Longboat Observer 1.26.23

Town pumps up heart help

YOUR TOWN

Your old art is needed

All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church is holding its annual New to You Art Sale in February. Proceeds benefit a local special education teacher and her two children, who are moving into a Habitat for Humanity home. Last year’s fundraising paid for furnishings and a wheelchair lift.

The church needs your old art. Drop it off to the office at 563 Bay Isles Road. The sale runs the entire month in the art gallery; an open house is scheduled for Feb. 3 from 4-5:30 p.m. Sale hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Say so long to Harmer

Town Manager Tom Harmer has nearly completed his time in Longboat Key, but you’ll still get a chance to say so long. Harmer announced his retirement last summer and agreed to stay on to help Howard Tipton get started. That transition begins Monday, Jan. 30, but on Feb. 6, Town Hall well-wishers will present a farewell event from 10 a.m. to noon.

Harmer will be moving with his wife, Dee, to Winter Garden to be closer to his two sons and three grandchildren.

After announcing his intent to retire in June 2022, Harmer has often said that finishing his 38-year career in public service on Longboat Key was an “honor.”

Lesley Dwyer

File photo

Eric Garwood

Unicorp

Lesley Dwyer

Ralph Hughes holds the first of two spy novels he wrote based on his time with the CIA.

More parking, please

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

More than a year into construction, the developer of the Residences at St. Regis Resort Longboat Key wants to change plans and build a three-level parking garage on the northeast corner of the property.

The change, which requires consideration by town staff and public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Board and Town Commission, would replace a plan to install mechanical lifts in the alreadyapproved ground level garage under the hotel building.

The lifts were designed to multiply available parking spaces on the property to satisfy town requirements. The multilevel garage would be built on the site of an already approved outdoor surface lot.

“As we are building the resort, we feel it’s going to be so tremendously successful that we don’t want to have a parking problem,” Unicorp CEO Chuck Whittall said. “...The more we evaluated it, we just came to the decision that we would rather add parking now before we open rather than after we open. We wanted to head off a problem before it existed.”

In replacing the mechanical lift spaces and surface lot with the garage, parking spaces would increase from 100 to 157.

The proposal could go before the town’s Planning and Zoning Board as early as March. Public hearings before the Town Commission would also be required leading up to a yes or no vote.

Parking revisions are not the only requests. Among other technical changes, Unicorp also seeks to delete construction of beach shelters and  a Tiki hut.

If the plan amendments are not approved, Whittall said construction would move forward with the plans that were already approved.

“If we run into a parking problem in the future, we’ll go to the town and say ‘this is what we anticipated. This is why we asked for that in the past,’” he said.

“I think the town will be happy

with this request because I know they have had a lot of parking problems such as restaurant (parking) overflowing onto roads. We just want to ensure that we are not a problem for the town on parking. We’re just trying to take a precautionary measure to have additional parking.”

Town leaders in 2018 approved Unicorp’s plan to move forward with the St. Regis project, ending years of back and forth with the town and town voters on how to proceed.

In 2017, voters rejected the initial plan to add residential density to the 17.6-acre property that once was home to the iconic Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

Once ownership of the land and the former Colony units was secured, work began in late 2021 building the

new complex, which is set to open in 2024.

In October 2021, developers had to make changes to parking plans to meet town requirements for the balance of spaces between residential and hotel spots.

Town regulations required 107 residential spaces and 298 for the hotel.

Unicorp’s original mix was 169 residential spaces and 236 in the hotel.

To fix the imbalance, Unicorp proposed 62 mechanical vehicles lift spaces in its hotel valet garage, increasing capacity to 299 spots to meet town standards. Residential spaces remained at 169.

Five buildings are working their way through construction, a fivestory hotel on the north end of the property, three five-story condo buildings on the south side of the property and a single-floor amenities building in between.

The 166-room hotel will feature two restaurants, a beach grill and three bars. Additionally, a ballroom with seating for 425 is planned along with six meeting rooms and two board rooms.

The condo complex will have 69 units with parking garages on the ground level. Prices range from $2 million to $22 million. All residences are sold out.

“We are extremely happy with the progress of it,” Whittall said. “We are slightly ahead of schedule. Everything is coming out great.”

Unicorp asks town to change St. Regis plan to include threedeck structure instead of lot.

Courtesy rendering

The proposed parking garage would sit on the northeast corner of the property, along Gulf of Mexico Drive, as seen by the arrow.

File photo

The hotel portion of the St. Regis rises on the north side of the property, the condominium buildings on the south.

Eric Garwood

Work progresses on the St. Regis condominium buildings on the south side of the property.

TOWN AEDS

currently

The

Each

ity

STAYIN’ ALIVE

INCREASED URGENCY

Following the incident where Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest at the start of the football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Jan. 2, Dezzi recalled the following day he was receiving calls from condominium associations looking for a way to train their residents to be able to respond to cardiac arrest, if one were to happen in their building.

Longboat Key is also one of a number of local departments that use the phone application PulsePoint. The app is 911-connected and allows users to view and receive alerts on calls being responded to by fire departments and emergency medical services.

But beyond a simple conveyance of 911-dispatch information, the app has a more-valuable and potentially life-saving use.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

The presence of an automated external defibrillator in the event of cardiac arrest can mean the difference between life and death. The Longboat Key Police Department is awaiting the arrival of new ones after a Longboat Key Club donation to the town was set aside for their purchase.

“Having one in the trunk of every car will enhance the safety of visitors and residents of Longboat Key,” Police Chief George Turner said.

The fire department already has state-of-the-art AEDs in place in its trucks and vehicles, but with the police receiving new ones, operating the technology will be easier than ever when the pair are responding to a scene.

“It’s especially important because the police out here are dispatched to every EMS call,” Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said.

Previously, if a police officer arrived at the scene of a cardiac arrest  and began using the previous AEDs, fire department paramedics would have to switch to their more advanced gear, often costing valuable treatment time.

Once the new systems arrive to the police, both departments’ technology will be able to work together, allowing the same patches to stay on the patient as the fire department hooks in their equipment.

The police department has had AEDs in their patrol cars for years, but as those years have passed, they have approached the end of their useful lives.

Turner and the department had already begun looking into options for replacement AEDs when they were notified of the donation to the town by the Longboat Key Club equaling about $14,250.

Town Manager Tom Harmer had discussed with Key Club representatives the desired end use of the funds and agreed purchasing the life-saving equipment would be a good use.

The donation will provide eight Stryker AEDs in all of the department’s patrol vehicles, but the town will have to use its own funding to replace the one inside the department’s headquarters.

Turner says he expects to receive the shipment any day now.

Users of the app can find the nearest publicly available AED machine — many of which are now available in stores and other public sites. The app can also alert trained-in-CPR subscribers of a nearby emergency, so they can step in to immediately help.

Due to the average age of residents on Longboat Key, knowledge of both how to use an AED, where one is available, and how to do CPR is crucial.

While cardiac arrests are not common on the island, heart attacks and early signs of heart attacks are particularly common.

Dezzi urges any citizen who is experiencing the early warning signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, pain down the left arm and shortness of breath to call 911. The earlier the issue is caught, the better.

CPR TRAINING RETURNS

After two years away, the fire department’s annual hands-only CPR training and use of an AED has returned to the town.

“At first people are hesitant to sign up, but once they learn there is no mouth-to-mouth portion, they kind of ease up,” Dezzi said.

Similarly, individuals are often afraid to use an AED, but once they

go through the training they learn it’s as easy as placing the patches and listening and following the automated prompts from the machine, he said.

“If the machine does not identify a need for a shock to be administered, it’s not going to give the prompt to administer the shock,” department outreach officer Tina Adams said.

Class sizes are limited to 18 people with the majority of the dates in February already filled. Due to high demand, 12 additional dates were added in March with all having available spots at the time of this report.

“Usually, the later classes fill up once people have attended and tell their friends and neighbors about it,” he said.

Dezzi said it is not uncommon for residents to come back after their first training as a way to receive a refresher course, which the department encourages.

The classes are free to the public and last about 45 minutes each.

This year, instead of outsourcing

training, the department has opted to use on-duty in-house firefighter/ paramedics to teach residents. This also allows for the department to host more training dates than if it were to contract out another agency to do it.

Chest compressions are essential knowledge for everyone to have as it can make a large difference on whether or not an individual survives. Often, instructors rely on a cadence similar to the rhythm of the Bee Gees’ classic “Stayin’ Alive” song made famous in the 1977 movie “Saturday Night Fever.”

For each minute chest compressions are not being done, the likelihood of that person surviving decreases by about 10%, Dezzi said.

Of course, it is essential that emergency personnel are notified of the issue first, but compressions should begin as soon as possible afterward.

IF YOU GO

Free CPR trainings are available the following dates and are all being held at the Fire Rescue Station 91, 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive:

n Feb. 6: 10 a.m.

n Feb. 10: 10 a.m.

n Feb. 14: 2 p.m.

n Feb. 17: 10 a.m.

n Feb. 22: 2 p.m.

n Feb. 23: 10 a.m.

n Feb. 24: 2 p.m.

n March 2: 10 a.m.

n March 3: 10 a.m.

n March 7: 10 a.m.

n March 9: 2 p.m.

n March 13: 2 p.m.

n March 14: 2 p.m.

n March 17: 2 p.m.

n March 21: 10 a.m.

n March 22: 10 a.m.

n March 27: 2 p.m.

n March 28: 2 p.m.

n March 29: 2 p.m.

The Longboat Key Club’s donation to the town allowed for new AEDs to be purchased for police patrol vehicles.

town

has 19 AEDs within the government buildings. Twelve of those are housed and belong to the fire department.

town facil-

has its own. The number does not represent the eight AEDs the police department is set to receive.

Photos by Lauren Tronstad

Firefighter/paramedics Trey Bowlin and David Oliger show two kinds of AEDs the department has in their possession.

The left AED is most similar to the ones the police department will be receiving.

File photo

A previous CPR course hosted by the town’s fire department.

Citizens attend academy for many reasons

classmates at Wednesday’s session, which started with Town Attorney Maggie Mooney providing background on the town charter and Florida’s open government laws.

Then, the town’s IT Director Jason Keen took over, sharing internet safety tips and how he ensures the town’s information is secure.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Malware, hackers and avoiding email scams were among topics of conversation for the second half of Wednesday’s Citizens Academy course at Longboat Key Town Hall.

The class is part of the annual seven-week session the town provides to residents old and new looking to learn more about the inner workings of the town government.

“You’ll have an opportunity to learn more about your local government, the services and projects that shape the present and future of our town,” the town’s website says.

Kim Toryanski has been a fulltime resident of the barrier island town for about two years. She heard about the program from friends who had previously attended the courses.

“I think it really is an excellent way to meet the government officials who serve us,” she said.

When making the decision to enroll for this year’s set of classes, there was not one particular topic that she recalls piquing her interest.

“The only one I heard about previously was the ones on emergency services,” she said. “Knowing what they do to help and keep us safe is reassuring.”

Toryanski was among nine other

Not everyone taking the classes was a government rookie, either.

“I have been involved in the town for a number of years, but only had knowledge of the bits and pieces,” said David Lapovsky, who serves on the Planning and Zoning Board. “I was looking for something to put it all together, and this does that.”

Like Toryanski, Lapovsky wasn’t seeking knowledge on a particular topic, but expressed interest in how the community as a whole operates.

Sessions began Jan. 11 and take place from 9-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. This year’s courses conclude on Feb. 22.

Town Manager Tom Harmer has been leading the courses and will do so until he exits his position Feb. 6. Then, new Town Manager Howard Tipton will finish out the remainder of the classes.

Remaining course topics include:  Jan. 25: Planning and building a premier community, maintaining neighborhood standards; Feb. 1: Support services, beaches 101; Feb. 8: Town facilities, infrastructure and equipment tour; Feb. 15: Police; Feb. 22: Fire rescue. Courses generally remain the same from year to year.

Even though enrollment is closed for this year’s sessions, interested residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for enrollment for the 2024 Citizens Academy later this year.

Courses

run through Feb. 22 at Longboat Key Town Hall for residents interested in learning about the inner workings of the town government.

Lauren Tronstad

Ten residents were present for Wednesday’s citizens academy course.

Unclear conclusions

Town learns little from survey of canal-fronting communities on issues of navigability.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Changes could be on the horizon for the town’s canal rules, but a limited survey response did not paint a clear picture of navigability issues, if there even are any.

Town staff conducted a survey of property owners and homeowners associations with direct access to navigable canals. After sending out the survey twice, 11 responses were received of the 89 that were sent out. Surveys were sent in November and December and responses were primarily received from representatives of HOAs.

“I wish we would have had a better response to more conclusively say ‘here’s what associations that front on canals feel,’” Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons said. “It’s difficult to draw broad conclusions from that number of survey responses.”

Overall, results were as follows:

n None of the respondents indicated that their canals are privately maintained for navigability.

n One association reported regulating the size of boats docked behind homes in the community.

n Most respondents indicated that they had not experienced issues with docked vessels impeding navigation.

n None indicated that potential future code provisions would conflict with any current private restrictions.

One respondent offered a concern about town code provisions allowing for larger vessels than their association currently permitted. Two of

those that responded indicated that the town should not regulate the extent to which docked vessels could extend into a canal.

Even as limited responses were received, if town commissioners decide to move forward with an ordinance pertaining to the size of boats docked along canals, residents and members of associations will have multiple opportunities to provide public comment on the issue.

The town does regulate the size of docks and the percentage of a canal’s total width such a structure can occupy.

Town commissioners will have the opportunity to dive into the results and discuss potential next steps as early as their February workshop meeting.

“The commission will either be giving direction to staff to proceed with drafting an ordinance that could address vessels in addition to the structures, or they could not give that direction and say ‘this is not something that we feel we need to deal with right now,’” Parsons said. “It could go one of those two ways, and if they direct staff to move forward with developing some regulations, then there will be public hearing opportunities for the public to address any specific language objections or support.”

Town rules say that permanent structures, such as docks, may not project into a canal more than 30 feet or 30% of the total width of the waterway. The town’s ordinance, created in early 2020, does not mention boats as obstacles, though. Though homeowners are encouraged to offset docks from those on a canal’s opposite side, there is no requirement to do so.

The desire for the survey came from a commission request after Kathy Callahan and her husband, Todd, came before the commission

twice last year, seeking help with a navigation issue in their canal.

Town staff was asked to investigate how a change to the rules might affect existing bylaws of HOAs on the barrier island. They also urged the couple to gather additional information from the neighborhood’s residents that the boat issue is affecting.

All five sections of Country Club Shores provided responses to the town’s survey.

When the couple’s initial complaints were received in June, the town sent a police department boat to assess the situation and found navigation was not impeded.

On the barrier island, the majority of neighborhoods on the bay side that have canals are governed by a homeowners association. Some have stronger rules for boats than others, including what size boat is allowed in its waterways.

Callahan, who serves as the president of the HOA for Country Club Shores I and II, told commissioners the neighborhood did not have the

— Allen Parsons

necessary bylaws in place to regulate boat sizes.

Town staff, including Town Manager Tom Harmer, recalled not hearing of any other similar issues on the island, which played a large role in the commission’s decision to not draft an ordinance at the time.

The survey followed two visits from a Country Club Shores couple, who expressed concern for navigation of their canal.

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“I wish we would have had a better response to more conclusively say ‘here’s what associations that front on canals feel.’ It’s difficult to draw broad conclusions from that number of survey responses.”

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On February 1, The Rabbi Michael B. Eisenstat Miniversity of Judaism begins a free four-week series: “An Exploration of Modern Reform Responsa Literature”, presented by Rabbi Peter Kasdan. The series, to be held February 1, 8, 15 and 22 at TBI at 2:00 pm, will explore how knowledge of Jewish traditions can help us to respond to controversial, difficult modern day social issues.

Scholar in Residence Program

On January 27, at 5:30 pm Shabbat services, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Skloot, an awardwinning scholar, begins a three-day program on confronting death, sex, and money in 21st Century Judaism. The service is followed by a Shabbat Dinner for $35 per person. The series continues at Saturday’s Shabbat service at 10:00 am, followed by a light lunch. It concludes Sunday morning at 10:30 am at the Men’s Club Breakfast for $15. This program is funded by a grant from the Charlotte P. Graver Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. For program details, visit www.longboatkeytemple.org/scholar

Beth Israel Men’s Club

On February 12 at 9:30 am, the Men’s Club brunch is followed by a presentation entitled “Everything You Want to Know About Amazon,” featuring Eric Heller. Topics include the best time to buy, how to get the lowest prices and how to evaluate reviews. The event will be held at TBI and the cost is only $15. All events are at Temple Beth Israel and registration is required by emailing office@longboatkeytemple.org or calling 942-383-3428. Visit us online! www.longboatkeytemple.org Temple Beth Israel

Bay Isles traffic stops begin Feb. 1

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Starting Feb. 1, Longboat Key police will be empowered to write traffic tickets behind the gates of the Bay Isles community.

“If you drive normally and safely the way you do anywhere else, then you’ve got nothing to worry about,” safety committee chair for the HOA Mark Hullinger said. “It’s only if you violate the stop signs, speed limit or the crosswalks that you are going to have a problem.”

The agreement between the largest residential development on the island and the town was approved by town commissioners Dec. 5.

In April 2022, the town was approached by Bay Isles in hopes of exploring the agreement.

Seeking the agreement came as advice from the HOA’s legal counsel as they discussed solutions to traffic issues, Hullinger said.

To do so, under Florida statute, a formal agreement approved by both the HOA board and the town must be executed.

On Nov. 14, the board approved the agreement before it was moved on to commissioners. The Longboat Key Club does not have such an agreement.

Some residents have said speeding on Harbourside Drive has been an issue for years where part of the road is four lanes and the other part is a winding two-lane stretch.

“Over the years folks have kind of taken the stop signs as a suggestion rather than mandatory,” Hull-

inger said. “They’ve kind of treated the speed limit as a suggestion, and we’ve even had issues with people driving through occupied crosswalks where pedestrians are present.”

In 2011, a safety committee was formed by the HOA to look at the issue.

In 2019, speed humps were installed by the group.

The agreement recognizes the town’s current service level, which includes periodic law enforcement patrols through the gated community.

Under the agreement, the town’s police officers are able to take enforcement action on the private roads while patrolling the area.

Initially, the term for the agreement is five years. At the end of that period, the agreement will automatically renew.

If necessary, the town or the neighborhood can decide to terminate the agreement without cause with a 90-day notice.

Additionally, the agreement includes the provision that the HOA is able to schedule specific traffic enforcement.

The association would then be responsible for compensating the town for the time and work of the barrier island’s police officers.

The agreement, approved by town commissioners in December, allows police to enforce traffic laws in the gated community.

File photo

Traffic slows for a speed hump in Bay Isles.

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What is ‘effective’ notice?

YOU BE THE COMMISSIONER: HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?

It always comes across as selfserving when newspaper executives argue to keep public notices in the newspapers.

In fact, Sarasota County Commissioner Nancy Detert pointed out the irony of things when, with a smile, she started her remarks by saying:

Watch the Sarasota County Commission public hearing on public notices here: YourObserver.com/publichearing

MATT WALSH

No one reads public notices.”

“They’re just a subsidy for newspapers.”

“Newspapers are a dying breed.”

“It’s all about the money.”

For 25 years, with the advent of the internet and with Republicans controlling more and more legislatures nationwide, Republican lawmakers have been trying to eliminate public notice advertising in newspapers.

Their goal is becoming increasingly within reach.

One step toward that came last week when the Sarasota County Commission adopted an ordinance giving the Sarasota County administration permission to publish its public notices on the county website instead of publishing them in a newspaper and the newspaper’s website.

And last month, the Manatee County Commission did the same — in about 14 minutes.

In both cases, commissioners touted the same motivation: to save “six figures” of taxpayers’ money.

This scene is playing out all across Florida. In virtually every county, the county commissions and staffs are moving quickly toward eliminating public notice advertising in newspapers and shifting to publishing them on their county websites.

For many people, especially those who don’t give a squat about what their governments are doing to them or for them, this business about public notices and newspapers is meaningless. It’s a headline on their phones they immediately swoosh off their phone screens.

But for those who do care what the county or city commissions are doing with your tax dollars and to your neighborhoods, perhaps you might want to give this subject some thought.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST MONEY

It’s not all about the money. There is more to it than that — more nuance about which lawmakers and commissioners appear to have little concern.

It’s about a safeguard that helps keep the government honest. It’s a safeguard that helps citizens monitor and watchdog their government. It’s about creating guardrails that force governments to be almost excessive in their openness and transparency.

For gosh sakes, look at Washington and the hullabaloos over the handling of classified documents. What more convincing does the citizenry need to be convinced that honest transparency is essential to the success of democracy?

Surely you agree: Public notice is essential to the successful functioning of a democracy.

The question is: What is the most effective way to achieve that? What are the most effective ways to achieve that?

From what we’ve heard, most lawmakers are of the same mind: It’s all about saving money.

Manatee Commissioner George Kruse, Dec. 15: Publishing public notices on MyManatee.org “is a better system overall. It’s also sav-

“All the stuff about public and not one person from the public showed up to defend you all. No one.”

Yeah, it always looks like newspaper people are the only ones who care about public notice.

But you could argue with Commissioner Detert that those newspaper people represent the public.

That is what the Fourth Estate does and is supposed to do. We were at the hearing on behalf of the public.

Nonetheless, if you have an interest in how government works and government transparency, you

ing us countless hours … It’s also saving us six figures of cost to the taxpayers.”

Sarasota County Commissioner Nancy Detert, Jan. 18: “It basically comes down to our budget. We’re going into a recession. We have to pull in our horns in every way that we can.”

Ah, there is great irony here with the Republicans chomping to get their notices out of newspapers. To borrow a phrase: They speak with forked tongues.

For 25 years, in election campaign after election campaign, we’ve heard conservative Republican candidates and officeholders blather on about their unwavering commitment to government transparency, open government, smaller government, less regulation, fiscal restraint and free enterprise.

And yet, here they are adopting legislation that shifts public notices from wide dissemination via local newspapers and the newspapers’ websites and the statewide aggregation site, FloridaPublicNotices. com to, arguably, obscure government-controlled websites.

Those newspaper websites, by the way, reach 51 million unique users a month. No one reads newspapers anymore? Print is declining for dailies (not weeklies), but newspapers’ website readership is growing. In fact, it’s typically 10 times greater than local government website readership.

And yet, here are the free-market Republicans crafting legislation to take public notice advertising out of the private sector and increase the size, scope, control and cost of government.

This issue isn’t just about the money.

It is also about this: Republican legislators and county and city commissioners all across Florida hate their communities’ daily newspaper. They cannot stand how the local dailies constantly criticize them. And they hate even more that county and city governments, until now, were forced by statute to pay to advertise public notices in the daily newspapers.

Decades ago, the daily newspaper industry successfully persuaded lawmakers (mostly Democrats) to create public notice laws that gave the dailies a monopoly on public notices — no competition.

And for Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne, the champion of newspaper haters, that sweet deal for dailies convinced him public notice advertising was indeed a subsidy for newspapers. It didn’t matter that newspapers were performing a ser-

Few things are more maddening and aggravating for Longboat Key residents and visitors than sitting in the car at mid-Key on Gulf of Mexico Drive, creeping inch by inch in traffic, wondering how long it’s going to take you to get off the Key.

Someone do something!

When you feel that rage and frustraton rising, remind yourself of that

may find it of value to watch last week’s public hearing. It is illustrative of the conversations occurring throughout the state on this subject.

There was no specific evidence comparing the public’s use of county government websites versus newspaper websites. Commissioners in Sarasota and Manatee intuitively made the conclusion that publishing public notices on their websites will be less expensive and more efficient.

Manatee Commissioner George Kruse asked citizens before the vote on the issue: “How many people have a copy of the newspaper in their hands? (None) … How

many people in this room right now literally have the internet in their pocket?

“You can get the internet anywhere,” he said. His point made.

Or, as Sarasota County Commission Chair Ron Cutsinger said: “I’m a fiscal conservative. It just seems to me if we can do it efficiently and if we can save dollars, I’m all for it.”

It didn’t and doesn’t matter what arguments are presented. Nothing will convince commissioners otherwise.

Even so, you be the judge. Imagine you were a county commissioner presented with this subject and imagine being in their shoes at the Sarasota County Commission hearing last week. How would you have voted?

Send your thoughts on the hearing and public notice advertising — MWalsh@YourObserver.com.

ARE THE SAVINGS FOR REAL?

One of the provisions of the legislation permitting local governments to publish their public notices on a county website is they must prove they can do so at less cost than newspapers. Asked for computations show-

ing that to be the case, Sarasota County officials have not produced figures showing how they calculate cost.

Taxpayers apparently must take them at their word.

HOW COSTLY ARE NEWSPAPER NOTICES?

For most people $300,000 is still a lot of money and tax dollars. Nonetheless, here is some perspective on how much it costs to publish public notices in newspapers and their websites: Manatee County Budget: $923,388,305

Public notice advertising: $300,000 (estimated) Percent of total: 0.03%

vice, just as other county vendors do. But for Fine, the notices merely have been providing taxpayer money to keep newspapers alive.

That’s what Commissioner Detert meant when she said last week “it’s all about the money” — revenue that newspapers are trying to protect.

For the hedge funds and big, New York-based companies that own newspaper chains that is likely so. But for those of us Pollyannas who believe the Fourth Estate is essential to democracy, it’s not about the money. We believe news media have an obligation to protect taxpayers from tyranny and that when independent, private enterprise publishes public notices, it helps ensure government transparency and honesty.

ONLINE AUDIENCES

When newspaper representatives made their case before the Sarasota County Commission last Wednesday, commissioners fixated on what they repeatedly called the “dying breed” of print newspapers. They totally ignored newspapers’ online audiences and the effectiveness of newspaper companies’ total reach — in print, on their websites and on FloridaPublicNotices.com.

Consider the contrast:

When a public notice advertisement appears in a print newspaper, the newspaper by law must upload the public notice to its website (free to the public) and to FloridaPublicNotices.com (also free). FloridaPublicNotices.com in turn houses every public notice published in

cliche: It could be worse.

You could be where you left — in Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, all among the worst traffic cities in North America.

As the Longboat Key Revitalization Committee recommended years ago, be smart. In season, just don’t plan to leave the Key from 3 to 6. Enjoy the beach.

Sarasota County Budget: $1,257,065,021

Public notice advertising: $300,000 Percent of total: 0.02% Worth noting: County governments recover thousands of dollars of that amount via fees they charge development applicants seeking zoning changes.

newspapers throughout the state. Altogether, the public has three opportunities to see the notice. Print reaches Florida’s elder demographics (21% of the population); and online notices are free for all.

In contrast, when a public notice is published on, say, MyManatee. org, or any government website for that matter, while that notice can be viewed for free, it will be seen only on that website. Clearly, less visible.

Less effective.

At this point, there is little likelihood of lawmakers turning back. When Manatee commissioners voted in favor of publishing notices on the county website, Chair Kevin van Ostenbridge sounded giddy about the savings for taxpayers — say, $100,000 to $200,000 a year (albeit not proven yet). It’s the money.

But Manatee and Sarasota commissioners also said they are willing to compromise or change if this new approach doesn’t work. Or to put it another way: If this new approach is not effective.

Of course, that makes sense. But in their haste and giddiness to pull out of newspapers and rush to expanding government, commissioners in Sarasota and Manatee missed an approach that makes sense: Put the job out to the private sector for bid. Give the private sector the opportunity to compete — to show whether it can deliver the most effective public notices at the best price and best service.

Isn’t that what real Republicans would do?

“If

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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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.”

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Florida’s Republican lawmakers hate the daily newspapers and for 25 years have sought to end laws requiring public notices in newspapers. Their answer: Let government control public notice. Ha!

Noise rules remain the same

Staff seeks new exemptions, but town commissioners set new rules aside until 2024.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Longboat Key town commissioners chose to leave rules on noise alone this week after learning there really weren’t many repeat offenders of existing regulations.

The town’s noise regulations were updated just over a year ago, Jan. 10, 2022, but town staff recently identified four new exemptions they were hoping to add to the list already present in the code.

Changes included clarification of definitions and the separation of performance stages on town-owned properties from recreational facility exemptions, giving them their own exemption.

Other exemptions would have included:

n Noise created by mechanical equipment, including heat pumps, air conditioners and swimming pool pumps that are operating in accordance within manufacturer specifications

n Noise made by generators used during or as a result of an emergency

n The splashing sound of water striking water that is generated from a fountain (but not machinery used to propel that water).

As it stands, the allowable decibel level in residential areas on the barrier island during the daytime is 60 decibels. During the nighttime,  55 decibels is allowable. Normal conversation is typically registered at 60, and in comparison a loud motorcycle is typically measured at 95 decibels.

After the staff presentation, Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan asked Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons that if everyday things such as fountains and air conditioners were exceeding the town’s decibel limits, would raising the limit be beneficial.

It was also brought to the commission’s attention that the fountain exemption and the inclusion of the definition of a public space were following one-off incidents where one person expressed confusion on the town’s definition of public space and a complaint of a neighboring fountain.

Such knowledge made commissioners reticent that moving forward with rule changes would open the door for the exemption list to be ever-growing.

Commissioners said they would leave rules as they stand but would look again at potential changes in 2024.

Keeping up with appearances

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Maintaining a paradise-esque character on Longboat Key could soon come with greater means of enforcement as town officials move through adoption of new property-maintenance rules.

Town commissioners are expected as early as Feb. 6 to vote for the first time on a package of changes that align town rules with widely accepted standards also adopted by neighboring communities.

The last time the town’s property maintenance codes were updated was in 2012.

The town has been relying on local codes to set minimum property standards including exterior property, pools, pests and mosquitos, rubbish, brush and garbage and lot maintenance.

The adoption of the new rules would address  areas that were never in previous versions of the town code and include:

n Lighting;  n Ventilation; n Occupancy limitations; n Plumbing facilities and fixtures; n Mechanical and electrical; n Fire safety Town staff also recommended additional provisions that “reflect our unique experience in the town,” a staff memo said.

Commissioners expressed concern with some of the phrasing of new suggestions, including rules regarding garbage cans. Under town staff’s recommendation, residents would be asked to not put their trash can out  earlier than 5 p.m. the day before pickup and to bring the can inside the day it was collected.

“This is something that I think is intended to be more of a goal to

be achieved,” Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons said. “We have got feedback over time that these trash containers, wherever they are, end up being attractive nuisances for raccoons.”

Following the talk of trash, commissioners expressed consensus to return the window for garbage to be set out and taken back into homes to 48 hours before and after pickup.

Some of the proposed new rules come with potential code enforcement citations, another sore spot for commissioners.

“Can we dial this back somehow?”

Commissioner Debra Williams said of a rule that would require screens on windows. “...Just have a general disclaimer that some of these things really are the discretion of the property owner.”

Parsons assured commissioners that minor infractions, such as the screens, would not be a focus.

“I would be in favor of not including something in an ordinance that we don’t intend to enforce regularly,” Commissioner Sherry Dominick said.

Amendments would not affect the code enforcement process including notice, hearing and appeals process.

Bradenton, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach are among neighboring jurisdictions that have already adopted the updated code.

“Staff is of the opinion that these higher standards will allow for better enforcement of both our current requirements and a reasonable aesthetic set of expectations for structures for properties,” the memo said.

the joy of INSPIRED COASTAL LIVING

Key Life is a new magazine publishing February, May and November from the Observer Media Group.

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Longboat leaders consider updated rules on a variety of property maintenance fronts.

Eric Garwood

One noise exemption town staffers had hoped to add was the sound of water cascading into water, such as the sound of a fountain in operation.

Eric Garwood

A colorful display of landscaping in Country Club Shores.

Saturday, February 4th

FEATURING YESTERDAYZE

YESTERDAYZE plays music that charted in the top 40 between 1960-1969. From Motown to the British Invasion, from country & pop to psychedelia to good old-fashioned rock & roll, Yesterdayze does it all!

5:30 pm - 7 pm (Gates open at 4:30 pm) 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Music by Mike Sales

Town Center Green 600 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

Come out and “Savor the Sounds,” and enjoy an elegant, yet casual, outdoor picnic setting. BYOPB! Bring a picnic basket and blanket. (Lawn chairs, tables and coolers are welcome.) Pre-order boxed dinners from Publix by calling (941)383-1326 ext. 228 or 229

FRIDAY, JAN. 13

ALL BOXED IN 2:44 p.m., 2400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: While traveling south on Gulf of Mexico Drive, an officer noticed multiple vehicles swerving around a cardboard box sitting in the middle of the lane. The officer pulled over and removed the box. Another driver pulled over and offered to take the box off the officer’s hands.

NO FLIGHT RISK 7:13 p.m., 4200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal complaint: An officer was dispatched to the area after word of a possible injured bird. Shortly after, Sarasota Animal Services rescued the bird and took it to the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14 WEEKEND HOMEWORK 9:31 a.m., 500 block of Reclinata Drive

Citizen assist: A resident made a call to the department to complain about his neighbor across the street cutting tile. The officer explained that cutting tile on a Saturday was not against the law. The resident thanked the officer.

NO TOUCHING 9:46 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Fire assist: Police and fire personnel went to a home to check into a report of a downed power line. The wire wasn’t impeding traffic but was draped across a residential driveway. The homeowner was told to stay clear of the wire until a utility team could arrive and make repairs.

NOT MY PROPERTY 1:53 p.m., 6500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: A resident called police to alert them of water bubbling up from the ground adjacent to a home. The resident said the water and backflow valves at the home were closed, but because water still bubbled up, he surmised the problem was on the town’s side of the water-service pipe. The town’s Public Works Department was called.

SUNDAY, JAN. 15

NOT THE TOWN’S PROPERTY 5 p.m., 600 block of Old Compass Road Citizen assist: A steady stream of water coming from a home’s backflow valve prompted a call to police, which, in turn, prompted a call to the town’s Public Works Department. The staffer said the leak was on the residential side of the town’s water meter and would have to be addressed by a private plumber.

MONDAY, JAN. 16

NOWHERE FAST 9:54 a.m., Sister Keys Boating call: The town’s marine

TUESDAY, JAN. 17

SOAPY SITUATION 10:41 p.m., 500 block of Sanctuary Drive

Fire assist: Police were requested to accompany fire-rescue personnel on a call of a person stuck in a shower. Firerescue personnel handled the call.

patrol officer encountered a vessel aground outside of the Intracoastal Waterway’s marked channel. Connecting with the boat’s captain via radio, the officer learned no emergency assistance was needed.

NOT GRATE 12:46 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: Police took several steps in rectifying a report of a storm drain uncovered by the requisite iron grate. An officer was able to move the grate back into place, but it remained loose. An orange cone was placed at the site for safety purposes until it could be examined.

P FOR PARKED, NOT PROBLEM 8:35 a.m., 4500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: A caller to police complained about a parked vehicle and its trailer. An officer sent to investigate found the combination parked properly in a gravel piece of private property, not subject to town parking rules.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19

CHECKING WITH POLICE 8 a.m., police headquarters Information report: Police provided a Sarasota resident with an information report about a fraudulent use of a check on the resident’s account. The Sarasota resident said his personal bank had requested a police report be made regarding the incident. Longboat police said they had no jurisdiction in the case.

Church looks for help in feeding the hungry

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church is lining up volunteers to help package a special mix of food for those in need around Southwest Florida.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church held a tasting event on Sunday. But it wasn’t the typical wine and cheese gathering you’d normally find on St. Armands Circle; congregation members were tasting a vitaminfortified, rice, soy and vegetable mix.

Not only did it have flavor, but the church will be feeding thousands of hungry people with the pre-packaged mix.

Members raised $6,800 to hold a packaging event for Kids Against Hunger. They’re looking for 100 volunteers to pack and seal 3,500 bags, which works out to feed either

21,000 adults or 42,000 children.

The event is being held at the church, 40 N. Adams Drive, from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 11.

“Anyone can show up. Even teenagers and children can do this. They can participate because a lot of schools do this as well,” said Ann Walborn, chair of the community service ministry. “It’s open to all ages. We have a job for everybody.”

When the project came about, the rice packs were going to be sent to Ukraine, but the church is leaning toward keeping them local now.

Organizations in Fort Myers are being discussed since Hurricane Ian left so many people homeless, and two Sarasota/Manatee organizations are also being considered: Feeding Empty Little Tummies and Second Chance Last Opportunity.

“People didn’t realize the hunger needs in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” Walborn said. “I think it’s been an educational process that people are beginning to see that there are incredible needs here.”

Now that the fundraising is over, contributing only requires a couple hours of scooping and funneling.

Supplies, gloves, bags and funnels are provided.

Kids Against Hunger’s mission is to eradicate world hunger.

“We’re keeping people alive. If you want to talk about kids and hunger, there are approximately 16,500 that die every day from hunger. That’s about one every six seconds,” Executive Director Todd Clevenger said. “I’ll count to six, and another child died. So if we’re doing 42,000 meals, we’re feeding three days’ worth of children. If you think about it that way, it’s phenomenal.”

A demonstration setup for the packaging event which will be held on Feb. 11 from noon2:30 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.

Ann Walborn and Karyn Smith prepare samples.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

“It’s

Democrat Club hears from Planned Parenthood CEO

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

“The Right to Choose” was the topic of discussion at the Longboat Key Democratic Club luncheon, held Jan. 12 at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

More than 100 members and guests listened to former CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida Barbara Zdravecky express her views on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Zdravecky served as CEO for 24 years. She was hired in 1995 and charged with opening the first abortion clinic in Florida.

She credits her nursing background as the reason the board chose her to take on the project.

“This is a really monumental board decision that took a lot of courage and marching through a lot of hurdles in order to make sure that it happened,” she said.

Hurdles included fundraising, fortifying the building and hiring new staff because most of the staff resigned after learning of the new service.

The board also took measures to protect the confidentiality of their plan.

A pro-life supporter found a memo that reflected the clinic’s plan to start offering abortion services. The discovery led members from the National Right to Life organization and Operation Rescue to Sarasota to hold an anti-abortion rally.

“To the credit of our community, our supporters, our law enforce -

ment, the police chief, the mayor, the city commission, our volunteers and staff, they joined arms and formed a protective barrier around our health center in order for the first patient to receive her abortion in a Planned Parenthood facility in the state of Florida,” Zdravecky said.

Fast-forwarding to the current issue, Zdravecky went over the 14 states where abortion is illegal, the seven states that are headed in that direction and discussed legislative restrictions that eliminate access.

To close her speech, Zdravecky told the audience, “I have a 21-monthold granddaughter Charlotte Rose, and Charlotte should not have less rights than I’ve had growing up as an adult in the state of Florida.”

keep our community safe. Not only is it good to give back, but we also believe it is our responsibility as business owners to show appreciation to our community. We are proud to partner with Gorman Company to host this annual event and look forward to showing our gratitude year after year. In addition, thank you to Sutter Quality Foods for saving the day with a donation of eggs.”

From 7am - 9am, Aqua Plumbing & Air staff, along with support from Gorman Company, served 500 Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employees breakfast at the SCSO headquarters, located in Sarasota, Florida.

“We are beyond grateful to Skip, Chuck, and their team, who come out every year to show us their appreciation for our profession. Now more than ever, we feel fortunate to be supported by the community we serve,” said Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.

The annual event, started by Aqua Plumbing & Air co-owners Skip Stanton and Chuck Jacobson, began in 2017.

To learn more, visit www.aquaplumbingsarasota.com

Barbara Zdravecky served as leader of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida for 24 years.

Barbara Zdravecky addresses the Longboat Key Democratic Club on Thursday.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Don

Baby, it’s cold outside

aby, it’s Cold Outside” was the theme, and the weather of late agrees.

Members of the Longboat Island Chapel met for happy hour last week. The charitable outreach committee turned Shook Fellowship Hall into a winter wonderland before inviting guests to don and donate their warmest sweaters and coats.

The winter clothing drive benefited Turning Points, a nonprofit organization that serves the homeless in Manatee County.

“If you are homeless or at risk to be homeless, and you’re out there on the streets, there’s not much between you and the pavement,” Director of Volunteers Cheryl Hedger said. “It’s darn cold, and we have no idea how hard that must be on them.”

From Oct. 4 to Nov. 23, TP collected 1,500 coats for the One Warm Coat drive. They’re all gone now. Hedger says the clients they see need more than one coat per season because they don’t have a home or car to keep one in.

This was the second donation of clothing the chapel made to Turning Points this winter. They also donate unsold items from their consignment shop, The Lord’s Warehouse, throughout the year.

Turning Points works with other organizations that provide direct services to the homeless like Our Daily Bread and Stillpoint House of Prayer to distribute the coats. They also handed out 600 at the One Warm Coat giveaway event last month.

“That’s a lot of people and a lot of coats that were distributed, and we’re out,” Hedger said. “This was perfect timing because we’re going to need them. We’re going to have another six weeks where we’ll probably see cold weather.“

— LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Debra Ann Kinztzley, Jean Troyer, Muriel Klosterman and Janie Peterson

Jean Troyer made these plates using Sharpies. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes for the marker to become permanent.

Sue Reese, Cindy Kuehnel and Anne Summers

Peggy Lammers, Ginger Stefan, Barbara Koetsier and Donna Dolan

Sweaters, jackets and warmer coats were donated.

Organizers decorated the room with plenty of reminders of how chilly Florida winters can be.

Fiction (sort of)

After 27 years in the CIA, Ralph Hughes couldn’t author his own stories, so he wrote two spy novels instead.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Ralph Hughes’ life versus his writing could be a case of the truth being stranger than fiction.

And it’s going to have to stay that way, because, well, the truth is top secret.

The Harbourside resident wrote two spy novels, and Central Intelligence Agency reviewers read both before they could go to print.

“I spent 27 years in the CIA as a Chief of Station in charge of all the Arab countries for a while, so I know a lot about CIA operations,” Hughes said. “Since I couldn’t tell my own stories because they’re classified, I decided to write fiction.”

Hughes began his adult life with a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska. But after a year, he’d suffered shoulder and knee injuries. When told they’d take a few years to heal, he quit football and took the exams for the military’s Officer Candidate School.

“My company commander came to me and said, ‘Some civilians want to talk to you.’ To make a long story short, the next thing I knew, I was in the CIA on my way to Iran,” Hughes said. “I spent my entire military career as a civilian. As far as the Army was concerned, I was stationed in Arlington (Virginia), but I was really in Tehran (Iran).”

The long story is that Hughes spent three years in the military and then went back to Nebraska, not to play football, but to earn his degree as a certified public accountant and go on to law school. The goal was to become a tax attorney, but as CPA offers started rolling in, he was looking back at the CIA instead of forward to law school.

The first time around, things went so quickly, Hughes was taking a polygraph test with no idea why. The second time, he knew he was apply-

ing to the CIA, but had to wait on a six-month background check.

The CIA was interested in Hughes because his military testing revealed an innate language ability. Only an English speaker at the time, he went on to be fluent in Arabic, Turkish and French. Hughes studied Arabic at the Foreign Service Institute. Normally a two-year program, he finished in a little over a year.

While in Tehran, Hughes picked up Farsi with no formal training. He doesn’t claim to be fluent in Farsi, but he was able to learn the basics through conversation. He can also speak conversational Russian.

By the time Hughes moved into his home in the Longboat Key Club in 2005, he’d been retired from the CIA for 15 years. He started a company called Global Enterprises, which began as a political and security consulting firm.

As with language, it had long been pointed out to Hughes that he had a talent for writing, but he never took an interest in honing the skill — not until a bad back took him off the golf course. With not much else to do, he wrote his first book “Doubled” in 2018. It was published in Octo-

ber 2022, and he wrote a second that hasn’t been published yet.  “Doubled” took time. He’d write for a month and go blank for the next eight. But with the latest installment, Hughes was disciplined. He wrote four to five hours each day and had a final draft within three months.

The novels follow John Thorne, and like Hughes, he’s the commander of a foreign CIA station. Thorne is the thread, but Hughes says each book can stand on its own. He’s already got ideas for a third installment.

“A lot of people don’t realize that one of the main things that friendly countries have is a liaison between the CIA and the local intelligence service, which is the chief. One of his main jobs is to get intelligence from them and to give them intelligence,” Hughes said. “It is in our interest, many times, to keep local governments informed as to what’s going on in the area, not in their country,

but in neighboring countries and in the world.”

Using the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a present-day example, he said the CIA is probably supplying the Ukrainians with intelligence daily. When Hughes was in charge of all Arab countries, Iran and Iraq were at war.

He said it was a presidential decision to support Iraq and Saddam Hussein, not with weapons, but with intelligence so Iraq wouldn’t be overrun.

“I think that most spy novels are devoid of reality,” Hughes said, “And what I wanted to do was paint a picture of how a CIA station works and what the mindset is of a chief of station.”

With real life experience informing his imagination, readers can be assured that all plot lines are plausible. “Doubled” is available online at Amazon, Target and Barnes & Noble.

Ralph Hughes in front of his home on Longboat Key. He’s lived in the house since 2005.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Ralph Hughes in his home office on Longboat Key.

“What I wanted to do was paint a picture of how a CIA station works and what the mindset is of a chief of station.”

— Ralph Hughes

SALE

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gulf Shore of Longboat Key, 3710 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The annual sale is held in the clubhouse.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

A BIPARTISAN DISCUSSION

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. The question up for discussion: “Is America at risk from the left or the right?” $15 for members; $20 for others. Call 388-8222.

THE KING’S BRASS 6 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive. The King’s brass is back by popular demand to play “the best in sacred brass music.” Advanced tickets cost $25, or they’re $30 at the door. Call 388-1234.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

HAPPY HOUR TRIVIA

From 3-5 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Play trivia and win prizes. There will be a 50/50 raffle, snacks, music and lots of laughs. B.Y.O.B. and cash for raffle: $1 a ticket or $10 for 12 tickets. Call 383-6493 for information.

FROM STAGE TO SILVER SCREEN

From 3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Joy Leitner and John Whittlesey are performing songs from the “Golden Age of Musicals.” $20 for members; $25 for others. Call 388-8222.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

ENJOYING YOUR APPLE WATCH

From 1-3 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel,

567 Bay Isles Road. Help build on your Apple watch knowledge and iPhone skills. $30 for members; $35 for others. Call 388-8222.

TUESDAY, JAN. 31

MEET THE DOCTORS

From 1-2 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. A rare opportunity for prospective patients to meet The Paradise Center Medical Suite’s health care providers over the course of four days, starting today. Call 383-6493.

REAGAN’S 1968 DRESS REHEARSAL

From 3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Reagan historian and author Gene Kopelson will present a lecture based on his latest book about Reagan’s first quest for the presidency in the late 1960s. $15 for members; $20 for others. Call 388-8222.

RECURRING EVENTS

THROUGH FRIDAY

MONDAY

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, 555 Bay Isles Road. On Wednesdays, most books are on sale for $1 or less. Call 3832011.

MONDAYS

GENTLE CHAIR YOGA

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Improve flexibility, strength and overall physical functioning while stabilized in a chair.

Eight sessions through Feb. 27. $95 for members; $110 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

STRETCH AND 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 $15. 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 $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS BODY SCULPT

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Strength training and body sculpting with weights, resistance bands and towels. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for others. Call 361-6411 ext. 2212.

TUESDAYS

QI GONG FOR HEALTH AND VITALITY

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Improve balance and flexibility, plus loosen joints and relax. Eight sessions from Jan. 10 to Feb. 28. $95 for members; $110 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

YOGA

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debbie Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $15; free for members. 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 Angels Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. To learn more, call Nancy Rozance at 203-6054066 or email Info@LongboatKeyRotary.org.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY BREATH BALANCE AND BLISS YOGA

From 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for others. Call 3616411 ext. 2212.

WEDNESDAYS

YOGA POTPOURRI

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Eight sessions from Jan. 4 to Feb. 22. $70 for members; $80 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

BEGINNER TAI CHI

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

LITERARY GEMS

From 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. A book discussion of “The Sea,” “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” “The Vanishing Half” and “Fortnight in September.” Four sessions. $75 for members; $85 for others. Call 383-8222.

AMERICA AROUND THE WORLD IN 2023

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. A political lecture and discussion led by Dr. Gary Massel. Two sessions. $40 for members; $45 for others. Call 383-8222.

THE MOSES SCROLL

From 1-2:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Dr. Ken Hanson’s lecture focuses on the story of the scroll’s discovery. Two sessions. $40 for members; $45 for others. Call 383-8222.

TAKE CHARGE OF

ANY AGE

From 1-2:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. This program examines techniques to make positive changes in your life and increase joy. Four sessions. $75 for members; $85 for others. Call 383-8222.

THURSDAYS

SLOW FLOW YOGA

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Simple yoga routines incorporating a range of several hatha yoga styles for all fitness levels. Eight sessions through Feb. 23. $95 for members; $110 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

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 all-level mat Pilates at 10:30 a.m. Come for 30 minutes or the full hour. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

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.

FRIDAYS

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; $15 for nonmembers. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

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; $15 for others. Call 383-6493.

LIDO BEACH!

1800 Benjamin Franklin Dr. B206 3 BR | 3 BA | 2090 SF $3,200,000 | MLS# A4553940

Open house showcases medical specialties

Four-day open house begins on Jan. 31 with a variety of specialties.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Usually, meeting a doctor is like going on a blind date or Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re going to get.

But The Paradise Center is turning the tables. Residents have a chance to ask doctors about their backgrounds before having to fill out 10 pages about their own on that first visit.

The Paradise Center is hosting a four-day open house from 1-2 p.m each day from Jan. 31 through Feb. 3.

“We want the community to have an opportunity to come see our Medical Suite,” CEO Suzy Brenner said. “In the last six months, the acupuncturist is new. Our primary care doctor is new, and the chiropractor is just starting now in January.”

Doc Side Audiology is also new to Longboat Key but operates full-time out of the Tidewell building.

The Medical Suite is managed by TPC, and the doctors rotate. Healthcare and wellness providers in both the Medical Suite and the Tidewell building are participating in the open house.

“We fit everybody into the schedule so that people could come out and see the space and get more familiar

MEET THE DOCTORS

FROM 1-2 P.M.

n Jan. 31Dr. Dorian Kramer, acupuncture, and Alex Zappavigna, Fitness Quest Physical Therapy

n Feb. 1Dr. Joseph Borreggine, podiatrist and Dr. Kelly Breese, Doc Side Audiology

n Feb. 2Dr. Daren Spinelle primary care and Nicci Kobritz, Youthful Aging Home Care

n Feb. 3Dr. Rhett Bogacz chiropractor and Brandy Mixon, Essence of Soleil Massage

with all the professionals that are in the building.”

No need to register, walk-ins are welcome.

Beyond talk of education and billing, there will be refreshments and sample giveaways.

Cedars Tennis Resort & Club welcomed back their members on Jan. 13 with a doubles exhibition and a buffet of southern barbecue.

Spectators sipped on champagne during the exhibition, which was followed by the sixth induction into the Cedars Wall of Fame and cocktails by the Tiki bar before dinner.

Bernadette Hayes was given the honor of the sixth inductee for her dedication as chair on the tennis committee and captaining the TriCities 4.0 team.

— LESLEY DWYER

Kevin Feeney and Suzie White in the spectator section of Cedars.

exhibition.

Courtesy photos

Jeff Otterbein and Bernadette Hayes

DELGADO STAFF WRITER

he “greatest show on earth” took a spin with Newton’s Laws of Motion at the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Education Outreach at Sailor Circus.

About 2,000 Sarasota and Manatee county students saw the whimsical but still educational shows at Sailor Circus on Bahia Vista Street.

The Circus Arts Conservatory showcased a curriculum it has developed that demonstrates the physics, engineering, art and collaborative problem-solving required to produce a contraption-filled circus performance that’s equal parts thrilling and fact-based.

“Today’s program is a presentation of the educational curriculum that fifth graders study with Newton’s Law,” said CAC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Mitchell. “We partnered with USF and local educators to develop this curriculum that brings to life these difficult scientific concepts.”

The circus science machine is a presentation that demonstrates

physics, gravity, force and motion that includes in-class curriculum based on Newton’s Laws of Motion.

“This is the culmination of the curriculum they are doing in the classroom,” said education outreach program manager Karen Bell. “What we are doing is showing the same scientific concepts that apply in a small way. We hit the learners in all the different learning styles: reading, vocal, visual, kinesthetic learners, audio learners which make this a deeper curriculum so they learn at a deeper level. ”

Created by the conservatory, the circus machine is divided into  sections throughout the stage which consists of balls rolling down ramps, dominoes being knocked over and mouse traps being set off.

After each demonstration, a circus act followed. Elementary and middle school students cheered at the top of their lungs after each performance and laughed with Bucky, the clown.

“I’m excited to be here and see how the circus works,” said Manatee Elementary fifth grader Jarques Randall.

“Local Sarasota high school circus magnet students are the performers. They are also bringing circus arts to these fifth graders,” said Mitchell. “They are infusing science, math, engineering and the performing arts. These kids wouldn’t get out to a show, so this kind of opportunity exposes them to performing arts and teaches these really difficult scientific concepts.”

DARIELA

Sarasota and Manatee students learn while laughing at the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Education Outreach show.

Photos by Dariela Delgado

The Circus Arts Conservatory’s Education Outreach invited more than 2,000 Sarasota County and Manatee County students to Sailor Circus.

Manatee Elementary teacher Jessica Nunemaker and Sabrina Hamilton with Manatee Elementary students Jarques Randell, Shawn Ogletree, Landon Whaley and Maria Estrada Perez.

Karen Bell and Kepler Henry demonstrate Newton’s Law of Motion.

Lido home sells for more than $5.7 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome on Lido Beach tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Quit in Time LLC sold the home at 15 N. Polk Drive to Walk the Plank Lido LLC for $5,725,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four-and-ahalf baths and 5,117 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.7 million in 2017.

BEACHPLACE

Rebecca Goldthwaite, trustee, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 1135 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Greg Kumm, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $1.5 million. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,503 square feet of living area. It sold for $76,000 in 2002.

LIDO HARBOUR TOWERS

Stampede Holdings Ltd. sold the Unit 201 condominium at 1770 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Mohamed Raychouni and Sally Khalifa, of Dearborn, Heights, Michigan, for $1.05 million. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,413 square feet of living area. It sold for $429,300 in 2009.

WINDWARD BAY Joel and Antonia Schemmel, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 202 condominium at 4500 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Windward Bay Investments LLC for $770,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,312 square feet of living area. It sold for $585,000 in 2021.

BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB

Joel Marc Rosenthal and Catherine Reynolds Rosenthal, of Pittsburgh, sold their Unit 714 condominium at 714 Bayport Way to Victor Mizrahi and Laurie Rosenthal Mizrahi, of Pittsburgh, for $312,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,456 square feet of living area. It sold for $469,000 in 2008.

Courtesy photo

An elevator and custom staircase both lead to a rooftop deck on the fourth level complete with a jacuzzi.

January 26, 2023

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS

601 Longboat Club Rd #603S

2 bed, 2 bath, 1 car garage | 1,458 Sq Ft

Enjoy sunrises and sunsets! Bright great room, dining area facing private beach and community pool. Washer/dryer in kitchen area offers convenience and comfort with side door access to the entry hallway and semiprivate elevator.

www.LBKtowers603S.com Offered for $2,000,000

PARK RESIDENCES PENTHOUSE

159 Taft Dr #E305

3 bed, 3 bath | 2,500 Sq Ft

PLUS a 2,250 sq ft Private Rooftop Terrace with wrap-around views. Directly across from the Gulf of Mexico and features a resort-style heated swimming pool and spa, two under-building parking spaces with an additional storage room, and is overlooking the 110acre waterfront south Lido Park Reserve.

www.159taftdriveE305.com Offered for $3,500,000 – Furnished

FORECAST

FRIDAY, JAN. 27

High: 62 Low: 50

Chance of rain: 3%

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

High: 71 Low: 58

Chance of rain: 2%

SUNDAY, JAN. 29 High: 76 Low: 64

Chance of rain: 24%

TIDES

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 26 7:18a 6:06p

Friday, Jan. 27 7:17a 6:06p

Saturday, Jan. 28 7:17a 6:07p

Sunday, Jan. 29 7:16a 6:08p

Monday, Jan. 30 7:16a 6:04p

Tuesday, Jan. 31 7:16a 6:10p

Wednesday, Feb. 1 7:15a 6:10p

MOON PHASES

Thursday, Jan. 26 2:52a 3:45p 10:04a 10:41a

Friday, Jan. 27 4:07a 4:14p 10:29a

Saturday, Jan. 28 5:51a 4:49p 12:05a 10:50a

Sunday, Jan. 29 8:28a 5:31p 1:30a 10:55a

Monday, Jan. 30 6:21p 2:47a

Tuesday, Jan. 31 7:20p 3:51a

Wednesday, Feb. 1 8:21p 4:44a

Jenelle

Gorgeous

making this beautiful getaway your own.

Offering an open-concept 2BR + den layout, encompassing nearly 2,500 SF of living space and two generous terraces on which to while the day away. Privileged residents of this community love the wonderful amenities, including a stylish clubhouse, social rooms, fitness center, tennis, heated swimming pool and spa overlooking the beach.

www.ThePierre603.com

Gulf-to-bay views are the star of the show as soon as you enter this sixthfloor residence at the Pierre. Perfectly placed behind the exclusive and secure gates of Longboat Key Club, you will appreciate