Newsletter 175

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST

MOTE SEA OPENS TO THE PUBLIC

Since it opened to the public on Oct. 8, the Mote Science Education Aquarium has become one of the hottest tickets in town. A total of 22,853 people visited the aquarium from Oct. 8-14. That comes on the heels of 4,956 people who visited Oct. 6-7 during Mote preview days. Located at Nathan Benderson Park near the popular University Town Center shopping and dining district — along the Sarasota-Manatee county line and highly visible to travelers on Interstate 75 — the sprawling campus will welcome guests eager to explore its 146,000 square feet of aquatic wonders.

The aquarium is open to the public from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m. daily and is located at 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. There are 13 admission times to pick from starting at 9:30 a.m and ending at 3:30 p.m. The best way to guarantee admission is to buy or reserve tickets online at mote.org. Many of the morning slots through the weekend are coming up as “sold out,” but there appears to be plenty of availability during the afternoon. Mote officials established the admission times at 30 minute intervals to make sure visitors can enjoy their visit to the three-story aquarium. Adult admission can range from $32 to $37, depending on the day of the week and whether they are purchased early or the day of the visit. Youth admission can range from $24 to $29, depending on the day of the week and whether they are purchased early or the day of the visit. Children age 2 and younger are free. Mote SEA can be speed walked in an hour-and-a-half or so but it’s probably best to block off two or three hours, likely three hours with small children who may want to spend extra time with the manatees, river otters, Humboldt Penguins, the Giant Pacific Octopus – or spend extra times in the touch-tank areas with the rays, horseshoe crab and sea urchins. The aquarium is designed to be experienced from the top down. An escalator takes visitors to the third floor, home of Stella and Fynn the river otters; Lou and Buffett, the manatees. The second floor includes Indo-Pacific habitat tanks designed to showcase an environment similar to the Great Barrier Reef, the giant Octopus and Humboldt Penguins, and the top of the 20-foot tall, 400,000-gallon Gulf habitat tank. For more information on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Mote SEA Opens To The Public

BALLET COMPANY CELEBRATES NEXT CHAPTER

The Sarasota Ballet launches its 2025-26 season Oct. 24 – 26 with “Intrinsic”, a three-part production that blends classical grace, contemporary vision and hometown spirit. The performances take place at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, marking a poetic return to the stage as the company celebrates a new chapter of artistic growth. Opening the evening is Dame Alicia Markova’s staging of Michel Fokine’s “Les Sylphides” — a luminous homage to the Ballet Russes and to Markova’s own centennial debut. Staged by Margaret Barbieri and Iain Webb, the work captures the ethereal romanticism that defined Markova’s career. Resident guest principal, Misa Kuranaga, will dance her first performance of the season in this production, underscoring the company’s ongoing commitment to honoring ballet’s great legacies while welcoming its next generation of stars. The centerpiece of the evening is the world premiere of “The Lorenz Butterfly” by choreographer Jessica Lang, the company’s Virginia B. Toulmin & Muriel O’Neil Artist in Residence. Lang’s works have been performed by companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and American Ballet Theatre, and she is celebrated for her painterly use of motion, light and color. The program closes with Will Tuckett’s “Changing Light” — a love letter to Sarasota first premiered in 2013. The ballet captures Sarasota’s golden hues and coastal warmth through fluid choreography and cinematic design, an homage to the city that has become a national hub for dance. Please click here for more: Ballet Celebrates Next Chapter

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE OPENS SEASON

Florida Studio Theatre is starting its Winter Mainstage season with a bang — and a body. The downtown Sarasota theatre launches its 2025–26 lineup with ‘Lucky Stiff’, a riotous musical comedy from the Tony-winning team behind ‘Ragtime’ and ‘Seussical’. Previews begin Nov. 5, with opening night set for Nov. 7 at FST’s Gompertz Theatre. Performances run through Dec. 28. The production has been described as “hilarity in motion” by Broadway World, a New York City theater news website. The show follows shy shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon, who must escort the embalmed body of his murdered uncle on a “vacation” to Monte Carlo. If he succeeds in passing his uncle off as alive, he’ll inherit six million dollars. If he fails, the money goes to a Brooklyn dog shelter — or his uncle’s vengeful ex. “Lucky Stiff is a perfect storm of wackiness and heart,” said director Ben Liebert, whose credits include FST’s ‘Jersey Boys’ and ‘Waitress.’ “You’ll laugh one moment at the absurdity and the next find yourself rooting for Harry and his companions to find love, happiness and maybe a fortune.” Longtime Sarasota meteorologist John Scalzi — a familiar face from ABC7 — will make his stage debut as “The Body,” a comic role that adds a uniquely local twist. Please click here for more: Florida Studio Theatre Opens Season

JOHNSON NEW FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY DIRECTOR

A lot has changed in the world and in theater education since Marcus Denard Johnson graduated with his Master of Fine Arts in acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2008, but the mission and motivations remain the same as he takes over as director of the three-year graduate acting program. “We are using classical theater training as a means of preparing modern day actors,” Johnson said during a recent interview. How the faculty and program achieve those goals is constantly evolving, said Johnson, who spent the last year as interim director during the sabbatical of his predecessor Andrei Malaev-Babel. James Frazier, dean of the FSU College of Fine Arts, announced Johnson’s appointment in June. He had previously worked as an assistant professor of theater at Columbus State College in Atlanta; resident artist for the New York City-based Titan Theatre Company; director of programs for arts education non-profit Opening Act, Inc.; and artistic director of Hope Repertory Theatre in Holland, Michigan. When Malaev-Babel was preparing to return from his year-long sabbatical, he decided that he wanted to focus on “the work that has become increasingly vital to me: our students’ artistic growth and the global expansion of the Demidov School – a tradition I helped put on the international map and feel deeply responsible to steward,” he said in a statement. There’s more on this story here: Johnson New Director at FSU/Asolo Conservatory

NEW BEACH-THEMED ADVENTURE PARK OPENS

When Sarasota’s rainy season hits or a cold snap rolls through, families may be forced to cut back on their beach time. But a beachy new adventure park that just opened its doors in North Port is saving the day. Do The Beach Adventure Park held its grand opening Sept. 20 and brings a “year-around beach day” to south Sarasota County. The fully inflatable park designed for active fun presents over 14 beach-themed attractions. As Florida’s first indoor, beach-themed adventure park, the inflatable fun spans 21,000 feet, according to its website. Some of the attractions include a roller coaster themed obstacle challenge, a boardwalk action climbing frame, a giant sandcastle slide, a plunge slide, Black Jack’s sunken pirate ship adventure play and the big wave ninja challenge. The beach details don’t stop there. Parkgoers can play with a multitude of inflatable sea creatures like sharks, crabs, dolphins and sea turtles. Palm trees, beach balls, a Santa-Monica themed boardwalk and a classic Volkswagen surfer-camper van also add to the coastal vibe. A dedicated toddler area is open for children under 4 years old or under 41 inches. The park also offers open seating for guests outside of the park and concessions. Access to the park can be purchased through a day pass, ranging from one hour access to an all day, or residents can purchase a beach club membership. The club offers three memberships with different levels of access to the park. The park also offers multiple party packages for birthdays, team clelebrations or group events. There’s more on this story here: New Beach-Themed Park Opens

WORLD’S LARGEST REPTILE ZOO IS AN HOUR AWAY

It began with an everyday pond turtle. Ty Park was 6 years old and living with his family in South Korea when his father gave him the tiny turtle. “It was a Reeves turtle from Japan,” the career herpetologist and conservationist recalled. “I didn’t name it. We didn’t do that kind of thing in Korea.” But Park did look after it seven days a week, 365 days a year, for seven years, until his father took a position at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Fast forward six decades and Park, 71, now has the largest collection of reptiles in the world with 260 species and counting. “I had so many animals, it was time to share them with the public,” he said. “So I built a zoo.” That zoo is IguanaLand, and it opened at 33900 Bermont Road in Punta Gorda in February 2022. Yep, Park’s humongous reptile collection is on full display just a slither down Interstate 75.“It’s Shangri-La for animals,” Park said. IguanaLand sits on seven of the 12-acre property Park has owned since May of 2007. “It was a plant nursery,” he said. “Everything is fenced in now to keep animals out and in.” He turned it into a private zoo, focusing on conservation work with turtles and endangered iguanas. By 2018, Park decided it was time to open it up to the public. “I thought it would take a couple of years to get it ready,” he said. “But then COVID hit. That made for a very challenging time. We were in the middle of building when construction costs tripled. I had to decide whether to keep going.” There were hundreds of animals to take care of and employees to pay.

“I kept building,” he said. “I was triple over budget by the time we opened in 2022.”

And it hasn’t gotten much easier. “It’s a challenge,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know we’re here. And most of the animals are outside. It’s hard during the summer. Winter season is much better for us to have visitors.” And when they do come, there’s plenty to take in. Take the turtles, for example. Of approximately 360 species in the world, IguanaLand has about 140. And that doesn’t include the tortoises.

“You can see so much diversity here,” Park said. “We have 92 turtle enclosures. We made everything natural here. We built it to meet the needs of the animals. Enclosures are made for a particular species.” There’s more on this story, courtesy of News-Press: World’s Largest Reptile Zoo

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET IN TRANSITION

The Sarasota-Bradenton area’s August real estate market points to a period of transition for the region, according to the most recent industry report. The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s August findings showed growth – if only modest – for Sarasota County single-family homes and townhomes and condos. Manatee County saw an increase in sales of single-family homes, but a decrease in other sectors. The median sale price on single-family homes remained steady in Sarasota County year-over-year at $475,000, which is an increase in price from July. However, the median sale price dropped 5.3% in Manatee County — from $494,000 in August 2024 to $467,640 in August 2025. Both counties also saw dips in the median sale price for townhomes and condos, with a 13% decline from $345,000 to $300,000 in Sarasota and an 11.7% decline from $329,990 to $291,250 in Manatee compared to 2024. Sales activity was similar across the two counties, with single-family home sales in Sarasota County climbing 1.3% from last August, while Manatee saw a 5.7% rise. The two counties differed in closed sales of townhomes and condos, with Sarasota’s climbing 13.8% from last year, while Manatee’s slipped 7%. The trend in Sarasota and Manatee counties’ median price is counter to national figures. According to the real estate company Redfin, nationwide home prices increased 1.5% compared to last year, with a median price of $439,495.

Inventory is still high. Sarasota County reported a 5.2-month supply of single-family homes, a 13% year-over-year increase, and a 7-month supply of condos and townhomes, a 27.3% spike from last year. Manatee County saw similar trends, with a 17.9% year-over-year increase yielding a 4.6-month supply of single-family homes, with the townhome and condo supply growing 12.3% to 6.4 months.

However, inventory is softening, according to Debi Reynolds, 2025 RASM president. In the townhomes and condos sector, which has been inching in a buyer-friendly direction, inventory levels have been decreasing since March, according to the report. The levels also trended downwards in Sarasota single-family homes since May. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Local Real Estate In Transition

SARASOTA COUNTY BOOSTS STORMWATER FUNDING

The Sarasota County Commission moved $7.8 million to its new stormwater department with a unanimous vote at its Oct. 8 meeting. The move came after the commission approved its $2.52 billion budget in September. County spending on stormwater mitigation jumped by 60.5% with the new department, which was created over the summer amid outcry over Hurricane Debby flooding. The board previously reallocated $10 million for stormwater funding in July.

County Administrator Jonathan Lewis asked Stormwater Director Ben Quartermaine to address the board on his department’s activities since he was hired as director in July. On the status of the county’s major Phillippi Creek dredging project, he said they’ve received a go-ahead from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and are just waiting on a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has been slightly delayed due to the government shutdown. “Suffice it to say, within the next four to six weeks, we should be seeing dirt turning in the dredge portion,” Quartermaine said. The director also said his team is reevaluating their capital projects priorities at the board’s direction. Projects along Dona Bay and Blackburn Point Canal have been put on the back burner. The county is also eyeing using some of its Resilient SRQ hurricane recovery dollars on dredging projects along Whitaker and Hudson Bayous, as well as improving the Celery Fields stormwater management area and wildlife habitat. The county recently opened $87 million in grants for infrastructure and waterway projects using the federal funds. Please click here for more: Sarasota County Boost Stormwater Funding

WASTEWATER DISPOSAL PLAN AT ISSUE

The Mosaic Company, a major player in the fertilizer industry, has initiated a controversial plan to dispose of contaminated wastewater by injecting it deep underground in Polk County. The move has garnered significant attention and concern from environmental groups, even as the company asserts the safety and scientific rigor of its proposed methods. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has already taken the first step by issuing a draft permit, signaling a potential shift in how the state manages industrial waste. Mosaic presents the deep well injection as a highly regulated and common practice, emphasizing that the water would be treated to be compatible with the deep, saline aquifers it would be injected into. On the other hand, environmental advocates point to the fertilizer industry’s history of environmental incidents, including sinkholes and leaks, and argue that injecting hazardous waste underground is an irreversible and risky gamble with Florida’s drinking water supply. As the debate unfolds, it raises critical questions about regulatory oversight, corporate responsibility, and the long-term environmental health of the state. Understanding the nuances of the permit, the scientific process involved, and the deep-seated concerns of activists is key to grasping the full scope of the situation. Please click here for more: Wastewater Disposal Plan At Issue

ESTUARY PROGRAM NAMES NEW CHIEF

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program will undergo a significant leadership transition this November as Director David Tomasko steps down after a five-year tenure marked by a remarkable turnaround in the bay’s health. Ryan Gandy, the program’s current science and restoration manager, has been selected by the estuary program board to take the helm as the new director. Tomasko took on the role in November 2020 during a period of ecological crisis. Sarasota Bay was struggling with significant seagrass loss, pollution and prolonged harmful algal blooms including the lingering effects of the devastating 2018 red tide. He came in with a clear, urgent mission and a self-imposed 5-year deadline. Under Tomasko’s leadership, the estuary program focused intensely on nutrient management, which Tomasko identified as the key to recovery. He pointed to over a billion gallons of wastewater overflows in the lower bay and nutrient-rich runoff as primary culprits for the decline. The excess nutrients help fuel harmful algal blooms by acting like fertilizer, and have been known to contribute to red tide events that severely affect the bay’s water quality and the local tourism economy. Gandy, joined the estuary program in 2024 after serving as a research administrator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. He is already managing major restoration efforts for the organization. “I really had to hit the ground running,” Gandy said, noting a recent $4.3 million infusion of federal funding dedicated to multiple coastal projects.

Please click on the link for more: Estuary Program Names New Chief

THE SWEET TASTE OF RESILIENCE

Sometimes, the true pulse of a community is found in the simple, familiar pleasures — like the scent of warm, hand-paddled fudge wafting down John Ringling Boulevard. Late last month, St. Armands Circle welcomed back a particularly significant piece of its identity. Kilwins, the beloved purveyor of ice cream, chocolate, and fudge, held its official grand reopening celebration. On the surface, this is a local dining story. But look deeper, and you’ll see that the reopening of this particular shop, after a year of silence, is a powerful symbol of Sarasota’s resilience, a tangible sign that the character of our cherished island has survived the fury of nature. To understand the importance of this news, we must look to the recent past. The Gulf Coast endured a harrowing, consecutive assault last year: Hurricane Helene ravaged the Big Bend area, followed closely by Hurricane Milton, which hit perilously close to home near Siesta Key. Milton shredded the coastline, leaving scars from Manasota Key north through Venice, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, and Anna Maria Island. In the aftermath, a genuine fear gripped residents and shop owners: that the defining, charming character of St. Armands Circle and the surrounding islands would be irrevocably changed. Kilwins, located at 312 John Ringling Blvd, was one of the many businesses caught in Milton’s destructive path. To the community, its closure was more than an inconvenience; it was a physical manifestation of the storm’s victory. The shop was forced to close its doors for an entire year due to the damage, a sobering indicator of the depth of the recovery required across the region. Its reopening, therefore, is not merely a commercial event, but a civic victory. It signals the reversal of that fear that the island’s character would vanish. The newly renovated store itself reflects this spirit of renewal, blending the “classic Kilwins personality with some of the tropics St. Armands is known for.” Please click here for more: The Sweet Taste Of Resilience