If one was to rank the most dangerous jobs in the world, Nik Wallenda’s might just take the cake. For as real as the dangers are to say an underwater welder, a wind turbine technician or a logger, none involve walking a tightrope over Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon. For the King of the High Wire, Sarasota native and 7th-generation member of the Flying Wallendas family, walking the rope isn’t just an occupation, it’s a calling. It is what Nik Wallenda was put on this earth to do.

That calling is why Wallenda and his family face their fears—and those very real dangers—time and time again. On Saturday, November 8, Nik and his sister Lijana will attempt the first ever Criss Cross Skywalk during University Town Center’s (UTC) Santa’s Grand Arrival Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting. The stunt will feature two cables suspended above about 80 feet above the ground in the shape of an X—Nik and Lijana will meet each other in the middle, cross paths and continue on their way, talking to the audience the entire time. The Criss Cross Skywalk will mark Lijana’s first hometown performance, after a horrific accident in 2017 in which Lijana and seven other highwire performers fell 40 feet.

“It certainly will be emotional after that first performance,” says Wallenda. “The fact that she’s still alive is amazing, but also that she’s able to continue to do this, especially in our hometown, is more meaningful than anything.”

Wallenda credits both his and his sister’s ability to face down the high wire to mental fortitude. “I often think that our minds can become our worst enemy, they are what creates fear. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from walking the wire my entire life is that we’re in control of our thoughts and our thoughts are not in control of us,” says Wallenda. “We all know the analogy of the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other and how they’re always conversing. What I’ve learned is that if you focus on the angel’s side and not the devil’s, eventually that negative voice will diminish more and more.”

Part of Wallenda’s ability to quiet his mind and face his fears is evidenced based. Wallenda’s training is extensive—he practices on a 700 foot line in his backyard and trains in not only stabilization techniques, but in safety maneuvers in case something does go catastrophically wrong. “I remember walking across the Grand Canyon and getting hit with a 48 mph gust of wind, 1500 feet in the air with no safety devices around me,” says Wallenda. “Your mind wants to go crazy, but I counter that with the fact that I trained with wind machines that were over 90 mph for that walk.”

Criss Cross Skywalk at UTC’s Santa’s Grand Arrival Parade & Tree Lighting, November 8, 4-8pm, University Town Center 

Nik Wallenda walks the high wire above the Masaya volcano in Nicaragua in 2020. Provided photo.

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Limelight Market Shines Bright on Saturday, November 8 at The Bazaar! Join us for a fun-filled Limelight Market this Saturday, November 8 at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime from 10am–3pm! Discover guest vendors outside, shop from 40+ local creators inside, and enjoy live music all day long, sponsored by the Sarasota Bay Parrothead Club.These Parrotheads sure know how to “party with a purpose”—they’re bringing the U.S. Marines to collect new, unwrapped toys for their annual toy drive. Plus, meet some adorable puppies looking for homes from Tenderheart Charities! The Bazaar is located at 821 Apricot Ave, Sarasota. Free admission and parking! Come shop, eat, dance, and do a little good for the community. www.Bazaaaronapricotandlime.com  

The annual Sarasota Youth Opera production opens this weekend at Sarasota Opera, with only two performances November 8 and 9. Written in the 1930s by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krasa and originally performed by children at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during WWII, Brundibáa is a tale about a sparrow, a cat and a wise dog who help Annette and Little Joe raise money to save their ailing mother, despite the evil plans of the wicked organ grinder Brundibár. A story of resilience, this opera has a history as moving as its story. 

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Sarasota County Schools will host a Nursing Job Fair at Oak Park School on Monday, November 17, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, specifically for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) interested in working in a school-based setting. Oak Park School serves students with complex medical, cognitive, and emotional needs, and is looking for compassionate, skilled professionals to join its team. This is a great opportunity to make a lasting impact while enjoying the benefits of a school schedule.

Monday, November 17, 10:00am-12 pm, Oak Park School, 7285 Hand Road, Sarasota, 10-month positions with paid benefits, No registration required. Check in at the front desk with a valid ID. For additional questions, please contact recruitment@sarasotacountyschools.net 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) rejoices in the merriment of the holiday season with Deck the Halls, an interactive production celebrating the spirit of the season, created by Sarah Durham and Caroline Saldivar with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser. The second show in FST’s 2025-26 Children’s Theatre Series, this family favorite opens November 29 and runs through December 24, 2025, in FST’s Keating Theatre. Subscriptions are on sale now for as little as $18.75. For more information, visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org or call (941) 366-9000.  

 The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) presents “The Transformative Power of Mentorship,” an inspiring evening celebrating how mentorship can uplift individuals and strengthen communities. The program, which is part of WRC’s Wonder Women Collective series, features keynote speaker Jenny Jing Zhu—entrepreneur, author, and advocate—who will share her remarkable journey from a small village in rural China to leading Lush Décor, a $100-million U.S. company. The event includes a book signing (with complimentary copies provided by the Sarasota Forward Foundation), delicious food and beverages, and networking opportunities with professionals and community leaders. The event takes place Thursday, November 13, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at The Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. Tickets are $50 (general admission, which includes a book signing and a complimentary copy of Zhu’s book) and $100 (which also includes a ticket for a WRC client, staff member, or volunteer to attend.) 

Sarasota County Schools is hosting a Mini Job Fair at North Port High School on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 8:30 to 10:30am. This drop-in event offers job seekers the chance to learn about employment opportunities at North Port High and other school sites across the district. From instructional and support staff roles to maintenance, food and nutrition, and administrative positions, there are openings across a wide range of departments.

Friday, November 14, 8:30–10:30am, North Port High School, 6400 W Price Blvd, North Port. No registration is required. Attendees can check in at the front desk upon arrival. Please bring a valid ID. Whether you're seeking your first role in education or looking to take the next step in your career, we encourage you to stop by and connect with the Human Resources team. For questions, please contact recruitment@sarasotacountyschools.net 

A fun, fast-paced show that’s brand-new every time! VT’s teen improv troupe has been bringing laughter to the community since 2019. Carver Cleveland, Bailey Durgin, Avery Durgin, Jaylah Gerena, Makalah Foss, London McMinn & Ryan Lybarger been exploring and developing their improv, storytelling, acting, and teamwork skills this semester. Now they’re ready to entertain! One night only - November 9.  

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The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently partnered with the Center for Effective Philanthropy to prepare a Donor Perception Report based on anonymous survey data collected from foundation donors. The foundation scored 6.55 out of a total of 7 in overall donor satisfaction, a figure that ranks in the top 3 percent of community foundations nationwide. The foundation achieved similarly high scores when donors were asked if they would be likely to recommend the foundation to a friend or colleague (in the top 5 percent nationwide) and when they were asked to rate how responsive the organization is (in the top 7 percent). When donors were asked to evaluate the foundation’s impact on the Sarasota County area and how well the staff at the foundation understands the region, the foundation ranked at the very top of the center’s national rankings—setting new high-water marks for not only the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, but for community foundations across the nation.  

 Coastal Orthopedics, a full-service provider of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, spine care, diagnostic imaging and physical therapy service, recently announced that Dr. R. Stephen Otte, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and shoulder and elbow specialist, just completed his first case using the OsseoFit® Stemless Shoulder System. The OsseoFit is an anatomically shaped left- and right-side specific implant that is designed for stable initial and biological fixation by optimizing anatomic humeral fit to provide a robust solution for stemless anatomic shoulder arthroplasty. Ideal patients for anatomic shoulder arthroplasty and specifically stemless anatomic replacements are active individuals with shoulder arthritis and an intact rotator cuff. Surgeons at Coastal Orthopedics will replace the ball and socket that has arthritis with a metal and plastic joint to provide pain relief, with the stemless design allowing for more bone conservation. The implant provides a simple and reliable method for achieving precise anatomic tendon repair following joint replacement. 

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