Longboat Observer 07.02.13

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Happy Fourth of July!

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Spirit of America

DIVERSIONS Julia Jacobs Barreda hopes to follow in the footsteps of her aunt, Dolly Jacobs. INSIDE

OUR TOWN

free • THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

WEDDED BLISS Will couples say ‘I do’ to Longboat Key in the future?

PAGE 15A

SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE

budget breakdown

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Maximum millage rate: 2.1372 Longboat Key properties, which the Manatee and Sarasota County property appraisers certified July 1, rose in value.

Courtesy photos

Yvonne and Richard Crawford

+ Two Key couples celebrate milestones Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Richard Crawford and his wife, Yvonne, celebrated their 45-year anniversary June 15.

Their first date was Feb. 14, 1964. They went to a movie and McDonald’s.

Since that date under the golden arches, you could say they’ve upgraded. The Crawfords celebrated their anniversary at the Omni Amelia Plantation Resort.

Crawford’s fellow Kiwanian, Longboat Key resident Weldon Frost and his wife, Brenda, celebrated their 45th anniversary June 28. The couple was married June 28, 1968, by the British Consul in the British Embassy in Tripoli, Libya. After the ceremony, the consul told Frost the “rule of thumb”: “Mr. Frost, I have to tell you that under British common law you are forbidden to beat your wife with a stick thicker than your thumb.”

Frost reports that he has been a stickler for that rule.

He also clearly follows another rule of thumb: Take your wife out on your anniversary.

The Frosts celebrated their anniversary over dinner at Harry’s Continental Kitchens.

Longboat Key taxpayers could see a tax increase for the town’s operating expenses starting in October.

That’s because the Longboat Key Town Commission voted at its Monday, July 1 regular meeting on a maximum millage rate

for the 2013-14 fiscal year that’s higher than the current rate of 1.8872 mills.

Commissioners voted 6-0 (Commissioner Lynn Larson was absent from the meeting) for a maximum operating millage rate of 2.1372 mills. Combined with a

debt service millage rate of 0.0560 mills, the total maximum millage rate could be 2.1932 mills when the new budget begins Oct. 1.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

The extra mills, if approved in

September, would generate an additional $1 million for the town.

Vice Mayor David Brenner made the recommendation to raise the maximum rate to prepare for rising pension costs and other looming expenses.

“If I had my druthers, I would add $1 million to our budget for pension-related expenses,”

SEE BUDGET / PAGE 2A

SERVICE SALUTE Kurt Schultheis

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key was able to give one of its longtime members the recognition he deserves at the club’s June 27 meeting. Dick Baum, a longtime resident of Longboat Key who now resides at Plymouth Harbor, attended the meeting with his wife, Jean, to receive a pin for 25 years of service with Kiwanis. Baum refused to accept the award until he was well enough to come to breakfast.

RUFFLED FEATHERS

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

City seeks bird’s-eye view of SOS

City staffers didn’t see rats or mold during an inspection of Save Our Seabirds, but former volunteers and a past employee told them when and where to look.

Weldon and Brenda Frost

Turtle tracks Week of June 23 through June 29

Nests..................................55 False crawls........................48

2013 2012 Nests 298 389 False crawls 201 270

Here’s what Sarasota city staff didn’t find at Save Our Seabirds during an unannounced inspection June 20: rats or black mold.

The facility was clean, filled with visitors and free of rats and dead birds.

The rats, along with black

mold, were there insisted former volunteers and a former employee during Monday’s Sarasota City Commission meeting. Commissioners were concerned enough about the allegations that they asked staff to investigate further.

The commission ordered the

initial investigation after former SOS volunteer Greg Para presented a sworn affidavit during a June 19 joint meeting of the Sarasota City Commission and Sarasota County Commission that included multiple allegations, including that he had seen rats kill or maim

birds on more than one occasion; that the birdcages and pumping systems for the aviary are not adequate and violate the city lease; that the facility does not have permits to care for parrots; and

SEE SEABIRDS / PAGE 2A

INDEX Briefs....................4A Calendar............ 10A

Classifieds ........ 26A Crossword.......... 25A

Neighborhood.... 15A Opinion.................8A

Real Estate........ 22A Weather............. 25A

Vol. 35, No. 48 | Three sections YourObserver.com

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SEABIRDS / FROM PAGE 1A that on five separate occasions he found that parrots hadn’t received fresh food and water in 48 hours due to personnel shortages.

The allegations came a month-and-ahalf after the termination of founder Lee Fox, whom the board insists rejected two offers to continue her employment out of her home-based Wimauma facility, opting, instead, to tell the media she was fired.

Para, a Fox supporter who organized a rally Saturday in support of Fox that drew at least 50 people, alleged that conditions violated the organization’s $10-a-year lease of the city-owned land. Fox did not attend the meeting or the rally.

At Monday night’s meeting, commissioners heard a glowing report from city staffers.

“The leasehold was in the best condition we had ever seen it,” Purchasing Manager Mary Tucker reported to the City Commission Monday night.

Additionally, SOS CEO David Pilston described the organization’s accomplishments over the past year, which included becoming more responsive to bird calls, creating an online database of birds treated that wasn’t in place before but is required by wildlife permits and extensive renovations to the facility.

But former SOS employee Cally Lajeunesse said she resigned from the organization because she couldn’t stand seeing what she described as “the mistreatment of birds.”

She told the commission of black mold covering the ceiling and alleged that rats would steal food from birds, making it impossible to know how much the birds had eaten. She said that she has seen rats maim birds and once had to shake her leg to keep a rat from crawling on her leg.

“It’s like something from a horror movie,” Lajeunesse said. “It’s not OK.” Para told the commission that the in-

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

BUDGET / FROM PAGE 1A

spection, which occurred at 3:30 p.m., should have taken place early in the morning to check for signs of rats.

Para also said that SOS doesn’t have proper permits because the permits were in Fox’s name.

Pilston said SOS is in the process of getting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permits transferred to the organization. He anticipates having FWC permits by the end of the week, while Tucker said that an FWS official told her the agency would recommend approval.

Both organizations told her they had no intention of closing SOS. But, when commissioners questioned the investigation, Tucker admitted staff didn’t ask about violations at the facility.

Commissioners seemed especially concerned when Lajeunesse showed them a picture of a black mold spot on the facility’s ceiling. Pilston said the picture was taken in a room that’s in disrepair and isn’t currently used.

Pilston also said that the allegations, if true, took place when Fox was in charge of bird care.

Commissioner Paul Caragiulo expressed his concerns toward the end of the discussion.

“We’ve had folks come down and say one thing very convincingly,” he said to Pilston. “I’m not leveling any charges against you … At the end of the day, I’m uncomfortable with what I’ve seen and heard.”

Mayor Shannon Snyder made a motion that passed unanimously directing staff to investigate issues discussed at the meeting and to gather all reports, including complaints, about the facility from the FWC, FWS and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office from the last five years.

Town reconsiders retirement options

Brenner said. “Plus, there’s a millage increase coming for pension and beach-related costs.

We have to start accruing that at some point.”

For a property owner with a $500,000 home, if the maximum millage rate were approved, it would result in an additional $125 in taxes.

For now, though, taxpayers won’t see a beach tax assessment for a fourth straight year as town staff assesses beach project costs through a new method in the future.

Commissioners liked a proposal Town Manager Dave Bullock offered that would allow the town to raise an additional mill per year to accumulate $25 million over a five-year period to pay for beach project costs. The move would allow the town to fund projects without paying interest on a bond and give District A property owners a flat beach millage rate of 1.4511 mills and District B property owners a flat beach millage rate of 0.3638 mills.

Commissioner Phill Younger, though, proposed the town should give taxpayers the option to approve the new method through a referendum in March. Commissioners agreed to discuss the idea further at future workshops.

Fearing the town is not affording the same retirement benefits to the general employees as it is to its police officers and firefighters, the Longboat Key Town Commission voted 3-2 Monday night to provide a Deferred Retirement Options Program (DROP) option for general employees who are eligible to take advantage of the DROP program within the next five years.

DROP allows employees to retire and start receiving their pension benefits, while agreeing to work for the town for an additional five years. Salary accrued during those five years, plus interest, is put into a separate account that can be collected once the five years expires and the employee no longer works for the town.

The DROP option will cost town taxpayers $35,000 a year for 25 years, or $875,000 over the next 25 years.

Commissioners will also consider allowing an early-retirement option to be reconsidered for eligible general employees at a special meeting in late August so the town can still freeze the current pension plan by Sept. 30.

Mayor Jim Brown and Commissioners Jack Duncan, Pat Zunz and Terry Gans voted for the DROP option and to reconsider an early-retirement option. Vice Mayor David Brenner and Commissioner Phill Younger voted against the motion. Commissioner Lynn Larson was unable to attend the meeting due to an unanticipated surgery.

Property Values Longboat Key properties, which the Manatee and Sarasota County property appraisers certified July 1, are rising in value for the first time since 2008.

Sarasota County: Key properties rose 2.99% from last year’s values to $3,400,203,897, up from $3,301,413,064 a year ago, for a $98,79,833 property-value increase.

Manatee County: Key properties rose 1.83% from last year’s values to $1,299,500,326, up from $1,276,173,127 a year ago, for a $23,327,199 property-value increase.

Combined, Key-wide property values rose by 2.67%, or $122,118,032, from 2012 values.

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

land use change

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Town wary of Long Bar Pointe project A large project that calls for more than 2,500 residences and a 300-berth marina has Longboat officials worried.

The town of Longboat Key is keeping a close eye on a development proposed across Sarasota Bay that could bring both boat congestion and environmental concerns to the area.

At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s June 17 workshop, Vice Mayor David Brenner suggested the town keep watch on a project being proposed in Bradenton just off the shores of Tidy Island.

Developers Larry Lieberman and Medallion Home’s Carlos Beruff want a mapamendment change to request mixed-use development on 463.2 acres of former farm land on Sarasota Bay, which parallels El Conquistador Parkway where 75th Street West intersects with 53rd Avenue West in Bradenton. The undeveloped land was farmed for years by Manatee Fruit Co. The developers want to build a mixed-use development on that site, which includes single- and multifamily units, a hotel, marina, office-and-commercial space and a conference center. The plan also proposes a 300-slip marina for boats up to 100 feet.

The development requires amending the county’s Comprehensive Plan, because almost 300 acres of the property are situated in the coastal high-hazard area, and the comp plan needs to be changed to allow such a development.

“It’s something we need to keep an eye on,” Brenner said.

The Manatee County Commission postponed a hearing on the Long Bar Pointe project earlier this month and will hear the

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matter at its Aug. 6 meeting.

If approved, the commission’s vote would send both the map and text amendments to the state Department of Economic Opportunity for a 45-day comment period. If the state does not challenge the amendment, it then can go into effect.

The nearby IMG Academy is undergoing its own major expansion, including a 5,000seat multisport stadium.

IMG is supportive of the project’s resort concept, according to a letter Chip McCarthy, vice president of finance and operations of IMG Academy, sent to the County Commission.

The plans, though, are receiving criticism from environmental groups.

The project calls for removing 20 to 40 acres of mangroves and removing more than two acres of seagrass for dredging to create a waterway for 100-foot-long boats to come into a canal and harbor in the upland area of the property.

The project’s website labels the mangrove area as an exotic area that will have “nuisance clearing completed along the bay.”

Longboat Key resident and Sarasota Bay Watch founder Rusty Chinnis has fished in that area for years; he says that the development will both repair and harm the bay.

“The area has been on my radar for years because when it was farmed, the sewage water, used to water crops, would run into the bay after storms and cause problems,” Chinnis said. “The development itself isn’t so troubling, but taking out the mangroves

What Long Bar Pointe is seeking Long Bar Pointe received approval in 2008 to build the maximum number of units under the property’s current zoning: • 1,667 single-family homes • 2,501 multifamily homes • 150,000 square feet of commercial space Long Bar Pointe now wants to build, through new zoning and a Comp Plan amendment: • 1,086 single-family homes • 1,687 low-rise multifamily homes • 844 high-rise multifamily homes • 300-room hotel • 300-berth marina and canal • Two 36,000-square-foot offices • 60,000-square-foot shopping center • 60,000-square-foot specialty retail • 84,000-square-foot conference center

and grass flats is way too intense, and no amount of mitigation could ever replace the environmental damage that would be done.”

YourObserver.com // See a map of Long Bar Pointe’s location.

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association installed fencing along walkways on the property.

Trespassing reported at Colony units Police don’t know who entered the former Michael Saunders & Co. office and Vagabond, Castaways and Beachcombers units this week.

More unwanted visitors checked out the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort this week.

Longboat Key police met with Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association-hired Manager Larry Stritzel at 7:51 a.m. June 26, after Stritzel found several doors ajar, according to a police report.

The units that were broken into were the old Michael Saunders & Co. office and the Beachcombers, Castaways and Vagabond units owned by longtime Colony owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber.

“They didn’t take anything that I know of, but they were just drinking a lot of beer and champagne on the beach,” Klauber said.

3A

Around 9 p.m. the night prior to the break-ins, the Key experienced storms, so Klauber suspects the trespassers were on the beach earlier in the evening.

Police checked each building but found no one on the property.

The police report states that it appears the person who entered the properties had a key because none of the locks was broken.

Break-ins have been a frequent occurrence at the shuttered resort since it closed in August 2010.

The last string of incidents occurred in late March and early April, when unknown individuals repeatedly vandal-

Photos by Robin Hartill

A new fence was installed at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort to keep out unwanted visitors. ized the property by breaking windows, kicking in doors and ripping out light poles.

In those incidents, nothing valuable was missing from the units, although the culprits had clearly entered them.

The Colony Beach & Tennis Association fenced off the walkway decks and front entrance of the property last week, as requested by the town to help secure the property.

Subcommittee solidifies boat restrictions A committee does not believe boats or trailers should be allowed to be parked in front yards.

If the Planning and Zoning Board and the Longboat Key Town Commission agree with a subcommittee’s recommendation, then a boat owner’s days of parking a vessel in the front yard of a Longboat Key residence are numbered.

At the second meeting of the planning board’s boat and trailer subcommittee Monday, July 1, members agreed that boats should not be allowed to park in Longboat Key front yards.

Currently, you can park a boat or trailer in an open space outside a Key home as long as it’s in a designated parking space. But what constitutes a parking space isn’t clarified in the code; trailers and/or boats can legally sit in a front lawn. The code also doesn’t mandate how many boats or trailers can be parked on a resident’s property.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Robin Meyer urged subcommittee members last month to focus on changes that affect the whole Key. And the subcommittee agreed disallowing boats in front yards could work islandwide.

The language will also state that those with corner lots can’t park their boats and trailers on side yards that border the street. Language will also differentiate between those lots that have waterfront access and those that do not.

The subcommittee also wants boats and trailers parked in side yards to be screened so they are not as visible from the road.

Subcommittee member and Longbeach Village Association President Michael Drake, though, warned that several Village property owners don’t have access to town-owned alleys, which haven’t been accessible by car for years.

And the cost to remove landscaping on side yards to make ways for boat parking could be expensive for property owners.

“A lot of alleyways aren’t accessible, so is the town prepared to open the alleys as they should?” Drake asked. “It’s also going to cost neighbors a pretty good sum of money to remove landscaping on the side of a yard. It makes me question from that standpoint if we should be blanketing the entire Key, and I hate to be a part of any group that pushes someone to spend a lot of money to adhere to a new ordinance.”

Commissioner Jack Duncan, acting as a member of the public participating in the process, suggested the town could give property owners a period of two years, or whatever time is agreed upon, to give those affected time to comply.

“If we give owners a couple of years to transition, they can’t tell us they didn’t have enough time to adhere,” Duncan said.

The subcommittee agreed to move forward with the front yard change and suggested the town come up with a timeframe for owners to comply. A consideration for opening up closed alleys in the Village for property owners is also being suggested, although the commission would have to make that decision.

Although landscaping might be an issue for property owners who need to remove vegetation in their side yards to comply, Commissioner Pat Zunz suggested that shouldn’t be an issue.

“If people own boats, they own a sort of lifestyle, and for the benefit of how a community should look, you have to assume some of those expenses that come with being a boat owner,” Zunz said.

Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

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of The Sarasota-Manatee Originals The Observer has partnered with The Sarasota-Manatee Originals and is producing an online video series. Each episode features one of the more than 53 members of The Originals.

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THIS WEEK Chef Harry Christensen from Harry’s Continental Kitchens prepares steak harwood, topped with dijon mustard and a port wine reduction.

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NEWSBRIEFS + Town announces new flag program for water conditions Longboat Key Fire Rescue implemented a water conditions flag program last week that provides citizens and visitors with the conditions of the surf along Longboat Key. The information used to determine WARNING which color flag to fly FLAGS will come from both Lido Key and Cortez Water closed beach lifeguards, who report their High hazard conditions to Mote Marine Laboratory.

Medium Longboat Key Fire hazard Rescue will obtain Low hazard each day the most severe of the two Dangerous beach reports and marine life fly that color flag at both Longboat Key fire stations. Signs defining the flag colors have also been posted at the entrances of both fire stations.

+ Manatee 100 Club honors Longboat Key police officer Longboat Key police officer John Thomas is the Manatee 100 Club’s 2012 Police Officer of the Year.

The 100 Club, a group of 100 professionals in the community that provides support to injured and fallen law-enforcement officers and their families, chooses the officer from a list of nominees local police chiefs provide.

Longboat Key Police Capt. Monica Quarmby nominated Thomas for the honor in February in a letter to Police Chief Pete Cumming, in which she described him as a “reliable, competent, compassionate and professional police officer.”

According to Quarmby’s letter, Thomas’

Meetings agendas

&

 Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, July 8  Firefighters’ Retirement System Special Board Meeting — 10 am. Friday, July 12  General Employees’ Retirement System Special Board Meeting — 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 12  Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 16

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted. efforts led to the arrest of a man who allegedly stole more than $8,000 in artwork and statues.

Thomas joined the Longboat Key Police Department in November 2009, after 22 years with the Bradenton Police Department. The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key and the Sons of the American Revolution have also named Thomas Police Officer of the Year.

+ Town Hall closes for holiday In observance of the Fourth of July, Town Hall and its departments will be closed Thursday, July 4. There will be no garbage collection Thursday, July 4. Collections will be picked up, instead, Friday, July 5. All items should be placed curbside by 7 a.m.

+ Clarification A comparison of redevelopment proposals for the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, published in the June 27 edition of the Longboat Observer, should have noted that information in the comparison chart was obtained from the MW Development Group.

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

NON-PAYMENT PLAN

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

by Kurt Schultheis | Managing Editor

Bay Isles cygnets fall Longboat Key puts stop to trolley service funding prey to river critter

Although the town does not have the poorest bus-ridership route in Manatee County, it’s the only municipality being asked to pay for a portion of the trolley’s operating cost.

Swan keeper David Novak believes that a river otter snatched three cygnets earlier this spring. The presence of the critter concerns some Longboat Key residents.

Manatee County is being persistent in its attempt to collect $84,000 from the town of Longboat Key to fund the island’s trolley route.

Manatee County officials have sent another letter in an attempt to collect the money for two separate fiscal years.

But Town Manager Dave Bullock says the answer is still no.

Wrote Manatee Director of Public Works Ron Schulhofer in a June 12 letter to Bullock: “On May 7, you and Mayor Jim Brown made a presentation to the Board of Manatee County Commissioners detailing the desire to not have the town subsidize the Longboat Key trolley service. This is contrary to the town agreeing in two separate work sessions to provide an annual subsidy of $42,000 to help fund operations of the trolley.”

Schulhofer requests a total of $84,000 for fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Schulhofer, who sent a similar letter requesting funds Jan. 11, shouldn’t expect any checks from the town.

Bullock told the Longboat Observer he won’t make the payments. He has ordered his finance staff not to pay the $84,000 in trolley-funding requests.

In a presentation to the Manatee County Commission May 7, Bullock explained that Longboat Key taxpayers have paid more than $6 million in transportation services to the county in the last 10 years.

Although the town paid the county $42,000 in fiscal year 2010-11, Bullock said he’s reviewed all the meeting min-

Photo courtesy of Dr. Lou Newman

Dr. Lou Newman photographed this river otter in 2011 on Longboat Key.

lake in Venice.

The Bay Isles Master Association Board recently directed its management company to facilitate the removal of river otters if they come into the neighborhood. If caught, they would be returned to fresh water, although no otters had been trapped as of July 1.

Just how many otters are there on Longboat Key waters?

No one knows for sure whether it’s a single otter or if multiple otters have created a den, which they form under the mangroves by burrowing a tunnel into dry ground.

Dr. Lou Newman, a retired veterinarian and wildlife photographer, spotted an otter two years ago on Longboat Key and photographed it. He said he was surprised to find it in the area but said that river otters can live in salt water, although they probably need fresh water to survive.

utes between the county and the town and can’t find an agreement that mandates the town continue to pay that amount for future years.

“I don’t think there’s an authorization for us to keep paying that,” Bullock said.

On May 7, Bullock asked the Manatee County Commission for a motion to stop billing the town for transit service and to rescind the bills for the last two years.

Instead of responding to his request, the county, instead, sent a letter again asking for the funds.

Bullock has shown PowerPoint slides that reveal the Longboat Key trolley route has anemic ridership numbers, but it’s not the poorest-performing route in Manatee County.

Manatee County ridership statists reveal that in 2012, a Palmetto route had 34,303 riders, compared to 37,275 riders for the Longboat Key route that same year.

“As far as we know, the county is not billing the city of Palmetto for having a route with less riders than we have,” Bullock said last month. “We’re asking the county to stop singling out Longboat Key taxpayers to subsidize county-wide transit operations.”

Bullock also noted that unlike other Manatee County municipalities, the town does not utilize many of the county’s services for which taxpayers still pay.

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Bay Isles swans Alan and Beverly had four cygnets that appeared healthy in May, but they wouldn’t take their hatchlings out of the water.

That concerned swan keeper David Novak, who worried they felt threatened by a predator.

“They can be vulnerable in the nest,” Novak said. “That’s why they get them out of the nest quickly, because they’re safer in the water, but for days after they were born, (Beverly) wouldn’t leave with them.”

Finally, Alan and Beverly emerged from the water — with just one cygnet.

Novak believes the other three cygnets fell prey to a river otter that his neighbors saw in the water around the time they disappeared.

“Where they are is very remote and protected,” he said. “A fox, coyote or raccoon could get them on land, but probably the otter is the only water predator.”

River otters may look cute, but they’ve got some Longboat Key residents concerned. Although they typically eat fish, they go after what they can catch, including birds and other small animals, and have no natural predators — meaning they could become what some consider a nuisance animal.

There have also been cases of otters attacking humans in other communities.

In 2010, an otter that tested positive for rabies reportedly attacked and injured a 96-year-old man walking near a

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Longboat resident David F. Bolger donates $400,000 for The Ringling to install an innovative playspace.

By mid-January, in the center of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s 66-acre campus just south of the Banyan restaurant, will be a new playspace for children — the David F. Bolger Playspace.

A recent $400,000 grant from Bolger to The Ringling helped fund the playspace.

Bolger says, “The need for the museum to attract kids and have an interactive space they could call their own, all the while providing for children with disabilities, as well,” is what inspired the gift.

Bolger, a Longboat Key resident and philanthropist, visited the museum in 2008; that visit led him to donate more than $1 million that was directed toward the museum’s waterfront landscaping plan.

The donation helped build the Bolger Promenade and Campiello projects.

It’s not about the legacy for Bolger, but he says, it’s about enhancing people’s lives and their experiences in regard to the world around them.

“Mr. Bolger is a legendary philanthropist,” Dwight Currie, associate director of museum programs, says. “He has got an incredible record of giving, much of it in the world of health care, but also in the arts, and he’s very taken with the Ringling property.”

Bolger is the founder of Bolger & Co., a real-estate and investment firm based in New Jersey, and is the current president and founder of The Bolger Foundation. He has also donated funds that helped create the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Urgent Care Clinics.

The Bolger Foundation has also contributed to InStride Equine Assisted Therapy, as well as Historic Spanish Point.

A New York-based company, Architec-

File photo

David F. Bolger has donated more than $100 million since 2000 toward the arts, health, conservation and religious and education organizations, including a few organizations in Sarasota.

ture Playground Equipment, planned the playspace. It has designed similar projects around the world, from Europe to South America.

“They are, hands down, the leaders around the world in doing this,” Currie says.

There will be time-tested playground components, such as swings and slides, along with interesting features such as a water-play space and climbing structure. It will be a playground experience designed to be used by children of all ages (including adults) and of all abilities.

“The playspace will give parents a space to go, to let their children’s imaginations run and help them enjoy the museum, and perhaps bring some of their learning from the museum into their own imaginative play,” Bolger says.

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

Cops Corner

Happy 4tH of July.

LONGBOAT

June 19 Double trouble 3:15 p.m. — Intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Spinnaker Lane. Traffic. A truck and attached trailer both had no visible brake lights, and the tag on the trailer expired in 2005. The man said he wasn’t aware of either issue because both vehicles belong to his boss. Police called the owner of the vehicles, who also said he wasn’t aware of any issues but planned to immediately resolve them. The man received a citation for driving an unregistered vehicle and a verbal warning about the brake lights.

Playing dirty 4:13 p.m. — 6800 block of GMD. Property Damage. A shopping center owner’s video-camera system recorded a red car enter the parking lot and skid over two patches of compacted dirt that’s being used to make handicapped ramps from the parking lot. At least two men were inside the car. The plaza owner wasn’t sure about the cost of restoring the dirt piles.

June 21

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Taking ownership 9:36 a.m. — 400 block of GMD. Abandoned Boat. A man reported that an unknown boat was docked on a property. It had been there for a day, and the man wasn’t sure if it belonged to someone on the property. He agreed to look into the issue further to try to find the owner.

False alarm 5:17 p.m. — 2200 block of GMD. Gas Leak. Police responded to assist with a fire, but firefighters reported it was a false alarm. Construction work caused residents to smell harmless fumes in the building.

June 21

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8:25 p.m. — 2100 block of GMD. Reckless Driving.

Police stopped a driver who was reportedly weaving in and out of lanes. The woman said she was looking at the Gulf view and had drifted into another lane. The woman showed no signs of impairment, and police did not issue any citations.

11:47 p.m. — 4700 block of GMD. Abandoned 911 Call. Police responded to an abandoned 911 call, but the people in the unit where the call was placed said no one had called 911. A resident said she was having trouble with the unit’s phone and plans to get it fixed.

June 24

7A

Phantom menace 2:12 a.m. — 5500 block of GMD. Abandoned 911 Call. A woman told police she tried to call 911 but couldn’t get a cellphone signal. Her dogs were barking aggressively at something outside the bedroom, and she was worried that someone was inside the apartment. Police checked the apartment and the outside of the building and determined there was no one there.

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Suspicious man 3:32 a.m. — 5600 block of GMD. Suspicious Person.

A convenience store manager noticed a man wearing shorts and a white tank top wandering around in the area. Police were unable to find the man.

Clothes call 2:49 p.m. — 2900 block of GMD. Sex Offense. A beachgoer reported two nude men exiting the water. Police found two clothed men matching the caller’s description, but police didn’t see any violations. A woman at a nearby residence said she saw both men and reported they were fully clothed the entire time.

this lBK Club Bayou residence is situated on one of longboat Key's best waterfront locations Majestically overlooking Crane's Bayou & Buttonwood

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Bay with deep sailboat water and room for a 60' +/- yacht, this two story 4 bedroom home w/soaring 20 ft ceilings is a boater's paradise. Features include: Master suite w/beautiful master bath + 3 additional en-suite bedrooms, dedicated office, huge living room w/fireplace, family room, pool & pool bath + dock & lift. phone Hannerle for details.

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 bedrooms with separate guest living room. A pool & Spa with cascading waterfall, outdoor kitchen and a pool bath are added luxuries. MLS A3962300 phone Hannerle for details.

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A gift from above 10:51 p.m. — 700 block of Dream Island Road. Fire. A palm tree’s leaves hit the power lines and caught on fire.

Rain put out the fire before police arrived.

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YourObserver.com // Visit our website to see a map of this week’s incident locations.

8A

Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

Observer opinion | our view LONGBOAT

“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 ewalsh@yourobserver.com Deputy Executive Editor / Jessica Luck jluck@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Kurt Schultheis kschultheis@yourobserver.com City Editor / Robin Hartill rhartill@yourobserver.com Managing Editor/Diversions-Season / Stephanie Hannum, stephanie@yourobserver.com Arts & Entertainment Editor / Mallory Gnaegy mgnaegy@yourobserver.com Copy Editor / Maria Amodio Managing Editor/Design / Nancy Schwartz nschwartz@yourobserver.com Web Editor / Eddie Kirsch ekirsch@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 / Penny DiGregorio, pdigregorio@yourobserver.com Patti Duff, pduff@yourobserver.com Beth Holman, bholman@yourobserver.com Robert Lewis, blewis@yourobserver.com Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@yourobserver.com Charlotte Owen, cowen@yourobserver.com Sales & Marketing Coordinator / Leslie Gnaegy lgnaegy@yourobserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Managers / Lori Downey, ldowney@yourobserver.com Susan Leedom, sleedom@yourobserver.com Rachel Livingston, rlivingston@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executives/ Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com Deedie Parker, dparker@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 Jim Knake, jknake@yourobserver.com Chris Stolz, cstolz@yourobserver.com Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@yourobserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Keisacker lkeisacker@yourobserver.com Controller / Lisa Schwenk lschwenk@yourobserver.com Office Coordinator / Donna Condon dcondon@yourobserver.com

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The principles that guide us We vow, as a nation, we will never forget 9/11. We vow we will never forget the Holocaust. We vow we will never forget our brothers and sisters who in all wars and conflicts gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, for our liberty.

Likewise, we should never forget those

immortal words that explicitly, forcefully and eloquently declared the self-evident truths that have served as our moral foundation and principles for 237 years.

Now, more than ever in two generations, and given the direction we have let our governments pursue — that of increasingly

collectivist Statism — it is appropriate on this day to think about and reaffirm a commitment to the principles those 56 men bravely declared with their lives, their fortunes and their honor on that day July 4, 1776. Read the Declaration of Independence again. Let us never forget.

.

6 7 7 1 , 4 ly u J , S S E R G N IN CO

States of America, ration of the 13 united have connected The unanimous Decla the political bands which ve sol dis of to le op pe e the Laws of Nature and cessary for on equal station to which n events, it becomes ne d m ma an hu te the l of ara pe e im sep urs ich Co the wh th, the When in clare the causes powers of the ear uires that they should de d to assume among the an req er, ind oth nk an ma h of s wit on m the the opini m, a decent respect to Nature’s God entitle the h certain unaliento the separation. wed by their Creator wit do en are y the t tha l, men are created equa be self-evident, that all ed, ss.

We hold these truths to the consent of the govern the pursuit of Happine d an y their just powers from se are Life, Libert ing the it, g riv sh on de oli n, am ab t Me to tha g , or on hts er am alt Rig able tituted People to hts, Governments are ins shall ends, it is the Right of the That to secure these rig es destructive of these in such form, as to them rs com we be t po en its g nm ver izin an Go of org d rm not be an Fo y es uld an ipl r sho nc eve ed pri en h lish That wh ndation on suc ents long estab ile l dictate that Governm vernment, laying its fou wh , wil Go , w fer eed ne suf te ind to e, titu sed nc ins po de to dis d Pru an mankind are more t ety and Happiness. tha Saf , ir wn s the she use ect th ab eff ha of to ce in ly seem most like when a long tra ingly all experien y are accustomed. But is ent causes; and accord it the nsi ht, ich tra rig d wh ir an to t the ms is ligh it for , for the changed es by abolishing r absolute Despotism elv de ms un m the ht the e rig uc to n red tha to evils are sufferable, Object evinces a design ing invariably the same their future security. former and usurpations, pursu ains them to alter their provide new Guards for to d an t, en nm ver Go necessity which constr h suc the ving in w ha off no all ow is h ns, thr tio to suc d ty, rpa an du ; usu their eated injuries and ce of these Colonies an rep fer of y suf tor nt his tie . a pa is rld n the wo tai d to a candid g of Great Bri Such has been s, let Facts be submitte tory of the present Kin thi his e ve Th pro t. en To . nm tes ver Sta Go se of Systems anny over the ment of an absolute Tyr direct object the establish his y for the public good. ed in their operation till olesome and necessar wh st mo the s, Law rtance, unless suspend to t po en im Ass ng ssi his d pre d use an ref s te ha He immedia ht vernors to pass Laws of d to attend to them. would relinquish the rig He has forbidden his Go , he has utterly neglecte ed nd pe sus so en le, unless those people wh op d pe an of d; ts ne tai tric ob dis be ge lar uld Assent sho modation of other Laws for the accom dable to tyrants only. their public Records, He has refused to pass able to them and formi stim ine ht rig from the depository of a t e, tan tur dis isla d an Leg le, the tab in for of Representation ces unusual, uncom legislative bodies at pla . people.

He has called together ance with his measures pli ons on the rights of the com o nly firmness his invasi fatiguing them int ma of h apable of se wit inc rpo g rs, pu sin e we po sol po op e the for tiv for Houses repeatedly, whereby the Legisla d; ive cte tat ele sen be pre to Re dangers of ers the ved oth all sol He has dis e exposed to utions, to cause aining in the mean tim g time, after such dissol rem lon te a Sta for d the se; use rci ref s exe ha He for their ed to the People at large turalization of Foreign Annihilation, have return . hin wit ns lsio structing the Laws for Na vu ob con se d rpo an pu ut, t ho ds. tha wit for Lan ; m of priations invasion fro of these States conditions of new Appro prevent the population powers. ns hither, and raising the He has endeavoured to ry tio gra icia mi Jud ir ing the e lish rag ab ers to encou ent to Laws for est Ass his ng ent of their salaries. usi ref ym ers; refusing to pass oth pa by d e, nistration of Justic , and the amount an mi ces Ad offi the ir stance. ted the uc of str ure ob s ten He ha ne, for the le, and eat out their sub pendent on his Will alo cers to harrass our peop Offi of s arm sw r he hit He has made Judges de t d sen tures. ude of New Offices, an the Consent of our legisla He has erected a multit nding Armies without Sta , ace pe r. of we es po tim il in our laws; giving his superior to the Civ He has kept among us, d unacknowledged by ry independent of and an , lita on Mi uti the stit r de con r ren ou to to He has affected a jurisdiction foreign others to subject us to He has combined with n: tended Legislatio abitants of these Assent to their Acts of pre uld commit on the Inh ed troops among us: sho arm y of the s ich die bo wh rs ge lar rde ng For Quarteri hment for any Mu a mock Trial, from punis For protecting them, by States: rld: with all parts of the wo For cutting off our Trade nt: us without our Conse For imposing Taxes on Trial by Jury: cases, of the benefits of ny ma in government, and For depriving us tended offences pre ing therein an Arbitrary s to be tried for lish Sea d ab est yon se ce, be us vin Pro ing ort ng uri For transp e absolute rule into the s in a neighbo nt for introducing the sam System of English Law me tru ins fit d an le mp For abolishing the free ce an exa s so as to render it at on s of our Governments: enlarging its Boundarie fundamentally the Form ng eri alt d an atsoever. s, Law : ble Colonies st valua te for us in all cases wh arters, abolishing our mo ed with power to legisla est inv es elv ms the For taking away our Ch g rin inst us. n Legislatures, and decla tion and waging War aga For suspending our ow ring us out of his Protec cla r people. de ou of by s re, live he t the en d nm oye anny, already our towns, and destr He has abdicated Gover rnt bu s, ast ath, desolation and tyr Co de r of ou d rks wo age rav the s, at sea ple r ou com d to worthy the Head of a Mercenaries He has plundere large Armies of foreign rous ages, and totally un ing rba ba ort st nsp mo tra e the tim in s d thi lele He is at scarcely paral ces of Cruelty & perfidy become the executionbegun with circumstan against their Country, to s Arm ar be to s Sea n. h civilized natio Captive on the hig r fellow Citizens taken , the merciless He has constrained ou elves by their Hands. ms abitants of our frontiers the inh fall to the or on , en ng bri thr to Bre d d ure an ers of their friends us, and has endeavo s, sexes and conditions. insurrections amongst ed destruction of all age ish gu tin He has excited domestic dis un an is re, known rule of warfa itions have been Indian Savages, whose terms: Our repeated Pet le mb hu st the mo the in ned for Redress e a Tyrant, is unfit to be ry act which may defin pressions We have Petitio eve Op by se d the rke of ma s ge sta thu ry is In eve character ed injury. A Prince whose answered only by repeat ir legisruler of a free people. time of attempts by the rned them from time to wa tlement ve set ha d an We . on en ati thr igr bre ns to our Brittish mstances of our em tio cu en cir att the in of ng m to nti d the wa ed dre en r common kin We have remind Nor have We be ed them by the ties of ou ble jurisdiction over us. jur nta con rra the ve wa to ha af un we de an d d en an en be lature to ext magnanimity, They too have their native justice and s and correspondence. them, to on d ld cti ale ho ne d pe an ap con r n, ve ou tio ha t ara up We err here. denounces our Sep uld inevitably int ich wo , wh , ich sity wh ces ns, ne tio the rpa in disavow these usu refore, acquiesce sanguinity. We must, the voice of justice and of con Peace Friends. in r, Wa in nkind, Enemies ma of t res the ld g to the Supreme Judge ho we as ress, Assembled, appealin ng Co ral ne nly pubGe in ca, d States of Ameri of these Colonies, solem sentatives of the Unite rity of the good People pre from all tho Re Au ved the by , sol d Ab ore an , ref are me y the , Na We dent States; that the entions, do, in the en int r ep ou Ind of d an de e totally titu Fre be rec to be t Right ought to n, is and ough of the world for the the State of Great Britai ited Colonies are, and of d Un an se m the the lish at ab een Th est , tw re, be ces cla lish and de contract Allian cal connection y War, conclude Peace, Crown, and that all politi ion, with y have full Power to lev the Allegiance to the British , support of this Declarat tes the Sta for nt d de An . en do ep ht Ind rig d of an y e Honor. ma Fre red as tes t sac Sta r tha Independent rtunes and ou dissolved; and Acts and Things which other our Lives, our Fo h er eac oth to all e do dg to ple d lly an e, tua Commerc ence, we mu tection of divine Provid a firm reliance on the pro

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

opinion | my view

9A

by Andrew Clayton

I choose liberty; denounce surveillance The NSA’s surveillance of Americans is a breach of the Constitution. How would you like the government tracking who visits your home or how you spend your money. we truly safe from tyranny here at home?

Our country changed after Sept. 11, 2001. In our zeal to prevent a recurrence of such a horrific tragedy, we have wittingly and unwittingly allowed our government under both political parties to become ever more powerful and intrusive in our lives. Hence, most of us grudgingly endure body scans at airports and surrender shampoo bottles that contain more than 3.4 ounces of fluid.

Nonetheless, we have not knowingly and willingly consented to the much more intrusive conduct of government snooping through our email and/or its recording the identity of those with whom we communicate. There is no articulable reason for us to allow it now and thereby abandon our natural right to privacy — our fundamental right to be left alone by our government.

Some of our fellow citizens say that if someone is not doing any-

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thing “wrong,” there shouldn’t be anything to worry about if the government wants to maintain records of our communications, or where we go, or even what we write. But that point of view begs the question: What if their definition of what is acceptable behavior today is later defined as “wrong” by a future political class or some nameless, faceless bureaucrat? Would such lawabiding citizens truly feel comfortable with government agents standing at their street corner recording the identity of visitors to their home, or monitoring where they went or who they visited or how they spent their money?

Does it really matter if that kind of surveillance is conducted in person or through some hyperpowered NSA data center?

Do you unqualifiedly trust the government always to do the right thing?

The mere fact that we have sophisticated technology to conduct surveillance — whether

by NSA electronic snooping or

The federal government under Presidents Bush and Obama has attempted to justify snooping on all of us as necessary for our safety. I’m not buying it, and our Constitution forbids it. Given the choice between safety and liberty from the government’s invasion of our privacy, the choice for me is clear. I choose liberty.

MUSSELS • LOBSTER • ANTIPASTO

olutionaries who subscribed to the belief that government should exist for the purpose of securing our rights under “natural law.”

The second paragraph of the Declaration contains the most inspirational statement of human rights ever written: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Throughout the 20th century and into the present, this country has prided itself on those ideals and has attempted to spread throughout the world the concept of freedom and democracy at great cost to its citizens’ lives and national treasure. In the 20th century alone, more than 670,000 American service members died, and many more shed blood in the interest of preserving freedom and preventing tyranny around the world. But, are

116386

“Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” — Thomas Jefferson On this extraordinary day in American history, July 4, it is always worth reflecting on the reasons we celebrate Independence Day, particularly in light of the revelations about the federal government’s monitoring of innocent citizens’ phone calls and emails. Clayton Those who support government surveillance cite their belief that such efforts make us all safer. I disagree.

The government’s surveillance of innocent Americans is a breach of its fundamental obligations to safeguard our constitutionally protected rights. And, by its breach of those obligations, the essence of our democracy is imperiled.

As every youngster should know, the fourth day of July commemorates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That extraordinary instrument was conceived and drafted by a group of brave rev-

drones flying above — does not justify its use against our fellow citizens in the absence of a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.

The Fourth Amendment protects us against unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring a judicially sanctioned warrant that is issued only when there is probable cause that a crime has been committed. Obviously, no probable cause exists to permit the monitoring of every citizen’s emails and phone records.

The British poet and academic C.S. Lewis wrote several decades ago, “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.”

The federal government under Presidents Bush and Obama has attempted to justify snooping on all of us as necessary for our safety. I’m not buying it, and our Constitution forbids it.

Given the choice between safety and liberty from the government’s invasion of our privacy, the choice for me is clear. I choose liberty.

Andrew Clayton is a Sarasota attorney.

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VENICE

PORT

479-7900

485-3211

764-8700

550 S. Seaboard Ave. CHARLOTTE 5814 18th St East Across from the Ellenton Just North Of Venice Nissan 1241 El Jobean Rd. on U.S. 41 Bypass (776 across from Sam’s) Outlet Mall

Mon.-Sat. 9-9 Sun. 11-6

Mon.-Sat. 9-6 Sun. 11-6

Mon.-Sat. 9-9 Sun. 11-6

111618 111616

$

10A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

COMMUNITYCALENDAR 27.99 Tito’s Handmade Vodka 1.75 L

17.99

11.99 Or Gin, 1.75 L

7.99

Volkov Light Vodka

1.75 L

1.75 L

17.99

20.99

1.75 L

Original or Silver, 1.75 L

15.99

Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

Seagram’s Seven Crown

Silver, Gold, or Spiced, 1.75 L

1.75 L

28.99

55.99 1.75 L

17.99

21.99

750 ml

750 ml

16.99

31.99

1.75 L

1.75 L

Bushmills Irish Whiskey

Early Times

16.99 Canadian Mist 1.75 L

Lord’s Warehouse — is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive from June through September.

The thrift store offers clothing, jewelry, furniture, books and housewares to raise money for local charities. Call 383-4738.

What: Patriotic people (and pups) of all ages are invited to participate in what’s known as the shortest and most charming Fourth of July parade in America. Parade participants are invited to walk the walk around Bay Isles Road or make the rounds via bike, trike or wagon.

Then, enjoy breakfast, games and good, old-fashioned fun in Bicentennial Park. For information, call 383-2466.

When: Parade lineup begins at 8:30 a.m.; parade begins at 9 a.m.

Where: Parade begins between Bank of America and SunTrust Bank on Bay Isles Road; the celebration continues at Bicentennial Park outside of Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

For more Fourth of July events, check out the Spirit of America issue in this week’s newspaper.

SpiritmoericA SpirittiTeoshftheAatitesbinthfdaAtumbsinericA

The

d us

SER VIC IUMPH HOME E  TR ADIT IO IT ION  TR ILIES GROW AD N  TR UE FAM NEUTR IUMPH PAGES 20-22 VIC  U N IQ R N IQ forSaE calenda R O W N U E FA July events. r G h ofM IL IES of rJuoflyFourt HOME of Fourth da

Look ins ide

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

+ Town Commission gives final approval for Sister Keys purchase The Longboat Key Town Commission gave final approval for the purchase of Sister Keys at its July 6, 1992, meeting. Most of the $975,000 the town paid came from the town’s land acquisition fund, while the Sister Keys Conservancy, a group of residents that worked for years to preserve the mangrove islands, contributed $46,000.

Because the islands are an environmental preserve, they’re not open to the public. Commissioners joked that “beware of rattlesnakes” signs could serve as both a warning and discouragement to anyone who might attempt to venture onto the island.

8.99

+ Classic Cops Corners 7/1/95 — 4:10 p.m. Two nude women in roadway, Northshore Road. Dressed and left on request.

Prices effective Thursday, July 4 through Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

115431

Liquor items are only available at Publix Liquors.

Visit publix.com/store to find the store nearest you.

Must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic beverages. Quantity limits per customer apply.

D-Lakeland/Jacksonville 4C-Thursday

Tai Chi for Health Class — takes place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Longboat Island Chapel’s Aging in Paradise Resource Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Christine Killeen will teach participants the essential basics of tai chi.

Cost is $56 for eight classes. Contact Killeen at 383-1924.

Do you want flies with that?

A buzzing, rapidly multiplying fleet of flies pestered Longboat Key throughout the Fourth of July weekend in 2005.

The flies swarmed Freedom Fest and also bugged guests at the LONGBOAT Colony Beach & Tennis Resort’s LORE Fourth of July celebration.

Town officials said dead fish caused by a red tide outbreak attracted the unusual number of flies. Although most of the fish had been removed, there were a few stragglers stuck in the mangroves.

Still, a few flies weren’t enough to shoo away patriotic parade participants. Approximately 250 people attended Freedom Fest that year.

Lord Calvert Canadian Whisky

750 ml

Wednesdays, beginning July 10

Mote Marine Laboratory Turtle Walks — take place at 6:45 a.m. in July beginning at the Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort, 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Meet at the hotel’s pool area for a leisurely one-and-a-half-mile walk. A Mote volunteer will lead participants while discussing sea turtles and other local wildlife. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 3884441.

Longboat Key Freedom Fest

Flies bugged residents on Fourth of July

15.99

Or Blanco, 750 ml

Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Party on the Patio — takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the chamber office, 595 Bay Isles Road, Suite 150F. BYOG, or bring your own guest, to this Business After Hours networking event. Cost is $5 for members and guests. Call 3832466.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Wild Turkey 101

Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream

Saturdays

DON’T MISS

events. calen PAGE ide for a Look ins The Observ server S 20-22 er The Ob

Buffalo Trace Bourbon

El Jimador Reposado Tequila

Tuesday, July 9

What: Join Sarasota Bay Watch for an evening of food and fun to raise money for scallop restoration.

When: Saturday, Aug. 3. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m.

Where: Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd.

Information: Cost is $85. Tables of 10 are available for $750; tables of eight are $600. Register by July 29 at sarasotabaywatch.org.

1.75 L

19.99

Longboat Library — is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 555 Bay Isles Road. The nonprofit, membershipbased library offers books, audiobooks and Internet access. Call 383-2011.

Scallapalooza

Johnnie Walker Black Label

1.75 L

Monday through Saturday

LOOKING AHEAD

17.99

Castillo Rum

Famous Grouse Scotch

Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Meeting — runs from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Longboat Key Club and Resort’s Tavern & Whiskey Bar. Cost is $10 and includes a breakfast buffet. Call Donna at 388-2847.

Fleischmann’s Vodka

Svedka Vodka

Malibu Coconut Rum

Thursday, July 4

7/6/01 — 10:11 a.m. 200 block of GMD. Disturbance. Subject said her boss fired her and then slammed a door in her face. She said this caused her eyes to twitch, which caused her blood pressure to rise, which caused a rash to form on her arm. Police informed her this was a civil matter.

+ Alligator makes surprise Gulf appearance There was a 6-foot, long-toothed swimmer gliding through the Gulf, according to the July 8, 1982, issue of the Longboat Observer.

No, it wasn’t a shark, but, rather, an alligator that somehow found its way into the Gulf of Mexico.

Police shot the alligator, which was in poor condition.

The article reported that alligators prefer mangroves and brackish water and are almost as afraid of humans as we are of them — but emphasized the word almost.

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

West of traiL 1810 Lincoln Drive Brian Wood

premiersir.com/id/A3971740

anna Maria isLanD

Longboat Key

534 70th street Terry Hayes

941.302.3100 $2,174,000

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sarabay aCres

siesta Key 7902 sanderling road Joel Schemmel

135 us 41 & West bay street Ziad Sleit 941.928.5493 premiersir.com/id/A3951876 $9,900,000

premiersir.com/id/A3958843

941.587.4894 $7,945,000

siesta Key

LeMon bay estates 5820 Jamila river Drive Stephen Lingley 941.809.7580 premiersir.com/id/N5779086 $1,595,000

founDers CLub

bent tree 7729 red Cedar Lane Joel Schemmel

3537 founders Club Drive Brian Wood 941.928.8408 $889,000

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sarasota

founDers CLub 3815 founders Club Drive Don Carroll 941.539.2132 premiersir.com/id/A3942105 $598,000

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WooDLanDs at rivenDeLL 925 scherer Way Helena & Per Nordstrom

837 White Cap Circle Bonnie Price & Richard Bradway 941.350.3362 $437,900

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941.726.5822 $674,900

1771 ringling boulevard, PH104 Jo Rutstein 941.587.9156 premiersir.com/id/A3957159 $559,000

4019 Casey Key road Charlotte Hedge

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tHe LaKe CLub 941.350.0100 $2,950,000

16505 baycross Drive Beth Pheney

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engLeWooD 1760 bayshore Drive Terry Herschberger

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941.468.8439 $1,250,000

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941.228.7356 $409,000

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boCa royaLe 941.524.8299 $549,900

4 Dominica Drive Bob Linthicum

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941.228.9206 $499,900

LaKeWooD ranCH 941.812.7438 $380,000

7115 Presidio glen Debbie Rempert

premiersir.com/id/A3971423

941.356.1857 $935,000

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Longboat Key 660 Penfield street Andrew Bers

LiDo Key 160 Harrison Drive Kathleen Ucci

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Longboat Key 941.302.2344 $399,900

7164 Longboat north Drive Cheryl Loeffler 941.302.9674 premiersir.com/id/A3972334 $399,000

siesta Key

roCHester

3922 solymar Drive Peter Laughlin

941.356.8428 $2,495,000

premiersir.com/id/A3956369

7343 barclay Court Thomas Netzel

941.308.1083 $899,000

premiersir.com/id/A3980317

941.223.8343 $329,000

2619 Dick Wilson Drive Jerry Zaback

premiersir.com/id/A3972293

941.383.2550 $699,999

premiersir.com/id/A3974113

1555 Creek street Karin Stephan

premiersir.com/id/A3932801

941.504.4435 $1,999,000

PrestanCia 3988 Losillias Drive Joel Schemmel

premiersir.com/id/A3972481

LaureL oaK

6326 Midnight Pass road, 109 Maureen & Matt Morris 941.320.3960 $769,000

PaLM aire 5249 Creekside trail Cindy Migone

941.928.3424 $949,000

premiersir.com/id/A3980181

river CLub

Longboat Key 3565 Mistletoe Lane Sheldon Paley

university ParK

siesta Key

3994 Hamilton Club Circle, 18 Sharon Chiodi 941.809.0380 premiersir.com/id/A3972672 $829,000

6902 river birch Court Charles Totonis

941.345.5636 $2,550,000

siesta Key 757 siesta Key Circle Judie Berger

siesta Key

7961 Megan Hammock Way Kevin Milner 941.539.3287 premiersir.com/id/A3976930 $675,000

premiersir.com/id/N5776092

501 spinnaker Lane Candria Crisp

rivo at ringLing

Casey Key

5831 riegels Harbor road Judie Berger 941.928.3424 premiersir.com/id/A3963210 $1,895,000

premiersir.com/id/A3971743

941.928.8408 $1,395,000

Longboat Key 601 Longboat Club road, 804s Cheryl Loeffler 941.302.9674 premiersir.com/id/A3972078 $1,195,000

11A

941.587.4894 $895,000

West of traiL

941.350.6885 $699,000

1766 Loma Linda street Carolyn Collins & Roberta Tengerdy 941.320.0722 premiersir.com/id/A3980177 $699,000

boCa royaLe

veniCe isLanD

23 saint John boulevard Bob Linthicum 941.228.9206 premiersir.com/id/N5778835 $479,900

1585 tarpon Center Drive Kathy Lehner 941.468.3523 premiersir.com/id/N5778997 $449,900

WaterLefe

sorrento ranCHes

9464 Portside terrace Pat & Peter Evans

premiersir.com/id/M5833827

941.928.8424 $300,000

240 sorrento ranches Drive Roberta Tengerdy 941.321.2292 $300,000

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

YOUR NEIGHBOR | Mary Lou Johnson

& ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Open 7 days • 11AM to Midnight 201 N. Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach 778-0771 or 778-0772

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

Robin Hartill

I

116378

s it a photograph or a painting?

That’s a question Mary Lou Johnson receives a lot. Sometimes people even make bets on it.

All bets are off: Johnson’s work is 100% photography.

Neighborhood: But taking the North end, Gulfside photo is just the Neighbor beginning. since: 2003 She shoots photographs digitally and works with 10 to 15 different computer programs to create the effect she wants, changing textures and lighting effects, for example.

“I take it where I think it needs to go,” Johnson said. “Then, I have it put on a canvas, which gives it more texture and punch. It doesn’t need a glass or frame.”

Johnson, who was born in Jacksonville and moved to Tampa when she was 4, always loved photography but used to be a point-and-shoot photographer.

She taught English and psychology at the high school and college levels while taking night classes to become a private-

A Healthy Bay Is Everybody’s Business

opeN

Fresh Squeezed OJ, Grab & Go Sandwiches, Hot-Pressed Cubans, Italians & Subs, Soups, Coffee, Drinks & Beer Cave

4032 Gulf of Mexico Drive

(Next to Longboat Ace Hardware)

P: 941 383-6900 FAX (941) 383-2170

6pm Cocktail hour - Cash bar 7pm Dinner

103731

Gourmet Candies & Gifts

SATURDAY, August 3 At the Sarasota Yacht Club

Longboat ace Hardware

4030 Gulf of Mexico Dr. • Longboat Key • 383.1313

HoLMeS beacH Hardware

3352 East Bay Dr. • Holmes Beach, FL • 778.0999

85 per person includes dinner,

Monday - Saturday 8am - 5:30pm • Sunday 10am - 4pm

entertainment and auction A limited number of group tables are available: 10 persons for $750 8 persons for $600

HAPPY HOUR m 4 to 67pDAYS OPEN

m to 9:30p m a 0 3 : 1 1

Register at SarasotaBayWatch.org or call:

Since 1967

STONE CRAB RESTAURANT

Larg Parti e Welc es ome

All-You-Can-Eat Specials

(941)232-2363

Mon: Alaskan Snow Crab Legs $26.99 Tues: Fish & Chips $14.99 Wed: Fried Shrimp with French Fries & Cole Slaw $16.99 Thurs: Alaskan Snow Crab Legs $26.99 Call ahead seating • Reservations for 5 or more

for more info.

Sponsored by:

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Open 7 Days 11:30am - 9:30pm www.stonecrab.cc

Best Food, Best Service, Best View Any closer to the water and you’ll need a towel

By Land: 800 Broadway St. • By Sea: Marker 39 on the Waterway North End of Longboat Key • 383-1748 Call Ahead Seating/Reservations for 5 or more

116061

$

FeaturInG

6:30a.m. - 9:00P.m.

Please join the Sarasota Bay Watch for an exciting evening of food and fun!

practice marriage and family counselor.

But when her oldest daughter, Randi, left for college, Johnson knew she would feel a void. So, she took the advice she had always given clients: When you feel a loss, do something special.

For Johnson, that meant enrolling in photography classes, first at the University of South Florida and, later, in a threeyear program at the New York Institute of Photography.

“It went from a passion to an obsession, if you ask my husband,” she said.

Since then, her photography has attracted a wide audience.

Her photograph, “Crayola Eight Pack,” was one of 150 entries voters picked from more than 30,000 to be displayed at New York’s Times Square.

But you don’t have to leave the Key to see Johnson’s photography.

Her “Water: Above and Below” exhibit will be on display for the next year at the Longboat Key Club & Resort’s Tennis Gardens facility.

— Robin Hartill

freedo m

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

13A

Longboat Key’s Fourth of July Extravaganza

FREEDOM FEST Parade • Food • Games • Snow Cones • Face Painting

Fun for All Ages!

FREEDOM FEST PARADE

Grab your red, white and blue streamers and decorate your bikes, strollers, wagons and, yes, your dogs for a patriotic stroll down Longboat Key's Main Street — Bay Isles Road. Join Longboat Key dignitaries, Uncle Sam, the Cannons Marina boat and all your neighbors for an old-fashioned, All-American parade. Lineup begins at 8:30 a.m. between Bank of America and SunTrust Bank on Bay Isles Road. Parade starts at 9 a.m.

KID GAMES & BUTTERFLY RELEASE

Fun games for kids of all ages in Bicentennial Park (next to Longboat Key Town Hall) after the parade, with loads of fun prizes for everyone. Kids can also take tours of Longboat Key’s biggest fire truck and rescue unit. Kids will get to release dozens of butterflies, supplied by the Longboat Key Garden Club, into the park.

FOOD

Indulge in some of your holiday favorites: waffles from Blue Dolphin Cafe, snow cones, popcorn, soft drinks and more. Enjoy American flags will line Bay Isles Road in a tribute to the red, your food on picnic tables at the beautiful and shady Bicentennial white and blue of American patriotism.

Park.

AVENUE OF THE FLAGS

FREEDOM FEST SPONSORS The Longboat Observer Cannons Marina • Town of Longboat Key • Longboat Key Kiwanis Club Blue Dolphin Cafe Hosted by: Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce

115524

FREEDOM FEST: 9 to 11 a.m. • Thursday, July 4 • Bicentennial Park on Bay Isles Road

14A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

OBITUARIES Cynthia Segrest Hamilton Dunn, 80, of Charlotte, N.C., and formerly of Longboat Key and Punta Gorda, died June 24.

A native of Baton Rouge, La., she attended Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

She had a successful career as a real-estate broker in Louisiana and Florida. She loved genealogy, history, the outdoors, golf and captaining her boat, “The Mistletoe.”

Mrs. Dunn was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Wesley Dunn, and son, William Cabell Hamilton.

She is survived by her daughters, Cyndee Hamilton Taylor, of Jerusalem, and Elizabeth Hamilton Doggett, of Charlotte, N.C.; son, John Hamilton, of Baton Rouge; sister, Jane Segrest Brenner, of Punta Gorda; brother, Ben Howell Segrest, of Winter Park; stepchildren Todd Chas and Jane Santiago; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A funeral was held July 1, in Baton Rouge.

To offer condolences, visit heritagecares.net.

Elizabeth ‘Lib’ Smith

Elizabeth “Lib” Smith, 100, of Longboat Key, died June 21.

Born Sept. 27, 1912, in Frankfort, Ky.,

she was always interested and talented in music; she played both the piano and organ. After graduating from the Cincinnati College of Music and the University of Cincinnati, she taught music for seven years at Shawnee Mission Junior High School, in Louisville, Ky. In 1941, she married Hastings Smith, who was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She had two sons, Hastings Jr. in 1943, and Robert in 1945. During the war, she lived in Maine, St. Petersburg and Lexington, Ky. After the war, the family moved to Indianapolis, where Hastings Sr. began a successful insurance career. In Indianapolis, Mrs. Smith worked for many charitable organizations, including the Red Cross, Junior League and her local church.

In 1973, Mr. Smith died, and Mrs. Smith moved to Longboat Key. She volunteered at the Longboat Island Chapel and taught classes in crewel embroidery and needlepoint for many years.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband, Hastings Smith Sr., and son, Hastings Smith Jr. She is survived by her son, Robert Smith; brother, Bob Rogers; and five grandchildren. Her family extends thanks to her caregivers and nurses from A Better Solution of Sarasota who were her best friends and constant companions for the

last five years.

A memorial service took place June 26.

clients such as Chrysler, 3M, Grumman and Carnegie Mellon University and later joined Nasr/Penton (later M. Nasr & Partners), where she worked on projects such as high-rise office buildings, department stores, shopping centers, country clubs, golf courses and private homes.

Ms. Steffee met her husband, Peter Yenne, a fellow Rice graduate, curator and freelance photographer, during one of those projects. The couple married in Key West. After the birth of their son, Julian, Ms. Steffee devoted herself to domestic life and spent many summers at her mother’s home on Longboat Key. Ms. Steffee is remembered for her intelligence and talent; beauty, grace and sense of style; boundless energy she brought to everything she did; love of animals; and thoughtfulness and dedication to those she loved.

Ms. Steffee is survived by her husband, Peter Yenne; son, Julian; parents, Donna Garner, of Longboat Key, and Dr. William Steffee, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; sisters Amy Chaho, of Rocky River, Ohio, and Laura Kozma, of Robbinsville, N.J.; three nieces; nephew; and beloved papillons, Max and Elise.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Fla., 34228.

Linda Steffee

A memorial service for Linda Steffee, 52, of Houston, who died July 21, 2012, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Ms. Steffee died last year after a long, hardfought battle with cancer.

Born Jan. 4, 1960, in Philadelphia, she spent Steffee her childhood in the Midwest. After graduating a year early from Wellesley Senior High School, in Wellesley, Mass., she deferred her enrollment at Princeton University to pursue classical ballet.

At 17, she entered the American Ballet, where she met legendary choreographer George Balanchine and dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and studied under renowned prima ballerina Alexandra Danilova. After a year in New York City, she enrolled at Princeton and graduated in 1985; she later earned a master’s in architecture from Rice University in 1989.

Ms. Steffee began her career at CRS Sirrine working on major projects for

All Angels by the Sea

A Midsummer Night’s Wish

The Episcopal Church on Longboat Key

563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key All are welcome. Please join us in worship!

Sunday Service

383-8161

Benefiting

9:00 a.m.

Website: www.AllAngelsLBK.org

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

113495

Cynthia Segrest Hamilton Dunn

Central and Northern Florida

Sermon: “Somebody Paid the Price”

Saturday, July 13th

116006

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Ritz-Carlton Members Beach Club 1234 Benjamin Franklin Drive Lido Key, FL 34236

UNIVERSAL

CROSSWORD

PUZZLE line

on

Guest Preacher: The Rev. Charlie Shook

115944

Visitors Welcome

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

The Lord’s Warehouse

THRIFT SHOP

open Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, CATHOLIC CHURCH Welcomes you to Mass MASS SCHEDULE

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

Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM Confessions before all Masses Msgr. Gerard Finegan, Pastor

Temple Beth Israel

Jo i

n

A Center of Jewish Life and Learning in the Sarasota Area

U

s!

Share Shabbat and more:

Friday Evening, 5:30 pm Saturday Morning, 10:00 am

941.383.3428 www.tbi-lbk.org

Please visit our Judaica Shop

567 Bay Isles Road • Longboat Key, FL

116392

JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. | WWSB ABC7 Mercedes Medical | Jay Goodley Entertainment Inc. Observer Media Group | Spotlight Graphics Ritz-Carlton Members Club DOCs — Drs. Anderson and Brannan Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick, LLP

The Rev. Dr. Vincent Carroll Senior Minister

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Thank you to our Sponsors:

An InterfAIth CommunIty ChurCh founded In 1956

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Tickets starting at $100 Sponsorships available starting at $1,250 Call 952-WISH

Sunday Worship 10 a.m.

Neighborhood B U S I N E S S | C L A S S I F I E D S | G A M E S | K E Y L I F E | R E A L E S TAT E | S P O RT S | T R AV E L | W E AT H E R

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

REAL ESTATE Washington Drive home sells for $1.65 million.

PAGES 22-23A

WEDDED BLISS

WEATHER

DAY TRIP

See this week’s standout local weather photo.

Take a ride to East County to experience some natural fun.

PAGE 18A

PAGE 25A

by Robin Hartill | City Editor

Weddings are big business, but Longboat Key only gets a small sliver of the proverbial cake. A new group of wedding-business professionals hopes to change that.

Since then, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce has taken over organizing the festival, which, last May, showcased more than 50 vendors spread across five different venues.

Nancy Taussig has performed Deborah Wing, vice president of weddings everywhere from musethe Anna Maria Island Chamber ums to a McDonald’s parking lot. of Commerce and chairwoman As owner of Barefoot Weddings, of the festival, described how the she performs approximately 100 wedding business can impact the ceremonies per year, from Anna local economy.

Maria Island south to Casey Key Guests travel to the area, stay at and Venice. local hotels and eat at local restauJust a half-dozen of those are on rants. Sometimes they come back Longboat Key. to the area to visit, or even to get “It’s a very small percentage,” married themselves. said Taussig, who recently perAccording to Elka, the wedding formed her 1,300th ceremony. business can help even out the Meanwhile, Longboat Key’s season, because business stays neighbor to the north — Anna strong after Easter, usually dipping Maria Island — promotes itself as only during the hottest summer Florida’s beach-wedding capital. months.

So, why hasn’t Longboat gotten Still, Longboat Key faces chala bigger slice of the wedding cake? lenges in the wedding business “I think it was never really pro— specifically, fewer venues than moted,” Taussig said of the isAnna Maria Island.

The gated land’s possibility as a wedding Longboat Key Club & Resort is a destination. popular spot for beachfront wedSo, one year ago, Taussig apdings, but Longboat’s beach is less proached Longboat Key Chamber wedding-friendly than Anna Maria of Commerce Executive Vice PresIsland’s. It has small hard-to-find ident Dawn Mims about creating accesses and limited parking. a network of wedding professionLongboat residents have also als, such as photographers, caterbeen less-than-enthusiastic about ers and florists, who could offer “a events on the island. Restaurateur lot of cross-pollination.”

Ed Chiles recently withdrew a plan The group started out informalPhoto courtesy of Jack Elka to restore the historic Rufus P. Jorly but has grown to approximately Dawn Hummell and Greg Smaltz married April 7, dan House and use the space for 25 members who are just starting 2010, at the Longboat Island Chapel. gatherings, including weddings, to promote the Key as an idylafter receiving backlash from resilic wedding destination. It’s now Professionals, hopes the group can fashdents concerned about noise and parkchaired by Bill Shuttleworth, a Long- ion a unique title for Longboat that will ing. boat Island Chapel Board of Directors spotlight it as a wedding destination.

The group, however, is working hard member whose wife, Laurie, became Six years ago, Elka formed the Anna to promote the chapel as a potential the chapel’s wedding coordinator last Maria Wedding Merchants Association wedding venue. According to Shuttleyear. because he frequently found himself “We don’t have to sell the concept that on the phone with brides for more than worth, in the past year, the church has we can do more weddings on the Key,” an hour answering questions such as, renewed its focus on weddings.

The chapel currently includes wedShuttleworth said. “It’s a matter of how.” “Where can I find a florist?” or “Where ding information on its website but is should I have a rehearsal dinner?” working to build a separate site devotA tale of two islands Anna Maria Island already featured ed entirely to weddings. Currently, the Photographer Jack Elka dubbed Anna popular wedding spots: the Sandbar, chapel is the venue for approximately a Maria Island “Florida’s beach-wedding the BeachHouse Restaurant, Harrington dozen weddings per year; its goal is to capital” in the second Anna Maria Is- House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast and get up to 50. land Wedding Guide in 2008.

Tradewinds, to name a few.

“The first question Laurie gets is, “Everybody laughed at me, but I did “It really had the infrastructure,” Elka ‘Can you help me with catering? Where say it,” Elka said. “But then it went on said. “I kind of rounded it up to make it can I get my hair done?’” Shuttleworth the Internet, and if it’s on the Internet, it easy for a bride to spend her money.” said. “We’re trying to find the synergies, has to be true.”

In 2008, the association held the first how we can all work together within the Elka, who is part of the Key Wedding Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival.

Wedding spending ranges Spending ranges of couples who marry in Manatee County.

15% 42%

17% 26%

Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $19,999 $20,000 to $29,999 $30,000 or more Spending ranges of couples who marry in Sarasota County.

16% 41%

18% 26%

Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $19,999 $20,000 to $29,999 $30,000 or more Source: costofwedding.com

community. We are a location to have a wedding with a minister to officiate, but brides are looking for so much more.”

“What we’re trying to do is get the message out that Longboat Key is a great place to have a wedding,” Elka said.

16A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

spa space

Lynne Koy

by Yaryna Klimchak | Community Editor

Bird Key Yacht Club ladies learn style tips Bird Key Yacht Club members enjoyed a spa day Monday, June 24, at The Met on St. Armands Circle. Hair stylist Raquel Ruiz gave ladies tips on how to use the proper tools and keep hair full of volume during the summer months. Consultants talked to ladies in the fashion house about summer styling and makeup.

presents her

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En ProVEnCE Enchanted seaside hideaway at En Provence with sweeping Gulf front views! This 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath condominium residence with private elevator lobby combines the best of indoor and outdoor living, with an 800 square foot Gulf-front terrace complete with al fresco kitchen. Delightful custom touches throughout. $3,395,000

Hair stylist Raquel Ruiz gives Katie Cornell’s hair volume. She has 13 years of experience and taught the ladies to brush and blow dry hair away from the scalp for volume.

KEIth PoIntE - remarkable Sarasota Bay front home surrounded by lush tropical landscaping. Stunning open Bay views, gourmet kitchen, spacious patio with summer kitchen on 175” of waterfront with oversized dock. $3,899,000

baY ISlES - Beautiful 3BD/3.5BA home situated on water’s edge.

Volume ceilings, crown molding, marble gas fireplace with raised hearth, wood flooring, & dramatic Master Suite spa are a few of the $749,000 extraordinary features.

SPICE baY - The Antiqua is an exciting British West Indies architectural design in keeping with the idea of casual elegance.

This 3Br/3.5BA open floor plan and beautifully finished outdoor living room is situated around a stunning courtyard and pool. Being built by Perrone Construction. $2,200,000

Barbara Chalson moved to Lakewood Ranch from Princeton, N.J., six months ago, and Marie Hunter has lived on Lido Key for eight years.

CaStIllIan - Sweeping Full Gulf of Mexico and Partial Bay views from

this 3BA/2.5BA turnkey furnished corner/end condo at the Castillian.

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Bird Key resident Ronni Minnig and Siesta Key resident Tami Walsh

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PlaYErS Club – Enjoy Gulf Views and vibrant sunrises from the spacious screened lanai of this 2BD/2.5BA turnkey furnished Players Club condo! Private beach for the exclusive use of residents. $530,000

ISlanDEr Club – Lovely bay view from this east-facing residence with a ‘peek of the Gulf’ from the master bedroom! This condo was renovated in 2006 and is fully furnished. $405,000

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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

Global Marketing: NYtimes.com • Birdkeynews.com • Coldwellbanker.com • Worldproperties.com • Trulia.com •LynneKoy.com • Rightmoves.com • Greatwaterfrontliving.com • Realtor.com • Zillow.com CBC1251443

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RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

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Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

17A

ay!

D nce

de

y app

en dep

Ian Addy & Gail Wittig

In

Tommy Bahama celebrates 20 years Customers celebrated Tommy Bahama’s 20th anniversary Friday, June 28, at the restaurant and the retail store on St. Armands Circle. The restaurant had an extended happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m., and the retail store gave out 20 certificates worth $20 in celebration of the anniversary. At the store, customers enjoyed basil-mint lemonade and listened to Bain Beakley play the acoustic guitar.

The restaurant also brought back menu items that were served when the restaurant opened 20 years ago.

The store first opened 20 years ago in Naples, and it opened 17 years ago on St. Armands Circle.

Pat Burrer enjoys a basilmint lemonade.

Bringing People Home Since 1939

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Kathryn Davis browses for shorts for her husband during the 20th anniversary celebration.

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market analysis of your property.

18A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

Destination: East County

SERIES SUMMER aging Editor s Pam Eubank | Man by

Eastern Manatee County may not have beaches or famous museums, but it has plenty of local flavor, winding rivers and parks in which to relax with your family. Consider these options for spending your summer days and nights:

MAP

MANATEE RIVER

1 2

BRADENTON MAURADERS 41

301

4

70

3

SARASOTA BAY

N 2 MILES

Tom Bennett Park

1

3

64

75

400 Cypress Creek Blvd., Bradenton The East County may not have beaches, but this quaint park, named after the local businessman who previously owned the property, is a great stop to start for a relaxing morning. Guests can hike or bike along 1.2 miles of trails or start a game of sand volleyball.

Families with children also can enjoy a unique web-inspired playground.

Areas for fishing, playing soccer or having a picnic in the shade also are available.

Gas needed: 1/8 a tank

2

MILE

Mixon Fruit Farms

2525 27th St. E., Bradenton Mixon Fruit Farms owners Bill and Janet Mixon have turned this longtime family-owned citrus grove into a destination of its own. A gift shop offers unique items, as well as Mixon-grown citrus, Mixon-labeled wine and other treats.

Guests can stop in its café area for lunch and the grove’s orange-swirl ice cream.

Patrons also can catch a tram tour through the groves and an on-site wildlife rescue.

Linger Lodge Restaurant & Campground

7205 85th St. Court E., Bradenton The sound of a doorbell ringing alerts restaurant staff when new patrons enter this unique local eatery.

With a scenic view of the Braden River, this site first was home to a fish camp in the 1940s. East County resident Frank Gamsky opened the Linger Lodge Restaurant and RV Resort in the late 1960s.

The restaurant, now under different ownership, shows off the creative handiwork of Gamsky, a taxidermist.

4

Over the years, the restaurant has earned several national “shout-outs,” including being named one of the “Top Five Weirdest Restaurants in America” by Al Roker.

Its more unique menu offerings include fried green tomatoes, alligator ribs, gator stew and frog legs. Other menu favorites are fried catfish and the lodge’s award-winning gumbo.

Patrons still can take a look at the lodge’s famous — and fake — “road kill menu,” which features delicacies such as “chunk of skunk.”

Jiggs Landing

6106 63rd St. E., (Braden River Road) Bradenton While at Linger Lodge, consider grabbing a dessert to go, before heading to this quaint little spot along the Braden River. With fishing piers, picnic pavilions and even a small playground, there’s plenty of things to do as you watch the sun set.

total mileage:

4 17 miles

total COST:

total trip TIME: 8 hours

DETOURS Ú Geocaching Manatee County now offers a “GeoTour,” which takes geocachers through county parks and preserves to see the area’s native habitat.

Before heading out, individuals can print a geocaching passport from mymanatee.org.

You can find other caches while you are exploring, by accessing geocaching.com.

New to geocaching?

All you need is a cellular phone with GPS capabilities and coordinates of treasures to be found. Ú Play Ball!

The Bradenton Mauraders bring America’s favorite pastime to the East County. This month, the local baseball team has games July 6-8; July 17-24; and July 29-31.

Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years • Consistent top producer on Longboat Key • In-depth knowledge of the real estate market • Active in our community with Longbeach Village Association Longboat Key Historical Society Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Longboat Key Center for the Arts Longboat Key Garden Club

Vacation Exceptional Vacation connection

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Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

19A

Coldwell Banker

®

FLORIDAMOVES.COM

065_Real Trends Sliver_Generic_Teaser Sliver 6/7/13 3:37 PM Page 1

REALTrends 500 Ranks Us #1 Residential Real Estate Brokerage Company in Florida*

*Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is ranked number one in closed residential buyer and/or seller transaction sides in Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Naples/Fort Myers and number one in residential sales volume (calculated by multiplying number of buyer and/or seller transaction sides by the sales price) in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg according to data submitted to REAL Trends by NRT LLC.

Longboat Key $8,450,000 5/5.5 Patrick DiPinto 941-387-1866 MLS#A3951509 )73027

Sarasota, Golden Gate $3,900,000 2/3.5 Dyrk Dahl 941-366-8070 MLS#A3971646 )42007

Sarasota, Keith Pointe $3,899,000 4/4.5 Lynne Koy 941-387-1803 MLS#A3971752 )73026

Longboat Key, Country Club Shores $2,400,000 4/5.5 Judy Kepecz-Hays 941-387-1825 MLS#A3959244 )73025

Longboat Key, Country Club Shores $3,500,000 4/4 Barbara Ackerman 941-387-1820 MLS#A3975049 )79192

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Mainland Sarasota

1350 Main $539,000 LeeAnn Caragiulo, 941-383-6411 Combine elegance with function in this inspired 2BR/2BA condo. MLS#A3979214 )79204 Hunters Run $379,000 Jonas Forslund, 941-387-1890 Beautiful 3BR/2BA home. Cathedral ceilings, ceiling fans. Two-car garage. MLS#A3977486 )79248 Del Sol Village $279,000 Scott Norris, 941-387-1880 Tile-roofed 3BR/2BA Traditional ranch. Cathedral ceilings, ceiling fans. MLS#A3978962 )79250 Golden Gate $224,900 Mary Ann Dabney, 941-366-8070 1/1 condo. Newly renovated. Near beaches & downtown Sarasota. MLS#A3980222 )73012

Longboat Key, Country Club Shores $1,795,000 4/5.5 Roger Pettingell 941-387-1840 MLS#A3974819 )73039

Broadway Promenade $189,900 Martina Coppenrath, 941-387-1853 Discover the versatility of this rewarding condo. Elevators, central H/A. MLS#A3973826 )79244

The Keys Key Royale $2,699,999 Gabe/Charles Buky, 941-387-1864 Create the perfect environment with this distinguished 5BR/5+BA residence. MLS#A3978331 )79195 Bay Isles $1,699,000 Linda Weber, 941-387-1863 4300 sq.ft. custom home Longboat Key Club Harbourside Golf Course. MLS#A3951531 )79246 Inn On The Beach $1,098,500 Barbara Miller, 941-388-3966 Spectacular gulf views 2BR/2BA penthouse. Furnished & completely renovated. MLS#A3974585 Queens Harbour $975,000 Mike Greve, 941-383-6411 A splendid new beginning awaits you in this tile-roofed 3BR/2+BA contempo. MLS#A3979760 )79245

Nokomis, Sorrento Shores $1,995,000 7/5.5 Roger Pettingell 941-387-1840 MLS#A3977120 )73029

Sarasota, Hartsdale $879,000 4/3.5 Bruce Myer 941-387-1859 MLS#A3969555 )79193

Longboat Key $889,500 Barbara Miller, 941-388-3966 Gulf to bay views!

2BR/2BA TKF Bch-front condo. Gtd comm, concierge. MLS#A3970657 Beaches of Longboat Key $769,000 Taube Levitt, 941-388-3966 Inviting & exciting. Charming 2BR/2BA condo. Walk-in closet, central air. MLS#A3960674 Seaplace $710,000 Sandy Endres, 941-387-1861 Beautiful ground floor 3BR/2BA on gulf; completely remodeled & furnished. MLS#A3971086 )79247 Westchester Condo $600,000 Toni Giliberti, 941-383-6411 Reward yourself with elegance in this irresistible 2BR/2BA condo. MLS#A3976372 )79249 Beachplace $449,000 Bruce Myer, 941-387-1859 2BR/2BA with private walkdown and 2 parking spaces in Beachplace Bldg #11. MLS#A3974556 )79194 Chateau Village $239,900 Barbara Standish, 941-504-9458 1BR/1BA furnished. Close to the beach, shopping, and dining. MLS#A3976016 )35842

Venice/Osprey/Nokomis Longboat Key, First Longboat Harbour $273,500 2/2 Taube Levitt 941-388-3966 MLS#A3965488

Casey Key $2,690,000 Louis Wery, 941-387-1816 Build your dream home on this gulfside property located on North Casey Key. MLS#A3966545 )79243

Coldwell Banker Delivers Instantly! ®

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Call 866.600.6008 from your smartphone and enter the  code to receive our mobile brochure with multiple photos, details and a virtual tour for any of these properties. © 2013 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. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. *Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is ranked number one in closed residential buyer and/or seller transaction sides in Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Naples/Fort Myers and number one in residential sales volume (calculated by multiplying number of buyer and/or seller transaction sides by the sales price) in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg according to data submitted to REAL Trends by NRT LLC.

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University Park $865,000 4/4 Michael/Mary Nell Moore 941-387-1851/941-387-1839 MLS#A3974075 )73028

20A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

making waves

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

by Mark Gordon | Business Observer

Chris-Craft focuses on high-end boat niche Chris-Craft, the company that made boats for John F. Kennedy and Elvis Presley, has slowly sailed back to pre-downturn levels. One key lesson: Get expenses under control.

Proof that Chris-Craft Corp. is on a return trip to the glory days goes deeper than an expansion in sales or payroll.

It’s not that the Manatee Countybased boat builder doesn’t have those elements. Annual revenues, for example, are up 33% to a projected $40 million in 2013 after a dip to around $30 million in 2011 and 2012. The employee count, which shrank to 25 at the depths of the downturn, is up to around 200 today.

Those figures, albeit an improvement, still lag the company’s 2008 heyday, when it had nearly 500 employees, facilities in Florida and North Carolina and about $65 million in sales.

The growth trend, nonetheless, points upward, and the preeminent piece of comeback evidence is this: Chris-Craft now has two full-time engineers with positions devoted totally to finding and evaluating the best of the best in materials and parts. That ranges from Myanmar-imported teak to DuPont ChromaBase paint to bird’s-eye maple.

Those positions would have been excessive in recent years, given the sales decline. But, now, Chris-Craft President and CEO Stephen Heese says those employees form the foundation of the firm’s mission, which is to cater to the high end of high-end boat buyers. Chris-Craft boats vary in price from around $10,000 to more than $100,000.

“We were always positioned at the top,” Heese says. “But we’ve taken it even higher. (The) buyers are out there. There are people who want something special.”

With a history that dates back to 1874, Chris-Craft aims to deliver that kind of special to a select list of clients world-

tainty. Industry-wide sales, for instance, rose 10% in 2012 to $32 billion, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The association projects sales will rise another 5% to 10% in 2013.

Chris Ramey, chairman of the Luxury Marketing Council Florida, says highend boat builders that “surprise and delight” affluent customers by emphasizing experiences over commodities are at the front of the rebound.

“The boat industry has returned with a vengeance after the recession,” says Ramey, who also runs Miami-based Affluent Insights, a luxury sales consulting firm. “I really do see an optimism that I didn’t see a year ago.”

MarineMax, similar to Chris-Craft, sees it, too. Annual sales there increased each of the last two years, to more than $524 million in 2012. And the firm is expanding, from acquisitions to new hires.

‘Dreams and aspirations’

Mark Wemple

Stephen Heese has been with Manatee County-based boat manufacturer Chris-Craft Corp. since 2001, when he and a fellow Harvard Business School classmate, Stephen Julius, bought the firm out of bankruptcy. wide, from Chicago to China. The firm’s famous customers over the last 70 years include John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.

“In my opinion, when you go to a boat show, it’s all a sea of sameness,” says Heese. “With our products, it’s completely different. It’s exotic wood. It drips in stainless.”

The fact that Chris-Craft remains in business at all, much less back on a

growth track and once again pumping luxury, counters the state of boating in the downturn. Indeed, several nationally known boat makers collapsed or filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and 2010, while others, like Clearwater-based MarineMax and Fort Lauderdale-based Ferretti Yachts, downsized but hung on.

Yet the field seems to have begun to right itself — a combination, analysts say, of the rise in the stock market and fatigue over political and economic uncer-

The Chris-Craft comeback, meanwhile, is actually a story of two survivals traced back to 2000.

That’s when Chris-Craft’s then parent company, Outboard Marine Corp., filed for bankruptcy. A group of investors, including Heese and his Harvard Business School classmate Stephen Julius, founder of London-based Stellican Ltd., a private equity firm, bought the business out of bankruptcy in 2001. Julius, a Great Britain native, remains chairman of ChrisCraft today. Heese is from Tampa; and he ran a construction parts business in Australia before he invested in Chris-Craft.

Julius’ mission with Stellican was to find heritage brands, mostly in the recreation industry, that he could reinvest in and revive. Other acquisitions include Riva, a popular Italian yacht manufacturer; a soccer team in the Italian Pre-

★★★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★★★ Happy 4th of July!

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Amazing Bay and City Views for the avid boater. 3 bd/3.5 bath, over 4,300 SF with master on first floor, soaring windows that amplify the amazing bay views thru-out first and second floors; large dock with bench seating; and high end amenities. Everything needed for Florida’s boating lifestyle. $2,650,000

SuNSET HARBOR BAYFRONT Enjoy spectacular sunsets and endless water views from this direct Bay front lot with deeded boat slip located in private and gated community. $699,000

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E

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COUNTRY CLUB ShORES - Remodeled canal front 4br residence on oversize lot. A3975981 $1,750,000

ST. ARMANDS TOWERS - Sophisticated furnished 3BR Penthouse. A3953612 $1,545,000

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116369

Exclusive affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates & Leading Real Estate Companies of the World

440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228 Office 941.383.7591 | Mobile 941.928.3559 | SarasotasFinestProperties.com 116175

Michael Saunders & Company, Licensed Real Estate Broker 440 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228 • 941-383-7591

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

Humbling experience

False hope, further, can be costly, and not only in lost jobs and sales. Chris-Craft, for example, returned about $50,000 to the North Carolina Department of Commerce last year — a clawback payment over performancebased job incentives on which it failed to come through.

The North Carolina experience also humbled the company. “We are a more conservative group of people,” Heese says. “We are much better able to withstand issues.”

The firm, however, still craves sales growth. That’s why one of Heese’s current priorities is to find more dealers in international locations, especially emerging wealth markets such as China, India and Brazil. China, for one, projects its boating industry will explode in the next seven years, from 3,000 vessels in 2012 to 100,000 by 2020, according to the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association. Chris-Craft recently opened a sales office in Shanghai.

One challenge in global expansion is import duties in many countries Chris-Craft targets are almost unworkably high, says Heese. Those fees could raise the sale price of a boat by 45%. One option the company has considered is to build boats in the countries it wants to do business in, rather than ship finished products there.

That option, though, says Heese, would bring up potential quality-control issues.

Chris-Craft currently has about 100 dealer locations worldwide, and Heese aims to surpass 130 locations within the next few years. To reach that goal, Heese will have to weigh his recession lesson to control expenses against spending resources on finding the best dealers.

It could be a delicate balance because Heese says the three areas a company should be thoughtful in cutting costs are marketing, customer service and new-product development. Cut too much in those categories, says Heese, and “you may not have a path to revenue recovery.”

Chris-Craft currently spends 2% of sales on marketing, a figure Heese expects to maintain. The firm also attends at least 300 boat shows a year, where it woos potential dealers and customers.

Those conversations with prospective boat buyers, says Heese, are where he gets some of his best market intelligence about what luxury boat buyers want. Much of that goes back to providing the ultimate high-end experience.

“Our customers buy only the best stuff,” says Heese.

“He wants to touch it with his hands, see it with his eyes.”

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box. See answers on page 26A. © 2013 Universal Uclick

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LISTING

116205

mier League; and Indian Motorcycle, which is now based in Iowa. The firm has since sold Riva and Indian.

But another part of the attraction to buy Chris-Craft was clearly the price: $5 million. The boat builder was shuttered for the last 10 months of bankruptcy, so Heese and Julius were essentially in the odd position of treating a 125-year-old business like a startup. They rehired a chunk of employees and contracted with a local yacht architect to redesign some boats.

The duo also didn’t hesitate to back up its purchase with a more significant investment. That includes $6.5 million to restart production and launch six new models.

“While the industry was pulling back, we were pouring money into this business,” Julius told the Business Observer in a 2005 story. “Our view was that there was a market for our product, irrespective of whether we were in a recession. There will always be a market for beautiful objects that meet the dreams and aspirations of people.”

The strategy worked. In fact, Julius and Heese, who both dreamed of building Chris-Craft into a $100 million business, opened the firm’s second facility in Kings Mountain, N.C., when annual sales passed $50 million in 2007. But sales soon stalled, and by 2009 Chris-Craft shut down the second plant to focus on its Manatee County facility, which is across the street from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

That hunker-down mentality was the first step, says Heese, in the second comeback. And that’s why a key lesson he took away from the recession was the importance of expense control early in a downturn. Otherwise, says Heese, “False hope can be lethal.”

21A

22A

Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

real estate | transactions

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

Washington Drive home sells for $1.65 million

The following residential real-estate transactions took place between June 17 and June 21.

A home in John Ringling Estates tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Corinne Parsekian sold her home at 460 N. Washington Drive to Joern Sroka, of Sarasota, for $1.65 million. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,096 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $550,000 in 1988.

living area. It previously sold for $160,000 in 2007.

Daniel Friedman, Judith Unice and Joan Bentsen sold their Unit PH-5 condominium at 4500 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Janet Rush, trustee, of Grandville, Mich., for $230,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,096 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $120,000 in 1982.

Spanish Main Yacht Club

Country Club Shores

Mary McGee, of West Harwich, Mass., and Virginia O’Brien, of Yarmouth Port, Mass., sold their Unit 160 condominium at 694 Spanish Drive N. to Girdon Simmons and Ellen Reilly, of Campbell, N.Y., for $215,000. Built in 1968, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,241 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $335,000 in 2005.

Maryam Lowenbraun, of Fort Lee, N.J., sold her home at 513 Ketch Lane to Robert Sennott and Sue Sennott, of Longboat Key, for $1.25 million. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,657 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $1.1 million in 2011.

Castillian

Photo courtesy of Lynne Koy/Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Calvin Brown, trustee, of Indianola, Iowa, sold the Unit 506 condominium at 4525 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Ronald and Tamara Harden, of Villa Hills, Ky., for $700,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,738 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $315,000 in 1982.

This home at 460 N. Washington Drive has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,096 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.65 million.

The Players Club

Islander Club of Longboat

Mark and Bridget Colman sold their Unit 310 condominium at 1485 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Miroslaw Kuchta and Elzbieta Tworzydlo, of Hewlett Harbour, N.Y., for $680,000. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,722 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $685,000 in 2001.

Harbour Oaks II

Doris Hurwitz, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 2373 Harbour Oaks Drive to Dennis McCloskey, trustee, of Chicago,

for $530,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,245 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $435,000 in 2011.

James and Carol Ahearn, trustees, sold the Unit 43-N condominium at 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Richard Bossung, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $495,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $49,800 in 1972.

Fairway Bay

Matthew Burkmier and Sae TokushigeBurkmier, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 302 condominium at 1906 Harbourside Drive to James and Lynn Brandolini, of Winsted,

Conn., for $438,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,626 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $275,000 in 1996.

Brigitte Sabar, of Skillman, N.J., sold her Unit 1603 condominium at 2002 Harbourside Drive to Stacey Murray, of Longboat Key, for $330,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,598 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $315,000 in 2001.

Windward Bay

Edna Marran, of Highlands, N.J., sold her Unit PH-5 condominium at 4540 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Joseph Fabrizio and Tracey Terry, of Hoboken, N.J., for $330,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,096 square feet of

ST. ARMANDS

John Ringling Estates

Ray of Sunshine Properties LLC sold the home at 139 McKinley Drive to 139 McKinley LLC for $460,000. Built in 1949, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 1,758 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $555,000 in 2004.

Sarasota Harbour East

Frank Ripberger Jr. and Katherine Ripberger, trustees, sold the Unit 35 condominium at 775 John Ringling Blvd. to Fred Johnson and Roberta Johnson, trustees, of Sarasota, for $260,000. Built in 1965, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 880 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $150,000 in 2002.

YourObserver.com // See a map of this week’s real-estate sales.

LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER

6338 Laguna Dr #A3957942 $795,000 Audrey Singer

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-350-2588

513 Yawl Ln #A3976724 $795,000 Pat Mudgett & Mackenzie Mudgett

Longboat Key 941-951-6660 941-320-7758

500 Yawl Ln #A3975595 $779,000 Diana Kryszak

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-993-4078

1910 Harbour Links Cir # 12 #A3967793 $739,000 Bruce & Jenine Meyer

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-266-8303

415 L Ambiance Dr # A201 #A3980072 $2,795,000 Christine Del Monte

392 Firehouse Ln #A3972882 $699,900 Mary Defrank

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-544-0214

250 Sands Point Rd # 5401 #A3921919 $699,000 Gail Wittig

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-228-1985

1804 S Orange Ave #A3980294 $634,000 Julia Mcclung

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-356-6499

1157 W Peppertree Dr # 115A #A3979549 $625,000 Elizabeth Pitts

Siesta Key 941-388-4447 941-780-9536

1425 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 204 #A3941538 $599,000 Jenifer Schwell

Longboat Key 941-349-3444 941-266-6733

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-780-0968

101 Ben Franklin Dr # 82 #A3969377 $599,000 Douglas Parks

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-400-9087

FAMILIAR FACES. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. Showcase your property to over 6,500 affiliate branches in 52 countries.

3070 Grand Bay Blvd # 632 #A3978557 $549,000 Anne Mitchell

1241 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 402 #A3957287 $2,500,000 Michael Moulton

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-725-0227

4485 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 503 #A3979554 $519,000 Steve Magner

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-376-8559

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-928-3559

2109 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 1201 #A3957661 $489,000 Hannerle Moore

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-387-7300

4700 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 206-D #A3980163 $427,500 Sharon Freeman

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-545-0899

615 Dream Island Rd # 306 #A3969421 $385,000 Barbara Dumbaugh

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-350-3743

3240 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 103 #A3975227 $365,000 Sylvia Zimmerman

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-350-5022

2039 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 204 #A3972416 $360,000 Tom Delaney

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-387-3990

580 Companion Way #A3978425 $350,000 Bobbi Banan

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-2659

6750 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 148 #A3978064 $300,000 Tammy Mast

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-256-6543

4380 Exeter Dr # 102H #A3976328 $278,000 Richard Perlman

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-228-8580

Longboat Observer

23A

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

michaelsaunders.com

BUILDING PERMITS

Explore now on your phone or tablet.

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of June 21 through June 27, in order of dollar amounts. (GMD = Gulf of Mexico Drive) Address Permit Applicant Amount 645 Cedars Court Siding RVA Cedars Real Estate LLC $110,124 1701 GMD Interior Sue Sennott $46,756 608 Halyard Lane Seawall Ron and Kathryn Lee $40,351 Demolition John Sullivan $24,000 760 Dream Island Road

Doors and David Lapovsky $21,183 1000 Longboat Club Road windows John Romanes $18,525 671 Emerald Harbor Drive Re-roof Edward Frackowiak $16,300 2120 Harbourside Drive Kitchen Margaret Maguire, trustee $15,000 2089 GMD Interior Nicholas and Virginia Isil $12,000 3540 GMD

Doors and John Burke $11,988 1000 Longboat Club Road window Re-roof John Peacock $10,700 580 Bowsprit Lane

Avenue of the Flowers Kiosk Acquisition $10,000 525 Bay Isles Parkway Doors Donald Prola $8,563 2045 GMD Re-roof Sam Murai $5,700 615 St. Judes Drive N. Window David Olenzak $5,373 4835 GMD Door Paul Kaplan $5,250 3453 GMD Interior Tina Rudek $5,000 615 Dream Island Road Re-roof Adriano Celli $4,320 7080 Longboat Drive N. Shutters Robert Tobin $3,950 2110 Harbourside Drive Shutters Vlasta Zajicek $3,800 4401 GMD

L’Ambiance Condominium Pool Association $3,565 415 L’Ambiance Drive Roof and pool Donna Phillips, co-trustee $3,150 614 Weston Pointe Court

Doors and shutters Michael Hinske $1,800 4215 GMD

Windows and siding Thomas McCarthy $1,649.23 3710 GMD Door Carolyn Wedekind, trustee $1,500 626 Buttonwood Drive Fire alarm Harbour Villas $0 615 Dream Island Road David Jones $0 5940 Emerald Harbor Drive Fuel tank Fire sprinkler Samuel Roberts $0 2105 GMD

Certificate of occupancy Keith Charles N/A 530 Birdie Lane

3320 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 104-C #A3977957 $264,900 Doris Bushman

4900 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 206 #A3972843 $239,000 Maruta Miluns

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-383-9253

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-374-9702

RE N TA L

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-266-8949

RE N TA L

4235 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # G203 #A3936274 $239,000 Eileen Burke

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-376-7591

5135 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 203 Longboat Key #A3961760 $4,000-$6,500/month, 30 day min Diann Thelen 941-552-4200

1770 Benjamin Franklin Dr # 706 Sarasota #A3952777 $2,500-$5,000/month, 30 day min Diann Thelen 941-552-4200

4500 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # G302 #A3980097 $257,900 Bobbi Banan

Sarasota 941-383-7591 941-376-2688

5134 Gulf Of Mexico Dr #A3979634 $2,195,000 Ann Martin

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-7717

565 Sanctuary Dr # B104 #A3971860 $1,795,000 Hannerle Moore

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-387-7300

531 Yardarm Ln #A3980172 $1,699,000 Maureen Horn

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-539-3384

3030 Grand Bay Blvd # 333 #A3957486 $1,299,000 Sandi Layfield

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-914-2807

1739 Waldemere St #A3978759 $1,275,000 Leonard Giarrano

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-724-0690

3308 E Forest Lake Dr #A3975269 $1,195,000 Sylvia Zimmerman

Sarasota 941-383-7591 941-350-5022

128 Golden Gate Pt # 202A #A3978317 $1,099,000 Peggy Mock

Sarasota 941-388-4447 941-356-3584

230 Sands Point Rd # 3101 #A3960738 $950,000 Ian Addy Pa

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-961-8850

3524 Fair Oaks Ln #A3970247 $895,000 Michael Yawitz

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-587-8091

1085 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 505 #A3978387 $825,000 John August

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-320-9795

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-2659

701 Saint Judes S Dr # 4 #A3980029 $165,000 Sherri Mills

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-350-7112

RE N TA L

556 Sutton Pl #A3975937 $269,900 Robert Dardas

3657 San Remo Terr #A3964618 $4,095,000 Deborah Beacham

1211 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 206 #A3972079 Diann Thelen

Longboat Key $3,500 941-552-4200

VA C AT I O N R E N TA L S 3801 Casey Key Rd #A3970416 $4,495,000 Stephanie Church

Nokomis/North Venice 941-388-4447 941-724-5448

Mid Longboat 383.5502 • South Longboat 383.7591 • St. Armands 388.4447 Main Street 951.6660 • Palmer Ranch 966.8000 • Siesta Key 349.3444

White Sands of Longboat whitesandsoflongboat.com 800.230.2428

105565

Veranda Beach Club verandabeachclub.com 800.411.5511

Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

Observer readers and

advertisers are a class act.

They have high expectations.

They expect the best.

We strive to deliver the best â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in print and online, every day, every week.

We are proud that the Local Media Association, an organization of 2,200 newspapers in the U.S. and Canada, named two of our papers

2 O12 Newspapers of the Year!

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/ObserverGroup 110589

24A

Longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

OBSERVER WEATHER

25A

Do you love taking photos? We want your best photos of sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, etc.

Submit your local weather photos for a chance to have your photo published in the paper!

TemperatureS

Record Temperatures High

Low

High

Low

Tuesday, June 25

93

74

98 (1998)

64 (1917)

Wednesday, June 26

90

74

97 (2007)

63 (1937)

Thursday, June 27

90

72

95 (1969)

64 (1966)

Friday, June 28

89

75

96 (1998)

65 (1937)

Saturday, June 29

90

76

96 (1998)

67 (1928)

Sunday, June 30

89

75

100 (1998)

67 (1973)

Monday, July 1

80

75

96 (1998)

61 (1948)

Average Gulf water temperature: 88

MOON PHASES July 8 New July 15 First

Sunrise / sunset

July 22 Full July 29 Last

Sunrise

Sunset

Thursday, July 4

6:40a

8:29p

Friday, July 5

6:41a

8:29p

Saturday, July 6

6:41a

8:28p

Sunday, July 7

6:41a

8:28p

Monday, July 8

6:42a

8:28p

Tuesday, July 9

6:42a

8:28p

Wednesday, July 10

6:43a

8:27p

TIDES

Highs

Thursday, July 4

 Kimberly Morgan submitted this sunset photo, taken near Bradenton Beach.

Scan the QR code on your smartphone to submit your weather photos!

Or visit YourObserver.com and click on the “Contests” tab.

O B S E RV E R C RO S S WO R D Edited by Timothy E. Parker

25 26 27 28 29 30 32 36 38 41 45 47 49 50 51 55 56 58 59

1. C X M C E I Q D Y M U A C X C X M H E M M U Z K : X M U X I X M J A C Z C M J

62 63

A J S I C I S Y K Y I J C D Q C R AY M J H E I R C X M S M L C M L A C .

65

2. R Y N X N X Z Q B T R R H M U A N W Z M Q Y N M U X U Q Y H D U B Z

66

X T M D N X Y W Y N M V: X Z E N R , E Z K RT V N R , Y Z V Z W B H N K A

69 70

DNR, AUR NR!

3:23a

6:17p

Friday, July 5

1:08a

Saturday, July 6

1:41a

10:17a

4:12a

6:56p

10:55a

4:59p

7:29p

Sunday, July 7 Monday, July 8

2:05a

11:31a

5:42a

8:01p

2:26a

12:07p

6:26a

8:31p

Tuesday, July 9

2:44a

12:45p

7:10a

9:02p

3:04a Wednesday, July 10

1:26p

7:57a

9:32p

ACROSS 1 6 12 19 20

23

CRYPTOGRAMS

9:36a

MEnSA wORTHY by Rob Lee

21 22

3

12:21a

Lows

72

On the Pacific Beach shelter Bessemer locale Hardwood tree Kind of lamp used in auto headlights Drenched Nationals, prior to 2005 Put one’s wits to the test Stretched out Homer’s path Takes home Refer to Brazil’s ___ Paulo Castle protectors One of Franklin’s two certainties “... falls ___ on the plain” Masseuse’s workplace Bishop’s hat Unfathomable chasm False front?

Talk foolishly Counterpart of ma’am One way to seal a deal Not perfectly upright Stylebook concern Da Vinci model Panettiere of “Nashville” Ness of “The Untouchables” Prepared to propose Construction wood, sometimes Mess hall drudges, briefly Car scar Behind-the-scenes sages “Cut that out!”

73 Attendance fig., often 74 Help for the hapless 75 More quick to the helm 76 Hit for Leo Sayer “More ___ Can Say” 77 Omsk’s land 80 Horror film fare 81 “___, meenie, miney, moe ...”

82 Fail 84 Self-love 89 Kenan’s old partner on Nickelodeon 90 Climb down 93 Instruct 94 Make ___ at (try to pick up) 96 Adult doodlebug 97 Young newt 98 Corny bit?

101 Ready to be drafted?

103 Off the payroll 104 “I love” to Latin lovers 107 “Not guilty,” e.g.

110 Location for a concert 114 Cause of Cleopatra’s demise 115 Bandmate of Keith and Charlie 117 Profession for a very high-minded smart person 122 Easily irritated 123 One way to come into some money 124 Calls it a career 125 “Let’s Make ___” (game show) 126 Branch of geology that studies the shape of the Earth 127 Abraded 128 Robert of “G.E. College Bowl”

dOwn

1 The brother in “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

2 “All My Ex’s Live in ___” 3 Old photo tint 4 President’s concern 5 Sighs of relief 6 Buckwheat was a little one 7 “Bitter” drink 8 Hard-to-see specks 9 Ottoman official 10 Cloven-hoofed creature 11 Any minute 12 Assistance 13 Alphabet chain 14 Blood typing system 15 Skewer 16 BMW rival 17 Hot sandwich 18 “Zip-___-Doo-Dah” 20 Second-largest Great Lake 24 “Acid” 26 Bearded brethren in buggies 31 Prepares for publication 33 Outward flow 34 Have a fever 35 Three-tone chord 37 Coveted quality 38 Source of sickness?

39 Many a Groucho Marx quip 40 Say further 42 Where some great ideas are formed 43 ___ Aviv 44 It’s often left hanging 45 Paths for flight attendants 46 Advisory group 48 Fuel-yielding rock 50 Brushed leather 52 Acid neutralizer 53 Brother or father 54 Black eyes 57 Obtained 60 Soviet leader who preceded Mikhail 61 Word that’s an ayeful

64 “Do, or do not.

There is no ___.”

65 Small Russian turnovers 67 They’re played at the track 68 Door-to-door pitch 70 Barker and Rainey 71 Blackstone craft 72 Seashell seller in a tongue twister 76 Arizona State home 78 Revealed the true nature of 79 Unit of wound thread 82 Consumer’s protective agcy.

83 “Funeral in Berlin” author Deighton 85 Partook of, as food 86 NBA official 87 Curiosity victim, in an old saying 88 Wall St. “500” 91 Last word for Ripley 92 Cloning need 95 City in western California 99 Cleaned the slate 100 Breathers, musically speaking 102 Common pipe material, briefly 103 Bad smelling 105 Cheapskate 106 Based on base eight 107 Snobbish highbrow 108 “The ___ Ranger” 109 Empty room sound 111 Blarney Stone land 112 “... ___ the twain shall meet” 113 “Do ___ others as ...”

116 Richard Petty’s racing son 118 “Before” in only one syllable 119 “Whether ___ nobler ...”

120 Shoat’s home 121 Feeling of fury 122 Billy Blanks workout: ___ Bo CROSSWORD_070413

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Items Under $200 For Sale ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, 15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

(No phone calls please.)

(Please provide your name and address) Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group P.O. Box 3169 Sarasota, Fl 34230

Autos Wanted WE BUY CARS. TOP $$ PAID FOR YOUR VEHICLES. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Boat Slips For Rent/Sale BOAT SLIP FOR RENT, up to 25’. High, dry, indoor marina. Excellent boating location. By the month or yearly. Private owner, 941-371-1866.

LBK MOORINGS Slip Rental, 65’ Open Water View (R/8) Dock, $500/per month annual.

813-500-0566.

Boats Boats are still selling very well. “Let’s Talk About Selling Yours”. Keeping it simple, “Business on a Hand Shake.” I Also Buy Boats. Please visit: Islandboatsales.net Call Dave, (owner) 941-228-3489.

ChitwoodCharters.com Cruise or Fish Hyatt Sarasota Docks 32’/53’ Yachts - 2hrs./2 months 941-383-5232

Condos/Apts. For Rent

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

LARGE 2BD/2BA Villa on LBK. Small resort w/pool. Annual lease, $2,190/mo.

941-312-1747.

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

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.

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

FLORIDA VACATION CONNECTION

Open House OPEN HOUSE: New Price $542,000 Friday July 5th, 1 to 4 pm Cedars West Unit B205 5655 GMD Beautifully updated 3/2 Condo overlooks pool and Gulf For information call: Curt Bell 941-730-5120 Hook and Ladder Realty, Sarasota Fl

Real Estate Wanted WANTED LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS For Qualified Waiting Clients Contact - Sarasota Luxury Rentals 941-225-1356 email: info@sarasotaluxuryrentals.com Personalized attention with professional honest advice.

25 Years Experience - References available

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

www.FLvacationconnection.com 941-387-9709 877-705-2460

GULFFRONT: LONGBOAT TERRACE 2BR/2BA condo. 2014 Seasonal rental.

Tastefully decorated.

BOOK NOW. 321-279-3610.

L’AMBIANCE, LONGBOAT KEY. Beach front 2BR/3BA condo on high floor with wrap-around deck, 270 degree views over the Gulf, Sarasota Bay and LBK Club. Sunrises, sunsets with light all day through floor to ceiling windows in all rooms.

3 month minimum.

View at: www.thephotos.smugmug.com Call 203-984-8477 E-mail: garment@optonline.net LIDO BEACH CONDOMINIUMS Weekly - Monthly - Seasonal Resort Properties, Inc. Licensed Real Estate Broker Full Service Condominium Management

CASA DEL MAR BEACH RESORT

941-388-3921 - 888-388-3921 941-650-1857 Visit us at: resortproperties.pro

General Merchandise

RENTALS 4 NIGHT MIN.

THRIFT SHOP: The Lord’s Warehouse.

Next to Longboat Island Chapel. Wednesdays & Saturdays, 9a.m.-1p.m. Clothes, jewelry, furniture, other items. 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

941-383-4738.

GULF FRONT/ GULF VIEW

LBK: TIFFANY Plaza Beachfront Condos, 1st floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, walk out to beach.

Furnished, heated pool, covered parking. 1 mo. min. 941-383-3338.

Merchandise Wanted CASH FOR Old Military Items. Swords, uniforms, insignia & old guns. Call 941-416-3280.

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

Pets

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

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

BICHON FRISE: 3 male puppies, 4 months old.

Great travelers. Parents on site. Beautiful and happy. 100% Hypoallergenic. Proceeds benefit charity. $750/obo 941-358-2225.

FREE Wireless High Speed Internet

Storage

“Where People Return Year After Year”

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

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

“INTENTIONALLY BETTER”

Positions Wanted WATER FITNESS/SWIM Instructor. Certified & insured experienced with rehab, specialty populations, boomers plus. Reach your goals and have fun! Your pool, my equipment.

Anne, 806-9655.

Condos/Apts. For Rent BEACHPLACE, LBK. Casual beachfront living in 2BR/2BA, balcony condo. Olympic pool, health club, tennis courts. Available June through December, $2000/mo. Also available January through March, $5000/mo. Call for info. Contact Elizabeth/NYC. 212-570-2950.

L’AMBIANCE, LONGBOAT KEY. Beach front 2BR/3BA condo on high floor with wrap-around deck, 270 degree views over the Gulf, Sarasota Bay and LBK Club. Sunrises, sunsets with light all day through floor to ceiling windows in all rooms.

View at: www.thephotos.smugmug.com Call John at 203-984-8477 E-mail: garment@optonline.net

This week’s Sudoku answers

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 87127

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

Available Aug., Sept., Oct., Dec., 2013 & Feb. & March, 2014. Non-smoking/ pets. By owner.

941-383-1884.

PRIVATEER WINTER 2014. 3 month rental.

2BR/2BA with full Gulf views. Pool, tennis, beautiful beach and watch complete sunsets from two balconies. Please call 1-203-803-0655 for more information.

LIDO BEACH Vacation paradise. 1 & 2 bedroom condos overlooking beautiful Lido Beach.

Weekly rates. Lido Dorset. Rental condo.

1-800-734-3370.

LONGBOAT KEY BEACH FRONT, 1BR, 2BA Sands Point condo with Gulf views, large living room, den and beautifully renovated kitchen.

2-3 Month minimum. Call 203-984-8477 or email: garment@optonline.net LONGBOAT KEY. Gulf front, heated pool on beach, 1BR/1BA condo, full kitchen, dining, sleeps/4, king pillowtop. 617-328-7145, 857-939-1049.

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.

SINGLE PERSON, non-smoker looking for condo rental on Longboat Key, February 2014. Reply to: mhgolin@yahoo.com

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 Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.wagnerrentals.com

Adult Care Services EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER available P/T-F/T. Private care for loved ones. Excellent background and references. 941-735-7769.

LICENSED 6 bed assisted living residence.

Beautiful, private room/ bath available in Sarasota.

Alzheimer's and Hospice patients welcome.

Excellent local references. 941-350-7907.

Auto Transport SHIP YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Cleaning 30 YEARS experience. We take pride in pleasing customers. Homes, schools, churches, resorts, offices.... 941-756-4570.

EDLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: Residential Commercial, New Construction. Meticulous, deep cleaning top to bottom. We Guarantee. Affordable & Reliable. Excellent References. Free Estimates.

Licensed & Insured. 30% off first cleaning.

941-536-7447.

Computer Services 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 OWN A MAC/iPHONE/iPAD? MacTutor has 21+ years experience teaching Apple products.

I speak English, not “Geek”! (941) 812-3887 www.FLMacTutor.com

SELL955-4888 IT!

THE WESTCHESTER GULF FRONT 2BR/2BA, open, direct views, tennis court, 2 heated pools, steps away from the sand. Recently remodeled.

941-228-5671.

www.yourobserver.com

This week’s Crossword answers

Find Treasure!

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

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

Your source for local Classifieds

HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS LP # 56733

2013

This week’s Cryptogram answers 1. The trouble with the freeway: he who hesitates is not only lost but miles from the next exit.

2. This is a pretty logical philosophy for a selfish child: Saw it, wanted it, had a crying fit, got it!

CROSSWORD_ANS_070413

Longboat Observer

THE LONGBOAT OBSERVER THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013 Thursday, July 4, 2013 Home Improvement/ Remodeling Home Improvement/ Remodeling STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS

FOR â&#x20AC;&#x153;QUALITY AND EXPERIENCEâ&#x20AC;?

PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION

Floors, bathrooms, showers, backsplashes, patio and pool decks.

20 YRS. EXPERIENCE

Painting/Wallpapering

YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Gail Sunray, Owner

Landscaping & Lawn Service PERSONAL GARDENER: From exotic and native landscapes to vegetable and container gardening.

All phases of plant care. Over 25 years experience.

Free estimates. Nancy 941-284-3659

TILE TILE TILE

Masonry

announces summer for $65! Good June 1 Gulf of Mexico Drive Key, FL 34228. book online at: 12915

Painting/Wallpapering 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.

BOAT SERVICES

DOGGY HOTEL/GROOMING. 24 Hour Daycare.

FREE Daycare with groom (we are the best).

3925 Brown Avenue behind Sleep King. doggyhotel.net 941-554-4620.

call: 955-4888 Email: classified@yourobserver.com online: www.yourobserver.com

Pressure Cleaning PRESSURE WASHING: Residential and Commercial. ECO Cleaning. Roofs, lanais, pool areas, etc. Roof coating also. 941-756-4570.

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MOVERS

MO V I N G

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COMPUTER

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Dave McCarthy Operator/Owner

Phone (941) 704-4278 Fax (941) 538-3781 dmccarthy114@hotmail.com

The Observer Service Directory Call 955-4888 to reserve your space.

WINDOWS

Sarasota.MrRooter.com LIC# CFC1427462

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s $ VALUE 9EAR 0LAN s OFF 0RICING ON &UTURE 7ORK FOR 9EARS s 4OP 0REFERENCE FOR 3CHEDULING 3ERVICE

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FULL PLUMBING SERVICES

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Pet Services

ELECTRIC

DOCKSIDE BOAT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

g nin lea nd C t o FirsF Sec F F F O O $ 20 $ 10

First 15 words ................... $15 per week Each Addâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l word ...............................50¢ 15% discount for 4 week Run Yellow color $5 per Week Border as low as $3 per Week

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116081 38056

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cLassifiEd LinE ad PricE

BONDED & INSURED Over 25 yrs. experience

Massage

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FINE FINISH carpentry, crown & deco moldings, cabinetry (kitchens & baths), all types of built-ins, decks, doors & windows. Paul, 941-238-8033.

Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation Organizing Personal and Business Files Budgets & Financial Reports Federal and State Tax Returns

Grout Cleaning & Sealing Service Available

LONGBOAT MASSAGE rates. A one hour massage till October 1, 2013. 4134 Suite 208, Longboat Call 941-387-0857 or longboatmassage.com MM

Woodworking

I come to your home or office.

ď&#x20AC;´ ď&#x20AC;´ ď&#x20AC;´ ď&#x20AC;´

ALL TYPES OF MASONRY Specializing in concrete driveways, pavers, decorative concrete, stone work, patios.

Call for free and honest estimates.

941-525-2435

Expert Marble & Travertine Installation Floor & Walls

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Accounting/ Taxes

116268

All Variations of Ceramic Tile Supplied & Installed.

Free Estimates & Custom Designs.

955.4888

ISLAND SEDAN Serving Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, West Bradenton and St. Armands Towncar Service Rates: To or From: Tampa International Airport: $80 St. Pete/Clearwater Airport: $75 Sarasota/Bradenton Airport: $35 Call for rates to other locations Local and Long Distance 941-730-8803 islandsedan@gmail.com www.islandsedan.com

Personal Services

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

D L O S

Transportation

RICK STEAKLEY PAINTING. Interior/Exterior.

Pressure Washing. Wallpaper Removal. Drywall Repairs. Reasonable. Reliable. Professional.

30+/years experience. References available.

Free Estimates.

Lic./Ins. 941-228-7605, rlsteakley@comcast.net

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS

20 years design background.

Licensed - Insured - LBK Resident References upon request.

941-383-2659

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

YourObserver.com

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INSURANCE

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Longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013

Jake and Max Pettingell, 9 and 6 years old, swing into the fun of summer on their way to tennis camp!

LA FIRENZA

LONGBOAT KEY

lafirenzas301.com Direct Gulf front, southern exposure 4,800+ sf penthouse with designer details throughout. Extended wraparound terrace with summer kitchen and three car garage. $4,995,000

6171gulfofmexicodrive.com Perfect Gulf breezes and ideal sunsets from this 5BR/5½BA beachfront home. Situated on 1+ acre site with an extended, gated entry, includes dock. $3,495,000

SORRENTO SHORES 2405bayshoreroad.com Expansive multi-faceted estate on more than 200' of water frontage. A main home, guest cottage and a private theater. $1,995,000

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES 1015bogeylane.com 4BR plus den newer home with views down the canal out to the bay. Upgraded finishes and designer features. $1,795,000

RITZ TOWER RESIDENCES ritztowerresidences503.com Enjoy stunning sunsets from nearly every room in this exquisite 3BR, 2,990 sf residence.

Furnished. $1,425,000

LONGBOAT BEACHCOMBER II www.longboatbeachcomber11.com 2BR/2BA direct Gulf residence – ideal retreat or rental. Small community conveniently located. Furnished. $695,000

ROGER SELLS GRAND

BAY ❹ ❺

lambiancel307.com Stunning sunsets from this true 3BR/3BA Areca in Building II. Walls of glass and expansive wraparound terrace. $1,595,000

❷

❸

❶

LONGBOAT BAYSIDE 7100longboatdriveeast.com A boater’s dream with deep-water dockage and multiple boat lifts, this property offers two separate homes. $1,295,000

SANCTUARY 535Sanctuarydrive203.com This 3BR/3BA is light and bright. Includes one covered parking space. $799,000

582southspoonbilldrive.com Light and bright home with 100’ of water frontage.

Sweeping views of the bay, direct access to the Gulf. $2,649,000

L’AMBIANCE

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS longboatkeytowersn802.com Gorgeous 2BR/2BA direct Gulf residence.

Enjoy Gulf sunsets on one private terrace and bay breezes on the other terrace. $995,000

BIRD KEY

THE OAKS 332bananapatchcourt.com Cliff Scholz-designed 4+BR with over 5,000 feet of quality construction on the bayside.

Spectacular outdoor living areas. $1,095,000

1. grandbay156.com Southern exposure! 3BR/3½BA, Antigua plan offers sprawling bay, city and golf course views from every room. $1,390,000

4. grandbay542.com 2BR/2BA, 4th floor, Bimini abounds in custom details and views of the bay, golf course and downtown. Furnished. $699,000

SEAPLACE

2. grandbay263.com Beautifully upgraded 2BR/3½BA Cayman.

Media room, wine storage, cook’s kitchen and custom features throughout. $1,595,000 3. grandbay241.com Lovely 3BR direct bayfront Antigua with wraparound terraces and 2,900+ living space.

Many upgrades throughout. $1,195,000

5. grandbay212.com 3BR/3½BA Biscayne plan with wraparound bay and pool views. In wonderful condition.

May be purchased furnished. $759,000

seaplaceg1211.com Spacious 2BR/2BA with upstairs living area.

Steps to the beach. Furnished. $339,000 seaplaceg4204.com Terrific value, this 2BR is located in the popular G-4 building. $309,000

PENDING

ROGER C. PETTINGELL LUXURY WATERFRONT SPECIALIST

941.387.1840 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.

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

www.longboatrealestate.com 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.

102399

roger@longboatrealestate.com

941.586.6668