LWR Life Winter 2022

LIFE

LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE

WINTER 2022

Serious Clown

Bello Nock hasn’t gotten to the top by accident.

BRING YOU

WHY THE WARREN GROUP?

WHY THE WARREN GROUP?

Julie and Pat are the Best! They are focused and are market experts. They are very “hands-on”. Their advice and assistance during listing prep were invaluable. They provided services far beyond what would normally be expected and we could not have gotten through the process without them.

I have had the good fortune of working with Julie and Pat Warren in listing and closing on our home. Their professionalism, dedication, knowledge, communication skills and demeanor were the key to the timely and successful completion of the sale of our home at asking price from listing to closing in less than 8 weeks. I have moved over a dozen times and no Realtor has been better. I strongly recommend you select Julie and Pat to represent you in your next home selling or buying experience.

Julie and Pat were kind, reassuring and professional as they guided us through the entire process. We felt that we were never alone and were being treated as if we were family. We can’t thank them enough and highly recommend them to anyone wanting to buy or sell a home in Lakewood Ranch.

World-Class Dermatology In Your Neighborhood

Dana

Sonya Zarkhin, DO, FAOCD, FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

For over 30 years, John Cannon has designed and built homes for families just like yours throughout Florida’s west coast. When you choose John Cannon Homes, you are selecting an award-winning team with the single goal of creating your home just as you envisioned. Build a home that’s customized for you, your family and your lifestyle. Build with John Cannon Homes.

Meet Me on Main Street

Find It All in Downtown Lakewood Ranch

Welcome to Main Street at Lakewood Ranch! A picturesque downtown lined with cafes and boutiques, specialty shops, international restaurants, the cinema, and various services and businesses. The open air, pedestrian-friendly environment provides a unique place for strolling and shopping, special events, and concerts and festivals all year long. Come out and experience Main Street today!

8100 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Lakewood Ranch, Fl 34202

happy place

You Struggle with Knee or Hip Pain?

The Orthopaedic Spine and Joint Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center can help you return to an active lifestyle. Our program brings together experienced surgeons, skilled orthopedic nurses and specialty-trained physical and occupational therapists to help deliver an exceptional patient experience.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for both Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement Core Certification. The goal is to get you back to feeling like yourself again and enjoying life to the fullest.

Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, please visit our website. 22698460-914347 10/22

The Lakewood Ranch Medical Group OB/GYN clinic team, Terrell W. Martin, MD, Joel Hallam, DO, FACOOG and Angie Scarpa, CNM, ARNP, provides individualized care through all stages of women’s lives. From family planning and obstetrical care to routine gynecological care and surgical interventions, using laparoscopic and da Vinci robotic surgical technology, our compassionate and dedicated physicians and nurse practitioner are here to help you feel your best.

TheLakewoodRanchMedicalGroupOB/GYNclinicteam delivers babies at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. ThehospitalreceivedNewsweek’sBestMaternity Hospitals2022award.

Physicians are on the medical staff of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 22681585-914212 10/22

BELLO

SAFE SPACE

SEASON’S GREETINGS

DEPARTMENTS

22

29

FROM THE EDITOR

BUZZ

A locals-first market blossoms on Main Street, the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund hires its first director and a new app connects Ranchers to their favorite sports and each other.

46

CLASS ACT

For her first published book of comics, Lily Wjtkowski found the perfect muse — her pet rat.

50

CHARITY SNAPSHOT

When it comes to engaging kids in education, this nonprofit believes learning is anything but boring.

54

CALENDAR

The holidays are here, along with an assortment of traditions and events to help celebrate.

60 STYLE

Need some ideas of what to give this season? Check out these suggestions.

97

HAVEN

This Lake Club home sparkles with Italian influence — including a showstopping ceiling mural inspired by Da Vinci.

108

BACK AT THE RANCH

Don’t let the stress of the holidays get you down. Follow these pro tips to keep your jolly.

112

TABLE TALK

Nancy Krohngold dishes out the secret behind her mouth-watering barbecue.

118 RANCH SCENE

Community snapshots from recent events.

122

GLANCE

LAKEWOOD RANCH AREA’S COMMUNITY, NATURE, STYLE

President

CONTACT LWR LIFE

ON THE COURT, COURSE & CLUBHOUSE SFORZO, DILLINGHAM, STEWART ORTHOPEDICS + SPORTS MEDICINE PUT US BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE

Orthopedic Care for All Walks of Life and Interests

Clowning around is hard work

The joy of watching a truly talented performer is they make what they do — usually something incred ibly hard — look incredibly easy. Whether it’s an orchestra violin ist blazing through a concerto or a ballerina gracefully landing from a jump en pointe, true pros make it look effortless.

In the case of Bello Nock, if you replace the musician or dancer with a daredevil circus clown who can hike up a 45-foot tall pole that sways one minute and race through a circular cage that’s spinning through the air the next, I’d argue he’s more one part skilled artist and one part elite athlete.

And this circus treasure is right in our backyard, with his “Funny Farm” home and training complex just a short jaunt from Lakewood Ranch.

If you haven’t seen him perform, you will find yourself laughing at his silent

gags and showmanship one minute while feeling your heart skip a beat as he completes daring balancing and ac robatic acts the next. He’s definitely “got talent,” just like the show he has been on in America and Britain is called.

But what you may miss behind the 6-inch high hair and goofy antics is this is a man who is serious about what he does and has worked his entire life to ex plore and perfect his act. Like all artists or athletes, he has spent years training and learning and even inventing things to be more exciting and entertaining.

And that takes hard work. Lots of it.

Now that he has reached the pinnacle of clowndom (is that a thing?), he’s work ing on a new endeavor: Helping the next generation learn and perfect their acts.

And as a protégé and employee told contributor Heidi Kurpiela in our fea ture on Page 66: It was not easy.

It was a bit more Karate Kid and Mr. Miyagi than clown camp, with poles to

be painted, car tires to be changed and laundry to be washed.

What looks easy often has thousands of hours of work behind it at a high lev el. These days, when it feels like we’re constantly being asked to accept more shortcuts and lower standards, it’s nice to know that nothing can be compro mised when you’re doing a bit pretend ing to talk on a cell phone 45 feet in the air.

Which is why, despite being a clown, Nock takes what he does — but never himself — seriously.

So whether he’s performing locally at Circus Sarasota or undertaking a death-defying act elsewhere on TV, don’t miss the opportunity to see him perform. You’ll forget all about how much work it is. And that’s just what Bello Nock wants.

A

THROUGH JAN 22

A Decade of Collecting is made possible through the generous contributions by our donors of art and financial support to expand and enhance our collection. Additional support was provided by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota Magazine, Gulf Coast Community Foundation Endowment at The Ringling, and The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation.

Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

NEWS, HAPPENINGS AND PEOPLE

MVP Sports and Social turns to tech to connect the community. PAGE 40

FOR STARTERS

MOVIN’ ON UP

We know that words like “infrastruc ture” and “capital improvement plan” are sure to make your eyes glaze over faster than you can say “bond offering.”

But yes, when Manatee County de cided to borrow $232 million in bonds this fall, it did so with one goal in mind: To get stuff built faster. Yay!

In addition to a list of road improve ments that are more exciting for some than others (including the intersection at Players Drive and Lorraine Road, the Lena Road extension and the 44th Avenue East extension), the sexiest list of projects affecting the East County area revolves around Premier Park, which the county is building out.

FILL THE SHELVES

Although the new Lakewood Ranch Library isn’t slated to open until fall 2023, its friends are already working to avoid what would be a sad sight for a beautiful new space: empty shelves.

The library, which is under construc tion on Rangeland Parkway, is estimat ed to have space for 48,000 books when it opens. A year ago, county staff esti mated it would take about $990,000 to fill the new library’s shelves. The county

has allotted $580,000, leaving a gap in funding — and possibly empty space. The Manatee Library Foundation has granted $200,000 to help close this gap, and the Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library has launched a “Fill the Shelves” campaign to raise the remain ing $210,000 needed by April.

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund have each pledged $10,000 toward the effort. Interested in helping? Visit FriendsOfLakewoodRanchLibrary.org.

Because of that borrowing, resi dents can expect con struction on Premier Park’s soccer multi purpose building to be completed in Decem ber 2023, and work on the stadium parking and locker rooms has begun and is expect ed to be completed in February.

As for Premier’s new 10-lane lap pool, it is planned to begin in May and completed a year later.

We can’t wait.

PUPS ON PLANES

When Hurricane Ian hit at the end of September, it brought with it an unexpected burden: Animals needing rescue and care.

With local shelters filling up after the storm, animal-loving groups in cluding the Humane Society of Lake wood Ranch and Manatee County Ani mal Welfare partnered with Wings of Rescue to give 27 dogs a plane ride to other states with capacity for them.

“Post Ian we saw a huge increase in the amount of lost and stray pets coming into the shelter,” said Hans Wohlgefahrt with the county’s Animal Services Outreach. In a week, that added up to more than 100 animals.

Dogs were transported to Saraso ta-Bradenton International Airport, where they were flown to shelters in New York, Vermont and Maryland to free up space here.

No word on whether they were of fered any in-flight snacks, though.

Makers Market

Niki Dalsing and Lindsay Wood, the founders of Main Street Market, launched these boutique-style shopping experiences in 2020 with 24 vendors. The vendor list has now grown to more than 75.

For nearly two years — during a pandemic that threatened the longevity of small businesses everywhere — local business owners were given a prime venue to showcase and sell their wares at the Main Street Market in downtown Lakewood Ranch. And, during a time when shopping indoors was risky for many, Lakewood Ranch residents en joyed an open-air shopping experience that gave them access to artisan-made goods and the opportunity to meet and chat with neighbors.

The winning team behind this win ning effort?

Niki Dalsing and Lindsay Wood, the founders of Main Street Market.

“During the pandemic, many people were only shopping online or getting their food and essentials delivered because they didn’t feel safe shopping indoors,” says Wood. “We realized this was the ideal opportunity to give Ranchers a safe shopping alternative — and to give small businesses a vi

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able venue.” Wood emphasizes that this is not a farmers market. “This is a boutique-style experience that of fers unique and one-of-a-kind items created or sourced by local makers, artisans and small business owners.” She adds that she and Dalsing started coordinating markets in November 2020 “with a vision to bring our com munity together after a very challeng ing time.”

Dalsing and Wood have since co ordinated eight Saturday markets at Lakewood Ranch Main Street, and seven night markets during Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place. The first market showcased 24 ven dors and has grown to more than 75. Wood explains that the market brings together independent artists and makers who specialize in home decor, fashion, art, gifts, food and even items for pets. (As the owner of Blossom & Burn Co., a soy wax candle company, Wood is herself a vendor at the mar ket.) Most of the vendors come from the local region — with a few from the Tampa Bay area, and additional vendors are encouraged to apply for spaces.

“We’re looking for locally owned businesses that either handcraft or lo cally source the goods they sell,” says Dalsing. “It is a major plus if the goods are also ethically sourced.”

The ability to create community and coordinate events is nothing new for Dalsing and Wood. They were both making an impact on their respective communities — in and out of Florida — long before they launched Main Street Market.

Dalsing first moved with her hus band and daughter to Lakewood Ranch from the Chicago suburbs in 2014. She previously worked for Feld Entertainment as an event coordina tor, and has since applied her experi ence to the operation, organization and planning of Main Street Market. Dalsing is also the lead instructor at barre3, a fitness studio on Lakewood Main Street, and a part-time employee for Influence, a retail boutique also on Main Street.

Wood and her husband moved from Los Angeles to Lakewood Ranch in 2019 to be closer to family. Wood’s degree in psychology helps her better understand the needs of consumers

and vendors.

Both Wood and Dalsing say they’re thrilled with how fast the market has grown.

“This season we’re adding live mu sic and youth dance performances during the markets,” says Wood, add ing that marketgoers should expect to see handcrafted jewelry, baked goods, plants, original artwork, home decor, and clothing and accessories for adults and children.

“It’s such a win-win,” says Dalsing. “Area residents get to support local businesses, find inspired gifts for the holidays, listen to live music and meet their neighbors in a beautiful, open-air ambiance. What could be better?”

IF YOU GO

During the 2022-2023 season, Main Street Market will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 17, Jan. 28, and March 4. Visit MainStreetMarketLWR.com.

Residents get to support local businesses, find inspired gifts for the holidays and meet their neighbors in a beautiful, open-air ambiance. What could be better?”

Nowhere to Go But Up

Bookhamer, the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund’s first executive director, is excited about shining a light on the dozens of organizations helping regional residents.

Adrienne Bookhamer had no experience in family welfare when she took a position overseeing adoptions in Jef ferson County, Colorado, outside Den ver, in 1997.

She would go on to spend 25 years connecting babies, kids and teenagers with families, first in a county govern ment role and later with nonprofits. When she moved to Florida at the on set of the pandemic, settling in Lake wood Ranch, she commuted to Tampa for two years, running a nonprofit adoption services organization there.

Bookhamer, named executive direc tor of the Lakewood Ranch Commu nity Fund in May, has now been out of the adoption services field for six months. But, for this forward-thinking, caring executive, the intrinsic value of adoptions will always have a place in her heart. Of the hundreds of families she’s worked with, she recalls one, more than 15 years ago in Colorado, when her organization found a family for a 17-year-old.

“Everyone had given up on him,” Bookhamer says, “and we found a family that wanted him. He had always wanted a family but thought he was go ing to have to emancipate from foster care. They took him in. And he never thought it was possible.” Bookhamer

Adrienne

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remains in touch with the young man, now in his 30s.

That’s the kind of passion Bookham er seeks to bring to the fund, a role that’s ushering in some other big changes at the organization. For start ers, Bookhamer is the fund’s first sal aried employee. Another big one: In early 2021, the fund received its own 501(c)(3) exemption, after spending its first 20 years under the Manatee Com munity Foundation’s umbrella.

The fund’s mission, on its own and under Bookhamer, remains the same: to support the 100-plus nonprofits that improve the lives of Lakewood Ranch residents. The fund has granted some $1.4 million to those organizations since its inception. “It’s super exciting,” Bookhamer says. “We have the poten tial to be a huge resource in this com munity. We have nowhere to go but up.”

In a recent interview with LWR Life, Bookhamer talked about her career, her focus and challenges. The follow ing are edited excerpts:

Why did you seek out this position?

I love nonprofit work. I’ve always been on the other end, figuring out how to get money into organizations, wheth er it’s fundraising, donor cultivation, or asking for grants. Now I’m on the other side where I can really see a difference. I can say, “Hey look, you guys are doing a great job and we can support you.” It feels good to give money away, instead of always having to beg for it.

What is the fund’s elevator pitch?

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is an organization that enhances the quality of life in and around Lake wood Ranch by granting funds that support nonprofits making an impact within Lakewood Ranch. We are big on saying, look around, Lakewood Ranch seems well-to-do, and it is. There are a lot of people around here doing re ally well. But there’s an undercurrent of families here not doing so well. There are the working families that help make this place what it is. And there are organizations out here trying to help these families. We’re granting funds to help these organizations.

What is the No. 1 challenge you face?

The biggest struggle is awareness. To show people that, yes, there’s a

lot of wealth here, but there are also families struggling to make ends meet. Affordable housing, being able to put groceries on the table. Being able to get your kids educated, daycare.

There’s a lot of stuff going on in the community and Lakewood Ranch just continues to grow. And, as it grows, those issues are going to be present and probably magnify. Everybody should be able to thrive here, and all families should be able to live here.

In your career you’ve mostly worked in or in charge of teams. What’s it like being the sole person now with a publicfacing, multimillion-dollar granting or ganization?

Well, there’s a lot to do, but it makes you prioritize what is really impor tant for us right now, and that’s mak ing sure people know who we are so people can feel comfortable and trust us, so when they give to us, they know we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing with the money and are be ing good shepherds with the philan thropy.

FIRST GOAL? INCREASE EXPOSURE.

Expect to see a lot more of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund in 2023. The group hosted a wine and giving event in late October, and plans are in the works for a walk/run event in Waterside Place in February. The fund’s executive director, Adrienne Bookhamer, says the goal is to raise money to support the foundation’s internal infrastructures (new donor software, databases, etc.) and increase its visibility in Lakewood Ranch. Bookhamer has also been meeting with community leaders and hopes to work with homebuilders and homeowners’ associations soon to generate more exposure.

Everybody should be able to thrive here, and all families should be able to live here.”

ADRIENNE BOOKHAMER

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There’s an App for That

Chris and Jessi McComas of MVP Sports and Social are launching a new app connecting Lakewood Ranchers to all things sports and social.

When Chris and Jessi Mc Comas first moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2015, the husband-and-wife couple craved more opportunities for sports-centric socializing.

Instead of waiting for the niche to be filled, they created MVP Sports and Social that same year — a collabora tive group that now invites Ranchers, 18 and older, to participate in nine sports, including pickleball, cornhole,

disc golf, mini golf, golf, softball, kick ball, sand volleyball and bowling.

“Our goal is to bring people together in a fun, laidback atmosphere where they can make new memories and get some exercise,” says Chris, who is also parks director for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities. “Lakewood Ranch has been an incredibly accom modating community for us.”

MVP currently organizes 12 leagues throughout the year, with more than 1,400 participating players. The sports are played at locations throughout Lakewood Ranch, including sand volleyball and cornhole at Waterside Park, golf at Legacy Park and disc golf at Bob Gardner Park.

To expand the ever-growing reach of MVP, the couple has just launched their own app, as well as a correspond ing social committee, for creating cross-league social events. They col laborated with RD Media, a Lakewood Ranch-based app and website devel oper, to design the platform, which should be available in Apple and An droid app stores by December.

“The app will be open to anyone in MVP. We want people to be able to sign up for a league in under 10 seconds,” Chris says. “But the big picture is that we want to inspire Lakewood Ranch newcomers to join a league and meet with their future teammates.”

He explains that the app will give people an opportunity to break the ice digitally with potential teammates by sparking a casual chat and making quick connections. “The entire idea behind this app is to create social op portunities. We’ve built in a social cal endar that’s not geared toward sports only; it’s a way to meet other people through various social activities. We also started a social committee that will be organizing these events.”

Chris and Jessi are also applying to get their cornhole league (part of which takes place during Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place) veri fied by the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the largest of its kind in the world, with 352 league partici pants. (For the record, MVP’s Monday night golf league is the largest in the state of Florida, with 124 participants.)

“It’s amazing how much these leagues have grown, and how much MVP has grown as a whole,” says Chris. “I feel like MVP brings out the happiness and joy in our community. I think, inherently, everybody just likes to see other people happy, and that’s what happens here.”

This was true even during the height of the pandemic. While the community was navigating the lockdown and so cial distancing restrictions, the MVP team created something called The

Quarantine Cup. A host of social activi ties was coordinated via Zoom — from “Name That Tune” and “Family Feud” games to trivia nights, happy hours and Cinco de Mayo parties. There were more than 300 participants ev ery night and, even though contact sports were off the table during that period, Ranchers were able to remain connected.

“That’s what MVP is about — con necting people. You get to meet a lot of new people and we design everything around social activities, so we encour age you to leave your competitive juices at home,” says Chris. “We tell everyone, ‘Just bring your smile and a happy attitude.’”

For more information on MVP Sports and Social, visit MvpSportsAndSocial.com.

I feel MVP brings out the happiness and joy in our community. I think, inherently, everybody just likes to see other people happy, and that’s what happens here.”

CHRIS MCCOMAS

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PULSE

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

For this organization, making learning fun isn’t just a goal, it’s a mission.

PAGE 50

class act Comic Inspiration

Twelve-year-old Lily Wojtkowski’s whimsical book, ‘Pretzel Rat,’ was inspired by her pet rat, Pretzel.

The sweet spot in Lily Wojtkowski’s burgeoning creative life came on her 11th birthday, when she received two pets who would become her chief inspiration. Wojtkowski, a fifth-grader at the time, had already been drawing comics for about four years. But her pets, at that point, were more an im pediment than an inspiration.

You see, Wojtkowski loved her her mit crab, but she wasn’t quite sure how to illustrate it.

“I wasn’t very good at drawing crabs,” she says. "But rats are a dif ferent story.”

Wojtkowski means that literally and figuratively, as she’s demonstrated to the world. The 12-year-old self-pub lished her first book of comics, “Pret zel Rat,” at the end of 2021, and now she’s working on a sequel to the book that she hopes will be published in the new year.

That new offering, “Pretzel Rat: A New Era,” continues where the first book left off in chronicling the adven tures of her pet rat Pretzel. And now she has two new rats, Biscuit and Baxter, who will also be characters that Pretzel interacts with on the printed page.

Conintued on Page 48

Wojtkowski says she was inspired by the artist Bill Watterson, who drew “Calvin and Hobbes,” but she cautions that her creations aren’t exactly hu morous. The Pretzel Rat books cen ter more on fantasy adventure than comedy, but they’re always grounded in reality.

After all, says Wojtkowski, the adven tures are invented but the actual rats exist in real life. And before they came into her life, she says, she never could have imagined writing about them.

“I wasn’t exactly scared of rats. But I had never met a rat in real life, so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” says Wojt kowski, a student at Manatee School of the Arts. “My mother suggested doing research on rats. So, I did a lot of re search and I learned about rats. And then I was really excited to get rats because it’s like, ‘Oh, they’re actually like dogs just really tiny.’”

The rats live in a big cage in her room, says Wojtkowski, but they’re fre quently allowed to roam inside a room while under supervision. One time, she says, she forgot to put them back in their cage, and when she came back to her room, they had eaten her blinds.

Do the rats know their own names? Wojtkowski says she’s not sure exactly how intelligent they are, but she de scribes interacting with them just like you might your pet bird or cat.

“Rats are very friendly,” she says. “They won’t bite you. They might nib ble on your nails or groom your fingers. But mostly rats will show affection; they’re very social. They’re also very hyper and want to run all the time. I actually started out with two rats. Un fortunately, one passed away, so we got two more rats. Now we have three.”

Wojtkowski hopes to attend Ring ling College of Art and Design, and she expects that cartooning will be at least a part-time job when she gets older. Her mom, Kate, has assisted her in the self-publishing process, and Lily says that she mostly enjoys the work of creating the comics.

It can be laborious; one storyboard can take a week to develop, and one page can take her as much as three hours once she’s decided how it should be drawn and colored. Her first book was 24 pages, and that meant that it took her a long time to draw it out in her mind.

“Sometimes the words come be fore the drawings, and then I’m like, OK, that works,” she says. “And then sometimes I make a drawing and it’s too blank. Wait, what should I write here? So, then I’ll think about, what if he says this? I’ll write that down. And if I like it, I’ll be like, ‘Yeah,’ and if I don’t, I’ll erase it and restart until I find something that suits Pretzel.”

Wojtkowski says that many of the students in her school have their own creative outlets, but she’s not aware of any classmates who have self-published their own comic book or graphic novel.

Her book, which sells online at Am azon, has traveled all over the world; Wojtkowski sent some copies of “Pret zel Rat” to family in South Africa, and one web visitor asked for a special de livery all the way to Australia.

Locally, the “Pretzel Rat” books are available for purchase at Suitcase Sweets in Lakewood Ranch. Wojt kowski, who also makes gifs, anima tions and art dolls, says there may be another Pretzel Rat book in her after “New Era,” but she may also pursue different creative projects.

When does she do most of her work?

“It depends on the day,” she says. “If I have a lot of classwork, then prob ably no doodles that day. If I don’t have that much, then I’ll probably doodle a lot. Then I’ll come home and I might color it. Some days, I will draw a lot at school but won’t draw at home be cause I’m tired.”

One thing’s for sure. Wojtkowski’s fans eagerly await the next adventure that Biscuit and Baxter and Pretzel find themselves in.

I wasn’t very good at drawing crabs. But rats are a different story.”

charity snapshot Putting the Fun in Education

Neirda ThompsonPemberton started FUNducation to make S.T.E.A.M. learning more accessible to school-age children.

Neirda Thompson-Pember ton practices what she calls “educational espio nage.” Her secret weapon? Fun. It’s so fundamental to her mission that she named her non profit FUNducation, which engages school-age kids in science, technology, engineering, arts and math — most commonly known as STEAM.

“A lot of kids — I’d say most kids — are intimidated by math and science,” she says. “They just think they can’t do it. I try to set it up where they’re having so much fun — and we slip some learning in there. ‘Oh, you came to play, huh? Well, we just taught you something!’ It’s the ultimate gotcha.”

Thompson-Pemberton, 43, says this with such gusto, such glee, that you can easily see a group of young ones in an after-school session being stealth ily educated by such an effervescent personality. She describes herself as a “Black, female, Haitian-American civil engineer — something you don’t run into all the time.”

Conintued on Page 52

That unique combination helps her relate to a wide range of children.

“I initially targeted middle-school ers,” Thompson-Pemberton says. “But even in middle school I found it could be too late. I’m after the elementary school kids, especially girls and minor ities. One day I’m going to start right in the womb. I’m waiting for science to get me there.”

She’s FUNducation’s founder, organiz er and boots-on-the-ground instructor. The nonprofit has no brick-and-mortar location — “yet,” Thompson-Pember ton adds — so she takes her programs on the road to places like Braden River Library, the North Sarasota Library, the Palmetto Youth Center and even people’s homes. Further, she uses her skills in educational espionage to recruit specialists in various fields to show up and share their expertise.

A major part of FUNducation’s pro gramming involves putting teams into First Tech Challenge, a regional robot ics competition. One such team, which includes members from Lakewood Ranch, Booker and Pine View high schools, has been afforded a special opportunity. Thompson-Pemberton arranged a partnership with Lake wood Ranch-based RND Automation, whose specialties include robotics.

“They have a mechanical engineer ing specialist who will work with the team to show these kids what it looks like to do robotics in a real-world set ting,” Thompson-Pemberton says. “And they’re giving us access to the machine shop and the printers.”

Jared Duckworth, 15, is on one of the Tech Challenge teams. He’s been in volved in FUNducation for five years, says his mother, Jenny Duckworth. As a fifth-grader, Jared was interested in joining a team competing in the First Lego League, a precursor to the First Tech Challenge. Soon they ran head long into Thompson-Pemberton, and, like so many kids, Jared was pulled into her force field.

“He was nonsocial, shy, didn’t have a lot of friends or interests other than the usual boy stuff,” Jenny says of her son. “He bonded with Neirda. To say that she has a passion for what she does is an understatement. FUNdu cation has really helped him blossom.”

Jared, a sophomore at Manatee School of the Arts, now has a career

focus: robotics engineering.

Thompson-Pemberton, who has lived in Lakewood Ranch since 2011, grew up Neirda Lafontant, the middle child in a Haitian family that lived in a rough section of Brooklyn, N.Y. Her no-nonsense mother, Marie Toussaint, was “very passionate about our doing something — doctor, lawyer, engineer, what have you,” her daughter says. “My godfather was an engineer. I had uncles who were engineers.”

When a piece of furniture needed assembling, Thompson-Pemberton jumped at the opportunity. When some thing in the home broke, she fixed it. “After senior year, I had already decided I was going to be an engineer,” she says. That’s when her father decided to relo cate the family to Port Charlotte. Over night, the bustle of Brooklyn turned in to the quiet of a town populated largely by seniors. Neirda experienced some “culture shock,” but used the calm sur roundings to focus on her studies.

She first matriculated at Edison Com munity College (now Florida South western State College), moved on to Florida Institute of Technology, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and then notched an MBA from Webster University. ThompsonPemberton worked as a civil engineer on projects in various Florida cities.

In 2019, she transitioned into edu cation, joining a team that piloted the STEAM-focused Woz ED program

started by Apple cofounder Steve Woz niak. Thompson-Pemberton worked at Palm View K-8 School in Palmetto, where she taught middle-schoolers. She founded FUNducation in 2019 and “still managed to find a guy and get married,” she says. Neirda took Court ney Patrick Thompson-Pemberton’s hyphenated name.

Thanks to a $120,000 grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Founda tion in February, Thompson-Pember ton was able to turn FUNducation into her full-time job. She’s the nonprofit’s only paid employee. Thompson-Pem berton credits her five-member board for fundraising efforts that allow the FUNducation to operate on a budget of “$150,000 to $200,000 a year.”

The organization’s catchy name did not come easily. “It took forever to come up with something,” ThompsonPemberton says with a chuckle. “I was always saying, ‘we put the fun in educa tion,’ ‘we just want to make education fun.’ One day it dawned on me. I’d been saying it the whole time. Let’s call it FUNducation.”

Find out more about FUNducation at Funducation. org. The Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust will match any contribution up to $500. Visit FlanzerTrust.org.

I initially targeted middleschoolers. But even in middle school I found it could be too late. I’m after the elementary school kids, especially girls and minorities.”

NEIRDA THOMPSONPEMBERTON

calendar winter 2022

DECEMBER

DEC. 1

NEWCOMERS MEETUP

Begins at 10 a.m. at Summerfield Community Park Pavilion, 6402 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The Community Activities team leads the event for new residents to learn about the community, parks and events. Continues Dec. 15 at Country Club/Edgewater Park Pavilion, 8256 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

SANTA AT MAIN STREET

From 6:30-8:30 p.m. come to Lakewood Ranch Main Street to enjoy festive lighting displays and get in the holiday spirit. Santa himself will be there, taking photos at the Christmas tree and spreading Christmas cheer. Continues Dec. 7 and 15.

n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

DEC. 2

MUSIC ON MAIN

This monthly event returns on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street from 6-9 p.m. and a Main Street Christmas lighting at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy a free concert by K-Luv and Juicy Purple, food vendors, beer trucks and kids activities. Proceeds will benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs.

n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

DEC. 3

JINGLE AND JOG 5K

AND 1-MILE RUN/WALK

Participants have the option of a 5K or 1-mile run/walk to benefit The Haven, which supports adults and children with disabilities. The run starts at 8 a.m. at The Haven, 4405 DeSoto Road, Sarasota. Cost is $35 for adults. All registrants will receive a T-shirt, a runner’s bag and refreshments.

n Visit TheHavenSRQ.org.

HOLIDAY TOY RUN CAR SHOW

Lakewood Ranch Main Street will be closed down for the day, serving as the finishing point for a 115-mile charity road rally beginning at Suncoast Porsche. Take in all the cars from

noon to 3 p.m. The drivers and their navigators will be dropping off toys for Toys for Tots.

n Visit LakewoodRanch.com

UTC HOLIDAY MARKET

Shop local for your friends and family this holiday season. More than 140 local businesses will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center, Sarasota. Enjoy live performances from local dance studios, and food trucks will be on-site. Event continues Dec. 4.

n Visit MallAtUTC.com.

SHOEBOX RECEPTION

Drop in from 4-6 p.m. to donate money or decorated shoeboxes filled with items for needy seniors supported by Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee. Collections will be taken at the Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge, 4602 Lena Road, Bradenton.

n Visit MealsOnWheelsPlus.org.

PICTURES WITH SANTA Don’t miss the opportunity to take a photo with Santa at Waterside Place, from 6-9 p.m. Continues Dec. 7, 10, 14 and 17.

n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

DEC. 4

YOGA IN THE PARK

Begins at 9 a.m. at Waterside Place, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Sarasota. The public is invited to participate in a free yoga workout with a lake view. All ages and levels are welcome. Continues every Sunday.

n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

THE MARKET AT LAKEWOOD RANCH

The Market at Lakewood Ranch, featuring fresh vegetables, produce, baked goods, honey, guacamole, pastas and more from more than 90 local vendors. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota.

Continued on Page 56

STAY TUNED FOR HOLIDAY EVENTS

Christmas on Main: Games, rides and attractions for the family followed by a candlelight service on Lakewood Main Street.

Holiday Movies

Under the Stars: Free movies shown in an open-air theater at The Mall at UTC.

Breakfast with Santa: Santa will be stopping for breakfast at Remy’s on Main Dec. 3, Grove Dec. 10-11 and Forked Dec. 17. Visit MyLWR.com

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Santa will be strolling the market from 10 a.m. to noon until Christmas. The market continues every Sunday. n Visit TheMarketLWR.com.

DEC. 7

CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Celebrate classic cars in this show the first Wednesday of each month, from 5-8 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Bring your car, truck or anything on wheels. Cost is $10 to enter a vehicle but attending as a spectator is free. n Visit CollectorCarsTV.com.

RANCH NITE WEDNESDAYS

This midweek community event features food trucks, cornhole, live music and cocktails from a vintage mobile bar hosted by Cornerstone and Co. Ranch Nite continues every Wednesday through May from 6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota.

n Visit MyLWR.com.

SUNSET YOGA ON THE GREEN

Enjoy a free yoga session on The Green in the West District at UTC beginning at 5:30 p.m. Bring a yoga mat, water and a towel. Continues every Wednesday. n Visit UTCSarasota.com.

DEC. 8

LWR 101: RESIDENT ORIENTATION

This event introduces you to Lake wood Ranch’s history, clubs, gover nance and other features of the com munity. It will be held virtually on the Lakewood Ranch Community Activi ties Facebook page from 6-6:30 p.m. Also takes place Jan. 12 and Feb. 9. n Visit MyLWR.com.

DEC. 9

HOLIDAY MOVIE IN THE PARK

Come to Waterside Park for a free, outdoor family-friendly holiday movie, “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas” from 6-9 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. n Visit MyLWR.com.

DEC. 9-11

HUNSADER FARMS

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

The annual Christmas festival will be held over two weekends at Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675, Bra-

Claudia, Irmarie and Frank Casine load up some of the donated shoeboxes at the Community Holiday Shoebox Drive at the Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge.

denton. Enjoy holiday music, campfires, train rides, snow tubing and more. Admission is $12 cash; children 5 and under are free. Country Christmas is open from 6-10 p.m. each day. Continues Dec. 16-18. n Visit HunsaderFarms.com.

DEC. 10

COMMUNITY NATURE WALK

Join Lakewood Ranch Ambassador Greg Spring for a 2-mile, one-hour nature walk on some of the trails in Lakewood Ranch. The walks start at 8 a.m. at Greenbrook Adventure Park at the pavilion, 13010 Adventure Place, Lakewood Ranch. Continues Jan. 14 and Feb. 12.

n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

DEC. 16

JINGLE 5K

Move your feet to the jingling beat for this festive jingle bell run. The 11th annual race begins at 7 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The children’s Santa dashes begin at 6, and the walk begins at 7:10. All runners receive jingle bells and laces before the race and afterward a medal. Festive music will be played throughout the course. The run/walk costs $40 or $45 starting Dec. 5; the kids race costs $15 or $20 starting Dec. 5; the virtual 5K option costs $40. The race benefits Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Foundation and Health Careers’ Scholarship Program. n Visit TheJingle5K.org.

DEC. 12

MAIN STREET

MARKET

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, more than 30 ven dors will be out with food, beverages, retail and more at the boutique market, hosted by Main Street Market LWR. n Visit MainStreetMarketLWR.com.

ORNAMENT MAKING FOR KIDS

Bring your little ones to Bob Gardner Community Park, 2710 White Eagle Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, at 10 a.m. for a craft hour creating a keepsake ornament. Supplies and directions will be provided. n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

DEC. 17

COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE

Lakewood Ranch Ambassador Greg Spring will lead a 10-mile, one-hour ca sual bike ride through Lakewood Ranch. Participants will meet at the fountain at 8 a.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Continues Jan. 21 and Feb. 18. n Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

DEC. 18

WEST COAST HALF-MARATHON AND 5K

Nathan Benderson Park hosts the ninth stop on the South Florida Half Marathon Tour. Participants receive a tank or tech tee and a finish medal with entry. Both races begin at 7 a.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851

Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota. Entry to the half-marathon costs $119; entry to the 5K costs $45. Parking costs $5.

n Visit WestCoastHalf.com.

DEC. 19

CHANUKAH

ON MAIN STREET

Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch will celebrate Chanukah starting at 6 p.m. at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, 8100 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch. A menorah will be lit, and guests can enjoy kosher barbecue, falafel, latkes, face painting, donut decorating, live music and more. Admission is free.

n Visit ChabadOfBradenton.com.

DEC. 21

PARADE OF LIGHT

Spread the light of Chanukah and overflowing Jewish pride through Lakewood Ranch with the Parade of Light, starting at 6 p.m. at the Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch, 5712 Lorraine Road, Bradenton. There will be community menorah lighting stops, Chanukah swag, a fire juggler and more. Car menorahs will be available in limited supply.

n Visit ChabadOfBradenton.com.

DEC. 22

HANDS ON HANUKKAH

Join Temple Sinai at the Plaza at Waterside Place between 4-6 p.m. for a family-friendly event that will feature arts and crafts, food and photos, live music and ends with lighting the menorah.

n Visit MyLWR.com.

JANUARY

JAN. 1

SARASOTA POLO

The Sarasota Polo Club kicks off its season with an afternoon of tailgating and polo. Gates open at 10 a.m., and matches start at 1 p.m. at the Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane. General admission is $12 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Polo matches will be held every Sunday through April 30.

n Visit SarasotaPolo.com.

JAN. 12

MEGA CHALLAH BAKE

Chabad of Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch hosts its annual challah-making event for ages 9 and up at 7 p.m. at The Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop Lane, Lakewood Ranch. The event is $36 per person, and reservations are required.

n Visit ChabadOfBradenton.com/ MegaChallahBake.

JAN. 12-16

SARASOTA WINTER CARNIVAL

UTC’s annual carnival will be held in parking lot 4 at The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center, Sarasota. Enjoy carnival rides, food and games. General admission is free; ride wristbands and tickets are available for purchase.

n Visit UTCSarasota.com.

JAN. 12-22

MANATEE COUNTY FAIR

The Manatee County offers rides, games, livestock shows, musical entertainment and more at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., Palmetto. Hours vary by day. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for military and children 6-12, and free for children under 6. Parking is $10.

n Visit ManateeCountyFair.com.

JAN. 14

BEER & BURGER FESTIVAL

The annual fest returns from noon to 8 p.m. in parking lot 4 at The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center, Sarasota. Enjoy a variety of burger vendors, craft beer, live music and burger- and beer-themed activities. Admission is $15; children under 18 are free.

n Visit MallAtUTC.com.

JAN. 21

THE BIG 5K

Start the new year with a run around Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, starting at 8 a.m. The 5K is $35 for the first 100 reg istrants; registration is $40 starting Jan. 14. A virtual 5K is $40. The race benefits Big Bill Foundation, which gives scholar ships to children who have had cancer and other life-threatening conditions.

n Visit RaceRoster.com.

JAN. 21-22

LAKEWOOD RANCH FINE ART FESTIVAL

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day on Lakewood Main Street, meet artists from across the country with handmade works of paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and more. n Visit ParagonFestivals.com.

LAUGHTER IN LWR

The stand-up comedy show at Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, features Robert G. Lee, Nora Lynch and Vince Morris with emcee Jeffery Kin. There will be two shows, at 5 and 8 p.m. Ticket sales will be announced online.

n Visit GroveLWR.com/comedy.

FEBRUARY

FEB. 18

RUN FOR THE BEADS

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is hosting a new race to support local nonprofits. The 5K run/walk begins at 8 a.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota. All participants will receive a race shirt, a bib and a medal. Admission is $40 or $45 beginning Feb. 12. n Visit RaceRoster.com.

‘Tis the Season

CONTRIBUTOR

Gilly Girls

8111 Lakewood Main St. #101, Lakewood Ranch 571-436-3923 GillyGirlShop.com There is so much cuteness tucked into every corner of this little shop that shares space with Fantasy Flowers. You’ll find home decor, candles, jewelry, clothing, purses, linens, ornaments, gifts for pets and more. Even better? The prices are reasonable. Select a few items for a thoughtful gift that won’t break the bank.

Turkish beach towel: $28 Beaded coin purse: $14 Earrings: $18

It’s that time of year. No worries. We’ve got you covered. Read on.

Epic Home Decor

10671 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch 941-210-4713

EpicHomeDecor.com

Faux succulents are like slow cooker meals – set ‘em and forget ‘em. Epic Home Decor has an intriguing faux succulent “bar” for those who love plants but have difficulties keeping them alive. They also have these gorgeous cheese serving accessories which any “charcuterian” would adore. (Charcuterian: One who survives on charcuterie. Possibly a made-up word, but isn’t it fun?)

Arts A Blaze Studio

8111 Lakewood Main St., #107, Lakewood Ranch 941-306-5840

ArtsABlazeStudio.com

Give the gift of make-it-yourself art with a certificate to Arts A Blaze pottery painting studio. Kids, adults and families can have a blast with this. Crafters choose their project, paint it any way they wish, and come back in a few days to pick up their finished piece after it’s been fired. The studio also offers pottery wheel classes.

Continued from Page 61

5.11 Tactical

5231 University Parkway, University Park 941-538-5402

511Tactical.com

This may seem like an odd place to find a gift if you’ve never been in the store. 5.11 Tactical has gear for outdoor enthusiasts, workout attire, field watches and an impressive selection of backpacks and sling bags. This rugged Rush Moab 6 sling, with a pocket built for a 1.5-liter hydration bladder, is perfect for a full day of exploring Myakka River State Park.

Rush Moab 6 Sling Pack 11L: $80

Yeowww Catnip Banana: $5.99

Fluff + Tuff Nelly Giraffe: $18.49

Dog Perfect

11605 SR 70 East, Lakewood Ranch 941-803-4496

DogPerfect.com

For the pets and pet-lovers in your life, look no further than Dog Perfect, which of fers treats and toys, natural foods and pet care products, and grooming services. Plus, when you donate through their Round-up for a Cause cam paign, 100% goes to a local ani mal shelter — another nice gift.

BEINGBELLO

CONTRIBUTOR

daredevilStillatthetopofhisgame,hometown BelloNockisleveraginghishighhairandhighjinxforahigherpurpose.BYHEIDIKURPIELA|

Photos by Heidi Kurpiela

“My life is like ‘The Amazing Race’” says Bello Nock. “Drop me anywhere in the world with 20 bucks and I’ll be fine. There’s no situation I can’t figure out.”

For decades, the dauntless dare devil has risked life, limb and excep tional hairspray hold in his quest to pull off record-setting aerial feats for the adoring masses. He does this, of course, while masquerading as a hap less clown in an ill-fitting tuxedo with a stiff, foot-high stalk of strawberry blond hair teased straight up in the air.

At 54, Nock should be tired and sore. He should be kicking back in a com fortable chair at the foot of his pond, watching the sunset over his 16-acre East Sarasota “Funny Farm.” He should be regaling his granddaughter with circus stories from days of yore, as grandpas tend to do.

But kicking back isn’t Nock’s thing.

Nock would much prefer getting launched out of a cannon.

“Unless it’s under strict orders from a doctor, you won’t see me giving this up anytime soon,” Nock says. “I was a dyslexic, redheaded, bucktoothed, pigeon-toed klutz as a kid, bullied and never picked first for a team. I had ADHD before the world even knew what that was. I learned how to thrive in environments where I felt like a fish out of water. Once you learn how to do that, you never lose your sense of pas sion and persistence. It stays with you.”

A seventh-generation aerial stunt artist, the daredevil clown is as ef fervescent today as he was when he kicked off Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ “Bellobration” tour 15 years ago. The tour — the first and only time Ringling ever named a pro duction after one of its performers—

There are two kinds of entertainers in show business: those who play the part and those who are the part. Bello Nock belongs in the second camp.

Under the makeup, hair and stumbling shtick, Nock is a modernday version of Evel Knievel.

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cemented Nock’s place in daredevil history, serving as an inspiration to misfits with big dreams.

Nock, a Sarasota native born to Au relia and Eugene Nock Sr., a Ringling power couple who met while starring in “The Greatest Show on Earth,” did exactly what he said he’d do when teachers at Tuttle Elementary School scolded him for goofing off in class. He became a famous clown.

In fact, he became so famous that Time magazine named him “America’s Best Clown.”

And therein lies the paradox of Nock’s daredevil clown persona. Under the makeup, hair and stumbling shtick, the performer is a modern-day version of Evel Knievel, but with fewer broken bones and more Guinness World Re cords. Although he long ago earned his circus stripes, he’s still hustling like a kid who’s got something to prove.

Jennifer Nock, the performer’s wife and manager of 35 years, says the se cret to Nock’s success comes down to this one expression: a body in motion stays in motion.

“He doesn’t believe anything is im possible,” Jennifer says. “I’ve seen him wear out two 25-year-olds running in the Wheel of Death. To other people it looks like he’s leading this exciting, crazy life, but to Bello it’s just his normal life.”

Nock’s “normal” life makes other clowns look like bargain basement mascots. The daredevil’s stunt reel is almost too long to list and includes such acts as riding an elephant through New York City’s Midtown Tunnel, hanging by his toes from the bottom of a helicopter flying over the Statue of Liberty, repelling off Madison Square Garden and walking for 429 feet on a high wire above a cruise ship in the Bahamas, for which he earned the Guinness World Record for Longest Tightrope Walk Unsupported.

“To me he’s far exceeded what any clown has ever done,” Jennifer says. “He truly does live in the now.”

Nock fell in love with Jennifer in third grade and by 18 they were married.

The union flummoxed Nock’s par ents. Like most circus kids, Nock was expected to grow up and marry

Elias Gomez shimmies to the top of one of Nock’s swaypoles. The 26-year-old Cuban gymnast started training under Nock a few months ago and hopes to eventually perform on the Wheel of Death.

mascots.

Nock’s ‘normal’ life makes other clowns look like bargain basement

Left: Nock (pictured here taking a phone call on one of sway-poles) holds the Guinness World Record for Most Media Interviews on a Wire over the Longest Period of Time, which he earned by sitting in a chair balanced on a high wire over Times Square, chatting with journalists for eight hours.

Top: The clown launched Bello Nock’s Adventure Center two years ago as a way to ward off pandemic blues, inviting the public for the first time to watch live performances at his 16-acre Funny Farm.

Above: Nock’s tight wire circus boots are a vital tool of the trade. Continued from Page 70

another circus kid. But Jennifer — a sensible introvert whose parents ran a recycling garage in Wisconsin Dells, where the Nocks performed in a wa terski show each summer — came from more pedestrian roots.

“Had he married another performer I think there would have been compet ing egos and agendas,” Jennifer says. “I prefer to give him the spotlight.”

Except that the spotlight shifted when the pandemic hit, forcing the Nock to do the unthinkable: slow down.

With live entertainment put on hold, the Nocks began brainstorming ways to reach the local community. Spurred by the recent growth of Lakewood Ranch into Sarasota County, they de cided to allocate space (and time) to hosting events on their sprawling com pound — a gated wonderland of circus milieu, complete with aerial rigs, stunt apparatuses, daredevil contraptions,

old Ringling train cars and a lake large enough for a Jet Ski show.

In 2020, they created “Bello Nock’s Adventure Center” and began offering family-friendly stunt spectacles to the public. Both born-again Christians, the couple also transformed the inside of their biggest storage building — a pole barn-type warehouse that once func tioned as Nock’s personal hall of fame — into a gathering place for monthly prayer groups.

“I’d really like to build a circus arts school,” Nock says. “But something more immersive than just a school, something more like a vocational pro gram that gives students hands-on experience learning to do the things no one shines a spotlight on.”

The student with the most Nock training under her belt is perhaps 26-year-old “dare daughter” Annal iese, a powerhouse of a stuntwoman who holds the Guinness World Record for the most somersaults on a Wheel

of Death in one minute. (Over the last three years, the father-daughter duo appeared together on “Britain’s Got Talent” and “America’s Got Talent.”)

“Annaliese is totally fearless,” Nock says. “For a woman in this business to be doing what she’s doing at her age … she’s pretty unstoppable.”

All of these inevitable winds of change have made Nock decidedly more introspective. Daredevilry is a young person’s game, and he’s been thinking a lot about his legacy.

“I could rattle off all the accolades— and there are great accolades, but I’ve gotten to an age where it’s not about that anymore,” he says. “That’s an ego-driven out to please an audience of one. It hit me recently how much I was called upon to mentor young peo ple because sometimes the impact you have on one person is more valuable than the impact you have on a million.”

His current protégé — 22-year-old Channing Gross, a Sailor Circus Acad emy alum — is currently performing in Howl-O-Scream at Sea World in San Antonio, Texas. Gross, a Riverview High School graduate, started working for Nock straight out of high school. According to the young sway-pole per former, the experience has completely elevated his life.

Gross, who trained with Sailor Cir cus for three years, first recalls seeing Nock in the audience at some of his per formances. The clown’s hair made him hard to miss. And while everyone else in the tent appeared awestruck by the circus celebrity’s presence, the sheltered Gross had no idea who Nock was. “To me he was just the tall-hair guy,” says Gross.

The aspiring aerialist was eventu ally introduced to Nock by Circus Arts Conservatory Vice President Jennifer Mitchell during his senior class trip to the Funny Farm. Mitchell told Nock that Gross was seriously interested in pursu ing a professional career in the circus. Gross, then 18, received a text message from the star shortly thereafter.

“It said something like ‘come over tomorrow and we’ll talk,’” Gross says. “So, I went over and talking turned into working … and I’ve been working for him ever since.”

One of the first things Nock asked Gross to do when he arrived at the Fun ny Farm was sand and repaint four of his

BELLO NOCK

45-foot sway-poles. The job took Gross two weeks to complete, and in the heat of the summer no less.

The Sarasota teen quietly freaked out, worried he had gotten in over his head working for the over zealous entertainer.

“To be honest, Bello can be a little intense,” Gross says. “Before you com plete one task, he’s got another one lined up. But there’s a method to his madness, and it completely changed my outlook on everything. Before Bello, I didn’t know how to do much for myself. Now I can change a tire, jump a car, cook a meal and wash a load of whites. I never worked for anyone with that kind of drive before. It’s been a quick intro into the world of solving your own problems.”

Now Nock’s right-hand man, Gross has traveled with the star to gigs in California, Texas, San Diego, Germa ny and most recently Saudi Arabia, where he performed with Nock and Annaliese in the opening ceremony for Cirque du Soleil.

Like all his endeavors, Nock says mentoring Gross is just another step toward a higher purpose, just another way of lifting someone up.

“There’s this perception that the circus is all chaos,” Nock says. “But actually, it’s the direct opposite. The reality is that it’s designed to make you think it’s chaos when really it’s highly structured. That’s how we’re able to do all these exotic, thrilling shows three times a day and not get hurt. What happens behind the tent is amazing. You’d have to see it to believe it.”

I learned how to thrive in environments where I felt like a fish out of water. Once you learn how to do that, you never lose your sense of passion and persistence.”

Animal Farm

Dozens of unwanted and abandoned animals have found a safe haven at Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary in Myakka City.

Taylor, an enormous potbelly pig, is the property’s unofficial greeter, waddling out to meet visitors with friendly snorts. Blair, a 2-foot-long bearded dragon lizard, likes to wrap around peoples’ necks for extra warmth when she’s not watching TV. Luna, a prairie dog, works the X’s and O’s on a Toss Across Tic-Tac-Toe game. Emily, a kangaroo, loves to be petted on the bottom of her neck.

These are just a few of the 130 ani mals that reside at the six-acre Farm house Animal & Nature Sanctuary in Myakka City. The nonprofit facility is owned and run by Lisa and Dave Burns, who’ve been married since 1986. They live in a house on the property.

This is their life. Feeding animals, watering animals, cleaning animal habitats, calling the vet to treat ani mals, watching over animals, playing with animals. Loving animals. The me nagerie includes horses, goats, tortois es, all sorts of birds, lots of rabbits, koi fish, a hedgehog and tiny marsupials called sugar gliders, which are native to southeastern Australia.

The Burns haven’t taken a vacation since establishing the animal sanctu ary in 2017.

“I never thought I would be doing

Continued on Page 78

Emily arrived at Farmhouse several years ago by way of another animal sanctuary in Parrish. The 15-year-old kangaroo is one of the more docile, people-friendly 'roos on the Myakka City farm.

this,” Lisa says of her more than fulltime job. “I still can’t believe it. I never liked to get dirty when I was a kid. I nev er thought I’d have a rooster that wants me to carry him around. You don’t real ize what you like until you actually try it. I got out of my comfort zone and fell in love. When you really love what you do, you can live without vacations.”

Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanc tuary is a rambling assemblage of fields, fences, barns, coops, an aviary, and elaborate dwellings designed to meet the needs of particular crea tures, some of which are not native to Florida. Luna the prairie dog’s home has decorative tile on one wall so she can’t climb out.

Dave, 58, does the building, repairs, digs trenches to drain off water and whatever else needs doing on the grounds. Lisa, 57, handles the busi ness end, writing grant applications, keeping track of finances, covering the paperwork that goes into running a nonprofit, plus a whole lot more. They rise at 5 a.m. and begin the feeding and cleaning. The process takes four to five hours, plus another 90 minutes in the evening. Sometimes a volunteer helps, but Lisa reckons that she and Dave do it on their own three to four days a week. “Our volunteers are wonderful,” Lisa says, “but volunteers can cancel. They have lives, too. Things come up.”

Farmhouse has a core group of 11 volunteers, who, Lisa estimates, log 76 hours a month. They’re augmented mostly by groups of high school kids putting in service hours. “We could use another 30 volunteers,” Lisa says, adding that she has two women who help write grants and blogs and do other office work. In 2021, Lisa says, the nonprofit amassed $73,000 in do nations and grants. “We spent all of it running this place,” she says. That sum enabled Farmhouse Sanctuary to effectively break even — if you don’t count the time put in by its owners. To help make ends meet, the couple owns Backyard Getaway, a part-time landscaping business that specializes in water features. Dave also does dry wall work on the side.

Lisa’s goal — her dream, if you will — is to boost the yearly budget by about $50,000 to hire a full-time em

Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary owners

Dave and Lisa Burns rise at 5 a.m. to begin the feeding and cleaning. The process takes four to five hours, plus another 90 minutes in the evening.

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ployee. “That person could do the feed ing and cleaning and other stuff,” she says. “I could get those hours back to go after more donations and work on grants. And spend quality time with the animals.”

A BUCOLIC SETTING

Touring Farmhouse Sanctuary is simply a wonder. On a sunny, humid Saturday morning in mid-September, we drive through a metal gate, just off Bradenton-Arcadia Road. It’s a bucolic setting, a good 10 miles east of devel oped areas. A symphony of animal noises rises and falls.

The Burns are there to greet us. As we make small talk before beginning the tour, Dave, clad in a white T-shirt tucked into dark jeans, quietly says to his wife, who’s wearing a black tank top, “You’re covered in goat hair.” She shrugs. There’s no photo shoot today.

Dave gives us a handful of animal crackers to dole out as treats. Some how it doesn’t seem ironic. Our tour is limited because frequent downpours have rendered much of the grounds squishy, muddy and filled with pud dles. Dave points out a huge “poop pile” in the distance. “We really need a backhoe to handle it,” he says. “But some of it has turned into good soil.”

As we walk through a barn, Kerstin Wiles takes a break from her toils to chat. She comes over from Lakewood Ranch to help twice a week. Wiles signed on when she saw kids from Lakewood Ranch High School doing volunteer work here. “I scoop a lot of poop,” she says offhandedly.

In all, our tour is a fun, fascinating two hours. When do you ever get the chance to pet a kangaroo? When have you ever had a ferret lick the sweat off your arms for the salt?

Farmhouse Sanctuary does not offer tours to the public — yet. After some back and forth between Dave, Lisa and the board members, the nonprofit ap plied with the USDA to run tours as well as hold classes for youngsters in a small building on the property. Lisa was the last holdout. She worried that the initiative would add another burden to an operation that’s already stretched to the limit.

Lisa did some research and found

More than a dozen goats live on the property, including this curious billy, Joker, who was born April Fool’s Day and surrendered by an owner who didn’t wish to keep a male goat.

The menagerie includes horses, goats, tortoises, birds, rabbits, koi fish, a hedgehog and tiny marsupials called sugar gliders.

that the most they can charge for a tour is $20 to $25, so the initiative won’t add substantially to the coffers. “But it’ll be good for raising aware ness,” she says. “It’ll show education ally what goes into taking care of these animals. It should help in fundraising, too. And maybe some of the people who visit will become volunteers.”

Lisa says she expects the tours and classes to begin in the spring.

A SAFE REFUGE AND LAST RESORT

Most of the animals arrive at Farm house Sanctuary through Manatee County Animal Control, the Sarasota Sheriff's Animal Services, and the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Many of the creatures were given up by their owners. The baby potbelly pig that seemed like an adorable pet is now 3 feet long and north of 100 pounds. That tortoise that once fit in the palm of your hand is now bigger than a gar bage can lid. And kangaroos? Yes, there are people who think they’d make cool pets. They don’t. But in Florida you can own one without a permit.

Other Farmhouse Sanctuary ani mals, however, were abandoned and, unsurprisingly, some have been through hell. Emi, a Muscovy duck, had been wandering around Tampa for five months with an arrow through her neck. A rescuer found her and dropped her at a rehab center, where a vet re moved the arrow. After rehabbing for a month, she was moved to Farmhouse Sanctuary, where she’s doing fine.

Colt the Wonder Goat was found limping around Punta Gorda by some one who then went door to door trying to find the owner. When that failed, the person reached out to animal services, who contacted Farmhouse Sanctuary. Colt had a badly broken shoulder and at first a vet wanted to amputate her entire leg. Lisa and Dave raised $4,000 to pay for a complicated operation that required the insertion of a plate and four pins into Colt’s shoulder. The Wonder Goat has made a wonderful recovery.

Yeesaw, a donkey, lived with a loving family, but when the couple divorced, they reached out to a neighbor who promised to take care of him. Sometime

THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE IAN

Hurricane Ian, which occurred after the writing of this story, caused considerable damage to the sanctuary. Most of the fencing was knocked down. Thirtyfour trees fell, some hitting buildings. But the Burns were not hurt and none of the animals were injured. Lisa estimates that it will take roughly $50,000 and six months to get the property back to where it was. Now, more than ever, Farmhouse Sanctuary needs monetary support from the community. Those wishing to contribute can visit FarmHouseSanctuary.org or donate through the Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, which will match any contribution, from $25 to $500, at FlanzerTrust.org.

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later, a visitor found Yeesaw by himself in a field, with no food, his hooves in such bad shape he was unable to stand up. It took three men to get the donkey in a trailer to bring him to Farmhouse Sanctuary. Yeesaw, too, has recovered.

SWEET BEGINNINGS

Dave Burns and Lisa Wakefield were born 30 miles from each other in up state New York, near Buffalo. Lisa’s family moved to Bradenton when she was 11. Dave, who grew up on a horse ranch, came down to Palmetto at age 16. Lisa worked at her father’s Amoco station in Palmetto while attending college. Dave, who was friends with her brother Tony, would pull in and ask her to come out and pump his gas. “I told my father I couldn’t pump gas and still do my studying, so he had my brother do it,” Lisa recalls. Dave overcame the setback and worked up the gumption to ask Lisa out. They married two

through an animal sanctuary in Parrish called Majical Miniatures. Partly be cause of those efforts, Dave got the itch to get a horse, but that wasn’t practical given that they lived in a subdivision off Cortez Road in Bradenton. Lisa balked at the idea of moving to the country, but she agreed to visit the property in Myakka City that would ultimately become Farmhouse Sanctuary. “We took a drive out on a Sunday and I fell in love,” she says. “It was so peaceful.”

In 2010, they signed a five-year lease and moved in. Danny, their horse, had plenty of room to romp. The Burns also fostered some animals at their proper ty. When the owners of Majical Minia tures retired from running it full time, Dave and Lisa relocated to the Parrish facility as live-in animal caretakers.

In 2017, Lisa and Dave purchased the current site and started Farmhouse Sanctuary, taking in most of the ani mals from Majical Miniatures, which closed. The facility’s animal population has grown steadily, and most are here

mals but has ample room for others. For instance, the quarter-acre kanga roo habitat, which currently houses four, can accommodate up to a dozen. They’ve had that many in the past. To the onlooker, running this place looks so daunting. Lisa allows that there are days “when it’s so hectic that I feel in over my head, like it’s all just too much,” she says. “But this is what we do. We work through it. And there are lots and lots of good days.”

Farmhouse Animal & Nature Sanctuary owners

Dave and Lisa Burns spent 10 years working at an animal sanctuary in Parrish before opening their own nonprofit farm in 2017. The Myakka animal sanctuary is actively looking for volunteers so it can effectively open its doors to the public.

This new hands-on exhibition features the most iconic and eye-popping towers from around the world, constructed exclusively of LEGO® Bricks.

Art and About

Winter is associated with life’s ebb. The temperature drops a little in our region.

But our arts scene heats up with new possibilities, expressions and connections. Here are a few to warm your heart.

“Waiting for Tomorrow” by Katrina Sánchez Standfield will be on display at Sarasota Art Museum’s “A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard” Feb. 25 – June 25. See page 92 for more info.

All You Need Is (Divine) Love. “Gods and Lovers: Paintings and Sculptures from India” at The Ringling features small-scale paintings and sculpture that were created for elite patrons in the royal courts of northern India from the 14th through the 19th cen turies. Despite their diminutive size, these artworks have a major impact. Often bound in books and albums, the images accompanied tales both sacred and profane drawn from the “Bhaga vad Gita,” Indian folklore and court gossip. Think war, murder, affairs, flir tations and true romance. It isn’t Bollywood — but it also isn’t tame. These pieces honor the beliefs and beings of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions — and reflect the astonishing diversity of Indian art and culture. Through May 28; The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; Ringling.org.

Peace on Earth. Choral Artists of Sarasota will fill Church of the Re deemer with songs of earthly and heavenly peace in this joyful celebra tion of Christmas. Joseph Holt leads the 32 Choral Arts Singers, along with soloists Ann Stephenson-Moe on organ, soprano Danielle Talaman tes, and baritone Kerry Wilkerson. Gerald Finzi’s “Terra Pax,” is the con cert’s centerpiece. According to Holt, the British composer was inspired by Luke’s account of angels and shep herds witnessing the birth of Jesus. “I can picture Finzi wandering the English countryside and imagining that peaceful night 2,000 years ago,” he says. “His choral anthem captures that sacred serenity in a profoundly moving way.” Dec. 11, at Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota; ChoralArtistsSarasota.org.

Close Encounters with Genuis. The Perlman Music Program (PMP) brings its gifted young string musicians, 12 to 18, to a rigorous, two-week winter residency in Sarasota as part of an initiative presented by the local Perl man Music Program Suncoast. PMP’s life-changing program was founded by Toby Perlman, and boasts a worldclass faculty led by acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman. The pandemic forced the Sarasota program into temporary retirement for the past two winters.

Good news! The residency returns Dec. 28 through Jan. 7. The public is invited to watch free orchestra and chorus rehearsals and works-in-progress recitals in a performance tent on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Don’t miss the “Celebration Concert,” conducted by Itzhak Perlman, at the Sarasota Opera House on Jan. 5. Visit PerlmanSuncoast.org.

Family Feuds. Lydia R. Diamond’s “Stick Fly” explores a turbulent week end in the life of an affluent Black fam ily in their home in Martha’s Vineyard. When their maid can’t make it one sum mer, she sends her daughter instead. Cheryl’s never been a maid, but grew up in this house, watching her mother work. Now, instead of playing games with the brothers, she’s cleaning up for them — and doesn’t like it. Her tension cracks open buried conflicts of race, class, gender and generational divides. The resulting family feud is sometimes funny, sometimes revelatory, but al ways mesmerizing. Director Marcus Johnson brings it to life in this FSU/ Asolo Conservatory production. Jan. 3-22; FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; AsoloRep.org/Conservatory.

Heavenly Harmonies. What’s the next world like? Sarasota Orchestra’s up coming “Mahler: A View of Heaven” concert might offer a glimpse. Mahler’s breathtaking Symphony No. 4 dances between terror and wonder. The first movement sparkles with naïve joy. The second movement hits like a panic at tack. (The composer described it as being “seized with panic and terror” on “the most beautiful day in a sunlit for est.”) From there, the symphony finds hope — and ends with a blissful vision of heaven as seen through the eyes of a child. (Soprano Laquita Mitchell will lend her luminous voice to this song.) Sibelius’s transcendent Violin Concer to flashes like rolling thunder and the celebrated violinist James Ehnes will channel all of the composition’s power. Jan. 5 at Neel Performing Arts Hall, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton; Jan. 6, 7 and 8 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (The Jan. 6 “Guided Tour” concert features conduc

tor Peter Oundjian integrating the per formance with insights into the history, context and personal connections behind the music.) Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Fly Away. Anna Ouyang Moench’s “Birds Of North America” is migrating to the Urbanite stage. Her haunting meditation on life’s transitory nature, directed by Summer Dawn Wallace, embraces the pain of time’s arrow, both within the human family, and the web of life beyond. Moench’s play focuses on two characters — a father and daughter, who are both birders. John and Caitlyn scan the skies of Mary land for the red-headed woodpecker and other rare birds. The birds come and go, time passes, and some species of birds never return. Life is changing at home. Thanks to climate change, life is also changing in the world sur rounding it. In both the microcosm and the macrocosm, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. Jan. 6-Feb. 12 at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St, Sarasota; UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Tribute to George Crumb. Composer George Crumb (1929-2022) expanded the universe of modern music. This Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer synthesized styles ranging from Western classical music to folk songs, to hymns, to non-European mu sical traditions. EnsembleNewSRQ’s artistic directors, violinist Samantha Bennett and percussionist George Nickson, feel indebted to his trans formative artistry. They’re honoring it with a concert of works by Crumb and his protégé, Margaret Brouwer. Crumb’s compositions include “Black Angels,” a heart-wrenching lament about the Vietnam War for electric string quartet; “Madrigals,” an evoca tive ode to childhood’s end for soprano, flute and percussion; and “Idyll for the Misbegotten” for flute and percussion. Brouwer’s “Demeter Prelude” is also on the program. Lucy Fitz Gibbon, the celebrated soprano, will sing on two compositions. Jan. 16 at First Con gregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota; EnSrq.org.

Making Dance New Again. Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s annual “Dance

empath

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from Page 90

Makers” series showcases new dance pieces by celebrated contemporary choreographers. This year’s focus shifts to jazz dance and Afro-Cuban choreography — and dance to the mu sic of Miles Davis and others in com pelling solo and duet performances. Featured choreographers include: Gil liane Hadely of Orlando; Lisa del Rosa rio of Austin, Texas; Melissa Cobblah Gutierrez of Miami; and Tania Vergara Perez of Sarasota, who works with the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. Jan. 26 -29 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.

What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding? Embracing Our Differences’ annual, outdoor art ex hibition celebrates the diversity of the human family with large-scale artwork from around the nation and world. Each of the 50 billboard-sized images is accompanied by an inspir ing quotation. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this monumental exhibit. According to Sarah Wert heimer, EOD’s executive director, this year’s selections are as diverse as the artists who created them. “The human family is an intricate tapestry of iden tify, origin, orientation and belief,” she says. “No single style or statement fully expresses that beautiful diversity. Em bracing Our Differences does it justice by letting each artist speak with their own unique voice.” Jan. 18-March 12 at Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota; March 22-April 19 at Butler Park in North Port; April 26-May 29, at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, in Braden ton; EmbracingOurDifferences.org.

Fibers of Being. “A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard” showcases a vast range of textile art created by contemporary female art ists. These pieces range from gargan tuan installations filling entire galleries, to miniature marvels that fit in your hand. The artists’ mediums and meth ods are equally eclectic. They weave yarn, stitch threads, twist wires, knot rope and mesh fiber fragments into clay. The resulting pieces push the lim its of fiber art. They’re also beautiful to look at. Feb. 25 – June 25 at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sara sota; SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Artist Alexis Thompson in front of her banner, “Threat,” at Embracing Our Differences’ 2022 exhibit.

“Liberty Enlightening the World” by Arya Badiyan was part of EOD’s 2021 outdoor annual exhibit at Bayfront Park.

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An outdoor kitchen provides the perfect spot for dining al fresco.

HAVEN

SPOTLIGHTING LIFE ON THE RANCH

A home in the Lake Club celebrates life Italian style. PAGE 98

La Dolce Vita

The spacious living room looks out on the pool area and a view of the lake.

Italian design dazzles in Mary Ann Cricchio’s home, Villa Marianna, in the Lake Club. The highlight is a spectacular ceiling mural, which was inspired by Da Vinci’s masterpiece, ‘The Annunciation.’

For someone with an Italian soul, driving through the gates of the Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch can be like coming home. That’s the way Mary Ann Cricchio felt back in 2020. “The fountains, the lake, the terra cotta, the vineyard. I knew right away. This is where I was going to live.”

Cricchio, a Baltimore girl, discov ered her love of all things Italian when she married Domenico Cricchio. For 37 years the couple ran Da Mimmo, a local institution in Baltimore’s Little Italy and an obligatory stop for every celebrity passing through. Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton have both dined there, though probably not to gether. Some guests became close friends. Look for the Tony Bennett watercolors hanging in the hall.

The home Cricchio has just finished creating for herself at the Lake Club is filled with Italian panache and hos pitality. She named it Villa Marianna, and it blends many different styles — Venetian Rococo, Milanese Modern, the folk art of the little villages. Some

details are subtle and some — well, walk into the living room and look up. You’ll see a spectacular ceiling mural, over 16 square feet painted by the noted Italian artist Luca Mancini. In spired by Da Vinci’s masterpiece, “The Annunciation,” it gives new meaning to the phrase “wow factor.”

The home faces a lake, and its high ceilings and airy atmosphere conjure up a Florida version of la dolce vita. “I wanted to bring an Italian spirit to Florida,” Cricchio says. In addition to the mural, you’ll see many works by Italian artists, both paintings and sculpture. Also be on the lookout for some remarkable Murano glass. The

Continued from page 100

dining room table, for instance, has custom-designed legs festooned with Murano glass globes. And in the pri mary bedroom there are a pair of Mu rano lamps, highly stylized and looking like they’re straight out of a deluxe ho tel in Lake Como. Another remarkable example of Italian craftsmanship is in the garage — a yellow Ferrari.

Color is crucial to Italian design and here Cricchio has found inspiration in the bright hues of the Amalfi Coast

in southern Italy where she owns a second home. Blues are strong and vibrant, and yellows add a sunny el ement. You’ll also find a lot of white and silver and mirrored surfaces. On a sunny day — or even a cloudy one — the whole home sparkles.

As interesting as the design of the home is, it’s the personal story it tells that really brings it to life. Pieces from the restaurant can be found in the en trance hall and living room, including an ormolu-encrusted table with an in laid marble top, and an elaborate clock

set on an antique table. Both could easily serve as inspiration to Versace. Memorabilia in the story pertains to Cricchio’s close friend, baseball legend Jim Palmer.

“Jim really put us on the map,” Cric chio explains. “He became a regular customer soon after we opened and was very instrumental in promoting us.” Palmer even bought a penthouse condo near the restaurant. He has con tinued to be their chief booster over

Continued on page 104

Clockwise, from left: Globes of Murano glass add panache to the dining table legs; a yellow Ferrari is right at home in the motor court; careful detailing makes all the rooms sparkle— including the baths; rosy pink accents and Italian art complement the allwhite primary bedroom.

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the years. After Mimmo Senior died in 2003, Palmer became like a father figure to the younger Mimmo, whom you may well encounter during a visit as he lives nearby. (“Mimmo” is the diminutive of Domenico.) That statue of Jim mid-swing is a replica of the fa mous one unveiled on Jim Palmer Day at Camden Yards, the home of the Bal timore Orioles. It was a personal gift to the family from Jim.

Tony Bennett also became a good friend, and he gave Cricchio several of his famous paintings, most nota bly the watercolors that hang in the hall. Their subject matter? Italian hill towns. Particularly appropriate since they recall Cricchio’s other home. It’s not in the hills, though, but rather lo cated on the famous Amalfi coast just south of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius. Maori is famous for its beach and its casual atmosphere. In her home there, Cricchio has a ceiling mural similar in quality and impact to her “Annuncia tion” in Florida. Also painted by Luca Mancini, it finds its inspiration in Da Vinci’s famous Sistine Chapel frescos.

Religious art is not just for show in Cricchio’s life. She’s a devout pa rishioner of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch where she is active in church affairs and fundraising. The Virgin Mary has been a great influence in her life, and you may notice the little shrine at the entrance to her bedroom, also painted by Mancini as a sort of thank you gift. And, throughout the home, you’ll see glimpses of the light blue color tradi tionally associated with the Virgin. Cricchio made sure the coffee table under the living room fresco has a blue tint in its glass top that picks up the color of the Virgin’s robe.

After decades of running a land mark restaurant, Cricchio has a new adventure. Under the banner, Da Mimmo Tours, she has created a travel company offering boutique-style vaca tions in Italy, all personally escorted by herself and Mimmo Jr. There are four different itineraries: Tuscany, Venice, Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. The tours are intimate in scale — just 20 tour members — and Cricchio’s contacts give participants unique experiences: hands-on cooking classes, four-course

The fountains, the lake, the terra cotta, the vineyard.

I knew right away. This is where I was going to live.”

Continued from page 104

dinners, excursions on private yachts, and, for the upcoming Venice trip, hard-to-get tickets to the Masquer ade Ball. Chef Masood Masoodi from the Baltimore restaurant often comes along; like anything Italian, food is cru cial to the experience.

Like a good Italian home, Cricchio’s is full of friends, family and food. The restaurant is forever present, with walls of celebrity photos from the bar of Da Mimmo’s lining the halls. They’re a living history of Baltimore and its famous restaurant. You’ll spy Liza Minelli, Dustin Hoffman, and Luciano Pavarotti among many others.

But the real star here is the ceiling mural in the great room. Cricchio had trouble persuading the artist Luca Mancini to journey from Italy, but he finally relented. The painting took 40 days and delighted the friends and neighbors who followed its progress. It even made the evening news. It’s the most Italian element imaginable, and it elevates Mary Ann’s house in the Lake Club to a work of art.

back at the ranch

Ho-Ho-Holiday Stress

Somewhere between college and your 30s, the holidays go from joyful to stressful.

Here are some tips and advice on how to survive with grace (and not too much eggnog).

Frantically comparing cal endars, a frenzied mother tallies up her family’s up coming obligations — PTA holiday fundraiser, kinder garten winter show, middle school Jack Frost band performance, neighborhood caroling, office lunch pot luck (complete with a gift exchange), and a black tie work party (that also re quires securing a babysitter during the already crazy season). All this before even considering shopping for gifts, preparing holiday meals and spend ing meaningful time with out-of-state family, in-laws and friends to celebrate the season. Somewhere between col lege and your 30s, the holidays go from joyful and restful to chaotic and stressful. How does one gracefully handle the feeling of being pulled in in finite directions while also clinging to holiday spirit? Eggnog! (Just kidding.) Although some loaded nog may help, prioritizing, time management and good ol’ fashioned leaning on others is a somewhat healthier way to go.

PRIORITIES

There are a limited number of days during the season to be jolly, and un fortunately this often leads to con flicting responsibilities. There seems to be a direct relationship between the presence of lawn reindeer and the number of double bookings that show up on family calendars. Is it possible for one person to be present at two dif ferent events on a Thursday night? No. Therefore, priorities must be set. The good news is these moments provide a great reason to excuse oneself from less than ideal obligations in favor of child-related ones. “Sorry, Susan, my son’s band performance is that same night!” sounds much nicer than

“Sorry, Susan, but I’d rather paint my house with a Crayola brush than de sign holiday mason jars with the dog walking group.”

Alternatively, if both events are necessary (and teleporting isn’t an option), try the divide and conquer method. Send dad to go caroling with the toddler and enjoy the school show with the angsty middle-schooler in tow (who obviously wouldn’t be caught dead caroling). That’s two items checked off, and the band performance is more enjoyable without the small est human wiggling out of his seat 400 times before the end of the first verse of “Jingle Bells.” Pro tip: Make sure to nag dad for pictures and videos of his night at least six times.

TIMING

Timing is everything, and fortunately, one of life’s greatest consistencies is the calendar. It doesn’t matter what level of preparedness you reach; the holidays will show up. The best bet is simply to be ready for them. We aren’t talking garland in September or festive tunes in October, but rather, making lists and beginning to organize what is needed to successfully tackle the month of the year that both flies by and seems to last forever all at once. Shop early and take advantage of sales as they come. Buy those trendy collect ible end-cap toys for stocking stuffers, snag a random pedicure set and desk

mug warmer from the drugstore to use for gift swaps. Begin stockpil ing basic side dishes. Basically, hide what you can, freeze what you can! And what you can’t prepare ahead of time, plan ahead of time. Bookmark easy recipes (and be the first to claim a spot on the potluck signup sheet), watch pricing on those big ticket gifts that the kids start dropping (not so) subtle hints for. Put babysitters on standby if possible. Pro tip: If it turns out the sitter isn’t needed on a specific saved date, take advantage and have a night out anyway to enjoy some much needed pre-holiday de-stress cock tails and dinner.

HELP!

Unfortunately, even for the most prepped parents on the planet, there may be obligations that are absolutely unavoidable and require attendance. There may be conflicts that require multiple people and it’s past bedtime or isn’t kid friendly. If regular sitters are hard to come by (and let’s be hon

est, December may very well be the most difficult month of the year to secure another human to watch chil dren), tap into the holiday family guilt factor and ask the grandparents to watch the kids. Utilize the social net work and text a neighbor or friend. Reach out to that surrounding village for support. Likely, there will be an opportunity to do a kid swap because everyone else is stuck scrambling to figure out childcare too. Pro tip: Con veniently place the gingerbread house kit on the counter right before leaving the kids with grandma for the night. Voila! Both the mess and concurrent anxiety trying to keep all four walls to gether AND put a gingerbread roof on will be someone else’s problem!

No matter how it gets sliced, the joyous and festive time of the year comes with unique challenges. Jug gling shopping, cooking, gift giving and places to be can easily cloud the ability to enjoy the “reason for the season.” But, with the right focus and preparation (even months in ad vance), a blacked-out calendar can actually be a hassle-free time.

Juggling shopping, cooking, gift giving and places to be can easily cloud the ability to enjoy the ‘reason for the season.’

table talk Nancy Krohngold of Nancy’s Bar-B-Q

The signature barbecue at Nancy’s continues to win the hearts of regulars and the raves of reviewers. Her famed barbecue recipe was first born on her backyard Weber grill.

Though restaurateur/chef Nancy Krohngold has served in many profes sions throughout her career, including insurance, graphic design, sales and industrial maintenance, cooking was always her passion.

Now Krohngold lives her dream daily as the chief behind Nancy’s Bar-B-Q in Lakewood Ranch, where her signature barbecue continues to win the hearts of regulars and the raves of reviewers.

Born near Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Sarasota, Krohngold holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University. But her passion for food runs deep, and her now-famed barbecue recipe was first born on her backyard Weber grill.

Krohngold went from serving her barbecue dishes at casual potlucks to developing a cult following and stag ing culinary popups around town. She opened Nancy’s Bar-B-Q — a casual restaurant and catering company — in downtown Sarasota in 2011. She opened an outpost called Li’l Nancy’s at the Ranch on Lakewood Ranch

Main Street in 2015 before moving to the current 5,500-square-foot Lor raine Corners location in 2019.

The locale’s kitchen also fulfills thousands of catering orders annually, from small office lunches and intimate dinner parties to church and corpo rate meals for upwards of 1,400 people. She shared some tips, witticisms and insights with us recently.

My culinary inspirations/ heroes are…

Julia Child, Chris Schlesinger and Ray Lampe.

The best barbecue I ever tasted outside of my own

restaurant was at… Hill Country Barbecue Market in New York City — an outpost of their Texas store.

The top three U.S. barbecue venues I dream of visiting are… Arthur Bryant’s in Kansas City, Mis souri; Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous in Memphis, Tennessee; and Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas.

The secret to an amazing barbecue sauce is… Flavor characteristics that you love but can’t be described with just one

word. An amazing sauce has to be multidimensional.

One barbecue food cliché I would like to refute is… Fall-off-the-bone ribs. Smoked ribs should release from the bone with a gentle tug. If the meat “falls off the bone,” it’s probably been boiled.

Preparing the food at the Van Wezel for President Bill Clinton for Ringling College of Art and Design’s Town Hall in 2009 was… A confirmation of my legitimacy as a barbecue cook!

If you grill at home, you absolutely have to… Have patience. Think about the fire the same way you do the temperature dial on your stovetop. Control the heat for the best outcome. Faster and hotter is NOT better!

The best way to eat barbecue is… Outside on a picnic table in clothing you’re not worried about staining.

My favorite cut of meat to smoke is…

Hands down, a bone-in pork butt (it’s actually the shoulder of the hog, but pork butt or “Boston butt” is the name butchers have given it, and how it’s la beled in retail outlets). This is what I first fell in love with and, unlike bris ket and ribs, it doesn’t require much nuance to have it come out right. Just don’t rush the cooking time, mean ing smoke it long enough and you’re guaranteed a tender and succulent outcome. We smoke our pork for 12 to 14 hours.

My favorite kind of customer is someone who…

Enjoys eating smoked meats in a bar becue “joint.” No authentic barbecue smokehouse ever provides a “fine din ing” experience.

The top faux pas that a customer can make is…

To drown the meat with sauce. If bar becue is any good, it stands on its own. Let its flavor shine through by adding sauce judiciously.

When I’m not working, I’m… Supporting the local food scene, and my appetite, by figuring out where I’m going to eat my next meal. And then I’m sharing my experience in conversations and on social media. I love sharing the next new great local restaurant or hidden gem with others.

My new go-to cooking book is… “Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans” by Mason Hereford. When Hereford opened his restaurant by that name in New Orleans in 2016, Bon Appétit named it the best new restaurant in America.

This upbeat, cafeteria-style joint draws crowds for housesmoked BBQ that’s enjoyed at picnic tables.

If You Go: Nancy’s Bar-B-Q: 14475 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch, 941-999-2390; NancysBarbQ.com.

3NATIVES

3Natives - Acai & Juicery takes a healthy twist on the “fast food” mindset by serving healthy and convenient food at an affordable price. This healthy lifestyle cafe is well-known for its fresh and flavorful acai bowls, smoothies, salads, wraps, cold-pressed juices, and more! With 20+ locations across Florida, the Lakewood Ranch location is the first and only location to break ground on the west coast of Florida. Each 3Natives is locally owned and operated and this healthy lifestyle cafe is one you must check out!

Open Daily

11577 E State Rd 70, Lakewood Ranch 941.751.1119 | www.3Natives.com 2nd Location Coming Soon to UTC Area 390717-1

Blue Surf American Grill

NEW LOCAL RESTAURANTBlue Surf American Grill

Currently offering Lunch and Dinner TuesdaySunday and Brunch on the weekends. Join us for a polished casual dining experience with chefinspired cuisine, desserts, crafted cocktails, and daily food specials!

Open Tuesday - Friday at 11am Saturday & Sunday at 8:30am

Reservations & Carry-Out accepted by phone or online 941-777-7674 www.BlueSurfAmericanGrill.com 5820 Ranch Lake Blvd Bradenton, FL 34202 “Walk-ins Welcome” 391121-1

ED’S TAVERN

A Jersey Joint in Lakewood Ranch, Ed’s Tavern is the perfect blend of local neighborhood sports bar and family friendly restaurant right in the heart of Main Street (next to the movie theater). We’re the only lakefront dining in Lakewood Ranch! The menu has something for everyone, from Southern favorites like pulled pork and fried pickles to our authentic New Jersey classics like open-faced sandwiches and disco fries. Our newly remodeled full-service bar now includes 26 ice cold draft selections plus over 31 flat screen TVs.

Daily Specials, Trivia every Wednesday and Thursday. Live Music every Friday & Saturday night. Mon - Thur 11am - 12am, Fri - Sat 11am - 2am, Sun 11am - 11pm. 10719 Rodeo Dr, Lakewood Ranch 941.907.0400 | facebook.com/edstavernlwr

GROVE - RESTAURANT, PATIO & BALLROOM

GROVE specializes in contemporary American offerings and onsite event planning. The menu is elevated yet approachable and locally inspired. Overlooking the charming Main Street center, at Grove there’s room for everyone at the table! Gathering spaces include a casual patio, a relaxing lounge, intimate private rooms and a lively, modern bar. We serve brunch, lunch and dinner.

10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch 941.893.4321 | www.GroveLWR.com 373263-1

KELLY’S

For more than 70 years, Kelly’s Roast Beef has been the staple of the North Shore of Boston, renowned for its thinly sliced “melt-in-yourmouth” roast-beef sandwiches and generous platters of New England seafood. Enjoy fried whole- bellied clams, lobster rolls, scallops, homemade clam chowder along with our traditional customer favorites crispy French fries, onion rings, and hot dogs!

Monday - Saturday 11am-10pm; Sunday 11am-9pm 140 University Town Center, Sarasota 941.263.1911 | www.kellysroastbeef.com

MCGRATH’S IRISH ALE HOUSE

Experience a taste of Ireland in Lakewood Ranch; where our community is family. Enjoy a mix of family inspired Irish offerings, as well as everyone’s favorites like a Chopped Salad, a Pub style BLT, Traditional Shepherd’s Pie, and Fish & Chips. Alongside dinner, enjoy a Kilkenny, Guiness, or choose from our wide range of whiskeys and cocktails that will transport you to the heart of Ireland, all from Lakewood Ranch Main Street. At McGrath’s, we believe that no dish can be better than its ingredients.

Mon - Thur 11am - 10pm, Fri - Sat 11am- 12am, Sun 9am - 10pm 8110 Lakewood Main St, Lakewood Ranch 941.210.4398 | www.mcgrathsirish.com

Above: Bob Smith holds his Humanitarian of the Year award surrounded by his daughter Amanda Tullidge Smith, wife Julie Smith and Diane Brune. He said the three women have been the biggest inspiration for him.

Left: Heather Hernandez (far left) and Jason Hernandez (far right) of Blade and Tine meet with winning bidders Bill and Bonnie Franklin of Lakewood Ranch. The Franklins won the bid at $3,600.

DOUBLE FEATURE

Blake Pouliot & Simone Porter, violins

December 6 • 7:30 pm • Sarasota Opera House

Sparks fly when these two astounding young artists come together for an evening of duo magic that includes works by Strauss, Beethoven, and Chausson.

THE 442s

December 13 • 7:30 pm • Historic Asolo Theater

Combining three members of the St. Louis Symphony and two of the St. Louis region’s finest jazz musicians, The 442s break down the barriers between jazz, classical, folk, and pop music. This concert features holiday favorites and original compositions.

VISION DUO

Ariel Horowitz, violin & Britton-René Collins, marimba

December 15 • 11 am concert followed by lunch

Sarasota Yacht

Club

Classical works with a contemporary twist, performed by a duo that discovered their shared passion for the blended sounds of violin and marimba.

DOVER QUARTET

January 10 • 7:30 pm • Historic Asolo Theater

Named one of the greatest string quartets of the last 100 years by BBC Music Magazine, the Grammy-nominated Dover Quartet has quickly become one of the most in-demand chamber ensembles in the world.

PARTING GLANCE

INTEGRITY • Tenacity • EXPERIENCE

It’s an honor to be ranked among the top 1.49% of all Realtors ® nationwide, Stacy’s work ethic and reputation have earned her this designation along with your support and referrals.

• Five Star “Best in Client” Award 2007-2023

Specializing in luxury properties in both Sarasota and Manatee counties, Stacy’s award-winning service gives you the results you require and the experience you expect.

Connect with Stacy Haas today to discuss your goals. Her professionalism and commitment remain unmatched.

• Established Lakewood Ranch Specialist and Resident for more than a decade

• Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

• Million Dollar Guild (GUILD) Recognition® by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing®

• Certified Masters Negotiations Expert

• Former interior design business owner