Editor’s Letter
Happy early summer, gentle readers.
I hope 2021 is treating you well thus far, and that you’re
ready for the long, hot months ahead of us. On the island
we are entering the days of dwindling numbers of people,
icy treats at the Pink Pony and (for those of us who don’t
get out to the beach much) driving sunburns on our left
arm and side of our face.
Where I grew up in northern Illinois, this time of year
meant the carnival would be coming to town. If you
were a small-town kid from the Midwest, you might remember how much excitement you felt in the pit of your stomach
when you saw the fi rst posters go up all over town. I was a Tilt-a-Whirl girl all the way, with an occasional Ferris wheel ride or,
if I was feeling extraordinarily saucy, a go at the Round-up. That’s the Ferris wheel with enclosed cars that spin wildly like a
dervish while the larger wheel rotates as well. The sights, smells and sounds of the carnival played a huge part in my favorite
childhood memories: I still love a carnival to this day.
In this edition our new writer, T Michele Walker, brings to light some very interesting facts about another kind of traveling
entertainment – the circus. Sarasota has been the hub of activity for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus for
decades, and even though that particular brand of fun has all but died out, it still lives on the hearts and minds of those who
loved going. It’s a great read, and we hope you enjoy it.
Michele also wrote a very nice story about Lemon Bay High School and their incredible drama department. It’s been
another strange year for the youth of our community, and even for the older kids it’s a bit intimidating to have to face the
daily threat of a virus that may – or may not – make you very sick. They play Russian roulette more than most of us adults do,
as they’ve spent the last months wandering the halls of the schools with hundreds and hundreds of other kids. How can it
be all right to go to school together, but not go to prom, or to graduation? None of us have the answer for the best and safest
protocol, it seems, so we all play it by ear … and our children quite often suffer the most.
Read on, because you’ll also fi nd some tips on having groceries and other items delivered to your home on the barrier
islands (those with and without bridges), a great piece touting the benefi ts of coconut oil and a history piece about a lesserknown
person in our island’s history, Frank Crowninshield. Often known as “Louise’s husband,” he had a fascinating story of
his own, and the late Sara (Toni) Junkin tells it very well. The former Boca Grande resident and art historian passed away in
2016 but her legacy is well documented, and her writing is a treasure.
I hope each passing month fi nds you settling into the paradigm of a “new normal,” while allowing you to continue to enjoy
the facets of your life that come in the summer months, when the crowd thins out and Florida’s natural beauty is a sight to
behold. We have to remember not to judge those who handle these strange days differently than us, because everyone has a
path that seems right to them. Let’s just focus on the things we have in common, such as loving time on the water, in nature,
and with our family and friends.
Stay well, stay sane, and take care of each other and yourselves.
Marcy Shortuse
Editor-in-Chief, Gasparilla Magazine
14 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE • May/June • 2021