Longboat Observer 5.30.24

YOUR TOWN

Stay vigilant

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department has once again teamed up with area departments in Sarasota County with the Stay Vigilant Initiative.

The purpose is to raise awareness of water-related incidents and accidental drownings. Whenever possible, it’s best to swim near a lifeguard. But on Longboat Key, there are no lifeguards. That’s where the initiative comes in with designated “water watchers.”

Residents who feel able to respond to incidents of swimmers in distress are encouraged to pick up a water watcher badge from one of the participating departments.

The badge lets others in the area know there is someone who will supervise the water.

To pick up a badge, visit the Longboat Key Fire Station 91 at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Night on the town

As the snowbirds fly away and the temperature rises, there’s a lot more free time on the island. Summer Night Out at Whitney Plaza hopes to allow full-time Longboaters to discover more local businesses and meet more of their neighbors.

The first Summer Night Out will be on June 27. Residents can start at Driftwood Beach Home and Garden for free prosecco while shopping. Right next door, Design 2000 Salon will be open for mingling and free pizza bites from Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar and cheesecake from Elegant Lady Cheesecake Parlor.

This year, Sips will be offering new gelato samples.

Ventura’s Kitchen and Wine Bar will also extend its happy hour with various drink and food specials.

Considerations for de-annexation

Petra Rivera

Irina Bronstein, Heather and Bliss Rippy

Carter Weinhofer

Caitlyn Buell shows the Longboat Key Fire Rescue crew the helicopter’s interior.

Carter Weinhofer

Issues come to light

Town to investigate resident’s lighting concerns affecting sea turtle nesting.

CARTER WEINHOFER

STAFF WRITER

At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s May 20 workshop, resident Cyndi

Seamon began a discussion with commissioners about lighting issues she’s witnessed while on the beach at night. The issues relate to the town’s ordinances that protect nesting sea turtles on the beach.

Seamon also serves as the vice president for Longboat Key Turtle Watch, though she said at the workshop she was not necessarily rep-

resenting LBKTW. She said she was there as a concerned citizen who has observed lighting issues on Longboat Key for many years.

“I need to bring this to your attention to see if we can get a solution sooner versus later,” Seamon said.

Town ordinances relating to lighting visible from the beach help to minimize disorientations for sea turtles, which are typically more of an issue for hatchlings but also affect nesting mothers.

Disorientations occur when artificial light disrupts adults from finding a place to nest or confuses hatch-

“I wasn’t even standing that far down the beach, and it’s beaming down the beach.”

— Resident Cyndi Seamon on the lights at Bayfront Park

lings who otherwise would follow the moonlight to find the Gulf.

There were two main issues that Seamon brought up to commissioners: the St. Regis construction and the new Gulf of Mexico Drive street lights.

Seamon showed pictures of the St. Regis construction site, which appeared to have lights on in the

TURTLE NESTING NUMBERS

The latest weekly nesting summary from Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium showed that Longboat Key had 203 nests as of May 25.

There were also a total of 294 false crawls for the season. False crawls occur when a sea turtle comes up the beach but turns back to the water without nesting.

That puts Longboat Key right behind Casey Key (231 nests) for the most nests so far this turtle season, but Longboat Key tops all other areas in Mote’s patrols for total activity.

majority of the complex, which could be seen from the beach.

According to Town Manager Howard Tipton, the St. Regis construction crews have met with the town’s code enforcement department and said the lighting system is enabled through a wireless system. That system is still in the process of being installed, Tipton said.

Tipton went on to say that the site superintendent was committed to getting the issue solved. But the developer failed to meet the deadline to resolve the issue and, according to Tipton, will be fined $500 a day until it is fixed.

Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons said that the town’s ordinance calls for 45% opacity on windows in which lights are visible from the beach. The ordinance also states that 45% opacity may not block all light seen from the beach and, if that’s the case, then additional measures would be required.  Parsons stated at the workshop that he believes the St. Regis’ windows are at 42% opacity. With opacity, the lower the percent, the more light that’s blocked.

The St. Regis may be an example of where additional measures would be needed since light is still visible despite the 42% opacity.

“This is what fully bright lights behind approximately 45% window opacity can look like. It’s still pretty

bright,” Parsons said.

Mayor Ken Schneier suggested that the town keep the pressure on the St. Regis crew and continue conversations aside from just fining the team.

“We’ve spent so much time trying to protect the turtles here and do the right thing, and we are very aware of the disorientations we’ve experienced that are higher here than other islands and places, so this shouldn’t be,” Schneier said.

The other issue that Seamon brought up was with the new street lights on Gulf of Mexico Drive that were installed as a part of the project to bury utilities islandwide.

Seamon said that during nighttime beach walks, those lights are obvious from the beach, along with other lights like the new crosswalk lights near Bayfront Park.

“I wasn’t even standing that far down the beach, and it’s beaming down the beach,” Seamon said about the light at Bayfront Park.

Parsons said his department was aware of the issue with the new lights. He said the Planning, Zoning and Building Department was working through various ownerships of the different lights to see what the best solution would be.

“We are working on getting these lights shielded and/or off,” Parsons said at the workshop.

According to the latest update from Parsons, he said the town is working on getting the lights shielded for now and will evaluate the effectiveness of the shields.

Then, if additional measures are needed, the town would follow up on that.

Those additional measures could include figuring out how to time the lights to turn off if they are still too bright with the shielding.

Sea turtle nesting season officially began on May 1, but the first nest was found on Longboat Key’s Manatee County side on May 3 by LBKTW volunteers.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtles have an incubation period of about two months. That means the first nests on Longboat Key most likely won’t hatch until July, when disorientations become more of an issue.

Courtesy image

Longboat Key resident Cyndi Seamon brought up concerns about the possibility of sea turtles being disoriented by new street lighting, like this light near Bayfront Park.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Longboat Key firefighter paramedic Trey Bowlin took command on May 23 in setting up the landing zone for a helicopter inbound from Tampa General Hospital.

The helicopter — manned by a pilot, nurse and medic — operates through Aeromed Flight Services.

In a worst-case scenario where the services would need to be used, the helicopter could transport patients from Longboat Key to Tampa General Hospital or Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, also in Tampa.

Bowlin and the rest of the A-shift crew first prepared the landing site — a large grassy patch on Ken Thompson Parkway, just east of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

After the crew ensured the site was clear of debris, four firefighter paramedics spread out in a large square.

The landing site needs to be at least 100-by-100 feet, but the site on Ken Thompson Parkway is slightly larger.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue called for airlifts more frequently before 2015. That’s when Sarasota Memorial Hospital opened its own trauma center. Now Longboat Key Fire Rescue usually transports trauma patients there.

But three days before the department’s May 23 training, a worst-case scenario arose when the firefighter paramedics needed to call in an airlift to All Children’s.

Longboat Key firefighter paramedics responded to a drowning call for a 2-year-old. Before Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s arrival, CPR was in progress. At the scene, the firefighter paramedics assessed the child’s condition and continued care while transporting the patient to Ken Thompson Parkway, accord-

ing to Fire Administration Manager Tina Adams.

The young patient was airlifted from Ken Thompson Parkway after receiving care from Longboat Key Fire Rescue — the type of real-life scenario the firefighter paramedics planned on training for days later.

TRAINED FOR THE WORST

Aeromed primarily transports trauma patients. Patients’ conditions could include anything from cardiac issues, pulmonary issues, strokes, spinal cord injuries, pediatric trauma and amputations.

With a trauma patient, Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s first option would be to transport the patient to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. But if the trauma center couldn’t take on another patient for any reason, Tampa General would be the next closest trauma center.

For any child trauma patient, the priority is to transport to All Children’s in Tampa.

Firefighter paramedics would respond to the scene, and then call for airlift services if necessary. The local firefighter paramedics would continue care and help load the patient onto the helicopter when the medic and nurse on board would take over.

One of the most important topics of the training was safety around the helicopter.

In a real-life situation, the firefighter paramedics would need to be cautious maneuvering around the hot (or running) helicopter, especially near the blades.

That includes making sure they aren’t wearing anything loose, like a hat or a stethoscope. If one of those objects gets picked up by one of the helicopter’s turbines, it could prove dangerous and cause damage to the helicopter.

When setting up the landing zone,

Longboat Key Fire Rescue sharpens skills in support of helicopter crews that handle trauma patient airlifts.

ONLINE

For in-flight video from inside the helicopter, go to YourObserver.com

there isn’t much trouble on a sunny, clear day.

But add in some weather conditions and the situation can get complicated. Some rain would be fine, but the helicopter can’t operate in a thunderstorm.

The flight crew also has to be aware of conditions near the landing site, like fog in the early morning. For that, the Aeromed crew said they are usually in tune with various weather tools on their devices.

Daytime landings also require less prep on the ground for the firefighter paramedics setting up the site. Firefighter paramedics might need to relay to the flight crew landmarks via radio, like a large cell tower on Ken Thompson Parkway.

But during the night, the firefighter paramedics would need to use special markers visible from the helicopter. The Aeromed crew also said they frequently look for the lights of firetrucks or ambulances to guide the way.

Ideally, the crew aims to be “skids up to skids down” in 10 minutes.

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department’s goal is to complete this training every two years, which consists of an hour of classroom training followed by an hour of training in the field with a helicopter.

The idea is for Longboat Key personnel to familiarize themselves with the functions and feel of the helicop-

in a training situation, while the helicopter is cold, or not running.

way, if the firefighter paramedics do need to use the airlift,

crew and take care of a trauma patient.

Photos by Carter Weinhofer

Caitlyn Buell shows the Longboat Key Fire Rescue crew the helicopter’s interior.

Firefighter paramedic Trey Bowlin takes a ride in the helicopter after the training.

Lorenzo Giannetti and Caitlyn Buell brief the Longboat Key Fire Rescue crew during training.

Firefighter paramedic Brian Kolesa gets a feel for the pilot’s chair. All the firefighter paramedics had the chance to learn where the emergency shut-off switch was.

Angle of departure

Flight path from SRQ changes direction over Longboat Key.

CARTER WEINHOFER

Anearly two-decade-old flight path over Longboat Key has changed, according to recent communications between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport staff and Longboat Key.

On May 21, SRQ Senior Vice President, Operations & Public Safety

Lionel Guilbert emailed Town Manager Howard Tipton to notify him of the change in air traffic procedure made by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Up until earlier this month, aircraft departing from SRQ’s Runway 32 made a left turn after take-off on a 265-degree heading and crossed Longboat Key just north of the county line, according to an email from Guilbert to Tipton. This was called the “SRKUS” procedure.

According to Guilbert in the email to Tipton, the SRQ Airport Authority was notified by the FAA that it was proposing a change to this path in November 2023, after which SRQ reached out to the FAA seeking background information and the reason behind the change.

“The FAA stated the SRKUS departure needed to be amended mainly due to safety reasons filed by the Air Traffic facilities of Tampa Approach Control. Also, FAA separation criteria changed, which we were told was another reason for the procedural change,” Guilbert stated in an email

to Tipton.

This led to a new departure, dubbed the “TIDES” departure. This still requires the same left turn, but now at a 270-degree heading, said Guilbert in an email to Tipton.

A five-degree change in heading results in a shift in the flight path over Longboat Key of about one mile north.

“It appears that this has been a conversation between SRQ and the FAA and as accurately noted with no town or LBK citizen engagement,” Tipton said in an email to commissioners.

The FAA conducted an environmental review for the new departure, which satisfied the requirements for the National Environmental Policy Act and meant no public engagement was required, according to Guilbert’s email.

Further, Guilbert stated that the FAA said there was a 30- to 45-day comment period on the FAA Gateway website for public comment.

“When the airport first became aware of the proposed change, the Airport Authority expressed serious concerns,” Guilbert said in the email.

Guilbert went on to state that the airport asked the FAA why it did not reach out to SRQ and the community in the early stages of the process.

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS

Residents can reach out to the FAA directly to voice concerns over the change at the dedicated portal, or to personnel who are familiar with this issue: ■ Reginald.E.Davis@faa.gov ■ Joseph.B.Tinsley@faa.gov

This led to a meeting with the FAA group in charge of the new procedure, and Guilbert said that SRQ advised the FAA group that Longboat Key residents would take notice of the changes.

“The airport urged the FAA to reconsider and engage the community … Our pleas appear to have been disregarded as all suggestions were ultimately not implemented,” Guilbert said in the email.

In an emailed briefing to town commissioners, Tipton mentioned this may be added to the June 3 agenda as a discussion item.

FLIGHT PATH HISTORY

Flight paths from SRQ over Longboat Key have been commonplace for a long time.

The FAA first approved the SRKUS turn procedure in 1998.

But, implementation of the turn was delayed because of additional FAA requirements and Longboat Key residents’ appeals.

The appeals went to a federal appeals court which, in 2002, sided with the FAA and stated that the flight path would have no significant environmental impact on Longboat Key residents.

In June 2006, the SRKUS procedure was implemented.

This flight path meant that aircraft were leaving Runway 32, making a left turn after takeoff and following a GPS path across Sarasota Bay and Longboat Key at an average speed of about 276 mph.

In a previous study, flights were tracked departing from Runway 32 over eight days. From March 1-8, 2021, there were a total of 281 flights.

“It appears that this has been a conversation between SRQ and the FAA and as accurately noted with no town or LBK citizen engagement.”

— Town Manager Howard Tipton in an email to commissioners.

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Sarasota/Siesta Key, East County and Longboat Observers meet the

The previous departure SRKUS (green) with the newly implemented procedure TIDES (orange) from SRQ.

De-annexation complications

If Jewfish Key were no longer a part of Longboat, what would the change in jurisdiction affect?

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

The results of the feasibility study are in — the deannexation of Jewfish Key would present substantial challenges, and town staff recommends rejection of the petition.

On June 3, the Longboat Key Town Commission will consider the petition, which was for the voluntary contraction of Jewfish Key.

Recently, town commissioners received information packets regarding the feasibility study required to be completed within six months of the town receiving the contraction petition. Town commissioners will review the materials before the public meeting on June 3.

In January, the homeowners association for the island, the Jewfish Key Preservation Association, submitted a petition to the town that stated more than 15% of the registered voters on the island voted in favor of submitting the petition to have Jewfish Key removed from the town of Longboat Key.

If that were to happen, Jewfish Key would become a part of unincorporated Manatee County.

That change raised concerns for many north-end residents, and many of the homeowners associations on the north end — like Bayou Hammock, Longbeach Village and Land’s End — submitted petitions to the town against the contraction, or de-annexation. Impacts from short-term rentals, different zoning considerations and environmental issues were among the top concerns voiced by residents.

The staff memo in the June 3 agenda packet stated that Jewfish Key was ineligible for contraction for various reasons.

First, the submitted petition for contraction failed to meet the 15% resident signature threshold, since there were only three registered voters on Jewfish Key, according to the Manatee Supervisor of Elections.

PUBLIC MEETING

The Longboat Key Town Commission will review the materials of the feasibility study prior to the June 3 meeting. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. in the Town Commission Chambers, 501 Bay Isles Road, and will be open to the public. Members of the public who wish to be heard will have three minutes at the podium.

The agenda packet states that none of the qualified voters signed the resolution.

It’s also the town staff’s opinion that the contraction of Jewfish Key would create an enclave, or an unincorporated area surrounded by another municipality. In that regard, Jewfish Key would meet the criteria for annexation and be ineligible for contraction.

The memo also detailed some scenarios with various town departments, which outlined how things would change if Jewfish Key became a part of unincorporated Manatee County.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS

The town of Longboat Key restricts residential properties from being rented for fewer than 30 days. That means that residential property owners could choose to rent out their properties through platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, but for a minimum of 30 days.

According to the memo sent by Town Manager Howard Tipton, Manatee County does not have restrictions for tourism uses in residential properties, meaning residential properties could be rented for any length of time.

“If Jewfish Key is granted contraction from the town and became a part of unincorporated Manatee county, this difference, in allowances for tourism and residential uses, may result in a significant change in character in a location with both immediate proximity and potential impact to a longstanding residential area of the town,” the memo states.

ZONING

Longboat Key is a low-density community, and the Charter and Comprehensive Plan restrict growth and density. To increase the allotted density limits on a given parcel, a referendum approval would be required.

However, Manatee County lacks similar density restrictions, according to the memo. That said, if Jewfish Key were to become a part of unincorporated Manatee County, that could open the possibility of developing the island with more homes, or even for commercial use.

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge touched on this during an April 30 joint meeting with Longboat Key. He said that Manatee County is “very pro-property rights” and, unlike a homeowners association, would not restrict zoning as such.

“The county’s not an HOA … we don’t run an HOA and our landuse restrictions are not as strict as yours (Longboat Key). So if you have concerns about what the island will become, you should be concerned. I am,” Van Ostenbridge said at the meeting. “If it ends up in just the county, I’m concerned about the looseness of the land-use restrictions.”

PUBLIC WORKS

Not much would change in terms of Public Works for Jewfish Key.

That’s because the island uses wells for water and septic tanks for sewage. Septic tanks are used to treat wastewater and protect groundwater quality. Household waste enters the septic tanks and is then separated and treated. The waste is then discharged into a drain field, a set of pipes that disperse it below ground.

Due to this system, Longboat Key Public Works has not provided services to Jewfish Key, and contraction would not have much impact on the department.

FIRE RESCUE & POLICE

Currently, the town’s fire rescue department “provides consolidated fire and emergency medical response services that are not provided by a single agency in Manatee County,” according to the staff memo from Tipton.

The staff memo also states that the town’s fire chief and fire marshal have concerns about fire risks on Jewfish Key due to limited water sources on the island. Concerns include the possibility of fire spreading on the island and embers being carried through the air and landing on other areas.

If Jewfish Key were to become a part of unincorporated Manatee County, there would be complications in terms of who would provide fire rescue services, and “Manatee County does not provide fire and rescue services,” the memo states.

In that case, Manatee County would likely have medical jurisdiction on Jewfish Key, but the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department would still respond to fire calls due to existing mutual aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions.

Similarly, the Longboat Key Police Department would most likely be called to assist the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office for calls on Jewfish Key as a part of mutual aid agreements. But the memo says that situation would decrease officer availability on Longboat Key itself depending on the nature of calls on Jewfish Key.

Additionally, the Longboat Key Police Department expressed concern about the possibility of shortterm rentals on Jewfish Key if the island is de-annexed. The memo states that the police department would expect those circumstances to lead to a rise in partying.

The town’s police department would continue to enforce noise complaints on the water within Longboat Key limits but, if Jewfish Key were de-annexed, the police department would not be able to enforce the town’s noise ordinances on Jewfish Key. Those noise complaints coming from Jewfish Key would then be handled by Manatee County.

Courtesy image

A sandbar near Jewfish Key is a popular spot for boaters, particularly during weekends.

Boaters anchor near Jewfish Key, a favorite area of boaters.

Fresh walks around the park

Explore a revitalized Joan Durante Park with a new, more durable boardwalk.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

If you haven’t visited Joan M. Durante Park in awhile, now’s a good time to change that and check out the latest upgrades.

The 32-acre park recently received some upgrades with a complete replacement of the park’s boardwalks. The boardwalks were replaced with composite material, which is more durable and lasts longer than wood.

Streets, Facilities, Parks & Recreation Manager Mark Richardson said the project wrapped up in March. Originally, the boardwalk replacement was budgeted for $200,000. The project was completed by MKM Quality Construction and came under budget, with a final cost of around $150,000.

The boardwalk is now made of MoistureShield Composite Decking, which Richardson said comes with a 50-year limited warranty. For example, he said that if the deck needs to be replaced in 26 years, the warranty would cover half the cost.

Though the foundation of the boardwalk is still wood, the composite material is waterproof and more durable than a wood surface.

“You’re not going to have splintering and broken pieces of wood,” Richardson said.

On top of that, the new material adds a nicer look to the park.

“Aesthetically, it looks a lot better,” said Richardson.

The replacement project also required the boardwalk to be elevated in some areas since flooding often occurs in the park. The increased elevation should help prevent the boardwalk from being submerged during floods, Richardson said.

Composite material is something that the Public Works Department has begun using more often, according to Richardson, like past improvements at Bayfront Park.

“Anything we do now will be composite,” Richardson said.

“You’re not going to have splintering and broken pieces of wood.”

— Mark Richardson, Streets, Facilities, Parks & Recreation manager

In 2022, the department needed to complete some spot replacements of the boardwalk with composite materials after a high tide damaged a portion of the boardwalk. The boardwalk was found floating among the mangroves, according to previous reporting.

The boardwalk was taped off for a year and a half while it was repaired.

This latest project replaced the entire boardwalk in the park so that everything matched those previous repairs.

Richardson also said the park’s pavilion and bathroom could be future improvement projects, but those are both still in early talks.

Durante Park offers some shaded areas along the walking paths, which may make it a more appealing attraction than the beach on the upcoming sweltering summer days.

Around the 32-acre park, there’s plenty to explore from mangrove

forests to a plethora of birding opportunities and a view of Sarasota Bay from one of the park’s observation decks — now made from durable composite material.

ABOUT JOAN M. DURANTE PARK

Located at 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Joan M. Durante Park was completed in 1995. A year prior, James Durante offered the town $750,000 to develop the park and property in honor of his late wife, Joan.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service then gave the town a $195,000 grant to create wetlands and coastal hammock forests and clear the area of invasive vegetation such as Australian pines and Brazilian peppers.

In 1998, the park won the Outstanding Ecosystem Restoration Award from the Florida Urban Forestry Council. Durante Park went on to win numerous other awards, including the Public Landscape Award” from Keep Manatee Beautiful.

The park is open from dawn to dusk. The gates are locked at dusk. Durante Park also offers a pavilion, which can be rented for $50 per event. For more information on pavilion rentals, call 941-316-1988.

Photos by Carter Weinhofer

One of the observation decks at Joan M. Durante Park, now made of composite material.

Joan M. Durante Park offers scenic views of Sarasota Bay.

Fire plays critical role in Myakka park

Some imperiled species, such as the gopher tortoise, crested caracara and pine lily, wouldn’t survive without occasional fires.

Fire, as a result of lightning, is one of the primary natural forces that shapes Florida’s ecosystems. Indeed, from an ecological perspective, fire is a normal and often beneficial process. It is critical for the health of 78% of the Myakka River State Park, where numerous natural communities depend on fire to maintain their plant composition and structure.

Importantly, these communities support flora and fauna that couldn’t survive without fire, including imperiled species such as the gopher tortoise, crested caracara and pine lily.

In Florida, natural wildfires historically burned seasonally, typically at a low intensity. They slowly meandered across large areas, where rivers and wetlands eventually stopped their spread.

Suppression of natural wildfires began in the 1930s to protect forests for lumber. As we observe National Wildfire Awareness Month, it is important to recognize the critical role that prescribed fires, which safely reintroduced fire into our ecosystems, play in protecting both our natural and human communities.

In contrast to wildfires, prescribed fires are set on purpose. This crucial natural resource management tool is used by trained professionals who safely mimic natural lightning-set fires. These burns benefit the large number of Florida’s imperiled plant and animal species which are dependent on periodic fire for their continued existence.

But prescribed fires also protect our human communities, as firedependent natural communities gradually accumulate flammable vegetation. Regular and smaller burns can lower the intensity or

even prevent wildfires by consuming “fuels” like pine needles, dead grass, fallen trees and thick brush that would otherwise build up and could produce intense, destructive wildfires.

Though prescribed fires do emit smoke, the net benefit is less smoke pollution overall.

Current climate trends of abovenormal temperatures, with varied precipitation forecasts, could exacerbate dry conditions in wildfireprone areas like Florida. Research underscores that these climate conditions are closely linked to increased wildfire risks.

With encroaching development progressively restricting the park’s ability to effectively use prescribed fire, the importance of supporting and maintaining undeveloped buffers around conserved lands is highlighted. Raising awareness about the importance of fire for ensuring the health of our natural areas, and our own, is paramount.

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

Without proper planning, he adds, medical expenses can quickly drain retirement savings. And that doesn’t even include the significant annual financial penalties that can come from late enrollment.

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of skill or training.

Miri Hardy

A gopher tortoise, an imperiled species, makes its way through Myakka River State Park. It needs occasional fires to sustain its habitat.

Title IX rules: tyrannical fiat

When Washington bureaucrats shove their views on us by imposing new rules and new laws, blame Congress for giving the unelected wonks so much power.

Article I, Section 1: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Article II, Section 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. Section 3: … he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed … U.S. Constitution

By now, it goes without saying — but we’re going to say it anyway — anything Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler proposes is going to be vilified, tarred, spat upon. Just her name brings convulsions to her opposition.

But if you can be open-minded for several minutes, try to put aside the person who proposed what became a controversial resolution at the May 7 Sarasota County School Board meeting.

The resolution was titled: “A resolution … to commit that no policy or procedural changes shall take place or be considered in response to the April 19 Title IX rules changes.” The accompanying box spells out the specifics of that resolution.

This resolution came in response to the U.S. Department of Education issuing a 1,577-page amendment (essentially, new rules and regulations) to the Title IX law that Congress adopted and the president signed in 1972. That law, most of us know, says:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

That’s the law that essentially required all schools receiving federal funds to offer classes and sports in equal levels to boys and girls and men and women.

But as of April 19, the policy bureaucrats in Joe Biden’s Department of Education decided to change the law.

Did you get that? Bureaucrats decided they would make law. Congress did not.

Now, before we get into the farce behind this rule change, the fact unelected Department of Education bureaucrats decided to make new law should make your blood boil. That is one of the most annoying aspects of Washington politics — how the unelected political, bureaucrat class floods us every day with wealth-sapping, libertykilling rules and regulations. Who do they think they are?

Take special note above, for instance, of the first sentence in Article I of the U.S. Constitution: “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress … ” Nowhere in the Constitution is there one letter giving law-making authority to the hired help. But alas, Congress is the guilty one. It has been and is indeed stupid enough and lazy enough to abdicate the details of new legislation to the unelected political class. For more than 100 years, this is how it has worked. Our elected representatives have voted for thousands of supposedly magnanimous laws intended to improve our lives (Ha!) and then told their staffs to make the rules and enforce them. The devil indeed is in the details. There it is: “20 U.S. Code, 1682 — Federal administrative enforcement.” That federal code “empowers” and “authorizes” “each federal department and agency” “to effec-

‘GOD DID NOT MAKE A MISTAKE’

“… [T]he United States is especially in need of a moral renewal, and not only a power struggle for the power, for their own power, but also a moral renewal against drugs, against all this abuse of minors and all this wrong things of selfdestruction.

“The change of your sexes and genders is absolutely stupid, because God did not make an error when he created you or me or everybody as men or women in our personal individual body. That is

tuate” (enact) Title IX “by issuing, rules, regulations or orders of general applicability … ” And whatever rules the D.C. wonks want, all they need is presidential approval. Congress’ approval is not required. This is tyrannical fiat.

This is letting 3-year-olds run loose in a candy store. Every day is a play day — another day to suck up millions of Americans’ tax dollars, spending hours and weeks writing 1,577 pages of new rules and law to alter the social construct of this nation to reflect their view of the world. In this case, it means declaring that the word “sex” in the 1972 Title IX law does not mean biological sex. For them, a person’s biological sex now encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity.

It means, frankly, Biden’s Department of Education wonks have declared it is legally acceptable for men who think they are women to participate in women’s sports and shower in women’s locker rooms.

And it means so much more. The devil is indeed in the details.

A 15-YEAR CAMPAIGN

In a lawsuit attempting to stop implementation of the new rules, 15 attorneys general, including Florida’s Ashley Moody, have illuminated how the move to upend 40 years of accepted legal and social norms came about. It didn’t start with Biden. It started with Barack Obama’s promise to transform America.

This has been a relentless, 15-year campaign.

Starting in 2009, shortly after Obama’s inauguration, “Through guidance and aggressive investigations, that administration tried to expand Title IX to include gender identity, broaden the scope of actionable sexual harassment and relax procedural protections for the accused,” the AGs’ lawsuit states.

One of the administration’s legislative attempts occurred in 2013.

A bill to extend Title IX’s sex-based provisions to gender identity came before the House of Representatives. The attorneys general lawsuit

20 U.S. CODE § 1682

This is the federal code that gives federal bureaucrats the authority to make rules — er, to make law:

“Each Federal department and agency which is empowered to extend Federal financial assistance to any education program or activity, by way of grant, loan, or contract other than a contract of insurance or guaranty, is authorized and directed to effectuate the provisions of section 1681 of this title with respect to such program or activity by issuing rules, regulations, or orders of general applicability which shall be consistent with achievement of the objectives of the statute authorizing the financial assistance in connection with which the action is taken. No such rule, regulation, or order shall become effective unless and until approved by the President.”

a gift to be born as a man or as a woman, because all the possibilities for later, for the marriage, to become fathers and mothers, to live in the family.

“And therefore, it is very important to teach the young people of the importance of their existence. Everybody is loved by God, and everybody is loved in his situation, in his condition, as male or female condition, or in whatever condition he is born in Asia, Africa, America or Europe. Everybody has the same closeness and friendship to God …”

Cardinal

Gerhard Muller March 3, 2024

reports: “According to the ‘findings’ section of that proposed law, congressional action was necessary because ‘federal statutory protections expressly address discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability and national origin’ but ‘do not expressly include sexual orientation or gender identity.’” The bill failed.

A year later, the Department of Education’s civil rights division attempted a work-around toward its goal, proclaiming in a “guidance” document that “Title IX’s sex discrimination prohibition extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.”

The next year, in 2015, another bill came before Congress attempting to make official law what the civil rights division declared. “The bill was nearly identical to the one that failed in 2013,” the attorneys general lawsuit states. But “once again, Congress did not pass the legislation.”

Not once, but twice, Congress presumably expressed the will of the people: No.

Nevertheless, according to the AG lawsuit, “As the failed attempts to amend Title IX piled up, so did the pressure from outside groups demanding that the government change Title IX through unilateral executive action.”

In May 2016, nearing the end of the Obama administration, the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to schools taking federal funds. The letter said the department would “trea(t) a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for purposes of Title IX and its implementing regulations.”

It told school administrators “because a student who asserts a female gender identity must be treated identically to a biologically female student under Title IX, any attempt to restrict shower, bathroom or locker-room use according to biological sex would be unlawful. It also warned schools that failing to ‘use pronouns and names consistent with a student’s gender identity’ constituted unlawful harassment under Title IX.”

Once again, new law by presidential and bureaucrat fiat.

Thirteen states sued, alleging that the 2016 letter was unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act. A Texas court agreed and issued a temporary injunction.

In their current lawsuit, the attorneys general cite nine other lawsuits where the courts repeatedly have affirmed that the word “sex” in Title IX “was widely understood to refer to immutable, biological differences between males and females.”

As far back as 1982, an Arizona court warned, “(D)ue to average physiological differences, males (will) displace females to a substantial extent if they (are) allowed to compete” in women’s sports, and “athletic opportunities for women (will) be diminished.”

Three years after the adoption of Title IX, even the late liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, then a college professor, wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post “advocating for constitutional guarantees of the privacy rights recognized by Title IX,” the AG

SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education released a final rule, making significant changes to the regulations implementing Title IX, that run afoul of Federal and State Laws; and WHEREAS, Title IX, enacted by Congress in 1972, provides that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” 20 U.S.C.

§1681(a); and …

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education’s unlawful attempt to redefine “Sex” to include “Gender Identity” would have disastrous impacts to girls and women’s safety in restrooms, locker rooms, and sports; and …

WHEREAS, The Commissioner of Education of the State of Florida, at the direction of the Governor of the State of Florida, has instructed that “no education institution should begin implementing any changes while legal challenges ensue”;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the School Board of Sarasota County, Florida, in a public meeting duly called and assembled:

1. Affirms that “sex”: is defined as biological male or biological female (only two sexes); is an immutable characteristic that cannot be changed, fluid or altered;

2. Affirms that inherent biological differences and abilities exist between the two sexes and commits to protecting female sports;

3. Commits to ensuring the safety, privacy and protection of all students, and acknowledges the importance of single sex facilities;

4. Provides that no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity within Sarasota County Schools;

5. Supports Gov. DeSantis, on behalf of the State of Florida, legal challenge of the U.S. Secretary of Education and the U.S. Department of Education’s rule changes to Title IX;

6. Commits that no policy or procedural changes will be implemented or considered as legal challenges ensue, and hereby acknowledges the paramount duty of the District to make adequate provisions for the education of all children residing within its borders.

lawsuit says. Ginsburg: “Separate places to disrobe, sleep, perform personal bodily functions are permitted, in some situations required, by regard for individual privacy.”

Two years after that, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights concluded “the personal privacy principle permits maintenance of separate sleeping and bathroom facilities” for males and females under Title IX.

And in a 2023 lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX, the court ruled: “(T)he government has repeatedly issued guidance to the public at odds with the interpretation it now asks us to adopt. And surely that counts as one more reason yet to question whether its current position represents the best view of the law.”

The sum of all these rulings is the courts have sided with the original view of Title IX — that sex discrimination is about biological sexes, males and females, and not gender identity.

The Trump administration held to that view as well. In May 2020, it rejected a request “to treat gender identity the same as biological sex and to subject students to formal

“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

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MATT WALSH

discipline for failing to use a classmate’s preferred pronouns.”

CONGRESS

IGNORING

But after Biden started in 2021, the efforts that started with Obama revved up again — this time more aggressively and ignoring Congress.

In June 2021, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education issued a fact sheet that declared it discriminatory under Title IX for schools to exclude transgender students (particularly transgender girls) from participating in school sports or excluding them from school bathrooms in line with their gender identities; and also said failure to use transgender students’ names and pronouns is discriminatory.

The fact sheet went even further. It removed innocent-until-provenguilty protections for the accused in sexual harassment cases — the right to present witnesses; to inspect the evidence against them; and to a live hearing.

Once again, Republican state attorneys general sued, with the judge in the case eventually granting the AGs a temporary injunction against enforcement.

The Biden administration appealed; that suit is still ongoing.

But at the same time that “fact sheet” lawsuit was underway, the Department of Education was proceeding to write its new rules, including once again that sex discrimination encompasses gender identity and sexual orientation.

As per law, these new rules required a period for public comments. The public had a lot to say.

According to the AG lawsuit, the Department received more than 240,000 comments — “the vast majority of which were negative.”

“(S)ignificant opposition (came) from concerned observers spanning both sides of the aisle, numerous major faith groups and generations old and new,” the AG suit says.

Despite the preponderance of court cases rejecting the department’s views and despite public opposition, on April 29, the Department of Education issued its “final rule” and declared the new regulations will go into effect Aug. 1. Any school that violates the rules will be subject to losing its federal fund-

ing. Clearly, billions of dollars are at stake around the country.

Meanwhile, the attorneys general lawsuit to stop the new rules is awaiting a July 1 hearing in U.S. District Court in Northern Alabama.

SHAKEDOWN ORGANIZATION

Everyone would agree discrimination of any sort is wrong. What’s more, common sense would tell us it’s not right or wise as a society to make a law requiring men wanting to be women be granted legal right to use female bathrooms and locker room showers.

It’s worse, however, when unelected Washington bureaucrats make such a law — and equally bad that Congress is letting this unconstitutional activity occur.

All of which leads to what should be obvious: This Title IX dispute demonstrates the too-often overreach of the federal government.

Just what good does the Department of Education actually do?

If you think it through, the department is just an interventionist, wealth-transferring, shakedown organization that takes $80 billion a year from U.S. taxpayers; siphons about $2 billion a year in salaries for 4,400 employees (whose average salaries, by the way, are $112,725 a year); and then redistributes billions of dollars back to the states and congressional members’ and presidents’ specialinterest schools and groups.

But there is a catch: To get the money, you have to follow the Department of Education’s rules — rules that cause taxpayers to waste more millions in legal bills for our governments to fight each other.

None of this horrible waste — not to mention, local school board resolutions — would occur if our elected representatives had the courage to do what they did in 1868 — eliminate the Department of Education.

Education should be the sole domain of the private sector. Government intervention at every level of education, demonstrably, has produced the rotten fruit that has splattered across our country today.

Go ahead, dismiss the Sarasota School Board’s Title IX resolution as political grandstanding. But more people need to speak out against tyrannical fiat.

SUNDAY, MAY 19 IN NEED OF A NAP

9:33 a.m., 3300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious Person: Dispatch sent a Longboat Key Police officer to investigate a report of a suspicious person sleeping in a pool area. Upon arrival, the officer met with the two people in question, who said they were on the property to visit a grandmother. The boyfriend said he had traveled 17 hours and was taking a nap until his check-in time. The caller arrived at the scene, was informed of the situation and apologized for the call.

KEEP THE DOGS AT HOME

6:14 p.m., 4100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Animal Problem: Officers responded to a report of a beachgoer with two dogs. The officers arrived at the beach and saw the two unleashed dogs near a group of people. The owner spoke with police and said he was unaware that dogs were not allowed on the beach, and left without issue.

MONDAY, MAY 20

BRAWLING BUILDERS

9:20 a.m., 1200 block of Bogey Lane

Suspicious Incident: A resident called to report construction workers possibly fighting. An officer arrived at the scene and did not see anyone fighting or in distress, and no one attempted to flag the officer down. There were construction workers throwing debris into a truck, though. The officer contacted the complainant and asked if she could provide a better description of the subjects, but she was unable to give any more description of the alleged brawlers.

PAID FOR WHAT HE GOT

2 p.m., 2800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Civil Disturbance: An officer responded to the scene of a civil disturbance and met with the complainant and his handyman. The complainant said the handyman was supposed to complete his deck and would be paid $800. But, according to the complainant, the handyman only completed part of the deck, so the complainant only paid $500 for the work. The handyman was

THE TRUSTED CHOICE

We know that choosing where to receive care after a life-changing illness or injury is an important decision.

When you choose our hospital for your rehabilitation, you receive compassionate care from an expert team that works together to help you meet your unique goals. Our clinicians combine innovative technologies and advanced therapies into a treatment plan that helps you achieve what’s important to you.

• Occupational, physical and speech therapists

• Physicians

MONDAY, MAY 20

NEED A LICENSE FOR THAT

2:42 p.m., 300 block of North Shore Road

Vehicle Stop: While on patrol, an officer witnessed a yellow forklift traveling on the roadway that failed to stop at a stop sign before making a turn. The officer followed the forklift to a parking lot and attempted to speak with the operator. The operator handed the officer a foreign identification card and a co-worker arrived on-scene to assist in translation. It was discovered that the forklift operator did not have a driver’s license, and he was issued two traffic citations and a notice to appear in court.

expecting full payment even though he didn’t complete the work. Both agreed it was a civil issue and nothing criminal happened. The officer facilitated a conversation between the two, which led to the handyman being asked to leave for the day for things to cool down.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22

DUST IN THE WIND

4:02 p.m., 700 block of Marbury Lane Officer Public Service: An officer was sent to a citizen assist call when a report came in regarding pavers cutting with the wrong type of saw, which was throwing dust in the air. At the scene, the officer observed a worker cutting pavers for a new driveway. The officer then spoke with the complainant, who said he had health-related issues with his lungs and the dust from the pavers was causing irritated breathing. He said he believed the worker was in violation of the town code by not using a wet saw, but the officer checked the town ordinances for “dust” and “wet saw” but came up empty-handed. The officer advised the complainant that he couldn’t make the worker stop, but the complainant could contact code enforcement for more information.

• Registered nurses • Dietitians • Pharmacists

Conditions we treat:

Your dedicated care team includes: • Brain injuries

Case managers

Stroke

And many more

You have a choice for your rehabilitative care. Choose to get back to what matters most.

Remembering the fallen

On Memorial Day, Steve Horton remembers his next-door neighbor in Washington, D.C.

Richard Higgins was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps commissioned immediately after college. He served combat tours in Vietnam.

In 1987, Higgins was assigned to be the chief of the United Nations observation group in Lebanon. Six months later, he was abducted by Hezbollah terrorists and killed.

Horton said he remembered working with Higgins at the Pentagon. He also would see him in the Pentagon Athletic Club and their children grew up together.

This is who Bird Key Yacht Club Commodore Horton honored on Memorial Day as he led the presentation at the club’s annual ceremony.

“Each year, I try to personalize this by addressing one person who has given the ultimate sacrifice among the many men,” said Horton. “Let us remember the price of freedom. As the living, our obligation is not to let our fallen service members’ sacrifice be in vain but always to rise up and continue to fight for freedom. God bless those serving, especially those employed today in harm’s way, providing us the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful day.”

The Bird Key Yacht Club honored 40 veterans at its event. Lemon Bay High School’s Navy Junior ROTC conducted a flag ceremony followed by the national anthem sung by Courtney West and performances by bagpiper Gemma Briggs.

WORSHIP directory

HUMBLE HERO

Longboat Key native John Roble was in junior college when President John F. Kennedy made his famous inaugural address.

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” said President Kennedy on Jan. 20, 1961.

Those words rang in Roble’s head as he visited a naval boot camp with a high school friend a year later. When he saw the men dressed in their blue naval uniforms, he knew he was making the right choice. Roble enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 20 years old.

Roble was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer in 1963 and served in Vietnam, starting in 1965. Throughout his career, he returned to his home state of Florida and finished his education at the University of South Florida in 1970. He participated in the invasion of Grenada in October 1983 and served until the end of the Cold War in 1991.

After attending the Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Roble flew radar planes for the Navy. He maneuvered five aircraft carriers, a destroyer and a command and control ship. One of these aircraft carriers is still in commission today.

“I witnessed everything good about our world and unfortunately, everything that’s bad about our world,” said Roble. “I flew all over, from the Arctic Circle to the International Dateline and through the Pacific into the Indian Ocean into the Mediterranean. Where haven’t I been?”

Roble shared that his most monumental moment in the Navy was watching a ship he helped build be commissioned. He said it was awe-inspiring to see the USS George Washington launch in 1990 from Norfolk, Virginia.

The Navy was also instrumental in finding the love of his life. Roble’s late wife worked for the Navy as a civilian logistics system analyst for 45 years. The two met at a Navy base picnic while the squadron was across the street from where she worked. He said they truly were a Navy family.

After 32 years of service, Roble now is a member of Bird Key Yacht Club. On a normal day visiting the club, he will run into friends that at one time he never thought he would see again. Since joining the club, Roble has become close friends with Pete Bruder, who will often come as a guest for lunch. The two flew in the same squadron in 1973.

Lemon Bay High School’s Navy Junior ROTC raises the colors in its flag ceremony for the Bird Key Yacht Memorial Day ceremony.

He said that this interaction is different than with a former co-worker you might run into years later. Their experiences bonded them for life and made Roble the man that he is today. Roble was honored along with 40 other veterans at the Bird Key Yacht Club Memorial Day ceremony on May 27.

“In 32 years, I learned who I am,” said Roble. “I think about before I joined. You really take all this for granted. Those years reinforced again that the liberty, the freedom and justice for all of this country are a part of our lives. That is very important to me as our way of life for everybody in this great country.”

— PETRA RIVERA

— PETRA RIVERA

Mitchell and Courtney West and their four children, Cason, Galleria, Raelynn and Forest

Photos by Petra Rivera

Commodore Steve Horton, Vice Commodore Michael Landis and Rear Commodore Tony Britt

John Roble enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was 20 years old and served until the end of the Cold War in 1991.

Elmer Berkel, Diane and Bo Fairey

YOUR NEIGHBORS

ART IN ALL FORMS

From stainless steel to international jewelry, the fest hosted artisans from around the world to share their unique work and stories.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

The St. Armands Fine Art Festival hosted a creative break from the many barbecues and pool parties happening over Memorial Day weekend.

Visitors and locals perused an array of artists on May 25-26 on St. Armands Circle.

“It is all about the right temperature from the torch to shape it and give it the color you want. This was just years of hard work and practice, but now I’m addicted to making them.”

— John Grammer

Each one started with a childhood passion and worked to create diverse artwork such as stainless steel art, world-renowned sculptures and international jewelry. These artists enjoyed the hot day of showcasing their art and picking the brains of Sarasota’s top art fanatics.

Here are a couple of the standout artists from this year’s St. Armands Fine Art Festival.

JOHN GRAMMER

John Grammer spent the past five years perfecting the delicate technique of stainless steel art.

“It is all about the right temperature from the torch to shape it and give it the color you want,” said Grammer. “This was just years of hard work and practice, but now I’m addicted to making them.”

Since he was a child, Grammer always wanted to be an artist. He only pursued it as a side hobby for a time, but people could always find him making art such as the sculp-

tures he crafted on-site at his construction job. At age 55, these sculptures inspired him to quit his job and make art full time.

Grammer said that stainless steel art is rare because of how expensive it is and how difficult it is to work with. After five years of practicing the technique, Grammer knows just by touch how hot the torch needs to be to make a specific color on the material.

Grammer moved to Sarasota in 2019. He focuses on making art based on fish caught by local fishermen. He loves that his stainless steel pieces are unique and will last forever.

RUBEN MEDINA

Originally from Cuba, Ruben Medina is a world-renowned artist with sculptures in the United States, Cuba and Italy.

Medina said that he knew since he was 11 years old that he was destined to be a sculptor. In 2003, Medina opened his own studio in Milan, Italy, and lived there for 17 years.

“In the land of Donatello, Cellini, and my inspiration, the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini, I had the opportunity to enrich and perfect my technique of processing these materials,” said Medina on his website. “There I learned to work with marble with a process based on an archaic 19thcentury classical technique, which did not involve the use of industrial machinery. I created marble and bronze sculptures, and above all figurative subjects.”

His sculptures are displayed throughout Milan at churches, in plazas and other public places. Medina moved to Cape Coral, Florida, nine years ago to continue sculpting with the inspiration of a tropical atmosphere.

Medina’s latest collection is inspired by ancient sea myths such as that of Neptune. He also made sculptures based on horse races in Milan. He also included interactive aspects in his work such as lights and mirrors.

DREW ALLAN

Artist Drew Allan was focused on another art form for most of his life: music.

After chasing his rock star dreams for a few years in the 1990s, he eventually settled down to pursue a career in environmental science. Still practicing music on the side, Allan started painting as another creative outlet.

Now Allan combines all three passions on the easel and is eager to share them with the community. He

moved to Sarasota in 2010.

“My art is just another expression of me,” said Allan. “I mean my guitar pieces are all about my music, and then you go into the sea life and the painted surfboards you feel my love for the water and the environment.”

Allan describes his art as a mix of abstract and impressionism. He adds texture to his art with items such as guitar strings. He also paints on unique objects relating to his life such as his surfboards.

Allan said, “I think it’s cool that I can just share my life with everything through these two amazing art forms.”

TAGUA ART BY LULU

Each piece of jewelry from Tagua Art By Lulu is uniquely made with “love and hope.”

Lourdes Gloekler’s colorful jewelry is crafted from the South American nut “Tagua,” which is collected by Ecuadorian families from Gloekler’s hometown.

Gloekler started making jewelry as a little girl. She said that her first pieces were made from watermelon. This pushed her to start experimenting with different items. Gloekler learned the “Tagua” technique from her grandmother as it was passed down through many generations.

Tagua was originally crafted by the native Ecuadorians into vegetable ivory and worn as protection. They would leave the tagua nut in the sun every day for a couple of months so its interior texture of jelly would harden. Then, the piece could be crafted by hand into the desired shape and permanently infused with vibrant colors.

Gloekler uses this technique today. The process takes a year overall. She designs pieces with various colors and styles in advance to take them to her brother on her annual Ecuador trip. The families will craft the tagua through the ancient process and send it to Gloekler to sell them. She donates a portion of the proceeds back to the Ecuadorian families.

Gloekler now lives in Ormond Beach. She uses her business as a source of education for the families making the jewelry. She also loves to share her culture and traditions with everyone who buys the jewelry in Florida.

“These pieces are so special because they are made through hard work and love,” said Gloekler. “People will tell me every time they wear a piece they feel happy because they feel that positive energy. And I feel it too just touching them. The people who made it are so special and deserve opportunities for better education and this is just a small thing to help them get that.”

Photos by Petra Rivera

John Grammer creates his art using stainless steel.

Ruben Medina’s art features nautical themes.

Lourdes Gloekler’s art features tagua beads.

Surround sound

another person without touch to help heal physical and emotional pain. More than 800 hospitals around the country offer Reiki services.

Through the different frequencies, she leads the attendees through sound meditation and encourages them to let go of all negative tension in their lives whether physical or emotional. Everyone experiences it differently, Steinhauser said.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

First, a tap on a crystal singing bowl.

The hum from the bowl grows louder as Amy Steinhauser circles it with her mallet. With every tap on the singing bowls, the frequency changes and stirs a different emotion.

No one knows what she will do next: Will she run her fingers across the chimes, tap on a tube or turn the rain stick?

Then comes the gong.

“You might not like each sound you hear,” said Steinhauser.

Steinhauser, the Paradise Center’s new executive director, uses these

different frequencies and Reiki energy to cultivate a healing sound bath for The Paradise Center members and any Longboaters interested. She holds a sound bath at The Paradise Center once a month. She has also held a few sessions on the beach.

“I would say I use some form of Reiki or sound healing certainly on a weekly basis,” said Steinhauser.

“Because of that, it is much harder for anyone to get me upset. It’s now easy to stay pretty calm in situations that can be stressful or that would have really been challenging for me.”

Reiki is a type of energy healing, according to Medical News Today. The Reiki practitioner can aid the flow of Reiki energy and pass it to

Steinhauser said she doesn’t understand Reiki entirely but has seen the effects in her healing journey. She first experienced it through a friend looking for someone to practice on. This experience inspired her to learn more about it and become the Reiki master teacher she is today.

During her Reiki exploration, Steinhauser bought her first sound bowl. She knew that it would help her during stressful times. Steinhauser led her first sound bath at The Paradise Center in February 2023.

Steinhauser starts each sound bath by grounding everyone in the present through their breath. Then she will begin with the singing bowls and follow with instruments including chimes, a rain stick, a gong, tubes and a crystal pyramid.

Tori Newman brought Margy Rich to Steinhauser’s sound bath on May 22 to release some stress. Being an artist, Rich pictured herself drawing with the sound energy during the sound bath.

Betty Heron also attended the same session and said that she felt a release of pressure from her knee during the sound bath.

Previous attendees also shared with Steinhauser that sound baths have helped improve their sleep, reduce pain and lower stress. She said that it helped one woman through grief for her late husband.

“It helps me build a lot more confidence and trust in myself and not just from playing the actual instruments,” said Steinhauser. “I get so much from the act of sharing this with other people and having them benefit from it.”

“I get so much from the act of sharing this with other people and having them benefit from it.”

— Amy Steinhauser

Paradise Center director uses varied sound frequencies to help Longboaters let go of stress and pain.

Photos by Petra Rivera

Amy Steinhauser taps and circles each singing bowl with her mallet to provide a mix of different frequencies.

Amy Steinhauser lets the sound from the crystal pyramid wash over Jon Rios’ head.

Healing arts

Dr. Coeurlida Ashby’s presentation at The Paradise Center will introduce the concept of lifestyle medicine and its benefits.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Dr. Coeurlida Ashby loved working as a doctor at her internal medicine practice until she realized how little time it allowed for patients to heal.

“There were a lot of patients that needed time, and the system isn’t really set up for giving them that kind of time,” said Ashby. “I realized very early on in my career that I was practicing medicine in a way that I knew wasn’t sustainable for me as a healer.”

This led to an existential crisis. Ashby didn’t know if traditional medicine was the best outlet for “her healing art.” So, she went to the only thing that made her feel better: health and fitness.

Ashby poured most of her free time into bodybuilding and learning about nutrition. She started teaching her health techniques to clients after hours and saw a significant difference in her mood. She also noticed that implementing a healthy lifestyle reversed chronic diseases for most of her clients.

In 2017, Ashby discovered the lifestyle medicine concept and immediately knew it was her calling.

The Paradise Center will host Ashby for an exclusive presentation on lifestyle medicine from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on June 3.

Lifestyle medicine focuses on implementing lifestyle changes that promote healthy fitness and nutrition to prevent chronic diseases. Ashby said that lifestyle medicine is based on six pillars from ancient Chinese tradition. The pillars include sleep, nutrition, fitness, social connections, mental health and toxins you put in your body.

IF YOU GO

Dr. Ashby’s free presentation on lifestyle medicine is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on June 3 at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-6493 for any questions. A Zoom link is also available.

Ashby’s presentation will serve as an introduction to lifestyle medicine for Longboaters. It will provide an interactive discussion for participants to understand and see the benefits of incorporating these lifestyle changes.

She will cover how it improves overall health, boosts energy and vitality, manages stress and prevents and reverses chronic diseases. She will mainly focus on heart disease and metabolic health.

Ashby earned her medical degree in internal medicine from Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Yale New Haven Hospital where she served as chief resident of the Yale Internal Medicine Primary Care Program.

Ashby got a lifestyle medicine certificate in 2020 and has become

a leader in the field through her recognition in the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She now runs her own practice, Conscious Health, in Sarasota.

Ashby hopes the presentation will interest Longboaters to start thinking about their everyday habits and how their lifestyle affects their health. She is open to giving consultations at The Paradise Center’s Medical Suite if people are interested.

“I think lifestyle medicine is a missing resource right now on Longboat,” said Ashby. “It is incredible the potential impact it could have on reducing suffering and disease burden. I love the atmosphere of having a space for movement at The Paradise Center, having a physical therapist in the same building and having potential other providers. It is just the type of setting that lifestyle lends itself to. They’re definitely on the right track and this would be adding right in the mix.”

Courtesy image

Dr. Coeurlida Ashby

Petra Rivera

Physical fitness is one of the pillars of lifestyle medicine. Here qigong instructor Sandi Love leads a class at The Paradise Center.

Petra Rivera

Another pillar of lifestyle medicine is social connections, like the ones made in Reuben Fernandez’s tai chi classes at The Paradise Center, where he emphasizes the concept of “tai chi family.”

Say (grilled) cheese

First responders were all smiles over their free lunch from the Big Blue Grilled Cheese Co. food truck.

The Longboat Key Police Department, Fire Department and Public Works Department enjoyed gourmet grilled cheeses on May 24 outside Longboat Key Fire Rescue Station No. 91, at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The Rotary Club of Longboat Key sponsored the lunch as its annual May event in recognition of all the hard work these workers put in for the community. There was a variety of gourmet options from the truck, such as the “Jam” grilled cheese with goat cheese, basil pesto and blueberry jam and the “Spinner” grilled cheese with spinach artichoke dip, Parmesan and red pepper. Each grilled cheese came with chips, homemade tomato soup and a beverage.

The favorite among the group was the “Caprese” grilled cheese with mozzarella, tomato, pesto and balsamic reduction.

The Rotary Club picked the grilled cheese truck because of the group’s love for comfort food.

Rotarian Nancy Rozance said it was the perfect way to relax on the hot summer day.

“We are always talking about how much the Rotary Club does for us,” said Fire Department Logistics Officer Tara Pavgouzas. “We appreciate how much they care about us and we know we can always count on them to make us smile.”

— PETRA RIVERA

Photos by Petra Rivera

Chase Opela enjoys a free grilled cheese after coming back from a call with the Longboat Key Fire Department. Nancy Rozance congratulates Capt. Robert Bourque on being Manatee County Hundred Club’s 2023 Officer of the Year.

Jack Rozance bites into the vegan grilled cheese from the Big Blue Grilled Cheese Co. food truck.

Brenna Foster and Terri Driver Kerri Brooks

Condo in L’Ambiance tops sales at $3.3 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Acondominium in L’Ambiance at Longboat Key Club tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Steven and Becky Thomas sold their Unit B-902 condominium at 415 L’Ambiance Drive to Timothy and Dawn Sweeney, of Longboat Key, for $3,325,000. Built in 1992, it has two bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,385 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.55 million in 2016.

JOHN RINGLING ESTATES

Stanley Shulman and Janet Kahan, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, sold their home at 454 N. Washington Drive to Jacqueline Ritchie and William John Peter Ritchie, of Fife, United Kingdom, for $2.9 million. Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,208 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.34 million in 2016.

THE WATER CLUB AT LONGBOAT KEY

Catherine Armitage, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 506 condominium at 1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Anthony Thomas Sajan and Elizabeth Sajan, of Las Vegas, for $2.8 million. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,650 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,575,000 in 2017.

HARBOUR COURT

George Klett, trustee, sold the home at 2224 Harbour Court Drive to Harvey Sheldon and Laura Traeger, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $2.3 million. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,959 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.85 million in 2021.

BEACHPLACE

John and Sharon Donnelly, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, sold their Unit 505 condominium at 1145 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Victor Thomas

Isbell and Rhonda Isbell, trustees, of Westfield, Indiana, for $1.9 million. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,819 square feet of living area. It sold for $395,000 in 1989.

BP 7101 LLC sold the Unit 101 condominium at 1075 Gulf of Mexico Drive to E. Denison Holder, of Big Sky, Montana, for $1.15 million. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,172 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.3 million in 2021.

LONGBOAT KEY ESTATES

Robert and Emily Hamel, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 554 Rountree Drive to Erich Albert Hamel, of New York City, for $1,325,000. Built in 1958, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,708 square feet of living area. It sold for $239,900 in 1988.

LONGBEACH

Nancy Greenhouse and Patrick Canavan, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7057 Longboat Drive N. to Gregory Watts and Kerry Watts, trustees, of Moultonborough, New Hampshire, for $1.25 million. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 1,999 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2020.

Linda Callagy sold the home at 610 Broadway to Michael Wayne Zerangue and Stacy Lynn Prescott, of Longboat Key, for $1.2 million. Built in 1947, it has two bedrooms, oneand-a-half baths, a pool and 1,270 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,000 in 2020.

LIDO AMBASSADOR

Sharon Ann Finizio, of Leesburg, Virginia, sold her Unit 111 condominium at 800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Linda Merrill, trustee, of Spring Valley, Ohio, for $1,135,000. Built in 1978, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,125 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,000 in 2017.

CEDARS EAST

Graham and Lynne Cherrington sold their Unit 40 condominium at 817 Evergreen Way to John and Donel Hakes, of Carmel, Indiana, for $710,000. Built in 1991, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,440 square feet of living area. It sold for $219,000 in 2011.

John Holcomb and Mary Beeson Holcomb, of Longboat Key, sold

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

MAY 13-17

their Unit 11 condominium at 621 Cedars Court to Thomas Scott Thompson and Cynthia Thompson, of Knoxville, Tennessee, for $410,000. Built in 1988, it has one bedroom, two baths and 1,244 square feet of living area. It sold for $195,000 in 2014.

WINDWARD BAY

Peter and Heather Lareau, of Lady’s Island, South Carolina, sold their Unit PH-6 condominium at 4500 Gulf of Mexico Drive to David and Nancy Simon, of Lakeland, for $690,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,376 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2019.

SEAPLACE

David Myers, trustee, of Buffalo, New York, sold the Unit G-5-304-C condominium at 1965 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Timothy Tracy Hall, of Longboat Key, for $499,900. Built in 1977, it has one bedroom, two baths and 933 square feet of living area. It sold for $130,500 in 1983.

ST. JUDES

Steven Earl Kemp and Lisa Kemp, of Colfax, Wisconsin, sold their Unit 3 condominium at 571 Saint Judes Drive to March21 LLC for $349,000. Built in 1957, it has one bedroom, one bath and 611 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2023.

Image courtesy of Andrew Vac

Steven and Becky Thomas sold their Unit B-902 condominium at 415 L’Ambiance Drive to Timothy and Dawn Sweeney, of Longboat Key, for $3,325,000.

NEWSAPPER CHECK OUT

YOUR CALENDAR

FRIDAY,

most refreshing jazz guitarist. Call 383-4606.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

MUSIC BY JOYCE CORBERT

6-9 p.m. at Whitney’s, 6990 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Joycelyn Corbert’s show is filled with songs from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Etta James, Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, The Righteous Brothers, The Temptations and many more. The experience combines Motown and Soul. Call 383-4606.

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.

MONDAYS

ZUMBA & TONING

10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Taught by Reena Malik, this class begins with 30 minutes of zumba and finishes with mat Pilates for flexibility and strengthening core muscles. Come for 30 or 60 minutes. Free for members; $15 for nonmembers.

TUESDAYS

QIGONG

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qigong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

YOGA

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debby Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a

BEST BET

SATURDAYS

PUBLIC TURTLE WALKS

6:45 a.m. at 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Free. Join the Longboat Key Turtle Watch every Saturday in June and July. Learn about protecting sea turtles. Participants will learn about turtle tracks and how volunteers scout the beaches for signs of turtle nesting. The walk will also provide information about keeping beaches safe for sea turtles. Please arrive by 6:45 a.m. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring water and sunscreen. No unattended children, please. In the event of severe weather, the walk may be canceled.

chair. Cost is $15; free for members. Call 383-6493.

MAHJONG

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

ROTARY CLUB

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

WEDNESDAYS

BEGINNER TAI CHI

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

Steven Kepecz

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

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DOUBLE TALK by Paul Coulter, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

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