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Plans submitted for new hotel in Siesta Key Village By Jane Bartnett The Siesta Sand Hotel, a new eight-story, 80-foot high, 170 room structure, designed to reflect the Sarasota School of Architecture’s “Sarasota Modern” style, may be the latest addition to the Village of Siesta Key. The Sarasota County Planning and Development Services Department must give the green light before plans can proceed. Special Exceptions to the County’s Unified Development Code are required for a building of this height, and for a hotel to stand in Siesta Key’s commercial district. The Siesta Sand has learned that the first steps in the process have been taken to move the project forward. The Sarasota law firm of Icard Merrill submitted a Pre-Application to the County Planning Department on May 18th, and in early June, the Planning Committee reviewed the plans and requested additional information from the investor’s group. When asked for comment on the proposal following the Committee’s review, Icard Merrill attorney William W. Merrill, III,
told the Siesta Sand that “my client plans to proceed with the project as outlined in the pre-application process and contemplates some modifications.” The near one acre of land that would house the new hotel spans the northeast intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road. The property is under a long-term ground lease and currently houses office space, multi-family-apartments, and commercial parking. Before the project can move forward, a public meeting must also be held prior to County approval and the start of construction. The architect for the project is Mark Sultana, founder and principal architect of Sarasota based, DSDG Architects. Recognized for his modern residential and commercial designs, Sultana’s commercial portfolio includes the Sarasota Yacht Club, Save our Seabirds, Lido Key, and the Oceane Siesta Key condominium. Plans reviewed by the Siesta Sand show that the design of the new hotel is slated to “complement and be consistent with the style
Continued on page 39
SKA cites 15 issues needing resolution before dredging of Big Pass can begin
The health of Siesta Key Beach… everyone’s duty By Jane Bartnett
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com By June 4, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) had all the required pre-construction documents for the Lido Key Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project, The Sarasota News Leader learned. Therefore, department staff members figuratively “started the clock” for the formal 15-day review period, FDEP spokeswoman Dee Ann Miller told the News Leader. “The permit remains valid and the Permittees will be made aware if the
Department or FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] has concern with any of the pre-construction submittals,” Miller wrote in her email. FDEP issued the permit for the Lido project in June 2018. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the City of Sarasota were the applicants. However, on June 12, leaders of the Siesta Key Association (SKA) initiated one more effort to try to stop the removal of
Page 17 Surf’s Up ,,, Have a Seat
Key intersection for proposed new hotel in Siesta Key Village. Photo courtesy of VisitSarasota.com
Continued on page 38
The health of Siesta Key Beach … everyone’s duty By Jane Bartnett “Following the Covid 19 lockdown, so many more people brought their dogs to beach this year,” said the Audubon Society’s Kylie Wilson, speaking of early spring days when Siesta Key Beach re-opened. “We are not anti-dog,” she said noting that the rush of residents and visitors to the beach coincided with birds nesting season. For birds such as the Snowy Plover, Wilson said, “the
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only protected birds that nest on Siesta Key,” spring is a critical time. Audubon monitors the Snowy Plovers carefully, Wilson noted, said that the group has posted signs at Siesta Key Beach Access 10, near the small white birds nesting sites. “Unfortunately, there have been many human and dog tracks in the area,” she said. “We want to educate people about the impact that dogs and humans can have on a nest,” she stated. When people visit a beach and let their dog off their leashes to Continued on page 38
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County Engineer Seeks Special Assessments to Help Pay for Repairs on North Casey Key Road By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com As Sarasota County Public Works Department staff labored in early June to repair a section of North Casey Key Road shattered by Tropical Storm Cristobal, County Engineer Spencer Anderson was considering another attempt to try to win County Commission approval of a special property assessment to help pay for the long-term stabilization of that area and another on Casey Key. One area would encompass the section of 712 N. Casey Key Road, where Cristobal fractured a step revetment dating to about 1990, causing its collapse as well as that of the southbound lane. In a second area of Casey Key, erosion has threatened one of the county’s potable water lines. “The sea state was extremely rough over the [previous] weekend due to Cristobal,” Anderson stressed during a June 9 press conference. During their June 7 assessment, Anderson said, the Public Works crew members found “a large void” under the road that was about 2 feet deep and 20 feet long. That was why staff closed the road to traffic from the 700 block to the 500 block. The damaged step revetment — which was approximately 1,600 feet long — was made of cement and a mix of shell and sand, Anderson has explained to the County Commission. “Over time, it’s been eroding away from environmental factors,” he said during the June 9 news conference. Following emergency repairs, one lane of traffic reopened to the public about 3 p.m. on
June 9. Anderson said it likely would be June 15 or 16 before the second lane would be ready for traffic. During a June 11 Facebook Live interview, Anderson explained to county Media Relations Officer Brianne Grant that staff was using a machine
Anderson explained during the press conference, the design of a new rock revetment the County Commission authorized last year also is in process. As part of a June 2019 budget workshop, Anderson first talked at length about staff’s proposal for two projects to deal with
Sarasota County staff maintenaning Casey Key Road erosion
called a spider excavator to place rubble riprap along the shoreline. The limestone rocks come from natural formations in the ground, he pointed out. The next step, he continued, would be to fill in voids created by erosion. “Then we’ll build this lane back up” and resurface it with asphalt, he added. In July 2019, he continued, staff had to repair another section of the road “with somewhat similar damage” to what appeared on June 7. That area is just a bit north of the new scene of concerns, he said.
The long-term approach With the repairs underway,
continuing problems along North Casey Key Road. Along with authorizing the new revetment, the commissioners have approved a project in the 2100 block of the road to safeguard the potable county water line. The total cost of those initiatives will be about $8 million, Anderson said. Both in June 2019 and in February, Anderson broached the idea of reviving a special taxing district on part of Casey Key, which would help cover the county’s expenses. A Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) was created in the late 1980s to
pay for the step revetment on Casey Key Road that has continued to be compromised by erosion, Anderson told the commissioners. The district covered property on about half of the barrier island, he noted during the June 9 news conference. However, after all the funding was secured for that earlier project, he told the commissioners, the MSTU assessment was reduced to zero in 1996 on the tax bills of those property owners. Since the MSTU never was dissolved, Anderson added, the opinion of the Office of the County Attorney is that it could be used to help finance the new projects. When Anderson brought up the MSTU proposal in June 2019, Commissioners Michael Moran, Charles Hines and Christian Ziegler said they felt it would be unfair to approve a new tax for the owners of the approximately 300 affected parcels on Casey Key without giving those persons the opportunity to comment. Anderson had estimated the assessment for each parcel would be about $1,200 a year. In February, when Anderson appeared again before the board, he discussed the outreach that had taken place since last year. In fact, he said, staff was present at the January Casey Key Association meeting to make a presentation on the MSTU. Yet, Lisa Napolitano, president of that association, told the commissioners on Feb.
4 that the position of all of her organization’s members was that the county needs to pay for repairs to Casey Key Road, because so many members of the public use that route, for tourism and for bicycling, especially. That day, Commissioner Nancy Detert joined Moran, Hines and Commissioner Alan Maio in asserting that the county should take on the funding responsibility for that reason. Ziegler offered no comments. Since then, the county — like all other local government bodies — has been faced with reducing expenses because of the recession brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic. When the SNL asked Anderson on June 9 whether he planned once more to broach with the commission the idea of reviving the Casey Key MSTU, he replied, “Yes, that will be a consideration.” He anticipated that later this year or early next year, “The board might take that up …” The SNL made multiple, unsuccessful attempts to reach Commission Chair Michael Moran, to ask whether he planned to seek the scheduling of another discussion of the MSTU when the board meets in July. (No other meetings were scheduled in June after the board members met on June 3.) Until the long-term repairs on North Casey Key can be completed — with or without MSTU funds — Anderson said the interim repairs should allow for safe travel.
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Financial Focus As an investor, you constantly want to see your portfolio move just one way – up. But that’s not possible, because the financial markets will always fluctuate. So, if you’re going to invest for many decades, you need to be prepared for many ups and downs. Still, the recent market pullback from record highs, caused largely by the coronavirus, may have you particularly concerned. How can you navigate this environment?
Here are five suggestions:
•A void the temptation to panic. This pullback, while unsettling and unprecedented because of its speed, won’t last forever. And when it ends, you’ll still want to be invested in the financial markets, because the biggest gains usually occur in the earliest stages of a market rally. Of course, there are no guarantees in the investment world, but we’ve seen many examples of this
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pullback/rebound pattern throughout history. • Measure your progress against your goals. In the midst of a market downturn, it’s tempting to look back longingly at the peak value of your portfolio, and that’s especially true these days, when that high point may well have been just a couple of months ago. But this isn’t a good “measuring stick” of your financial situation. Instead, consider the overall progress you’ve made toward your longterm goals since you first started investing. If you’ve been at it for quite some time – at least a decade – you’ll probably see that you’ve actually come a long way, despite what’s happened lately. So, if your goals haven’t changed, your strategy to achieve them shouldn’t either. • Put time on your side. If you are investing for
goals that may be two or three decades away, you have the advantage of time to overcome market downturns, even severe ones. After all, you weren’t going to be cashing in long-term investments now, anyway. That’s not to say this pullback is irrelevant, of course – it may indeed slow your progress toward your goals, but it still shouldn’t stop you from achieving them. Here’s another point: If you need money from your portfolio for short-term goals, such as a wedding or a long vacation, you should keep those funds in investments that offer greater protection of principal – such as high-quality bonds and government securities – and are far less susceptible to fluctuating financial markets. • Benefit from diversification. The headlines show how
much the major stock market indexes, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, have fallen. But if you’ve built a diversified portfolio, containing a mix of stocks, bonds and other investments, your own results, while not great, are probably much better. Although diversification can’t always prevent losses or guarantee profits, it can help reduce the impact of volatility on your holdings and smooth out returns. • Go “against the crowd.” When prices are falling, it’s not hard to join the crowd and start selling, in an attempt to “cut losses.” But cutting losses really means locking them in. Right now, prices of quality investments are lower than they’ve been in years, which can make for compelling buying opportunities for those investors willing to go against the crowd.
Even by following these moves, you can’t eliminate all the effects of the market drop – but you may be able to create a softer landing for yourself.
Joe St.Onge, ChFC® Financial Advisor Edward Jones Investments 5112 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, FL 34242 (941)-346-0560 phone (941)-320-4030 mobile Joe.StOnge@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Edward Jones. Member SIPC. Advertorial
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Island Chatter By Rachel Brown Hackney
Construction of new Crescent Tower to start this fall
Sarasota County Planning and Development Services staff has authorized the construction of a new, four-story condominium building at Crescent Towers, which is located at 1035 Seaside Drive on the southern portion of the Key. That formal go-ahead was issued on May 4, Mark Loveridge, the county’s land development manager, told the SNL. “Zoning was already in place for this site, so [the application] just went through Site and Development approval under permit No. 20-104154-DS,” Loveridge wrote in a June 9 email to the SNL. No public hearings were required, he noted. On Jan. 21, Weiqi Lin of Port and Coastal Consultants in Sarasota submitted plans for the project to Planning and Development Services. Lin was acting on behalf of David Lehrman, manager of 1035 SSD LLC, which officially is the developer. Lehrman’s company bought the Crescent Towers property in November 2019, according to the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office. The selling price was $22,298,484, the record says. The sale was “part of a consolidated transaction” through which 1035 SSD LLC acquired “all of the various property and cooperative share interests at Crescent Towers Apartments,” the deed notes. The seller was the Christopher S. King Trust, whose address is 7929 Oak Grove Circle in Sarasota. Crescent Towers’ website says the complex offers “roomy Studio Apartments, either located beachfront or poolside. Our ground floor and second-floor units have screened balconies and patios. The older buildings will make way for the new one, Lehrman told the SNL in an email. Construction is planned to start around November, he wrote, with anticipation the build-out will take 20 months. The zoning of the site is Residential Multi-Family 3, under the aegis of the Siesta Key Overlay District (SKOD), Lin noted in the Jan. 21 materials submitted to the county. The new structure will stand 45 feet over two levels of parking, he added. The proposed impervious area of 20,294 square feet, he continued, “is less than the 50% max allowed by SKOD zoning …” The total area of the site is 107,483 square feet, or 2.477 acres, the materials said. Planner Joshua Law had noted in one exchange with Lin that the zoning allows for 13 units per acre; thus, the 32 units comply with the density requirements. Further, Lin wrote that the planned open area would encompass 75,477 square feet, or 70% of the site, well above the SKOD minimum of 30%. A total of 72 parking spaces will be created, with 64 of those designated for the 32 units and another seven for guest parking. Three handicapped parking spaces will be included in the total, Lin pointed out. In regard to landscaping: A local street buffer standing 6 feet tall with 10% opacity “must be
provided along Seaside Drive even though it is privately owned,” one county staff member wrote, with emphasis, in the documents. Further, 10-foot-wide buffers with 20% opacity will be required on the northern and southern property boundaries, the same staff member pointed out.
the next day in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the decision also was made to cancel the free Siesta Key Breeze trolley service. That was seen as one means of discouraging people from trying visit the beach, a county document explains.
Chamber holds in person networking event
On June 16, the service finally resumed. The trolley runs between Turtle Beach Park and Siesta Village.
Two-thirds of Oceane units sold
With the Georgia-based developer of the Oceane complex — CG Oceane LLC — formally
The Chamber held its first in-person networking event since mid-March! The members were so happy to meet at SKOB for a delicious breakfast and the chance to catch up. Thank you to the following businesses who made door prize donations: Sherwin Williams, Eddie’s Airport Limousines of Sarasota, Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary, Our Y, and EarResistible Hearing Centers.
Trolley time again
On March 20, as Sarasota County staff was preparing to close all its public beach accesses
Chamber members enjoy networking breakfast at SKOB.
having made its Declaration of Condominium on Nov. 4, 2019, units have been selling, the SNL found in a recent search of records kept by the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. In its declaration, CG Oceane officially submitted the land “and all improvements erected or to be erected thereon … to the condominium form of ownership and use in the manner provided by the Condominium Act …” That act is detailed in Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes, the declaration explains. Located at 4740 Ocean Blvd., the solitary Oceane building faces Big Pass. It has three floors over a covered parking area, the declaration notes. Each of the six units will have a minimum of four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, the declaration adds. “Time-share estates shall not be created with respect to any Unit within the Condominium,” the declaration points out. Continued on page 20
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Sand Renourishment For South Siesta Approved By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com If all goes as planned, in a little more than four years, residents on the southern portion of Siesta Key will be seeing trucks hauling sand to the shoreline to fill in areas eroded by a hurricane in the late summer of 2017. On June 3, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously authorized such an initiative, with most of the funding to come from the federal government. A June 3 staff memo did point out that the undertaking “will result in disruption of the Turtle Beach Park for a period of about a month in the November-December 2024 timeframe.” Not long after Sarasota County completed its second renourishment of the south Siesta Key shoreline, Hurricane Hermine swept through the area, chewing away chunks of that new sand, Rachel Herman, manager of the county’s Environmental Protection Division, pointed out to the County Commission on June 3. As a result, a “scalloping” effect is visible in aerial photos of the project area, which includes both Turtle Beach Park and Turtle Beach Campground and extends south to Palmer Point Park, Herman said; she showed the board members slides to illustrate her comments. The truck haul project was proposed because the mobilization expense to pursue offshore dredging of the
Shoreline comparison February and May 2020
estimated 92,505 cubic yards of sand “is considered to be unreasonable,” compared to the cost of equipment mobilization for a full renourishment project, a county document in the June 3 agenda packet explained. “Turtle Beach was last renourished to its full template beach design between March 9, 2016 and April 26, 2016,” the document noted. The first nourishment of the shoreline was completed in 2006, Herman noted. In 2016, about 2.1 miles of shoreline was restored with
sand from three borrow areas that were approximately 8 to 10 miles offshore, a county document said. The total quantity of new sand was 713,563 cubic yards. Then, between Aug. 31, 2016 and Sept. 11, 2016, the document added, “Hurricane Hermine generated hurricane strength storm water surges, wave action and destructive currents, which caused beach erosion damage in Sarasota County … A major disaster … was declared on September 28, 2016.” On Dec. 28, 2017, Herman told
the commissioners, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the county a grant to replace sand lost to the storm. In March 2017, Herman told the commissioners, FEMA staff originally decided to defer the repair of the Hermine damage until the county’s next planned South Siesta Key Beach Renourishment Project, which was set for 2026. Herman said FEMA more recently proposed the truck-haul project as an interim measure to restore the shoreline. That way, she pointed
out, the agency could go ahead and reimburse the county and close out the paperwork on the initiative. A June 3 staff memo explained that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), “the pass-through state agency,” granted a time extension until Sept. 28, 2020, for the allocation of the FEMA funds. That was the longest the state agency could wait, based on the authority it has, the memo added. “This was done with the understanding that a second Time Extension would be required to defer the project until the estimated timeframe of the next planned nourishment in 2026.” After staff filed the second time extension request, the memo continued, “FDEM and FEMA notified staff via email and then a conference call in November 2019 that, instead of deferring storm damage repair until 2026, Sarasota County should consider an interim project using sand transported by dump trucks from an inland sand mine …” The estimated cost of the South Siesta project would be $6,300,300, Herman noted during her June 3 presentation. The county would be responsible for 12.5% of the total, which is expected to be $787,537, according to another slide she showed the commissioners. If the county went ahead and Continued on page 27
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Commissioners approve vacation of county right of way on Dona Bay By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com Two members of the public objected — and one Sarasota County commissioner initially did. However, by the end of a June 3 public hearing regarding a petition for the vacation of a 9,655.8-squarefoot county right of way on Dona Bay, all the commissioners voted for approval. It was the first such action regarding county right of way on the water since Siesta Key resident Michael Cosentino brought suit against the county in June 2016 because of the commission’s vacation of a 373-foot-long segment of North Beach Road. The petitioners in this situation were Brian McMurphy and Brians Land Nokomis LLC, which have a Venice address. Hayley Baldinelli, manager of the county’s Property Management Division, explained that McMurphy is the principal of the limited liability company. He owns the three parcels that surround the portion of Bayview Parkway that he sought to be vacated, Baldinelli said. In his application, McMurphy noted that the “unimproved right of way significantly impacts [his] ability to redevelop [his] property and meet current County [land development] standards.” A June 3 staff memo did note that while Cosentino had lost in the litigation he began at the 12th Judicial Circuit Court level, he has appealed Circuit Judge Andrea McHugh’s final order to Florida’s Second District Court
of Appeal. The memo added that “the decision whether to proceed with any application to vacate a road which runs along a waterbody or waterfront vista is a policy decision [for] the Board of County Commissioners. … The more conservative and cautious approach would be to wait until the appeal has concluded,” the memo continued. “However, based on the thoroughness of the circuit court’s order, the Office of the County Attorney believes this risk is low.” In October 2019, while McHugh was away on emergency family leave, Circuit Court Judge Hunter Carroll ruled that two Sarasota County Charter amendments that Cosentino wrote and was able to get on the November 2018 General Election ballot were invalid
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Letter to the Editor Dear Editor,
Many area homes are situated on waterways that meander because they conflicted with state through our beautiful Islands law. The first called for the County and homesites. Fishing in Commission to rescind its vacation our canals and open waters of the portion of North Beach is a pastime enjoyed by both Road, or reacquire the right of residents and renters. way. The second, Charter Section What too many casual 3.10, prohibited the vacation of fishermen don’t know is that any county right of way that had they should never leave an so much as a waterfront vista. unattended fishing line out in a However, Carroll ruled that the canal. If you are fishing in a first sentence of Section 3.10 could canal, please know that our be severed from the rest of the waters are not very deep, so if amendment. He called the second you don’t reel your line in, it can sentence “an encouragement easily end up around a boat’s to maximize rights-of-way use propeller. for public access and viewing When this happens, it is waterfront vistas.” not simply the loss of the Last year, McHugh combined fisherman’s bait or lure. The into one case the North Beach far bigger damage is done Road lawsuit and legal challenges when that fishing line slices the that had been filed against the seal to the motor’s lower unit. amendments. The damage caused is both
environmental and mechanical and can cost the boat owner hundreds of dollars to replace a shredded lower unit seal, or thousands of dollars if the lower unit gears are damaged from the loss of lubricant. I don’t think I need to mention where that lubricant ends up when the lower unit seal is compromised. So, if you are a resident, please take heed, but equally important, if you are a renter of a home on a canal, PLEASE leave instructions for your guests to never leave fishing lines out unattended, and be sure to reel in when boats are passing. Thank you, John Sollazzo AKA Siesta John
Continued on page 39
Happiness Is…Celebrating the Red, White, & Blue Summer is here and while we may not be able to celebrate with the traditional bang of fireworks this year, the folks at Abel’s Ice Cream aren’t letting this holiday pass by without honoring our beautiful nation. Come in and get a taste of patriotism in a cup or cone of Strawberry - a perennial winner (Creamy strawberry ice cream with chunks of real strawberries and a strawberry swirl), Vanilla (Our award winning smooth & creamy vanilla
ice cream) an all-time classic, or “C” is for Cookie (Vibrant blue vanilla ice cream loaded with cookie dough pieces and crushed cookies) which is sure to become a new fan favorite. Or better yet, combine these red, white and blue flavors into the perfect sundae. Enjoy the season at Abel’s with outdoor and limited indoor seating. We take your safety seriously and are taking every precaution to make sure your experience positive and delicious. Happy Independence Day!
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Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon-9:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from Noon-10 pm. Learn more online at their website, www.abelsicecream.com or connect with them on Facebook and Instagram. Awarded their Certificate of Excellence for SIX years straight!
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Building a Better Bowl By Nicole Kenedy
Paw Pals
Big or small, hound or herder, each and every dog has unique nutritional needs. But regardless of breed, size, shape or activity level, the best way to keep any dog healthy is by feeding them a diet that is nutritionally balanced and complete. Still, for your precious pup, that can leave a lot to be desired. Just like us, without a little variety dogs can miss nutrients they need and get bored with the same old, tired meals. While some owners have the option to go homemade, for those that don’t there are plenty of ways to make your dog’s meals healthier and more appealing. Want to upgrade your dog’s diet and add a little excitement to mealtime? Here’s how you can build a better bowl.
Meet Stanley
The Essentials
A balanced bowl begins with the base where your dog gets 90% of their nutrition. Whether that comes in the form of kibble, raw food, wet canned or freeze-dried options can be determined by your dog’s preferences, your budget, and a number of other factors. The important thing is that you ensure that base is from a reputable source and nutritionally rock solid.
Mixing it Up
Once your base is established, there are a number of ways to take things up a notch to provide added health benefits and enjoyment. Hydrators – Like their human counterparts, many dogs don’t drink enough water. Without a mobile app to remind them, it’s up to us to make sure they’ve got the hydrators they need to keep their diet from being too dry. Adding liquids such as bone broth or goat milk can help whet their whistle, add important nutrients and a little extra flavor, and aid digestion as well. Mixers and Toppers – If your dog is getting enough from their base, but you really want to dial up certain benefits, mixers or toppers are a great way to go. Rich with nutrients, mixers and toppers are available in a number of formats like cans, packs, and pouches, and can help round out your dog’s diet with the ingredients they need to thrive. Supplements – Prevent common issues and promote long-term health with the help of vitamins, herbs and superfoods. Without the proper intake, many dogs can suffer from digestive problems, hip and joint pain, anxiety, skin and coat complications, immune system shortfalls, allergies, heart trouble, and more.
Specific Selections
While most dogs’ diet needs are similar,
every dog is different, and a number of factors can influence how you build your pup a better bowl. General dietary needs vary by breed and size, but there are other components to consider. First, age. Overall, puppies require more food, can handle larger portions, and eat more frequently as their bodies grow. For senior dogs you may want to drop the portion size, but bump up the hydration with some options discussed earlier. Second, fitness. Got an especially active dog? Consider hydrators and toppers to keep joints lubricated, curb fatigue, and bump up the energy gained from useful protein. Is your dog under weight? A highcalorie supplement could be the answer. Third, condition. What other factors are affecting your dog’s well-being? From digestive issues to pesky allergies and frequent anxiety, you may need to address specifics when crafting your dog’s diet. Additionally, there may be other factors that distinguish your dog’s health outlook from others. Things like geography (urban vs. rural) or climate (hot vs. cold) can impact activity, hydration, and more, and should be examined when building your bowl. Finally, don’t forget to offer a change of pace. Think about your own diet: you’d get tired of even your favorite meal if you were forced to eat it every day. Feeding your dog the same thing can be boring. Plus, rotating ingredients can help you achieve a better dietary balance.
Helpful Guides
Going beyond a standard doggie diet to build a better bowl requires some extra effort, but it’s nothing that can’t be alleviated with the help of great resources. Start by consulting your veterinarian for recommendations that will address your
dog’s nutritional needs. Your vet has the expertise to suggest what’s required for your dog’s diet based on their life stage and lifestyle, and they know your pup almost as well as you do. Then pay a visit to your local independent pet store to investigate your options. In addition to carrying great pet food selections that can establish your dog’s dietary base, well-informed employees can point you to the hydrators, mixers, toppers, and supplements that can help you build your dog a better bowl.
Author: Nicole Kenedy, a Store Manager at DOGPerfect. Nicole has over 10 years of experience in the pet industry and is an expert when it comes to helping pet parents choose the right food for their dog. DOGPerfect is a local, independently owned pet retail store with locations in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and University Park. Learn more at www.dogperfect.com.
On a summer night three years ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins won their fifth Stanley Cup. That same day, a family originally from the Burgh chose this handsome guy as a member of their family and named him Stanley to commemorate their happiness in both occurrences. Stanley is a smart and fun-loving Goldendoodle who loves to frolic with other doggie friends. He always welcomes an offer of ice cream from one of the local shops. He is the only dog we’ve ever met who burps like his humans and is never ashamed of it! Stanley is a talker! He howls, sighs, barks, and whines his protection, dissent, or complete satisfaction. Here he is posing for a picture with what his family calls his “dainty paws”. Stanley is surely a winner (much like the Penguins) in our book!
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County breaks ground for new Fire Station 13
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Shortly before 11:30 a.m. on June 15, all five Sarasota County commissioners joined Fire Chief Michael Regnier in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new $5.4-million Fire Station 13, which will stand next to Siesta Public Beach. Along with Commission Chair Michael Moran and Commissioners Christian Ziegler and Alan Maio, Regnier also offered remarks to the socially distanced audience. Ziegler pointed to the uniqueness of the station, in that it serves a No. 1 Beach in the United States. Stephen Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach for his annual Top 10 Beaches list,
has accorded the highest honor to Siesta Public Beach twice in the past decade. Not only are the firefighters and paramedics “expected to do a lot” in terms of their lifesaving work, Ziegler added, “but they’re also ambassadors for our community.” All three commissioners offered praise for Regnier and for the approximately 550 men and women who serve in the Sarasota County Fire Department. And Regnier took the opportunity to thank the Siesta Key Fire Rescue Advisory Council, which has provided numerous donations to the department over the years. Among them, he noted, is a
custom emergency response vehicle that the nonprofit organization gave the Station 13 crew several years ago. It will be housed along with one fire truck and one rescue unit in the new, two-story facility, Regnier noted. If all goes according to plan, Regnier said, it should take about a year to construct the 10,500-square-foot station. That facility has been designed to withstand a Category 4 hurricane, he added. Sarasota architectural firm Sweet Sparkman designed the new Fire Station 13, and Willis A. Smith Construction of Sarasota will build it.
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Your Go-To Store on the Island Morton’s Siesta Market is your one-stop shop for easy island living. We offer a large selection of staple groceries, beer and wine, as well as fresh produce, meats and seafood. In keeping with our Morton’s tradition, we also carry a delicious array of prepared foods, perfect for take-out, picnics, parties and more.
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Petition filed for new home construction seaward of the county’s Gulf Beach Setback By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com The last time the Sarasota County Commission considered a petition for construction of a new home seaward of the county’s Gulf Beach Setback, on land where no structure ever had stood, was in October 2015. On a unanimous vote, the commissioners made it clear they would not allow such a project. Then-Commissioner Paul Caragiulo noted that he was not on the board when the owners of the property — Ron and Sania Allen of Osprey — made two previous attempts to get a home built there, seaward of North Beach Road. However, he continued, he felt that allowing them to construct even the smaller residence they proposed on their third try would set “a precedent I’m really not comfortable with …” The site at the heart of that public hearing — 162 Beach Road — had been underwater in past decades, as former Commissioner Nora Patterson of Siesta Key had pointed out before she stepped down from the board in 2014. “I’ve been particularly hard on coastal variances in the past,” then-Commissioner Christine Robinson said during the October 2015 public hearing. The petition before the board that day, she added, “has tremendous impact on the surrounding residences, especially when you start talking about some of the pictures that we have seen.” Howard Berna, manager of the county’s Environmental Permitting Division, had shown the commission numerous slides to illustrate what Berna called “the dynamic nature of our coastal system.” Then, and in subsequent years, commissioners and county Environmental Permitting Division staff members have emphasized that the Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL) is the figurative “line in the sand” established in 1979. As Commissioner Nancy Detert put it during a May 6 public hearing, “The idea of our setback line is to keep houses
safe from storms and protect our beaches …” Yet, in late August, the commission once again will consider a petition for a new residential structure fully seaward of the GBSL. As in the Allens’ case, this home would stand on land where nothing ever has been built. The residence would be west of the 373-foot-long segment of North Beach Road that the County Commission vacated in May 2016. Acting on behalf of Siesta property owner and manager Michael Holderness, former county Environmental Permitting staff member Weiqi Lin applied to county staff in late January for this new project. It calls for a pile-supported, two-storyover-parking, single-family residence that would be a maximum of 166.91 feet seaward of the GBSL. Lin noted that the structure would stand a minimum of 22.7 feet “more landward than the line of existing construction …” It also would be 228.37 feet landward of the Mean High Water Line (MHWL), Lin wrote. Along with the house, the proposal calls for a swimming pool, a pool deck, a driveway and a landscape retaining wall. The swimming pool would be a maximum of 183.66 feet seaward of the GBSL, the application said. Berna of the Environmental Permitting Division told The SNL that the Coastal Setback Variance petition has been scheduled for a public hearing on Aug. 26. The staff report, which will be part of the packet for that hearing, “has not been finalized,” he added. Lin did acknowledge in the Holderness application that a November 27, 2019 survey performed by Red Stake Surveyors Inc. of Sarasota found that 100% of the parcel is seaward of the GBSL. Officially, the vacant parcel is identified as Lot 14, Block 7, of the Mira Mar Beach Subdivision. Holderness, who bought that parcel and two others adjacent
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to it in August 2016, replanted dune vegetation on it, Lin added. The Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office’s record for the property says the land has no value associated with it. Comprising 8,909 square feet, the parcel is zoned Residential Multi-Family, the record notes. In the application, Lin pointed out that that the zoning allows 6 units per acre.
More details of the proposal
The proposed residential structure has been designed “as far landward as practicable” to comply with the side yard zoning setback requirement, which is a minimum of 7 feet, Lin continued. “No room to pull it further back unless a zoning side yard setback variance is granted,” he added. The proposal also calls for the new home to have a maximum height of 35 feet. However, that would be calculated above the
planned ground floor garage comprising 1,266 square feet. The habitable area of the home would be elevated to 18.3 feet above ground level, in compliance with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s 100-year storm modeling for that area of the island. Lin also pointed out that the house would be located landward of an accreted beach. Historical MHWL data sets from a joint study undertaken for Sarasota and Charlotte counties in 2002, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Historic Shoreline Database, indicate that the beach accreted 95.4 feet from the MHWL from 1987 to 2001, at an annual rate of accretion of 6.8 feet per year, he wrote. Then, from 2001 to 2015, he continued, the beach accreted another 151.41 feet, at an annual rate of 10.09 feet.
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The Coastal Setback Variance (CSV), Lin contended, would provide for the “minimal, reasonable, development of the subject property …” That language references state and county regulations regarding coastal construction and private property rights. Moreover, Lin noted, the new house would have habitable area of 3,408 square feet, which is smaller than the condominium complex under construction at 89 N. Beach Road. The County Commission also approved the plans for that complex in May 2016, following the same public hearing in which it agreed to the vacation of the segment of North Beach Road. As Holderness did not own parcels along North Beach Road in May 2016, he was not among the three sets of property owners who petitioned for the road vacation.
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Parking lot plan approved for parcel at 6647 S. Midnight Pass Road, But commissioners indicate openness to leasing it to businesses for employee use By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com What originated as a proposal by business leaders for a public parking lot at 6647 S. Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key morphed this week into a potential plan for a parking lot leased by south Siesta Key business owners for their employees. After listening to comments from residents who live in the immediate area — who strongly asserted their opposition to the creation of a public parking facility — Commissioner Alan Maio was the first board member to put forth an alternative concept for the county-owned property. “Is it absolutely out of this world for us to lease [the lot] to the businesses [to the north of the parcel]?” Maio asked. “And they’re required to put a key-card gate up.” Commissioner Charles Hines reminded his colleagues that when they initially discussed the idea of designating the site for parking,
he suggested that the most likely users would be employees of the surrounding businesses. The property, Hines continued, “needs to be a parking lot.” If he and his fellow board members approved the Special Exception necessary for the facility to be constructed, he said, “We’re not hindered from [leasing it] down the road.” Moreover, Hines noted, if employees used the lot, that would open up spaces closer to the businesses on Old Stickney Point Road, including restaurants. Referencing comments from members of the public during the June 3 hearing, Hines stressed, “The public access to the beach from this loc ation is not good.” Although the county has two beach accesses in the area — Accesses 12 and 13 — neither is close to the 6647 S. Midnight Pass Road parcel. Several speakers expressed
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concerns about public use of the private-access Sarasea Circle — which is directly across from the property — to reach a private beach area for condominium residents who live on that circle. They also voiced worries about the potential for late-night partying and vandalism if the public parking lot were created. Dr. Neal Schleifer, president of the Paradise Cove Condominium Association, told the commissioners that if they felt they had to go ahead with plans for the lot, he and his fellow residents at 6600 Peacock Road urged them to allow people in the facility only from dawn to dusk. A gate should be erected, he said, to ensure no lingering beyond those hours. On the opposite side of the issue was Mason Tush, whose family owns CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on property located between Stickney Point Road and Old Stickney Point Road. Tush told the board members, “This is a rare opportunity that we have to add public parking on countyowned property directly next to a business district,” which includes four restaurants. Even though Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive orders during the COVID-19 pandemic have limited business operations, Tush added, “I watch people drive up and down [Old Stickney Point Road], searching for parking.” Two lots offer paid parking options, he said, but “We still don’t have enough spaces.” If the county ended up leasing its lot to businesses, Hines told his colleagues, then the income could be used to support the operation of the free Siesta Key Breeze trolley, which runs between Turtle Beach Park and Siesta Village. “I bet a collection, consortium of the business owners would figure out a way to lease that from us, divide up the parking places, put a gate on it,” Maio responded. “Then shame on them,” he said, if problems arose. That situation would allow the county to break the lease. Maio made the motion to approve the design for the
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43-space parking lot, with landscaping buffers and bollards that will provide illumination after dark. At the suggestion of County Engineer Spencer Anderson, Maio included in his motion the deletion of the word “public” from one of the clauses in the board resolution, to make the leasing proposal a possibility. Assistant County Attorney Joshua Moye concurred that that would be a necessary change in the document to permit the type
On the eastern, 1.29-acre portion of the parcel, a county Public Utilities Department building houses a water tank, staff and commissioners noted, and numerous pipelines run beneath the parcel. The Binding Development Concept Plan for the parking lot calls for a 6-foot high vinyl privacy fence, 290 feet long, to be erected with no landscaping on the southern boundary, next to the Sea Winds Condominium complex.
Parking lot concept plan
of scenario Maio and Hines had described. Commissioner Nancy Detert then seconded the motion. “We need as much parking as we can possibly get [on the Key],” she said. “I would hope the employees would get first dibs [on the new spaces],” she added. “Anything we can do to relieve the parking problem and the traffic problem on Siesta Key, we need to do that ASAP.”
The plans and the opponents County Planner Carlos Gonzalez described the facets of the parking lot design to the commissioners at the start of the public hearing. Along with 41 regular parking spots, he said, two would be marked for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and bicycle and motorcycle spots would be denoted, as well.
The chain link fence on the northern boundary would remain in place, he said, but a landscaping buffer would shield it from the commercial properties on that side of the parcel. Ken Stokes of the county’s Public Works Department provided further details about the proposal, as it was county-initiated. He noted that the Siesta Key Breeze routinely picks up and offloads passengers at the Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) stop outside the parking lot. “We’re not going to solve the parking problems on Siesta, ever,” Commissioner Maio said. However, he concurred with Tush of CB’s about the insufficiency of parking spaces on Old Stickney Point Road. That fact, he said, underscores “how badly this [parking lot] is needed …”
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DEMAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TAKE ACTION AND STOP THE CITY! By Michael Holderness, “Just in my opinion” Advertorial DEMAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TAKE ACTION AND STOP THE CITY!
“WE THE CITIZENS OF SARASOTA COUNTY DEMAND THERE IS NO DREDGING OF CUT C! STAY OUT OF THE PASS” commissioners@scgov.net Does it sound “SAFE”, during the height of nesting season, to use a hydraulic cutter to chew through the ebb delta and destroy Congressman Buchanan’s designated ‘Estuary of National Significance’ where endangered sea turtles are swimming? Pumping sand, without the foundation even constructed and, in the location, where turtles are attempting to nesting? NO, it does NOT! We have shallow waters; these such activities have proven to be extremely dangerous to sea turtles.Such activities are wrong and violate the mere spirt of the Federal Endangered Species Act, Sarasota County Sea turtle protection Code, and 62B-55 FAC. Therefore, DEMAND THEY
Aerial view of Sarasota Big Pass
Key beaches have accretions. An Inlet Management Plan (IMP) is a critical tool for inlet management. However, County’s last IMP was conducted in April 2008. The city did not have an IMP since 1993. Pursuant to 62B-41.005(15), FAC, a new IMP should be developed in 2 years of issuance of a new dredging permit. There is an immediate need to develop an IMP for Sarasota County’s Big Pass and New Pass right after the disastrous Lido Beach project. NEW PASS is a symmetrical inlet and its main channel thalweg remains stable since 1943 and its ebb delta being
The proposed Big Pass dredging will also reduce the total amount of sands available to transport to the north Siesta Key shoreline, impairs water quality, will significantly reduce the amount of sand transport to Siesta Key beaches (just as Bird Key had started in 1950). NEW PASS NAVIGATION AND SAND SOURCES FOR LIDO: MAINTAIN NEW PASS. Because New Pass is a coast guard navigational channel. It requires maintenance and dredging to keep the channel deep for sailboats. Therefore, continue to do this with a new IMP, but without dredging the ebb shoal. Unlike Venice, sand comes out of New Pass. Smaller maintenance projects are safer for the fishes and seagrasses. It is also a cheap sand source for Lido.
continue to do this safely with a new IMP, but without dredging the ebb shoal.
3. Develop a current IMP for Big Pass/ New Pass as one. Still NO IMP.
5. Lido Beach Nourishment: After stopping ebb delta dredging in New Pass, Lido Beach will no longer be eroded as bad as it was before. If a beach nourishment project is needed for Lido Beach, use either inland sand source and/or offshore borrow site to reduce any negative impacts to navigation, seagrass, estuary ecosystem and adjacent beach and shoreline on North Siesta Key beaches.
4. S et-up a regular monitoring program of the channel location.
6. S a n d S o u rc e s : N e w P a s s , truck in sands from inland or dredging offshore borrow site to
(1) Obtain and conduct measurement of main channel location every 5 years. (2) Analysis aerial photos and data to monitor channel migration. 5. Install additional channel markers throughout the pass channels, specifically near where the channel leaves the ebb shoal into the Gulf, (1) Use data obtained from
LONG-TERM BEST PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
NEW PASS: LONG-TERM LIDO NOURISHMENT PLAN AND NAVIGATION: 1. Do NOT dredge ebb deltas, EVER AGAIN! 2. Develop a current IMP for Big Pass/ New Pass
STOP THE DREDGING OF OUR SANDBAR WHICH WOULD WIPE OUT OUR BEACHES, OUR FISHING, OUR KAYAKING, OUR SWIMMING, IMPAIR OUR WATER QUALITY AND CAUSE MORE RED TIDE, AND DEADLY RIP CURRENTS. I N T RODUC T ION: Sarasota County’s Big Pass is a natural pass and the coast guard designated New Pass are two important inlets for safe navigation, estuary ecosystem, and adjacent beaches and shoreline. COA STA L SE DI M E N T BUDGET: Once the sand grains enter the Gulf of Mexico, the sediment transport process takes place. This sediment transport process explains why Lido Beach has continuous erosion and Siesta
dredged frequency since 1923. As a result of dredging the wrong areas, Lido Beach will continuously be eroded. However, Big Pass’s ebb delta has never been dredged.As a result, North Siesta Key Beaches continue to grow. BIG PASS NAVIGATION: Is a 17-23ft deep natural channel that will never be requiring a penny for navigation UNLESS they dredge. For navigation needs, simply remove the groin and/or any manmade structures. It worked for all for over 1,000 years until Bird Key temporarily messes it up. *DO NOT TOUCH CUT C! It’s healed; a NEW channel 500’ wide x 16’ deep x 2 miles long channel next to the already existing natural existing channel will cause all to collapse.
(1) Both County and City must update their IMP every 10 years. (2) Pursuant to 62B41.005(15), FAC, a new IMP should be developed in 2 years of issuance of a new dredging permit. (3) Within 2 years of a major hurricane, both County and City must update their IMP to address the hurricane impacts. STILL NO IMP (4) N o federal funding if both County and City do not have an updated IMP. (5) Before regular maintenance dredging could be reimplemented, FDEP required City to have one This was due in 2 years from July 15, 2015. That is more than 5 years passing and still no IMP. No IMP means bad managements for Big Pass and New Pass, which is currently going on such as a dredging project within Big Pass. 3. Install additional channel markers along the north side of the entire channel, and west of the New Pass Bridge. 4. N ew Pass is a coast guard navigational channel and thus, requires maintenance and dredging to keep the channel deep for sailboats. Therefore,
reduce any impacts to seagrass, shoreline, and beaches; NO OPPOSITION TO CUT D. 7. MANY viable other sand sources for Lido Beach nourishment other than from CUT C i.e. the ‘Marine Park’ and LIDO: NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE: “Doing Nothing Approach” is a better option than a problematic approach such as Big Pass dredging. It does not fix one problem but causes another! Rule of Thumb is “Respect Mother Nature” 8. No new groins for Ted Sperling Park: As time goes by, there will be less and less sand that can be caught by a groin, eventually, no sands left to be caught and the groin no longer be able to function to protect the shoreline. Deadly RIP CURRENTS will increase. Therefore, the southern groin is not a long-term solution to solve erosion problems at any beach. What we currently have is sustainable and COST $ 0.00
BIG PASS: LONG-TERM NAVIGATION PLAN:
1. DO NOT DREDGE CUT C or through its shoal, EVER! 2. Use natural channel
regular monitoring programs. (2) Utilize aerial photo and sailor’s experience to set up markers. 6. D redging: MUST stop any dredging in Big Pass shoal areas because the ebb shoal dredging in New Pass caused Lido Beach erosion. Neither Cut C nor Cut D in Big Pass should be conducted because future ebb shoal dredging in Big Pass will cause North Siesta Key beach to suffer major avulsion. *If dredging has to take place, Cut D is a slightly better option than Cut C (or B) because it is on the north side of the main channel. 7. Channel: Use natural 16-ft. deep channel for navigation without dredging, remove groin, and/ or any man-made structures. It works for all of us over 1,000 years in Big Pass. A dredged/ man-made NEW channel will not stay and will collapse. This will also cause our natural channel to become unstable again. 8. G roins: Remove all existing groins, including the county 1 9 7 0 b u i l t g ro i n a t b e a c h Continued on page 42
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Are you tired of looking in the mirror thinking to yourself a little nip here, maybe a tuck there would really help shave some years off of your face? But besides the cost, you think of the amount of time needed to recuperate and wonder how much pain is involved, so your logical self dismisses the thought. Instead, you buy more lotions and potions hoping to wake up to a younger you. But, it hasn’t worked yet, has it? Spa Experience Siesta Key offers a realistic alternative solution that’s safe and noninvasive called micro-current facial sculpting. It’s the new non-surgical “facelift” that requires no downtime or recovery time, has no risk of complications, is far less expensive, and above all gives instant results. How it works The gentle and 100% noninvasive treatment works in synergy with your body’s natural energy system. It sends safe, painless impulses to the muscles in the face to relax muscles that are overly tightened and strengthen those that are under-worked with very low levels of electrical current. During this luxurious and relaxing treatment, jaw lines get tighter, eyebrows lift and crow’s feet are reduced. You will see the results after
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just one treatment however multiple treatments are recommended for the most visible and longer lasting results. Results
Carol Strickland Jun 25 •6:18 PM
★★★★ Connie Lewis is the best for massage, facials and sculpting! You can tell she really knows what she’s doing and she truly cares about her clients. My skin has never looked better and I feel so relaxed and pampered everytime I go for a treatment. Aesthetic benefits of the micro current machine includes softer skin, improved circulation, enhanced muscle function and balance, reduced appearance of fine lines, and enhanced natural production of collagen and elastin. It is particularly effective in treating acne as it destroys the bacteria, while encouraging the healing process without harming the skin. Owner, Connie Lewis uses the Pevonia Botanica product
TURTLE’S
After 12 treatments
line exclusively. The combined use of Pevonia Botanica’s ultimate anti-aging products allow for maximum product penetration. Spa Experience Siesta Key is conveniently located at L’Core Paris Spa in the Westfield Siesta Key Mall, 3501 South Tamiami Trail. Spa Experience Siesta Key is open 6-days-a-week year round, and 7-days-a-week in season. Appointments may be made online at www. spaexperiencesiestakey.com or by calling 941-350-7495.
Rebecca Leisure
★★★★
Connie is definitely worth driving over the bridge for. Connie Lewis, BS, LMT, Aesthetician and owner established Massage Experience, Siesta Key in June of 1996. She attended the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Worcester, Massachusetts in January of 1994, then moved to Sarasota, Florida to continue her career in massage therapy. “My personal philosophy when massaging a client for the first time, or the hundred and first time, is to let my hands ‘tell me what to do.’ After so many years of practice I have a sixth sense about pressure and what the client may need from me during the session. I listen with my hands and utilize my years of practice and personal experience to give the client the perfect session for them.”
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Surf’s Up ,,, Have a seat By Jane Bartnett Its official, surfboards have gone beyond the beach and right into coastal homes. One sure bet for adding that “Endless Summer” surfer vibe to your beach house, experts advise, is to add a surfboard to your decor. “A surfboard is a beach decor staple,” writes House Beautiful editor, Hadley Mendelsohn. Surfboards make a statement as wall art. They also make a great one-of-a-kind table that adds a touch of coastal whimsy to a home. Sarasota craftsman John Hendershott has been designing surfboard tables for the last 10 years and selling his unique designs to beach lovers from Florida to the Jersey shore and beyond. The co-owner of the new “Coastal Flow” store, on South Tamiami Trail, just off Siesta Key, designs and builds his custom crafted surfboard tables in his Bradenton woodshop. He sells his wares at his Sarasota shop and through his website, www. surfboardtables.com. A talented carpenter, expert woodworker and entrepreneur, Hendershott hadn’t always planned on adding the title of casual surfboard furniture designer to his resume. When the Ohio native moved to the surfing community of Wilmington, NC, in 2010, where his sister also lived, he decided to put his carpentry skills to work and build his own house. When his sister came to visit, she noticed that he had hung an old surf board on his living
After researching beachside art and arts and crafts festivals up and down the East Coast where he could exhibit and sell his wares, Hendershott began building his tables at his North Carolina home. He would stash them in his van and head off to display his wares at shoreside festivals. His travels took him as far north as Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and as far south as Sarasota. In 2018, when Hurricane Florence caused extensive damage John Hendershott customizing a board in the Carolinas, Hendershott had room wall and liked the way trouble finding festival venues. that it looked. She asked if he “Florida saved me,” he said. “I could take a surfboard, paint could only find art fairs and it, add an interesting base, crafts festivals in Florida,” and make it into a coffee table. he said. “That year, at a fair He agreed to give it a try. in Vero Beach, I sold half my Both were pleased with the finished product. Hendershott’s stock and then showed at a downtown arts festival in “Surfboard Tables” business Sarasota where I sold the other was born. half.” Hendershott decided to She encouraged him to make Sarasota his new home. design and build more A year later, after meeting his surfboard themed tables. Then partner Jessica Gill, the two the question was, “where and continued to travel to festivals how to sell them,” Hendershott to show his work. As demand recalled. “My sister, who also grew, life on the road began to had her own business, felt that lose its appeal. “It gets hard to that there would be a strong be on the road all the time and market in coastal communities’ we decided that the time was arts and crafts fair shows,” he right to open our own store.” said. Her instinct was right. Custom Flow opened March
2020. With the store serving as a showroom for Hendershott’ s creations, as well as that of 15 other area artists, he has also designed a new line of surfboard bars. “They add a touch of the tropics to a lanai, patio or den,” says Gill. “I customize the designand color of each table. Every table is unique,” said Hendershott. Hendershott’s wood surfboard tables are available in three sizes and numerous designs ranging from $1,499 to $499. A custom surf-board wood coffee table is also available for order at $299. “Polywood” customized surfboard tables built for outdoor use range from $1,499 to $699. As a nod to the many
transplanted Sarasotans, nostalgic for their home state, Hendershott recently added a line of casual custom “State Tables.” The table top is designed in the outline of the buyer’s state. The legs are hand-carved letters that depict the state’s official abbreviation, such as NY for New York; NC for North Carolina; MI for Michigan. A line of lower priced gift items that include state and surfboard bottle openers and state wine glass holders are available for under $30. Hendershott’s tables are on display at his Coastal Flow store at 7216 Tamiami Trail. “It’s hard to be in a bad mood when you sit down at a surfboard table,” Hendershott said with a smile.
John Hendershott and partner Jessica Gill
Did You Know Siesta Key has a GEMSTONE? It’s no secret that the sand on Siesta Key Beach is composed of 99% pure quartz. The crystalline white sand of Siesta Key is luxurious, soft, white and cool to the touch 365 days a year. This is why our beloved beach has been revered as one of the most beautiful in the world. Wanting to capture the experience and essence of Siesta Key beach was the goal of the proprietor of Silver City, Monica. “Tourists always wish they can somehow take their vacation memories with them,” so with this in mind, Silver City designed the Siesta Key Watercolor GemstoneTM. They were able to capture the colors of Siesta Key’s blue/ green water and put it into a quartz gemstone. This quartz gemstone is a fusion of the tropical colors that surround us. Just looking into the clear, beautiful gemstone will transport you back to our island paradise representing the sea, sky and beautiful sand of Siesta Key Beach. Silver City has now become a “Must Stop” destination for tourists (Currently named #1 shopping destination on TRIP ADVISOR on Siesta Key). Shining brightly among the cases of this uniquely mirrored store lies the much raved about Siesta Key Watercolor GemstoneTM. Every jewelry piece is designed and made by Silver City Sarasota. The staff of Silver City Sarasota is very proud of their unique collection and variety of designs in Sterling Silver and in 14K gold.
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Advertorial
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Siesta Sand
JULY 2020
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Sergeant Smith reports
Sgt. Arik Smith Keeping the crime down With Siesta Key Association (SKA) meetings have been put on hold through July because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sheriff’s Office substation on the Key, has had no venue for monthly presentations of the crime stats. Therefore, the SNL contacted Kaitlyn R. Perez, community affairs director for the Sheriff’s Office, to ask about the March
and April data. Perez then asked the department’s crime analyst to run the stats, and Perez provided them to the SNL. During March, that report shows, the Sheriff’s Office received 497 calls for service, and 17 of those — or 3.4% — were Part 1 crimes. Those are the most serious, as classified by the FBI. Two assaults, two auto thefts, one residential burglary, seven vehicle burglaries and five larceny/theft cases made up that total. The highest number for any type of incident — 94 — reflected calls for service, the data show. Deputies also responded to 33 calls about noise disturbances and 26 reports of illegal parking. For April, the stats appear to reflect Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “saferat-home” order, which went into effect on April 3 and was to expire on April 30. The Sheriff’s Office received only 271 calls for service on the Key in April, and only eight of those — 2.9% — involved Part
1 crimes. Six of those incidents were related to people breaking into vehicles. During every public meeting this reporter has attended when Sgt. Smith has had an opportunity to speak, he has stressed that people should keep their vehicles locked and that they should either leave valuable items at home or in vacation accommodations, or make certain those items are stowed well out of sight. Before Sgt. Smith, now-Lt. Paul Cernansky routinely offered the same recommendation when he was the substation leader. The other two Part 1 crime incidents in April, the Sheriff’s Office report shows, were a residential burglary and a grand larceny. Once again, the type of incident with the highest number of responses was “Officer Public Service. “The total in April was 55. Another 21 illegal parking incidents were noted
Another Key deputy gets a promotion Another Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputy familiar to Siesta residents has won a promotion, the department announced on June 11. Deputy Zackary Lewis is now Sgt. Lewis, and he has been assigned to the Law Enforcement Division, a Sheriff’s Office news release said.
Newly promoted Sgt. Zack Smith
Siesta Key Association members will recall that he stood in for Siesta Substation
leader Sgt. Arik Smith during the March meeting, which was the last session the nonprofit conducted before the public health emergency began. Lewis began his career in law enforcement when he joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2012 as a patrol deputy, the release noted. “In 2014, he transferred to the Criminal Investigations Section” and was assigned to the Tactical Unit, the release added. Then, in 2018, Lewis began working within the Special Operations Bureau, which resulted in his service at the Siesta Key Substation, the release said. During his career, he has been nominated for Employee of the Month three times, the release pointed out. He has received advanced training in regard to “crisis intervention, narcotics and dangerous drugs, and surveillance techniques,” the release noted. Lewis earned his associate degree from the State College of Florida.
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Sheriff’s Report 4/28/20 Vehicle Burglary
window was broken. Missing items included her Coach purse, iPhone charger, notebook, and $3.00 in miscellaneous change. Victim acknowledged that the purse would have been visible in the car from the street. Fingerprint and DNA evidence was collected, as well as rock and dirt evidence adjacent to the break-in. Investigation continues.
Victim reported observing a man rummaging in the glove box of her car, after apparently finding nothing interesting to steal, he left. Police dusted for prints and collected DNA evidence. The case remains open. 4/28/20 – Vehicle Burglary Victim discovered his wallet missing from his unlocked vehicle during the morning. He promptly cancelled all three of his credit cards. One of the cards had been used for an online purchase. A neighbor observed an unknown vehicle on the street at 3:55 AM and provided additional information to authorities. Fingerprint and DNA evidence was collected. The case remains open.
5/13/20 Battery The victim was a pool cleaning employee reporting to a job. When he arrived, he was confronted by the angry suspect accusing him of speeding. When he denied the allegation, the suspect pulled a pool pole from the victim’s truck and threw it in a nearby yard. When the victim pushed past the suspect to retrieve the pole, the suspect yelled and pushed the victim, knocking his glasses and hat off in the scuffle. A witness separated the combatants, and the police were called. Upon arrival, the suspect was standing
5/12/20 Burglary vehicle Victim parked her vehicle on Beach Road to go to the beach for several hours. When she returned, the rear passenger side
in the middle of the road seeking to apologize to the victim. Upon consideration, the victim decided not to press charges.
5/17/20 Nonpayment for services received
Dear Voter:
individuals perform a civic duty and help As you know, 2020 ensure that the elections is an important year process runs smoothly with elections for local, in a nonpartisan and state and federal offices, nonpolitical manner. This including president is a great opportunity of the United States. to serve our community The Sarasota County with pride and get paid supervisor of elections to help ensure that our will employ more than elections are accessible, 1,000 poll workers and accurate and secure. temporary employees We need your help! for the August 18 Please consider applying Primary Election and to become a poll worker November 3 General through our website at Election. sarasotavotes.com. That’s where you Also, feel free to come in! The average Ron Turner, Sarasota County Superisor of Elections forward this message poll worker is 69 years to your fellow students, of age. Due to the recent your help more than ever! employees, friends, family health crisis, approximately 30% Poll workers assist voters at and neighbors. of our county’s poll workers the county’s polling locations Best regards, were unable to work during on election day and are paid the March 17 Presidential Ron Turner between $160 – 275. While Preference Primary election. Supervisor of Elections working at the polls during With that in mind, we need Sarasota County an election, these trained
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Victim is a nail technician who booked an appointment by telephone with an unknown male for Defendant to have her nails done. Defendant arrived at the scheduled time and received a pedicure and a full set of nails pursuant to the scheduled appointment, for a total cost of $77.00. Upon completion of the services, Defendant stated that she did not have any money to pay, and “John” was supposed to pay when he called to schedule the appointment. Victim stated that no payment information was provided when the appointment was scheduled. Defendant was unable to provide a phone number, last name, address or any identifying information for “John”. The case is pending.
A message from the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections
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Island Chatter Based on a SNL review of deeds, the developer transferred the top two units of the complex to another limited liability company, Oceane Penthouse LLC, which has the same address as the developer: 7320 McGinnis Ferry Road in Suwanee, Ga. The sale price listed on the deed was $8,150,000 for Unit 301 and Unit 302. The transaction was recorded on Dec. 31, 2019, the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s records show. The second sale was recorded on Jan. 8. Unit 202 went to 4750 Ocean Blvd LLC, whose address is in Stamford, Conn., the deed says. The purchase price was $4,050,000. According to the Florida Division of Corporations, the managers of that limited liability company are Peter Drittel and Jane Drittel, who list Unit 202 at 4750 Ocean Blvd. as the address for the company. 4750 Ocean Blvd. LLC filed its Articles of Organization with the state on Jan. 3, 2020. The third sale was recorded by the Clerk of Court’s Office on Feb. 19. That involved Unit 201, which went to trusts established by Suzanne Smith and Peter C. Smith, the deed says. The address listed for the trusts is in Chicago. The price was $4,250,000. As of June 11, the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records showed that CG Oceane still owned the remaining two units, which are on the first floor above the parking level. The Property Appraiser’s Office has yet to assign a value to any of the Oceane condominiums.
When will the SunTrust/ Truist branch reopen?
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now branded as Truist — when the branch on Ocean Boulevard, next to the Old Salty Dog, will reopen. In response, Cynthia Montgomery, director of communications for the company’s Retail Community Bank division, wrote the following in a June 11 email: “As part of one of the mostaccessible branch networks within our Truist markets, we’ve continued to serve clients through convenient options such as 24/7 access via online and mobile banking, 4,400 ATMs and automated phone systems. As we gradually return to the full array of services provided through our combined network of 2,800 BB&T — now Truist — and SunTrust — now Truist — branches, the health and wellbeing of teammates and clients is at the forefront of our thinking. Our decisions to reopen branch lobbies are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as local and state guidelines.” She was referring, of course, to the recommendations regarding efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Montgomery then noted that lobbies in branches in Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina are open for appointments only, for example. “We are taking a careful, phased and strategic approach to decide when the time is right to move forward in Florida,” she added. “Our guiding principle remains safety for all.”
More on the cancelation of the 4th of July fireworks It was previously reported in the June issue of the Siesta Sand the annual 4th of July Community Fireworks
In response to a query from a reader, the SNL asked a representative of SunTrust —
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Celebration was cancelled. Arriving at the decision was a very difficult one for the leaders of the Siesta Chamber, Ann Frescura, executive director of the Chamber, told the SNL in an email. “No one wanted to cancel the fireworks,” she wrote in response to SNL questions, “but priority had to be given to public safety, social distancing, and crowd management.” She was referencing the COVID-19 pandemic and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for preventing spread of the virus. The official announcement came on May 21 from the Chamber and Suncoast Charities. The latter has sponsored the fireworks show in downtown Sarasota for the past 12 years, in a partnership with Marina Jack. “The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce has organized the Siesta Key Community Fireworks for nearly 30 years,” the joint statement pointed out. Organizers for both the Siesta and downtown Sarasota displays look forward to bringing the events back next year, the statement added. In her responses to the SNL, Frescura noted that the expense of the Siesta show is about $45,000, which Chamber staff members and leaders work hard to collect each year from an array of contributors. “Due to the struggling economy,” she added, “we had not actively done any fundraising.” The contract deadline for the 2020 event was mid-May, Frescura added.
Mother manatee and baby calf released Great news about the injured mother manatee and her baby calf; the mother and her baby
calf were successfully released into Sarasota Bay thanks to the joint efforts of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and SeaWorld Orlando on June 18th. The female manatee was in distress and subsequently rescued by Mote staff, FWC, and other partners on Mother’s Day weekend, and later gave birth to a male calf at SeaWorld Orlando. The manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando and a subsequent examination found the manatee to be pregnant. On May 11th, the manatee gave birth to a healthy male calf. SeaWorld staff named the mother “Siesta” and her baby calf “Key.” Now, both are back home.
Mother manatee and her calf immediately following release. Credit Alex Mangold / Mote Marine Laboratory
New County Commission district lines official
With the May resolution of a lawsuit over the new Sarasota County Commission district lines the board approved last year, Siesta officially is split between Districts 2 and 4. A federal judge ruled for the county in that case, saying he found no evidence that the relocation of the traditionally African American community of Newtown from District 1 to
1 2 4 5
3
6 7 8
Mike Cosentino has hired yet another law firm — this one to represent him in his appeal of Circuit Judge Andrea McHugh’s final order in the North Beach Road and Sarasota County Charter amendments lawsuits, which McHugh issued this spring. McHugh ruled for Sarasota County and the intervenors in a Feb. 18 order dealing with the final portion of the North Beach Road lawsuit. Last year, Cosentino employed a couple of different attorneys in an appeal over an earlier ruling in the North Beach Road case. Joseph H. Lee of the Lee Law Firm in Tampa handled the litigation initially on Cosentino’s behalf.
1. Café Gabbiano 2. Island House 3. Edward Jones 4. Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce 5. Tropical Sands Accommodations 6. Lilly Pulitzer
Continued on page 22 7. Davidsons Drugs 8. Comfort Shoes 9. Sarasota Medical Center 10. Open for Rent 11. Open for Rent 12. The Local Bean 13. Siesta Key Wine Bar 14. Local Chill Ice Cream
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District 2 was racially motivated. Commissioner Alan Maio represented the entire Key prior to the implementation of the new lines, which are in effect for the board elections this year. Now the southern portion of the island is in his district, and Commissioner Christian Ziegler, who represents District 2, is the representative of the northern part of the island. Because of voters’ approval of the Single-Member Districts Charter amendment in November 2018, only people who live in the same district as candidates for the commission from that district can vote for those candidates. Previously, every registered voter could cast a ballot in each district race. Districts 1, 3 and 5 are up for election this year. Therefore, it will be 2022 before Siesta citizens again can participate in a County Commission election.
Cosentino hires new attorney for appeal
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HOROSCOPES 37
VILLAGE MAP pgs 22 - 23
ACCOMMODATIONS PAGE 43
CRESCENT BEACH MAP pg 24 GULF GATE SHOPS pgs 31
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Flag Ceremony In Honor of Captain Ralph Styles (a Decorated WWII Submarine Captain in the Pacific Theater), who began this Tribute Ceremony about 30 years ago. Each Sunset, our community comes together with new friends from around the world, on Siesta Key at 10 Beach Road , and say: “Welcome to Patriots Pier at Sunset Point! We thank you for joining our nightly tribute to honor the sacrifices of our military and service personnel and first responders in protecting our country and our freedoms! We are the land of the Free because of the Brave!” On June 2, 2020, we honored Anne Styles and the awesomeness memories of her father, Sea Devil Captain Ralph Styles, and their years of service and teaching our next generations.
patriot and Navy Leaguer. He was born in Asheville, North Carolina on February 27, 1910. After briefly attending Weaver College and the University of Tennessee, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1929, graduating in 1933. Because he graduated in the upper half of the class, he was offered a commission and was assigned to the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2). In 1937, he attended submarine school. From 1938 to 1942, he was assigned to the submarine USS Narwhal as an engineering officer. On December 7, 1941 he was aboard Narwhal (SS-167) in port Pearl Harbor. While assigned to Narwhal he participated in two war patrols and the battle of Midway. In December 1943, he assumed command of USS A Little History on Captain Sea Devil (SS-400). As Commanding Styles Officer of Sea Devil, he led three war An inspirational leader and veteran, patrols. Under his command, the retired Navy Captain Ralph Emerson Sea Devil is credited with sinking 13 Styles was a beloved husband, father, Japanese ships. naval officer, educator, businessman,
After a number of staff tours and command of a Submarine Division, a Submarine Tender and Submarine Squadron he was assigned to ONI or the Office of Naval Intelligence, first as head of the Foreign Branch and then as the Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence for Production. In 1958, Captain Styles was detached from ONI and assigned as Commander Submarine Flotilla One. But, by 1960, he was back in the intelligence business. Until 1962 he was on the Joint Staff involved in the establishment of the Defense Intelligence Agency. At various times, he was an advisor to Hollywood productions about the Navy assisting in such movie notables as “Operation Petticoat” with Cary Grant and “The Gallant Hours” with James Cagney. He retired from the Navy in 1962. For his service and bravery, he earned two Navy Crosses, the Legion of Merit and a Navy Unit Citation.
Another beautiful sunset at Patriot’s Pier on Sunset Point.
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JULY 2020
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Island Chatter Later, Tracy S. Carlin, an attorney with a different Tampa firm — Brannock Humphries & Berman — took over representation of Cosentino. Ultimately, however, Cosentino asked the Appeal Court to dismiss the case. He told the SNL he would prefer pursuing an appeal after all the litigation had been completed at the Circuit Court level, so he would have a full record for the Appeal Court. He has contended that the Office of the County Attorney colluded with at least part of the property owners on North Beach Road who sought the road vacation. As a result of what he alleges were fraudulent actions, county staff did not pursue the repair and stabilization of the road after it suffered major storm damage, in 2012. Staff had hired a Jacksonville firm, Taylor Engineering, to study the road situation and recommend solutions. The company provided options in a 2013 report, which Cosentino has referenced numerous times since he filed suit against the county in June 2016. On May 29, attorney Janelle A. Weber of Manta Law in Tampa filed a Stipulation for Substitution of Counsel with the Appeal Court, seeking to replace Ceci Culpepper Berman of Brannock Humphries & Berman. Berman had filed her notice of appearance on behalf of Cosentino on May 14. A May 29 note in the case docket makes it clear that the court has agreed to the substitution of counsel. The Manta Law website says Weber is the founder of the firm. She earned a Bachelor of Science at Georgetown University, a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University and a law degree from the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida, the website notes. During his time in Circuit Court, Cosentino employed three attorneys. The first left for personal reasons, Cosentino
Continued from page 20
told the SNL; Cosentino dismissed the second one, after alleging that that attorney was showing early signs of dementia; and Cosentino allowed the third one to withdraw after McHugh last year consolidated the North Beach Road and Sarasota County Charter amendments cases. Cosentino told McHugh that he would prefer to represent himself at that point, because it would take too long to bring the latest lawyer up to speed on all the issues.
www.siestasand.net
Blooming This Month: Golden Thryallis
Calle Menorca transient housing plan wins approval On May 6, the County Commission voted unanimously to grant a Special Exception so the property at 5228 Calle Menorca could be classified as transient accommodations. The applicant sought the change, so he can rent out the property for periods of less than 30 days. On Feb. 20, the county Planning Commission also voted unanimously — 9-0 — to recommend that the County Commission approve the request. The owners of the property were Max Nuebler Jr. and Paula J. Nuebler, who bought it in August 1985, county Property Appraiser Office records showed. The market value of the parcel in 2019 was $575,839, the records noted. A Nov. 26, 2019 letter sent to county Planning and Development Services Department staff from attorney G. Matthew Brockway, with the Icard Merrill firm in Sarasota, identified the applicant for the Special Exception as Chad Waites. A copy of a document accompanying the letter — a Michael Saunders & Co. contract for sale and purchase — said Waites planned to buy the property, contingent upon county approval of the Special Exception. Waites signed the form on Feb. 19, 2019.
OPEN DAILY 8 AM - 2 PM SAFELY SERVING INSIDE & OUTSIDE DINING IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE
349-2822
Thyallis, Galphimia Gracilis. Pretty as a picture is this medium size bush. It is a beautiful bush of Golden Yellow, and blossoms off and on all year long in Southern Florida. This fragrant plant is a welcome addition to all gardens. It adds a soft touch with small green leaves and upright blossoms swaying in the breeze.
Continued on page 42 ACCOMMODATIONS Siesta Key Beach Resort & Spa.......... Map-A #38A ATM / BANKS PNC ATM.........................................Map-C #61 Sun Trust Bank & ATM..................... Map-E #4 BARS & NIGHTCLUBS Blaśe Café...................................... Map-A #38 Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar........... Map-B #42-43 Gilligan’s.........................................Map-B #33 My Village Pub......................... Map-C #53/54 Siesta Key Oyster Bar....................Map-B #45 The Beach Club............................... Map-D #22 The Cottage......................................Map-C #58 The Hub-Baja Grill......................... Map-D #59 COFFEE SHOPS Bean Coffeehouse......................... Map-D #62 Mojo Risin’ Coffee Company......Map-B #31 DRUGSTORE Davidson Drugs............................ Map-D #65 FASHION & ACCESSORIES Beach Bazaar’s & Swin Shack..... Map-C #28 Blvd. Beachwear.............................. Map-B #30 Comfort Shoes-Birki & More..... Map-D #64 Foxy Lady Fashions...................... Map-A #40 Ganja Mon Vibes.............................. Map-D #9 Gidget’s Coastal Provisions.........Map-B #44 Island Boutique............................... Map-B #50 Island Style.......................................Map-C #53 Lilly Pulitzer.................................. Map-D #66 Sea Shanty........................................Map-C #24 Siesta T’s........................................... Map-B #30 The Sandal Factory......................... Map-B #46 GAS STATION Circle K Store..................................... Map-E #6 GIFTS & SOUVENIRS Beach Bazaar.................................. Map-C #28 Gilligan’s Gift Store......................... Map-B #32 Island Trader....................................Map-C #51 Sea Pleasures & Treasures..............Map-C #29 Siesta Key Outfitters.....................Map-D #12
Barber Scott Reich
Formerly of the Village Barber
Gulf Gate Barbershop Making Gulf Gate look good since the ‘60’s Bringing over 70 years of life lessons and local knowledge to your haircut (trust us, we know alllll about what you did last summer). It’s not just a haircut, it’s life. We know all about it. Let’s laugh, have a beer, and talk nonsense….that’s free. Haircut? That’s gonna cost you…$15, if we like you, $25 if you’re a P.I.T.A. “Best Local Barbers” 20 years in the running Kyle and Scott “to the second power”
6575 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231 941-809-9028 Walk-ins Welcome
HEALTH & FITNESS Indep. Lifestyle Solutions ............ Map-D #10 Siesta Healing................................... Map-D #9 Siesta Key Fitness..........................Map-B #73 ICE CREAM/SWEETS Big Olaf Creamery...........................Map-C #52 Curly Cream Ice Cream................... Map-D #9 Local Chill Ice Cream................... Map-D #60 Made in Rome Organic Gelato......Map-C #53 Meany’s Mini Donuts.....................Map-C #24 Stefano Versace Gelato...................Map-C #50 SubZero Ice Cream/Yogurt.......... Map-D #16 The Fudge Factory..........................Map-A #36 INTERNET / WiFi SERVICES Davidson Drugs............................ Map-D #65 Mojo Risin’ Coffee Company......Map-B #31 JEWELRY Created Gems..................................Map-C #51 Mount -N- Repair Jewelers............. Map-D #9 LIQUOR STORES / FINE WINES Gabbiano’s Wine Club................. Map-D #70 Gilligan’s.........................................Map-B #33 Siesta Key Wine Bar..................... Map-C #61 Siesta Village Liquors.................. Map-C #26 The Beach Club............................... Map-D #22
This bush can reach 5 or 6 feet tall and can grow in full sun or partial shade. An added bonus is the bush attracts Butterflies and Bees. Currently in bloom in the Butterfly Garden at Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd of the Arts. Submitted by Kay Weber, Botanical Garden Chair.
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JULY 2020
27th State Media LLC
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Sea turtle nests on Siesta Key beaches increases
Black-necked Stilt
Siesta Key Notecards are now available in two locations:
Himantopus mexicanus This flamboyant shorebird is noteworthy for its bright pink legs, crimson red eyes, and tuxedo like plumage. Of all birds, the stilt has the second longest legs in proportion to body size—second only to the flamingo. With a body that is smaller than that of a pigeon, this leggy wonder can stand a whopping 15 inches tall! Its extraordinary height allows the stilt to feed with less competition in deeper waters where shorter wading birds cannot follow. Stilts are equally at home in saltwater and fresh. Your best chance of observing a stilt is around shallow wetlands like marshes, mangrove swamps, lagoons, and flooded areas near rivers. Stilt nests are often on the ground, in the depression that remains after the bird scrapes away loose sand or soil. Their noisy high-pitched calls are a repetitive yap! or keek! in staccato fashion. Jan Baumgartner handmade note cards showcase Siesta Key scenic and wildlife.
BLVD Beachwear 5239 Ocean Blvd 941-349-2583 Shelly’s Gift and Christmas Boutique 4420 S Tamiami Trail 941-260-8905
Black-necked Stilt
Over the past month, June 14-20 Loggerhead Loggerhead Green Green Total Total Nests Nests FCs Nests FCs Nests FCs the number of sea turtle Longboat 124 179 0 0 124 179 nests on Siesta Key Key Lido Key 16 39 1 0 17 39 beaches has increased 59 81 1 0 60 81 significantly, according Siesta Key Casey Key 188 288 5 11 193 299 to data from Mote Venice 44 98 0 0 44 98 Marine Laboratory & to allow access to closed beaches, Aquarium. The total and Mote sea turtle patrol conducted number of sea turtle nests increased all activities with a heightened by 333%, from 18 nests on May 18th awareness for social distancing and to 60 total nests on June 23rd. Of the cleaning procedures. 60 nests, 59 are loggerhead nest and The beaches of the west coast of one is a green sea turtle nest. Florida are the most popular for Mote began monitoring Sarasota loggerhead turtle nesting. Though beaches on April 15th. Mote has the numbers are significantly been monitoring sea turtle nesting smaller, the number of green sea activity for 39 years and over 300 turtle nests in Sarasota has increased volunteers help Mote’s team of over the past 20 years, according to biologists and interns with daily Mote. monitoring of beaches. In 2019, Mote documented 5,112 This year presented a unique nests, a record breaking year. In fact, challenge as monitoring began the top three years for number of sea in the midst of the beach closures turtle nests in the Sarasota region due to COVID-19. However, all have occurred over the past five monitoring was conducted with years. permission from local government LET US CUSTOMIZE SHIRTS FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT!
WE’VE MOVED
a few doors down
• SEGWAY RENTALS • PADDLEBOARDS • SCOOTER CARS • GOLF CARTS • BIKES • SCOOTERS • BEACH GEAR Map B #34
Map D #11
5255 Ocean Blvd • Siesta Key Village www.robinhoodrentals.net
941-554-4242
MAILING - SHIPPING US Post Office................................. Map-D #65
WHAT BETTER WAY TO START YOUR DAY IN PARADISE!
MARKETS/FOOD STORES Circle K Store..................................... Map-E #6 Morton’s Siesta Market................ Map-C #25
• Organic and Fair Trade Coffees & Teas • Cold Pressed Coffee • Organic Smoothies • Light Lunch (Sandwiches) • Breakfast Sandwiches, Bagels & Lox • Homemade Pastries
MASSAGE Hands of Light Massage................ Map-B #35 The Spa at Calle Minorga............... Map-E #74 MEDICAL - DENTAL Sarasota Medical Center................ Map-D #63 Siesta Dental..................................... Map-B #49 Siesta Key Physical Therapy......... Map-D #20 MISCELLANEOUS Chamber of Commerce................Map-D #67 Prime Audio Video........................... Map-E #1 Roberti Enterprises.........................Map-A #39 Village Arcade..................................Map-C #53 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Attorney Fleming.............................. Map-E #1 Edward Jones Investments.......... Map-D #68 Smith Architects.................................Map-E 74 REAL ESTATE / RENTAL SERVICES Amy Robinson RE............................. Map-E #1 Coldwell Banker Realty................. Map-D #20 EXP Realty.........................................Map-E #4 Judith Guzzi & Assoc..................... Map-E #74 Keller Williams Real Estate............Map-D #11 Michael Saunders Realty..............Map-E #72 ReMax Alliance Group................ Map-C #29 RentSiestaKey.com........................... Map-D #9 Robasota Rentals & Real Estate.....Map-A #39 Siesta Key Rental Prop.................. Map-D #10 The Ringling Beach House Rentals...Map-D #9 Tropical Sands Accommodations......Map-D #67
48 47 46
RESTAURANTS / CAFÉS Another Broken Egg..............Map-C #54 & 55 Blasé Café....................................... Map-A #38 Bonjour French Cafe.......................Map-C #47 Café Gabbiano............................... Map-D #71 Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar........... Map-B #42-43 Flavio’s Brick Oven & Bar.............. Map-B #29 Flavio’s Italiano Ristorante............ Map-B #30 Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill.......Map-B #33 Island House Bar & Grill............. Map-D #69 Lobster Pot...................................... Map-C #23 Mojo Risin’ Coffee Company......Map-B #31 Old Salty Dog Rest. & Pub............... Map-E #2 PI Pizza & Craft Beer..................... Map-A#37 Ripfire Pizza..................................... Map-B #47 Siesta Key Oyster Bar....................Map-B #45 Solorzano Bros. Pizzeria.............. Map-D #15 Subway Sandwiches....................... Map-B #30 Summer House................................Map-C #57 Sun Garden Café............................ Map-D #19 The Cottage......................................Map-C #58 The Hub - Baja Grill........................Map-C #59 The Seafood Joint.......................... Map-D #15 The Star Thai Sushi............... Map-D #17 & 18 Village Café.................................... Map-D #14 SPAS - HAIR & BEAUTY Sassy Hair Salon............................ Map-A #40 Siesta Key Nails & Spa..................Map-D #9 Shaman Sanctuary Salon................. Map-D #9 SPORTS INTEREST/RENTALS CaliFlorida........................................Map-C #29 Robin Hood Rentals......................Map-B #34
941-260-6400
Map D #62
Coffee Shop • Tea Room • 5138 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key Village
Gizeh EVA Gizeh EVA Gizeh Silver Arizona EVA
Arizona EVA
Great For the Beach or the Pool! $ 95
44
Map D #64
Birkenstock & More Bringing you quality and comfort for more than 40 years!
5128 Ocean Blvd. Siesta Village
941-346-7425 www.rickscomfortshoes.com
Gift Certificates Available
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Siesta Sand
JULY 2020
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.net
CRESCENT BEACH SHOP INDEX BARS & NIGHTCLUBS Capt. Curt’s Backroom Saloon................B-3 #7 Crescent Club.......................................... C-3 #13 Sniki Tiki....................................................B-3 #8 COFFEE SHOPS Coffee Garden................................... B-3 #8 DELIS / BAKERIES Anna’s Deli & Sandwiches.................. C-3 #14 Nutritious You......................................... C-3 #14 The Beach Deli @ Crescent Beach Grocery......B-3 #1 DRUG STORES Davidson Drugs..................................... C-3 #14 FASHION & ACCESSORIES Fin Island Co.............................................. A-3 #2 CB’s Saltwater Outfitters........................ A-3 #4 Coconuts Fashion......................................B-3 #1 Green Turtle Swimwear......................... C-3 #14 Key Casual Fashions............................... D-3 #17
Things You Like....................................... C-3 #14 GIFTS & SOUVENIRS Capt. Curt’s Souvenirs.............................B-3 #8 Green Turtle Shells & Gifts................. C-3 #14 Sunshine Sand Hidden Treasures...... D-3 #17 Silver City Jewelry................................. C-3 #14 HEALTH & BEAUTY Sanctuary Siesta Key............................... A-5 #12 Siesta Key Salon & Spa........................... D-3 #17 The Key Spa & Salon.............................. A-5 #12 ICE CREAM & TREATS Orange Octopus ........................................B-3 #8 Siesta Creamery....................................... C-3 #14 INTERNET / WiFi SERVICES Davidson Drugs..................................... C-3 #14 Mail Pack Center..................................... C-3 #14 LIQUOR STORES Crescent Beach Grocery...........................B-3 #1
Home of the Orange Squeeze
941.346.0202
• Ice Cream • Sundaes • Shakes
www.orangeoctopusicecream.com
OPEN DAILY 11AM - 10PM
1220 Old Stickney Point Road
Capt. Curts Crab & Oyster Bar.................B-3 #7 City Pizza Italian Restaurant................. D-3 #17 Clayton’s Siesta Grille...............................B-3 #9 Daiquiri Deck.................................................A-3 #2 Spear Fish Grill..............................................A-4 #5 Toasted Mango Cafe....................................C-3 #17 Miguel’s Restaurant................................ C-3 #17 WATER SPORTS - FISHING - RENTALS A to Z Beach & Bike Rentals.................. A-5 #12 FIN Island Co. ........................................... A-3 #2 CB’s Saltwater Outfitters........................ A-3 #4 Parasail Siesta........................................... A-3 #2 Siesta Key Bike & Kayak ........................B-3 #8 Siesta Key Marina.................................... A-4 #5 Siesta Key Jetski ........................................ A-3 #2 Siesta Sports Rentals............................. C-3 #14 Waves Boat & Social Club...................... A-5 #12
Big Water Fish Market................................C-3 #17 Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill...............A-5 #12
To advertise in
BREAKFAST and LUNCH
SERVED ALL DAY
Siesta Key es tD
ine r
in Flo rida
MSN Food and Drink Jan. 2015
call: 941-312-0665
Full
All Natural
and
and Veggie
Breakfast Fresh Fruit
B
HAND MADE:
Crescent Club...........................................B-3 #13 Siesta Spirits............................................. C-3 #17 MAILING & SHIPPING Mail Pack Center..................................... C-3 #14 US Post Office Sub Station..................... C-3 #14 MARKETS 7-11 Store.................................................. C-3 #16 Big Water Fish Market.......................... C-3 #17 Crescent Beach Grocery...........................B-3 #1 REAL ESTATE / RENTALS Beckmann Properties.............................. C-2 #15 Homes & Condo Rentals........................ D-3 #17 Re/Max Tropical Sands............................B-3 #1 Siesta 4-Rent............................................ C-3 #14 Waterside Realty.................................... C-3 #17 RESTAURANTS / CAFES
Lunch Menu
Smoothies
Beer, Wine and
Bloody Marys
6621 Midnight Pass Road Just S. of Stickney Pt. Road
941-552-6485 Open 7 Days A Week ~ 7 AM - 3 PM
www.ToastedMangoCafe.com
BIKES · BEACH STUFF · KAYAKS PADDLEBOARDS · SCOOTER CARS BEACH WHEELCHAIRS · SCOOTERS
Book Your Next Adventure Online. We Deliver! BOOK ONLINE OR CALL AT:
RideAndPaddle.com
(941)-346-1797 6551 Midnight Pass Road Southbridge Mall Siesta Key, FL 34242
BOOK ONLINE & SAVE $5.00 OFF YOUR NEXT WEEKLY BIKE RENTAL WITH COUPON CODE: V2019
Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill 1500 Stickney Point Rd.
Anna’s Deli 6535 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-3 #14
Big Water Fish Market 6641 Midnight Pass Road
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters 1249 Stickney Point Rd.
MAP A-3 #4
Coconuts Fashion MAP 1215 Old Stickney Point Rd. B-3 #1&8
Crescent Beach Grocery 1211 Old Stickney Pt. Rd.
MAP B-3 #1
Davidson Drugs 6595 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-3 #14
Siesta 4-Rent 6555 Midnight Pass Rd.
Toasted Mango Cafe 6621 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-3 #17
MAP C-4 #17
MAP C-3 #14
MAP A-5 #12
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
JULY 2020
Snapshots of Island Visitors
27th State Media LLC
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Photos by Jaye Clements - Sarasota Photography Yana Kay (20) of Denver, Sierra Kinzer (21) Colorado Springs, Regg Green (23) of Sarasota, Ian Bass (25) of Orlando, Lauren Rawlston (24) of Chattanooga, Sage Sampson (23) of Sarasota. (Foreground) Katia Gritzak (19) of Chicago, and Ashlyn Zartun (20) of Denver. After being cooped up for months, dancing to the boom box tunes on amazing Siesta Beach is easy. (Pic #0180) “Up, up and Away“ Activities are slowly returning to normal. A person laying on a beach blanket can rarely look out over the Gulf of Mexico shoreline without seeing someone enjoying the thrill of parasailing.
“Detecting Treasure” Molly Hunter of Sarasota walking the Siesta Beach shoreline listening for the sound that could mean riches. Originally from Ohio she relocated here three years ago. Her most valuable find was a gold ring with 38 diamond chips worth almost $2,000. She discovered it last summer on Turtle Beach. Unfortunately there weren’t any identifying marks on it.
“Sisters in Sand” Desirae (6) and Haisley (3) of Sarasota happy to be creating in the sand on the Siesta Key shoreline. Organizing a full schedule of learning and activities was mom’s biggest challenge during the pandemic.
“Schools Out” Vacationing friends, Kobe Shetler (18) and Jordan Yoder (20) of Ohio relaxing on one of the worlds top beaches. Treating this as their senior trip they enjoy spectacular Siesta Beach nearly every other day.
“Slow But Sure” Tina Russell with her twins, Julia and Sophia (12) of Sarasota. After spending the morning on the beach, this mobile family boards their electric scooters to propel them to Annie’s Café and Deli for lunch. These talented twins enjoyed learning new tricks and flips on their aerial hammock’s during the pandemic.
“Spike!” College Freshmen and friends, Mark Caraher (19), James Rivera (19) and Dalton Wright (19) of Lakewood Ranch during a break in their intense Spike Ball game. Caraher is a student at FIU studyinwithanemphisisg International Business and Psychology. Rivera attends FSU with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. Wright is a nursing student at USF.
“Spike!” James Rivera
“Be Safe” Fifteen year veteran Lifeguard, Robert Martini overseeing the safety of the public from the yellow lifeguard tower on one of the most popular beaches in America. Appointed Lieutenant nearly a year ago, he managers and organizes staffing, daily tasks, all rescue and medical equipment and ensuring the safety of the beach going public.
“Celebrating 21” Pennsylvanians, Camryn Cioppa (15), Savanna Yocca (21), Cali Cioppa (21), and Joey Vincent (21) soaking up the sun on Siesta Beach while continuing to celebrate Cali’s 21st birthday. The group also celebrated in Pittsburgh after Cali turned her basement into a bar because of the pandemic. Shhhhhhhhhh!
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Siesta Sand
JULY 2020
941.312.0665
Recipient of Best of Sarasota Home Care Award
Serving Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties
FL License #230517
 � � � �   � � €�  ‚ ƒ
941-925-2433
www.siestasand.net
Do You Know? Pop Quiz 1. What animal has a bullet proof shell? 2. On average, how many eggs does an octopus lay?
7. What is the smallest state capital in the U.S. based on the number of residents and what other unique distinction does this capital have? 8. How much does it cost the U.S. Mint to make a penny?
3. How many calories does a blue whale consume in a typical mouthful of food? 4. What two body parts never stop growing?
www.abridgeforindependence.com
Join us in a fun, upbeat and positive living environment!
5. What retailer has a store at CIA headquarters?
9. Why was the U.S. Secret Service created?
6. How long is the average giraffe tongue and what is the most likely benefit of its tongue being bluish black in color?
10. W ho designed the current U.S. flag?
941-927-0139 www.crotonmanor.com
RATES START AT $2,000
Answers on page 20
KIMBERLY STANFORD, RN, BSBA, QMHP Business Owner/Operator Answers on page 38 MarinerWord Search MarinerWord Search
Father’s Day Father’s Day
WORD LIST WORD LIST BRAVE BRAVE CARING CARING CHILDREN CHILDREN DAD DAD DEVOTED DEVOTED FAMILY FATHER FAMILY FISHING FATHER FOOTBALL FISHING FUNNY FOOTBALL GIVING FUNNY HEART HOME GIVING HONOR HEART HUGS HOME JOKES HONOR LAUGHTER LOVE HUGS MEMORIES JOKES NURTURE LAUGHTER PARENT LOVE PROTECT MEMORIES RESPECT SPORTS NURTURE STRONG PARENT THOUGHTFUL PROTECT Answers on Page 45 RESPECT SPORTS STRONG THOUGHTFUL
Answers on Page 45
www.TheMariner.com
www.TheMariner.com
MARKET & GRILL
217 AVENIDA MADERA SIESTA KEY
941-552-8826
www.THESEAFOODJOINT.com
CATERING AVAILABLE
CAPTAIN CURT’S VILLAGE
Siesta Key’s “Old Florida� Shopping Village In The Heart of Crescent Beach
BEST SHOPPING, DINING AND FUN ON SIESTA KEY
Enjoy specialty coffees and craft beers
SIESTA KEY’S OLDEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
941-349-3885 CAPTAIN CURT’S CAPTAIn
WORLD FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER
FUN RENTALS OF ALL KINDS 941-346-0891
Island Apparel, Souvenirs, & Chowder Kits 941-349-3885
Ice Cream and more! 941-346-8080
Outdoor Dining / Food until 2am LIVE MUSIC
1200 Old Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key FL, 34242
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
JULY 2020
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The Siesta Key Fitness Center changes its business model in response to COVID-19 The Siesta Key Fitness Center located on 5243 Avenida Navarra has changed its business model and is now exclusively a 24-hour access, member-only facility. The change in business model was predicated by COVID-19 and the importance in keeping everyone safe. “There is absolutely no way to run a low cost, all inclusive, extremely high volume, business model, and, keep people safe,” said Bruce Day, owner of The Siesta Key Fitness Center along with his wide, De. The Siesta Key Fitness Center has always maintained a solid annual membership base, however, over 90% of all their business transactions came from the sale of day passes and week passes to visitors, according to Day. Now, with the implementation of their new member-only business model, participation and usage has dropped 90 % due to no longer offering daily and weekly passes to visitors. “Last year,” said Day, “we did over 25,000 visitor workouts.” Very simply, in response to COVID-19, the future of the entire fitness facility industry can only go in one possible direction if it wants to protect members and keep them safe… more privacy through less volume.” “Going forward,” said De Day, “instead of handling about 4,000 customers per year, we’ll be serving about 250.” According to De, without the high volume of day and week passes, the Siesta Key Fitness Center customer base will now consist of four groups: 1) annual residents who live here year round, 2) folks who have second homes here and drop in multiple times throughout the year, 3) our northern friends who come and stay for five or six months at a time, and 4) our Personal
Big G’s Oyster Happy Hour from 3-6 Every day 1/2 Priced House Oysters Siesta Key Fitness Center is located at 5243 Avenida Navarra
Training client base. Adds De, “Anyone who works with a Personal Trainer at our facility does not need to be a member of the gym itself.” “The membership options and payment plans vary,” said Bruce. “We offer a straight annual membership that can be prepaid or paid monthly, an adjusted annual membership for the in and out folks who love the convenience of not having to travel off the island, and partial memberships of one, three, and six months.” In addition to significantly reducing volume and increasing the privacy, the Days also significantly invested in state of the art technology to further safeguard their members and also implemented other cleansing protocols. “We just installed two, state of the art, 3-ton AC systems equipped with cutting edge UV systems, so our air quality is second to none,” Explained De. “Additionally, we are extremely diligent with our surface and equipment cleaning procedures, and we also have an amazingly cooperative and courteous member base, that takes the responsibility of helping to
protect each other very seriously.” Bruce further explained members can enjoy additional benefits of a reduced membership facility. “For instance,” said Bruce, “in addition to the new safety measures and because we’re dealing with a fraction of the traffic, we can now provide enhanced value to our members by way of free nutrition, weight training and cardio clinics, as well as free access to open house personal training sessions.” Bruce and De wanted to thank all the many visitors who purchased day and week passes over the years and wanted them to know how sorry they were that the pandemic forced this change. “We want everyone to know how grateful we are for the amazing response and support we have received with the new business model,” said Bruce. “People have always enjoyed the quality and convenience of our facility and now they are elated with the privacy and safety measures, as well. If you would like to become a member of our “island lifestyle” fitness center, please stop by during staffed hours, or call 941-3498500 for a member enrollment appointment.”
Siesta Key Shoreline Damage pursued the truck haul project, Herman explained, that could delay the next overall restoration of the area to 2028 and give the county’s beach renourishment fund an opportunity to build back up. Herman told the commissioners that, with their concurrence, staff would plan on the truck haul project on south Siesta in the 2024 fiscal year, which will start on Oct. 1, 2023. In other words, she said, “It’s still not going to happen tomorrow.” The staff memo also noted, “The south end of the project area would be the focus of this interim project as it has been the area of the greatest losses of sand both from the Hurricane Hermine disaster [and gradual erosion].” “Reimbursements from FEMA are anticipated after completion of major milestones of the project (design, construction, post-construction, monitoring),” another of Herman’s slides said. The first money
coming into the county would be expected in the 2022 or 2023 fiscal year, Herman added.
Board approval and caution
Commissioner Alan Maio made the motion to approve staff’s recommendation, which was to authorize County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, or Lewis’ designee, to notify FEMA of the county’s intent to proceed with developing a scope of work for the truck-haul project and
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it, is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere that will get you right into the Island Spirit. One of the things that set SKOB apart from the other restaurants in Siesta Key Village is that we have some of the best food on the Key.
Live Music Every Day and Night
Continued from page 8
revising estimates of the sand replacement. Commissioner Charles Hines seconded the motion. “Once again, staff has really done an excellent job,” Maio said. “This is a lesson for all of us that this will never end,” Maio added of the need to keep restoring the beach for tourism and recreational benefits. Hines also stressed, “Communication on this one’s
Daily Drink Specials going to be huge,” so members of the public will understand why the county will have trucks bringing in new sand. He told Herman that staff would have to ensure that such outreach takes place. “Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Just absolutely great example of leveraging the local taxpayer dollars” to obtain the majority of the funding from the state and federal governments, Chair Michael Moran said before the vote.
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Siesta Sand
JULY 2020
Florida Fish of Siesta Key
Red Snapper
Yellowtail
Mangrove Snapper
Lane Snapper
Black Mullet Snook
Red Drum “Redfish”
Tarpon
Baracuda
Florida Pompano Jack Crevalle
Spotted Sea Trout
Cobia
Black Drum
Blue Marlin
Black Grouper
Sheesphead
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Fishing Report
Water World Fishing Report
Tarpon Time Aledia Tush and Doug Forde of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters “DOUBLED” up on TARPON off Siesta Key ON May 29th fishing with Capt. R.C. Gilliland. Aledia & Doug landed and released both.
Capt. Rick Grassett, Sarasota CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (941) 923-7799 (office)
Tarpon should be plentiful in the coastal gulf this month as Florida big schools of fish migrate along Puffer our beaches. Also look for cobia, tripletail and false albacore (little tunny) in the coastal gulf. Catch Sailfish and release snook fishing should also be good in and around Spanish passes and in the surf. Fishing Mackerel should also be good on deep grass flats for a variety of species. Tarpon fishing should be strong Dohlpin “Mahi-Mahi” this month as schools of fish increase in size and numbers. They will head off shore to spawn close to new and full moons. Set up in travel lanes along the beach at first light in the morning and Scoolmaster cast live crabs, baitfish, DOA Baitbusters and Swimming Mullet to them. I travel well offshore along the beach in the morning to avoid disturbing schools of tarpon that may be traveling close Scamp to the beach. Once you’ve reached the area you intend to fish, ease into the beach with an electric trolling motor and set up in your spot. You can anchor or drift, depending on conditions. Give other anglers several hundred yards of space. Since fish may be moving both north and south, setting up too close to another angler may negatively affect their fishing. Tarpon fishing is very dependent on conditions and there are a lot of variables that need to come together to be successful. Use tackle heavy enough to land them as quickly as possible. When fly fishing, I use 12-weight rods and large arbor reels capable of holding 300-yards or more of Gulf backing. I use a variety of baitfish, Flounder shrimp or crab fly patterns fished on floating fly lines. The shallower the water, the easier it is to get your fly in front of a fish when fly fishing. Stake out or anchor in travel lanes to get shots at them. When spin fishing, I usually drift a couple of live baits under a float while we wait for tarpon schools to pass by. Blind casting with DOA Baitbusters or AmberJack Swimming Mullet, if you’re in the right spot, can also be productive when fish are moving past you but not showing well on the surface. The CAL 4” Shad Tail/ Swimbait with a heavy weedless hook is also be a good tarpon bait, especially when sight fishing. Snook, reds and spotted seatrout remain closed to harvest on the west coast of Florida. The Florida FWC has extended a temporary modification of regulations for reds, snook and trout, in the areas affected by the recent red tide. The area extends from Pasco County, south to Catfish the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Reds, snook and trout are catch and release only in that zone until May 31, 2021. Full details including exact boundaries can be found King at https://myfwc.com/news/ Mackerel all-news/extended-cnr-220/. This is great news for our fishery! Sarasota Bay is rebounding, and the continued closure will make it even better. You should find snook in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges in the ICW near passes. You can walk the beach and sight fish them in the surf with fly or spinning tackle. Small baitfish fly patterns, CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms or DOA shrimp should all work well. The
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same lures and flies that work in the surf will also work well at night. Snook will congregate in passes around the new and full moons to spawn. They will usually be in deep channels in these areas. Bouncing a DOA TerrorEyz or Baitbuster in bridge channels or passes can be an effective technique in these areas. Fishing for reds should also be good this month. Look for them over shallow grass along mangrove shorelines or around oyster bars when the tide is high. You’ll find them in potholes or edges of flats when the tide is low. Top water plugs will work well, especially early in the day. I like to cover water with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms to find them. Fly anglers should score with baitfish fly patterns like my Grassett Flats Minnow. You may find Spanish mackerel, bluefish or pompano in passes or on deep grass flats this month. I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or DOA Deadly Combos. Fly anglers should score by drifting and casting ahead of the drift with Ultra Hair Clouser flies tied on long shank hooks on an intermediate sink tip fly line. You’ll need to add a few inches of heavy (40 or 50-pound) fluorocarbon when toothy fish are in the mix. In addition to tarpon look for Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf this month. Although none of them may be thick, I’ve encountered all of them before in June. Keep your eyes open for bird activity or “breaking” fish to find albies and mackerel. Cobia and tripletail may be found around crab trap floats; however I’ve seen cobia swimming with tarpon schools before. Medium spinning tackle and a DOA Shrimp or CAL jig will get the job done for all of them, although your tarpon tackle would also work well for a big cobia. An 8 or 9-weight fly rod with a floating or clear sink tip fly line is adequate to catch everything except a big cobia, in which case your 12-weight tarpon fly tackle will work well. There are lots of options in inshore waters or the coastal gulf this month. If pulling on a 100-pound tarpon isn’t for you, fishing pressure is usually light inshore this month so snook, trout and more should also be good options. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by residential, agricultural and industrial runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit! Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassett FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011 Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc. www.snookfin-addict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us E-mail snookfin@aol.com (941) 923-7799 (office)
Aledia shows off her catch before releasing
Doug shows off his catch before releasing
Born to Fish This Young Man Loves to Fish.
Jackson IV showing off his most recent catch.
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Captain Jim Klopfer’s Fishing Forecast July 2020 Adventure Charters 941-371-1390 July fishing can be excellent, but tactics need to be a little different and windows of opportunity are smaller. It is simply too hot to fish in the middle of the day. Early morning will be the most reliable time to fish, evenings are good too, but frequent thunderstorms can make planning a trip difficult. Anglers who don’t mind fishing in the dark will have success at night, and they will beat the summer heat! Action on the deep grass flats from the north end of Siesta Key should be very good for speckled trout, along with bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, pompano, and jacks. A high tide in the morning is favored for anglers to drift the flats and cast Bass Assassin jigs, plugs, spoons, and live shrimp under a popping cork. Netting up a bunch of shiners and chumming the deep flats will usually result in nonstop action. The flats and oyster bars south of Stickney Point down to Blackburn Point will hold some nice trout in July, and that area gets very little pressure in the summertime. The key is water temperature; if it is too high the bait and gamefish will not be there. Redfish and snook will also cruise the bars and shorelines in search of prey. Snook will be schooled up in Big Sarasota Pass, on the north end of Siesta Key. Live bait fished in the deep water around structure will produce snook. They will also be caught right off of all of the beaches. Anglers
can sight cast to them with small lures and flies in the morning when seas are calm and the sun is behind them. Redfish will begin to school up in July and can be caught in very shallow water. The largest trout also prefer shallow water, so don’t be surprised if a “gator” intercepts an offering meant for a redfish. Anglers need to be aware that both speckled trout and redfish are currently closed to harvest, due to the red tide of 2018. Night fishing will be exciting and productive in July. Lighted docks and bridges attract glass minnows and shrimp, which in turn attract the gamefish. Snook are abundant, but trout, reds, jacks, ladyfish, and snapper will also be caught at night. Live shrimp works very well free lined in the current with little or no weight. A 24” piece of 25 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a 1/0 live bait hook is the basic rig. Lures will also catch fish, but can be difficult to cast at night. Fly fisherman will score with a small white snook fly such as the Grassett’s Snook Minnow tied on a #4 hook. Tarpon will still be plentiful in the Gulf of Mexico, although the anglers will not be. The large schools will have broken up, and although the fish don’t show as well, they eat better. Pinfish and crabs drifted out 6 feet under a cork at first light will catch tarpon in July. Point of Rocks on Siesta Key is a proven spot to fish.
JULY 2020
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27th State Media LLC
Notes from the Island Fishmonger Oh Snap…it’s Snapper!!
Mangrove Snappers are also known as Grey Snapper and can consistently be caught inshore. Their color ranges from bronze to grey and they have a mouth full of sharp teeth. Snapper have a mild, firm textured meat that is perfect for almost any recipe. One of my favorite Snapper recipes is the Florida Snapper with Citrus Sauce. You will need the following: • 1 ½ lbs. skin on snapper cut into four 6oz. fillets • Corn starch for dusting For the Citrus Sauce you will need: • 1 cup orange juice • 2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce • 1-2 tbsp. unsalted butter
July brings us one of the tastiest treats from the sea…Snapper!! There are 17 types of Snapper available off Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. The two most common snappers in markets and restaurants are the Red Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper. Red Snapper are known by their rosyred skin and bright red irises. Yellowtail Snapper have a yellow stripe running from their nose to tail and are found in the warm waters of south Florida. They are also a top predator in the Gulf ecosystem. Red Snapper can grow to about 40 inches, weigh 50 pounds and live more than 50 years. Locally, you will also find Mangrove Snappers plentiful.
• Salt/pepper to taste Preheat a medium sized sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp. oil to the pan. Season each snapper with salt/pepper and dust the skin side of each fillet with corn starch. Cook each fillet for around 3 minutes on each side or until completely cooked throughout the thickest part of the fillet. For the sauce you combine the orange juice and soy sauce. Cook over medium heat until reduced by half. Reduce the heat and add butter and stir until the butter is incorporated. Remove from heat and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Live well….Eat Fish! Scott Dolan
Captain Jason at Bad Habit Sport Fishing Charters with a prime Red Snapper catch.
Kathleen D Sailing Catamarans Let’s go sailing, KATHLEEN D Sailing Catamarans, serving Siesta Key from 3 locations: Downtown Sarasota, Longboat Key, and Anna Maria Island. If you would like to experience being on the water viewing Dolphin Watches, Sunset Sails, Snorkeling and Shelling call us at 941-870-4349 or go to our web site for detailed information www.kathleend.net USCG Certified for 20 passengers.
JULY 2020 TIDE CHART Florida, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Sarasota Bay
July 2020
N 27° 20' / W 82° 33' Date
Day
1
We
9:31a
High Tide 2.3
High Tide
Sunrise
Sunset
Moonrise
Moonset
3:41a
2
Th
12:16a
1.4
10:11a
3
Fr
1:38a
1.3
10:52a
4
Sa
11:33a
5
Su
6
1.0
5:57p
0.0
6:38a
8:30p
5:10p
3:31a
2.5
4:14a
1.1
6:54p
-0.2
6:39a
8:30p
6:16p
4:15a
2.5
4:44a
1.2
7:44p
-0.4
6:39a
8:30p
7:20p
5:04a
2.6
8:29p
-0.4
6:40a
8:30p
8:21p
5:58a
12:14p
2.6
9:10p
-0.4
6:40a
8:30p
9:16p
6:55a
Mo
12:57p
2.5
9:48p
-0.3
6:41a
8:30p
10:05p
7:55a
7
Tu
4:41a
1.3
1:40p
2.5
7:33a
1.2
10:24p
-0.2
6:41a
8:30p
10:48p
8:54a
8
We
5:00a
1.4
2:25p
2.3
8:37a
1.3
10:59p
0.0
6:41a
8:30p
11:25p
9:52a
9
Th
5:20a
1.4
3:14p
2.1
9:44a
1.2
11:35p
0.1
6:42a
8:30p
11:59p
10:48a
10
Fr
5:44a
1.5
4:09p
1.9
10:56a
1.1
6:42a
8:29p
11
Sa
6:13a
1.6
5:13p
1.7
12:11a
0.3
12:13p
1.0
6:43a
8:29p
12:30a
12:34p
12
Su
6:45a
1.7
6:31p
1.6
12:49a
0.5
1:34p
0.9
6:43a
8:29p
1:00a
1:25p
13
Mo
7:20a
1.8
8:06p
1.4
1:27a
0.7
2:53p
0.7
6:44a
8:29p
1:30a
2:17p
14
Tu
7:57a
1.9
9:51p
1.3
2:05a
0.9
4:06p
0.6
6:44a
8:28p
2:01a
3:09p
15
We
8:35a
2.0
11:29p
1.3
2:42a
1.0
5:09p
0.4
6:45a
8:28p
2:34a
4:03p
16
Th
9:15a
2.2
3:17a
1.2
6:02p
0.2
6:45a
8:28p
3:11a
5:00p
17
Fr
12:51a
1.4
3:51a
1.3
6:50p
0.0
6:46a
8:27p
3:52a
5:57p
18
Sa
10:36a
2.4
7:33p
-0.2
6:46a
8:27p
4:39a
6:55p
19
Su
11:19a
2.5
8:13p
-0.3
6:47a
8:27p
5:32a
7:52p
20
Mo
3:12a
1.4
12:04p
2.5
5:54a
1.3
8:53p
-0.3
6:47a
8:26p
6:31a
8:45p
21
Tu
3:34a
1.4
12:51p
2.6
6:48a
1.3
9:32p
-0.3
6:48a
8:26p
7:34a
9:34p
22
We
3:54a
1.4
1:40p
2.6
7:45a
1.2
10:11p
-0.2
6:48a
8:25p
8:39a
10:19p
23
Th
4:15a
1.5
2:33p
2.5
8:47a
1.1
10:51p
0.0
6:49a
8:25p
9:44a
11:00p
24
Fr
4:40a
1.5
3:31p
2.3
9:53a
1.0
11:30p
0.2
6:49a
8:24p
10:48a
11:38p
25
Sa
5:10a
1.6
4:36p
2.1
11:07a
0.9
6:50a
8:24p
11:52a
26
Su
5:44a
1.7
5:53p
1.7
12:09a
0.5
12:29p
0.8
6:51a
8:23p
12:55p
12:15a
27
Mo
6:24a
1.9
7:32p
1.6
12:47a
0.7
1:59p
0.6
6:51a
8:23p
1:58p
12:52a
28
Tu
7:09a
2.1
9:34p
1.4
1:24a
0.9
3:28p
0.4
6:52a
8:22p
3:02p
1:31a
29
We
8:00a
2.3
11:38p
1.4
1:59a
1.2
4:48p
0.2
6:52a
8:21p
4:06p
2:13a
30
Th
8:55a
2.4
2:35a
1.3
5:55p
0.0
6:53a
8:21p
5:10p
2:59a
31
Fr
9:50a
2.5
6:50p
-0.1
6:53a
8:20p
6:10p
3:50a
9:55a
2.3
Low Tide
Low Tide
©2020 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW
Phase
Full
11:42a 3rd
New
1st
30
Siesta Sand
Off Key
JULY 2020
By Robert Frederickson
After Shah Jewelers on University Parkway had a window smashed one night recently in one of the many incoherent expressions of rage over the tragic and reprehensible killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, responding officers from the Sheriff’s department made contact with an employee of a nearby Home Depot who brought plywood and mounting hardware to the scene and then proceeded – along with the officers – to board up the storefront so as to head-off any looting...a vivid example of what happens when communities stand together and help their neighbors. I have no doubt there are countless examples of similar acts of caring and kindness amid the mayhem of recent weeks, but unfortunately many if not most media outlets reflexively focus on issues and images calculated to divide, not unite us. Don’t buy into this narrative. It will only hurt you and your community.
Winners and Losers...
We all know about the hit taken
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From Officers Hailed to Frying Pan Tales…
by the hospitality industry due to the lock down that came in response to the COVID/Wuhan virus pandemic. Restaurants large and small have taken some of the biggest hits. Many of them have had to dramatically re-imagine their business plans in order to survive and hopefully return – in time – to prosperity. One restaurateur who realized almost immediately he would have to pivot from a traditional inside seating plan to one responding to the changing needs and concerns of his customers is Frank Chivas, owner of the Baystar Restaurant Group which operates 12 restaurants just up the road in Pinellas County. The company also owns a fleet of fishing boats that supply the chain’s kitchens. “We went from going 100 MPH to zero,” Chivas told Tucker Carlson back in April when the full extent of the economic slowdown became glaringly apparent. But in a classic example of the speed with which free enterprise can adapt to problems in ways governments can’t even
HOTTEST BAR IN GULF GATE...
begin to approach (witness the continuing saga of Florida’s unemployment debacle) Chivas rallied his employees behind a new plan: opening fresh markets to sell food direct. He has also bought five new vehicles. “Now we’re in the delivery business,” he told Carlson. “We never would have done that. Now we’re all over it.” “They say we’re going to fail because we have big restaurants. But were not going to fail. We’ll come back.” I wouldn’t bet against it.
Winners and Losers Too...
Then there are those businesses that have experienced an embarrassment of riches due to shifting consumer trends brought on by the pandemic. Amazon has posted record sales as online shopping has surged. Publix reported sales growth of nearly seven percent for the second quarter as more of us are out of necessity eating at home (and probably eating more, too). But it’s not just businesses offering life’s necessities that have benefited. Did you know sales of swimming pools have surged as well? Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of the Pool and Hut Tub Alliance, had this to say in a recent interview with MarketWatch. com: “With COVID, and the trepidation with travel, people are taking that money and investing it in backyard pools. Most of the industry had shut down for a period of time. Now they’re saying their phones are ringing off the hook.” It reminds me of a small German musical instrument
manufacturer idling along in the early 1960s making a modest profit for its owners and providing a reasonable living for its small workforce. They too went into work one Monday morning thinking it would be just another workday. Thing is, the night before a group of gents from Liverpool had appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and there for all the world to see, emblazoned on the front of Ringo Starr’s drum kit was the company’s logo: Ludwig. It took months for the company to catch up with the demand resulting from every adolescent drummer in North America simultaneously deciding they simply had to have a drum set just like Ringo’s.
Work-at-Home Paradigm Shift...
If you had polled the average office worker six months or a year ago, most would have probably placed ‘work-at-home’ high on a list of benefits they wished their employers offered. Now though? Well. I’m not so sure. My wife works for a busy daily newspaper and in the past has often expressed the sentiment that if she could just work at home on a regular basis she wouldn’t have to stay at the office so late most evenings. Freed from the multitude of distractions of her hectic work environment her productivity would soar she would say. Well, she got her chance. She’s been working at home for three months now with no announced end in sight. Meantime, on the other side of the equation, many employers have long clung to the notion that not having the majority of their
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employees in the same place at the same time would be a recipe for less productivity, not more, despite many studies to the contrary. I sense opinions have shifted though – in both camps. My wife and many of her coworkers have been lamenting in recent weeks just how much they miss the shared camaraderie the physical proximity they once took for granted allowed: the inside jokes, the rolling of eyes shared across the room when a co-worker would exhibit a particularly ridiculous personality quirk all have come to recognize and expect in certain situations. And they also miss the opportunities to offer and receive encouragement and support for one another when one of them is having a particularly bad day, something not easily discerned over a VPN connection, but plain to see – to intuitively sense – when they’re together. As for a growing number of businesses, the new arrangement has been nothing short of a revelation. No, productivity hasn’t suffered...people actually can work without constant supervision. And maybe we don’t need all this expensive office space after all... That was the case for Tervis Tumbler. The company recently announced plans to sell its corporate headquarters in Venice, a decision driven by its success transitioning to a work-at-home plan. Company president Rogan Donelley told the Herald Tribune recently that the changeover went so well the company decided it no longer needed its 12-acre Venice property with its 119,000 square foot facility. “We found that productivity was actually greater than being here at the office, for whatever reason,” Donnelly said in the Herald Tribune interview. “ We found that employees are happy. They have access to their family. It was a forced experiment, but it worked out well for us.” So far, perhaps. But I’m a skeptic on this one. Anything that isolates us more from one another just doesn’t seem to be the right approach in times like these when so much is already pushing us apart. Continued on page 37
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JULY 2020
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DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE Where else can you watch your favorite game with a great selection of beers, wines and liquors served by a friendly staff AND where you’re allowed to bring your own restaurant or deli food? Right here. 6500 Gateway Ave. – 941-554-8905. Tony’s Chicago Beef Company (S-16) is owned and operated by true Chicagoans. Dedicated to deliver Chicago’s best food - Chicago style Hot Dogs wit’ the works...dragged through the garden on poppy seed buns with fresh cut fries, Italian Beef Sandwiches anyway you like, dipped or dry, sweet or hot. All served in true Authentic Chicago Style. Solórzano’s Late Night Pizzeria (S-32): At every Solórzano’s, they offer an experience familiar to those who understand the importance of family and dedication. Their recipes and techniques have been perfected through three long generations based on the traditional simplicity of the methods used by their Italian ancestors. Dine inside, outside, pick up, or DELIVERY anywhere on Siesta Key, or in Sarasota until 3:30 a.m. 6574 Superior Ave., 941-9245800. Pride of the South (S-34) Pride of the South has been awarded Top 1
2
Barbeque in Sarasota for 2016 by Trip Advisor and Yelp. It has been awarded for the best Southern Hospitality. Pride of the South has a brisket BLT, hands down, one of the best sandwiches you ever tasted. The smoked chicken wings are unbelievable. Backed up with the pulled pork sandwiches, the smoked bologna, the smoked Turkey, the collard greens, fried corn on the cob, fried okra, fried green tomatoes and one of the best mac n cheese you ever tasted. We do catering with no limit to size. Call (941)926-0099. See you soon. Gulf Gate Food + Beer (S-51): Sarasota’s late-night hot spot for the service industry, night owls, and midnight snackers. It’s not your typical sports bar offering unique menu selections for carnivores and vegetarians. Be sure to check out their menu online at: eatfooddrinkbeer.com. Hours: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Sun. - Thurs.) open until 2 a.m. (Fri & Sat.). ROBERTS REALTY, Inc. (M5) John Garner, Broker Assoc. & Diane Shane, Broker Assoc. have a combined 40 years’ experience in Sarasota of making dreams come true for our clients. FOR BUYERS, we have had great success in finding the right property for our clients because we listen closely to their wants and needs
3
4
and matching that as close as possible. FOR SELLERS, over the years we have successfully listed and sold many, many properties throughout Sarasota County. OUR PHILOSOPHY is to have fun, enjoy the experience, achieve great results, make friends and receive referrals. We’re with you every step of the way! Call 941-924-2330 or drop by our office. Only Eyes, Optical (S-24) brings a new, exotic, eclectic, eccentric, unique collection of vintage, hipster, contemporary eyeglasses and sunglasses to the community. Licensed and experienced optician available to fill your prescriptions. Only Eyes Optical has a large assortment of free frames with the purchase of new lenses. Call 941-444-7984 to set up an appointment with their licensed optician. Mellow Mushroom serves a one of a kind pizza pie. The flavors and ingredients are just as unique and special as the restaurant’s design. Try a Mellow Mushroom stone-baked pizza, munchies, calzone, salad, hoagie, or even a burger. Pick from our selection of 24 draft beers or tasty, handcrafted cocktails. And, many of our pizzas can be made gluten-free or vegan. Located at 6727 S. Tamiami Trail. 941-388-7504.
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Siesta Nails & Spa
Hooters
Stein Mart
Publix
Michaels
© Island Visitor Publishing, LLC 2018
Ba Am nk o eri f ca
Panera Bread
Bed Bath & Beyond
This section helps highlight what you’ll find within this walkable Gulf Gate shopping Village.
Ross
Dress for Less
Iberia Bank
Five Below 1
2
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G12 G11 G10 G9 G8 G7 G6 G5 G4 G3 G2 G1
G24
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G14 G13
EYE EXAMS AVAILABLE
$
complete frames* & lenses
69 single vision
89 bifocal
$
| $189 progressive digital lenses
bring your prescription • FREE FRAMES while supplies last. Pay only for plastic lenses • FREE ultrasound cleaning of glasses • Most repairs available on site
6541 Superior Avenue Gulf GAte BuSineSS DiStrict SArASotA, fl 34231
941.444.7984 onlyeyesoptical.com
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S30 S29 S28 S27 S26 S25 S24 S23 S22 S21 S20 S19 S18 S17 S16 S15 S14 S13 S12 S11 S10 S9 S8 S7 S6 S5 S4 S3 S2 S1
G-4 D
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Gulf Gulf Gate Gate Drive Drive
Gulf Gulf Gate Gate Drive Drive
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Marshall’s
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Sarasota Pavilion is a popular shopping destination for numerous locals and visitors alike. Its prime location is close enough to the island for frequent trips with a nice selection of chain stores set in one convenient location. But what truly lends to the uniqueness of this district is the host of small, locally owned, specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, and neighborhood bars bordering this pavilion. It makes for a fun and rewarding shopping experience. Over 150 businesses make up this district.
Mall Mall Drive Drive
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From Vintage to Modern An extension of your personality
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With our map, located below, you’ll be able to navigate your way to our featured shops with ease. The Shop SRQ (G-2) offers flat-tops, fades, tapers, blowouts, razor cuts, and straight razor shaves. Owners, Erick and Dawn use a back to basics approach to grooming with a precise attention to personal detail. Their commitment to excellence has provided them with many loyal customers. They welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. Hours: Tues. – Fri. 8:30am – 6pm, Sat., 8:30am – 3pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Sarasota Brewing Co. (G-4) Sarasota’s first micro brew pub always has something new to offer. From over 20 seasonal beers that rotate throughout the year, the Brewing Company always has at least five unique brews online as well as several favorites from around the world. Established in 1989, their menu has been a winner in the Reader’s Choice Awards of the Sarasota Herald Tribune featuring their mouth-watering burgers, Chicago style pizzas, and Chicago beef sandwiches. With dozens of televisions, it’s a great place to catch a game with friends and family. Gulf Gate Barber Shop (G-11): has been an institution in the community for years, owned by Kyle Flannery. The super-clean barbershop’s clientele is E comprised of primarily men, but the shop services children as well. Scott Reich, formerly of the Siesta Key Village Barber Shop has relocated to this location. D At the original Word of Mouth Restaurant (G-31), every seemingly insignificant detail receives special attention C from the warm, inviting decor to each specially crafted variety of freshly baked muffins to the signature menu items. B This small diner is where the locals come to eat breakfast and lunch. Take a look at their menu at originalwordofmouth.com. Hours: Mon-Sun.: 8 a.m. – 2 A p.m. West End Pub (G-49)
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ACCOMMODATIONS PAGE 47 HOMES FOR SALE PAGE 45 SIESTA KEY MARKET STATS PAGE 40
The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key
Provided by Key Solutions Real Estate / www.keysolutionsrealestate.com
Following are properties sold on Siesta Key in the last 60 days, providing a snapshot of home values on the Key for both single family homes and condominiums.
HIGHEST PRICED SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY: 7712 & 7660 Sanderling Road, Sold For $10,500,000 Offering one of the area’s most coveted lifestyles, this tropical sanctuary, known as Aquadisia, consists of almost 4 acres on the Gulf of Mexico in the coveted Sanderling Club on Siesta Key. With 528 feet of direct beachfront, one of the most significant on the entire Gulf Coast, this estate exudes LOWEST PRICED SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY: 254 Garden Lane, Sarasota, FL 34242 Sold For $400,000 Key West style home located on a canal on Siesta Key. Located in an
enclave of lush tropical landscaping! Home has been re-piped, new kitchen sink, faucet, bathroom sink, shower head, new wiring for kitchen appliances, lighting, ceiling fan, outdoor lighting, new A/C, new duct work, new floor, and new
privacy, tranquility, and relaxation from the moment one enters the amazing grounds. Meticulously renovated, paying tribute to the original Guy Peterson structure and the majestic site, Aquadisia is a stunning modern muse. The sophisticated use of glass, water, quartz, hardwood, and shell stonework together to create a modern, warm and refined beach residence. Extensive planning and attention to detail have resulted in
paint. Situated on a quiet street and only 2 miles to all the amenities the Siesta Key Village has to offer. Courtesy of Robbins and Associate, Inc
Highest Priced Condo: 4708 Ocean Boulevard, #E-3 Sold For $1,112,500 The views of the Gulf of Mexico and Big Pass take your breath away. Rarely available 3 bedrooms/3 baths, split plan with attached 2-car garage and interior laundry room. Windward Passage is one of the finest and most well-built condominiums on Siesta Key. One look and you will realize why many owners in this 2-building complex call it Home. Secure entry to garages from
Lowest Priced Condo: 6703 Midnight Pass Road, # 206 Sarasota, FL 34242 Sold For $244,000 This charming 1-bedroom & 1-bath is just walking distance to beautiful Siesta Key. The condo
has been recently updated and has great rental history. It is booked from January 2020-April 2020 so, a perfect opportunity for someone looking for rental income and have a part-time use for themselves. This unit features a well equipped
mesmerizing grounds including a grove of Royal palms, a reflecting pool and a labyrinth surrounded by exotic bamboo. This property is truly extraordinary on its own, but as part of the Sanderling Club, it offers a guard gated entrance, beach clubhouse, tennis courts, beach cabanas, playground and dockage on the bayside of the island. Courtesy of Premier Sothebys
lobby which has recently been redone. Inviting foyer welcomes you into the unit. Large kitchen with loads of drawers and cabinets. Two-zone A/C. Beautiful, large heated pool overlooking the Gulf. Relax on the balcony to watch the activity on the waterway. At night, enjoy the lights of Lido Key and downtown Sarasota in the distance. Windward Passage is located at the north end of Siesta Key Village with easy access to the North bridge off Siesta Drive. Courtesy of Sunset Realty
kitchen, plenty of closet space and spacious living room make this an easy carefree lifestyl. Courtesy of Sarasota Land and Homes
JUST SOLD!
5167 Dewey Place
SETH: 941. 342. SOLD (7653) AL: 941. 479. 1175 NMLS #1783476
Al Nemore & Seth Westerberg
“We’ve been trying to sell our home on Siesta Key for many years to no avail. After hiring the Westerberg Group, we not only sold that house in just a few months, but they brought the buyers, and found our new home as well! If you have a home to sell or buy, use Seth and Al.” – Janis & Travis Wellbrock
Marty Remillard NMLS#343653
No Lender Fees 941. 223.9416
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195 Vista Hermosa Circle, Unit#9-A, Sarasota, Florida Wonderfully remodeled Freestanding Vista Hermosa Villa just a short walk to World Famous Siesta Beach. You will fall in love with this 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa. Two week rentals make this a very attractive property for a investor or just picking up some extra income when you are not enjoying the property for yourself. Custom solid wood cabinets in the kitchen with granite counters & upgraded stainless steel appliances. Designer bathrooms boasting tumbled marble & granite. Smooth ceilings with custom lighting. Designer tile & carpet throughout. Nothing has been spared. New A/C in 2017 and also a recently installed tankless water heater. The association replaced the roof in 2016. You are just a short walk to dining & nightlife. This villa is being sold turnkey furnished (with some exclusions). Already booked for 2021 Season.
$419,900
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Exquisite grounds and amenities at Excelsior Beach to Bay Stretching across Midnight Pass Road approximately 3/4 mile north of Stickney Point Rd, Excelsior Beach to Bay features 166 two and three bedroom units on both the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway/Little Sarasota Bay. The property is beautifully landscaped and features two large, lovely heated pools with hot tubs, two lighted tennis courts, beautiful pickle ball courts, shuffleboard, clubhouse, fishing pier on the Intracoastal waterway, fitness center with saunas, wi-fi throughout, and much more! The private white sand beach with chair and umbrella availability add to the high desirability of this incredible
community. Small pets are permitted for owners. Two week minimum rentals and on-site management make Excelsior a great home away from home or a terrific investment property. The mid-Key location lends easy access to both Mid-Key and Siesta Villages. It is also easily accessible to both bridges on and off the island for mainland activity. The Siesta Breeze trolley makes easy transport to the fun eclectic bar, restaurant and shopping scene nearby. Please see the website for more detailed information: http://www.excelsiorcondos. com/
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Absolutely stunning estate home near Siesta Beach and Village Designed to deliver the very best of island life, this 5-bedroom, 5 1/2 bath home features exquisite finishes and furnishings. Ideally located mid-Key, this 6,000 square foot home affords easy access to both Siesta bridges, a quick walk to famed Siesta Beach, a short boat trip to the ICW and Gulf, and quick access to Siesta Key Village. The outdoor living this home provides is unparalleled - 2 boat lifts (10k and 20k), a grotto-style salt-water pool and spa with dramatic waterfalls, a Tiki hut bar with mini kitchenette, and a screened sitting/ dining area with built-in grill and outdoor gas fireplace. Located in prestigious Royal Palm Harbor, drive through canopied trees to this stunning southern coastal architectural masterpiece. The lovely welcoming staircase centers the wide porch which spans the front of the home. Enter into the spacious foyer which flanks the warm wood library on one side and the lovely dining room opposite. The first floor is open and flowing - the living area, dream gourmet
“20 MINUTES TO A STRONGER YOU”™ ITS’ TIME TO EVOLVE!
kitchen, sitting area, game room with pool table, office, wine room, and 1 1/2 baths are all completed in contemporary style. The wood-floored second level features 3 en-suite bedrooms, a home gym, and a magnificent master suite with a sitting room, terrace and bath/spa with hydro massage tub and shower. A private in-law suite accompanies the incredible living space. Finally, a dog-run, fenced back lawn, 4 car pass-through garage with easy access to the docks, driveway parking for 10 automobiles, generator, and extensive landscaping and outdoor lighting completes this amazing property. Bob Ruiz of Key Solutions Real Estate has listed the property for $3,249,000. Bob says, “This home is a boater and beach-goers dream. This home, nearest 6000+ square foot home to the beach on navigable water, is an island oasis.” A complete web page on this property is online at www.1208northportdrive.com.
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Ocean condo units 2/3rds sold
Oceane Condominiums are located at 4740 Ocean Boulevard.
With the Georgia-based developer of the Oceane complex — CG Oceane LLC — formally having made its Declaration of Condominium on Nov. 4, 2019, units have been selling, the SNL found in a recent search of records kept by the Sarasota
County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. In its declaration, CG Oceane officially submitted the land “and all improvements erected or to be erected thereon … to the condominium form of ownership and use in the manner provided by the Condominium Act …” That act is detailed in Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes, the declaration explains. Located at 4740 Ocean Blvd., the solitary Oceane building faces Big Pass. It has three floors over a covered parking area, the declaration notes. Each of the six units will have a minimum of four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, the declaration adds. “Time-share estates shall not be created with respect to any Unit within the Condominium,” the declaration points out. Based on a SNL review of deeds, the developer transferred the top two units of the complex to another limited liability
company, Oceane Penthouse LLC, which has the same address as the developer: 7320 McGinnis Ferry Road in Suwanee, Ga. The sale price listed on the deed was $8,150,000 for Unit 301 and Unit 302. The transaction was recorded on Dec. 31, 2019, the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s records show. The second sale was recorded on Jan. 8. Unit 202 went to 4750 Ocean Blvd LLC, whose address is in Stamford, Conn., the deed says. The purchase price was $4,050,000. According to the Florida Division of Corporations, the managers of that limited liability company are Peter Drittel and Jane Drittel, who list Unit 202 at 4750 Ocean Blvd. as the address for the company. 4750 Ocean Blvd. LLC filed its Articles of Organization with the state on Jan. 3, 2020. The third sale was recorded by the Clerk of Court’s Office on Feb. 19. That involved Unit 201, which went to trusts established by Suzanne Smith and Peter C. Smith, the deed says. The address listed for the trusts is in Chicago. The price was $4,250,000. As of June 11, the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records showed that CG Oceane still owned the remaining two units, which are on the first floor above the parking level. The Property Appraiser’s Office has yet to assign a value to any of the Oceane condominiums.
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Island Humor
A man walks into a bar and it’s empty – it’s just him and the bartender. He sits down and orders a drink. He hears someone whisper, “Pssst…I like your tie.” The man looks around but doesn’t see anyone. “Pssst…that color looks nice on you.” He asks the bartender, “Excuse me, but…are you speaking to me?” The bartender rolls his eyes and says, “No, sorry about
Off Key
that. It’s the peanuts… they’re complimentary.” Two antennas decided to get married, the ceremony was pretty boring, but the reception was great! The graveside service had j u s t e n d e d w h e n t h e re w a s a frightening clap of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning accompanied by even louder thunder. The little old man looked at the pastor and said calmly, “Well, she’s there.”
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Going Long the Suburbs, Short the Cities?
Following up on the local experience of Tervis Tumblers, you just know thousands of major corporations leasing prime real estate in places like Manhattan are thinking the exact same thing, especially when you now factor in the recently revealed inability of many city police forces to protect private property; so you can likely expect an acceleration of a trend that had begun long before the pandemic and civil unrest entered the picture: a flight from cities to the ‘burbs and places like Florida fueled by ever increasing state and local taxes. Over 1 million residents had already left New York in the decade before recent events unfolded, events that will surely add to the exodus. Think about it. If you’re paying exorbitant taxes to state and city governments to protect you and your property and you see that in many instances your local police can’t or won’t even protect their own precinct houses, well, if you can leave, chances are you will. And rising ‘for sale’ listings in places like New York, Minneapolis and Seattle support this proposition. My wife and I happened to be in New York in early March just as the wheels were starting to come off. We were in a cab in midtown Manhattan when we heard the news over the cab’s radio of the first COVID-19 case reported in the city: a businessman who commuted each day to his office in the city from his home in New Rochelle, not far from where I grew up. We instantly knew this
was not where we needed to be. So, we headed south the very next day. And in a stunning twist of irony, we arrived home on the very day the first case of the virus in Florida was reported in a patient at Doctor’s Hospital, a few miles from our home here. I love visiting New York, but I’m afraid the long-term secular trend of ascending quality of life in major urban centers is over, much as it was when many of our family members began migrating to Florida in the seventies and eighties. Hopefully, the city won’t fall to the depths of neglect and despair it had reached at that time, but once again, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Attack with a Deadly Frying Pan
Two Manatee County men are charged with burglary after they allegedly robbed a local man on his boat. Jason Bembry and Jason Ison were both arrested for the alleged burglary, but Ison faces additional charges of burglary with a weapon for allegedly threatening the boat owner with... wait for it...a frying pan. The two made off with fishing net, solar panel and knives before being tracked down by Sheriff’s deputies. The property was later returned to the victim. However, the frying pan is being held as evidence.
Quote of the Day
“I’ve got all the money I’ll ever need... ...as long as I die by four o’clock.” -Henny Youngman
JULY 2020
Your April Horoscope • ARIES (March 21– April 19): If you’re feeling a little “loony,” no one would blame you, Aries! July 5th features the “grand finale” of a rare tripleplay eclipse cycle that will activate your professional tenth house for the coming few weeks and even months. What big plans have you been holding back on but are now ready (or almost ready) to launch? If possible, avoid the 14th, 15th and 20th, when the Sun opposes three different heavyweight planets and waves a yellow flag. • TAURUS (April 20–May 20): July brings the last eclipse in a rare triple-play cycle. This “grand finale,” on the 5th, occurs in Capricorn and sparks your ninth house of travel and adventure. If you had to cancel a trip and are chomping at the bit to get away, do your “safety checks” and consider scaling back on overly ambitious plans—but do something! Even your “homebody” sign is itching for something exceptional. Do your research and you might score a great deal! • GEMINI (May 21–June 20): An unusual third eclipse on the 5th fires up your passion zone, putting you in the mood for merging. But with your ruling planet, playful Mercury, retrograde in Cancer and your financial sector until the 12th, don’t loosen up on those self-imposed austerity measures just yet. But once the quicksilver planet resumes forward motion—and sometime around a rare second new moon in that same area (on the 20th), things could start looking up for you—in a big way. • CANCER (June 21-July 22): On the 20th, your sign will host a superrare second new moon! What big shifts have you been eager to enact, whether they get you excited or make slightly terrified? But before that, there’s a potent lunar eclipse (a full moon) in your partnership sector, which can bring things to a turning point—or call in someone with great potential if you’re single… and willing to meet someone where they are—as opposed to where you hope they will be. • LEO ( July 2 3 –Aug ust 2 2): Despite Mars activating your most
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By Suzanne Gerber
public chart sector all month, part of you would rather fly way under the radar. A lunar eclipse on the 5th then a rare second Cancer new moon on the 20th fire up your houses of healing, service and introspection. But you’ll only be doing that deep work on your own if you choose to. And until the Sun blazes into your sign on the 22nd, it’ll also be in low-power mode until Leo season kicks off. • VIRGO (August 23-September 22): Merging on your mind, Virgo? With passionate Mars blazing through your house of intimacy and seduction all month (and for the rest of the year), you’re more than ready to break out of any self- (or otherwise) imposed quarantine restrictions and reconnect! And then a lunar (full moon) eclipse lights up your romance sector on the 5th, making it nearly impossible to fly solo. Already attached? Give your beloved a double dose of your attention and affection. • LIBRA (September 23–October 22): You might feel pulled in two directions as passionate Mars roars through your relationship house all month, and your ruler, amorous Venus, tours your adventurous ninth house. On the other hand, a lunar (full moon) eclipse lights up your domesticity center on the 5th, exerting gravitational force to keep you close to home for the weeks (and possibly months) following. Fortunately, yours is the sign of balance, and you know what they say about practice making perfect! • SCOR PIO (October 2 3 – November 21): Take care of others… or put numero uno first? Tough call since you’ll be tugged in different directions this month. Your co-ruler, Mars, is in selfinterested Aries all month (and for the rest of the year), yet in the ultimate paradox, he’s traveling through your house of work, healing and service. But the other love planet, Venus, is at crosspurposes in your zone of intimacy and seduction. Everyone’s going to want a piece of you, so prepare some excuses now.
• SAGITTARIUS (November 22– December 21): Regardless of your relationship status, July is made for romance! Impassioned Mars is blazing through your fifth house of amour all month, and the other love planet, Venus, is nestled in your house of partnership. Making matters even steamier, a rare second Cancer new moon lands next to the heatseeking Sun (on the 20th), amping up your seduction zone. Hopefully you’re caught up with work and other distractions because your heart is going to be calling the shots! • CAPRICORN (December 22– January 19): July begins on a high note—with a full moon lunar eclipse in your sign on the 5th followed by a rare second Cancer new moon (on the 20th) in your partnership sector. Heating things up even more is passionate Mars in your foundational fourth house all month (and for the rest of the year). You might not catch up on your sleep until 2021! But if you don’t want to crash and burn just as the party’s getting started, pace yourself! • AQUA R I US ( Ja nu a r y 2 0 – February 18): Part of you feels like you “should” venture out into the wider world, but another part has gotten used to connecting with your smaller tribe. July begins with a lunar (full moon) eclipse on the 5th in your most meditative sector followed by a rare second Cancer new moon (on the 20th) in your house of healing. And with most of the rest of the planets hunkered down in your internal sector, your social sign is willing to wait it out another month—or longer. • PISCES (February 18–March 20): You’re eager to refill the coffers, especially if your bottom line took a hit during the pandemic. The good news is that activating Mars is in trailblazing Aries and your financial zone all month (and for the rest of the year). This will fill you with ideas, drive and boundless energy. But pace yourself, Pisces! A rare second Cancer new moon (on the 20th) electrifies your amorous fifth house, and you won’t be all work and no play! Suzanne Gerber, a locally based intuitive astrologer, shamanic/energy practitioner and spiritual life coach, is available for phone readings and healing sessions by appointment: https://www. starsandstoneshealing.com/booking.
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Protecting the sea turtle nests Sea turtle nesting season takes place from May 1-Oct. 31 on Southwest Florida beaches. On nesting beaches, light from waterfront properties can disorient nesting female turtles and their young, which emerge at night and use dim natural light to find the sea. Also, beach furniture, trash and other obstacles can impede sea turtles and their young. Here are some “do and don’t” tips to keep our beaches turtlefriendly: • DO stay away from sea turtle nests marked with yellow stakes and tape, and
seabird nesting zones that are bounded by ropes. • DO remain quiet and observe from a distance if you encounter a nesting sea turtle or hatchlings. • DO shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach from May through October. • DO close drapes after dark and stack beach furniture at the dune line or, ideally, remove it from the beach • DO fill in holes that may entrap hatchlings on their way to the water. • DON’T approach nesting
Healthy Beach
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roam free, she explained, man’s best friend can unknowingly do great damage. When humans or dogs approach the Snowy Plover nests, said Wilson, the birds “see them as predators and they flee, leaving the nest.” Unwatched, crows often fly in and snatch the eggs. Although the birds have nested on Siesta Key Beach for more than 10 years, Wilson said that “during the last three years, no eggs have hatched.” Until a few years ago, Black Skimmers and Least Terns could also be found at Siesta Key Beach, but now they are on Lido Beach. Our message, she said, is that “it’s important that we all do our part to safeguard our Siesta Key Beach.” The Siesta Key Association’s (SKA) president Catherine Luckner agrees that communicating the message that everyone who visits the beach has a role to play in preservation is key. “We have increased our efforts in recent weeks,” Luckner said. “Dogs are not permitted on the beach. It’s a health safety issue for humans,” she said. “Sandy soil poses a risk for dog waste pollution. We are in contact with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s office to develop a public education effort about the issue of dogs on the beach. If people
By Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
turtles or hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles. • DON’T use flashlights, head lamps or fishing lamps on the beach. • DON’T encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged and are heading for the water. • DON’T use fireworks on the beach. • DON’T walk dogs on any Sarasota County beach other than Brohard Paw Park in Venice. There, dogs must be leashed or under voice control, according to county
Research at Florida International University, all agree upon. “We go to the beach to enjoy nature and the beautiful sand. How do we dare mess that up and why?” said the man known as Dr. Beach. The need for greater public awareness is a common issue raised by advocates. When people bring their dog to the beach, experts say, they don’t do it to harm the beach. The same, Leatherman says comes when people smoke on the beach. Cigarette smoking on the
Snowy plovers still making nesting attempts on Siesta Key In her June 7 update about the snowy plovers on Siesta Key, Kylie Wilson, coordinator of Audubon Florida’s Bird Monitoring & Stewardship program in the county, wrote about stormy conditions on Siesta Beach as a result of Tropical Storm Cristobal’s passage through the Gulf of Mexico. “There weren’t any known Snowy Plover nests,” she continued, “but we did have a pair that were maintaining a scrape and the female looked very gravid.” The birds literally scrape the sand to create a nest. “Gravid” means a female bird is ready to lay eggs. “There had been two pairs consistently throughout the week,” but on June 7, Wilson continued, she saw six snowy plovers, “including the banded Ms. Sanibel.” Ms. Sanibel is so named because that is where she was banded several years ago.
ordinances. Report stranded sea turtles and marine mammals Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program responds 24 hours a day seven days a week to reports of sick, injured and dead marine mammals and sea turtles for animals in Sarasota and Manatee county waters. Live animals are brought back to Mote’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital or Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital for treatment and the deceased animals undergo a detailed post-mortem examination so that we may learn more about the
An adult black skimmer bird feeds its chick a cigarette butt in this photo taken at Florida beach. (Photo by Karen Mason)
are repeat offenders, officers will give out tickets.” “Siesta Key Beach is a unique environment for people and for animals and we need to protect this place,” said the Siesta Key Association president. Encouraging Siesta Key residents, visitors and neighbors to become better advocates for the welfare of Siesta Key Beach is a message that the SKA, Audubon, and Professor Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of the Laboratory for Coastal
Snowy Plover watching over her chicks.
“Today, almost all of the north end of the beach was flooded so I temporarily removed part of the enclosures that were being washed over,” Wilson wrote of the tape and posts she erects to try to protect nesting areas. The buffer around the property owned by the Conservation Foundation of
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the Gulf Coast, and the north end of Siesta in general, “were heavily flooded,” she noted. Then, on the night of June 14, Wilson sent out a new update, reporting that she had seen up to three pairs of plovers “prospecting for territory” on Siesta. She had found several fresh scrapes, she added. “At least one of the female plovers looked very gravid so hopefully she will settle on a scrape and soon have a nest!” “Another exciting find — this week I saw Least Tern fledges on Siesta for the first time this season,” Wilson continued. “There are no Least Tern colonies on Siesta,” she added, “which means these birds are already dispersing from their nesting sites.” “Least Terns are completely migratory, and they will return to South America at the end of the summer,” Wilson explained.
beach, Dr. Beach believes, is another often overlooked cause of damage to wildlife and humans as well. Young children, birds, fish, turtles and even dogs who are on a beach, he reports, may ingest discarded cigarette butts that contain high levels of toxins. To illustrate the danger, Audubon.com featured a photo of a protected Black Skimmer bird on a Florida beach unwittingly feeding a cigarette butt to her baby chick. “The chemical-laden butts are made of a plastic called
natural history of these animals and evaluate long-term trends in mortality. Within Sarasota or Manatee county waters, if you see a stranded or dead dolphin, whale or sea turtle, please call Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at (941) 988-0212. If you see a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters or a stranded or dead dolphin, whale or sea turtle outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922).
cellulose acetate and consistently rank number one in trash removed during environmental cleanups,” Audubon reported. Supporting efforts to stop smoking on the beach is another issue that advocacy groups say is vital to the future of all of Siesta Key. In January 2020, Sarasota State Senator Joe Gruters proposed a state-wide bill that would have given Florida counties the ability to ban smoking at parks and public beaches, had it passed. The bill did not clear the Senate’s Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee, and it was not enacted. Gruters, Chair of the Republican Party in Florida, has been a longtime proponent of smoking on public beaches. His current Senate term ends on November 3, 2020, and he is running for re-election. A member of Gruter’s staff told the Siesta Sand that should he win re-election in November, he is expected to re-introduce antibeach smoking legislation when the Florida State Senate returns to session in March 2021. “Beaches are our greatest natural playground and they need to be respected,” said Leatherman.
PLEASE KEEP FIREWORKS OFF THE BEACH THREATENED SHOREBIRDS ARE NESTING Loud noises and bright lights caused by fireworks can cause the adults to abandon their nests & chicks.
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of Sarasota and Siesta Key.”The five floors of the main building would sit above three levels of parking. The first parking level would be below ground. Parking for 198 cars and 25 valet parking spaces would be allotted. A hotel restaurant, bar, pool and shops would be in the main building. The main entrance to the new hotel would be from Calle Miramar. Siesta Key is currently home to numerous hotels, motels
and vacation rentals that offer visitors a wide range of choice in price and style. In recent years, according to Visit Sarasota, Sarasota County’s official tourism office, the Sarasota region has seen the creation of more than 1,000 guest rooms and meeting spaces as an array of luxury and boutique hotels have opened their doors. Although the 2020 winter tourism season was
Big Pass Dredging
sand from borrow areas in Big Sarasota Pass. In a letter signed by President Catherine Luckner and her husband, SKA Director Robert Luckner, the nonprofit cited 15 issues that it said were yet to be addressed, based on the terms of the permit. The SKA asked FDP to stop the 15-day review and “prohibit construction [the letter’s emphasis] until these are resolved.” As of the deadline for this issue of Siesta Sand, no response from FDEP was available. Among the SKA’s chief concerns, the letter said, was that a Groin Maintenance Plan was not included in preconstruction submittals, as required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s December 2016 Biological Opinion for the Lido project. The Luckners also pointed out that the Physical Monitoring Plan FDEP had received did not include the Fish and Wildlife Service’s directive that the groins would have to be removed if they were found to cause adverse impacts. In his June 5 newsletter, Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin had noted that the dredging of Big Pass still was scheduled to begin about July 6. “Expect to see the contactor,
exceptional, the onset of the Corona Virus had a severe impact on hotel bookings during the final weeks of March and early April. Despite the shutdown that impacted Siesta Key’s hospitality industry, tourism experts maintain hope for the future. As the Siesta Sand reported in May, 350 frequent travelers took part in a poll for the Visit Sarasota Consumer Sentiment Study to gauge the
group’s plans for short term travel. The travelers were residents of Atlanta, Chicago, the Tampa Bay area, the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale region, West Palm Beach, Orlando, and the New York City area. Survey results showed that the majority expressed an interest in visiting Siesta Key and other Southwest Florida beaches when travel is deemed safe again. They also reported that they will drive to their
beach destination, as opposed to flying. The majority, the study showed, would be more comfortable visiting a sandy beach, instead of attending a concert, strolling through a major city, or cruising overseas. If travel experts and regular travelers are correct, large scale hotels such as the new Siesta Key Hotel may find a market and be welcomed by travelers to Siesta Key.
turtle nesting season, which concludes officially on Oct. 31. The groins have been planned to try to hold sand in place between subsequent renourishments, as well, a prior project team leader explained. During a March 2016 County Commission meeting, City Engineer Alexandrea DavisShaw said she anticipated that subsequent sand placement might not be necessary more often than every seven years. However, in his June 5 newsletter, City Manager Barwin noted, “Future renourishments will occur every 3 to 5 years or as needed depending upon the severity of erosion and threat to nearby infrastructure.” The FDEP permit is valid for 15 years. And thanks to an agreement executed between the city and Sarasota County in late January, Cottrell will be able to use a staging area in the county’s Sperling Park on the south end of Lido. Among other stipulations, the agreement calls for that area to be “restored to its original or better condition” after the contractor has no more need of it. The restoration must be
completed by May 31, 2021.
details about the turbidity monitoring. The firm’s website says it is headquartered in Jacksonville Beach. “If turbidity levels measured at compliance sites exceed [the applicable standards],” the document points out, “construction activities will cease immediately and not resume until corrective measures have been implemented and turbidity has returned to acceptable levels.” The turbidity monitoring was another issue the SKA raised in its letter to FDEP. The Luckners pointed out that the state permit calls for the turbidity contractor to be independent of the design contractor. However, they continued, that does not appear to be the case. Dial Cordy “was a design contractor to this project in 2001 for the original USACE Environmental Assessment,” they noted, and it prepared the final Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report for the Lido Key Shore Protection Project in 2002. “Dial Cordy’s study is a primary basis document for this project’s ‘Seagrass Mitigation and Monitoring Plan,’” the Luckners wrote.
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Cottrell Contracting Corp., moving equipment soon,” he added. The USACE announced on March 19 that it had awarded the Lido bid to Cottrell, which is based in Chesapeake, Va. Yet, it was not until June 5, the News Leader learned, that the federal government website on which the USACE published its Lido solicitation formally announced that the award went to Cottrell. “Crews plan to begin on the south end [of Lido Beach] and move northward,” Barwin continued in his newsletter. Sand is to be pumped on the beach 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he added, “as with previous beach restoration projects.” Further, he wrote, “The contractor expects to finish with the sand in November, then in December begin constructing the groins, which will absorb wave action and slow natural beach erosion.” David Ruderman, a spokesman for the USACE in its Jacksonville District Office, earlier had told the News Leader that the two groins planned for the southern part of the Lido project area would have to be constructed after the end of sea
Commissioners Approve Vacation Cosentino, who addressed the commission during the June 3 hearing, maintained that he would prevail at the Appeal Court level. “Record evidence [from the Circuit Court litigation] will clearly demonstrate to the appellate court the legal infirmity of the local [judges’] decision.” Cosentino also pointed to county Parks Policy 1.1.6 in Chapter 3 of the Comprehensive Plan, which — he said — prevents them from vacating the portion of the Nokomis street. That policy — which he read to the board — says, “Sarasota County will continue, whenever and wherever feasible, to expand its beach and waterfront acquisition efforts. Priority shall continue to be given to those parcels which will expand existing public beaches,
increase the number of public access points to waterfront parks, and/or protect important native habitats.” Although the Florida Statutes allow a county commission to vacate public rights of way if the action is in the public interest, Cosentino added, “It’s very clear to see that this [petition] supports the private interest of this private owner.” He also cited the third “whereas” clause in the draft resolution for the Bayview Parkway vacation, which said, “It is determined that the best interest of the public would be served by granting [the petition].” “Determined by who?” he asked. “I know you can’t sell him the property,” Cosentino added of the Bayview Parkway applicant.
Other submittal documents On May 18, Miller of FDEP told the News Leader that one of the final permit requirements remaining to be fulfilled for the Lido undertaking was submission of details regarding the monitoring of water turbidity in conjunction with the dredging. Although the state permit allows Cottrell Contracting to remove up to 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from borrow areas in Big Pass, the solicitation materials the USACE published in December 2019 said that 710,000 cubic yards would be placed on Lido Beach. Documents filed with FDEP as the USACE and the city went through the permitting process indicated that sediment essentially would be lost in the water, resulting in cloudiness, or turbidity, which can be harmful to sea life. In reviewing the preconstruction submittals in the Lido project’s permit folder, which is available on FDEP’s website, the News Leader found a document from Dial Cordy and Associates Inc. that provided
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“Otherwise, we wouldn’t have any waterfront roads because you would end up selling them all.” Finally, addressing Chair Michael Moran — whom, Cosentino noted, is seeking re-election — Cosentino asked, “What do you see [in regard to] this serving the public interest?” “We don’t take questions from public comment,” Moran replied. “I think that’s inappropriate,” Cosentino responded. A second speaker during the hearing, Todd Logan of Osprey, supported Cosentino’s position.
Diving into the discussion
Applicant McMurphy and his agent in handling the petition — Robert “Bo” Medred of Genesis Planning and Development in Bradenton — waived the right to make a presentation or rebuttal.
Commissioner Charles Hines ended up making their case for them. “I really don’t like to vacate property,” Commissioner Nancy Detert told her colleagues. Sometimes the board takes such action, she continued, when the right of way is “so small. But this is 9,600 square feet. It’s noticeable.” “We do not want to take lightly the idea of giving up right of way for access to our waterways,” Commissioner Hines said. Nokomis Park, Nokomis Beach and Pocono Trail Preserve, which has a kayak launch, all are in the immediate area, Hines pointed out. Moreover, he noted, two commercial buildings are close to the right of way. “It’s just not the
appropriate place for this type of public use [of Dona Bay].” Detert still was not convinced, she said. The county has many waterfront neighborhoods with quiet areas on the water that the public can use for fishing and to enjoy sunsets, for examples, she pointed out. His understanding, Hines said, is that the only singlefamily home in the area of the county right of way is the one McMurphy owns. “So this isn’t a neighborhood situation. … If it was in a neighborhood,” he told Detert, “I would 100% agree with you.” “With that correction,” Detert replied to Hines, “I’m going to agree with you.”
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Siesta Sand
JULY 2020
941.312.0665
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HOMES FOR SALE • LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! GRAND CANAL HOME ON PALM ISLAND. 476 Island Circle, Siesta Key, FL. This ultimate family beach house is 2 blocks from Siesta Key Beach and 5 blocks from the Village. 3 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, heated pool, dock with electricity, even a working elevator. This beach oasis is well maintained and waiting for you! $1,250,000 MLS# 4443903 CONTACT DIANE GOODWIN, 941-7066620, #LoveWhereYouLiveSRQ, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. • HARBOUR TOWNE YACHT CLUB - Easy walking distance to SIESTA BEACH with a PRIVATE DEEDED BOAT DOCK and WATER VIEWS! Just across the street from Siesta public beach, this beautifully renovated 2 bedroom, 2 bath END UNIT with extra windows is easily accessible - all on one floor and only 3 steps to the foyer entry. Ideal for island living, this condo has new wood-look flooring throughout with the exception of the master bedroom which is comfortably carpeted. The lovely, large master bath features dual sinks and a walk-in shower. A split plan, the second bedroom and bath are ideal for guests. The open floor plan includes a large living space, dining area, and an open kitchen with new granite topped wood cabinets. The screened lanai, accessible from the living room and the master bedroom, affords great outdoor living space with water views, and direct access down private stairs to the boat docks/marina. The deeded boat slip #29 provides easy access just minutes to the Gulf. The attached one-car garage with walk-about attic provides coveted storage space and the opportunity to grill just outside your unit. Harbour Towne is a unique waterfront community; gated and beautifully landscaped, amenities include a heated pool and spa, tennis court, clubhouse with full kitchen, covered pavilion with grills, and private boat docks. MLS #A4467109, $529,000, Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz, Bob:941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • THE POINTE - ENJOY AWESOME SUNRISES AND SUNSETS from this lovely one bedroom one bath condo at the southernmost end of Siesta Key. If you seek INCREDIBLE VIEWS, look no further. Beautifully remodeled and tiled throughout, this stunning unit is light and bright to make the most of the water views from every room. The newer kitchen includes wood cabinetry, lovely stone counter tops, stainless appliances and a breakfast bar looking toward the Gulf. An open floor plan, the living room and lanai are just beyond the kitchen and offer incredible views of the Bay and ICW. The bedroom, too, offers direct Bay views and the large bathroom has been completely renovated to include a dual sink freestanding vanitiy and a beautifully tiled and glassed shower. Sold turn-key furnished, the decor is simply stunning. Furniture pieces combine with great closet space to provide abundant storage. An in-unit utility closet provides additional storage and houses a full sized washer/dryer. Located at the southernmost tip of Siesta Key, this gated community is beautifully landscaped and features every amenity: a heated pool and spa, lighted tennis court, private boat docks, kayak and canoe racks and launch, renovated club house with full kitchen, sauna, great fitness center, island pavilion with grills, and on-site management and maintenance staff. This five plus acre property is conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from Turtle Beach and three restaurants. MLS #A4462930, $365,000, Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz, Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.
• HARBOUR TOWNE YACHT CLUB - Bright and spacious 3/3 townhome directly across the street from Siesta Beach and yards to the ICW by boat. Deeded slip with 20k pound lift directly outside the unit. Attached garage. Gated community with tennis, pool, clubhouse, etc. MLS# A4447427, $599,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • The POINTE - $50k PRICE REDUCTION for Quick Sale! BREATHTAKING WATER VIEWS ON 3 SIDES & FROM EVERY ROOM -- Surrounded by water, this light and bright, rarely available PENTHOUSE END UNIT affords some of the BEST VIEWS on Siesta. Look to the north to the GULF and LITTLE SARASOTA BAY, west to spectacular sunsets over the Gulf and east to the abundance of WILDLIFE in the bay. This nicely appointed 10th floor unit is being sold partially furnished - just bring your clothing and personal items! New flooring throughout including wood-look tile in the foyer and kitchen makes for a lovely entry. New
hurricane windows bring the outside in. A separate laundry room inside the unit, a utility closet off the lanai, and a ground level storage locker provide coveted storage space. This unit has been lovingly maintained within the family of the original owners. Located at the southernmost tip of Siesta Key, The Pointe is a gated community. Beautifully landscaped and maintained, it affords every amenity: a heated pool and spa, lighted tennis court, pickle ball courts, boat docks, kayak and canoeing, newly renovated Clubhouse with full kitchen, sauna, fitness, island pavilion with grills, and on-site management and maintenance. This 5+ acre property is conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from Turtle Beach and three restaurants. Come visit the less traveled, more tranquil end of the Key and enjoy the walking and bike paths under tree-lined Midnight Pass Road. This property is a must-see! MLS #A4458168, $625,000, Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz, Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.
• THE POINTE - This spectacular 9th floor unit has been totally and beautifully renovated with coastal colors to complement the water views from every room. The light 2/2 features tile throughout., an allnew kitchen with stunning white granite countertops and so much more. This is a must see. MLS# A4450026 $539,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • CHARMING NEWER SIESTA KEY HOME. This home exudes all the best qualities of island living from the moment you walk through the door you’ll notice the open floor plan and brightness. This is a 3/2 home with fully fitted kitchen with stainless appliances tiled floors, and garage would make great holiday home/ rental investment, or a great alternative to a condo. 5025 SANDY BEACH AVE, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4455201, $780,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 8941255 • PRICE DROP ABSOLUTELY STUNNING WATERFRONT HOME This 6,000 square foot home provides unparalleled outdoor living- 2 boat lifts (10k and 20k), a grotto-style salt-water pool and spa with dramatic waterfalls, a Tiki hut bar with mini kitchenette, and a screened sitting/dining area with built-in grill and outdoor gas fireplace. Located in prestigious Royal Palm Harbor. 1208 NORTHPORT DR, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4461333, $3,249,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 894-1255 • ONE OF A KIND 3 BED condo at the south end of Siesta Key. Impeccably renovated corner unit on the 9th floor. There are high end finishes throughout including solid wood kitchen cabinets with granite countertops and stainless appliances. The very large master bedroom with ensuite bath features a jetted shower and walk in closet lined with custom cabinetry, a storage dream. 9397 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #901, SARASOTA, FL 34242 , MLS# A4456891, $789,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 894-1255 • 50k PRICE REDUCTION! Surrounded by water, this light and bright, rarely available PENTHOUSE END UNIT affords some of the BEST VIEWS on Siesta. Look to the north to the GULF and LITTLE SARASOTA BAY, west to spectacular sunsets over the Gulf and east to the abundance of WILDLIFE in the bay. This nicely appointed 10th floor unit is being sold partially furnished - just bring your clothing and personal items! 9393 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #P1, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4458168, $625,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941-894-1255 • WONDERFULLY REMODELED FREESTANDING VISTA HERMOSA VILLA, $439,000, 195 Vista Hermosa Circle, Unit#9-A, Sarasota, Florida. Just a short walk to World Famous Siesta Beach. You will fall in love with this 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa. Two week rentals make this a very attractive property for a investor or just picking up some extra income when you are not enjoying the property for yourself. Custom solid wood cabinets in the kitchen with granite counters & upgraded stainless steel appliances. Designer bathrooms boasting tumbled marble & granite. Smooth ceilings with custom lighting. Designer tile & carpet throughout. Nothing has been spared. New A/C in 2017 and also a recently installed tank-less water heater. The association replaced the roof in 2016. You are just a short walk to dining & nightlife. This villa is being sold turnkey furnished (with some exclusions). Already booked for 2021 Season. Dan Miller, Re/Max Tropical sands, 941-376-7442.
• THE BAMBOO BUNGALOW - WEST OF THE TRAIL - $675,000, 1835 Goldenrod Street, Sarasota, FL 34239. This charming home has been lovingly remodeled in 2015, with no expense spared. Located in the desirable west-of-the-trail neighborhood of Poinsettia Park 2, you’ll be only 1 mile to Siesta Key and 2 miles to downtown. Fall in love with the gorgeous tropical landscaping and large pool with its New PebbleTec Surface, relaxing waterfall, sun-shelf, and Polar Plunge. This “Selby-like retreat” features 2 bedrooms, plus an office (possible third bedroom), 2 full baths, and several amenities. Enjoy the dining trellis, fire pit, putt-putt golf, and outdoor shower, all surrounded by AstroTurf & pavers for easy maintenance. Inside boasts an abundance of natural light with “floor-toceiling” windows and French doors, beautiful bamboo wood floors, and designer features in the kitchen and baths. Many more surprises await, a must see home in the heart of Sarasota! Make this tropical oasis your piece of paradise! KW on THE Water, MLS # A4444487, presented by The Westerberg Group, Call Seth: 941-342SOLD (7653). • This beautiful and spacious 3 bedroom 2 bath mid-century modern gem has over 2,200 Sq.Ft. and is located just outside of downtown Sarasota. A complete renovation was completed in 2020, and features an open floor plan, loads of natural light and every upgrade found in a new home. Designer features are found throughout including solid wood cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steal appliances, glass backsplash, and high end details. Other upgrades include brand new impact windows, 50+ year metal roof, new A/C and ductwork, new flooring, new paint, new electrical panel and all new wiring. Call for a private showing or view the virtual walk through to see the expansive vaulted ceilings and the grandeur of this stunning home. 2595 Belvoir Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34237 A4464789 $544,000 Presented by the Westerberg Group, please call Seth Westerberg 941.342.SOLD • ONE OF A KIND 3 BED condo at the south end of Siesta Key. Impeccably renovated corner unit on the 9th floor. There are high end finishes throughout including solid wood kitchen cabinets with granite countertops and stainless appliances. The very large master bedroom with ensuite bath features a jetted shower and walk in closet lined with custom cabinetry, a storage dream. 9397 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #901, SARASOTA, FL 34242 , MLS# A4456891, $789,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 894-1255
• 50k PRICE REDUCTION! Surrounded by water, this light and bright, rarely available PENTHOUSE END UNIT affords some of the BEST VIEWS on Siesta. Look to the north to the GULF and LITTLE SARASOTA BAY, west to spectacular sunsets over the Gulf and east to the abundance of WILDLIFE in the bay. This nicely appointed 10th floor unit is being sold partially furnished - just bring your clothing and personal items! 9393 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #P1, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4458168, $625,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941-894-1255 • THE ULTIMATE SIESTA KEY WATERFRONT PROPERTY. Looking for a peaceful retreat on some of the best boating water on Siesta Key? This gorgeous property allows you total privacy in a fantastic location. Mature oak trees surround the property, along with native vegetation for a true Florida feel. Enjoy al-fresco dining in the screened lanai overlooking 90 frontage feet of tranquil canal water. Restoring this Mid-Century Modern home to its full potential will make for a great investment. The home features terrific terrazzo flooring throughout, PLUS several large floor to ceiling windows and doors overlooking the water. This could also be the perfect opportunity to build your dream home on one of the last remaining lots this size (.41 acres) on Siesta Key! Oxford Drive is a designated canopy road in a very quiet neighborhood. 4848 Oxford DR. Sarasota, FL 34232 PRICE REDUCED - $1,200,000. MLS# A4440889 The Westerberg Group with Keller Williams on the Water. Call Seth Westerberg 941.342.SOLD (7653) or Al Nemore 941.479.1175
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Siesta Sand
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941.312.0665
Holderness: Stop the City
’s
Continued from page 15
the project is even W h i le be t ter solut ion s a re d a m a g i n g t h e n easier, cheaper, healthier for shown below. all, and can save millions in F O L L O W I N G public funds, the city’s plan B I R D K E Y is reckless, dangerous and is DEVELOPMENT: NOT a long-term, cost-effective, T h e 1 9 5 0 B i rd environmentally friendly Key development solution as to was first presented w a s a n e x a m p l e so to gain the congressional that sand sources a p p r o v e d n e e d e d . S i m p l y w e r e u s e d f o r p u t , t h e c i t y s t a ff l i e d t h e n c o n s t r u c t i o n , and still without the proper c a u s i n g s e v e r e authorization, Tom Barwin and b e a c h a v u l s i o n Alex Davis-Shaw (both city problems and Big staff members) have knowingly Pass main channel’s directed ACOE to prematurely start during turtle season.It is instability. likely an attack on eco-system C H A N N E L for political reasons. M IGR AT ION: Historical Big “DO NOT CUT C” OR Pass main channel N AV I G AT I O N W I L L B E A S d a t a s h o w t h a t I M PA I R E D A S W I L L O U R i t h a s m i g r a t e d G L O B A L WAT E R - Q U A L I T Y. to the south as a consequence of access#2. Removal of existing Pass dredging, historical using Siesta Key’s sand source groin off N. Siesta and the MHWL data sets from both to develop Bird Key and adding channel stop hooking south 2002 Sarasota/Charlotte On June 2, the Property and will continue west. County Beach Feasibility Study a groin on N. Siesta to mitigate Appraiser Office’s records damages that followed. Report, and the FDEP Historic showed, Waites did purchase the SEDIMENT BUDGET - BIG Shoreline Database indicate A NEW channel (a.k.a. parcel. He paid $669,500 for it. PASS/NEW PASS: that MHWL has accreted 95.4 CUT C) will not stay and will Brockway noted in his letter CA N CLEA RLY Y SEE T HE ft. from 1987 to 2001, at an collapse all and cause the that the parcel comprises only SAND SOURCES FOR LIDO: annual rate of accretion of natural navigational channel about 0.10 acres. Located on the A f t e r I M P i n h a n d ; s a f e l y 6.8 ft/yr. between 1987 and to become unstable once again. west side of Calle Menorca, it harvest New Pass sand. Also, 2001; MHWL continued to MA IN CHA NNEL (OF TEN is surrounded by commercial can Truck in sands or dredging accrete 151.41 ft. at an annual USED FOR NAVIGATION) properties, he added. the DEP offshore borrow site accretion rate of 10.09 ft/yr. AND SAND BAR: The 1970 The structure contains two w i l l re d u c e a n y i m p a c t s t o between 2001 and 2015. The p i e r h a s a c o m p l e x h i s t o r y dwelling units, which are rented seagrass, shoreline, and beaches. “30 –Year Erosion Projection but far from historical. The for periods of 30 days or longer, However, there’s No objection Line” has moved to more than emergency erosion control groin Brockway pointed out. to CUT D either. Using best 256 ft. seaward of the current was constructed following Bird “While cosmetic and interior practices = a win-win solution. MHWL at the subject property Key’s development at the end improvements to the existing SIESTA KEY BEACH SAND at Lot 14, Block 7, Mira Mar of Avenida Messina, There was building are contemplated in SOURCE: Siesta Beach’s sand Beach. Currently, the beach is contention between the county connection with the proposed is 99% quartz. Siesta Key doesn’t accreting and healthy at this commissioners and the public Special Exception,” he continued, share nor take from anyone location without dredging. regarding the groin citing claims “no material changes or else’s sand source. Reminder who got us here that it would be useless when improvements will be made to the the Big Pass Shoal shifted and Property.” N O R T H S I E S T A K E Y (Barwin and Harmer): Waites “contemplates removing BE AC H : I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e L I D O A F T E R DRE DGI NG erode beach and block public proposed dredging that will E B B D E LTA : Ye t a n o t h e r access.Now that the pass has the kitchens of the existing significantly reduce the amount reminder why NO dredging healed “shifted” the temporary o f s a n d t r a n s p o r t t o S i e s t a can occur in Cut C - USACOE’s emergency control groin that Key’s shoreline.Therefore, the own report confirms dredging was not removed by county is proposed Big Pass dredging is w i l l c a u s e d a m a g e . A r m y doing just that. County didn’t a problematic solution; Siesta Corp Modeling starts with the remove because it was built on a Continued from page 26 Does NOT share anyone else’s assumption of sand loss which private submerged lot instead of 1. An armadillo sand but SIESTA KEY can NOT gave them the wrong conclusion. within the county beach access 2 2. 5 6,000 – they are the size of afford to share with anyone else. Hence why their model FAILED (because it couldn’t as access #2 grain rice when born. The before it could be calibrated, and is a platted through-fare). mother is devoted as she Siesta Beach: Without Big www.TheMariner.com spends six months protecting the nest and not eat eating. 3. 457,000 calories 4. Your nose and ears continue to grow even after the rest of your body has stopped growing. 5. Starbucks – however, the baristas do not write customer names on the cups and the receipts say Store #1 on them rather than Starbucks. 6. T he average giraffe tongue is 18-20 inches long and its bluish black tongue most likely prevents it from getting sunburnt. 7. Montpelier, Vermont is the smallest state capital with only 7,500 residents. It also is the only state capital in the United States not to have a Answers to the WORD SEARCH from page 24 McDonald’s.
WAVE INTENSITY AND RIP CURRENTS WILL BE DEADLY! H e nc e w h y B ar w in a n d S h a w ap proved the removal of 5, 0 0 0 Lid ar po ints and a ve raged th e wave heights be fore the y were turned into FDEP. Waves to “SK, Lido, Bird Key, and downtown showed dangerous levels, so much so that actuals crashed and failed the model, never calibrated. Key Stakeholders: YOU ARE Marine Life Public Beach Users (residents and visitors) Sarasota County Siesta Key Residents actually even the Private Beachfront Landowners on Lido to downtown *Donations are important and appreciated, visit skedf. org
Island Chatter
Continued from page 22
dwelling units, including 220[volt] electrical service to the kitchens, prior to commencement of rentals for periods of less than [30 days,” Brockway added. “No site improvements or alterations are required or contemplated …” The County Commission’s public hearing was designated a “presentation upon request.” No board member asked for staff remarks on the issues, and no member of the public had signed up to address the petition. When Chair Michael Moran called for a motion, Commissioner Christian Ziegler made it, calling for approval of the Special Exception, and Commissioner Nancy Detert seconded it. The 5-0 vote followed immediately, without comments from any of the commissioners.
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8. T he U.S. Mint estimates it cost approximately 1.7 cents per coin, today. 9. Following the Civil War, between a third and half of all cash in circulation was counterfeit. The U.S. Secret Service was originally created on July 5, 1865 to fight the counterfeiting epidemic. 10. O ur current 50-star flag was designed as part of a high school project by 17-year old Robert Heff. It was 1958, and there were only 48 states at the time, but Heft had a hunch Hawaii and Alaska would soon be granted statehood. His teacher gave him a B- but went on to update the grade to an A after Heft submitted his design to the White House, eventually leading to a call from President Eisenhower that it had been selected as the official U.S. flag.
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS Emergency (General)......................................................................911 Emergency Animal Clinic.............................................941-929-1818 Fishing & Hunting Licenses.........................................941-362-9888 FPL – Florida Power & Light........................................941-917-0708 FPL – Outage Report.................................................. 1-800-468-8243 Marriage License Bureau..............................................941-362-4066 Poison Info Center..................................................... 1-800-282-3171 Sarasota / Bradenton Intl. Airport..............................941-359-2770 Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT).........................941-316-1234 Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce..............................941-349-3800 Sheriff / non-emergency..............................................941- 861-1601 Waste Management........................................................941-924-1254
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Volleyball Fanatic
Mackenzie This months Volleyball Fanatic is Mackenzie of Dubuque, Iowa. A fierce competitor in the Women’s Open-Division, she shares an equal love of volleyball and amazing Siesta Beach. Mackenzie is thrilled to be playing on the soft white powdery sand here and hopes to continue her volleyball career while attending college.
New Gulf Gate location 6574 Superior Ave. SIESTA KEY/GULF GATE
NOW SERVING GLUTEN FREE PIZZA NORTH PORT / VENICE ISLAND
941.349.BROS (2767)
Less than 2 miles away from Siesta Key Beach ANNA MARIA ISLAND WE ALSO DELIVER TO THE BEACH!
105 Bridge Street 941.383.5551
LONGBOAT KEY
UNIVERSITY PARKWAY Open for Lunch & Dinner - Dine-In, Take-Out & Delivery 7 Days a Week!
5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive #4 - 941.383.5551 NOW SERVING GLUTEN-FREE CAULIFLOWER PIZZA CRUST!
Straight out of Hoboken, New Jersey... Nobody Makes Pizza Like We Do!
NOW SERVING PASTA DISHES AT ALL OUR LOCATIONS!
NOW SERVING VEGAN CHEESE!!!
ITALIAN MARKET NOW OPEN!
Come check out our new bar at our Siesta Key / Gulf Gate location!
Free slice for life with this tatoo
THE BIGGEST PIZZA BY THE SLICE SHOWCASE IN ALL OF SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY, WITH THE BEST SLICE DEALS AVAILABLE TILL CLOSE!!!
AWARD WINNING!
• BEST PIZZERIA 5 YEARS IN A ROW ON TRIPADVISOR • BEST ITALIAN CUISINE 3 YEARS IN A ROW ON TRIPADVISOR • BEST QUICK BITES IN SARASOTA ON TRIPADVISOR • "BEST PIZZA" IN CREATIVE LOAFING'S BEST OF THE SUNCOAST ISSUE 2010! • 2020 SARASOTA READERS CHOICE AWARD WINNER RUNNER UP
Serving Siesta Key Since 2004
NEW ARCADE ROOM AT OUR GG LOCATION
#1 TWO CHEESE SLICES + DRINK $6 #2 ANY TWO SLICES + ANY SOFT DRINK $7 #3 ANY SLICE + ANY BEER $7 #4 ANY 2 SLICES+ ANY BEER $10.00 all day long All locations are open for lunch