Longboat Observer 1.16.20

LONGBOAT

Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 42, NO. 23

FREE

YOUR TOWN

Courtesy photo

Ronnie Shugar and Donda Mullis with their donation.

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COURTING LOTS OF FUN 20th Observer Challenge delivers tennis, camaraderie and a surprise or two. SEE PAGES 1-2B

Raw Sugar sweetens lives Longboaters Donda Mullis and Ronnie Shugar, owners of natural beauty brand Raw Sugar, back up their message with actions, recently donating dozens of fullsized products to Sarasota and Bradenton charities.

They brought the products to Longboat Island Chapel, where they will be passed on to women’s charities and places that offer shelter, housing and showers, including Resurrection House, Harvest House and Turning Point.

“We’re really about feeling good in your own skin and celebrating ourselves,” Mullis said. "This serves the inner meaning of our business."

PAGE 6B THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Could GMD be safer?

Town leaders look at what can be done on the state highway after five fatalities since May 2018.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

Nat Kaemmerer

Ellen Day serves in a singles match during the finals Jan. 12 as part of the 20th annual Observer Challenge Tennis Tournament at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center.

How would you solve traffic?

Nat Kaemmerer

Beneficial booth

Being a good citizen of Longboat Key just got even easier with the installation of a new kiosk at Town Hall.

Next to the also-new county library kiosk is a town information kiosk, where residents can digitally pay utility bills, check out the minutes from the recent town meetings, take the 2020 Citizens Survey, look at employment opportunities and search public records, as well as explore all the information on the town's website, LongboatKey.org.

Circus greats honored

Pedestrians and a new bridge form the basis of readers’ solutions.

SEE PAGE 9A Eric Garwood

St. Armands Circle is often mentioned as a hot spot for traffic congestion.

Four traffic crashes that killed five people since May 2018 on Gulf of Mexico Drive bear little in common but have the town thinking about the safety of drivers and pedestrians along the statemaintained highway and what can be done.

A pedestrian crossing the road early in the morning, a cyclist riding in the bike lane, a truck driver tending to his rig on the side of the road, and the driver and passenger of a sedan pulling into traffic from a driveway have been killed in the past 19 months. The only thread running through each of the incidents, which took place in daylight, night and before dawn, is the 11-mile-long road itself.

Most recently, Charles and Marjory Barancik, who left their home at the En Provence condominium community around dusk, died in a collision with a police car that was responding to a fire alarm with a firetruck Dec. 18.

Sarasota Police are investigating SEE SAFETY, PAGE 3A

A+E Fantasy gets real.

INSIDE

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Commissioners sign off on final dock rules Eric Garwood

Neighborhoods with wider canals pose less of a problem with navigation and the widths of backyard docks.

With 7-0 vote, leaders revise wording for more ‘absolute’ language in regulations.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

There’s less “weasel” language in town rules regarding dock construction these days.

Completing a process that started in early 2019 when town officials began identifying individual areas of the zoning code to address and modify, town

commissioners this month gave final approval to changes in rules regarding the size of boat docks, their placement and how much space they can occupy in canals.

Along the way, they deleted previously existing caveats.

In some cases, especially in Bay Isles, Country Club Shores and some other neighborhoods, canals present little problem with the passage of vessels. Elsewhere, navigable space is as tight as 12 feet. The town requires docks to be no more than 30 feet in width or 30% of the total width of the canal, whichever is less.

Key to the discussion was how to best encourage staggered con-

struction of docks on opposing sides of a canal to allow for maximum navigable space. “These are existing conditions on our canals, which are challenging to be able to navigate through. As you get into wider canals, that’s less of an issue,” said Allen Parsons, the town’s director of Planning, Zoning and Building.

The town previously relied on the phrase “to the extent possible” to help work with property owners to encourage offsetting without hard-and-fast requirements for such layouts.

Commissioner Ken Schneier pointed to a phrase in the rules he saw as providing sufficient

flexibility: “a new dock shall not be located directly across from existing structures over water in a manner that creates a navigational hazard or interference with another vessel.”

“That is an absolute, and you won’t be allowed any fudge room on that,” he said. “There should be an absolute: You cannot create a navigational hazard. Period. So we shouldn’t have ‘to the extent possible’ at the beginning, nor should we have ‘unless it is unfeasible’ at the end. We don’t need either one of those.”

Town attorney Maggie Mooney said the reason for the flexible phraseology was to allow landowners the means to preserve constitutionally protected access rights to the waterfront.

“I don’t think we want to allow someone to build a dock that would block other boats from going up and down a canal,” Commissioner Mike Haycock said.

Parsons ultimately agreed with changes to the rules, leading to the vote to approve.

“I think we probably can lose the weasel language and still have some ability for staff to be able to accept there isn’t an alternative under certain conditions,” he said.

As part of the same process of identifying areas of code to address, commissioners also offered final and unanimous approval to a measure that treats rules on construction of racketsport courts that same by eliminating the word “tennis.” This allows facilities for pickleball, tennis or other sports to follow uniform standards.

Restrictions on sounds related to pickleball, which had been a concern early in the discussion, were not added.

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Longboat Key residents are receiving postcards this week heralding the beginning of the town’s Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

The cards, which were to begin arriving Monday in every residential mailbox in town, are a heads-up to expect a follow-up postcard next week. That follow-up postcard will include detailed instructions on how to complete the online survey and a unique ID number to ensure one survey is taken per household.

Surveys can be completed on a connected computer, tablet or smartphone or the town’s kiosk in Town Hall.

Expect to take about 10-15 minutes with the questions.

Most are multiple choice.

Questions will cover quality of life and overall satisfaction with town services.

Also, specific questions will address key issues in town, such as county library services, opinions on the Bayfront Park Recreation Center and the arts, culture and education center.

The town is expecting a report from the survey, conducted by the University of South Florida, by April.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Sept. 5, 2019, Nov. 23, 2019

May 8, 2018

6800 block

6900 block Pedestrian killed crossing.

MOVING VIOLATIONS

Safety

Between July and December 2019, police officers filed reports on these traffic incidents on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

FROM PAGE 1A

3

Crosswalk violations

5

Move over/slow down violations

1

Speeding (70+ mph)

7

Speeding (50+ mph)

5

Other speeding

2

Red light violations

4

Passing in safety lane

2

Passing school bus

2

Reckless driving

MAKE A CALL Police and town officials encourage residents to report possibly dangerous situations by calling the Longboat Key Police's non-emergency number. Be prepared with as detailed information about the situation and location and possible. The number to call is 316-1977.

and have not released any details beyond a basic description.

While the inquiry into the December crash continues, Town Manager Tom Harmer, Police Chief Pete Cumming and other town leaders have begun examining what the town can accomplish on its own and acknowledged the road is under state jurisdiction.

Among the first considerations: the possibility of some local controls over vehicles that are permitted by state agencies to park and work in Gulf of Mexico Drive’s right of way and eliminating instances of vehicles improperly parking on the highway’s center turn lanes, in adjacent cycling lanes or anywhere else sight lines might be obstructed.

The town has also sought a safety review of the highway from the state and has begun working with county emergency-management officials on how non-emergency citizen reports of vehicles parked along Gulf of Mexico Drive can be relayed to police officers fast enough to make a difference.

“I’ve asked the staff to research and let me know what we can do that may or may not be beyond what the state may require,” Harmer said. “For instance, like the driveways, can we put a distance there to say within a driveway that exits onto GMD, you have to have X amount of feet of clearance? Can we do that?”

Cumming said officers are serious about taking action to rectify dangerous situations that arise on GMD, such as when the driver of a car-hauling tractor-trailer or other vehicle parks in a turn lane to load or unload — a violation of state law. Or, in a more informal way, simply asking someone to move a vehicle from a dicey location, even if it’s parked legally.

Cumming said the variety of trucking companies and drivers makes it hard for word to get through about the danger of parking on the road. Little by little, though, he said he hopes the message builds in understanding, both with service providers and their local clients.

“Our philosophy, if you want to put it that way, it’s always been compliance over punishment,” he said. “However, some people only respond to punish. But again, we’re seeing different drivers all the time. It’s not like, ‘I just told you last week.’ Now clearly, if that happens, there’s a citation.”

Sarasota police, investigating the Aug. 31, 2019, crash that killed a New York City truck

driver in the 1400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive, came to the conclusion that Kryzstof Troyanowski was to blame for his own death. The report of the crash says Troyanowski parked his carhauling rig partially in the roadway to begin unloading a vehicle and was struck from behind by a northbound car. The investigator also cited poor roadway lighting conditions, the lack of reflective safety gear worn by Troyanowski or set up, as required, behind the truck, and a generally darkened tractor-trailer.

Both Harmer and Cumming noted Gulf of Mexico Drive is something of an unusual thoroughfare, with its residential and commercial traffic, mixed with cyclists and pedestrians, newcomers, visitors and longtime permanent residents. Of late, the town’s underground-utility contractors have been at work with heavy equipment along the road, as have other communications companies working on underground facilities of their own.

Work also has progressed along GMD, under a state permit, to replace natural gas lines.

Harmer said Florida Department of Transportation officials were generally receptive to some kind of safety review, predicated by the fatality rate since May 2018. The most recent fatality on GMD previous to 2018 took place in 2012.

“I think having them as the responsible party to come in and look at visibility and viewsheds and the type of conflicts we’ve had here to see if that warrants any other state rules or regulations or maybe even permit conditions when they’re doing work,” Harmer said. “But we just thought we needed to raise our hand and say: ‘Hey, you know, we’re concerned, and it’s your road. We think you should come in and do a safety review.’”

Harmer and members of the police department also recently visited the county’s emergency communications center to learn more about how non-emergency calls of possibly dangerous road situations are handled and prioritized by county call-takers and dispatchers.

“We’re all concerned, and I know that we’re looking at this thing through a different lens,” Cumming said.

“We’re trying to see it from a different perspective. How can we either create something to enforce or get compliance for things that are not so statutory, but they’re safety issues. This tends to be a state issue boiling down to a community issue. And I think all players have to get in the game.”

April 22, 2019 5800 block Cyclist killed in collision with truck parked in bike lane.

GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE

File photo

Police and fire units shut down Gulf of Mexico Drive in April when a cyclist was killed.

KEY Fatalities from collisions since 2018 Improperly parked trucks reported since September

Sept. 5, 2019 4400 block

Nov. 24, 2019 4200 block

Sept. 4, 2019 4000 block

Dec. 17, 2019 3100 block

Oct. 27, 2019 3000 block

Dec. 26, 2019 2600 block

Dec. 23, 2019 2400 block

Dec. 18, 2019 Sept. 5, 2019 1950 block

Sept. 4, 2019 1300 block

Nov. 14, 2019 1200 block

Oct. 30, 2019 1000 block

2100 block Driver and passenger killed, police officer injured in collision.

Aug. 31, 2019

1400 block Truck driver killed, auto driver injured in collision with truck parked partially on the road

Dec. 2, 2019, Dec. 16, 2019 1100 block

Dec. 30, 2019 2400 block

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Savor the Sounds launch delayed In 2020, the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce is bringing back a town favorite: the Savor the Sounds concert series. But music fans will have to wait an extra month for performances to begin.

An illness with January’s performer and scheduling conflicts with the remainder of the series’ bands has prompted the chamber to delay the launch until February. The event was planned to make its debut Jan. 25.

“Life happens, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Chamber President Gail Loefgren said. “We tried to move other bands up into the January spot, but they’re booked.”

Savor the Sounds will still go on at the new Town Center Green, at the site of the demolished Amore restaurant building.

Originally, the concert series was scheduled to be on the final Saturday of the month, beginning in January and ending in April. Instead, the first concert in the series will be Feb. 29 and run March 28, April 25 and May 30.

Town commissioners last week approved a routine waiving of the $100 application fees for special events in town.

First responders distribute information If you see someone in uniform walking up to your front door this week, don’t fret. Your house probably isn’t on fire, you’re not in trouble with the law, and — perhaps most importantly — you’re not about to be scammed.

The Longboat Key fire and police departments are distributing

Chamber of Commerce has big plans for 2020

door hangers in residential areas this week. The hangers contain safety tips and information, such as a reminder to keep doors locked and a suggestion to make your house number easier to spot from the street.

Pickleball work gets started

NAT KAEMMERER

Work is underway on the town’s newest recreational facilities: two regulation pickleball courts laid out on an expanded concrete pad originally home to a full-sized basketball court.

A 15-foot concrete extension was poured around New Year’s and is curing before basketball goals and fence posts can be reconfigured and the entire surface recoated and lined to create a half-court basketball site along with the new pickleball courts.

When complete, which officials anticipate by late this month, the town will have three regulation courts available, along with a pair of courts on a combination-lined tennis court.

Two separate contracts and contractors are involved with this project: n C-Squared was hired to excavate, build the forms and pour concrete to extend the basketball court 15 feet to the north. Cost: $8,300. n Sport Surfaces was hired to remove and relocate the basketball goals, fix seams and cracks and resurface the entire swath for pickleball and basketball play. Cost: $18,000 to set up and surface the new courts and resurface the existing court; $18,775 for basketball court work and about $4,200 for contingencies that might come up during work.

STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce is looking to the new decade with a desire to be part of something bigger. That mission will begin at the 61st annual chamber meeting and awards luncheon, held this year from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Lido Beach Resort.

As usual, the chamber will give six awards based on a point system: Ambassador of the Year; Newbie of the Year for members who got involved right away; Ed and Marge Moran Memorial Award for members involved in the community’s greater good; Chamber Member of the Year; Chairman’s Award for impactful, longtime members; and Eager Beaver. “[Eager Beaver] is someone who’s really eager to do whatever he or she thinks we might need,” Chamber President Gail Loefgren said.

At last year’s event, they introduced the Each One, Reach One campaign, an endeavor to increase the chamber’s membership. Each member was supposed to try to reach a new member to bring into the chamber. Although that campaign ended with 2019, the chamber is always focused on bringing in new members, especially younger members of the business community.

“This year, we’re going to con-

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centrate on the chamber giving back,” Loefgren said. “There are some younger members joining, and if you’re going to attract a new generation, you have to do things to reinvent yourself.”

In 2020, the chamber wants to organize a roundtable of its nonprofit members and match them with other members of the business community for the greater good of both.

“I think that the younger generation especially all wants to be a part of something greater than themselves,” Loefgren said.

Elsewhere in the chamber’s business plan for 2020 are plans to refurbish and repurpose its monthly networking events and to explore the possibilities of digital marketing and social media.

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Nat Kaemmerer

Unicorp National Developments Inc. has proposed a luxury hotel and condo at 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Colony case nears its second anniversary Trial scheduled for April in the proceedings that ultimately will decide how oceanfront acreage will be sold.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

The lawsuit involving the former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, its condominium association, its prospective redeveloper and the owner of dozens of units marks its second anniversary this month.

By April, though, the proceedings are scheduled to advance to

a non-jury trial before Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll, which is expected to result in a ruling on how the once-iconic resort property — now a 17-acre beachfront lot — can be sold and built upon.

Unicorp National Developments Inc., the prospective redeveloper that has gained town permission to build a 166-room luxury hotel with 78 adjoining

luxury condominiums under the St. Regis brand banner, hopes for a decision paving the way for a private sale. Once in control of the property, CEO Chuck Whittall can pursue clearances from the town to begin construction.

Andy Adams, the owner of 74 of 244 units and now the sole opponent to the Unicorp development plan, is pushing for a public auction and a ruling allowing for multiple owners.

The non-jury trial is planned to begin April 4.

The 154-page complaint, filed in the 12th Circuit Court on Jan. 16, 2018, by Unicorp National Developments Inc. attorney Megan Costa Devault, seeks a judicial termination to the condominium association to facilitate the sale, permission for which has been granted. The lawsuit claims holdout owners (except Adams, they’ve all joined Unicorp on the “supporting parties” side) prevented a conventional end to the association by vote, prompting the legal action.

Since last summer, when Carroll ruled the termination of the condo association could proceed, both Adams’ legal team and the team representing Unicorp, the association and the remainder of the unit owners, have been moving toward the trial.

Monthly sessions take place on Fridays in Courtroom 6A of the Sarasota County Courthouse, dealing with issues that arise.

Most recently, on Jan. 10, lawyers for both sides met for about 45 minutes. Among the topics: ■ No intermediate trial is to be held to determine if the land can be broken into more than one parcel. The so-called Phase Alpha trial (so named to avoid confusion with other labels attached

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

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to other phases of the case) had been discussed as a possibility for late January. Carroll, in court last week, said both sides had not come to an agreement on how that would proceed. “Sounded like you all were close but couldn’t get over the finish line, so it will stay as it is,” Carroll said.

■ Hunter made clear the court retains a “panoply” of options on how the property will ultimately be sold. In October, attorneys for Breakpointe LLC filed a motion for a summary judgment to sell the property at a public auction, with minimum bids set by the court. Attorneys for Unicorp Colony Units LLC also filed a request for a summary judgment in seeking an order that the condominium parcel be sold as a whole and to appoint a special magistrate to evaluate a private sale and make a recommendation to the court on whether a private sale could be achieved or a public auction would generate more value for owners. Both requests were denied in December.

■ Attorneys said no claims, protected by lien or otherwise, have been filed yet against the Colony Beach & Tennis Club Association, though at least one is anticipated.

A deadline of Feb. 21 has been set for lien-protected proof of claims and May 1 for others. Using a process based on probate, the two sides are “very, very close” to an agreement on the process for handling claims and how to pay them through a trustee after a sale goes through.

■ On Jan. 21, members of the condo association board are expected to vote on a voluntary dissolution of the organization, in advance of the judicial dissolution.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 21.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Offshore fish farm proposal raises concerns Hawaii company seeks permission to raise 20,000 fish in a pen 45 miles off Sarasota coast.

BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER

A Hawaii-based company is hoping to establish an aquaculture project 45 miles off the coast of Sarasota but would need a discharge permit to do so, which is causing many Sarasota residents to worry about the threat of red tide.

Kampachi Farms wants to host 20,000 longfin yellowtail, or Almaco jack, in a pen suspended below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.

The facility would include a supporting vessel and a single cage in a water depth of 130 feet, according to the permit draft. The 20,000 Almaco jack would produce a maximum annual harvest of 88,000 pounds.

“The primary goal of the demonstration project is to help the local communities in the Gulf of Mexico to understand the ancillary benefits that offshore aquaculture can bring to fisheries and to recreational tourism,” Kampachi Farms CEO Neil Anthony Sims said in a blog on the organization’s website.

However, antibiotics and other chemicals that might be used in the farm cause the company to need a discharge permit.

Because of this, the Environ-

Courtesy photo

Kampachi Farms hopes to place a pen that would hold 20,000 fish off the coast of Sarasota.

mental Protection Agency will host a public hearing at 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 at Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium.

Ahead of the hearing, the EPA Region 4 published a draft of the permit in August that would allow the discharge of industrial wastewater from the net-pen facility.

The permit would require Kampachi to monitor several factors, such as medicinal products used on the fish and discharges of pollutants including chlorophyll, copper, phosphorus, sulfide and nitrogen.

It is these types of discharges that have organizations includ-

ing Friends of the Earth and the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and residents like Ron Kashden worried.

“There seems to be a relationship between algae growth and the fisheries,” Kashden said. “Like all the other residents in Sarasota over the past two years, just being devastated by red tide, at some point, you start to wonder, ‘What is causing this, and how can we prevent it?’”

Kashden said that not only did the last bout of red tide cause a dip in tourism economy, but he also knew several people who experienced issues with asthma and

decreased fishing profit.

A Friends of the Earth report states that a fish farm of 20,000 would release fecal matter equivalent to that of 6,300 people.

Similar fisheries have been halted in Denmark to protect the Danish environment.

Larry Brand, a researcher and professor of marine biology of Miami Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, has found that when the Gulf’s phosphorus-rich water mixes with nitrogen — one of the pen’s discharges — conditions are ripe for an algae bloom.

“Scientists start arguing wheth-

er the combination of chemicals cause red tide or just prolong red tide,” Kashden said. “But to me, as a citizen, I didn’t really care. If this is exacerbating red tide, why in the world would the U.S. try an experiment off this coast?”

The permit would prohibit the discharge of floating solids, visible foam, surfactants, dispersants, detergents and toxic chemicals. Additionally, the facility and anchoring system will be placed at least 500 meters away from any hard bottom habitat on the seafloor.

Kampachi Farms has already conducted two trials in its home state of Hawaii, which have proven successful.

A 2012 test that allowed an aquapod holding 2,000 fish to drive between 2 and 75 miles offshore was named one of Time Magazine’s 25 best inventions of the year. A second test placed an aquapod 6,000 feet deep off the coast of Kona.

The proposal for the Gulf of Mexico is funded through Florida Sea Grant and is planned to be a one-year demonstration project.

Mote Marine is also a stakeholder in the project and will provide fingerling Almaco jack raised at the Mote Aquaculture Research Park for the project.

The fish in the aquapod will be fed from a barge that would be tethered to the side of the pen.

The fish are expected to grow to market size within 12 months.

If the project proves successful, Kampachi officials will begin discussions on how to move the fishing industry forward.

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LONGBOAT

OPINION / OUR VIEW

Keys to a town center If Longboat Key commissioners are convinced the town needs a town center, they face two tough decisions: giving subsidies to developers and what to do about density.

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Editor / CEO / Matt Walsh mwalsh@yourobserver.com Vice President / Lisa Walsh lwalsh@yourobserver.com Publisher / Emily Walsh ewalsh@yourobserver.com Executive Editor / Kat Hughes khughes@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Eric Garwood egarwood@yourobserver.com Staff Writers / Nat Kaemmerer, nkaemmerer@yourobserver.com; Brendan Lavell, blavell@yourobserver.com

Arts + Entertainment Editor / Klint Lowry, klowry@yourobserver.com Copy Editor / Kaelyn Adix, kadix@

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mleduc@yourobserver.com; Carol Parker, cparker@yourobserver.com

Black Tie Reporter / Harry Sayer, hsayer@yourobserver.com

Sarasota architect Gary Hoyt created this rendering of a town center parkway, including the much-discussed center for the arts, culture and education (Nos. 40 and 41) and a new road that would extend from Bay Isles Road to Bay Isles Parkway, with commercial/retail buildings, the existing SunTrust and adjacent office building and a park fronting the new road (Nos. 36, 37, 5, 6, 38, 39 and 9).

R

are is the community that doesn’t strive to create some type of small-town town center like St. Armands Circle, where residents and visitors stroll the sidewalks, dine in the restaurants and shop in the boutiques.

“The Truman Show” always comes to mind — the quaint little town where everything was perfect. (It wasn’t really.) In any case, city elected leaders just about everywhere all seem to crave that idyllic vision.

Longboat Key is no different.

If you have lived here the past five years or so, you probably are familiar with the many discussions at Town Commission meetings and the many news stories in the Longboat Observer about town commissioners’ and others’ desires to create a town center in that area between Publix and the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center.

That’s what the above illustration depicts. Sarasota architect Gary Hoyt created the above overhead rendering of what could be in much of that unused and underutilized property.

As we’ve said before: It’s a great idea. The challenge is figuring out how to pull it off.

requests for a master developer to transform them.

The two commissions, separately, spent years examining and rejecting proposals, never signing on with anyone who had the financial wherewithal to pull off the projects. Not only that, but even if they did find a developer, the developer faced major challenges assembling properties to make it work.

Neither worked. The commissions wasted nearly a decade from beginning discussions to giving up.

But we also know both of those areas became some of the most vibrant urban areas in Florida.

South Beach became internationally famous, and downtown St. Petersburg is the most vibrant large-city downtown in Florida.

How did that happen?

In essence, property values dropped so low that they attracted multiple individual investors and developers, not just one master developer.

That’s one lesson: If you want

development, the costs to do so need to make sense. n Downtown Lakewood Ranch and St. Armands Circle: If you’ve been to Main Street in Lakewood Ranch, it has that “Truman Show” quaintness, just the kind of look, feel and vibe that commissioners want on Longboat Key. Here’s the key to that success: One landowner, one developer — Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Inc. SMR controls everything. It’s not like Main Street Sarasota where you have a different landowner for almost every building and just as many different tenants. That’s why downtown Sarasota looks the way it does (not that it’s bad).

St. Armands Circle has 76 properties and almost as many owners. It’s almost impossible to get them to agree on anything collectively. But two ways St. Armands Circle businesses have been able to maintain the Circle to the degree it has is with two organizations: the St. Armands Business Improvement District,

ONE OWNER IS THE KEY

It’s all about ownership — who owns the land and the buildings.

Consider these examples: n South Beach and downtown St. Petersburg: In the 1980s, the city commissions of Miami Beach and St. Petersburg had blocks and blocks of dilapidated, in some cases, slumlike properties from the bygone eras. Their cities were dying.

The elected leaders in both cities decided to amass the large blocks of properties into a single development zone and put out

Hoyt Architects of Sarasota created this rendering of “Town Center Park,” site of the former Amore restaurant near Publix.

a taxing authority governed by three elected landowners (or their representative) and the St. Armands Circle Association, which consists of Circle merchants, landowners, city officials and others.

Lesson two: The property owners must be willing to work together. Or, it’s best when there’s only one property owner.

INCENTIVES: WRONG, NEEDED

It’s all about incentives.

Every community does it, and it’s the wrong thing to do: Give tax breaks and subsidies to private companies to spur development. But if Longboat Key town commissioners are convinced the type of town center that architect Hoyt designed is the right thing for the town, they will have to provide incentives.

One developer told us the town should be ready (and/or willing) to give the 4 acres the town bought for the cultural center to a developer.

That’s not all. This developer said commissioners also should be ready to create a zoning district that will allow mixed uses and heights — e.g., residences on the second and third floors of buildings.

Everyone knows why retailers and others struggle on the Key. There aren’t enough people to sustain them.

And that’s the multimilliondollar conundrum: residential density.

Residential density is capped on Longboat. Voters must approve any increase in density. And voters typically have rejected any increases.

So if Longboat Key residents want a town center, they must be willing to let more people live on the Key. And that would mean more traffic — but also more choices for dining and shopping.

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Kings of the road: What if you wore the crown?

We asked readers a few weeks ago to imagine wearing the crown of power when it comes to traffic, and let us know your no-holds-barred solutions to sitting for a hour behind a rusty Toyota Camry waiting to drive to the mainland. Here’s what you said:

Pedestrian bridges are a must

Control the pedestrians

First off, it will take all hands on deck to solve this problem. The present situation is unacceptable and will have far-reaching negative impacts on government revenues as tourist abandon Sarasota. Secondly, I believe the planners who decided to insanely disrupt traffic during the busy season should be held accountable, and they should go sit in traffic starting at the Publix on Longboat Key and drive to downtown at 5 p.m. for a week straight.

While traffic decision-making is being done both locally and at the state level, the true decisionmakers should all be local as they know the reality and can be held more accountable.

One of the first things that needs to be done is to elevate all pedestrian crossways over U.S. 41 in downtown Sarasota as skybridges. Years ago, a tireless Sarasota city planner designed a beautiful skybridge over U.S. 41, and it was a piece of art.

Presently, traffic stops at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota as tourists cross the street to get to downtown Sarasota. Secondly, they have to reinstate the third left turn lane (eastbound from North Gulfstream Avenue to northbound U.S. 41) until the season is over.

The solution with the biggest impact would be a mid-key bridge; it would ration traffic extremely well as people would put their destinations into Google Maps, and traffic routes would be selected based on fastest times.

One of the problems is off our Key and is St. Armands Circle and the backup it causes.

The problem is not the cars but the pedestrians who are uncontrolled. They can and do cross the traffic whenever they want and sometimes where they want.

To control them and give a freer flow to the circle would ease the problem. This can be done by installing pedestrian crossing lights at each crossing. They are simple and inexpensive and are elsewhere on the Key. There should be a law forbidding crossing anywhere else, and the police should enforce the correct use of the lights. With a regular flow of traffic while the pedestrians have to learn to wait, the traffic leaving the Circle will get more movement.

I have seen this work in cities much more congested.

Traffic traveling only on Longboat cannot be solved with two bottlenecks at the bridges.

Even widening them would solve nothing, unless you want to widen GMD (yes, there is room).

A ferry to Sarasota might sound great, but are we really expected to drive to a dock, park there and take a ferry to Sarasota a find onward transport? And lug our shopping around with us?

PATRICK GAUGHAN LONGBOAT KEY

IAN SPOFFORTH LONGBOAT KEY

Police officers could help If the city would have a police officer directing traffic at the intersection of U.S. 41 and the Ringling Causeway from 4-6 p.m., it would alleviate cars blocking the box and prevent cars that have a green light from turning.

GERRY LUBLIN SARASOTA

A new bridge could be the answer

Little things will work

The best solution is a bridge from City Island to 10th Street.

If that can’t be accomplished, a bridge from City Island to Bird Key. Otherwise, control pedestrians in St. Armands Circle with walk/don’t walk signals. Enforce pedestrian activity by eliminating crossing away from crosswalks, and get rid of the speed humps.

Traffic is killing our property values and making Longboat Key uninhabitable for this 23-year resident.

This came to me while sitting in nearly standstill eastbound traffic over the big bridge while joggers and uphill bicyclists passed me, and westbound traffic zipped along. Of course, it was 4:45 p.m.

The extra turn lane at U.S. 41 solved a big problem, but now it’s coned off as work begins on the traffic circle at Fruitville.

Temporary but silly. Let’s do work when it makes sense to do work, not when the biggest demands are placed on our traffic system.

Let’s also make a bus system that really works, not one that requires an hour wait. Sure it will lose money. It’s not a business; it’s not supposed to be profitable.

Let’s also stop every Tom, Dick and Harriet from crossing St. Armands Circle at whim. Funnel them into a few controlled locations, and make it clear this is how you cross a street.

WILLIAM E CHAPMAN, II LONGBOAT KEY File photo

Readers frequently pointed out the traffic bottlenecks in St. Armands Circle as something they’d like to fix — if they had the power to do so.

No need to use Big Pass as drawbridge Last week I was returning to Longboat Key and was held up a long time because the New Pass Bridge was up. After the bridge was back down, the traffic was backed up all the way to Publix.

This all because a sailboat was being towed in from the gulf.

I have been a boater on Longboat Key for the past 23 years using New Pass to get to the Gulf. The pass can be very difficult because the route out to avoid grounding is constantly changing. Also, New Pass is not considered a navigable pass by the Coast Guard, and no markers to guide boaters safely through are in place. One permanent marker buoy is in place at what used to be the entrance from the Gulf. But if anybody unfamiliar with the pass relied on that marker, they would almost certainly run aground.

There are two excellent passes to get to the Gulf from the bay.

Longboat Pass to the north and Big Pass to the south. Both of these passes are conveniently located.

Closing the opening of the New Pass Bridge would significantly improve traffic flow in both directions on Gulf of Mexico Drive, with minimal impact on boaters.

Don’t forget the pedestrians Fine all drivers seen texting or looking at phones while not watching road. How many countless times are people slow to respond to red/green light changes, blocking lanes and keeping traffic stalled?

The city must teach all drivers, even snowbirds and tourists, how to follow rules of right of way in traffic circles. People blow through traffic circles without ceding right of way. It’s very dangerous.

Fine cars not giving right of way to pedestrians. Enact laws favoring pedestrians. Fix crosswalk and turn-light signs to be compatible.

Make city planning in Sarasota and on the keys more consciously sustainable.

Stop overbuilding downtown without adequate sidewalks and shade.

Buildings put up decades ago make road-widening impossible.

Make better decisions for future development.

Make Sarasota and the keys known for safety rather than tragic accidents. I know of too many such accidents.

TOM SQUIER SARASOTA

Pedestrian light signals are the answer

St. Armands Circle is always busy, but it really gets to be a huge logjam during the busy season and at peak times.

Because pedestrians have the right of way to cross the streets around and through the Circle, the cars can really get backed up waiting for the walkers to cross.

I would recommend pedestrian crossing lights at St. Armands Circle, so that a group of walkers can cross at one time, then allow vehicles to go while the next set of walkers wait for their light.

I’m not advocating traffic light signals, just pedestrian light signals.

SUE HART SARASOTA

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Town Center vision is not ‘unrealistic’ I certainly agree with and endorse your inclusion of the Town Center in your recent editorial, “Five Issues for Longboat.”

I also agree with your lead comment on the subject that “most everyone embraces the idea of a town center” and that the vision is that an ACE Center “would anchor the Town Center.”

However, I take issue with respect to your view that such a vision is “unrealistic” because private funding might not be achievable.

When Ringling College of Art and Design decided to withdraw temporarily from the ongoing joint ACE project with Longboat, it was clear that the withdrawal was the direct result of two of our commissioners’ public comments. It was not for reasons associated with the potential for private funding, as you suggested.

Indeed, both Ringling College and the Longboat Key Foundation were then positioned to kick off promptly fundraising efforts for the proposed $11.3 million project.

In my opinion, we need to reaffirm our association with Ringling and the related fundraising efforts.

Frankly, as I’ve previously stated, I consider this to be one of the major failures of the Town Commission in my almost five years of tenure.

While I also agree with your final comment that the ACE Center requires innovative thinking, I continue to feel that

we were on the right and best track with Ringling. I remain dedicated to resume that course in the near future, which, in my view, is the best route to achieve our objectives to evolve the ACE Center from a concept to a building that becomes the cornerstone of a Town Center that our residents can enjoy and cherish.

JACK DALY TOWN COMMISSIONER, LONGBOAT KEY

Town should review emergency policies I am writing regarding the tragic accident of Charles and Margery Barancik.

Who regulates policy for safety equipment on Longboat Key? I suggest a review of our policy to ensure the commensurate amount of response to reported incidents.

It seems the town’s public safety departments routinely move a lot of equipment on a standard basis for what I assume is a variety of 911 calls, many not life-threatening.

Clearly moving heavy safety equipment at a rapid speed creates a public safety risk. I question whether the response is always worth the risk.

Perhaps something good could come of this tragic accident, and this policy could be reviewed by the appropriate governing entities.

PAUL KARON LONGBOAT KEY

Town could consider ERA resolution in Feb. If approved by commissioners, message to Tallahassee would urge state action toward ratification of 1972 measure.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

Town commissioners, as early as their first meeting in February, could consider a resolution backing a push for the Florida Legislature to support ratification of the federal Equal Rights Amendment.

At their first meeting of 2020, town commissioners were asked

by Town Manager Tom Harmer about their take on consideration of such a local message to Tallahassee. Without a formal vote, commissioners signaled their support of proceeding.

Harmer said he plans to develop and present a resolution to commissioners Feb. 3.

If they vote to approve the resolution, it would be sent to Tallahassee and urge legislators to take up the issue of ERA ratification in the session.

But pressing ahead with state ratification isn’t clear-cut. Controversy surrounds a recent push to reach the 38-state threshold to become an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Justice Department recently produced a memo say-

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ing a 1982 deadline to ratify still holds and that Congress may not pick up the issue again without restarting the process.

Virginia, which is on the verge of approving the measure, said it plans to support a Massachusetts lawsuit contending the passed deadline does not apply and that states are still in line to approve the amendment.

In Florida, states and counties have taken up the cause but not universally. Since 2003, Florida lawmakers have considered the amendment, but the measure has never reached a floor vote in either house.

Manatee County has approved a resolution of support; Sarasota County commissioners refused to consider it after it was brought up by Nancy Detert in December.

The cities of Venice, Sarasota and North Port have endorsed their own resolutions.

“I think the sense that I heard was, ‘Yes, please bring this back to us,’” Harmer said of the Longboat Commission’s reaction. “So we’ll put it on the regular meeting and ask them to vote on it. And then it’ll be transmitted to the state.”

The amendment, which would be the U.S. Constitution’s 27th, reads: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.”

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A road trip with your honey can be an exciting adventure.

But not when you’re going for radiation.

Did you know that 1 in 3 people are diagnosed with cancer each year?

Last year 6,000 of those cases were in our area and over half of those people sought treatment elsewhere. We believe no one should have to leave home for cancer treatment and soon, patient-centered, comprehensive cancer care will be available right here. That means, finding hope at home instead of losing it on the road.

Please support our Leading with Care campaign. Through your generosity, we can help Sarasota Memorial transform cancer care in our community.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.freshfromflorida.com/divisions-offices /consumer-services. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. (REGISTRATION #CH103) THE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION WILL USE THE FUNDS FOR THE STATED PURPOSE BUT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE THE GIFT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSE IF THE STATED PURPOSE IS IMPOSSIBLE OR IMPRACTICAL TO ACHIEVE.

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Hope comes home. Give today.

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There’s a reason behind 911 operator’s questions Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi addressed the process behind 911 dispatch, when to call and more.

BRENDAN LAVELL STAFF WRITER

If you’ve ever wondered why 911 operators ask so many questions, you’re not alone.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department Chief Paul Dezzi addressed this topic, among other concerns and misconceptions regarding the use of 911, while speaking Jan. 9 to Longboat Key Kiwanis Club at Lazy Lobster.

Dezzi said the complaint the Longboat Key Fire Department hears most often is that the 911 operator kept them on the phone too long. But the operators do this for a reason.

If operators don’t know a caller’s location, that will be one of the first things they ask. And when the operator continues asking questions, it doesn’t mean emergency vehicles aren’t on the way yet.

“Our response time here anywhere on the Key is five minutes,” Dezzi said. “Once we get the call, we’ll be there in five minutes.”

As soon as operators know the location of the emergency, they send it to the dispatch, so the

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appropriate vehicles can start driving.

But as operators ask more questions, they continue relaying vital information to the in-transit first responders. They can even adjust the specific emergency response if necessary.

“Yesterday, we had a call where they said a man fell,” Dezzi said.

“Well, if you just call us and say the man fell, we’re going to send just an ambulance. As they answered the questions, [we found out] the man was on a ladder 12 feet up in the air and fell on his head. That changed the whole response. You get a battalion officer, you get the firetruck, you get the ambulance, and you get everybody. Everybody’s going to it. And that turned out to be what we call a trauma alert. We alert the hospital: ‘We’re coming with a trauma patient. Have the trauma team standing by.’”

Dezzi added that the trauma patient “did fine.”

The other main point of Dezzi’s presentation was an instruction not to drive yourself to the hospital if you are sick or injured. He has seen many instances of people who thought they could make it to the emergency room, only to get sick on the road and pull over.

Then, when they would call emergency services, many of them struggled to provide a location precise enough to find easily.

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JAN. 4

PROOF! 9:49 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic: A vehicle was pulled over following an officer alert to a vehicle registration that expired Sept. 30. The driver of the vehicle produced a printed receipt for a recent online registration renewal, and the traffic stop was terminated.

LONG-DISTANCE CONCERN 10:24 a.m., 2800 block of Harbourside Drive Welfare check: A physical therapist called to check on the welfare of a client aboard a boat docked in town. The professional had been worried about the client’s welfare. An officer spoke to the man aboard the boat, who said he had fallen about a month ago but was fine now. The officer relayed the information.

WHO IS THAT GUY? 5:30 p.m., 600 block of Gulf Bay Road Suspicious person: A solicitor in the neighborhood was gone, likely picked up by a vehicle, before police could arrive in response to a call about a suspicious man.

DRIVING WHILE DISCUSSING 10:30 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic: Shortly after receiving a call about a car driving 17 mph below the speed limit while weaving within its own lane, an officer spotted the vehicle driving south. Once stopped, the driver did not appear impaired and denied drinking or using drugs, instead attributing the unusual driving to a heated

the beach. The power was on, but the screen was locked. It was placed into police custody for safekeeping.

JAN. 4

A-HUNTING WE WILL GO 7:23 a.m., 3000 block of Grand Bay Boulevard Suspicious circumstance: Police were alerted to the sound of about 15 gunshots.

An officer who responded reported hearing similar sounds, which he attributed to distant (and legal) duck hunting. Several residents in the area were told duck season is open in Florida until Jan. 26 and that distant gunshot sounds could be expected.

discussion with a spouse on the phone. With no wants or warrants, the driver was released with an admonition to not drive while arguing.

JAN. 5

EARLY START 10:13 a.m., 500 block of Buttonwood Drive Noise: A landscaper told a police officer he was trying to get a jump on a job set to start on Monday when someone made a noise complaint. The landscaper said he was not aware of a town ordinance about work noise on Sundays. He was issued a warning and allowed to clean up before leaving.

I’LL BE BACK 11:22 p.m., 900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Disabled vehicle: Police responded to a report of a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. An officer learned from the driver that a tire blowout

PLEASE MOVE THEM 12:22 p.m., 3300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Parking: A police officer requested the owners of several vehicles parked on the east side of the road, across from a construction site, to move them to a safer location. They were moved while the officer watched.

had taken place, but the car had no jack. A friend of the driver was on the way, and the driver said he would return in the morning to fix the tire. The car was left overnight.

HERE FOR THE BOAT 11:52 p.m., 6000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious person: A man driving a truck with a boat trailer told an officer he had arrived from Miami to pick up a 30-foot boat from a business. A voicemail was left with the business owner to explain the situation, and criminal checks were made on the man’s identity, the results of which were passed along to the department’s detective.

JAN. 6

HELLO? HELLO? 11:46 a.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Found property: A resident turned in a cellphone found on

DONE DRIVING 4:47 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic: The island’s licenseplate monitoring system alerted police to a vehicle owned by a driver with a suspended license.

After a traffic stop, the driver acknowledged the source of the suspension was likely overdue child-support payments. The license was seized.

MOVE IT ELSEWHERE 6:39 p.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic: The driver of a carhauling truck, parked in the center lane, was told he was in violation of the law and advised of more suitable locations to unload vehicles. The officer remained on the scene until the driver moved the truck.

JAN. 7

CLEAN EXPLANATION 9:30 a.m., 3300 block of Sabal Cove Drive Alarm: Upon arrival at a home with an activated intruder alarm, an officer reported seeing a blue sedan in the driveway with the logo of a cleaning

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

service on the side. Doors and windows of the home were checked and secure. Cleaners inside the home said the owner mistakenly set the alarm. A check with the cleaning service confirmed the appointment.

HOODED AND HEADING HOME 6:09 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road Suspicious person: Shortly after receiving a report of a suspicious man in jeans and a blue hooded shirt, an officer found a man answering the description at a nearby bus stop. The man told the officer he must have made someone nervous, left the area and requested a ride home elsewhere on the island.

The officer provided a ride.

BUOY, THAT HAPPENS A LOT 8:08 p.m., 7200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Rescue: Police and fire rescue responded to a rescue call at the Longboat Pass Bridge, ultimately judged to be unfounded.

Fishermen on the bridge reported a flashing light as if a boat were signaling distress.

A navigational buoy equipped with a flashing light has been similarly misidentified.

JAN. 8

OUT ON A LIMB 12:12 p.m., 6900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Parking: A tree-service vehicle was spotted parked in the bike lane, with tree limbs extending into the bike lane as well. The officer who made the discovery while on patrol asked the service’s supervisor to move the truck and the limbs, which was immediately done.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Work to begin on Cortez Road improvements Town keeping an eye on the effects of project, expected to last until the summer.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

Work is expected to begin over the causeway in Manatee County this month on a project designed to improve Cortez Road along a stretch from 123rd Street to 86th Street.

One of the major components of the plan is the realignment

of Cortez Road and 119th Street West. The intersection for years has been a point of contention for Longboat Key officials and residents because of its frequent traffic backups.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the $5 million project ultimately will improve safety by reducing crashes, reducing vehicular conflict points, improving eastbound traffic flow from barrier islands and installing bike lanes to separate bike traffic.

The improvements will also include a median from the West Manatee Fire and Rescue Station to Royal Palm Drive West to

reduce vehicular conflict points.

Other improvements include the use of a high friction surface treatment to provide a better gripping surface for vehicles to reduce skidding as well as Americans with Disabilities Act modifications.

Work is expected to be complete this summer.

Detours are expected as are nighttime lane closures.

Town officials are monitoring the project because of its possible effect on traffic to and from the north end of Longboat Key while work is underway.

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Bridge project planners host open house Thursday event designed to answer questions about New Pass span work.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

A open house for residents and others to learn more about a project to rehab the New Pass Bridge is set for 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

Among the work planned for the link to Longboat Key from St. Armands Key: repairs to the concrete approach span; replacement of the drawbridge span’s open grid deck; a rebalancing of the movable span; a cleaning and recoating of the movable span’s steel to protect it from the elements; a cleaning and recoating of the approach span concrete; and reconditioning of the machinery drive system, span locks and electrical systems. An underwater power cable is also to be replaced.

That work is envisioned to begin in June, with completion planned for late 2020. Brian Rick, a spokesman for FDOT, said the price estimate for the work is $2.8 million.

Rick said the New Pass Bridge project was planned and not the result of breakage or a failure.

“This work is normal on a drawbridge over salt water and was planned as various components deteriorate,” he said.

In a release, FDOT said the work will likely include travel lane shifts, reductions in travel lane width and closures from 3-5 a.m. with no detour for intervals of 30 minutes or less.

Rick said there should be no concern about the work being done during hurricane season.

“Any traffic restrictions are temporary and can be reopened quickly for any emergency or storm event,” he said. “The FDOT plans bridge work on the barrier islands in the slowest traffic season if at all possible as to not affect businesses, residents and visitors.”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

SINGLE? MEET WITH SARASOTA'S TOP MATCHMAKER

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Courtesy rendering

The latest design for the St. Armands Circle bathroom is intended to better reflect the existing look of the shopping district.

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City approves new design for St. Armands bathrooms DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

The St. Armands Business Improvement District hopes freestanding public restrooms will finally come to St. Armands Circle by October.

At a recent Sarasota CityCommission meeting, the group secured a series of approvals allowing construction to move forward, including an endorsement of a new design to better reflect the character of St. Armands Circle.

The St. Armands BID has budgeted more than $380,000 for design and construction of a facility with three unisex restrooms in the median at John Ringling Boulevard and South Washington Drive.

The BID has been working since 2016 to facilitate the construction of public restrooms in the shopping district.

At the meeting, BID representatives reiterated their belief in the importance of the project and seeing it through to completion.

“The No. 1 piece of feedback we receive from visitors is the need for a restroom facility,” BID Operations Manager Brandy Wiesner said.

As the BID board moved

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through the planning process, the group sought an alternate design from architecture and engineering firm CPH. BID representatives said the new design was a more “traditional” look, with Wiesner stating a city-adopted St. Armands master plan influenced the color palette and the inclusion of archways, columns and a decorative pergola.

“The redesign looks much better and, I think, more appropriate for St. Armands Circle,” Commissioner Hagen Brody said.

As part of an agreement with the BID, the city is committing to covering the maintenance expenses for the restrooms.

The city estimated the maintenance would cost $66,670 a year, though staff is still in the process of securing a quote for the services from a third-party contractor.

Last week, members of the BID agreed to a time and date to meet with the Florida Department of Transportation to discuss transportation issues, such as St. Armands Circle and possible replacement of the Coon Key bridge.

The members tentatively discussed March 25 for such a meeting to take place.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Sarasota County prepares for 2020 elections Local officials, candidates and voters are anticipating the 2020 elections.

BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER

Photos by Brynn Mechem

Kindra Muntz, the president of Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections, speaks to protestors.

The start of the new decade brings a variety of elections, and with them, new representatives to the county and state.

With county redistricting, single-member districts and a federal mandate to display the county’s voting materials into both Spanish and English, Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said he and his staff have been busy.

“We’re already in the thick of it,” Turner said. “We’re already laying out the ballot for next year, running maintenance on our equipment and buildings, and trying to educate voters.”

Around 77% of the voter population participated in the 2016 presidential elections. Turner estimates that 75-80% of voters will participate in the 2020 November elections.

Longboat Key’s town elections were decided weeks ago when Sherry Dominick and BJ Bishop filed to run for seats left open by the departure of Irwin Pastor and Randy Clair. No one else filed, so Dominick and Bishop were declared commissioners-elect.

Town voters will cast ballots on borrowing authorization for up to $34.5 million to accomplish the town’s beach renourishment goals.

COUNTY CHANGES

In the 2018 elections, Sarasota County voters approved singlemember districts for Sarasota County Commission. The switch meant that voters would only vote for candidates in their district every four years rather than every candidate elected to the board.

In November 2019, the County Commission approved the redrawing of district lines ahead of the 2020 census with a map that was not drawn by the countyhired consultant and was instead drawn by political activist and former Sarasota GOP chairman Bob Waechter.

The map moves Sarasota’s Newtown neighborhood and thousands of black voters from District 1, which will be decided in the 2020 elections, into District 2, which won’t be voted on until 2022. Additionally, it adds Republican voters to District 1.

The switch has caused many District 1 voters to feel they have been disenfranchised and discriminated against. As a result, three Newtown residents — Mary Mack, Michael White and former Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins — filed a federal lawsuit against Sarasota County and commissioners Michael Moran, Nancy Detert and Alan Maio for “depriv-

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS MARCH 17, PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE ELECTIONS There will be 16 Democratic and four Republican candidates on the ballot.

Although Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said some candidates might drop out of the race before election day, their names will still appear on the preset ballots. Florida has closed primaries, so those wishing to vote must be registered

by Feb. 18.

AUG. 18, PRIMARY ELECTIONS Sarasota County residents will vote on preferences for Florida Congress, county commission, city commission, charter review board, school board and sheriff.

NOV. 3, GENERAL ELECTIONS Residents will vote on president of the U.S., Florida Congress, county commission, city commission, charter review board, school board and sheriff, if a candidate other than a Republican files.

“We’re already in the thick of it. We’re already laying out the ballot for next year, running maintenance on our equipment and buildings and trying to educate voters.”

SCHOOL BOARD

In January, the school board will begin its search for a new super-

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

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WHO’S IN? This list is composed of candidates who filed before Dec. 20.

SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF n Paul Fern (R) Fern retired from the department in 2018. n Kurt Hoffman (R) Hoffman is the current colonel of the department.

— Ron Turner, supervisor of elections

ing thousands of African American voters living in the Newtown community of the right to vote in the 2020 election.”

“People are mad about how a few people are dictating to us how we live in Sarasota County,” Atkins said. “It’s not fair, and more and more people are recognizing it. …

People of all persuasions recognize fairness and unfairness, and there’s blatant misrepresentation of justice being perpetrated here in Sarasota.”

Because the new map splits precincts, Turner said staff is working with Geographic Information System mapping to assign every county voter to a new commission district.

Although it can be confusing for voters to know which district they’re in, Turner said he would not be sending new voter information cards to residents until after the 2020 census because each round costs approximately $250,000. Instead, Turner encourages those who might be confused to visit SarasotaVotes. com or to call 861-8600.

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Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner

intendent. Two board members, Eric Robinson and Caroline Zucker, are up for reelection, though Zucker has said she will not run again.

The reelection means the new superintendent might work with a board that had no hand in selecting him or her for the position. Zucker proposed allowing candidates to be a part of the discussions, but other board members opposed the plan.

On a state level, Sen. Joe Gruters filed a bill that would set school board term limits at 12 years.

If passed through the state Legislature, the bill would appear on the 2020 ballot.

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSION The incumbents for District 1 and District 3, Michael Moran and Nancy Detert, have yet to file. Charles Hines currently holds the District 5 seat but will reach his term limit at the end of 2020.

DISTRICT 1 n Fredd Atkins (D) New map would move him to District 2. Atkins is the former mayor of Sarasota.

DISTRICT 3 n John Holic (R) Holic is the mayor of Venice. n Cory Hutchinson (D) n Harrison Zeffert (R)

DISTRICT 5 n Christopher Hanks (R) Hanks is the mayor of North Port. n Joseph Mason (R) SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Caroline Zucker holds the seat for District 2, though she has said she won’t seek re-election.

District 3 is also up for election but no one, including incumbent Eric Robinson, has filed.

DISTRICT 2 n David Graham n Karen Rose SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION District 3 incumbent Shelli Freeland Eddie has yet to file. The District 1 seat will also be open, but no one has filed.

DISTRICT 2 n Liz Alpert, incumbent n Martin Hyde n Terry Turner n Jerry Wells DISTRICT 3 n Daniel Clermont n Erik Arroyo

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Ground breakers

Courtesy renderings

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is pushing the county to commit $20 million toward a new aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park, but some county leaders want to give the request some additional consideration.

Several highprofile projects are hoping to make major strides from concept to reality in 2020. How do the groups overseeing these planning efforts intend to get it done?

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

H

eaded into 2020, leaders of multiple high-profile projects in Sarasota are working on moving out of the planning phase and into the process of making their visions reality.

From The Bay Sarasota on the downtown waterfront to Mote Marine Aquarium and Laboratory’s land near Interstate 75, community organizations are determined to break ground and secure hundreds of millions of dollars to build regional attractions.

Here are three of those projects:

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY AND AQUARIUM Project details: Five-story, 110,000-square-foot aquarium near University Parkway and Interstate 75 Project cost: $130 million Targeted project timeline: Construction beginning in 2020; aquarium open by 2023

In 2018, when Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium announced plans to move its aquarium operation to a new facility at Nathan Benderson Park, Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby said the organization hoped to break ground on the project in 2019.

As 2019 came to a close, Mote had secured the right to use the county-owned parkland it coveted and began preliminary site work, but the organization still had some work left to do. That’s why, on Dec. 10, Crosby found himself in front of the Sarasota County Commission asking officials to make providing $20 million in funding toward the aquarium one of the county’s “highest priorities for fiscal year 2021.”

At the County Commission’s strategic retreat three days later, Crosby didn’t quite get his wish.

Although a majority of the board signaled a desire to find a way to accommodate Mote’s request,

some commissioners were hesitant to make a financial commitment without considering the financial implications of the decision. As a result, the board directed staff to prioritize working with Mote on supporting the aquarium project but stopped short of endorsing the $20 million figure.

Instead, the county will examine its capacity to provide a financial contribution to Mote’s project this year.

Crosby previously said receiving the full $20 million from the county was an essential part of Mote’s plan and said the project “doesn’t get done” without it.

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Rendering courtesy The Bay Sarasota

The Bay Sarasota hopes it can begin construction on phase one of the park project this year.

Although a Mote official was not available for an interview ahead of publication, in an email, the organization said it had “well over $35 million in donations and commitments” toward the project.

County officials said Mote leadership shared a sense of urgency regarding a financial commitment from Sarasota County because it hoped to pursue state funding, as well. As a result, commissioners Al Maio, Mike Moran and Christian Ziegler suggested the county should try to move quickly to offer a show of support ahead of this year’s legislative session.

“I would hate for us to have to wait and miss that window,” Ziegler said.

MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS Project details: Botanical gardens campus renovation Project cost: $92 million for initial proposal; revised cost estimates to be determined Project timeline: To be determined

The height of the 75-foot-tall garage in Selby Gardens’ original proposal, depicted in this conceptual image, was a point of contention for project opponents. Now, Selby intends to limit the height of the garage to 45 feet.

The city’s rejection of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ proposed master plan project was one of the highest-profile stories of 2019. Heading into 2020, Selby Gardens began plotting a strategy to scale down its plans to earn the city’s approval — and support from members of the community who opposed the initial proposal.

Selby officials hope to hold a community workshop regarding revisions to the master plan early this year.

Selby will no longer be seeking a revision to the city’s comprehensive plan. As a result, plans for a new parking structure on

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After more than six years of planning, The Bay Sarasota hopes 2020 will be the year it can begin construction on the first phase of a park project encompassing more than 50 acres of city-owned waterfront land surrounding the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

The first phase of The Bay project, being developed in partnership with the city of Sarasota, will be a park on 10 acres of land located north of Boulevard of the Arts. Key elements include a spiral boardwalk above the water, an open-space events lawn, a food and beverage pavilion and a mangrove bayou.

The Bay, an independent planning organization tasked with overseeing the park project, hopes construction can begin this summer and that the first phase can be built by the end of 2021. The group must gain a series of additional approvals from the

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To fund the $25 million first phase of the project — and more than $100 million to build out the park over the span of more than a decade — The Bay developed a multitrack financial strategy. The organization is focusing its initial efforts primarily on philanthropic contributions in hopes of raising $20 million in private donations toward phase one. Already, the group has secured $14 million in commitments from donors.

Veronica Brady, The Bay’s director of advancement, said those who have contributed toward the project have expressed excitement about helping build a public asset on land that is largely dedicated to surface parking today.

“The donors who have generously invested in us thus far are really thinking of it as a legacy gift to our community,” Brady said.

Despite the number of highprofile capital campaigns underway in Sarasota at the outset of 2020, Brady is confident The Bay and other organizations can achieve their fundraising targets.

“My personal opinion is we’ve created a community that is philanthropic and that it isn’t an either/or,” Brady said.

Long term, The Bay is working with the city and county on creating a tax-increment financing district that would funnel property tax revenue from the area near the bayfront toward funding the project. According to city estimates, the terms under consideration could provide more than $200 million over a 30-year period. The Bay Chief Implementation Officer Bill Waddill said he hoped a deal authorizing the TIF could be in place by this summer.

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THE BAY SARASOTA Project details: 53-acre public bayfront park with a 10-acre initial phase Project cost: $100 million to $200 million overall; $25 million for phase one Targeted project timeline: Phase one construction beginning summer 2020; Phase one open by the end of 2021

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the property would have to meet a height limit of 45 feet. Additionally, a new restaurant on the property would need to qualify as an accessory use to the botanical gardens rather than a stand-alone operation.

“We feel these are major compromises,” Selby President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki said.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Lido Shores home sets record at $3.35 million

The home offers about 4,400 square feet.

December sale is highest for a nonwaterfront home in Sarasota County in 2019.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

A

lthough its Norwegian name implies a waterfront view, Strandhaus — literally translated to Beach House — set a record in late December for the highest-priced sale of a nonwaterfront home in Sarasota County.

The property at 1212 Westway Drive is close to New Pass in Lido Shores (the home across the street backs up to the waterway) but does not offer a waterfront vista. Still, the Jerry Sparkmandesigned renovation sold for $3.35 million. The selling price did not include furnishings, which were purchased separately.

Joel Schemmel of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Sarasota office represented both buyer and seller.

The 2018 renovation involved the purchase of an adjacent lot and the construction of a master bedroom/office wing, connected to the original home via a glass hallway. The original home on which the property was based was built in 1956.

With five bedrooms and six baths, the home includes more than 4,600 square feet on 0.44 acres. It was on the market for 172 days.

County records show Edward S. Andrle and JoNe M. Sundvall purchased the home from Scott C. Key and Christine S. Key on Dec. 23, 2019.

“This significant sale is a testament to how our global marketing and exposure can attract the right buyer,” Schemmel said in a prepared statement.

Courtesy photos

Above: The outdoor oasis showcases a 40-foot lap pool complemented by waterfalls, fountains, two spas and a fire pit.

Left: An office was part of a 2018 renovation that included a new wing.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

21A

Author speaks about her ‘Max Ford’ spy trilogy The subject of Sally Fernandez’s most recent political thriller could begin production soon as a feature film.

BRENDAN LAVELL STAFF WRITER

Jack Bauer. Jason Bourne. Jack Ryan. Max Ford.

Those first three might sound familiar, the fourth maybe not so much. Author Sally Fernandez thinks that will soon change.

Fernandez appeared at the Longboat Library on Sunday to discuss topics, such as her path to

becoming an author and her writing process, but most of all, to talk about the “Max Ford” trilogy, the inspiration behind it and the film to come. She also signed books on the library’s lawn.

The “Max Ford” trilogy includes two books thus far, “Climatized” and “The Beekeeper’s Secret.” A third is on the way, and a movie based on “Climatized” is in the works. Fernandez hopes Ford will become a female counterpart to the aforementioned stars of the action-espionage world.

“Max is intelligent, imperfect, vulnerable and lethal,” Fernandez said. “She’s a lot like Carrie Mathison from the ‘Homeland’ [TV] series.”

Fernandez said she is largely

inspired by the Francis Bacon quote, “Truth is so hard to tell, it sometimes needs fiction to make it plausible.”

“What I always try to do with my books is point out both sides and let the characters debate and let the reader decide,” she said.

In the trilogy, Fernandez paired up fictional scientists with reallife counterparts and organizations. She also asserts that anything factual is confirmed.

The jump from literature to cinema was a fortuitous one. Fernandez’s publisher, the late David Dunham of Dunham Books, gave a copy of “Climatized” to a friend, Noam Dromi. Dromi co-wrote the movie “Dolphin Tale” and has worked as a producer on the

show “The Walking Dead: Red Machete” and the video game “Sleepy Hollow Virtual Reality Experience,” for which he received an Emmy. Dromi loved the book and has since been working with Fernandez; her husband and editor, Joe Fernandez; and Evan Greene, who has worked as chief marketing officer of the Grammy awards, to write a screenplay.

Fernandez hopes filming will start in the fall.

If the first movie is successful, a film adaptation of “The Beekeeper’s Secret,” which is dedicated to Dunham, would be next.

“These guys in Hollywood are going to take Max and make her bigger than life,” Fernandez said.

Brendan Lavell

Sally Fernandez speaks at a book signing Sunday on the lawn of Longboat Library.

TRIBUTES

Daniel E. Meehan never met a stranger. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend and philanthropist, Dan worked endlessly to make a difference in other’s lives at home and around the world.

Now we celebrate the life of this generous, joyful man who always put faith and family first. A serendipitous man, Dan passed away at 3:33 p.m. on December 30th, 2019 in his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hand in hand with the love of his life, Eileen. He was 89 years old.

A gifted storyteller, Dan’s favorite one to tell was how he and Eileen met while he attended Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy in New York. “It all started on a blind date!” he would say with a twinkle in his eye. Anyone who knew them could see their unwavering devotion to one another; Eileen grounded Dan and was his source of calm when business and life became stormy. They held hands constantly, as if drawn together by their own gravity. They celebrated a private renewal of vows on their 67th wedding anniversary, just three days before he passed.

Dan was born on March 3, 1930 and grew up in a lively, loving home in an Irish neighborhood in Staten Island, New York City. The son of Philip, a surveyor for New York City, who was known to give unassuming but practical advice to many, and his mother, Alice, who without fanfare, helped and fed almost everyone in the neighborhood. Dan drew from his parents’ influence when he taught his children and grandchildren lessons about the importance of faith, family and humility.

Dan’s vast encyclopedia of adventures and experiences grew while he matriculated at Kings Point, and from the subsequent years he spent at sea. One such voyage included the care of a wild Cheetah on board from Mombasa, Kenya to Boston.

Dan then started his Merchant Marine career in 1951 after graduating from Kings Point; he and Eileen were married the following year on December 27th, 1952. Eileen had the clever idea of marrying at Christmastime because the church would still be decorated and filled with poinsettias, and as a young couple coming from humble beginnings they smartly saved in every way possible.

As the Meehan family grew, Dan decided to bring his career closer to home. His love of the sea was surpassed by the love and joy his young family brought him, so he hung

up his merchant marine uniform and, in his words, “came ashore” permanently. Dan transitioned his career to the commercial side of international shipping at the Port of New York, overlooking the historic Brooklyn Bridge. There he was able to build his reputation as an ethical, smart, and tireless worker, even when his modest wages did not reflect his impressive output. His children recall their father occasionally borrowing change from their piggy banks to pay his ferry commute to work. It was clear to all who worked with him that Dan was destined for a successful career as soon as fate delivered the right opportunity. So when his stellar national reputation led him to be recruited by Ted Hansen to manage Hansen Seaway Service at the Port of Milwaukee, Dan seized the fortuitous opportunity and moved his young family to the Midwest. He eventually bought the business and six other international shipping companies at various ports around the United States. Dan sold his companies in 1996 at the age of 66.

Regimented from his years as a merchant marine, Dan always greeted the day with the sunrise. He enjoyed spending his mornings writing letters and emails to his five children and 18 grandchildren. He shared a daily phone call with his sister, Clare, and like the proud Irish Catholic he was, Dan always answered the phone “Top o’ the morning!”

Dan was passionate about setting up future generations for success; this was true of his own family and the global family he grew through decades of generous giving.

Dan valued education as the greatest tool for success, and taught this to his children

and grandchildren, and to the countless children around the world whose lives he impacted. He will be remembered in schools, orphanages, and hospitals across the globe. Dan had a huge heart that was reflected through the many blessings he shared with his family and community. He shared a special relationship with each member of his large family, and his favorite way to say goodbye was to remind each one, “I love you, and I like you.”

An active member of the Catholic Church, Dan lived the Gospel and served the poor. He witnessed abject poverty while traveling to third world countries, so he started the Meehan Family Foundation. The Foundation has supported scholarships, schools, hospitals, and orphanages throughout the world. Dan was known by staff at the Milwaukee Foundation to have given more money abroad than any donor in the history of the Foundation.

His legacy will transcend many lifetimes.

Through his philanthropy, he had the privilege to meet Pope John Paul, Mother Teresa, President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush Sr., President Richard Nixon, Fidel Castro and many other historic leaders.

Throughout his illustrious career in the international shipping industry and the decades of philanthropic work that followed, Dan was honored with countless civic and business awards, along with many distinguished service awards from organizations near and dear to his heart, including his alma mater Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, Legatus and the Knights of Malta. Dan’s involvement with the Knights of Malta enabled him to multiply his own financial assistance for the projects he was most passionate about.

His favorite fundraising challenges were matching grants, when his charisma and charm would inspire and open the hearts of many to get involved and give back.

Dan Meehan was one of a kind. He will be remembered for the beautiful legacy he created, and his warmth for every soul he met. His mother always said he had a smile that could light up the world. And it did.

Dan is survived by his wife Eileen, five

children and in-laws: Laurie (the late Chet) Lukaszewicz, Theresa and Zach Felknor, Daniel Meehan Jr., Suzanne and Ali Siadat, Margie Meehan. In addition, he is survived by 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and sister, Clare (the late Jay) Murphy.

He shared a special relationship with each member of his large family, and his favorite way to say goodbye was to remind each one, “I love you, and I like you.”

Dan lived by the sentiment he held most dear, and asked that we all do the same, “When all is said and done, it boils down to...have we made other peoples’ lives a bit better than they would have been without our presence?”

Visitation took place on Saturday, January 11th, from 9:00 to 11:00AM, at the Basilica of Saint Josephat, on the corner of South 6th St. and West Lincoln Ave., in Milwaukee, WI. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated immediately following at 11:00 AM. Reception followed. Interment was private.

Memorials in Dan’s name may be made to The Sisters of Mary, C/O Meehan Family Legacy Fund, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant St., Ste 210, Milwaukee, WI 53211 or to Three Holy Women, C/O Meehan Family Legacy Fund, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant St., Ste 210, Milwaukee, WI 53211.

Feerick Funeral Home in Milwaukee, WI is assisting the family, (414)962-8383, www.feerickfuneralhome.com

DONATIONS: Memorials in Dan’s name may be made to The Sisters of Mary, C/O Meehan Family Legacy Fund, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant St., Ste 210, Milwaukee, WI 53211 or to Three Holy Women, C/O Meehan Family Legacy Fund, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant St., Ste 210, Milwaukee, WI 53211.

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Daniel E. Meehan 1930-2019

22A

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

TRIBUTES

He was previously never married and took on his new roles of husband, stepdad to Susan’s only daughter Paris Bassett and grandpa to Paris’s son Rylan, with great relish. His new family adored him and shall miss him beyond measure, as will all his friends and family from California, New York and the local area.

Michael was a sports fanatic and an avid follower of U.S. and world news. He liked reading and watching anything about science, nature and history. For years he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and playing golf. He looked forward to doing his daily crossword puzzles and took pleasure in listening to and knowing a great deal about music of all genres. He got excited engaging in passionate debates about politics using expletives and other colorful language! He never held back his opinions, but he always kept the discourse civil.

People found his liveliness charming and his convictions compelling. He was unique in character and appearance (he had a

He was a great conversationalist, super-cool guy and fun to be around. distinctive soul-patch on his chin), smart, funny, kind, honorable, generous, loving and lovable, a true heart, a champion of the under-dog, and a man of integrity. He was a great conversationalist, super-cool guy and fun to be around. He enjoyed playing Trivia at Mandeville in Sarasota every Tuesday and going to outdoor concerts at Café in the Park in Sarasota every Friday with his family. He met regularly with friends at Starbucks for afternoon coffee and banter. He was well-known at The Longboat Key Education Center where he helped his wife, the center’s executive director, with various meet and greet activities and responsibilities. He donated his body to science, which was a “Michael” thing to do.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, William and Ida Grossberg of Brooklyn. He is survived by his loving

The Observer is now offering Tributes to honor your loved ones.

SERVICE: There will be a celebration of his life in March or April, TBA. Inquiries can be addressed to his widow Susan Goldfarb at susanlbk@ gmail.com.

DONATIONS: Donations can be made to The Longboat Key Education Center, a not-for-profit lifelong learning center located at 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite # 212, Longboat Key, Florida, 34228.

Visit

yourobserver.com/tributes to view our informational Tributes booklet.

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Michael Grossberg, 75, was a native of Brooklyn and retired respiratory therapist from Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, where he worked for 36 years before coming to the Sarasota/Bradenton area in 2009 and marrying Susan Goldfarb in 2012, his loving wife of 7 years.

brother David Grossberg and sister-in-law Judy of NY, nephew Adam Grossberg and wife Erica of NJ, niece Rachel Nash of NY, and five great nieces and nephews. His dear cousins Jeff and Howard Dashefksy of CA and CT, respectively, their wives and families, are coping with this great loss. His best friend since babyhood, Arnie Heitner (wife Kristine), from the east coast of Florida, rushed to his bedside within hours of hearing he was in ICU. Michael was also surrounded by Gerri Laurino of Sarasota, his friend for over 50 years, longtime friend Ron Chen from California, his brother and nephew, and his stepdaughter and wife during his final few days. It was a shocking and totally unexpected event that left so many people bereft and heartbroken. Susan and Michael’s dog Maddie still sadly looks for him. He will be greatly missed.

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Michael Edward Grossberg July 28, 1944 December 20, 2019

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Trudy Moon, President Stewart Moon Jr., Vice President

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

23A

Dinner and a show — and learning Temple Beth Israel hosted Rabbi Rifat Sonsino for a weekend of hands-on learning about Sephardic Judaism.

BRENDAN LAVELL STAFF WRITER

D

Temple Beth Israel

WORSHIP

A Center of Jewish Life and Learning in the Sarasota Area Share Shabbat Friday 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 10:00 a.m.

941.383.3428 | www.tbi-lbk.org

567 Bay Isles Road • Longboat Key, FL

All Angels by the Sea

Growing in Jesus’ Name

The Episcopal Church on Longboat Key

Sunday Service 10:00 AM

563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

The Rev. Dr. Norman Pritchard

The Rev. David Marshall, Rector

Open Arms, Loving Hearts, Accepting Minds Sunday 10 a.m. Worship Service

SERMON:

An Interfaith Community Church The Rev. Bill Friederich, Senior Minister founded in 1956 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, Florida 34228 Visitors Welcome Telephone: 941-383-6491 • web: www.longboatislandchapel.org

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“Why Give in Church?”

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Website: www.AllAngelsLBK.org

Adult Sunday School Follows Service

A place for everyone!

Sunday Service 8:00 am & 10:00 am Wednesday Community Prayer 10:00 am

Men’s Bible Study - Mondays: 9:00 AM Women’s Bible Study - Wednesdays: 10:00 AM

Visitors & Residents Welcome • Childcare Available Watch Sunday sermons LIVE at 10:00 am: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons

WCONCERTS INTER C ONCERT S ERIES ARE FREE VISITORS & RESIDENTS WELCOME •

SUNDAY

JANUARY 19, 2020

•

QOL

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, CATHOLIC CHURCH Welcomes You to Mass

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WINTER MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday: 4:30 PM Sunday: 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30 AM Daily Mass at 9:00 AM - Monday through Friday Confessions after Daily Mass

Reverend Phillip Schweda

•

2:00 PM

Qol has united with the common aim of bringing a diverse array of vocal arts to the community on an intimate level. Ranging from Classical to Contemporary, Oratorio and Opera to Musical Theater, these four artists breathe freshness into some of the most beloved vocal repertoire. Now residing in Sarasota, the members of Qol seek to bring their experience and artistry to venues all across the state of Florida, as well as throughout the United States.

Lord’s Warehouse Thrift Shop Hours Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 383-1255 • www.stmarylbk.org

RABBI STEPHEN L. SNIDERMAN, D.D. 323124-1

directory

941-383-8161

also played songs that were new to the audience.

Sonsino said he felt it was important for the TBI congregants to learn about and be exposed to Sephardic Judaism, so they can fully understand that Jewish people come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Sonsino learned that lesson himself when he had to adapt to a new style of worship after traveling from Turkey to Cincinnati to learn at Hebrew Union College while in his 20s.

“There is no area in which Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews did not disagree,” Sonsino said.

“On theology, on religious practices, languages. Primarily language because Sephardic Jews speak Spanish, Ladino, and Ashkenazi Jews come with Yiddish.”

Sonsino said just as the differences between Catholics and Protestants or Shiites and Sunnis make it impossible (among other reasons) to generalize Christians and Muslims, so too there are dangers in generalizing Jews.

“People who belong to a certain group sometimes are not aware that there are other ways of practicing Judaism,” Sonsino said.

“And when they experience the other type of Judaism, they tend to say, ‘Well, that’s not Judaism.’

Well, who’s to say that?”

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

•

941.383.8833 (office)

•

www.christchurchlbk.org

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Photos by Brendan Lavell

Clockwise from top: Caryl Levin enjoys a performance by Sephardi musician Juan De la Sierra, who is dressed in the style of an early 20th century western-Turkish Sephardi. Rabbi Rifat Sonsino speaks about the conversion to Islam of 17th century Rabbi Sabbatai Zevi and the subsequent rise of the Sabbatean movement

inner, Shabbat service, a Torah reading.

In some ways, it was a normal weekend at Temple Beth Israel.

But it was not. The congregation of TBI stepped out of its comfort zone to learn more about the customs and history of Sephardic Judaism by welcoming Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, a Sephardic Jew from Turkey, for its Scholar in Residence program.

Historically, Jewish people have been classified into three main groups. The ancestors of Sephardi Jews came from the Iberian peninsula before leaving for lands including North Africa and Anatolia in the late 15th century, around the time of the Spanish Reconquista. However, the vast majority of American Jews are considered Ashkenazi, which means their ancestors hail from central and eastern Europe. The third group is the Mizrahi Jews of the Middle

East. TBI Executive Director Isaac Azerad, who was born in Egypt, said he is the only Sephardic Jew in TBI’s congregation.

This means that Sonsino essentially had a blank slate with which to teach the congregants. Some of that exposure came through the three presentations Sonsino gave about topics relating to the history of Sephardim as well as differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazi customs and culture. Questions were encouraged, and the views of many who had grown up learning about Judaism through the lens of their own experiences were challenged.

But it also permeated into the most essential of Jewish traditions, such as the melodies and intonations Sephardi Jews use when reading the Torah.

And of course, the weekend kicked off Friday night with more than 100 people in attendance for a Sephardi-style feast. Attendees were also treated to Sephardic music, featuring guitar, harp, hand-cymbals and more, from Juan De la Sierra, who dressed in what would have been worn

by Sephardis in western Turkey about 100 years ago.

De la Sierra, who has been performing for about 60 years, played some songs that many in attendance were familiar with, to which they sung along. But he

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT ESTATE PROPERTIES 1364 HARBOR DRIVE Hailed as one of the best lots in Harbor Acres, spectacular direct views of Sarasota Bay, John Ringling Bridge and downtown’s cityscape abound around every corner of this 5BR estate. Chic upgrades and clean lines conscientiously blend form and function throughout the nearly 5,300 SF designer home. This home’s exterior is just as impressive, with its summer kitchen and new cabana steps from bayfront dockage and multiple lifts.

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Classifieds 14B Games 13B Real Estate 11B Weather 13B

JANUARY 16, 2020

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

Above: Mark Malinowski and Karin Buffitt talk over a point.

Right: Division 1 winners Mark Bellissimo, Kimberley Pelyk, Michele Rose and Nader Massoumi

A little friendly competition Players vied for the top spots in the 20th annual Observer Challenge Tennis Tournament.

NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

A

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t the finals of the 20th annual Observer Challenge Tennis Tournam e n t , co m p e t i to rs seemed to admire one another more than typical opponents.

As balls ricocheted across the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center’s six tournament courts, encouraging shouts and compliments were volleyed as well.

Finalists in five divisions hit the courts Jan. 12 to play in five

matches each. Two teams of four (two men and two women) competed in men’s and women’s doubles and singles and a mixed doubles match. In Division 4, the champions from the 2019 tournament defended their title.

“We felt very good, and we were on a mission to win again this year,” Joyce Welch said.

Strategy factored in as teams had to consider their players’ strengths in the various modes of play, and the doubles teams conversed often during and between points to get on the same page.

“You got it!” Bob Dreyfus yelled during a doubles match. “No, I got it!”

The crowd, which ebbed and flowed during the many matches, made known which shots they

thought were good too. Oohs and aahs came during key moments of tense points.

“I’m leaving now, bye!”

Michelle Coates joked after she hit a particularly good shot to win a turning point, and the crowd made their awe known.

Even as the afternoon wore on, and the sun reminded players just how hot a Florida day in January can be, a dedicated cheering squad stuck to the sidelines — specifically for Bryan Goodwin during his singles match. No matter if a team came away with the win or the runner-up position, good-natured handshakes and congratulations were offered to the opponents.

SEE PAGE 2B

Division 2 winners Murray Pattenden, Jo Ann Nevins, Gail Galbraith and Kim Miller

Division 3 winners Roger Blair, Guillermo Vidal, Desiree Lurf and Angie Eason

2B

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

FROM PAGE 1B

WINNERS OPEN DIVISION n Tomasz Borucki n Savannah Gray n Mark Malinowski n Karin Buffitt DIVISION 1 n Mike Bellissimo n Kimberley Pelyk n Michele Rose n Nader Massoumi

Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

Open Division winners Mark Malinowski, Savannah Gray, Karin Buffitt, Tomasz Borucki and Jim Tarsy

DIVISION 2 n Kim Miller n Jo Ann Nevins n Murray Pattenden n Gail Galbraith Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

DIVISION 3 n Roger Blair n Guillermo Vidal n Desiree Lurf n Angie Eason

Friends of Tennis President Richard McGrath, Kay Thayer and Matt Walsh

Observer kicks off 20th tournament

DIVISION 4 n Chip Elitzer n Bob Gary n Katie Cornell n Joyce Welch

T

ennis players and guests gathered Jan. 9 at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center to open the Observer Challenge’s 20th iteration. Attendees snacked as they caught up with old friends and checked the tournament bracket for their match-ups.

Public Tennis Center Director Kay Thayer was recognized for her 20 years of service in a surprise ceremony. Observer Media Group CEO Matt Walsh presented Thayer with a glass awards.

“I’ve never seen Kay get unglued,” Walsh said. “We can’t do it without Kay.” “Back at you, mister,” Thayer said, before presenting Walsh with a surprise commemoration of her own.

Division 4 winners Chip Elitzer, Joyce Welch, Bob Gary and Katie Cornell

Above: Barb Chase goes for a point.

Left: Tomasz Borucki swings for a point playing doubles.

Ron Plashkes and Colette Nemni

— NAT KAEMMERER

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LUXURY SERVICE. STRATEGIC MARKETING. BENCHMARK RESULTS. TROPICAL PARADISE ESCAPE

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

3B

2018/2019

LONGBOAT KEY SALES SOLD

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Beautifully renovated 4 bedroom waterfront residence in Country Club Shores on South Longboat Key. Open floor plan, French door sliders, skylights and volume ceilings. Elegant formal dining room in octagonal space with high ceilings, plantation shutters and serving station.

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SOLD

This immaculately maintained 4 bed/5 bath bayfront home is located behind the prestigious Longboat Key Club gates in Bay Isles. The great room boasts towering ceilings and overlooks the tranquil Sarasota Bay waters.

Entertaining is easy with a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, 3 ensuite guest bedrooms and an expansive terrace with pool, spa and dock. Relax into your new Longboat Life in style!

730 Old Compass Road

$2,400,000

SOLD

MLS A4449455

$2,225,000 BEACH VIEWS AT WESTCHESTER

OPEN SUNDAY 1-4PM

Unobstructed Gulf views are enjoyed from this 2 bedroom/2 bath top floor beach residence. Freshly painted with new carpet and tile flooring make this move-in ready! Other extras include a washer/dryer in unit, multiple walk-in closets and excellent community amenities including 2 gulf front heated pools, storage, beach cabanas, tennis, club house, car wash station and beautiful white sand beach!

536Yawl Lane

SOLD

MLS A4454174

511 Harbor Cay Drive

$635,000

$1,950,000

SOLD

Relax into downtown waterfront living on this secret slice of paradise in the heart of the city.

Priced at lot value this is the perfect spot to fix up or build new.

Exquisitely updated 3 bed residence at the Beaches with panoramic views from Sarasota Bay to the Gulf of Mexico located behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club.

MLS A4448579

MLS A4453571

$1,399,000

$1,349,000 3441 Bayou Court

A Luxury FAMILYService BUSINESS

Strategic Marketing

Results 941.387.0100Benchmark I LongboatLife.com Luxury 440 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FLService 34228 I ianaddy@michaelsaunders.com I gailwittig@michaelsaunders.com Strategic Marketing Benchmark Results 324552-1

$1,775,000

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IAN ADDY & GAIL WITTIG #1 LONGBOAT KEY AGENTS

4B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Democratic Club learns all about gerrymandering

T

he Democratic Club of Longboat Key held a record-breaking luncheon meeting Jan. 7 at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

More than 130 people turned out for the meeting, where Bill Cotter presented on “Racial and Political Gerrymandering on the Supreme Court.” A graduate of Harvard Law School, president of Constitutional Law at Colby College and holder of a host of other global political positions, Cotter discussed the history of voting and voter suppression in the U.S. and its religious, classist and racist ties.

As for the high turnout, member Lois Barson chalks it up to the good listening of the club’s leaders. In the past two years, the club has turned to a roster of speakers who discuss issues rather than inviting politicians to speak as it has in the past.

“There was a survey that said that’s what people want, and the response has been exactly what the members said it would be,” Barson said.

There were 38 first-timers at the meetings, whom President Ken Marsh thanked for their attendance. The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Visit LBKDems.com for information.

Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

Above: Slade Cargill gathers petitions for Margaret Good’s congressional run.

Left: Bob Gary, Bill Cotter and Ken Marsh

Above: Andy Maass and Lois Barson welcome members into the meeting.

Left: Board members Terry Guzman and Becky Van der Bogert

— NAT KAEMMERER

The Observer’s

Weather

&Nature

2 0 2 0

P H OTO

C O N T E ST

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KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Bruce Myer

Realtor

|

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

®

941.387.1847

438 L’Ambiance Dr. #K506

580 Birdie Lane

3040 Grand Bay Blvd. #291

455 Longboat Club Rd. #805

SOLD! $2,300,000

SOLD! $1,925,000

SOLD! $1,560,000

SOLD! $1,480,500

1965 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #G5-211

3523 Fair Oaks Lane

525 Hornblower Lane

210 Sands Point Rd. #2003

3419 Winding Oaks Dr. #10

SOLD! $1,350,000

SOLD! $1,247,500

SOLD! $1,230,000

SOLD! $1,025,000

SOLD! $950,000

2399 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #3C3

2399 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #3B4

SOLD! $3,600,000

SOLD! $2,400,000

435 L’Ambiance Dr. #H202

SOLD! $1,449,000

When it comes to Real Estate, the best way to predict success in 2020 is to hire Bruce Myer.

Here’s why…

2301 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #P5/6N

1135 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #601

2019 SOLD!In $904,075

455 Longboat Club Rd. #308

222 Robin Drive

7130 Longboat Dr. E.

ranked .2% of all Realtors SOLD! $900,000 SOLD! $875,000 (total 8,076) SOLD! $837,500 in Sarasota/Manatee counties and top 1/2% of 1% of Coldwell Banker Agents Worldwide *

SOLD! $950,000

1115 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #205

SOLD! $570,000

Call us 941-387-1847 or visit us at BruceMyer.com 3010 Grand Bay Blvd. #472

2071 Harbour Links Dr. #2

3040 Grand Bay Blvd. #272

2020 Harbourside Dr. #443

5055 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #324/334

1425 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #206

SOLD! $825,000

SOLD! $824,500

SOLD! $750,000

SOLD! $750,000

SOLD! $615,000

SOLD! $562,500

2089 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #G1-108

1930 Harbourside Dr. #131

2350 Harbour Oaks Drive

2109 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #1304

1932 Harbourside Dr. #215

1932 Harbourside Dr. #244

SOLD! $555,000

SOLD! $525,000

SOLD! $510,000

SOLD! $495,000

SOLD! $449,000

SOLD! $429,000

2161 Harbourside Dr. #1302

4401 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #703

1115 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #304

540 Neptune Avenue #10

640 Neptune Avenue

4390 Exeter Dr. #I-105

SOLD! $424,000

SOLD! $411,000

SOLD! $400,000

SOLD! $399,000

SOLD! $235,000

SOLD! $216,000

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE 201 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE, SUITE 1 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228

*Based on 2019 data 325931-1

Bruce@BruceMyer.com BruceMyer.com

5B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

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The King Charles Troupe performs before the ceremony begins.

New inductees step into the Circus Ring of Fame

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WHITNEY ELFSTROM STAFF WRITER

W

hat do circus performers from Canada, New York, Madrid and Colombia have in common? On Sunday, they joined more than 140 fellow performers in the Circus Ring of Fame in St. Armands Circle.

The Circus Ring of Fame Foundation celebrated Guy Laliberte, The King Charles Troupe, Los Quiros High Wire Artistry and the Carrillo Brothers High Wire Duo at the 33rd annual ceremony.

“Circus is adaptable, evolutionary and has so many interpretations,” said Bill Powell, chair of the foundation. “When one door closes, five doors open because

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people close to the heart of the art form are inventive, creative and extremely hard working. Circus finds a way to move forward.”

Each group was awarded with medals, a framed letter detailing their contributions and a bronze plaque in Circle Park.

A touch of family appreciation lingered in the air as members of each group recalled the times they had crossed paths or performed with one another. Most notably, Los Quiros High Wire Artistry and the Carrillo Brothers High Wire Duo each spoke about how thankful they were to Cirque du Soleil, which was founded by Guy Laliberte.

A number of surprises took place during the ceremony from performances to a proclamation

Y BA RD A W ND WI

ENJOY WATCHING water views with dolphins and manatees from this 1BR/1BA second floor condo or walk across the street to the private beach! $254,000

H AC BE N TO EN AD R B

BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED 2BR/2.5BA townhome.

Gorgeous wood flooring & quality tile throughout.

CEDARS EAST offers 10 Har-Tru tennis courts, Jr. Olympic pool, fitness center, tiki bar & restaurant. $330,000

N TIO S CA TAL A V EN R

DESIRABLE DUPLEX steps from the beach. 3 Bedrooms, 2 baths and garage each side, pool, great rental income. $1,395,000

THE WICKER INN GULF BEACH RESORT Relax by the pool or lounge on the beach. Charming cottage ambiance, all with full kitchens, decorated in Florida pastels, surrounded by gorgeous tropical landscaping. Nightly and weekly rentals available.

Reservations: 941-387-8344

For Longboat Key Rentals and Property Management Services

Call Bonnie Wiedeman or Holly Sylvester

941.383.5577

SPECTACULAR BAY VIEWS Luxury finishes adorn this updated 2BR/2BA end unit. Beach to Bay access, kayak launch, fitness, 2 heated pools, tennis and pickle ball are just a few of the amenities. $529,900

CH EA B NG LO

VACATION RENTAL beach house getaway. 3BR/2BA elevated home with huge porch. Under-house parking for 2 cars. Short walk to waterside dining. 3 blocks to boat launch, Sarasota Bay and Gulf of Mexico beach. $4,800 monthly

www.WagnerRealty.com 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Suite 101 in the Centre Shops, Longboat Key

324604-1

6B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

7B

Thank you to our friends and clients for your trust and loyalty!

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Agathe Ali and Etta Ryan reveal the plaque of Guy Laliberte, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil.

from the mayor of Sarasota.

The King Charles Troupe riled up the crowd before the ceremony began with a performance as members rode around on their unicycles and tackled feats including jump-roping and double Dutching on them.

Keith Green and George Hooks performed the solo melody they once played during Pedro Carrillo Sr.’s high-wire performance in “The Greatest Show On Earth.”

When the song finished, Carrillo embraced Green and Hooks.

With the induction of Guy Laliberte and Cirque du Soleil into the St. Armands Circus Ring of Fame, Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and Director of Public Affairs for Cirque du Soleil Agathe Ali announced Jan. 12 will be known

as Circus Day in North America.

“The city of Sarasota salutes their common [circus] heritage with the city of Montreal, and together they strongly encourage the artists, organizations and audiences of these two great cities to continue their collaborations, so that the natural link between traditional and contemporary circus serves to create and promote public appreciation for this incredible art form,” AhearnKoch said.

2050 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DR Unit#A501 | 3BR/4BA | 3,242sqft NEW PRICE! Fabulous, rarely available Antigua floor plan. Wake up to amazing views of Lido Park, a beautiful Lagoon and the Bay.

3977 ROBERTS POINT RD 4BR/4BA | 7,060sqft BRING OFFERS! Incredible home has so much to offer! There is a full bar, an indoor lap pool, a boat dock and sauna! Furnishings in this home are also included.

NEW LISTING

IMPROVED PRICE

BIRD KEY $1,249,000

LAWRENCE POINTE II $999,000

Top: Los Quiros reveals their plaque.

Above: Louis Acosta, Pedro Carrillos Sr., and Pedro Carrillos Jr.

Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years 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

258 ROBIN DR 4BR/4BA/2HBA | 4,607sqft An updated Mediterranean villa awaits your every desire. This luxurious retreat offers walled gardens, iron gates, painted ceramic tile, a fountain, a pond with a waterfall, a pool with loggia, gas fire pit, and outdoor air coolers.

99 Sunset Dr. Unit #402 3BR/2BA | 2,301sqft DRAMATIC OPEN BAY VIEWS!!! Spectacular sunsets all year round! Absolutely stunning from day to night! Beautifully decorated and very spacious with a plethora of storage.

INVOLVED CITIZENS

SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center) | Meals on Wheels | LBK Rotary Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe | Mote Marine Supporters

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941.724.7228

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

GLOBAL MARKETING REACH

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ST ARMANDS CIRCLE

TheLynneKoyGroup.com Office@TheLynneKoy Group.com

Asking $1,915,000 Walking score of 1,000 (est.) beach, restaurants, bank, medical annex, firehouse, and bridge within 7 minutes. This home is single level living. The room sizes are large. The 15 ft ceilings are bright, 3 bedrooms, office, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage and large saltwater & pool lanai. The home is protected and conforming to all FEMA flood plain requirements.

The 4,474 gross footage home sitting on a third of an acre of St. Armands Key, the rear is fenced for your pet.

Do the math.

201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 1 • Longboat Key, Florida 34228

The Best! Asking $475,000 220 ft of waterfront lot, on a cul-de-sac, located within the double gates of the area’s best golf course, Concession. This coveted southwest facing lot is amazing and will live private, bright, and open. The panorama of the lake and preserve is THE million dollar view of Concessions.

327530-1

GLENN D. CALLAGHAN, LLC. Broker Consultant DIRECT:

941-928-9020

Oliver | Alyssa | Lynne | Courtney Follow me on:

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provides sophisticated real estate service with exceptional personal attention and unmatched market experience. The Lynne Koy Group can provide you with the experience you deserve. For real estate representation built on trust and client satisfaction, call now at 941-387-1824

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CONCESSION, LAKEWOOD RANCH

8B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

JAN. 16

diseCenter.org or by phone at 383-6493.

PARADISE CENTER OPEN HOUSE Join the Paradise Center on a tour of its new space on Bay Isles Road. Open house runs from 4-6 p.m. Call the Paradise Center at 383-6493.

GENTLE KRIPALU YOGA From 9-10 a.m. at the Longboat Key Education Center, 5370 GMD #212, for gentle yoga to improve overall physical functioning and mental well-being.

All ages and fitness levels. $11 per class for members; $13 for nonmembers. Call 383-8811.

JAN. 18

TASTE OF ST. ARMANDS The 10th annual tour is back with a tour of the diverse tastes St. Armands Circle has to offer.

From 5-8 p.m., enjoy live music, food and drink in the St. Armands Circle Park. Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 on the day of. Visit StArmandsCircleAssoc.com for information.

JAN. 23

MIXED BEGINNERS AND MIXED INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE Class runs 1-2:30 and 3-4:30 p.m. at the Longboat Key Education Center. Learn bridge, and play with other members. Cost is $14 for members and $16 for nonmembers. Call 383-8811.

File photo

THE SARASOTA CUBAN BALLET SCHOOL Join the Longboat Key Education Center for a class presented by Ariel Serrano, co-founder and co-artistic director of the ballet school. Class runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Call 383-8811.

JAN. 16

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

THE CLYDE BUTCHER STORY AS TOLD

BY HIS DAUGHTER From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Longboat Key Education Center, Jackie Obendorf will share stores and show examples of her father’s black and white, large format images of wilderness and Florida landscape. Clyde Butcher is known as the Ansel Adams of Florida. Cost for members is $20 and $25 for nonmembers. Call 383-8811.

CARDIO, BALANCE, WEIGHTS CLASS Class at 7:30 and 8:45 a.m. at the Bayfront Park Recreational Center. Call 538-8456.

JAN. 25-26

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE ART FESTIVAL From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., browse the creations of stunning artists as you stroll through the Circle.

Event is free. Visit the event’s Facebook page for information.

the parking lot, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Gently used women’s and men’s clothing, accessories, artwork, kitchenware and home goods will be sold. Call 383-4738.

MONDAYS

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS LORD’S WAREHOUSE Hours are 9 a.m. to noon at the south end of the Longboat Island Chapel campus behind

STRETCH & STRENGTHEN Class is from 10-11 a.m. at the Paradise Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. All exercises are from a standing or seated position; the focus is on strength training and flexibility for better balance. You may bring your own

small hand weights. Class led

by Suzy Brenner. Fee is $10.

RSVP to MaryAnnBrady@ TheParadiseCenter.org or by phone at 383-6493.

THINKING OUT LOUD: TIMELY TOPICS WITH MIKE KARP From 1-2:30 p.m. at the Paradise Center. Topics will include current U.S. and world affairs, popular culture and topics relevant to seniors. Bring questions and an open mind. Cost is $10. RSVP to Mary Ann Brady at MaryAnnBrady@ThePara-

PUMPING THE PRIME WITH MIRABAI HOLLAND Class at 10 a.m. at the Bayfront Recreation Center at 4052 GMD to strengthen muscles and bones, burn calories, boost metabolism, manage weight and develop lean muscle. This full-body workout requires participants to get up and down from the floor. Bring a towel. $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Email Mirabai@ MovingFree.com, or call 201956-1466.

BODY SCULPT WITH MIRABAI HOLLAND Class at 11:15 a.m. Do strength training and body sculpting

with weights, resistance bands and towels. The exercises are for core strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance and posture. Participants should be able to get down on the floor and get up readily. Please bring a towel. $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Email Mirabai@MovingFree.com, or call 201-956-1466.

TUESDAYS

ROTARY CLUB Meets at 5:15 p.m. at All Angels Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road, every first and third Tuesday.

Call Nancy Rozance at 3835659, or email info@LongboatKeyRotary.org.

SWEET AND SPIRITED YOGA Class is from 9-10 a.m. at the Longboat Key Education Center and will focus on body awareness, alignment and deep connecting breath. Regardless of age or fitness level, all can benefit. Cost is $11 for members and $13 for nonmembers.

Call 383-8811.

YOGA FOR SENIORS Licensed yoga instructor Cheryl Kaiser guides through a sequence of yoga postures and movement designed for seniors. This is a gentle class to restore balance and replenish energy with your body, mind and breath. Options are provided to adapt the yoga poses safely with the use of chairs and yoga blocks. Bring a yoga mat if possible. Fee is $10. RSVP to MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org or by phone at 383-6493.

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LondonBay.com ©2019. CBC057242 London Bay Homes. Pricing, features, specifications, products and availability are subject to change without notice. See a sales associate for complete and current information.

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS

|

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

9B

Looking for Luxury Living on the Water?

PILATES SCULPT Pilates Sculpt is a combination class from 9-10 a.m. mixing traditional Pilates exercises into a fun, challenging workout to upbeat music. Pilates Sculpt will make you sweat, encourage your body to burn calories and make you stronger and more flexible. This class is for all levels and is $15 for drop-in and $10 for members. Contact FeelGoodYogaLongboatKey@ gmail.com.

REID MURPHY

WILL LEAD YOU TO YOUR DREAM HOME!

FEEL GOOD YOGA From 10:30-11:30 a.m., try a yoga class dedicated to finding the alignment that makes your body “feel good.” This class is not about just touching your toes; it’s about enjoying the freedom of movement as you are guided into postures with joints, muscles and connective tissue hydrated, lengthened and strengthened. This class is suitable for all levels and is $15 for drop-in and $10 for members. Contact FeelGoodYogaLongboatKey@gmail.com.

Photo taken by Reid Murphy

Call REID Today! 941.232.3304

WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

CHAIR YOGA Class is from 9-10 a.m. at the Longboat Key Education Center and works to make yoga more accessible to those unable to exercise easily on the floor. Cost is $11 for members and $13 for nonmembers. Call 383-8811.

GATED WESTWAY ESTATE $6,295,000 Exquisite w/ stunning views, expansive windows & verandas capture outstanding water & sunset views. Dramatic pool w/jacuzzi. New dock & lift. Walking distance to St. Armands

BEACHFRONT ESTATE $8,200,000 Quality built 5/BR ensuites on 150’of Gulf front beach.Impressive new architecture emphasizes beach & Gulf views w/walls of glass. On south LBK w/6 car garage.

GULFFRONT ESTATE $13,950,000 Privacy gates open to gorgeous home with breathtaking views. Open plan and walls of glass look out to gulf waters. Casually elegant throughout.

Simply the best!

BEACHSIDE LBK HOME $3,395,000 Incredible 4BD/4BA Like new. Totally remodeled for relaxation indoors and out. Spacious & bright w/private beach access.

SUPERB LOCATION $2,195,000 3BD/2BA on deep waterfront lot w/dock near St. Armands. Stunning views of Sarasota Bay, city skyline & John Ringling Bridge.

UNIQUE LBK BEACHFRONT ESTATE $12,500,000 On 180 ft of pristine gulf beach. 4 en-suite guest rooms plus a secluded master wing. Multiple terraces, elevated gulfside pool & spa. Perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining.

WEDNESDAYS

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS BOOK SALE Gently used books sold at 50% off, which brings paperbacks down to $0.25 and hardbacks from 50 cents to $2.50 at the Longboat Library, 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011.

POSITANO WALK-OUT $3,875,000 NEW CONSTRUCTION $4,795,000 GULF FRONT $3,650,000 Private pool & expansive Gulfside terraces. 3BR/3.5BA Gulf & Bay views from this 4BR/4.5+ BA home 150 feet of frontage on south Longboat Gulf open plan w/Master beachside. Private 2 car garage. w/elevator. West of Gulf of Mexico Drive. beach. Buildable site w/ a charming 2BR cottage.

Expansive windows & decks on all levels.

REGENT PLACE $2,790,000 BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME ON LBK DEEP CANAL $794,000 Behind the gates at LBK Club Gulf front 3BR/3BA Dream Island Rd. A boater’s paradise! corner residence w/ southern exposure. Views Sleepy Lagoon lot w/dock & new seawall. $599,000 of Gulf, golf course and downtown skyline.

S

LE

FT

2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 Hours: M-F 11am-7pm S-S 11am-5pm • 941.366.2404 • www.catdepot.org

324054-1

ADOPT DON’T SHOP

SILVER SANDS - INCOME PROPERTY Two available with rare nightly rental capability.

Impressive rental history as income property.

1BD/1BA $390,000 | 2BD/2BA $445,000

THE PRESERVE AT LONGBEACH An exclusive enclave of 12 new construction homes.

Refinement meets relaxation at the north end of LBK in Longbeach Village with beach-to-bay access.

BONAIRE LOT $1,005,000 Build your dream home behind the gates in LBK’s new Bonaire community. Design to enjoy Gulf and bay views on this last remaining lot.

GULF FRONT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB 2BD/2BA 7th floor, beautiful views. $1,350,000 2BD/2BA 1st floor corner unit $1,350,000 Great amenities, beach & rental opportunities.

NEW CONSTRUCTION $1,590,000 Private one story cul-de-sac home. 4 BR/3.5 BA with three car garage. Bay & deeded beach access.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES $2,599,000 4BD/4.5BA Masterpiece w/elevator. Indoor/Outdoor living. Great views from multiple terraces. 3 car garage. 45’ dock w/boat and jet ski lifts on wide canal.

Developers Realty Inc. Lic. R.E. Broker • 595 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, FL 34228

www.reidmurphy.com

324461-1

324827-1

10

S ITE

GRAND MARINER BAYFRONT $1,350,000 Exquisite 3BD/3.5BA first floor former model 3274sf residence w/ many extras. Deep water dock w/power, water, pump station & lift. Private 2 car garage.

10B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

LO C A L LY K N OW N . G LO B A L LY CO N N E C T E D.

L O N G B OAT K E Y 545 Kingfisher Lane Janet Walter & Steve Walter 941-232-2000 A4454908 $3,450,000

C O U N T RY C LU B S H O R E S 590 Chipping Lane Marcia Salkin, PA 941-376-6121 A4452503 $2,850,000

T H E B E AC H R E S I D E N C E S 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive 605 Ryndie Brusco 941-809-6913 A4448566 $2,700,000

B AY PA L M S 528 74th Street Victoria Sperounes 941-960-3773 A4446368 $2,625,000

THE GR ANDE RIVIER A 420 Golden Gate Point 500A Sylvia Zimmerman & George Zimmerman 941-350-5022 A4445482 $2,495,000

S A B A L C OV E 3314 Sabal Cove Lane Janet Walter & Steve Walter 941-232-2000 A4453198 $2,390,000

QUEENS HARBOUR 3616 Fair Oaks Place Ian Addy, PA & E. Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4449455 $2,225,000

S H O R E AC R E S 867 N Shore Drive Ken Kavanaugh, Jr & Margo Love Story 941-799-1943 A4454292 $1,850,000

B AY I S L E S 3371 Bayou Sound Bill Anderson 941-313-4059 A4452233 $1,595,000

N O R T H L O N G B OAT K E Y 811 Jungle Queen Way Laurie M Mock & Brenda Price 941-232-3665 A4438987 $1,495,000

C O R E YS L A N D I N G 3488 Mistletoe Lane Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4451910 $1,495,000

HARBOUR LANDINGS 12325 Baypointe Terrace Mark Boehmig 941-807-6936 A4442408 $1,375,000

QUEENS HARBOUR 3598 Fair Oaks Lane Susan Smith & Cathy Meldahl, PA 941-302-3440 A4428241 $1,350,000

S L E E P Y L AG O O N 675 Penfield Street John August & Jeff Weller 941-320-9795 A4454361 $1,300,000

TA N G E R I N E B AY C LU B 350 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 226 Sherry Dominick 941-500-3774 A4451644 $1,100,000

B AY PA L M S 523 67th Street Laura Rulon 941-896-2757 A4447854 $899,000

H A R B O R OA K S 2119 Harbourside Drive 1001 Beverly St Hilaire 941-504-3303 A4455098 $800,000

SAND DOLL AR 555 Benjamin Franklin Drive 5 Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4437684 $780,000

FA I RWAY B AY 1918 Harbourside Drive 903 Julie Klick 941-780-6001 A4454933 $729,000

L O N G B OAT K E Y 690 Jungle Queen Way Chris Rivera & Sherri Mills, PA 941-301-1691 A4450270 $650,000

S T A R M A N D T OW E R S 101 Benjamin Franklin Drive 75 Douglas Parks 941-400-9087 A4449636 $599,900

LIDO HARBOUR 1900 Benjamin Franklin Drive 302A Judy Nimz & William Nimz 941-374-0196 A4433724 $479,900

W I N DWA R D B AY 4830 Gulf Of Mexico Drive V-11 Richard Perlman 941-228-8580 A4453432 $475,000

S I LV E R S A N D S 5841 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 258 Steve Magner 941-376-8559 A4450328 $359,900

WE STBAY POINT & MOORINGS 6200 Flotilla Drive 267 Jaymie Carter 941-920-4573 A4445800 $340,000

C E DA R S E A S T 605 Cedars Court Sherri Mills 941-350-7112 A4435743 $324,900

S U T T O N P L AC E 589 Sutton Place 589 Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4437351 $314,900

LIDO KEY 1219 Westway Drive Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4448460 $7,995,000

LIDO KEY 1339 Westway Drive Christina Landry 941-376-4498 A4432826 $5,950,000

MSC MORTGAGE | MSC TITLE | MS&C COMMERCIAL NEW HOMES & CONDOMINIUMS

OPEN HOUSES SUNDAYS 1–4 PM

michaelsaunders.com

MARINA ISLES 8017 Marina Isles Lane Kate Enis & Stacy Haas 941-330-6068 A4439646 $4,300,000

8 8 8 . 552 . 52 2 8

michaelsaunders.com L I C E N S E D R E A L E S TAT E B RO K E R

324638-1

REGENT COURT 845 Longboat Club Road Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4440615 $22,500,000

B AY I S L E S 530 Harbor Gate Way Bernadette Caswell 941-320-8265 A4435590 $3,900,000

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

DEC. 16 - 27

living area. It sold for $680,000 in 2017.

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS

Robert Farnsworth and Amanda Cunningham Farnsworth, of Nashville, Tenn., sold their Unit N-302 condominium at 603 Longboat Club Road to Richard Wood Jr., trustee, of Longboat Key, for $850,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,458 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2000.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES Courtesy photo

The home on Lido Key offers six bedrooms, seven baths and 4,627 square feet.

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home on Lido tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Scott and Christine Key sold their home at 1212 Westway Drive to Edward Andrle and JoNe Sundvall, of Sarasota, for $3.35 million. Built in 1956, it has six bedrooms, seven baths, a pool and 4,627 square feet of living area.

BIRD KEY

Thomas Hawk and Paula Hawk, of Sarasota, sold their home at 658 Mourning Dove Drive to Robert and Brenda Joe Packman, of Ontario, Canada, for $1.78 million. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,472 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.8 million in 2016.

Paul Welch, of Sarasota, sold the home at 460 Pheasant Drive to CCShoreWaterfront LLC for $1.75 million. Built in 1966, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,356 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.75 million in 2018.

Marcia Ramah, trustee, and Peter Ramah, of Saginaw, Mich., sold the home at 600 Owl Way to Harold Flynn Jr. and Treva Flynn, trustees, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,892 square feet of living area. It sold for $473,900 in 2011.

LONGBOAT SHORES

Agnes and Donald Peterson, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 680 Longview Drive to Jason Wilson and Nancy Wilson, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $860,000. Built in 1964, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,598 square feet of

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

William Johnsen and Marian O’Brien, of Sarasota, sold their home at 592 Ranger Lane to Michael Leone, trustee, of Geneva, Ill., for $822,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,400 in 2003.

JOHN RINGLING ESTATES

Christina Jordan, of Bradenton, sold the home at 209 Garfield Drive to 209 Garfield LLC for $810,000. Built in 1977, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,495 square feet of living area.

GRAND BAY

Kym Cohen and Rachel Lynn Kalin, trustees, of Wayland, Mass., sold the Unit 262 condominium at 3040 Grand Bay Blvd. to Gene Wineland and Tom Wineland, of Longboat Key, for

$750,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,143 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2004.

11B

REAL ESTATE

Lido Key home sells for $3.35 million

|

Richard and Diane Blanc, trustees, of Alpharetta, Ga., sold the Unit 112 condominium at 3060 Grand Bay Blvd. to William Oneil and Becky Oneil, of Longboat Key, for $650,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths and 2,143 square feet of living area.

ISLANDER CLUB OF LONGBOAT

Sarah Distefano, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 56-S condominium at 2295 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Richard and Phyllis Radlinski, of Green Cove Springs, for $650,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $610,000 in 2009.

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 12B

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

LO C A L LY K N OW N . G LO B A L LY C O N N E C T E D.

Sylvia Zimmerman

440 Gulf of Mexico Dr. • Longboat Key • 941.350.5022 Sylvia Zimmerman attributes her reputation as one of Southwest Florida’s most outstanding real estate agents to her extensive business background, as well as her intense focus on customer service.

A longtime Sarasota-area resident, Sylvia builds enduring client relationships, possesses a profound facility for bringing buyers and sellers together and offers an intricate knowledge of the communities that beckon newcomers to Sarasota and Manatee counties.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Drawn to Sarasota by its natural beauty, exciting culture and remarkable weather, Sylvia’s love for tennis and golf found the perfect fit. Having lived on the bay (Siesta Key), on the beach (Casey Key), on a canal (Bird Key) and in two golf course communities (Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Laurel Oaks Estates), she can personally identify with the variety of opportunities available on Florida’s Gulf Coast—a unique advantage she passes on to her clients.

These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Jan. 3-9 in order of dollar amounts.

L O N G B OAT K E Y ADDRESS 2425 GMD

PERMIT Exterior building

APPLICANT Sea Gate Club

restoration, replace Condominium

stucco system and

windows, repairs,

AMOUNT $5,713,017

With her years of experience in real estate sales, no one knows the area better!

Please visit my website: www.sylviasellssarasota.com

waterproofing Replace window,

James A. Holanda

entry door

5054 GMD

Replace windows, John W. McDonnell

impact, sliding glass

and garage doors

5145 GMD

Change existing

carport to garage

572 Spinnaker Lane

Re-roof steep and

low slope areas

591 De Narvaez Drive

$220,626 $198,770

5145 LBK LLC

$89,227

Douglas M. Plunkett

$75,600

Pool, spa and

The Red Fish

$70,000

paver deck

Cottage LLC

620 Bowsprit Lane

Replace window

Coffeeville Limited

$50,000

513 Halyard Lane

Install new vinyl

W. F. Johnston

$40,000

seawall panels

500 Bay Isles Road

Roof recover

Bank of America

$40,000

3519 Fair Oaks Lane

Re-roof

Harvey I. Steinberg Trust $37,100

3060 Grand Bay Blvd. #124 Interior alterations William and Paula Kapp $31,750 Source: Town of Longboat Key

S A R A S O TA 420 Golden Gate Point 500A A4445482 $2,495,000

L O N G B OAT K E Y 600 Sutton Place 205 A4450925 $589,500

S A R A S O TA 6620 Deering Circle A4446403 $335,000

S A R A S O TA 6708 Deering Circle A4455155 $329,500

324625-1

641 Ranger Lane

Licensed Real Estate Broker

12B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Real estate FROM PAGE 11B

LAGUNA YACHT VILLAGE

James Netter and Kristina Furtado sold their Unit 1 condominium at 6322 Laguna Drive to Edwin and Pamela Beauchamp, of Bradenton, for $635,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,736 square feet of living area. It sold for $925,000 in 2007.

LONGBOAT BEACH HOUSE

Shane Curcuru, trustee, of Arlington, Mass., sold the Unit 301 condominium at 4311 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Mark Weaver, of Longboat Key, for $499,000.

Built in 1977, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,239 square feet of living area.

ONLY UNTIL

JAN. 31

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SAND CAY

Wolfram and Sieglinde Allendorf sold their Unit 212 condominium at 4725 Gulf of Mexico Drive to McCravy Real Estate Investments LLC for $439,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,071 square feet of living area. It sold for $193,000 in 1995.

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THE PRIVATEER SOUTH

Marlene Rydberg, trustee, of Bradenton Beach, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 1000 Longboat Club Road to Ashraf Nour, of Longboat Key, for $410,000. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,409 square feet of living area.

It sold for $65,000 in 1993.

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SEAPLACE

Jeffrey and Wendy Lynn Dropkin, of Waterville Valley, N.H., sold their Unit G5-103-C condominium at 1965 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Sandra McAuley and Charles McAuley, trustees, of Noblesville, Ind., for $340,000.

Built in 1977, it has one bedroom, two baths and 933 square feet of living area. It sold for $130,000 in 1991.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

Edward Sabato and Francis Sabato, trustees, sold the Unit 107 condominium at 670 Spanish Drive S. to David and Kelly Caron, of Framingham, Mass., for $275,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,393 square feet of living area. It sold for $75,000 in 1986.

THE PRESIDENTIAL

Gabriel Dumont Jr. and Christine Morris, of Newburyport, Mass., sold their Unit 110 condominium at 845 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Nicole Stahnke, Alexander Early and Michaela Early, of Newbury, Mass., for $268,300.

Built in 1974, it has one bedroom, one bath and 756 square feet of living area. It sold for $266,800 in 2018.

U N I Q U E B O U T I Q U E F O R YO U R P E T S

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KINGSTON ARMS

Randy Kocher, of Binghamton, N.Y., sold his Unit 3A condominium at 500 S. Washington Drive to Kathleen Meyer and Roger Hubacher, of Grand Island, N.Y., for $380,000. Built in 1963, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,034 square feet of living area. It sold for $115,000 in 1989.

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Global Global Issues Issues

THE AR EA TH EEAMREA’S PR IER ’S LPERCETM UIEER LSEECTUR RIESRE SERIES

Series III Lectures Series III Lectures Thursday Mornings on Longboat Key Thursday Mornings on Longboat Key

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SARASOTA NORTH

VENICE/NORTH PORT/ENGLEWOOD

SARASOTA SOUTH

941-306-3132

941-451-2438

941-914-9103

4250 S. Tamiami Trl

FloridaMedicalHearing.com

6529 S. Tamiami Trl

10:30 am at Temple 10:30 am at Temple

Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key Beth Israel , 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key 941-383-3428

941-383-3428 Single tickets at the door $10 Single tickets at the door $10 sillsarasota.org 941-365-6404 sillsarasota.org 941-365-6404

317422-1

323695-1

2807 University Pkwy

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

High: 77 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 10%

SATURDAY, JAN. 18

SUNDAY, JAN. 19

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 16

7:21a 5:58p

Friday, Jan. 17

7:21a 5:59p

Saturday, Jan. 18

7:21a 6:00p

Sunday, Jan. 19

7:21a 6:01p

Monday, Jan. 20

7:21a 6:02p

Tuesday, Jan. 21

7:20a 6:02p

Wednesday, Jan. 22

7:20a 6:03p

MOON PHASES

High: 75 Low: 59 Chance of rain: 40%

Feb. 1 First

TIDES Thursday, Jan. 16

Feb. 9 Full

Feb. 15 Last

Highs

3:44a

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. For every photo submitted March 1 through Feb. 15, 2020, Manasota Flooring will donate $5 for each photo submitted. Those donated funds will go toward a flooring makeover gift card (up to $2,500), which will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Manatee Sheriff’s Charity. In February 2020, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

Feb. 23 New

Lows

4:57p

5:36p Friday, Jan. 17 5:20a Yilan Monroe captured an image of these seagulls in flight on Lido Beach.

13B

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, JAN. 17

High: 77 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 10%

|

11:05a

11:56p

11:45a

— 12:24p

Saturday, Jan. 18

7:22a 6:19p

1:29a

Sunday, Jan. 19

9:28a 7:06p

2:50a 1:03p

Monday, Jan. 20 11:10a 7:56p 3:57a 1:47p Tuesday, Jan. 21

12:18p

8:47p

4:52a 2:38p

Wednesday, Jan. 22 1:00p 9:35p

5:40a 3:34p

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY 325809-1

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

941.748.4679 | Venice

by Ross Turdeau; CROSSWORD NEWSY Edited by David Steinberg

©2020 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

1 Creative writing deg.

4 Ramen taste 9 Common January forecast 13 Pulling device with a rope 18 Chi-Town airport code 19 Trash can insert 20 Walk up a mountain, say 21 Aplenty 22 Supporting a New York publication?

25 United flight?

26 Attention to ___ 27 About, on a memo 28 Locks of hair

29 Green salsa variety 30 One opposed to a Columbia publication?

34 Hematite, for one 35 Explorer called “the Red” 36 Prefix with god 37 “___ my pleasure!”

38 Occupies, as a rocker 41 Flaccid 44 Old Apple messaging app 47 Pore over a Boston publication?

51 Barbie’s partner 52 Saldana of “Guardians of the Galaxy” 55 Target of a skin care

strip 56 Moved stealthily 58 Twitter handle component 60 ___ Crunch 62 Copacabana city, informally 65 Brit’s “Dear me!”

66 A drop can create one in a bucket 67 Like some eco-friendly boxes, or an alternate title for this puzzle?

71 MSNBC host Mitchell 72 Finish a walk?

73 What a gossip “spills”

KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

“Ghost” role) 101 Start reading an Orange County publication?

106 Really want 108 Antiguan-American novelist Jamaica 109 Rant’s opposite 110 One sending a credit card 112 Yearly records 113 Chap who’s part of a London publication?

117 Ticks off 118 Soup or salad, often 119 Boring 120 Lithium-___ battery 121 Specks of land 122 Pleased 123 Low on patience 124 Grp. with full-body scanners

74 He’s engaged to J.Lo 75 “That’s untrue!”

76 Playground chute 78 H.S. stress sources 80 Put on 81 Animation frame 83 Redact parts of a Baltimore publication?

89 Wine region north of Bordeaux 91 Teri of “Tootsie” 92 Power in old Hollywood?

93 Genre from Jamaica 95 R&B singer Erykah 98 Rapper Azalea 100 ___ Mae (Whoopi’s

42 Org. for New York City FC 43 German shepherd, often 45 Caught wind of 46 Strong dislike 48 Wonder Woman, for one 49 Otherwise engaged 50 Pass, like a law 52 Nada 53 Looked at rudely 54 Part of DOE (Abbr.)

57 Selina ___ (Catwoman’s alter ego) 59 Fewer and farther between 60 Division of a long poem 61 Contribute 63 Holy terrors 64 Toothbrush brand 67 ___ of honor 68 Assigned stars to 69 Diabolical DOWN 1 Black Friday crowd, seem- 70 Montana-to-Minnesota direction ingly 77 Drop-off guess, briefly 2 Composer Chopin 79 J.D. holder 3 Abide by 82 Like brains or ears 4 Radii neighbors 84 “Pics ___ didn’t happen!”

5 Medium-length skirt 85 Craving 6 Feature of a buck 86 Very done with something 7 So-so 87 Fruit of the Loom brand 8 Wrath for kids 9 Like a new penny 88 Tidy 10 Biblical hunter 11 Michael of “Caddyshack” 89 Dad’s refuge, maybe 90 Expensive gift for a teen 12 Director Anderson 93 Backbones 13 Polishes, as a Porsche 14 Classic excuse for missing 94 Place to retrieve a retriever homework 96 Throw off track 15 Greets silently 97 South Sudan neighbor 16 Vinegar bottles 99 Deep sorrows 17 “Siddhartha” author 21 Richard of “Pretty Woman” 101 “African unicorn” 102 Dead men tell no ___ 23 “___ be an honor” 103 Tabby’s “Back off!”

24 Apple CEO Cook 104 Vine-covered 28 Like a book with many 105 Cory Booker, e.g. (Abbr.) pages 106 Former CBS spinoff set 29 Evian competitor 31 Blue or White African river in the Big Apple 107 Sharing possessive 32 Juul, e.g.

33 “You overshared,” in texts 111 Obscene writing 113 Food additive letters 35 ___’acte 114 Wile E. Coyote’s explosive 39 Evening meals 115 Tilling tool 40 Sturdy enclosure for an 116 Cellular messenger estate’s grounds

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.

“E ZVX’B BREXO MVF URVFAZ NESK IYIM MVFC XILK IXZ WIDK BV UVLKBREXN MVF ZVX’B TKAEKSK 100-JKCDKXB EX.” – DAIFZEI UDREWWKC “K’E C SKULIPP. K FCDI ZUGX NGJP. K’E C EUE. K BCLY YU YCWI NCXI UZ ET WKAP CLA VXUYINY YFIE.”

– FIKAK WSGE Puzzle Two Clue: D equals V

Sarasota

HUNDREDS OF COLORS AND STYLES ON SALE NOW!

Puzzle One Clue: Y equals W

CARPET

©2020 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

01-16-20

CLASSIFIEDS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

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 town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236 7 PIECE white wicker king bedroom set, like new $195 414-801-9215.

FREE PIANO- Antique, call for pick up info!

(941) 388-3937.

PET WATER Fountain, Ceramic Pioneer Pet Raindrop, holds 60 oz, $20 386-283-4367 no text.

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars. 941-270-4400.

Condos/Apts. For Rent

Adult Care Services

LV9419

INFO & RATES: 941-955-4888 • Fax: 941-362-4808 • EMAIL: classified@yourobserver.com • ONLINE: classifieds.yourobserver.com HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2pm • Service Directory - Friday at 3pm • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

LBK TOWN HOUSE 2 large Bedrooms, Kitchen, Living, Lanai,Terrace to tropical garden, steps to the beach, luxury condo ,tennis, pools, sauna, hot tub etc free. Minimum rental 2 month. More info: Dmandalka@gmail.com

Puzzle One Solution: “I don’t think you should give away your name and face to something you don’t believe 100-percent in.”

– Claudia Schiffer

Condos For Sale

Puzzle Two Solution: “I’m a lioness. I have four cubs. I’m a mom. I want to take care of my kids and protect them.”

– Heidi Klum

3BR/3BA ANNA MARIA: IMMACULATE BEACH RETREAT, DIRECTLY ON THE GULF OF MEXICO. LOCATED IN A SMALL GATED COMPLEX WITH ALL UP TO DATE FINISHES. COVERED PARKING, ELEVATOR, GROUND LEVEL STORAGE GUF SIDE POOL. WALK TO BEACH BISTRO $1,350,000.

(941) 567-5234. AMIBEACHES.COM DON’T WASTE YOUR time reading this unless you’re looking for one of the most beautiful condos in one of the most prestigious communities in all of Florida. Almost 3000 sq/ft with private elevator and top-of-the-line amenities, including a sub-zero refrigerator.

Surrounded by a protected preserve. For more info, call about 285 Sapphire Lake Drive, unit 202 in Harbour Isle, Perico Island. $899,000. Call Dennis Smith, Associate, Keller Williams on the Water. 407-492-5587. By appointment only.

Rentals Wanted SENIOR MALE wants small apartments on LBK or Lido. Furnished or unfurnished. 941-383-0895.

This week’s Sudoku answers NEED ASSISTANCE? A LENDING HAND HOME CARE - Transportation - Meal Preparation - Light Housekeeping - Personal Care - Dementia Care - Companionship - Medical Reminders Schedule your free in-home consultation today!

941-809-3725 www.alhhomecare.com NR#30211577 ©2019 NEA, Inc.

PRIVATE BUYER looking to purchase a 2003 or newer Mercedes 500 SL. Prefer lower mileage auto. Going north at end of March, no dealers please. Call Bob: 514-984-3299 or E-mail: robertkavanagh99@gmail.com WE BUY cars. top $$ paid for your vehicles.

Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Boat Slips For Rent/Sale BOAT SLIP For Sale One of the largest racks at The Boathouse on Longboat Key. Will handle boat 31' 6" long, 8' 6" beam and 9' 10' high.

Located on top rack so no drips from boats above. (248) 642-7100.

DRY DOCK Rack For Sale on Longboat Key 3rd Level, for up to 29 ft boat with 8"6" Beam,10'4" Height #2306

By Owner, Call for info. $ 941-544-5058 LONGBOAT KEY BOATHOUSE ON LONGBOAT KEY DRY & WET STORAGE RACK AVAILABLE Enjoy the services of this well positioned Dry Dock facility on the south end of Longboat Key. Covered mid-level rack, near front #2209.

Accommodates up to a 29-foot vessel with an 8 5 beam and 7 5 height.

Below market yearly rental or sale.

For more information call 313-886-7070 ext. 15 (313) 886-7070

Boats YACHT BROKERAGE SERVICES Buying or Selling Yacht Group LBK Moorings Dennis: 941-238-7276

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales GARAGE SALE: Saturday, January 18th from 8am-2pm. 1100 Bogey Lane LBK. Including furniture, electronics, kids items, designer clothes, bags, and shoes, and so much more!

Want Some Mad Money?

Classified Ads Bring Results • 941-955-4888

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals Exceptional Vacation Rentals Since 1994 Homes & Condominiums Studios to Six Bedrooms Beachfront, Intercoastal or Garden Excellent Service & Staff Florida Vacation Connection www.FLvacationconnection.com 941-387-9709 877-705-2460

TOWNHOUSE CONDO: canal front, with boat slip, 2BD/2BA, private beach access, walk to park, restaurants, 3,000/mo.

941-720-2852 or cbpeery1@gmail.com WEEKLY RENTALS. Luxurious, fully furnished 1 - 4 bedrooms. Condominiums and Cottages.

Beach to Bay. On-site management. Pools, tennis, boat slips. Visit: www.FloridaRent.com for information and virtual tours. 800-333-7335, 941-383-3117.

WEEKLY/MONTHLY/SEASONAL RATES Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-6127 Visa/ MC 800-352-0367

Positions Wanted RESIDENT MANAGER: Management of 140 condominium units. (941) 383-9042.

This week’s Crossword answers

Auto Transport AIRPORT RIDES to Tampa, St.Pete, Sarasota from surrounding islands. Super ride, super fares.

Call/Text Anna: 941-932-1600.

SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Catering

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE BACK AT OUR LONGBOAT KEY CENTRE SHOPS LOCATION!!

FRIDAY **JANUARY 10TH**

 LIVE MAINE LOBSTER  BLUE FIN CRAB CAKES  PRIME RIB  GROUPER OSCAR ALL ENTREES SERVED WITH CHEF’S CHOICE STARCH & VEGETABLE HOMEMADE PIES! AND MUCH MORE... JUST ASK...

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

FRIDAYS OPEN 5P.M.-8P.M. SERVING DINNER ITEMS

Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.wagnerrentals.com

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS BEER & WINE AVAILABLE

2019

Cleaning PROFESSIONAL HOUSEKEEPER, thorough and meticulous with excellent references. Call Estrella: 941-266-6030.

Painting/Wallpapering 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.

CLASSIFIED LINE AD PRICE

First 15 words ..................................... $17.50 per week Each Add’l word .......................................................50¢ 15% DISCOUNT for 4 week Run Yellow color $5 per Week • Border as low as $3 per Week Call: 955-4888 • Email: classified@yourobserver.com Online: www.YourObserver.com

941-383-3787

classifieds.yourobserver.com

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

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

classifieds.yourobserver.com

BLUE DOLPHIN CAFE LONGBOAT KEY: Beachfront or Bayside Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking. Call 941-383-3338.

Sell Your Item for Free! $200 or less

Storage

Place Your Ad Online 24/7

YOU’RE IN LUCK! Unexpected cancellation in BEACHPLACE! Available now! Luxurious 2BD/2BA unit. Call Jim: 440-623-9068 for details.

Adult Care Services PERSONAL ASSISTANT/CAREGIVER: Errands and shopping, Companionship, transportation, doctors appts, housesitting, light meal preparation and housekeeping, assistance with daily living, etc.

Call Ms. Schwabe: 941-705-7460.

WHAT THE CLASSIFIEDS HOLD

Cleaning BLUE FISH Cleaning Inc. 941-705-3812. Insured, Bonded. Affordable reliable home cleaning, $90, 2 cleaners, 2 hours.

CLAUDIA C. Cleaning Services. Experienced, Dependable and ready to begin! Residential.

Excellent references. 941-773-6895.

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady. Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential. Commercial.

New Construction. 941-400-2866.

YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL CLASSIFIED ADS

Transportation LONGBOAT LIMOUSINE Your local luxury transportation provider since 1994.

New luxury Sedans and SUVs. Fully Licenced and insured.

Call/Text 941-383-1235 E-mail: longboatlimousine@yahoo.com

TO ADVERTISE TODAY CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT CLASSIFIEDS.YOUROBSERVER.COM

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

15B

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

INSURANCE

Carpet, Upholstery and Tile Floor Cleaning ServiceMaster of NW Sarasota & The Meadows Proudly serving Sarasota since 1987 Bill & Fonda Davies, Owners/Managers

...will move anything from a couch to a household

941-704-4278

dmccarthymoving@gmail.com

DOORS

326480

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

325650

PAINTING

SIGNATURE PAINTING SOLUTIONS, INC Residential-Commercial

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat

Interior-Exterior Licensed-Insured

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

199923

327045

941-778 - 3924 OR 778 - 4461

LANDSCAPING & LAWN RESIDENTIAL

Since 1975

1

12/14/16

2 Florida State Cert. Master Plumbers #CFC1426596

287935

325095

SCREENING • Pool Cage Restoration • Rescreening Specialists • Specialty Screens • Paint • Doors and more!

Satisfaction guarantee Satisfaction Guarantee Pool cage Restoration/ Rescreening specialists Manufacture and Workmanship Warranties

941-345-5264

FOR MORE INFO

with Service space, 955-4888 to reserve your

Call today

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

TREES

Doors and more!

Manufacture and workmanship

941.704.9025 ShadyLadyFL.com

HOME SERVICES

Warranties

RICH BRIANDI • TREE REMOVAL • COMPLETE LANDSCAPING (941) &345-5264 TRIMMING • SHELL WORK • CLEAN-UPS • MULCHING

325539

OUR BEST PRACTICES PROMISE IS APPLIED TO RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE.

LIC/INS FREE ESTIMATES

MASSAGE

PROGRAMS

844-727-2723 • WWW.STPFL.COM

Local Ads at Your Fingertips

325092

HOME WATCH

mobile massage therapist

Res./Com. indow & Pressure Clea Lic./Ins. nin set W n u g known as Sunrise W S ind erly Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005 ows

UP TO

Rest your mind and body.

Connect with your spirit.

CHRISSY STITES, LMT 609.820.4251 | MA#72369 Serving LBK and AMI 325093

941-356-5616

WINDOWS

120

WINDOWS $ 25STANDARD

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL $500 senior citizen discount.

www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

327049

D E F I N E D

• SEWER & DRAIN CLEANING

5508-D MARINA DR., HOLMES BEACH

4:43 PM

INESS S U B R U O Y GROW Directory

• NEW CONSTRUCTION

327048

shadylady_14x16magnet_FN.pdf

• REPAIRS & REMODELING

Family Owned & Operated • WATER HEATERS

Horticultural Design Services | Landscape Construction Landscape Maintenance | Irrigation Installation & Repair Brick & Stone Pavers | Walls, Gates, Fences | Tree Trimming Low Volt Outdoor Lighting Repair & Installation

INSURANCE

941-350-3296 signaturepaintingtc.com

PLUMBING

IMPROVE YOUR CURB APPEAL!

classifieds.yourobserver.com

Local And Long Distance Movers Residential Moves Commercial Moves Pack, Crate & Wrap

www.davidmccarthymoving.com

Mike Mailliard ~ Lacey Weaver Danielle Hrabos ~ Allen Hovis Matthew Mailliard ~ Hannah Gamso Chloe Gardner

Sliding Glass Door Repair

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

INSURANCE

INSURANCE

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Smith

| 941.383.3388

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

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

ADVERTISE YOUR

As low as $17.50 for 1 week!

Get a discount when you run your ad in more than one Observer.

CALL 941-955-4888

326248

E X E L L E N C E

• • • •

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

325090

New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

David McCarthy Moving

325756

MIC INSURANCE

(941) 927-2128

MOVERS

325616

CLEANING

LV9459

SERVICE DIRECTORY

16B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

Ryan Ackerman (941) 387-1818

THE NAME TO KNOW IN REAL ESTATE

Barbara Ackerman (941) 387-1820

1 TEAM SARASOTA & MANATEE COUNTIES WITH OVER $82 MILLION IN PENDING & CLOSED SALES

#

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

$1,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY $675,000 GRAND BAY V - PENTHOUSE 30810 Grand Bay Blvd. #543 2BR/2BA I 1,329 SQFT I 2 Parking Spaces YEAR-AROUND SUNRISES & SUNSETS

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA $979,900 LAWRENCE POINTE II 97 Sunset Dr. #202 2BR/2BA + Glass Enclosed Lanai | 1,560 SQFT INCREDIBLE RENOVATION – SUNSET VIEWS

$998,500

DOWNTOWN $649,000 ALINARI - BAY & CITY VIEWS 800 Tamiami Tr. #401 2BR/2.5BA | 1,830 SQFT | Direct Bay Views OVERLOOKS BAYFRONT PARK

LONGBOAT KEY $1,495,000 BAY ISLES - SABAL COVE 3326 Sabal Cove Ln. 4 BR + Study/3.5BA | 4,698 SQFT | Lakefront Sunsets 3326sabalcove.com

LONGBOAT KEY $595,000 GRAND BAY V 3080 Grand Bay Blvd. #535 2BR/2BA | 1,279 SQFT | Direct Bay Views DIRECT BAY FRONT

LONGBOAT KEY $2,698,000 EN PROVENCE - DIRECT GULF FRONT 2151 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #6 3BR+Study/3.5BA | 3,800 SQFT enprovence6.com

DOWNTOWN $2,550,000 LA BELLASARA - BAY & CITY VIEWS 464 Golden Gate Pt. #302 3BR/3.5BA | 3,135 SQFT | Private 2-Car Garage Labellasara302.com

LONGBOAT KEY BEACHES

LONGBOAT KEY $1,749,000 BAY ISLES - SABAL COVE 3315 Sabal Cove Dr. 4BR/4Full & 2Half BA | 3,200 SQFT COMPLETELY UPDATED

LONGBOAT KEY $735,000 COREY’S LANDING - VILLA 3479 Byron Lane 3BR/3BA | 2,229 SQFT | LAKE VIEWS PRIVATE BEACH INCLUDED

DOWNTOWN VUE - BAYFRONT 1155 N. Gulfstream Ave. #1502 2BR + Den/2.5BA | 2,040 SQFT vue1502.com

$1,797,000

LONGBOAT KEY $649,000 GRAND BAY V 3080 Grand Bay Blvd. #526 2BR/2BA | 1,380 SQFT | Direct Bay Front OPEN BAY VIEWS

LONGBOAT KEY $2,095,000 QUEENS HARBOUR 3560 Fair Oaks Ln. 4BR/5BA | 3,894 SQFT + 1BR/1BA CASITA 3560fairoakslane.com

BIRD KEY $3,595,000 WATERFRONT - PRIVATE BOAT DOCK 476 Partridge Cir. 5BR/4FB/2HB | 5,267 SQFT 476PartridgeCircle.com

LONGBOAT KEY $1,295,000 360 N. CONDO - TOWNHOME 280 N. Shore Rd. #5 3BR/3BA | 2,834 SQFT 280NShoreRoad5.com

N. LONGBOAT KEY $4,395,000 DIRECT GULF FRONT 6529 Gulfside Rd.- ‘100’ of BEACHFRONT 3BR + Den/4BA | 6,660 SQFT 6529gulfsideroad.com

WEST OF TRAIL OYSTER BAY ESTATES 1906 Field Rd. LAKE VIEW LOT | 24,500 SQFT BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME

DOWNTOWN $1,997,000 THE PHOENIX - GOLDEN GATE PT 136 Golden Gate Pt. #102 - BAY VIEWS 3BR/3.5BA | 3,785 SQFT - 1st floor Walk-Down 136goldengatepoint102.com

LONGBOAT KEY $1,060,000 BAY ISLES - COMPLETELY RENOVATED 3101 Bayou Sound 3BR/3BA | 2,875 SQFT | 2-Car Garage 3101bayou.com

DOWNTOWN $1,175,000 SARABANDE – BAY & CITY VIEWS 340 S. Palm Ave. #10 3BR/2.5BA | 2,437 SQFT | 2 Parking Spaces sarabande10.com

LONGBOAT KEY $1,675,000 WATER CLUB II - PENTHOUSE 1281 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #1106 2BR + Den/3.5BA | 2,665 SQFT | 2 Garage Spaces BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED

SIESTA KEY SIESTA HAMMOCK 4832 Givens Court 5BR/4.5BA I 4,893 SQFT CONTEMPORARY LUXURY

LONGBOAT KEY $11,995,000 VILLA SENA - BEACHFRONT 5965 Gulf of Mexico Dr. 7BR/6.5BA | 10,087 SQFT 5965GulfofMexico.com

WEST OF TRAIL HILLVIEW AREA 1838 Alta Vista St. 3BR + FL RM/2.5BA | 2,120 SQFT 1838AltaVistaStreet.com

$543,000

|

$1,295,000

775 Longboat Club Rd. #103 3BR/3BA | 2,122 SQFT UNOBSTRUCTED BEACH & GULF VIEWS

|

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE, • 201 DRIVE, SUITE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 Coldwell Banker Residential RealLLC Estate, LLCGULF • 201OF GulfMEXICO of Mexico Drive, Suite11 •• Longboat Key, FL 34228

Owned and operated by NRT, LLC

319164-1

OFFICE@ACKERMANGROUP.NET WWW.ACKERMANGROUP.NET www.ackermangroup.net941-387-1820 office@ackermangroup.net 941-387-1820