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By Hannah Wallace Robert Martini talks about fatherhood in terms of “advocacy.” The 37-year-old Siesta lifeguard and his wife, Jill, have a 7-year-old daughter, Lyla, as well as a 4-year-old son, Maverick, who is on the autism spectrum. Whether it’s talking teachers about Maverick’s needs or educating strangers about his behavior, Martini is an active […]
By John Morton Joe Hewes didn’t have a business plan in mind when he decided to buy a 30-foot tritoon boat and have it customized with a 10-foot slide. No, he was just doing something fun for his family. “We’d be out in Sarasota Bay and people would always pull up and ask me if […]
By Dolores Day “Clear your mind of can’t.” — Samuel Jackson In all of my experience and personal growth as well as working with so many others, I have found that doing this one act of radical mind sweeping completely alters one’s attitude. When we alter our attitude, we change our life! When the word […]
A familiar sight on Siesta Key, Florida’s state bird lends its influence to American pop culture, finding its way into songs, lullabies, and book titles. As its scientific name suggests, this medium-sized songbird is a “many-tongued mimic” with a lot to say — or rather, sing. Not only does it imitate the songs of other […]
Clerodendrum thomsoniae is a species of the genus Clerodendrum, of the family Lamiaceae. It will wrap its dark green tendrils around a trellis, fence, or other support. This sub-tropical vine will grow best in semi-shade and does best in well-drained soil. If you have the room, this vine can get about 15 feet tall and […]
By Hannah Wallace We may envision beehives in open, country areas. But according to Sarasota Honey Co. founder Alma Johnson, the best honey comes from our own backyards — literally. “By having our hives in residential areas, the bees aren’t exposed to big agriculture and monoculture,” said Johnson, who with her team oversees around 70 […]
By Jane Bartnett The second annual Casting for the Kids fishing tournament, held to raise funds in support of local families whose children are battling pediatric cancer, will take place Sept. 24 and 25. The event benefits the Sarasota-based Dancing with Clayton Foundation, a non-profit corporation founded in memory of 3-year-old Clayton Van Landuyt. At […]
By Hannah Wallace Seven years ago, Dan Sweeney “committed the sin of buying a parrot,” he said, referring to the sometimes-problematic exotic pet industry. Only later did Sweeney, now 58, fully understand the responsibilities involved in properly caring for the bird. “There’s obviously a lot of abandonment (of parrots) because people buy them without realizing […]
A local kid helps keep life here totally beachy Q: You’ve been a lifeguard with Sarasota County for 12 years, spending part of your time on Siesta Beach. As a local guy, how did Siesta Key influence your interest in this profession? A: I grew up on the island and always thought the beach was […]
By Dolores Day “I want freedom for the full expression of my personality.” — Mahatma Gandhi I think we can all agree that this word, freedom, and its meaning in our life is of the utmost importance to us. We are constantly talking about it, writing about it, and naturally seeking it within our own […]