Longboat Observer 9.19.24

LONGBOAT

Crafting a bit of sunshine.

Observer

PAGE 18

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

VOLUME 47, NO. 5

YOUR TOWN

Traffic solutions take a turn Pilot roundabouts come to Broadway to increase the street’s safety. PAGE 3

Courtesy image

Longboat Key swans Chuck and Lydia

Beloved swan dies on Longboat Key It came as a shock to Longboat Key Swan Keeper David Novak when swan Chuck died the morning of Sept. 5.

“He was lethargic at a morning feeding, but swam away,” Novak said. “He was not at the age that he would die.” Novak suspects something in his diet.

Chuck and his mate, Lydia, were parents to the four cygnets born in May, being the first swans to be born on the island in four years.

When Chuck died, Novak made sure Lydia and the cygnets understood the situation because of the vital position a father holds in the cygnets’ development.

Novak is considering purchasing a new swan for the Key. He does not plan to pair a swan with Lydia until the cygnets are adults.

Novak said volunteers have stepped forward to provide veterinary care, and the cygnets will remain together through November, until they are old enough to claim their own territories.

SEAS

THE FUTURE

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium inspires youth to learn about ocean conservation. SEE PAGE 16

Carter Weinhofer

Petra Rivera

Aditya Gupta and Hadley Hall make an oyster garden at the 2024 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit on Sept. 12.

Boat ramp remains closed The dock at the town’s public boat ramp on Linley Street has been closed since Hurricane Debby caused damage to a large part of the dock.

According to the town’s FY 2025 budget, design for a new boat ramp will be funded in upcoming year.

The Manatee County West Coast Inland Navigation District, a special taxing district aimed at improving waterways, approved a $75,148 grant for the town to pursue a new design for the dock.

Streets, Facilities, Parks & Recreation Manager Mark Richardson said repairs to the dock would likely be held until the new designs are finalized.

A+E

File photo

$1.00

Diamond anniversary PAGE 11

The center of the St. Regis Longboat Key facing the beach (to the right) is full of pools and a lazy river.

(MIS)GUIDING LIGHT Magistrate grants St. Regis more time to correct lighting violations. PAGE 4

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

WEEK OF SEPT. 19, 2024

Fourth Florida Climate Conference

“I’m willing to give some time on that, but I need to have some kind of assurance that what needs to be done will be done in a timely way.”

The Climate Adaptation Center recently announced its fourth annual Florida Climate Conference will take place Nov. 14 and 15.

This year’s conference will focus on “Climate and Human Health.”

Speakers such as scientists, health care professionals and other community leaders will discuss the effects that climate change has on human health.

“The insights from this conference will empower our community to understand the challenges ahead and take proactive steps before the most significant impacts occur,” a release from the CAC stated.

The two-day event will start at 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 14 and will take place at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus in the Student Center Ballroom.

Tickets are sold in advance on the CAC website. General admission tickets for the two-day event are $109.99.

Longboat Key’s magistrate, Milan Brkich, on the St. Regis lighting violations. Read more on page 4

BY THE NUMBERS $2.6 MILLION

The lowest bid for the Country Club Shores turn lane project expected to start this fiscal year.

PAGE 3

3

New police officers sworn in to the Longboat Key Police Department in September.

PAGE 6

13

‘Firehouse Forum’ to begin on LBK

Years since the first annual Mote Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.

PAGE 16

CALENDAR

n Town Commission Regular Workshop — Monday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. n Town Commission Budget Workshop — Monday, Sept. 23 at 5:01 p.m. n Begin Election Qualifying Period — Oct. 1

Courtesy photo

New restoration projects at G.T. Bray Park include creating wetlands with native vegetation and stormwater improvements.

Restoration projects underway at G.T. Bray

T

he Sarasota Bay Estuary Program recently began work on two large environmental restoration projects at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton. The two projects will cost $900,000 and help optimize the benefits of stormwater treatment areas.

The first project site is located on the western part of the park, where invasive plants were removed and 130,000 cubic yards of dirt were excavated to create space for a native wetland project. The wetlands that are in the process of being installed will help stabilize the habitats that

provide shelter for local wildlife.

This first part of the project is estimated to be completed within the month.

In another part of the park, the second project features a large stormwater pond that had been previously overtaken by invasive vegetation. The SBEP’s project helped to clear these invasive plants and then plant $100,000 worth of native vegetation in its place.

The G.T. Bray Park restoration is the third large-scale project that the SBEP completed through the Bipartisan Infra-

structure Law funds. According to a press release from the SBEP, there are seven more projects expected through 2026.

Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park will be the site of a future restoration project for the SBEP, which will include a living shoreline project and installation of concrete “mangrove panels” on part of the park’s seawalls to better promote the growth of marine life like oysters.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at G.T. Bray park is planned for Sept. 19 for local elected officials and the public.

This fall, the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department will start a new virtual series called the “Firehouse Forum.”

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department hopes to continue the forums as a monthly event for the Longboat Key community to interact with the department no matter where residents are.

October is Fire Prevention Month, so the first of the forum series will feature Fire Marshal Jane Herrin on the topic of fire prevention.

During the 30-minute forum, Herrin will discuss the importance of smoke detectors and how they work.

After the first 15 minutes, Herrin will open the forum for Q&A. The forum will be available virtually through Microsoft Teams.

For more information and to sign up for the forum, reach out the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department at 941-316-1944. Fire Administration Manager and Public Information Officer Tina Adams can also be reached at TAdams@LongboatKey. org.

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TABS

W HAT ’S HAPPENING

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Two new projects aim to improve safety and the flow of traffic during peak season traffic on Longboat Key. CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

H

eading into a new fiscal year, Longboat Key staff are continuing two traffic safety enhancement projects with the long-term vision of a complete streets project on Gulf of Mexico Drive still in mind.

This summer, Public Works officials worked with contractors to install traffic calming circles on Broadway Street as part of a pilot project to test their effectiveness.

Another project on the south end of Longboat Key is planned to enter construction this fall and will bring safer turn lanes to the Country Club Shores communities.

NORTH-END CALMING CIRCLES

The Broadway Street intersection with Gulf of Mexico Drive is particularly busy. A popular public beach access point is on one end, and down the opposite side of Broadway Street are popular restaurants Whitney’s, Mar Vista and Shore, along with the Village community.

Traffic safety on Broadway Street was a conversation that began picking up when Town Manager Howard Tipton started with the town in early 2023.

“The residents were wanting different ways to slow the traffic on Broadway as people were heading toward the restaurants, so the traffic circles were a modification of some of the suggestions that were made,” Tipton said.

Director of Public Works Isaac Brownman said the original budget for the project was around $100,000.

At the time, the department was still thinking through what the solution would look like.

Typical smaller-scale roundabouts involve striping, roadway adjustments and more involved designs that would have pushed the project toward higher costs. The town moved away from this option, Brownman said.

Instead, the town worked with engineers and devoted $20,000 to traffic analysis on the street. This left $80,000 for the project.

In the end, Brownman said the team decided to work with a company called Transportation Solutions and Lighting to install Traffic Logix Flex Curbs.

The three traffic calming circles

are made from specific material that didn’t require cutting into the pavement to install. This also makes it easy to remove the circles in the future for resurfacing projects, or if the circles prove to be ineffective, Brownman said.

For the three circles along Broadway Street, the project cost the town $20,000, which Brownman called a great deal. The contractors finished installation in mid-August.

“So far, we’re happy with them,” Brownman said. “However, we really want to see them perform in peak season, how heavier traffic reacts to them and how they hold up under heavier traffic.”

According to Brownman, the circles in the middle of the road may be too obstructive for larger trucks, and those trucks may need to pass their back wheels over the circles. The material is made to withstand that, though, and the department will wait to see how the circles handle the heavier season traffic.

The three circles were designed as a pilot study to see how they help slow traffic along the busy Broadway Street, or if other options may be better.

“We’re not really contemplating traffic calming circles on other streets right now,” Brownman said.

“Broadway is one of the main collector roads we have in town that collects all the traffic from the village ... and it has two major restaurants at the end.”

At the intersection of Broadway Street and Gulf of Mexico Drive, the town is continuing conversations with the Florida Department of Transportation about a larger roundabout project.

This roundabout has been a topic of discussion for the town since 2011. In 2023, the town was near 90% completion on designs when the FDOT told town staff the designs would need to be redone due to roadway banking issues.

New designs that the town pursued for the roundabout recently came back with an estimated $5.6 million price tag, which was higher than the original design, expected to be closer to $2 million or $2.5 million.

In June, town commissioners directed Brownman to discuss possible funding solutions with the FDOT and to see if a traffic signal study would be worthwhile to contemplate alternatives to a roundabout.

GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE CURBED MEDIAN

OW E R H O RN BL L ANE

CIRCLING SAFETY

Carter Weinhofer

Three traffic calming circles were installed on Broadway Street in August.

An example from the design plans for the Country Club Shores turn lane project.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES TURN LANE Nearly eight years in the making, a project adding an enhanced left turn lane along Gulf of Mexico Drive to get to Country Club Shores will begin soon.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety for drivers entering the Country Club Shores communities.

“If you’re traveling south on Gulf of Mexico Drive and you need to turn into one of those streets, you have a safe place to refuge out of the traffic queue,” Brownman said. “And to get out of the traffic queue so you’re not contributing to the backups‚ this is all really geared toward peak season.”

The project will widen about a one-mile stretch of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Originally, the town wanted to simply widen the road and stripe a longer left turn lane. This idea was turned down by FDOT, which cited operational and procedural concerns.

This led the town to pursue a more advanced turn lane project, which turned into several individual turn lanes. New designs also included some raised medians and widened bike lanes. The FDOT also added a requirement to mill and repave the new strip of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Initial design in 2017 cost about $200,000, and since then, there has been an ongoing effort for permitting and design, which is more complicated when adding another agency like the FDOT to the mix.

“When you enter in a different agency, the coordination and priorities and everything, it becomes a challenge to get all the stars aligned,” Tipton said. “But I think we’re there.”

At the Sept. 9 Longboat Key Town Commission meeting, Brownman told commissioners the project bids came in at $2.6 million. The winner of the bid is local company Superior Asphalt Inc. After adding the FDOT-required construction engineering inspector, the project is expected to be about $1.3 million higher than FDOT’s current $1.4 million reimbursement agreement.

According to Brownman, the town alerted FDOT several years ago that the project would most likely come in higher than $1.4 million, and now, town staff are planning to ask FDOT to provide additional funding.

The town hopes FDOT will contribute more to the project on the state road, but staff also doesn’t want to wait for a response and let the bids expire after 120 days. As of now, the town is prepared to

fund $400,000 of the total overage and wants the FDOT to fund an additional $900,000.

If the town needed to fund the entire $1.3 million required, Tipton said it would have to come out of reserves, and he would hope that the FDOT would be able to reimburse the town in the following fiscal year. But the goal remains to secure the reimbursement sooner.

District 1 Commissioner Gary Coffin, whose district includes Country Club Shores, emphasized the importance of the project to the nearly 400 residents of Country Club Shores.

“It’s something that’s fixable,” Coffin said. “It’s something we can do, and it’s something that would really help the residents in that area considerably. It’s dangerous pulling out there, and I’ve been there 20 years.”

Vice Mayor Mike Haycock also said at the Sept. 9 commission meeting he believed the FDOT should reimburse the town for the new cost.

“We need to go forward,” Haycock said.

“We need to figure out how to do it.”

Brownman said the town’s goal is to get the project underway sooner rather than later, potentially at the end of September or early October.

The project will take about six months to complete. If the project were to begin in October, that would mean it would be complete about March 2025.

According to Brownman’s discussions with contractors, the goal is to minimize traffic disruption along Gulf of Mexico Drive and avoid closing lanes of traffic.

The Country Club Shores turn lane project, along with projects along Broadway Street, all come together in the town’s long-range complete streets vision.

“It’s a safety enhancement, primarily,” Tipton said of the Country Club Shores project. “It’s a part of the complete streets vision, so it will blend in when that ultimately gets done.”

The town’s complete streets vision along Gulf of Mexico Drive will include roadway improvements, potential roundabouts, landscaped medians and improved bike lanes and multiuse paths.

Commissioners and staff previously identified a Planning, Development and Environment Study for the complete streets corridor plan as a key request of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the FDOT in 2026.

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Patten said. “We’re here to cooperate Magistrate grants St. with the town and to find solutions these problems.”

Regis more time to comply toWoods was first to the podium and reviewed the timeline of 15 violations with sea turtle lighting the town issued the St. Regis propordinance. erty since May 10. The first citation CARTER WEINHOFER

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T

he St. Regis Longboat Key was granted a continuance on a special magistrate hearing regarding the property’s multiple sea turtle lighting ordinance violations.

The town’s special magistrate, Milan Brkich, ruled that the St. Regis property owners would have until Oct. 9 — the date of the next magistrate hearing — to meet with town officials and come into compliance.

If not, the property might face more “severe” fines, Brkich said.

Members of St. Regis property management and lawyer Brenda Patten represented St. Regis at the Sept. 11 special magistrate hearing, which included testimony from Code Enforcement Officer David Woods and Alexis Krummick, staff biologist with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

“We are not here to be adversaries,”

was $100, the second was $250 and the third and all subsequent citations were $500.

The St. Regis property was able to come into compliance with the lighting codes on June 7, according to Woods.

Then, on July 26, a report by Mote stated that 60 hatchling sea turtles were disoriented near the property as a result of the St. Regis lighting. Of those disoriented, six were found in vegetation on the property, one was found in the lazy river, three were found in a pool and one was found dead.

This initiated further code enforcement investigations, which revealed the property was back out of compliance.

Code enforcement continued to write citations for the property, and two more disorientations occurred near the property on July 29 and Aug. 2.

Krummick, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sea turtle permit holder for Longboat Key, said the disorientations were

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

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HOW DO DISORIENTATIONS HAPPEN?

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtle disorientations occur when hatchlings or adult turtles are confused and taken off course by artificial inland light.

For hatchlings, this poses risks like running out of energy needed to reach the ocean, predation and drying up in the sun.

caused by the hatchlings confusing St. Regis’s lights with the moon and the stars, thus directing them away from the ocean.

The sea turtle nesting season concludes on Oct. 31, and Krummick confirmed there are still active nests near the property.

“Based on their proximity to the St. Regis property, they could disorient as well,” Krummick said.

MORE TIME GIVEN

Patten’s presentation followed Woods and Krummick, and she said that the code enforcement process is meant to achieve compliance, not to be a punitive process. She emphasized that the St. Regis management is focused on reaching compliance.

“We respect what Mr. Woods has been doing out there, and Mote Marine and everyone else,” Patten said. “We have taken what they’ve said very seriously. We have great respect, and we’re trying to cooperate. We understand the value of marine life, and it is our goal to completely comply with the town’s turtle lighting standards.”

Also early in her presentation, Patten pointed out what she called errors in the town’s citations, including a typo on the relevant town code — typed 100.3 instead of 100.03 — and the fact that the citations were addressed to S.R. LBK II, LLC but sent to Director of Engineering Chris Jenkins.

But, the town sent a corrected notice of violation on Sept. 4, and the citations eventually reached the right person, which was further proved by the fact that all but one of the violations had been paid.

Patten also claimed that code enforcement officers should use more technical methods for measuring the spectrum of St. Regis’s visible lights. Chapter 100 of the town’s

code, though, doesn’t specify a spectrum but rather states that visible lights from the beach must either be turtle-friendly or shielded.

A central theme in Patten’s presentation was the transitions that have been underway at the St. Regis.

During the first batch of violations — before coming into compliance for a short period in June — the property was overseen by Moss Construction.

Later in the summer, when the St. Regis was closer to opening, Marriott — which owns the St. Regis brand — had more control.

This transition, combined with the fact that some condominiums and areas of the resort are still under construction, backed Patten’s argument that the resort is still working toward being fully operational, thus needing more time to come into compliance.

Patten also stated that the FWC inspected the St. Regis’s lights on the night of Sept. 6, and a full report will be available on Sept. 20.

Jenkins, the resort’s director of engineering, testified the resort has made an effort to educate guests about the need to shut off or shield interior lights by placing an information card in every room. The resort is also offering turn-down service, and security patrols to check for visible lights, according to Jenkins.

Overall, Patten said the St. Regis is willing to work with the town to come into compliance if granted more time.

“Our goal is to solve the problems and work together to do it,” Patten said.

Though Brkich said the turtles were “getting the short end of the deal,” he felt inclined to grant the continuance.

“I’m willing to give some time on that, but I need to have some kind of

Carter Weinhofer

The town’s appointed magistrate, Milan Brkich, oversees code enforcement hearings like the one on Sept. 11 for the St. Regis.

assurance that what needs to be done will be done in a timely way,” Brkich said.

Assistant Town Attorney Daniel Lewis pleaded the case that the ongoing citations and warnings were not working, and the resort was already given time to correct the issues after receiving a notice of violation.

“I have a huge objection to that,” Lewis said about the continuance.

“Considering that this has been going on since May, they were previously in compliance, they came out of compliance ... and the fact that it’s not only still turtle season but the fact that there are still potential other nests that could be affected by these same lights.”

Brkich still granted the St. Regis a continuance until the next special magistrate hearing scheduled for Oct. 9. He said the resort representatives must meet with town officials to achieve compliance before that date.

If Brkich had not ordered a continuance, he could have found the St. Regis guilty of the violations.

This would have given the St. Regis a time frame to come into compliance. Then, if compliance was not met within that time frame, more severe penalties could be enacted.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS AS OF SEPT. 11 MAY 3: A courtesy notice sent to S.R. LBK II LLC. The property was given seven days to come into compliance before citations would be issued.

MAY 10: First citation issued for $100.

MAY 17: Second citation issued for $250.

MAY 21: Third citation issued for $500. All subsequent fines are $500.

MAY 22: Citation issued.

MAY 23: Citation issued.

JUNE 4: Citation issued.

JUNE 6: Citation issued.

JUNE 7: St. Regis was in compliance with lighting ordinances.

JULY 26: Disorientation reported by Mote. Six turtles were found in vegetation on the property, one turtle in the lazy river, three in the pool and one dead turtle was found.

JULY 29: Disorientation reported by Mote. Of the 60 hatchlings disoriented, two were found dead and one was found alive in the lazy river.

JULY 30: Citation issued.

JULY 31: Citation issued.

AUG. 1: Citation issued.

The St. Regis is photographed on the morning of Sept. 11.

AUG. 2: Citation issued.

Disorientation of 28 hatchlings reported.

AUG. 13: Citation issued.

AUG. 14: Citation issued.

AUG. 15: Citation issued.

AUG. 16: Citation and Notice of Violation issued.

The property was given seven days to get into compliance, with a hearing tentative for Sept. 11.

AUG. 26: Notice of Hearing sent to the property to notify of the Special Magistrate hearing on Sept. 11.

SEPT. 4: Corrected Notice of Violation to correct typo of violation (Chapter 100.03, not Chapter 100.3).

SEPT. 11: Pictures taken the morning of the hearing showed the property was still not in compliance.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

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Officer Keith Ericsson

n the morning of Sept.

9, Police Chief George Turner swore in the three newest officers to Longboat Key Police Department’s fleet.

The new officers filled three positions that opened this summer after three of Longboat’s officers transferred to other departments. With the three latest additions, the fleet is back to 19 full-time employees.

Officer Keith Ericsson comes to the Longboat Key Police Department from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, from which he retired as a sergeant.

Officer Andrew Vandyke, a former U.S. Marine, joined the Longboat Key Police Department from the neighboring Sarasota Police Department.

The other new officer, Officer Dallas Troyer, was previously at the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. Before his time in Pueblo County, Troyer served in the U.S. Army.

For the application period, Turner said the department had a substantial pool of qualified applicants. Over

the past year-and-a-half, the town and Longboat Key Police Department has successfully ratified new contracts with the Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association, introduced hybrid and take-home vehicles and received its first accreditation. Turner said in the past that these investments helped recruitment and retention.

The hiring process for new officers at the Longboat Key Police Department includes preliminary application reviews, substantial background checks, an oral interview with internal staff and onboarding through both the town’s human resources department and the police department.

Now, the three new hires are out on patrols with field training officers. Turner expects the three new officers to be on their own in the next month.

Now, the three new hires are out on patrols with field training officers. Turner expects the three new officers to be on their own in the next month.

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OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Observer recommends …

This week begins the Observer’s general election recommendations for a few races and the state amendments.

MATT WALSH

O

ver the next five weeks, we’ll be devoting much of this page to our recommendations for the Nov. 5 general election.

Our focus will be on a few specific races and ballot questions pertinent to voters in Sarasota and Manatee counties; the statewide constitutional amendments; Florida Supreme Court justices and Second District Court of Appeal judges; and the national elections.

This week’s installment is on the offices of Sarasota County tax collector and Sarasota County Public Hospital Board.

SARASOTA TAX COLLECTOR

Barbara Ford-Coates, Democrat, incumbent; Mike Moran, Republican Far too often, voters are faced with the dilemma of which of the two candidates is the least worst.

Fortunately for Sarasota County voters, the contest for tax collector is not one of those races. Barbara Ford-Coates and Mike Moran are accomplished individuals and competent candidates.

But let’s cut to the quick. We have a simple litmus test: If the incumbent candidate has been doing a good job, vote for that candidate; keep that person in office.

In this instance, that means reelect Ford-Coates. No questions asked, no doubts about it.

(As an aside, in all of our recommendations over the past three decades, Ford-Coates is the only Democrat the Observer has recommended — and repeatedly. And that’s for a simple reason: She has done and does a great job.)

Indeed, it’s worth reprinting excerpts from our June 27 tax collector recommendations for the Republican primary: “For many longtime Sarasotans, in particular those who live in the northern part of the county, the idea of challenging incumbent Barbara Ford-Coates for the county tax collector position is close to ludicrous.

“Ford-Coates has been Sarasota County tax collector for 40 years, elected 10 times. And anyone who has experienced the process of registering a vehicle in another state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or in another Florida county is likely to

Ford-Coates

Moran

attest his or her customer experience in Sarasota is Best of Class.

Ford-Coates’ staff defies the reputation of surly bureaucrats; they’re pleasant, efficient and helpful. And that starts at the top.

“Ford-Coates’ reputation among her peers is tops. Every year since 2011, the Florida Tax Collector Association has bestowed FordCoates and her office with the Excellence in Finance Operations and the Legacy Award. In 2008, the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers named her Outstanding Tax Collector in the U.S. “Timothy Qualls, longtime general counsel for the Florida Tax Collector’s Association, says: ‘Barbara is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.’”

The accolades and “firsts” go on: n First tax collector to offer driver license services n First tax collector boating safety program n First county to use automated clearing house system n First tax collector to email tax bill information n First tax collector to email business tax notices n Piloted a public-private partnership for car dealers to electronically register customers’ vehicles In addition to being a leader nationally and statewide among tax collectors, Ford-Coates has held numerous community leadership positions: n President, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County, 1992 n Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, 1991-present n Chair, Manatee Community College Institute of Government Steering Committee, 1990-92 n Florida Constitution Revision Commission, 1998 n Treasurer, League of Women Voters of Sarasota County n Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Grants Committee 2006 n Chair, Non-Profit Resource Center Advisory Board, 2006 All of that is worth noting because it further buttresses the irrefutable case that Ford-Coates deserves reelection.

Is she perfect? No one is. Then, what is the case, if there is one, against Ford-Coates and for Moran?

Two things against: n 1) Ford-Coates has been in office 40 years.

But that does not matter if the performance hasn’t waned. n 2) She is 74. Donald Trump is 78. In Sarasota County, where 40% of the population is over age 65, the number of residents in their 70s who are active, agile and mentally and physically alert is remarkable.

Competence matters; age and tenure don’t.

Moran, by contrast, is 20 years younger than Ford-Coates. So there is no denying that because of

TAX COLLECTOR’S EXCESS FEES Florida’s 67 county tax collectors handle property, tourist and business taxes; motor vehicle, vessel and manufactured home titles and registration; drivers’ licenses; disabled parking permits; and hunting and fishing licenses.

The fees charged for these services are set by the Florida Department of Revenue.

At the end of each fiscal year, the tax collectors must complete an annual financial report and return excess fees to all taxing districts and to their Boards of County Commissioners. Those funds then go into the taxing districts’ general funds.

The excess fees — revenues minus operating expenses — are contingent on how efficient the tax collector’s office operates. In the case of Sarasota County, the operating costs per capita are “the lowest of all Florida tax collectors,” according to the Sarasota tax collector’s office.

Here are the Sarasota tax collector’s excess fees sent to Sarasota County and other county taxing districts for the past five fiscal years:

Taxing Sarasota Co. Districts Total FY 2019 $11,785,213 $1,046,364 $12,831,577 FY 2020 $11,613,661 $1,074,303 $12,687,964 FY 2021 $12,317,691 $1,134,505 $13,452,196 FY 2022 $12,860,381 $1,212,075 $14,072,456 FY 2023 $16,290,880 $1,481,079 $17,771,959

age, Moran is likely to have more stamina than Ford-Coates over the next four years.

You can also make the case that with Moran’s experience as a payroll and insurance company owner in Michigan and his public service — eight years on the County Commission, including terms as chair; a member of the Southwest Florida Water Management Board of Governors; former vice chair of Sarasota County Planning Commission member — on paper, he has the chops to lead the tax collector’s office.

What’s more, his colleagues on these public boards will tell you Moran works hard. A former Sarasota County commissioner told us Moran was always well versed and prepared on whatever subjects and issues came before the board.

But here is the “but” — two “buts” — and they’re big for us: n 1) Moran is a politician. He says he is “not a career politician.”

But he has been heading that way: president of the Sarasota Republic Club; member of the Republican Executive Committee; appointed

by Gov. Rick Scott to the SWFMD board; planning commission; two terms as county commissioner. He is embedded in Sarasota County politics.

We don’t need that in the tax collector’s office.

To Ford-Coates’ credit, she has focused her 40 years in office on doing the job, not becoming a public political poohbah. n 2) Style matters. It especially matters at the local levels of politics, where elected officials often encounter their constituents face to face, unlike the Washington swamp rats who hide in D.C.’s congressional tunnels.

On style, Moran hasn’t earned the tax collector’s job. We addressed this in this space in June. (YourObserver.com/News/2024/Jun/26/ Opinion-For-Sarasota-Tax-Collector/) While you can give Moran credit for his pursuit of “making government accountable to the taxpayers” and of “as little governmental intrusion as possible,” he has used his County Commission position as a bully. We recounted three highprofile instances of this in our June editorial.

Moran’s pattern has been not to collaborate or engage constituents.

Instead, his style has been emblematic of what has happened throughout every level of government. Once in office, rather than act as public servants and engage and discuss issues with affected parties, so many politicians relish and exert their power like monarchical rulers.

Their way or be damned.

For 40 years, Sarasota voters have set aside partisanship and overwhelmingly approved of the job that Ford-Coates has done as Sarasota County tax collector. This is no time to change. Ford-Coates has earned her position for another four years.

We recommend: Barbara FordCoates

SARASOTA PUBLIC HOSPITAL BOARD At-Large, Seat 1: Sharon Wetzler DePeters, Republican, incumbent; Alan Jerome Sprintz, Democrat; Ethan Garrett, Suzanne Hatatah, Jennifer Lee Zambrano, Write-ins At-Large, Seat 2: Dale Anderson, Democrat; Kevin Cooper, Republican At-Large, Seat 3: George Davis, Democrat; Pam Beitlich, Republican; Curt Erlandson and Emilio Carlesimo, Write-ins Central District, Seat 1: Sarah Lodge, Republican, incumbent; Vicki Lynn Nighswander, Democrat; Barbara Miller Vaughn, Write-in

If you conducted man (woman)on-the-street interviews and asked passersby to name any of the elected Sarasota Public Hospital Board members, likely you would get a blank look 99% of the time.

The job draws attention on rare occasions, far less attention than most elected offices. But it is one of the most important elected offices in the region when you consider the magnitude and scope of what it does.

The hospital board members are the governing body for a $1.6 billion (annual revenues) healthcare enterprise that treats more than 1.5

million people a year; has 900 beds; has more than 570 physicians and more than 10,000 employees (the most of any employer in Sarasota County).

On top of that, this health care system has been on its largest and most successful expansion track in the hospital system’s history over the past five years. In 2021, for instance, amid the chaos from the pandemic, Sarasota Memorial opened its new 110-bed Venice hospital. Demand for that grew so fast, SMH will complete the doubling of its size this year.

Next up: a new hospital in North Port.

SMH’s financial statements detail that $722 million is being invested for the following projects: n $239.2 million to double the Venice facility; $220 million to complete an outpatient cancer center; $71.1 million for a new behavioral health pavilion; $79.7 million for the SMH Research & Education Institute, including a parking garage; $28.2 million for a freestanding emergency care center in Lakewood Ranch.

And just to add to all that, throughout the past four years, Sarasota Memorial Hospital consistently has been awarded and ranked among the best of its peers nationally and in Florida.

We enumerate all of the above to make the unequivocal case (once again) that the incumbent hospital board members running for reelection pass the litmus test: If they’re performing well, reelect them — Sharon Wetzler DePeters and Sarah Lodge. Keep going.

But there also are two open seats with no incumbents. In those races, the choices are clear — we recommended two of those candidates in the August primary: Kevin Cooper, At-Large, Seat 2; and Pam Beitlich, At-Large, Seat 3.

Cooper is a well-regarded civic and business leader in Sarasota.

Currently a vice president at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Cooper previously served as executive director and CEO of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and has been involved as a board member for numerous not-forprofit organizations in his 20-plus years in Sarasota.

Cooper’s opponent, Democrat Dale P. Anderson is a retired physician. Little known in Sarasota, Anderson has expressed views that hospital board members should be proponents of public health issues, including advocating for expanding Medicare statewide and for improved gun safety.

For At-Large, Seat 3, Beitlich also faces a retired physician, Democrat George Davis, and two unserious write-in candidates, Curt Erlandson and Emilio Carlesimo.

Here is the defining difference between Beitlich and Davis: Beitlich, 66, knows SMH intimately; for Davis, 77, it would be new.

Beitlich recently retired as Sarasota Memorial’s executive director of Women and Children’s Services after a 40-year career there. She oversaw high-risk labor and delivery and mother baby departments — more than 4,500 births at SMH last year. And she oversaw SMH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the only Level III unit between St. Petersburg and Fort Myers, for the most critical babies.

Beitlich has a doctorate in healthcare systems leadership, a master’s in nursing and is an advanced practice registered nurse. As she says: “I understand the clinical side of running a healthcare system, as well as the day-to-day operations.”

With her 40 years at SMH, Beitlich knows well the hospital system’s strengths, weaknesses and needs. Davis, on the other hand, could bring the perspective of a physician who practiced 35 years.

But if SMH were your business, whose institutional knowledge and wisdom would you rather have on the board? We’ll take Beitlich’s.

We recommend: Sharon Wetzler DePeters, Kevin Cooper, Pam Beitlich and Sarah Lodge

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9

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

CAR IN THE BUSHES 11:42 a.m., 500 block of Broadway Street Officer Public Service: Officers were dispatched to investigate a reported suspicious vehicle. The caller stated the vehicle was parked in some bushes and he was unable to see into the vehicle. The responding officers found the vehicle in question in an alley, but it was not all that suspicious. The vehicle was parked legally on private property with sunshades on the windows.

Officers ensured the vehicle was not reported stolen and the owner had a valid license, so the case was closed.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

SUSPICIOUS NOISES AROUND THE HOUSE 5:11 a.m., 4300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious Incident: Dispatch sent an officer to respond when a resident reported hearing loud banging throughout their condo. An officer was nearby and responded quickly, noting that no one was at the residence’s front door or in the area at the time. The caller asked the officer to search the residence and the closets, but nothing appeared out of place to the officer.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

RESIDENT INSISTS NO EXCEPTIONS 8:15 p.m., 6600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Noise Disturbance: After-hours construction noise prompted police response. At the scene, an officer saw two trucks belonging to an electric company and two unknown work trucks getting ready to leave. The officer spoke with the foreman at the scene who said he and his electrical crew arrived a couple of hours previously to assist the other contractors.

He said they ran into many problems along the way and his boss told him the job needed to be finished. The foreman also said the resident — the complainant — had come over and harassed the workers for working past 5 p.m. and would not listen when the foreman tried explaining the situation. The officer then spoke with the complainant, who began yelling at the officer about the issue.

Though the officer tried explaining the work was necessary to ensure power lines were safe, the complainant insisted the officer should give the crews citations. The officer reiterated that he would not be issuing any citations.

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LEFT IN A HURRY 3:26 a.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Officer Public Service: A Longboat Key officer was dispatched to a local resort about a civil issue. The officer met with resort staff, who advised that a male guest paid for a room and then invited two female guests the staff members speculated were sex workers. The staffers said the male guest returned to the lobby after a short time in the room and appeared to be intoxicated by his demeanor. He appeared distraught, according to the staffers’ account, and waited in the lobby for an Uber to pick him up and take him home.

The man left the resort, leaving behind all of his items in the room with the women. Staff members insisted the women were “call girls” and also speculated the man left a briefcase with a firearm up in the room. All of these events happened three hours before police were contacted. The officer advised the staff members that this was a civil matter, but said they should call LBKPD if assistance is needed later.

LATE-NIGHT FISHING 9:09 p.m., 7100 block of Longboat Drive East Suspicious Person: A citizen called to report suspicious fishermen who arrived by boat and were fishing from the caller’s dock. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with four men who were fishing from a boat. They said they were aware the dock was private property and said they did not fish from the docks.

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Now, Woodman lives at Plymouth Harbor Retirement Community and said she still is a “learning junkie.”

Woodman’s passion for educating herself and others continues to burn bright, and she calls the AIDS awareness program the best accomplishment in her life.

Along with being accomplished in crisis management communications, Woodman said her passion for learning turned into the second anchor in her life, to go with music.

She started playing piano as a child and has been an accomplished pianist since her high school years.

Throughout her life, Woodman approached learning as the key to discovering herself and how she could impact society. Today, she uses it to discover new things about herself.

OPENING HER EYES

A passion for learning Petra Rivera

Plymouth Harbor’s Lynne Woodman says a passion for learning led her to great experiences.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

W

hen a telephone technician refused to serve a man suffering from the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Lynne Woodman said the news spread like wildfire across the Baby Bell Telephone companies.

At the time, Woodman worked in the crisis management communications department at the Ohio Bell Telephone Co. She had been passionate about social justice issues since she was a child, and she became infuriated upon hearing that the head of the communications department rejected making a program to educate the company’s employees about AIDS. Knowing the importance of the issue, Woodman went to the CEO to

express interest in leading the program and eventually won approval to move forward.

Woodman spent many hours researching the AIDS epidemic, how it was spread and prevention tactics.

She also interviewed employees who were affected by the epidemic to add a human touch to the program.

“I developed the program and went to the union and asked for 30 guys (to attend a lecture),” Woodman said. “I didn’t care who they were. I just needed 30 guys. I talked about AIDS and how AIDS was spread. I said, ‘We all need to be alert.’ About an hour after the lecture finished, I got a call and they said, ‘I’ve got 130 guys who want to listen to you.’”

Woodman said the program became a national model for her company and was adopted by every telephone company in the country.

Woodman navigated the first 10 years of her life despite being “legally blind.”

Her future success was in doubt as she struggled through her school classes in Akron, Ohio.

With her parents, Robert and Frances Stinaff, opposed to modern medicine, her ability to keep up with her classmates wasn’t likely. Eventually, the school sent home a letter telling her parents to take their daughter to a qualified ophthalmologist or they would seek legal action.

“My mother broke down and took me to an ophthalmologist,” Woodman said. “He put the frames with the black lenses on me and put the chart up on the wall. When he took the black lenses out, I still remember my scream.

“I started seeing these visual images in my brain, and I didn’t understand them. I wanted to discover more. Since then, my life has all been about what can I learn.”

After that appointment, the ophthalmologist urged the Stinaffs to get glasses for Woodman. Through corrective surgery, she was able to process those new visual images she saw through glasses.

Woodman said that is where her journey as a “learning junkie” began.

MUSIC TO HER EARS

Music has been a key factor in Woodman’s life since her childhood. Originally from Ohio, she started playing piano when she was 4 years old. Her greatest musical accomplishment took place in high school when she played with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus on a whim.

Her high school music teacher sang for the chorus and wanted to inspire Woodman by having her attend a session by the talented performers.

So, one day she decided to “smuggle” Woodman into a rehearsal.

That day, the conductor walked up to his stand and announced that the accompanist had fallen ill. Immediately, her music teacher stood up and suggested Woodman, who was hid-

WORSHIP

ing in a corner of the room, would take over on the piano.

“The conductor said, ‘Come on up and play,’” said Woodman. “He looked at this 17-year-old kid and didn’t bat an eye. So, I sat down at the piano and we launched into the song.

The first page turn was difficult. So I’m playing, and a hand reaches over and turns the page. I couldn’t believe it. Robert Shaw, the greatest choral conductor of the 20th century, was turning pages for me. That might have been the best musical experience of my life.”

ON AIR

Woodman started as a piano accompanist in high school and then majored in music at Ohio Wesleyan University.

During her 20s, her father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

She realized she wasn’t being paid enough as an accompanist to visit him regularly, so she started looking for another career. It led her to explore her love for words and to minor in communications.

Woodman’s curiosity led her to become a local television reporter for WLWT in Cincinnati. Her favorite assignment was taking paramedic classes while on the air. Her weekly segment would educate viewers about the steps it took to become a paramedic.

She said the news van she drove looked identical to the police vans at the time, so it led to her being frequently stopped by residents who were looking for help with minor medical emergencies. That included delivering two babies on the side of the road.

— Lynne Woodman

LEARNING NEVER AGES

At 81 years old, Woodman continues to learn about herself and the world around her.

She continues with her passion for music and words. She is currently rehearsing to perform in a recital in January at Plymouth Harbor. She also helps with communication efforts in the community, such as writing emails, speeches for staff members and delivering hurricane news.

Recently, Woodman attended a series at Plymouth Harbor titled “Acting Our Age.” Led by the Playworks Group performing arts company, the course dives into understanding one’s self in their elderly years through the reflection of their past. They plan to perform their stories for the public on Oct. 27. Woodman said that the program changed her view on love.

“I have learned more about who I am and what matters to me than I ever have in my entire life,” said Woodman. “I would have loved to know this when I was 35, but I don’t think I had the maturity to understand it. Now I do, so I just embrace it and go forward.”

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.

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

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“I would have loved to know this when I was 35, but I don’t think I had the maturity to understand it.

Now I do, so I just embrace it and go forward.”

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Plymouth Harbor resident Lynne Woodman shared how her love for learning led her through her life’s accomplishments.

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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.

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Worship With Us at Our Church Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00 Women’s Bible Study: Wednesday @ 10:00

Visitors & Residents Welcome

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

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

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

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

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10

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

RAISING

THE

F O O

R

Venice Theatre celebrates its 75th anniversary as it seeks to repair Hurricane Ian damage.

Courtesy images

Venice Theatre’s first show, a 1950 production of “The Torch Bearers.”

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

D

uring the early and mid-20th century, a movement swept the country. This was before the crazes for Elvis, coonskin caps and Hula-Hoops. Even before TikTok, Americans were subject to fads and manias. Seventyfive years ago, it seems every town wanted its own community theater.

Exactly when and why the Little Theatre Movement started is a subject of extensive debate and scholarship. But the local theater push appears to have been inspired by the European model. It also developed as a form of pushback against the rise of cinema, which was supplanting live theater in the U.S., and later, TV. It was this desire to have live local theater that led to the founding of the Venice Theatre 75 years ago, according to Benny Sato Ambush, the theater’s artistic director.

The first meeting of the theater’s organizers was on Nov. 23, 1950.

Founders Muriel Olds-Dundas and Sonia Terry took out an ad in The Venice Gondolier that read, “Active memberships, which will cost $5, will be available to those who want to act, usher, take tickets, clean out the place or whatnot.” Participants were incentivized to attend with the promise of a picnic lunch.

Flash forward to present day.

Today, the Venice Theatre is considered the second-largest community theater among the more than 10,000 such institutions in the U.S. Its first production was George Kelly’s “The Torch Bearers,” a 1922 character-driven comedy about a community staging a play. To celebrate its diamond anniversary, in the

“Our community has responded beautifully. Many small donors have come through. The need is for a big one.”

— Benny Sato Ambush, Venice Theatre’s artistic director

Venice Theatre has revived its first show, “The Torch Bearers,” to open its 75th anniversary season.

2024-25 season, Venice Theatre has revived the play within a play. “It’s our origin story,” Ambush says.

The new version of “The Torch Bearers” runs at the Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center from Sept. 20-Oct. 13.

Normally, a big anniversary is cause for rejoicing and unabashed fundraising for a nonprofit cultural institution. That’s certainly the case with the Venice Theatre. However, the fundraising part took on a new urgency after the theater missed out on a $6 million federal grant earlier this year.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THINS

The Sarasota County Commission essentially snubbed the Venice Theatre in May when it decided how to spend more than $200 million in federal funds to help communities recover from Hurricane Ian and prepare for future storms.

The theater was counting on some of that funding to help rebuild its mainstage Jervey Theatre. The Jervey’s fly tower for storing stage equipment and its back wall were destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

To add insult to injury, in June, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unexpectedly vetoed $32 million in arts grants for fiscal year 2025. The previous year, the state cultural grants program delivered $70,500 to the Venice Theatre.

All told, the cost of rebuilding the 432-seat Jervey Theatre is $25 million, of which $9 million has been raised, including a $1 million donation from Jim and Donna Boldt. That still leaves a $16 million gap.

In the face of such a massive shortfall, Ambush is remarkably upbeat.

Clearly, the theater’s trouper men-

tality is deeply ingrained in Ambush, a veteran arts educator and administrator who holds an MFA from the University of California at San Diego and a BA in theater and literature from Brown University.

Commenting on the theater’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ian, Ambush says, “Our community has responded beautifully. Many small donors have come through.

The need is for a big one.”

LIFE HAD OTHER PLANS

Ambush first came to Venice in 2010 as an adjudicator for WorldFest, an event featuring theater companies from around the globe sponsored by the American Association of Community Theatre hosted by the Venice Theatre.

After serving as a WorldFest adjudicator (theater-speak for judge) again in 2014, Ambush returned to Venice full time in July 2021 as artistic director. He originally thought he would be staying for a year to help the company get back on its feet after Covid.

“They invited me to come down for a year only,” Ambush said in a telephone interview. “They asked me to help them plan the next 25 years and upgrade the acting quality.”

Ambush was recruited by Producing Executive Director Murray Chase to replace Alan Kollar, who died in August 2020. Shortly after Ambush helped the Venice Theatre reopen in 2022, Hurricane Ian struck and destroyed much of the structure that once was the winter home of the Kentucky Military Institute.

“There was no rebar,” Ambush says, referring to steel rods that reinforce concrete structures. “It was just cinder blocks and mortar.

It just crumbled. Once it crumbled,

all that rain and wind came inside.

There was a great deal of damage to the roof.”

Ian’s arrival extended Ambush’s run at the Venice Theatre as Chase turned his attention to fundraising and Kristopher Geddie was named executive director in August 2023.

Geddie was previously director of diversity at Venice Theatre.

Following the destruction inflicted

by Ian, the Venice Theatre was able to transform its arts and education building, which was undergoing renovations, into the Raymond Center, which has 130 seats. It also performs in its existing black-box Pinkerton Theatre, which has 90 seats.

Concerts have been taking place in the Venice Performing Arts Center and the Venice Community Center and will continue to do so until the Jervey is rebuilt, Ambush says.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

But until that day, the Venice Theatre has 300 fewer tickets to sell to its plays. That creates a deeper financial hole as production costs are spread over fewer seats than before.

Still, the show must go on, and it will with great fanfare during the Venice Theatre’s 75th season.

The diamond anniversary season schedule has a total of 15 productions, Ambush says. Besides “The Torch Bearers,” other upcoming revivals from the theater’s long history are “Agnes of God,” “My Fair Lady” and “Alice in Wonderland.”

The 75th season also features Venice Theatre’s traditional annual productions of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” its Pinky’s Players shows for thespians with mental SEE ROOF PAGE 12

IF YOU GO ‘THE TORCH BEARERS’ When: Sept. 20-Oct. 13 Where: Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice Tickets: $15-$35 Info: Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

12

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

SMITTEN WITH KITTENS

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

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Adopt, Don’t Shop

ON OUR WAY Saturday, September 21 • 4pm

THIS !

WEEKEND

Courtesy photo

Hurricane Ian destroyed the Venice Theatre main stage, the 432-seat Jervey Theatre, in September 2022.

CHURCH OF THE PALMS

ROOF FROM PAGE 11

The Stephen Lynerd Group combines with Key Chorale for a celebration of Gospel music with a little jazz too!

Featuring:

Jamal Sarikoki

Purchase your tickets today at:

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KeyChorale.org or 941.552.8768

and physical disabilities and its Silver Foxes offerings by senior players.

For those who want something new, the Venice Theatre is producing three musicals, including “9 to 5,” based on the 1980 film about frustrated clerical staffers who want to get back at their boss. The film’s theme was written and recorded by Dolly Parton.

The other musicals are “The Lightning Thief,” about a youth who learns he has supernatural abilities, and “Don’t Touch That Dial,” which uses TV theme songs to encourage audience participation in a trivia contest.

Also making their debut this season are “The Learned Ladies,” a husband-hunting comedy written by the 17th-century French playwright Moliere, and “Syncopation,” which follows a meatpacker’s effort to find a suitable partner to help him launch a career as a ballroom dancer.

WorldFest is on hold until the Jervey is rebuilt, Ambush says, but other programs central to its mission are ongoing. “Our extensive educational and community engagement programs have continued without a hitch,” he adds. “Those programs will grow once we get back to our

plan of renovating our arts and education center.”

SPREADING THE WORD

In addition to looking for big donors to help rebuild the Jervey, Ambush and his team have to spend a lot of time educating the public about why they need so much money.

Some patrons and donors have the misconception that insurance covers all the costs of rebuilding after a storm. Also helping drive up costs are inflation and the need for repairs to satisfy modern building codes, Ambush notes.

The Jervey Theatre roof, installed for $225,000 in 2016, costs $861,000 to replace today.

One silver lining is that an architectural and construction team was in place to renovate the arts center when Ian struck. That helped the theater pivot to fashioning the Raymond Center and beginning repairs.

As the hunt for big checks continues, does Ambush have a message for the community on the occasion of the Venice Theatre’s 75th anniversary? Yes, he does.

“We appreciate all the love and support we’ve gotten from our volunteers,” he says. “And we wouldn’t be here after 75 years without our audiences. Thank you!”

JESS T. DUGAN

I want you to know my story NEXT WEEK!

THROUGH FEB 23

TUE-WED • SEP 24-25 7:30PM

ringling.org

Sponsored by Lexus of Sarasota and ABC7 This exhibition is part of the Stanton B. and Nancy W. Kaplan Photography and Media Arts Program at The Ringling.

Prices, dates and times subject to change without notice.

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Also open two hours prior to showtimes

CONVERSATION with Jess T. Dugan and Christopher Jones FRI, OCT 4, 10:30 AM, $10 / $5 for Members

430361-1

Jess T. Dugan (American, born 1986), Self-portrait (blue room) (detail), 2021. Archival inkjet print.

Courtesy of the artist. © Jess T. Dugan

BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-4 (941) 263-6799 • VanWezel.ORG

YourObserver.com

13

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

THIS WEEK

$85 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Come out and sample bites from area restaurants such as Jack Dusty, Mattison’s, Michael’s On East, Rose & Ivy and Selva Grill to support Sarasota Youth Opera, which will perform at 2 p.m. There will also be raffle drawings.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER SERENADE 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St. $43-$63 Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Sponsored by Artist Series Concerts, “September Serenade” features violist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, clarinetist Bharat Chandra and pianist Natalie Nedvetsky playing trios by Mozart, Bruch and Robert Schumann, and an arrangement of Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” for viola and piano.

BIG NIGHT OUT 8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $10-$18 Visit WSLR.org.

Celebrate Sunday Funday with Big Night Out, a seven-piece tropicalstyle dance band with a powerful horn section, grooving conga and Joni Adno’s commanding vocals.

OUR PICK

APRIL MACIE April Macie taps into her rough-andtumble upbringing to deliver explicit material, running the gamut from dysfunctional family drama to a history lesson on the first vibrator. Macie makes her way to the McCurdy’s stage fresh from appearances in Las Vegas.

Come learn why her latest album is called “Shame.” Runs through Sept. 22.

MONDAY

IF YOU GO When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 Where: McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

Tickets: $28 Info: Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

EnsembleNewSRQ, the contemporary classic ensemble led

by George Nickson and Samantha Bennett, returns to the Sarasota Opera House for the first show of its ninth season. The program, “Night, Reflected,” contemplates the cosmos with chamber music works.

‘SEUSSICAL’ 7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 $13-$30 Visit ThePlayers.org.

‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ 7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $45-$95 Visit VanWezel.org.

The Sarasota Players presents “Seussical,” a musical based on the many children’s books by Dr. Seuss.

Runs through Sept. 22.

With music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David LindsayAbaire, “Shrek the Musical” invites you to “fall in love all ogre again.”

The green monster, who became a sensation in the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film, clearly has “legs,” as they say in the theater world. The unlikely hero gets an assist in his odyssey from a sarcastic donkey and a rebellious princess. Runs through Sept. 25.

SARASOTA OPERA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 1 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 63 N. Pineapple Ave.

DON’T MISS

FRIDAY FEST: K-LUV & THE UNITED FUNK FOUNDATION When: 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 Where: Van Wezel Lawn, 777 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: Free Info: Visit VanWezel.org.

Say goodbye to summer by partying on the lawn of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with K-Luv & the United Funk Foundation as Friday Fest returns after its hot-weather hiatus.

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‘NIGHT, REFLECTED’ 7:30 p.m. First Congregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave. $30 Visit ENSRQ.org.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Strike up the Stiletto Brass!

Bradenton trumpeter Vince DiMartino joins the all-female band for a Sarasota performance.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

W

hen some people see the word “stiletto,” they imagine knives.

Trumpeter Amy Gilreath thinks of high-heeled shoes.

That’s why she chose the name Stiletto Brass when she and tuba player Velvet Brown formed the all-female quintet back in 2010.

It’s not just a marketing shtick.

Members of Stiletto Brass really do enjoy shoe shopping together in the spare time. They also like to kick up their heels, mostly on stage.

Sarasota music fans will get to see Stiletto Brass strut their stuff on Friday, Sept. 27, when they play at Holley Hall under the auspices of The Pops Orchestra.

The Stiletto Brass last performed in Sarasota as the featured guest at the Pops Orchestra’s “Jersey Boys, California Girls” concert in February 2018. When Pops conductor Robyn Bell heard that Stiletto Brass was planning to tour Florida again, “I jumped at the chance for the Pops to host them,” she says.

Adds Bell, “We are thrilled to bring this recital to our Cultural Coast, with the support of Pops board member Amy Schachter, for all to enjoy. Audience members will be amazed at the power, sound and versatility of this brass quintet. They are show-stoppers.”

Talk about a ringing endorsement. The Stiletto Brass definitely has some big shoes to fill. Make that tall shoes. After all, they do wear red high heels for their performances.

All members of the Stiletto Brass — Gilreath, trumpeter Susan Rider, horn player Stacie Mickens, tuba player Brown and trombonist Natalie Mannix — have “day jobs,” mostly as

music professors.

But their colleges — the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for Gilreath and Penn State for Brown — let them take some time off for professional development, experiences that they pass along to their students when they return to the classroom.

Given the packed schedule of the band’s members, Stiletto Brass sometimes performs with guest players. In Sarasota, Megan Boutin will play trombone while Chicago musician and teacher Bethany Vaughan will serve as the band’s second trumpeter.

For members of Stiletto Brass, it wasn’t always an easy decision to play a brass instrument when they were growing up.

In a telephone interview, Gilreath said, “Velvet Brown, our tuba player, and myself came through the public school system when young ladies didn’t play brass instruments. It’s been kind of a hard road.”

One inspiration was Marie Speziale, the first female trumpet player to play in a major orchestra. Speziale retired from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in November 1996.

Today, Gilreath calls Speziale a “dear friend of mine and Velvet’s.”

For their Sarasota recital, Stiletto Brass will play a program called “Struttin’ with the Stiletto Brass.” It will feature selections in tune with the “struttin’” theme. These include a piece by trumpeter and composer Jens Lindemann about dodging taxi cabs in London called “When a Body Meets a Body,” “Central Park in the Morning” by David Chesky and “Struttin’ with Some BBQ” by composer Kenneth Abeling.

Other selections include an arrangement of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

Stiletto Brass consists of (from left) Susan Rider on trumpet, Stacie Mickens on horn, Velvet Brown on tuba, Natalie Mannix on trombone and Amy Gilreath on trumpet.

Rounding out the program will be a piece called “Scarpa” (shoe in Italian) that was commissioned for Stiletto Brass.

Adding some masculine energy to the show is the celebrated trumpet player Vince DiMartino, who was once Gilreath’s music teacher and now is a friend and collaborator.

DiMartino and his wife, Patti, moved to the Sarasota area three years ago so Patti could pursue treatment for a rare type of cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

They still maintain a house in Kentucky, where DiMartino is the spokesman for Pickett Brass and Blackburn Trumpets in Lexington.

A native of Long Island, DiMartino says he has been playing music for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved music forever,” he said in a telephone interview. “I played in the marching band, the concert band, the jazz band. I would volunteer to play ‘Taps’ at funerals.”

DiMartino’s list of credits spans the academic, classical and popular

music worlds. He began teaching at the University of Kentucky when he was just 23 and has been an artistfaculty member of the Skidmore Jazz Institute since its inception in 1988.

Classical music fans will be familiar with DiMartino’s work as a soloist with such symphony orchestras as Buffalo, New York, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Orlando, Rochester, New York, and Cincinnati.

Cincinnati was where DiMartino met Speziale. “She is one of the greatest people I know,” he says.

“She’s from Tampa. She took me to West Tampa Sandwich Shop for the first time. It’s got the best Cuban anywhere.”

Despite his affiliation with many elite organizations, DiMartino believes in getting involved in music at the local level. Since arriving in Florida three years ago, he’s played at Latin Quarters on Beneva Road and with the Lakewood Ranch Woodwind Ensemble. “The most important thing you can do is play in your community,” DiMartino says.

Courtesy images

Trumpet virtuoso Vince DiMartino

IF YOU GO

‘STRUTTIN’ WITH THE STILETTO BRASS’ When: 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 27 Where: Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail.

Tickets: $35 and up Info: Visit ThePops Orchestra.org.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

23

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irls Inc., Sarasota, held its seventh annual Totally Tailgate at Michael’s On East on Saturday, Sept. 7. Attended by about 225 guests, the event was a true FUNraiser — complete with tailgate fare, competitive cornhole, a beer garden with local brews, live music, a quarterback toss and multiple screens.

Even for guests who didn’t know the difference between a Fiesta Bowl and a Siesta Bowl, event planners made sure every detail was perfect to ensure a true tailgate experience. Event chairs were Renee Phinney and Glen Rieth, Melissa and Scott Perrin and Danny and Fondren Watts.

With 53 chance-drawing donors contributing exciting gift bags, there was a constant stream of guests who had to decide which bag to place their ticket in for the best shot at winning.

Guests donned T-shirts emblazoned with their favorite team names. An informal count declares the University of Florida the winner with the biggest fan base, while FSU and USF vied for second place.

Also spotted: Florida Atlantic, University of Miami and College of the Holy Cross.

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Caitlyn Cooke, Elaina Wheaton and Hadley Hall at the 2024 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.

THE FUTURE OF

OCEAN CONSERVATION The annual Youth Ocean Conservation Summit hosts students from around the country to educate and encourage them to impact local marine communities.

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Eighth grader Anya Gupta traveled from Boca Raton to talk about her newest children’s book about ocean conservation.

Sean Russell, Cash Daniels and Lidea Clever at the 2024 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

A

passion for the ocean came naturally to Sean Russell because of his native Floridian roots.

“He has been coming to Mote since he could crawl,” said his father, Dan Russell.

Inspired by his time visiting Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium during his childhood, Sean Russell interned for the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program at the aquarium starting in high school. In his time there, he noticed how important it was to start learning about ocean conservation from a young age for his generation to make an impact.

In 2011, he launched the annual Youth Ocean Conservation Summit to develop a community of youth interested in educating and impacting the ocean conservation field in their local communities.

After moving to Tennessee with his family after Hurricane Ian, Sean Russell comes back every year to Mote to lead the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.

On Sept. 12, middle school and high school students from around Florida and the country attended the summit to learn about the current threats facing marine ecosystems.

With the theme of “Seas the Future,” participants engaged in multiple workshops covering recent problems in the field of ocean conservation, such as water policy, protection of mangroves and wetlands and marine debris issues.

Local high school students Brice Claypoole and Megan Barry held the keynote presentation leading into the morning workshops. Participants learned about ocean threats through interactive activities, such

Photos by Petra Rivera

as building oyster gardens.

In the afternoon, participants chose between three tracks for breakout sessions that are based on Mote’s partnerships, such as Suncoast Waterkeepers, Right to Clean Water Act and NOAA Marine Debris Program. The sessions included a track on water quality and water policy, a track on mangrove restoration and coastal resilience and a track on sustainable fisheries and marine debris.

“Today has been very rewarding for me,” said ninth grader Sophia Haakman from Pine View School in Osprey. “Conservation is not necessarily a topic I am interested in, but I was shocked by some of the things I learned today. Some things that I thought were just common sense are affecting our oceans in terrible ways, like the fact that in Florida, we don’t have the right to clean water.

So, it makes me more motivated to participate in more groups that are impacting ocean conservation.”

Children leaders in ocean conservation attended the summit to educate about their specific mission, such as Anya Gupta, 12, from Boca Raton, Cash Daniels, 13, from

Tennessee and Lidea Clever, 9, from Georgia. All three children have written children’s books about ocean conservation and have won awards for their impacts in the field.

“I really like getting to educate people about these issues so that when they are older, they can help protect our oceans,” said Clever.

To end the summit, Sean Russell led the children in a conservation project action planning session.

Through this conclusion, he posed questions that would inspire them to develop their own conservation projects for their communities based on the connections they made and everything they learned throughout the summit.

“It’s really important that we don’t just focus on those issues and challenges, but that we pivot and shift to the tangible steps that you can take to bring about change when it comes to those issues,” said Sean Russell. “It’s pretty rare to be able to get together youth who want to make a difference, so it is great to be able to work with them and get them started young. If not them, then who is going to take care of our oceans?”

Local high school volunteers helped lead the 2024 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

“I really like getting to educate people about these issues so that when they are older, they can help protect our oceans.”

— Lidea Clever, 9

YourObserver.com

17

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

#1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM Michael Saunders & Company Follow on Instagram @LongboatLife

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

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

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Sarasota Premiere 2024

Do-it-yourself sunshine

Sponsored by Plymouth Harbor/Produced by The Playworks Group

Debbie Lemieux taught herself to make sun catchers out of old jewelry and trinkets.

S

Voices of the Harbors Winnie S. Downes Bob Lifeso

Lynne Woodman

George Gross

Ella Gross

Barbara Kelly

Cheryl Mooney

Michael Fox

Robert Wilk

A live stage-and-film production with people whose life stories show how history was made.

Oct. 25, 26 at 7pm | Oct. 27 at 2pm Tickets: $20 www.PlayworksOnline.org

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Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center/Holley Hall

Photos by Petra Rivera

Donna Powell planned out the items used for her sun catcher before making it at the Paradise Center.

crystals, medallions and keys that Lemieux collected. Sallie West joined her close friend, Donna Powell, who lives on Longboat Key, in the class. She said this was the perfect activity for bonding with a friend and expressing creativity.

Lemieux is excited to offer more creative classes at the Paradise Center, such as flower arranging and paper making.

“I love being able to share the techniques I learn with other people,” said Lemieux.

— PETRA RIVERA

Take it Easy. Take Visit scgov.net/breeze for information on how to ride.

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Carl P. Denney

arasota artist Debbie Lemieux didn’t know what to do when she inherited an abundance of jewelry and crystals from her mother-in-law. Soon, her creativity sparked an idea.

“I had always loved hanging sun catchers from windows and repurposing old jewelry,” said Lemieux.

“They shine rainbows all over the room, so I thought it was the perfect, inexpensive way to honor the jewelry I had and artistically experiment with different pieces.”

This year, Lemieux started creating her own sun catchers. Going beyond antique jewelry, Lemieux started using anything she could find to make these sun catchers, including keys, beads and medallions.

With all the materials provided, Lemieux led Longboaters in making their own sun catchers Sept. 11 as the second part of her “Do-ItYourself” art series at the Paradise Center. In the first class on Aug. 26, the group colorized photographs with pan-pastels to create art prints.

The three attendees of the Sept. 11 class used driftwood as the base for the sun catcher and hung strings with a mix of beads,

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

19

REAL ESTATE BY REAL EXPERTS JUST LISTED

THE MARK • 111 S. PINEAPPLE AVE., #919 • SARASOTA, FL • $1,550,000 2BR+DEN/2.5BA • 1,575 SF • Furnished • Expansive Private Terrace Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

ISLANDER CLUB • 2301 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #25N • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $649,000 2BR/2BA • 1,235 SF • Furnished • Covered Parking Space Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

THE MEADOWS • 4737 CHANDLERS FORDE #14 • SARASOTA 2BR+OFFICE /2.5BA • 2,050 SF • Updated • $499,000 Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

SUTTON PLACE • 569 SUTTON PLACE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $529,000 3BR/2BA • 1,198 SF • Furnished • Gulf to Bay community Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • 1180 BOGEY LANE • LONGBOAT KEY 2BR+DEN/2BA • 2,180 SF • Furnished • $950,000 Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

WEST OF TRAIL • 1886 PROSPECT STREET • SARASOTA 4BR/4BA • 3,444 SF • Built in 2016 • $2,699,000 Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

PENDING

3010 GRAND BAY BLVD., #482 • LONGBOAT KEY 3BR/3.5BA • 2,250 SF • $1,695,000

SALES

3514 MISTLETOE LANE • LONGBOAT KEY 3BR/2.5BA • 2,502 SF • $2,100,000

3221 BAYOU WAY • LONGBOAT KEY 3BR/3.5BA • 2,639 SF • $1,575,000

BRUCE MYER GROUP

• OVER $110 MILLION PENDING AND SOLD - JUST IN 2024 • TOP 10 COLDWELL BANKER SALES ASSOCIATE - 2023 • TOP 1.5% OF ALL REALTORS IN THE NATION • TOP FLORIDA 100 REALTOR - COLDWELL BANKER

Learn more at www.BruceMyer.com

CHASE MYER (941) 315-5318

BRUCE MYER (941) 376-5311

595 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE 250 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228

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This material is based upon information that we consider to be reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such.

The offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes, including price, or withdrawal without notice.

20

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

YOUR CALENDAR

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Call for Take Out or FREE DELIVERY

Open Wednesday - Sunday • 11am - 11pm (closed Monday & Tuesday) 201 N. Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach 941-778-0771 Duette® Honeycomb Shades Operating System PowerView® Automation

SATURDAY SEPT. 21 AND SUNDAY SEPT. 22

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE CRAFT FESTIVAL 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle.

Free. For two days, festival-goers will enjoy works from crafters around Florida and the newest names in the contemporary craft scene. They will display unique jewelry, pottery, plant holders, soaps and more. An expansive green market will also be included to purchase plants such as orchids and food including dips and sauces. Call 561-746-6615.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21

MUSIC BY AKIEM ESDAILE 6-9 p.m. at Whitney’s, 6990 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Akiem Esdaile will bring you into a new generation of Jazz guitars. While at Whitney’s, enjoy the soothing sounds of Sarasota’s most refreshing jazz guitarist.

Call 383-4606.

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS

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.

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

4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

©2024 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

IS CONCIERGE MEDICINE RIGHT FOR YOU?

BEST BET

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.

TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

Courtesy image

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25

SOUND BATH 2-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Amy Steinhauser will lead a fully immersive experience using singing bowls, a gong, chimes and more. Suitable for all ages, her sound baths will relax you with healing frequencies that balance your body and mind. Space is limited, so advance registration is required. Members pay $25; nonmembers pay $40. Call 383-6493.

WEDNESDAYS

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

THURSDAYS

ZUMBA & TONING 9:45-10:30 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Taught

by Reena Malik, this class begins with 30 minutes of zumba and finishes with mat Pilates for flexibility and strengthening core muscles.

Come for 30 or 60 minutes. Free for members; $15 for nonmembers.

LONGBOAT LIBRARY From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday and Friday, 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 3832011.

Happy Fall, Ya’ll!

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

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

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

Dr. Arne

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www.lapenseeplumbing.com 941. 775.5622 • 401 Manatee Ave, Holmes Beach

PENDING

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

CHRIS WETZIG

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

ANGELA WETZIG

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

CHRISTOPHER WETZIG TEAM Your Longboat Key Real Estate Experts

2301 GULF OF MEXICO DR #33N ISLANDER CLUB LONGBOAT KEY $1,495,000

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LIC #CFC1429635 • CPC1459826 • CAC 18118472

1250 S Tamiami Trail, Suite 401, Sarasota, FL 34239

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

21

JEFF RHINELANDER 941-685-3590 | jef f@jef frhinelander.com

COURTNEY TARANTINO 941-893-7203 | cour tney.tarantino@floridamoves.com

410 MEADOW LARK DRIVE | $3,895,000

Welcome to waterfront living on one of the most desirable streets in the sought-after Bird Key neighborhood. Positioned towards the end of the cul-de-sac and featuring open water and canal homes on either side of the street. This well-maintained four-bedroom residence features an open-concept floor plan featuring well-defined areas for easy entertaining. The living and dining areas flow into a gourmet kitchen with views of the waterfront and pool, plus direct access to the lanai. Updated pool pavers, resurfaced pool, spa, and irrigation well. Features include updated pool pavers, resurfaced pool and spa, and a boat dock with electricity, water, sailboatdeep water, a 16,000 lb lift, and a floating dock. Experience the perfect location and waterfront living at its best!

CONTACT US TODAY FOR YOUR PRIVATE TOUR

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443F John Ringling Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34236

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

WILD FLORIDA

22

BRINGING OLD WORLD CHARM TO FLORIDA SHORES

DecEMBER 4th - 8th, 2024 Enjoy culinary delights, unique treasures, captivating performances, and festive music.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT europeanholidaymarket.com

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@europeanholidaymarket

A filtration system at work By removing impurities, filtration by wetlands improves downstream water quality.

MIRI HARDY CONTRIBUTOR

A

fter a short closure because of flooding associated with Hurricane Debby, Myakka River State Park reopened to the public.

As is typical during the rainy season, Myakka’s many wetlands continue to act as holding areas for large quantities of surface water. With countless wading birds and American alligators greatly enjoying their expanded wetland habitats, it’s an especially magical time to visit the park.

In addition to containing water and supporting biodiversity, wetlands provide another important function. By slowing down the flow of floodwaters, they filter out impurities.

Especially during heavy rain events, many pollutants, such as soil particles, fertilizers and pesticides, are washed from developed areas and carried overland in watersheds to water bodies. Importantly, floodwaters contained by wetlands get filtered as nutrients are stored and absorbed by plants or microorganisms, while sediment has time to settle. Wetlands are therefore often referred to as “nature’s kidneys.”

As part of the Myakka River watershed, Myakka’s wetlands hold back floodwaters, slowing the rate that water reenters the river channel, where it then flows into Charlotte Harbor. Without Myakka’s wetlands, large amounts of impurities would be released directly into the river.

Filtration services by Myakka’s wetlands therefore help keep Florida waters healthy for plants and wildlife, and fishable and swimmable for us.

Unfortunately, more than half of the original wetlands area in Florida

Regaining your quality of life begins when you CHOOSE exceptional results in rehabilitation.

For those recovering from a stroke, injury or illness, regaining your best quality of life begins with your ability to choose where your rehabilitation happens. For exceptional results, choose Encompass Health, the rehabilitation hospital referred by doctors and trusted by patients and their loved ones.

Miri Hardy

Wetlands provide essential wildlife habitat, buffers for excess rain and filter impurities that would otherwise degrade our waterways.

has been drained, dredged or filled for development. Like most Florida state parks, wetlands at Myakka were impaired prior to acquisition. Recognition of the value and importance of wetland ecosystems led to the creation of laws, regulations, and plans to restore and protect wetlands.

Indeed, at Myakka, maintaining wetlands health and restoring ones impacted by historic ditching is a priority.

There is a limit to how much can be added to a wetland before the natural plant and chemical filtration processes are overloaded and break down. To help protect our natural and human communities, we can avoid over-taxing our wetlands by limiting the use of pollutants (especially fertilizers and pesticides) in areas where they can potentially enter our waterways. We can support efforts to expand wetlands protections.

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.

Please join us at an upcoming

Community Education Program.

Learn from healthcare experts on a variety of topics, hosted by Encompass Health.

Community Cardiac Support Group Topic: Mental Health Post Cardiac Diagnosis & Procedure Thursday, October 3 | Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce 2702 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Lunch provided. RSVP to 941.376.2747

Community Stroke & Cardiac Support Group Thursday, October 17 | Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Fire Station 1, Meeting Room 112 Harbor Drive S., Venice Lunch provided. RSVP to 941.284.0074

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Talk to your medical professionals about choosing Encompass Health for rehabilitation.

encompasshealth.com/sarasotarehab

RSVP required. For more information on these programs and others, please scan the QR code or call 941.921.8600. ©2024:Encompass Health Corporation:Patient Choice ©2024:Encompass Health Corporation:PC

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

23

ARIA

ARIA 2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive #204 -LONGBOAT KEY | $7,999,000 This jaw-dropping Gulf-front corner residence, which feels like a home on the beach, offers 3 bedrooms plus an office (or 4 bedrooms) and 3.5 bathrooms in a lavish 4,032 sq. ft. space. Revel in your own 3,400 sq. ft. terrace featuring an infinity pool, fire pit, and summer kitchen, with private stairs leading straight to the beach. With a gourmet kitchen, social room, guest suite, fitness center, and a stunning 5-car garage, Aria delivers unparalleled luxury and on-site management.

Siesta Key 3500 Bayou Louise Lane - Siesta Key $10,500,000-Furnished

SA OP TU EN R H D O A U Y SE 14P M

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L’Ambiance

415 L’Ambiance Drive #A401 - $5,840,000 Experience luxury at L'Ambiance with this Southwest corner residence featuring a spacious wraparound terrace and stunning sunsets. Enjoy private elevator access, a custom-designed interior with new windows, kitchen, and baths. The Royal floorplan offers three bedrooms, all ensuite, a powder room, and a bonus room. Residents benefit from concierge service, a 24hour guard gate, an Olympic-sized pool, two tennis courts, a fitness center, game rooms, a library, a wine room, and guest suites. Small pets are welcome, and one underground parking lambianceA401.com spot is included. Residence F608 is available for assignment.

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

O SU PE N N D H A O Y U 1- SE 4P M

Location, Location, Location - Located on the northern tip of Siesta Key, this gated estate offers stunning Gulf, city, moonrise, and sunset views. Spanning 6,300 sq. ft., it features 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, a grand 40x20 pool and spa, and a 24K boat lift with a platform for kayaks or jet skis. The main level includes a luxurious primary suite with panoramic water views, a wood-paneled office with a fireplace, a great room with a fireplace, and a Clive Christian-inspired kitchen. The second level has 3 ensuite bedrooms, a 4-car garage, a gym, and a game room.

A nearby beach provides easy access to coastal living.

3500BayouLouise.com

Spacious 4 bedroom/3-bath home. Features a private pool, lush garden, and contemporary updates. Highlights include a modern kitchen, vaulted ceilings, and a versatile family room.

Beautiful pool with multiple outdoor seating areas.

A separate casita with private entrance adds extra comfort. Enjoy elegant outdoor spaces and a prime location near St. Armands Circle.

408JacsonDr.2seeit.com

1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive #105 - $2,575,000 Furnished

Lori Lawson A rare gem at The Water Club on South Longboat Key. 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2,585 sq ft. Nearly new with garden and partial Gulf views. Southern exposure, 10 ft ceilings, wood flooring, and expansive terraces. Well-managed community with clubhouse, Olympic-sized pool, tennis, and pet-friendly policies.

WaterClub105.com

JUDY

Lighthouse Point 65 Lighthouse Point | Longboat Key | $8,150,000

A gated enclave of 16 luxury homes on the southern tip of Longboat Key, luxury waterfront architectural. Modern 4 bed + den/office + bonus area, 4.5 bath, 4,941 sq ft. Stunning living room with fireplace, gourmet kitchen, and spacious family area opening to a pool with water views. 3car garage with ample storage and a private 40' dock on a wide protected basin with direct Gulf access. www.65Lighthouse.com

John Ringling Blvd, Suite F | St. Armands Circle, FL 34236 | Kepecz@JudyHays.com | www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com

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The Water Club

O SU PE N N D H A O Y U 1- SE 4P M

WE PAY PROFESSIONAL FEE ON OUR LISTINGS TO THE BUYERS AGENT

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Local, family owned roofing contractor specializing in METAL | SHINGLE | TILE

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PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

As a dedicated tennis player, Longboat resident Shawn Leven once said she would never play pickleball.

Her mind was changed two years ago when she moved to Longboat and noticed the sport’s rise in popularity and its social impact. Now, pickleball has become her favorite sport and a key to making friends wherever she goes.

Leven started Friends of Pickleball in March for the players at Bayfront Park on the island. Leven is pursuing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and said the group’s goal will be to improve courts and make pickleball more accessible on Longboat Key. What made you pick up a paddle?

I started playing tennis when I was young but sustained a shoulder injury. After my injury, I didn’t go back to tennis. I actually had triplets and spent the next 20 years going to their sports activities. My dad (Bradley Greenberg) started playing pickleball when the boys were 5 years old. He would always try to play me, but I was like, “Tennis is king.” So, I didn’t pay much attention to it. When I lived in Atlanta around two-and-a-half years ago, he finally convinced me to play, and since then, it expanded my social life.

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

What benefits do you get from playing pickleball?

The biggest benefit for me has been meeting people and developing friendships on and off the court. It’s like a pickup game of basketball. You don’t have to show up with a partner or at a designated time.

You literally show up with your paddle and you can join.

If you would like to make a recommendation for the Longboat Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Petra Rivera at PRivera@ YourObserver.com.

tal strength and confidence. I feed off positive enforcement from my partner, and I like to do the same for them. Keeping things energetically positive is the most important thing.

The energy with your partner brings home a win.

Who has most influenced your game?

The elders who play at Bayfront inspire and influence me the most.

I hope that at their age, I am physically and mentally able to play like them.

What is the funniest thing or most embarrassing moment you’ve had playing?

My partner, Sheila Loccisano, started disco hour. During open play, she will play the hippest disco music, and we just sing and dance while attempting to play. It just is just fun and helps us grow closer.

Why do you like playing pickleball?

In addition to making new friends, I can play with people of all ages, from 5 to 105. I love playing with my three sons. There isn’t another sport where I feel competitive with youngsters and then have people who are 80 kick my butt. It’s also designed with more equality between men’s and women’s skill levels in pickleball than you would (have) in other sports.

How competitive are you?

When I play socially, I have to tone down my natural competitive spirit, but we did form a team here at Bayfront Park.

That is where I can put on my game face, but I still try to be fair and friendly.

Name one thing you do that wins matches.

The most important thing for me is men-

Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, 2024

If you would like to learn more about our team please visit our website or: Join us at our office Mondays at 9:30am for an Outlook on the Market and latest thinking from the Morgan Stanley Global Investment Committee.

Please RSVP to Amanda Lewis by calling 941-364-3549 or email Amanda.R.Lewis@morganstanley.com.

Susan Tomlinson Wilson

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Family Wealth Advisor Alternative Investments Director Financial Advisor

Thomas Bardwell, CFP®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Senior Porfolio Management Director Family Wealth Advisor Financial Advisor

T. Michael Osterman

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Financial Planning Specialist Financial Advisor

2 North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236 Website: advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-cornerstone-capital-group

50% OFF STOREWIDE

Rylan K. Lanham

Financial Advisor Financial Planning Specialist

Susan A. Knight

Sr. Registered Associate Financial Planning Specialist

Adrienne Lambers

Sr. Registered Client Associate

Amanda Lewis

Client Service Associate

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

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.

CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. © 2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC6240443 3/24

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CERTAINTEED LANDMARK CHARCOAL BLACK

Shawn Leven

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 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

Over $150,000,000 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.

405 28TH STREET | ANNA MARIA ISLAND $3,550,000 – 3,735 Sq. Ft. 5 Beds 4 Baths Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

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

1160 CENTER PLACE | LIDO SHORES $5,499,000 – New Construction 4 Beds 5.5 Baths 4,000 Sq. Ft. Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

SIESTA KEY RECORD PRICE

109 WARBLER LN | BIRD KEY $11,750,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 5 Baths 5,292 Sq. Ft.

4136 HIGEL AVE | SIESTA KEY $16,995,000 – SOLD!!

5 Beds 7 Baths 8,964 Sq. Ft.

610 YARDARM LN | LONGBOAT KEY $4,699,000 – 1 House from the Bay 4 Beds 4 Baths 4,138 Sq. Ft.

5444 GULF OF MEXICO DR | LONGBOAT KEY $6,900,000.00 – Bayfront 1.06 Acres 5 Beds 5 Baths 6,000 Sq. Ft.

1212 CENTER PLACE | LIDO SHORES $6,995,000 – New Construction 5 Beds 6 Baths 4750 Sq. Ft.

5440-5442 GULF OF MEXICO DR | LONGBOAT KEY 6,900,000.00 – Vacant Land 2.08 Acres Proposed for 7 Buildable Lots

6489 GULFSIDE ROAD | LONGBOAT KEY $16,995,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 5 Baths 6,614 Sq. Ft.

2400 EZZELL CT | SARASOTA $949,000 – Downtown New Construction 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,532 Sq. Ft.

120 MAPLE AVENUE | ANNA MARIA $1,699,500 – West of Gulf Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,764 Sq. Ft.

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Steven Moore 401-767-7180

Contact: Janette Schafer 954-298-7791 John Schafer 954-298-6229

Contact: Nicholle DiPinto 941-928-2922

Contact: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

Contact: Janette Schafer 954-298-7791 John Schafer 954-298-6229

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.

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WWW.THEDIPINTOGROUP.COM | @THEDIPINTOGROUP

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

SARASOTA 3000 Southwest Drive 5 Beds 5/2 Baths 8,125 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4588632 $12,950,000

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

SARASOTA 540 N Tamiami Trail 1102 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,962 Sq. Ft. Janis Collier 941-313-1212 A4618548 $4,200,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3310 Sabal Cove Lane 4 Beds 4 Baths 4,465 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire 818-416-2505 A4620096 $3,000,000

SARASOTA 509 Golden Gate Point 2 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,439 Sq. Ft. Brittany Perrone 941-685-1598 A4598042 $2,995,000

SARASOTA 35 Watergate Drive 503 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,985 Sq. Ft. Joan Dickinson & Beth Afflebach 941-914-0496 A4601273 $2,975,000

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

SARASOTA 515 S Osprey Avenue 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 2,798 Sq. Ft. Linda Driggs 941-374-2920 A4613419 $2,499,000

SARASOTA 111 S Pineapple Avenue 614 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,065 Sq. Ft. Carol Aviles 941-356-6777 A4617240 $2,395,000

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

SARASOTA 1155 N Gulfstream Avenue 406 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,771 Sq. Ft. Andrea O'Brien 978-257-5176 A4605367 $2,100,000

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

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

SARASOTA 523 S Palm Avenue 7 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,919 Sq. Ft. Bibi-Ann Allard PA 941-685-0422 A4609920 $1,295,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4825 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 105 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,393 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4620656 $1,129,900

LIDO KEY 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive 607 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,421 Sq. Ft. Michael Yawitz 941-587-8091 A4590874 $1,040,000

SARASOTA 100 Central Avenue K622 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,707 Sq. Ft. Bibi-Ann Allard PA & Kelley Callaway 941-685-0422 A4617126 $975,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4350 Chatham Drive E307 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,072 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4613210 $749,000

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 225 Sands Point Road 6103 1 Bed 1 Baths 642 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy & Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4621529 $625,000

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 4310 Falmouth Drive A205 1 Bed 1 Baths 747 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4615749 $439,000

SARASOTA 1268 11th Street 2402 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,122 Sq. Ft. Michael Yawitz 941-587-8091 A4586457 $375,000

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 340 W Royal Flamingo Drive 4 Beds 6/1 Baths 6,067 Sq. Ft. Barbara May 404-822-9264 A4601285 $8,300,000

SARASOTA 605 S Gulfstream Avenue 6N 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,333 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4605840 $8,100,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

427589-1

26

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

SEPT. 2-6

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

REAL ESTATE

Park Residences condo of Lido tops sales at $2.85 million

27

A

condominium in Park Residences of Lido Key topped all transactions in this week’s real estate. Donald Black and Shari Knauer Black, of Sarasota, sold their Unit W302 condominium at 129 Taft Drive to Jeffrey Boyd and Sarah O’Brien, trustees, of Sarasota, for $2.85 million. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,265 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,599,000 in 2016.

Images courtesy of Dana Westmark

Donald Black and Shari Knauer Black, of Sarasota, sold their Unit W302 condominium at 129 Taft Drive to Jeffrey Boyd and Sarah O’Brien, trustees, of Sarasota, for $2.85 million.

PARK RESIDENCES OF LIDO KEY

Stenton Consulting LLC sold the Unit E205 condominium at 159 Taft Drive to Robert Hansen, of Sarasota, for $2,525,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,228 square feet of living area.

It sold for $1,487,700 in 2016.

their Unit 412 condominium at 5260 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Jahan and Avanya Manasseh, of Westminster, Massachusetts, for $630,000.

Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,453 square feet of living area. It sold for $228,800 in 1999.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

Christine Christian, of Bradenton, sold her home at 549 Halyard Lane to Brent and Monica Dunham, of Bradenton, for $2.05 million. Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,594 square feet of living area.

BANYAN BAY CLUB

Charles and Debra Sauers, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 112 condominium at 626 Spanish Drive S. to Cynthia Kaser, of Carmel, Indiana, for $352,800. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,399 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in June.

Michael and Dolores Convey, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, sold

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Sept. 6-12 in order of dollar amounts.

LONGBOAT KEY Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

415 L’Ambiance Drive #C603

Alt/Renovation

Anthony Gallo

$700,000

4525 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Re-roof

Castillian The

$329,935

Condominium Association

668 Halyard Lane

Dock/Seawall/Lift

David M. Farrell Trust

$312,963

6810 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Dock/Seawall/Lift

Porter Investment

$266,000

Holdings LLC

3584 Fair Oaks Lane

Stephen &

Alt/Renovation

$200,000

Annette Shores

786 Norton St.

Dock/Seawall/Lift

Gareth Parkin

$196,016

6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Alt/Renovation

Michael Foley

$150,300

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

Unit 302 1945 Gulf of Mexico Drive #210 Alt/Renovation

David Moelker (CO-TTEE) $140,980

708 Hideaway Bay Lane

Re-roof

Alan White

540 Harbor Cove Circle

Plumbing –

Dominic Zaccone (TTEE) $84,400

$94,000

New Construction 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Mechanical –

Longboat Island Chapel

$74,226

Timothy Horth

$52,366

Daniel Pavlovich

$50,000

1701 Gulf of Mexico Drive #309 Windows/Doors

Cynthia M. Milnes

$45,490

Revocable Trust

603 Longboat Club Road #204 Electrical –

Soshan LLC

$35,000

James Whitehurst

$29,000

Jeffrey Schneider

$26,000

Soshan LLC

$25,945

Linda Carlson

$24,405

Alt/Renovation 3060 Grand Bay Blvd. #1101

Mechanical – Alt/Renovation

7095 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Electrical –

Unit 21

Alt/Renovation

Alt/Renovation 435 L’Ambiance Drive #M908

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

Alt/Renovation 823 Bayport Way

Electrical – Alt/Renovation Alt/Renovation

1965 Gulf of Mexico Drive #302 Windows/Doors

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of November 2023

Source: Town of Longboat Key

427641-1

603 Longboat Club Road #204 Plumbing –

28

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo online at YourObserver.com/ ItsReadEverywhere. Stay tuned for this year’s prize, and happy travels!

BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!

AldermanOaks.com

Hudson Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236

432186-1

Located in a vibrant neighborhood near area attractions, beaches, theatres, entertainment, events, fine dining, and shopping.

Easy urban living with availability of furnished apartments, delicious meals, educational programs, housekeeping, along with Concierge Transportation and a Concierge Health & Wellness Program.

AL#8979

New Boats, Exhibits & More.

Tampa Bay's Largest Boat Show!

Presented by

FREE ADMISSION September 27th, 28th & 29th Fri., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Sat., 10 a.m. – 5p.m. • Sun., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Florida State Fairgrounds 4800 US-301, Tampa, FL 33610

IN THE FAST LANE WITH THE OBSERVER: Michael Barron with the Longboat Observer at the Indianapolis Airport.

www.tampabayboatshows.com

Island life begins here.

TURNING

Dreams

your

JUST LISTED - OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-4 PM

into an ADDRESS

1055 Gulf of Mexico Drive #504 2BD | 2BA | 1,503 SqFt Beachfront, Turnkey, Rentals in place

$1,595,000

SOLD 3310 Sabal Cove Ln. 4BR | 4BA | 4,465 SF A4620096 | $3,000,000 UNDER CONTRACT

JUST SOLD

1125 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #402 2143 Harbourside Drive 1201 3BR | 2BA | 2,224 SF A4592954 | $875,000

2BD | 2BA | 1,392 SqFt Completely Updated, New Impact Windows, Covered Parking $1,250,000

6485 Gulf of Mexico Drive 3BR | 3BA | 2,000 SF A4600758 | $3,500,000

1055 Gulf of Mexico Drive #605 2BD/2BA / 1,503 SqFt Penthouse level

1,790,000

$

Ready to Buy or SELL? Living and Working on Longboat Key REALTOR®, MBA 941.780.6001

julieklick@ michaelsaunders.com

Beverly St. Hilaire

REALTOR®, GRI, CLHMS 818.416.2505

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

beverlysthilaire@ michaelsaunders.com

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

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

428434-1

Julie Klick

Maggie Hicks, Coldwell Banker maggiehicks201@gmail.com 941.321.1759

431306-1

431464-1

0000278608-01

The expo halls and grounds are filled with boats and exhibits.

YourObserver.com

29

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, SEPT. 20

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

Sunrise Sunset

High: 88 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 45%

Thursday, Sept. 19

7:18a

7:30p

Friday, Sept. 20

7:18a

7:28p

Saturday, Sept. 21

7:19a

7:27p

Sunday, Sept. 22

7:19a

7:26p

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21

Monday, Sept. 23

7:20a

7:25p

High: 88 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 17%

Tuesday, Sept. 24

7:20a

7:24p

Wednesday, Sept. 25

7:21a

7:23p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 High: 90 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 31%

Sept. 24 Last

Oct. 2 New

Oct. 10 First

Oct. 17 Full

TIDES Highs Lows

Gary Wise took this photo of the sun setting off Longboat Key.

Thursday, Sept. 19

1:09a

1:56p

8:07a

8:27p

Friday, Sept. 20

1:31a

2:58p

9:00a

8:49p

Saturday, Sept. 21

1:58a

4:10p

9:56a

9:02p

Sunday, Sept. 22

2:31a

5:49p

10:57a

8:50p

Monday, Sept. 23

3:09a

—

—

12:08p

Tuesday, Sept. 24

3:57a

—

—

1:31p

Wednesday, Sept. 25

5:03a

—

—

3:00p

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

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

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

MIGRATION PATTERNS by Amick Klawitter, edited by Jeff Chen 127 Rear-___ (traffic mishap) honoree 65 “The Voice” network

129 Makeup of many Seurats 66 “Guh!”

DOWN 1 “Fame” singer Irene 2 Wide-eyed 3 Shoulder, as a burden 4 Most atypical 5 Taboos 6 EMT destinations 7 Brief status report 8 Window stick-on 9 Opening bars 10 Formed a union 11 Site with the Minotaur 12 RR stopover 13 Prepare to capture 14 Spa amenity 15 Is unsettled?

17 “Africa” band 18 Harbor vessel 19 Shut out, in sports slang 21 Former sporty Toyota 22 Letter on Los Angeles Angels caps 26 Jazz combo instrument 28 Accord creator 30 Director Spike ©2024 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Baja resort area, for short 5 Platform for Mario Bros.

8 Hockey pucks, e.g.

13 ___-Magnon 16 Like some wine and cheese 17 Actress Spelling 18 Lodger 19 Slothlike

35 Soft moccasin material

72 Benicio ___ Toro

sins

37 Cousin of a puffin

73 Sights along a marina

105 Showy NBA play ending

38 Crunch’s title on a box

76 Carnation container

in a dunk

41 Goes against

79 Great divide

108 Creature clucking about

44 Collar

82 Ward off

not being in today’s theme

46 Snowy race route

86 Olympic and WWE wres-

(it doesn’t contain an R, O, A

50 Churn up

tler Angle

or D, though)

51 Rolling in the dough

87 Rock blasters?

111 Staff symbol

52 Home to about one

88 Manhattan locale syn-

113 Featured musician

percent of Yellowstone

onymous with advertising

115 Surgical asst.

91 “No more, pls!”

119 Granola grains

92 Pampered

120 Conservation construc-

58 Set off

96 Instagram’s parent

tion seen six times in this

60 Spot for withdrawals

company

puzzle

(Abbr.)

97 Recipe amt.

122 Reddit Q&A sessions

62 Grilled, on a taco truck

98 How a speeder might be

123 Like some single-person

menu

caught

shows

64 Does some serious job

100 Building manager,

124 Blueprint deet

searching

slangily

125 Vaping device

71 Big shot

103 One of the seven deadly 126 Chop (off)

20 Summer traffic headache 53 TV’s Pyle from Mayberry 57 Part of SRO 23 Lakers legend Bryant 24 Go along with 25 Letter signoff 26 Lineup at a school 27 Moved irregularly, as water in a pail 29 Daily Planet journalist 31 Italian vino hub 33 October birthstone

31 Tax-time worry 32 Winter headgear 34 Mauna ___ 36 Ace 37 Snooty affectations 39 Cards on scoreboards 40 Group of porpoises 42 One who wants it all 43 Middle East grp.

45 Journalist Nellie 47 Seats for Targaryens and Lannisters 48 Not this 49 Type of IRA 50 “The Lost Colony” 54 NBA’s Doncic or Irving 55 Linguistic suffix 56 Hit hard 59 Dolphins QB Tagovailoa 61 Rx 63 Coming-out party

67 Agcy. assisting entrepreneurs 68 Mani-___ (salon treatment) 69 Brewery products

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“CKJ’I TKZJI KSI EKSG NVLBM, XDFLSMD IOD BKGVC ZM JKI LM MEYTLIODIZF LJC JSGISGZJP LM EKS IOZJH.” WDJJZNDG IZVVE

70 Insults 74 Have absolute faith in 75 Bit on a Fitbit 76 Distiller’s tank 77 Paintballer’s stockpile 78 Rob Reiner’s mock rockers 80 T-shirt size letters

“BMUI J VFMU, NGNC ML SPF’EN IJGMCH J CNEGPFV YENJXOPBC, SPF VUMAA APPX AMXN SPF’EN MC KIJEHN.” OMENKUPE WJFA LNMH

81 Novelist Rita ___ Brown 83 Marisa of “She Came to Me” 84 WSW’s opposite 85 Double-crosser 89 Dentist’s degree (Abbr.)

90 Ritchie of “La Bamba” 92 Chunk detached from an iceberg 93 Dedicated poem

“DY’M NIPF DAHJPYLWY YJ HPDJPDYDBI. D GWJX, UJP AI, AF ULADKF OJAIM UDPMY. YZLY ALGIM INIPF CIODMDJW NIPF ILMF.”

94 Econo Lodge alternative 95 Made use of a bib 99 Like non-oyster months, traditionally 101 Bay Area medical sch.

102 Acidity assessor 104 Still in the box 106 Pre-makeover persona

RLCL HDWGIYY MADYZ

Puzzle Three Clue: K equals B

128 Attempt

celebrity cipher

Puzzle Two Clue: Y equals B

crossword

Come Shop our Showrooms!

Puzzle One Clue: Y equals M

426191-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2024 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

107 Word with “ice cap” or “vortex” 109 Harrison nicknamed “Big Hoss” on “Pawn Stars” 110 Keaton’s role in “The Founder” 111 Soccer announcer’s prolonged cry 112 Military pattern 114 “There’s no ___ team!”

116 Puerto ___ 117 Grumpy mood 118 Ingredients dropped into some Chinese soups 120 Sad state 121 EMT’s skill

©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

9-19-24

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

RED PAGES 5 ACRES Lake Barn Near Fruitville I-75 Call for Price

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

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

Autos Wanted

Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week

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

Free House Calls.

Discrete/ Confidential. Call David 813-439-2694

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

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

jobs Help Wanted PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Busy Professional family on LBK needs reliable administrative assistant. Key requirements are proficient computer skills and ability to operate Microsoft Office suite, QuickBooks/ Quicken; excellent organization skills, ability to prioritize, work independently, strong attention to detail.

One-three years relevant experience. Work structure is 3 days a week (6-7 hours a day), hybrid approach remote/ in office is possible.

Contact e-mail for applicants: baldwinhill16@gmail.com

Bradenton: Pool Home, New windows, hvac, Completely Updated $689,900

real estate

Vamo Area: 2 Bed/2Bath.

1 Car-Gar block house. $350,000 Brooke O’Malley | Club Realty Call 941-726-2677

LOOKING FOR an off-market waterfront property in either Siesta Key, Casey Key or Longboat Key. Distressed property is ok. I’m a cash buyer and can close quickly. Call Jeff at 941-202-6957.

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

Call 941-383-3338.

2/2 Gulf View unit available to rent for the 2025 season.

Amenities include private beach access, rooftop deck, heated pool, clubhouse, fitness center, and kayaking.

(941) 545-8077

SELL YOUR STUFF FAST! PRIME LOCATION!! **SPACIOUS 4BR, 3BA, 1500 SF HOME WITH POOL**

GARAGE SALE Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

SELL IT FAST!

CALL 941-955-4888

Place Your Ad Online

YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com/RedPages

SEASONAL RATES Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Real Estate Wanted

SEASONAL RENTAL BEACH HARBOR CLUB, LONGBOAT KEY

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

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

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE!

Homes for Rent

PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com Online: YourObserver.com /RedPages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Venice: 2/2 Condo Plantation Golf Club. Call for Price

WEEKLY MONTHLY

Adult Care Services EXCELLENT CAREGIVERS and CNAs, Personal Care, Companions, Meal Prep.

Housekeeping, Incontinence Care from 5 to 24 Hours a day 24/7 (941) 447-4255 www.perfectsolutionsforseniors. com

Use the

RED PAGES to clean out your garage

CALL 941-955-4888 Auto Transport SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States.

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

This week’s Crossword answers

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

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

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

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC INTERIOR / EXTERIOR / CABINETS WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Don’t point out your flaws, because the world is not as sympathetic and nurturing as you think.”

Jennifer Tilly Puzzle Two Solution: “With a suit, even if you’re having a nervous breakdown, you still look like you’re in charge.”

Director Paul Feig Puzzle Three Solution: “It’s very important to prioritize. I know, for me, my family comes first. That makes every decision very easy.”

Jada Pinkett Smith

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2024 Universal Uclick

Merchandise Wanted

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN

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

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

Sarasota: Pool home, 4 bed. $649,900

Gulf Beachfront Home coming soon: 6.9 million

peekers’ place

stuff Items Under $200

RED PAGES AD RATES

Sarasota: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car Garage House $359,000

Longboat Key: 4 pools, beach access. $465,000

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

Bradenton: Condo, 2 bed, 2 bath$229,900 Pet friendly 55+

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

©2024 NEA, Inc.

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

Paint the town RED!

Homes for Sale

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Alterations/Upholstery

General Contractors

Nora’s Fabrics

Full Service General Contractor

CARING HANDS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME.

All Industrial/Commercial Projects Residential Jobs Over $50,000.

SPECIALTIES:

FloridaPermitExpert.com - 689.286.1509

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

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

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CALL 941-955-4888

Interior / Exterior / Cabinets.

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

Handyman

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

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772 KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

AY WE P

3IS% TO SION

L COMM SSIONA E F PRO ROKERS CO-B

6603 GULFSIDE ROAD - DIRECT GULF FRONT Introducing a rare gem of contemporary luxury on Longboat Key: a brand-new, direct Gulf-front masterpiece crafted by Vertical Design Build to the most exacting standards. Still in the early stages, there is time to make your personal selections!

Set on over a quarter-acre of lush beachfront property, this architectural marvel offers an unparalleled coastal living experience. Designed to showcase the breathtaking vistas of the Gulf of Mexico, every aspect of this home has been meticulously planned and executed to perfection. Each room is designed with comfort and relaxation in mind, offering ample space and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The ground floor is an outdoor oasis featuring resort-style amenities to enjoy.

$15,000,000 • 4,925 square feet heated • 5 bedrooms . 51/2 bathrooms • Walker Zanger porcelain tile flooring, chef’s kitchen, 3-stop elevator, walls of glass open to balconies on each floor • 3-car garage • Walk out to Gulf shores in your backyard!

• www.6603GulfsideRoad.com

TO

$4,495,000

4317 MARINA VIEW WAY

4207 MARINA VIEW WAY

$1,950,000

This turnkey furnished, 3BR waterfront residence is the pinnacle of coastal living that offers both luxury and sustainability just a short walk from the beaches of Anna Maria Island. Includes dock and lift! www.4207MarinaView.com B U YE R’ S

B U YE R’ S

$1,695,000

Nestled within a secure gated community, this brandnew 3BR home graces Florida’s enchanting southwest Gulf coast. Hunters Point, where contemporary coastal living blends effortlessly with luxury and sustainability. www.HuntersPointFL.com

$2,295,000

This exceptional Antigua residence at Grand Bay, percher in an ideal corner spot of Building 3. Spanning nearly 3,000 SF, this 4th-floor residence welcomes you with sunny bay, golf course, marina, and downtown views. www.GrandBay346.com

TO

$2,100,000

Elevate your coastal lifestyle with this completely updated beach residence at Sea Gate Club. Perfectly positioned to offer direct views of stunning Gulf waves, this nearly 1,500 SF retreat is move-in ready and furnished. www.SeaGate3B.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

2425 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #3B

3030 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #346

B U YE R’ S

Discover the luxury of new construction just a short sunny walk from St. Armands! This brand-new 4BR, 3,400 SF custom Walsh Design and Build residence is waiting for you to make your own personal selections. www.201NorthWashington.com B U YE R’ S

$2,195,000

Perched on the 8th floor in a tranquil corner location, this sun-drenched Sanctuary residence offers panoramic views of Sarasota Bay and downtown’s skyline through newly installed (2023) impact glass sliders and windows. www.545SanctuaryB806.com

4305 MARINA VIEW WAY

201 NORTH WASHINGTON DRIVE

TO

B U YE R’ S TO

545 SANCTUARY DRIVE #B806

B U YE R’ S

B U YE R’ S

$4,295,000

This 2024-built, impeccably designed 5BR home showcases an array of special upgrades that highlight its sleek interior and private pool courtyard. Gulf beach access is within walking distance. www.2945PyrulaDrive.com

TO

2945 PYRULA DRIVE

TO

TO

B U YE R’ S

WE HAVE MORE THAN $200 MILLION SOLD AND PENDING IN 2024

TO

$1,495,000

Introducing the new construction, waterfont community of Hunters Point, where contemporary coastal living blends effortlessly with luxury and sustainability. Includes boat dock. www.HuntersPointFL.com

2374 ARLINGTON STREET

$699,000

This charmingly updated 3BR home nestled in the heart of Sarasota’s desirable Arlington Park, is a wonderful blend of comfort and prime location. Move-in ready and minutes from parks, downtown, and beaches. www.2374ArlingtonStreet.com

CA L L TO DAY FO R YO U R EXC LU S I VE TO U R ( 9 41 ) 3 8 7-1 8 4 0 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F, Sarasota, FL 34236 | Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 417327-1

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