Longboat Observer 1.30.25

LONGBOAT

All shook up.

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

PAGE 22

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

VOLUME 47, NO. 24

YOUR TOWN

Canal maintenance tax a no-flow Town officials can’t decide on how, or who, to tax. SEE PAGE 4

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At your leisure

The beauty of Longboat Key has garnered fresh acclaim in the form of an online feature by the New York-based Travel + Leisure magazine.

The story, published Jan. 15, takes an in-depth look into all Longboat Key has to offer for accommodations, entertainment, natural beauty and cuisine.

Writer Terry Ward shares a firsthand perspective, giving advice on how to navigate and appreciate the island. Ward is a Tampa resident who regularly visits Longboat.

CIRCULAR

ART

St. Armands hosts bevy of creators.

PAGE 20

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Kim Fenwick and Susie Hettmansperger are this year’s Trash to Treasure co-chairs.

Dana Kampa

Artist Michael George chats with visitors at the St. Armands Circle Art Festival.

Find your treasure at rummage sale Buyers will have the chance to uncover something special at the upcoming “Trash to Treasure” rummage sale.

This sale, held at the Gulf Shore of Longboat Key at 3710 Gulf of Mexico Drive, helps reduce waste and allows residents to score some unique finds.

Kim Fenwick and Susie Hettmansperger have been the co-chairs of the event since 2020, and they look forward to welcoming visitors.

The pre-sale kicks off from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 15.

$0.10

A+E

DUNE PATROL Image courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Loggerhead hatchlings emerge from the sand in August 2016.

Lack of sand dunes may affect sea turtles. SEE PAGE 3

Eyes on the masterpiece.

INSIDE

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

WEEK OF JAN. 30, 2025

Overnight closure on Cortez Bridge

“We are going to try to refine our approach for a wider audience. It’s not just Longboat; this library also serves Lido and St. Armands.”

The Florida Department of Transportation advised drivers that necessary repairs to the Cortez Bridge guardrails will cause overnight lane closures from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2.

Repairs to the eastbound lane guardrail of the bridge will take place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. until Feb. 2. This lane will reopen for drivers from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

“The repairs are necessary to correct damage to the guardrails that occurred during an accident in December of last year,” a release from the FDOT stated. “Please use caution in the area, watch for flaggers, equipment and crews and plan for delays. Use an alternate route if possible during the overnight hours.”

There is also the utilities relocation construction occurring along the Cortez Bridge to prepare for the future bridge replacement. Though this construction has not needed lane closures, it has impacted the shoulders near the Cortez Bridge.

For traffic updates in real time, dial 511.

Town Manager Howard Tipton about the library project.

Read more on page 6

BY THE NUMBERS 14,000

Square feet of commercial space in the Brista Commons project.

PAGE 5

$3.5 MILLION

Needed for the enhanced version of a Sarasota County library on Longboat Key. PAGE 6

6

Local artists spotlighted at the Art on The Gulf event.

PAGE 18

Gulf Islands Ferry updates

CALENDAR

n Town Commission Meeting — 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 3, Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road n Let’s Talk Longboat — 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive n Special Magistrate

Hearing — 10 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 12, Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road

Dana Kampa

Responders assess damage after a fire broke out on the 300 block of St. Armands Circle on Jan. 23.

Fire damages St. Armands boutique

F

ire crews from Sarasota County and Longboat Key fire departments responded to a fire at Rochelle’s Boutique on Jan. 23, in the 300 block of the circle, according to Tina Adams, a spokeswoman from the Longboat Key Fire Rescue.

The two-alarm fire was reported about 11:40 a.m., according to Sarasota County spokeswoman Genevieve Judge.

Janine Nunnery, who works in a neighboring shop, said she noticed flames about 11:45 a.m.

and told the Observer flames were visible for about 20 minutes before fire crews were able to get the fire under control.

Responders reported no injuries but remained on the scene throughout the day to tape off the area.

Officers called the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations, and they encourage anyone with relevant information about the fire to contact the bureau.

Sarasota County Fire Depart-

ment Assistant Chief of Operations Will Schreiner said in a video statement there was a fire in the attic of a commercial building and the fire was contained to three units, some of which were under construction.

Following the fire, Rochelle’s posted on its social media account that the fire has forced the boutique to close.

However, the store’s location at 5114 Ocean Blvd. on Siesta Key is open.

Starting Jan. 23, the Gulf Islands Ferry service began operating from downtown Bradenton to the Bridge Street Pier on Anna Maria Island.

The service to the Anna Maria Island pier was suspended after the pier sustained major damage from Hurricane Milton, according to a press release.

“Our ongoing goal is to continue to enhance multimodal transportation via the water ferry service for our residents and visitors to experience and enjoy, while studying every landing option from the downtown corridor to possible additional locations on Anna Maria Island,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau in the release.

The ferry service operates Thursdays through Sundays.

Call or text 727-200-6487 for more information or questions.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

NO END IN SIGHT CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

W

alking along Longboat Key’s beaches, some parts of the beach are flatter. In some areas, beachgoers can see through to Gulf of Mexico Drive. In this upcoming nesting season, sea turtles will experience the same.

Those differences in the beach are concerning, said Melissa Macksey, a senior biologist with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research team.

Dunes are important not only for keeping the beach in place and protecting property, but also for acting as a natural light barrier for sea turtles.

“They shadow the beach and they block a lot of these lights that cause disorientations,” Macksey said.

“Without the dunes, there are going to be more exposed places.”

Disorientations occur when adult or hatchling sea turtles become confused with artificial light visible from the beach. The turtles rely on the natural moonlight to find the ocean again.

Chapter 100 of Longboat Key’s town code, “Marine Turtle Protection,” states that all lights visible from the beach must use turtlefriendly bulbs or fixtures or must be shielded or turned off.

Macksey said without the dunes, there would be many more lights exposed where they previously were not — things like first-floor lights, hotel lobbies and pool lights.

There is also a general loss of vegetation along the back of what used to be the dune system. This lack of vegetation is an added blow to the beach’s natural barrier.

“I think we have to consider lights that maybe we didn’t even think about before,” Macksey said. “A lot of lights were lower, or around the side (of a property) or technically not beachfront properties, but now they’re visible from the beach.”

Not only do the dunes block light, but they also act as a barrier for the nesting and hatchling turtles. If the

The St. Regis Longboat Key at night on Aug. 14, 2024.

The resort’s lights were an issue during the 2024 sea turtle nesting season.

Without the sand dunes acting as a natural barrier, sea turtles may travel too far for their nests.

turtles do become disoriented by light visible from the beach, the dune could stop them from reaching busy roads like Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“If the turtles don’t have an end to the beach, how far in will they go?”

Macksey said. “I am a little worried about that increasing this year in areas that were already higher risk.”

Senior Biologist with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Melissa Macksey checks on a sea turtle nest.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Vice President of Longboat Key Turtle Watch Cyndi Seamon said residents are noticing the multifaceted importance of dunes more than ever before.

Dunes can do a lot for turtles — shield natural light, act as a barrier to the road and also provide another viable nesting ground. But dunes also mean storm surge protection for homeowners.

It’s because of all these reasons that Seamon said she’s heard a lot of interest in property owners wanting to conduct private dune replenishment.

“It seems like there’s a lot of community support,” Seamon said.

“People really now understand how important a healthy dune system is.”

Seamon worries about the same issues as Macksey — lights that weren’t visible before and turtles possibly entering the roadway.

“There are spots where you can actually see the beach from the road and vice versa,” Seamon said. “If you’re walking on the beach, you can see the cars on the road where you could never see that before.”

Seamon said she attended some condominium association meetings to try to spread the word about the importance of dunes and the expectation that residents will need to be more cautious about sea turtlefriendly lights this year without dunes.

“There’s going to be more lights because there’s going to be less vegetation, fewer trees and also lights that we haven’t seen across GMD,” Seamon said.

Even if all the visible lights are turtle-friendly bulbs and amber-colored, Macksey worries the increased amount of those lights could create a significant enough glow to cause problems.

Though the official start to the sea turtle nesting season is May 1, Macksey suggested that people should start thinking about turtle-friendly lighting around mid-April.

Nesting sea turtles often begin around this time, and with less dune shielding, she’s worried about nest-

3

Image courtesy of Bekah Horsley/Mote Marine Laboratory

QUESTIONS? If a property owner has questions about turtle-friendly lighting, Code Enforcement at the Planning, Zoning and Building Department may be able to evaluate a property for compliance. To reach the office, the phone number is 941-316-1966.

The Sea Turtle Conservancy also helps with turtle-friendly lighting and has previously helped properties financially with lighting retrofits. The Sea Turtle Conservancy office can be reached at 373-6441 or STC@ ConserveTurtles.org.

ing sea turtles becoming disoriented.

“My biggest concern is the disorientation rate,” Macksey said. “There are going to be more lights visible and, even if they are turtle-friendly, there will still be more (lights) and that still creates a brighter environment.”

Seamon suggested residents start thinking about lighting even sooner than April.

She said some fixtures may take longer to set up or figure out, especially if this is the first time property owners have to use these fixtures.

Macksey said when in doubt, make a light turtle friendly. This could mean using turtle-friendly lights, shields, blinds or turning off the lights.

LAST YEAR’S RECAP

Triple hurricanes abruptly ended last year’s sea turtle nesting season.

Hurricane Debby’s impact had the most impact on the season, according to Macksey. This storm’s overwash from the Gulf happened at the early to middle part of the hatching season.

Macksey said about 1,300 nests were washed over and ruined by Debby. Of those that did survive, many were badly impacted and didn’t survive Hurricane Helene.

That caused Mote’s sea turtle nesting number to be down overall last year, but the disorientation rates were about the same as previous years.

Of the nests that hatched in 2024, about 14% were disoriented across Mote’s entire study site from Longboat Key to Venice.

About 11.1% of Longboat Key’s sea turtle nests were disoriented in 2024. According to the last nesting report by Mote, there were 1,259 nests on Longboat Key in 2024.

In 2023, 19.2% of the nests in Mote’s study site were disoriented, and 26% of the nests on Longboat Key were disoriented.

Courtesy images

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.

THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF DUNES

Dunes act as natural light barriers and can prevent turtles from reaching busy roads. Without dunes, there may be an increase in sea turtle disorientations.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Canal tax won’t be dredged up in 2025 Still lacking a taxing method and not wanting to impose an additional tax, the commission decided to push the program down the channel.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

L

ongboat Key residents will not see a new canal maintenance tax on their 2025 bills.

After a workshop discussion at the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Jan. 21 meeting, the commission agreed not to impose any additional tax and directed staff to continue simplifying the non ad valorem taxing methodology.

“Certainly, any revenue collection is on hold,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said. “But we hope the program can continue to develop.”

The canal maintenance program would dredge the town’s private and public canals and be funded by ad valorem (property tax) and non ad valorem taxes.

At the end of 2024, the town commission voted to approve an ad valorem mechanism to collect the revenue.

But having that mechanism in place does not require the town to utilize it.

A canal maintenance program has flowed in and out of town commission discussions for several years, but staff undertook a serious development of such a program about a year ago.

The project team and town consultants have been working to develop the non ad valorem portion of the tax collection, which is not yet refined.

This method could split up the town into six taxing districts, as well as group canals based on use — direct benefit, general benefit and shared benefit.

First Line Coastal, the town’s main consultant on the program, surveyed the town’s canals last year before the hurricanes and scored each one with

File image

a letter grade.

The surveys showed that 23% of the town’s canals were rated D or F, and those would get the dredge priority in the first round of dredging.

Previous estimates showed that the all-in project cost to get the town’s canals back to baseline would be around $9.25 million, which includes environmental mitigation costs of about $3.6 million.

Those costs were also adjusted to reflect estimates for 2028 pricing, which is likely when the dredging would start after collecting enough tax revenue to get the project started.

DREDGED-UP DISCUSSION

At the Jan. 21 workshop, the town consultants with First Line Coastal said the team is at the beginning stages of developing a dedicated website for the maintenance program where residents could input their information and receive an individual tax estimate.

The consultants and Public Works Director Charlie Mopps also talked about one of the potential reasons to move on the canal program sooner rather than later: beneficial use of dredged material.

According to their presentation,

sediment dredged from the canal maintenance program could be tested and used as fill for the subaqueous force main project.

Construction for the subaqueous force main project is happening in 2025 and, if the town could use BUDM from the canals, it could mean cost savings for the subaqueous project.

During the commission’s discussion, a common theme emerged — the need for simplification.

“When you enter into something like this, the key should be simplicity,” Mayor Ken Schneier said. “It’s not always possible, but simplicity, fairness and, where you have a wheel, don’t reinvent the wheel.”

District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams continued to question the methodology, especially after seeing numbers emailed to commissioners that showed 42% of parcels in the town have direct access to canals, but 68% of the taxable value would come from properties without direct access.

The workshop discussion continued to emphasize the need for a simpler and fairer method, with one suggestion being to split up the island by canal access and noncanal access.

Either way, the discussion was still a ways away from reaching a consensus on the right way to move on a non ad valorem tax.

Williams and Commissioner-AtLarge BJ Bishop also agreed that now is not the right time to impose a new tax on residents.

“I absolutely think we need to come up with a rate,” Bishop said.

“But I will strongly discourage us from putting another tax bill in front of people who have lost their homes, who have significant damage to their homes.”

Williams also reemphasized the need for a simpler method, something that can be explained like an elevator pitch to their constituents.

“If you can’t explain something in 30 seconds or less to somebody and get them hooked, you have a PR problem,” Williams said. “It’s not equitable to the people who don’t have canal properties.”

After the nearly 90-minute discussion, commissioners reached a consensus to not collect any tax for the canal program in 2025 and allow town staff and consultants to refine the methodology toward something simpler.

A funding source is one of the challenges in developing a canal maintenance program.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Commons coming in the fall The 14,000 square feet of commercial space will take about a year to complete construction, which started in November 2024.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

N

ew commercial space is coming to Longboat Key this fall.

Mark Ursini, president and founder of Brista Homes, said the company’s Brista Commons project, located at the 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive, should wrap up construction late this fall.

The project will bring 14,000 square feet of commercial space to the mid-Key location. Included in the commercial lot will be an office for Brista Realty, an anchor tenant Couch, two smaller spaces and an out parcel.

Ursini said the construction team is about 50% complete with the necessary drainage work, and concrete extension block walls should be completed within a few weeks.

Then, the team can move on to setting trusses and, later this year, move

toward interior finishing touches.

“We’re looking forward to starting the interior finishes and hoping to be complete by fall of this year,” Ursini said.

This should put the project’s completion date around October or November of this year, according to Ursini.

Ursini submitted building permits in August 2024, but construction was postponed until after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The project officially broke ground in November 2024.

The hurricanes set construction back a little, but Ursini said the more challenging aspect came before construction during the approval process from the Florida Department of Transportation and environmental regulations.

Those approvals and the COVID-19 pandemic-born remote work delayed the project’s start date originally, Ursini said.

With a completion date in sight, Ursini is working to get all the spaces leased out.

The anchor tenant, Couch, already has a finalized lease.

Couch will be a high-end, independent furniture store that occupies four of the available spaces in

The updated site map of Brista Commons shows Couch as the anchor tenant, with three spaces still available.

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Brista Commons. The store will include a 5,000-square-foot showroom and full design services.

Two smaller spaces in the main Brista Commons space are 1,500 square feet and 1,266 square feet, neither of which has finalized leases.

There is also a 3,422-square-foot out parcel on the lot. Ursini said he is in talks with potential leases for all the available spaces in Brista Commons.

The annual leases are about $40 per square foot, which means the smallest available space at $1,266 would have an annual lease of about $50,000.

Those leases are also triple-net, meaning the tenants are responsible for paying taxes, insurance and maintenance for the space.

Brista Commons will also be home to Brista Realty’s new Longboat Key office. In a previous article about the project, Ursini said about 80% of Brista’s projects are on Longboat Key, so having their offices on the island seemed like a natural fit.

“Everything feels great,” Ursini said of the project. “We’re very excited about having our offices down there, too.”

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Courtesy images

A rendering shows the Brista Homes office and Couch space in the Brista Commons plaza.

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Those lots were previously zoned as “office institutional,” which had been zoned that way since at least the 1960s.

In November 2021, town voters allowed Ursini to move forward with

plans to increase 0.86 acres in density from office institutional use to residential use.

Those residential homes are located behind the Brista Commons site and the homes were expected to have values of about $2 million to $2.5 million.

The Brista Commons project then gained approval from the town’s Planning and Zoning Board in April 2022.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

A rendering shows the terrace, which would be a possible enhancement to the Sarasota County library.

Library fundraising extended through April The town now has until the end of April to raise the $3.5 million needed for an enhanced version of a Sarasota County library.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

T

Courtesy images

Director of Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Renee Di Pilato speaks at a community input session for the Longboat Key location.

own Manager Howard Tipton and the Longboat Key Foundation agree it’s time to ramp up the fundraising campaign for an enhanced version of a Sarasota County library.

After two requests for extensions, the town of Longboat Key has until the end of April to raise the $3.5 million needed for the enhanced version.

Last year, the town fully engaged in the public library project, which kicked off with community input sessions in February 2024.

Sarasota County will fund the $11.1 million to construct the core library, at about 8,780 square feet. But after the community input sessions, it was evident that Longboat Key residents wanted more.

The county offered the chance for Longboat Key to include an expanded meeting space and covered terrace to the library, but the onus to fund those extensions was put on private donations.

An expanded community meeting space, enough to hold about 250 people, would cost $2 million and the terrace another $1.5 million.

These enhancements would bring the library’s total square footage to about 11,230 square feet.

First, the town had a deadline of the end of August 2024. Tipton attributed the slow start to the migration of snowbirds away from Longboat Key. The county gave the town another extension, which was overshadowed

by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The impact of those storms took over the rest of Longboat Key’s 2024.

“I think the storm really redirected our energy,” Tipton said.

Now, with the new deadline set, Tipton is hoping on a productive spring.

Jim Brown, founder of the Longboat Key Foundation, has been a

partner in the fundraising campaign since it kicked off last summer.

So far, he’s collected about $100,000 and said he has more people interested who want to schedule meetings about the project.

Though the start to the fundraising was slower than expected, Brown said he’s feeling positive.

Tipton said the fundraising team has scheduled meetings with potential donors over the next few weeks and, in the meantime, the team is trying to refine its messaging and approach to fundraising.

This means reaching out to a wider audience with a clear message about the positive impact the project could have on all the nearby barrier island communities.

“We are going to try to refine our approach for a wider audience,” Tipton said. “It’s not just Longboat, this library also serves Lido and St. Armands.”

Tipton also said a wider approach means being less focused on a few large donations to meet the $3.5 million mark and, instead, taking any donations as they come.

With that, though, Tipton understands that people may want to be recognized for the donations.

According to the county, naming rights are available if someone were to donate 25% of the estimated project cost, which would be about $3.65 million.

Tipton said the campaign going forward will include working with Sarasota County to figure out how donations smaller than $3.65 million — for example something in the range of $500,000 — would be recognized.

Tipton and the town may look to additional outside help like a professional fundraiser to help boost the campaign.

“Somebody who could help us chart the right path is what we’re looking for,” Tipton said.

With more part-time residents coming back for peak season, Tipton is also optimistic that the campaigning will start to pick up.

“We expect it to ramp up,” Tipton said. “We’ve got to show progress.

It’s time to go.”

Tipton said anyone interested in becoming a donor for the library should reach out to him directly at HTipton@LongboatKey.org.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

The 50-year decision The Karins report on the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall brings to the fore many dilemmas. The Van Wezel needs $17 million to keep going . It’s worth $80 million. Should the city be in the theater business?

“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.”

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MATT WALSH

L

et the conversations begin.

And to be sure, there will be and should be many of them.

The Sarasota-based firm of Karins Engineering recently released the long-awaited engineering report on the condition of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The report is now in the hands of the city’s Purple Ribbon Committee, which will digest all 400 pages and its recommendations, and later make its own recommendations to the City Commission on the fate of the city’s iconic performing arts hall.

The Karins report recommends it will take $17 million in repairs and the upgrading of all facets of the 55-year-old facility to preserve and protect it for its current and continued use.

The bigger questions for the Purple Ribbon Committee and City Commission will be whether to make those fixes, how to finance them and whether to commit to the never-ending and sizable costs to keep operating the performing arts hall in the shadow of what many hope will be a new iconic performing arts hall.

Or … what?

Tear it down? Repurpose it? Sell it?

You can be sure this will become one of the most debated and contentious issues in the city’s history.

Much like the fixed-span Ringling Bridge.

Many may recall that began in 1993 and lasted until April 2001.

That’s when the First District Court of Appeal ruled the Florida Department of Transportation could begin construction. That battle — multiple lawsuits —pitted factions of Sarasota and barrier island citizens against each other and tore the fabric of the community.

You already can envision a repeat when someone dares to suggest abandoning, tearing down or selling the Van Wezel.

But those visions come to mind when you read Karins Engineering’s 409-page report.

On the plus side, among the Karins report’s conclusions were “the team did not identify significant architectural or structural Florida Building Code Violations … The roof was observed to be in generally good condition and well maintained.” And the appraiser, Patricia Staebler, stated in her report “the building was found to be in good condition.”

Staebler’s appraisal concluded the depreciated market value of the Van Wezel to be $80,019,000.

She said the replacement value is $97,584,000.

Nonetheless, the Karins report is rife with deficiencies in the hall.

There are so many they bring to mind the debate you have with old cars: Is it throwing good money after bad to dump a couple thousand dollars into your old jalopy, not knowing what else will go haywire, or do you take on new debt

and buy a new one?

What’s more, reading the Karins report leaves you with the impression from the theater and audiovisual consultants that the Van Wezel is clearly a Class-B venue for today’s musical and theatrical productions — and wouldn’t be much more than that even with the $17 million in fixes.

Read the report (YourObserver. com/Opinion-Karins-Report).

Several conclusions, observations and opinions are likely to emerge in your mind.

Here’s one: When you think about what is required to keep that building operating — the people, their expertise; all of the mechanical requirements for HVAC; the maintenance of the thousands of parts; the upkeep inside and out; and on an on — you realize it is a gigantic task.

You then appreciate the job that Mary Bensel, executive director of the Van Wezel, and her team perform. You get the sense it’s like constantly plugging leaks in a dam, while keeping the water flowing as it should.

It’s a big, constant job. And the fact they have managed to keep the Van Wezel going for 55 years is something we all take for granted, but shouldn’t. Give them credit.

But then … there are the issues.

With the stage, offices, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and fire protection. Bringing all that up to where they should be consumes most of the $17 million.

And while the engineers say the roof can last another five to 10 years, the roof consultants cited 12 concerns to be addressed. The theater consultants were diplomatic in their assessment of the functionality of the acoustics and audiovisual features: “While the building is beloved, and many things from a technical acoustics and AV design perspective are functional, there are challenges that limit the use of the main performance space … Overall Assessment: Audio and video systems, including cable infrastructure, require replacement.”

They were critical of the continental seating (no aisles) and noted the difficulty of staging big touring shows. Both “Hamilton” and “The Lion King” played the Van Wezel, but they were difficult negotiations, with short runs and the need to balance the show’s minimum guaranteed revenue with ticket prices.

Once you digest all that is required to repair, preserve and

THE ORIGIN OF THE ROOF

William Wesley Peters, the sonin-law of Frank Lloyd Wright, was the architect of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

His design for the purple seashell-shaped roof had family connections.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s wife had a love of the sea. She selected the purple color because it reflected a purple seashell she found in Japan.

Source: Karins Engineering

ANOTHER 100 YEARS FOR VAN WEZEL? In Patricia Staebler’s LONG LIVES FOR HALLS appraisal of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Performing Arts Hall Historic age Hall, she included a Boston Symphony Hall 124 section comparing Carnegie Hall, NYC 133 the lives of other halls Academy of Music, Philadelphia 167 around the world: Fox Theatre, Atlanta 95 “The typical life La Scala, Milan, Italy 246 expectancy (also Theatro dell’Opera, Roma, Italy 145 called useful life) for Royal Opera House London 292 auditoriums and similar Opéra Garnier, Paris, France 149 property types can Vienna State Opera 155 be found at about 55 Sydney Opera House 51 years, as indicated in Theatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro 115 the national cost data Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires 116 publication Marshall Cape Town City Hall, South Africa 119 and Swift.

Noh Theatre, Nara, Japan 129 “Keep in mind, the Average 145 term ‘useful life’ was Source: Staebler Appraisal and Consulting introduced in the valuation world to quantify the time at which the computes the expected life of a structure might not property based on three groups of be longer used for its intended questions, such as environmental purpose. A structure such as the context, occupational profile and subject property, however, can have a perpetual life if maintained structural integrity …

“Taking the three methods and on a regular basis and renovated the actual historical age of the from time to time to keep up with subject property into considermarket standards. ation, it is my professional opinion “There is an additional tool an the life expectancy of the subject appraiser can use to examine the property should be found above useful life of a property. Profesthe industry normed range at sor Craig Langston of the Bond 100–120 years.”

University in Australia invented the physical life calculator, which

protect the structure to continue operating in the short term and even after a new, modern performing arts center opens, say, seven to 10 years from now, you can easily find your mind leaning to this conclusion: The city government of Sarasota should not be in the performing arts hall business.

Is that really a function of government — managing and maintaining an $80 million building, and booking and managing year-round traveling entertainment productions to suit the varied interests of the region’s citizenry?

Yes, the city has done that for 55 years. And over the past decade, Bensel has managed to reduce its annual subsidy on the city’s operating budget. The Van Wezel finished the four years from 2016 through 2019 with operating surpluses that ranged from $239,000 to $1.1 million. Its best operating years were 2021 ($1.3 million operating surplus) and 2022 ($3.4 million operating surplus), but it is expected to have losses totaling $3 million for 2023 through 2025.

Many will argue a performing arts hall is a public good and an amenity that enhances the quality of life — much like parks, Legacy Trails and football and baseball stadiums. But virtually all of them require subsidies — that is, taking the earnings of taxpayers and depriving them of that money to support “amenities” many may never use.

Will that be the future and fate of the Van Wezel if there comes a day when there is a new performing arts hall next door?

Indeed, the Karins report now triggers many questions the Purple

Ribbon Committee and city commissioners soon will face.

■ Should taxpayers fund the $17 million to repair, preserve and protect the Van Wezel for the next the five to 10 years (the likely time it would take for a new performing arts hall to be built)?

■ What are the consequences if the city doesn’t “invest” the $17 million?

■ How will that $17 million be funded?

■ In the larger sense, should the Van Wezel be operated with the objective of making it a break-even/ surplus-producing enterprise? Is that a strength of the city?

■ Or, should it be structured, say, much like the Bay Park Conservancy, a not-for-profit corporation expected to stand on its own?

■ With a market value of $80 million, should it be sold to a private company or not-for-profit organization (after a new performing arts center is built), relieving taxpayers of any future obligations?

Based on the Karins report, it’s clear that even with the $17 million upgrades and repairs, the Van Wezel will still be what it is — a B-market venue with its B-level customer experience and an inability to attract top-flight productions.

We have our sympathies for the members of the Purple Ribbon Committee and city commissioners. The Karins report has brought to light the unwinnable dilemmas they will face.

Hopefully, they will keep in mind: This is a 50-year decision.

It’s not just a matter of preserving a 55-year-old, inadequate architectural icon.

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Mopps was previously the project manager and assistant public works director, then served as interim director for the past three months.

Charlie Mopps’ promotion to public works director was announced by Town Manager Howard Tipton on Jan. 17.

File image

Mopps promoted to Public Works director STAFF WRITER

T

he town of Longboat Key has a new face of the Public Works department.

Charlie Mopps was recently promoted to Public Works director after former Director Isaac Brownman was promoted to the assistant town manager role.

“I’m most excited that I get to continue to work for the town but at a higher level,” Mopps said.

When Brownman accepted the assistant town manager role in late 2024, Mopps became the interim director of Public Works and later applied for the job.

Town Manager Howard Tipton announced Mopps’ promotion to department heads and town commissioners via email on Jan. 17.

“I am pleased to announce that Mr. Charlie Mopps, after competing against external candidates, has been selected as the next Public Works director for the town of Longboat Key,” Tipton said in his email. “He has brought a strong work ethic and positive attitude every day, working very well with the public as a key team member with all our internal operations teams (including storm response), a respected liaison with all our coordination and permitting agencies, as well as accomplishing major projects, initiatives and leadership goals.”

Now, as the new director, Mopps is looking forward to continuing the strong working relationship he had with Brownman, but at a new

Town aims to upgrade lift stations

level. This time, Mopps will oversee the Public Works department and Brownman will oversee multiple town departments and projects on a broader scale.

Mopps said he has always valued the level of camaraderie shared with Brownman, and he hopes to continue that in their new roles.

From 1993 to 2016, Mopps was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and holds a bachelor’s degree in marine affairs and military science from the University of Rhode Island.

Mopps has worked for the town for six years collectively. He first joined the town’s Public Works staff in 2019 as the department’s project manager.

Before that, he had worked as a project manager in Charlotte County from 2001-2016 and a project manager at a private engineering firm called Atkins from 2016-2017.

In early 2022, Mopps left the town to become Public Works director for the city of Venice but, after seven months, returned to the Longboat Key Public Works Department to assume the project manager role and also become the assistant director.

During his six years with the town, Mopps has become familiar with the departments, systems, staff and the community. This gives him a high comfort level, he said, and he’ll look forward to utilizing that comfort in a higher position.

“Putting me in this position allows me to continue my career path,” Mopps said. “I feel at home on Longboat Key.”

The lift stations, which control water and wastewater flow, need to be replaced after the hurricanes, costing about $800,000.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

T

he town of Longboat Key is looking to upgrade its resiliency in lift station infrastructure after many of the panels at those stations failed during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Hurricane Helene, in particular, caused a significant amount of flooding from storm surge across the entire island. This flooding resulted in about $800,000 in damage to the lift stations’ electrical panels.

The town’s wastewater system on the island is operated by 47 lift stations scattered throughout the island that control the flow of wastewater from the island to the mainland.

At those lift stations are electrical control panels that manage the amount of wastewater within that lift station. Currently, the control panels are fixed about one to two feet off of the ground.

According to Public Works Director Charlie Mopps, the panels need to be low enough so department workers can easily service and repair the panels — that’s why the panels aren’t installed multiple feet off the ground.

But the town’s Public Works department is now seeking a state

appropriation of $950,000 to upgrade the control panels by putting them on a device that could lift them higher off the ground in the event of an impending storm.

“Having them on a pole that can be elevated in the event of a possible storm, it allows the components to then still be serviceable,” Mopps said.

Putting the panels on a moveable extension could save the panels from being flooded by storm surge events in the future. Then, if those panels are saved, it could mean wastewater services coming back online for residents waiting to enter after hurricanes pass.

Mopps said at a Jan. 21 commission workshop the department is also working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up a site inspection for the damages to the panels experienced during Helene and Milton.

The town will also seek a $1.5 million state appropriation to help with the cost of the necessary subaqueous force main replacement project, which is expected to cost around $30 million.

If the state appropriations are granted, the town will be notified by July 1.

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Revamped Café on St. Armands officially opens

TRIBUTES Anthony (Tony) Pescatello 1935-2025

Owners of the newly opened Café on St. Armands blended the familiar feeling of the 100-year-old building with an updated aesthetic.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

A

Anthony (Tony) Pescatello, 89, of Bradenton, FL, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Born in New London, CT, Tony was a successful entrepreneur, advertising executive, and radio station owner. He shared a 60-year marriage with his beloved wife, Margaret (Midge) Pescatello, and cherished his family, including his three children, four grandchildren, and

longtime staple restaurant that has been central to the St. Armands Circle dining scene for 52 years has a new look.

Café on St. Armands officially opened its doors Jan. 21, a relaunch that has been three years in the making.

Eleni Sokos, executive vice president and managing partner, said unveiling a project that has been her passion project for so long was always going to be nerve-wracking, but she was thrilled to see the community show up with such enthusiasm for the hard launch and twoweek testing leading up to it.

“The surprising thing to me has been how positive it has all been,” she said, sharing her concern about legacy guests continuing to support the restaurant. “Their reassurance that they understand why we’ve made these changes has been so validating and gratifying.”

She and fellow opening attendees celebrated with Champagne, bites from the new menu and stories of gratitude for those who helped the restaurant reach this new point in its history.

With its exposed brick, ornate white ceilings and marble-topped bar, the restaurant retains the classic charm of its predecessor, Café L’Europe. But Sokos said she sought to update the aesthetic to make it approachable to all eaters, hopefully contributing to the community’s ongoing efforts to make St. Armands Circle exciting and engaging for both visitors and long-time residents.

“The feedback has been phenomenal,” Sokos said. “People feel like the menu is more approachable, that they can really gather over these flavors. And the flavors of the menu are diverse enough that they’re going to keep people coming back.”

great-granddaughter.

SERVICE: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on February 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea, Longboat Key, FL.

For the full obituary & to leave condolences, please visit www.brownandsonsfuneral. com.

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DONATIONS: Donations in Tony’s memory may be made to Tidewell Hospice of Sarasota (tidewellhospice.org).

Eleni Sokos cuts the ribbon for the official opening of Café on St. Armands.

The restaurant offers different experiences depending on the time of day. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can enjoy pastries and coffee from Soleil, which she said has been appealing to families looking for a quick stop before heading out to explore the Circle. She noted the coffee bar manager is a former Starbucks barista trainer and said adding the coffee service to the broader cafe concept.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the café serves breakfast tapas, featuring its “benedict flight.” Then, from afternoon to close, the restaurant dishes up its seafood-centric dinner menu.

Acting General Manger Jason Simpson said the new menu does still feature some crowd favorites, like the crusted grouper that was a popular white-tablecloth service staple. But the menu also includes some new delicacies, like their beetcured deviled eggs.

Simpson said he is particular eager for patrons to try the “pulpo a la gre-

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What Would the Founding Fathers Think of America Today?

It would be nearly impossible to overestimate the reverence afforded America’s celebrated founding fathers. They were real men whose brilliance launched our country, and they vigorously discussed and debated the important political issues of their time.

By focusing on key writings and speeches of founders such as Washington, Jefferson, Adams and others we can certainly speculate what they’d think about the issues of today. That’s the fascinating and unique idea behind the Observer’s upcoming event in Sarasota on February 6th. It will be presented by renowned Brown University Professor Wendy Schiller, Chair of the Department of Political Science.

Here’s an example. The partisan hostility of our two major parties

has certainly frustrated nearly everyone. It turns out that the “Father of our Country” and our very first President was concerned about that very issue. In George Washington’s words from his famous farewell address in 1796, “There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and keep alive the spirit of liberty. But then he went on to assert “the constant danger of excess” and ended by referring to a political party as “ a fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance topresent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume” Another subject area that was discussed thoroughly at the start of our country and continues to be a major focus today is the role of religion. While many believe

that the Founders felt that religion should be kept entirely outside political life, that’s really not what most of them felt. James Madison wrote that all men are “equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience”. In actuality the founders were less concerned about religious influences on government than they were with any effort to exclude some religions and favor others. That is what they had experienced as citizens of England and was what they were primarily concerned with.

One more example would be concerns about economic and wealth inequality. Many think of this as an area of concern only in recent times, e– launched in large part by the now well known “occupy Wall Street” movement in 2011. In fact, it was a subject ad-

issue for as long as our country has been in existence. It was Thomas Jefferson who wrote “That same prudence which in private life would forbid paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public monies” Sounds a lot like something you hear every day on TV!

vanced by many founders, and some of their thinking was quite advanced. Thomas Paine wrote of the need to “make some provisions for people become poor and wretched not only at the time they become so. Would it not, even a matter of economy, be far better to devise means to prevent their becoming poor?”

And finally, apparently federal spending has been a hot button

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COPS CORNER

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

FRIDAY, JAN. 17

WATER EMERGENCY 7 a.m., 3600 block of Fair Oaks Place Citizen Assist: A resident called for emergency assistance with a water main break. Upon arrival, the responding officer observed water pooling in the street in front of a residence. The complainant approached the officer and said that Public Works was responding, which the officer confirmed. The case was cleared.

‘FUTURE MAYOR’ OUT OF ORDER 9:59 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road Suspicious Person: An officer met with a complainant at town hall about a suspicious man. According to the complainant, the man had slicked-back hair, poor hygiene and “FILA” on the back of his shirt.

The complainant said he entered a meeting, caused a verbal disruption and said he was running to be the mayor of Tampa. The responding officer canvassed the area but could not find the suspicious mayoral candidate.

E-BIKE PROHIBITED ON THE BEACH 12:44 p.m., 5700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious Person: A citizen called to report a suspicious person with an electric bike on the beach. At the scene, the responding officer discovered a man fishing on the beach with an electric bike nearby.

The officer educated the man about the town ordinance prohibiting self-propelled or motorized vehicles on the beach. The man claimed he was unaware of the ordinance and moved the bike off the beach without incident.

SATURDAY, JAN. 18

MEET THE NEIGHBOR 7:13 p.m., 500 block of Bayport Way Animal Problem: Dispatch sent an officer to investigate a report of a dog walking around on the loose.

SATURDAY, JAN. 18

OUT OF GAS 12:20 p.m., 6400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Disabled Vehicle: A driver flagged down a patrol officer for assistance with his truck that was parked off of the roadway. The man said he ran out of gas and needed assistance, so the officer provided him a courtesy ride to the nearest gas station. Upon return to the man’s truck, he was able to get the vehicle running and left without any other issues.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Stephen Norman, senior event manager at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, interviews job fair candidates.

The officer met with the complainant who said her dog was “freaking out” at the door and, when she looked out the door, there was a large, brown dog sitting on her front porch. She said she didn’t know what to do and was scared of the dog. The officer checked the area but did not find any loose dogs. After canvassing the area, the officer returned to the complainant who was then talking to her neighbor.

The neighbor was holding a brown dog that matched the description the complainant gave. The dog’s owner claimed his dog was never loose and there was no issue. In the end, the complainant said she was happy to meet her neighbor.

St. Regis seeks to expand workforce St. Regis Longboat Key Resort recently sought recruits within the community at an in-house job fair.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

K

TUESDAY, JAN. 21

ara Hardiman, hotel manager at St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, said the luxury accommodations business can teach an employee many things about the ins and outs of the hospi-

MUST’VE BEEN THE WIND 2:16 p.m., 7100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Open Door: A citizen taking care of a Longboat Key residence contacted police after she arrived at the house and noticed a balcony door open. Two officers responded to the scene and checked the residence, finding nothing out of the ordinary except for the opened doors. There were no signs of forced entry and all windows were secure. According to the police report, it appeared the doors opened accidentally.

Recruiting coordinator Denisse Garcia registers candidates at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort job fair.

WORSHIP

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

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

directory

tality industry. But what managers are really seeking from the start is passion to go above and beyond to make a stay special for guests.

The resort held an in-house job fair on Jan. 23, aiming to bolster staffing at the newly opened facility.

Positions ranged from the front office to the spa, recreation, food and beverage service and banquet service.

“It went really well today,” Hardiman said. “We had a good turnout.

We’ve hired a number of new hosts to join our team, which is always exciting. We feel really pleased with the success of today, and to have so much of the community come out for it.”

Hardiman said St. Regis hopes to continue its outreach efforts within the Longboat community.

She shared her appreciation for how welcoming residents have been during the opening and said the resort aims to pay back that generous spirit.

“I think anytime that we can bring the community in, it does nothing but benefit those around us, from longevity in careers to putting money back into the community,” she said.

For anyone interested in applying for a position who was unable to attend the fair, Hardiman recommended visiting Marriott’s career page online.

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

438103-1

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Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

The Lord’s Warehouse is re-opening on Saturday, February 1 from 9am to 1pm.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

YOU ARE WELCOME AT ALL ANGELS

Catholic Church

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

Worship Service Sunday 10 a.m.

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

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

437790-1

Visitors & Residents Welcome

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

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

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

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

Watch Our 10:00 AM Service Live: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or www.christchurchof lbk.org (follow YouTube link)

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

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

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

941-383-3428

longboatkeytemple.org

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563 Bay Isles Rd • 941-383-8161

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AllAngelsLBK.org

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New To You Art Sale Find some treasures and help people in need Starting Sunday, February 2nd

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

15

Luxuriously Fresh Perspectives INSIDE AND OUT.

R E SI DE NCE SL I DOK EY.COM

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER 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. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rosewood Residences Lido Key is owned and being developed, offered and sold by WSR—Lido Beach, LLC (“Developer”). The project is not owned, developed or sold by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, L.L.C. or any of its affiliates (“Rosewood”). Developer uses the Rosewood marks pursuant to a license agreement with Rosewood, which may be terminated under certain conditions. Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. The Ronto Group®. Rosewood Hotels and Resorts®.

16

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Sotheby’s International Realty ® Affiliate Worldwide*

KEY ROYALE 641 Key Royale Drive Judie Berger

Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more

$8,750,000 941.928.3424

BAY POINT PARK 1479 Bay Point Drive Louis Wery

$5,549,000 941.232.3001

LONGBOAT KEY 591 Putting Green Lane Roberta Tengerdy & Carolyn Collins

FOUNDERS CLUB 3809 Founders Club Drive Donna Soda

$1,835,600 941.961.5857

430 Kumquat Court #310 Frank Lambert & Anita Lambert

$3,745,000 941.587.4894

540 North Tamiami Trail #604 Joel Schemmel

$740,000 941.685.3607

$599,000 941.920.1500

$2,475,000 941.961.5857

410 North Orange Avenue #218 Frank Lambert & Anita Lambert

$1,698,500 941.920.1500

301 Quay Commons #1406 Moriah Taliaferro

$680,000 941.539.3287

$2,428,200 941.920.1500

16435 Daysailor Trail Tom Hedge

$1,629,000 941.504.9910

7131 Sandhills Place Katy McBrayer

$598,500 941.539.0633

$2,099,950 941.587.6660

$839,000 941.400.2406

RIVERWALK VILLAGE

$645,000 941.374.4015

7422 Loblolly Bay Trail Maggie Davenport

$597,500 941.524.8299

7074 Woodmore Terrace Gloria Bracciano

CENTRAL PARK 4907 Torrey Pines Run Charles Totonis & Joe Harris

$2,850,000 941.524.8299

LAKEWOOD RANCH

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 7615 Windward Cove Christine Mazur

HAMPTON LAKES 3582 Recurve Circle Charles Totonis & Joe Harris

LAKEWOOD RANCH

BAYSO SARASOTA

LONGBOAT HARBOUR 4330 Falmouth Drive #308 Thomas Netzel & Sharon Meier

$3,695,000 941.587.4894

ORANGE ONE

SMUGGLERS LANDING 4204 126th Street West #506 Kevin Milner

$5,895,000 941.447.4875

THE BLVD SARASOTA

VILLA BALLADA

PALMA SOLA BAY CLUB 3450 77th Street West #102 Frank Lambert & Anita Lambert

6722 Hawkins Road Laura Stavola

THE LAKE CLUB 17230 Salerno Drive Donna Soda

LONGBOAT HARBOUR TOWERS 4401 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #203 Nisey Carbone

415 L Ambiance Drive #C403 Joel Schemmel

$2,495,000 941.330.3429

THE ISLES 8276 Redonda Loop Donna Soda

$4,250,000 941.321.2292

L’AMBIANCE $3,950,000 941.961.5857

COUNTRY CLUB EAST 16543 Kendleshire Terrace Michele NeSmith

SARASOTA ESTATE

$624,000 941.400.8757

LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB

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. Property information herein is derived from various resources, including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate. *Peerage Group Sotheby’s International Realty. Source: BrokerMetrics®

$579,000 941.229.4000

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

GRAND BAY 3060 Grand Bay Boulevard #175 Judy Mitchell

LONGBOAT KEY $2,325,000 941.275.6838

7917 Mainsail Lane Donna Soda

PELICAN HARBOUR & BEACH CLUB

6549 Gulf Of Mexico Drive Holly Switow

LAKEHOUSE COVE

$1,900,000 941.735.3186

4241 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #202 Cindy Fischer

COUNTRY CLUB EAST $1,499,000 941.961.5857

7014 Whittlebury Trail Gloria Bracciano

17

$1,735,000 941.465.1124

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

$1,295,000 941.229.4000

7220 Whittlebury Trail Donna Soda

$1,115,000 941.961.5857

THE GULF COAST LUXURY LEADER

SHELL BEACH 902 31st Avenue West Jessica Bell

INDIGO $569,000 850.509.5512

INDIGO 13008 Deep Blue Place Chris Constantinou

12657 Coastal Breeze Way Corinne Fallacaro

$559,000 941.685.9579

LONGBOAT KEY BEACHCOMBER $519,000 860.227.0044

2721 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #607 Joel Schemmel

$495,000 941.587.4894

CONCESSION 19405 Ganton Avenue Donna Soda & Joel Schemmel

$4,099,000 941.961.5857

LONGBOAT HARBOUR 4360 Chatham Drive #108 Kimberly Freiwald

19458 Beacon Park Place Donna Soda

$3,199,000 941.961.5857

SUTTON PLACE

LAKEWOOD NATIONAL $435,000 941.465.1124

ESPLANADE LAKEWOOD RANCH 13732 Messina Loop #102 Laura Stavola

LAKE VISTA RESIDENCES

THE CONCESSION

605 Sutton Place #205 Cindy Fischer

$490,000 941.256.6775

17520 Gawthrop Drive #301 Laura Stavola

$419,990 941.447.4875

7718 Lake Vista Court #408 Kevin Milner

$450,000 941.539.3287

RENAISSANCE I 750 North Tamiami Trail #421 Moriah Taliaferro

TWELVE OAKS OF TARA 6338 Stone River Road Nathan Mathers

$399,900 941.720.0408

$465,000 941.447.4875

$450,000 941.504.9910

PINE RUN III 232 Woodland Drive Denise Mattmuller

$285,000 941.232.8055

Featured New Developments

A Symphony of Sarasota Living

Debuting 2025 I AdagioSarasota.com 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 and availability are subject to change at any time without notice.

BECAUSE EVERY HOME IS UNIQUE. JUST LIKE YOU. JUST LIKE US.

SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000

VENICE | 941.412.3323

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

438314-1

BROKERAGE | RENTALS | RELOCATION | NEW DEVELOPMENT | MORTGAGE | TITLE | INSURANCE | FINE ART CONSIGNMENT

JANUARY 30, 2025

Classifieds 32 Games 31 Real Estate 29 Weather 31

YOUR NEIGHBORS This week’s Art on the Gulf showcase highlighted the works of six local artists, ranging from jewelry design to poetry to painting.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Up-and-coming artists featured at showcase A

Victoria Konsavage draws on nature for her artwork.

437887-1

Rosane Ferreira of Rosane’s Creations incorporates interesting stones in her jewelry.

s Lydia Zorzi was chatting with attendees at the Art on the Gulf showcase, one person came up to share how much her book of poetry resonated with him, adding that he planned to share her work with other friends who may also appreciate it.

“It makes me feel really good that someone can feel the depth of what I wrote,” she said.

The smiling writer explained that exactly is why she was so eager to participate in the showcase.

Organizer Medge Jaspan recently started the series, open to the public at the Mediterranean Plaza, which aims to promote the work of local artists of all specialties.

Jaspan is the owner of Holistic Healing & Wellness Center Longboat Key, and she wanted to start the series to show the wider community what talent resides here.

The Jan. 22 event featured six local artists: Lydia Zorzi, Rosane Ferreira of Rosane’s Creations, Jackie Williams, Vincent Taschetti, Victoria Konsavage and Jaspan.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Humane Society of Sarasota County.

Williams is a mixed-media artist who experiments in everything from clothing designs inspired by the seven deadly sins to performing arts. She took the opportunity

Medge Jaspan organized the Art on the Gulf showcase last week.

Jackie Williams flips through her art book.

Lydia Zorzi, who recently wrote her first book of poetry, chats with visitor Debra Garret at the Art on the Gulf showcase on Jan. 22.

at the showcase to display four of her acrylic paintings, including a circus-centric clown portrait quartet titled “Circus Mirror.”

She is currently a student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, and she draws inspiration from the surrealist style of artists like Salvador Dalí.

“I love art in general, and I have such a broad appreciation for it,” she said.

Konsavage said attendees particularly gravitated toward her gold-flake coated piece, “Guilded Canopy,” which depicts the branches of a tree draped with blue gems.

“I’ve really enjoyed meeting all the people who have come in to explore the art we are sharing tonight and just seeing how they interpret each piece,” she said.

Also at the showcase was Michele D’Ambrosio, wife of the late artist Vincent Taschetti. She shared some of his works and said she strongly supports the promotion of local artists and buying local art.

Reflecting on her own art, Jaspan said she aims to evoke feelings of empowerment. She said empowerment is what drove her to organize the showcase, and she hopes to work with other businesses in the community to expand this outreach.

Considering she published her first book, “Dancing on the Edge of Normalcy: Poetry and Prose” at the age of 73, Zorzi was grateful for the opportunity to connect with others, and she looks forward to future showcases.

— DANA KAMPA

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

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#1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM Michael Saunders & Company OVER $588MM SOLD SINCE 2007

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Scott Causey’s sculptures greet festivalgoers.

FULL CIRCLE OF ART W

hether gently touching intricate glass sculptures of flowing water — with the artist’s permission — or crafting a custom anniversary gift from local jewelers, visitors to last weekend’s St. Armands Circle Art Festival found a multitude of ways to interact with their favorite artists.

The festival took place Saturday and Sunday, and welcomed more than 200 exhibitors.

Show Director Elaine Laurent labeled the festival one of the best she’s organized in a long time.

She said while last November’s festival was a valuable opportunity for artists to gain some community support in the immediate aftermath of the recent hurricanes, this weekend’s festival seemed to mark a full return to force, with attendance high on both Saturday and Sunday.

Attendees had one word for her about this year’s offerings: amazing.

“They have come up and said what an amazing show this is, and they are so happy to have it back and see the Circle alive again,” she said.

Laurent noted how this longrunning festival has provided regular opportunities for patrons to see and support their favorite artists, as well as surrounding businesses.

Artist Peter Rujuwa smiles next to his sculpture “Welcome Harvest,” crafted out of serpentine stone.

Visitors milled about the Circle, which was completely packed with exhibits set up gallery style.

About 15% of those artists were “hyperlocal,” based in Sarasota or close proximity, and about 50% were based in Florida. But the festival was also a venue for international and up-and-coming artists.

“It gives a nice variety,” she added. “Different regions bring different ideas and different styles.”

The vibrant animal ceramic sculptures of Scott Causey immediately greeted people entering the festival area from the John Ringling Causeway.

The artist is a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, and he has been showing his work at this particular festival for many years.

Causey said he most enjoys getting to directly interact with viewers, giving him an opportunity to explain how he carefully dissects his sculptures, allowing him more freedom to create pieces with otherwise adversely interactive glazes.

“I’ve been working in clay since I was just out of diapers,” he said.

“My family encouraged me, and we were able to get it started.”

Other artists made the trip to St. Armands Circle from much farther away, including Arizona-based photographer Eugene Lagana. He combines the technical skills of high-quality macrophotography with the whimsy of his comical figurine-based scenes.

In one piece, miniature painters on scaffolding appear to be creating the portrait of Benjamin Franklin.

Organizers of this festival host art and craft events throughout the Sarasota area. For those looking to keep up with this year visit ArtFestival.com.

— DANA KAMPA

Jim and Lisa Jorden admire the work of glass artist Will Grant.

Sculptor Guilloume shows off a smaller piece.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Jewelry designer Alexis Barbeau helps Kim and J.T. Kellock design a special 30th anniversary custom piece.

seitreporp esitrepxe stluser

St. Armands Circle Art Festival Show Director Elaine Laurent and Coco Brandao chat with artist Ancizar Marin.

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Marina Tower #1001 | Downtown Bayfront Direct bay views from numerous rooms of this 5,815sf residence with 4 bedrooms, naL drayoffice, laH 10media 5 104 #and bul4Cparking retaW spaces. remodeledekitchen, room, multiple storage rooms 0 0 0,599,1$ | 4 64 8 4 4 4A | F$7,375,000 S 0 43 , 2 0 0 0,575 , 2$ | 4 67124 4A | FS 0 04,3 | A4626354

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

21

Local Roots, Legacy of Experience: One Family, Two Generations TOP 1%

of Coldwell Banker Realty Agents Globally

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HARBOR ACRES $9,600,000 1430 HARBOR DR. • 7,049 SQ FT OF LIVING SPACE Completely Renovated in 2023 • 110’ on Deep Protected Boat Basin • 1,100 Bottle Wine Room • In Home Elevator • All New Hurricane Impact Windows & Doors Private Dock • Outstanding Entertaining Areas & 4-Car Garage • Resort-Style Pool Opulent Walnut-Clad Office • All Bedrooms have En-Suite Baths

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22

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Musician Billy Lindsey, performing as Elvis Presley, gives lei necklaces to all the ladies in the audience, including Sharyn Ford.

Deb Marten dances while Billy Lindsey sings.

Elvis brings down the house B

illy Lindsey has long been delighting audiences with his musical talents, particularly with his impression of Elvis Presley, the king of rock ’n’ roll. In fact, he is a previous winner of the Florida State Fair’s Elvis extravaganza contest.

The tribute artist graced the stage at Longboat Harbour Condominiums on Jan. 25, bringing residents to their feet with his electric rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes” and plenty of Presley’s other hits.

Lindsey started off the evening with some classic country and other tunes. Listeners danced emphatically to Brooks and Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Halfway through his set, Lindsey disappeared, then returned as The King, wearing a white jumpsuit

Joyce and Jerry Roslund

with gold embellishments and scarlet pants cuffs that flashed when he kicked along to “Trouble.”

Attendees raved about his dance-inducing performance and said they look forward to a full calendar of events coming up in 2025.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Karen Talty, Sharyn Ford, Sandee Bernian and Connie DiMaggio do a line dance.

— DANA KAMPA

Celebrating 50 YEARS of Living and Working on Longboat Key Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor • Consistent top producer on Longboat Key • In-depth knowledge of the real estate market • Active in our community with Longbeach Village Association Longboat Key Historical Society Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Longboat Key Garden Club

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

23

REAL ESTATE BY REAL EXPERTS NEW PRICE

JUST LISTED

NEW PRICE

REGENT PLACE • $4,495,000 675 LONGBOAT CLUB RD., #22A • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR+DEN/4BA • 3,654 SF • Beachfront w/walkdown

THE MARK • $1,399,000 111 S. PINEAPPLE AVE., #1004 • SARASOTA, FL 2BR/2.5BA • 1,513 SF • Modern interior • City views

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • $2,490,000 597 CUTTER LANE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/2BA • 1,963 SF • 103’ of Waterfront

PROMENADE • $2,350,000 1211 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #401 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/3BA • 2,100 SF • Gulf & Bay views

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • $5,750,000 596 YAWL LANE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 5BR/5.5BA • 7,374 SF • 275’ of Seawall • Large lot

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS • $1,595,000 603 LONGBOAT CLUB RD., #1102N • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,458 SF • Gulf & Bay views

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS • $1,395,000 603 LONGBOAT CLUB RD., #903N LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,458 SF • Gulf & Bay views

COREY’S LANDING • $2,800,000 3444 MISTLETOE LANE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 4BR/3.5BA • 2,836 SF • Upgraded

BAYPORT BEACH & TENNIS CLUB • $949,000 520 BAYPORT WAY LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,456 SF • Gulf to Bay

SUTTON PLACE • $409,000 569 SUTTON PLACE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/2BA • 1,198 SF • Furnished

JUST SOLD

WINDING OAKS • $1,195,000 3427 WINDING OAKS DRIVE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/3BA • 2,555 SF • Water Views

FAIRWAY BAY • $675,000 1932 HARBOURSIDE DR., #242 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2.5BA • 1,192 SF • Bay views

WEST OF TRAIL • $2,580,000 1886 PROSPECT STREET SARASOTA, FL 4BR/4BA • 3,444 SF • Built in 2016

QUEENS HARBOUR • $2,395,000 3596 FAIR OAKS LANE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 4BR/3BA/2HB • 13,416 SF • Remodeled

ISLANDER CLUB • $649,000 2301 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #25N LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,235 SF • Furnished

BEACHPLACE III • $799,000 1065 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #104 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,503 SF • Private walk-down

ISLANDER CLUB • $799,000 2301 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #85N LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,235 SF

HARBOR OAKS • $699,000 2215 HARBOURSIDE DR., #304 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/2BA • 1,906 SF • Updated

BRUCE MYER GROUP

• OVER $130 MILLION PENDING AND SOLD - JUST IN 2024 • TOP 10 COLDWELL BANKER SALES ASSOCIATE - 2023 • TOP 1.5% OF ALL REALTORS IN THE NATION • TOP FLORIDA 100 REALTOR - COLDWELL BANKER

Learn more at www.BruceMyer.com

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BRUCE MYER (941) 376-5311

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

432588-1

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.

24

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Temple’s 46th gala celebrates the arts

C

reative minds behind fine art and ethereal music were lauded at this year’s Temple Beth Israel gala on Jan. 26.

The evening’s honorees were Ann Stephenson-Moe, the temple’s music director and organist, and Kei Sulhi, a longtime soloist with the choir. Both women have brought their musical talents to countless temple events, including a recent Shabbat service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jason Brandt, TBI’s vice president of development and gala host, lauded the honorees’ continued dedication to bringing residents together through song.

Central to the gala is the live auction, which supports educational, spiritual and community events throughout the year.

Local artist Jorge Blanco donated several pieces to the auction.

Sarasota residents are likely familiar with Blanco’s large-scale public sculpture work, which adorns several intersections in the downtown area.

The evening’s performing artists included Jazzmin Carson and Raleigh Mosely II from the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Also performing was The John Rinell Trio, which had nearly all galagoers up on their feet in the Sarasota Yacht Club ballroom by the end of the evening, bringing the 46th annual event to a close.

Kid Dutch and company entertain listeners at The Education Center.

ALL T THAT JAZZ

Photos by Dana Kampa

Pianist Mary Green plays alongside Kid Dutch.

he Education Center may be considerably far east from New Orleans, but passersby could be forgiven for thinking they were walking on Bourbon Street the evening of Jan. 21, as the sounds of classic jazz carried out from the halls.

Kid Dutch delighted listeners with a throwback to the days of speakeasies.

The set list had old-school tunes, including Johnny Mercer’s “Lazybones” and Jelly Roll Morton’s “Grandpa’s Spells,” known for its comedic collapsing on the keys by the band’s pianist.

Accompanying Dutch were Charles Bornemann on trombone, Lew Green on cornet, Mary Green on piano and Paul Scavarda on banjo.

Green shared several stories of navigating raucous night scenes, all in the pursuit of playing good music.

Despite the rainy weather, dozens of community members turned out for fun, pausing only to share slices of birthday cake for resident Ed Mikus.

Community members Barbara and Nelson Mishkin sponsored bringing artists for this night and one other scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18. Attendance is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Visit TBIEducationCenter to register ahead.

— DANA KAMPA

— DANA KAMPA

TBI President Dr. Lois Barson

Kei Sulhi and Ann Stephenson-Moe receive recognition for their musical contributions to the community.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Susan Goldfarb, Dr. Jason Brandt and Mindy Brandt Andrew Ford and Jorge Blanco

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

25

WATER

on the

Reid Murphy Presents

NEWLY LISTED

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LONGBOAT KEY BAYFRONT

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One acre gated Gulf front estate. 4 BD home has a separate guest house and Gulf front pool. Incredible views of azure Gulf waters, beautiful white sandy beach, abundant wildlife and spectacular sunsets.

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Rare Opportunity to build waterfront on 200 feet of bay front property. Located in Bayou Hammock near shopping and restaurants. Deep-water direct access to Sarasota Bay. Walking distance to white sand Gulf beach.

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DIRECT BEACH FRONT WALKOUT 3BD / 4BA completely redone. Rarely available floor plan w/ front & back terraces. Stunning views. L’ Ambiance amenities include 24 hour guard gate, concierge, plus. two Har-Tru tennis courts.

3,495,000

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New construction 3BD/ 3BA waterfront home in historic Longbeach village. Corner lot w/ greenspace, water views, boat launch & beach access. 4 car garage or storage.

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2,995,000

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LONGBOAT KEY EMERALD HARBOR

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Newly renovated 5BD/5BA w/elevator and high-end finishes. Breathtaking Sarasota Bay and ICW views. 10,000lb boat lift, 3 car garage & more.

2,495,000

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Exceptional opportunity to remodel 2BD/2BA or create your own retreat. New seawall, large dock, w/ 2 lifts + space for additional watercraft. Easy access to Gulf & Bay.

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4,825,000

5,500,000

LONGBOAT KEY NORTH

LONGBOAT KEY SLEEPY LAGOON

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$

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$

Great opportunity to build on a private cul-de-sac with private sandy beach access to Gulf of Mexico.

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Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach - 8BD/7BA: North Shore, Anna Maria - 5BD/6BA: Avenue A, Bradenton Beach - 8BD/9BA: 72nd St., Holmes Beach - 4BD/7BA:

15,000,000 6,500,000 $ 6,500,000 $ 3,600,000 $ $

LONGBOAT KEY DREAM ISLAND ROAD

LONGBOAT KEY WIDE CANAL

LONGBOAT KEY PROMENADE

$

3,595,000

$

Double lot on a wide canal that is 1.06 acres with 200 ft of waterfront. Update the current 4BD/3BA retreat or build a new waterfront home, or possibly two canal front homes. Great tranquil location.

1,995,000

$

Great opportunity to build or remodel 4BD / 2BA corner canal lot. Direct bay and ICW access. Deeded beach directly accross the street.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

SATURDAY, FEB. 1

WAREHOUSE REOPENING 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 1 at The Lord’s Warehouse Thriftshop, 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The high-end shop, run by the Longboat Island Chapel, is having its grand reopening for the season, celebrating its comeback from the recent hurricanes. Visit LongboatIslandChapel.org for full details.

SUNDAY, FEB. 2

JONI MITCHELL TRIBUTE 2:30-4 p.m. at The Education Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. Musician Joni Adno and company offer a look at Joni Mitchell’s early folk roots to her masterpieces. Cost is $30 for members; $35 for nonmembers. Register online at TBIEducationCenter.org or call 941-383-8222.

5th annual art sale upcoming

SATURDAY, FEB. 1

GULF DRIVE CLEANUP 9-11:30 a.m. at Longboat Key Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Community members are invited to join a volunteer cleanup of Longboat Key’s main road of remaining hurricane debris. Organizers will provide cleanup supplies, hydration and light snacks, but they recommend bringing a reusable water bottle, hat and protective clothing. Sign in at the Longboat Key Chapel. Call 883-8905 with questions or register in advance at Eventbrite.

All Angels by the Sea is holding its 5th annual art sale, starting Feb. 3, to support the nonprofit Turning Points.

MONDAY, FEB. 3

‘NEW TO YOU’ ART SALE 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3 at All Angels by the Sea, 563 Bay Isles Road. The fifth annual art sale kicks off Monday and continues through Feb. 27.

Proceeds benefit Turning Points. Call 941-383-8161 with questions.

TUESDAY, FEB. 4

AI LECTURE 3-4:30 p.m. at The Education Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. Ronald Levine leads a lecture on the evolving role of artificial intelligence. Cost for a single lecture is $20 for members; $25 for nonmembers. Cost for the full lecture series is $180 for members; $240 for nonmembers. Register at TBIEducationCenter.org or call 941-383-8222.

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

LONGBOAT LIBRARY 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road.

Call 941-383-6493.

PUMPING THE PRIME 10 a.m. at Bayfront Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Led

by Mirabai Holland, classes focus on low-impact cardio and strength exercises. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. Email Mirabai@ MovingFree.com or call 956-1466.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

L

inn Torres has been organizing the “New to You” art sale hosted by the All Angels Episcopal Church since its inception, and she anticipates it will be better than ever in its fifth year.

“We get some fabulous items,” she said. “They’re one of a kind, and you never know what you are going to get.”

She carefully curates the collection of unique, high-quality pieces throughout the year and is eager for buyers to search through this year’s 300 offerings to find whatever treasure speaks to them.

Pieces in this year’s sale include jewelry, paintings, prints, sculptures and much more. Family members of one parishioner who died this year allowed Torres to pick 50 special items from his estate to help raise funds.

As an antiquing expert, Torres said patrons are poised to get a steal considering the pieces are marked well below market value, all with the goal of raising as much funding as possible while providing residents with interesting art.

The church donates 100% of the proceeds to charity, supporting the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity in previous years. This year’s new nonprofit is Turning Points, which provides support for Manatee County families and individuals fac-

File image

MONDAYS

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

Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 941383-6493.

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS

PILATES SCULPT 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 $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 941-383-6493.

YOGA 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 $20. Call 383-6493.

Dana Kampa

Linn Torres, All Angels by the Sea administrative assistant and art sale coordinator, shows some of the pieces that will be available at the “New to You” art sale starting Feb. 3.

ing homelessness.

“They do great things for the community,” she added.

The organization provides support for those who need assistance with their rent and utility bills, helping ensure residents can stay in their homes. Turning Points also focuses on rapid rehousing to help families quickly find stability and particularly focuses on assisting veterans.

Experts also offer advice on case management, budgeting education and referrals.

Torres encourages patrons to revisit the sale while it lasts, considering she adds new items every day.

The sale takes place at the church gallery, located at 563 Bay Isles Road.

It starts on Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 27. It is open at the church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays. It will also be open for special hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 and noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 23.

For inquiries about the sale or how to donate, call 383-8161.

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NEW LISTING RENTAL INCOME $799,900

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4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

©2025 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved.

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

THE GALLERY HOUSE AVAILABLE 2025 Nestled in Sarasota’s prestigious Lido Shores, 1354 Westway Drive is a stunning 3-bed, 3-bath residence that epitomizes luxury coastal living with a chef’s kitchen, 2-car EV garage, 3 outdoor living areas, pool, spa, and private community beach.

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Broker Associate

439206-1

YOUR CALENDAR

26

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Promenade

27

Siesta Key $25,000 Bonus through March 31, 2025 with Brokers Approval – Plus the Seller will pay 3% Commission to Buyer’s Agent!

1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive #211 - $2,300,000 3 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,273 sq. ft.

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3500 Bayou Louise Lane - $10,000,000 5 Beds | 5.5 Baths | 6,300 sq. ft.

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435 S. Gulfstream Ave #1004 - $1,128,000 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,829 sq. ft.

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575 Sanctuary Drive #A303 - $1,999,000 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 1,823 sq. ft.

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350 Gulf of Mexico Drive #211 - $1,078,000 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 2,394 sq. ft.

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1800 Ben Franklin Drive #A403 - $949,000 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,350 sq. ft. | Furnished LElegance403.com

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

LONGBOAT KEY 5919 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 6 Baths 5,596 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4628022 $12,500,000

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

LONGBOAT KEY 536 Ketch Lane 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,960 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4634879 $3,999,999

LONGBOAT KEY 598 Lyons Lane 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,659 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4630668 $3,395,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3310 Sabal Cove Lane 4 Beds 4 Baths 4,465 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire 818-416-2505 A4634589 $2,900,000

LONGBOAT KEY 565 Sanctuary Drive A203 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,375 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4633772 $2,650,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3260 Bayou Road 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,156 Sq. Ft. Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4634211 $2,350,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6940 Longboat Drive S 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,550 Sq. Ft. Bill Anderson 941-313-4059 A4627373 $2,250,000

SARASOTA 1839 Irving Street 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,144 Sq. Ft. Alison Elizalde 941-928-9217 A4631505 $2,250,000

LONGBOAT KEY 545 Sanctuary Drive B406 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,375 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy & Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4631653 $1,975,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1211 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 706 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,598 Sq. Ft. Tim Koons-McGee 941-320-7073 A4631985 $1,499,990

LONGBOAT KEY 1000 Longboat Club Road 1103 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,409 Sq. Ft. Jenine Meyer 941-266-8303 A4620940 $1,282,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1211 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 105 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,598 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4632629 $1,199,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4311 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 501 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,239 Sq. Ft. Richard Perlman 941-228-8580 A4633838 $1,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3465 Winding Oaks Drive 33 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,608 Sq. Ft. Julie Klick 941-780-6001 A4635798 $1,050,000

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

LONGBOAT KEY 4825 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 105 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,393 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4620656 $1,025,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2195 Harbourside Drive 404 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,906 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire 818-416-2505 A4635715 $1,025,000

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

LONGBOAT KEY 611 Hibiscus Way 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,723 Sq. Ft. JoDene Moneuse 941-302-4913 A4631189 $950,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3330 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 205D 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,362 Sq. Ft. Sherri Mills 941-350-7112 A4632901 $795,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3810 Gulf Of Mexico Drive F402 2 Beds 3 Baths 1,361 Sq. Ft. Susan Mondello 941-544-3387 A4634713 $695,000

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

LONGBOAT KEY 565 Sutton Place V-9 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,198 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4629601 $450,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4310 Falmouth Drive A104 1 Bed 1 Baths 747 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4635867 $437,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6161 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,224 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4634003 $11,700,000

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

LONGBOAT KEY 415 L Ambiance Drive A701 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,220 Sq. Ft. Mel & Jan Goldsmith 941-356-6673 A4636769 $4,975,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JAN. 13-17

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

condominium in Grand Bay top this week’s real estate.

Robert and Connie Zerden, of Atlanta, sold their Unit 343 condominium at 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. to Miles Kilcoin and Kristi Rabenberg, of Bloomington, Illinois, for $2.2 million.

Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,369 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,385,000 in 2022.

EMERALD HARBOR

Jeanne and Robert Musorofiti, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 650 Emerald Harbor Drive to David Allen Barnette and Cynthia Wegely Barnette, of Longboat Key, for $1.8 million. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,039 square feet of living area.

It sold for $350,000 in 1992.

Images courtesy of Chase Myer

The unit at 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,369 square feet of living area.

Virginia, for $1.55 million. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths and 2,143 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.4 million in 2022.

FAIRWAY BAY

Alexander and Irene Cass, trustees, of Seattle, sold the Unit B-810 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Nan Fein and Richard Fein, trustees, of Cincinnati, for $1.6 million. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,700 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,000 in 1996.

Heather Doster Steven, trustee, of Wilmington, North Carolina, sold the Unit 557 condominium at 2110 Harbourside Drive to Austin Riess and Mason Riess, trustees, of Danbury, Wisconsin, for $999,000.

Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,039 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 1993.

GRAND BAY

LIDO SHORES

L’ELEGANCE ON LIDO BEACH

Mitchell Sabshon and Joan Colmar, trustees, sold the Unit 112 condominium at 3060 Grand Bay Blvd. to Dona McMullen Schaaf and Frank Behle Schaaf, of Midlothian,

REAL ESTATE

Grand Bay condominium tops week’s sales at $2.2 million

29

baths and 1,036 square feet of living area. It sold for $124,500 in 1984.

CASA MAR

Pamela Pelletier, trustee, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, sold the Unit 8-A condominium at 4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive to JAL 2018 Inc. for $500,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 900 square feet of living area. It sold for $140,000 in 1983.

ONLINE

Julie Ann Shroyer, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 303 condominium at 350 S. Polk Drive to MXP South Polk LLC for $535,000. Built in 1977, it has two bedrooms, two

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Jan. 17-23 in order of dollar amounts.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

LONGBOAT KEY Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

5056 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Dock/Seawall/Lift

GFY Trustee

$250,000

Services LLC

3170 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Repair – Helene

Judy Johnson LLC

669 Halyard Lane

Dock/Seawall/Lift

Christopher McCormick $159,651

701 Binnacle Point Drive

Re-roof

Alycia Craft

$157,984

2425 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Re-roof

Sea Gate Club

$106,000

$192,459

Condominium 420 Firehouse Court #9

Repair – Helene

Henry Peelle

$80,000

455 Longboat Club Road #905

Building –

Gordon White

$65,000

Alt/Renovation 420 Firehouse Court #10

Hurricane Damage

Rosalie Lamkin

$59,750

2061 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Hurricane Damage

WF Bueche Family

$50,000

Condo L

3808 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Janet Sanzo Scheller

Hurricane Damage

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

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

$49,267

Family Hurricane Damage

USTFG LLC

$45,000

6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive #320

Hurricane Damage

Joseph Ciccarello

$39,840

669 Halyard Lane

Dock/Seawall/Lift

Christopher McCormick $39,733

6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive #314

Hurricane Damage

USTFG LLC

$33,780

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive #C1

Hurricane Damage

Marlyn Burns

$31,000

260 North Shore Road #1

Hurricane Damage

Sylvia Babineau

$25,000

260 North Shore Road #3

Hurricane Damage

Roger Field

$25,000

260 North Shore Road #4

Hurricane Damage

Steven Weyl

$25,000

280 North Shore Road #5

Hurricane Damage

MP Family

$25,000

Investments LLC

280 North Shore Road #7

Hurricane Damage

Richard Thoman

$25,000

280 North Shore Road #8

Hurricane Damage

Andreas Gocksch

$25,000

280 North Shore Road #9

Hurricane Damage

Faye Wendel

$25,000

4835 Gulf of Mexico Drive #106

Repair – Helene

Patricia Murphy

$23,000

532 Rountree Drive

Building – Demo

Ronald Amato

$20,000

3527 Mistletoe Lane

Building – Other

Gloria H. Hartman

$16,565

(Foundation Repairs) Restate 771 Binnacle Point Drive

Building – Demo

Dawn D’Onofrio

$16,500

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive #1D

Repair – Helene

DLK Investments Inc

$15,112

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive #4A

Hurricane Damage

Cheri Dorsey

$14,222

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive #1B

Hurricane Damage

Todd Waddell

$13,852

510 De Narvaez Drive

Mechanical –

Robert Saldutti

$12,285

Celia Cicurel

$10,000

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

Hurricane Damage

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

Source: Town of Longboat Key

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

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

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

Hurricane Damage 5265 Gulf of Mexico Drive #309

LONGBOAT KEY

437222-1

6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive #313

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

T H E G R O U P

Jules Mackie | Tracey Stetler | Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan | Patrick DiPinto | Rene DiPinto | Steven Moore | Janet Coughlin

Over $150,000,000 Volume in the Past 18 Months We are a collaboration of savvy real estate professionals with decades of local experience. We focus on selling exceptional properties located in downtown and on our local islands. We represent buyers and sellers in our marketplace with a unique viewpoint, as we live in the communities that we sell. This local perspective makes us experts in our field, allowing us to provide you all the information for you and your family to make the best decision in your real estate endeavor.

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

109 WARBLER LN | BIRD KEY $10,995,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 4.5 Baths 4,750 Sq. Ft.

3621 SAN REMO TER | SARASOTA $9,750,000 – Under Construction 5 Beds 7 Baths 5,328 Sq. Ft.

1212 CENTER PLACE | LIDO SHORES $6,995,000 – New Construction 5 Beds 6 Baths 4,750 Sq. Ft.

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

3480 BAYOU SOUND | LONGBOAT KEY $4,999,999 - Newly Built Construction 5 Beds 4 Baths 4,000 Sq. Ft. With Deeded Beach Rights

549 SLOOP LANE | LONGBOAT KEY $3,900,000 - Country Club Shores 4 Beds 5 Baths 4,127 Sq. Ft.

551 SOUTH POLK DRIVE | LIDO BEACH $3,749,000 - Canal Access & Boat Lift Walk to St. Armands and Lido Beach 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,565 Sq. Ft.

3408 FAIR OAKS LANE | LONGBOAT KEY $3,249,000 - Bay Isles 5 Beds 5 Baths 4,510 Sq. Ft.

Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

4844 BRYWILL CIRCLE | SAPPHIRE SHORES $1,699,000 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,672 Sq. Ft. with Casita

569-571 CHANNEL LANE | SOUTH LONGBOAT KEY $1,050,000 – Multi-Family Renovation Or Build Your New Home Here

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contract: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

3927 SOMERSET DRIVE | SIESTA KEY $2,325,000 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,758 Sq. Ft. Contact: Jules Mackie 773-704-1438

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

Contact: Jules Mackie 773-704-1438

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

941 - 388 - 2021

53 S PALM AVENUE, SARASOTA, FL 34236

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

426500-1

30

YourObserver.com

31

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

FRIDAY, JAN. 31 High: 71 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 12%

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.

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

Thursday, Jan. 30

7:17a

6:10p

Friday, Jan. 31

7:16a

6:11p

Saturday, Feb. 1

7:16a

6:12p

Sunday, Feb. 2

7:15a

6:13p

SATURDAY, FEB. 1

Monday, Feb. 3

7:15a

6:13p

High: 69 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 24%

Tuesday, Feb. 4

7:14a

6:14p

Wednesday, Feb. 5

7:14a

6:15p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, FEB. 2 High: 72 Low: 60 Chance of rain: 9%

Feb. 5 First

Feb. 12 Full

Feb. 20 Last

Feb. 27 New

TIDES Highs Lows Thursday, Jan. 30

—

2:10p

7:52a

6:55p

Friday, Jan. 31

12:23a

2:19p

8:23a

7:52p

Saturday, Feb. 1

1:17a

2:35p

8:53a

8:50p

Sunday, Feb. 2

2:14a

2:58p

9:20a

9:54p

Monday, Feb. 3

3:17a

3:36p

9:43a

11:05p

Tuesday, Feb. 4

4:33a

3:59p

9:53a

—

Wednesday, Feb. 5

7:06a

4:41p

12:25a

9:13a

Donna Jablonski captured this photo of a cloudy sunset over Longboat Key.

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

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

MIND-BENDING by John Guzzetta, edited by Jared Goudsmit

126 Shredded

54 Needlefish

127 Shopping ___

57 Pastoral poem

128 Positive responses

58 Some backyard construc-

129 Toot your own horn

tions

DOWN

60 Strewed seeds 61 Early operating system

1 Do an autumn chore

63 Sword for Olympian Viv-

2 Possessed

ian Kong

3 Unimaginative writing

65 “That’s all ___ wrote”

4 Fantasy figure such as

66 “haha, good meme”

Legolas

69 Leave out

5 Scope

70 People logging on

6 Dig deep (into)

71 Stocking material

7 *Piece of software that

72 Digital real estate offering

combats pop-ups

73 Poet T.S.

8 Profile images

74 ___ of faith (trusting

9 “Let’s rest for a bit”

actions)

10 Airport projection (Abbr.) 78 Stockings 11 Total groaners 79 Granola bits

list pros

choice test

1 Wrap worn after showering 34 Director Guillermo del ___ 62 Chose 36 Rachel’s biblical sister 64 Tel Aviv’s country 5 Adjust to the times 10 Tweaks, as a draft 15 DVR pioneer 19 Way off base, for short?

20 TV, newspapers, etc.

21 Implied 22 Tabloid couple 23 Cutlery-storing object 25 “Rolling in the Deep” singer 26 Live on the ___ (be a risk-taker) 27 Fish in a dragon roll 28 In-person music performance

may set before a long drive

14 ___ Artois

81 Type of IRA

15 Do up, as a ponytail

84 Big fuss

16 *”Given the opportunity,

85 Sleep stage acronym

absolutely!”

89 Landline sound

17 Actress Paz

90 “Oedipus ___” (Tom

18 Some say breaking a

Lehrer song)

mirror is one

93 Tart summer drink

24 Enthusiasm

94 Bluish shade

29 “Mazel ___!”

96 Reject, in a legislature

31 Legendary Himalayan

97 Sphere

figure

99 Contemptuous or allergic

96 Extreme malice

33 Jazz genre

sounds

97 There are six in an inning

35 Substituted on a vol-

101 Apt rhyme of “Slam!”

37 Director Howard

67 Fe, in chemistry

98 Catches sight of

leyball team

102 Source of frustration

38 Take back

68 “Be wary!,” or a hint to

100 Container for a fedora

38 Caviar, e.g.

105 *People who kiss and

40 Without profit

understanding five Down

102 Garment with straps

39 Name hidden in “laser

cuddle

43 “Nosferatu” actress

entries in this puzzle

103 Its capital is Muscat

beam”

106 “The Way Home” actress

Lily-Rose

75 Stately trees

104 Aspiring atty.’s exam

41 Feeling that 5K

MacDowell

45 Rumaki meat

76 In a spooky way

105 In an adept way

42 “___ the night before

107 Tablets, etc.

48 Semester, e.g.

77 Banish

109 Car’s interior illuminator

Christmas ...”

108 “I’m shocked!”

50 “It’s obvious to me!”

78 Inn proprietor

113 Skin pigment

43 Finished in the middle of

109 Financial obligation

51 “___ see myself out”

82 Good clean ___

115 Lean-___ (shelters)

the pack, say

110 Home to Norway’s

52 Throb painfully

83 Piecrust fat

117 “Como ___ usted?”

44 Run off together

Akershus Fortress

53 Person who blabs and

86 Narrow inlet

118 Absolutely wow

45 Prohibit

111 Cafeteria mush

blabs

87 Rower’s need

120 Certain serving of udon

46 Perform in “Primary

112 “Witching” time

55 “New Look” singer Rita

88 Trampled underfoot

122 Ran, as colors

Trust”

114 Easy gait

56 ___ double take

90 Was a passenger

123 Wellspring

47 Gospel group

116 Word that aptly book-

91 Word before “brass” or

124 Its showers bring May

49 TV host Menounos

ends “slow going”

“banana”

flowers

53 *Scoring one ends a tie,

119 Hwy.

92 House-elevating pole

125 Greek liqueur

in baseball

121 ___ and weave

30 Bit of candy in a guessing 57 Totally digging 58 Youngster game 32 Team member who may

80 *Device that a vacationer

13 Cash drawer

95 Mix

©2025 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

12 Slushy brand

59 Removals on a multiple-

celebrity cipher

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“O LWT W IGJWBXC BGHCD OBZOTC JC, YVA O RWOT ALICC ZWODGIZ AG YCWA OA GVA GK JC POAL ZACCD RORCZ.” RWAAGB GZPWDA

“YRTVEF OYJ ICCIUODEVOZ OI JMCUJWW AZWJPL OYUIDFY ADWVH YRW GJJE JMOUJAJPZ HROYRUOVH LIU AJ AZ JEOVUJ PVLJ.”

WRURY AHPRHYPRE

“FSBAX CSDRH BJ JWS XZTSYFBYVSJ, XI XWIT GRJW ... YSZXBCAS TYIOZES CBDX. ... KRHO JWSF BJ SEICBDX.EIF.” XBYB DRACSYJ Puzzle Three Clue: C equals B

crossword

Puzzle Two Clue: M equals X

437913-1

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

Come Shop our Showrooms!

Puzzle One Clue: I equals R

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2025 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

©2025 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

1-30-25

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

RED PAGES Condos/Apts. for Rent

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.

Merchandise Wanted

Items Under $200

KEVIN'S APPLIANCE SERVICE Kevin Weisenbacher / Owner / Technician Homecall - Diagnostic $89.95 941-216-7351 kevin@kevinsapplianceservice.com www.kevinsapplianceservice.com

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

“SHORT STORIES”

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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.

RED PAGES IN PRINT AND ONLINE

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

A POWERFUL COMBINATION 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC Frosty loves the beach!

3 BD/2BA Tiffany for rent.

Feb - March. $9,987 941-321-8848 KW on the Water

WHITNEY BEACH CONDO AT REDUCED PRICE Spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath Longboat Key condo for sale for a limited time at pre-restoration price of $569,000. Condo will be completely restored by late spring. Buy now and you can choose your own flooring, appliances, kitchen cabinets and more. Contact 941-374-9702

Real Estate Wanted BRADENTON CASH HOME BUYERS: We buy off market properties including single family homes, condos and land. Distressed properties are ok. We always pay Cash. Call us first at 941-202-6957. www.BradentonCashHomeBuyers.com

POST YOUR AD WITH EASE YourObserver.com/RedPages

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

Every day is beach day SeaGate, 2BD/2BA, Tennis & Gym Jan-Feb $11,000 941-321-8848 KW on the Water

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

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

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

Call 941-383-3338.

‘

You’re only cheating yourself.

Appliances

Condos/Apts. for Rent

auto

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

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SEASONAL RATES

Adult Care Services

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Call for a FREE Evaluation!

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

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each add’l word ....... 50¢

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FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

This week’s Crossword answers

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

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

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

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

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

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

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

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I had a romance novel inside me, but I paid three sailors to beat it out of me with steel pipes.”

Patton Oswalt Puzzle Two Solution: “Having the opportunity to express myself through music has been extremely cathartic for me my entire life.”

Sarah McLachlan Puzzle Three Solution: “Meals begin at the supermarket, so shop with ... reusable produce bags. ... Find them at ecobags. com.”

Sara Gilbert

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2025 Universal Uclick

WANTED TO BUY Vintage/ Antique Costume Jewelry 978-390-8803

peekers’ place

stuff

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

WEEKLY MONTHLY Beachfront, Bayfront and In

Condos/Apts. for Sale

real estate

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

Free House Calls.

Confidential & Honest. Call David 813-439-2694

“SHORT STORIES”

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

SEARCH the RED PAGES for GREAT DEALS Visit YourObserver.com/RedPages

©2025 NEA, Inc.

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

home services

Made for where you live. Here!

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Attorney

Home Watch

Remodeling/Home Improvement

CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION

Divorce without Lawyers

REMODELING • CONDO RENOVATIONS

CARING HANDS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME.

Exclusively serving Longboat Key residents.

Storm-ready home preparations Handyman & concierge services

941-544-1152 CBC1265487

Roofing

Insurance

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

MIC INSURANCE

William J. Leininger, JD

439333

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

Building & Roofing Contractor

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

• 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.

Auto Service

SELL YOUR CAR!

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

FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU 439546

439532

5-Star Rated

HoHoBuysCars.com

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

RIGHT

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

ON TARGET

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

OBSERVER RED PAGES

Handyman

Painting

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE “Luxury for Less”

Health

Exterior / Interior / Cabinets

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

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

941 - 248 - 4734

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

Find business and service professionals in the Red Pages.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

Real Estate

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

WE ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT, COST EFFECTIVE, HASSLE FREE WAY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE FOR CA$H TODAY!

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

You Pay NO Realtor Commissions or Fees!

We Pay All Closing Costs!

• No More Uncertainty SOLD

• We Also Buy Land and Condos

WE ALWAYS PAY CASH Call us FIRST at

941-202-6957 Bradenton Cash Home Buyers Your Local Home Buyers

www.BradentonCashHomeBuyers.com

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows UP TO

160

25 $

STANDARD WINDOWS

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

• We are Local Cash Buyers • We Buy In “As Is Condition” • We Provide The Flexibility You Want • No Need For Repairs • Any Situation, Any Price Range • Water Damaged Houses are OK • Fair Cash Offers • Close When You Want

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount.

www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

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YourObserver.com/RedPages

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www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

RED PAGES

Windows

NEED HELP?

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

Made for where you live. Here!

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439220

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Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

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

Transportation

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TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772

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

439988

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

439548

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

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

439550

439517

CALL TODAY FOR PEACE OF MIND.

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

439547

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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.

941.270.4400

33

Insurance

Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388

510 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE Located 1 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST BANK) Office Temporarily at 5390 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Ste 105

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

438025

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

AY WE P

3IS% TO SION

L COMM SSIONA E F PRO ROKERS CO-B

1714 IRVING STREET

$3,995,000

Situated on an oversized lot in Sarasota’s prestigious “West of Trail” neighborhood, this exquisitely updated custom residence combines timeless charm with modern luxury. Featuring a 4BR main house and a detached 1BR guest house, this exceptional property provides abundant space and versatility for family living and entertaining. www.1714IrvingStreet.com

B U YE R’ S

$9,995,000

500 HARBOR POINT ROAD

$7,999,000

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 www.500HarborPoint.com

TO

TO

TO

B U YE R’ S

A rare opportunity to craft a luxurious retreat. Spanning over 11/2 acres, this expansive corner Sanderling Club parcel boasts more than 500’ of water frontage on two sides. www.1249SouthBasinLane.com

B U YE R’ S

1249 SOUTH BASIN LANE

TO

B U YE R’ S

TO

B U YE R’ S

$15,000,000

This a brand-new, direct Gulf-front masterpiece, set on over 1/4-acre and crafted by Vertical Design Build, still in the beginning stages so there is plenty of time to make www.6603GulfsideRoad.com

B U YE R’ S

6603 GULFSIDE ROAD

TO

TO

B U YE R’ S

MORE THAN $221 MILLION IN CLOSED SALES IN 2024

435 L’AMBIANCE DRIVE #M408

655 LONGBOAT CLUB ROAD #14A

258 GOLDEN GATE POINT #801

1300 BEN FRANKLIN DRIVE #504

$5,495,000

$4,700,000

$4,495,000

$4,195,000

TO

B U YE R’ S

This Ritz-Carlton, 3BR +den & office residence comes complete with 3,550 SF of interior, plus 2 garage parking spaces. www.BeachResidences504.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

This 3BR residence Perfectly blends contemporary downtown living with stunning bay and city views + 2-car garage. www.MajesticBay801.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Move right into this beautiful, 3BR furnished, direct Gulf-front residence in the rarely-available Regent Place community. www.RegentPlace14A.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Perched on the 4th floor, this corner 3BR+study Royal residence spans 3,380 SF, offering breathtaking Gulf and sunset views. www.435LAmbianceM408.com

7418 WESTMORELAND DRIVE

435 L’AMBIANCE DRIVE #K405

2050 BEN FRANKLIN DRIVE #B704

3460 MISTLETOE LANE

$3,995,000

$3,795,000

$3,295,000

$3,600,000

TO

B U YE R’ S

Embrace the ultimate coastal lifestyle at this turnkey furnished, COMPLETELY UPDATED 4BR, 3,000 SF bayfront home. www.3460MistletoeLn.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Offering 2,900+ SF of professionally designed interior, this 3BR residence features breathtaking beach-to-bay views. www.OrchidBeachB704.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Step into this stunningly updated 2,800+ SF Sabal residence and be mesmerized by the spectacular beach-to-bay views! www.435LAmbianceK405.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Modern updates (+ brand-new dock and lift) create the perfect move-in ready experience at this 5BR bayfront home. www.7418WestmorelandDrive.com

601 LOTUS LANE

990 BLVD. OF THE ARTS #404

545 SANCTUARY DRIVE #B806

3825 SARASOTA GOLF CLUB BLVD.

$3,299,000

$2,495,000

$2,195,000

$1,699,000

TO

B U YE R’ S

Rare opportunity to build your dream home on 5-acres among luxurious estatesized homes in east Sarasota. www.3825SarasotaGolfClub.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Perched on the 8th floor in a corner location, this sunny residence offers bay and city views through new impact glass. www.535SanctuaryB806.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Discover the essence of downtown luxury living at this gorgeous 3,100+ SF residence in the heart of Sarasota’s city center. www.BeauCiel404.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

Escape to paradise on Siesta Key at this 2017 waterfront 3BR + office residence that exudes style. Dock, lift, 3-car garage. www.601LotusLane.com

1000 LONGBOAT CLUB ROAD #401

380 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #513

1211 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #108

5311 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #3

$1,500,000

$1,499,000

$1,399,000

$1,199,000

Create your own city dream escape at this oversized parcel in Sarasota’s historic district, adjacent to downtown. www.1920LaurelStreet.com

$1,024,000

800 BEN FRANKLIN DRIVE #602

4653 ANTRIM DRIVE

$899,000

$899,000

Furnished and move-in ready! This 2BR beach getaway on Lido Key is in an ideal walkable location to the best of the city. www.LidoAmbassador602.com

Designed with intention, this newer 2022-built, 3BR home is overflowing with contemporary sophistication. www.4653AntrimDrive.com

B U YE R’ S

Turnkey furnished and ready to enjoy or rent. Walk out directly from this 2BR getaway to enjoy the pristine beach shores! www.BeachCastle3.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

B U YE R’ S

Sunny southern views, gorgeous updates, and serene courtyard vistas welcome you to this nearly 2,000 SF, 2 BR beach retreat. www.Promenade108.com

TO

1920 LAUREL STREET

Beautiful bay views welcome you to this 3BR residence. Offering nearly 3,400 SF, 2-car garage, and private courtyard entry. www.TangerineBayClub513.com

TO

B U YE R’ S

True 3BR, direct Gulf-front residences are a rarity at Privateer South. This updated, 4thfloor getaway enjoys stunning sunset views. www.PrivateerSouth401.com

TO

1065 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #201

This Beachplace residence is waiting for your personal touches to create an ideal beach retreat. Includes brand-new windows. www.Beachplace10201.com

$799,000

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 YouTube.com/@PettingellProfessionals | 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.

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