Longboat Observer 8.15.24

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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

VOLUME 46, NO. 52

YOUR TOWN

Debby deals blow to turtle nests Expert estimates 50% of LBK’s sea turtle nests may have been washed out. SEE PAGE 5

Courtesy image

St. Regis unveiled

The St. Regis Longboat Key will host an unveiling ceremony on Aug. 16, which will give the local community a preview of the resort, according to a press release.

“This milestone event will mark the introduction of the only St. Regis to debut in the U.S. in 2024 and represents the island’s most significant development in half-a-century,” the release states.

After the unveiling ceremony, the resort will be open for a soft launch. The soft opening will include select rooms, the 20,000-square-foot spa and five food and beverage venues.

The release goes on to say that the St. Regis Longboat Key will be officially opening in late September.

The average room rate at the St. Regis Longboat Key is around $1,200 a night.

After effects Debby is long gone, but its effects on the bay’s water quality are still being felt. SEE PAGE 3

Petra Rivera

Irina Bronstein, Heather and Bliss Rippy

Night on the plaza

After taking a month off, Whitney Plaza is back again with its Summer Night Out. It will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 22.

When business owners Irina Bronstein and Heather Rippy started this monthly tradition last year, they did not expect it to grow as much as it has.

The Summer Night Out tour of Whitney Plaza usually begins at Elegant Lady Cheesecake.

Next door, Design 2000 Salon will be passing out free pizza from Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. To go along with the pizza, Driftwood Beach Home and Garden has free Champagne to sip on.

Sips Coffee and Gelato Shop will give out free gelato samples, while its employees entertain with live music. To end the night, Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar is extending its happy hour specials for the rest of the night.

Turtle tracks LONGBOAT Aug. 4-Aug. 10 2024 Nests 1 False crawls 5

Courtesy image

The dock on Linley Street experiences flooding after then-Tropical Storm Debby passed Longboat Key. The knock-on effects of area flooding are being found in Sarasota Bay’s water quality.

A+E

Courtesy image

Sarasota’s new EcoRover will provide waterside access at Lido Beach to those with mobility challenges.

2023 2 6

Totals since April 21 2024 2023 Nests 1,256 994 False crawls 1,835 1,298 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

Beach access for everyone Free mobility options help people with disabilities enjoy area beaches. PAGE 18

Sobering stories PAGE 14

2

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Small changes for FY25 CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER Courtesy of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

Post-Debby damages In its preliminary assessment, the town estimates that 35-40 structures received flood damage.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

A

fter the preliminary windshield damage assessment from Hurricane Debby, staff with the town of Longboat Key estimated that 35-40 structures were damaged by some flooding.

According to the report compiled by the Planning, Zoning and Building Department, street flooding in low-lying areas resulted in some water intrusion in homes, and overall, there was a lot of street flooding and canals that overtopped.

This assessment was completed by staff after Hurricane Debby passed Longboat Key as a tropical storm.

Once it was safe to do so, staff drove around the island to conduct the assessment.

Most of the areas where streets were completely flooded and homes showed signs of intrusion were around the north-end Village and Sleepy Lagoon areas. The area around the 6300 to 6500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive was also reported to have water about eight inches deep.

“We anticipate that there will likely be more reports of damage as homeowners or tenants are able to check on their properties,” Director

of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons said in an email.

Parsons added that as a part of the town’s building permit application, homeowners and contractors are required to indicate if the work is associated with storm damage. This could help the town to evaluate how much damage was done by thenTropical Storm Debby.

Assistant Director of Public Works Charlie Mopps said that the beaches were also impacted by Hurricane Debby. While coastal erosion is evident, Mopps said the sand should be in the offshore system, meaning it could naturally accrete over time.

According to Mopps, the town asked Al Browder, the town’s coastal consultant with Olsen Associates, to conduct an assessment of Hurricane Debby’s impact on the beaches.

Browder will provide an update to commissioners after analyzing the data, which Mopps said could be in September.

Homeowners who need to report damage from Hurricane Debby can contact the PZB Department at 941316-1966. Businesses that wish to report physical or economic damage can do so through the state’s Business Damage Assessment Survey.

Residents and businesses in Sarasota County can also report damage through the county’s Citizen Damage Assessment Survey, and residents in Manatee County can ask for assistance with unmet needs from Hurricane Debby.

L

ongboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton and the town’s Finance Department submitted a final recommended budget to town commissioners on Aug. 1, ahead of the first budget hearing in September.

In the memo, Tipton outlined some minor changes to the budget since the commission last met in June. Some of the changes came from updates in funding sources, like town revenue, while others reflect changes in commissioners’ decisions.

Tipton also mentioned the town’s first Digital Budget Book, which was a yearlong endeavor for the Finance Department. This digital tool helps staff and residents see the budget in a reader-friendly and transparent format. It is available under the “Public Notices” section of the town’s website, LongboatKey.org.

When the commission last met on June 28 before its summer recess, staff presented the July 1 certified values, which came in at 10.25% higher than the previous year, which caused an increase in tax revenue by $1,580,544 while using the current millage rate of 1.9600.

Town commissioners also voted on June 28 to set the maximum millage at 1.9600.

Since the last budget workshop on June 17, there have been some changes throughout the general fund: n Ad valorem revenues increased by $99,528, or 0.58%, based on the July 1 values, according to Tipton’s memo. Non ad valorem revenues increased by $282,372, or 5.1% n Staff previously included $500,000 in the general fund to kickstart the canal dredging program. In the preliminary budget, this was funded by an additional mill-

age. After commissioners opposed the canal millage, the amount was removed from the budget. Instead, the commission decided to use surplus funds to develop the canal dredging program. n Personnel costs decreased slightly, including a $34,400 decrease in health insurance costs because of lower renewal rates. Staff also reduced the pedestrian crossing guard subsidy by $5,000 and other minor personnel costs were reduced by $14,350. n Some expenses that were previously cut were restored, such as $35,000 for a redesign of the town’s website. n Overall, general fund spending was reduced from $1,886,774 to $1,508,552.

Though there were some changes in revenues, Tipton said some estimates were not yet available from the state, including the communication services tax, local discretionary sales surtaxes and the gas tax revenues.

For the time being, the town used its own estimates and anticipated further changes before budget adoption in September.

UPCOMING BUDGET SCHEDULE Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. — Final special workshop for discussion of budget Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. — Certification of Annual Assessment Rolls for both GMD and Neighborhood Utilities Undergrounding Projects Sept. 9 at 5:01 p.m. — First reading and public hearing of millage rates and FY25 budget Sept. 23 at 5:01 p.m. — Second reading and public hearing Oct. 1 — Fiscal year 2025 begins

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Flooding in the Longboat Key Village during Hurricane Debby.

Ahead of the first hearing in September, the town makes minor adjustments to budget.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

3

Left behind Hurricane Debby may be in the past, but its effects on Sarasota Bay are still present due to pollutants that entered the water from flooding.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

E

xperts with Suncoast Waterkeeper and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

agree: It’s not safe to swim in the bay right now.

A week after Hurricane Debby dumped large amounts of rain on the Sarasota Bay area, local experts are cautioning the public about potential negative side effects to the safety of the bay. This includes the reported millions of gallons of sewage discharged from municipalities that entered local waterways.

These impacts, and more, came from then-Tropical Storm Debby’s copious rainfall, which overwhelmed wastewater systems and brought pollutants into the bay.

The full scope of the impacts is still to be determined.

“You can’t have this much rainfall without water quality being adversely impacted,” said Dave Tomasko, executive director for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS

Shortly after Debby passed, municipalities reported wastewater failures and estimates of how much sewage flowed into surrounding water systems began.

The latest reports from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimate that 25 million gallons of sewage from the city of Bradenton’s system flowed into Manatee River, according to Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Abbey Tyrna. Another 17.7 million gallons are estimated to have leaked from the city of Sarasota into Sarasota Bay. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the nearly 1 million people in Sarasota and Manatee counties

PRE-BLOOM

basically used Manatee River and Sarasota Bay as a toilet on Monday,” Tyrna said, referring to Monday, Aug. 5, the day of Hurricane Debby’s main impact on the region.

As a result, Suncoast Waterkeeper issued no-swim advisories for Sarasota Bay until further notice.

Tomasko and Tyrna both said the problem largely has to do with aging collection systems, which caused failures in the region’s stormwater and wastewater systems.

“Everyone pays a lot of attention to the waste treatment plant, but the real problem is getting to the plant,” Tomasko said.

The two explained that when significant rainwater and flooding occur, the ground becomes heavily saturated. If wastewater systems have older pipes — aging infrastructure — then that excess water in the ground can seep into the pipes and cause more water to flow into the treatment plants than what the plants can handle.

That’s how the plants commonly become overwhelmed, leading to incidents like the ones that occurred with the city of Bradenton and the city of Sarasota.

“So when you see standing water on the streets … that means that the groundwater is completely saturated, which means the water that’s in the soil can make its way into the stormwater collection pipe and overwhelm the capacity of the plants,” Tomasko said.

Inundation of lift stations that move wastewater from low elevations to higher ground also played a part in the recent pollution problems, Tyrna explained.

Another component of Debby’s pollution is from land-based pollution sources, things like over-fertilized lawns, grass clippings and animal waste.

Tomasko said he’s also seen the impact of grease from flooded cars and boats, septic tanks from boats and spare gas cans trickling into the bay from flooded vessels. All these things, from sewage that leaked into the water to car grease, could play a part in potential negative side effects to come.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

When Debby passed, bay experts began seeing the impacts and wondering about the coming weeks.

“What we anticipate is that we’re going to have problems with algal blooms, potentially fish kills, high levels of bacteria,” Tomasko said.

“It’s not an unrealistic expectation.”

Harmful algal blooms commonly occur from “overfeeding,” which happens when increased levels of nutrients are introduced into waterways from runoff, like nitrogen from fertilizer runoff or other bacteria, according to the National Oceanic

Waters are filled with excessive nutrients, like nitrogen or chlorophyll, that promote the growth of algae. These nutrients could be the result of runoff from storms, sewage or other sources.

Carter Weinhofer

A sinking boat near Bradenton Beach. The water around the vessel appeared to be in poor condition from grease or other contaminants.

and Atmospheric Administration.

Tyrna’s organization, Suncoast Waterkeeper, conducts regular monitoring of water quality and releases weekly reports from about 11 sites around Sarasota Bay and Palma Sola Bay. After Debby, readings for enterococci — an indicator of fecal matter — were high in some sites.

A “safe to swim” range of enterococci is between 0-35 bacteria per 100 milliliters of tidal water. On Aug. 7, some readings were 41 bacteria per 100 mL at the Longboat Key boat ramp and 2,143 bacteria per 100 mL at Bayfront Park in Sarasota.

Tyrna also said that during this week’s readings, the salinity in the areas was surprisingly low.

An average salinity level is around 25 parts per thousand, Tyrna said, and she was seeing some levels below 5 ppt.

This could be due to a lot of rainwater flowing into the bay, which can negatively affect marine organisms that rely on saltwater. Some species cannot survive in salinities that low, and Tyrna said she wasn’t sure how long those impacts would last.

High levels of enterococci bacteria and low salinity suggest that significant sewage and rainwater seeped into the area’s bays.

Tomasko said the pattern of worsened water quality is common after storms that bring as much rainfall and flooding as Debby.

“I’ve gone out monitoring after a storm event for 20 years now, and it’s a pretty consistent finding: You’ll get algal blooms, you’ll get fish kills and you’ll have high bacteria in the weeks after that,” Tomasko said.

After Hurricane Ian, Tomasko said a similar situation unfolded. For at least two weeks after Ian, he said Sarasota Bay had poor water quality but, after about a month, the bay mostly recovered.

“One good thing is, this bay is healthier than it’s been in the last 10-15 years, so we should be able to bounce back from it,” Tomasko said.

“It’s an episodic impact, it’s not a chronic impact.”

Tyrna was more cautious, though.

She said that while the bay may mostly recover, the sediments under the bay can act as reservoirs for the harmful bacteria. Then, when future storms cause a disturbance, those toxins could be stirred back into the water column.

“It’s not like you just dump sewage into the bay and then two weeks later it’s gone,” Tyrna said. “A lot of it’s gone. But there’s still the reservoir at the bay bottom.”

For now, Tomasko said people may start to notice water having a dark-

BLOOM

An overabundance of algae on the water surface can lead to murky water and block light from penetrating the surface and reaching seagrasses and other organisms.

Courtesy of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

er color, maybe brown. The color should be closer to aquamarine, he said, when it’s healthy. Basic senses should be an indication of whether the bay is safe, according to Tomasko.

“When the water looks the way it does, when it smells the way it’s going to smell in awhile … just let your senses tell you whether or not it makes sense to go into the water,” Tomasko said.

This photo from the upper bay shows dark stormwater runoff mixing with more saline water from the Gulf of Mexico.

FUTURE UPGRADES

“There’s a roadmap to upgrading your infrastructure to ensure that it’s resilient against these storm events,” Tyrna said.

Replacing aging pipes, for example, is one way to prevent the excess water from overwhelming the collection systems. These projects take time and money, but will be necessary moving forward Tyrna said.

These upgrades are especially important considering that some experts are warning about the impact climate change has on worsening storms.

Tomasko said that as temperatures rise and the air is as warm as it is, the air can hold more moisture. More moisture leads to more rainfall.

“All that flooding, all the damage (Hurricane Debby) did, that’s a tropical storm 100 miles offshore,” Tomasko said. “What are we going to do if we actually have a major hurricane, not a tropical storm 100 miles away … This should be a wakeup call of: How prepared are we for a future with more storms?”

Tyrna said the same, and emphasized that tropical storms will continue to bring huge amounts of rain because of warmer temperatures.

“And that’s why it’s important that we prepare,” Tyrna said.

“I’ve gone out monitoring after a storm event for 20 years now, and it’s a pretty consistent finding: You’ll get algal blooms, you’ll get fish kills and you’ll have high bacteria in the weeks after that.”

— Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

POST-BLOOM

Toxins from decomposing algae and depleted oxygen in the water can lead to fish kills if the fish don’t relocate, making waters smell worse.

4

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Natural growth Suncoast Waterkeeper’s new study will help advocate for stricter enforcement of mangrove protection regulations.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

L

etting mangroves grow naturally is key, Suncoast Waterkeeper said after conducting new surveys.

Suncoast Waterkeeper recently completed mapping surveys of several mangrove sites around Manatee County to better understand the impacts of trimming mangroves versus letting the trees grow naturally.

Executive Director Abbey Tyrna said these surveys aim to advocate for better protection of mangroves, or for better enforcement of existing policies.

“Mangroves are the only protected tree in the state of Florida, and enforcement of the laws are seriously lacking,” she said. “And so using this information to bring attention to the lack of enforcement and the need for greater protection is definitely what we’re working to do.”

Six sites — one reference site and five studied sites — were a part of the survey in the North Sarasota Bay and

Palma Sola Bay areas. The surveys included aerial imaging of the mangrove canopies and spectral analysis.

In February, the organization started this effort with the help of volunteers who went out to complete the initial surveys. The team also included drone operators, a data manager and a boat captain to survey the sites.

The team went out again in March and April to survey the sites a second time before data analysis began.

Suncoast Waterkeeper received support from Manatee Fish & Game and the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to help fund a data analysis intern, a multispectral drone and other project costs.

The new drone helped capture new data, which added more insight into mangrove mapping: color analysis.

If the team solely used canopy volume as a measurement — that is, how full the canopy appeared from aerial views — then many of the sites would appear to be in good health, Tyrna said. But she indicated that it’s not enough to only go by volume.

An aerial view of the canopy of the worst-scoring site in Suncoast Waterkeeper’s new mangrove survey.

Suncoast Waterkeeper used the multispectral drone to capture Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data. According to Tyrna, it’s a way for scientists to get information by looking at colors.

“It definitely classifies or quantifies the greenness,” Tyrna said.

“Greener vegetation is typically healthier vegetation.”

Data analysis took until about July, which is when Suncoast Waterkeeper was able to share the results with the public.

MANGROVE HEALTH METRICS

The five surveyed sites were compared to the selected reference site, which Tyrna said is a protected area in which mangroves can’t be trimmed. This reference site was the site in the best health of all six.

Tyrna said some of the five sites were selected because they are currently threatened by development, though she did not give specifics as to where the sites are located.

Overall, Tyrna’s team found that trimmed mangroves show significant losses to canopy volume and leaf health. Those areas with trimmed mangroves experienced more significant losses than surveyed areas that were previously impacted by sewer pipe blowouts.

Each site was given a Mangrove Health Index Score, which is created from the volume and NDVI data. The reference site scored a 90.

Site 1 in North Sarasota Bay scored a 52. It was affected by a sewer pipe blowout in 2022.

Site 2, also in North Sarasota Bay, had the lowest score of 34. This is one site that was permitted for trimming and received annual trimmings for two years prior. The trimming was most likely the reason behind the low score, a graphic from Suncoast Waterkeeper states.

Tyrna said that trimming or reduction of a mangrove habitat due to sewage impacts can cause a reduction in the function of the ecosystem.

“A lot of scientists look at the structure of an ecosystem and relate

Courtesy images

The lowest-scoring site in Suncoast Waterkeeper’s survey was one that was permitted for mangrove trimming.

that to the function of an ecosystem, and higher structure means higher function,” Tyrna said.

According to the Florida Fish and

“Mangroves are the only protected tree in the state of Florida, and enforcement of the laws are seriously lacking. And so using this information to bring attention to the lack of enforcement and the need for greater protection is definitely what we’re working to do.”

Wildlife Conservation Commission, mangroves are important habitats and can be nurseries for juvenile fish.

Mangroves also act as shoreline stabilizers, which can offer more coastal protection.

Tyrna said reducing structure by any percentage would reduce the function of the mangrove ecosystem by a similar percentage.

This data shows one snapshot of time, and the organization hopes to continue these surveys next year and beyond.

This year’s study was a pilot for Suncoast Waterkeeper. Tyrna said they learned a lot through the process and figured out what needed to be tweaked for future surveys. She said the organization hopes to continue next year in February and is looking for more funding opportunities.

“We have a lot of work coming up in the spring, and we look forward to fine-tuning this program,” Tyrna said.

­— Abbey Tyrna

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

5

Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers collected more than 300 nest stakes after Hurricane Debby.

Courtesy images

Cyndi Seamon and Laurie Schmitt were among the volunteers who spent hours collecting stakes on the beach after Hurricane Debby.

Nests lost to surge Estimate suggests half of LBK’s sea turtle nests were lost due to storm.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

T

he impact was apparent when Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers patrolled the beaches after Hurricane Debby passed the area.

As of Aug. 10, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium reported 1,256 sea turtle nests on Longboat Key. Vice President of Longboat Key Turtle Watch Cyndi Seamon said she estimates about half were lost due to Debby’s surge.

Hurricane Debby made landfall in the panhandle of Florida as a Category 1 Hurricane, but the storm was a tropical storm when it passed off-

shore from Longboat Key. Still, the storm brought large amounts of rain and flooding, which also impacted the beach.

Seamon said that the Tuesday following Debby was when Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers went out to assess the situation and collect stakes that were washed away from the storm. Each sea turtle nest has either two or four stakes.

That Tuesday, Seamon said volunteers collected over 300 stakes in the Manatee County half of Longboat Key. It’s unclear as to how many nests that could be, and Seamon said she expects more stakes to be accounted for in the coming days.

“We don’t really know how many

nests we picked up,” Seamon said.

The following day, Mote gave the green light for volunteers to go back on patrol, assess the situation and report back. For the rest of that week, volunteers continued to report back to Mote and re-stake the yellow stakes if they were still around.

Longboat Key Turtle Watch and Mote personnel are still assessing the nests and making determinations on whether to call nests a washout.

The official number of nests lost is still to be determined, but a lot of nests were impacted, according to Mote.

Even though the impact is clear, Seamon shared some good news.

From one of the nests that seemed

to be heavily impacted by Debby’s tidal surge, volunteers recently discovered the tracks of two hatchlings that survived the storm.

Mote also reported that there have been some new crawls of nesting mothers and a couple new nests in the past week.

Longboat Key Turtle Watch said in a Facebook post that after a storm, it’s important to adhere to the recommendations and local ordinances to ensure hatchlings can safely make it to the ocean.

That said, Longboat Key Turtle Watch reminded the public that outdoor lights or lights visible from the beach should be shielded or turned off after dark, holes should be filled in on the beach and beach furniture and debris should be cleared from the beach.

If people find the yellow nest stakes on the beach, Mote advises the public that the stakes should not be placed upright in the ground because they could accidentally hit a nest.

The best thing to do is lay the stakes next to the nest.

Eggs found on the beach should not be picked up, but people can reach out to the Mote Sea Turtle Conservation Research Program hotline to report eggs or a nest with exposed eggs at 941-388-4331.

HOW DO STORMS IMPACT TURTLE NESTS? While Longboat Key Turtle Watch and other organizations do what they can to advocate for sea turtle nest protection, not much can be done in terms of natural causes.

But as Longboat Key Turtle Watch said in a recent Facebook post, nesting numbers are high this season, and sea turtles have strategies — like laying about 100 eggs per nest — to account for natural losses.

According to a 2021 study that looked at these adaptations of loggerhead sea turtles on the Gulf Coast of Florida, storms and surges suffocate eggs and, when nests are left exposed after surges, the eggs are more susceptible to predation from animals like raccoons, coyotes and birds.

But the study also showed that female loggerhead turtles can offset losses from natural causes by reproductive adaptations like producing a large number of eggs.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Ringling College to release documentaries about Longboat nonprofits “The most impressive and exciting part of it, for me, was learning about the film process with the students.

And just to appreciate the process of filmmaking and how gifted they are, that was just inspiring.”

Students created short films highlighting local ­conservation efforts.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

T

hree short documentary films centered around Longboat Key will be release-ready around November.

Ringling College of Art and Design students made the films in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Longboat Key. The collaboration with the college that began with three short films meant to capture local environmental stewardship and “eco heroes” has evolved into a growing program for the college’s film department.

The first idea — three short films focused on environmental stewardship — was completed over the last school year. Each film, about three to five minutes long, focuses on its own subject: Longboat Key Turtle Watch, Save Our Seabirds and Sister Keys.

Immediately after filming those, a new batch of students began another series of three documentaries. The idea has taken off with the students, according to Patrick Alexander, interim film department head for the college.

Former president of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key Jeff Driver led the collaboration, which began after an Earth Day event that brought together groups like Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Save Our Seabirds and Longboat Key Turtle Watch.

The goal was to create these films as a way to increase public outreach and education efforts. This relates to one of the key pillars of Rotary, which is supporting the environment.

From there, the idea for short environmental documentaries was born, and Driver enlisted the help of Ringling’s film department.

Alexander has been the leader of the project from the academic side, but the bulk of the work is on the students. From setting up locations

— Jeff Driver

Courtesy images

Ringling College students Celi Mitidieri and Ella Satterfield work on a film with Jeff and Terry Driver.

to filming and post-production, the students were the creative minds driving the films.

“As far as them being the creatives who really design the story and the questions and figure out where the camera goes and do all the editing, that’s all them,” Alexander said.

“That really empowered them.”

This fall, a group of students will work to create a marketing campaign for the films, which will likely debut in November. The debut event will most likely be private, Driver explained, but afterward, the films will be available to the organizations for distribution.

Driver said working with the students and faculty at Ringling over the course of the past year has been inspiring and also informative for him.

“The most impressive and exciting part of it, for me, was learning about the film process with the students,” Driver said. “And just to appreciate the process of filmmaking and how gifted they are, that was just inspiring.”

He also said the goal of the films has been accomplished. Though

short, the films met the intention to capture an emotional and more personal side to environmental action. The films do so by telling stories through characters like Save Our Seabirds Director Brian Walton, Rusty Chinnis and Driver and his wife, Terri.

“It kind of captures your emotional intelligence to hear someone describe what they’re doing,” Driver said. “And if you’re really passionate about environmental sustainability, to me these films just really impacted my emotional intelligence … These are eco heroes, this is special.”

internship. Alexander’s wife, Alison, came aboard and was able to offer the students compensation through her film company Alexander Film Agency LLC. The students also receive academic credit for the internship.

The next three films will also focus on local environmental “eco heroes,” though not focused on Longboat Key. These films will introduce the audience to Gamble Creek Farms owned

by Ed Chiles, Oyster River Ecology and Suncoast Urban ReForesters.

In the fall, the project will go back to being a part of the college’s INDEX

program, which stands for industry experience. This program allows students to gain hands-on experience in the industry while also attaining academic credit.

This is when a new batch of students will start to focus on marketing and distribution of the six films.

Since the films are geared toward the next generation of environmental stewards, Patrick Alexander said letting college students take the lead on marketing was key.

The program has escalated in interest on Ringling’s campus, according to the Alexanders, with a lot of applicants and a competitive application process. The team usually consists of about 12 students, with four to six students fully committed at any given time.

At first, the Alexanders said they were working on the students to figure out how the program would run.

Over time, they realized how much opportunity was in the program given how many possible subjects there are in the area.

“There’s too much out there to not want to get involved with and inform about,” Alison Alexander said. “And the students had a wonderful time, they told us, so it’s a no-brainer to continue it.”

GROWING THE PROGRAM

A year ago, the idea of short environmental documentaries was mostly theoretical, Alexander said.

Now, the collaboration has grown beyond what was originally envisioned. Going forward, the faculty at Ringling are ramping up the program and plan to continue the collaborative effort with local organizations as a part of the students’ curriculum.

Alexander said a new group of students spent the summer filming the next three films as part of a paid

Alejandra Cintron Rivera (left) and Ella Satterfield (right) help film the short documentary about Sister Keys featuring Rusty Chinnis (center).

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

In defense of developers SEEN AND UNSEEN

MATT WALSH

I

t was certainly a cringe moment recently when former Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight, who is running for the District 3 Sarasota County Commission seat, made this comment about the region’s most prominent developers: “They have a stranglehold on our county. They are as bad as the gangs I dealt with as sheriff.”

Oh dear. Really? C’mon, Tom. Gang members?

Unfortunately, that apparently is the sentiment of many people.

Well, that’s at least the impression you get. And that is the perception and has been the theme of the current primary election cycle in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

It appears pretty black and white.

There are only two types of candidates running in the primary.

The black hats: the candidates who are referred to derisively as the “bought-and-paid-for-bydevelopers.”

And the white hats: the candidates who don’t have developers’ contributions and who constantly rag about “greedy developers” causing “over development” and harping that the black hats candidates, if elected, will just do whatever the developers want.

We’ll know in two weeks after the votes are tabulated whether that anti-developer sentiment is the majority or minority. But we’re going to pray — not hope; hope is not a strategy — the majority voting in the primary thinks rationally; thinks beyond the campaign rhetoric; and rejects the notion that developers are greedy, evil bad guys.

Sure, there are always bad apples.

But if you have ever gotten to know developers or homebuilders, in all likelihood, you know they are like most good people and most good business people: They’re calling is to fill a noble need — to provide comfortable places to live. And like all business people, they have a self-interest in doing what they do well. If they didn’t do their jobs well, they wouldn’t exist. They and

Consider the two — how consumers and communities benefit when there is development and what happens where there is little or no development.

With development, just look around you — housing, shops, health care, job opportunities, recreational amenities, etc.

Now consider the alternative: NO DEVELOPMENT: ■ Little to no population growth ■ Little to no economic opportunity to increase wealth and quality of life ■ Lower wages than otherwise ■ Fewer public services ■ More poverty ■ Fewer choices (restaurants, schools, shopping, jobs, health care ■ Fewer community amenities ■ Economic stagnation, lower quality of life. If housing is not available to incoming residents and workers and employers cannot hire because workers have nowhere to live, workers and employers will go elsewhere.

When employers start leaving, the economic death spiral begins.

their employees would lose it all.

Likewise, it is in their interest to make the communities in which they build (and live themselves) good places to live. They don’t want to live in a crummy place. They don’t want their names associated with lousy products.

But, of course, the argument goes, they’re building too many houses and apartments! They’re the cause of over-development, crowded roadways and lack of infrastructure!

It’s all their fault!

When we shared those charges with Pat Neal, CEO/owner of Neal Communities, the region’s largest home-grown homebuilder, he said: “What we do is serve the market for people who want to be in this wonderful state.”

Adds Medallion Home owner Carlos Beruff, viewed by many as Enemy No. 1 in Manatee: “We didn’t create the fact people keep wanting to move here. Maybe remind everyone they live in a house that one of us probably built for them.”

It’s not the homebuilders; population growth — over which developers have no control — is driving the so-called “over development.”

Neal told us 57% of his customers do not have a Florida address when they make their first purchase; 22% are from elsewhere in Florida.

What’s more, when you’re inclined to huff nasty expletives at developers, flip the coin. Think about what life would be if develop-

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT National impact to GDP

Residential investment contributes roughly 3%-5% to the nation’s gross domestic product, which includes construction of new single-family and multifamily structures, residential remodeling, production of manufactured homes and brokers’ fees.

1-year impact of 100 homes

The estimated impacts of building 100 homes in a typical local area include: ■ $28.7 million in local income ■ $3.6 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments

ELECTION ’24 CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES

To see candidate profiles and questionnaires, click on the Elections tab on YourObserver. com.

mostly of Mast and Rainford (as well as School Board candidate Karen Rose), to appear at candidate forums — a disrespectful snub to voters. It’s enough to sway you to abstain on those races.

But if you feel compelled to vote for someone, when you evaluate and make a judgment on who likely would perform most competently for taxpayers, we’ll go back — reluctantly — to our initial arguments and recommendations — Mast and Knight.

In the House District 72 primary in East Manatee, we noted that this race is a rare instance when all four candidates could serve the district well. We gave the edge to “Bill” Conerly, former longtime Manatee Planning Commission chair.

But for those voters who haven’t voted yet, we’ll urge you to do more last-minute homework. Richard Green, while not widely known but with nine years as an administrative law attorney, is on par in legisla-

Additional annual recurring impacts of 100 homes:

■ $4.1 million in local income ■ $1 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments ■ 69 local jobs

1-year impact of building 100 rental apartments

The estimated impacts include: ■ $11.7 million in local income ■ $2.2 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments ■ 161 local jobs

HOW THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS Does housing development cost more in government services (e.g. police, fire, EMT, etc.) than it pays in taxes?

First year impact

The 100 single-family homes and 100 rental apartments built result in an estimated: ■ $6.3 million in tax and other revenue for local governments ■ $564,000 in current expenditures by local government to provide public services to the net new households at current levels, and ■ $4 million in capital investment for new structures and equipment undertaken by local

ers didn’t develop.

“The alternative to developers is for individual homeowners to hire contractors to build their homes.

But one-off homes provide no amenities like sidewalks, parks, roads, bike trails, etc.,” says Adrian Moore, a resident of Sarasota and vice president of the Reason Foundation.

“There simply is no way to build significant apartment buildings or condo complexes without developers,” Moore adds. “The economies of scale of building housing in large developments means the cost per home is much cheaper than one-off housing construction. If you want lower cost housing, you are only going to get it with developers.”

Charge No. 2 against developers — and the charge that seems most volatile during election season: Developers buy politicians.

Yes, they contribute hundreds of thousands to city and county commissioner and state legislative campaigns. Asked to respond to

Final Observer recommendations Here is why U.S. elections should revert to occurring only on election day: Things happen up to the last day that can change voters’ minds.

Such is the case this cycle.

In some races, where the choices appeared clear — candidates whose political-economic philosophies aligned with liberty and freedom for the individual; whose competence and experience appeared suited for the office; and whose integrity was solid — incidents and campaign shenanigans later skewed our views.

Or, as some of the campaigns progressed, voters also learned more about the candidates.

In particular, we’ve vacillated on the two Republican primaries for Sarasota County Commission District 1 and District 3; and the fourway race in Manatee for Florida House District 72.

At the same time, the campaign shenanigans and controversies continue to swirl in the campaigns for Manatee County Commission, in particular the race for District 3, which includes the Manatee portion of Longboat Key. In the two Sarasota County Commission races, three of the four candidates — Teresa Mast (District 1) and Tom Knight and Neil Rainford (District 3) — let their campaign tactics sully their candidacies and integrity. We repeatedly have noted the constant truth twisting and sometimes outright lies in their mailers; and the refusal,

■ 394 local jobs

tive astuteness and knowledge of Florida law with the district’s predecessor, Tommy Gregory.

While Conerly can be regarded as the establishment candidate, Green is the emerging newcomer and, truth be told, more independent and more suited for Tallahassee.

For the District 3 County Commission seat in Manatee, the race has been brutal. Thirty-year-old Tal Siddique has been getting a fiery baptism into the nasty world of election campaigns. He is running against April Culbreath, former Manatee sheriff’s deputy and chair of the Manatee Republican Party Executive Committee. Newcomer versus establishment.

Culbreath and her team have been barraging voters with false accusations of Siddique being associated with Black Lives Matter and a Biden Democrat. (He is a former registered Democrat.) And last week, they circulated documents showing Siddique saying “while in the Air Force” and listing his employment as the U.S. Air Force. Culbreath’s team says he’s lying. In truth, he has not served in uniform.

Siddique’s response: “I was a civil servant who worked for the U.S. Air Force helping it lead software teams to better protect our troops and our country … In addition to being a civil servant working with our U.S. Air Force within the Department of Defense, I also worked with the Department of Homeland Security

governments

After the first year, annually

The single-family homes and rental apartments result in: ■ $1.5 million in tax and other revenue for local governments ■ $1.1 million in local government expenditures to continue providing services at current levels

After 15 years

The homes will generate a cumulative $27.6 million in revenue compared to $20.5 million in costs, including annual current expenses, capital investment and interest on debt.

Source: Reason Foundation

this, Neal sent a memo, and in big bold letters the conclusion to his explanation was: It’s “a matter of survival.”

“I think real estate developers are the only people whose lives really, really live and die on what the County Commission does,” Neal says. “The commission is in charge of land use and county policy and culture.”

We have noted this before. Local commissioners and state lawmakers have extraordinary power over individuals’ properties. Every time they make a decision on a property, they are changing the cost for the individual who may want to sell his property; for the developer and homebuilder; and for the consumer.

Says Beruff: “I have spent my adult life supporting people who think like I do. We won’t agree 100% of the time, but if eight out of 10 times we’re on the same page, why shouldn’t I support those people?”

U.S. House, District 16 — Republican: Eddie Speir; Democrat: Neither Florida House District 72 — ”Bill” Conerly, establishment; Richard Green, newcomer, independent. Lean to Green MANATEE COUNTY County Commission — Carol Ann Felts; Talha “Tal” Siddique; Ray Turner; George Kruse School Board — Mark Stanoch; Charles Kennedy Property Appraiser — Charles Hackney Supervisor of Elections — Scott T. Farrington SARASOTA COUNTY County Commission — Abstain School Board — Karen Rose; Gregory Wood Tax Collector — Charles Bear Sarasota Public Hospital Board — Sharon Wetzler DePeters; Kevin Cooper; Pam Beitlich; Sarah Lodge Charter Review Board — Nicholas Altier; Tom DeSane; Greg “Tex” Bukowski

“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

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and other federal agencies in patriotic service to our country.”

As Democrat vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and former presidential candidate John Kerry found out: Never, ever lie or even slightly fudge military service. In Siddique’s case, that should not derail his candidacy. — Matt Walsh

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Water workouts are easy on joints, relieve stress and improve strength and cardiovascular fitness.

MIRABAI HOLLAND CONTRIBUTOR

W

ater babies, that’s us.

We’re at home in liquid from before birth, and we seem to naturally gravitate to it. We love the ocean, the pool, the hot tub and the bathtub.

What is it about water that means so much to us? It surrounds us, it cradles us and it supports us. We’re nearly weightless in water. The largest of us can glide with ease and grace, feeling minimal resistance.

I think it’s those endearing properties of water that make aqua exercise pleasant and effective.

FITNESS

Swimming is the most common form of aqua exercise. It’s good for all ages. It uses all your major muscle groups, strengthens, tones and helps build aerobic capacity. There’s almost no impact, so it’s kind to your joints while it gets you in shape.

I swim laps for 30 to 40 minutes four or five times per week. I find it relaxing and stimulating at the same time. Some days, it melts my stress and puts me in a meditative state.

Other days, I do some of my best thinking during my swim workout.

In any case, I always get out of the water with that energized, goodtired feeling. Mornings are my favorite time to swim. But I’ll take a swim any time I can fit it in. I mostly swim outside so, as pretty as dusk is, I’m usually done before that because mosquitoes love me.

If you’re a beginner, start slowly with a few minutes a day. Stay in your comfort zone and build up. I can swim for an hour or so now, when my body is in the mood. But it took me over a year to get that conditioned, and I had a head start as a fitness professional.

Take your time and keep it fun.

AQUA EXERCISE

Can’t swim? No worries. There are aqua exercise classes at local rec centers everywhere. There’s aqua cardio, aqua strength, aqua stretch, just about aqua everything. It’s done in about four feet of water, so there’s no need to swim.

You can get a great workout. It’s no-to-low impact, so it’s easy on your joints. And if you have access to a pool or calm water, now you can stream a workout onto your tablet, prop it on a chair and exercise your brains out.

There’s some cool equipment to use in the water, too — aqua dumbbells, paddle gloves, jogging vests.

Obviously, if you’re going deepwater running, you’ll need one of those deep-water jogging vests. But otherwise, you don’t need that stuff to get started. Besides, many aqua cardio classes don’t use any equipment.

Here is an aqua exercise you might try for cardio: Aqua strength is a good way to ease into strength training. Aqua dumbbells aren’t very expensive, but you don’t necessarily need them. You can use empty water bottles with the caps on to substitute aqua dumbbells. The air in the bottle provides plenty of resistance for strength training. The bigger the bottle or jug, the more resistance you get. You can even regulate the resistance by filling them partially with water.

PT AND REHAB

Immersion in water was used for healing by ancient civilizations more than 3,000 years ago.

They were on to something. Nowadays, immersion in water provides a supportive, low-impact, lowresistance environment for modern, medically based, physical therapy and injury rehab. A doctor usually prescribes specific aqua rehab exercises.

Courtesy image

AGING FIT

Someone really smart and probably pretty old, once said: “Aging is not for the faint of heart.”

Can I say I can relate to that without giving away my age? Guess not.

Luckily, water is also a great medium for vintage bodies that simply can’t take the impact of other types of exercise, at least not every day.

Even if you’re active, getting older can make it hard to do land-based exercise on a regular basis. And water is fun. You don’t know you’re exercising until you get out, and your body tells you, “Oh, that was a workout.”

As our health-conscious population lives longer and longer, I think aqua exercise, with it’s ability to surround and support our aging bodies while we keep them operational is more important. Get those bodies in the water. Try it; you’ll like it.

Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video production company. She is a certified health coach, exercise physiologist and wellness consultant for Manatee County government and has a private practice. Her wellness programs are implemented worldwide. She is also an artist who believes creativity enhances health. Contact her at ­AskMirabai@­MovingFree.com.

Aquatic exercise offers a host of benefits for “vintage bodies,” including low-impact resistance training, stress relief and cardiovascular fitness.

We have been reading about this proposed library and wondering who thought this was an important investment for LBK! Most residents are perfectly capable of accessing the Sarasota library system.

Plus many have access to libraries in the towns/cities where they may retain a residence for the summer months. Additionally, most people now download their reading material to their Kindles, iPads, phones, laptops, etc.

I totally agree with Bob Gault and others who have privately or publicly expressed their concerns about this waste of money.

Most of our friends are currently living in buildings that need serious renovations to comply with the new regulations that have resulted in enormous assessments like elevators, roofs and insurance premiums.

I suggest we put the library issue up for a vote and see if the majority of residents really want to squander our funds and our green areas to more government usurpation! Enough is enough!

LETTER

KEY HEALTH

Aqua exercise: Born to float!

Regarding the Longboat Key library proposal

9

— BARBARA SCHWARTZ, LONGBOAT KEY

SEND US YOUR LETTERS Have something to tell us? Send your letters to Kat Wingert at KWingert@­ YourObserver.com.

Lung Associates Joins

First Physicians Group First Physicians Group is delighted to announce the addition of Lung Associates of Sarasota to our award-winning healthcare system. As part of this exciting transition, they will now operate under the name First Physicians Group Pulmonology.

With over 30 years of expertise in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Lung Associates of Sarasota has delivered

First Physicians Group Pulmonology

exceptional care for conditions such as asthma, pulmonary As part of First Physicians Group, the dedicated professionals of Lung Associates will continue providing the same services and level of care that patients have come to expect and rely on, but now with the backing of the entire Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and its quest to provide comprehensive and seamless healthcare to our community.

Still the same great providers at the same two locations: First Physicians Group Pulmonology at Waldemere Medical Plaza 1921 Waldemere Street, Ste. 705 Sarasota, FL 34239

First Physicians Group Pulmonology at Venice Medical Office Building 200 Healthcare Way, Ste. 102 North Venice, FL 34275

For appointments, please call (941) 366-5864.

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hypertension, lung cancer, and sleep apnea.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Family Fun

Labor Day S pec i a l !

Photos by Petra Rivera

Tyler Anderson, Chris O’Brien and Aaron Maness

Meaningful meal A

1/2 OFF

fter a week of managing the aftermath of Hurricane Debby, the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department got a well-deserved lunch from the Longboat Island Chapel on Aug. 6.

“We had no rescues, thankfully,” said Fire Chief Paul Dezzi. “But, we definitely appreciate the chapel for bringing us lunch after we have been trying to help around the island after the storm this weekend.”

Along with the Rev. Brock Patterson, Chef David Stone, Carol Peschel and Sue King came from the chapel to eat lunch with the department’s employees. The chapel’s choice of Fire House Subs was the right pick for the occasion. Stone also made a variety of desserts.

The chapel treated the Longboat Key Police Department to lunch in July. Peschel said they treat the two departments every summer to show their appreciation for all the hard work they do on the island.

“They do so much for us residents,” said Peschel.

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The Rev. Brock Patterson

— PETRA RIVERA

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IN STOCK ITEMS + SPECIAL ORDERS

ENDS AUGUST 31, 2024

Sale does not include previous purchases, custom, or Miller’s Cabinetry. Sale may not be combined with other offers or discounts. Ends August 31, 2024.

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David Stone, Sue King, Carol Peschel and Chief Paul Dezzi

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Named one of Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams The Cornerstone Capital Group At Morgan Stanley Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, 2024

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Source: Forbes.com (Jan 2024) 2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams ranking awarded in 2024. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by SHOOK Research LLC (the research company) in partnership with Forbes (the publisher) for the period from 3/31/22–3/31/23. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to SHOOK Research LLC, for placement on its rankings. This ranking is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each Financial Advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC, and may not be representative of any one client’s experience; investors must carefully choose the right Financial Advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with SHOOK Research LLC or Forbes. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

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PET PICS

Six nonstop flights coming to SRQ airport

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

Sarasota-Bradenton ­International will now offer service to 60 nonstop ­destinations ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER

B

reeze Airways will be adding six new nonstop destinations at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport starting this fall.

Currently, the airline offers service from SRQ to Hartford, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island.

New nonstop destinations coming later this year include Westchester County, New York; Akron-Canton, Ohio; Portland, Maine; Long IslandIslip, New York; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. There will also be one-stop service with no plane change to Syracuse, New York.

“We’re thrilled to add six more nonstops and one BreezeThru route from Sarasota-Bradenton,” Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman said in a statement. “It’s been a great destination for us for the last two years, and it’s exciting to continue our growth.”

Breeze Airways launched in 2021, and this year, for the third consecutive time, it was ranked in the top five on Travel + Leisure’s list of the best United States airlines. It offers free

Tad Denson

family seating and à la carte pricing for things like extra legroom.

“The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is excited to see the expansion of Breeze Airways with six new nonstop destinations from SRQ,” President and CEO of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Rick Piccolo said in a statement. “This rapid growth showcases Breeze Airways’ commitment and confidence in the region, and we are delighted to have them as a valued partner.”

Thanks to the new routes, SRQ will offer nonstop service to 60 destinations, according to a statement from the airport.

Breeze Airways will offer nonstop service to eight total destinations from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

NEW ROUTES FROM SRQ

Westchester County, New York: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting Oct. 31.

Akron-Canton, Ohio: Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting Nov. 20.

Portland, Maine: Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting Nov. 20.

Long Island-Islip, New York: Thursdays and Sundays, starting Nov. 21.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: Mondays and Fridays, starting Nov. 22.

Richmond, Virginia: Mondays and Fridays, starting Nov. 22.

Syracuse, New York: One stop/no change of plane BreezeThru service on Mondays and Fridays, starting Nov. 22.

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD: Penny works in New Jersey but spends her vacations on our gorgeous Gulf Coast beaches.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

SUSPICIOUS STROLL 7:51 p.m., 4300 block of Falmouth Drive Suspicious Person: Dispatch sent Longboat Key officers to a report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, officers met with the alleged suspicious person who was walking in a parking lot. The man gave officers his identification, confirmed he was staying at a nearby location and said he was just out for a walk.

He said he had taken a picture of a car that had its cover blown off and was texting the owner to give them a heads-up before the storm.

MONDAY, AUG. 5

SUNDAY, AUG. 4

BOAT-CAUSED BRIDGE BACKUP 4:13 p.m., 7200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Abandoned Vehicle: A report of a loose sailboat heading for the Longboat Pass Bridge required police assistance. The responding officer saw the sailboat pinned against the bridge. The boat’s hatch was locked and there appeared to be nobody onboard. The officer notified the United States Coast Guard of the hazard, but there was nothing more to do at that point.

Two hours later, an officer on patrol noticed a backup of cars on the Longboat Pass Bridge and saw the drawbridge arm was across the bridge. The officer asked dispatch to notify the Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies that the bridge was impassable. While some officers were not on active calls, some stayed at the scene to control traffic.

WANTED: MISSING BOAT 8:58 p.m., 700 block of Broadway Street Lost/Found Property: A resident called to report that his 12- 14-foot white-and-green boat was missing.

He said he had tied the boat to a friend’s sailboat before Hurricane Debby, but once the storm passed, he realized the boat was missing. The owner said he would let the police department know if he found the boat, and the case was closed for the time being.

POOR PUMP MANAGEMENT 3:28 p.m., 5800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious Incident: While on beach patrol, an officer noticed a large amount of water being pumped from a large hose behind a residence. According to the report, the water was creating a large channel through the dune and beach with water flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Officers ­approached the residence and spoke with a man who said he was

LENDING A HAND 7:06 p.m., 4700 block of GMD Highway Obstruction: While on patrol, an officer noticed a disabled vehicle in flood water that was blocking the southbound lane of GMD. A good Samaritan helped the officer in pushing the vehicle to the side of the road to allow for traffic to continue flowing. The owner said a tow would be arranged.

GAS PUMP SNAG 3:13 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Property Damage: Police were sent to investigate property damage to a gas pump and hose at a local gas station. At the scene, an officer met with the complainant who said a white box truck drove away with the fuel hose and nozzle still in the truck.

The man’s report was verified through security camera footage, and the officer noticed a company name on the side of the truck. The officer spoke with the company’s manager and inquired about the day’s Longboat Key delivery, which was confirmed by the manager.

The company manager was connected with the gas station representative to work out the matter and repair the pump.

Would like to Welcome & Invite You, Your Family Members & Friends to Celebrate Mass with Our Parish Community MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, and 10:30 AM Daily Mass at 9:00 AM; Rosary at 8:30 AM Monday - Friday 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily following Mass.

Worship Service Sunday 10 a.m.

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

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

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

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

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

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Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

THURSDAY, AUG. 8

Catholic Church

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

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

the site supervisor for a landscaping company. The officers asked him to shut off the pumps and explained why they were ­investigating.

The superintendent admitted he knew he should not be pumping water from the home’s pool onto the beach. He apologized for the act, and officers let him off with a verbal warning as other workers filled in the gully in the dune.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions

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

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

Lord’s Warehouse Summer Hours: M-W-SAT 9 am to 12 pm

Growing in Jesus’ Name

TUESDAY, AUG. 6

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7

SUNDAY, AUG. 4

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

RUNAWAY CHANNEL MARKER 2:18 a.m., 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Marine Rescue: An officer was dispatched to a possible marine rescue. At the scene, the officer met with the complainant who said he saw a blinking white light about 200 feet away in the Gulf of Mexico. Officers determined it was not a boat but a channel marker that became detached.

941-383-3428

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RANDOM BOAT PROBLEM 11:04 a.m., 800 block of Broadway Street Officer Public Service: An officer was dispatched to a vessel that washed up a couple of days prior.

The complainant said he was concerned that the vessel’s owner had not yet retrieved the vessel.

The officer tried calling the owner multiple times but had no luck, so the complainant said he would arrange a commercial tow to remove the vessel from his property.

COPS CORNER

SATURDAY, AUG. 3

longboatkeytemple.org

Worship With Us at Our Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00 Women’s Bible Study: Wednesday @ 10:00 Watch Our 10:00 AM Service Live: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or www.christchurchof lbk.org (follow YouTube link)

Thursday, Aug 8 at 7:00pm STRINGS CON BRIO

SPECIAL CONCERT

“ S UMMER M USIC M AGIC ”

CONCERTS ARE FREE • VISITORS & RESIDENTS WELCOME

Friday, aug 16 at 7:00pm Jazz daddyo’s (Garden Concert)

SUNDAY • AUGUST 25, 2024 • 2:00 PM Featuring Paul Groen & Julia Chou

Tuesday, aug 20 at 7:00pm ASTRALIS chamber ENSEMBLE

Christ Church of LBK is pleased to bring back, by popular demand, Mr. Gerrit Paul Groen, famous versatile singing artist with a distinguished international career, and his “Summer Music Magic” selections. Including favorites from Dvorak, Brahms, Vaugh Williams and George Herbert, you will share in the excitement that audiences from Royal Covent Garden, Broadway and off Broadway, to the Sydney Opera House have experienced.

Wednesday, aug 28 at 7:00pm Sarasota piano trio

Accompanying Mr. Groen on the piano is Dr. Julia Chou. A native of Taipei, Taïwan, she has a Ph D in Musicology from Kent State and is presently a freelance vocal coach on piano with singers from the Metropolitan Opera.

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church 40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236 429156-1

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

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Concerts are free - All are welcome!

AUGUST 15, 2024

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Image courtesy of John Jones

Michael Flood, Saxon Palmer and Julia Brothers starred in Sean Daniels’ “The White Chip” earlier this year at Florida Studio Theatre’s Bowne’s Lab.

The art of getting sober Florida Studio Theatre’s The Recovery Project works to diminish the stigma of addiction and support artists in recovery.

EMILY LEINFUSS CONTRIBUTOR

L

earning how to navigate life successfully without using mood- or mind-al-

tering substances is the core challenge for anyone seeking recovery from addiction — whether through a 12-step program or other means.

For performing artists, however, there’s an added twist: Many elements of the profession’s lifestyle are directly at odds with getting and staying sober.

And, as any recovering addict (this writer included) has learned, “If the drugs don’t kill you, the lifestyle will.”

While this saying typically refers to the risky situations and questionable behaviors many addicts engage in to get more of their substance of choice, it’s doubly true for performing artists. Sean Daniels, director of Florida Studio Theatre’s The Recovery Project and the Anti-Stigma director at Live Tampa Bay, knows this firsthand.

In his autobiographical comedy, “The White Chip,” which ran earlier this year at FST and returned to Off Broadway in New York City in February, Daniels fictionalizes his own descent into addiction and his eventual recovery. The title refers to the token given to addicts at 12-step meetings who want to stop drinking or taking drugs.

Through this work, Daniels sheds light on stumbling blocks specific to artists — including the belief that drinking is essential for creativity — and is an accepted part of navigating the social demands of theatrical success.

“Going out after a show, attend-

LEARN MORE

THE RECOVERY PROJECT Visit SeanDDaniels.com/ RecoveryProject.

The “warm line” for artists seeking support is (883) OKIQUIT (654-7848).

ing opening night parties and being present at donor events where alcohol flows freely are all part of the job,” says Casey Murphy, a Sarasotabased actor who is 12 years clean and a supporter of The Recovery Project.

Murphy adds that income instability and a culture in the arts that glamorizes drug use and drinking further hinder an artist’s path to recovery.

“With addiction, though, there’s a stigma around asking for help, so you might end up trying to handle it on your own — and that’s the trap.”

— Sean Daniels

Moreover, the nature of stage work exacerbates the problem. Actors and directors, like Daniels, often work nights — performing eight shows a week, with the expectation of being emotionally open and at their best every night at 9:45. That’s a tall order if you’re battling addiction.

“Being an actor is emotionally and physically draining, but the mindset is to ‘just power through it, no matter what,’” says Daniels. “Those suffering from a disease like diabetes or asthma know that ‘powering through’ could be deadly, so they seek help. With addiction, though, there’s a stigma around asking for help, so you might end up trying to handle it on your own — and that’s the trap.”

The isolation that comes with the profession can also be a trigger.

“Let’s say you live in New York or elsewhere and get hired by a regional theater. You’re now spending two months in a community far from your friends, family and doctors,” Daniels explains. Isolation and addiction are known to be destructive bedfellows, echoing another recovery truism: “An addict alone is in bad company.”

Despite these challenges, The Recovery Project has made significant strides since its inception nearly two years ago. The program has introduced key initiatives, such as new play commissions, educational SEE SOBER, PAGE 15

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Sober

ods. Being able to get people to say, ‘me too,’ is a big moment for recovery.

Seeing someone else go through it, or showing someone going through something that mirrors their life is my ethos around writing recovery stories. It’s not about finger-wagging; it’s about saying, ‘Come on in.’”

FROM PAGE 14

resources, artist workshops and a help line for artists. Yet, the overarching mission remains ongoing: to transform the narrative, break the stigma surrounding addiction and ultimately save lives.

STORYTELLING CAN HELP SAVE LIVES

A SUPPORTIVE LIFELINE FOR ARTISTS

Sarasota actor Casey Murphy has been sober for 12 years and is a supporter of Florida Studio Theatre’s The Recovery Project.

Playwright Jake Brasch relates to The Recovery Project’s mission of reaching people through stories about addicts and people affected by addiction.

Sean Daniels’ “The White Chip,” a play about his journey to sobriety, ran at Florida Studio Theatre and Off Broadway in New York.

to family members seeking guidance.

“By creating a supportive environment, Lightshare aims to make it easier for artists, who often face unique challenges, to ask for and receive help without shame,” says Clarke. The ultimate goal, which aligns with The Recovery Project, is “to educate and reduce the stigma associated with addiction, ensuring individuals are treated with respect and have access to necessary services without bureaucratic hurdles.”

plays until after he got sober. “That’s when I realized my way to process the world was through writing and comedy,” he says.

He also discovered that the shared experience of addiction, while painful, could be funny. “Recovery spaces are the best theater on earth,” says Brasch, reflecting another recovery truism: “If you’re not laughing in

recovery, you’re not doing it right.”

Brasch first connected with Daniels in 2022 and held a workshop based on his play, “How to Draw a Triangle” at FST in April. He related to The Recovery Project’s “mission to reach people through stories about addicts or people affected by addiction (because it) aligns with my central mission as an artist — to reach other artists in our profession who are struggling.”

Daniels adds, “Casey and Jake are two sober artists I first encountered and wanted to support. They’re both incredibly talented, smart, open about their sobriety and game to help me save a few lives — especially those who are wondering if they should give sobriety a shot or are in early sobriety.”

Brasch emphasizes the power of storytelling in recovery. “Before I got sober, no one could tell me what was happening until it was too late.

Stories have a different potential to advocate compared to usual meth-

DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF THE WILD AND CRAZY ARTIST

A common misconception about and among artists is that substance use fuels creativity. Daniels calls this “the myth of the artist who sacrifices himself for supposed genius.” Murphy adds, “The notion of the wildly talented but self-destructive artist is just that — a myth.”

Playwright Jake Brasch is living proof this myth is untrue. He didn’t begin writing his award-winning

“By creating a supportive environment, Lightshare aims to make it easier for artists, who often face unique challenges, to ask for and receive help without shame.”

— Karina Clarke

Smithsonian recognizes ‘Mermaid Fountain’ Sarasota’s downtown “Mermaid Fountain,” created in 1993 by artist Nancy Matthews, has been included in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of public art sculptures.

In recognition of this honor, the city of Sarasota will hold a celebration at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Paul N. Thorpe J. Park at the intersection of Pineapple and Lemon avenues.

“We are happy to see Nancy’s ‘Mermaid Fountain’ receive the recognition it deserves from the Smithsonian Institution,” said Mary Davis Wallace, the city’s public art manager, in a statement. “Her work has not only beautified our city but has also become an integral part of Sarasota’s cultural and artistic identity.”

Matthews’ creation includes several pools and bas-relief imagery. The fountain gets its name from a depiction of a mermaid and two dolphins on the south-facing panel.

Raised in the Virgin Islands, Matthews’ work has been influenced by the cultures and spirituality of the Caribbean as well as the teachings of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung.

Matthews attended the New York School of Visual Arts from 1969 to 1971. After receiving a grant from the government of the Virgin Islands, she attended the Art Institute of San Francisco, where she studied printmaking and ceramic sculpture.

Eventually settling in Southwest Florida, Matthews received her first commission for architectural ceramics from renowned Sarasota School architect Carl Abbott.

During the next four decades, Matthews received a series of commissions through word of mouth and client referrals. Her work has been shown at the Allyn Gallup Gallery,

www.manasotaonline.com

Helping artists struggling with addiction connect with peers and find the help they need is vital, but The Recovery Project has further ambitions.

“We measure success through surveys, feedback and the impact of our educational and support initiatives,” says Daniels. A recent Anti-Stigma report shows that it’s working.

The community is responding to The Recovery Project’s storytelling, says Daniels. “Seeing and hearing stories that people relate and respond to can not only change national narratives, but can reduce stigma, which helps people to seek care, which ultimately saves lives.”

As for advice for performing artists struggling with substances, Daniels says, “I would tell you it’s better on the other end. I have a wife and a daughter who have never seen me drink.”

“Many artists and writers did their best work despite addiction, not because of it,” notes Murphy, adding, “the experience of getting sober humbled me and made me better on stage.”

Brasch offers these words: “Allow yourself to express as freely and openly as you can. Dance, write, sing — not to promote, but to process what’s happening to you artistically. It will help you understand how to recover, rebuild and realize what matters most to you.”

honor to join The Sarasota Players team.

They are such an important and trusted part of this community, and their ongoing dedication to the performing arts and rich history instantly drew me to the position. I’m happy to have been chosen for this role.”

Local restaurant group hosts summer dining tours

Courtesy image

Sarasota’s iconic “Mermaid Fountain” has been included in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of public artworks.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, The Ringling Museum of Art and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton.

Sarasota Players names new development director Amy Gorman has joined The Sarasota Players as the new director of development.

Gorman brings experience from finance, education and nonprofit organizations to her new role at the nonprofit community theater. She was most recently director of development at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, where she focused on fundraising, community relationships and student programs.

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

Her previous positions include parents fund director and assistant annual fund director at The Taft School and corporate and community advancement associate at the State College of Florida Foundation. Gorman holds a law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

“We are thrilled to have Amy join our team,” said Sarasota Players CEO William Skaggs in a statement. “She brings the perfect mix of experience and local knowledge that someone in this role needs to shine. We look forward to seeing what she’ll accomplish.”

Commented Gorman, “It’s a tremendous

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437

2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4679

Sarasota-Manatee Originals, which partners with Visit Sarasota for an annual restaurant week showcasing local eateries, has announced a summer dining series.

Scheduled for August and September, The Blend tours will take guests on a guided culinary trip abroad a trolley, with stops at five locally owned restaurants.

Each restaurant on the tour will serve a specially crafted dish paired with a complementing wine. At each stop, a wine expert and a chef will be on hand to guide the tasting experience.

The first tour is on Aug. 20 and will explore Venice and Nokomis, with stops at Pop’s Sunset Grill, Chaz 51 Steakhouse, Café Venice, Fins at Sharky’s and the Paradise Grill.

The second tour, which takes place Sept.

25, focuses on Bradenton and Palmetto, with visits to Mean Deans Local Kitchen, Birdrock Taco Shack, Ortygia, The Riverhouse and more.

Tickets for available online only for $135 per person. The cost covers all food, wine pairings, trolley transportation and gratuities. Specific dietary restrictions and meal requests cannot be accommodated.

For more information, visit EatLikeALocal. com/Events/The-Blend.

OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN Special Financing Available

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BRIEFS

One of The Recovery Project’s standout features is its “warm” line, designed specifically for artists who may be struggling or have questions but are not necessarily in “hotline” crisis.

“When an artist calls the warm line, they’re connected to peers or local resources through our partnership with Lightshare in Sarasota.

It doesn’t require insurance and is designed to be accessible and supportive,” says Daniels.

Karina Clarke, vice president of operations at Lightshare, played a pivotal role in developing this service.

Before joining Lightshare two-anda-half years ago, Clarke was program director of Sarasota County’s Drug Court for 18 years under 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Charles E. Williams. “Judge Williams, who is heavily involved in Sarasota’s artistic community, introduced me to this project,” she says.

Clarke explains that the warm line is like a concierge service for artists, assessing their needs and connecting them with appropriate services.

This can include screening for residential facilities, immediate detox placement, mental health crisis intervention, outpatient services and peer support. It’s also available

15

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

THIS WEEK THURSDAY

ROB SCHNEIDER 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $53 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

“Saturday Night Live” veteran Rob Schneider tapped his personal life for his first Netflix comedy special, “Asian Momma, Mexican Kids,” which premiered in 2020. His credits include the NBC sitcom “Men Behaving Badly” and the feature films “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick” and “The Benchwarmers.” Runs through Aug. 18.

DON’T MISS

OPENING RECEPTION FOR NEW EXHIBIT Art Center Sarasota hosts an opening reception for its latest round of exhibitions by artists Precious Darling, Tanner Simon and teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County.

Darling’s show, “How He Sees Me,” uses black-and-white photography and sculpture to focus on the way women are viewed while Simon’s “Big Soup, Big Responsibility” explores the intersection of humor, seriousness and the absurd with large-scale paintings. All three exhibitions run through Sept. 28.

IF YOU GO When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 Where: at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: Free Info: Visit ArtCenterSarasota. org.

OUR PICK

‘ANYTHING GOES’ Can’t get enough of Cole Porter? Then the Manatee Players’ revival of the 1934 musical “Anything Goes” is the show for you. Set sail on the S.S. American as two unlikely couples try to chart a course to lasting happiness with the help of singing sailors.

Runs through Aug. 18.

‘THE MUSIC OF LAUREL CANYON’ 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret,1265 First St., Sarasota $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

If you know, you know. But not everyone knows about Laurel Canyon, the neighborhood above West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip that became home to folk musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and The Mamas and the Papas. Runs through Sept. 1.

IF YOU GO When:When: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15 Where: at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton Tickets: $32-$42 Info: Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.

GREEN DAY’S ‘AMERICAN IDIOT’ 7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 $30; $13 for students Visit ThePlayers.org.

Courtesy images

Broadway director and playwright Michael Mayer (“Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) collaborated with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and distilled his Grammy Award-winning album into a rock opera. This explosive production, directed by Brian Finnerty, is just the cure for the summertime blues. Runs through Aug. 16.

‘THE FOUR C NOTES’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

For fans of Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, the doo-wop sound never goes out of style. With “The Four C Notes,” Florida Studio Theatre continues the tradition of presenting Four Seasons tribute shows in its summer cabaret series. Runs through Oct. 13.

‘THE OUTSIDER’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $29-$46 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

After the past few weeks in politics, we could all use some laughs.

Florida Studio Theatre serves up a political comedy about the world’s least likely candidate for governor who just might be exactly what the voters want. Runs through Aug. 18.

Everyone’s a winner in this FST Improv show, where audience members select the night’s lineup of games, replete with scenes, sketches and songs designed to provoke laughter. Runs Saturdays through Sept. 28.

FRIDAY

SUNDAY

CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘VIVA LAS VEGAS’ 7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘COPPÉLIA’ 1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $12-$20 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

If you’re a fan of campy Elvis Presley movies, it doesn’t get much better than “Viva Las Vegas,” which created a lot of chemistry on screen (and off, according to gossip columnists) between the King of rock ’n’ roll and his sexy co-star Ann-Margret.

Find out what happens when the lonely Dr. Coppelius brings a doll to life. His “daughter’s” beauty is so great that it threatens to derail the engagement of a peasant couple to be married during the village harvest festival.

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

COMEDY LOTTERY 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

JAZZ HAPPY HOUR 6 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free with reservation Visit JazzHappyHour.org.

Sarasota Music Archive presents the Barbara Jordan Quintet playing a program of “Swinging the Classics.”

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

17

Thinking small at 502 Gallery The new 400-square-foot gallery in the Burns Court district showcases small, affordable works.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

IF YOU GO

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

S

omewhere, Syd Solomon is smiling.

The late artist and his wife, Annie, who died in 2020 at age 102, were known for bringing Sarasota’s visual arts community together and sparking dialogue, collaboration and fun.

As a result of the teamwork at Ringling College of Art and Design’s recent Solomon exhibition, a new gallery has opened in the historic Burns Court district.

The team behind the new 502 Gallery at 502 S. Pineapple Ave. — Ringling College Chief Curator Tim Jaeger, art collector and investor Dr. Richard Mones, and gallery Operations Manager Christina Antoniou — collaborated on “Fluid Impressions: The Paintings of Syd Solomon,” which ran from November 2023 to March in the college’s Lois and David

‘SHOPLIFTABLE’ Where: 502 Gallery, 502 S. Pineapple Ave. When: Noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Runs through Nov. 9.

Stulberg Gallery.

Rounding out the 502 Gallery team is Jaeger’s wife, Cassia Kite, who is an arts educator and an artist herself.

Including the Ringling College galleries that Jaeger oversees, the 502 Gallery brings the number of galleries that he’s actively curating to nine.

Like all artistic endeavors, 502 Gallery is a labor of love. But the partners aim to make money for themselves and for the Sarasota artists whose works are on display in the 400-square-foot gallery.

The grand opening of 502 Gallery

Dr. Richard Mones and Tim Jaeger are part of the team behind the new 502 Gallery in the Historic Burns Court neighborhood.

was scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 4, but Hurricane Debby threw a monkey wrench into the works, and the event was delayed until Aug. 11.

On Aug. 9, the partners in 502 Gallery were presiding over a soft opening of sorts, as friends and well-wishers dropped by the gallery, which was dealing with some airconditioning problems. Even with the last-minute opening snafus, the excitement was palpable.

Despite lifelong admonitions heard by every American to “think big,” 502 Gallery is doing exactly the opposite. Its first show, “Shopliftable,” features multimedia works no larger than six inches high, wide and deep.

The pieces are billed as “small enough to steal,” but they also seem like the perfect stocking stuffers for arts lovers. (It’s never too early to start your holiday shopping.)

The response to 502 Gallery’s request for entries was so great, its next show, in November, will be called “Shopliftable II.” Even with a soft opening, artworks were being purchased on Aug. 9.

Antoniou, a Boston native who graduated from Ringling College in May, slipped into the back room to pick up new pieces to replenish the gallery’s display.

The price points range from $300 to $1,300, Antoniou says.

The Jaegers and Mones see 502 Gallery as filling a niche in the Sarasota arts scene that has been overlooked.

By focusing on small works, 502 Gallery is offering affordability, giving both established and emerging artists the opportunity to connect with collectors who need art to fill a corner or a space on a bookshelf.

“It’s all about being accessible,” Jaeger says.

For their new venture, partners considered South Palm Avenue downtown, home to other art galleries and the scene of First Friday Artwalks during season, but the rents were too high, Mones says.

The block of Pineapple Avenue where 502 Gallery is located is filled

Photos by Monica Gagnier

with restaurants, antique stores and other retailers, and the sidewalk art has been refreshed ahead of this November’s Chalk Festival. Just around the corner is Burns Court Cinema. “It’s a perfect location for us,” Mones says.

About 50 Sarasota artists are featured in the first edition of “Shopliftable.” Among them are familiar names such as Omar Chacon, Keith Crowley, Jack Dowd, Joe Fig, Virginia Hoffman, Joseph Melancon, Marina Shaltout as well as Kite, who has been married to Jaeger since 2012.

Kite met her future husband when she took a class at Ringling College, which included a visit to Jaeger’s studio at the time. “We started talking and we haven’t stopped since,” she says.

Despite their small space, Jaeger and his collaborators envision 502 Gallery as a hub for artists and their collectors.

The gallery is just a few doors down from Project Coffee, and Jaeger hopes the space will be the kind of place where folks drop by just as they would a coffee shop. “We want to build community,” Jaeger says.

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502 Gallery Operations Manager Christina Antoniou and co-owner Cassia Kite pose in front of some of the small pieces featured in the “Shopliftable” show.

The pieces are billed as “small enough to steal,” but they also seem like the perfect stocking stuffers for arts lovers.

Classifieds 30 Games 29 Real Estate 27 Weather 29

AUGUST 15, 2024

YOUR NEIGHBORS

All-access beaches Sarasota’s new EcoRover will provide waterside access to the mobility challenged at Lido Beach.

Courtesy images

Free mobility options empower people to explore area beaches independently.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

T

he first person to use the new city of Sarasota EcoRover hadn’t seen the beach in years.

“A family rented it out for the first time,” said Jake Brown, city of Sarasota ADA coordinator. “They brought their grandfather from an assisted living (facility) who had not been to the beach in years. They had the best time, from what I understand, and were able to put a smile on his face after all the years he thought he couldn’t go to the beach anymore.”

Starting this July, the EcoRover, a beach-friendly accessibility chair, allowed people with disabilities to independently explore Lido Beach, which wasn’t an option for them before. City of Sarasota employees hope that this will pave the path to building a more accessible community around Lido Key and Longboat Key.

ALL-TERRAIN ROVER

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Before the EcoRover, beach wheelchairs and Mobi-mats, which are portable rollout mats for wheelchairs to safely cross the beach, were the only options for people with disabilities to enjoy the area’s beaches

HOW TO RESERVE EcoRover Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance by contacting Jake Brown at Jake.

Brown@SarasotaFL.gov or by calling 263-6476.

It can be reserved for up to four hours at no cost between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Before using the vehicle, viewing a brief safety tutorial video and signing a waiver is required.

Sand Wheelchair Call the Longboat Key Fire Rescue at 316-1944. A $20 deposit is required, but you will receive the deposit back upon the return of the chair.

and parks. Though these are great options, they do not allow people to independently explore as they please because someone would also have to accompany them to push them through the sand.

After a board member experienced this with a family member, the Sarasota City Commission-appointed Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board started looking for a solution that would allow people with disabilities more freedom, especially with the expansion of accessible options around the area including buses and entertainment around the area.

The EcoRover was $14,000 and funded through handicap parking

violation fines, which allow it to be free for use by those with disabilities.

This electric, hand-controlled track chair with all-terrain treads allows people to enjoy the beach, which is usually a difficult place to navigate for people with wheelchairs and disabilities.

The chair includes storage for an oxygen tank, umbrella and tools. It also has a remote control for a companion to help those without the use of their hands.

Because of Hurricane Debby, only one person has reserved the chair so far, but Brown said people have shown a lot of interest. He is excited to see the chair in action now the beaches are returning to normal after the storm.

“Part of living in Florida is going to the beach,” said Brown. “So, we wanted to make sure that everybody can experience the beautiful beaches of Sarasota.”

BEACH WHEELS

After discovering how difficult it is for wheelchair users to get onto the beach, the Longboat Key Fire Rescue started brainstorming about how to make it more accessible and avoid falls from people who try to visit the beach on their own. This year, the department made room in the budget to purchase a sand wheelchair.

“The fire department has found that some families may not be able to get down there to the beach,” said Fire Chief Paul Dezzi. “Here’s an opportunity for them to use the chair, get them out of the house and down to the beach and make it a nice day.”

The chair is built to ensure smooth

Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s sand wheelchair

journeys on the sand without falling.

That does make it more difficult to get onto the beach, but the Fire Rescue Department offers to help people get it there.

To make it as accessible as possible, the sand wheelchair is a free option. Once people call to reserve the chair, they can come pick it up by giving a $20 deposit. When returning it, they will receive the deposit back. The chair must be cleaned before returning it.

Most of the families that have used it are visitors, but Dezzi is hoping

that more locals will start to use it if they need it. He said that about six people have used it so far. People can use it as long as needed, one family using it for a week once. It is a firstcome, first-served process.

The sand wheelchair and the EcoRover are only a few options to make it easier for people with disabilities to enjoy the area’s beaches.

Dezzi said they are always open to hearing ideas to make the island a more accessible place.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

19

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

The doctor is in Physician joins Reed Medical Group to make women’s health care accessible and encourage healthy lifestyles.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

R

eed Medical Group welcomed a new member to its concierge clinic to expand options for women’s health care on the island.

Dr. Mindy Ward is the newest addition to the internal medicine team at Reed Medical Group. With her background in osteopathic medicine, she plans to provide personalized health care that focuses on all aspects of life and prevents illnesses in the future.

Ward has always been fascinated by the body. Originally from Missouri, Ward knew she wanted to become a doctor at a young age, and she attended Kansas City University Medical School before moving to Sarasota for her residency at Sarasota Memorial Hospital five years ago.

Ward set out to become a concierge doctor after realizing the lack of opportunity to get to know patients in a traditional medical setting. Her desire to provide more personalized care and grow stronger relationships with her patients aligns with her ideals as a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

According to Ward, osteopathic medicine focuses on treating patients in all parts of life: body, mind and soul. It focuses on doing preventative care to extend a patient’s lifespan and make them as healthy as possible throughout it.

“The basis of osteopathic medicine is that the body could heal itself if you gave it all the tools it needed,” said Ward. “While also concentrating on the physical aspects of life, I always ask people about their social health, how they exercise, their mental health and how they sleep.

Through that, we can figure out what lifestyle changes we can do to help prevent future problems or heal current ones.”

After starting at Reed Medi-

Photos by Petra Rivera

Dr. Mindy Ward

“There’s no deeper privilege in my life and no better career, in my opinion, than having someone walk into the room and trust you with the depths of their being.”

— Dr. Mindy Ward

cal Group in July, Ward is excited to bring this type of medicine onto the island, focusing specifically on women’s health and healthy aging.

She said menopause is a greatly undertreated part of a woman’s life.

Ward wants to acknowledge and inform all women throughout that transition in life to help them become the best version of themselves. Ward provides many preventative women’s care options such as pap smears and hormone replacement therapy.

Along with making women’s health care more accessible, she hopes to be a go-to doctor on Longboat. Being a concierge doctor allows her to build strong relationships with

Debbie Murphy during a consultation with Dr. Mindy Ward

her patients to treat them the best she can. She said this allows her to be more involved in a patient’s life such as teaming up with personal trainers, talking to family about hard medical topics and implementing supplements if her patients are interested.

Ward said that her first month has been exactly what she had hoped for. Reed Medical Group’s mission of providing accessible health care for Longboaters while implementing preventative care aligns with her career goals. She has loved meeting many Longboaters and is excited to continue to build her roster of patients to help them live their healthiest lives.

“I absolutely became a physician because I love people,” said Ward.

“There’s no deeper privilege in my life and no better career, in my opinion, than having someone walk into the room and trust you with the depths of their being.”

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TRANSIT TALK: REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SENIORS Wednesday, August 28, 2024 From 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Hear City and County Professionals Discuss the Importance of Public Transportation as We Age. There will be Special Focus on the New Breeze Transit Initiatives along with the Popular Bay Runner Trolley. You will Learn More About the Details of these Transit Systems, the Costs, and the Instructions to Begin Utilizing the Services.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

21

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ROYAL ST. ANDREW 555 S. GULFSTREAM AVE. #901/901A SOLD $1,700,000

PROMENADE 1211 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #801 SOLD $1,800,000

QUEENS HARBOUR 3584 FAIR OAKS LANE SOLD $2,300,000

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ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY 2454 VACCARO DRIVE | $1,249,000 3BR+DEN/3BA | 2,270 SF

WATER CLUB I | $4,375,000 1241 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #401 3BR/5BA | 3,400 SQ FT

THE LANDINGS | $1,775,000 4812 PEREGRINE POINT. CIR.. W. 5BR/4.5BA | 3,579 SF

CLUB LONGBOAT | $1,089,000 5055 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #436 3BR/3BA | 1,632 SQ FT

CONDO ON THE BAY | $1,199,000 988 BLVD OF THE ARTS #816 2BR/2BA | 1,555 SQ FT

GRAND BAY I | $1,775,000 3060 GRAND BAY BLVD., #112 3BR/2BA | 2,250 SQ FT

THE LAKES ESTATES | $835,000 1755 OAK LAKES DR. 3BR/2BA | 2,583 SQ FT

GRAND BAY II | $2,295,000 3040 GRAND BAY BLVD., #283 3BR/3BA | 2,550 SQ FT

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OYSTER BAY ESTATES | $5,995,000 1429 N. LAKE SHORE DR 5BR/5 FULL BA & 2 HALF BA

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Photos by Petra Rivera

Sarasota Yacht Club funded and built a playhouse for a Harvest House campus.

A place for play Sarasota Yacht Club members fund and build a playhouse for children who live at Harvest House campuses.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

W

hen youth members from the Sarasota Yacht Club learned about the number of homeless children in Sarasota a year ago, they wanted to make a difference.

From ages 6 to 65, 75 members of the club came together to build a playhouse for children on a Sarasota Harvest House campus. Twenty members hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 9 to unveil the new play area.

“We couldn’t have done this without one of the board members, Mark (Padgett),” said Stephania Feltz, philanthropy and special projects director at the club. “He has told me stories of his parents, who instilled in him the belief that you don’t help others in your community because you can help others. But you help others because you must and you should. It’s a responsibility, and so we are excited to be sharing that legacy in a very meaningful way.”

Wanting to help the homeless population in any way possible, Sarasota Yacht Club partnered with Harvest House, which provides emergency housing for the local homeless population.

After meeting with the Harvest House team, they realized the importance of having options for children to play while growing up. With this in mind, the idea of funding and building Harvest House’s very own play-

house was born.

Board member Mark Padgett led the initiative to raise the $8,000 for the project through the Gingerbread House Auction, where SYC members sold a giant gingerbread house. To make this a learning experience for the children, the Yacht Squad, the club’s youth members, honed their writing skills by writing a grant that was presented and approved by the SYC Cares Committee.

Club members, including the high school members from the club’s Ensign Board, helped architect and club member Mark Sultana build the project, which took over a year. Feltz expressed that the year of teamwork, struggle and philanthropy was worth it to provide a safe place for kids to play.

“Part of our goal in what we do is in helping the kids to be kids,” said Harvest House CEO and Executive Director Erin Minor. “This right here

The new Harvest House playhouse.

plays right in line with that ethos of ours to make sure that families are having that rest time when they get home from school, the kids can play, just feel like kids, and not carry the burden of crisis.”

Stephania Feltz, philanthropy and special projects director of the Sarasota Yacht Club helps dedicate the playhouse.

FOR CITY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 VOTELIZALPERT.COM

Liz Alpert is listening to Sarasota residents about traffic congestion and is taking steps to manage growth to preserve what makes our city special.

Sarasota is a special community that thousands of people want to call home.

Liz is working to improve our quality of life by:

Creating alternative forms of transportation, including the trolley to reduce traffic congestion Expanding walkability through zoning changes and complete streets Modernizing our local infrastructure, including roads, bike trails, and smart traffic lights Support and expand the Legacy Business Program and celebrate and support our local businesses Preserving our history and charm by working with our local arts institutions to keep them in our community

Together, we can build a better, more resilient Sarasota.

Paid for and Approved by Liz Alpert for Sarasota City Commission, District 2

426885-1

RE-ELECT LIZ ALPERT TO THE CITY COMMISION.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

1

TOP

23

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

%

$3.4 Billion Career Sales

IN THE WORLD

Leah Leah George George

941-780-0597

Coldwell Banker

ARIA

A2251 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #204

Judy Kepecz-Hays Judy Kepecz-Hays

Steven Kepecz

941-376-6411

941-587-1700

$8,600,000

Better than new, this beachfront boutique enclave home offers the ultimate living experience. This luxurious 4,032 sq. ft. residence features a modern design with 3 bedrooms + office (or potential 4th bedroom) and 3.5 bathrooms. Enjoy expansive ocean views and direct beachfront access from your 3,400 sq. ft. private terrace, complete with a private pool, summer kitchen, and private stairs to the beach. With a rare 5-car garage, this exceptional beachfront home is not to be missed!

Discover more at 2251GulfofMexicodr.2seeit.com

Open House on Sunday 08/18 from 1 to 4pm Open House on Sunday Point 07/28 Drive from 1 to 4 pm 65 Lighthouse

3500 Bayou Louise LN $10,750,000 Located on the coveted northern tip of Siesta Key, this exquisite, gated estate offers unparalleled views of the Gulf Coast.

Spacious 6,300 square feet of living space, this meticulously designed residence features 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms.

Step into luxury with a grand 40x20 pool/spa, boat lift, w/12x20 platform. Main level includes a primary suite with panoramic views, library, chef's kitchen equipped with top-of-the-line appliances. Spacious 4-car garage. Residents also enjoy exclusive access to a private, deeded beach just steps away.

Discover more at www.3500BayouLouise.2seeit.com

$8,150,000 Luxury waterfront architectural masterpiece on South Longboat Key. Modern 4 bed + den/office + bonus area, 4.5 bath, 4,941 sq ft. Features include a stunning living room with fireplace, gourmet kitchen, and spacious family area opening to a pool and patio with water views. Includes a 3-car garage with ample storage and a private 40' dock on a wide protected basin with direct Gulf access.

Explore more at www.65Lighthouse.com

WE PAY 3% PROFESSIONAL FEE ON OUR LISTINGS TO THE BUYERS AGENT

L’Ambiance 415 L’Ambiance #A401 $6,254,000

3312 Sable Cove Lane $3,380,000

Luxury living awaits at L’Ambiance on Longboat Key. Updated former model, 3 bed plus flex room, 3.5 bath, 4000 sq ft. Southwest exposure with year-round sunsets, and wraparound terraces with Gulf views. Private elevator, 10 ft ceilings, porcelain floors, gourmet kitchen. Casual elegance with endless amenities, steps from pristine beaches.

Pet-friendly.

Island living at its finest on Longboat Key. Lakefront home with southern exposure in Bay Isles Harborside. Features 4 en-suite bedrooms + den + bonus room, 2 half baths, totaling 5,150 sq ft. Chef's kitchen with high-end appliances and custom cabinetry. Ample space with 3-car garage. Includes deeded beach access.

Explore more at www.lambianceA401.com

The Water Club

WE ALWAYS PAY 3% PROFESSIONAL FEE TO THE BUYERS AGENT

11241 Gulf of Mexico Drive #105 $2,575,000

Discover more at www.3312SabalCove.com

St. Armands Circle 408 Jackson Drive $2,888,000

North Siesta Key

$16,000,000

Explore more at www.WaterClub105.com Explore more at www.408JacsonDr.2seeit.com Explore more at www.21LandsEndLane.com John Ringling Blvd, Suite F | St. Armands Circle, FL 34236 | Kepecz@JudyHays.com | www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com

429339-1

A rare gem at The Water Club on South Longboat Key. Turnkey Spacious 3-bedroom-plus-den/3-bath home, with an optional Rare beachfront and bayfront estate-size homesite on North furnished 4th bedroom, features a private pool, lush garden, and Siesta Key! This prime property offers stunning views of 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2,585 sq ft. Nearly new with garden and partial contemporary updates. Highlights include a modern kitchen, downtown Sarasota, Bird Key, and Lido from its expansive 120Gulf views. Southern exposure, 10 ft ceilings, wood flooring, and vaulted ceilings, and a versatile family room. A separate casita foot private beach. Features include a deep water dock on Big expansive terraces. Well-managed community with clubhouse, adds extra comfort. Enjoy elegant outdoor spaces and a prime Pass and 2 deeded boat slips in Bayou Louise's protected Olympic-sized pool, tennis, and pet-friendly policies. sailboat waters. Capture both sunrise and sunset. location near St. Armands Circle.

24

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

Access to the arts

S

t. Armands Key Lutheran Church invited residents to “be its guest” at the first concert of its free Midsummer Music on the Circle series featuring Strings Con Brio.

To kick off the concert series, Strings Con Brio presented its “Tale As Old As Time” program at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8. SAKLC’s Minister of Music and Director of Operations Michael Bodnyk hopes that this will provide an accessible opportunity for new and long-time residents to experience the rich arts culture of the area.

Strings Con Brio Conductor Kenneth Bowermeister led the crowd through a selection of familiar theatrical melodies, such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Les Miserables,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Bodnyk sang select songs, receiving multiple standing ovations.

The program also featured two talented Ukrainian musician brothers. Yurii, 20, and Andrii Padkovskyi, 12, are from Lviv, Ukraine, and were relocated to the Czech Republic and then Florida due to the war in Ukraine.

Photos by Petra Rivera

Conductor Kenneth Bowermeister

The audience gave many standing ovations at the Strings Con Brio concert on Aug. 8.

Percussionist Dave O’Fallon

— PETRA RIVERA

IF YOU GO

Midsummer Music on the Circle is a free four-week concert series hosted by St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive.

Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.: Jazz Daddyo’s Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.: Astralis Chamber Ensemble Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.: Sarasota Piano Trio

Yurii Padkovskyi on the clarinet.

Michael Bodnyk, Monica Sirocchi, Kenneth Bowermeister, Andrii and Yurii Padkovskyi

NEW MODELS NOW OPEN UNLOCK THE DOOR

TO AMENITY-RICH LIVING

www.homesbytowne.com

3 Model Homes to Tour

941-361-2536

2 Amenity Centers Lakes Trails Parks

428885-1

Single Family Homes Approx. 2,078-3,733 SF From $700's Quick Move-Ins Available

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

25

T H E G R O U P

Rene DiPinto

John Schafer

Tracey Stetler

Patrick DiPinto

Janette Schafer

Steven Moore

Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan

$104,720,770 Volume in the Past 18 Months We are a collaboration of savvy real estate professionals with decades of local experience. We focus on selling exceptional properties located in downtown and on our local islands. We represent buyers and sellers in our marketplace with a unique viewpoint, as we live in the communities that we sell. This local perspective makes us experts in our field, allowing us to provide you all the information for you and your family to make the best decision in your real estate endeavor.

5444 GULF OF MEXICO DR | LONGBOAT KEY $6,900,000.00 – Bayfront 1.06 Acres 5 Beds 5 Baths 6,000 Sq. Ft. Rooftop Terrace and Private Beach Contact: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

109 WARBLER LN | BIRD KEY $11,750,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 5 Baths 5,292 Sq. Ft. 125’ of Bird Key Bayfront Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

4136 HIGEL AVE | SIESTA KEY $16,995,000 – Under Contract 5 Beds 7 Baths 8,964 Sq. Ft. 1 Acre Modern Compound Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

610 YARDARM LN | LONGBOAT KEY $4,699,000 – 1 House from the Bay 4 Beds 4 Baths 4,138 Sq. Ft. 130’ of Water Frontage Contact: Nicholle DiPinto 941-928-2922

405 28TH STREET | ANNA MARIA ISLAND $3,600,000 – 3,735 Sq. Ft. 5 Beds 4 Baths 80’ of Waterfront Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

5440-5442 GULF OF MEXICO DR | LONGBOAT KEY 6,900,000.00 – Vacant Land 2.08 Acres Proposed for 7 Buildable Lots w/Private Beach Contact: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

3621 SAN REMO TER | SARASOTA $9,750,000 – Under Construction 5 Beds 7 Baths 5,328 Sq. Ft. 400’ Wide Bay Inlet Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

1212 CENTER PLACE | LIDO SHORES $6,995,000 – New Construction 5 Beds 6 Baths 4750 Sq. Ft. Rooftop Terrace and Private Beach Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

6489 GULFSIDE ROAD | LONGBOAT KEY $16,995,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 5 Baths 6,614 Sq. Ft. 100’ of Beachfront Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

The DiPinto Group offers 3% Professional Fee to Buyer Agents

941 - 388 - 2 0 2 1

53 S PALM AVENUE, SARASOTA, FL 34236

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, country records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. Coldwell Banker. All rights reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker system fully supports the principals of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

426488-1

WWW.THEDIPINTOGROUP.COM | @THEDIPINTOGROUP

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

LONGBOAT KEY 3341 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,718 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4611557 $10,500,000

SARASOTA 1050 Bay Point Place 6 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,930 Sq. Ft. Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4609345 $3,950,000

LONGBOAT KEY 620 Jackson Way 2 Beds 2 Baths 2,140 Sq. Ft. Cathy Meldahl, Pa 941-724-7228 A4606443 $2,950,000

SARASOTA 111 S Pineapple Avenue 1205 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,358 Sq. Ft. Bernadette Caswell 941-320-8265 A4592317 $2,500,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 515 Bayview Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,928 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4610173 $2,350,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5930 Emerald Harbor Drive 4 Beds 4 Baths 2,986 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4608430 $2,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2525 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 3C 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,468 Sq. Ft. Kaitlin Kuhn 941-400-7861 A4616196 $1,490,000

LONGBOAT KEY 749 Penfield Street 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,905 Sq. Ft. Tammy Kitt 941-284-7274 N6131408 $1,475,000

CORTEZ 12527 Gulf Breeze Terrace 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,678 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4615389 $1,445,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2301 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 21N 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,235 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4618051 $1,399,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 300 23rd Street N 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,149 Sq. Ft. Anita Jones 724-989-4824 A4603195 $1,375,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 524 56th Street 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,337 Sq. Ft. Steven Schield 941-650-1010 A4614652 $1,250,000

LIDO KEY 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive 607 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,421 Sq. Ft. Robert Dardas 941-376-7591 A4590874 $1,140,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2383 Harbour Oaks Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,222 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire 818-416-2505 A4609474 $950,000

CORTEZ 3850 Mariners Walk 723 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,942 Sq. Ft. Pam Sweeney 941-266-9622 A4600870 $899,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2143 Harbourside Drive 1201 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,224 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick 941-780-6001 A4592954 $875,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5270 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 504 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,498 Sq. Ft. Bobbie Banan 941-356-2659 A4588989 $850,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1085 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 304 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,503 Sq. Ft. Mimi Kruk 941-587-5188 A4616922 $795,000

CORTEZ 3905 Mariners Walk 813 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,829 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente 941-685-6767 A4595981 $725,000

BRADENTON BEACH 117 10th Street N 122 2 Beds 2 Baths 873 Sq. Ft. Deborah Schlener 651-894-3916 A4588152 $699,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6700 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 139 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,305 Sq. Ft. Maruta Miluns 941-374-9720 A4611612 $679,000

LONGBOAT KEY 250 Sands Point Road 5105 1 Bed 1 Baths 634 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy & Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4598746 $599,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 600 Manatee Avenue 140 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,179 Sq. Ft. Laura Navratil 941-806-7436 A4616728 $519,900

LONGBOAT KEY 6750 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 161 1 Bed 1 Baths 936 Sq. Ft. Maruta Miluns 941-374-9720 A4613966 $495,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3808 Gulf Of Mexico Drive E307 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,007 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4610677 $425,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2151 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 5 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,400 Sq. Ft. Susan Alliano & Sally Fox 941-735-6571 & 941-586-0892 A4615514 $5,288,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6609 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,132 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4587168 $4,500,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2333 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 1B1 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,238 Sq. Ft. Robert Delaney 941-315-3185 A4599566 $4,500,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 427584-1

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Flamingo FLCO LLC sold the home at 469 E. Royal Flamingo Drive to David and Karen Behrens, of Sarasota, for $7,999,000.

Built in 1977, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,279 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.3 million in 2023.

REAL ESTATE

Bird Key home tops sales at $8 million

27

QUEEN’S HARBOUR

Kevin and Kim Costello sold their home at 3551 Fair Oaks Lane to John and Marlene Schiech, of Timonium, Maryland, for $2.3 million. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,966 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.25 million in 2007.

ISLANDS WEST

F. Paul Hurwitz and Barry Hurwitz, trustees, sold the Unit 15-B condominium at 2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Peter and Carroll Kennedy, of Greenwich, Connecticut, for $1.45 million. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,491 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 1998.

Kathryn Pall, trustee, of Bloomingdale, Illinois, sold the Unit 7-C condominium at 2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Toni Cusumano, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, for $1.15 million.

Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,468 square feet. It sold for $220,000 in 1992.

PROMENADE

Jeff Herbert and Caryn Mass, trustees, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, sold the Unit 309 condominium at 1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Promenade 309 LLC for $1,225,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,827 square feet of living area. It sold for $445,000 in 1999.

Image courtesy of Roger Pettingell

Flamingo FLCO LLC recently sold this four-bedroom home at 469 E. Royal Flamingo Drive to David and Karen Behrens, of Sarasota, for $7,999,000.

in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,387 square feet of living area. It sold for $520,000 in 2017.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JULY 29-AUG. 2

AQUARIUS CLUB

Louis and GinaMaria Shapiro, of Saunderstown, Rhode Island, sold their Unit 2-E condominium at 1701 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Habib Khorshid and Patricia Shields, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for $1.18 million. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,615 square feet of living area. It sold for $506,000 in 2015.

Michael Shoulders and Scott Veazey sold their Unit M2-307-G condominium at 1945 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Phillip Herschel and Janice Herschel, trustees, of Bradenton, for $665,000. Built in 1978, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,076 square feet of living area. It sold for $335,000 in 2011.

FAIRWAY BAY

Gregory and Cynthia Hunt, of Seymour, Indiana, sold their Unit 1401 condominium at 1928 Harbour-

side Drive to Braulio Ramon and Lixa Rodriguez-Ramon, of Laurel, Maryland, for $667,500. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,370 square feet of living area. It sold for $480,000 in 2017.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

Peter and Valerie Mellor, of Bradenton, sold their Unit 88 condominium at 820 Spanish Drive S. to Golden Girl Properties LLC for $545,000. Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,390 square feet of living area. It sold for $252,500 in 2002.

SEAPLACE

Robert Neudorfer, of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, sold his Unit T1-109-A condominium at 2077 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Kimberly Bennett and Robert Putland, of Longboat Key, for $850,000. Built

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Aug. 2-8 in order of dollar amounts.

LONGBOAT KEY Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

1045 Gulf of Mexico Drive #605 Windows/Doors

Dorothy Snyder

$93,086

1930 Harbourside Drive #135

Alt/Renovation

Vaneck Henriette

$70,000

Swimming Pool

Dana Wilson

$70,000

Patrice Fanning

$66,825

590 Companion Way

/Spa 711 Emerald Harbor Drive

Dock/Seawall /Lift

2165 Gulf of Mexico Drive #114

Alt/Renovation

Thomas Tucci

$69,521

780 Emerald Harbor Drive

Mechanical

Lane Smith

$55,600

Brill Family Trust

$55,400

Alt/Renovation

Alcliff LLC

$54,062

Dock/Seawall

Marc Gagliardi

$34,368

1945 Gulf of Mexico Drive #116 Windows/Doors

Richard Herring

$26,096

3481 Bayou Sound

Marc Gagliardi

$24,368

1945 Gulf of Mexico Drive #105 Windows/Doors

Michael Oropallo

$23,884

3451 Bayou Sound

Holly Geary

$16,759

New Construction 550 Bowsprit Lane

Roof

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

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

MOVE-IN SPRING 2024

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

GOLDEN GATE POINT

LONGBOAT KEY

New Construction 5055 Gulf of Mexico Drive Unit 525 3481 Bayou Sound

Lift Dock/Seawall Lift Mechanical Alt/Renovation 225 Sands Point Road #6105

Alt/Renovation

Ana and Stewart Nelson

$16,000

1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive #705

Mechanical

Stephani Family Trust

$14,223

Hubert Tressler

$14,112

1945 Gulf of Mexico Drive #505 Windows/Doors

Franklin Tate

$13,766

3 Winslow Place

Stephen Gregory

$13,457

Alan Sharaf

$10,686

Rochelle Bernard

$9,800

A/C Change Out 1914 Harbourside Drive #702

Mechanical A/C Change Out Mechanical

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

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

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

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

A/C Change Out 1105 Gulf of Mexico Drive #303 Mechanical A/C Change Out Mechanical A/C Change Out

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Source: Town of Longboat Key Prices as of November 2023

427636-1

575 Sanctuary Drive #A304

28

YourObserver.com

Myakka wetlands help reduce flooding

YOUR CALENDAR

WILD FLORIDA

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

By containing water, flooding in the park supports downstream human communities.

MIRI HARDY CONTRIBUTOR

A

watershed is an area of land that channels rainfall into a common body of water. Myakka River State Park lies within the Myakka River Watershed, which encompasses approximately 600 square miles.

Within this watershed, the Myakka River collects water from numerous creeks and sloughs. It provides drainage by channeling water into Charlotte Bay to the south, where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Four major depressions act as natural water detention areas in the Myakka River Watershed. These include Flatford Swamp near Myakka City, Tatum Sawgrass Marsh just north of the park, and Upper and Lower Myakka Lake within the park.

Tatum Sawgrass Marsh, the largest of these detention areas, has the capacity to store an equivalent of 1.8 inches of rainfall, which is four times that of Upper and Lower Myakka Lakes combined. And in numerous smaller wetlands, water covers the soil periodically.

During rain storms, the amount of water running over land in a watershed increases, and in severe storms, flooding may result. Low-lying areas of land, where water periodically spreads when a river or creek overflows its banks, are known as floodplains. Flooding in floodplains is an expected and important natural process. Indeed, as a rain-fed river, during our rainy season the Myakka River routinely overflows into the park’s floodplain marshes, other wetlands and hydric hammocks. As Myakka’s ecosystems have adapted to this natural ebb and flow of water, it’s critical for their health. Therefore, restoring impacted wetlands and maintaining

Miri Hardy

In addition to benefiting native flora and fauna, wetlands within and upstream of urban areas are particularly valuable for flood protection.

SUNDAY, AUG. 18

MUSIC BY ROSS DAVID 1-4 p.m. at Lido Island Grill, 400 Benjamin Franklin Drive. Ross David performs covers and originals including Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, the Eagles, John Mayer, The Script, Maroon 5 and more. He plays under the pavilion of blue sails. Call 4447495.

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

BEST BET TUESDAY, AUG. 20

POP-UP LIBRARY 10-11:30 a.m. at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road. On the first and third Tuesday of each month in the back parking lot of Town Hall, the Library Pop-Up will be at Longboat Key with books for all ages. Swing by to sign up for a library card and read a book by the beach. Call 861-5475.

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

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

MONDAYS

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

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

PARK CLOSED

Myakka River State Park is experiencing flooding, with high water levels expected in the park for a while. The park is closed to the public until further notice. For updates, visit FloridaStateParks.org.

THINKING OUT LOUD 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Retired Lawyer Mike Karp will lead a lively discussion on current topics such as world affairs, national politics and local issues. Bring questions, thoughts and an open mind. Call 383-6493.

their health is a priority for Myakka’s team.

To protect the park’s natural communities, and our own, Myakka is minimally developed. Impervious surfaces, such as those found in urban areas, greatly increase the rate and volume of runoff, resulting in a higher risk of flood damage.

Conversely, wetlands, particularly floodplain wetlands, have the capacity to temporarily store flood waters during high runoff events, such as the one we’re currently experiencing as a result of Hurricane Debby. By holding back flood waters and slowing the rate that water reenters the river channel, Myakka’s abundant wetlands greatly reduce the severity of downstream flooding and erosion.

TUESDAYS

PILATES SCULPT From 9-9:50 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Pilates Sculpt is a combination class mixing traditional Pilates exercises into a fun, challenging workout to upbeat music. It will make you sweat, encourage your body to burn calories and make you stronger.. This class is for all levels. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

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.

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.

File image

Alyssa Rockey, outreach services supervisor, and Katie Dow, manager of programs and partnerships, bring the Pop-Up Library to Longboat Key.

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 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 203-605-4066 or email Info@­ LongboatKeyRotary.org.

CAT CARE CLINIC

Affordable Veterinary Services

Open to the Public

By Appointment Only - 941.366.CATS (2287) 427491-1

2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 For pricing and services, go to www.catdepot.org

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

427359-1

422021-1

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

941.724.7228

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

Plants & Decor

for yo favorite space!

We are your source for everything yard and garden!

424388-1

Largest selection of plants & flowers Including native, tropical & more.

Family Owned • Beautiful Garden Accessories & Gifts • Pottery & Containers

941.366.4954 • YourFarmandGarden.com 735 South Beneva Rd., Sarasota FL 34232

YourObserver.com

29

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, AUG. 16

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

Sunrise Sunset

High: 90 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 23%

Thursday, Aug. 15

7:01a

8:07p

Friday, Aug. 16

7:02a

8:06p

Saturday, Aug. 17

7:02a

8:05p

Sunday, Aug. 18

7:03a

8:04p

SATURDAY, AUG. 17

Monday, Aug. 19

7:03a

8:03p

High: 89 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 12%

Tuesday, Aug. 20

7:04a

8:02p

Wednesday, Aug. 21

7:04a

8:02p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, AUG. 18 High: 88 Low: 80 Chance of rain: 19%

Aug. 19 Full

Aug. 26 Last

Sept. 2 New

Sept. 10 First

TIDES Highs Lows

Leighton Allenby took this photo of two white egrets in Bay Isles on Longboat Key.

Thursday, Aug. 15

7:56a

—

—

5:24p

Friday, Aug. 16

9:07a

—

—

6:16p

Saturday, Aug. 17

10:10a

—

—

7:00p

Sunday, Aug. 18

2:01a

11:07a

5:16a

7:40p

Monday, Aug. 19

2:08a

12:00p

6:16a

8:16p

Tuesday, Aug. 20

2:17a

12:54p

7:13a

8:49p

Wednesday, Aug. 21

2:27a

1:49p

8:09a

9:20p

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

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

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

SOMEHOW YOU’LL MANAGE by Sam Koperwas and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

1 Craze 5 Cornerstone 10 Swathe 15 Beethoven’s “Fur ___” 17 Applies to 19 Made lemons into lemonade, perhaps 20 *Bank manager?

23 Prepping potatoes for a Thanksgiving meal 24 Lords’ companions 25 Court fig.

26 Blunts 28 Current that goes in circles 29 Return a call, say 31 “Positively Entertaining” network 33 Party list 35 Settle down for the night,

67 Excavated item

rested Development”

69 “CSI” evidence

3 Encircle

70 Important ID for some tax

4 Catches sight of

returns

5 Coiled hairdo

71 Jackie on the Hollywood

6 Cruising

Walk of Fame

7 Tank in the back yard,

72 Car mar

perhaps

73 Michelin offering

8 “So ... can I, then?”

77 Photographer Arbus or

9 Fa-la connector

designer von Furstenberg

10 ___ date (library patron’s

78 Skull or sword for

concern)

“Hamlet”

11 Stir up

79 Gutter locale

12 Base’s chemical coun-

80 Fishing site

terpart

83 Fictional manufacturer of

13 Hang in the balance

“Instant Road” and “Cactus

14 Nervous

Costume”

16 Sophocles tragedy

84 Rosebush spike

18 Silent approval

85 Musician whose first name

19 Court figure

means “child” in Japanese

21 Salem’s end?

87 Tiny nuisance

22 Scrap

89 Half of some couples

23 Tartan pattern

(Abbr.)

27 Inc. alternative

91 Drawing room?

30 Restaurant request

92 Suffix with “front”

32 More than desire

93 ROFL alternative

34 Putting into law

94 “Uncle!”

35 McEntire at the Grand

96 Skywalker who turned to

Ole Opry

the dark side

36 Big name in dental care

97 They break on the beach

perhaps

76 Hefty rival

totally skewer

37 Like serious soccer and

102 Syr. neighbor

38 *Stage manager?

78 Get-up-and-go

117 “___ dead, Jim” (“Star

hockey shots

103 Get some fresh air

45 Directional suffix

81 “Peter Pan” dog

Trek” meme)

39 Worker welfare org.

104 Item in a sewing kit

46 X-ray units

82 “Super-duper!”

119 Curl up in a partner’s

40 ___ Aviv

106 Scottish loch’s reported sighting

©2024 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

2 Actress Shawkat of “Ar-

48 Catch that can be elec-

86 Beatnik’s “Gotcha!”

arms

41 Tango requirement

trifying

88 “Spider-Man” director

123 “Word has it ...”

42 How many prime-time

110 Unspecified amount

49 Attracted by

Sam

125 *Program manager?

shows air

111 Tennis lesson funda-

50 *Case manager?

90 *File manager?

55 TV host Andy

95 Supervised

128 Has knowledge of, as with 43 Goblet’s feature 44 Plenty, and then some a secret 47 Hinge biodata

113 Leave out

57 Wipe out

___ of Songbirds & Snakes”

51 Prison written about by

114 Tom Petty’s “I ___ Back

58 It’s right there on the map! synthesizers

(2023 film)

Solzhenitsyn

Down”

61 Private chats on social

130 Famed Michelangelo

52 Chemistry test?

116 “Just a sec,” in a text

masterpiece

53 ___ tide (concern for a

118 Give and take 120 They/___ pronouns

media, for short

101 *Middle manager?

62 Indonesian resort

105 Marina’s place

131 Quite a ways from major

kayaker)

64 Mark for a scammer

107 Innie or outie

132 Doesn’t go bad

54 Some antique autos

121 Riga resident

66 Goat’s coat

108 Pronoun that might

133 Some first responders

59 Sushi selection

122 Long stretches

68 *Branch manager?

replace “he” or “she”

(Abbr.)

60 Slump

124 Artist Lichtenstein

74 Wary after a bad experi-

109 Church area

63 En masse

126 State tree of Iowa

ence

111 Balloon

65 Coat rack protrusion

127 Show stoppers?

75 Take form, as a concept

115 Dish that a chef might

DOWN 1 Very, informally

426212-1

“S OPSFI YDEO CMKGZVE RDBML MDUZ, KO DFZ EOKAZ SF OPZSV JKVZZV, OD EKG, ‘S’UZ XZZF FD. 1 SF OPZ RDVML.’” OZFFSE CMKGZV KFLG YBVVKG

“ZKA TAYFZK MD P DOTI VKMSTX CA XOEAGZTH EATPZAX ZM ZKA AYXSEPYGA MD ZKA KSIPY CTPXXAE.” PTDEAX KOZGKGMGJ

“O YBGXPX OG B ZHIOFR VBZR CPBI BGX RYP ZRDXOK XOXG’R HYBGUP KGP NKIX. RYP NKIX RYPC XOXG’R HYBGUP NBZ KG FBUP 87.”

ZRPTP JBIROG

© 2024 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

112 Stratagem

129 “The Hunger Games: The

100 Actress de Armas

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

mental

56 Baseball’s Matty or Moises 98 Sleep study acronym 99 Big brand in music

celebrity cipher

Puzzle Three Clue: J equals M

crossword

Puzzle Two Clue: F equals G

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

The Grounded Feeling Everyone will Enjoy

Puzzle One Clue: C equals P

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

66 More than a scuffle ©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

8-15-24

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card The Longboat Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Longboat Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

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

SEASONAL RATES Between Houses or Condos

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Schedule your free in-home consultation today!

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

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STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

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IN PRINT AND ONLINE

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

A POWERFUL COMBINATION 941-955-4888

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OUR ONLINE TOOLS MAKE IT EASY TO PLACE YOUR AD

GOLD, SILVER BUYING w/ CASH. RETIRED INVESTOR Diamonds, Coins, Jewelry, Watches & Pocket Watches.

Free House Calls.

Discrete/ Confidential. Call David 813-439-2694 SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707 WANTED I Buy Vintage/Old Costume Jewelry, Vintage Pottery & Art 941-356-1568

Visit the RED PAGES

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**SPACIOUS 4BR, 3BA, 1500 SF HOME WITH POOL** Well-maintained, clean, and perfect for families. Enjoy a fenced-in backyard, washer/dryer, and a short walk to Siesta Key Beach. $5,000/month, annual lease.

Contact us for details!

941-350-4122

You’re only cheating yourself.

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

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

Homes for Rent

auto

Items Under $200

M-F

Cell: 941-809-3725 Offi fic ce: 941-331-8000 www.alhhomecare.com

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! Painting

30211577 | 299995507

Ask about our special rates!

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

Wagner Realty

INTERIOR / EXTERIOR / CABINETS WE ARE THE BEST!!!

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CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Adult Care Services CAREGIVER - LICENSED CNA 6 years experience w/ dementia & other ailments.

4-12 hrs, 5 days/ week & some weekends. $25-$30/ hr.

Best care for your loved one.

References avail. Marina 786-906-8103

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

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

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

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

Health Services CARING HOUSEHOLD TECHNICIANS Complete Care: Baths - Laundry - Meals Running Errands & More!

Joyce: 941-725-4851

Personal Services HOME WATCH Key Holder, Maintenance, handyman, security, and errands.

(941) 599-0714

Transportation TOP NOTCH TRANSPORTATION Airport Taxi Service Island to SRQ- $45 Island to Tampa- $90 Add XL- $20 Luxury cars • Over 8,000 trips Regular Hours • Never Late!

Doctors Appts. • All Rides on the Gulf Coast

941-718-9933

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

This week’s Crossword answers

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

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

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

www.topnotchtransportation service.com

Windows WINDOW CLEANING Commercial & Residential Monthly / Quarterly service We are the Best. Fully Insured.

Call/Text Don @ 941-900-9398

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I think most players would love, at one stage in their career, to say, ‘I’ve been No. 1 in the world.’”

Tennis player Andy Murray Puzzle Two Solution: “The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.”

Alfred Hitchcock Puzzle Three Solution: “I handed in a script last year and the studio didn’t change one word. The word they didn’t change was on page 87.”

Steve Martin

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2024 NEA, Inc.

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Longboat Key, FL 34228

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CLICK

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

1/10/23, 10:25 AM

Alterations/Upholstery

Painting

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

941-248-4734

Airports, Concerts, Dinners & Cruises www.towncarservicebradenton.com 410036

Health

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1/1

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Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Attorney

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

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Building & Roofing Contractor

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

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

941-626-3194

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

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

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Handyman

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

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

Roofing

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TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772 KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

429936

GROW YOUR BUSINESS CARING HANDS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME.

Auto Service

SELL YOUR CAR!

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

429315

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429937

MIC INSURANCE

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Insurance

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388

510 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE 1 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST BANK)

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429940

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31

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2024

BREAKING RECORDS: PETTINGELL’S $175+ MILLION 2024 SALES SIGNAL MARKET STRENGTH

PETTINGELL PROFESSIONALS 2024 CLOSED SALES

1325 WESTWAY DRIVE | SOLD FOR $12,800,000

259 ROBIN DRIVE | SOLD FOR $5,995,000

3572 FAIR OAKS WAY | SOLD FOR $3,900,000

1125 GULF OF MEXICO #401 | SOLD FOR $1,200,000

1826 HAWKINS COURT | SOLD FOR $950,000

225 SANDS POINT RD #6105 | SOLD FOR $625,000

ADDRESS

NEIGHBORHOOD

SOLD PRICE

SOLD DATE

1325 Westway Drive

Lido Shores

$12,800,000

6/7/2024

415 L’Ambiance Drive #PH-A

L’Ambiance

$10,995,000

1/31/2024

5005 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #3

Bonaire At Longboat Key

$9,800,000

2/9/2024

160 Bryant Drive

Lido Beach

$8,995,000

3/15/2024

7652 Sanderling Road*

Sanderling Club

$7,750,000

6/12/2024

265 Cedar Park Circle

Cocoanut Bayou

$7,700,000

3/7/2024

111 Golden Gate Point #802

Evolution

$6,700,000

6/30/2024

259 Robin Drive

Bird Key Sub

$5,995,000

2/22/2024

435 L’Ambiance Drive #G-401

L’Ambiance

$5,500,000

4/30/2024

876 Tarawitt Drive

Longboat Key

$5,000,000

2/26/2024

1350 Main Street #1704

1350 Main Residential

$4,600,000

2/13/2024

476 Meadow Lark Drive

Bird Key

$4,000,000

5/31/2024

3572 Fair Oaks Way*

Queens Harbour

$3,900,000

2/28/2024

1111 Ritz Carlton Drive #1703

The Residences

$3,800,000

3/15/2024

7180 Manasota Key Road

Manasota Key

$3,370,000

7/24/2024

2180 Hillview Street

Arlington Park

$2,900,000

4/12/2024

1905 Goldenrod Street

Poinsettia Park

$2,500,000

4/3/2024

990 Boulevard of the Arts #603

Beau Ciel

$2,350,000

6/17/2024

3030 Grand Bay Boulevard #316

Grand Bay

$2,250,000

1/16/2024

455 Longboat Club Road #801

Pierre

$2,150,000

2/29/2024

245 Bird Key Drive

Bird Key

$2,125,000

2/29/2024

3540 Mistletoe Lane

Corey’s Landing

$2,110,000

6/4/2024

3460 Mistletoe Lane*

Corey’s Landing

$2,000,000

3/29/2024

3030 Grand Bay Boulevard #346*

Grand Bay

$2,000,000

2/28/2024

3464 Mistletoe Lane*

Corey’s Landing

$2,000,000

2/16/2024

3010 Grand Bay Boulevard #435

Grand Bay

$1,950,000

4/12/2024

3040 Grand Bay Boulevard #251

Grand Bay

$1,900,000

1/31/2024

8052 Grande Shores Drive

Shoreview LWR

$1,850,000

6/7/2024

2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive #7A

Islands West

$1,810,000

4/12/2024

4337 Marina View Way*

Hunters Point

$1,799,000

3/29/2024

541 Fore Drive

Harbour Walk

$1,765,000

5/3/2024

3030 Grand Bay Boulevard #383*

Grand Bay

$1,600,000

3/8/2024

606 Calle Del Otono

Sarasota Beach - Siesta

$1,575,000

4/1/2024

557 South Palm Avenue #22

Burns Court Villas

$1,550,000

3/28/2024

1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive #603*

Promenade

$1,500,000

6/6/2024

255 Cosmopolitan Court

The Q

$1,325,113

6/18/2024

5635 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #201

Longboat Sandpipers

$1,230,000

3/15/2024

520 Lafayette Court*

Enclave at Laurel Park

$1,200,000

5/21/2024

1125 Gulf of Mexico Drive #401*

Beachplace

$1,200,000

4/8/2024

1712 Worrington Street

West of the Trail

$1,200,000

3/15/2024

1105 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #404

Beachplace

$1,150,000

2/23/2024

4835 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #304

Westchester

$1,141,000

2/16/2024

1826 Hawkins Court*

Cottage Walk

$950,000

4/10/2024

12462 Marsh Pointe Road

Hammock Preserve

$900,000

4/30/2024

4004 Cascina Way

Cobblestone at Palmer Ranch

$820,000

8/8/2024

9150 Blind Pass Road #505

Fishermans Haven

$725,000

1/3/2024

2437 Temple Street

Arlington Park

$685,000

3/25/2024

767 Fordingbridge Way

Rivendell

$675,000

4/1/2024

1974 Hyde Park Street

Desota Park

$650,000

4/15/2024

225 Sands Point Road #6105*

Inn on the Beach

$595,000

6/27/2024

743 Anna Hope Lane

Rivendell

$550,000

7/19/2024

2039 Gulf of Mexico Drive #G3-211

Seaplace

$499,000

4/5/2024

1955 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #G6-202

Seaplace

$490,000

3/18/2024

4235 Shorewood Street

Sarasota Springs

$425,000

7/26/2024

631 North Orange Avenue #107*

Mentone Court

$370,000

5/31/2024

4337 Linwood Street

Sarasota Springs

$335,000

1/12/2024

5631 Midnight Pass Road #1005

White Sands Village

$329,000

4/26/2024

4120 Overture Circle

Palma Sola Trace

$320,000

3/27/2024

6308 Rosefinch Court #201

Summerfield Hollow

$300,000

4/17/2024

7373 South Leewynn Drive*

Sarasota Golf Club Colony

$300,000

4/4/2024

6513 Heritage Lane

Meadowcroft South

$179,000

1/18/2024

* Represented the Buyer & Seller

TOTAL 2024 YTD SALES

$175,353,613

CA L L U S TO DAY TO L E A R N H OW WE D O I T ( 9 41 ) 3 8 7-1 8 4 0 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F, Sarasota, FL 34236 | Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 417322-1

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