Longboat Observer 10.20.2022

LONGBOAT

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Bayside fun. PAGE 10B

FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

VOLUME 45, NO. 11

2nd commissioner says no

YOUR TOWN

Merrigan joins Dominick in rejecting March 2023 reelection plans. PAGE 6A

BACK TO THE BEACH Town is latest community to ban cigarette smoking on the sand, in parks. PAGE 2A

Hurricane actually drove sea levels down along Longboat Key coastline. PAGE 3A

Courtesy photo

Made with love

Spotted at Driftwood Beach Home & Garden — sweetly hand-embroidered vintage tennis racquets. What makes them even more adorable is that they’re being consigned for a 14-year-old Sarasota artist named Lucy (above).

As the racquets imply with their embroidery, tennis is close to Lucy’s heart because her dad is a tennis player.

He moved the family to the area when working for Nick Bollettieri at the IMG Academy in Bradenton.

The vintage Head racquet embroidered in blue costs $40 and is titled, “Winning Comes in Waves.” The brands of vintage racquets vary, but at $50, the wood racquets cost a little more than the metal versions, a great gift for your favorite tennis lover.

File photo

Kiwanis helps out

Lauren Tronstad

Sarah Cirone, left, Annie Glennon and Kathleen Eidson walk on the beach Monday during a family reunion visit to Longboat Key.

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The Kiwanis Club made a $1,000 donation to the Fort Myers Guardian ad Litem Foundation thanks to the brainstorming of member Bob Gault.

“I just got off the phone with a foster mother who lived in a mobile home that, as she described it, was literally shredded,” Jessica Stanfield said from Fort Myers. “They’re starting over completely and are on their way to Walmart now for some clean clothes after being in what they had on during the hurricane for two weeks.”

Kiwanis tried to deliver sooner, but internet outages kept Stanfield from seeing the local club’s email for days.

“Your generosity will have such an impact,” she said.

Turtle tracks LONGBOAT Oct. 9-15 Courtesy photo

Nearly 10,000 pounds of supplies were collected to help city employees in North Port.

Perfect fit.

INSIDE

Town fills pod with help Longboaters send tons of aid to North Port, more on the way. PAGE 2B

Nests False crawls

2022 0 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

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

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Town bans smoking in parks and beaches The ban was approved on first reading Sept. 12.

LIGHTS OUT

In addition to the city of Sarasota, action on the state’s enabling legislation by neighboring jurisdictions thus far include:

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

S

moking on beaches and in public parks within the town of Longboat Key has been banned after a unanimous vote Monday by the Town Commission.

At least one beachgoer said she thinks the town had the right idea.

“We are supportive of the ban,” Sarah Cirone said while walking on the beach Monday morning. “There is nothing that ruins a beach day quicker than cigarette smoke.”

Cirone was in town with family members and friends, Annie Glennon and Kathleen Eidson. The trio visits the barrier island annually as part of a family reunion tradition that has spanned over 40 years, they said. The beach is one of the main reasons they keep coming back.

The commission initially approved the ban at its Sept. 12 meeting. The ban was intended to be revisited Sept. 27, but because of Hurricane Ian, the meeting was postponed twice to Oct. 17.

Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan was absent from Monday’s meeting.

The ban does not prohibit the use of unfiltered cigars and pipe tobacco use, which are both protected by state law.

Monday’s discussion was brief, as support was stated during the first reading of the ban.

“We’ve mentioned before, at the first reading, that a number of jurisdictions around us either have adopted or are in the process of adopting,” Town Manager Tom Harmer said. “Now, we’re seeing the communities around us adopt.”

Before the commission’s summer hiatus in July, commissioners

n Charlotte County has drafted an ordinance proposing amendments to prohibit smoking and vaping in all beaches and parks. It will go to public hearing this month. n The city of St. Petersburg has drafted an ordinance proposing amendments to prohibit smoking and vaping within all beaches and parks. n The North Port City Commission held a discussion on Sept. 13 but has taken no further action. n The city of Venice on Sept.

13 directed staff to draft an ordinance to prohibit smoking in public beaches and parks. n The city of Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island approved a smoking ban on beaches and in parks on Sept. 16.

Neither Manatee, Collier or Lee counties have taken any action.

got the ball rolling on the matter, asking not just for discussion when they returned, but for town staff to have an ordinance on which they could vote prepared by the time they returned in September.

The first reading of the ordinance passed unanimously, though commissioners brought up the redundancy of the ordinance, if its main focus was to reduce littering, which already is banned.

“I think the only change that would be anticipated would be an addition of signage to indicate smoking would not be allowed,”

Lauren Tronstad

Allen Parson, the town’s Planning, Zoning and Building Director said during the Sept. 12 meeting. “It would be a pretty easy addition to the signage that we have on our beach access points.”

Much like other prohibited behaviors, which include bringing dogs or alcoholic beverages on the beach, police officers would be able to respond to calls and observations of the behavior.

According to the Ocean Conservancy, cigarette butts are the most commonly found litter on Florida beaches.

The butts are made of tightly packed plastic fibers that erode into smaller bits and accumulate in fish and other organisms, adversely affecting sea life health and reproductivity as well as human health when consuming the affected fish.

During its Sept. 6 meeting, the Sarasota City Commission initially approved a smoking ban in cityowned parks and beaches, such as adjacent-to-Longboat Key sites Lido Beach and City Island park. The ban was enacted on Oct. 3.

On Oct.11, the Sarasota County

Commission discussion of a similar ban was postponed after a suggestion from Commissioner Nancy Detert.

House Bill 105, which amended the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act and renamed it the Florida Clean Air Act, allows cities and counties to impose such restrictions, which do not apply to unfiltered cigars and pipe tobacco use.

In her motion to continue the agenda item, Detert explained the public has not been adequately educated about the proposal.

Unless otherwise deleted from consideration, a ban on smoking for county-run beaches would include the popular Siesta Key public beach.

Last week, County Commissioner Christian Ziegler said county residents should have more time to consider all options and weigh in on the issue.

“I know there are a lot of people that want to ban smoking at our beaches, and I know there’s a lot of public interest in it, but I think it is important for the public to understand what’s going on and what the various options are,” Ziegler said.

A smoking station stands at the Broadway beach access point.

“It would be a pretty easy addition to the signage that we have on our beach access points.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

JUST BEACHY Town’s recently renourished shore stands up to Ian’s close call.

Photos by Lauren Tronstad

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

T

he shores of Longboat Key fared well during Hurricane Ian, town officials said.

Minimal erosion and shifts in the beach contours were noted. So few, in fact, a claim for beach assessment and nourishment is unnecessary, unlike in previous brushes with tropical systems that took tons of sand that took millions of dollars to replace.

The town’s beaches are one of the biggest draws for residents and visitors alike.

One family has been making an annual trip down the barrier island for more than 40 years for a family reunion. The sand and surf of Longboat Key are among the favorite parts of their trip.

“I just love the feel of the sand here,” Annie Glennon said. “It feels just like powder.”

Sarah Cirone and Kathleen Eidson, who were accompanying Glennon on her beach walk Monday morning, touted the cleanliness of the beach and the level of privacy the town’s beaches promise as one of the least busy in the area.

“I appreciate how not crowded the beaches here are,” Eidson said.

“They aren’t overly commercialized like other area beaches.”

Eidson lived in the Tampa area for about 18 years before moving northeast, where Cirone and Glennon also live. She has many fond memories of Florida’s beaches on the west coast, memories that were backed up by what she saw along the shore this week.

Public Works Department Programs Manager Charlie Mopps is known for his knowledge of beaches, specifically those on barrier islands.

As has been a sentiment among everyone in the town, the beaches were also lucky in comparison with what was originally forecast for the area, he said.

“Our beaches actually fared very well,” he said. “There was little to no impact.”

According to the town’s coastal engineer and tide gauges, the sea level during the storm was actually two to five feet below normal. By contrast, points south of Ian’s landfall experienced catastrophic increases in sea level to 15 feet or more.

“It seemed like Hurricane Ian was basically taking the water from the north and pulling it to the south,” he said.

BEACH ASSESSMENTS

After the storm, Mopps met with the Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Sarasota who were inspecting their beaches to observe their practices. When inspecting, if impact to the beaches is noted, then a “call for surveys” or post-storm damage assessment is made.

Regardless of a storm, the 10 miles of beaches on Longboat Key are surveyed annually as part of the town’s beach management program that informs future renourishment efforts, such as the one completed recently.

Beach erosion is a natural process that hurricanes typically expedite.

“That happened only like weeks prior to the hurricane coming,” Mopps said. “So what we had was really fresh, up-to-date data of prestorm conditions.”

The town is only required to complete physical monitoring for three years following any sand replacement to meet permit requirements, but the town has opted to do it annually instead.

“We always do annual assessments because we do a lot of beach nourishment,” he said. “The monitoring aspect of it is to make sure you know where your hotspots are, so you can come up with plans to treat the hotspots and keep the beaches usable, not only for recreation, but also for storm surge protection, habitat for shorebirds and nesting turtles.”

In the most recent round of renourishment, completed in 2021, the town placed 1 million cubic yards of sand in about a year’s time, a $36 million project that affected miles of beach along the Key.

When determining how the beaches fared following Hurricane Ian, Mopps and the department analyzed aerial photography provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and National Geodetic Survey.

“We compared the prestorm and post-storm data,” he said. “We looked at the tide gauges; we looked at all these things, and we know that the sand that was in our system is still in our system, so there is no need to file for a claim.”

WHEN AN ASSESSMENT IS NECESSARY

Although a post-storm assessment was not necessary this time around, an eye is still kept on Longboat Key beaches even following a tropical storm.

“Even the tropical storms that we had over the last year, we’ve seen more impact than we did through (Hurricane Ian),” Mopps said.

When making an assessment determination, one must first look

at the beach’s preestablished profile.

The profile is a “slice” of the beach that is then looked at sideways. The extent of the profile is measured from the berm, which is the dry, sandy beach, to the point of survey closure in the water. In Longboat Key’s case, that point spans to about 13 feet deep into the Gulf of Mexico.

“That is considered the system for all 10 miles of beach,” he said.

“The prestorm profiles compared to the post-storm profiles allow us to quantify a change within the system.”

If a sustainable difference is marked, the department is able to seek reimbursement for costs associated with replacing sand that might have been lost. However, in order to qualify for such aid, the town must prove that at least 50% of costs claimed to FEMA are on land, which include structural damages, before any money will be awarded for sand replacement. In 2019, the town received more than $6 million in connection with the loss of about 17,000 cubic yards of sand from 17,000 cubic yards was reported lost in 2016’s Tropical Storm Debby.

Another $300,000 accounted for sand lost to Hurricane Hermine, also in 2016. FEMA denied claims made after 2017’s Hurricane Irma, saying that while some segments of beach lost sand, others gained sand.

Unlike beaches in Sarasota, Longboat Key beaches are not surveyed by the Army Corps of Engineers, but instead all inspection and surveying is done by town staff.

Mopps noted the majority of damage seen on and off the barrier island’s beaches was from wind.

However, some of the beach sand dunes may have increased elevation and some of the dry, sandy beaches may have slightly deflated.

Following measurements of the survey area, he was able to determine that the majority of sand from the Key’s beaches remained within its system.

Beachgoers lounge on the sand near the Broadway Street beach access Monday.

“Even the tropical storms that we had over the last year, we’ve seen more impact than we did through (Hurricane Ian).”

— Charlie Mopps

NORMAL FLOW Generally, on the west coast of Florida, sand naturally wants to travel from north to south, Public Works Department Programs Manager Charlie Mopps said. In normal tidal wave action, the sand gets picked up off the beach and gets redeposited south along the beach’s entire system.

In terms of an inlet, which is an indentation in the shoreline including a small arm, bay or sound, another dynamic must be contended with, he said.

The tidal flows in and out of inlets like those on Longboat Key, which further affects the way sand moves along the coastline.

“When you have a big storm, it kind of throws a monkey wrench into the normal processes that happen on the beach and how beaches naturally erode,” Mopps said.

File photo

2020-2021: In the most recent round of renourishment, completed in 2021, the town placed 1 million cubic yards of sand in about a year’s time, a $36 million project that affected miles of beach along the Key.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

Harmer provides report on town status following Hurricane Ian The town is said to have not experienced sustained hurricane force winds.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

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own Manager Tom Harmer on Monday provided Longboat Key Town Commissioners an update on the status of the town’s recovery and cleanup after Hurricane Ian and a timeline of remaining events.

According to the report, the town began closely monitoring what would become Ian on Sept. 22, as the storm began gathering force south of Cuba as a tropical depression.

Forecast models at that time differed on where the storm would head, putting much of the eastern Gulf coast on alert.

“We watch the tropics all the time during hurricane season especially,” Harmer said.

The following day is when the Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency, including both Sarasota and Manatee counties.

On Sept. 25, the town opened its sandbag station with staff from the town’s Public Works Department manning the area and calling for additional truckloads of sand to be delivered to the mound.

The original forecast had Hurricane Ian making landfall north of the barrier island, which could have delivered a devastating storm surge, but once the storm actually arrived on land, it was more than 50 miles south of the Key. “It put us on the top side of the storm, which is the best place to be because as the winds come around, they are going out into the Gulf and not blowing onto the island,” he said.

Data from a weather station at one of the town’s fire stations showed that the highest sustained winds the island experienced peaked at less than 50 mph. Gusts of wind reached between 72 and 74 mph at its strongest.

Eric Garwood

“It could have been much worse,” he said. “If someone says ‘I lived through a hurricane on the island,’ it was more like a tropical storm. Don’t take that for granted the next time a hurricane is coming our way.”

At around 5:45 a.m. Thursday, Harmer and Fire Chief Paul Dezzi met on the mainland to make a joint run through the island before First In Teams were allowed. Dezzi had already made a solo trip at about 1:30 a.m.

Pictures Harmer included in his presentation showed power lines down, minimal freshwater flooding from rainfall and tree debris.

In his analysis of the town’s response, Harmer included statistics on the town’s communication with residents, which he said can always

be improved.

Thirty-five commission emails were sent out separate from those to the public. Ten Alert Longboat Key messages were sent. On each of the town’s social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, 35 posts were made. Daily town staff updated information on the town’s website.

On a typical day, the town’s website receives between 15,000 and 20,000 visits. At the peak of the storm, the website received just over 77,000 visits.

At 1 p.m. on Sept. 29, following staff evaluation of damages and condition, the town allowed entry for individuals included in Tier 2 and Tier 3, which included residents.

All power was finally restored by

Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Harmer reported minimal impacts to the barrier island’s beaches.

As of Friday, Oct. 14, 196 truckloads of debris had been collected.

“Our public roads are pretty much complete on the first pass,” he said.

“We know there’s usually at least two and sometimes three passes on public roads. On private roads, all the agreements are in place, and we started last Friday on the private roads for the first pass.”

In order to complete debris pickup in a timely manner, the town has asked residents to ensure all debris is out at their residence by Oct. 28.

Vegetative debris must be separated from construction debris.

At the time of Monday’s report, the town is still in a state of recovery.

Longboat Key firefighters complete a morning shift of damage assessment on the island following the passage of Hurricane Ian

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

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CODE ENFORCEMENT CHANGES

Changes to the town’s code enforcement were approved during the Town Commission’s second reading and public hearing Monday.

A resolution was also passed to add additional code sections to the list of those that are able to be enforced by citations, rather than a process leading to a hearing with the town’s Special Magistrate.

The majority of the changes follow the termination of the code enforcement board, which sunsetted at the end of the 2019 fiscal year.

One of the most noteworthy changes includes violation reporting.

Because of a state law that went into effect July 1, 2021, anonymity of those reporting a violation is no longer an option.

To file a code violation report, individuals must provide their full name and address.

Among the codes added to the citation list are dogs or cats on beaches, property maintenance standards, File photos sound regulations, spotlights or Town Commissioners approved a batch of changes to code enforcement and ones that qualify for citation. floodlights and the town’s code that regulates size and placement of temporary signs.

The violations already on the list and those added with Monday’s approval are point-in-time violations, which town staff previously expressed were ill-suited for the town’s typical code enforcement process that provides a violator multiple opportunities to correct a violation before to receiving an order from the Special Magistrate. with items of note, including Under the new contract, Harmer’s Now that the changes have been Commissioners also ratify Town Manager Tom Harmer’s final day is now Feb. 6, 2023. The approved by the commission, town an agreement for special contract extension, changes to code extension provides a seven-day staff plans to launch outreach enforcement and the hiring of special transition period between Harmer’s efforts to make the public aware counsel in a challenge to counsel for a litigation case. departure and Tipton formally solely of the additional code provisions a code enforcement levy. taking over the position. enforceable by citation.

HARMER CONTRACT EXTENSION The terms of his contract, which Also included in the batch of The need for an extension to Harm- he requested and were approved changes were the powers of the LAUREN TRONSTAD er’s contract follows the hiring of include: Special Magistrate including the STAFF WRITER Howard Tipton to fill the seat. How- n A 3% salary increase from his base authority to establish procedures ever, Tipton is unable to begin his salary, starting Oct. 1 through his for the presentation of cases, control he Longboat Key Town new role until Jan. 30, 2023, as he fin- extended employment cases and enforce authorized town period Commission returned to ishes up his current role as St. Lucie n A housing allowance for theAT code provisions.

THE LONGBOAT ISLAND CHAPEL regular meetings Monday County Administrator and makes n Authorization to engage in outside Saturday, October 22nd employment with his son’s business SPECIAL COUNSEL HIRED after Hurricane Ian postponed the move to the island. meetings in favor of preparing and Harmer was originally slated to when he is not working for the town The commission ratified an agreement previously carried out recovering from the storm. complete his last day with the town during the extended period Starting Dec. 11, Harmer will by Harmer for a special counsel Postponing the meetings was on Dec. 10, but offered his services to made possible by the state of emer- the town and commission for about receive a $500 a week housing engagement agreement for pending gency declared by Gov. Ron DeSantis an additional eight weeks to ensure allowance, since he has already made litigation.

The town has hired Garcia Dell for ahead of the arrival of the storm. the smoothest transition possible arrangements to sell his current services relating to the Schweitzer, et residence on the island.

Monday’s meeting was packed between him and Tipton.

Town approves transition plan for new manager, code enforcement changes

Town Manager Tom Harmer’s contract extension moves his final day with the town to Feb. 6, 2023.

al v. Town of Longboat Key. The agreement was executed Sept.

26 to meet a court filing deadline; the commission was merely being asked to ratify it.

On April 8, 2022, Jane Schweitzer, Denise Anderson, Cynthia Brady, Jeffrey Stimson and Scott Stimson challenged a Manatee County Circuit Court 2021 order handed down by the town’s code enforcement Special Magistrate Milan Brkich. The town had cited the owners of a rental property in the 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive for operating without a business tax receipt. In doing so, the town said a life-safety inspection by the town’s fire marshal might be required. Though a business tax receipt was obtained, the inspection was not performed.

In June, Brkich ordered the owner come into compliance within 24 hours. The owners legal action claims notices of further hearings were not received, resulting in a $100 a day fine beginning on July 8 2021.

Though an initial $21,600 fine was reduced to $10,800, the owners claim the fine was levied in error.

A negotiated settlement was not reached. Dell has been hired to serve as special counsel to serve the town’s interests. Attorneys Martin Garcia and Josh Dell have represented the town on litigation matters previously. Dell and Garcia have a governmental billable rate at $275 per hour and a paralegal rate of $125 per hour.

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Blessing of the Animals

All creatures great and small and those who love them are invited to a pet blessing at the Longboat Island Chapel on October 22nd from 9‐11:00 am.

Pastor Brock Patterson will welcome you and place a blessing on your special pet.

Each animal will also receive a gift and a certificate. All animals must be on a leash or in a cage.

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All creatures great and small and those who love them are invited to a pet blessing.

Pastor Brock Patterson will welcome you and place a blessing on your special pet. Each animal will receive a gift and certificate. All animals must be on a leash or in a cage. Donations of unopened pet food are appreciated and will be given to the Humane Society.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

NEXT DAY OR

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* File photo

Longboat’s Merrigan not seeking reelection

Next Day Installation

North-end commissioner joins Dominick in stepping away after first terms.

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LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

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wo Longboat Town Commissioners have now announced intentions to step aside once their terms expire in March

2023.

Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan, who represents the northernmost of five geographical districts on the island, said in an email that while she will not seek reelection, serving the city in the role “is an extremely rewarding experience.’’

“You can have a positive impact on the Key, and serving as a town commissioner is a great way to give back to the community,” she said, adding her decision is based on “increasing out-of-state family commitments.”

At a town public meeting Oct. 3 to adopt the 2022-23 fiscal year budget, Sherry Dominick, who represents the southernmost of five geographic districts, also said she was not seeking reelection.

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Maureen Merrigan was chosen vice mayor by her peers in March.

Dominick’s district includes everything south of 1145 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Merrigan’s includes everything north of 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Prospective candidates must live within the boundaries of the districts they represent, though the commission also includes a pair of at-large seats without geographical restrictions for seven total seats.

Town Commissioners are not paid in Longboat Key. Mayor Ken Schneier is the only other member of the commission up for reelection in March 2023. The town’s qualifying period opened on Oct. 3 and will run through Nov. 12.

Merrigan’s email called for anyone interested in the role to reach out to her directly to discuss the role in greater detail and connect them with other commissioners.

“The town provides excellent training for the job, and I can certainly help in any transition,” she wrote.

Merrigan was first appointed to the seat left vacant by Ed Zunz when he moved out of District 5 to another home on Longboat Key. She then ran unopposed to fill the remainder of Zunz’s term, one year.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

7A

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8A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Observer recommends … surtax dollars. What’s more, at least there is a $400 million cap on the bonds that can be issued.

While we know governments like to spend and waste whatever money they can get, we’ll roll the dice that Sarasota County commissioners will do the right thing if given this bonding flexibility.

We recommend: Yes.

MATT WALSH

T

his week’s election recommendations focus on the local charter amendments and questions.

SARASOTA COUNTY CHARTER

Continues funding for local improvements through renewal of one-cent sales tax; maintains citizen oversight committees To improve public safety, protect water quality and the environment, reduce traffic congestion and fund projects relating to local schools, parks, libraries and other community needs, should the current onecent sales tax, paid by visitors and residents, be continued through Dec. 31, 2039? The Citizen Tax Oversight Committees will continue to oversee all expenditures and a 4/5ths vote of the County Commission is required to modify county projects or allocations.

While we are seldom advocates for any tax, it would be antithetical to Sarasota’s quality of life to argue for the elimination of this one-cent infrastructure sales tax.

For one, voters first approved this tax in 1989 and extended it in 1997 and 2007. The county is addicted.

Second, the money must be used for infrastructure, not operating expenses. Third, 20% of the tax money comes from tourists and visitors. That’s a 20% discount for Sarasota County residents.

Fourth, the tax is expected to raise $2 billion during the next 15 years.

Without this surtax, that money would likely be raised through higher property taxes.

We recommend: Yes. Accelerate community projects through issuance of voterapproved one-cent sales tax bonds To reduce inflation costs and accelerate projects funded by one-cent sales tax proceeds, shall Sarasota County be authorized to issue bonds payable from such proceeds in a total principal amount not to exceed $400 million, maturing by Dec. 31, 2039, bearing interest not exceeding the maximum lawful rate, in addition to bonds issued within the limitations of section 5.2D of the Charter?

Bonds are dependent on approval of one-cent sales tax renewal above.

At times of high inflation, it can be advantageous to borrow. You can buy more with your money now than you can later as your dollars lose value.

And if you have a fixed interest rate lower than inflation, the effective real interest rate is negative.

We also know this: Interest rates will continue to rise. Likewise, recession will bring slow to no growth and rising unemployment.

This amendment would give Sarasota County flexibility to move now on the long list of infrastructure projects the county knows must be addressed and would allow the county to bond its debt at lower rates than what rates are likely to be in the future.

The thinking is that the county would be able to borrow at lower rates and keep the construction economy going during the recession by starting future projects sooner rather than wait for future sales revenues that will be worth less than today’s dollars.

But here’s one of the other risks: If the county issues bonds against future sales tax revenue for infrastructure, taxpayers will have to trust county commissioners not to waste these infrastructure funds on stupid projects.

Sarasota County commissioners historically have been prudent stewards of the infrastructure

SARASOTA COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENTS

QUESTION 1: To amend section 7.1 charter petition procedures Shall the Charter be revised to add requirements for a petition form, legal sufficiency review, fiscal impact statement, and a presentation to the Charter Review Board for all charter amendment petitions, as well as requiring 10% of registered voters from each district to sign the petition rather than 10% of registered voters countywide?

This proposed amendment presents a dilemma.

In one respect, it is well-intended. You can see it is designed to discourage wackadoos from proposing dangerous and nutty ideas to change the county’s governing constitution.

So you can see that each of the proposed requirements for charter amendment petitions actually would add safeguards and thresholds for a charter amendment to be placed on the county ballot.

For example: Would the amendment be legal if approved? How much will it cost taxpayers if adopted? And yes, it would be beneficial to have amendment proponents explain and vet their proposals at public hearings. As we know, too often the wording of state and local amendments is confusing. This year is no exception (see city charter amendments).

Likewise, you can also understand requiring petition signatures to total 10% of voters from each of the County Commission districts.

That would prevent a petitioner from gathering signatures only from one district that may be sympathetic to his/her cause.

These are all sensible requirements. But when we apply our litmus test — does the amendment increase or decrease individual freedom? — it fails. These requirements will discourage residents and taxpayers from seeking changes to county government. If approved, this amendment actually gives more power to the entrenched government.

We recommend: No. QUESTION 2: To avoid charter amendment conflicts with the constitution, general law or the charter.

Shall the charter be amended to clarify that proposed charter amendments shall not conflict with the Florida Constitution, general law or the charter?

This question falls into the “needless to say” category.

Common sense would say that any charter amendment that makes it to the ballot should not conflict with the U.S. or state constitutions, general law or the existing county charter. But often times in government lingo, the obvious must be stated. People always find loopholes.

So don’t try to read more into this question that what it says. There aren’t nefarious motivations behind it. Charter Review Board member Richard Dorfman called it “a belt and braces” question — like the man who wears a belt and suspenders for extra assurance with his trousers.

Although it is needless to say, for safety’s sake, it is worth saying.

We recommend: Yes

MANATE COUNTY QUESTION Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions Shall the Board of County Commissioners of this county be authorized to grant, pursuant to Section 3, Article VII of the State Constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create new, full-time jobs in the

county?

This story never changes. Economic development professionals always want to offer special perks to prospective and existing businesses. One argument is that this is necessary to stay competitive with everyone else — the sheep syndrome. Another is they swear the payback from the new or expanded business’ jobs far outweighs the meager subsidy.

Don’t buy any of that. Just the idea of extending tax breaks to a special few at the expense of everyone else is distasteful — and wrong.

Instead of offering tax subsidies, local governments and economic development agencies should concentrate on creating an irresistible business climate: low taxes, low regulation, low crime, good schools, smart labor force, great recreational opportunities.

Time and again, when business owners decide to relocate, all of the above characteristics are the primary incentives. Tax subsidies typically are jelly beans on top of the cake’s icing — rarely the deciding factor to relocate or expand and not necessary to make the cake taste great.

We recommend: No.

SARASOTA CITY AMENDMENTS Charter Amendment: City Commissioners’ Annual Salary Amendment to provide that the annual salary paid to city commissioners may be increased to the full salary authorized by the Florida Statutes for a county in population group III, which would be $44,643.97. (Current annual salary paid to City Commissioners is twothirds of the full salary authorized by statute for population group III.)

If you think the pay for city or county commissioners has any effect on the quality of commissioners who serve or the quality of government taxpayers receive, you might consider this: In Los Angeles, city council members earn $224,000 a year; in Philadelphia, the pay ranges from $117,000 to $148,000. In Longboat Key, town commissioners earn $0.

And without a doubt, Longboat Key is the best of that bunch.

Of course, the above is not an apples-to-apples comparison. But the point is this: Raising the pay of elected officials is no guarantee taxpayers are going to get better government or attract better City Commission candidates.

Here is another way to look at it: “What is in it for me?” That’s what every taxpayer would want to know.

What will be the benefit to taxpayers by raising each commissioners’ pay $15,178 a year, or $75,890?

What problem would spending that additional $75,890 solve for taxpayers? Less stress on commissioners so they can do a better job?

Whatever they might argue, sorry, it won’t be persuasive.

To be sure, that $75,890 is a snowflake in the city’s $252 million annual budget. But suffice it to say the cliché: Timing is everything.

With record inflation, recession and rising anger among taxpayers over what has occurred nationally over the past two years, this is not the time for city commissioners to be asking for a 51.5% increase in pay — no matter what the justification may be.

We recommend: No. Charter Amendment: Surety bonds or insurance Amendment to allow the City Commission the option to purchase insurance coverage to protect the city against dishonesty or theft on the part of the city manager; city auditor and clerk; city attorney, (if hired as a permanent city employee); and city director of financial services as an alternative to the current requirement that these city officials be bonded in favor of the city with sureties authorized to do business in the state of Florida.

This proposed amendment is what you might call “inside baseball” or “in the weeds” of city operations. It has little effect on taxpayers.

But if adopted, it can and likely would result in better insurance coverage and costs for the city and taxpayers.

The city charter currently requires the city to purchase surety bonds (a form of insurance) annually to cover against losses from malfeasance and theft by the city officers enumerated above.

In addition, the city also purchases a crime insurance policy that covers such acts involving the city staff. But according to the city’s human resources director, insurers typically don’t include city executives who are covered by surety bonds in their crime policies.

By modifying the charter language to give the city an option to cover its executives under a crime policy, the city can forego the annual surety bond procedure and wrap the entire city staff under its crime policy — a practice that is more common in municipal governments these days.

As we said: “inside baseball.” But it’s worth the change — for simplicity and efficiency and, likely, cost.

We recommend: Yes. Charter Amendment: Charter Review Committee General Recommendations Amendment to provide that City Commission may change city boundaries consistent with law; to allow for digital posting of ordinances and resolutions at City Hall; to remove reference to retention of ordinances in a book; and to update powers and duties of City Auditor and Clerk, including audit function, as provided in Ordinance 22-5419, including responsibility for access to public records and commission agenda preparation.

This amendment is prima facie evidence of why all amendments to the state constitution and to city and county charters should be limited to one subject.

This amendment deals with four subjects. The first three make sense. The fourth is an amalgamation of 10 changes in wording to the responsibilities of the city auditor and clerk. Most of them are insignificant and acceptable. But the last and biggest — entitled “the Audit Function” — is a change that would no longer require the auditor to perform annual audits of city records and accounts.

Instead, the auditor’s duties “shall include … reviewing, investigating and evaluating systems of internal control to promote adequate safeguarding of assets, reliability of financial and operating information and compliance with laws and regulations.” And the auditor shall have the authority to audit.

Most voters don’t know the nuances to this proposal. What’s more, this change would lessen the watchdog duties of the city auditor.

Too bad the first three subjects are included with the fourth. They deserve adoption; the fourth does not.

We recommend: No. Charter Amendment: Date of referendum on proposed charter amendments Amendment to require any referendum on a proposed amendment to the City Charter to be held only on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an even numbered year to coincide with the general election for federal, state, county, district and municipal elective offices. Amendment would prohibit a referendum on a proposed amendment to the City Charter to be held at a special election called for that purpose.

This amendment would require all future elections on city charter amendments to be held only when general elections occur every two years in even-numbered years. It would eliminate special elections on charter amendments.

City Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch opposed the amendment because she says it would restrict and reduce the city’s flexibility in terms of enacting an important future change quickly. But it also would prevent a dubious charter amendment pushed by a special interest group from being voted on in a special election, which historically attract the fewest number of voters.

We recommend: Yes. Next week: The candidates.

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

EASY IN 12:05 a.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Unsecured premises: An officer routinely checking the security of businesses found the front door to one location unlocked. After checking inside, the officer ascertained that no one was inside and there were no signs of forced entry. The owner was notified of the officer’s nocturnal findings.

FRIDAY, OCT. 14

OVER A BARREL 7:33 a.m., 1200 block of Hillview Street, Sarasota Agency assistance: The town’s marine patrol officer was called to assist Sarasota Police Department in responding to a report of someone clinging to a barrel floating in Sarasota Bay, as described by someone in the Harbor Acres community. Before the Longboat Key officer could arrive at the scene, it was determined that the barrel/castaway combination was actually a manatee.

FRIDAY, OCT. 7

SPECIAL DELIVERY 11:58 a.m., 500 block of Harbor Point Drive Animal complaint: With no volunteers available from a nearby birdrescue sanctuary, a police officer and a resident teamed up to care for an injured hawk. Together, they lifted the animal from the caller’s front yard into a box. The officer then transported the bird to Save our Seabirds on City Island for examination and treatment.

UP-LIFTING 5:32 p.m., 3600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Fire assist: Police and fire-rescue personnel came to a residential building on a report of an occupied and stuck elevator. Fire-rescue teams were able to rescue the elevator rider without harm.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS 2:49 p.m., 3400 block of Fair Oaks Lane Citizen dispute: An intoxicated person at a gathering after the death of a friend and family member was reported to have gotten into an argument with others. An officer arrived and spoke to a third party, who explained the situation. The intoxicated person and others involved agreed to leave the scene.

SUNDAY, OCT. 9

HEADING OUT 3:43 p.m., 2300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: Police agreed to stand by while a woman arrived at a family member’s home to gather belongings before leaving. The officer did so and left when the woman was finished loading her vehicle.

MONDAY, OCT. 10

AWWWW ...

1:54 a.m., 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious vehicle: An officer moved in to investigate when he saw a vehicle in the wee hours of the morning pull into a public beach access spot after established hours.

The officer learned from the man, a Manatee County resident in his early 30s, that he and his girlfriend simply wanted to visit the site of their first date. While cooperative, the man was also checked for wants and warrants through a national crime database (something that surely didn’t happen on that first date at the beach). The two left the beach area without incident.

WELL-ANCHORED (NOW) 2:58 p.m., near Sister Keys Abandoned boat: The town’s ma-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

the owner of the vessel, registered to a man in Naples, were unsuccessful.

The boat was not listed as stolen in a statewide crime database. The owner of the land to which the boat was towed was apprised of the situation.

rine patrol officer was flagged down by another boater and informed about a vessel that had come loose from its anchor and was drifting around the heavily traveled Intracoastal Waterway. The officer and the boater were able to guide the vessel to a safe spot and securely anchored it. The boat’s owner was advised of the situation and told where to find his boat. The owner said he would check on the vessel the next day.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12

NO PLACE TO PARK 7:29 p.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: Police cited the driver of a car-hauling truck that parked in the highway’s center-turn lane to deliver a client’s vehicle.

WHOLLY APPROPRIATE SOLUTION 8:40 p.m., 3800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: An officer used a collection of traffic cones he found nearby to mark the location of a manhole cover that had popped out of its spot as a warning to nighttime drivers. A member of the Public Works Department team said the situation would be addressed.

TUESDAY, OCT. 11

THURSDAY, OCT. 13

FOUND IT 8:35 a.m., Linley Street boat ramp Boating call: The town’s marine patrol officer was alerted to police intelligence regarding a missing sailboat. In speaking with a source, the officer learned the missing boat was anchored nearby, though most of its identifying marks and numbers had been faded by the sun.

The officer was able to identify the vessel and advised Manatee County authorities that he had confirmed the boat’s location. The officer spoke with the boat’s owner and asked that he make contact with police if he is in the area soon.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS 11:30 a.m., 2200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: A caller to police complained that the line of hurricane-debris collection trucks was obscuring her view of oncoming traffic as she attempted to pull out of a side street. By the time the officer arrived, the line of big trucks had shifted and alleviated the vision problem.

UNDERWATER 3:09 p.m., Greer Island Abandoned vessel: Police found a mostly submerged and heavily deteriorated boat near Greer Island, potentially creating a hazard to boats that actually still float. The vessel was towed toward land and out of the way. Attempts to locate

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COPS CORNER

SATURDAY, OCT. 8

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YOUR PAPERS ARE IN ORDER 11 a.m., police headquarters DMV number inspection: A man who had just driven to Longboat Key from a mid-Atlantic state sought police help in verifying his vehicle’s identification number to facilitate registration in Florida. With no wants or warrants associated with the car, the officer stamped the man’s paperwork as OK. UNLOCKED 10:22 p.m., 500 block of Cedar Street Unsecured premises: An officer on routine patrol, performing security checks on businesses, found a door unlocked and went inside to make sure all was well. It was. The officer locked up and left a business card with a case number in the mailbox.

MORE COPS CORNER Cops Corner is a weekly look at some of the calls handled by the Longboat Key Police Department. For more Cops Corner, hover your smartphone over the QR code and click on the link when instruction.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

Key dogs genuinely love artificial turf park

Piper Anne Dawson Birth Announcement

The park’s reopening date was pushed back by Hurricane Ian preparation and recovery.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

T Piper was born on Tuesday, October 11th at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She is 7lbs 12oz, 20 inches long of absolute perfection & cuteness. Making LBK younger, one baby at a time!

Welcome to the Key Miss Piper Anne Dawson daughter to Ashley & Jim Dawson.

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WEST OF TRAIL HOME NOW AVAILABLE

The donation paid for the removal of faltering sod on three-quarters of the park’s large dog enclosure. The remaining quarter has been kept natural.

In additon to the $123,000, Paul Klingenstein Family Foundation donated $2,000 for further dog park renovations.

With the help of more money collected by Rotary, 18 chairs were purchased for the park, in addition to a new dog water fountain.

The update to the large dog side of the park came after continued complaints from dog owners were brought to the town. Complaints centered on the sod causing dirty paws and coats. Resodding was completed in the summer of 2021, but was needed again after a busy season in winter 2021.

“They used to get really dirty and muddy, especially in the winter,” Woodward said.

While the small dog park did not have the same turf installed, the enclosure closed with the large dog side for general maintenance.

Tiger runs on the new artificial turf at Bayfront Park dog park Thursday.

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Briggs is enjoying his first day back at Bayfront Park’s dog park.

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Longboat Key has a NEW (youngest) resident!

ails are wagging again at Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park.

The newly artificially turfed large dog enclosure reopened Thursday, Oct. 13, after Hurricane Ian forced the date to be pushed back as the town shifted efforts to prioritizing preparing for and recovering from the storm.

“I think it’s fantastic,” dog owner Julia Woodward said. “It’s great that they left some natural grass in the back area.”

Thursday was the first time at the park for Woodward and her two dogs, Bella and Briggs, since leaving town in the spring. The dogs are frequent visitors of the park, with Woodward typically taking them twice daily, in the morning and late afternoon.

“We kept driving by looking to see if it had opened yet,” Woodward said.

The two-park area split between large and small dogs closed in late August and was originally slated to open back up to dogs and their owners on Sept. 23.

The turf installation comes after a donation from Longboat Key resident Irene Hess totaling about $123,000.

The Longboat Key Town Commission accepted the donation from Hess and the Paul Klingenstein Family Foundation through the town’s Rotary Club Charitable fund.

Hess is a frequent visitor of the dog park with her dog, Georgie Girl.

Klingenstein, Hess’ father, was a Longboat Key resident before he died, a found of Temple Beth Israel and a generous philanthropist.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

11A

CO M I N G T O LI D O B E AC H

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This project has been fi led in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rosewood Residences Lido Key is owned and being developed, offered and sold by WSR — Lido Beach, LLC (“Developer”). The project is not owned, developed or sold by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, L.L.C. or any of its affi liates (“Rosewood”). Developer uses the Rosewood marks pursuant to a license agreement with Rosewood, which may be terminated under certain conditions. Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. Copyright 2022 © All Rights Reserved

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

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IF YOU GO POPSTROKE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Rickie Fowler, who has won five career PGA Tour events, will team with Paula Creamer to form the Tour Pro Team in the $25K Showdown, the final competition of the PopStroke Tour Championship.

File photo

PopStroke founder Greg Bartoli said the Sarasota location was chosen to host the inaugural PopStroke Tour Championship because of its two-story size as well as the community’s love of golf.

Putting event gets pop from the pros PopStroke founder Greg Bartoli explains why the event was conceived and the impact that bringing Rickie Fowler and Paula Creamer to the event will have.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

I

t’s a common refrain from sports fans watching professional competitions on TV. “Even I could do better than that.”

Area putting aficionados have a chance to put that refrain to the test.

PopStroke, a putting, eating and drinking venue founded in 2018 by Greg Bartoli and Tiger Woods’ TGR Ventures, opened its University Town Center location in April. From Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, the location will be home to the inaugural PopStroke Tour Championship, a putting competition sponsored by TaylorMade.

The event will have two competitions, a Team Championship (two players per team) and a Stroke Play

(individual) Championship. Combined, the competitions are expected to bring approximately 500 participants to the UTC location.

Both competitions will feature four rounds of 18 holes, with cuts after the second round, just like a PGA Tour event. The team competition has a purse of $100,000, with the winners splitting $20,000; and the individual competition has a purse of $25,000, with the winner getting $5,000.

There’s another difference between the two competitions, too.

On Oct. 28, the winners of the team competition will get to play against professional golfers Rickie Fowler and Paula Creamer in the “$25K Showdown,” a single 18-hole round of putting that will see the winners take all the cash.

The showdown will air Nov. 20 on the Bally Sports family of regional networks as well as on Golf Channel. Fowler has won five career PGA Tour events and has finished second at a major tournament three times.

Creamer has won 10 LPGA events, including the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open. Both golfers are sponsored by TaylorMade, which connected the golfers to the event.

Bartoli said having Fowler and Creamer participate in the inaugu-

ral PTC validates the event, giving it instant credibility within the golf world. Bartoli said he is thankful to TaylorMade for helping make it happen.

PopStroke director of marketing Melissa Sullivan said people interested in watching the showdown, but not playing, will be able to enter the venue “for a small fee.” That fee is still to be determined as of Oct. 15. In addition, Bartoli said only the Tiger Red course will be occupied during the PTC. The rest of the PopStroke venue will operate as normal, including the Tiger Black (family friendly) course, so nonparticipants can play a round on that course and order food and drinks before watching the $25K Showdown if they wish.

Parking at PopStroke will be free.

Sullivan said the parking lots at Dillard’s and other surrounding stores will be used as overflow locations if the PopStroke lot becomes full.

Bartoli said the PTC was born out of PopStroke’s unique vision.

“This is what PopStroke is all about,” Bartoli said. “We’re bringing people together in a competitive, dynamic environment around the game of golf, regardless of age or skill level or background. Putting is a great equalizer. It’s not intimidating.

A lot of people can do it successfully.

Just because a Tour pro can hit the ball 350 yard down the center of the fairway, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can putt better than a local golfer who happens to be a great putter.

Bringing the two together, it’s going to be interesting.”

It is the “Pros vs. Joes” dynamic of the event that Bartoli said drew

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interest from the television networks. Bartoli said golf is a unique sport in the way amateurs can compete with professionals if they have a good day. It’s different than sports like baseball, where the average person cannot hit a curveball, or basketball, where the sheer athleticism of the professional athletes will win out. Bartoli said he and the networks believe plenty of golf fans will want to see how the amateurs fare in the 25K Showdown.

The PTC could have been held at any of PopStroke’s three other locations — Orlando, Port St. Lucie and Fort Myers — but Bartoli said the UTC location was selected to host because it is the largest and the only one to feature an upstairs section, which will provide a great view to watch the competition and provide plenty of space for the TV crews to operate. Bartoli said the region’s love of golf didn’t hurt, either.

Entry into the PTC’s Team Championship competition costs $500.

Entry into the PTC’s Stroke Play (individual) Championship costs $250. Registration for both events closes at 5 p.m. Oct. 24. Visit PopStroke.com for more information or to register.

Courtesy photos

Paula Creamer, who won the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open, will team with Rickie Fowler to form the Tour Pro Team in the $25K Showdown, the final competition of the PopStroke Tour Championship.

Please join us for worship in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. or online at our website and Facebook Live Stream at 10 a.m.

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When: Oct. 26-28 Where: PopStroke Sarasota (University Town Center) How it works: The event will have two competitions, a Team Championship competition (two players per team) and a Stroke Play (individual) Championship competition. Both competitions will feature four rounds of 18 holes.

Prizes: The team competition has a purse of $100,000 with the winners splitting $20,000; the individual competition has a purse of $25,000, with the winner getting $5,000.

Bonus: The winners of the Team Championship will play Rickie Fowler and Paula Creamer Oct. 28 in the $25K Showdown, which will be taped and air on Bally Sports regional networks on Nov. 20.

Registration: The Team Championship competition costs $500, while the Stroke Play (individual) Championship costs $250. Visit PopStroke. com to register.

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Would like to Welcome & Invite You, Your Family Members & Friends to Celebrate Mass with Our Parish Community SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE (May-December) Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Daily Mass at 9:00 AM; Rosary at 8:30 AM Monday - Friday Daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy following Mass

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OCTOBER 20, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS A MASTER OF DYLAN Terry Gans, a former grocery chain marketing executive, wrote his Master’s thesis on Bob Dylan. The thesis was published in 1982, making Gans a published author. He was paid for 200 copies.

Chasing ‘Infidels’ Courtesy photos

Bob Dylan’s 1983 album “Infidels’’ piqued Terry Gans’ interest, leading to deeper research and then a book.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

W MEET THE AUTHORS Who: Terry Gans, Dr. Joy S. Pedersen, Frank J. Young, Joel Shulkin, MD, Glenn Erick Miller, R.C. Chizhov, Susan and Ann Anderson, Kerry Kriseman, Lucy Tobias, Marilyn Howard, Meredith Ritchie, Michael Lortz and Monica Medina.

What: A free public event to meet local authors. Purchasing books is optional.

Where: Bookstore1, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22

hen term limits prompted former Longboat Key Commissioner and Mayor Terry Gans to find another way to spend his time in 2018, he told the Longboat Observer he wasn’t sure what he’d do next, but he knew what he wasn’t going to do.

“Things, they come organically.

It’ll be fine. I’m not going to haunt commission meetings. I’m not going to go on the Planning and Zoning Board,” he said.

By January 2019, Gans, 76, had already found a new haunt far from Longboat Key: The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He called it a confluence that his term in public office was up at nearly the same time the center opened.

The public can view a Bob Dylan exhibit at the center, but only qualified researchers are permitted to visit the archives to look at draft lyrics and listen to rare recordings. Gans, one of those qualified researchers, receieved approval and began traveling back and forth to Tulsa to research the iconic musician’s album, “Infidels.”

His research led to a book called “Surviving in a Ruthless World: Bob Dylan’s Voyage to Infidels.” He and his book are being featured at a book fair sponsored by Bookstore1 in Sarasota on Saturday.

“The research started when the album came out without any intent of writing a book,” Gans said. “It was a departure from what had come before, both lyrically, musically and theme-wise.”

When the album was released in 1983, a series of leaked outtakes further piqued Gans interest in “Infidels.”

“I thought this would be a good subject because I’ve always been interested about what choices were made and how it evolved,” he said.

“I didn’t have any intent of writing a book, but as I got more and more information, I felt there was more and more of a story to tell.”

While the book details each track on the album, it also delves into the inspiration of the whole. Gans didn’t speak to the man himself while writing, but he did track down and interview the man who built the Water Pearl, Dylan’s schooner.

“I think the development of that album was partially inspired by the time he spent floating on the boat in the Caribbean,” Gans said, “Not totally, but there was some influence there.”

Which led Gans to subtitle the book “Bob Dylan’s Voyage to Infidels.” “Surviving in a Ruthless World” was rumored to be the working title of the album.

During his research, Gans found a piece of paper from the St. Regis Hotel in New York to back up that tidbit. Dylan had sketched out what the back cover of the album should look like and hand wrote, “Surviving in a Ruthless World.”

A couple other tidbits Gans research dug up —the first song on the album, “Jokerman,” has 14 itera-

Discuss “Surviving in a Ruthless World: Bob Dylan’s Voyage to Infidels” with Terry Gans on Oct. 22 at Bookstore1.

THE REVIEWS ARE IN Terry Gans’ book is listed on Amazon with 4.5 stars. Many of those reviewing it say it’s a deep and thoroughly researched piece they enjoyed reading. Here is a sample:

But I think he explained he couldn’t do that for legal reasons. Still a worthwhile book for the Dylan lovers out there.

It was a very well-researched labor of love for the author. Always loved “Infidels” and most of Dylan’s other works as well. He basically breaks it down minute by minute for the studio work. However, one complaint — and I don’t think it was the author’s fault: Dylan always has like 20 sets of lyrics for every song and constantly changes them.

He quotes only a little from the alternate lyrics, but I wanted to see them at length, that would have been fascinating for a Dylanophile.

I’m not really a huge Dylan fan but love music and books about musicians. In all honesty, this was clearly one of the best books that I have written, which captures the essence of the writer, singer and musical genius of one of the icons of our time. Whether you are a Dylan fan or not, this book should be on your must read list.

tions, and Dylan has terrible handwriting. Deciphering it was one of Gans’ most difficult tasks.

“That was always a wonderful moment when you figured out exactly what it said,” Gans said. “But

nnn

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Easily one of the best Dylan books I’ve read. Not only is it full of great information but is also well written.

I’d say the big thing I got out of the time in the archives is the ceaseless dedication to craft this guy has.”

Gans book is available locally at Bookstore1 or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart.

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Terry Gans will be appearing at a local author book fair on Oct. 22.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

Susan Phillips and Dr. James Reed

Courtesy photos

Patty O’Neil and Fanny Younger accept donations at the POD.

One PODS container filled and delivered to North Port.

The POD is expected to return to Longboat Key, but a date hasn’t been set.

PODS filled for hurricane relief

Lauren Tronstad

A

Dr. Michael O’Neil in front of the POD in the Publix parking lot on Bay Isles Road.

generous-turned-grand effort among a trio of Longboat Key residents looked like a big white storage container in the Bay Isles Publix parking lot last week.

But it was far more.

The container was filled with supplies for North Port residents still struggling after Hurricane Ian, and the PODS unit will be returning for a second round of donations.

“Dr. O’Neil came to me with the idea, and I supported it,” Dr. James Reed said, “But he was the mastermind.”

But Dr. Michael O’Neil gives all the credit to his patient, Susan Phillips, who is also assistant to the Town Manager. He said the idea was to make it convenient for people to donate by putting the container outside of Publix, but all he had to do was call Phillips.

And according to Phillips, “Dr. O’Neil and Dr. Reed get all the credit for this wonderful mission.

They came up with this idea, paid for the pods and delivery to North Port.”

The doctors split the cost, and Phillips found volunteers and coor-

dinated with Janet Carrillo, Social Services Manager for the city of North Port. A list of needed and unneeded items was compiled and distributed.

Unneeded items were clothes, shoes and peanut butter. Linens, batteries, laundry detergent and instant coffee were among items on the needed list.

Getting the container filled to the brim with list items took a lot more than three people. Fanny Younger stepped up to manage and schedule volunteers during the donation hours, and it seems the rest of Longboat Key showed up to donate.

As if a fairy godmother waved a magic wand, nearly 10,000 pounds of supplies and more than $5,000 worth of gift cards filled the container in fewer than two days. It was delivered to North Port, and its contents are being distributed to city employees.

“I reached out to my counterparts in North Port who are still coping with record flooding, water and power outages, and recovery efforts,” Phillips said.

City employees are struggling

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at home with the same issues they’re assisting residents with at work. New bedding, socks and underwear were added to the list because so many employees are without water.

“We are very appreciative to both doctors spearheading all the donation efforts,” Carrillo said, “We are humbled.”

The effort was so successful, the doctors tried to order a second container from PODS, but because the demand is so high since Ian, there’s a shortage. The original POD is under Dr. O’Neil’s name for a month, so he’s working on having the same one delivered back to Publix.

He’s put in the requests but hasn’t gotten confirmation on a pickup or delivery date yet. The responses have been a “when we get to it type of thing,” O’Neil said.

In the meantime, the customer service desk in Publix is still collecting gift cards.

“We live in a generous and amazing community,” said Phillips.

—LESLEY DWYER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

Save Our Seabirds is closed temporarily while removing three trees that fell during Hurricane Ian.

“We’ve got stuff that goes back to Pelican Man days, so they were built in ’88 or ’89.”

— Aaron Virgin Photos by Lesley Dwyer

The CEO’s dad, Dennis Virgin, helps clean up the facility following Hurricane Ian.

Save Our Seabirds rebuilds after Hurricane Ian Without insurance to cover the damaged aviaries, Save Our Seabirds is raising $125,000 themselves.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

I

t’s hard enough to fully insure a house in Florida.

Try insuring an old bird cage.

Turns out it’s next to impossible, and it left Save Our Seabirds with

a $125,000 dilemma after Hurricane Ian. High winds toppled three tall ficus trees, which, in turn, destroyed the two largest bird enclosures.

Thankfully, no birds were inside to escape.

The bird rescue and sanctuary located on City Island carries insurance on the main building, which houses the administrative offices and animal hospital. However, SOS cannot secure insurance on the outdoor aviaries. So they’ve been raising money to rebuild on their own.

CEO Aaron Virgin said the aviaries are uninsurable because of their age

and how they were built.

“We’ve got stuff that goes back to Pelican Man days, so they were built in ’88 or ’89,” he said of the facility’s predecessor, founded by Dave Shields.

Most of the birds were moved inside when the barrier islands were ordered to evacuate the Tuesday before Ian was expected to make landfall. Flocks of pelicans stayed in their outdoor enclosures, but 92 parrots and various other species of birds were moved inside the hospital.

Boards on the pelican enclosures were reinforced with extra screws

and a heavy dose of precaution. If a storm surge came through, the waterbirds weren’t in danger because they can float.

After two days of sheltering inside, Virgin described the smell when opening the door as simply “the worst,” but every bird housed by SOS made it through Ian safe and sound.

It was their habitats that took the hit. Not only is insurance not covering the damage, the space is so cramped, it makes repairs and the tree removal difficult and costly.

The aviary with the worst damage is surrounded by smaller aviaries.

The ficus had grown up through its mesh ceiling. When the tree fell, it pulled the mesh down with it.

The walkways getting to that tree were too narrow to get any kind of equipment through. But because SOS had already been raising money for a capital campaign to replace all the outdated aviaries, they demolished one early to get a lift and skid steer to the downed tree.

The ficus trees had been a hot topic over capital campaign discussions.

While the overwhelming preference was to get rid of them, they provided a shade canopy for the birds and were accurately deemed extremely expensive to remove.

“The decision was made. They’re gone,” Virgin said. “We were going to do the other aviaries first, but now everything just changed.”

SOS had hoped to reopen to the public last week, but managers couldn’t get a tree company out to the property until this week. They did what they could between 30 volunteers and a couple of chainsaws to clear the bulk of the debris themselves.

Aside from the ficus trees, the facility held up well. There was no damage to the building.

Three weeks later, they’re $8,620 shy of their $125,000 goal.

The Rebuild SOS fund raised $26,447 through an online campaign, $64,933 through offline donations and a donor who earmarked $25,000 for the capital campaign called to say that money could be used for the rebuild instead.

SOS is pushing to reopen to the public this week. While they don’t charge admission fees, donations are accepted at a kiosk at the front entrance to help cover operational expenses.

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EARLY DINING & HAPPY HOUR AT THE LAZY LOBSTER

featuring $7 house brand cocktails or house wines $4 domestic beers, $8 martinis, manhattans & call brand cocktails (excludes premium brands)

plus

EXCLUDING: THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY & NEW YEAR'S EVE

10 complete entrees under $20 4 lobster dishes under $30 RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED CALL 941 383 0440

AY D R TU - SA

0 11:0 Y NDA MO WE'RE BRINGING BACK ALL YOUR

AM

00 - 2:

PM

FAVORITES - SOUPS, SALADS, SANDWICHES AND, OF COURSE, LOBSTER!

PLUS, WE'RE INTRODUCING A FEW NEW ITEMS, INCLUDING A VEGAN LENTIL SALAD, & THE BBQ CHICKEN WRAP.

NOW FEATURING! Smooth. Sweet. Classic.

This tropical, pineapple treat is the original DOLE SOFT SERVE® flavor that is craved around the world.

Twist with our

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DINE-IN ONLY

Stop by for a quick bite or call to make a reservation for a special afternoon out!

OPEN FOR IN-HOUSE DINING • 5350 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

Monday - Saturday: Lunch: 11:00 - 2:00 | Dinner: 3:30 - 9:00 Early Dining Menu & Happy Hour: 3:30 - 5:00 Closed Sundays lazylobsteroflongboat.com • 941-383-0440

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BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

BIRD KEY

BAY POINT PARK 2

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

1507 BAY POINT DRIVE ACTIVE LISTING $8,499,000

BIRD KEY 424 PHEASANT WAY PENDING $1,675,000

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

BIRD KEY

FOREST LAKES COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES

394 BOB WHITE DRIVE PENDING $5,295,000

1779 RIVIERA CIR SOLD $676,000

5B

387799-1

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21

OKTOBERFEST Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at Pick Hall, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

St. Mary Star of the Sea is hosting an Oktoberfest. Eric Zawalich will provide German music with his accordion. Tickets are $45. Call 3831255 for information.

CLAWS FOR A CAUSE 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Whitney Plaza, 6840 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

The Maine Line food truck will serve lobster in the parking lot, and select plaza merchants will donate 10% of their day’s proceeds to the Rotary Club. Call 387-9807 for information.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS 9-11 a.m. at the Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Have your pet blessed by the Rev. Brock Patterson. Call 383-6491 for information.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25

BUSINESS, BATS & BOOS 5-6:30 p.m. at La Norma Ristorante & Pizzeria, 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive, #104. The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce is networking in costumes. Prizes go to the funniest, scariest and most original. $15 for members, $20 for guests. Call 383-2466 for information.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP 4-6 p.m. at Driftwood Beach Home & Garden, 6838 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Stephanie Troxler will walk participants through a watercolor painting project to take home.

Supplies and refreshments are included. The cost is $60. To reserve a seat, call 960-0568.

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

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.

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.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to noon at 6140 GMD. 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.

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.

ROTARY CLUB Meets at 5 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays in All Angles Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. To learn more, call Nancy Rozance at 203-605-4066 or email Info@ LongboatKeyRotary.org.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

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

MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER 9:30 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Walk or run a three-mile loop for breast cancer awareness. Donations are welcome. Call 383-6493 for information.

Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

THURSDAYS

BREATH BALANCE AND BLISS YOGA 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.

File photo

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

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.

ZUMBA AND MAT PILATES FOR SENIORS From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. The class, designed for active seniors, starts with zumba and shifts to alllevel mat Pilates at 10:30 a.m. Come for 30 minutes or the full hour. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

FRIDAYS

QI GONG AND MEDITATION From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road, take qi gong and meditation with Sandi Love. Free for members, $10 for nonmembers. Call 383-6493.

INTERMEDIATE TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Reuben Fernandez teaches the class outdoors, weather permitting. Free for members, $10 for nonmembers.

Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

S E A F O O D E AT E RY I N S O U T H S I D E V I L L AG E

EAT LOCAL

EAT FRESH

386133-1

Open Tuesday - Friday 11am to 9pm Saturday 3 to 9pm Closed Sundays & Mondays

ZAGAT “Top restaurant in America”

ORDER ONLINE ReefCakes.com

1812 S. Osprey Ave. Sarasota, FL 34239 941-444-7968

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 390128-1

941.724.7228

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

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941.928.3559

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389916-1

941.778.6444 www.BeachBistro.com

387024-1

YOUR CALENDAR

6B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

7B

REAL ESTATE BY A REAL EXPERT

OVER $134 MILLION SOLD IN 2021 • OVER $80 MILLION PENDING, AND SOLD IN 2022

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.

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.

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.

JUST REDUCED TWO NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT 2315 WEBBER STREET SARASOTA, FL $1,795,000 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

390354-1

Bruce@BruceMyer.com • www.BruceMyer.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

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

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 520 58th Street 5 Beds 3/2 Baths 3,414 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4545105 $2,995,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3342 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 3 Beds 4 Baths 3,410 Sq. Ft. Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4549127 $2,898,000

LONGBOAT KEY 597 Bayview Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,450 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group & Steve Walter 941-232-2000 A4537864 $2,595,000

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 218 82nd Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,802 Sq. Ft. Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4541555 $1,795,000

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

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

UNIVERSITY PARK 8171 Abingdon Court 2 Beds 2/2 Baths 2,609 Sq. Ft. Rachel Benderson 941-376-0218 A4537189 $1,100,000

HOLMES BEACH 5300 Gulf Drive 608 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,057 Sq. Ft. Nicole Ryskamp 941-807-1766 A4548567 $1,100,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3630 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 201 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,486 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark & JoDene Moneuse 941-312-1146 A4548094 $995,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3240 Gulf Of Mexico Drive B402 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,505 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark 941-312-1146 A4544923 $990,000

SARASOTA 1709 N Tamiami Trail 510 1 Bed 2 Baths 1,332 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4539807 $875,000

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

UNIVERSITY PARK 7220 San Miguel Cove 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,113 Sq. Ft. Bernadette Caswell 941-320-8265 A4549334 $849,000

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 4725 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 213 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,071 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy, PA & Gail Wittig, LLC 941-961-8850 A4539173 $819,000

SARASOTA 100 Central Avenue B405 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,180 Sq. Ft. Bibi-Ann Allard PA 941-685-0422 A4547336 $750,000

LONGBOAT KEY 730 Spanish Drive S 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,255 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark 941-312-1146 A4541965 $740,000

SARASOTA 101 S Gulfstream Avenue 5G 1 Bed 2 Baths 965 Sq. Ft. Marci McFarland 941-961-3390 A4549067 $689,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 522 Pine Avenue 4D 2 Beds 1 Baths 822 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4546914 $675,000

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 101 Mangrove Avenue 5 Beds 1/1 Baths 2,522 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4545903 $5,250,000

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

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

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 387862-1

8B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

OCT. 3-7

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

condominium in Sanctuary at Longboat Key Club tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Jennifer Potts, Patrice Blair, R. Michele Blair and Daniel Blair, of Russell, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit A-301 condominium at 535 Sanctuary Drive to Peter Farrell and Emily Wyrick-Farrell, of Knoxville, Tennessee, for $2.7 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,115 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,000 in 1990.

THE PIERRE

Martin Cohen, trustee, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, sold the Unit 606 condominium at 455 Longboat Club Road to Susanne Klingenstein and Eugenia Gerstein, trustees, of Newton, Massachusetts, for $2.6 million.

Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,470 square feet of living area. It sold for $413,400 in 1991.

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS

Stephen and Robin Almond, of Suwanee, Georgia, sold their Unit S-302 condominium at 601 Longboat Club Road to A&T Capital LLC for $1,625,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,458 square feet of living area. It sold for $651,000 in 2009.

BEACHPLACE

Richard and Jody Wilcox, of

9B

REAL ESTATE

Sanctuary condo unit sells for $2.7 million

|

File photo

Construction of Sanctuary at Longboat Key Club began in 1989.

Mendon, Vermont, sold their Unit 301 condominium at 1055 Gulf of Mexico Drive to LBK Sunset LLC for $1.35 million. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,172 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,069,000 in 2005.

Unit 21 condominium at 535 Forest Way to Osprey’s Nest LBK LLC for $645,000. Built in 1990, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,440 square feet of living area. It sold for $315,000 in 2018.

LIDO BEACH CLUB

John David Hessling and Susan Hessling, Andy Middeke and Brooke Nicole Middeke, of Wildwood, Missouri, sold their Unit 202 condominium at 350 S. Polk Drive to Rachel Hadar, trustee, of Sarasota, for $580,000. Built in 1977, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,036 square feet of living area. It sold for $370,000 in 2021.

Michael Yeager LLC sold the Unit 1105 condominium at 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Heather Brown, of Evanston, Illinois, for $666,000.

Built in 1974, it has one bedroom, one bath and 1,116 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in July.

TURTLE CRAWL

James and Susan Davis, of Sarasota, sold their Unit T-304 condominium at 4235 Gulf of Mexico Drive to GCWLBK LLC for $650,000. Built in 1973, it has one bedroom, one bath and 720 square feet of living area. It sold for $412,000 in 2021.

LIDO SHORES

SEA HORSE BEACH RESORT

Miller, of Allen Park, Michigan, sold their Unit 238 condominium at 3453 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Rebecca Pilipow and Rachelle Neck, of Fruitland Park, for $500,000. Built in 1960, it has one bedroom, one bath and 616 square feet of living area. It sold for $367,000 in 2019.

KINGSTON ARMS

Ilse Schmitt, trustee, sold the Unit 18-B condominium at 500 S. Washington Drive to Paxton Orndorff II and Marisol Garcia Rosa, of Haymarket, Virginia, for $350,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 770 square feet of living area. It sold for $112,000 in 1999.

William Todd Miller and Roberta

CEDARS EAST

Cunnick Carl Phillips and Louise Jane Davies, of Wales, sold their

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of October 7-13 in order of dollar amounts.

L O N G B OAT K E Y ADDRESS 6695 GMD

PERMIT New construction

APPLICANT Timothy C. Peterson

1561 GMD

Plumbing

Unicorp Acquisitions II

$2,033,416

1581 GMD

Plumbing

Unicorp Acquisitions II

LLC

1591 GMD

Unicorp Acquisitions II

Plumbing

1561 GMD

Air conditioning

Unicorp Acquisitions II

1591 GMD

Unicorp Acquisitions II

1581 GMD

Air conditioning

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

$2,005,666

LLC LLC

Air conditioning

$2,017,666

SOLD OUT

Downtown St. Petersburg

AMOUNT($) $2,052,000

$1,918,622 $1,869,122

Longboat Key

LLC Unicorp Acquisitions II

$1,868,622

LLC

5461 GMD

Reroof

Longboat Cove

$300,000

5481 GMD

Reroof

Longboat Cove

$300,000

1571 GMD

Air conditioning

Unicorp Acquisitions II

$230,750

LLC

1211 GMD #303

Interior alterations

Bogdan and Keymia Tarasov $220,000

1571 GMD

Plumbing

Unicorp Acquisitions II

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

$218,250

LLC

535 Sanctuary

Windows and doors

Bruce Creighton

Interior alterations

Glenn T. Gould

$82,579 $44,560

$176,700

Drive #A503 4860 GMD 3530 Fair Oaks Lane

Reroof

Nancy Goldsmith Trust

5220 GMD Unit 202

Windows and doors

Aleksandar Jelenak

582 Juan Anasco Drive

Electrical

Markus Waite

$30,000

582 Juan Anasco Drive

Plumbing

Markus Waite

$28,500

548 Halyard Lane

Mechanical

Charles and Susan Buchhe

$27,800

Downtown Sarasota

$31,154

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | thecollection1335.com

alterations Plumbing

K and K Longboat LLC

$27,249

Hurricane shutters

James G. Leish

$26,479

3611 Bayou Circle

Air conditioning

Michael R. Stearns

$21,539

645 Spanish Drive N.

Reroof

Francine Gietl

$20,300

825 Tarawitt Drive

Siding

G & R Bros 525 LLC

$20,000

435 L’Ambiance

Interior alterations

James C. Norton

$19,500

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

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

mscdeveloperservices.com | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of October 2022

Drive #G501 Source: Town of Longboat Key

Licensed Real Estate Broker

373675-1

1215 Bogey Lane 4525 GMD Unit 405

10B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

10 Days of celebration S

arasota natives Sura and Harry Kochman have always felt like there was some missing potential to the general area around the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

“People used to come to the municipal auditorium and shuffleboard courts, but that was it,” Sura Kochman said. “It was almost wasting this beautiful area.”

After years upon years of planning, construction and effort from a variety of Sarasota organizations, that’s looking to change.

The Bay Park — which has more than 15 acres of green space, kayak tours through mangrove tunnels, a new space for children, a sunsetviewing area, and more — had its official opening on Oct. 14. The Bay Park Conservancy, DreamLarge and other groups have worked together to host a “10 Days on the Bay” event series in celebration of that opening that includes more than 90 activities throughout the schedule.

The series has been planned out since earlier this year.

“We wanted to do a 10-day opening rather than a ribbon cutting to give everyone a chance to visit this park,” said Bay Park Conservancy Founding CEO A.G. Lafley.

So far that’s included a multicultural food festival, kayak tours, fun runs and music performances from Bradenton’s We The Kings and Eagles tribute band The Long Run. The Kochmans spent their weekend admiring the new area, checking out the food festival and later resting in the shade watching the sun set.

“They’ve done a marvelous job,” Kochman said. “It’s very eco friendly and family theory.”

Some newcomers spent the weekend enjoying the new space as well.

Lucas and Marta Storarczyk recent-

MONDAY, OCT. 17 n Ride & Paddle Kayak Rentals: through 3 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 18 n Namaste At The Bay: 8-10 a.m. n Ride & Paddle Kayak Rentals: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The We The Kings band rocks out well into the night.

The park recently had its grand opening.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19 n Namaste At The Bay: 8-10 a.m. n Ride & Paddle Kayak Rentals: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 20 n RADD Night at the Bay: 5-9 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 21 n Boo! At The Bay: 6-10 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 22 n Multicultural Day at the Bay 12:30 - 7 p.m. n Astronomy at the Bay: 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 23 n Parktoberfest at the Bay: 12-5 p.m. n Etana, Jah Movement & Ariella concert: 6-9:30 p.m.

Photos by Harry Sayer

The park is already being used as a sunset yoga spot.

Lucas, Marta, Michael and Nina Storarczyk relaxed with Sura and Harry Kochman

ly moved with their three children to Sarasota from Poland for a work contract and spent their first weekend on the Gulf Coast taking in the sights at the park.

“It’s such a cool place for children,” Storarczyk said. “We’re just in love,” As for Bay Park Conservancy staff and volunteers, there’s still more work to do.

“We should be physically tired but we’re not, we’re running on adrenaline,” Lafley said. “Monday morning we’ll be tired.”

Call for Take Out or FREE DELIVERY

The Beauty and Challenge of Late-in-Life Relationships

Let’s Talk About It

Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer, AARP Authors and love and relationship experts, will lead an interactive discussion about our most critical life relationships.

Tuesday, November 1 7:30-11:35 am

Carlisle Inn & Conference Center 3727 Bahia Vista Street

In-person - $50 | Virtual - $25 To purchase tickets or become a sponsor call (941) 556-3269 or visit

friendshipcenters.org

FOUNDING PARTNERS

TABLE SPONSORS

GENEROUS SPONSORS

empath

Clare & Rich Segall Christine Schlesinger & David Kotok 390492-1

STAFF WRITER

Here are some highlights in the coming days, go to The Bay website for the full schedule.

389806-1

HARRY SAYER

WHAT’S HAPPENING

388778-1

First phase of Sarasota’s Bay Park opens with more than a week of food, fun.

Observer Reinvention Convention Ad.indd 1

10/17/2022 6:11:18 PM

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, OCT 21

Sunrise Sunset

High: 75 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 0%

11B

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

|

Thursday, Oct. 20

7:33a

6:56p

Friday, Oct. 21

7:34a

6:55p

Saturday, Oct. 22

7:34a

6:55p

Sunday, Oct. 23

7:35a

6:54p

SATURDAY, OCT. 22

Monday, Oct. 24

7:36a

6:53p

High: 80 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 11%

Tuesday, Oct. 25

7:36a

6:52p

Wednesday, Oct. 26

7:37a

6:51p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, OCT. 23 High: 81 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 16%

Oct. 25 New

Oct. 31 First

Nov. 8 Full

Nov. 16 Last

TIDES Highs Lows Thursday, Oct. 20

Sergio Albuquerque captured this photo of a railroad vine in bloom along Longboat Key.

8:58a

10:54p

3:52a

4:42p

Friday, Oct. 21

10:03a

11:04p

4:43a

5:17p

Saturday, Oct. 22

10:56a

11:15p

5:24a

5:46p

Sunday, Oct. 23

11:45a

11:27p

6:02a

6:12p

Monday, Oct. 24

12:33p

11:43p

6:39a

6:34p

Tuesday, Oct. 25

—

1:21p

7:18a

6:55p

12:04a

2:14p

7:59a

7:13p

Wednesday, Oct. 6 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.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC 941.355.8437 | Bradenton

941.748.4679 | Venice

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com

celebrity cipher

©2022 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

65 Finalize, as a deal 67 The “I” in TGIF 1 Cheese’s informal 68 Jewish ball variety partner 69 Whopper toppers 2 Big bothers 70 Family man, perhaps 3 Like a juicy nectarine 4 They’re just for openers 71 Takeoff guesses at JFK 72 In a competent way 5 Go after legally 78 Milky gems 6 Kind of blocker 80 Doing nothing 7 “Beowulf” or “Gil81 Girl who may play the gamesh” bagpipes 8 Isn’t in some places?

83 Bright sign filler 9 Keep bothering 84 “Drat!”

10 Cold pack 86 “No more for me” 11 Type of race in a city 12 Nickname that rhymes 88 Stopped dawdling 89 Bossy remark? with “Ray” 90 Mr. Hyde and the Hulk, 13 Pesto ingredient for Dr. Jekyll and Bruce 14 Cut, to a surgeon Banner 15 Slender shark 93 What the intolerant 16 Any thing might avoid?

17 Earns after taxes 19 Muscle-bone connector 95 African language group 96 Sinus M.D. 23 Audition tapes 98 H.S. exam for college 25 “Swan Lake” swan credit 28 Make smile 100 Beneath trees on a 31 Safe savings options, sunny day, say briefly 101 Brownish gray 33 Bestial person 103 Allude (to) 34 Black fuel 105 Closest pals, to texters 35 Wrinkly fruit 68 Cash cache 99 Sole soul 106 Mineral in red meat 36 Old West exchange site 73 Goes fishing 102 Alfa Romeo alternative 107 “Thank Heaven for 37 Snoozes 74 Baffled 104 Relatives of bees Little Girls” musical 38 Cousin of a bassoon 75 Stationed 105 Large digit 109 Narc’s weight unit 39 Fixes at a vet’s office 76 Helpful hints 108 Tiny amount 40 John, Paul and George, 110 Battery contents 77 Mrs. Lincoln’s maiden 109 Dead, as an engine 111 Guinea pigs, goldfish, but not Ringo (Abbr.) name 112 Bitter beer, briefly etc.

42 Goodbye, in Genoa 79 Wastes, as time 115 Fair fare 113 Half a quart 43 Is a sound sleeper?

82 Checkmate, for a chess 117 Coarse course 114 One poker chip, maybe 47 Snoozes, in Sonora game 120 Steams (up) 116 Spanish “Bravo!”

49 Bottomless pit 85 Ape house’s place 121 Alternatively 117 Gym unit 51 “Frozen” reindeer 86 Babysitter’s handful 122 A-list 118 Salon coloring 52 Eyelid affliction 87 Like fast deliveries 123 Gossipy person 119 It powers a Charger 56 “Would I lie to you?!”

90 La ___ Tar Pits 124 Agitated state 58 Battering ___ 91 Switch positions 125 College in Portland 59 Used to be 92 Breakfast, lunch or 126 Miniature sci-fi 61 Cartoon art collectibles dinner vehicles 62 Affirmative vote 94 Refrigerates 127 ___ Park, Colo.

64 Enjoyed a potluck 95 Guiding light

34 Deserts desserts 41 Afternoon affairs 1 Chalk lines, e.g.

44 Fiona in “Shrek,” for one 6 Word after “snap” or 45 Supports criminally “string” 46 Sinful desire 10 Website for film fans 14 “Sounds good to me!” 48 Molecule found in “Moderna vaccine” 18 Farewell, in France 50 “What a pity!”

19 Old photo tone 20 Singer Alessia or Irene 51 Wedded partners 53 Make a knot in 21 “Great” detective of 54 Stick up kid-lit 55 Toilet seat cover?

22 Righting writing 56 Convenient “babysitter” 24 Sight site 57 Branch location 26 Short time, for short 59 Like a Scottish terrier’s 27 Pass into law coat 28 Blood-typing letters 29 “Dog days of summer” 60 Comforting comment and “Cat got your tongue?” 63 2010 Emma Stone film about a high schooler 30 Top spot 32 They roll through runs 66 They don’t hold water 97 Alone at prom

“UYGLOVGKK ALV XG ALFOIYGR BV EVG MEYR: DBNGKOPDG. DBNG BK UER’K UBNO OE PEI, KOPDG BK MCLO PEI JLTG EN BO.”

JLG A. HGJBKEV

“NFD HSNXRY AXYTD M WMF WMJFRI KENW SJH YDVEMUJOJDH. UJEOXDH PMF LD KMZDY. YDVEMUJOJDH MED EDMR.”

ZRMXH ZJFHZJ

“YT DZVBV RPDZ OA GRGBIX, P ZGJV G LBVGD MPL XDGDYV SN LBSYUZS OGBC, EYXD DS TYD VJVBADZPWL PW TVBXTVUDPJV.”

ESZW HPDZLSR

© 2022 NEA, Inc.

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

389474-1

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 Three Clue: D equals T

ECHO CHAMBER by Paul Coulter. Edited by David Steinberg

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals J

crossword

Puzzle One Clue: F equals P

Sarasota

390393-1

KARASTAN, MOHAWK, ARI. O, SMARTSTRAND, ALL PET

CARPET

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

10-20-22

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

RED PAGES

We’ll SWEEP you off your feet!

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

stuff

This week’s Crossword answers

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

JACK’S CAR DETAILING Come to residence, call for appt (219)406-0601

LONGBOAT KEY: Beachfront Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking.

Call 941-383-3338.

Autos Wanted

SEASONAL Rates Beachfront, Bayfront and In

Puzzle Two Solution: “One should judge a man mainly from his depravities. Virtues can be faked.

Depravities are real.”

Klaus Kinski Puzzle Three Solution: “Up there with my awards, I have a great big statue of Groucho Marx, just to put everything in perspective.” John Lithgow

This week’s Sudoku answers

Sell Your Item for Free! $200 or less YourObserver.com/RedPages

THOMASVILLE CHERRYWOOD Dining Table 6 Chairs 2 Captains.

Great condition asking $175.00 OBO Table pad & extension 662-420-1980 VINTAGE QUILT ‘41, sunbonnet gal, 64”x69”, pink/multi $45; Hull pottery vase,13”x4, $30.

941-320-8345

©2022 NEA, Inc.

FIND LOTS OF BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Auto Service

Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101

Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

Longboat Key, FL 34228

941-955-4888

Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

Ask about our special rates!

M-F Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Adult Care Services

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words .................... $ 17.50 per week Each add’l word ......... 50¢

Merchandise Wanted

Help Wanted

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

FEMALE ELDERLY WIDOW seeking a female dinner companion/caretaker that resides on Longboat Key. Part time or full time.

941-545-4471

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week

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

PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com

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.

Computer

Is Your Computer Feeling Sick?

Let Us Fix It!

Call A Geek Computer ServiCeS

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

WE COME TO YOU

DRIES IN HOURS – NOT DAYS • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

941-778-2882 • 941-387-0607

5-Star Rated

Check out our 5 Star Reviews on Google

Like Us on Facebook

390230

390226

Serving AMI, LBK and Bradenton for 25 years

(941) 351-7260 call-a-geek.net

Computer Repair & Service Virus & Malware Removal / Protection New System Set Up / Data Transfer Networking: Wired/Wireless Installation Data Recovery / Remote Support One-On-One Tutoring / Training

390537

FAST • EASY • SAFE

HoHoBuysCars.com

Visa/MC

Carpet Cleaning

SELL YOUR CAR! 941.270.4400

GARAGE SALE

OUTBOARD MOTOR 2 HP Yamaha, very little use, needs cleaned. 1 owner $199.

(941)274-6400

Want Some Mad Money?

CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

home services

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

Puzzle One Solution: “Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God’s gift to you, style is what you make of it.”

Mae C. Jemison

RED PAGES

Between

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

941809-3660, 941-809-3662.

Items Under $200 This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

WEEKLY MONTHLY CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

jobs

You’re only cheating yourself.

Autos Service

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com

©2022 Universal Uclick

peekers’ place

auto

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.

real estate

Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

Over 18 yrs serving Manatee/Sarasota Counties

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

Doors

Health

389780

390523

Roofing

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

(941) 345-5264 Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

Building & Roofing Contractor

Golf

GOLF CART

REPAIR

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

Transportation

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

390502

941-248-4734

All Airports, Hourly & Tours www.blacklabelcarservice.com

Booked Referral Program Next Ride with Booked Referral

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

CONVERSION

Luxury for Less

10% off

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

LITHIUM B AT T E RY S H S R

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS Showcase your products or services.

CALL 941-955-4888

Windows

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood Res./Com.

CNA CNAServices, Services,LLC LLC Philip CNA PhilipPolsonPolson-Licensed Licensed CNA (941) (941)545-3493 545-3493 Privatehome homehealthcare healthcare Private in in thethe safetyand andsecurity securityofofyour your own safety own 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.

390563

“Loving That’sThe TheDifference” Difference” “Loving Care, Care, That’s FUNCTIONAL FITNESS TRAINING

(614) 395-5854 · linkedin.com/in/brian-simpson-aba37093

389797

Helping seniors stay fit and independent since 2009 Brian M Simpson NASM, AMFPT, CPR, AED & First Aid Certified

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

For

Painting

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

STANDARD WINDOWS

CREATE BUZZ!

Advertise your business in the Red Pages.

Call 941-955-4888

ws

150

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

High-End Interior Painting Services

We only use the finest quality Benjamin Moore paints!

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

25

UP TO

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

Lic./Ins.

& Pressure C Window lean t e s i Sun merly known as Sunrise Windo ng

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

Health & Fitness

Clinical Exercise Specialist · Private In-Home Services

389779

Health

389777

389772

MIC INSURANCE

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

I T O T E R EPAI

389985

Insurance

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

941-504-0903

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

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

390524

389771

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

389775

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!

RED PAGES. MADE FOR WHERE YOU LIVE. HERE! TO ADVERTISE CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT YOUROBSERVER.COM/REDPAGES

390231

390501

Doors and more!

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

Philipwith withClient Client Philip HowardTibbals Tibbals Howard

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

Furniture Repair

2007 Whitfield Park Ave Sarasota, FL 34243

941-345-5264

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

gulfcoastestateauctions.com • Free Consultations 941-274-6537

cwccustomscarts@gmail.com

• 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

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

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

Rescreening & Repairs

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

ESTATE SALES • DOWNSIZING SENIOR TRANSITIONS • ONLINE AUCTIONS

L B S G

Douglas | 941.405.5615 | Over 1 5 Years Experience

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

Gulf Coast EstatE auCtions

(941) 704 - 7512

Insured I Free Estimates

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

Estate Sales

CHASE COURNAN

Houses | Cages | Decks Driveways | Roofs | Paver Sealing

389956

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

ABRACADABRA PRESSURE CLEANING

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

13B

Power Washing

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Sliding Glass Door Repair

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

|

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022

JUDY KEPECZ-HAYS TEAM

October 20, 2022

SARABANDE

340 South Palm Ave #75 3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,761 Sq Ft www.Sarabande75.com Offered for $3,025,000

!

N O

I T C

AU

This stunning contemporary home is on Palm Avenue, in the heart of downtown. Instant enjoyment is yours in this 3 bedroom en-suite plus a powder room with a bonus of 2 underbuilding parking spaces & storage. Stunning views with wraparound, floor-to-ceiling windows, & doors bringing the outside in. Just a short walk to Marina Jack, restaurants, the opera, theaters, & Whole Foods Market.

EMBASSY HOUSE

770 Palm Ave #1802 2 bed, 2 bath | 1,400 Sq Ft EmbassyHouse1802.com Offered for $1,299,000 $1,175,000 Better than new! Be prepared to be HYPNOTIZED & MESMERIZED in this fully updated residence with 30 feet of walls of glass offering vistas of Sarasota Bay, Her Islands, & sunsets into the Gulf of Mexico. This home has been completely remodeled to perfection. All new Stainless-Steel appliances, solid surface countertops, & exquisite light fixtures set off the chic kitchen.

MARBLEHEAD

2509 Marblehead Drive 3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,869 Sq Ft www.2509MarbleheadDrive.com Offered for $1,235,000 Be amazed at every detail in this beautiful upgraded home in the heart of Sarasota. Quiet location within walking distance to Riverview High School a short distance to Phillippi Shores Elementary, Landings Shopping Center, downtown & Siesta Keys' world-famous beach.

This home is beyond expectation and ready for instant enjoyment!

Thinking of selling your Residence? Please call me!

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

LongboatKeyLuxury.com | (941) 587-1700 390374-1

14B