Longboat Observer 3.14.24

Million-dollar spans

FDOT says Little Ringling Bridge alternatives would come with a price tag of at least $63.7 million.

option, will be Thursday, March 21, at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive. The project area is between Bird Key Drive and Sarasota Harbour West.

of St.

will be presented during a Florida Department of Transportation pub-

hearing next Thursday. The hearing, which will include a presentation of the FDOT’s preferred

The in-person open house will begin at 5 p.m. The virtual and inperson hearing and testimony portion will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting will also be available online.

The project area is between Bird Key Drive and Sarasota Harbor West. In addition to addressing the struc-

tural integrity of the spans, the aging twin bridges lack facilities needed for modern transportation needs and do not match recent and future improvements to the John Ringling Bridge between the mainland and Bird Key.

Constructed in 1958, the bridges are spaced 100 feet apart from center to center.

Each bridge is 1,008 feet long and 37.5 feet wide. It is supported by 21 spans each 48 feet long, all consisting of four lines of precast concrete beams on concrete piles.

The maximum vertical clearance under the bridges is approximately 12 feet above average high water. Several sections of the deck were replaced on the westbound bridge in 2016 along with other repair work throughout the years.

Project alternatives include

replacing the twin bridges with a single bridge at $63.7 million or new twin bridges at $71.5 million.

The single bridge alternative would replace the two existing bridges with a single structure for all lanes of travel. The travel lanes on the new bridge will be the same 11-foot width as on the existing bridges. Ten-foot out-

side shoulders will accommodate bicyclists, and a 14-foot shared use path would be added to each side of the bridge.

The twin bridges alternative will replace the two existing bridges with individual bridges for each direction of travel. The travel lanes on the new bridges will be the same 11-foot width as on the existing bridges. Ten-foot outside shoulders will accommodate bicyclists, and a 14-foot shared use path would be added to the outside of each bridge.

There is also a third option, which is no-build.

No build doesn’t mean no cost.

That alternative assumes no improvements made to the Little Ringling bridges through the year 2050, except routine maintenance.

The condition of the bridges would require ongoing maintenance and periodic major rehabilitation projects to keep them functional. Rehabilitation projects would likely include partial or complete deck replacement, substructure and beam repairs and replacement of structural pile jackets and corrosion protection to slow deterioration.

Maintenance repairs for no-build would be ongoing and larger rehabilitation projects could be expected approximately every five years for the next 30 years, after which time the bridge would require replacement.

To view the hearing online, advance registration is required at https://bit.ly/LittleRinglingPublicHearing. From 5-6 p.m., in-person attendees can view project materials and speak with the team in an open house format.

The virtual and in-person hearing and testimony portion will begin at 6 p.m.

Both in-person and virtual attendees may view the project presentation and provide feedback on the proposed alternative.

All meeting materials, including the presentation, are available online at SWFLRoads.com/project/436680-1 by March 14. Project documents are also available for public viewing through April 4 at Selby Public Library, 1331 First St. in Sarasota, and at FDOT District One Manatee Operations Center, 14000 E. State Road 64 in Bradenton.

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

Build or no build

Possible options for Longboat Pass Bridge include projects costing upwards of $100M.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

The future of the Longboat Pass Bridge will soon be up for discussion.

On March 14, the Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public workshop to discuss potential alternatives for the Longboat Pass Bridge.

The meeting will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Christ Church.

The FDOT is currently in the Planning, Development & Environment Study phase, and the department is now seeking public input on the four different alternative solutions that have been drawn up.

The entire scope of the $2,125,000 study spans 0.75 miles of State Road 789 from North Shore Road on Longboat Key to the Coquina Park Entrance. The FDOT paid for the study, which began in February 2020.

After the alternatives public workshop, a public hearing will be held sometime in early 2025, according to the project’s website. By early 2026, the FDOT is aiming to get study approval and location design concept approval.

On the project website, the FDOT lists the project goals as: address the structural integrity and operational deficiencies of the bridge, improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities and improve emergency evacuation and response times.

SEARCH FOR AN ALTERNATIVE

As of now, there are four alternatives that the FDOT is proposing for the Longboat Pass Bridge. The alternatives were derived from their PD&E study.

First is a no-build option. This would mean that the existing bridge structure would remain in place.

The bridge as it stands now is 17 feet above the mean high-water line, and has a width of 50 feet between fenders. It was built in 1957, then renovated in 2005 and 2020, according to the FDOT website.  It is now classified as “function-

BRIDGE WORKSHOP

At the March 14 workshop, participants will be able to speak with FDOT representatives and learn more about the alternatives proposed, as well as provide input. There will be a project video playing in the background and display boards around the room.

The workshop will be held 5-7 p.m. at Christ Church, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key.

Project materials can be viewed on the project website.

If anyone is unable to attend the March 14 workshop but still wants to offer comments, there is an option to do so at SWFLroads.com/project/436676-1 or by emailing Patrick.Bateman@Dot.State.FL.us.

ally obsolete” by the FDOT due to the age and design of the shoulders and traffic barriers.

An “Alternatives Evaluation Matrix” released by the FDOT — which will also be available at the workshop — estimates that the existing bridge would have a remaining lifespan of about 10 years.  Marine traffic often requires the drawbridge to open and disrupt traffic. The matrix estimated that the bridge opens about 100-300 times a month.

Since there would be no changes to move forward with a no-build option, there would be no cost, but the matrix includes a footnote saying that the no-build option would include “increasingly costly maintenance and repair projects causing continued disruption to traffic.”

The current bridge has two 12-foot travel lanes with a five-foot sidewalk on each side. The sidewalks and travel lanes are separated by nine inches of concrete.

Build alternative No. 1 would be a low-level bascule bridge with a vertical height of 23 feet above the mean high water line.

A bascule bridge is a type of moveable bridge (i.e. drawbridge) designed to handle heavy loads.

With an increase in height, this alternative is estimated to decrease the amount of bridge openings by about 4%.

Design costs for the low-level bridge would be about $7.5 million, with a total project cost of about $133.2 million.  A midlevel bascule bridge is the second build alternative. This bridge would be 36 feet above the mean high water level.

This would be expected to reduce bridge openings by about 35%.

The design would cost around $7.5 million with a total project cost coming in at $133.9 million.

Lastly, there is an alternative to build a high-level fixed bridge with no drawbridge. This bridge would be 78 feet in height from the high water

line and eliminate bridge openings altogether.  This option is the only one that would impact the roadway enough so that the entrance to Coquina Beach would have to be shifted about 500 feet north.  Design costs would be around $4.5 million for this bridge and the project as a whole is estimated to cost around $93.3 million.  All three build options are estimated to have a lifespan of 75 years. They would all also have a low potential impact to threatened and endangered species, impact 0.10 acres of wetlands and impact 0.22 acres of

seagrasses.  The three build options are also all the same width — 90 feet between fenders — with the same lane configuration.

Proposed in the preliminary design are two 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot shoulder on each side followed by a 12-foot shared use path on each side. Adding a shoulder and increasing the width of the concrete separator would address issues of bicyclist and pedestrian safety.

The information included in the matrix is preliminary and subject to change.

Courtesy image

Current lane configuration of the Longboat Pass Bridge.

Courtesy image

Proposed lane configurations for Longboat Pass Bridge design alternative.

File image

Longboat Pass Bridge was originally constructed in 1957 and reconstructed in 2005 and 2020.

Second workshop on the way for Longboat public library

The meeting on March 18 will give residents another opportunity to weigh in.

CARTER WEINHOFER

STAFF WRITER

On March 18, Longboat Key residents will have another opportunity to provide input on Sarasota County’s Town Center Green public library project.

The workshop will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Town Hall. According to a media release from Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips, the county will be presenting information based on input received at the previous hearing and results from their Engage Survey.

This survey will be open until March 18 for anyone who wants to share their thoughts prior to the workshop.

The project is entering the last steps of the Conceptual Design Development in which the county and design team are gathering input about the desires of the community. After the March 18 workshop, the architects, Borrelli + Partners Inc., will take the ideas and create a more refined design.

With the project’s current timeline, the library could open around late 2026, according to Sarasota County’s Director of Libraries and Historical Resources Renee Di Pilato.

The first public workshop, held on Feb. 12, commanded a crowd of almost 100 people. After a presentation giving a brief overview of the history and scope of the project, the meeting was split into two breakout sessions to focus on the two main components of the project.

First is the public library component, which will be funded and operated by Sarasota County.

“The idea is to take this space and create something that will really

PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKSHOP

1:30 p.m. March 18 at Longboat Key Town Hall,

For more about the project and survey, visit SarasotaCounty-FL.CivilSpace.IO/ EN/Projects/County-LibraryPlanned-For-Longboat-Key.

meet the community’s arts and cultural needs,” Tipton said at the Feb. 12 meeting.

The library is planned to be built on the Town Center Green on the southeast parcel. As of the last meeting, the county’s plans were to construct an 8,000 square feet base library.

But there’s also an opportunity for an addition to the space. An extension would not be funded by the county, but rather would require a private fundraising effort.

Ideas presented by residents at the previous meeting focused on more meeting space for community groups, utilizing outdoor space and technology enhancements beyond the base library equipment.

Compromise on car shows

CARTER WEINHOFER

STAFF WRITER

The St. Armands Circle Association and the city of Sarasota came to a compromise: Car shows can return to the Circle.

Following the announcement that popular car shows, like Corvettes on the Circle, would not be allowed to continue due to city regulations, members of the association were quick to try to find a solution, according to Director of Sales & Marketing for St. Armands Circle Association Rachel Burns.

Burns said the association was informed by the city in November 2023 that due to concerns over the landscaping and aesthetics of the park, cars would not be allowed to enter the grassy areas of the Circle. This meant that car shows would have to be moved to the Boulevard of the Presidents.

Moving the shows to that area would cost more, said Burns.

After reaching out to many car shows, she realized the increase in cost and change of location meant the car clubs would not be able to hold events in 2024.

“There was a lot of concern on our end,” Burns said. “It’s not just that a Corvette show or a car show would end; it would be that the actual landscape of special events on St. Armands Circle would be affected long term.

Burns fielded numerous phone calls and emails from merchants and residents about the issue, most of whom were in full support of keeping the shows.

The association sent out a survey to merchants in February to get input as well. Of the 69 answers, 67

merchants said they wanted special events to continue on the Circle.

St. Armands Circle Association Board members Casey Gonzmart, Andrew Vac, Rick Konsavage and Hugh Fiore met with City Manager Marlon Brown and city staff members from parks and recreation on March 1.

On the city’s side, the concern was the potential for damage.

“But for us, (there was) potentially a huge loss of tourism to the area, a loss of money going to local charities, a loss of lifestyle for the residents and the Sarasota community,” Burns said.

In the compromise, the city is

requiring the association to work with staff members to create new measures to prevent damage and ensure the longevity of the park.

There will be some more behindthe-scenes changes, but nothing that will affect the guest experience, according to Burns.

Another component of the compromise was creating the option for a rain date, which was never a formal process according to Burns. There were informal rules, but nothing that spelled out an actual process for dealing with a rain date.

“It was great to see that we were able to come to this compromise,” Burns said.

With a compromise set, Burns said car shows are allowed to continue in 2024. But on short notice, it might be too late for some, like Corvettes on the Circle, to continue.  Allen Harmsen, vice president and show chairman for the Skyway Corvette Club of Sarasota and Manatee, said Burns informed him of the decision, but it might be too late for them to pull the event together this year.

“There are a few new stipulations plus some changes that are being made to St. Armands Circle to help with loading cars on and off the turf,” Harmsen said in an email. “As a result, it may be a few more months to determine whether or not

“There was a lot of concern on our end. It’s not just that a Corvette show or a car show would end; it would be that the actual landscape of special events on St. Armands Circle would be affected long term.”

— Rachel Burns, director of sales & marketing for St. Armands Circle Association

we can reschedule the show for later this year or just plan on returning in 2025.”

In early January, Harmsen reached out to the St. Armands Association to start preparations for the Corvettes on the Circle show. That’s when he found out about the city’s previous decision to not allow car shows any longer.

The show, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023, is usually held on the first Saturday of May every year.

Compared to most other car shows held in parking lots, Harmsen said Corvettes on the Circle was renowned for its scenic location.

After Harmsen heard about the city’s decision in January, he informed participants from the last five years that the show would not continue in 2024.

Corvettes on the Circle is also a charity event. Proceeds from registration fees went toward The Honor Flight of West Central Florida, which flies World War II veterans to Washington, D.C.

As of 2023, the club had sponsored 30 veterans.

A new agreement with the city will help ensure that landscaping and park aesthetics are preserved during events.

James Peter

Paul A. Budick of Bradenton shows off his rare 1962 Corvette convertible, complete with its original golden grille during the 25th annual Corvettes on the Circle in 2023.

Longboat Key ranked for retirement

Longboat Key was ranked fifth on a list of top places to retire on Florida’s Gulf Coast by travel website and newsletter The Travel.

Longboat Key’s attractive factors include beaches, outdoor recreation and green spaces, like Bayfront Park and Joan M. Durante Park, according to TheTravel.com.

Outdoor recreation like fishing, boating and golf are among the draws for retirees, the website says.

The website also states that 70.19% of the population are seniors, and the cost of living is 5.3% higher than the U.S. average.

Sarasota also made the list, coming in at sixth. At the top of the list was Panama City Beach.

Update on Zota murder suspect

On Jan. 12, detectives arrested Latoya Hanna in St. Lucie County following a six-year investigation. The original charge for Latoya Hanna was felony murder, and the original arraignment was supposed to be on Feb. 9. But on Feb. 6, the charges were reduced by state Attorney Ed Brodsky to principal to murder in the second degree, which is also a felony.

The arraignment was then

rescheduled.

A principal to a murder is a suspect who was not the actual perpetrator, but someone who was present or acted as an accomplice.

Hanna was arraigned on March 8.

A stipulation for pretrial release was also filed after the arraignment. Latoya Hanna could be released before going to trial and placed on house arrest if a $150,000 bond is paid.

Her brother, Darryl Hanna Jr., was the first suspect arrested in the case. Darryl Hanna Jr. suffered a stroke-like incident on Sept. 10, 2017, while in jail and never woke up.

Where to vote

The Florida Presidential Preference

Primary is Tuesday, March 19.

In Longboat Key, Sarasota County residents can vote at town hall. Manatee County residents will vote at the Longboat Island Chapel. At both locations, voting will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Only registered GOP voters are eligible to vote in this primary, since Florida is a closed-primary state.

More information about the Presidential Preference Primary, how to request a mail-in ballot and how to update voter registration information can be found on the Supervisor of Elections websites for Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Longboat Key was ranked as a top retirement destination for its outdoor recreation.

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

Sarasota’s own answer to crime reduction

The most intractable problem of crime is that of repeat offenders. Most offenders will return to crime after serving a prison sentence for being caught the first time. Solving that is no easy task, but right here in Sarasota, an impressive nonprofit organization called Project 180 is showing it can be done.

Our justice system today works on the assumption that punishment deters crime. You do a crime, you get caught, you go to prison, it is terrible, so you don’t do crime again. And since you know that is what will happen, you think twice, or thrice, about committing crime in the first place.

The problem is that the data clearly shows things do not work that way. The U.S. Department of Justice points out that:

„ Being imprisoned doesn’t convince most people to avoid crime, and once imprisoned, many have less fear of going back to prison.

„ The certainty of being caught is a vastly more powerful a deterrent than the severity of punishment, even very long sentences, and most offenders know little about what the punishments for specific crimes are.

„ Policing policies that increase the perception that offenders are likely to be caught reduce crime more than does punishment.

You can see the truth of this is some basic numbers. In any given year in Florida about half of the people sent to prison have been to prison before. Or look at it another way, as in the accompanying figure. Each year offenders are out of prison the odds they will commit new crimes and go back to prison goes up. Almost 85% will be back in prison within a decade of getting out from their first sentence.

So, locking people up is not an effective way to reduce crime, yet for the most part, that is all our justice system currently does. And this imposes huge costs on us all. Each time the system fails, and an offender goes back to crime after their prison sentence, it imposes a range of costs on the rest of us:

1. The costs to the new victims of their crime, not just the value of any goods stolen but also the personal cost of violence and/or disruption of life.

2. Costs of police to catch them, the courts to try them and the jails to hold them during the process.

3. Cost of imprisoning for the new sentence to be served.

4. The loss to the economy from the offender not being productive.

A detailed study in Illinois calculated that in Illinois the costs for each new offense by a reoffender of item one is $57,418, items two and three at $40,987, and item three at $20,432. In other words the cost of recidivism per offender in Illinois is about $120,000, and that is likely very similar in Florida. The most recent estimate for Florida is that it costs $77.53 per day just for item three above, to house an inmate in a state prison. The Council of State Governments estimates Florida spends over $313 million per year just to imprison individuals who violate terms of release (parole) without even doing another crime!

CHANGING THE BEAT

The single most effective thing we can do with in the criminal justice system to reduce crime and its costs is to reduce recidivism. That is easier said than done. The reasons why offenders go back to crime are many. But some efforts

to turn offenders’ lives around and help them avoid going back to crime have worked, and a great example is right here in Sarasota.

Project 180 is a local charity that provides a live-in program for individuals released from prison to the Sarasota area. Barbara Richards, the saint who created and runs Project 180, has devoted her life to solving the problem of helping people turn away from crime.

It would take a short book to fully explain their approach, but I am going to give the essence of it here. I heartily recommend checking out their website and their public programs and learning more about them.

All successful programing for former offenders recognizes that incarceration completely disrupts the life of the offender, and it is a huge challenge for them to get back to normal life. It is very hard for them to find a place to live, a job, get a car or transportation, to live a normal and stable life, to fight off the addiction to drugs or alcohol that most of them have and resist temptation, and to avoid the situations and people that surrounded them when they turned to crime in the first place.

For each offender this requires a very personalized, hands-on program of assistance — each one of them will have different strength of needs and priorities from the list in the previous paragraph. For the staff at Project 180, combining the right help for each person is the key to success.

To provide a foundation for the very personalized help that each individual who lives in the Project 180 homes and programs, they focus on six pillars of stability.

Recovery — addiction to drugs or alcohol is a near universal problem for ex-offenders and starting the lifelong process of recovery is mandatory.

1. Housing —Living in a conventional house in a conventional neighborhood, avoiding homelessness and loneliness, cooperating with roommates and participating socially are all important.

2. Employment — Getting a full-time job that is a career not just a job.

3. Relationships — Rebuilding with family, developing friendships, participating in groups, organizations and community.

4. Finances — Paying each month to help with housing and programs, learning about financial management.

5. Health care — Meeting medical and mental health needs.

It is easy to see why those are the pillars of stability in Project 180’s program — a disruption of any one of those is the kind of thing that destabilizes someone’s life and can lead to a spiral out of control and possibly back to crime.

And that list simplifies all the Project 180 does. The details of helping each individual are full of particulars that meet that person’s specific needs. And things like helping to get driver’s licenses, or education, or group recreation and social events in the community all matter as well.

This sounds intense, but it works. As the accompanying figure shows, the average Florida offender has a 49% chance of committing a new crime and going back to prison in their first year out of prison. For those who got into Project 180’s program that chance is 14%. A more than two-thirds reduction in firstyear recidivism is a very impressive result.

So three cheers to Project 180. Let’s hope they can continue to grow and that many more programs like it emerge around Florida and the nation. It won’t solve all crime, and it won’t prevent all recidivism. But our current system is a disaster of recidivism and return to crime and prison, and this is an vital part of breaking that cycle and reducing a lot of crime in our society.

Dr. Adrian Moore is vice president at Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota.

Biden’s fantasia vs. Florida’s fiscal responsibleness

What a contrast — the Biden proposed budget and the historical federal deficits versus the Florida budget for 2024-2025.

It’s pretty evident when you look at the annual federal deficits over the past 16 years, that all our fiscal and political dumbledorks in Washington live in complete moronic fantasia.

While state governments typically are constitutionally required to adopt annual balanced budgets, there are simply no bounds or restraints on the way they abuse our money in Washington — proving over and over that the rules that apply to us do not apply to them.

In 10 years, from 2014 to 2024, federal spending has increased from $3.5 trillion to $6.9 trillion — a 97.9% increase, essentially doubling in that time!

How many of you have managed to double your annual income and spending in that time?

And worse, the federal deficits in that time skyrocketed from $484 billion to $3.1 trillion under Trump (the COVID spending spree) down to a measly $1.8 trillion estimated for the current fiscal year.

A deficit of $1.8 trillion?

And by the way, when you look at the spending and deficits during the Trump and Biden years, they: 1. Make Barack Obama look like the fiscal conservative of the bunch; and 2. Reveal that Donald Trump isn’t a fiscal conservative by any imagination.

In the latest Biden budget submission, the bumbledorks do the usual Washington fiscal fiction.

They make the magnanimous, totally fantastical claim that their spending plan will cut the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years!

Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha

Really? How many of you create 10-year family budgets? There is not a sane soul in the America who believes for a second that Washington will cut real spending a dime or reduce the deficit that much over 10 years, much less in one year.

You have to admit, it’s beyond mindboggling why Americans do not insist that our federal government must do what we and all states must do: balance our annual budgets.

Now, contrast the fiscal disaster in Washington with a far saner approach (although not perfect) in Florida. Florida’s state constitution, of course, requires a balanced budget. And while lawmakers achieve that every spring, Floridians have had the good fortune of having Republican governors and legislators the past 20 years who rarely dare to increase taxes.

Indeed, they haven’t needed to do that. Florida’s state budget consistently benefits from two driving factors: Population growth and Florida’s ability to continue to attract growing numbers of tourists. Together, they generate billions of dollars in consumer spending, which in turn translates to sales tax receipts and property taxes that provide plenty of cash to our state and local governments.

While state spending has increased 36% since fiscal 20192020, in the past two legislative

sessions, including the one completed last week, the Legislature actually has reduced state spending from the previous — a feat you will never see in Washington.

You can see in the accompanying table how state cash mushroomed in fiscal 2023, thanks to the federal COVID emergency cash, and has since come down slightly since.

Also in contrast to Washington, while the state is cutting spending in the current and next fiscal years, in each of those years and the

“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

previous six years, the Legislature also budgeted sales tax holidays saving Floridians about $1 billion each year, while at the same time increasing spending for public education.

Moral of the story: A balanced budget and fiscal sanity can be achieved.

Sidenote: Our state and federal governments are absolutely lousy at making it easy for taxpayers to find online easy-to-understand budget documents. It’s always an Alicein-Wonderland hunt down online rabbit holes.

What’s more, if you want a simple snapshot in the form of a standard revenues and expenses statement showing a year-over-year comparison, forget it. They don’t exist.

Given the difficulty of finding the details of how our money is spent, you have to conclude lawmakers and bureaucrats make it so difficult for an obvious reason — so taxpayers don’t really know where their money goes, other than down a black hole. — Matt Walsh

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Grocer on the Circle

Mexican restaurant, on St. Armands Circle.

Tucker, who went to culinary school in Mexico, managed the kitchen, and her sister Patricia worked the front of the restaurant. She said that everyone who dined at the restaurant would always ask where was the best place to get essentials on the island.

O“We’re

they need to grab something to make for dinner. Then, for the tourists that are staying somewhere else or they just came here to go to the beach, we got your sunscreen, ready-to-go items and any emergency stuff. So people don’t have to

go off the island for just one thing.” St. Armands Market stocks essentials such as eggs, bread, milk, cheese and deli meats. For those in a hurry, the market has ready-to-eat sandwiches, breakfast options, salads, sodas and coffee. People can also buy alcohol there. There are cleaning and hygiene products such as toothpaste, soap, laundry detergent, dishwasher soap, multipurpose cleaner and feminine products. The market also sells sunscreen and skin care products.  Tucker said her family moved to Sarasota from Mexico 14 years ago. Her parents owned La Malinche, a

“My parents have always owned businesses since I was little,” said Tucker. “So I’ve been blessed to learn from a lot of different businesses. They were the kind of parents that wanted us to know these things and practice from a young age, which I’m grateful for it.”

Tucker’s parents have since moved and started leasing out the space where their restaurant was. This past year, Tucker proposed to her parents to lease her the space so she could start a market as a way to fill that need and put her knowledge of the area to use. She opened the store with her sister in December 2023.

“I hear this like 20 times a day,

especially the first couple months,” said Tucker. “People would walk through the door and say, ‘This was so needed.’ So all the feedback has been pretty positive.”

Tucker said since it is a family business, and her children usually help around the store, she tries to keep healthy snacks and ingredients for sale at all times. She also has stocked the store with local products and imported foods like Italian pasta and Mexican candy.

Tucker said that the store is

growing every day. She hopes to continue expanding the grocery section and add an ATM.

“We are definitely more of a store that is here when you need us,” said Tucker. “When you need to fill that gap or grab something real quick or you work on the Circle and don’t want to spend a lot of money on lunch, I’ll probably have what you’re looking for. I am that comfort for people here to know that what they needed isn’t as far away as they think.”

Photos by Petra Rivera

From popcorn to cold drinks, you can find a wide variety of items at St. Armands Market.

Fresh scoops by the beach

Greg Bukowski and Volha Siamashka open an ice cream shop named after their beloved chihuahua.

CARTER

WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Ice cream always interested Greg Bukowski and Volha Siamashka.

Now, the couple is trying out a shop on Longboat Key.

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Their shop, Penny’s Ice Cream, is located at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The shop’s logo draws people’s attention in itself — a friendly looking chihuahua on a bright background.

The chihuahua, named Penny, was Bukowski’s dog.

“She was the best dog,” he said about Penny. “Super calm, never gave trouble.”

Penny also loved ice cream. After Penny died of cancer, the pair came up with the idea to name their new ice cream shop after Bukowski’s beloved pet.

Bukowski, who also owns The Fountain Kitchen & Wine Bar in Sarasota, said he’s always been curious about an ice cream business.

“It seems like an interesting business, like a happy business. People are in a good mood,” Bukowski said.

Originally from Belarus, Siamashka said she had a fondness for ice cream since she was a kid. But coming to America, she was intrigued by how ice cream here is richer and creamier.

Siamashka and Bukowski said that they’ve been familiar with Longboat

Key for a while, going to church, tennis and the beach on the island frequently.

And having an ice cream shop close to the beach seemed like a smart business decision to both of them.

“Whenever I go to the beach, I always crave ice cream on the way back. Ice cream and a drink. And I was thinking that this could be a

THE SCOOP

Penny’s Ice Cream, 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Open 1-8 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays.

The shop offers a variety of fresh ice cream, pastries and cold beverages.

pretty simple business,” Bukowski said.

Aside from ice cream sourced from Yoder’s, Penny’s has hot and iced coffee, a variety of cold beverages and fresh pastries.

Bukowski and Siamashka had a soft opening for Penny’s around the end of February, after a couple months of work getting things in order and finalizing permitting.

There wasn’t much work to be done on the interior, aside from decorating, Bukowski said.

Now, Bukowski and Siamashka are excited to see what the business has to offer for them and the community.

“We’re going to kind of slowly get known on the island and hopefully gain everybody’s trust and have everybody give us a try,” Bukowski said. “Hopefully we get a nice, loyal customer base and grow from there.”

Carter Weinhofer

Volha Siamashka and Greg Bukowski opened Penny’s Ice Cream at the end of February.

Open house on the green

The Community Open House was held at the Town Center Green, allowing it to be bigger than in previous years.

I•

f there was ever a time to get to know the town of Longboat Key, it was at the 2024 Community Open House.   The town of Longboat Key hosted more than 50 tables at the March 9 event. Residents strolled along the Town Center Green, enjoying the sunny weather and meeting the faces of Longboat Key.  Town departments like the Fire Rescue and police departments, Public Works and the Planning, Zoning and Building Department were available to talk to guests. The police department showed off its Zodiac boat, while the Fire Rescue Department came with a fire truck and ambulance.  Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi said a lot of the department’s recent public outreach has been focused on electric vehicles, talking about some of

the hazards and how to protect the vehicles from storms.

Local businesses like Sips, Ventura’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and the Zota Beach Resort talked to residents about what they have to offer, and some provided samples or refreshments for purchase.

There are plenty of ways to get involved in or around Longboat Key, which was made apparent by the number of nonprofit and environmental organizations that came to the open house.

The Paradise Center, Mote Marine Laboratory, Save Our Seabirds, Longboat Key Turtle Watch, Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key had lively and informative tables.  Christ Church of Longboat Key, All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, Longboat Island Chapel and Temple Beth Israel were also at the open house. The Rev. David Marshall with All Angels was offering pet blessings.

Last year’s community open house was held at Bayfront Park, but this year the town decided to move it to the Town Center Green in order to make it the biggest one yet. Live music in the Karon Family Pavilion was an addition to this year’s event.

Carter Weinhofer

Longboat Key Turtle Watch members Cyndi Seamon, Carlyn Vigil, Suzy Mitchell and Karey Kaine

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1

NO DUMPING IN THIS DUMPSTER

11:15 a.m., 1200 block of Bogey Lane Officer Public Service: An officer responded to a caller that reported cardboard boxes in a construction dumpster. When the officer arrived on scene, the complainant showed the officer the boxes, which had a name on them. After making contact with the person whose name was on the boxes, she agreed to

Public Notice

Public Notice

Public notice is hereby given that Sarasota County Libraries is hosting a public presentation and workshop on Monday, March 18, 2024, regarding the new County library planned for Longboat Key.

Public notice is hereby given that Sarasota County Libraries is hosting a public presentation and workshop on Monday, March 18, 2024, regarding the new County library planned for Longboat Key.

The presentation and workshop will be held at the Town of Longboat Key, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida. There will be an opportunity for public input.

The presentation and workshop will be held at the Town of Longboat Key, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida. There will be an opportunity for public input

Doors open at 1 p.m. with a formal presentation beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Doors open at 1 p.m. with a formal presentation beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Note: One or more Town Commissioners and Advisory Board members may be present.

Note: One or more Town Commissioners and Advisory Board members may be present.

No official public business or action will be taken at this event.

No official public business or action will be taken at this event.

No verbatim record by a certified court reporter is made of these proceedings. In accordance with

No

941-316-8719.

call 941-316-8719.

THURSDAY, FEB. 29 DRUGS ON DISPLAY 6:40 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles

Parkway Vehicle Stop: An officer witnessed a white SUV fail to stop at a red light before turning right, prompting the officer to pull over the driver. When the officer approached the driver, he reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana from the vehicle and saw a THC oil vape pen on top of the driver’s bag on the front passenger seat. There were also remnants of marijuana on the passenger floor board and a glass pipe in plain view. The officer detained the driver and searched the vehicle. Inside the driver’s work bag, there was a prescription pill bottle with the label scratched off. Those 21 pills were assumed to be Xanax pills based on the officer’s training. There was another THC oil pen in the center console, which was proved to be THC from a chemical field test. The officer placed the driver under arrest and arranged for the vehicle to be towed.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

KEEP HANDS TO YOURSELF

3:02 p.m., 5600 block of Emerald

Harbour Drive

Battery: Dispatch sent a Longboat Key officer to a reported disturbance. The dispatcher advised the officer that a man was yelling at neighbors and others in the area. When the officer arrived at the scene, he was able to find the man in question sitting in a truck. The man got out of his truck when the officer approached, telling the officer to go away and that he would not talk to him. The officer tried talking to the man, saying that he was there to investigate a disturbance.

According to the officer’s report, the man became increasingly agitated as the officer tried figuring out if the man was allowed to be at the property. The man claimed he was doing work at the residence but continued to argue with the officer. The officer’s report states that the man started walking toward the front of his truck and said he was leaving. Then, the officer told the man he

The man quickly went toward the driver’s side of the truck. When the officer told him to stop, the man proceeded to try to open the car door. The officer tried getting in between the man and his truck, but the man swung and hit the officer’s forearm. A struggle ensued; the officer grabbed hold of the man who was resisting arrest. A witness helped the officer get a hold of the man and get him to the ground. The witness also said he saw a gun on the man’s waist, which the officer found and took from him. The man was placed under arrest and transported to Manatee County Jail for resisting an officer with violence and battery.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

SHORT BREAK ON A LONG

JOURNEY

7:46 a.m., 2300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious Person: A caller reported to dispatch that a suspicious person on a yellow kayak with a Texas registration was on shore. The responding officer spoke with the kayaker, who said he was participating in a race called “The Everglades Challenge,” which spans from Fort DeSoto to Key Largo. The man said he paddled ashore because of the inclement weather and was going to wait until it passed.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5

SOME DOGS OK

9:11 a.m., 2300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal Problem: An officer responded to a call that reported a dog on the beach. When the officer arrived at the beach, he talked with a man and a woman who had a German shepherd. It turned out that the woman was blind and the dog was her

seeing-eye dog.

ARE THERE SPARE BATTERIES

FOR THESE?

10:27 a.m., 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Officer Public Service: A witness called for police backup after seeing a man in his 60s struggling to get his motorized wheelchair going. When the officer arrived, Longboat Key Fire Rescue was already on scene and speaking with the man. He said the chair wasn’t completely dead yet, but it was going slowly. Though he refused help, the Fire Rescue Department stayed to make sure he got home okay.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

BACK-TO-BACK OFFENSES

3:19 p.m., 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Vehicle Stop: The license plate reader alerted officers to a vehicle with a driver who had a suspended license. An officer stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, who said she was pulled over the previous day by a Longboat Key officer for the same reason. The officer asked why she was driving if she knew her license was suspended, and she said she had to go to work. According to her, the suspension was because of an issue her insurance company made. But the officer said that she still shouldn’t be driving until the issue is resolved, and she was issued a criminal court citation.

Rummage sale packs the house

The annual event at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church sold 800 tickets for the early bird sale.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

through

when the Royal Rummage Sale opened its doors.

The parking lot was filled, the line of people extending almost to Gulf of Mexico Drive. When the crowd of people was let into the building, it was a frenzy to find the best deals.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church held its annual Royal Rummage Sale March 8-9. The early bird sale was March 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the second day for the sale was March 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Patty Baker was first in line, and said she got there at 7:30 a.m. to secure her spot. She’s been coming to visit Longboat Key for about seven years, and said she has been first in line for the past three years.

Usually, she leaves with her whole car full, she said.

Joann Sifuentes, with St. Mary’s,

estimated that a little over 800 tickets were sold this year for the early bird special, at $5 a piece.

“We had a lot of happy shoppers, I know that,” she said.

The sale, which has continued for almost 30 years, broke a record last year, when 809 tickets were sold for the early bird sale.

Inside the church, tables were filled with gently used clothing, household wares, small appliances, blankets and decorations. There was a good selection of used books, as well.

Continuing outside, there were tables filled with wall art before arriving at a small parking lot filled with furniture and what Ginny Akhoury described as an “ocean of lamps.”

Akhoury donned a cowboy vest, hat and a star lapel that dubbed her as the “Sheriff of Rummage.” She walked around the inside of the sale, answering questions for people and saying things over the microphone like, “you’re guaranteed to find

something you’ll love.”

St. Mary begins accepting donations from September until December, according to Akhoury. After a short break, they start again in January. Meanwhile, volunteers sort the donations to get ready for the sale,  Akhoury said it seemed like there were slightly fewer items for sale.

One of the reasons was because the office was under construction, leaving less room for storage.  The money raised from the sale goes to different local charities, Akhoury said. Anything that isn’t sold gets sent to St. Michael’s Thrift Store in Wauchula.

Photos by Carter Weinhofer

Robin Zerola and Claudia Brown search for deals on women’s clothes.

The line to get into the rummage sale was estimated to be around 430 people.

Wayne Lange shows off his recently purchased red lounge chair alongside his wife, Cindy.

Mary Wheeler and Jim Skidmore picked up a lamp and basket at the Royal Rummage Sale.

4318

743

1350

Calling all Barbaras

Barbaras from around Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Longboat meet up every month to network and help the community.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

“Hi, Barbie,” has taken on a new meaning in the Sarasota area.

About 140 women from Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch come together each season to bond over their name and be a part of the one and only Barbara Club.

“The Barbara Club is a very simple and casual club,” said Longboat resident Barbara Pressman. “We are a bunch of women from all over the country who live in the area with the name Barbara. We are probably the only one in the country. We get together for a luncheon every month during the season.”

The Barbara Club met for its monthly meeting at noon on March 6 at the CinéBistro in Siesta Key. Barbara Ruginski organized this luncheon, partnering with Estée Lauder and Macy’s. Employees from the brands, who were also named Barbara, gave a presentation for the Barbs during the lunch about fashion and makeup tips for the upcoming spring season. Each Barbara also received a free swag bag with products from Lancome. Macy’s also made personalized keychains for the Barbaras with a “B,” a Macy’s star and a chain that said “Own Your Own Style.”

There was a small Macy’s fashion show with models Barbara McNamara and Barbara Jean. McNamara and Jean aren’t a part of the Barbara Club but said they are thinking of joining after spending time with them.

The Barbara Club was started by Barbara “Barcy” Brauer. Pressman joined about 20 years ago when Brauer told her about a group of women who met for events. Pressman helped grow the club into its 140 women today. She said she mentioned it to every Barbara she met, whether that was in her condominium, the temple she attended or when she was out.

Pressman also invites Mike Doyle, senior vice president of strategic initiatives for the Boys and Girls Clubs, to join the monthly lunches to inform the Barbs about its mission. At the Barbara Club Christmas luncheon, each of the Barbaras will buy toys and

“We are a bunch of women from all over the country who live in the area with the name Barbara. We are probably the only one in the country. We get together for a luncheon every month during the season.”

— Barbara Pressman

donate money to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Some Barbaras also attend Boys and Girls Clubs fundraising events.

Pressman said they usually have their lunches at the Columbia Restaurant in St. Armands Circle. She has hosted speakers for the meetings such as author and artist Barbara Mishkin and speakers from Temple

Beth Israel.

“The best part about the Barbara group is the networking that goes on here,” said Mishkin. “They have truly been the best way to connect

with like-minded women. Most of them will give me art opportunities or listen to me and share my book. I am extremely grateful to everybody here.”

Asked how long she has been a part of the Barbara Club, Barbara Stevenson said all her life. She shared that the Barbara Club is a wonderful opportunity to bond with other women in the area and give back to the community.

“I don’t hear the name Barbara too much these days,” said Barbara Salm. “But it was very popular in the ’50s and the ’40s. It is a classic name, especially when you think of the famous Barbaras you know. This club allows us to meet a lot of interesting Barbaras from all walks of life and we support good causes.

We have fun, but we do something meaningful while we do it.”

While some are named after relatives or a famous Barbara, most don’t know why they are named Barbara. They say it was the popularity of the name, but they like that it has brought them together.  Many of them stick to Barbara but depending on who they are talking to they go by Barb, Babs or Barbie.

Barbara Stanton and Thurston said they remember when the Barbie doll came out.

“It was quite amazing to have the same name as the most famous doll in the world,” said Stanton. “Dolls before that were just baby dolls. But we are always laughing about any connections that we have to her like Barb (Thurston)’s whole wardrobe is

pink, and we also almost bought this camper that looks identical to the one that Barbie has. We haven’t watched the ‘Barbie’ movie, but that is definitely something we should do together.”

Pressman wouldn’t call herself the president, but the Barbs call her their leader. Most of them expressed how much she does for the club. Ruginski and Macy’s got her a specialized gift bag to show her their appreciation.

“The things that Barbara Pressman does for this club and for the community is absolutely amazing,” said Thurston. “She is so passionate about different missions like the Boys and Girls Club. She is such a sweet human being and is always iconic with her different hats.”

Photos by Petra Rivera

Barbara Thurston, Barbara Pressman and Barbara Stanton

Barbara McNamara

Barbara Jean

Barbara Ruginski

Spring style show

Longboat Island Chapel hosts its annual Lord’s Warehouse fashion show with raffles, fascinators and secret models.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Spring is blooming at the Longboat Island Chapel, and on March 7 the Chapel hosted its annual “garden party” themed fashion show.

All proceeds from the event went to the church.

Event Co-chair Karen Pashkow said that the theme has been “garden party” for the last few years. Everyone comes with their best spring dresses, hats and fascinator head pieces.

Pashkow has been working on this event since the holiday season. She said models can only be in the fashion show once, so she asks different people every year to do it.

“If someone is a regular at the Lord’s Warehouse or they are a new

member of the church, I will ask them to be a model,” said Pashkow. “This event is just a whole thing in itself. There is so much that goes into it, but it always ties together nicely in the end.”

Guests arrived at 11 a.m. through the church doors. Walking down the church aisle, people could participate in raffles and a silent auction. People were then escorted to their tables by a volunteer waiter who is a member of the church. A chicken salad lunch made by Chef David Stone was served.

Event Co-chair Lesley Rife was the commentator for the fashion show of 10 models. Pashkow also picked out a secret model whose identity was a mystery to everyone except her. All outfits were from the Lord’s

Photos by Petra Rivera

Waiters Gordon Govalet, Tom Giannico and Steven Thomas

SEE FASHION, PAGE 4B Lis Lammers and Carol Peschel

Michelle Giannico, Michael Nunes, Karen Pashkow and Jeffrey Nunes

agers Dia Wilson and June Hessel. On the day of the show, models got their hair done by Design 2000 Salon and makeup done by Mary Kay.

Warehouse and were available for purchase.

Each of the models came to the Lord’s Warehouse a couple weeks before the show to choose outfits. They received help from model man-

SECRET MODEL POV

“The only time I really get to see these ladies is at church on Sundays,” said model Janine Wile. “So this gave us the opportunity to bond and get closer. This is just a wonderful group of women and such a fun event.”

Karen Pashkow picked Longboat Observer reporter

Petra Rivera to be this year’s secret model. These are Rivera’s thoughts:

“I love being your Longboat mom,” is something that Pashkow says to me all the time.

So, it was a no-brainer when she asked me to be the secret model. Pashkow actually asked me on my birthday, Dec. 21, so that made it a wonderful birthday gift.

A few weeks before the show, Pashkow told me to come in after hours to pick my outfits discreetly. We had a blast browsing through the multitude of good choices from the Lord’s Warehouse.

Like the other models said, the warehouse has clothes for everybody. I’ve never been good at keeping secrets, so when June Hessel asked on the day of the fashion show who I thought the secret model was, I had some trouble keeping a straight face. But no one guessed it when Pashkow brought me out during the show to “take photos” like I usually do. This event will be a core memory of my first modeling gig with lots of laughs from my hosts at the chapel.

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Left to Right: Rylan Lanham, Adrienne Lambers, Mike Osterman, Tom Bardwell, Susan Wilson, Susan Knight, Amanda Lewis

NORTH SHORE FASHION: Peter and Peggy Watson with the Longboat Observer in Nova Scotia.

Classical sound

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Award-winning concert cellist Steve Kramer performed March 3 for The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel. He was accompanied by renowned violinist Levi Mitze-Circiumaru.

The two musicians gave a classical music concert with commentary in between. They performed pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Raven and Johan Halvorsen. Kramer’s goal was to share some background on composers that people know but have never taken the time to learn about.

Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Kramer was raised by Soviet Jews from the former Soviet Union, Kyiv, Ukraine. He said he is a fifth-generation musician. Living in Sarasota, he also is a recording artist and music teacher.

Mitze-Circiumaru has played the violin since he was 8 years old, studying Yan Jiang Lu, a longtime member of the Florida Orchestra. He has a bachelor’s degree in music and computer science from Mercer University and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Mississippi. He now serves as the assistant principal second violinist for the

STEVE KRAMER

If you are interested in Kramer’s mission or in attending the “Music Salon of Sarasota,” email SteveKramerMusic@ gmail.com for an invite or visit SteveKramerCellist.com.

Florida Orchestra.

Kramer hopes to promote young musicians by advocating for the importance of classical music, art and literature. He will host his first “Music Salon of Sarasota,” where he welcomes artists of all forms to come together as a community and appreciate different art forms together. He hopes to also give masterclasses and lectures during these events. They will be held the first Sunday of the month starting April 7.

Cellist Steve Kramer and Levi Mitze-Circiumaru, renowned violinist, wowed Education Center crowd.

Cellist Steve Kramer and violinist Levi Mitze-Circiumaru

Photos by Petra Rivera

Walter Frank, Susan Goldfarb, Steve Kramer, Levi Mitze-Circiumaru, Michael Boorstein and Lois Barson

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Sarasota together

St. Armands residents and Sarasota government officials celebrate the community they’re building together.

PETRA RIVERA

The St. Armands Resident Association hosted its annual dinner on March 5 at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

“Our association has two purposes,” said St. Armands Resident Association President Chris Goglia. “First, is to grow the sense of community among all the barrier island neighborhoods. Secondly, to represent a member’s interest to the city government. So this event is a great representation of our mission as a group. As you see, we have residents, business owners, commissioners. We are representing the different parts of the community.”

Cocktail hour kicked off the night. The association also held a nineprize raffle. Many guests said they look forward to this event every year. Most were from St. Armands Key, but a few guests came from Sarasota, Longboat Key and Bradenton.

The guest list was filled with

Sarasota officials: Mayor Liz Alpert, Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith, City Commissioner Debbie Trice, City Commissioner Jen

Ahearn-Koch, City Manager Marlon

Brown, Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson, Deputy Chief of Police Scott Mayforth and Ron Kashden, who is running for City Commission.

The Rev. Ken Blyth from St. Armands Key Lutheran Church attended to represent one of the religious communities on the Key.

Many business owners, such as Sonia and Serge Gauthier from Gauthier Salon and Wellness Spa and Casey and Heidi Gonzmart from Columbia Restaurant on the Circle, attended as well.  Kashden said it’s one of the best events to meet people and get to know them in a casual setting. He shared he loves celebrating the St. Armands community because of the important goals residents have to make a difference.

Sir Billy Dorsey, Jr.

Photos by Petra Rivera

Esther and Mark Smith

Rachel Burns, the Rev. Ken Blyth and Chris Goglia

Chris Goglia, Sonia Gauthier, Ramona Glanz, Andrew Vac, Rachel Burns, and Casey and Heidi Gonzmart

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome in Queen’s Harbour tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

David Doyle, of Birmingham, Michigan, sold his home at 3572 Fair Oaks Way to KFK Longboat LLC for $3.9 million. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,052 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.1 million in 2023.

TOWERS

Michael Haney, trustee, sold the Unit 10W condominium at 101 Benjamin Franklin Drive to James and Carole Weyant, of Sarasota, for $3.28 million. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,550 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.5 million in 2015.

THE PIERRE

Stephen Kocian, trustee, of Niles, Illinois, sold the Unit 801 condominium at 455 Longboat Club Road to Thomas and Judith Crowley, of Southborough, Massachusetts, for $2.15 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,780 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.22 million in 2014.

BIRD KEY

Phyllis Katz sold her home at 245 Bird Key Drive to 245 Bird Key LLC for $2,125,000. Built in 1976, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,515 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,035,000 in 2016.

SANCTUARY AT LONGBOAT KEY

CLUB

Jerald and Catherine Pollard, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit B-206 condominium at 545 Sanctuary Drive to Mark Addessi and Susanne Jenny Carolina Addessi, of Longboat Key, for $1.71 million. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS FEB. 26 - MARCH 1

half baths and 2,375 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.25 million in 2022.

BEACHPLACE

Jane Taylor sold the Unit 303 condominium at 1135 Gulf of Mexico Drive to SRBF LLC for $1,399,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,392 square feet of living area. It sold for $282,000 in 1988.

ISLANDER CLUB ON LONGBOAT

Gary and Sherry Adams, trustees, of Rogers, Arkansas, sold the Unit 71-N condominium at 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive to James and Pamela McDonough, of Cazenovia, New York, for $1.26 million. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $660,000 in 2019.

HARBOUR OAKS II

Marion Levine, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 2358 Harbour Oaks Drive to Rhonda and Christopher Daniels, of Centerport, New York, for $1,075,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,374 square feet of living area.

FAIRWAY BAY

Ronald and Susan Sten, of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit 256 condominium at 1932 Harbourside Drive to Paul and Kerry Jamison, of Clover, South Carolina, for $865,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,270 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2006.

Thomas Eldon Kent and Ellen Kent sold their Unit 412 condominium at 2020 Harbourside Drive to Walter Herbst and Scot Herbst, of Longboat Key, for $810,000. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,192 square feet of living area. It sold for $565,000 in 2021.

TIFFANY PLAZA

Gail Blubaugh and Heather Craig, trustees, and Jennifer Blubaugh Coleman, of Lakeland, sold the Unit 205 condominium at 4325 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Paul Ralph Guenthner and Sharon Hannan Guen-

thner, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, for $845,000. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,336 square feet of living area.

SEAPLACE

Jeffrey Swartz, John Swartz, James Swartz and Jennifer Herreid, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit M1-507G condominium at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Brahim Ardolic and Mejrem Nikezic-Ardolic, of Longboat Key, for $675,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,076 square feet of living area. It sold for $201,000 in 1997.

KINGSTON ARMS

David John Dixon and Therese Marie Dixon, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 17-A condominium at 500 S. Washington Drive to Hickory Real Estate Ventures LLC for $530,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 770 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2023.

All makes and models welcome. Call 388-5550.

MEET WYLAND – AT WYLAND

GALLERIES

5-9

Galleries, 314

Ringling Blvd. Meet Wyland himself. The Detroit-born artist has been recognized by USA Today, the United Nations and the U.S. Congress for his art and conservation efforts. He’s also in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for his work on a three-acre ocean mural on the convention center in Long Beach, California. Call 388-5331.

ST. MARY, STAR OF THE SEA’S

ST. PATRICK’S DAY DANCE

5 p.m. at Father Edward Pick Hall, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive. $50 per person. This fun evening is hosted by the Men’s Club and offers live music, dancing, raffles, a corned beef dinner and Irish soda bread and Guinness. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the parish office, which is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more info, call 941-281-9633 or 941-301-7293.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

THE MAGIC OF POP, ROCK AND BROADWAY CONCERT

7 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Temple Beth Israel presents the sixth annual Florence Katz Memorial Concert. The concert will feature music from Abba, Leonard Cohen, Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Lowe. Maury Azerad will sing songs by Billy Joel. This concert is in memory of Florence Katz, Judy Katz Vigder and Robert Vigder. Tickets for the concert and reception are $36. VIP seating is $75. Reservations are required by noon on March 15. Call 383-3428.

MONDAY, MARCH 18

VOICES OF THE FRENCH RESISTANCE

3-4:30 p.m. at the Education Center

BEST BET SATURDAY, MARCH 16

SAVOR THE SOUNDS

5:30-7 p.m. at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Yesterdayze will be performing. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Mike Sales will be performing from 4:30-5:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $25 in advance; $35 at the door. People can buy VIP tickets for a table of eight for $250 in advance only. People are welcome to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Tickets are available at the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, 5390 Gulf of Mexico Drive Suite 102, or by calling 383-2466.

File image Rich Raymond and Jessica Raymond at Savor the Sounds in 2022.

at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Sandra Moulin, professional musician, public speaker, actress, author, and storyteller, will present a historical and artistic perspective of lesser-known and famous figures who played roles in the French Resistance, such as Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker, who contributed to the World War II movement. Members $20; nonmembers $25. To register call 383-8222 or email EdCenter@ LongboatKeyTemple.org.

RECURRING EVENTS

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., MondayFriday. 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011.

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.

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FORECAST

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PARTY ANIMALS by Dylan Schiff, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos