- April 4, 2025
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Co-chairs of Cooking for the Arts are Ryan and Sepi Ackerman, and Molly and Ethan Biter, who are all parents at Southside Elementary School.
Photo by Janet CombsSouthside School Foundation for the Arts (SSFA) held its annual event, Cooking for the Arts, on March 28 at Michael's On East.
Photo by Janet CombsCo-chairs Sepi Ackerman and Molly Biter with SSFA president, Lindsay Howell (center)
Dylan and Shannon Eastman are parents of second and third graders at Southside Elementary.
Photo by Janet CombsLisa Jayne Warren-Wallace and her parents, David and Gina Warren
Lisa Jayne Warren-Wallace and her parents, David and Gina Wallace, holding a donated mixed media piece that was created by Southside Elementary art teacher, Amber Richter.
Photo by Janet CombsTerri and Michael Klauber, who was the live auctioneer.
Photo by Janet CombsSouthside School Foundation for the Arts held its annual gala, Cooking for the Arts, at Michael's on East on March 28.
Photo by Janet CombsCandy Moss, Jennifer McPheeters, Melissa Zolmierski and Jennifer McCoy
Photo by Janet CombsLindsay Martin, Florence Wright, Ellen Johnson, and Candy Moss
Co-chairs Ryan and Sepi Ackerman stop for a photo with Ryan's grandmother, Francis Zief, and his mom, Barbara Ackerman
Julie Groom, kindergarten teacher Dani Sobolewski and Alex Chau
Photo by Janet CombsSarah Anderson, with art teacher Amber Richter and her husband, Jimmy
Floyd and Tina Eicher
Photo by Janet CombsSouthside Elementary art teacher Amber Richter, and her husband, Jimmy, hold the whimsical mixed media piece that Amber created for the silent auction.
Photo by Janet CombsGabriel and Hilary Galt with Eric and Sarah Massey
Photo by Janet CombsSaxophonist Lisa Simmons, of @lis_sax in Sarasota, entertained the guests with music during the cocktail hour.
Photo by Janet CombsSouthside Elementary Behavior Specialist Stephanie Erickson, and ESE Liaison Danielle Ard
Photo by Janet CombsToni Gardner, Doug Elliott, Kyla Perry, John Freeman and Marissa Green
Photo by Janet CombsLaurel Appelwick and Amanda Hasbrook enjoy the cocktail hour before heading into dinner at Michael's on East.
Photo by Janet CombsEmily and Dr. José Pizarro with Michelle Rivas
Parents Thorin Lindsey, Jenn Dean, and Megan Lindsey
Ali Leeming and Cally Adkins
Photo by Janet CombsSamantha and Ted Wilson have a daughter entering kindergarten next school year, and came out to support Southside Elementary.
Photo by Janet CombsSecond grade teacher Patricia Cullen, and her husband, Eric
Photo by Janet CombsBobby and Lindsay Sweeting, with kindergarten teacher Kelly Holt
Co-chair Ethan Biter with his parents, Tina and Rich Biter
Southside Elementary moms Marisol Page, Ingrid Eichman, Valeria Shaha, Heidi Wells and Becky Miller
Photo by Janet CombsAnu Sandeep and Lindsay Kramer
Aimee Cogan, Montana Taplinger, Rochelle Nigri-Zolner and Lindsay Kramer
Photo by Janet CombsMichael's On East staff are ready for this unique cooking event and include Gabriel Malcolm, Raymond Alexander and Phil Mancini
Photo by Janet CombsLiebe Gamble, Liz Shallenberger and Lorri Alba are headed into dinner
Photo by Janet CombsHeidi and Jerry Wells came out to support Southside Elementary.
Photo by Janet CombsPhil Mancini of Michael's On East is prepared to begin cooking.
Photo by Janet CombsArchitect, artist, and designer Stephen Balut donated this piece to the live auction at the SSFA event held at Michael's on East on March 28.
Photo by Janet CombsFor the second year, Southside School Foundation for the Arts held a creative cooking event at Michael's On East March 28. With 250 in attendance, this sold out event is unique with two "chefs" from each table preparing dinner for everyone at the table in a hands-on cooking experience that is guided by local chefs Phil Mancini and Jamil Pineda of Michael's on East. Video cameras set up on stage allow everyone to follow along with the chefs.
With the theme of the evening being 'Cloud 9,' the co-chairs and committee decorated the space with big, poofy clouds, and guests were encouraged to choose attire with soft colors to garner a surreal ambiance with a hint of whimsy.
In addition to a silent auction, a live auction contained generous donations of concert tickets to see Usher in Miami, complete with a hotel stay, and the artwork of Stephen Bault who is a noted architect, artist and designer.
"I'm so excited to see another generation of family coming through Southside," said Michael Klauber, whose grandchildren are in attendance at the elementary school on Tamiami Trail. Klauber's daughter, Molly Biter, is a co-chair together with her husband, Ethan, and Sepi and Ryan Ackerman.
The proceeds from this event directly contribute to SSFA's funding, which supports a plethora of programs at Southside Elementary. These initiatives include the enhancement of the dance and performing arts program, the annual theater production, as well as various arts and cultural engagements for the students.
"Little artists are blooming and blossoming right before our eyes because of the outpouring of support for the arts at Southside Elementary," said Terri Klauber.
