Longboat Observer 10.27.22

YOUR TOWN

Vacant-land plan

An early start

At St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Christmas in July is for procrastinators.

Church members start crafting for their annual Christmas Bazaar in the beginning of May, meeting every Tuesday morning after Mass.

The holiday display is starting to come together in Pick Hall. Handmade wreaths are hung and trees are decorated. At the last workshop, the women were turning white tea lights into snowmen and red Tootsie Pops into Rudolph noses.

Members work at home, too. The official setup starts Oct. 27 when everything from collectibles to hand-knit blankets will deck Pick Hall.

The Christmas Bazaar is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.

Blessed be thy pets

Selfie for a cause

Longboat Key Town Hall was buzzing with community activity and activism last week to celebrate Florida City Government Week.

There was a paper shredding event, a blood drive and an ice cream social. There was also a day devoted to staff selfies. Not all the selfies were rose-tinted, but this one was because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Staff from the Town Clerk’s office, human resources, support services, procurement and finance departments donned their best and brightest pink hats, tops and tiaras to gather for a good-cause selfie.

marks

Longboat Key’s

newspaper

Lesley Dwyer

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Unicorp National Developments

Chuck Whittall greets groundbreaking guests in October 2021.

Developer rolls out condo proposal for GMD parcel once owned by Mote group.

Lesley Dwyer

The Rev. Brock Patterson shows off his own dog, Pippa, during Longboat Island Chapel’s first blessing of the pets.

Furry friends take break for faith.

St. Regis hits one-year construction mark

Progress is slightly ahead of schedule for July 2024 opening.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Ayear has passed since the groundbreaking of The Resi dences at St. Regis Resort Longboat Key held on Oct. 25, 2021.

“We’re actually slightly ahead of schedule,” Unicorp National Development CEO Chuck Whittall said. “Everything is moving along smoothly. We are still targeting a July 2024 opening. It’s on track to do that right now.”

As of Oct. 20, crews had started installing windows on the hotel building, the northernmost struc ture on the property. Residents and visitors of the barrier island will be able to see progress toward complet ing the exterior of the buildings.

On the condo side, crews have poured the third floor of build ing two, and building three is being topped out. Masonry is halfway up the building. The slab-on-grade is 80% complete.

According to an email update sent on Oct. 10, the fourth floor of build ing two on the condo side was being poured. The roof was being placed on the first area of the hotel. Condo buildings three and four are next on the list to have roofs placed.

In February, Whittall and the Unicorp team is planning to host a topping-off ceremony when the final building reaches its design height.

Two model rooms for the hotel will be built off-site with completion expected in January.

“We are building two hotel rooms outright, so we know what the rooms will look like,” Whittall said. “When it’s finished, we don’t want to have built 170 hotel rooms and then go ‘Oh

jee, we should have this in a different place.’”

The rooms will allow the team to ensure every detail is perfect, includ ing wallpaper, tile, carpet and layout.

During the first part of 2023, crews will begin digging swimming pools.

Whittall touted hearing no com plaints from neighbors of the con struction or from the town in gen eral. Contractors keep in touch with neighbors on a weekly basis to keep them informed of how the site is pro gressing.

“I think it’s going to exceed every body’s expectations,” he said. “We are continuing to enhance it in vari ous different ways. I think it is going to be a special property for the town of Longboat Key and a special prop erty to the state of Florida.”

In August, the town granted five building permits, each valued at $185,000 for the installation of elec trical wiring in the property’s five planned buildings.

The condo complex will have 69 units arrayed in three five-story buildings on the south side of the property with parking garages on the ground level. All of the condo minium units have already been sold.

The 166-room hotel is being built on the north end, featuring two res taurants, a beach grill and three bars. Additionally, a ballroom with seat ing for 425 is planned, along with six meeting rooms and two board rooms.

Courtesy photos

October 2022: An aerial view of the St. Regis property in Longboat Key shows the progress made in the past year.

2019: Colony demolition is completed.

July 2022: The hotel and condo buildings begin to rise.

“Everything is moving along smoothly. We are still targeting a July 2024 opening.”

— Chuck Whittall

VACANT NO MORE?

Condo project proposed for land once owned by Mote Scientific Foundation.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Residential development plans are moving ahead for a commercially zoned vacant lot on Gulf of Mex ico Drive that was the subject of a two townwide density referendums, the second of which gained voter approval in 2019.

Long referred to as the Mote prop erty, in reference to previous owner Mote Scientific Foundation, the 2.16 acres now belongs to WB Longboat Residences LLC, which is seek ing land-use changes to allow for a three-story, eight-unit condomini um building.

The town’s Planning and Zon ing Board granted initial approval to preliminary applications last week, though additional hearings and approvals are required at that level and by the Town Commission before construction can proceed.

Court records indicate the prop erty sold in 2021 to the developer for $3 million, following an earlier sale that year from Mote for $1.5 million.

According to records, Longboat Key’s Michael S. Kimball bought the property in April 2021 and sold it in June.

Voters in 2019 approved Mote’s request for residential density on the land, following a 2017 rejection of the same request alongside Unicorp National Development’s density request for a redeveloped Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

Mote had tried unsuccessfully to sell the land with its commercial zoning, and in 2016 offered to sell it to the town as a means of fleshing out a town guideline for open space acreage.

The GMD parcel was first listed for sale in 2003 but drew little interest, though a buyer had considered seek ing to build a self-storage facility in 2017. The proposal, which would have required Commission approv al because such a facility wasn’t allowed under the property’s zoning, was not well received.

“I really can’t see this kind of facility on Longboat,” said Commis sioner Jim Brown at the time. “It just doesn’t seem like the right use for that property.”

In approving the comprehensive plan change and a zoning change from commercial to residential, the Planning and Zoning Board passed the initial issues on to town commis sioners for their consideration.

Board members voiced concerns about stormwater runoff and heard from residents who were con cerned about the potential for noise. Between presentations by the town and the developer, as well as public

SECOND TIME THE CHARM

The March 2019 vote was the second time the Mote Scientific Foundation had asked voters to consider a density change for the property.

The first time was in 2017 and failed with a 58% no vote. Voters also had Unicorp National Development’s high-profile Colony Beach & Tennis Resort density request on the ballot, which was denied with an 87% no vote.

Mote Scientific offered the Gulf of Mexico Drive parcel to the town in 2016 for use as a park or open space, an offer that was turned

comment, the issue took about twoand-a-half hours to discuss.

WHAT’S PROPOSED

The plan for the property is a threestory, eight-unit multifamily resi dential condominium above groundlevel parking. A further request was made to permit six additional feet in height for two roof-top enclosed elevator shafts.

The development plan includes 38 parking spaces, which include 12 guest spaces, two accessible van spaces and 24 parking spots located underneath the structure. A swim ming pool and fitness center are among proposed amenities.

Vehicle access is proposed from Tarawitt and Jungle Queen street fronts with no access proposed directly to Gulf of Mexico Drive. The proposal includes the developer widening Tarawitt Drive to 20 feet.

In the town’s presentation, staff recommended that the board opt to move forward with the project, citing the proposed land use would reduce other potential intensity with the move from commercial to residential. The residential use also requires 30% more open space than a commercial development.

Redevelopment of the prop erty includes enhancements to the visual and aesthetic appearance and character of the site. The plan also includes greater setbacks from rightof-way, both meeting and exceeding town requirements.

In each element, the proposed plan meets or exceeds all town code requirements.

n The maximum building coverage permissible is 30%; the plan only proposes 24%

n The minimum open space required is 50% of the property; the plan pro poses 52% be used for open space

n The minimum street yard setback required is 40 feet; the plan shows 42 feet of setback

n The minimum rear yard setback required is 25 feet; the plan includes 125 feet of rear yard setback

n The minimum property setback from the waterfront is 20 feet; the

down.

In 2019, the land had a market value of $1.136 million, according to Manatee County property records, and had not drawn much interest as zoned for commercial uses.

The property was purchased in 1982 by William Mote, Mote Marine’s founder, who turned the land over to a trust. It was the trust that donated the land to Mote Scientific in 2001. The soonto-be developed parcel was then listed for sale in 2003.

setback shown in the plan is 74 feet n Only 16 parking spaces are required for the site size, but the developer included 38.

RAISED CONCERNS

Residents and planning and zoning board members both presented con cerns for the property. Much of the issues from board members centered

ALSO SUCCESSFUL

In November 2021, Longboat Key residents approved residential zoning on a commercially zoned parcel at the corner of Buttonwood Drive and Gulf of Mexico Drive by a margin of 65% to 35%.

In years past, though, town voters have been hard to persuade to approve similar requests.

on stormwater management.

Currently, the site has no storm water management plan because it is vacant. However, the developer will be required to submit a stormwater management plan consistent with Southwest Florida Water Manage ment District, which will then be reviewed by a private consultant or the town Public Works Department.

“I am concerned about the storm water, and I think we do need to make sure that is addressed extensively,” board member Michael Warnstedt said.

Residents raised concerns for the noise associated with construction, commercializing the area and addi tional cars on the cramped streets.

“We bought this home in 2020 with the knowledge that we wouldn’t be right next to something like this,” resident Tim Kelly said.

His decision to choose the barrier island over neighboring ones comes from the additional privacy and min imal commercial properties on the Key. As many have with other proj ects, Kelly also raised the concern of the potential presence of pickleball.

“I’ve seen plans that have this multirecreational piece; I’ve seen it labeled as pickleball. There’s no buffer on the canal, and I can imag ine the noise going straight down the waterway,” he said.

The board recognized the frustra tions of homeowners that would be close to the development but shared that their ultimate responsibility is to implement the town code.

“Our main concern is the resi dents,” Gary Coffin said. “People live here in the neighborhoods, and we want to make sure that the things are done according to code, and that might not always be the best for the neighbor.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Town commissioners no earlier than Dec. 5 will conduct a public hearing on the comprehensive plan changes and the zoning changes and could vote for the first time.

If those elements of the devel oper’s plan move ahead, the Plan ning and Zoning Board in January would consider the property’s spe cial exception application and site development plan.

File photo

Court records indicate the property sold in 2021 to the developer for $3 million, following an earlier sale that year from Mote for $1.5 million.

Courtesy photos

The proposed development will have a pool, multiuse recreational area and other amenities.

The property proposed includes eight units and 38 parking spaces.

Sarasota man behind $80M Ponzi scheme gets decades in prison

57-year-old convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and money laundering sentenced to federal prison for ‘insidious scheme.’

LOUIS LLOVIO BUSINESS OBSERVER

Michael J. DaCorta, a 57-yearold Sarasota man convicted of running an $80 million Ponzi scheme, has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $52 million in restitution.

The former head of a Longboat Key-based financial company was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung after being found guilty in May of conspiracy to com mit wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering and filing a false income tax return. The court also ordered he forfeit $2,817,876.16.

Jung ordered that he immediately be taken into custody.

“Mr. DaCorta guaranteed his more than 700 clients an ‘oasis’ of an investment, when in reality all they got was a dust bowl of empty promises,” Brian Payne, the special agent in charge of the Internal Rev enue Service’s criminal investigation unit, said in a statement issued after the sentencing.

“Today’s significant prison sen tence ordered by the court should offer some measure of justice to all of those impacted by the destructive wake of Mr. DaCorta’s greed and indifference.”

According to testimony during the trial and to federal officials, DaCorta ran Oasis International Group Lim ited.

In his role, he and co-conspirators “induced victims to invest in Oasis by falsely representing to victiminvestors that Oasis was reaping enormous profits by being a ‘market maker’ and collecting ‘spread’ on voluminous forex trades.”

He told victims the investments were mostly risk free and that Oasis was well collateralized, officials said. The truth was, Oasis didn’t have any revenue, and any “spread” earnings it did make were used “to create the illusion of revenue.”

This false information was then sent to investors in the form of ficti tious account statements and posted on an online investor portal. Pros ecutors say the portal showed the

“spread” credits “but concealed cat astrophic underlying trading losses.”

DaCorta and his alleged co-con spirators would then use the money invested to make payments to main tain the Ponzi scheme and to fund their lifestyles.

Oasis is in receivership as victims and creditors attempt to recoup what they can.

According to a website set up for victims by the receivership, the court-appointed receiver Burton W. Wiand described Oasis at the sen tencing hearing as “one of the most insidious schemes I’ve ever encoun tered.”

Wiand told Jung that about $20 million had been recovered thus far.

A couple who were victims of the scheme spoke before sentencing, saying their family was “emotion ally drained” by their loss.

Prosecutors say DaCorta used the victims’ money to buy a Maserati and Range Rovers for family members, a country club membership, multiple million-dollar homes and college tuition for a family member, as well as flights on private jets and trips to Europe and the Cayman Islands.

He was also convicted of underre porting his income in 2017.

DaCorta’s attorney has already filed a notice to appeal.

File photo

is currently in receivership as victims and creditors attempt to recoup what they can.

In letter, town raises concerns over St. Armands winter festival

Concerns centered around traffic associated with an event of the festival’s length and intensity.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

The town of Longboat Key, which has a long history of expressing concerns about traffic tie-ups in St. Armands Circle, has crafted a letter on behalf of its citizens oppos ing a new, monthlong winter festival approved by the city of Sarasota for the holiday season.

The proposed event was passed by a 4-1 vote by the Sarasota City Com mission during its Oct. 3 meeting.

On Oct. 17, Longboat Key com missioners discussed and ultimately agreed to have Mayor Ken Schneier write a letter to Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo and to the Florida Depart ment of Transportation to voice their concerns with the festival and its effects on traffic to and from the island.

FDOT was included in the corre spondence due to the event sched uled to take place in the state’s right of way.

The festival, proposed by Tom Leonard and Ride Entertainment, is set to span six weeks, with a pro posed opening date of Nov. 18 and closing date of Jan. 3.

“Traffic between the town and Sarasota, especially during the holi days and the winter season, has long been a major concern for Longboat Key and its residents,” Schneier wrote in the letter. “The chokepoint at St. Armands Circle is a focal point for that concern even in the absence of special events at those times of year.”

The letter asked both the city and FDOT to take the town’s concerns into account when considering the event and whether it is appropri ate to hold an event of its size at the circle.

“While the occasional two-day programs managed by the mer

chants’ association with FDOT oversight have on balance benefited the local communities, the length and intensity of the proposed fes tival, promoted and organized as it has been outside of normal proce dures and guidelines, could create havoc for those attempting to travel between Sarasota and the barrier islands during such a busy time,” Schneier wrote.

The proposed site map for the event includes a synthetic ice rink, a trackless train and a carousel among others, all of which would be located within temporary fencing inside the park. The soon-to-be replaced St. Armands Christmas tree will face Ringling Causeway on the approach to the Circle from the mainland.

St. Armands Circle Association Executive Director Rachel Burns has voiced concerns about the probabili ty of the event’s ability to be executed the way it was proposed as opening day approaches.

Her frustration also centers around events she has been working on since February being canceled to make way for the winter festival. The events she typically hosts during the season are all free and are focused on benefiting merchants in the circle.

“People are saying I’m the Grinch and I must have had a horrible child hood and hate Christmas,” she said. “I just want Christmas to be free.”

When proposing the event, Leon ard stated access to attractions would come at the cost of $10 per wristband. A stage is planned to host free entertainment from local schools and performance groups. No admission fee would be required to enter the festival grounds.

She is hopeful that, following a meeting with Leonard, he will allow her to hold some of the events she scheduled months ago.

“In reality, they have that contract for the land, so if they say no, it’s a no.”

Monday afternoon Arroyo sent out a response letter to Schneier.

“We value your partnership with the City of Sarasota, and we thank you for your letter regarding the commission’s decision to approve the St. Armands Circle Winter Fes tival,” Arroyo wrote. “All our actions will take into consideration the con cerns of the community as well as neighboring jurisdictions such as the Town of Longboat Key. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this mat ter and bring your concerns into the conversation.”

The letter further stated that the town should make note that it is able to contact the city commissioners directly at any time, and they are happy to connect town commission ers with the applicants and potential event host.

“People are saying I’m the Grinch and I must have had a horrible childhood and hate Christmas. I just want Christmas to be free.”

— Rachel Burns

File photo

The town’s letter was addressed to Mayor Erik Arroyo and FDOT as the event is scheduled in state right of way.

Town’s purchasing practices ready to change with the times

Commissioners approve on first vote new protocols that haven’t been updated since faxes were common, Obama was president.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Faxed-in price quotes are out.

So are computer bulletin boards on which to post bids. In fact, municipal-govern ment purchasing at Longboat Key Town Hall is changing with the times so fast that the word “purchasing” will soon be persona non grata Town commissioners last week got the ball rolling on an overhaul of the town’s rules, regulations and proto cols regarding how it buys products and services for official use.

Some of the changes are deeply granular; others are broader. But at the core is a different way of think ing.

“The reason is the term ‘procure ment’ has a much broader use in this particular situation,” Director of Special Services Carolyn Brown said.

Such changes haven’t been made in Longboat Key since the latter part of the Obama administration’s sec ond term (2015).

Definitions have also been added to clarify sections, including public notice, signature and the procure ment manual. The role of the town’s Support Services Department was also defined because it did not exist during the last revision.

Under new rules, when the town is seeking quotes for a bid, town staff is only required to obtain three rather than the six previously required. The range for written quotes has also been extended to include anything between $3,000 to $34,999.99.

The town can take advantage of any state bid contract or any local public entity bid contract if the con

tract has been competitively bid with a current award period and the successful contractor is willing to extend the same prices, terms and conditions as the original contract.

Keeping up to date with current practices, the proposed changes also included the removal of the abil ity to fax a quote to the town, which has been deemed outdated. Town staff also updated the call for bids to an electronic notification system, which was previously stated to use the now outdated bulletin board.

Additional changes were proposed to clean up the chapter and ensure it met state statutes.

The second reading and adoption of the changes has been forwarded to the Nov. 7 meeting.

BID OR NO BID

The majority of the changes are minor, allowing the town to meet state statutes.

As long as a department head has obtained prior approval from the town manager, they may make or authorize others to buy supplies, services or construction items in amounts less than $3,000 per vendor on a routine basis to ensure the department workflow and services are maintained.

If a vendor is under contract with the town, the purchase shall be from that vendor unless circumstances out of control exist. For purchases under the $3,000 threshold, quotations do not have to be obtained. Purchases are reviewed quarterly by the finance department.

Any purchases exceeding $3,000 must be accompanied with a written quote from at least three vendors.

File photo

William Raveis Luxury

A vote to save the republic

OBSERVER RECOMMENDATIONS

FEDERAL OFFICES

U.S. Senate — Marco Rubio U.S. Representative, District 16 — Vern Buchanan U.S. Representative, District 17 — Greg Steube

The following is an excerpt from the Oct. 20 edition of the Ross Rant, the newsletter of Joel Ross, co-founder and principal of Citadel Realty Advisors:

MATT WALSH

This is our final installment of recommendations for the Nov. 8 elections.

Here is what too many elected politicians — of both parties — don’t get: Laissez-nous faire!

“Leave us alone!”

If you asked people what they want in life, we’ll venture to say one of their top answers would be: Let me live my life as I want to live. Let me live in peace. Let me live in peace and harmony with my neighbors. Don’t tell me what to do. Let me make my own decisions.

And when you ask them what they would want from their government, we’ll bet the top answer would be: Keep us safe from criminals and violence.

That is the way it should be. That simple.

That is the framework the Founders established and envisioned.

But as all of us have experienced and seen since Joe Biden took the oath of the presidency in January 2021, life for Americans is nothing close to Laissez-nous faire and feeling safe.

It has been the extreme opposite.

And it has been a complete disaster.

Think about then (2016-2020/ Trump) and now (2021-2022/ Biden). One of the best summaries of what we have experienced came last week from Joel Ross, co-founder and principal of New York-based Citadel Realty Advisors and a part-time Longboat Key resident. Ross writes one of the most astute, insightful and unfettered critiques and analyses you will find of U.S. and world affairs, economics and politics. His voice and commentaries are unabashed, and thus appropriately named, the “Ross Rant.”

In his Oct. 20 edition, Ross perfectly summed up the past two years, which we have printed with his permission above.

We all know it and feel it every day. We have lived through nearly two years of economic and social decline and constant misery.

In an earlier editorial, we borrowed the title from the late Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises: “Planned chaos.”

That is what we have endured at every level of our society — from the diabolical, power-hungry Democrat elitists in the White House and Congress down to the authori-

The U.S. economy was doing very well when Trump left office.

We were energy independent, the stock market was still high, home prices were high, inflation was 1.4%, and consumers had a lot of money, and credit card use was very low.

The Federal deficit was too high, but not completely out of control and unsustainable.

We were still in Afghanistan holding off the terrorists and Taliban in most of the country, and the Iranians were struggling under serious sanctions.

Russia was not threatening Ukraine, and China was not obviously threatening Taiwan. Kim was quiescent.

The U.S. was still way ahead of the rest of the world in reducing carbon emissions and switching to gas and alternatives.

In short, things in the world were OK as the pandemic was getting under control.

Then Joe arrived with his band of social radicals and climate change crazies pulling the strings of the puppet. The decline of the U.S., and now the world, in under two years is a perfect example of how left-wing policies, and ESG, can destroy the world economy and peace in no time.

How anyone can embarrass himself or herself and vote for Dems this election is beyond me.

What is it they do not understand?

FLORIDA

Governor/Lieutenant Governor — Ron DeSantis/Jeanette Nunez

Attorney General — Ashley Moody

Chief Financial Officer — Jimmy Patronis

Commissioner of Agriculture — Wilton Simpson State Representative, District 72 — Tommy Gregory State Representative, District 73 — Fiona McFarland Florida Supreme Court — Vote yes to retain Justices Charles Canady, John D. Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Jorge Labarga and Ricky Polston Florida Second District Court of Appeal — Vote yes to retain Judges Patricia Joan Kelly, Nelly N. Khouzam, Suzanne Y. Labrit, Matt Lucas, Robert Morris, Stevan Travis Northcutt, John K. Stargel, Craig C. Villanti

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Amendment 1 / Limit on Assessment of Real Property — Yes Amendment 2 / Abolish Constitution Revision Commission — No Amendment 3 / Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption — No

MANATEE COUNTY County Commission, District 2 — Amanda Ballard County Commission, District 4 — Michael Rahn County Commission, District 6 (At-large) — Jason Beardon School Board, District 2 —

Cindy Spray Economic Development Tax Referendum — No

SARASOTA COUNTY

County Commission, District 2 — Mark Smith County Commission, District 4 — Joe Neunder Charter Review Board, District 1 — Alexandra Coe Charter Review Board, District 2 — G. Matthew Brockway Charter Review Board, District 4 — No recommendation Hospital Board, Northern District, Seat 2 — Victor J. Rohe County Referendum to Continue One-Cent Sales Infrastructure Surtax — Yes County Bond Referendum to Accelerate Community Infrastructure Projects with OneCent Sales Tax Bonds — Yes Charter Amendment Question

One: To Amend Section 7.1 Charter Petition Procedures — No Charter Amendment Question

Two: To Avoid Conflicts with the Constitution, General Law or the charter — Yes

CITY OF SARASOTA Commissioner At-Large — Debbie Trice Charter Amendment: Increase City Commissioners’ Annual Salary — No Charter Amendment: Allow Option to Purchase Insurance Coverage or Surety Bonds — Yes

Charter Amendment: Charter Review Committee’s General Recommendations — No Charter Amendment: To Require Referenda on City Charter Amendments to Be Held Only on the Dates of General Elections in Even Years and Prohibit Special Charter Elections — Yes

tarian school board members and deviant, perverted teachers in our public schools.

All of their top-down, centralized government schemes, all of their “planning” to have us live according to their world views have brought nothing but chaos and misery for the American people.

We agree with Ross: “How anyone can vote for Dems this election is beyond me.”

With apologies to the many smart Democrats who also are good people, and not to be insulting, but it would defy logic to vote Democrat. To do so is to say you support the current course we are on as a nation, that you want more of the disasters we have been getting.

Yes, we know millions of registered Democrats will vote dutifully for Democrat Party candidates regardless of reality. That’s what lifelong Democrats do. That’s what

Many Sarasota and Longboat Key voters, no doubt, are being surprised and will be surprised when they look at their ballots and see that Congressman Vern Buchanan is not on the ballot. At least not on their ballot.

Because of the new districts that were redrawn in the most recent legislative session, Buchanan’s district boundaries shifted north. Even though he owns a home on Longboat Key and has been representing the northern portions of Sarasota County since 2007, Buchanan now represents only the Manatee portion of Longboat, all of Manatee County and the southeastern portions of Hillsborough County up to Brandon.

Now representing northern Sarasota County and the Sarasota portion of Longboat Key is Republican Rep. Greg Steube.

Steube is seeking his third term in Congress. Before that he served six years in the Florida House and two in the Florida Senate. The Club for Growth, a leading free-enterprise advocacy group in Washington, gives Steube a lifetime 97% conservative voting record, second to Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, in the Florida congressional delegation.

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lifelong Republicans do. They vote their party.

But here is an appeal, particularly to the 29% of Florida registered voters who are neither Republicans nor Democrats: Vote the country.

This one time vote Republican.

To be sure, Republicans are far from perfect. But at this moment in history, they offer the only chance to stop the annihilation of this great country and our communities.

America must be saved. It must be preserved — preserved as the one and only beacon of individual liberty and what is left of free-market capitalism, both of which are on the verge of becoming wisping ashes.

It is going to take years to undo what Biden & Co. have done in two years. And it will take a generation to restore and rebuild the way of life that made America great.

When Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in 1831 to see what this great, young republic was like, he was in awe. One of the characteristics that struck him most was the ingrained belief of the “sovereignty of the people” — the freedom of the individual to live his life as he sees it, not to live as the slaves of despots and their despotic cabals.

De Tocqueville wrote: “Providence has given to each individual, whoever he may be, the degree of reason necessary for him to be able to direct himself in things that interest him exclusively. Such is the great maxim on which civil and political society in the United States rests.”

That great maxim must be restored. You can start the rebuilding Nov. 8.

ABOUT THE JUDGES Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen said it best in 1990: “Typically we are better informed about our choice of stick deodorant than our choice of judges.”

So true. Even so, Floridians go through the dance every two years with nary a clue of who these Supreme Court justices and District Appeal Court judges are and whether they deserve to be retained.

It’s an odd system. But it’s also a safeguard. It gives Floridians the opportunity to boot a judge who turns corrupt or incompetent — both of which have been exceedingly rare. Florida governors and the Judicial Nominating Commissions take great care in the selection of judges.

The Florida Bar also keeps tabs on them. Every two years, it conducts a retention poll of its members. For this cycle, the Supreme Court justices scores ranged from 59% to 85% to be retained and from 15% to 41% not to be retained. Ratings for the Appeal Court judges ranged from 64% to 86% for retention and 14% to 36% not to be retained.

The lowest rating? For Justice Jamie Grosshans, 59% to be retained, 41% not to be retained. She is the newest Supreme Court justice, appointed by Gov. DeSantis.

We recommend: Yes for all

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“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

“HOW ANYONE … CAN VOTE FOR DEMS THIS ELECTION IS BEYOND ME”

FRIDAY, OCT. 14

D’OH TRUCK

3:30 p.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Property damage: An out of state tow truck driver asked police to summon another tow company to assist when the vehicle he was pulling fell off and was damaged. The driver said he had just turned off Gulf of Mexico Drive when his truck drove over a large downed tree limb, which led to the vehicle he was towing falling off his rig, resulting in damage. The driver was unable to extricate the vehicle from the predicament and asked for peer assistance.

A police officer stood by for the purposes of traffic control while work was under way. The driver said he would contact his company’s insurance carrier.

ture of a tenant. The property owner said she knew nothing about guns and ammunition but surmised the tenant must have left the loaded handgun ammunition magazine upon departure. A department sergeant accepted the property and entered the items into the department’s property and evidence lockup.

*&%$#@-ING CAR

7:30 p.m., 2100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: Police received a report of a man behind a town fire station muttering to himself while attempting to fix a car. The man told an officer he was trying to secure with a bungee cord to the hatch of his vehicle, the latch of which had broken. The officer reported the man was not intoxicated and had not committed any crime. The man drove off several minutes after police arrived.

the captain to call via 911 or marine radio if assistance was needed.

SO TIRED

1:59 p.m., 4900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic hazard: An officer watched as a dump truck with a trailer drove northbound with a completely flat and disintegrating tire, creating a traffic hazard. After a traffic stop, the driver told the officer he was trying to get to a job site. The officer directed the driver to the side of the road, where the driver called his company to arrange a tow.

THURSDAY, OCT. 20

ALARMING

8:35 p.m., 1600 block of Harbor Cay Lane

SATURDAY, OCT. 15

LOST AND FOUND 4 a.m., 600 block of Fox Street

Missing person: A man called police to report a family member had not returned three hours after leaving for a walk on the beach, while the friend that accompanied her had returned. The friend said the two had become separated. Officers who began searching found the family member at another condominium property and returned her home.

CHAIN OF CUSTODY

12:23 p.m., police headquarters

Found property: A member of the town’s fire department came to the police department with a credit card turned over to him. The card in ques tion had been found in St. Armands Circle by a concerned citizen. A police representative said that ordinarily, since the card was found in the city of Sarasota, the town’s police would have no jurisdiction. But since it was in the custody of a town employee, who turned it in to another town employee, it would be held for safekeeping. A search for the name on the card was fruitless.

SUNDAY, OCT. 16

ROAD CLOSED 6:04 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Fire assist: Police and fire personnel closed a stretch of the road for about 90 minutes after a confirmed report of a low-hanging cable over the roadway. The cable was about 8-10 feet off the ground. Florida

Power and Light was summoned to the scene and arrived about an hour later. The road reopened a short time later. No detour was available while the road was closed.

MONDAY, OCT. 17

WRONG NUMBER, RIGHT SOUND

12:20 a.m., 600 block of Bayport Way

Suspicious incident: A resident reported a series of loud bangs coming from one of two vacant units in a multifamily building. Police gained access to both unoccupied units and found nothing out of the ordinary and no apparent sources of noise. A canvass of the area turned up a resident in another adjacent unit who conceded she was using a hammer after returning to the area after Hurricane Ian. No crime was committed.

MAGAZINE NEWS

3:35 p.m., police headquarters

Found property: The owner of a rental property came to the police department with ammunition she found in the closet after the depar-

TUESDAY, OCT. 18

PIPE DOWN 12:40 a.m., 1100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Noise complaint: A resident of the fourth floor of a building called police to report what sounded like a loud party on either the fifth or third floors. A canvass of both floors turned up nothing, but officers did find music coming from a fourth floor unit and saw through a window people gathered in the kitchen. An officer knocked on the door and explained the reason for his visit. The people said they would turn down their music and try to remain quiet the rest of the night.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19

STUCK

12:24 p.m., near Jewfish Key

Boating call: While on patrol, the town’s marine patrol officer watched as a 40-foot vessel northbound in the intracoastal waterway strayed from the channel and became grounded. The officer contacted the captain via marine radio and learned there was no emergency and that a commercial tow service was underway to help. The officer said he would check in on the stricken vessel later, learning that the grounded boat could not be freed until the next high tide. The officer reminded

Alarm: Officers were sent to a home, still shuttered from the hurricane, following the activation of the building’s intruder alarm system. Nothing appeared to indicate a break-in to the officers, a fact confirmed by the alarm company. The alarm had been activated in error, the company said, and the proper code was given to cancel it.

FRIDAY, OCT. 21

MIGHTY NICE OF THEM

8:49 a.m., 700 Tarawitt Drive

Citizen assist: A resident called police to report a trailer in front of a home was blocking the road. Officers went to investigate and found a trailer parked in the driveway of a home. The owner of the home said the work team in question moved their trailer immediately after a motorist complained about access.

MORE COPS CORNER

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

Aging in the Right Place

Learn

November 3 1-2pm Suggested Donation to TPC $10/p

Pickle Ball

Pickleball Instructor Terri Noyes and her team will show us the basics of the game.

11:30am November 10 & December 8 $10/person FREE for Members WALK-INS WELCOME

by

October 27 November 17 December

Doc Side Audiology Empath Tidewell Foundation

The Paradise Center & Medical Suite Youthful Aging Home

Essence of Soleil Massage Fitness Quest Physical Therapy JFCS of the Suncoast

N E W !

LOCAL BRIEFS

Buchanan pays tribute to veterans

The inaugural Congressional Veteran Commendation ceremony was hosted this past week by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, in recognition of exceptional service by six veterans, including one from Longboat Key.

The awards honor wartime sacrifices, as well as peacetime community involvement, by veterans within Florida’s 16th Congressional District.

The six honorees were Longboat Key’s John Brill, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War; Lakewood Ranch’s Richard Petrucci, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War; Bradenton’s David Daily, who served in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War; Bradenton’s John Skeen, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II; Sarasota’s Richard Swier, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; and Sun City Center’s Edward Mahoney, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

Buchanan said the commendations follow a selection process using an independent panel and that the honor is entered into the Congressional Record.

Interest in town election heats up

One potential Town Commission candidate has filed initial paperwork with the town, signaling his intention to run for election in March.

Planning and Zoning Board member Gary Coffin has picked up the documentation to begin gathering the required petitions for final qualifying in District 1, the southernmost of five geographical districts.

According to Town Clerk Trish Shinkle, two other potential candidates have also picked up paperwork to begin the qualification process. Jeffrey Lenobel, son of longtime Commission member and Mayor Hal Lenobel, and Planning and Zoning member Mike Warnstedt, also have picked up paperwork, though that does not commit a candidate to the ballot.

Commissioner Sherry Dominick said in September she did not intend to run for reelection, opening up the District 1 seat.

If more than two candidates qualify for the ballot in any district, the town charter requires a primary in January in which all town voters are eligible to cast a ballot. The top two vote getters in each district would advance to the March election.

In District 3, Mayor Ken Schneier has picked up qualifying paperwork.

In District 5, where Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan has announced her intention to step aside, the Town Clerk said Deborah Murphy, a member of the town’s Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees, has picked up paperwork to begin the qualification process.

The town’s deadline for qualification is noon on Nov. 21.

Leftover sandbags? Keep them, town says

Were you among the dozens of residents who sweated and fretted at the town’s sandbag filling station in late September in advance of Hurricane Ian?

Now that hurricane season is beginning to wane — but it’s not really over until the end of November — the town wants you to know there is no reason you can’t hang on to the fruits of your shoveling. The town recently reminded residents the filled bags can be kept and reused, if stored in a cool, dry location.

If not, the town said you may return the sand to the pile at the Broadway Street beach access.

Courtesy photo

Back: Richard Petrucci, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, David Daily, and Richard Swier. Front: John Skeen, John Brill and Edward Mahoney.

Sarasota Chamber hosts annual membership event

The chamber celebrated its accreditation and passed the gavel to its new chair.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

With a bam and a ka-pow, Emily Walsh took over for Dennis Murphy as chair of the board for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Com merce.

The superhero-themed event was held on Oct. 21 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. The annual membership luncheon included updates, awards and keynote speaker Kerry Szyman ski.

Deborah Jacobs was the first wom an to take on the role of chair in 1992. There have only been five since.

She led a champagne toast to the heroic effort of earning chamber accreditation this year, which had been attempted twice previously.

“It’s arduous. It’s days, nights, weekends. It’s 129 attachments and more than two dozen essays,” Jacobs said.

It was a group effort, but she gave President and CEO Heather Kasten a special thanks for leading the charge.

Joe Hembree was unprepared when Rob Lane presented him with the Chair’s Cup Award for his work on the board and Affordable Housing Task Force.

“This is unexpected,” he said, “But what the chamber does is near and dear to my heart. An effective cham ber is key to having a good commu nity.”

Walsh then took the stage to thank

her predecessor and share some of her history with the chamber, from covering the first Young Profession als event as an Observer reporter in 2003 to her role as chair in 2022.

“The chamber has played a huge role in my own professional develop ment,” she said. “In this community, the chamber plays a vital role in sup porting growth and economic devel opment. I am proud to serve.”

Finally, former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton intro duced Szymanski. He described her as a cross between the prominent Realtor Michael Saunders and the local comedian Les McCurdy.

Szymanski is director of the Tam pa Bay Women’s Business Centre and also a stand-up comedian. She spoke and joked about the impor tance of “leading through laughter.”

Dan Sidler took that lead. During his closing remarks, he ripped open his button down shirt and clip-on tie to reveal a chamber T-shirt like Superman.

Kerry Szymanski talks about the importance of fun and laughter in the workplace.

Most Programs Available on Zoom.

THE EDUCATION CENTER AT TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228 VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.TBIeducationcenter.org For a brochure or inquiries call: (941) 383-8222 or email edcenter@longboatkeytemple.org

Outgoing and incoming chairs, Dennis Murphy and Emily Walsh.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Keyboard to canvas

O’Lyn Callahan spent most of her life devoted to music until she brought a friend to an art class.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

O’Lyn Callahan didn’t start out with a paint brush in hand.

Her artistic journey began on a bench in front of an organ.

But now, Callahan has her own solo art show at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church. Her oil paint ings will hang in the church gallery through the end of November.

It was Callahan’s mother who first placed her in front of an organ.

“If you are left alone, I want you to have a skill that you will be able to support yourself,” her mother told her as a young girl.

“If you become good at either of these instruments, you’re pretty well guaranteed success,” Callahan further explained.

The other instrument is a harp. Both tend to be overlooked or out right avoided because they’re so difficult to master, but people love hearing them at weddings.

Playing the organ requires both hands and feet. There are also mul tiple keyboards and sound settings to learn.

“She has 450 perfectly synthesized orchestral instruments at her fin gertips.” Callahan’s husband Byron Coleman said, “I put the CD on, and the Boston Pops or London Sympho ny is playing. Then, she knows when to come in, and I turn it off. People cannot tell the difference.”

Callahan started playing the organ at 14 years old and went on to receive a Master of Arts in classical pipe organ performance from Fresno State University. She worked her way through college playing in a trio five nights a week.

As a professional, Callahan toured with Yamaha and Panasonic, dem onstrating the quality of their organs through live demonstrations. She also owned the Yamaha Piano and Organ dealership on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota for 15 years.

These days, Callahan’s dedication to craft is directed at the canvas. Her paintings are mainly inspired by traveling, a passion shared with her husband. The couple have spent 750 days over the past eight years travel ing around the world.

ARTFUL THINKING

All Angels By the Sea Episcopal Church at 563 Bay Isles Road is particularly focused on art, having conducted second-hand art sales along with its Artist of the Month program and other events focused on art and music. Callahan’s paintings are for sale through the gallery, which is open to the public. Call 3838161 for gallery hours; 30% of all sales benefit the church.

Coincidentally, eight of her paint ings are hung in the gallery. She has more, but the rest are decorating her home. Prices range from $300 to $1,200, and while valued according to the size and time spent, Calla han seems to struggle letting certain pieces go.

The first seascape for sale took her about 60 hours to complete. With a little practice, the second took about 50 hours.

“Well, this is the one I probably want to sell the least,” Callahan said, pointing to a painting inspired by a trip to Morocco. “I would like to sell the purses only because the colors don’t go in our house.”

The Warhol-esque painting of pop art purses is a departure from the other travel portraits. Callahan said it was a study in having something look like it’s coming out from the page. Each purse is true to size and shows dimension through shadows as if it could be peeled off the canvas.

Callahan didn’t go to art school, but she’s not self-taught either. She studied with Carlo DiNapoli, a world-renowned painter who trained under masters in Italy and Japan.

But she had a more humble start when caring for an elderly woman. A German couple bought an organ from her and became like a second set of parents. When the husband passed away, Callahan began looking after his widow as dementia set in.

“The doctor said she needed to get back to painting, so I took her to a class,” Callahan said, “And she wouldn’t paint unless I sat next to

CARLO WHO?

According to Carlo DiNapoli’s web page, the artist is “known the world over for his paintings of wildlife, landscapes, seascapes, portraits, florals, etc. Oil is his main love. His training in Florence, Italy, with Maestro Ferrelli and in Japan with Master Soto, as well as his studies at Tulane and Loyola universities were the groundwork for this diversity.”

her and painted too.”

Callahan had never so much as colored before but says something clicked the second the brush hit the canvas. It’s been 12 years since the experience with the woman and the art class set her off on another cre ative journey.

Coleman, a former rocket scien tist, traded his safety goggles for a camera lens in retirement. They took 30,000 pictures on their last trip. He

pointed to the wall.

“I see my zebra,” he said proudly.

The trips are the inspiration; the photographs become the visual guide. The paintings aren’t always copies of the original but serve as reference.

Callahan’s paintings are for sale through the gallery, which is open to the public. Call 383-8161 for gallery hours; 30% of all sales benefit the church.

Please join us for worship in person

Lesley Dwyer

O’Lyn Callahan with her biggest fan and husband, Byron Coleman.

GRAND BAY BOULEVARD

OAK STREET #10

YOUR NEIGHBORS

PETS ON PARADE ON BLESSING DAY

Over two dozen dogs and Max the cat were blessed on Saturday by the Rev. Brock Patterson.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

From wild to domesticated, Longboat Key residents take great pride in protecting and pampering their animal friends.

No sea turtles were in attendance, but more than two dozen dogs and one cat attended the Longboat Island Chapel’s first Blessing of the Ani mals on Saturday.

The chapel is nondenominational, but October is a popular month for pet blessings because the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi is celebrated on Oct. 4. Assisi was an Italian Cath olic friar, known as the patron saint of the environment and animals. It’s written that he gave sermons to flocks of birds.

The Rev. Brock Patterson blessed each pet with peace and joy, but even the most high-class domesticated animals are still animals.

Two dogs got into a kerfuffle in the parking lot, and Ollie the hypoaller genic Havanese tried to drink the holy water.

The lone cat Max popped his head out to tolerate the blessing, but quickly disappeared back into his

duffle bag carrier the second it was over.

The best in show was, of course, former show dog Gidget, a Shih Tzu. She arrived in a stroller and had no interest in the antics of the other dogs acting like dogs.

This wasn’t Gidget’s first bless ing. She sat tall as Patterson signed the Holy Trinity around her nose and recited a prayer.

“May the Lord bless and keep you, watch over you, give you health and great joy all of your days. Amen,” he said.

Gidget was unfazed by the sprinkle of holy water. The same can’t be said of Dean Martin.

The terrier/Chihuahua mixed breed is still a 9-month-old pup fresh out of the Underdog Rescue of Florida. He was sweet as could be, but could not sit still before, during or after the blessing.

“We need an exorcism on him,” joked owner and new Chapel office manager Lori Gubernat as she led doggie Dino toward Patterson.

Each pet received a certificate of blessing, a treat and a pink or blue dog tag, engraved with “Longboat Key” on one side and “God Loves You” on the other. All blessings were paid forward to less fortunate ani mals.

Guests arrived gripping leashes in one hand and pet supplies in the other. They filled a table with food, treats, collars and cash, all of which will be donated to the Humane Soci ety of Manatee County.

Lesley Rife hands out another pet blessing certificate.

The Rev. Brock Patterson blesses Annie while her owner, Dan Rife, keeps her in place.

John and Lori Gubernat with their dog, Dean Martin. Lori is the chapel’s new office manager.

Max tolerated his blessing then wanted to return to his cat carrier.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

The Rev. Brock Patterson blesses 5-year-old Gigi. Her owner, Barbara Milano, is a chapel member and found the event on Facebook.

A hofbrauhaus for Oktoberfest

Pick Hall at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church looked like a hofbrauhaus Friday night. Steins decorated the tables, and members came dressed in their best lederhosen for the church’s second annual Oktoberfest.

“Last year was probably the best party we’ve had here,” Chuck Sobieck said.

About 100 church members attended. Not everyone dressed in traditional German attire, but everyone ate like one.

Metz Culinary Management of New College of Florida catered the event. The menu included pork schnitzel with creamy dill sauce, sauteed sweet and sour cabbage, bratwurst with sauerkraut and apple strudel.

Church member Joey Bertucci took care of the appetizers. He was busy in the kitchen pulling trays of pretzels in and out of the oven. Between pretzels and pretzel bites, he made more than 300 of the salty snacks.

Bertucci also added German sausages and sides of mustard and cheese sauce. He donated the food and prepared the baskets himself.

It was an all-hands-on-deck approach. Jack

Mueller was making coffee, while other members took turns playing bartender, filling beers from the tap and uncorking wine bottles.

Eric Walalich entertained the crowd in lederhosen, playing an accordion. Toes were tapping, and glasses were clinking.

Steins dotted the tables, all donated by a single church member. Three were auctioned off at the end of the night. Winners were able to take home the stein of their choice.

The main raffle prize was a handmade charcuterie board by Susan DiNatale.

“It’s a 200-year-old piece of olive wood that I had shipped in from Turkey,” she said, “and then I did epoxy resin work around it.”

Then DiNatale sanded it for five hours. The end result was a gorgeous piece of functional art that everyone wanted to take home. Raffle tickets were sold for $25 a piece.

As with many things these days, the lederhosen was not handmade but purchased on Amazon.

“It’s like putting a mask on and you become someone else,” Michael Cichon said. “It’s fun.”

—LESLEY DWYER

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Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Eric Zawalich moves through the crowd playing his accordion.

The Rev. Robert Dziedziak, of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, and Chuck Sobieck.

Maureen Watterson, Mary Golia and Steve Golia chat awhile.

Mary Ahern and Budee Jacobs toast to Oktoberfest.

Bob and Vanda Soper enjoy Oktoberfest.

Longboat Key makes strides against breast cancer

The Paradise Center was looking pretty in pink on Oct. 22, ready to host its second breast cancer awareness walk.

Last year, social distancing led Executive Director Suzy Brenner to start a satellite walk to coincide with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event at Nathan Benderson Park.

Brenner, along with the owner of Longboat Mas sage Liz Yerkes, co-captained the LBK Paradise Striders team.

About 60 Longboat Key residents arrived clad shades of pink from blush to fuchsia, ready to stride and socialize. They also raised more than $3,200 for the American Cancer Society.

Vendors set up tables to hydrate, caffeinate and entertain the crowd. Heather Gaus, owner of the Turtle Coffee Bar, served piping-hot coffee to take the chill off a cool, windy morning. For the tea drinkers, Shelly Crouse served her signature bubble tea from The Thirsty Snail.

Alex Zappavigna kept the crowd on their toes, rather on one foot, by demonstrating his light-up physical therapy game that helps balance and reaction times. Players had to hit a light that turned blue without letting their other foot touch the ground.

There were also goodies galore. Each walker left with a bag filled with water bottles, tank tops, pink candles and, because it’s so close, Halloween candy.

Brenner thanked the sponsors and led the team in a pair of pink butterfly wings around a threemile loop through the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Community and back to TPC.

After the walk, it was time to rest and get pampered. Yerkes and Debby Debile, from Feel Good Yoga & Massage, offered free table massages to breast cancer survivors. Others were asked to donate $1 per minute for the in-kind service.

After an incredibly successful first year of fundraising and turnout for the LBK Paradise Striders team, no one from the main event objected to holding the satellite walk again. Brenner is hopeful that the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Longboat Key will become an annual event.

Stone CrabStone Stone Crab

—LESLEY DWYER

Joe, Susan and Pippa Miller walk for a cause.

Susan Veshosky decorates the railing with pink breast cancer ribbons.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Caitlyn Zaborowski and Sandra Smith, from Secur-All Insurance, support the event.

Suzy Brenner leads the team from the starting line.

Suzy Brenner welcomes the walkers.

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YOUR CALENDAR

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

FESTIVAL D’ELEGANCE 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in St. Armands Circle Park. Sponsored by Wilde Jaguar Sarasota, luxury vehicles will be pulled into the park for display. This is a free event.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

OKTOBERFEST Noon-4 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive. Live music and German food are being served in the garden. Meal tickets cost $25, drinks sold separately. Call 388-1234 for information.

MONDAY, OCT. 31

TRICK OR TREAT AT THE CHAMBER

All day at the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, 5390 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 102. Trick-ortreaters in costume get extra candy. Call 383-2466 to RSVP.

RECURRING EVENTS

MONDAYS

STRETCH & STRENGTHEN

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE

The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to noon at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

TUESDAYS QI GONG

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

MAH JONGG

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

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.

TUESDAY AND FRIDAY LONGBOAT LIBRARY

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

MONDAY, OCT. 31

FRIGHT NIGHT

6-8:30 p.m. on St. Armands Circle. The shopping district is getting a spooky makeover. Trick or treat at Circle shops. This is a free event.

WEDNESDAYS BEGINNER TAI CHI

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

THURSDAYS KIWANIS CLUB

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

ST. ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH BRIDGE CLUB

Every Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive, join an ACBL-sanctioned game of contract bridge with a certified teacher. All skill levels are welcome. There is an $8 suggested donation for each session. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to 952-9251.

ZUMBA AND MAT PILATES FOR SENIORS

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. The class, designed for active seniors, starts with zumba and shifts to 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.

File photo

Hot competition at chili cook-off

The 22nd Annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off returned with plenty of competing teams and tasty chili on Osprey Avenue in Sarasota on Oct. 23.

The day was hot, but the chili was hotter. Hundreds of hungry visitors arrived looking to taste a variety of recipes from fire stations across Sarasota County. The

fire teams met that enthusiasm by constructing colorful and inspired booths and themes for their chili.

Many team members dressed up as construction workers, cowboys, shipwreck survivors and more to complete the theme. The event benefited Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund as usual.

Guests picked up chili and kept cool in the shade, with many rock-

ing out to live music that went on throughout the day.

The afternoon event concluded with Sarasota County Fire Department Station 11 being claimed the winner of the chili competition. Station 12 won best booth with its “Yellowstone Button Ranch” theme.

FLORIDA DESIGN WORKS .COM

—HARRY SAYER

Photos by Harry Sayer

Mike Matheis, Terrell Haisely and Keith Misja represent Station 12.

Matt Gouge and Jack Daniel flex hard for Station 21.

Many stations dressed up their chili booths to draw attention.

Andrea Ackley, Jamison Urch and Violet Laurey make a day of it. Urch is a Longboat Key firefighter.

Musicians rock out throughout the day.

Jay Yung, Zavh Wiegele and Zach Siegel work to keep their dogs focused.

Laura Chevalier passes out chili for Southern Manatee Fire Rescue.

Queen’s Harbour home sells for $3.6 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

AQueen’s Harbour property is the top selling home in the Longboat Key area for the week. Raymond Grimm, trustee, sold the home at 3550 Fair Oaks Lane to Ste phen and Sharon Somers, of Longboat Key, for $3.6 million. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, five-anda-half baths, a pool and 4,527 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.7 million in 2012.

LONG BEACH Bryan and Yasmine Baker, of Colleyville, Texas, sold their home at 6925 Longboat Drive S. to Fenway South LLC for $2,425,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,230 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,125,000 in 2020.

ISLANDS WEST Douglas and Elizabeth Nordstrom, trustees, of Verona, Wisconsin, sold the Unit 4-D condominium at 2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Paul Kuo and Mary Mihalik, of St. Petersburg, for $1.95 million. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,468 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,175,000 in 2021.

FAIRWAY BAY Matthew and Carole Zito, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 651 condominium at 2120 Harbourside Drive to Jack Lee and Lisa Huang, of Dublin, Ohio, for $1,395,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,550 square feet of living area. It sold for $412,100 in 1989.

THE CASTILLIAN Maxine and Harlee Guthrie, of Osprey, sold their Unit 509 condominium at 4545 Gulf of Mexico Drive to SPE #226 LLC for $1.3

million. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,340 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2010.

BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB Irving and Sorley Rosenthal, of Pittsburgh, sold their Unit 819 condominium at 819 Bayport Way to Bob Bernstein and Sharon Schoenfeld, of Longboat Key, for $750,000. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,456 square feet. It sold for $550,000 in 2018.

THE PRIVATEER NORTH Thomas and Kim Speer, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 204 condominium at 1050 Longboat Club Road to Mariam and George Jabaji and Jalil George Jabaji, of Longboat Key, for $749,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,409 square feet of living area. It sold for $635,000 in 2005.

LIDO SURF AND SAND

Joan Maxwell, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 409 condominium at 1102 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Mark Eiland, of Gainesville, for $640,000. Built in 1976, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 918 square feet of living area. It sold for $335,000 in 2015.

WHITNEY BEACH

Juan Carlos Castillo Ibanez, trustee, of Rockaway, New Jersey, sold the Unit 118 condominium at 6700 Gulf of Mexico Drive to John James Hines, of Longboat Key, for $535,000. Built in 1969, it has one bedroom, one bath and 990 square feet of living area. It sold for $125,000 in 1992.

LIDO DORSET Caryn Stolarik, trustee, of Hawthorne, New Jersey, sold the Unit 207 condominium at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Timothy Burrow, of Nashville, Tennessee, for $515,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 593 square feet of living area. It sold for $190,000 in 2013.

In with the new

Photos courtesy of Linda Weber/Coldwell Banker Realty

The home at 3550 Fair Oaks Lane was built in 1999. It has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,527 square feet of living area.

A whimsical butler statue stands on duty in the home at 3550 Fair Oaks Lane.

FORECAST

FRIDAY, OCT 28

High: 80 Low: 68

Chance of rain: 17%

SATURDAY, OCT. 29 High: 81 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 7%

SUNDAY, OCT. 30 High: 80 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 16%

TIDES

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset Thursday, Oct. 27 7:38a 6:50p Friday, Oct. 28 7:38a 6:49p Saturday, Oct. 29 7:39a 6:49p Sunday, Oct. 30 7:39a 6:48p Monday, Oct. 31 7:40a 6:47p Tuesday, Nov. 1 7:41a 6:46p Wednesday, Nov. 2 7:42a 6:46p Nov. 8

MOON PHASES

Nov. 16

Nov. 30

Nov. 23

Highs Lows

Thursday, Oct. 27 12:30a 3:15p 8:45a 7:28p

Friday, Oct. 28 1:02a 4:37p 9:39a 7:32p

Saturday, Oct. 29 1:40a 10:41a

Sunday, Oct. 30 2:26a 11:55a Monday, Oct. 31 3:24a 1:16p Tuesday, Nov. 1 4:49a 10:32p 2:32p Wednesday, Nov. 2 6:52a 10:20p 1:19a 3:33p

celebrity

TO SHARE by Paul Coulter. Edited by Ross Trudeau

By Luis Campos

GOLDEN GATE VALUE SARASOTA'S FUTURE a tri-plex, a city view with zoning for 8 units. This is a luxury condominium area. $3,950,000.00

GOLDEN GATE VALUE SARASOTA'S FUTURE a tri-plex, a city view with zoning for 8 units. This is a luxury condominium area. $3,950,000.00

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Glenn Callaghan Century 21 Integra (941) 928-9020