Longboat Observer 8.18.22

LONGBOAT

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

Sarasota County election primer. PAGE 3-4A

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

VOLUME 45, NO. 2

YOUR TOWN

Full circle back to LBK

Mopps returns to Public Works Department after seven months in Venice. PAGE 6A

Courtesy photo

They follow her to LBK Luckily, there’s only so much parking on Longboat Key or we could all blame Sheila Loccisano for crowding the beaches.

Loccisano’s Instagram page, Follow Me to Longboat Key, recently hit 100,000 followers.

Her inbox is loaded daily with messages from people adding Longboat Key to their bucket lists of must-see beaches.

“I take the privilege very seriously,” she said. “I do my best to educate, entertain and show Longboat Key off to the best of my ability.”

After raising eight kids, shelling became her passion.

And after 7 years of posting pictures and videos, that passion is a part-time job.

Honey of a help Neighbor’s expertise solves sticky issue. PAGE 1B

Courtesy photo

Karon becomes president Longboat Key resident Sarah Karon will serve as president of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County after serving as vice president since 2017.

“I am deeply honored to serve as our Library Foundation’s next president. Libraries represent the best of Sarasota County as places of welcome and wisdom, exploration and inspiration,” Karon said in a press release. “All of us at the foundation look forward to a great year connecting with our fellow Sarasotans in the spirit of giving back to these worthy institutions that do so much for our communities.”

Since its founding in 2011, the Library Foundation has raised more than $8 million in private funds for Sarasota County libraries.

Lesley Dwyer

Tony Woodward inspects the honeycomb looking for larva while removing a hive from a neighbor’s home.

Town makes progress on green pathway

Turtle tracks LONGBOAT Aug. 7-13 Nests False crawls

2022 6 2

2021 5 12

A year into project, work still to come.

PAGE 2B

Totals since April 24 2022 2021 Nests 1,297 1,029 False crawls 1,520 1,439 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory Eric Garwood

Several of the town initiatives take aim at improving the quality of Sarasota Bay.

A+E

A glimpse of China.

PAGE 9A

2A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

|

Town’s green initiatives move ahead The nearly year-old set of projects moves toward anniversary with several completed and still more planned for next fiscal year and the years to come.

LAUREN TRONSTAD

with the goal of attracting organisms that naturally filter water. Better water quality and clarity with a lower level of nutrients and contaminants is the goal. n Awarding additional funding for the planned relining of the wastewater line that leads from the island under Sarasota Bay to a treatment plant in Manatee County. Ultimately, the town plans to build a redundant line from the island to the mainland. The relined section on the mainland would essentially serve as a pipe within a pipe, extending its life and adding a measure of safety. n Budgeting for the purchase of three hybrid vehicles as part of the town’s vehicle replacement plan.

Town leaders originally had planned to buy full-electric pickup trucks for the Building Department and Fire-Rescue but found them difficult to source and expensive. The town now hopes to buy a trio of Ford Maverick trucks, though delivery of those popular models is up to a year in some cases. Sticker prices are in the $30,000 range, and no charging stations are required.

Town staffers report to town leaders twice a year on progress and potential next steps.

“Our report shows and illustrates what we have accomplished, what we are currently working on and some of the things that are ongoing and we will continue to do,” Brown said.

The effort was created after an October 2021 Town Commission strategic planning retreat.

Staff was directed to organize an internal group to coordinate, facilitate and report on actions being taken indicative of the town’s support of green initiatives.

Town Manager Tom Harmer

STAFF WRITER

T

he town is moving ahead with a set of initiatives it hopes will sustain the island’s environment for years to come, though plenty of new projects remain to be launched.

“Long term, the town has always looked at environmental sustainability and preserving and protecting the environment,” said Support Services Director Carolyn Brown, who leads the program.

Initiatives are broken down into categories, including shoreline protection, water quality, environmental/energy efficiency, infrastructure and educational outreach.

Some initiatives already completed include: n Emergency dredging on Greer Island, which was recently completed to allow a more complete tidal flushing and better access for wildlife coming and going from the north-end lagoon. A comprehensive lagoon-access program is in the works to keep the shallow passage open. n Participation in the vertical oyster garden program, which seeks resident participation in a Manatee County program. Waterfront residents are asked to create oyster gardens in unused space below docks

.com e s u ho

e War

re rnitu

Fu

The

File photos

An energy-use audit of town facilities is planned in the next fiscal year.

Eric Garwood

The town’s focus on green initiatives was launched in October 2021

Plans with which to respond to red tide effects have been formulated, if needed.

appointed staff to work collaboratively on the sustainable initiatives.

The Support Services and Planning, Zoning and Building departments have been coordinating their efforts to provide periodic updates.

Initiatives included in the plans are decided upon by the Town Commission either through strategic planning retreats or other commission meetings.

“Some are generated by staff as a means to achieve the progress toward the goal or initiatives — to adopt strategies to reduce exposure and mitigate impacts to our natural resources and reduce risk and retain or improve physical and environ-

mental assets,” Brown said.

Still to come: n Developing an implementation plan for sea level recommendations.

Town leaders are expecting to receive a final report from consultants this fall on the town’s vulnerabilities and options on dealing with them. n Continued monitoring of red tide conditions, though no raised levels of concern have taken place this summer. n Conducting an energy audit for town-owned buildings. n Continuing work to develop the Gulf of Mexico Drive Complete Streets Corridor Plan, which will enhance multimodal opportunities

on the island.

n Continuing discussions with Man-

atee County Area Transit and Sarasota County Area Transit for a single level of public transit on the island.

Both transit systems have abandoned fixed-route service to the island in favor of on-demand service.

“The Town Commission has always looked to ensure that the town is respectful of the environment and that we are doing everything we need to do to ensure ongoing greatness,” Brown said. “We especially focus on our beach renourishment and preserving and protecting our shorelines because what would Longboat Key be without the beaches? It is really important that we are doing everything possible to take care of our environment.”

COOL DEALS

heraldtribune.com

WINNER

12 MONTHS NO INTEREST*

PICK UP TODAY OR NEXT DAY DELIVERY AVAILABLE F U R N I T U R E Entertain. Engage. Escape.

sectional

You’ll be dreaming about coming home and lounge on this large sectional.

Cottage

dining

Washed wood accented with natural wood. Includes table & 4 chairs.

SOUTH SARASOTA 5252 S. Tamiami Trail (at Phillippi Creek) 941-260-9601

99

1299

Serene

99

899

Queen

$

$

NORTH SARASOTA 4027 N Washington Blvd (Hwy 301) 941-351-8600

5-PC

setting Queen headboard, footboard, rails, dresser and mirror.

mattress

Queen 9” gel memory foam mattress.

All sizes available.

BRADENTON ELLENTON 1100 Cortez Rd W 5814 18th Street East (corner US Hwy 41) (across Premium Outlets) 941-749-6069 941-479-7900 Stores Hours: Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 11-6

VENICE 550 S Seaboard Ave (US Hwy 41 Bypass) 941-485-3211

149999

$

49999

$

PORT CHARLOTTE 1241 El Jobean Rd (across Sam’s) 941-764-8700

* On Purchases $300 or more with the Furniture Warehouse credit card made between August 18, 2022 and August 17, 2023. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within 12 months, by August 2023. Minimum Monthly Payments required. Offer applies to only single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on promo purchase and equal monthly payments are required equal to initial promo purchase amount divided equally by the number of months in promo period until promo is paid in full. The equal monthly payment will be rounded to the next highest whole dollar and may be higher than the minimum payment that would be required if the purchase was a non-promotional purchase. Regular account terms apply to non-promotional purchases. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 29.99%; Minimum Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for their applicable terms. Subject to credit approval. Furniture must be delivered within 90 days for all financing offers. All prices include Hot Buys. Instant savings prices are reflected in current ad. Terms of promotions - Previous purchase excluded, cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount. Promotion offers exclude Hot Buys, floor models or clearance items, sales tax, furniture protection plans, warranty, delivery, or service charge. ** Pick Up Today or Free Door Delivery pertains to in-stock merchandise.

379650-1

Two-Chaise

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

School candidates hope to keep focus on education The candidates say they plan to gain parent trust and decrease political discussion.

LAUREN TRONSTAD | STAFF WRITER

S

ix candidates will appear on the Aug. 23 ballot in hopes of obtaining one of three available seats on the Sarasota County School Board. County residents will have the opportunity to

select between two candidates when deciding who will represent the districts on the board. Each voter will vote for a candidate in each district, regardless of where they reside.

The board consists of five members each elected to four-year terms.

Only one incumbent, District One Representative Bridget Ziegler, is seeking re-election.

Each candidate plans to prioritize eliminating contention among board members and limiting politics in discussion of decisions. All six desire a focus on improving the lives of the children educated in the county.

DISTRICT 1 DAWNYELLE SINGLETON

Dawnyelle Singleton is a native of Sarasota and a product of the county’s school system. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida State University. She worked for a local nonprofit agency focused on early childhood, parenting education and mental health services.

She served as a school administrator at Visible Men Academy for 6 years.

“Last summer, I started paying attention to what was happening at school board meetings,” she wrote in an email. “I kept seeing more and more anger and division, not only at meetings but within our community.

I couldn’t sit back and let our public schools, teachers and school communities be undermined.”

She believes her background in education and community engagement will allow her to make a difference on the board and in the community.

“I have a lived experience in being educated in this community and wanting the best for all students no matter their zip code or socioeconomic background,” she wrote.

If elected, she would make history as the first African American on the Sarasota County School Board. Her priorities would be working with the superintendent to advance Voluntary PreKindergarten Programs in the district, finding solutions to the teacher shortage, increasing teacher salaries and working with families and educators to support students’ mental health.

“I want to be part of the functioning board that is able to work together, collaborate and conduct the business of the school board,” she wrote.

“I will bring calm and patience, and I will be responsive and not reactive in my decision-making.”

BRIDGET ZIEGLER

Bridget Ziegler is the only incumbent. Ziegler was appointed to the position to fill a vacancy in 2014 by Gov. Rick Scott.

She was re-elected in 2018. Her initial decision to run in 2014 came from her desire to ensure parents had a seat at the table when the board was making decisions.

“When you run for office, you learn a lot about yourself and a lot about other people,” she wrote in an email. “I faced and overcame several fears and insecurities, met and learned from some of the most incredible people and saw my passion for education, community and public service grow deeper through the process and over the years I’ve served on the board.”

Ziegler’s experience as a parent of three school-aged children, corporate risk consultant and school board member are what she believes prepares her for success, if re-elected.

“There is an opportunity to change the tide to ensure the Board for Sarasota County Schools understands its mission and who they are there to serve, to learn from lessons of the past, praise the great accomplishments and roll up our sleeves to address the challenges that we know we currently have and any that may come our way.”

She identified one of the primary

issues facing the board as its current operation, citing an unwillingness to address certain issues and belittling one another.

“When it comes to educating children, the cost can be more than just financial,” she wrote.

DAWNYELLE SINGLETON

BRIDGET ZIEGLER

LAUREN KURNOV

ROBYN MARINELLI

NORA CIETEK

TIM ENOS

DISTRICT 4 LAUREN KURNOV

Lauren Kurnov’s background in education and personal stock in the vitality of the school district has led her to pursue the district four seat on the school board. She was born and raised in Sarasota and both her children are students within the district.

“As a parent, I started paying attention to what was going on at school board meetings over the last couple of years and noticed the divisiveness that continues to grow,” she said. “We need folks in the boardroom and in leadership positions who will always make sure that we really focus the conversation on key educational issues that are affecting our students.”

Key issues she has identified within the district include teacher pay and retention, student career readiness and maintaining the district’s A rating. Kurnov has raised more than $200,000 during her campaign, more than any other candidate, which she attributes to her campaign’s overall message and the ability to reach across party lines, even in a nonpartisan race. Before deciding to run for office, she worked at both New College of Florida and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campuses. This year, she completed her doctorate in education.

“I have the experience that we need to really move the needle on some of the issues I have identified,” she said. “I have the expertise needed to address these issues, and I am deeply committed as both a parent and educator. I will be the person that will always refocus the conversation on educational issues and making sure we are staying on track to keep our schools A rated.”

ROBYN MARINELLI

Robyn Marinelli has 40 years of experience working within the Sarasota County School District. She spent 5 years teaching before transitioning to the role of school counselor for 20 years. She spent 15 years as a districtlevel administrator overseeing Student Services for the district, which included aiding students in selecting a career path to pursue. After retiring in 2015, she returned to a local charter school as a school counselor.

“I think I have a lens to make sure everything that is discussed is student-focused,” she said.

Her experience within the district is what she believes sets her apart from her opponent and would make her an invaluable asset to the board.

“The community and parents have lost trust,” she said. “I think that’s something that I am very committed to is to make sure that parents have a seat at the table and to bring civility back to the school board and focus on students.”

She deems herself as approachable, skilled and highly qualified for the role because of her passion and experience in education.

“I am for all students of all parents,” she said. “It’s our responsibility to educate and keep parents informed on what is going on.”

Maintaining the district’s A grade is important to Marinelli as well as looking into student education programs that reach outside of the onesize-fits-all approach.

“I want teachers to have the freedom to teach and bring creativity into their classrooms,” she said.

DISTRICT 5 NORA CIETEK

Nora Cietek’s upbringing as one of 10 children and her Master’s degree in education psychology are part of what she believes sets her apart from her opponent and makes her a fit for the School Board seat. She has a 30-year career in education, having served as a Special Education teacher, assistant principal, principal and the Assistant Director of Special Education in the Schenectady City School District in New York.

“The school board is the perfect fit for me,” she wrote in an email.

“Once elected, I will use my extensive skill set in the area of education to enhance the Sarasota School District.”

Her belief that the school board needs to shift focus back to children.

“I am a nonpolitical person who has never considered political affiliation when it comes to education,” she wrote. “For me, it’s all about our children and the teachers and staff that work tirelessly every day to make sure that those children have access to all the resources that they need to strive to be the best they can be.”

A vote for her, she wrote, would be a vote for someone who understands teaching, education policy, school budgets and special needs.

If elected, she hopes to be able to create a pattern of reviewing programs to ensure that the ones in place are fully benefiting both students and staff.

“I want to instill an ‘I can do it’ attitude in our students,” she wrote.

“No matter where a child is functioning, we need to create a program for them to ensure that they are able to meet their goals with confidence.”

TIM ENOS

Tim Enos has 32 years of law enforcement experience, including time spent within the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department. He has served as the Chief of Police for the Sarasota County Schools Police Department.

He is the executive director of Florida Association of School Resource Officers. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State.

“I know what excellence in education looks like because I went to school here,” he said. “I was part of the district for 22 years, the last 3 years being part of the executive staff.”

Change he hopes to influence, if elected, includes increased transparency in the budget process and in curriculum. He has noticed parents lack trust in the board and he hopes to improve that trust.

“We need to make sure that parents are involved in all aspects of their child’s education,” he said.

He grew up in the county and was educated in the district and has put three children through the district.

His knowledge of the area and his experience ensuring student safety give him a unique perspective, he said.

“I feel that we need representation of people who are from the community on the board to make decisions not based on politics, but based upon what is important to parents,” he said. “I don’t think politics has any place to play in education. I want to create an atmosphere of transparency.”

If elected, he is hopeful he will be able to bring a diverse perspective to the board.

3A

4A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

DISTRICT 2

County candidates raise issues Development, attainable housing at the top of the agenda in Commission primaries.

ANDREW WARFIELD | STAFF WRITER

W

hen Sarasota County voters cast their ballots in the Aug. 23 primary election, they will select the finalists in two of the five single-member

districts that comprise the County Commission. Voters in Districts 2 and 4 will see new names on the ballot as Chairman Al Maio of District 2 and Commissioner Christian Ziegler of District 4 rotate off the board.

Here’s more about each of the candidates.

FREDD ATKINS (D) Age: 70 Occupation: Realtor, substitute teacher, nonprofit CEO Previous government service: Former Sarasota city commissioner, former Sarasota mayor.

A former mayor and city commissioner, Sarasota native Atkins saw the opportunity to serve countywide, thanks to county voters upholding single-member districts earlier this year and a redrawn District 2, after he says he was drawn out of the former District 1 before the 2020 election.

“I think one of the most important things is I’m going to bring the Commission back to the people,” Atkins said. “We have, over the last 50 years, less and less people participating in the process. They have taken not only referendums and not only skewed them, they’ve taken the power away from the people and tried to keep making it more and more difficult to get issues on a referendum. They’ve taken referendums we’ve passed and disrespected them.”

Atkins said the county has altered its comprehensive plan in favor of developers, disregarding public participation in the future of the county, and has suppressed opportunities for workforce housing.

“Attainable housing is the primary issue as it relates to how we are going to survive the developments in Sarasota County,” he said. “We need to get not only inclusionary zoning, we need to get developers participating in correcting the ills they have created in our community because they can make a difference.”

Responsibility for environmental issues such as red tide, Atkins said, lie at the feet of the county.

“The county has made the citizens of Sarasota County suffer for over 40 years with wastewater treatment,” he said. “The county has not implemented the eradication of septic tanks near tributaries, waterways or sloughs, and they are contaminating the bay. Our problem with fecal matter in the bay is the county. We are also we were having problems with seepage of all the other runoff the

FREDD ATKINS

HAGEN BRODY

county has.”

of growth and development and the lack of attainable housing.

“Smarter growth policy is very much in demand by our residents,” Brody said.

His 5 years as a City Commissioner, Brody said, provide him with an understanding of the nuances of government service.

“I think it’s really important to have elected officials who stand up for communities they feel are under attack. As a commissioner, I’ve really taken that responsibility seriously whether it’s mailers, anti-Semitic flyers that are being dropped in our neighborhoods, some of them homophobic, anti-LGBTQ issues.

It’s important that people have someone in these positions who will speak up for them and stand with them, and I’m committed to that.”

HAGEN BRODY (D) Age: 40 Occupation: Attorney Previous government service: Sarasota city commissioner (current), former mayor of Sarasota, former prosecutor.

Brody said he is hoping to make the leap from City Commission because the issues the community faces are “broader than just the city limits.”

“I think we have come a long way since I was first elected, and we’ve accomplished a lot, but I think it’s important to take a broader view of these areas, and so the county is a natural step to do so. I ran as a change candidate for the City Commission.

That’s what the community wanted, and I think that’s what the county wants as well.”

What needs changing? Brody said there is a disconnect between the County Commission and the residents, particularly in the area

MIKE COSENTINO

MIKE COSENTINO (D) Age: 58 Occupation: Carpenter/contractor Previous government service: None

Cosentino describes himself as a candidate who will work for the people.

“As a county commissioner, perhaps I would have more weight sitting in front of the City Commission because it would be peer to peer at that point,” Cosentino said. “The whole thing is getting the developer influence out of our government and just having a government that works for the people instead of (what) works for the developers.”

As development pressures continue to move into southern Sarasota County, Cosentino said lessons learned in the city and in the north county can be applied in the south as Venice and North Port development encroaches on rural areas.

“When you look at what’s happening down south, it’s actually a larger scale of what’s happening all over Sarasota County. Our government generally subsidizes the millionaire developers,” Cosentino said. “But now they’re subsidizing the billion-

Senior Living Questions?

custom cabinetry

are

Start Here

Interactive Senior Living Guide

Indoor + Outdoor Kitchen Bathroom Laundry Room Office Home Library Home Bar Murphy Bed Closet Wall Unit

ALF# AL12727

941.229.0336 | www.InspiredLiving.care Gracious Assisted Living & Memory Care

377659-1

5424 Lena Road Bradenton, FL 34211

PUBLIC NOTICES The Sarasota/Siesta Key, East County and Longboat Observers meet the legal requirements to publish legal and public notices in Sarasota & Manatee counties, per F.S. 50.011.

dutchhausfurniture.com 3737 Bahia Vista St. Sarasota, FL 34232 - 941.952.5646

Verified Audit 1101 Fifth Ave., Suite 270 | San Rafael, CA 94901 (415) 461-6006 | www.verifiedaudit.com

384859-1

386806-1

AUDITOR INFORMATION

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

LOURDES RAMIREZ

MARK SMITH

aire baseball team owner, which was the catalyst that kicked everything else off (in North Port). It makes all the surrounding property now get rezoned commercial.”

Cosentino said he believes overdevelopment is not inevitable and smarter growth is feasible.

“I do not understand the race to become the next Miami Beach. Why can’t we just be a good midsized community with a high quality of life?” he said. “Do you think they could put a big hotel in the middle of Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard?

They have a vision, they write land development regulations and they follow them. It’s that simple.”

that.

“Maybe countywide voting makes sense if you had less than 100,000 people in the county, but we’re at 400,000 people, and it’s obvious to me that the county commissioners don’t even know who they have in this in this county, much less in their district.”

Although District 2 is largely Sarasota the city, Ramirez said she is aware of the growth challenges in south county, adding that for too long the emphasis on developing the infrastructure has been focused on the north.

“I see a lot of infrastructure being put in place in northeastern part of the county, all surrounding Lakewood Ranch and UTC, but I don’t believe there’s enough effort on the people in North Port and Venice,” Ramirez said. “Why does it take so long for the county to address the south county when it comes so easy for them to find money for all this development out east, like Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, where there’s not a lot of people living there? … They have to look at amenities that are missing down there. You can see where the county is biased, where they’re putting the money.”

LOURDES RAMIREZ (R) Age: 60 Occupation: Grant writer Previous government service: None

Frustrated by what she said is overdevelopment and under-representation, Ramirez said the County Commission is beholden to the development community and not residents of Sarasota County.

“It’s not the loudest voices that the County Commission is listening to. It’s just the developer voice,” she said. “They go to a meeting with hundreds of people in the audience and they listen to one person, the one who gives them the most money.”

She said the transition to singlemember district representation can be a step in the direction to change

office is there as well, Smith, a 50-year resident of Sarasota County has a one-word answer for his highest priority as a County Commission hopeful: traffic.

He adds a few more words to extrapolate. “My office is on Siesta Key and I live out here. Traffic is a big one. Water quality is another one, not only the quality of the water we’re drinking, but also making sure our sewer doesn’t end up in the bay. Also opening up Midnight Pass would be one of my goals. I remember playing out there as a kid and how you can’t even stand at the water’s edge and breathe.”

Smith pointed toward his daughter as an example of lack of affordable housing across the county. With a good job making a decent living, she lived at home while looking for a home to purchase. Giving up, she moved out of state.

“We’ve got to tackle that one, which is challenging considering construction costs and land costs right now, but people who work here can’t live here and that’s been a problem for a long time. But I believe we need to really tackle that, whether it’s inclusionary zones or what the county is working on to develop 750-square-foot starter apartments that are counted as half density in order to get the impact fees lower and make them affordable.”

Smith advocates concentrating new housing along existing infrastructure to the extent possible, employing adaptive reuse of vacant or underutilized commercial centers, particularly in the growing south county cities.

“The 2050 plan has a lot of good aspects of how growth should go out east to maintain the environment and make it as fiscally feasible as possible … But if you put the workforce housing way out of town you defeat the purpose of it. The goal is to get workers as close to work as possible.”

See Manatee County candidates at

YourObserver.com

As a resident of Siesta Key, whose

5A

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

COPS CORNER FRIDAY, AUG. 5

BAD DAY ON THE WATER 3:49 p.m., Sarasota Bay Agency assistance: Sarasota and Longboat Key police worked together on an incident in which a personal watercraft crashed near the Ringling Causeway. Before the Longboat Key marine patrol officer arrived, the riders of the watercraft had been taken to the city’s 10th Street boat ramp. The Longboat officer stood by with the damaged watercraft, which was a hazard to navigation, until the rental company could arrive to take possession of it.

SATURDAY, AUG. 6

BACK ON THE BOAT 10:28 a.m., Greer Island Dog on the beach: While on marine patrol, an officer stopped to explain to a boater town regulations regarding dogs on the beach. After acknowledging he did not know the town rules, the boater placed his two dogs back aboard the vessel on which they arrived.

WE’RE ALL FRIENDS 1:10 p.m., 6700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Report of trespassing: Following up on a call of 30-40 people trespassing, an officer learned that several people in the group were residents of the nearby condominium and they were at the beach with their guests.

No crime was committed.

SUNDAY, AUG. 7

THAT’S NO GOLF CART 7:06 a.m., 300 block of Longboat Club Road Suspicious vehicle: A resident reported a suspicious pickup truck on a nearby golf course. The officer sent to investigate recognized the truck as belonging to the golf course superintendent.

NO-LANDING ZONE 4:32 p.m., 200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious vehicle: An officer stopped to inquire why a group of people was recovering a personal watercraft within Overlook Park, a violation of town regulations. The people said the vessel had begun to

ONLINE

MARK SMITH (R) Age: 67 Occupation: Architect Previous government service: None

|

SUNDAY, AUG. 7

REQUEST FOR ACCESS 12:03 p.m., 500 block of Neptune Avenue Citizen assist: An out-of-town condo resident called police to report hearing from his association that, because of a plumbing issue inside, a worker would be drilling out his front-door lock that day to gain access.

The resident questioned the legality of the move. An officer referred the resident to his condominium association bylaws regarding necessary repairs and reminded the resident about civil court proceedings to settle such disputes.

leak, was sinking and needed to be pulled out of the water as soon as possible. Under the circumstances, the officer issued a warning for the infraction.

RULES ARE RULES 7:18 p.m., 2600 block of Harbourside Drive Citizen dispute: An employee of a boat marina called police to report the belligerence of a man working on a vessel in violation of established weekend hours. The employee said no such work on boats was permitted on a Sunday, and when he informed the boater about the rules, the reaction prompted a call to police. The employee said the man drove off, and police could not locate a vehicle of the description given.

TUESDAY, AUG. 9

THAT’S SOME BARBECUE 8:21 p.m., 6100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Fire report: An officer was sent to investigate a report of an illegal outdoor fire which turned out to be a barbecue, not a crime.

Just Listed in Bay Isles 1915 Harbour Links Circle Emerald Pointe South~ LBK ▪ 2476 Sq Ft Villa/Townhome ▪ Lives like a home ▪ 2 Floors ▪ Primary Bedroom on First Floor ▪ 2BR w/ Ensuite baths on 2nd floor ▪ Private Pool ▪ Original owners ▪ Impeccably Maintained ▪ Lagoon View

Call me today to schedule a showing 941-993-3695Call me toda Luxury Property Realtor Premier Sotheby’s International Realty www.gigisarasota.com

The Empath Tidewell Foundation welcomes you to the Tidewell Foundation Building showcasing an outstanding group of health and wellness organizations ready to brighten the lives of the Longboat Key community: Empath Tidewell Foundation Essence of Soleil Massage

Fitness Quest Physical Therapy JFCS of the Suncoast

546 Bay Isles Rd, LBK 941.383.6493 More Info: TheParadiseCenter.org MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

10-11am Stretch & Strengthen

10-11am Qi Gong

10-11am Beginner Tai Chi (no class 8/31)

10-11am Zumba & Mat Pilates

10-11am Intermediate Tai Chi

Walk-Ins Welcome for Fitness Classes! $10/Person . FREE for Members 1-3pm Thinking Out Loud Discussion Group Walk-Ins Welcome

1-3pm Mah Jongg RSVP Required:

MaryAnnBrady @TheParadiseCenter.org OR 941.383.6493

MEDICAL SUITE

544 Bay Isles Rd, LBK Call each practice directly to make your appointment!

11:15-12:15 Qi Gong & Meditation MONDAY & THURSDAY Primary Care COMING SOON Dr. Daren Spinelle, MD

The Paradise Center & Medical Suite Youthful Aging Home Care

MOVIE MATINEES

Projected indoors, on a large screen. Fresh-popped popcorn & soft drinks included. Bring a friend!

WELCOME TO THE BUILDING!

Thursday, August 18, 1pm

I’ll See You in My Dreams

Coming in September: The Duke and Snow Falling on Cedars

Dr. Kelly Breese, Au.D.

Walk-Ins Welcome $10/Person . FREE for Members

New!

TUESDAY Acupuncture 941.556.8006 Dr. Dorian Kramer, DACM

More Info: 941.366.2240 HearingAidsofSarasota.com WEDNESDAY Podiatry 941.921.3000

SarasotaFootDoctors.com

FRIDAY Dermatology 941.926.6553

LuminaryDermatology.com

384987-1

540-546 Bay Isles Rd, Longboat Key TidewellFoundation.org 941.552.7546

382900-1

*seller seller requests showings begin 8/19

6A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

NEXT DAY

Mopps returns to Longboat Key as town’s program manager

OR

Gone for seven months at a position in Venice, former Longboat staffer is back to take a more strategic view of public works projects.

WE’LL PAY!

*

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

C

harlie Mopps returned to Longboat Key as part of the town’s Public Works Department with the title of program manager/ assistant public works director after seven months in Venice.

“It feels like coming home,” he said of his first day, Aug. 10.

Mopps left the town after a job opportunity was offered to him in Venice where he served as the director of public works and asset management.

He said the two main factors that resulted in his return were the investment he felt in the outcome of town projects he had already participated in and working with town staff.

“I previously helped assist in developing the programs the projects lived in,” he said. “I was operating within the program, but now I am going to be managing the big picture.

Now we are looking at the strategic part of the program versus the operational concept of the project.”

He spoke fondly of the citizens the town serves and Public Works Department Director Isaac Brownman’s leadership.

“The atmosphere and the teamwork and the concepts promoted in the organization make it a very welcoming place to not only work but also develop a lot of friendships here,” he said.

Mopps said he looks forward to continuing work that aligns with his background and passion in coastal engineering and coastal projects as the town frequently works on projects on the island’s beaches.

Next Day Installation for Your New A/C or We’ll Give You $250 OFF its Cost!

10

YEAR WARRANTY

For Sarasota County Commission

%

*RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

FINANCING FOR

60 MONTHS*

• Republican Women’s Club President • Conservative Leader • Will Represent YOU, Not the Developers

941.777.2004 | badgerbobs.com 24/ 7

Guy Matricciani was hired in April as construction and facility system manager, and longtime projects manager James Linkogle retired this month.

In April 2019, Mopps began working for the town after holding project manager positions from 2001-2016 with Charlotte County and from 2016-2017 with a private company.

Mopps also served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve from May 1993 to January 2016. He has a bachelor’s degree in marine affairs and military science from the University of Rhode Island.

Last year, Town Manager Tom Harmer awarded Mopps the Town Manager Award for his work on the beach renourishment project.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi also recognized Mopps in November 2021 with the Chief’s Award. Mopps won the award for his oversight of the rebuilding of Fire Station 92 at 2162 Gulf of Mexico Drive and the renovation of Fire Station 91 at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Combined, the construction costs exceeded $5 million.

“It’s nice to be back,” he said. “I look forward to pushing forward with a lot of the programs that were being developed when I left and continue the programs that we had established together.”

Lourdes Ramirez

0

PARTS & LABOR*

File photo

www.LourdesRamirez.net

2022

387135-1

License #: CFC1427129, CAC1815977, EC13009294

386420-1

Emergency Service

Political Advertising paid for and approved by Lourdes Ramirez, Republican, for Sarasota County Commission, District 2

Charlie Mopps says he looks forward to continuing work that aligns with his background and passion in coastal engineering and coastal projects as the town frequently works on projects on the island’s beaches.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

7A

MARKET REPORTS Our complimentary reports are your best resource to make informed real estate decisions — offering detailed, highly visual and easy-to-interpret local data.

SCAN CODE TO ACCESS YOUR LOCAL MARKET REPORT

L I ST W I T H U STO DAY.C O M

SLEEPY LAGOON 6489 Gulfside Road Dennis Girard

LONGBEACH ON LONGBOAT KEY 6925 Longboat Drive South Mike Seamon

111 South Pineapple Avenue #916 Carmen Baskind & Laura Pearson

$1,600,000 941.724.1854

755 South Palm Avenue #604 Lisa Rooks Morris & Julie Guirguis

$899,000 941.735.3186

1309 63rd Street West Nathan Mathers

ISLAND AT RIVIERA DUNES $2,450,000 941.400.7676

1005 Riviera Dunes Way Cindy Pierro

$2,400,000 941.920.6818

$985,000 941.544.3332

VILLAGE GREEN

FAIRWAY ACRES 5815 7th Avenue Drive West Nathan Mathers

300 S Pineapple Avenue #602 Fernando Viteri

$2,999,000 941.915.6000

PALM PLACE

GROVE HAVEN 5206 24th Avenue Drive West Holly Switow

6821 Hughes Street Jayne Kocher

SANSARA $2,895,000 941.586.1802

THE MARK

LONGBOAT KEY VILLAGE $3,995,000 941.809.0041

MARK SARASOTA $790,000 941.720.0408

LONGBOAT KEY $724,900 941.720.0408

641 Fox Street Dennis Girard

111 South Pineapple Avenue #1018 Reid Gerletti

$1,799,000 941.376.1159

ROSEMARY DISTRICT $499,900 941.809.0041

430 Kumquat Court #102 Frank Lambert

$352,800 941.920.1500

View a rea list ings

23 CONTEMPORARY TOWNHOMES

It’s Better

uptown

Situated in Sarasota’s uptown, Premier on Main boasts 23 contemporary townhomes.

Priced from $1,095,000, these four-level residences offer a sophisticated, modern sanctuary near the city’s captivating arts and cultural district.

2191 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34237 | 941.920.1500 | TheFrankLambertTeam.com Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

WORTH MORE

SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000

VENICE | 941.412.3323

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

Contact us for a confidential consultation PremierSothebysRealty.com LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

382036-1

your home has never been

8

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Traffic and pedestrian safety require realism, not slogans Although the Vision Zero program sounds like a good idea to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, governments should still measure its trade-offs.

JAY DERR AND ADRIAN MOORE

T

oo many drivers, passengers and pedestrians are killed and injured in accidents involving autos. We can and should be doing more to dramatically reduce those numbers. Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office data show 41 deaths from more than 9,000 crashes in just the first nine months of 2021, up from previous years.

Nationwide, an increase in traffic fatalities in 2021 led transportation agencies at all levels to begin looking for new approaches to traffic safety. One increasingly popular approach has been adopting a Vision Zero (VZ) program. Sarasota city and county staff have studied this approach and recommended it to their commissions. The concept originated in Sweden in 1997 and sets a goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries. VZ was adopted by Chicago in 2012, San Francisco in 2014, and Los Angeles in 2015.

Examples of VZ measures that cities have taken to reduce fatalities include: n requiring safety skirts on the side of the street; n adding buffer zones between bike lanes and traffic lanes, often narrowing or outright removing a travel lane in the process; n closing travel lanes during peak hours; n identifying locations with possible conflicts between pedestrians and cars to lessen injury severity.

In 2012, Chicago launched its program with then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel stating a goal of “zero traffic deaths by 2022.” The city’s approach was outlined in a 100page Action Agenda, which was little more than a statement of principles. Five years later, the city

started work on VZ implementation and reset the 10-year counter from 2022 to 2027. Chicago aimed to improve some “300 intersections to make them safer for pedestrians.”

In September 2019, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that $6 million was being allocated to the city’s West Side VZ plan, a stark difference from a statement she made as a candidate when she said she would, “reallocate $20 million from existing Chicago Department of Transportation funding” towards VZ projects. For a city frequently finding itself short on funds, especially for projects this transformative and wide in scope, VZ’s costly approach makes little sense. Even after all of that money was allocated, Chicago’s 2020 traffic fatality rates remained about the same as in 2012, before VZ was implemented.

In 2014, San Francisco announced and implemented its own VZ program. The program, which has been relatively successful in reducing traffic deaths, began with a comprehensive push for more accountability and better data-gathering to help paint a clearer picture for policymakers looking to address traffic fatalities. With San Francisco’s clearly defined High Injury Network — defined as areas where fatalities are disproportionately high — and the city’s Quick-Build program, San Francisco was able to make changes relatively quickly and cheaply. San Francisco’s fatalities decreased significantly in 2019 and 2020. Overall, San Francisco has been more successful than other major cities in lowering fatalities.

Los Angeles’ VZ program was started in 2015 and has been the least effective at reducing fatalities.

In 2016, Los Angeles’ pedestrian death rate “was twice that of San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, and four times that of Seattle,” per Bloomberg. In the three years following VZ adoption, pedestrian fatalities increased by 75%. Things didn’t look good for drivers either: In 2017, Los Angeles ranked as the “most congested city in the world,” the sixth year in a row it received that ranking. Conditions for drivers were already nightmarish, with drivers spending hours upon hours in congestion, but fatalities remained high on top of those conditions.

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes, KHughes@YourObserver.com

Los Angeles did implement some changes such as exclusive pedestrian traffic signal phases, which halt all vehicular traffic for a time as a means of lowering fatalities. While fatalities have been decreasing, they are still above the 2015 numbers when the program started.

Most VZ policies in the U.S. have been expensive failures, with negligible effects on overall traffic fatalities. Outliers such as San Francisco have a few advantages that made a VZ approach more realistic — namely less reliance on driving to commute. In San Francisco in 2018, 40.2% of people drove to work, whereas in Los Angeles in 2015 nearly 80% drove alone and 10% carpooled, and 77.4% of Chicagoans in 2018 relied on automobiles for their commute. In Sarasota only 0.5% of commuters use transit, and over 90% drive alone.

The problem with Vision Zero is it wants to pretend there are not limits on resources and we can achieve zero deaths if we are just willing to spend enough. But you can never realistically eliminate, for example, bad driving. You can mitigate and reduce its impact though with good design and safety measures. The key is lies in data-gathering, local partnerships, community education, and re-engineering when necessary.

The VZ approach calls for discarding cost-benefit analysis and the “whack-a-mole” approach of fixing one intersection at a time.

Instead, it calls for making sweeping changes to all of a city’s high injury network. Claiming that no price can be placed on human life is a noble approach, but one that is unrealistic in a world where policymakers have limited resources to solve problems.

Many of VZ’s proposed changes, such as limiting lane use during peak hours, would slow traffic and worsen conditions for drivers and lower-income commuters in these cities. By increasing the duration

of commutes, and making some people late for work, cities inadvertently reduce the economic well-being of lower-income people.

Instead of making roads worse for drivers, the goal should be to make them safer and more efficient for everyone involved — be they a driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian.

While auto-averse solutions may work in cities that are not so reliant on cars (like San Francisco), making conditions worse for drivers in other cities is often met with political pushback. In Los Angeles, for example, drivers are already spending massive amounts of time in slow-moving traffic. Some streets need to keep their higher speeds to allow for a shorter, more efficient commute through cities. Making the mostly lower income Sarasota residents who have the longest commutes to affordable housing to suffer more in congestion and slower travel is not a fair way to improve traffic safety.

To reduce traffic fatalities more effectively, we should begin with detailed analyses of our high-injury networks instead of heavy-handed reform for every part of the road system. In Orlando, drivers were failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. Following a partnership with local law enforcement, officers started issuing warnings near crosswalks during a threemonth enforcement period. It was determined that a few low-cost engineering solutions would be sufficient: moving yield signs 30 feet, adding medians and refuge islands, and some other changes. Following two rounds of enforcement and reengineering, driver yield rates went from 5% to 28% for a price far lower than most VZ projects.

Cities do not need to take the Vision Zero all-or-nothing approach when a more customizable set of solutions is available.

Jay Derr is a policy analyst and Adrian Moore is Vice President at the Reason Foundation.

Managing Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Lesley Dwyer, LDwyer@YourObsever.com; Lauren Tronstad, LTronstad@YourObsever.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Spencer Fordin, SFordin@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Sales Manager / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal Bair, RBair@YourObserver.com; Beth Jacobson, BJacobson@YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver. com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver. com; Brenda White, BWhite@ YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Lexi Huelsman, LHuelsman@ YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Manager / Lori Downey, LDowney @YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma Burke, EBurke@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Director of Information Technology / Adam Quinlin, AQuinlin@YourObserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

PRIMARY ELECTION: OBSERVER RECOMMENDATIONS U.S. Congress, District 16, Republican: Flip a coin Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Republican: James Shaw SARASOTA COUNTY State Senate, District 22: Joe Gruters County Commission, District 2, Republican: Mark Smith County Commission, District 4,

Republican: Joseph Neunder Sarasota City Commission: Carl Shoffstall School Board District 1: Bridget Ziegler School Board District 4: Safe bet: Marinelli. Reasonable gamble; Lauren Kurnov School Board District 5: Timothy Enos Charter Review Board, District 1: Les Nichols

Hospital Board, Central District, Seat 2: Thomas Dart Hospital Board, Northern District, Seat 1: Brad Baker Hospital Board, Northern District, Seat 2: Nick Altier Hospital Board, Southern District, Seat 1: Patricia Maraia Hospital Board, Southern District, Seat 2: Joseph Chirillo

MANATEE COUNTY State Senate, District 20: Jim Boyd County Commission, District 4, Republican: Misty Servia County Commission, District 6-At Large, Republican: Carol Whitmore School Board, District 5: Richard Tatem

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine

CEO / Matt Walsh Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles 1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

YourObserver.com © 2020 The Observer Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

AUGUST 18, 2022

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Photos courtesy of Ryan Gamma

The Elling Eide Center has developed into a premier research library in the field of China studies.

A Diamond in the Woods It’s more than 7,000 miles away from Beijing, but because of the passions of its former resident, a Sarasota estate has become a center of China studies.

SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

E

lling O. Eide’s most fervent wish has become reality a decade after he died.

Eide, a Sarasota native and lifelong student of Chinese history, dreamt of opening the gates of his 72-acre estate and turning it into a repository of knowledge.

Now, nestled in a remote stretch of Tamiami Trail, his former home has become a leading regional resource for Chinese studies and a place people in the community can come to appreciate both art and nature.

Matthew Wells, the Elling Eide Center’s director of research, says that the focus of the institution will always remain fixed on ancient China. That was Eide’s passion, says Wells, and you can’t really understand modern China without getting your arms around its roots.

“This was the place where he was going to live,” says Wells, gesturing at the building, completed by Sarasota architect Guy Peterson. “He was going to put his collection of books in here — have his own kind of personal library — and basically invite all his buddies to come down and translate and talk about China and all the other things that he was interested in.”

Eide, says Wells, was a polymath.

It would be impossible to quickly summarize all the things he spent his life learning about, but Wells said he

Courtesy photo

Elling in China

was greatly fixated on Asian studies, languages, horticulture and Florida history.

Eide, born in 1935, was a graduate of Southside Elementary, Sarasota Junior High and Sarasota High School, and he earned a degree in Far Eastern Languages from Harvard in 1957. He later served in East Asia in

the U.S. Marine Corps and studied in Taiwan before returning to the USA and serving as a professor at the University of Illinois in 1970.

Eide’s life brought him back to Sarasota; his parents were ill, and he had to decide how to take care of the sprawling estate. Over time, he planted hundreds of trees and plants

and continued his burgeoning studies from the place he had grown up, making this remote and beautiful property a center of an exotic and rare field of scholarship.

“It was more a niche kind of study, but it was also a very different field at the time,” says Wells of China studies during Eide’s day. “He was interested back when it was a much smaller community … Somebody getting their doctorate in the ’60s was probably trained by somebody who had been trained by someone who was a missionary in China in the 1900s.”

Wells says Eide, was an early scholar of the T’ang Dynasty, and he played a large role in founding The T’ang Studies Society.

His personal collections — books, art and souvenirs — became the basis of the Elling Eide Center’s treasury of Asian knowledge. Eide died in 2012, and the Eide Center opened its doors for research in 2016.

Wells says that the center has more than 60,000 books in its collection, many of which are only really available to specific scholars of Asian languages and literature. For Wells, who arrived in Sarasota a year ago, the hard part of the job was making Eide’s mission more public-facing in 2022 and beyond.

“One thing I started doing when I started booking conferences was thinking about the relationship between the scholars that come here to do research and to share research and the rest of the community,” says Wells. “That’s where the public lecture series comes in. I request from the scholars somebody to fall on their sword and give a lecture for the public, and we work with them SEE ELLING EIDE, PAGE 10A

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

Elling Eide FROM PAGE 9A

to make sure they pitch it right and it’s not too specialized but also not dumbed down.

“We respect our audience. They’ve been around. They know what’s up.”

Even with their interest level established, though, Wells wants to make sure they’re properly prepared for high-level lectures.

For instance, the Elling Eide Center will welcome award-winning author and professor John Balaban to present a lecture on Vietnamese poetry in September, and Wells wants to give the local community a chance to attend presentations like that and fully understand them.

That meant, in this case, designing an entirely new lecture series. Wells, a former associate professor of Chinese at the University of Kentucky, wanted to craft an introduction to Chinese thought that would give its attendees a base of knowledge they could build on. He called it “Coffee and Confucious,” and it will return for another showing this fall.

The attendees are mostly older, he says, and perhaps more interested in the subject than you might imagine.

“There’s a shocking amount of interest in Chinese culture in the area,” he says.

“I think a lot of people, especially the older people, have had enough lifetime where they’ve been to Japan or they’ve been to China.

“Maybe they have business in China. Maybe some of them have relatives there; maybe somebody adopted a child from China or something like that. At the last Coffee and Confucius, I asked them, ‘Show of hands, who’s been to a Chinese speaking country?’ About two-thirds of the audience raised their hand.”

That was music to Wells’ ears. He was hoping to give people an entry point into Eide’s world, a primer on Chinese writing, on religion and philosophy, on history and China’s place in the modern world.

And he found that not only were people interested, they were clamoring for more. Wells said the initial lectures sold out the lecture hall, which can sit about 50 people.

IF YOU GO

ELLING O. EIDE RESEARCH LIBRARY AND PRESERVE Where: 8000 S. Tamiami Trail When: Arboretum Tour on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

Tickets: $5 Info: EllingOEide.org

The lectures take on the form of coffee and conversation, and Wells said that he was surprised by the public’s attention to detail.

“It’s like a college lecture, in that I approach it as if people are educated but maybe not informed in that particular area,” he says of the series.

“What I want to do is quickly move people to a point where they feel like they understand Chinese writing a little bit. My goal was to have 25 people who are full-timers living in Sarasota who then have this baseline of knowledge, and then they would find any of our other lectures a lot easier to absorb.”

That lecture series will return in the fall, but the Elling Eide Center is hoping to develop even more opportunities for the public. Now, says, Wells, the plan is to do more research on the property and its history.

He says there is a New College research project looking into Helen Smith, one of the property’s owners before Eide, and there also will be an archaeological survey conducted on the grounds.

There’s also a need to study the property’s flourishing gopher tortoise population; the gopher tortoise is currently listed as vulnerable but not endangered.

The Elling Eide Center currently has an arboretum tour hosted by a former botany instructor that informs people about the hundreds of species of trees on the property, and Wells hopes that eventually the tour will better include information on the center’s artistic holdings.

“If you come take the tour, at the very least, you’re going to see probably one of the most amazing horticultural collections here outside of Selby,” says Wells of the tour.

“Then you’ll come in and get some exposure to the kind of art and culture we have here. But with this lecture series and course series, we’re

Photos courtesy of Ryan Gamma

The Elling Eide Center was designed by local architect Guy Peterson.

trying to be more active in giving people the opportunity to learn.”

The popularity of China studies — like any other field of academic endeavor — is cyclical.

Wells says he’s seen a flourishing and a regression in the interest of Asian Language study courses during his career, and he says that with China’s increasing prominence in the world, there’s an ever-present need for more people to understand the country’s history and art.

But even with someone like Confucius, a worldwide symbol of knowledge and learning, there’s a natural ebb and flow to their popularity.

“When I first went to China in the mid-’90s, you really didn’t hear much about Confucius or interest in classical China,” says Wells of the ancient philosopher who is now back in vogue. “You get up to about 2006 or 2007 and you start getting some interest then in what are traditional values? I used to show my students the same wall 10 years different; one would say, ‘Build a strong socialist society.’ Then 10 years later, I went back to the same place and it was like a mural about all these different Confucian virtues. It’s amazing.”

When there’s a cost-of-living crisis, healthy food can be the first to go.

The library at the Elling Eide Center contains both books and art.

The greenhouse was built to house an amherstia tree from Burma.

ELEANOR MERRITT

Help your neighbors balance things out.

REMEMBRANCE LAST CHANCE—CLOSES AUG 21

To support our produce program, visit

allfaithsfoodbank.org 941.379.6333

INFORMATION + TICKETS

ringling.org

This exhibition was paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.

Support for this exhibition was provided by the William G. & Marie Selby Foundation and Ringling Museum Endowment.

Eleanor Merritt, Remembrance (detail), Mixed media on paper, 36 x 28 in. Gift of the Estate of Eleanor Merritt, 2022. Collection of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. 380830-1

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

374128-1

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

10A

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

11A

THIS WEEK

has a lot more to say. Guest, the playwright who wrote “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen,” will deliver a sneak peek at his new play, “Pageant on White American Memory,” which examines the arc of some of America’s most prominent families and how they got to be in that position.

GET THE BUNK OUT TOUR 8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $10 Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville.

tardly lengths they’ll go to realize their own vision. Who will win?

And will they get away with it?

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 18; runs through Aug. 28 Where: Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $25-$36 Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

THURSDAY

ence in the art world and what it means to be a curator on a regular basis. Ormond, who curates the Arts Advocates’ collection, will discuss planning, fundraising, acquiring and even transporting art.

Make way for a charming ogre and his irreverent donkey pal. Shrek, which won an Academy Award as an animated feature and a Tony Award for best costume design as a musical, will be taking over the stage at the Rise Above Performing Arts Center. Kyle Ramon stars as Shrek, and Jaquavien Jones stars as Donkey.

Runs through Aug. 28.

SUMMER IN THE CITY 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Art Uptown Gallery, 1367 Main St. Free Visit ArtUptown.com.

‘SHREK: THE MUSICAL’ 7:30 p.m. at Rise Above Performing Arts Center, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail $17-$32 Visit RiseAboveArts.com.

ART TALK: A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A CURATOR 4-6 p.m. at Arts Advocates Gallery, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail $10 members, $12 nonmembers Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.

Mark Ormond, the former senior curator of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, will take you through his 25 years of experi-

This show, which will wrap up on Aug. 19, features work from all 26 Art Uptown Gallery artists. You’ll find painting, sculpture, photography, glasswork, pottery and more.

FRIDAY THE LATEST FROM TERRY GUEST 6:30 p.m. at Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $5, registration required Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Hermitage Fellow Terry Guest is serving notice to the world that he

CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘DOUBLE INDEMNITY’ 7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

It’s the classic film noir that launched 100 imitators. “Double Indemnity” stars Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson in a tale of murder, betrayal and intrigue. “Double Indemnity” was nominated for seven Academy Awards and didn’t win any, but it was chosen as the No. 29 film in the American Film Institute’s “AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movies” list in 2007.

SATURDAY FLORA IMAGINARIA 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. Free with admission Visit Selby.org.

Are you amazed at the many ways framing and lighting can change the perception of an image? Then come on down to Selby Gardens and look at flowers through the lens of some of the most accomplished photographers in history. You’ll see a variety of methods and techniques employed to render natural beauty in its simplest form.

FREE MONDAYS AT JOHN AND MABLE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART You can enjoy your art without opening your wallet. The John And Mable Ringling Museum of Art opens its doors free of charge on Mondays, allowing visitors to take in its rich collection of paintings and exhibits. It’s a perfect time to stroll in and check out “Ballroom

WE’RE DOOMED 7:30 p.m. at Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

They may not have the special effects budget of “2012” or “The Day After Tomorrow,” but the Florida Studio Theatre improv troupe has all their disaster bases covered. Throw them a title and watch how they swish it around in their minds and throw it back to you as a fully packaged disaster flick.

SUNDAY HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘RUSALKA’ 1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House $22 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

It’s a Dvořak classic brought to you from across the globe. This performance was recorded at the Teatro Real in Madrid in 2020, and it stars Asmik Grigorian and Eric Cutler. This timeless tale, created in 1901 and based on Hans Cristian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid,” has become one of the most performed operas in the world.

Florida: Deco & Desire in Japan’s Jazz Age,” which will be on display until late September.

IF YOU GO When: John And Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road Where: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays Tickets: Free Info: Ringling.org.

ASSISTED LIVING THE MUSICAL: THE TALES GRANNY WILL NEVER TELL 3 p.m. at Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice $35-$50 Visit VenicePerformingArtsCenter. com.

Rick Compton and Betsy Bennet both created and will perform in this play, which centers on the untold tales from an active senior living community called Pelican Roost.

These aging seniors are taking their Golden Years in stride, and they’re finding comedy in some of the least likely places you’d imagine to find it.

BIG AND LITTLE CHEF: BAKING 11 a.m. at Publix Aprons Cooking School, 2875 University Parkway $80 Visit ApronsCookingSchool.publix. com.

Here’s a wholesome family experience for parent and child. This Aprons Cooking School class will focus on baking and it will cater especially to enterprising parents and children who want to learn how to bake together. They’ll make unicorn biscuits, mojo pork empanadas, pizza dough garlic knots and marble cookie Yoyos over the course of the class, and they’ll eat them all too!

387050-1

‘SMOKE AND MIRRORS’ How does a Hollywood director get hold of a production when a screenwriter stands in their way?

Smoke and Mirrors. This wickedly funny romp takes you behind the scenes as an actor, director and screenwriter compete to control an upcoming production, and it lampoons the sometimes das-

382163-1

DON’T MISS

Join Steve McAllister for his oneman tribute to Will Rogers, the actor, author and social commentator who had an outsized role in shaping American thought in the early 20th century. McAllister will move you with words uttered by Rogers nearly a century ago, but he’s also added original poetry and songs that help to supplement the Rogers voice.

OUR PICK

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

A+E REVIEWS

12A

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

Creative Differences How do you like your theater renditions of Hollywood movies? With a side of intrigue? ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ at Florida Studio Theatre has you covered.

MARTY FUGATE THEATER CRITIC

N

ovelists and screenwriters often paint an unflattering portrait of Hollywood.

Judging by movies like Robert Altman’s “The Player” and novels like Nathaniel West’s “The Day of the Locust,” Tinseltown is a heartless exploitation machine that grinds up writers and their words.

Will Osborne and Anthony Herrera’s “Smoke & Mirrors” falls squarely in that tradition at Florida Studio Theatre.

The first act opens with a screenwriter’s grievance.

Clark Robinson (Alberto Bonilla) is the scribe in question; a creative if highly nervous screenwriter.

Clark’s in a movie-making partnership called “Three Happy Fellas.”

Director Hamilton Orr (Ben Cherry) and movie star Derek Coburn (Jack Gerhard) are the other two fellas, but Clark’s a most unhappy fella. He bemoans Hamilton’s Procrustean mutilation of his creative vision.

“Vicksburg” is the most recent outrage. The company’s last film was a hit. Clark wrote the screenplay, and it was his passion project.

But Hamilton got the studio to green light the flick with the promise that Hollywood hunk Derek would play the lead role.

(Hamilton got him to sign by making him a creative partner.)

After that, the meathead proceeded to rewrite his lines and deliver them just as badly.

The result? Critical scorn — and boffo box office numbers.

Three Happy Fellas is now work-

Photo courtesy of John Jones

Alberto Bonilla and Ben Cherry star as a writer and director trying to protect their product in “Smoke & Mirrors.”

ing on a sequel. The creative team’s ensconced in the Mississippi state governor’s mansion on an isolated private island in the Gulf of Mexico.

But the film deal is a package deal.

By studio decree (and the terms of his partnership), Derek stays in the picture — or there’s no picture.

The writer’s outraged. The director claims to feel the same artistic outrage. This crowd-pleasing dummy is ruining his creative vision, too! For an added twist of the knife, there’s a serious actor who’d love to take his place!

Hmmm…

Hamilton jokingly suggests that they kill Derek — for their art.

Ha-ha.

Then you realize he’s not joking.

Clark initially resists Hamilton’s murderous pitch but eventually agrees to his scheme for Derek’s final exit. How will they kill him and get away with it? Hamilton’s got it all figured out.

They’ll tell the dim actor they’ve written a new ending to “Vicksburg II” — a scene where Derek’s character commits suicide.

Then they’ll get him to rehearse the scene and switch the unloaded gun with a loaded gun.

Bang! No more Derek. A tragic accident! And that’s a wrap.

Or maybe not.

They don’t call this play “Smoke & Mirrors” for nothing.

All I can say is somebody either does or doesn’t die. And somebody’s scheme either goes or doesn’t go as planned.

This play is a Mousetrap, as in the Parker Brothers’ board game, not the Agatha Christie play.

Giving the ending away really would be a crime.

Suffice to say it’s smart and very, very funny. Director Catherine Randazzo finds just the right tone to keep you laughing. Her tightrope walk is no cakewalk.

“Smoke & Mirrors” walks the line between parody and homage.

(The play’s elaborate bits of business echo half the classics on PBS’s “Mystery Theatre.” But the bits are always just a wee bit off. Something’s happening, but you don’t know what it is. Aside from the fact

it’s funny.)

The actors are equally great at high-wire silliness. Bonilla’s highstrung Clark is the low fella on the totem pole. He stammers and stutters like a standard issue nebbish.

Then you realize his commitment to creative vision isn’t a joke.

Cherry’s Hamilton has one key feature — he’s a manipulator. (One who gleefully sees himself as a puppet master.) He can be charming when he has to be, or a bully when he can get away with it.

Alanna Smith plays Hamilton’s wife Barbara as one of his willing puppets. (Maybe.) She delivers a highly cinematic portrayal as a languorous femme fatale.

She’s exactly what Hamilton wants her to be. (Or maybe just what he expects her to be.)

After the deed is done, Justin Ness makes the scene as Sheriff Leroy, a country bumpkin lawman investigating the crime scene.

You figure, like Peter Falk’s Columbo, he’s just playing dumb.

Then you realize he’s just plain dumb. That equally applies to Gerhard’s Derek. He’s a tool, and not a sharp one. But moviegoers love him — and he agrees with their opinion.

The action on stage is a few steps away from realism. Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay’s overstuffed set has more stuffed, dead animals than Linger Lodge. It’s impressive and slightly creepy. (Where did they get those crispy critters anyway?)

Erin Barnett’s costumes look like costumes. For this play, that’s a compliment. Because its world is not the real world.

Osborne and Herrera’s script sparkles with fast-paced dialogue in the Preston Sturges tradition.

A recent revision scrubbed away the 1991 anachronisms. (Floppy discs become flash drives; Eleanor Roosevelt is now Barbara Bush!)

The only oversight was a reference to film photography.

“Smoke & Mirrors” tickles your funny bone without insulting your intelligence. Smart and funny is a great combination — and a rare one.

With murder mysteries (comic or otherwise) I usually see the twist ending coming a mile away.

With “Smoke & Mirrors,” I didn’t.

Nice trick.

IF YOU GO ‘SMOKE & MIRRORS’ When: Through Aug. 28 Tickets: $25-$39 Where: FST Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org

A Longboat Key Landmark

r e m r o f e R

Privates

Classes

Mat

Harry’s Going Down Under Wine Dinner August 18th | 6:30pm | $99/person+tax+gratuity

Harry's Restaurant Monday - Pop that Bottle Night (No Corkage Fee) Wine Wednesday - 25% off Bottles of Wine(Restaurant) Tuesday + Thursday - Steak and Frites Special $32.99 4 Course Dinner Prix Fixe $48 with Wine Pairings $65 3 Course Lunch Prix Fixe $20.22

Harry's Catering

5600 Gulf of Mexico Drive|941-383-0777|www.HarrysKitchen.com

www.manasotaonline.com

BOOK ONLINE

Booking Parties For All Occasions

Buy 2 Entrees Get a Free Dessert Slice Private Patio Space Available 20% of Wine Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday Party Specialties Available

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

385227-1

11 AM-7PM Take-Out/Curbside Pickup

386576-1

Harry's Gourmet Deli

Restaurant Reservations Suggested

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437

PILATESLBK.COM

Located in the Centre Shops (with Nature's Gem CBD) 5360 Gulf of Mexico Drive, #108 Longboat Key MyRehabPilates@gmail.com

2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4679

OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN Special Financing Available

385005-1

Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

Y

Photo courtesy of Brenna Wickstrom

Kids perform in a Players Kids performance of “Oops Upon a Time” in May.

which classes you take.

“We could be working on scripts, we could be working on scenes,” says Wickstrom. “We could be exploring theater history or exploring oncamera acting. We could be exploring the foundations of tap and jazz.”

Wickstrom says many of the younger students are first-time actors, but the older students are active in their school drama departments. Most of the action at the studio occurs on Saturday and the studio might have as many as 40 or 50 aspiring actors in it at the time.

“We’ll have kids who are here as bright and early at 8:30,” Wickstrom says of the Saturday classes. “They start at 9, and then they do not leave here till 2:30 in the afternoon.

They’re here all day having fun taking back-to-back classes.”

IF YOU GO

BACK TO STUDIO BASH When: 1-4 p.m. Aug. 20 Where: The Players Studio, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 200 Tickets: Free open house Info: ThePlayers.org

383680-1

ou might be a player and not even know it.

The Players Studio, an educational program from The Players Centre for Performing Arts, reaches more than 200 kids and aspiring actors of all ages, and it’s hosting its annual Back to Studio Bash open house on Aug. 20 in hopes of reaching more in the future.

Brenna Wickstrom, the studio’s director of education, says the open house will feature the best The Players has to offer. There will be performances from production groups, mini classes and games, as well as a chance to register for future enrollment.

The Players Studio, established in 1995, has been teaching the art of theater for decades. Wickstrom and the studio instructors and performers are coming off a busy summer full of theater education. From May through the first week of August, the studio was overrun by kids enrolled in the theater’s mini-camps.

The children — aged 5 to 10 — learned songs, dances and scenes from movies and plays, and then they put on a mini-production for their families in the studio. There was also a four-week musical theater production camp for kids aged 11 to 17, and they worked all month to perform in “We Will Rock You” on Aug. 4 and 5.

But the fun isn’t just for kids. The Players Follies is a free community theater group for ages 50 and up, and Wickstrom says it’s great to work with actors of all ages.

“We start as young as six months all the way to 106,” jokes Wickstrom.

“And if you’re 107, we’ll make an exception for you.”

What does daily enrollment at the studio look like? That depends on

13A

378709-1

The Players Studio is looking forward to another fall season of theater education and enrichment.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

Call for Take Out or FREE DELIVERY

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Players Studio hosts open house

|

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Looking for Stock Market Diversity?

7% Annual Return For More Information: 941-202-6756

386734-1

Investment Guaranteed & Insured by SW Florida Real Estate $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

MUSIC ON THE PLAZA

Heirloom-quality solid wood furniture custom built by Amish woodworkers

dents' Day SPIN Featuring Stumble Creek 8/24/22 | 5:30 pm - 8 pm

Summer's End Sale

Save 10% Store Wide SarasotaArtMuseum.org

941.309.4300 382225-1

385929-1

Join us for SPIN every Fourth Wednesday this summer in the Marcy and Michael Klein Plaza for our live music and movement program.

1001 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236

August 18-23 3709 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota Monday - Saturday 9 AM - 6 PM, Sunday Noon - 5 PM 941.894.6747 | dutchcrafters.com

SPIN invites you to socialize and experience the contemporary genre of sound through the exploration of musical notes, movement, and engagement.

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES MORE THAN $206 MILLION CLOSED IN 2021

97 SOUTH WASHINGTON DRIVE

$11,995,000

Experience this stunning bayfront estate in person! Just a sunny walk from famed St. Armands Circle. Situated on two lots in a corner location, spanning more than a half-acre, this impressive 5BR residence is set among lush, professionally managed greenery beside the coastal landscape of Sarasota Bay.

www.97SouthWashington.com

5249 CAPE LEYTE DRIVE

$4,890,000

Direct waterfront, new construction is a rarity on Siesta Key. The modern, custom design of this 5BR John Cannon home in Siesta Isles will be built with exceptionally high standards.

Covering more than a half-acre, boaters will love the brand-new seawall, plus recently installed composite dock and lift.

www.5249CapeLeyte.com

15111 GADDY UP RANCH ROAD

$3,995,000

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

www.GadduUpRanchSRQ.com

816 JUNGLE QUEEN WAY 862 GRANDE PASS WAY Create your ideal beach home experience at this private, gated enclave on the southern tip of Boca Grande. Offering more than a 1/4-acre in the exclusive Hill Tide Estates community.

wwww.862GrandePassWay.com

$2,795,000

$1,695,000

Turnkey furnished and move-in ready! This beautifully updated 3BR waterfront residence on north Longboat Key is waiting to immediately enjoy! You will love the deeded beach access within walking distance, 125’ of water frontage, dock, lift and easy boating access to Sarasota Bay.

www.816JungleQueenWay.com

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

384978-1

14A

Classifieds 12B Games 11B Real Estate 9B Weather 11B

AUGUST 18, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Buzzworthy neighbors

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Tony Woodward is a member of the Suncoast Beekeepers Association.

BEE PART OF IT

Tarawitt Drive was buzzing with bees when a hive took over a soffit.

The team of hobbyist beekeepers at work.

STAFF WRITER

N

o, that wasn’t a hazardous-materials team at work on Tarawitt Drive recently. Just a neighbor helping a neighbor with some bees. Make that a lot of bees.

Six people donned white, headto-toe bee suits: two hobbyist beekeepers, two homeowners, one contractor and one Longboat Observer reporter. To a passer-by, the group could have passed for Ghostbusters.

But the minute Tony Woodward started prying at the home’s soffit, there was no mistaking the buzzworthy occupants. How this hermetically sealed half-dozen came together on a hot Friday morning is a story that goes beyond beekeeping.

It’s a tale of the right people (and honey-making insects) in the right place at the right time.

Meet J.C., and Jennifer Dominguez, who enjoyed Longboat Key vacations so much, they bought their own place on Tarawitt Drive in 2020.

Then in April, they bought another, essentially to share with their family.

“When this came up, and now our kids are older and my nephews are older, and it’s just like, ‘Oh my gosh if we could just have another family home where everyone could come and stay together, that would be really nice,’ ” Jennifer said, explaining the reasoning for their recent

purchase.

What they hadn’t counted on was a massive hive in their new place.

“I thought it went all the way up the wall.” Jennifer said.

The Dominguezes know the Woodwards because they’re neighbors across the canal and were invited over for drinks when they first moved in. Woodward began beekeeping during the COVID-19 quarantine because his fruit trees weren’t looking good.

He and his wife, Arby Crawford, have lived on Longboat for 32 years.

Crawford’s family has ties to the island since the 1930s. She suggested bees might help their trees, but had two requests: one hive only, and to make it look pretty.

Woodward made good on one of the requests; he etched the outline of a bee on each of his six handmade, wooden bee boxes that are used for hives. Six is all the town will allow.

“It’s a hobby that got a bit away from me,” he said, adding his first foray into moving bees was for his friend, Harry Christensen.

Back at Tarawitt Drive shortly after the Dominguezes’ April purchase, landscapers discovered a swarm on the property and alerted the new owners. Knowing their across-thecanal friend knew bees, they made a call and ordered a pair of bee suits on Amazon. A few bee stings later, Woodward went to work removing

the remaining bees to Myakka City. maybe 10.”

Why so far?

The older the honey, the more it If the bees were moved to the other looks and tastes like molasses, said side of the key, they would fly back to Woodward. It’s edible for humans the same soffit, Woodward said. or bees, but the bees won’t touch it Driving the bees out to Myakka was unless it’s the only honey available. the easy portion of the day. Coaxing Woodward’s backyard honey is fresh them into the wooden boxes took and golden. It’s also for sale. His nearly three hours. Woodward had to hobby turned into a cottage busivacuum them up first. He attached a ness, Longboat Bee & Honey, but he Shop-vac to a specially designed box doesn’t advertise. with a cage inside. The cage allows “I just put a little sign out in my air to flow but traps the bees. With a front yard,” he said. “People who are sliding door on the bottom, Wood- brave come knock on the door.” ward then transferred the bees out of If you’re craving honey and feeling the bottom into a transport box filled brave, knock on Woodward’s door at with honeycomb.

793 St. Judes Drive N. Honeycombs were falling out of the soffit and filled three 5-gallon buckets and two boxes. By the end of the day, his hands were swollen inside his gloves from what he estimated to be about 30 or 40 stings.

Wo o d w a r d doesn’t usually end up covered in stings and slathered in honey, but this was an enormous hive.

“That comb on the outside was just black,” he said, “It’s at least 5 years old. If I had to guess, 8 or 9, The bees are transported in boxes from Longboat Key to Myakka City.

384626-1

LESLEY DWYER

Woodward got his start by attending a meeting at the Suncoast Beekeepers Association. “I would not have been successful had I not been involved with that organization,” he said.

If you’d like to try beekeeping yourself, SBA has a monthly meeting you can attend for free. The meetings are at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the New Gate School in Lakewood Ranch at 5481 Communications Parkway.

After the first meeting, you must become a member. Memberships cost $15 a year. Once a member, you can attend a Learning Workday, where you work with bees hands-on in SBA’s apiary. Basic protective gear is provided. For information, call President Kate Akerman at (484) 892-1875.

2B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

New CEO gambles for a full house

FLY ON OVER SOS is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway. Admission is free, but donation boxes allow you to donate by cash, check or credit card.

At the entrance, visitors can pick up a packet on why each bird was in need of rescue.

Some birds only come with general information, such as a broken leg or fractured wing.

But others come with background stories. One of the birds landed at SOS because of a gunshot wound.

CEO Aaron Virgin plans to revitalize and distinguish the City Island-based aviary center as its own attraction.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

W

hen Aaron Virgin stepped into the role of chief executive officer of Save Our Seabirds and stopped charging admission to the City Island location, a few eyebrows were raised.

Only time would tell if his gamble would pay off or be a bust.

August 4 was Virgin’s first anniversary, and SOS is seeing a full house with more visitors and donations than ever.

One of SOS’s past marketing strategies was to snag visitors who went to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium by offering a half-price ticket with every admission to Mote. Even without reimbursement from Mote, the strategy made sense because they see so many more visitors than SOS, but there was an unexpected downside.

“They feel like we’re a third attraction,” Virgin said. He overheard a mother tell her kids, “We can see birds for free.” Virgin’s plan is to distinguish SOS as its own attraction with a much larger focus on the bird hospital, something people can’t see

juveniles need surrogates. Virgin jokingly compared the birds to rentcontrolled tenants he can’t evict.

“There’s a whole aviary I can’t even tear down,” he said. “You can’t just then say, ‘All right, you gotta go.’

So they have to stay at our facility.”

The aviaries will be finished over the next 18 months, plenty of time to design a more modern avian hospital. Virgin estimates the hospital will take two years to plan and 6 to 8 months to build.

“The hospital will be renovated to the first of its kind: an avian veterinarian nature center,” he said.

The new hospital will allow SOS to take in more birds. Both the hospital and administration will move to the new building. Phase three will renovate the current building into an enhanced visitors’ center and gift shop.

Lesley Dwyer

CEO Aaron Virgin at Save Our Seabirds. SOS now accepts electronic donations.

on their own.

For now, instead of turning away those who would rather bird watch on the beach, he welcomes them with an open door and an electronic donation kiosk at the entrance.

When addressing the board of directors, Virgin said, “Let’s see what the attendance is and if people will make donations close to or more than the amount we previously charged.”

As it turns out, visitors would rather donate than pay admission.

COVID-19 shut down the sanctuary for 18 months, so its last full year of operation was 2019. That year, 25,000 visitors paid $60,000 in admission fees.

“For the first six months of 2022, we have had more than 76,000 people visit and raised about $40,000 in donations,” Virgin said.

Virgin has a three-phase plan for revitalizing and expanding SOS: focusing on the aviaries, then the hospital and then the nature center.

The aviaries have undergone years of repairs, but they need to be replaced. The purchase prices range from $10,000 to $50,000, but it’s not quite as simple as just buying new aviaries.

Owl, osprey and sandhill crane

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

EAT LOCAL

All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions

EAT FRESH

• We’ve ramped up, anyone of any mobility is welcome • In-person worship services Sunday at 10 a.m.

• Live-stream at AllAngelsLBK.org to participate on-line • Discussion Groups on Tue & Wed at 10 a.m.

Worship With Us At Our Church Worship With Us at Our Church Worship With Us At Our Church Worship With Us at Our Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM Sunday Service 10:00 AM Sunday Service 10:00 AM Sunday Service 10:00 AM The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard

Growing Growing in in Jesus Jesus’’ Name Name

DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER?

384639-1

563 Bay Isles Rd • 941-383-8161 AllAngelsLBK.org

ORDER ONLINE ReefCakes.com

Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00 Men’s Bible Study: Monday 9:00 Masks AreWednesday Optional@ @ Women’s Bible Study: Masks AreWednesday Optional @ 10:00 Women’s Bible Study: 10:00

Visitors Welcome Visitors & & Residents Residents Welcome Visitors Welcome Visitors & & Residents Residents Welcome

Watch AMService ServiceLive: Live: WatchOur Our10:00 10:00 AM Watch Our AMService Service Live: Watch Our10:00 10:00 AM Live: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or

www.bit.ly/cclbksermons oror www.bit.ly/cclbksermons www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or YouTubelink) link) www.christchurchof lbk.org (followYouTube www.christchurchoflbk.org (followYouTube YouTubelink) link) www.christchurchof lbk.org(follow www.christchurchoflbk.org (follow

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr. 6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

• •

941.383.8833 (office) 941.383.8833 (office)

www.christchurchoflbk.org www.christchurchoflbk.org

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.

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956 384709-1

• •

384667-1

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

6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, Florida 34228 • 941-383-6491

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

The Lord’s Warehouse is OPEN Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9am - noon.

St. Armands Key

SAFE DRINKING WATER IS FUNDAMENTAL TO LIFE

LUTHERAN CHURCH

Fehl Safe Water Treatment has more than 30 years of experience in making water safe.

JOIN US

Saturday at 5pm - Contemporary Style Worship Sunday Worship at 10am - (Coffee Hour at 9am)

941-322-8286

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church • 40 North Adams Dr., Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234 • Questions? Contact: michael@saklc.com

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

For all your water needs:

Catholic Church

Water Filtration & Purification Systems Softener Installation & Maintenance Salt & Maintenance Service Well & Pump Service Aerators & Pressure Tanks 24-hour Emergency Service

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

384751-1

fehlsafewatersystems.com

Come join in singing your favorites at Hymn Sing Sundays at 9:45 before worship.

Garden Concert 8/21 at 4pm - Anne Tormela & Michael White

385968-1 379700-1

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE WATER TESTING

386899-1

386124-1

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

4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 383-1255 • www.stmarylbk.org

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

3B

#1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM 2021 Michael Saunders & Company & TOP 1.5% OF AGENTS NATIONWIDE!

I NADRI N IN V ELTS N TO I SAT OU R S P EMCAI ARLT Y •I NG C O N•NPER E C TSONA I O N S LM T ESERV R! BENCHFM K GR E SU • RY STR EGIC K ET I ZAT ED ICE

R DE N U

T AC R NT O C

RECENT ACTIVITY

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

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

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

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 SLEEPY LAGOON2067 SANCTUARY

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 750 PENFIELD ST | $3,000,000

Perfectly situated on a deep water canal with easy access to Sarasota Bay, this 2 bedroom home offers 2 docks, a 2 car garage, a new roof and an ideal north Longboat Key location 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E,with #4deeded beach 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 access.

L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4537570 L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0

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

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

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

L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 701 PENFIELD STREET | OFFERED AT $1,299,000 MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487

MLS# A4178487

MLS# A4178487

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

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

D LLon g b o at K e y | O f f e re d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 SO MLS# A4178487

E

IN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I A N A DDY, PA R E A LT O R ®, M B A

IanAddy@MichaelSaunders.com

SAND CAY BEACH RESORT

2067 H A R BOUR 4725 LINKS DR E, #4 DR. #213 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 GULF OFI V MEXICO | OFFERED AT $869,000

L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 549 YAWL LANE | $1,600,000 MLS# A4178487

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

G A I L W IT T IG

BROK E R-A SSOCI ATE GailWittig@MichaelSaunders.com 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

941.387.0100

L on g b2o bedroom a t K e y | vacation O f f e re dgetaway a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0over $63K in grossLincome on g b o afor t K2021 e y | and O f fcomes e re d afully t $ 7furnished.

79, 0 0 0 This earned MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487

The beachfront community of Sand Cay offers owners excellent amenities including a heated pool, shuffleboard, tennis courts, barbeque area and over 340’ of white sand beach to enjoy.

MLS# A4539173

I A N A DDY, PA R E A LT O R ®, M B A

IanAddy@MichaelSaunders.com

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

230 SANDS POINT ROAD #3907 | $2,703,000

G A I L W IT T IG

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

941.387.0100

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

384722-1

T EN L EL C EX

M CO

4B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

TRIBUTES Audrey Strode Wolcott 1929-2022

William James Gallagher 1933-2022 William James Gallagher, 88, of Quechee, Vermont and Longboat Key, Florida passed away peacefully July 29th, 2022 accompanied by one of his sons.

Audrey Strode Wolcott died peacefully in Sarasota, Florida on July 17th, at the age of 93.

She was predeceased by her husband of 72 years, Arthur S. Wolcott.

Audrey lived an extraordinary life, was quick to give to others, and greatly loved by her family. She was born in Washington DC, and loved recounting stories of life in Washington during the Depression and World War II. Upon completing her sophomore year at George Washington University, Audrey married Arthur, the love of her life and best friend, in August 1949. They had planned to live in Ithaca, NY where Audrey expected to complete her undergraduate degree at Cornell University. Instead, she found herself in Dundee, NY, where that same month, Arthur founded Seneca Foods Corporation by leasing a bankrupt grape juice plant.

Today Seneca is one of the largest processors of fruits and vegetables in the United States. Audrey was Arthur’s partner in every way and played a significant role in Seneca’s growth.

In addition to supporting her husband, Audrey was an exemplary volunteer whose service included president of the Board of Education in Penn Yan and membership on the Executive Committee of the Keuka College Board of Trustees.

She was born in Washington DC, and loved recounting stories of life in Washington during the Depression and World War II. Audrey was an active member at both the First Presbyterian Church in Penn Yan, NY and Christ Church in Longboat Key, FL. She enjoyed travel, bridge, sailing, golf, gardening, and snow skied into her eighties. She was a member of Lakeside Country Club, the Longboat Key Club, the Sarasota Yacht Club, and the Hunt Hollow Ski Club.

Audrey is survived by four children and 12 grandchildren. A service celebrating her life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Penn Yan, NY on August 20th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be

made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, PO Box 781352, Philadelphia, PA 19178-1352.

SERVICE: Saturday, August 20, 11AM First Presbyterian Church Penn Yan, NY DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, PO Box 781352, Philadelphia, PA 19178-1352.

Hearts Forever in our

Bill enlisted in the Navy and served on an aircraft carrier becoming lifelong friends with roommate Willard Scott working on communications.

Bill was born in Cleveland, OH to William F. Gallagher and Ella M. Gallagher. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School ’52 and Xavier University ’56. Bill enlisted in the Navy and served on an aircraft carrier becoming lifelong friends with roommate Willard Scott working on communications. He married Cecilie Anne Porier whom he met from Mt. Saint Joseph College in Cincinnati, started a family and began a career in metal cutting tools with Cleveland Twist Drill, Greenfield Industries and Federal Mogul.

Folks who knew Bill and Cecilie understood their love of Quechee, Vermont. Golf was the sport he loved. He taught his very young sons to love the game as well. He enjoyed tennis with his daughter Kathleen. Each Thanksgiving playing several chilly holes with their four children and Dalmatian became a tradition. Next to family his biggest connection to Quechee was his and Cecilie’s large group of friends without whose companionship not much else mattered. From 1970’s to today. Bill served on The Quechee Club Board of Directors, committees and volunteered for golf events.

Memorialize your loved one with a lasting tribute in

print and online, a permanent record of

The Quechee Times Winter/ Spring 2022 issue featured Bill in an article: A Quechee Lifer.

He is survived by sons Martin J. Gallagher of Scituate, MA, Kevin T. Gallagher of Malvern, PA and Ryan W. Gallagher of Tokyo, Japan. Grandsons Justin W. Chaudoin of Chicago, IL and George S. Chaudoin of Quincy, MA. William was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Cecilie A. Gallagher and daughter Kathleen K. Chaudoin of Sherborn, MA. A gathering is being planned for late September/ early October in Quechee, VT.

a legacy your family will always cherish.

PROVIDED BY THE OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers kindly remember him by contributing to Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction.

Submit your Loved One’s Obituary Call Adella at 941-366-3468, ext. 346; tributes@yourobserver.com or ask your funeral director for assistance.

386978-1

386979-1

The Home Service Pros Who Care

The Area’s most Trusted Name since 1974

New AC System Starting at

4,800!

$

+ 12 Months 0% Financing Available!

Some restrictions apply. This offer applies to a 1.5 T, 14 SEER HVAC System with heat strip and thermostat included. Includes reconnection to existing ductwork, wiring, refrigerant piping and drain. Not valid on prior purchases and cannot combine offers.

Limited time offer.Contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for details.

Offer expires 8/31/22.

250 OFF

$

Whole House Water Treatment System Cannot be combined with other offers.

Contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for details.

Offer expires 8/31/2022.

100 OFF

$

LET AQUA HELP YOU ON YOUR NEXT ELECTRICAL PROJECT!

Reme Halo Air Purifier

SERVICES INCLUDE: Complete Home Rewiring Standby Generators & Service Repairs on All Generators Surge Protection

Cannot be combined with other offers.

Contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for details.

Offer expires 8/31/2022.

FREE

AND SO MUCH MORE!!

Water Quality Analysis ($99 value)

CALL NOW! 941.866.6210

or visit www.AquaPlumbingSarasota.com

Cannot be combined with other offers. Must present coupon at time of service.Contact Aqua Plumbing & Air for details.

Offer expires 8/31/2022.

Lic # cAc1816020 • PLbg cFc1428223 • ELEc Ec13009313

Air Conditioning

Plumbing

Electrical

Water Treatment

381414-1

SEE HOW MUCH MORE YOU CAN SAVE!

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

5B

Coldwell Banker CONGRATULATES the TOP team!

JUDY KEPECZ-HAYS TEAM Sarabande

The Beach Residences

Enjoy sunset views!

Enjoy sunrise views!

Ritz-Carlton Managed 340 South Palm Ave #75 3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,761 Sq Ft www.Sarabande75.com Offered for $3,300,000

1300 Benjamin Franklin Dr #1009 3 bed, 3 bath | 3,582 Sq Ft 1300BenjaminFranklinDr1009.com Offered for $2,950,000

Queen's Harbour

2509 Marblehead Drive

Lake views with sunsets!

3633 Fair Oaks Place 3 bed, plus den, 3.5 bath | 2,892 Sq Ft www.3633FairOaksPlace.com Offered for $1,925,000

2509 Marblehead Drive 3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,869 Sq Ft www.2509MarbleheadDrive.com Offered for $1,434,800

Thinking of selling your Residence? Please call me!

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

387055-1

LongboatKeyLuxury.com | (941) 587-1700

6B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022 Silhouette® Quartette® Operating Systems PowerView® Automation

Sarasota’s Best Voted One of

28 Years in a Row!

YOUR HOME DESERVES Hunter Douglas!

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS

The crowd enjoys the music and the shade.

941-925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com 4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

Janet and Curt Mattson Owners

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Dottie Mauger, Nina Belott and Vicki Hadle found seats near the fans.

Breezy concert brings out the fans

A

Visit our Showroom 401 Manatee Avenue, Holmes Beach

778-5622 www.lapenseeplumbing.com

LIC. #CFC1429635 ~ CPC1459826 ~ CAC1818472

384696-1

They arrived early and nabbed “fan seats.”

Trey and Grayson Bushorr’s grandparents brought them to the concert. The brothers were visiting from Buffalo, New York, for the weekend.

Next-Mark President Joe Grano called the summer concert series a refreshing opportunity to bring top talent into the park and get people out after COVID-19 prevented the St. Armands Business Improvement District from holding events.

The next and final concert in the series is on Sept. 17.

t St. Armands Circle Park on Aug. 13, JAC of All Trades brought fans out — jazz fans and the kind that kept them cool on a simmering Saturday afternoon.

JAC is the lead singer’s initials: Jonathan Andrew Cortez, who was a contestant on “American Idol.”

Like the TV show, Saturday’s performance attracted an audience of all ages.

“She’s 90,” Vickie Hadley said as she pointed to her toe-tapping mom, Dottie Mauger, “She saw this in the paper last week and asked us to bring her here.”

—LESLEY DWYER

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. ONE SOURCE.™

TILE & STONE

|

|

MOSAICS

CABINETRY

|

COUNTERTOPS

|

FLOORING

FLORIDADESIGNWORKS.COM

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. ONE SOURCE. ™ VISIT OUR SARASOTA SHOWROOM 941.355.2703

|

4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL 34234

386883-1

382864-1

Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

7B

Do You Suffer From Chronic Lower Back Pain?

YO U A R E I N V I T E D !

JAC of All Trades play St. Armands Circle for a summer concert series.

Join Philip Meinhardt, M.D., our board-certified spine

Aria, Jennifer and Alondra Cortez find a shady spot.

questions about the latest innovations and minimal invasive procedures to eliminate your discomfort.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 4:30 pm

Please register to attend: events@sforzodillingham.com or 941.378.5100 ext. 214

Philip A. Meinhardt, M.D. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship trained spine surgeon. He specializes in adult spinal surgeries including reconstruction of spinal deformities, minimally invasive/microscopic spinal procedures, decompression, spinal instrumentation, fusion procedures and microscopic cervical disc replacements.

386805-1

Debra Chrobak, Sunday Giambrone Taylor and Shelly Campbell take a moment to enjoy their surroundings.

Grayson and Trey Bushorr enjoy the show.

Arthur Wasserman and Gail Thompson

CLEAR THE SHELTERS AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 31

COME ADOPT YOUR NEXT FOREVER FRIEND!

379610-1

During this time we will be offering $25 off all adoptions, Donate now at catdepot.org to support all the kitties we care for and help!

941-366-2404 | 2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 | www.catdepot.org

donate & shop Building Materials | Furniture | Appliances Art | Decorative Accessories | Lamps

Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years

Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor • Consistent top producer on Longboat Key • In-depth knowledge of the real estate market • Active in our community with Longbeach Village Association Longboat Key Historical Society Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Longboat Key Garden Club 384732-1

941.724.7228

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

3 Stores n 1 Location Tuesday - Saturday n 10:00am - 5:00pm 2095 17th Street n Sarasota Have large items to donate?

Call to schedule your free pick up.

www.instagram.com/observergroup

n

www.habitatsrq.org

Our vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live.

370401-1

383846-1

(941) 444-5783

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

LONGBOAT KEY 2161 Gulf Of Mexico Drive PH3 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 6,002 Sq. Ft. Jenifer Schwell 941-780-0968 A4534425 $8,950,000

LONGBOAT KEY 540 Harbor Cove Circle 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,081 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick & Beverly St Hilaire 941-780-6001 A4534178 $3,600,000

SARASOTA 1715 Arlington Street 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,732 Sq. Ft. Barbara May & Fred Sassen 404-822-9264 A4540176 $2,995,000

LONGBOAT KEY 597 Bayview Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,450 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group & Steve Walter 941-232-2000 A4537864 $2,699,000

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 218 82nd Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,802 Sq. Ft. Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4541555 $1,895,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2101 Harbourside Drive 1103 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,219 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire & Julie Klick 941-504-3303 A4544445 $1,300,000

SARASOTA 770 S Palm Avenue 901 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,532 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4538482 $1,250,000

SARASOTA 1111 N Gulfstream Avenue 3C 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,736 Sq. Ft. Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4533731 $1,145,000

SARASOTA 707 S Gulfstream Avenue 1003 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,305 Sq. Ft. Marybeth Flynn 941-704-1477 A4535832 $1,050,000

SARASOTA 628 42nd Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,506 Sq. Ft. Francoise Borel 941-228-3768 A4534123 $899,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4800 Gulf Of Mexico Drive PH4 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,312 Sq. Ft. Tryla Brown Larson 941-962-1122 A4539305 $889,000

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

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

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

SARASOTA 707 S Gulfstream Avenue 207 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,247 Sq. Ft. Marybeth Flynn 941-704-1477 A4526957 $759,000

SARASOTA 101 S Gulfstream Avenue 15A 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,200 Sq. Ft. Ethel Lovelace & Mina Johnson 941-586-7390 A4538174 $759,000

SARASOTA 433 Central Avenue 203 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,475 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4542834 $759,000

CORTEZ 3045 Mariners Cove Drive 112 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,762 Sq. Ft. Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4543313 $750,000

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

SARASOTA 2501 Tulip Street 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,545 Sq. Ft. Kelley Callaway & Kim Ogilvie 941-951-6660 A4535312 $649,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1955 Gulf Of Mexico Drive G6-402 2 Beds 1 Baths 933 Sq. Ft. Gail Wittig & Ian Addy, PA 941-228-1985 A4544787 $639,000

SARASOTA 2322 Arlington Street 2 Beds 1 Baths 1,020 Sq. Ft. Jill Berg 941-315-1199 A4535722 $595,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3320 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 203-C 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,187 Sq. Ft. Sandi Layfield & Michael Nink, PA 941-914-2807 A4542770 $529,000

LIDO KEY 170 Roosevelt Drive 21 1 Bed 1 Baths 601 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4538740 $460,000

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

CORTEZ 12925 42nd Terrace W 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,138 Sq. Ft. Joanna Benante & Ann Martin 941-356-7717 A4537365 $4,200,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 820 N Shore Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,953 Sq. Ft. Kathy Harman 941-900-9828 A4524887 $3,999,999

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

373744-1

8B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

AUG. 1-5

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Country Club Shores tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Charles Nechtem, of Longboat Key, sold his home at 572 Schooner Lane to Robert and Ingrid Lupica, of Richmond, Virginia, for $3.1 million.

Built in 1963, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,221 square feet of living area. It sold for $780,000 in 2013.

9B

REAL ESTATE

Country Club Shores home sells for $3.1 million

|

BEACHES OF LONGBOAT KEY

Mary Fortune, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1003 condominium at 775 Longboat Club Road to Manon Hogue, of Ontario, Canada, for $2.5 million. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,122 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.5 million in 2018.

LA LENAIRE ISLE

Kurt and Kimberly Lagerloef, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, sold their home at 7155 La Lenaire Drive to Joseph Genova, of Ontario, Canada, for $2.1 million. Built in 1989, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,336 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.27 million in 2017.

WINDING OAKS

Thomas and Dolores Diener, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 6 condominium at 3411 Winding Oaks Drive to Lawrence Coleman, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $1,695,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,555 square feet of living area.

It sold for $1.1 million in 2021.

BEACHPLACE

Janet Zettermarck, of Stockholm, Sweden, sold the Unit 202 condominium at 1075 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Kawe Real Estate Holdings LLC for $1,187,000. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,392 square feet of living area. It sold for $460,000 in 2000.

Steven Rosenberger, of New Albany, Ohio, sold his Unit 202 condominium at 1115 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Thomas Wilhelmsen, of Staten Island, New York, for $1 million.

Photos courtesy of Tina Rudek-Stark, Rosebay International Realty

572 Schooner Lane was built in 1963.

to Nicola and Diane Orlando, of Longboat Key, for $535,000. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,248 square feet of living area. It sold for $250,000 in 2008.

Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,392 square feet of living area. It sold for $225,000 in 1994.

FAINE APARTMENTS

Barry and Etta Thomas, of Newberry, sold their Unit 2 condominium at 420 Firehouse Court to Todi Garay, of Bradenton, for $610,000.

Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,015 square feet of living area. It sold for $340,000 in 2006.

ST. JUDES APARTMENTS

Dennis Sherer, of Orlando, sold the Unit 21 condominium at 739 Saint Judes Drive S. to Joan Curto and William Stout, trustees, of Naperville, Illinois, for $605,000. Built in 1967, it has one bedroom, one bath and 868 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2017.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

Alvin Max Kummer and Ellen Mary Kummer, of Edgewater, Maryland, sold their Unit 29 condominium at 733 Spanish Drive N. to Anthony and Kirstie Balducci, of Great Falls, Virginia, for $375,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,361 square feet of living area. It sold for $123,000 in 1998.

LA PLAYA

Samuel and Susan Garber, trustees, of Lakeland, sold the Unit 102 condominium at 4425 Gulf of Mexico Drive to William and Haylie Lilley, of Riverview, for $560,000. Built in 1974, it has one bedroom, one bath and 699 square feet of living area. It sold for $150,000 in 2021.

572 Schooner Lane has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,221 square feet of living area.

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Longboat Key

SUTTON PLACE

Joan Rachlin sold her Unit TU-23 condominium at 573 Sutton Place The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From $2.4MM to $10.9MM | Call for appointment | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of August 5-11 in order of dollar amounts.

L O N G B OAT K E Y PERMIT Concrete repair

APPLICANT Promenade Condo Owner

AMOUNT($) $2,296,707

415 L’Ambiance Dr. #A301 Windows and doors

Rutledge Family Trust

$290,551

435 L’Ambiance Dr. #PHK

Electrical

Loyal M. Peterman

$119,000

361 N Shore Rd.

Pool

Mark Occhipinti

$110,175

1445 GMD #503

Interior alterations

Michele O. Butler

$84,000

548 Outrigger Ln.

Windows and doors

Alan Burkhard

$83,269

4651 GMD

Pool cabana

4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive C

$82,000

1115 GMD #505

Windows and doors

David Waterman

$80,207

6453 Gulfside Rd.

Reroof

Ronald A. Brown Jr.

$63,775

639 Bayview Dr.

Mechanical

Phillip Bolles Burke

$63,050

1135 GMD #504

Windows and doors

Lawrence J. Kidd TTEE

$55,755

1115 GMD #403

Windows and doors

John Greenberg

$55,755

525 Spinnaker Ln.

Pool resurface

Mike Kniepman

$53,159

1930 Harbourside Dr. #143 Interior alterations

Joyce P. Jefferson

$47,118

435 L’Ambiance Dr. #PHK

Mechanical

Loyal M. Peterman

$45,433 $44,000

600 Emerald Harbor Dr.

Dock

Chris Wood

4380 Exeter Dr. Unit 106

Remodel kitchen

Linda Bertone

$42,516

2399 GMD #3A4

Doors

Lynne U. Cosler

$40,172

712 Marbury Ln.

Reroof

2153 Harbourside Dr. #803 Interior alterations

Downtown St. Petersburg

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

Downtown Sarasota

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

Revocable Trust Ronald A. Brown Jr.

$39,340

J&B’s Beach Pad LLC

$36,000

571 Putter Ln.

Plumbing

Kristin B. Herendeen

$30,950

580 Bowsprit Ln.

Electrical

Paul A. Tomass

$27,500

6750 GMD Unit 145

Windows and doors

Edward C. Cassel Jr.

$25,183

737 Norton St.

Plumbing

Charles C. Pflueger

$20,834

917 Spanish Dr. N

Plumbing

John A. Chambers

$20,300

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

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

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

Source: Town of Longboat Key

Licensed Real Estate Broker

373666-1

ADDRESS 1211 GMD

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

YOUR CALENDAR

10B

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18

MOVIE MANATEE 1 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” a 2015 comedy/drama starring Blythe Danner and Sam Elliott. Refreshments and popcorn included. Free for members, $10 for others. Call 941-383-6493.

LADIES DAY OUT 15% discounts will be offered, along with raffle prizes and refreshments at participating St. Armands Circle shops. Call 941-388-1554.

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS

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

Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

Sarasota’s Only Locally Owned Community Bank

RITZ RESIDENCES TUESDAYS

Have you considered banking local? The money we lend at Gulfside Bank supports the families and businesses who are living and investing in our community. As Sarasota’s only locally owned community bank, we are your neighbors, we are your friends, and we care about your success.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

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

Choosing Gulfside Bank is another great way to support and invest in your community.

(941) 303-4200

WEDNESDAYS

BEGINNER TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Cost is $10.

Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

THURSDAYS

ST. ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH BRIDGE CLUB Every Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive. All skill levels are welcome. There is an $8 suggested donation for each session. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP to 952-9251.

Live here. Bank here.

333 N. Orange Avenue | Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 303-4200 | gulfsidebank.com

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

FRIDAYS

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

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

Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

RITZ CARLTON CARLTON LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE –– SARASOTA SARASOTA RITZ th

JANET AND STEVE WALTER JANET AND STEVE WALTER 941.232.2000 941.232.2000 Janet@WalterGroupRealEstate.com Janet@WalterGroupRealEstate.com 941.809.0907 941.809.0907 Steve@WalterGroupRealEstate.com Steve@WalterGroupRealEstate.com 440 Gulf of Mexico Drive 440 Gulf ofKey, Mexico Drive Longboat FL 34228 Longboat Key, FL 34228

ZAGAT “Top restaurant in America”

17 Floor Penthouse • 4,276SF • 3 Bedroom • 3-1/2 Ba 17th Floor Penthouse • 4,276SF • 3 Bedroom • 3-1/2 Ba Privacy – Comfort - Convenience Privacy – Comfort - Convenience $4,995,000

$4,995,000 www.WalterGroupRealEstate.com/Ritz1703 www.WalterGroupRealEstate.com/Ritz1703 Imagine a home not only defined by sophisticated style and luxurious finishes, but equi Imagine home notRitz-Carlton only definedservice. by sophisticated style and luxurious finishes, but dinin equi to deliveralegendary From concierge services and in-residence to deliver legendary Ritz-Carlton service. From and in-residence dinin dedicated residential management team,concierge a lifestyleservices of privacy and comfort awaits. dedicated residential a lifestyle of privacy and20comfort awaits.

Meticulously cared for and management maintained byteam, the original owners for over years. The ligh Meticulously caredresidence for and maintained by thecolors, original owners for over 20high-end years. The ligh bright 4,276sf features neutral soaring ceilings, and finish bright 4,276sf residencefoyer features colors, soaring ceilings, high-end finish throughout.

A beautiful withneutral chandelier opens to the formaland living room. Venet throughout.

A beautiful foyer with chandelier opens to the formal living room.

Venet plaster walls and marble flooring flow into the formal dining room with a dazzling star ce plaster walls and flooring flowroom into the formal room with ce Large sliding glassmarble doors in the living connect thedining indoor space anda dazzling bayfrontstar terrac Large sliding glass in the livingofroom connect the indoor space boats and bayfront terrac perfect spot fordoors soaking in views the turquoise waters, passing and spectacu perfect spot for soaking in views of the turquoise sunsets. waters, passing boats and spectacu sunsets.

Call for private showing: Janet Walter and Steve Walter 941.232.2000/941.809.09 Call for private showing: Janet Walter and Steve Walter 941.232.2000/941.809.09

JANET & STEVE WALTER 941.232.2000 janet@waltergrouprealestate.com 941.809.0907 steve@waltergrouprealestate.com 440 Golf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228

RITZ CARLTON LIFESTYLE SARASOTA 17th Floor Penthouse 4,276SF 3 Bedroom | 3 1/2 Bath | Privacy Comfort Convenience $4,995,000

www.WalterGroupRealEstate.com/Ritz1703

Imagine a home not only defined by sophisticated style and luxurious finishes, but equipped to deliver legendary Ritz Carlton service. From concierge services and in residence dining to a dedicated residential management team, a lifestyle of privacy and comfort awaits.

Meticulously cared for and maintained by the original owners for over 20 years. The light and bright 4,276sf residence features neutral colors, soaring ceilings, and high end finishes throughout. A beautiful foyer with chandelier opens to the formal living room. Venetian plaster walls and marble flooring flow into the formal dining room with a dazzling star ceiling. Large sliding glass doors in the living room connect the indoor space and bayfront terrace a perfect spot for soaking in views of the turquoise waters, passing boats and spectacular sunsets.

941.778.6444 www.BeachBistro.com

383009-1

Call for private showing: Janet Walter and Steve Walter 941.232.2000/941.809.0907

387014-1

378136-1

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19

THIRD FRIDAY FOOD TRUCK 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Whitney Plaza, 6858 QI GONG Gulf of Mexico Drive. This month feaFrom 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Cen1111 PH-1703 Sarasota, FLfood 34236| MLS# tures from the newA4537226 restaurant, La ter,Ritz 546Carlton Bay IslesDr. Road.

Qi gong |is a 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr. PH-1703 | Sarasota, FL 34236| MLS# A4537226 Villa Mexican Grill. Selected merchants mind-body-spirit practice designed will donate 10% of sales to Temple to improve mental and physical Beth Israel. health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

People like to shop local. Supporting local retailers and frequenting independent restaurants is a great way to make an investment in the place where you live, work, and play.

Meet your new banker. Call us today.

File photo

WEATHER

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

|

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

11B

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, AUG. 19

Sunrise Sunset

High: 86 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 50%

Thursday, Aug. 18

7:03a

8:05p

Friday, Aug. 19

7:03a

8:04p

Saturday, Aug. 20

7:04a

8:03p

Sunday, Aug. 21

7:04a

8:02p

SATURDAY, AUG. 20

Monday, Aug. 22

7:05a

8:01p

High: 88 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 24%

Tuesday, Aug. 23

7:05a

8:00p

Wednesday, Aug. 24

7:06a

7:59p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, AUG. 21 High: 90 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 58%

Aug. 27 New

Sept. 3 First

Sept. 10 Full

Sept. 17 Last

TIDES Highs Lows

Sergio Albuquerque captured this photo of the sand’s surface during a sunset on Longboat Key.

Thursday, Aug. 18

4:39a

7:00p

12:50p

11:24p

Friday, Aug. 19

5:18a

—

—

2:10p

Saturday, Aug. 20

6:07a

—

—

3:30p

Sunday, Aug. 21

7:12a

—

—

4:38p

Monday, Aug. 22

8:27a

—

—

5:34p

Tuesday, Aug. 23

1:05a

9:36a

3:34a

6:19p

Wednesday, Aug. 24

1:18a

10:32a

4:41a

6:57p

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

The Observer’s

Weather ENTER: &Nature

Sponsored by

YourObserver.com/contests KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

386433-1

2022-23 PHOTO CONTEST

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY

celebrity cipher DOWN

1 Crisscross pattern 2 Connector of oxen 3 ESPN’s Kimes 4 Schedule opening 5 Green onion 6 Diamond-patterned socks 7 Grayish-brown color 8 One-named Celtic singer 9 Flap of skin on an animal’s neck 10 H.S. class with dissections 11 ___ Stadium (D.C. venue) 12 Charged particle 13 Post-haircut request 14 ___ Enninful (editor in chief of British Vogue) 15 Grader’s stack during finals week 16 “Best in Show” animals 17 Surplus 18 Toy on a string 24 Stimulated, like an appetite 25 ___ Kitchen, Manhattan 26 Sign of a popular Broad©2022 Universal Uclick 84 Miss piggy?

61 NFL six-pointers 34 ___ McDaniel (first way show (Abbr.)

ACROSS 85 Some public transit aids 31 Can of worms, maybe?

African American to win an 62 “Slow your roll!”

11 Places to work out 63 Bit of ink from a parlor 87 Film with a sequel sub- 32 Bruins’ school Oscar) 5 Absolutely stuffed 66 People at the top of a 37 Public poster titled “The Way of Water” 33 Screw up badly 10 Pay off, maybe podium 38 Asexual, for short 88 “Bye for now!”

34 Called, like a cab 15 Avant-garde 67 “Yeah, me too” 41 Bad breath 90 “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” 35 People on your side 19 Stir up 68 Start to fidget 44 Soft and smooth kid 36 Measured with a 20 Construction machine 71 Scottish lakes 45 It might dig up some 91 Remove in postproducstopwatch 21 “This hand stinks” 72 Improvises, in jazz tion 39 Mobility aid 22 Hairless Mexican dog, dirt 73 “That’s a thumbs-down 94 Currently being fixed 47 Crude guys?

40 Garden with the tree informally from me” 48 Get ___ of (throw out) 100 “This is the least of life 23 “Let me ask my connec74 Filmmaking device, for 50 ___ Bo surprising thing ever” 41 Lift up tion to ask his connection” short 51 Embarrassing public 104 Not doing anything 42 “And that proves it!”

27 Like a vampire’s com77 Facilities in Britain displays 105 Gooey campfire treat 43 “Precious” star plexion 78 Final tallies 52 “OK, it wasn’t true” 106 Legal scholar Hill Gabourey 28 Starts liking 79 Strong point 53 Entered, like data 107 Author Moody 45 Frightening 29 Palindromic French 80 Game also called 55 Clear to see 108 It falls from an eye 46 Superlative suffix pronoun knucklebones 57 NCAA bracket position 109 “Absolutely, ” in modern 49 Chopped into little 30 Event that might be 82 NorCal region home to 58 Game where you don’t lingo cubes hotly anticipated by a Oakland want to be left standing 110 Pitched shelters 51 Rods for roasting band’s fans

53 Provides with money 54 Like “m” and “n” sounds 56 They might be checkered 58 Very, in Italian 59 “lmaoooo” 60 Spanish for “boys” 62 “No Man Is an Island” poet John 63 “Private Life” director Jenkins 64 More abundant 65 Thompson of “Sorry to Bother You” 66 Online subculture with many “Drag Race” memes 67 Occupied, like a table 68 Animated image 69 Spanish for “those” 70 Bubble tea flavor 72 Went on a journey 75 Highest point 76 “You got it?”

78 Small Greek cafes 80 “One sec” 81 Teapot part 83 Elizabeth ___ Browning 85 “The ___ Eye” (Toni Morrison novel) 86 Piece of summer headwear 89 High-arcing tennis shot 90 Phrase a hitchhiker hopes to hear 91 Exude 92 “Bro ...”

93 Actress Fisher 95 Copenhagen resident 96 “Don’t text and drive” spots, e.g.

97 Indigenous people of Japan 98 Quaint stopovers 99 Marbled loaves 101 URL punctuation mark 102 “___ you gonna eat that?”

103 Word that establishes consent

“EN RLTI L XKUR KJ ILJM; EN RLTI L BNNF XKUR KJ VLW. EN RLTI L CIWM BNNF XKUR KJ L RKWLSUI.” – LUIPLGFWN BNGYLUIY KGLWWKEO

“ORT CYAPL BGTWV’O LGCT EMGC DPORPV ORT BPMTLOGM’W CPVB, PO LGCTW EMGC DPORPV ORT RTYMOW GE ORT YLOGMW.”

– XYCTW LYCTMGV

“YLHCW PYL SC Y XWNSKCF, SOM TM ZYJ MWCFCLINOJ XNMCLMTYK, MNN. TM’J ROJM ETHOWTLH NOM VZYM MN IN VTMZ TM.”

– JCYL XCLL

Puzzle Three Clue: P equals C

111 ___ out (deduce)

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals G

JUMBO FREESTYLE 3 by Will Nediger. Edited by Amanda Rafkin

Puzzle One Clue: R equals M

crossword

© 2022 NEA, Inc.

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

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

8-18-22

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

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

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

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

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE!

Advertise items less than $200 for FREE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

FLAT TV mount Sanus ALT 1 $30 and Duvet insert (Full) $20 email greytreelane@outlook.com FOR SALE: Columbia Grafonola, Type K-2 record player and 35 records. Good condition, works. 20"x19"x45" $170.00.

Call 941-981-9680.

PITTSBURGH PRESS Newspapers (7) from the earth to the moon 1958-1969, $10.

941-741-9727

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

WEEKLY MONTHLY

Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

STUDIO COVERS for twin beds.

New, custom-made, rust coloreddenim. 38”x75”. $75 each.

941-349-8130

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

941809-3660, 941-809-3662.

VINTAGE ROYAL Gallery Flatware 7-Piece Setting, Gold, Photo Like New, $20 per Setting (973) 356-8898

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

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

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

SELL YOUR STUFF FAST!

GARAGE SALE Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

CALL

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Painting

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Autos Wanted

Auto Transport

SEASONAL Rates Beachfront, Bayfront and In

LBK 3B/3B private deeded beach access, pool, canal-front home with hardwood floors, 22' living room ceilings, and screened porches. Available Jan 21-April 29. $14,000/month.

(941) 809-4554

auto

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE!

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Homes for Rent

3 MANNEQUIN torsos- 2 female, 1 male. all 3 for $100.

941-360-0653 DVD SETS:10 Johnny Carson/Tonight Show, $25. 13 Victor Borge, $13. (941) 966-6816

LONGBOAT KEY beachfront Seaplace 2BR/2BA turnkey furnished condo with with beautiful greenbelt & bay views, W/D in unit, guard gated, heated pools, no smoking/pets, longterm, $4100/mo + elect & internet, avail now 440-623-9068 Jim

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

Call 941-383-3338.

CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos.

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

This week’s Crossword answers

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “To make a film is easy; to make a good film is war. To make a very good film is a miracle.”

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Puzzle Two Solution: “The magic doesn’t come from within the director’s mind, it comes from within the hearts of the actors.”

James Cameron Puzzle Three Solution: “Anger can be a problem, but it has tremendous potential, too. It’s just figuring out what to do with it.”

Sean Penn

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 Universal Uclick

TREASURES found here.

Looking for something?

Your lucky discovery is closer than you think.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

©2022 NEA, Inc.

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

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

Visit the RED PAGES

Condos/Apts. for Rent

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

OUR ONLINE TOOLS MAKE IT EASY TO PLACE YOUR AD

peekers’ place

stuff

BUYING BASEBALL card collections! Looking to free up space and make $$? Need to sell sports cards? Collector looking to expand collection.

Pay top dollar. Text/call 941 548 6492 with photos.

real estate

Merchandise Wanted

1BR/1BA 1350 Main St, in heart of Downtown Sarasota. Beautiful 3rd floor, turn key, furnished condo in upscale building overlooking main street. Amenities include: concierge, reserved in-building parking, pool, fitness center, and more. Available for seasonal rental starting September 1 through month of April for $4000/mo. Includes all.

Call George: 516-993-3324.

The CRYSTAL CLEAR choice!

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

home services

RED PAGES

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

Chrissy Stites

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

LMT, CMCE

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

WE COME TO YOU

609-820-4251

By appointment only

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

Rescreening & Repairs

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

5-Star Rated

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

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

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

386851

HoHoBuysCars.com

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

Carpet Cleaning

941-345-5264

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Doors and more!

Roofing

Manufacture and workmanship

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

End of Summer Clean Up!

Warranties

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. (941) 345-5264 Building & Roofing Contractor

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

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

386266

941-778-2882 • 941-387-0607 Serving AMI, LBK and Bradenton for 25 years

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

386325

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

DRIES IN HOURS – NOT DAYS • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Health & Fitness

Check out our 5 Star Reviews on Google

FUNCTIONAL FITNESS TRAINING

941-626-3194

Helping seniors stay fit and independent since 2009 Clinical Exercise Specialist · Private In-Home Services Brian M Simpson NASM, AMFPT, CPR, AED & First Aid Certified

Sliding Glass Door Repair

386619

Doors

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Transportation

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

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

Insurance

MIC INSURANCE

386322

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Estate Sales

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

Gulf Coast Estate Auctions

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

We get you the highest rate of return on your items gulfcoastestateauctions.com • Free Consultations 941-274-6537

Furniture Repair

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

386323

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

386620

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

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

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

WITH THE RED PAGES

Call to reserve your ad space:

386598

Advertise as low as $85 per week.

AFTER

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

BEFORE

RELIABLE MARBLE CARE • REPAIR • POLISHING

• MAINTENANCE • RESTORATION

941-224-6649 • 941-920-0203 reliablemarblecare@gmail.com

941-248-4734

Airport Rides for First Time Customers Next Ride with Booked Referral

All Airports, Hourly & Tours Lincoln SUVS, Cadillac XTS & Mercedes

Windows Res./Com.

Lic./Ins.

& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing n s a S u n u n w r o i s n e k W S ind erly Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

25

UP TO

STANDARD WINDOWS

ows

150

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

Masonry

TIME TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

10% off

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

CREATE BUZZ! Advertise your business or services in the Red Pages.

Call 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Insurance

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Smith

| 941.383.3388

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

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

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

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

386859

385788

ESTATE SALES • DOWNSIZING SENIOR TRANSITIONS • ONLINE AUCTIONS

941-504-0903

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

Luxury for Less

386563

Like Us on Facebook

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

Rest your mind & body.

Connect with your spirit.

386621

FAST • EASY • SAFE

MediCupping & Massage Therapy services for healing

385862

SELL YOUR CAR! 941.270.4400

Massage

385776

Health

13B

385783

Auto Service

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

|

14B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

THE ACKERMAN GROUP 941.387.1820 TOP PRODUCING SMALL TEAM IN SARASOTA COUNTY RYAN ACKERMAN

www.ackermansrq.com

ryan@ackermangroup.net

BARBARA ACKERMAN

barbara@ackermangroup.net

FEATURED PROPERTIES COMING SOON | GOLDEN GATE POINT

JUST LISTED | LIDO KEY

LIDO REGENCY - 1700 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DR., #5F

$575,000

Spacious 1BR/1.5BA, 981 SF beach-side getaway with Bay and city skyline views, open great room/dining room floor plan and a large master bedroom suite with full bath & walk-in closet.

HARBOR ACRES | WEST OF THE TRAIL

CALL FOR DETAILS!

Exclusive waterfront residence with panoramic views of the Bay, downtown city skyline and Marina Jack’s, and the ideal location for the avid boater.

COREY’S LANDING | LONGBOAT KEY OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1:00 - 4:00 PM

NOW PENDING

HARBOR ACRES - 1309 VISTA DRIVE

GOLDEN GATE POINT

$17,250,000

230’ Open Bay Front | Gated Estate | Endless Sunsets, City, and views of Ringling Bridge One-of-a-kind Masterpiece. MLS #A4491997 Now Pending Sale.

COREY’S LANDING - 3414 FAIR OAKS LANE

4BR/4BA | 3,725 SF | Main Level Master Suite | Updated Master Bath | Pool/Spa Gourmet Kitchen | 22’ Ceilings | 2-Story | 2-Car Garage. MLS#A4538487

$1,995,000

RECENT SUCCESS STORIES MAJESTIC BAY | DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

PENDING

MAJESTIC BAY - 258 GOLDEN GATE PT. #601

WESTON POINTE | LONGBOAT KEY

SOLD

PENDING! $4,300,000

Panoramic Bay, Bridge, Skyline & Sunset Views 3BR+Office/3.5BA | Entire 6th Floor 3,031SF | Private 2-Car Garage. MLS#A4539578

WESTON POINTE - 605 WESTON POINTE COURT

SOLD! $1,795,000

Spacious 2,930 +/- sq.-ft, 3BR/3.5BA, 2-car garage home, with a private, caged pool and courtyard, plus your boat dock is just steps from your back door. MLS# A4537236

OVER $80 MILLION PENDING AND SOLD IN 2022 383163-1

595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236