The Laker/Lutz News

Sarasota

Worth The Trip

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Phonographs, flowers, antique Fords
If you’re looking for a family friendly place to spend a day, or want to show out-of-town guests a side of Florida away from amusement parks, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates are worth a trip.

One of the cars on display in a garage at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. (File)

On 20 acres along the Caloosahatchee River, you’ll find Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter homes, botanical gardens, the Edison Botanic Research Lab, and the Edison Ford Museum. You can meander on your own, take self-guided audio tours or join historian-led tours.

In the botanic laboratory, you can imagine Edison, Ford, and Harvey Firestone of Firestone tire fame discussing the need to find a new source of rubber in case foreign rubber became scarce. The trio was so concerned, they formed the Edison Botanic Research Corporation in 1927 and headquartered it on the property.

Under Edison’s leadership, researchers sought a source of rubber that could be grown and produced quickly in the United States. In the long run, they found that Goldenrod was the most suitable. The banyan tree was among more than 17,000 plant samples they tested. One of those trees, planted on the property in 1927, may be one of the largest banyan trees in the continental United States.

The Edison Ford Museum chronicles the lives of Edison, Ford and their families at their winter homes; has displays on Edison’s electric lighting and phonograph inventions, among other breakthroughs; and showcases vintage Ford cars.

For those drawn more to nature, the grounds feature orchids, bougainvillea and other flowering plants, as well as towering bamboos and palms. Moonlight Garden, designed in 1928 by renowned landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman, features fragrant white flowers and a small pool, intended to reflect moonlight.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Where: 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
When: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Cost: adults, $25; ages 13-19, $20; ages 6-12, $15; 5 and under, free. Free parking.
Info: 239-334-7419; EdisonFordWinterEstates.org.

By B.C. Manion

This is an updated and condensed version of a story that was originally published by The Laker/Lutz News on April 29, 2015.

Take a step into Florida’s past at the Gamble Mansion
History and architecture buffs, or just anybody looking for a free outing, might consider making the trek to Gamble Plantation Historic State Park.

The park boasts Gamble Mansion, the oldest building in Manatee County and the only remaining plantation house in South Florida. It’s on 17 acres once part of a thriving sugar plantation owned by Maj. Robert Gamble Jr., who arrived from Tallahassee in 1843.

He was attracted by the area’s mild climate, rich soil and easy access to the Manatee River, but especially by free land, offered by Congress to encourage frontier settlement.

Gamble Mansion in Ellenton is the only remaining antebellum plantation house in South Florida. The park is open to visitors every day. Tours of the mansion are offered Thursdays through Mondays. (File)

In just two years, his plantation was among a dozen cultivating sugarcane and producing molasses for the New Orleans’ market.

He eventually owned 3,500 acres, including about 1,500 acres producing sugar, limes, lemons, olives, oranges, corn and beans. By 1855, he owned 155 slaves who farmed, cleared fields, cooked and cut wood for fuel at the sugar works.

Although a bachelor, Gamble lived in the 10-room, two-story brick and tabby stone mansion, with thick walls and 18 columns supporting the roof and upper verandas.

But by 1856, hurt by crop losses and declining sugar prices, he sold his estate for $190,000 (nearly $6 million today) and moved back to Tallahassee.

The mansion’s story was far from over. After the Confederacy’s surrender at Appomattox, the Rebel’s Secretary of State, Judah P. Benjamin, fled Union troops and headed south. According to the park’s website, “it is thought that” he took refuge in the Gamble mansion until he escaped to England.

Park manager Kevin Kiser said the mansion has weathered hurricanes, once stored manure, and was in shambles when the Judah P. Benjamin Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy bought the property in 1925, revived it and deeded it to the state. Today, it is furnished with pieces typical of plantations from the 1840s to 1860s.

Besides its interesting history, the park offers a pleasant respite, with picnic areas, benches and moss-draped trees.

Gamble Plantation Historic State Park
Where: 3708 U.S. Highway 301, Ellenton
When: 365 days a year; 8 a.m. to sundown
Cost: Free parking and admission to the grounds; mansion tours are $6 for adults, ages 13 and up; $4 for ages 6 to 12; and free for those under age 6.
COVID-19 updated: The plantation mansion and visitor center have reopened. Tours of the mansion are offered on Thursdays through Mondays, at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. (Be aware, it can get very hot in the mansion in the afternoon, so morning tours are recommended, particularly during the summer.) Masks are optional; social distancing is requested.
Info: 941-723-4536; FloridaStateParks.org

By B.C. Manion

This is an updated and edited version of a story originally published in The Laker/Lutz News on March 20, 2014.

Explore underwater delights at Mote Marine
Of all the wonders at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, kids seem to love watching sharks the most. River otters, baby gators, manatees and sea turtles draw crowds, too.

But the Shark Zone’s 135,000-gallon habitat is the superstar here. Behind the scenes, scientists are researching why sharks and stingrays rarely get cancer, which could lead to new human cancer treatments.

Sharks are the stars at Mote Aquarium. (File)

That’s one of the beauties of Mote – it’s a marine laboratory and an aquarium open daily to the public. It’s a big place, divided into two areas across the street from each other, so plan plenty of time, and go on a weekday if you can.

At the Marine Mammal Center across the street from the main aquarium, trainers feed lettuce to manatees at noon daily. It’s fun to watch the cow-like creatures float around munching while we humans photograph them.

A few steps away, sea turtles wade in stone habitats. They were all injured in the wild and brought to Mote for rehabilitation. Around the corner, river otters frolic in a glass-enclosed habitat, swimming underwater for a while, then slithering onto rocks.

In the “Teeth Beneath” exhibit, alligators, caimans (kin to gators), turtles and crocodiles stare back at guests. Upstairs, tanks hold cobalt-blue spotted jellyfish and snook, while displays detail Mote’s coral reef restoration and conservation projects. Behind the scenes, not accessible to the public, are sea turtle, dolphin and whale hospitals.

In the main aquarium, visitors learn about Florida’s coastal and freshwater habitats by looking at displays of living coral, diamondback terrapin, clownfish, lobsters, moon jellyfish and seahorses.

Mote has plans for a $130-million aquarium that broke ground last November on 5 acres south of University Parkway off Interstate 75 in Sarasota. A fundraising effort is underway for the 110,000-square-foot Mote Science Education Aquarium.

The new aquarium will attract visitors to learn about marine life, while current facilities will give Mote more space for research labs.

Until then, visitors can enjoy otters, manatees, turtles and the ever-prowling sharks at Mote’s longtime aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratories & Aquarium
Where: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota
When: Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Cost: Adults, $24; ages 3 to 12, $18; under 3, free. Tickets must be bought online at Tickets.mote.org. Parking is free.
Info: 941-388-4441, ext. 416; Mote.org

By Karen Haymon-Long 

This is an updated and edited version of a story originally published in The Laker/Lutz News on May 2, 2018.

Published August 25, 2021

Explore underwater delights at Mote Marine

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Of all the wonders at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, kids seem to love watching sharks the most.

River otters, baby gators, tubby manatees, sea turtles and scary stingrays draw crowds, too.

But, the sharks – bonnetheads, hammerheads, nurse, blacknose and more, in the Shark Zone – are the superstars here.

A little girl snaps a picture of a curious manatee at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium just before feeding time.
(Karen Haymon Long)

No wonder the aquarium features a pretty vicious-looking shark on the cover of its brochures and on its logo.

That explains the 135,000-gallon shark habitat in the main aquarium, too.

At 11 a.m., every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, follow the crowds to the Shark Zone in the main aquarium to see the shark-training sessions and watch the creatures swim to specific places for food.

Who knew sharks could be trained?

Friendly, knowledgeable trainers answer questions and tell a bit about sharks in the wild. Hammerheads, they say, can live 25 to 35 years and pick up electrical pulses from all living things through electro receptors.

“Hammerheads’ heads are like metal detectors,” one trainer explains to a group of shark gawkers.

Behind the scenes, Mote scientists are researching why sharks and their cousins, stingrays, rarely get cancer. They’re hoping what they discover may lead them to human cancer treatments.

That’s one of the beauties of Mote – it’s both a marine laboratory and an aquarium, open daily to the public.

A shark swims in Mote Aquarium’s Shark Zone, the most popular place in Mote’s complex in Sarasota.

It’s a big place, divided into two areas across the street from each other, so plan plenty of time, and go on a weekday if you can. It can get very busy on weekends.

Depending on what you like to see, ask when feedings are scheduled, so you can see more action.

We started at the Marine Mammal Center across the street from the main aquarium because we wanted to see the manatee feedings at 1 p.m.

We often see manatees in the wild off the city pier in Safety Harbor. But, here you can see them so much better through the glass tanks, floating along and even swimming up to the glass, to stare at us staring at them.

Who wouldn’t be excited to see how adorable they are, with their huge eyes and round bodies that earned them the nickname sea cows?

When trainers throw them big heads of iceberg lettuce the giant creatures float around munching it while we humans take photos of them.

A few steps away, three sea turtles paddle around inside stone habitats. They were all injured in the wild and brought to Mote for rehabilitation.

Volunteers answer questions about them, and tell you their names and how they were injured. A young volunteer, wearing a blue Mote T-shirt, introduced us to Squirt 2, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle who was hit by a boat propeller in the Peace River.

An Australian Spotted Jelly glows cobalt blue and looks almost like something from outer space.

He said Squirt 2 has a broken jaw, so he can’t eat shellfish, his natural diet. The sea turtle will stay in the marine center where he’s fed and cared for by Mote workers.

The volunteer talked softly to Squirt 2, who looked up at him from his stone tank as if he was listening.

“You’re so lucky to work here,” I told him.

He smiled and admitted, “It’s a nice way to spend the day.”

Around the corner, three river otters – Huck, Jane and Pippi – frolic around a glass-enclosed habitat, swimming underwater for a while, then slithering out of the water onto rocks. At 1:30 p.m., trainers come out to feed the three, that, like the sharks, go to specific places to get food on command.

Like the manatees, they’re adorable and many kids were taking pictures of them with cellphones, as were the adults.

In other glass-enclosed habitats sat caimans, which are kin to alligators, and turtles.  Sometimes, they’re replaced by gators or crocodiles.

We see gators all the time, too – they actually sit on our lawn by the pond behind our house. But, it’s still interesting to see caimans, which have stubbier snouts than gators and narrower bodies than crocs.

Upstairs, tanks hold other marvels, such as cobalt-blue Australian spotted jellyfish, snook, and displays on what Mote is doing to restore and conserve coral reefs.

On the way out, a sea turtle skeleton keeps guard from a circular display, looking like a giant, prehistoric alien.

A display at Mote’s aquarium gives an underwater view of what coral reefs look like in the wild. An orange and white clownfish swims amidst the colorful coral.

Behind the scenes, and not accessible to the public, are sea turtle, dolphin and whale hospitals.

Back at the main aquarium, visitors learn about Florida’s coastal and freshwater habitats by looking at all sorts of displays of everything from living coral to a diamondback terrapin, clownfish, lobsters, a yellow moray eel, red grouper and blue moon jellyfish.

We especially liked the seahorse display, where we saw babies that were born on Jan. 30, then slightly larger babies born last November. A volunteer told us Mote sells seahorses to other labs to help reduce the wild seahorse market.

A temporary exhibit through June 15 features marine-inspired sculptures made from debris found along Oregon’s coast. Called “Washed Ashore,” it is an awareness-through-art initiative.

Mote has big plans for a new $130 million aquarium to be built starting next year on 5 acres, south of University Parkway off Interstate 75 in Sarasota. A fundraising effort is going on now for the 110,000-square-foot Mote Science Education Aquarium, which Mote officials say could be the “Silicon Valley of marine science and technology in Southwest Florida.”

They say the new aquarium, within sight of the interstate, will attract more Floridians and visitors to learn about marine life, while current facilities will give Mote more space for research labs.

Until then, visitors can enjoy the otters, manatees, turtles, and the ever-prowling, popular sharks at Mote’s longtime aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratories & Aquarium
Where: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, just north of St. Armands Circle
When: Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Cost: Adults, $22; ages 3-12, $16; under age 3, free. Parking free
Details: Check out the Shark Zone, watch Manatees being fed, get a look at all kinds of sea creatures and find out about current research involving marine life.
Info: Call (941) 388-4441, ext. 416, or visit Mote.org.

Additional Mote Adventures:

  • Sea Life Encounter Cruises, an hour-and-45-minute cruise in Sarasota and Roberts bays on pontoon boats; combo cost for the cruise and admission to aquarium: adults, $44; ages 3-12, $37. Cruise price alone: adults, $29; ages 3-16, $25. For details, call (904) 388-4200; visit SarasotaBayExplorers.com.
  • Full Moon Paddles, the next one on May 29, are led by Mote educators. For reservations, call (941) 388-4441, ext. 348, or email .
  • Other guided kayak trips, nature safari eco-tours, private charters are more options. See SarasotaBayExplorers.com.

 

Where to eat

  • The aquarium’s 1950s-style Deep Sea Diner offers everything from burgers and hotdogs, to salads, wraps and fruit smoothies.
  • Columbia Restaurant, 411 St. Armands Circle
  • The Old Salty Dog, 1601 B Ken Thompson Parkway
  • New Pass Grill & Bait Shop, 1505 Ken Thompson Parkway

 

Nearby Attraction
Just off St. Armands Circle, at 55 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, visit the newest Clyde Butcher Gallery, where you’ll find limited edition, and signed black and white photographs of mostly Florida scenes by the widely known photographer.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published May 2, 2018

Presenting musical passion, precise choreography

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Their love of singing developed in different ways.

“Singing has always been a part of my life,” said Sandy Everly, of Land O’ Lakes. “On Sunday nights, at home, my mom played the piano, and my sister and my dad and I would sing.

“Actually, I learned to harmonize at a very young age.”

Cathy Frey, of Wesley Chapel, recalled “my parents used to play these reel-to-reel tapes with these singing groups … I was always singing.”

The Toast of Tampa has a number of young members. Overall, the chorus members range from age 10 to 85. (Courtesy of Toast of Tampa)

Nancy Hansel, of Lutz, said her mom had a radio show. “They were Two Girls and a Guy. That was their name.”

Fran Byers, of Wesley Chapel, said her dad used to sing to her in the car. “My dad was a crooner. He could sing like Bing Crosby,” she said.

Beth Bosserman Curts also recalls lots of singing in the family car.

“We had to drive everywhere. Florida to Kansas. Kansas to Boston.

“My parents would throw the four of us in the car and off we would go, and this was before air conditioning, and the radio was not very good.

“Mother and Dad taught us all these rounds.

“We just clicked off the miles by singing rounds. You had to hold your own part.

“I grew up singing different harmonies in the car on those crazy road trips.”

No matter how their musical path began — each of these women now belongs to Toast of Tampa, a group of female a cappella singers that performs in four-part harmony.

Toast of Tampa is one of the more than 700 choruses of Sweet Adelines International worldwide. The group will compete at the Sweet Adelines International 71st annual Convention & Competition, Oct. 9 through Oct. 14, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Toast of Tampa has had success at the international level, including third-place finishes in 2015 and 2013, and the top prize in 1993. In between, they had a number of top-10 finishes.

It’s a challenge these women relish.

“This will be our 13th time on the international stage,” Curts said. “It is so exciting to sing at the level we’re singing at.”

From left, Beth Bosserman Curts, Fran Byers, Evie Stern, Julie Kelly and Jessica Horner are five members of Toast of Tampa. (Courtesy of Toast of Tampa)

Closer to home, the show chorus will be presenting a public performance on Nov. 4, at the University of South Florida’s School of Music Concert Hall.

Toast of Tampa defies the stereotypical notion of “a bunch of gray-haired ladies with crinoline dresses,” Frey said.

Under the direction of internationally recognized Tony De Rosa, the group sings modern, complex arrangements.

It is also a selective group, requiring its members to audition and holding them to high expectations.

Toast of Tampa practices on Tuesdays, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with occasional weeks off. The sessions are at the TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, at 4121 N. 50th St., in Tampa.

Those interested are welcome to come to a rehearsal to see if joining the chorus is something they wish to pursue.

The group has 120 active singers, ranging from age 10 to 85, Curts said.

Toast of Tampa draws members from all walks of life, including military veterans, new moms, grandmothers, real estate agents, accountants and others.

Beyond being devoted to singing, members should expect to incur costs of $1,000 to $1,500 a year, added Curts, who in addition to being a member, handles media and marketing duties.

The monthly dues are $51, with prorated dues for those under age 25. A portion of the dues is paid to the national organization and the rest goes to rent the hall, pay the director and cover other costs.

There are also costs associated with regional competitions every year, and international competitions every other year.

The costs are no greater than those for other pursuits, and the value goes beyond voice lessons, Frey said. Toast of Tampa involves dance and choreography, and helps members develop poise and confidence, she said.

It’s a workout on many levels, Hansel said.

“I go to chorus, and I stand on the risers and I sing. It’s physical. It’s mental. And, challenging. But, when I start breathing and singing, and singing properly, on a great night, and we’re really cranking, it’s like I’m running a race, and I am winning. I feel so physically good.”

“It’s empowering,” Byers added.

Chorus members come from throughout Tampa Bay and other parts of Florida, including Jacksonville, The Villages, Sarasota, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Orlando, Melbourne and Crystal River.

Lexi Burkle performs a solo during a Toast of Tampa performance. (Courtesy of Toast of Tampa)

“I drove from Sarasota to Tampa for 23 years, and then my husband had died, and I moved to Land O’ Lakes,” Everly said.

The relationships forged among members go beyond a shared passion for singing, members said.

They describe it as a sisterhood.

When someone is sick, they said, other members respond.

When a member has a new baby, it is deluged with love.

Anyone wanting to know more about the group should call Toast of Tampa Show Chorus at (813) 963-7464, or email .

Toast of Tampa Show Chorus presents Standing Room Only, featuring special guest Voctive

Where: University of South Florida Music Concert Hall, 3755 Holly Drive in Tampa

When: Nov. 4, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Cost: $40 patron; $25 regular

Details: The Toast of Tampa Show Chorus is an internationally recognized female chorus that performs four-part a cappella singing. As they perform, they sing and move with emotion and precision.

Published Oct. 4, 2017

 

 

 

The Ringling offers circus lore and more

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With the final performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s iconic traveling shows headed for its grand finale this week, the age-old fantasy of running off to join the circus may one day fade into the annals of pop culture history.

Replicas of sculptures by world-famous artists, including ‘David’ by Michelangelo, are sprinkled across the expansive courtyard that’s flanked by the wings of The Ringling Museum of Art.
(Susan Green)

But, there’s nothing to stop you from enjoying all manner of circus lore. You’ll find it at The Ringling in Sarasota, about 60 miles south of Tampa. Indeed, you’ll find much more than circus artifacts at this attraction. For those who enjoy art, history and an exemplary tale of rags to riches, The Ringling has it all.

The 66-acre site lures more than 400,000 visitors each year, who travel from across the United States and from other countries, too, said Alice Murphy, spokeswoman for The Ringling.

They come to see the legacy of John Ringling, one of the sibling founders of the Ringling Bros. World’s Greatest Shows, who built a grand winter home and an art museum on the grounds now occupied by The Ringling complex.

The five-story, 36,000-square-foot mansion built by John and Mable Ringling in 1926 includes an 82-foot-high tower that provides a broad view of much of Sarasota. Visitors can access the tower with purchase of one of The Ringling’s add-on tour packages.

Ringling rose from humble beginnings in the Midwest and went on to help develop the largest circus in the nation after he and his brothers purchased Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth in the early 1900s.

Though the museums on the Sarasota property are not affiliated with today’s Ringling circus, the collections of circus memorabilia and exhibits housed there have benefited from the largess of donors ranging from former circus performers to devoted fans. As remarkable as those collections are, however, they are not the attraction’s biggest draw.

That distinction falls to the house that Ringling’s circus revenues built – the opulent waterfront mansion Cà d’Zan, said Ron McCarty, curator of the grand home.
“I think that most people enjoy history, and everyone loves the idea of wealth,” McCarty said.

“It’s the largest mansion on the west coast of Florida that’s a period building. … Cà d’Zan is a national treasure.”

Built in 1926 by Ringling and his wife, Mable, the five-story, 56-room abode was modeled after the grand palazzo-style homes of Venice, Italy, which the couple admired during trips to Europe to scout for new circus acts.

Howard Tibbals did extensive research of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus to create his exquisitely detailed replica of ‘The Greatest Show on Earth,’ including this view of the expansive midway.

The stucco and terra cotta façade — generously embellished with decorative tile, plus a marble terrace that stretches for more than 200 feet along Sarasota Bay — provides a glimpse into life for the wealthiest Americans during the Roaring ’20s.

Inside, there are gilded ceilings inset with paintings, rare antiques, fine art and an ornate crystal chandelier that once hung in the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. The chandelier is the focal point of an indoor courtyard where the Ringlings often entertained the celebrities of their time.

Hidden behind tapestries is a 2,289-pipe organ that stands two stories high and was custom-made for the house by the Aeolian Co.

Circus curios galore
Elsewhere on the grounds are two museums that showcase the glitter and derring-do that have long thrilled audiences under the Big Top, as well as the traveling lifestyle of performers, laborers and show executives.

John Ringling’s luxury train car is on display, as well as the colorful calliope wagon, clown cars and circus parade animal cages that ballyhooed the show’s arrival and summoned spectators when the event pulled into town.

This scale model of an early 20th century horse-drawn calliope wagon is part of the sprawling exhibit of intricately carved miniature circus figures in the Howard Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling.

Visitors at The Ringling can see the original famous piece of artillery that shot “human cannonball” performers from the Zacchini family through the air and across the circus tent to land in a net.

Many of those echoes of yesteryear have been replicated in the lifelike miniature carvings of Howard Tibbals, who spent much of his life painstakingly creating a sprawling scale model of all aspects of the circus.

He donated his collection of more than 44,000 tiny figures to The Ringling in 2007, where it occupies 3,800 square feet of the Howard Tibbals Learning Center.

John Ringling, who died in 1936, bequeathed the estate’s mansion and art museum to the state, and that was only part of his gift to Florida’s Gulf Coast residents and tourists, McCarty said. Ringling also founded what became the Ringling College of Art and Design.

And, for 30 years, his circus held open rehearsals at a site not far from The Ringling.
“It was the biggest attraction in Florida,” said McCarty, estimating that it remained one of the most popular tourist sites in the state from the late 1920s into the 1950s. “It’s unbelievable what he [John Ringling] did for this community.”

The Ringling
Where: 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
When: Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, excluding major holidays
Cost: $25 for adults; $23 for seniors; $5 for children, 6 through 17; free for children 5 and under. (Check website for available discounts)
Parking: Free
Details: Circus artifacts, a luxurious mansion and an art museum are some of the highlights of The Ringling. Food and gifts also are available at the attraction.
Information: Call (941) 359-5700, or visit Ringling.org.

By Susan Green

Published May 17, 2017

St. Armands Circle: A day tripper’s delight

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A visit to Sarasota isn’t complete without a stroll around trendy St. Armands Circle.

Go round and round on a journey through St. Armands’ boutiques, restaurants and galleries, doled out to sidewalk strollers with all the casual charm and kitschy pleasures of Old Florida. But, with a fashion-forward zest for life.

Statues on John Ringling Boulevard showcase the seven virtues of Sarasota – music, flora, learning, sculpture, medicine, bounty and water. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Statues on John Ringling Boulevard showcase the seven virtues of Sarasota – music, flora, learning, sculpture, medicine, bounty and water.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

It’s also the right spot to soak up fun ’n the sun at Lido Beach, only a quick swirl motoring through St. Armands roundabout. Or, leave the car behind and take an easy half-mile walk from St. Armands to the beach — and back again for more shopping and dining.

Day trippers, tourists and Sarasota natives all find their way to St. Armands.

Austrians Max Sambs and Sabine Balleitner passed up Miami to spend their Florida vacation in Sarasota and St. Armands.

“It’s more relaxing, more quiet, more charming than the big city,” said Sambs, as the couple strolled past gia ventola.

The boutique sells couture dresses, a denim collection and fashionable accessories from hats and belts to one-of-a-kind jewelry. Cher, Britney Spears and Nicole Kidman are fans, according to the store’s website.

Lido Beach is within walking distance of St. Armands Circle and is a popular destination for tourists.
Lido Beach is within walking distance of St. Armands Circle and is a popular destination for tourists.

But, St. Armands isn’t all upscale.

Tourists who need swimwear, floats, shorts, ball caps, sundresses, sunglasses, a Florida souvenir cup, toys, games, towels, beach bags, shot glasses, a stuffed Minnie Mouse from a Disney carousel or the requisite Florida T-shirt can find that, and more, at Alvin’s Island.

In between, there is everything else.

The Columbia Restaurant — with its original location in Ybor City — brings its Latin menu and familiar elegance to the Circle.

From casual to fine dining, there are plenty of places to please the palate, including Cha Cha Coconuts, La Creperie Caffe, Lynches Pub & Grub, Crab & Fin, the Blue Dolphin Café and Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant & Bar (and retail store).

The Columbia Restaurant is a historical landmark and dining spot in Ybor City. But, it also is popular at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.
The Columbia Restaurant is a historical landmark and dining spot in Ybor City. But, it also is popular at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.

Men’s and women’s wear can be found at Binjara Traders Inc., Cotton Club, Island Pursuit, Foxy Lady West and Lily Pulitzer.

Other shops and galleries include Green Ginger Hair Designs, FantaSea Coastal Home, Soap Stories, Flip Flop Shops, Charleston Shoe Co., Tervis, The Stadium Gallery, McCarver & Moser and Woof Gang Bakery.

Ice cream aficionados can scoop up treats from Ben & Jerry’s or from the old-fashioned ice cream parlor at Kilvin’s Chocolate & Ice Cream.

Gigi’s Cupcakes is one of the newest treat shops on the Circle, opening just months ago. One-of-a-kind gourmet cupcakes are made fresh daily by baker Caroline Kaye.

The bakery is the brainchild of Gigi Baker, who moved to Nashville for country stardom but founded a cupcake empire of more than 100 stores instead.

St. Armands Circle soon could be her busiest store in this natural outdoor mall.

Shoppers check out the colorful array of tumblers, mugs and water bottles at Tervis.
Shoppers check out the colorful array of tumblers, mugs and water bottles at Tervis.

“People like to come down for a day and shop at the boutiques,” said the store’s marketing consultant, Jerry Pippins. And, to choose from such selections as Hunka Chunka Banana Love and White Midnight Magic.

St. Armands Circle has come a long way since Frenchman Charles St. Amand bought 130 acres for $20 in 1893 for his private home. The name change to St. Armand can be chalked up to a clerical misspelling.

The Circle of today belongs to the vision of circus ringmaster John Ringling who bought the island in the mid 1920s.

“St. Armands is here because of his layout and street grid,” said Diana Corrigan, executive director of the St. Armands Circle Association. “It really is a shoppers’ paradise. It’s very unique. The majority of our businesses are individually owned. They are unique boutique stores.”

The mantra of the association?

“Get out of the box. Get into the Circle.”

What: St. Armand’s Annual Fall Sidewalk Sale/28th St. Armands Circle Art Festival
When: Nov. 12 for both events; sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and art festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also, on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Armands Circle businesses will celebrate Veteran’s Appreciation Day, with special discounts and offers for members who served in the military. Bring proof of military service.
Where: St. Armands Circle, 300 Madison Drive, Sarasota
Parking: Free at two parking lots within walking distance from the Circle; also, free 3-hour parking on St. Armands Circle from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Information: Contact the St. Armands Circle Association at (941) 388-1554, email , or visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com.

Published November 2, 2016

Seeking state road money

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State lawmakers are seeking $8 million in state funds to push along a project, known as the diverging diamond interchange, to fix the daily traffic jams at Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

The trouble spot already is among Pasco County’s 2015 priorities for highway projects. The list is for a five-year plan that is updated annually and also includes the intersection at State Road 54 and U.S. 4, and other projects along State Road 52 and U.S. 301.

But, with some state money in hand, a project start date for I-75 and State Road 56 might come sooner rather than later. Currently, the Florida Department of Transportation anticipates funding in 2017 for study and design of the interchange.

Traffic stacks up daily, at morning and evening rush hours, as motorists navigate Interstate 75 and State Road 56. (File Photo)
Traffic stacks up daily, at morning and evening rush hours, as motorists navigate Interstate 75 and State Road 56.
(File Photo)

“I think there is reason to hope,” said State Sen. Richard Corcoran. The Land O’ Lakes lawmaker is the designated Speaker of the House when the 2016 legislature convenes Jan. 12.

Sarasota is the first city in Florida to build a diverging diamond interchange. The $74.5 million interchange at I-75 and University Parkway will be operational in 2017.

Another similar project is possible on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville.

In the diverging diamond interchange, multiple lanes of traffic from opposite directions crisscross from one side of the roadway to the other and then switch back, guided by road signs, marked lanes and traffic signals.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but in practice is easy to follow, eases traffic congestion, prevents wrong-way entry onto ramps and reduces crashes, according to engineering experts.

This type of interchange also allows for pedestrian crossings and bicycle lanes.

The expectation is that no additional right of way will be needed at I-75 and State Road 56, which will aid in costs and construction schedules.

Corcoran is meeting with representatives of the state department of transportation to discuss the matter. Federal funds also will be needed.

State Rep. Danny Burgess shares Corcoran’s optimism for the project. A funding request for $8 million has been filed, he said.

“We’re actively working hard to alleviate the current problem,” Burgess said.

Corcoran is familiar with the long lines that form during peak rush hours, because he drives that route almost daily.

The area surrounding the interchange is exploding with new growth, with more and more vehicles passing through I-75 and State Road 56.

Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October. Permits, site plans and wish lists for more commercial and residential growth in the area are multiplying, including the Cypress Creek Town Center. When that is finished, development will span both sides of State Road 56.

“It (the interchange) needs fixing very fast,” Corcoran said. “To the extent that we can play by the same rules as everyone else, it’s certainly going to be a top priority.”

That means making a convincing case that the project is worthy, Corcoran said.

Other states embraced the diverging diamond long before Florida.

Missouri was the first in 2009, and kept on building them, again and again. At nine, the state is home to the most diverging diamonds in the country, according to a list compiled by the Official Website of the DDI.

Utah is close behind, with eight, and North Carolina has seven.

As of Dec. 1, the website documented 64 diverging diamonds in operation around the country.

For information on Sarasota’s diverging diamond interchange, visit SWFLroads.com/i75/university. A YouTube video showing how the concept works also is available online.

Published January 6, 2016

Welcome to Dade City, where kumquat is king

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Every year, as marauders take over Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa’s Gasparilla Parade, there’s another invasion of sorts— as thousands stream into downtown Dade City for the city’s annual Kumquat Festival.

“It’s a wonderful alternative (to Gasparilla),” said John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the 18th annual Kumquat Festival promises to be a fun and affordable event. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the 18th annual Kumquat Festival promises to be a fun and affordable event.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The Dade City event — which draws its name from a diminutive, tangy orange fruit — gives visitors a chance to experience a taste of old Florida in a family friendly atmosphere, Moors said.

With its free parking, free admission, free entertainment and assorted free activities, people can enjoy the day without having to spend a fortune, Moors said.

Of course, Moors said, the chamber would like to see festival-goers do a bit of spending on items sold by vendors, at area restaurants and in merchant’s stores.

The event, now in its 18th year, is expected to attract 30,000 to 40,000.

Event-goers come from as far north as The Villages, as far south as Sarasota, as far west as the beaches, and as far east as Orlando.

For some, it’s an annual tradition. For others, a reunion. And for still others, it’s an introduction to the East Pasco city with the historic courthouse and quaint shops.

The annual festival started simply.

It began when Phyllis Smith, Roxanne Barthle and Carlene Ellberg were looking for a way to help inject new life into downtown Dade City.

They decided to have a festival to honor the kumquat, and the first event was held on the lawn of the historic Pasco County Courthouse.

This year there will be 450 vendors, a car show, children’s activities, an enlarged health and wellness section, entertainment and, for the first time, several food trucks.

The food trucks are an additional component to the area’s restaurants and food vendors at the festival, Moors said.

Local restaurants are always swarmed on festival day, the chamber executive said, adding some restaurant owners have told him they do a week’s worth of business on that single day.

Of course, the kumquat is king at this event, and vendors offer it up in myriad forms. There’s kumquat pie, kumquat salsas, kumquat jam, kumquat jelly, kumquat preserves, and even kumquat lotions and soaps.

Over the years, the event has helped put Dade City on the map and has helped raise the community’s profile. It was heralded by the Pasco County Tourism Board as the Pasco County Event of the Year in 2012 and has enjoyed the distinction of being named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society, which selects premier events in 13 Southeastern states.

Offering the event without charging an admission means that organizers rely on the generosity of sponsors, income from vendor fees and support achieved through other fundraising efforts.

This year, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is the event’s headlining sponsor, Moors said.

Besides providing financial support, the hospital is a partner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the team will be sending its bus as well as cheerleaders and a player or two, Moors said.

The importance of the sponsors cannot be overstated, Moors said.

They make it possible for event organizers to stage the festival without admission or parking charges, Moors said.

“There’s a lot of expense in putting something like this on. Somebody has to pay for the buses and the Port-o-lets and the insurance and the volunteer expenses,” the chamber executive said.

To get the full enjoyment out of the event, Moors recommends that people arrive early.

“Get in and get settled and enjoy the day.”

The festival is held, rain or shine.

Moors is optimistic that the weather will cooperate.

“Bring an umbrella,” he said. “You can always leave it in the car.”

18th annual Kumquat Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 31
Where: Downtown Dade City
How much: Admission is free, parking is free, entertainment is free, and many activities are free.
For more information, call (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCityChamber.org or KumquatFestival.org.

Kumquat Festival Entertainment Schedule, Historic Courthouse Square
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Saint Leo University SASS (Women’s a capella)
10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: First Baptist Church of Dade City (Christian blended music)
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Strawberry Express Cloggers
11 a.m. to noon: Cypress Creek Dixieland Band (Seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band)
Noon to 1 p.m.: Noah Gamer (Alabama male vocalist award in traditional country, in 17 to 20 age group)
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Dean Johnson’s Music & Friends (Various styles)
2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Bailey Coats (Rhythm and blues and jazz)
2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Danielle Pacifico (Country)
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: This Train (’50s and ’60s pop and gospel)

O’Reilly Auto Parts Annual Kumquat Festival Car Show
Registration, 8 a.m.
Car show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dash plaque and specialty trophies will be awarded.
For more information contact Ronnie Setser, (813) 879-1616 or RonnieSetsers.com.

Would you like a slice of kumquat pie?
Ingredients:
1 9-inch baked pie crust
1 can condensed milk
1 8-ounce container of whipped topping
2/3 cup of Kumquat puree
1/2 cup of lemon juice

Directions:
Beat condensed milk with whipped topping. Add lemon juice and beat until thickened. Add Kumquat puree. Pour in pie crust and chill for several hours. Garnish with Kumquats and mint leaves.

What is a kumquat?
Kumquats have been called the little gold gems of the citrus family. They are believed to be native to China and have a very distinctive taste. Kumquats are the only citrus fruit that can be eaten whole. The peel is the sweetest part and can be eaten separately. The pulp contains seeds and juice, which is sour. Together, the taste is sweet and sour. The seeds contain pectin, which can be removed by boiling for use in jams and jellies.
— Kumquat Growers Inc.

How do you eat a kumquat?
—Kumquats taste best when they are gently rolled between the fingers before being eaten. The gentle rolling action releases the essential oils in the rind. Eat kumquats the same way you eat a grape — peel on.

—Kumquats can be candied or on a kabob with fruits, vegetables and meat, such as poultry, duck, pork or lamb.

—Kumquats are also a favorite for jelly, jam, marmalade, salsa or chutney.

Published January 21, 2015

Sheffield pitching Wesley Chapel to the Atlanta Braves

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The Atlanta Braves aren’t making a trip to the postseason this year, but could they instead be planning a trip to Pasco County in a few years? Like for spring training?

Retired Major League Baseball player Gary Sheffield, left, listens as Blue Marble Strategies owner John Talton shares his vision of a new 20-field baseball complex in Wesley Chapel's Wiregrass Ranch area. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Retired Major League Baseball player Gary Sheffield, left, listens as Blue Marble Strategies owner James Talton shares his vision of a new 20-field baseball complex in Wesley Chapel’s Wiregrass Ranch area. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Gary Sheffield, the retired Major League Baseball star who hit 64 home runs when he played two seasons for the Braves more than a decade ago, believes his old team will come. And if not them, maybe the Houston Astros or Toronto Blue Jays — both which have expressed interest in looking for new spring training homes — instead.

Regardless, the former outfielder says the proposed $70 million baseball complex planned on 100 acres in the Wiregrass Ranch area will be so attractive, it would be impossible for any Major League team to turn it down.

“They don’t want to be second to Disney,” Sheffield told a group of business leaders recently at a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce economic development meeting. “The problem they are having is that the fans coming to the games there are not Braves fans. They are there for Disney, and that is a problem for them.”

The Braves have played spring training at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex near Disney World in Orlando since 1998, but have been unofficially considering other options in recent months since their lease there is set to expire in 2017.

Wesley Chapel could be perfect for the team, Sheffield says, since many might consider the Interstate 75 trip between there and Atlanta a straight shot. It also makes sense as a second home for the team without making it inconvenient for its fan base.

“That is an easy commute for them,” Sheffield said. “All those fans could come straight here, plus go to other places like Disney and Clearwater Beach, since they would be close by. That is a possibility that is pretty much there for the taking.”

The sports complex was proposed by James Talton, owner of Blue Marble Strategic, and would supply 20 baseball and multipurpose athletic fields, as well as dormitories for players and other amenities. It’s a way to tap into the lucrative youth baseball market, he said.

Talton is raising $54 million in private funding, and looking for $11 million from Pasco County tourist tax money, to make such a project a reality.

Even without a major stadium component, Talton feels his sports complex could play a role in creating 8,000 jobs in the county, and produce $318 million in annual economic impact, as well as a direct revenue stream of $9 million each year to the county government. But if the project could attract a Major League team, there’s no telling how big of an impact that would have in the Wesley Chapel area, Talton said.

Creating a separate field for spring training would not be anywhere near the headache the Tampa Bay Rays are experiencing with its efforts to get out of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. In fact, spring training fields are typically much smaller than regular season venues, Talton said, where average attendance usually holds around 6,700.

“We would want to put in up to 12,000 seats, but that could be a little ambitious,” he said. “A lot of what we hear from the league is that they want to have no more than 8,000 seats, because they want to make sure they are filled.”

Yet, just from his own youth baseball operations, Talton believes he can fill 3,000 of those seats with his players and families that might be using the rest of the facility during spring training time. He wants to be open for business by January 2017, which would be just ahead of when the Braves’ lease with Disney expires.

But are the Braves even looking to stay in this part of the state? Braves president John Schuerholz told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in March that staying in Central Florida could be tough.

Many teams that used to participate in spring training are looking for other parts of the state, especially south, and it could be tough for Atlanta to travel around if its only nearby opponent is the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland.

The Braves want to stay in Florida, however, and have waved off any suggestions the team could move to the other popular spring training state of Arizona. But if the Astros move out of Kissimmee, and the Washington Nationals leave their home in Viera, that could leave the Atlanta team rather isolated in Lake Buena Vista.

Yet moving to Wesley Chapel could be a good move in that respect. The Tigers would still be available in Lakeland, joining five other teams in quick driving distance — the New York Yankees in Tampa, the Blue Jays in Dunedin, the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, and the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota.

The Braves also would be a lot closer to the Tampa Bay Rays, who play its spring training games in Port Charlotte.

A request to the Braves for comment is still pending.

Sheffield, who was born and raised in Tampa, says he has been spending a lot of time in Pasco County, especially since his kids are members of the Pasco Predators youth athletic teams. Once tourists start discovering the area, they won’t be able to stay away.

“There is something about Tampa and Pasco County,” he said. “People can’t leave. They can’t leave the water, or the beautiful places here. It’s totally community-driven.”

Wilson still collecting checks from development community

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All the money that is going to be raised in the battle for Pasco County Commission seat District 4 has been raised. And now the only thing either candidate can do is sit back and wait for voters to decide.

Mike Wells Jr. is challenging Henry Wilson Jr. for his seat on the commission in an open primary race Aug. 26 where the winner takes all. Although both Wells and Wilson are Republicans, the primary race is open to all voters since there is not a general election opponent lined up.

That means at least one of the two contested seats on the county commission will be decided after votes are counted Tuesday night.

In the final two weeks of fundraising, both Wells and Wilson combined to raise $9,800. That puts total fundraising for the race at $127,200. That’s far less than what this district raised in 2010 when $171,300 was collected — nearly all of it from then incumbent Michael Cox, who lost his re-election bid to Wilson.

It’s also well behind the 2006 race where $184,111 was raised, and where an out-funded Cox toppled then incumbent Steve Simon.

District 4 has not been kind to incumbents, but Wilson is trying to change that by being the first to win re-election in the district since Simon did it in 2002.

Just as he has all campaign, Wells out-raised Wilson in the final two weeks with a little less than $7,000, compared to $2,850 from the current commissioner. That included $1,000 in in-kind contributions from Elite Mobile Advertising of Land O’ Lakes, as well as $1,500 from three New Port Richey investment companies that share the same address.

Wilson, on the other hand, continued to collect donations from those involved in the development industry despite his claims at a recent candidate forum that they don’t support him. He earned $500 each from Central Florida Testing Laboratories in Clearwater and Alfonso Architects of Tampa. He picked up another $500 from Reiss Engineering of Winter Springs.

Wells has spent a little more than $77,000 of his $86,355 total, with 51 percent — or $39,690 — happening in Pasco County. He spent $12,280 on advertising, but less than 4 percent of it was done locally. The rest, a little more than $11,800, was spent with Direct Marketing Southeast of Largo.

Wilson spent just over $40,000, nearly all the money he raised. Unlike other candidates in the county commission races this time around, Wilson spent a vast majority of his money outside the county. Only 29 percent, or $11,746, was used with local businesses. Other money, including $24,500 to Andrick & Associates of Sarasota, was spent elsewhere.

Wilson also spent a little less than $3,200 on “robo calls” with Strategic Victory Partners of Brooksville. He kept his advertising budget light, just under $650, and chose to use mailers instead.

Who will occupy District 4 on the county commission dais will be decided Aug. 26.