Wow! We asked, and you responded. Many thanks to our creative and adventurous readers who submitted dozens of photographs inspired by this month’s theme of “Having Fun While Socially Distancing.” Here are a few of our favorites.
Donna Uhl and her husband were thrilled when they got to spend a day on Siesta Beach with their 8 year-old twin grandsons. “As you can see in the photo, the boys had no problem finding a fun thing to do,” she says. “What a great memory after the months of angst.”
Theresa Lavin photographed her sister Marybeth Lavin relaxing on a friend’s boat on Sarasota Bay. The three, all stewardesses, took to the water after their flights were canceled. Theresa says it was a time of “deep introspection and peace during a pandemic and other life issues.”Bicycling attracts all ages! Jennifer Lamb, a junior at Sarasota High School, loves the peacefulness of riding in the Indian Beach-Sapphire Shores neighborhood.
Richard Perlman catches a sea breeze along Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key.
Lynda F. St James spied a tranquil scene of socially distanced relaxation – a pop-up hammock – while visiting Bird Key Park along the John Ringling Causeway.Just before sunset on South Lido Key beach, Suzanne Vidal caught sight of a lone fisherman and snapped this shot.Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman shared Temple Emanu-El’s socially distanced celebration of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. David Arnold takes a trip through a drive-through sukkah; Associate Rabbi Michael Shefrin helps Raquel Vieira shake the lulav as mom Jamie looks on.Patti Clark celebrated Fourth of July at home in Venice with a patriotic duck parade! Along a windswept beach in Englewood, she rejoiced at the chance to take off her mask. She says, “I felt so free.”At Lido Beach, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School students interpret “balance” and finding willpower to keep going and follow their dreams. Arianna Monserrate photographed by Rosa Rivera, Sean Miller by Mary Coon, and Natalia Chersia by Rosa Maria Chersia.
While celebrating her 50th birthday with twin sister Sandy Albano, Sheryl Vieira captured a twilight photograph of niece Samantha enjoying the moment.
To Alexandra Velez, age 9, nothing’s better than spending summer vacation at Grammy’s house in Sarasota. Grammy, aka Nancy Tsekou of Wellington Chase, agrees! Ruth Steel concertizes for friends at Sarasota Bay Club—and looks forward to celebrating her 106th birthday on November 19!Branching out from painting, artistic Majo experiments with new creative outlets, from flower arranging to sewing masks for herself and her husband, Sean.Members of the Central West Coast Florida Public Relations Association toast at a virtual bookclub meeting in April.Staff member Taylor Rymal trains Mote Aquarium residents—North American river otters Huck, Pippi, and Jane—to come to their target, socially distant of course!
Roberta Straff’s tousled white pooch Racquet helps celebrate his girlfriend Honey Buns’ birthday.
Sheryl Vieira found a beautiful stray Siamese kitten on Anna Maria Island on the first day of summer, brought her home, and named her Summer.
In August, Sharon Kunkel and husband Ben enjoyed kayaking and vibrant sunsets over Sarasota Bay. During one paddle, a friendly mom and baby manatee interrupted their morning meal long enough to come close and say “Hello!”When American diplomats Mary Ellen Tsekou-Velez and husband Ken had to evacuate from Uganda on short notice in March, they arrived in Sarasota with 9 year-old Lexi and 2 year-old Aria. Despite the disruptions, full-time work and education went on!
Zander Bilan celebrated his first week at Bayshore Elementary School and his 6th birthday by getting cozy and decked out in Spider Man gear!
Barbara Vanderkolk Gardner wouldn’t let a pandemic stop her from traveling to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to welcome her first grandchild Easton Alan Gibbs, cradled here in the arms of proud pappa Jordan Vanderkolk Gibbs.
Before moving to North Carolina in September, retired Sarasota Fire Chief Mike Tobias and his wife Sharon Tobias met up with friends Karen and John Jefferson, and Web Sewell at Nokomis Groves to enjoy socially distanced ice cream and show off their just-out-of-the-reconditioning-body-shop 1952 Classic Chevy Pick Up. Says Karen, “It was a nice way to say, ‘Movin’ On Down the Road Again.’”
Want to be in on the fun? Next month’s theme is: Good Deeds, Local Heroes, and Community Involvement
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