Longboat Observer 12.22.22

VOLUME 45, NO. 20

Driving ahead

YOUR TOWN

Pajamas and popcorn

Longboat Harbour community members never miss an opportunity to plan a party and have some fun. On Wednesday night, Karen Pashkow and Connie DiMaggio planned a movie night for their neighbors.

About 30 residents showed up at the recreation center dressed in pajamas for a screening of “The Polar Express.” Since no movie night is complete without a concession counter, a buffet of popcorn and candy awaited them.

“We’re really just big kids,” Pashkow said.

Bradenton kids are all smiles at Christ Church event.

It’s not Brock

Being a religious leader means being trustworthy. Unfortunately, that trait has made Pastor Brock Patterson ripe for a scam this holiday season.

In case you received a text from him recently, the pastor did not ask you to buy a gift card in his name.

“This scam has been around for years,” Patterson said. “It’s not a hack of security. It’s an impersonation using our names.”

Scammers scroll through online databases and social media accounts searching for emails and phone numbers to use. This is the second year in a row the chapel has been a target.

Luckily, no one fell for it this year. These scams typically take place close to the holidays — beware.

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

Courtesy photo

File photo

Lauren Tronstad

Therapy dog Hunter, front, poses with Lt. Ron Koper, firefighters Tyler Anderson, Assistant Chief Mike Regnier, Lt. Tim Haas, and firefighters David Oliger, Jason Berzowski, Daniel Martinez and William Lewis.

Town leaders shift into higher gear in planning what Gulf of Mexico Drive should look like years in the future. PAGE 3

Lesley Dwyer

Peyton Washington from the 13th Avenue Dream Center can hardly contain himself after receiving a gift from Santa Clause at Christ Church.

Koper wins top award in department’s annual ceremony.

Fire department celebrates 4th annual awards ceremony

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Fire Department held its fourth annual awards ceremony on Dec. 14.  Awards were given to those who have gone above and beyond for the department during the past year and to individuals who have spent five, 10 or 15 years serving the barrier island town.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi started the ceremony by recalling great things the department has done in the past year, including saving an individual from a structure fire in September at Beach Harbor Club.

Unit citation bars were awarded to Assistant Chief Mike Regnier, Assistant Chief Jane Herrin, Lt. Tim Haas, Lt. Ron Koper, PIO Tina Adams, Firefighter/Paramedics Jason Berzowski, William Lewis, Josh Falcon, David Oliger, Chase Bullock and Ron Franklin for their collaboration during the structure fire.

Koper was awarded the department’s 2022 Employee of the Year Award.

“The employee of the year, this year, has done an awesome job,” Dezzi said before announcing it was Koper.

“The three chiefs and I agree on this person. This person came into the department with little experience in what we do and took it upon himself to go ahead and get the classes and the education that he needs to move to the next level. He proved himself on the structure fire. His communication, his direction, his follow-up, his rapport — he has been an awesome employee of this department.”

Koper has served with the department for more than seven years. He recently was promoted from firefighter/paramedic to lieutenant in

October, taking the place of Alan Jenkins, who celebrated his retirement the same day as Koper’s promotion.

“I was very surprised,” Koper said of receiving the award. “I feel honored.”

Dezzi selected the town’s IT department for his 2022 Chief’s Award. The department is made up of Jason Keen, Dan Shtuka and Barry Gaines.

“What you guys don’t realize is anytime you guys have an issue with your computer, it’s IT,” Dezzi said. “Security of the stations is IT. This year, I wanted to make sure we recognized IT for their efforts.”

Fire Station 92 was also recognized by Firehouse Magazine for the architectural design of the station.

Other awards:

n Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Jane Herrin was awarded a unit cita-

tion bar. The award follows many compliments of her throughout the year and for collection of $190,000 in fire fees and inspections.

n Deputy Chief Sandi Drake received a unit citation bar for taking initiative to assist with overseeing the training, fleet and purchasing new vehicles and the training of two new chief officers. “Her assistance was instrumental in the overall operation of the department during a time when the expertise was not available,” Dezzi said.

n Five-year service awards were given to Firefighter/Paramedic David Oliger, Jamison Urch, Zach Schield and Chase Bullock.

n A 10-year service award was given to Lt. Jose Rivera.

n Fifteen-year service awards were given to firefighter/paramedics Jeff Bullock and Jason Berzowski.

Lt. Ron Koper receives department’s award for Employee of the Year.

Photos by Lauren Tronstad

Jason Keen, Chief Paul Dezzi and Barry Gaines. Gaines and Keen received the 2022 Chief’s Award on behalf of the town’s IT department.

Lt. Ron Koper, left, receives the departments’s 2022 Employee of the Year award.

Fire Marshal Jane Herrin, left, receives an award for her aboveand-beyond service to the department from Fire Chief Paul Dezzi.

Firefighter/paramedics Jason Berzowski, left, and David Oliger received awards recognizing years of service with the department.

COMPLETING THE STREETS

Commissioners seek a new look at speed limits as they close in on setting priorities for an overhaul of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Afinal report was presented to the Longboat Key Town Commission on possibilities for tackling the town’s proposed Gulf of Mexico Drive Complete Streets Corridor Plan.

Commissioners were given an opportunity to give more feedback to town consultant Kimley-Horn, a planning and design engineering consultant, before the final plan is produced and distributed.

Colleen McGue, senior planner for Kimley-Horn, gave the presentation to commissioners and answered relevant questions recently, along with Public Works Director Isaac Brownman.

Total planning costs for the full 10-mile stretch is approximately $28 million.

However, the estimate does not include the potential need for raising the roadway in certain locations to mitigate flooding, which is estimated to cost another $2.5 million per mile.

The town hired Kimley-Horn to compile the report, which includes safety and beautification strategies along the full 10-mile roadway.

Financing strategies have not yet been addressed.

The staff memo defined a complete streets plan as an approach to corridor plan elements that can help increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, reduce congestion, improve connectivity, improve aesthetics and enhance the town’s “sense of place.”

Primary proposed improvements include:

n A 12-foot-wide multiuse trail on the east side, replacing the existing path that is shared with pedestrians and more casual cyclists

n Seven-foot wide buffered bike lanes, which would widen the existing bike lane and offer more space between it and motorized traffic lanes

n Left-turn lanes at higher volume intersections

n Raised landscape medians where feasible

n A six- to eight-foot wide sidewalk on the west side.

After commission discussion, it was decided that instead of a sidewalk on the entirety of the 10-mile stretch on the west side, the portion in front of the golf course at Longboat Key Club would not have a sidewalk built along it since no properties are directly adjacent to that land.

The Broadway roundabout project at the north end of the island was labeled as the top priority moving forward with the plan.

“We are working every angle to accelerate this roundabout,” Brownman said.

Landscaping along roads and in medians to improve sight lines and aesthetics of the roadway along with street lighting at midblock crossings were additional proposed improvements.

The street lighting is already being provided as part of the town’s underground utility project.

Brownman told commissioners that no upgrades should be done until the necessary roads were raised in accordance with the town’s sea level rise and Buttonwood Harbour and Sleepy Lagoon flooding studies.

POTENTIAL SPEED REDUCTION

Plan updates were provided to the town in November 2021 and March 2022. Following these updates and public comment, commissioners opted to drop the idea of lowering the speed in front of Bayport Condominiums, Gulf Shores and Twin Shores mobile home parks.

However, after hearing the contents of the final report, town commissioners made a split decision to direct town staff to seek a study from the Florida Department of Transportation on the possibility of dropping the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph.

NEXT STEPS

Now that commissioners have heard Kimley-Horn’s final report, there are steps the study suggested the commission follow as projects begin transitioning to a reality.

n Use the Gulf of Mexico Drive Complete Streets Corridor Plan as a guiding document for future improvements and funding requests for the roadway

n Continue progressing the Broadway roundabout design toward completion

n Pursue external funding for the external construction of the roundabout

n Work with FDOT on a joint project agreement to include the country club shores leftturn lane project into department’s fiscal year 2024 work plan for construction

n Explore incorporating improvements into ongoing FDOT maintenance projects Work with FDOT, the MPO and others to incrementally build out roadway improvements

n Work with consultants and vendors to pursue grants for funding where appropriate

“I’m not sure what we are so afraid of having a study on whether we should be reducing (the speed),” Commissioner Sherry Dominick said.

Commissioners BJ Bishop, Debra Williams and Mayor Ken Schneier voted against asking for the study.

Regardless of whether the speed limit is reduced, FDOT already has plans to add signage to that segment, alerting drivers to above-average pedestrian activity.

FDOT must be included in all discussions of the corridor plan as Gulf of Mexico Drive is a state road.

Options for pedestrian crossings are dependent on the surrounding speed limits

At 45 mph, roundabouts, lane narrowing, speed feedback signs and red-light beacons are potential crossing treatments.

At 35 mph, in-pavement lighting also becomes an option to alert drivers to a crosswalk.

LEFT TURN LANES

The addition of new turn lanes was front of their minds when commissioners asked questions about McGue and Kimley-Horn’s designs.

Potential places for left-turn lanes outside of the already planned at Country Club Shores include:  Gulf Shore of Longboat Key (Main Street); Emerald Harbor (Binnacle Point Drive); Spanish Main Yacht Club (Spanish Drive); Buttonwood Harbour (Buttonwood Drive).

“The reason for selecting those particular locations was those are neighborhoods with a lot of community members, so heavy turning movements going into those neighborhoods,” McGue said.

FDOT RESURFACING

Town commissioners and staff raised concerns with FDOT plans to begin resurfacing Gulf of Mexico Drive in the near future.

Concerns centered on the fear that a newly repaved road would be torn up to make needed improvements, wasting money.

“If they do resurface, we are basically going to go backwards,” Commissioner Mike Haycock said. “... I just think we have to get in front of that and find out what options we have.”

PRICEY SECTIONS

Gulf of Mexico Drive’s 10-mile stretch was split into three sections.

The north section was listed as top priority and spans 4.7 miles from Longboat Pass Bridge to Bayfront Park. The total estimated cost for the section is $14.7 million

The central section, where the potential Bayport pedestrian crossing zone would be placed, measures 1.9 miles from Bayfront Park to Bay Isles Parkway. The total estimated cost for the section is $2.9 million

The south section spans 3.4 miles from Bay Isles Parkway to New Pass Bridge. Cost estimates are set at $9.9 million

The town is working to accelerate the timeline for beginning construction of the roundabout.

Staff intends to work with the transportation department to ensure that resurfacing efforts are coordinated with the town’s future plans for the state road.

File photos

A complete streets plan is an approach that can help increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, reduce congestion, improve connectivity, improve aesthetics and enhance the town’s “sense of place.”

Courtesy rendering

Gulf of Mexico Drive is the focal point of upgrade proposals.

Holidays at home (or on the road?)

Beach walks, ocean breezes and palm trees are key to the holidays on Longboat Key and the rest of coastal Florida.

As snowbirds trickle back to the island, some stay on the barrier island for the holidays, while others fly elsewhere to be with their loved ones.

The Observer asked a handful of residents on Longboat Key about the best thing about their holiday traditions on or off the island.

— LAUREN TRONSTAD, LESLEY DWYER

COMMISSIONER BJ BISHOP

“We normally spend Christmas (on the island),” she wrote in an email. Her husband, Dave, was born on Christmas, so to celebrate his birthday, the couple takes a long bike ride. Traditionally, they always spend Christmas Eve at church.

Vac never misses an event and is typically the best dressed — sorry, ladies. It’s rumored he wears shorts to Freedom Fest, but it’s a fact that a tailored suit and huge smile are his signatures, and maybe a microphone too. Vac emcees everything from Chamber of Commerce networking events to the Kiwanis Lawn Party each year. This island Realtor is constantly on the go, and his favorite holiday activity is Light Up Longboat.

“The Christmas tree lighting at the Town Center reminds me of the old-fashioned way it should be, where everybody gathers for Christmas just to have the spirit and joy,” Vac said.

ANDREW VAC

Ramona Glanz and Andrew Vac

BJ and Dave Bishop

COMMISSIONER PENNY GOLD

Holidays for the Golds are most often spent in New York, where extended family members from different parts of the country come together at Gold’s sister’s home.

“We are a diverse bunch. Our crowd includes people of Irish, English, German, Hungarian, Romanian and Italian descent,” she wrote in an email. “They bring with them a variety of holiday traditions blending Catholic, Jewish and Southern Baptist religions into a noisy, joyous time.

On Christmas Eve, we are honored to dine with the Italian wing of the family as they spend days preparing the Feast of the Seven Fishes. On Christmas Day, there are presents in the morning, football in the afternoon and Asian food at dinner, in keeping with my husband’s Jewish tradition. It’s always a joy to spend this time with our creative, fun and funny family.”

Rozance loves playing Santa at Light Up Longboat

year. The rest of the year, she can be found chatting it up at a Rotary Club meeting or reading to kids at Tuttle Elementary School. But after a little girl questioned her high pitch, Rozance went silent.

“Let’s face it, everybody thinks Santa is a guy,” she said, “So I don’t talk.”

According to her, Light Up Longboat is the only time to see so many children in one place on Longboat Key, and Santa would know. She spoke about her treasured role saying, “My work as Santa on Longboat Key is so joyful thanks to the generosity of this town’s elves!”

D’eugenio has been married to Patty Buck for 14 years. The two are members of Christ Church. Buck has grandchildren in Connecticut that they used to visit every Christmas. After returning home sick one too many times, the family’s holiday plans were revised.

“My favorite part of holidays on Longboat is that all the kids come down for Christmas to get some warmth and see their grandparents,” D’eugenio said. “We’d come down with a nasty cold from the airplane, so we talked them into coming down here, and they made it a tradition. They love it.”

CHRISTMAS SERVICES ON LONGBOAT KEY

ALL ANGELS BY THE SEA

EPISCOPAL CHURCH

n Christmas Eve service is at 5 p.m.

n Christmas Day service is at 10 a.m.

CHRIST CHURCH OF LONGBOAT KEY

n Christmas Eve service is at 5:30 p.m.

n Christmas Day service is at 10 a.m.

LONGBOAT ISLAND CHAPEL

n Christmas Eve communion and candlelight service is at 5 p.m.

n Christmas Day service is at 10 a.m.

ST. ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

n Christmas Eve services are at 5, 7 and 9 p.m.

n Christmas Day service is at 9 a.m.

ST. MARY, STAR OF THE SEA CATHOLIC CHURCH

n Christmas Eve services are at 4 and 9 p.m.

n Christmas Day services are at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

DiNatale will always miss her son, regardless of the season. She lost Danny to Ewing sarcoma in 2016 when he was only 25 years old. The family was new to Longboat Key when tragedy struck. The people they’ve met since, they’re DiNatale’s favorite part of celebrating the holidays here.

“I’m just very grateful for the friends and family and our church community. It’s just such a blessing to live here,” she said. “The outpouring of support from this church and this community has been something that means so much to us. We raised about a half-million dollars through a gala and support, and that money has turned into $10 million of research money for the University of Florida. We couldn’t have done it without this beautiful community of Longboat.”

Christmas and Hanukkah. She doesn’t live on Longboat Key, but she’s worked on the island for 36 years running an adult education center, which is now located at Temple Beth Israel on Bay Isles Road.

“I love driving through St. Armands going home and seeing the merry-go-round. It just warms my heart. I love the feeling of holiday cheer. Everywhere you go, everybody’s happy that the holidays are here,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the Hanukkah dinner at the temple and being

SUSAN DINATALE

JOE D’EUGENIO

SUSAN GOLDFARB Goldfarb celebrates

with friends and family members who are not Jewish and celebrate Christmas.”

Susan Goldfarb

Susan DiNatale

Joe D’eugenio

Penny and Paul Gold

Jack Rozance and Nancy “Santa” Rozance

NANCY ROZANCE

each

Holidays

FROM

Coffin spends his entire year on the barrier island, even as the majority of residents only spend a few months out of the year in the area.

“The weather is always nice here and bad everywhere else this time of year,” he said of the best part of staying on the island.

He likes that he and his family are still able to enjoy the outdoors taking walks or spending time on his boat.

“We are still able to enjoy things down here that people up north wouldn’t want to do right now.”

Merrigan has always spent the holidays on the island as she grew up in the area.

“Even when work took me to the Northeast or Midwest to live, when it came to December, I was always on a flight south,” she wrote in an email.

On the afternoon of Christmas Day it is tradition in her family after a big brunch for her and her family to take a walk on the beach and kayak around Greer Island.

“We are lucky to have a home at the beach

because it brings family in from all over the country for the holidays,” she wrote.

To her, the best part of spending the holidays on the island is time spent with loved ones. She loves the local boat parades, putting up decorations in 70 degree weather and enjoying a holiday meal at Harry’s or Shore.

“The sunsets can be great in the winter, and I get a kick out of the kids making Christmas trees and snowmen in the sand at the beach,” she wrote.

COMMISSIONER

MIKE HAYCOCK

Haycock and family take turns each holiday season visiting one another’s homes on Longboat Key, in Chicago or in Seattle.

“The best part of spending time at the holidays on LBK is the weather and being surrounded with family and friends,” he wrote in an email. “Of course being minutes from the beach, bay, parks and golf is always special.”

THE REV. DAVID MARSHALL

In more recent years, Schneier has spent the holidays with his two sons and their families in Colorado. However, due to the family dog sitter retiring last month, the couple is spending this year’s holidays on Longboat Key. “The good news is that both families were able to join us here for Thanksgiving for Jungle Gardens, the LBK tree lighting, the Mote boat trip and the Bishop Museum and the beach,” he wrote in an email.

Marshall didn’t grow up in an endless summer, but he’s embraced the island life since leading the congregation at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church.

“I’m from Washington state, so Christmas is always an indoor event. One thing I love about Christmas here is that it’s always an outdoor event. The weather’s perfect, and we get to enjoy decorating outside. It’s one of my favorite things,” Marshall said. “The other thing I enjoy about this time is that it’s when people I haven’t seen for a while start to return. It’s like homecoming.”

A second later, the reverend added one more thought in his naturally warm-hearted and jovial spirit, saying, “I probably should’ve mentioned something about the birth of Jesus, but this is all part of the celebration.”

COMMISSIONER-ELECT DEBORAH MURPHY

Murphy’s employees were the equivalent of her family as she does not have children or grandchildren of her own. Christmas is not about family tradition for her.

As an employer, I tried to focus on what our company could do to make the holidays special for our employees, their families and those less fortunate,” she wrote in an email. “As a tradition, our company awarded each employee the equivalent of two weeks’ pay at Thanksgiving in gratitude for their service. We adopted many charity drives over the years to help with presents, food and clothing during a stressful time for many underserved in our community.”

• 5:00 pm

Christmas Caroling with Minister Emeritus Charlie Shook, Dec. 22nd Accompanied by Maurice Overholt, Director Music, Longboat Island Chapel Santa and his Super Elf will make a visit

MAYOR KEN SCHNEIER

Ken Schneier

Deborah Murphy

Mike Haycock and family

David Marshall

COMMISSIONER-ELECT

GARY COFFIN

VICE MAYOR MAUREEN MERRIGAN

Gary Coffin’s grandchild, Jak

Maureen Merrigan

A TIME TO KEEP OUR PERSPECTIVE

his brother-in-law and 300 of his military leaders.

On top of this, and even though Herod allowed Jews to practice their religion without much interference, the Jews also had to contend with the Samaritans, half-Jew, halfGentile who lived between Judea and Galilee.

“The enmity between Jew and Samaritan was so intense” wrote biblical historian James Edward Talmadge, “that travelers between Judea and Galilee would make long detours rather than pass through Samaria.”

FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

In this season to be jolly, it is, by golly, hard to be jolly.

And if you’re not all that jolly, when you think of what you, your family, your friends, your business and your work colleagues have endured in this trying year, perhaps we should put it in perspective — keep our perspective on what this season is really all about.

Compare, for instance, our lives today to those of Mary and Joseph in the year 4 A.D.

We all know what happened on Christmas — as St. Luke masterfully wrote in his Gospel (see box). But having some of the context that led up to that holy, remarkable day adds to its richness.

In truth, Jesus’ birth is a story for Jews and Christians alike. After all, Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, were Jews. And the setting for this momentous, monumental event was in the heart of the land that God promised to Abraham and Moses: Israel.

The main characters leading up to Jesus’ birth — Mary; Joseph; Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth; and her husband, Zacharias — were anything but celebrities in their day. They were as common as Iowa farmers. And yet, in reality, Mary and Joseph were indeed connected to royalty. Biblical scholars tell us they actually were both descendants from the lineage of King David, the longtime king of Israel.

But at that time — around 4 B.C. — the Jews of Judea (central Israel) were anything but a privileged, royal class. They were living under the rule of Caesar Augustus and his vast Roman empire and under a maniac ruler, King Herod, an Arab-Jew who was a client king for Caesar Augustus.

Imagine life under Herod. The biblical historian Josephus wrote that “Herod inflicted such outrages upon the Jews as not even a beast could have done if it possessed the power to rule over men.” So vile and monstrous, Herod became infamous for murdering his wife, three of his own sons, his father-in-law,

This is what Mary and Joseph faced when they received word of Caesar Augustus’ order for a census. He demanded that everyone register in his hometown.

For Mary and Joseph, this meant traveling from Nazareth in Galilee in the north to Bethlehem in Judea in the south — an 80-mile, four-day journey that would have taken them right through Samaria.

And let’s not forget: Mary was nine months pregnant.

In his gospel on the birth of Christ, St. Luke was sparing on the details of Mary and Joseph’s trip. The fact there are few details must mean it was mostly uneventful. But you could imagine it otherwise: Any woman in her ninth month of pregnancy is physically miserable — can’t sit for long stretches, can’t sleep, constant heartburn, hemorrhoids. So imagine Mary and Joseph traveling in a caravan, with Mary riding much of the trip on a donkey. The nights were cold.

On Dec. 23, they had two days to go before reaching Bethlehem. And at this point, they would just be passing through Samaria. Jewish travelers who dared that route were marks for bandits.

But we know God was watching over Mary and Joseph. They made it to Bethlehem, only to find out there was no room at the inn.

Bethlehem was normally a sleepy little town, but it was bustling with Jews who had returned to register for the census.

Mary and Joseph, we know, found a stable. But this wasn’t the stable we see on the Hallmark Christmas cards. The stables in those days often were dark, cold caves with “mangers” — animal-feeding troughs carved into the stone walls. The mangers in those days were not wooden cribs padded with dry, neatly arranged hay.

With nowhere else to go, Mary gave birth — under the stars; amid the manure and muck; among the sheep, cows, goats and chickens; no doctors present to administer an epidural; with Joseph, her carpenter husband, assisting as best he could.

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

— St. Luke, 2:1-16, King James Bible

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Those who have witnessed birth know it’s difficult in a hospital bed. Imagine the scene in a smelly, dark, cold cave.

Yet this lowly, humble setting was the way Jesus Christ, the savior whom God sent for mankind, came into this world.

Now contrast the differences: Caesar Augustus maneuvering for worldly power and the biggest worldwide celebrity of his day; Herod, a regional celebrity, abusing his power in unspeakable ways. They were all about self-centered status, power and ego.

Mary and Joseph were the antithesis. Humble, not materially wealthy, ordinary in all appearances. And yet they were extraordinary.

God sent his messenger, the angel Gabriel, and stunned the innocent Mary, that she would conceive miraculously and bring forth a son who would “reign over the house of Jacob forever.” She would be his mother.

And Joseph, the quiet carpenter, he fretted over what would happen to Mary, his fiancee, if people found out she was pregnant before they were married. The angel Gabriel gave comfort to Joseph, just as he did to Mary.

And with humility, without complaint and far below the status of celebrity, they carried out God’s will, remembering all the while Gabriel’s assurance to Mary: “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.”

This is our heritage.

If we do anything in this holiday season, we should keep our perspective — give thanks to God and bring “peace on Earth, good will toward men.”

Happy Hanukkah. Merry Christmas.

Editor’s note: A version of this has appeared annually since 2010.

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September 21, 1897

Is there a Santa Claus?

Santa Claus.

Editorial writer Francis P. Church’s famous response to Virginia O’Hanlon’s letter is the most reprinted newspaper editorial in history. Some of the lore of this famous letter and editorial is that the editors of the Sun didn’t think much of it initially. The letter was placed in the third of three columns of editorials that day. What’s more, the Sun didn’t start reprinting the letter until 10 years after it first appeared. It relented only because readers kept asking for it.

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor:

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

115 West Ninety Fifth Street

Virginia,

Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds.

All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by

the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies.

You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?

Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no

The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there.

Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond.

Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

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MATT WALSH

Virginia O’Hanlon

Editor Francis P. Church

Photos courtesy of James Temple and the Century Association Archives Foundation

THE NICE LIST

Year-round, Longboat Key residents are as caring as they come. The holidays only highlight their generosity. Here’s a list of some of the good deeds happening around the island this holiday season.

— LESLEY DWYER

THE WOMEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION’S KEY NINERS

The Key Niners held their annual Frosty Frolic on Dec. 6 at the Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside ballroom.

“We play a six- or four-person scramble, and then every person that attends brings a gift for Toys for Tots,” Chair Mary Taylor said.

The tournament is an annual event. More than 160 women played golf and donated toys. In addition to the giant pile of unwrapped toys, each snowman centerpiece held a $20 gift card that was also donated to Toys for Tots.

Taylor was the winner of the fleet lighting at the Sarasota Yacht Club too.

“There were over 400 people there, and every boat in the marina had to be decorated,” she said. “Ours had over 200 stockings on it, 50 of them were stuffed.”

Taylor dropped the stuffed stocking off at the Sarasota Boys and Girls Club.

CHRIST CHURCH OF LONGBOAT KEY

Members of Christ Church collected food and toys for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton. Four carloads of groceries and toys were delivered after Thanksgiving. Our Daily Bread’s website reads, “The people we are feeding are your neighbors. The

majority are not homeless. They are struggling to raise children.”

Each year, members also donate gifts to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry and Harvest House. But after a $50,000 donation was made to Selah Freedom, a local nonprofit working to fight sex trafficking, they expanded their list.

“I asked the congregation if maybe we could afford to add 25 more people, girls who are survivors and living in facilities at Selah, and what I didn’t tell them was that there are 40 or more girls that are getting all the services—counseling, trauma therapy and everything else but don’t live in the Selah facility,” Mission Chair Jerry Fox said. “We got so much money that came in for it that we adopted all 40-some of those girls too.”

ROTARY CLUB OF LONGBOAT KEY

The Rotary Club collected toys for Big Brothers Big Sisters to benefit children who were affected by Hurricane Ian at Light up Longboat. Members also donated double what they collected, bringing the total to 125 toys. The gifts were delivered to an emergency Rotary store that was set up in North Port, where families can shop for free.

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE

AT TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL

The temple’s new social action committee collected toys and gift cards for Second Chance Last Opportunity in Sarasota. They collected during the first two weeks of December and held a drive-thru donation collection on Dec. 12.

SCLO offers second chances through education and self-empowerment. Programs include a sixweek life skills class and a women’s empowerment group, plus afterschool and summer programs for youths.

KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT KEY

Ring-a-ling-ling. Kiwanis members set up shop outside of Publix to ring the donation bell for the Salvation Army. Member Chris Sachs was one busy emailing elf this month. He was in charge of finding and scheduling volunteers to cover eight hours a day for 16 days.

Volunteer Mike Gardiner said if

you want an organizer, call Sachs. He managed to wrangle about 30 members and nonmembers to keep that bell ringing for 128 hours. His enthusiasm and strong encouragement to fill spots never wavered.

“I know it’s tough being Thanksgiving weekend and all, but maybe friends, family or guests from out of town might want to work off their turkey dinner and leftovers with a vigorous ringing session,” one email read.

Sachs didn’t want to take too much credit. He said the endeavor wouldn’t be possible without the “Holy Trinity” of Kiwanis, Rotary and Christ Church.

ALL ANGELS BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH

When opening the door that says “Art Gallery” at All Angels, the first thing to grab attention right now is not the art. It’s the pile of toys in the foyer.

“We’ve done a toy drive for Mothers Helping Mothers here in Sarasota,” the Rev. David Marshall said. “We were hoping to fill the box, and obviously, we need a bigger box.”

LONGBOAT HARBOUR CONDOMINIUM

Residents of Longboat Harbour decorated their docks in the spirit of generosity and friendly competition.

“I’m an old coach, so everything’s winning and losing with me, so I have to beat last year,” condo commodore Bill Coughlin said. “We got to get more lights than last year; we got to raise more money than last year, and we did.”

Coach got a big win last year when residents doubled their prior record, raising $5,280 for Toys for Tots, and they did it again this year by lighting all 52 docks and raising $6,480 plus toys.

ST. MARY, STAR OF THE SEA CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Mary’s collected toys for Catholic Charities through a Christmas concert.

They hold the concert each year, but it’s not free.

Each concert ticket costs one unwrapped toy. More than 100 were collected and delivered to the Sarasota location.

methodology, see www.stifel.info/award-disclosures. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

File photo

Key Niners Janet Hartman, Pam Crowe, Joyce Welch and Mary Taylor

Meet Sgt. Butler

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Police Department recently celebrated the promotion of one of its officers to sergeant.

Sean Butler, 46, was promoted within the department Nov. 15.

His career with the barrier island’s law enforcement began in May. Prior to moving south, he worked in the New York Police Department as a detective.

“It’s very different,” he said. “You’re still providing a service to the people, so areas of the country might be different, but we are all providing services to the people, and that doesn’t change.”

The promotion was made possible after a call was made out to active officers within the department, notifying them of the opportunity if they were looking to move up in rank.

Following Butler’s decision to seek the opportunity, he first had to take a written exam. Then, he had to stand before members of the department

for an oral exam and interview before he was interviewed one-on-one by Chief George Turner.

As is apparent, Butler’s tests and interviews went well, leading to his new title.

“I was ecstatic,” he said, recalling when he was selected. “It’s like a new beginning for me, and a second career now here on Longboat.”

The move to Florida was not an impulsive decision for Butler, but rather an opportunity he had been hoping would one day present itself.

“I have always wanted to move to Florida,” he said. “I’ve been coming down here for a very long time, and I was excited to get the opportunity to retire up there and come down here. I have always wanted to be a Longboat cop, so it was kind of like all the stars aligned for me.”

Since starting his second law enforcement career on the barrier island, he says his favorite thing about police work on the Key is serving the people.

“It’s really fun to offer services and be a part of their community, be a part of their life,” he said.

Former NYPD detective enjoys his newest career chapter.

Courtesy photo

Captain Rick Hankins, Sgt. Lee Smith, Sgt. Sean Butler and Chief George Turner at Butler’s promotion ceremony.

TRIBUTES

Phyllis Zatkow Ploener

1934-2022

Phyllis Zatkow Ploener, born June 6th, 1934, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 surrounded by her family in Pennsylvania. Originally from Philadelphia, she raised a family of three boys in Wilmington, Delaware before becoming a “Snow Bird” traveling between Longboat Key and Atlantic City.

She lived on Longboat seasonally, then permanently, for 37 years. Always a trendsetter, she discovered this paradise with her husband of 50 years, Leonard Ploener, who passed away in 2005.

She loved Longboat and Sarasota, frequenting the newest restaurants, especially for happy hour, and enjoying the many cultural offerings. She loved showing the area off to her sister, Sandy Solomon, her sons, Randy and Mark Ploener, and their families, including five wonderful grandchildren. She had a very active social life and could always be seen at local events. She volunteered with the Sarasota Film Festival and Sarasota Democratic Committee for many years and loved attending services at Temple Beth Israel on the island. The orchestra, the opera, art galleries, charity fundraisers- she loved taking it all in with those lucky enough to

be with her.

She enjoyed many activities, all of which benefitted her friends and family: she was an avid cook, always trying new recipes and bringing bites over to her friends; she loved bridge and played with many groups throughout her time down south; she was a wonderful photographer, leaving her family with hundreds of photo albums to treasure and pass along.

Phyllis Ploener was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She will be remembered for her infectious smile, bright coral lipstick, love of all things beautiful, and the extraordinary life she shared with her grateful family and friends.

DONATIONS: Donations can be made to Temple Beth Israel.

Phyllis Ploener was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

Smiles for the season

reading buddies. Church volunteers read one-on-one with these students every other week, but that’s a smaller detail when considering the program is entirely funded through the church.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Like so many others who claim to have retired when moving to Longboat Key, Beverly Sutton didn’t actually retire. She doesn’t get paid anymore, but she never gave up education.

After moving to Longboat 15 years ago, Sutton, a former inner city Baltimore school teacher and charter school principal, promptly started a reading program through Christ Church. On Wednesday evening, she was paid generously in smiles.

About 40 children from the 13th Avenue Dream Center showed up on a big, yellow school bus ready to celebrate Christmas with their

This isn’t just a few hours of reading and one night of handing out gifts, this is a 15-year commitment to creating and financially supporting a program that helps hundreds of children succeed in school and life thereafter.

“This is a four-day a week reading program after school,” Sutton said, “And the church pays the salaries of the teachers.”

The children attend different elementary schools in Manatee County and meet at the Dream Center after school. The church provides an hour and a half one-on-one tutoring session. The mission is “to be a light in the lives of at-risk children and to shine a light on reading.”

The overall mission of the Dream Center is to provide a safe place for a vulnerable population and guide those children toward meeting their

full potential in adulthood.

In addition to a present from Santa, the children plus their families and teachers were invited to take part in a feast. The dining hall smelled like the kitchen of La Norma with so many meatballs simmering. Each teacher left with a $50 gift card, each family left with a $100 gift card and 150 new books were added to the Dream Center’s library.

Before dinner, four students took to the pulpit to show off their reading skills. Then, all the children gathered as a choir to sing “Away in a Manger.” But this was not the main event. Their little eyes never stopped scanning the room. They were waiting to see Santa.

He arrived to a loud and rhythmic chant of “San-ta Claus. San-ta Claus.” The children had been sitting politely in criss-cross applesauce pose, but all bets are off when the man in the red suit walked in.

Kids lined up one by one to meet Santa and receive their gifts. He let each one know how much he missed them. Due to the COVID-19 pan -

demic, the feast had to be canceled the last two years. Santa wasn’t alone in having missed this event.

“When you look at those kids when they go up to meet Santa Claus, with those eyes, what a treat,” church Facility Manager Richie Raymond said.

Santa tends to take over the spotlight, but Christmas is a celebration of Jesus. A birthday cake was rolled out in his honor, and Sutton spoke to the children about some of the things Jesus could have had in common with them when he was a child.

While not much is known of Jesus as a child, Sutton said it’s assumed he probably liked to play, got on his mother’s nerves sometimes and also dreamed of all the things he could be when he grew up.

“He thought about being a carpenter because that’s what his dad was. He thought about being a shepherd and watching his flock of sheep. He thought about being a store owner,” Sutton said. “But what Jesus decided to be was a teacher because he knew teachers change lives.”

About 40 children from the 13th Avenue Dream Center were treated to a feast, toys and a visit from Santa on Dec. 14 at Christ Church.

Leilani Bell and teacher Shirley Jackson help the crowd with lyrics.

Riley Goff reads “A Gift for Jesus.”

Pastor Norman Pritchard welcomes the children, teachers and parishioners.

The children hold ring bells and candles for their performance of “Away in a Manger.”

Amyla Carter is all smiles after meeting Santa.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Longboat Chapel day trips to the

About a dozen members of the Longboat Island Chapel left the island for the Artful Giraffe in Sarasota on Dec. 14.

They met for breakfast first, toured the gallery for inspiration and then it was time to paint.

“I had been here before,” Cari Aslan said. “I thought that this would be very tranquil and peaceful.”

Valerie Evanko plans all the chapel outings and is always open to ideas. When Aslan offered the suggestion, Evanko turned it into a field trip by renting the studio for an afternoon.

Members enjoyed the excursion, especially Michael Nunes. It offered him a trip down memory lane back to his days as a Catholic school boy.

“In seventh and eighth grade, Mrs. Hillman had a kiln,” he said. “She would bring ceramics. She taught us how to shape them and then paint them. It’s been a love since then.”

Rick Skerrett, the only husband to attend, kept accidentally putting his brush into the wrong paint color.

Artful Giraffe

“Here’s a secret: If you really screw it up, they’ll fix it for you,” Aslan kindly reassured him.

— LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Cindy Kuehnel chooses a gnome she named Elmer.

Michael Nunes is the first to start painting.

C ondom iniums and B eachfront R esorts

941-387 -9709 3720 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com

941-387 -9709 3720 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com

941-387 -9709 3720 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com

Christ Church seed project packs hope

Members of Christ Church spend two hours a month packing vegetableplant seeds into plastic bags to send across the globe. They also chat, eat cookies and win raffle prizes. It’s a social occasion and a small task but one that makes a worldwide impact.

Total renovation overlooking the Oaks Club

The seeds packed on Longboat Key have traveled to more than 60 countries, either impoverished or struck by disaster. Haiti falls into both categories and has received the most seeds to date.

Bradenton office because Hope Seeds is a small operation with three staff members. Yet, they’ve distributed more than 10 million packets of seeds worldwide, a feat that couldn’t be accomplished without the help of congregations and missionaries.

Gospel messages are delivered with each packet, along with education and training. The mission takes feeding the hungry a step further and teaches hungry people how to feed themselves. Not all seeds are created equal, so seeds are selected for each region according to climate.

Total renovation overlooking the Oaks Club

110 North CreekLane OakCreek • 4071 SF MLS # A4549599

“We’ve been doing this since 2016, and we’ve done a total of 175,000 of these packets,” organizer Ann Quackenbush said. “We’re doing something good, plus it’s a good camaraderie for the church, and people get to know each other.”

Quackenbush started the seed circle after coming across Hope Seeds in Bradenton at a church Christmas bazaar. She went back to join in on one of that congregation’s seed sessions and quickly got her own congregation packing.

Quackenbush says she does the “schlepping” to get the seeds from their

Families receiving seeds are fed for a full year with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Any overage of crops can be sold at local markets to provide extra income, too. The group was packing tiny black onion seeds by the half a teaspoon, but they’ve also packed broccoli, carrots, potatoes and green peppers. They’re provided with the most needed seeds at the time. About 5,000 packets are filled per session.

— LESLEY DWYER

110 North CreekLane • OakCreek • Osprey • 3 BR+ loft • 3.5 BA • 4071 SF • $ 1.39M • MLS #

The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms (with ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051

11’ x 19’ in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms (with ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

Lesley Dwyer

Brent Piersma and Beverly Sutton fill seed packets for Hope Seeds.

RECURRING EVENTS

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

The Longboat Library is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at 555 Bay Isles Road. On Wednesdays, most books are on sale for $1 or less. Call 383-2011.

MONDAYS

GENTLY 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 Jan. 9 and ends Feb. 27, students can join at any time. Fee is $70 for members; $80 for others. Call 383-8222.

STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Focus is on strength training and flexibility. 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.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE

The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

TUESDAYS

QI GONG FOR HEALTH AND VITALITY

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Improve balance and flexibility, plus loosen joints and relax. Begins Jan. 10 and ends Feb. 28. Students can join at any time on a prorated basis. Fee is $70 for members; $80 for others. 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.

YOGA

From 11:15-12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debbie Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $10; free for members. Call 383-6493.

MAH JONGG

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

ROTARY CLUB

Meets at 5 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays in All Angles Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. To learn more, call Nancy Rozance at 203-6054066 or email Info@LongboatKeyRotary.org.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

BREATH BALANCE AND BLISS

YOGA

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

WEDNESDAYS

YOGA POTPOURRI

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. A gentle, slowpaced blend of simple yoga postures focusing on balance, alignment, strength, breathwork, flexibility and relaxation. Begins Nov. 9 and ends Dec. 21, students can join at any time on a prorated basis. Fee is $70 for members and $80 for others. Call 383-8222.

BEGINNER TAI CHI

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

THURSDAYS

KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT KEY

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

SLOW FLOW YOGA

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Simple yoga routines incorporating a range of

several hatha yoga styles. Runs through Dec. 22. Students can join at any time on a prorated basis. Fee is $70 for members; $80 for others. Call 383-8222.

ST. ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH BRIDGE CLUB

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

ZUMBA AND MAT PILATES FOR SENIORS

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

FRIDAYS

BEST

BET WINTER SPECTACULAR

From 4-9 p.m. and from noon9 p.m. on holiday weeks and weekends in St. Armands Circle. See the circle transformed into a winter wonderland until Jan. 3, 2023.

Wristbands for attractions cost $10.

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

QI GONG AND MEDITATION

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Take qi gong and meditation with Sandi Love. Free for members; $10 for others. Call 383-6493.

INTERMEDIATE TAI CHI

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Reuben Fernandez teaches the class outdoors, weather permitting. Free for members; $10 for nonmembers. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

Sanctuary condominium sells for $4.4 million

Acondominium in Sanctuary at Longboat Key Club tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Gordon and Mary Jo White, of Dayton, Ohio, sold Unit C-408  at 535 Sanctuary Drive to Gerald Robert King and Robin Lisa King, of Alpharetta, Georgia, for $4,737,500. Built in 1990, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 2,375 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.8 million in 2020.

SLEEPY LAGOON

Julie Omsberg, of Sidney, Maine, sold her home at 6381 Gulf of Mexico Drive to 6381 GOM LLC for $1.8 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,224 square feet of living area.

HARBOUR OAKS II

Thomas Charles Schaeffer Jr. and Susan Schaeffer, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 2326 Harbour Oaks Drive to Gary and Lorraine Ranftle, of Hauppauge, New York, for $1,137,500. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,282 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2011.

BIRD KEY

Birdie Partners LLC sold the home at 231 Seagull Lane to Sunshine Dam Partners LLC for $1.1 million. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,735 square feet of living area. The land sold for $950,000 in 2005.

PORTOBELLO

Amy Barber, trustee, of Charlotte, North Carolina, sold the Unit B-402 condominium at 3240 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Jo Ann Karll and Koren Mueller, of St. Louis, for $910,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,505 square feet of living area. It sold for $140,000 in 1988.

BEACHPLACE

HPK Enterprises LLC sold the Unit 201 condominium at 1085 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Soloman Properties 2 LLC for $815,000. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,172 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2015.

WHITNEY BEACH

Martin and Karen Hafer, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 302 condominium at 6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Michael Conor Foley and Jennifer Foley and Suzanne Walker, of Lexington, Kentucky, for $632,500. Built in 1971, it has one bedroom, one bath and 990 square feet of living area. It sold for $385,000 in 2015.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

Jeffrey Page and Lisa Page, trustees, of Natick, Massachusetts, sold the Unit 211 condominium at 711 Spanish Drive S. to 711 Spanish Drive LLC $500,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,327 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in March.

In with the new

Henry and Ann Mancuso, of Madison, Connecticut, sold their Unit 32 condominium at 757 Spanish Drive N. to Rosemary and Donald Woodard, of Ringgold, Louisiana, for $455,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,105 square feet of living area. It sold for $110,000 in 1997.

File photo

Sanctuary was built in 1991 at 545 Sanctuary Drive within the gates of the Longboat Key Club.

ADAM

Turtle nesting season saw high numbers

It was a good year for sea turtles on Longboat Key and nearby beaches, but it still wasn’t dark enough, experts said.

Nesting numbers were the fourth highest Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program has seen in more than 40 years

But there were also more lightinduced disorientations than in prior years. Longboat Key Turtle Watch will continue educating the public and working with the town’s code enforcement to ensure light ordinances are understood and enforced.

Each year, from May through October, Mote and its volunteers monitor 35 miles of beaches between Longboat Key and Venice.

A total of 4,538 nests were recorded. Loggerhead turtles accounted for most of them, with 4,373 nests.

Some 1,300 of those nests were found on Longboat Key beaches.

Green sea turtle numbers are on the rise, but they still only dug 163 nests. One leatherback nest and one Kemp’s Ridley nest were also documented, both on Longboat. The latter is the smallest and most endangered species of sea turtles.

Wild Kingdom host Peter Gros, who came to Mote in July to film a segment for the rebooted classic TV show, said in an interview he was both optimistic and impressed that a Kemp’s Ridley turtle nested here. “The fact that you’re starting to see a nest and they’re returning is such a good indicator that they may start returning more and more,” the wildlife expert said. “The people of

Longboat Key seem to be so personally involved with protecting that species. I think they have a really good chance.”

Many of those personally involved are members of the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. While founded in 1969, the group has been operating under Mote’s marine turtle permit from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since 2005. To further their joint mission, LBKTW makes an annual donation to Mote.

“It’s our 14th year providing donations to Mote, and our total donated exceeds $110,000.” President Tim Thurman said. “That always includes the Orville Clayton, who was one of the founders of the LBKTW, scholarships for youth to go to the summer camp. Orville was a big proponent of education and getting people out on the beach, so we donate in his honor.”

This year’s donation of $14,499 will be divided between education and supplies. Supply costs range from $64 for a pair of tagging pliers to $5,000 for a satellite tag.  Kristen Mazzarella is the Mote senior biologist and accepted the largest check on behalf of Mote, made out for $9,472.

“Kristen used to be our permit holder on Longboat Key, so many of us have known Kristen for a while,” turtle patroller Cyndi Seamon said.

Light-induced disorientations on Longboat continue to concern network of nest-tracking volunteers.

File photo

A green sea turtle being released on Lido Beach in August.

FORECAST

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

High: 71 Low: 47

Chance of rain: 81%

SATURDAY, DEC. 24

High: 53 Low: 39

Chance of rain: 5%

SUNDAY, DEC. 25 High: 51 Low: 45 Chance of rain: 8%

TIDES

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 22 7:16a 5:41p

Friday, Dec. 23 7:17a 5:41p

Saturday, Dec. 24 7:17a 5:42p

Sunday, Dec. 25 7:18a 5:43p

Monday, Dec. 26 7:18a 5:43p

Tuesday, Dec. 27 7:18a 5:44p

Wednesday, Dec. 28 7:19a 5:44p

MOON PHASES

Dec. 29 First Jan. 14 Last Jan. 6 Full Jan. 21 New

Thursday, Dec. 22 1:23p 10:01p 6:07a 3:56p

Friday, Dec. 23 10:48p 6:58a

Saturday, Dec. 24 11:39p 7:49a

Sunday, Dec. 25 8:41a

Monday, Dec. 26 12:34a 4:47p 9:32a 7:13p

Tuesday, Dec. 27 1:34a 5:08p 10:21a 8:59p

Wednesday, Dec. 28 2:43p 5:33p 11:07a 10:52p

by John-Clark Levin, edited by Anna

Luis Campos

Homes for Rent

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

3BR/3BA LONGBOAT KEY Furnished FAIRWAY BAY 3 bedroom condo, a double unit with additional den/of ce. Beautiful unobstructed Bay views from the bedrooms, living room, dining area, and 2 outdoor terraces overlooking the Bay. Luxury furniture and decor, all utilities included in the rental rate. Covered parking, with community features including pool/spa, fully equipped gym, and shared community clubhouse. No pets, no smoking. 2450 square feet, beach-club access.

Homes for Sale

WHITNEY BEACH, 1st Floor Condo for Sale. North Longboat Key- Large living and bedrooms. Peaceful gardens on Bishops Bayou, boat docks, beach access across street, tennis courts, heated pools, 2 dogs allowed. $769,000. jm.higgins@mail.com

Rentals Wanted

RENTAL WANTED Retired gentleman seeks a 6 to 12 month LBK rental of condo or home. No pets or children, dates exible. email EL18@live.com.

2BR/2BA,

Experience this stunning bayfront estate in person! Just a sunny walk from famed St. Armands Circle. This impressive 5BR residence is situated on two lots in a corner location, spanning more than a half-acre, set among lush, professionally managed greenery beside the coastal landscape of Sarasota Bay. Designed by luxury home builder John Cannon Homes, the nearly 8,000 SF interior highlights beautiful bay views throughout. Offering elaborate outdoor entertaining space, plus multiple boating options to fulfill the yachtsmen’s dreams.

www.97SouthWashington.com