Trey Bowlin, Zach Schield, Tyler Brunton and Jamison Urch hoist the 25th Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off trophy high as they
the Longboat Fire Rescue team.
Andrew Warfield Shoppers and diners have returned to St. Armands Circle a year after the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
WEEK OF OCT. 23, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
“The job that I have sitting in this chair is to be responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Longboat Key. There is nothing about the name of the street that meets any of those categories.”
Town Commissioner B.J. Bishop. Read more on page 4
Buccaneer Restaurant paused
The restaurant group behind the Columbia Restaurant, with high-end dining options from St. Augustine to St. Armands, has not moved forward with its plans to build a new concept on Longboat Key.
The former home of Pattigeorge’s Restaurant, the parcel was purchased for $1.96 million in 2016, according to property records. Pattigeorge’s was demolished in 2018.
Town Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons shared at an informal community meeting
that the Buccaneer Restaurant planned at the location has not moved forward with town approval.
“We’re talking about Mr. Gonzmart who owns the Columbia Restaurant and recently retired,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said. “The Buccaneer Restaurant was going to be his last project before retirement, and it never got off the ground. So one of the questions that we have for the family is what are their plans for the property.”
According to a September
statement from Columbia Restaurant, Casey Gonzmart Sr. retired as chairman of the board effective July 25.
A spokesperson for the 1905 Family of Restaurants said the Gonzmart family had no comment on their plans for the space at 4120 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
The concept is named after the Buccaneer Inn, which was open from 1957 until 2001. The Buccaneer Inn was demolished in 2005 to make way for the Grand Mariner condo building.
Town opens enrollment for Citizens Academy
Enrollment is now open for the town of Longboat Key’s Citizens Academy of Government.
Citizens Academy gives participants a behind-the-scenes look at how the town operates and government functions.
Each week a different department is the subject of the class, and in the department’s presentations, participants are able to tour facilities, see equipment and ask questions from town staff and department heads. Citizens Academy will be held on seven consecutive Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, starting Jan. 14 and ending with a special graduation session Monday, March 2.
To enroll, email Savannah Cobb at SCobb@LongboatKey.org or by calling 941-316-1999 and dialing extension 1212.
Longboat state rep accepts top job
State Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), whose district includes the northern point of Longboat Key, has been named president-elect of the Senate for the next three legislative sessions in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Boyd was first elected to the Florida Senate in 2020 and was reelected in 2024 to represent District 20 which includes Bradenton, Parrish and also includes portions of Hillsborough County east of Interstate 75.
The president of the Senate is elected by fellow senators. The role includes important duties including selecting a Majority Leader, appointing senators to committees, appointing committee chairs and appointing citizens to boards and commissions.
“Jim always works to build consensus and has spent countless hours with senators on both sides of the aisle exploring and talking through ideas to make legislation stronger and bring tough and complex issues across the finish line,” current Senate President Ben Albritton said during an Oct. 14 ceremony marking Boyd’s nomination.
image
The Buccaneer Restaurant concept by the 1905 Family of Restaurants would pay homage to the Buccaneer Inn if constructed at the former Pattigeorge’s site.
As visitors and residents return, business leaders are optimistic after 2024 hurricane devastation.
Time to get ready for season
The return of car carri -
ers trucking along Gulf of Mexico Drive is a welcome sight for Longboat Key business owners and managers.
The snowbirds are back, and their dollars extend a lifeline for businesses that rely on the winter season to make up for a long summer lull.
“You save every penny and then you use that money to get through the summer,” said Lynn Christensen, co-owner of Harry’s Continental Kitchens.
With a deli, restaurant, convenience store and catering business on the north end of the Key, Harry’s is a well-known Longboat mainstay.
Opened by Harry and Lynn Christensen in 1978, their son, Hal Christensen, is general manager, working hand-in-hand with his parents.
The start of the season is big for Harry’s, with Hal estimating triple or even five times the amount of business rolling in during the height of season.
“People want to say it’ll be yearround out here. Well, it really stays seasonal,” Lynn said. “You have your snowbirds, you have your locals and you have your tourists, and that makes up your clientele on Longboat.”
Judy Johnson is owner and manager of Swim City, a swimwear, beach accessories and casual wear store across from a public beach access on Gulf of Mexico Drive. She sees a big impact on foot traffic coming into the store during season.
“We can have double the amount of people coming in,” Johnson said. “It depends on hotel occupancy, rental units, so forth. We hope it’s going to be back to pre-hurricane levels this year.”
Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered the Gulf Coast barrier island, and businesses that were physically damaged were economically hurt as well. Johnson said Swim City closed just before Milton touched down on Siesta Key on Oct. 9, 2024. With both flooding and wind damage sustained by the hurricanes, Johnson couldn’t reopen her store until March.
“That’s basically losing a majority of season,” she said.
Business leaders on the island are cautiously optimistic that traffic on
FUN PLANNED TO SHOWCASE TOWN BUSINESS
The town of Longboat Key is collaborating with businesses to organize a “selfie-style” scavenger hunt from Oct. 20-26 as a fun way to show visitors and residents around the island. Using riddle clues, teams of participants will determine the location of an item to take a selfie with, including at many local businesses, which will be giving out samples. Game sheets can be picked up at town facilities or by emailing Events@LongboatKey. org.
the Key returns to pre-hurricane levels. After a hurricane, tourists are sometimes wary of returning to the island, Dry Dock General Manager Wil Stutzman said.
“The hardest part is, after a hurricane, it typically takes two full years, in my opinion, to really have the full business back again,” Stutzman said.
“Because the year after people may wonder if we’re OK down here, and they hear stories about the state of St. Pete and those areas, so people are more hesitant to return.”
And then there’s the seasonal residents who may not be able to return to their winter home or vacation rental yet.
“I still think like 20% to 30% of the accommodations out here and the houses don’t even have people in them right now, whether they’re torn down or still under construction,” Hal Christensen said. “You have the first floor of Whitney Beach, you have the Spanish Main areas that don’t have a lot of people. Those are 500-600 units in those, and then you have all the little Wicker Inns and places that aren’t open yet either that are gone because of the hurricanes, so that’s a lot of the tourism that would come down and spend a week in the summer and go out to eat or get something and bring back that
Harry, Lynn and Hal Christensen pose for a photo at Harry’s Continental Kitchens. Harry and Lynn started the business in 1978. Now, Harry’s includes a full-service restaurant, convenience store, deli and catering company.
aren’t there now, either.”
On St. Armands Circle, a handful of merchants did not return after the hurricane-driven flooding — some relocating, some owners retiring and others going out of business — and a few vacant spaces remain, among them the Tommy Bahama restaurant, which recently reopened in the former Shore restaurant and retail location.
Sarasota has replaced dead grass and plants with lush landscaping in Circle Park, as have most commercial property owners along their sidewalks.
A SLOW RAMP-UP
There’s no first day of snowbird season, but there is an agreed-upon time where people begin to flock to Longboat Key.
“Third week of October, a light switch goes off and it changes instantly,” Stutzman said.
Town Manager Howard Tipton said he starts to see an initial increase of people coming back to Longboat Key in mid-October, but peak season begins in January.
“We think it starts now. But it really starts after the first of the year,” Tipton said. “February, March and April are just crazy.”
With that in mind, the town schedules construction projects during the summer when traffic is less busy. Although there were more repairs than improvements due to hurricane impacts, the town has pushed to get projects done before the “crazy” time of year. The Country Club Shores turn lane additions are expected to be mostly complete by the end of the month, and hurricane-related repairs to Joan M. Durante Community Park will also wrap up by then before the town shifts to repairing Quick Point Nature Preserve.
Businesses get work done in the summer, too. Dry Dock closed for six days in September for renovations and maintenance. Zota Beach Resort just replaced the floors in all 187 of its rooms in phases, General Manager Roy Padgett said.
UPSTAFFING
In a tourist-dependent economy of a beach town, and with wages increasing, managers and owners need to get creative to balance staffing and customer demand.
Johnson with Swim City said she hires seasonal employees to prepare
for the influx of people, and typically schedules about 40 more hours to payroll during season. That’s not set, though.
“It takes careful planning and diligence,” she said. “You’re going to have dips, but we have reports and try to keep our finger on the pulse and stay diligent.”
Thanks in part to Floridians choosing Zota Resort as the venue for their staycation during the summer and fall, Padgett said Zota stays busy year-round. Because of that, there’s not much need to reduce staff in the offseason from September to December, but there’s still some seasonality to its staffing approach.
“We typically run close to about 100 employees at the hotel,” Padgett said. “(During the offseason) we don’t vary but about a 10% difference. Not many.”
Harry’s has about 70 to 80 employees during the busiest time of the year from January to April, said Hal Christensen, with about 40 employed all year.
“We’ve got our core full-time people that we employ year-round, and we hire seasonal people for the busy months,” Lynn Christensen said.
Stutzman said he is lucky to be able to keep most of his staff year-round because there’s really only two slow months for business, August and September. During that time, he will change the number of servers and bartenders he puts on the floor, limiting their shifts per week but still allowing them to retain a job all year.
“The only way to get around (cutting staff) is cutting back the amount of shifts they have,” Stutzman said.
He said its location on the south end of the island benefits Dry Dock because it’s easily accessible to Lido Key residents and St. Armands visitors, though he hopes he doesn’t see a drop now that Mote Marine relocated its aquarium off City Island.
As managers prepare to increase staff and hours for the season, they’re cautiously optimistic the visitors and part-time residents will in turn return to paradise.
“I think there might be some people that think ‘Oh, they just got hit by a hurricane. I’m not going to vacation there this year. I’m going somewhere else.’” Hal Christensen said.
“Hopefully, they have short-term memory loss and don’t remember the hurricanes.”
“The hardest part is, after a hurricane, it typically takes two full years, in my opinion, to really have the full business back again ...”
— Wil Stutzman, Dry Dock general manager
FISCAL YEAR TOURISM AND IMPACT 2022-2025 SARASOTA COUNTY
First three quarters only. Visit Sarasota County’s fiscal year runs October through September.
A car carrier sits in the median of Gulf of Mexico Drive on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Many seasonal residents fly down and have their cars shipped on carriers to Longboat Key, and the return of the car transporters has become known as one of the first signs of the busy winter season.
Photos by S.T. Cardinal
The upstairs Dry Dock Waterfront Grill dining room overlooks Sarasota Bay.
Longboat officials say no to name change
Town Commission opts not to change Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Longboat Key’s main road will not change its name after the Town Commission unanimously agreed that changing Gulf of Mexico Drive was not worth the trouble.
More than 80 people packed Town Hall Monday, with more sitting in front of monitors streaming the meeting outside, as members of the public gathered to share their opinions on the most talked-about topic on the barrier island since the St. Regis Resort planned to replace the former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in 2021.
Since the Florida Department of Transportation hired a contractor to remove signs marking Gulf of Mexico Drive from traffic arms on the Key in August, what the town should do has been on the lips of those from Longboat to Tallahassee.
“It’s an interesting question we have,” Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said during a presentation before public comment. “We have the burden that a name change could place on the community. We also have the desire for protecting home rule, and we also have this desire to protect our relationships and hope that a change isn’t made on behalf or for the town.”
More than a dozen residents spoke for and against changing the name. For some advocating for changing the name, it was a matter of patriotism.
“Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, whether you are left, right, Democrat, Republican, independent, the issue has become politicized,” said David Dickinson during public comment. “We’re making a big issue out of
something that is very simple. We’re all Americans. We need to honor America. I’m a veteran of the United States Air Force. For 21 years, I served in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa. My house was blown up by a 122 millimeter rocket. I lost friends. It’s real easy to say I’m a patriot. Those are patriots. And by renaming Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gulf of America, we honor them. A lot of people have sacrificed for that. The name change will not cause anyone in this room an ounce of blood. It’s pretty simple.” But from an unofficial tally of opinions sent to the town, most advocated for keeping the name of the road the same. Brownman said that as of Sunday night, 83% of those who emailed the town were against changing the name.
Arlene Skversky spoke on behalf of keeping Gulf of Mexico Drive as is, saying it would put an unnecessary hassle on some of the older population of the Key.
“There are so many residents, look at the crowd, near or over 80. If this name change goes through, it will be a huge burden on all residents. Especially these residents,” Skversky said. “The stress and the amount of time as well as the cost and the effort this will take to change the name with all of our documents could cause medical issues. Most people here are still physically and mentally active. That’s because they stay busy with things that they like. But the time this will take will easily put them on edge as it will cause them to stop healthy activities and focus on the frustrating process of reaching people inside bureaucratic agencies. This is so unhealthy for all of us here and those that are not here, and we need your protection.”
Commissioner B.J. Bishop, during a passionate address at the end of the
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meeting, described it as “one more thing” for residents to worry about as many still rebuild from the 2024 hurricanes.
“When I took my oath to serve in Longboat Key, the job that I have sitting in this chair is to be responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Longboat Key. There is nothing about the name of the street that meets any of those categories,” Bishop said. “There are many people in this audience and there are many people that are not here that live on Gulf of Mexico Drive that lost their homes or their homes are severely damaged. I know what that’s like. My husband and I lost our home in a hurricane over 12 months ago.”
Bishop pushed back against some who spoke who said those against changing the name to Gulf of America “must hate America” or have “Trump derangement syndrome.”
She addressed the crowd saying that the commission is devoted to this community at the highest level, loves Longboat Key and “work our darnedest to protect and save it.”
“One thing that I’m determined that we’re going to save it from is negative, toxic behavior,” she said. “Our job here is health, welfare and
“Our job here is health, welfare and safety and getting this community back on its feet after the most horrid weather conditions that we have experienced in 100 years.”
— B.J. Bishop, commissioner
safety and getting this community back on its feet after the most horrid weather conditions that we have experienced in 100 years.”
Branham said that as a 37-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and a Gulf of Mexico Drive resident, he personally would support changing the name. But that military service to honor the flag swayed him to honor the will of the people.
“For the same token that we serve this flag is we need to honor the democratic process. Based on what I’ve seen so far from 400 some-odd inputs, about 80-something percent says don’t change it for whatever reason,” Branham said. “... My position is to honor the majority.”
According to a question and answer webpage regarding the removal of street signs from Gulf of Mexico Drive, FDOT removed the signs in
Town Hall commission chambers were at capacity for a workshop meeting to discuss whether to rename Gulf of Mexico Drive, and monitors with additional seating were set up outside for an overflow crowd.
response to a state law that reads that each state agency shall “update its geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation” of the body of water to Gulf of America. Mayor Ken Schneier said FDOT District 1 interim Secretary Jamie Driggers told him in a phone call that the authority on what to name the road is the town’s, and Branham said he had a productive phone call with Driggers, as well. Several comments made by commissioners and town staff signified they hope the town’s decision doesn’t impact the relationship the town and FDOT share.
“It is important for the Town Commission and members of our community to be aware of the financial support and relationships that we have built with the state of Florida, and would be beneficial for those to be preserved,” Brownman said.
Town Attorney Maggie Mooney said Longboat Key is not breaking any law by not renaming the road.
“The Legislature-adopted bill said all references to Gulf of Mexico is now Gulf of America for bodies of water. It did not speak to roads.”
Some what-ifs were mentioned, like what if the state of Florida preempts the town’s authority to name the road?
“Right now, the state has not preempted our right,” Mooney said. “But to (Commissioner Debra Williams’) question, could they? Yes, they could. But we don’t have a crystal ball to know whether they will or will not do that. So it’s still uncertain, but it is a possibility in the many fields of possibilities here.”
What is certain is that the town has chosen to keep the name of the road, Gulf of Mexico Drive. What will or won’t happen next will be decided in Tallahassee.
Photos by S.T. Cardinal Longboat Key Club Managing Director Rick Konsavage said a change of address would be “a nightmare” for businesses on Gulf of Mexico Drive and urged the Town Commission to leave the road name as is.
David Dickinson spoke during public comment urging Town Commission to change the name to Gulf of America Drive or Veterans Drive and that doing so was “a matter of patriotism.”
Residents inquire about franchise ban
t an informal community meeting Tuesday, residents asked Longboat Key town staff about
Town Manager Howard Tipton, Public Works Director Charlie Mopps and Town Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons sat down at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center for the monthly “Let’s Talk Longboat” meeting.
One resident asked for an update on the town’s plans to increase the amount of lighting on Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Mopps said the town aims to add more than 40 lighting fixtures to illuminate sidewalks flanking Gulf of Mexico Drive and that the town is working through the permitting process with Florida Department of Environmental Protection to ensure the lights do not attract sea turtles.
Another topic at the meeting was new businesses coming to the Key.
News of a Goodwill coming to the Key broke the day before, and several residents expressed disappointment of the pending arrival of the donation center and bookstore.
Residents asked what the town could do to prevent franchises and chains from coming to the Key in the
LET’S TALK LONGBOAT FUTURE MEETING DATES
The town of Longboat Key holds monthly community meetings at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center (4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive) at 3 p.m. Below are the future dates for the meetings. n Nov. 18 n Dec. 16
future. Parsons said the town would have to enact code that would prevent it, but that would not be easy.
“It’s challenging, I think, to enact something that would restrict certain kinds of businesses, even franchises,” Parsons said. “There are franchises that are here. To distinguish between which ones would and which ones wouldn’t be allowed would be a challenging tool to implement.”
In another discussion, the town officials said repairs to town facilities across the island continue a year after hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Longboat Key, and that includes its public parks.
The town expects to complete repairs to the Joan M. Durante Community Park by the end of the month, and Quick Point Nature Preserve is next in line for repairs.
S.T. Cardinal
Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons, Public Works Director Charlie Mopps and Town Manager Howard Tipton.
Catch the Ski-A-Rees before winter break.
Ski-Do
Viewers have two more chances to catch the highflying waterside action of the Ski-A-Rees this season.
The acrobats will don their waterskis at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 for the last time before their winter break. They will return in February.
Teams delighted audiences last Sunday on Sarasota Bay.
Despite choppy conditions, they pulled off their famous three-tier pyramid, swivel tricks, ramp jumps and many other impressive moves.
One star of the show was Lyla Robbins, who celebrated her second birthday two weeks ago. She may be the group’s youngest member, but with father, Lance Robbins, holding her securely on his shoulders while skiing, she beamed and blew kisses to the audience like any professional performer.
Lyla is part of the third generation of skilled water skiers in her family. Lance and her mother, Jennifer, met on the team. He has long performed with his brother, Brian, and his father, Russ, along with other family members.
“There are a lot of multigenerational families on the team, which is part of what makes it so great,” he said.
The show is free to attend, but organizers noted that donations go a long way in helping support their ongoing efforts to rebuild the hurricane-damaged facilities.
— DANA KAMPA
IF YOU GO SARASOTA SKI-A-REES
WATER SKI SHOW TEAM
When: 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, then returns in February
Where: Stadium seating is available at 1602 Ken Thompson Parkway, and visitors can bring folding chairs.
Seating is first come, first served, and organizers recommend arriving early, especially for shows during the busy season.
Tickets: Attendance is free, though donations are welcome.
Info: Visit SkiARees.com or call 941-388-1666.
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Photos by Dana Kampa
Abby Duplissey and Lance Robbins go flying across Sarasota Bay.
The stadium was packed at Sunday’s Ski-A-Rees water skiing show on Sarasota Bay. Shows continue through the first Sunday of November then resume in February.
The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees maintain a synchronized line even with challenging wave conditions.
Despite choppy conditions, the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees managed to finish this past Sunday’s show with a grand finale three-tier pyramid.
Steph Ouellette stands on one ski.
The jumping team of brothers — Ryan, Garrett and Travis Bouley — pulls off a helicopter move even in less-than-ideal water skiing conditions.
RECYCLER POLLUTING?
A local scrap metal and construction recycling plant has been accused of polluting Sarasota Bay.
local nonprofit said it has plans to sue a scrap metal and concrete recycling facility for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act.
Suncoast Waterkeeper — a nonprofit with the mission of protecting Gulf coast waters through environmental monitoring, advocacy and legal action — issued a notice of intent to sue U.S. Recycling, which recycles scrap metal and concrete at its Industrial Court facility in Sarasota.
A news release from the Waterkeeper alleges that U.S. Recycling, a construction and demolition debris recycling company, is violating the Clean Water Act by not abiding by requirements set out in a Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit.
Suncoast Waterkeeper alleges that
elevated levels of pollutants have been discharged to Hog Creek, a tributary of Sarasota Bay, after rainfall.
“They’re not generating water from their activities. This is when it rains, there are these exposed materials, rain falls over the site and stormwater flows off the site into the municipal drainage system which then flows into Hog Creek,” said Justin Bloom, Suncoast Waterkeeper founder and environmental attorney.
Hog Creek, which runs through the adjacent Pioneer and Centennial Parks, is designated by the state of Florida as an impaired water body, according to the notice of intent.
Mercury levels are in excess, which leads to the impaired designation, the notice reads. FDEP did not respond to a request confirming Hog Creek’s current impairment.
Test results from water samples that were collected next to the facility showed increased levels of aluminum, iron, total suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand.
Bloom said those four items are required from FDEP to be under certain “benchmark levels,” which Bloom said are being exceeded. Those four metrics are easy-to-test
warning signs for other, more harmful contaminants.
According to the notice of intent, “scrap metal in different stages of corrosion and decay may release a variety of harmful substances,” including heavy metals, asbestos, paint, grease and other contaminants.
U.S. Recycling declined to comment on the matter.
Not a lawsuit yet, Bloom said he hopes the filed notice of intent brings U.S. Recycling to the table to fix the issues and avoid a court date.
“What they’re doing is, I think, an important industrial activity. Recycling building materials is something we support, but it needs to be done in a way that is protective of the environment,” Bloom said. “We don’t expect the pollution coming off the site to stop entirely, we just hope that they abide by the permit.”
Bloom explained the complaint is less about the byproducts of industrial waste recycling and more about best practices by the facility.
The notice of intent claims the facility is not utilizing the “best available technology economically achievable” as required by the permit, is not collecting and testing
stormwater as required and is not updating its stormwater management plan.
The water quality complaint by Suncoast Waterkeeper isn’t the first time U.S. Recycling has drawn headlines. In 2022, a group of homeowners in the Central Cocoanut neighborhood petitioned the city of Sarasota to do something about the noise and air quality surrounding the facility, which was emitting dust from concrete grinding.
Concrete dust is harmful if inhaled and can cause permanent lung damage, chronic disease and other health issues.
One resident claimed that the ZIP codes that make up the Newtown and Central Cocoanut neighborhoods had the highest rate of asthmarelated hospitalizations in Florida.
U.S. Recycling removed its concrete grinder and replaced it with a new system, Bloom said, but concerns from neighbors persist, and the quality of the water has now been called into question as well as the air.
Efforts to reduce the dust may be contributing to the alleged water discharge violations, according to Waterkeeper’s notice of intent.
U.S. Recycling is a construction and demolition recycling facility that borders the Central Cocoanut neighborhood in Sarasota. Suncoast Waterkeeper has filed a notice of intent to sue U.S. Recycling for allegedly polluting Hog Creek via stormwater runoff.
HOW IS U.S. RECYCLING ALLEGEDLY POLLUTING
SARASOTA BAY?
Suncoast Waterkeeper alleged in a notice of intent to sue that local construction and demolition debris recycler U.S. Recycling is polluting Sarasota Bay. Here is how pollutants from the facility could enter the Bay. n Concrete dust, rusted metal and other debris sit uncovered at U.S. Recycling’s facility at 1310 Industrial Court.
n Rain falls, washing over dust and metal and picking up contaminants as it washes over the facility.
n The rain, now considered stormwater with the added particulates, travels into the city’s underground stormwater system through gutters and drainage basins.
n The stormwater then travels into Hog Creek through a discharge pipe at Pioneer Park.
n Hog Creek meanders through Pioneer Park and Centennial Park before discharging into Sarasota Bay just north of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
“U.S. Recycling discharged nonstorm water from one of the entrances of the facility. This water was associated with the use of a water truck associated with dust suppression,” the notice reads, explaining that the unauthorized discharge of nonstormwater is also a violation of the FDEP permit.
Bloom said he hopes U.S. Recycling will respond and allow Suncoast Waterkeeper to inspect the facility and collaborate with engineers to come up with better practices for the facility.
Photos by S.T. Cardinal
Hog Creek meanders through Pioneer and Centennial Parks and discharges into Sarasota Bay.
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Protecting the vulnerable
After a boat-stricken sea turtle is recovered, Mote shares boating safety tips.
Earlier this month, the body of a loggerhead sea turtle washed ashore into a residential harbor off Sarasota Bay.
Mote Marine scientists’ investigation of the body showed multiple boat strike wounds on the rear of the shell. Sadly, it’s not an uncommon occurrence, and Mote Marine Stranding Investigations Program Manager Gretchen Lovewell said the number of human-caused turtle encounters the program has seen have increased from about 25% to 38%. Boat propellers are a common culprit, and those encounters don’t end well.
“Unfortunately, almost every turtle that gets hit by a boat is going to die,” Lovewell said. Lovewell said it’s common for sea turtles to be recovered in slow speed zones, but that those are designated for manatee activity, not for sea turtles. Mote has designated a voluntary slow speed zone to protect sea turtles. The Sea Turtle Protection Zone includes Sarasota Bay and the Gulf on the south end of Longboat Key, New Pass, Big Sarasota Pass and the Gulf waters of Siesta Key.
“We recover a lot of animals from the bay,” Lovewell said, saying Mote recovers not just sea turtles, but dolphins and manatees from the bay.
Lovewell said Mote wants to raise awareness of the voluntary slow speed zone to protect the precious marine mammals.
“We are often causing them harm, so we should do our due diligence in doing what we can to help them,” Lovewell said. “They’re sort of our sentinel species out there. They’re kind of our canary in the coal mine of the ocean, an indicator of what’s going on. Loggerheads are upperlevel predators eating crabs and what not, so when there’s red tide they start stranding. Not to mention they’re just really cool ... There’s so many things that make them unique, like 1 in 1000 reach adulthood. To me, I think they’re pretty special and worth preserving.”
“Unfortunately, almost every turtle that gets hit by a boat is going to die.”
— Gretchen Lovewell, Mote Marine Stranding Investigations Program manager
While sea turtles are hard to spot, and often get hit without boaters realizing it, Lovewell said there are easy steps boaters can take to protect the species, including designating one person as a marine life lookout while on the bay and in shallow Gulf waters, following slow speed zones and wearing polarized glasses that reduce the glare to reveal sea turtles and other marine life just below the surface.
“It’s remarkable what a difference the polarized glasses can make to just allow you to see through the water a bit,” Lovewell said. “It makes a big difference to cut through that glare, and generally, it helps people have a better time, too.”
S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER
Monique, a loggerhead sea turtle, crawls into the ocean off Lido Beach.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10
SNOOPING FROM SLOOP
10:02 a.m., Channel Lane
Suspicious vehicle: Police were called on a van by a man who saw said van across a canal from his residence on Sloop Lane. The caller told dispatchers he believed someone may be living in the van he claims was parked in a vacant lot. Police arrived on scene and determined the van belonged to a resident on the road. He called the complainant, told him the van belongs on the block and closed the case.
MONDAY, OCT. 13
$6.69 OR STRAIGHT TO JAIL
2:46 p.m., LBKPD lobby
Suspicious incident: Police made the trek to the lobby of the police department when a man speaking Mandarin attempted to relay his issue to police. With the help of a translator, officers determined the man received an email claiming if he did not pay $6.69 to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles he would be arrested. He said he recently rented a vehicle from the airport and went through a toll, making him initially believe the email was legitimate but that he then realized it could be fraud. The man’s bank was called, and through the help of an interpreter, the card was canceled and a new one ordered. A bank representative said neither the man nor the bank had been charged any money, and the case was closed.
TUESDAY, OCT. 14
PRE MORNING-SHIFT NAP
5:58 a.m., 560 Bay Isles Road
Suspicious vehicle: Police were called when a vehicle “had been operating their lights” a little before 6 a.m. near the post office. The complainant told dispatchers there was a vehicle parked next door that appeared suspicious and that he was concerned because of recent harassment from a co-worker, prompting him to call police. Officers made contact with the vehicle, finding a tired-eyed town employee trying to catch a wink before an early shift. After determining the driver was not violating the law via napping, police closed the case.
WIRE YOU CALLING
THE POLICE?
8:15 p.m., 4250 Gulf of Mexico
Drive
Suspicious incident: A woman called police on a suspected cable thief after, while on a walk, she observed an unmarked Jeep parked on the sidewalk with hazards flashing and saw a young man exit
the vehicle and crouch over a cable box, pulling wires out from the box. The woman confronted the man, who claimed he worked for the cable company and had forgotten a few cables after working on it the day before. She said there was a woman in the passenger seat and that the man refused to show identification. She then told the young man she did not believe his story, took pictures of his license plate and called police. Officers arrived and ran the license plate, inspected the cable box and could not tell if anything was missing. The case was closed.
THURSDAY, OCT. 16
‘I KNOW THE PRESIDENT’
4:50 p.m., 220 Sands Point Road
Suspicious person: Police were called to a resort and golf club on Longboat Key after a man was seen driving around and “talking outlandish about the resort.” Upon arrival, officers spoke with the complainant, who provided a name for the guest and what he was up to. Police were told the man was complaining about the resort and was saying he would get everyone fired because he knew a president famous for the punchline “you’re fired.” The man who called police said he was worried about the mental state of the man, who then arrived and proudly told police he was an employee of a “big sign company” and that he was going to throw a party with very important “elite” guests. The man who called police and the big sign man agreed to handle the issues civilly. Police closed the case.
Longboat brings the heat
Typically, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Longboat Fire Rescue was the one bringing the heat on Sunday as it smoked the competition at the 25th annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off. First responders from throughout the area joined in a friendly culinary competition to support the Firefighters Benevolent Fund.
After securing the win, Firefighter/ Paramedic Zach Schield said, “Every year, our shifts give 110%. We really go out and we dig, and we try to find a recipe that we enjoy, that we love personally.”
On Saturday afternoon, the team of about 10 cooks filled Station 92 with the smell of sizzling bacon, sweetly fragrant peppers and smoky brisket. The crew put in quite the effort to produce 30 gallons of chili the day before the competition.
Schield said it may sound like a lot, but that’s typically just enough to feed the hungry crowd.
Their recipe included bell peppers, other sweet peppers, jalapenos and chipotle peppers.
They were optimistic about their chances for the 25th anniversary, given their record of placing in the top three multiple times. But nothing is a given, especially considering they are willing to try out new recipes every time.
Along with a new recipe, this year’s team also included new members. Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Brunton, one of the department’s newest recruits, lent a hand with the prep.
Together, they chopped enough onions, garlic and pepper to make an elephant cry. But combined with tomatoes, sausage and plenty of seasoning, they hit just the right blend to feed the masses.
WORSHIP directory
On competition day, the firefighter crew turned into a scallywag crew of prates to entice tasters to try out the chili and cast a vote in their favor.
Their swagger convinced the judges, landing them the top prize for the first time since 2018.
Schield concluded, “We’re always excited to compete in this competition every year, and we do the best we can. We try new recipes. This year, we tried a new one and came out on top.”
— DANA KAMPA Reporter Ian Swaby contributed to this story
Longboat Fire Rescue’s “Scallywag Chili” crew won first place in last weekend’s 25th Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off. From left, Tyler Brunton, Jamison Urch, Aaron Maness (back), Trey and Kristen Bowlin, and Daniel and Bryson Heath.
Nine-year-old Ellie Bowlin helped dish up portions of chili for Longboat’s “Scallywag Chili.”
Longboat Key Fire Rescue Firefighter/Paramedic Zach
Schield, who played a key role in formulating this year’s chili recipe for the Morton’s CookOff, preps brisket at the station on Oct. 18.
Ian Swaby
Photos by Dana Kampa
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Charting new waters
Outgoing estuary leader Dave Tomasko thanks community for support fixing essential waterways.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director David Tomasko said he knew when he took the position in 2020 that his plan was to head the organization for a set period of time. He poured his energy and passion for environmental remediation into the role, advocating for meaningful investments into improving one of the area’s essential waterways. He is adhering to that pledge, stepping down to welcome incoming leader Ryan Gandy on Nov. 17, weeks after his fifth anniversary.
“When I interviewed for the position, I was pretty comfortable saying we could recover the health of the bay fairly quickly,” he said in an interview.
He said he was confident with his claim based on the fact leaders had already done it in the past.
“This is one of the four oldest estuary programs in the state of Florida,” he said.
The U.S. Congress named it an estuary of national significance in 1989. Tomasko said even in the ’80s, community members were working to clean up the bay.
“This community has always been facing the problems head on,” he said.
One significant move came in the early 1990s, when the city of Sarasota upgraded its wastewater treatment to reduce algae-boosting nutrients going into the water by about 80%90%, he said.
There have been gains and losses over the years, but Tomasko commended new pushes to keep up with the latest research on how to keep the bay healthy and swimmers happy.
Looking back on his tenure, he said he is proud of his efforts and glad to see significant improvements in Sarasota Bay.
Seagrass regeneration is up by 19%; the most damaging nitrogen levels are down by 20%, better than ever in the past 15 years; and the town of Longboat Key and city of Sarasota have invested in key infrastructure that should help maintain water quality for many years to come.
That progress was made possible through strong community connec-
tions, and as he prepares to leave his directorship, Tomasko shared how grateful he is for community members and elected officials who saw the value of those investments.
He gives credit to Longboat Key residents who recognize the value of quality infrastructure. Earlier this year, citizens voted in favor of installing a new subaqueous wastewater pipeline to replace a 50-yearold line, a $30 million undertaking.
In addition, Manatee County, which treats Longboat’s wastewater, uses bacteria to turn nitrogen — which could otherwise end up in waterways and boost algae blooms — into biologically inert gas.
“They first did that here back in the 1990s,” he noted. “Tampa Bay converted to nitrogen-removal technology back in 1979. The very first to do it was Palmetto.”
When the bay was experiencing water quality issues five years ago, Tomasko said he pointed to what had been done in the past to give members confidence to face the future.
“You just have to recognize the problem. You have to understand the solutions that are out there. And, you have to talk money,” he said. “That’s one of the things I was comfortable doing.”
He said protecting the bay will always be an ongoing effort, and it is important to share the successes.
Tomasko received notable acclaim for his efforts while serving, including the 2024 Southwest Florida Climate Champion Award from the Climate Adaptation Center.
He said explaining to people the value of investing in water improvement was the easy part. After all, many of the issues are highly visible to residents.
In his first years at the organization, the area saw some of the worst cases of red tide in decades.
“Red tides are natural phenomena made worse by human activity,” he said. “It lingered and moved its way up the coast, and it came into our bay on incoming tides. It met a bay rich in nutrients, and it blew up.”
Especially when residents started seeing manatees starving from seagrass losses on the east coast and other large-scale impacts on local habitat, he said, “It was really easy to make the case that we needed to do a better job of nutrient management.
“We needed the public to be informed of what’s at stake, and to support the politicians who were going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on wastewater and stormwater management,” he added. “We also needed people to understand this wasn’t something that could be fixed with $10 million. You needed a lot more. I think I was, at the time, the right person to make those arguments.”
He said major credit for that success goes to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program staff, which he will miss.
“They’re spectacular,” he said. “They’re incredible, very talented people who are hardworking, creative and funny. I’ve had the easiest job of anyone, because I tell people where I would like to go, and they make it happen.”
While he has appreciated the backing of local legislators, Tomasko said the same arguments for water quality have not always carried through to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.,
and he hopes to change that.
“We’re a good success story in Sarasota, and most of Tampa Bay is a success story, but Biscayne Bay isn’t. Naples isn’t. Pensacola Bay isn’t.”
The first step of enacting statewide change is admitting the problem’s existence and scale, Tomasko said.
Now, he is turning his attention to the private sector with Environmental Science Associates in California, where he hopes to address concerns.
Tomasko has more than 30 years of experience in water quality science and science-based management, and he worked in the private sector before taking up the directorship.
Though he is heading west, Tomasko hopes to retain a connection to his beloved Florida community.
He said the estuary program is in good hands with Gandy, a Sarasota native who joined the group last year.
“He is our science and restoration manager, so he has already been working on several restoration projects,” he said.
“We’re no longer in a crisis state,” Tomasko said of the bay. “We have a plan to make sure the water quality doesn’t degrade again, the Water Quality Protection Plan. We think it can continue to get better, absolutely.”
There is always more to be done, and Tomasko said it will be even more imperative for local leaders to take action.
To learn more about getting involved with the program, visit SarasotaBay.org/Get-Involved.
BAY IMPROVEMENT
Since David Tomasko took the role of executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program five years ago, Sarasota Bay made several significant improvements:
n Seagrass regeneration up 19% n Most damaging nitrogen levels are down by 20%, better than ever in the past 15 years n The town of Longboat Key and city of Sarasota have invested in key infrastructure, including a $30 million subaqueous wastewater pipeline project.
Courtesy image
Dave Tomasko, outgoing executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, has always appreciated maintaining a close connection with the area’s waterways. Now, he is returning to the private sector.
File image
Dave Tomasko pull up clumps of seagrass to show the seagrass is still lush after an active 2024 storm season.
Art you can wear
Abreak in the summer heat brought fine art fans out in droves to St. Armands Circle on Oct. 18 and 19 as they explored the works of local metalworkers, fabric dyers, painters and artists of all types of media.
Vendors shared their appreciation for viewers who took the time to engage with their work.
Visitor Disha Webb said she thought the open-air venue of the park was perfect for stands like jewelry crafter Julia Bernadsky. She works with raw crystals central to holistic healing practices. But she tells customers that her materials aren’t just objects.
“There’s magic inside each one,” Bernadsky said. “They’re living beings, and we don’t choose them. They choose us.”
Webb said, “I appreciate the grace, the love and the intentionality you can feel emanating from this jewelry.”
Bernadsky also sold necklaces to raise funding to support Ukraine. She said 100% of the proceeds go toward survivors. Visit UntamedHearts.com.
Venice-based artist Linda Tilson showcased her hand-dyed silks at the art festival. She has worked with New York fashion design houses and, at one time, ran a factory with 35 staff members to produce her lines. Now, she has scaled back to personally make clothing while also having the time to explore her passion for painting.
She said her silk pieces are perfectly elegant yet light for Florida functions, and she loves getting to create unique pieces. See LindaTilson.com for more information.
— DANA KAMPA
Artist Lourdes Gloekler crafts her eyecatchingly colorful jewelry from natural resources, primarily from the Tagua palm tree.
Patron Disha Webb tries on a ring crafted by artist Julia Bernadsky at last weekend’s fine art festival on St. Armands Circle.
Photos by Dana Kampa Debra Vales of Artzy Art by Debra said she has hardly been able to keep up with demand this season at local art festivals. She works in acrylic paints and favors marine and floral subjects.
Venice-based artist David Burgess Campbell gives a shine to his metalwork art with a resin coating.
Fabric artist Linda Tilson uses mineral-based dyes to handcraft her silk and rayon pieces. She said customers appreciate the lightness and versatility of her clothing.
Island to Island
Restaurateur brings Trinidadian cuisine to St. Armands Key.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Anthony Logan, one of the owners of the newest restaurant to join those on St. Armands Key, describes Trinidadian cuisine as one of the broadest melting pots in the world. Foods originating from India, China, Spain, France, Africa, neighboring Caribbean countries and beyond have all risen to popularity. Now, he and his family are celebrating that tradition of sharing food by bringing it to Florida.
“People from all over bring a beautiful blend to the fabric of the island,” Logan said. “When we all contribute something, it overlaps wonderfully.”
He and his son, manager Kevin Ramlochan, spent this past Saturday adjusting the festive lights outside Flambo Island Cuisine that beckon passersby inside.
They recently opened the restaurant quietly, inviting diners to test out the new menu.
the owners said this is the first permanent brick-and-mortar place they’ve launched.
When it came time to decide on a location, Logan said they wanted a place where they could bring something fresh to the scene, while also enjoying the proximity to the beach. The corner of the Boulevard of the Presidents heading toward Lido Beach was perfect. Previous tenants include Vernona Gourmet.
The inaugural fall menu includes items like lemongrass lagoon soup, pepper shrimp in a sweet, garlicky tomato sauce, curry mussels and drunken Trini noodles. Patrons can also try the complimentary snack pholourie, a fluffy fried dough served with tamarind sauce that is popular in Trinidad and Tobago.
He said the name, Flambo, stems from the lamp families reach for during power outages. The term comes from the French language.
“It’s a unique item every household in the Caribbean has for when the storms blow the power,” he said. “Now, we have a Flambo here to shine the light.”
Patrons shouldn’t take the fiery logo as a sign that the dishes are too spicy, Ramlochan said. He said menu items are flavorful but don’t have too much heat for the average palate.
Logan was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and he moved to the northeast to raise his family, living primarily in Pennsylvania. They moved to Florida after welcoming his now 6-month-old granddaughter to the family.
“Family is the driving force of everything we do,” he said.
That focus carries through the restaurant, where the decor includes prints from Kevin’s wedding, carnival celebrations and iconic sites from Trinidad.
Other wall hangings include topographical maps from some favorite sailing destinations for members of the Bird Key Yacht Club. Logan said the community and the city of Sarasota have been helpful in getting the restaurant off the ground.
While they have run food trucks and undertaken other businesses,
Because Trinidadian food includes such a wide variety, Ramlochan said residents and tourists alike will always find something new to try, especially as they start to expand the menu.
Once the restaurant gets established, Logan said he looks forward to hosting a variety of events to reinvigorate the street, which was hit particularly hard by last year’s hurricanes and a subsequent fire affecting multiple businesses.
Logan and Ramlochan said they’re planning to host a grand opening the first week of November with a flamenco dancer, costumes and plenty of other fun.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Lighting a light for hostages
Without much time to plan, members of Temple Beth Israel still pulled together a tribute to the hostages of conflict in Israel and Gaza that brought tears to the eyes of congregants on Oct. 17 and 18.
The ceasefire led to the release of Israeli and Palestinian hostages early last week.
The Longboat Key temple held a special “Bring Them Home” Shabbat to recognize the hostages who were released and those who died before they could be.
Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates said organizers offered a musicheavy program because it has a special way of uniting people, offering hope in both times of darkness and celebration.
“This is such a complicated time because we want to full-out celebrate the return of the hostages,” she said. “Yet, you have to think of those primal screams of reunification as families saw their loved ones after they were in captivity for two years.”
She continued, “There are no words for a night like tonight. So, instead, we turn to music.”
Singer Nick Masiello offered a moving rendition of “Bring Him Home” from the Broadway musi-
Choir member Nick Masiello brings congregants to tears with his rendition of “Bring Him Home” from “Les Misérables” at a special Shabbat service on Oct. 17, recognizing hostages of the Gaza-Israel conflict.
cal “Les Misérables.” Choir members including Joan Campbell, Michelle Lupescu, cantorial soloist Kei Sulhi, Rebecca Taysi and Mark Wagstrom also sang traditional songs and tunes by The Beatles.
Members took turns reading excerpts from the writings of survivors in between choir performances.
They quoted activist Rachel Goldberg-Polin, “There is a time to be born and a time to die. We have to do both right now. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. We have to do both right now. There is a time to tear and a time to heal. We have to do both right now. There is a time to sob, and there is a time to dance. We have to do both right now.”
— DANA KAMPA
Give back at Welcome Back
Christ Church to host Daily Bread food drive.
Among the bevy of upcoming events for returning Longboat Key residents is one celebration where attendees can both be welcomed back and give back.
Christ Church of Longboat Key is hosting its annual food drive benefiting Our Daily Bread of Bradenton on Nov. 5.
The Rev. Julia Piermont said this is an event she looks forward to facilitating, especially considering it was one of the first social gatherings she attended after joining the church in late 2023.
Last year, a major focus of the church’s charitable efforts was on hurricane recovery, and Piermont said she looks forward to once again hosting its typical food drive.
The church is collecting shelfstable foods, hygiene products and other items high in demand. Donors can also make checks payable to “Our Daily Bread.”
Contact Sue Wertman at QuackBF@aol.com with questions.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Community members, including Carole Shaw and Arlene Skversky, light candles at a special Temple Beth Israel service.
Temple Beth Israel choir members Mark Wagstrom, Nick Masiello, Joan Campbell, Kei Sulhi, Michelle Lupescu and Rebecca Taysi offer musical tribute to the hostages who were released and lost as Israel and Gaza reached a ceasefire last week.
$18,900,000
$6,250,000
$2,225,000
Residences at Longboat Key condo tops week’s sales at $6 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Scott Pierre and Karla Vankampen-Pierre, of Orlando, sold their Unit 511 condominium at 1591 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gregory and Judith Mattingly, of Longboat Key, for $6 million. Built in 2024, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 3,134 square feet of living area. It sold for $4,635,600 in 2024.
JOHN RINGLING ESTATES
Douglas Moore, trustee, of Noblesville, Indiana, sold two properties at 601 Tyler Drive to The Bryn Mawr Trust, trustee, for $3.5 million. The first property was built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 3,598 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1936, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 739 square feet of living area. They sold for $1.55 million in 2008.
Bernhard Kloppenburg, trustee, sold the home at 322 S. Washington Drive to 500 S Washington 6B LLC for $1.35 million. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,715 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2004.
360 NORTH
Brian Logun and Loretta Lynn Logun, of Marietta, Georgia, sold their Unit 2 condominium at 260
North Shore Road to Milam Realty LLC for $2.45 million. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,520 square feet of living area. It sold for $875,000 in 2012.
THE BEACHES OF LONGBOAT KEY Judd Powell, trustee, of Dayton, Ohio, sold the Unit 604 condominium at 775 Longboat Club Road to D. Delre & Co. Inc. for $2.2 million. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,602 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,255,000 in 2022.
COREY’S LANDING Kimberly Lawrence, of Univer-
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
sity Park, sold her home at 3491 Byron Lane to Ronald Whitehouse, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $1.45 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,987 square feet of living area. It sold for $470,000 in 2014.
BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS
CLUB
Lisa Dinga, trustee, of Manchester, Missouri, sold the Unit 838 condominium at 838 Bayport Way to James and Barbara Zellner, of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, for $755,000. Built in 1983, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,601 square feet of living area. It sold for $130,000 in 1984.
WESTCHESTER CONDOMINIUM APARTMENTS
Michael Connors, trustee, of Brooklyn, New York, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 4825 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Ralph and Anna Servati, of Bluffton, South Carolina, for $640,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,393 square feet of living area.
Photos by Dana Kampa
The home at 322 S. Washington Drive was built in 1951 and has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,715 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.35 million.
YOUR CALENDAR
BEST BET
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
RIBBON CUTTING
1:30 p.m. at Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Join in the fun celebrating the park’s newest environmental improvement project. The town of Longboat Key and Sarasota Bay Estuary Program are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new mangrove-inspired “living wall” along the bay. No RSVP required.
SATURDAY, OCT. 25
LEARN FROM ‘THE BIRD LADY’
10:30-11:30 a.m. at Save Our Seabirds, 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway. Longtime volunteer and bird lover Mattie Watson is presenting on Florida’s wading birds. Free admission, donations welcome. Session two on raptors takes place Nov. 8, and session three on backyard birds and waterfowl takes place Nov. 22. Visit SaveOurSeabirds.org.
SUNDAY, OCT. 26
ALL ANGELS TO BLESS PETS
1 p.m. at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. Bring your furry, feathered or scaly friends for a special blessing of the pets.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
AGE IN PLACE
10 a.m. to noon at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Hear from expert Chad Boult at a workshop hosted by Youthful Aging Home Care in partnership with Johns Hopkins Guided Care. He will offer insight into establishing an “invisible safety net” to help people with chronic conditions live at home and manage their care. Check-in and continental breakfast at 9 a.m. at the temple. Registration required. Call Dee Newberry at 941-925-9532 or email Dee@YouthfulAgingHomeCare.com for more information.
RECURRING EVENTS
MONDAYS STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN
10-11 a.m. at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This Paradise Center class is mostly seated and great for all fitness levels. The focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Bring light hand weights if desired. Fee is $20 for drop-ins or a membership through the end of the year; new class pass option for 10 classes for $175. Walkins welcome. Call 941-383-6493.
MEDITATION
11:15-11:45 a.m. at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. No experience is needed for The Paradise Center’s free guided meditation. Participants can enjoy stress relief, a quieter mind and a refreshing feeling. Call 941-383-6493.
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-6493.
TUESDAYS POP-UP LIBRARY
10 a.m. at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. The Sarasota County Pop-Up Library hosts services on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with storytime beginning at 10:30 a.m. and other services available from 10-11:30 a.m.
Image courtesy Cummins Cederberg
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
SUNRISE /
MOON PHASES
TIDES
CREATIVE THINKING by Jared Goudsmit, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos
Billy Gillispie took this photo of Sarasota Bay from
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