Longboat Observer 10.04.12

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DIVERSIONS

Dr. Allison Silver Schwartz is a key player this season.

INSIDE

OUR TOWN

free • Thursday, OCTOBER 4, 2012

SEASON XX

Look inside for your guide to the fall arts and social events.

SEASON INSIDE T h e O b s e r v e r ’ s G u i d e T O T h e A r T s A n d s O c i e T y | FA L L 2 0 1 2

collective bargaining

NEIGHBORHOOD The Longboat Key Club celebrates its 30th anniversary.

PAGES 18A-21A

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Employees seek union protection Forty-two general employees are eligible to join a new union being sought to halt possible changes to town employee pension plans.

Robin Hartill

Ripley and John Wild

+ Dogged duo promote lawn party John Wild and his canine companion, Ripley, stopped by the Longboat Observer/ Longboat Key Chamber office Friday, Sept. 28, to drop off tickets for the Longboat Key Gourmet Lawn Party scheduled for noon to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17.

They want to get the word out that lunch and raffle tickets are now available at The Observer/Chamber office, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive; Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive; SunTrust Bank, 510 Bay Isles Road; and through the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key members.

The town’s general employees want to unionize, which would freeze their benefits and pensions and force town staff to negotiate with them before their pension plans could be turned into 401(a) accounts.

Town Manager Dave Bullock received a letter from the American Federation of State, County and

Municipal Employees Sept. 21, notifying him “that the majority of your (general) employees have exercised their right to form a union for the purposes of negotiating their working conditions.”

Enclosed with the letter was a certification petition filed with the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC), which will make

the determination in the near future on the new union.

The petition shows that 16 out of 42 eligible general employees have signed union interest statements for a proposed union. Only 30% of the eligible employees are needed to seek a union.

BUCKETS OF FUN

Colony granted one-year extension The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association did not receive the longer extension its attorney wanted.

+ Dedication will honor Al Hogle The town will dedicate a tree and plaque at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Longboat Key Police Department, 5460 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Anyone who wishes to express their sympathies can do so during the service. For information, call 316-1977.

+ Longboat Key businesses re-open Steff’s Stuff and Terry’s Framing Gallery re-opened Oct. 1 after a summer hiatus.

Steff’s Stuff carries vintage clothing and purses, jewelry, photographs, glass pieces, art and more. It is located at 5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 101.

Terry’s Framing and Art Supplies offers framing at all price ranges and is located at 5360 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 106.

Harry's Continental Kitchens restaurant and deli, 5600 Gulf of Mexico Drive, re-open Thursday, Oct. 4, after a summer hiatus. The restaurant will feature new menu items and twists on classic dishes.

SEE OT / PAGE 13A

SEE UNION / PAGE 2A

Rachel S. O’Hara

Matilda Diconstanzo, 3, plays by the water and collects seashells Monday, Oct. 1, at Lido Beach.

The Longboat Key Town Commission is so fed up with both a lack of renovation activity and meaningful settlement negotiations from Colony Beach & Tennis Resort officials, it’s not ruling out pulling the plug on the resort’s grandfathered tourism units.

At its Monday, Oct. 1 regular meeting, the commission pulled a threeyear extension deadline for re-opening the resort with the current 232 units off the table and replaced it with a one-year deadline that expires Dec. 31, 2013.

Commissioners are offering a rebuild extension to the owner of the property that can redevelop the entire 18 acres, not just the 15 acres currently in possession of the Association and its unit owners.

The language commissioners approved Monday night now states, “If final determination of control of the entire Colony site is not reached on or before Dec. 31, 2013, this extension shall terminate unless further extended by the Town Commission after a properly noticed and ad-

vertised public hearing.”

However, if a Tampabased bankruptcy court judge decides that the future control of the resort lies with the Association or longtime Colony owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber, through his partnership that controlled the units and hotel operation, the town will consider other extension options.

Following that final court ruling that decides who has control of the property or a future negotiated settlement between all the affected Colony parties, the town will grant a three-year extension and require the owner of the property to submit a complete development plan for the re-opening of the resort within three months of being labeled as the entity that controls the property. That plan, which must be signed off on by Town Manager Dave Bullock, must include: • Schedules for all planning, financing, design and construction phases; • A specific timeframe

SEE COLONY / PAGE 2A

INDEX Briefs....................4A Classifieds ........ 29A

Cops Corner....... 12A Crossword.......... 28A

Opinion.................8A Permits.............. 22A

Real Estate........ 22A Weather............. 28A

Vol. 35, No. 11 | Three sections YourObserver.com

Longboat Observer

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UNION / FROM PAGE 1A The eligible batch of full-time employees for the proposed general employees union includes: the deputy town clerk; chief accountant 3 position; accountant 2 position; accountant 1 position; finance specialist; systems and net administrator; computer operations specialist; administrative assistant; police service technician; dispatcher; emergency-services specialist; code-enforcement officer; permit technician; building inspector 1 and 2; plans examiner; licensing/permit specialist; electrical/mechanical inspector-plans reviewer; building official; administrative aide; planners; utility service workers 1 through 4; equipment operators 1 through 2; crew leader; plumbing inspector; service workers 1 through 2; receptionists 1 through 2; and HARV/ electrical inspector.

The news of possible unionization comes after the General Employees Pension Board of Trustees expressed concern at its August meeting that Bullock announced his intention to freeze their pension plans by Jan. 1 and transition them to 401(a) plans.

Trustees agreed to ask the Longboat Key Town Commission to hold off on imposing changes to the plan until they had more information.

The board voted 4-0 in August to authorize General Employees Pension Board of Trustees Chair Donna Spencer to draft a letter asking Bullock for cost comparisons between the plan he proposed to freeze the pension plan and switch employees to 401(a) accounts versus a pension plan that would be closed to new hires while allowing current employees to continue accruing pension

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

benefits.

Spencer told the Longboat Observer Friday that no such letter has been sent, because the board is still seeking both information about Bullock’s intentions and legal advice from its pension attorney.

“Our pension attorney hasn’t responded to some of our questions yet,” Spencer said. “We have also not been kept in the loop with decisions being made in regard to our benefits.”

But on Monday, the commission received a letter from Spencer, requesting the pension board be given “an opportunity to meet with the Town Commission to discuss any contemplated changes to the retirement system at an upcoming workshop.

“It is further requested that no changes be made to the general employees’ retirement system prior to changes, if any, to other town pension plans and prior to the requested meeting,” the letter states.

Maureen Monahan, emergency-services specialist for Longboat Key Fire Rescue, said the general employees “have no other recourse.”

“The police and fire have representation and we don’t,” Monahan said. “We’re trying to freeze our benefits.”

Not all the eligible general employees, though, are confident a union is needed.

“A very limited number of people are eligible,” Spencer said. “I understand people want to be protected, but this just seems like another part of our paychecks that will be lost.”

The Jan. 1 date is on employees’ minds because Bullock said in May that he would ideally freeze the town’s pension plans by the end of the calendar year.

But, because collective bargaining units represent police officers and firefighters, all changes to their pension plans must take place through union negotiations.

The police contract doesn’t expire until September 2013, so the town won’t begin discussing changes to that plan until the spring. Firefighter contract negotiations are ongoing but are likely to be drawn out. Firefighter union representatives have said they’re willing to go to impasse with the town if necessary over proposed changes to their plan.

Employee trustee Steve Schield has pointed out that freezing the plan would cost more in the short term. The plan would lose the current 6% that employees contribute from their salaries, and amortization rates would likely have to go down.

Employee trustees also discussed figures that suggest their plan is in better shape than the other plans, with an average unfunded liability of $77,000 per member compared to the firefighters’ $343,000 per member.

Bullock told the Longboat Observer he intends to work through negotiations with the fire union before he makes changes to the general employee plans.

“Jan. 1 is a bit optimistic now, but we will see where we are at,” said Bullock, who said he doesn’t have a problem with his general employees forming a union. “In Florida, the laws are very clear employees can organize.”

It could take 90 days for PERC to make a decision on the union.

If approved, Bullock would transition from having control over general employee decisions to a collective bargaining style that would put the Town Commission in control of decisions.

COLONY / FROM PAGE 1A for the submittal of site plans and building permits; • A financing plan; • A construction plan.

If the Colony fails to meet any of the above requirements, a public hearing would be scheduled to discuss whether to continue with the three-year extension. Under this option, the Colony must also submit quarterly updates on progress of all planning elements, settlement negotiations and pending litigation. A one-year extension also is available for any approved proposal that includes only a rehabilitation of the existing buildings.

While the Colony waits to find out which entity is in charge, the town also plans to impose conditions on the property that make sure it’s secure and landscaped to prevent it from becoming any more of an eyesore than it already is.

The Association was prepared to accept the extension requirements, but attorney Don Hemke thought his client was obtaining a three-year extension to work out all of the ownership kinks and litigation that still exists.

“This is too short and too Draconian,” Hemke said. “We need more time.”

The comments infuriated commissioners, who explained the association has run out of time and commissioners have run out of patience.

“You guys have got to get it together and make a deal, and if you haven’t done it by 2013, maybe we do pull the plug (on the grandfathered units),” said

Vice Mayor David Brenner.

“We are putting all of you guys on notice. Get this thing solved.”

Klauber’s attorney, Charles Bartlett, urged commissioners not to grant the Association a three-year extension.

“I support an extension, but not a three-year period of time before the clock even starts ticking to allow litigation to fully run its course,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett also confirmed Commissioner Lynn Larson’s suspicions that all Colony parties have ceased settlement negotiations since commissioners have expressed a willingness to give them an extension.

“My phone hasn’t rung in quite some time,” Bartlett said.

The news led commissioners to cut back the extension deadline.

“I favor a much tighter timeframe,” said Commissioner Pat Zunz. “We already have a very blighted area on the north end.

Can we afford two blighted areas on this island that can go on for years and years? Ask yourselves that question, because I’m not sure we are doing the right thing.”

Commissioners agreed that the year extension was done, in part, to try to convince the Association or whoever the future owner of the property is, that it expects the parties to resolve their differences and end litigation so redevelopment can begin. Doing so would shave years off a redevelopment timeline.

“These people are the ones in control, not the courts,” Larson said. “They started this litigation and they better stop it.”

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Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

landscaping buffers

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by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Commissioners hedge bets on height change The height of side-yard hedges on waterfront properties will be regulated after a complaint was filed about landscaping taking away views of Sarasota Bay. Privacy has become a priority among Longboaters who have allowed hedges to grow high into the air to create buffers between their houses. Hedges have also been used to create buffers to block Gulf of Mexico Drive from sight. But the town’s decision not to enforce its hedge-height ordinance has created some negative effects.

From the early 1970s, when homes on the Key were mostly one-story, until 2008, the town had an ordinance on its books that regulated the height of hedges in both side and rear yards to 6 feet.

The ordinance has not been actively enforced, though, because the town had not received any hedge complaints, even though both houses and privacy hedges have grown bigger and more popular Keywide.

But in 2008, when resident Morris Kertzer complained about a neighbor’s tall bamboo encroaching on his property, questions arose about whether bamboo was considered a grass or a hedge. The complaint led to a change in the town’s ordinance that abolished height restrictions in side and rear yards.

The problem seemed solved until last spring when first floor Marina Bay residents complained that a side-yard hedge on a Harbour Court neighbor’s property that sits between their neighborhood and Marina Bay had obliterated their waterfront views. The hedge, which the neighbor refuses to cut, is more than 25 feet tall and is expected to block second floor Marina Bay views within a year.

The complaint left Longboat Key planning staff scrambling to come up with a way to fix what Planning, Zoning and

JOB HUNT

Photo courtesy of town of Longboat Key

An overgrown hedge that’s now blocking views of Sarasota Bay for Marina Bay residents has forced the town to alter its hedge ordinance to fix the dispute.

Building Director Robin Meyer called “an unintended consequence” of the revised ordinance.

The ordinance has always mandated that waterfront yards along the bay, canals and bayous keep hedges no higher than 3 feet to preserve views.

But, the problem with Marina Bay and a few other waterfront properties is that the two neighboring properties have different waterfront views depending on where their structures lie; thus, there are multiple side-yard hedges that have no height restrictions.

The complaint led staff to bring a proposed ordinance amendment to the Planning and Zoning Board this summer.

Staff proposed a selective regulation of hedges located in side yards adjacent to waterfront yards. The change states that “where two adjacent properties both have waterfront yards, hedges located in the side yard shall not exceed 6 feet in height from a point parallel to the waterside of the more landward of the two occupied structures.”

The P&Z board, though, recommended denial of the ordinance in June, in part,

because board members were concerned about restricting property rights. The denial recommendation brought the matter before the Longboat Key Town Commission at its Monday night regular meeting.

Planner Steve Schield told the commission he needed direction on where the ordinance should go, and the majority of commissioners approved the ordinance change on first reading.

“This hedge is blocking Marina Bay from seeing views of the city,” said Duncan, a Marina Bay resident whose view is not affected currently. “It affects six residents now and will affect six others in another year.”

After Meyer reported the town hasn’t received any other complaints about similar waterfront view issues, commissioners wrestled with changing the ordinance again just to address one issue.

“We are paying the price for no enforcement over many years,” said Vice Mayor David Brenner, who said he wished the parties could resolve their differences and have the hedge trimmed.

In the end, Mayor Jim Brown and commissioners Duncan, Terry Gans and Phillip Younger voted to move the ordinance forward to a second reading in November.

They said it was better to change the ordinance to address certain properties rather than enforce side-yard hedges Key-wide.

“The higher the hedge, the more protection most neighbors have and the happier most neighbors are,” Meyer said. “For the rest of the town, your ordinance works pretty well.”

If the ordinance is approved on second reading next month, the hedge in question will have to be cut back to 6 feet within two years of the ordinance going into effect.

“This is about protecting waterfront views and property values,” Duncan said.

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

D.M. Williams preps for Casa del Mar exit D.M. Williams’ contract won’t be renewed when it expires next year, but he isn’t leaving quietly.

D.M. Williams has never had to prepare a résumé.

He got his job as general manager of Casa del Mar back in 1981, after Rosie Turner, a former waitress at his Midland, Texas, restaurant who became a local condominium expert, recommended him, and he has been there ever since.

But Williams, 81, recently notified Casa del Mar’s board and unit owners that he is sending out his résumé and looking for references. He made his decision after the 102-unit resort’s board notified him in June that it would extend his contract for one more year but would not renew it upon its Sept.

30, 2013, expiration. (See sidebar.)

“For anyone who is interested in an 80-year-old with a lot of experience, I’ll be available Oct. 1 (2013),” Williams said.

Williams said he was “shocked” when two board members back in June prior to a board meeting told him that his contract would be renewed for just one more year; he said he wasn’t given any reason for the decision. He believes he is facing age discrimination.

But the board’s president, John Zefeldt, vehemently disagrees with Williams’ statements, saying that the board has had discussions about succession for Williams for years.

“Nobody has more respect for the job he’s done,” Zefeldt said.

“That’s why we gave him another one-year contract, so that he

Robin Hartill

Casa del Mar General Manager D.M. Williams celebrated his 30th anniversary with the resort last September. could get his affairs in order. If you didn’t like the person, most companies would say ‘goodbye’ tomorrow.” Zefeldt also told the Longboat Observer Williams received an increase in salary and a bonus in the one-year contract.

According to Zefeldt, the resort’s assistant manager, Mark Meador, has been in his role for 27 years and is ready to move into the role of general manager. The board hasn’t formally offered Meador the job but plans to do so in the next year.

“If you were to make a change when things are not going well, then everyone would think that was the reason you had made a change,” Zefeldt said. “If you make the change while things are going well, the new manager could come into the situation and the old manager could go out on top of his game.”

Williams, however, denies that any substantive discussions of succession had occurred. He said that he hoped to stay on another two to four years as general man-

ager and then possibly transition into a role such as handling public relations or serving as an ambassador.

Now, he said, he is planning to stay on through the remainder of his contract, unless dismissed sooner — which he told the Longboat Observer Friday evening could happen, depending on the nature of this story. If he hasn’t been hired when his employment ends, he plans to apply for unemployment benefits.

Williams said the issue isn’t about money and that he wants to keep working. He knows that job opportunities for an 81-year-old may be limited.

Then again, his résumé is more colorful than most.

It includes performances in the Cripple Creek Cloggers dance troupe, serving as a wedding and vow officiator, poetry recitations and growing the world’s largest cotton plant. It also includes a host of awards for his management and philanthropic efforts, including the former Sarasota Keys “Citizen of the Year” title and a five-year beautification award from the Longboat Key Garden Club.

Williams said that he used to have many of those awards hanging on the walls of his office. But since June, he has packed them up and moved them to his house in Bradenton.

“I’ve lost all my enthusiasm,” he said.

REFERENCE REQUEST Casa del Mar General Manager D.M. Williams sent the following letter to unit owners Sept. 28: To all owners at Casa del Mar: As I prepare to begin my final year as manager here at Casa del Mar beginning Monday Oct. 1, 2012, and ending Monday Sept. 30, 2013, I feel that it is necessary to start submitting my résumé to all condominiums that would be interested in employing someone of my age and experience.

Since I have worked for over 30-plus years on Longboat Key, that would be my first choice of locations.

However, I am open to traveling. I have been asked by a couple of local businesses for my résumé along with as many references as I can provide.

This would not only be personal references from the board members but also owners and vendors that I have worked with during these past years.

Your co-operation and response to this request will be most appreciated.

However, they do realize that I cannot start before Oct. 1, 2013.

Sincerely, “Lest Ye Forget” D.M. Williams

Longboat Observer

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This week on

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

FLORIDA’S NO. 1 WEEKLY NEWSPAPER WEBSITE

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In the Kitchen (VIDEO): Personal trainer and Sarasota resident Colleen Yuskaitis enjoys preparing foods to provide fuel for an active lifestyle. This week, Yuskaitis shares a quick and easy recipe for a vegan-friendly, high-protein snack that you can take on the go.

MOST READ STORIES ONLINE LAST WEEK: 1. “beggar the dolphin found dead” (sept. 24) 2. “PHoto gaLLerY: electrify the Circle Pre-Party” (sept. 23) 3. “Colony extension delayed again” (sept. 24) 4. “sand structures move forward” (sept. 26) 5. “brenner requests Colony leadership” (sept. 28)

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NEWSBRIEFS

4A

+ Town prepares for impasse with firefighters The town of Longboat Key is prepared to declare impasse with the Longboat Key Firefighters union at the end of October, unless the firefighters are prepared to present another proposal that offers substantial savings to the town.

The town has not accepted a proposal the firefighters presented in September, and the union is making plans to have its pension actuary run more numbers to verify the cost savings for the town before impasse is declared.

+ Key Club plans to re-file application Longboat Key Planning, Zoning and Building Director Robin Meyer told the Longboat Observer that the Longboat Key Club and Resort intends to submit its Islandside renovation-and-expansion project application Oct. 9. The town will then make a determination on the application’s completeness by Oct. 23.

+ Brenner requests Colony leadership Vice Mayor David Brenner sent an email to longtime Colony Beach & Tennis Resort owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber Thursday Sept. 27, urging him to be the real leader behind a Colony settlement and end years of legal squabbles to allow the resort to be rebuilt.

Referencing an email Klauber sent to the Longboat Key Town Commission that ran in the Longboat Observer, Brenner states that “a rehashing of all the past sins will not solve the Colony mess.”

“There is enough blame to go around,” Brenner wrote. “A palatable solution will not come from the

Meetings agendas

&

 Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 8.  Zoning Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting — 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 11  Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15.  Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted. courts, nor, for that matter, the commission.

“Your desire for a new Colony that belongs on Longboat Key is well understood,” Brenner wrote. “What a unique legacy you could leave us as the father of the old Colony and the new Colony. You can be the force for that solution. What’s needed is real leadership. Not from the outside, but from within. I’m suggesting that you, with the guidance and wise counsel of Charlie Bartlett, convene the warring factions to create the framework for a plan that will again make the Colony a significant part of life on Longboat Key.”

+ Publix update The new Publix project took another big step last week, with construction workers installing fiber cement board near the building’s roofline.

It’s the last step before the fascia is installed. Plywood sheeting has also been installed, which means the roofing will be installed shortly. The store is on schedule for a December opening.

Store Around the Corner Visit the Store Around the Corner directory to search for local businesses.

Find their contact information, view their location on a map, get driving directions, read or write reviews, watch videos and find special offers.

Observer LONGBOAT

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TO ADVERTISE: Display Advertising: To obtain information, call Donna Condon at 941-366-3468, Ext. 301. Advertisers also may obtain all Observer Group Inc. advertising rates and editorial calendars online at www.YourObserver.com.

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classified advertising section, or call 941-955-4888. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To place a classified ad online, email your ad to Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

SAND SHARING

cat burglar

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

5A

by Nick Friedman | Community Editor

New Pass dredging offers sand options Touch of Africa offers

reward for missing mascot

A management plan paid for by Sarasota County now suggests sharing sand dredged from New Pass with the town.

Two years ago, Sarasota County consultants presented a comprehensive inlet management plan of New Pass and Big Sarasota Pass that suggested any sand dredged in New Pass in the future should no longer be shared with the town of Longboat Key. The plan — created, in part, by town beach consultant Cliff Truitt of Coastal Technology Corp. and peer reviewed by town beach engineer Coastal Planning & Engineering — was the culmination of several years’ worth of research and more than $700,000 in consultant fees and costs.

That plan, which Longboat Key tax dollars helped pay for, stated that all future sand dredged at New Pass should be placed on north Lido Key. Suffice it to say, the town wasn’t happy with the results of the study.

But, times have changed, and the town and Sarasota County have made up.

Sarasota County Coastal Systems Manager Laird Wreford explained at a joint meeting of the Sarasota County Commission and the Longboat Key Town Commission Monday in Sarasota, that any future dredging of New Pass would involve sharing sand with Longboat Key. It could happen sooner than later if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designates sand in the pass as a

sand source. The county is currently working with the Corps of Engineers to get the federal channel authorized as a sand source.

“The two entities (Lido Beach and the town of Longboat Key) are in need of periodic renourishment and offshore sand sources have been depleted,” Wreford said. “It’s a logical solution for both the county and Longboat Key to work sideby-side while managing the pass and providing sand for its beaches.”

If the county is successful, the first round of sand dredged would most likely be placed on Lido Beach.

“In the past, sand has been shared between Longboat and Lido,” Wreford said. “If it’s impossible to utilize sand for Longboat this time, subsequent dredging would put sand on Longboat next time around.”

The county will meet with the Corps of Engineers later this month to discuss the results of a modeling study performed for New Pass; they will also discuss the dredging of the pass and the possibility of future sand sharing.

Longboat Key Public Works Director Juan Florensa has worked with county staff to bridge a gap when the original study didn’t favor sharing sand with Longboat Key. “We avoided going down that

Touch of Africa, a store on St. Armands Circle that sells African gifts and organizes trips to its namesake, found itself short one adult-sized lion costume Wednesday, Sept. 27. When marketing director Tammy Halsted came into the corporate and travel office, she was shocked to see that the $6,000 Lenny the Lion mascot costume was not hanging in its normal spot. Instead, only the costume’s vest remained.

“At first, I was puzzled,” she said. “I went back into the storage room to see if someone had already moved it, and that’s when it dawned on me.”

Halsted says the costume was taken from the back corridor of the office, where one of the building’s side doors was left unlocked accidentally. Police estimate that someone took the costume some time between midnight and 8 a.m.

“I think someone might’ve thought they had found a quick Halloween costume,” said Halsted. “They’d probably be surprised to learn how much it is actu-

path of not being sand partners and that’s a good thing,” Florensa said after the meeting.

Both the county and the town of Longboat Key also committed Monday to work together on other future beach renourishment projects, after Mayor Jim Brown explained it only made sense to share the cost of mobilizing dredging equipment. It costs approximately $2 million just to mobilize the equipment offshore each time a beach project is performed.

“Anything we can do to join hands and coordinate efforts can only help and be a tremendous benefit,” Wreford said.

Florensa said the town gets about 100,000 cubic yards of sand every time New Pass is dredged, noting that much of the sand sitting in New Pass and Big Sarasota Pass was paid for by Longboaters.

“That sand helps keep the southern end (of Longboat Key) healthy and it puts back our sand on our beaches,” Florensa said.

The town last received 100,000 cubic yards of sand from a dredging of New Pass in March 2003. A lack of Army Corps of Engineer funding for future dredging of New Pass has led to an accumulation of sand in the pass that’s created unsafe conditions for boaters in certain places where the sand is too high and boats can run aground.

Open Until 1PM for the Season!

ally worth. It’s a one-of-a-kind, registered mascot designed specifically for the company.”

Lenny the Lion was a familiar face around St. Armands and at Sarasota events, such as FridayFest, and Halsted says that Touch of Africa has had to cancel several upcoming events in light of the missing mascot.

“We don’t just use Lenny in front of the store,” she said. “You see him out at a lot of events, and he does a lot of work with children’s groups to spread the word about conservation and preservation. This affects a lot of people.

At least six employees won’t be able to work without the costume.”

To u c h of Africa is offering a reward for information leading to the recovery of the costume. Although she declined to specify the amount, Halsted says the reward is appropriate, considering the value of the costume.

“If anyone has seen anything or overheard anything, call the office at 447-2558,” she said. “We just want our Lenny back.”

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Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

outdoor dining

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

NEW FLAVOR

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Construction on Mar Vista addition targeted for 2013

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

Harry’s wines and dines with new tasting format

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub owner Ed Chiles plans to build a second-story addition to his restaurant in Longbeach Village.

The new wine tasting format will offer a more intimate event, limited to about 100 people.

A second story at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub is still in the works, even though it’s been almost three years since the proposal was first submitted.

Mar Vista owner Ed Chiles said a revised site-plan application will be submitted to the Planning, Zoning and Building Department soon, and he hopes work can begin on the project this time next year.

Last summer, Chiles’ staff did some redesigning and decided it wanted to move the second story approximately 15 to 20 feet closer to the water.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Robin Meyer said the change meant a new site plan had to be filed, showing the changes that include rearranging some of the second story’s access points and adding a storage room where a stairway was originally planned.

“We are going back to the town, as requested, hope to

Harry’s Continental Kitchens will still wine and dine its customers at wine tastings that also serve as fundraisers for local organizations.

But, this season, the events will be smaller and take on a more upscale feel.

“They will be a bit more intimate yet (have) the same friendly and casual atmosphere, targeting about 100 guests,” according to a letter recently sent by Harry’s to organizations that hold wine tastings.

Past wine tastings have drawn more than 300 people to the area outside of Harry’s deli.

But, according to Hal Christensen, general manager at Harry’s, the wine tastings were never meant to get that large. Harry’s co-owner Lynn Christensen said that the goal is to give the events a more sophisticated feel while making sure that the restaurant can cover its costs for putting on the events.

Now, the events will

s llow f e pi hase o e r f 2 purc set r withmatt o a

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Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub owner Ed Chiles has plans for a second story at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub in Longbeach Village. re-file again soon and be in the midst of the project next year at this time,” Chiles said.

The second story is a long time coming.

Chiles got up on the roof of his restaurant more than two years ago to look at some routine roof maintenance.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Chiles

said. “The view up there is really something.”

The visit to the roof spawned a plan to add a second story to the longtime restaurant, which was built in 1913 and is listed with the state as a Longboat Key historical structure The plan is to take approximately 60 seats of the 70 seats located downstairs and move them upstairs. Ten seats, which are bar stools, will remain downstairs in the bar.

The second story, which will act as an open-air tree-house balcony, will become the main dining room. The second story, Chiles said, will blend in nicely with the restaurant’s outdoor wooden deck that was built among the trees a few years ago near Sarasota Bay. In total, the restaurant will have approximately 169 seats once the project is complete.

On the first-floor of the restaurant, existing bathrooms have already been renovated and expanded.

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take place on the restaurant patio. Attendees will receive a free go-vino wine glass, wine from two different vendors and passed hors d’oeuvres, cheese and charcuterie, instead of the hors d’oeuvres buffets featured in past wine tastings.

The events will cost $20 per person instead of the $10 charged in the past, with $5 still donated to each organization.

The smaller format means that the events will probably generate less money for the organizations. According to the letter, non-profits “are encouraged to think outside the box to create a more profitable fundraising experience,” by holding raffles, Chinese or silent auctions, or selling T-shirts.

The first wine tasting of the season will be a fundraiser for the Longboat Key Garden Club from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Future wine tastings will take place at an earlier time, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

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Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

WAGGING RIGHTS

7A

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

Key business gets the party started for dogs Shannon Gault’s new Pupcake Pooch Parties online business allows humans and canines to celebrate any occasion together.

Shadow and B.B. Gault didn’t have birthday parties last year.

But, doggonit, they’re gonna party this year.

Shadow’s birthday is in November. The miniature greyhound might scarf down a pupcake — a dog cupcake that humans can enjoy as well — and sport an aloha shirt.

B.B.’s birthday is in February. The miniature pinscher will probably get a new dress and might also have some of her favorite apple-banana cake.

The treats, attire and dogthemed decorations will come from owner Shannon Gault’s new business, Pupcake Pooch Parties, pupcakepoochparties. com, which provides all the treats humans and dogs need to party together.

“Anything that humans can have a party for can include dogs,” Gault said.

There’s no reason not to include a dog in something like a football party, according to Gault. Why wouldn’t man’s best friend get a party invite?

Plus, canine-centered events such as dog birthday parties, weddings and even puppy showers to show off the new dog in the family, have become popular in recent years.

Gault, 66, who spent 10 years as director of marketing at Sea World, first came up with the

Robin Hartill

B.B. Gault, left, and Shadow Gault, right, with their owner, Shannon Gault, pose for a picture before wolfing down their dog cakes. business idea in February. She was looking for a business to generate extra income because “no one ever goes into retirement with twice as much money as they need.”

She had started baking Shadow and B.B. treats using recipes she found online using healthy

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ingredients such as apples, banana and pumpkin because they didn’t like the treats from chain pet-supply stores.

She thought of just selling dog treats, but the profit margin would have only been $1 or $2 per package.

Last February, during a drive

to Orlando, Gault thought up a business plan that would allow dogs to share the entire party experience with their owners — not just with treats, but with clothing, balloons and confetti, along with dog-themed paper plates, napkins and cups for human partygoers.

The website, pupcakepoochparties.com, recently launched and will soon be taking online orders. She recruited some of the island’s most prominent pooches to model with B.B. and Shadow: Commissioner Lynn Larson’s Yorkshire terrier, Muffin; outgoing Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President John Wild’s beagle, Ripley; and Realtor Marnie Matarese’s doberman Elvis Hovis.

Pupcakes are available for about what you would pay for human-only cupcakes: $8.95 for six mini cupcakes and $11.95 for four regular size pupcakes. Dog cakes are priced from $8.95 for two mini cakes to $26.95 for the largest dog cake.

Other treats are available such as fresh-baked Squirrelz — “Just once a dog’s gotta catch a squirrel!” the website states about the squirrel-shaped treats — and fresh-baked Gatorz (because Gault is a University of Florida Gator), priced at $6.95 and $7.95, respectively, for a half-dozen.

Doggy dresses and aloha shirts are priced at about what you would pay for a casual human shirt: $24.95.

For Gault, the venture com-

bines several longtime interests.

Her first foray into business came at age 10 when she used Bisquick mix to bake cupcakes and sell them around her neighborhood — the start of her lifelong love of cooking.

She’s also a self-described “fabric junkie.”

She also learned a lot about animal behavior during her time at Sea World.

How do you market to a dog?

Well, the treats have a secret ingredient that dogs can quickly sniff out: peanut butter.

“For a dog, it’s all about the nose,” Gault said.

Plus, dogs don’t like to have their heads covered or have long costumes in which their legs or tails can become tangled. That’s why none of the costumes will have hats, wigs or any other dog dressings that might appeal to humans but not so much to dogs.

Gault is learning about Internet marketing and plans to start a direct mail campaign to Florida dog clubs.

Still, this business is just as much about the humans as the dogs.

“It’s kind of an emotional product,” said Gault’s husband, Bob. “I’m not selling a product,” Gault said, “I’m selling fun.”

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LONGBOAT Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Observer opinion | our view LONGBOAT

The property amendments

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Editor & CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@ yourobserver.com Executive Editor / Lisa Walsh, lwalsh@ yourobserver.com Chief Digital Officer / Emily Walsh Parry, ewalsh@yourobserver.com Deputy Executive Editor / Jessica Luck, jluck@ yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Kurt Schultheis, kschultheis@ yourobserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Randi Donahue, rdonahue@yourobserver.com Assistant Managing Editor/Design / Nancy Schwartz, nschwartz@yourobserver.com City Editor / Robin Hartill, rhartill@yourobserver. com Senior Editor / Dora Walters, dwalters@ yourobserver.com Web Editor / Eddie Kirsch, ekirsch@yourobserver. com Black Tie Editor / Loren Mayo, lmayo@ yourobserver.com Arts & Entertainment Editor / Mallory Gnaegy, mgnaegy@yourobserver.com Staff Photographer / Rachel O’Hara, rohara@ yourobserver.com Copy Editor / Maria Amodio, mamodio@ yourobserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, jraleigh@ yourobserver.com East County Advertising Manager /Lori Ruth, lruth@yourobserver.com; Digital Sales Manager / Kathleen O’Hara, kohara@yourobserver.com Sales Manager / Rosemary Felton, rfelton@ yourobserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, lritter@yourobserver.com; Advertising Executives / Victoria Baga, vbaga@yourobserver.com; Cynthia Berloni, cberloni@yourobserver.com; Penny DiGregorio, pdigregorio@yourobserver.com; Darcy Jahn, djahn@yourobserver.com; Chris Kelley, ckelley@ yourobserver.com; Robert Lewis, blewis@ yourobserver.com; Rose Mango, rmango@ yourobserver.com; Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@ yourobserver.com; Kenji Trujillo, ktrujillo@ yourobserver.com Sales & Marketing Coordinator / Leslie Gnaegy, lgnaegy@yourobserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Managers / Susan Leedom, sleedom@yourobserver.com; Rachel Livingston, rlivingston@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executives/ Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com; Courtney Callahan, ccallahan@yourobserver.com Interactive Art Director / Caleb Stanton, cstanton@yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@yourobserver.com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@yourobserver.com; Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@yourobserver.com; Chris Stolz, cstolz@ yourobserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Keisacker, lkeisacker@yourobserver.com Accounting Manager / Lori Downey, ldowney@ yourobserver.com Accounting Assistant / Kathy Klein, kklein@ yourobserver.com Administration-Subscriptions Coordinator / Donna Condon, dcondon@yourobserver.com ©Copyright The Observer Group Inc. 2012 All Rights Reserved

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Frederic Bastiat, the great French economic journalist of the 1840s, would be launching into tirades on talk radio today if he were asked to analyze the proposed constitutional amendments on Florida’s Nov. 6 ballot.

Milton Friedman, the late, great American economist, wouldn’t go into tirades. His personality wasn’t that way. Friedman instead would merely point out, in an even-toned way, the stupidity of the overall condition.

Bastiat, the author of “The Law,” a short book that should be required reading in all American schools, would say the proposed amendments demonstrate as most laws do that: “The law has been perverted by the influence of two entirely different causes: stupid greed and false philanthropy.”

And Friedman would say the 11 proposed amendments merely prove once again Friedman’s rule of laws, as he spelled out in his famous book, “Free to Choose”: That is, that well-meaning lawmakers create laws to right a perceived wrong for the benefit of a special group. Inevitably, though, these new laws almost always create unintended consequences that cause the well-meaning lawmakers to create more laws to right the unintended consequences of the first laws.

And so on and so on. An endless train of laws.

Perverted laws, Bastiat would say. Laws perverted that make the plunder of others legal.

This is especially so when you look at the five proposed amendments that address property taxes — Amendments 2, 4, 9, 10 and 11. All of these amendments, if approved, either would confer special benefits on special groups or attempt to right the unintended consequences of previously approved laws.

To a degree, all of the amendments meet the crucial standard we require for “yes” votes on the amendments — that is, if approved they would increase Floridians’ individual freedom. Unfortunately, each amendment would increase freedom only for some Floridians because they will reduce taxes for special groups. (Lower taxation increases freedom.)

In other words, parts of these amendments, unfortunately, will create subsidies for a special few at the expense of the many. This is bad lawmaking — perverted but legal plunder, Bastiat would say. But as you will read below, the lawmakers who crafted these proposed amendments did so to create forced philanthropy for truly special groups — combat-wounded veterans; surviving spouses of deceased military veterans and first responders; and low-income seniors.

How can you say “no” to them?

Amendment 2

Veterans disabled due to combat injury; homestead property tax discount

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article VII and the creation of Section 32 of Article XII of the state constitution to expand the availability of the property discount on the homesteads of veterans who became disabled as the result of a combat injury to include those who were not Florida residents when they entered the military and schedule the

amendment to take effect Jan. 1, 2013.

Already a part of the state constitution is the law that gives a property-tax discount on homesteaded property owned and lived in by combat-wounded veterans age 65 or older who are partially or totally permanently disabled, were residents of Florida at the time of entering the military service and who were honorably discharged from the military.

The discount is a percentage equal to the percentage of the veteran’s serviceconnected disability as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Amendment 2 proposes to make a small change, but one that would significantly widen the number of eligible veterans and likely attract other combat-wounded veterans to Florida. Here’s the change: The amendment would remove the requirement that the veteran must have been a Florida resident at the time of entering the military.

This would allow any combat-wounded veteran age 65 or older and a property owner who resides permanently in Florida to receive an additional homestead exemption-property-tax break.

Typically, we are adamantly opposed to any government subsidies for any group.

But veterans wounded in the protection of our nation are not just any group. They deserve this small benefit.

Recommendation: Yes.

Amendment 4

Property-tax limitations; property-value decline; reduction for non-homestead assessment increases; delay of scheduled repeal.

Proposing amendments to Sections 4 and 6 of Article VII and Section 27 of Article XII and the creation of Sections 32 and 33 of Article XII of the State Constitution to allow the Legislature by general law to prohibit increases in the assessed value of homestead and specified non-homestead property if the just value of the property decreases, reduce the limitation on annual assessment increases applicable to non-homestead real property, provide an additional homestead exemption for owners of homestead property who have not owned homestead property for a specified time before purchase of the current homestead property, and application and limitations with respect thereto, delay the future repeal of provisions limiting annual assessment increases for specified non-homestead real property, and provide effective dates.

Lawmakers should be tarred, feathered and kicked in the rears for voting this proposed amendment onto the ballot.

Florida judges in recent years routinely have removed proposed amendments from the ballot for violating the rule that restricts proposed amendments to one subject.

This one addresses four.

Yes, they’re all related to property taxes, but each part of the amendment relates to a different aspect of the current state

THE CASTAWAY by Jorge Blanco

constitution. What’s more, unless voters are inclined to research the details of each part — and most voters, in our view, are not likely to do so — there is a high likelihood voters won’t really understand what they are voting for or against or the consequences of their vote.

Perhaps the saving grace of this amendment is that if you read the amendment summary closely, it has key words that signal this amendment overall is a benefit to taxpayers and that it will limit government’s power to tax. Consider these key words and phrases: • “… law to prohibit increases in the assessed value …”

• “… reduce the limitation on annual assessment increases …”

• “… provide an additional homestead exemption …”

• “… delay the future repeal … limiting annual assessment increases …”

So let’s translate each of the four parts: Part 1: The first part of the amendment addresses a provision in the law that allows property appraisers to increase the assessed taxable value on your property even in times when the just value (or market value) declines — as occurred in many instances in the most recent recession.

For instance, say your home carried an assessed value of $500,000 and a market value of $600,000. Now say the recession dropped your market value to $570,000.

You would think your assessed value would fall or stay the same. But Florida law allows property appraisers to increase the assessed value on homesteaded properties at the lesser of 3% or the CPI even when market values fall.

This amendment would stop that. It’s a benefit to taxpayers.

Part II: This would reduce the maximum allowable property-tax increase on nonhomesteaded properties (i.e. all commercial buildings and snowbirds’ residences) from 10% to 5%.

Ever since the “Save Our Homes” amendment was adopted in 1992, this was one of gross inequities of that amendment.

While the maximum assessment on homesteaded residences could be 3% per year, there previously was no limit on how high assessments could rise on nonhomesteaded properties.

During the boom, snowbirds and commercial property owners almost rioted when they saw appraisers increase their annual taxable assessments 12%, 15% and higher.

Voters subsequently placed a 10% cap on the increase. This amendment proposes that cap be limited to a maximum increase of 5% on non-homesteaded properties.

This would be another boost to freedom and the Florida economy, improving the value and attractiveness of owning Florida real estate.

Part III: This portion of the amendment proposes a new tax benefit for full-time resident home buyers who have not received the homestead exemption in the three years prior to their purchase. The benefit: a homestead exemption equal to 50% of the market value of the purchased home (capped at the median market value of homes in the county). This exemption

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

AMENDMENT 9

Homestead property-tax exemption for surviving spouse of military veteran or first responder

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article VII and the creation of Section 32 of Article XII of the state constitution to allow the Legislature by general law to provide ad-valorem homestead property tax relief to the surviving spouse of a military veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty or a surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty, provide definitions with respect thereto, and provide an effective date.

To argue against this amendment would be throwing yourself into the lion’s den. Unlike most subsidies, this would not be an unearned benefit.

However … the benefit should stop here. Knowing how lawmakers

Watch for the Observer Voter Guide in the Oct. 18 edition and online at YourObserver.com.

AMENDMENT 11 behave, it likely won’t. For now …

Recommendation: Yes.

AMENDMENT 10

Tangible personal property-tax exemption

Proposing an amendment to Section 3 of Article VII and the creation of Section 32 of Article XII of the state constitution to provide an additional exemption from ad valorem taxes on tangible personal property valued at more than $25,000 but less than $50,000, to authorize a county or municipality to provide an additional exemption from ad valorem taxation for tangible personal property by ordinance as provided by general law and to provide an effective date.

If only this proposed amendment went all the way — completely eliminating Florida’s dreaded tangible personal-property tax. It’s one of the most-hated state taxes among Florida’s millions of small businesses.

We like what Lee County Property Appraiser Kenneth Wilkinson, author of the famous “Save Our Homes” amendment, told our sister paper, the Gulf Coast Business Review, about the tangible personalproperty tax. He says it’s a form of double taxation. When a business owner in Florida buys equipment valued at more than $25,000, he pays a sales tax of 6% or 7% on the equipment and then must pay the tangible property tax annually thereafter.

Think of what this transfer of cash from the small business to the government does to the economy.

Rather than allow the business access to that capital to invest in more productive equipment to grow its business and, presumably, create more jobs, instead that capital flows into and through the coffers of the government bureaucrats. They take their piece of that tax to pay themselves and then redistribute what’s left to administer some government program that typically is less efficient than the private sector. Here again, Bastiat would go crazy.

Additional homestead exemption; low-income seniors who maintain long-term residency on property; equal to assessed value

Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article VII of the state constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to allow counties and municipalities to grant an additional homestead tax exemption equal to the assessed value of homestead property, if the property has a just value lower than a specified amount, to an owner who has maintained permanent residency on the property for a specified duration, who has attained age 65, and whose household income does not exceed a specified amount.

This amendment would give counties and municipalities the ability to eliminate the assessment of property taxes on homesteaded Floridians over age 65 who have maintained permanent residency in the state for 25 or more years, whose properties are assessed at less than $250,000 and whose household income is less than $27,030.

This is one of those tear-jerker, how-can-you-refuse benefits for low-income seniors. In colder terms it’s conferring another special exception to a special group.

Arguing against this is like saying let widows and orphans starve.

The truth of the matter is this amendment, if approved, is not going to benefit many people. The Legislature’s Revenue Estimating Conference said if all Florida counties and municipalities enacted the measure (and they won’t), it might cost $9 million a year in lost property-tax revenue.

Recommendation: Yes. The moral of these amendments is this: As long as we have elected lawmakers, we will have legal plunder, perverted taxation and constitutional amendments conferring benefits to a few via Florida’s property-tax laws. It’s enough to make you question the efficacy of property taxation to begin with.

Next week: Amendments 1, 3, 5, 8, 12

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This proposed amendment easily meets our increased-freedom test.

Lower taxes increases individual freedom.

Recommendation: Yes.

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would be reduced 20% a year for five years.

In typical legislative fashion, this portion of the amendment confers a special unearned benefit on a small group of homebuyers. Obviously, it is designed to spur home buying, which would help the economy. But here again, it’s a lousy, unnecessary, perverted subsidy.

Part IV: The last part of this proposed amendment would extend from 2019 to 2023 the period property appraisers must limit increases in assessed values to no more than 5% on non-homestead properties. That’s a good thing.

State analysts estimate this proposed amendment could cost taxing authorities up to $616 million in recurring lost revenues statewide.

Either counties, municipalities and school districts would have to cut their spending; shift the burden to other taxpayers; or create a combination of cuts and shifts.

What analysts do not estimate is how much new economic activity and tax revenues these tax savings would create.

Altogether, this amendment offers three fixes to unintended consequences of previous amendments, while at the same time it is negatively tainted by the perverted 50% tax-break for home buyers. The good (more freedom for taxpayers, more limits on government) outweighs the bad.

Recommendation: Yes.

9A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR + I support commissioners Dear Editor: This communication is to offer support for the decisions made by the Longboat Key commissioners regarding the Longboat Key Club and Resort plan. I believe that the town code needed to be revised to reflect the Longboat Key of 2012.

I feel that the expansion of the Longboat Key Club’s business will help support tourism and property values on the key.

Ann Gove Zaltman Longboat Key

+ To the commission Dear Editor: We believe the majority of Longboat Key residents are in support of the Town Commission and its efforts to enable the Longboat Key Club and Resort expansion, and that Longboat Key should not be held back from its true promise by a vocal, but nonetheless minority, of its residents.

Accordingly, we support the Town Commission’s effort to bring our codes into the 21st century, and there is no reason to believe that the Key will in any way be diminished by having codes and ordinances that are consistent with 21st century values. The proposed changes will benefit all of Longboat Key. We support the Town Commission and its willingness to research, study and make the nec-

essary changes to our codes to help increase our property values and restore our Key to what it once was. I would like to see my property value increase and believe that town codes that are easy to understand and follow will facilitate that desire and will be beneficial to us and all Longboat Key property owners.

We also believe that these changes will help broaden the town’s tax base which will serve to provide town revenues that otherwise would be obtained by increasing taxes on residential real-estate tax.

We believe most Longboaters are tired of this vocal minority needlessly consuming town resources to prevent the Key Club from making much needed investments, if it is to avoid following in the footprints of the Colony.

If this misguided minority were allowed to prevail, sometime in the future it is highly likely that the town would be in the position of having to offer major incentives to obtain the very investment in our town that the Key Club is willing to do now with no incentives.

In this scenario, we see that instead of obtaining an increased tax base and increased tax revenue with corresponding relief to residential owners, we would be in the position of having to significantly increase residential real estate taxes to offset the loss from not expanding the tax base

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

AND the cost of the incentives to attract this same investment in the future.

We believe the Town Commission is following its mission of working for the betterment of all of Longboat Key. We applaud your efforts and believe those that oppose your efforts need to get out of the way and let you do your job. We need these code changes not just for the modernization of the Key Club but also to allow the modernization of all of our aging stock of properties.

If these changes are not made, we risk seeing our real-estate values stagnate or potentially decline. That would be a sad situation for what has traditionally been an elite retirement community and certainly must be at variance with what the majority of LBK residents want for themselves.

David & Marcia Gutridge Longboat Key

+ Learn how to park Dear Editor: As someone who vacations once or twice a year in the Bradenton-Sarasota area and enjoys my visits to St. Armands Circle to dine and to shop, I was appalled when I read your editorial about people being ticketed for minor parking offenses. “That’s no way to treat your customers,” I thought.

I was even more appalled, however, when, on my recent visit to St. Armands Circle, I saw how so many people made absolutely no effort to park properly.

I could not count the number of cars, many of them SUVs, that were jutting out into traffic or crossing the parking lines, selfishly taking up more than one

parking slot, forcing other people trying to park to wedge their cars into tight spaces.

As long as these selfish, lazy people make no effort to park properly, I applaud the Sarasota police for writing as many tickets as they can. Maybe if they started towing these poorly parked cars, it would get their attention.

Edmund Fountaine, Oakdale, N.Y.

+ Let us vote Dear Editor: Various people who want the Key Club to expand claim the majority of people do desire it.

I suggest that the registered homeowners of Longboat Key be given the opportunity to vote on this item. Ergo, once and for all, we will have our answer.

I. Bert Spiegel Longboat Key

+ Is there no middle ground?

Dear Editor: A combination of factors has led to our current troubles, not the least of which is the general economy. However, other areas of the country are growing. Texas did not have a major slow- down.

Having owned on this beautiful island for more than 18 years, it saddens my family and me greatly to see the emptiness of our commercial spaces, especially on the north end.

My children used to love to walk across the street to the Buccaneer, where we kept our 36foot sailboat (and upon which we slept, occasionally, if we were going fishing in the morning, and, sure, we miss the activity of all the visiting boats coming and going), or along the beach to the

Holiday Inn game room.

Not to mention the horrible dark gray sand that has replaced our sugar white sand. No, we don’t long for the good old days (except for the good sand that was promised but not delivered).

It is sad that the exorbitant property taxation, without representation, stimulated the sales for condo conversion. Now those and other places that had been active are virtually empty, yearround.

The no growth-ers have won.

If they like no growth so much, I suggest they move to Detroit. Not that I am a developer, or am rabid for growth. But nothing ever stays the same. Surely Longboat Key was vastly different in 1994, when we bought, than it was in 1976. Just as it is different now.

If we are not green and growing, are we ripe and rotting? Is there no middle ground?

Mitch Levin Longboat Key

+ Let’s get on with it Dear Editor: Our sincere thanks to you and Mayor Jim Brown for your articulate arguments on the critical importance of the Longboat Key Club and Resort’s proposed upgrade investment of its property.

This is, obviously, to the benefit of Longboat Key property values and to reverse our island’s downward economic trend. Unquestionably, a vast majority of Longboat residents are in favor of this project because we all have a financial and local business support interest in this world-class property improvement. So, let’s get on with it!

Bob and Shannon Gault Longboat Key

Hal & Hazel Lenobel

Appreciation Day

Golf Tournament & Family Picnic Date: Time:

Place:

Sunday, October 21, 2012 Golf tournament shotgun start at 8am Harbourside Golf Course Picnic from 11am to 3pm Longboat Key Club & Resort Harborside Dining Room & Lawn

125

$

Golf & Picnic

25

$

Picnic

Proceeds to benefit the Joe Turnesa Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County* BBq Chicken & Pork • Hamburgers & Hot Dogs • Fresh Vegetables & Salads Pies & Cakes • Watermelon & Ice Cream • Beer & Wine Putting Contest • Sack Race • Watermelon Eating Contest • Other Activities Live Entertainment *The Fund supports college scholarships for students who play golf with the Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association.

Special Presentation By

Town Mayor Jim Brown

For reservations call (941) 387-1675

92224

10A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

6841 Peacock Rd #A3936508 Susan Mcleod

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Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

Sept. 18 Sibling solidarity 10:15 p.m. — 500 block of Cutter Lane.

Battery. A man said that another man who lives at his address pushed him during a confrontation about his sister. The man didn’t want to press charges but then began writing a statement when he learned that his sister would be leaving the residence. After speaking with his sister, he ripped up his statement.

Sept. 19 Double dog dare 2:02 p.m. — 3400 block of GMD. Animal/Dog on the Beach. A woman who had two dogs on the beach let them off their leashes. Police gave her a written warning.

Purse pursuit 7:25 p.m. — 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway. Larceny from Business. A woman left her orange purse in a shopping cart at a drugstore and returned a short time later to find the cart empty. Police reviewed surveillance video and saw an unidentified male on a bicycle in the area of the cart but couldn’t see if he took the purse. Police helped the woman cancel her credit cards and searched the area for the purse.

Sept. 20

Corner woman flagged them down to ask for help retrieving a child’s electric vehicle from the water so that it wouldn’t be a navigational hazard. Police helped retrieve it and secured it to the woman’s dock.

Sept. 22 No dogs allowed

9:40 a.m. — Off the Key. Boat. While two police officers were fueling a town boat, a

Sept. 23 Confusion concerns 12:14 a.m. — 1200 block of GMD. Traffic Violation. Police saw a vehicle swerving in its lane and became concerned that the driver could be sick or impaired. The 80-year-old driver was not intoxicated but told police he was slightly confused. Police helped him get home.

Fighting words 4:44 a.m. — 5400 block of GMD. Disturbance. Two men told police they had words with three men who were harassing two females but denied fighting. Those involved in the incident said they were leaving the area and going home.

Branching out 10:46 a.m. — 500 block of Bay Isles

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Road. Property Damage. Police saw a man’s semi-trailer strike a low-hanging limb on a ficus tree, causing several small tree limbs to fall onto a Lexus parked on the side of the road. Police told the semi-trailer driver not to move his vehicle because if the limb broke, it could cause more damage to the Lexus. Police found the Lexus owner at Town Hall. He said that a dent and scratch on the vehicle were not there before.

Credit card found 1:23 p.m. — 5400 block of GMD. Property Found. A town employee reported that a credit card was found in a fire station parking lot. Police were unable to locate

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4:16 p.m. — 400 block of GMD. Fire/Gas Leak. A woman said that her mechanic forgot to tighten the hose underneath her car while doing maintenance work, which caused gas to spill. The woman pumped two gallons of gas at a gas station before realizing that gas was spilling. Firefighters also responded to the scene.

7:31 p.m. — 5700 block of GMD. Animal/Dog on the Beach. Police warned a man who said he was unaware of the town’s ordinance prohibiting dogs on the beach.

Sept. 24

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Sept. 25 Rules were made to be broken 7:48 a.m. — 5500 block of GMD. Animal/Dog Nuisance. A man refused to answer police questions about whether his dog had been off of its leash in a park, saying he could self-incriminate. A caller had reported that the was man riding his bicycle with the dog off its leash, but when police arrived, the dog was on its leash. Police told the man about town ordinances, but the man compared his dog being off the leash to driving 46 mph in a 45 mph zone.

He also said that people are neurotic and parks are meant for playing.

Sept. 26 Time for a change 12:12 p.m. — 6900 block of GMD. Suspicious Person. Police responded to a suspicious incident involving a man in a vehicle parked in a vacant gas station lot who was possibly nude. Police made contact with the man who had moved to a beach access parking area. He said that there were no bathrooms to change in and thought that it would be okay to change clothes in his vehicle. Police told him to find a public restroom next time.

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7:35 p.m. — 7000 block of Longboat Drive N. Soliciting. A man who was selling books and magazines door-to-door told police he was from out of town and didn’t know about the town’s soliciting ordinance. Police told him that he would be arrested if he returned to solicit.

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Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

OUR TOWN

>> Continued from Page 1A

13A

LocaL LuXury. InternatIonaL cLout.

+ Visitor spots rare shell on LBK beach A recent find on the beach across the street from Bayport Beach and Tennis Club left Diane Lewandowski feeling shell shocked.

During a walk on Tuesday, Sept.

25, Lewandowski, who is visiting from Bristol, Ind., found a rare Junonia shell. Typically, the Scaphella junonia, the snail species that inhabits the shell, lives in water between 25 and 200 meters deep, meaning that the shells usually only wash ashore after hurricanes.

The cream-color shells are covered by brown spots.

Lewandowski's shell measured in at just over 4 inches.

Spectacular, private, beachfront, european villa You can't see another neighbor from this 3 bedroom + den, Positano residence...just the white sand beach and the turquoise Gulf waters. The stunning, 3343 sq. ft. villa has an enormous wrap terrace, private stairs to the beach and an additional private 1900 sq. ft. paver garden area.

Only the finest materials have been used throughout.

MLS A3950796

$3,950,000

+ Teen pens ode to Longboat Key Longboat Key resident Wendy Leakeas’ family frequently visits her from Longwood. And those visits inspired Leakeas’ 13-year-old nephew, Vincent Cangimilla, to write the following poem entitled “When I Was Young on Longboat Key” for a recent school project.

When I was young on Longboat Key I was awakened by the buzz of a boat’s motor And smelled the salty air Then the mullet jumping In the narrow canal When I was young on Longboat Key The sight of fishermen’s rods bending Mullet jumping over and over in the distance Soon the power of the fish pulling at my rod And the relief of the fish in my cooler When I was young on Longboat Key The first sunset I have seen Along the beach Here in Longboat Key When I was young on Longboat Key The flakey meat of the freshly caught flounders A hint of salt from the water it has so long lived in Smells of s’mores And marshmallows toasting over the burning fire When I was young on Longboat Key At night we sit and Listen to the fish jump and hit Jump … then hit The wavy water of Boats that drive by the canal When I was young on Longboat Key My last day there On the beach with the fish and crabs Salty water in my mouth The stench of baitfish left to rot On my last day here in Longboat Key When I was young on Longboat Key The days are over Vacations gone All said and done For the last sight I see this year Is the sight of sailboats Sailing free

Fabulous opportunity in this direct bay front Marina Bay condominium This 3524 sq ft residence has a fabulous floor plan designed to take advantage of the stunning panoramic views of the bay and ancient oaks and lives like a bay front home. Newly redesigned the 3 bedroom en suite residence has a large living room wrapped in walls of glass on two sides, separate kitchen & family room & two huge terraces. MLS A3963744

$865,000

Gorgeous, 3600+ sq ft home w/beautiful lake, garden and golf course views This 3BR+den residence features hardwood floors, archways, columns, niches, and faux finishes throughout. The home includes a gourmet kitchen and family room, formal dining and living rooms, a den, master suite and two guest bedroom suites. A pool & spa with cascading waterfall, outdoor kitchen and a pool bath are added luxuries. MLS A3962300

$1,495,000

Magnificent Views of the Gulf to tampa Bay from this Water club Penthouse This furnished 3 bedroom, 4 bath, 3045 sq ft residence will take your breath away when you enter the penthouse from your private skylighted foyer. Walls of glass off the spacious living room lead to the private balcony with miles of fabulous beach and sunset views.

The master retreat with private sitting area has his and hers baths and large walk-in closet. MLS A3963869

$1,995,000

Postmortem

by Ken Ludwig oct. 4 - oct.14

778-5755

eveningS at 8:00 p.m. matineeS oct. 7 & 14 at 2:00 p.m.

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Box office open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Daily, except SunDay

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$200,000 remodel in this modern beach house

Breathtaking & sweeping views of the beach

and sunsets year around can be viewed from this 2 bedroom condominium. The entire, corner location, condominium has been remodeled beautifully with stone tile flooring, two new bathrooms and a new kitchen.

This 3BR/3B beach house is located in the historic village of Longbeach on LBK and has been completely remodeled...everything is new. The home is surrounded by a thriving art center, excellent restaurants, a community boat ramp and fishing pier and is a short walk to the beach.

This third floor, corner, Longboat Key Towers condominium is wrapped in walls of glass to take in the fabulous views. Completely remodeled with a modern beach house feel this condominium is located behind the prestigious Longboat Key Club Islandside.

MLS A3957661

MLS A3963866

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$549,999

$369,000

$950,000

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LongboatHomesForSale

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Wednesday, Oct. 3

Sale for Sails Rummage Fundraiser What: The rummage sale will offer bargains, food and beverages, all with a view to provide scholarships and equipment to young sailors. Only cash will be accepted. For information, contact Paula at 504-5477.

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 6 Where: Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway

Saturday, Oct. 6 Circle Me Pink — begins at 10 a.m. on St. Armands Circle.

The American Cancer Society Inc. will bring in a troupe of volunteers to color the Circle pink to raise money for its “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” event. Call 328-3761.

1703 Ken Thompson Parkway.

Learn about Mote’s many volunteer opportunities and get free coffee as well. For information about volunteering, visit mote. org/volunteer.

DON’T MISS

Buskers on St. Armands — will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on St. Armands Circle. The familyfriendly event takes place on the first Wednesday of each month and brings live visual and performing arts to the Circle. For information, call 388-1554.

Friday, Oct. 19 Night of Fish, Fun & Fright — takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway. Sail the spooky seas and discover creatures from the deep in a safe and fun trickor-treating zone, explore our haunted house, “Dr. FrankinFish’s Lab of Horrors” (recommended for children 8 and older), unearth shark teeth in “Coffin Creek” and enjoy deepsea delights in the “Diner of the Dead.” Tickets are $6 with online registration before Oct. 17; $8 at the door for Mote members; and $10 at the door for non-members.

Children under 4 will be admitted free. Call 388-4441.

email napablue@comcast.net.

File photo

Jim Harwood and Ed Chiles at last year’s Fish Fry.

LOOKING AHEAD Longboat Key Historical Society Old Time Fish Fry When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with dinner served from 6 to 8 p.m, Friday, Oct. 19 Where: Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, 760 Broadway.

Tickets: The event includes your choice of grouper and mullet, along with all the other fish fry favorites, two drinks, entertainment by Blues Pig and a raffle. Tickets are $30 and available at First Bank of Longboat Key, 5390 Gulf of Mexico Drive; Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive; Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, 760 Broadway; and Steff’s Stuff, 5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 101.

Longboat Key Democratic Club — meets from noon to 2 p.m. at the Longboat Key Club and Resort Harbourside Dining Room, 3000 Harbourside Drive.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor will speak at the club’s first luncheon of the 2012-13 season.

Cost is $25. Call 383-4899 or

Wednesday, Oct. 10

Mote Volunteer Coffee and Open House — takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, at Mote’s Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center,

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR

14A

Vote Smart

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Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

15A

Proudly Presenting The Best Of

LONGBOAT KEY & SURROUNDS 1

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3950 Gulf of Mexico Drive $1,100,000 Teri Sax 941.228.5578 sothebysrealty.com/id/A3952045

102 Mangrove Avenue Cheryl Loeffler sothebysrealty.com/id/A3965975

941.302.9674 $4,495,000

741 Binnacle Point Drive Jaci Krawtschenko sothebysrealty.com/id/A3957455

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455 Longboat Club Road, PH2 Mark Huber sothebysrealty.com/id/A3965453

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1605 71st Street NW Shellie Young sothebysrealty.com/id/A3957322

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415 L’Ambiance Dr., C303 $1,690,000 Cheryl Loeffler 941.302.9674

775 Longboat Club Rd., 403 $1,399,900 Dennis Girard 941.809.0041

4401 Gulf of Mexico Dr., PH2 $1,195,000 Valerie Dall’Acqua 941.445.7295

530 Yardarm Lane Judie Berger

7030 Firehouse Road Cheryl Loeffler

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603 Longboat Club Rd., N-802 $975,000 Sheldon Paley 941.356.1857

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SIESTA KEY 5440 Avenida Del Mare Judie Berger

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

tidy tides

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

Sarasota Bay Watch holds annual cleanup

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Marine biology students from Sarasota High School went on the Carefree Learner Saturday, Sept.

29, during the third Sarasota Bay Watch monofilament cleanup.

Sarah Harvey pets Sweetpea, one of the pelicans from Save Our Seabirds.

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Lee Fox, of Save Our Seabirds, uses a foam cutout of a heron to explain what to do if volunteers run into a bird caught in monofilament.

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Pilar Guillen pulls monofilament out of a tree.

Jennifer Moore pulls fishing line and a lure from a tree.

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Volunteers scoured Sarasota Bay for discarded monofilament fishing line, which can be hazardous to birds and other wildlife, during Sarasota Bay Watch’s third monofilament cleanup Saturday, Sept. 29. Save Our Seabirds, the Audubon Society and students from Sarasota High School’s marine biology class were some of the 70 volunteers who took part in the cleanup.

The volunteers took boats, kayaks and the Carefree Learner to different parts of the bay, from Longboat to Siesta Key. Following the cleanup, volunteers enjoyed a barbecue lunch at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

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Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

model behavior

OBITUARIES

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

BKYC members show passion for fashion

Gloria Buckner-Truitt

Gloria Buckner-Truitt, of Freedom Village and formerly of Longboat Key, died Sept. 23. She was 86 years old.

Born Feb. 19, 1926, in Indianapolis, Mrs. Buckner-Truitt attended Shortridge High School and married George Buckner in 1951. She moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., where she was a homemaker and mother of three who was active in community theater and the Women’s Medical Auxiliary.

She loved writing poetry and humorous articles and was published many times.

After the deaths of her husband and youngest son, Gregory, she married Milburn Truitt in 1990, and they moved to Longboat Key, where she continued to be active in arts and music circles.

Mrs. Buckner-Truitt immersed herself in her friends and mastered mahjongg after Mr. Truitt died in 1996. She also established Jazz Sunday at Longboat Island Chapel as a tribute to Mr. Truitt, a tradition that continues today.

Mrs. Buckner-Truitt is survived by her son, Michael Buckner, of Miami Beach; daughter, Deborah Buckner, of St. Augustine; and one grandson.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Buckner-Truitt’s name to the Humane Society of Manatee County, 2515 14th St. W., Bradenton, Fla., 34205.

There were 100 guests at Bird Key Yacht Club’s monthly style show Thursday, Sept. 27, but the models didn’t show any signs of stage fright in front of the large audience. The 10 models, all BKYC members, strutted their stuff in fall fashions from Chico’s and Soma like runway veterans.

The lunch that preceded the fashion show was salmon in a lemon buerre blanc sauce followed by a pear tatin with cinnamon ice cream. The next fashion show will take place Thursday, Oct. 29.

Karen Gallagher

Marie-Claire Steinberg, Sally Jaret and Lola Keeler

17A

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

WORSHIP SERVICES All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road, will hold Sunday worship services at 8 and 10 a.m. The Rev. David Danner is the rector.

383-8161.

Gerri Fisherkeller and Anita Orwig

Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian USA, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will hold Sunday worship services at 10 a.m. The Rev. Bruce Porter is the pastor. 383-8833.

Karen Weber and Jill McMullen

Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will hold Sunday worship services at 10 a.m. 3836491.

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive, will hold contemporary Sunday worship services at 9 a.m. and traditional Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. The Rev. Mark Bernthal is the pastor. 388-1234.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will hold daily Mass at 9 a.m.

Monday through Friday, Saturday Mass at 5 p.m. and Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Msgr.

Gerard Finegan is the pastor. 383-1255.

Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, will hold Margaret Ferguson, Diane Martin-Gaillet and Marlene de Vazeille

Shabbat services at 8 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m.

Saturdays. Jonathan Katz is the rabbi. 383-3428.

Karen Cogbill

Come join us as you travel your journey of faith.

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Sunday Worship Service

92428

An InterfAIth CommunIty ChurCh founded In 1956

10:00 a.m.

The Rev. Charlie Shook, Preacher Sermon: “Promises! Promises!”

The Community Church on Longboat Key

6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Florida 34228 Telephone: 383-6491 web: www.longboatislandchapel.org

The LORD’S WAREHOUSE Thrift Shop is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Donate or purchase clothing, jewelry, furniture and other items. (941-383-4738)

All Angels by the Sea

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

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The Episcopal Church on Longboat Key

The Rev. David L. Danner, D. Min., Rector

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The Reverend Dr. Bruce Porter Sunday Service 10:00AM Sermon “The Long Table”

Share Shabbat and more: 941.383.3428 www.tbi-lbk.org 92290

6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive • 383.8833 • www.christchurchoflbk.org

4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 383-1255

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Friday Evening, 8:00 pm Fourth Friday of the Month, 5:30 pm Saturday Morning, 10:00 am Please visit our Judaica Shop

567 Bay Isles Road • Longboat Key, FL

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Sunday Services

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Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM Daily Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM Confession before all weekend Masses Msgr. Gerard Finegan, Pastor

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All are welcome. Please join us in worship!

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

SERVICES

Find a mover in the Observer Classifieds.

PAGE 29A

historic moment

REAL ESTATE

WEATHER

A Manchester Bay home sells for $2 million.

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See this week’s weather photo contest winner.

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

Photo courtesy of Jack Elka

The Longboat Key Club and Resort celebrated 30 years of operation Monday, Oct. 1.

‘Celebration of a dream’ The opening of the Inn on the Beach hotel 30 years ago marked the fulfillment of John Ringling’s dream for a grand hotel on the north end that was abandoned more than half a century earlier.

Top Arvida Corp. officials flew in from around the United States; each was seeking a first look at the pristine new beachfront hotel.

It was the final week of September 1982, and the Inn on the Beach hotel had finally been completed, more than six years after the Longboat Key Town Commission approved plans for the Longboat Key Club, which would have a resort at the center, serving as the hub of its activity.

The hotel welcomed its first guests Oct. 4, 1982, including a conference group from Eastern Airlines.

In the following months, parties and golf and tennis tournaments celebrated the new resort.

“They had a big shindig,” said Richard “Sam” Barlow, who began working for Arvida in 1970 and today serves as the Key Club’s irrigation technician. “The mayor was invited. I remember that. A lot of the locals came out.”

Longboat Key Director of Tennis John Woods remembers the celebratory tennis tournament that drew big names such as Rod

INSIDE • Key Club timeline / Page 20A • 30-year employees / PAGE 19A • Celebrities who have stayed at the resort / PAge 21A

Photo courtesy of the Longboat Key Club and Resort

In 1980, Arvida got permission to begin construction on the Key Club’s hotel. Two years later, the first hotel guests arrived.

Laver, Roy Emerson and Fred Stolle, along with a dinner dance in which Larry Elgart and his band played.

The three-month kick-off period was titled “Celebration of a Dream.”

Dreaming big

Arvida officials weren’t the first to dream big for Longboat Key’s

south end.

A January 1983 advertisement for Inn on the Beach paid homage to the man whose big dreams never came to fruition.

The promise that was made ahead of its time came in the form of a luxury hotel on the land that is now the home of the Chart House Restaurant in 1926 that was to become a Ritz-Carlton

hotel.

Instead, John Ringling ran out of money as Florida’s land boom burst in the late 1920s. Ringling abandoned the hotel, which was approximately 90 days away from completion.

The hotel languished for the next three-and-a-half decades, dubbed the “Ghost Hotel” by locals. It was an eyesore and a known hangout for local teenagers.

Then, in 1959, Arthur Vining Davis, a 92-year-old aluminum mogul, set his sights on Longboat Key. He formed a development company and named it Arvida, combining the first two letters of his first, middle and last names, then for $13.5 million purchased 2,000 acres, including the south half of Longboat Key, most of Lido Key, and all of Bird, Otter

and Coon keys.

The sale was the largest realestate deal in Sarasota history.

Shortly after the deal was announced in 1959, a Sarasota Herald-Tribune article contemplated the possibilities the deal carried, including the completion of Ringling’s hotel.

“Arvida has in its hands the future of Sarasota,” a top local Realtor, who had searched for a buyer and developer of the hotel and believed it to be structurally sound, told the newspaper. “If the project is done well, it will be of benefit to all who live here. If it is done badly, it will be disastrous.”

In the early 1960s, Arvida considered completing Ringling’s hotel, but 33 years of neglect made that impossible. Instead, the company demolished the hotel in 1962 and 1963.

The company then began a massive development program throughout the Key, clearing land, digging a perimeter canal “and coming before the Town

SEE KEY CLUB / PAGE 21A

Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

PEARLS OF WISDOM

19A

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

Key Club’s long-term staffers share highlights These five Longboat Key Club and Resort employees were there from the beginning — 30 years ago. Some began their positions even earlier in jobs with Arvida Corp. Now, these long-time employees reflect on the Key Club’s pearl anniversary.

Richard ‘Sam’ Barlow Title: Irrigation technician First day: May 11, 1970, as one of three Arvida Corp. landscape workers • Richard “Sam” Barlow is on the golf course most days by 5 a.m.

• He’s been showing up for work there every day since May 11, 1970 — back when the Islandside Golf Course was the Longboat Key Golf Club, and Harbourside wasn’t even a sketch on a developer’s pad.

• But, after 42 years around the golf course, Barlow has only played the game twice: Once he played the course with six balls and 154 strokes; the second time, he played nine holes in 93 strokes. “That’s absolutely lousy,” Barlow said. Although Barlow’s golf game isn’t up to par, he’s a pro when it comes to fixing anything and everything; he makes replacement parts for a complicated four-pipe system himself whenever they break because many are no longer available. In fact, his supervisor, John Reilly, director of agronomy at the Key Club, describes him as “a modernday MacGyver.”

• Reilly enjoys watching people play on the golf course and has seen many of the resort’s prominent guests over the years.

• Although, usually he has seen celebrity visitors from a distance, he had one VIP encounter that he’ll always remember. “On the morning of Sept. 11, George Bush jogged right past while I was out here working on a sprinkler,” Barlow said. “He said, ‘Good morning,’ and I said, ‘Hello.’ I thought that was pretty cool.”

• With a 42-tenure at a 30-year-old resort, Barlow is the Key Club’s longest-serving employee. And two years ago, in honor of his 40th anniversary, he got something that showed his VIP status.

• The Key Club marked a service road in the maintenance area with a sign that reads “Barlow Boulevard.” “That’s something really neat,” Barlow said. “Someday I will leave, and when I do leave, I will take the sign with me.”

John Woods Title: Director of tennis First day: July 1976 • John Woods has held the same title since he was hired by the Longboat Key Club in July 1976: director of tennis. “I can’t get

ahead,” he jokes.

• His title may not have changed, but the facilities that he oversees have transformed during his 36 years of service.

• Woods was working in the 1970s at the Westside Tennis Club in Houston, but after a long, rainy season, he began sending resumes out to facilities in California and Florida. He got hired by the Country Club of Sarasota, which he helped to open. But the opening got off to a slow start, so Woods took the Key Club up on the job offer it had made to him.

• When Woods got started, the Key Club was just beginning its tennis programs. It didn’t have membership. It was a semi-private club where the public could pay to play tennis and golf.

• The early days were slow. Woods oversaw the set-up of the pro shop and start up tennis programs; he made lots of phone calls to get people to check out the tennis facilities. “I loved the late ’70s and early ’80s,” Woods said. “We got a great number of members at the time, and (the Key Club) put a lot into allowing me to grow the tennis.”

• In recent years, the tennis facilities have seen new developments, such as the opening of the $4.2 million Tennis Gardens facility and hosting the Sarasota Open each spring.

“We’ve gotten some really great players,” Woods said.

Ruth Rogers Title: Lead accounts payable clerk First day: July 11, 1980, with Arvida Corp., as a landscaping accounting clerk • As the Key Club’s development sprouted up, Ruth Rogers saw it from behind the scenes. She started the job as a landscaping accounting clerk with Arvida Corp. two years before what is now the Longboat Key Club and Resort opened. The company she had worked for previously out of SarasotaBradenton International Airport had closed, and her friend saw the accounting clerk position in a newspaper advertisement. Rogers was happy to find a job in accounting, a field she enjoyed. “The only thing that was here was the Islandside golf and tennis facilities,” Rogers said. “The main office was at 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, and there was no hotel, and nothing at Harbourside was developed

yet. It was very exciting to see the hotel being built. Things just grew from there as far as the development.”

• Rogers said that the best part of her job is “working in paradise.” “It is a very beautiful and inclusive property,” Rogers said. “It was exciting to see the growth of the company from the time I started to the present day. A lot has changed.”

Sally Krause Title: Server First day: Summer 1982 • Sally Krause was one of the many staffers hired to work at the Key Club’s Islandside facilities as it neared completion in 1982.

• In April, as Krause prepared to celebrate 30 years with the Key Club, she shared some of her favorite memories with the Longboat Observer.

• She recalled a circus wedding reception at the Island House, in which one of the decorations was a trapeze, and another circus party held in the present location of L’Ambiance in which some guests arrived by helicopter and servers wore black and white and were made up with clown faces.

• Krause said that she enjoys the many weddings she has worked and meeting different people. “Being here for so many years, the children I once served are grown, and now I am serving their children,” she said in April.

Mary Kay Ryan Title: Director of marketing First day: Dec. 8, 1982, as a clerk/typist • Mary Kay Ryan was a recent college graduate working at a Sarasota accounting office in 1982 when her dad mentioned a big hotel being built on Longboat Key. She applied for a job and got hired two months after its opening. “We had our Christmas party on my first day of work,” Ryan said.

• Like Sally Krause, Ryan remembers the giant circus party in the late 1980s where L’Ambiance is located today. According to Ryan, it was thrown by the Cigar Association of America and was the biggest event the Key Club had ever put on at that point, complete with lions, tigers and elephants.

• Another of Ryan’s fondest memories dates

back to 1994 when the Key Club hosted its first Florida Winefest & Auction, which included a black-tie dinner for 900 people.

“We had never undertaken anything of that magnitude where every single person on staff had to work,” Ryan said. “All of us managers were wine runners. We had never taken on something of that scope. I was just so wowed and amazed that not only did we accomplish that, we accomplished it beautifully.”

• The Key Club has hosted scores of prominent guests over the past 30 years. Ryan said that many staffers were especially excited when Aerosmith was based at the Key Club for four or five weeks of its 1993-94 “Get a Grip” tour. They spent lots of time around the resort and were often spotted with their families by the pool. According to Ryan, the staff knew whenever the band was getting ready to leave the property in its five separate limos.

And quite a few of them would back into spots under the parking lot trellis to watch, swooping down low in their cars when necessary so that they wouldn’t be spotted.

Anna Brookshire Title: Revenue manager First day of work: July 1990 • Anna Brookshire came to Key Club in 1990 as the accommodations manager, in which she was responsible for front-desk reservations and the switchboard. “Thanks for calling the Longboat Key Club and Resort, how can I help you?” she used to answer the phone. Though it’s not much different these days.

• In those early days, the front desk was outside of the building at 301 Gulf of Mexico.

Eight years ago, the club moved the front desk to the resort center for the guests’ convenience.

• There have been many famous people who have stayed at the Key Club over the years, but Brookshire won’t divulge whom. But, what she can say is, “We manage to satisfy everyone who stays here. If we have specific requests, we try to take care of them.”

• Her responsibilities these days aren’t interacting with guests, but she does work closely with her staff and other department managers. She doesn’t have a specific favorite moment over the years, but her favorite memories are the people with whom she works daily. “Every day is a good day,” she says of the past few decades.

ONLINE: Visit YourObserver.com to watch a video of Key Club employees sharing their favorite memories.

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Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

LONGBOAT KEY CLUB & RESORT TIMELINE 1959 — Arthur Vining Davis formed Arvida Corp. and purchased John Ringling’s 2,000-acre real-estate holdings including the southern half of Longboat Key, most of Lido Key and all of Bird, Otter and Coon keys.

1960 — The Islandside golf course opened.

1962-63 — Arvida demolished John Ringling’s unfinished Ritz-Carlton — aka the “Ghost Hotel.”



Courtesy photo

John Ringling’s hotel was located at what is now the club’s Islandside location.

1967 — Arvida moved its office to 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive, the present-day location of the Longboat Key Club’s Islandside resort.

1975-6 — Arvida began developing the Bay Isles section of Longboat Key. May 1976 — The Longboat Key Town Commission approved Arvida’s plan for the Longboat Key Club’s hotel, restaurant, 1,500 residences, yacht club and specialty shopping center.

Oct. 1, 1982 — Inn on the Beach welcomed its first guests and commemorated the hotel’s opening with a three-month kickoff entitled, “Celebration of a Dream.”

Oct. 29, 1982 — The Key Club’s

Harbourside golf course opened, featuring a more heavily wooded design with mammoth greens than the existing Islandside course.

1984 — The Key Club received four stars in the Mobil Travel Guide — one of the few resorts to achieve such a rating after its first year — and four diamonds from the American Automobile Association (now AAA).

April 30, 1990 — The Shannon Resort Group Inc. entity Key Club Associates purchased the Key Club’s Harbourside and Islandside golf and tennis facilities for $22 million and Inn on the Beach in a separate $3 million sale. The sale closed nearly two years after Shannon officials began negotiations. As part of an agreement between the town and Arvida, the town had the first right of refusal for the purchase of the property’s golf and tennis facilities. The commission ultimately voted 3-4 against the purchase, clearing the way for the Shannon Group to buy the facilities.

July 1992 — The Town Commission approved an out-of-court settlement with the Shannon Hotel Group as part of the “Tee Time” lawsuits stemming from a complaint that the company gave preference to hotel guests over members for tee times at its golf facilities despite a previous agreement that members would be given preference. The agreement allowed the Key Club to solicit membership off the island, as long as it could prove that it wasn’t operating at capacity and to allow hotel guests to use the Harbourside course with a one-day advance booking between Jan. 1 and April 30, while disallowing group bookings.

1996 — The 12,000-square-foot Harbourside clubhouse was completed, and expansions of the Islandside clubhouse, including the addition of a 3,000-squarefoot fitness center, was also finished.

March 2004 — Loeb announced that Shannon Resort & Club Group owners Shane Eagan and Tom Rasmussen would no longer manage the Key Club. Michael Welly was named as the Key Club’s new general manager.

 June 30, 2010 — The Town Commission approved the Islandside plan after 23 public hearings, which took place at Temple Beth Israel instead of Town Hall because of the crowd’s size.

April 2004 — The Longboat Key Planning & Zoning Board denied the Ca d’Coure project. Welly later recommended withdrawing the plan to Loeb.

December 2007 — The Key Club purchased Longboat Key Moorings for $8 million, completing a deal that took three years of negotiations and three separate offers.

April 10, 2008 — The Key Club unveiled a $500-million project for its southernmost Islandside property.

Sept. 30, 2008 — The Key Club filed a pre-application request for a $400 million scaled-back plan in part because of concerns of Islandside residents.

March 2009 — The Key Club unveiled its $4.5 million Tennis Gardens facility with 20 Har-Tru courts, tennis concierge, Court 21 Cafe and Lounge, and a 500-seat stadium that can be expanded to seat up to 2,500.



Brian Blanco

Loeb chief operating officer Michael Brody, left, and Key Club attorney John Patterson celebrate the 6-1 vote by the Town Commission approving the Islandside project.

Aug. 22, 2012 — The Key Club and Loeb announced a joint venture with the Delray Beach-based Ocean Properties Ltd. For all of the resort’s assets that, if consummated, will make Ocean Properties an equity partner in Key Club Associates, L.P., the entity that controls the Key Club.

Aug. 29, 2012 — The Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s ruling that quashed the Islandside development order, effectively killing the application.

File photo

Key Club staff and town officials performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Tennis Gardens.

September 2012 — Key Club General Manager Michael Welly received the green light from Loeb and the Islandside project’s London-based investors, Abercromby Property International, to resubmit its project to the town.

Wade and Vicki Collier

Lynne Koy

941.451.9819 Premier Sotheby’s International Realty 50 Central Avenue, Suite 110, Sarasota, FL 34236

Congratulates

LOnGBOAT Key CLuB on 30 yeARS

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

Success

of exCePTIOnAL

www.lynnekoy.com At The Chart House on Longboat Key Broker / Associate, CRB, CRS, GRI Previews International Property Specialist International President’s Premier, Involved Citizen: Sarasota Opera, SPARCC, Make-a Wish, Meals on Wheels, Breast Cancer Awareness

Global Marketing: NYtimes.com Birdkeynews.com Coldwellbanker.com Worldproperties.com Trulia.com LynneKoy.com Rightmoves.com Greatwaterfrontliving.com Realtor.com Zillow.com

Congatulations

Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / YouTube

on 30 years of

You can search Lynne’s website in 13 languages – including English.

SuCCESS! Fall Dinner for Two $69.95 per couple starting October 11th!

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE DEDICATED TO LUXURY REAL ESTATE SM

Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

Relax and Mingle at the Bar Experience Elegant Dining Inside or Alfresco Private Dining & Off Premise Catering Available

• Top AgenT in closed SALeS On LOnGBOAT Key 2007-2011 • Top AgenT in closed sAles on Bird Key in 2011 *number of transactions

Visit our menu online at cafeleurope.net Valet Parking Available 941.388.4415 | 431 St. Armands Circle

cafeleurope.net 92645

Tour Lynne’s properties at

SeRvICe!

92645

lkoy@coldwellbanker.com

is delivered only to the deserving,

92447

941.387.1803

92622

the

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

KEY CLUB / FROM PAGE 18A Commission with scores of plans for some of the most attractive and innovative buildings and golf courses in the country,” according to Ralph Hunter’s “From Calusas to Condominiums.”

In 1975, after it had already built its first golf course and tennis facilities at Islandside, Arvida applied to develop the Key Club’s hotel, restaurant, 1,500 residences, yacht club and specialty shopping center.

Residents who filled Town Hall weren’t just concerned about Arvida’s plans for the Key Club. They worried about plans for shopping centers, tourist traps and attractions that would bring the masses across the bridges from mainland Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Finally, the commission approved the plan 4-3 in May 1976.

But the approval was contingent on Arvida’s compliance with 25 conditions, including its providing for the widening of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Dream come true

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the Key Club.

The next four years would bring various threats of lawsuits, discussions and compromises about

the project’s zoning, development schedule and land intensity schedule.

But by 1980, Arvida got permission to begin construction for its hotel, and two years later, the first hotel guests arrived.

The opening of the hotel was neither the beginning nor the end of the Longboat Key Club’s development.

But a newspaper advertisement that ran during the three months after the hotel was completed summed up the milestone moment.

“John Ringling had a dream,” it stated. “A magnificent dream of an unsurpassed resort experience in the Florida Gulf Coast sunset. In keeping with that dream, Arvida Corp. unveils the Inn on the Beach at Longboat Key Club. To fulfill a promise that was made before its time. But, that time has come ... and now we celebrate that dream.”

This article includes information from Frank Cunningham’s “The Key to Longboat”; Ralph Hunter’s “From Calusas to Condominiums”; Gary Mormino’s “Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams”; and archives of the Longboat Observer, Gulf Coast Business Review, Sarasota HeraldTribune, St. Petersburg Times and The Evening Independent.

Celebrities who have stayed at THE RESORT Aerosmith Steve Allen Robert Altman Brady Anderson Kevin Bacon Lucille Ball Dr. Robert Ballard Ann Bancroft Boris Becker Ashley Bell Tony Blair James Blake Michael Bolton Victor Borge Ben Bradlee Tom Brokaw Steve Buchemi Art Buckwald Jimmy Buffet Chief Justice Warren Burger Barbara Bush Laura Bush James Carville Cher Jill Claburgh President Bill Clinton Bill Cosby Geena Davis Robert DeNiro John Denver Peter Duchon Sandy Duncan

The BEST Food and the most FUN on St. Armands Circle Outside seating available Great kids menu

Bill Clinton Douglas Edwards Jumbo Elliott Chad Everett Morgan Fairchild Michael Feinstein Mikhail Gorbachev Bryant Gumble Gen. Alexander Haig Ethan Hawke Audrey Hepburn Pee Wee Herman Huey Lewis & the News Felicity Huffman Bruce Jenner Don Johnson Rory Kennedy Sen. Patrick Kennedy Bernie Koppel Tommy LaSorda

Ed Lauter Pattie Luppone Bill Macy Jena Malone Dan Marino Gen. Stanley McChrystal John McEnroe Michael McGlone Chris Mckenna Penelope Anne Miller Dominic Monaghan Urban Myer Dick Nan Patton Wayne Newton Tipp O’Neill Bill O’Reilly Brad and Kimberly Paisley Gwyneth Paltrow Walter Payton Mandy Patankin Jack Parr Gregory Peck Joe Perry Brad Pitt George Plimpton Power Station REO Speedwagon Burt Reynolds Cal Ripkin Condoleeza Rice Brooks Robinson

Chef Concierge Barbara Michel with Barbara Bush Pete Rose Richard Roundtree Mrs. Anwar Sadat Tom Seaver Nicolette Sheridan Pat Summerall Charlize Theron Stanley Tucci Lana Turner Brenda Vacarro Ben Vereen Ken Warwick

f the o p i t T f’s ha

Che

u to yo

We Congratulate you on

Congratulations to the Longboat Key Club for 30 years of service

30 years!

11 am - Midnight Monday - Saturday Noon - 10 pm Sundays 19B N. Blvc. of the Presidents St. Armands Circle

www.lynchespub.com (941) 388-5550

Kiwanis Congratulates

941.388.5550 | 19B North Blvd. of Presidents

941.388.4415 | 431 St. Armands Circle

lynchespub.com

cafeleurope.net

941.383.3633 | 5540 Gulf Of Mexico Dr.

941.383.0777 | 525 St. Judes Dr.

euphemiahaye.com

harryskitchen.com

the Longboat Key Club for 30 years of service to Longboat Key

We exTend our graTefuL THanKs To

Michael Welly and the Key Club for also being a prime sponsor and provider of facilities for our 3rd annual...

Saturday \ NoveMber 17, 2012 noon - 2pm \ Islandside driving range

BLUE DOLPHIN CAFE

Thursday \ February 14, 2013 Kiwanis of Longboat Key meets Thursdays at 7:30am at the Harbourside Tavern of the Longboat Key Club.

941.383.0440 | 5350 Gulf of Mexico Dr. in the Centre Shops on Longboat Key

941.383.3787 | The Centre Shops Longboat Key 941.388.3566 | St. Armands Circle

longboatkeylazylobster.com bluedolphincafe.com

92635

6-11pm \ Harbourside Ballroom 92457

92670

21A

22A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

real estate | transactions

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

Home in Manchester Bay sells for $2 million The following residential real-estate transactions took place between Sept. 17 and Sept. 21.

A home in Manchester Bay tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Herbert West and George Mitchell sold their home at 3610 Fair Oaks Place to Robert and Teresa Simmons, of Longboat Key, for $2 million. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,495 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $2.4 million in 2007.

Bay Isles

Stanley Kane, trustee, and Stifel Co. Inc. sold the home at 511 Harbor Gate Way to Dereck and Deborah Rock, of New York, for $1,165,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,904 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $1,575,000 in 2001.

Country Club Shores

Anna Vignetti, of St. Paul, Minn., sold her home at 520 Golf Links Lane to Jeffrey and Marlis Carter, of Longboat Key, for $725,000. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,016 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $325,000 in 1996.

Bird Key

Frances Wurlitzer, of Washington, D.C., sold her home at 625 S. Owl Drive to Christopher Roberts and Josephine Gambardella, of McLean, Va., for $770,000. Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,248 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $675,000 in 2010.

Frank and Constance Tucci, of Sarasota, sold their home at 517 Bird Key Drive to Tod and Cynthia Monchecourt, of Sarasota, for $425,000. Built in 1965, it has three

BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Sept. 21 through Sept. 27, in order of dollar amounts. (GMD = Gulf of Mexico Drive) Address Permit Applicant Amount

New 638 Bayview Drive Construction Joseph Iannello $395,000 773 Penfield St. Alteration Lawrence Theuer $100,000 2333 GMD Alteration Laura Vukovich, trustee $70,000 5601 GMD Alteration Andrew Bers $59,360 435 L’Ambiance Drive Alteration Donald Zimmerman, co-trustee $48,000 4976-4980 GMD Re-roof Windward Bay Condo Association $35,710 5591 GMD Alteration Sharmila Yathiraj $27,000 5481 GMD Alteration CCJ Longboat LLC $25,833 3522 Fair Oaks Lane Alteration Alan Parsons $15,000 4401 GMD Alteration Andrew Zuckner $13,333 4805 GMD Alteration Joan Bowden $12,354 5461 GMD Alteration J. Greg Ruthven $9,312 540 Golf Links Lane Alteration Charles Kirley $9,284 2045 GMD Alteration Ronald Gamer $7,800 765 Jungle Queen Way Alteration Jungle Queen Vacations LLC $7,788 1000 Longboat Club Road Alteration Richard Winkler $6,820

Twin Shores 3740 GMD Alteration Mobile Home Association $6,340 4235 GMD Re-roof Turtle Crawl Inn $5,200 3453 GMD Alteration Sea Horse Beach Resort $4,900 620 Halyard Lane Alteration Mary Ramsey Life Estate $2,250 701 Lands End Drive Alteration David Wilson $2,098 3710 GMD Alteration Thomas West Life Estate $2,024 545 Sanctuary Drive Alteration Kenneth Newmark, trustee $2,000 722 Bayport Way Alteration Robert McDade $1,228 7057 Longboat Drive N. Alteration Carolyn Griffin $775 3250 Bayou Road Alteration Roberta Straff, trustee $300

Rachel S. O’Hara

This home at 625 S. Owl Drive in Bird Key has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,248 square feet of living area.

It sold for $770,000.

bedrooms, two baths and 2,300 square feet.

ST. ARMANDS KEY Beach Residences

John Vaughan, of Hot Springs National Park, Ark., sold his Unit 908 condominium at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive to George Forster, of Irvington, N.Y., for $1.35 million.

Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 3,330 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $1,999,000 in 2005.

St. Armands Towers

Peter Ehrlich sold his Unit 91 condominium at 101 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Robert and Alice Brittingham, of Sarasota, for $557,500. Built in 1968, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,275 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $145,000 in 1999.

Visit our website to read more real-estate transactions. www.YourObserver.com

COVERT I 2BR/1BA with glassed lanai overlooking the pool is

one of the best buys on Longboat Key. Perfect for the retiree, full time resident or use as a winter retreat. Well maintained, small bayfront complex with deeded beach access and low maintenance fees. A short distance to The Centre Shops, Durante Park with 32 acres of trails and playground, Publix and St. Armands.

A3953684 $199,900

“Coldwell Banker Top 100 Agents in Florida”

Cathy has lived and worked on Longboat Key for almost 40 years!

941.383.5502 or 941.724.7228 CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

92483

Patricia Tan / Carla Rayman Certified International Property Specialists

Our business is TRULY borderless

3174 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Longboat Key, FL 34228

Michael Saunders & Company Cathy C. Meldahl P.A. Licensed Real Estate Broker

The only local real estate agents who personally showcase your property face-to-face to buyers overseas.

LIGH TH

Property Management

STOP BY FOR A VISIT! ON LONGBOAT KEY...

Harbour Square at 4134 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Unit 203 (next to The Pattigeorge’s Restaurant) • 20 Years In Business.

• Over 150 Associations Under Management.

Enjoy Magnificent Sunsets from Casarina on Siesta Key

This 7th floor condo has beach and Gulf views. 3BR, 3.5Baths, with upgraded kitchen and bathrooms. This well maintained resort-style community offers a clubhouse, heated pool, tennis courts onsite management and security.

MLS#A3966110 $1,200,000

www.YourGlobalAgents.com

941 724 0519 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Owned and Operated by NRT,LLC

• Full Service Property Management For Condominium and Homeowners Associations.

• Staff Of Over 50 Managers And Support Staff.

941 - 312 - 5287

www.lighthousepropertymanagement.net

91788

Sustainable building techniques and architectural details are evident in every aspect of this 3,300 sq. ft. residence. A rooftop terrace, intimate garden w/ native plants, 34 ft. tall green wall, rainwater harvesting system, and solar heated poolw/waterfall enhance the concept of indoor/outdoor living.

MLS#A3962913 $1,560,000

LIGHTHOUSE

91862

Pre-Construction Contemporary Masterpiece on Siesta Key

NT

With the Sarasota market having only 3.8 months of inventory of single family homes & 5.5 months of inventory of condos, there couldn’t be a better time to list your property. Sales are up 36% from last year and the 2nd quarter was the best we’ve seen in the past 7 years.

List your property with Your Global Agents who are dedicated to developing the global marketplace for Sarasota and the Gulf Coast of Florida. What makes Your Global Agents exceptional is their face-to-face approach to business worldwide. Patricia and Carla regularly travel overseas to give seminars and to exhibit and speak at property shows in Europe, Asia and the Americas .

Both Patricia and Carla are Certified International Property Specialists (a designation held by less than 2% of real estate agents worldwide) and are CIPS instructors for the National Association of Realtors.

O

P R O P E R TY M A N AG

E EM

Did you know it was a SELLERS’ market?

E US

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

23A

Coldwell Banker

®

FLORIDAMOVES.COM Build your career with Florida’s industry leader. Visit JoinCBToday.com today.

Sarasota, Grande Riviera. $5,390,000 4/4.5 MLS#A3965942 Joleen Roskamp 941-366-8070

Sarasota, Roberts Point. $2,499,000 5/5.5 MLS#A3951470 Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

4649A_Innovation Drop In Isles.

Ads_10.25x1.5 9/6/12 12:25 Longboat Key, Bay $1,995,000 3/4.5PM Page 1 Sarasota, Saint Armands Division. $1,849,000 4/3 Longboat Key, Sleepy Lagoon. $3,690,000 4/3 MLS#A3961159 Barbara Ackerman 941-387-1820 MLS#A3953976 Mike Greve 941-806-9444 MLS#A3954781 Lynne Koy 941-387-1803

Rethink Real Estate.

Coldwell Banker®. We Never Stop Moving®.

Coldwell Banker On LocationSM

Coldwell Banker iPad® App

Mobile Search

Mainland Sarasota Sarasota, Indian Beach. $1,995,000 Elliott Mitchell, 941-387-1867 Spectacular views from this 3/4 acre bayfront home in historic Indian Beach.

MLS#A3957644 University Park, Warwick Gardens. $1,299,990 Joe Cinque, 941-387-1805 Model like w/fantastic golf and lake views 4BR/3+BA 4690 sq ft residence.

MLS#A3964011 Sarasota, Alinari. $339,900 Martina Coppenrath, 941-724-3339 Elegant Alinari downtown condominium w/tons of high end developer upgrades.

MLS#A3962912

Longboat Key, Bay Isles. $1,290,000 4/3 MLS#A3958820 Linda Weber 941-504-2000

Lakewood Ranch, Summerfield Village. $199,000 Olga Smith, 941-726-1740 Beautiful & well maintained cul-de-sac home; perfect for entertaining.

MLS#A3964016 Sarasota, De Soto Lakes. $144,900 David/Wendy Leventhal, 941-518-7694/ 941-376-4894 Just look at this fenced 3-bedroom home. Central H/A, ceiling fans. MLS#A3965231

The Keys Sarasota, Lido Beach. $3,100,000 Ellen Orlop, 941-388-3966 Incredible 3/4+ home, charm & elegance, finest in craftmanship and design. MLS#A3960047 Sarasota, Bird Key. $1,850,000 Lynn McDonald, 941-366-8070 Newer construction. 3BR/3BA on wide canal. No bridge access to bay. MLS#A3962209 Longboat Key, Bay Isles. $1,750,000 Linda Weber, 941-504-2000 Water & golf course views that rival the best. 5200 sf, A/C w/4BR/5BA/8CG. MLS#A3951531 Longboat Key, Pelican Harbour & Beach. $999,000 Phil Schneider, 941-525-2818 Direct full gulf & bay views; 3BR/2.5BA w/recent complete remodel. Pets OK. MLS#A3953368

Sarasota, Lido Beach Club. $699,900 2/2 MLS#A3933011 Bruce Myer 941-387-1859

Longboat Key, Country Club Shores. $995,000 3/2.5 MLS#A3954792 Judy Kepecz-Hays 941-387-1825

Longboat Key, Pelican Harbour. $895,000 Phil Schneider, 941-525-2818 Gorgeous direct gulf views! 3BR/2.5BA. Pets OK. MLS#A3960447 Longboat Key, Beachplace. $575,000 Anita Caravello, 941-716-0381 Get ready to snap up this exceptional 2BR/2BA condo. Central heat/air.

MLS#A3959315 Sarasota, Palm Bay Club II. $425,000 Henry Floyd, 941-388-3966 Hospitable 2BR/2BA condo. Cozy & cheerful with comfort amenities. MLS#A3960696 Longboat Key, Seaplace. $349,000 Roger Pettingell, 941-387-1840 Spacious beach retreat. 2BR/2+BA. Just steps to the gulf. MLS#A3959347 Longboat Key, Whitney Beach. $255,000 Mirta Klauber, 941-704-6749 Bayside 2/2! Revel in resort-styled ground condo. TKF & affordably offered.

MLS#A3965512 Sarasota, Siesta Harbor II. $249,900 Charles Offer, 941-388-3966 Beautiful harbor view, nicely updated, excellent recreation facilities. MLS#A3963920

Longboat Key, Seaplace. $619,000 3/2 MLS#A3960776 Roger Pettingell 941-387-1840

Sarasota, Lido Surf & Sand. $425,000 2/2 MLS#A3943096 Barbara Miller 941-388-3966

Manatee Sarasota, Magellan Park. $375,000 Dyrk Dahl, 941-366-8070 North Trail’s most improved canal front home next to private golf. MLS#A3966097

Residential ❙ Commercial ❙ Mortgage ❙ Rentals ❙ Corporate Relocation ❙ Closing Services © 2012 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International, the Previews International logo and “Dedicated to Luxury Real Estate” are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

92472

FLORIDAMOVES.COM

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

BUSINESSOBSERVER

Ian Addy & Gail Wittig 8347 Midnight Pass Road | Siesta Key | $4,490,000

240 Sands Point Road #4605/06 | Longboat Key Club & Resort | $849,900

912 Boulevard of the Arts | Condo on the Bay | $795,000

601 Longboat Club Road # S303 | Longboat Key Towers | $769,000

3080 Grand Bay Boulevard #535 | Grand Bay | $549,000

Longboat Key Club & Resort | From the low $200’s to $1,000,000’s

WWW. ATHOMESARASOTA.COM

By Robin Hartill | City Editor

+ Wyland to showcase his latest artistry at St. Armands gallery

941.387.0100

Marine-life artist and environmental advocate Wyland will present an unveiling of his latest works from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6, at Sarasota’s Wyland Gallery, 314 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Circle.

In addition to showcasing his newest works, Wyland will share insights on his environmental projects and offer updates on his upcoming project of repainting and restoring his three Florida Keys “Whaling Wall” murals from Oct. 12 through Oct. 21.

For information, call 388-5331 or visit wylandkw. com.

+ Maison Blanche chef/owner to recreate award-winning dinner Maison Blanche chef/owner Jose Martinez will recreate the dinner that made him the James Beard Chef of the Day in June.

The dinner was entitled “French Elegance” and included five courses: a green asparagus soup with baby artichokes and fava beans; tomato confit, Brussels sprouts and potato crisp; panseared rouget with cauliflower puree, hazelnuts and kalamata olives; Hudson Valley foie gras and duck pie with Martinez savory wine sauce; and a Florida lemon tart with almond meringue and raspberry coulis.

Martinez will recreate the entire dinner at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, and Thursday, Oct. 18, at Maison Blanche, 2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive. For reservations, call 383-8088 or visit maisonblancherestaurants.com.

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box. See answers on page 29A. © 2012 Universal Uclick

SUDOKU_100412

WAGNER REALTY

Michael Saunders & Company Licensed Real Estate Broker

Bringing People Home Since 1939

www.WagnerRealty.com 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101, Longboat Key

Call 941-383-5577 LAKE FRONT LOCATION

440 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228 GailWittig@michaelsaunders.com

w/perfect water view when walk thru door. Large lanai, spacious, partially furnished, carport, lots of storage. Active 55+ community, heated pool, tennis & clubhouse.

Teresia Bradford $109,000 #M5830715

• Leading Specialists at Longboat Key Club & Resort

1BD/1BA BAYFRONT SUTTON PLACE CONDO #305 w/beautiful bay, pool and marina views. This complex has 2 pools and deeded beach access. Owner can have 2 small pets.

Susan Klement $199,000 #M5823008

• 61+ Years of Combined Real Estate Sales Experience • Team Sales Exceed $195 Million Since 2005 • 2010 & 2011 Top Sales Team Michael Saunders & Company, Longboat Key

92515

24A

Barbara Milian, Ian Addy PA, Gail Wittig

WATER VIEWS from this 2BR/2BA TKF condo.Updated kitchen, W/D, new A/C June 2012, 2 pools, tennis & beach access. $12 a month for boat slip. Pets OK. Seller to pay 1 year main. fee from day of closing.

Dorothy Cook #A3939881 $249,000

CONRAD BEACH Incredible opportunity to own 2 adjoining lots west of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Conrad Beach boasts timeless architecture, com. pool & clubhouse. Purchase separately or w/M5815731.

Peter Uliano $260,000 #M5815734

We invite you to take advantage of our team’s experience and allow us the opportunity to present you with a complimentary market analysis of your property.

2BR/2BA BAYFRONT furnished condo on beautiful Longboat Key. 40ft deeded boat slip, updated master bath, heated pool, tennis courts, community boat ramp.

Marcia Bayard $350,000 #M5818656

91199

BEAUTIFUL PARADISE overlooking Sarasota Bay. This home is one of a kind. Waterfront w/private dock.

Sensational sunsets, breathtaking views.

A kayaker’s dream. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths.

Debra Ibasfalean $549,000 #M5826754

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Lynne Koy ◆

941.387.1803 lkoy@coldwellbanker.com

25A

presents her

Luxury

PrEMIEr COLLECTIOn◆

BIRD KEY - 4 BR/3.3BA Location! Location! This beautiful custom home has it all - fabulous downtown views across Sarasota Bay,

granite kitchen with milk-glaze cabinetry, “Morning Room” with 8 Step crown molding, gorgeous pool, dock & lift. The first floor master suite has stunning Bay views and the second floor “Great Room” has “forever” Bay views from the terrace. $3,690,000

Tour Lynne’s properties at

www.lynnekoy.com At The Chart House on Longboat Key

Broker / Associate, CrB, CrS, GrI Previews International Property Specialist International President’s Premier, Involved Citizen: Sarasota Opera, SPArCC, Make-a Wish, Meals on Wheels, Breast Cancer Awareness

LONGBOAT

KEY TOWERS Charming 3BD/3BA Penthouse residence. Soaring ceilings, open floor plan and oversized windows that welcome the sun and the sea. The Eastern terrace was enclosed to welcome a “simply charming sun room.” $2,275,000

ST. ARMANDS - Spacious 4BD/3BA custom built

home with elegant marble entryway set on a wide canal, just steps to shopping and dining in world renowned St. Armands Circle! $1,899,000

• Top AgenT in Closed sAles on longboAT Key • Top AgenT in Closed sAles on bird Key

Global Marketing: NYtimes.com Birdkeynews.com Coldwellbanker.com Worldproperties.com Trulia.com LynneKoy.com Rightmoves.com Greatwaterfrontliving.com Realtor.com Zillow.com

GRAND BAY - Enjoy expansive views across BIRD KEY - Stunning residence to be PLAYERS CLUB – Wonderful Gulf views Sarasota Bay all the way to downtown Sarasota from this elegant 3BR/3.5BA furnished condominium residence.

This custom home has been tastefully decorated and the two covered parking spaces right next to the elevator are an added bonus! $1,499,000

built on this spacious garden parcel in the well from the 30’ long open balcony; w/southern established neighborhood of Bird Key. This two exposure.

Tastefully furnished 2BD/2.5BA story 2,970 Sq. Ft. home will have 4BD/3.5BA condominium. $699,000 and a fabulous pool and spa. $1,199,000

Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / YouTube

You can search Lynne’s website in 13 languages – including English.

PRIVATEER - Stunning gulf views from PLAYERS CLUB Fabulous Gulf views CASTILLIAN 2 BD/2BA Direct Gulf Views, New every room in this 2BR/2BA updated condminium with endless winter sunsets from this 2BD/2BA Carpet, Tile and Paint, fully furnished, move right in. home. Fully furnished with a sophisticated sense furnished condominium with courtyard entry and Property renovations include; repainting of building of style $575,000 exteriors, resurfacing swimming pool and replacing $635,000 additional storage. lower mansard roofs. $519,000

DEDICATED TO LUXURY REAL ESTATE SM

SEAPLACE Rarely available Townhouse,

SEAPLACE – Completely remodeled and SEAPLACE – Enjoy tranquil Northwest gulf 2BD/2.5BA with attached garage and spacious beautifully furnished, 2BD/2BA with NW gulf views views in this tropical setting. Open space, updated terrace overlooking tropical garden views. and spectacular sunsets. Every creature comfort kitchen and baths, 2BD/2BA, sold furnished. $399,000 $489,000 is waiting for you, just bring your bathing suit. $479,000

92616

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

26A

YourObserver.com

IT’S ELECTRIC MICHAEL

Longboat Observer

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

MOULTON Certified Residential Specialist

Michael Saunders & Company Licensed Real Estate Broker

Paige Gillenwaters, Andrea Munro and Sara King

BIRD KEY - Custom 2001 built 3,500sf bay front home, top of the line throughout. A3963202 $2,575,000

BAY ISLES - Custom designed 6,000sf 5BR home in exclusive gated neighborhood. A3959515 $3,795,000

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Tom Coundit and Maureen Valenti

Partygoers rev their silent engines for Circle festivities

RITZ BEACH RESIDENCES -Elegantly designed 3,300sf 3BR condo. A3959431 $2,800,000

WATER CLUB - Direct Gulf front 3,400sf 3BR furnished condo. A3957287 $2,650,000

LBK GULF FRONT LOTS - 2 lots totaling 2.25 acres w/ 200’ of gulf frontage. A395884 $6,000,000

THE GRANDE - Exquisitely appointed Gulf front 3BR Penthouse w/ private garage. A3955033 $1,950,000

Guests got the party started early at the Electrify the Circle Pre-Party Saturday, Sept.

22, at The Met on St. Armands. A group of 60 guests spent the evening learning about high-end electric cars, and some even got behind the wheel and took them for a spin.

86876

440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228 Office 941.383.7591 | Mobile 941.928.3559 | SarasotasFinestProperties.com

Eric Peters and Julie Hunnel

Heather Smith and Miranda Spinner

Bruce Myer

Charles Zweil, Renee Paris, Noelle Fuller and Chris Vihrachoff

941.387.1859

Selling Luxury Real Estate for over 32 years!

Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

NEW LISTING!

GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE - 3BR/2.5BA SANCTUARY III - 5th Floor, 3BR/3.5BA PIERRE - 2BR+Den/3BA furnished LIDO BEACH CLUB - #1009 - 2BR/2BA estate on large lot with bay views & corner residence with Gulf, golf and residence. Modified, open floorplan Furnished with Gulf to Bay view from $949,000 3 terraces. $699,900 private canal. $1,979,000 bay views. $1,799,000 with partial Gulf views.

FAIRWAY BAY - 2BR/2.5BA stylishly FAIRWAY BAY - 2BR/2BA Furnished LIDO BEACH CLUB - 2BR/2BA furnished GRAND BAY - 2BR+Den/3.5BA with updated & furnished townhome with corner Penthouse. One covered parking condominium home with partial Gulf Bay, golf course & downtown views. $995,000 $449,000 Offered furnished. boat dock. $399,500 space. $429,000 views.

Top 1%

JUST REDUCED!

INN ON THE BEACH!

of all Sarasota & Manatee Realtors Rated in the Top 100 agents in Florida

BruceMyer.com

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate • 201 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Ste. 1 • Longboat Key • At the Charthouse

92637

Bruce@BruceMyer.com

TWIN SHORES - 1BR+Den/2BA home LONGBOAT HARBOUR TOWER - Furnished FAIRWAY BAY 2BR/2BA corner home #2603-04 Gulf front double $1,025,000 $239,000 with Bay view in 55+ mobile home 2BR/2BA home with direct Gulf front w/expansive water views, and one #5103 Golf Course view $429,000 Club Suite #2202 Gulf front $399,000 $399,000 covered parking space. community. $84,500 views and one carport.

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

27A

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Voting has now begun for our annual “It’s Read Everywhere” online photo contest. Visit YourObserver.com and click on the “Contests” tab in the upper-right hand corner to submit your vote for your favorite photo. The grand-prize winner will receive two $500 travel vouchers.

UNITED KINGDOM. Longboat Key residents Weldon and Brenda Frost read their Longboat Observer outside Highclere Castle, where the TV series, “Downton Abbey,” is filmed. Highclere Castle is the part-time home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon.

MICHIGAN. Town of Longboat Key IT Director Kathi Pletzke and town of Longboat Key chief accountant Sandy Moutoux catch up on their hometown news while on vacation in Mackinac Island, Mich., after completion of the 42nd annual Mackinac Island 8 Mile Run in September.

NORTH CAROLINA. KK Hammond, of KK's Artique in the Centre Shops on Longboat Key, and Jim Hammond, took their Longboat Observer — and Ocracoke Observer — along to the Ocracoke lighthouse in North Carolina.

IRELAND. Alan and Susan Graf with their daughters, Carrie and Bridget, and their daughters’ husbands, J.R. and Elliot, were sure to bring the Longboat Observer with them to Dublin to read prior to the Notre Dame vs. Navy game played in Aviva Stadium. The Irish won 50-10.

#1 AGENT IN SALES VOLUME

ALASKA. Longboat Key residents Jean and Doug White took their Longboat Observer along on a recent trip to Denalifor National Park in Alaska.

Sarasota and Manatee Counties

in 2009

1 COLDWELL BANKER AGENT # 1#A G E N T I inNFlorida S AforL2009 ES VOLUME

TOP SALES ASSOCIATE for Sarasota and Manatee Counties in 2009

Ranked in the top .5% of Coldwell Banker Associates Worldwide

#1 COLDWELL BANKER AGENT REALTOR B A R B A RinAFlorida for 2009

Ackerman

®

Ackerman

“Hot ProPerties” Segment Every Wednesday!

am T“hT eh en an m e et ot ok k n no oww i ni n r reeaal l eesst taat tee ”

BARBARA

G NEW LISTIN

REALTOR

®

As seen on Sarasota’s

www.barbaraackerman.com ING SALE PEND

www.barbaraackerman.com

The name to know in real estate

Grand Bay 1 - Beautiful Bay Views Spacious corner apartment with 3BR/3BA, nine foot ceilings, marble & wood floors, and new stainless kitchen appliances. $875,000 Great water views.

Ritz Hotel Residences - 12th Floor Water views from all rooms! 2,011 SF w/ wood floors, custom-fitted closets, & unique Venetian plaster walls. Large master suite with sitting area & marble bath. $1,098,500

Lido Beach - Best Waterfront Value Gated Mediterranean inspired residence with protected Bay views located within walking distance to Lido Beach and St. Armands Circle. 6BR/6.5BA on 148 ft of waterfront. $3,499,900

University Park - Whitebridge Court Beautiful 2BR+Den/2BA villa with tile floors, soaring ceilings and surrounded by serene views of the tropical grounds and pristine golf course. 2-car garage. $265,000

www.barbaraackerman.com

Meridian at the Oaks Preserve Fully upgraded former Avigon model corner apartment with sunsets from 14 windows! Three bedrooms, three bathrooms plus a den provide 2,600 square feet of living space. Two garage parking spaces. $329,000

The Bougainvillea House - Tudor Revival Renovated in 2006 on 3 lots with 4BR/3.5BA + separate guest house totaling 4,857 square feet. Home exudes old world charm while offering today’s modern conveniences. Wood floors, marble, pool, & 2-car garage. $1,290,000

BANK OWNED Bird Key - Outstanding Waterfront Opportunity Built in 2007 on a wide protected boat basin. Home has 8,071 square feet, 5BR/5.5BA, guest wing with separate entrance and more! Infinity edge pool, boat dock, and 4-car garage. $3,690,000

Sleepy Lagoon - Direct Gulf Front Beautiful Hampton Style 4 bedroom/3 bath home on 100 ft of pristine beach front. Renovated, down to the studs, in 2007. Wood & marble floors, outdoor jacuzzi and 2-car garage. $3,690,000

ING SALE PEND

Ringling Pointe – Stunning Direct Bay Front On 145 feet of deep water with 5BR/3.5 BA, a 2,200 SF master suite, 1,000 bottle wine room, private dock, wading & lap pool w.spa & 8-car garage. $3,850,000

Fairway Bay - Longboat Key Townhouse 2BR/2.5BA turnkey furnished vacation getaway! Fresh, and bright with ceramic tile, central vacuum, fireplace, bonus area and private 1 - car garage. Bring the family! $359,000

Bay Plaza - Sparkling Bay Views Beautifully renovated 2BR/2BA residence w/ bamboo floors, granite & stainless appliances on the 11th floor in exciting downtown Sarasota. $799,000

Channel on to barbaraackerman1 to see my listings

81586

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, LLC

Tessera - Downtown Sarasota Beautiful 3BR/3.5BA residence with higher ceilings, marble floors, expansive terrace & a private 2-car garage. Sought-after community located in the heart of downtown. $1,198,000

All of Barbara’s listings are linked Internationally in 13 languages.

Owned and Operated by NRT, LLC.

201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite #1, Longboat Key • 941-387-1820 Direct • 800-910-8728 Toll-Free

28A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

TemperatureS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Temps.

Weather Photo Contest Winner

Record Temps.

High

Low

High

Low

Tues., Sept. 26

86

69

95 (1995)

63 (1996)

Wed., Sept. 26

89

73

96 (1951)

63 (2008)

Thurs., Sept. 27

92

72

94 (1925)

59 (1991)

Fri., Sept. 28

91

73

96 (1925)

62 (1961)

Sat., Sept. 29

86

74

93 (1954)

61 (1962)

Sun., Sept. 30

87

73

94 (1958)

58 (1970)

Mon., Oct. 1

89

76

94 (2005)

53 (1920)

Average Gulf water temperature: 83

Thurs., Oct. 4

Highs 1:44a 4:12p

9:59a

Lows 8:44p

Fri., Oct. 5

2:19a

Sat., Oct. 6

3:02a

5:18p

10:50a

9:13p

6:50p

11:50a

9:54p

Sun., Oct. 7

3:55a

8:25p

—

12:59p

Mon., Oct. 8

5:07a

9:12p

—

2:09p

Tues., Oct. 9

6:41a

9:40p

1:24a

3:09p

Wed., Oct. 10

8:14a 10:03p

2:57a

4:00p

MOON PHASES

Sunrise/sunset

Thurs., Oct. 4 Fri., Oct. 5 Sat., Oct. 6 Sun., Oct. 7 Mon., Oct. 8 Tues., Oct. 9 Wed., Oct. 10

Sunrise 7:25 7:25 7:26 7:26 7:27 7:27 7:28

David Rosenthal took this sunset photo of a bird flying home on Longboat Key.

Sunset 7:14 7:13 7:12 7:11 7:10 7:08 7:07

Oct. 8 Last

Oct. 15 New

Oct. 21 First

Oct. 29 Full

PHOTO CONTEST: Win an iPad 2 or Canon EOS T3 camera. Enter your sunset, sunrise or weatherrelated photos for The Observer’s weather photo contest, sponsored by Cool Today. To enter your photos, visit YourObserver.com, and click on the “Contests” tab in the upper-right corner. Weekly winners will have their photo printed in the paper and will be entered into a drawing for that month.

The monthly winner will choose between an iPad 2 or Canon EOS T3 camera.

facebook.com / GetTheBestFromTODAY

$89

Repipe Specialists Tankless Water Heaters Zero Energy  Water Filtration Toilet Tune-Ups  Drains Cleared Whole House Plumbing Inspections

plumbing-today.com

(941) 343-8543

Edited by Timothy E. Parker

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64 Ad-___ (improvise) 65 Melonlike fruit 1 Water-park slide 67 Circus performer 6 Pro ___ (in who cracks the proportion) whip 10 Global financial org.

69 Drug used in 13 Assist in treating Parkinson’s wrongdoing 72 Audit rep 17 It may exist among 73 Gadget thieves 74 Logo letter for the 18 Excessive conceit Man of Steel 20 Synthetic silk 76 Enthusiastic 22 Well-balanced liveliness circus performer?

77 Inhaled anesthetic 24 Where a circus may of old be held 79 Shade trees 25 Those opposed 80 ___ so forth 26 Baseball tallies 82 Gofer’s task 27 Horne with plenty 84 Looney Tunes of talent animator Freleng 28 Like gnats 85 Get ready for 29 ___-yourself kit surgery 30 Ship’s post that 86 Be part of the secures cables picture 31 Fizzled firecracker 87 Large African 32 Ho-hum antelope 34 “Just a ___” (“Hold 88 Porker’s pad on!”)

89 Well-planned 35 Function progress 36 “On ___ Majesty’s 91 Arrogant Secret Service” 95 Make calm 37 Molded 96 Snooker stick 41 Astrological 97 One not invited to a forecasts stag party?

45 Guacamole base 98 It’s attractive and 46 Spots on the TV has a charge 49 Weary traveler’s 101 Change, as the stopover decor 50 Keyboard key 103 Fixed charge 51 Office sub 104 Pear or quince, e.g.

53 Kristofferson of 105 “Vamoose!”

“Blade” 107 Terra ___ (type of 54 Dot above the i clay) 56 Pussycat’s 110 Grumpy person companion, in 112 Prefix with verse “dynamic” or 57 ___ erectus “nautical” 58 Plenty sore 113 “The Sons of ___ 59 Superior to Elder” 60 ___ es Salaam 114 Benefit (Tanzania’s largest 115 Explosive circus city) attraction 62 Quick impression

118 Popped, as a balloon 119 Refined and discriminating taste 120 Divide into two equal parts 121 H.S. course 122 Stop sign color 123 ___ off (started a golf hole) 124 What some people do when they’re over 65

44 Black-clouds bringer 45 Loves, in Lyon 46 Standing on the summit of 47 Temperamental performer 48 Cinderella was one 52 Introduced performers 55 Swinging circus star 56 Baltimore pro 57 Pain in the brain 58 Under the weather 61 Birch trees 63 H.S. support group dOwn 66 Conflict 1 Khaki pants 68 That certain 2 Immobilize, rodeo“something” style 70 Labored breath 3 Release, as a tied-up 71 Capp of the comics horse 75 One who gets the 4 Moppets message?

5 Be incorrect 77 New newts 6 Regards as 78 Nursery purchase 7 One handling stars 81 Umpteen’s ordinal?

8 Removes from the 83 Wish undone “No Parking” zone 85 Like the Piper of 9 Docs in a bloc Hamelin 10 Like presses ready 86 A malarial fever for printing 87 Sundial shadow11 Personal caster appearance 90 Kind of U.S. bomber 12 Measure of 92 Cold treatment capacitance 93 Decked out 13 Oklahoma Native 94 Put out of American commission 14 Daring circus 99 Eight-tone interval equestrian 100 Caught red-handed 15 Potato bumps 102 Brown pigment 16 Honky-___ 103 Well-known 19 Drawing power 104 Quiet companion?

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Items Under $200 For Sale

Merchandise Wanted

Homes For Rent

MALE BICYCLE: 21", TREK 18/Speed. All Terrain Mountain Track. Little used excellent condition, $115. (941)383-0167.

LOCALLY OWNED and operated since 2004 with three locations, America's Super Pawn will pay you top dollar for your estate jewelry, watches, diamonds, musical instruments, computers, motorcycles, cars and other unwanted items.

Call us at 758-PAWN OR ... fill our request form on our web and we'll contact you! www.americassuperpawn.com

DEEP WATER ACCESS Boater’s Dream: residential rental in south Longboat Key. 3BR/2BA, approx. 1720 sq.ft., only minutes to Sarasota Bay and open Gulf. 100/ft canal frontage with pool.

Yearly lease at $2500/month + utilities. Call 228-327-7801.

RADIO SHACK model Partner 1680X Chess Computer, 64 levels of play. Complete, original container, $30. 941-371-9047.

RADIO: ANTIQUE Zenith Walnut AM/FM table top tube, 1960’s. Excellent playing condition, $100.

941-544-7819.

Autos Wanted AUTOS WANTED! Let me take the hassle out of selling your car. Cash offered today! Call Mike, 941-713-2277.

Boat Slips For Rent/Sale FOR SALE OR RENT, fantastic high and dry boat slip, superb S. Longboat location. Call 941-371-1866.

LONGBOAT KEY Moorings Boat Slip for Rent.

Yacht Club Slip N-7, accommodates up to 45 ft.

Boat with Electric, Water, & Wi-fi. $400/mo.

941-928-1542.

Boats Boats are selling very well. Keeping it real simple, “Business on a Handshake”. I need more boats. Island Boat Sales. 941-228-3489.

Furnishings CRAFTMATIC BED: full size, adjustable and massager, $600. 941-355-3327.

HERMAN MILLER Swag Desk, Perfect Condition, Like New, $1000. Bo Concept Sleeper Sofa, perfect Condition, $550, Desk $200. Design Within Reach and Room and Board outdoor furniture. must see all. Tampa, 813-839-7386.

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales ESTATE SALE Saturday, Oct. 6 - 9a.m.-2p.m.

503 72nd St., Holmes Beach Modern Florida style home: 2 queen bedroom sets, queen bed, taupe sofa and matching chair, neutral sofa with 2 matching chairs & hassocks, patio chairs, 5 swivel patio bar chairs, pine bar chairs, pressure washer, scuba gear, moose antlers, nice lamps, end tables, autoharp, linens, records, some tools, air paint sprayer, commercial floor polisher, golf clubs, large pots, plants, linens and kitchenware.

Sale by Julie McClure; Pictures: www.appraisals4u.biz & www.estatesales.net

ESTATE SALE Saturday, Oct. 6 - 9a.m.-2p.m.

407 28th St., Holmes Beach King bed set, recliners, working motorized chair, buffet, small dining set, queen bed, 50s lamp, 3 piece wicker set, L shaped desk and credenza, sectional sofa, coffee & end tables, floor cleaner, ladders, freezer, chairs, pictures, plants, linens & kitchenware.

Sale by Julie McClure www.estatesales.net & www.estatesales.net

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, time pieces, coins, jewelry and antiques. Please call Marc, 941-321-0707.

Schools/Instruction SCULPTURE LESSONS with master sculptor Greg Marra in Sarasota. Explore the sculptor inside you. 267-885-9203.

Storage STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

Condos/Apts. For Rent 2BR GULF Front condo for rent for the season.

Available 12/1/12. 90 day minimum. Full amenities and covered garage. Behind the gates in the Pierre. 865-603-3126 or 865-549-5070.

LONGBOAT BAYPORT BTC- 2BR 2BA Gulf front views- wifi-Monthly rentals 813-541-8876.

LONGBOAT HARBOR: 2BR/2BA, top floor, elegant, furnished, bay/harbor views, W/D and whirlpool in unit, 4 pools, tennis, activities, exercise room w/ sauna, clubhouse, private beach, beach house with showers. Seasonal/ Annual. 3 month minimum. Non-smoking.

No pets. 941-544-4509.

SEAPLACE: 3BR/2BA, NW corner view, see the sunset. Private parking, tennis court, 2 pools, $619,000. 941-383-1402.

Homes For Rent 3+ BEDROOM 2 Bath, Longboat Key. ANNUAL: $2700 or SEASONAL: $3900. Across street from Beach. Sunset deck, unobstructed views.

Single car garage, washer/dryer, furnished, utilities. 55+ community. Non-smoking. No pets.

941-232-1357.

Reservations: 941-383-5549 Visa/ MC Fax: 941-383-7925

WANTED LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS

“Take our video tour at” www.casadelmar.net Office Open 7 Days, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key 34228

For Qualified Waiting Clients Contact - Sarasota Luxury Rentals 941-225-1356

WASHER/ DRYER IN EVERY UNIT BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS LARGE HEATED POOL GULFSIDE

email: info@sarasotaluxuryrentals.com Personalized attention with professional honest advice.

25 Years Experience - References available Part of the Florida International Realty of Sarasota Group.

FREE Wireless High Speed Internet

“Where People Return Year After Year” “INTENTIONALLY BETTER”

WANTED! 1-2 bedroom unit for month of February in LBK area. 515-231-9742.

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals 392 FIREHOUSE LANE, LBK - Newer 2 BR home in charming seaside neighborhood. 1 block to beach...no busy roads to cross. Heated community pool. Clean & nicely decorated. No pets.

No smoking. Available short or long term.

Owner/agent, 941-544-0214.

Exceptional Vacation Rentals Since 1994 Homes & Condominiums Studios to Six Bedrooms Beachfront, Intercoastal or Garden Excellent Service & Staff FLORIDA VACATION CONNECTION

BEACHPLACE 3BR, UPDATED, TASTEFULLY DECORATED. GULF & BAY VIEWS. CALL CYNTHIA 407-492-5749 BEACHPLACE ON LBK: Special pricing until end of December for beautiful 2BR unit, first floor, modern furnishings, enclosed parking. Call 941-807-0897 for details.

DIRECT GULF! Upscale 2BR/3BA. Available December 1. Non-smoking. 4 month minimum.

847-634-1991.

LBK BEACHPLACE Condo. Beachfront, 2BR/2BA. Elegantly furnished, internet access, heated pool, covered parking, exercise room.

Available Oct. & Dec. 2012 only. Non-smoking/ pets. By owner. 941-383-1884.

LBK SANCTUARY. Beachfront SW corner 3BR/3BA. Available January thru March 2013.

Call 941-587-1700.

Find Treasure!

General Merchandise

DID WE get your attention? You bet we did!

Visit online Make your ad us stand out withatCOLOR. Only in The Observer Classifieds. www.yourobserver.com Call 941-955-4888 to advertise.

RENTALS 4 NIGHT MIN. GULF FRONT/ GULF VIEW

WANTED 2BR/2BA unfurnished on Anna Maria Island. Professional non-smoking couple seeks annual rental. 941-348-7688.

CENTRAL AIR: brand new, still in box, 10 year warranty all parts, $1449. Call 941-243-5236.

THRIFT SHOP: THE LORD’S WAREHOUSE. Next to Longboat Island Chapel. Season Opening October 1, 2012: Wednesday & Saturday, 9a.m. to 1p.m. Clothes, jewelry, furniture, other items.

6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. 941-383-4738.

CASA DEL MAR BEACH RESORT

Real Estate Wanted

SEAPLACE, available Jan-Mar 2013, 2BR/2BA, furnished. W/D in unit, first floor, convenient to pools, tennis courts, grills, club house, no smoking, no pets. By owner, $10,000.

440-717-0259.

Condos For Sale

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

Want to find a great deal on something you’ve always dreamed of?

www.FLvacationconnection.com 941-387-9709 877-705-2460 LBK SEAPLACE. Available January-April. Lovely 2BR, fully equipped, W/D in unit, lanai, garden view, steps to beach, pool, tennis, full clubhouse amenities. Great! Non-smoking. No pets.

770-314-6321.

LBK: NEW YEARS’ WEEK. Veranda Beach Resort, 2BR/2BA, +LR queen sleep sofa. NEWLY FURNISHED, partial Gulf view. All resort amenities included. Photos available. December 29th to January 5th. By owner. 860-567-0122, E-mail: aheimler632@gmail.com LIDO BEACH CONDOMINIUMS Weekly - Monthly - Seasonal Resort Properties, Inc. Licensed Real Estate Broker Full Service Condominium Management 941-388-3921 - 888-388-3921 941-650-1857 Visit us at: resortproperties.pro LIDO BEACH Vacation paradise. 1 & 2 bedroom condos overlooking beautiful Lido Beach.

Weekly rates. Lido Dorset. Rental condo.

1-800-734-3370.

LONGBOAT KEY. Gulf front, heated pool on beach, 1BR/1BA condo, full kitchen, dining, sleeps/4, king pillowtop. 617-328-7145, 857-939-1049.

This week’s Crossword answers

This week’s Sudoku answers

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 87127

You never know what you’ll find in the classifieds!

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 56733

2012

CROSSWORD_ANS_100412

This week’s Cryptogram answers

Your source for local Classifieds

1. A man’s really impressive, Italian-style home was flooded. The plumbing guy told him: “The good side of it is, you now have a Venetian basement!”

2. A conscientious man was unlucky and was let go on the first day in his new government position.

His supervisor found him working.

30A

Longboat Observer

26A Classifieds YourObserver.com

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

www.yourobserver.com Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

LONGBOAT KEY: Sunset Beach condo, Gulffront, beautiful 2BR/2BA, completely updated, 2/mo. minimum. Available December through April.

708-203-2205.

FOR “QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE” Floors, bathrooms, showers, backsplashes, patio and pool decks.

20 years design background.

Licensed - Insured - LBK Resident References upon request.

941-383-2659

SEAPLACE CONDO, TH. Special Offer $2000/Month plus tax. Sept. to Dec. 2012 and Jan. 2013. 2 month rental minimum. 2 bedrooms, 2 bath, fully equipped, direct beach access.

Ask: mandalka@gmx.de

WEEKLY RENTALS. Luxurious, fully furnished 1 - 4 bedrooms. Condominiums and Cottages.

Beach to Bay. On-site management. Pools, tennis, boat slips. Visit: www.FloridaRent.com for information and virtual tours. 800-333-7335, 941-383-3117.

Weekly/ Monthly/ Seasonal Rates Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-6127 Visa/ MC 800-352-0367 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m. M-F

FIND Say You Saw it in in the

WINDWARD BAY: 3BR/2BA Villa - Full Bay view.

Completely updated. Avail. Jan. - March 2013. $4,600/month. Bonnie Wiedeman, Wagner Realty, 941-383-5577.

Adult Care Services COMPASSIONATE COMPANION DUTIES Days or nights. Excellent references.

Barbara 941-926-7227.

Auto Service WE WANT TO BUY YOUR VEHICLE!!!

Any Make, Any Model, Any Condition.

No Title - No Problem! Bank Lien - No Problem!

Paying up to $30,000 for Vehicles. Call AJ now at 813-335-3794 for a Free Quote or 813-531-4298.

IT!

Classifieds

STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION 20 YRS. EXPERIENCE

RETIRED LONGBOAT KEY police officer. Drive your car North or South and back. 941-713-1596.

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS

Cleaning KEY CLEANERS & LINEN has expanded our services. We now offer Residential Cleaning.

Family owned for 24 years on LBK. Quality and Service, now in your home. 941-383-1222.

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Accounting/ Taxes I come to your home or office.

   

Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation Organizing Personal and Business Files Budgets & Financial Reports Federal and State Tax Returns BONDED & INSURED Over 25 yrs. experience

Pet Services

All Variations of Ceramic Tile Supplied & Installed.

Free Estimates & Custom Designs.

Pressure Cleaning

Expert Marble & Travertine Installation Floor & Walls

Computer Services

Call Ashdown Flooring, Inc. LICENSED (941) 726-3077 INSURED

OWN A MAC/IPHONE/IPAD? MacTutor offers 21 years experience. Unlimited free telephone follow up. (941)812-3887 www.FLMacTutor.com

Personal Services

CAT SITTING. Visits to your home for cat care.

Free meet and greet. Call Eve 941-350-2804.

DOGGY HOTEL. 24 Hour Daycare. Brown Avenue near Bee Ridge and 41 behind Sleep King (new owner). First day FREE. Grooming by Mark.

Meet and greet and get a treat. 941-554-4620.

TILE TILE TILE

Grout Cleaning & Sealing Service Available

URBANTREND RENOVATION Tile & Marble expert installation Kitchen & Bath remodeling Fine carpentry & entertainment unit Stone floor restoration/maintenance 20 years experience in Sarasota Insured & Lic#CGC1519607 Free estimate call 941-306-7778

CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

Telephone: 941-749-5646 yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com

RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL/ Resorts/ Schools/ Churches/ House Checks.

We take pleasure in pleasing our customers.

941-756-4570.

WINDOW WASHING. Single mom, hard worker, 10 yrs.+ experience. Honest and reliable. Call Mari, 941-404-5083, 813-317-9759.

Cmagik - LBK resident, servicing our island year round for over 12 yrs. Bachelors Degree with 20 yrs. experience, PC or MAC. Professional help with computers, iPad/iPhones and tutoring.

References upon request.

Call Cort: 383-3878, 587-5588 cmagik.com

Painting/Wallpapering

YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Gail Sunray, Owner

JOHN GUBERNAT SERVICES Residential/ Commercial. Handyman Repairs, Roof Repairs, Coatings, Painting, Power Washing, Property Management, Home Watching. LBK Resident. Lic./Ins. 941-962-4867.

SKEDMAR HANDYMAN SERVICES. Tile, hardwood flooring, painting, pressure cleaning, window cleaning, light electrical, light plumbing.

No job too small. Licensed and insured.

941-914-8508.

Auto Transport

O

Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.wagnerrentals.com

Home Improvement/ Remodeling ISLE TILE

ON THE Gulf w/pool. 1BR condo, sleeps 4. Nicely furnished, cable, phone, full kitchen, living, dining area, W/D in building. Weekly or Monthly. May through January. $1600/mo. 351-5101.

UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY 2BR/2BA Condo with gorgeous view of mangrove bayou on LBK. All amenities including kayak, best beach.

Available to mature, non-smoking couple or single for the season. 4 month minimum. $4500/mo. No pets. 770-335-9211.

THE LONGBOAT OBSERVER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 Thursday, October 4, 2012

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SELL IT! 955-4888 www.yourobserver.com

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THE LONGBOAT OBSERVER Thursday, Observer October 4, 2012 Longboat

32A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

TIME TO SELL. As the economy has drifted lower over the past years, prices have declined dramatically in our area; some cases have seen as much as 50% value declines. Most properties saw at least 30% from their highs. Interest rates declined as well, setting record lows (and they appear to still be declining).

Over the past year, buyers have come into our market with a fury. At first they bought all of the “low-hanging fruit” – the short sales and the foreclosures. Sellers became more realistic and as buyers perceived value, they bought. Sellers who didn’t need to sell held on to their properties.

All of these events have combined to create a very low inventory of homes for sale this season. If you have been wanting to sell your property, now is the time! Contact Roger and ask for his evaluation of your property in today’s market.

ROGER SELLS SEAPLACE

ROGER SELLS GRAND BAY

The best beachfront value on Longboat Key. It is located on 42 acres with over ½ mile of prime beachfront. Amenities include a 24-hour guard gate, clubhouse, two pools and hot tubs, children’s pool, playground, and three tennis courts. There is a nice selection of floor plans, from one-bedroom lofts to three bedrooms residences.

A wonderful community, with views of the bay, city, bridge, marina and golf course are truly amazing! There are seven different floor plans, ranging from well-appointed two bedrooms to spectacular penthouses. The amenities include pools, jacuzzis, private club with bayfront workout center, tennis and a wonderful Beach Club.

$619,000

3 bedrooms, 2 baths

Spacious corner residence at Seaplace, a lovely mid-Longboat Gulf front community. Light and bright with plenty of winter sunsets from this residence.

Located in the popular G-8 building.

$1,495,000

grandbay446.com

3 bedrooms, 3½ baths

Relish Gulf sunsets and wonderful vistas of the twinkling lights of downtown Sarasota. Walk-in, fall in love and move right in.

SEAPLACE

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

SANCTUARY

BAY ISLES

seaplaceg1211.com Spacious 2BR/2BA with separate upstairs living area. Light and bright and literally steps to the beach. Furnished. $349,000

510puttinggreenlane.com This 3BR home is on the sunny southern side of Putting Green Lane. Furnished. $779,000

535sanctuarydrivea603.com Southern corner with more than 700 feet of wraparound terrace! Amazing city, golf course and bay views, plus southern Gulf vistas. Two covered parking spaces included. $995,000

1561harborcaylane.com A boater’s dream! On a protected, deep water harbor this lovely 4BR has high ceilings, cook’s kitchen and open plan. $1,399,000

seaplaceg4204.com Terrific value, this 2BR is located in the popular G-4 building. $299,000 seaplaceg3205.com Recently updated 2BR/2BA beach retreat.

New master bath, newer carpet. Turnkey furnished, ready for your personal touches.

Just steps to the Gulf shore. $289,000

LONGBOAT HARBOUR TOWERS

longboatharbourtowers1101.com Direct Gulf, 2BR/2BA penthouse has stunning views from nearly every room. Updated and redesigned. $649,000

www.rogersmarketupdate.com

Sign up to receive a customized, monthly market snapshot.

You will receive, by email, the industry’s most impressive market reports, packed with up-to-the-minute MLS market and property information, plus interactive photos, maps and graphs.

Visit rogersbestdeals.info if you would like a copy of our list. You may also scan this QR code with your smartphone, call our office, or send us an email.

BEACH HARBOR CLUB

3386bayoulane.com This 4,500+ sq. ft. home overlooks the lakes on Harbourside Golf Course. $868,000

beachharborclub101.com SIESTA KEY This beach getaway can be the ideal retreat or investment. With its own private beach access, 3969robertspointroad.com heated pool and wonderful clubhouse, there’s On one of Siesta’s most coveted streets, this no reason to ever leave! $249,000 deep-water home offers lovely views and great space. $1,395,000

Roger has listed and sold more than $1 billion in local property.

ROGER C. PETTINGELL LUXURY WATERFRONT SPECIALIST

941.387.1840 roger@longboatrealestate.com

941.586.6668

www.longboatrealestate.com

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

78436

seaplaceg8301.com

DEDICATED TO LUXURY ESTATES M OWNED AND OPERATED BY NRT, LLC