tight Democratic primary; Neunder wins in District 4
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David Shapiro Managing Partner Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and Jaime Delgado Managing Partner AV rated by Martindale Hubbell Injury Lawyer GetMeJustice.com / (941) 954-4000 SHAPIRO DELGADO A
Continued on page
Proposed project at 5810 Midnight Pass Rd. goes before planners Sept. 1 By John Morton Smith
We are your neighbors and your Siesta Key lawyers.
Hotel No. 3 takes next step
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA LLC | www.SiestaSand.us | COMPLIMENTARY © Why the world comes to Sarasota Back cover Meet Doug, our Key Employee Page 3 It’s so hard to avoid this guy page 4 1398 • Village Map/business listings PAGES 20, 21 • Crescent Beach Map/ business listings PAGE 24 • Gulf Gate Shops PAGE 31 • Music Calendar PAGE 33 • Accommodations Map PAGE 39 JOIN US FOR BUCS FOOTBALL AND LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT! page 5 E-BIKES SITUATION STILL TROUBLESOME FOR SIESTA KEY BEACH-GOERS page 6 ATTEMPT BY THE COUNTY TO DISMISS A LAWSUITHOTEL-RELATEDISDENIED Visitors Welcome! SiestaFitness.com
It’s Smith vs.
It’s been quite the topsy-turvy ride for Dave Balot in his quest to build a hotel at 5810 Midnight Pass Rd. He had to scratch his initial designs because of a protected oak tree on his property, resulting in a second neighborhood workshop to discuss his revised plans. Furthermore, a pair of lawsuits fighting the county approval of two other hotels – at Calle Miramar near the Village (eight floors, 170 rooms) and on Old Stickney Point Road (six floors, 120 rooms) near the south bridge – made things a bit cloudy. They are slated for trial next spring, and part of what is being disputed is the county’s decision through an amendment to allow no limits on density. But now, about a year-and-half since buying in March of 2021 the 2.15-acre property where the old Wells Fargo bank sits for $4.41 million, he’s finally getting his proposal in front of county officials.At5p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, Balot’s six-story, 112-room project he calls The Hotel Siesta will be discussed by the Sarasota County Planning Commission. The meeting is open to the 16
Atkins
Cosentino eliminated in
Voters turned up in droves to participate in this year’s primary election Aug. 23, choosing longtime Siesta Key resident Mark Smith to represent the Republican party in November’s general election for the Sarasota Board of County Commission District 2 seat. The highest percentage of registered voters in 30 years took part in the primary. According to Ron Turner, Sarasota County’s supervisor of elections, 36% of registered voters cast a ballot -- the highest percentage since 1992. During this primary season, three Siesta Key residents battled for a chance to vie for a seat on the county commission in the general election in November. After a sometimes contentious fight, one of them walked away victorious as Smith defeated Lourdes Ramirez in the Republican primary. Smith garnered 58% of the vote (4,770), while 42% of voters (3,491) cast their ballots for fellow resident Ramirez. On the Democrat side, Siesta Key resident Mike Cosentino lost a tight primary race for the District 2 seat to longtime Sarasota activist Fredd Atkins, who also defeated Hagen Brody for a chance to face Smith for the county commission seat. Atkins had 35% (3,720 votes), Brody 34% (3,610), and Cosentino 31% (3,227). District 2 includes the upper half of Siesta Key. In the District 4 Republican primary, former Venice City Council member Joe Neunder landed a whopping 73.5% of the vote (9,699) against political newcomer Mark Hawkins (3,489). Neunder will face Democratic candidate Daniel Kuether, who was unopposed, in November.District4 represents the southern half of Siesta Key.
deliver big fun DISCOVER THE DAVIDSON DIFFERENCE Postal Service in Both Locations SERVING SIESTA KEY AND SARASOTA FOR OVER 60 YEARS Southbridge Mall 6595 Midnight Pass 349-4343 Siesta Key Village 5124 Ocean 349-1111Blvd.
By Phil Colpas
INSIDE: Gruters, Buchanan win. Page 5. Continued on page 15
A hotel proposal for where the old Wells Fargo bank sits (right) will go before the Sarasota County (arists’sCommission.Planningrenderingbelow)
The big boats
‘reel’ great moment
Hudson Peterson, a 5-yearold visiting Siesta Key from Colorado, casts into the Gulf during sunset. The next day, his efforts were rewarded when he landed a fish. His family visits each year and stays at Siesta Dunes. (submitted images)
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3www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC Greetings from the Gulf Meet Larry; he’s like totally the bomb By John Morton Can you copyright creepy behavior? Can you apply for a patent for all springtheIKammermyanswerpreposterous?thingsIncasetheisyes,buddySteveandsuremissedboatintheof1976 when we first ambushed dozens of beach walkers on Siesta Key. It was then that we debuted the annual annoying behavior that we believed made us legends for life. Ides of March, make way for the Idiots of March. April fools, indeed. Before I continue, those guys on the Impractical Jokers TV show owe us big time. We beat you to the punch, fellas, right here on Crescent Beach. You are ripping usInoff.those good ol’ days, we’d dare each other to wield insane scenarios to whomever would happen to be walking by. For example, fans of the Triscuit snack food may recall its 1970s jingle: “... a Triscuit, a Triscuit, made only by Nabisco.”Oneofus would approach them and ask, a box of Triscuits in hand, if they’d like to try a delicious cracker. Before they could answer no, the other guy would spring into action from a nearby lounge chair and unload an over-the-top rendition of that Triscuit song, complete with choreographed gyrations.Folks,I’m not proud of any of this. But I’ve been your columnist for going on two years, and I think it’s time for full disclosure. And it only got worse. Remember the Baby Fresh jingle for the infant wipes? Yep, that was in our Thenrepertoire.therewas the Ice Bird – some prehistoric contraption that shaved ice into snow-cone form, from where you’d pour upon it some sludge-like liquid sugar. I sure hope this wasn’t from where the Daiquiri Deck got its inspiration!Anyway, Google the Ice Bird ad and enjoy the hell ride down memory lane. While holding snow cones from the old concession stand at the public beach, we’d scream that jingle – “Ice Bird, Ice Bird, you’re such a nice bird!” -- at people as they walked by, with them usually displaying a nervous smile in return as they held on tight to each other’s hand and picked up the pace.Idoubt many of our victims are still alive. Looking back, we only hope we didn’t speed-up the process.Forthose who may still be around and remember this, I suggest you reach out to me. Some apologies in life need to be done in person.Eventually, we gave it a rest. No one could match the dirty work we had delivered, and we retired as Siesta superheroes. And then, 40 years later, along comes Larry Frankel to blow up ourInresume.twoshort years here, he has recorded more than 500 “kills” as the Siesta Photo Bomber. He even has an Instagram page loaded with his moments of divine interruption. And it gets several thousand views per day. “I’m a sunset runner. I began with a quarter mile per night and now I’m up to 5 miles,” said Frankel. “Well, there are so many people at sunset taking group photos along the shoreline that it was only inevitable that I accidentally ran in front of one.” It would happen so often, he decided to have fun with it and gesture toward the camera. And a bomber was born. “At first I’d have people yell at me,” Frankel said. “One person threw a football at me, and another actually kicked me in the butt.” But then, as only social media can do, the tide began to turn. Many of the friends on Siestathemed Facebook pages began sharing their moments of Larry mayhem. Next you know, it was a badge of honor to be photobombed by him. “Now, I’ve got people approaching me, waving me in when they see me running by,” Frankel said. “It’s all now the other wayIt’saround.”almostas if they are, in return, photo-bombing his nightly run. “I’ll get stopped as often as 25 times on a run,” Frankel said. And while many people ask on Facebook if anyone knows the name of this mystery man, Frankel said he was ready to share his identity to the world through this column. “Sometimes people ask me if I’m Scooter of the Beach,” said Frankel, who does bear a resemblance to the social-mediastar lifeguard at the “magical” green tower. “I’m not so sure Scooter wants to hear that.” Fame is not Frankel’s goal. Having fun is what he’s after. “Ninety-nine out of 100 people get it,” he said of his antics. “They’ll even tell me what an honor it was. I’m having a blast withMeanwhile,this.” my buddy Steve and I need to cope with the reality that there’s a new clown prince in town. Had only today’s technology been around during or heyday – our silliness could have been recorded in iPhone foreverness.Thenagain, cell phones can also dial 9-1-1. Maybe our timing was just right. (John Morton is managing editor of Siesta Sand.)
By Phil Colpas
The MiramarVillagehotelthetargetslawsuitboth170-roomneartheonCalleand the 120-room hotel and parking garage project at Old Stickney Point and Peacock roads. In their complaint, the four plaintiffs -- 222 Beach Owners Association Inc., Wallace, Robert Sax and Marina Del Sol Condominium Association Inc. -- allege that the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners acted illegally and in violation of their own procedures by adopting the Land Development Code changes without first amending their Comprehensive Plan policy, which limits hotel room density to a 26-units-per-acre maximum on Siesta Key. In March, Walker heard arguments in a public hearing on the county’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. An earlier circuit court decision allowed the owners and developers of the hotels planned for Calle Miramar and Old Stickney Point to intervene in the lawsuits. According to the plaintiff’s response in opposition to the county’s motion to dismiss the case:
4 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665
Sarasota County lost its motion to dismiss a lawsuit that sought to keep two high-rise hotels from being built on Siesta Key. Both hotel projects were approved last year by the Board of County Commissioners. In July, Judge Stephen Walker of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court issued his ruling denying the county’s motion to drop the lawsuit. In the continuing battle to determine how Siesta Key will handle future development, concerned citizens filed two lawsuits in 2021 against construction of the hotels. They allege, among other things, that the county did not have the authority to change its own Comprehensive Plan or increase established density from 26 hotel rooms per acre on a barrier island. The lawsuit, which was filed late last year by four plaintiffs fronted by James Wallace, who has been a resident of Siesta Key since 1964.
Motion to dismiss hotelrelated lawsuit is denied
“Plaintiffs/petitioners all reside on Siesta Key and are injured to a greater degree and in a different way than the general public who reside on the mainland. Their access to their properties is limited to two points of access (the north and south bridges). Their access will be adversely affected by the
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Gruters retains seat with landslide victory; Buchanan takes Republican primary Incumbent state Sen. Joe Gruters took two-thirds of the vote in a universal primary election Aug. 23, topping political newcomer Michael Johnson, a fellow Republican. ”Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen -- very excited about being able to fight for our community over the next four years,” Gruters said via social media.With no Democratic challenger on the ballot, the primary served as the decisive vote and was open to all voters regardless of political affiliation. Gruters, whose District 22 covers Sarasota County, received 84,737 votes (67%) compared to Johnson’s 41,778 votes (33%). In a Republican primary for the state’s District 16 congressional seat, which includes Sarasota, incumbent Vern Buchanan also won with ease, receiving 82% of the vote against challenger Martin Hyde by a margin of 63,982 to Buchanan10,206.willface Democrat Jan Schneider, who was unopposed, in the Nov. 8 general election. SKA meeting is Sept. 8 The next public meeting of the Siesta Key Association civic group is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. It is held in the community room of St. Boniface Curch, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd. The meetings are typically held the first Thursday of each month. The September meeting has been delayed a week due to a conflict with a Sept. 1 Sarasota County Planning Commission hearing that is addressing a proposed hotel on Siesta Key. Key941-217-6837
6519 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta
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An entity called Endless Summer Eco Tours and Rentals continues to offer a “Siesta Key Sunset Tour” on the web, where riders pay between $60 and $67 to join a group that travels on electric bikes from the Point of Rocks toward the north end of the Key. Participants meet at Christopher Wheeler Park, 1310 Old Stickney Point Rd., for a guided two-hour outing with a 7 p.m. departure time. Online reviews of the service include some as recent as early August. On Aug. 8, the online tour description found on Endless Summer’s webpage and several booking sites continued to describe the tour as powered by e-bikes that go up to 20 mph. Also, the business continues to distribute promotional material on the Key that highlights the e-bikes beach tour.
Catherine Luckner, president of the Siesta Key Association, said the manager of Siesta Royale of recently delivered to her a stack of brochures as evidence of the ongoing operation.
A reaction that potentially points to a start toward a crackdown on the illegal e-bikes occurred in July, when a resident of the Crystal Sands condo photographed on the evening of July 18 a pack of e-bike riders traveling along the public beach. Second in the line of riders is an Endless Summer employee wearing the company logo on his shirt. His likeness and shirt also match photos on the company’s website -- it’s unmistakably the sameTheperson.resident sent the photo to the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources staff, who then shared it with law enforcement and also the Siesta Key Association in hopes that the civic group would reach out to e-bike-related businesses in an effort to address the problem.
E-bike riders remain a beach headache By John Morton
The advertisement notes at the bottom that the company’s e-bikes go up to 20 mph -- certainly giving the impression that a rider could go that fast on Siesta Key’s beaches. “We’ve received dozens of complaints from our residents,” Luckner said of the e-bikes, which often cruise along the beach in packs as large as 20 or 30 riders. “People don’t even hear them coming and it’s overwhelming. People are out on the beach for the sunset and suddenly all these bikes are on top of them. They often need to jump out of the way. They are all trying to share that little strip of hard sand along the water.”
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“That was hopefully a good sign of things to come,” Luckner said of the citizen’s Non-motorizedreport.bicycles are indeed allowed on the beach but must be walked at the public beach Continued on page 38
It was in the spring of 2021 when Sgt. Arik Smith, the former leader of the Siesta Key substation of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, issued a definitive ruling on the debate regarding electric bicycles on county beaches. They are illegal. The issue had been somewhat convoluted, seeing as motorized vehicles are allowed for maintenance/service personnel and law enforcement, and electric wheelchairs are also allowed for those in need of assistance. But the e-bikes, which were rising in popularity and a growing presence on the beach, were officially banned. Section 130-37 of the county’s municipal code addresses the matter, with a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment in the county jail up to 60 days. Still, a problem persists on Siesta Key and a particular business appears to be playing a big role in it.
Above, a pack of electric bicycle riders, hosted and guided by Endless Summer Eco Tours & Rentals, was photographed July 18 on the public beach. Right, the business continues to distribute its brochure that promotes an e-bike sunset tour on Siesta Key. (submitted images)
Sarasota,
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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.
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Airing it out with the county sheriff
Law enforcement and code enforcement were the hot topics at the Aug. 4 Siesta Key Association meeting, as Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman addressed the group as the main speaker. His presence has been requested since several bullets were fired in the Village during a terrifying Memorial Day incident that landed one person in the hospital with a minor injury. Minutes before the shooting, a large fight was reported on the nearby beach. No arrest has been made yet because people aren’t talking, Hoffman said. “We know who the shooter was,” he said, “but the folks involved aren’t cooperating, including the young lady who was shot. What we do know it was directed at certain individuals, and not part of an armed robbery or directed at the residents of Siesta Key. “Just because you haven’t read about an arrest doesn’t mean we didn’t investigate. There’s just been no cooperation.”
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. (submitted photo)
The speeding on Stickney Point Road was also on his department’s list of roadways in need of monitoring, he said. Regarding noise, Hoffman said his deputies have been trained in the operation of sound meters but the enforcement remains a challenge. He said the ordinance that ends live music at 10 p.m. but allows recorded music to continue later is misguided. “Bend your (county) commissioner’s ear,” he said of the need for a change. “It’s been a decade and a half overdue.”
On that day, 19 officers were on the Key and eight more responded to the incident, Hoffman said. “It’s difficult to react to something like this,” Hoffman said of a concealed weapon that is suddenly brandished. The sheriff was pleased to know that no trouble was reported on the Fourth of July when the Key was again packed with visitors. He said an increase in deputy presence played a role, as did a plan to station them in a more strategic manner. “Going forward, for major holidays, that will be our plan,” Hoffman said. “What we do know is we’re not going to be able to restrict the number of people coming to the Key.”
DaneffortsapplaudedlasttotimeadditionaladdedhisresidentsremindedHoffmanthatdepartmenttwofull-deputiestheKeyyear,andtheofSgt.Smith,who this spring took over the lead of the substation at the public beach, for his efforts. “This is the place where we put people with conflict resolution skills,” Hoffman said. “Dan has that.”Hoffman, who previously was a county prosecutor before becoming sheriff in January of 2021, reported that crime in Sarasota County has dropped 60 percent since 2009. “We went after the worst of the worst,” he said of the results. The region’s crime rate is lowest in the state among communities of 1000,000 or more residents, he added.Healso reminded those in attendance that all things considered, Siesta Key residents should feel good about things. “You’re dealing with issues like golf carts, and not dealing with carjackings and armed robberies,” he said. “You’re living in a very safe place.”Hoffman also spoke of how societal and social issues have altered the landscape for law enforcement. “If anyone told me more than 30 years ago when I graduated from the police academy that we’d mostly be dealing with drug addiction and homelessness, I wouldn’t have believed it. Back then, it was pretty much cops and robbers,” he said. Also, in a moment of levity, he reflected on his history with Siesta Key.
8 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665
The trespass statute requires that there first be a warning for violators, he added, and as a result most incidents are handled on a case-by-case basis.
By John Morton Smith
Continued on next page
Hoffman addressed several issues that Siesta Key Association members submitted in advance. Among them were speeding and racing at the south end of Midnight Pass Road, speeding on Stickney Point Road, the danger involving low-speed vehicles like golf carts, spring break crowds, enforcement of the new loud-music-in-cars ordinance, excessive live-music noise, beach trespassing, trolleys slowing down traffic, underage drinking and fighting, and noise from boats in the canals. Hoffman listened to audience comments, made note as many concerns, and discussed them to varying degrees.
Members of the Siesta Key Association spent a couple hours with Kurt Hoffman, sharing concerns and strategies
Hoffman said further education with vendors and users is a necessary step.
“When I was in high school in Englewood, Siesta Key was the place to be. It’s where I’d come for all the raucous parties,” he said with a laugh. “Well, I’m paying for it now.”
Meanwhile, the disputes regarding public vs. private beach property is equally tricky for deputies, Hoffman said, noting that the determination of the mean high-water line is beyond difficult. He suggested the use of surveys for those looking to better establish boundaries, followed by additional signage as needed.
The car racing that’s occurring down toward Turtle Beach was something he said is “very much on our watch list.” “We have a zoned car assigned to that area,” he added. Low-speed vehicle use in that same region was another concern of his, where the speed limit surges to 40 mph at about where the 7-11 is located.Hoffman said golf carts are limited to areas of 35 mph or less, and that additional signage stating such may be needed. Currently, a small southbound sign where the 40-mph zone begins is all that’s posted.Residents also noted that golf carts are often driven by youngsters and are overflowing with riders who aren’t wearing any type of restraining equipment.
By the numbers Crime numbers on the Key for June and July were about average
Excessive trash piles for long periods of time are among the complaints that residents are voicing in regard to illegal short-term rentals. (file photo)
“There’s revolving doors on the houses,” said Russ, who has received complaints that separate rentals are occurring two to three times per month. According to the Key’s zoning code, houses in single-family residential districts cannot be rented more than once perNoise,month.trash and over-occupancy are other issues common with the illegal short-term rentals.
Pedestrians struck on busy crosswalk
Sheriff’s Report
Aug. 2, theft Victim reported that someone took money from his dresser in a hotel room. Victim reported that he had taken out $1,000 from an ATM the prior evening and went to breakfast for about two hours. Upon return he noticed $700 was missing from the dresser.
July 29, stolen vehicle Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a parking lot behind a restaurant in the Village with respect to a stolen vehicle. Complainant reported that she parked her vehicle and then indicated that her and her friends were approached by a male subject who was intoxicated. After talking to this male for 20 minutes or so victim indicated that she noticed her keys were missing. She then discovered her car was missing.
July 24, stolen vehicle Complainant indicated that her four-door Ford vehicle was taken from Beach Road. Victim indicated that she had parked her car in its designated spot at her rental condo. The vehicle was subsequently recovered but the front passenger tire and keys were missing.
His cell number is (941) 264-4988 and his email is rruss@scgov.net A new piece of technology The entrance into the Village on Ocean Boulevard is now home to a pole that houses a licenseplate reader. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it was recently installed near the intersection of Gleason Avenue and can serve as a valuable tool in the apprehension of fugitives. It’s part of a countywide study regarding the devices, which are solar powered.Thelocation is the only one on the Key with the device.
July 19, identity theft
Russ encouraged residents to continue calling-in complaints as warranted.
July 31, theft Victim reported that between noon and 3 p.m. his wallet was stolen on Siesta Beach. It was in a zippered beach bag. The wallet was subsequently found by someone on the beach, who traced the victim through social media, and returned the wallet to him. However, the cash contained in the wallet was gone.
-- John Morton
Victim filed an identity theft report with the Sheriff’s Office. Victim received a business bank card from a bank but the victim had not opened a business account. Victim is seeking to speak with a fraud team member at the bank. It appeared that victim’s name and other personal information had been used to establish the account.
A father and his two young children suffered serious injuries while in the crosswalk on Midnight Pass Road at the corner of Old Stickney Point Road. The incident occurred at 8:47 p.m. on Aug. 18 when a northbound SUV driven by a 74-year-old Saint Petersburg man struck the family members after failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, as required, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The victims are a 47-year-old man, his 5-year-old son, and his 2-year-old daughter, who was being carried in the father’s arms. They are residents of Sarasota. All three were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The crash remains under investigation.
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Continued from previous page and similar, Smith reported. In June, his department received 405 calls for service, with 29 – or 7% -- being personal property crimes. One involved a vehicle theft in which the keys were left inside an unlocked car. In July, 472 calls were received, with 26 – of 5% -- involving personal property crimes. One involved a car theft where the keys were found in a car that was later found in Cape Coral. A second car theft was the result of keys being stolen from the owner while in a tavern.There was also a case in which a suspect broke through a glass window at a condo and gained entry. Fighting the holiday hotels Illegal short-terms rentals, which locals call holiday hotels, remain on the radar for code enforcement officer Rick Russ. He reported to the Siesta Key Association that he is working on a handful of cases, two of which would be going before a special magistrate Aug. 19 for an evidentiary hearing. A penaltyphase would follow is the judge decides to move forward.
Aug. 3, theft Victim advised he recently planted seven jasmine plants valued at approximately $25 each. Victim went on vacation and upon his return he discovered the plants were gone. The area was canvassed for video cameras. Photographs of the area were taken.
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Refresh AFTER BEFORE Hoffman
AI have rescued a few people that got stuck on the sailboat due to a lack of wind, or because of them flipping it, but I’m thankful no one ever got hurt.
AWhen I’m not at work on the beach I’m working on building a food-forest-garden/wellness
TOP10.4.3.2.1.5.6.7.8.9. 10 REASONS
QYou serve as a beach attendant at Sea Club V Beach Resort (located at 6744 Midnight Pass Rd.) on Crescent Beach. Tell us about your history with the job and what it Aentails. I didn’t have much experience with timeshares before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started. I’ve been there almost four years now and the people from the top to the bottom are all wonderful. The job entails setting-up chairs and umbrellas, helping people with kayaks, and sometimes even sailing with them on the resort’s Qcatamaran.Yourduties include some lifeguard-related work. Have you ever had to perform a rescue?
AThey want to know if the house from the Siesta Key TV show is a hotel, or if Gary (Kompothecras) really lives there, and if it can be rented.
SIESTA GRILLE 1265 Old Stickney Point Road Siesta
QWhat keeps you busy away from your job?
From left, Townsend Merritt in beach mode on an ATV, then getting a day underway by lining-up the lounges at Sea Club V, and next showing off his back-yard food forest. (submitted photos)
Clayton is a fun, spirited, community guy and lifelong resident Best Eatery in the country, says his mom “Kitten” High School mentoring program teaching work ethic and responsibility Locals’ Gathering Spot Great Happy Hour from 4-6:30 ECO friendly restaurant Proves you are not a member of the Chain Gang TO CLAYTON’SVISIT
10 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 Community Spotlight At your service! Townsend Merritt is all about lending a helping hand
center outside of Arcadia. I actually created one in my own back yard. It helps low-income families get the food and resources needed to help offset the current economic crisis, and it also helps them learn to grow food themselves. It’s an ecological garden that works with nature, using no fertilizer or spray. We emulate a natural forest, adding food crops and flowers to create an abundance of food and organisms with all the functions working together. We are also trying to go beyond just the food to help grow character and stable minds through lifecoaching and goal-setting. We want to help others reach their fullest potential.
QHow has Siesta’s beach scene changed over the years?
Trout Almondine, Macadamia Nut Encrusted Grouper, Cult favorites like Pizzas, Duck, Fish ExecTacosChefMike Yoder, one of the best chefs in the world GM, Felicia O’Brien, and our friendly staff will provide a most entertaining experience.
QHow does your job fit your Apersonality? It fits into my life perfectly, because it shares the same values that I do -- as an individual who believes in service to others. It also teaches you to learn to overcome the elements, whether it’s hot, cold, or if lightning bolts are everywhere, and how to plan and prepare for any situation. I enjoy the QchallengeWhatquestion from guests do you must often hear?
claytonssiestagrille.com941-349-2800Key
ASiesta Key has definitely gotten more popular, and the differential in seasons has become a lot less. Summers are a lot busier now than they once were, but for the most part the locals have remained intact and it’s still a wonderful place.
11www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC TURTL E S On Little Sarasota Bay Casual Waterfront Dining Fun, Fresh & Affordable Outdoor Waterfront Dining! Open 11:30am-9pm Daily. Sunday Brunch starting at $10.99 from 10am-2pm. 8875 Midnight Pass Rd. • Siesta Key 941-346-2207 • turtlessiestakeyTurtlesrestaurant.com•turtlessiestakey Ride the Siesta Breeze Trolley from the Village It’s Turtles Time! Turtles All Day Menu BangAPPETIZERSBangShrimp… $11 Coconut Shrimp … $11 Shrimp Cocktail* … $11 Calamari … $12 Stuffed Mushrooms … $11 Fish Bites … $11 SIDE SALADS Fresh Garden Salad* … $6 Caesar Salad … $7 Turtles Wedge* … $11 Kale Salad … $10 SOUPS New England Clam Chowder Cup … $6 Bowl … $8 Signature Crab Bisque Cup … $6 Bowl … $8 TurtlesSALADSSalad… $19 Turtles Deluxe Salad … $15 Caesar Salad … $17 With grilled shrimp or chicken Kale Salad … GrouperSANDWICHES$19Sandwich… $19 Salmon BLT … $18 Mahi Mahi Sandwich … $18 Chicken Sandwich … $12 Cheeseburger … $12 Vegan Burger … $12 StuffedENTREESShrimp… $21 Potato Crusted Haddock … $19 Coconut Crusted Mahi Mahi … $19 Gulf of Mexico Grouper … $22 Salmon … $21 Sea Scallops … $22 Shrimp and Seafood Au Gratin … $15 Fisherman Platter … $30 Baby Back Ribs … $22 Orange Pecan Chicken … $15 Filet Mignon … $22 Filet Mignon & Stuffed Shrimp … $31 Filet Mignon & Maine Lobster Tail … $48 Stuffed Shrimp & Maine Lobster Tail … $40 Twin Maine Lobster Tails … $53 FRIED SEAFOOD PLATTERS Coconut Shrimp … $20 Large Gulf Shrimp … $18 Fish & Chips … $17 Fried Combo … $25 PASTA & BOWLS Shrimp & Crab Scampi … $23 Salmon Pasta … $19 Chicken & Shrimp Curry … $19 Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp … $21 Pasta Primavera … $14 SampleKeyTurtleDESSERTSPie…$7LimePie…$7Platter…$10IceCreamBar…$5
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Anna’s Deli, located at 6535 Midnight Pass Rd. in Southbridge Mall, has announced it has postponed its plans to remodel and expand into a vacant neighboring storefront.AnAug. 15 post on its Facebook page said, in part: “To all our loyal and future guests, some good news and some not so good news … “The good news: We won’t be closing for remodel. No need to change any vacation plans. “The not-so-good news: After investing months of planning and preparing for our remodel, due to many unexpected and uncontrollable events and circumstances, our remodel is on an indeterminate hold. “Back to the good news -- we will not be closing at any time in the near future, which means you will be able to get your favorite Anna’s Deli sandwich with your favorite Anna’s sauce without interruption. “Thanks for your anticipated patience and we’ll give it another try in the future.” The sandwich shop, which has existed on Siesta Key for 51 years, was planning to expand into the space previously occupied by the Things You Like boutique, which in May left the mall and transitioned to an online-only business model.
12 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665
Anna’s Deli postpones expansion plan
Key Chorale lineup for new season
announces
and Aquarium.
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Collaboration Nov. 27 – Mystics & Kings, with The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company and Trainees Dec. 16 & 17 – A Holiday Season Spectacular with the Venice Symphony Jan. 21 & 22 – Miniature 3 & 4 – Cinematic Romance, collaboration with the Venice Symphony Feb. 10 & 11 - A Sea Symphony, Masterwork by Vaughan Williams • March 10-12 – Cirque des Voix with the Circus Arts Conservatory April 22 & 23 – American Roots: CSN Crosby, Stills & Nash Folk Rock featuring the Lubben Brothers May 8 - Grace the Spirit of Aretha with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe May 15 – Tomorrow’s Voices Today, High School Choral Festival
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Key Chorale, the suncoast’s premier symphonic chorus, under the baton of artistic director Joseph Caulkins, Sarasota Ballet, the Venice Symphony, the Circus Arts Conservatory, Artist Series and Mote Marine Laboratory It will also feature masterworks by Vaughan Williams, Verdi, Mozart, Faure, Whitacre and more. The Chorale will once again present its signature one-of-a-kind programming, including a jiggy Celtic Celebration featuring Foley’s All-Star Irish Band, its annual Ballet collaboration exploring both the mystical and the royal, and a new American Roots show featuring the ear-pleasing harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash. There will also be a spectacular season finale entitled Grace the Spirit of Aretha with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. This high energy celebration of the “Queen of Soul” includes songs from the 1973 Grammy Award-Winning album Amazing Grace and her most famous R&B classics. Here’s the calendar of performances:
has announced the lineup for its 38th season. It features collaborationsdynamicwiththe
Masterpieces • Feb.
• Sept. 24 – Equinox: A Celtic Celebration featuring Foley’s All-Star Irish Band Oct. 2 - Magnificent Markovs – Artist Series Concerts
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13www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC SIESTA 941-800-5570KEY 215 Avenida Madera • Siesta Key GULF 2053941-921-5570GATEReynoldsSt.•Sarasota 1703941-366-5570SARASOTAMainSt.•Sarasota Curbside Pickup • Delivery • Dine-In • PanificioUSA.com FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED, SERVING SARASOTA SINCE 1991 DINE WITH US Beer • Wine • Pizzeria • Wings Subs • Salads • Catering Best Burgers &Island!onTacosthe 5110 Ocean Blvd. • Siesta Key Village 941-487-8116 • IslandHouseTapAndGrill.com OrderingOnlineforTakeoutandDelivery
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choicesdraft-beerNineteenawaitpatronsatGulfGate’sFood+Beer.(photobyJaneBartnett)
Food+Beer’s main rustic dining room offers a friendly, welcoming vibe. It sets the stage with comfortable seating, great food, a vast selection of 19 draft beers, and a full shelf of top-grade liquors. And now, an adjacent room with dark lighting holds an oldfashioned classic arcade filled with 19 games including pinball, air hockey, Pop-a-Shot, Skee-Ball, Pac-Man, Galaga, Mario Bros., and Silver Falls. Whalen and Daniels first opened Food+Beer in 2018. In 2020, the two opened a separate upscale restaurant called Sea Bar that featured modern Pacific fare in the adjacent space that currently holds the arcade. After 10 months, they closed Sea Bar, kept the bar area and seating, and then recently went with the arcade games. It has become a popular part of the operation, they say. Whalen and Daniels are two seasoned restaurateurs who first met 20 years ago when they worked together. Since opening the Gulf Gate location, they have opened two others -- one on Fruitville Road in Sarasota, and another in Bradenton On the weekends, brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3: p.m. The bottomless mimosa bar is one of the main attractions and offers a choice of four different juices -pineapple, passion fruit, strawberry and orange juice – mixed with champagne for $15. Entrees include avocado toast for $8.75; “Chick Phil-A” (a southernstyle honey biscuit with American cheese, scratch fried chicken and bacon) for $8 (add an egg for $1.50 more); a Brunch Burger at $10.50; and the Chicken n’ Red Velvet Waffle with scratch fried chicken, red velvet Belgium waffle, cream cheese icing, sriracha syrup and pecans for Tempting$16.egg choices include “Dad Jokes” (two eggs, bacon and biscuit) for $9, as we all as a traditional eggs Benedict for $11.50. Try one of Food + Beer’s nontraditional interpretations of eggs Benedict they call the “Pot Roast Benny” (featuring pot roast, caramelized onions, béarnaise sauce, poached eggs and a biscuit) forDuring$15. football season, Food+Beer becomes Philadelphia Eagles country. Daniels, a Philadelphia native, has the establishment designated as a meeting place for fans of the team.
It’s game time!
New arcade adds even more fun to an already energetic Food+Beer scene
By Jane Bartnett
Mike Whalen, coowner of the Gulf Gate
“It’s a neighborhood spot, a family place,” co-owner Mike Whalen said. “We see our regulars two to three times a week.” The name may sound simple and to the point but that’s the way Whalen and his business partner Casey Daniels like it. “We called it Food+Beer because we didn’t have a liquor license when we first opened. It’s a silly name but it works,” Whalen said.
Eat food and drink beer! That’s the advice that the two guys behind the very successful Food+Beer eatery on Superior Avenue in Gulf Gate have for hungry and thirsty patrons.
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“No matter what team fans are routing for, it’s a good time. They’re all here in their jerseys going wild,” he said with a laugh. Each day, Food+Beer’s lunch specials draw a local crowd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Diners enjoy choosing from either a cheeseburger and fries, a chicken burrito bowl, a chicken Caesar salad, a chicken Philly & fresh cut fries, or a chicken garden salad, all at the bargain price of $7.99. Its happy hour opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. daily. On Mondays, all cheeseburgers are $5.99. On Tuesdays, tacos are on the menu for $5.99. On Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m., the Food+Beer arcade turns into a karaoke bar. On Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. it hosts a popular team trivia night, in which the first-place winner takes home a $50 gift card and a bottle of Wycliff BrutThechampagne.mostpopular food item at Food+Beer? According to Whalen, it’s the peanut butter and jalapeño jelly chicken wings. “Sweet with a kick,” is how he describes them. And the kitchen stays open late –until 1 a.m. weeknights and 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. “After 10 p.m. the party people are out and we have a lot of younger people,” Whalen said. “Sometimes, people drop in late just because they need a cheeseburger.”
Whalen, a Tampa Bay Bucs fan who’s a Sarasota native and graduate of Riverview High School, loves the football energy during games.
isnewofenjoysFood+Beer,aroundpinballinthearcadethatnowpartofhisestablishment.(photobyJaneBartnett)
“My professional background and personal history of volunteering in the community make me the right candidate for commissioner,” Smith said. “I have a history of onwithworkingeveryoneissues and finding solutions, not just complaining about not respond to requests for comment. It’s the second defeat in a county commission primary for Cosentino, and the third for Ramirez.
Smith is a Florida-registered architect who has owned and operated his own business and lived on Siesta Key for 30 years. He said his professional experience of design, land use, construction and construction costs, permitting, building and zoning codes, etc., makes him uniquely qualified to be a county commissioner. Smith moved to Sarasota as a child when his family relocated from Detroit in 1963. He graduated from Riverview High School in 1973, and received both his Bachelor of Science and Master in Architecture degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Smith and his family moved back to Sarasota in 1990. “My nearly three decades of living and working on Siesta Key, volunteering on the Siesta Key Village Association, Siesta Key Association, and Siesta Key Chamber Board of Directors over the last 22 years, demonstrates to the Siesta Key voters my commitment to and love for Siesta Key,” Smith said. “I don’t need this. I have a successful practice. I had to take a pay cut to do this. But I’m doing it for all the right reasons. We need strong, effective leadership on the Board of County Commissioners that represents the will and desire of Siesta Key to maintain and protect its character andSmithbeauty.”was president of the Siesta Key Village Association from 2004 to 2009, leading the organization through the design and construction of the Siesta Key Village Beautification Project. Smith is a past board member of the Siesta Key Association. He currently serves on the Siesta Key Presidents Council, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Advisory Board, and as chair-elect of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
CosentinoRamirez
The incumbents in both districts did not run. Christian Ziegler (District 2) opted out and Alan Maio (District 4) reached his term limit. Shortly after his victory, Siesta Sand asked Smith how he felt about the voters’ decision. “It’s super!” he said. “I’m relieved and thrilled that the district recognized I was the most qualified candidate.” Smith, an architect, stated that he wants to immediately tackle workforce housing. He said it’s one of the most common concerns he heard at the polls, related to the ever-increasing cost of living in Sarasota -- specifically skyrocketing real estate and rental prices. “Folks in the construction trade need places to live. They’re building our communities and they can’t afford to live here,” Smith said. “Voters understand that architects are problem solvers and have to be able to deal with engineers and contractors to get things done. As an architect, there’s never been a time building something where we’ve said, ‘We can’t make this happen.’ We have to facilitate among all these groups and find solutions. We need solutions, not just complaints.”
andDistrictprimarytheKeywasPatterson,incumbentagainst2010anpreviouslySmithproblems.”ranunsuccessfulcampaignthen-NorawhoalsoaSiestaresident,inRepublicanfor4.CosentinoRamirezdid
Primary election results
Happiness is... Season! And no, we’re not talking about THE Season when the snowbirds come to escape the throes of winter. That’s still a few months away. The team at Abel’s Ice Cream is excited for a different season – Apple Harvest Season. Because for ice cream lovers, that can mean only one thing – the once-ayear opportunity to enjoy Apple Strudel Ice Cream. This amazing flavor (Apple-Cinnamon flavored ice cream stuffed with pie crust pieces & swirled with a cinnamon-apple ribbon) That's not that we’re leaving out other wonderful fruity goodness. In September, Abel’s will also feature an alltime favorite, Banana Cream Pie Ice Cream (creamy Banana ice cream with marshmallow ribbon and baked pie crust pieces). There’s no going wrong with either of these winners. Stop by today for a cup or cone before the season passes by Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota in 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 Facebookorwww.abelsicecream.comwebsite,connectwiththemonandInstagram. Awarded their Certificate forExcellenceofSIXyearsstraight!
Criticized for accepting developer support for his campaign, Smith said “The developer community supports me because I understand what they do. Not every developer is evil. But there are ways for us to review codes, to improve the approval processes and methodology. I can help with evaluations and work with county Regardingstaff.”public perception that the county commission has been granting too many variances and exceptions, Smith said “In all honesty, I’m not an expert right now. But I will be. Are we misusing it? Are we interpreting it improperly? As an architect, I listen. Then I design accordingly. Right now, I need to do a lot of listening. We can’t live in the past, but we have to be careful not to see it as a precedent if it was a mistake.”Smithadmitted the current county commission has a problem with approving projects without proper regard for their traffic impact, and that he can help find solutions. “We’ve all sat for an hour in traffic when it should take 10 minutes,” he said. “We have to figure out what we did (wrong) and how to correct it.”
15www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC
Continued from page 1
That Sept. 1 date with the Planning Commission is a matter of frustration for Catherine Luckner, president of the Siesta Key association civic group. It is one of many organizations that are fighting against the four new hotels that have been proposed for the Key in the past year and a half.
“At that point, someone could file another lawsuit against my hotel, but I’m not sure they would, as the question of intensity will be getting answered before June of next year,” Balot said. “If the lawsuits overturn the Unified Development Code amendment and the court finds that a comprehensive plan is needed for density, then I plan to continue with my prior comp plan that doubles the residential density to 52 rooms per acre (it had been 26 per acre) for transient accommodations. As a comparison, I’ve been told that the city of Sarasota is 50 rooms per acre. “I had asked the county if I could move forward with a comprehensive plan, but in discussions with the staff it was decided that no additional amendment to the comprehensive plan could be supported by the county until the pending lawsuits are resolved.”
Hotel Continued from page 1 public and is held in the county’s administrative center, located at 1660 Ringling Blvd. With approval there, county commissioners would likely hear the proposal Oct. 26 for what could be a decisive vote. That date comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 8 general election when two new commissioners will be elected to the five-person board. Was Balot motivated to get before the same commissioners who previously approve the other two hotels? He’s seeking two special exceptions – one for transient accommodations use at his location and another for 24 feet of height beyond the 35 feet that’s currently allowed.
“It’s at the exact same time as our monthly association meeting,” Luckner said. “We represent many of the people who would want to be there to express our opposition, but we can’t be at two places at the same time.” That meeting has since been changed to Sept. 8.
Balot feels his requests are fair and the timing is right.
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“As stated by me and stated by some of the planning and county commissioners during the other two hotel hearings, Siesta Key could benefit from some new hotels. The real question of whether a comprehensive plan is needed for the proposed hotels (and ultimately mine if approved) will be decided in the courts early next year.” Balot is also a partner in the Siesta Key Resorts and Suites in the Village. That hotel has applied for a plan to be razed and rebuilt with 170 rooms.
“This application and the request for special exceptions was never disclosed or discussed during the public workshop,” Luckner wrote in an email.
If approved, Balot’s situation would mirror the other two hotels that have yet to break ground because of the lawsuits. Two motions by the county to have them tossed out were denied.
Luckner also feels Balot wasn’t forthcoming enough at his latest neighborhood workshop, which was held in June. He has been so, however, in previous interviews with the Siesta Sand.
“The ability to request special exceptions is dependent upon a comp plan amendment which Dave still has ‘pending’ in his file. It was never removed from last year and is apparently needed, (re) setbacks required.
“There seems to be some shuffling around to expedite for an unknown reason (except the BOCC will be changed in November).”
“As you may have surmised or been told, I have been questioned -- or otherwise asked -- by some of the opposition to wait for the new two new commissioners to be elected to the BOCC. Personally, I don’t see why the current commission should not hear my specialexception request,” Balot said. “Just because there is an upcoming election, are the current elected officials no longer county commissioners?”
“I believe what I am asking for in terms of hotel use (transient accommodations) and height of 59 feet (above grade,) which is less that what the neighboring properties may build by right, are reasonable requests, regardless if I ask the current commission or the future BOCC with two new commissioners,” Balot wrote in an email. “I don’t feel I should be forced to wait beyond my turn to provide the opposition (what they may believe is) a better chance at stopping hotels on Siesta Key simply because they do not agree with some of the current elected officials.
The Sept. 1 hearing puts Balot back on at least a path of sorts. He went from moving quickly to some backpedaling in short order.
“As you may recall, I was initially rushing to get my project in front of the Sarasota County commissioners due to my belief that a comprehensive plan was needed,” he said. “We all know how that turned out. My intent to rush at the time was to provide a lower density option, in comparison to the two other proposed hotels at six-and-half times the density and four times the density. After the Unified Development Code amendment was approved and my conceptual plan was then denied due to the grand oak tree, we continued to work at a more normal, slower pace. I actually even temporarily halted moving the project along due to my team and me taking personal vacation and family time off. “Now, summer is over, we are all back to work, the application has been approved and the dates the county have provided are personally convenient for me -- especially before the upcoming holiday season, where again families are taking time off.”
17www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC 941-479-1175 | realtornemo@gmail.com
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Regarding Wallace, “We felt Jim’s participation was no longer needed for a Siesta Key residents’ victory on the Siesta Key hotel issues,” said Ralf Brookes, attorney for the plaintiffs. “Dr. Wallace has other legal matters demanding his attention, which are difficult enough to manage given his age, and has other commitments in his life presently that require his time. Wallace has also been battling FDOT regarding the plan to add a traffic signal on Stickney Point Road. It is related to the Siesta Promenade project at the corner of that street and U.S. 41. This is Walker’s second ruling on a hotelrelated lawsuit involving Siesta Key. Earlier this year, he denied a motion by developers to expedite a similar case filed by local resident Lourdes Ramirez. That trial is slated for spring of 2023.
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Smolker contended that all of the county’s arguments spoke to merits, which are not sufficient to dismiss these claims. “Their argument — that a citizen can’t challenge a government in their own violations of the law — should not be the law,” Smolker said. “We are arguing they failed to follow procedure for amending a comp plan.” In his decision, Walker cited a 1972 Florida Supreme Court case: Renard v. Dade County, which “established three categories of zoning ordinance challenges and set standing requirements for each category,” he wrote.
Lawsuit increased number of hotel rooms allowed for each of the hotels which will generate additional traffic on both of the already overcrowded, heavily and unacceptably congested barrier island access routes.”
“UDC is separate and distinct from the Comprehensive Plan, which sets out land development use underneath the Comp Plan,” he said. “The UDC implements the plan.” Pearce contended that plaintiffs did not prove that they were more impacted by this than anyone else on Siesta Key, citing Putnam County, Florida vs. Kaiser (1998), in which the court determined that the landowner would not be adversely affected by the project. David Smolker, a Tampa-based attorney representing the plaintiff, responded: “The county is attempting to recast this as a consistency challenge; it is nothing of the sort. A detained procedural process is required to amend a plan. This was not done. They updated the comp plan by simply amending the UDC. That’s not the way it works. This is a violation. The charter says density increases must be done by a supermajority.”
“Category 1 involved special injury or damages that were different in kind from any injury suffered by other residents in the area, while category 2 states that “the litigant must be aggrieved or adversely affected by the ordinance and must have a legally recognizable property or other interest so affected by the zoning action.”
Category 3 “requires that in a challenge attacking an ordinance on grounds that it was not enacted in accordance with proper procedures, the litigant need only be an affected resident, citizen, or property owner of the local governmental jurisdiction in question.”Thecounty wanted the plaintiffs’ standing to be based upon a category 2 case, but Walker stated that the plaintiffs argued that this is a category 3 case. The lawsuit will continue without Wallace, who has dropped out as a plaintiff. The other three plaintiffs remain in the case. “We believe our case against the county is very strong, and the lawsuit is continuing,” said Sax, who is president of the board of directors of Marina Del Sol, located at 1312 Old Stickney Point Rd. The trial is slated to begin in June of 2023.
18 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 JUSTIFIED + ANCIENT ART EXHIBITION 16 Accomplished Contemporary Artists paired with 16 Ancient Artifacts, on display, from 3000 B C to the 19th century redesigned and reimagined with their own representation A F O R M A L A F F A I R G R A N D O P E N I N G E X H I B I T I O N O P E N M A R A A r t S t u d i o + G a l l e r y 1421 5th St Rosemary District, Sarasota www marastudiogallery com P R E S E N T E D B Y : Halo Arts Project is a charitable 501 c 3 horganization t t p s : / / h a l o a r t s p r o j e c t c o m / e v e n t / j u s t i f i e d a n c i e n t / # t i c k e t s R E D C A R P E T A D M I S S I O N P r e m i e r P r e V i e w E v e n t Thursday, October 27, 2022 Admission Limited F r i d a y , O c t o b e r 2 8 , 2 0 2 2 Admission Limited Open to the Public November 1 17 Art sales benefit Halo Arts Project Fellowship Awards
renderingsArtistoftheapprovedhotelsatOldStickneyPointRoad(left)andCalleMiramar.
David Pearce, an assistant county attorney, cited different co-applicants filing on different days and the “commingling” of claims as reasons for dismissal. Further, he stated that the amendment was to the Unified Development Code, not the Comprehensive Plan.
tradition, we also carry a delicious array of prepared foods, perfect for take-out, picnics, parties and more. Please stop in and say hello!
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“For anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, who will be operating a boat in Florida waters with an engine of 10 horsepower or more, they must complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Florida Boating Safety ID Card. This card is not a boating license, it is a certification that the person named on the card has successfully completed the required boating safety course. The card does not expire.”
205 Canal
Ahoy! Have you always dreamed of being the captain of your own boat? If don’t happen to have your own private yacht awaiting your arrival, the folks at Bayfront Yacht Works & Marina on Siesta Key have got you Tuckedcovered.awayat the far end of Midnight Pass Road, across from Turtle Beach, this full-service marina has a selection of boats available for rental. In-season, daylong and four-hour rentals are available. Off-season, there are rentals for two-, four-, six-hour blocks of time. Choose from the marina’s rental fleet of six pontoon boats, two 17-footers, four 20-footers, and one 21-foot, center-console fishing boat. “Pontoon boats are our most popular rental,” said Jake Lasser, the general manager. “They’re family friendly, stable, and the most controllable boats.” Measuring 22 feet in length, the Aloha 22 Tritoon is highly recommended by Lasser. A 150-horsepower engine powers the boat, and a long canopy provides protection from the sun. It holds up to 12 people. For boaters looking for a bit more “pep” out on the water, Lasser recommends the Starcraft 17 Runabout. At 17 feet in length, the 115 horsepower engine powers this comfortably appointed vessel with seating for six as well as plenty of storage space. Bayfront’s rental fleet also includes its Starcraft 20 deck boats. At 20 feet in length, there is space for up to eight adults to sit and move around. The 150-horsepower engine provides plenty of power for spending a day out on the water, exploring the region. Fishermen will want to take the Bayliner 21 out for a day of trolling the waters and netting a great catch or two. With room for six, this 21-foot fishing vessel has a 115-horsepower engine. Lasser recommends that boaters interested in renting should drop in at the marina and see the boats in person before making their decision. “Driving a boat is not like driving a car and we want people to understand the rules of the waterways,” he said.
For more details on classroom and on-line classes, and on how to obtain the card, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website at boating/safety-education/id.myfwc.com/
19www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC Feel that power! The big boats at Bayfront Yacht Works & Marina await those looking to explore the area’s waterways in style By Jane Bartnett VILLAGE MAP, pages 20 & 21 CRESCENT BEACH MAP, page 24 GULF GATE SHOPS, page 31 LIVE MUSIC, page ACCOMMODATIONS,33 page 39 941.312.0665 VISIT OUR SIESTA LIQUORSVILLAGEJUSTNEXTDOOR!
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Before heading out, Bayfront Marina crew brief the boat renters on the general usage of the vessel, and provide each group with a map of the waterways. “We explain the red and green marker system and how to get through the Intracoastal Waterway to the bay,” Lasser said. “If boaters need to contact
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Morton’s Siesta Market keeping with Morton’s
Your Go-To Store on the
He explained that while a U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license is not required for renting, a valid credit card and photo ID is needed. Bayfront requires that boat operators to 21 or Lasserolder.also pointed out an important Florida law that renters need to be aware of:
our
Road, Siesta Key • 941-349-1474 • MortonsMarket.com
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Siesta Beach hit with a pair of no-swim advisories
The first advisory lasted one day for Siesta, and the second lasted twoIndays.both cases, the amount of enterococcus bacteria found during water-quality testing was outside acceptable limits. The beaches remained open, but wading, swimming and water recreation is not recommended when no swim advisories advisory in place. The first advisory included the
• SEGWAY RENTALS • PADDLEBOARDS • SCOOTER CARS • GOLF CARTS • BIKES • SCOOTERS • BEACH GEAR 5255 Ocean Blvd • Siesta Key www.robinhoodrentals.netVillage 941-554-4242 DAIQUIRIDECK.COM SIESTA KEY 5250 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34242 SOUTH SIESTA 1250 Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242 ST ARMANDS CIRCLE 325 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236 ISLAND OF VENICE 300 W. Venice Ave, Venice, FL 34285 Anna Maria Island 107 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL. 34217 ISLAND OF VENICE & Mart ini Bar Blasé Café T WO GREAT PL ACES ONE LOCATION! 5263 Ocean Blvd. | Siesta Key TWO GREAT PLACES ONE LOCATION! 5263 Ocean | Siesta Key Awesome pizza, wings & 941.346.1188bartenders!siestapi.com HAPPYHOUR5-6PMDaily 941.349.9822 theblasecafe.com HAPPYHOUR 2 - 6 pm$5DailyWells $2.50 Bud Light Drafts3.14 PI 5128 Ocean Blvd. Siesta Village 941-346-7425 Bringing you quality comfortandformorethan40years! Gift Certificates Available Birkenstock & More GizehWhitePearlMayariLicorice GranadaHabana TobaccoArizonaBrown HabanaArizona Hey Dude Birkenstocks&BackinStock!BoggBagsinStock! LET US CUSTOMIZE SHIRTS FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT! 5131 Ocean Blvd. Siesta Key 941-349-3490Village CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN SHIRT FROM HUNDREDS OF DESIGNS T-SHIRTS • SWEATSHIRTS • SOUVENIRS Continued on next page
As a precaution, Sarasota County health officials on both July 28 and Aug. 11 issued no-swim advisories that included Siesta Beach.
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Tickets now available for annual sand sculpting event Tickets and parking passes are on sale now for the 2022 Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival. siestakeycrystalclassic.comVisitto make yourThepurchase.websitealso has information on how to become a sponsor or a volunteer.Theevent, which takes place on Siesta Beach, runs from Nov. 11 through Nov. 14 and draws participants from all across the world. ‘Scooter of the Beach’ has rum created as a tribute Siesta Key Rum has issued a limited-edition “Scooter of the Beach” variety of its toasted coconut rum. The item is a tribute to Scot Ruberg, the Siesta Key lifeguard who can be found at what he calls his “magical” green lifeguard station on the Key’s public beach. Visit universalfws.com for more information and to place an order. Big Tiki Lounge to hold grand opening Sept. 17 The Big Tiki Lounge will celebrate a grand opening from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. The business is located at Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites at 5311 Ocean Blvd. in the Village. The establishment offers seating for 70 and sells specialty cocktails, beer, wine and spirits.
The annual International Coastal Cleanup will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at various locations throughout Sarasota County including Siesta Key. Pre-registration is required and must be completed by noon on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Register online at scgov.net (keyword: Keep Sarasota County Beautiful) or call (941) 861-5000 to register via phone. The first 500 volunteers to register qualify for first-option access to this year’s commemorative T-shirt.
21www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC20 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 ACCOMMODATIONS Beach Palms B-#74 Siesta Key Beach Resort & Spa Map-A #38A ATM / BANKS PNC ATM Map-C #61 Sun Trust Bank & ATM Map-E #4 BARS & NIGHTCLUBS Blase 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 Casa Smeralda Fashion’Style D #12-11 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 #13 HEALTH & FITNESS Indep. Lifestyle Solutions Map-D #10 Siesta Healing Map-D #9 Siesta Key Fitness Map-B #73 Studio Yooga ................................... Map-B #51 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 MAILING SHIPPING US Post Office Map-D #65 MARKETS/FOOD STORES Circle K Store Map-E #6 Morton’s Siesta Market Map-C #25 MASSAGE Hands of Light Massage Map-B #35 The Spa at Calle Minorga Map-E #74 Sassy ... the Little Day Spa.............Map-D #62 MEDICAL - DENTAL Siesta Village Dentistry 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 Beach Palms B-74 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 RESTAURANTS CAFÉS Another Broken Egg Map-C #54 & 55 Blase 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 #3 Ripfire Pizza Map-B #47 Siesta Key Oyster Bar Map-B #45 IL PANCIFICO 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 Sassy ... the Little Day Spa.............Map-D #62 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 Island Chatter Continued from previous pageIsland Chatter Continued from page 5 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 andBigNightG’sOyster Happy Hour from 3-6 Every day 1/2 Priced House Oysters Daily Drink Specials MARKET & GRILL 217 AVENIDA MADERA SIESTA CATERINGwww.THESEAFOODJOINT.com941-552-8826KEYAVAILABLE
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• Bird Key Park/ Ringling Causeway Service Club Beach Venice Fishing Pier Brohard Beach Casperson Beach Manasota Key On Aug. 2, the balance of the beaches on the list had the advisory removed.TheAug. 11 advisory included Siesta Beach, Lido Casino, and North Lido Beach. It was lifted Aug.Signage13. advising the public not to swim or engage in water recreation stays in place until follow-up water-testing results meet the EPA’s recreational-waterquality standards. Coastal cleanup is Sept. 17
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Jan Baumgartner’s handmade notecards are available at BLVD Beachwear, 5239 Ocean Blvd., and Shelly’s Gift and Christmas Boutique, 4420 S. Tamiami Trail. count (through Aug. 20) Key: 531, Lido Key: 160,
false crawls 205. Longboat Key: Turtle nests 1,299, false crawls 1,521. Casey Key: Turtle nests 2,049, false crawls 1,936. Venice: Turtle nests 493, false crawls 769. Information gathered by Mote Marine. HAPPY HOUR 4pm-6:30pm Happy Hour Food & Cocktails MONDAY PRIX-FIXE MENU 3 Course Menu for $25 — Every Monday OPA SaganakiWEDNESDAY!Opa!Appetizer $7 WINE THURSDAY 1/2 Off Bottles of Wine HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday - Thursday 11:30 - 9 | Friday & Saturday 11:30 - 10 | Sunday www.ApolloniaGrill.com11:30-8UNIVERSITY PARK 8235 Cooper Creek Blvd, University Park, FL 941-359-4816 SARASOTA LANDINGS 4956 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 941-927-2270 * Authentic Italian food from Italian chefs Open for dinner from 4pm - 9pm 3900 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233 (941) www.chiantisarasota.com952-3186 BEST HAPPY HOUR IN TOWN Daily 4pm - 6:30pm*Freshhousemadepasta Place your orders now! Review our menu at ORDER NOW: TurDucKens Shipped Anywhere in the U.S. GREATGIFT! Prime Aged Steaks, Chops, Seafood, NY Deli Meats, Sausage and Salads Voted Sarasota’s Best Philly Cheesesteak and NY Reuben Serving Sarasota Since 1975 We offer takeout and complete catering services. Sarasota’s only old-fashioned Meat Market, Deli and Restaurant under one roof Voted Sarasota’s best non-chain Steakhouse 4 years in a row! Home of the Sarasota TurDucKen, as seen on The Food Network with Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Time to order: • Beef Tenderloin • Prime Rib • TurDucKen • Crown Roast (Pork or Lamb) • Party Platters • Stone Crab Claws
Turtle nests
This tiny but mighty 2-ounce shorebird wings its way across the North American continent from summer breeding grounds near the Arctic Circle to winter vacation spots along the Gulf, Caribbean, and Atlantic coasts. Some plovers may opt for R&R on or near Siesta Key while others continue traveling south of the equator to the tropical coasts of South America. Some of these crackerjack commuters may cruise more than 8,000 miles one-way! A little larger than a sparrow but smaller than a robin, the plover dines on worms and other bite-sized invertebrate morsels. Favoring locations like sandbars, mudflats and even muddy farm fields, the plover hunts by sprinting in short bursts and then pausing to look for signs of prey. When the next meal is pinpointed, the plover lunges like a coiled spring to snatch it. The plover pictured here has seized a hidden marine worm, pulling it from its cozy burrow with an unrelenting tug. While the plover prefers to hunt in water less than an inch deep, it is a capable swimmer thanks to its semipalmated or partially webbed toes.
Firebush is a large perennial shrub or a small tree of the family Rubiaceae and is native to the American subtropics. Its range extends from Florida to as far south as Argentina. Common names include firebush, hummingbird bush, scarlet bush, and redhead bush.This fast-growing and showy drought-resistant evergreen shrub with bright red blooms is one of the prettiest native plants Florida has to offer. It blooms in the spring through fall. Its nectar-filler flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, It is currently blooming in the Butterfly Garden and Bromeliads Garden at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts. For more information visit SarasotaGardenClub.org. Submitted by Kay Weber, Botanical Gardens Chair Blooming this month: Firebush Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Turtle nests
false crawls 584.
22 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665
Sea turtle nest
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Our extraordinary dogs transform lives. Beyond the Dark invites you to experience this transformation and connect with our mission. You’ll engage your senses while immersing into the challenges of people with vision loss and veterans with disabilities. You’ll meet graduates of our programs and hear their triumphant stories. You’ll witness our highly trained guide dogs and service dogs at work, and see the powerful difference they make. And you’ll come away with a greater connection to the human-dog teams who journey beyond the dark GuideDogs.org/Dark
24 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 1220941.346.0202OldStickneyPoint Road www.orangeoctopusicecream.com HAND MADE: • Ice Cream • Sundaes • HomeShakesoftheOrangeSqueezeOPENDAILY11AM-10PM 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 DRUG STORES Davidson Drugs C-3 #14 FASHION & ACCESSORIES Fin Island Co A-3 #2 CB’s Saltwater Outfitters A-3 #4 Coconuts Resort Wear 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 Eye Style Optical ....................................C-3 #17 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 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 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 Big Water Fish Market C-3 #17 Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill A-5 #12 Capt. Curts Crab & Oyster Bar B-3 #7 Clayton’s Siesta Grille B-3 #9 Daiquiri Deck A-3 #2 Pizza ‘N Brew Siesta Key D-3 #17 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 CRESCENT BEACH SHOP INDEX C-3MAP#14Anna’s Deli 6535 Midnight Pass Rd. B-3MAP#1Crescent Beach Grocery 1211 Old Stickney Pt. Rd.A-3MAP#4CB’s Saltwater Outfitters 1249 Stickney Point Rd. B-3MAP#1&8Coconuts Fashion 1215 Old Stickney Point Rd. C-3MAP#17Toasted Mango Cafe 6621 Midnight Pass Rd.C-3MAP#14Siesta 4-Rent 6555 Midnight Pass Rd. C-4MAP#17Big Water Fish Market 6641 Midnight Pass Road A-5MAP#12Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill 1500 Stickney Point Rd. C-3MAP#14Davidson Drugs 6595 Midnight Pass Rd. SHELL& GIFT SHELLCITY & GIF T CITY THE GREEN THTURTLE E TUR 349-4751 349-4751 SiestaKey’s Largest Seashell& CoralSelection! SOUTHBRIDGEMALL CRESCENT BEACH SIESTA KEY SiestaKey’s Most Friendly& Unique Shopping Spot! 6525 Midnight Pass InRoad South Bridge Mall “A Tropical Department DepartmentStore“ Store“ MAP B -3#14 FREE! FREE! FREEFREE! ! FREE!FREE! FREE! FREEFREE! ! FREE! With This Coupon No Pu r chase Necessary green TURTLE greenCOUPON TURTLE COUPON Just ForStopping In AF ree Tropical AFGift! f t! EXPIRES:12/31/2020 VA59￠ LUE GIF TS& SOUVENIRS BEACH FASHIONS BEACH SUPPLIES BEACH COVER-UPS L ADIES & JUNIORS FASHIONS SUPER MEN'SLINE TS & ASHIONS JUNIORSFASHIONS S LINE $ T Siesta Key BestDiner in Florida 6621 Midnight Pass Road Just S. of Stickney Pt. Road 941-552-6485 Open 7 Days A Week ~ 7 AM - 3 PM BREAKFAST and LUNCH SERVED ALL DAY www.ToastedMangoCafe.com BreakfastFullandLunchMenu All SmoothiesFreshNaturalFruitandVeggie BloodyBeer,WineandMarysMSN Food and Drink Jan. 2015 To advertise in Siesta Sand, call 941-312-0665
Photos by Trebor Britt
“This MAT-ters” -- The blue walking mat leading from the old pavilion to about 20 yards from the shoreline on Siesta Beach has become widely popular with beach-goers. So popular that when it is missing for cleaning the lifeguards are asked regularly about its whereabouts. First installed in 2017, it’s used as an easier access not only for the handicapped, but for seniors and hundreds of people using carts to get equipment, coolers, beach toys and other things to their spot.
“Finders, Not Keepers” -- Good Samaritan Henry, 6, of Sarasota places a heart-shaped gold charm in the hand of longtime lifeguard “Scooter of the Beach” to be taken to the beach’s lostand-found. He found the necklace charm white shelling on the shoreline. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, his family has lived in Sarasota for two years.
25www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC Siesta Snapshots
“Beach Deputy” -- Sgt. Dan Smith of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office ensures the safety of pedestrians while beach -goers flood the parking lot with cars during a busy weekend on Siesta Beach. “Beach Reunion” -- The Brant family of Youngstown, Ohio and Hermitage, Pennsylvania surround grandma Joyce on their first family reunion. Joyce related that being on the beach reminded her of parasailing in her late 60s. One of the family’s clients who visits here often highly recommended they come here for their family event. They unanimously agreed Siesta Beach was a great choice.
“Beach Dippin’” –theirconcessions.treatthevisitorsFirst-timefromU.K.,Jack,Leonardo,5,andHoneyenjoyafamilyofDippin’DotsfromtheSiestaBeachThefamilymembershaveenjoyed10-dayvisitsomuchthatHoneysaid“Wedon’twanttogohome.”
Also offering Private Charters and Special Events Book online at941-253-5404cruisintikissarasota.com The Original Fun Tiki andSandbars,TikiTheandSandbars,Cruises,Sunsets!OriginalFunCruises,Sunsets!
Kyle Baker, senior pet food nutritionist at DOGPerfect, has a passion for educating pet parents on the power of nutrition and how it can improve their pet’s lives with proper food, supplements and treats. DOGPerfect is a locally owned and operated pet supply store with locations in The Landings, University Park, and Lakewood Ranch. Visit www.DOGPerfect.com for more information and to sign-up for a free oneon-one nutrition consult with Kyle.
You and Your Pup Can Beat the Pain Whether the issue is big or small, acute or chronic, National Pet Pain Awareness Month reminds us there are ways we can help our dogs overcome pain. It starts with identification and being in tune with your dog’s well-being, so you know when they might need a little extra help toward maintaining that happy, healthy life.
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To mark National Pet Pain Awareness Month, let’s take a look at some key signs that can help you identify when your dog is in pain, and specific ways you can alleviate their suffering.
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Kyle Baker, Senior Pet Food Nutritionist at DOGPerfect
26 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665
We talk a lot about how, as pet parents, we can help our dogs live happier and healthier lives. As we’ve discussed, there are a lot of easy ways to do exactly that through nutrition, exercise, comfort, and other aspects of care. However, some efforts to keep our dogs healthy require more diligence and keen instincts. How can we know when our pups are in pain? With a natural evolutional instinct for self-preservation, they often hide their pain and suffer in silence. But even when we can identify there’s something wrong, our pups don’t have the ability to describe how they’re feeling or what the cause might be.
There are two types of pain in dogs. The first, acute pain, comes about due to injury or illness. The second, chronic pain, presents when a health issue has been ongoing—like arthritis or dental disease. While you may not be able to tell right away which type of pain your dog is suffering from, you should be able to quickly recognize if they have an issue. Look for signs like unusual stress levels or agitation, a decrease in appetite, over-grooming a specific area of the body, and a disinterest or aloofness regarding activities. That last one in particular is notable because of the loving and playful creatures we know dogs to be. If their standard activity level wanes — whether it’s a reduction in play, a reticence to use the stairs, jump on the bed or join you on the couch, or simply a difficultly standing up — something is probably amiss.
Nova’s owners report that this 1-year-old yellow lab has been the perfect girl from the start.Her one downfall is getting into any food left on the counter when she’s left to fend for herself, whether that be for five minutes or two hours. She has been known to polish-off an entire tray of cooling cookies! When she isn’t being the fierce protector and best friend to her 7-month-old baby “sister” (a human named Willow), she loves to fetch her ball and go to the dog park to hang out with her pals. (Submit your Paw Pal to the Siesta Sand at info@27statemedia.com.) Meet Nova
PawPals
Pain Remedies and How to Help Once you’ve recognized that your pup is in pain, how can you help? Well, the first step probably comes as no surprise: call your family veterinarian and book an appointment. They’ll be able to examine your dog, run some tests if needed, eliminate possible causes, and likely pinpoint the issue. If the pain is acute due to something like a broken bone or soft-tissue injury, they may recommend surgery, medication, or hopefully something as simple as a little ice to provide relief. In the event the pain is resulting from or being exacerbated by a specific activity, they’ll likely advise a change in behavior and accommodations that can mitigate the pain — such as less jumping and a ramp to get on the couch. An issue with dental pain can be addressed by eliminating or reducing hard, crunchy food and treats, and replacing them with canned wet food, soft dry kibble, or chewy treats instead. Of course, should the pain turn out to be a chronic issue like arthritis, you may be looking at broader and longer-term solutions like a modified doggie diet and exercise plan. As we know, obesity is a major cause of canine arthritis. Shedding a few pounds with the help of an updated menu and activity routine can prove big toward reducing inflammation and providing relief. Some foods and supplements can pull double duty aiding both weight loss and decreasing inflammation. For example, fish oil — either direct from the source or as an additive — is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that increase joint mobility; as the strongest antioxidant fruit grown in North America, blueberries are terrific at fighting inflammation and warding off conditions like cancer; and those are just a few options. For more, consult the nutritionist at your local independent pet store. And finally, for older dogs, combatting arthritis can sometimes be as easy as providing a little extra comfort. A softer bed, a little heat, and the occasional massage can alleviate stiffness and swelling, and promote better circulation.
Pain Types and Identification
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Puppy Pain:
How to Spot it and What You Can do to Help
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Tarpon will move into estuaries this month. You may also find juvenile tarpon in creeks, canals and turning basins. Reds should be schooling on shallow flats and big trout will prowl the same waters at dawn. Also look for trout on deep grass flats mixed with blues, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Catch and release snook fishing should be good around lighted docks at night or in the surf. Look for false albacore (little tunny) to possibly show up in the coastal gulf later in the month. Tarpon addicts will still be able to get their fix this month. You should still find a few tarpon in the coastal gulf early in the month. Drifting live baits or casting flies, DOA Baitbusters, DOA Shrimp and DOA 4-inch CAL shad tails should all work. As tarpon thin out along beaches, they will move to inside waters where you may find them schooling around bridges or rolling on deep grass flats. They will also feed in schools of ladyfish that are feeding on the surface. You should also find juvenile tarpon from 10 to 30-pounds in creeks, canals and turning basins. Your snook tackle will work fine for smaller tarpon although you’ll need a leader of 40 to 50-pounds to keep them from going through it. Fly anglers should score with 8- or 9-weight fly rods, floating or sink tip lines and scaled down tarponSnookflies.and reds remain closed to harvest south of State Road 64 in Manatee County on the west coast of Florida, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Snook and reds are catch-and-release only in that zone until Sept. 1. Spotted seatrout has reopened in that zone with a three-fish-per-person, bag limit, and a six-fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15 to 19 inches with one allowed per vessel over 19 inches. Full regulations and details can be viewed at myfwc.com. You’ll find snook around lighted docks and bridges in the Intracoastal Waterway and in the surf. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DOA Shrimp or CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms, should all work well. The same lures and flies will work at night and in the surf, although you should be observant of what size baits are in those areas. Reds should school up this month, although their numbers have been thinner for the past couple of years. You should find them on shallow flats where they’ll be easier to find when the tide is low. Look for “nervous” water when it is slick calm or a slick patch of water when there is a ripple on the water. They may push a wake that looks like a boat wake. I try to be as quiet as possible in shallow water, poling to locate them. Once you’ve located a school of reds, try to get ahead of them to intercept them, much like tarpon fishing. If you work around the edges of the school, you may be able to catch a few of them before they spook. We often also find big jacks, blues and other predators in the mix along with reds. Top water plugs and fly poppers or Gurglers may draw some big bites. The DOA PT-7 top water bait and 4-inch CAL shad tail should both work well on schooling reds. Trout fishing should be good this month. You may find a big trout in skinny water at first light. Focus on mullet or bait schools to find them. Top water plugs, fly poppers or Gurglers should be very effective at that time of day. Handle big trout over 19 inches gently, since they are usually females that may be full of roe. I like the same areas for big trout that I like for reds. After it gets bright and starts to warm up, drop out to deeper grass flats (4 feet to 8 feet) for trout and more. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on a sink tip fly line. I make a series of drifts to locate fish and then shorten the drift or anchor depending on conditions. Ladyfish may feed in glass minnow schools and if they stay up long enough, it will attract trout, blues, mackerel, tarpon or sharks. Wide-profile plastic baits or flies fished slowly around the edges of breaking fish will help keep ladyfish off your lure or fly and give you a chance to catch a tarpon. When blues, Spanish mackerel or sharks are in the mix, add 6 inches of wire or heavy fluorocarbon. Also look for tripletail around crab trap floats, buoys or channel markers in inshore waters this month. A CAL shad tail or DOA shrimp rigged weedless or my Grassett Flats Minnow fly with a weed guard should get the job done. You might find false albacore (little tunny) or Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf this month. Look for baitfish to find them. The Tampa Bay ship channel is often one of the first areas where I find them this time of year. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, poppers or Crease flies should all work well. Spin anglers should score with CAL jigs and shad tails. You’ll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon when toothy fish are around. Even though it is one of the hottest months of the year, there are lots of options this month. I usually tarpon fish as long as I can either in the coastal gulf or in inside waters. An early start for snook or tarpon around lighted docks or bridges and then on the flats for reds, trout and more is a good option.
Clark Keator (near right in second photo), visiting from Orlando, landed this tarpon with Capt. Rick Grassett on a recent outing. (submitted images)
Kid Catch of the Month!
28 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 SEPTEMBER 2022 TIDE CHART www.USHarbors.com Sarasota, FL - Sep 2022 Date High Low AM ft PM ft AM ft PM ft Rise Set Moon 1 Thu 3:35 2.2 5:02 1.7 11:17 0.5 10:42 1.2 7:08 7:51 2 Fri 4:09 2.3 6:36 1.5 12:27P 0.4 10:58 1.3 7:08 7:50 3 Sat 4:52 2.4 1:54 0.3 7:09 7:49 4 Sun 5:48 2.4 3:28 0.2 7:09 7:48 5 Mon 7:05 2.5 4:50 0.1 7:10 7:47 6 Tue 8:38 2.5 5:55 0.0 7:10 7:46 7 Wed 1:19 1.6 10:03A 2.6 3:49 1.6 6:47 0.0 7:10 7:45 8 Thu 1:20 1.6 11:12A 2.6 5:17 1.4 7:29 0.0 7:11 7:44 9 Fri 1:29 1.6 12:11 2.6 6:21 1.2 8:04 0.2 7:11 7:43 10 Sat 1:40 1.7 1:03 2.5 7:15 1.0 8:33 0.4 7:12 7:41 11 Sun 1:52 1.8 1:52 2.4 8:06 0.8 8:57 0.6 7:12 7:40 12 Mon 2:07 2.0 2:41 2.2 8:54 0.6 9:18 0.9 7:13 7:39 13 Tue 2:24 2.1 3:31 2.0 9:43 0.5 9:37 1.1 7:13 7:38 14 Wed 2:46 2.2 4:28 1.8 10:33 0.4 9:55 1.2 7:14 7:37 15 Thu 3:12 2.3 5:41 1.6 11:28 0.4 10:09 1.4 7:14 7:36 16 Fri 3:43 2.3 7:48 1.5 12:32P 0.4 10:04 1.5 7:14 7:34 17 Sat 4:22 2.3 1:49 0.5 7:15 7:33 18 Sun 5:15 2.2 3:12 0.4 7:15 7:32 19 Mon 6:39 2.1 4:25 0.4 7:16 7:31 20 Tue 12:20 1.7 8:25A 2.1 2:49 1.7 5:21 0.3 7:16 7:30 21 Wed 12:20 1.7 9:47A 2.2 4:24 1.6 6:06 0.3 7:17 7:29 22 Thu 12:30 1.7 10:45A 2.3 5:20 1.4 6:41 0.3 7:17 7:28 23 Fri 12:40 1.7 11:33A 2.3 6:02 1.2 7:10 0.4 7:18 7:26 24 Sat 12:48 1.8 12:15 2.3 6:40 1.0 7:35 0.5 7:18 7:25 25 Sun 12:56 1.9 12:56 2.3 7:17 0.8 7:57 0.7 7:18 7:24 26 Mon 1:06 2.0 1:37 2.2 7:54 0.6 8:18 0.8 7:19 7:23 27 Tue 1:21 2.1 2:22 2.1 8:34 0.4 8:39 1.0 7:19 7:22 28 Wed 1:41 2.3 3:13 1.9 9:18 0.3 8:59 1.2 7:20 7:21 29 Thu 2:07 2.4 4:13 1.8 10:08 0.2 9:16 1.3 7:20 7:19 30 Fri 2:39 2.5 5:37 1.6 11:07 0.1 9:24 1.4 7:21 7:18 MackerelFlounderFloridaPufferMackerel Florida Fish of Siesta Key Red Snapper Yellowtail “Mahi-Mahi”Dohlpin MangroveSnapperLaneSnapperBlackMulletRedDrum “Redfish” PompanoFloridaJackCrevalle AmberJack SeaSpottedTroutCobiaBlackDrum CatfishMarlinBlueBlackGrouperSheespheadTarponBaracudaSnook FlounderMackerelScampScoolmasterKingGulf
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Forecast
(941)
Sailfish Florida Puffer
Marley, who was visiting Siesta Key from Virginia, was delighted to reel in this trout. If you’d like to submit a picture of a child’s fishing moment, send it to: info@27statemedia.com.
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters 923-7799
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Sarasota Local Brings Experience & Trust
Boat rentals Continued from page 19 us at the marina they can call in from their cell phones. We have perfect cell-phone reception all the way to the Venice jetty south and as far north as Bird Key. That is about an hour boat ride either way.” All rental boats are equipped with a full tank of gas, a radio, depth-finder, vessel orientation, radio, lounge seating, storage, a fire extinguisher, life jackets, anchor and line, cup holders, and a safety guide. In addition to the boat-rental fleet, there are also jet skis, ski boats, tandem- and single-style kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards for rent. “Once we’re in-season, we recommend booking a few days or a week in advance,” Lasser advised. “During the off-season we only need a few days of notice for a reservation.” Children, accompanied by adults, are welcome onboard. Rental rates and availability are shown online. Book by phone at (941) 349-9449 or online at bayfrontyachtworks.com.
, .,t� ~ 7(/uee, ~ g'ee,r LUNCH & DINNER SERVED 11 AM 9 PM L i v e M u s i c T h u r s d a y S a t u r d a y 5 - 9 p m o n t h e p a t i o d e c k q)ill=�� 886 Midni ht Pass Road www.TurtleBeachGrill.com Subscribe to Siesta toVisiteNewsletter.WeeklySandsiestasand.ussignup. Coffee Shop • Tea Room • 5138 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key 941-260-6400Village WHAT BETTER WAY TO START YOUR DAY IN PARADISE! • Organic and Fair Trade Coffees & Teas • Cold Pressed Coffee • Organic Smoothies • Light Lunch (Sandwiches) • BreakfastBagelsSandwiches,&Lox • Homemade Pastries
Joe St. Onge, ChFC® Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments 5011 Ocean Blvd., suite 205 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 --
If you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan.Inevaluating your needs for this type of planning, let’s start with what might happen if you die intestate – that is, without a last will and testament. In this scenario, your assets will likely have to go through the probate process, which means they’ll be distributed by the court according to your state’s intestate succession laws, essentially without regard to your wishes. Even if you don’t have children yourself, you may have nephews or nieces, or even children of cousins or friends, to whom you would like to leave some of your assets, which can include not just money but also cars, collectibles, family memorabilia and so on. But if everything you own goes through probate, there’s no guarantee that these individuals will end up with what you wanted them to have. If you want to leave something to family members or close friends, you will need to indicate this in your last will and testament or other estate planning documents. But you also may want to provide support to one or more charitable organizations. Of course, you can simply name these charities in your will, but there may be options that could provide you with more benefits.Onesuch possibility is a charitable remainder trust. Under this arrangement, you’d transfer appreciated assets – such as stocks, mutual funds or other securities – into an irrevocable trust. The trustee, whom you’ve named – in fact, you could serve as trustee yourself – can then sell the assets at full market value, avoiding the capital gains taxes you’d have to pay if you sold them yourself, outside a trust. Plus, if you itemize, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction on your taxes. With the proceeds, the trust can purchase income-producing assets and provide you with an income stream for the rest of your life. Upon your death, the remaining trust assets will go the charities you’veAsidenamed.fromfamily members and charitable groups, there’s a third entity that’s central to your estate plans: yourself. Everyone should make arrangements to protect their interests, but, in the absence of an immediate family, you need to be especially vigilant about your financial and health care decisions. And that’s why, as part of your estate planning, you may want to include these two documents: durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. A durable power of attorney lets you name someone to manage your finances should you become incapacitated. This arrangement is especially important for anyone who doesn’t have a spouse to step in.And if you become incapacitated, your health care proxy – also known as a health care surrogate or medical power of attorney – lets you name another person to legally make health care decisions for you if you can’t do so yourself.Estate planning moves can be complex, so you’ll need help from a legal professional and possibly your tax and financial advisors. You may not have an immediate family, but you still need to take steps to protect your legacy.
Even ‘singles’ need estate plans to Siesta Key
30 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 With our map on the next page 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. Gulf Gate Barber Shop (G11) has been an institution in the community for years, owned by Kyle Flannery. The super-clean barbershop’s clientele is 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. West End Pub (G-49) 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 foodChicago 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-34): 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., 941-924-5800. 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. (M-5) 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 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 941444-7984 to set up an appointment with their licensed optician. Zuzu’s & Moondoggy’s (GG26, GG25) Ready for an evening out? Choose from Zuzu’s -- an exotic Polynesian top shelf cocktail lounge where you can dress to impress and enjoy cocktails with friends, or Moondoggy’s -- a fun surfing-theme atmosphere where you can chill and have fun. Located at 2234-2236 Gulf Gate Drive, Zuzu’s & Moondoggy’s has 13 big screen TV’S, MLB Package, ACC, BIG10, SEC, NFL Package, pool table, SUPER CHEXX BUBBLE HOCKEY and a punching bag! Zuzu’s is open 12:00 PM – 2:30 AM daily. Moondoggy’s is open 7AM – 2:30AM daily. Scandinavian Gifts Baked Goods and Grocery (GG-37) A fixture in Sarasota for 25 years, Scandinavian Gifts offers an assortment of linens, glassware, cookbooks, jewelry, candles, food items, and Christmas collectibles. Located at 2166 Gulf Gate Drive, the store is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Karen’s Pet Place (S-23) Pampering furry friends and serving the Sarasota community for over 15 years. Spa services include bathing, haircuts, nail trimming, and a lot of TLC. A member of the Gulf Gate business community for over 15 years. Call 941-400-2562 to schedule an appointment. MondayFriday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE Customized sunglasses available, with or without prescription. Polarized lenses enhanced colors, contrast and clarity, also protect from glare and 100% of harmful UVA & UVC rays. FREE FRAMES, pay for lenses only, from selected collections, bring your prescription. More details in the store. Full Service Optical Boutique. Call today and make an appointment with our Board Certified Optometry Physician. Discover this hiding gem in Gulf gate. Unique Contemporary & Vintage Eyeglasses. 6541 Superior Ave. • Sarasota, FL 34231 GULFGATE Business District. Onlyeyesopticalboutique.com941-444-7984 2234-2236 GULF GATE DR. • SRQ • ZUZUMOONDOGGYS.COM941-260-8588 HOUSE OF QUALITY, PERSONALITY & FUN! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! NFL SUNDAY TICKET • ALL THE GAMES BUCANNEERS • PACKERS • BROWNS • RAMS • BENGALS • DOLPHINS PLUS ALL THE OTHER GAMES! BUFFALO BILLS FOOTBALL — OFFICIAL BILLS BACKER BAR MOONDOGGY’S BUFFALO BILLS MERCH IS NOW HERE RAFFLES • 50/50 • GIVEAWAYS THE OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED BUFFALO BILLS BACKER BAR Karen’s Pet Place, LLC “When you leave ‘em, we love ‘em.” Karen Haddad Professional Dog Groomer 6545 Superior Avenue Sarasota, FL 941-400-256234231 “Experience you can trust.” Dog Baths • Flea Removal Nail Trims • Haircuts
31www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC 6500 Gateway Ave • 941.554.8905 MLB/College Packages FULL BAR HOTTEST BAR IN GULF GATE... 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…$18, 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 Barber Scott Reich Formerly of the Village Barber S23S30S22S29S28S21S27S20S12S16S25S18S10S14S26S19S15S24S17S13S9S11 IberiaBank 1 2 3 4 5 S31S32S33S38S34S42S40S36S44S39S35S43S41S37S45S46S47S48S53S49S55S51S54S50S56S57S58S59S52 M1 M5M3M2 M6M4 M7 M11M9M8 M12M10 M13 M17 M21M15 M19M14 M18 M22M16 M20 GG22 GG14GG18 GG10GG20 GG12GG16 GG8 GG4GG21 GG13GG17 GG9GG19 GG11GG15 GG7 GG3GG6 GG2GG5 GG1GG44 GG36GG40 GG32GG42 GG34GG38 GG30 GG26GG43 GG35GG39 GG31GG41 GG33GG37 GG29 GG25GG28 GG24GG27 GG23GG52GG53GG54 GG48GG50 GG46GG51 GG47GG49 GG45 G24 G1G2G10G6G14G4G12G8G16G3G11G7G15G5G13G9G17G18G19G20G21G22G23G50G49G48G47G46G45G44G43G39G35G27G37G33G25G29G31G26G34G30G38G28G36G32G40G41G42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A B C D E A B C D E BedDressRossforLessBath&BeyondMarshall’sPetsMart MichaelsPublixHootersSunTrust PaneraBreadAmericaBankHornLongof Beall’s Outlet 2018LLCPublishing,VisitorIsland© GULF GATE S4S2S6S3S7S1S5S8Five Below KRINGLE Danish Pastry Made KringleO&HTheRacine,inWIOriginalDanish OVER FLAVORS15 TO CHOOSE FROM Beautiful Scandinavian Crystal & China Colorful Kitchen Linens and Cooking Accessories Quality Imported Candles, Jewelery, Greeting Cards Christmas Collectibles • Scandinavian Grocery 2166 Gulf Gate Dr. • 941-923-4313 Open Monday through Saturday from 10am - 5pm Scandinavian-South.com To advertise in Siesta Sand, call 941-312-0665
Spa Experience Siesta Key was opened in January of 2021 when Connie decided to expand her Spa in scope and services. Having owned and operated Massage Experience Siesta Key for 22 years she wanted to offer a wider range of services now including Acupuncture, Qrs, H-Wave energy medicine, and Spa Parties. Lewis continues to offer her pampering results-driven facials using Pevonia Botanica Skincare and body line. Pevonia Botanica products are available for purchase by calling or stopping by the Spa.
32 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 Sarasota Retreats for all. We're all facing much changes and challenges, it's important to stay mentally & physically healthy and have a fun Have you thought of a Peaceful Retreat? Company party for your Team? We can offer tailored packages depending on group size & time Packages include: Yoga, sound bath healing, deep breathing exercise. Fire pit bonding with introduction to Intentions setting, meditation, Reiki and much more things you can integrate into your daily life Gift sets Smudging kits Candles to set intentions Gorgeous Crystals Feng Shui & Spiritual Interior Design consult Private coaching & Retreats 2106 Bispham Rd, Sarasota, FL 34231 love@objectsofmagic com 818 793 7834 "Power Up your Team Spirit and Mindset" Visit our store or order online : www objectsofmagic com After completing the Life Transformation program at Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, and experiencing firsthand the cutting-edge energy medicine offerings there, Connie Lewis is excited to bring Qrs and H-Wave healing therapies to Spa Experience Siesta Key. Lewis has created a new service that encompasses all her areas of expertise including trigger point therapy, Reiki, Cupping, CBD massage Hot stone Massage, Sports Massage, and now QRS and H-Wave therapies. Consultation and coaching time are included with your session. Qrs is energy medicine that utilizes PEMF (pulsed electric magnetic therapy via a mat laser and ear and eye accessories. These noninvasive therapies are painless and ultra-relaxing and healing in nature. Some of the many benefits of the Qrs Mat and laser are improved and speedier recovery from physical tiredness and over-exertion. Qrs balances the body’s acupuncture points in 8 minutes leaving you feeling stress-free, energetic, and ready for whatever the day may bring. Qrs aids in healing muscle soreness and post-workout stress while healing the muscles joints and bones. H-Wave is an FDA-approved medical device used to flush lymphatic fluid, increase circulation and eliminate pain and restore function. If the space around the cell is congested, the cells cannot uptake the oxygen and nutrition it needs resulting in pain sickness, disease, and premature aging. If the space around the cells is free of congestion and metabolic waste products, the cell can now uptake oxygen and nutrition resulting in less pain sickness, more energy better health, and slower aging physically and mentally. Incorporating these technologies into her Spa treatments will be an incredible leap forward in assisting clients live a more painfree relaxed life.
Spa Experience Siesta Key boasts 5 treatment rooms that can accommodate up to 8 guests at a time. We are happy to help you make arrangements for your Bridal party, family reunion, or a spa day with friends. Please call for details and package options. Spa Experience Siesta Key is conveniently located near the Siesta Key public beach at 5700 Midnight Pass Road, Suite 4b, Siesta Key, FLOur34242phone number is 941-349-4833 and our website is www.SpaExperienceSiestaKey.com
ADVERTORIAL New Energy Medicine Technologies are Now Offered at Spa Experience, Siesta Key
Mystery Train There is a murder mystery train in Fort Myers, but you have to book the whole train for them to put on the show. That’s kind of a bridge too far. Perhaps the mystery is why there is no mystery train in Sarasota. Ha ha, there IS a mystery train! The real mystery is, “Where is this train?” The address is listed as 2211 Fruitville Rd. And, if you drive back and forth on Fruitville for six or seven hours, you will never find it. However, if you are driving west on Fruitville and take a right onto School Avenue, School Avenue will, after about a block, become 3rd Avenue. Right where this happens take another right into a large empty parking lot. Drive to the far end of that lot and you will find Bob’s Train. Admittedly, these directions are sort of how you find your way to Platform 9 3/4 when you are trying to board the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter books. So, while the mystery is how to find Bob’s Train, the magic is in the food that is served. While Bob no longer serves skunk soup (he did at the restaurant’s previous location -- it was really good), moose burger is now on the menu. Or, more exactly, M.O.O.S. E. Burger -- very tasty. While one could recommend the grilled brie and berry sandwich, the kielbasa with onions and sweet peppers, or the Sunday brunch, it would be much easier to recommend everything that’s on the menu. Ordering one item per visit will take you a couple of weeks to get through the menu, but will also give you the opportunity to visit with Bob. And chat. Because that is what Bob can, besides cook, do. About the Ringling Circus, the U.S. Navy, radio operating, or whatever. It will also give you time to visit the other train cars hooked onto the dining car and view the thousands of circus photos.
More info at BobsTrain.com.
Arts on the Horizon By Rodger Skidmore Be the bee -- or maybe the bird Scientists often wonder if other creatures have emotions -empathy, love, envy, etc. Consider the honey bee. We may not know too much about what goes on in their little heads when they’re inside the hive (invasion of privacy, and all that) but we do observe them as they fly about. They seem drawn to flowers. Certainly, the smell of the nectar attracts them -- as it does us, hence the various perfumes and colognes that we use. And the colors. Birds can distinguish flowers of various shades -- pink, yellow, blue, and red, as can we. When birds are too far away to perceive the fragrance of the flowers, they can see them in the distance (or is it vice versa?). And the shape of the flowers. Various species of hummingbirds have different length beaks, just as the species of flowers they pollinate have bells of various depths. So, color, shape, fragrance, all appeal to the birds and the bees, and to us. They for sustenance of the body, we for the soul. There may not be a difference between the two, for they are intertwined. At Selby Gardens there are flowers of all colors and shapes, and with a multitude of fragrances. But this, of course, is what we expect of such a beautiful garden. Through Sept. 25 there is an added floral attraction: Flora Imaginaria: The flower in Contemporary Photography. While the birds and the bees may not be attracted to the photographs mounted throughout the shaded walkways and paths of the gardens, the human wanderers certainly are. The photographic prints that are outdoors (there are 44 of them, with another 25 in the Payne Mansion, by 49 international photographers) are mounted on (actually part of) a white or black glass like substance that is supposed to withstand hurricane force winds (let’s hope no testing of this material is in their future). It seems as if the flowers pop out at you as you are passing. Some of the flowers are free standing blooms while others are posed in vases. Still another set represents life that is not still, as they have been altered (digitally) by the photographer, between the snapping and the mounting. But an additional type of altering goes on as you visit one flower and then another. Because of the black or white reflective background that hovers behind each flower, the black reflects the leaves and water, while the white shows the dappling of the shadows the cross their surface. And each changes further as the sun shifts west and the clouds scudder by. Info at Selby.Org. Pop art has been around (approximately) since the year 33,978 B.C. Actually, this was the only kind of art back in the Upper Paleolithic period, 36,000 years ago. It is said that pop art draws its inspiration from sources in popular and commercial culture. Not sure how much culture there was back then, but if it was commercial culture, then those wall paintings of animals might have actually been menus rather than a depiction of a hunt. If you chose one from column A and one from column B you might have gotten a bison burger and a side of roast boar. Artists now have a lot more commercial culture to draw upon -- if one considers comic books and advertisements for refrigerators to be art -- and art gallery owners certainly do as most get a 50% commission for each piece sold. The trickle-down theory of economics applies to how artists are paid. At first only the rich and powerful purchased paintings -the church and royalty -- everyone else was a peasant, so couldn’t afford it. Next was the Dutch merchant class, who were so rich they could afford pictures of themselves and their house maids and wives (Rembrandt and Vermeer). Then, as the lower classes had more money to spend, a lot of landscapes and still life paintings were made, as these were pleasant in appearance and could be produced in endless variations. Today, with so many methods to cheaply reproduce art, artists can support themselves by painting (and reproducing) anything they wish, as there enough people with disposable income to create multiple niche markets -- modern, contemporary, and pop, to name a few. And new pop-art artists keep popping up on the scene. The painting, Checkered Tablecloth, with Pasta Dinner, was done this year, by Elsie Pappanastos, an Art Center Sarasota student. ACS has summer classes for adults and for two different levels of students each year. From Sept. 1 through 30, Art Center Sarasota is mounting POP!, a juried exhibition. While individual artists actually had been producing this kind of art in small quantities over the years, it seems to have burst forth, as a named thing with a life of its own, in the 1950s and ’60s. There are many artists today, around the world and in Sarasota, whose paintings fit into this category. Chiefly, because they enjoy painting in this manner and because many viewers like the broad, bright, bold style. Also, during September are exhibits by Alissa Silver, a graphic designer; Jesse Clark, a fine arts photographer; and Carla O’Brian who works in clay. Info at ArtSarasota.org.
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34 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 6540 Superior Ave @arcadebar_gulfgate Next to FOOD+BEER 539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4 | VOLUNTEERCONSIGNwww.sarasotawex.comDONATESHOP The joy of shopping The joy of giving The joy of recycling The joy of supporting students and the arts in our community Find your consignmentSarasota’sjoy#1shop This purchase helpedaward $250,000 in grantsand scholarships during our2021-2022 Fiscal year. THANKS TO YOU... Est. 1962 Word Search WORD LIST BRUSCHEBROILEDBISQUEBENEDICTBEIGNEBAKEDTST TA BURG ER THERMIDORSTUFFEDSTEWSCAMPISAROLLSRISRPRIMPOUTINEPOMELETNEWBURGMGFRIFRIEDFRAFONDUECHILIDIABLOTTATARILLEDACANDCHEESEOTPIEAVERAAVIOLIOTTOLAD Answers on Page 36 Ways to Prepare Lobster Our family owned and family friendly restaurant and authentic Italian Bakery serves a combination of traditional American breakfast and lunch as well as some Italian favorites. Tues - Sat : 7:30am - 2:30pm | Sunday 9am-3pm | Closed Monday 4141 S. Tamiami Trail, #10 (Located next door to Trader Joe’s) breakfastatvictorias.com941-923-6441 Part-time sales opportunity working for Siesta Key’s #1 newspaper and website. If interested, emailorinfo@27statemedia.comcall941-312-0665SellfortheSiestaSand
HIGHEST-PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 7931 MIDNIGHT PASS RD. $5.7 MILLION
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The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key
The 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.
Completed in 2020, this property is impressive from the moment one enters the private gates and is welcomed by the long paver drive, beautiful landscaping and covered elevated entry. Once inside, the two-story foyer and adjacent great room give way to the covered terrace and stunning views of the infinity-edge pool and the bay waters beyond. Understated elegance resonates with modern finishes, Alta Vista wide plank hardwood floors, panel molding, unique ceiling appointments, custom-designed built-ins, gas fireplace and quartz countertops. The kitchen, completely open to the great room and dining room, features top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, walk-in pantry, farmhouse sink, a large food prep island and a large entertaining island with counterheight seating. A wall of floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opens to the covered patio and the outdoor kitchen creating one amazing indoor/outdoor entertaining space. A study/den and powder bath complete the main living level. The owner’s suite is a spa-like retreat boasting a separate sitting area, access to a private terrace, two-furniture style vanity cabinets, a large glass-walled shower with multiple shower heads, freestanding soaking tub, water closet and two custom organized walk-in closets. There are three additional bedrooms, all with ensuite baths, and an impressive laundry room sharing the upstairs space. For the boating enthusiast, there is a 10,000-pound lift and a kayak/paddleboard launch area.
Courtesy of Premier Sotheby’s
Provided by William Raveis Real Estate / www.raveis.com
LOWEST-PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 5233 WINDING WAY $918,000 You will feel like you have just escaped to the tropics the minute you enter through the front gate into a lush, fully Xeriscaped oasis. Enjoy your salt system pool, built in 2013, and a tiki hut for the ultimate in relaxing and entertaining. The expansive trellised entrance way invites you and your guests into this meticulously maintained home. Inside, you feel that same Island vibe with an easy flowing, split floor plan, open kitchen/living area, and a straight shot to your Florida Room. There is additional leisure space in the rear of the home with a nicely sized screened in lanai including built-ins for loads of storage and a tranquil view of the adjoining pond fountain. Have peace of mind knowing that the barrel tile roof is only 16 years young, the sewer line has been all re-piped with PVC, and the A/C is 7 years old. Most of the home’s interior upgrades and renovations, including windows, doors, 18 x 18 floor tile, new master bedroom, bathroom and kitchen were all completed between 2013-2015. Besides being a short mile away from the sugary sands of Siesta Beach, this home is one of only 35 situated on this peaceful tree-lined canopy road with neighbors who frequently gather to enjoy good conversation and a drink.
Courtesy of Keller Williams
HIGHEST-PRICED CONDO 6140 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #603 $2.625 MILLION Full west-facing panoramic views await you from the moment you enter this contemporary-designed paradise. With full beach and southern views, this light-drenched home allows you to enjoy Siesta Key’s Crescent Beach from every room. There is plenty of room to spread out with two large bedrooms, a den and 2 ½ baths. This redesigned unit is a cook’s dream with vibrant blue Lube cabinets providing plenty of storage, high-end stainless-steel appliances and spectacular Gulf views. An entertainer’s paradise, there is a wet bar that extends from the kitchen and two wine refrigerators. The main bedroom has a built-in cabinetry, a walk-in closet, and a designer bathroom with dual sinks and a doorless shower. There is a second oversized ensuite bedroom with walk in closet, and a large dual sink bathroom. Off the dining room is a light filled den with a half bath that can be used as an office, a gym, or as additional sleeping space. No detail was overlooked during the artful design of this delightful beach home.
Courtesy of Coldwell Banker
LOWEST-PRICED CONDO 8625 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #B405 $406,717 This 6-acre and well-maintained tropical landscaped location consists of three buildings with just a few 1-bedroom 1-bath condos like this one. It’s all the space you need on this 4th floor tucked back with a more private entrance. The original design has been preserved in this charming light and bright space and this condo will really be enhanced with some upgrades. There is a peekaboo water view from exterior and a sunset view from the master bedroom. Bay Tree Club will permit two dogs, or a cat and a dog, and so many associations will not. The Siesta Key trolley stops right in front of building. Courtesy of Waterside Realty
36 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 Waterfront masterpiece on Cocoanut Bayou. 4205 HIGEL AVENUE | COCOANUT BAYOU | SIESTA KEY — 4 BR | 4.5 BA | 8,571 SF | $7,900,000 | MLS# A4539090 Reminiscent of a 17th-century Palladian villa in the south of France, this North Siesta Key waterfront masterpiece offers an extraordinary living experience. The elegantly appointed custom-built home on Cocoanut Bayou offers 120 feet of waterfront, with a private deep-water dock offering easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. The residence features travertine tile on the first floor, beamed ceilings, lavish fireplaces and a grand room with multiple French doors to a covered terrace that spans the full width of the home. Other notable highlights include all new wood flooring on the second floor, four bedrooms with en-suite baths, a commercial-grade elevator, whole-house sound system and garage for 12+ vehicles. Call Team Dunn to schedule a tour of this extraordinary home. Maurice Menager REALTOR 941.238.8119® Lin Dunn REALTOR ®, SRES, LSS, LSE 941.809.2154 TeamDunn@michaelsaunders.com | TeamDunn.michaelsaunders.comRecipients11-Yearofthe RELATIONSHIPS for life UNE RELATION pour la vie. Handmade Antique Rugs Bought and Sold Florida’s Largest Selection of Antique Oriental and Chinese Rugs for 45 Years Mosby oriental rugs 941-925-1025 by www.antiqueorientalrugs.comappointment Word Search Ways to PrepareLobster Answers from Page 34
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As the development debate rages on -- Density? Hotels? How much is too much? -- it is useful to remember just what we are talking about building upon. At its surface, it doesn’t sound like a bad problem to have: “The place where I live is so popular that it is in danger of overbuilding.” But fueled by the pandemic, the fact is that Florida -- and in particular the Suncoast -- is getting progressively more and more crowded every day. Word is that about a thousand people, give or take, are moving to Florida every day. This is according to Jason Frank, traffic officer, Sarasota Police Department.
Of those thousand, it’s a safe bet that many are headed right here, to our own beloved island of Siesta Key. And this is in addition to the ever-increasing number of tourists who visit Sarasota and the beaches every year. Siesta Key is classified as a barrier island, which is, as defined by the Smithsonian Institute, an accumulation of sand that isn’t permanent. That’s right! It’s perfectly natural for barrier islands to build up and erode on a regular basis, sometimes even washing away completely. But the impermanence of the land is not enough to dissuade people from building on it. Apparently, curb appeal trumps just about everything else. The irony is that, the more that people interfere by attempting to mold the ever-changing coastline to their well-heeled will, the more unstable things become. Storms can very quickly transform waterfront property into underwater property, and eliminate wide swaths of beaches to nothing in the blink of an eye. Beachfront property offers wonderful views of the ocean, but destroying sand dunes to bring the beach closer makes it impossible for the sand dunes to do their job of protecting the island. The opposite is also true: Adding sand in an effort to stabilize one area can exacerbate erosion somewhere else. Too much construction reduces the effectiveness of a barrier island, and building on it can eliminate important ecosystems, such as salt marshes and dunes, that in turn protect the island and mainland from powerful storms.
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It behooves developers to remember we’re a barrier island
Getting Your Phil By Phil Colpas 140 Offices 4,400+ Sales Associates $21 Billion in Annual Sales 8 States - CT, FL, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT #1 Family-Owned Real Estate Company in Florida and the Northeast Siesta Key 1200 E Peppertree Bay Lane #206 | $789,000 Michelle Borysek | 941.413.8597 Sarasota 5110 Kestral Park Way S | $1,825,000 Carlos Santos | 941.735.8302 Veronika Bajtala | 941.504.0307 Siesta Key 5855 Midnight Pass Road #119 | $850,000 Jennifer Thompson | 941.928.0790
Electric bikes from between the four lifeguard stations. As for the e-bikes, which again are illegal anywhere on the beach when used in motorized form, the challenge of detecting them in electric mode makes enforcement tricky. Oftentimes, if a rider sees an officer they begin pedaling to cover-up what they were doing.
“The change has turned off a lot of people, but we’re still getting some,” he said. “The price is the same because our costs are no lower.”
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“That’s what makes it so hard, and deputies can’t just stand out there all day and look to see if someone is pedaling or not,” Luckner said. “That’s why I’m so happy someone reported this.” When contacted on Aug. 8, Endless Summer owner Derek Wilson said he had no knowledge that promotional material was still being distributed on Siesta Key. He also said the last time law enforcement contacted him about the e-bike ban was in the spring of 2021, when he said he subsequently removed the motors and throttles on several of his e-bikes. His beach tours do continue in a nonmotorized form, he said, at the same price.
page 6 TUTORING
38 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665 Classifieds / Here’s My Card REAL ESTATE AGENTS J O’Donoghue,Morgan MD. 1952 Field Road Sarasota, Florida www.dermatologyexperts.com34231 941.926.7546 Board-Certified dermatologist skin CanCer • laser • Botox and Hair/nail disorders LANDINGS RESIDENT OWNED AND OPERATED Owned and Operated by NRT, LLC HELENE M. HYLAND REALTOR® (941) 685-2274 Cell (941) 349-4411 Office (800) 237-9403 Toll Free (941) 349-8090 HeleneHyland@comcast.netFax 5145 Ocean Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34242 www.SheSellsSiestaKeySarasota.com POOLS MEDICAL SPAS / HAIR & BEAUTY HOME COMPANIONSHIPWATCH
On Aug. 9, his two authorized marketing sites, as well as his own, no longer mentioned that his e-bikes go as fast as 20 mph. There was no mention of speed at all, but he still described them as e-bikes as far as the beach tour is concerned. Meanwhile, Siesta Key substation leader Sgt. Dan Smith told the Siesta Key Association earlier this year that working with the local vendors on educating e-bike renters has been an ongoing mission of the Sheriff’s Office. Three local businesses on the island rent e-bikes, and all report they take measures to inform users that they’re not permitted on the beach. One is Siesta Key Bike & Kayak, 1224 Old Stickney Point Rd. The business’ website notes the following, in bold letters, in its e-bikes information section: SORRY, NO RIDING E-BIKES ON THE BEACH. Its e-bikes have top speeds between 22 and 27 mph. Ride & Paddle by Siesta Sports Rentals, 6651 Midnight Pass Rd., notes on its website that e-bikes are for “street-use only.” Its e-bikes have a top speed of 15 or 16 mph. Robin Hood Rentals, 5255 Ocean Blvd., also rents e-bikes but makes no reference to them on its website. However, a staff member reported that the business does inform renters of the ban on the beach. Its bikes reach a maximum speed of 20 mph. Different classes of e-bikes feature different speeds. The maximum speed allowed is 28 mph in Florida for a Class-3 e-bike. Some e-bikes are reported to go as fast as 45 mph, but none of the Siesta Key vendors carries such models.
Wilson began his business in 2018 and it is now located in Sarasota. He not only organizes rental tours but rents e-bikes for general use. He also sells and repairs them.
Despite the modifications, Wilson then said those altered e-bikes still feature an “electric assistance element” that can bring the bike up to 6 or 7 mph, and then a rider must pedal to reach what he believes is an 11-mph speed limit on the“Thatbeach.falls within compliance of the codes that were given to me,” he said. However, the municipal code does not support that notion. It clearly states that use of an e-bike in electronic mode is prohibited., with no mention of a speed limit. That said, an open records search through the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office showed no citations for violations in relation to Wilson’s ongoing operation on Siesta Key.
Continued
As for promotional websites, Wilson said the only ones with which he a contract for the marketing and booking of his beach tours are Airbnb.com and Viator.com, the latter of which is part of TripAdvisor. However, an online search shows several more options. All of them, including the two sites he authorizes, on Aug. 8 still described his tour as using e-bikes that go up to 20 mph. His business’ online page (endlesssummersrq.com) did the same. “I should go through it and update it,” Wilson said. “But very few people find our website organically. That’s why I use the tourism sites.”
39www.siestasand.us SEPTEMBER 2022941.312.0665 27th State Media LLC Sunset Beach Resort Siesta Key Dream Inn Complimentary shuttle service to and from anywhere on Siesta Key. 7 days a week from 10 AM to 11 PM. (driver tips only) • 114 Guest Rooms • One and Two Bedroom Suites Now Available • breakfastComplimentaryincluded with every stay • Free Shuttle Service to and from Siesta Key every day. • Microwave/Fridge in every guestroom Open2:00SundayHOURS:-Thursday2:00PM-8:00PMFriday&SaturdayPM-10:00PMHappyHour3:00PM-6:00PMtothepublicLivemusicThursdaythruSundaystartingat4:00PM (check the schedule on Facebook or call 941-924-4900) *Amenities and services may be adjusted due to COVID-19, please contact the hotel or visit our website for details *Use of the pool for Registered Guests Only 6600 S. Tamiami Trail BestWesternSiestaKey.comSarasota941.924.4900 Still Family Owned and Operated Since 2007 AAA-3 Diamond Property RobertsRealty@comcast.net www.SarasotaCoast.com 2621 Mall Dr., 941-924-2330SarasotaWorking with Sarasota Buyers & Sellers since 1969 • Local Expertise • Proven Track Record • Happy Clients Condos, Villas, Single Family Homes & Investments We are with you every step of the way! John Garner Broker Associate Diane Shane Broker Associate Roberts Realty
40 Siesta Sand www.siestasand.usSEPTEMBER 2022 941.312.0665
He’s the manager at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters and in August he reached his 26th year with the business. “I’m organizing the boats one second, giving fishing advice to a customer the next second, then buying tackle the next second,” said Doug, who apprecaites the variety of tasks that make each day different and exciting. “Yes. I wear a lot of hats.”
Doug
He’s a Sarasota native who first started at CB’s as a guy who cleaned boats in the after noons after working on the construction of driveways in the mornings. “I told them early on that some day I’d like to be the manager, and they eventually let me do it!” Doug said.
Added his boss, Aledia, “He does everything you ask of him. He does it all” Photos by John Morton.
Key Employee Sun Garden Cafe recognizes the impact that quality workers can have on a business, and is proud to sponsor the Key Employee each month.
Congratulations, Doug! Your dedication has resulted in a gift certificate for breakfast for four at Sun Garden Cafe, located at 210 Avenida Madera in the heart of the Village.
