Looking for fun events? Top 5 Things to Do This Weekend in Sarasota-Manatee: Jan. 7-9

 Wade TatangelSarasota Herald-Tribune, January 6, 2021

Free and family-friendly outdoor events including a music festival benefit and block parties, plus an R-rated circus and a bubbles festival.

The first weekend of 2022 is filled with another roster of great events across Sarasota and Manatee including a music festival on Sunday to benefit a beloved local musician. Held at one of the area's top breweries, it will feature performances by Southern rock and blues luminaries including longtime members of the Dickey Betts Band and Outlaws.

First, though, you'll want to begin your weekend on Friday night with one of the free block parties taking place in Sarasota and Manatee counties. And starting today, you'll find an R-rated circus show under its very own black and red big top in Palmetto. Plus, there's Bubble Festival on Saturday in Sarasota headlined by a master bubble performer and magician who was on "America's Got Talent."

Let's begin with details on the fundraiser concert featuring a who's who of the region's top rock and blues stars. 

1. Fundraising concert for Richard 'Hombre' Price at Big Top Brewing

Born in Fort Myers and largely raised in Sarasota, Price played bass alongside members of the original Allman Brothers Band lineup in Jacksonville before embarking on a successful session career in Nashville that led to him being heard on Lucinda Williams' Grammy Award-winning 1998 album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" and playing in her touring band. Battling cancer now and in need of funds for medical bills, Price will be the beneficiary of a full afternoon and evening of music featuring national blues star and Dickey Betts Band member Damon Fowler and fellow guitar hero Chris Anderson formerly of the Outlaws.  The all-star music lineup also includes Bobby Messano, Dana Lawrence (Kettle of Fish), Tony Tyler, Twinkle, Mike Kach (Dickey Betts Band), Sarasota Slim, Chuck Riley, Mark Serio, Greg Poulos (Kettle of Fish), T.C. Carr, RJ Howson, Richy Kicklighter, Steve Camilleri (Dickey Betts Band) and Justin Headley. Phil Phunn will be the master of ceremonies. 2 p.m. Sunday, Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939, bigtopbrewing.com

2. Fresh Friday in downtown Sarasota

Fresh Fridays, the free and themed monthly series of events in downtown Sarasota that started in November and continues through March, returns with "Dance Under the Stars." Held on Palm Avenue, between the parking garage and Main Street, it will feature dance showcases and instruction in three different styles led by Maks Lototskyy of Dynasty Dance Clubs. 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Palm Avenue, downtown Sarasota; freshfridayssarasota.com 

3. Music on Main in Lakewood Ranch

The first Friday of the month also means you can enjoy the long-running Lakewood Ranch block party Music on Main, where you'll find the street lined with food vendors and beer trucks as well as rides and activities for the youngins. This week's event will feature a performance by high-energy country-rock act The Derek Lersch Band. 6-9 p.m. Friday, Lakewood Ranch's Main Street, lakewoodranch.com/event/music-main

4. Paranormal Cirque

The Sarasota-based Paranormal Cirque returns for another R-rated show featuring scares and laughs while incorporating elements of circus, theater and cabaret; with all the fun and thrills taking place under their imposing black and red big top tent set up in Palmetto. Today through Jan. 17, Riviera Dunes Marina, 102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto; $10-$50, 941-704-8572, paranormalcirque.com

5. Bubble Festival at The Bazaar

Bubble master and magician Blaise Ryndes, from season 13 of "America's Got Talent," will headline the free-admission Bubble Festival held in the courtyard of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime. There will also be live music by Tyler Vaden, food from Hamlet’s Eatery, and guest vendors to go with the 40 creators and curators found inside The Bazaar. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, 821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota; 941-445-1938; facebook.com/BazaarOnApricotAndLime

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

‘Baby boom’: Record number of dolphins born in Sarasota Bay in 2021 after red tide issues

https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/baby-boom-record-number-of-dolphins-born-in-sarasota-bay-in-2021-after-red-tide-issues/

by: Daisy Ruth  Posted: Dec 16, 2021

 SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A record 22 babies were born to mother dolphins in Sarasota Bay this year, surpassing the previous record set in 2017, and researchers believe it may be due to red tide.

The Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program documented the births throughout the year. The program studies 170 dolphins that researchers see on a regular basis in Sarasota Bay. The dolphins have been studied since the 1970s. Through their studies, researchers know the dolphins in Sarasota Bay are long-term residents who have lived there across decades and generations.

According to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, the dolphins are “the focus of the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.”

“We can recognize them from patterns of nicks and notches on their dorsal fin, on the fin on their back, and we’ve been able to track them through as many as five concurrent generations, and up to six generations for some of the lineages in the area,” said Dr. Randy Wells, vice president of Marine Mammal Conservation and Director of the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program.

This year’s baby boom comes after a difficult time for the dolphins of the bay due to strong and long-lasting red tide that came into the Sarasota area in the summer of 2018. Dr. Wells said dolphins died due to both the brevotoxins of red tide directly, as well to ecological effects of red tide, like loss of fish.

Dr. Wells said that more than 75% of the dolphins’ prey fish were gone as result of red tide.

The red tide existed in the bay through the winter of 2018 and in to 2019. Returning predators became an issue when it waned. One hypothesis that researchers have leads to sharks and their prey of stingrays.

“The dolphins stayed in the area and the sharks came back to the area. The rays did not come back in the same numbers that they had been before. Previously, when we’ve seen declines in stingray abundance through the fishing studies that we do to monitor the available fish in Sarasota Bay, when we see a decline in rays, we see it increasing the number of shark bites,” Dr. Wells said. “This time we saw a record number of shark bites on our dolphins during 2019 and 2020 following this red tide.”

Dr. Wells explained that, in those years, they saw a decline in baby dolphins, possibly related to the decline in the stingray population.

“So it’s hard to prove a negative, but these little babies are bite-sized morsels for some of the larger sharks like bull sharks and we wouldn’t expect them to necessarily show a scar that is healing. They would just be gone,” he said.

While the baby dolphin population declined due to these issues, it led to the “baby boom” of 2021.

Dolphins who lost their calves were able to become pregnant again. According to the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Sarasota dolphins typically rear their young for around four years.

Dr. Wells said red tide issues in 2020 did not have any major effects on the dolphins in Sarasota Bay. Pregnant dolphins were able to carry their babies for 12.5 months, giving birth this year.

The fish populations have bounced back quickly from red tide blooms in 2021, according to Dr. Wells.

“We learned long ago that studying the dolphins in a vacuum doesn’t get you very far. You really need to understand the dolphins relative to the drivers that determine what their behavior is going to be,” he said. “So ecology is important. We monitor the fish and we found that the fish populations came back within a few months to near record levels.”

The new year also looks to be shaping up well for Sarasota Bay’s 22 babies and other resident dolphins, as Dr. Wells said the fish population is doing well and researchers are not seeing any indications of health issues among the dolphins.

He does ask that residents and dolphin lovers do their part to keep waterways clean and the animals safe.

“[The dolphins don’t] get to just choose which threat they’re going to face. [They] can’t say, ‘oh this month we’re going to face red tide,'” he said. “They have to face a variety of threats at any given time and we need to give them the freedom to do that by creating as good quality of an ecosystem and a home as we possibly can.” 

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

Venice's 'most talented team' solidifies its legacy with state football title

 Doug Fernandes

Sarasota Herald Tribune, December 21, 2021

Venice coach John Peacock told his team before the season that they should win a state title in 2021

For John Peacock, the elation from winning his second state football championship had ebbed. In its place was the residue.

The Venice High head coach was wiped.

“I’m just really tired,” Peacock said Sunday night. “It’s been a long season."

 

For Ryan Browne, the elation from winning his first state football championship had not. It was forced to share space with disbelief.

“I can’t even say I’m on Cloud 9,” the Venice quarterback said. “Because I’m almost in shock. For my entire life, it’s been a goal of mine to win a state championship. It’s amazing. It’s unreal.”

Unfortunately for Apopka High, Venice’s 35-7 dismantling of the Blue Darters in Saturday’s Class 8A title game was all too real. They may have thought their single-wing offense would give the Venice defense fits. They may have thought a defense which had allowed 30 points in its previous four playoff games could stymie an offense which had scored 195 in its previous four.

On both counts, Apopka couldn’t have been more wrong.

“A lot of nerves are pre-(game) nerves,” Peacock said. “This past Saturday, no. After our first drive, the focus, the kids just did a really good job of being locked in and focused on what we were trying to accomplish and bringing their intensity level. This was something I didn’t have to do a whole lot of coaching.

“We thought we’d be able to score. We didn’t think they would be able to contain us and stop us.”

Still, despite trailing 21-7 at the half, Apopka had done a decent job of bottling up Venice’s running game. When that happens, a head coach has but one option at his disposal.  

And Peacock used it. In the biggest game of his young life, Browne delivered, throwing four touchdown passes, assuming a much larger role than in the first four Venice postseason victories.

“The way our games had been going,” Peacock said, “we’ve been so dominant in the run, we didn’t need to take a chance (to throw), but this Saturday, he did a great job. Made some great reads and threw some great balls.”

“I was on the biggest stage,” Browne said, “but I was prepared to have a game where I was 7-for-10, like I was. Whatever it takes to get that ring is what really mattered. As long as we win.”

Capturing a second state crown, Peacock said, removes the fluke factor. “I think when people see one state championship, they can say a lot of things — ‘oh, you got lucky that year’ but you win two, people say, ‘man, they must be doing something right there.’ I think one thing (the title) does is it kind of solidifies what we do as a staff.”

Peacock called this year’s team “the most talented” he’s ever had. Which means not winning it all was non-negotiable. Before the start of the season, he said as much to his players.

“We knew what kind of team we had,” he said. “We talked to the team before the season. I told them, ‘Listen, we should be winning a state championship this year. I’m telling you, it’s different this year. You guys should win it. If we don’t win it, we did something wrong.’ This year, it’s like we already had it won. We just had to go out there and do it.”

And next season, Peacock’s motivating theme to his team will be doing it again. Back-to-back titles. But before that, he needs to raise money to pay for championship rings for his players. He’ll be an assistant coach in Wednesday’s FACA North-South All Star Game at The Villages.

Before long, he’ll begin preparing for a 2022 season and a Venice team that is graduating a host of players who made this campaign so memorable.

And for one, utterly unforgettable.

“Two years ago, a year and a half ago,” Browne said, “I would have never imagined I would be in the state of Florida playing football and winning a state championship in the biggest division.”

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

“For the Love of Arts” celebrates Wellen Park’s dedication to the arts

https://www.wellenparkjournal.com/articles/for-the-love-of-arts-celebrates-wellen-parks-dedication-to-the-arts/

December 15, 2021

Representatives of the arts, partners of Wellen Park, current and future residents gathered at the recent For the Love of Arts reception. COURTESY PHOTOS

Wellen Park recently held the “For the Love of Arts” event in partnership with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. This event symbolized the allegiance between this community and the thriving local art scene that is right in Wellen Park’s own backyard.

“We are blessed to be in a vibrant and robust arts and cultural region, which is why it’s so important for us to build upon that access within Wellen Park,” said Wellen Park president, Rick Severance, who kicked off the event.

Current and future residents gathered in the Wellen Park Welcome Center for the reception. The Welcome Center serves as an outward representation of Wellen Park’s commitment to integrating art into everyday life through beautiful custom murals and installations.

The Venice Symphony, Sarasota Opera, The Ringling, Hermitage Artist Retreat, Venice Theatre, Sarasota Art Museum, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and Venice Art Center all sent representatives to speak about their organizations and other upcoming opportunities to experience the arts in Sarasota County.

Check out some of the featured artists and their work that was showcased throughout the event:

Michele Moore of the Bone Boutique creates unique jewelry and is the featured artist from the North Port Arts Center — her work is currently on display at the mobile pop-up cart.

“Blooms” is a vibrant mural of colorful flowers painted on the building’s exterior walls by local artist Laura Pommier.

“Heartfelt Connections” by Sarasota based artist Alexis Fraser, also known as Lipstick Lex, is a piece made of lipstick kisses as an homage to Wellen Park’s heritage tree program.

The For the Love of Arts event was part of Wellen Park’s Countdown to Downtown event series, which is an 18-month-long celebration leading up to the opening of Downtown Wellen, set to be completed in the later months of 2022. 

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

New K-8 and high school coming to Wellen Park

https://www.wellenparkjournal.com/articles/new-k-8-and-high-school-coming-to-wellen-park/

December 15, 2021

BY NANCI THEORET 

Wellen Park Journal Correspondent

 A new high school and kindergarten-to eighth grade school are coming to Wellen Park sooner than planned. Sarasota County Schools is fast-tracking construction to alleviate student counts at Venice High and Taylor Ranch Elementary and a projected increase of nearly 3,400 future students from Wellen Park, one of the top-selling communities in the U.S.

We’re moving everything up a year,” says School Superintendent Brennan Asplen. “There’s been a large influx of new students and a lot of people moving to our area.”

The schools will be built on two adjoining sites at River Road and the future Manasota Beach Road extension, allowing them to share parking lots and bus loops for increased efficiency and cost savings.

Design and construction of the $155-million 425,000-square-foot high school will begin in summer 2022, with completion expected for the 2025-26 academic year. Work on Wellen Park’s K-8 school, which carries an $82-million price tag, will start in 2023. Unexpected growth in south Sarasota County has pushed enrollment at Venice High and Taylor Ranch Elementary over capacity and will continue to increase with the addition of 14,800 housing units planned in Wellen Park, according to Jody Dumas, the district’s assistant superintendent chief operations officer.

“This was the first year we had to put up portables at Taylor Ranch,” he says. “We have the infrastructure for 10 more and think of the new school in Wellen Park as relieving that need.”

Sarasota County Schools is reviewing high school prototypes from other districts that it could potentially repurpose for Wellen Park. The district will model Wellen Park’s K-8 school after a design borrowed from Lee County to the south.

“Instead of reinventing the wheel, we talk to other districts about what works for students, what works for the system and makes sense,” says Dr. Asplen. “It saves costs and time.”

Dr. Asplen says the K-8 concept, combining traditional elementary and middle schools under one roof, provides two different administrations, lunchrooms and other separate facilities while improving the transition from elementary school to middle school. “Our research shows it helps academically,” he says.

Wellen Park, ranked No. 5 on real estate consulting firm RCLCO’s 2021 list of fastest selling communities, is expected to add 3,372 K-12 students as construction of new homes continues. Those projections include 2,334 more K-8 students and another 1,038 high school students.

“We haven’t addressed growth in a number of years,” Mr. Dumas recently told school board members in presenting proposed revisions to the district’s five-year capital budget. The budget includes an extra $30 million to cover escalating construction costs to build the Wellen Park schools and a third school down the road.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

12 Years of Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens

https://selby.org/12-years-of-lights-in-bloom/

Marie Selby
Botanical Gardens

This December, Lights in Bloom returns to Selby Gardens for its twelfth year, bringing Sarasota a stunning display of more than half a million twinkling lights from December 18 thru the 30th. Come explore the Gardens’ tropical take on holiday traditions, from the Bromeliad Tree to the Radiant Rainforest.

Start your tour at the family-friendly Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden. At sunset play swings and tropical huts fade in the glow of giant lighted butterflies and oversized flowers swinging from the treetops. This year, a magnificent lighted aerial net trying to capture the butterflies adds to the playfulness.

Another family-favorite spot for the young and young-at-heart is Santa’s Workshop and Toyland. Overlooking Sarasota Bay, Saint Nicholas will be taking photos with families in the days leading up to Christmas Eve before he heads to the North Pole. There are also old-fashioned games to enjoy like tic-tac-toe, spinning tops and bean bag toss. Nearby at the historic Payne Mansion, nightly entertainment of live music and dance performers add to this festive area of the event.

Of course, the holidays are also a time to reflect on the year that has passed and contemplate the future. For these quieter moments, visitors are invited to write down their thoughts and dreams for the year ahead at The Wishing Tree. This is the very same type of bodhi tree that Buddah sat under when he attained enlightenment and is a special spot for many Gardens visitors. Different colored ribbons represent happiness, tranquility, peace, celebration, or can be left in memory of a friend or loved one.

The holiday season isn’t complete without a few surprises, including a new wave tunnel of lights that transports you from the tropics to a winter wonderland. And, there just may be a chance of snowfall, even in sunny Sarasota. Happy Holidays! We look forward to seeing you in the Gardens!

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

Poinsettia Parade & Festival

https://www.cityofnorthport.com/government/city-services/parks-recreation/special-events/poinsettia-events

Kick off your holiday with the annual Poinsettia Parade & Festival! This annual North Port tradition will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021  from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the City Center Campus (4970 City Hall Blvd). 

Prefer to watch from home? We've partnered with our friends at WKDW 97.5 FM to livestream the Poinsettia Parade. You can tune in to 97.5 FM for entertainment and event updates throughout the evening. If you will be attending in person and would like to opt in to receive safety messages about this event, text Parade2021 to 888-777.

About the Poinsettia Festival

Presented by Achieva Credit Union, the Festival will take place throughout the grounds of the City Center Campus, including on the Front Green and inside City Hall. This fun-filled holiday festival will feature a tree lighting ceremony, food vendors, entertainment, performances by local school choruses, attractions, vendors, and so much more.

About the Poinsettia Parade

Presented by Quality TV, the Poinsettia Parade will march south down Sumter Boulevard starting from Sylvania Avenue through the City Center Campus, ending at the Festival (a prime location to catch the parade). The theme this year is "Retro Rockin' Holidays". An esteemed judging panel will select the winners of the various parade awards, 

Route Description

Floats adorned with poinsettias, decorated vehicles, and walking groups will start at Sylvania Avenue and follow the one-mile route south on Sumter Boulevard. The route will turn east onto City Hall Boulevard, before making its way along the Front Green. Escorted by North Port Fire Rescue, jolly St. Nick will make a special appearance in the parade.

The parade will end at the annual Poinsettia Festival, presented by Achieva Credit Union. The Festival will include a tree lighting ceremony.

Entertainment Schedule 

4:00 p.m.- Poinsettia Festival Begins

4:15 p.m. - 60 West Band

5:00 p.m. - Poinsettia Parade Begins

5:15 p.m. - The Rock Box

6:20 p.m. - Imagine School of Young Marines Presentation of Colors accompanied by Linda Zick Performing the National Anthem

6:25 p.m. - North Port City Commissioners and Mayor Opening Remarks and Holiday Message

6:35 p.m. - Tree Lighting

6:40 p.m. - Announcement of Gingerbread House Winners

6:50 p.m. - Announcement of Parade Winners

7:00 p.m. - Universal Dance Academy

7:15 p.m. - North Port High School Theatre

7:45 p.m. - 60 West Band

8:30 p.m. - Poinsettia Festival Ends

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179