Longboat Observer 10.7.21

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T H E O B S E R V E R ’S G U I D E TO T H E A R TS AND SOCIETY

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

INSIDE MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

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FREE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

VOLUME 44, NO. 9

Cell provider calls town

YOUR TOWN

Verizon asks about piggybacking on utility project for north-island upgrade. PAGE 6

Courtesy photo

Mote volunteer celebrates 96th Coming to work on your birthday might not be an ideal way to spend the big day, but Mote Marine Aquarium volunteer Dwight Davis happily showed up for the morning briefing on Sept. 28, his 96th birthday.

Davis, who formerly wrote a column with Virginia Sanders for the Longboat Observer about goings-on at Mote, got cake and a birthday card at the volunteers’ morning briefing on his big day.

Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby came by and started up a second round of “Happy Birthday” to congratulate Davis.

Caring chamber

Mark Bergin

Brista Homes Founder and President Mark Ursini says he prefers to build two single-family homes on Buttonwood Drive. If the Nov. 2 referendum fails, he plans to develop an additional office building.

IT’S UP TO YOU

Buttonwood plan heads to voters Nov. 2. PAGE 3

Park makes dogs smile

A+E

The show goes on.

PAGE 15

Mark Bergin

Dick Lyons’ dog, Farrah Fawcett, and Conrad Panza’s dog, Oliver, enjoyed themselves on a recent Friday morning at Bayfront Park’s newly sodded dog park.

Paws-itive reviews for new turf. SEE PAGE 4

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce is a family business — or rather, in the business of family.

Christine Rothberg, the chamber’s director of marketing and development, received a call at the end of a recent Business After Hours event that her husband had been in a traffic crash.

Despite the familial crisis, she couldn’t have been in a better place as her fellow members jumped to action.

Kevin Flankey, a chamber member and the owner of boutique transportation service Ghosts in Motion, was on site and offered to chauffer Rothberg to her husband’s side. He even drove the couple safely home afterwards. Rothberg’s husband is recovering.

Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT Sept. 26 to Oct. 2

2021 2020 Nests 0 0 False Crawls 0 0 Totals since April 25

2021 2020 Nests 1,032 1,136 False Crawls 1,442 1,307 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

Condo inspections on the minds of leaders Town to watch and see what state Legislature will do for possible new rules on aging buildings.

THROUGH THE YEARS

MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

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efore making their own rules about structural inspections of decadesold condominium towers, town leaders are watching what happens in Tallahassee this legislative session in the wake of the deadly collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in June in Surfside.

“It absolutely was, I think, a walk-up call on the importance on a lot of things, including maintenance,” Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons told commissioners in a workshop Sept. 27. “There are many things that all coastal communities here in Florida sort of share in common with some of the potential contributing factors to that tragedy.”

According to the property appraisers’ offices in Manatee and Sarasota counties, the town has 62 buildings that are taller than three stories and at least 40 years old. Eleven of them were built in 1970.

Town staff has continued its outreach to condo owners and

The following are beachfront condos: The Diplomat: 1960 SeaHorse Resort: 1960 Sands Point: 1966 Islander Club: 1970 LBK Towers: 1970 Sea Gate Club: 1972 Islands West: 1972 Privateer South: 1972 Privateer North: 1974 Seaplace: 1974 Aquarius: 1975 Tencon: 1978 Beachplace: 1980 Players Club: 1981 Inn on Beach: 1982 Beaches: 1984 Sanctuary: 1989 Pierre: 1990 L’Ambiance: 1992 Promenade: 1995 Regent Place: 1995 Villa Di Lancia: 1996 Water Club I: 1996 Vizcaya: 1997 Water Club II: 1999 En Provence: 2001 Aria: 2016

Mark Bergin

Islands West, built in 1972, is one of 62 structures three stories or taller built more than 40 years ago.

associations on what they can do to ensure structural safety, but no new regulations or requirements have been passed. Although Longboat does not require building structure recertification, the

town has put together a checklist of what to voluntarily examine.

State legislators will convene for three months, beginning Jan. 11. Several measures have been proposed, seeking new rules on inspections and accountability from condo associations.

“How long do we give them to act on this matter before we start taking some actions locally?”

Mayor Ken Schneier asked.

Given the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, Longboat Key condos must deal with the effects of saltwater oxidation and corrosion.

Broward and Dade counties have local recertification requirements. In those counties, after 40 years, private property owners in condos have to hire a structural engineer to evaluate their property and then also provide a copy of the report for the city every 10 years after that.

George Spoll, a former Longboat Key mayor and current Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums board member who

spent his professional career as a builder, said he thinks that building reports and inspections should be provided publicly. He also does not think provisions of Florida’s condominium law are strong enough.

“The real gist of what I was talking about is to try to avoid boards and communities from burying information that they should not bury,” Spoll said.

In terms of the financial reserves that condos keep to make repairs, David Lapovsky, the president of the Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums and a Water Club resident, explained that two schools of thought are typical.

“One point of view is: ‘Don’t take my money now. … When something happens, and you need to rebuild something, I’ll write you a check for it. Why should you hold onto my money rather than me?’” Lapovsky said. “The other point of view is: ‘I don’t like surprises. I like to be insured. You take all the reserve money that you need, so that if the unthink-

able ever happens, I don’t have to write you a check, and I know that I’m covered.’”

Lapovsky, the vice chair of Longboat Key’s Planning & Zoning Board, said condo boards must balance the two schools of thought. He also said condo buyers should ask about financial reserves before buying.

Spoll said keeping condo owners safe is a “life issue.”

“It’s one thing to be negligent when it comes to appearance items, but it is not acceptable to have structural items deteriorate and not be taken care of,” Spoll said. “That’s horrible.”

Lapovsky said the Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums conducts a survey each year that includes how old a condominium is and the level of financial reserves its association keeps.

“If the town needed to know something, my offer would be that we could go survey our members and learn what they’ve done relating to this subject,” Lapovsky said.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

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TRY AND TRY AGAIN

Through the years, developers have sought voter approval for changes in residential density. One campaign succeeded.

FLORIDAYS How the vote went (September 2016): For: 641 (21.6%) Against: 2,478 (79.4%)

HARBOUR SQUARE How the vote went (November 2016): For: 1,972 (39.7%) Against: 2,994 (60.3%)

WHITNEY PLAZA How the vote went (November 2016): For: 2,008 (40.2%) Against: 2,985 (59.8%)

5630 GMD How the vote went (March 2017): For: 1,525 (41.7%) Against: 2,131 (58.3%)

THE COLONY How the vote went (March 2017): For: 465 (12.6%) Against: 3,220 (87.4%)

5630 GMD How the vote went (March 2019): For: 1,056 (55.76%) Against: 838 (44.24%)

Town voters nixed the plan to build a 120-room hotel — Floridays — out of fear of traffic that the hotel would generate.

The site is where Whitney’s currently sits in Longbeach Village at the intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street.

Oscar Parsons, the former owner of Harbour Square, 4134 Gulf of Mexico Drive, wanted to convert a commercial penthouse office to a residential unit for his own use. Because it was a change in residential density, it went to the ballot and was rejected.

Former Whitney Beach Plaza Owner Ryan Snyder sought to raze a portion of the retail center to make way for up to 18 homes.

Voter approval was needed because there was no residential density on the property at all.

The owners were seeking to build 10 homes on the 1.8-acre parcel.

Because voters said no to Unicorp’s request for additional units in 2017, the Orlando development company adjusted its plan for the 17.6-acre site. The latest plan of the St. Regis project calls for 69 condominiums and 166 hotel rooms.

Voters approved a density change for Mote Scientific Foundation’s 1.8-acre parcel, clearing the way for the foundation to sell the land.

This was the second time the foundation has asked voters to consider a density change there.

BATTLE FOR BUTTONWOOD

Brista Homes founder/president is proposing developments for the Buttonwood Harbour neighborhood, but some residents want drainage issues addressed first.

MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

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or a group of Buttonwood Harbour residents, next month’s townwide referendum over a property in their neighborhood isn’t an either-or equation.

For a developer who hopes to build near the enclave’s entrance, the Nov. 2 yes-or-no vote on residential density is exactly that: ether a pair of single-family houses or, potentially, an office building of some sort.

At issue is Brista Homes Founder and President Mark Ursini’s plan to build two homes at 597 Buttonwood Drive, which is now zoned as office institutional.

To gain town approval for a change in land use, he must first gain town-voter approval to establish a residential density standard on land that now has no accommodation for such a use.

Building an office or commercial building in the 50-home development would not require voter approval because the land is already zoned for those uses.

Residents say they would prefer the homes, but they would also prefer that the neighborhood’s balky stormwater-drainage system get fixed before anything new gets built there, possibly adding to the burden of a system that has in months past backed up into the street during heavy summer rains or tropical events.

“It’s not like we have anything against Mr. Ursini or that we’re anti-development,” Buttonwood Harbour resident Tom Tucker said. “Our position is that, sure, we would love a couple of nice homes in the neighborhood. That would be just fine, except for the fact that we have now gotten to the place where the flooding is so pervasive and that the system is in such poor condition that we just can’t absorb any more.”

Tucker is among 28 Buttonwood Harbour homeowners who sent a Sept. 23 letter to Town Manager Tom Harmer seek-

ing a commitment to assess and update drainage.

Town officials have set aside money in the just-approved spending plan for such a project in Buttonwood Harbour and Sleepy Lagoon, though the breadth of the work has yet to be set.

“You can see our neighborhood is being completely flooded by common rain events, and we have elderly people that couldn’t even get out of the neighborhood this summer for health care reasons,” Tucker said. “Or people that are still working, they had to turn around. They couldn’t go to work.”

Meanwhile, Ursini said he’s trying to make sure everyone townwide understands the stakes and what he’s trying to do before the vote.

Town voters through the years have rejected six of seven ballot requests for residential density, once for a single condo unit to be occupied in an already-completed office complex.

In September, Ursini launched a political action committee called Better for Buttonwood, Best for Longboat Key. “Basically, we wanted an avenue to get the word out on the project because oftentimes when people hear referendum, residential, they say no before they know all the facts,” he said.

Ursini has said he prefers to build two residential homes on Buttonwood Drive.

Without the residential option, he plans to build a commercial building. If Ursini gets approval to build two homes, he said that they would each have an approximate value between $2 million and $2.5 million.

“What’s the logic opposing the referendum to have commercial office space versus two homes there?” Ursini said. “I just don’t understand it.”

Ursini said he believes building commercial office space on Buttonwood Drive would decrease the value of homes in the neighborhood and have more traf-

fic flow than two single-family homes would.

“I think some people just hoped it would stay woods,” he said. “In fairness, when they moved in (along) Winslow (Place) and Buttonwood Drive, they knew the possibilities that someday, obviously, that would be developed.

It’s not going to stay woods forever.”

Ursini said he wants to be part of the solution, stating he will help improve the drainage in the neighborhood, regardless of how he develops the Buttonwood Drive plot.

He is working with Bradentonbased Shroyer Drapala engineer Jason Coates.

Former Longboat Key Mayor George Spoll — whose professional background is as a builder of homes, condominiums and commercial rehabilitation projects — supports the referendum and is in favor of Ursini’s proposal. “(I’d like) to urge the population to support a very logical change that is an accident in zoning that needs to be fixed,” Spoll said.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons said the 597 Buttonwood Drive site has been zoned for nonresidential use since “at least the 1960s.”

“There appears to have been a period where the property was rezoned from commercial zoning district (C-1) to a residential zoning district (RM-4), following a larger townwide series of rezonings in 1984,” Parsons wrote in an email. “The owner of the property, during that time period, sought to have the property returned to a nonresidential zoning district. And the property was subsequently rezoned to the current office institutional zoning district.”

Spoll said much of the zoning in the town is “an accident.”

He said putting two residential houses at 597 Buttonwood Drive would improve the entrance to the neighborhood.

Although it’s not part of the referendum, Ursini’s preliminary design also calls to build a 16,000-square-foot commercial plaza along Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“The commercial (part) would then be restricted to the northerly portion of that lot,” Spoll said. “It

Mark Bergin

is completely logical, and it would be a distinct improvement.

Ursini hired Tampa-based Payne’s Environmental Services to perform tree removal along Gulf of Mexico Drive and the 597 Buttonwood Drive tract.

However, the removal process is limited to invasive tree species, which include Brazilian pepper trees and Australian pine trees.

Parsons said the town would need to issue a tree removal permit to clear the remaining noninvasive trees.

He said the town is not allowing any additional site work for clearing or grading until there’s an approved development plan for the property. It includes civil engineering plans depicting the management of stormwater.

If the referendum is approved, it would allow Ursini to seek changes to the property’s future land-use designation and zoning that could allow for the residential development.

Permission to build two residential homes in the neighborhood would also require Town Commission approval.

Brista Homes Founder and President Mark Ursini prefers to build two single-family homes on Buttonwood Drive. If the Nov. 2 referendum fails, he plans to develop an additional office building.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

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arrah Fawcett no longer needs her pink coat during her morning visits to Bayfront Park.

Longboat Key resident Dick Lyons’ fluffy-furred friend doesn’t get nearly as dirty now that the town’s dog park is resodded with fresh grass.

Before, the dog’s pink jacket would help keep some of the dirt from bare spots off her white fur.

Lyons explained how his wife doesn’t need to clean their beloved family dog as frequently.

“If I took her home dirty all the time, I’d get in trouble, so I don’t have to worry about it anymore,” Lyons said of his dog nicknamed after the 1980s TV and movie star.

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looks beautiful.”

When Bayfront Park’s dog park was closed, many dog owners took their furry friends to Joan M. Durante Park. However, Durante Park requires dogs to be on a leash.

The dog park at Bayfront Park is the only public area in the town that allows dogs to legally be unleashed. However, leashed dogs were still allowed in other areas of Bayfront Park.

“It was a long summer not having the park open, but it was the right time of year to do it because it is our low season, and it’s also our rainy season, so it gave the sod the opportunity to really take root,” Larson said.

Perhaps the most important part of the reopening of Longboat Key’s park within a park is the community it brings together.

The group recently held a Yappy Hour at the park to celebrate the reopening, and Larson said they are also considering a Halloween dog parade.

Lyons said he is appreciative he gets to see familiar faces again each morning. “(It’s) excellent. It really is,” Lyons said. “Seeing a lot of good friends again. That brings them all together and new friends also for coming to this great park.

That’s what it’s all about.”

Farrah Fawcett isn’t the only “movie star” at Bayfront Park either. Joe Post’s dog, Chico aka “The Godfather,” is considered among the locals as the mascot of the Bayfront Park dog park.

Dog owners said that “The Godfather” had good reason for not being in attendance on a recent Friday morning.

He had family business to attend to — a wedding.

Photos by Mark Bergin

Rose Mary Bushin and her daughter, Fannie, played with dogs on a recent Friday morning at Bayfront Park.

new friends at the new park,” Lyons said.

Longboat Key reopened the dog park at Bayfront Park at the end of September. It had been closed since mid-July for resodding.

Dog owner Peter Larson was one of the residents who wrote to the Longboat Key Town Commission earlier this year to ask whether something could be done.

“It looks like the way it looked when they opened it a few years back,” Larson said.

Streets, Facilities, Parks and Recreation Manager Mark Richardson said the town paid Bradenton-based Prestige Sod Service $6,250 for the project.

Richardson has said the town

plans to allocate funding to its capital budget to resod the dog park every three years. Bayfront Park’s dog park opened in 2017 with separate enclosures for big and small dogs.

Larson expressed his appreciation for Richardson and the town’s efforts.

“The place looks great, and it’s such an improvement over what it was,” Larson said.

Dog groomer and toy poodle owner Fannie Bushin noticed something different about the park too, beyond the look of the grass.

“The flies are gone,” Bushin said. “We had a lot of horse flies.

That was the main thing. … It

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

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Peter Larson’s dogs, Kacey and Lexi, enjoyed a recent Friday morning at Bayfront Park.

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File photo

On July 22, Volt Power Co. workers removed several light poles along Birdie Lane.

Verizon to submit plan to build small-cell poles

One Call Really Does it All – 941.777.2004

The town has had conversations with Verizon and AT&T to improve service on the north end of the island.

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MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

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he town is working to enhance cellphone coverage on the north end of the island as part of its underground utilities project.

Town Manager Tom Harmer said the town has had conversations with representatives from Verizon Wireless and AT&T. “Verizon has actually indicated that they’ll be submitting an

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application to install a small cell on the north end of the island,” he said. “We’re going to be working with them.”

Harmer said it requires a special exception approval from the town’s Planning & Zoning Board.

He said the Town Commission also might need to update its code to consider Verizon’s proposal to install up to nine new small-cell poles and antennas.

In previous months, town commissioners pointed out how poor cellphone service could create problems when someone needs to call 911 in the event of an emergency. Also, it’s a detriment for anyone trying to business from their Longboat Key properties on the north end.

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All applications must be submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on October 19, 2021. All applicants must be registered voters of the Town of Longboat Key. Late applications may not be accepted.

Any member who fails to attend two of three consecutive scheduled and called regular meetings without cause, and without prior approval of the chairman shall automatically forfeit his appointment, and the Town Commission shall promptly fill the vacancy.

All members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment are required to file a financial disclosure form within 30 days after appointment and annually thereafter for the duration of the appointment as required by Florida Statues Chapter 112.

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The Town Commission may schedule a Meet and Greet with applicants at a later date. Please call the Office of the Town Clerk at 941-316-1999 for an application or if you have any questions.

Applications may be submitted to:

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License #: CFC1427129, CAC1815977, EC13009294

Savannah Cobb, Deputy Town Clerk Published: 10-6-2021

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Town of Longboat Key – Office of the Town Clerk 501 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key FL 34228 349080-1

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

HOW IT’S GOING FPL phase one n Original budget: $4.43 million n Current budget: $3.78 million n Engineering deposit/materials: $183,432 n Total savings: $460,0789 FPL phase two n Original budget: $7.3 million n Current budget: $5.63 million n Engineering deposit/materials: $1.49 million n Total savings: $185,613 FPL phase three n Original budget: $5.57 million n Current budget: $4.15 million n Engineering deposit/materials: $189,400 n Total savings: $1.24 million FPL phase four n Original budget: $7.91 million n Current budget: In negotiations n Engineering deposit/materials: $677,315 n Total savings: TBD Frontier/Comcast n Original budget: $3.02 million n Current budget: $2.83 million n Total savings: $185,294 Figures provided by the town of Longboat Key

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“I still think we’re looking favorable for the overall undergrounding costs to come in underneath the budget,” Smith said.

The plan is to finish the undergrounding project by the end of 2022.

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James Linkogle said Florida Power and Light is removing overhead light poles in phase one of the project, which is the southernmost of the four-phase project.

Crews started that process June 16, Linkogle said.

“A lot of the aerial crews were deployed for (Hurricane) Ida,” Linkogle said. “They have returned.”

CDM Smith consultant Mark Porter said the town is waiting for FPL to remove its remaining poles to finish phase-one work.

Phase two continues from the northern tip of the island to Dream Island Road. Wilco is working on installing FPL equipment and wiring in the Longbeach Village neighborhood and Bayou Hammock Road.

“Most of the conduits have been installed in that Gulf of Mexico Drive right of way,” Linkogle said.

Phase three work goes from Country Club Shores to the county line.

“Crews have completed all of the FPL conduit installations in that area, and they’re installing all of the splice boxes, switch boxes, so forth up to the 3700 block,” Linkogle said.

Porter said the project is on budget for the first three phases.

Phase four goes from Dream Island Road south to the county line. On Sept. 21, Linkogle said the town received the final binding cost estimate for phase four from FPL. The town will then submit the documentation to the Florida Department of Transportation for a right-of-way utility permit.

“Our permit for fiber and highway lighting is in review, and all of that work will commence within the next couple of weeks,” Linkogle said.

The town is in negotiations

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.childrenfirst.net/ flipflopsfashion

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

LONGBOAT

OPINION / OUR VIEW

Will the Sarasota City Commission defend voters’ choices?

“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

AN EXAMPLE OF A RANKED CHOICE BALLOT

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

President and Publisher / Emily Walsh EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes KHughes@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Eric Garwood EGarwood@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Mark Bergin, MBergin@ YourObserver.com; Nat Kaemmerer, NKaemmerer@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Andréa Martone, AMartone@ YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com

ADRIAN MOORE CONTRIBUTOR

I

n 2007, voters in the city of Sarasota approved adopting a ranked choice voting system for local elections with a 75% majority. After Sarasota voters approved the change in their voting system, the next step was for the Florida secretary of state to certify the software used to count votes in the new system, but they’ve refused to do so, requiring the city to seek a declaratory judgment to verify that what 75% of voters said they wanted is supported by the Florida Constitution.

Worse, when the City Commission just held a hearing Sept.

20 to discuss the issue, and many citizens, including myself, spoke up on the issue, almost all in favor of the commission taking action to defend the voters’ decision in 2007, the commission instead spent most of the time discussing whether each member of the commission personally thought ranked choice voting was a good idea.

Do we live in a democracy? Or are our votes just a suggestion?

What is ranked choice voting?

Ranked choice voting is not a bizarre fringe idea. A number of countries, including Canada and New Zealand, use it for national elections, and states including Utah, Colorado, Michigan and Oregon use it for local elections.

As the image above shows, a typical ranked choice election would have voters rank all of the candidates for a position, picking their first, second, third choices, and so on if there are more candidates.

If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, then the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated, and people who chose that candidate as their first choice will have their votes reallocated to their second choice. This continues until one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.

This system has a number of advantages over our usual “pick one candidate” voting system.

As New College political science professor Frank Alcock said at the Sept. 20 commission hearing, ranked voting allows voters to express much more completely their preferences — saying that who you select as first, second, etc., and last puts a lot more of your preferences into the final decision than does only getting to pick one candidate among many.

Ranked voting is popular with voters who experience using it.

At the hearing, commissioners

heard from Rank My Vote Florida, a statewide grassroots organization of Floridians advocating for ranked voting in their cities who gave a detailed presentation on the merits of ranked voting and its use around the world and across the U.S. Stan Lockhart, a former GOP chair for the state of Utah, also spoke in favor of ranked voting, explaining how popular and effective it has been in Utah since the state adopted it for local elections.

Polling results from a number of U.S. cities show that huge majorities of voters approve of ranked voting once they had a chance to use it, which is not surprising because ranked votes tend to result in winners that a large majority of people had in their top three choices.

Most people would prefer their second or third choice win to having their last choice win, and in many of our elections, people see either their first choice or their last choice win. Currently, it’s all or nothing, and a substantial minority are always deeply unhappy with the outcome, while in ranked voting, usually most people at least get their second or third choice and are less unhappy about the outcome.

Doesn’t that sound pleasant in an era in which it seems someone is disputing every election outcome?

What’s the sticking point in adopting ranked choice voting in Sarasota?

After Sarasota voters approved the change in their voting system, the next step was for the Florida secretary of state to certify the software used to count votes in the new system.

But they have refused to do so, citing the Florida Constitution Article VI, which states “General elections shall be decided by a plurality of votes cast.”

Ranked voting selects a winner who gets a majority, not just a plurality, of votes. But Florida law defines a general election as “an election held … for the purpose of filling national, state, county and district offices.” By

the state’s own legal definitions, the limitation cited by the secretary of state does not apply to municipal elections.

So not only did the City Commission discuss whether to give it their blessing, but the secretary of state also denied that ranked voting conformed to the Florida Constitution, when it fact it does conform. Citizens should be outraged at this paternalistic handling of voters’ clearly articulated decision to adopt ranked voting.

At the Sept. 20 meeting, the commission was to vote on the proposal for the city of Sarasota to seek a declaratory judgment that the Florida Constitution allows ranked voting in municipal elections. That would clear the way for the secretary of state to certify the software for the new city election system.

The city would bear no costs for seeking this judgment; Rank My Vote Florida has raised the money to pay for the lawyers and legal arguments and to bring the right stakeholders to the process to make the effort succeed.

The commission also heard from Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and Gainesville Commissioner Harvey Ward. They explained that both cities want to approve a move to ranked voting but are stymied by the secretary of state’s decision on

LEARN MORE

Hover your cellphone camera over the QR code below to view a short, informative video on ranked choice voting from not-forprofit Rank My Vote Florida.

Sarasota. Only Sarasota has legal standing to ask the courts to look at the secretary of state’s decision and to try to get a clearer reading on state law that would allow cities to adopt ranked choice voting.

So not only has the secretary of state’s misreading of the law denied Sarasota voters the voting system they overwhelmingly chose, but it has also prevented many other cities in Florida from adopting ranked choice voting for fear the secretary of state won’t certify their new election software either.

After more than an hour of discussion, the City Commission voted to approve the proposal to ask the court for a summary judgment with a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Hagen Brody the only no vote — in spite of 75% of his own city’s voters supporting ranked voting. But the next day, Vice Mayor Erik Arroyo asked the commission to revisit the decision in October. So it is not over yet.

This decision should not be even remotely controversial.

When 75% of city voters make a decision, the job of the commission is to respect and defend that vote, not to decide if they agree with the voters’ decision.

But unfortunately, the majority of the discussion and debate among commissioners Sept. 20 was, “Is ranked choice voting good?” not “Should we defend our voters’ decision or not?”

And the decision to table what Sarasotans voted for and revisit it is a shocking maneuver to stall and obstruct what voters want.

Rather than take the simple and costless step of asking the court for a ruling that will allow the choice of city voters to go into effect, the commission will again debate whether they agree with the voters’ decision.

It’s kind of outrageous.

Adrian Moore is the vice president of Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota.

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YourObserver.com

Town Commission keeps Zoom use for itself MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

T

Mark Bergin

Commissioner Penny Gold participated in the Sept. 27 meeting via Zoom.

needs to be out of town and still can participate, I think it’s to the benefit of the town to have them do so,” Gold said while participating in the workshop via Zoom.

Haycock, Dominick and Gold’s support of using virtual technology did not extend to the town’s other advisory boards.

“I don’t see all the committees the same,” Haycock said.

“Frankly, I see Planning and Zoning as the most important committee that we have that gives us advice and guidance, so I would just offer this to Planning and Zoning.”

Because Gold was out of town and did not meet one of the extraordinary conditions, she could participate in the discus-

28 Years in a Row!

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SUNDAY, SEPT. 26

RIDE GONE FLAT 11:42 a.m., 4200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: Police stopped to see if a cyclist with a flat tire was OK. The cyclist said his car was parked elsewhere in town but miles away, and he had no means of getting to it. While one officer stayed with the bike, another drove the cyclist to retrieve his vehicle and returned.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 28

SHOW ME THE WAY HOME 5:59 p.m., 200 block of Sands Point Road Citizen dispute: Security personnel called police after asking a patron who was being loud to leave. An officer agreed to take the man home.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 30

TONIGHT’S EPISODE: A WHIFF … OF DANGER 6:13 p.m., 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Fire assist: Police and fire units responded to a call about the odor of gas. Police blocked northbound and southbound traffic while fire rescue teams found the leak and capped it before a utility crew arrived.

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wedding or funeral attendance); and n A declared local, state or national emergency.

During a consensus vote, Mayor Ken Schneier and Commissioners Debra Williams, Maureen Merrigan and BJ Bishop indicated they were in favor of keeping Longboat Key’s virtual meeting rules in place for only the Town Commission.

Vice Mayor Mike Haycock and Commissioners Sherry Dominick and Penny Gold were in favor of allowing virtual participation for the P&Z Board.

“I still think that the higher purpose is to have the participation of other volunteers who are giving their time to the town, and if once in a while somebody

9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

365462-1

he Longboat Key Town Commission will no longer allow the town’s other advisory boards to meet virtually.

During the commission’s Sept. 27 workshop, Planning and Zoning Board member Jay Plager advocated for board members to have the same ability that town commissioners have to virtually participate at meetings.

“All we’re asking is that you provide us with the same degree of flexibility you provided yourselves in order to encourage the volunteers to continue to come and then come in person if they possibly can,” Plager said.

The Town Commission itself is allowed to use virtual technology, such as Zoom, to participate in meetings as long as a physical quorum of four commissioners is met.

A resolution passed in June provides a series of situations that would be considered “extraordinary” and approved before commission meetings.

The circumstances include: n Illness or disability; n Caring for a recovering or ill family member; n Attending an out-of-town event on the town’s behalf; n Travel related to health reasons; n Family obligation (i.e., family

sion of the Sept. 27 workshop but could not participate in the subsequent budget meeting.

Throughout the pandemic, Longboat Key Information Technology Director Jason Keen helped the town livestream its Town Commission and P&Z Board meetings using Zoom.

Town Manager Tom Harmer said the commission meetings are the only town meetings that are typically livestreamed.

“We don’t have the staff support or whatnot to do that,” he said. “If there’s a particular need to … ‘Zoom’ someone in because they’re testifying remotely or consulting remotely, that’s set up on a special-circumstance basis, and it would require one of our three IT staff to be here for that entire meeting.”

As recently as the P&Z Board’s June 15 hybrid meeting, Vice Chair David Lapovsky and member Margaret Nuzzo used Zoom to participate.

“I don’t think any of the people who have submitted to serve on any of our boards and commission do so thinking they’re going to do it from the comfort of their sofa, or they’re going to go on vacation, and maybe they may or may not have adequate Zoom coverage,” Bishop said.

“I can tell you the quality of Zoom and the quality of Skype does not allow the citizens of this community the quality of discussion that they deserve on important issues.”

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

The Tidewell Foundation and Empath Health welcome you to the Tidewell Foundation Building showcasing an outstanding group of health and wellness organizations ready to brighten the lives of the Longboat Key community.

To learn more, call 941-552-7546 or visit TidewellFoundation.org.

Nat Kaemmerer

540-546 Bay Isles Road

Kiwanis Lawn Party coming along

Upcoming Programs

NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

546 Bay Isles Road, LBK MONDAYS 10-11am Stretch & Strengthen 1-3pm Thinking Out Loud Discussion Group

TUESDAYS 10-11am Qi Gong 11am-12pm Hula Dance 1-3pm Mah Jongg

OLLI Lectures October 13 - 10am The Cigar Industry and How it Changed Florida October 20 - 10am Florida & the Dawning of the Space Age MOVIE Matinees October 7 - 1pm: “Poms” October 21 - 1pm: “Grumpy Old Men”

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Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Michael Garey started off the club’s Sept. 30 meeting with good news for the upcoming Lawn Party: The Doris M. Carter Family Foundation will match the club’s fundraising with $20,000 put toward the 50/50 raffle.

Children’s Guardian Fund Executive Director Svetlana Ivaschchenko delivered the news and said the foundation has been a supporter of the organization in the past. Children’s Guardian Fund will be the beneficiary of the Dec. 4 event, and the club is busy gathering other supporters willing to donate to grow the funds that will go toward supporting the Sarasota nonprofit, which helps foster children in the area.

Garey, who is also the co-chair of the Lawn Party, provided an update on the club’s planning and offered an outlook on the next 45 days. A checklist of the myriad tasks to complete revealed a lot ahead, but the club has already determined raffle prizes, a site for the party, several sponsors,

IF YOU GO

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Cost: Entry tickets $75; raffle tickets $50.

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Woody and Sue Wolverton, front right, made a personal donation of $5,000 to the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key’s December Lawn Party.

ticket pricing and two presenting restaurants. It also has a website set up.

“This was a great month, and from where we stand, we have a lot of momentum,” Garey said.

As of now, the club has $19,000 in committed sponsorships between the Longboat Key Foundation, Bronze sponsors Design World, SecurAll and Wright Way Emergency Services and Publix and Waste Management. Member Woody Wolverton and his wife, Sue, made a personal donation of $5,000 to the Lawn Party during the meeting, as well.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

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NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

If you live on Longboat Key, why not work on Longboat Key? That’s the idea behind Sunbiz Works, a new coworking business on the island that opened in August.

Owner Ken Goldenberg is using space in the Mediterranean Plaza building at 595 Bay Isles Road, Suite 120, to provide offices that professionals can rent by the hour, day, week or month; a conference room rented on similar schedules; and a mailbox service for clients to have a professional address to attach to their business. Although he’s only been open for about a month, Goldenberg said he has already acquired a few clients, including a senior vice president and other high-powered, islandliving businesspeople.

“As we move forward from COVID, the rules have changed,” Goldenberg said. “Companies are now trying to figure out how to best leverage their existing assets in real estate and offices, how that’s changing and learning to deal with the adaptability.

They need to let their employees work where they believe they’re

Courtesy photo

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Goldenberg worked in sales and marketing for technology companies and was often on the road himself, so he knows the struggle of trying to find a remote workspace. With the post-pandemic

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OCTOBER 2021 Escape To Margaritaville ................. Oct. 29 NOVEMBER 2021 An Evening with Bruce Hornsby ................................... Nov. 11 Straight No Chaser: Back In The High Life ....................... Nov. 12 50 Years of Rock & Roll, Part 4 .................................................. Nov. 18 Kathleen Madigan ........................... Nov. 19 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas .......................................... Nov. 20 America: 50th Anniversary Tour ..................... Nov. 21 Come From Away ........................ Nov. 23-28 Cirque Dreams Holidaze ................. Nov. 29 Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas 2021 ................................ Nov. 30

DECEMBER 2021 Michael Londra’s Celtic Yuletide ..................................... Dec. 1 The Temptations and The Four Tops ...................................... Dec. 2 The Allman Family Revival ............... Dec. 3 Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas 2021 ................. Dec. 4 STOMP .................................................. Dec. 5 David Foster: Hitman Tour ................ Dec. 6 George Thorogood And The Destroyers ............................ Dec. 7 Joe Bonamassa ................................... Dec. 8 Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony ......................................... Dec. 14 Jefferson Starship ............................ Dec. 31

JANUARY 2022 Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert ............................. Jan. 3 Renée Fleming .................................... Jan. 5 Il Divo .................................................... Jan. 6 Proud Tina: The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner ...................... Jan. 13 Jay Leno ............................................. Jan. 15 The Righteous Brothers .................. Jan. 16 Beautiful — The Carole King Musical ............. Jan. 18-19 Bernadette Peters ............................ Jan. 23 Tango Fire .......................................... Jan. 24 Jersey Boys ................................... Jan. 25-26 Harry Connick, Jr. .............................. Jan. 27 Kansas: Point Of Know Return ..................................... Jan. 28 New Shanghai Circus ....................... Jan. 29

The Choir of Man .............................. Jan. 30 FEBRUARY 2022 An American in Paris ....................... Feb. 2-3 A Tribute to Aretha Franklin ............. Feb. 9 Reza: Edge of Illusion ....................... Feb. 10 Audra McDonald ............................... Feb. 11 The Simon & Garfunkel Story ......... Feb. 12 The Four Phantoms In Concert ....... Feb. 14 Gladys Knight .................................... Feb. 15 Dancing with the (ON SALE OCT 8) Stars: LIVE! .........................................

Feb. 17 Paul Anka — Greatest Hits: His Way ..................... Feb. 20 Celtic Thunder: Ireland .................... Feb. 23 Stayin’ Alive ....................................... Feb. 24 Engelbert Humperdinck ................. Feb. 28

MARCH 2022 The Sweet Caroline Tour .................. Mar. 1 Menopause the Musical®.................. Mar. 2 Celtic Woman: Postcards From Ireland .................... Mar. 3 RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles ......................................... Mar. 6 Masters of Illusion ............................. Mar. 7 Itzhak Perlman in Recital ................ Mar. 8 Neil Berg’s 112 Years of Broadway ....................................... Mar. 9 The TEN Tenors: Love is In the Air ............................... Mar. 10 Sheléa: Natural Woman .................. Mar. 16 An Evening with Chris Botti ............ Mar. 17 Anastasia ..................................... Mar. 18-20 Steve Solomon: My Mother’s Italian . . . ................... Mar. 21

MARTINA McBRIDE

ABBA: The Concert ........................... Mar. 27 The Price Is Right Live ..................... Mar. 29 APRIL 2022 Kenny G ................................................ Apr. 5 An Officer and A Gentleman .................................... Apr. 6-7 Terry Fator ......................................... Apr. 10 Rick Thomas: Mansion of Dreams .......................... Apr. 11 Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance Tour ............................... Apr. 12 South Pacific ................................ Apr. 14-15 Fiddler On The Roof ..................... Apr. 19-21 (ON SALE OCT 8) Diana Krall .........................................

Apr. 23 Motown With a Twist ...................... Apr. 26 MAY 2022 One Night of Queen ........................... May 7

SPONSORS: Wilde Lexus Sarasota, ABC7, Van Wezel Foundation, AT&T, Herald-Tribune Media Group, WUSF Public Media, Ameniti Bay Sarasota Hotel & Suites, Hyatt Regency Sarasota, Michael’s on East, Observer Media Group, WEDU PBS, Arts Advocates, SNN Suncoast News Network, Sarasota Magazine, The Mall at University Town Center, Eager Beaver Car Wash, Bonefish Grill, Mattison’s Bayside, 107.9 WSRZ, Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering, Piano Distributors, Hotel Indigo, Embassy Suites Sarasota, The Sarasota Modern, BNI Business by the Bay Sarasota, Lyteworks, Gettel Automotive, Encompass Health, PDQ, Culver’s, FPL

941.263.6799 vanwezel.org

GROUP SALES: 941.263.6726 BOX OFFICE: Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-4 Open later Saturday and Sunday (on show days only)

Save on most shows. Discounts not applicable for Golden Circle or Smart Seats.

Tickets include $2 parking fee, $5 surcharge and sales tax (if applicable).

Prices, dates and times subject to change without notice.

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landscape and changing face of working, he’s trying to find the best ways to accommodate all kinds of clients.

“It accelerated what was to come,” Goldenberg said. “Companies are facing an interesting challenge now because of the new way to work and hybrid ideas about how to approach work.

Some of that’s being answered by technology, but not all of it because there’s also a human side of it that they have to consider.”

The whole place is equipped with high-speed internet that connects throughout the building, which allows workers or executives to move about from one workspace to another without the need to reconnect.

The conference room will easily become what Goldenberg calls the Zoom Room to accommodate the new way of conferencing.

There will also be a membership option so clients can access lower rental fees.

“We have the ability because we’re small to be agile and accommodate unique customers quickly,” Goldenberg said.

Goldenberg is working closely with Jim Getzen, who owns the Mediterranean Plaza building.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

OPEN FOR WORK n Membership to Sunbiz Works costs $199 per month and includes unlimited access to open coworking space, five days’ use of a private office suite and three hours’ use of the conference room. n An open space day pass is $25 per day, and private suites are $50 per day. The conference room costs $15 per hour.

Nat Kaemmerer

Ken Goldenberg says he tries to find the best solution for his clients.

Getzen leases offices on annual contracts, so the temporary and permanent options provide good balance for any potential clients.

“Ken approached me with the idea of offering a portion of Mediterranean Plaza as an open, flexible office concept,” Getzen said.

“As the definition of how we work continues to evolve, I am excited

Run for the Kitties

to partner with Sunbiz Works to meet changing market demands and maximize our space use.”

The idea is that Getzen and Goldenberg will be able to direct clients each other’s way based on what they need.

“I’m the opening price point proposition for long-term tenants, and that migration can occur

very smoothly, so that as their business grows, they can leverage up to a full annual commitment for space,” Goldenberg said. “It’s working really well because I’ve had several people he’s given me reference to and vice versa.”

Goldenberg said that flexibility and adaptability are what he’s most concerned about as Sunbiz

Works gets more established. He thinks he might see a seasonal demand as snowbirds or vacationers begin working remotely and is curious to see what other clients he attracts.

Goldenberg will be aiming to bring in more mid-level and entry-level workers as well and allow for more collaboration across industries.

“If you’re in the open, coworking space, chances are you’re going to be near someone who knows the answer to your question,” Goldenberg said.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

First Physicians Group Welcomes

Ramsay Kuo, MD We are pleased to welcome the latest Urology specialist to the First Physicians Group (FPG) network. Board certified and fellowship trained, Dr. Kuo brings substantial experience in surgical and medical treatment of conditions affecting the urinary tract including kidney stones, enlarged prostate, kidney obstruction and kidney tumors. He also has extensive experience performing the highly specialized Holmium Laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) procedure to treat severe prostate enlargement.

Specialty & Board Certification: Urology Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA Residency: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC Fellowship: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

For information and referrals: (941) 917-5400

TRIBUTES Ruth Ann (nee Ihlenburg) Young 1935-2021 Ruth Ann (nee Ihlenburg) Young of Longboat Key, formerly of Stony Brook and Garden City, Long Island, NY, died on September 17, 2021, at Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, FL, surrounded by loving family members.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, Richard (Dick). She was predeceased by her parents, Harry Ihlenburg and Mildred (nee Boepple), and by her brother, Richard. Other survivors are her daughter Tracy Kohl (Skip) of Allentown, PA, and sons Robert (Caitlin O’Brien) of Harpers Ferry, W VA, and William, of Safety Harbor, FL. Ruth Ann took great pride in and adored her three Kohl granddaughters: Caitlin, Elizabeth and Chelsea. Mrs. Young is also survived by several nieces, a nephew, and numerous cousins.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on December 16, 1935, Ruth Ann was a 1953 graduate of Garden City (NY) H.S., and a member of the Cedar Crest College (Allentown, PA) Class of 1957. A life-long learner, she was a teacher, educational specialist and administrator in the Miller Place Union Free School District, Long Island, NY. Services will be private. Persons desiring to contribute memorials are asked to consider a gift to Tidewell Hospice of Sarasota, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238

DONATIONS: Persons desiring to contribute memorials are asked to consider a gift to Tidewell Hospice of Sarasota, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238

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First Physicians Group Urology 1921 Waldemere St., Suite 310, Sarasota, FL 34239 firstphysiciansgroup.com

A life-long learner, she was a teacher, educational specialist and administrator in the Miller Place Union Free School District, Long Island, NY.

from the to the

October 9 through

November 28 PRESENTING SPONSOR

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

THEATER PREVIEW:

THE SHOWS GO ON IN 2021

T

Theatre Odyssey: One-Act Play Festival

he play’s the thing, but what kind of thing?

The pandemic stretched the

definition to include digital reality, whether virtual, augmented or remote. As a hard-core science fiction fan, I applauded this evolutionary leap. But who am I kidding? Squinting at flickering images on a screen can be futuristic fun, but it’s no substitute for parking your posterior in a nondigital theater seat.

— MARTY FUGATE

The Players Centre for Performing Arts: ‘[title of show]’

Small is beautiful. Creatively, it’s hard. Sonnets, short stories and one-act plays demand a laser focus. The rare gift of speaking your mind Susan Miller is one of the — and knowing when featured playwrights. to stop. The taciturn talents behind these micro-mini plays have that gift. This annual festival is their chance to prove it.

To be clear, it’s a friendly/fierce competition, with no awards for showing up. Only four one-act submissions make the cut. That’s what you’ll see staged here.

Last year’s one-act festival was canceled, but it’s coming back strong this year — live and in person.

See it for yourself. And try not to blink.

If you go: Oct. 14-17; Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton; 799-7224; TheatreOdyssey.org.

Asolo Repertory Theatre: ‘Hair’ A tsunami of rock musicals flooded Broadway in the late 1960s. “Hair” was, perhaps, the hairiest.

This literally revolutionary show sang the praises of a tribe of long-haired hippies dodging landlords (and the draft) in snowy New York City. These bohemians turn on, tune in, dig the counterculture scene, make love (not war) and sing.

Courtesy photos Sounds groovy, man.

But these noble savages could also inflict savage power trips on each other. This musical paints a warts-and-all portrait of these lost boys and girls.

Songs like “Hair,” “The Age of Aquarius” and “Let the Sunshine In” evoke the beautiful, peaceful, loving utopia they envisioned.

Josh Rhodes directs and choreographs. The expanded minds of Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado dreamed the original dream.

If you go: Nov. 20 to Jan. 1; FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail; 351-8000; AsoloRep.org.

Digital theater was a forced experiment.

This year’s return to reality is a choice.

No, gentle reader. Our eagle-eyed proofreader didn’t let a typo slip by. “[title of show]” is this show’s title. Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell’s musical comedy puts a spin on the “Let’s Put on a Show” genre.

The story itself is a farce about painful artistic struggle. An unpublished playwright and an unsung composer try to hack out a script to submit to a musical theater festival. It’s their chance to make it big — the clock is ticking; the deadline looms. Does the fictional show-within-the-show go on? That would be telling. But in the real world, the show is comedy gold.

If you go: Oct. 7-17; Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail; 365-2494; ThePlayers.org.

Florida Studio Theatre: ‘Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story’ Buddy Holly played from his heart.

Alan Janes’ musical biography goes straight to the heart of the man and his music.

His portrait of the artist as a young rocker digs deeper than the cute, cuddly cliche. Holly was a nice guy with a big smile, but he was also a musical revolutionary. In his short, happy life, Holly reinvented his art form and refused to let the music industry big shots put him in a “country music” box. Janes’ musical delivers familiar Holly hits including “Peggy Sue” and “Everyday” and a few cool tunes you’ve probably never heard of. Director Jason Cannon keeps it simple. He figures Holly would have wanted it that way.

If you go: Oct. 12-17; FST Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.; 366-9000; FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Paula Broadwater and Sylvia Day will perform.

SaraSolo: FallFest

After a two-year exile in the digital deserts of YouTube, the talents of SaraSolo Productions have returned to mundane, earthly reality.

In Shakespearean terms, the troupe’s 2021 FallFest will have a local habitation and a name. In plain English, it’ll happen at Crossings at Siesta Key on a “Pop-Up” stage.

Clara Francesca, Sylvia Day, Dennis McSorley, Paula Broadwater and other solitary savants will dance, sing, perform skits and mini-plays, tell jokes and stories, and fool around.

If you go: Oct. 12-17; 3501 S. Tamiami Trail; 356-5674; SaraSolo.org/2021-fallfest.

5 Ways to Worship at All Angels

St. Armands Key

All Angels Episcopal Church | 563 Bay Isles Rd

LUTHERAN CHURCH

• Indoor worship services this Sunday at 10 am • Drive-in Church, Sunday at 10:00. Tune your car radio to 107.5 FM

JOIN US FOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP SUNDAYS AT 9 & 11AM

or worship with us online at saklc.com/live or on Facebook

• Walk-up Church, enjoy the garden setting and listen to the service • Live-stream - go to AllAngelsLBK.org to watch on-line

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

941-383-8161 • www.AllAngelsLBK.org

Growing in Jesus’ Name

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• Zoom service - email dave@allangelsLBK.org for the link

Saturday, Oct. 16 •12:30-4:30 Live Music & Great Food!

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St. Armands Key Lutheran Church • 40 North Adams Dr., Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234 • Questions? Contact: michael@saklc.com

Worship With Us at Our Church

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

Sunday Service 10:00 AM The Dr. Fred The Rev.Rev. Dr. Norman M.Finks Pritchard

Would like to Welcome & Invite You, Your Family Members & Friends to Celebrate Mass with Our Parish Community

Catholic Church

Masks Are Optional

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www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or www.christchurchof lbk.org (follow YouTube link)

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

•

941.383.8833 (office)

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An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

•

www.christchurchlbk.org

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

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

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

Lord’s Warehouse Thrift Shop will be CLOSED the month of September

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Visitors & Residents Welcome Watch Our 10:00 AM Service Live: 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 383-1255 • www.stmarylbk.org

SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 & 10:30 AM Daily Mass at 9:00 AM- Monday through Friday Confessions after daily Mass or by appointment

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

Temple Beth Israel

The Center of Jewish Living on Longboat Key

Please join us for Friday Evening Shabbat Services at 7:30pm each week in our Sanctuary, and morning Shabbat service & Torah Study at 10:00 am every Saturday.

Check our website for more information on upcoming events & programs, including the NEW Education Center at TBI offerings!

If you’d like to join our mailing list, send an email to office@tbi-lbk.org to stay up to date!

Due to the rise of Covid cases in our area, we will require masks & encourage social distancing until further notice.

941.383.3428 | www.tbi-lbk.org

RABBI STEPHEN L. SNIDERMAN, D.D.

567 Bay Isles Road • Longboat Key, FL

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Classifieds 29 Games 28 Real Estate 25 Weather 28

OCTOBER 7, 2021

YOUR NEIGHBORS

LONGBOAT’S HOTTEST SUMMER READS

“BOOKSELLER OF FLORENCE: THE STORY OF THE MANUSCRIPTS THAT ILLUMINATED THE RENAISSANCE” BY ROSS KING

The volunteers of the Longboat Library gave a rundown of their best books.

CLUB DATES

The Longboat Library is bringing book club back for the winter season and will host one a month from November until April. All meetings will be at 4 p.m., and a venue will be determined in early fall. After Oct. 23, you can call Pat Geraci at 383-7916 for information.

Nov. 9: “This Tender Land” by William Kent Krueger Dec. 14: “Radium Girls”

by Kate Moore Jan. 11: “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah Feb. 8: “American Dirt”

by Jeanine Cummins March 8: “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett April 12: “Secrets Between Us” by Thrity Umriger

W

hat is sunny and relaxing and has readers all over? Longboat Key in

the summer. The island’s most dedicated page-turners stayed busy with plenty of good books over the hottest months and are here to share what’s worth picking up from the shelves.

“HAMNET” BY MAGGIE O’FARRELL

After all, you can try to take the librarian out of the library, but if the Longboat Library is anything to go by, it probably won’t work. Volunteer librarians and avid readers who frequent the island’s little library narrowed down their favorite reads from over the summer to recommend to Longboat Observer readers.

—NAT KAEMMERER

“THE NAZI MENACE”

BY BENJAMIN CARTER HETT

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Courtesy photos

Nat Kaemmerer

Barbara Torrence says she loved “Hamnet” the most of all the books she read this summer.

Clancy Schueppert, a volunteer librarian, reads nonfiction almost exclusively and thoroughly enjoyed this panoramic portrait of the years leading up to World War II. The book begins in 1937 as Adolf Hitler rises to power.

It takes readers behind the scenes in cities that would become vital influences in the conflict to come. Political unease in Washington, D.C.; Berlin; Moscow; and London is brought to the forefront.

Barbara Torrence, a volunteer librarian, often reaches for historical fiction, and as far as favorite summer reads, “Hamnet” was the first to come to mind. It’s the story of young William Shakespeare, his wife and their son, Hamnet, who dies of Black Death just as Shakespeare’s stage career is catching fire.

Anne Roberts brought a box full of books on her summer travels to see family in Colorado. She went through a wide gamut of topics, from ballet and Ernest Hemingway to the California of her youth and art.

However, one that really stuck with her was “The Bookseller of Florence,” which is written by an art historian who crafts a picture of 15th-century Italy and a biography of “the king of the world’s booksellers,” Vespasiano da Bisticci. It tells the story of the world at the time and how books and bookmaking evolved.

“It was sort of like going back to library school,” Roberts said. “It reminded me of my history of books class back in the ’60s.”

“THIS TENDER LAND” BY WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER Amy Roth, a volunteer librarian, read “This Tender Land” for the second time over the summer. She’s part of three book clubs, and one of them reread the book, which follows four children who escape an abusive school and set out to search for their own home. The book club of the Longboat Library will kick off its own schedule with this book. Roth said “This Tender Land” sticks with her because of the relationship between the children as they face the ups and downs of being on their own and looking for a place to call home.

“THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN” BY MARIE BENEDICT AND VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY Susan Jones, another Longboat librarian, said her favorite book from over the summer was this historical fiction story that follows a Black woman in her 20s who passes as white and works for J.P. Morgan as his personal librarian.

Jones said she’s noticed that the novels “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett and “The Dictionary of Lost Words”

by Pip Williams often don’t stay on library shelves for long. “The Vanishing Half,” which the library will discuss in its March book club, follows twin Black women whose lives take different paths. “The Dictionary of Lost Words” follows a young woman who seeks out the words she has noticed are left out of the Oxford English Dictionary that describe the lives of women and common people.

“MEET ME AT THE MUSEUM”

BY ANNE YOUNGSON Stella Kelley, a frequent librarygoer, loved the format of this book, which is told in a series of letters between pen pals who feel trapped in life and done with love. It’s another historical novel that takes readers through the latter half of the 20th century. An English farm wife and a professor from Denmark both find themselves unsatisfied with life and sharing interest in the bog body known as the Tollund Man, and their letters become more intimate.

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I A N A DDY, PA I ARN E A LAT DDY, O R ® , M B PA A R E A LT O R ®, M B A

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G A I L W IT T IG IL TI IG BG RA OK E RW - A SIT SOC ATE

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

*Terms of Offer: Submit your rebate ONLINE ONLY at NAPARebates.com and enter code: NAPAAUTOCARE. Submit with the installation receipt, showing the qualifying NAPA® part numbers circled. Must claim online by 05/15/21. Receipt must be dated during promotion period of 03/01/21 through 04/30/21 to be eligible for this offer. Offer may not be combined with any other offer or applied toward warranty service or replacement parts. Group or organization request will not be honored.Dealers, distributors and other resellers are not eligible for this offer.Use of multiple addresses or PO Boxes to obtain additional reward is fraud and may result in prosecution. Employees of participating stores and dealers, and their immediate families are not eligible for this offer.This offer is only valid to US residents. Limit one (1) rebate per receipt or two (2) per household/address. Cards are issued by Bank of America, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa®Inc. These cards are not credit cards and expire six (6) months from issue and have no value after that date. These cards may be used for purchases at merchants that accept Visa® debit cards.These cards may be subject to fees and certain restrictions on use.See your cardholder agreement and associated materials for details.Void where prohibited.Vendor is not responsible for non-delivered mail due to inaccurate address supplied nor for misprints or typographical errors. By submitting this rebate, you have read and agree to the rebate terms and requirements of this offer.

5608 MARINA DR., HOLMES BEACH, 34217

(NEXT TO DOMINOS PIZZA) 941-896-7898 • GROOMSAUTO.COM

Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

Chamber networking sizzles at Fleming’s Steakhouse

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Above: Ramin Mesghali and Glenn Wise mingle before sitting down to hear chamber updates and win raffle prizes.

Top: Jack Dean, Jan Jordan, Heather Gaus and Jonathan Winans

usiness hours drew to a close on Sept. 29, but members of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce kept the business talks going long after at Fleming’s Steakhouse for a Business After Hours event.

Chamber members traveled off the Key to mingle in a dining room at Fleming’s Steakhouse. Ambassadors brought in new members and members who hadn’t been part of the chamber for very long, introducing them to businesses on and off Longboat Key. Attendees dropped their business cards in for a chance to win raffle prizes and, after an hour of drinks, went around to speak about their businesses in the hopes of making connections.

—NAT KAEMMERER

WHETHER YOU’RE LISTING OR LOOKING...

I bring over 10 years of experience in the negotiation of high stakes contracts for buyers and sellers on Florida’s Suncoast.

YOU CAN BE ASSURED YOUR PROPERTY WILL ACHIEVE ITS MAXIMUM MARKET POTENTIAL.

RECENTLY SOLD AND PENDING LISTINGS

THE CONCESSION 8486 Lindrick SOLD! $4,500,000

BIRD KEY 472 Partridge Circle SOLD! $3,900,000

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES 591 Golf Links ACTIVE LISTING! $4,895,000

BIRD KEY 224 Bird Key Drive SOLD! New Construction

BIRD KEY 378 Bob White Drive PENDING! $4,400,000 Listed & Developed by Jeff Rhinelander

BIRD KEY 394 Bob White Drive SOLD! $1,925,000

Represented Seller & Buyer

Developed & Sold by Jeff Rhinelander

941.685.3590 Jeff@JeffRhinelander.com JeffRhinelander.com

Represented Buyer

443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE. F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 595 BAY ISLES ROAD, STE. 250 | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 365526-1

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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L’Ambiance - Longboat Key

Beachplace - Longboat Key

Epoch - Sarasota

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

|

19

Cherokee Park - West of Trail

CALL US FOR THE LATEST PROPERTIES AVAILABLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES!

941-387-1820

NOW AVAILABLE - $1,595,000

Terrace - Siesta Key

Sanderling Club - Siesta Key

The Landings - Siesta Key

Plaza at 5 Points - Sarasota

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

“Professional yet Personal! Ryan and his team hold the highest standards of professionalism.. That being said, they also impart their personal touch and caring to getting your job done.

Barbara, knowing Real Estate so well, covers every possibility toward success. The Ackerman group definitely goes above and beyond, working every angle From bringing your property to market through the final closing. I cannot recommend them highly enough.” - Bonnie W.

PROUD SUPPORTERS

OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net

ackermansrq.com

BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.net

OUR ACTIVITY IN SEPTEMBER NEW LISTING

575 Sanctuary Dr. #A401 Representing Seller

PENDING SALE

SAGE - Longboat Key Representing Buyer

PENDING SALE

3315 Sabal Cove Drive Representing Seller

PENDING SALE

988 Blvd. of the Arts #1515 Representing Buyer

PENDING SALE

575 Sanctuary Dr. #A401 Representing Seller

PENDING SALE

SOLD

SOLD

SOLEMAR - Pompano Beach

1701 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #608

380 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #511

Representing Buyer

Represented Seller

Represented Buyer

PENDING SALE

1755 Oak Lakes Drive Representing Buyer

SOLD

111 S. Pineapple Ave. #917 Represented Buyer

This is not a solicitation of another broker’s listing.. Market data supplied by Market Quest June 2021.

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443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 • 595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

BIRD OF THE WEEK A closer look at the feathered friends with which we share Longboat.

Piping plover P

donate & shop Building Materials | Furniture | Appliances Art | Decorative Accessories | Lamps

3 Stores n 1 Location Tuesday - Saturday n 10:00am - 5:00pm 2095 17th Street n Sarasota Have large items to donate?

Call to schedule your free pick up.

(941) 444-5783

n

www.habitatsrq.org

Our vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live.

347888-1

iping plovers are small, migratory shorebirds.

Their light sand-colored plumage blends in with beaches and sand flats, their primary habitat, as an adaptation protecting them from predators.

At first glance, they look similar to their relatives, the snowy plovers. Look at their legs to tell them apart: Piping plover legs are yellow-orange. Although piping plovers do not breed in Florida, these snow birds spend a large portion of the year wintering here.

Nearly wiped out in the late 19th century due to hunting for the hat trade, piping plovers are still a species of great concern. They have been listed as a federally threatened species since 1985, when there were fewer than 2,500 breeding pairs estimated in the U.S. and Canada. By 2017, U.S. Fish & Wildlife estimated that the total breeding population of piping plovers had dropped to 1,899.

The main threats to piping plovers are habitat loss and degradation due to coastal development because they depend upon wide-open, wild beaches for both their breeding and wintering habitats. Indeed, historical records indicate that wintering piping plovers have been extirpated from entire counties in Florida (including Sarasota) over the past 50 years.

Interestingly, in recent years, a

Miri Hardy

high percentage of migrant and wintering piping plovers have been recorded in Florida’s state park and preserve beaches. This highlights the importance of our undeveloped coastal parks to piping plovers and other shorebirds and the need to continue to support these areas and protect them from development.

By understanding that even when not nesting shorebirds need their space and are extremely vulnerable to predators, such as crows, gulls, dogs and domestic cats, we can also help by reducing beach disruptions.

In recent years, a high percentage of migrant and wintering piping plovers have been recorded in Florida’s state park and preserve beaches.

— MIRI HARDY, SAVE OUR SEABIRDS

Save our Seabirds is a nonprofit whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick and injured wild birds. Follow @SaveOurSeabirds to learn more.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

21

REID MURPHY PRESENTS

LUXURY ON THE WATER Reid Murphy is an expert realtor backed by 30+ years of experience in the luxury real estate market of Longboat Key and surrounding areas. Passionate about providing realtor services beyond ordinary, and his ability to understand individual needs, along with a commitment to deliver a smooth transaction makes him one of the most sought after real estate agents in the region.

Buying or selling, Reid will lead you through a smooth and successful real estate experience throughout Sarasota, the islands, Bird Key, Lido, and St. Armands.

NEW LISTING

CASEY KEY GULF FRONT $6,000,000 Spectacular opportunity! Gulf front estate lot directly on the beach. Includes a Bayfront dock w/ power, water & hydraulic lift for 40 ft. boat plus excellent water depth. 12 ft above sea level, mature landscaping for great privacy.

LIDO KEY POLK

LONGBOAT KEY PRE-CONSTRUCTION

Close to everything! 3 Level Coastal Home w/Gulf & city views from 20’x20’ roof top deck w/elevator & stair chair service. 5/ BD 6/BA all w/en-suite private baths. Impressive pool area with eleveatd spa and rock waterfall. One block to beach.

Unique opportunity to purchase a waterfront dream home on an extremely private estatesized lot. 5BR, 5.5BA home,4,400 SF. Pool w/ spa. Deep water dock. $3,995,000

$3,875,000 HOLMES BEACH ISLAND PARADISE

LONGBOAT KEY GRAND MARINER

Gulf front. Furnished 3BD/2BA open plan in this six unit complex with great rental opportunities.

Bayfront 3BD/4BA, second floor 2,928 SF. Deep water dock with power, water, pump station & 20,000 lb. lift.

Privately coded elevator & 2 car garage.

$1,125,000

$2,295,000

Developers Realty Inc. Lic. Real Estate Broker

www.ReidMurphy.com

595 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key, FL 34228

365358-1

BUYING or SELLING Call Reid for a successful real estate experience!

CALL REID TODAY! | 941.232.3304

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

COMMUNITY SATURDAY, OCT. 9

JAGFEST ON THE CIRCLE From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on St. Armands Circle, the Suncoast Jaguar Club will have antique, classic and special interest Jaguars on display. Call 383-1554.

Now is a GREAT time to SELL!

FRIDAY, OCT. 15

DINNER AND A MOVIE At 5:30 p.m. at Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive, the Longboat Key Garden Club will put on its Dinner and a Movie event. Cocktails start at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the movie, “Space Cowboys,” at 8 p.m. There will be a live auction during the event. Tickets are $75 and include dinner, popcorn, beer, wine, champagne and live music.

Call 387-1909, or visit LBKGardenClub.org to buy tickets.

WHY? Our sellers are receiving multiple offers and top dollar!

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS

Consider Selling Your Property In This Robust Market

STRETCH & STRENGTHEN From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Focus is on strength-training and flexibility. Fee is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

Call today for a no-obligation, no-cost market analysis!

Home values are up. Inventory is low...it’s a seller’s market.

Get the most trusted source of local market conditions from your local area real estate professionals at Wagner Realty.

TUESDAYS

Call our experts at Wagner Realty 941.383.5577

Longboat Key Office • 5360 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Ste 101 • Longboat Key, FL Longboat Key • Anna Maria Island • Sarasota Lakewood Ranch • East & West Bradenton

www.WagnerRealty.com

SINGLE TICKETS

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Dia Wilson Rae Ellen Hayo More than 35 years of combined experience

QI GONG From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Qi gong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MAHJONG From 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Fun time for experienced players. To

BEST BET SATURDAY, OCT. 16

MAKING STRIDES FOR BREAST CANCER Starting at 9:30 a.m. at 546 Bay Isles Road, join The Paradise Center in a satellite “Making Strides for Breast Cancer” walk. The walk will be about 3 miles, and LBK Paradise Striders team captain Liz Yerkes will be offering massages for team members afterwards. Visit bit.ly/ ParadiseStriders to join the team.

For information, call Suzy Brenner at 383-6493.

check availability or to join a waitlist for a beginner class, please RSVP to MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org or 383-6493.

ROTARY CLUB Meets at 5 p.m. virtually on Zoom, every first and third Tuesday.

Call Nancy Rozance at 203-6054066, or email info@LongboatKeyRotary.org.

WEDNESDAYS

TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Cost is $10. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

GRIEVE NOT ALONE At 2 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This new peer-support group will bring together people who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Refreshments are served. RSVP by calling 383-6493.

INSPIRING HOPE DINNER

ON SALE

FRIDAY, NOV. 12, 2021 | 6:30-9:30

P.M.

THE RITZ-CARLTON SARASOTA, 1111 RITZ-CARLTON DRIVE, SARASOTA

Sunshine from Darkness presents an inspirational evening featuring two celebrity keynote speakers being recognized for their mental health advocacy and achievements: • Darryl Strawberry: baseball legend Darryl Strawberry

Steve Ford

• Steve Ford: actor, mental health advocate and son of former President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford The Lee & Bob Peterson Legacy Award will be presented to the Seidensticker Family in honor of their late father, Steve. Other event highlights include a “Hope Chest” raffle, silent auction, and live entertainment throughout the evening.

Co-chairs: Taylor Karp Teymuri and Sarah Karp. Tickets are $325; numerous sponsorships are available.

Journey to Wellness Symposium

PRESENTERS

SATURDAY, NOV. 13, 2021 | 8:45 A.M.-12:15 P.M.

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2021 - 2022 SEASON

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org

National and local mental health practitioners and scientists will discuss new treatments, discoveries, and insights on mental health issues. Topics will include better treatments for childhood disorders, creating a trauma-informed community, the impact of COVID-19 on young people, childhood and adolescent anxiety, and the nature of depression; a Q&A will follow the program. The goals of the symposium are to raise awareness of mental health and addiction disorders and to help erase the stigma surrounding them.

Three Continuing Education (CEU) credits will be available at no charge for LCSWs, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.

Michael H. Bloch, M.D., M.S.

Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D.

Joyce Carter, Psy.D., LMHC

Jennifer Katzenstein, Ph.D., ABPP-CN

Myrna Weissman, Ph.D.

Andrea Blanch, Ph.D. Moderator

TO LEARN MORE OR PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT SUNSHINEFROMDARKNESS.ORG

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HYATT REGENCY, 1000 BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS, SARASOTA FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Bruce Myer

Realtor

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

®

941.376.5311

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

New Listings Coming Every Week - Call me!

ST. ARMANDS KEY - 171 S. Washington Drive Magnificent waterfront property with over 11,000 SF of living space and protected dock to accommediate up to 70’ yacht.. $11,995,000 171swashington.com

Just Listed

GRAND BAY II - 3040 Grand Bay Blvd. #235 2BR+DEN/3.5BA Biscayne model with Bay and city views. $1,149,000 3040grandbay235.com

New Price

PLAYERS CLUB - 1425 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #501 Direct Gulf front views from this 3BR/3.5BA residence, 1 garage & 1 underbuilding parking space. $1,895,000 1425gulfofmexico501.com

Now Pending

BAY ISLES HARBOR SECTION - 1601 Harbor Cay Lane 4BR/4BA Canal front residence awaiting your personal style and touches.

Priced close to lot value. $2,895,000 1601harborcay.com

PORTOBELLO - 3240 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #B504 Meticulously maintained 2BR/2BA residence with water views. $619,000 3240gulfofmexicob504.com

ARLINGTON PARK - 2073 Grove Street, Sarasota New construction with designer finishes, Mark Sultana designed 3BR/3BA residence to be completed November 2021. $1,250,000

INN ON THE BEACH - 225 Sands Point Rd., #1604 Completely refurbished turnkey junior suite with excellent rental income. $625,000 225sandspoint1604.com

Wondering where to start your home search?

CALL BRUCE MYER 941.376.5311

Bruce@BruceMyer.com

IN 2021 OVER $100 MILLION IN SOLD & PENDING SALES

www.BruceMyer.com

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Visit brucemyer.com for the Seller’s story!

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

LONGBOAT KEY 25 Lighthouse Point Drive 4 Beds 6/1 Baths 6,025 Sq. Ft. Sherri Mills 941-350-7112 A4503359 $5,200,000

LONGBOAT KEY 230 Sands Point Road 3207 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,602 Sq. Ft. Thomas Cinquegrano 941-284-5049 A4511867 $1,995,900

LONGBOAT KEY 647 Marbury Lane 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 2,651 Sq. Ft. Sandi Layfield 941-914-2807 A4503569 $1,799,000

BRADENTON 6510 200th Street E 4 Beds 3 Baths 4,185 Sq. Ft. Leslie Emery & Aaron Corr 941-400-9710 A4489175 $1,675,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 2719 Gulf Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,119 Sq. Ft. Melinda Alvarez 941-704-0633 A4506596 $1,599,900

BRADENTON 20504 65th Avenue E 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,738 Sq. Ft. Aaron Corr & Leslie Emery 941-840-2346 A4509727 $1,599,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3540 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 303C 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,568 Sq. Ft. Sean Clark 941-312-1146 A4512315 $1,390,000

SARASOTA 1711 Baywood Way 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,358 Sq. Ft. Jami Kellogg 941-809-6931 A4488310 $1,200,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1445 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 201 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,274 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4504369 $1,137,000

SARASOTA 1899 Buccaneer Circle 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,942 Sq. Ft. Jami Kellogg 941-809-6931 A4505815 $995,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1701 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 303 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,551 Sq. Ft. Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4503585 $875,000

SARASOTA 1518 Bel Air Star Parkway 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,475 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4506654 $875,000

PARRISH 3911 Twin Rivers Trail 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,557 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4510445 $865,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1125 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 304 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,503 Sq. Ft. Connie Lyke Brown 941-302-1214 A4513304 $850,000

LONGBOAT KEY 691 Broadway Street 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,189 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4511396 $789,000

ST PETE 400 4th Avenue S 1004 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,384 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts & Cathy Palmer 941-266-1450 A4512905 $789,000

MYAKK A CITY 14555 Mossy Hammock Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 2079 Sq. Ft. Chris Baylis 941-735-4713 A4508053 $729,000

BRADENTON 3608 W 54th Drive W J101 & J102 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,776 Sq. Ft. Leah Secondo 941-545-4430 A4497828 $699,900

LONGBOAT KEY 4234 Gulf Of Mexico Drive A1 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,636 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4504718 $699,000

BRADENTON 1510 Scarlet Oak Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,825 Sq. Ft. Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4511677 $475,000

BRADENTON 5820 2nd Avenue Drive NW 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,149 Sq. Ft. Judy LaValliere & Megg Faillace 941-504-3792 A4512792 $475,000

BRADENTON 973 Waterside Lane 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,069 Sq. Ft. Gregory Zies & Kathy Valente 941-779-3081 A4513180 $440,000

PALMETTO 1504 3rd Street Circle E 3 Beds 4 Baths 2,848 Sq. Ft. Patty Brooks 941-545-1194 A4513069 $410,000

BRADENTON 3118 38th Terrace E 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,101 Sq. Ft. Rachelle Golden 941-538-8998 A4512923 $384,900

BRADENTON 101 22nd Street Court E 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,484 Sq. Ft. Patty Brooks 941-545-1194 A4513003 $350,000

BRADENTON 2309 35th Street W 5 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,292 Sq. Ft. Barbara Najmy 941-705-1158 A4507308 $339,000

SARASOTA 4619 Oak Trail Drive 48 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,124 Sq. Ft. Sally Piccolo 941-525-8295 A4509346 $330,000

PALMETTO 2915 8th Street Court W Debbie Vogler 941-705-3328 A4512663 $225,000

SARASOTA 1122 44th Street 2 Beds 1 Baths 1,120 Sq. Ft. Rachelle Golden & Peter Salefsky 941-538-8998 A4510661 $199,900

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SARASOTA 2052 Benjamin Franklin Drive D202 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,697 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4503738 $4,700,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 112 Mangrove Avenue 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 3,577 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4502423 $4,350,000

SARASOTA The Ritz-Carlton Tower Residences, 902 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,751 Sq. Ft. Joan Dickinson & Beth Afflebach 941-914-0496 A4499039 $3,450,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

SEPT. 20-24

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Sleepy Lagoon Park tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Rosemary Calandruccio, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 501 Norton St. to Kingdom Development Longboat LLC for $1.52 million. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 3,042 square feet of living area. It sold for $675,000 in 2001.

BEACHPLACE

Johnny Pineyro sold the Unit 101 condominium at 1075 Gulf of Mexico Drive to BP 7101 LLC for $1.3 million. Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,172 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2020.

BIRD KEY

David and Ester Pilston sold their home at 554 Blue Jay Place to Dockside Homes LLC for $987,000. Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,778 square feet.

25

REAL ESTATE

Sleepy Lagoon home sells for $1.52 million

|

Photo courtesy of Roger Pettingell

The home in Sleepy Lagoon was built on an oversized lot.

BAYVIEW ESTATES

Robert Mare sold the home at 559 Bayview Drive to 559 Bayview LLC for $799,500. Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,945 square feet of living area.

SEAPLACE

Frank Radtke, of Flushing, Michigan, sold his Unit M1-214-F condominium at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive to SMK LLC for $650,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 928 square feet of living area.

WINDWARD BAY

Tawana Edwards, of Goshen, Kentucky, sold her Unit PH-4 condominium at 4800 Gulf of Mexico Drive to James Michael Cooney and Luz Marina Nava, of Longboat Key, for $650,000.

Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,312 square feet of living area.

baths and 1,270 square feet of living area.

Billy Newman Cochran and Lauren Adele Cochran, of Dallas, sold their Unit PH-4 condominium at 4500 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Donald and Stephanie Cone, of Bradenton, for $629,900. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,096 square feet of living area.

210 Lido Rental LLC sold the Unit 210 condominium at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Laszlo Bevardi and Ottilia Varga, of Sarasota, for $385,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 593 square feet of living area.

FAIRWAY BAY

Natalie Kaufmann, of Tenafly, New Jersey, sold her Unit 116 condominium at 1930 Harbourside Drive to Andrew and Debra Forstenzer, of Hamilton, New York, for $563,500. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two

LIDO DORSET

BEACH HARBOR CLUB

Banofee LLC sold the Unit E-205 condominium at 3808 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Michael and Christi Turner, of Louisville, Kentucky, for $287,000. Built in 1970, it has one bedroom, one bath and 721 square feet of living area. It sold for $215,000 in 2018.

In with the new

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Sept. 24-30 in order of dollar amounts.

SALES GALLERY OPEN

L O N G B OAT K E Y ADDRESS 548 Halyard Lane

PERMIT APPLICANT Interior alterations Charles and Susan

AMOUNT $417,214

Longboat Key

Bucche 6877 GMD

Interior alterations Todd Lee Borck

$200,452

2509 GMD

Interior alterations Veranda Beach Club

$130,800

Condominium 2301 GMD #22N

Interior alterations Jeffrey G. Park Trust

1902 Harbour Links Drive

Interior alterations Eric Dranoff

595 Bowsprit Lane

Seawall

Daniel Lee Duenkel

759 Marbury Lane

Seawall

Robert E. Spanos

$49,875

561 Harbor Cove Circle

Install solar

Michael D. Taylor

$48,530

photovoltaic system

602 Weston Pointe Court

Spa addition and

Francis A. Lavey

$41,900

Daniel Lee Duenkel

$36,934

$128,567

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From the $2,000,000’s | Call for appointment. SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

MOVE-IN READY

$77,064 $57,650

pool resurfacing

595 Bowsprit Lane

Dock and lift

560 Wedge Lane

Foundation repairs Carl James Fangue

$35,041

3559 Fair Oaks Lane

Re-roof

Calin J. Peters

$32,430

608 Bayview Drive

Electrical

Anthony C. Skidmore

$31,937

510 Harbor Cay Drive

Dock

Hugh J. Ray III

$25,995

630 Emerald Harbor Drive

Pool cage

Bernard Francis McMahon $21,116

510 Harbor Cay Drive

Lift

Hugh J. Ray III

501 Bayport Way

Glass door

Andrew Mark Olinik

and windows

(E Life Estimate)

1211 GMD #811

A/C change-out

Seymour and Jayne Weiss $16,891

Downtown Sarasota Risdon on 5th | 941.365.1414 | From the low $600,000’s | RisdonOn5th.com

MOVE IN FALL 2022

$20,000

Downtown Sarasota

$19,055

Revocable Trust

1211 GMD #611

A/C change-out

Robert Flaum

$16,781

6501 GMD

Roof

Jody Rodgers

$15,996

541 Harbor Point Road

Irrigation

Dominic R. Zaccone II

$15,800

585 Sanctuary Drive Unit 201 Electrical

Agrisys Ventures 2 LLC $15,000

701 Lands End Drive

A/C change-out

John Edward Hansen

$13,786

1955 GMD #208

Electrical

Randall L. Tobias

$12,500

5940 GMD

Garage doors

Wagner Rolf-Jurgen

$11,685

Source: Town of Longboat Key

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | From the $2,000,000’s | Call for appointment. | thecollection1335.com

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

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

357310-1

WWW.MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM/NEW-HOMES | 844.591.4333 | SARASOTA, FLORIDA Prices as of September 2021.

Licensed Real Estate Broker

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

PET PICS Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them! Share them at YourObserver.com/contests/pet-pics to be published online and for a chance to see them in print!

EYES ON THE ROAD: Leo is 5 months old and lives with his parents, Ryan and Nelly, in Emerald Harbor on Longboat Key.

YOUR NEIGHBORS ASK YOU TO

VOTE YES ON THE NOV 2ND REFERENDUM

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

VOTE YES

941.724.7228

365384-1

To keep the Buttonwood Harbour residential entrance free from excessive noise and traffic associated with commercial development

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

The Observer’s

Weather

&Nature

VOTE YES

2021-22 PHOTO CONTEST

To help alleviate long-standing drainage issues in Buttonwood Harbour

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO TODAY!

VOTE YES To enhance the beauty and values of the Buttonwood Harbour residential neighborhood and Longboat Key

Tatiana Ortiz James L. Patton Park | Bradenton

YOUR PHOTO submission could win

Sponsored by

Paid political advertisement paid for by Better for Buttonwood, Best for Longboat Key Inc., PO Box 8645, Longboat Key, FL 34228.

KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

500

$

Submit your photos of spectacular local weather and nature displays.

Go to Yourobserver.com/contests for details.

349263-1

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT BETTERFORBUTTONWOOD.COM

365545-1

26

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THE BEST

Just got better

|

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

27

Lifetime Achievement of over $1,000,000,000 in residential real estate sales Over 100,000 satisfied customers and clients Over $52,000,000 in Closed & Pending Sales 2020

OUR EXCLUSIVE Luxury Collection

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

WE ARE GLOBAL LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST Certified Broker/Associate, CRB, CRS, GRI

The Lakes of Sarasota

Longboat Harbour

WWW.THELYNNEKOYGROUP.COM

WWW.THELYNNEKOYGROUP.COM

$349,500

4358 TRAILS DRIVE 2 BR/ 2 BA | 1,165 SQFT Description: This charming and completely renovated bungalow is sure to impress! Featuring high-end upgrades throughout and tranquil lake views that are so mesmerizing, you are sure to want to make this villa a place you can call home!

$349,000

4400 EXETER DRIVE UNIT #104 | 1 BR/ 1BA |756 SQFT Situated in sought-out Longboat Harbour of Longboat Key, this canal front, updated fresh and sleek one bedroom one bathroom condo is everything you need, to live the island life you have always dreamed of living.

New Construction - Longboat Key

Players Club

Sawgrass SOLD

WWW.1425GOM201.COM

WWW.5840GMD.COM

$1,695,000

WWW.356MARSHLANDINGWAY.COM

$4,295,000

$620,000

1425 Gulf of Mexico Dr Unit #201 | 3BR/3.5BA | 2,107 SQFT Have you been desperately looking for that 3-bedroom, full Gulf front condo? Boy, have we got news for you! See and hear the waves splashing from your 30-foot balcony or your master bedroom here at the prestigious Players Club on Longboat Key.

5840 Gulf of Mexico Dr 4BR/4BA | 2HB | 4,247 SQFT Welcome to your well-deserved paradise! Here on Longboat Key, retreat to a gorgeous, newly constructed, canal front getaway on the East side of this esteemed tropical island.

356 MARSH LANDING WAY 3BR/2BA | 2,004 SQFT Stunning lake view home, located in the sought-after gated community of Sawgrass, with low HOA's and wonderful amenities. Built by J & J Builders, this Barbados model pool home has gorgeous water views from every room.

St Armands Place

The Pearl

The Oaks - Bayside

SOLD

SOLD

WWW.254SPOLKDRIVE.COM

SOLD

WWW.282OSPREYPOINTDRIVE.COM

WWW.609GOLDENGATEPOINT501.COM

$2,495,000

254 S POLK UNIT #102 | 3BR/4BA | 2,742 SQFT Relish an open floor plan with coastal contemporary finishes and wondrous full Gulf of Mexico views.

$2,690,000

609 GOLDEN GATE POINT UNIT #501 | 3BR/3BA | 1HB | 2,750 SQFT The most striking 5th-floor penthouse located in the nearly newly constructed Pearl at sought-after Golden Gate Point community is sure to impress the moment you walk through the door.

INVOLVED CITIZENS

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

$1,589,000

282 OSPREY POINT DRIVE 3BR/4.5BA | 4,599 SQFT One of Florida's finest Estate homes, this residence is the definition of luxury and design; situated in the coveted gated neighborhood of The Oaks in Sarasota, known for its beautiful tree-lined streets and gorgeous landscaping.

Voted in the Top 12 Realtors of Sarasota, by the readers of SRQ Magazine

GLOBAL MARKETING REACH

NY Times | WSJ | Coldwell Banker International | World Properties | Trulia | Right Moves Realtor.com | Zillow | List Globally | Luxury Real Estate | Unique Homes

443F John Ringling Blvd.

St. Armand's Circle Sarasota FL 34236 Follow me on:

THE LYNNE KOY GROUP

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

Lynne | Courtney

360000-1

www.TheLynneKoyGroup.com Office@TheLynneKoyGroup.com

28

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FRIDAY, OCT. 8

Submit your photos at YourObserver. com/ Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 202122 Weather and Nature photo contest.

In February 2022, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

High: 86 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 50%

SATURDAY, OCT. 9 High: 83 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 68%

SUNDAY, OCT. 10 High: 85 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 50%

TIDES Thursday, Oct. 7

Patricia Muller captured this photo of a white egret on Longboat Key.

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Oct. 7

7:26a 7:09p

Friday, Oct. 8

7:26a

7:08p

Saturday, Oct. 9

7:27a

7:07p

Sunday, Oct. 10

7:28a

7:06p

Monday, Oct. 11

7:28a

7:05p

Tuesday, Oct. 12

7:29a

7:04p

Wednesday, Oct. 13

7:29a 7:03p

MOON PHASES

Oct. 28 Last

Nov. 4 New

Nov. 11 First

Highs

Nov. 19 Full

Lows

12:37a

1:50p

7:50a

7:55p

Friday, Oct. 8

1:00a

2:47p

8:38a

8:18p

Saturday, Oct. 9

1:28a

3:55p

9:32a

8:36p

Sunday, Oct. 10

2:01a

5:31p

10:34a

8:41p

Monday, Oct. 11

2:41a

—

11:47a

—

Tuesday, Oct. 12

3:31a

—

—

1:12p

Wednesday, Oct. 13

4:41a

—

—

2:38p

MANASOTA FLOORING INC CROSSWORD

941.748.4679 | Venice

DISAPPEARING INK by Dylan Schiff; Edited by David Steinberg

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com 105 Jafar's sidekick in "Aladdin" 106 One may make mascara run 107 Reasonable 109 Whole-grain cereal brand 111 Intense conflict 113 BDEFGIJKLMPQSTUVWXYZ 117 Assembled, with "together" 118 Negotiator's refusal 119 Sea ___ (flowerlike creature) 120 Knight mare, maybe?

121 Pays for the meal 122 Soaked, like a tea bag

46 Fabric that may be gold 47 Sneaker maker 48 Assignment 51 "Who, me?"

55 Mass times acceleration 56 Aspiring D.A.'s exam 57 Command that tests a dog's patience 59 Org. that launched Curiosity 60 Kinda sorta 61 Table extender 62 GPS company 63 Patriotic Uncle 67 Repeated musical passage 68 Realm 69 "Cool!"

DOWN 70 It really speaks to you 1 Potter's coat 71 Show with a Hawaii spinoff 2 Written defamation 72 Generational divide 3 Based on reasoning 73 BMW rival 4 Fix, as fences 74 Flower 5 Drink whose name consists 75 Many-car garage? of two synonyms 76 New ___ (person who may 6 Colorful card game use crystals) 7 Awaits judgment 77 Mary ___ Lincoln 8 Teenage skin affliction 80 Many have brims 9 Some short reads?

83 Like writing in italics 10 Stand-___ (substitutes) 84 Size above medium 11 "How did I miss that?!!"

85 GPS suggestion 12 Most cunning 86 Mythical monster 13 Spanish cuisine at some 89 Luau garland bars 90 End of Google's URL 14 Maple syrup source 91 Employ 15 One lets you sample a 92 Result of a torn ACL, product perhaps 16 "Breakout" company 94 King's genre 17 Away from the office ©2021 Universal Uclick 96 Speech therapists' targets 18 Move stealthily 97 Wipe out like a surfer ACROSS 30 Tarzan portrayer Ron 54 Some detectives, briefly 81 Brick that hurts to step on 21 Suggest 98 Go along 1 Applies eyeliner and 31 "Do not ___ Go, do not 55 Rapper's smoothness 82 Unkind 23 Apple platform since '07 99 "In case you ___ noticed ..." lipstick, say collect $200" 57 Tractor-trailers 83 Small mistake 28 Potato gizmo 100 Quaint lodging 8 In the center of 33 ABCDEFGHJMOPQRSTU- 58 New England house style 85 Fireside Chats' medium 32 Comparable 101 Impressionist Edgar 61 BCDFGHIJLM87 Pundit's piece in the 14 Ardent supporters, in slang VWXYZ 33 Cartographer's creation 103 Give a ring NOPQUVWXYZ paper 19 What the first caller may 36 Stole 34 Bartender's rocks 104 Stuck in the mud 38 Put into law 64 Lang. with hand-formed 88 Caps on leg joints be held on 35 "Today" rival, briefly 107 Couple's quarrel 40 Santana's "Oye ___ Va" letters 90 CEFGHIJKLMNPQSTU20 Kind of oil for sauteing 37 Decide one will 108 Feels sick 41 ABCDFGHIJKLMNQSTU- 65 Period of history VWXYZ 21 Egg holder 38 Displays humanity, in a way 110 Pinnacle 66 Small battery size 93 A slowpoke brings it up 22 ABCDEFGJKLMNOQRTU- VWXYZ 39 Negative votes 112 Gave, as lines VWXYZ 45 Experience tire trouble 67 BDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR94 They have their kinks 41 Guideline, informally 114 Keats' "___ to a Nightin24 Morphine, e.g.

49 Warsaw ___ (Cold War SUVWXYZ 95 "Bohemian Rhapsody" 42 Corn syrup brand gale" 25 Titular video game treaty) 73 One traveling the bases? actor Malek 43 Like the Sherpa Tenzing 115 Fried rice morsel princess 50 Approaches 78 Place for rockers ... and 96 ABCDFGIJKLNPQRSTUNorgay, by birth 116 Industrious colony 26 Bucks go after them 51 Glutton's want many folding seats VWXYZ 44 "Top Chef" judge Simmons member 27 Obtain through merit 52 Bean type in certain falafel 79 Brunch spot 100 Carded 45 Graduate's attire 29 Operatic solo 53 Part of QED 80 Run smoothly 102 Engine speed stat.

349239-1

349230-1

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

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.

"L DRNUHP'C HSJXG RV DRSZLPF RP IRGJCWLPF CWXC HLHP'C GXZJ GM FNC SNGKUJ XPH GM WJXSC DXPC CR JETURHJ."

ZXCJ DLPIUJC

"BUAD Z BCK C WZF, Z XZWAF KPNAYGCD. BUAD Z JEM C XZMMXA EXFAY, Z XZWAF BEXSAYZDA. CDF MUAD Z VEPDF JZYXK." HAYAGT KZKME Puzzle Two Clue H equals J

Sarasota

KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, BEDROOMS & MORE

Puzzle One Clues T equals P

HARDWOOD

© 2021 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

10-07-21

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888 DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

The Longboat Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Longboat Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Autos Wanted

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

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

auto

stuff

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Items Under $200

Autos Wanted

24" SAMSUNG TV - $25 and 32" Vizio TV - $50. DVD Player - $15. Call 941-925-3084

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

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

real estate

Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Musical Instruments YAMAHA BABY GRAND Piano, 5’3”, Ebony polished finish, made in Japan, recently tuned . $4,900 OBO 941-726-8168

Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 Visa/MC

LOOKING FOR a condo to lease for 3 months. In LBK, Lido or Downtown Sarasota.

Must be at least 2,000 sq ft no steps, and nicely furnished 3 bedrooms. December - February or January - March. Brokers welcome. Respond to:Brenbrook234@gmail.com

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite

BUY & SELL HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES Advertise your business or service in the Observer

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

CALL TODAY 941-955-4888 Advertise your business

RED or service PAGES in the Observer RED PAGES CALL TODAY

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

Call 941-383-3338.

941-955-4888 CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

FOODIES!

We want you to share the inside scoop and tastiest takeaway from the best local places to eat and drink.

SNAP A PHOTO

of your favorite local dish or drink.

ENTER YOUR FOODIE PHOTO AT

©2021 Universal Uclick

YourObserver.com/OMGFoodies.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I wouldn’t dream of working on something that didn’t make my gut rumble and my heart want to explode.”

Kate Winslet Puzzle Two Solution: “When I was a kid, I liked Superman.

When I got a little older, I liked Wolverine.

And then I found girls.”

Jeremy Sisto

$

YOUR PHOTO COULD WIN YOU $250 ... now that’s some cheddar!

This week’s Sudoku answers

PRIZE SPONSOR

©2021 NEA, Inc.

364608-1

EXPERIENCED FLORIDA Cosmetologist Experienced Florida Cosmetologist needed for Busy beauty salon, in an upscale retirement facility. No clientele needed!.

No weekends!.

(941) 666-2543

Beachfront, Bayfront and In

Calling all

You’re only cheating yourself.

Health/Fitness/ Beauty

SEASONAL Rates

This week’s Crossword answers

peekers’ place

COINS, STAMPS & PAPER MONEY WANTED We are always buying! Suncoast Stamp & Coin 8520 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota FL 34238 (941) 921-9761 WWW.SUNCOAST STAMP.COM

WEEKLY MONTHLY

Condos/Apts. for Rent

CHANDELIER METAL, BROWN, HARDWARE INCLUDE. LIKE NEW, $30 (941) 920-2494

Antiques/ Collectibles

BEACH HARBOR Club Gorgeous penthouse condo with access to beach/boat/pool/fitness.

3BR/2BA, 2 large terraces, sunrise/sunset views. $5500/mo in season.

248-202-6865 or 440-623-9068.

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

941-955-4888

Paint the town RED! Paint the town RED! Paint the town RED!

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

PARTY SPONSOR

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

Auto Transport

Painting

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

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

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.

Cleaning 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.

Perfect Solutions For Seniors *Caregivers/Companions *Personal Care * CNA’s/HHA’s * Assistance with Daily Living

Adult Care Services

Activities * Hourly 24/7 Care -Affordable Rates * Licensed/ Bonded/ Insured

A LENDING HAND Looking for HHA'S AND Certified Nursing Assistants Flexible Schedules/ Weekly pay Call 941 809-3725. # 30211577

Phone (941) 809-1438

LONGBOAT LIMOUSINE Your local luxury transportation provider since 1994.

New luxury Sedans and SUVs. Fully Licenced and insured.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Call/Text 941-383-1235

Home Services

SELL YOUR STUFF FOR FREE!

E-mail: longboatlimousine @yahoo.com

ISLAND RESIDENT prepares home meals. Excellent cook, references. (941)504-6935

HHA# 299994819

Transportation

RED PAGES

Items Up to $200

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Auto Service

Doors

SELL YOUR CAR!

Sliding Glass Door Repair

WE COME TO YOU

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Visit YourObserver.com/RedPages

Furniture Repair

Patio Furniture Repairs.com patio RepaiRS FurnitureSales Sales &&Repairs Furniture Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating Cushions • Slings • Umbrellas

364260

Beauty

/ DELIVERY FREE PICKUP ONSITE QUOTES outdoor furniture experts• •FREE www .patiorepairs .net

Find anything in the RED PAGES | 941-955-4888

Handyman

364543

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

5-Star Rated

HoHoBuysCars.com

for great deals.

941-504-0903 941-504-0903

FAST • EASY • SAFE

941.270.4400

SEARCH the

364544 38056

|

CONSTRUCTION HANDYMAN

Dog Grooming

• Home Repairs & Maintenance • Interior & Exterior • Garage Floor Paint • Power Wash 364606

SERVING YOU IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

Naji Aoun GladysKhabbaz@gmail.com 805 Molly Circle, Sarasota

941.504.2745 941.400.1563

364545

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

home services

AMANDA 364791

424-333-0713 | rockstarmobilehair@gmail.com www.rockstarmobilehairsalon.com

Carpet Cleaning

Registered member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA)

RIGHT

Financial Services $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

ON TARGET

Looking for Stock Market Diversity?

6% Annual Return

CARPET, TILE, UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

Serving AMI, LBK and BRADENTON for 25 YEARS

QUALITY THAT MATTERS

941-778-2882

•

941-387-0607

Like Us on Facebook

Like Us on Facebook

364789

DRIES IN HOURS – NOT DAYS • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

OBSERVER RED PAGES

Investment Guaranteed by SW Florida Real Estate

For More Information: (941) 544-8873 364044

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

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Insurance

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Smith

| 941.383.3388

510 BAY ISLES SUITE 1 •DRIVE LONGBOAT KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST 6350 GULFROAD, OF MEXICO | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228BANK)

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

364250

30

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Insurance

MIC INSURANCE

GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

365271

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

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

365266

Screening

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • Flood

941-345-5264

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint Doors and more!

Windows

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

359636

365264

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

Res./Com.

Harbour Square 4134 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Suite 208 941-524-9700 SymphonyMassage.com Open 7 Days a Week | Covered Parking & Elevator Access

YOUR BUSINESS Advertise as low as $85 per week.

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

MM40360

Power Washing Pressure Washing

Pressure Washing

Honesty, Integrity and Pride • Roofs • PoolCages Cages•• Decks Decks ••Driveways • Roofs • Pool Driveways • Deck/Paver Sealing • Gutter Cleaning • Deck/PaverAnd Sealing • And Much More Much More!

364793

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

941-544-1066

AFTER

BEFORE

| scaperotta@aol.com

Italian American Owned

ROAD HUGGER found here.

Whether you’re looking for high performance or a gas sipper, we have the listings to find your next ride.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

Lic./Ins.

w & Pressure Cl indo345-5264 W(941) eani t e s ng as Sunrise Wi n w o n k Sun y l nd er

Massage

GROW

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

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

364792

University Health Park 2415 University Parkway Bldg. 3, Suite 216 Sarasota, FL 34243

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

Building & Roofing Contractor

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

364549

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

Mike Mailliard ~ Lacey Weaver Allen Hovis ~ Chloe Gardner Matthew Mailliard ~ Julia McIlrevey Haley Jestings ~ Samantha Ryan Jaimie Simpkins

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

31

Roofing

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

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression provides safe, gentle & effective relief for upwards of 90% of patients that qualify for care.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

25

UP TO

STANDARD WINDOWS

ows

120

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

364546

Health

|

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

ROGER SELLS

LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

MORE THAN $191 MILLION PENDING AND SOLD IN 2021

367 WEST ROYAL FLAMINGO DRIVE

$3,995,000

862 GRANDE PASS WAY

$3,100,000

Perfectly positioned directly on the west end of Dolphin Waterway in Bird Key, this immaculately maintained 4BR home flourishes in lovely updates and offers the avid yachtsmen multiple enviable boating options. This home’s location places it at the T-junction of Bird Key’s widest waterway, offering three unobstructed access points to Big Pass, the Gulf of Mexico, and Sarasota Bay; coupled with its 100’ of water frontage, deep-water dock and lift to create an ideal boater’s paradise.

Begin your dream beach home at this private, gated enclave on the southern tip of Boca Grande. One of only 19 homesites in the exclusive Hill Tide Estates community, this spectacular parcel boasts more than a quarter-acre of direct beachfront property to enjoy, with its own private beach access, fishing options and observation pier. Cleared and ready for you to embark on a new design project.

www.367WestRoyalFlamingo.com

www.862GrandePassWay.com

1300 BEN FRANKLIN DRIVE #907

$2,950,000

3804 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #B106 $450,000

Striking beach and bay views perfectly complement this 9th-floor getaway. The open-concept interior is spread across 3,000+ SF, offering a sunlit atmosphere, hardwood flooring, and walls of glass that lead out to wraparound and guest terraces. Also includes two private, under-building parking spaces. In harmony with the world-class tradition of Ritz-Carlton managed properties, the Beach Residences is an exceptional community located on a pristine stretch of Lido Key beach, where residents are offered no end to luxurious accommodation.

This lovely, updated beach to bay getaway is conveniently located on the first floor, just a few steps from beautiful Gulf beach shores. Ready to enjoy as a place to escape or as a rental property, the interior of this 2BR residence’s open layout features a newer kitchen with custom cabinetry and granite countertops, plus a wall of sliders that open to the private garden patio.

www.BeachResidences907.com

www.BeachHarborClubB106.com

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TOUR (941) 387-1840 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F | Sarasota, FL 34236 595 Bay Isles Road , Suite 250 | Longboat Key, FL 34228 Roger@Pettingell.com | Pettingell.com Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell Owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC 365515-1

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