Longboat Observer 11.3.22

LONGBOAT

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

With friends.

PAGE 14A

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

VOLUME 45, NO. 13

No election changes for now

Town Commission sticks with charter rules on no pay, absenteeism. PAGE 3A

YOUR TOWN Tick, tock.

Turn back your clock!

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m.

Sunday, Nov. 6.

WELCOME BACK You missed a lot of news last summer. This is us helping catch you up.

IN A PICKLE OVER NOISE It’s back to the drawing board for sport-court proposal.

Lesley Dwyer

Two divers, cuttin’ it up

‘OUR CONDO IS WORTH WHAT?’ Property values hit highest levels ever on Longboat.

The cleaning can wait when it’s Halloween. Brooke Welch and Rene Raaymakers are volunteer scuba divers at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

When the pair showed up to clean a tank on Monday, they were given carving tools instead of their usual tools.

Two hollowed-out pumpkins were dropped into the water for the women to carve. In honor of the tank’s inhabitants, Raaymakers chose a hammerhead shark design and Welch carved out three species of stingrays.

Both are longtime Mote volunteers. Raaymakers started in 2015, and Welch started in 2013 as a high school intern.

Surprisingly enough, this wasn’t Welch’s first time carving a pumpkin underwater. She carved one off Turtle Beach with her local dive shop.

A GREEN-CARPET AFFAIR Longboat dogs have a new surface on which to frolic.

PIPE DOWN, HUH? Bathing beach signs aim to quiet noisy weekends.

SO LONG, TOM Town manager retires after five years on the job.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, PAGE 9A

A+E Courtesy photo

Not just for kids

Lesley Dwyer

Owner of Just/Because Barbara Pugliese and employee Roberta Straff go all out for Halloween.

Making music.

INSIDE

Circle merchants gear up for frights St. Armands takes on a scarier look, but only for an afternoon. PAGE 8B

Trick-or-treating isn’t just for kids. About 25 members stopped by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce on Monday to share updates and have some Halloween fun.

While there were plenty of sugary sweets on hand, grownups who are willing to walk around in costumes to promote their businesses deserve more upscale goodies. The Lazy Lobster provided sandwiches and shrimp cocktails.

“I have a lot of to-dos after this event,” Christine Rothberg said. “It was a terrific opportunity for members to spend dedicated time with the chamber, giving their updates, sharing more about their plans and goals and even meeting upcoming new members.”

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Town Commission decides against role in canal complaint The commission opted to ask town staff to investigate the effect of townwide change to the rules of boat size.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

F

rustration with a boat docked in a neighborhood canal navigated its way to Town Hall for the second time this year, but commissioners decided the issue wasn’t broad enough to warrant action that would affect the entire town, instead urging homeowners associations to handle individual issues within their own boundaries.

On Oct. 17, Kathy Callahan, president of the homeowners association of Country Club Shores I and II, along with her husband, Todd, followed up on their June appearance before the commission to again discuss navigability and the town’s potential role in maintaining it.

In particular, the Callahans brought to the attention of the town a vessel docked since November 2021, she said.

The town has rules in place that govern permanent structures such as docks. As a means of regulating building practices, docks may not project into a canal more than 30 feet or 30% of the total width of the waterway. The town’s ordinance, hammered out in early 2020, does not mention boats as obstacles, though.

The Callahans argue that their evidence shows the vessel impeding into the canal by more than 50% of the width.

“We do have a 30% rule in the town as far as dockage and canals are concerned,” Todd Callahan said. “I think

all that we are trying to articulate is putting a boat that is permanently moored on something that you have already approved at a limit doesn’t make sense.”

The 2020 change sought to eliminate the possibility of new docks being built directly opposite of an existing dock, though at the time, town leaders said their main concern were narrower docks largely in the north end of town, not wider ones in planned communities such as Bay Isles or Country Club Shores.

The Callahans’ presentation to the Commission in June included a petition signed by 11 residents and featured pictures of the channel and a timeline of the issue’s development.

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

However, the marine patrol boat is much smaller than those owned by homeowners in the neighborhood.

Town Attorney Maggie Mooney said that the lack of presence of a larger vessel that was unable to navigate the canal at the time the police department investigated the issue likely had an effect on the department’s findings.

If a larger boat was present at the time or the owner had made the call about a lack of navigability, then the rule prohibiting limiting canal access could come into play.

“I would suggest you find some friends with wide-beam boats and start that process,” Commissioner Mike Haycock said.

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

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RULES OF THE ROAD

The town prohibits docks from extending more than 30% into a canal.

16’ 1-1/2”

Marine Patrol vessel (32’ Yellowfin) 1/2 canal width

1/3 canal width

“This one residence is the only residence that I have heard we have a potential problem with. Are there other instances of this that say ‘for the health, welfare and safety of all of Longboat Key’ we need to write a new ordinance?”

— BJ Bishop

Commissioner BJ Bishop asked Town Manager Tom Harmer if any other complaints had been sent to him or the town regarding the navigability issue, stating that the responsibility of the commission is to write code for a community, not just to fix the issue of one individual.

“This one residence is the only residence that I have heard we have a potential problem with,” she said.

“Are there other instances of this

that say ‘for the health, welfare and safety of all of Longboat Key’ we need to write a new ordinance?”

Ultimately, Harmer’s answer was that he was unaware of any other complaints of similar issues on the island.

Callahan said her homeowners group “really can’t enforce anything on the water.”

Haycock urged the Callahans to seek legal counsel, even with the expense, to help them “put teeth” in the bylaws, so they are able to enforce rules on their residents.

The lack of other complaints led the commission to decide not to draft an ordinance, but rather asked staff to investigate how a change to the rules might affect existing bylaws of HOAs on the barrier island. They also urged the couple to gather additional information from the neighborhood’s residents that the boat issue is affecting.

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MAUREEN MERRIGAN Seat: District 5 Term runs through: March 2023 Status: Not seeking reelection after first term

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

MIKE HAYCOCK Seat: At-large Term runs through: March 2025

SHERRY DOMINICK Seat: District 1 Term runs through: March 2023 Status: Not seeking reelection after first term

KEN SCHNEIER Seat: District 3 Term runs through: March 2023 Status: Has picked up paperwork and says he’s planning on officially filing documents this week.

BJ BISHOP Seat: At-large Term runs through: March 2025

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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DEBRA WILLIAMS Seat: District 4 Term runs through: March 2024

PENNY GOLD Seat: District 2 Term runs through: March 2024

THROUGH THE YEARS MARCH 2011 n No contested races MARCH 2012 n Incumbent David Brenner defeated challenger Ray Rajewski in District 3 JULY 2012 n Commissioners appointed Terry Gans to an at-large seat to fill the seat vacated

by Hal Lenobel. Several people ran: Gans, Randy Clair, Jack Daly, Len Garner, Gene Jaleski, Ray Rajewski, Mark Wickersham and Woody Wolverton.

MARCH 2013 n Jack Duncan ran unopposed in District 2 n Jim Brown retained his seat against Larry Grossman in District 4 n Terry Gans retained his at-large seat against Irwin Pastor n Phill Younger retained his at-large seat against Gene Jaleski MARCH 2014 n No contested races

File photo

Two members of the Town Commission, Maureen Merrigan (bottom left) and Sherry Dominick, (top, second from left) are planning to step down.

STANDING FIRM Longboat Key leaders discussed potential changes to pay, time off requirements but ended up recommending the status quo.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

L

ongboat Key Town Commission elections have a history of being one-candidate races over the last decade. So, with an eye toward enticing newcomers, commissioners recently discussed the potential for compensation and attendance-rule changes but ultimately stuck with the rules in place.

The town charter does not allow for compensation of commissioners or for missing four or more consecutive regular meetings.

Residents would have to approve any charter changes, anyway, but commissioners, on Oct. 17, said it probably wasn’t in the town’s interests to change things.

“We do this because it’s public service,” Commissioner Debra Williams said. “I don’t think that $10,000 is going to do much to entice someone to say they’ve got to get their name on the ballot.”

Mayor Ken Schneier presented the idea of compensating commissioners no more than $10,000 a year and relaxing rules on attending meetings through Zoom.

Commissioners said they worried about enticing people to run for the seats for the wrong reasons. Commissioner BJ Bishop said the Town Commission calendar is written a year in advance, and with two-anda-half months off in the summer, there should be no reason to make changes.

“The ones who served for a paycheck were always the ones that never read the packet and never came prepared for the meeting,” she said.

As it stands, if a commissioner is absent from all meetings and workshops for two consecutive months, the commissioner must vacate their seat.

“In looking at it again, I don’t see any reason why we need to change anything about the commission,” Schneier said.

Although the commission opted not to change its own rules, it decided to ask Town Attorney Maggie Mooney to draft something that would allow for the same extenuating circumstance absence excuse to be extended to the Planning and Zoning Board.

Discussion around changes to the town charter, specifically around the opportunity for compensation, is not a new concept.

Compensation was discussed by commissioners in 1998, 2002 and 2008.

The question was brought before the voters in both 1998 and 2002.

In 1998, voters were asked to approve compensating commissioners $2,000 annually. In 2002, the question of whether to pay commissioners $4,800 annually was brought to voters. Both referendums failed.

In 2008, town Ccommissioners discussed the option again but opted to not move forward with placing it as a question on the ballot.

LONGBOAT ELECTION HISTORY

Elections have been decided without the need for a ballot in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 elections.

The 2023 elections, which will add at least two new faces to the commission, may lead to a contested election for the first time in the past four years.

As of Nov. 1, no one has completed

qualification for any of the seats up for election. The deadline is noon on Nov. 21.

Four individuals have picked up qualifying paperwork, signaling at least an interest in running for office.

For District 1, Gary Coffin and Jeffrey Lenobel have picked up packets.

For District 5, Deborah Murphy has also started the process.

Mayor Schneier, who represents District 3, said he will run for reelection. He said he will be submitting his paperwork this week.

“I have really enjoyed my time on the commission and time as mayor,” he said. “I have enjoyed every bit of it.”

He said as Town Manager Tom Harmer exits his office and Howard Tipton takes over, he feels it is his duty to stay involved and offer up his experience with the town.

District 1 Commission Sherry Dominick and District 5 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan have both announced they will not be seeking reelection after only a single term in their respective seats.

In the March 2022 elections, incumbents Mike Haycock, BJ Bishop and Maureen Merrigan were declared commissioners-elect when no one else opted to file before the Nov. 15, 2021 deadline.

The last time an election was contested was in 2018. Since that March

ELSEWHERE . . .

Town clerks of neighboring jurisdictions were reached for information regarding their compensation and attendance rules. Compensation information was gathered from the Florida Legislature, Office of Economic and Demographic Research and was included in the commission’s agenda packet. n At Bradenton Beach, commissioners are paid $400 a month.

The mayor is paid $800 a month.

After three consecutive unexcused absences, the office is forfeited. Zoom attendance is allowed depending on the situation.

The commission/council does not receive summers off. n At Anna Maria, the mayor is paid $19,600 annually. A commissioner/councilperson is paid $4,800 annually. n At Holmes Beach, the mayor is paid $24,000 each year. A commissioner/councilperson is paid $6,000 annually. n In Venice, a commissioner/ councilperson is paid $10,200 annually. The mayor is paid $12,000 each year. n At St. Pete Beach, the mayor is paid $8,100 annually. A commissioner/councilperson is paid $5,400 annually.

more than four years ago, when Ed Zunz, Ken Schneier and Irwin Pastor won contested Town Commission races, no one else has had to exert the effort or money needed to run a campaign.

If there is an election, whether contested or only a referendum question, the costs run between $10,000 to $20,000 to the town.

CHANGE UNLIKELY

Merrigan and Dominick both stated that even if changes were sought out for the pay and attendance requirements, their decisions to not seek the seat again would not have changed.

“A lack of compensation had nothing to do with my decision,” Dominick said. “It had to do with competing personal obligations.”

Much like she did when she announced she would be vacating the seat, she cited family obligations, time spent volunteering at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and her real estate career with Michael Saunders as a few of her reasons.

“Serving on the commission is a serious commitment,” she said. “To serve on the commission you have to be willing to spend a large part of the year here, and many people don’t do that. It is a big commitment, especially if you take it seriously.”

Merrigan had similar obligations as her family and current job often takes her out of state, causing the cost of traveling to and from the barrier island to attend commission meetings to add up quickly.

“Compensation wouldn’t have changed my personal decisions,” she said.

When making her decision to end her time on the commission at the close of her term, she spoke with individuals that she believed would be good candidates to replace her.

“The ideal people are usually already busy people,” she said.

The majority of people she talked to cited the time commitment needed to serve on the commission as the primary factor in them turning down her suggestion.

Only one person said compensation would make a difference in whether they sought office, she said.

MARCH 2015 n Jack Daly defeated Larry Grossman in District 4 n Incumbent Phill Younger retained his at-large seat against Gene Jaleski MARCH 2016 n No contested races MARCH: 2017 n George Spoll ran unopposed in District 2 n Incumbent Jack Daly defeated Larry Grossman in District 4 n Jim Brown defeated Gene Jaleski for an open at-large seat MARCH 2018 n Randy Clair ran unopposed in District 1 n Ken Schneier defeated John Weber for the open District 3 seat n Ed Zunz retained his District 5 seat against Randy Langley n Irwin Pastor defeated Jack Wilson for the open at-large seat MARCH 2019 n George Spoll ran unopposed in District 2 n Jack Daly ran unopposed in District 4 n Mike Haycock ran unopposed for at-large seat after Randy Langley dropped out of the race against Haycock in January 2019.

MARCH 2020 n Sherry Dominick ran unopposed for District 1 n Ken Schneier ran unopposed for District 3 n Ed Zunz ran unopposed for District 5 n BJ Bishop ran unopposed for an at-large seat MARCH 2021 n Penny Gold ran unopposed for District 2 n Debra Williams ran unopposed for District 4 n Mike Haycock ran unopposed for an at-large seat APRIL 2021 n Commissioners appointed Maureen Merrigan over Gene Jaleski and Christopher Carman to fill the vacancy left by Ed Zunz.

MARCH 2022 n Mike Haycock ran unopposed. n BJ Bishop ran unopposed. n Maureen Merrigan ran unopposed.

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NO DAY AT THE PARK 12:18 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic hazard: Police drove to a town park to investigate a report of vegetation debris piled high enough to block the view of motorists trying to leave. The officer found a pile on the park’s northern driveway that completely obscured drivers’ ability to see southbound traffic and hampered their ability to make a safe left turn. The officer informed the town’s Public Works Department of the danger and was told the issue would be forwarded immediately to parks personnel.

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FRIDAY, OCT. 21

LASER-FOCUSED 5:07 p.m., police headquarters Suspicious incident: An officer returned to the police department to speak with a person who came to the lobby concerned that foreign agents working on a laser project were following him. Police reported he likely was under the influence. He said he would return home for the evening and call police if needed.

DINING, SAILING, TRESPASSING? 6:40 p.m., 6900 block of Bayside Drive Citizen assist: A neighbor called the police to report a truck parked in the driveway of a nearby construction site, though it did not belong to a property owner or a construction worker. The neighbor said the vehicle belonged to either someone who left to go sailing or to visit a nearby restaurant. Because the vehicle was parked on private property, the officer was unable to issue a parking ticket, but he did list the options available to the property’s owner.

Among them, towing the vehicle and pursuing a trespassing warning. The neighbor said he would relay that information to the property owner.

SUNDAY, OCT. 23

TOWEL, SIR? 12:32 p.m., 700 block of Longboat Club Road Animal complaint: A raccoon, possibly injured and definitely in the pool area of a residential condominium complex, prompted a call to police. When an officer arrived

and met with the caller, the masked mammal had disappeared and couldn’t be found.

TUESDAY, OCT. 25

DRIVEN TO INFORM 9:37 p.m., 2000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious vehicle: A resident concerned about a car-hauling truck parked with its emergency flashers activated on a nearby side street called police to report what he saw.

An officer checked out the report and explained to the caller that the divided side street was an appropriate place for truckers to park while delivering clients’ vehicles, rather than parking illegally in the center lane of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Also, the truck was not blocking traffic.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26

FINDING ITS WAY HOME 3:12 p.m., police headquarters Found item: A cell phone left behind accidentally in a town park bathroom eventually made it back to its owner through a series of events, discoveries and connections. The day before, a police department employee had fielded a call from someone who said a friend had left a phone in a park bathroom. The employee promised to call back if such a phone was found, though at the time there were no such reports.

On Oct. 26, a phone was brought to the police department by a person who found it while cleaning a park rest room. Coincidence? The employee checked the phone and found numerous lines on the call history page indicating the phone had connected with the person who called police the day earlier. From there, the employee contacted the original caller with the good news. The owner came to the police department to identify and accept the phone, signing a receipt and happy to find his property in good order.

MA, YOU OK? 8:34 p.m., 700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: While wrapping up a traffic stop alongside the highway, a second car pulled off the pavement and parked in front of the police officer’s vehicle. Thinking the second car had become disabled, the officer

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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.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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FRIDAY, OCT. 21

WORKS EVERY TIME 9:19 a.m., 700 block of Dream Island Road Citizen assist: By the time an officer got to a neighborhood following up on a call about a work truck blocking the traffic, the situation had resolved itself, an officer reported. He also reported that a neighbor used their car horn “for an extended period of time’’ before the work truck moved out of the way.

I WAS HERE 9:50 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Unsecure premises: Performing a routine check of commercial-building security in a shopping plaza, an officer found the door to a business unlocked. He entered and looked around, finding no one inside and nothing disturbed. Before locking the door and pulling it shut, the officers left a business card on the front counter with a case number written on it. He also placed a call to the owner of the business, indicating on voicemail what he found and what he did to secure the premises.

THURSDAY, OCT. 27

MORNING NOISE 7:45 a.m., 600 block of Longview Drive Noise complaints from land: An officer issued a warning to those responsible at a job site for making work-related noise before the town’s allowable hour of 8 a.m. A nearby resident placed a call to police complaining of the violation.

TOP O’ THE AFTERNOON TO YA! 4:39 p.m., Greer Island beach Indecent exposure: A woman who was reported to be topless on the beach along the island’s north end told police that, no, she wasn’t actually topless but rather had simply adjusted the upper half of her two-piece swimsuit because of sand infiltration. An officer arrived to find the woman appropriately covered, though advised her to return to her car out of sight if future such adjustments were needed.

FRIDAY, OCT. 28

PRE-DAWN POWER TOOLIN’ 1:30 a.m., 1900 block of Harbour Links Circle Noise complaints from land: A caller to police complained about approximately an hour’s worth of power drill noise coming from an adjacent unit in a condominium complex. Upon the officer’s arrival, he reported being able to hear the drill noise from outside. The officer told the resident the reason for his visit and that neighbors had called to complain. The officer was told work was in progress to fix a leaking pipe and that he was also removing wooden floor boards to avoid the possibility of mold connected to the leak. The officer explained the town’s regulations on such noise and told the resident to stop the work and resume in the morning.

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issued a warning to the first driver, notified dispatches of the development and spoke to the second driver. The driver of the second car said his elderly mother had been the subject of the original traffic stop, and he just pulled over to make sure she was OK. He left without incident.

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Town to hold groundbreaking event for stage Nov. 7 Courtesy rendering

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Donors will be thanked for contributing to privately funded project at ceremony.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

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he town plans to celebrate the generosity of its citizens Nov. 7 at a groundbreaking ceremony of the privately funded Town Center stage.

The soon-to-be Karon Family Pavilion is part of the latest phase of improvements to the Town Center Green, a formerly undeveloped plot of land, a corner of which was once home to Amore restaurant.

“Through the generous support of the Karon family and other donors, the Karon Family Pavilion will provide the opportunity to stage performances, productions and more, adding the focal point to the alreadyplanned outdoor venue that is currently under construction,” a press release from the town said.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. at 600 Bay Isles Road with refreshments to follow the ceremony.

For the stage, originally, the town had anticipated the project would cost about $500,000. One couple, Paul and Sarah Karon, opted to donate the entirety of that amount.

Town Manager Tom Harmer announced at the Nov. 15, 2021 commission meeting the couple’s plans to donate in exchange for naming rights.

However, after going out to bids, the final total came back to the town at about $860,000. The remaining money was raised with the help of about 12 other individuals, largely through the efforts of the Longboat Key Foundation.

The foundation helped coordinate private fundraising for the 50-foot wide permanent stage between the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center

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The stage is planned as a focal point for the renovated Town Center Green.

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and the Shoppes of Bay Isles. During the summer, Longboat Key leaders decided to allocate $50,000 of town funding to complete design and construction plans for a stage at the Town Center site.

The individuals are protected with anonymity by the foundation, which collected the donations. A plaque is planned that will reveal the names of donors who do not wish to remain anonymous at a later date, foundation Chair Jim Brown wrote previously.

Once the town acquired the donations, Harmer signed the contract with Jon F. Swift Construction of Sarasota in late July for the contractor to begin purchasing materials and completing the final design. Site work on the land is underway now.

Without the donations, the town still had plans to move forward with the remainder of the project and simply took the stage out of its plans.

The stage is part of a larger project to improve the Town Center Green.

Site work for the town center is town-funded with about $530,000, which included $445,000 from the town’s land-acquisition fund. Work includes raising and re-grading the site with fill. Additional stormwater infrastructure will be installed to accommodate site work and with accommodations for future buildings, which might someday include a library that is part of the Sarasota County system and a community center. The town’s portion is funding walkways, streetlights, landscaping and space for food trucks.

County officials have funded in the current budget about $1 million toward initial studies of what sort of facility might be best suited for Longboat Key. Town officials have also had talks with officials of Sarasota County Schools.

The entire site covers about 4.81 acres. The town purchased the three parcels that complete the total site for about $3.7 million in 2017.

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8A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Public pensions: No to ESG More and more governments are forgetting their fiduciary responsibilities and engaging in ESG investing. While activist investing is fine for private investors, it is not for governments.

ESG RISK SCORE VS. MARKET CAPITALIZATION

A

rguments about activist investing are currently generating a lot of headlines, notably with President Biden’s administration, including support for activist investing in his climate change policies.

This move was cheered by many who want governments to commit to investing in securities and funds that meet certain environmental, social and governance ideals or standards and to refuse to give government contracts to companies that violate those ideals or standards.

At the same time, several governors and legislatures have pushed back with policies or laws banning state investments or contracts with businesses that pursue ESG approaches.

For example, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has forbidden state agencies from using ESG criteria when making investment decisions, saying he is protecting Florida from “woke capital.”

So, we have some governments refusing to invest pension funds in banks or investment pools that do business with oil companies or gun manufacturers, while other governments refuse to invest pension funds in banks or investment pools that WON’T invest in oil companies or gun manufacturers. It’s a triumph of populist politics over sound financial decision making.

ESG investing is also becoming more prevalent with individuals making their own investments and in the policies implemented by institutional investors and public pension systems.

Because ESG debates and activist investing look to be a significant subject of contention for the foreseeable future, it is essential to draw clear lines of when it is and is not appropriate to implement investment strategies that overstep the usual purpose of meeting specific financial objectives, especially in the case of retirement savings.

It is entirely appropriate for individuals to make whatever investment decisions they like with their assets. Giving individuals a choice in where to place their assets is healthy and consistent with longstanding American investment tradition. Look to the long history of specialized or sector funds for

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

ESG Risk Ratings come from Morningstar’s Sustainanalytics (pulled April 22-24, 2022) and Market Capitalization data come from Yahoo Finance (pulled May 4, 2022).

ADRIAN MOORE AND RICHARD HILLER

examples.

Of paramount importance with these investments is that their objectives and methods are made clear to potential investors through the prospectus and other communications materials.

Individuals having the ability to invest with their conscience in a way consistent with their beliefs and objectives is laudable and is consistent with a free society.

Investors also need to understand that widespread use of ESG criteria has broader implications for the market. The accompanying figures show that large companies (those with higher capitalization shown in blue) have substantially less ESG risk than do smaller companies (in orange). This means ESG investing actually discourages investing in smaller firms and could reduce competition and increase market concentration, not because of serving their customers better, but because of politicized investment decisions.

This is even more dangerous when those decisions are being made by government investors.

There are serious concerns when activism is involved with pooled retirement investments, such as public pension systems. Public pension plans should not engage in political activism.

Unfortunately, lawmakers and officials on all extremes of the political landscape are increasingly attempting to dictate how investment funds maintained for various governmental functions must be invested. The trends, both promoting ESG and anti-ESG, are being directed at state and local government-run pension funds for public employees.

Pension fund investment managers have a fiduciary

responsibility to manage their funds exclusively to best meet the financial needs of plan participants.

In the case of public retirement plans, those needs are to support the plan sponsor’s financial obligation to plan members within closely managed risk guardrails.

It is also clear that activistinvestment mandates are inconsistent with these fiduciary responsibilities and retirement plan objectives.

The demand for investments that match certain political or policy beliefs and the increasing pressure on state and local governmentrun pension systems to ignore their fiduciary responsibilities in favor of politically motivated investing, present more reasons for governments to examine alternative retirement plan designs immediately.

It has become more widely understood that the traditional public sector defined benefit pension plan no longer meets the needs of the majority of today’s public employees and other impacted groups. Employees are increasingly mobile in their careers, and traditional defined benefit pension plans cannot effectively meet workers’ portability needs.

Traditional defined benefit plans also fail to meet many employers’ needs, impacting their ability to recruit and retain qualified employees. Additionally, in many cases, traditional defined benefit plans’ funding status continues to deteriorate, putting increasing pressure on taxpayers and on government budgets.

From public pension debt to failing to serve today’s workers to misguided politically motivated investment pressures, it is clear that the public retirement space is due

for some recalibration.

Retirement plan designs that are built on a defined contribution foundation and have objectives focused on lifetime income and risk management can be the leading-edge answer to many of today’s public pension dilemmas.

Sophisticated design structures incorporating defined benefit-like features into a defined contribution construct are available and in use today.

With these plans, sponsors can make available many employeeselected investment options that do not force the employee into heavy-handed, politically motivated investments or ones they oppose morally. With the help of an independent financial adviser, if desired, individual employees can build a portfolio that best meets their personal goals and objectives.

It should seem obvious that retirement plans must focus on meeting the objectives of several interested parties, most notably the public employee participants.

Attempting to impose politically motivated investment controls on public pension plans violates core fiduciary standards and is a gross over-reach by governments.

Instead, lawmakers and workers should seek to modernize public retirement plans in ways that give individuals the flexibility to vote with their feet, have plan portability when they change jobs and invest as they see fit.

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

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

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

Adrian Moore is vice president of the Reason Foundation and a regular contributor to the Observer. He lives in Sarasota. Richard Hiller is a senior fellow with the Reason Foundation and veteran designer of retirement plans.

OBSERVER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NOV. 8 ELECTION FEDERAL OFFICES

“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.”

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

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

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

9A

WELCOME BACK

OUR ANNUAL RECAP OF

WHAT YOU MISSED There was a lot of news while you were gone. Here are the top 10 stories of the spring and summer.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

W

e gather this time of year on driveways, alongside condo pools, in the frozen-food aisle and scores of other places with a familiar conver-

sation.

How are the kids? Like that new set of irons?

Get through the hurricane OK? Winter residents expect it on their return to Longboat Key. Friends and neighbors have missed you during the hot, humid months.

We want to catch up and get back to our paradise-like weather, planning for the holidays and complaining about traffic.

In the interests of bringing up to speed the folks who summer in places such as Grosse Point, Tonawanda, Westport or Naperville, we bring you our annual look back at some of the big news you might have missed and a few of our favorite happy happenings that crossed our paths while you were away.

Welcome back.

Courtesy photo

SWIMMING AROUND THE ISLAND When 34-year-old Julie Madison started hearing cowbells as she swam a circle around Longboat Key this past spring, she wasn’t suffering from hallucinations from hypothermia.

She was actually hearing supporters urging her on during her 11-hour ordeal.

The Anna Maria Island woman planned the feat for four months and looked for just the right day to do it. She previously circum-swam her home island in December and Lido Key in 2017.

“I just kept pursuing it,” Madison said. “The Hogfish from Anna Maria Island were super excited about my Anna Maria Island swim, so they asked me what they could do and what was my next big thing, and I said I wanted to do Longboat Key, and they were like, ‘Well, we would love to help you.’ They were fantastic. They did most of my support for that swim. … The kayak really helps with navigation, because, especially the day I did it, the back end of the island was very choppy.

There was a good section of the swim that there were one-, two-, three-foot waves, so I couldn’t see very well.”

Boat noise zoned out Speaking of noise, town officials got creative over the summer in dealing with a perennially sticky issue: bothersome boaters on the north end of the island.

By declaring a strip of sand along the east-facing portion of Greer Island as a bathing beach, marked with signs and buoys, the town craftily accomplished something with which it struggled for years. Powerboaters, some of them rowdy and others surely not, now are forbidden to beach on the sand closest to Longboat’s Land’s End neighborhood.

Motorized vessels will still be allowed to beach and anchor in unrestricted areas of the spit just past the buoys and under the bridge.

But now, unless you’re paddling, sailing or swimming, you’ll have to watch where you’re navigating and beaching.

File photo

In a pickle over courts

You’d think someone was proposing a 1950s’ themed drive-in burger joint called Vroom, Vroom, aimed at car nuts who enjoy onion rings and straight-piped exhaust systems.

Nope, nothing like that.

Just the Longboat Key Club seeking to accommodate the pickleball craze by proposing four courts alongside its Harbourside Tennis Gardens. Nothing’s been approved yet, even though you might have caught wind of the idea back in April, before you headed north.

Noise has been the biggest complaint of nearby residents, who say the sound of the sport being played, particularly by accomplished athletes who don’t have to chase the ball after a two- or-three shot exchange, will ruin open-window season.

Not something they signed up for, they say.

Pickleball, you see, makes a noise all its own. But it’s far more complicated than that.

The town’s Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the original idea in April, then learned that hardly anyone received mailed notices of the public meeting, which explained the nearly empty public-meeting room. At the time, board member Jay Plager, the front-runner for 2022’s Most Prescient Moment, said of Bird Key Yacht Club’s attempt to build pickleball courts years earlier: “The neighbors raised such a fuss that they gave it up because pickleball courts do have a very distinct sound, as you know.”

So, the matter was again noticed and heard in June.

This time, there were few empty seats and plenty of filled ones with people registering objections. Before a vote could be recorded, though it looked like the proposal was not gaining much favor on the dais, representatives of the Key Club requested a delay, one that continues to this day.

We hear alternate locations are under consideration, and a new batch of nearby residents are taking note.

SEE WELCOME, PAGE 10A

File photo

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BENEFITING

391664-1

HOST

10A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Welcome FROM PAGE 9A

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By now, you might notice some work happening on the Town Center Green, Longboat’s new central point for a variety of outdoor activities.

While getting some early use in 2022, the site will soon be the domain of workers building a long-awaited stage. A ceremony is planned Nov. 7 to honor those who donated for the privately funded enterprise.

At their last meeting before two-and-a-half months of summer break from meetings, town commissioners not only approved a five-year capital budget shift to proceed with on-site work at the Town Center Green property, but they also learned that private donations reached a level sufficient to pay for the construction of a stage as a centerpiece for the site.

On July 1, town commissioners agreed to push forward with construction of a covered stage on the northeastern boundary of the Town Center, based on news delivered by Jim Brown, the chair of the Longboat Key Foundation, that private fundraising had gone well enough to see the finish line.

Construction contracts were signed in August.

File photo

FREEDOM FEST WAS A RED, WHITE AND BLUE SPECTACULAR It was as hot as a firecracker July Fourth morning, but that didn’t cool the fun for Longboat Key’s annual Freedom Fest, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Grand Marshal Lisa Walsh led the parade in a red Corvette convertible.

Flags and people lined Bay Isles Road for the “Shortest Parade in America.”

The Hot Diggity Dog costume contest drew on the patriotic theme of the day, along with a large helping of creativity.

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With his Florida connections deeply rooted, Police Chief George Turner in June quickly solved a problem that could have crippled the town police force.

After sending their Chevrolet SUVs to the repair shop time and again, then finding out the town’s extended warranty didn’t apply to police vehicles even though it was sold to the police department for police vehicles, something had to be done.

Turner relied on contacts he’s made over the years to informally set aside four 2022 police-model Ford Explorers with a Polk County dealership, while town commissioners did the money thing.

“There are only five in the entire state of Florida,” Turner said on July 1, acknowledging that police-package vehicles are often hard to find. “We have a hold on four of them.”

Commissioners OK’d moving about $185,000 from the to-come budget into the in-use budget to facilitate the purchase. Oh, and the town got its money back for the police vehicle warranty that didn’t apply to police vehicles.

File photo

SEE WELCOME, PAGE 12A

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

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

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www.lapenseeplumbing.com

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Visit our Holmes Beach Showroom 401 Manatee Avenue, Holmes Beach

All designs are the property of Heritage Builders of West Florida, LLC. CBC1259307 Plans, pricing and specifications subject to change without notice. Renderings are artist’s conception and not intended to show specific detailing. Square footages are estimated and may vary in actual construction.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Welcome

Republican Club of Longboat Key, Inc. P.O. Box 8181 Longboat Key, FL 34228-8181

The tax man cometh

FROM PAGE 10A

DINNER MEETING!

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Change at the top

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

No, we haven’t given over the Welcome Back-issue writing duties to Pete Townshend, but it does seem appropriate to paraphrase The Who when discussing Town Hall’s top nonelected official.

“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss ... almost.’’

Town Manager Tom Harmer is retiring this year, but he plans to stay on a few weeks until Howard Tipton can arrive in January.

Tipton, like Harmer in 2017, will come to town as a former county administrator, though Tipton will have about 180 miles on his odometer before crossing the bridge into Longboat Key on his first day from St. Lucie County. Harmer simply commuted from Sarasota until moving to town.

There really weren’t other candidates.

Sort of like when the town set about hiring Harmer, they focused on Tipton and convinced him to head over the Best Coast.

“What’s not to like?” said Tipton, who starts Jan. 30 and will make about $211,000.

Reception: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM Dinner / Speaker: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Longboat Key Club and Resort Harbourside Ballroom 3200 Harbourside Drive (North Gate by Publix) Longboat Key, FL 34228

OUR GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE:

For a few days in May, there was some question about more than a half-million dollars in property taxes owed on former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort properties. All 244 of them, in fact.

The taxes and addresses — by then nearly delinquent — were published by the Sarasota County Tax Collector just a few days from the drop-dead deadline. The bill was paid with a day or two to spare.

A majority of the 244 levies ranged from around $1,300 to $3,300, though one parcel listed a tax responsibility of $50,215. According to the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office, the 2021 taxable value, as determined on Jan. 1, 2022, for the 244 parcels was $36.3 million. The total amount of taxes owed on the parcels, when added together, totaled $551,827.32.

As of 2022, though, those addresses at 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive no longer existed, replaced by the St. Regis property’s five new buildings with their own addresses.

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Tom Harmer Town Manager for the Town of Longboat Key

Tom Harmer has more than 33 years of experience in local government, including nearly eight years as City Manager of Titusville, FL.

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NO CYGNETS THIS YEAR Aside from the romantic drama of the island’s beloved swans, there was tragedy.

The one egg that held a chance for a baby swan to be born in 2022 failed.

Swan keeper David Novak and swan expert and breeder Bob Knox had been keeping eyes on the only nest that was made this year, which belonged to swans Chuck and Lydia. Novak had been keeping food and water bowls near Lydia, who nested in foliage across from the CVS on

He also served as Titusville’s Fire Chief, Emergency Manager and the Executive Director of the Community Development Agency. He previously served as Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Manager in Tallahassee, Florida.

In July of 2017 he accepted the appointment as Town Manager for the Town of Longboat Key. He officially started with the Town on December 11, 2017 replacing outgoing Town Manager Dave Bullock.

Bay Isles Parkway, to keep her alive as she sat on her one egg, which was infertile.

It’s unusual for a swan to lay just one egg; usually, a clutch has about six. Novak removed the egg and began destroying the nest so Lydia would realize quickly that she has nothing to go back to. She lost weight while in the nest, so he wants to keep her away from a failed nest to get her healthy again.

2022-2023

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS MEMBERS: $70 GUESTS: $75

Make your reservation online and pay securely with your credit card through PayPal: rclbk.org

LANGUAGES

Reserve By Phone: Judy Williams at 941-312-4574 or email Judy: dickandjudyw@verizon.net … and bring your check to the meeting (Please make check payable to RCLBK). Sorry – we do not accept credit cards at the door.

For more information, please contact our President: Scott Gray | lbkrepublicans@gmail.com

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

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Most Programs Available on Zoom.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Property values hit a record

MOTE DEAL CLOSES IN BENDERSON PARK In mid-July, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously voted to convey the site near Interstate 75 to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for $100. There, the nonprofit marine research organization plans to build a new 110,000-square-foot aquarium, a project years in the making. Days later, Mote closed on the property.

Construction is underway on the 11.76-acre site, once owned by Sarasota County.

Branded Mote Science Education Aquarium, Mote reached a $90 million fundraising milestone in October 2021.

Michael Moore, special advisor to the office of the president who has led the fundraising campaign for the Mote SEA, said donations have picked up pace since the land was conveyed, adding an announcement about the next milestone will come this fall.

“The community’s response to the project is accelerating with prospective donors as they see the project is starting to materialize,” Moore said.

“Definitely when it comes out of the ground in a few months, we know that’s going to help us toward the goal.”

Longboat Key leaders headed into their budget discussions this past summer understanding that the value of residential and commercial property on which taxes will be based has never been higher.

Estimates from the property appraisers’ offices in Manatee and Sarasota counties showed a combined taxable valuation for property in the town of $7.34 billion, an increase of about 13.5% from last year. The total is about $700 million higher than the previous high of $6.6 billion at the height of the 2008 housing-value run up.

Broken down by county, Sarasota values were up 13.31% to $5.04 billion and Manatee values are up 13.92% to $2.3 billion.

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Book still open on library ideas In literary terms, the town’s push for a public library is in the early chapters. We’re beginning to become familiar with the setting, see where the story is going, meet some of the main characters and make some assumptions about what’s to come.

But the denouement (if you think we spelled that word right on the first try, you’re kidding yourself) is still a ways off.

What we know is this: Sarasota County leaders included about $1 million in the current budget to begin the process of studying what would work, what people want and what kind of building might be useful as a county library. There’s a spot set aside in the Town Center Green.

The town has laid out its desired timeline for further discussions and potential county funding, while also talking with Sarasota County Schools and even officials in Manatee County. The town has heard about interim steps, such as a new county-run bookmobile that could soon begin making stops here.

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State sets condo rules

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Town rolls out the green carpet

Please be kind and try to understand if you dog starts acting like Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott at Bayfront Park these days.

It could be the autumn air, that new girl dog in the corner . . . or . . . it might be the yards of artificial turf installed in August and September. Either way, Fido is seems happier and speedier and very unlikely to win in the playoffs. (Sorry, Cowboys fans.)

Thanks to a $123,000 donation from Longboat Key resident Irene Hess, the dog park is now a much cleaner place to visit. Muddy paws after a rain or sandy coats during a dry spell are now a thing of the past.

And in case you were wondering about the ... uh ... well ... you know ... the turf is certified for dog uses (all of them, if you get what we’re sayin’), and a sprinkler system will keep things washed down and tidy.

Legislators in special session picked up the ball where they left it at the end of their 2022 regular session, passing statewide rules on condominium inspections and the means to finance needed repairs.

Longboat Key town leaders had crafted rules of their own but held off on considering them in May when they heard the special session, billed largely as a session to deal with property insurance reform, would also include condo safety. At the time, commissioners agreed waiting until the Legislature acted made sense and could help inform them on what direction to follow if no new regulations were approved.

Among the provisions: n Inspections every 10 years for building three stories or taller, beginning 25 years after occupancy documents are issued. Buildings more than three miles from the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean cross the inspection threshold at 30 years. n Elimination of the possibility of condo associations waiving requirements to keep adequate financial reserves to pay for repairs. That begins in 2025. n A requirement that condo associations conduct 10-year studies of their finances to determine if needed repairs can be paid for. The provision also opens the door for condo board members to be sued if the recommendations following an inspection are not followed.

WORSHIP

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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 390113-1

directory

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

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

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

All are Welcome

All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions • We’ve ramped up, anyone of any mobility is welcome • In-person worship services Sunday at 10 a.m.

Saturday at 5pm -

• Live-stream at AllAngelsLBK.org to participate on-line

Contemporary Style Worship

Growing in Jesus’ Name

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church

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

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

Visitors Welcome Visitors & & Residents Residents Welcome

941.383.8833 (office)

•

www.christchurchoflbk.org

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Watch AMService ServiceLive: Live: WatchOur Our10:00 10:00 AM

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

(Coffee Hour at 10am) St. Armands Key Lutheran Church • 40 North Adams Dr., Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234 • Questions? Contact: michael@saklc.com

Worship WorshipWith WithUs UsAt atOur OurChurch Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM Sunday Service 10:00 AM The Rev. The Rev.Dr. Dr.Norman NormanPritchard Pritchard

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

Sunday Worship at 9am &11am -

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

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• Discussion Groups on Tue & Wed at 10 a.m.

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

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

TRIBUTES

SOON AT ST. MARY

n Helicopter Ball Drop to benefit victims of Hurricane Ian: 4 p.m. Nov. 4 n Christmas Bazaar: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nov. 5 n Interfaith Service and Dinner: 5 p.m. Nov. 22, reception to follow the service. n Christmas concert: 4 p.m. Dec. 2 n Christmas lighting: After 4 p.m.

Mass Dec. 3

Robert John Katstra We are sad to announce the death of Robert John Katstra. Bob passed away peacefully on October 20, 2022 at the age of 89. After serving in the Air Force and the Korean War, he was an airline pilot for over 38 years with Eastern Airlines. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Trudy Katstra, and three children: Lisa Kollock, Kathy Flores, and Jon Katstra. Bob also leaves behind nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. To send condolences please visit www.toalebrothers.com.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Bonnie Schneider rolls a cart of donations to load up for Beauty Bridge.

Luncheon highlights local charity and giving The guest speakers were a mother and daughter from the Beauty Bridge Foundation of Sarasota.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

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he snowbirds of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church have landed back on the island for winter. The Ladies Guild provided a warm welcome at their annual Welcome Back Luncheon on Oct. 26 in Pick Hall.

The Thanksgiving buffet of turkey and fixings was a fitting meal for this guild of givers. Charitable efforts were recapped, along with upcoming events. The guest speakers, motherand-daughter duo Dede Caldwell and Saasha Plefka, were on hand to thank the group for their support and donation.

Beauty Bridge Foundation of

Sarasota is one of several organizations the church supports. Caldwell opened a “hybrid beauty salon” in August 2021 in Sarasota’s Rosemary District.

Paying clients contribute to the cost of haircuts for those who can’t afford the luxury and are referred through a nonprofit community partner. There is no difference in service between the two.

Caldwell told the story of a 19-year-old woman, who was four months pregnant. She’d been living on the streets with her boyfriend for three years when she got pregnant and was willing to change her life to keep the baby.

She went to Manasota Solve for help, another organization the church financially supports. Solve houses women struggling with the cycles of poverty, abuse and addiction during and after pregnancy.

The young woman was shy walking through the glass doors of the small but upscale, four-chair salon.

“I don’t think I’m in the right

Saasha Plefka and DeDe Caldwell of the Beauty Bridge Foundation of Sarasota.

place,” she said. “It’s too beautiful.”

Caldwell choked up for a moment recounting her response to the young woman, “I said I built this for you.”

This woman hadn’t had her hair cut or colored since before those three homeless years. She wept in the salon chair.

Plefka is opening another hybrid salon in February 2023 in Hartford, Connecticut. That salon will include skin-care services too.

The details haven’t been fine tuned, but the guild already has their sights set on another group of sisters in need — Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat and Spirituality Center, Diocese of Venice.

“I don’t know if you all know that they’re pretty much underwater,” Treasurer Marilyn Davol said. “We have decided to wait until the dust settles, and we’re going to make a sizable donation.”

The women cheered when hearing $54,935.10 was accumulated in their treasury. Hard work goes into raising that money. The ladies guild holds an annual rummage sale, fashion show and Christmas bazaar, which all take months to prepare.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

TRIBUTES W. Howard Rooks 1934-2022 SARASOTA - W. Howard Rooks, 88 of Sarasota died peacefully at his home on October 20, 2022, surrounded by his loving daughter and grandchildren.

Howard was born on February 8, 1934, in Turkey, North Carolina, the second of two children born to William and Orpha Rooks.

The son of a North Carolina tobacco farmer, Howard was the first from his town to attend college. He continued to work the fields with his family and hitchhiked rides to East Carolina University where he became class president. He received his BA in 1956 and, years later, became a Trustee of the University.

Howard served two years in the U.S. Army before becoming a high school teacher in Alexandria, Virginia where he met his wife of 25 years, Sue Gilliam Rooks.

One evening, after closing on their new home in Alexandria, Howard noticed the real estate agent earned more on one transaction than he made teaching school for an entire year.

Howard decided to get his real estate license and try to sell houses on the weekends to supplement his salary. He quickly fell in love with the business, gave up teaching, and in 1968, founded Mount Vernon Realty in Alexandria.

Over the next 25 years, he grew the company to over 3,000 agents and 62 offices.

Before he sold the company to Weichert Realtors in 1991, Mount Vernon Realty became the 10th largest privately owned real estate company in the United States. He was an inspiring and charismatic leader, driven by helping his agents create their own dreams and meet their goals.

Following the sale of his business, Howard began to spend more time in Sarasota where he had purchased a small home on Lido Key in 1970. He was passionate about Sarasota and knew one day he would retire there. He spent the last 30 years of his life in Sarasota, but never really retired.

An admitted “deal junkie,” Howard was soon creating, developing, partnering, and investing full-time in Sarasota. He was quickly joined by his daughter Lisa and her husband Bob Morris in many of these real estate investments. He was also involved in several related business pursuits including The Plaza restaurant on Longboat Key, Cork and the Bottle Shop on St. Armands Circle, and Amore restaurant in downtown’s Burns Court neighborhood. His initial passion was the real estate itself, but he came to love the process of creating a community, spending time with the staff, and enjoying meals, drinks, and great music with his friends and regulars at the piano bar.

Howard was also passionate about the modern architecture of Sarasota and his Lido Shores neighborhood. At a time when Mediterranean style homes

were in favor, he sought to bring more classic modern architecture to Sarasota.

Having no experience in building, construction, or design, Howard sought out the best people in each field; he partnered with Guy Peterson, Pat Ball and Rick Carlisle to help bring his vision to life. He restored and improved several of the most important Sarasota School of Architecture houses and built several high-end waterfront spec homes.

He measured his success by his relationships with others, what he was able to create, and how he made others feel.

While Howard always hoped to make a profit, sometimes he didn’t, especially during times of recession. What was most important to Howard was creating projects that were fun, beautiful, and interesting; projects that would create delight and benefit others. He had big ideas and knew how to connect with people who could do what he could not. Howard was the ultimate optimist and a fearless risk-taker, always motivated by the creative process. He measured his success by his relationships with others, what he was able to create, and how he made others feel. Over the years, money came and went, and came again, but never seemed to influence who he was and how he

treated other people. He had a deep inner faith that all would be well. He was extraordinarily grateful for his life and for those in it.

Howard was an active Rotarian for decades. He was a member of St. Armands Lutheran Church and served as a Stephen minister there. He served on the Board of Directors for Meals on Wheels, Sarasota. He was a two term Trustee of East Carolina University and served on many other charitable and business boards during his professional careers in both Alexandria and Sarasota.

Howard was predeceased by his beloved son, Gregory Kent Rooks.

He is survived by his daughter Lisa Rooks Morris of Sarasota, his grandchildren Kathryn “Kate” Morris and Robert “Tripp” Morris, his big sister, Janice Tolar, and his niece, Jacki Cavenaugh both of Newport, NC.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 7 at 10:00am, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236. He will be buried at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Alexandria, VA. Condolences can be sent at Toalebrothers.com.

find your happy

farmers’ market

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SERVICE: Monday, November 7, 10AM St. Armand’s Key Lutheran Church DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236 (SAKLC. com) or Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, 421 North Lime Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34237 (mealsonwheelsofsarasota. org).

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Foodies + Fun-Lovers Rejoice!

As our tenants continue to open their doors, come experience all Waterside Place has to offer. Grab a bite to eat under the stars while enjoying live music and an ice-cold beverage. Break a sweat in a morning workout class before hitting up the Farmers’ Market for your favorite goods. Or, simply take a sunny stroll along the water’s edge.

COME LET LOOSE WITH US, WE’VE GOT A LOT TO SHOW YOU! 1561 LAKEFRONT DRIVE, LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34240

Wat ers ideP lac e .com Now Open + Coming Soon Explore the directory!

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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

5005 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #2

$8,500,000

This stunning contemporary beach home is located directly on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, offering a rare opportunity to enjoy luxury living on Longboat Key in a 2019-built residence.

This 5BR home was designed to capture dazzling Gulf vistas, and it comes ready to immediately move into and begin enjoying.

www.BonaireLBK2.com

3040 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #224

$2,495,000

Contemporary updates, stylish furnishings (included!) and stunning direct views welcome you to this 3BR Cayman residence at Grand Bay. Behind the exclusive gates of Bay Isles, this move-in ready retreat with two parking spaces is close to first-rate community amenities and is a sunny bike ride away from the private beach club.

www.GrandBay224.com

5249 CAPE LEYTE DRIVE

$4,890,000

Southern exposure! This 5BR modern John Cannon home on Siesta Key is currently under construction. Built to the highest standards, plus brand new dock, lift and seawall.

Bike to the renowned Siesta Key Beach!

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1545 OAK STREET #10 816 JUNGLE QUEEN WAY Turnkey furnished and move-in ready! This updated 3BR waterfront home on mid-Longboat Key is ready to enjoy today! You will love the deeded beach access and easy boating access to Sarasota Bay.

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$1,675,000

$1,799,000

This charming 3BR townhouse is in Sarasota’s historic district, within walking distance to the best that downtown offers. Immediately move in and fall in love! Life at Burn Court Villas offers a special jaunt into the ideal city lifestyle, in perfect proximity to the Bayfront, theaters, shopping, trendy eateries and Gulf beaches. Two parking spaces!

www.BurnsCourtVilla10.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 390350-1

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NOVEMBER 3, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Rusty Chinnis is solar powered. Both his house and car run on batteries and the sun.

Battery power kept at least one Longboat household lit up during Hurricane Ian.

The Powerwall backup system installed on the side of Rusty Chinnis and Chris Killeen’s house. They have two Tesla Powerwalls to use as backup during power outages.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

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t least one house Longboat Key didn’t go dark because of Hurricane Ian’s power outages, and luck had nothing to do with it.

Rusty Chinnis and Chris Killeen have 21 solar panels installed on their Longbeach Village home’s roof and two Tesla Powerwall battery packs to back them up. While the rest of the neighborhood remained dark, quiet and humid, Chinnis and Killeen were running their 2,500-square-foot house and two Tesla sedans on those batteries.

The Powerwalls were a more recent purchase and cost as much as the panels at $16,000 after tax credits, but Chinnis said they’re well worth the added expense.

Without them, the couple would’ve been powerless like everyone else on the island, including Kevin Pass, who also has gone solar, but not to the extent as his neighbors to the north.

Pass has solar panels on his house in Sleepy Lagoon but, for safety, lost power along with the rest of Florida Power & Light customers when Ian

caused a widespread outage. With his installation, solar power cells could have electrified otherwise dead power lines, potentially injuring utility workers.

His system is designed to cut off in an outage.

Pass and Chinnis say they are happy with their purchases. Chinnis acknowledged it’s a costly endeavor, but said they could afford it and it’s the right thing to do.

Pass had his own humorous take on the cost.

“We’re all old out on Longboat Key, so five to seven years before it pays for itself doesn’t mean as much to us,” he said laughing.

Pass is referring to the tax credit, which was upped from 26% to 30% in August. The credit is good on both

equipment and installation.

A larger house requires more panels. Pass’s 52-panel set up cost about $40,000 out-of-pocket. A battery would cost another $20,000 before the tax credit. Spreading out the two installations can be advantageous from a deduction standpoint.

Pass noticed the panels didn’t produce as much power in September as in some of the sunnier months, but he’s pleased with the overall offset on his electric bill.

The panels were installed in May, but it took until July to see the savings. Only one week on that statement shows his family consuming more power than the panels were producing. His FPL bill plummeted from $356.75 a month in June to $43.38 in July and $27.16 in August.

Solar panels on the roof of the home of Rusty Chinnis and Chris Killeen.

“We’re all old out on Longboat Key, so five to seven years before it pays for itself doesn’t mean as much to us.”

— Kevin Pass

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Chinnis’ battery system detects and takes over automatically during power outages. Transitioning on and off the grid is seamless.

Chinnis needed two, but up to 10 Powerwalls can be combined for a bigger backup system, which is akin to using a high-tech generator. A homeowner can decide to run everything until the battery runs out or decide to only use essentials.

Instead of having to pull the refrigerator out from the wall to get to the plug, the homeowner tells an app to keep it running and maybe chooses to turn off the stove or television outlets. Managing the essentials manually only takes a walk to the circuit breaker box to flip the switches on what isn’t essential.

Both men bought from Bryan Hammond at Solar Source. He’s in sales now, but had been a technician in the solar industry for 10 years.

Hammond also happens to live in Punta Gorda and was in the thick of 140 mph sustained winds and 170 mph gusts.

“My solar panels were intact. I did have two of them that let loose after about four hours of wind,” Hammond said. “They landed on my front lawn.

The next day, I put them back up, and they worked perfectly fine.”

Most panels can survive a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds if properly installed, and some are designed to withstand even more.

Still, Hammond got lucky with the two that went flying. They landed in the grass. Some of his clients weren’t as lucky when their panels hit concrete.

Hammond sheltered in place during Ian and felt safest on the side of his house that has panels. Solar Source advises some homeowners to wait on a new roof before installing panels as to not have the opposite effect, but combining a strong roof with solar panels can make the house more structurally sound to withstand a hurricane, they say.

“It doesn’t necessarily improve the integrity of the shingles or tiles, but it’ll improve the integrity of the structure of the roof,” Hammond said.

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Longboat Key lost many of its beloved residents and visitors during the summer. Below, we’ve compiled a list in their honor.

B

Ann Berberian died on Aug. 22 at age 74. She enjoyed bowling with friends and traveling to different parts of the world with her husband.

In her later years, she was most happy when spending time with her family and watching classic films.

Murray Blueglass, a lifelong educator and the former president of Temple Beth Israel, died at the age of 85 on July 15.

Blueglass was a loving family man who led by example. He called education the “family business.” His wife, two children and three of his grandchildren all followed suit as teachers and principals.

Blueglass was born in the Bronx, New York, where he began his career as a fourth-grade teacher. His working life was spent in New York and New Jersey. He eventually became superintendent of schools, first in

seitreporp esitrepxe stluser

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Tarrytown, New York, and then Mahwah, New Jersey.

After retirement, he became an active member of the Temple Beth Israel. As TBI president, he led with the same passion he had for education and enjoyed connecting with the congregation. Blueglass also served as the president of the Longboat Key Democratic Club.

Robert Lester Blumberg died on July 18 at age 94. Bob was a lifelong golfer with seven holes-in-one. He began shooting his age on his 68th birthday. He was extremely handy, and could fix almost anything.

His favorite saying was “Count your blessings.”

Gabriel Robert Buky Sr. died on July 28 at age 70. Born in Budapest, his family left Hungary in 1956 and relocated to Chicago with sisters, Judy Kepecz-Hays and Susan Buky.

There, Gabe’s brother, John Buky, was born, while the others gained citizenship through naturalization.

Gabe graduated from University of Illinois with a degree in architecture. However, once introduced to Anna Maria Island, he and his wife, Patricia C. Buky, along with their children, left Chicago to become full-time residents of the island. He switched careers to own and operate a popular wine and cheese bistro, before becoming a Realtor, a career that allowed him to work closely with his family.

YRANIDREXTRAORDINARY OAEXTRAORDINARY RTXE

DELAVIRNU

Certified Residential Specialist LBroker-Associate ANOITPECXE

941.928.3559

C

Edward K. Christian, 78, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan and Longboat Key died Aug. 19.

Ed’s calling was to a career in radio, which began in 1958 as a young teen running the control board at several FM radio stations in Detroit. From there, his career in radio extended to that of a reporter, account executive, station owner and operator of a radio-station group.

In 2009, Ed was honored with the National Association of Broadcasters’ National Radio Award for his service as a national leader for the radio industry and passion for public service. Ed was also honored with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

E

John R. Eagleton died June 23.

Jack was a fixture at Longboat Arms Condo association meetings and the

properties expertise results

OODLES OF KITTENS

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9553.829.149 G DIN N E P

Adopt, Don’t Shop 941-366-2404 | 2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 | www.catdepot.org

845 LongboatevClub 65 Lighthouse dPoint irD tRoad nioP esuohthgiL 56 aoR bDrive ulC taobgnoL 548 Regis 19,300 SF | A4440615 0845 0 0,Longboat 59|7$19,750,000 ,3$ |Club 181Road 834 4|ARegent | FS 3Court 39,4 4,933 SF |St.A4438181 0 0 0Residences ,057|,9$3,795,000 1$ #201 | 516| 0New 4 4 4Construction A | FS 0 03,91

Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years

11,000sf | Longboat Gulf Front | $21,244,000

LD SO

Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor

LD SO

• 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

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941.724.7228

390129-1

3,400sf | 3BR | Gulf Front | $3,850,000

390140-1

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RUG TIME: Hattie and her family are so happy to be enjoying life on Longboat Key!

SEE MEMORIAM, PAGE 4B

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19,300sf | 140’ on the Gulf | $16,500,000

Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them! Share them at YourObserver.com/contests/pet-pics to be published online and for a chance to see them in print!

William Stewart Cloud died May 12 at the age of 83.

William was an entrepreneur and established his own business. He designed and manufactured industrial braking systems. He was an avid runner and completed the Chicago Marathon. As a licensed pilot, he earned an instrument rating. He loved auto racing and particularly enjoyed watching his brother, John, compete. He served as president of Country Club Shores Unit V and lived in the neighborhood for 26 years. He was a member of Christ Church Presbyterian.

UNRIVALED UNRIVALED

LD SO

PET PICS

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IN MEMORIAM

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

Longboat Key Lido Key St Armands Siesta Key Casey Key Lakewood Ranch Downtown Sarasota West of the Trail Contact me today

941-993-3695

Let me help you explore your options and with your search.

I can start by emailing you listings today.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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#1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM 2021 Michael Saunders & Company Follow on Instagram @LongboatLife

BENCH M A RFKI NRDEI NSU • TO S TRY R AT G ILTS NVEN I S OEGIC U R S P EM C IA AR LTKYET • CIONG N N E•CPER T I O NSONA S M AT TLEIRZ! ED SERV ICE

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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 LD SO

on g b o at 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

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E

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 at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 MLS# A4178487

750 PENFIELD ST | $3,000,000

THE RESORT AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB

240 SANDS | OFFERED $955,000 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR IPOINT V E, #4RD #42052067 H A R AT BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

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

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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 CE I PR W E

this unit is a fantastic investment.

MLS# A4551046

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

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

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

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E

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 at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 MLS# A4178487

1200 ST NE | LINKS $575,000 DR I V E, #4 2067 H136TH A R BOUR

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

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

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

on g b o at K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0SAND CAY BEACH L on RESORT g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 4725 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #213 | OFFERED AT $819,000 MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487 2067This HA R BOUR LINKS DRearned I V E, over #4 $63K in gross 2067 HAR DR I V E, #4 2 bedroom vacation getaway income forBOUR 2021 andLINKS comes fully furnished.

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MLS# A4539173

I A N A DDY, PA IRAEN DDY, PA A LA TO R ®, M B A R E A LT O R ®, M B A

IanAddy@MichaelSaunders. com IanAddy@MichaelSaunders.com

ER D N

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 T AC R NT O C

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E

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

L on g b o a tLINKS K e y |DRIVE O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 2067 HARBOUR | $1,575,000 MLS# A4178487

G A I L W IT T IG

G ABIRLOW K EIT R -T A IG SSOCI ATE

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

941.387.0100 941.387.0100

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

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

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

IN MEMORIAM

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

FROM PAGE 2B

Cedars Tennis Club for more than 30 years. Jack enjoyed his retirement from management duties with Campbell Soup and the Illinois State Lottery in Northbrook, Illinois. Jack was a WWII Navy Veteran and a participant in D-Day at Normandy.

H

Stanley Horwich, 99, died May 14.

Stan is survived by his loving companion, Budee Jacobs, two children and six grand and great-grandchildren. He will be remembered by his keen wit, generous heart and his love of golf.

R

The Honorable Robert Marshall Hurst, 89, died April 22.

He was chief judge of Fairfax County Court Judicial System until he retired in 1991.

After retirement, his first wife, Jane Hutton Hurst, died. He traveled extensively with his second wife, Judith Price-Hurst. They moved to Longboat Key, where he enjoyed golf at the Meadows Country Club in Sarasota. He was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

S

Louis Gene Sanandres died July 11.

After retiring at 55 years old, Lou and Barbara settled on Longboat Key. He enjoyed golfing with The Mulligans, fishing on “The Barb” and being the 43rd commodore of Bird Key Yacht Club. More recently, he loved spending time with his grandkids, teaching them to fish and entertained them with all sorts of stories they had never experienced.

L

Robert (Bob) Lachmann, 86, died July 1 at his summer home in Montauk, New York.

He was retired and lived in Emerald Harbor. He was a member of Longboat Key Club for over 35 years and loved playing golf with his wife and his friends, especially the group known as the Friars.

P Carolyn Ann Connors Etten, 78, died April 1, 2022.

She enjoyed working at her children’s schools, caring for the elderly, and participating in several investment clubs. Carolyn was exceedingly enthusiastic about fitness and loved to run, bike, hike and play tennis.

F

Vera H. Freeman, 91, died Aug. 11, 2022. A graduate of Sarasota High School 1948, she traveled extensively, but Sarasota was always home.

In retirement, she served as school “nurse.” She is buried in that uniform as it exemplifies her dedication. The uniform also bears USAF Senior Aircrew wings she earned supporting the missions of her husband.

Jean Ann Pontius died May 21 at the age of 80.

Jeanie and her late husband Al wed in 1973 and they spent 33 years together in marriage. Since his death in 2006, Jeanie has spent the last 16 years reminiscing on precious memories with him and spoke about how much she was looking forward to seeing him in heaven. Jeanie was a past member of the La Porte Service League in Indiana, Longboat Island Chapel, Bird Key Yacht Club and Longboat Key Club.

for decades. He was a member of St. Armands Lutheran Church and served as a Stephen minister there.

He served on the board of directors for Meals on Wheels, Sarasota. He was a two term trustee of East Carolina University and served on many other charitable and business boards during his professional careers in both Alexandria and Sarasota.

W W. Howard Rooks, 88, died at his Sarasota home on Oct. 20.

He spent the last 30 years of his life in Sarasota, but never really retired.

An admitted “deal junkie,” Howard was soon creating, developing, partnering and investing full time in Sarasota. He was quickly joined by his daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Bob Morris, in many of these real estate investments. He was also involved in several related business pursuits including The Plaza restaurant on Longboat Key, Cork and the Bottle Shop on St. Armands Circle, and Amore restaurant first on Longboat Key and then in downtown’s Burns Court neighborhood.

Howard was also passionate about the modern architecture of Sarasota and his Lido Shores neighborhood.

At a time when Mediterranean style homes were in favor, he sought to bring more classic modern architecture to Sarasota. Having no experience in building, construction, or design, Howard sought out the best people in each field. He partnered with Guy Peterson, Pat Ball and Rick Carlisle to help bring his vision to life. He restored and improved several of the most important Sarasota School of Architecture houses and built several high-end waterfront spec homes.

Howard was an active Rotarian

Audrey Strode Wolcott died July 17, at 93. She was predeceased by her husband of 72 years, Arthur S. Wolcott.

Audrey was an active member at both the First Presbyterian Church in Penn Yan, New York, and Christ Church in Longboat Key. She enjoyed travel, bridge, sailing, golf, gardening and snow skied into her 80s. She was a member of Lakeside Country Club, the Longboat Key Club, the Sarasota Yacht Club and the Hunt Hollow Ski Club.

FINANCIAL PLANNING INVESTMENTS T RUST & ESTATE RETIREMENT F A M I LY W E A LT H

The freedom to focus on what’s important.

The cornerstone of our commitment to you.

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Call our team today at (941) 366-7222 to learn more.

PAUL TARANTINO SVP, Wealth Advisor SUZANNE ELLIN, JD, CGMA, CTFA, CFP® SVP, Trust Administration Officer

Board of Directors

George W. Hamlin, IV, Chairman • Garth Harding, Vice Chairman • Sam Guerrieri, President • Mary Braxton-Joseph • David Gorin Frank H. Hamlin, III • Larry Heilbronner-Kolthoff • Christine Jennings • Nelle Miller • Bernice Skirboll • Janice A. Zarro Investments are not FDIC insured, not bank deposits, not obligations of, or guaranteed by Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, Canandaigua National Trust Company of Florida, or any of their affiliates. Investments are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal amount invested. Investments and services may be offered through affiliate companies.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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BIRD KEY

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

LIDO KEY

101 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DRIVE, UNIT 81 SOLD $1,350,000

BAY POINT PARK 2

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

FOREST LAKES COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES 1779 RIVIERA CIR SOLD $676,000

391618-1

BIRD KEY

394 BOB WHITE DRIVE PENDING $5,295,000

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

YOUR CALENDAR

You’re Invited to our EmFace Launch Party!

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

FERRARIS ON THE CIRCLE 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle.

Sponsored by Ferrari Drivers SRQ, luxury vehicles will be pulled into the park for display. This is a free event.

Call 388-1554

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS

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

Begins Nov. 7 and ends Dec. 19; students can join at any time on a prorated basis. Fee is $70 for members and $80 for nonmembers. Call 383-8222.

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

Call 383-6493.

THINKING OUT LOUD: TIMELY TOPICS WITH MIKE KARP From 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Topics will include U.S. and world current affairs, popular culture and topics relevant to seniors. Cost is $10.

Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MIXED BEGINNERS BRIDGE From 1-2 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Professional bridge player Larry Auerbach will cover the mechanics and fundamentals of the game. Begins Nov. 7 and ends on Dec. 19. Fee is $85 for members and $95 for nonmembers. Call 3838222.

MIXED AND ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE From 3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. This course is for all intermediate-level players who are ready for more complex bridge concepts. Begins Nov. 7 and ends Dec. 19. Fee is $85 for members and $95 for nonmembers. Call 383-8222.

Be the FIRST on the Suncoast to see what all the hype is about!

November 30th, Wednesday from 5-7 p.m.

Lesley Dwyer

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Homemade crafts and collectibles will be for sale inside Pick Hall, and the Maine Line food truck will be in the parking lot. Call 383-1255.

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 FOR HEALTH & VITALITY From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Improve balance and flexibility, plus loosen joints and relax. Begins Nov. 8 and ends Dec. 20; students can join at any time on a prorated basis. Fee is $70 for members and $80 for nonmembers.

Call 383-8222.

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.

Join us for a fun night! Check the new revolution in facial treatments, EmFace.

EmFace is the first and only needle-free procedure that simultaneously treats facial skin and muscles in a 20-minute session.

Veterans Day

+30% +23% -37% Muscle Tone

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Catholic Memorial Mass

Wrinkle Reduction

3 p.m. - Friday, November 11, 2022

RSV P

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Call 941.866.8989

4 Treatments

Special Offer

Receive $500 off of a 4 treatment package when you book the night of the party! Offer is only eligible the on November 30th, and must be prepaid upon booking.

SARASOTA NATIONAL CEMETERY 9810 STATE ROAD 72, SARASOTA (1-75 EXIT 205 EAST) Contact Gail Ardy at ardy@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-486-4714 for further information

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0 0 5 $ off

9114 Town Center Pkwy., Suite. 102, Lakewood Ranch 34202

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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REAL ESTATE BY A REAL EXPERT

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

UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2945 PYRULA DRIVE LONGBOAT KEY, FL $3,345,000 Exceptional quality, untouched refinement, 2-story, 5BR/5BA, 3,815 sq. ft. residence. Features abound, including a separate in-law suite and large 3-car garage.

Expansive outdoor area with heated pool and spa.

EMERALD POINTE SOUTH 1906 HARBOUR LINKS CIRCLE LONGBOAT KEY, FL $1,495,000 Completely updated 3BR/3.5BA courtyard residence featuring a separate casita. The kitchen is spectacular, and open to the expansive living room, with a full wall of sliders leading out to a screened lanai and private pool.

VIZCAYA 2333 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #1C2 LONGBOAT KEY, FL $4,745,000

Sweeping views of the tropical grounds, pool, the Gulf of Mexico and sunsets from the wraparound terrace of this luxurious and sprawling 4BR/4.5BA residence with a separate guest suite, 2-car garage, and private elevator.

TWO NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT 2315 WEBBER STREET SARASOTA, FL $1,795,000 The Laurel Oak model is a 4BR/5.5BA, 3,250+/- sq.-ft. contemporary-style residence by Vertical Design+Build, professionally designed for leisurely entertaining and elegant living. Private gate entrance, 20,000+sq. ft. lot and everything in between.

Bruce Myer

Realtor ®

941.387.1847

390355-1

Bruce@BruceMyer.com • www.BruceMyer.com

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Tommy Finnan, Sarah Higson and Quinn Brown serve up a circus theme at Shore.

Karen Garrison, Tabitha Jongebloed and Anthony Carneglia in front of their pumpkin creations. Garrison carved the crab.

St. Armands Circle gets Halloween makeover The shop owners agree.

No matter how much candy they buy, they always run out.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

S

t. Armands Circle transformed from suave to spooky on Monday to prepare for its annual Fright Night. The classic statues that call the circle home were noticeably out of costume. But some merchants were dressed up and decorating their storefronts, all while trying not to eat too much candy.

“I’ve bought a couple bags, but I’ve only eaten two pieces so far,” Just/ Because owner Barbara Pugliese said. “No matter how much I buy, I always run out.”

Pugliese decked her gift shop to the fright-night nines. Eyeballs

accented the display window and a skull wreath hung on the door. With spider lights hanging overhead, it was perfectly creepy.

Pugliese’s “couple bags” of candy equated to about 400 pieces, but she doesn’t own a candy shop. Kilwins had 10 boxes set aside, each filled with 500 miniature candy bars in a variety of milk, white and dark chocolate.

The confection shop has also run out of candy on Fright Night, but they just grab it off the shelves.

They’re certainly not turning anyone away on Halloween.

“We just grab random things. How are we a candy shop and we don’t have candy on Halloween?” laughed Vanessa Hunter as she dipped a pretzel stick into melted white chocolate.

Kilwins wasn’t sweating the demand, but owner of Le Macaron Veronique Moussier spent $300 and said it still won’t be enough.

“It’s a circle,” she said. “The kids come around many times.”

One thing Moussier didn’t have to

buy this year was another costume.

Each year, she took great care to decorate one of the statues. A tradition formed through the St. Armands Circle Association; the merchants were responsible for those classic statues wearing capes.

But after vandals were stealing fingers and a reckless climber knocked over the Music statue in January, the association decided to leave them all bare this year.

“Basically, there was some concern about setting a bad example,” Executive Director Rachel Burns said. “We want to show the statues the proper respect.”

Especially after an anonymous donor gave $25,000 to a fund set up through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to repair the one that was left lying on the ground headless with two broken arms.

Because it is such a fond, longstanding tradition, one lone statue at the entrance to the circle donned a black cape and bird mask, but the costumer remains anonymous.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

A sugar skull inflatable in front of Just/ Because on St. Armands Circle.

The sole statue decorated for Halloween in St. Armands Circle this year.

Operations manager of Crab & Fin Robert Parelhoff dresses up as a sick patient.

First Physicians Group Welcomes

Peter Vosler, MD, PhD, FACS

Y EAR L LY

THANKSGIVING

We are pleased to welcome our first Head and Neck Cancer and Microvascular Surgeon to the First Physicians Group network. Peter Vosler, MD, joins FPG from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Hospital.

Dr. Vosler treats patients with both benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck involving the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, skin, parotid, and thyroid. He also specializes in microvascular reconstructive surgery and transoral robotic suture. His extensive research focuses on patient outcomes following complex head and neck cancer surgery.

DEADLINES

For November 24th Editions

Specialty: Head and Neck Cancers including mouth, tongue, throat, gland and skin cancers as well as microvascular reconstruction

Longboat, East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers Arts & Entertainment/Black Tie

Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

Space Reservation: 11am, Thursday, November 17

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

To reserve space contact your Observer advertising representative 941.366.3468. Observer Media Group offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24.

Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA Fellowship: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

To schedule an appointment, call (941) 262-0500

391097-1

1901 Floyd Street, Sarasota, FL 34239 firstphysiciansgroup.com

390261-1

First Physicians Group Head and Neck Surgery

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

9B

COMING TO LIDO BEACH 65 PRIVATE RESIDENCES NOW AC C E P T I NG C ON T R ACT S

RESIDENCESLIDOKEY.COM

From the $6 Millions • 941-888-3131 • Sales Gallery • 540 John Ringling Blvd

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

Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. Copyright 2022 © All Rights Reserved

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

SARASOTA 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive 1703 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 4,276 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4537226 $4,995,000

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

SARASOTA 988 Blvd Of The Arts 1910 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,870 Sq. Ft. Nora Johnson 941-809-1700 A4540125 $4,295,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3331 Bayou Sound 5 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,600 Sq. Ft. Ryan Heers 941-726-1703 A4550667 $3,985,000

SARASOTA 100 Central Avenue PH01 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,764 Sq. Ft. Bibi-Ann Allard PA 941-685-0422 A4533365 $3,499,000

LONGBOAT KEY 540 Harbor Cove Circle 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,081 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick & Beverly St Hilaire 941-780-6001 A4534178 $3,400,000

LONGBOAT KEY 830 Tarawitt Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,447 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4545868 $3,100,000

LONGBOAT KEY 7110 Longboat Drive E 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,700 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4550284 $3,000,000

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

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

SARASOTA 1233 N Gulfstream Avenue 504 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,906 Sq. Ft. Melissa Gissinger 941-404-2722 A4549527 $2,690,000

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

ST. ARMANDS KEY 315 Jackson Drive 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,514 Sq. Ft. Terri Derr & Rita Holbrook 941-356-6694 A4546074 $2,550,000

LONGBOAT KEY 311 Firehouse Court 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,352 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4534473 $2,275,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2550 Harbourside Drive 322 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,830 Sq. Ft. Rachel Benderson & Stacy Hanan 941-376-0218 A4547892 $1,700,000

LONGBOAT KEY 350 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 225 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,210 Sq. Ft. Sherry Dominick 941-500-3774 A4548288 $1,649,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2326 Harbour Oaks Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,282 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire & Julie Klick 941-504-3303 A4550092 $1,225,000

LONGBOAT KEY 100 Sands Point Road 208 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,492 Sq. Ft. Steve Walter & Janet Walter 941-809-0907 A4550818 $1,150,000

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

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

LONGBOAT KEY 4800 Gulf Of Mexico Drive PH4 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,312 Sq. Ft. Tryla Brown Larson 941-962-1122 A4539305 $875,000

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

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

LONGBOAT KEY 730 Spanish Drive S 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,255 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark 941-312-1146 A4541965 $715,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4400 Exeter Drive 208 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,168 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4550333 $649,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 622 N Point Drive 4 Beds 3/2 Baths 3,249 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4548377 $4,950,000

SARASOTA 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive 1803 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 4,276 Sq. Ft. Thomas Cinquegrano 941-284-5049 A4550107 $4,899,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 101 Mangrove Avenue 5 Beds 1/1 Baths 2,522 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4545903 $4,750,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

387865-1

10B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

OCT. 17-21

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home gulf front tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Ben and Barbara Price of Longboat Key sold their home at 3501 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Willis and Elizabeth Hartman of Wichita, Kansas, for $11.5 million. Built in 2004, the home has five bedrooms, six full baths and one halfbath, a swimming pool and 10,097 square feet of living area.

11B

REAL ESTATE

Beachfront home sells for more than $11 million

|

Courtesy photo

The home offers just over 10,000 square feet of living space.

HIBISCUS WAY

Craig and Georgia Walters, of Stamford, Connecticut, sold their home at 690 Hibiscus Way to Katharine Gunsalus, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $4.25 million. Built in 1964, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,661 square feet of living area.

It sold for $2,215,000 in 2008.

LONGBOAT SHORES

Francis Patrick White and Deborah Sue Kassilke, of Sarasota, sold their home at 650 Longview Drive to Jennifer Faye Erickson and Christopher and Conrad Erickson, of Wakefield, Rhode Island, for $1.65 million.

Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,799 square feet of living area. It sold for $805,000 in 2018.

THE PLAYERS CLUB

Jascott Enterprises LLC sold the Unit 103 condominium at 1485 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gregg Meyers and Susan Knox-Meyers, of Tampa, for $1,475,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,774 square feet of living area. It sold for $980,000 in July.

BAILEY DOBSON

James and Lisa Reed, of Bradenton, sold their home at 701 Gulf Bay Road to Elizabeth Ann Guancial and

Davender Singh Khera, of Sarasota, for $1,175,000. Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, two-and-two-half baths, a pool and 1,800 square feet.

LONGBOAT HARBOUR TOWERS

Joseph Austin Burke and Susan Sorrels, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 201 condominium at 4401 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gus and Megan Bell, of Wetumpka, Alabama, for $900,000. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2014.

WHITE SANDS OF LIDO

Gary and Rolayne Fickes sold their Unit 7 condominium at 160 Harrison Drive to Ronald and Julie Fadel, of Goshen, Kentucky, for $1.1 million. Built in 1933, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,094 square feet of living area. It sold for $701,000 in 2005.

SAND CAY

Karl Lapinski, of Fort Myers, sold his Unit 308 condominium at 4725 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Conley Family Holdings Sarasota for $699,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,104 square feet of living area. It sold for $111,000 in 1980.

ISLANDER CLUB OF LONGBOAT

Louie and Barbara Nix, trustees, of Louisville, Kentucky, sold the Unit 46-N condominium at 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Ritchie Hall, of Crescent Springs, Kentucky, for $935,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $390,000 in 2000.

sold the Unit 604 condominium at 1770 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Franklin Samson and Audrey O’Connell, trustees, of Sarasota, for $580,000. Built in 1970, it has one bedroom, one bath and 900 square feet of living area. They sold for $175,000 in 1999.

LONGBOAT HARBOUR

Theresa Desena and Arlene Desena, of Maspeth, New York, sold their Unit 203 condominium at 4390 Exeter Drive to Robert Bradley Simer and Stefanie Erin Simer, of Middletown, Ohio, for $525,000.

Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,152 square feet of living area. It sold for $115,000 in 1998.

LIDO HARBOR TOWERS

Diane Stanton, trustee, of Orlando,

TIFFANY PLAZA

Karen Jutzi, of Orland Park, Illinois, sold her Unit 307 condominium at 4325 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Kelly and John Schultz, of Longboat Key, for $930,000. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,336 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 1999.

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of October 21-27 in order of dollar amounts.

Downtown St. Petersburg

L O N G B OAT K E Y ADDRESS 4651 GMD

PERMIT Pool & spa

APPLICANT 4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive

AMOUNT($) $415,000

4651 GMD

Electric

4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive

$117,393

743 Spanish Drive S.

Windows and doors

James A. Matras

$99,730

571 Wedge Lane

Roof

Christopher W. Wright

$76,500

731 Emerald Harbor Drive

Roof

Mary Elizabeth Hirschmiller

$61,000

639 Bayview Drive

Electric

Phillip Bolles Burke

$40,830

711 Binnacle Point Drive

Roof

Kenneth Kari

$38,890

3240 GMD #B306

Windows and doors

William J. Collins

$33,738

4651 GMD

Roof

4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive

$32,775

2410 Harbourside

Hurricane protection Marie Nordvik Watts

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

Longboat Key

$25,850

Drive #124

Revocable Trust

4 Winslow Place

Concrete repair

Jason Wilson

$24,718

741 Hideaway Bay Drive

Boat lift

John D. Kling

$17,856

541 Harbor Cove Circle

Air conditioning

John M. Kucharski Trustee

$17,800

2317 Harbour Oaks Drive

Interior alterations

Rebecca Howard

$15,000

Revocable Trust

3030 Grand Bay

Air conditioning

Charles Lieberman

$14,130

Air conditioning

Peter Roth

$13,000

2110 Harbourside

Air conditioning

Peter Roth

$13,000

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

Blvd. #341 2110 Harbourside Drive #538 Drive #538

second unit

659 Cedars Court

Windows and doors

Donald J. M. Brown

3060 Grand Bay

HVAC changeout

Steven L. Peters

$10,590

3439 Winding Oaks Drive

Air conditioning

Mark M. Hullinger

$10,029

4651 GMD

HVAC

4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive

$10,000

4370 Chatham Drive

Air conditioning

Marilyn A. Kaliszewski

$9,000

Air conditioning

Hermann Sidhu

$8,891

1085 GMD #304

Air conditioning

Thomas A. Miller

$8,810

6900 Longboat Drive S.

Windows and doors

Dona M. Petruccelli

$8,653

$11,315

Blvd. #132

Unit 104 3070 Grand Bay

Downtown Sarasota

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | thecollection1335.com

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

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

Source: Town of Longboat Key

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

Licensed Real Estate Broker

373677-1

Blvd. #616

12B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

St. Armands Oktoberfest draws a crowd

S

t. Armands Key Lutheran Church celebrated Oktoberfest on Saturday with beer, bratwursts and a band.

Renovations to the dining hall were finished just in time to hang blue and white checkered flags and invite the community for a traditional German feast.

“The goal was to have it done for today,” Congregational Council President Steve Gunderson said.

A divider was removed, new flooring was installed and the walls got a fresh coat of paint.

Oktoberfest was a great incentive to get the job done on time, or more than 150 people would have been disappointed.

Eight extra tables were set up in the dining hall to accommodate walk-ins. There was a bar serving German beer and wine and a buffet of German meats from Geier’s Sausage Kitchen, a Sarasota German meat market and deli.

Dressed in lederhosen, a five-piece band played in the courtyard. Guests danced and swayed their

A GERMAN TOAST AND OKTOBERFEST SONG Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit.

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit.

Eins! Zwei! Drei! G’suffa!

A toast, a toast to cheer and good times.

A toast, a toast to cheer and good times.

One! Two! Three! Drink up!

beer bottles back and forth to the music. Minister of Music Michael Bodnyk encouraged a singalong by printing German to English translations of Oktoberfest classics such as, “The Hofbrauhaus Song.”

This was only the church’s second Oktoberfest, but it’s likely to become an annual event.

“It’s obviously something people love,” Gunderson said. “We’re about twice as big as last year.”

—LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

The newly renovated dining hall was decorated and ready for Oktoberfest.

The band leads the crowd in a toast.

Chris and Bob Stobaugh take a break from buffet service to dance as Dorothy and the Scarecrow.

Art and Mary Borman and Michael Bodnyk wear their best traditional German clothes.

JUST LISTED

EXCEEDING SELLERS’ EXPECTATIONS ON LONGBOAT KEY

REMODELED BAYFRONT WONDER 7110 LONGBOAT DR., LONGBEACH VILLAGE, LBK

JUST LISTED 2326 HARBOUR OAKS DR. 3 BR | 2.5 BA | 2,282 SF $1,225,000 | MLS# A4550092

HOME SALES IN LAST SIX MONTHS 2341 HARBOUR OAKS CIR. SOLD FOR $1,275,000

3555 FAIR OAKS LANE SOLD FOR $2,300,000

2101 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE SOLD FOR $1,310,000

580 BIRDIE LANE SOLD FOR $4,260,000

FOR THE TRUE FLORIDA LIFESTYLE JULIE KLICK

BEVERLY ST. HILAIRE

JulieKlick@michaelsaunders.com

beverlysthilaire@michaelsaunders.com BeverlySellsSarasota.com

941.780.6001 LivingonLongboat.com

Beautiful home with deep-water dock and unobstructed views. Completely remodeled in a pristine display of high quality craftsmanship. Offered at $3,000,000 | MLS# A4550284 • 2 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | 1,700 SF • Remodeled bayfront beauty encompasses the true Florida lifestyle • Wonderful natural light and stunning views from all angles • Entertain with ease with cozy fireplace inside and a convenient wet bar in the great room • Owner en-suite bathroom has custom ceramic tile, dual vanities and linen closet • Pavered walkway weaves through lush landscaping while circling the home • Private boat dock with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico • Proximity to fantastic local beaches, parks and dining of Longboat Key and Sarasota

818.416.2505

Longtime residents of Longboat Key with over 30 years of combined experience specializing in Longboat Key real estate.

GROUP

391587-1

61 S. Boulevard of the Presidents | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.388.4447 | www.michaelsaunders.com

391671-1

KATHY CALLAHAN | 941-900-8088 | LBKathy.com TODD CALLAHAN | 941-224-0624 | LBKathy.com 440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

13B

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, NOV. 4

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

|

Sunrise Sunset

High: 84 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 6%

Thursday, Nov. 3

7:41a

6:44p

Friday, Nov. 4

7:42a

6:43p

Saturday, Nov. 5

7:43a

6:43p

Sunday, Nov. 6

6:43a

5:42p

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

Monday, Nov. 7

6:44a

5:41p

High: 85 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 14%

Tuesday, Nov. 8

6:45a

5:41p

Wednesday, Nov. 9

6:46a

5:40p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, NOV. 6 High: 85 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 36%

Nov. 8 Full

Nov. 16 Last

Nov. 23 New

Nov. 30 First

TIDES Highs Lows Thursday, Nov. 3

8:42a

10:29p

3:25a

4:21p

10:04a

10:42p

4:35a

4:58p

11:11a

10:57p

5:29a

5:29p

Sunday, Nov. 6

11:09a

10:13p

5:14a

4:53p

Monday, Nov. 7

12:02p

10:30p

5:55a

5:12p

Tuesday, Nov. 8

12:53p

10:50p

6:33a

5:28p

1:42p

11:13p

7:09a

5:43p

Friday, Nov. 4 Saturday, Nov. 5

Tim Holcomb captured this photo of the sun setting from his home on Longboat Key.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 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

391669-1

2022-23 PHOTO CONTEST

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY

celebrity cipher

ACROSS

dating profiles 36 Follow the advice of 1 Assistant that “battles” Siri in some online videos 37 Poetic planets 40 “Fudge!”

6 “Fernando” quartet 42 Flower shop smell 10 Lose your cool 44 Show with a “Mattress 14 H.S. transcript figure Store” sketch, briefly 17 Sprayed (down) 47 The “p” of mph 18 Sand particle 19 ___ bag (slouchy purse) 48 Show others your closest friend?

20 Arched facial feature 21 Space jam fan, perhaps? 53 Fed. air monitor 54 Impose, as a tax 24 Threw, as David did 55 Sleeper’s noise 25 Honeycomb builder 56 They’re history 26 Naan’s cousin 57 Give up 27 Harsh on the ears 59 Made level 28 Remove, as a splinter 61 Greek god with a spear 29 Created a bike trick 62 Result of a glow stick once again? breaking over your little 34 Intelligence org.

35 Fake numbers in some finger?

68 Madonna’s “La ___ Bonita” 70 Princess’s headwear 71 Social movement for nomadic sorts 74 From Serbia or Croatia 77 Elegant manner 79 Drone base?

80 Gesture of approval 81 Bring a stoned band helper on tour?

84 Pull hard 85 Have a tab 86 Couple on a tandem bike?

87 Revolt, with “up” 88 Rotten to the ___ 89 Hems’ partners 90 One with millions of followers, maybe

92 Pedicure destination 94 Politically rebellious band fan?

103 Fall Out Boy genre 104 Industry kingpin 105 Uncle’s counterpart 106 BBC clock setting 108 Weird Al parody of a Michael Jackson hit 109 Keeper who’s not a keeper?

113 Claim to property 114 Spanish for “hand” 115 Lobby for seniors 116 Picks up, as a bill 117 Nikon type, for short 118 Ratatouille, e.g.

119 Men 120 Dentist’s recommendation

“C’DD KTY JSH, BJ RFTYYJ, GZU JSHF DCYYDT USK, YSS!” BGFKGFTY WGBCDYSZ GP YWT ECIATU ECYIW SV YWT ETPY (“YWT ECOGFU SV SO”)

“FHXY KL DFY BEYGDYLD DFKTB WHE PHPL HW GRDKLP. ... K’P HT G PKLLKHT DH DYMM XGEYTDL DFGD DFYEY KL G JGO.”

UYTTO PVVGEDFO

“UPNVWVLT WRPKHRWN -- HTW IRTET SPK BTTF WP HP ZS WRVBYVBH SPK’ET HPVBH WP HTW WRTET.” GPPWZJXX’N FJBBS JATBFPXJ © 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

391422-1

©2022 Universal Uclick

58 Percussionist’s stick 60 Solve the 63-Down clue, e.g.

63 80/10 64 Garments worn in Agra 65 Rugged cliff 66 Race in “Avatar” 67 Seat for a tot, sometimes 68 Comparison phrase 69 Shredded cabbage dish 72 The “x” in 9x = 36 73 Outer border 75 “I’m not sure I can pay that” 76 Destroy, as a dog might 78 Computer annoyance 79 “That ship ___ sailed” 82 180 degrees from west 83 Greasy 88 Word after “bathing” or “thinking” 89 Offer to a hitchhiker 90 Queued up 91 Pointy pub projectile 92 One might get stuck in your head 93 Defer 94 Short videos on Instagram 95 Inbox message 96 President picker 97 Bygone Apple messaging tool 98 Gas with the formula O3 99 Moore or Trudeau 100 Rear ends 101 Blocky home?

102 Discharges 107 “___ of the D’Urbervilles” 109 Texting format letters 110 Identify in a Facebook photo 111 Water in a bouteille 112 Web portal owned by Yahoo!

Puzzle Three Clue: L equals V

DOWN 1 Seeker of Moby Dick 2 One may finish last 3 Lauder of lotions 4 Boomer’s baby, maybe 5 Decorates 6 Striped stone 7 UCLA athlete 8 Comic’s routine 9 DOJ agency 10 Uses a camera 11 “Well, obviously!”

12 Put up with 13 “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” writer 14 Paltry porridge 15 Fraudulent type of scheme 16 “Oh, golly!”

20 Run in the wash 22 Bossa ___ (“Garota de Ipanema” genre) 23 Lead-in to “shoppe” 24 Make more attractive, as a deal 28 Jazz group?

30 Outs’ opposites 31 Sharp flavor 32 Some waffles 33 Cry while speeding downhill 37 Cartel with Iran and Iraq, briefly 38 Seized auto 39 Fibrous piece of cereal 40 Turn aside 41 ___ day now 42 Cocky walk 43 Nestling’s noise 44 Take a long, hard look at?

45 River through Egypt 46 More or ___ 48 Sky color, in Paris 49 Decorate anew 50 Cause to forget, as a bad habit 51 Needing darning 52 Slimy trail source

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: W equals Y

OH, GOODIE! by Guilherme Gilioli. Edited by Ross Trudeau

Puzzle One Clue:R equals P

crossword

11-3-22

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

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.

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

Painting

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.

WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL Rates Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577

Items Under $200

Autos Wanted

Visa/MC

OLD TAPESTRY wall hanging, lovely florida scene, measures 52” X 34”. Artist signed. $150.

(941)349-4875

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

941809-3660, 941-809-3662.

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite

GREAT FINDS LOCATED HERE!

GARAGE SALE

Merchandise Wanted

BLACK LACQUER chinese screen, 4 panels. $200 (941)544-4485 DECANTER 6 Piece Glass Set NEW. Hand Painted Palm Print.

Exc Cond. $10. (412) 527-7434 FLUIDITY BARRE, $125.

Pescado handpainted fish and platter, $30. (941)387-8001 MENS GOLF clubs, $20. Mica Tiffany Lamp, $15. Full length mirror, $10. (941)387-8001

BUY STUFF HERE!

Land for Sale

Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

ADULT CARE, Home Health care, transportation, errands, pet walking, holiday decorations.

Licensed and Insured. Call Isabel (386)214-8264

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

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

Glenn Callaghan Century 21 Integra (941) 928-9020

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com Online: YourObserver.com /RedPages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

This week’s Crossword answers

www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Adult Care Services 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

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN

Since 1939

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

First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each add’l word ....... 50¢

M-F

941-955-4888

real estate

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

auto

Items Under $200

YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

As low as $17.50 per week!

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

941-955-4888

Made for where you live. Here!

©2022 Universal Uclick

You’re only cheating yourself.

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

peekers’ place

TELESCOPIC GUTTER cleaner, $10. Antique travelers trunk, $50.

Pick, wooden handle $15.

941-228-9467

101 Longboat Key, FL 34228

home services

stuff

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

RED PAGES AD RATES

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!”

Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West (“The Wizard of Oz”) Puzzle Two Solution: “Hope is the greatest thing for moms of autism. ... I’m on a mission to tell parents that there is a way.”

Jenny McCarthy Puzzle Three Solution: “Positive thoughts -- get where you need to go by thinking you’re going to get there.”

Football’s Danny Amendola

This week’s Sudoku answers

RED PAGES Auto Service

Beauty

SERVINGYOU IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME!!!

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SARABANDE

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

N! M O TI 1 A C 1 AU AT 2 1/1

1

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

EMBASSY HOUSE 770 Palm Ave #1802 2 bed, 2 bath | 1,400 Sq Ft EmbassyHouse1802.com Offered for $1,175,000

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MARBLEHEAD

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EW

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