Longboat Observer 10.6.22

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T H E O B S E R V E R ’S G U I D E TO T H E A R TS AND SOCIETY

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 45, NO. 9

INSIDE

MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE

FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

YOUR TOWN

DISASTER: AVERTED

Courtesy photo

Spray-painted message Residents of the north end of Longboat Key recently discovered a staple of big-city life has appeared in their slice of paradise.

Graffiti was found on a support beam of the Longboat Pass bridge and was reported to police, who sent an officer to check it out.

There was no immediate indication of when the graffiti was painted or if it would be removed by either town Public Works teams or Florida Department of Transportation crews.

Ian’s path meant everything. PAGE 2A Photo tour of Longboat. PAGE 3-5A A restless night on Lido Key. PAGE 6A Community rallies after Ian. PAGE 8A

Lesley Dwyer

Church offers comfort

Kat Hughes

Anja Sandstrom, 3, plays with coconuts on the ground the day after Hurricane Ian passed through. She and her family weathered the storm on Longboat Key.

A+E

Family-focused job Dry Dock employees say it’s more than just paycheck. PAGE 1B

The right combination of cool and hot is just what the Rev. Dave Marshall aims to provide at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church’s hurricane comfort center this week.

“We heard that Publix wasn’t serving coffee, but we can,” he said.

Featuring air conditioning, electricity and, yes, coffee, the station operates at the church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily as long as it’s needed.

The free service is in collaboration with the town of Longboat Key, which reached out to the church ahead of the hurricane.

Dr. Michael O’Neil of Longboat Key Dental and Dr. James Reed of Reed Medical Group are sponsoring the effort.

Turtle tracks

Mixing it up.

INSIDE

LONGBOAT Sept. 25-Oct. 1 2022 Nests 0 False crawls 0

2021 0 0

Totals since April 24 2022 2021 Nests 1,300 1,032 False crawls 1,521 1,441 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory Lesley Dwyer

Sisters Michelle Rogers and Heidi Frederick are longtime Dry Dock employees.

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

Eric Garwood

Teams of Longboat Key firefighters and the town’s high-water vehicle are helping out in North Port.

Hurricane Ian’s effects on Longboat not as severe as originally feared After a forecast called for potential catastrophe and prompted evacuations, the town ends up on the less-destructive side of the Category 4 storm.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

S

ince late last week, town officials, first responders and utility workers have been working to restore Longboat Key as quickly as possible after the effects of Hurricane Ian blew through. The deadly

Category 4 storm landed about 70 miles to the south, though forecasts last week were more dire.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi and Town Manager Tom Harmer made rounds of the town after the storm around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. However, Dezzi had already been on the island that morning around 1:30 a.m. to make initial assessments.

“We went through most of the neighborhoods and the mobile home parks, and there were trees down in all parts of the island but nothing significant,” Harmer said.

Ian’s predicted course of early last week shifted from a landfall in Tampa Bay, then near Bradenton and near Venice, ultimately landing in Lee County. Had Ian’s center land-

ed north of the area, Longboat Key would have been exposed to hours of onshore hurricane-force winds and perhaps 10 feet or more of surge.

The majority of damages in town were downed trees and power lines.

Widespread power outages were reported but flooding, as seen with Eta in 2020, did not materialize.

“We have been so fortunate here on the island as a barrier island, we tend to be in the front lines of hurricanes,” Harmer said.

“In this particular case, because it came in the way it did, we caught the top end of the storm. Overall, we fared very well.”

The town will assess the state of the beaches and where erosion might have taken place and where

sand might have built up during the storm, though initial looks appear to indicate the shoreline was not badly damaged.

Dezzi was also one of the last emergency personnel off the island, leaving around 11:30 p.m. Sept. 27.

Longboat Key police officers were off the island shortly after around midnight.

In a conference call Monday morning, Dezzi reported that emergency personnel received no medical calls during the storm.

As Florida Power and Light has made strides to restore power, spots of the town still remain without electricity. As of early this week, more than 1,000 FPL customers on the island still did not have power.

Water service was shut down to the island and other barrier island communities by Manatee County utility officials to protect the system from potential damage, a move that required a boil-water advisory for about 72 hours after the system was repressurized. Following tests to assure the water was consistently safe to drink, town officials rescinded the boil-water order on Monday afternoon.

When driving down and through the island, the majority of individuals seen cleaning up debris were employees of landscaping services, which Harmer said is typical on the island as many residents already have existing contracts with companies who service their properties throughout the year.

Storm debris collection was scheduled to begin this week. Debris placed in the right of way does not need to be bagged or bundled to be picked up. Town staff asks that residents keep vegetation debris and construction debris separated.

Harmer estimated it could take weeks for debris collection to be completed.

“We’re fortunate that we have had no serious injuries or serious damages on the island,” he said. “We had some property damage, but it is relatively light.”

In the aftermath of the storm, island firefighters have been taking shifts down in North Port with their high water vehicle to aid in recovery efforts.

“We will be down there throughout the week as needed,” Dezzi said.

Kat Hughes

After Hurricane Ian’s exit, town leaders began surveying damage, which was not widespread, and the state of the town’s beaches.

BUDGET ADOPTED

The Longboat Key Town Commission adopted the fiscal year 2023 budget during a special workshop Monday.

The fiscal year 2023 budget was originally slated to be passed at the town commission’s Sept. 27 meeting. Due to Hurricane Ian, the meeting was rescheduled for Monday and the passed budget is in effect as if it was originally slated for Oct. 1.

The budget will end Sept. 30, marking the start of fiscal year 2024.

The budget was passed 6-0.

Commissioner Debra Williams was absent.

The budget includes $17,849,000 in general fund spending against $18.5 million in general fund revenue.

The budget that also includes capital project funds, enterprise funds, debt service and special revenue funds includes $85 million in spending, $49.5 million in revenue, a beginning fund balance of nearly $91 million and more than $55 million in the fund balance at the end of fiscal year 2023.

The millage rate has been set at 1.9900 and produces a 7.17% change from the rolledback rate of 1.8568 for 2022.

The passed rate is estimated to increase ad valorem revenue to $999,819 to fund the budget.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

SEEIN’ Mark Richardson, facilities and recreation manager of Longboat Key, checks the list of issues his team set out to fix after the storm.

IAN

Workers from the Longboat Key Public Works Department work to clear a tree blocking Halyard Lane Sept. 29.

Photos by Kat Hughes

Workers from the Longboat Key Public Works Department work to clear a tree blocking Halyard Lane the day after the storm.

W

hen it comes to the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Longboat Key, the signature of the storm was one of wind rather than water, with large trees uprooted in neighborhoods, on the Key’s two golf courses and along its roadways.

Most of the storm’s effects were concentrated mid-Key to the south. Although the north portion of the island showed less damage, downed trees and debris lined Gulf of Mexico Drive on Sept. 29, just

hours after residents were allowed back after crews had worked all day to make sure roads were clear.

Water and sewer remained off at that time, and much of the Key remained without power.

Mark Richardson, facilities and recreation manager of the town of Longboat Key, said the town’s Tactical First-In Team started working around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 to sweep the island and note issues, and crews began at 9 a.m. to clear roadways, starting north and working south.

He said more of the damage was on the southern end, but it still didn’t compare to the effects Longboat encountered during its last brush with a major hurricane.

“Debris-wise, this is still so much better than what we had with (Hurricane) Irma,” he said.

Here are some the stories we found around the island:

From Iwo to Ian Longtime Longboat Key resident Harold Ronson, 96, is one of the few surviving veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima. He said the sound and fury of Hurricane Ian evoked that memory, along with that, Ronson describes as “the knotty sensation in your gut that comes with the knowledge that this day just might be your last one on earth.”

Ronson had a front-row seat for both the “I’s.” His daughter, Norma Ronson Koppel, arranged for him to evacuate from his L’Ambiance condo to the closest available hotel room. But it was in … Fort Myers.

Harold said he feels like he shouldn’t complain; it’s been more than 75 years since he faced that kind of danger at Iwo and his post-war life has been both safe and successful. Like many members of the Greatest Generation, he went on to a successful career (in the textile industry) before retiring on Longboat Key, where he became known both as a competitive senior tennis player and a substantial supporter of local nonprofits, including the Senior Friendship Center and the Sarasota Opera, serving on its board of directors for some 15 years.

A large tree fell in St. Armands Circle Park, revealing its roots.

St. Armands dodges damage

Debris from palm trees lined Longboat Club Road Thursday afternoon.

Mikael Sandstrom, part of the family that runs Olivia Fashion Boutique, said he had spent a stressful Wednesday preparing for the worst. He arrived at the shop at 7 a.m. on Sept. 28 to board up the windows, and then he went home.

Sandstrom said he lost power at home around 5 p.m. Sept. 28 but never felt he was in actual danger from the storm. After a restless night, he made his way across the bridge to check out the store on Thursday morning and was relieved with what he found.

“There’s no damage here,” he said. “There was a little bit of debris. This piece of piping for water

drainage fell down. Other than that, we were pretty fortunate. No actual damage.”

Sandstrom said that if there’s anything Sarasota residents and business owners know how to do, it’s prepare for and react to the immediate after-effects of a storm.

“I went through Irma,” he said. “I was raised here.

I’ve been here since 1986. I’ve been through every hurricane, so it’s like a routine. I know the steps and checklists and everything like that.”

SEE IAN, PAGE 4A

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

Ian FROM PAGE 3A

Some things can’t be replaced David Loccisano sifted through Tom and Norma McCarthy’s belongings on Sept. 29 to help Norma find her photographs and Fiestaware after Ian ripped the walls of their plastic shed apart.

“They’re the king and queen of this place,” Loccisano said of the couple.

The Loccisanos, along with the majority of the Gulf Shores mobile home park, suffered no major damage from the hurricane. So he and his wife, Sheila, walked around checking on neighbors and lending a hand.

The McCarthys’ home was one of the more damaged units. The roof over their entryway door collapsed, but the interior was intact. After seeing that, Norma was more focused on the memories and treasures spread over the pavement to the side of their

home.

“The house is fine; we have insurance,” she said as she headed straight to the pile of her things.

Miraculously, the shed blew apart while smaller bins of Fiestaware and Christmas decorations stayed put.

Fiestaware became popular because people loved the dinnerware’s bright colors and durability. Ian didn’t leave so much as a chip or scratch inside Norma’s plastic bin full of it. And Loccisano was able to find and gather all the old photographs.

A large tree blocks the exit at the southern end of Bay Isles.

No exit Winds toppled an enormous ficus tree, blocking the south exit of Bay Isles. It was horizontally splayed across the drive like an oversized boom gate slammed down. By Sept. 29, the tree was chopped into pieces and stacked on the curb.

Comfort Food In Country Club Shores, Ingrid Summers was checking in on neighbors while her husband, Marcus, was busy keeping the larger community safe. Marcus works for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, so he had to be off the island longer than most residents.

As cleanup efforts were underway in their neighborhood, Summers filled a yellow wagon with goodies and took to the streets.

“She ordered trays of sandwiches from Publix,” neighbor Debbie Calpin said. “She was also knocking on doors to see if anyone needed anything.”

Summers offered food to neighbors, workers and officials alike. No one was staying or leaving Country Club Shores hungry.

“It’s people like this that make Longboat Key such a special place to live,” Calpin said.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

David Loccisano (right) helps Norma McCarthy gather photos from her damaged home.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

Fixing things the old fashioned way “You can’t charge battery-operated tools; that’s why I’m doing this all by hand,” said Doug Ward. “The old-fashioned way, the way we learned back in trade school: Get down and get it done.”

Ward came from Sarasota to perform repairs at one of the more badly damaged mobile homes in Gulf Shores, but he was only there to fix a pipe.

Luckily, the homeowners are snowbirds and have another place to stay. Wind tore through the siding and nearly pulled the roof off their mobile home that overlooks the marina.

The water pipe broke underground. Ward was pulling away plant roots with his hands trying to get to it. Most of the park had water when the town turned it back on, but the broken pipe prevented it from flowing to residents around the marina and the back section of the park.

Ward said he can get water to that unit when the homeowners need it, but for right now, he had to isolate and cap their pipe to get the rest of the park up and running again.

Doug Ward digs up a broken pipe under one of the mobile homes in Gulf Shores.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

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Damaged and undamaged mobile homes in Gulf Shores.

A home in Gulf Shores is damaged with a broken pipe underground.

Waiting game

Picnic tables are pushed onto the patio of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden.

Heather Rippy, owner of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden, is in a holding pattern as her store has yet to have power restored.

“We are hoping to have power back by 11 a.m. (Wednesday),” she said.

She and her family evacuated the island but returned Thursday once the all clear was given by the town.

Even without power, she has been working to clean up and reset her store back to its pre-storm condition.

“I removed about half the inventory before evacuating,” she said, pointing at empty clothing racks. “If

the clothing got wet, that would be ruined inventory.”

Behind her store, picnic tables remain pushed closer to the back door and boards still cover the windows for the time being.

Rippy looks forward to when her and other businesses in Whitney Plaza are able to reopen and return to normal operations.

(Compiled by Lesley Dwyer, Lauren Tronstad, Kat Hughes and Eric Garwood of the Observer staff)

Lauren Tronstad

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

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They were presented with a difficult decision. Leave or stay inside. They chose to ride out Hurricane Ian in their homes.

SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

T

hey knew the risks. And they weathered the storm on Lido Key. But Carl Shoffstall will tell you himself that he’s not sure he made the smartest decision.

Shoffstall, the president of the Lido Key Homeowners Association, and his wife, Cindy, endured a rough night at their home during Hurricane Ian. The water was turned off on Lido Key at 7 p.m. Sept. 27, and they lost power for 10 hours during the peak of the storm.

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“We made up our mind,” Cindy Shoffstall said. “We didn’t waffle.”

The couple has lived in Sarasota for 20 years, and Carl Shoffstall said that the worst storm they lived through was an unnamed event back in the 1990s that caused tornados.

But this time? They said their property only had minor damage, such as broken tree limbs.

There were no broken windows.

No flooding. Shoffstall said he lives across the street from the beach and didn’t see any storm surge at all — and he had a secondary plan in case.

“We had friends from Ohio who are here,” he said. “And we could’ve gone upstairs.”

Five years ago, Shoffstall said, they made the opposite decision. They decided to evacuate during Hurricane Irma, and they drove all the way to their house in Plant City.

Only one small problem: By the time they arrived, Irma’s eye was over Plant City.

This tree and sidewalk were part of the damage caused by Hurricane Ian on Lido Key.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

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Republican Club of Longboat Key, Inc. P.O. Box 8181 Longboat Key, FL 34228

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS DINNER MEETING

Cindy and Carl Shoffstall made the difficult decision to stay put in Lido Key for Hurricane Ian.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022

Reception: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM Dinner / Speaker: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Longboat Key Club and Resort Harbourside Ballroom 3200 Harbourside Drive IANTH Longboat Key, FL 34228 E N A 8 C I (North Gate by Publix) R BER M R E V U the morning to fill it, and he was soon greeted by a flock of hungry birds.

Snyder said he never considered evacuating, and he also said he was relieved that there was no storm surge.

He spent the storm looking down Ford Street waiting for water to come, and if he had seen the waters rising, he planned to high-tail it for a nearby second floor landing.

Snyder spent much of Thursday morning riding around Lido Key and documenting damage.

He saw one chimney askew and a sign for the Holiday Inn knocked down. There were trees fallen and sidewalks broken. But nothing that couldn’t be fixed.

“There’s going to be a lot of cleanup. But we dodged another bullet,” he said. “With hurricanes, you prepare, you survive and then you clean up.”

D E L L E C N A H C O T DUE Y, NO A D S E G: TU N I T MEE T X E N

Brandon Snyder was wearing an “I Survived Hurricane Irma” T-shirt on the day after Hurricane Ian.

OUR GUEST SPEAKERS WILL BE SARASOTA COUNTY CANDIDATES: Mark Smith County Commissioner District 2 Matt Brockway Charter Review Board

“AS A PILATES INSTRUCTOR, A SUCCESSFUL REPAIR FOR MY BADLY DAMAGED ROTATOR CUFF WAS CRUCIAL FOR BOTH MY CAREER AND MY ABILITY TO CONTINUE ENJOYING A VERY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. I AM THRILLED TO REPORT THAT I HAVE FULL USE OF MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND AM PAIN FREE.”

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This time, they saw another hard truth about evacuation.

Shoffstall said he was talking with a couple from Longboat Key on Wednesday who were thinking about leaving. By the time they decided, the closest hotel available was in Immokalee.

Two-and-a-half hours away.

Through the storm.

Shoffstall said he took that to mean that the safest thing meant sheltering in place and hoping for no storm surge.

“You can run from the wind,” Shoffstall said. “But the water will kill you.”

Another Lido resident, Brandon Snyder, said he spent a restless night literally holding the wind back from opening the back door of his home.

First, Snyder propped a chair against his back door, and then he leaned against it while reclining on his Teeter inversion table.

All in all, Snyder said, it really wasn’t that bad as far as hurricanes go.

“I lived through Hugo in St. Croix back in 1989,” he said. “I lived through Charley, and I lived through Irma.

“Now I’ve lived through this one.

I’ll tell you one thing: If what happened down in Fort Myers had happened here, this island would’ve been underwater.”

Snyder, who has lived in Sarasota for seven years, said he spent part of the storm watching some sparrows that had nested into cubbyholes on the side of his house.

He went out to the bird feeder in

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Thankful? Great. Now be helpful.

Amidst the wreckage Hurricane Ian left behind, the rainbow after the storm emerges: When our neighbors need help, we know how to respond.

“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 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com

BY EMILY WALSH AND KAT HUGHES

Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes, KHughes@YourObserver.com

W

hew. That was a close one.

It’s a sentiment we’re familiar with here on Longboat Key, because as many times as we have been targeted for direct hits or scathing blows from storms, we have really lucked out.

But just as we are counting our blessings from Hurricane Ian, another sentiment hits: There are people all around us who were not as lucky.

A Facebook post from one of our colleague’s said it best: “We have gratitude, but know that our relief is someone else’s loss.”

Indeed, and as we see the photos of destruction and stories of heartbreak coming out of areas around us, this thought carries a lot of weight.

There’s still a lot of work left to be done and a lot of need out there.

But the silver lining to any of these storms is the response we see from our community members reaching out to help those in need.

Disasters like this always attract the tried-and-true forces of national nonprofits, and it certainly takes their scale and heft to help all those in need.

But it also takes local efforts — both large and small — to rebound, and those are the stories that give us faith in the well-being of our community and the feeling that no matter what happens, we can get through anything — together. Here are just a few of the efforts we’ve witnessed of neighbors helping neighbors.

Managing Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@YourObsever.com; Lauren Tronstad, LTronstad@YourObsever.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Spencer Fordin, SFordin@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com

Courtesy photos

Michael’s On East staff Scott West, Margaux Arthur, Matt Merriman, Co-Proprietor Phil Mancini and Lavardo Morely stand next to food crates ready for delivery. The restaurant made more than 3,000 meals by noon Sept. 30.

WAYS TO HELP n A Hurricane Ian Relief Concert presented by Sarasota Orchestra and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will take place 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 7 at the Van Wezel.

The concert will feature uplifting music and will benefit the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The Patterson Foundation match all funds raised up to $750,000. To purchase tickets, visit VanWezel.org. n United Way of South Sarasota

County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County are all accepting donations to

MEALS ON THE MOVE

On the large-effort side, at Michael’s On East, which is usually packed with more than 300 businesspeople for lunch or serving cocktails to guests at a charity ball, the ballroom was in business for a much different reason after Hurricane Ian hit.

In past hurricane disasters, Michael’s On East Co-Proprietor Phil Mancini and his catering staff would go directly into the devastated areas and set up buffet meals.

This year, they partnered with World Central Kitchen founded by José Andrés, who will be a part of Ringling College Library Association’s Town Hall lecture series on March 13. World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that is the first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises.

Instead of a buffet, World Central Kitchen has specific guidelines and requires individually packaged meals.

Even though Midtown Plaza lost 30,000 square feet of roofing, the Michael’s kitchen, ballroom and restaurant never lost power, which meant Mancini was ready for action. After learning that Restaurant Depot was open at 9 a.m. the morning following Ian’s landfall, Mancini decided: “I’m going to go shopping. I called a bunch of my guys in and we started prepping. We gave them 3,000 meals by noon on Friday.”

Thankfully, Michael’s On East had staffed up just in time for catering season and had nearly 40 people working assembly lines in the ballroom. Mancini said they had 20 people working in the kitchen and 15 people in the ballroom plating, utilizing every piece of equipment around the clock. Starting at 6 a.m. every morning, the Michael’s team had eight convection ovens running in the kitchen and six convection ovens outside cooking food. “We got it down to where we can package 1,000 meals every 45 minutes,” said Mancini.

This operation, which was led by Executive Chef Jamil Pineda, went through 5,000 pounds of chicken, 2,000 pounds of hamburger, 2,000 pounds of pasta and more than 200

Scott West, with Michael’s On East, loads up finished meals into a crate to be delivered.

cases of produce, to deliver more than 10,000 meals to Port Charlotte and Fort Myers. Pineda worked 15-hour days for six days in a row.

But they’re not stopping there.

On Monday, 15 minutes after breaking down the assembly tables and ovens, Mancini received a phone call with a request for 1,500 more meals. “I will do as much as I can,” he said.

PUPS ON PLANES

Just up the road at the Humane Society of Sarasota County, another crew of people was working around the clock for a different purpose: transporting and caring for animals coming in from damaged shelters down south.

The day after the storm came through, HSSC put out an all-call for volunteers in the community on its website and social media to clean up the shelter property and keep operations running. About 20 people responded outside of HSSC’s regular volunteers, and they got to work doing everything from cleaning up storm debris and clearing walkways to cleaning kennels.

“We had a lot of our regular volunteers who couldn’t be here because of damage to their homes, as well as staff members,” said HSSC Marketing Coordinator Alissa Jackson. “So it was really great to see people from all over the community coming to help.”

Tapping support from national organizations such as the Bissell Pet Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society and Race for Life Rescue, the shelter became a regional hub for animal rescue and transport efforts, coordinating with shelters down south, particularly Humane Society Naples, to evacuate animals from damaged areas and fly them to safety, including in other states.

As of Tuesday, HSSC has helped transport more than 198 animals to states ranging from Pennsylvania and New York to Tennessee, Alabama and Illinois.

In addition to the efforts to transport animals to safety, HSSC also has provided food to 30 dogs and 15 cats at the shelter at Philippi Shores Elementary school. And through all of this, the nonprofit has been asking locals to take foster pets to help alleviate the strain on the transport and shelter system.

“Right now we need to make as much space as possible” in the shelter, Jackson said. “So the less animals we have here, the better.”

Jackson said the community response has been touching. This includes HSSC staff who stayed on-site during the storm and have continued to work since it passed, even after they were given an opportunity to go home.

“It really goes to show the spirit of people who love animals,” Jackson said.

POLICE AND PRAYER

The Sarasota Police Department and the North Port Police Department were in close communication prior to Hurricane Ian’s landfall.

When North Port Chief Todd Garrison advised Sarasota Chief Rex Troche that they could use some assistance, SPD sent 20 officers to help with rescue missions, amphibious vehicles and high-water Humvees, and an additional team to help prepare and serve food and deliver water, ice and meals-ready-to-eat.

While assisting in North Port on Monday, Oct. 3, Troche, Deputy Chief Scott Mayforth and Public Information Officer Genevieve Judge pulled into a 7-Eleven with food and water.

There they encountered an older gentleman who had been trapped in his house and was seeking ice and trying to find something to eat.

“He said that God must have sent us there,” recounted Troche. “We were able to give him several bags of ice and food, and you would have thought it was the biggest miracle that ever occurred.”

LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Although these efforts show the scale of recovery at work, there are

help with local recovery efforts. n Humane Society of Sarasota County is in need of monetary donations, as well as pet food to stock its public pet food pantry.

Those interested can donate money on its website at HSSC. org or bring pet food to its shelter at 2331 15th St., Sarasota. HSSC is also asking for people to foster animals, which can be done through an online application on its website. n World Central Kitchen continues to provide food and disaster relief. To support its efforts, donate at WCK.org.

many more grassroots efforts ongoing. All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church on Longboat Key opened a comfort station for people to enjoy some air conditioning, charge their phones or just enjoy a cup of coffee and some post-storm camaraderie.

Christ Church of Longboat Key organized a food drive for Wednesday to gather nonperishable items, toiletries and diapers for Our Daily Bread in Bradenton.

After helping a neighbor rescue their parents in North Port who had been stranded after their roof came off, Kristy Cail, owner of Kristy Leigh Cail Creative and mother of two, Jaxon, age 12, and Caitlin, age 10, said she couldn’t sit still and not do anything. But she also knew that she should stay out of the experts’ way. “There were people that I knew in Venice, some of Caitlin’s classmates who didn’t have any power or running water. So I thought, ‘Why not make a bunch of meals?’”

Cail made 25 individually packaged lasagnas and posted on Facebook that she was offering the free hot meals. Cail’s friend, Tim Mitten, saw the post and collected the remainder of the lasagnas and took them to families in Englewood to whom he was already delivering ice, gas and generators.

In the Southgate neighborhood in Sarasota, residents simply ran a power cord from their house out to the street, where they set up a chair and a charging station for weary neighbors without power.

For all the bad news we’re inundated with, all the images of building carnage and floodwaters and destruction, we have hope that these large and small acts of love, kindness and generosity will continue.

So for those who feel lucky or grateful, don’t forget the loss. Your community needs you, and the good news is, there are plenty of ways to help.

Emily Walsh is president and publisher of Observer Media Group and Kat Hughes is executive editor and COO.

Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Sales Manager / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal Bair, RBair@YourObserver.com; Beth Jacobson, BJacobson@YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver. com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver. com; Brenda White, BWhite@ YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Lexi Huelsman, LHuelsman@ YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Manager / Lori Downey, LDowney @YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma Burke, EBurke@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Specialist / Melanie Melone, MMelone@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Director of Information Technology / Adam Quinlin, AQuinlin@YourObserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23

Before one even opens the Observer, one can bet that Matt Walsh will pour out vitriol on President Biden and ignore anything happening with Republicans. Each week, another Biden bashing to distract from the scandals of Trump and the Republican efforts to destroy democracy.

Ignoring truths, imagining Democrats as enemies, supporting outrageous Republican candidates, etc., as the list of lows that face us today grows with every one of these Qanon conspiracies and election deniers.

Wake up readers and see the damage these remarks do to hinder any chance of democracy surviving, hinder the truth replaced with alternate facts and hinder the old American way we all want to see where people discuss issues and differences and not culture wars.

Walsh won’t stop his tirades, or get his head out of the sand, but we must hold him accountable.

CAROL STAITMAN LONGBOAT KEY

Go when they say

I feel the need to remark about conversations I’ve had with people on the islands about evacuations.

So many people asked, “Will you leave?”

With such danger now confirmed with the heartbreaking losses south of us (it could have been us), hopefully in the face of another storm, we won’t ask this silly question any more and replace it with, “How can I help you?

GLADYS TIERNEY LIDO KEY

BE HEARD

Surely you have an opinion?

Email letters to Managing Editor Eric Garwood at EGarwood@YourObserver.com.

Include your name and town.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27

FEET DON’T FAIL ME NOW 1:50 p.m., 7200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: An officer investigating a traffic backup found a landscaping company’s disabled dump truck in the middle of the Longboat Pass bridge. A bridge tender said the driver told him it broke down, a mechanic was on his way and then ran off, never to return. While the bridge tender and a fellow employee directed traffic, aided by the bridge’s safety gates, the truck’s owners were called by police and made aware of the situation. A tow truck and mechanic were sent to the scene. The truck’s owners said they did not know why the driver ran off and wouldn’t answer his mobile phone.

CLEAN, BUT WIDE OPEN 6:01 p.m., 700 block of Tarawitt Drive Unsecure premises: Police secured the front door of a house.

A caller said a cleaning crew had been there but had not closed the door properly.

An officer told the owner what had happened through the home’s doorbell camera system.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 24

PARKING: APPROVED 9:09 a.m., 600 block of Cedar Street Citizen assist: Police investigated a report of a truck with a boat trailer parked improperly in an area that requires a permit. An officer arrived to find the truck, the trailer and a permit allowing their presence.

FORGIVE ME 3:06 p.m., 4200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Alarm: An employee of a church told responding officers that he was accidentally responsible for the activation of an intruder alarm when he arrived to begin preparations for a Sunday service. The employee said everything was OK and no police assistance was needed.

THE ELECTRICITY WILL LEAK OUT 3:49 p.m., 5700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: An officer sought help from emergency dispatchers in relaying to Florida Power and Light word from a resident about a utilities box that was hanging open with a panel visible. The dispatcher advised FPL would arrive within the hour.

Several other calls to police were registered about the same box.

MONDAY, SEPT. 26

GOTTA GO 3800 block of Gulf of Mexico Citizen dispute: Police told all parties involved in a disagreement

between a property manager and a tenant of a condominium that eviction proceedings were civil in nature and were not the purview of police.

The manager said the unit owner had improperly rented the unit, prompting the eviction.

ROPE ROW 500 block of Sloop Lane Citizen assist: A police officer intervened in a canal dispute over how a boat was moored in preparation for Hurricane Ian. A resident complained the boat’s ropes extended across the canal to the other side, blocking navigational access. The boat owner agreed to redo the ropes.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28

ALL SET 2:47 a.m., 700 block of Binnacle Point Drive Alarm: Officers investigated an activated intruder alarm but found no signs of a break-in, based on an exterior check.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29

ALL GOOD 10:57 a.m., 3300 block of Sabal Cove Place Welfare check: Police ascertained that an 86-year-old resident was

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One vessel was grounded and taking on water. The other was also grounded. Information on the situation was relayed to the town’s marine patrol officer.

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ell-wishes, jokes and congratulations were all around during Monday’s Longboat Key FireRescue ceremony recognizing the retirement of Lt. Alan Jenkins and the promotion of firefighterparamedic Ron Koper.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi called the ceremony “bittersweet” as one firefighter leaves and another moves up.

Jenkins was recognized for his 12 years with the department with a brief speech from Dezzi.

Dezzi calculated Jenkins spent the equivalent of 146 months, 14,160 shifts and 35,040 hours with the 37-member department. He finished his employment 13th in seniority.

“One thing that will never change is the camaraderie of the fire ser-

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vice,” Dezzi said. “Being a firefighter means that you have a second family wherever you go.”

Jenkins was gifted a photo with signatures lining the border, his jacket and gloves framed and his hat, among other artwork.

Firefighter-paramedic Jeff Bullock gave Jenkins an ax on behalf of the department.

As he addressed fellow department staff for the final time, he teared up thinking of memories and his appreciation of those he met during his time serving the Key. “I’m sad to go, but I am excited about the future,” Jenkins said, addressing members of the department in attendance. “I’m going to miss you guys. You are a family.”

Koper was promoted to lieutenant after eight years with the department. “I’m appreciative every day that (Dezzi) gave me a chance eight years ago to come into the fire service,” he said.

He spoke of the mentorship he received from fellow firefighters, specifically Chase Bullock, who pinned on Koper’s new badge.

“I don’t think I could have got a better set of guys to be working with and to bring me into the fire service,” Koper said.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi shakes new lieutenant Ron Koper’s hand Monday.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

|

11A

Longboat Key video firm reels in $400 million ‘We have only scratched the surface of what this business could be,’ Rumble officials say.

HOURS OF UPLOADED VIDEO PER DAY 8,948

6,158

MARK GORDON BUSINESS OBSERVER

R

umble is on a roll.

The latest news for the Longboat Key global videosharing platform company, which caters to a conservative audience, is a lucrative Wall Street deal that values the business at more than $2 billion.

The deal, a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, also known as a SPAC or a blank check company, has several key components. A big one, according to a statement and public filings, is the merger, which closed Sept. 16, provides Rumble with some $400 million in gross proceeds. That includes about $85 million of proceeds from a financing agreement; $15 million from a Forward Purchase Investment; and approximately $300 million of cash held in a trust account.

The SPAC entity created for the purpose of buying and taking Rumble public is CF Acquisition Corp.

VI. Prominent Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, oversees CF Acquisition Corp. VI. Other investors in the company, predating the

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SPAC merger, include billionaire investor Peter Thiel, an early Facebook investor who has backed multiple national conservative political causes and candidates.

Net proceeds from the deal will be used to attract new content creators to the Rumble and Locals platforms, the release states. It will also be used to “continue to build out Rumble’s independent infrastructure, expand Rumble’s teams, begin robust marketing of the platform” and pay for future acquisitions. Rumble has posted $11.17 million in revenue in the past 12 months with a gross profit of $1.96 million, public filings show.

Revenue is up 232% since 2019.

SPECIAL PURPOSE

“Today marks an amazing milestone

Q3 ’21

Q4 ’21

Q1 ’22

Q2 ’22

for our company, and one that I have been looking forward to for a long time,” Rumble founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski said in the Sept. 16 statement. “This transaction allows Rumble to fund a wide range of business initiatives, including the development of our independent infrastructure, while we continue to add top creators to our platforms. I am extremely excited to report that despite current market conditions, we have retained nearly all the cash in trust, with nearly zero redemptions from CFVI shareholders.”

Founded in Toronto in 2013, Rumble moved its corporate headquarters to Sarasota County in November 2021. At the time of the move — Sarasota County commissioners considered granting performance-

based job incentives to Rumble, but no funds were ever approved — the company said it planned to immediately hire 20-25 people. Company officials also said they intended to invest at least $50 million in growing its local presence in the next few years. The company’s office, public documents show, is at 444 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“Moving to Longboat Key is a win-win for Rumble and the Sarasota community,” Pavlovski said in a statement about the move. “Sarasota County is growing rapidly, and we are excited to be part of the growth.”

Rumble officials have declined several attempts to interview Pavlovski about either the headquarters relocation or company strategy.

GOING PUBLIC

Longboat Key-based Rumble officially went public on the Nasdaq on Sept. 19 through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company led by Cantor Fitzgerald Chair and CEO Howard Lutnick. Shares opened Sept. 19 at $12.44 and climbed as high as $17.23 before closing at $16.81. Shares opened at $12.95 Sept. 22.

wald to MMA fighter Jorge Masvidal and author and radio host Dr. Drew.

By way of example of what Rumble says it can provide for top creators, it cites conservative commentator and podcaster Dan Bongino.

Another aspect of the company’s strategy is to drive more engagement with three platforms: web browser, mobile app and connected TV. Within that, it lists several new and upcoming features, including live streaming, camera integration and gifting-tipping.

While officials aim for Rumble to be content-neutral, the prospectus highlights the niche in conservativeleaning content. With the issues some of the social media giants are facing, including potential federal and state regulation and legislation, that niche is also a big opportunity.

“We have only scratched the surface,” the prospectus states, “of what this business could be.”

BIG REACH

Some details about the merger, and the company’s growth plans and what officials say is its competitive advantage, were available in public filings. For one, the company says the deal gives it a “pro forma enterprise value” of $2.2 billion.

A key part of Rumble’s strategy, officials say in an investor prospectus, is to add “content verticals,” with everything from arts and pets to gaming and cryptocurrency. It also seeks to “identify top creators and provide them better distribution,” than other platforms, the prospectus states. Current prominent content providers and creators range from actor and comedian Russell Brand and journalist Glenn Green-

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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5249 CAPE LEYTE DRIVE

$4,890,000

Direct waterfront, new construction is a rarity on Siesta Key. The modern, custom design of this 5BR John Cannon home in Siesta Isles will be built with exceptionally high standards. Covering more than a half-acre, boaters will love the brand-new seawall, plus recently installed composite dock and lift.

www.5249CapeLeyte.com

3040 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #224

$2,495,000

513 SLOOP LANE

$1,500,000

816 JUNGLE QUEEN WAY

Contemporary updates, stylish furnishings (some included!) and stunning direct views welcome you to this 3BR Cayman residence at Grand Bay. Two parking spaces included!

This charming 3BR waterfront cottage in Country Club Shores is close to famed Longboat Key Club and a sunny walk to Gulf beach access. Ready to renovate or enjoy as is!

Turnkey furnished and move-in ready!

This beautifully updated 3BR waterfront on Longboat Key is ready to enjoy today!

You will love the deeded beach access and easy boating access to Sarasota Bay.

www.GrandBay224.com

www.513SloopLane.com

www.816JungleQueenWay.com

15111 GADDY UP RANCH ROAD

$3,995,000

862 GRANDE PASS WAY

$2,795,000

1265 BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS

Country breezes rustling through century old oaks and pines welcome you to this unique, 821/2-acre property known as the Gaddy Up Ranch, offering many possibilities for family ranch living.

Sunset views abound in the exclusive Hill Tide Estates community! This spectacular parcel boasts more than a 1/4-acre of direct beachfront property in a gated community to make your own.

Modern downtown living in newer construction is a special treat, especially on Sarasota’s Cultural Coast. This 2017-built, 3BR townhouse is within walking distance to downtown Sarasota.

www.GaddyUpRanchSRQ.com

www.862GrandePassWay.com

www.1265BlvdoftheArts.com

$1,675,000

$999,000

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TOUR (941) 387-1840 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F | Sarasota, FL 34236 595 Bay Isles Road, Suite 250 | Longboat Key, FL 34228 Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com Owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC

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Classifieds 10B Games 9B Real Estate 7B Weather 9B

OCTOBER 6, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS ‘Not like friends, a little more’ LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

M

ichelle Rogers started working at Dry Dock Waterfront Grill when she was 21 years old. She’s 35 now, has no plans to leave and is not alone.

“This restaurant is special,” she said. “It’s great having a place where you can come (to work), and it feels like it’s home.”

The bayfront restaurant, tucked behind the Mobil gas station off Gulf of Mexico Drive, opened in 1989. It changed hands in 2015 when Gecko’s Hospitality Group bought it from the original owners, Eric and Cindy Hammersand.

It was a smooth transition because the same staff has been running the kitchen for more than 20 years, and some of the front of the house employees are going on 30 years.

Rogers’ older sister, Heidi Frederick, works at Dry Dock, too. She started waiting tables a year before Rogers started as a bartender.

Whether it’s the management, customers or serene bayfront scenery, Dry Dock doesn’t see the kind of staff turnover many restaurants do.

Patricia Finnan said she and her husband, Patrick, have been walking, biking and boating to the restaurant from their home in Country Club Shores since it opened. They’ve never had a bad meal at Dry Dock, but that’s not what makes them regulars.

“It’s the staff. They’re just great people,” said Patrick. “They became, not like friends, a little more so.”

Patricia attended Rogers’ bridal shower, and both came to the wedding.

“I really feel like they are like my grandparents. I’ve known them since day one here.” Rogers said of the Finnans. “They’re just the kindest (people) you could be around. They warm the room when they walk in.”

The Finnans are known around the restaurants as “The Pats.” Rogers and another bartender, Kim Adams, bought them matching mugs that read, “Happy wife. Happy life,” one of Patrick’s favorite sayings. According to Rogers, the Pats set the bar when it comes to happy couples.

Rogers is off to a good start with husband Timothy, and the Pats approve. He’s been a paramedic and firefighter for 14 years in Sarasota and is studying to be a registered nurse at University of South Florida.

The day Timothy proposed, a tropical storm was approaching and Rogers woke up feeling sick. But there’s no going back after planning a fake volleyball tournament for friends and family to watch as you ask, “Will you marry me?” He told Rogers to pack the cooler for a long tournament day.

Before the rain hit, Timothy let a volleyball pass over his head and dropped to one knee. Rogers happily accepted, and the big day was planned for January 2020.

When the original venue Orchid Garden in Orlando was torn down unexpectedly, finding another venue could have been stressful. But not for Rogers, who had an immediate backup plan when customers stepped up to offer the Longboat Key Club.

The couple decided on the Kapok Tree in Clearwater, but Rogers points to that example with gratitude.

“They truly are family here,” she said. “We have something wrong, they will do their best to help us.”

Now, the couple is ready to expand their family. Rogers is undergoing in vitro fertilization. She took a fiveweek leave from Dry Dock to get her first treatment in New York.

On her last shift before leaving, Chef Hector Elizarras made his “to die for” homemade pizza. Once the restaurant is set-up, the staff has a half hour to eat a meal together. That day, the pizza was topped with pineapple for Rogers.

“The pineapple is the symbol for IVF,” she said. “It’s saying that your inner core will be OK because you’re strong on the outside.”

While she was in New York, Rogers received messages of encouragement from family, of course, but also from co-workers and customers. The first treatment didn’t take, but that’s often the case. She returns in two weeks for round two.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Patricia Finnan, Michelle Rogers and Patrick Finnan. Rogers says her relationship with the Pats is like having an extra set of grandparents.

Rogers is still looking at the volleyball as her now husband Timothy is down on one knee to propose.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Rogers

Michelle Rogers is a favorite behind the bar at Dry Dock. She’s worked at the restaurant for 14 years.

Michelle Rogers and Heidi Frederick. The sisters have been working at Dry Dock together for over a decade.

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Longtime bartender at Dry Dock appreciates her co-workers and customers.

2B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

TBI celebrates a new year

A

s Hurricane Ian was about to make its mark on Florida and this year, Sept. 26 continued on as a day of celebration for Temple Beth Israel. About 100 members met for lunch at Michael’s on East following a Rosh Hashanah service at the synagogue.

“Rosh Hashanah translates to “rosh,” meaning head, “shanah” meaning year.” Executive Director Isaac Azerad explained. “It starts a period of 10 days in which Jews all over the world enter into celebrating the new year and having a period of introspection into our behavior, actions and deeds for the past year.”

Despite worries over the impending hurricane and evacuation, the air was light inside the dining room.

Members were in the moment, enjoying the company of their

friends and family.

After Sylvia Pastor thanked Rosalyn Fleischer for planning the event, Fleischer joked, “I just had to call Michael’s.”

A plate of apples and honey was placed on each table to follow a Jewish new year tradition.

“The idea is that we bless the apple as the fruit of the earth by dipping it in honey, so our year will be sweet,” Azerad said.

The 10-day period provides time for reflection in an effort to better one’s self and culminates with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

“It is said that during Yom Kippur, God opens a book,” Azerad said, “And in the book, you are inscribed for the year, so you want to be inscribed favorably for the year.”

Susan Goldfarb runs TBI’s Education Center.

Allan Goldfarb is an active TBI board member.

—LESLEY DWYER

TBI coPresident David Gorin with Ken Newmark.

TBI coPresident Marion Levine with Sam Samelson.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Sonia and Maury Azerad with Executive Director Isaac Azerad.

BIRD KEY

LIDO KEY

440 MEADOW LARK DRIVE ACTIVE LISTING $10,995,000

BIRD KEY

394 BOB WHITE DRIVE PENDING $5,295,000

FOREST LAKES COUNTRY CLUB EST. 1779 RIVIERA CIR PENDING $600,000

BIRD KEY

378 BOB WHITE DRIVE SOLD $4,400,000

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LAKEWOOD RANCH

15713 CASTLE PARK TERRACE PENDING $1,500,000

101 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DRIVE, UNIT 81 PENDING $1,400,000

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

3B

We our counting our blessings on Longboat Key and wishing all of our neighbors to the south a speedy recovery #FloridaStrong

BENCH M A RFKI NRDEI NSU • TO S TRY R AT G ILTS NVEN I S OEGIC U R S P EM C IA AR LTKYET • CIONG N N E•CPER T I O NSONA S M AT TLEIRZ! ED SERV ICE

ER D UN

T AC R NT O C

RECENT ACTIVITY

BENCH M A R K R E SU LTS • S T R AT EGIC M A R K ET I NG • PER SONA L I Z ED SERV ICE LD SO

7 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

on g b o at K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

EMERALD POINTE NORTH IN BAY ISLES

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E

L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 MLS# A4178487

750 PENFIELD ST | $3,000,000

2067 HARBOUR DR | OFFERED ATBOUR $1,575,000 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, LINKS #4 2067 H A R LINKS DR I V E, #4 This family home in theg bintimate L on g b o3abed/3.5 t K e y | bath O f f econdo re d a lives t $ 7 like 79, 0a0single 0 L on o a t K e maintenance y | O f f e re d free a t $community 7 79, 0 0 0 behind the gates of Bay Isles.

The residence has been recently updated and offers serene golf course views, MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487 a heated pool, 2 car garage and private beach access.

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487 D L SO

E

M CO

IN T N LE L E 7 H A R BOURXCLINKS DR I V E, #4 E on g b o at K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

MLS# A4178487

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E

L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 MLS# A4178487

701 H PENFIELD ST | $1,225,000 2067 A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

LD O S

7 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, SAND #4 CAY BEACH 2067 HRESORT A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

on g b o at K e y | O f f e re d a t $4725 7 79,GULF 0 0 0 OF MEXICO DR. #213 L on| OFFERED g b o at K eAT y |$869,000 O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487 MLS# vacation getaway income andA4178487 comes fully furnished.

2067This H A2 bedroom R BOUR LINKS DRearned I V E,over #4$63K in gross 2067 H AforR2021 BOUR LINKS DR I V E,The #4 beachfront pool, L on g b o a t K community e y | O f f e reofdSand a t $Cay 7 79,offers 0 0 0 owners excellent amenities L on g b oincluding a t K e y | aOheated f f e re d a t $shuffleboard, 7 79, 0 0 0 tennis courts, barbeque area and over 340’ of white sand beach to enjoy.

MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4539173

I A N A DDY, PA IRAEN DDY, PA A LA TO R ®, M B A R E A LT O R ®, M B A

IanAddy@MichaelSaunders. com IanAddy@MichaelSaunders.com

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E

L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 MLS# A4178487 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

L on gPOINT b o a t KROAD e y | O#4403 f f e re|d$949,000 a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 240 SANDS MLS# A4178487

G A I L W IT T IG

G ABIRLOW K EIT R -T A IG SSOCI ATE

BROK E R-A SSOCI ATE GailWittig@MichaelSaunders. co GailWittig@MichaelSaunders. com

941.387.0100 941.387.0100

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W W W . L O N G B O AT L I F E . C O M

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

PET PICS Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them! Share them at YourObserver.com/contests/petpics to be published online and for a chance to see them in print!

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Sara & Sota, of Sleepy Lagoon on Longboat Key, don’t care what’s inside, they just love boxes!

388778-1

The Home Service Pros Who Care

The Area’s most Trusted Name since 1974

99 OFF

$

Hot Water Heater Installation* *Must be purchased through Aqua Plumbing & Air* Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Contact Aqua Plumbing and Air for details.

Offer Expires 10/31/2022.

50 OFF

$

GARBAGE DISPOSER Installation of PRO750 Garbage Disposer Cannot be combined with other offers.

Contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for details.

Offer expires 10/31/2022.

100 OFF

$

Reme Halo Air Purifier The Reme Halo is more effective than most air purifiers and filter technologies on the market.

Cannot be combined with other offers. Contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for details. Offer expires 10/31/2022.

FREE Water Quality Analysis ($99 value)

&

$100 Credit towards a New Whole House Filtration System Installed Cannot be combined with any other offers. Must be present coupon at time of service. Offer expires 10/31/2022.

SEE HOW MUCH MORE YOU CAN SAVE! Air Conditioning

Plumbing

CALL NOW! 941.866.6210

Electrical

Veterans & First Responders HVAC Discount First Responders & Veterans receive a 10% discount on all HVAC service labor only.

Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Offer expires 12/31/2022.

No Interest* Financing Available on Select Carrier A/C Systems Call today to learn about our no interest or low interest financing options. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Offer expires 12/31/2022.

or visit www.AquaPlumbingSarasota.com Lic # cAc1816020 • PLbg cFc1428223 • ELEc Ec13009313

Water Treatment

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

5B

REAL ESTATE BY A REAL EXPERT

OVER $134 MILLION SOLD IN 2021 • OVER $79 MILLION PENDING, AND SOLD IN 2022

JUST LISTED UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2945 PYRULA DRIVE LONGBOAT KEY, FL $3,345,000

Exceptional quality, untouched refinement, 2-story, 5BR/5BA, 3,815 sq. ft. residence.

Features abound, including a separate inlaw suite and large 3-car garage. Expansive outdoor area with heated pool and spa.

EMERALD POINTE SOUTH 1906 HARBOUR LINKS CIRCLE LONGBOAT KEY, FL $1,495,000 Completely updated 3BR/3.5BA courtyard residence featuring a separate casita. The kitchen is spectacular, and open to the expansive living room, with a full wall of sliders leading out to a screened lanai and private pool.

GRAND BAY III 3030 GRAND BAY BLVD. #316 LONGBOAT KEY, FL $2,895,000 Breathtaking panorama of the Harbourside golf course, the city skyline, Sarasota Bay and the Longboat Key Moorings serve as the dramatic backdrop from most rooms of this spacious 3BR/3BA, 2,925+/- sq. ft. residence.

VIZCAYA 2333 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #1C2 LONGBOAT KEY, FL $4,745,000

Sweeping views of the tropical grounds, pool, the Gulf of Mexico and sunsets from the wraparound terrace of this luxurious and sprawling 4BR/4.5BA residence with a separate guest suite, 2-car garage, and private elevator.

TWO NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT 2315 WEBBER STREET SARASOTA, FL $1,895,000 The Laurel Oak model is a 4BR/5.5BA, 3,250+/- sq.-ft. contemporary-style residence by Vertical Design+Build, professionally designed for leisurely entertaining and elegant living. Private gate entrance, 20,000+sq. ft. lot and everything in between.

Bruce Myer

Realtor ®

941.387.1847

389873-1

Bruce@BruceMyer.com • www.BruceMyer.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

SIESTA KEY 7722 Sanderling Road 2 Beds 3 Baths 2,580 Sq. Ft. Brian Loebker 941-735-4393 A4527041 $9,000,000

LONGBOAT KEY 540 Harbor Gate Way 5 Beds 6/1 Baths 5,048 Sq. Ft. Stacy Hanan 941-266-0529 A4548328 $4,500,000

SARASOTA 100 Central Avenue PH01 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,764 Sq. Ft. Bibi-Ann Allard PA 941-685-0422 A4533365 $3,499,000

LONGBOAT KEY 540 Harbor Cove Circle 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,081 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick & Beverly St Hilaire 941-780-6001 A4534178 $3,400,000

SARASOTA 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive 1204 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,582 Sq. Ft. Michael James & Laurel James 941-724-4034 A4544975 $3,100,000

LONGBOAT KEY 830 Tarawitt Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,447 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group & Steve Walter 941-232-2000 A4545868 $3,100,000

LONGBOAT KEY 609 Halyard Lane 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,069 Sq. Ft. Tryla Brown Larson 941-962-1122 A4546210 $2,950,000

SIESTA KEY 4193 Roberts Point Circle 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,250 Sq. Ft. Kim Eskew 941-587-5999 A4542367 $2,850,000

ST. ARMANDS KEY 315 Jackson Drive 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,514 Sq. Ft. Terri Derr & Rita Holbrook 941-356-6694 A4546074 $2,550,000

LONGBOAT KEY 311 Firehouse Court 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,352 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4534473 $2,395,000

SARASOTA 3537 Founders Club Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,544 Sq. Ft. Richard Hearn 941-313-1591 A4535534 $2,300,000

SARASOTA 1350 5th Street 301 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 1,928 Sq. Ft. Heidi Lusk 941-681-5227 A4540753 $2,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY 350 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 225 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,210 Sq. Ft. Sherry Dominick 941-500-3774 A4548288 $1,700,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2550 Harbourside Drive 322 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,830 Sq. Ft. Rachel Benderson & Stacy Hanan 941-376-0218 A4547892 $1,700,000

SIESTA KEY 5966 Midnight Pass Road G-103 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,164 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4548143 $1,650,000

LONGBOAT KEY 569 Rountree Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,832 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group & Steve Walter 941-232-2000 A4545250 $1,595,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 7015 Lancaster Court 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,717 Sq. Ft. Amy Chapman 941-225-1500 A4542575 $1,325,000

SARASOTA 1255 N Gulfstream Avenue 208 2 Beds 2 Baths 2,055 Sq. Ft. Lindsay Nock 941-735-7005 A4547238 $1,200,000

SARASOTA 770 S Palm Avenue 601 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,408 Sq. Ft. Pam Sweeney 941-266-9622 A4546966 $1,050,000

SARASOTA 707 S Gulfstream Avenue 1003 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,305 Sq. Ft. Marybeth Flynn 941-704-1477 A4535832 $975,000

SIESTA KEY 5760 Midnight Pass Road 404D 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,361 Sq. Ft. Joseph McDonald 941-375-9646 A4531860 $945,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4800 Gulf Of Mexico Drive PH4 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,312 Sq. Ft. Tryla Brown Larson 941-962-1122 A4539305 $875,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4725 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 213 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,071 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy, PA & Gail Wittig, LLC 941-961-8850 A4539173 $869,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3806 Gulf Of Mexico Drive C404 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,514 Sq. Ft. Stephen Harris 941-780-2352 A4536940 $845,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3320 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 203-C 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,187 Sq. Ft. Sandi Layfield 941-914-2807 A4542770 $519,000

SARASOTA 309 Ringling Point Drive 5 Beds 3/2 Baths 7,009 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4535001 $8,950,000

SIESTA KEY 3722 Flamingo Avenue 5 Beds 5/2 Baths 4,985 Sq. Ft. Barbara May & Fred Sassen 404-822-9264 A4546740 $6,500,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3060 Grand Bay Boulevard 1101 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 4,413 Sq. Ft. Stacey Fredericks 239-823-0277 A4535637 $4,999,999

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

7B

REAL ESTATE Photos courtesy Roger Pettingell, Coldwell Banker

The home at 319 Bird Key Drive was built in 1998. It has four bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,498 square feet of living area.

Bird Key home sells for $4.1 million ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

SEPT. 19-23 home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Rajesh and Renuka Malik, of Sarasota, sold their home at 319 Bird Key Drive to Leslie O’Connor, trustee, of Sarasota, for $4.1 million. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, three-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,498 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.25 million in 2019.

THE CASTILLIAN

Denise Harcke, trustee, of Fernandina Beach, sold the Unit 309 condominium at 4545 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Jan Troup, of Spring, Texas, for $1,131,000. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,340 square feet of living area. It sold for $420,000 in 2012.

The home at 319 Bird Key Drive’s pool area. The home sold in 2019 for $2.25 million.

KEY TOWERS SOUTH

John and Amy Ryder sold their Unit 8E condominium at 1750 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Eric and S. Denise Reedy, of Seymour, Indiana, for $1,215,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,548 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2015.

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

$10 MILLION OR MORE

Longboat Key building permits were not available this week. Here are the top real estate sales through the years in Sarasota, its barrier islands and Longboat Key:

$16.5 MILLION n 1900 Casey Key Road, Nokomis sold in 2021. n 845 Longboat Club Road, sold in 2020

$11.5 MILLION

n 1313 Westway Drive, Sarasota, sold in

2022

$11.4 MILLION n 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, sold in 2019

$16 MILLION n 100 Beach Ave., Anna Maria, sold in 2022a

$11 MILLION n 139 S. Washington Drive, Lido Key, sold in 2020

$14 MILLION n 7712, 7711 and 7660 Sanderling Road, Siesta Key sold in 2021

$10.57 MILLION n 401 Quay Commons, Unit 190, Sarasota, sold in 2022

$13.75 MILLION n 3303 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, sold in 2022 $13.25 MILLION n 1452 Hillview Drive, sold in 2021 n 4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, sold in 2020

$10.5 MILLION n 1144 Sea Grape Road, Nokomis, sold in 2022 n 825 Longboat Club Road, sold in 2020 n 7712 & 7660 Sanderling Road, Siesta Key, sold in 2020 n 3799 Flamingo Ave., Siesta Key, sold in 2019

$13 MILLION +$1 n 6021 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, sold in 2020

$10.4 MILLION n 6211 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, sold in 2022

$13 MILLION n 1067 Westway Drive, Lido Key, sold in 2006

$10.25 MILLION n 4300 Higel Ave., Lido Key, sold in 2014

$12.5 MILLION n 825 Longboat Club Road, sold in 2011 $12 MILLION n 1500 Hillview Drive, Sarasota, sold in 2022 n 4100 Flamingo Ave., Siesta Key, sold in 2021 n 4300 Higel Ave., Siesta Key, sold in 2021 n 3021 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, sold in 2012 $11.85 MILLION n 7712 Sanderling Road, Siesta Key, sold in 2014

$10.15 MILLION n 5965 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, sold in 2021 $10.06 MILLION n 171 S. Washington Drive, Lido Key, sold in 2021 $10 MILLION n 3410 Flamingo Ave., Siesta Key, sold in 2013a

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From $2.4MM to $10.9MM | Call for appointment | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

Downtown St. Petersburg

400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $1MM’s | Call for appointment. | Residences400central.com 2 UNITS LEFT

Downtown Sarasota

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | From the $2MM’s | Call for appointment. | thecollection1335.com

Sales galleries open and available for virtual or in-person presentations.

Virtual home tours | OnDemand local experts | Interactive site and floorplans

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of February 2022.

Licensed Real Estate Broker

373673-1

$17.5 MILLION n 1423/1435 Hillview Drive, Sarasota sold in 2022

Longboat Key

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

YOUR CALENDAR

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

Publix weekly ad update.

SATURDAY, OCT. 8

BREAKFAST WITH THE SHARKS 8-9:30 a.m. at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway. Enjoy a continental breakfast while watching the sharks be fed breakfast before the aquarium opens. $36 for adult members, $40 for adult nonmembers, $18 for youth members and $20 for youth nonmembers. Call 388-4441 for more information.

SUNDAY, OCT. 9

WATER SKI SHOW 2 p.m. on City Island, 1602 Ken Thompson Parkway. Sarasota Ski-ARees will be performing a water ski show. This event is free and open to the public. Call 388-1666 for more information.

MONDAYS

STRETCH & STRENGTHEN From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $10. Walk-ins welcome.

Call 383-6493.

Due to the effects of Hurricane Ian, our weekly ad will not be printed for your area.

You can still view it online at publix.com/ad.

THINKING OUT LOUD: TIMELY TOPICS WITH MIKE KARP From 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Topics will include U.S. and world current affairs, popular culture and topics relevant to seniors. Cost is $10.

Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

Thank you for your understanding.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to noon at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

TUESDAYS

QI GONG From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qi gong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

389920-1

MAH JONGG From 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Fun time for experienced players. To check availability at the tables, email MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org.

Get Behind the Headlines

ROTARY CLUB Meets at 5 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays in All Angels Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. To learn more, call Nancy Rozance at 203-6054066 or email Info@LongboatKeyRotary.org.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

BREATH BALANCE AND BLISS YOGA

Your membership supports independent local journalism

File photo

SATURDAY, OCT. 8

RECURRING EVENTS

ART STUDIO OPEN HOUSE 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on St. Armands Circle, 400 Madison Drive, Suite 210. Kathy Groob is opening up her photography and art studio to the public. She is a descendant of the artist, Frank Duveneck.

This is a free event. Call 859-816-9001 for more information.

From 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Call 361-6411 ext. 2212.

TUESDAY AND FRIDAY

LONGBOAT LIBRARY The Longboat Library is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011 for information.

WEDNESDAYS

BEGINNER TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

THURSDAYS

KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT KEY At 8:30 a.m. at Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This service organization meets every first and third Thursday of the month for breakfast and a speaker. Breakfast is $10. Email Lynn Larson at LynnLarson@comcast.net to register.

ST. ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH BRIDGE CLUB Every Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive, join an ACBL-sanctioned game of contract bridge with a certified teacher. All skill levels are welcome. There is an $8 suggested donation for each session. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP to 952-9251.

here, at home, in your neighborhood.*

Membership benefits include: • Unlimited access to our email news letters and website; no registration pop-ups when logged in

• Quarterly eNewsletter, Extra! Extra!, from the Observer Newsroom

• Coming Soon! Get our e-Newspaper on your laptop, smartphone or tablet all in our new, easy-to-use app.

Scroll through the pages of the paper on any device, and take us with you, wherever you go.

• Opportunities to connect with our journalists and give feedback

Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years

Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor • 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 Garden Club 389804-1

• Invitations to member-only events

941.724.7228

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

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Water Club #401 501 Halyard Lane enaL draylaH 105 104 # bulC retaW 70 Lighthouse 35 Lighthouse 3,400 SF | A4421764 SF | A4448464 0 0 0,|5$2,575,000 99,1Point $ | 4Drive 64 8 4| 4Gated 4A | Community FS 043,2,340 2 0 0 0,5| Point 7$1,995,000 5 , 2Drive $ | 4 6| 7Gated 124 4Community A | FS 0 04,3 5,474sf | 4BR | Gulf Front | $8,000,000

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

9B

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, OCT. 7

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

|

Sunrise Sunset

High: 82 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 4%

Thursday, Oct. 6

7:25a

7:10p

Friday, Oct. 7

7:25a

7:09p

Saturday, Oct. 8

7:26a

7:08p

Sunday, Oct. 9

7:26a

7:07p

SATURDAY, OCT. 8

Monday, Oct. 10

7:27a

7:06p

High: 83 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 4%

Tuesday, Oct. 11

7:27a

7:04p

Wednesday, Oct. 12

7:28a

7:03p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, OCT. 9 High: 84 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 9%

Oct. 17 Last

Oct. 25 New

Oct. 31 First

Nov. 8 Full

TIDES Highs Lows

Robin Carlstein captured an incoming storm over Longboat Key.

Thursday, Oct. 6

9:56a

11:48p

4:17a

5:47p

Friday, Oct. 7

11:02a

11:59p

5:20a

6:21p

Saturday, Oct. 8

11:58a

—

6:11a

7:12p

Sunday, Oct. 9

12:11a

12:49p

6:56a

6:49p

Monday, Oct. 10

12:24a

1:37p

7:39a

7:30p

Tuesday, Oct. 11

12:40a

2:24p

8:19a

7:47p

Wednesday, Oct. 12

12:59a

3:14p

9:00a

8:02p

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 2022-23 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2023, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

The Observer’s

Weather ENTER: &Nature

Sponsored by

YourObserver.com/contests KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

389864-1

2022-23 PHOTO CONTEST

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY

celebrity cipher

ACROSS

37 Comedian Andre 40 Deer mothers 1 Tampering (with) 41 Celine who’s the 8 Alan born Alphonso bestselling French language D’Abruzzo singer 12 Letter before Bravo 42 Cricket club 16 Former romantic 45 Roman emperor hidden partners in “hothouse” 18 Winds, as a hose 20 Crossword enthusiasts, 47 “Later, ___!”

50 Strands after a cold stereotypically snap 22 *Valedictory address 53 *Passionate adoration 25 Garden statuette 56 Hajj destination 26 Shannon of Thirty 58 In vitro eggs Seconds to Mars 59 Unleashed 27 Oklahoma tribe 60 Totally smitten 28 Put a new title on 61 ___ mode (with ice 30 Pimple cream) 31 Snoozed 33 *Places for construction 62 Video game slowness 63 Movable car roof site advisors

65 *Adverse event 72 Womb-related 75 A, in Argentina 76 What a bargain hunter might circle on a calendar 77 *Adrift at sea 81 Psychedelic journey 82 Lead-in to “Dhabi” 83 Oolong, e.g.

84 Common Swedish name 86 Coal cart 90 Triple ___ (liqueur) 91 “Pray tell!”

93 *Advantage point in tennis 96 Cholesterol reducer 98 Exciting action in poker 100 Netlike material 101 Private Twitter chats 102 Amphitheater level

103 Fix, as hand-me-downs 105 Singer Redding 107 *Embarrassing advice 113 Unisex fragrance since 1994 117 “So is that ___?”

118 Part of a minute 119 Versatile, electrically 122 Big events for CFOs 123 Game with cards of numbers 125 *Addiction specialist 129 Buttoned-down 130 Make a call on a dating app?

131 2008 political fervor 132 “Frozen” princess 133 Leave agog 134 Web developers that catch bugs?

“JMN KCS RGCX C RNSPXGP SUKG VMXPF CLMNO JMNXFGTZ, CSP JMN’TT MSTJ XGHGHLGX ORG MSG LCP MSG.” CTUKUC EUWCSPGX

“B DBZS PFS UPVTZ ER UTSSBZAG EZS DJZTWEFG ERRWELRBMT; B KEMT RKBG UTBWS VPWREFBRX RKBZA.” FBTM GLKWTBOTW

“YXAG, D TZLH HJ VG HMG VGYH ZOHJA DL HMG TJANK. VXH PW NDCG DY PW CZPDNW, PW YJL, PW CADGLKY.” IZPGY OZZL © 2022 NEA, Inc.

sudoku Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

389472-1

©2022 Universal Uclick

72 Amherst sch.

73 Land of Everest’s North 1 Lunches, e.g.

Base Camp 2 Be brilliant 74 Having intellectual value 3 Roofing rock 78 Approach 4 “Totally awesome!”

79 Disney warrior princess 5 “___ had enough!”

6 Striped fish in Pixar films of 2021 80 Medium’s rare gift 7 Mental resolve (Abbr.)

8 Asexual, informally 85 Vigor’s partner 9 Journal 87 “Way cool!”

10 Journal keeper 88 Cornhole asset 11 Kind of wrench 89 “The Marvelous ___ 12 Ross of “Pose” Maisel” 13 NFL Hall of Famer 91 Light pop?

Dawson 92 Deli sandwich specifica14 Hardly cold? tion 15 Come clean about 93 Applications 17 Garbage barge 94 Deli list 19 Perform karaoke 95 Runway-ready 21 Hardens, as cement 97 As late as, briefly 23 Marsh plant 99 Cry after arriving at the 24 “Bliss!” last minute 29 Battlefield doc 104 “Fudge!”

32 Helen of ___ 34 Twitter’s blue bird, e.g. 106 Button over a YouTube video interruption, and a 35 Faculty head 36 Nickname for Maurice hint to interpreting each 38 “That ball isn’t coming starred clue 107 Chatters back!”

108 “Workers of the world, 39 Economy fare? ___!”

42 Ride-or-die pal 109 Lenovo machines 43 Show on TV 110 Hacks (off) 44 Peg on the links 46 The “O” of WHO (Abbr.) 111 Celebrity gossip show 48 Congresswoman Ilhan 112 Repeat word-for-word 114 Share a take 49 Depend (on) 51 Name that anagrams to 115 Polite refusal 116 “Como ___?” “avian” 120 Newbie socialites 52 Prone to pestering 121 Unlucky throw in a dice 54 Back in fashion game 55 Atlas part 57 Driver’s sound system 124 USO audience members 64 Muscle spasm 126 Laptop core 66 Yes, in Evian 127 Rooster that’s not a 67 Cease rooster 68 Price label 128 Coy response to 69 Sincere “You’re kidding” 70 “Baby Cobra” comic Wong 71 Swimming pool measure

Puzzle Three Clue: M equals H

DOWN

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: J equals U

WATCH THE COMMERCIALS! by Ross Trudeau. Edited by David Steinberg

Puzzle One Clue: W equals K

crossword

10-6-22

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Condos/Apts. for Sale

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card The Longboat Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Longboat Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

PENTHOUSE CONDO for sale on Anna Maria Sound!

Quite the lifestyle in this Margaritaville 3bd 3ba, turnkey furnished Oceana condo.

Exquisite finishes. Taller ceilings.

Extra windows. Sunsets and natural saltwater wildlife views from the private screened lanai.

Original owner gently lived in.

Owners receive 2 parking spaces, 16'X8' storage, private beach club, fitness, four community pools, kayak and paddleboard launches, outdoor grilling, lounging cabanas, playgrounds, splash pads, event lawn, activities and more!

Additional perks at the adjacent Pier 77 Marina, Compass Hotel, and Floridays Wood Fire Grill & Bar. Strong rental income potential. No CDD. Schedule showing or video preview any time. Kim Jatich, Broker-Owner, QUARTZ COAST REALTY INC $1,650,000 (941) 504-3874 www.quartzcoastrealtyfl.com

GARAGE SALE Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

CALL

941-955-4888

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE! Advertise items less than $200 for FREE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

STATIONARY BIKE excellent condition, used only after knee surgery. $95. 941-274-6400

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales END OF SUMMER ESTATE SALE 2204 Tall Oak Court Sarasota, Fl 34232 Oct 7th & 8th From 9am to 6pm #’s Out of 8am 2019 Toyota Camry XLE W/ 6700 miles, Colorado Handmade Wood Furniture, Art Work, Wood Sculpture, Washer & Dryer, LED TV, Kitchen ware, Desk & PC Monitors, Limited Edition Disney Figurines, & Puzzles, Tools, Dragon Figurines, Women Shoes, Handbags & Clothes, Board Games, Rugs & Much More Antiquesandchatchkes.com Estate Sales Conducted By: Antiques & Chatchkes

Retired couple seeking rental 3BR, upscale

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

941809-3660, 941-809-3662.

WE BUY cars. top $$ paid for your vehicles.

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

SELL IT FAST! Place Your Ad Online

Been renting on LBK for 14 years Non-smokers, no pets

FLOAT YOUR boat in the Ritz/ Hyatt basin from your beautiful marina townhome. 3BR/3.5BA, furnished, 2/car garage, 3/balconies, 24/hr security. Large boat dock available. Annual $5,500/month +utilities. Available October 1st. Service pets only.

No smoking. 847-331-6961

POST YOUR AD WITH EASE YourObserver.com/RedPages WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL Rates Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between

941-387-0270

Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101

GREAT FINDS LOCATED HERE!

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals 2BR/2BA LONGBOAT KEY 3-week rental (12/17/2022 1/7/2023). Second floor unit facing the Gulf of Mexico.

Spectacular sunsets, steps from the water. Tennis, pool, bikes, putting green and fishing. 50% non-refundable deposit required.

Final payment 14 days before move-in. $7,500 (312) 961-5629 LONGBOAT KEY: Beachfront Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking.

Call 941-383-3338.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

SELL IT FAST HERE!

Excellent credit

RENTAL WANTED Retired gentleman (no kids, pets or smoking) seeks LBK home or condo for 6 to 12 month rental commencing November 1st.

(619) 347-1888

941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

UNDAMAGED LONGBOAT KEY beachfront Seaplace 2BR/2BA turnkey furnished condo with greenbelt & bay views, W/D in unit, guard gated, no smoking/pets. $4100/mo + elec & internet. Avail Oct & Nov if you need to repair your home/condo after Ian hit. Jim 440-623-9068

Condo or home

Condos/Apts. for Rent

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

auto

SAFARI GLASS framed art, $30.

2 motorcycle helmets, $25.

Electric spray paint gun, new $10.

(941)387-8001

LBK - ANNUAL

YourObserver.com/RedPages

FLUIDITY BARRE (exercise bar)still in box $100. Wood corner desk, $20. Nativity set, $15.

941-387-8001 GE Washer & Gas Dryer- working condition. $125 for both.

(803)873-6161

Rentals Wanted

4BR/3BA LONGBOAT KEY Five weeks, January 7 - February 11, 2023 in a 4 bed/3 bath home directly on Sarasota Bay. Private, enclosed pool, hot tub, bbq grill and amazing view. Private dock, bikes, tennis, putting green on property. $15,000 for the entire 5 weeks in prime season. 50% non-refundable deposit required, final payment 14 days before check-in. $15,000.

(312) 961-5629

Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty

First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each add’l word ....... 50¢

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com Online: YourObserver.com /RedPages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Adult Care Services CNA: 22 years experience, with doctors recommendations.

Available for days, nights, and traveling. COVID vaccinated.

941-536-5339

Auto Transport SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States.

Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

Painting

Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

BUY STUFF HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

This week’s Crossword answers

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.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “You can hear a hundred nice words about yourself, and you’ll only remember the one bad one.”

Alicia Vikander Puzzle Two Solution: “I find old women at weddings and funerals attractive; I have this weird mortality thing.

Liev Schreiber Puzzle Three Solution: “Sure, I want to be the best actor in the world.

But my life is my family, my son, my friends.”

James Caan

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 Universal Uclick

TO ADVERTISE CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT YOUROBSERVER.COM/REDPAGES

©2022 NEA, Inc.

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.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

SELL YOUR STUFF FAST!

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

peekers’ place

stuff

ESTATE DEALER Cash for Coins, Sterling Flatware, Jewelry, Comics, Toys, Collectibles, Military, Antiques, Bronzes, Marbles, Stamps, Circus, Antique Guns, Zippos 941-209-2136

real estate

Merchandise Wanted

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

RED PAGES AD RATES

home services

Made for where you live. Here!

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

Health

Privatehome homehealthcare healthcare Private in in thethe safetyand andsecurity securityofofyour your own own safety home.

Providing long-term, home. Providing long-term, short-term,palliative palliativecare care and short-term, and endend of life care.

After 32 years of being of life care. After 32 years of being a Pastor, I know firsthand a Pastor, I know firsthand thethe difference loving care can make. difference loving care can make.

WE COME TO YOU 5-Star Rated

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

ABRACADABRA PRESSURE CLEANING 389780

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941-778-2882 • 941-387-0607

Rescreening & Repairs

Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America

Serving AMI, LBK and Bradenton for 25 years

Like Us on Facebook

• Pool Cage Restoration • Rescreening Specialists • Specialty Screens • Paint • Doors and more!

Satisfaction guarantee Satisfaction Guarantee Pool cage Restoration/ Rescreening specialists Manufacture and Workmanship Warranties

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

388643

Check out our 5 Star Reviews on Google

Doors

941-345-5264

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

University Health Park 2415 University Parkway Bldg. 3, Suite 216 Sarasota, FL 34243

Sliding Glass Door Repair

Doors and more!

Roofing

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. (941) 345-5264

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

FUNCTIONAL FITNESS TRAINING Clinical Exercise Specialist · Private In-Home Services Brian M Simpson NASM, AMFPT, CPR, AED & First Aid Certified

Furniture Repair

Patio Furniture Repairs.com Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

389772

GOLF CART

REPAIR

SPECIAL 00 5

$

388407

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

CREATE BUZZ!

MediCupping & Massage Therapy services for healing

Advertise your business or services in the Red Pages.

Rest your mind & body.

Connect with your spirit.

NEED HELP?

150

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

Massage

LMT, CMCE Heart & Sole Healing Space, LLC 5610 Gulf of Mexico Dr Unit 2 Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-263-3948

ows

Call 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Find business and service professionals in the Red Pages.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Insurance

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Smith

| 941.383.3388

510 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE 1 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST BANK)

CHUBB, AIG, UNIVERSAL, UNITED, SAFECO, PROGRESSIVE, VAULT, FLOOD, WE HAVE YOU COVERED!

388364

CALL 941-955-4888

STANDARD WINDOWS

595 Bay Isles Rd. Suite 215 941.554.8909 | www.micinsurancefl.com

Chrissy Stites

25

UP TO

388408

Showcase your products or services each week in the Red Pages.

389779

CONVERSION

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

LITHIUM B AT T E RY

Lic./Ins.

& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing s a S u n n w r o i s n e k W Sun y ind erl

Mike Mailliard ~ Lacey Weaver Allen Hovis ~ Marshall Bruce Matthew Mailliard ~ Julia McIlrevey Haley Jestings ~ Samantha Ryan Jaimie Simpkins

Golf

2007 Whitfield Park Ave Sarasota, FL 34243

Res./Com.

Our team of professionals provides superior service and expertise for all of your insurance needs.

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

RED PAGES

388405

MIC INSURANCE

gulfcoastestateauctions.com • Free Consultations 941-274-6537

S H S R

Windows

Insurance

Let Gulf Coast Estate Auctions organize & hold an estate sale for you.

I T O T E R EPAI

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

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ESTATE SALES • DOWNSIZING SENIOR TRANSITIONS • ONLINE AUCTIONS

941-504-0903

389797

389771

Helping seniors stay fit and independent since 2009

Gulf Coast EstatE auCtions

I F T K L U E T O P E A K ENERAL R

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roofing Repair & Installation • Metal Roofing & Tile Roof Repair Specialists

Health & Fitness

Estate Sales

L B S G

Building & Roofing Contractor

389773

The Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!!

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

cwccustomscarts@gmail.com

Insured I Free Estimates

Douglas | 941.405.5615 | Over 1 5 Years Experience

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

DRIES IN HOURS – NOT DAYS • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

(941) 704 - 7512

Houses | Cages | Decks Driveways | Roofs | Paver Sealing

389777

CARPET, TILE, UPHOLSTERY CLEANING ODOR CONTROL • AREA RUG SPECIALIST

We only use the finest quality Benjamin Moore paints!

Power Washing

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

CHASE COURNAN

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

388289

Carpet Cleaning

New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

“Loving That’sThe TheDifference” Difference” “Loving Care, Care, That’s

388361

HoHoBuysCars.com

High-End Interior Painting Services

389775

FAST • EASY • SAFE

941.270.4400

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

388410

SELL YOUR CAR!

Painting

CNA CNAServices, Services,LLC LLC Philip CNA PhilipPolsonPolson-Licensed Licensed CNA (941) (941)545-3493 545-3493

Philipwith withClient Client Philip HowardTibbals Tibbals Howard

11B

388409

Auto Service

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

|

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

JUDY KEPECZ-HAYS TEAM SARABANDE

340 South Palm Ave #75 3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,761 Sq Ft Sarabande75.com Offered for $3,025,000 This enclave lost no power during Hurricane Ian

THE BEACH RESIDENCES RITZ-CARLTON MANAGED

1300 Benjamin Franklin Dr #1009 3 bed, 3 bath | 3,582 Sq Ft 1300BenjaminFranklinDr1009.com Offered for $2,950,000 This enclave lost no power during Hurricane Ian

EMBASSY HOUSE

770 Palm Ave #1802 2 bed, 2 bath | 1,400 Sq Ft EmbassyHouse1802.com Offered for $1,299,000 This enclave lost no power during Hurricane Ian

October 3, 2022

MARBLEHEAD

2509 Marblehead Drive 3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,869 Sq Ft 2509MarbleheadDrive.com Offered for $1,247,600 This residence lost no power during Hurricane Ian

Thinking of selling your Residence? Please call me!

LongboatKeyLuxury.com | (941) 587-1700

423 St. Armands Circle | Sarasota, Florida 34236 595 Bay Isles, Suite 250| Longboat Key, FL 34228 389886-1

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