Longboat Observer 1.19.23

YOUR TOWN

Traffic season’s new reasons

New art hangs in Town Hall

New art is now on display in Longboat Key Town Hall.

Thirty-one pieces have been set out, and interested individuals can pick up an informational sheet that lists the artist, name of the piece and price.

Many of the artists have multiple pieces on display, and prices range from $75 to $3,400.

A majority of this selection of art features colorful foliage, birds and landscapes.

The artwork pictured above was painted by Marie Therese Lacroix and is titled “Katou.” The piece is being sold for $2,900.

Lacroix has two other pieces in the exhibit entitled “The Genius Love Bird” and “The Love Bird Ibis.”

Court presence

With an overflow of tennis lesson requests, the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center has welcomed a new contract teaching pro, Robert Jendelund.

“I’m here pretty much every day, whenever they book me, but I play everywhere,” Jendelund said.

Jendelund grew up in Sweden and has been playing tennis since he was 6 years old. He’s been in the United States for 18 years. He spent four in Savannah, Georgia, playing tennis for Armstrong Atlantic State University and the next 14 in New York at the CityView Racquet Club on Long Island.

Jendelund has more than 20 years of teaching experience. Call 316-8367 to book a lesson.

Lesley Dwyer

Robert Jendelund is the new contract tennis pro at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center.

Courtesy photo

Heather and Ray Sellers work together over the side of a seawall to rescue a dehydrated juvenile turkey vulture.

photo

Police Chief George Turner brings previous accreditation experience to the department.

Fresh set of road obstacles team up to slow travel to the north and south.

Lauren Tronstad “Katou,” painted by Marie Therese Lacroix, is one of 31 pieces of artwork on display in the town hall exhibit.

Longboat couple spends hours of their retirement helping the island’s feathered friends. SEE PAGE 16

Police accreditation review is underway

bers of law enforcement. The board will go through the report from the commission before voting on whether to award the accreditation.

Accreditation lasts three years before the department is visited again with higher standards to meet to achieve the status again. The process continues every three years to maintain the accreditation.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Police Department is now officially under review for at least the next year.

The department has been preparing for such a review with the state for the past six months as leaders update policies and ensure they are in compliance with all state statutes.

January 4 was a milestone in the process, for the contract with the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation was signed, starting the formal review.

“I know the chief has a goal to earn the accreditation status in less than two years and believes that we are in a position to do so,” Town Manager Tom Harmer wrote in an e-mail to commissioners. “It typically takes at least a year from this point so that the department can demonstrate a year of tracking and monitoring of all of the activities that are evaluated as part of the process.”

A team from the accreditation commission will come to the department and analyze and observe everything the department does, Police Chief George Turner said.

The team will take notes on what is done well and what needs improvement before deciding whether to recommend the department for accreditation.

The department’s staff will then go in front of a state accreditation board made up of members appointed by the governor, which includes mem-

“It’s a never-ending process,” Turner said. “It’s about police professionalism and wanting to keep up with the laws.”

Once completed, the accreditation marks approval from an outside authority that the department is living up to the standards that have been set.

A sampling of the points to be examined by the state board: n A written directive that regulates the types of off-duty employment in which agency members may or may not engage n A written directive that requires that members receive copies of and are instructed in the agency’s use of force policy before they are authorized to carry lethal or less-lethal weapons

n A written directive describes the proper use of the following equipment during emergency and nonemergency situations: emergency lights; sirens; hazard warning lights; spotlights, if equipped; and public address systems, if equipped n A written directive establishes an incident reporting system to include: guidelines for when reports must be written, forms to be used, information required, procedures for completing incident reports, procedures for submitting and processing incident reports, and documented supervisory review

n Access to evidence areas is controlled to prevent the alteration, unauthorized removal, theft or other compromise of evidence stored by

the agency and to maintain chain of custody

The Baranick Foundation in 2021 awarded the town a grant of $274,850 over a three-year period toward the goal of gaining accreditation.

In 2020, philanthropists Margery and Charles Barancik were killed in a crash involving their personal car and a Longboat Key police officer responding to a call.

Sarasota Police, investigating the crash, found that Officer Jeffrey Vogt was not at fault, but an internal investigation that led to his firing found Vogt’s Ford Explorer police SUV hit 84 mph before braking, beyond the town’s speed standard set up for optimum visual conditions in a 45 mph zone. The crash took place 17 minutes after sunset.

Early in Harmer’s discussions with the foundation about the grant, previous Police Chief Pete Cumming

announced his retirement. His replacement, Kelli Smith, stayed on the job about six months before leaving for a job at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.

From that point forward, an emphasis was placed on hiring a new chief that had documented Florida accreditation experience. Turner has accreditation and reaccreditation experience in his former roles, as well as being a past state certified Accreditation Manager and Accreditation Assessor.

Longboat Key Police Department is the last in the area to apply for the recognition. Bradenton Police Department has been accredited since 2003. Manatee Sheriff’s Office has been accredited since 1996 along with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. The Sarasota Police Department achieved the status for the first time in 2002.

State inspectors are expected to spend time with the department observing and researching how it does its job before making a recommendation.

File photo

Police Chief George Turner brings previous accreditation experience to the department.

THE WINTER OF OUR (TRAFFIC) DISCONTENT

The town is preparing for traffic troubles on both ends of the island this winter season.

Anyone visiting Longboat Key is no stranger to traffic, especially this time of year. As snowbirds fly south for the winter and vacationers seek refuge from the frigid North, digital road maps often turn red, along with the faces of those who can’t move.

That’s basic math: more cars, same number of roads.

This year, however, a few new suspects have made their way into town to make the usual headache worse at times.

ROUNDABOUT AT U.S. 41 AND GULFSTREAM AVENUE

The roundabout, which motorists may have expected to ease traffic congestion, has caused its fair share of road rage a few weeks after celebrating its official opening.

Angry drivers flocked to social media and into government inboxes to let others know of their troubles with the circle, specifically Jan. 10, when an eastbound lane was closed midday for crews to install concrete islands and curbing.

Longboat Key Town commissioners expressed their concern with the Florida Department of Transportation’s decision when timing lane closures in emails with representatives from the department.

“I continue to receive calls and texts about the wretched situation created by FDOT taking eastbound traffic to one lane,” Commissioner BJ Bishop wrote in an email. “Many expressed concern with the cavalier stance taken by FDOT, stating a small cement pour justified citizens missing chemo appointments, missing planes and being paralyzed in traffic for hours. I took an oath to ensure the health, welfare and safety of our citizens. I am sure your superiors did the same. That mission failed miserably this week. It cannot happen again.”

Commissioner Mike Haycock also wrote to the town’s FDOT representative.

“We all know the challenges the winter season brings to traffic and were happy to hear two years ago that the Gulfstream roundabout would be complete before this year’s winter residents arrive,” he wrote. “I understand that did not happen due to (COVID-19), supply chain issues and weather disruptions. What I don’t understand is why the FDOT project managers would shut down

BRADENTON BEACH SEWER LINE

A more pressing issue for traffic on the north end, Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier said, is a sewer line project planned for south Bradenton Beach through fall 2024.

Traffic direction is anticipated to be shifted into beach parking areas to make room for work.

“That’s another project we will be watching very closely,” he said. “It will likely cause some disruptions.”

any lanes during rush hour. They had to know that they would create traffic backlogs that would take several hours to clear. I live in the middle of LBK on Gulf of Mexico Drive, and there were 5- 6-mile traffic jams going both north and south.”

The entire roundabout complex was anticipated to open late last year. Monthly updates with the contractor, CDM Smith, consistently projected completion sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the state’s response to Hurricane Ian upended some of those plans as materials, equipment

and manpower were diverted south to address emergency infrastructure repairs.

That delay caused the contractor to focus on opening the traffic circle by itself by the end of the year, which it did, leaving the finishing touches extending into this spring.

“The Florida Department of Transportation understands the impact motorists experience when disruptions on roadways occur,” reads a statement from FDOT following the backup. “Project teams must balance completing necessary work at the same time as maintain-

LIGHTS AND SIREN

The ability of emergency personnel to respond to (and return from) emergencies remains a concern for town leaders.

“If we have an unstable patient, the paramedics have the ability to get the patient to the hospital using their lights and siren,” Fire Chief Paul Dezzi wrote in an email. “We have not had any major issues with getting patients to the hospital. Getting back to the island is our concern, but we have not had any consistent issues or concerns, currently.”

The department has aid agreements with neighboring counties to assist when town personnel are off the island.

“The residents of Longboat Key are lucky in that the Fire Rescue Department operates with all members being paramedics,’’ Dezzi said. “Even if the two ambulances are off the island, the fire trucks have the same medical equipment as the ambulances with the exception of a stretcher.”

ing traffic flow. In addition, certain tasks on our projects have different requirements, from when work should occur to how many lanes are needed to be closed to perform the work.”

FDOT leaders did tell Sarasota officials, who took the brunt of the outrage, that they would do better to inform them of future needs to disrupt traffic.

ST. ARMANDS WINTER FESTIVAL

Much of the town raised concerns about the St. Armands Winter Festival, which lasted from Thanksgiving weekend to New Years.

Ahead of the event, in hopes of playing a role in halting it, Mayor Ken Schneier wrote a letter on behalf of the town and its residents to then city of Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo and the Florida Department of Transportation.

“While the occasional two-day programs managed by the Merchants’ Association with FDOT oversight have on balance benefited the local communities, the length and intensity of the proposed festival, promoted and organized as it has been outside of normal procedures and guidelines, could create havoc for those attempting to travel between Sarasota and the barrier islands during such a busy time,” he wrote.

However, Schneier said he did not receive any calls or emails from residents about traffic concerns relating to the event.

“I heard virtually no complaints at all about the fest,” he said. “There were some traffic issues getting downtown, but I am not sure any of them centered on getting around St. Armands.”

BRADENTON BEACH PROPOSAL

Although steps still remain between idea and reality, town commissioners still fear the possibility of a hotel being built at the roundabout on Bridge Street at Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach and its effect on one of the most bottlenecked stretches of road on the barrier islands.

Drawings submitted to the town of Bradenton Beach by Luttrell Architectural LLC of Tampa show a 103room hotel measuring over 206,000 square feet.

The plans include three floors for guest rooms, a retail space, offices, a gym, a coffee bar and miniature golf.

Plans for the rooftop feature a swimming pool and outdoor deck.

“I would hope the town’s approach to St. Armands would be the same on the north end,” Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan said at the Jan. 9 commission meeting, alluding to public statements of opposition.

Schneier said that part of the decision to back St. Armands was after request and feedback from resident groups and the merchant association. He has yet to receive the same sort of urging from anyone on the north end.

As the idea is in its earliest stages, he also said it was difficult to comment on the matter when little was known.

“We’re going to watch it closely,” he said.

“I plan to watch it pretty carefully.”

Sarasota Observer reporter Andrew Warfield contributed reporting to this story.

Photos by Eric Garwood

Town officials have been concerned for years about the impact of traffic congestion through Bradenton Beach, north of Longboat Key.

Backups heading south into St. Armands Circle are common, but few complaints were registered this holiday season.

LAUREN TRONSTAD | STAFF WRITER

Permits may stretch groin work to autumn

The project to keep sand from slipping through the rocky structure at New Pass is the final portion of town’s latest beach renourishment efforts.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

The New Pass groin-tightening project, originally to begin this month, will likely have to wait until after the 2023 sea turtle nesting season has wrapped up in the fall, town officials said.

The town expected to receive permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late 2022 to begin the work this winter.

But even as the new year began, the paperwork still had not arrived, said Longboat Key Public Works Department Programs Director Charlie Mopps.

While the window on beginning the work this turtle off-season remains open if permits arrive soon, town officials are making plans to wave off until late 2023 should permitting not arrive.

YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED

Recently on the barrier island’s beaches, high escarpments have been noted along the town’s beaches with some spots taller than children and even some adults.

Such escarpments are normal for the progression of beaches through the equilibrium process following a largescale renourishment project, Mopps said.

The town has purchased some equipment to help knock down the escarpments and are awaiting a final piece to make the tool fully functional.

Once the town receives the final piece, crews will work to eliminate the sharp drop-offs, created by wave action during high seas.

Such work could begin as early as this week.

“Right now, we are primarily targeting the end of turtle nesting season for the start of the project,” Mopps said of the season that runs from May through October on Florida’s west coast.

Lauren Tronstad

Tightening the rock groin protects sand placed on the barrier island’s beaches for a longer period of time.

About 1,300 nests were logged by beach patrol volunteers during the last season on Longboat Key beaches.

The New Pass rock groin has already undergone a maintenance cycle in the past.

The current project is acting as the second phase of necessary maintenance.

“Some of the rocks on the landward side will end up getting moved,” Mopps said. “Then they will put in what is called a filter fabric. Then, the rocks will be replaced and others will join them.”

Tightening or placing a new rock groin, regardless of the location, aids in protecting the beach and keeping sand in place from nourishment projects within the town’s system.

The groin’s structure is designed to block the flow of sand and keep it where it was placed — and also keep it out of New Pass, a key route for boaters between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Too much sand in the pass shallows the water, making passage difficult for larger boats.

“Having the fabric in place makes the groin less leaky,” Mopps said. “Right now, the sand is just bypassing through the groin. It’s not holding it in place like we want it to.”

The groin project is a complement to work done elsewhere on the island to widen and recontour the beaches with sand pumped from offshore locations, a process the town has repeated several times over the past decades.

The groin remains semi-permeable to allow for some natural flow of water to go in and out of the groin as to not impede on the natural progression of the ocean.

The groin project is the final piece of a comprehensive beach project sent to voters in March 2020, seeking their approval to borrow up to $34.5 million for no more than eight years.

In the end, the project came in under budget — with about a million cubic yards of sand pumped on to the shoreline, along with construction of new groins on the north end of the island.

That’s more sand than would fit in Epcot Center’s Spaceship Earth centerpiece, by the way.

In total, the town has moved 8.7 million cubic yards of sand in the

TOWN EXPECTS EXTRA FUNDING FROM TOURISM TAX

Longboat Key is expected to get another $150,000 from the Sarasota County tourism development tax’s recently enacted sixth percentage point.

Town commissioners approved an agreement with the county this past week, paving the way for the money to be used on beach projects. That agreement now heads to the County Commission for final approval.

The town already had a longstanding agreement with the county for the previous tax at 5%.

The county qualified to collect the additional percentage point based on the amount of tourism development tax revenues collected annually within the county.

Since the additional percentage point was approved by the county commission in 2022, the county determined those additional revenues would be allocated 70% for tourism based capital projects, 20% for beach nourishment and 10% for beach maintenance.

The town requested a portion of collections from the additional revenue from tourism rentals in the town be sent back to the town for beach renourishment and maintenance.

With the addition of the 1 percentage point, Harmer estimates the county will collect just under $3 million from the town and receive about $748,000 back for an increase of just under $150,000 a year.

Manatee County continues collecting 5% because it did not qualify to consider an additional percentage point.

Annually, the town receives about $400,000 from the county after its collection of about $2.1 million.

Last week, Longboat Key Town Manager Tom Harmer went before the Sarasota County Tourism Development Council to ask for their support of the town’s funding request. The council gave unanimous support, sending the agreement back to the county commission for final review and approval.

The town funds beach work through a variety of sources including tourism taxes, state funding and a dedicated ad valorem tax with two millage rates: one for property owners west of Gulf of Mexico Drive and one for owners east of the island’s main road.

history of its beach renourishment projects, which are necessary every six to eight years.

Five questions with Deborah Murphy

Deborah

Prior to moving to the barrier island, Murphy was a longtime resident of Montgomery County, Maryland.

She owned Standard Supplies Inc, a family-run business that sold construction materials and tools.

Longboat Key was originally planned to be a vacation spot rather than her full-time residence, but the COVID-19 pandemic shifted plans and she has since fallen in love with the island.

Longboat Observer writer Lauren Tronstad recently chatted with Murphy about her decision to seek a seat on the commission and her hopes for Longboat’s future.

What led to your decision to seek a seat on the commission?

It was completely out of the blue. I’m the president of Longbeach Condominiums, and I still have one more year left on my term. We had some issues on the board in the last year, and I really felt that there was an opportunity for me to do something different. Maureen Merrigan, who lives right around the corner from me, called me and explained her situation that she was not going to be seeking another term. She felt

an obligation as a commissioner to talk to people that she knew in the neighborhood and see if there was an interest. Immediately, my antenna went up. My grandfather was a mayor; I grew up in a family that was very political … So to answer your question, it was really a phone call.

What have you learned from Longboat Key’s past?

When I moved here, I started to really understand more about the ecological stuff … It has been a surprising interest for me because I didn’t grow up being interested in ecological things, but here, it is a really big thing. It’s going to be a focus here on this island because of what is happening with sea rise, what’s happening with the fact that we need better drainage systems. I was reading this newspaper avidly even before I was even thinking about becoming a commissioner because I really am interested in staying abreast and understanding what’s going on on the island. Really understanding and getting more involved in the ecological side is something I think is important, and that we have to invest in.

What is Longboat Key all about?

I think that Longboat Key is everybody’s dream of what a beach paradise looks like, between the beautiful blue water, powdery sand. We simply don’t have the turnover of rentals that you see on Anna Maria Island, and on Siesta Key, it’s more congested. We have the beauty of being in a tropical paradise. We’re lucky because the residents have chosen to keep it that way. They want to be able to see more residential homes; we want to limit rentals and turnover. We all understand that keeps this peaceful serene atmosphere, which is why people seek to come here and live here.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I describe my leadership style as servant leadership … I look at myself as the maestro that keeps the orchestra working together.

I don’t look at myself as above anybody else. I look at myself as the chief cheerleader. I’m trying to keep everybody working together and coordinating. I think it works better that way … My grandfather used to tell me “We own shares of stock in our company, but the people that are most important are the stakeholders. The people that come here every day because they need to feel that they are as much a part of what is going on here as those that own the company.” That was the sole philosophy that I grew up with.

What is the most pressing issue for Longboat Key moving forward?

Ecological. I really do think all the things we’re looking at here have to do with roads, drainage and investing in what we are doing with sea level rise … I like the fact that we are being proactive about (sea level rise). There’s a sense of ownership that everybody on this island is wanting to work to preserve the integrity of this island. It’s also maintaining the feeling of this beach paradise. There’s something about Longboat Key that has a sort of residential tranquility, which is evidenced by the people that continue to live here for generations.

Murphy will enter her first term as a Longboat Key commissioner in the District 5 seat March 2023.

Lauren Tronstad Deborah Murphy will take her seat on the Longboat Key Town Commission in March 2023.

Do

Ahh, poor New College of Florida. Its saga of ambition and woe continues. It has always been thus.

And now, we see, Gov. Ron DeSantis and his staff are intervening in attempt to quit doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.

By now most people who follow this region’s colleges know that DeSantis recently appointed six new members to the college’s board of governors, all of whom subscribe to a conservative political philosophy.

Indeed, Manny Diaz, Florida’s new secretary of education, ignited cherry bombs after the appointments were announced when he was quoted saying: “It is our hope that New College of Florida will become Florida’s classical college, more along the lines of a Hillsdale of the South” — a reference to the most famous Christian liberal arts college in America, Hillsdale College in Michigan. One of its claims to fame is it refuses to accept any government funding. Its motto is “Learning, character, faith and freedom: These are the inseparable purposes of Hillsdale College.”

With that DeSantis sent shock waves through the New College community, present and past.

And so suffice it to say we can all expect another tumultuous chapter in the college’s six-decade history, one that is likely to last at least two years, certainly no more than the term of DeSantis’ governorship, which will end either in 2025 if he is elected president or in 2026 when his second term ends.

For the residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties who see New College as one of the region’s prized assets, expect a lot of headlines and controversy. Turnarounds and throwing out old ways are never easy or comfortable. Often, they are nasty and ugly.

But for sure, DeSantis has sent his opening message: New College cannot and will not maintain the status quo.

Nor should it.

For 63 years, its financial model has not worked. Nor will it ever without dramatic change. The accompanying chart pretty much tells you the problem. It’s difficult to justify New College as a good investment for taxpayers (shareholders) when its costs are so out of whack compared to the 11 other state universities.

“It’s stunning what a bad idea this is,” Rep. Randy Fine told us last week. “It’s $35 million a year just lit on fire.”

Fine was the lawmaker who proposed in 2020 that New College be merged into Florida State University. In the staff analysis of the bill he proposed, it said: “The state cost per degree is $197,68121 at NCF compared to $36,857 at Florida State University.”

FAULTY BUSINESS MODEL

New College has had a business model problem from its start in the 1960s. Back then, a group of civicminded people thought that, amid the region’s rich arts community, that Sarasota and Bradenton needed its own liberal arts college.

With seed money from Jane Bancroft Cook, an heiress to the Dow Jones & Co. enterprises, they came up with the idea of making New College a one-of-a-kind liberal arts honor college for talented students. At the time, there was little competition.

From 1964, when it opened to its first class, to 1970, its enrollment

mushroomed from 100 to 500. But by 1975, the college was in debt and near bankruptcy. The state rescued it, with the New College board agreeing to hand over its land in exchange for wiping out its debt and folding New College into the University of South Florida Sarasota-Bradenton branch.

The two co-existed for 25 years in a relationship that could be described as an arranged marriage destined not to work. The two cultures clashed. New College honors professors and students looked down on the USF profs and students and vice versa. At the same time, the USF administration in Tampa wasn’t all that nice toward New College. But as the saying goes: The one with the money (USF) calls the shots.”

By 2000, the faculties and administrators at both institutions had enough of each other. Convinced by New College advocates that it would be economically sustainable and that it had a sufficient endowment to help it flourish, in 2001, the Legislature finalized the divorce. New College became New College of Florida, the independent honors college in the state university system.

As part of the separation, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus was required to move off the New College property. The USF facilities north of New College on North Tamiami Trail are the results of the marriage split.

ATROPHIED PHYSICALLY

Ever since, New College has been operating as it always has. Enrollments fluctuated in the 900s. The school stuck to its original independent-study, no-letter-grade, honors college mission under Presidents Gordon Michalson Jr. (20012012) and Donal O’Shea (20122021). The endowment continued to grow, thanks to local fundraisers. And the college stayed under the radar of legislators, letting it do what it has always done.

But during this 20-year period, the college also atrophied physically. In a talk to the Harvard Club of Sarasota last week, New College President Patricia Okker acknowledged the physical campus is in

need of extensive refurbishment and upgrading.

“We have some real problems with our facilities,” she said.

It hurts recruitment. When parents and prospective students compare New College’s facilities with, say, those of Florida’s other bigger, better state university campuses, the sell becomes harder.

Indeed, during the past 20 years, New College now finds itself competing for Florida’s honor students with all 11 other state universities. This presents another challenge that Okker cited: New College doesn’t have branding and marketing power that comes with an institution that has championship football teams.

CONSERVATIVES EXCORIATED Okker acknowledged another challenge: The student body’s attitude toward conservatives. We learned elsewhere that in recent years an internal messaging system developed among the students that excoriated the school’s few conservative students.

“I do want to address that,” Okker told the Harvard members. “I’m going on 19 months, and I would say we are not as welcoming to conservative students that we would like to be. This pains me greatly.”

Bingo.

You can be sure that situation greatly influenced Gov. DeSantis’ board appointments.

Asked whether she had conversations with the governor before he made his board appointments, Okker emailed:

“As president of New College, I report to the board of trustees … Throughout my term as president, I have met with senior members of the governor’s team but not directly with the governor as yet.

“I continue to talk and meet with the new trustee members, and together we are taking the necessary time to learn, assess and build toward the future of New College.”

Okker told her Harvard Club listeners “New College will always be committed to change. We are designed to be that nimble institution. That is in our DNA.”

The test for Big Change is about to begin.

Heretofore, the administration and student body has resisted and fought it, holding on to New College’s model with a death grip.

Interviews with former members of the board of governors were full of stories of suggestions made to the administration to change its operating model to one that is economically sustainable.

Two former board members everything they suggested was rejected:

n Eliminate the full-time police force and maintenance staffs (because there is no summer school); rejected.

n Merge with State College of Florida to create a pathway for State College students to get into New College’s honors programs; rejected.

n Partner with the Ringling College of Museum to create a nationally recognized arts and music program; rejected. The Ringling Museum, by the way, sits in the middle of New College’s property, of which only 8% is developed.

n Merge with the Ringling College of Art and Design and go back to being a private college; rejected.

n Outsource its marine science program to Mote Marine Laboratory; rejected.

As one former board member told us: “The college is not sustainable.”

DeSantis, who is known not to take in much counsel or be a collaborator, obviously has made up his mind.

By his appointments to the New College board, you can interpret that DeSantis wants his appointments to try to change the culture and direction of the college. That will not go well.

Whenever a business brings in new leadership and a new direction, those two things result in a lot of blood, executions and exoduses of the old guard.

“It’s a shut down of New College,” Fine said.

Or as Sen. Joe Gruters said last week at a public hearing: “The alternative, the school is going to be eliminated. It will be shut down. So the question is how do you keep it moving forward and how do you keep it open?”

If New College is to remain the asset it has become to be known here, a better strategy than DeSantis’ approach is the one suggested by John Lilly, former board member from 2016-2021 and former Pillsbury Co. CEO: Okker should ask the governor for a year for her and the board of governors to examine bold options for New College’s future — and examine those options in public. Have debates.

“New College can go on defending the past or get ahead of the future,” Lilly said. “It should only do what only New College can do.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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MATT WALSH

S-S-S-MOKIN’

1:50 p.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Alarm: An officer was released from the scene of an activated smoke alarm by fire department personnel. The device had been set off by cooking smoke, not a fire.

MAKING AN IMPACT

9:47 p.m., 200 block of Sands Point Road

Fire assist: A gas leak, possibly caused by a vehicle that backed into a gas line, drew the attention of police and fire units. Police assisted while fire personnel shut off the gas. Police determined the vehicle that likely caused the leak was gone upon officers’ arrival, and it was possible the gas had been leaking for a period of time. The assigned officer remained at the scene until released by the fire department.

SATURDAY, JAN. 7

READ ALL ABOUT IT

10:15 a.m., 5700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious vehicle: The sight of a vehicle circling a residential parking lot was suspicious enough for a caller to report what he saw and the

3:30 p.m., 5500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Fractured musical notes from an apparently novice saxophone player working on Frank Sinatra’s signature “New York, New York” in a town park likely violated town ordinances on noise, but police were unable to find and cite him. A caller to police said the saxophonist had been making a brand-new start of it in the heart of the park each of the last several days but was clearly not A-number one, top of the list or even king of the hill. An officer who walked the trails to find the off-key performer ascertained the musician’s vagabond shoes must have been longing to stray, because he couldn’t be found.

vehicle’s license-plate number. What an officer saw upon his arrival was a vehicle known to him as belonging

PLAYING ALL THE HITS

5:12 p.m., 700 block of St. Judes Drive North

Noise complaint: An officer asked the resident of a home to turn down a radio in the garage after receiving a noise complaint. The officer reported hearing the radio faintly as he walked up to the property. The resident complied after receiving a verbal warning.

ALL IN ONE PLACE 6:51 p.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Found property: A town employee reported finding a wallet while on duty and arranged to meet an officer at the police department to turn it in. While the two spoke in the parking lot, a civilian approached and said he had lost his wallet after leaving it on the roof of his car. With identity confirmed, the wallet was returned to its owner.

SUNDAY, JAN. 8 UPSIDE DOWN 11:32 a.m., 10th Street Boat Ramps, Sarasota

Boating call: While on marine patrol, a Longboat officer was called to Sarasota to assist following a report of a capsized 20-foot boat with two people in the water near the 10th Street Boat Ramps. The people had been pulled aboard a civilian craft before the officer arrived. The capsized boat and the two people were

brought back to the boat ramp area. No injuries were reported.

MISSING, NOT MISSING 10:47 a.m., 4500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: An out-of-town man called police to report his adult daughter missing after she failed to return to their condo that morning. He said the woman had met some people around the condominium’s hot tub around 12:30 a.m. but hadn’t been seen since. As officers were gathering information for their missing-person investigation, the adult daughter returned to the condo. The out-of-town man said no police investigation was necessary.

MONDAY, JAN. 9

NO REPLY AT ALL 11:09 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway Citizen assist: A town resident called police to report a collision in a shopping center’s parking lot. Damage to the resident’s car was limited to a dent. The resident told police the man who hit her car provided a name and a telephone number before driving off. A police sergeant tried to call the number provided to contact the other driver but was unable to connect initially. The officer gave the resident a business card with the incident’s case number.

TUESDAY, JAN. 10

A MAN AND HIS DOG 1:22 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: Police could not locate a dark-colored truck reported

driving erratically on the golf course. A witness also reported the truck’s driver had let a dog out of the cab several times. Police who responded reported that officers have fielded similar calls in which they learned a golf course greenskeeper is allowed by management to drive his truck on the course in the performance of his official duties.

BUT YOU’RE RIGHT HERE

4:12 p.m., police headquarters

Lost property: A resident of Longboat Key called town police to report the loss of her purse at a hamburger restaurant in the Bradenton area. A police employee explained such a report might be more effective if made to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, though the employee did say Longboat police would contact her if a lost purse matching the description of the one she lost is turned in.

WE DON’T DO THAT HERE

5:30 p.m., 1000 block of Bogey Lane

Suspicious people: Officers found and spoke to a pair of men in Tshirts and jeans soliciting business for a roofing company in a neighborhood. The men produced valid ID and business cards for the company they said they represented and confirmed to officers they were working door to door to drum up business.

The officers informed them that such in-person solicitation was a violation of town codes. The two men were checked for criminal wants and warrants and found to have none. They left without incident.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

STUCK, NOT STUCK

5:48 p.m., 2100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Fire assist: Police officers stood by while fire-rescue personnel worked to rescue people from a stuck elevator.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

A LITTLE HELP

3:45 p.m., 4900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: A family member of a recently deceased man called police after discovering a loaded firearm in a dresser drawer. With no knowledge of how to render it safe, she sought assistance from police. An officer arrived and unloaded the weapon.

Town embarks on road-repair work

Roadwork is underway in Longbeach Village this week, with more to come on Jungle Queen Way and Norton Street.

In the Village, curb removal began on Monday, and crews are expected to wrap up removal and repair of failing asphalt on Thursday along Russell Street, a portion of Longboat Drive North and various intersections.

Workers are expected to mill and overlay streets through Jan. 23. Curbs will be replaced on a schedule to be determined, the town said.

On Norton Street, failing asphalt will be removed and repaired on Jan. 23-24, though more comprehensive roadwork and drainage improvements are in the design stage.

On Jungle Queen Way, work removing, repairing and repaving will proceed from Jan. 24-27.

The town asks that residents and visitors keep in mind that the work schedule is subject to fluctuation.

Town moves ahead on bench honoring Spoll

Current and future residents alike may get the opportunity to take in the soon-to-be town center while sitting on a donated bench that honors former Mayor George Spoll, who died Christmas night after a period of declining health.

At the start of the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Jan. 9 meeting, commissioners took a moment to reflect on Spoll’s life and their memories of him.

“He gave a tremendous amount of his time, his effort and his skill when he could have been doing other things,” Mayor Ken Schneier said.

“I think it is probably no secret that George and I did not always agree, but one of the things that I know very strongly is that he truly loved this community, and he certainly stood up for us in many ways,” Commissioner BJ Bishop said.

Madelyn Spoll, George’s widow, spoke at the meeting and asked the commission to consider allowing her and her family to donate a bench with a nameplate to be placed under

a tree in the completed Town Center Green.

George was fond of saying ‘a man plants a tree he will never sit under,’” she said. “His daughter and I are asking the commissioners’ permission for us to donate a bench to the town to be placed in the town center that George so much wanted to see completed … Hopefully, one day George’s great-grandchildren will come and sit under the tree that George could never sit under.”

At the conclusion of the commission meeting, the idea was discussed and ended in commissioners coming to a unanimous consensus of support and directing staff to move forward with the necessary next steps.

Art fest coming to St. Armands Circle

The St. Armands Circle Art Festival returns for a two-day run on Jan. 28-29.

The free event takes place along South Boulevard of Presidents and inside St. Armands Circle.

National and local artists are set to display works ranging from sculpture, jewelry, paintings and photography, apparel and decor.

The festival is the 19th annual installment and will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SRQ airport breaks record despite delays

Even with a pair of storm-related air traffic hiccups — one in September and one in December — the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport still managed to smash a calendaryear passenger record by more than 20%, SRQ’s president and CEO said this week.

In 2022, a year marked by Hurricane Ian and a winter storm over the Christmas holidays that initially disrupted air travel, then fed into a cascade of cancellations by the airport’s top carrier, 3.87 million passengers travelled through the airport.

That was a 21.6% increase over 2021’s record year of 3.16 million passengers.

Off the Clock goes off the island

About 40 Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce members met off the island on Jan. 11 at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse in Sarasota. There were a lot of familiar faces and also a few new members in attendance.

Miranda Dupuis and Denise Boykin joined the week before. They work for Red Door Painting in Bradenton.

“We do residential, commercial, interior and exterior painting,” Boykin said.

Cindy Jessup joined in December. Her business is Welcome Home Concierge, a home-watching service. Her customers are mainly seasonal. During inspections, she’s looking for things such as pest infestation and humidity blooms. Jessup is certified through Home Watch, and each inspection comes with a full report for insurance purposes if a homeowner needs to file a claim.

The chamber meets once a month “Off the Clock” at different area restaurants. Call 383-2466 to become a member.

— LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Jack Dean and Kim Bouchard

Celia Moore, Aaron Virgin and Tryla Larson

Peg Pluto, Bob Dunn and Nancy Taussig

Miranda Dupuis, Kellie Spring and Mitch Lomazov

Myakka reopens with near-record bird count

On Dec. 19, 2022, after being closed since Hurricane Ian because of wind and flood damage, Myakka River State Park reopened to the public. And in the early hours of that very day, 45 birders arrived to participate in the 76th Myakka River Christmas Bird Count.

The Christmas Bird Count is a National Audubon Society community science project. It helps highlight conservation action required to protect birds and the habitats they need to survive. And in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which impacted natural systems that serve as critical habitat for countless bird species, expectations for the count were low.

This year’s birders, many of whom have participated for decades, covered almost 124 miles in areas rendered unrecognizable by the storm. Access was hampered by stormfallen trees and unseasonably high water levels. Nonetheless, they spotted a record 126 species, just one shy of the highest number recorded in 1996, and counted an impressive 19,903 individual birds.

It was a very good year for wild turkeys, an especially meaningful species for Myakka River State Park. When the park was established in 1941 with the goal of protecting this ecologically significant place and its inhabitants, many species of native wildlife, including wild turkey, had been hunted to near extirpation.

Wild turkey are once again abundant at Myakka, largely due to one of the park’s first mangers, Allen Crowley, who “imported” and bred the birds, then reintroduced them to the park.

Also of interest, the population of American bald eagles, Myakka’s largest raptors, remained stable, despite nest trees blown over and nests destroyed by the storm. Stable numbers were also reported for wood storks, a federally designated threatened species. Like many Florida native birds associated with wetlands, this species has suffered from habitat loss and degradation due to development and greatly depend on protected lands.

Our natural areas and their inhabitants, which are essential for the health of our ecosystems, will continue to recover from this storm’s impact, as they have many times before. We can support this recovery by minimizing harmful humanrelated impacts and continuing to support and protect public lands.

—MIRI HARDY, FRIENDS OF THE MYAKKA RIVER CONTRIBUTOR

Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations, and our own. Follow us @FriendsofMyakkaRiver

COME ON BACK!

Myakka River State Park has reopened to the public. Some amenities, such as the historic cabins, the birdwalk and the canopy walkway, were damaged by Hurricane Ian and are not available until further notice. For updates, please see FloridaStateParks.org/ parks-andtrails/myakka-riverstate-park.

An exploration beyond the pavement.

Miri Hardy

In the aftermath of the Hurricane Ian, access during the count was hampered by storm-fallen trees and unseasonably high water levels.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

FIT FEST

From 9:30-11:15 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Sample any or all of TPC’s fitness classes for 15 minutes a class and meet the instructors. Call 383-6493.

THURSDAY,

JAN. 19

THE ART OF CRITICISM

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Learn what it takes to be an arts critic. $15 for members; $20 for others. Call 388-8222.

PICKLEBALL BASICS

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Certified instructor Terri Noyes will demonstrate the basics of the game, including rules and scoring. Free for members; $15 for others. No reservations required. Call 383-6493.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20

MEET THE ARTIST

From 5-7 p.m. at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. Meet this month’s featured artist, Medge Jaspan, in the art gallery. Call 383-8161.

THE BARBARA JORDAN QUINTET

From 5-6:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. The Barbara Jordan Quintet is performing “The Best of the Great American Songbook.” $25 for members; $30 for others. Call 388-8222.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

JOYFUL SONGS

FOR A JOYFUL DAY

From 3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Soprano Michelle Giglio sings everything from famous arias to popular tunes. $20 for members; $25 for others. Call 388-8222

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

ROCK ’N’ ROLL JEWS

From 3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. David Milberg, aka “Radio Dave,” highlights Jewish disc jockeys, singers, songwriters and musicians who rock. $15 for members; $20 for others. Call 388-8222.

RECURRING EVENTS

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, 555 Bay Isles Road. On Wednesdays, most books are on sale for $1 or less. Call 383-2011.

MONDAYS

GENTLE CHAIR YOGA

From 9-10 a.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Improve flexibility and strength in a chair. Eight sessions through Feb. 27, $95 for members; $110 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

WOMEN OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

From 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Listen to stories of legendary performers whose voices showcase the female version of the “old standards.” Two sessions cost $40 for members; $45 for others. Call 383-8222.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

PUMPING THE PRIME

From 10-11 a.m. at Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Low-impact cardio and strength exercises to boost metabolism, strengthen muscles and bones. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for others. Call 361-6411 ext. 2212.

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.

MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS

BODY SCULPT

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Strength training and body sculpting with weights, resistance bands and towels. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for others. Call 361-6411, ext. 2212.

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 and relax. Eight sessions from Jan. 10 to Feb. 28, $95 for members; $110 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

YOGA

From 11:15 a.m.-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 $15; 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 at the tables, email MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY BREATH BALANCE AND BLISS YOGA

From 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for others. 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, slow-paced blend of simple yoga focusing on balance, strength, breathwork, flexibility and relaxation. Eight sessions through Feb. 22, $70 for members; $80 for others. Pay as you go available. 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 $15. Call 383-6493.

MARIACHI MUSIC

From 5-8 p.m. at La Villa Mexican Grill, 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Enjoy dinner and a serenade by Mariachi Contemporaneo. Call 383-8033.

THURSDAYS

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 for all fitness levels. Eight sessions through Feb. 23, $95 for members; $110 for others. Pay as you go available. Call 383-8222.

ZUMBA AND MAT PILATES FOR SENIORS

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. The class, designed for active seniors, starts with zumba and shifts to all-level mat Pilates at 10:30 a.m. Come for 30 minutes or the full hour. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

ST. ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH BRIDGE CLUB

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

LENA HORNE AND MARILYN MONROE: EXQUISITE EXPRESSION

From 1-2:15 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. The program details stories and triumphs of two icons. Two sessions cost $40 for members; $45 for others. Zoom is available. Call 383-8222.

FRIDAYS

THE WOMEN’S GROUP

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Gale Hacker facilitates a discussion focused on personal growth. Six sessions cost $105 for members; $115 for others. Call 383-8222.

QI GONG AND MEDITATION

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

YOUR NEIGHBORS

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Four words. A pronoun, two nouns and a verb — barely a sentence — were enough to launch a new volunteer opportunity for Heather and Ray Sellers about two years ago.

“My husband likes birds,” she said innocently enough.

A week later, the Longboat Key residents were chasing a struggling royal tern down the beach on their first rescue for Save Our Seabirds.

But first, they had to Google what a royal tern looked like, learning quickly it was the species with an “Elvis head,” Heather said.

Royal terns have black crown feathers that often stand up like a pompadour hairstyle. But more on that initial rescue mission a bit later.

Ray’s fondness for birds didn’t come with any special avian expertise. The Sellers are semi-retired after 35 years in the restaurant industry. They live in Windward Bay.

Sellers, 54, was already volunteering for Longboat Key Turtle Watch. President and Vice President Tim Thurman and Cyndi Seamon also volunteer for SOS.

So when Heather happened to mention that Ray likes birds, the wheels were not just set in motion, they were accelerated to turbo mode.

“They’re like, ‘Oh, he does?’” she said, “And by the time I got off (turtle) patrol, there was a little pet crate

BE LIKE THE SELLERS

SOS is always seeking volunteers. Opportunities are not limited to rescuing. Here’s a list of volunteer positions.

n Greeter

n Docent

n Landscape and facility maintenance n Office and dispatch Rescue and transport

n Special events and public programs No experience necessary, but volunteers are asked to commit to at least three to four hours a week. The volunteer application can be found at SaveOurSeabirds.org/volunteer. Once the application is complete, SOS offers training twice a year, usually in February and November. Volunteers have the option to shadow a more experienced volunteer until they feel comfortable.

next to my husband’s truck.”

When Ray called to ask if Heather knew anything about the cage, she explained how she unwittingly volunteered them to be bird rescuers.

That was in September 2020; the COVID-19 pandemic left SOS operating with a bare-bones crew of staff and volunteers.

The Sellers have since rescued more than 200 birds on Longboat Key.

That first rescue call came from the Longboat Key Club. It was raining, and their equipment consisted of the pet crate, a net and a towel.

“We got out on the beach, and the first thing we saw was a colony of terns and a colony of gulls — so hundred of birds,” Heather said laughing.

“We looked at each other like ‘How are we going to be able to find the one that needs help?’ And suddenly as we looked across, we saw one that looked like its beak was caught in his neck.”

The tern’s neck was wrapped in fishing line. He flew away four times and led them a half-mile down the beach. The Sellers were about to give up until some other birds started pecking at him. The tern gave up instead; they secured him with the towel and took him to SOS.

With no experience, fancy equipment or official training, the Sellers were guided via telephone by SOS senior avian hospital technician Jonathan Hande.

“Jonathan was amazing to us. He gave us guidance as we went out on each run,” Sellers said. “We literally fell into this and have just been amazed by the center ever since.”

SOS treated 944 area birds in 2022, and more than 90% of the birds were brought in by rescue volunteers.

“I don’t think we’re in business very long if we don’t have rescue volunteers,” Save Our Seabirds CEO Aaron Virgin said. “Our staff doesn’t rescue birds. Our volunteers do.”

As volunteers, the Sellers have walked countless miles, climbed trees and scratched their legs on oyster beds in pursuit of birds needing rescue.

“As my husband always says, you look at the bird, and once you lock eyes with it, there’s no way you can’t help it,” Sellers said. “You’ve got to do everything that you can, and we’ve put ourselves in some predicaments. But as time has gone on,

we’ve learned what too far is.”

Not every bird can be saved after a rescue, but Sellers says she’s seen SOS help birds they thought didn’t have a chance.

“The wonderful gift of all of this is when you get to do a release, and many times, it’s the birds we actually helped rescue,” she said. “It’s a very gratifying experience.”

Longboaters Heather and Ray Sellers had no experience with birds when they started volunteering at Save our Seabirds, but they’ve since rescued more than 200.

An osprey is injured by a hook. Most injuries seen by SOS are caused by human activity. Save our Seabirds’ Jonathan Hande and Ray Sellers

Lesley Dwyer

The Sellers say it helps to have two people during a rescue.

Courtesy photos

This royal tern is the first bird the Sellers rescued.

Cedars gets into pickleball

Last August, Time magazine called pickleball “America’s fastest-growing sport,” so while tennis remains its main game, Cedars Tennis Resort & Club recently introduced pickleball to its members.

Nearly 30 beginner and advanced players signed up for the first tournament on Jan. 12, held on the clay courts.

“We have it on the clay because it’s a little easier on the body,” tennis pro Jeff Otterbein said, explaining the decision to avoid hard surfaces for the game.

“We have a ball that’s bouncy, and we’re working on the courts to hopefully get the regular pickleball to bounce better.”

Until now, fans of the sport who might have played tennis at Cedars had to drive to Longboat’s public courts at Bayfront Park or be invited to a private club.

For now, players are using soft foam pickleballs, which make the game a little easier for beginners to learn. The group was split about half and half between beginner and experienced players. The beginners learned the basics, while the others played a tournament. Games were played to nine instead of 11 like a traditional pickleball match.

Beyond chatting while waiting turns on the court, the added social element at Cedars is a trip to the Tiki bar afterwards.

“Games and Drinks” is now a weekly event from 4 to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday.

Cocktails are optional. The tournaments will run at least through April, but Otterbein says he’ll keep it going if enough members are signing up.

— LESLEY DWYER

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Gill and Dave Hughes, MaryAnn Miller and Deborah Richards

Tennis Committee Members Diane McGrellis and Bernadette Hayes

New Years at

Flappers and fedoras were plentiful as members of the Bird Key Yacht Club welcomed in 2023 and said goodbye to 2022 with a bash worthy of Gatsby himself.

Members danced the final hours of 2022 away to the sounds of Jelly Roll Jazz after enjoying a spectacular feast prepared by the BKYC culinary team and a visit to the BKYC Speakeasy. A prime view of the midnight fireworks over Sarasota Bay capped off the evening.

Club

— TONY BRITT

host Sam Sperduti

Photos courtesy of

Saturday, February 4th

FEATURING YESTERDAYZE

YESTERDAYZE plays music that charted in the top 40 between 1960-1969. From Motown to the British Invasion, from country & pop to psychedelia to good old-fashioned rock & roll, Yesterdayze does it all!

5:30 pm - 7 pm (Gates open at 4:30 pm) 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Music by Mike Sales

Town Center Green 600 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

Come out and “Savor the Sounds,” and enjoy an elegant, yet casual, outdoor picnic setting. BYOPB! Bring a picnic basket and blanket. (Lawn chairs, tables and coolers are welcome.) Pre-order boxed dinners from Publix by calling (941)383-1326 ext. 228 or 229

January

19, 2023

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS

601 Longboat Club Rd #603S

2 bed, 2 bath, 1 car garage | 1,458 Sq Ft

Enjoy sunrises and sunsets! Bright great room, dining area facing private beach and community pool. Washer/dryer in kitchen area offers convenience and comfort with side door access to the entry hallway and semiprivate elevator.

www.LBKtowers603S.com Offered for $2,000,000

PARK RESIDENCES OF LIDO KEY

159 Taft Dr #E305

3 bed, 3 bath | 2,500 Sq Ft

PLUS a 2,250 sq ft Private Rooftop Terrace with wrap-around views. Directly across from the Gulf of Mexico and features a resort-style heated swimming pool and spa, two under-building parking spaces with an additional storage room, and is overlooking the 110acre waterfront south Lido Park Reserve.

THE STRAND

1709 N Tamiami Trl Unit #221

1 bed, 1.5 bath | 1,013 Sq Ft

Exquisite water views from the long canal that leads out to Sarasota Bay. The Strand is a private gated community offering a resort style pool and spa , fitness center, dog park, EV charging station, boardwalk, and a kayak and paddle-board launch. Get ready to create lasting memories!

www.1709NTamiami221.com

Offered for $625,000 - Furnished

Ringling Parkway, Bird Key properties lead the way

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome on Lido Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Edward Balian, of Sarasota, sold his home at 1410 John Ringling Parkway to 1410 John Ringling Parkway LLC for $5,675,000. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,148 square feet of living area. It sold for $365,000 in 1995.

BIRD KEY

Kathleen Parks, trustee, of Cornelius, North Carolina, sold the home at 453 E. Royal Flamingo Drive to Jeff Rhinelander and Jacqueline Bohannon, of Sarasota, for $3.75 million. Built in 1962, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,926 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.8 million in 2020.

THE BEACH RESIDENCES

1300 Benjamin Franklin LLC sold the Unit 1009 condominium at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive to James and Lara Briggs, of Downers Grove, Illinois, for $2.91 million. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,352 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.5 million in 2015.

BEACHPLACE

Karen and Eric Avezzano, of Montvale, New Jersey, sold their Unit 404 condominium at 1045 Gulf of Mexico Drive to J. Chris Thompson and Amy Thompson, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, for $1.6 million. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,503 square feet of living area. It sold for $800,000 in 2013.

HARBOUR LINKS AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB

Carl and Patricia Cooper, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 2003 condominium at 2003 Harbour Links Drive to William Robert

Brugge and Joan Siefert Brugge, of Boston, for $1,246,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 1,941 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2022.

Jeffrey Plocharczyk and Debra Palmer sold their Unit 2013 condominium at 2013 Harbour Links Drive to David Bare, trustee, of Morganton, North Carolina, for $1 million. Built in 1989, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,369 square feet of living area. It sold for $465,000 in 2017.

PROMENADE Robert A. Foster, Robert M. Foster and James Foster, trustees, of Athens, Tennessee, sold the Unit 205

condominium at 1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive to White Wine Cork LBK LLC for $1,033,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,598 square feet of living area. It sold for $519,000 in 2001.

Eric Garwood

The property at 453 E. Royal Flamingo Drive on Bird Key overlooks a canal with direct access to Sarasota Bay.

Longboat Key artist finds her passion by accident . . . literally

and left her with nothing to do. That was when she discovered art.

20.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Each month, All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church features an artist in its art gallery. This month’s artist is also a Longboat Key business owner, Medge Jaspan, and you can meet her at the gallery in person between 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20.

Jaspan operates the Holistic Healing & Wellness Center of Longboat Key in the Mediterranean Plaza off Bay Isles Road. She also creates a made-to-order line of wearable art.

Jaspan, 55, received her master’s degree in psychology at Columbia University in New York but grew up in Paris. Her career was organizing events in Cannes. She didn’t sell her first piece of art until she was 35.

A successful artist now, her avocation began at age 30 after a nearly tragic incident.

She slipped on a wet floor into a window. She had cuts all over her body that took four months to heal

“I think if I learned one thing from the accident, it’s that there was too much noise here (pointing to her head),” she said. “I wasn’t eating. I was so stressed, and I was having all this stuff. I would have died, not from the accident, but from the craziness inside here.”

The exhibition is called “Energy Inspired,” a series of brightly colored acrylic paintings of hearts and labyrinths.

Jasper uses pearls and gemstones to accent her pieces, sometimes crushing the stones and mixing them into the paint.

“When you walk a labyrinth, when you exit, you are different because you find your calm,” she said of a piece titled, “The Source of All”, “I didn’t like labyrinths before because it stressed me out because I felt stuck inside. But no, if you take the time to walk...to walk...to walk, you exit karma. So if you have the painting at home, you can do the same.”

Jaspan has exhibited in France, Japan, New York, Philadelphia and Orlando.

Her pieces range from $700 to $7,000 and are available to buy. The church receives a commission on each artwork sold.

Medge Jaspan’s works will be displayed at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, beginning Jan.

Medge Jaspan’s artwork is often inspired by energy and nature, as seen in this painting of sunshine.

Medge Jaspan is the featured artist in the All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church’s art gallery this month.

Medge Jaspan creates wearable clothing from her artwork as well.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

FORECAST

SUNRISE

Sunrise Sunset

FRIDAY, JAN. 20

High: 71 Low: 60

Chance of rain: 24%

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

High: 70 Low: 63

Chance of rain: 39%

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

Thursday, Jan. 19 7:21a 6:01p

Friday, Jan. 20 7:20a 6:02p

Saturday, Jan. 21 7:20a 6:03p

Sunday, Jan. 22 7:20a 6:03p

Monday, Jan. 23 7:20a 6:04p

Tuesday, Jan. 24 7:19a 6:05p

Wednesday, Jan. 25 7:19a 6:06p

MOON PHASES

Jan. 21 New Feb. 5 Full Jan. 28 First Feb. 13 Last

Thursday, Jan. 19 9:01p 5:16a

Friday, Jan. 20 10:00p 6:09a

Saturday, Jan. 21 2:19p 10:58p 6:58a

Sunday, Jan. 22 2:30p 11:55p 7:43a 4:38p

Monday, Jan. 23 2:45p 8:24a 5:49p

Tuesday, Jan. 24 12:51a 3:01p 9:01a 6:58p

Wednesday, Jan. 25 1:49a 3:21p 9:34a 8:08p

Sergio Albuquerque captured this photo of a colorful sunset on Longboat Key. 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. WEATHER

FAREWELL TOUR by Jessie and Ross Trudeau, edited by David Steinberg

By Luis Campos

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