Longboat Observer 6.8.23

LONGBOAT

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Artistic daring.

SEE PAGE 1B FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

VOLUME 45, NO. 44

YOUR TOWN

Commission rejects garage Public comment overwhelmingly opposed the St. Regis parking structure. SEE PAGE 4A

Under the sea

Courtesy photo

Megan Mohrmann

Taking flight

She wasn’t quite ready to leave Save our Seabirds, but she has another internship this summer.

Sarasota High graduate and Florida State advertising major Megan Mohrmann capped off her marketing internship at Save Our Seabirds by releasing a rehabilitated mourning dove.

Mohrmann said the bird arrived about a month ago at Save Our Seabirds. It had an injured wing.

The release was one of the highlights of her time at SOS, where her favorite part of the job was “(capturing) the positive stories and sharing them with the public.” One of those stories includes a new record.

“This month, we broke one of our records for most ospreys received,” said Mohrmann.

Four were transferred to the SOS facility for rehab and two more were rescued that same day, explained Mohrmann.

Four of the ospreys have already been released and two are working toward a full recovery, she said.

Underwater cleanup volunteers made the bay a safer place for marine life.

SEE PAGE 8B

New club prez of LBK Dems The Democratic Club of Longboat Key has elected a new president to its board.

Lucie Lapovsky was chosen to take the place of Arlene Skversky, who was elected to the role in January but stepped down to dedicate herself to precinct captain responsibilities.

Lapovsky has served as the club’s program committee chair for the past three years. She has experience as an economist, who consults, writes and speaks widely on higher education finance and governance issues.

“I urge you to appreciate the opportunity we have as Democrats to turn Florida blue in the near future,” she said in her introductory letter. “I’m feeling positive in a way I haven’t experienced in a long time and I hope you are, too.”

Sidra Wali

Brandon Taaffe, president of the board of directors of Sarasota Bay Watch, holds up a knife found at the bottom of the bay.

A+E

TOUGH QUESTIONS Longboat asks: What if Hurricane Ian hadn’t turned?

SEE PAGE 3A

Turtle tracks LONGBOAT May 21-May 27 2023 Nests 87 False crawls 119

2022 52 83

Totals since April 23 2023 2022 Nests 223 108 False crawls 264 139 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

File photo

Some Longboat Key structures sustained damage on Longboat Key after Hurricane Ian.

Stars come out for music fest.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

VALUE RISE MANATEE COUNTY n 2022 actual property values: $2,370,440,129 n 2023 estimates: $2,620,303,624 n Estimated change: 14.06% SARASOTA COUNTY n 2022 actual property values: $5,091,944,937 n 2023 estimates: $5,711,122,537 n Estimated change: 12.16% COMBINED n 2022 actual property values: $7,462,385,066 n 2023 estimates: $8,331,426,161 n Estimated change: 12.75%

File photo

Property values in the town of Longboat Key continue to climb.

BREAKING RECORDS Longboat property values hit $8.3 billion in value estimates.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

L

ongboat Key property values continue to rise, with a new record reached per Sarasota County and Manatee County property appraiser estimates.

Preliminary estimates from both counties show a combined taxable value of $8.3 billion. This marks a combined increase of 12.75% from last year, when estimated values were $7.34 billion. The certified values for both counties came in at $7.4

billion last year.

Last year’s estimates were about $700 million higher than the $6.6 billion valuation reached at the height of the 2008 housing bubble.

The 2023 estimates jumped almost another $1 billion, marking a new record high for the town.

Here’s the breakdown by county: Sarasota County estimates town property values on its side of the island at $5.71 billion. This marks a 12.16% increase from last year.

Manatee County estimates came in at $2.62 billion, a 14.6% increase from last year’s estimated values.

Both values were slightly higher than what town staff anticipated based on this year’s estimates.

Sarasota County’s estimates are 1.16% higher than what was expected. Manatee County’s estimates are

0.9% higher.

The estimates indicate there will be $1.78 million more revenue than in fiscal year 2023, which is $116,000 over what was originally projected.

The revenue estimates were calculated at the same millage rate set last year, 1.99. One mill equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value.

Town Manager Howard Tipton said there are no plans to further lower the rate since the town already has the lowest in the area, and additional revenue from the increase in values at the current rate will help “plug some budget holes this year.”

The estimated values are crucial in helping Tipton draft his preliminary budget to the commission due June 15. The preliminary budget and property tax estimates will be discussed in greater detail at the June 20

budget hearing before the commission goes on its customary hiatus for two-and-a-half months.

Before the commission can go on summer break, it must first set the maximum millage rate.

In 2022, the town set the fiscal year 2023 maximum millage rate at 1.99. The rate is a 6% reduction from the previous year’s rate of 2.1144 per $1,000 of taxable value.

Any rate reductions would primarily benefit homesteaded property owners, especially those that own such properties along Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Last year’s record values had GMD homesteaded property homeowners seeing property tax cuts of 6.2%, ranging from $95.79 for a property with a taxable value of $500,000 to $191.57 for property valued at $1 million. Bayside owners of homesteaded properties saw a 4.2% decrease.

Finishing out the budget process, during the commission’s summer hiatus the town will receive certified taxable values on July 1. On Aug. 1, commissioners will receive Tipton’s proposed budget with his budget message. On Aug. 4, the town’s maximum millage rate is due to both county’s property appraiser offices.

Once the commission returns from break, they will begin budget hearings, with the first on Sept. 11 and the second on Sept. 26. The budget must be adopted by Oct. 1.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

LUCKY LONGBOAT File photo

The town’s 21st Annual Disaster Preparedness Seminar was June 1, kicking off the official start of hurricane season.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

L

ucky — the word used most often to describe Longboat Key following Hurricane Ian, specifically when compared to Sanibel and Captiva islands.

But what if the storm hadn’t altered its course? While it isn’t a question that’s pleasant to contemplate, the town of Longboat Key and the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce deemed it a necessary discussion as a key topic at the 2023 disaster preparedness seminar.

The town hosted its 21st annual seminar June 1, which also marked the official start of the 2023 hurricane season. More than 100 people attended this year’s seminar at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom.

This year’s turnout was higher because of outreach efforts and the damage Hurricane Ian caused in communities to the south of the barrier island. In the 2022 Annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey, resident respondents said they were generally unaware of the presence of such a seminar. This prompted commissioners and town staff to take a closer look at how they are getting the word out about such events in hopes of increasing attendance and, in turn, knowledge of its residents on disaster preparedness among other subjects.

Local and state emergency management leadership spoke on the importance of preparation well ahead of a storm, not just in the days directly before. They also emphasized that residents should remember that no storm is the same. Just because a storm affected an area one way in the past does not mean it won’t have different, more drastic effects the next time.

In hopes of encouraging storm readiness and evacuation when ordered, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie looked to strike a healthy amount of fear into seminar attendees.

“If the same approach (as Hurricane Ian) happens here, you need to get off this island,” he said, speaking about what happened on Sanibel and Captiva islands. “Water is not something to be messed with.”

He specifically cited the more than 70 people from Lee County who would likely still be alive had they heeded their local official’s warnings and evacuated their homes on Sanibel and Captiva islands.

“If we’re asking you to evacuate, trust me, there have been a lot of conversations,” Guthrie said. “There has been a lot of data gone over …

Ordering an evacuation is probably the single thing that we don’t want to do. We never want to ask people

to leave their homes. If we are asking you to do that, we are putting you in an environment where we are saying it is safer to put you on the road than for you to stay in place.”

A CHANGED COURSE, CHANGED LIVES

With its similar population and land mass to Sanibel Island, Longboat Key officials and staff have asked what their barrier island might have looked like had Hurricane Ian not turned. The answer is likely similar to what Sanibel Island is experiencing as its residents continue working toward restoring their homes and businesses.

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Sanibel and Captiva islands with 155 mph sustained winds just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Winds were just under the cut-off for a Category 5 distinction, which is 157 mph or higher.

The storm sat over both islands for more than four hours, leaving not one building or home unscathed and compromising the one bridge on and off the islands. Winds were coupled with upwards of 12 feet of storm surge.

“Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and Captiva were nothing more than a speed bump for that storm,” Guthrie said.

During the seminar, Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce President John Lai showed a video of what the area looked like about a month after the storm hit and business owners and residents were beginning to try to restore their lives.

“On Sept. 28, 246 days ago, the physical, economic and natural landscape of our island and our community was changed,” he said. “Not one private vehicle on our island was spared. If you did stay and you had the gas, after the storm, you couldn’t even go check on neighbors.”

As work continues on the island’s businesses, many of which are small businesses, the chamber’s website has been continually updated

with a list of which businesses have reopened their doors. Only 81 businesses of the chamber’s 541 members have been able to open their doors since the storm.

“What we learned through this was we learned to ask for help and to accept it,” he said.

Before the storm, the two islands saw an estimated 219 visitors per day and were having a great year for businesses both in retail and hospitality.

Now, there are only about 1,000 residents on the island compared to the usual 7,500 for this time of year.

“When you’re responsible for the business community and a tourism destination that runs on an economy driven by tourism, with lodging units out of order, it’s almost impossible,” Lai said.

Before the storm, the two islands had about 2,800 lodging units available. Roughly 200 have been able to reopen to tourists. Lai estimates that about 25%, or 700 units, will be available for booking by 2024. Visitor numbers have dropped to about 37 per day.

WHAT LONGBOAT EXPERIENCED

Hurricane Ian prompted the first islandwide evacuation on Longboat Key since 2017. It was expected to make landfall not far from its shores.

Damage was minimal, compared to expectations, mostly limited to downed limbs and power lines and minor flooding. The beaches also fared well with town staff observing little to no impact.

Debris pickup and power outages were addressed quickly in comparison to those most affected by the storm.

In the 2022 Annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey, 90% of the 1,348 respondents said they evacuated the island when instructed for Hurricane Ian. Just fewer than 90% of respondents said they would evacuate the island in the future if a Category 3 or higher storm was approaching.

Lauren Tronstad

More than 100 people attended the Annual Disaster Preparedness Seminar on June 1 at Longboat Key Club.

Damage on Longboat Key after Hurricane Ian in 2022.

“There has been a lot of data gone over … Ordering an evacuation is probably the single thing that we don’t want to do. We never want to ask people to leave their homes. If we are asking you to do that, we are putting you in an environment where we are saying it is safer to put you on the road than for you to stay in place.”

— Kevin Guthrie, Florida Division of Emergency Management

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

“I do not believe that this is what we envisioned when we looked at the comprehensive plan, and I just struggle with the consistency with design standards.”

— BJ Bishop, Commissioner

Courtesy photo

Progress on the St. Regis property

Commission denies St. Regis parking garage Public comment during the six-hour meeting was overwhelmingly against the multilevel parking garage proposal.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

After a nearly six-hour meeting, the Longboat Key Town Commission voted 6-0 to deny the Residences at the St. Regis Longboat Key’s proposal to build a multilevel parking garage on the property.

The denied proposal was for a 156-space parking structure to replace the original plans of 62 mechanical lift spaces and a 28-space surface parking lot.

Commissioners were in agreement that the developers did not prove a substantial need for the parking change and the building of a garage that has faced public scrutiny since the application came forward in January.

“The garage has generated substantial resistance from all corners of the community,” Mayor Ken Schneier said.

He cited 76 emails received in commissioner inboxes. He said Town Clerk Trish Shinkle compiled them

and found only two favored the garage. Despite the garage protests, many residents at the hearing and email writers praised the development overall.

“Almost all opponents here praised the project but protested the garage as too much, too close and too late,” Schneier said.

Commissioner Penny Gold was absent from the hearing.

Public comment was largely negative toward the garage proposal, with the majority of speakers citing the need to preserve the character of the barrier island they have grown to love. Many raised concerns about an approval setting a precedent and encouraging developers to come to

the town to build parking garages on their properties.

“Our shared concerns include the close proximity to (Gulf of Mexico Drive), inadequate natural landscape screening, the departure from the minimum spacing between buildings and, most importantly, the movement away from the normal character of our beautiful island,” resident Mark Hullinger said. “We need to know that the stewards of our town won’t open Pandora’s box and open the door to destroying the character of our island by every developer and partnership that shows up on our doorstep with deep pockets and concrete dreams.”

Not only was public comment against the proposal, but so were comments from the commissioners.

“I do not believe (the proposed plans) have compelling evidence that this structure is needed,” Commissioner BJ Bishop said. “I do not believe that this is what we envisioned when we looked at the comprehensive plan, and I just struggle with the consistency with design standards.”

Commissioner Debra Williams talked about the overwhelming response the commissioners have each received since the application was set to come before them. All of which, she said, labeled the potential for the garage as “detrimental” to the surrounding neighborhoods and the character of the town.

“We’re here today because back in October of 2021, the applicant didn’t want to take a beat and readdress the parking issue that was discovered after the first hearing,” Williams said. “They had every opportunity to do the right thing back then. They could have taken a step back and said we do need more parking.”

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

During the developer’s testimony, land use attorney Brenda Patten claimed that neighbors are not experts and don’t have the lawful right to dictate what is placed on a neighboring property.

“I would maintain that they are experts in their neighborhoods,” Williams said. “They own the property, they live there. They know what goes on in the neighborhood and what goes on in the community. If they don’t want to see this massive concrete structure every time they walk out their door or look out their window, I would say that’s expert testimony.”

The matter will visit the commission one last time June 20 as the commission must approve and issue a written order of denial, which Town Attorney Maggie Mooney needs time to prepare.

Even so, other matters in the application were approved as the concern with the application was solely with the parking structure. The approved items include: n Deleting beach shelters and a Tiki hut n Moving patio heaters and a fire lane farther east n Amending departures for open space and living space ratios.

With pending denial of the structure, Unicorp National Developments Inc. will move forward with the mechanical lift spaces and surface lot as previously approved.

PROPERTY PROGRESS

The St. Regis project is more than 60% complete and on track for completion in summer 2024.

Per the May construction update

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Father’s Day

from the development team, the gatehouse has been built. Handrails have been placed on the first area of the hotel and tile placement has started. Drywall is complete for the first portion of the hotel. The ballroom and porte cochere’s roofs are placed.

Of the many water features on the property, private pools for the condominiums have been set, and the saltwater lagoon is in progress.

Currently, teams are hanging drywall for the Bateau Building on the condo side. All kitchens are under construction. The steam and sauna rooms are being built and crews have just started digging the midlevel pool.

Still to come are finishes to both the condo and hotel properties. In the next two months, developers are hoping to have permanent transformers on-site.

The entire project includes five buildings, a five-story hotel on the north end of the property, three fivestory condo buildings on the south side of the property and a singlefloor amenities building in between.

At the end of February, developers celebrated the project’s topping off, which signified the completion of the structure.

The 166-room hotel will feature two restaurants. A ballroom with seating for 425 is planned along with six meeting rooms and two board rooms.

The condo complex will have 69 units with parking garages on the ground level. Prices range from $2 million to $22 million. All residences are sold.

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Rendering of proposed parking garage

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER? File photo

Currently, the Longboat Key Police department has 11 hot-seated cars.

Hybrid vehicles to join police fleet Commissioners approved the purchase of seven new police vehicles at their June 5 meeting.

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The Longboat Key Police Department is adding new police vehicles to its fleet in an effort to improve officer retention and become a more desirable place at which to work.

Town commissioners approved the resolution to purchase seven new police vehicles at their June 5 regular meeting.

This addition will bring hybrid vehicles to the fleet and eliminate the “hot-seat” situation the department currently has. “Hot seating” is the practice of using a police vehicle 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

When one officer closes a shift, the departing officer immediately passes off the vehicle to the incoming officer, thus keeping the seat “hot.”

The purchase of new cars will allow officers to have a dedicated vehicle that they can drive home as well. The town originally planned to purchase the vehicles at the start of the next fiscal year in October, according to Town Manager Howard Tipton.

“We found the need to recommend to the board at the May budget workshop the opportunity to reduce cost and increase officer satisfaction, recruitment and retainment. In that, the town would look to purchase seven new patrol vehicles,” Tipton said.

While the town had plans to purchase seven vehicles, Tipton said that staff recently learned of five hybrid police vehicles available for purchase, leading to the recommendation to buy before October.

“Supply chain issues and the desire to be as competitive as possible in the hiring arena are driving staff’s recommendation of this approval,” Tipton said.

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The total cost of adding seven cars will be $637,000. This price includes the vehicles, in-car cameras, car cradles and patrol car mobile data terminals. According to Tipton, these funds come from the Sarasota Infrastructure Sales Tax Fund, money that has already been collected. It will not have any serious impact on the fund moving forward. The cost of hybrid vehicles as opposed to standard models is about $5,000 higher each, an extra cost that is said to be offset by savings on fuel over time.

“Among other things, the purchase of these vehicles is another step in the direction of our recognition of environmental responsibility,” Mayor Key Schneier said.

The need to be more competitive in the workforce was a sentiment shared by many commissioners.

The first order of new business in the June 5 meeting was the approval of a memorandum of understanding — eventually leading to a contract — between Longboat Key Police Department and Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association. This contract will serve to make significant changes to wages and benefits for officers. A similar memorandum of understanding was approved for Longboat Key Fire Rescue. The town found that it was falling behind in terms of pay, retirement contributions and take-home vehicles, which made it difficult to fill vacancies, according to Tipton.

Commissioner BJ Bishop was in full support of the contract.

“I think we are moving forward to hopefully never see this get this far out of kilt again, but I would also urge human resources to be much more proactive in letting us know and staying on top of this,” Bishop said.

Tipton said the new vehicles in the fleet are a major step forward in making the police department a more desirable place to work, while also contributing to the community’s environmental sustainability.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rosewood Residences Lido Key is owned and being developed, offered and sold by WSR—Lido Beach, LLC (“Developer”). The project is not owned, developed or sold by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, L.L.C. or any of its affiliates (“Rosewood”). Developer uses the Rosewood marks pursuant to a license agreement with Rosewood, which may be terminated under certain conditions. Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. Copyright 2023 © All Rights Reserved.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Florida highways among Top 10 Don’t be shocked. When compared to other states, Florida’s DOT keeps the state’s urban and rural highways well-maintained. Fatalities are a weakness.

HOW THE STATES’ HIGHWAY SYSTEMS RANK

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / James Peter, JPeter@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Lauren Tronstad, LTronstad@YourObsever.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com

ADRIAN MOORE

E

very year, the Reason Foundation ranks all 50 states’ highway systems. In this year’s report, examining 2020 data, the latest available, Florida’s highway system ranks eighth in the nation.

That is great, considering how important our roadways are to our economy, including tourism; to our own ability to get around and enjoy our quality of life; and to our ability to evacuate in the event of a hurricane.

Reason’s “Annual Highway Report” uses a broad range of performance measures on the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-controlled highways in 13 categories, including pavement condition, traffic congestion, structurally deficient bridges, traffic fatalities and spending (capital, maintenance, administrative, other) per mile. You can see Florida’s ranking on each of these categories in the accompanying table.

On most of the performance metrics in the table Florida either excels or struggles.

Compared to nearby states, Florida’s overall highway performance is worse than South Carolina (sixth) and Georgia (fourth), but better than Alabama (15th).

Florida ranks ahead of other comparable states, such as Texas (19th) and California (47th).

WHERE FLORIDA DOES BEST

Florida’s best ranking is in rural Interstate pavement condition.

The state does a crackerjack job of maintaining Interstate 75, Interstate 95 and Interstate 10 and others in those long woody stretches between cities. And I think anyone who drives around Florida and other states knows this. Our rural freeways are smooth and lovely rides.

Once those interstates get into urban areas, though, they are not in quite such good shape (ninth), but still pretty good.

Florida also does well on rural arterial pavement (second). These are all the rural highways like the U.S. 41, U.S. 301 and State Road 70, which are in great shape and provide vital links to most interior cities and towns and many coastal ones.

Those same roads in urban areas (urban principal arterials) are also in good shape (fourth).

Finally, Florida ranks eighth in structurally deficient bridges, which is not bad. These are bridges that score as “deficient” on feder-

Source: Reason Foundation

ally mandated inspections of structural adequacy and thus qualify for federal funding to repair them.

Florida has a lot of bridges, given the extent of our wetlands, so this metric is vital to the overall health of the highway network.

The Florida Department of Transportation is at its best in maintaining our state highway system, with good road conditions driving all its top performance categories in the report.

HOW FLORIDA’S HIGHWAY SYSTEMS RANK Here is how the Reason Foundation has ranked Florida’s highway systems nationally in the Foundation’s 27th Annual Highway Report.

WHERE FLORIDA CAN IMPROVE

Where the state’s highway system doesn’t rank so well is in safety and cost effectiveness.

Florida’s worst rankings are in urban fatality rate (49th) and rural fatality rate (45th). The state’s rural fatality rate is 2.2 times higher than peer state Pennsylvania and 1.2 times higher than Texas. In urban fatalities, Florida is 1.5 times higher than Pennsylvania and 1.4 times higher than Texas.

Nationwide, both rural and urban roadway fatality rates increased in 2020, with distracted driving being blamed the most.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data show distracted driving, speeding and driving under the influence are the primary causes of road fatalities.

To be fair, there is no evidence that Florida builds or operates its roads in a way that increases fatalities. The causes are behavior of individuals and cultural problems over which the state highway department has little influence.

Nevertheless, the state is making major efforts to reduce all these causes.

Florida tends to spend more than average on its roads, and that creates poor performance rankings on cost effectiveness. On a per-lanemile basis, the state ranks 43rd in construction and bridge spending; 29th on maintenance spending; and 28th on administrative spending.

All are ranked per lane mile to make fair comparison with other states.

For example, Florida’s construction and bridge disbursement per lane mile is 1.5 times higher than Pennsylvania and 1.2 times higher than Texas.

In other words, Florida’s highway system is in better shape than most other states, but we spend more to achieve that performance.

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TAKEAWAYS

Florida’s highway system is in great shape, and that helps the state rank in the top 10 in the nation on highway performance. That is valuable to our state economy and to our quality of life.

To improve the state’s rankings, we need to find ways to tackle problem drivers that make our road fatality rate among the highest in the nation. Also, finding ways to be more cost effective, such as more use of public-private partnerships, could really improve the state rankings on spending.

Adrian Moore is vice president of the Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota.

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

BOB GAULT

Proper parking proposal vetting First a point of order, it is important to note that the artist rendering of the St. Regis multilevel garage presented to P&Z and depicted in the May 24 Longboat Observer on Page 5 is misrepresenting what it is to be. Note that there are no cars illustrated on the top level of this large parking garage and those cars will also be visible over top of the garage’s low side walls.

Why not? You can draw your own conclusions.

This compels bringing up the most important issue of inadequate communication to residents about this major departure application to expand the St. Regis development.

The Town Commission hearing dates of June 5 and June 20 fall in the summer offseason when half to two-thirds of Longboat residents are not in residence.

The many departures requested in this application have not and cannot be properly communicated to constituents for consideration because they are not here.

You may recall a few years ago another important issue surfaced in the summer when Florida Power & Light presented a plan to replace all the power poles with hardened, larger and taller poles to withstand hurricanes.

That seemed, on the surface, to be a reasonable thing to do. However, a few of us year-rounders asked the commission to slow down

and do more homework on the real cost and figure out a plan to underground all power utilities, islandwide, for consideration.

As a result of great work by the town staff and commission, we will now enjoy a drastically improved environment on our key. No more unsightly utility poles, power lines, and we will experience uninterrupted service.

Folks, that was a close call!

Important projects need proper vetting by all residents — not just those who happen to be in town during the summer.

Respectfully, please do not fully consider this project until the late fall for proper communication and vetting by all residents when they return. Or vote no, and the developer can resubmit after the resort opens and has some real-world operating experience. Any necessary new departures will be based on facts, not on revised, estimated projections and conjecture, which is now before you.

As an aside, arguments about the importance of reducing valet wait times in the electric lift departure should be completely ignored by the commission. This is not a town problem or an unmanageable problem for the operator. They previously asked for approval on this which the commission did.

The operators can make adjustments without building more large concrete structures.

As you well know, most of the letters oppose this garage on GMD

LONGBOAT KEY

Too many changes to parking plan We were very supportive of the new St. Regis but now have doubts that it will be the quality development we were promised. We have watched the building process and now can see the massive structures taking form.

Change upon change to the original plan has incrementally altered the project to become something that would never have been approved in the first place.

The landscape plan has been completely voided. Plastic plants to be used to prevent having sprinklers. We use drip irrigation on this island where the hoses rest on the surface beneath the mulch or ground cover. Each plant has its own small dripper. No impact on below-ground infrastructure.

Perhaps their landscaper isn’t familiar with it. You must not allow them to use plastic plants because storm winds will blow the plastic into the mangroves right across the street. Manatees and dolphins are born in the harbors there. The plastic can never be removed.

And the idea that they are asking for yet another building, a three-level parking garage at Gulf of Mexico Drive to avoid a threeminute extra wait time for their customers to receive their valeted cars, is breathtakingly insulting.

They got everything they wanted.

And Longboat Key lost the thousand trees that were supposed to screen the property and maintain the lush tropical paradise that is Longboat. Please deny the application.

SHANNON BOLSER GAULT LONGBOAT KEY

LETTERS

Courtesy rendering

A rendering of the proposed St. Regis parking garage

for obvious, common sense reasons.

Please take heed and do not approve this garage, much less during the summer months with so many residents away. That would be misguided.

The St. Regis will successfully open next summer and will be a great asset to our community.

Many thanks to the town staff for their hard and diligent work on this new resort and to Chuck Whittall and Unicorp for the years of effort to make this special resort a reality. Please do not mar this “crown jewel” resort with a multilevel parking garage at its entrance right on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

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Your bias, immorality, stupidity are ugly Your bias is showing, and it’s not a pretty sight!

In a recent column, “These two are the best we can do?” Matt Walsh used the word “lecherous,” not for the guy who bragged about grabbing you know what, not for the adulterer, not for the guy who has been accused by more than 20 women of sexual assault or not for the guy who was just found liable for sexual battery and defamation!

That kind of hyper-partisan “journalism” makes the propagandists at Fox, Newsmax and AON look like Pulitzer Prize winning journalists.

And, “hands down” we’d be better off with the “nonlecherous” person?

Donald Trump’s most recent policy positions include: “Let’s default and see what happens”; he’s not rooting for Ukraine to win a savage assault on its territory; and throughout history it has been “fortunate” that rich people can get away with grabbing you know whats!

Now, your immorality and stupidity are showing, and it’s even uglier!

I won’t even go down the “trying to overthrow the duly elected President of the United States” road!

If you aren’t embarrassed and ashamed for printing such garbage by now and by supporting taxdodging, draft-dodging, p-grabbing, un-American, un-democratic (fascist) and un-Christian egomaniacs, your moral compass won’t be swayed by additional facts regarding Mango Mussolini!

MICHAEL GRAHAM SARASOTA

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Your News.

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Courtesy photo

NEW APP!

Longboat Key Police Department's newest officer Justin Ramsaier (right) was sworn in June 2.

Meet the Key’s newest police officer Justin Ramsaier has 17 years of experience with the New York Police Department. Now, he hopes to connect with Longboat Key.

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CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

T

he Longboat Key Police Department’s newest officer has felt a connection to law enforcement since childhood. Now he hopes to build connections with the community on Longboat Key. Justin Ramsaier was sworn in on June 2 after moving to the island from New York. He retired from a 17-year career with the New York City Police Department and is eager to serve Longboat’s community.

“I’m mostly looking forward to becoming ingratiated with the community,” Ramsaier said. “Living out here on Longboat, I have a vested interest in keeping Longboat safe and getting to know the residents and businesses on a personal level.”

During his 17 years with the NYPD, Ramsaier said he received some meritorious and exemplary police awards for certain cases. But he said he is

most proud of the work he did during the last five years of his NYPD career.

“I worked in a small unit that had a big impact on a larger scale and worked with a bunch of great teammates,” Ramsaier said. “The last five years were probably the best part of my career because we were able to develop curriculum for the department for officer safety and various tactics that can be used in situations out there to make our officers safe.”

Ramsaier grew up in New Jersey, where he said his community had a close relationship with law enforcement. This foundation, combined with a desire to help people from a young age, led him to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Longboat Key is familiar ground for Ramsaier. Though he grew up and worked in the Northeast most of his life, he said he has been vacationing on the island for 30 years at a family condo. Ramsaier met his wife, Magally, while working together at the NYPD and continued the Longboat vacation tradition with her. In 2019, they decided this was the place they wanted to retire to and bought a condo of their own.

Aside from needing to get used to a new department’s lingo, Ramsaier is confident he will be able to serve without too much of a learning curve.

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Sea Turtle Conservancy covers costs of turtle-friendly lighting The nonprofit organization wants to replace lights that can disorient sea turtles at homes, condos and businesses.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Any light that can be seen from the beach can threaten the safety of sea turtles and other wildlife, said Rachel Tighe, lighting project manager at the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

The conservancy is carrying out a project to replace lights across Southwest Florida’s coasts, covering 100% of costs, but the STC’s attention is focused on one area in particular.

Sarasota and Manatee counties have taken less advantage of the services than other counties in the project’s range, which extends from Pinellas County in the north to Collier County in the south, Tighe said.

Sarasota County has the highest rate of turtles becoming disoriented — or led away from the ocean by onshore lighting — of all counties in that range, said Tighe.

Tighe said it is difficult to determine the reason for the area’s comparatively lower use of the program, although residents being misinformed could be a cause.

“We’ve been really trying to work on getting more properties in Manatee and Sarasota counties interested,” Tighe said.

Now, the organization’s focus is moving toward smaller properties, which can utilize grants of $25,000 or less. In the past, Tighe said, large condominiums had been the primary users of the project.

The conservancy is now emphasizing private homes, small condominiums and small businesses, as well as some hotels and resorts, until June 2024, with the grant overall set to expire in February 2025.

The project’s research shows a decrease in disorientation rates detectable in areas where fewer lights are present.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

File photo

A leatherback turtle hatchling crosses the beach.

RULES FOR TURTLEFRIENDLY LIGHTING n Keep it low. Place lights at lower mounting heights and use fewer lights with lower wattage and fewer lumens. n Keep it shielded. Direct light toward the ground and away from the beach. n Keep it long. Light must be 560 nanometers or longer on the electromagnetic spectrum; longer wavelengths are less disruptive to sea turtles.

To inquire about retrofitting ­lighting, beachfront property owners can call Sea Turtle Conservancy’s lighting team at 352-373-6441 or email Lighting Project Manager Rachel Tighe at Rachel@­ConserveTurtles.org.

TRIBUTES Arthur L. Hersberger 1945-2023 Arthur L. Hersberger, 78, passed away at home on May 22nd, 2023 surrounded by his family.

Arthur was born on April 19th, 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, making him the third Arthur in his family line. He grew up alongside his older sister, Gaye, and the two were the best of friends all his life. He graduated from Clarkson University in 1967 and spent his entire career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Wesco Distribution.

It was love at first sight for Arthur and Christine Campbell. He immediately swept Chris off her feet with his quick wit and good looks. Though he was never much of a dancer, she always found ways to push him onto a multitude of dance floors, the two balancing each other perfectly. The pair dated exclusively for three years and then married on May 11th, 1968. For 55 years, they built a family, went on countless vacations, enjoyed numerous Kentucky Derby races, and forged lifelong friendships. Arthur loved fishing, boating, betting on racehorses, traveling, cooking family dinners, and golfing with his regular group, the Friars, at the Longboat Key Club, which he was a member of for over 20 years. He was never far from a party, was a teller of tall tales, and his sense of humor was unmatched. He

He loved his family and friends more than anything. loved his family and friends more than anything.

Arthur is survived by his wife, Christine Campbell Hersberger; his son, Arthur Lee Hersberger Jr. (Tamara); his daughter Diane Hughes Hersberger; his grandsons, Kadin Arthur Siemer, Jordan Luke Siemer, and Blake David Hersberger Siemer; his granddaughter, Emma Christine Siemer; and his sister Gaye Hersberger Schwarz (Jack).

A Celebration of Life will be held on Longboat Key, Florida in mid-October more details to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Town of Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department, 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Florida 34228.

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Town of Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department, 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Florida 34228.

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UNINTENTIONAL PIT STOP 9:18 a.m., Longboat Pass Bridge Traffic hazard: A car had broken down on the south end of Longboat Pass Bridge and the owner was unable to get it to start again. He told police he was unable to make contact with a towing company. The officer initiated a tow request via dispatch and was able to get a response and the vehicle towed. The officer stayed in the area, directing traffic until the vehicle was taken away.

POST-CRASH PARKING 9:30 a.m., 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious vehicle: Security at a resort called police to report a suspicious vehicle parking in their human resources lot. Upon arrival, the responding officer ran a check of the vehicle and found it was involved in a crash on Friday evening. Security requested the vehicle be removed from the lot, but was advised by the officer that since it was on private property, it was the responsibility of the resort to have it removed.

SAVING THE BIRDS 12:00 p.m., Greer Island Animal complaint: An officer was sent to the scene of a blue heron tangled in fishing line. Once the bird in question was located, the officer used the marine patrol boat hook to remove the line from the heron. The bird was able to fly away.

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PARKED AND SLEEPING (IN THE PARK) 3:12 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious vehicle: While patrolling the area, an officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at Bayfront Park with its windows open, and it appeared to be occupied. The officer found the driver sleeping in the vehicle. A citation was issued.

JUST GUESTS 4:51 p.m., 2900 block of Royal Road Suspicious person: An officer was sent to the property on a report of a suspicious person. The complainant said six people were seen walking around the property with their vehicles in the driveway. None of the individuals own the property.

Upon arrival, the officer met with the owner of the residence. The owner said the individuals described were guests and allowed on the property.

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PRIVATE BEACH CHAIRS 2:52 p.m., 4800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious person: Police were called on a report of beachgoers using chairs that belonged to a nearby condo complex. The responding officer spoke with the caller, who said she just didn’t want them using the chairs that belonged to the complex. The officer spoke with the group and told them the chairs were not for public use. The group apologized and left without issue.

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RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME 4:08 p.m., Jewfish Key Boat-miscellaneous: While on marine patrol, an officer was flagged down by a teenage male. He told the officer he and his father were kayaking near Jewfish Key and his father had not returned to shore.

The officer surveyed the area and saw a male who fit the description struggling to upright his overturned kayak. The officer was able to get the man on the police boat and took him back to the boat ramp where his son was waiting. The man appeared uninjured but was fatigued.

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SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS ‘Romance and the City’ 4:30 p.m. on June 8 at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail Beach, Schumann, Valerie Coleman, Brahms

The 2023 Sarasota Music Festival devotes its program to storytelling.

‘Scenes and Seasons’ 7:30 p.m. on June 9 at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Vivaldi, Janacek, Gabriela Lena Frank, Dvorak

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E MANAGING EDITOR

B

ack in 2020, Jeffrey

‘Pastorale’ 7:30 p.m. on June 10 at Sarasota Opera House Mendelssohn, Schumann, Beethoven

Kahane had an idea for the Sarasota Music Festival. Kahane, who has

‘Rising Stars’ 2:30 p.m. on June 11 at Holley Hall Previn, Schulhoff, Beethoven, Franck and more

been the festival’s music director since 2016, wanted to organize concerts around storytelling. Along

‘Gold Standard’ 4:30 p.m. on June 15 at Holley Hall Weinberg, Sato Matsui, Caroline Shaw, Ravel

with many other people, he was forced to put his idea on hold by the pandemic.

But like an exotic mushroom that grows in darkness, the theme of storytelling took on a life of its own.

Three years later, it has come to fruition — with lots of hard work. The result? The 2023 Sarasota Music Festival, which brings together 60 student musicians and 45 faculty members from all over the country to study and perform.

“One of the most fascinating aspects of music history is that music eventually developed into a language with the capacity to tell stories and evoke images without using words,” said Kahane.

A renowned conductor and pianist who has appeared with many of the world’s great orchestras, Kahane is now conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, where he spent 20 seasons as music director.

The Sarasota Music Festival, which takes place from June 5-24, features 12 concerts, as well as coaching sessions, master classes and rehearsals.

Many of the classes and rehearsals are open to audiences, giving a behindthe-scenes view of the event.

As an example of the festival’s emphasis on storytelling, Kahane points to “Pastorale,” the first orchestral program of the festival. Conducted by Yaniv Dinur, the program includes Mendelssohn’s incidental music to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the tale of young love that unfolds in an enchanted forest full of elves and fairies. (Dinur is one of two visiting conductors at the festival; the other is Kazem Abdullah.)

Pianist and festival alum AnneMarie McDermott will perform Schumann’s Piano Concerto in the “Pastorale” concert. This year marks McDermott’s debut as a faculty member. “Pastorale” concludes with the Beethoven symphony that gives SEE MUSIC ON PAGE 14A

‘Appalachian Spring’ 7:30 p.m. on June 16 at Sarasota Opera House Mozart, Copland, Brahms ‘Sound Stories’ 7:30 p.m. on June 17 at Sarasota Opera House Respighi, Tchaikovsky, Mozart ‘Rising Stars’ 2:30 p.m. on June 18 at Holley Hall Dvorak, Brahms, Ibert, Faure and more ‘Fairy Tale’ 4:30 p.m. on June 22 at Holley Hall Dutilleux, Janacek, DeFalla/Reisler and more ‘Rising Stars’ 2:30 p.m. on June 23 at Holley Hall Fanny Mendelssohn, Brahms, Strauss, Ravel and more ‘Traditions and Transformations’ 7:30 p.m. on June 23 at Sarasota Opera House Debussy, Ligeti, Beethoven, Mendelssohn

Courtesy photo

Music Director Jeffrey Kahane will conduct and play piano at the Sarasota Music Festival.

“One of the most fascinating aspects of music history is that music eventually developed into a language with the capacity to tell stories and evoke images without using words.”

— Jeffrey Kahane, music director, Sarasota Music Festival

‘Kahane Plays Beethoven’ 7:30 p.m. on June 24 at Sarasota Opera House Beethoven, Emily Cooley, Schumann Tickets: $32 and up Information: Visit SarasotaOrchestra. org/Festival/ConcertSchedule

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Courtesy photos

Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet will perform in “Gold Standard.”

Festival vet Anne-Marie McDermott is a new faculty member.

Oboist Paige Stafford is a returning SMF fellow.

— Paige Stafford, oboist and returning SMF fellow

“Gold Standard,” a program featuring a composition by Caroline Shaw, whose works the quartet is known for performing.

In addition to members of Attacca Quartet, another artist guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser is Jasmine Choi, dubbed “the goddess of flute” by the Korea Times. Choi will play Dutilleux’s Sonatine for Flute and Piano alongside pianist Michael Adcock in the artist showcase “Fairy Tale” on June 22.

MUSIC FROM PAGE 13A

the concert its name, replete with the sounds of bird calls, gurgling streams and a dramatic thunderstorm, exemplifying how instruments can capture the sounds of nature.

MORE NEW

Along with McDermott, there are several newcomers to the festival’s faculty roster, including violinist Melissa White and oboist Marion Kuszyk. White will appear in the artist showcase “Romance and the City” on June 8 and in “Scenes and Seasons” the following night, when she will perform “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Kuszyk, who is associate principal oboe of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will join faculty hornist Michelle Reed Baker and six fellows in Mozart’s serenade for wind octet.

The serenade is part of the “Appalachian Spring” program on June 16 featuring the Aaron Copland work of the same name about a young pioneer couple just starting out in their marriage. The concert will feature Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet and Kahane playing in one of chamber music’s crown jewels— Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F Minor.

Attacca will also appear on June 15 in

SUMMER SPECIAL

Many of Sarasota’s world-renowned festivals, whether they be jazz or film, take place during the Gulf Coast arts capital’s season. Not so for the Sarasota Music Festival, founded nearly 60 years ago as a one-week event by Paul Wolfe.

But Kahane doesn’t see the June timing of the festival as a handicap.

“We have lots of locals in the audience, and there are snowbirds who come back for the festival,” he says.

It goes without saying that the festival’s two performance venues — Holley Hall and the Sarasota Opera House — are air-conditioned. Who cares if temperatures outside are in the 80s?

Asked to define what sets the Sarasota Music Festival apart from its peers, Kahane responds without

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“Pastorale” concert and will play in chamber music performances.

“It’s really inspiring to be able to hear the faculty concerts,” she says.

“All of the chamber groups have coaches. It helps you rehearse when you play alongside them. They lead by example.”

Last year’s festival marked the first time Stafford, a native of Jamestown, N.Y., visited Sarasota. Among extracurricular activities for festival fellows, kayaking in the bay through the Hyatt’s rental service was her favorite. Other off-campus highlights were trips to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the downtown farmers market.

“I really liked the climate and seeing the wildlife, although those little lizards scared me,” says Stafford.

Not all of the fellows who participate in the Sarasota Music Festival will go on to become professional musicians, but the majority do, according to Kahane. Over the past 60 years, the program has enriched the careers of thousands of musicians.

“Every major orchestra has at least one Sarasota Music Festival among its ranks,” says Kahane, who will close the festival on a high note on June 24 with the concert “Kahane Plays Beethoven.”

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hesitation: “Intimacy.” The casual, welcoming backdrop of Sarasota lends itself to increased interaction between fellows and faculty and even between audience members and artists, he says.

“There’s lots of opportunity to interact between fellows and faculty that you don’t necessarily have in other situations,” Kahane says.

“There’s a wonderful atmosphere of collegiality among the faculty,” all of whom are selected by Kahane himself.

Paige Stafford, an oboist who is a returning fellow, agrees with Kahane’s assessment. Stafford notes the fact that all faculty and fellows stay at the same hotel, the Hyatt Regency, and eat breakfast and lunch together creates a fraternal environment.

“There’s really a great social aspect,” says Stafford, who will be entering her second year of a graduate program at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the fall.

She made a few friends during last year’s festival and has kept in touch via text and social media. “It will be fun to see whether our paths cross in the future,” she says.

At last year’s festival, Stafford didn’t get to perform at the same time as faculty members, but this year she will. She can’t wait. Stafford will be part of the orchestra for the

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“There’s really a great social aspect.

It will be fun to see whether our paths cross in the future.”

ADULT

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Checking in on Stephanie J. Woods Childhood memories of board games with her grandpa suffuse Woods’ Sarasota Art Museum show.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER A+E EDITOR

B

e there or be square. The Beatnik-era saying needs a makeover in light of a bold new exhibition at the Sarasota Art Museum: Be there and see squares. Lots of them.

“Stephanie J. Woods: my papa used to play checkers” is filled with black and red squares like the ones on a checkerboard. Woods’ first onewoman show runs through Sept. 17.

The name of her installation in Sarasota is also the title of a 2022 work, an inkjet print of a watermelon, hand-dyed cotton fabric, hair beads, barrette bows and afro hair.

A visitor to the gallery that houses Woods’ exhibition soon discovers that there are no mistakes or oversights. Even the smallest detail, like including her full name in the title of her show, is intentional.

Woods is an assistant professor of interdisciplinary art at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

In 2021, she was awarded the 1858 Prize of Contemporary Southern Art by the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, for her personal yet culturally resonant art.

Family is a dominant theme in the works of Woods, who was born in Seneca, South Carolina, and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Encouraged to learn sewing by her mother, Woods weaves childhood memories into her art.

Plastic evokes the slipcovers used to protect furniture in her grandparents’ home (and many others during that period).

Black hair, food, water and dirt are some of the other elements that play starring roles in Woods’ creations.

Asked how she is able to suspend part of a sandcastle she built by

Courtesy photo

Stephanie J. Woods’ artist residency in Dakar, Senegal, helped inspire her one-woman show at the Sarasota Art Museum.

hand on a beach in Galveston, Texas, within a hollowed-out melon without it disintegrating, Woods smiles and says, “I can’t give away all my secrets.”

Pressed further, she confesses, “Water.”

In a crowded talk on May 27 at SAM to discuss her installation and other works in her oeuvre, Woods cited a 2021 artist residency at Black Rock Senegal in Dakar as a life-changing

experience, in terms of her art and her perceptions of herself, her family and her heritage.

She said she hadn’t thought about playing checkers with her grandfather (who she calls her “papa”) in a long time until she took a batik class in Senegal where she learned to create fabric with different colored squares using wax and dye.

A shopping trip to a local market in Dakar yielded a red-and-black

IF YOU GO

‘STEPHANIE J. WOODS: MY PAPA USED TO PLAY CHECKERS’ When: Through Sept. 17 Tickets: Free with $15 museum admission Where: Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Info: Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org

checked fabric that she bought and fashioned into a jumpsuit.

An idea was germinating, and it was full of squares.

The ultimate manifestation also has a rectangle. It was inspired by the infamous “Door of No Return” located in a museum on an island near Dakar that is a memorial to the victims of the Atlantic slave trade.

But rather than being a symbol of departure, exile and even death, the door-like structure in Woods’ installation at SAM is about return.

It is a testament to her exploration of the land of her ancestors and the connection she felt with people living in Africa today.

During her residency, Woods found joy in discovering how African traditions like making gumbo and playing checkers (known as “draughts”) sur-

15A

vive in the U.S. today.

“I spent the past year wondering why I was so drawn to the checker pattern,” said Woods. “My interest in checkers stemmed from the time I spent with my papa and the memories we shared around this game.”

But that was only a starting point.

Woods was in her studio in New Mexico one day listening to a podcast of a conversation between Helga Davis and artist Arthur Jafa on actualizing Black potential when she heard a snippet that hit home.

She shared it with those attending her talk at SAM. “If you sit down and you play chess or checkers, the board is flat. It’s a 2D thing, but fundamentally, it is a symbolic enactment of human conflict and opposing interests,” she quoted Jafa as saying.

“That’s why we find chess or checkers interesting, because they are lifelike in that way.”

The game of life, some might say.

While Woods has mastered many art forms; she uses the talents of others to help create her work. She draws on the poems of her frequent collaborator, Laura Neal, and the musical compositions of her husband, Johannes Barfield.

Perhaps because her fellow artists know her well, these contributions don’t seem to be intrusions or afterthoughts; they are seamlessly integrated into “Stephanie J. Woods: my papa used to play checkers.”

“I have long wanted to bring poetry into the gallery space and have others’ voices respond to visual arts,” said Rangsook Yoon, senior curator at the Sarasota Art Museum in a statement. “Woods’ stunning, spare installation opens up a contemplative space with colors, sound, words and images.”

The dominant piece in Woods’ SAM installation is a huge moving “audio photograph” called “your destination is in a different time zone.”

A rear view of the artist dressed in her black-and-red checked jumpsuit is superimposed on a seascape. It is accompanied by an original score

by Barfield and a poem by Neal. The overall effect is haunting.

Even though you are in a dark gallery in Sarasota, you are indeed transported to a different time zone.

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Lorna Bieber, Ordinary Day (detail), 2016-2019. Ultrachrome II ink on Hannemuhle canvas.

116 x 253 in. Image courtesy of the artist (c) Lorna Bieber. Photo credit: Brad Trent.

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Mauricio Martinez in Asolo Rep’s Man of La Mancha. Photo SRQ Headshots.

–The Observer

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

EATING WITH EMMA

Here’s to the father of the foodie EMMA JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

D

ear Dad, You are the first man that I ever loved.

You’re the mentor who taught me life lessons such as people are like plants and need to be repotted once in awhile to grow.

You’re the coach who guided me on and off the field, the role model who continuously inspires my work ethic, the king who built a castle for his princesses and queen.

You encouraged me to learn twice as much from failure as from success. The list of your influences on the world, our family and me goes on and on. In short, you’re the dad every daughter deserves.

This Father’s Day, I planned a day around your favorite dishes.

Simple yet special, salty and sweet, significant and sensational — just like you.

Let’s dig in for old times’ sake, shall we, Dad? Love always, Your Little Girl

PERQ COFFEE BAR

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When I reached out to owner Erin Zolner, who has run the shop with her husband for 10 years, she said, “We are closed on Sundays (including Father’s Day). We have a bunch of kids, so we’re definitely letting my husband have Father’s Day off,” and laughed. I knew you’d like her family-first mantra, Dad. So while we can’t ride our bikes over and grab a cup of joe at this shop on Father’s Day, we can go any other

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Dad and me on my wedding day in November 2022.

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day, Monday through Friday (until 2 p.m.) and Saturday (noon). Fun fact: They serve soft ice cream made from their own coffee.

The JKB Special: Dad, I know your appetite has evolved, but there is one dish that dominates all meal decisions: breakfast sandwiches (and not just for breakfast). My guess is you would order Perq’s egg sammy ($11) but add nitratefree ham and organic New Zealand cheddar to the baked egg and secret sauce on a tasty ciabatta. Or we could split the hash brown sammy ($15) with Parmesan baked egg, thick-cut bacon (extra crispy, just the way you like), pimiento hash browns, a dab of the shop’s secret sauce on griddled brioche, and the biscuit sammy ($8-plus) with parmesan baked egg and thick-cut bacon with special sauce on a flaky, fluffy and fantastic biscuit. Eat and repeat for the weeks to come.

Your Little Girl’s Order: As you know, there was a time in my life when I was gluten-free. Perq has the most attractive and appetizing GF doughnuts ($5) around town.

Choose from flavors like cinnamon sugar, blueberry, chocolate peanut butter cup, maple pecan pancake and my delightful, delicious and destined-to-devour-in-one-bite favorite, the lemon poppy crumble.

I do not know how these are sugarfree as well, but my mind, body and foodie soul thank the chef for creating guilt-free choices to start the day.

OWEN’S FISH CAMP

516 Burns Court, Sarasota; 941951-6935; 6515 University Parkway., Lakewood Ranch; 941-9515052, OwensFishCamp.com

We know it, we love it, we wish they took reservations. Unless this is the first Sarasota food column you’ve read, you’re aware of the delicious destination located in Burns Court (and now Lakewood Ranch too!).

Open at 4 p.m. daily, the landmark eatery is loved by locals and visitors alike. In Sarasota, the larger-thanlife banyan tree that dangles over the eclectic and homey backyard, the talented live musicians and the Southern hospitality are three reasons why my family will wait for hours during season to smash some of our favorite savory spreads — not to mention the mouthwatering menu inside.

The JKB Special: If you need to know one thing about the Burke family, it’s that we’re a big fishand-chips tribe. We’ve tasted them in England, Ireland and all over the United States. One of my father’s favorite renditions of the simple fried fish basket is found right here in Sarasota, at Owen’s. When we’re at certain restaurants, we have to make sure to order the meal “extra crispy.” At Owen’s, they have perfected the proportion of locally caught fish to crispy, crunchy beer batter. The best part, Dad? They now have Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.

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Perq’s egg, ham and cheddar on a tasty ciabatta.

Your Little Girl’s Order: If you told me 20 years ago that our table would be ordering the chargrilled oysters, I would have guessed it was a choice made by you and my little sister, Maddie. But nope, these are for me. I will share if we get at least two orders (maybe three). Head out to the backyard of the Burns Court location and order the out-of-thisworld oysters (three for $8) that are hidden under a beautifully decadent blanket of jalapeno bacon butter. Continue the Jack Daniel’s by ordering a Bourbon Tea and Lynchburg Lemonade ($9).

SHAKESPEARE’S CRAFT BEER AND GASTRO PUB

3550 S. Osprey Ave, Sarasota; 941365-5938; ShakespearesEnglishPub. com

The best chargrilled oysters in town, three for $8.

I warned you foodies that I would be speaking about Shakespeare’s frequently. Like I’ve said before, Shakespeare’s is a place where you go when you’ve had a bad day to make it better and a place you go to continue celebrating the wins, big or small. Our family has sat at these tables for nearly seven years, and I wouldn’t change a thing about any meal we’ve ever had.

The JKB Special and Your Little Girl’s Order: My Dad and I have a

lot in common. We’re both Leos.

We both will fight to the nail that Michael Jordan was a better basketball player than Lebron James ever could be. We plan our work and work our plan. If there is bread pudding on the menu, we order it — especially if we’re sitting at Shakespeare’s, our favorite place to dine in Sarasota. This dessert defines decadence, delightful and dynamite. Traditional English bread pudding ($6.25), made with rai-

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sins and cinnamon, paired with a velvety custard and topped with a pile of whipped cream. The perfect ending to a dreamscape meal.

Happy Father’s Day to the man, the myth, the legend—my hero John Kelly Burke.

OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN

Like father, like daughter: Always order the bread pudding.

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These Sarasota spots are great to take Dad for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

THURSDAY

JAZZ THURSDAY AT THE SAM 5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free-$20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Enjoy a performance by La Lucha on the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza.

Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. and galleries remain open until 7 p.m.

SQUEAKY WHEEL FRINGE FESTIVAL 8 p.m. at Cook Theatre at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Up to $12 per show plus a $5 festival button Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Sarasota’s first fringe festival shines a spotlight on affordable, no-holdsbarred theater, dance, puppetry, music, visual arts and spoken word.

Runs through June 11.

‘SHEAR MADNESS’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $25 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

There’s been a murder in a local hair salon, and it’s up to Sarasota audiences to catch the killer. Runs through June 25.

‘MAN OF LA MANCHA’ 8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $35 Visit AsoloRep.org.

Peter Rothstein directs a modernday version of the musical hit starring Mauricio Martínez. Runs through June 11.

SUNDAY

LES VIXENS BURLESQUE 8 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre $37 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Voted Orlando’s best burlesque troupe four years in a row, these sultry seductresses are ready to rock Sarasota’s world.

TUESDAY

THE SURFER BOYS 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

From the group that brought you The Jersey Tenors comes a spirited tribute to the band credited with creating pop’s iconic “California Sound.” Runs through Aug. 13.

WEDNESDAY

INTRO TO PLEIN AIR PAINTING 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $84 Visit Selby.org

‘THAT MUST BE THE ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN’ When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 9 Where: Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. Tickets: $39 Info: Visit Urbanite Theatre.com

Introducing our Seniors to Seniors adoption promotion happening now through the end of the year. Seniors who are 60+ looking for a kitty companion can now adopt one of our amazing senior cats (8 years old and up) and the adoption fee is only $25! Thank you to “Pets for the Elderly” for their support and offering of the reduced adoption fee.

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

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A native of Nashville, Keith Alberstadt couldn’t wait to move to New York City, where it didn’t take him long to land in the national spotlight. Runs through June 10.

Introducing our brand new adoption promotion Seniors to Seniors!

In this world premiere by Franky D. Gonzalez, four Latino boxers all chase a world title to achieve their personal versions of heaven. But to get there, they must battle each other, their own battered bodies and the universe itself. Runs through July 9.

In the style of the French Impressionists, this open-air course focuses on the techniques of watercolor painting in nature.

Continues July 12 and Aug. 9.

DEREK RICHARDS 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre,1923 Ringling Blvd. $25 Visit MccurdysComedy.com.

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THIS WEEK

DON’T MISS

KEITH ALBERSTADT 6:30 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $25 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

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A veteran of several Armed Forces Entertainment tours, Derek Richards has performed at U.S. base camps in Iraq, Afghanistan and 15 other countries. Runs through June 18.

FRIDAY

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $15-$20 Visit CircusArts.org.

Circus fans of all ages can experience the best of the big top at affordable prices, thanks to the ongoing partnership of The Circus Arts Academy and The Ringling.

Runs through Aug. 12.

Soar with Dad

OUR PICK

8-TRACK: THE SOUNDS OF THE ’70S IN CONCERT It’s time to get up and boogie as The Players present a fast-paced musical romp of a muchmaligned decade. Runs through June 18.

and SAVE!

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8 Where: 3501 S. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $30 Info: Visit ThePlayers.org.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES #1 SARASOTA SINGLE AGENT 2008, 2010, 2012 - 2022

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Prepare to be enchanted by the stunning, awe-inspiring views that await at this luxurious 3BR Grand Bay residence.

Fall in love with its sprawling 2,925 SF and modern updates.

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The walkable location of this St. Armands home will immediately draw you in. Ideally situated on an oversized, 1/4-acre lot for you to design your dream home.

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CALL TODAY FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TOUR (941) 387-1840 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F | Sarasota, FL 34236 Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 401524-1

18A

Classifieds 14B Games 13B Real Estate 11B Weather 13B

JUNE 8, 2023

YOUR NEIGHBORS Those daring colors At age 85, watercolorist Anne ­Abgott’s best work lies ahead.

JAMES PETER MANAGING EDITOR

I

n her studio in Cortez, Anne Abgott rattles off the technical names of colors with the ease of a chef reciting a signature recipe — ultramarine blue, aureolin yellow, gamboge.

The 85-year-old watercolor painter is known for her use of color — her daring with it — and her impatience with the medium, the way she “mingles” her colors on the page rather than mixing them on a palette.

This approach has earned Abgott signature status in the American Watercolor Society, among several other societies, countless awards, magazine covers, spreads and placements in watercolor shows. Her painting “Coconuts 2” will be shown in the upcoming 43rd annual International San Diego Watercolor show.

Colorful shadows. Rich, warm darks and the use of the paper’s own white. These are some hallmarks of her work. She laid out her process, including her mingling technique, in her 2007 book published by North Light Books called “Daring Color.”

In traditional watercolor painting, “the dark and vibrancy are built up with layers of paint. You do a thin layer of paint, then let it dry, then another layer and let it dry,” said Abgott.

It can sometimes take 20 to 25 layers to build up dark sections of a watercolor, explained Abgott. That means lots of waiting for a watercolorist or the use of a hair dryer to speed things up. Abgott doesn’t have the patience for that.

Her condominium turned art studio is a happy chaos of piles. Piles of prints to be sold, piles of frames and mats for future use, piles of paintings in varied states of completion. Pieces she’s unhappy with but may return to. Pieces that she’ll never finish — she’ll chop them up and paint on the backs of the unredeemable pictures.

She wastes nothing. When a paint tube is nearly exhausted she cuts it into pieces and shakes the pieces in plastic vials of water until the wrappers have given up their last whispers of pigment.

She paints at a glass table on a screened-in balcony overlooking the bay. It’s a fitting studio for a woman obsessed with the light. Abgott has a special palm tree in downtown Bradenton. She photographs it at 7 a.m., then again at different times throughout the day. She wants photos of the light, the way it dances through the fronds.

She starts with photos, so she’s constantly collecting them. She never throws a photo away. With her camera or phone, she walks through the old fishing village streets of Cortez, the mobile home parks.

“Whenever I see a shadow on a house, I stop and take a photo,” says Abgott. “If I haven’t got shadows, then I haven’t got anything. I don’t believe shadows are gray. They reflect the light around them.”

She sees that Old Florida vibe fading. She wants to do a series of paintings to preserve it. In the meantime, her palm series is doing a brisk business. The prints are selling, and the originals are off winning awards.

She refuses commissions. They stifle her creativity, she says. But she’s canny about what sells, even though her focus is competition.

Her “beach babes” painting is a perfect example. It began with a photo

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One of Anne Abgott’s watercolor paintings.

Photos by Sidra Wali

taken some 20 years ago. The tanning women, sleek in their swimsuits, have cigarettes in hand. So at first Abgott painted them as such. But now in 2023, the two women hold coffee cups.

Abgott keeps a huge archive of photos. Her filing system is unique.

The photos that show promise — shadowy, complicated shapes — she puts in plastic sleeves and marks with a splotch of lime-green nail polish. Why? Maybe it was on sale.

Some years ago, a frame store was going out of business. Abgott bought the lot of mats and metal frames.

Now she only paints for the framing sizes she has on hand. The savings.

Time and money.

She’s in a rush, you see. She had to hang a sign in her studio to remind herself to, “Slow Down.”

“I’m much happier with the results. The impatience and desire to get it done fast is how I came to pick up the paint with the brush and put it on the paper,” says Abgott.

Could some of that impatience stem from her late start in watercolors? She painted as a teen in Canada with Alexandra Luke, a member of the Painters Eleven, a group of artists who helped push abstract painting into the Canadian mainstream.

“She used to take her friends out and paint in the fields. Because my mom knew her, I would get invited to go,” says Abgott.

But marriage and decades intervened. She didn’t discover her artistic path until she retired and moved to the Sarasota area in the 1990s.

She found her way to the Longboat Center for the Arts and the tutelage of painter Harry Thompson.

No one else would teach her. She called a handful of local artists and asked if they taught. Four or five said no. Thompson said yes.

When Thompson was ready to move on from teaching on Longboat, he surprised the watercolor class and Abgott by telling them he already had found a replacement instructor — Abgott. It was a nontraditional path to teaching art, but then again, Abgott’s teaching style is not traditional. And that’s the appeal, whether in person or online. She’s an art ambassador for the retailer, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff. During Covid, she took to Zoom to teach workshops for the art store. Her online workshops have since drawn students from all over the world and sell out. She has students in England, Italy and Portugal. She expects 30 students for her current workshop.

She’ll challenge them, just like she challenges herself. It’s not enough to “make a pretty picture” as she says.

You have to learn something. She’s not interested in painting anything unless it’s a challenge.

And oh, there’s so much more to talk about. The still-life series of bourbon and wine, the way she edits photos on her phone, her instructional DVDs and the growing notice of her work on social media — she had no idea … Her subjects are boundless. The Saks department store window, her award-winning croquet players, bar scenes, swimming pools, wine glasses, she loves glasses of all kinds, reflections.

“I don’t cook. I love to make a mess. I don’t like to sit and do nothing … I’m knowing true freedom for my first time.”

Anne Abgott describes her watercolor techniques.

2B

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Martha Schantz in her marketing days.

Martha and Curtiss Schantz have been married for 53 years.

generation Navy family in Newport, Rhode Island. Her father loaned John F. Kennedy a smoking pipe, which he never got back, she explained.

Martha went to Vassar College in New York thinking she would be far away from that life.

“There is no naval person anywhere near campus in New York.

But, I forgot about coming home in the summer in Newport,” said Martha. “My mother and Curt’s sisterin-law had met each other. They conspired.”

Sidra Wali Curtiss was running a cruise in the Navy on the other side of the bay close to Newport, Martha explained.

“His sister-in-law asked me if her brother could call me. Well, he called and called until finally my mother said that she’d meet Curtiss and tell him that I was just a younger version of her,” said Martha.

Shortly after, Martha and Curtiss went on a blind date.

Although the initial meeting didn’t go as planned, the second date was a different story.

Martha reminisced about Curtiss’ voice and presence in his uniform khakis. ­University of Maryland in 1961 when They hit it off the second time his freshman team went undefeated. around.

“I was recruited to play football After graduating Vassar College,

by Lee Corso, (sports broadcaster Martha earned a master’s degree in and football analyst for ESPN), and library science from Columbia Unihe sold me the story of ‘local boy versity. makes good,’ and I took that offer,” She then switched careers, moving said Curtiss. into real estate sales.

Wanting more, Curtiss decided From there, she became the directo attend the Naval Academy after- tor of sales and marketing for major ward. He was a midshipman major- local and national condominium ing in engineering with a minor in developers in Virginia Beach while Russian history.

Curtiss was deployed for six to eight After he graduated from the acad- months a year. emy in 1968, he served as a fighter Curtiss moved up the ranks in the pilot flying various planes.

Navy until his last position, which As fate would have it, he met Mar- was deputy head of naval aviation tha in the summer of 1965. plans and requirements in the Chief “I grew up in the Navy, and I said I of Naval Operations office. don’t want to be in this life because After 34 years, he retired from the my father was gone for most of my Navy in 1995 and flew as a pilot for life. I wasn’t into that,” said Martha. FedEx for almost 15 years.

She was born into a second-­ ­ urtiss Martha retired in 2005, and C

Taking command of love, career and retirement Curtiss and Martha Schantz recounted their years as commodores and their unlikely meeting.

SIDRA WALI CONTRIBUTOR

M

artha Schantz wanted to put distance between herself and the Navy after growing up in a Navy family. The last thing she saw herself doing was marrying a naval officer.

Her husband, Curtiss, is a Navy veteran.

They’ve been married for 53 years,

and they both have led Bird Key Yacht Club as commodores.

Leading a yacht club, like navigating the open waters, is not without its challenges.

But just like a captain has its crew, Martha and Curtiss have each other. And yet, they’re not boaters, they said.

Since birth, Curtiss has been surrounded by the Navy. His father was in the Navy for almost 40 years.

“When my father left the Navy, he was the assistant surgeon general and he was also an admiral,” said Curtiss.

Curtiss was born in San Diego, California, in 1944 but spent most of his life in Washington, D.C. His brother attended the United States Naval Academy in 1963. His sister also served.

Curtiss played football for the

Curtiss Schantz in his summer uniform.

retired in 2009.

Martha and Curtiss became fulltime residents of the area in 2009.

They joined the Bird Key Yacht Club in 2013, and three months later, Martha became rear commodore.

In 2015, Martha was sworn in as the 48th commodore, making her the third woman to hold the post at BKYC. “I went into it with the idea that we had found such a life there and even after a few months that it was a way to give back to the club because it had already given us so much,” said Martha.

She had a background in construction and product development, which helped in her role.

“I had the qualifications all of a sudden. I knew construction. I built a number of houses, not myself, but many houses, high-rise buildings and condominiums. I knew condominiums, and I knew about reserve studies. We actually built a new marina,” said Martha. “So that happened. Then the next year they came to Curt.”

Curtiss initially turned down the offer due to helping Martha while she held her various roles for three years.

“It’s a two-person job. He had run all the lecture series that we do as commodores. We run a lecture series every month, and he was the first male to take it over. He was fabulous, of course, fabulous,” said Martha.

Curtiss was sworn in as 52nd commodore of BKYC in 2019.

Both Martha and Curtiss were the first couple in BKYC’s history to have been commodores.

Now, they both enjoy their time cooking, pursuing personal passions and savoring their leisure.

All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions • Live-stream at AllAngelsLBK.org to participate on-line

Summer Worship

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

Sundays at 10:00am

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

Sunday Coffee Hour at 9:00am 401191-1

All Are Welcome!

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

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

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

Catholic Church

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

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

Visitors Welcome Visitors & & Residents Residents Welcome

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr. • 941.383.8833 (office) • www.christchurchoflbk.org

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

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

Lord’s Warehouse hours are 9:00 - 12:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays The Lord’s Warehouse will be closed during the month of September.

401249-1

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

Please join us for worship in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. or online at our website and Facebook Live Stream at 10 a.m.

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

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

4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 (941)383-1255 • www.stmarylbk.org

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

You are invited to join us in worship, song & friendship at Shabbat services every Sharing Values, Friendship, and Faith Friday evening at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am.

To learn more about our Temple and all our educational, cultural, and social programs, please call us. We’d be delighted to talk with you.

Questions? Email us at info@longboatkeytemple.org 567 Bay Isles Rd, Longboat Key, FL

941-383-3428

longboatkeytemple.org

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Growing in Jesus’ Name

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• In-person worship service Sunday at 10 a.m.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

3B

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

5B

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6B

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Bird Key home sells for $11.25M, sets record for the island The second most expensive listing ever on Bird Key sold the same day.

JAMES PETER MANAGING EDITOR

James Peter

Courtesy of Dan Madole, Nobles & Heroes

A house at 626 S. Owl Drive sold for $11.25 million, setting a record for Bird Key.

Neighboring 622 S. Owl Drive sold the same day for $9.75 million.

on Bird Key before slipping to second place, said Bruce Myer, who represented the sellers, Stephen and Julie McGue, of the waterfront estate.

Myer is a global luxury specialist affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty.

“I think I had the record for maybe a second. Ours closed in the morning and theirs closed in the afternoon,” said Myer.

The home at 622 S. Owl has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. According to county property records, it was purchased

properties on Owl Drive. In 2002, Myer represented the buyers of 622 S. Owl Drive and the neighboring lot, 626 S. Owl Drive. In 2021, 622 S. Owl Drive was offered for sale, and Myer represented the McGues, who purchased the home for $6 million at that time.

Julie McGue is the award-winning author of the book “Twice a Daughter.” Her memoir about searching for her birth family struck a chord with adoptees who yearn for answers and connection with biological relatives. She has written two additional

by The Richard M. Stumler Tennessee Family Dynasty Trust.

Its waterfront position on the bay offers views of Big Pass, Lido and Siesta keys and the Gulf of Mexico.

“We didn’t have the frenzy as you might imagine last year,” said Myer.

“We had it on the market for about three weeks, and I’d guess we had eight to 10 showings. About half the people who looked at it already owned on Bird Key and were looking to update from their garden or canal home.”

Myer has a long history with both

Celebrating 50 YEARS of Living and Working on Longboat Key Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor

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Terms of Offer: Submit your rebate ONLINE ONLY at NAPARebates.com. Submit with installation receipt, showing the qualifying NAPA part numbers circled. Must claim online by July 15, 2023. Receipt must be dated during promotion period of 5/01/23 through 6/30/23 to be eligible for this offer. Offer may not be combined with any other offer or applied toward warranty service or replacement parts. Group or organization request will not be honored. Dealers, distributors, and other resellers are not eligible for this offer. Use of multiple addresses or PO Boxes to obtain additional reward is fraud and may result in prosecution.

Employees of participating stores and dealers, and their immediate families are not eligible for this offer. This offer is only valid to US residents. Limit of one (1) rebate per receipt or two (2) per household/address. *This card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., St. Paul, MN 55103, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. This card may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Cardholder Agreement. Card expires 6 months from issuance, per the “Valid Thru” date printed on hte card. See your Cardholder Agreement and associated materials for details. Void where prohibited. Vendor is not responsible for non-delivered mail due to inaccurate address supplied nor for misprints or typographical errors. By submitting this rebate, you have read and agree to the rebate terms and requirements of this offer. **$250 of qualifying products will be based on the final price paid, less any discounts, warranty reimbursements, extended warranty, core and resurface charges and excluding taxes, installation/labor, and shipping fees.

5608 MARINA DR., HOLMES BEACH, 34217

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

(NEXT TO DOMINOS PIZZA) 941-896-7898 • GROOMSAUTO.COM

Just Sold

for Record Price on Bird Key

$11,250,000

Fox Leiter Team Navigating the Sarasota Real Estate Market for Over Four Decades.

The Fox Leiter Team puts customer experience at the forefront of every decision, negotiation, and transaction.

With Compass, the team has every tool imaginable to give their clients a competitive edge.

Fox Leiter Team

Contact the Fox Leiter Team to start the conversation today!

Real Estate Advisors 941.544.6649 | foxleiterteam@compass.com foxleiterteam.com

Interested in learning more?

Scan the QR code!

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

388635-1

401277-1

• Consistent top producer on Longboat Key • In-depth knowledge of the real estate market • Active in our community with Longbeach Village Association Longboat Key Historical Society Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Longboat Key Garden Club

440 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Longboat Key, FL 34228

books, “Belonging Matters” scheduled for publication in November of 2023 and another to be published in 2024.

“It’s a great house and a great location. If it’s renovated and people can walk right in — that’s what gets the most attention,” said Myer. “There are only so many waterfront properties on Bird Key that enjoy this positioning. It’s that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live the ultimate Sarasota lifestyle.”

401210-1

The two most expensive residential real estate sales recorded on Bird Key sold on a single day, June 1.

A waterfront estate at 626 S. Owl Drive sold for $11.25 million, confirmed Susan Fox, the Compass Florida LLC Realtor who represented the sellers, Henry and Dawn Duques.

It was listed in March at $12 million.

Roger Pettingell, a Coldwell Banker Realty agent and broker, represented the buyers, H. Lee Scott Jr. and Linda Scott, trustees of the Linda G. Scott Revocable Trust.

The two-story home was built in 2021. It has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms and more than 6,500 square feet of living space. It also boasts a pool, wine room and two Tesla car chargers in the garage.

“We’re seeing things in that $10 million range come to market and the market be really accepting of it,” said Pettingell. “It kind of checks every box that we think buyers are looking for. Buyers are valuing time as much as money, to not have to go through the process of building.”

Earlier that same day, the neighboring house, 622 S. Owl Drive, sold for $9.75 million, briefly making it the highest residential sale recorded

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

7B

REID MURPHY PRESENTS

LUXURY ON THE WATER BUYING or SELLING Call Reid for a successful real estate experience!

941-232-3304

LONGBOAT KEY MAGNIFICENT GULF FRONT ESTATE

$22,000,000

Under Construction. New 5 BD, 8 BA, 100ft frontage on pristine walking beach. Expansive views from open living space & connected lanai. Fireplace, chef’s kitchen, glass wine room, service bar. First level master w/lanai. Junior suite and 2 guest suites have private terrace. Covered outdoor space has fireplace, outdoor kitchen & dining area. Dramatic infinity pool/spa w/ sundeck overlooks Gulf waters. 3 car garage. Home elevator. Hurricane screens.

LONGBOAT KEY GULF FRONT

$7,775,000 LONGBOAT KEY EN PROVENCE

$4,935,000

LONGBOAT KEY L’AMBIENCE

$3,650,000 LONGBOAT KEY WATER CLUB

$3,545,000

LONGBOAT KEY $1,995,000 • CANAL LOT#1 Updated & meticulously maintained split-plan 4 BR/3 BA pool • CANAL LOT#2

$1,995,000 $1,995,000

Incredible 5BR/4BA home on 80’ of beachfront. Amazing views. Open living w/ guest quarters on 1st & 2nd level + 3rd level private master-suite. Amazing views & beautiful walking beach.

Casually elegant, rarely available 3BR/4BA direct beachfront walk-out. Private staircase from your private Gulf front terrace leads directly to the beach & Gulf. Amenities include lobby concierge, 24hr guarded gate, olympic sized pool, 2 har-tru tennis courts, fitness center & more.

LONGBOAT KEY $2,850,000 EMERALD HARBOR

Meticulous 4 BD/3 BA wide deep water canal with direct access to Sarasota Bay - no bridges! Great dock. 2 boat lifts.

Private beach access directly across the street.

Developers Realty Inc Lic. Real Estate Broker

Spectacular 6th floor 3BR/4BA redesigned Dover plan. Highend finishes include private elevator opening to Sarasota Bay & city skyline views from floor to ceiling glass and mastersuite terrace offers Gulf vistas.. Luxurious resort style lving on beautiful beach w/all amenities.

home on wide canal w/ direct Bay access. A boater’s dream w/new dock and 10,000lb boat lift.

Deeded beach access.

Build your dream home on one of north LBK’s most desirable streets. Premier boating location. Great canal leads directly to Bay & ICW No bridges. Walk to beach.

CALL REID TODAY! | 941.232.3304

www.ReidMurphy.com

595 Bay Isles Road | Longboat Key, FL 34228

404522-1

LONGBOAT KEY BOATERS DREAM

Spectacular 3BD/ 4BA 3,400sf open plan w/10’ ceilings & Gulf-side wrap around terraces.

One of 21 in meticulously maintained Gulf front gated community w/ Gulf-side pool & spa.

Conveniently located mid-key.

8B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Ronda Ryan’s group found two phones at the bottom of the bay.

Photos by Sidra Wali

Hudson and Elijah Most pick up trash along the bay.

What lies beneath

A

fter each trip down to Sarasota Bay’s bottom, scuba divers surfaced with more trash.

Kayakers ferried the garbage to the shore, where volunteers hefted it for sorting, recording and disposal.

This year’s Sarasota Bay Watch Underwater Cleanup tackled the area offshore from New Pass at City Island and Ken Thompson Park.

Although the June 3 cleanup didn’t begin until 9 a.m., within hours, the 49 volunteers had stacked up a large pile of marine debris on shore. There were old fishing nets, lawn furniture, cellphones, electrical wiring, plastic pipes and flashlights. And tangled within the trash was a variety of aquatic life — dozens of starfish, more than 100 crabs and seahorses — some living, some dead.

The discarded fishing gear, like nets, is especially hazardous for marine life, said Ronda Ryan, executive director of Sarasota Bay Watch. It leads to a phenomenon called ghost fishing, where after one fish or crustacean is entangled in a net, more aquatic animals are drawn to the fishing gear and become entangled.

Ryan led the effort onshore to catalogue the debris found and the wildlife rescued or found dead. The results will be shared with NOAA and the Ocean Conservancy to help further those organizations’ research.

In all, the cleanup removed 780 pounds of debris, according to Ryan.

The cleanup was great for the kid volunteers present because it allowed them to see up close the impact of garbage on marine life and ocean habitats, said Ryan.

The day’s effort included 17 divers, five kayakers, two snorkelers, and 25 volunteers working on the shoreline to collect and dispose of debris. The Sarasota Bay Watch partnered with the city of Sarasota, the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota Sailing Squadron and Scuba Quest.

A dumpster from the city of Sarasota was on hand for disposal. Sarasota Police marine patrol officers kept a perimeter to protect divers. The police dive squad truck was also on hand to support divers.

“The police are a huge help. They prevent knuckleheads (in boats) from coming into (the cleanup area),” said Al Jeffrey, president of the Sarasota Bay Watch.

Elijah Most and Jacqie Most, volunteers

Mike Skinner, marine patrol, and Mike Daughtrey, patrol officer

John Ryan, treasurer for Sarasota Bay Watch, and Brandon Taaffe, president of the board of directors of Sarasota Bay Watch, hunt for trash.

— JAMES PETER

Exceptional Service by your Neighborhood REALTOR®,

SOLD

Turning

Your Dreams

JoDene Moneuse

into an ADDRESS

PRICE REDUCED

LONGBOAT KEY

$2,500,000

Exceptional canal front home.

3342 Gulf of Mexico Drive

SOLD

1145 Gulf of Mexico Dr #505

3BD | 2BA | 1,819 SqFt | Direct Beachfront | New Impact Windows | $2,600,000

PRICE REDUCED

$1,695,000 LONGBOAT KEY

SOL

LONGBOAT KEY

$1,050,000

Quintessential beach house, reimagined Captains cottage.

450 Firehouse Court MLS#A4564974

1115 Gulf of Mexico Dr #305

3BD | 2BA | 1,819 SqFt | Gorgeous views of the reflection pond | $1,399,000

D

$1,280,000 LONGBOAT KEY

Situated on 100x100 canal front lot. The lowest priced waterfront property on Longboat Key. 530 DeNarvaez Drive MLS#A4553308

$895,000

• Institute for Luxury Home Marketing Million Dollar GUILD

9528 Knightsbridge Cir 4BD | 2.5BA | 3,008 SqFt Plus den with lake view $ 699,000

Maggie Hicks, Coldwell Banker maggiehicks201@gmail.com 941.321.1759

941.302.4913

Maggie has been a realtor for 30+ years and focuses on luxury residential real estate in South Florida.

JoDeneMoneuse@michaelsaunders.com LongboatKeyLiving.com 401288-1

• 2019-2022 Five Star in Customer Service Award Winner

1764 Oaks Lakes Dr

READY TO BUY OR SELL?

• 34 year Longboat Key Resident

• 2019-2022 Top Agent - Michael Saunders Mid Longboat Key office

PRICE REDUCED

4BD | 3.5BA | 3,342 SqFt Lake views | Office and Bonus Room $ 1,274,000

Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo behind the gates of Bay Isles in Harbour Oaks Longboat Key. 2115 Harbourside Drive MLS#4566654

• Top 1.5% of Florida Realtors - Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents

PRICE REDUCED

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Ste. 1 • Longboat Key, FL 34228

DEDICATED TO LUXURY REAL ESTATE Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

402881-1

LONGBOAT KEY

Vacant canal front land with a 50 ft. dock.

628 Lyons Lane MLS#A4565151

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

9B

NEW PRICE JUDY

Ritz-Carlton Managed 1300 Benjamin Franklin Dr 907 | 3 bed, 2.5 bath | 3,057 SqFt | $3,990,000

1930 Harbourside Dr 122 | 2 bed, 2 bath | 1,312 Sq Ft | $998,000

Luxury knows no Limits in this home. 3 bdrm residence laid out to perfection taking advantage of the Gulf of Mexico view through glass walls from every room and an oversized wrap-around terrace. Membership to Beach Club available immediately. www.RitzCarlton904.com

Sarasota Bay is your backyard. This residence has southeastern exposure with epic sunrises and Sarasota skyline views. Renovated two-bedroom, two-bath residence where a high-end interior designer selected impressive new finishes and features.

DEEDED BEACH ACCESS

www.1930HarboursideDr122.com

NEW LISTING 435 L'Ambiance L207 | LONGBOAT KEY | $2,600,000 3 bed, 3 bath | 2,525 Sq Ft The almost new residence offers magnificent sunrise and sunset views from its wrap-around terrace. Elevator to your private foyer, where doors open to reveal elevated 10-ft ceilings and walls of glass, filling the room with natural light surrounded by tropical views. www.LAmbianceL207.com 435 L’Ambiance Dr #H802 | LONGBOAT KEY | $4,200,000 2 bed + den or 3 bed, 4 bath | 2,525 Sq Ft Updated to perfection is here and ready for enjoyment. Iconic luxury 270 degrees of endless views of the city and turquoise waters of the Gulf looking South.

Wolf/Sub-Zero appliances. www,435LAmbianceH802.com

3554 Fair Oaks Lane | 5 bed, 4.5 bath | 4,493 sq.ft. | $4,200,000 Rarely does a home of this size and quality become available, providing a unique opportunity for discerning buyers. Boasting an all-level elevator, privacy, boat lift, and travertine floors, this home offers unparalleled convenience and elegance.

Designed by the renowned Nancy Freedoff, every detail of this signature Gardinera model has been meticulously crafted to exude opulence. Countless decorator touches and upgrades elevate the overall aesthetic and provide a truly remarkable living experience. Within the prestigious Queen's Harbour community, this home offers exclusive access to the gated Harbourside Longboat Key Club. Enjoy the convenience of quick access to 27 holes of golf and the renowned tennis center.

With five generously sized bedrooms and an office, this home effortlessly accommodates every need. Each room on the main level, including the primary suite, guest rooms, and office, offers captivating views of the bay, pool, spa, or meticulously landscaped gardens. Additionally, this remarkable property includes deeded beach access to the Private Bay Isle Beach Club with ample parking, showers, restrooms, grills, and even beach volleyball facilities. www.3554FairOaksLane.com

2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive 204 | Aria - LONGBOAT KEY | $10,500,000 3 bed + office, 3.5 bath | 4,032 Sq Ft Modern Oasis on the Gulf of Mexico. Discover the epitome of modern luxury living in this spectacular gulf-front home. With expansive glass walls, clean lines, and angular details, this coastal contemporary enclave offers depth and allure. Floor-to-ceiling walls of impact glass connect indoor spaces to the gulf and gardens views from terraces. You will love the oversized his/hers master bath, en-suite guest bedrooms, and outdoor grilling, offering comfort and convenience at every turn. This Beach Villa features a private infinity-edge lap pool, expanded terraces with planters, and direct access to community pool and beach and oversized, private humidity-controlled 4 to 5-car garage. www.Aria204.com

404484-1

NEW TO THE MARKET

Queens Harbour - Bay Isles, Longboat Key

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

LONGBOAT KEY 876 Tarawitt Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,894 Sq. Ft. Brian Loebker & Jonathan Abrams 941-735-4393 A4564430 $6,750,000

LONGBOAT KEY 648 Bayview Drive 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 4,157 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4567089 $5,495,000

LIDO KEY 1168 Westway Drive 3 Beds, 3 Baths 2,858 Sq. Ft. Sherry Dominick 941-500-3774 A4556113 $2,795,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3402 Fair Oaks Lane 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,510 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4559729 $1,850,000

LONGBOAT KEY 628 Lyons Lane Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4565151 $1,695,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1910 Harbourside Drive 501 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,135 Sq. Ft. Judy Nimz 941-374-0196 A4561559 $1,685,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6701 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 331 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,520 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick 941-780-6001 A4560728 $1,249,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1000 Longboat Club Road 604 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,409 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick & Beverly St Hilaire 941-780-6001 A4566900 $1,200,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1085 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 305 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,819 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy, PA & Gail Wittig, LLC 941-961-8850 A4556271 $1,045,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4234 Gulf Of Mexico Drive G2 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,636 Sq. Ft. Mark J Baron 631-800-1125 A4568318 $995,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3080 Grand Bay Boulevard 515 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,276 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy, PA & Gail Wittig, LLC 941-961-8850 A4570436 $935,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2115 Harbourside Drive 1004 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,906 Sq. Ft. Jodene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4566654 $895,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5125 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 3 2 Beds 2 Baths 961 Sq. Ft. Lawrence Zeigler 941-228-2612 A4567572 $875,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4900 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 203B 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,312 Sq. Ft. Richard Perlman 941-228-8580 A4561732 $849,900

LONGBOAT KEY 4725 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 213 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,071 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy, PA & Gail Wittig, LLC 941-961-8850 A4570860 $794,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6700 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 135 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,441 Sq. Ft. Richard Perlman 941-228-8580 A4563904 $775,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3806 Gulf Of Mexico Drive C404 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,514 Sq. Ft. Stephen Harris 941-780-2352 A4536940 $764,000

LONGBOAT KEY 448 Gulf Of Mexico Drive A106 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,474 Sq. Ft. Philip Pisano, III 941-468-8603 A4568837 $724,900

LONGBOAT KEY 730 Spanish Drive S 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,255 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark 941-312-1146 A4541965 $599,900

LONGBOAT KEY 542 Sutton Place 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,450 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4568132 $580,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4320 Falmouth Drive B102 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,072 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4554376 $564,000

LONGBOAT KEY 719 Spanish Drive S 210 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,237 Sq. Ft. Bill Anderson & Adrienne Scott 941-313-4059 A4567236 $559,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2850 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 12 2 Beds 1 Baths 695 Sq. Ft. Marybeth Flynn 941-704-1477 A4570070 $500,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4420 Exeter Drive L104 1 Bed 1 Baths 837 Sq. Ft. Cathy Meldahl, Pa & Susan Smith 941-724-7228 A4561711 $439,500

LONGBOAT KEY 4710 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 1 Bed 1 Baths 812 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4570894 $435,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5910 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,210 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4559091 $6,295,000

LONGBOAT KEY 520 Chipping Lane 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,412 Sq. Ft. Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4553676 $5,975,000

LONGBOAT KEY 781 Hideaway Bay Drive 4 Beds 4 Baths 5,469 Sq. Ft. Mark J Baron 631-800-1125 A4554268 $5,500,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

401858-1

10B

YourObserver.com

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

MAY 22-26

condominium at to Mark Abraham, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $699,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 928 square feet of living area. It sold for $253,500 in 1999.

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

condominium in The Beach Residences tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Douglas and Cynthia Tibbetts, of Highlands, North Carolina, sold their Unit 601 condominium at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Dennis and Vicky Boyer, of Sarasota, for $5,141,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,194 square feet of living area. It sold for $3,204,500 in 2014.

INN ON THE BEACH

Flavio Alberto Garofalo and Marie-Helene Zicat-Garofalo, of the Netherlands, sold their Unit 2502 condominium at 210 Sands Point Road to B Long Ventures LLC for $1.1 million. Built in 1982, it has one bedroom, one bath and 650 square feet of living area. It sold for $452,500 in 2013.

WHITNEY BEACH

Joseph Najmy, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the Unit 308 condominium at 6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Donald and Kathleen McCroskey, of Longboat Key, for $755,000.

Built in 1971, it has one bedroom, one bath and 990 square feet of living area. It sold for $685,000 in 2006.

CLUB LONGBOAT BEACH & TENNIS File photo

Unit 601 at he Beach Residences at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key sold for $5,141,000.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

Pamela Reiter, trustee, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 531 Ranger Lane to Pietro and Kimberly Cuomo, of Longboat Key, for $2.7 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,436 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.52 million in 2008.

Monell Giacoma and Pamela Miller, of Bradenton, sold their home at 1220 Bogey Lane to Joseph Benson and Carrie Coletta-Benson, of Longboat Key, for $1.5 million.

Built in 2021, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,743 square feet of living area.

CONRAD BEACH

Rafael and Isabel Fernandez, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 388 Firehouse Lane to Dawn D’Onofrio, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.9 million. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,540 square feet.

living area. It sold for $750,000 in 2016.

COREY’S LANDING

Jose Marroig, of Lighthouse Point, sold his home at 3575 Mistletoe Lane to Jennifer Shimek, of Longboat Key, for $1.6 million. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,436 square feet of living area. It sold for $950,000 in 2020.

JOHN RINGLING ESTATES

Nancy Seidman, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 243 Coolidge Drive to 243 Coolidge LLC for $1.5 million. Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,448 square feet of living area. It sold for $595,000 in 2011.

A-406 condominium at 3235 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Virginia Long, trustee, of Northville, Michigan, for $1.3 million. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,505 square feet of living area. It sold for $720,000 in 2018.

SEAPLACE

Richard Beyrer, trustee, of Mahopac, New York, sold the Unit M2-412 condominium at to John Howey, trustee, of Flat Rock, Michigan, for $1.3 million. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,532 square feet of

living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2012.

Roy and Helen Diton, of Sarasota, sold their Unit M1-209-H condominium at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Adam Jeffery Smith and Lindsay Michelle Smith, of Weldon Springs, Missouri, for $903,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,265 square feet of living area. It sold for $512,500 in 2010.

Mary Ann Shapard, of Griffin, Georgia, sold the Unit M1-301F

Richard Rowe and Pamela Stites, of Philadelphia, sold their Unit 312 condominium at 5055 Gulf of Mexico Drive to CLBHART312 LLC for $699,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,484 square feet of living area. It sold for $620,000 in 2006.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

William and Ilana Fincke, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 103 condominium at 698 Spanish Drive S. to Gary Edward Fletcher and Lisa Ann Fletcher, of Franklin, Tennessee, for $615,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,423 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2020.

In with the new

LONGBEACH

Erica Briody sold her home at 408 Wood Duck Drive to Anthony and Karen Bisegna, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, for $1.85 million. Built in 1961, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,846 square feet of

REAL ESTATE

Beachfront Residences condominium tops this week’s sales at $5.1 million

BIRD KEY

11B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Oakley Properties LLC sold the home and a vacant lot at 6979 Longboat Drive S. to Pascal Charbonneau, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,454 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,000 in 2021.

NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

PORTOBELLO

Jason Lemar Morgan and Betsy Kirby Morgan sold their Unit

Downtown St. Petersburg

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of May 25 - June 1 in order of dollar amounts.

L O N G B OAT K E Y ADDRESS 455 Longboat Club Road #701

PERMIT Alt/Renovation

SOLD OUT

APPLICANT AMOUNT($) Christopher J. O’Connell $425,000

1485 Gulf of Mexico Drive #103 Alt/Renovation

Gregg S. Meyers

$340,000

1425 Gulf of Mexico Drive #303 Alt/Renovation

Wendy Esaw

$275,000

2675 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Veinte Condominium

$160,929

Alt/Renovation

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

Longboat Key

1000 Longboat Club Road #502 Alt/Renovation

Amy P. Osborn

$185,900

2675 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Veinte Condominium

$160,929 The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From $2.4MM to $10.9MM | Call for appointment | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

1601 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Mechanical

Unicorp Acquisitions II LLC$150,000

1932 Harbourside Drive #245

Alt/Renovation

VJ Chukkapalli

$140,000

4430 Exeter Drive Unit 102

Electrical

Carla M. Muggio

$130,000

6441 Gulfside Road

Roof

568590 Alberta LTD

$119,610

2675 Gulf of Mexico Drive #501 Alt/Renovation

Pin Point Properties LLC

$95,300

3010 Grand Bay Blvd. #444

Robert F. Scheible co-TTEE $86,250

Alt/Renovation

7125 Gulf of Mexico Drive Unit 11 Alt/Renovation

Regina M. Snow

$86,000

1620 Harbor Cay Lane

Christopher J. Donato

$76,500

1115 Gulf of Mexico Drive #604 Windows/Doors

Electrical

Beachplace 4604 LLC

$58,507

3357 Fair Oaks Lane

Roof

Nicholas G. Cazana

$55,000

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive A2

Concrete Repair

Charles H. Lynch Jr.

$50,000

3480 Bayou Sound

Roof

Marek Lochnicki

$46,000

370 Gulf of Mexico Drive #421

Windows/Doors

Lars Nilsson

$40,599

705 Jungle Queen Way

Swimming Pool

Danny A. Meyer

$39,360

596 Outrigger Lane

Electrical

Michael G. Ellis

$36,700

340 Gulf of Mexico Drive #135

Electrical

Gordon S. Graber

$26,950

1935 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Mechanical

Seaplace Oceanhomes

$25,500

565 Sanctuary Drive #A301

Mechanical

John Franklin Yearick

$23,659

1 FINAL OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE

Downtown Sarasota

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | thecollection1335.com

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

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

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

Source: Town of Longboat Key

Licensed Real Estate Broker

401834-1

Concrete Repair

Association

YourObserver.com

YOUR CALENDAR

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

In its 33rd year, the Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards recognizes chamber members with locally owned and operated businesses in nine categories.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

VETERANS’ CANTEEN 1-2 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Free. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Longboat Key, this is a monthly welcoming space for our U.S. veterans to connect, relax, share and support one another.

Visit TheParadiseCenter.org.

RECURRING EVENTS WEEKDAYS

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

PRESENTED BY:

Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 23rd Hyatt Regency Sarasota at 11:30am Individual Registrations: Chamber Members: $75 | Non-Members: $95 Table Sponsorship: Silver Sponsor (Table of 5) | $700

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE CRAFT FESTIVAL Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on St. Armands Circle.

Free. This two-day event will offer visitors a chance to enjoy the work of Florida’s best crafters. A wide variety of crafts will be on display, including jewelry, pottery, plant holders, soaps.

There will also an expansive green market with unique orchids and delicious dips and sauces.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

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 $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

visit sarasotachamber.com for more information

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 – SUNDAY, JUNE 11

Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org.

TUESDAYS

Secure your spot by scanning the QR Code or

BEST BET

STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This class is mostly seated and great for all fitness levels. Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance.

Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

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.

YOGA From 11:15 a.m. to 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.

404652-1

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

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

BEGINNER TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

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.

FRIDAYS

INTERMEDIATE TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Reuben Fernandez teaches Chen style class.

Outside if weather permitting. Free for members, $15 for others. Walkins 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, $15 for others. Call 383-6493.

Part Nature. Part Playground. all home.

Waterside is more than just a place for living. It’s a place for outdoor exploration and adventure, for shopping, dining, and socializing. Nestled among seven lakes, every neighborhood in Waterside will be connected by trails to each other and to Waterside Place town center. It’s Lakewood Ranch living with a twist!

New Homes from the High $400s // Lakefront Homes in Sarasota // 9 Unique Neighborhoods Planned Resort-Style Amenities // Coastal Architecture // Single-Family Homes // Rental OPTIONS // Senior Living Town Center Living Available // Walkable to Waterside Place

new neighborhoods now open!

Learn more at Lwrwaterside.com

© 2023 Lakewood Ranch. Product, pricing and amenities subject to change without notice.

404433-1

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YourObserver.com

13B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

Sunrise Sunset

High: 84 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 24%

Submit your photos at YourObserver. com/contests.

All submissions will be entered for the 2023-24 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2024, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

Thursday, June 8

6:33a

8:23p

Friday, June 9

6:33a

8:23p

Saturday, June 10

6:33a

8:24p

Sunday, June 11

6:33a

8:24p

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

Monday, June 12

6:33a

8:24p

High: 85 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 15%

Tuesday, June 13

6:33a

8:25p

Wednesday, June 14

6:33a

8:25p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, JUNE 11 High: 85 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 15%

June 10 Last

June 17 New

June 26 First

July 3 Full

TIDES Highs Lows Thursday, June 8

—

3:10p

—

—

Friday, June 9

8:02a

4:25p

12:20a

10:13a

Saturday, June 10

8:01a

5:57p

1:11a

12:43p

Sunday, June 11

8:17a

7:42p

1:56a

2:33p

Monday, June 12

8:40a

9:24p

2:36a

3:55p

Tuesday, June 13

9:05a

10:55p

3:11a

4:59p

Wednesday, June 14

9:32a

—

3:40a

5:53p

Shelly Crouse took this angled photo of a palm tree on Longboat Key.

We have all of your luxury flooring needs carpet | hardwood | tile | stone | pavers | and more

KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC Pur-fect for the Whole Family

celebrity cipher 5 “So there!”

66 Actress de Armas

6 Blew one’s cover

67 Small, to Simone

7 Pay for

69 Gives the go-ahead

8 Chinese dumpling

70 Genre for BTS

9 Red state?

71 Palindromic beauty

10 “Far out, man!”

magazine

11 Ballpark fig.

72 Big name in the freezer

12 Biblical verb

aisle

13 Texter’s “Holy smokes!”

73 Steamroll, in sports

14 Core components

74 Kind of bond

15 Bunkmate

80 Political party list

16 Tip provider

82 TV show with a “Five-

17 First name in cosmetics

Timers Club”

19 Royal headwear

84 “By that reasoning ... “

21 Steve Martin’s scheming

85 Throw off balance

sergeant in 1996

87 Go to press?

23 Jim Carrey’s scheming

89 “Your turn to speak”

meanie in 2000

90 Actress Ward

24 Miami’s NBA team

91 Color worn by the San

30 Emmy-winning Falco

Jose Sharks

31 Stomach or shoulder

92 Hyatt and Hilton

32 Country’s McEntire

94 Bumble bio info

33 Coated Dutch cheeses

98 International Mahjong

34 Osaka assent

Day month

35 European hot spot

99 Capri has a famous blue

36 Sip from a sippy cup

one

37 Teammates with pull?

100 State where the fuzz is

38 What the Beaufort scale

in plain sight?

105 Pull

measures

101 Poet who wrote “To be loved, be lovable”

©2023 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Volleyball touch 5 Illegal start?

12 Far from fine 18 Some abstract visuals 20 Night lights?

21 Some mahjong tiles 22 “It’s so unfair! I lost my job making boomerangs, even after I ___!”

25 One who gets half the credit 26 Opposite of fast 27 Chicago trains 28 G.I. fare 29 “I got fired as a Zamboni driver, even after I ___!”

36 “Jinkies!”

39 Plus 40 Absolutely must

41 Done to ___

75 Polite dismissal

42 Turning point?

76 Grp. with a phonetic

106 “I was terminated at

43 Layers

44 Big name in banking

alphabet

Nissan’s electric car factory,

45 Tazo offering

102 Honkers

47 Court org.

77 Single

even after I ___!”

46 “Nuh-uh”

104 “Give my regards!”

48 Part of FTW

78 Root word?

111 Dating term?

48 Jam and juice brand

106 Catches on a security

49 “I got canned as a taxi

79 Cattle breed

112 Yalie

50 Mother ___

camera

driver, even after I ___!”

81 Network connections

113 Underground band

51 “Everyone has a plan until 107 “Sugar”

54 Russian sea

83 Network junctions

114 Orpheus, notably

they get punched in the

108 Bert’s 15-Down

58 Giant who was in “The

86 Mani-___

118 “I got fired from making

mouth” speaker

109 Gradually removes

keyboards, even after I ___!”

52 “Let’s do this thing!”

110 ___ pie (“walking” chili

125 River mouth area

53 Mardi Gras follower

treat served in a bag) 115 “Should that be true ...”

Princess Bride” 59 “___ minute now”

88 “I got fired from making hedge mazes, even after I

60 Silvery fish

___!”

126 Country singer McBride

55 Reset, in a way

62 Scratch (out)

93 Actress Issa

127 “No harm, no foul”

56 Indie band known for its

116 “Quit it!”

63 Ramirez of “Grey’s

95 Part of a Waze rte.

128 Tediously old-fashioned

elaborately choreographed

117 Chiding sounds

Anatomy”

96 Jazz singer Laine

129Have

videos

119 OB/GYN offering

65 “PDQ!”

97 Rap mogul Knight

130 Klutz’s comment

57 Gov. position turned

120 Noodge

68 Running things

98 Wide-eyed with excite-

down by Daniel Webster,

121 Challenging tot

allegedly saying, “I do not

122 Confucian belief

70 “I lost my job roping cattle with the ranch crew, even after I ___!”

ment

DOWN

100 Super 8 and others

1 Bartlett kin

propose to be buried until

123 Return letters?

103 @@@

2 Until

I am really dead and in my

124 ___ Vegasz

coffin”

“IS SIW RUI VHWTLRK JXS LZ BSLIB KS KSORX MSOH XWUHK LI U JUM KXUK RXUIBWZ MSOH EWHM AWLIB.” TLUIW YWUKSI

“KPTG’VT JLVXTVCHW LY PTVT. DTK’Y JZAT CHDEHX EHX WTK JLVXTVTX.” MZD. MPEVDTY X. MEHPEJ ZH ZJEPE NTEMP, X-XEG, BLHT 6, 1944

“CAERW E BEFSYM, HGW E BEFSYM, RGKGB ERT FUIZW. WMEW’Y PMT S AUKG KGHGWEZAGY, TUI JRUP PMEW TUI’BG EZUIW!”

WUO XURGY

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

©2023 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

402029-1

61 Neo, to Trinity

4 Chris who plays Star-Lord 64 Even the score

Puzzle Three Clue: H equals G

3 Starburst producer

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: N equals B

WRONGFUL TERMINATIONS by Sam Koperwas and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

Puzzle One Clue: X equals N

crossword

399844-1

Sarasota 941.355.8437 | Bradenton 941.748.4679 | Venice 941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

6-8-23

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals WEEKLY MONTHLY

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

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

Autos Wanted

BUY STUFF HERE!

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Boat Slips for Rent/Sale 48’X21’ BOAT SLIP P07, at Long Boat Key moorings FOR SALE! Slip runs north and south, and provides views of Sarasota Bay. Asking $250,000 and will consider respectful offers.

Slip does not require membership at the moorings.

PH: 941-724-9486

DESPERATELY NEEDED Low mileage, cars and trucks.

Also rare or unusual vehicles.

Larry 941-350-7993 STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite

FIND IT IN THE RED PAGES 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com Online: YourObserver.com /RedPages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

M-F Ask about our special rates!

1BR/1BA 1350 Main St, in heart of Downtown Sarasota. Beautiful 3rd floor, turn key, furnished condo in upscale building overlooking main street.

Amenities include: concierge, reserved in-building parking, pool, fitness center, and more.

Available for seasonal rental starting June 1 through Sept. $3,500/mo. Includes all.

Call George: 516-993-3324.

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

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

Call 941-383-3338.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

This week’s Crossword answers

Adult Care Services CNA: 22 years experience, with doctors recommendations.

Available for days, nights, and traveling. COVID vaccinated.

941-536-5339

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

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

Painting

©2023 Universal Uclick

You’re only cheating yourself.

PANINI MAKER Cuisinart, like new, stainless steel $50 (941) 920-2494

Visa/MC

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

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

auto

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

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

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com

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

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

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

peekers’ place

Items Under $200

Reservations 941-383-5577

home services

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

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

Between Houses or Condos

Longboat Key, FL 34228

real estate

stuff

Merchandise Wanted

Beachfront, Bayfront and In

101

Boat Slips for Rent/Sale LONGBOAT KEY MOORINGS 2630 Harbourside Dr., Longboat Key 65 Foot Deep Water Boat Slip For Sale. $350,000.00 Please call Jennifer 727-831-3133

SEASONAL RATES

Painting

RED PAGES AD RATES

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “No one can predict who is going to touch your heart in a way that changes your very being.”

Diane Keaton Puzzle Two Solution: “They’re murdering us here. Let’s move inland and get murdered.”

Col. Charles D. Canham on Omaha Beach, D-Day, June 6, 1944 Puzzle Three Solution: “Plant a radish, get a radish, never any doubt. That’s why I love vegetables, you know what you’re about!”

Tom Jones

This week’s Sudoku answers

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

HIGH-END INTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

YOUR HOME

found here.

Find a place where you can visit listings, not just imagine them.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

©2023 NEA, Inc.

YourObserver.com

15B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Massage

Furniture Repair

MediCupping & Massage Therapy services for healing

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

Rest your mind & body. Connect with your spirit.

403791

941-504-0903

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

Divorce is never fun, but it does not have to be nasty & hateful! Protect your family relationships and assets from expensive Court litigation. Consider Divorce Mediation, the peaceful alternative.

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

High-End Interior Painting Services

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

William J. Leininger, JD

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

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

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

404288

Roofing

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Auto Service

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

SELL YOUR CAR!

Building & Roofing Contractor

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

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

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

FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU

404379

Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator 677 N. Washington Blvd Sarasota, FL 34236 SarasotaDivorceMediator.com 941-727-5555

Home Watch

941-626-3194

Pinnacle Home Watch.com Transportation Stop Worrying BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE About Your Home Luxury for Less While Away 10% off 941-248-4734

DESPERATELY NEEDED Low Mileage, Cars & Trucks.

Also Rare or Unusual Vehicles.

404191

Windows Res./Com.

FIRST RESPONDER OWNED & OPERATED

Carpet Cleaning

DRIES IN HOURS – NOT DAYS • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

dan@shorelockhomewatch.com

www.shorelockhomewatch.com

404190

941-778-2882 • 941-387-0607 Serving AMI, LBK and Bradenton for 25 years Check out our 5 Star Reviews on Google

Insurance

Like Us on Facebook

MIC INSURANCE

Doors

Sliding Glass Door Repair

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

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

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

404177

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

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

Call to reserve your ad space

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

403809

WITH THE RED PAGES

1/1

Lic./Ins.

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

25

UP TO 404181

(941)544-0475

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

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/royaltreasurecasino%40yahoo.com?projector=1

& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing n s a S u n u n w r o i s n e k Windo S merly For

Summer Clean Up!

All Airports, Hourly & Tours www.blacklabelcarservice.com

Booked Referral Program Next Ride with Booked Referral

CALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999

404782

UNIQUE SPORT & IMPORTS 941-350-7993

Dave and Connie Grundy

STANDARD WINDOWS

ws

150

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

404385

Autos Wanted

chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png

404187

404176

1/10/23, 10:25 AM

404186

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

5-Star Rated

HoHoBuysCars.com

941-955-4888

LMT, CMCE

Painting

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

We have mediated divorces involving up to 10 million dollars of assets over past 27 years.

Chrissy Stites

5610 Gulf of Mexico Dr Unit 2 Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-263-3948

Health

Call me for a free 30 minute consultation before you call a Divorce Lawyer!

404790

Divorce without Lawyers

941.270.4400

Heart & Sole Healing Space, LLC

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

404786

Attorney

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

Call 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Insurance

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY 510 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE 1 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST BANK)

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

404192

Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388

16B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Open House Event

Join our best-in-class global advisors for a two-day open house showcase.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 SUNDAY, JUNE 11

Featured listings pictured below may be shown by appointment only

Scan for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more

SARASOTA 1479 Bay Point Drive Louis Wery

LIDO KEY $6,850,000 941.232.3001

MARK SARASOTA

SUNSET BEACH

1008 Riviera Dunes Way Nathan Mathers

$695,000 941.256.6775

363 Firehouse Lane Kathleen Wingate & Steve Branham

$2,480,000 941.720.0408

9817 18th Drive NW Vittoria Rutigliano

$1,095,000 813.731.3332

708 Bayport Way #708 Walter Hackett Jr.

$7,200,000 941.284.5070

$1,750,000 941.962.5867

HUDSON BAYOU 1737 Bay Street Tom Hedge

BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS

100 CENTRAL 100 Central Avenue #B409 Joel Schemmel

4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive #303 Brian & Kathy Maher

THE LOOP OF NORTHWEST BRADENTON

CONRAD BEACH $1,300,000 941.809.0041

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB 805 Spanish Drive North Kimberly Freiwald

SAGE | LONGBOAT KEY $5,895,000 941.587.4894

ISLAND AT RIVIERA DUNES

111 South Pineapple Avenue #1210 $3,499,000 Mike Warm 941.525.2740

2109 Gulf of Mexico Drive #1203 Dennis Girard

423 South Polk Drive Joel Schemmel

$825,000 941.685.3994

REDFISH COVE PALMETTO 4008 11th Street Court West Brad Siegel

LAGUNA AT RIVIERA DUNES $675,000 941.587.4894

611 Riviera Dunes Way #108 Cindy Pierro

$649,000 941.920.6818

$1,400,000 941.587.6660

$750,000 941.907.9541

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB 914 Spanish Drive South Kimberly Freiwald

$645,000 941.256.6775

NOW ACCEP TING RESERVATIONS

THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF LUXURY BEGINS

Introducing 78 Grand New Residences on Sarasota’s Bayfront Presentation Gallery Now Open at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota, Florida 34236 941.499.8704 | TheResidencesSarasotaBay.com

PRESENTED BY

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay are not owned, developed or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Ritz-Carlton”). KT Sarasota South, LLC uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under a license from Ritz-Carlton, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein. Broker Participation Welcomed and Encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. Images are artist’s renderings and may not represent the final building. Furnishings and fixtures are for display purposes and are not included with the residence. Actual improvements, including, recreational facilities and amenities, may vary from those shown and views may not be available from all units.

BROKERAGE | RENTALS | RELOCATION | NEW DEVELOPMENT MORTGAGE | INSURANCE | FINE ART CONSIGNMENT

PremierSIR.com VENICE | 941.412.3323

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Property information herein is derived from various sources including,but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate. Source: BrokerMetrics®.

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SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000