Longboat Observer 10.24.24

LONGBOAT

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

Healing Longboat

PAGE 4B

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

VOLUME 47, NO. 10

YOUR TOWN

Utilities time line uncertain FPL will likely have to push back completion date for town’s project. SEE PAGE 5A

Courtesy image

Food drive at Christ Church On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Christ Church of Longboat Key will host a food drive to benefit Our Daily Bread of Bradenton, which provides assistance for people in need after the recent hurricanes.

Our Daily Bread of Bradenton serves people in Manatee County by serving daily meals and providing a food pantry. All donations collected by Christ Church will be supplied to the organization.

Possible food donation items include canned tuna, dry pasta, peanut butter, jelly and canned vegetables. Other items, such as diapers, toilet paper and other toiletry items, are also in high demand.

From 9-10:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, donations can be dropped off in the parking lot of Christ Church (6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive).

DISTINCT PERSONALITIES

Local expert explains differences in area impact from Debby, Helene and Milton. SEE PAGE 3A

Image courtesy of Matthew Ballew

A drone picture shows the state of Gulf of Mexico Drive two days after Hurricane Helene.

File photo

Bicyclists asked to avoid GMD

A+E

The town of Longboat Key asked the cycling community to avoid Gulf of Mexico Drive and other bike paths until further notice.

According to an email sent

by Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips on Oct. 22, the town is increasing debris collection services on the island with more than 40 trucks operating along GMD. Additionally, piles of sand and storm debris may present dangerous conditions on the island’s bike paths. Phillips said there is also the potential of underlying road damage masked by overwashed sand. $1.00 Courtesy image

Michael Garey and Bob Fracalossy

‘PEOPLE’S NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT’ Lazy Lobster celebrates 15 years on Longboat Key. PAGE 1B

Crafting dance PAGE 13A

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

WEEK OF OCT. 24, 2024

St. Regis open, with limited discounts

“Hurricanes we used to have are not like the ones we’re having today. They’re a different breed, and they’re much more dangerous.”

Climate Adaptation Center Founder Bob Bunting on the area’s recent hurricanes. Read more on page 3A

BY THE NUMBERS 3

The number of hurricanes that affected Longboat Key this hurricane season.

PAGE 3A

2

The number of phases left to complete for the town’s underground utilities project.

PAGE 5A

15 YEARS

The anniversary Lazy Lobster celebrates on Longboat Key this year.

PAGE 1B

CALENDAR

n Investment Advisory/ Finance Committee Meeting — Friday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m., 501 Bay Isles Road n Town Commission Regular Meeting — Monday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m., 501 Bay Isles Road n Town Commission

Regular Workshop — Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m., 501 Bay Isles Road

Carter Weinhofer

The sign at The Centre Shops leaned from Hurricane Milton’s winds.

Mobile assistance center coming to LBK this week

S

tarting Friday, Oct. 25, the Florida Small Business Development Center Network from University of South Florida will be available to help Longboat Key residents and business owners.

Representatives from the center will be available to help business owners apply for several disaster loans, which help provide assistance during times

of physical and revenue losses.

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan can provide $50,000 or $100,000 for small and agricultural business to assist with physical and revenue losses.

The U.S. SBA Business Physical Loan could be awarded for up to $2 million and cover physical losses.

Lastly, the U.S. SBA Economic

Inquiry Disaster Loan can also be awarded for up to $2 million and cover revenue losses.

For more information about the loans and the SBDC, visit SBDCTampaBay.com.

The mobile assistance center will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 25-31. It will be stationed at The Centre Shops of Longboat Key (5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive).

According to an Oct. 18 release from Magrino PR, hired by the St. Regis Longboat Key, the resort is now open after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is now open following minimal impact from Hurricane Milton. Our dedicated team is actively restoring the landscaping to its original splendor, and we are excited to welcome the community back,” the release said. “We appreciate everyone’s understanding during our closure and look forward to providing exceptional dining experiences and vibrant events. Together, we celebrate resilience and the spirit of our community.”

The resort, which held an unveiling ceremony on Aug. 16, was open for a little more than a month before Hurricane Helene caused the resort to pause operations. Then, a week later, Hurricane Milton hit the island as the resort was working on restoring landscaping on the property.

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce also shared that the resort is offering a special discount for residents of Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

The discount is valid from Oct. 14 to Nov. 2 and includes 20% off best available rates and a waived resort fee.

To book this discount, contact the St. Regis Longboat Key at 941-2311000 ext. 6142 and mention the resident’s rate during booking.

Correction

In the story, “Lido, St. Armands suffer less damage than Siesta,” (Oct. 17 edition) the Observer incorrectly identified a Lido Key resident as Mike Regnier. The correct identification should have been William J. Quinn, former fire chief for the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority.

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TABS

W HAT ’S HAPPENING

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Just off the Legacy Trail north of Bahia Vista Street, the entire neighborhood was flooded from rain from Hurricane Debby.

Beachfront houses along Gulfside Road were among the worst damaged in Hurricane Helene.

Photos by Kat Wingert and Carter Weinhofer

A partially dilapidated home in the Twin Shores community on Longboat Key after Hurricane Milton.

HURRICANES DEBBY, HELENE AND MILTON

THREE STRIKES BUT NOT OUT

HURRICANE DAMAGE

BY THE NUMBERS

personality, and with each Sarasota County took different one of them lessons to learn,” Bunsaid. on Debby, Helene and tingWhen looking at this hurricane Milton but recovering. season as a whole, not just the past

O

ne flooded entire neighborhoods. Another moved piles of debris and trees and caused tornadoes across Florida. A third, though recently out of the spotlight, produced record rainfall.

Recently, Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Suncoast in two different ways, in a matter of two weeks.

Many areas around Longboat Key, Sarasota and Manatee counties are still recovering from what officials have called historic storms.

For Climate Adaptation Center founder Bob Bunting, walking around Longboat Key after Hurricane Milton was personal. Bunting lived on the island for years before moving to Sarasota while focusing on the CAC. “It’s so devastating to see it,” Bunting said while talking about seeing his former neighborhood on the north end of the island.

Bunting and his staff at the CAC have decades of experience in storm forecasting, and the combined experience is “second to none,” he said.

According to him, the CAC predicted that the eye of Hurricane Milton would traverse through Sarasota before any other forecasters.

This would later become a reality as Hurricane Milton’s winds caused massive damage to vegetation and structures.

Using his experience and knowledge of the area, Bunting dissected how the hurricanes differ, and how their intensity signifies the impacts of climate change.

STORM PERSONALITIES

Bunting said hurricanes are like people. Every person is a person, but everyone is unique, just like hurricanes.

“Each one of these storms had a

SEE HURRICANES PAGE 4A

2024 CLIMATE CONFERENCE The Climate Adaptation Center is hosting its annual Florida Climate Conference, with this year’s theme called “Climate and Human Health.”

The two-day conference at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will feature expert speakers talking about climate change’s impacts on human health.

The conference will be held Nov. 14-15 at the Selby Auditorium on the USF campus. For more information about the conference or to buy tickets, visit the CAC website at TheClimateAdaptationCenter.org.

“Each one of these storms had a different personality, and with each one of them lessons to learn.”

Climate Adaptation Center (CAC) founder Bob Bunting

HURRICANE MILTON

STAFF WRITER

On Longboat Key, here are the damage estimates to structures as of Oct. 21

HURRICANE HELENE

CARTER WEINHOFER

month, the Atlantic hurricane season was active starting with Hurricane Debby. From Hurricane Debby to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Bunting said this season presented a “hat trick” of hurricanes.

In terms of the projected outcome and strength, each one was worse than the one before it, according to Bunting.

First was Hurricane Debby, which made landfall in the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane on Aug. 1. When it swept past the Sarasota area, it was a tropical storm. Still, it brought up to 18 inches of rain within three days.

This excessive rainfall caused stormwater and wastewater systems to become overwhelmed, leading to overflows into local bodies of water.

Areas like St. Armands Circle, low areas of Longboat Key and some parts of Sarasota also experienced flooding.

Hurricane Debby’s personality is classified as a huge rain event, Bunting said.

Then came Hurricane Helene, which made landfall, again in the Big Bend, as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26. As it passed Longboat Key, the storm was 130 miles away and intensifying.

Though Longboat Key didn’t suffer from a direct hit, the island experienced catastrophic impacts from the hurricane’s storm surge.

According to the latest estimates, Town Manager Howard Tipton said Longboat Key likely saw between five-and-a-half and six feet of storm surge from Hurricane Helene.

The result was flooded homes, some beachfront properties completely destroyed and sand that covered Gulf of Mexico Drive after the water receded back to the Gulf and bay.

Hurricane Helene’s personality would be classified as a storm surge threat, and Bunting said this storm

$14 $176 MILLION IN DAMAGES MILLION IN DAMAGES

2,200

STRUCTURES (ABOUT 20% OF TOWN PROPERTIES)

158

STRUCTURES

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HURRICANES FROM PAGE 3A

shows the impact major hurricanes can have from far away.

“They don’t even have to strike directly to cause havoc,” Bunting said. “They can be 100 miles away.”

Most recently, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on Oct. 9. This storm was a major wind event, Bunting said.

When officials were looking at Hurricane Milton’s track the days leading up to landfall, it seemed to be a Category 4 or 5 hurricane heading for Longboat Key. Storm surge projections estimated that Longboat Key would have faced up to 15 feet of surge, which Tipton said would have been “starting over territory.”

The wind from Milton reached 100 mph gusts on the island, according to Tipton, and also caused tornadoes across the state.

On the island, the gusts mean more vegetative debris and structural damage on top of what was left after Hurricane Helene. It was “insult to injury,” as Tipton described it at an Oct. 21 commission workshop.

Aside from its wind personality, Bunting said the intensity and speed of this hurricane set it apart from the others this season.

For one, Milton went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in 30 hours, according to Bunting, which he said was the fastest-growing storm in Atlantic hurricane history. The hurricane ended up losing strength as it approached land and fell to a Category 3 storm.

Still, it was what Tipton described as the “poster child” of rapid intensification.

Hurricane Milton also had an unusual track, Bunting said, since it formed in the Gulf of Mexico and had almost a straight path directly east. Most hurricanes don’t follow as straight of a path as Milton did, Bunting said.

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SIGNATURES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

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All three of the hurricanes of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season impacted the Suncoast in its own way, but the fact that three hurricanes happened this season — and intensified in these ways — holds broader lessons to be learned.

“The signature of climate warm-

ing is all over them,” Bunting said.

“They’re pulling in from an atmosphere that’s much warmer.”

According to some estimates by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth’s global temperature has risen about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid1800s. Warmer atmospheric temperatures also lead to warmer ocean temperatures, both of which are catalysts for stronger and more rapidly intensifying storms, Bunting said.

Recent storms have been much stronger than what Bunting remembers seeing while growing up.

“Hurricanes we used to have are not like the ones we’re having today.

They’re a different breed, and they’re much more dangerous. They’re more frequent and larger, in general. Slower moving, too,” he said.

While the area recovers from the damage dealt by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Bunting said this is also an opportunity to learn from the recent weather patterns.

“We got to sit back now and evaluate what the last five years have looked like around here and then, finally open our brains to the fact that climate has changed and it requires a different response than the one we had in the 1980s or ’90s,” Bunting said.

Part of that evaluation is how to rebuild after storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton destroyed some low-lying properties.

“It doesn’t mean we have to give up. What it means is we have to change the way we do business,” Bunting said.

To Bunting, it’s not so much the fact that people rebuild as it is the method by which people rebuild.

This means modernizing building codes to build more resilient buildings and prepare for more frequent and intense storms, according to him.

People of the Sarasota area can still enjoy living here, Bunting said, but he believes public policy and infrastructure need to respond accordingly.

“There’s no point in rebuilding the past because we’ve learned some hard lessons here,” Bunting said. “If we learn it now, it’s going to save untold money and grief in people’s lives as we go into the future.”

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

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Undergrounding uncertain again After two hurricanes, FPL needs to push its time line for the utility into 2025.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

B

efore Hurricane Helene, the town of Longboat Key’s underground utilities project was on track to be finished by the end of the calendar year.

Now, the time line is back in question.

Florida Power & Light and its certified contractors had to respond to emergencies as a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which diverted their resources elsewhere.

Director of Public Works Isaac Brownman shared this update with town commissioners at the Oct. 21 regular commission workshop.

As of that day, Brownman had not heard back from FPL or Wilco about a revised schedule.

“We’re trying to get that information from (FPL) and to get Wilco to revise their schedule and give us something aggressive, yet reasonable, that we can now call our amended master schedule,” Brownman said.

Although Brownman could not provide any further updates from FPL, he did share good news that the new underground system seemed to work during both hurricanes.

Longboat Key did experience power outages during both Hurricane Helene and Milton, however, Brownman said both of those widespread outages were due to issues with FPL’s system off the island.

These problems were with substations and subaqueous power lines that, once FPL corrected, allowed Longboat Key’s power to return relatively quickly.

“Once they got that fixed, a lot of the island came right on, especially after Milton, which was quite impressive,” Brownman said.

If the town still operated mainly

on power lines, the wind from Hurricane Milton could have left the island without power for much longer, according to Brownman, which is a testament to the efficacy of the project.

In the Sleepy Lagoon area, one of the island’s lowest neighborhoods, Brownman said there was saltwater and wrack lines on top of underground transformers and the transformers were still operational once the power was turned back on.

Brownman said he was pleased with this news, especially after experiencing the opposite during Hurricane Idalia, when about 20 new underground transformers failed because of saltwater intrusion.

Now, though, the project time line remains uncertain because FPL’s assigned project engineer was reassigned due to the storms. Other FPL contractors, like Wilco, are also assigned to assist in emergency situations.

Luckily, Brownman said, FPL assigned Wilco to Longboat Key and the surrounding area since the contractor knew the system well.

For now, Brownman said the town must wait until FPL is able to get back onto the project site and reevaluate the time line. As soon as Brownman has those updated time lines, he said he would share those with the commissioners.

WHERE DOES THE PROJECT STAND?

Before Hurricane Helene, Brownman received an update from FPL that showed the project had been on target to meet the original deadline.

This commitment was to complete switching to the underground system by the end of October and to complete the overhead pole wreckout by the end of 2024.

Phases 1 and 2 are fully complete.

Phase 1 extends from the New Pass Bridge to the north end of Country Club shores, and Phase 2 covers from the Longboat Pass Bridge to Dream Island Road.

Phase 3, which covers from the

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Although Brownman could not provide any further updates from FPL, he did share the good news that the new underground system seemed to work during both hurricanes. north end of Country Club shores to the county line, was close to completion as of FPL’s last update. All transformers were energized and service conversions were completed. Only two switching orders remain.

Lastly, Phase 4 extends from the county line to Dream Island Road in the middle of the island. As of the last FPL update, 95% of transformers were energized, 19% of service conversions were completed and 53% of stitching orders were completed.

The underground utilities project has been an ongoing project for the

town for about 10 years now, which started with referendums in which town residents voted to approve the town’s option to borrow the $25.25 million for the Gulf of Mexico Drive portion of the project, and up to $23.85 for the neighborhoods’ portion of the project.

Then, active construction began in July 2019. From 2019 to now, complications like easement acquisition and supply chain issues led to further delays.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Souls on the streets While cleaning up after Helene, Buttonwood Harbour residents discussed throwing out sentimental belongings, furniture and needing major repairs.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

I

t was one of the worst moments of her life.

When BJ Bishop and her husband, Dave, returned to their home on Buttonwood Drive after Hurricane Helene had passed, Bishop said she broke down. After Dave Bishop heard her scream when entering the house, he rushed to her.

“I haven’t sobbed that hard or that much since my late husband died,” Bishop said.

The force of the water threw furniture around the house. Water dam-

age showed that three to five feet had infiltrated their home.

Almost everything was ruined — clothes, photos, appliances and wooden furniture. Some things held special memories for BJ Bishop, having been owned by her late husband or a part of her family for years.

Walking around to her neighbors, BJ Bishop highlighted how tight-knit the community was. Some neighbors stayed, but most retreated before Hurricane Helene’s arrival.

Throughout the storm, and after, neighbors continued checking in on one another and swapping stories.

Nearly all said the same: This storm was unprecedented, and the amount of water was devastating.

NOTHING LIKE THIS ONE

Water was the major cause of damage from Hurricane Helene. Storm surge from the storm began on Sept. 26 as it passed Longboat Key and went north toward Florida’s Big Bend region.

Residents in Longboat Key’s lowest-lying areas were impacted by the worst of the surge, and Bishop said she estimated Hurricane Helene brought between three and five feet of water into her family’s home.

Many homes on Buttonwood Drive are directly on the canal, while others are only one lot away from it. Bishop’s home on the end of the street also faces water coming from the side where the canal curves and ends.

The Bishops lived in their Buttonwood home for 11 years almost to the day when Hurricane Helene’s impacts flooded Longboat Key.

Photos by Carter Weinhofer

Ripped-up drywall in Carolyn Wedekind’s house shows how high the water rose during Hurricane Helene’s storm surge.

Buttonwood Harbour, one of the island’s lowest-lying areas, had debris stacked along the road after Hurricane Helene.

Dave, though, has lived in the area for about 40 years, and BJ has lived on the island for 22 years.

“There’s never been anything that I’ve seen like this,” BJ said.

A couple of houses down from Bishops are Luis and Christine Ortiz, also long-time Longboat Key residents. The couple have been living on Buttonwood Drive since 1993 and started a landscaping business together in 1995 that serves many Longboat Key residents.

“We’ve been here for a very long time and have never seen anything like it,” Luis Ortiz said.

Luis and Christine stayed for Hurricane Helene. They said they have a family “policy” to leave if the storm will be a Category 3 or above.

But on the day Longboat Key saw Hurricane Helene’s impacts, they said the severity of the storm took them by surprise. They didn’t expect to have two to three feet of water in the house.

When the water started approaching the house around 5 p.m. that day, Luis said they frantically started moving items from off the ground, trying to save personal belongings.

Outside, their vehicles were stuck.

The Ortiz family lost two cars, a van and a dump truck they used for their

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landscaping business, all of which were ruined by too much water intrusion.

PERSONAL LOSSES

Carolyn Wedekind, another Buttonwood Drive neighbor, is a part-time resident. She was on a cycling trip in Prince Edward Island when she heard that her neighborhood was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene.

She said she quickly finished the tour, arrived at her home in Wisconsin and scrambled in a day to fly down to see her Longboat Key house.

What she saw was much like Bishop’s experience — furniture strewn across the house, and personal effects ruined. Many cabinets and drawers were still filled with water when she opened them, she said.

“It’s just incredible the force of the water,” Wedekind said, explaining water moved some items to the opposite side of the house.

The water also rose about 3 feet in her garage, which ruined the car she had stored there. At the house, not much was salvageable. What she could save, she packed in boxes and the back of a U-Haul.

The rest, though, was piled up on the side of the street. Wedekind spoke about how emotional it was for

her and her neighbors to throw away belongings.

“You’re seeing people’s lives on the streets,” Wedekind said. “Everything has a story.”

When Luis Ortiz shared his family’s story, he said the same.

“It’s like your soul is being taken out,” Ortiz said.

MOVING FORWARD (NOT AWAY)

BJ Bishop, also one of the town’s AtLarge Commissioners, isn’t planning on letting Hurricanes Helene and Milton deter her from living on the island. Hurricane Milton brought another foot of water into her home, and the wind placed two trees on top of her home. Still, she said they plan to renovate the house.

In the middle of recuperating from the hurricanes, Bishop also started her paperwork for running for reelection on the spring ballot.

“I kind of feel like an obligation,” Bishop said.

While other commissioners also suffered damage during the storms, Bishop said she was the only one who lost everything in the house. This may help her bring a unique perspective to the commission as the town deals with a long recovery phase, she said.

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BRADENTON BEACH 210 66th Street Holly Switow

4515 Terrazza Court Donna Soda

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10803 Bullrush Terrace Joe Harris & Charles Totonis

$1,150,000 770.595.8139

BRADENTON BEACH 212 66th Street Holly Switow

RENAISSANCE $765,000 941.539.0974

750 North Tamiami Trail #416 Moriah Taliaferro & Valerie Green

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1350 MAIN RESIDENTIAL

LAKEWOOD RANCH

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7018 Honeysuckle Trail Nathan Mathers

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BRADENTON $739,000 941.544.2608

10520 Boardwalk Loop #605 Gloria Bracciano

WINDWARD BAY $550,000 941.465.1124

4540 Gulf of Mexico Drive #201 Judy Mitchell

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Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Sarasota City Commission post-mortems on the storms.

Instead, when you assess the past as part of the referendum on the candidates, three issues should be top of mind: the local economy, public safety and quality of life.

LOCAL ECONOMY

MATT WALSH

T

he finish line is in sight. Yay. Election years can get to you. They’re exasperating and, most certainly, mentally exhausting.

That is, if you’re paying attention to the candidates and their pandering. And if you are and haven’t mailed in your ballot or gone to your early voting poll over the past few days, time is waning. You still can get focused and informed on the candidates and their positions on issues and on the meaning of and potential ramifications of Florida’s six constitutional amendments and the local ballot issues.

The Observer has tried to assist voters over the past two months.

The box below contains all of our recommendations and links to our elections coverage and editorials on YourObserver.com.

This week, in our final installment of recommendations, we are focusing on the three Sarasota City Commission races.

While Longboat Key residents have no say in the voting for Sarasota City Commission seats, the business and governance of the city is crucial to Longboat Key. So much of what happens in the city spills over and affects Longboat Key.

SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION So much of voting comes down to personalities, political affiliations and the candidates’ positions on issues, likability, competence and performance.

But instead of addressing those particulars among the six City Commission candidates, we urge city voters to go beyond merely judging one candidate against the other. Take time to assess the greater picture — what has occurred over the past four years in the city and the current state of the city.

The current state isn’t referring to the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. City commissioners had no control over those two destructive storms. And while there are some who still may want to bellyache about debris pickup, c’mon, in the overall scheme that should be, at most, a minor, minor factor. Actually, it shouldn’t be one at all in the totality of the policies the commissioners addressed over the past four years.

There will be plenty of time for

Once this region emerged from the economic disruptions and contractions from COVID, the city has experienced extraordinarily strong economic health.

Here is one measurement: Capital flows where it is welcome.

Over the past four years, from 2020-2023, the value of building permits issued in the city totaled $1.84 billion, or an annual average of $459.8 million.

Compared to the four years prior to COVID (2015 to 2018), permits totaled $1.4 billion. From 2009 to 2013, the annual value of permits never topped $200 million a year.

Capital flows where it is welcome.

Likewise, this investment propelled a real estate market in which the city’s property values have almost tripled since 2016 — from $6.7 billion to $18.3 billion. In the past four years, values have risen an astonishing 56%.

By comparison, Bradenton’s property values increased 39.7% in the past four years to $5.9 billion.

Employment shows similar health. From 2020, as we were just coming out of the COVID job wipeout, up to 2024, overall employment rose 15.9% — an increase of 3,906 jobs. Bradenton added 2,596 jobs, a 15.1% increase, in the same period.

Prior to COVID, from 2015 to 2018, total employment rose 1,410, an increase of 5.5%.

The number of businesses operating in the city also has been on an upward trend — from a low of 4,176 in 2021 to 4,474 in 2024, an increase of 298, or 7.1%.

A final measurement to put an exclamation point on the economic health of the city: The growth in per-capita personal income: 2020....... $66,878 2021........ $70,884 2022........ $69,376 2023.........$84,035 That’s a 25.6% increase over four years, or 6.4% per year.

Of course, the “we don’t want growth” naysayers likely would say the robust statistics above are not really all that great because of inflation and population growth.

Yes, to an extent, inflation has pushed up everyone’s wages, which explains some of the increase in per capita personal income.

But their bigger bugaboo would be population growth. There’s the perception that the city’s population exploded after COVID, thanks to people fleeing the tax hells of the Northeast, Michigan and Illinois.

The data don’t show it. City population: 2020 .............. 57,683 / 2021........55,386 / -3.9% 2022.......56,489 / +1.9% 2023....... 57,005 / +0.9%

OBSERVER RECOMMENDATIONS FEDERAL OFFICES

President — Donald Trump U.S. Senator — Rick Scott U.S. Congress, District 16 — Vern Buchanan U.S. Congress, District 17 — Greg Steube

Amendment 4: Limit government interference with abortion — No Amendment 5: Annual adjustments to the value of certain homestead exemptions — No Amendment 6: Repeal of public campaign financing — Yes

STATE OFFICES

MANATEE COUNTY

Representative, District 71 — Will Robinson Representative, District 72 — William “Bill” Conerly Representative, District 73 — Fiona McFarland Supreme Court — Renatha Francis, Meredith Sasso. Yes Second District Court of Appeal — Anthony Black, Edward C. LaRose, Susan H. RothsteinYouakim. Yes

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Amendment 1: Partisan school board elections — Yes Amendment 2: Right to fish and hunt — Yes Amendment 3: Adult personal use of marijuana — No

Supervisor of Elections — Scott Farrington County Commission, District 1 — Carol Ann Felts County Commission, District 3 — Tal Siddique County Commission, District 5 — Joseph Di Bartolomeo County Commission, District 7 At-Large — George Kruse School Board, District 1 — Mark Stanoch School Board, District 3 — Charles Kennedy

MANATEE REFERENDA ■ Continue school ad valorem

tax: Continue 1-mill ad valorem tax from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. Yes ■ Tourist development tax: Shall Manatee County Ordinance No. 24-

Population actually has declined slightly since 2020.

The sum of it all: The local Sarasota economy is strong. It would not be so if the City Commission spent the past four years enacting more and more burdensome ordinances and increasing taxes.

Instead, the current City Commission and city administration lowered the city’s property-tax millage rate twice — in 2021 and 2022, an 8% decrease altogether.

Those two reductions are key factors in the health of every local and state economy. As economists Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore have shown in their annual Rich States, Poor States rankings since 2008, areas with declining tax and regulatory burdens always show stronger and faster economic and income growth than those with rising tax burdens.

Government policies matter.

PUBLIC SAFETY/CRIME

Public safety is one of the most important measurements for every region, city and neighborhood.

On this score, the city of Sarasota has had a favorable trend. After a peak of 2,141 violent offenses in 2018, the number every year has fallen between 1,780 and 1,950.

Overall serious crime for the first eight months of 2024 shows a 25.8% decline compared to the same period in 2023.

As they should, city commissioners and the city administration see public safety as a top priority.

The city has increased sworn police officers in the past eight years from 161 in 2015 to 190 in 2023, an 18% increase. Sarasota has the highest ratio of police officers per 1,000 residents of any city south of St. Petersburg — 3.29 officers.

Two other public safety measurements: ■ The count for chronically homeless in the city has declined 77% since 2018 — from 351 to 80 in 2023.

■ There were no BLM-related riots in the city in 2020 or 2021.

QUALITY OF LIFE

To be sure, this is the most subjective area on which to measure city commissioners’ performance with data. Quality of life to one person is not the same to another.

Nonetheless, consider the following contributing to an improved quality of life over the past four years: ■ The approval of the first phase of the Marie Selby Botanical Garden’s master plan — since judged

by Time as one of the 100 World’s Greatest Places.

■ The continued growth and popularity of the Bay Park.

■ Like it or not, the renovation of Bobby Jones and the new 90-acre nature park.

■ Like them or not, the completion of the roundabouts on Tamiami Trail and Ringling Boulevard. Traffic accidents have increased, but

ELECTION EDITORIALS ■ Candidate questionnaires: YourObserver.com/ News/2024/Jul/22/Election-Candidates/ ■ Six amendments: YourObserver.com/News/2024/ Oct/09/Opinion-Six-Amendments/ ■ Florida and local races and local ballot questions: YourObserver.com/ News/2024/Oct/16/Recommendations-Explained-LocalTax-Ballot-Questions/ ■ Presidential election: • YourObserver.com/ News/2024/Sep/25/Opinion-Republic-Thats-Failing/; • YourObserver.com/ News/2024/Oct/02/Opinion-Serfdom-Liberty/

49 be approved authorizing Manatee County to levy an additional 1% Tourist Development Tax from all short-term rentals of all lodging or accommodations. Yes

they are less severe than before; and more cars are moving faster through the intersections than previously.

■ The city’s 50-year partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help maintain Lido Beach.

■ 87 of 89 lift stations have been rebuilt.

■ $75.8 million is being invested to update the city’s water treatment plant and water mains.

■ And even though city policies haven’t solved the lack of affordable housing, the City Commission adopted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 comprehensive plan and zoning amendments and an urban mixed-use zone with incentives for increased density and attainable units. It’s working, albeit gradually.

RISING TRAJECTORY

Altogether, the city of Sarasota is and, for the past four years, has been on a strong, rising trajectory.

Sure, it has issues.

City commissioners need to be vigilant about spending. City employees per 1,000 population have risen 28.7% since 2016.

Flooding and drainage infrastructure have risen to urgent in terms of critical neighborhood issues. After the recent flooding of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, surely discussions will ensue on constructing a new center on the bayfront.

But none of these issues rises to the level of negating or reversing what has been accomplished.

Nor do these issues make a case for dumping or replacing the three incumbents —Mayor Liz Alpert and Commissioners Kyle Battie and Erik Arroyo.

Indeed, if you inspect the positions of the three commission challengers — Sequoia Felton, Ron Kashden and Kathy Kelley Ulrich, they all want policies that would stifle the city’s healthy economy.

They want more rules, more regulations, more bureaucracy. In the name of being neighborhood advocates, the challengers are echoing calls for more group-rule democracy over individual property rights.

They say we must stop “overdevelopment.” That is the anthem of anti-incumbent candidates in the region’s 2024 elections. In reality, it is a euphemism for wanting to stop what they don’t like: population growth and development in their neighborhoods.

While the commission challengers make the hackneyed and false charge that the incumbents are beholden to developers, the truth is all five members of the City Commission have been respectful of balancing development, property rights and the rule of city law.

We’ve often said the litmus test for incumbents seeking reelection is how they have performed in office.

The state of the city of Sarasota proves the incumbents have done well. There is no need to change.

We recommend: Kyle Scott Battie, Liz Alpert and Erik Arroyo.

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Petra Rivera, PRivera@ YourObserver.com; Carter Weinhofer, CWeinhofer@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Digital Content Producer / Jim DeLa, JDeLa@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / Jenn Edwards, JEdwards@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Chief Revenue Officer / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Regional Sales Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@ YourObserver.com; Lexi Huelsman, Lexi@ YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@ YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver.com; Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Anna Reich, AReich@YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@YourObserver.com Advertising/Marketing Coordinator / Caitlin Ellis, CEllis@YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Specialist / Melanie Melone, MMelone@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

SARASOTA COUNTY

Tax Collector — Barbara FordCoates Charter Review Board, District 1 — Jay Riley Charter Review Board, District 3 — Tom DeSane Charter Review Board, District 4 — Greg “Tex” Bukowski Charter Review Board, District 5 — Jose Jimenez Hospital Board, At-Large Seat 1 — Sharon Wetzler DePeters Hospital Board, At-Large Seat 2 — Kevin Cooper Hospital Board, At-Large Seat 3 — Pam Beitlich Hospital Board, Central District Seat 1 — Sarah Lodge

SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION

District 1 — Kyle Scott Battie District 2 — Liz Alpert District 3 — Erik Arroyo

SARASOTA COUNTY REFERENDUM

■ Continue school ad valorem tax: Continue the 1 mill per year ad valorem millage … beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. Yes

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Key Life Magazine, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine

CEO / Matt Walsh MWalsh@YourObserver.com President / Emily Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles Vice President / Lisa Walsh (1995-2023) 1970 Main St. Third Floor Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

During 2021 and 2022 the United States experienced rapid and painful inflation. Painful for all but the top 10% on the economic ladder.

They saw their homes, boats and other assets substantially increase in value. The two years noted above were the first two years of Biden’s administration and he has received most of the blame for it.

There were two primary reasons for this rapid increase in prices.

The first was supply chain interruptions caused by plant shutdowns because of COVID. Most critical were the computer chip shortages caused major manufactures in Taiwan and Japan. This shortage occurred at the same time demand for computer chips was accelerating. Please note that rapid inflation was a worldwide problem, and the U.S. made out better than most if not all other countries.

The good news here is that over the last the years, The United States has made and encouraged an enormous investment in domestic production of computer chips. We will begin to see production of these domestically manufactured chips. It takes time to build these complex manufacturing plants and get them up and running. This investment materialized during Biden’s term.

The second cause for inflation was/is the rapid growth of our federal deficit over the last seven years. Deficits are caused by lower tax revenue and increased expenses.

Both Biden and Trump spent

Please note that rapid inflation was a worldwide problem, and the U.S. made out better than most if not all other countries.

excessive amounts in providing COVID relief. Other expenses were also increasing rapidly. But Trump also passed a significant reduction in income taxes, a large proportion of which benefited the wealthy. A tax reduction during a time of rapidly increasing expenses was ill advised and contributed to rapid inflation. It usually takes a couple of years for a policy change to take effect, and the impact of the tax cut was felt during the first years of the Biden presidency.

In summary, rapid inflation was caused by COVID supply chain interruption, most importantly computer chip shortage. Biden should be given credit for investing in domestic production of these chips.

Significant increase of our budget deficit is the second. Both men bare responsibility here but, Trump more so because of income tax reduction.

An objective analysis would assign more responsibility for rapid inflation to Trump, but Biden has taken all the blame.

BOB FERRARA LONGBOAT KEY

Our Constitution says ‘We the People’ Before promoting the individual freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights, the preamble to the Constitution clearly lets everyone, except for (Observer Media Group CEO) Matt Walsh and people of his ideological ilk, know that we are engaging in a collective enterprise.

The first three words aren’t “I, me, mine,” but are “We the People,” followed by such Democratic and collective concepts such as the “common defense” and promoting “the general welfare.”

In the colonial world, where we had some four million people living on this vast continent, I could burn my trash, shoot my gun indiscriminately and kill all the animals I wanted and as many as I wanted. With 333 million people now here, we don’t have those freedoms any longer.

LET T ERS

Understanding recent inflation

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Our lives are better for those restrictions on our individual liberties. The sad irony is that we should be thanking the “childless cat ladies” because without their choices, we’d probably have another 50 million or so and our freedoms would be even more restricted.

My theory is that our quality of life and the regulations needed to ensure a high standard are in direct proportion to the increase in population. Want more freedom? Quit knocking the childless cat ladies and lionizing the Duggars.

It’s not a good argument to talk about diminishing life expectancy.

That plays into our (people who believe in the collective) hands.

Simply put, life expectancy diminished because of COVID-19 and a lack of mandates.

In the 1950s, we had polio. A vaccine was created, everyone had to get it and polio went away. In the “Every man’s a King world” of Matt Walsh, we had COVID, millions refused to get vaccinated, the disease persisted, mutated and

will be around killing and harming people as long as millions put their individual rights ahead of society’s.

I don’t want to live in a world where Typhoid Mary gets to put her individual freedoms above society’s.

You write: “The individual is superior to the collective. That principle must be revived. To do otherwise will sentence your heirs to total slavery and despair — except for a few.”

Except for a few?

How does majority rule, or democracy, result in “just a few” benefiting? It’s the exact opposite! Don’t gaslight us!

Yes, I’m aware of de Tocqueville’s concern about the “tyranny of the majority,” but are you arguing that a “tyranny of the minority” or an individual veto over any regulation that is distressing is a better way to go?

And, where is it written that a “majority” is always a “mob?”

That’s a pretty incendiary way of describing democracy.

You quote many people extol-

ling individual liberties.

I’ll top them with the Bible, Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Or Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. And, if two lied down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Admittedly, it’s complex, so I’ll go with Churchill and say that “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

MICHAEL GRAHAM SARASOTA

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COPS CORNER

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

SNAKE EVICTION 1:45 p.m., 3400 block of Mistletoe Lane Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was dispatched to a resident’s call about a snake inside a home. When the officer arrived at the scene, the homeowner said she saw the snake in the lanai and wanted it to be removed by the police. The officer found the snake inside a table cover and moved it outside.

SUNDAY, OCT. 13

SUBMERGED SHOTGUN PROBLEM 9:31 a.m., 600 block of Longview Drive Officer Public Service: An officer was flagged down by a driver needing help. The driver said his home was flooded during the hurricanes and he wanted some help securing his shotgun from his home. The officer entered the man’s home and grabbed the shotgun. After the man said he was afraid to clear the weapon due to it being submerged in water, the officer unloaded the weapon for him.

NO DISTURBANCE, JUST DEBRIS 10:45 a.m., 3500 block of Fair Oaks Lane Suspicious Incident: Dispatch sent an officer to investigate a suspicious incident reported at a home. The officer checked out the residence, which appeared to have tears in the lanai and windows covered in dirt from the latest hurricane. No handprints were visible on the doors and there were no signs of forced entry, so the of-

ficer concluded the residence was secure.

MONDAY, OCT. 14

FUMING ABOUT LATE DELIVERY 10:53 a.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Civil Disturbance: An officer was called to the Longboat Key Police Station to assist with a civil disturbance. At the station, the officer met with a man who said that in mid-September he ordered about $800 worth of propane from a company in Palmetto and it has yet to be delivered. The man said he needed the propane to run his generator since he did not have power restored. The officer advised the man that the situation between him and the gas company was a civil matter and not theft and that the recent hurricanes may have delayed the delivery schedule. If the order isn’t canceled and the man doesn’t get a refund, the officer said he could sue the company in civil court.

TUESDAY, OCT. 15

WRONG HOUSE 9:43 a.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious Person: A resident called to report suspicious men picking through trash and debris in the Village. When the officer arrived on scene, he met with the complainant who said she had confronted the men sitting outside of their vehicle in front of her home.

According to her, the men said they were hired by a man, but the complainant said no one with that man’s name lived there and she asked them to leave the property.

She was able to give a description of the truck and a logo on its hood, and the officer was later able to find the truck. When speaking with the men who owned the truck, they said they had gone to the wrong address and parked in the complainant’s driveway by mistake.

CAN’T PARK THERE 9:56 p.m., 7000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Civil Dispute: Officers were sent to a report of a verbal argument that broke out between two men arguing over a vehicle parked on private property. An officer spoke with the complainant, who said he wanted the truck owner to move the vehicle but did not want to complete a formal trespass warning. Then, the officer spoke with the truck owner, who said he was fishing on the nearby bridge and didn’t realize he parked on private property.

He drove the truck off the property without further incident.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

DOCK FIRE 8:12 a.m., 500 block of Golf Links Lane Fire: Longboat Key PD was sent to assist with a reported dock fire. At the scene, the officer saw a dock piling smoldering from a fire, and attached electrical boxes appeared to be the cause. Longboat Key Fire Rescue was able to put out the remainder of the fire and ensure the power source was turned off. The agencies spoke with the homeowner by phone and he said he would address the electrical box issues.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

CANVASSING FOR KAYAKS 5:41 p.m., 600 block of Dream Island Road Suspicious Incident: At the scene of a suspicious incident call, an officer was flagged down by someone who said he saw two men and a woman stealing kayaks nearby. The officer searched the area and found the three people matching the description given by the anonymous tip. The three said they were not stealing kayaks but found one that had been abandoned since Hurricane Helene. The officer said it was not wise to take the kayak, but if they waited a few more days and the kayak was still there, then it would be considered abandoned. The group understood and left the kayak behind.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

POTENTIAL LOOTING 11:15 a.m., 600 block of Buttonwood Drive Lost/Found Property: An officer responded to a resident’s emergency call about stolen items from the curb of his residence. The homeowner said he had placed a plastic tub on the curb next to the debris pile and now the tub was missing. In the tub were gold pocket watches that were family heirlooms. The officer documented the incident and gave the homeowner a case number and an email to send more detailed descriptions of the items.

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.

All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

Worship Service Sunday 10 a.m.

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

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

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

435105-1

10A

433537-1

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org The Lord’s Warehouse will be closed until further notice.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

HURRICANE COLLECTION LONGBOAT KEY FOOD DRIVE

Catholic Church

433228-1

To Benefit Our Daily Bread of Bradenton

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.

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

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

Wednesday, October 30th • 9:00 – 10:30 AM Christ Church of LBK Parking Lot 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key

2024-2025

Our Daily Bread meets the needs of hundreds of hungry, needy people in Manatee County by serving daily lunches and stocking an open food pantry.

LECTURE SERIES PAINTING CURRENT EVENTS QIGONG YOGA MEDITATION BRIDGE MAH JONGG CANASTA SUPREME COURT AMERICAN HISTORY LITERATURE & POETRY MOVIE & BOOK GROUPS MUSIC & ART APPRECIATION JAZZ NIGHTS MORNING FORUMS THEOLOGY WORLD POLITICS FILM FESTIVALS THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES AUTOBIOGRAPHY iPHONE & iPAD BIRDING NATURE WALKS WELLNESS LANGUAGES SUNDAY CONCERTS BROADWAY BIOS CRAFTS SPECIAL ONE-TIME EVENTS & MUCH MORE! y Eve n jo E r yth rn & in g U n d er The S u n To Le a

WHAT IS NEEDED? • Canned Tuna • Chicken • Meats • Dry Pasta • Ramen Noodles • Peanut Butter • Jelly • Canned Vegetables • Coffee • Condiments OTHER ITEMS IN HIGH DEMAND: • Diapers (Sizes 3,4,5) • Toilet Paper • Tooth Paste • Tooth Brush • Shampoo CHECK DONATIONS

(Made payable to: Our Daily Bread ) are also greatly appreciated.

We invite everyone to join in this effort to serve the needs of those hurting in our community.

Many Programs Available on Zoom.

Contact Sue Wertman at quackbf@aol.com

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

435102-1

QUESTIONS?

THE EDUCATION CENTER AT TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228 VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.TBIeducationcenter.org For a brochure or inquiries call: (941) 383-8222 or email Admin@tbieducationcenter.org

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Growing in Jesus’ Name

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Friends and Neighbors,

The storms we have endured in the past number of weeks have been devastating, and their effects will be felt throughout our community for a long time. Recently, we’ve heard from many friends and past clients who have been seriously affected and are uncertain about their immediate next steps.

Historically, our Seaward Companies have focused primarily on new construction— both residential and commercial—as well as consulting services. However, in light of the many inquiries we’ve received, we are now prepared to extend our services to those in our community who have been most impacted by the storm. We are ready to meet with property owners to discuss the best options moving forward.

Our Seaward team members are here to assist our clients and friends with all of your needs at this time.

• Substantial Home Remodeling

Let us assist you with a full scope of services including initial assessment, engineering, selective demolition, and through the execution of your property restoration.

• New Home Construction

Let our team guide you from architect selection and home design through vertical construction on a new or replacement elevated home with enhanced hurricane resistance safety features.

• Sale of your Property

For owners who desire to sell their property at this time and forego a construction project, we may be able to assist by purchasing your property. Alternatively, we can also connect you with one of our island team members from our real estate division at The DiPinto Group at Coldwell Banker to accommodate your real estate needs.

We at Seaward Companies are happy to meet with you to discuss all options that you may be considering at this time. We understand over the past two weeks that these storms have affected everyone differently and there is no “one size fits all” solution. What we can do now, is provide you with as much information as possible regarding your property options, from local and trusted professionals in our marketplace. With this important information you will be in the position to make the best decision for you and your family moving forward.

Best regards.

Patrick DiPinto Seaward Homes and Seaward Consulting

PLEASE CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION: patrick@dipintocompanies.com matthew@seawarddevelopment.com ndipintorealtor@gmail.com

With a focus on white-glove service building high-end custom homes and full remodels on our barrier islands, our experienced team can assist you in remodeling your property or building you a new elevated home.

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We offer professional construction oversight for homeowners. From reviewing contracts with your selected contractor to monitoring the rebuild process, we’ll act as your trusted advocate every step of the way. In this unpredictable market, let our team safeguard your interests, ensuring your home is restored with integrity.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Petra Rivera

Back: Alexander Telfair, Angie Weaver, Mindy Ward, James Reed and Jessica Kowaliski. Front: Amy Steinhauser, Debby Debile, Sarah Lilly and Sara Carson

Reed Medical sets up new location After being affected by hurricane season, two organizations banded together to become the hub of health and wellness on Longboat Key. PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

E

ven with four-and-a-half feet of flooding from Hurricane Helene, Reed Medical Group did not miss a day of work during back-to-back hurricanes.

During house calls to its patients the week before Hurricane Milton, Dr. James Reed and his staff pondered where they would call home

after losing about 90% of everything from their clinic.

Dr. Daren Spinelle, the former concierge doctor at the Medical Suite at the Paradise Center, felt similarly to Reed Medical Group after losing his home in the north end of the island.

Displacement from his home caused him to feel unsure about continuing his practice at the Paradise Center.

These situations led Reed and Amy Steinhauser, executive director of the Paradise Center, to an idea.

He had recently chatted with Steinhauser about becoming a sponsor of the Paradise Center, but the building they lost in the hurricane solidified their permanent partnership.

Reed Medial Group is now the fulltime resident of the Medical Suite of the Paradise Center. Together, the two organizations plan to fundraise

to purchase the Tidewell Foundation building, which is for sale for $3.1 million. Reed and Steinhauser hope the center will become the hub for health and wellness on Longboat Key. “Our visions align so well, so this is really the best thing for both of us,” said Steinhauser, “I think it is the perfect thing to merge all of the wellness services to support our community in the best way. Our plan together is to garner the support of Longboat Key so that his practice and the Paradise Center can thrive here for a long time.”

Without Spinelle’s practice at the Medical Suite, Reed Medical Group will become the primary concierge medical services on the island with the goal of making health care more accessible to residents. Spinelle will be moving on as a mobile doc-

tor, which will allow him to see his Longboat patients at the Medical Suite when needed.

Along with his primary care services, Reed said patients will have their pick of medical specialists, thanks to Spinelle’s carefully curated staff.

Patients will have access to dermatology, chiropractic care, audiology, physical therapy, hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle medicine.

“The thought is this to be a home for health professionals to cross paths,” said Reed. “A lot of health problems can be handled by good primary care, but we have connections with the best specialists in town.

There are also things we can’t do that Paradise Center programs will be able to fill, such as yoga and tai chi, as well as grief groups and socialization that we want to build on.”

Through this partnership, Reed also hopes to expand social opportunities for his patients to mingle and build community. He has started brainstorming with Steinhauser on different events they want to host and start support groups such as bereavement groups. To celebrate their partnership, a VIP reception will be hosted in January as the start of this new era for both teams.

Reed Medical Group started work in the Paradise Medical Suite the week after Hurricane Milton with a booked day of appointments for Monday, Oct. 21. With their hopeful purchase of the building, Reed Medical and the Paradise Center are excited to use the Tidewell offices to expand their programs and health opportunities for residents.

Paradise Center Wellness Director Debby Debile said the environment was already abuzz with the newness and hope from this alliance. It was the positivity they needed after going through the craziness of the hurricane season.

“After the hurricane, everybody’s been separated and trying to find what’s the next move,” said Angie Weaver, director of patient operations for Reed Medical Group. “I feel like this will bring people together and bring something uplifting to the community. It shows resilience for Longboat that we’re getting back up on our feet. We still have hope for this community. There’s still a lot that we have to offer.”

“I feel like this will bring people together and bring something uplifting to the community.

It shows resilience for Longboat that we’re getting back up on our feet ...”

Angie Weaver, director of patient operations for Reed Medical Group

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

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.

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Susan Tomlinson Wilson

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

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T. Michael Osterman

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Financial Planning Specialist Financial Advisor

2 North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236

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Website: advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-cornerstone-capital-group

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Financial Advisor Financial Planning Specialist

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Sr. Registered Associate Financial Planning Specialist

Storm Damage?

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Call Teasdale Fenton of Sarasota - We’ve Got You Covered!

Sr. Registered Client Associate Client Service Associate

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

24/7 Emergency Services

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

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OCTOBER 24, 2024

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Images courtesy of Mikenna Bowers

Sarasota Ballet dancers rehearse for the world premiere of Jessica Lang’s “A Time of Beauty.”

real creatures cavorting on swings suspended over the stage might sound schmaltzy, right up there with Thomas Kincade paintings and garden gnomes.

But anyone who makes that assumption can’t be familiar with Lang, a former dancer for Twyla Tharp’s traveling company who has choreographed for American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

A VARIED BODY OF WORK

CALLING ON

ANGELS Jessica Lang rehearses with Sarasota Ballet’s Macarena Gimenez and Maximiliano Iglesias for the world premiere of “A Time of Beauty.”

Choreographer Jessica Lang found celestial inspiration for her Sarasota Ballet world premiere ‘A Time of Beauty.’

IF YOU GO SARASOTA BALLET’S PROGRAM ONE: ‘RELATIVE WORKS’ When: Oct. 25-27 Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail.

Tickets: $35-$125 Info: Visit SarasotaBallet.org.

Some of the angels at a 2019 art installation in London that inspired Jessica Lang.

Courtesy image

Choreographer Jessica Lang

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

D

o you believe in angels?

Choreographer Jessica Lang does — at least as the source of inspiration for “A Time of Beauty,” her ballet making its world premiere at Sarasota Ballet on Oct. 25-27.

Lang, whose official title at Sarasota Ballet is the Virginia B. Toulmin & Muriel O’Neil Artist in Residence, got the idea for “A Time of Beauty” a few years ago. She was in London near St. Paul’s Cathedral when she discovered an installation called “Lunch Break.”

The piece by architects KHBT in collaboration with artist Ottmar Hörl featured 40 golden angels resting on swings.

Even guardian angels need a break every now and then. They’ve since flown away — the installation ran from June 2019 to March 2020 — but their celestial cousins will grace Lang’s second ballet choreographed exclusively for Sarasota Ballet.

To some, a ballet featuring ethe-

“Some choreographers have a style,” says Iain Webb, director of the Sarasota Ballet. “Jessica’s got the ability to create these incredible works that are very different (from) each other.

For the audience, it’s going to be tremendous.”

In addition to the angelic sculptures in London, Lang drew on the music of George Frideric Handel for “A Time of Beauty.”

“I wanted to do something ... with classical music, but I wanted to go a step forward to include voice,” Lang said in a joint interview with Webb in the Sarasota Ballet’s offices.

“I do a lot for opera and a lot for oratorio music,” she says. “This is Handel’s first oratorio that he ever wrote. He wrote it at 19, and he revisited it three times throughout his career.”

According to Lang, Handel first called the music “Triumph of Time and Dissolution.” He came back again with “Triumph of Time and Beauty” and then “Time and Truth.”

Lang says she is quite fond of a particular aria that Handel borrowed from himself for his opera “Rinaldo,” which she says is one of her favorites.

A SERIES OF LIFE-ALTERING ENCOUNTERS

Lang, who divides her time between New York City and Sarasota, says Handel’s oratorio could be used to accompany a full-length ballet if she used all hour-and-a-half of the composition. Instead, she picked six selections of music to help her embody the battle between time and beauty. Spoiler alert: Time wins. “It always does in the end,” notes Lang.

Speaking to Lang about her life as her 50th birthday approaches, one can’t quite decide whether the random encounters that have helped shape her career are fated or serendipitous. For Sarasota ballet fans, they are certainly fortuitous, since they have brought one of the world’s leading choreographers to town.

After dancing for two years for Twyla Tharp’s “Tharp!” company, Lang had her own eponymous dance company from 2011-2019. During this time, both Jessica Lang Dance and the Sarasota Ballet were part of the Fall for Dance program at New York City Center in 2016.

Lang’s company was performing her work, “Tesseracts of Time,” while Sarasota Ballet was on the bill with Sir Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” featuring dancers SEE BALLET PAGE 14A

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BALLET FROM PAGE 13A

Johann Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru.

During the 2016 Fall for Dance gala and dinners, Lang and Webb met for the first time and talked informally about collaborating. The two were aware of each other because Lang had choreographed dances for the Birmingham Royal Ballet under Artistic Director Sir David Bintley, beginning in 2012 with “Lyric Pieces.”

ALL ROADS IN ENGLISH BALLET LEAD TO ASHTON

Webb knows Bintley from their days dancing together at Sadler’s Wells, where Bintley was also choreographer before becoming artistic director of Birmingham Royal, as Sadler’s Wells is now known.

“We danced together, and I danced in his ballets before he became artistic director. I was already gone by then, but we go back a long time,” Webb says.

With name changes like Sadler’s Well Royal Ballet becoming Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1990, tracing the provenance of English ballet can get confusing.

It’s helpful to remember that all roads lead to Ashton, whose legacy has been preserved by Sarasota Ballet under the leadership of Webb and his wife, Margaret Barbieri, assistant director, both former dancers with Sadler’s Wells.

Lang calls receiving her first commission from Bintley for the Birmingham Royal a “Cinderella” moment. “My husband, Kanji (Segawa), went to the mailbox and came back with a thin letter with a big gold royal seal. ‘Look what you got!’ he said. I was afraid because the envelope was so thin. I assumed it was a polite rejection.”

When she opened up the letter and read it, Lang was “flabbergasted,” she says. “It was a beautiful letter from David articulating how he had watched my work and how much he loved it. It said he was commissioning me for a new work and asked whether I would come over next year,” Lang recalls.

Lang’s potential collaboration with the Sarasota Ballet got a boost when her parents decided to relocate from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where Lang was raised. She gave Webb a call when her parents were

“... As a choreographer, I need dancers who love to perform and go deeper into the role.”

Choreographer Jessica Lang

Image courtesy of Mikenna Bowers

house hunting in Sarasota, renewing their acquaintanceship and the possibility of working together.

But the idea began to take form after a dinner with Lang, her parents, Webb and Barbieri in a restaurant where Roxie Jerde, head of the Community Foundation of Sarasota, happened to be sitting at the next table.

“Roxie said, ‘If you can sign Jessica up, we want to be involved straight away,’” Webb recalled.

A SMALL TOWN WITH STRONG CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

After relaying the anecdote, Webb exults that he loves “the creative energy of Sarasota, where everything is connected, like having dinner and Roxie being on the next table.”

That chance restaurant meeting led to the Community Foundation’s support of Lang’s artist-in-residence position, which also received backing from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Fast forward to Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. As Hurricane Milton approached, the Sarasota Ballet canceled rehearsals for Program One, “Relative Beauty,” which will feature Lang’s world premiere.

During the storm, Lang sheltered with her parents at their home in The Meadows. She said they experienced some minor damage, but were spared the brunt of Milton, which made

landfall on Siesta Key on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Meanwhile, the clock was ticking down toward Lang’s world premiere on Oct. 25.

“We lost four-and-a-half days of rehearsal, but the show must go on,” Webb says.

A TIME FOR HEALING

Originally, “A Time of Beauty” was to be the first ballet in Program One, followed by Ricardo Graziano’s romantic “Amorosa” and wrapping up with Kobborg’s production of “Napoli Act III,” which continues the legacy of Danish choreographer August Bournonville.

But after Hurricane Milton, Webb and Lang decided the audience should leave on a note of angelic healing. They tweaked the lineup so “Napoli” is the opener and “A Time of Beauty” is the closing performance of Program One. Now, about those swings. How do they work? “Sarasota’s a circus town, so we went to the Wallenda family to get their help,” Lang says.

Asked specifically which Wallenda lent their aerial expertise to the ballet, Webb demurred. “The people in the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) union know the right people to call,” he says. “They have the contacts.”

As a choreographer, Lang has

been able to bring to life the kinds of dance-fueled tales she had glimmerings of as a child. Even then, she says, “I was dreaming about ideas, movement and stories. But at that age, I don’t think you’re mature enough to know what your vision is.”

Lang spent years preparing for her career as a dancer, but when she finally achieved her dream, she discovered it wasn’t what she wanted after all.

“When I went to Juilliard, I assumed I would dance forever,” she says. “I loved it. Then I got into Twyla’s company and we started touring.

The job was very different from the education. I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t like the repetition.”

Lang adds, “Some people love to perform, and that’s a good thing. As a choreographer, I need dancers who love to perform and go deeper into the role. They have to be willing to try again and get enjoyment out of the repetition. I just didn’t have that.”

Webb interjects, “George Balanchine was known for saying, ‘I don’t want people who want to dance. I want people who have to dance.’”

But that’s not enough. Choreographers like Balanchine and Lang don’t exist in a vacuum. They need audiences who want to see their dances.

Sarasota’s got them, come hell or high water.

Hurricane Milton shaved four-and-ahalf days from Jessica Lang’s rehearsals with Sarasota Ballet dancers.

2nd Annual

Remembrance Walk ‘24 PRESENTED BY

Honor The Past With Each Step Forward

Walk to remember loved ones and raise funds for the lifebrightening services the Tidewell Foundation supports.

ENDURING LIGHT

Saturday, November 9, 2024 Nathan Benderson Park

Photographs by Roy DeCarava and Danny Lyon from the Sandor Family Collection

Registration: 8AM | Walk: 9AM | Full Life Fair

REGISTER

Register at

TidewellWalk.org

THROUGH FEB 9

For more information or to learn about sponsorships: Go to TidewellWalk.org or call (941) 552-7569

ringling.org

THANK YOU SPONSORS

EXCLUSIVE FULL LIFE FAIR David Deluca – in memory of Motria Deluca

EXCLUSIVE MEMORY MAKER T-SHIRT

EXCLUSIVE WATER STATION

The Tidewell Foundation, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services, by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 (or 1-800-352-9832 en español) or going on the department’s website www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. One hundred percent (100%) of the donation is received by the Tidewell Foundation, Inc. Charitable Solicitation Registration #CH63240. TF-102424-1200

Support for this exhibition was provided by the Publix Supermarket Charities and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation. This exhibition is part of the Stanton B. and Nancy W. Kaplan Photography and Media Arts Program at The Ringling.

Roy DeCarava (American, 1919–2009), Four Men, New York, from the portfolio Twelve Photogravures, 1956, printed 1991. Photogravure. Gift of the Richard & Ellen Sandor Family Collection, 2022 2022.44.1.11. Courtesy of © Estate of Roy DeCarava 430369-1

EXCLUSIVE BUTTERFLY MEMORIAL

PLATINUM

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

EATING WITH EMMA

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ADOPT DON’T SHOP

OPEN 7 DAYS 10am-6pm - 941-366-2424 | 2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 • www.catdepot.org

A SLICE OF HEAVEN A savory slice from one of these restaurants is guaranteed to steal a pizza your heart.

M

y favorite part of the week hits exactly at 5:01 p.m. on Friday.

At that magical moment, I know the dreaded “What’s for dinner?” dilemma will dissolve into deliciousness. My husband and I will embrace our cheesy tradition: Friday night pizza!

With a Friday night pie in hand, we know exactly what’s on the menu. Trust me, there’s no better plan than that. Here are my favorite slices of heaven in Sarasota and Manatee counties, just in time for National Pizza Month.

CAPO PAZZO PIZZERIA

2053 Reynolds St., Sarasota; 941-487-8677; CapoPazzo.com Pizza My Heart: Capo’s Sicilian MVP ($28) will make you question why it’s taken you so long to snag a slice (or three) of this sensational pie. It’s made with marinara, pesto, fresh mozzarella and pecorino Romana cheese.

In Crust We Trust: Capo has my best interest at heart with their wide selection of white pizzas. Get the Frank white ($17 and up) with ricotta, mozzarella, caramelized onion and a sesame seed crust.

OCTOBER 5DECEMBER 1

SELBY.ORG

BAKER & WIFE

2157 Siesta Drive; 941-366-5570; 941-960-1765; BakerWife.com Pizza My Heart: My dad would salivate over the Clemenza ($18) with spicy Calabrese salami, sweet Italian sausage, garlic confit, Calabrian chili, goat cheese, maple syrup (stay with me here) and arugula.

In Crust We Trust: The Fugetaboutit ($20), made with meatballs, sweet Italian sausage and ricotta, is the right way to end your workweek.

N I K W A L L E N D A & T H E C I R C U S A R T S C O N S E R VAT O R Y

ALL NEW SHOW! NI K WAL LE ND A

IL PANIFICIO PIZZERIA

1703 Main St., Sarasota; 941-3665570; 215 Avenida Madera, Siesta Key; 941-800-5570; PanificioUSA.com

Pizza My Heart: My dad loved Connecticut-style pizza best, and Il Panificio’s Margherita ($22) landed the superlative “best pie in town.” It’s made with mozzarella, red sauce, fresh tomatoes and basil leaves.

In Crust We Trust: My Connecticut roots would unplant themselves if I didn’t mention the clam pizza ($28) with mozzarella, fresh basil, buttery clams and red sauce.

ATRIA CAFE

4120 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch; 941-206-5139; Atria.Cafe Pizza My Heart: Tuesday through Saturday from 5-8 p.m., grab a personal-sized savory sourdough pizza. Don’t miss the mini curled pepperoni ($17).

In Crust We Trust: There are rotating feature pies (like the broccoli rabe, fennel sausage, black pepper and cured egg yolk one I scarfed up a few days ago) that you must try. But the Gucci ($19) is gooooooood: prosciutto, heirloom tomatoes, arugula, fresh mozzarella and that Gucci house tomato sauce.

ORIGIN CRAFT BEER & PIZZA CAFE

5170 Palmer Plaza Blvd., Sarasota, 941-217-6533; 1837 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-316-9222; OriginPizzaCafe.com

Pizza My Heart: Look no further for the best GF pizza in town. You can order any pie with a cauliflower crust or gluten-free for $5. If you love rich ricotta, the Siesta sands white pizza ($17 and up) is calling your name: olive oil garlic base, spinach, ricotta, broccoli, choice of prosciutto or turkey sausage.

In Crust We Trust: The 1837 Chicken ($18 and up) comes with either sweet-with-heat BBQ or the house-made trifecta sauce base and drizzle. (Watch out for the heat!)

Season 29 | Talent Unveiled ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 941-306-1202 AND JOHNNY ROCKETT

Yamazalde Trio

presents

Sandy Yamamoto, violin; Matthew Zalkind, cello; Julio Elizalde, piano

November 2, 4:00 pm • Church of the Palms Yamamoto has dazzled audiences in concert performances around the globe as a soloist and as a member of the award-winning Miró Quartet. Zalkind is a top-prize winner in multiple international competitions, and Elizalde is one of the most sought-after recital partners in the country. This program includes music by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Paul Schoenfeld.

FRI NOV 22 - SUN JAN 5

Winner’s Circle

Yance Zheng, Le Phuong Pham, and Quang Vo, piano

November 7, 11:00 am performance followed by lunch Sarasota Yacht Club

WONDERLANDCIRCUS.COM 941.355.9805 UNDER THE CLIMATE CONTROLLED BIG TOP AT UTC 195 UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER DRIVE, SARASOTA

The top three prize winners of the Artist Series Concerts 2024 Statewide Piano Competition come together for an extraordinary program of music by Schubert, Ravel, Prokofiev, Chopin, and Florence Price.

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PRESENTED BY

Courtesy image

Atria Cafe is a bakery by day and pizzeria by evening.

This project is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; The Exchange; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

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From the Raveis Family to Yours

We faced the storm together, and now, we’ll rebuild together.

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THIS WEEK

Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $22-$52 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Created and directed by Nate Jacobs, “The Soul Crooners” returns to Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s main stage for the first time since its 2009 premiere. The opening show of WBTT’s 25th anniversary season celebrates the soul music of the 1970s. Runs through Nov. 17.

‘NINETEEN’ 7:30 p.m. at Tree Fort Productions, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail $40 Visit TreeFortProductionsProjects. com.

THURSDAY

‘OFF THE CHARTS’ 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

The creative team behind Florida Studio Theatre’s popular cabaret series is at again with “Off the Charts.”

Richard and Rebecca Hopkins and Sarah Durham take the audience on a tour of 20th-century pop music, with arrangements by Jim Prosser.

Stroll down memory lane with hits that ruled the Billboard Top 100 ranking, which debuted in 1958.

Runs through Feb. 9.

‘SOUL CROONERS: SOLID GOLD EDITION’ 7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black

DON’T MISS

‘JENNIFER, WHO IS LEAVING’ 7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. $5-$33 Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Directed by Asolo Repertory Theatre Associate Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal, “Jennifer Who is Leaving” is a comedy set in a Massachusetts donut shop about three overworked women. Runs through Dec. 1.

to the important contributions of Florida immigrants including Havana native Tatiana Mesa Paján, Sue Havens, originally from Rochester, New York, and Kirk Ke Wong, who was born in Shanghai. Runs through Jan. 25 at The Ringling and Oct. 27 at SAM. IF YOU GO When: 10 a.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bayshore Road, and Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $30 at The Ringling; $15 at Sarasota Art Museum Info: Visit SkywayTampaBay.com.

Rise Above Performing Arts presents the tale of a half-blood son of a Greek god who is accused of stealing Zeus’ master lightning bolt.

Adapted from the best-selling book of the same name, “The Lightning Thief” stars local students and features a pulsating rock score. Runs through Oct. 27.

FRIDAY ‘9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL’ 7:30 p.m. at the Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice $15-$37 Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

This toe-tapping musical is based on “9 to 5,” a 1980 film about sexism in the office that featured the hit song of the same name by Dolly Parton, who also starred in the film with Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman. The Venice Theatre production is one of the community theater’s many revivals during its 75th anniversary season. Runs through Nov. 24.

SATURDAY ‘JUNIE B. JONES: THE MUSICAL’ Noon at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $12 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

There’s plenty of song and dance for kids at Florida Studio Theatre. FST’s new production, “Junie B. Jones: The Musical,” was adapted from the young adult books by Barbara Park.

Join the heroine as she embarks upon a new school year, recording all her adventures in her Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal.

SUNDAY ‘PURPLE! THE 2024 ORCHID SHOW’ 10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $28 Visit Selby.org.

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The Sarasota Players’ “The Legend of Sleeping Hollow” runs Oct. 24-26 at the Sarasota Polo Club.

It’s the most wonderful time of year — when Marie Selby Botanical Gardens unveils its latest orchid show. The theme of this year’s show, presented by Better Gro, is “Purple!”

Don’t be a shrinking violet; come see an astonishing display of purple orchids in the Tropical Conservatory, along with an exhibition of books, prints, photographs and other materials in the Museum of Botany & The Arts. Runs through Dec. 5.

WEDNESDAY FORBIDDEN MUSIC IN PRE-NAZI GERMANY 10:30 a.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free with registration Visit SarasotaMusicArchive.org.

Sarasota Music Archive presents a lecture by Robert Vodnoy, music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota, exploring the evolution of German music in the early 20th century.

OUR PICK ‘THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW’ It wouldn’t be the spooky season without the Sarasota Players’ annual production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” based on the Washington Irving story that follows schoolmaster Ichabod Crane as he battles his rival Brom Bones for the heart of Katrina. A costume contest will take place each night before the show. Bring your own chairs or blankets for seating.

Runs through Oct. 26.

IF YOU GO When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 Where: Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Lane Tickets: $10-$25 Info: Visit ThePlayers. org.

Vadim Gluzman | violin

‘SKYWAY’ ART EXHIBITION The triennial contemporary Florida art exhibition encompasses five museums in the Tampa Bay area this year. Even if you don’t have time to visit all five “Skyway” museums, check out The Ringling Museum of Art and the Sarasota Art Museum.

The Ringling features the multimedia works of 13 artists, running the gamut from Caitlin Albritton’s whimsical jewelry to Kiko Kotani’s breathtaking crocheted installations. SAM’s juxtapositions of multimedia works speak

Move over, “Suffs.” Sarasota’s got its own musical about the struggle for women’s suffrage. With her musical “Nineteen,” the multitalented Katherine Michelle Tanner celebrates the sacrifices and victories of suffragists on their long road to winning passage of the 19th amendment, ratified in 1920. Runs through Oct. 27.

‘THE LIGHTNING THIEF’ 7:30 p.m. at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1105 $25-$35 Visit RiseAboveArts.com.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

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IN OUR TIME OF NEED THESE 3 SARASOTA LEADERS

WERE THERE FOR US Kyle Scott

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ARE YOU EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP AFTER HURRICANE MILTON? CALL THE STATE ASSISTANCE INFORMATION LINE

CALL 800-342-3557

OR VISIT SarasotaFL.gov

Hurricane Relief & Recovery Standing With First Responders Getting Our Community Back On Track

TUESDAY, NOV. 5

REMEMBER THE NAMES: Battie, Alpert, & Arroyo

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

Lori Sax

Michael Garey opened Longboat Key’s Lazy Lobster 15 years ago with co-owner Bob Fracalossy.

15 YEARS N OF LAZY LOBSTER

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Despite two hurricanes, Lazy Lobster opens its doors, hoping to bring comfort to Longboaters as it celebrates a milestone on the island.

Courtesy image

o matter what their damage was, every customer had a story.

This is what co-owners Michael and Catherine Garey recalled when the Lazy Lobster was one of the first restaurants to open after Hurricane Helene. Its first night back was packed with regulars searching for normalcy after being disheartened as they returned to the island.

Customers expressed their gratitude for being open so quickly, and this stuck with the Gareys. So, it was a no-brainer to open right away when they were spared from damage a second time after Hurricane Milton hit.

As Michael Garey prepared to open after Milton on Oct. 15, it dawned on him that it was the 15th anniversary of the Lazy Lobster.

After years of being a place of delicious cuisine and community for the island, he didn’t envision celebrating this milestone as one of the only restaurants open after hurricane season wrecked Longboat Key. WHERE IT ALL STARTED

The story of the beloved eatery actually started more than 15 years ago, in 1979, when 20-year-old Garey was a busboy at Cafe L’Europe and co-owner Bob Fracalossy worked alongside him as the butcher.

Garey described these formative years to be the foundation for his career. He named his mentor Titus Letschert, who started Cafe L’Europe, one of the hardest workers he had ever met.

“Titus was a huge influence on my life,” said Garey. “He worked day and

night in Cafe L’Europe for years, seven days a week. So early on, I would do the same, work day and night and sometimes sleep in the restaurant throughout the week. He taught me this work ethic and passion that brought me my love to serve. It has always been something I’ve enjoyed.”

Garey and Fracalossy rose quickly through the years at Cafe L’Europe, with Fracalossy becoming the sous chef and Garey becoming general manager. They built a close friendship by working together every day and bouncing ideas off each other to keep customers coming back.

DYNAMIC DUO

In 1994, the duo moved off of the circle and onto the island to start up Cafe on the Bay, what is now Portofino Ristorante and Bar at Longboat Key Club. Fracalossy was the chef there for five years, but Garey started as its manager for a few months before returning to Cafe L’Europe.

After that, Garey and Fracalossy went their separate ways in the food industry. While staying in contact throughout the years, the pair’s strong friendship soon inspired the idea of owning a restaurant together.

Building off of this, Fracalossy bought the original Lazy Lobster on Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota in 2007. After working years on Longboat, the two thought it would be a better place to accomplish their restaurant dreams.

BECOMING LAZY LOBSTER

The current location of Lazy Lobster became available in 2009 and was known as an unlucky place for restaurants since they wouldn’t stay open for long.

Knowing this information, Garey and Fracalossy still wanted to keep an open mind when considering it.

Garey decided to bring his wife to have dinner to see if it was worth purchasing the spot.

“It ended up being us and one other couple having dinner at the restaurant,” said Garey. “I told her on the way out, ‘I want you to think about this with fresh eyes. We got a full parking lot and an unused ter-

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race and put that with Bob’s food.’

When I told her that, she was convinced. That was in July. We made a quick turnaround sale and opened on Oct. 15, 2009. It did take a long two weeks, but after that, we know we hit on something.”

Garey said the first two weeks were chaotic. On that first weekend, the internet provider went out, which caused trouble with placing reservations and orders. Garey remembered standing on the side of Gulf of Mexico Drive, yelling into his phone, trying to book reservations because he had terrible cell service then.

After the first two weeks, Lazy Lobster took off. It is now a staple restaurant for Longboaters and a comfort to come back to after the hurricane season Longboat had.

“It is known as people’s neighborhood restaurant and that was our goal,” said Garey. “We didn’t have a fine dining pretense, and I think the island was grateful to have a more reasonably priced restaurant. There were already great restaurants out here that are going to do fine dining better than we could ever do. So, we decided to stick to our Lazy Lobster.”

As the Lazy Lobster grew, Garey was established as a pillar on Longboat with his heavy involvement in the community, such as being the former president of the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club and the chair of its Lawn Party for years.

With the hurricane hitting before its anniversary, the Lazy Lobster wasn’t able to celebrate it the way it wanted. Currently, it has a promotion where customers can enjoy $15 off of an online gift card of $115 or more until Oct. 31.

As the island gets back to normal, it plans to celebrate in more ways and give customers opportunities to enjoy more 15-year-themed specials.

“I have been in this industry since I was 17,” said Garey. “My favorite part about this hasn’t changed. The relationships I have built here make it all worth it. Some of our customers have become our best friends. So, there is no other place that I’d rather be doing business in the Tampa Bay area than Longboat Key.”

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Titus Letschert and Michael Garey

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Longboat Key businesses moving forward Businesses recount on how they were affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and wonder what the high season on Longboat will look like.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

L

ongboat Key Club Managing Director Rick Konsavage’s priority after Hurricane Milton was to give members a sense of normalcy.

“The wind did some pretty serious stuff, landscaping-wise,” said Konsavage. “Trees were everywhere. It was like Jurassic Park out there. We spent that first weekend cleaning as much as we could to be able to put on some activities because everything else on the island is canceled. The people need something to do after these crazy weeks.”

A week after Milton, the resort is open with restaurants available for

reservations and golf and pickleball clinics on the schedule. But even with sprinkles of normalcy after two hurricanes, Konsavage and other businesses can’t help but be concerned about what this high season on Longboat Key will look like.

Lazy Lobster was among the first few restaurants on Longboat Key to open back to the public.

“It will honestly probably be a year until Longboat Key will have a normal season again,” said co-owner of Lazy Lobster Michael Garey. “Especially with most of the home rentals on the island being destroyed.

We really count on them to bring in snowbirds and vacationers for business during the season.”

Garey was surprised to see the

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Heather Rippy moved all her inventory out of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden to clean up after Hurricane Helene.

restaurant packed around lunch and dinner times after the hurricanes. He said each customer expressed gratitude for being open and spreading some hope after a hard couple of weeks.

Other businesses were not as lucky. Around five buildings of Harry’s Continental Kitchens were flooded during Hurricane Helene, which made it lose all its equipment.

During Hurricane Milton, three roofs were damaged.

After a week of recovery, Harry’s Corner Store is open for people to stop in for quick bites and essentials.

“We are trying to take it one day at a time,” said General Manager Hal Christensen. “We are hoping to be fully open by the beginning of November, but that is us hoping.

I think with people knowing that the hurricanes went through here, it probably isn’t on their top list of places to go right now.”

Cafe L’Europe received about five feet of water throughout its restaurant after Helene, along with damaging its sliding glass doors and ruining all its equipment. After laying off most of its staff for unemployment benefits, the restaurant doesn’t have a time line for when it will be ready to open yet.

Executive Vice President Eleni Sokos said they are taking this as an opportunity to reimagine how Cafe L’Europe serves the community.

With the effects the recent storms have had on St. Armands Circle, she believes a call to action is in order.

“This is the third time this season that the Circle has been flooded, and it has impacted all of us heavily,” said Sokos. “We need to figure out a resiliency plan to help these businesses stay operational or no one will want to do business on St. Armands Circle.

It’s looking at the storm pumps and figuring out what kind of flood barriers the community can invest in.”

Heather Rippy, the owner of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden in

inventory back. In the meantime, she has been selling items online.

Rippy has documented her experience through the shop’s Instagram page and was overwhelmed with care and support from her friends and customers.

“It’s just a good time for people to remember to support local business,” said Rippy. “Being closed for three weeks is a huge setback. We are paying out of pocket for all the work that has to be done after these storms, so hopefully, people can come to our aid to make sure we do have a season this year.”

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Whitney Plaza, was grateful that her shop only received four inches of water during Hurricane Helene compared to her house in the Village, which was flooded with two-anda-half feet. When Milton hurdled towards the Gulf Coast, Rippy was scared that her shop would be next.

Thankfully, the shop was spared from any damage, and she is working to restore it to its previous state.

Before Milton, Rippy spread her inventory between different friends’ houses to ensure its safety. She recently replaced the store’s sheetrock and is working on bringing

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

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Petra Rivera

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene at Cafe L’Europe.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Organizations help heal Longboat Services offer relief and support for Longboat residents PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

D

uring the exchange of peace at its Sunday service on Oct. 20, congregants at All Angels By the Sea Episcopal Church lingered longer than usual, chatting with their friends and making their way around the room to say hi to everyone.

“Exchanging peace today with everyone was different,” said congregant Carol Erker. “It was a bit moving.

People were just grateful to see each other after this time away and are looking forward to healing everything we lost from these past few weeks.”

After weeks of hurricane fatigue, the Rev. David Marshall at All Angels and other community organizations recognized the need for a space of healing on Longboat as residents try to move forward. With this in mind, he led a gratitude and healing Sunday service on Oct. 20 and was astonished by the turnout.

“The beginning part of healing

is gratitude,” said Marshall in his sermon. “This sense of gratitude is what set the early church apart from many others, and I would argue that our sense of gratitude is still what is setting us apart right now. What we do here through gratitude will bring healing out into our community, and our community will continue to bring gratitude and healing out into the world.”

After Marshall’s encouraging sermon, congregants got the opportunity to have healing prayers and chat with friends at the after-service coffee hour.

Marshall held the church’s first healing service the Sunday after Helene. Continuing the pattern, he led a more intimate service in the house of Music Director David Stasney on Oct. 13. The 20 congregants said the service was crucial to giving them hope as they came back to the island after Milton.

Marshall hopes to continue to make All Angels a space for people who feel welcomed after weeks of

Petra Rivera

displacements. They will continue with normal activities such as discussion groups, choir practices and services in the upcoming weeks.

Similarly, Christ Church of Longboat Key was delighted to be back on the island on Oct. 20 after weeks of worshipping with Kirkwood Church in Bradenton. The Rev. Julia Piermont led its service at 10 a.m. with a snack hour afterward to provide a space for people to rekindle friendships after weeks of being off the island.

The Paradise Center will also be focusing on themes of healing for its classes during the month of October. People can attend free classes that focus on resetting the nervous

system, such as sound baths, yoga, Pilates, qigong and tai chi.

Taking over for the usual current events discussion on Mondays, retired therapist Scott Anstadt will be leading a storm-related support group from 1 to 2:30 p.m. for people to speak about their experiences during and after hurricane season.

“We’ve been in trauma mode for weeks now,” said Paradise Center Wellness Director Debby Debile. “So, these particular programs are going to help us come out of that trauma zone and come back into our bodies so that we can actually feel things again and begin to heal physically and emotionally.”

The Rev. David Marshall praying over BJ and David Bishop at All Angels By the Sea Episcopal Church.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

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ONE PARK SARASOTA CONDO CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING AT THE QUAY Downtown Sarasota’s waterfront district buzzed with excitement on October 1st as One Park Sarasota broke ground on its 18-story luxury tower. This 86-residence condominium, offering over 40,000 square feet of amenities, is a joint development by PMG and MoneyShow in The Quay’s bayside community. Coldwell Banker Realty’s Chelsa Vahtomin and Robert Robinson exclusively lead the sales team for One Park Sarasota.

“One Park Sarasota embodies our longstanding commitment to redefining luxury in Downtown Sarasota’s Waterfront District,” said Kevin Maloney, founder and CEO of PMG. “We are thrilled to officially break ground on this project and move forward with delivering a truly premier residential destination to The Quay. We are confident it will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of elevated living along Florida’s Gulf Coast.”

Alongside the groundbreaking marked by a traditional shovel

turn, buyers and local dignitaries gathered to celebrate the occasion with light bites, mimosas, and live music. The event also featured brief remarks from leaders of the One Park Sarasota development team.

kitchens, and high-end Italian cabinetry in both kitchens and bathrooms. Designer-curated flooring options include porcelain, marble, or wood throughout.

“Reaching One Park Sarasota’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for the city of Sarasota and its residents,” said Kim Githler, chair and CEO of MoneyShow. “With beautiful design, one-of-a-kind amenities, and an unbeatable location, this project will undoubtedly enrich our community’s residential landscape for years to come. We are proud to partner with PMG and contribute this signature project to Sarasota’s skyline.”

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Designed by Sarasota-based Hoyt Architects, One Park Sarasota will offer 86 fully finished threebedroom residences, each with stunning views of Sarasota Bay, the city skyline, and its neighbor The Bay. The residences feature contemporary lighting packages, built-out closets, fully integrated

Expansive glass walls, private terraces, midnight bars in primary bedrooms, and PMG’s advanced smart home technology ensure an unprecedented level of comfort and efficiency. The tower also includes top-floor penthouses and ground-level townhomes, each

with private rooftops, summer kitchens, and plunge pools.

Beyond its meticulously designed residences, One Park will feature an elevated amenity level brimming with resort-style features. The highlight is a pool area featuring two plunge pools, plenty of lounge chairs, and inviting social spaces. A state-of-the-art Fitness Studio will be equipped with the latest equipment, dedicated rooms for Pilates and spin, and an outdoor yoga/ fitness lawn.

The One Park Wellness Spa offers a tranquil retreat complete with a Hammam Spa and separate saunas for men and women. Entertainment options include a private theater room, a golf room, a wine and piano lounge, an owner’s lounge, and a hospitality suite.

Additional premium services provided by the dedicated concierge staff encompass valet parking, package delivery, and dog walking.

Residences at One Park Sarasota will be priced from the $2 millions. To learn more about this landmark address, visit OneParkSarasota.com or call 941-225-4447.

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just south of First Street in ARTIST CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

Downtown Sarasota.

5B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

A Message to Our Community Together, we rise For nearly 50 years, this region has been more than just a place we do business—it’s where we call home. As we face the challenges brought by recent storms, we are reminded of the incredible resilience and unity that define our community. While there is much to rebuild and restore, these moments also offer opportunities to reimagine the future of this vibrant place we share.

As part of that commitment, the below offices are open to serve as community hubs—providing free WiFi, water, and a welcoming space where you’ll always find a friendly face. Whether you need a place to recharge, connect, or simply take a moment to breathe, we are here for you.

Downtown Sarasota | 1605 Main Street Lakewood Ranch | 8325 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard Bradenton | 4400 Manatee Avenue W Palmer Ranch | 8660 S Tamiami Trail Siesta Key | 5100 Ocean Boulevard Longboat Key | 440 Gulf of Mexico Drive Plantation | 490 Rockley Boulevard Venice | 110 Nokomis Avenue N Punta Gorda | 101 Taylor Street

Nowhere but here.

427594-1

6B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

OCT. 7-11

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR Editor’s note: Because Sarasota County offices were closed for Hurricane Milton, this week’s real estate includes transactions from Sarasota.

REAL ESTATE

Condominium in Windward Bay tops week’s sales at $712,000

7B

A

condominium in Windward Bay tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Seth and Carrie Kalinsky, of Chantilly, Virginia, sold their Unit 205 condominium at 4540 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Thomas Stieber and Claudia Fraser Stieber, of Longboat Key, for $712,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,312 square feet of living area. It sold for $740,000 in 2021.

FAIRWAY BAY

Brigitte Boltz and Klaus Hansen, of Simsbury, Connecticut, sold their Unit 155 condominium at 1930 Harbourside Drive to Robert Louis Fischer and Marjorie Anne Lane, of Potomac, Maryland, for $530,000.

Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,270 square feet of living area. It sold for $175,000 in 1985.

SIESTA COVE

George Rauch IV and Kathleen

Image courtesy of the Zarghami Group

Hogan Rauch, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5317 Siesta Court to Lennartz Investments LLC for $1,395,000. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,918 square feet of living area.

It sold for $629,600 in 2013.

4822 Ocean Blvd. to Michael Sondel and Melissa McKay, of Boston, for $860,000. Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,991 square feet of living area. It sold for $669,000 in 2021.

SIESTA TOWERS

ONLINE

Jeffrey Milone and Linda Ann Insano-Milone, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 4-C condominium at

Brigitte Boltz and Klaus Hansen, of Simsbury, Connecticut, sold their Unit 155 condominium at 1930 Harbourside Drive to Robert Louis Fischer and Marjorie Anne Lane, of Potomac, Maryland, for $530,000.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Courtesy image

George Rauch IV and Kathleen Hogan Rauch, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5317 Siesta Court to Lennartz Investments LLC for $1,395,000.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Oct. 11-17 in order of dollar amounts.

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

LONGBOAT KEY Address

Permit

Applicant

3970 Gulf of Mexico Drive

New Con – Res

Jonathan V. Trust

Amount $1,624,067

Beukelman Revocable

1590 Harbor Sound Drive

Alt/Renovation

Sachin Kamath

$586,325

2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive #13E Alt/Renovation

Bruce Beckstein

$370,579

5211 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Re-roof

Covert III Owners of 5211 $227,758

550 Harbor Point Road

Swimming Pool/Spa Arrowhead Management $103,995

531 Chipping Lane

Alt/Renovation

Mitchell Revocable Living $128,041

784 Lyons Lane

Repair – Helene

KI Property Holdings LLC $100,000

636 Dream Island Road

Re-roof

Ginna Driscoll

$60,000

608 St. Judes Drive

Repair – Helene

Ben Jerman

$60,000

576 Cutter Lane

Re-roof

Peter Hall

$50,448

573 Outrigger Lane

Plumbing –

American XXVII LLC

$40,000

Michael Paton (TTEE)

$31,328

James Miklas

$24,500

Windows/Doors

Bernt Ivarsson

$22,652

Mechanical –

Dikran Kadagian

$18,034

Stephen Janecko

$18,000 $16,000

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

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

MOVE-IN SPRING 2024

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

GOLDEN GATE POINT

LONGBOAT KEY

New Construction 2055 Gulf of Mexico Drive #201 Electrical – Alt/Renovation 1085 Gulf of Mexico Drive #603 Plumbing – Water Heater 4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive

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

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

Unit 9E A/C Change Out 4525 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Electrical –

Unit 406

Alt/Renovation

3309 Sabal Cove Circle

Mechanical –

John T. Teller

A/C Change Out

Revocable Trust

Mechanical –

John McGrath

$15,319

Robert Spanos

$13,257

775 Longboat Club Road #208

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

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

A/C Change Out 759 Marbury Lane

Electrical – Other

Source: Town of Longboat Key

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

427646-1

700 Gulf Bay Road

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

YOUR CALENDAR

8B

Downtown Sarasota’s Premier Senior Rental Retirement Residence

Call 941-955-9099 To Schedule a Tour and Delicious Meal!

AldermanOaks.com 727 Hudson Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236

BEST BET OCT. 25-31

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER MOBILE ASSISTANCE At the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, 5390 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The Florida Small Business Development Center will be available at the Centre Shops in its mobile office through Courtesy image the rest of the month to Sue Wertman, Bob Weingartner and Kathy Pendleton provide in-person advice and relief to Longboat Key businesses affected by hurricanes. There will be opportunities to talk about emergency bridge loans, physical disaster loans and more. Open every day except Sundays. Call the Chamber at 383-2466 for any questions.

AL#8979

435008-1

MONDAY, OCT. 28

Provenance® Woven Woods Shades Operating Systems PowerView® Automation

PACKING FOR HOPE SEEDS AT CHRIST CHURCH 1-3 p.m. at Christ Church of Longboat Key, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Please join Christ Church as they come together to pack seeds, which are sent worldwide to feed the hungry in our world. Many of the seeds are sent to Haiti. Call 383-1731 to reserve your place.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

heraldtribune.com

WINNER

HURRICANE COLLECTION FOOD DRIVE 9-10:30 a.m. at Christ Church of Longboat Key, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Christ Church will be collecting food to donate to Our Daily Bread for hurricane relief. The nonprofit is asking for canned tuna, chicken, meats, dry pasta, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly, canned vegetables, coffee and condiments.

They would also appreciate donations of diapers (sizes 3,4,5), toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes and shampoo. Contact Sue Wertman at QuackBF@aol.com for any questions.

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS

941-925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com

Janet and Curt Mattson Owners

MONDAYS

4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

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 fit-

©2024 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved.

All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

‘COPING WITH OUR TIMES’ SUPPORT GROUP 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. The Paradise Center provides a space for people to share their hardships after being affected by two hurricanes. Retired therapist Scott Anstadt will discussion groups on all storm-related topics. Call 383-6493.

TUESDAYS

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

Free for the rest of October. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

QIGONG From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qigong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Free for the rest of October. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

BRINGING OLD WORLD CHARM TO FLORIDA SHORES

From festivals to performances and art exhibits, discover the wide variety of events happening in Sarasota and Manatee.

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

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT europeanholidaymarket.com Get events directly to your inbox.

JOIN TODAY!

432857-1

YourObserver.com/things-to-do

@europeanholidaymarket 435266-1

432923-1

Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989

RECURRING EVENTS

ness levels. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Free for the rest of October.

Call 383-6493.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

9B

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

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

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

7298 BELLEISLE GLEN, LAKEWOOD RANCH $600,000

2BD/2BA • 1,608 Sq.Ft. • Open Concept • Supreme Style • Meticulously Maintained & Updated • Picturesque Views

BIRD KEY

453 EAST ROYAL FLAMINGO DRIVE, SARASOTA $8,495,000 5BD/6BA • 4,500 Sq.Ft. • Pre-Construction Canal Front Property • Stunning Views of the Water

TIMBERLAKES

4583 TRAILS DRIVE, SARASOTA $668,000

3BD/2BA • 2,092 Sq.Ft. • Timeless Design & Comfort Versatile Den/Office • Lush, Tropical Backyard

DOWNTOWN

505 S ORANGE AVE, #401, SARASOTA $2,215,000

3BD/3.5BA • 3,003 Sq.ft. • Elegance Meets Modern Comfort • Private Foyer • Set In The Desirable Burns Court Area

BIRD KEY

410 MEADOW LARK DRIVE, SARASOTA $3,895,000

4BD/2.5BA • 3,257 Sq.Ft. • Waterfront Living • Open-Concept Floor Plan 16,000 LB Boat Lift

CONTACT US TODAY FOR YOUR PRIVATE TOUR

435212-1

443F John Ringling Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34236

10B

YourObserver.com

WEATHER

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

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.

Sunrise Sunset

High: 84 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 7%

Thursday, Oct. 24

7:36a

6:52p

Friday, Oct. 25

7:37a

6:51p

Saturday, Oct. 26

7:37a

6:51p

Sunday, Oct. 27

7:38a

6:50p

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

Monday, Oct. 28

7:39a

6:49p

High: 82 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 6%

Tuesday, Oct. 29

7:39a

6:48p

Wednesday, Oct. 30

7:40a

6:47p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, OCT. 27 High: 82 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 5%

Oct. 24 Last

Nov. 1 New

Nov. 8 First

Nov. 15 Full

TIDES Highs Lows

Diane Fairey captured this photo of a moon snail, sand dollar and alphabet cone along Lido Beach in Sarasota.

Thursday, Oct. 24

4:39a

10:53p

—

2:18p

Friday, Oct. 25

6:25a

10:32p

1:26a

3:22p

Saturday, Oct. 26

8:19a

10:36p

3:17a

4:11p

Sunday, Oct. 27

9:43a

10:45p

4:23a

4:47p

Monday, Oct. 28

10:43a

10:54p

5:09a

5:16p

Tuesday, Oct. 29

11:32a

11:02p

5:48a

5:40p

Wednesday, Oct. 30

12:17p

11:13p

6:24a

6:01p

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

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER by Evan Park and Jeffrey Martinovic, edited by Jeff Chen 46 Restaurant handout that

123 Some Bach compositions might have a maze 126 Fish often seen in ponds

48 With 32-Down, kit and

127 “The Lion King” antago-

caboodle

nist

50 “The ___ Family”

128 Noise heard between 36- 51 Portmanteau for some and 89-Down?

cutoffs

129 Ceasefires

54 Grow too old for services

130 Moody pop genre

56 “No need to repay me”

131 Sturdy trees

57 “___ no way!”

132 Firebug

60 With 93- and 102-Down,

133 Tug sharply at

they may pull nails

DOWN

61 Deleted

1 Big brand in motor oil 2 “Got it!”

3 Restaurant VIPs 4 Visible, as a blip 5 Result of stirring the pot, maybe 6 Tree with white bark 7 Business with a lot of dough 8 Break between flights 9 Awakened 10 Bon ___ 11 Popular pasta brand 12 Exams in higher education 13 Redding of R&B 14 Big name in web portals

©2024 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Triangular Indian snack 7 Noise heard between 26and 75-Down?

11 Noise heard before 35Down?

15 Ready-go connector

32 Rhymer of old

about a blind violinist

34 Things people have strong 64 Prez on the dime

of choice 90 Beginning of an idea

feelings about?

65 Visibly suffer

91 Shooting marble

37 Techy site

67 Lewd looks

94 Rugged wheels (Abbr.)

38 Best of the best

68 Paul Blart’s vehicle

95 Faces the pitcher

40 Whiskey alternative

69 Body art

97 Decisive rounds, briefly

41 It holds the line

70 Itch-causing plant

99 Like “mano a mano”

42 NPCs, in slang

72 It’s seen on seas

101 Indecent material

43 Nickname for Obama

73 “So frustrating!”

103 From a distance

45 “Citizen Kane” studio

74 Appears

106 Measure of speed in

47 Lots and lots

76 Austrian high rise?

Canada (Abbr.)

49 Islamic pilgrimage

77 Deactivate, as a bomb

108 Site of a Herculean task

22 Folklore witch

52 Navigation aid (Abbr.)

79 Largest Italian seaport

109 Apple supporter

81 “___ Robinson”

110 Pros who work at home?

24 Former capital of Japan

to wine

82 Ding or dent

113 Stack of paper

55 “Are you sure?”

83 Good blackjack holding

114 Day, in Montreal

58 ___ lane

84 Sequester, as a jury

115 Scholarly language

59 Ring announcement?

86 Personal write-up

116 Be in the red

60 Downed a brew

87 Inc. alternative

117 Overly lazy types

62 Supernatural horror film

88 Homer Simpson’s drink

119 Season

18 Wielder of the Infinity Stones 19 Judge who hit 62 home runs in 2022 21 Crafts’ partner

23 Get ready for a slow dance 53 Where water was turned 25 Schedule contingency 27 ___ measure 28 Goddess with a chariot 29 Fencer’s supply 31 October birthstone

15 One who fills out many forms?

16 Really bug 17 Neutrogena product 20 Without a service charge 26 With 7-Across and 75Down, “It wasn’t my fault!”

30 World Cup cry 32 Noise heard after 48Down?

33 Above 35 With 11-Across, karma, by another name 36 With 128-Across and 89-Down, working on a broad range of devices 37 Gets across 39 Airspeed measure 42 “Take that!” (var.)

44 Completely destroy

63 Yuletide quaff 65 Cafe modifier 66 Set with no set lines?

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“P ZL ZA ZBYWU ZAH P SPKD PA YGD RWUSH WV TUDYDAH PA LJ RWUFPAC BZTZBPYJ. P SPKD PA YGD RWUSH WV LJ PLZCPAZYPWA.”

“YI PIIE RLUWCLIJJNPZ. ULDIWYNRI JNTI VGRL ZUIR UP XPE UP, JNBI LDI PGFAIW MN.”

70 Brazilian dance 71 New music release, once 75 See 26-Down 78 Showmanship 80 Org. for elders 85 Al Capone’s foe 89 See 36-Down 91 Tedious task 92 Sailing

OLZPPU GYVZ, XP’E YFDWP BYSXAM Y OLZPPU IXAK, Y OLZPPU BZYLP YAK Y OLZPPU EDWN.” LYOOZL-EXAMZL KLYJZ

and 102-Down? roads 98 Boots, gloves and caps 100 Toy with ammo 102 See 60-Down 104 DOJ agency 105 Mother’s sisters 107 “Poof” alternative

LXNYXPIRI TNJFFXBIW XPZ JII

“FZYWPU XEA’P YFDWP BYSXAM Y

93 Noise heard between 6096 Vehicles that clear winter

HDUDF XZBWMP

Puzzle Three Clue: W equals U

121 Fanciful stories

celebrity cipher

Puzzle Two Clue: C equals U

crossword

426213-1

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

Flooring Made for Your Family

Puzzle One Clue: F equals K

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.

109 Sin city 110 Bird with brilliant plumage 111 “___ wants a cracker!”

112 Sentimental person 114 Tapper of CNN 115 Source of some headscratching 118 General mood 120 “Gangnam Style” singer 122 Apple Store download 124 Job posting inits.

125 Important digits, for short

©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

10-24-24

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

11B

REAL ESTATE BY REAL EXPERTS NEW PRICE

NO INTERIOR STORM DAMAGE

NO INTERIOR STORM DAMAGE SUTTON PLACE • 569 SUTTON PLACE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $479,000 3BR/2BA • 1,198 SF • Furnished • Gulf to Bay community Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

WEST OF TRAIL • 1886 PROSPECT STREET • SARASOTA • $2,599,000 4BR/4BA • 3,444 SF • Built in 2016 Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

NO INTERIOR STORM DAMAGE

NO INTERIOR STORM DAMAGE THE MEADOWS • 4737 CHANDLERS FORDE #14 • SARASOTA 2BR+OFFICE /2.5BA • 2,050 SF • Updated • $499,000 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.

BRUCE MYER GROUP

• OVER $120 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

NO INTERIOR STORM DAMAGE COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • 1180 BOGEY LANE • LONGBOAT KEY 2BR+DEN/2BA • 2,180 SF • Furnished • $950,000 Offering a 3% buyer broker compensation.

Several people have reached out to ask about their options for selling their homes in the aftermath of the storms, and relocating inland. Can you sell your home without making repairs? The answer is yes. But, ALWAYS have a licensed real estate agent or attorney check the contract before you sign.

PLEASE CONTACT US AT 941.376.5311 before proceeding down this road so that you are completely informed and receive the highest value of your property.

If you are needing any referrals for reliable handymen, contractors, landscapers, etc., we have those contacts to share with you — just give us a call!

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

432579-1

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.

12B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we stand with you in solidarity. Your resilience during this challenging time is truly inspiring. Together, we will rebuild and support one another as we navigate the path to recovery.

Lighthouse Point

2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive #204- Longboat Key $7,999,000

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

Epic 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.

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. 3-car garage with ample storage and a private 40' dock on a wide protected basin with direct Gulf access.

SE M U O 4P H 1N Y PE DA N

SU

2251GulfofMexicodr.2seeit.com

O

ARIA

www.65Lighthouse.com

L’Ambiance

415 L’Ambiance Drive #A401 - LongboatKey $5,840,000

415 L’Ambiance Drive #F608- $6,900,000 Contract available for assignment

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 24-hour guard gate, an Olympicsized 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 spot is included. L'Ambiance on Longboat Key is not just a residence; it's an exclusive lifestyle waiting for discerning buyers seeking the pinnacle of luxury living lambianceA401.com

Experience luxury living at its finest with this stunning Royal floorplan within L'Ambiance at Longboat Key Club: Turnkey furnished residence, thoughtfully curated, only a few items excluded. This exquisite residence features three bedrooms, office or bonus room, and three beautifully appointed bathrooms. Private elevator, soaring 10-foot ceilings, living and dining area adorned with stunning herringbone-patterned wood flooring. The residence has been fully renovated to the highest standards by Mark Sultana of DSDG, featuring premium Thermador appliances and new windows and doors. L'Ambiance on Longboat Key is not just a residence; it's an exclusive lifestyle waiting for discerning buyers seeking the pinnacle of luxury living O SU PE N N D H A O Y U 1- SE 4P M

L’Ambiance

The Water Club

North Siesta Key

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

21 & 25 Lands End Lane-$16,000,000

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

WaterClub105.com

Rare beachfront and bayfront estate-size homesite on North Siesta Key! This prime property offers stunning views of downtown Sarasota, Bird Key, and Lido from its expansive 120-foot private beach. Features include a deep water dock on Big Pass and 2 deeded boat slips in Bayou Louise's protected sailboat waters. Capture both sunrise and sunset.

21LandsEndLane.com JUDY John Ringling Blvd, Suite F | St. Armands Circle, FL 34236 | Kepecz@JudyHays.com | www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com

433989-1

WE PAY PROFESSIONAL FEE ON OUR LISTINGS TO THE BUYERS AGENT

Made for where you live. Here!

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

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

Real Estate Wanted

Dr. in Lakeland, Fl looking to rent a dock to accommodate a 45 ft.

Hatteras sport fisherman on Longboat Key or Sarasota.

Contact Dr. Tom Wilson: 941-739-8077

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

Free House Calls.

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

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

Merchandise Wanted WANTED TO BUY Vintage/Old Costume Jewelry, Vintage Pottery & Glass. 978-390-8803

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! 941-955-4888

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

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

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

L’AMBIANCE, LONGBOAT KEY Beach front 2BR/3BA condo on high floor with wrap-around terrace, 270 degree views over the Gulf, Sarasota Bay and LBK Club.

Sunrises, sunsets through floor to ceiling windows. View at: www.thephotos.smugmug.com Call John at: 203-984-8477 or E-mail: garment@optonline.net LONGBOAT KEY: Beachfront Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking.

Call 941-383-3338.

Call for a FREE Evaluation!

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

RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, Vacation Rentals, and Construction Cleaning. Power washing and windows.

Detailed and dependable.

941-744-7983.

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.

TRANSFORM YOUR HOME with MK Construction Group LLC. Upgrade your kitchen, bathroom, or remodel your entire home with MK Construction Group LLC. Our expert team delivers high-quality craftsmanship and personalized service to bring your vision to life. Visit mkcsinc.com to schedule your consultation today and start your journey to a beautifully remodeled space.

FL CRC1334351

Use the RED PAGES to clean out your garage CALL 941-955-4888

(941) 225-8602 www.mkcsinc.com

This week’s Crossword answers

©2022 Universal Uclick

BUY STUFF HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

Home Services

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

HURRICANE RECOVERY SERVICES We hope this message finds you safe in the aftermath of the hurricane. As our community begins to recover, RIM Express is here to support you every step of the way, and we have expanded our range of services to include Storm Debris and Fallen Tree Removal, Mitigation and Remediation, Water Damage Restoration, Demolition, and Cleanup. Our Home Remodeling Services will continue uninterrupted.

(941) 888-4434 www.storm-cleanup.com

Auto Service

Puzzle Two Solution: “We need storytelling. Otherwise life just goes on and on, like the number pi.”

Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee Puzzle Three Solution: “Beauty isn’t about having a pretty face, it’s about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart and a pretty soul.”

Rapper-singer Drake

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 NEA, Inc.

Let our Network Handle All your Building Needs

WE COME TO YOU

Construction Estimating • Custom Homes • Design Build We Prepare Estimates to Challenge Insurance Companies *Hurricane/Flood/Fire

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HoHoBuysCars.com

Puzzle One Solution: “I am an actor and I live in the world of pretend in my working capacity. I live in the world of my imagination.”

Derek Jacobi

Professional Contractors Network, Inc.

& UPHOLSTERY

941.270.4400

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Contractor

Nora’s SELL YOUR CAR! Fabrics FAST • EASY • SAFE 433654

Cleaning

EPIC HOME CARE Personal Care-Respite Care Alzheimer’s Care Light Cleaning Med Administration Meal Prep Shopping, Errands & More

Houses or Condos

www.rentalsonlongboat.com

M-F 10 to 4 / Sat 10 to 1

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

Between

7300 Manatee Ave W Beachway Plaza (941) 545.7319

Sell Your Item for Free! $200 or less YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com/RedPages

SEASONAL RATES

Alterations/Upholstery

Want Some Mad Money?

Visit the

Beachfront, Bayfront and In

STORM ANGELS - Cash or Contract for your property. 48 hrs.

Call Tony 573-216-7000

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

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RED PAGES

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SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

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Boat Slips for Rent/Sale

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

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

Best care for your loved one.

References avail. Marina 786-906-8103

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

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

You’re only cheating yourself.

GRILL BLACKSTONE Outdoor Griddle Black 4 Burner/propane w/ Cover $175 (941) 920-2494

Autos Wanted

real estate

Items Under $200

Adult Care Services

Auto Transport

peekers’ place

auto

stuff

CASH HOME BUYER - We make fair cash offers on houses based on its condition. Water damaged property is ok. We can close quickly. Call Jeff at 941-202-6957.

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

Painting

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Email Project Information: PCNestimating@gmail.com 941-527-9414

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Attorney

Home Watch

CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION

Divorce without Lawyers

REMODELING • CONDO RENOVATIONS

CARING HANDS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME.

941-281-5539 | kathy@longboatkeyhomewatch.com www.longboatkeyhomewatch.com

MIC INSURANCE

William J. Leininger, JD

433636

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc. Building & Roofing Contractor

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

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

General Contractors

FLORIDA PERMIT EXPERTS

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

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

Full Service General Contractor All Industrial/Commercial Projects Residential Jobs Over $50,000.

Transportation

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE “Luxury for Less”

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

SPECIALTIES:

433657

Investor & Property Management Company Assistance Resolving Stop Work Orders Engineer/Architect Referrals

433186

FloridaPermitExpert.com - 689.286.1509 Handyman

941 - 248 - 4734

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

All Florida Airports, Concerts & Dinners - Hourly Cruise Ships & Medical | See Specials at: www.blacklabelcarservice.com

Windows

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

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941-955-4888

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

Painting

433219

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

Roofing

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

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Formerly known as Sunrise Windows

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UP TO

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Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

STANDARD WINDOWS

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

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FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

INCLUDING SCREENS, TR ACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00

Realtors

Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

160

25 $

5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

WE MAKE FAIR CASH OFFERS BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

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

You Pay NO Realtor Commissions or Fees!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

• We Buy In “As Is Condition”

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

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Call 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

GROW

• We are Local Cash Buyers • We Provide The Flexibility You Want

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YOUR BUSINESS

• We Also Buy Land and Condos

WE ALWAYS PAY CASH

Advertise as low as $85 per week.

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www.BradentonCashHomeBuyers.com

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

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772

CBC1265487

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We have mediated divorces involving up to 15 million dollars of assets over past 30 years.

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Insurance

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Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388

510 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE • LONGBOATRELOCATED KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST BANK) OFFICE1TEMPORARILY

CHUBB, AIG, UNIVERSAL, UNITED, SAFECO, PROGRESSIVE, VAULT, FLOOD, WE HAVE YOU COVERED!

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CGC1507540

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

941-544-1152

433638

433673

Exclusively serving Longboat Key residents.

Storm-ready home preparations Handyman & concierge services

410036

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.

Lic. in FL since 2004

Remodeling/Home Improvement

433639

14B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

15B

ARTIST CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

DOWNTOWN’S Premier Bayfront Tower BEGINS CONSTRUCTION One Park residences was imagined to inspire every resident with incredible panoramic views, sophisticated design, impeccable finishes, and artisanal quality craftsmanship. Having recently broken ground, Sarasota is one step closer to experiencing a new standard of luxury living.

Fully Finished Private Residences from the Mid $2 Millions

ARTIST CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

ARTIST CONCEPTUAL RENDERING

Schedule a Private Presentation to Learn More 941 232 7035 • OneParkSarasota.com Sales Gallery: 20 N Lemon Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236

433277-1

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the State of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices, square footage and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. This is a limited time offer. Developer may withdraw offering at any time. Coldwell Banker® is a registered licensed trademark. *Contact sales associate for further details.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

AY WE P

3IS% TO SION

L COMM SSIONA E F PRO ROKERS CO-B

401 QUAY COMMONS # 1 1 0 1 Move right into this exceptional, turnkey-furnished downtown Ritz residence, designed with impeccable style and luxury. Located on the 11th floor, this corner unit boasts stunning panoramic views of the yacht harbor at Quay Sarasota, extending over Sarasota Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Every inch of this contemporary home exudes sophistication and is thoughtfully appointed for effortless living.

Through the grand double-door entry, you are greeted by nearly 3,800 square feet of open-concept living, with 11-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling impact glass windows framing breathtaking water and city views from every angle. As part of a Ritz-Carlton managed property, you will enjoy an unparalleled level of service and worldclass amenities, making this the ultimate in convenient, luxury living.

$6,995,000 • 3,798 square feet heated • 3 bedrooms + den. 31/2 bathrooms

• 2 secure parking spaces, airconditioned storage • Offered turnkey furnished •

Three terraces

• Luxurious Ritz-Carlton community amenities

• ww.RitzResidences1101.com

TO

$7,999,000

4207 MARINA VIEW WAY

3030 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #346 $2,295,000

This exceptional Antigua residence at Grand Bay, perched 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 B U YE R’ S

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

$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

$2,495,000

The essence of downtown luxury living awaits at this gorgeous 4th-floor, 3,100+ SF Beau Ciel residence in the heart of Sarasota’s city center. Includes private elevator, two secure parking spaces, and first-rate community amenities. www.BeauCiel404.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

990 BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS #404

2945 PYRULA DRIVE

B U YE R’ S

Boasting 4BR and nearly 7,000 SF of meticulously updated interior and exterior, this Bay Isles Harbor boater’s sanctuary offers many bonuses including 4-car garage with golf simulator, new (2022) dock and lift. www.500HarborPoint.com B U YE R’ S

$4,495,000

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

545 SANCTUARY DRIVE #B806

500 HARBOR POINT ROAD

TO

B U YE R’ S TO

201 NORTH WASHINGTON DRIVE

B U YE R’ S

B U YE R’ S

$15,000,000

Introducing a brand-new, direct Gulf-front masterpiece, set on over 1/4-acre and crafted by Vertical Design Build.

Still in the early stages so there is time to make your personal selections to this planned 4,900+SF residence! www.6603GulfsideRoad.com

TO

6603 GULFSIDE ROAD

TO

TO

B U YE R’ S

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

TO

$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

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. 417332-1

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