Longboat Observer 3.7.24

LONGBOAT

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Master class.

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

VOLUME 46, NO. 30

YOUR TOWN

Community center in focus The Whitney Plaza team works on deadline to bring vision into reality. SEE PAGE 3A

Family Courtesy image

Newborn Charlotte Cobb

New additions

This past week, three Longboat Key town staff members welcomed new additions to their families.

Firefighter Paramedic Richard Traugott became the father of a baby boy, Aiden Traugott, on Feb. 25.

Also in the fire rescue crew, Firefighter Paramedic Derek Flaim’s daughter Xyla Flaim was born on March 3.

Deputy Town Clerk Savannah Cobb also welcomed a daughter, Charlotte, on Feb. 27.

RUN

Harry’s Continental Kitchens celebrates 45 years on Longboat Key. PAGE 10A

Courtesy image

Jane Macedonia works in the glassware section.

Carter Weinhofer

Rummage season

Shoppers and discount lovers, it’s your weekend.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church will hold its annual rummage sale March 8-9.

Last year, the church broke its record by selling over 800 tickets to the early bird sale.

There was a line that started at the door at Father Edward Pick Hall and wrapped around the church.

People can find deals on items such as artwork, furniture, housewares, clothing, linens, toys, books and more.

Volunteers from St. Mary have been donating items for the sale since last fall. They have worked all week to prepare.

The presale on Friday offers first pick of the items, but Saturday offers the discounts with departments marking down items as the day goes on.

Tickets are $5 for the Early Bird Sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m on March 8. The regular sale is free admission from 9 a.m. to noon on March 9.

Nancy Gornto, who is doing publicity for the sale, said, “It is a fun community event with some wonderful treasures to be discovered through all of the departments and the unique bargains.”

Hal, Lynn and Harry Christensen are celebrating 45 years of business in 2024.

A+E

Beach day has a price Lido Beach to convert 80 spaces to metered parking. PAGE 6A File image

A divided City Commission approved converting free spaces along Benjamin Franklin Drive to paid parking.

Orchestra is 75.

INSIDE

2A

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Coastal defenses under review No minimum height can be established at present for seawalls, but Longboat Key staff recommend a higher maximum height.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

F

or now, the town of Longboat Key won’t be able to recommend a minimum seawall height. But the town is on its way toward making some changes to the maximum allowed height.

On March 4, the Town Commission had the first hearing of a new ordinance that would increase the maximum allowable height from 4.5 feet to 6 feet.

The ordinance would amend Chapter 151 of the town’s code. This change is something that is aligned with the town’s Sea Level Rise and Recurring Flooding Resilience Plan.

“That plan had a number of components to it that are near-term, mid-term, longer-term items and various action items,” Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons told commissioners. “This is one of the first regulatory items that’s one of the near-term items.”

Parsons said that the original recommendation pertaining to seawall heights was to establish a minimum height of 3.5 feet in the town code.

There is currently no minimum height requirement.

But Senate Bill 250, which was extended in summer 2023, prohibits municipalities within 100 miles of Hurricane Ian or Nicole’s landfalls from adopting more restrictive regulations to land development regulations or town comprehensive plans.

The bill is set to expire in 2026.

Unless it gets extended again, the town could revisit the recommendation of setting a minimum seawall height.

For now, Parsons and his Planning, Zoning and Building staff recommended increasing the maximum allowed height, giving property owners the freedom to build higher

seawalls.

The current maximum height is at 4.5 feet. Parsons said that there may be some properties in Country Club Shores that are at that height, but it’s not a common height in general across the town.

Both staff and the Planning, Zoning and Building board were in favor of this recommendation, according to Parsons. The board recommended approval at its Jan. 16 meeting.

Raising the maximum allowable seawall height addresses issues that residents face not only in severe weather events, but on a recurring basis with king tides.

“Seawalls that are very low in height are overtopped very easily here within the town,” Parsons said. “That overtopping can add to all kinds of issues with the overall structural integrity of these.”

Parsons added that seawalls have an average lifespan of about 30-50 years, and are an expensive build. The cost could be anywhere from $650 to $2,000 per linear foot, according to Parsons’ presentation.

Therefore, increasing seawall height might help mitigate the weathering of these seawalls overtime due to water overtopping them.

Parsons also said that raising seawall heights addresses sea level rise factors.

He presented statistics from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program that state over the last 20 years, average sea level increased by 6 inches.

That rate is three times higher than the rate between the years 1947 and 2000, according to a report from SBEP Executive Director Dave Tomasko.

“So allowing for these kinds of significant investments, long-term investments at the election of the property owner … is a real positive for property owners,” Parsons said.

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File photo

There are about 200 miles of seawalls on Longboat Key.

After Parsons’ presentation, District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams inquired about how changing the height of seawalls on a property would impact adjacent properties.

Parsons said there are things that are necessary, like design and engineering, when increasing a seawall height. That design process would take into account the impact on adjoining properties, and if any additional fill would be necessary.

Existing language in Chapter 151 of the town’s code requires that, if a seawall is raised 6 inches or more, that a drainage assessment be conducted to demonstrate there are no negative stormwater runoff impacts.

The same chapter of the town code states that, “Along manmade canals, new seawalls will be permitted only

where a seawall exists on adjoining properties.”

This is to, in a way, discourage property owners from installing seawalls.

Assistant Director of Public Works Charlie Mopps added some context for commissioners, stating that natural, sloped shorelines are better for wave action. Living, sloped shorelines can slow down wave energy more effectively than seawalls.

In general, town commissioners weren’t opposed to adding the new height allowance.

Commissioners voted 6-0 to move the ordinance to the second hearing at the April 1 regular meeting. Vice Mayor Mike Haycock was the only commissioner absent.

“That plan had a number of components to it that are near-term, mid-term, longer-term items and various action items. This is one of the first regulatory items that’s one of the near-term items.”

— Allen Parsons, director of Planning, Zoning and Building

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

A SHARED VISION

3A

A total renovation of the space at Whitney Beach Plaza is still needed for the county’s community center project.

Photos by Carter Weinhofer

Manatee County works with Longboat Key residents to solidify north end community center plan.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

A

collaborative effort between community members and Manatee County’s project team is driving the Whitney Plaza Community Center project toward the finish line.

The community center project, also referred to by the county as the LBK North Learning Center, will provide 6,140 square feet for adulteducation programming and meeting space for Longboat Key residents.

Manatee County entered the lease for the space at 6810 Gulf of Mexico Drive back in January after it was approved by the board of county commissioners on Jan. 9. The plaza is owned by Porter Investment Holdings Inc. The town of Longboat Key held a community input session in July 2023 to hear from residents about what they would like to see in the space. Early ideas like classes for crafts and adult education, and community meeting space, have stuck.

North end residents in particular have been interested in the project.

Longboat Key North, a coalition of 28 neighborhoods and homeowners associations on the north endchaired

by Maureen Merrigan and Paul Hylbert, has been working on bringing it to fruition.

According to Merrigan, a former town commissioner, the need for community space on the north end is something that has been talked about by Longboat Key North for three or four years. When she was a commissioner in 2021, she was working with Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van

WHAT’S IN THE DESIGN? 830 square feet of multipurpose space with an operable partition 530 square feet of art ­studio space 526 square feet of computer/library space 546 square feet of seniors/ multi-use space 125 square feet for a meeting room Other space for reception, an office, lounge seating, storage and four bathrooms

There will be art studio space in Manatee County’s community center project.

Ostenbridge on the idea.

Longboat Key North has been actively providing input to the county’s project team through the group’s subcommittee, the North End Space Team (NEST).

North end resident Jill Ball was appointed to lead the NEST committee. Her main job is to act as a liaison between the north end community, the county team and the town.

“Everybody’s been phenomenal to work with,” Ball said.

Within the NEST committee, there are three focus groups: community, recreation and arts.

The community focus group, led

by Bob McRae, focuses on working with the various homeowners associations and neighborhoods to gauge what space is needed for events and meetings for organizations.

There is also a lot of interest in the main component of the space: adult education. The team is exploring the

“I want to complete it for (the residents) and they want to occupy it.”

— Simona Brinkman, county project manager

possibility of implementing environmentally focused programming as well.

Deborah DiCarlo is leading the recreation side of things, and Ball said DiCarlo has been working closely with other recreation facilities, like The Paradise Center and the Bayfront Park Recreation Center.

The arts component, though, is one that has been the most popular.

“I would say the biggest voices, or the largest group, I would have to say right now is the arts,” Ball said. “And I think that stems from the prior arts

center that was in the Village. That was very well-received and highly attended, and I think that the population of folks that are still here are excited to have an arts focus as a part of this learning center.”

That focus group is being led by residents from different parts of the key: Lynn Coffin, Pat Lundy and Patricia MacDonald. Interested residents in the arts community have been pushing for equipment and space for artists.

All the members of the various focus groups have been talking with neighbors to gather ideas, and bringing them back to the NEST team over time.

“There’s no shortage of input from the community,” Ball said.

Some of the NEST committee members were able to tour the space at Whitney Beach Plaza and meet with the county’s project team, according to Ball. Being able to see the space was helpful for them to visualize the opportunities available.

Simona Brinkman, the county’s project manager for this project, has been communicating frequently with the NEST committee and actively taking their input into consideration.

“She took that and ran with it, so that was really great,” Ball said.

WHAT’S LEFT TO DO?

The front entrance of Manatee County’s community center at Whitney Beach Plaza.

No construction has kicked off yet, but the project team is working hard to ensure the community’s input is taken into consideration.

The architects, Ohlson Lavoie Corp., are finishing up the drawings after hearing that feedback from the NEST committee, according to Brinkman.

“The committee already had a bunch of ideas,” Brinkman said. “The architect took the layout and the wishlist items and made it happen.”

The architect, OLC, has completed projects in 48 states and 11 countries.

The extensive list of its previous

projects includes many community centers and recreation spaces.

The project will then go through the design and development process before submitting the plans to the town for permitting.

It’s a lot of work to do, all compressed into a seven-month timeframe.

The county was given seven months by the landlord before needing to pay rent on the space. Brinkman said the project team is focused on getting the construction completed in that time.

“I want to complete it for (the residents), and they want to occupy it,” Brinkman said.

One aspect that helps is that the facility already has existing plumbing. Though there’s a lot of remodeling that needs to be done to the bathrooms and other facilities, running pipes through the building would have taken a long time.

Ball said the county proposed possibly trying some pilot programming later in 2024, and Brinkman is trying to complete the construction within the seven-month timeline.

But Brinkman said there’s always the chance that construction runs over a little bit.

It was previously estimated that the construction would cost around $1.2 million. The county is responsible for paying for construction and rent.

Monthly payments for the lease would be $11,256.67, or about $135,080 for the first year. The lease is good for four years, with the ability to renew terms.

Programming for the space will be run by Manatee Technical College, under the guidance of Paul Gansemer, executive director for the Adult, Career and Technical Education department.

An interlocal agreement between the county and school board outlined that the center would provide “feebased adult enrichment classes.”

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Courtesy image

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Liz Alpert and Ron Kashden are running for Sarasota City Commission District 2.

Speaker Sir Billy Dorsey, Jr.

Two candidates file for District 2 seat

100% of the proceeds support The Salvation Army Sarasota County

Activist Ron Kashden challenges Mayor Liz Alpert in the Sarasota City Commission election.

Call (941) 552-5177 for tickets or sponsorship information

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

S

arasota Mayor Liz Alpert has one challenger thus far for the Sarasota City Commission District 2 seat in Laurel Park resident Ron Kashden.

Alpert was first elected in 2015 and is serving her second term as mayor. The Sarasota mayor and vice mayor are selected annually by a vote of the City Commission. Kashden frequently appears before the commission to speak on topics, often opposed to the majority of the board.

Both have filed for the Nov. 5 election with the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office. This is the first time Kashden has run for elected office.

“I’m running to give the public a seat at the table and bring a voice of reason to civic discussions,” Kashden said in a news release. “Engaged leaders approach problems the way software engineers handle bug reports — identify issues, research the causes, consider possible solutions and then implement fixes.”

According to a news release, as a city commissioner Alpert has sup-

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ported the creation of The Bay, renovation of the Bobby Jones Golf Course and Nature Park, and the new playground and splash pad at Bayfront Park. She has supported incentives to create more affordable housing and multimodal transportation options to relieve congestion.

“This election is about moving our city forward with smart solutions for local issues,” Alpert said in the news release.

Professionally, Kashden is a certified public accountant and former CEO of a fund accounting software company in New York. Alpert is a family law attorney and principal of Alpert Law of Sarasota.

Kashden’s wife, Kelly Franklin, has filed a defamation lawsuit against City Commissioner Kyle Battie over his racism allegation against her related to an apparent hoax social media post. Battie made the claim during a Jan. 16 commission meeting.

Franklin has denied creating the post and her attorney has claimed Battie was aware the post was false weeks before presenting it in the public forum.

To date, Battie, is the lone candidate to have filed for his District 1 seat, and incumbent Erik Arroyo is being challenged by former Planning Board member Kathy Kelley Ohlrich in District 3. Both Battie and Arroyo are running for a second term.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Right heights for right now Town commissioners and staff debate freeboard ordinances in response to new flood maps.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

M

aintain the status quo or give property owners more flexibility when it comes to freeboard?

That was one of the Town Commission’s main topics at the March 4 regular meeting.

After analyzing new base flood elevation maps put out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, town staff with the Planning, Zoning and Building Department worked with Planning and Zoning Board members to draft an ordinance related to freeboard height.

Freeboard is a safety factor for flooplain management. Freeboard plus base flood elevation equals what’s called design flood elevation, the elevation from sea level to the bottom of the first habitable floor (see graphic, right).

Planning and Zoning Board members also pushed a little further than the original recommendation, according to Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons.

The board’s recommendation to go beyond the status quo led to discussion among town commissioners.

On March 4, Parsons presented to commissioners the proposal for allowing for an additional two feet of freeboard on top of the alreadyrequired foot of freeboard.

The new FEMA flood control maps for Sarasota County are still pending until March 27, but the maps enact a general decrease of about 2 feet for base flood elevation recommendations.

In January, town commissioners

voted to adopt the maps when they become official on March 27.

FEMA regularly updates flood control maps. Manatee County’s maps were last updated in 2021. Parsons said the last Manatee County maps showed a similar decrease.

Base flood elevation represents the level of surface water expected during a 100-year base flood event. It’s also described as a flood level that has a 1% chance of occurring in a given year.

“Older homes, like we have many out here in the town, are built below the base flood elevation,” Parsons said. “They are certainly at higher risk of flooding.”

Parsons added that structures built with habitable floors at or above the BFE are less likely to incur damage from major flooding events.

The FEMA decrease in BFE for an area like Longboat Key was striking for Parsons and other staff.

“I will fully acknowledge that this probably makes no common sense … and so the question is why has it gone down by two feet?” Parsons said.

According to FEMA, new advances in technology allowed for more accurate estimations, which contributed to the reduction in BFE recommendation.

The Florida Building Code also requires one foot of freeboard.

FREEBOARD ALLOWANCE

After commissioners voted to adopt the maps in January, the Planning and Zoning Board met in February to determine what the next steps would be in response to the new maps.

First, PZB staff and the board started with the recommendation to allow an optional two feet of additional freeboard on top of the already-required foot. Adding the optional two extra feet would allow houses to go back to status quo, as if the FEMA maps weren’t lowered.

But the Planning and Zoning Board, like Parsons said, wanted to

TOWARD FLOOD SOURCE

5A

WHY ADOPT THE MAPS?

DFE FREEBOARD

BFE

Courtesy images

The design flood elevation is measured to the bottom of the lowest habitable floor and is a combination of the required base flood elevation and freeboard.

*FF=Finished Floor

The Planning, Zoning and Building Department proposed an ordinance that would allow for an additional two feet of freeboard.

do more.

That’s what led it to the recommendation to allow for an optional four feet of freeboard, if the commission agreed.

David Green, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board, said the board believed that the town commission should approve the two feet option at a minimum.

“We were surprised, shocked may be a better word, that the FEMA maps came back and actually lowered the standard,” Green told commissioners. “We wanted to enhance the resiliency of the island and create incentives for people to build more safe structures … We felt like, as a consensus of the board, that we

wanted to do more than just maintain the status quo.”

Commissioners heard from a couple members of the public before debating whether the additional four feet was the direction they wanted to take.

The idea was brought up that the commission could approve the twofoot recommendation first, and then look into adding the additional two feet before the ordinance’s second hearing on April 1.

Some commissioners also suggested that the PZB department explore the option to only allow the four feet in certain areas that have a lower BFE. Commissioner-at-Large BJ Bish-

Adopting FEMA’s base flood elevation maps allows for the town to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and receive flood insurance discounts through the community rating system.

The CRS grades municipalities on actions taken to reduce flood risk, such as public awareness efforts, mapping, regulations and flood damage reduction ordinances.

Longboat Key is currently a Class 6 municipality with the CRS, which results in a 20% discount for flood insurance.

But Parsons said the town is close to becoming a Class 5 municipality, which would be a 25% discount. If the freeboard ordinance would be a requirement rather than something that’s optional, the points achieved through the ordinance would push the town to the Class 5 rating.

Senate Bill 250, extended in 2023, prohibits municipalities within 100 miles of Hurricane Ian or Nicole’s landfall from enacting ordinances that would be more restrictive or burdensome on land development.

That said, the freeboard ordinance language must remain as something that is optional, rather than required.

If the bill isn’t extended again, it would sunset in 2026.

The town isn’t due for a CRS reevaluation until 2028, so there is the potential to make the optional freeboard allowance a requirement before the next evaluation.

op was in favor of adopting the fourfoot option.

But most other commissioners were in agreement to stick with the two-foot option for now and explore adding the additional two feet in select areas. That motion was moved and seconded, leading to a 5-1 vote, with Bishop being the only opposed.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Lido loses 80 free parking spots City Commission ­approves converting free spaces along ­Benjamin Franklin Drive to paid parking. ­ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

A

day at Lido Beach will soon come with an additional cost to those who choose to park in one of the 80 parallel parking spaces along Benjamin Franklin Drive.

On Monday, the Sarasota City Commission approved by a 3-2 vote converting the free spaces along the beachfront road to metered parking at a cost of $1 per hour. The 368 spaces in the Lido Pavilion parking lot will remain free of charge.

The vote was one of a package of parking overhaul measures presented by Parking Division General Manager Broxton Harvey, which were considered individually by the commissioners. With Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and Commissioner Erik Arroyo vehemently opposed to charging for beach parking, it was among the most contentious of the parking program topics.

“In addition to decreasing the general public’s access to one of our greatest parks and open spaces, which is the beach, decreasing free access to that is just absolutely something I cannot support,” Ahearn-Koch said.

As they were on Monday, AhearnKoch and Arroyo were in unison in their opposition to the paid beach parking during previous discussion and a workshop. While both objected to restricting free access to the beach, Ahearn-Koch was further concerned about overflow parking spilling into nearby neighborhoods and Arroyo — who was the lone no vote on several of the proposed changes — main-

File images

tained the city shouldn’t increase fees and convert free parking simply because it can. As for the Lido parking matter, Harvey said he received little pushback from the coastal neighborhoods.

“I really haven’t gotten too much negative feedback,” he said of St. Armands and Lido Key neighborhood groups. “I think a lot of people feel that it would actually assist with some of the people parking and ‘camping’ in those spaces, which we get a lot of phone calls regarding that. This would eliminate that issue as well. “People actually — quote unquote — spend the night on the beach and park in those spaces.”

Immediately as the beach parking item was introduced, Ahearn-Koch motioned to not approve, seconded by Arroyo. That motion failed

“In addition to decreasing the general public’s access to one of our greatest parks and open spaces, which is the beach, decreasing free access to that is just absolutely something I cannot support.”

— Jen Ahearn-Koch

3-2 along those lines. Kyle Battie motioned to approve the measure seconded by Debbie Trice, who said,

“I was of two minds on this, but recognizing that we will continue to have free 368 spaces in the lot and we do have the trolley, I think that we’re offering enough free that it’s not unreasonable to charge on the street.”

The purpose of the changes is twofold: to ensure the city’s parking program pays for itself and to improve efficiencies. Lido Beach parking was just one of a “buffet” of menu items, as Arroyo described it. Several other changes will affect how visitors park in downtown. They include: Gateless garage program, which will eliminate gates in city-owned parking structures to increase ingress and egress speeds. That was approved 5-0.

Waiver program removal, which eliminates parking waivers for

The City Commission approved converting free parking spaces along Benjamin Franklin Drive to metered parking.

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first-time offenders. Waivers were offered as a temporary program, which was implemented in 2019 when the parking program began.

That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

Extending parking enforcement by two hours until 10 p.m., excluding Sundays and holidays.

The intent is to assist with parking turnover of vehicles and increasing the available spaces for customers of downtown businesses. AhearnKoch motioned to deny the measure, which died without a second.

However, that was followed by a motion to approve, which failed 4-1 with Trice in favor, effectively denying approval as Ahearn-Koch motioned.

Sunday safety parking enforcement to issue citations for violations such as double parking, blocking drive lanes, blocking fire hydrants, ADA violations, illegal ADA parking, etc. That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

Initiate Centennial Park boat ramp parking fees at $5 for single vehicles and $10 for vehicles with boat trailers. Currently, parking at the boat ramp is free, although 70%

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

of users are for commercial purposes. A 3-2 vote to not approve was later rescinded by Battie, who said he changed his mind after it was explained to him that a significant number of users of the boat ramps are not city residents. A revote to approve passed 3-2, with AhearnKoch and Arroyo opposed.

Initiate a fee of $1 per hour for use of electric vehicle charging stations in city-owned garages.

That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

Limit metered parking spaces to credit card payment only. That was approved 5-0.

Increase appeals fee from $7.50 to $25 to cover the cost of the magistrate. Customers who win the appeal do not pay the citation or appeals fee. That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

Increase parking citation fee schedule by $10 above the current fines of $25, $30 and $35. Fines paid within 24 hours of the violation date and time shall be reduced by $5. A motion to deny approval passed 5-0.

7A

Gary S. Brochin Managing Director/Investments Portfolio Manager – Solutions Program

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Here is what LBK needs Sure, Longboat residents would like all three venues — a community center, a dedicated education center and a library branch. The county has the cash for all three.

MATT WALSH

S

o many thoughts come to mind when you ask a Longboat Key resident to comment on the library.

It’s the topic on Longboat.

What size public library — paid for with Sarasota County tax dollars (uh, Longboat tax dollars) — should be built on the Town Center Green?

Should it be an 8,000-square-foot structure the county proposed?

Half that size? A McDonald’s hamburger ordering kiosk? Or even a library branch at all?

Ask 100 people, and you’ll get 100 varied opinions.

But here is the one opinion we have heard frequently since the town’s charette two weeks ago: Longboaters definitely do not want an 8,000-square-foot library.

Instead, here’s what is needed, in order: A community center that can accommodate 300 people in a room. A dedicated-space education center. And, if need be, a modest, modest library that makes sense for the 21st century’s digital era and the Key’s demographics.

Why, even in multiple public meetings, a majority of town commissioners have put the words “community center” and “education center” ahead of a library.

But whenever you watch the commissioners converse on this subject, you get the sense that even though they see the need for a community center, they are fixated on a library — driven that way because that is what Sarasota County will fund and, as a county commissioner said, “That ship has sailed.”

That’s what came out of discussions among town and county commissioners and their administrators in 2021 and 2022 — much to the surprise in 2024 of Longboat residents.

But alas, who could ever be against a library?

Actually, it’s complicated.

A PLACE FOR 300

Longtime Longboaters know the history of this long-sought facility.

We’re not going to rehash every last detail of what has occurred over the past quarter-century to bring about a community center and a home for the Longboat Key Education Center. But context is important.

Longboat taxpayers rejected what became a built-by-committee, overly expensive monstrosity (complete with swimming pool) in the early 2000s.

Through the years, there also have been attempts to raze the Bayfront Recreation Center for a real community center.

The now-gone Longboat Key Center for the Arts in the Village limped for years as a quasi-community center.

And then, as many remember, the partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design for an Arts, Cultural and Education Center with a black-box theater fizzled.

Here’s the point: Not once in any of these efforts did any of the leaders of these efforts or residents say the word “library.”

The need is for a community center. To wit: Before the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center came to life, a developer proposed constructing an assisted-living complex on that site. Residents went bananas.

The Town Commission needed a place to accommodate outraged citizens at public hearings, so it jammed everyone in the All Angels by the Sea Parish Hall, with dozens of residents standing around the

perimeter of the hall, spilling outside the entrance.

Later, in 2010, when the Longboat Key Club and Resort proposed a $400 million expansion, Longboaters became riled again. Expecting large public turnout at public hearings, the Town Commission moved to Temple Beth Israel. Day after day, Longboaters took over nearly every pew.

More recently, when developer Chuck Whittall proposed the St. Regis, the Town Commission scheduled public hearings at the John Ringling Ballroom at the Resort at Longboat Key Club. There was standing room only for more than 200 people.

The need is for a community center that accommodate 300 people in a room for public meetings, lectures, art shows and the like.

The need is for dedicated space for the Longboat Key Education Center, now the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel. This 40-year-old, not-for-profit institution has 3,000 to 5,000 life-long registrants a year. It’s our version of the famous Chautauqua Institution in New York.

Town commissioners should ask longtime Education Center Executive Director Susan Goldfarb about its needs and the center’s effects on Longboat’s quality of life.

There were days before COVID, when the Education Center’s 12 daily programs would almost fill the parking lot at the Centre Shops.

This week, the center will have more than 250 people attending the 15th annual performance of the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe.

Last month, more than 250 people attended a Neil Diamond program.

Jazz nights attract 80 to 150 people.

Think how that will work — sharing and scheduling community center and education center space; or the WCBTT rocking to the Temptations, while Longboaters in the adjacent library are trying to read “War and Peace.”

The education center is crucial to Longboat Key’s resort-retiree, high net worth demographics. Goldfarb told us last week of a woman who moved to the Key and knew no one.

She started going to the Education Center almost daily — a regular now for 15 years.

“I told her she should be given a Ph.D. for all the classes she took,” Goldfarb said. “She told me she made friends and felt less lonely.”

The education center is more than education. It’s a social center that helps make Longboat the community it is.

And there is this: It reduces traffic going to the mainland.

CASE FOR A LIBRARY

A group of Longboat women told a town commissioner how excited they are about not having to drive to Selby Library in downtown Sarasota. North Longboat moms with preschool-age kids told the commissioner it would be a place to take the children for activities.

We know of one resident who told a commissioner he more than likely would not use a library.

Another resident said there is no need for a brick-and-mortar library on Longboat; if Amazon can deliver books in two days, why can’t the Sarasota library have one-day service to the Key? To be sure, a healthy public library is a symbol of its residents’ commitment to their city’s quality of life. Sarasota County is testa-

YOUR CHANCE TO BE HEARD What do you want at Town Center Green: A library? A community center? An education center? All of the above?

How big of a library?

Should there be a two-story building on the site?

Who should pay for the facilities — Sarasota County?

Longboat taxpayers? Private philanthropists?

The town of Longboat Key and officials from Sarasota County will conduct their second public meeting on the proposed library at 1 p.m. Monday, March 18, at Town Hall.

ONLINE SURVEY

Does Longboat need an 8,000-square-foot library?

A community center? Who should pay?

Fill out our survey. Go to YourObserver.com/LibrarySurvey/

ment to that. It prides itself on the strength of its library system.

So the argument goes: It doesn’t make sense that Longboat Key should be the only municipality in the county that does not have a library branch.

WEIGH THE VALUE

The case for all three venues is compelling. But space is limited.

So weigh the value. Prioritize their contribution to the needs of the Key’s residents and quality of life.

But who should do that — the county, town commissioners or Longboat Key taxpayers and property owners? A referendum?

ANNUITY FOR SARASOTA

The money.

As the story goes, after the dissolution of efforts to develop a $17 million arts, cultural and education center with Ringling College, to their credit, a few Longboat commissioners considered turning to Sarasota County and the Sarasota County Public Schools system as potential sources of capital.

The idea had merit.

Former Sarasota County Commission Chairman Al Maio became an advocate for the county to fund a library branch. What’s more, that funding would include county taxpayers paying for annual operating costs and staff salaries.

Longboat commissioners, including current Mayor Ken Schneier and former Town Manager Tom Harmer (a former Sarasota County administrator) all liked the idea.

The discussions evolved in 2021 and 2022. The county would fund the library, and Longboat Key would fund anything extra — e.g. community center and/or education center.

Remembering Longboat Key taxpayers’ rejection of a bond issue and an increase in property taxes 20 years ago, Longboat commissioners accepted the idea of Longboat philanthropists funding the extras.

An equitable deal?

It’s not. Longboat deserves better — and more. Here’s why: Longboat taxpayers are a magnificent annuity for Sarasota County and the county’s public schools.

In fiscal 2024, the Longboat taxpayers on the Sarasota County side of the Key will send $25,890,230 to Sarasota County. That amount covers the county’s property tax, general debt service and debt service on the Legacy Trail. (The state and

LBK TAXES SENT TO THE COUNTIES These are projected tax revenues from Longboat Key in fiscal 2024: Sarasota County: $25,890,230 Sarasota County Schools: $35,294,737 ($18,549,726 local portion; $16,745,011 state portion) Sarasota Bed Tax: $3,750,025 Total local: $48, 189,981

Manatee County: $16,331,304 Manatee County Schools: $16,824,968 ($8,510,745 local portion; $8,314,223 state portion) Manatee Bed Tax: $2,603,206 Total local: $27,445,255 Combined total local: $75,635,236

county also will collect another $3.7 million in tourism bed taxes from the Sarasota portion of Longboat.)

For the school system, the Longboat-Sarasota County taxpayers will send $18,549,726 as the local tax portion and another $16,745,011 to cover the state portion of school taxes. Altogether: $35,294,737.

The total for Sarasota County and schools: $61,184,967.

All that from just one-half of a tiny barrier island, whose Sarasota County portion of the permanent population is 4,775.

That begs the question: What do Longboat Key taxpayers and property owners receive in return that directly benefits the island?

Little.

A REASONABLE ASK

So far, Sarasota County allocated $1 million out of its library budget for the design of a Longboat library branch. County budget documents show no other funding.

The county’s five-year library capital spending plan totals $48 million, but there is no mention of an earmark for Longboat.

If, say, the county is to appropriate funds for a library, a defendable and reasonable amount for Longboat would start at a minimum of $10 million. That would be the equivalent in today’s dollars of what the county spent to build 25,000-square-foot libraries in Newtown and the Fruitville library east of the interstate in the 2000s.

But Longboaters don’t want a $10 million library.

The thinking of town and county commissioners needs to shift to the possible. Whatever is appropriated doesn’t need to come from the county’s library capital plan. It can be earmarked from somewhere else — say, an infrastructure fund.

What’s more, be creative: Appropriate it to the town, giving the town, not the county, the responsibility for the project’s completion and accountability to the county.

That would not be an unreasonable ask.

Nor would this: $15 million.

County commissioners would likely choke. But the truth is that $15 million would hardly be noticed.

The Sarasota County 2023-24 budget is $2 billion — $1.44 billion for operations, $570 million in capital outlays. What’s more, the county has been gushing with new cash (up 33% from 2023 to 2024 ).

You could also make the case that a $15 million appropriation would be a wise investment for the county. It will enhance the value of Longboat Key as a destination for high-net-worth retirees, who will continue to drive up real estate values and property taxes, feeding ever more money to the county.

Politically, such an appropriation would help endear the county to Longboat taxpayers and voters. Longboaters would be forever grateful and friendly to future endeavors with the county. And …

Longboat-Sarasota voters at election time would remember which commissioners supported the town.

“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 / Petra Rivera, PRivera@ YourObserver.com; Carter Weinhofer, CWeinhofer@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / Luke Reasoner, LReasoner@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Regional Sales Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@ YourObserver.com; Lexi Huelsman, Lexi@ YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@ YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver.com; Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Anna Reich, AReich@YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator / Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@YourObserver.com Advertising/Marketing Coordinator / Caitlin Ellis, CEllis@YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Specialist / Melanie Melone, MMelone@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

THE ROI

You could expect county commissioners’ initial reactions to a request for $15 million to be this: “How can we possibly justify that to all of our constituents outside of Longboat Key?” The answer is simple: A onetime contribution of $15 million in exchange for more than $60 million a year in perpetuity. Amazing ROI. DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

Town commissioners and others have expressed frustration and dismay that this development has taken as long as it has and lament that further delays are either unnecessary or jeopardizing progress.

That’s what happens when no one individual or private entity owns the property or when government committees are involved.

But another perspective is this: Whatever is developed is likely to stand for 50, 60, 70 years. Which brings to mind the famous, simple admonition of the late W. Edwards Deming, father of what became the Japanese manufacturing miracle of post-World War II: Do it right the first time.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

9A

“The west coast of Florida is a fantastic market for us.

This is a great time of year for us to be here.”

— Whitman Lazenby, Whitman Family Development President and CEO

The Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up Tour debuted late last year in North Carolina.

Pop-up luxury No. 1 luxury mall in the world coming to Sarasota as a ‘retail carnival.’

MARK GORDON BUSINESS OBSERVER

B

al Harbour Shops, the No. 1 luxury shopping center in the world in sales and a nationally known brand in luxury retail, is coming to Sarasota.

A tony brand Mecca with $2,555 in sales per square foot, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Bal Harbour Shops is bringing its Access Popup Tour to The Mall at University Town Center this month. Whitman Family Development, which owns Bal Harbour Shops, announced the forthcoming pop-up event in a media announcement last week, followed by a social media campaign.

“The west coast of Florida is a fantastic market for us,” Whitman Fam-

ily Development President and CEO Matthew Whitman Lazenby said, specifically noting the SarasotaLakewood Ranch market’s combination of high-net-worth residents and deep-pocketed seasonal tourists. “This is a great time of year for us to be here.”

Retailers have been hosting popups in and around stores for years, selling everything from makeup to microwave ovens, usually around Christmas. But the Bal Harbour Access Pop-up Tour is a rather unique offering: It consists of 30 individually designed, customized shipping containers, with a list of brands that include Tiffany & Co., Balmain, Etro, Gianvito Rossi, Addict and Santa Maria Novella.

The pop-up operation, spanning 17,000 square feet, also includes covered walkways with fans, a retractable canopy and The Whitman, a fine-dining restaurant seating 150.

(The restaurant and bar menus for The Whitman will be custom-made for the Sarasota stop.)

Whitman Lazenby said. “This is a really unique high-end shopping experience.”

The idea for such an extensive experiential retail pop-up tour, Whitman Lazenby said, dates back to the pandemic. The Whitman Development team had planned to open a smaller version of today’s pop-up tour in the Florida Keys. But due to a number of issues, that plan fizzled.

“It didn’t work,” Whitman Lazenby said. “It never opened.”

But the idea, Whitman Development executives believed, had merit.

So the company kept at it, adding to it and enhancing it. The current version chose its four markets by looking for places with underserved luxury offerings and higher than average ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals. The Tampa and Naples markets, with International Plaza and Waterside Shops, respectively, have “access to luxury,” Whitman Lazenby said. “Sarasota less so.”

After finding the locations, the next step was planning and logistics.

In Sarasota, Whitman Development is partnering with UTC landlord Benderson Development, which Whitman Lazenby said has been a big help. In North Carolina, explaining the concept to Raleigh city officials for permits and other approvals was a challenge. “They said ‘you want to do what?’ recalls Whitman Lazenby with a chuckle.

Another challenge? Getting the show road-ready. Participating pop-up stores are sending boxes and cases of merchandise, which has to be accounted for and displayed properly. In some cases, the brands send their own employees to staff the pop-ups, and in others Whitman Family Development staffs them, Whitman Lazenby said. In all cases, attention to detail is key. “This is a personal touch, high-touch experience,” he said.

Courtesy images

The Access Pop-up Tour is scheduled to officially open March 8.

SHOP LINEUP EXPANDS Ahead of its opening this week, the luxury pop-up mall announced it’s adding another ultra-high-end brand to its lineup: Dolce & Gabbana.

The company behind the popup, Whitman Family Development, announced the addition of the famed Italian fashion brand in a Monday news release.

In addition to Dolce & Gabbana, Whitman Family Development

An official grand opening is scheduled for March 8, and a Whitman Development spokesperson said it will remain open through April.

The UTC Mall and its multiple other connected restaurant and retail districts straddle the Manatee-Sarasota County line, just west of the University Parkway exit of Interstate 75.

The area has been a hotbed of retail and restaurants recently: new and coming-soon brands include Trader Joe’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and an Anna Maria Oyster Bar location. A Tesla dealership outside the mall is under construction.

also announced that Golden Goose, a luxury sneaker brand, will join the roster of stores at the UTC Access Pop-up Tour.

The nearest Dolce & Gabbana store to Sarasota is in Orlando, while there’s a Golden Goose at International Plaza in Tampa.

The Access Pop-up Tour scheduled an official grand opening for March 8 and will remain open through April.

The pop-up tour of stores, Whitman Lazenby said, is more like a “retail carnival” than a standard pop-up event. The Sarasota-east Manatee County market is the second stop on the four-stop Access Pop-up Tour. It debuted in Raleigh, North Carolina last December and went through January. Stops after Sarasota include Walton County in the Panhandle and Greenville, South Carolina. Each stop lasts about two months.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Harry, Lynn and Hal Christensen are celebrating 45 years of business in 2024.

45 years of Harry’s CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

I

t’s a generational thing at Harry’s Continental Kitchens.

Harry and Lynn Christensen have expanded their family business a lot over the course of 45 years. They’ve seen generations of families walk through their doors.

All the while, they were raising their own family.

Today, Harry’s Continental Kitchens has four main components: the corner store, the deli, the restaurant and the catering business. Hal Christensen, son of Harry and Lynn, oversees the day-to-day business as their general manager.

Though they expanded over 45 years, Harry and Lynn never grew their business past Longboat Key. “We made Longboat Key our home,” Lynn Christensen said. “I think why we’ve lasted is because we keep our nucleus here and we stay here.”

The Christensens found Longboat Key in 1973 during a trip to Naples.

They stopped to visit an old high school friend in Sarasota, drove out to Longboat Key and decided that was far enough.

Harry and Lynn rented a cottage in the Village and started building their life in Longboat Key. There were a couple stints of time when they lived near the Pocono

Carter Weinhofer

The Christensens say the key to their business’ longevity has been gradual evolution.

Mountains of Pennsylvania, they said. When Harry would be working in the Poconos, he said he would spend his days off visiting New York City, learning about different styles of takeout food.

Around 1976, the Christensens found their way back to Longboat Key and Harry began working for Café L’Europe. There, he harnessed his methods of takeout. He said he would practice preparing dishes for chefs early in the day, so the line cooks could quickly throw the premade meals in the oven during dinner service.

Then Harry and Lynn were ready for a place of their own. They started leasing their first restaurant location

in 1978.

At first, it was only the restaurant.

Originally called Continental Kitchen, Harry and Lynn Christensen opened their business in 1979. Back then, it was located at 5440 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Harry recalled learning about the convenience of takeout food. During that time on Longboat Key, he said it was hard to get into restaurants on the island. He thought the concept of takeout with high-quality food would be a good fit.

Takeout dishes like gazpacho with shrimp and beef Wellington were popular from the start, and remain on the menu today.

Also during that era on Longboat Key, Harry said that condominium complexes were a lot more social, throwing cocktail parties and other gatherings left and right.

That’s when he started doing “party specialties,” bringing platters of quality food to these parties.

Harry said he remembers when they first started the party specialties, they would have to close the restaurant early to prepare the platters. Customers would peek through the windows to see what Luminette® Operating Systems PowerView® Automation Motorization Hardware Pebble®; Remote; Gen 3

KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

is proud to congratulate the 2023 winner

Leigh Cavell

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Leigh and her family have loved spending time on Longboat Key since her in-laws moved here in 2015. On this particular evening while trying to photograph the sunset Leigh’s son Cooper ran into the shot. Cooper had finally got his kite to fly. Leigh referred to this photo as “a magical moment that I am very happy to have captured.” The Observer readers obviously agree voting it the 2023-2024 Weather & Nature Photo Contest winner.

You deserve a financial advisor who listens We’re just around the corner.

The Observer’s

Weather

Michelle K Johnson, CFP®, CEPA®, AAMS™

&Nature

Financial Advisor

595 Bay Isles Rd, Ste 260 Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-263-7821

PHOTO CONTEST

Go to YourObserver.com/contests for details.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

TRIBUTES Margaret “Pat” McGouran 1942-2024

Courtesy image

Courtesy image

Harry Christensen

extravagant platters Harry was creating.

The success of party specialties led to the addition of their catering business.

Over time, catering became a more prominent aspect of their business, Harry said. A reputation for highquality food at a good price was forming for all aspects of the business.

In 1984, Lynn thought it would be a smart business idea to create more of a brand. The business name changed to Harry’s Continental Kitchens.

Their business kept evolving, gradually becoming what it is today.

But the Christensens said everything had to be well thought out, ensuring there were the proper facilities and financial stability.

“We gradually did things as we could afford them,” Lynn Christensen said.

While Harry and Lynn were becoming a fixture on the island, they were also raising their two sons, Eric and Hal. Harry and Lynn said that trying to manage multiple aspects of the business during the day and raising a family in their free time made time

fly by.

But when trying to find that balance between work and family, Harry said he always thought of it as “quality over quantity,” emphasizing the importance of making the most of the time they did get.

Harry and Lynn also spoke proudly of the community connections they have been able to sustain on Longboat Key. Their catering business has allowed them to connect with residents at events like christenings and weddings. And returning customers have continued traditions of coming to Harry’s, bringing their families throughout the years.

“Don’t let anybody ever go away unhappy,” Harry Christensen said as one of his secrets to success.

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

When Hal grew up, he went to Florida State University for a degree in hospitality. He started at a corporate chain where he worked for about three years after graduation.

Then, the opportunity arose to come back to Longboat Key and work for his family’s business.

He’s gotten to see his parents almost every day since he started at

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Harry’s 24 years ago.

Hal is now the general manager for the business. He and his parents said one of the most important aspects of their business are the employees.

They like to give opportunities for growth, and have seen staff rise from busboys and dishwashers to servers and beyond.

Some of their kitchen staff have been with the business for 25-30 years, Harry said. A couple in the corner store have been there since they started.

To celebrate their 45 years of business, they plan on hosting specials including a four-course, prix-fixe menu for $45.

A little further down the road, the Christensens are hoping for an expansion that would utilize the building behind the restaurant, currently used for storage.

But they aren’t in a rush. Like with their previous expansions, it’s all about getting the timing right.

And Harry and Lynn know that the business will remain in good hands with Hal at the helm in the future.

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After graduating from Mother Cabrini High School, Pat met the love of her life, Daniel P. McGouran. They married in 1967, and remained married until his death in 2002. Pat went on to have three children, Suzanne M, Peter J and Daniel K. McGouran. She was involved in various organizations including St. John Church and School and Leonia Public Library in Leonia, New Jersey. After moving to Florida in 2007, Pat volun-

teered for Save Our Seabirds and The Woman’s Guild of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Longboat Key, where she served as Membership Chair from 2008 - 2020. She’s survived by her two sisters, Susan C. Binder and Kathleen M. Connor, her three children, two grandchildren, Kevin and Matthew McGouran and daughter-in-law, Beth Klavir. The Funeral Mass will be held in New Jersey and she will be laid to rest at Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee, next to her husband.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

SELLING LUXURY WATERFRONT PRO

1325 Westway Drive LIDO SHORES Deep-water boating and beach club access on Lido Shores! Step into this tropical escape through the hidden courtyard that connects the 3BR main home to the private 2BR guest house, as the perfect introduction to a contemporary masterpiece built

by Voight Brothers Construction. Boasting all the amenities required for modern living, the inspired architecture highlights spectacular water views from every room of this home’s 6,500+SF interior.

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97 South Washington Drive ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE

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Discover this captivating bayfront estate, just a stroll from the vibrant heart of St. Armands Circle. Nestled across two sprawling corner lots, encompassing over 1/2 an acre, this 5BR home with a 5-car garage rests on one of the largest parcels in the neighborhood. Offered turnkey furnished, this exquisite residence spans nearly 8,000 SF, with bay and city views from nearly every room. Transition seamlessly to the outdoor living spaces through glass pocketing sliders on both floors, where you’ll find the ultimate in outdoor entertainment and relaxation.

The epitome of luxury living awaits at this custom 5BR Arthur Rutenberg home, a true gem situated on nearly half an acre within the prestigious Lakewood Ranch Country Club. This exquisite estate spans nearly 7,000 SF inside, boasting oversized bedroom suites, state-of-the-art gym, and climate-controll2ed wine room, offering a lifestyle of unparalleled luxury.

From the wood flooring to the gourmet kitchen, custom finishes, 14’ ceilings, and tropical oasis outdoor living space, every inch of this home exudes sophistication and attention to detail.

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WORK WITH THE BEST PROFESSIONALS FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS 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.

www.cleartitlegroup.com

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

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PERTY FOR 39 YEARS

7652 Sanderling Road SANDERLING CLUB Life at this gorgeously updated, Siesta Key beach home is a one-of-a-kind experience! Directly overlooking the coastal landscape of the Gulf of Mexico, this private estate rests on more than an acre of property, featuring 172’ of beach! Sanderling Club is the only guard gated, Gulf-front single-family neighborhood on Siesta Key. Originally designed by famed architect Robert Geddes to highlight breathtaking Gulf and striking sunset views from almost any room of this beachfront estate. www.7652Sanderling.com

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601 Lotus Lane WATERSIDE WOOD - SIESTA BAYSIDE

1905 Goldenrod Street POINSETTIA PARK

Escape to paradise on Siesta Key with this exceptional custom-built waterfront home, where island living meets coastal elegance. Crafted by NC Ferguson with meticulous attention to detail and completed in 2017, this 3BR + office residence exudes quality and style, with gated entry for peace of mind. Step inside the chic, sunny interior to discover a sprawling great room layout, seamlessly blending a gourmet kitchen, open dining, and living areas, all adorned with Italian Argento travertine flooring that extends onto the elaborate outdoor terrace. Minutes to the beach!

Discover the pinnacle of contemporary, eco-conscious living in this newerbuilt, energy-efficient home nestled West of the Trail. Classic Homes by Clayton Inc. has masterfully crafted this modern marvel, setting new standards in sophisticated, yet comfortable living spaces. Spanning nearly 3,200 SF inside, this residence showcases the lavish benefits of new construction. Situated in a family-friendly neighborhood that offers the serenity of suburban life alongside easy access to Sarasota’s bustling cultural scene, this home embodies the ultimate Gulf Coast lifestyle.

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CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TOUR (941) 387-1840 443 John Ringling Blvd, Suite F, Sarasota, FL 34236 Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Roger@Pettingell.com Twitter.com/RealRoger Instagram.com/RogerPettingell 421416-1

$3,595,000

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

PET PICS

VACATION RENTALS

LONGBOAT KEY • LIDO KEY • ST. ARMAND’S

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

941-879-9300 FGCVacationRentals.com

Rick Benninghove

Katie Benninghove

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✓ Monthly Furnished Island Rentals ✓ Luxury Hospitality Services ✓ Personable and Reliable

JOY RIDE: Tater lives in Corey’s Landing in Bay Isles and loves to cruise around Longboat Key with the top down.

SWIMWEAR | RESORT WEAR | ACCESSORIES

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

LONGBOAT 3170 Gulf of Mexico Dr 941.383.2288

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IS PERSONALIZED CARE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Live Music by Akiem • Gourmet Chef Catered Dinner Overlooking Sarasota Bay & Movie Under the Stars • Complimentary Beer, Wine, Champagne & Bottled Water • Fresh-popped Popcorn & Candy Concessions • Fantastic Prizes Awarded throughout the evening

EXCITING LIVE AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE: • Round trip for 2 on the Fast Cat Ferry to Opal Key West Resort for 3 day/ 2night stay in fun, funky Key West Florida!

• 3 day/2 night stay at Ocean Properties’ brand new Sanibel Island Beach Resort!

• 3 day/ 2 night stay at the exclusive Jupiter Beach Resort on Jupiter Island.

• Catered Sunset Cruise for 4 guests on a beautiful yacht with hor d’ oeuvres, wine, champagne and beer.

• President’s Gift - Private Wine Tasting for up to 12 guests. This 90-minute experience includes 8 bottles of wine, a wine consultant and appetizers!

• Behind the Scenes VIP Tour of Mote Marine Aquarium and Research Lab for 6 people.

• Dinner for 6 guests at Zota Beach Resort.

• Casa Del Mar Beach Resort Stay’cation with Longbeach Café breakfast for 2.

• Full Day Cannon’s Boat Rental, and much MORE!

Connecting with your doctor when you need them most is crucial.

With concierge medicine at Gulfshore Personalized Care, it’s possible to meet your medical needs anywhere at any time. Thomas Arne Jr., DO, FACC, proudly offers patient-centered care through concierge services, such as 24/7 access and same-day visits.

Call us to schedule your no-obligation meet & greet with Dr. Arne today.

Date:

Friday, March 22, 2024

Rain Date:

March 23, 2024

Cocktails: Dinner: Live Auction: Movie: Location:

5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm Bayfront Park 4052 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key $75 per person

Admission:

To purchase tickets, Visit LBKGardenClub.org or call 941-387-1909 Co-Chairs

Susan Phillips and Steve Branham sponsored by...

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Proceeds will fund beautification projects at the Longboat Key Town Center, grants to local non-profits for environmental projects and Scholarships for students focused on environmental and conservation-related studies.

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DOWNTOWN 50 N Tamiami Trl 941.954.8800

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SIESTA KEY 1960 Stickney Pt Rd 941.922.4545

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

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Featured Listings

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Siesta Isles | Siesta Key

1723 Stanford Lane | $1,895,000

5400 Azure Way | $2,200,000

Bob McGrath | 941.628.1069

Carlos Santos | 941.735.8302

Siesta Isles | Siesta Key

Longboat Sandpipers Condo | Longboat Key

Harbour Towne | Siesta Key

5319 Cape Leyte Drive | $2,900,000

5635 Gulf of Mexico Drive #105 | $1,300,000

1319 Dockside Place #221 | $1,195,000

Bob Ruiz | 941.544.3299

Brandon Surline | 941.404.9334

Bob Ruiz | 941.544.3299

Shells on Siesta Key | Siesta Key

Sanctuary Cove | Palmetto

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221 Tenacity Lane #221 | $1,745,000

1714 8th Street | $1,200,000

5455 Azure Way | $2,400,000

Dawn Bear | 941.468.7224

Veronica Alves Machado | 786.332.7797

Carlos Santos | 941.735.8302

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

NEWS BRIEFS

The Florida Department of Transportation is in the study phase of improvements to the Little Ringling Bridge.

Courtesy image

Little Ringling Project public hearing A public hearing for the study of the Little Ringling Bridge is scheduled for March 21.

The Florida Department of Transportation is currently conducting a Project Development and Environment Study for the roadway from Bird Key Drive to Sarasota Harbour West.

According to the FDOT, this study investigates alternatives that address issues with structural integrity, mainly caused by age and operational deficiencies.

Possible improvements that will be discussed include safety enhancements, changes to traffic operations, increasing bridge resilience in storms and a transit lane.

Interested residents can take part in the March 21 public hearing inperson at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. The meeting will run as an open house from 5-6 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 6 p.m.

There is also a live online option for the meeting, which requires advanced registration.

Materials for the project will be posted on the project website by March 14 for participants to review before the meeting.

New fire vehicles on the way The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department is preparing to add some new vehicles to their fleet.

A new ambulance is first, scheduled to arrive in March. The ambulance was funded in the town’s fiscal year 2022 budget and ordered in

May 2022, costing $350,000 without equipment. This one replaces a 2009 ambulance, which has become outdated.

The department is also waiting for a new fire truck, which is supposed to be delivered around May. This truck replaces a 2010 fire truck and cost about $850,000 in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

This price also does not include equipment, but Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said that communications equipment can be changed over.

In the Feb. 20 Town Commission workshop, Dezzi presented this information and also told commissioners that the department is working on acquiring a second high-water vehicle to respond to calls during flood events.

Gulf Islands Ferry expands service Gulf Islands Ferry added Thursdays to its regular schedule on Feb. 29.

Now the ferries run four days a week, Thursday through Sunday.

Both ferries, the Downtown Duchess and Miss Anna Maria, operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., depending on weather conditions.

The service includes three stops at Downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and the Bridge Street Pier.

One-way tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors over 60 years old, $4 for children ages 4-18 and free for children 3 and younger. Round-trip tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $6 for youth.

For more information and to view the full schedule, visit the Gulf Islands Ferry website at ­GulfCoastWaterTaxi.com.

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NOW OPEN IN SARASOTA

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

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On Lido Key. A LIFE INSPIR ED.

R E SI DE NCE SL I DOK EY.COM

Now Under Construction • From the $6 Millions • 941-888-3131

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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 2024. All rights reserved. The Ronto Group®. Rosewood Hotels and Resorts®.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

COPS CORNER

Open Wednesday - Sunday • 11am - 11pm (closed Monday & Tuesday) 201 N. Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach 941-778-0771

Worship With Us at Our Church

Growing in Jesus’ Name

FETCH ELSEWHERE 12:54 p.m., 100 block of North Shore Road Animal Problem: An officer was sent to respond to a complaint about a dog on the beach. When the officer arrived at the beach, there was a small dog playing fetch with a group. The officer spoke with the dog’s owner, and said not only are dogs not allowed on the beach but the dog also needed to be on a leash. The owner said she was unaware of the ordinance and would leave the beach.

CLEAR THE WAY, PLEASE 10:27 a.m., 1600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Officer Public Service: A citizen called for police assistance regarding his car being blocked by construction vehicles. The complainant said he wanted to leave the site but could not because his vehicle was being blocked by other vehicles and equipment. The officer then spoke with the construction superintendent, who said the crew needed a few minutes to finish something up before helping unblock the complainant’s car.

Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00 Women’s Bible Study: Wednesday @ 10:00

Visitors & Residents Welcome Watch Our 10:00 AM Service Live: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or www.christchurchof lbk.org (follow YouTube link)

WINTER CONCERT SERIES CONCERTS ARE FREE • VISITORS & RESIDENTS WELCOME

SUNDAY • MARCH 10, 2024 • 2:00 PM

CLEAR THE WAY REDUX 5:28 p.m., 3000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Highway Obstruction: While on patrol, an officer noticed a broken beach chair blocking a lane of Gulf of Mexico Drive. The officer removed the chair and disposed of it in the dumpster at the police department.

Organ Dedication Concert Featuring Chris Westfall Christ Church of Longboat Key, Organist

Christ Church of Longboat Key invites you to a Dedication Concert for our new Rodgers Organ, a state of the art masterpiece of up-to-date technology and brilliant sound clarity. Chris Westfall, our acclaimed organist, will be performing a variety of classic and contemporary music which will demonstrate the scope, depth, and range of this amazing new addition to our church. Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor, will do a brief Dedication Ceremony.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25

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Please join us and be mesmerized by the majesty and glory of Chris playing the “King of Instruments.”

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

FRIDAY, FEB. 23

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

Sunday Service 10:00 AM Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor

DOORKNOB MALFUNCTION 8:25 a.m., 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Officer Public Service: Dispatch sent a Longboat Key officer to respond to a lock-in. At the scene, the homeowner told the officer that the door handle to the baby’s room broke off. The homeowner was unable to get inside the room. The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department was also called to the scene.

Fire Rescue used a ladder to climb up to the balcony and get into the bedroom through a sliding glass door and open the other door from the inside. The baby was safe.

MONDAY, FEB. 26

SHOPPING SPREE 8:34 p.m., 1900 block of Harbourside Drive Officer Public Service: This call started as a possible missing person. An officer arrived on scene and met with the caller, who said her husband had gone shopping but hadn’t returned home yet. The husband was contacted by the officer. He said he was fine, and that his wife was overreacting.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28

DOG ON THE LOOSE 6 p.m., 500 block of Birdie Lane Animal Problem: A citizen called to report a loose Dobermann that was biting other dogs. An officer requested Sarasota Animal Control Services also respond to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer met with the complainant who said he saw the loose Dobermann running around without a leash, and he was concerned the dog would bite others in the neighborhood. The officer canvassed the area and was able to locate the dog’s owner. The owner said his dog accidentally got out of the harness and was running around for a few minutes when they encountered the complainant. It was confirmed that no other dogs or humans were bitten.

THURSDAY, FEB. 29

DOG IN DISTRESS 11:16 p.m., 500 block of De Narvaez Drive Officer Public Service: A resident called for police assistance in locating his dog who was crying somewhere in the canal. Longboat Key Police units were able to find the dog in the canal and rescued it. The dog had minor cuts from barnacles, and officers advised the owner to clean the dog’s wounds and seek veterinarian care.

Get There in a Hop, Skip and a Splash

Longboat Key

Community Open House

The Easy Way Around the Beaches and Downtown

March 9, 2024 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Hop on, kick back and enjoy a scenic cruise. Then hop off to relax on beautiful beaches or explore the Bradenton Riverwalk, museums, galleries and more. It’s the fun and easy way to get around the beaches and downtown.

Town Center Green

600 Bay Isles Road | Longboat Key, Florida 34228 This is a “DO NOT MISS” event! Everything, and everyone who makes this such a special community will be at this FREE event! Live music, food trucks, local restaurants, over 30 local businesses, and more!

Now Running!

Also we will have our Town departments, non-profit organizations, houses of worship, service clubs, Longboat Key Turtle Watch, Longboat Library & a Sarasota Co PopUp Library, Historical Society, Education Center, Paradise Center, Breeze On Demand Transit, and so much more.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays 10 am - 9:30 pm Scan for Stops and Schedule or Visit:

GulfIslandFerry.com

For more information visit www.longboatkey.org 420147-1

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Call for Take Out or FREE DELIVERY

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

R ise TO A N E W V I E W

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VISTA RE

3TDUAL

Y CA

EXPL O

at SHELL POINT

VIR TOUR

Rising above the shores of the Caloosahatchee River — just minutes from the islands of Sanibel and Captiva — is Vista Cay, a collection of sophisticated waterfront residences featuring awe-inspiring vistas. For a limited time, future residents can choose their views and enjoy Shell Point’s resort amenities and award-winning lifecare while building is underway. This rare opportunity to select a new construction residence in Shell Point’s most renowned neighborhood won’t last long. Take a virtual tour, register for a seminar, or request an appointment by visiting MeetVistaCay.org.

Championship Golf • Deep-Water Marina • Fine Dining • Award-Winning Lifecare FROM $1.4 MILLION NOW ACCEPTING DEPOSITS MeetVistaCay.org • (239) 466-1131 Shell Point is located just minutes from the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida.

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Shell Point is a nonprofit ministry of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Foundation, Inc. All renderings, maps, site plans, photos, simulated views, floor plans and all other information herein are conceptual and should not be relied upon as representing the final detail. Dimensions, features, and specifications of the proposed development and residences are subject to change without notice.

Furnishings are represented for illustration purposes only. ©2024 Shell Point. All rights reserved. SLS-4921-24

SLS-4921-24 Longboat Key-Palm Coast Observer.indd 1

1/31/24 9:04 AM

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Bark in the Park Dog lovers discuss ideas with the town manager about how to make the dog park more enjoyable.

LONGBOAT KEY FOUNDATION

STAFF WRITER

T

he town of Longboat Key hosted Bark in the Park on March 1 in the big-dog park in Bayfront Park for residents and their dogs to come together to discuss enhancements to the town and future Longboat events.

“This is what our town is all about,” said Town Manager Howard Tipton. “Getting together over our common interests and putting our ideas together to make our Key a better place.”

In 2022, resident Irene Hess donated $123,000 to the Longboat Key Foundation to cover 75% of the big-dog park with artificial turf.

Tipton announced at this event that the town has budgeted the $175,000 needed to add artificial turf to the remaining 25% of the big-dog park and the entirety of the small-dog park.

Chair of the Longboat Key Foundation Jim Brown said work on the project would start in May. Tipton shared that the artifi-

cial turf currently in the park has helped keep it clean and well maintained for the frequent parkgoers.

Residents who attended Bark in the Park shared ideas with Tipton that they think would help improve their experience.

People suggested lights for the nighttime, high-top tables and working fire hydrants for the dogs to play in the water in the summer.

Tipton said that since the town will be paying for the artificial turf, the Longboat Key Foundation would appreciate donations to make the ideas happen.

Residents enjoyed the discussion with Tipton and Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips as well as other dog owners on Longboat.

The town provided a food spread along with homemade dog treats made by resident Shawn Leven.

Town Manager Howard Tipton

Photos by Petra Rivera

Matthew Ballew plays with a dog in Bayfront Park.

Shawn Leven and her dog, Daisy

Diane Weisman and Kim Skaff at Bark in the Park

All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions

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.

• Worship services Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

• Live Stream the 10 a.m. service at AllAnglesLBK.org

Join the Discussion

Tuesday or Wednesday about Scripture and an issue in society.

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org Wednesday Bible Study 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

416704-1

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

6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, Florida 34228 • 941-383-6491 416826-1

PETRA RIVERA

To make a donation to the Bayfront Park Dog Park Project, contact Chair of the Longboat Key Foundation Jim Brown at JimBrown@LBKFoundation.org Donations of $10,000 and above will be acknowledged on a donor recognition plaque.

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

Growing in Jesus’ Name

Sunday Worship 9am & 11am

Join us for Fellowship & Coffee Hour at 10am

5pm

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Contemporary Style Message • Communion

Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor

RICKEY BOLDEN

40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

NFL STAR • VISIONARY LEADER • GUEST PREACHER

Catholic Church

SUNDAY SERVICE • MARCH 10 • 10:00 AM

Would like to Welcome & Invite You, Your Family Members & Friends to Celebrate Mass with Our Parish Community MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:00 AM Daily Mass at 9:00 AM; Rosary at 8:30 AM Monday - Friday 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily following Mass.

Rickey Bolden, All-American high school football and All-Metroplex basketball player, had a distinguished career at Southern Methodist University, where he started for five seasons as Offensive Line.

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In his seventh season in the NFL, Rickey responded to God’s call to pursue full time ministry. He became an active pastor in the Southeast Christian Fellowship which quickly became a beacon of light in the Southeast DC community.

Rickey serves our nation’s leadership on Capitol Hill by hosting weekly Bible Studies with a number of Congressmen, along with working with community and business leaders throughout the Washington D. C. Metropolitan area.

Visitors & Residents Welcome. Watch Our 10:00 AM Service Live: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or www.christchurchof lbk.org (follow YouTube link)

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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SATURDAY, MARCH 9 • 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

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

VISIT US AT THE LBK COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE TOWN CENTER GREEN • 600 BAY ISLES ROAD • LONGBOAT KEY We hope you will come by our tent to meet our friendly members, our wonderful new Pastor, Dr Julia Wharff Piermont, and learn about the numerous activities we offer and the outreach missions with whom we are involved.

Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-383-1255 • www.stmarylbk.org

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

21A

THE BEST OF DOWNTOWN WITH

LIFE AROUND EVERY CORNER FROM $1.8M

Enjoy life with the best of downtown Sarasota at your doorstep and all the resort-style amenities and personalized services of a boutique hotel at your fingertips.

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Broker participation is welcomed and encouraged. 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. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

7180 MANASOTA KEY ROAD

$3,895,000

Escape to paradise! Nestled amidst lush tropical foliage, this remarkable 4BR/5BA Key West-style, direct Gulf-front home (with private guest cottage) spans more than 3,200 SF and has undergone an extensive renovation inside and out. Every detail has been carefully considered to create a truly extraordinary beach experience. www.7180ManasotaKey.com

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1826 HAWKINS COURT

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Step inside this downtown penthouse and discover the epitome of urban living at its best. This 3BR residence is ideally situated in a sunlit, top-floor spot, in the heart of the city center. Includes two parking spaces! www.1350Main1701.com

Prepare to be enchanted by the open concept design of this 3BR Grand Bay retreat, offering breathtaking views of the verdant Harbourside Golf Course, bay and the Gulf. www.GrandBay152.com

With a spacious layout encompassing 3BR and an impressive nearly 3,000 SF of living space, prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking beach and sunset views as you step inside.

Includes covered parking and first-rate amenities. www.Pierre305.com

The walkable location of this St. Armands homesite will immediately draw you in, offering an oversized, 1/4-acre lot for you to design your dream home. The best of Sarasota is a sunny bike ride away. www.201NorthWashington.com

Nestled within brand-new, gated community of Hunters Point, this 3BR exceptional new build home graces Florida’s enchanting southwest Gulf coast. www.HuntersPointFL.com

Life in Sarasota’s Historic District is an enviable experience that places you within minutes of downtown, the bayfront, theaters, museums and more. This stunningly updated, 7BR family compound offers many exciting possibilities. www.1901MorrillStreet.com

Introducing the new construction, waterfont community of Hunters Point, where contemporary coastal living blends effortlessly with luxury and sustainability. This 3BR brand-new residence is ready for you to personalize. www.HuntersPointFL.com

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1920 LAUREL STREET

$995,000

4004 CASCINA WAY

$899,000

1974 HYDE PARK STREET

$699,000

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$650,000

225 SANDS POINT ROAD #6105

$649,000

631 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE #107

$395,000

Create your own city dream escape at this oversized parcel in Sarasota’ s historic district, where you can conveniently walk to downtown. Gulf Key beaches are just a short drive away. www.1920LaurelStreet.com

This sunny 3BR residence in Rivendell boasts a brand-new roof (2023), and newer A/C in 2021. You will love the generous 2,100+ SF layout and wonderful community amenities. www.743AnnaHope.com

Indulge in the convenience of newer construction in South Sarasota with this exceptional 3BR Taylor Morrison built home in sought-after Cobblestone on Palmer Ranch. www.4004CascinaWay.com

This fully furnished residence at Inn on the Beach offers not only calming water views but also an immediate opportunity for island living or an enticing rental investment. www.InnontheBeach6105.com

This updated, 2BR home is perfectly placed within the soughtafter Southside Village community. Offered fully furnished and move-in ready, waiting for you to make if your own. www.1974HydePark.com

With its central location, this updated 2BR residence is steps from theaters, museums, the activity of Main Street, and stunning Gulf shores beckoning just a short drive away. www.MentoneCourt107.com

CA L L TO DAY FO R YO U R EXC LU S I VE TO U R ( 9 41 ) 3 8 7-1 8 4 0 443 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. 417128-1

22A

Classifieds 18B Games 17B Real Estate 15B Weather 17B

MARCH 7, 2024

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Practice with a master Master Max G. Yan taught his annual master tai chi class on March 1 in the parking lot of The Paradise Center.

STAFF WRITER

A

nyone passing by The Paradise Center the morning of March 1 could feel the chi in the air.

Dedicated tai chi students filled its parking lot at 10 a.m. like they do every Wednesday and Friday. But these regulars of Reuben Fernandez’s tai chi class at The Paradise Center were in for a treat Friday morning.

Fernandez’s master, Max G. Yan, had come to teach his annual tai chi class on Longboat Key. This year, Yan’s class was about getting back to the basics and understanding what tai chi can do for your health and lifestyle. As he led the class, he sprinkled it with personal anecdotes and references to understand each movement better. Yan explained that the energy, or the “chi,” is the main principle of the whole practice and is what draws him and others to tai chi.

“Today, I wanted to speak to them about the basic concept of the tai chi exercise,” said Yan. “It is very complicated, but it is all based on the same concept. You have only two movements. It’s just different combinations. Knowing these two movements helps us stay loose and feel

IF YOU GO

REUBEN FERNANDEZ TEACHES TAI CHI When: 10 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday at The Paradise Center Where: 546 Bay Isles Road.

Cost: $15. Walk-ins welcome.

Info: Call 383-6493. Fernandez teaches a beginner class on Wednesdays and then the intermediate class on Fridays.

Class is outdoors, weather permitting.

the peace and energy or the ‘chi.’ Tai chi is different and unique from the other exercises.”

Originally from China, Yan started to practice kung fu in his childhood.

Due to a medical problem, it was recommended he start tai chi. He said this changed his body in one year in every aspect of his health. He has been dedicated to the practice ever since.

Yan learned the oldest form of tai chi from Grand Master Chen Quanzhong. Chen tai chi was passed down in Quanzhong’s family line and is the most popular form of the exercise.

Yan now has his own school in

The tai chi class is held in the parking lot of The Paradise Center.

Photos by Petra Rivera

Master Max G. Yan teaches on Wednesday and Friday at the Paradise Center.

“I have known these students for a long time, and they are just blessed to have Reuben as a teacher.

So I love coming to teach here because it is really like teaching in paradise.”

— Master Max G. Yan

Hollywood, Florida, and passed this style of tai chi down to his students, including Fernandez. He is a part of the World Taoist League and also taught in New Hampshire.

Fernandez started practicing tai chi under Yan when he moved to Hollywood. They have known each other for more than 20 years. Fernandez was looking for a new outlet to practice martial arts to pay homage to his childhood hobby.

Yan’s open demeanor and the serenity of tai chi attracted Fernandez to dedicate himself to the practice. He said that the familial concept of tai chi also drew him to it. His classes revolve around Yan’s lessons of community and supporting one another in physical, mental and spiritual health.

“His whole philosophy is everyone supporting each other,” said Fernandez. “It is not about being super strict and critical of everyone. That is not what tai chi is about. It is about helping everyone move forward in their tai chi journey and lifestyle.”

Four years ago, Fernandez moved

Yan learned the oldest form of tai chi from Grand Master Chen Quanzhong.

to Sarasota and started teaching tai chi at Elite Health Medical Center, where he taught for one year. After being recommended to The Paradise Center by Town Commissioner BJ Bishop, Fernandez has hosted tai chi classes for Longboaters for three years.

“I have known these students for a long time, and they are just blessed to have Reuben as a teacher,” said Yan. “So I love coming to teach here because it is really like teaching in paradise.”

Yan also stayed after class to give

some private tai chi lessons. Janet Milliken attends Fernandez’s class every week and said she was amazed

by Yan’s class.

“I love how he explains everything in depth,” said Milliken. “This class, he went into how the two basic movements affect different parts of the body when you use different combinations. He also is just funny and livens up the class. I go to class every week, so being able to learn from Reuben’s master really makes a difference.”

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PETRA RIVERA

2B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Fundraiser fore a cure

A

sea of pink could be seen on the golf course of the Longboat Key Club on Feb. 27 for the Women’s Golf Association of Longboat Key’s annual “Go for a Cure” tournament.

“This cause is very meaningful,” said golfer Kari Smith. “Everyone is somehow impacted by breast cancer, whether that is because you are a survivor or you know someone. It is tied to everyone’s life somehow.”

All proceeds went to Breast Health Sarasota. The event was organized by Mary Taylor for the Key-Niners and the Eighteenholers. A luncheon followed in the Harbourside Ballroom.

Golfers could become sponsors of the event by donating to BHS. Bill and Linda Mitchell and Jan and Mike Wilcox with the Wilcox Family Foundation were platinum sponsors by donating $5,000 or more.

Photos by Petra Rivera

Lisa Tyson and Suzanne Reiman Shelly Lazarus, Jonie Spalter, Bonnie Chisling and Barbara Eisenberg

— PETRA RIVERA

Laralee Bash, Mary Taylor, Barbara Brizdle and Maria Krahn

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

3B

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Longboat Key, Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, FL Realtor dedicated to assisting Buyers, Sellers, and Investors in navigating the dynamic real estate market.

239.537.4563

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Brenda Baril won the Longboat Key Club Ladies’ Golf Championship Feb. 20.

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LEIGHTON T. ALLENBY

The smart play PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

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B

Island life begins here.

New Listing! Deeded Beach Path!

6485 Gulf of Mexico Drive 3 BR | 3 BR | 2,000 SF | A4600758 / $ 3,500,000 Reduced Price!

1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive A602 3BR | 3BA | 1,980 SF A4587573 | $2,000,000 Reduced Price! Open Sunday, 1 - 4 pm

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renda Baril is the new Ladies’ Club champion at the Longboat Key Club.

Arlene McKitrick had won the tournament the past 46 years.

The tournament started on Feb. 13 and ended Feb. 20.

“I love when everything comes together at the right time, and that’s the best part,” said Baril. “I’ve played so many tournaments in the last two weeks. It was crazy. My game just kind of came together, and I played well.”

Director of Golf at the Longboat Key Club Terry O’Hara said this is a monumental moment in Key Club History.

“She is the newest winner in 40 years,” said O’Hara. “She really works hard, so we are proud of her and can’t wait to see what she continues to do in the world of golf.”

Baril said she has played in the tournament for the past couple of years. Learning from her experience from previous tournaments, her strategy changed a bit this year.

“Last year, I lost by a stroke because I did not play very smartly,” said Baril. “So my game plan this year was to just play smart. One of my friends who I play with, her words of wisdom are that every shot has to be smart. You don’t have to score great throughout. You’ll be fine as long as you play smart.”

Baril has been a member of the Key Club since 2019. She said she was more into tennis then, but when she started getting into golf, she brought a lot of her tennis friends with her.

She is a part of three golf teams and two tennis teams at the club.

Baril said she is thankful for all the support she has gotten from her friends at the club and her loved ones.

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Terry O’Hara and Brenda Baril

LONGBOAT KEY CLUB LADIES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Championship Flight Gross Brenda Baril . . . . . . . . . . . . 88-82 — 168 Louise Berg . . . . . . . . . . . . 90-88 — 178 Flo Bachelet . . . . . . . . . . . . .97-89 — 186 1st Flight Gross Results Carol Swed . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86-97 — 183 Jan Henry* . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89-94 — 183 Linda Gillott . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91-95 — 186 2nd Flight Gross Results Barbara Kew . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97-97 — 194 Sandy Finnegan . . . . . . . . . . 96-103 — 199 Linda Hargreaves . . . . . . . . . 98-101 — 199 3rd Flight Gross Dana Lamont . . . . . . . . . . . 97-100 — 197 Audrey Davidson . . . . . . . . 103-102 — 205 Jeanne Musorofiti . . . . . . . 104-107 — 207 (*lost card)

“I like competitive play no matter what it is, but I like to have fun at it,” said Baril. “Golf is all about people and the friends that you make, and they carry on outside of the game.

That’s the most important thing now that I’m older. It’s just all about having fun and being out there with your friends. The best part is also my husband, he’s so awesome. He is my biggest supporter.”

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1918 Harborside Drive 901 3BR | 2BA | 2,135 SF A4588451 | $1,700,000

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4B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

5B

WATER

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LONGBOAT KEY MAGNIFICENT GULF FRONT $ 17,500,000

LONGBOAT KEY GULF FRONT $ 9,970,000

LONGBOAT KEY BAY ISLES HARBOR $ 9,595,000

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Fourth floor 2BD/3BA Sunset & panoramic views of Gulf & beach. East terrace views of the Bay & downtown. Fully furnished, available immediately. Private elevator, floor to ceiling windows. Two car parking. Resort style amenities.

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100 ft of frontage, third home from Sarasota Bay. Fully renovated 4BR/3BA Beautiful Bay views from the pool deck and dock. Easy access boating waters.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

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Mike Condensa instructs a fuse ladder class.

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The power of Pilates From injury recovery to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Longboaters are turning to Pilates.

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ike Condensa said that throughout the course of his 20 years running Pilates classes alongside his wife, Emily, he’s seen how she’s been able to help people recover from serious injuries.

“Over the course of time, the trend has been fantastic,” Mike Condensa said. “People have realized Pilates is a solution.”

Going down the 11 miles of Longboat Key, residents and visitors could pick a couple places for a Pilates class, from the Condensas’ Performance Pilates studios on the north end to Pilates Longboat Key farther south.

Mike Condensa said their online portal to sign up for classes often has a waitlist.

Lisa Baskfield, with Pilates Longboat Key in the Centre Shops, said that she’s seen more and more people becoming interested in Pilates since she opened the studio about five years ago.

WHAT IS PILATES?

Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, a German circus tumbler and gymnast who was taken into custody during World War I by the British.

While in the prison camp, he led exercise routines for other inmates while developing his fitness ideas.

After the war, Pilates was able to learn from other medical professionals to hone those ideas. Working with injured soldiers allowed him to refine his methods and develop an apparatus that would eventually become known as a reformer.

In the 1930s, Pilates and his instruction became a reputable form of therapy for injured dancers. His fitness ideas were then published in his first book in 1934.

Over time, more Pilates machines came to fruition, beyond the universal reformer.

Though it wasn’t accepted at first SEE PILATES, PAGE 8B

Dreams

your

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by the medical community, it picked up steam in the 1980s and 1990s with doctors and the media. All this led to the current popularity of the Pilates lifestyle.

“Studios and health clubs, teacher training programs, celebrity endorsements and extensive media coverage now regularly extol the benefits of studying Pilates,” states an article from the Pilates Method Alliance.

PILATES AS A LIFESTYLE

Emily Condensa is a master Pilates instructor, and though Mike isn’t a certified instructor, he helps teach some classes like the Fuse Ladder — a dynamic, full-body workout that uses the Fuse Ladder machine.

Both group classes and individual, private classes are offered at Performance Pilates and Pilates Longboat Key. Mike Condensa said there are different levels of Pilates enthusiasts he’s seen on the island. There’s casual class-takers, those who take classes almost every day and then there’s those who come to Emily looking to use Pilates to address specific issues or injuries.

The Condensas realized there was a high demand for Pilates on Longboat Key, and their classes continue to be filled.

That’s what led them to open a second studio a couple doors down from their first Longboat Key location. Mike Condensa said they wanted to open more space to serve the community even more.

The Battleground, as it’s now called, created a separate space to focus on classes like Fuse Ladder and Power Bar. Nate Sipos also joined the team.

He also offers functional strength training. Though not identical to Pilates, the training Sipos does has similar components, like focusing on stretches and “knees over toes.”

Knees over toes is a philosophy that promotes movements where the knees extend past the toes, like deep squats or walking backwards with a weighted sled, according to Sipos.

Those movements stretch the muscles in ways that strengthen the joints. Sipos’ classes are also becom-

“The trend now is people are seeing that Pilates isn’t just a form of exercise; it’s a lifestyle for healthier ­living.”

— Mike Condensa

LEARN MORE

Performance Pilates 6850 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Visit PerformancePilatesFL. com or call 941-962-8875.

Pilates Longboat Key 5360 Gulf of Mexico Drive #108. Visit PilatesLBK.com or call 941-500-2944.

ing increasingly popular in Whitney Beach Plaza.

But Pilates isn’t something that’s just popular on Longboat Key. Condensa commented about how Pilates has been an emerging trend among professional athletes, too.

“Over the course of time, the trend has been fantastic,” Mike Condensa said. “People have realized Pilates is a solution.”

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

What started as fitness for war prisoners and a method of physical therapy for dancers has evolved into something that people are doing every day to stay fit and recover from injuries.

“The trend now is people are seeing that Pilates isn’t just a form of exercise; it’s a lifestyle for healthier living,” Mike Condensa said.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Pilates offers numerous health benefits like improved flexibility, core stability and muscle tone.

Moves done as a part of Pilates can help to loosen tight muscles and help with alignment, which could also alleviate back pain.

A lot of the movements also focus on balance and stretching, which help with flexibility and coordination.

There’s also the suggestion of Pilates helping with breath control and overall mental health. During a Pilates class, blood flow is increased and some have expressed that the blood flow mixed with stretching can also be calming.

Baskfield said many of their clients at Pilates Longboat Key have spoken about how the classes have improved overall health, balance, flexibility and helped them to regain confidence in their ability to remain active at an older age.

She also said there have been clients who have come in with injuries like muscle tears, back disc issues and conditions like Parkinson’s disease looking for relief.

“After working with us in our studio, they comment to us on how they see improvement in their movement, strength, overall well being, including their mental well being,” Baskfield said in an email.

Whether it’s people looking to stay in shape at an older age or wanting to recover from injuries, Pilates continues to grow in popularity.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

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Financial adviser Michelle Johnson opened the first Edward Jones branch on the island and is excited to bring a personalized financial experience to Longboaters.

“Our biggest focus is just listening to the clients,” said Johnson. “By listening to people, we provide a higher level of service than most others. Most advisers talk to their clients once a year.

Michelle and Mark Johnson For our clients, we work with just a small group of folks so we can have regularly scheduled meetings the financial services industry. She throughout the year.” moved to Longboat full time with The Longboat Key Chamber of her husband seven months ago.

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11B

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Souper Bowl of Caring

Cindy Fischer

Christ Church fundraiser collects $23,500 over Super Bowl weekend for Bradenton soup kitchen.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

W

hen Our Daily Bread of Bradenton’s steam kettle broke the Friday before the Super Bowl, the soup kitchen and food pantry nonprofit knew who to ask for help.

Christ Church of Longboat Key raised $23,500 during this year’s Feb. 11 Super Bowl weekend to replace the important appliance for Our Daily Bread. The steam kettle is used to prepare meals to feed 175 to 200 people daily. Our Daily Bread needed a replacement fast.

Pastor Julia Piermont was already working with Lark and Bliss Rippy, the youngest members of the congregation, to take part in the Souper Bowl of Caring program. A Presbyterian youth group started this national program to raise money for hunger ministries while celebrating the Super Bowl.

“All the churches that I’ve served have done this offering, and the youth groups had a lot of fun with it,” said Piermont. “Here on Longboat, we have this congregation that is mostly retired people, but we do have some younger folks. We have one family with two daughters who are active in our church choir.”

The Souper Bowl of Caring set up three pots for people to donate a few dollars in after the Super Bowl Sunday services. One pot represented the San Francisco 49ers and the other the Kansas City Chiefs. A third said “Game? What Game?” for those who didn’t plan on watching the game but still wanted to contribute.

“I got to thinking after Christmas that this was a perfect way to get the girls more involved,” said Piermont. “So, I met with the girls and told them all about it. They thought it sounded like fun, so they learned about the three different hunger ministries we support in town.”

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Courtesy image

Our Daily Bread of Bradenton treasurer Bob Eikill, Lark Rippy, Bliss Rippy and Julia Piermont with the new steam kettle

When informed of the crisis at Our Daily Bread, picking which ministry should get the money was a no-brainer for the girls. Ann Quackenbush held the “Game? What Game?” pot decked out in her Buffalo Bills gear.

During the Super Bowl Sunday service, Lark shared with the congregation that $6,000 was needed to repair Our Daily Bread’s steam kettle. Thinking they would only raise a few hundred dollars, Piermont was surprised to learn that Sunday they raised about $7,000.

Christ Church was then informed Sunday evening that Our Daily Bread was going to replace the steam kettle instead of repairing it, and this would cost $23,500. The congregation continued to submit donations to the Our Daily Bread treasurer, and the total to replace the appliance was raised by Tuesday, Feb. 13.

The steam kettle was replaced that same week. Piermont took the Rippy sisters to meet Our Daily Bread treasurer Robert Eikill and see the new steam kettle.

“It started out as a fun way for the girls to learn some more about the mission we do,” said Piermont. “And it just grew like ‘loaves and fishes.’ It was just so full of blessings all the way around.”

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$ 7,000,000 3,798 SqFt.

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota The Residences, Sarasota, offers an retreat The Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Ritz-Carlton Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, offers Residences, an elegant Sarasota, 3-bed, offers 3.5-bath an elegant elegant retreat 3-bed, 3-bed, on the 3.5-bath 3.5-bath 9th retreat on on the the 9th 9th floor.

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401 Quay #902 Sarasota, FL 34236 $ 5,700,000

MAGNIFICENT BAYFRONT SANCTUARY, SIESTA KEY | $9,330,000

Perry CorneauPerry Perry Corneau Corneau

COASTAL SOPHISTICATION, LONGBOAT KEY | $2,575,000

(941) 650-4626 (941) 650-4626 (941) 650-4626 Perry Corneau perry.corneau@compass.com Perry Corneau Perry Corneau perry.corneau@compass.com perry.corneau@compass.com Luxury Real Estate Agent Your Ritz-Carlton sarasotacondominiums.com Luxury Real EstateConnection Agent sarasotacondominiums.com sarasotacondominiums.com (941) 650-4626 (941) 650-4626 650-4626 (941) perry.corneau@compass.com perry.corneau@compass.com perry.corneau@compass.com sarasotacondominiums.com sarasotacondominiums.com sarasotacondominiums.com

941.465.1124

CindyFischer.com CindyFischer@michaelsaunders.com 440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota, offers an elegant 3-bed, 3.5-bath retreat on the 9th floor. This sophisticated residence seamlessly fuses style with captivating waterfront views.

Accessed through a private elevator, it features impeccable details, including Wolf and SubZero appliances, quartz countertops, and a spacious island. Enjoy panoramic views from the living space and a balcony with a grill. Luxurious touches include large-format porcelain floors, 11 ft ceilings, tray ceilings, and impact-rated windows and doors. Residents enjoy amenities like a 24-hour concierge, valet service, fitness center, lap pool, resort pool, club room, and game room. Ideally located, this residence offers proximity to cultural attractions, and dining options.

421333-1

SOLD

419096-1

12B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

13B

March 7, 2024

North Siesta Key A rare jewel is available: A Beachfront & Bayfront Estate Size Home Site for your dream house or family compound. This prime homesite estate offers unparalleled vistas of the glistening waters, downtown Sarasota, and the keys of Bird and Lido from its expansive 120-foot private beach and bay frontage. Included is a deep water dock on Big Pass as well as 2 deeded boat slips in the protected sailboat waters of Bayou Louise. This exclusive property is among the few that capture downtown views and the beauty of western sunsets. www.21LandsEndLane.com

2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive #204 | Aria - Longboat Key | $9,200,000 3 bed + office or 4 bed | 3.5 bath | 4,032 Sq Ft This home is almost new, and it’s a WOW! Live in this Gulf-front corner residence that feels like a home on the beach at the South end of Longboat Key. Enjoy your private 3400 ft.² terrace, w/your private pool, summer kitchen. This home has private stairs to the beach, a breathtaking clubhouse w/guest suites, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a 5-car garage. www.Aria204.com

3500 Bayou Louise Lane | Siesta Key | $11,500,000 5 bed | 5.5 bath | 6,300 Sq Ft Location, Location, Location – Exquisite gated estate on the northern tip of Siesta Key. This home offers Gulf of Mexico views, a 40x20 pool, a spa, an outdoor kitchen, a 24K boat lift & a 12x20 platform to lift a 5,000 lb. kayaks or a jet skis. The main level has the Primary & Guest suites, a library, a chef's kitchen, an elevator, and a 4-car garage. This home is a few steps to deeded Beach Access and is the most beautiful home on the north end of Siesta Key. www.3500BayouLouise.com

2185 Gulf of Mexico Dr #214 | Villa Di Lancia Longboat Key | $2,350,000

3 bed, 3 bath | 2,448 Sq Ft DIRECT BEACH FRONT! SUNSET VIEWS ON SOUTH LONGBOAT KEY FROM THIS VILLA DI LANCIA RESIDENCE This direct beachfront magnificent 3-bedroom, 3bathroom residence sprawls over 2,448 sq ft, showcasing breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico. This furnished residence greets you with an open, sundrenched layout, thanks to expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. www.VillaDiLancia214.com

Sunset Beach

2 bed, 2 bath | 1,358 Sq Ft

55 Lighthouse Point | Longboat Key | $8,900,000 5 bed + 2 flex rooms | 4.5 bath | 6,159 Sq Ft

Exquisitely updated two-bedroom corner residence at Sunset Beach showcases turquoise water views and spectacular sunsets. Wood flooring, crown molding, and tasteful appointments accented the bright, open floor plan. The main terrace overlooks the Gulf of Mexico through brand new hurricane impact sliders that were replaced along with the windows in 2021. Home chefs will enjoy creating culinary delights in the open kitchen with stainless steel Samsung appliances replaced in 2020. www.SunsetBeach1404.com

WHERE LOCATION, SOPHISTICATION AND LUXURY MEET. A gated enclave of 16 luxury homes on the southern tip of Longboat Key and minutes to the Gulf of Mexico to enjoy the beach. Instant enjoyment in this newer home with a resort-style outdoor patio, pool, and spa. This location is a boater's paradise (no bridges to the gulf), a golfer's paradise, or a tennis or pickleball lover's paradise. This home has luxurious finishes, as well as close to the cultural hub of Sarasota. www.55Lighthouse.com

2109 Gulf of Mexico Dr #1404 | Longboat Key $1,400,000

421350-1

The VUE

521 Wedge Lane | Longboat Key | $1,975,000 3 bed | 2 bath | 1,677 Sq Ft

1155 N Gulfstream Ave #1407 | The VUE | $2,450,000

Sailboat Water Front home on the southern end of Longboat Key in Country Club Shores with DEEDED BEACH ACCESS. The home showcases a NEW WINDOWS & DOORS, NEW ROOF, a NEW SEAWALL with a CoolDeck® dock, and a 10,000-pound boat lift. This residence also has a newer kitchen, newer baths, a split floor plan, a family room, and solar panels for the swimming pool—instant enjoyment. www.521WedgeLane.com

At The Vue - It is all about the Epic forever VIEWS! This fantastic, almost new residence is on the 14th floor with 10-foot ceilings. The home, accessible via a semi-private elevator, has extensive floor-toceiling glass walls offering a 180-degree hypnotizing forever view of Sarasota and her islands, including sunrise – moonrise, and sunsets—It is an excellent split floor plan. The Vue offers a concierge, on-site management, a social room, a swimming pool, and valet parking. It offers a southern exposure in the city's heart, and your pet is welcome. www.Vue1407.com

2 bed | 2.5 bath | 1,665 Sq Ft

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

LONGBOAT KEY 610 Longview Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,793 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4586153 $5,350,000

LONGBOAT KEY 545 General Harris Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,294 Sq. Ft. Marta Altizer 941-544-4437 A4593444 $3,000,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1241 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 105 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,585 Sq. Ft. Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4589400 $2,750,000

LONGBOAT KEY 7160 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,056 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4598119 $2,450,000

LONGBOAT KEY 699 Penfield Street 2 Beds 3 Baths 2,536 Sq. Ft. Cathy Meldahl, Pa 941-724-7228 A4593104 $2,200,000

LONGBOAT KEY 775 Longboat Club Road 308 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,122 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4600576 $2,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY 550 De Narvaez Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,758 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4598789 $1,650,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1145 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 502 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,392 Sq. Ft. Debra Pitell-Hauge 941-356-0437 A4584859 $1,570,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2120 Harbourside Drive 657 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,039 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4597896 $1,495,000

LONGBOAT KEY 690 Jungle Queen Way 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,317 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4599997 $1,495,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4239 Gulf Of Mexico Drive MH5 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,286 Sq. Ft. Michael Nink, Pa 941-914-2805 A4600824 $1,329,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1075 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 101 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,172 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4592865 $1,325,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1050 Longboat Club Road 904 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,409 Sq. Ft. Melissa Gissinger 941-404-2722 A4586935 $1,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY 578 580 Companion Way 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,792 Sq. Ft. Bill Anderson 941-313-4059 A4598090 $1,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY 569 Bayview Drive 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,264 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4594153 $1,100,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4234 Gulf Of Mexico Drive G1 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,636 Sq. Ft. Michael Nink, Pa 941-914-2805 A4589473 $1,079,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5270 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 504 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,498 Sq. Ft. Bobbie Banan 941-356-2659 A4588989 $925,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3080 Grand Bay Boulevard 515 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,276 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy & Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4584268 $859,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2213 Harbourside Drive 303 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,224 Sq. Ft. Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4601150 $849,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4234 Gulf Of Mexico Drive E2 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,248 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4585739 $759,000

LONGBOAT KEY 806 Bayport Way 806 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,260 Sq. Ft. Maruta Miluns 941-374-9720 A4589330 $629,000

HOLMES BEACH 729 Manatee Avenue 729 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,479 Sq. Ft. Randee Long 941-773-8688 A4591138 $619,900

LONGBOAT KEY 730 Spanish Drive S 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,405 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark 941-312-1146 A4585691 $584,999

LONGBOAT KEY 619 Cedars Court 1 Bed 2 Baths 1,244 Sq. Ft. Simone Schaerf 941-260-1550 A4584103 $550,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4770 Gulf Of Mexico Drive V-6 2 Beds 1 Baths 812 Sq. Ft. Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4592314 $540,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6609 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,132 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4587168 $4,995,000

LONGBOAT KEY 648 Dream Island Road 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,631 Sq. Ft. Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4587088 $3,999,950

LONGBOAT KEY 6485 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,000 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick 941-780-6001 A4600758 $3,500,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 421079-1

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

REAL ESTATE

Bird Key home tops sales at $6 million ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Kimberly Ann Weidlich, trustee, and Richard Boyle, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 259 Robin Drive to Jeffrey and Carol Edgar, of Sarasota, for $5,995,000.

Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three-andtwo-half baths, a pool and 4,102 square feet of living area.

15B

Photos courtesy of Roger Pettingell

Kimberly Ann Weidlich, trustee, and Richard Boyle, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 259 Robin Drive to Jeffrey and Carol Edgar, of Sarasota, for $5,995,000.

BEACHPLACE

Joan Lee Gastman, trustee, Mark Neil Gastman and Michael Scott Gastman, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the Unit 404 condominium at 1105 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Beachplace 5-404 LLC for $1.15 million. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,819 square feet of living area. It sold for $378,000 in 1995.

WESTCHESTER CONDOMINIUM APARTMENTS

Paula and David Heidrich, trustees, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 4835 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Julie Groff, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, for $1,141,000.

Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,393 square feet of living area. It sold for $845,000 in 2022.

WHITNEY BEACH

Jeffrey Stuffings, of Longmont, Colorado, sold his Unit 202 condominium at 6800 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Julie Alison Marx, trustee, of Longmont Colorado, for $800,000.

Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,377 square feet of living area. It sold for $260,000 in 2012.

FAIRWAY BAY

John and Susan Pensabene, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 224 condo

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

FEB. 19-23

at 1932 Harbourside Drive to Warren and Denise Hood, of Mahomet, Illinois, for $610,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,192 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,000 in 2013.

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Feb. 23-29 in order of dollar amounts.

Longboat Key Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

2550 Harbourside Drive #354 Alt/Renovation

Daniel West

$600,000

4485 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Re-roof

Arbomar Inc.

$446,986

525 Sloop Lane

Alt/Renovation

Kevin Coyne

$300,000

2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Mechanical

Islands West

$153,480

A/C Change Out

Condominium Association

Unit PH2

2550 Harbourside Drive #354 Windows/Doors

Daniel West

$94,700

524 Halyard Lane

Dock/Seawall/Lift

524 Halyard CCS LLC

$93,645

5055 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Alt/Renovation

Kevin Hart

$75,000

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA SOTA Residences & Hotel | 941.462.3900 | From $1.8M | Visit the Main Street Gallery | thesota.com

DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG 400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $900,000s | Call for an appointment | Residences400central.com

MOVE-IN SPRING 2024

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

LONGBOAT KEY

Unit 515 3522 Fair Oaks Lane

Re-roof

James Lucerino

$63,556

561 Spinnaker Lane

Re-roof

Bernard Guillem

$63,086

1001 Longboat Club Road

Swimming Pool/Spa Houston Little

$61,352

625 Jackson Way

Swimming Pool/Spa Timothy Jones

$60,000

629 Kingfisher Lane

Roof

$54,400

Francisco Family Trust

New Construction 550 Norton St.

Re-roof

Belinda Bauer

$49,674

791 Binnacle Point Drive

Roof

Donald McCroskey

$44,100

GOLDEN GATE POINT

$35,347

En Pointe | 941.685.1598 | enpointesarasota.com | From $2,775,000

New Construction 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Mechanical

Eileen M. George

#95N

Alt/Renovation

Revocable Trust

609 Halyard Lane

Roof

Darlene M. Kelly

New Construction

Revocable Trust

Re-roof

Whitney Beach

$28,000

Mechanical

David Fagerlee

$25,950 $25,000

6700 Gulf of Mexico Drive

$29,900

Building 2 6505 Gulfside Road

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

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

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

A/C Change Out Plumbing

Eileen M. George

#95N

Alt/Renovation

Revocable Trust

415 L’Ambiance Drive #B202 Mechanical

Gerry Geyzel

$24,080

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida

A/C Change Out Source: Town of Longboat Key

Prices as of November 2023

421091-1

2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

YOUR CALENDAR

empath

TIDEWELL FOUNDATION

SPEAKER SERIES FREE EVENT

March 25 4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Free.

Community members are encouraged to attend this free event. It includes live music, food trucks, local restaurants, over 30 local businesses and more. Town departments, nonprofits, houses of worship and clubs will all be there. For more information, visit LongboatKey.org.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tidewell Foundation parking lot, 540 Bay Isles Road. Free. Sarasota County Hazardous Waste and the town of Longboat Key are hosting a household hazardous waste collection event. Place materials in your trunk and remain in your vehicle as staff unloads. No walkups accepted. Items accepted include adhesives and glues, aerosols, automotive products, cleaners, electronics, gasoline, paint, rechargeable batteries, etc. Items not accepted include ammunition, fertilizers, fireworks, flares, medications, needles, syringes, radioactive materials, tires, TVs and monitors. This event is only for residents of Longboat Key. Proof of residency may be requested. Call 316-1999.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

MEET GREET EAT WITH THE LONGBOAT KEY CHAMBER 4-6 p.m. at the Longboat Key Club Bayside Ballroom, 3000 Harbourside Drive. Free. This gathering allows community members to connect with local businesses in a relaxed setting. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants will be served. A cash bar will be available. The night’s entertainment includes prize drawings and the music of 13-year-old piano prodigy Timmy Phelan. RSVP by March 8 by calling the Chamber at 779-7823.

Plan, Don’t Predict Leave Your Legacy

Portofino Ristorante at the Longboat Key Club 2630 Harbourside Dr., Longboat Key

RSVP BY MARCH 15

RECURRING EVENTS

Ph. (941) 552-7569 Email ShannonJohnson@TidewellFoundation.org

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY LONGBOAT LIBRARY From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., MondayFriday. 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011.

412669-1

SPONSORED BY

PENDING

Dr. Shanaka Weerasooriya, DMD & Dr. Mitchell Strumpf, DDS

BEST BET

MONDAY, MARCH 11

MARKET ON THE KEY 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Enjoy food trucks and live music while browsing clothing, flowers, plants, artwork, sunglasses, handcrafted goods and more in the market. Follow The Market on Longboat Key or Markets by Nancy on Facebook and Instagram to see who will be there and what they will be bringing. Some food vendors let you pre-order pies, cakes and breads so they will be ready and waiting upon your arrival. For more information, call 289-4141.

File image

The Market String Band at the Market on Longboat Key

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

PUMPING THE PRIME: CARDIO, STRENGTH & STRETCH 10 a.m. at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center. This low-impact class helps burn calories and increase stamina. It also includes strength exercises for a total body workout.

Participants should be able to get down on the floor and get up readily.

(Please bring a towel.) Runs until the end of April/May 2024. Classes are $10 for rec center members; $15 for nonmembers. Contact Mirabai Holland at Mirabai@MovingFree.com.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

ST. REGIS #408 LONGBOAT KEY $7,995,000

SOLD

JUNGLE PLUM ROAD SIESTA KEY $9,300,000

have been serving the Sarasota community for decades.

With life-long commitments to continuing education, both Dr. Shanaka & Dr. Strumpf use the latest advancements in dentistry to help their patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles.

CEREC 1-Visit technology makes a permanent crown possible while you wait.

We take a digital impression and electronically transfer 3D images to an in-house milling machine.

We color match the ceramic and precisely carve a customized dental crown or veneer within minutes.

Call for an appointment with Dr. Shanaka or Dr. Strumpf to craft a smile to be proud of today!

CHRIS WETZIG

Cell. 941-350-8083 chris.wetzig@premiersir.com www.chriswetzig.com

941-233-8003 412882-1

or visit us online,

tarponshoresdental.com

ANGELA WETZIG

Cell. 614-260-0038 angela.wetzig@premiersir.com

CHRISTOPHER WETZIG TEAM Your Longboat Key Real Estate Experts

416930-1

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YourObserver.com

17B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

Sunrise Sunset

High: 78 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 7%

Thursday, March 7

6:47a

6:34p

Friday, March 8

6:46a

6:35p

Saturday, March 9

6:45a

6:35p

Sunday, March 10

6:44a

6:36p

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Monday, March 11

6:43a

6:36p

High: 79 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 16%

Tuesday, March 12

6:41a

6:37p

Wednesday, March 13

6:40a

6:37p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, MARCH 10 High: 75 Low: 60 Chance of rain: 56%

March 10 New

March 16 First

March 25 Full

April 1 Last

TIDES Highs Lows

Leighton Allenby took this photo of a snowy egret reflecting in Ken Thompson Park.

Thursday, March 7

12:02p

9:28p

5:06a

3:44p

Friday, March 8

12:04p

10:30p

5:47a

4:49p

Saturday, March 9

12:12p

11:28p

6:23a

5:44p

Sunday, March 10

—

1:24p

7:54a

7:37p

Monday, March 11

1:23a

1:39p

8:20a

8:30p

Tuesday, March 12

2:19a

1:58p

8:42a

9:24p

Wednesday, March 13

3:19a

2:22p

8:59a

10:22p

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2024-25. Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2025, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

We have all of your luxury flooring needs carpet | hardwood | tile | stone | pavers | and more Sarasota 941.355.8437 | Bradenton 941.748.4679 | Venice 941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

The Grounded Feeling Everyone will Enjoy

crossword

celebrity cipher

WITTY REMARKS by Howard Neuthaler, edited by Jeff Chen

3 Oman’s capital

61 French author Georges 62 Overly ornate

4 Alicia Keys platinum album 63 Approximate weight of a dollar bill 5 Space 6 Stopover on a country road 64 Move fast 7 Tazo competitor 8 To be, in Barcelona 9 Flower part

65 Battlefield lifesaver

15 Bogus burner

73 English singer Adam 74 Gallery opening?

76 First, second or reverse

16 “As if!”

77 Harness

18 Crew

82 Understand

17 Worked on an assignment, 78 Water color 80 Author Roald perhaps 19 Cutting side 24 Payroll giant (Abbr.)

29 “Godzilla vs. ___” (2021 movie) 31 Hawaiian coffee region 32 Aerial mystery (Abbr.)

33 Animals used for truffle hunting

©2023 Universal Uclick

33 Honey-loving character

1 One of “the few, the proud” 34 Winter clock setting in NYC (Abbr.)

9 Russian paper whose name 35 It may be feathered ... or scaled means “truth” 15 Hit the buffet line too hard, say 20 Anonymous guests 21 Moneymaker 22 In front 23 *”I see”?

25 Directly, in slang 26 Name associated with a philosophical “razor” 27 “Voila!”

28 Stand-up’s set 29 Inelegant technological patch 30 Thunder or Lightning 31 Thud

60 Olympic skater Midori

92 Us, south of the U.S.

61 Clorox cleaner

95 Highlight ___

62 *”Chew on this”?

96 Newton’s describes

65 They’re above many

inertia

hipsters

100 Badgered

36 *”Mirror, mirror, on the

69 Dr. ___ (record producer) 101 Strolls along

wall, who’s the fairest of

70 Cartoon explorer

104 Verb often shortened

them all”?

71 Award show booty

in texts

41 Affleck of “Air”

75 Self-centered type

105 Word with “tie” or “dye”

42 Office message

76 One with a degree

106 Protruding feature

45 Easter hunt target

78 Make things right

107 Requested

46 Menu next to “File,” often 79 Guileful

108 *”Oh, it’s nothing”?

47 *”Fair is fair”?

80 Judge

111 Country that borders 14

51 They’re busy in Apr.

81 *”Don’t have a cow”?

others

53 Singer Brooks

83 Some portfolio invest-

112 Gave one’s two cents

54 Data to be processed

ments (Abbr.)

113 Song featuring multiple

55 Swallows one’s pride

84 Towing org.

rappers

57 Want

85 Jury member, perhaps

114 Having much attitude

58 “The ___ in the Boat”

86 Convent member

115 Coupe alternatives

(2023 movie)

87 *”You’re under arrest”?

116 “Prolly”

59 Viral internet sensation

91 Indian state

35 Simple superlative 37 See 42-Down 38 Actor Elba 39 Explosive stuff, for short 40 Fred’s wife on “I Love Lucy” 41 HVAC units 42 With 37-Down, South Beach squad 43 Double ___ 44 Classic roadsters 47 Front sail 48 One, in Juarez 49 Mole that might get whacked?

PZKXBAUI LZTH YHL JAS ZH TWSE WS.” DYSBP VAHBWS

place

12 Certain sweaters and tees 71 Shock 72 Action film director John 13 Make an impression? perhaps

VHZOV, PZK EYFA SZ JAS KD, LKBS

66 Ancient Greek market-

10 Issa of “American Fiction” 67 Silently signal assent 68 Home theater features 11 Big name in suits

14 Pictures at an exhibition,

“UWIA WBH’S DAXIAOS. TEAH PZK JAS Y

84 Imitates 85 Each 88 Peak period 89 “Be ___. Be very ___.” (tagline from “The Fly”)

“F’I CMVP YSIGSVBTWZM EFBR IPUMZG TXK IP UMONTZFBP, WNB FB KSMUX’B KMGFXM IM. F TZUS VMTK WSSJU, WMZFMCM FB SV XSB.”

“H VHWN ILHXHOR JNFCBZN PEB FCO YCWN XUHORZ UCKKNO COG XBLO EBX XUN ICP XUNP ONANL GE HO LNCV VHTN.”

90 Certain earth pigment 91 Roland-___ (French Open)

MCT IMXKMU

LEJ LNHONL Puzzle Three Clue: Y equals M

2 A pie often has eight

59 Money maker

Puzzle Two Clue: O equals X

1 Click of approval

57 Actress Merrill

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 One Clue: F equals V

DOWN

ACROSS

417953-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

92 Something one doesn’t want to be given by their boss 93 Loathsome 94 Handled with care 97 Ditches

sudoku

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

98 Strain 99 Florentine painter Fra Filippo ___ 100 Sly designs 101 GarageBand runners 102 Workplace monitoring agcy.

103 Heads downhill 104 Suisse peak 106 ___ buco

50 Fiercely flings, in modern 108 The Sox, on scoreboards 109 “I’m Just ___” (song slang 51 Diminutive Spanish suffix from “Barbie”) 110 Medium aptitude?

52 Senior’s companion 53 Chap 56 Chopped finely

(Abbr.)

©2023 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

3-7-24

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

RED PAGES 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.

LONGBOAT KEY Bayside Condo with Gulf View Available January-March 2025 3 month minimum 2 bedroom/2 bath Portobello 4th Floor Spectacular views $7,500/month (including taxes) Call 214-986-2287 LONGBOAT KEY Portobello Seasonal Rental.

Available Now! Beautifully renovated condo, 2BR/2BA. 1,260 sq.ft. Pool, tennis court, private beach. 1 month min.

No pets. $7,000 - April and/or May (2024) $5,000 June-Dec (2024)

real estate

auto

stuff

Call 908-692-4756 LONGBOAT KEY: Beachfront Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking.

Call 941-383-3338.

WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL RATES Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos

NESPRESSO VERTUO LINE coffee maker. Lightly used. $50 Call 416-564-7779 TRANSPORT CHAIR, used once.

Paid 239. Sell for $150.

Call Dave 941-928-3211

Merchandise Wanted GOLD, SILVER BUYING w/ CASH. RETIRED INVESTOR Diamonds, Coins, Jewelry, Antiques. Free House Calls.

Discrete/ Confidential. Call David 813-439-2694 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

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

SELL YOUR STUFF FAST!

Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

LUXURIOUS CONDO on Anna Maria Island For Rent - Upgraded granite/stainless kitchen.

Incredible water views through floor length windows. Waterfront patio, luxury furnishings, 2BD/2BR, king beds. Pool, tennis, walk to the beach. Private carport.

Monthly rental May - Nov. Owner/renter. Flexible terms.

570-239-0431 marketreps@aol.com

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC

101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

1BR/1BA WHITNEY BEACH Enjoy daily a beautiful waterfront view onto Bishops Bayou where dolphin, manatee & pelicans feed. Recently renovated, fully furnished, contemporary condo at Whitney Beach. $525,000 (770) 335-9211

Land for Sale

LONGBOAT KEY This special lot borders on the 32-acre DURANTE PARK nature preserve and includes DEEDED ACCESS to GULF BEACH and SARASOTA BAY. $1,200,000.

Susan Christy, REALTOR (941) 504-0350 https://561gulfbayroadlbk.com

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Adult Care Services

Help Wanted AMI TURTLE WATCH OFFICE ASST. 20 hr/wk. Work from home near AMI. Skills: Scheduling, Inventory, Purchasing, Data Entry, Website. Some local travel. Email director@islandturtlewatch.com

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE! FAIRWAY BAY 1,300 SQ.FT., 2 bed, 2 bath (en suite) furnished condominium w/ w/d, sleeps 6. Extended patio. Direct water views of downtown Sarasota.

Pool, fitness room, beach club included. Available May - Dec 2024 . $5,500/month. Jan - April 2025. $7,500/ month. No Pets.

Call 941-545-4471

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/Red Pages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

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.

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING HIGH-END INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

This week’s Crossword answers

LOOKING FOR a 2BR furnished beach home or condo.

1 or 2 months: June, July, August. 2 Adults.

Non-smoking, no pets.

Will provide local references.

Call or text: 727-224-4859.

3BR/2.5BA BAY ISLES Golf Course Villa. Private pool/hot tub, garage. Quiet, bright & well equipped unit. Flexible 2024/5 dates. References. By owner.

(303) 861-8777

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Condos/Apts. for Sale

Rentals Wanted

jobs

GARAGE SALE

Condos/Apts. for Rent

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

Painting

home services

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

Autos Wanted

RED PAGES AD RATES

Reservations 941-383-5577

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite

Items Under $200

CLEANING SERVICE Total Home Service Cleaning, residential, vacation rentals, commercial, power washing and windows. We are family owned, we have been in business for 25 years. Very professional & detailed.

(941) 744-7983 Ths.cleaning

The CRYSTAL CLEAR choice!

Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

Cleaning

EPIC HOME CARE Personal Care-Respite Care Alzheimer’s Care Light Cleaning Med Administration Meal Prep Shopping, Errands & More Call for a FREE Evaluation!

941-536-6372 Epichomecareprovider@gmail Rosa Torres- Owner

©2022 Universal Uclick

You’re only cheating yourself.

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

peekers’ place

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Life isn’t perfect. When you get a knock, you have to get up, dust yourself down and get on with it.”

Patsy Kensit

Puzzle Two Solution: “I’m very comfortable with myself and my sexuality, but it doesn’t define me. I also read books, believe it or not.”

Eva Mendes Puzzle Three Solution: “I like writing because you can make things happen and turn out the way they never do in real life.”

Rob Reiner

This week’s Sudoku answers

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

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

©2022 NEA, Inc.

YourObserver.com

19B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

Handyman

Painting

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

High End Interior & Exterior Painting Services

Health

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

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

Power Washing

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

Pressure Washing

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

William J. Leininger, JD

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

Honesty, Integrity and Pride

• Roofs • Pool Cages • Decks • Driveways Roofs • Pool Cages • Decks • Driveways ••Deck/Paver Sealing • Gutter Cleaning • Deck/PaverAnd Sealing • And Much More Much More!

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

420654

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

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Auto Service

419946

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

SELL YOUR CAR!

Pressure Washing

941-544-1066 | scaperotta@aol.com Italian American Owned

Roofing

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

FAST • EASY • SAFE

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

419981

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

WE COME TO YOU

Building & Roofing Contractor

Home Services

5-Star Rated

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

Cleaning and Landscaping 420655

HoHoBuysCars.com

Handyman Services Home Watch Storm Preparation & Other Services

Caregiver/Companion

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

1/10/23, 10:25 AM

coquinaservices@gmail.com

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

Luxury for Less

941-248-4734

419980

MIC INSURANCE

Sliding Glass Door Repair

420656

419983

420652

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

NEED HELP?

UP TO

1/1

150

25 $

STANDARD WINDOWS

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

INCLUDING SCREENS, TR ACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00

Landscaping & Lawn

5

Gardener On Call

$

LANDSCAPING • LANDSCAPE CLEANUP • PRUNING • WEEDING Flowers, Palms, Container Gardening, Tree Trimming

CALL 941-302-3933

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

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows

421222

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

Windows

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

Find local business and service professionals in the Observer Red Pages.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

10% off

Airports, Concerts, Dinners & Cruises www.towncarservicebradenton.com

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

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

Furniture Repair

941-504-0903

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

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

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE” New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Nick 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

420659

Insurance

Doors

chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png

Transportation 419982

941-920-7065

24 Hour Care • Full Service Home Health Care www.tlchomecaresrq.com • (941) 320-9678 Now Hiring HHA’s & CNA’s

BEFORE

AFTER

420658

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

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

421220

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

420647

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772

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.

941.270.4400

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

420660

Divorce without Lawyers

410036

Attorney

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!

420657

Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388

20B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

G

Leading the market in 2024!

W NE

IN IST

L

Wishing you Happy Holidays and Peace in the New Year!

NEW LISTING

TOP 0.5%

of 1.46M Realtors

Top Small Team Sarasota/Manatee Counties

$3+ Billion

QUEENS HARBOUR - LONGBOAT KEY

$2,795,000

3584 Fair Oaks Ln. 3BR+STUDY/3.5BA | 2,959 SQ FT | 2-CAR GARAGE Direct Protected Sailboat Water- Can Accommodate a Large Vessel up to 55 FT | New Roof | Heated Pool & Spa | High ceilings | Includes Private Beach Club Membership

Career Sales Volume

Top 100 Agents RealTrends — All Florida

6401 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE LONGBOAT KEY G $5,875,000

TIN

54 Years

4BR/4BA | 3,037 SQ FT | 3-CAR GARAGE Custom Modern Masterpiece | 2022 Rebuild | Exquisite Outdoor Entertaining w/New Pool & Spa and Rooftop Lounge | Furnishings Available | Ready for Immediate Occupancy | All New Hurricane Impact Windows & Sliders | Full-Home Backup Generator

Combined Real Estate Experience

W

NE

LIS

NEW LISTING

www.ackermansrq.com RYAN ACKERMAN (305) 205-7700 (941)387-1818

THE ACKERMAN GROUP

BARBARA ACKERMAN (941) 780-6045 (941)780-6045

THE LAKES ESTATES - CENTRAL SARASOTA

941.387.1820

1922Largest HARBOURSIDE DR., TOWNHOME Lakefront Lot#1101 in the| 2BR/2BA Community | Fully Renovated and Move-In Ready | New Roof | Beautiful Screened Updated & Baths | Finished A/C Bonus &Utilities Recreational Area | Private 2-Car Garage LanaiKitchen w/ Lake Views | All Underground | Charming Neighborhood with Mature Oak Trees Wood Floors | Fireplace | Resort-Style Amenities Private Beach Club Membership

TWO AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES IN GRAND BAY

G

TIN

EW

LIS

$899,000

1755 Oak FAIRWAY BAYLakes Dr. 3BR + STUDY/2 BA |2,583 SQ FT | 2-CAR GARAGE LONGBOAT KEY $829,000

N

GRAND BAY I BAYSO SARASOTA

$1,799,000

301 Quay Commons #903 | 2BR+ Study/3 Full BA | 1,828 SQ FT 9th Floor Location | Split Floor Plan | Positioned to Capture Optimal Views | 2 Side-By-Side Prime Parking Spaces

$1,995,000 GRAND BAY II

3060 GRAND BAY BLVD., #112 | 3BR/2BA | 2,250 SQ FT Completely Updated | 1st Floor Residence | Large Bayfront Terrace | Fully Furnished | NW Corner Residence Pet-Friendly

CE

G

I PR

N DI

EN

CHEROKEE PARK WEST OF TRAIL

W NE $975,000

P BAY V - LONGBOAT KEY GRAND

$1,090,000 THE PROMENADE

370 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #416 | 3BR/3.5BA | 2,476 SQ FT All New Hurricane Impact Doors and Windows New A/C | Gated Pet-Friendly Community | Excellent Amenities | 2-Car Garage

CE

$5,985,000

W

NE

$1,995,000 LAWRENCE POINTE

1211 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #801 | 3BR/3BA | 2,100 SQ FT Rarely Available Corner Unit | 180 Degree Bay, City & Gulf Views | Split Floor Plan | Expansive Living Room & Dining Area

G P

GRAND BAY I - LONGBOAT KEY

3060 GRAND BAY BLVD., #112 3BR/2BA | 2,250 SQ FT Completely Updated | Fully Furnished | NW Corner Residence Fet-Friendly | Socially Active Community | Private Beach Club | Resort Style Amenities

EN PROVENCE

$2,249,000

W

$4,750,000

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THE SEA BREEZE - SIESTA KEY

$2,695,000

3330 SABAL COVE LN. | 4BR + DEN / 4 FULL & 2 HALF BA Wide Lake Views | High Ceilings | Open Kitchen | New Roof Covered Patio | Screened-In Pool and Spa | 2-Car Garage

CE

NE

$2,375,000

$4,900,000 SABAL COVE

1241 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #401 | 3BR/5BA | 3,400 SQ FT Panoramic Gulf Views | 3 Waterfront Terraces | Private Elevator Lobby | All En-Suite Baths | Gated Pet-Friendly Community

CE

I PR

PIERRE - LONGBOAT KEY

GRAND BAY II - LONGBOAT KEY

3040 GRAND BAY BLVD., #221 3BR/3.5BA | 2,925 SQ FT Furnished | 2 Garage Parking Spaces | Wraparound Terrace | 10 FT Ceilings Pet-Friendly | Private Beach Club Resort Style Amenities

$4,450,000 WATER CLUB I

PENDING SALE 2151 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #5 | 3BR/3BA | 3,400 SQ FT Outstanding Sunset Views | Gourmet Kitchen | High Ceilings Private Elevator to Residence | Summer Kitchen | 2-Car Garage

W

G

IN

D EN

P

NE

$1,975,000

101 SUNSET DR., #402 | 3BR/3BA | 2,179 SQ FT Direct Bay Front | Updated | Quiet Downtown Location | Low Condominium Fees | Under-Building Parking

IN

D EN

I PR

1655 SOUTH DRIVE 5BR/5 FULL BA & 4.5 HALF BA | 6,355 SQ FT Luxury Estate Home | 2,000 Bottle Wine Room | Private Casita | Whole-Home Generator |Rear 3-Car Garage | Gourmet Cooks Kitchen | Resort Style Pool 15 FT Above Flood Impact Windows & Sliders

3080 GRAND BAY BLVD., #533 | 2BR/2BA | 1,329 SQ FT 2 Large Private Terraces | Rarely Available Capri Floor Plan | Floor-to-Ceiling Windows & Sliders 2 Garage Parking Spaces | Pet Friendly | Sunrise & Sunset Views

TANGERINE BAY CLUB

$2,295,000

3040 GRAND BAY BLVD., #283 | 3BR/3BA | 2,550 SQ FT Custom Updates Throughout | Built-In Office Area | New Porcelain Tile & Oak Wood Floors | Private Elevator Foyer Pet-Friendly Community

W

NE $2,900,000

I PR

LAWRENCE POINTE - DOWNTOWN

$2,169,000

9008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 | 3BR/3.5BA | 3,700 SQ FT 101 SUNSET DR., #402 | 3BR/3BA | 2,179 SQ FT 455 LONGBOAT CLUB RD, PH #4 Private 2-Car Garage & Roof Top Terrace | Full-Floor Penthouse Updated | Quiet Downtown Location | Low Condominium Fees 5BR/4.5BA + OFFICE l 1,100 SQ FT of TERRACE 10 FT Ceilings | 2 New A/C Units | Deeded Boat Dock Under-Building Parking | Unobstructed Sunset Views 17 FT Ceilings l Year-round Sunrises & Sunsets I 360 Degree OAKS $5,985,000 CONDO ON THE BAY TOWER II $1,349,000 Views of the Gulf, Bay, Downtown, Siesta Key & John Ringling $1,645,000 CHEROKEE PARK 360 NORTH RD. | 3BR/3.5BA | 2,913 SQ FT 1655 SOUTH DR. | 5BR/5 FULL BA & 4.5 HALF BA | 6,355 SQ FT 988 BLVD OF THE ARTS #816 | 2BR/2BA | 1,555 SQ FT Bridge I On-site POINT Mgt, Guest Suites, Fitness & More

Brand New Construction | High Ceilings | Gourmet Kitchen w/ Luxury Estate Home | 2,000 Bottle Wine Room | Whole-Home ST. ARMANDS • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 Center Island | 2-Car Detached Garage with EV OFFICE ChargerLOCATIONGenerator

Incredible Bay, Bridge & Sunset Views Screened-In Tiled Waterfront Balcony | Custom Updates | Pet-Friendly Community

CE

FAIRWAY BAY

I ND

PE

$799,000 THE SEA BREEZE

1922 HARBOURSIDE DR., #1101 | 2BR/2BA TOWNHOME Updated Kitchen & Baths | Finished A/C Bonus and Recreational Area | Private 2-Car Garage

$2,900,000 ROYAL ST. ANDREW

9008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 | 3BR/3.5BA | 3,700 SQ FT Private 2-Car Garage and Roof Top Terrace | Full-Floor Penthouse | 10 FT Ceilings

$1,899,900

555 S. GULFSTREAM AVE. #901/901A 3BR/2.5BA | 2,305 SQ FT | 9th Floor 1 & 1/2 Combined Residences | Gorgeous Bay & Sunset Views | Gourmet Kitchen

ST. ARMANDS OFFICE LOCATION • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236

415557-1

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