Issuu

Cortez Bridge work to start

$0.10

Armands Circle was several feet under water following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

WEEK OF NOV. 20, 2025

BY THE NUMBERS

“(John) Ringling was great at circus, but not so much land planning. Making a mound instead of a bowl at St. Armands would have made a little more sense.”

Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith Read more on page 3

Ohana, a beachside estate built in a Polynesian style at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, was sold to John W. Wise and Kimberly Jo Wise as trustees of the Wise Family Trust by sellers LKF Land Trust, according to the property deed filed with the Manatee County Clerk of Court. The deal closed on Nov. 8, Manatee County court records show.

The property listed for sale at $20 million, according to real estate records, and spent nine days on the market. The name Ohana originally

given to the 2.67-acre property is the island world for “family.’’

Constructed in 2013, Sarasota architect Guy Peterson wanted to incorporate Polynesian influences. In 2014, the estate received media attention for its design and construction team.

It sold in 2019 for $11.4 million and again in 2024 for $19.75 million.

The property features three pavilions, a tennis court, balconies, terraces, a pool, six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms. It also boasts a seawall to protect

its beachfront from erosion. That seawall has been a point of contention in recent years. As the sand in front of the structure slowly disappeared, walking access along the beach from one side of the property to the other also disappeared, often prompting passersby to use the seawall as a walkway and triggering trespassing complaints.

Owners in 2021 proposed the town pay between $880,000 and $1.3 million annually for public use as a path past the property. No such deal was struck.

Commissioner joins FLC committee

At-Large Longboat Key Town Commissioner B.J. Bishop has been appointed to serve on the Florida League of Cities legislative committee.

FLC has a mission of serving the needs of Florida’s cities and promoting local self-governance, according to its website.

Bishop will serve as a representative for the League’s Federal Action Strike Team, a group of local government representatives who travel to Washington, D.C., to advocate for FLC priorities with Florida’s legislative delegation.

FLC is holding its Legislative Conference Dec. 4-5 in Orlando, where members will vote on a legislative platform.

The legislative committee is made up of 36 mayors, commissioners and council members from municipalities across the state. Bishop is one of seven committee representatives. There are also five staff association representatives including from the Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Association of City Clerks.

Also on the 2025 FLC Legislative Committee is Bradenton Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore and city of Sarasota Finance Director Kelly Strickland.

Cable broadcasts of county meetings down through 2025

Access Sarasota, the channel broadcasting Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners, Chapter Review Board and advisory council and board meetings, is not being broadcast on cable anymore. Formerly broadcast on channel 19 for Comcast and channel 32 for Frontier, those two channels are down as the county makes its move out of its downtown County Administration building to its new facility near Interstate 75 off of Fruitville Road. Access Sarasota will be back on air in early 2026, according to the county’s website.

In the meantime, interested residents can stream meetings at SCGov.net.

Courtesy image

Ohana is influenced by Polynesian architecture and features three pavilions, a tennis court, pool, six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms.

PATIENCE FOR A SAINT

City requests $24.5 million in Resilient SRQ funds for St. Armands. Even if approved, flooding relief is 4 to 5 years away.

OPEN RESILIENT SRQ TRANCHES

Among the current round of funding for the total $210 million in Resilient SRQ funds for 2024 hurricane recovery and mitigation are:

n $33.3 million for rehabilitation, reconstruction and reimbursement to eligible homeowners

n $57 million to repair, replace and enhance public infrastructure to mitigate future disaster risks and address urgent community needs

n $30 million for projects to support rivers, bays, creeks or canals that receive and carry stormwater drainage from a large area or have continuous flow

n $30 million for the Multifamily Affordable Housing Program to build or expand affordable housing in Sarasota County for low- and moderate-income households following the 2024 storms

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Recognizing the importance of St. Armands Key as an economic engine and vital evacuation route for the barrier islands, the city of Sarasota is seeking $24.5 million in federal funds to improve its resiliency to flooding.

Backed by the support of the town of Longboat Key, the city has identified five initiatives in hopes of keeping persistent flooding on St. Armands to a minimum, the worst of which occurred during the 2024 hurricane season.

The city is seeking a share of Resilient SRQ funds, a pot of $210 million granted to Sarasota County by the federal government for storm recovery and mitigation efforts from 2024 named storms Debby, Helene and Milton.

At its Dec. 16 meeting, the County Commission will decide how it will distribute $57 million in infrastructure improvement money. For St. Armands, the city would match $480,000 toward the nearly $25 million in projects.

In total, the city plans to:

n Retrofit pump stations and generators to improve reliability and capacity

n Install tide check valves to prevent seawater from entering the drainage system

n Install underground water storage vaults

n Install permeable pavement in strategic locations

n Assist businesses and perhaps residents to acquire deployable flood barriers

The county is still accepting applications from other municipalities for the infrastructure improvement

funds, so there is an undetermined number of requests. Sarasota Public Works Director Nikesh Patel, though, told city commissioners at their Nov. 3 meeting there will be competition for those dollars.

“Resilience SRQ is a competitive federal grant program administered by Sarasota County through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program,” Patel said. “The city is serving as a co-applicant and technical lead in collaboration with the Sarasota County Stormwater Department.”

Back-to-back flood events from 2024 Hurricanes Helene and Milton virtually shut down St. Armands Circle for months and forced many residents out of their homes. More than 80 of the Circle’s 100 stores have reopened; several others either relocated or permanently closed.

Interim City Manager Dave Bullock told commissioners he believes St. Armands to be a regional priority and the work proposed for the Resilient SRQ funds is intended to dovetail with future general improvement plans there.

“As you know, we’re just in the beginning stages of an exercise to look into the future of St. Armands, and stormwater would be a central component of that,” Bullock said.

“We have to get the stormwater here in better shape in order to come up with those more resilient plans that we have and allow them to work.”

County Commissioner Mark Smith, whose District 1 includes St.

Armands, said he will be making a “strong recommendation” for the proposal to his colleagues.

“As with everything with government, the ask is always greater than the money available,” Smith said.

“So we are going to have to decide and prioritize how much money we’ll be able to give to each ask.”

Smith pointed out that, while imperceptible, St. Armands Key is in the shape of a bowl, with lower elevations in the center where more water can collect at a higher volume than its drainage systems can purge.

In 1917, John Ringling purchased the Key to build his vision for a shopping and residential area.

“(John) Ringling was great at circus, but not so much land planning,” said Smith, an architect by trade. “Making a mound instead of a bowl at St. Armands would have made a little more sense.”

If the city approves funding for all of St. Armands’ requests, Patel said design, engineering and construction could take four to five years to complete, the duration, in part, because of the entities involved.

They include the Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Transportation, the city and the county.

More than an economic engine that draws thousands of tourists annually, St. Armands is one of two evacuation routes for Longboat Key. In recent years, major rain events have severed the southern access to and from Longboat for days at a time, causing flooding.

The 10-mile stretch of Gulf of Mexico Drive through Longboat Key is the lone connector between Cortez Road to the north in Manatee County and St. Armands to the south. When St. Armands’ roads are impassable, residents on the south end of the Key within Sarasota County must travel as far as 13 miles north to exit, or return to, the island.

“There was no ability to pass through St. Armands on the south after Helene, and Bradenton Beach was a disaster zone,” said Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman. “But we got through on the Bradenton Beach side through the craters and the asphalt and the houses in the middle of the roadway more easily than we could get through St. Armands. Any efforts to improve St. Armands we encourage.”

map shows the current flood

St. Armands experienced catastrophic flooding from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton in 2024.

Manatee County prepares to replace bridge

S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER

Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique described the Cortez Bridge replacement project as a “long-term benefit with short-term inconvenience” at a Longboat Key Republican Club meeting Wednesday.

Built in 1956, the two-lane drawbridge connects the Cortez community to the barrier island of Bradenton Beach, and the Florida Department of Transportation has recommended replacing the aging bridge.

The bridge is the best route off Longboat Key for those on the northend of the island.

The project is in the design phase. FDOT’s website shows design will cost $6.7 million.

Proposed to replace the nearly 70-year-old bridge is a fixed-span bridge with a 65-foot clearance. The expected cost is $115 million.

Conceptual renderings shared by FDOT show two traffic lanes buffered by 10-foot shoulders. A concrete traffic barrier will separate the roadway from the sidewalk, which will have blue metal railings with a wave design. There will be four overlook areas on the pedestrian area of the bridge.

FDOT spokesperson Jason Heironimus said that bids for the work should open on March 25, 2026.

Cortez Bridge work is planned to begin in the summer.

“Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2026 and take about 1,200 days to complete,” he said.

That’s about three years and four months. During construction, the existing bridge will remain open to traffic as construction for the new bridge is just to the north. Siddique said the bridge will not close fully to vehicles, but there may be flagging operations at night while lane closures are necessary. As the construction timeline fast approaches, Manatee County has

been busy at work moving infrastructure to accommodate the beginning of construction of the new bridge. The water and sewer pipes affixed to the underside of the Cortez Bridge are being moved to the south side of the bridge. Construction will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Side streets on the south end of Cortez Road from 124th Street West to Avenue A will be closed during the utility relocation project, which is expected to wrap up by next summer.

“Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2026 and take about 1,200 days to complete.”

— Jason Heironimus, FDOT spokesperson

Christmas in the Garden 2025

A Celebration of Lights and Music

November 30 - December 31, 2025 5:00pm - 9:00pm Special Performances at 6:00pm Performances Have Limited Seating

Admission Free

Opening Night

Island Breeze

TURN LANE TO ACCESS BRIDGE BACKS UP

The turn lane to Cortez Road and the Cortez Bridge from Gulf Drive often backs up.

The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Barrier Island Implementation Plan studies traffic on barrier islands from Manasota Key to Anna Maria. Extending the turn lane for northbound traffic headed off the island is one of the recommendations of the report.

“All segments approaching this intersection exhibit significantly higher congestion metrics compared to other segments on the island, designating this area as a congestionclustered hotspot,” the report reads. “These segments show significant bad travel times in their worst periods and experience congestion over 50% of the time on weekends.”

The Sarasota/ Manatee MPO is a regional transportation planning organization which provides a process for local governments to coordinate with the Florida Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, according to the organization’s website.

Nov� 30th

with Greg and Steve (Garden)

Lido Beach Commodores Dec� 4th

Jazz Ensemble (Garden)

Dec� 9th

Sarasota Academy of the Arts Chorus

Bryan Eagan, Director (Sanctuary)

Fort Lonesome Dec� 11th

Featuring Robbie Ahlbrandt, Country Western Singer (Garden)

John Patti Dec� 15th

Steel Pan Artist (Garden)

Brian Gurl Trio Dec� 16th

Piano, Violin, Cello (Sanctuary)

Alyssa Adamson, Soprano & Stephen Fancher, Piano Dec� 19th

Pine View Elementary School Chorus ��((Sanctuary)

Boris & Sax Dec� 22nd

Saxophone Artist ��(((((((((Garden)

New Year’s Eve Dec� 31st

The Voice of Solid Gold, John Rinell (Fellowship Hall)

Complimentary Heavy Appetizers

(This evening’s entertainment begins at 4:30 pm)

Donations Appreciated!

Christmas Eve Communion & Candlelight Service Wednesday, December 24 • 5:00 pm

Alustra® Duette

The new Cortez Bridge will have two vehicle traffic lanes, a large buffer on each side and large pedestrian sidewalks.

Image courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation

Pedestrian railing Traffic barrier

File image

The Florida Department of Transportation and Manatee County are recommending replacement of the Cortez Bridge.

Elections will be uncontested

The three seats will go to incumbents Coffin and Karon, while Gladding will assume District 3.

t its best, democracy fosters debate, policy discussion and packed town halls. Not so in the March election for Longboat Key Town Commission.

Don’t blame the candidates, though.

With three open commission seats and only three candidates filing before the noon, Nov. 17 deadline, incumbents Gary Coffin and Sarah Karon will be reelected, and Nick Gladding is all but confirmed to be sworn in to serve on the Town Commission. Commission terms are for three years.

Coffin will retain his District 1 seat, which represents the southernmost portion of the island.

Karon’s appointment was to serve a 14-month term from January 2024 to March 2025, and then she was elected by residents to serve the

remainder of Debbie Murphy’s term from March 2025 to March 2026. Karon’s seat became available after the resignation of Murphy because she did not want to abide by a newly passed state law requiring commissioners to disclose financial information that would show their net worth.

Coffin has lived on the Gulf Coast since the early ’90s when he moved to work in advertising at the nowdefunct WBSV television station. He then switched career paths to merchant services and eventually found CCAD LLC, which he still runs, though he hasn’t added new accounts since 2014.

With more time on his hands, he got into volunteering with Longboat Key, first as homeowners association president of Country Club Shores I and II and then serving on the Planning and Zoning Board.

“Planning and Zoning Board is

a good learning ground for people interested in moving into local government, which I wasn’t at all,” Coffin said. “I joined Planning and Zoning as something to do because I was running out of things to do with the house and the boat. But what that did was allow me to meet a lot of employees with the town. Department heads and all the other employees that make this town run; they are exceptional. This election coming up, I’ve had time to get to know them better, and (Town Manager Howard) Tipton has come on and he is a wealth of knowledge. That convinced me to go ahead and give it another run.”

Gladding is president of the Republican Club of Longboat Key and is a former environmental and land use lawyer. He will replace Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier as representative for District 3 in the middle of the island. Gladding said

TOWN COMMISSION DISTRICTS

AND TERMS

Longboat Key has seven seats on its Town Commission, five representing districts and two representing the entire town. Elections are in March and terms last for three years. A mayor and vice mayor are elected in a vote by commissioners after new members are sworn in.

n District 1 — Gary Coffin

(Running for reelection uncontested for term expiring in 2029)

n District 2 — Penny Gold

(Term expires in 2027)

n District 3 — Ken Schneier

(Nick Gladding running uncontested for term expiring in 2029)

n District 4 — Debra Williams (Term expires in 2027)

n District 5 — Sarah Karon

(Running for reelection uncontested for term expiring in 2029)

n At-Large — B.J. Bishop (Term expires in 2028)

n At-Large — Steve Branham (Term expires in 2028)

Schneier encouraged him to run for the District 3 seat to replace him, thinking his experience in environmental law and advocacy would be valuable to the town.

“A lot of people say they want to keep Longboat Key Longboat Key. My own theory is we need to keep Longboat Key forever,” Gladding said. “In order to keep it forever, you’ve got to be able to deal with all the environmental issues and deal with the canals and deal with the money it’s gonna take for mitigation and hardening in regard to sea level rise, and I believe I can be helpful with all that.”

Gladding filling Schneier’s seat does not make him mayor. Commissioners take a vote on who they wish to represent the town as mayor shortly after an election.

The election will be March 10, 2026. The new commission will meet for the first time March 23 where commissioners will choose a mayor and then hold a workshop.

The Longboat Key Town Commission will only have one change come March.

Longboat Key Town Commissioner Gary Coffin

Longboat Key Town Commissioner Sarah Karon

File images

Commissioner-elect Nick Gladding

City approves property sale to Plymouth Harbor

A 650-square-foot piece of unused city property presented an obstacle to the retirement community’s expansion plans on Coon Key.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Among the hurdles that remained in Plymouth Harbor’s plans to expand its campus as it works its way through the city’s development review process is a sliver of unused city-owned land on Coon Key.

At its Nov. 17 meeting, the Sarasota City Commission approved the sale of the approximately 650 square feet of ground, a 10-by-65-foot parcel under which lies a stormwater pipe that is no longer used nor is allowed to be used per current regulations.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6 | 12 - 2:30 PM

ken schneier & cynthia craig

robert e. dods faMily foundation, inc.

• Alma de Espana

• Blue Dolphin Cafe

• Cafe on St. Armands • Columbia Restaurant

• Crab & Fin

• Daiquiri Deck St. Armands Circle

• Drift Kitchen & Bar at Lido Beach Resort

• Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

• Food+Beer

• Gecko’s Grill & Pub

• Good Liquid Brewing

Jeffrey P Mckee foundation

• Harry’s Continental Kitchens

• Island Time Bar & Grill

• Kacey’s Seafood & More

• La Norma Italian Restaurant

• Lazy Lobster of Longboat

• Lo’Key Island Grille

• Longboat Key Fire Department

• Mean Deans Local Kitchen

• Ocean Prime

• Old Salty Dog

• Pascone’s Ristorante’

• Pesto

• Poppo’s Taqueria

• The Resort at Longboat Key Club

• Ringside at Cirque St. Armands

• Beachside

• Sara’s Italian Kitchen

• Stonewood Grill & Tavern

• Tsunami Sushi

• Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream

• Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar

• Viento Kitchen at Zota Resort PRESENTED BY DIAMOND SPONSOR

Publix

Located at 700 John Ringling Blvd., Plymouth Harbor is planning to build 153 new apartments and relocate its fitness and wellness facilities from the current main building, all atop two levels of structured parking.

At 25 acres, Plymouth Harbor occupies most of Coon Key, which it shares with Sarasota Yacht Club, with the exception of that 650-square-foot parcel.

“We are in the middle of the DRC review right now for their new project, and that was one of the requirements when we all found out that the city owned this very strange piece of property,” project consultant Joel Freedman told commissioners. “It’s very unusual to have this, but we’re ready to buy it.”

Plymouth Harbor retained the city’s selected independent appraisal firm, Bass Fletcher Associates, for its assessment of the property, which determined a fair market value of $16,350.

The city-owned parcel encroaches on the Plymouth Harbor property and adversely affects its ability to design an efficient parking structure for the proposed new building.

Only two questions arose from the brief discussion. Mayor Debbie Trice asked who would be responsible for the cost of removing the pipe — the answer is Plymouth Harbor as the new owner once the sale is closed prior to March 1, 2026 — and how the $16,350 will be applied to the city’s coffers.

Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch suggested the windfall should go to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a condition that was included in the unanimously approved motion to grant the sale. As previously reported by the Observer, should the project move through the city approval process on schedule, Plymouth Harbor expects to break ground on the expansion in 2027, with completion sometime in 2029.

Andrew Warfield Plymouth Harbor on Coon Key opened in 1966. At the time, the 25-story residential tower was the tallest in Florida.

The fall and rise of the Bird Key Yacht Club

“Our membership is tremendously excited about this step.”

During early fall, the old building came down, and on Nov. 13, the first shovels of dirt were turned over on the site of the future clubhouse.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

Amoment months in the making arrived Nov. 13 on the grounds where the 65-year-old Bird Key Yacht Club clubhouse once stood. Leaders and residents dug their shovels into the freshly turned dirt of the construction zone to break ground on a new, state-of-the-art, $20 million-plus facility.

Commodore Tony Britt invited not only club members, but also residents in the broader Bird Key area to participate in the momentous occasion.

“It’s disconcerting yet exciting,

because you realize one chapter is ending and another is beginning,” Britt said of seeing the bare grounds. He continued, “Our membership is tremendously excited about this step.”

Next steps include micropile testing to ensure the ground is compact enough to support the future facility.

The old 22,300-square-foot clubhouse came down during demolition in October and clearing the land began shortly thereafter.

The cost for the new clubhouse with new outside covered decks is $27 million with an opening date in December 2026.

“If

for the

is the

progressive

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com

Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com

Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@YourObserver.com

Staff Writers / S.T. “Tommy” Cardinal TCardinal@YourObserver.com; Dana Kampa, DKampa@YourObserver.com

Digital News Analytics and Marketing Strategist / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com

Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com

Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com

Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com

Editorial Designer / Jenn Edwards, JEdwards@YourObserver.com

A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com

Chief Revenue Officer / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com

Regional Sales Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com

Advertising Executives / Katrina Haug / KHaug@YourObserver. com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver. com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@ YourObserver.com; Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver.com; Anna Reich, Anna@YourObserver.com; Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com

Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Sydney Schunk, SSchunk@YourObserver. com

Head of Sales Operations / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com

Account Managers / Lori Downey, LDowney@YourObserver.com; Caitlin Ellis, CEllis@YourObserver.com

Director of Strategic Growth / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com

Strategic Marketing Coordinator / Landyn Park, LPark@YourObserver.com

Social Media and Content Manager / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com

Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@YourObserver.com

Director of Creative Services and IT / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver. com

Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com

Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana

Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com

Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com

Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com

Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com

Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

— Commodore Tony Britt

Dana Kampa

Bird Key Yacht Club General Manager Tammy Hackney and Commodore Tony Britt don hard hats for the official groundbreaking of the new clubhouse on Nov. 13 at the site of the former facility.

Image courtesy of Michael Hunter

Bird Key Yacht Club member Michael Hunter captures the demolition of the old clubhouse at 301 Bird Key Drive.

The entrance of the old Bird Key Yacht Club clubhouse comes down.

Image courtesy of Tony Britt

Lunch on Rotary

Town of Longboat Key Public Works employees were first in line to get lunch from a food truck set up at the Town Green on Nov. 12.

The tab? Don’t worry about it, said Rotary Club of Longboat Key, which decided to hold a “Food for Gratitude” free lunch event to recognize all town employees for their hard work rebuilding from three hurricanes in 2024.

Jake Schunk, with the Public Works department, said cleanup recovery was “just work” but that it took months to get the island back in shape. Trimming trees, clearing drain pipes and sweeping up a mountain of sand was all part of the job. As he sat down with a hamburger, fries and Coke at a picnic table on his lunch break, he said he “definitely feels appreciated.” Oyster River Ecology was at the event

demonstrating how to make an “oyster rag pot” using a wooden spacer, cotton rag, lawn spike and concrete mix and Tim Delaney of “Steely Pan” played the steel drums at the pavilion, contributing a tropical background tune.

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key organized and sponsored the event, with Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration and Longboat Key Dental also helping pay the tab. Rotary Club Service Chair Jeff Driver said he expected the total cost of the event to be about $5,000.

“The real intent was just to show gratitude to all the employees of Longboat Key having worked through the recovery process after a natural disaster of the magnitude of Helene and before that Debby and Milton after that,” Driver said. “We really just wanted to recognize that hard work.” — S.T. CARDINAL

Home Discover

SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE

Sarasota, FL

Approx. 1,692-3,733 sf

From High $500's 2 Amenity Centers Quick Move-Ins Available

MODEL CENTER

792 Blue Shell Loop Sarasota, FL 34240 941-361-2536

PALMERA AT WELLEN PARK

Venice, FL

Approx. 2,375-3426 sf

From High $700's

Gated with Amenity Center Quick Move-Ins Available

MODEL CENTER 18188 Foxtail Loop Venice, FL 34293 941-361-2537

Longboat Key Police officer Mike Mathis gives his order to Brandon Clark while Sgt. Adam Montfort waits in line at Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s Food for Gratitude event where all town employees received free lunch to recognize their hard work after dual hurricanes in 2024.

Photos by S.T. Cardinal

Tim Delaney plays steel drum at the Karon Family Pavilion on the Town Green at Rotary Club of Longboat Key on Nov. 12.

Oyster River Ecology ecological restoration technician Abbey Kuhn poses for a photo with an oyster rag pot she made at the Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s Food for Gratitude event. To the right, ORE founder and Executive Director Damon Moore mixes up some concrete.

Community Foundation names new CEO

The new leader, Jessica Muroff, has held leadership roles with United Way Suncoast and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.

MARK GORDON BUSINESS OBSERVER

Afamiliar name in nonprofit and human services in the region, Jessica Muroff, has been named CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Muroff has been CEO of the United Way Suncoast, one of the largest United Ways in Florida, since 2019. Muroff succeeds Roxie Jerde, whose 14-year tenure as president and CEO concluded with retirement on June 30. The foundation, with assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, announced Muroff’s appointment. She begins her new role Jan. 20, 2026.

“Our board of directors is thrilled for Jessica to bring her exceptional background and expertise to this role at the Community Foundation,” Paul Hudson, Community Foundation board chair who has also been serving as interim CEO, says in the statement.

Muroff has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic and business sectors. At United Way, which serves five counties in West Central Florida, she oversees a team of 63 employees. During her tenure, Muroff, according to the statement, “led a comprehensive organization transformation by prioritizing community impact through modernized grantmaking and collaborative initiatives and partnerships grounded in data while stewarding $51 million in fiscal assets, including a notable unsolicited donation of $20 million by the philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.” (United Way Suncoast covers Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto counties.)

“It is an honor to have been select-

ed to lead this extraordinary organization and steward the charitable wishes of the generous people of this community,” Muroff says in the release. “The culture of compassion, integrity and quality within the foundation is unmistakable, and the community’s commitment to a brighter future is deeply inspiring. I look forward to building on the Community Foundation’s many strengths and partnerships while working alongside our community to develop innovative solutions to the region’s ever-evolving challenges.”

Over the last 15 years, the Community Foundation, the release states, has grown assets under management from $190 million in charitable dollars to more than $600 million and is forecast to double to more than $1 billion over the next decade. Muroff, the organization adds, will be charged with developing and executing an ambitious and innovative plan to drive these efforts.

Mark Wemple

Jessica Muroff has been CEO of the United Way Suncoast since 2019.

THE 7TH ANNUAL

Light up Longboat

November 22, 2025

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Karon Family Pavilion

Town Center Green

600 Bay Isles Road

FOOD TRUCK

RAFFLE GIVEAWAYS!

COPS CORNER

SATURDAY, NOV. 8

NO SEAWALL TRESPASSING

3:42 p.m., 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Trespassing: New residents moved in and got straight to enforcing their property lines. Police were called to the property which has a welldocumented seawall interrupting beach access. No trespassing signs are displayed and being ignored.

The property owners called police, telling the officer they just moved in yesterday and trespassing is already a problem, including juvenile fishers using the seawall as a platform.

The officer wrote in the report that he provided direction in ways to better enforce the property lines, including fixing the fence and installing more signage. The case was closed.

MONDAY, NOV. 10

THE CASE OF THE MISSING CAR

8:13 a.m., 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: After borrowing two golf carts from a nearby resort for the town’s Veterans Day ceremony, only one golf cart could be located at the end of festivities.

After searching all weekend, a fire department employee called police to report a possible theft. The resort director was contacted about the potential misplacement of the cart. He used GPS tracking to confirm the cart was returned, and the case was closed.

LIGHTS, CAMERA DOWN, ACTION!

9:46 p.m., 1000 Longboat Club Road

Property damage: A security guard for a condo complex called police after a resident hit and knocked over a camera pole while turning into the property.

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY SANTA FESTIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC

SHOP LOCAL: GIFT CARD SALES & MERCHANDISE

HOLIDAY SPIRIT ATTIRE CONTEST ( KIDS AND ADULT )

BEST DECORATED VENDOR TABLE CONTEST

BRING YOUR SPARKLE, YOUR STYLE, AND YOUR HOLIDAY CHEER. PRIZES AWARDED FOR THE BEST IN EACH CATEGORY.

Free to the Public! Join us for a festive and fun evening to kick off the holiday season.

The Rotary Club of LBK is collecting unwrapped children’s gifts for Hope Family Services in Bradenton. Donate and receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate.

The guard showed the responding officer a video of the incident, which showed a vehicle hitting the pole, knocking it over and then entering the gate. When police met with the owner of the vehicle, he told the officer he knew he hit a curb, but did not realize he hit a pole.

He said with all the bright lights and construction crews working on Gulf of Mexico Drive, he turned too sharply, which caused him to hit what he thought was just a curb.

He took responsibility for knocking down the camera pole and said he would pay to replace it. The case was closed.

SUNDAY, NOV. 9 HOOKED IT!

9:15 a.m., 555 Bay Isles Parkway

Property damage: A woman was driving on Bay Isles Parkway when a golf ball struck her vehicle, she told dispatch. She continued about her day, but wanted to report the damage, which was minimal. The windshield did not crack, but there were scuff marks on the glass and the hood. The police officer gave her a case number and advised she contact her insurance company. The case was closed, and the golfer took a mulligan.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12

CALL (OR FAX) 911 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

11:32 a.m., 675 Longboat Club Road

Abandoned 911 call: Dispatched police went to a condo complex after an abandoned 911 call from a business. Police responded and made contact with the property owner, who said his faulty fax machine caused the call. The case was closed.

THURSDAY, NOV. 13

FISHING AND RUDE

8:14 a.m., Bayou Pointe

Suspicious person: Police were called by a homeowner who said a man was fishing in a private waterway. When police arrived, the complainant told the officer that a man fishing had been very rude to her after she told him he was fishing in a private area “only open to residents of the association.” The responding officer told the caller that fishers are allowed to fish in tidal waters, citing state law and closing the case. The fisherman was off to more hospitable fishing spots by the time police arrived. The case was closed.

Bold design. Breathtaking views. Boundless possibilities. This is 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Kolter Urban’s newest luxury development at the Quay waterfront district. Here, striking condominium residences will mingle effortlessly with a hospitality-inspired lifestyle, overlooking The Bay Park, Sarasota Bay and the Quay Harbor. We invite you to be among the first to discover this curated collection of premium amenities and coastal urban indulgences. Come live the art of having it all.

1- to 3-Bedroom Bayfront Residences priced from $1.5 to $2.5 Million.

Make A Plan.

It Makes a Difference.

Taking a few moments now can make a significant difference for your loved ones down the road. From removing the stress and financial burdens to fulfilling your exact wishes for your celebration of life, pre-planning is the best gift you can give your family.

We’re here to help. Give us a call today to start the conversation.

TRIBUTES

Ann Gwendolyn Sweet 1935-2025

Her Legacy… Ann Gwendolyn Sweet, aged 90 years, passed away on November 2, 2025. She was born on April 22, 1935, in New York City, New York, to Sidney Ochs and Rose (Deutsch) Ochs. Ann married her beloved, Charles Sweet Jr., in June of 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. She shall be remembered as an educator whose dedication and talent profoundly impacted the lives of her students.

Ann served as a reading specialist within the Detroit Public School system, owned a business dedicated to tutoring youth up to the high school level, and deeply valued the education she contributed to others. She also appreciated music and was proficient in playing the piano. Ann participated in the Sarasota Music Festival, an organization dedicated to mentoring gifted young musicians. Additionally, she was affiliated with PEO, a philanthropic organization for women. She enjoyed spending many summers at the University of Michigan Alumni Association Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake. She will be dearly loved and deeply missed by all those she engaged with. Her family will deeply mourn her loss. Ann will be fondly remembered by

Gwendolyn Sweet, Charles Sweet IV, and William Sweet; as well as her niece and nephews, Kathy Benedict, Brad Hulyk, and James Hulyk. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sidney and Rose Ochs, and her

extend your condolences to Ann’s family by calling 1-877231-7900, or kindly sign her guestbook at www.borekjennings.com.

454276-1

her husband, Charles; her children, Stuart (Cindy) Sweet, Elizabeth Tousley, Jeffrey (Elizabeth) Sweet; her grandchildren, Elias Tousley, Adelaide Tousley, Madison Sweet, Matthew Sweet,

sister, Barbara Hulyk. SERVICE: Her Farewell… Ann’s family and friends will convene privately at an upcoming time. Donations in memory of Ann are recommended to the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Florida. Alternatively, memorial contributions may be made to the family for future allocation. Please

Avoid that sugar rush at your Thanksgiving dinner

MIRABAI HOLLAND CONTRIBUTOR

November starts one day after Halloween and signals the beginning of the holiday season. Most of us feel this season as separate from the rest of the year. Decorations go up around town, and we begin to think of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas.

It just so happens November is also National Diabetes Awareness Month, and it coordinates pretty well with Thanksgiving and all its eats and treats.

If you’re diabetic or have any issues with your blood sugar, you’re probably thinking about how to survive and still have a healthy good time. Since Thanksgiving is traditionally a sugarheavy holiday, the rest of us could do well to follow that lead.

I’m going to give you some diabetes awareness info and a formula we can all use for enjoying holiday foods with less angst.

Our bodies run on sugar. Most of the food we digest ends up as glucose, a sugar our blood carries to our body parts for energy. We need to maintain a relatively constant level of sugar in our blood for our bodies to function.

The pancreas regulates our blood sugar level with the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin lowers blood sugar if there’s too much, and glucagon raises sugar if there’s too little.

People with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood because their bodies don’t make enough insulin or they can’t use it effectively.

Left untreated, diabetes can be life-threatening. But under a doctor’s care, diabetics can live normal lives. That’s why every annual blood test includes testing for sugar levels.

When you get a blood test for sugar, they test for glucose. Your doctor will probably prescribe a fasting glucose test and an A1C test.

Normal fasting blood sugar should be under 100 milligrams deciliter.

A1C is a different way of measuring sugar in your blood, so it can be done using the same blood draw. It shows your glucose level over a period of two to three months. Here’s how it works.

Red blood cells are about 95% hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen to all the tissues in your body. When we have glucose

in our blood, some of it attaches to that hemoglobin and stays there for the entire life of the red blood cell, which is about three months. So, a single blood test can tell how much glucose attaches to the hemoglobin in our red blood cells for around three months.

The higher the percentage, the more glucose is in your blood. Some glucose in your blood is normal.

But elevated levels of glucose indicate prediabetes or diabetes depending on how high that level is. An A1C below 5.7% is normal. 5.7% to 6.4% means you have prediabetes. If your A1C 6.4% or above, you’re diabetic.

Nondiabetic women shouldn’t eat more than six teaspoons of sugar a day, nine for men, according to the American Heart Association guidelines.

Unless you’re diabetic, the natural sugar in fruits, dairy products, grains and vegetables is OK.

It’s added sugar, in cereals, flavored yogurts, of course bakery goods, candy and ice cream and that sneaky sugar they put in food you wouldn’t expect like tomato sauce, that can put you over the top without knowing it.

For most of us, all bets are off on Thanksgiving. We could have triple the daily amount in just one meal. There’s sugar all over the place. So what can we do about it and still enjoy the holiday?

n If you work out regularly, a Thanksgiving morning workout including a little extra cardio and weight training to burn calories and raise your metabolism will get you started.

n If you haven’t been working out, take a morning walk. Depending on how long and how fast, it can burn up to a piece of pie’s worth of calories and will definitely set the tone for the day. It will help keep your glucose at a more constant level and prevent sugar spiking.

n Don’t eat all day before Thanksgiving dinner? Bad advice. Not eating drops your blood sugar down around your knees, and you’ll almost certainly overeat at dinner.

n Eat light until the big dinner. Moderation, not starvation, is the key.

n Don’t be afraid to feel a little hungry but not so hungry so as not to overeat later.

n At dinner, don’t count calories. Just concentrate on portion size. It’s a balancing act.

n You can sample everything

you care about and save room for dessert. Of course, if you’re diabetic, you’ll be monitoring your blood sugar.

Have some veggies, a moderate portion of turkey or whatever protein, just a dollop of carbs like potatoes or yams. Consider skipping the dinner roll. Save carbs for pie crust. If you get too full, it can ruin your night.

n Drink moderately. The more you drink, the more you’ll feel like eating.

n When it comes to desserts, make smart choices. You don’t want to feel yucky afterward.

n Sample is the key word here. A sliver will give you a healthy, satisfying taste of everything you want. If you’re diabetic, keep the slivers small.

You’re probably going to overindulge a little. But with a little pre-planning and a pinch of discipline, it doesn’t have to be a lot. And you can taste it all and feel good afterward.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video production company. She is a certified health coach, exercise physiologist and wellness consultant for Manatee County government employees and has a private practice. Her wellness programs are implemented in hospitals, MD practices, fitness facilities, resorts and corporations worldwide. She is also an artist who believes creativity enhances health. Visit MirabaiHolland.com Contact her at AskMirabai@MovingFree.com.

WORSHIP directory

Democratic gubernatorial candidate

David Jolly speak at the Longboat Key Democratic Club’s season kickoff luncheon.

LBK Dems begin speaker series

Gubernatorial candidate Jolly attracts sellout crowd.

It was a packed house at the Longboat Key Democratic Club’s first meeting.

More than 200 attended the club’s kickoff event at Sarasota Yacht Club on Nov. 4 featuring speaker David Jolly, a democratic candidate for Florida governor.

“It was surprising because it really wasn’t season. A lot of people haven’t returned back to the island yet,” said club President Lucie Lapovsky. “Usually, our November program we have 80 or so people. But we were sold out.”

The event was the kick-off to the club’s “America at the Crossroads” luncheon series. David Hogg, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, co-founded March For Our Lives, a political organization advocating for policies to reduce gun violence. He served as the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, resigning shortly after amid internal DNC disagreements. Another key speaker will be Martin Baron, former executive editor of the Boston Globe. Baron led the Globe newsroom that implicated Catholic church clergy in the sexual abuse of children for decades.

“Martin Baron will be great.” Lapovsky said. “We think he will have a lot of insightful things to say regarding the press today. How we hear very different things based on the news they receive.”

2025-26

SCHEDULE

Longboat Key Democratic Club luncheons are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Admission with lunch is $60. n Dec. 11: Is there hope for democrats in Florida? Susan McManus and Steve Bousquet n Jan. 6: The future of public schools, panelists TBA n Feb. 10: New visions for the Democratic Party, David Hogg n March 5: (7 p.m., Burns Court Theater), screening of “Spotlight” n March 17: Collision of power: Trump, Bezos & the Washington Post, Martin Baron n April 7: The end of diversity & inclusion: What does it mean? Subha Barry and Liz Walker More

Despite being a Republican stronghold, Longboat Key has plenty of people involved with the Democratic club, Pavlovsky said. Appealing to moderates and independents and shying away from divisiveness is important for attendance. Pavlovsky said it’s challenging to organize a Democratic club in the current political climate. “In this area, in order for Democrats to win we need to appeal to nonparty affiliates and moderate Republicans,” she said. “So, we need to balance the line of taking an anti-Trump stance, which we have not been doing, but instead focusing on the positive aspects of the Democrat platform.”

Courtesy image

During Thanksgiving dinner, we could end up having triple the amount of daily sugar intake. A workout in the morning can help keep your glucose levels low.

S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER

Images courtesy of Longboat Key Democratic Club

Democratic gubernatorial candidate

David Jolly poses for a photo with Longboat Key Democratic Club President Lucie Lapovsky at the Sarasota Yacht Club on Nov. 4.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Tiny crafts mean a little help

Ski-A-Rees tech makes marine figurines to support hurricane recovery.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

Madison Ditmars, the sound technician who helps keep the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees shows running smoothly, also has a talent for crafting she puts to good use, helping raise funds to support the water acrobats who have entertained audience members at City Island for decades.

Anyone who has been to a recent show will have seen Ditmars looking out across Sarasota Bay from the sound booth. Her role includes multiple responsibilities, chief among which is closely monitoring the team members as they perform their gravity-defying stunts. With a marine radio in hand, she also keeps the flow of the show moving with her music setlist, while keeping an eye out for any manatees that may swim toward the performance area.

“It helps that I listen to almost anything,” she said of crafting her playlists for different shows.

Ditmars has held the position for the past year and a half, and she enjoys coming up with new set lists, especially for special performances like the Halloween-themed show, which was the penultimate of the season.

“I’ve been putting together different playlists since I started,” she said. “My goal is that if I’m away, it’s as user-friendly as possible so anybody can tap into it.”

She is, however, there for most shows to keep it all rolling smoothly.

Helping run the show is also a way she and her husband, Avery, can enjoy the sport together. He is one of the team specialists who can ski barefoot and was a member of the 2017 team that competed in the 2017 National Show Ski Tournament.

“My husband’s been doing this since he was a teenager,” she said.

Even though she already tackles multiple essential tasks as the sound technician, she recently started to go above and beyond to support the group as it works to rebuild from last year’s hurricanes.

High winds and storm surge caused significant damage to the property located right on the shore of Sarasota Bay.

One way Ditmars found to help

support the recovering group was to start making miniature crabs fabricated from wine corks and beads. Some versions were inspired by things she saw online and developed her own method for making them.

“I discovered them on Pinterest, and then the hurricanes happened,” she said. “I thought they would be a great way to bring in revenue to rebuild,” she said.

She even taught a few teammates how to make them to help keep up the supply.

While the organization came far enough along in its recovery to have a fall season, she noted there is still more to be done around the property, especially where hurricane-blown trees caused damage.

Armed with a colorful assortment of beads, some wire, a box full of corks, jewelry claw clasps and, if needed, a few dabs of adhesive, she can make a small army of the little crabs.

She sourced supplies from thrift shops and friends, and now she has enough to make as many as she wants.

Ditmars has always had a penchant for crafting and developing unique hobbies. She said the crabs have been the perfect fundraising project. The figurines are environmentally friendly and a more unique keepsake for Ski-A-Rees patrons than a massproduced souvenir.

“I’m a big fan of upcycling,” she added.

Each one is different, and she comes up with the color patterns simply based on whatever inspiration strikes, as with her music set lists.

“Creativity has been my method of coping with some mobility issues,” she said when explaining her motivation to take on the job full time.

She recommends a $5 donation for her handmade crafts, but patrons can offer whatever they would like. Viewers can find her display at the concession stand behind the main stadium seating.

While the team is on break until after the holidays, the Ski-A-Rees team plans to be part of the festivities on Longboat Key.

Audiences can catch the Sunday shows again when the team returns in February. Visit SkiARees.com for updated schedules.

Madison Ditmars recommends Sarasota Ski-ARees supporters make a $5 donation for her crab crafts, but the group welcomes any amount to help with hurricane repairs.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees sound technician Madison Ditmars keeps a close eye on the performers from up in the sound booth overlooking Sarasota Bay.

Madison Ditmars said the crab figures she crafts are a unique, handmade keepsake fans of the Sarasota SkiA-Rees can pick up at their shows.

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees sound technician Madison Ditmars demonstrates how she makes the crab figurines she offers for a donation to support the group in its ongoing recovery from last year’s hurricanes.

Madison Ditmars’ husband, Avery, gives a wave to the audience at a Sarasota Ski-A-Rees show.

Warm welcome on a cold day

Longboat Key Public Tennis Center held its annual welcome back event at a comfortable temperature for the snowbirds

Nov. 11. Despite the sub-60 thermometer reading, more than 50 came out to the Longboat Key Tennis Center for a meet and greet to welcome the start of busy season.

“I wish we had more people, but you guys are the tough ones,” Longboat Key Tennis Center

Manager Kay Thayer said while addressing the crowd before tennis pros gave a clinic demonstration described as a live ball drill.

Thayer introduced two new tennis teachers: Cody Wright and Tomasz Buricki, and thanked Friends of Tennis for its continued support.

The Carolyn Davis Duo — Davis on guitar and vocals and Keith Elias on sax — played during the welcome back event at the Tennis Center, which included hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, where Longboaters mingled.

— S.T. CARDINAL

RA Sarasota: Lifting Homes & Spirits

Husband and wife team Roger and Angie fell in love with Longboat Key and moved to the island permanently in 2022. So, when Hurricane Helene pushed more than two feet of storm surge into their home,

they weren’t going to give up on their new hometown.

“Just like many people, we experienced catastrophic flooding and lost everything we owned,” Roger says. But the emotional toll was even greater. “Everyone talks about the damage, but it’s the feeling of being uprooted that changes you.”

With Roger’s background in high-tech and construction, and Angie’s experience navigating human-resource challenges, they quickly recognized what was missing when they researched lifting their home to prevent future flooding. The lifting process is eye-opening, and what they found is there is a lot more to it than just lifting your home.

“There was a huge disconnect between lifting companies and homeowners,” says Roger. “Different pricing models, different scopes of work… and little guidance through what is a very stressful, expensive journey. It’s still cheaper to lift than build new.”

Angie believes that “because of our own personal experience we fully understand

TENNIS CENTER LEADER COACHED AT COLONY

Kay Thayer grew up in Sarasota and taught tennis at the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort from 1994 to 1999.

Then she got a job teaching at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, which had just been constructed the year before. Six courts and a shack made up the tennis center then. Funding by the nonprofit Friends of Tennis with support from the town of Longboat Key has led to the growth of the Longboat Key Tennis Center to 10 Har-Tru courts and a multistory clubhouse and pro shop.

With most courts on the 10-mile island reserved for resort guests or club members, the tennis center has offered courts to many who may have played at the Colony before its closure in 2010. Thayer manages the facility now.

“I really believe that the Longboat Key Tennis Center has taken the Colony’s place,” Thayer said.

the fear of what to do next. This is our community; our goal is to be a trusted company to those that need help and just don’t know how or what to do if they want to prevent their home from flooding again.”

So they decided to turn their hardship into something meaningful. RA Sarasota (R + A for Roger and Angie) was born from the belief that their experience could make this process clearer, easier, and simpler for others.

RA Sarasota becomes the homeowner’s single point of contact and consultant: answering homeowner’s questions, managing proposals, and comparing bids. Then, if the client decides to move forward, they can manage the entire project and own the finishing work. “A lift doesn’t just end when the house goes up,” Roger says. “There’s permitting, utility disconnects and reconnects, sewer lines, new slabs, decking and stairs, landscaping and even elevators. We stay until the job is truly complete.”

Their mission is driven by four principles: respond quickly, be clear and proactive, listen with empathy, and own the challenge. “We provide unfiltered insights to help our clients make the best decisions” Angie says with a smile. “Our goal is to help our community get high and dry again.”

And yes, the couple admits there are tears.

“When a house finally lifts those first few feet, the relief on a homeowner’s face is incredible,” Roger says. “After everything they’ve gone through, knowing they’ll likely never flood again… it’s emotional. We’ve lived it. So, we get it.”

941-529-7550

www.rasarasota.com

info@rasarasota.com

Cody Wright and Robbi Salum pose for a picture at the Longboat Key Tennis Center at the annual welcome back meet and greet Nov. 11.

Photos by S.T. Cardinal

John Bradbury, Fran Ferguson and Andrew Geller (from left) enjoy the hors d’oeuvres at the welcome back event.

Joey Assaly, dogs Charlie and Zuka, Sue Bean, MJ White and Sandy Schonhoff attend the Longboat Key Tennis Center 2025 welcome back event. Doug Rhodes, Irene Langlois, Billy Clyde Tuttle, Kate Rhodes, David Pitt and Mike Langlois

Keith Elias and Carolyn Davis came up with the name “Carolyn Davis Duo” as a way to refer to the band.

Mariano and Margaret Sanchez participate in a tennis clinic demonstration with Tomasz Borucki.

Kay Thayer

Church bazaar brings cheer

Holiday cookies and crafts went flying off tables last weekend as shoppers participated in some early season festivities at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

The church held its annual Christmas bazaar Nov. 15-16, offering handcrafted ornaments, wreaths and other decorations.

The turnout pleased Bonnie Schneider, one of this year’s organizers, as shoppers cleared several tables of goods early in the day.

Besides helping residents get in the spirit, the sale supports community activities like the Women’s Guild scholarship program.

President Kay Kochenderfer said hurricane support was a main fundraising focus of last year’s market.

This year, members are turning their attention to the scholarship fund, which they launched in early 2025. With a well-attended bazaar, Kochenderfer is hopeful they will be able to reach an overall fundraising goal of $120,000.

Questions about donating to the fund can be directed to KKochenderfer@mac.com or 626-8621540.

Kiwanis Club flips flapjacks for charity

Lazy Lobster restaurant owner Michael Garey offered his venue to host the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Breakfast on Nov. 15, with proceeds benefiting Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee.

The organization, established in 2008, offers support services to families experiencing homelessness. It has assisted more than 300 families across the region.

Saturday’s pancake fundraiser was actually the second the club hosted in 2025.

Members had to delay the cherished tradition to April because of the late-season hurricanes. The spring fundraiser benefited the Children’s Guardian Fund, which will be the beneficiary of the annual Lawn Party event on Dec. 6.

Club President Danielle Gladding said fewer people made it out to the autumn pancake breakfast. However, they made up the difference with their contributions, including through a 50/50 raffle.

HOW TO DONATE

For those who couldn’t attend the breakfast but still wish to donate to Family Promise of SarasotaManatee, there are multiple ways to support the organization.

n Visit FamilyPromiseSaraso ta-Manatee.org to donate online.

n Mail a check made payable to Family Promise of Sarasota, Inc. to: Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee; 8499 Tamiami Trail, PMB 267, Sarasota, FL 34238

— DANA KAMPA

Bryan and Janet Barnard and Mike and Charlene Boettcher take their pancake breakfast plates outside at the Kiwanis annual fundraiser on Nov. 15 at Lazy Lobster.

Bill Totten, a veteran pancake flipper with the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key, dishes up hotcakes.

Elaine Cichon, Lorri Harrison and Claudia Stieber bring their festive spirit to the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church annual Christmas bazaar, held Nov. 15-16 at the church.

Mary Golia and Jolana Popcak volunteer to help shoppers at the Christmas bazaar.

Karen and Richard “Sparky” Pashkow

Photos by Dana Kampa Longboat Key holiday shoppers quickly scooped up festive decorations.

Bert Wood, Karl

Hudson

and Jane Conrad were among the 120 volunteers helping pack meals for Kids Against Hunger on Nov. 8 at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. Part of the meals went to help local families, and part went to support hurricane survivors in Jamaica.

St. Armands church aids families near and far

In the spirit of giving, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church lent a hand to families near and far with a recent food packing event.

Parishioners filled the halls as they worked side by side to package meals to help those who need them, in partnership with Kids Against Hunger.

Executive Director Todd Clevenger said part of the meal packages would go to nearby families. But many would also go to Jamaica to support those recovering from the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The Category 5 storm hit the country at the end of October, also causing damage on the neighboring islands of Cuba and Haiti.

More than 120 local volunteers lined up at the folding tables packed into the church hall on Nov. 8. Working in assembly lines, they put together nutritionally complete meals that were packaged and ready to ship.

Clevenger said their helping hands would result in 20,000 adult meals or 40,000 kid meals.

“This church always overflows,” he said of community members’ willingness to help. “We snuck in two extra lines of people helping pack.”

This is the third year the church has held such a packing event, coordinated by the SAKLC Community Service Ministry. This was, however, the first time they held it in the fall, and organizers said they

were grateful so many people turned out to help.

Gayle Galloway, chair of the Community Service Ministry, thanked the participants for their support.

For more information on how to support Kids Against Hunger, visit KAHFlorida.org. UNICEF and other international organizations are also offering support, though the logistics of navigating the damage remain a challenge.

— DANA KAMPA

out instead of cooking can find a place setting at the following establishments on Thanksgiving. Reservations may be required.

CHART HOUSE

201 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Menu: Three-course dinner including a choice of soup, entrees including a traditional turkey dinner, slow-roasted prime rib, lobster and shrimp carbonara, filet mignon, shellfish linguine, fresh fish, and a variety of desserts.

Cost: $69 with optional additions

Thanksgiving Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Contact: 941-383-5593

EUPHEMIA HAYE

5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Menu: Serving a full a la carte menu, daily specials and a Thanksgiving turkey special; to-go pie orders must be prepaid and placed on Friday before Thanksgiving; limited capacity.

Thanksgiving Hours: 2-9 p.m.

Contact: 941-383-3633

HARRY’S CONTINENTAL KITCHENS

525 St. Judes Drive

Menu: For starters, five-spiced butternut squash soup or fall apple salad. Entrees include roasted turkey with apple-walnut stuffing; green bean almandine; mashed Idaho and sweet potatoes. Desserts include pumpkin pie, apple cheesecake or chocolate pecan pie.

Cost: $59 for all three courses; $42 for entree only; $74 with wine pairings

Thanksgiving Hours: Restaurant open 1-8 p.m.; deli closed; corner store 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Contact: 941-383-0777

ST. ARMANDS DAIQUIRI DECK

325 John Ringling Blvd.

Menu: Roasted turkey with stuffing; mashed potatoes with gravy; sweet potato casserole; broccoli and cauli-

THE ST. REGIS

Photos by Dana Kampa

Volunteer Charles Dempsey passes a box packed with meals to support families in need as part of a recent event at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.

Kaminski,

Nesmith

$18,900,000

$3,899,000

Ohana tops week’s sales on the Key at $17.5 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

SISP 33704 LLC, trustee, sold the home at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, known as Ohana, to John and Kimberly Jo Wise, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $17.5 million. Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,933 square feet of living area. It sold for $19.75 million in 2024

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

Pietro and Kimberly Cuomo sold their home at 531 Ranger Lane to Michael Rose, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $3.7 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 3,436 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.7 million in 2023.

Virginia and Kevin O’Connor, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 571 Birdie Lane to Banzai LLC for $2.8 million. Built in 1967, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,626 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,175,000 in 2012.

L’AMBIANCE AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB

L’Ambiance Inc. sold the Unit M-408 condominium at 435 L’Ambiance Drive to Judd Powell and Laura Powell, trustees, of Dayton, Ohio, for $3.3 million. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, threeand-two-half baths and 3,220 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.35 million in 2000.

Ron Cohen and Amy Martini, of Irvington, New York, sold their Unit C-703 condominium at 415 L’Ambiance Drive to Barbara and Gerry Van Geyzel, of Wilton, Connecticut, for $3.05 million. Built in 1992, it has two bedrooms, twoand-two-half baths and 2,634

square feet of living area. It sold for $3.25 million in 2023.

SABAL COVE

Adam Waller and Helen Smaldone, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 3302 Sabal Cove Lane to Eric and Emily Hargan, of Longboat Key, for $2.85 million. Built in 1996, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,993 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,875,000 in 2021.

Ronald Whitehouse, trustee, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 3330 Sabal Cove Lane to R. David Miller Jr., trustee, of Longboat Key, for $2,826,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,529 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,565,000 in 2024.

QUEEN’S HARBOUR

Dean Philip Lombardo, trustee, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 3521 Fair Oaks Lane to Karri Haffner, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $2.2 million. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,048 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,275,000 in February.

PROMENADE

W.A.S. Tower L.B.K. LLC sold the Unit 406C condominium at 1211

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

of Nov. 7-13 in order of dollar amounts.

Gulf of Mexico Drive to John Agee and Laurie Young-Agee, of Nashville, Tennessee, for $2,100,100. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,598 square feet. It sold for $1,570,000 in 2023.

ISLANDS WEST

Joan Hart, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, sold her Unit 8-A condominium at 2525 Gulf of Mexico Drive to David and Susan Krebs, of Lakewood, Ohio, for $1,345,000. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,460 square feet. It sold for $800,000 in 2004.

LIDO BEACH CLUB

Michael Fallon and Susan Salt Fallon, of Fox Lake, Illinois, sold their Unit 909 condominium at 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Sue Keith Greenwell, of Elizabethtown,

Kentucky, for $955,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,812 square feet of living area. It sold for $670,000 in 2017.

5601 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE APARTMENTS

David and Kimberly Brannon, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit 7 condominium at 5601 Gulf of Mexico Drive to SEAOATS7LBK LLC for $650,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 976 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,900 in 2019.

ONLINE

See more transactions at YourObserver.com.

Source: Town of Longboat Key

File image

The front of Ohana, at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive, photographed in 2013.

6406 21st Ave West | Bradenton, FL 34209

Follow signs to the Sales Office

comes with Life Care – all in a welcoming Bradenton community. Tour beautifully refreshed apartments, meet friendly residents, and experience maintenance-free living at its finest. Call 941-798-8122 or visit us online at FVBradenton.com/events. Your New Beginning Starts Here Join us for an Open House at

YOUR CALENDAR

THURSDAY, NOV. 20 FALL PREVENTION WORKSHOP

10 a.m. to noon at the Education Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. Join the Manatee County Falls Prevention Coalition for an important educational presentation focused on preventing falls and promoting safety for older adults in the community. Free, but registration requested. Visit TBIEducationCenter.org or call 941-383-8222.

SIP AND SHOP

9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at J. McLaughlin, 515 Bay Isles Parkway. Support the Longboat Key Garden Club’s efforts to beautify Joan M. Durante Community Park with an afternoon of shopping.

SATURDAY, NOV. 22

PILATES AT THE PARK

9 a.m. at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. Start your Saturday with movement, sunshine and good vibes. Join a fun and energizing Pilates session right in the heart of the park. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, this outdoor workout is for everyone. Bring a yoga mat or towel and water bottle. Participation is free.

RECURRING EVENTS

TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-2011.

TUESDAYS

POP-UP LIBRARY

10 a.m. at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. The Sarasota County Pop-Up Library hosts services on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with storytime beginning at 10:30 a.m. and other services available from 10-11:30 a.m.

MAHJONG

1-3 p.m. at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Seasoned mahjong players can join a weekly, prearranged game at The Paradise Center with a noncompetitive atmosphere. RSVP required. Email Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org or call 941-383-6493.

BEST BET

SATURDAY, NOV. 22

LIGHT UP LONGBOAT

5-7 p.m. at the Karon Family Pavilion, 600 Bay Isles Road. Take in a spectacular tree lighting ceremony and special appearances by Santa Claus at Longboat Key’s big holiday bash. Includes contests for the best holiday spirit attire contest for kids and adults and for the best decorated vendor table. The Rotary Club of Longboat Key will also be collecting unwrapped gifts for children for HOPE Family Services in Bradenton. Food trucks and shopping from local vendors are available. Free to attend.

THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS

BRIDGE CLUB

1 p.m. at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This American Contract Bridge League-certified group meets twice weekly. Reservations required. Contact Patty Mayer at 262-2152566 or PattySarasota33@gmail. com for more information.

SATURDAYS

RUN CLUB

7 a.m. at Sips coffee shop, 6830 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Join this newly formed community running club for a morning jog at your own pace. The group is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.