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Sarasota Magazine

Producer

Stephanie Churn Lubow

In Their Own Words

Maribel 'Belle' Stikeleather Helps Neurodivergent People Find Community

Stikeleather’s passion for the cause grew from a journey that began as a special education teacher in her native Philippines and the United Arab Emirates and later as a coach and clinical director in California.

01/02/2026 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

How Seven Local Women Turned Adversities Into Achievements

Their stories are inspirational.

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Danielle Wondrak Uses Her Own Childhood Grief to Heal Other Children

“There are more than 6,500 grieving children in the counties we serve. I’m grateful that I was in the right place at the right time to get this program started.”

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Jennifer Martin Is Thriving After Paralysis

“When your world changes, you have to make a decision. Are you going to sit there and not do anything?"

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Emily Meinke Stood Up to Dr. Larry Nassar’s Sexual Abuse

“A lot of people don’t disclose an assault because the legal system is so intimidating. Our goal is to make survivors feel safe so that more people are held accountable.”

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Anastasia Vavrenyuk Started a New Life in a Foreign Land

“I’m a little bit in shock at how this business has taken on a life of its own.”

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Barbara Chase Overcame Homelessness to Help Others in Need

“It feels so worthwhile to help others,” she says.

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Sigrid Olsen Conquered Business Collapse and Breast Cancer

“When I work with women in my retreats, I share with them my three-part process: Pause, breathe and reflect.”

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Resilient, Unbreakable, Strong

Sonya Johnson Overcame Decades of Drug Addiction

“I live my recovery out loud in both my professional and personal lives,” Johnson says.

07/02/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

The Big Question

Is Recycling a Waste of Time?

Here's what really happens after your recyclables are hauled away from the curb.

04/07/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Red Light Special

Infrared Saunas Offer a Unique Twist on the Sauna Experience

Instead of heating up the air around your body, an infrared sauna heats up your body from the inside.

01/10/2025 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

A Place to Grow

How Sarasota's Cyesis Program Helps Teen Parents Stay in School

“Cyesis was built to wrap expectant and parenting teens with the support they need most,” says program director Meredith Piazza.

09/01/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Waste Not

Sunflower Market Is Combating Food Waste by Selling Discounted Food That Might Otherwise End up in a Landfill

"I often joke that it’s a little bit like if Whole Foods and Ollie’s had a baby," says co-owner Lisa Crawford.

07/16/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Taking Root

Arbor Day Reminds Us of Majestic Beauty and Vital Role of Trees

Writer Stephanie Churn Lubow pays homage to her three favorite trees in Sarasota.

04/26/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

In the Middle of It All

In a Rapidly Changing Rosemary District, Resurrection House Remains Committed to Helping People Without a Place to Live

In Sarasota County, where homelessness is on the rise, the nonprofit day center provides unhoused individuals with food, clothing, showers and restrooms.

03/21/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Q & A

Friends of Myakka River Executive Director Miri Hardy on the Future of Myakka River State Park

"We want to find new, meaningful ways of engaging people."

03/11/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Rock Out

Where to Hear Live Local Music in Sarasota and Bradenton

After buzzy energy of the early 2000s and 2010s, the pandemic and changing economics took a toll on the local music scene. But there is still one out there—and it's been struggling to recover and find itself again. 

01/24/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Get Well Soon

Three Wellness Retreats for When You Need to Refocus and Recharge

Luckily, you don’t need to hop on a plane to find peace and solitude. Here are three retreats in the Sarasota area where you can dive in deep.

12/27/2023 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Joust Do It

Solomon's Castle in Tiny Ona, Florida, Is One Man's Creative Vision Made Real

The artist Howard Solomon began building the castle in the 1970s from found objects and reclaimed materials and lived there until his death in 2016.

12/06/2023 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

Q & A

CoreSRQ Is Now Part of the YMCA of Southwest Florida. Here's What That Means for Its Members.

We spoke with Michelle Mitchell, who is transitioning from her role as CEO of CoreSRQ to district executive director of the Y's new Sarasota City Branch and Palmer Ranch Branch.

12/05/2023 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

At Sarasota Magazine, we celebrate Sarasota’s vibrant culture, rich history, and bright future with award-winning, high-quality content that captures the spirit of our community.

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