unique piece of the 

extraordinary history 

of The Greatest Show 

On Earth are represented 

– from one of a kind 

artifacts like the marquee 

sign to moments of cultural 

importance (including the 

debut of Johnathan Lee 

Iverson as the first African 

American Ringmaster) and 

to the amazing and varied 

talents of five decades of 

circus artistry. 

An Innovative 

Museum 

Experience: 

Inspired by the technologies 

that have helped The Greatest 

Show On Earth remain 

a leader in family entertainment, 

The Ringling Circus 

Museum recognized an opportunity 

to create an entirely 

new gallery experience 

for visitors. The new exhibit 

incorporates immersive 

sound and contemporary 

lighting to give visitors an experience 

of being behind the scenes. 

Motion-based interactives exploring 

the history of acts with Ringling 

Bros. encourage visitors to be physically 

engaged in the exploration of 

content through fun animations and 

a wealth of images and videos. The 

culmination of this high-tech gallery 

experience is The Show where visitors 

will marvel at the spectacular 

costumes, the dynamic feats of performers, 

and the countless details 

that come together in each edition 

of The Greatest Show On Earth. 

“As Feld Entertainment, Inc., 

relaunches the re-imagined Ringling 

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, the history 

contained within the museum’s 

newest gallery is more relevant than 

ever,” says Lemmer Posey, the Tibbals 

Curator of Circus. “The Greatest 

Show On Earth Gallery provides an 

engaging introduction to the living 

history that has led to this newest 

edition of Ringling Bros. It is exciting 

to celebrate the talents that defined 

the first fifty years of The Feld Family’s 

leadership of The Greatest Show 

On Earth as a new era begins.” 

Visitors can also explore The 

Ringling Museum’s other venues, 

including the first floor of the Tibbals 

Learning Center featuring The 

Howard Bros. Circus Model (a miniature 

replica of Ringling Bros. and 

Barnum & Bailey as it traveled in 

the early 20th century under tents), 

posters, costumes, and more. 

Other attractions include: 

• Historic Circus Museum: the 

home of The Wisconsin (John 

and Mable’s private Pullman railroad 

car) 

• Ca’ d’Zan (John and Mable Ringling’s 

bayfront home) 

• The Ringling Museum of Art (featuring 

art ranging from European 

art from the medieval period to 

the 19th century to early photography 

to immersive contemporary 

installations and Asian art, along 

with an Italian-inspired courtyard) 

• Mable Ringling’s lush rose garden 

is situated within 66 acres of bayfront 

grounds and gardens 

• David F. Bolger Playspace (which 

boasts an audacious slide) 

Event Details 

& Tickets 

Tickets are now available at ringling.org 

or call 941-358-2757. Admission 

to The Greatest Show On 

Earth Gallery is included in regular 

Museum. Admission: $25 for adults; 

$5 for children ages 6 to 17 and free 

for children under age 6. 


MORE THAN A CIRCUS 

THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY EMBODIES: 

PERFORMANCE 

The CAC offers year-round 

professional performances 

featuring international circus 

stars. Our seasonal Sailor Circus 

Academy shows are a Sarasota 

tradition—fun for the whole family! 

TRAINING 

Try out our programs for 

team bonding, fitness, or just 

curiosity—You can even try 

the flying trapeze! Sign up for 

as many classes as you like or 

bring your whole corporate 

team for a one-of-a-kind team 

bonding experience. 

OUTREACH 

In addition to our arts-integrated 

classroom programs, we offer 

recreational classes for children 

and adults, summer camps, and 

events with community partners. 

The CAC makes it easy to find 

circus fun in the Sarasota area. 

LEGACY 

The CAC, founded by 

Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs, 

preserves Sarasota’s rich and 

vibrant Circus Arts legacy 

through everything we do, 

including supporting annual 

events like the Circus Ring 

of Fame induction. 

FOLLOW YOUR CIRCUS DREAM and try a recreational class! Let your 

child join the circus for a week of camp or have an unforgettable circus 

team-bonding experience with your colleagues. Be dazzled and delighted 

by a circus show! 

Learn more about how you can Join the Circus at circusarts.org 

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Don’t Miss 

a Single Issue of 

health news 

About Dr. Deborah Scandin 

AP, DOM, RRT 

Traditional Chinese Medicine 

Acupuncture Physician and Respiratory Therapist 

west coast 

WOMAN! 

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right at your fingertips... All for FREE! 

My mission is to help each 

person to achieve optimal 

health and reach their 

personal wellness goals. 

In my practice I uphold the highest 

standard of Traditional Chinese Medicine 

that has been handed down from 

thousands of years. 

It’s this Traditional Medicine that works! 

I have over 25 years combined 

medical experience in Acupuncture, 

Respiratory Therapy and Neuromuscular 

Massage. Join the thousands of others 

who have had amazing results using Traditional 

Chinese Medicine and regained 

their personal optimal health. 

I am proud to announce Dr. Luo invited 

me into her practice September, 2023 

at Dr. Lou’s Oriental Medicine, 3293 

Fruitville Road, Suite 104, Sarasota. 

My journey started in CT at Sacred 

Heart University, School of Respiratory 

Therapy. Upon graduation, I worked at 

Yale New Haven Hospital’s trauma center 

focusing on respiratory therapy, trauma 

and emergencies throughout the hospital. 

In 1994, my career took me to Sarasota 

where I studied massage therapy 

and completed advanced certifications 

in Neruomuscular therapy (NMT). This 

includes a certification in Gross Anatomy 

dissection, at University of South Florida. 

In 2004, I graduated with a Masters 

Degree from East West College of Natural 

Medicine with a residency with Dr. 

Luo. I then opened a private practice 

focusing on respiratory disorders, acute 

and chronic pain, gastrointestinal and 

general wellness. 

I am one of the few Acupuncturists in 

town who is also an expert in treating 

myofascial trigger points, muscular 

dysfunctions and injuries. The unique 

combination of acupuncture, NMT and 

injection has proven to decrease acute 

and chronic pain and inflammation 

anywhere in the body. 

One of my greatest passions is in 

helping others to live an optimal life, 

without pain and suffering. 

“It brings me true joy seeing my 

patients with more energy, mobility and 

overall wellbeing.” 

I have dedicated my life to helping 

others, naturally. I believes a person’s 

“recipe” for optimal health starts with 

knowing one’s own body. 

Testimonial: “I was first introduced to the 

concept of acupuncture by Dr. Deb years ago 

and was amazed at how great I felt after 

treatments. Dr. Deb is very knowledgeable 

in the human anatomy and specializes in 

targeting areas of pain or injury to bring 

about healing the natural way. She does 

an excellent job explaining the connections 

between your body’s energy and healing 

properties.” — Wendy 

Some of the common problems 

where acupuncture has been proven 

an effective treatment include: 

• Addictions 

• Allergies 

• Anxiety 

• Asthma 

• Carpal tunnel 

syndrome 

• Chronic fatigue 

• Colitis 

• Common cold 

• Constipation 

• Dental pain 

• Depression 

• Diarrhea 

• Digestive trouble 

• Dizziness 

• Dysentery 

• Emotional 

problems 

• Eye problems 

• Facial palsy/tics 

• Fatigue 

• Fertility 

• Fibromyalgia 

• Gingivitis 

• Headache 

• Hiccups 

• Incontinence 

• Indigestion 

Irritable bowel 

syndrome 

• Low back pain 

• Menopause 

• Menstrual 

irregularities 

• Migraine 

• Morning sickness 

• Nausea 

• Osteoarthritis 

• Pain 

• PMS 

• Pneumonia 

• Reproductive 

problems 

• Rhinitis 

• Sciatica 

• Seasonal affective 

disorder 

• Shoulder pain 

• Smoking cessation 

• Sore throat 

• Stress 

• Tennis elbow 

• Tonsillitis 

• Trigeminal 

neuralgia 

• Urinary tract 

infections 

• Vomiting 

Dr. Deborah Scandin 

AP, DOM, RRT, NMT 

Dr. Deborah Scandin 

AP, DOM, RRT, NMT 

Dr. Scandin is a Doctor of Oriental 

Medicine and a Florida-licensed 

Acupuncturist providing Acupuncture and 

Integrative Medicine in Sarasota 

Now Located at Dr Luo’s Oriental 

Medicine, 3293 Fruitville Road, 

Suites 103 & 104, Sarasota, FL 34237 

Phone: (941) 955-8882 

www.drluoacupuncture.com 

www.acuscandin.com 



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Nelle S. Miller 

President & CEO, All Faiths Food Bank 

She oversees AFFB, the only food 

bank and largest hunger relief 

organization in Sarasota and 

DeSoto counties. Nelle has served 

on 13 boards and has been a CEO three 

times at local nonprofits. She’s also 

launched and sold two businesses. 


Life Changes Effecting Financial Plans? 

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When the All 

Faiths Food Bank 

(AFFB) in Sarasota 

announced 

that their long-time 

executive director 

Sandra Frank was 

retiring, they didn’t place an ad seeking 

someone who attended the Harvard Business 

School or who had been a successful 

business owner, or who had served on 13 

boards (one being All Faiths Food Bank) or 

who had been a CEO three times at local 

nonprofits. 

But that’s who they got to lead their organization. 

They also didn’t have to worry 

that she wouldn’t know the organization 

since she served on the AFFB Board from 

2016-2021—including service as Chair of the 

Board from 2018-2020,—during which time 

she assisted in the development of a succession 

plan for AFFB. 

All Faith Food Bank works closely with 

food giants like PUBLIX, Kroger and Walmart 

who are generous partners in supplying surplus 

food to them. Donations then go to their 

large, spotless and organized warehouse. 

As she describes it, “The food comes in, they 

give us pallets and pallets and we have to 

get it out of here. Fifteen trucks do that every 

day.” Their fleet of trucks made 682 monthly 

deliveries last year. And it’s all about logistics, 

she explains. 

Food banks in general post impressive 

numbers. In 2023, AFFB gave away 21.2 million 

pounds of food better seen as feeding 

67,857 (47,000 of whom are children) and 

18.4 million meals. 

And this experienced CEO can deliver 

the numbers fluently. She works alongside 

87 staff out of 50,000 square feet of space 

east on I-75. And while she admits the 

numbers are impressive, there’s more that 

could be done. “We reach a third of those 

who we could be reaching.” The reasons are 

complicated, but she notes, “There are no 

supermarkets in poor or rural areas.” These 

families are dependent instead on places 

like Dollar Stores which don’t offer things 

like produce or frozen foods. 

AFFB is not a pantry. What they do 

instead is drop off to places like mobile 

pantries at different sites throughout the 

community. They also set up various Mobile 

Farm Markets to distribute fresh produce. 

Partner agencies work with them to 

provide food pantries and meals at their 

locations. There’s even a veterans’ pantry 

held two Tuesdays a month at Church of the 

Palms in Sarasota. All Faiths Food Bank is 

a member of Feeding America, the nation’s 

leading domestic hunger-relief charity who 

negotiates large contracts with donors like 

PUBLIX, Kroger, Walmart and others. 

Having owned two businesses, Nelle 

describes AFFB as “a complicated business 

model,” and as an involved CEO she’s been 

on the loading dock at 6 a.m. to observe the 

process. “It’s like a dance - it’s really amazing.” 

She says she “inherited an incredibly 

healthy organization. I haven’t been spending 

my time fixing things, but strategically 

looking forward.” 

She went through the search process like 

everyone else, her resume amongst 300 other 

applicants. “I’m at a point in my life where 

I’m asking what is my legacy? And one of my 

concerns has been hunger.” 

As for local food insecurity, “We’re in the 

wealthiest part of the county and people 

don’t see it. People don’t see it so they don’t 

believe it. When they do see it, they understand 

there are basic needs not being met,” 

she explains. 

Children are affected the most by food 

insecurity especially now that we’re into 

summer with schools closed. The day I visited, 

some volunteers (some 3,000+ in total, 

she notes) are working assembly-line style to 

pack up bags of food. 

This is their Campaign Against Summer 

Hunger that raises funds for summer programs 

that feed more than 35,000 children 

each year. The goal is to fill the “hunger gap 

that occurs when school is out and students 

lose access to free and reduced meals,” according 

to their website. 

Another challenge she and her team are 

working on is how to reach more elderly 

individuals. “We’re trying to figure out how 

to go deeper into neighborhoods,” she explains. 

Unlike other populations, some can’t 

drive or carry bags of groceries, for example. 

AFFB she notes, doesn’t require anyone 

provide proof to receive food. “We distribute 

food in a respectful way. It can be humiliating, 

intimidating [to ask for help]. We all 

need food.” She adds, “We’re also culturally 

sensitive,” thus AFFB makes sure to deliver 

items like rice, beans and pork to DeSoto 

County locations. 

That’s enough to keep a nonprofit busy but, 

as important as feeding the hungry is, AFFB 

has innovative programs that offer wraparound 

services to clients. For example, they 

partner with 12 healthcare providers and 

agencies in 18 locations including Sarasota 

Memorial Venice, DeSoto Memorial Hospital 

and Links2Success in DeSoto County. 

At these locations staff screen families 

with children for food insecurity. These 

families are in turn referred to the AFFB and 

connected with food resources, benefits assistance, 

and referrals to other community 

services. 

In addition to offering food, AFFB staff 

help their clients with other issues including 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 

(SNAP– formerly Food Stamps), Medicaid, 

VITA tax preparation and SOAR (SSI/SSDI 

Outreach, Access, and Recovery), which 

increases access to Social Security disability 

benefits for people experiencing or at risk of 

homelessness. 

Nelle grew up in a home where you were 

expected to give back. She describes her 

mother as a “social activist” and recalls at 

age 3 stuffing envelopes for some cause. 

Giving back “was always a part of my life.” 

After college she worked in banking and 

then went on to found a software company 

in Boston back in 1994 which she sold to 

Tyco. Then she launched a business-to-business 

company on the web and sold that, too. 

“I didn’t like working for someone else - I 

found it very frustrating.” She admits she 

loves creativity, as well as “taking risks, trying 

new things.” 

She sees nonprofits as businesses and the 

“bones” of AFFB is as a business. It’s high 

energy she explains and adds she loves to 

work. And work with people. “People here 

are dedicated to helping others and they 

understand the mission.” More poignantly, 

she adds “What we do is sacred — a benefit 

to humankind.” 

To make it all run she mentions PUBLIX 

who not only donates food, but also offer 

grants. Grants also come from local entities 

like Florida Blue, Red Cross, United Way and 

large foundations like Barancik Foundation, 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the 

Peterson Foundation. Also helping to “keep 

the lights on” are her board and many individuals 

who make donations. 

Nelle is an early riser up at 4:30 then goes 

for a run at 5:30. She’s in the office by 7:30 or 

so and stays until 6 and often there are evening 

events to attend. Of the job she says “It’s 

a real commitment, but our team is amazing.” 

In addition to her many skillsets, humility 

is another one. According to Nelle, “I can’t 

believe I’ve been entrusted with this work. If 

I’ve helped one person I feel good. It’s a gift 

to be here.” 

For more information, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

STORY and IMAGES: Louise Bruderle 

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summer fun 

Summer Circus Spectacular 

at the Historic Asolo Theater 

Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling join to bring world-class circus talent 

Circus fans of all 

ages, from near and 

far, can beat the 

heat this summer 

at reasonable prices 

while experiencing the best 

of the circus arts, thanks to the 

continued collaboration of The 

Circus Arts Academy (CAC) and 

The Ringling. The Summer Circus 

Spectacular returns this year 

with some of the circus world’s 

most exciting acts signed on for 

the family-friendly, one-hour, action-packed 

show. 

The 2024 Summer Circus Spectacular 

– which has become a seasonal 

highlight for locals, visitors, families and 

groups alike – takes place at the Historic 

Asolo Theater at The Ringling (5401 

Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota) from June 14 

through August 17. 

“While we are always pleased to bring 

the very best circus artists from around 

the world to Sarasota to perform in our 

shows, being able to showcase this talent 

at the beautiful and intimate Historic 

Asolo Theater makes it one of the 

most memorable and unique arts experiences 

in town,” said CAC Executive Vice 

President/COO Jennifer Mitchell. “This 

show not only offers an affordable entertainment 

option for all ages but is also 

the perfect summertime family-friendly 

activity. With daytime and evening options 

available at The Ringling, there will 

always be a convenient time to come 

and enjoy the magic of the circus arts!” 

The lineup for the 2024 

Summer Circus Spectacular 

includes: 

✤ Jared Walker, Master of Ceremonies: 

Walker’s first professional engagement 

with the CAC was as Ringmaster for the 

Summer Circus Spectacular in 2018; shortly 

afterwards, he was hired as the creative 

director for the CAC and its Sailor Circus 

Academy. The Florida native got bitten by 

the theater bug in third grade and later 

expanded to show choir, marching band 

and drama club. 

He graduated with a BFA in Music and 

Theatre from Shenandoah College & Conservatory 

and made a career as an Equity 

actor while moonlighting as a director, 

choreographer and costume designer. 

After 9/11, he moved back to the east coast 

of Florida to be near his aging parents, 

then moving to Sarasota in 2004 to perform 

at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 

He served as the director and manager 

for the Players Theatre in Sarasota for 10 

years prior to coming to the CAC. 

Contortionist 

Uranbileg Angarag 

will astound 

audiences 

with her 

superhuman 

flexibility 

The Bello Sisters 

will showcase 

tremendous grace, 

strength and 

teamwork during 

their acrobatic 

hand balancing 

routine 

✤ Uranbileg Angarag, Contortion: When 

she was 5 years old, Angarag went to see 

a circus show, saw a contortion act and 

loved it so much she pictured herself on 

stage. Afterwards, her parents took her 

to audition at the Mongolian National 

Circus; at age 6, she began training. By 9 

years old, she was performing. 

She has been doing circus for last 23 

years, traveling around the world – to 

places including Russia, Korea, Turkey, 

Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, throughout 

Europe, at sea on cruise ships, and more 

– doing performances, working with 

many different circuses and entertainment 

groups such as Cirque du Soleil, 

MSC Cruises, Ulaanbaatar Circus, Phantasialand 

Schmidt-Loffelhardt GmbH & 

Co. KG, and more. Angarag has previously 

performed for the CAC during Cirque des 

Voix in 2023. 

✤ The Bello Sisters, Acrobatic Hand Balancing: 

Loren, Celine and Joline Bello are 

an Italian-German acrobatic trio of sisters 

who come from a circus family. Their father 

performed with Cirque du Soleil for 

Hair hang artist 

Camille Langlois 

Slack wire artist 

Antino Pansa 

Provided photos/CAC 

12 years and their mother was the first 

woman to walk on a highwire on stilts. 

Since developing their act, the sisters 

have become one the most-requested 

halftime show performers within 

sports leagues like the NBA and 

NCAA Basketball. In 2020, the Bello Sisters 

competed on both “America’s Got Talent” 

– where they made it into the Top 10 – and 

“Italy’s Got Talent” and then, in 2023, they 

returned for another shot at the championship 

on “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars.” 

The trio previously performed for the CAC 

during Circus Sarasota earlier this year. 

✤ Camille Langlois, Hair Hang: Originally 

from Quebec, Langlois began her acrobatic 

journey at the age of 9, when she 

enrolled in gymnastics. As she was also interested 

in dance and the performing arts, 

the opening of a sport-arts-circus studies 

program at her high school captured her 

attention. Her professional training began 

at the Circus School of Quebec and concluded 

six years later at the National Circus 

School of Montreal. Langlois – who loves 

the diversity of movement, the freedom of 

creation offered by the various disciplines 

as well as the union of art, performance, 

and interpretation – is also skilled at acts 

including aerial hoops, chains and pole. 

✤ Antino Pansa, Slack Wire: Pansa is a 

Guyanese circus artist of French nationality. 

He began training in 

the circus arts at the age 

of 14, and this passion – 

passed on by his father, 

who also practiced slack 

wire – would soon take 

center stage in his life. 

He is a graduate of the 

National Circus School of 

Montreal. He specializes 

in slack wire but is also a 

talented trampoline and 

floor acrobat, as well as a 

hand-to-hand carrier and 

Korean plank acrobat. He 

was recently featured as a 

slack wire artist in Cirque 

du Soleil’s 2023 creation, 

“ECHO.” He also wowed 

the crowd during the 

CAC’s Royal Gala in February 

of this year. 

✤ Renaldo, Clowning: Al 

“Renaldo” Calienes began 

his circus career with the 

Big Apple Circus at age 

26, eventually becoming 

a core company member. 

A gifted clown, he went on 

to work with Circus Sarasota, 

the Royal Hanneford 

Circus, the Luna Stage Theater Co., at 

SeaWorld, Canada’s Garden Bros. Circus 

and England’s Zippo’s Circus. Recently, he 

toured with UniverSoul Circus. He is also 

author/illustrator of the children’s book 

“Renaldo Joins the Circus!” 

“It is always thrilling for us to bring a live, 

professional circus show to the beautiful 

Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling, 

which works to preserve the history and 

legacy of the circus,” said CAC founder and 

President/CEO Pedro Reis. “Our missions 

are so closely aligned – we both strive to inspire, 

educate and entertain – and our collaboration 

has provided immeasurable joy 

for thousands of circus fans over the years.” 

The show runs Friday, June 14 – Saturday, 

August 17. Show times are 11 a.m. and 

2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 2 

p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Tickets are 

$20/adults, $15 children (15 and under); 

tickets for the 7 p.m. opening night performance 

and celebration on Friday, June 

14 – which includes a gala reception with 

the artists after the show and refreshments 

– are $75. 

To complete their circus experience, 

Summer Circus Spectacular patrons have 

access to the Circus Museum on the day 

they attend a show for just an additional 

$5. Visit ringling.org or call the Box Office 

at 941-360-7399. 


your healthier health you 

Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

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

Clients come to me because they are in physical 

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

for chronic headaches and migraines. 

Pain and stress caused by 

shortened Fascia 

Fascia (strong connective tissue) encases all 

our muscles, organs, brain and spinal cord. 

Whenever fascia shortens any place in the 

body, the entire network of fascia creates an 

increased tension affecting the functioning 

of our physical body as well as our organs, 

our brain and spinal cord. 

Our body is the history of every major 

trauma we have experienced physically and 

emotionally beginning with birth issues, falls, 

head trauma, car accidents, childhood abuse 

issues, death, divorce and other emotional 

issues. Our body tries to minimize each trauma 

by shortening fascia to isolate the energy 

coming into the body from that trauma. 

Shortened fascia results in pain, loss of mobility 

and range of motion, organs becoming 

less efficient and with parts of the brain and 

spinal cord becoming stressed. 

To keep the brain functioning, the body 

transfers some of your functional work play 

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

in less energy to make it through each 

day. As we age, the accumulation of all the 

tightened fascia, from every major trauma 

in life, begins to restrict every aspect of our 

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

mis-functioning organs, loss of energy, 

as well as our brain losing some its sharpness. 

How Craniosacral 

Therapy Works 

The Craniosacral Therapist creates a safe 

place, with gentle holding techniques, that 

engages your body’s ability to self correct, 

reorganize and heal itself with the release 

of some of that tightened fascia during 

each session. As the Craniosacral Therapist 

engages your body, you will feel fascia releasing. 

As the fascia releases, pain begins to 

decrease, range of motion and mobility improve, 

organs begin functioning better and 

with less stress on the brain feels, it returns 

the energy it borrowed at the time of each 

trauma resulting in an immediate increase in 

your energy levels. Rarely does anyone leave 

from my first session not feeling better. 

Short Leg Syndrome 

Eighty-five percent of my clients have one 

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

fascia. The tension from short leg syndrome 

on the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae at bottom 

of the spine) is transferred up the dural tube 

that encases the spinal cord into the lower 

and upper back, the neck, the cranium and 

The physical stress in bodies caused by shortened 

fascia (connective tissue) shuts down 

energy flows to certain organs. Short leg syndrome 

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

by shortened fascia) shuts down energy flow to 

the spleen (an important part of your immune 

system) and the small and large intestine. With 

the release of that shortened fascia, energy returns 

to these organs. 

the brain. Headaches, migraines, TMJ and 

neck problems can originate from the fascial 

stress in the sacrum. 

Releasing this sacral stress increases energy 

in the bladder, sex organs, kidneys and 

the chakras as well as releasing major stress 

in the upper part of the body. 

Cause of Shallow Breathing 

A great majority of the clients who come to 

me for various problems are also shallow 

breathers. Fascial stress in the diaphragm 

restricts the depth of breathing by restricting 

energy flow to the lungs, the pericardium 

and the heart. With the release of fascial diaphragm 

restriction, the client immediately 

starts breathing deeply and energy is restored 

to the pericardium and the heart. 

Shoulder blades that are cemented to the 

body also restricts how much the rib cage can 

open and thereby also restricting depth of 

breath. Without proper breathing, your cells 

do not get enough oxygen. Everyone, especially 

people suffering from bronchitis, asthma 

and COPD as well as shallow breathing can 

benefit when the fascial stress is released. 

Specialized Training 

to work with Brain 

Dysfunctions 

Just as the body physically gets stressed from 

physical and emotional trauma, the functioning 

of the brain is also affected by fascial stress. For 

our brains to remain healthy, we need dynamic 

production of craniosacral fluid which performs 

the important function of bringing nourishment 

to all the cells in the brain and spinal 

cord as well as cleansing all the metabolic 

wastes given off by those same cells. 

Once the craniosacral fluid cleanses these 

metabolic wastes, efficient drainage of these 

metabolic wastes into the lymph system is 

absolutely necessary. Research has shown, 

that at night, craniosacral fluid cleanses amyloid 

plaques from the brain. If the drainage 

is inefficient, then the brain is being bathed 

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

your brain being bathed in a toxic slurry 

affect you: senile dementia, Parkinson’s, 

Alzheimer’s and other brain dysfunctions? 

A Craniosacral Therapist, who has received 

training in working with the brain, can reverse 

that stress on the brain that eventually can 

result in those brain dysfunctions. As we all 

know, the proper functioning of the body is 

dependent on a healthy functioning brain. 

Babies and Children can benefit 

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

difficult birth and at 7 months was put on antibiotics 

for an ear infection and as a result developed 

c-diff. His development came to a stop. 

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

to walk and talk. In spite of the improvements, 

he was unable to answer questions and his 

communication skills were very poor. Leo 

had very poor muscle tone, a lot of stress in 

his body and physical activities such walking, 

jumping and climbing were difficult for him. 

Beginning with the first session with Terry, 

he began showing improvement and with each 

following session. Everyone from his teachers 

to his grandparents noticed an increase in his 

■ “I was in awful pain and the 

MRI showed 2 pinched nerves 

and stenosis. I scheduled surgery. 

My daughter suggested Craniosacral therapy. 

After only 2 visits the pain was reduced to 

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

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

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

Terry to relieve 85% of my year long, nagging 

(sometimes severe) neck/shoulder tightness/ 

pain!! My breathing improved tremendously.” 

physical strength, as well as improvements in 

comprehension, speech and communication 

skills. For the first time, he started participating 

in class lessons and interacting with his 

classmates. Terry has made a huge impact on 

getting Leo to a place a little boy should be at 

age four. We cannot thank Terry enough. 

■ Terry’s treatment helped our 6 week old 

baby boy from recent hospitalization into 

the first series of healthy bowel movements 

when seemingly nothing could help. Our son 

was able to latch onto the breast and for the 

first time completed his feeding. He was much 

calmer after working with Terry. 

■ “He was able to relieve tension that I have 

been carrying around for 15 years or more. 

I left his office table with more energy than I 

have had in years.” 

■ “I began working with him because I was 

dealing with anxieties, depression and lots of 

emotional pain inside and out. You don’t realized 

how much stress can cause damage to 

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

a big help.” 

Terrence Grywinski 

of Advanced 

Craniosacral Therapy, 

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

Testimonials from Clients 

SOURCE: 

■ Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy, 

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

Therapy since 1994 when he began his training at the Upledger 

Institute. Described by his teachers, clients and colleagues 

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

provides immediate and lasting relief from injury, pain, mobility 

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

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

brain and peripheral nervous system classes which enables him 

to work at a cellular 

level and with brain 

dysfunctions. 

Call 941-321-8757 

for more information, 

Google Advanced 

Craniosacral 

Therapy. 

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

my back. I found Terry online. I can say 

with complete joy that was the best decision 

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

sought many modalities and visit a CST regularly 

and never have I had such a healing in 

my entire body. 

After 3 sessions, I made a 16-hour drive 

home with no pain or discomfort in my entire 

body. Unbelievable. My body has a sense of 

moving freely and that is completely new. I’m 

advanced craniosacral therapy 

so grateful to Terry for his knowledge, for his 

sensitivity to my needs and his kind generosity 

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

next year.” 

■ “I am a snowbird who spends 7 months 

in Sarasota. I have had back problems for 25 

years. Terry’s techniques have led to a great 

deal of release and relief in areas that have 

been problematic. I have been seeing him over 

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

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



dining in 

Keeping it Light and Easy 

Want to wake up your taste buds? 

Add sweet-tart fruit to savory greens, 

like this Kiwi & Radish Salad. A mix 

of green and gold kiwis—if you can 

find them—looks dazzling. 

Ingredients: 

2 green and/or gold kiwis 

6 radishes 

1 Tbs. white miso paste 

1 tsp. minced or grated ginger 

1 Tbs. rice vinegar 

1 Tbs. sunflower or grapeseed oil 

Instructions: 

Peel, quarter, and slice the kiwis. Thinly slice the radishes. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the miso, ginger, vinegar, and oil. 

Gently toss the salad greens with the dressing. Scatter the kiwis and radishes on top. 

Time: 10 minutes. Serves: 4 • Nutrition Information: per serving (2 cups): 80 calories 

Carrots were yellow or purple 

until Dutch breeders reportedly 

produced the orange household 

staple in the 1600s. Now 

there’s even white and red! This 

Rainbow Carrot Salad showcases 

them all. 

Ingredients: 

4 cups of ribbon- or spiral-cut 

rainbow carrots 

1 sliced scallion 

1 Tbs. olive oil 

1 Tbs. red wine vinegar 

¼ tsp. kosher salt 

Instructions: 

In a large bowl, toss together all the ingredients. 

Time: 10 minutes. Serves: 4 • Nutrition Information per serving (1 cup): 80 calories 

These no-cook dessert cups are a simple 

blend of mango and light coconut 

milk, bound together ever so softly 

with gelatin, so it sets in the refrigerator 

to be quite pudding-like. If your 

mango is sweet enough, you won’t 

need any added sugar, but you can 

always blend in some honey or your 

sweetener of choice to taste. Served 

in individual cups topped with finely 

diced mango and a snow-white sprinkle 

of shredded coconut, it’s a fruit-focused 

dessert with a fun, fresh twist. 

Instructions: 

Kiwi & Radish Salad 

Rainbow Carrot Salad 

No-Cook Mango Dessert Cups 

Ingredients: 

2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 

1/3 cup boiling water 

2 cups mango chunks (16 ounces) 

fresh or frozen, thawed, divided 

6 cups baby arugula, spinach, and/or kale 

¼ cup chopped mixed fresh herbs (parsley, 

cilantro, mint, dill) 

1 cup light coconut milk 

Honey, to taste, optional 

1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 

for garnish 

Place the gelatin into a medium bowl and, while stirring, pour the boiling water over it. 

Continue to stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved. 

Place 1 ½ cup (12 ounces) of the mango into a blender with the coconut milk and 

blend until smooth. Add honey to taste, if desired and blend to incorporate. Add the 

dissolved gelatin to the blender and pulse a few times to combine. 

Distribute the mango mixture among six (6-8 ounce) ramekins or jars. Cover and refrigerate 

until set, about 3 hours. 

Finely dice the remaining mango. Top each cup with some of the diced mango and a 

sprinkle of coconut and serve. 

Makes 6 servings. Serving size: 1 dessert cup • Per Serving: 76 calories 

The secret to this stir-fry: 

Have all your ingredients 

ready to go before you 

heat the oil. Once you start 

cooking, everything comes 

together in a flash. Not crazy 

about cutting the carrots 

into matchsticks? Buy precut 

carrots from the produce 

section or salad bar. 

Instructions: 

Cut the tofu into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Blot dry with towels. 

In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, grated ginger, and 1 Tbs. oil. In another small 

bowl, whisk ¼ cup of water with the soy sauce, sherry, molasses, and cornstarch. 

In a large non-stick pan over high heat, heat 1 tsp. oil until very hot. Stir-fry the snow 

peas until bright green and charred in spots, 1-2 minutes. Remove from the pan. 

Add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil to the pan. Sauté the tofu until lightly browned on 2 sides, 

3-5 minutes. Remove from the pan. 

Stir-fry the garlic-ginger mixture until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Stir in the soy sauce 

mixture. Simmer until the sauce thickens, 1-2 minutes. 

Turn off the burner and return the tofu and snow peas to the pan. Toss with the sauce. 

Stir in the carrots and sesame oil. Sprinkle with the ginger matchsticks, scallion, and 

sesame seeds. 

Time: 30 minutes. Serves: 4 • Nutrition Information per serving (1½ cups): 260 calories 

This colorful, whole 

grain pasta salad, chockfull 

of vegetables and 

fresh mozzarella cheese in 

an herb-garlic vinaigrette 

dressing, earns its name 

because of the way it 

holds up in a cooler pack 

–there is nothing in it that 

gets mushy or wilts–making 

it ideal for toting to a 

picnic, or for a lunchbox 

for work or school. 

Instructions: 

Ginger Sesame Tofu & Snow Peas 

Ingredients: 

1 14 oz. package extrafirm 

tofu 

3 cloves garlic, minced 

1 Tbs. grated ginger 

1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. + 1 Tbs. sunflower or 

peanut oil 

3 Tbs. reduced-sodium soy sauce 

1 Tbs. sherry or 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar 

1 tsp. molasses or dark brown sugar 

2 tsp. cornstarch 

Whole Grain Pasta Salad 

Ingredients: 

8 ounces whole grain fusilli pasta 

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 

divided 

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

1 teaspoon dried basil 

1 small clove garlic, minced (about 1 

teaspoon) 

2 cups snow peas, trimmed as 

needed 

1 cup carrot matchsticks 

1 tsp. toasted sesame oil 

1 Tbs. ½-inch matchsticks ginger 

1 scallion, thinly sliced 

2 Tbs. toasted sesame seeds 

Cook the pasta al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain, then transfer 

to a large bowl, toss with 1 teaspoon of the oil, and allow it to cool completely. 

In a small bowl whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, 

vinegar, oregano, basil, garlic, salt and black pepper. 

Add the bell pepper, tomatoes, broccoli, mozzarella and dressing to the pasta and toss 

to combine. 

Makes 4 servings. Serving size 1 ½ cups. Per serving: 450 calories 

½ teaspoon salt 

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black 

pepper 

1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced 

½ pint grape tomatoes, quartered 

1 cup cooked, chilled, coarsely 

chopped broccoli 

6 ounces fresh, part-skim mozzarella 

cheese, cut into ¼- ½ -inch dice 


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travel feature 


Charlotte Harbor 

Opened last fall, it sits on 22 waterfront acres with 785 guestrooms and offers 20 dining options 

Opened last fall, Sunseeker 

Resort is large (22 waterfront 

acres with 785 

guestrooms, including 189 

Sunsuites) and its long row 

of varied accommodations parallels 

Charlotte Harbor, affording some 

beautiful views if you choose harbor 

view - which I recommend. 

To get there, it’s a smooth ride 

south - about an hour from downtown 

Sarasota, 45 minutes from 

Lakewood Ranch, and it’s located just 

before the two bridges that enter into 

Punta Gorda. 

Valet park ($25/day) or park onsite 

($20/day) and then enter an open and 

airy space decorated in beachy colors 

of coral, light blue, lots of white and 

sandy brown. 

It’s a modern hotel so you can self 

check-in and head to your room 

where you’ll find a panel of options 

to set the room the way you like. But 

you’re not here for the room controls. 

And indeed the resort delivers on a 

beautiful view of Charlotte Harbor. 

When I entered my room — top 

floor, harbor side, king deluxe suite 

— the view was dramatic — almost 

like you were over the water due to 

floor-to-ceiling windows. That’s your 

view all day long and you can watch 

occasional boats pass by or catch the 

sunset off in the distance. They offer 

premium rooms with or without a 

harbor view (but get the ones with 

views). For a weekend stay in late June 

the rate was $335/night. For the July 

4 holiday, the rate only bumped up to 

$359 (be sure to book early to get the 

best rates). 

Need more space and prefer a 

suite? Their Sunsuites offer one-, two-, 

and three-bedroom accommodations. 

They also come with water views, but 

also private balconies, kitchens with 

stainless steel appliances, and plenty 

of room to entertain. A two-bedroom 

Sunsuite has 1,329 square feet and two 

king-sized beds. You also get private 

lounge access and a separate arrival 

and check in area. For a late June 

weekend the rate is $635 per night. 

Next on the agenda is heading out 

to the outdoor pool and restaurants. 

This means some walking, but the 

path is on a walkway (they call it a 

promenade) that runs parallel to the 

Harbor, offering more great views so it 

doesn’t seem like you’re walking that 

much (you’re not). 

A good place to start the day is 

breakfast at Waterside Table. This 

sunny and bright venue is a perfect 

way to get the coffee going plus have 

some lighter fare. The menu is eclectic 

if that’s the word in that you have 

biscuits and gravy and avocado toast 

on the same menu. 

They offer breakfast and lunch and 

the large outdoor pool is right next 

door so you can get some lunch - 

burgers, salads, fish tacos as well as 

cocktails and beer, etc. 

Again the theme is water view so 

you’ll have a great view while dining 

here and if the weather’s good, eat on 

the outside deck and take in more of 

that soothing water view. Charlotte 

Harbor is so large you’d almost think 

you’re looking at the ocean. 

In fact, it’s the second largest harbor 

in Florida and an important estuary. 

From your room you may see fishermen 

checking their crab pots. Calusa 

and Tocabaga Indians fished these 

waters and must have enjoyed tremendous 

abundance. 

After breakfast, you now have only 

19 more dining options. Harbor Yards 

is a bit like Epcot- do we do tacos 

first or maybe pizza later and can 

we squeeze oysters in before day’s 

end? The food court also offers sushi, 

cheeses, ice cream, pancakes and 

waffles, pastries, etc. to tide you over 

for dinner. 

Fine dining would include Maury’s 

and Stretto. Maury’s, named after the 

founder of Allegiant Travel, brings together 

gulf coast seafood and steaks 

along with “Southwest Florida’s widest 

selection of wine,” according to the 

website. Find tuna, salmon, scallops, 

lobster, grouper, swordfish, halibut 

and more. Meat offerings include 

Black Angus filets, Australian Wagyu 

strip and that crazy tomahawk ribeye. 

Stretto offers Italian cuisine specifically 

from Italy’s southwestern coast 

and offers pizza, pastas, dishes like 

seafood cioppino, osso bucco, blue 

crab carbonara and more. 

Casual restaurants include Blue 

Lime offering coastal Mexican offering 

the usual subjects like quesadillas, 

tacos, ceviche and chicken mole, 

but also items you don’t usually see 

so if you like Mexican and like being 

adventurous. They also have 100 types 

of tequilas. 

If you love sports and a busy setting, 

then Allegiant Stadium offers a large 

selection of bar food and 

60+ TVs. Then there’s 

Cracked Tiki Shack serving 

Caribbean fare like 

coconut shrimp, Cajun 

shrimp, clams, calamari, 

Florida gator, pulled 

pork and more. 

Since we’re talking 

great views, Level Blue 

probably offers the 

best of all. It’s where 

the second pool (adults 

only) is located and 

whether swimming or 

dining you’ll have 360 

degree views. There’s 

a fee for the exclusive 

access. They offer salads, 

nachos, flatbreads, sandwiches, 

tacos and the 

like. Great place to hang 

in the shade and have cocktails. Then 

when it gets too hot, go for a swim. 

More literally down to Earth is 

the Reflections Pool and Bar on the 

ground level adjacent to the hotel. 

They offer lounge chair seating as well 

as cabanas. Order a frozen cocktail or 

small bite delivered chair-side, or sit 

down to a full meal at the neighboring 

Waterside Table. 

They also have their own golf course. 

The Aileron Golf Course (French for 

“little wing”) which is offsite at Lake 

Suzy just 15 minutes away. It offers 

rolling fairways, strategic waterways, 

mounded greens and framed bulk 

heads (I looked this up - I don’t golf) 

exclusively for resort guests. 

Another pleasing option is the Lorelei 

Spa that offers a range services 

including wellness massages, marine 

body treatments, facial treatments, 

hair and nails offerings and 

bridal services. And, there’s a large 

(7,100-square-foot) fitness center 

with, guess what, a beautiful view of 

the water. 

continued on next page >> 


travel feature continued 

Exploring 

Off Site 

If you decide to 

put down the 

fork and feel a 

need for a feetin-the-sand 

experience, 

there’s 

Venice Beach to 

the north, Englewood 

Beach 

(the closest at 

@40 minutes) 

and to the south 

there’s Fort Myers 

Beach. You 

can find standup 

paddling and 

kayaking or take 

a ride on a chartered 

boat if you 

like to fish. 

Conclusion 

I can imagine 

Sunseeker for 

Sarasotans 

wanting a weekend 

get away — but only an hour or so 

away. It’s a great venue for a weddings 

since there’s Punta Gorda airport is 

just 15 minutes to the south and everyone 

will find something to do and 

plenty of places to relax for all ages. 

It’s also ideal for family get togethers 

or reunions over the holidays or 

whenever since your every need will 

be met. Due to being summer, not 

all restaurants were open every day. 

Call ahead to find out which ones are 

open or just go with potluck. 

Special Offers 

Enjoy a $100 food and beverage credit 

to explore the culinary haven of Sunseeker 

Resort’s 20 dining concepts 

when you book a stay of two nights or 

more. 

Florida & Georgia residents can get 

up to 20% off their standard rate for 

a weekend trip or a longer staycation 

in paradise. 

If you fly Allegiant and are a member 

of their rewards program, you can 

pay for your trip with the card and 

earn points to use on airfare. 

About Sunseeker 

and Allegiant Airlines 

It’s owned by Allegiant Airlines which 

also happens to be the solo airline at 

Punta Gorda Airport. It’s small and a 

bit old school airport (in a good way), 

so you get in and out in a very uncomplicated 

way and stands in sharp contrast 

to places like Atlanta or Miami 

and it’s much smaller than Sarasota. 

It’s also stuffed with people in season 

(what isn’t in our area?). 

Improvements are coming to the 

30,000 some square foot terminal in 

2025 and a new addition is coming in 

2026, but no plans have been released 

yet. Stay tuned on that. 

I’ve been flying Allegiant since 2018 

and as a person who likes simplicity 

and easy of use travel, it has worked out 

well. They choose smaller airports, their 

flights are nonstops and their prices are 

more than half of the big guys. 

Sample Harrisburg to Sarasota 

would be $200-300. American is 

@$285 to $385 (stops in Philly or Charlotte 

making it a 5 or longer hour trip); 

Delta $495; United $668 with 2 stops 

and a 7 hour flight - no thank you). 

But prices vary depending on holidays 

and demand. Book early to get the 

best rate - it’ll only go up. 

Yes there are those add-ons. The 

process starts with airfare then add 

luggage. You get a carryon free and 

pay for additional luggage at @ $40 

each way. Seats are $12 to 20 each way 

so you can get front of the plane, extra 

legroom, etc. Price it out, but if you’re 

flexible you can find a deal. 

The secret is to join their Allways Rewards 

program and get the Allegiant 

credit card. It’s rated one of the best 

and easiest of the programs to use. 

I like the priority check-in and a free 

first drink. One of the most notable 

benefits is ‘Buy One, Get One Free 

Airfare’ offer. I earn points that I can 

then use towards my next flight. I prefer 

nonstops and avoiding big airports 

not just saves time but reduces the 

risk of backed up airports. 

Sarasota also has a strong Allegiant 

presence with flights running 

Wednesdays and Saturdays. A 

frequent complaint is that Allegiant 

only runs on certain days. You can 

work around this by looking at fights 

to St. Petersburg (not Tampa), Punta 

Gorda and Sarasota so you can mix 

and match. 

Almost every Allegiant flight I have 

been on - going north or south - has 

been on time and, if it’s any measure 

of their popularity, packed. 

Story: Louise Bruderle 

Images courtesy of Sunseeker Resort 

The Facts: 

Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor 

5500 Sunseeker Way 

Offers 20 dining and bar concepts; 

Maury’s 

Allegiant Stadium 

including seven restaurants and a 

25,000-square-foot food hall. Amenities 

include a waterfront promenade, 

two rooftop and waterfront pool 

experiences, full-service spa and salon, 

a 7,100-square-foot fitness center with 

four group exercise studios with instructor-lead 

classes, seven retail and 

market shops and an 18-hole championship-level 

golf club. 

For more information, visit www. 

sunseekerresorts.com or call (833) 

909- 5700. 

Parking 

Self parking $20/day; Valet parking 

$25/day 

Dining 

The Resort offer 20 fine and casual 

dining options. 

From their website, “The resort features 

20 first-of-its-kind, wholly owned 

and branded food and beverage concepts, 

which include seven signature 

restaurants, 11 bars and lounges and a 

food hall. 

“At the centerpiece of the Sunseeker’s 

main tower is the food hall, a vibrant 

social hub unique to Southwest 

Florida where guests can explore 11 

distinctive eateries. The 25,000 square 

foot Harbor Yards Food Hall is Sunseeker 

Resort’s culinary centerpiece 

with 11 unique concepts open for 

breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring: 

Riverfront Roast coffee; Brick + Daisy 

wine bar and cocktails; Chartisan 

charcuterie, cheese and antipasti; 

Sweet Shine patisserie and dessert 

bar; Arezzo craft pizza kitchen; Taqueria 

Puerto coastal cantina; Kinderhook 

raw bar and crab company; Saddle 

Creek classic American favorites; Daikon 

Asian kitchen, noodle and sushi; 

Charlotte Parlor gelato and creperie; 

and Copper Cask beer garden and 

custom cocktails.. 

“Maury’s Steak, Seafood & Spirits is 

an elevated seafood and steakhouse 

open nightly for dinner. Maury’s will 

offer selections 

of aged beef 

and sustainable 

seafood 

from both the 

local region and 

oceans afar. 

“Stretto Coastal 

Italian Table 

is an n indoor 

and outdoor 

casual trattoria 

open nightly 

for dinner 

offering guests 

approachable 

Italian cuisine 

with freshly 

made pastas, 

flatbreads, 

Italian-inspired 

seafood and 

meat dishes, 

and farm-to-table 

fresh ingredients. 

“Blue Lime 

Modern Coastal 

Mexican is a 

contemporary 

Baja-inspired Mexican restaurant 

open nightly for dinner with picturesque 

views of Charlotte Harbor and 

Reflections Pool. The food respects 

the historical recipes of classical Mexican 

cuisine while the flavors are more 

modern, layered and bold. more than 

100 tequilas. 

“Allegiant Stadium Sports Table is 

open daily for lunch, dinner and latenight 

sports action. Allegiant Stadium 

Sports Bar will be the perfect place for 

fans to feel the energy and excitement 

from every seat in the house during 

games as they enjoy unobstructed 

views of more than 60 HDTVs. It offers 

Americana pub food. 

“Half Cracked Tiki Shack Gulf Coast 

offers flavors with a nod to Caribbean 

‘Island Life’ culture and décor celebrating 

coastal ocean living, featuring 

eclectic specialties such as bucket o’ 

shrimp, steamed clams, baked oysters, 

fresh grilled fish, in addition to burgers, 

ribs and chicken. 

“Level Blue Rooftop Pool Bar & Bites 

is on the 8th Floor of Main Resort Tower. 

This exclusive adults-only rooftop 

experience offers 360-degree views 

and serves up specialty cocktails and 

a menu offering fresh, lighter fare to 

quench any appetite. 

“Reflections Pool Complex offers frozen 

cocktails, signature drinks or bottled 

and draft beers. Small bites and 

lunch are available. Bar top or poolside 

seating is available for guests who are 

looking to catch a game on the TVs, 

grab a bite, or to relax and enjoy the 

music and tropical views. 

“Waterside Table Restaurant + 

Bar. Located between the pool and 

Charlotte Harbor, Waterside Table will 

be a place to grab frozen cocktails, 

signature drinks, bottle or draft beers. 

Guests can sit at the bar or dine in the 

air-conditioned restaurant, with an 

elevated open-air view of the pool and 

harbor. The menu offers fresh coastal 

poolside fare, shared plates, fish tacos, 

Angus burgers and salads. 



Museum of Fine Arts Presents 

Never The Same Song 

The First Exhibition Dedicated to the works of 

Lizzi Bougatsos and Lonnie Holley 

The Museum of Fine 

Arts, St. Petersburg 

has Never 

the Same Song, 

the first institutional exhibition 

dedicated to the works of Lizzi 

Bougatsos and Lonnie Holley. 

Never the Same Song spans 

artworks from the 1990s to the 

present, including the debut of 

works made by the artists in 

March 2024 at Holley’s studio 

in Atlanta, and works from the 

collection of the MFA. 

Never the Same Song is centered 

around thematic commonalities 

in both artists’ practices 

including improvisation, the use 

of found objects, sustainability, 

and environmental conservation. 

Never the Same Song will be on 

view through September15, 2024 

Guest curator Viva Vadim 

grew up surrounded by the 

Souls Grown Deep Collection, 

the groundbreaking organization 

founded in 2010 by her grandfather 

William S. Arnett, which is 

dedicated to stewarding the largest 

and foremost collection of 

works by Black artists from the 

Southern United States, encompassing 

more than 1,000 works by more 

than 160 artists. Souls Grown Deep 

Collection and Vadim advocate for 

the inclusion of Black artists from 

the South in the canon of American 

art history and foster economic empowerment, 

racial and social justice, 

and educational advancement 

in the communities that gave rise to 

these artists. Vadim brings her deep 

knowledge and singular proximity 

to the works of Lonnie Holley, her 

godfather, to her curation of this 

collaborative exhibition. 

“I’m extremely grateful to be the 

third generation of my family to be 

mentored by Lonnie. He has taught 

me invaluable lessons about the 

transformative powers of art and 

consistently reiterated the importance 

of caring for our planet,” says 

Vadim. “Lizzi’s work is intertwined 

with Lonnie’s through a mutual 

dedication to the healing and unifying 

power of art. Lizzi provides an 

intimate view into her relationships 

and artistic process through her 

personal archive. In contrast, Lonnie 

speaks about universal struggles, 

using his experiences to shed 

Lizzi Bougatsos, Idolize the Burn, 2022, 

Brass chandelier, red wax, silver, candles, 

resin dipped toe shoes, and wood. 

Courtesy of the artist and James Fuentes Gallery, NY. 

light on broader human suffering. 

The exhibition showcases early-career 

and recent works by both artists, 

addressing themes of climate, 

labor, and performance.” 

According to Katherine Pill, Senior 

Curator of Contemporary Art, 

“Never the Same Song also offers an 

important extension - or antithesis - 

to the history of the readymade; the 

work on display is composed almost 

entirely of reclaimed objects, 

found on the street or in the family 

home. The artists use these found 

materials to different ends, but remind 

us of the power that resides in 

objects given a second life.” 

NEVER 

THE SAME SONG: 

A COLLABORATION 

AND FRIENDSHIP 

Lonnie 

Holley, 

Without Skin, 2023, Fire hose, wooden chairs, and nails, 

Courtesy of the artist, BLUM Gallery (LA/NYC/Tokyo), and Edel Assanti Gallery 

(London). Photo Truett Dietz 

provisation, environmental protection, 

social justice, and a practice 

of repurposing found objects. The 

exhibition title, Never the Same 

Song, references Holley’s intense 

improvisational performance style: 

he pens lyrics right before performing 

and never plays the same song 

twice. While both artists have collaborated 

together in the past, this 

exhibition marks a new chapter in 

their artistic relationship and the 

first time the pair have collaborated 

on a series of new sculptures. 

Both artists are steadfastly dedicated 

to the transformative potential 

and power of found materials, 

seeing in these items a second life 

and soul beyond their initial usage. 

Environmental sustainability is a 

theme throughout Never the Same 

Song. The works explore various 

After meeting ten years ago, Bougatsos 

and Holley have maintained 

a connection through a shared artistic 

vision that spans music, imforms 

of reuse, implicitly critiquing 

our mass consumer culture. 

Holley’s career as an artist began 

after a tragic fire took the lives of 

his sister’s two young children, 

and he carved headstones from 

discarded sandstone-like material, 

thus beginning his artistic practice 

of breathing new life into rejectamenta. 

His work now frequently 

incorporates wood, scrap metal, 

artificial flowers, textile scraps, 

antiques, and other quotidian objects. 

Similarly, Bougatsos’ work 

has been deeply impacted by fire, 

having been burned during a 2001 

performance, which inspired her 

recent solo exhibition Idolize the 

Burn, An Ode to Performance at 

Tramps in New York City. Her work 

likewise repurposes ephemera imbued 

with deep meaning, including 

Lonnie Holley, Water Line 

(Made in America), 2020, 

Glass jar, metal statue, 

and water. 

Courtesy of the artist, BLUM Gallery 

(LA/NYC/Tokyo), and 

Edel Assanti Gallery (London). 

Photo Truett Dietz 

bandages, ballet slippers, 

antique chandeliers, 

clothing, jewelry and 

other material 

“Working alongside 

Lonnie has introduced 

me to new ways to approach 

making my sculptures; 

this illuminated to 

me how my work differs 

from others. My favorite 

part of working and collaborating 

with Lonnie is 

our unique language with 

each other based on a 

long-term friendship. We 

speak in poetics,” states 

Bougatsos. “There is mutual 

respect and trust between 

us, and we share 

each other’s values. The 

formal elements in our 

work relate in the sense 

that we know when a 

work is completed; all 

of this is reflected in this 

exhibition.” 

“Every time I come 

to Florida I feel like I’m 

a doctor checking up on 

a patient: rising tides, 

changing temperatures, increasing 

population. When I visited last year 

with Lizzi, we spent a lot of time 

talking about water and the coastal 

areas, and realized it was something 

we both think about deeply. 

So to do this show together allows 

us to explore some of those ideas, 

and it’s the first opportunity we’ve 

had to show our work together,” 

Holley states. As for the personal 

nature of the exhibition, he says, 

“I’ve known Viva her entire life. I 

have a long and deep relationship 

with her family for generations and 

I’ve watched her develop into a 

very thoughtful human concerned 

deeply with the arts and the environment. 

Because of her relationship 

with me and Lizzi and our art, 

she really is the perfect person to 

help bring this show to fruition. 

24 WEST COAST WOMAN JUNE 2024

JUNE 2024 WEST COAST WOMAN 25 

APRIL 2024 WEST COAST WOMAN 25 


‘Portrait Ukraine: 

Capturing Faces of Resistance 

Amid The Chaos of War’ 

Photography Exhibition set to run 

to April 19 at the Lexow Gallery in Sarasota 

The Lexow 

Gallery is 

set to host 

the Portrait 

U k r a i n e 

Photography Exhibition 

from March 15 to April 

19, 2024. This profound 

exhibition presents a compelling 

collection of photographs 

meticulously curated 

from three journeys to 

Ukraine undertaken by distinguished 

photojournalist 

Allan Mestel. The Portrait 

Ukraine Exhibition captures 

the faces of resistance 

amid the chaos of war. 

Within weeks of Russia’s full-scale 

invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 

Allan Mestel embarked on a mission 

to document the harrowing realities 

faced by Ukrainians. Witnessing the 

devastation firsthand, Mestel’s photographic 

journey spans three visits 

to the war-torn region, first focusing 

on the Ukraine/Poland border, documenting 

the massive refugee crisis. 

A subsequent trip details the devastating 

aftermath of Russia’s military 

attacks and missile strikes, revealing 

the profound human toll on the people 

of Ukraine. His most recent journey 

in September 2023 covered cities 

and small towns throughout Ukraine, 

immersing himself in the environments 

of those significantly impacted 

by the war and taking intimate portraits 

reflecting the authentic human 

experience amid war. 

The Portrait Ukraine Exhibireminder 

of the dire conditions and 

ongoing challenges the Ukrainian 

people face, serving as a call to the 

world for more support. 

As viewers of the exhibition embark 

on their visual journey, they 

should understand that Mestel’s work 

is ongoing. He is not merely presenting 

a snapshot in time but an evolving 

chronicle. Mestel is planning a 

fourth journey to Ukraine in the first 

half of 2024, ensuring that the world 

remains informed and connected to 

the ongoing struggles and triumphs 

of the Ukrainian people. 

Spotlight Ukraine, a volunteer 

initiative dedicated to supporting 

Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, 

stands alongside Mestel in his commitment 

to documenting the truth 

and sharing the personal stories 

of those impacted by the war. As 

a part of this ongoing effort, Spotlight 

Ukraine supports the ‘Portrait 

tion will showcase over thirty photographs 

from all three journeys, 

offering viewers a visual narrative 

that reveals the anguish, courage, 

and resilience of individuals facing 

heart-wrenching losses endured by 

countless Ukrainians. The exhibition 

serves as a visual testament to the 

enduring spirit and courage of the 

Ukrainian people. 

The essence of the Portrait 

Ukraine Exhibition lies in distilling 

the complexities of war into individual 

visual stories. Through these evocative 

portraits, Mestel aims to forge 

a profound connection between the 

viewer and the brutal reality of the 

war, inviting reflection on the shared 

humanity that transcends borders. 

Despite global support for Ukraine 

in the first year of the war, aid and 

public support have declined during 

this second year. The Portrait 

Ukraine Exhibition serves as a stark 

EXHIBITION INFORMATION: 

through April 19, 2024 • Lexow Gallery 

3975 Fruitville Rd Sarasota, FL 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: 

Gallery Hours: 

Tuesday - Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM • Sunday 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM 

Or by appointment, call 941-371-4974 

LIMITED-EDITION PRINTS 

Limited-edition prints of select images from the Portrait 

Ukraine collection will be available for purchase from Allan 

Mestel. Profits will be used to fund his next journey to Ukraine 

to continue the Portrait Ukraine project. Information will be 

provided at the event. 

Ukraine’ project by actively sharing 

stories and photographs from Allan 

Mestel’s journeys, aiming to generate 

awareness with a broader audience. 

Those unable to attend the exhibition 

and attendees interested in reading 

about the backstory of the ‘Portrait 

Ukraine’ project, Mestel’s journeys, 

and personal stories about the portraits 

are encouraged to visit www. 

spotlightukraine.com. 

More information on the upcoming 

exhibition is available online 

at: www.portraitukraine.info. 

West Coast WOMAN 

LOVES THE ARTS! 

12 WEST COAST WOMAN APRIL 2024 


Sarasota Art Museum 

Engages the Senses with Celestial 

Spring Exhibition 

‘The Truth of the Night Sky’ is a collaboration between 

multimedia artist Anne Patterson and composer Patrick Harlin 

Imagine an intergalactic 

voyage. Waves 

of vibrant color and obscure 

darkness surround 

you. Music and ambient 

sound envelop you. Sarasota 

Art Museum of Ringling 

College of Art and Design 

will take visitors on a journey 

through space and time with 

The Truth of the Night Sky: 

Anne Patterson and Patrick 

Harlin, on view April 21- 

Sept. 29. 

Organized in collaboration 

with the Hermitage Artist 

Retreat, the immersive installation 

conveys possibility, 

wonderment and unity with 

Harlin’s orchestral composition 

and Patterson’s paintings, 

sculpture, and signature 

ribbon installations. 

Patterson, a multimedia artist, 

is a synesthete who visualizes 

color and shape when she 

hears music, especially classical 

music. Harlin, a composer, 

combines classical, jazz, and 

electronic traditions to produce 

music that displays his 

respect for the great outdoors. 

When the two met and began 

collaborating in 2014 while in 

residence at the Hermitage 

Artist Retreat on Manasota 

Key, Florida, they discovered 

their shared affinity for drawing inspiration 

from nature. Their collaboration in The 

Truth of the Night Sky at Sarasota Art Museum 

expands upon the iconic photograph 

of Earth taken from Apollo 8 in 1968. 

Harlin’s Earthrise serves as the processional, 

the sound that sets the mood and 

guides visitors through the exhibition. 

In 2021, Harlin applied to be among eight 

artists who would join SpaceX’s inaugural 

tourist flight around the moon. He imagined 

the trip would prompt him to compose a 

new soundtrack for space travel. When he 

wasn’t chosen, he turned his attention instead 

to the Apollo 8 photograph. With the 

revered image from space in mind, he composed 

Earthrise, which he coincidentally 

completed on Earth Day in 2022. 

“There is a sense of awe in looking at the 

night sky, the vastness of the universe, and 

the improbability of reaching the moon, let 

alone our closest stars,” said Harlin. “To 

date, 24 humans have taken the 240,000- 

mile trip and experienced the excitement 

of skyward travel accompanied by the violence 

of exiting Earth’s atmosphere and 

gravitational pull. I hope visitors to Sara- 

Anne Patterson. Celestial Orbs, 2024. Steel piano 

wire, resin and gold leaf, dimensions variable. 

Composer Patrick Harlin recording in the Amazon Rainforest. 

Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Audrey Kelley 

Artist Anne Patterson in her studio. Courtesy of the artist. 

Photo: Kat Choe 

to the floor. Projected onto the ribbons 

will be abstract black-and-white video images 

moving in sync with the cadence and 

rhythm of Harlin’s music. 

“Patrick Harlin and I will challenge perceptions 

and transform the space with celestial 

sculptural forms, vivid hues, dazzling 

light, and a mesmerizing, inviting musical 

score to create an air of transcendence and 

uplift,” said Patterson. “The viewer will witness 

the wonderment of the universe and nature 

that surrounds us and be reminded that 

only when it is dark can we see the stars.” 

The exhibition will offer a tactile sensory 

experience with a galactic space that instills 

a sense of hope and resilience—qualities 

from nature that both Patterson and Harlin 

find as sources of their creative inspiration. 

Patterson, a New York-based artist, holds 

a graduate degree in theater design from the 

Slade School of Art in London and a bachelor’s 

degree in architecture from Yale University. 

Her work has been widely exhibited 

and collected in museums and cultural 

institutions including exhibitions at The 

Ringling Museum in Sarasota and Trapholt 

Museum in Denmark. Patterson’s theatrical 

and symphonic partnerships have included 

Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center. 

Harlin holds a doctorate in music composition 

from the University of Michigan and 

currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

His works have been performed by the St. 

Louis Symphony and the Rochester and 

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestras, among 

others. He was the inaugural recipient of 

the Hermitage Prize in Composition at the 

Aspen Music Festival. 

sota Art Museum might vicariously experience 

the feeling that astronauts who have 

taken the trip beyond the moon have.” 

The Truth of the Night Sky will offer 

immersive encounters with both artists’ 

works. The exhibition will open with ambient 

sounds, such as those of a trumpet 

or string instrument. These excerpts from 

Harlin’s 20-minute orchestral composition 

will be paired with Patterson’s drawings 

and sculptural pieces that conjure celestial 

bodies, stars, and birds in flight. 

Featured are several series by Patterson, 

including Stars Spinning Through Spring 

(2018-19), The Truth of the Night Sky (2018- 

19), and We Are All Stardust (2019-23). A 

majestic tree assembled from driftwood 

will be suspended from the ceiling, anchoring 

the dimly lit gallery and providing 

a grounding image of nature in contrast to 

the world of outer space. 

Harlin’s full composition will then play 

as visitors enter the adjacent gallery and 

walk through a kaleidoscope of colorful 

satin ribbons cascading from the ceiling 

Exhibit Details: 

SARASOTA ART MUSEUM 

is located at 

1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

On view April 21-September 29. 

14 WEST COAST WOMAN MARCH 2024 


Choral Artists of Sarasota Presents 

“Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” 

and Joseph Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” on March 10 

Choral Artists of Sarasota’s 

45th season continues with 

“Abraham Lincoln Walks at 

Midnight,” based on a poem 

by Vachel Lindsay and composed 

by Florence Price, the first African 

American woman to have her music performed 

by a major symphony orchestra. 

The program also features Joseph Haydn’s 

“Lord Nelson Mass” (also known as “Mass 

in a Time of Anxiety”), which is recognized 

as one of his greatest compositions. 

Featured soloists for both works are singers 

in Choral Artists: Lily Wohl, soprano; 

Krista Laskowski, mezzo-soprano; Stephanie 

Jabre, alto; Zachery Stockman, tenor; 

and Jesse Martin, bass. 

“We paired these two works as a reflection 

of our own time,” says Joseph Holt, artistic 

director and conductor. “Both were composed 

during times of anxiety and unease. 

Haydn’s ‘Mass’ was composed towards the 

end of the 18th century when Napoleon 

was ransacking the continent. The work is 

composed in the turbulent key of d minor 

and it is arguably Haydn’s greatest composition. 

The Florence Price work is the 

musical setting of a poem written at the 

outset of World War I by Vachel Lindsay. 

Abraham Lincoln emerges from his grave 

and wanders the streets of Springfield, Illinois 

– very concerned about the state of 

affairs in the world of 1914.” 

Holt further explains that “both works offer 

dramatic passages of anxiety and upheaval 

yet contain moments of consolation 

and ultimate peace. We live in a time 

of anxiousness and concern about the 

future and yet yearn for a sense of peace 

and calm – very much the tenor of these 

compositions from a different era.” 

Composer Florence Price, the first African 

American female composer to gain national 

status in the 20th century, was also 

the first Black woman to have her work 

premiered by a U.S. orchestra—the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra. When Price 

died in 1953, the bulk of her music was excluded 

from study and performance due 

to a lack of widespread publication, and a 

bias towards white, European traditionalism. 

In 2009, a substantial amount of her 

compositions was discovered in a trunk at 

Price’s abandoned composing retreat in 

St. Anne, Illinois, which has given rise to 

a renewed interest in and appreciation of 

her work. Her legacy continues to unfold. 

More Information: 

The concert is Sunday, March 10, at 7 

p.m., at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee 

Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information 

and to purchase tickets, visit www. 

ChoralArtistsSarasota.org or call 941- 

387-4900. 

Coming up at 

Choral Artists of Sarasota: 

• Considering Matthew Shepard: Featuring 

Craig Hella Johnson’s “Considering 

Matthew Shepard,” a modern-day “Passion” 

(modeled after the great “Passions” 

of J.S. Bach) that tells the story of Matthew 

Shepard, a gay American student at 

the University of Wyoming who was beaten, 

tortured, and left to die near Laramie 

on the night of October 6, 1998. In partnership 

with Embracing Our Differences, 

Project Pride, ALSO Youth, and the First 

Congregational Church UCC, this beautiful 

musical story transcends tragedy. 

Sunday, April 14, 7 p.m., at Church of the 

Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. 

• Memorial Day Concert: United We 

Stand: The Choral Artists teams with 

the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble to 

perform a moving tribute to those in the 

armed forces who have made the ultimate 

sacrifice. This concert is also the kick-off 

for the group’s tour to France to participate 

in the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 

Normandy. Sunday, May 26, 4 p.m., at 

Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple 

Avenue, Sarasota. 

• D-Day Commemoration Journey: 

June 3-11. Choral Artists of Sarasota has 

been invited by Historic Programs, which 

partners with the Department of Defense, 

Office of Commemorations, to be the principal 

choral ensemble for the 80th D-Day 

anniversary commemorations in France in 

June. In addition to participating in commemoration 

ceremonies at the cemeteries 

in Normandy and Brittany, the group will 

perform a concert in the town square at 

Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy and also 

at L’église de la Madeleine in Paris. Choral 

Artists is inviting the public to join them on 

this journey. For more information, contact 

info@ChoralArtististsSarasota.org. 

Florence Price 

Choral Artists of Sarasota 

Joseph Holt 


About the Choral Artists of Sarasota 

The Choral Artists of Sarasota, entering 

its 45th season, features 32 professional 

singers and eight apprentice singers. 

The group celebrates the rich, artistic expressiveness 

of choral music through innovative 

repertoire, inspired performances 

and stimulating educational outreach. 

Under the artistic direction of Dr. Joseph 

Holt, Choral Artists of Sarasota performs 

a repertoire spanning four centuries, and 

includes symphonic choral works, intimate 

madrigals, folk songs, close-harmony 

jazz, and Broadway show music. 

The ensemble also specializes in premiere 

performances of lesser-known choral 

works—particularly music by living American 

composers. Choral Artists of Sarasota 

has performed premieres by René Clausen, 

Dick Hyman, Robert Levin, Gwyneth 

Walker and James Grant. As part of the 

organization’s educational outreach, eight 

young singers from area schools, colleges 

and universities, ages 16 to 22, are invited 

to join the group each year. 

18 WEST COAST WOMAN MARCH 2024 

Cartwright, who also oversees 

the museum’s European collection, 

adds, “Shinique chose the 

works on view in response to 

The Ringling’s magnificent gallery 

spaces. The synergy between her 

work and our collections is palpable, 

and the museum is full of unexpected 

moments of beauty and 

emotion.” 

Well known for her monumental 

sculptures created from an 

array of materials, including luxurious 

textiles, personal clothing, 

dyed fabrics, ribbon, and wood, 

and for her abstract paintings of 

calligraphy and collage, Smith’s 

work in this exhibition speaks to 

various facets of the European 

artistic tradition, such as classical 

drapery and religious iconography, 

while foregrounding notions of 

Black femininity and the history of 

the circus. 

“My hope for this show is to 

create a bridge between differing 

depictions of people and the art 

histories that inform my hand while 

celebrating the beauty 

found in our belongings 

and honoring the 

resilience and magnanimity 

of Black women,” 

says Smith. 

Moving through the 

Museum of Art galleries, 

which display 

European art from 

the fifteenth century 

through the late nineteenth, 

visitors will 

find several examples 

of Smith’s large-scale 

fabric sculptures in 

conversation with European art, for 

example with Italian Baroque paintings 

in Gallery 8 and with Gilded 

Age interiors from the Astor Mansion 

in New York City in Galleries 19 

and 20. 

Smith’s works in the exhibition 

emphasize femininity, as seen 

through the eyes of a woman artist. 

In works such as Inflamed by 

Golden Hues of Love and Mitumba 

Deity II, Smith explores her 

reverence for the curves and resilience 

of Black women, conveyed 

through shapely forms bejeweled 

and draped in gold. Notions of divinity, 

light, death, renewal, and 

rebirth pervade sculptural works 

like Grace Stands Beside and Stargazer, 

the latter inspired by the 

imagined path of an enslaved woman 

following the stars and counting 

the days to her freedom. 

The exhibition moves from the 

mythic and monumental to the 

personal and familial with ease. 

Inspired by her admiration for the 

beauty that her grandmother and 

mother created in times of “making 

do” and building magic from 

everything they had on hand, the 

installation in Gallery 6 will display 

a collection of photographs 

of the women in Smith’s family 

dressed to the nines, along with 

some of her own personal treasures, 

to form a venerated visual 

poem. On view through January 5, 

2025. More info at ringling.org 

About the Artist 

Born in Baltimore, MD, and currently 

residing in Los Angeles, 

Smith holds BFA and MFA degrees 

from the Maryland Institute College 

of Art and an MA in Education from 

Tufts University. She has received 

awards and prizes from Joan Mitchell, 

the Tiffany Foundation, Anonymous 

Was a Woman, and the American 

Academy of Arts and Letters 

among others. 

Her work has gained attention 

through her participation in biennials 

and group exhibitions and has 

been exhibited and collected by 

institutions such as the Baltimore 

Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum 

of Art, California African American 

Museum, Denver Art Museum, 

Deutsche Guggenheim, Los Angeles 

County Museum of Art; Minneapolis 

Institute of Art, MOMA 

PS1, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, 

National Museum of Women 

in the Arts, and the Whitney Museum 

of American Art. 


Shinique Smith: 

Parade Exhibit at the Ringling 

Features Contemporary Sculpture in Conversation with the European Art Collection 

V 

isitors to The John and Mable Ringling Museum 

of Art have the opportunity to experience 

the work of contemporary artist Shinique 

Smith (b. 1971) in conversation with the 

museum’s collection of European art. 

Shinique Smith: Parade is on view in the Museum 

of Art through January 5, 2025. Unfolding across six galleries, 

the exhibition creates a series of unique stories 

that together form an abstract narrative of the “parade” 

as a metaphor for life. 

“We are so thrilled that Shinique Smith has chosen 

to present her work to Sarasota audiences within our 

European galleries, where it will provoke conversation 

and inspire new ways of seeing and understanding both 

historic and contemporary art,” says the exhibition’s curator, 

Sarah Cartwright, Chief Curator and Ulla R. Searing 

Curator of Collections at The Ringling. 

This is the first exhibition of 

Shinique Smith’s work at The 

Ringling Museum and the first time 

she has presented her work in direct 

dialogue with a museum collection 

of historic European art. The 

placement of the work reveals the 

universality of human experience 

explored by artists throughout time. 

On View through Jan. 5, 2025 

Another scene from the European galleries 

Visitors will find several examples of Smith’s 

large-scale fabric sculptures 

in conversation with European art 

Shinique Smith 

standing in front of her sculpture 

Mitumba Deity II (2018-2023) 

on display in the Astor Salon (Gallery 19) 

A sculpture called “Stargazer” 

12 WEST COAST WOMAN FEBRUARY 2024 


Each year, the Circus Arts 

Conservatory’s professional 

arm, Circus Sarasota, offers 

a showcase of top global circus 

artists performing in a one-ring 

traditional circus 

circus setting. Featuring new 

and innovative acts, Circus Sarasota’s 2024 

production will offer high-flying action, 

heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic 

antics, and acts that defy both expectations 

and the boundaries of physical 

limitations. 

“While this may be Circus Sarasota’s 26th 

year, we work very hard to make sure that 

no two productions are ever alike,” said CAC 

Founder/President & CEO Pedro Reis. “Our 

goal is to recruit the perfect balance of talent 

and variety to ensure patrons of all ages will 

be thrilled, inspired and entertained each 

and every year. We are confident this year’s 

show will take things to an entirely new level 

for our guests, whether they are a circus regular 

or brand new to the circus arts!” 

THE LINEUP FOR 

Circus Sarasota 2024 INCLUDES:

good news department 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties 

awarded $ 50,000 grant 

The Community Foundation 

of Sarasota County granted 

$50,000 to Boys & Girls 

Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto 

Counties in support of 

Impact100 SRQ Awards $ 876,000 

Impact100 SRQ has announced $ 876,000 in grant funds for its 2024 giving year at 

The Annual Big Reveal event in April. 

Impact100 SRQ has announced $876,000 

in grant funds for its 2024 giving year. 

All nonprofits in Sarasota and Manatee 

Counties were encouraged to submit 

their application for an opportunity to 

apply for one of eight $109,500 grants in 

the focus areas of Arts, Culture & History, 

Education, Environment, Recreation 

& Animal Welfare, Family and Health & 

Wellness. 

Over 200 attendees enjoyed a raffle, silent 

The Annual Big Reveal event was at 

Nathan Benderson Park Finish Tower on 

April 16.Impact100 SRQ will have funded 

30 grants totaling $3,276,000 by the end 

of 2024. The 2024 Giving Year is in full 

swing and for nonprofits interested in 

learning more about their grant process 

and how to submit an Application Eligibility 

Form, visit Impact100SRQ.org. 

Impact100 SRQ is one of more than 60 

long-term reconstruction 

efforts at the Steven and 

Marjolaine Townsend Campus, 

home of the Gene Matthews 

Boys & Girls Club. 

Due to the urgent need to 

serve the rapidly expanding 

community of North 

Port, a renovation of the 

Club was already on the 

horizon. However, in 2022, Hurricane Ian 

caused irreparable damage to two of the 

three main buildings and accelerated that 

timeline. To ensure today’s youth have 

the skills, resources, and opportunities 

to be the leaders of tomorrow, a new 

23,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility 

will be built in the same location that 

has served local families for over 25 years. 

Upon completion, the interior will feature 

academic classrooms, a commercial 

teaching kitchen, a food pantry for local 

families, a technology lab, a dedicated 

teen center, a college and career center, 

and more. Club members will also be able 

to enjoy the outdoors with a newly renovated 

sun-shaded playground, recreation 

pavilion, and health and fitness center. 

chapters worldwide and joins its sister 

chapters in embracing the local collective 

giving model. Established in 2018, 

Impact100 SRQ brings together a diverse 

group of women who annually fund transformational 

grants to local nonprofits in 

both Sarasota and Manatee Counties. 

The model is simple. At least 100 women 

each give a $1,000 tax-deductible 

donation, and together they collectively 

award grants in increments of at least 

$100,000 to local nonprofits in five focus 

areas: Arts, Culture & History; Education; 

Environment, Recreation & Animal Welfare; 

Family and Health & Wellness. 

Each member’s annual donation 

strengthens the power of giving and 

funds the innovative projects that make a 

high “Impact” and sustainable difference 

in our community. To learn more, visit 

impact100srq.org. 

Ceremonial groundbreaking in March for the Steven and Marjolaine 

Townsend Campus, Home of the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club 

The grant provided by the Community 

Foundation through the Suncoast Disaster 

Recovery Fund will help sustain operations 

throughout the construction of 

the new facility and ensure continuity in 

programs and services. These funds will 

be used to defray ongoing costs for the 

addition of two classroom portables that 

will serve as temporary educational and 

enrichment space, as well as additional 

improvements including the installation 

of an ADA-compliant concrete sidewalk 

for universal access, and internet connectivity 

upgrades for the gymnasium 

which currently serves as the primary 

learning space. 

For more information, visit www.bgcsdc.org 

SMHF Raises over $ 93 Million for Cancer Institute 

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare 

Foundation announced that its 

Leading with Care cancer campaign 

raised over $93 million 

to support the Brian D. Jellison 

Cancer Institute at Sarasota 

Memorial Health Care System 

(SMH). The campaign is the 

largest in the Healthcare Foundation’s 

48-year history. 

SMH’s vision to transform 

cancer care was born nearly 

10 years ago in response to the 

southwest Florida community’s 

rapid growth and increase 

in cancer cases. At the time, 50% of cancer 

patients were leaving the community 

for treatment. With a belief that no 

one should have to leave home for the 

best cancer care, a plan was developed 

to create a world-class cancer institute 

with comprehensive, quality-driven, patient-centered 

care. 

The Healthcare Foundation launched 

its cancer fundraising campaign in 2017 

with a goal to raise $50 million in five 

years. In 2020, a $25 million gift was made 

by the Brian and Sheila Jellison Family 

Foundation. Beyond advanced care treatments 

and state-of-the-art facilities, the 

gift helped create a centralized place to 

assist patients and families facing the 

many complex decisions that accompany 

a cancer diagnosis. 

Susan Milman, a long-time supporter 

of SMH, recently helped the foundation 

reach the campaign’s $93 million mark. 

Milman Kover Cancer Pavilion at SMH Brian D. Jellison 

Cancer Institute 

Milman’s $16 million gift will support the 

third phase in the evolution of the Jellison 

Cancer Institute, specifically the outpatient 

cancer pavilion currently under construction 

and slated to open in late 2025. 

The building will house an expanded 

breast health center with the latest diagnostic 

imaging technology, outpatient 

surgery, brachytherapy, radiation oncology 

and infusion, and more. It will be 

known as the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion 

in honor of her family, Alan K. Milman, 

Natalie Kover Milman and Morris Milman, 

and Arthur and Fay Kover. To date, Milman’s 

contributions to the Jellison Cancer 

Institute exceed $21 million. 

In addition to the new Milman Kover Cancer 

Pavilion, the Jellison Cancer Institute 

also includes a radiation oncology center 

and a new inpatient and surgical oncology 

tower that opened in 2020 and 2021. 

For more information, visit smhf.org. 

Florida Studio Theatre’s $ 4 Million Challenge Gift 

Florida Studio Theatre 

ing rights of the building and 

(FST) has announced 

the Mainstage Theatre back 

a challenge gift from 

to FST. It was at this event that 

Ed and Susan Maier of 

the Maiers were inspired to 

$4,000,000 toward the 

make an additional gift in recognition 

of the McGillicuddys. 

Arts Plaza. The Maiers 

have proposed that 

The Maiers then proposed 

their challenge gift be 

the idea of a match for the 

used as a “one-to-one 

naming of the building, not in 

matching fund” to create 

a “circle of friends” 

licuddys’. The McGillicuddys 

their name, but in the McGil- 

to name the Arts Plaza 

are FST’s longest supporters 

in honor of Dennis and 

and have made leadership 

Graci McGillicuddy. 

gifts in every major capital 

All pledges towards 

campaign since becoming 

the “McGillicuddy Circle 

of Friends” will be 

ing $2 million towards the 

Ed and Susan Maier 

involved in the 1980s, includ- 

matched. The challenge 

gift serves to help complete Phase It was Graci McGillicuddy who first con- 

Arts Plaza. 

1 of the Arts Plaza project which includes nected with the theatre as a board member 

for the original “Friends of Florida 

construction of the 8-story building, 

opening the parking garage, and opening 

three stories of artist housing. The to the theatre, and he joined the board 

Studio Theatre.” She introduced Dennis 

Ed and Susan Maier match challenge of Trustees in 1990. Dennis McGillicuddy 

fund will position FST to break ground on has served as President of the Board of 

schedule in December 2024. 

Trustees since 1991. As Board President 

Ed and Susan Maier had previously contributed 

$2 million towards the Arts Pla- 

small professional theatre into one of the 

he has guided the theatre’s board from a 

za, and the Maier Cabaret will be named largest theatres in the Southeast reaching 

in recognition of that gift. The Arts Plaza 

was originally named The Mulva Arts FST’s Arts Plaza has been designed to 

over 225,000 attendees a year. 

Plaza in recognition of the leadership gift meet a wide range of FST’s artistic needs 

made by Pat and Mary Mulva. 

while serving its growing audience. The 

However, the Mulvas informed the theatre 

in January that they were going to relo- 

existing five-theatre campus in down- 

building will be situated amongst FST’s 

cate to Texas and were donating the namtown 

Sarasota. 


Newtown Historic District listed in National 

Register of Historic Places 

good news continued 

Children First’s Fairytale Ball Raises $ 570,000 

Children First hosted 

its 24th Annual Fairytale 

Ball at Michael’s on 

East in April. The gala’s 

theme was “On the darkest 

nights, the brightest 

stars shine.” Auctioneer 

Michael Klauber led a 

live auction and paddle 

raise, with the event netting 

more than $570,000 

in funds raised. 

Following remarks by 

the event’s co-chairs Hank and Phyllis 

Battie, and a performance by children 

from the Sarasota Ballet, guests watched 

a video featuring Yolonda Turner, a single 

mother of six whose foster child, Starr, 

was referred to Children First by her 

caseworker. Until Yolonda was diagnosed 

with multiple sclerosis, she worked in 

Children First nutrition services as part 

of the Parent Training Program. “Children 

First is not just a support system,” she 

said. “It’s a lifeline for families.” 

Taking after her grandmother, who 

Fairytale Ball Co Chairs 

fostered 10 children and adopted six of 

them, Yolonda plans to adopt Starr. “You 

need to be the change you want to see in 

your community,” she said. 

After dinner, Philip Tavill, Children 

First’s President and CEO, spoke on behalf 

of everyone in the ballroom. “We 

all sit here with humility regarding what 

Yolonda has decided to do for Starr and 

other children,” he said. Despite her diagnosis, 

she “will continue to realize her 

potential.” 

Central West Coast FPRA’s 

Mission Mavericks Program Takes Flight 

The Central West Coast chapter of 

the Florida Public Relations Association 

(CWC-FPRA) has completed 

the first pro-bono project as part of 

a new community guidance program, 

Mission Mavericks: Fly Far with PR. 

Mission Mavericks took flight in 

August 2023 by opening up applications 

to 501(c)(3) nonprofits or 

for-profit companies in need of public 

relations guidance that had limited 

or no PR, communications, and/ 

or marketing staff. At the end of the 

application period, CWC-FPRA had 

received interest from more than 

30 organizations to participate in 

the program. The Mission Mavericks 

committee selected Children’s Guardian 

Fund as its inaugural recipient and began 

work in November 2023. Due to the level 

of interest in the program, CWC-FPRA 

also invited all applicants to a networking 

event in December 2023 to receive advice 

on some of their PR related issues. 

“The Mission Mavericks program 

helped fulfill our chapter’s aspiration 

and desire to better show up for the communities 

we serve,” said Hunter Carpenter, 

President-Elect of CWC-FPRA. “Our 

inaugural partnership with Children’s 

Photo courtesy of Children First 

Mission Mavericks CWC-FPRA President Sarah 

Glendening, Past President Sheryl Vieira, and President 

Elect Hunter Carpenter 

Guardian Fund was enriching for everyone 

involved, and we’re as energized as 

ever to explore further ways to be a local 

resource of PR expertise and guidance 

for organizations in need.” 

The Mission Mavericks committee held 

meetings with Children’s Guardian Fund to 

understand their PR challenges and opportunities 

and map out deliverables for 

the remainder of the program.CWC-FPRA 

anticipates conducting its second cycle 

for Mission Mavericks in Fall 2024. For 

more about CWC-FPRA, visit cwcfpra.com. 

The Newtown Historic District is officially 

listed in the National Register of Historic 

Places, the City of Sarasota was recently 

notified. With over 700 contributing resources, 

the Newtown Historic District 

is now the single largest historic district 

within Sarasota and the largest Black historic 

district in the state of Florida, based 

on the number of contributing resources. 

“This is exciting news for the Newtown 

community,” said District 1 City 

Commissioner Kyle Battie, who grew up 

in Newtown. “Being listed in the National 

Register of Historic Places means the 

important history and special character 

of Newtown will be preserved for future 

generations. Buildings significant to our 

history will not be demolished. There’s 

no downside for residents -- no negative 

impact on personal property rights with 

this designation.” 

The building permit process for structural 

modifications in the historic district 

will not change. Demolition applications 

now must be reviewed and approved 

by the Historic Preservation Board. The 

Newtown Historic District includes 731 

contributing resources, meaning the integrity, 

location and design have been 

retained for at least 50 years, including 

Galilee Cemetery, churches and other 

structures. 

The district boundaries roughly are 

Myrtle Street to the north, 19th Street to 

the south, Seminole Gulf Railway tracks 

to the west and U.S. 301 to the east. 

The City of Sarasota began pursuing 

the historic designation in April 2009 

after Newtown community members expressed 

a strong interest in preserving 

the unique history of their prominently 

Black neighborhood. A strategic, multi-prong 

plan was set forth to document 

Newtown’s history in order to meet federal 

requirements to be placed in the National 

Register of Historic Places. 

The process included: 

• 2009: Establishing a Newtown area map 

and boundaries 

• 2014: Meeting with stakeholders to develop 

a scope of work 

• 2015: Establishing the Newtown Citizen 

Historic Taskforce 

• 2015: Hiring a consultant to establish 

the Newtown Conservation Historic District. 

Newtown history was chronicled 

in the form of 42 recorded interviews, 

photographs, transcriptions, 364 page 

published report and cultural heritage 

book. The extensive documentation project 

became known as “Newtown Alive”, 

spearheaded by Vickie Oldham. 

• 2016: Creating a Newtown Historic Building 

Preservation pilot program 

• 2018: Conducting a citywide survey to 

document resources dated 1970 or earlier, 

which noted over 500 historical resources 

concentrated in Newtown. 

• 2018: Creating a heritage trail with 15 

historic markers placed in Newtown 

designating significant points of interest 

recorded during the “Newtown Alive” 

process. The Newtown African American 

Heritage Trail was added to the U.S. Civil 

Rights Trail in 2019. 

• 2020: Approving the Newtown Conservation 

Historic District 

• 2021: Selecting a firm to conduct a survey 

and draft language to meet the requirements 

for Newtown to be listed in 

the National Register of Historic Places 

The City was notified by the National 

Park Service through the Bureau of Historic 

Preservation with the Florida Department 

of State that the Newtown Historic District 

was officially listed in the National Register 

of Historic Places on April 19, 2024. 

With contributing and non-contributing 

resources combined, the Newtown 

Historic District has over 1,400 historic 

resources. A non-contributing resource is 

a historic structure that has been altered. 

“This historic designation by the federal 

government is significant,” said Dr. Cliff 

Smith, Senior Planner who oversees the 

City of Sarasota’s historic preservation 

program. “Getting to this point truly was a 

community effort. Residents approached 

staff 15 years ago and wanted to know 

the best way to save Newtown’s cultural 

heritage and showcase its significance. It 

takes time to document so many historical 

resources, record personal histories 

and present a case that an area meets 

the criteria for a national register designation. 

Thank you to former and current 

Commissioners for getting the ball rolling 

years ago, Vickie Oldham for her substantial 

contribution and notable dedication 

in documenting Newtown’s history and 

also City Grants Coordinator Amy E. Jones 

for shepherding the application through 

the government process.” 

A Newtown Historic District webpage 

with frequently asked questions is available 

via www.Sarasotafl.gov. 

Information about Newtown Alive can 

be found at www.NewtownAlive.org 

The Manatee Literacy 

Council has received a 

grant from the Selby 

Foundation. The funding 

will allow the Council to 

enhance its Adult English for Speakers of 

Other Languages (ESOL) programs by providing 

laptops for in-person classes and 

acquiring educational software to support 

continued learning outside the classroom. 

“We are incredibly grateful to the William 

G. and Marie Selby Foundation for 

Manatee Literacy Council Receives Grant 

their investment in our ESOL programs,” 

said Michelle Desveaux McLean, Executive 

Director of the Manatee Literacy Council. 

“This grant will empower our students 

with the technology they need to succeed 

in their language learning journey.” 

The new laptops will equip adult learners 

with the tools to develop their English 

language and digital literacy skills. Participants 

will benefit from improved access to 

online learning resources, allowing them to 

practice their English skills independently 

and reinforce classroom learning. Additionally, 

the grant will fund the purchase of educational 

software specifically designed to 

support adult learners, providing a personalized 

and effective learning experience. 

The Manatee Literacy Council plays a 

critical role in Manatee County, providing 

free and confidential literacy programs 

to empower adults. This grant from the 

Selby Foundation will directly impact a 

growing segment of the community, helping 

non-native English speakers gain the 

language skills they need to navigate daily 

life, pursue educational opportunities, and 

contribute more fully to our community. 

The Manatee Literacy Council is a volunteer-driven 

non-profit organization 

dedicated to increasing adult literacy in 

Manatee County. Through one-on-one 

tutoring and group classes, MLC provides 

a supportive environment for adults to 

learn essential reading, writing, and English 

language skills. To volunteer, visit 

www.manatee-literacy.org. 


you’re news 

Accolades 

■ Selby Gardens has announced 

that Zuleima Martinez of Sarasota 

is the award recipient of the inaugural 

Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership 

Scholarship. Martinez graduated 

on May 3 

with an 

associate’s 

degree 

from the 

State 

College 

of Florida 

with a 3.72 

GPA and 

will be 

Zuleima Martinez 

pursuing 

her bachelor’s 

degree in communications 

at the University of South Florida 

in Tampa this fall. She has been 

actively involved with Girls Inc. for 

many years. 

The Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership 

Scholarship, awarded in honor 

of and in partnership with Selby Gardens 

President and CEO Jennifer O. 

Rominiecki as the scholarship’s first 

mentor, is a merit-based scholarship 

aimed at recognizing and encouraging 

female students who demonstrate 

exceptional academic achievements 

and leadership qualities. 

“Knowing what a significant 

impact Mrs. Toulmin and her legacy 

had inspired me to follow in her 

footsteps,” says Martinez. “I am beyond 

grateful for this opportunity.” 

In addition to receiving a $15,000 

award from the Virginia B. Toulmin 

Foundation and mentoring sessions 

from Rominiecki, Martinez will 

be appointed to Selby Gardens’ 

Advisory Committee to observe 

Rominiecki in action -- participating 

with local community, scientific 

and business leaders -- and also 

receive a one-year membership to 

Selby Gardens. 

■ Gulf Coast Community Foundation 

has announced the selection 

of 25 participants from across the 

region for the 2024 Gulf Coast 

Leadership Institute. Through 

this annual initiative, Gulf Coast 

partners with the Leadership Development 

Institute of Eckerd College 

to provide intensive, high-quality 

leadership training designed to 

identify, develop, and connect 

growing group of aspiring community 

leaders. 

Participants take part in six training 

sessions from May through June 

at Gulf Coast’s Sarasota Philanthropy 

Center in downtown Sarasota. 

The result is a network of skilled, 

action-oriented leaders who are 

committed to using their new skills 

to help transform their communities 

through service. 

The participants selected for the 

2024 Gulf Coast Leadership 

Institute are: 

• Jerald Berry, Florida Department 

of Health 

• Aleksandra Djilas, Pink Mermaid 

Foundation Inc. 

• Chuck Dockery, Project 180 

• Tina Figliuolo, Charlotte County 

Homeless Coalition 

• Joe Flores, CFP, Edward Jones 

Financial 

• Emily Grant, FoodRecovery.org 

(Formerly MEANS Database) 

• Julianne Greenberg, Johann Fust 

Library Foundation 

• Julia Groom, DreamLarge 

• Jamal Hishmeh, C2 Financial 

Corporation 

• Mike Ippolito, Selah Freedom 

• Cynthia King, Drug Free Charlotte 

County 

• Todd Konen, CenterPlace Health, 

Inc. 

• Tricia LaPointe, Peace River 

Wildlife Center 

• Jose Marrero, CAN Community 

Health 

• Jordan Mayer, Harvest House 

• Kathryn (Katie) McCurry, Project 

Pride SRQ 

• Craig McGonigal, The Greater 

Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 

• Blake Neathery, NAMI Sarasota 

and Manatee Counties 

• Ashley Profit, The Roskamp Institute 

• Erin Silk, Economic Development 

Corporation of Sarasota 

County 

• Andrea Stephens, Pines of Sarasota 

Foundation 

• Veronica Thames, Manatee 

Community Foundation 

• Lindsey Trammell, Sarasota 

County Libraries and Historical 

Resources 

• Laura Williams, Safe Children’s 

Coalition 

• Michelle A. Young, The John and 

Mable Ringling Museum of Art 

Since the program’s inception in 

2006, over 400 community members 

have completed the training, 

and many continue to work together 

on civic initiatives and community 

improvement projects. 

For more information on the program, 

visit GulfCoastCF.org/GCLI. 

■ The Women Contemporary 

Artists (WCA) Scholarship Committee 

has announced that Sophia 

Cavalluzzi, a senior at Booker High 

School, has been selected as our 

WCA 2024 Scholarship recipient. 

Sophia is a young artist who will 

be continuing her studies at Parsons 

School of Design majoring in Product 

Design. Working in both 2- and 

3-D materials, her body of work is 

based on her inspiration of taking 

“childlike abstractions into fruitions 

and sophisticated innovation and 

possibility.” 

As the top art student at Booker, 

one of her instructors, Jeffrey Cornwell 

noted that she “knows what 

From left to right: Cathie Janssen, Visual Art Instructor, 

Booker High School, Sophia Cavalluzzi with her sculpture, 

and Liz Cole Scholarship Chair, WCA 

she wants and has her own clear 

voice, when there is an opportunity 

to learn, she acts on it and seeks to 

better herself by self-initiative and 

with enthusiasm.” Her portfolio and 

written materials, along with very 

strong faculty recommendations, 

made the selection by the committee 

an easy one. 

Women Contemporary Artists’ 

more than one hundred artists 

share the mission of providing 

visibility, encouragement and inspiration 

to women artists. They are 

committed to the goal of encouraging 

each other and promoting each 

other’s work. The members of the 

Women Contemporary Artists have 

given scholarship awards since the 

group was formed. The awards go 

to outstanding women art students 

who choose to continue their visual 

fine arts education. 

The organization seeks to educate 

the general public about the 

past and present contributions of 

women artists and sponsors programs 

featuring prominent people 

in the arts. WCA’s mission is to provide 

visibility, encouragement and 

inspiration to women artists. Each 

year WCA welcomes women artists 

in the community who wish to join 

the organization. Information: womencontemporaryartists.com. 

Appointments 

■ The Sarasota Ballet has 

announced that dance educator 

Charmaine Hunter will be The 

Sarasota Ballet’s new Community 

Engagement Director. Charmaine 

and will oversee Dance – The Next 

Generation along with the other 

community engagement programs, 

including Joyful Movement through 

Parkinson’s and Silver Swans. 

Charmaine brings a wealth of 

experience to The Sarasota Ballet. 

Charmaine was a Principal Dancer 

with Dance Theatre of Harlem, 

where she was known for roles such 

as The Firebird (John Taras) and 

Medea (Michael Smuin). While she 

was still dancing, she began working 

to provide programs for young 

people with little or no access to 

the arts. Charmaine helped to 

launch Dancing Through Barriers, 

Dance Theatre of Harlem’s flagship 

outreach program in South Africa, 

before developing it for communities 

across the USA and beyond. 

Charmaine’s background 

includes the roles of Director of 

Disney’s The Lion 

King in Toronto, 

Talent Scout for 

Cirque du Soleil 

in Las Vegas, 

Co-Founder of Las 

Vegas Contemporary 

Dance Theater, 

and as Upper 

School Principal 

with Texas Ballet 

Theater. 

Prior to joining 

The Sarasota 

Ballet, Charmaine 

held the position 

of Director 

of Community 

Enrichment for 

Orlando Ballet, 

where she developed arts education 

programming for seven counties in 

the central Florida area, increasing 

access to dance for over 24,000 

children. 

When asked about her new position, 

Charmaine said, “I am excited 

to step into the role of Community 

Engagement Director with The 

Sarasota Ballet. It is an honor and 

privilege to extend the gift of dance 

to the community and beyond. 

Celebrating the rich history of The 

Sarasota Ballet’s commitment to 

giving back, this opportunity allows 

me to join in elevating our dance 

outreach offerings and broadening 

our impact.” 

■ Choral Artists of Sarasota 

has announced the appointment 

of Danielle La Senna as its new 

executive director. La Senna brings 

over two 

decades of 

experience 

in arts and 

education, 

along with 

a desire for 

cultivating 

community 

engagement 

and musical 

excellence. 

She suc- 

Danielle La Senna 

ceeds Susan Burke, who has served 

as the executive director of Choral 

Artists for the past decade. Burke 

will retire this month. 

Bill Kimbell, president of the 

board at Choral Artists of Sarasota, 

expressed his gratitude for Susan 

Burke’s long service. “Susan has 

been an exceptional executive director, 

demonstrating unparalleled 

dedication, strategic vision, and a 

profound commitment to fostering 

musical excellence and organizational 

growth. Over the past decade, 

her collaborative efforts with our 

artistic director, Joseph Holt, and 

the rest of the Choral Artists’ team 

have been pivotal in enhancing the 

group’s performances, broadening 

its outreach, and securing the 

longevity of our mission. We deeply 

appreciate her dedicated service.” 

A vocalist and arts administrator, 

La Senna graduated from Indiana 

University’s Jacobs School of Music 

with a bachelor’s degree in vocal 

performance. Early in her career, 

she showcased her talents in jazz, 

musical theater, and classical music 

in New York City. 

After earning a master’s degree in 

arts education from Harvard Graduate 

School of Education, La Senna 

held key positions at such institutions 

as The Juilliard School and 

Lesley University College of Art and 

Design. In 2019, La Senna relocated 

to Florida and began by overseeing 

operations for the Continuing 

Studies department at Ringling 

College of Art and Design. She then 

assumed the role of director of arts 

education at the Sarasota Art Museum 

in 2022, where she spearheaded 

visual art programs for students of 

all ages and collaborated on new 

classical music salon series. 

“I am thrilled to embark on an expanded 

role with the Choral Artists, 

collaborating closely with Joseph 

Holt to bring his artistic vision to life 

and guide our exceptional ensemble 

towards even greater achievements,” 

says La Senna. 

Choral Artists of Sarasota comprises 

32 of the region’s most notable 

professional singers. Eight apprentice 

singers, ages 16 to 22, are also 

invited to join the group each year, 

as part of the organization’s educational 

outreach. One of these gifted 

singers will be awarded the Ann 

Stephenson Moe Apprentice Scholarship, 

a funding program to support 

private lessons, vocal training at an 

institution of higher learning, or 

other expenses related to advancing 

their musical education. 

For more information about Choral 

Artists of Sarasota, visit www. 

choralartistssarasota.org. 

Board News 

■ Clolita Vitale has been elected to 

the board of directors of the William 

G. and Marie Selby Foundation. 

Vitale 

earned a 

degree in 

Theater and 

Dance, performed 

professionally, 

and taught 

dance before 

she began a 

career as a 

buyer at the 

University 

Clolita Vitale 

of Maryland at Baltimore campus 

(UMBC) and rose through the ranks 

to become the Assistant Vice President 

for Administration. 

Vitale went on to receive a Law 

Degree from University of Maryland 

School of Law and added University 

Counsel to her previous title, 

representing the University in legal 

contractual matters at all levels of 

state government. She retired from 

the University in 2008 and became 

Senior Counsel for Constellation 

Energy Corporation (Constellation) 

which later merged with Exelon 

Corporation, a Fortune 50 corporation, 

where she became Assistant 

General Counsel specializing in 

contracts and intellectual property. 

Vitale volunteers for causes supporting 

women and girls. Locally, 

she has shared her talents as a board 

member for the Sarasota Cuban 

Ballet School and Girls, Inc. as well as 

volunteer and mentor for New College 

and Women’s Resource Center. 

Vitale wbegan her term on June 1. 

Additional members of the Selby 

Foundation Board of Directors are: 

Susan Hines, Chair; Barbara Zdravecky, 

Vice Chair; Carolyn Johnson, 

Secretary/Treasurer; Keith DuBose; 

Laura Spencer; and Tom Tyron. 

Susie Bowie is President and CEO. 

Send your news to 


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Facebook page. Send a brief 

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