"Chicken Shop" at Urbanite Theatre

It's always exciting to get in on the ground floor of a new venture.  And I feel like I'm doing just that with the launch of Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota.  The theater was founded by Brendan Ragan and Summer Wallace, recent graduates of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. According to its website, Urbanite Theatre is committed to "fresh works, burgeoning playwrights, and actor-driven productions."  Urbanite's production of "Chicken Shop" by Anna Jordan hits the mark on all three points. It was an extraordinary afternoon of theater.

When we entered the black box theater, I was struck by both the space and the set.  It's definitely intimate, with seating for approximately 55 theatergoers. In lieu of programs, information about Urbanite and the actors' bios was projected on a wall.  I like the approach -- both cost effective and environmentally friendly.

The set reflected the two worlds to which we would shortly be introduced.  Approximately three quarters of the stage was taken up by an apartment where a mother (Hillary), her young lesbian lover (Katie) and her 16 year old son (Hendrix) live in an uncomfortable arrangement. A bed and bureau that defined the parameters of the life of Luminita, a sex worker, claimed the remainder of the space.  

Throughout the afternoon, the action shifted from one set of relationships to the other.  On the home front, Hendrix is simultaneously dealing with bullying at school over the fact that his mother is gay and coming of age in a home lacking in testosterone.  In Luminita's world (over a chicken shop - hence the play's name), we quickly come to realize that the choice to work as a prostitute is not her own. In fact, she is so terrorized by her pimp that she won't even open the curtains to see the sun. When Hendrix decides to find a prostitute to shepherd him into manhood, his path crosses with Luminita's, and they strike up an unlikely friendship.

Ashley Scallon as Luminita

The story is gripping, and at points I realized I was hardly breathing as I waited to find out how the scene was going to end. It was the acting, however, that put the afternoon's performance over the top.  Ashley Scallon's ability to convey the depth of Luminita's despair was remarkable. Her vacuous gaze into the middle distance said more than words could ever convey.  Jason Bradley was powerful in his role as Leko, Luminita's pimp. He evoked a sense of simmering violence whenever he was onstage. Joseph Flynn, a 19 year old actor, was convincing and sympathetic in the role of Hendrix.  He is definitely someone to watch. Lauren Wood and Lucy Lavely competently rounded out the cast.

I came away from my first Urbanite outing thinking, "This is why I go to the theater." I am eagerly looking forward to the rest of the season, which features the regional premieres of "Reborning" by Zayd Dohrn (June 12-July 5) and "Isaac's Eye" by Jason Hnath (Aug. 14-Sept. 6).  I hope you'll join me in checking out this wonderful addition to the Southwest Florida theater scene.  Don't delay, though -- the extended run of "Chicken Shop" is sold out and tickets for the other shows are selling fast. 

Critiquing Your Artwork with Ileane Taylor

Ileane Taylor

One of the perks of being a member of the Visual Arts Center is attending its Artist Development series. Although I am not an artist, I love these get-togethers. They allow me a glimpse into the artistic process while teaching me a thing or two that enhances my art appreciation. Plus they're just plain fun. The latest session on critiquing your own artwork with Ileane Taylor was no exception.

From the time Ileane began taking art lessons at age 14, critiques were a part of her process. That doesn't mean she has become immune to the sting harsh words (or, even worse, silence) can leave when she asks a friend or fellow artist for her opinion on a work in progress. She is a firm believer, however, that constructive commentary is necessary to grow as an artist.  With that in mind, she gave a quick overview of the components of pictorial expression she would use as her reference point for the rest of the afternoon:  Motivation, Composition, Drawing, Focal Point, Color and Emotional Response.




"My Husband's Hands" by Ileane Taylor

Ileane looked at some of her own paintings with a critical eye before sharing her thoughts about other artists' works. First up was a painting entitled "My Husband's Hands." Ileane's motivation for creating this image was her fascination with her husband's fingers. Over the course of their marriage, they have grown from a size 6 to their current size 12 1/2. She shocked the group by using chalk to draw an arch on the painting to emphasize its composition. (As the artists squirmed in their seats, Ileane reassured them that she wouldn't do this to their works.) Ileane talked about the importance of getting the anatomy of the hands right and the use of lights and darks to invoke a somber, contemplative mood.  Overall, she feels this is a successful work.



"Peaches and Owls" by Ileane Taylor

Ileane wasn't as easy on some of her other paintings, particularly her "Peaches and Owls."  What was she thinking, she asked, when she decided to pair a burrowing owl with peaches?   With a quick scratch of chalk, she showed how the composition of the work is out of balance, with an unclear focal point.  And, she wondered, how long would the little owl's legs actually have to be to reach to the bottom of the plate on which the peaches are resting?  At the end of the day, she said there is "so much wrong with this painting" that she'd start all over again if it were a work she wanted to hang.



Work by Thelma Daida

Thelma Daida was the first artist to share a work for the group's critique. Thelma is an abstract artist, which gave Ileane the opportunity to talk about the difference between intellectual and non-intellectual abstract paintings.  In an intellectual abstract, the viewer can discern images in the painting that provide a reference point.  Non-intellectual abstracts--like this one of Thelma's--rely solely on form, color and line for their impact.  The group liked the work with its strong colors and composition. The focal point is a Chinese character in the upper left quadrant.  There was some discussion about whether the work would benefit from a second character. Ileane's suggestion:  cut one out and see! 




Joy Sanders' lovely work provided an opportunity to talk about light and shadows. The sun shines through the window and hits the woman's back, which would leave her face in the shadows. Similarly, the white chair should be a bit grayer given the lighting in the room. The chair also draws the viewer's eye to the edge of the canvas (which violates Ileane's "no fly zone" rule of not having important elements within an inch of the edge of the picture). So, while the painting might faithfully replicate the reference work, Ileane felt that it would benefit from a bit more attention. 



Work by Joan Balmer

Over the course of the session, we looked at more than a dozen creations.  It was pure coincidence that the last work was unanimously lauded by the group as highly successful.  This fiber work by Joan Balmer depicts aquatic life and mangroves in a balanced, colorful and engaging way.  The use of netting to demark where the water line would be is nothing short of brilliant.  It was the perfect note on which to end the afternoon.

Punta Gorda's Public Works Department

Our latest Citizens Academy session found us at the Public Works Department.  Department Director Rick Keeney kicked off the session by commenting that the members of his Department are the "unsung heroes" of Punta Gorda. After spending the morning learning the scope of what these men and women do, I'm in whole-hearted agreement with his characterization.

Here are some of the highlights:

Student Bruce Tompkins

--The Public Works guys are responsible for maintaining 116 miles of roads, 55 miles of sidewalks, 5079 street signs and 25 doggie doo stations. They also maintain PGI's 50 miles of canals (which translates into 100 miles of seawalls) and Burnt Store Isles' 7.5 miles of canals (15 miles of seawalls). 

--For PGI residents like me, the canal maintenance program was particularly interesting. The PGI canal system was built in the 1960s and '70s. Approximately 27% of the original canals have been replaced.  The seawalls are held in place by "dead man blocks" that extend 16 feet into the yard.  They weigh 1500 pounds. Tie back rods connect the sea wall panels to the dead man blocks. 

Recently poured sea walls

--The sea wall panels are built on site at the Public Works Department.  (Yes, this is unusual.)  Each panel is six inches thick with a rebar in the middle and weighs approximately 5,000 pounds. (Note: The original walls were only four inches thick.) They typically pour 15 panels a day to keep a supply on hand.

--Residents who live on the canals are in a special tax district that funds canal maintenance and reconstruction. The annual tax is $500 per lot; i.e., it is not based on linear square footage of seawall. 

--Residents are responsible for their own dredging outside of the navigable channel. While boat owners sometimes complain about not being able to dredge as deep as they would like, there's a good reason for the restrictions. The berm at the bottom of the canal helps hold the sea walls in place. Less berm translates into more maintenance.  Similarly, homeowners should not edge along their sea walls.  While the look might be nice at first, the eventual crumbling of their sea walls due to water seeping in behind them will not be attractive. 

--The discussion about the sanitation division (essentially trash and recycling collection) had the students on high alert. You heard it here first: The City is considering moving from the 18 gallon blue recycling bins to a single rolling 48 gallon bin. Some studies indicate that the larger bins promote more recycling. Given Punta Gorda's demographics, its residents might also prefer rolling their recycling out to the curb to lifting and carrying.  (Note: Despite the two bins we currently have, PG's recycling is single stream, meaning you can mix plastics and paper.)

--Plastic bags are high on the list of bad things people put in their recycling bins. Bags can easily get tangled in the sorting machinery, leading to the operation being shut down while the bag is manually removed. Pizza boxes and styrofoam are also no-nos. So are those popular LED and CFL light bulbs, which contain a small amount of mercury. Home Depots/Lowes have bins for their disposal.

--We toured the Public Works grounds and were treated to a demonstration of a pot hole being filled. The hot patch is 300 degrees when laid down.  In order to compress the area, workers use a rolling machine with a handle that swings front to back. For larger pot holes, the worker flips the handle over to his teammate at the midpoint so neither have to step on the hot patch.  It takes approximately 20 minutes to set and cool. 

--The Facilities' Division is responsible for all the traffic lights in town.  This includes the blue lights on traffic signals that raise so many questions. FYI, the blue light is lit when the traffic light is red. So, if a car goes through an intersection with a blue light burning, it's another indication that the driver was in a bit too much of a hurry. 

--The Engineering Division has the "pleasure of taking care of projects while they are being built."  Their current projects include the pickleball court conversion in Gilchrist Park and the re-bricking of Durrance Street. They are also responsible for ADA compliance of the City's sidewalks and buildings. When a road is resurfaced, the adjacent sidewalk has to be upgraded. So, for instance, the sidewalks on Aqui Esta have "tactile surface warnings" that alert visually impaired pedestrians to an approaching intersection and curb ramps that allow wheelchairs to enter the intersection. (The curb ramps are great for bikers as well.) 

I will admit (with some chagrin) that I have taken the job done by the Public Works Department for granted. Thanks to the Citizens Academy for raising my awareness.  Now it's time for me to get my recycling to the curb. 

Who Put the Hit on Ponce?

Riding in Pedal and Play in Paradise has become an annual event for me. At its core, it's a bike ride sponsored by TEAM Punta Gorda and the Isles Yacht Club to benefit bike friendly initiatives and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. And while I could pretend that I ride to support these great causes, the truth is that's it just a really fun day.

Participants are given the choice of 60, 30 or 15 mile straight up rides or the 10 mile mystery ride.  Each year my intention is to sign up for at least the 15 mile ride (which, given the lack of elevation changes, is not a big deal). But each year the mystery ride sounds so entertaining that my good intentions go by the wayside.  This year was no exception.

Mayor Freeland with Inspector Tompkins

The mystery to be solved was the cold case of "Who Put the Hit on Ponce?"  As I'm sure you all know, Ponce de Leon died in 1521 after he was shot by an arrow poisoned with the sap of a Machineel tree. What you might not have known, though, is that the master mind behind this murder was one of Punta Gorda's own "Fat Point Four" (Mayor Carolyn Freeland, Police Chief Butch Arenal, Fire Chief Ray Briggs and City Manager Howard Kunik).  It was Scotland Yard investigator Bruce ("Sherlock") Tompkins who discovered this connection nearly 500 years after the fact.  And it was his intention to solve the mystery of which one of these city officials was responsible once and for all -- with the help of Dorrit (aka Watson/Vanna) and the mystery tour riders.  

As is customary in murder investigations, the footage from the interrogations was made available to the public.  (Click here to view the most hilarious of Bruce's videos. You might notice that only one of the suspects retained counsel.)

Bruce and Dorrit set up two clues booths (or what I called obfuscation stations) that were chock full of incredibly unhelpful information.  Janice and I rode to the booth in Gilchrist where we were confronted with over a dozen "clues" that said things like "Clues stated as declarative sentences are true," "The Mayor uttered one true sentence and one false sentence" and "The City Manager is incomprehensible, but is it just the peace pipe?" As we rode along and discussed the case, we realized that we were spending much more time analyzing Bruce than the leads we had been given. 

Me, Chief, Janice and Dorrit

When we arrived back at Laishley Park, we spent some quality time with Chief Phull-a-Bull, the Calusa Indian who had conducted the autopsy on Ponce. After more discussion, we cast our votes for the identity of the guilty party and awaited the verdict (while consuming way more calories than we had burned on our little ride). 

At the appointed hour, the suspects were lined up along with some Conquistadors there to maintain control of the situation.  Modern day police were also on hand to take custody of the offending party.  After much ado, Bruce announced that the responsible party was --- drum roll, please -- City Manager Howard Kunik. Really? I, for one, was very surprised -- and more than a bit dismayed that both Janice and I had voted for the wrong scoundrel.

The guilty party:  City Manager Howard Kunik

 

 Howard donned a prisoner's cap and was handcuffed and taken away.  He was immediately released pursuant to a work order so he could lead the City Manager's ride, another great Pedal and Play tradition.

Once again, it was a fun day Punta Gorda style.  I give a lot of credit not only to Bruce and Dorrit for scheming this whole thing up, but also to each of the "Fat Point Four" for participating with such gusto.  And, of course, to the volunteers from TEAM Punta Gorda and the Isles Yacht Club who made the whole event happen.  I'm already looking forward to next year. 

Visiting the Punta Gorda Police Department

Police Chief Butch Arenal

Our most recent session of the Citizens' Academy found us at the Punta Gorda Police Department.  Chief Butch Arenal kicked off the session by saying he wanted us to pay attention to the people in the PGPD, not the equipment. He then introduced us to some members of his "leadership team."  I thought we were at the police department, not a corporation.  What's going on here????

It turns out that Chief Arenal spends a good amount of time thinking about organizational culture. There are apparently two models for police departments: the traditional paramilitary police model and a private sector business model. The Chief's approach to guarding the residents of Punta Gorda is to merge these two models, with a heavy emphasis on the business side of the equation. The result: In 2013,  the PGPD was named the Pinnacle Business of the Year by the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce. 

What this means in practice is that the Department applies a number of business metrics to its analysis of how well it provides its services. Like every other department in the City of Punta Gorda, the Police Department has a serious focus on customer service. Staff volunteers follow up with people who requested police service to get their feedback -- and the information is diseeminated throughout the department.  Among other things, this practice promotes accountability. (So does having each police car painted with the name of the officer who drives it.)  To read about some of the other reasons why the PGPD won the Pinnacle Award, click here.

In other PGPD news:

--The PGPD has been awarded Excelsior Status by the Florida Commission of Law Enforcement Accreditation. Achieving this status requires that the Department receive accreditation without conditions for five consecutive terms (for a total of 15 years).  Fewer than 10% of the 400 law enforcement agencies in Florida have attained this status.

Lt. Joe King with PGPD bike and segway

--Youth programs are one of the PGPD's primary focus areas.  The Jammers Youth Basketball League is a co-ed summer basketball league coached by off-duty police officers.  The Jazzy Jammers Cheer & Dance Squad is kicking off this year for girls who don't play basketball. These programs provide an opportunity for the officers to serve as role models and mentors to at-risk kids in our community.  The PGPD also runs DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Do the Right Thing and School Resource Officer programs. (The School Resource Officer at Charlotte High has to get around on a segway since the campus covers 60 acres!)

--And now for some crime statistics (which, you might notice, are not the lead given the relative lack of crime in our community!) Chief Arenal shared the 2014 Uniform Crime Report Numbers with us. Overall, the crime rate in Punta Gorda was down 10% from 2013, and violent crime was essentially non-existent.  The Chief reported that, "We don't allow murders in Punta Gorda," and the record reflects that policy.  Forcible assaults were down from two in 2013 to zero in 2014 and aggravated assaults were down from 17 to five.  There were 39 burglaries last year (which includes bike thefts).  The Chief commented that in Punta Gorda, one or two burglaries constitutes a "rash" of thefts.

K9 Officer Lee Coel and Spirit

--Our reward for listening attentively to the Chief was a show-and-tell session. First, we spent a little time with K9 Officer Lee Coel and Spirit. Spirit is a 2-1/2 year old German Shepherd that was born in Czechoslavakia. (Among other characteristics, European German Shepherds have stronger knees than their American counterparts.) Spirit was selected from 22 dogs at a North Carolina kennel that raises dogs to be used by the military and police. Officer Coel and Spirit then went to a five month training school where Spirit became certified as a narcotics dog. (K9s can be certified in drugs or bombs, but not both.) In a recent K9 trial for the FL/GA/ALA region, Spirit came in 11th overall and 3rd in criminal apprehension. Coel and Spirit came in second as a team. Spirit's work life is expected to span nine-ten years.     

--Last  up was a Taser demonstration that two Citizens Academy students participated in. (I was jealous.)  After moving the front row of students out of harm's way, each participant aimed her weapon--which discharges 50,000 volts of electricity--at a paper target and let it rip.  I had always thought Tasers were pure streams of electricity, but it turns out there are two wires with metal prongs on the end that shoot out. The ideal is for one prong to go straight and the other to hit at a seven degree angle down so you strike the target both above and below the waist.  (The students did a good job of disabling their perps.) The most times members of the PGPD have had to actually Tase suspects in one year is seven. The officers have found that the mere threat of using a Taser (or letting a K9 loose, for that matter) is generally sufficient to persuade the suspect to surrender.

All in all, it was another interesting and enlightening session of the Citizens Academy.  As they used to say in Hill Street Blues, "Let's be careful out there."