Real Talk

People, places and things with Sheryl Vieira and Salena Wilhoit

Living the Good Life

With this being Scene’s “Good Life” issue, we enjoyed having some deep, philosophical conversations about what constitutes the good life. We tossed around lots of ideas – some tangible and some intangible. But most of what we thought of as the good life all started with one basic premise – pursuing passions. Our friends, Chris and Laura Jessen, immediately popped into our minds as a couple who certainly seem to be leading the good life. They pursue their passion every day as they travel the world fishing on their Hatteras GT 63 called “Fish Tank”.

When they met in 1993, they not only discovered a deep love for each other, they also shared a love for fishing, which continued to grow every year. To have more time to pursue their shared passion, they sold their businesses in New York and Connecticut and relocated to Sarasota.

In 2011, they began building their Hatteras GT 63, aptly named “Fish Tank” for Chris’ love of reef aquarium design as well as his original business, which was also called Fish Tank. The Hatteras, along with their 16’ Hells Bay tender, are mainly kept in Costa Rica, but “Fish Tank” will be making a trip up to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this summer. Laura, whose personal record for a black marlin catch is a 1,050-1,100 pounder she hooked in the Great Barrier Reef, hopes to someday beat her own record. Incredible! And I (Sheryl), thought my 90-lb. tarpon catch was special!

The Jessens split their time between Florida and Costa Rica depending on when and where the fish are biting. They can also be found catching tuna and stripers in the Northeast, hooking marlin and Pacific sailfish in Panama, and breaking angling records in fishing tournaments in Miami, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. You can also find them catching snook, redfish and tarpon in their own backyard, and supporting local causes such as Make-A-Wish Foundation Central and Northern Florida.

As if that’s not enough of the good life, the couple have recently completed a custom build-out of their 7,100-square-foot Siesta Key home built by Bruce Saba called Anglers Landing, where they love to entertain friends and family. Their Siesta Key estate overlooks our beautiful little Sarasota Bay and it’s where they keep their 36’ boat called “Invincible.”

Sounds like the good life to us. Skipper? You ready?

Real Town Talk

Have you been seen yet at the new “city grille”? That’s the new Mattison’s City Grille in Bradenton on the river! And we thought Paul Mattison had sworn that he would never open another restaurant! Paul told us, “It came together so quickly and was such a great opportunity, I just couldn’t say no! We celebrated our grand opening New Year’s Eve. Come on down to the river and visit us!”

Psssttt…did you hear? He asked her to marry him! They will wed in California in June. We’re talking about the lovely Jennifer Rust, known as one of the sweetest and most competent private banking professionals in town. Something told her to go on one last blind date and voila! Something clicked when they met. Drinks turned into dinner, and then the dashing Steve Johnson asked for a second date, a third, and many more. Their endearing courtship would eventually lead to Jen’s introduction to Steve’s precious three-year-old daughter, Isabella.

During a romantic holiday getaway, Steve proposed and gave Jen a beautiful band of diamonds. They will marry this summer in a romantic and intimate setting surrounded by family and close friends. From the lips of the beautiful bride-to-be, “After years of searching, it feels good to know that I will be spending the rest of my life with my best friend.” Passion for each other; passion for a life together; passion for family. Is there a better example of the good life than our dear friend’s discovery of true love?

For the Greater Good

Selah Freedom’s Fourth Annual Fashion Show “A New Beginning” recently took place at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. It was a powerful event. Passionate speakers shared stories about the plight of the exploited, bringing light into the darkness of sex trafficking. Proceeds from the event will sponsor 280 girls in Selah Freedom’s Teen Prevention Program, which far exceeded the organization’s goal of sponsoring 100 teens. Their goal for 2017 is to help 600 teens who have suffered through human trafficking. Event co-chairs were Donna Koffman and Tammy Karp. Speakers included the organization’s President and CEO Elizabeth Fisher, who was also recipient of the 2014 Tampa Bay Business Women of the Year Award in the non-profit category, Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, and survivor Rachel Pavone. Pam McCurdy emceed the luncheon and fashion show, which included models Mindy Fielding and Rebekah Mandeville, among others.

One of the most anticipated luncheons of the season is always the Junior League Legacy Luncheon, an annual event organized by its sustainers, which was created by former JL president Debbi Benedict 15 years ago. What makes this luncheon so special is not only the assembly of caring, powerful and motivated women, but the inspirational and thought-provoking speakers they bring to town every season. This time it was Hollywood nice guy, author Sam “Sammy” Haskell, best-selling author, Warner Bros. producer, and one of the 25 most innovative and influential people in television in the last 25 years. He did not disappoint.

Mr. Haskell shared many stories, including an interesting bit of old Hollywood about one of the most revered actors of all time – Miss Bette Davis. It seems that the resolute Miss Davis liked Sammy because of his propensity for never giving up or giving in. He was invited to a private birthday party at her home and was the only guest to arrive promptly at the suggested time. Everyone else was fashionably late. His promptness turned into his good fortune when he got to spend thirty minutes alone with Bette Davis. She took him on a tour of her home, which ended in her living room where she had her two Oscars. She took down her 1938 Best Actress Oscar for her role in “Jezebel” and said, “Mr. Haskell, do you know what this is? It’s my consolation prize from Mr. Jack Warner of the Warner Bros Studios for not letting me out of my contract so I could play Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, and I’m still pissed about it!”

Another JL Legacy Luncheon highlight was the “Diamonds by the Yard” double strand necklace in 14-karat white gold featuring 15 diamonds to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the luncheon, which was donated by JL sustainer Belinda Coffrin of Coffrin Jewelers. Belinda has graciously donated a special piece of jewelry every year since the inception of the Legacy Luncheon.

Seen at this wonderful luncheon were co-chairs Kim Cornetet and Donna Mateer, Junior League president Britt Riner, Stacey Corley, Beth Knopik, Jessica Hays, April Glasco, Kaithlyn Carr, Leslie Jones, Cindy Stuhley, Nancy Bailey, Jamie Becker, Debbie Shapiro, Charlene Neal, Graci McGillicuddy, Kim Wheeler, Angie Stringer, Erin Duggan, Renee Phinney, Sandy Albano, Heather Clark, Katie Emmons, Cheryl Burstein, Cornelia Matson and Renee Hamad. You’ll soon be hearing more about the League as Stacey Corley has big plans to celebrate their 60th anniversary next month.

The Venice YMCA hosted their 30th Annual Diamonds and Pearls Black-Tie Gala co-chaired by Wendy Fishman of Caldwell Trust Company, Michelle Hazeltine of Hazeltine Nurseries and philanthropist Tiffany Taylor. Friends old and new raised their paddles and danced the night away as the ladies dazzled in their diamonds and pearls, worn to signify the Y’s diamond anniversary. Seen were Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines, Susan Hines, Sheriff Tom and Tracy Knight, Ed and Elizabeth Campbell, Lee and Suzanne Thacker, Kelly and Melissa Caldwell, Christine Robinson, CJ Fishman, Evan Duke, Brent Greeno, Jim and Michelle Butler, Daniela Koci, John and Michelle Williams, and Patrick and Kecia Dorsey. The newest member of the Sarasota School Board, Eric Robinson, won the navy blue 2016 Jeep Patriot Sport SUV. It’s nice when karma comes back around, as Eric recently volunteered as a custodian at Venice Elementary for their 3-11 p.m. shift. What a great start of the year for Eric!

Final Thoughts

If the good life starts with pursuing your passions, perhaps we should never lose sight of how fortunate we all are to live in a country that gives us the opportunity to be whatever we want to be. To dream. To live. To learn. To love. We don’t think one should ever lose sight of that. So simple. So true.

We’ll be back next month with more Real Talk, but for now, here’s something to ponder:

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” –  Carl Rogers