Longboat Observer 3.16.23

In the wake of red tide

PINK PAR-TEE

Where’s the (corned) beef?

As St. Patrick’s Day nears, the cravings for corned beef get stronger. No need to cross the bridge on March 17. These three Longboat Key restaurants have your hankerings covered.

Harry’s Continental Kitchen is serving a New York-style super deluxe corned beef with cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Call ahead to pick up from the deli or eat in the restaurant.

Haye Loft is changing it up with a corned beef and cabbage sandwich topped with a horseradish cream sauce and a cabbage and carrot slaw on the side.

And the Lazy Lobster is going all out with a menu of corned beef, fisherman’s pie, Irish Cashel blue cheese salad and Irish bread pudding topped with Tyler’s Guinness ice cream.

Tennis Center to receive new fence

The rest of the courts at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center will be getting spruced up soon with new fencing. Fences on courts 7-10 have already been replaced as they were in the worst condition.

The remaining courts came in over budget, so town commissioners transferred an additional $80,000 from the unappropriated fund balance within the Sarasota County Infrastructure Surtax Fund to cover the expected cost of the replacements.

“Other than the newly installed sections on courts 7-10 completed last summer, the fencing at the tennis center is in poor condition and should be replaced,” staff said in a memo.

Stay tuned for a plan on when fencing will be installed.

Lesley Dwyer

Mary Golia and Debbie Lynch at Golf for the

The women’s golf leagues joined forces on March 7 to raise money for Breast Health Sarasota Inc.

Lauren Tronstad

Lauren Tronstad

File photo

Mark DeAngelis, Mike McAdaragh and Janice DeAngelis

Red tide strains local kayak companies

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

ALido Key tour guide nicknamed Sea Biscuit recently went viral on TikTok, garnering more than 3 million views on a video he took while kayaking at Ted Sperling Park on Lido Key.

The video was taken March 6 after a large amount of fish kill due to red tide swept into Sarasota Bay. Hundreds of fish, from shiners to large sheepshead, can be seen floating lifeless on top of the water.

On Tuesday, three out of the seven kayak concessionaires in the park were closed, and the others were issuing warnings with an option to cancel. Guests were told about the conditions and asked if they had asthma, emphysema or any other respiratory issues before checking in.

The timing couldn’t be worse for owners and employees.

“We’re looking at maybe 20, maybe a couple dozen people, as opposed to a hundred,” tour guide Steffan Simmons said.

But that was on Tuesday, and winds and tides change quickly. By Thursday, the fish kill had subsided and all seven kayak businesses were up and running again.

“We send scouts out in the morning, and if it’s bad, then we cancel that day. So far, we’ve only canceled two days, which were both this week,” owner of Almost Heaven Kayak Adventures Will Bither said. “It’s definitely day-to-day and not ideal for what’s supposed to be our busiest time of the year.”

Most of the concessionaires refused to comment on the effect red tide has on business or the TikTok post. The sentiment from at least one owner, who asked not to be named, was that the video is scaring people away and hurting business during a crucial time of high tourism season.

The owner also added that kayaking is a safe activity for people without respiratory issues, the best way to learn about red tide is getting out on the water and no one is sending their guides out in harmful conditions.

The Florida Wildlife Commission said it doesn’t have a recommendation regarding kayaking, but replied via email in regards to swimming.

“In the last eight days, we have seen background-high levels of red tide in Sarasota Bay. Some people experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when red tide is present,” wrote spokesperson Carly Jones. “You should not swim in or around red tide because the toxin can cause skin irritation, rashes, burning and sore eyes.”

VIRAL SEA BISCUIT

When you hear Darrell Poole’s accent, it’s apparent the Sarasota Paddleboard Co. employee is not from around here. Originally from Alexandria, Louisiana, Poole moved to Florida three years ago and started working as a tour guide at Ted Sperling six months later.

He was given a nickname on his first day after telling a bad dad joke, “What does a ladyfish give a dogfish?

A sea biscuit.”

While Poole didn’t grow up in the area, he’s a country boy who’s used to being outdoors. His TikTok video was shot in a moment of anger and intended to be a call for change after a local Realtor posted similar footage with the comment, “This is the way of life.”

“If you want to think this is the way of life, then you have a very grim outlook on life,” he said while navigating through dead fish in his kayak.

“The way of life should be everything living and enjoying life.”

Red tide is a naturally occurring algae that can be documented back to the 1700s, but Poole wants to use his

15 minutes to point out how human activity exacerbates the blooms.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium backs up this claim on its website: “In short, we know humancontributed nutrients can affect a coastal red tide, and we must expand our data and monitoring efforts to confirm whether and how they did in each specific case.”

When red tide resurfaced toward the end of last year, Poole became a member of Captains for Clean Water.

The nonprofit was started in 2016 by a couple of guys like himself, fishing guides fed up with water pollution and ready to take action.

Now that Poole has a voice, he plans to use it. TikTok influencers have reached out about future collaborations, and he’s creating a

T-shirt using the hashtag, #FightTheTide. The logo is a manatee wearing a hazmat suit, and all proceeds will go to local water keeper organizations.

According to the FWC, three manatees were found dead in Sarasota Bay during February and March. One suffered a watercraft injury, and the other two may be added to the red tide suspect list, but it will take weeks to determine if it was a possible cause of death. Regardless, red tide is killing wildlife.

“My job as an eco guide is to be a voice for the wildlife, teach about the ecology and what we can do to help it out, what we can do to be better and hold other people accountable who constantly pollute our water,” Poole said.

Tour guide Darrell Poole’s video shot from Ted Sperling Park reached 3.2 million views on TikTok.

Darrell Poole holds up a dead fish in front of the kayak launch at Ted Sperling Park.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer Fish of all sizes washed into shore this past week.

FISHYSITUATION

about fish kills and the smell from fish kills.”

Town Manager Howard Tipton said the number of dead fish on the beaches and in the canals had not met the threshold for a cleanup using town resources.

LAUREN TRONSTAD

STAFF WRITER

As anyone on Longboat Key knows, red tide is still here with uncertainty on when it will pack its bags for a while.

Karenia brevis is the naturally occurring organism that can lead to harmful algal blooms that cause red tide.

Because it is a naturally occurring, mostly ever-present organism, there is not much local officials can do to solve the problem or lessen its effects. At their March 6 regular meeting, town commissioners discussed what responsibilities they have when it comes to monitoring red tide, cleaning up dead fish and getting out information to concerned residents and visitors.

“It’s affecting everybody I know that stays outside right now,” Commissioner Mike Haycock said. “I have gotten a number of complaints

REPORTING

To report a dead, sick or injured manatee or sea turtle, call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

To report fish kills, diseased fish or fish with other abnormalities call 800-636-0511.

The town reminds anyone who may be thinking about making a call not to do so to request dead fish cleanup as local municipalities are the ones held responsible for scheduling and conducting the cleanups.

However, on March 8, town staff sent an email notifying people of Manatee County’s plan to clean up the beaches for the entire 10-mile stretch of the island. The county raked the beach to help the town remove some of the dead sea life. If the amount of dead sea life on the beaches and in-town waters had been higher, town staff would have been sent out to assist with the cleanup.

“We coordinate with them weekly on whether they are coming out or not,” Public Works Director Isaac Brownman said.

Public Works has been receiv ing numerous calls from visitors and residents with concern for the respiratory irritation that is common when spending time outside near the water during red tide.

“We are keeping an eye on the fish,” he said. “We are fielding a lot of calls and reminding people that even if we clean up that fish today, that irritation will be just as bad as it is right now because it has nothing to do with the fish.”

Tipton told commissioners that Hurricane Ian likely had a large effect on the current presence of red tide.

“The concern is it may continue and potentially get worse,” he said.

Commissioner Debra Williams asked Brownman to consider finding ways to get information out to residents and visitors alike about the status of red tide and any future plans the town has for addressing dead fish on the beach.

“People want to know two things,” she said. “They want to know the cleanup cycle, and they want to know how they get the latest information about red tide and what is actually out there.”

Since the discussion, town staff has posted on Twitter about the cleanup efforts and where to look for updates and additional information.

“The opportunity to get our residents and our visitors knowing that (social media) is the place they can go for any information about Longboat Key I think is critical,” Commissioner BJ Bishop said.

THE TALK OF THE TOWN

The town also addressed red tide in its most recent installment of its video series, “Talk of the Town.” Tipton sat down with Brownman to discuss red tide and the town’s approach to cleanup and monitoring.

“It hasn’t been as bad as it has been in years past,” Tipton said in the video. “But if you’re new to the town, it can be a little bit of an adjustment.”

“Red tide is something our area has dealt with for generations,” Brownman said. “... It rolls in from time to time, and we can’t really predict when it will come in. It can vary from very intense to very minor.”

It is customary for the town to wait several tide cycles to see if the wind and waves naturally remove dead fish and sea life from the shores before coordinating a cleanup.

“Deployment (of town staff) and cleanup of the red tide material by the town is very labor intensive and very challenging,” he said. “There are not a lot of good ways to do it, so we’re very judicious about when we deploy for red tide.”

Brownman explained that residents have an opportunity to help the town cleanup the beaches too. Residents that live along the Gulf of Mexico coast or other beachgoers are permitted to bury the dead fish and other sea life behind their properties in the sand.

It is recommended that holes be dug at least 2 feet deep to ensure waves do not bring the fish back up to the surface.

THE SCIENCE Tropical storms and hurricanes can make red tide blooms worse and lon-

WHEN TO EXPECT A CLEANUP

ger lasting.

The combination of heavy rainfall and high winds can cause lawn clippings, fertilizer and overflowing wastewater to end up in bodies of water in the area, causing an increase in the nutrient load and eventually the presence of harmful algal blooms.

“What seems to have happened is this red tide seems to be a continuation of a red tide that really flared up after (Hurricane) Ian came through,”

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Director Dave Tomasko said. “It just never went away.”

There are few ways to predict when a bout of red tide will arrive or when it will leave, but the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provides regular updates to its website. The University of South Florida College of Marine Science has a set of maps that predict the presence of red tide, but only a couple of days out.

Although Karenia brevis is a naturally occurring organism in the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, Tomasko said residents can take steps to ensure they are not making the problem worse.

Actions to avoid include not overfertilizing your lawn, cleaning up after pets outside, not blowing lawn clippings in the water or storm drains and properly trimming mangroves.

According to the town’s beach cleanup policy, dead sea life accumulations must meet moderate to heavy assessment levels and remain stationary after three or four tidal cycles for the town to send staff to begin cleanup efforts.

Favorable tidal conditions and weather patterns must be present, as well, for staff and equipment to be safely sent out.

The town does not clean up seagrass, which can act as additional carriers of the organism.

The website offers examples of heavy, moderate and minor fish kills with photographs.

Generally, town staff members only clear publicly maintained canals, but has historically cleaned up the following areas on the bay side:

n Country Club Shores canals

n Buttonwood Harbour area

n Longboat Estates canals

n St. Jude’s Drive, Tarawitt Drive and Jungle Queen Way canals

n Sleepy Lagoon canals

n Bay Harbor condominiums

The town cleans up fish kills from red tide only after giving Mother Nature a chance.

Photos by Lauren Tronstad

Dead fish are often removed from beaches naturally within a couple of tide cycles.

DR.

WELCOMES

WELCOMES

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Access, lawsuit agreements approved

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Town Commission passed a tolling and temporary access agreement with Long Bar Pointe representatives.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Long Bar Pointe property owners

now have a new expiration date on when they can make claims against the town of Longboat Key for damages incurred due to the June 2020 break of a sewer line.

Corrosion in the town’s subaqueous force main leaked about 14 million gallons of effluent into Sarasota Bay.

Following the break, representatives of Long Bar Pointe reached out to the town to notify them of unspecified damages sustained from both the leak and emergency repair efforts. Representatives told the town of their intent to pursue a claim.

Since then, Town Attorney Maggie Mooney’s memo to commissioners stated they have had numerous meetings with Long Bar Pointe representatives regarding mangrove restoration work required by Florida Department of Environmental Protection and repair plans for the entire pipeline.

To date, no actual claims have been made against the town.

When the town approached property representatives about the need for a temporary access agreement to complete work on the mainland portion of the sewer line replacement, managing general partner of Long Bar Pointe, Carlos Beruff, approved the access agreement on the condition that the town extend its statute of limitations period for the property owners to bring forth claims. The discussion led town counsel and Long Bar Pointe’s legal counsel to draft a tolling agreement.

Under Florida law, damages have to be brought forward within a fouryear period after the damages occur. The tolling agreement extends the litigation filing deadline and allows parties to negotiate and possibly resolve their dispute without taking legal action.

The agreement, which was approved unanimously by commissioners at their March 6 regular meeting, suspends the statute of limitations for 10 months and expires Jan. 30, 2024.

According to the memo, the agreement ensures that town staff can continue to work with Long Bar Pointe representatives cooperatively, rather than forcing a lawsuit due to an impending statute of limitations deadline.

In short, Long Bar Pointe would not be allowed to file a lawsuit against the town until after the expiration of the tolling agreement. During this agreed upon 10-month period, negotiations can be had and often parties can reach a settlement without the need to appear in court.

ACCESS AGREEMENT

The mainland portion of Longboat Key’s sewer line replacement can now be completed following the approval of an access agreement for the final piece up to Long Bar Pointe property. The access road extends from El Conquistador Parkway west to Sarasota Bay. The agreement was passed in conjunction with the tolling agreement. The mainland portion covers 1.2 miles of the town’s 4-mile pipeline. Unlike the portion under the bay, which will be fully replaced, the mainland portion was sliplined. The new pipe, which measures 18 inches in diameter, has been placed inside of the existing 20-inch pipe.

The new access agreement lasts until Feb. 24, 2026 unless terminated with notice by the town or Long Bar Pointe property representatives.

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Event organizers will be required to apply for a special event permit, which will include a transportation management component.

Town Center presents parking conundrum

NO PETS NEAR THE STAGE

After discussion of the presence of pets at the Feb. 6 meeting, the ordinance brought before commissioners at the March 6 meeting had included their desire to allow pets only at the Town Center Green when leashed and outside the center oval.

“Any of the users of the park property for events will be made aware of this, and it will be among their responsibilities to address that,” Parsons said.

Hours for the park are set the same as Bayfront Park and Quick Point Nature Preserve, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

meeting, Commissioner BJ Bishop posed the question of how a stage is already being built on the site when a site development plan was only now coming before commissioners.

“The construction of the stage is proceeding based on the open space use there in the park, which is allowed (in the new use),” Planning, Zoning and Building Director Parsons said. “The size was such that it was administratively approvable.”

Essentially, the stage construction was allowed even before the allowable uses were changed for the property at Monday’s meeting. The changes do not affect the stage construction as it still falls under structures that are allowed in the mixed use community zoning district.

“What you’re approving today is simply a site development plan that shows the stage, the walking paths and then future pads for future development,” Planning, Zoning and Building Senior Planner Maika Arnold said. “However, those pads have not been identified for any specific uses, and you’re not approving any construction of what the pads will be in the future.”

Parking issues were top of mind for commissioners at the ordinance’s first reading and remained there during its second reading.

The final site development plan includes 81 parking spaces, some of which are already developed. That

does not include spaces that would follow the construction of a library or community center on the property, for the development would have to come back to the Planning and Zoning Board and commissioners for approval.

The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the site development plan for the new town facility at its Jan. 17 meeting, with the recommendation that commissioners look into ways to increase on-site parking.

A study by consultant Kimley Horn and Associates estimated that 105 spaces are needed for a small event at the Town Center Green; 480 spaces would be needed for a medium event, and 1,000 spaces would be needed for a large event that has up to 2,500 people on the great lawn, such as the Fourth of July Freedom Fest.

Bishop spoke about her personal experience with parking at a recent Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce-hosted event, Art in the Park. She said that other parking had to be utilized by those that did not want to pay for VIP parking because the majority of spots right by the town center were reserved for paying customers.

“The only parking we actually possess, the parking on our property, was limited to VIP parking, and it wasn’t full,” she said. “Perhaps we need to have some conversations with the chamber about how they are restricting parking.”

As part of the development order, a condition is in place that event organizers have to apply for a special event permit, giving the town the opportunity to review how it plans to manage parking and traffic, Arnold said.

The transportation management plan will be required to be included with the special event permit, but specific requirements will depend on the type and size of the event. Some of the items that may be considered by the town include:

n Event parking pricing

n Off-site parking

n Encouraging other modes of transportation

n Valet locations

n Rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations

n Disabled passenger drop-off and pick-up areas.

Lauren Tronstad

The stage at the Town Center Green is under construction.

Commissioners forwarded the proposed Town Center site development plan with 81 parking spaces to second reading.

Town adopts new property maintenance rules

Town commissioners passed new standard regulations that address trash, lighting and additional town-specific items at their March 6 meeting.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Longboat Key residents and business owners will now be held to a higher standard for upkeep of their homes and properties.

The standards come after the Town Commission unanimously passed changes to the property maintenance code and adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code at its March 6 regular meeting.

Prior to the meeting, the last time the town’s property maintenance codes were updated was in 2012.

The town has been relying on chapter 104 of its code to set minimum property standards, including exterior property, pests and mosquitoes, rubbish, brush and garbage and lot maintenance.

The adoption of the IPMC would address new 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 are meant to cover subjects “unique to the town,” the staff memo said. Such provisions include construction equipment and machinery, structures over water and yard irrigation systems.

“The idea of adopting the most current version of this standard is using the experience that has been gained over these years and the hundreds, if not thousands, of communities that have also adopted this,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said. “We are benefiting from a whole bunch of experiences. It’s essentially a best practice.”

When town commissioners were first introduced to the potential changes in their January workshop,

they raised concerns about some of the phrasing used, particularly in the section covering 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 trash pickup and to bring the can back inside the day it was collected.

However, commissioners requested that the window for garbage to be set out and taken back into homes be returned to 48 hours before and after pickup.

Even though the ordinance passed, commissioners still had additional concerns to bring to staff attention.

Mayor Ken Schneier asked Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons to consider having

a summary of the rules available to residents in hopes of making the lengthy contents more digestible.

“I think that would go a long way,”

Schneier said. Neither the town-recommended amendments nor the adoption of the IPMC will affect the town’s code

Mayor Ken Schneier asked Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons to consider having a summary of the rules available to residents in hopes of making the lengthy contents more digestible.

enforcement process, including the notice, hearing and appeals processes.

The International Code Council updates the IPMC every three years.

“This will provide staff a more routine review and allow for regular updates in the future, if the Town Commission deems appropriate,” the memo said. “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 and for properties.”

Adoption and amendments to the code help maintain and improve the quality and appearance of properties on the barrier island.

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

Lawns and homes are tidy in Country Club Shores.

Photos by Lauren Tronstad

Newly adopted property maintenance codes require all garbage cans and dumpsters to have their lids and gates closed when applicable.

LONGBOAT

Our presidential contenders

Three Floridians want to be president. Timing and circumstances appear to be working against one. Another is up to his usual insults. The third has the courage, but does he have the will to bear it all?

over Charlie Crist to be reelected governor. And in 2018, he beat longtime U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, someone believed by many political watchers to be unbeatable. Scott’s margin of victory was only 10,000 votes. But he did it.

Of course, he is running. The clincher was the book, “The Courage to Be Free.”

That’s what they all do now. To avoid election laws and the leftist national media filtering their message, candidates write autobiographies and go on book tours to tout themselves and determine whether they should run for the presidency.

Representatives in 2012 as a rookie unknown seeking to represent St. Augustine, Palm Coast and Daytona Beach. “I simply had to earn it. My years of playing baseball, my time working odd jobs and my experience in the military all helped instill in me the discipline necessary to do the daily hard work necessary for my campaign to succeed.”

“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

We all know, surely, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is running for president.

My, how quickly things change; how timing is everything. And how uncontrollable factors throw off the best-laid plans.

That’s the story for three Floridians who want to be president.

Before the November midterm elections, before DeSantis roared to a 1.5 million vote margin over hapless Charlie Crist, the talk in Florida’s Republican circles was that there were three Floridians desiring to be president; three Floridians thinking about running; and three Floridians who have what it takes:

■ Donald Trump

■ Ron DeSantis

■ Rick Scott

But as unexpected and unpredictable events often do, events that occurred in 2022 changed the presidential picture for the three Floridians. We’ve all known Trump is in. But timing and uncontrollable factors have helped DeSantis and hurt Scott.

Republican observers figured Scott took the step of running for the Senate as a precursor to a quest for the presidency. Indeed, after his success as governor and his career as CEO of the largest health care company in America, it would be difficult to imagine Scott satisfied as one of 50 senators debating policy and not being in charge.

Two years into his Senate term, and one week after the 2020 general election, Scott’s U.S. Senate colleagues acknowledged his leadership and elected him chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee — the fundraising arm of the Senate. This was another calculated move. That gave Scott access to Republican donors all over the U.S. and a valuable network for a presidential run.

But the 2022 midterm elections turned out to be the one election you could say Scott did not win. To Republican voters’ surprise, Republicans did not take back the Senate.

Was that Scott’s fault? Unlike his own elections, Scott was not in control of the financial strategy of all Senate races. What’s more, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell undermined Scott’s efforts in certain races, punishment, to an extent, for Scott stepping outside the Establishment.

Not one to stick with the status quo if it is not working (e.g. the Republicans’ strategy in Congress), Scott, before the election, produced a highly publicized 12-point plan to rescue America. McConnell hated it. And then, Scott went one step further. After the midterms, he challenged McConnell for the Senate minority leadership.

Scott lost big — the first election for which he was a candidate. But voters didn’t reject him; he lost to the GOP Washington Establishment. National media and Florida media coverage undeservedly cast Scott on the outs.

Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy — they all have published recent autobiographies with their prescriptions for U.S. DeSantis’ book is no different. Perhaps telling, Scott has not published a book.

Like Scott coming out of nowhere to become Florida’s governor in 2010, DeSantis and his wife, Casey, came out of nowhere in 2012, knocking on thousands of doors from Ponte Vedra to Daytona Beach to win his first attempt at public office.

In that first adventure, DeSantis learned what has propelled him ever since. “The one theme I heard repeatedly was the concern that candidates often say the right things and even have the best of intentions, but once the D.C. swamp gets its hooks into them, they change for the worse … My task was to demonstrate to voters that I was not just giving lip service to their values, but would walk the walk once elected.”

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ROOTS: SALT OF THE EARTH

We have read only the first third of DeSantis’ book so far. That alone is worth reading.

DeSantis explains his roots, which in turn gives you a clear and important understanding of how and why he is who he is and how he got where he is.

Although he is a native Floridian, DeSantis’ grandparents and parents were from the manufacturing towns of Aliquippa, Pa., and Youngstown and Poland, Ohio — “gritty, working-class, God-fearing.” The people of these towns, he wrote, “represented the salt of the earth.”

“What I came to understand was that they had an incredible amount of common sense and accumulated wisdom …” he wrote.

Born in Jacksonville, DeSantis and his family moved to Dunedin when he was 4. He spent his youth through high school there, with his world revolving school and baseball. It was the latter that attracted the attention of the Yale University baseball coach.

“I figured that getting a degree from a school like Yale would help open doors down the line,” he wrote. But the only problem was the cost. Yale didn’t offer athletic scholarships, and the annual cost was more than what his parents earned combined.

And as governor, he also has learned: “The people will support a leader who displays courage under fire and resolutely stands firm for the truth because it is so rare among elected officials,” DeSantis writes. “When a governor demonstrates to the people he is willing to fight for them under difficult circumstances, the people will have that leader’s back and then some.”

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THE TRUMP INSULTS

Timing is not everything. But it almost is.

When Scott became governor, Florida’s economy was in a tailspin. Unemployment was 11%.

TOO BAD FOR SCOTT

Knowing what Floridians know about the way he turned Florida around economically from 2010 to 2018, he would make a solid, competent president and leader.

When Scott served as governor, he brought a business and financial discipline to the office that is so sorely, desperately and badly needed in the White House and throughout the Washington Swamp.

While governor, Scott was unlike almost all politicians at the time because he told Floridians what he was going to do as governor, and he did it. He stuck to a simple agenda that he repeated over and over: create jobs; cut taxes; cut regulations; pay down Florida’s debt; cut waste; and make Florida the number one business climate in America.

Scott came as close as anyone ever has in showing that government can be operated like a business, and he was the rare politician who fulfilled his campaign promises.

Those who know Scott well will tell you they have met few people as mentally and physically driven as Scott and that he doesn’t do anything without thoroughly analyzing and assessing the consequences of choices before making a choice.

Indeed, that calculating has been the reason Scott has had a perfect 6-0 record in elections for public office. In each case, he analyzed down to the last detail what it would take for him to win, and he executed the plan.

He came out of nowhere in 2010 to knock off the favorite, Bill McCullom, as the Republican candidate for governor. He eked out a victory for governor over Alex Sink in the 2010 general — a time when the media tried to paint him as a crook during his tenure as chairman and CEO of Columbia-HCA.

In 2014, he eked another victory

Things often change unexpectedly in politics, but Scott is now repeatedly saying when asked if he is running for president: “I am running for re-election.” Asked who he wants to be the Republican nominee, Scott told a radio interviewer recently: “It must be someone who is competent.”

Hmm. That would describe Scott.

When Scott won his Senate seat in 2018, you could envision his calculating that Trump would win a second term and be unable to run in 2024. That would clear an opening for Scott to make his move.

But after Biden beat Trump in 2020, and the GOP failed to win the Senate in 2022, timing and circumstances threw the Scott scenario off course. Trump is running again, and Scott’s gubernatorial successor has eclipsed every politician in the country with his bold leadership.

Even so, as Scott supporters will tell you: Never count him out.

THE COURAGE TO BE FREE

But while Scott’s star lost sparkle, DeSantis’ star was on the rise.

He pulled off a stunning reelection landslide that shook the entire country. And that came after DeSantis was constantly featured in every national media outlet for, as he said, “standing up to the woke mobs” at every turn. He vociferously fought against the BLMers, letting them know riots would not be tolerated in Florida. He challenged Fauci & Co. over COVID. He took on Disney … the ESGers … the DEIers … and he took on Joe Biden when DeSantis sent a planeload of illegal aliens to Martha’s Vineyard.

The DeSantis momentum has been growing. Turn on the radio or cable TV every day, and DeSantis is being interviewed by every conservative talk-show host in America about what he has done as governor and his potential run for president.

To pay his way, DeSantis worked summers as an electrician’s assistant at $6 an hour. While attending Yale, he held jobs recycling trash, parking cars at events, moving furniture, coaching baseball clinics and as a ball boy for the Yale soccer team.

“If someone needed a job done around campus, they knew to call me,” he writes. “I was living paycheck to paycheck. I ended each school year with only about $100 in my checking account. I didn’t go on spring vacations to the Bahamas, spend summers in the South of France or ski in Aspen over Christmas. I worked year-round …”

DeSantis graduated cum laude from Yale. From there, he was accepted into Harvard Law School. Which begs the question: How do you earn degrees from two of the most liberal, woke Ivy League universities in the country and come out a conservative? How could DeSantis possibly get through those schools without being waterboarded into a progressive, leftist elite?

“Experiencing unbridled leftism on campus pushed me to the right,” DeSantis writes. “I am one of the very few people who went through both Yale and Harvard Law School and came out more conservative than when I went in.”

Credit the common-sense genes inherited from his parents and grandparents. Indeed, once you take in DeSantis’ story — his upbringing to college to his service in the Navy to winning his first try for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, you can see DeSantis has that “salt of the earth” common sense; the work ethic of a steel mill foundry worker of the 1960s; and astute political instincts.

“Nobody handed me anything,” DeSantis writes in the chapter “Underdog,” describing how he was first elected to the U.S. House of

Scott brought the right leadership skills at the right time. He championed fiscal discipline; he brought business-CEO acumen that was needed to right what was then a bloated state government; and he championed a business and regulatory climate that created a framework that attracted businesses, allowed them to flourish and made Florida one of the best states in which to do business.

And while all those skills are needed in Washington more than ever, Scott finds himself somewhat lost in the crowd of Washington senators. He is one of 50 and not in charge.

DeSantis, meanwhile, has the advantage of being the executive in charge of running a state. What’s more, the times have changed. Fiscal restraint hasn’t been at the top of DeSantis’ agenda. He instead has focused on the issues that have dominated the public square: the nation’s culture wars, pushing back unabashedly and courageously against the vast progressive left.

The pendulum always swings. DeSantis and his “I don’t care what people think” style of governing and leadership appear to be suited to the time. National Public Radio describes DeSantis as “Trump without the baggage” and “Trump with a brain.”

But now, at age 44, DeSantis is on the verge of making the biggest leap of all from his modest roots in Dunedin. Can he knock Donald Trump off the top of the GOP ticket? We’ve said before we would rather DeSantis not run; Floridians want him to continue making Florida great. But it appears inevitable that he is succumbing to the forces that overtake so many ambitious politicians. He has, as his book title says, the courage to be free.

Does he have the mental and physical wherewithal to stay on the high road, deflect Donald Trump’s incessant insults and win the hearts and minds of Trump supporters and Republicans and independents at large?

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MATT WALSH

Attacks on SMH unfounded, reprehensible

Out-of-town agitators are using deceitful, defamatory and violent verbal abuse to seed distrust in Sarasota Memorial. Our community should not tolerate such ugly bullying.

Sarasota Memorial has been a trusted cornerstone of this community for nearly a century, through decades of growth and generations of change.

Just as SMH provided lifesaving care to our parents and grandparents through the polio epidemic of the 1940s, our dedicated doctors, nurses and staff worked around the clock, in the face of significant personal risk to keep our community safe through the COVID-19 pandemic.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these health care heroes.

Unfortunately, rather than receiving messages of support, our doctors, nurses and other staff at SMH are currently being subjected to a daily onslaught of violent verbal abuse.

As reported in the local press this past week, law enforcement is involved. Many of these messages are full of profanity and antisemitic slurs, and some even include graphic death threats.

It is important for Suncoast

residents to be aware that these hate-filled messages are being spread as part of a coordinated political campaign in our community led by national activists who have never been patients at Sarasota Memorial and who do not live anywhere near Sarasota or even in Florida. The small but vocal group behind this campaign is using misinformation about COVID-19 care at Sarasota Memorial to seed distrust in our award-winning public health system as they strive to strengthen their political standing in Florida.

In addition to personal attacks on our clinicians, they are deploying a range of deceitful tactics, including spreading defamatory social media posts and leaving

false reviews of the hospital and its physicians to further their own ideological goals.

These attacks are not only reprehensible, but they also are utterly unfounded, as demonstrated by the detailed information and data about Sarasota Memorial’s COVID care that is publicly available at SMH.com.

Over the past three years, SMH cared for more than 70% of hospitalized COVID patients in Sarasota County. Despite all efforts, COVID was the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. from 2020 to mid-2022.

Sarasota Memorial leaders and staff appreciate the heartfelt stories and concerns shared at recent Hospital Board meetings and understand the grief of those

who lost loved ones during this time. Our health system has an important role to play in helping the community heal and reach closure, which is why the SMH board has placed a significant emphasis on transparency and open, clear-eyed reflection.

This was exemplified by the Hospital Board’s request for a comprehensive three-year review of SMH’s COVID care, the findings of which were released in a public report this past month.

The report and independent data showed that Sarasota Memorial’s performance throughout the pandemic was strong. COVID patients hospitalized at SMH experienced fewer complications and shorter hospital stays, and, most importantly, its COVID

mortality rate was nearly 25% lower (better) than state and national hospital benchmarks.

The data speak for themselves and show that the continuing accusations of poor care and patient outcomes at SMH are simply not based in fact.

Rest assured that the 9,000 staff who power Sarasota Memorial will continue doing what they do best — providing nationally acclaimed health care for people living on the Suncoast.

SMH’s clinicians are extraordinarily resilient and will not be deterred by agitators working against the best interests of the health system and community it serves. However, it is unacceptable that their bravery and compassion are being repaid in this way and that their demanding jobs are being made even more challenging. Our doctors and nurses need our support.

Our community should not tolerate the bully tactics of this unprecedented political attack to destroy our public hospital and privatize health care in our community.

This will not always be comfortable, but we cannot allow ourselves to be cowed by a vocal minority who would see our nearly 100-year-old communityowned hospital privatized; its clinicians vilified; and decisionmaking transferred from a locally elected board to shareholders of a private corporation.

We all have different visions of what the best health care looks like, and our community may not always see eye-to-eye on the detail, but we can all agree that the interests and needs of local residents should remain at the heart of our community-owned health system.

Tramm Hudson is chair of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board. He is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Sarasota banker and longtime community leader.

TRAMM HUDSON CHAIR, SARASOTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD

File photo

Staff, doctors and nurses are receiving threats from politically motivated individuals outside the Sarasota community.

MY VIEW

Protecting our natural resources is a moral responsibility

lived and spaced sometime a decade apart) to fisheries’ populations and my business, as well. That led to the formation of Sarasota Bay Watch to get more people involved in the health of the bay.

That experience proved to me that the general population wasn’t apathetic. Quite the opposite, they were eager to help and just needed to be offered a way to get involved.

I have been fortunate to live on the Suncoast in the Longbeach Village on Longboat Key for over four decades. In those 40-plus years, I have enjoyed the coastal bounty as an angler and been rewarded financially as a building contractor. Over time, I have experienced a decline in the environment that has compelled me to work to protect it. That experience began in the late 1980s in fisheries conservation, progressed to saving land (the Sister Keys) and now centers on protecting water quality and coastal habitats (Suncoast Waterkeeper) including seagrasses and mangroves.

In the beginning, my efforts were an attempt to preserve the fabulous fishery I had been introduced to and wanted to protect. That was followed by concern at the site of shorelines being transformed into living spaces (Tidy Island and Jewfish Key) and a newspaper article offering the Sister Keys for sale.

The red tide events that I experienced over that period were often very large and devastating (although initially relatively short-

SBW worked to repopulate the bay with scallops (following the lead and help of Tampa Bay Watch) eventually settling on clams, worked to remove fishing line from bird rookeries, did underwater cleanups, youth education and much more.

I was committed to SBW and still am, but over time, it became apparent that you couldn’t effect meaningful long-term change if water quality and habitat were not addressed. Sarasota Bay Watch had added over a million water filtering clams to the bay and organizations like the Coastal Conservation Association, successor to the FCA, were raising and releasing millions of trout and redfish to replenish depleted stocks.

While I applaud and support these efforts, I think it’s important for people who enjoy the Suncoast’s environment and benefit from it financially to appreciate an important fact. In my experience, we can’t plant enough shellfish and restock enough fish to protect the resource for future generations if we don’t address the underlying problem of water quality and habitat protection.

What’s up at The Paradise Center?

MONDAYS: 10-11 Stretch & Strengthen, 1-3 Thinking Out Loud Discussion Group

TUESDAYS: 10-11 Qi Gong, 11:15-12:15 Yoga, 1 -3 Mah Jongg *

WEDNESDAYS: 10-11 Beginner Tai Chi

THURSDAYS: 10-11 Zumba & Pilates , 1-3 Open Mah Jongg

FRIDAYS: 10-11 Intermediate Tai Chi, 11:15-12:15 Qi Gong & Meditation

Walk-ins welcome for fitness classes & discussion group!

*For Tuesday Mah Jongg, RSVP Required: MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org

Pickleball Basics

11:30am

Empath Tidewell

to the

RUSTY CHINNIS CHAIRMAN OF SUNCOAST WATERKEEPER

We can have all the rules protecting nature we want. Until we enforce them, red tide and other nature degradation will continue.

A Longboat Key Landmark

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

VACATION BOUND

11:49 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: An officer met two couples who had just arrived on Longboat Key and were having trouble finding their vacation home. The officer provided directions and sent them on their way.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 MAKING THE TREK BACK

2:02 a.m., 6400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: While on patrol, an officer noticed two men walking northbound along the shoulder of the road. The individuals told the officer they were returning to one of their residences after a walk on the beach.

MONDAY, MARCH 6 SICKLY TRASH PANDA

10:08 a.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal complaint: An officer was sent to the address after a call about a possible rabid raccoon. The caller showed the officer the raccoon’s location. Animal services was called and sent to the location.

AWAITING PICKUP

12:43 p.m., 500 block of Jungle

Queen Way Citizen assist: Officers were sent to the address after a call about an abandoned vehicle near some bushes. Upon arrival, the vehicle was found parked off into the brush next to the street near a no parking sign. A license plate check revealed the vehicle belonged to a homeowner on that same street. When the officer was returning to his patrol car, the vehicle’s owner returned and told officers a tow truck was en route to pick it up.

LIGHT THE WAY

9:11 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Sarasota

Traffic warning: An officer observed a vehicle traveling north on Gulf of Mexico Drive with no headlights or tail lights on. The driver was pulled over and made aware of her violation, which she corrected on the spot. The driver was given a verbal warning.

MONDAY, MARCH 6

CAN’T WORK, YET

7:17 a.m., 6800 block of Longboat Drive

Noise complaints from land: An officer was dispatched after a noise complaint of a house under construction. The caller told the officer a hammer was being used before 8 a.m., which violates the town’s noise ordinance. The officer spoke with the employee’s supervisor, who said they were not aware of the ordinance, apologized for the noise complaint and said the worker would wait until after 8 a.m. to start working.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

ICE, ICE, MISSING PURSE

9:12 a.m., Longboat Key Police Department

Found property: A cyclist came to the department after finding a purse while biking that morning. The purse was found at the Mobil gas station. Department staff were able to retrieve a phone number from a receipt found in the purse. The woman was called to pick up the purse and told staff she likely left the purse near her car while loading bags of ice inside.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

NO FISHING

9:24 a.m., 300 block of Longboat Club Road

Juvenile problem: Officers were sent to Longboat Key Club after a call about juveniles fishing illegally on the property. An officer spoke with the two juveniles who were found fishing on the golf course. They said they were visiting the island and were unaware they were not allowed to fish on the property. They were warned that if they were to come back they would be in trouble for trespassing.

At Sarasota Memorial, you’ll find the award-winning comprehensive cardiovascular care that you need to stay active and living the life you want to live. Whether it’s a sudden heart attack or a chronic condition, our expert team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiovascular surgeons stand ready, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver both rapid diagnosis and equally swift intervention. And a multidisciplinary approach to collaborative care ensures every patient receives the personalized treatment they need to get them back on their feet and back with the people they love.

smh.com/heart

Because home , not the hospital , is where the heart should be .

Ribbon cuttings celebrate official opening of Longboat businesses

Hearing Aids of Sarasota and LaVilla Mexican Grill officially celebrated their openings last week.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Apassion for music and personal experience with tinnitus (ringing of the ears) led to Kelly Breese pursuing a career in audiology and eventually opening Hearing Aids of Sarasota, which now has three locations.

Breese celebrated her Longboat Key medical suite’s grand opening with a ribbon cutting March 10.

Doc Side Audiology, at 540 Bay Isles Road Suite 207, acts as a satellite office for Breese, who primarily works out of her office in Sarasota. Her other location is in Sun City Center.

Breese has been a professional and competitive percussionist since she was 9 years old.

“Before I really got into the field, I got tinnitus not knowing what it was,” she said. “Through music and (learning) sign language, I had some projects in school that led me to this field. It all kind of fell into place, and music translates well with language.”

She is fluent in sign language, and the deaf community played another large part in her decision to pursue audiology.

Her office on Longboat Key has been open since October 2022.

“Hearing care is health care,” Breese said. Caring for your hearing can also help with memory and balance, she said.

So far, she says she has had success in her new office with clients who would normally have to go off island for appointments.

She graduated with her Doctor of Audiology from University of Arizona. She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida.

Patients interested in setting up an appointment with Breese can do so on her website or by phone.

LA VILLA MEXICAN GRILL

Kelly Breese cuts a ribbon celebrating the opening of her business, Hearing Aids of Sarasota, alongside Michael Garey, Yesenia Retamozo, Mayor Ken Schneier and Kellie Spring. Lauren

La Villa Mexican Grill, which has been open on the island since August 2022, commemorated its presence on the island with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 8. The restaurant features authentic regional Mexican cuisine. It is located at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 5.

Every Wednesday, the restaurant hosts a mariachi band for patrons.

Tronstad

Courtesy photo

the places we have gone!

Enter

2023 It’s Read Everywhere contest winner will receive a seven-night balcony cabin Celebrity Cruise from any Florida port. *

O- Man is ready to join you and your favorite Observer newspaper on your next adventure. For more than 25 years, the Observer has encouraged our readers to take us with you on vacation, snap a photo and enter the It’s Read Everywhere contest.

Our adventurous readers have photographed themselves with the Longboat, Sarasota/Siesta Key and East County Observers at their favorite locations.

Traveling to all seven continents, the Observer has flown high in the sky in hot air balloons, gone on camel rides and safaris, deep sea scuba diving and even hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Where will you take us this year?

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Pictured above are a few of our It’s Read Everywhere photo favorites.

THE OBSERVER HAS TRAVELED WITH:

Frankie and Sam Creco to the Amalfi Coast, Italy. Joyce Giaconia-Coughlin to Prague, Czech Republic. Mike and Inah Sporer and Rick and Debbie Brown to Acropolis, Greece. Karin Otterstrom and Randy Van Vlaenderen to Mt. Olympus, Washington. Joseph and Gloria Kaminsky to Mt. Rainer, Washington. Jennifer Mott-Mueller to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Michelle Crabtree to Bryce Canyon, Utah. Anne McCunney to Lisbon, Portugal. Amy Muth and Sylvie Obidowski to Seward, Alaska. Karen Renda, Jean Lolli, Lynn Reuss and Kim Raymond to Bomarzo, Italy. Arietha Blackman to Bora Bora, French Polynesia. Diane Bartoszek to Salt Lake City, Utah. Bob and Kay Blair to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Steve Postie to Queensland, Australia. Alie, Kent and Kyle Williams to Machu Picchu, Peru.

INTRODUCING THE 2023 IT’S READ EVERYWHERE SPONSORS:

Peter and Robin Miller to the Canadian Rockies, British Columbia, Canada. Hepsey Mitchell to the Port d’ Andratx, Mallorca, Spain. Monica and Rick Rice to Zion National Par Joyce Miller a Brooks to B

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Jordana Tallinn, Terri Klau Michelle to Bry An Lisbon, Amy M Obid wa sk Kare enda, Jean Lyn Reu ss a

OFrankie and Sam Creco to the Amalfi Coast, Italy. Joyce Giaconia-Coughlin to Prague, Czech Republic. Mike and Inah Sporer and Rick and Debbie Brown to Acropolis, Greece. K arin Otterstrom and Randy Van Vlaenderen to Mt. Olympus shington. Josand Gloria to aminsky to Rainer, Washinton. JeJennnifer Ken Mottsa Mueller to Mt. Kilim nzania. ichelle o Bryce CaCunney Lisbon, Amy M uth and ylvie owski tward, laska. aren enda, Jean ynn s and ymon marzo.

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A Top Producer in the Cruise Planners network and based in Lakewood Ranch, Marc has proudly hosted the Sarasota Luxury Travel Forum for the past three years.

“For me traveling is all about seeking new adventures and making travel memories. And these adventures become even more fun when you can share them with a good friend.”

-O-man

More Than A PLAN ...

IT’S A PROMISE.

Pre-planning does more than provide your family with peace of mind. It’s making a promise to keep them free of future financial burdens and the responsibility of carrying out rushed arrangements during their time of remembrance.

For more than 30 years, the Toale Brothers family has helped people make their choices now, so those decisions don’t fall on their families later.

Create a plan and a promise for your loved ones. Give us a call today to start the conversation.

My View

FROM PAGE 10

Florida has rules and regulations that are science-based and calculated to preserve these foundational resources. The problem, both now and since the early ’80s, has been the lack of enforcement and ineffective penalties that were imposed when they were enforced. That was troubling and led to the desire to get involved in working to protect a slowly dwindling resource. That concern led to alarm during and after the devastating harmful algae bloom (red tide) of 2017-18. From the time I arrived on Longboat Key until then, the amount of seagrass coverage had increased by 40%, as homes and existing developments were moved from septic to central sewer and storm water runoff was being addressed and better managed. In the past six years, all the gains over four decades have been lost and the affected seagrass meadows that remain are covered in algae. The long-term affects, if not addressed, are less of the shrimp, crustaceans and other food sources that fish, seabirds and other coastal fauna depend on. To make matters worse, mangroves are being illegally cut and removed at an alarming

rate, despite the same benefits (add coastal resiliency) they provide and the rules that are in place to protect them.

The answer? Get involved and be part of the solution. Demand accountability from our elected officials, email them, write letters, call them, attend meetings.

It’s easy to criticize the government, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and other agencies. It’s important to realize this is a shared responsibility. As citizens, we elect the politicians we depend on to enact meaningful rules and regulations. Take the time to research the records of the leaders we vote for. It’s the only way to make sure future generations have the same opportunities we’ve had. I believe it rises to the level of a moral imperative.

Rusty Chinnis is chairman of Suncoast Waterkeeper, an organization dedicated to protecting water quality and habitat in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Chinnis was a founder of and former co-chairman of the Sister Keys Conservancy and is a co-founder and chairman emeritus of Sarasota Bay Watch. He was instrumental in forming the Manatee Chapter of the Florida Conservation Association, now the Coastal Conservation Association, and served as its first president. Chinnis also serves on Manatee County’s Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee ELMAC.

Town of Longboat Key ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS

The Town of Longboat Key is accepting applications for appointment to the following boards and committees:

Planning and Zoning Board

All applications must be submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on March 23, 2023. All applicants must be registered voters of the Town of Longboat Key. Late applications may not be accepted. Any member who fails to attend two of three consecutive scheduled and called regular meetings without cause, and without prior approval of the chairman shall automatically forfeit the appointment, and the Town Commission shall promptly fill the vacancy.

All members of the Planning and Zoning Board are required to file a financial disclosure form within 30 days after appointment and annually thereafter for the duration of the appointment as required by Florida Statues Chapter 112.

The Town Commission may schedule a Meet and Greet with applicants at a later date. Please call the Office of the Town Clerk at 941-316-1999 for an application or if you have any questions. Applications may be submitted to:

Town of Longboat Key

Office of the Town Clerk

501 Bay Isles Road

Longboat Key FL 34228

Stephanie Janney, Administrative Assistant Published: 03-08-2023, 03-15-2023

File photo

Red tide has undone much of the seagrass progress of the past 40 years.

Longboat Island Chapel struts into spring

March 9 at the Longboat Island Chapel could’ve been mistaken for Derby Day. The brims were wide, feathered and fascinating for the annual Lord’s Warehouse Garden Party Fashion Show & Luncheon.

Clothes were pulled off the racks at the chapel’s consignment shop and brought to life as congregation members strutted around the dining hall in designer garments and accessories.

Instead of sitting in a chair outside the dressing room while their wives shopped, some of the chapel husbands were put to work. Looking dapper in suspenders and cumberbuns, they happily volunteered to serve lunch, clear plates and refill waters for about 130 guests.

Attendees ate lunch and sipped on cocktails made of Chambord and prosecco, while the models showcased three collections: Daytime Casual, Ladies Who Lunch and Evening Eleganza. The clothes were priced in the program and for sale after the show.

Money raised by the Lord’s Warehouse is added to the chapel’s charitable outreach fund, which supports a dozen local charities. So emcee Lesley Rife asked the audience to pack up their nostalgia and clean out their closets.

“Look at all those items and enjoy those memories. Don’t let anything get by, even that pair of shoes that look absolutely

• 941-383-8161

Growing in Jesus’ Name

knockdown gorgeous with the lavender dress, but they hurt so bad that you can only wear them for the first hour of the event,” Rife said. “Bring them to the Lord’s Warehouse. Somebody will wear them, somebody will love them. Give them the love they deserve.”

The Lord’s Warehouse is located at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

— LESLEY DWYER

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.

6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, Florida 34228 • 941-383-6491 Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

Wednesday Bible Study 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Lord’s Warehouse hours are 9:00 - 1:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

Christ Church is pleased to feature Hope in The Shadows, a meditative musical journey on the path to the cross. Lead by our Director of Music, Robert Romanski, our Chancel Choir and a Chamber Orchestra will present this masterpiece during our regular Sunday Service on March 26, at 10:00 AM. Come and rejoice in God’s glorious plan of redemption, accomplished through our crucified, risen, and returning Savior.

You are invited to join us in worship, song & friendship at Shabbat services every Friday evening at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am.

To learn more about our Temple and all our educational, cultural, and social programs, please call us. We’d be delighted to talk with you. Questions? Email us at info@longboatkeytemple.org

On March 9, the chapel hosted a fashion show and garden party.

Polly Stark models a Lily Pulitzer sweater and Tommy Bahama hat.Peggy Lammers and Jan Holman

The Rev. Brock Patterson and Karen Pashkow with Patterson’s dog Pippa. Pippa is wearing a top that says, “Hello, Gorgeous.”

Photos by Lesley Dwyer Christie Mazurek models embellished leggings with a pink cardigan from The Limited.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe performed its annual concert Sunday evening at the Education Center on Longboat Key.

MOTOWN MAGIC

Shoulders were swaying and toes were tapping March 12 at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel for the annual performance by the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

The show was called “Nate Jacob’s Jukebox.” Jacob is the founder and artistic director of the troupe. Six members performed Motown favorites from the 1960s and ’70s.

The performers brought the energy up with upbeat numbers like Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood,” and then slowed it down with ballads. Leon Pitts II had the audience swaying and swooning during his rendition of “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

“This is what gives me my relief from stress,” Pitts said. “Seeing everybody smile fills my cup. That’s what I do it for.”

The troupe’s performance is the most well-attended concert at the Education Center each year. More than 200 people were in the crowd, and when asked by WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach how many had already seen a performance, nearly every hand went up.

WBTT Board Member Sy Goldblatt has sponsored the event for 10 years. He also provides champagne and dessert for a reception after the show, where audience members get a chance to meet and mingle with the performers.

“That’s just a piece,” Goldblatt said of the concert. “‘Dreamgirls’ has 18 people on the stage.”

Goldblatt’s wife, Sheila, died a year-and-half ago. As a former social worker, she recognized the educational opportunities the troupe provided, and the couple quickly became supporters.

“We have a robust education program with a summer camp for students ages 13 to 18, a very intensive five-week program that’s free to students thanks to people like Sy,” Leach said. “There are 30 students every summer, but also the artists themselves, we mentor and train.”

Leach looked to one of the evening’s performers as an example of success. Maicy Powell started in the summer camp at 15 years old. By 18, she wrote and performed a one-woman show titled, “The Kid is Alright.” Now at 22, she’s a Howard University graduate and has returned to the WBTT stage as a professional.

WBTT UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

The theater address is 1012 N. Orange Ave. Tickets are $50 for adults; $20 for students and active military.

n Now through April 9: “Dreamgirls” —

“An inspirational journey through American pop music, ‘Dreamgirls’ chronicles one fictional Motown group’s rise from obscurity to superstardom. The musical explores themes of ambition, hope and betrayal, all set in the glamorous and competitive world of the music industry. You’ll love the WBTT version — as the song says, ‘Just dream it baby; we’ll be there!’”

n March 26-27: WBTT Presents “Christopher Eisenberg: Frank & Me” — “Get ready for a night of crooning, dancing, stories & laughs as we look back and celebrate one of the greatest artists of all time! From some of Ol’ Blue Eyes greatest hits (Fly Me to the Moon, The Way You Look Tonight, I’ve Got The World on a String) to the impact he’s made on American culture, Chris Eisenberg is ready to walk you through a journey of nostalgia while bringing a new-school twist to this brilliant artist.”

n April 3: April Fools Fete — “Join the party at Michael’s On East as WBTT Stage of Discovery students explore and share their big dreams at this year’s April Fools Fete. They’ll be joined by your favorite professional WBTT performers as well as a live band — artists who are already making their own dreams come true! There will be fantastic food and dancing and it all benefits WBTT’s education programs — help us make our Stage of Discovery students’ dreams a reality!”

n April 19 through May 28: “Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue” — “Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller was an American jazz pianist, composer, singer and comedic entertainer. Nate Jacobs’ original tribute to this irrepressible artist features Waller’s signature songs, including “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” “The Joint is Jumpin’” and many more.”

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Leon Pitts II sings to an audience member.

Jayne Meth, Gerry Keen, Karen Gary, Gayle and Michael Lewis

Photos by Lesley Dwyer Susan Goldfarb, Julie Leach and Sy Goldblatt

Ariel Bloom, Delores McKenzie and Maicy Powell

Ladies hit the links for a cure

The greens were a little rosier than usual at the Longboat Key Club on March 7. About 150 golfers wore just under that many shades of pink to Go for the Cure. The annual golf day raises money for Breast Health Sarasota Inc.

While the tournament has been around much longer, it only started benefiting Breast Health in 2013. After this year’s donation, the Women’s Golf Association will have donated over $500,000 to the organization.

Both the 18-hole and 9-hole leagues organize, fundraise and play together. Paula Norwood chaired on behalf of the 18-holers and Barbara Botein on behalf of the Key Niners. Back in the day, even the husbands joined in.

“Then, everybody would volunteer,” Bunny Skirboll said. “I remember my husband coming and blowing up balloons.”

This year’s tables were set up with flutes of pink lemonade and pink pool noodles shaped as breast cancer ribbons. But decorations were the icing on the cake. The women outdid them-

selves, raising nearly $100,000, and the silent auction was set to put them over the top.

“We had a lot of donations from people outside the club. Friends and family contribute. We begged, no, solicited.” Co-chair Barbara Botein said. “It’s a charity that lots of people support because almost every lady in here has been affected by breast cancer in some way.”

— LESLEY DWYER

The women’s golf leagues joined forces on March 7 to raise money for Breast Health Sarasota Inc.

Valeria Morello, Amy Prize, Jim Richard and Becky Thomas

Pam Snauwaert, Kerrii Anderson, Katie Moulton and Karen Shearer

Barbara Botein, Joanie Spalter and Barbara Schwartz

Joan Seidel, Katy Dunn, Martha Gayle and Elaine Dabney

Bunny Skirboll and Terry O’Hara

Photos by Lesley Dwyer Debbie Rand and Kathy Bernstein

Jan Henry dresses as a cowgirl for Go for the Cure.

#1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM

Michael Saunders & Company

Follow on Instagram @LongboatLife

SIESTAKEY

MOONSHINE POINT

1250 SEA PLUME WAY | OFFERED AT $4,400,000

This 4 bedroom property offers the ultimate in island lifestyle amenities! Vaulted ceilings, bay views, 2 primary suites (1st and 2nd floor options), chef’s kitchen, elevator, saltwater pool, putting green, deep water dock with 2 lifts, sandy beach, 2 car garage with apartment suite and 2 minutes from the gulf beach access across the street. Call for a private showing.

MLS# A4559353

EMERALD POINT NORTH

2067 HARBOR LINKS DR | BAY ISLES, LONGBOAT KEY

This 3 bed/3.5 bath condo lives like a single family home in an intimate maintenance free community behind the gates of Bay Isles. The residence was recently updated and offers serene golf course views, a heated pool, 2 car garage and private beach accsss.

MLS# A4547738

2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4 Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4 Longboat Key MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4 Longboat Key MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4 Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS

#4 Offered at $779,000

2067 HARBOUR LINKS

#4 Offered at $779,000

2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4 Longboat Key

Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS

MLS# A4178487

2067 HARBOUR LINKS

Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487

Guest

Tickets:

Longboat Harbourettes flaunt it

in fashion show

Fashionistas team up with Hatley Boutique to bring fashion to the condo association.

The fashionistas of Longboat Harbour came together to admire the coastal clothes of Hatley Boutique at the condo’s clubhouse on March 8.

About 80 women mingled with friends before sitting and dining while taking in the various styles of outfits. Six models strutted around the venue with their playful persona on display. Some models paused to let the attendees touch the material, show off the sleeves and pose for a picture.

Attendees were eligible for door prizes from various local businesses including Shore, Harry’s Continental Kitchens and Dry Dock Waterfront Grill. “We sell the raffle tickets, and the proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital,” said Longboat Harbourettes Co-chair Barbara Bellament.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Rosie Stieber, Mimi McMillan, Nancy McNeil, Christina Filkins, Alice Jorgensen, Carol Fischbein, Alice Tanchel, Sue Troup and Sheila Cyr

Sherry Bock shows off a knotted sleeve dress

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Sharyn Ford and Nancy McNeil

Before

Schey with Kevin and Kathy Beam.

Photos by Dariela Delgado

and Jon Patella with Linda and David Weiler.

NEW LISTING

LONGBOAT KEY

DREAM ISLAND ROAD $3,195,000

Your Dream House, lovely & tranquil on Dream Island Road. Completely remodeled updated home on lushly landscaped 1/2 acre. 100’ wide canal w/ great boat dock, open living & saltwater pool/spa.

LONGBOAT KEY SANCTUARY $3,750,000

Direct beachfront 3BR/3BA 8th floor w/ unobstructed Gulf views. Private east & west terraces for gorgeous sunsets & sunrises. 24 hr guarded gate + full Sanctuary amenities.

NEW LISTING

LONGBOAT KEY L’AMBIENCE $3,950,000

Casually elegant direct beachfront walkout. Rarely available 3BR/4BA floorplan + amenities include lobby concierge, 24 hr guarded gate, olympic sized pool, 2 har-tru tennis courts, fitness center & more.

LONGBOAT KEY WATER CLUB $5,100,000

Spectacular Water Club penthouse, 4BR/5BA. Unique views of the Gulf & Sarasota skyline. Complete remodel includes new floor plan w/ 3 en-suite bedrooms & designer finishes throughout. Private elevator.

LONGBOAT KEY

DREAM ISLAND ROAD $4,850,000

Boaters retreat w/ cottage-style home + guest house - 5BR/4.5BA Lushly landscaped 1/2 acre w/400’ dock, 2 boat lifts on secluded street. Short stroll to beautiful beach.

LONGBOAT KEY BAYFRONT $5.695,000

Build your dream home Bayfront on oversized lot. 100ft on the Bay, beach access across the street & side canal for privacy. PLUS elevated separate guest house.

KEY CUSTOM HOME $3,800,000

Behind the gates at the Longboat Key Club. Custom built, 5 en-suite BR + office space on lush Islandside golf course. Expansive patio area w/60’ lap-pool. Deeded beach access & attached three car garage.

LONGBOAT KEY GULF FRONT $7,775,000

Incredible 5BR/4BA home on 80’ of beachfront. Amazing views. Open living w/ guest quarters on 1st & 2nd level + 3rd level private master-suite. Amazing views & beautiful walking beach.

LONGBOAT KEY ISLANDER CLUB $585,000

Gulfside 2BD/2BA condo is a perfect beachfront getaway or extra space for guests. Beachside heated pool has incredible Gulf views & wildlife. Club amenities include two tennis courts.

LONGBOAT KEY

• CANAL LOT#1 $1,995,000

• CANAL LOT#2 $1,995,000

Build your dream home on one of north LBK’s most desirable streets. Premier boating location. Great canal leads directly to Bay & ICW No bridges. Walk to beach.

LONGBOAT KEY BOATERS DREAM $2,495,000

Meticulous 4 BD/3 BA wide deep water canal with direct access to Sarasota Bay - no bridges! Great dock. 2 boat lifts. Private beach access directly across the street.

Savor the Sounds Savor the Sounds Savor the Sounds Musical Concert Series Savor the Sounds Savor the Sounds

Presented by

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

PICKLEBALL BASICS

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Certified Pickleball Instructor Terri Noyes is teaching the basics of the game, including rules and scoring. Free for members; $15 for others. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

KIWANIS CLUB MEETING

AND CHECK PRESENTATION

5 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Kiwanis is welcoming current and prospective members in a new place at a new time this month. The club will also be presenting a check from the proceeds of the Lawn Party to the Children’s Guardian Fund. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be courtesy of the Lazy Lobster. Space is limited; call 383-0440 or email Michael@LazyLobsterLBK.com to RSVP.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

THE JEWS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

From 3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. This lecture provides a historical overview and also discusses current communities. $15 for members; $20 for others. Call 383-8222.

RECURRING EVENTS

MONDAYS GENTLE CHAIR YOGA

BEST BET

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

SPRING AUTHOR’S SHOWCASE

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Longboat Library, 555 Bay Isles Road. Get books signed and chat with seven local authors: Carolyn Angiolillo, Jane Hughes, Ralph Hughes, Michael Jordan, Susan Krause, Helaine Mario and Jean Tarsy. The Maine Line food truck will be in the parking lot. The rain date is March 19. Call 383-2011.

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS BREATH BALANCE AND BLISS YOGA

Last show of the season!

Longboat Key • 2020

Saturday, April 1st

SHANTEL NORMAN and the Shantel Norman Band

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 Decorate your table or blanket!

VIP Tickets

$250 (Table of 8)

Advance purchase only. Limited availability.

General Admission

$25 in advance

$35 at the door

Weather permitting - No Refunds

ADVANCE TICKET SALES

Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 pm

Key Chamber of Commerce

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. Six sessions through April 10, $70 for members; $80 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.

TUESDAYS 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.

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 361-6411 ext. 2212.

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 others. 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.

Courtesy photo Amy Elder and Sue Reese

TOP Sales Team

JUDY KEPECZ -HAYS TEAM

ST. ARMAND’S CIRCLE LIDO KEY

408 Jackson Dr

3 bed + den, 3 bath

March 16, 2023

The Gem of all Jewels on St. Armands Circle!

Location makes this spacious home with a pool an exceptional opportunity for those who want to be minutes from the circle, Lido Beach, and Main Street in-the-heart of the city. This residence is brimming with updates and remarkable touches to add texture and style. The family room/office can easily be converted to a 4th bedroom with its glass wall. Walk out to the garden, pool and patio.

Offered for $2,988,000

THE BEACH RESIDENCES LIDO KEY

1300 Benjamin Franklin Dr #601

3 bed, 3.5 bath | 4,200 sq. ft.

BEYOND IMAGINATION, with unparalleled amenities and a lifestyle of privacy and comfort await you here to create everlasting memories. Instant enjoyment with hypnotizing views from this ultimate southwest corner residence. Generously proportioned wrap-around terrace with sliding floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors offer stunning views in this meticulously designed ALMOST NEW residence.

Offered from $5,500,000

L’AMBIANCE LONGBOAT KEY

435 L’Ambiance Dr #H802

2 bed + den or 3 bed, 3 bath | 2,500 sq. ft.

Perfection is here. Iconic luxury, 270 degrees of endless views. Welcome to L’Ambiance, Longboat Key’s spectacular residence defined by sophistication, casual elegance, and gracious living. Surrounded by gentle breezes off the water, set as one of the most prestigious residences to live on Longboat Key. Endless amenities plus three guest suites. Legendary service, extraordinary Bay and Gulf of Mexico views. COMPLETELY UPDATED.

Offered for $4,500,000

ROSEWOOD RESIDENCES

LIDO KEY

Pre-Construction

New on Lido Key! Sugar-soft sand and the glistening Gulf will soon be home to the 65 owners of Rosewood Residences. Five unique floorplans, measuring from 3335 to 4942 (air-conditioned sq. ft.) plus terraces with additional living space, are bathed in natural light.

Offered from $5.9 million

Longboat Key condominium sells for $8.4 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Acondominium in Bonaire at Longboat Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

William Wayne Werzyn Jr. and Patricia Jo Werzyn, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit 2 condominium at 5005 Gulf of Mexico Drive to 5005 GOM LLC for $8.4 million. Built in 2020, it has six bedrooms, eight baths, a pool and 4,646 square feet of living area. It sold for $6.6 million in 2021.

LIDO Carol Williams, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1247 Westway Drive to Thomas O’Flynn and Cheryl Barr, of Summit, New Jersey, for $7,475,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,039 square feet of living area.

GRAND BAY K&D Properties Florida Inc. sold the Unit PH1101 condominium at 3060 Grand Bay Blvd. to Timothy and Dawn Horth, of Zionsville, Indiana, for $4.3 million. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths and 4,074 square feet of living area. It sold for $3 million in 2018.

Martin Howard Poretsky, of Harwood, Maryland, sold his Unit 273 condominium at 3040 Grand Bay Blvd. to H. Duffy Friedlander and Summer Friedlander, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for $2,505,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,369 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2017.

PROMENADE

Hatton Family Holdings LLC sold the Unit 1003 condominium at 1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Tolton Real Estate LLC for $3.35 million. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths and 2,612 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.95 million in 2022.

REVISED LONGBEACH

Raylene Wilborn, trustee, and James Wilborn, of Bradenton, sold the home at 7110 Longboat Drive E. to KM Holdings LP for $2,625,000. Built in 1948, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,344 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 1999.

LONGBEACH Katherine Gunsalus, trustee, and Curtis Gunsalus, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 6965 Longboat Drive S. to Lawrence Kanarek, trustee, of Washington, D.C., for $2,575,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,888 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2020.

INN ON THE BEACH

Equity Properties Ltd. sold the Unit 4407 condominium at 240 Sands Point Road to LBK 4407 LLC for $2.6 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,603 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,175,000 in 2018.

Mette Praetorius Ibba, of Washington, D.C., sold her Unit 2402 condominium at 210 Sands Point Road to Preservation Services LLC for $950,000. Built in 1982, it has one bedroom, one bath and 650 square feet of living area. It sold for $455,000 in 2017.

EMERALD HARBOR

OSG Coastal LLC sold the home at 630 Emerald Harbor Drive to Mark and Mary King, of Longboat Key, for $2,375,000. Built in 1971, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

and 1,787 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.65 million in 2022.

QUEENS HARBOUR

David and Theresa D’Anna, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3602 Fair Oaks Lane to Raymond Sobieck and Gayle Sobieck, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $2.2 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,007 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million in 2014.

SUNSET BEACH ON LONGBOAT

KEY Kenneth Cobbs II and Jennifer Price Cobbs, of Forest, Virginia, sold their Unit 2501 condominium at 2101 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Christopher Todd Stuart and Diane Beaudoin, of Ogunquit, Maine, for $1,275,000. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,358 square feet of living area. It sold for $895,000 in 2021.

SAND DOLLAR SOUTH

Kenneth and Susan Molnar, of Lakewood Ranch, sold their Unit 2 condominium at 723 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Robert Ohanesian

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS FEB. 27-MARCH 3

and Cheryl Moore, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,683 square feet of living area. It sold for $730,000 in 2018.

WINDING OAKS

Davin Andrew Gibbins and Jacqueline Gibbins, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 56 condominium at 3402 Winding Oaks Drive to Donald Richard Welsch and Carol Schultz Welsch, of Longboat Key, for $1 million. Built in 1988, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,039 square feet of living area. It sold for $830,000 in 2021.

BEACH HARBOR CLUB

Michael and Stephanie Smith sold their Unit E-112 condominium at 3808 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Raymond Gerard Boyle and Kelly Sue Boyle and Phillip and Mary Myers, of Longboat Key, for $970,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,273 square feet of living area. It sold for $635,000 in 2021.

BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS

CLUB Susan and Jeffrey Siniawsky sold their Unit 506 condominium at 506 Bayport Way to Robert Lesser and Ruth Lesser, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $850,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,456 square feet of living area. It sold for $118,900 in 1980.

KINGSTON ARMS

Mark and Suzanne Marie Sullivan sold their Unit 6-A condominium at 500 S. Washington Drive to Miriam Dougherty, trustee, of Sarasota, for $720,000. Built in 1963, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2021.

Courtesy photo

The Unit 2 condominium at 5005 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $8.4 million.

THINK EVERYTHING’S GOOD?

Beachplace games benefit All Faiths Food Bank

Beachplace residents pulled out their golf clubs and playing cards on March 6 to collect food and raise donations for All Faiths Food Bank.

About 70 players and guests gathered for a kickoff dinner on Sunday evening before the games began first-thing Monday. Forty players hit the links, while a dozen more stayed behind in the clubhouse to play canasta, bridge and mahjong for $100 a table.

The Suncoast is a beautiful place to live. Unfortunately, amongst our beautiful surroundings, there are many people who are struggling to find work, to secure housing, and to overcome addiction, just to name a few.

The world, and therefore our lives, seems to be moving at a more rapid pace than ever before. Although our intention to help those who need us is there, our focus can become sidetracked. And let’s face it, it is easier to avoid really looking at the difficult side of life.

At JFCS of the Suncoast, we understand that the only way to be good is to do good. We know that real courage is about conviction. It’s knowing that we can make things better, bit by bit, one family at a time. It’s understanding that it’s our duty to help those in need and dig deep to do the tedious, everyday work of making it happen.

We provide essential support to:

• Seniors who feel isolated and alone

• Caregivers who are desperate to interact with others who understand the challenges they face every day

• Families and children dealing with addiction

• Fathers trying to reunite with their children after incarceration

• Homeless veterans feeling hopeless and forgotten

• Holocaust survivors trying to live in peace

• Youth feeling angry, depressed, and destructive who need diversion and counseling

• People who are incarcerated or hospitalized seeking a comforting conversation with a chaplain

Being good means doing good – it requires action on all of our parts. Join us, and let’s do good together. All it takes is a willingness to take action. To volunteer. To donate. That’s how we make our community stronger. That’s how we change lives for the better. One challenge, one person, one day at a time.

Visit JFCS-CARES.ORG/INFO to learn how you can help, and even see your how your donation can be doubled by the Flanzer Philanthropic Trust.

“The two events raised more than $3,000,” Chair Nancy Bronska said. “For the last four years, we’ve made it a charity event instead of just a social event.”

The golf tournament is in its 18th year and is played at the Longboat Key Club. This is the first year cards were added.

“Our husbands or partners are out playing golf, so they decided to add something for the women,” Carolyn Greenberg said.

While both men and women play in the tournament, not everyone plays golf. Greenberg is a regular card player, so she was happy to chip in for a good cause.

Once the games concluded, both sets of players met in the clubhouse over box lunches from Publix and enjoyed an awards ceremony. Awards go to the top three golf teams and the men and women who get closest to the pin and have the straightest drives.

The next tournament is already scheduled for March 4, 2024.

— LESLEY DWYER

For 36 years, JFCS has been empowering individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds. Our mission is to guide those who need us toward well-being and self-reliance by providing mental health and human services, and just caring about the people in our community – the people in YOUR community. What makes us unique is our ability to wrap around our services and provide support to multiple members of the same family who have a variety of needs.

About Jewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast: One of the Florida Suncoast’s leading mental health and human services agencies, JFCS delivers programs and services on a non-denominational basis with the goal of empowering individuals toward well-being and self-reliance. Inspired by the Jewish tradition of helping all people, JFCS of the Suncoast believes all people should be treated with dignity and respect and have equal opportunity for physical and mental well-being, selfexpression, and joy.

good means doing good

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Jan Marshall, Renita Linkner, Sandy Rosin and Carolyn Greenberg

Sam Luten and Carol Staitman check in.

Jeff Gass and Nancy Bronska

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“RU JSD BYMMC, TZLXLNSEVXU SMI

UHUNEZVN JVER ESHUME. RVD

NLMEZVWYEVLM EL PYDVN JVHH MUXUZ WU BLZOLEEUM.”

ELP TUEEC’D UDESEU LM ISXVI NZLDWC

“TFI (UBAFU VDLIGR’I) SCIFV BWU MONBVR XFMM FWIEFDO SBWR

NOWODBYFLWI YL VLSO. B YDCO YDOBICDO.” SOMFIIB OYTODFUNO

“KAOP, Z BOXA ZI. ... KDN’FA RDBA RGPBNGE OHX KDN COEA NV DHA XOK OHX KDN LD, ‘LDDX LDX, Z’B IPA GPAARA.’” CZYYZOB P.

by Caryn Robbins and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

Jenelle Alber captured a photo of the sea oats over the sand dunes on Longboat Key.

on north Longboat key A. one lot on a corner... $865,521

B. one lot on a canal... $969,930

CALL FOR DETAILS... Carol Spiegel 941-323-6365 Jerry Cunningham 941-321-8848 shortstorieslongboatkey@gmail

Rentals Wanted

2BR/2BA LONGBOAT KEY furnished Beach front condo. Jan Feb Mrch 2024. Looking for 5 yr same month in following years. Retired couple no pets, non smoking. (304) 483-5161

Vacation/

Seasonal Rentals

LONGBOAT

ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

#1 SARASOTA SINGLE AGENT 2008 - 2021

$2,195,000

$11,500,000

Experience this stunning bayfront estate in person! Just a sunny walk from famed St. Armands Circle, this impressive 5BR residence is set among lush, professionally managed landscaping on the deep, calming waters of Sarasota Bay. You will love the expanse of this gated estate, situated on two private lots in a corner location spanning more than a half-acre. www.97SouthWashington.com

An ideal Bird Key lifestyle awaits at this charmingly updated, contemporary garden home. Renovated by Ampersana Construction in 2014, the 3BR layout encompasses nearly 2,500 SF of living space. Just a sunny walk or bike ride from the bayfront Bird Key Park. www.217BirdKeyDrive.com

$6,995,000

This lovely beach home offers more than 100’ of water frontage and is waiting for you to add your custom touches, or move right in. The three leveled, nearly 4,000 SF of living space welcomes you with walls of glass, clean lines, cathedral ceilings, Olympic pool, and beach in the backyard. www.1172HorizonView.com

3030 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #346

Move right in and begin enjoying the panoramic, direct views of Sarasota Bay, Harbourside golf course, Moorings Marina, and downtown abounding throughout this lovely 3BR, corner residence. www.GrandBay346.com

$2,795,000

3040 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #251

Sunny bay views welcome you to this 5thfloor Antigua residence, featuring a open concept, 3BR layout waiting for you to add your personal touches. Includes 2 deeded parking and private beach club access.

www.GrandBay251.com

$2,695,000

bike ride away. www.201NorthWashington.com

$2,195,000

Enjoy the best of Florida living in this beautifully updated, well maintained, 3BR pool home. Just a few short miles from the beaches of Anna Maria Island, you will love moving right in! www.FairwayManor5311.com

$579,000

5311 10TH AVENUE DRIVE WEST

217 BIRD KEY DRIVE

1172 HORIZON VIEW DRIVE

97 SOUTH WASHINGTON DRIVE