On Dec. 2, Mayor Ken Schneier hung an orange tapestry on the town commission’s dais, a “hand mural” sent by the town of Mexico Beach, Florida.
The community of Mexico Beach was devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and received a similar mural from a town in New York. Now, it was time for it to return the favor and pay it forward.
In a letter with the mural, Mayor Richard Wolff of Mexico Beach said it took the town until now to feel it was back in order and in a place to pay it forward.
Schneier said Longboat Key will continue the trend and pay it forward with another mural to another town in need when the town is fully recovered.
Cafe L’Europe chef gets promotion
Cafe L’Europe fans were in for a treat at Thanksgiving dinner at Anna Maria Oyster Bar.
Cafe L’Europe Chef Will Parard created the menu and led the kitchen team for its big Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 28. This was his first event as head of culinary in Oysters Rock Hospitality Restaurant Group, which oversees all Anna Maria Oyster Bars and Cafe L’Europe.
The beloved restaurant on St. Armands Circle has been closed since September, when Hurricane Helene caused major flooding. Most of its staff was laid off because of the uncertain time line for its return.
Cafe L’Europe is hoping to open up in January with a new menu concept. Sokos said they are looking for a new chef to fill Parard’s position.
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Lights, themes, decorations highlight Christmas in the Garden. PAGE 16
St. Armands Circle lights up for the holidays with the Holiday Night of Lights on Dec. 6. SEE PAGE 4
Carter Weinhofer
The handmade tapestry was sent to Longboat Key from Mexico Beach.
Melissa Leduc
Will Parard and Jason Simpson
Longboater Shelia Loccisano decorated a tree inspired by
WEEK OF DEC. 5, 2024
BY THE NUMBERS
n
“Beaches
stand as your first line of defense, and they did their job. But it came at a cost.”
— Town Manager Howard Tipton on the town’s beaches after Hurricanes Helene and Milton Read more on page 3
Utility undergrounding update
At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Dec. 2 meeting, Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman updated commissioners on the town’s project to bury utilities. The project was supposed to be finished by the end of 2024, but Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused delays. Florida Power & Light, which oversees the project along with Wilco Electrical, had to divert resources to other parts of the state in the aftermath of the two hurricanes.
Now, FPL and Wilco have returned to the island to continue the project.
Brownman said debris on the town’s roads and right-of-ways also created some obstacles for the project team.
The team had to work around where debris and piles of sand remained.
The town has since made significant progress with the debris removal, and sand removal is ongoing. This will help clear the way to finish the project.
The time line remains un-
certain, but Brownman said he’s hopeful the town’s system will be entirely underground in about six to nine weeks.
According to Brownman, it’s likely to take about two months after the system is underground to remove all overhead poles on the island.
The goal, then, is to complete conversions by the end of January 2025 and remove the poles by sometime late March 2025, Brownman said.
SMH system upgrade
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has announced plans to replace its electronic health records systems with a single, integrated platform by industry leader Epic. When fully implemented over the next two years, the new platform will replace multiple standalone and ancillary systems, streamline processes for care providers and provide tools to optimize the delivery of patient care. The total investment in the new technology is $160 million.
According to a news release, Epic will allow the seamless exchange of patients’ health information using one EHR platform across all Sarasota Memorial providers and facilities, providing care teams with the ability to better coordinate patient care regardless of location. Epic’s technology includes artificial intelligence and predictive modeling to provide clinicians with timely insights to enhance care.
FEMA deadlines extended
The deadline for residents to apply for federal assistance after hurricanes Milton and Helene has been extended to Jan. 7, 2025, Sarasota County has announced.
Homeowners and renters with losses from Hurricanes Milton and Helene may be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency financial aid for displacement, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses.
Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362.
If you had damage from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, you will need to apply separately for each disasters and provide the dates of your damage for each. For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene recovery information, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby recovery information, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4806.
Hurricane hat trick washes LBK beaches
CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER
Longboat Key’s beaches might look a little different to snowbirds returning for the season. Hurricane Helene is largely to blame.
“Beaches stand as your first line of defense, and they did their job. But it came at a cost,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said at the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Nov. 12 workshop.
Interim Director of Public Works
Charlie Mopps was joined by Dr. Al Browder, senior coastal engineer of The Foth Cos., to present the annual beach update on Nov. 12.
Estimates from Browder’s team showed that Longboat Key’s beaches have lost about 60% of the sand that’s been placed on the island since 2021. A good portion of that was lost this summer.
“The triple threat basically took a lot of our sand away,” Mopps said.
All three storms — Debby, Helene and Milton — brought big waves, but it’s the storm surge that caused the most damage.
“The question, really, and the differences in impacts, has a lot more to do with how high was the surge level at the time those big waves came rolling up on the beach,” Browder said. “And that’s where the real distinction between events comes in ... Hurricane Helene is the primary story here in all of this damage to the beach.”
The storm surge in Helene reached over six-and-a-half feet, according to estimates by Browder and others.
After Milton delivered one last punch on the island this hurricane season, Browder’s team took another look at Longboat Key’s beaches.
They estimated that about 643,000 cubic yards of sand eroded from the beach and the dunes.
About 12 cubic yards of sand per foot of beach was moved among the three storms.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean lost, but it got moved from the place where we wanted it. You want it on the beach, you want it on the dunes, you want the wide recreational space,” Browder said.
When considering the amount of sand offshore and still in the island’s “system,” the amount lost is more like 407,300 cubic yards.
That’s what will be considered a loss in the town’s claim to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency won’t view the offshore sand as “lost,” Browder said.
Looking at the beach, it has visible differences from before the summer. Less vegetation, flatter.
“All the vegetation has been severely stripped back, but there’s still a substantial volume of the dune still in place,” Browder said. “So it took quite a beating, but it definitely prevented a lot of damage.”
The fact the dunes look different is a testament to their effectiveness.
“If that dune feature wasn’t there prior to Helene and this insane year that we’ve had, there’d be a good chance that we’d still be rebuilding GMD,” Mopps said about the importance of the dunes.
EROSION HOT-SPOT SOLUTIONS
Before the storms, Browder said the island’s beaches were performing as expected. The current groin structures on the north end were stabilizing the shoreline and building the
Town staff and coastal consultants explained how the dunes lost height and vegetation, and pressed the need for a long-term solution to one of the island’s most erosive areas.
AUGUST 9, 2024
beach. There still exists some “hot spot” problem areas, though, even before the hurricanes.
“The midkey shoreline experienced a lot of erosion consistent with the historical trends that we normally see,” Mopps said The Gulfside Road beach is the main problem.
This naturally erosive beach’s problems are exacerbated by manmade seawalls on that road and, at a previous commission meeting, Mopps and Browder told commissioners a short-term and long-term solution was likely necessary to fix the problem.
Now, the town is in the middle of an interim beach nourishment project to place 80,000 cubic yards of sand on the Gulfside Road beach, dredged from Longboat Pass.
The bid price was around $2.5 million for the sand placement, with an all-in estimate of $2.7 million when considering mobilization and other factors.
Mopps said, if the town can get this completed quickly, there’s a good chance of full reimbursement from a Florida Department of Environmental Protection program.
Either way, Mopps said the town will likely get some money from the FDEP for this project.
Going forward, Browder believes
OCTOBER 15, 2024
a groin field at Gulfside Road is the right solution and a necessary one.
“You can’t afford to continue to throw sand out there over and over and over again forever,” Browder said.
This will include eight groins, seven of which are T-head groins, named for the shape of the structures. The structures will get smaller as they go south, a gradual transition that’s necessary to prevent a steep dropoff.
All of them will be largely made of gravel-filled geotextile material with rocks to create the end of the T. The rocks are easy to manipulate and can be moved to adjust down the road, if necessary, Browder said.
It’s a delicate arrangement, according to Browder. The structures
need to lock down the sand but can’t be arranged in a way that could cause more problems down the beach.
District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams expressed concern about potential down-drift effects, but Browder assured her that modeling allows the engineers to prevent such effects.
Plus, Browder said FDEP permits are extensive and would assess these possibilities.
NEXT STEPS Commissioners didn’t raise much opposition to the idea of a longterm solution at Gulfside Road, and Browder said the team is preparing to go into the permitting process for this project.
This will be a long process, though.
“Big structures placed on the open coast is a big permitting deal, so they’re going to take their time evaluating this,” Browder said.
In the meantime, Mopps and town staff will have to work with FEMA to try to get reimbursed for the lost sand from this summer’s hurricanes.
After the town knows if it will get monetary compensation, staff can create more certain plans.
“It sounds like the next thing we need to do is figure out whether or not we’re going to get 407,000 cubic yards paid for, or largely paid for,” Schneier said. “Once we know that, we can come back to decide on some options, how to deploy that
... and if we want to do more.”
sand
Courtesy images
The proposed groin field on the Gulfside Road shoreline would include seven T-head groins and one structure off of the Ohana seawall.
An aerial picture of the beach near Bayfront Park shortly after Hurricane Debby shows the state of the beach before Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Debby had minimal damage on the beach.
An aerial picture of the beach near Bayfront Park in October 2024 shows how storm surge washed over the beach and impacted dune height and vegetation.
Holiday Night of Lights set for Dec. 6
t. Armands Circle
as the St. Armands Circle Association has received its permit from the city of Sarasota to host the 46th Annual Holiday Night of Lights on Dec. 6. The event begins with a special performance from 5:30 to 6 p.m., followed by the annual sing-a-long. After Santa arrives, the countdown will be underway to light the 60-foot Christmas tree in Circle Park.
“St. Armands Circle businesses are excited to welcome guests to the annual Holiday Night of Lights,” said St. Armands Circle Association Director of Sales and Marketing Rachel Burns.
“Enjoy caroling led by the St. Armands Key Lutheran church and help us count down to illuminate the Christmas tree.”
It follows the road to recovery for most of the barrier islands as Longboat Key held its first event since the hurricanes with Light Up Longboat on Nov. 23. Most of the St. Armands restaurants have reopened and retailers have been busy restoring and restocking their stores. Dining reservations are recommended.
Holiday Night of Lights is sponsored by Opal Properties (The Longboat Key Club, Lido Beach Resort, Cirque-St. Armands, Sandcastle Resort, and the Zota Beach Resort), Crab & Fin, Lynches Pub, Binjara Traders, Ivory Coast, Sahara, St. Armands Antiques, the city of Sarasota, the St. Armands Residents Association, and the St. Armands Circle Association.
The city of Sarasota granted the Circle Association nearly $400,000 to replace the tree in 2022, the grant was secured with the assistance of the St. Armands Business Improvement District board.
Through 9 p.m., visitors can stroll the Circle and enjoy the live musical performances and family crafts and activities. The event will be the third held in St. Armands Circle since the storm surges brought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Shore to close; Tommy Bahama to lease its space
Shore owners say flooding issues are prompting the brand to leave Sarasota.
OBSERVER STAFF
Shore, a long-time mainstay of St. Armands Circle, has announced it is leaving Sarasota, saying flooding issues from this year’s hurricanes forced its owners to make hard decisions.
“It’s been a challenging time for us, especially given the extended recovery process after the storm,” Tom Leonard, co-founder of Shore, said in a news release.
“The lack of urgency from the city in addressing the infrastructure issues — particularly the malfunctioning pumps that led to standing water remaining in the store for days after the storm — forced us to reevaluate our future here.”
The Leonard family will lease the building, which has housed its retail shop since 2008 and upstairs restaurant since 2012, to Tommy Bahama, which recently announced it plans to open a new combined restaurant, bar and retail space at the Shore location, at 465 John Ringling Blvd., in February 2025. Shore closed Dec. 1.
Leonard said the aging infrastructure on St. Armands Circle made staying untenable. “While we love this community, it’s clear that the
“If the right opportunity presents itself in the future, we would absolutely consider bringing Shore back to this community that has supported us so well.”
— Tom Leonard, co-founder of Shore
city has a long way to go in terms of modernizing its streets, sidewalks and drainage systems,” he said in the release. “We experienced firsthand the frustration of waiting for repairs that should have been prioritized much sooner.”
Sarasota Communications General Manager Jan Thornburg released a statement through the city countering Leonard’s account, saying the three storms were devastating, but the city is continuously working toward recovery.
“Sarasota experienced unprecedented rainfall in August during Invest 90L, then within a month was devastated with 4-5 foot storm surge from back to back major Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” the statement read. “These weather events were extraordinary. Infrastructure systems up and down the west coast of Florida were overwhelmed by the historic flooding. Sarasota County oversees and maintains the city’s stormwater system. City of Sarasota staff coordinated with the county before, during and after the storms to pump heavily flooded streets, including St. Armands Circle, as soon as safely possible. The city is continuing to provide support to St. Armands as the community recovers and businesses on the Circle reopen.”
Although Shore is leaving Sarasota, “we’re actively looking at new locations on the west coast of Florida and beyond,” said Leonard.
The Leonard family left open the possibility of a return to Sarasota in the future. “While we’re making the difficult decision to leave our current location, we’re not saying goodbye to Sarasota forever,” Susan Leonard said. “If the right opportunity presents itself in the future, we would absolutely consider bringing Shore back to this community that has supported us so well.”
Shore also has locations in Longboat Key and at Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista. Both of those will remain open.
TOMMY BAHAMA READY
TO MOVE IN
In 1996, Tommy Bahama opened a second restaurant and retail location at 300 John Ringling Blvd. The business grew to the point the entire space was converted to restaurant use and the retail space moved down the street.
In the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, the newer retail store was able to reopen. However, the restaurant and bar suffered considerable damage and will be unable to reopen.
“Tommy Bahama opened in Sarasota 28 years ago as the company’s
second location, and it has always been such an important part of our brand DNA,” CEO Doug Wood said in the news release. “The idea of not having a restaurant in St. Armands, which is like a second home to us, was unthinkable.”
Wood says the new location will “reunite the restaurant and retail under one roof to provide our guests with the authentic Tommy Bahama experience.”
The existing separate retail store at 371 St. Armands Circle will remain open.
Tommy Bahama has other locations in Sarasota, including a Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar in Lakewood Ranch and Tommy Bahama retail stores in Sarasota UTC and Siesta Key.
Courtesy image
Tommy Bahama has been a presence on St. Armands for 28 years.
Sarasota County tourism ‘normalizing’ post-pandemic, optimistic for 2025
After a pandemic-era travel boom, Sarasota is seeing a return to normal, market researchers say, with indications of an uptick in some segments of travelers.
While
compared with the previous year, tourism officials say they are optimistic about 2025 due to a number of factors. The list includes Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport expansion, the return of business travelers, European tourists and sporting events.
Nearly 2.9 million people visited Sarasota County in FY 2024, according to Downs & St. Germain Researchers, which was contracted by Visit Sarasota County to evaluate its data. That was a 5.6% decrease year-over-year, the researchers say. Downs & St. Germain executives were among a group of speakers at VSC’s Indicators & Insights Summit held Nov. 19 at The Ora in Sarasota. The event provided a review of 2024 data and a forecast for 2025.
“Right after the pandemic, there was a really big boom of visitors ... spending as much as they possibly could, visiting as much as they could,” said Erin Dinkel, director of research for Tallahassee-based Downs & St. Germain Research. “But what we’re seeing right now across many destinations, especially Florida destinations, is that this trend of visitation is normalizing a little bit, where people are coming back to their normal trends of visitation, and it’s not that high.”
The decrease in visitors in 2024 had a far-reaching impact, Downs & St. Germain Research shows. That includes:
AT A GLANCE: SARASOTA TOURISM IMPACT
Data from Downs & St. Germain Research on the impact of tourism in Sarasota County includes:
n Tourism supported 24,100 local jobs and $937.76 million in salaries.
n Each household saves $746 in local taxes each year thanks to Sarasota County visitors.
n Visitor spending generated a total economic impact of $4.03 billion, a decrease of 5.9%.
n Visitors spent about $2.55 billion on accommodations, restaurants, groceries, transportations, attractions, entertainment and shopping, a decrease of 2%.
n There were 3.28 million room nights in paid accommodations, a decrease of 6.8%.
n The tourism development tax, paid through accommodations and vacation rentals by visitors, generated $48.1 million, a decrease of 4.6%.
NEXT YEAR
The outlook is stable for 2025, with costs rising but at a less dramatic rate, according to Joseph St. Germain, president and partner of Downs & St. Germain Research.
“As we look at domestic travel, one of the things that we do continue to see is that people plan on taking trips,” St. Germain said. “People have decided they’re going to still travel, but they might not have as much money to do it.”
One key boost for the area is the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, which is expanding with a new terminal and with more flights.
“Many of you are aware of all of the phenomenal growth at the SarasotaBradenton International Airport,” CEO and VSC President and CEO Erin Duggan told the audience. “The airport’s growth has been ‘monumental’ not only for tourists but also
The
for locals,” she adds.
“It’s made it a lot easier to fly places direct and affordably.” On the day of the event Allegiant announced it was adding eight direct flights to SRQ starting in February, enabling SRQ to serve 67 destinations.
BUSINESS TRAVEL TO INCREASE
A bright spot in the forecast is business travel, St. Germain says, with an increase of 7% in business travel expected for 2025. Since about 30% of business travel does “involve a leisure component,” St. Germain says, there is an opportunity for Sarasota County to promote its beaches, shopping and restaurants. Sarasota County had a successful run in early 2024 as far as business meetings. Booked meeting groups in the first quarter of 2024 topped $2 million, according to Visit Sarasota County Group Sales Manager Shantel Norman.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RISING
International travel is “slightly behind pre-pandemic levels, but it’s coming back,” St. Germain said.
Higher costs of flights and accommodations made travel “a little less appealing” in the last year; however, he said in 2025, he anticipates “continued growth of international travel.”
To promote Sarasota among Europeans, Visit Sarasota County has account managers handling both the
In addition to domestic, global and business travel, another Visit Sarasota County focus is sports.
“We had a really good 2024,” Pete Harvey, director of sports for Visit Sarasota County said at the Indicators & Insights Summit held Nov. 19
In June, Nathan Benderson Park hosted the USRowing Association Youth Nationals, which set a record for over 10,000 attendees, according to Harvey. The park also held the USRowing Olympic trials for Paris 2024.
“We have a lot of great things coming up just this week,” Harvey told the audience at the event. The International Canoe Federation is holding its Stand-Up Paddling
UK and German markets. Each had positive trends to report. Research shows 42% of adults in the UK are expected to take a holiday abroad in the next year, with 32% planning an overseas beach holiday, according to Muna Abanour, UK trade account manager for GoshPR. UK arrivals in the United States are forecast to be four-and-a-half million for 2024, up from three-and-ahalf million in 2022. German visitors to the United
World Championship at Nathan Benderson Park from Nov. 19-24. Meanwhile, the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Association is holding its Presidents Cup from Nov. 22-24 in Bradenton and Tampa. “It is the largest women’s lacrosse tournament in the country,” Harvey said of the event, which has sold out, according to the website. Visit Sarasota County is a partner putting on the tournament.
In June 2025, Sarasota will host the 30th anniversary of the USRowing Youth Nationals in June at Nathan Benderson Park. Also, “we submitted and won the bids for 2027 and 2028 for the NCAA rowing championship,” Harvey said.
States will top two million in 2024 and are expected to reach the level of 2018 and 2019 with 2.06 million arrivals, according to Ilona Arnold, German trade account manager for Lieb Management. Since many UK and German travelers use travel agents, Abanour and Arnold have been spreading awareness among agents and tour operators about Sarasota.
Longboat Key Club’s golf courses are a big tourism draw besides the area beaches.
Insanity: St. Armands floods
Given St. Armands Circle’s economic importance, it makes sense to explore preventing annual flooding.
When Duff Rubin, Southeast president for Coldwell Banker, was on site to reopen the company’s St. Armands Circle office last month, he commented this was the third consecutive year the company had to deal with a flooded office.
This time, after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Duff said the company was not going to engage in the past practice of insanity — repairing and replacing everything just as it was and expect a different result. This time, the company installed flood-resistant flooring and walls.
For Coldwell Banker, the investment is well worth the risk and hassle. The company sells millions and millions of dollars worth of real estate out of that office.
But as noted in the Nov. 21 Observer (see “A flood of emotions), the Circle is pocked with boarded storefronts, “closed” signs and restaurateurs and retailers giving up.
These are the worst post-storm conditions on St. Armands Circle in more than 30 years.
Somehow, this insanity needs a cure. Here’s why: To an extent, St. Armands Circle is to Sarasota what the Empire State Building is to New York — a main draw.
The visitors who come to Sarasota know they can hassle with the typical mall traffic and crowds at
University Town Center. They can do that anywhere. But there has always been a certain elan to St. Armands Circle that is magnetic.
Visitors can stroll the sidewalks and venture in and out of the stores and restaurants at a vacationer’s pace. The beach is just down the block.
Indeed, this jewel of the city and region is crucial to the economic vitality and attraction of Greater Sarasota. It makes economic sense to explore what is the best, most rational protection and mitigation.
To do otherwise carries economic risk. And that risk could go far beyond St. Armands Circle’s businesses and property owners. If storefronts remain vacant, that easily could be the start of a hardto-stop spread of blight. And we all know how difficult it is to turn around decaying shopping centers.
But whether to erect flood protection infrastructure raises obvious questions: What should be done, if anything? How much will it cost? Who should pay?
What should be done?
“Hire good engineers,” an observer told us. That would be step one from the public perspective — that of addressing the public infrastructure of streets and drainage.
Part of that exercise certainly would include knowing the financial toll of the Helene and Milton
Advice to Vivek and Elon: Don’t Create the DOGE!
The following appeared on American Thinker Nov. 19.
Ivividly recall walking through the corridors of Saddam Hussein’s palace in the Green Zone in Baghdad in 2006. I was there as part of a team helping to develop a strategy to reinvigorate Iraqi businesses that had been decimated by war and the dysfunction of Iraq’s state-run economy.
The palace had been occupied and renamed the temporary U.S. Embassy in Iraq. U.S. government employees and military personnel occupied the wide corridors and ornate offices.
As I walked down one of the corridors, I came across a startling sight. Adorning the wall outside an office door was an official photograph of a U.S. State Department official. Above the photo was this inscription: “Welcome to U.S. Embassy Baghdad, our new Embassy Diversity Officer.”
The incongruence of what was happening outside the Green Zone with what was happening inside it was depressing — insurgents were attacking and killing U.S. service members and civilian aid workers on a daily basis — yet enlightening. In that moment, I thought, we may fail to bring peace and stability to Iraq, but we haven’t failed in planting our bloated bureaucracy right in the heart of it.
Recently, the appointment of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead something named the “Department of Government Efficiency” has buoyed many people. The name immediately recalls the Monty Python sketch about “The Ministry of Silly Walks.” The promise of an empowered set of fresh eyes taking a hard look at waste and inefficiency in our federal government is certainly something we should all cheer.
But as a two-time veteran of such efforts during the Bush 43 and Trump 45 administrations, I offer this unsolicited advice to Messrs. Musk and Ramaswamy: Don’t cre-
flooding on St. Armands Circle businesses and the residential areas adjacent to the Circle. It also would include researching other places around the world that have addressed similar problems.
The Netherlands is a good place to start. It has been fighting flooding for 1,000 years and has some of the world’s best water engineers. What works there? Are their methods feasible here?
To be sure, some St. Armands Circle property owners and business owners have already taken steps to minimize the damage from future floods. In addition to Coldwell Banker, Columbia Restaurant installed flood-proof floors and walls and raised kitchen equipment, or at least made it easier to remove prior to a storm. Other retailers are converting to more mobile racks and shelving. And others are still assessing whether to renovate or sell their properties, or reopen or give up their businesses.
What will it cost?
That is always the dilemma for the property owner and retailer. In commercial real estate, the value of the building hinges on the tenant. A vacant St. Armands store is worth far less than one with a thriving retailer. It then behooves the single-building owner economically to renovate and flood-proof the property to the greatest extent possible. Tearing down and building a slightly elevated structure may make more sense for a long-term operator such as Benderson De-
mandate for change. Eventually, the people who counted stop caring, and the new people stop counting.
velopment, which could afford the interruption in rental income while redeveloping.
But while each property owner, restaurateur and retailer is assessing how best to prepare for the next flood, the Circle’s property owners, retailers, adjacent residential owners, city of Sarasota and Sarasota County can and should explore the feasibility and cost of installing better flood protection.
What, for instance, is the feasibility of installing a system of levees around the St. Armands Key? And what would be the cost-benefit?
Who pays?
That’s a billion-dollar question. But there is little point discussing that, at least not until anyone knows what can and should be done and how much it would cost.
So let’s not get ahead of the story. Hurricane Milton hit almost two months ago, and recovery is going to continue through 2025, at least.
Nevertheless, by the end of February, at the height of snowbird season, we likely will see the resilience of, or lack thereof, from St. Armands Circle property owners and businesses. Most of the owners want and need the rental cash flow.
But if in February and March the closed storefronts are still as prominent as they are today, that clearly will be a sign that improved floor protection is a concern to be addressed.
We know this for sure: St. Armands Circle is going to flood again. It would be nice to end the insanity.
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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ate the DOGE!
Creating a new federal government agency to facilitate this effort is a waste of time and will be counterproductive to the mission that must be performed.
All that is needed is a small team of highly motivated and smart people who are used to doing things at the pace at which the world is changing — not the pace at which government moves.
No offices, no H.R. department, no financial management system or ERP, no department logo, no invitations to Cabinet meetings, no Senate advice and consent requirements, no department coffee mugs or ID card lanyards, no federal advisory commission rules and no diversity officers.
Please take the advice of someone who has tried this before: Creating a new federal agency to cut bureaucracy is itself a bureaucratic exercise that will only frustrate, delay and ultimately stymie the effort. It is best not to do it. Otherwise, the organization itself will become mired in the rules, laws, regulations and inefficiencies governing such entities that it has been tasked with eliminating.
As has been proven over and over in the private sector, a small team with tight, uncompromising time lines is the best bet for success with this endeavor. Frankly, finding inefficiencies and waste in the federal government will be the easiest part of the task.
Without an ounce of sarcasm or flippancy, I can tell you that finding the bulk of any potential savings should take this team about 24 hours, including coffee breaks. My confidence is based on the fact that the entire government, and its concomitant spending, is not designed to be efficient or cost-effective. They are designed to meet political objectives, which in most cases are neither.
Finding waste and inefficiency will be easy if judged against private sector standards, but that’s where the easy part ends. The real challenge will be in realizing those potential savings — and that could take a lifetime. The obstacles are fierce, unyielding, and deeply entrenched.
The bureaucracy these gentlemen intend to tackle has proven over and over to be adept at waiting out the
As most highly effective CEOs understand, the most important part of any CEO’s job, beyond establishing a clear vision, is moving the biggest impedimental “rocks” out of the way so that their people can unleash their full potential. In government, these rocks are big, and in most cases they are rolling downhill with a lot of momentum.
Allow me to offer my opinion on the five biggest ones (in ascending order of importance) that this team will encounter in this quest. I trust that sufficient effort will be focused on altering their paths before they crush the people who will be responsible for implementation. It would be wise to find the savings quickly and then focus the creative energies of leadership on saving the true believers on the team, and those who follow them, from being crushed.
5. Employment protections provided to the civil service and the senior executive service.
Ultimately, the government is a service business with the citizens as its customers. No service business worth its salt can thrive without the ability, to quote Michael Hammer, to “put the right people on the right seats on the bus,” or to hire or fire them to meet standards and performance objectives.
Civil service rules that govern H.R. policies for government employees severely restrict the ability to reduce or increase the workforce as required for efficient and effective operations. It will be impossible to make lasting improvements to efficiency and cost without significant reforms to these rules.
4. The budgeting process.
The federal budget process is a multi-year marathon of inputs and analysis that produces sub-optimized outputs that satisfy competing constituencies. It is not a rational process seeking to increase a bottom-line financial return to investors. It is a rationalization process that seeks to assuage interests.
Asking this process to deliver efficient outcomes is reminiscent of the comedic description of a camel as a “horse designed by a committee.” No serious efficiency and cost reduction effort can be achieved without a serious change in this process.
3. Entitlements.
This one should be obvious. A large portion of the federal budget is locked into entitlements and wealth transfers.
Cracking the costs and ineffi-
ciencies in these line items carries tremendous political risk. It will be important to tread lightly in this area as the congressional majority in the House is slim, and suggested reforms to these programs are politically radioactive.
Suggested cost reductions and efficiencies here are easily vilified and could jeopardize the viability of the entire effort with the public.
2. Turnover.
Successful private-sector realignments and restructurings have one thing in common: consistent and persistent senior-level engagement and continuity. To accomplish this in our government will require no less.
My question is: Who is the person or team willing to stick to this effort for 10 years or more? How can there be such a person, given our political volatility and high politically driven turnover? This must be addressed.
The “Efficiency Czar” needs a mandate of a long tenure with corresponding authority.
1. Congress.
This will be the biggest rock, with the most mass and velocity. Every dollar cut from the federal budget has implications for someone’s congressional district and political contributors. Most have implications for his political party’s agenda and priorities.
Much lip service has been and will be paid to the virtue of creating a more efficient and cost-effective government. However, budget dollars equal power, and the biggest job will be convincing members of Congress otherwise.
As most experienced leaders understand, proclaiming an inspiring vision like “we are going to Mars” is the easy part. Making it happen is what takes senior-level engagement, imagination, grit, determination, freedom of action and most important, time. Driving inefficiencies and waste out of our federal government is perhaps as noble and critical to our survival as exploring space, but it is probably much harder to do. I guarantee that it will be a lot less fun.
I wish Elon and Vivek well, but I respectfully ask that they heed this advice: “Don’t add to the bureaucracy in order to cut it. Don’t DOGE. Just DO.”
Thomas Modly, a resident of Siesta Key, is the former under and acting secretary of the Navy and the former co-director of the Defense Business Transformation Agency. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Georgetown’s Graduate School of Government, and Harvard Business School. He is the bestselling author of “Vectors: Heroes, Villains, and Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy.”
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How to rethink hurricane risks
Local climate expert Bob Bunting, CEO of the Climate Adaptation Center, prescribes what the Sarasota region could do to be more proactive about more frequent storms.
CARTER WEINHOFER
STAFF WRITER
The trifecta of hurricanes this season left their mark on the Sarasota region. As with every major storm event, there are notes to take and lessons to learn.
In a previous article with the Observer, Climate Adaptation Center CEO Bob Bunting described how this season’s three hurricanes — Debby, Helene and Milton — each had a unique impact.
Moving forward, he said, “It doesn’t mean we have to give up. What it means is we have to change the way we do business.”
But what does this mean?
Bunting described many different avenues of both immediate and systemic changes that residents and governments can take going forward.
“Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do if we decide to do it,” Bunting said. First, Bunting said it’s important for people to realize the risk associated with hurricanes, especially with the impacts of climate change.
“The threat has changed so much, and so the number one thing for recovery is you have to understand what our risks are,” Bunting said.
Earth’s global temperature has risen about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-1800s, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Warmer temperatures in the atmosphere create warmer ocean temperatures, both of which are fuel for hurricanes to develop and increase in strength.
Bunting also said some projections show the average sea level to increase by 10-12 inches by 2050.
The combination of these climate-
change impacts creates an increased risk of flooding, storm surge and wind impacts not only from hurricanes but from everyday storms.
Flooding impacts many of Longboat Key’s low-lying area during mundane high tides and rainstorms.
With climate change in play and increasing the frequency and size of storms, Bunting said the impacts are becoming more dangerous, too.
“We’re in an age now where we don’t need a direct hit to have catastrophic damage,” Bunting said.
“That’s something new.”
This is evident when looking at Hurricane Helene, which didn’t directly hit Longboat Key but left some houses completely flooded with more than four feet of surge.
“You have to be prepared,” Bunting said. “Our system that we have now is reactive. In a sense, just reactive to what we know in the past.”
MODERNIZING COMMUNITIES
To be more proactive and less reactive, there’s a straightforward response: Build more resilient
homes.
This includes more modern, storm-resistant materials, especially for homes close to the water. For example, waterfront homes may consider not replacing water-logged drywall with more drywall that will get soaked in the next big storm surge.
Homes closer to the water, if they are rebuilt, should also be built so that they are raised to prevent risk, or so that the first floor isn’t one that’s inhabited.
That likely means that communities like Longboat Key should trend away from the ranch-style homes that are common in places like Buttonwood and the Village.
When people choose to rebuild or renovate after storms, Bunting said it’s also important for local governments to make it as easy as possible for people to recover quickly.
“Our zoning, our land-use, building codes, processes that people have to go through after a loss has to be streamlined,” Bunting said.
Homes and businesses need to rebuild smarter and more modernized not only for personal safety and risk but also for local economies.
“We cannot afford to lose our tax base because, once you do that, you don’t have the choice of adaptation,” Bunting said.
This is cyclical, Bunting explained,
because without a tax base, there’s less money for local municipalities to invest in resiliency and adaptation which can help prevent the losses of tax bases in the first place.
Counties and local communities could invest in things such as public cooling stations and temporary medical centers to help people in need during heat waves and power outages caused by hurricanes.
“With cooling centers and medical centers that go into action during heat waves, and especially when we’re in an active hurricane season, we should have all of that staged in advance,” Bunting said.
These areas could provide comfort and electricity for people who may have just lost their homes, or are without power and need it for medical use.
“We’ve got to think about people who really need the power because their life depends on it,” Bunting said.
TOO MUCH RISK?
Even though there are adaptation methods at community and county levels, Bunting said the reality is people will still choose to relocate after especially difficult hurricane seasons like this one.
Large amounts of people moving after major storms or because of
climate change-related impacts are referred to as climate migrations.
It’s something that Bunting suspects has been happening “quietly” over the past few years, and he thinks people have been moving further inland but not outwardly stating the cause was climate-change related.
Modernizing a home, especially after a major loss like some experienced in Helene, is costly, and rebuilding on the same property close to water means taking on the risk yet again.
“But people who can’t afford to take the risk should really think about relocating to places where they can afford the risk,” Bunting said. “One thing is for sure: We’re going to have more risk. And if you can’t afford the risk, you should not be there.”
Bunting said it’s a valid question to ask after these major hurricanes, and some people might decide the risk is too much to handle.
But if people want to stay, it’s important to build more resilient homes and for communities to enact more storm-focused policies.
“They don’t have to leave Florida, they just have to live a bit differently and smarter,” Bunting said. “That’s why I’m optimistic. I’m not pessimistic in spite of the fact we have higher risk. We just have to respond to it appropriately.”
Janet Combs
Climate Adaptation Center CEO Bob Bunting speaks at the 2024 Annual Florida Climate Conference.
Some houses along Gulfside Road were completely destroyed after Helene.
Town updates transportation wish list
Updated annually, the town recommended the priority project list for the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization.
CARTER WEINHOFER
STAFF WRITER
At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Dec. 2 meeting, commissioners voted to approve a priority list of projects for the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s long-range plan.
The priority list includes four projects that were also a part of the town’s priority list last year. Every year, town commissioners reassess the list to try to leverage funding from the regional organization.
“Every year, the MPO requires its member jurisdictions to select a group of projects to be their priority projects to be represented in future funding or future scenarios with the MPO,” Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said. “The town has been holding a similar set of projects, some near term, some longer term, to at least hold our place in line with the MPO.”
According to its website, the MPO develops “plans, policies, and priorities that guide regional decisionmaking on transportation issues.”
This year, the town’s priority projects remained the same as last year, but Brownman presented some updates for the projects.
One of the priority projects for
the town is the Country Club Shores turn lane project on Gulf of Mexico Drive.
This project was already fully funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, but Brownman said it was good practice to continue listing it as a priority. Construction for this project is expected to start in February 2025.
Three other projects the town listed are also listed in the MPO’s longrange plan called “Transform 2045.”
These include the Broadway roundabout, complete streets project and Longboat Club Road roundabout.
The Broadway roundabout has been an ongoing project for the town that was delayed due to design issues brought up by the FDOT. Since those issues were corrected — at a higher price — the MPO said it would be able to fund the project, which is now expected to cost around $6 million.
About $4.8 million was also included in the MPO’s long-range plan for the Broadway Roundabout project in 2030, but the MPO recently told the town it would have money available sooner due to other projects falling through.
Brownman also said FDOT expressed interest in taking over the responsibility for this project, eliminating the burden of permitting and pre-construction for the town.
The Complete Street Corridor Improvements project has long been a vision for the town, and the MPO identified $18.4 million for the project between 2026 and 2030.
The next steps for this project include a project development and environment study for the 10 miles of GMD, which could begin in 2026.
Lastly, the Longboat Club Road roundabout is a project that has yet not reached the first phase of project development.
This roundabout was identified in the Barrier Island Traffic Study and the GMD Complete Street Corridor Improvement project. About $4.8
million was set aside in the MPO’s long-range plan for this project from 2026-2030.
Brownman said the MPO is in the process of completing a new longrange plan to look forward to 2050.
“They did warn the member jurisdictions that money is going to be tight, and they’re going to be looking for opportunities to cut things,”
Brownman said about the new 2050 plan. “So that’s why we want to keep our place in mind in all these projects and programs.”
Commissioners unanimously approved the four priorities as the town’s upcoming projects.
Courtesy image
The planned roundabout at Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street is intended to improve safety at the intersection.
SATURDAY, NOV. 23
OVERCOOKED
10:33 a.m., 600 block of Bayport Way
Alarm: Dispatch sent an officer to assist with a fire alarm. When the responding officer arrived at the scene, Longboat Key Fire Rescue crew members said the alarm was caused by burnt food, and no law enforcement help was needed.
FRIDAY, NOV. 22
OFFICER IMPERSONATION
3:47 p.m., 5200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Misdemeanor: While on patrol, a Longboat Key officer saw a white truck traveling along Gulf of Mexico Drive with flashing red and blue lights mounted on its grill. The lights flashed in a way that mimicked a police vehicle, and the officer caught up to the vehicle to pull it over. Before approaching the driver, the officer searched the vehicle’s registration in an online database to confirm it was personally owned and not from a law enforcement agency. The driver said he was unaware the lights were activated and confirmed he was not a police officer. Backup arrived on the scene and an officer checked to ensure the driver had no weapons on him. According to the driver, he ordered white and amber lights on Amazon, installed the lights and then realized they were blue and red. Despite the story, the responding officer said displaying blue lights in that fashion was a misdemeanor, and the driver was given a notice to appear in court.
SUNDAY, NOV. 24
FISHING FORBIDDEN
4:04 p.m., 2600 block of Harbourside Drive
MONDAY, NOV. 25
MYSTERIOUS DUMPSTER APPEARANCE
10:38 a.m., 600 block of Companion Way
Suspicious Incident: A citizen called for police assistance regarding an unknown dumpster on his property. Upon arrival, an officer met with a neighbor who said the complainant gave her permission to use his vacant lot to assist during her pool reconstruction. During this time, an unknown dumpster was placed on the property without permission. The neighbor said Waste Management was on the way to remove the dumpster, and the complainant was happy with the update.
THURSDAY, NOV. 28
NEED CASH NOW
7:40 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road
Suspicious Incident: Dispatch sent an officer to a local bank about an ATM out of service. The responding officer was flagged down by the caller at the scene, who said the ATM was broken and he needed money to buy things. The officer advised the man he needed to contact the bank
Trespassing: An officer was dispatched to investigate three juveniles fishing. When the officer arrived on scene, a man advised the officer the three youngsters were on private property and he wanted them gone but did not want to criminally trespass them. The officer then spoke to the three young fishermen, who said one of their fathers dropped them off at Publix to go fishing in the area. Then, the officer spoke to the father, who confirmed he dropped them off but did not know they would be trespassing to fish. The father apologized and arrived shortly after to pick up the three juveniles. The officer educated the boys on the importance of paying attention to private property signage, and the three apologized.
Town official adjusting to new role
Brownman is looking forward to taking the next step in his career and, along with it, a larger role in the town of Longboat Key.
CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER
In the middle of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Public Works Director Isaac Brownman was busy not only keeping the town together but also accepting a new position within the town.
Brownman has started to transition into a new role with the town of Longboat Key: assistant town manager.
The promotion was announced to staff and commissioners in late September, and Brownman will work to take on more responsibility before officially becoming assistant town manager in January 2025.
In past years, the assistant town manager position has been one that’s up to the sitting town manager, and not every town manager has had one. Over the summer, Town Manager Howard Tipton decided to hire an assistant town manager.
Tipton held an internal search for an assistant, and Brownman decided this was a solid next step in his career.
“I thought it was a great opportunity to help where I can with the town and (Tipton), and to share my knowledge and experience in that way,” Brownman said.
Brownman started as Public Works director in 2017 after a 17-year career with Sarasota County.
At Sarasota County, Brownman
An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956
served as Public Works director and county engineer for several years and worked in other departments such as land development and capital projects. Before his time at Sarasota County, Brownman worked various positions in the private sector in Charlotte County.
As the town’s new assistant town manager, Brownman will be more involved with functions such as strategic planning, procurement and human resources, which was previously a part of the Support Services director position. He’ll also still help out in Public Works and other town departments.
“It’s just a great opportunity, so I’m really humbled for the chance to take part in that,” Brownman said.
While he takes on the new responsibilities, Brownman will also help the town stabilize the Public Works Director position, which is being advertised. Assistant Public Works
Director Charlie Mopps will serve as interim Public Works director in the meantime.
As the assistant town manager, Brownman can also take Tipton’s place during town commission and other meetings if Tipton is unable to for any reason.
Brownman is looking forward to fully taking on the responsibility in the new year and the opportunity to become more involved with the
town, of which he speaks highly. “Longboat Key is a great place to work,” Brownman said. “The people are great, the commission is really supportive and it’s just a great place to work. We like the opportunity to
enhance our saying of ‘premier community, exceptional service;’ that’s what it’s all about.”
at info@longboatkeytemple.org You are invited to join us in worship, song & friendship at Shabbat services every Friday evening at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am.
be delighted to talk with you.
Carter Weinhofer
Public Works Director Isaac Brownman will officially take over as Assistant Town Manager in January 2025.
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Christmas in the Garden
As the island recovers from hurricane season, the Chapel hopes to provide holiday cheer and strength through its holiday display in December.
PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER
Walking by the community tree at Christmas in the Garden, pops of white will sprinkle throughout its bright twinkle lights and green branches.
“I was looking at it right when we first opened, and I saw a lot of white ornaments hanging on the community tree,” said Kelly Shrout, co-chair of Christmas in the Garden. “This means that a lot of people are feeling grateful as they go into the season.”
The white ornaments represent gratitude, which summed up the feelings of most Longboaters as they attended the first night of Christmas in the Garden on Dec. 1 at the Longboat Island Chapel.
After being hesitant about hosting the annual holiday display, the Rev. Brock Patterson encouraged Christmas in the Garden and proposed the idea of a community tree as a symbol of unity after the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Residents can choose from seven different colored ornaments representing different themes and place them on the tree, as well as bring their own ornaments from home.
Along with white for gratitude, people can select from gold for prayer, green for grace, blue for peace, pink for joy and silver for hope.
Similar to the community tree, the LBK Strong tree is among one of the most popular displays in Christmas in the Garden this year.
Longboat Key influencer Shelia Loccisano, as known as “Follow Me
to Longboat Key” on Instagram, used the hashtag, “LBK Strong,” as she documented the town’s experience through and after the hurricanes.
Her tree displays the numerous photos she posted from the past couple of months to represent the resilience Longboaters had as they recovered from the hurricanes.
Longboat Key businesses, nonprofits and organizations also donated trees to the garden with their own decorations. This included trees from the Paradise Center, Lazy Lobster, Design 2000 Salon, David Gregory Salon, Longboat ACE Hardware and the Bayfront Park Pickleball Players.
The rest of the displays were put on by the chapel and its volunteers.
Co-Chair Lesley Rife said this was their hardest year to organize due to the impact the hurricanes had on the chapel.
With fewer trees and less time than last year, the committee had to fill in gaps from where debris had fallen in the garden. Some trees had just lights on with no decorations since some businesses couldn’t donate a tree this year due to the impact of the hurricanes.
“It was a busy and difficult couple
of weeks, but it truly came together perfectly,” said Rife. “Thankfully, all the music performances still can come. On this first night, I just realized why I go through all the stress every year. It is breathtaking how amazing it looks.”
Three local musicians kicked off the musical performances at Christmas in the Garden. Longboater Ursula Abplanalp opened by playing her Swiss Alphorn.
The musical duo Island Breeze finished off the night by leading the crowd through a variety of holiday songs. Chapel Chef David Stone served homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows and peppermint whipped cream and cookies after the performances. Christmas in the Garden will be open every evening in December from 5 to 9 p.m.
Throughout the month, there will be live musical performances from local artists, along with hot chocolate and baked goods.
On New Year’s Eve, the chapel will host a special celebration with complimentary appetizers and a performance by musician John Rinell, “The Voice of Solid Gold.”
Joyce Mazurak serves hot chocolate at the first night of Christmas in the Garden.
Scott and Cindy Johnson enjoy the various trees while sipping on hot chocolate made by Chef David Stone.
Photos by Petra Rivera
The Grinch Display at Christmas in the Garden.
Becky Jones, Barbara Koetsier and Lesley Rife with the snowman tree decorated by Rife’s daughter.
Ursula Abplanalp and Kelly Shrout place a white ornament on the community tree.
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SANTA’S ELVES
The Longboat Key Fire Rescue was the first stop in a holiday makeover tour of local police and fire stations by Florida Power and Light.
through the bushes for a glimmer of holiday cheer. To finish it off, a giant inflatable firefighter Santa is the perfect holiday greeting for cars passing by on Gulf of Mexico Drive. For the first year, “elves,” or volunteers from Florida Power and
Light, decked out Longboat Key Fire Rescue to thank them for all their hard work during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“We didn’t ask them to help, and they came immediately and started helping us put lights and candy canes,” said Devaney Iglesias, FPL area manager for Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties. “They are very true to their nature.”
On Nov. 26, Longboat Key Fire Rescue was the first stop of a holiday makeover tour of local fire and police stations. From 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., FPL volunteers also decorated the Bradenton Beach Police Station, Holmes Beach Police Station and West Manatee Fire Station.
The program surprised the stations with a variety of sparkling LED lights and solar-powered displays. The first responders also received gift bags with their own energy-efficient holiday decorations and vouchers for a free holiday tree at the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County’s annual Christmas tree lot.
Seventeen years ago, this tradition, “the Holiday Hero Lighting” program, started as a way to give back to veterans in the area for their service to the country and the community. This year, FPL decided to honor these stations to spread some holiday cheer as they get some relief after the storms.
“We’re very fortunate that they chose us,” said Assistant Chief and Fire Marshall Jane Herrin. “I can’t wait until the evening to see the lights in their full glory at night time.”
— PETRA RIVERA
Photos by Petra Rivera
FPL Employee Jordan Thompson strings up lights around a light pole at the Longboat Key Fire Station.
FPL volunteers decorated Longboat Key Fire Station 92 for the holidays.
Devaney Iglesias and Rae Dowling teach Carlos
De Armendi how to put in the lightup candy canes safely.
Whimsical wonders
Brigette Kubin brings whimsical art and gifts to lighten up Longboaters as they recover after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
PETRA
RIVERA STAFF WRITER
Brigette Kubin didn’t think too much of it when she took a temporary job at Lazy Lobster.
During the summer, she spent nights closing the restaurant after dinner and growing closer with her co-worker and former head bartender Courtney Rossler.
As they worked, they chatted about their dreams of running businesses of their own. While Rossler hoped to open a restaurant of her own one day, Kubin would do anything to reopen her gift boutique, Three Island Monkeys, which was originally located on Anna Maria Island.
In May 2022, Rossler’s business partner, Kevin Pass, bought 5620 Gulf of Mexico Drive to house their own restaurant, Lo’ Key Island Grille. After spending the summer renovating the place, Rossler called up Kubin and offered her a section of the building to open up Three Islands Monkeys on Longboat Key.
Kubin said her friendship with Rossler is the perfect testament to how Longboat Key women support each other in their endeavors.
On Nov. 29, Kubin opened up Three Island Monkeys for the first time since 2020 on Black Friday. Through her carefully curated art and unique trinkets, she hopes the whimsical gift boutique will liven up Longboat Key and bring joy after the difficult times of the hurricane season.
KANDI’S VISION
Local artist Kandi Kerekes opened up Three Island Monkeys on Anna Maria Island in 2009 to sell her work and other art from local artisans. She named her shop for her husband and
alty to her customers. She was happy to give Kerekes peace of mind that local art would be the main focus of the shop after she passed away.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Kubin was about to move Three Island Monkeys to a new location but had to pause to take care of her parents during quarantine. She said that three weeks turned into five years, and lost the new brick-andmortar location for the shop.
two sons she called her “Three Island Monkeys.”
Originally from Chicago, Kubin has been coming to Anna Maria Island on vacation for more than 30 years, visiting Three Island Monkeys every time because she loved its emphasis on local art.
After working for Hilton Hotels and Resorts for 20 years, Kubin was unsure about continuing down that path in her career. In 2015, she visited Three Island Monkeys as she always did but was devastated to find out that Kerekes was selling the shop.
Kerekes was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. With her months of life limited, she wanted to pass down the shop to someone with the same mission, but the only offers she received didn’t plan to keep her art platform.
“I was so shocked that I kept thinking about it throughout the day,” said Kubin. “That afternoon, I ended up calling her and asking if she wanted to go to dinner. I told her I wanted to throw my hat in the ring because I have a strong love for the arts and wanted to keep it an art store. After sleeping it over, she agreed to sell it to me.”
A PANDEMIC PAUSE
After buying the store in July 2015, Kubin shadowed Kerekes for the last months of her life. She said the most important lesson she learned from Kerekes was the significance of loy-
For the past couple of years, Kubin has been in Chicago with her family, selling products from Three Island Monkeys online. She returned to the area in the summer, and started working with Rossler at Lazy Lobster this year.
NEW MONKEY ON THE BLOCK
As she brings Three Island Monkeys back to life for a third time, Kubin’s main goal is to keep Kerekes’ spirit alive by decorating the shop with items she made or had in the original shop.
The 2024 hurricane season did push back the opening day due to flooding from Hurricane Helene in the store’s sunroom. This also paused vendor transactions and last-minute renovations to the shop.
As she recovers from the damages from the hurricanes, Kubin aims to make the shop her own while keeping Kerekes’ whimsical style and branding of monkeys. She is heavily inspired by “Three Little Monkeys” in her life, which are her mother and her two aunts.
Kubin also put her spin on the shop by leaning more into the gifts aspect. Along with local art, people can purchase various specialty items and gifts such as jewelry, birdhouses and trinket boxes. With her local art connections, she said each item sold at Three Island Monkeys is one of kind and can’t be pur
“It goes back to
about
for some
the
of
I want to give a platform for all sorts of art and its uniqueness. They are all handcrafted, whimsical and fun. I can’t wait for people to come and touch and look and just laugh after all this.”
chased anywhere else.
Kandi,” said Kubin. “It’s
reinventing
spirit
art
relief from the hurricanes.
Photos by Petra Rivera
Three Island Monkeys sells local art, trinkets and gifts.
Brigette Kubin opened Three Island Monkeys on Longboat Key on Nov. 29.
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Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The gardens of the Longboat Island Chapel will be enhanced with holiday music and lighting and decorated Christmas trees donated by community organizations, businesses and friends. On the evenings of Dec. 10, 12, 16, 19 and 20, there will be special musical presentations, refreshments and treats for the children with performances beginning at 6 p.m. Ring in the New Year at the garden with a special celebration from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. John Rinell, “The Voice of Solid Gold,” will be performing. Free admission. Call 383-6491.
FRIDAY, DEC. 6
ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE HOLIDAY NIGHT OF LIGHTS
From 5:30-9 p.m. at St. Armands Circle, 1 St. Armands Circle. Be a part of the celebration as the Circle comes to life at the official kick-off to the holiday season. Enjoy Christmas caroling, live musical performances and family crafts and activities.
When Santa Claus arrives in the Circle, everyone will countdown the final 10 seconds to illuminate the 60-foot Christmas tree. As a free event, St. Armands Circle Association asks for people to support Flight to the North Pole, a charity that provides financial and emotional support to terminally ill children and their families in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Call 388-1554.
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
LONGBOAT KEY COMMUNITY CONCERT
Starting at 4:30 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Celebrate the end of hurricane season and the completion of debris removal from Longboat Key with a free December concert at the Karon Family Pavilion. Longboat musician Tim Michael McCaig will open as people come in and browse the several food trucks and complimentary beer and seltzers donated by the Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. Local band SoulRCoaster will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Call Susan Phillips at 316-1999 ext. 1212.
Petra Rivera
Lesley Rife and Marcia Lochner at the Longboat Island Chapel.
$8,950,000
$3,195,000
Neighbors’ creativity blossoms into Longboat business
John Brannan and Jon Mongeau are complete opposites. Mongeau has been a florist for 38 years, making the most extravagant arrangements and displays for hotels in Boston. Brannan builds houses and crafts specialty items in his spare time.
Brannan’s wife, Lita, said it’s hard to believe these two became friends. The duo met as neighbors on a zoning board in Massachusetts.
This was their first form of teamwork and the beginning of a strong friendship. From this, Mongeau and Brannan realized what they had in common: their desire to create something out of nothing.
After Brannan moved to Washington, D.C., to be with Lita, they never thought they would live near Mongeau. Little did they know they were destined to meet again, with the Brannans moving to Longboat Key in 2019 and Mongeau living in Bradenton since 2020.
In August 2024, Mongeau, Lita and John opened Le Gardineu Bleu. The shop ties together Mongeau’s creativity and years in the floral industry, Lita’s eye for taste in gifts and John’s craftsmanship.
Surviving Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Le Gardineu Bleu has already made a name for itself on the island as the in-house florist at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, providing new floral arrangements weekly and decorating for most of its events.
As they go into their first season, Mongeau, John and Lita are excited to get the word out about their new shop and serve the community of Longboat Key after the storms.
“The glimmer in people’s eyes when they come in here,” said
Lita. “They say that it is like a jewelry box. It was so devastating the first couple weeks after the hurricanes, so we hope with us they will see that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.”
BUSINESS DATA Line of Work: Home, gift and floral
studio Owners: Jon Mongeau, John and Lita Brannan
Items for sale: Individual flowers, floral arrangements, home decor, jewelry, trinkets, gifts and local art.
Founded: August 2024
Phone: 941-346-6395
Website: LeGardeniaBleu.com
Hours: Monday is by appointment only. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sunday.
John and Lita: Longboat Key Connection to Longboat Key: John has been visiting Longboat
Key since he was 16 years old with his family.
CAREER
Career before Le Gardenia Bleu: Mongeau: “Originally, I was a programmer in the late 1970s but was very unhappy. One day, I walked out of my job and stopped in a flower shop where they were looking for help. The owner was a friend of mine, so I was like, ‘Anybody can do flowers.’ Two weeks later, I was working there, and it was Valentine’s week. I immediately took back what I said. But ever since then, I have been in the industry doing floral arrangements for hotels across Boston. I like to say I am the accidental florist.”
(He still makes arrangements for hotels in Boston.)
John: Did marketing for different companies that specialized in toys, hardware and houseware.
Lita: Lobbyist and licensed dog
show judge (still works as both).
INTEREST/PASSIONS
Favorite Pastime: Mongeau: Making people smile through his floral arrangements.
John: Sailing.
Lita: Being a dog show judge.
PHILOSOPHY
Business philosophy: “We are hyperlocal,” said Lita. “We’re here to serve Longboat Key. Not that we’re trying to keep away from the other places, but we really want to focus on Longboat Key and provide the best quality service to the residents so they don’t have to go off the island.”
Goals: “We want to keep the shop local,” said Mongeau. “We like the idea that it’s ours. We just want to be proud and affect the community in a positive way.”
— PETRA RIVERA
Photos by Petra Rivera
Jon Mongeau, Lita and John Brannan are the owners of Le Gardenia Bleu.
Le Gardenia Bleu sells a variety of home decor, including for the holidays.
Jon Mongeau makes floral arrangements for every occasion and holiday.
WATER CLUB
Cooking up recovery
As it welcomes back members, the club plans to focus on the rebeautification of Longboat Key after the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The Longboat Key Garden Club is exchanging its gardening gloves for oven mitts to get the
after Hurri-
Helene and Milton.
In November, the club released the Longboat Key Garden Club Cookbook. It is now available to purchase for $45 at J. McLaughlin, Le Gardenia Bleu and at LBKGardenClub.org. All proceeds will go to its Environmental Recovery Fund, which aims to beautify the island after the 2024 hurricane season.
With resident donations, the fund plans to revive different nature scapes across the island, such as Bicentennial Park and its butterfly garden, which was created by the club.
President Melanie Dale said they will use the rest of the donations to enhance other areas where the demand is the highest, such as Bayfront Park and Joan M. Durante Community Park.
The cookbook project was announced at the club’s annual Arbor Day picnic on April 25, originally as a unique spin on its fundrais-
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
ing efforts. The book is a collection of 140 recipes from members to share with friends around Longboat Key.
To emphasize the club’s focus on environmental education and impact, the recipes incorporate natural and plant themes. It is also meant as a memento for members to look back on Garden Club memories.
The club started selling the cookbooks at the 10th-anniversary party for J. McLaughlin on Nov. 21. Fifteen percent of the proceeds were donated to the Environmental Recovery Fund as well of the sales from the book. Dale manages the Longboat shop and said the event raised $2,300 for the fund.
Along with this event, Garden Club members have also volunteered their time since coming back to Longboat by helping prepare Christmas in the Garden at the Longboat Island Chapel, which opened on Dec. 1.
As it looks toward the new year, the Garden Club’s newest event is Art in the Garden. The club will host around 14 local artists April 3-6 at the gardens at Longboat Island Chapel as a way to promote the bond of art and nature and how important they are to Longboat Key.
If you would like to learn more about our team please visit our website or: Join us at our office Mondays at 9:30am for an Outlook on the Market and latest thinking from the Morgan Stanley Global Investment Committee. Please RSVP to Amanda Lewis by calling 941-364-3549 or email Amanda.R.Lewis@morganstanley.com. 2 North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236
Left to Right: Rylan Lanham, Adrienne Lambers, Mike Osterman, Tom Bardwell, Susan Wilson, Susan Knight, Amanda Lewis
Courtesy image
Sharon Meier, Melanie Dale, Susan Loprete and Debra Sauers welcome back Longboat Key Garden Club at its annual welcome back party.
Jules Mackie | Tracey Stetler | Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan | Patrick DiPinto | Rene DiPinto | Steven Moore | Janet Coughlin
Home in Country Club Shores tops week’s sales at $3.2 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in Country Club Shores tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Jon Baldwin Jr. and Kelly King Baldwin, of Sarasota, sold their home at 550 Wedge Lane to David Hawkins and Karen Hawkins, trustees, of Winnetka, Illinois, for $3,185,000. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,649 square feet of living area. It sold for $685,000 in 2016.
MARINA BAY
H. Lee and Linda Scott, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 144 condominium at 2410 Harbourside Drive to L&E Properties LLC for $2.9 million. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,690 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.9 million in 2017.
SANDS POINT
Tod and Lora Stern, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 213 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road to Anthony and Marybeth DiNallo, of Longboat Key, for $1.65 million. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,436 square feet of living area. It sold for $828,000 in 2004.
LONGBOAT KEY
Nelson Goldner and Laurin Goldner, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1 Winslow Place to Silke
Brinkmann-Bracht, trustee, of Tampa, for $1.3 million. Built in 1960, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,098 square feet of living area. It sold for $712,500 in 1999.
CEDARS EAST
Ann-Charlotte Ehrling and William Jackman, trustees, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, sold the Unit 5 condominium at 860 Evergreen Way to Edward Webber, of Dallastown, Pennsylvania, for $750,000. Built in 1991, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,440 square feet of living area. It sold for $495,000 in 2021.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
WHITNEY BEACH
Herman Kruegle, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the Unit 161 condominium at 6750 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Grant Abrams, of Longboat Key, for $350,000. Built in 1970, it has one bedroom, one bath and 936 square feet of living area. It sold for $114,000 in 1990.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com
Image courtesy of Kelly Baldwin
Jon Baldwin Jr. and Kelly King Baldwin, of Sarasota, sold their home at 550 Wedge Lane to David Hawkins and Karen Hawkins, trustees, of Winnetka, Illinois, for $3,185,000.
YOUR CALENDAR
MONDAY, DEC. 9
MONDAY FILM CLUB: ENJOY
TWO GREAT HIDDEN GEMS
From 1:30-4:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. View two fulllength movies followed by stimulating discussions with popular movie critic Gus Mollasis. Enjoy fresh popcorn. Members, $40; nonmembers, $45. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@TBIEducationCenter.org.
RECURRING EVENTS
MONDAYS
STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN
From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This class is mostly seated and great for all fitness levels. Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $15, free for members. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.
MIXED BEGINNERS BRIDGE
From 1-2:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Professional bridge player and teacher Larry Auerbach will cover the basic mechanics and fundamentals of the game combining players who have some knowledge of the game and new players. Members, $85; nonmembers, $95. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@ TBIEducationCenter.org.
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS
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. Cost is $15; free for members. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.
YOGA
From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debby Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $15; free for members. Call 383-6493.
TUESDAYS AT THE MOVIES
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The
BEST BET
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
INTEGRATED HEALING ARTS FROM JAPAN
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Dr. Brain Nell and the Rev. Melissa Nell will give a multimedia presentation on the natural healing modalities of Japan, including acupuncture, acupressure, Japanese herbalism, Reiki (energy healing) and Shiatsu massage. Members, $20; nonmembers, $25. Call 941-383-8222 or email Admin@ TBIEducationCenter.org.
Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Enjoy quality assigned films at local theaters and come to class to discuss them with popular film maven and critic Gus Mollasis. Films are assigned a week before class discussion. Package of six for members, $95; nonmembers, $105. Pay as you go, $17 per class. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@ TBIEducationCenter.org.
MAHJONG
From 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Fun time for experienced players. RSVP only. To check availability at the tables, email Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org.
WEDNESDAYS
MIXED-LEVELS YOGA
From 9-10 a.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. These alignmentbased classes led by certified yoga teacher Harriet Roberts, are carefully crafted to offer both challenges and modifications for all ages and levels. Improve balance, strength and flexibility and reduce physical pain. Engage your body, heart, and mind with breathwork and meditation. Package of six for members, $75; nonmembers, $85; pay as you go, $15 per class. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@ TBIEducationCenter.org.
WATERCOLOR, ACRYLICS, PASTELS, OILS
From 9-11:30 a.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Learn to paint like the masters in your medium of choice with simple techniques offered by award-winning artist Renee DiNapoli. Easy subjects and materials available. Seasoned artists or novices welcome. Personal instruction and demonstrations provided. Package of four, for members, $175; nonmembers, $185. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@TBIEducationCenter.org.
BEGINNER TAI CHI
From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15; free for members. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.
THURSDAYS KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT
KEY At 8:30 a.m. at Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This service organization meets every first and third Thursday of the month for breakfast and a speaker. Breakfast is $15. Email Lynn Larson at LynnLarson@comcast.net to register.
Debby Debile leads a gentle yoga class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Paradise Center.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
TIDES SUNRISE
MOON PHASES
CLUE ME IN! by Kathy Bloomer and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen
By Luis Campos
Jenelle Alber took this photo of some birds in flight at sunrise on Whitney Beach.
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