“On the Road to SRQ”

June 8, 2013 | Sande Caplin | Blog

How did YOU get here?
In a city where VERY few people are ‘native Sarasotans’, I have always found it fascinating to know HOW and WHY people found their way to SRQ! This is the 1st of a series of articles featuring some of your Favorite People telling their OWN Stories!

Dayle Hoffmann
Actress

“July 2013 will mark nine years for me living in Sarasota. It’s a long time for me to be in one place, which means I must really like it here. Midwest living wasn’t for me, I was missing the beach and the warm weather. I chose Sarasota because of its natural beauty; surrounded by water almost everywhere you go, also for its handful of beaches and proximity to three airports. I moved to University Park CC thanks to a realtor I found online, the second house she showed me was just my style and after eight years it was time to move downtown SRQ where I’ve been for a year and half. What I love is being five minutes from everywhere, whether I walk or drive there is always something fun to do; live music, the theatre, art shows – you name it, Sarasota has it and added bonus for me is the demographic -there are an abundance of 30 somethings in the area who are gifted creatives with whom I can relate to.”

Rainer Scheer
Founder of Chillounge Night

“Sarasota is paradise. 15 years ago I did visit a friend…came back every year and moved to Sarasota from Mallorca Spain in 2002. Cheers “

Sande Caplin
Sande Caplin & Associates
The Sarasota Post

“Truth be known, I didn’t know anything about Sarasota 12 years ago. In fact, I knew very little about our beautiful Gulf Coast. We always took family vacations to the East Coast…..Ft. Lauderdale, Hallandale, Miami……the usual spots. On my first vacation / visit to Sarasota, I fell in love with the beauty, culture, people and so much more. I came back again 6 months later for another vacation and made the decision to move here. It was an easy choice…..leaving the cold weather of NY for the beautiful weather here. It was an easy move for me……find a place to live, get internet service and I was ready to go. The rest is history! I love Sarasota!”

Dan Dembicki
Musician
“In August 2011, I came to SRQ on a 90 consulting assignment which was extended another 60 days. Luckily, I was able to move my client work here and decided to stay. Next, I met some musicians and started playing at a few places which led to other opportunities to play music and meet more people.”After being here over the winter I’m a Michigan native, there was no reason to go back. Every day feels like a vacation in SRQ. I love it and am so very thankful to be here.”

Maurizio Colucci
Owner, Primo Ristorante

“Originally from Italy, my first visit to Florida was to Miami. I had been asked to come over as a consultant for the Palm Bay Hotel Company to introduce Italian cuisine and culture. While in Miami, I met my future wife which resulted in a visit to her parents in Sarasota. I found Sarasota very reminiscent of both the culture and architecture of Italy. I thought Sarasota would be the perfect place to start both a family and a business. I opened Primo’s Ristorante in 1986 and introduced the 1st wood-burning Pizza Oven in Florida! Twenty-seven years later, I am still happily living and working in Sarasota.”

Meredith Garofalo
Community Resource Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters on the Sun Coast
“I was born and raised in Cleveland, OH, and after traveling to South Dakota and back to Ohio for my TV career, I was offered the weekend meteorologist/weekday reporter job at ABC 7 Sarasota in February 2011. After two years on our local news, I chose to leave the TV business and stay on the Sun Coast to accept a job as Manatee County’s Community Resource Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. I chose to stay locally because the location is beautiful and there are so many wonderful things to do from eat at amazing local restaurants to enjoy time at one of our beautiful beaches. It’s also a great location too if I want to go to a bigger city as Tampa, Orlando, Naples, and Miami are all within 4 hours driving distance.”