Longboat Observer 12.11.25

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Lower tax bills surprise town

Dana Kampa

Andrew Vac with Shannon and Robert Gault attend the Lawn Party, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key on Dec. 6.

WEEK OF DEC. 11, 2025

BY THE NUMBERS

The

“The best part of my job is recognizing firefighters.”

Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi after the seventh annual awards ceremony Read more on page 9

Expect road, sidewalk closures on GMD

A1.5-mile stretch of Longboat Key’s main road will have nightly effects with the installation of a gas line beginning Wednesday.

According to a news release from the town of Longboat Key, a dredging project scheduled to take place in Sarasota Bay by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will intersect with an existing gas main that serves Longboat Key. To prevent disruptions to resident gas supply, gas company TECO has begun the process of

installing a new gas main on the island.

That work will cause sidewalk closures from the New Pass drawbridge to Longboat Club Road, about a 1.5-mile segment.

Construction company Mears will schedule work nightly from Dec. 3-20 and then again from Jan. 5-31.

“The majority of work will occur at the southern end of Gulf of Mexico Drive on the northbound right-of-way, with temporary traffic shifts in effect nightly from

8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to ensure public and worker safety,” a town press release describes. The gas line project will begin as the Country Club Shores turn lane project wraps up, expected to be complete by the end of the month.

Irrigation and final touches on landscaping are underway on the project, which adds curbed medians and turn lanes to intersections of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Country Club Shores neighborhood accesses.

Boat Parade will pass Quick Point, City Island Saturday

The 39th Annual Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights will stage along the south end of Longboat Key and pass by Quick Point Nature Preserve and City Island.

The parade of decked out boats is presented by Suncoast Charities for Children and Marina Jack. A panel of judges select winners in four categories separated by size and corporate or private.

The parade will be held 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 and will follow a route that begins off the south point of Longboat and ends at Marina Jack.

The annual event is sponsored by Lake Michigan Credit Union and doubles as a toy drive for special needs children, teens and adults.

Town hiring

three

The town of Longboat Key is accepting applications for three open positions.

The police department is looking to add an additional full-time police officer to its ranks. According to the job posting on GovernmentJobs. com, the salary range for the position is $70,550 to $89,269.

A $5,000 bonus for out-of state officers relocating to Florida is being offered. The job application window closes Dec. 31.

The Longboat Key Public Tennis Center is looking for a new service worker. The full-time position will be responsible for daily maintenance of the 10 clay-court tennis center. The employee will also be responsible for maintenance of the Town Green, Town Hall and Bicentennial Park.

The salary range for the Service Worker 2 position is $48,000 to $54,000 and applications close Feb. 28.

The town is also looking to hire an engineer to join the Public Works department. The job posting states the engineer will be responsible for “delivering a portfolio of projects within the Town’s Capital Improvement Program,” including civil, transportation, stormwater and utility projects.

The salary range for the position is $95,000 to $130,000 and the application window closes Jan. 30.

Cardinal

Sidewalks on the southern portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive will be closed nightly as construction crews begin work to install a gas line to accommodate a dredging project in Sarasota Bay.

Longboat seeks some explanation from Manatee Property Appraiser after seeing a drop in values.

5555 Gulf of Mexico Drive #101

68.7% DECREASE IN TAXES

CHECKING THE MATH

S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER

The 2024 hurricanes spared some Longboaters from the worst impacts. Residents like those at the Tides of Longboat or the Positano condo complexes had an easy go of it compared to others on the barrier island. These are two examples of condos that have garage space on the ground level with the living units above.

Elevated units like that are more resistant to the storm surge that dev astated other properties on the bar rier island. So, it may have come as a surprise when some residents’ annu al property tax bill came in the mail this August with a steep discount.

One resident who wished to remain anonymous said he assumed there must have been a mistake. His bill had gone from more than $20,000 in 2024 to about $6,700 this year.

The reduced property tax bill was a result of a greatly reduced property value assessment by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office. In 2024, MCPA valued the three-bed, three-bath condo unit at $1.4 million. The 2025 value dropped to less than $450,000, a 69% decrease despite the unit’s lack of storm damage.

Another elevated three-bed, three-bath condo nearby also had a 69% decrease in appraised value.

The 2025 value was 60% less than what the condo sold for 19 years ago.

According to the property’s MCPA property record card, the last time the property appraiser inspected the unit was in 2023, and the town issued no storm repair permits for that property.

A lower tax bill probably isn’t something a resident would complain about, but the town is concerned.

Property taxes account for 75% of the town’s revenue, a vital funding mechanism for the town to pay for its services, a majority of which go toward police and fire response. Plus, the town had just withdrawn about $8 million from its reserves to pay for storm repairs and cleanup efforts.

“And with potential property tax reform on the horizon, starting from a deficit situation, it’s concerning,” Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton said.

“That’s the multimilliondollar question. How did they come up with these numbers? Because these are units that had no damage. They were completely habitable.”

— Debra Williams, town commissioner

Town staff and elected officials are now asking Manatee County Property Appraiser Charles Hackney how his office arrived at this year’s valuations.

“That’s the multimillion-dollar question,” said Williams. “How did they come up with these numbers? Because these are units that had no damage. They were completely habitable.”

On Nov. 19, Tipton wrote a letter to Hackney citing several examples of the valuation decreases of properties with no damage and requested an explanation.

In an email to the Observer on Monday, Hackney said he was out of the office, which caused the delayed response, but his office had received Tipton’s letter and was reviewing it so they could meet with the town to answer its questions.

‘MASS DEVALUATION’

According to data shared by Longboat Key Finance Director Sue Smith, Manatee County Property tax revenue is about 12% lower than it was in the previous fiscal year due to a $295 million decrease in property values.

Tipton wrote in an email to Williams that “I’ve been doing this city/ county stuff for a while now, and I’ve never seen any adjustments close to this magnitude.” He said in his letter to the property appraiser that properties that did not experience storm damage received “significant reductions” in taxable values and wanted to sit down with Hackney to understand the process MCPA takes in determining its annual values.

“The town is concerned that a mass devaluation of the town’s Manatee County property values does not actually reflect the true property values on the island,” Tipton wrote to Hackney. “Not every property within Manatee County was adversely impacted by the 2024 hurricanes.”

Longboat Key Planning, Zoning

4955 Gulf of Mexico Drive #101

66.1% DECREASE IN TAXES

“There were certain people who had no damage and received a significant reduction in property taxes, and then there were others who had no damage and didn’t get a similar discount.”

— Howard Tipton, Longboat Key town manager

stormresistant standards.

The brunt of the impacts from the 2024 hurricanes came on the Manatee County side of the island, where older structures are. But town leaders think the change in valuations from county to county also involve differing appraisal methods.

“Sarasota County did not do the kind of valuations that Manatee County did,” Commissioner B.J. Bishop said.

affected parcels to document damage caused by the disaster as of Jan. 1 and consider the impact it may have on the just value,” the guidelines state. Mass appraisal may have led to errors in valuations. Williams, Bishop and Tipton pointed out that many of the condo units that experienced significant appraisal reductions were first-level units, but not ground level.

“The first level is not ground level, but the first level received those discounts,” Williams said.

and Building Director Allen Parsons said the town took assessments of damage following the 2024 hurricanes and found that there were about 1,600 properties that sustained “some notable damage.” Of those, 700 had damage that was estimated to be 30% or more of the assessed value of the property.

The Manatee County Property Appraiser, though, “provided information indicating that approximately 1,400 properties received a code on the tax roll as uninhabitable on Jan. 1, 2025,” Parsons said in an email.

The property appraiser did not use the town’s efforts in surveying the damage, Tipton said.

“They didn’t ask us for any of the damage information,” Tipton said.

The town’s property tax revenue as a whole had a 5% increase from 2024 to 2025, largely due to the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, which opened in Sarasota County in 2024. Property tax revenue from the Sarasota County side of the island increased $3.9 million in 2025. Of that, $2.3 million comes from St. Regis taxation, according to Sarasota County’s notice of proposed property taxes. Typically, Sarasota County properties are newer and built to higher

Tipton said the town wants to ensure that properties are valued correctly, not just for the town’s reliance on the funding source, but for other taxing districts, too.

Local schools, mosquito control, parks and transportation funds are also impacted by reduced values. And then there’s the fairness aspect.

“There were certain people who had no damage and received a significant reduction in property taxes, and then there were others who had no damage and didn’t get a similar discount,” Tipton said.

Bishop has heard concerns from residents about property valuation decreases, she said, adding that valuations have more of an impact than just a property tax bill.

“In the case of people who own properties that could potentially be hit with storms in 2026 and they have a value that’s not reflective of what the real value of that property is, they’re screwed,” Bishop said.

On Manatee County Property Appraiser cards, there is a “FEMA value” field that has comparable but lower values than the property appraiser’s 2025 valuations.

FEMA’s 50% rule is a National Flood Insurance Program guideline that states that if repairs to a property account for more than 50% of the value of the property, it must meet updated elevation requirements after the repairs and renovations.

Tipton said the town hopes to discuss how to ensure the most accurate valuations. He also wants to plan future budgets and wants to know if property values will return to prestorm levels. Homesteaded properties may only increase in appraised value 3% each year. The town hopes to have answers to many important questions, including whether those properties can legally return to prestorm appraisal levels in short order.

“How can we forecast revenues in the future?” Tipton said. “Is there some magic wand you wave after a year and everything goes back to the way it was, or is this like permanent? It makes a big difference.”

S.T. Cardinal

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

Natalia Vasilieva Maiden Dec� 11th

Violinist (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

Town considers water and sewer fee increases

In addition to raising fees, commissioners aim to simplify the process of raising rates to keep pace with costs.

S.T.

CARDINAL STAFF WRITER

Water and sewer fees are etched into Longboat Key town code, but that could soon change.

(Sanctuary)

Boris & Sax Dec� 22nd

Saxophone Artist

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

Holy

December 24 · 5, 7, & 9pm

Festive

The Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously passed an ordinance at its Dec. 8 meeting that would allow for water and sewer fees to change via resolution instead of ordinance. That would allow changes to fees and rates to be made at a single meeting rather than at two subsequent meetings.

Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton said that the change is being made to make the process of updating water and sewer fees and rates simpler.

A memo from Longboat Key Utilities Manager Jessie Camburn explains that updating the town’s one-time fee structure is past due, with changes last made in 2017. A lot has changed since then, Camburn said.

“The fees no longer reflect the current costs, due to inflation and other economic pressures,” the memo states. “The proposed adjustments aim to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the town’s water and sewer services, protect the infrastructure and meet new regulatory requirements.”

A presentation by Camburn showed certain fee changes proposed, including raising the afterhours water service turn-on fee from $115 to $285, raising the delinquent turn-off/turn-on fee from $75 to $95 and adding a $95 fee for a request to remove a water meter.

Mayor Ken Schneier emphasized that water and sewer rates for established residents would not change.

“I know that several years ago we did a very large-scale analysis rejigging those fees, largely to make sure that we were covering costs over time with the subaqueous lines and other things,” Schneier said. “So I just wanted to clarify that we’re not doing anything to effect the monthly bills to customers as part of this action today.”

The highest-dollar change involves fire hydrant meter deposits. According to Camburn’s presenta-

FEE CHANGES PROPOSED

Monthly water and sewer rates would not change under the town’s proposal, but one-time fees including the following could:

n After-hours water service turn-on fee: $115 to $285

n Delinquent turn-on/turnoff fee: $75 to $95

n Fire hydrant meter deposit: $350 to $3,894

n Vegetation removal fee to access utility equipment: $190

n Temporary water meter removal fee: $95

tion, Florida Fire Prevention Code requires that fire hydrant meters have backflow preventers. Those without backflow preventers require a $500 refundable deposit during installation, but a proposed change would raise that deposit to $4,044 (including a $150 water deposit).

The ordinance to change how sewer and water fee and rate changes are done needs to be approved at one more Town Commission meeting. Then, fee changes can be approved by commissioners via resolution instead of ordinance in the future.

“ ... I just wanted to clarify that we’re not doing anything to effect the monthly bills to customers as part of this action today.”

— Ken Schneier, mayor

St. Regis arch debate enters new chapter

Alot was discussed but little decided at Monday’s Longboat Key Town Commission meeting when it comes to St. Regis’ arch. In a 4-3 vote, what commissioners did decide was to instruct staff to draft an ordinance to amend the town’s sign code to allow the arch. That does not bring the sign into compliance right now, but would pave the way for the Commission to change the code to include it in the future.

Commission’s decision Monday was a backtrack from November, when town leaders voted not to fulfill St. Regis’ request for a sign code amendment to be written.

At that time, it looked like the issue would head to court, but after St. Regis developer Chuck Whittall came to Town Hall for a workshop and made his case for the sign, Mayor Ken Schneier said he would be willing to debate the issue once more.

Schneier was one of four votes needed to potentially allow the arch.

“The process we’re talking about

here is a somewhat unusual one,” Schneier said. “It’s not really how we make the decisions about an issue on the merits. It’s about whether we agree at the request of a person of interest, which in this case is the St. Regis, to propose into a process a change in our town of ordinances.”

Commissioners Sarah Karon, Penny Gold and Gary Coffin joined Schneier in the majority, each also advocating for “the process” to proceed. That will mean an ordinance being put on the agenda, discussed and voted on at a future meeting.

“We are now in a position where we can avail ourselves of the process that has been established here to meet our citizens’ and business’ requests and look dispassionately on the merits,” Karon said. “I trust the process. I have no leaning whatsoever as far as what the process will bring forward.”

Karon elaborated that the vote was not on whether the town should alter the sign code or make a special exception, but to “go back to the process that I wish we had simply and calmly engaged in the last time we met.”

The next step in the aforemen -

ADOPT DON’T SHOP

Town Commission rescinded its earlier decision and directed staff to take a fresh look at the sign code.

“ ... Our beach is one of those glorious, protected, quiet places where people can be on the beach and enjoy peace and quiet without any commercialization.”

— B.J. Bishop, commissioner

tioned process is for town staff to write an ordinance that would tick one box on the checklist of bringing the arch into town compliance.

“If we go the other route and we authorize staff to work on an amendment, there’s an opportunity there for the staff and town to talk again or more for how to avoid nuclear war,” Schneier said.

It’s been a hot topic on the island, and commissioners Steve Branham and B.J. Bishop both shared that they have heard complaints from many residents all opposed to allowing the arch to remain.

“We are talking about our land use code. Our land use code and our sign ordinance are very conservative for a reason,” Bishop said. “Our citizens are very clear on how they feel about signs, and quite honestly,

TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING & HEARING ORDINANCE 2026-05

DECEMBER 16, 2025 – 9:15 AM

our citizens hate signage. Our beach is one of those glorious, protected, quiet places where people can be on the beach and enjoy peace and quiet without any commercialization.”

The dispute between St. Regis and the town centers around a stainless steel arch the resort installed on a groin that extends into the Gulf. Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons said the town originally asked the resort to remove the structure because it did not meet town code and no permit was issued by the town to allow the structure.

Whittall and his lawyer, Brenda Patten, say the resort did not need town approval, arguing that a Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit that was issued for the arch suffices.

“The state gave us a permit to

build it,” Whittall said Monday. “We were told that the authority to put this arch up — which I consider a memorial because we like it for the weddings and people want pictures underneath it — was through the state of Florida.”

Whittall also argued that the structure maybe isn’t even a sign at all.

“I don’t really consider this a sign. It’s more of a memorial,” he said.

The town has provided a grace period to St. Regis. As the St. Regis arch dispute continues, future Longboat Key Town Commission meetings could lead to changes in the sign code broadly, narrowly or not at all.

“What we’re looking for is code compliance but at the same time, our codes are older, and they can be looked at,” Coffin said. “Times change. People’s knowledge change. Studies change. Understandings evolve. Maybe it’s a chance or a time to take a look at this policy and maybe make some adjustments.”

TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING & HEARING ORDINANCE 2026-05 DECEMBER 16, 2025 – 9:15 AM

Please take notice that a public meeting and hearing of the Town of Longboat Key’s Planning and Zoning Board will be held to consider proposed modifications to the Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Longboat Key, as more particularly set forth in Ordinance 2026-05: ORDINANCE 2026-05

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 163.3184, FLORIDA STATUTES; AMENDING STRATEGIES PROVIDED FOR WITHIN THE RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Please take notice that a public meeting and hearing of the Town of Longboat Key’s Planning and Zoning Board will be held to consider proposed modifications to the Comprehensive Plan of the Town of Longboat Key, as more particularly set forth in Ordinance 2026-05: ORDINANCE 2026-05 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 163.3184, FLORIDA STATUTES; AMENDING STRATEGIES PROVIDED FOR WITHIN THE RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board on proposed Ordinance 2026-05 will be held on December 16, 2025, at 9:15 a.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Town Commission Chambers at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida. All interested persons may appear and be heard with respect to proposed Ordinance 202605. Copies of Ordinance 2026-05 and related material associated with the amendment may be viewed at the Planning, Zoning & Building Department, 501 Bay Isles Road, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays prior to the hearing. Questions may be directed to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department at 941-316-1966. The proposed amendment will affect property within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Longboat Key as shown on the map appearing at the bottom of this advertisement.

The public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board on proposed Ordinance 2026-05 will be held on December 16, 2025, at 9:15 a.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in the Town Commission Chambers at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, Florida.

All interested persons may appear and be heard with respect to proposed Ordinance 2026-05 Copies of Ordinance 2026-05 and related material associated with the amendment may be viewed at the Planning, Zoning & Building Department, 501 Bay Isles Road, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays prior to the hearing. Questions may be directed to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department at 941-316-1966. The proposed amendment will affect property within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Longboat Key as shown on the map appearing at the bottom of this advertisement.

No verbatim record by a certified court reporter is made of these proceedings. Accordingly, any person who may seek to appeal any decision involving the matters noticed herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the testimony and evidence at these proceedings upon which any appeal is to be based (see Section 286.0105, Fla. Stat.). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, F.S., persons needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Town Clerk’s office at 941316-1999 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of this proceeding. If you are hearing impaired or require an alternative means of communication, utilize Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 (TTY) or one of the following toll-free numbers: 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), 1-800-955-1339 (ASCII), 1-877-955-8260 (VCO-Direct), or 1-800-955-5334 (STS).

David Lapovsky, Chair Planning and Zoning Board

Published: 12/11/2025

No verbatim record by a certified court reporter is made of these proceedings. Accordingly, any person who may seek to appeal any decision involving the matters noticed herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the testimony and evidence at these proceedings upon which any appeal is to be based (see Section 286.0105, Fla. Stat.). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, F.S., persons needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Town Clerk’s office at 941-316-1999 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of this proceeding. If you are hearing impaired or require an alternative means of communication, utilize Florida Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 (TTY) or one of the following toll-free numbers: 1-800-955-8770 (Voice), 1-800-955-1339 (ASCII), 1-877-955-8260 (VCO-Direct), or 1-800-955-5334 (STS) David Lapovsky Chair Planning and Zoning Board Published: 12/11/2025

Photos by S.T. Cardinal

Unicorp National Development President and St. Regis developer Chuck Whittall was at the Dec. 8 Longboat Key Town Commission meeting, where commissioners voted 4-3 to instruct staff to draft an ordinance to the sign code regarding the arch installed on a groin at St. Regis.

St. Regis Longboat Key Resort installed a stainless steel arch on a converted groin extending into the Gulf. Longboat Key town staff asked the hotel to take the arch down because it does not follow town code.

St. Armands to urge county to stop surge

Commission to decide on funds to make the Key more resilient.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

When the Sarasota County Commission takes up the matter of a request by the City Commission for $25 million in Resilient SRQ funds for St. Armands Key on Dec. 16, Chris Goglia wants to pack the meeting chamber.

Last week, the president of the St. Armands Residents Association issued a plea via email to its members to make the trip to Venice, where the commission will meet until the county’s new administration building opens early next year. He said a show of force may be necessary to persuade commissioners that, after years of perceived neglect of the key’s stormwater drainage systems at the hands of the county, the time to act is now.

Only two days after sending the email, Goglia said the response inspires optimism for the turnout.

“If we have 30 speakers, and I think that’s a realistic number, and they all use their three minutes, that’s an hour and a half right there of public comment,” Goglia said. “This is a regular County Commission meeting with a huge agenda. I could see us having 40 speakers.”

The group of advocates will include key staff from the city of Sarasota. Similarly, Goglia anticipates the same from the town of Longboat Key, whose primary interest is access to and from the south end of the key is through St. Armands. Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, up to 3 feet of water cut off that access for several days, covering the streets.

“Every stakeholder group that I can think of is going to be there saying this project is important, and they’re going to be hitting them from all different angles — investing in homes, investing in businesses and being a viable tourism destination.” Goglia said.

St. Armands doesn’t flood only

during hurricanes — much of the 2024 flooding came from storm surge — but it has also suffered heavy rain events. The pump system, which has often failed to keep up, is to blame and may compromise the Gulf and bay outfalls.

Sarasota County administers stormwater management in the city, including St. Armands, via interlocal agreement.

County Commissioner Mark Smith, whose District 1 includes St. Armands, Lido Key and the portion Longboat Key within Sarasota County, said a show of support will be important as commissioners balance Resilient SRQ funds — $57 million of which is earmarked for repair, replacement and enhancement of public infrastructure to mitigate future risks and address urgent needs — with other requests countywide.

“It’s very important. St. Armands is the crossroads because it’s an evacuation route,” Smith said. “It’s the gate that you’ve got to get through in order to get off the islands. You can elevate your residence or your business, but you’re not going anywhere if you can’t get through the Circle.”

Smith said stormwater maintenance has been in general neglect countywide, and until recent years the county has been “lucky” to avoid major hurricanes for decades.

The recent separation of stormwater maintenance from the Public Works Department and the appointment of Ben Quartermaine to head the new Stormwater Department, he said, will help the county play catch-up on updating “older systems like St. Armands.”

“I feel their pain of being flooded myself,” Smith said. “My office was flooded. It missed my house by a foot. I’m not sure the whole $25 million is going to make it out there, but we’ve got to have some money. Like with everything in government, there’s always more need than money. I’m not sure how many millions it’s going

to take, but we have to devote enough to get the rainwater out and keep sea water from coming in.”

As a significant attraction for tourists, visitors and residents alike, Goglia said the importance of addressing St. Armands flooding ranges further than just the residents and commercial property owners there.

“If you think about great cities around the world, they have an identity. They market that identity, and they’ve really tied it to St. Armands and all the barrier islands,” Goglia said. “This is a plea to the county not to let that just wither away.”

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HAVE YOUR SAY

The next meeting of the Sarasota County Commission will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the South County Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice.

A MALFUNCTIONING OUTFALL

Earlier this year, St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia sent a photo to Sarasota County of a duckbill backflow preventer that had broken off an outfall that empties into Sarasota Bay. In the email, he said residents had observed salt water pushed into the streets at multiple locations, citing the damaged outfall.

“The county was unaware of this, and to my knowledge, this has not been corrected,” he wrote in the email. “How long was it like this? Nobody can say. In the same way that Phillippi Creek had been ignored and in need of dredging, elements of the St. Armands’ stormwater management system similarly seem to have been neglected.”

St. Armands Circle was several feet underwater following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Image courtesy of Chris Goglia

Will some of us say goodbye to property taxes?

A proposed cut to property taxes sounds like a good idea, but, as always, it comes with unintended consequences.

Iam an enthusiastic fan of tax cuts. I think it is crucial that government prioritizes its spending and tries to provide necessary services as efficiently as possible. So, I am taking great interest in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a reduction or elimination of property taxes for some Florida residents.

Negotiations are still hot and heavy up in Tallahassee, but the basic outline is the governor and Legislature are proposing an immediate one-time $1,000 rebate for all homestead property owners in Florida and putting a measure on the 2026 ballot to phase out nonschool property taxes on homestead properties over a period of years. There is also talk of including things like increasing homestead exemptions and putting a cap on annual assessment increases. These proposals have pitched a fight between people who pay homestead residential property taxes in Florida and would benefit from these ideas, versus all those who would still have to pay property taxes and local governments who would suffer most of the revenue losses.

HOW PROPERTY TAXES WORK IN FLORIDA

For those of you who don’t pay property taxes in Florida or don’t pay attention to the details, here’s the basics. Property owners pay a locally assessed and locally collected tax on the value of real property. Those dollars go to fund schools for one part of the tax and either the city or county you live in for the other part of the tax. The local government determines the value of the property and sets the rate of the tax you will pay. In addition, for

properties that are the primary permanent residences, property owners can exempt from the property tax up to $50,000 of the assessed value, which lowers the property tax bill.

PROS AND CONS OF PROPERTY TAXES

As taxes go, property taxes are better than most. They are economically efficient because they don’t invite as much evasion and manipulation as most taxes do, nor do they distort people’s incentives to invest or spend efficiently as much as do many other taxes. They are also a tax that links who is paying and what they are paying for. Local property owners consume local services and local schools, and property taxes go to pay for those. Other taxes are not spent in any way directly related to who pays the tax.

And a well-designed property tax can be very transparent. Sarasota County, for example, has clear property tax statements that do an excellent job of explaining what property owners are paying, and what they are paying it for, and what proposed changes in tax rates would mean for what they pay.

The downside of property taxes is, first and foremost, they are levied based on valuation of property, which is simple, but doesn’t make a lot of sense. An expensive beachfront home does not require more schools, roads, police, or fire services than does an inexpensive old one-bedroom house inland. So, there’s no clear reason why they should pay radically different property taxes. Also, property values in Florida tend to go up because it’s a desirable location, which means retired folks and others on fixed incomes often seeing rising tax bills, even as they stay in a house they’ve been in for a long time. And of course, they are not consuming anymore services and yet they’re having to pay more.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF TALLAHASSEE PROPERTY TAX PROPOSALS

The good things about what Tallahassee is proposing are the immediate proposals to put some money back in some property taxpayers’ pockets, reducing spikes in property tax bills for the many Florida residents living on fixed incomes, and lower property taxes going forward, furthering Florida’s position as a low-tax state.

But there are some downsides to the proposed changes. First, this would definitely be a regressive tax cut. Homestead property owners

in Florida on average are middle to high income, and these tax changes would keep existing property tax burdens on multifamily housing, which means renters would not get any breaks, even though they tend to be lower income.

Also, these tax reductions would mean a big hit to local government revenues. School property taxes are protected by most of the proposals, but local governments would likely face a 17% or 18% reductions in revenue. If local governments were reducing spending, and that created space for reducing property taxes, that would be great.

But that is not the case. Indeed, it is unlikely they would simply cut spending by that much, but rather they will raise other taxes that they control, such as sales taxes, business taxes and tourist taxes. All those taxes are more distortionary than property taxes and will hit residents in ways they don’t expect.

In addition, there are some ugly uncertainties about proposed property tax cuts. We don’t yet know what the Legislature might pass and the governor might sign, nor do we know what will be on the ballot in 2026 if the governor gets his way on that.

Also, it’s unclear how this change will affect housing. In general, when you reduce property taxes, it boosts the value of homes because people will pay more for homes that have lower property taxes, all other things being equal. But that makes it harder for first-time homebuyers to afford a home. And lower property taxes mean local governments will have less incentive to allow new housing to be built, which will further exacerbate the housing shortage in Florida. So, the property tax reductions could benefit some people now but cause a great deal of pain in the future.

In the end, the current property tax reform proposals seem to create as many problems as they solve. Rather than singling out a small percentage of property owners to give a big benefit, the governor and Legislature should buckle down and do comprehensive property tax reform that incentivizes local governments to keep the burden low, base the taxes on the services provided to property owners, provide transparency on tax payments and expenditures, and avoid rising tax payments on properties that are not consuming more services than before.

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

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Firefighter receives rare award for action

Given only twice in the past 15 years, the medal was one of several awards given out at the Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s annual program.

S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER

It was a happy day for Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi.

On Thursday, Dezzi got to present awards to firefighter paramedics and others who support Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s efforts.

“The best part of my job is recognizing firefighters,” Dezzi said after the ceremony. “A lot of the time, you don’t get a pat on the back for what you do there because firefighters are expected to do it. The alarm goes off, they’re expected to go out there and take care of the situation. But behind the scenes we know that they’re doing extraordinary work from life saving to putting out fires to going out and doing inspections and nonemergency calls. Making sure that these guys know they’re valued as part of the organization is important to me.”

The ceremony included Dezzi handing out Phoenix awards, recognizing the employee of the year, swearing in firefighters who had promotions and even handing out a

Medal of Honor.

The Fire Department does not give the latter award often. Dezzi, promoted to fire chief in 2010, said this year’s Medal of Honor presented to Aaron Maness was only the second time he has presented the award.

Maness received recognition for his work leading the response to a submerged vehicle in March. The electric Mustang had been accidentally driven off a marina and into the water, Maness recalls.

“It was submerged for about two minutes. (The driver) was unconscious when we got there,” Maness said. “Everybody went into game mode when we got there. It was a great team effort.”

Maness said when Fire Rescue arrived, a bystander had pulled the driver from the vehicle and was holding her head above water.

Maness, Andre Hoefer and Chris O’Brien pulled her onto a floating dock, onto land and stabilized her using a chest compression machine, an airway device and administered an IV while Bayflight was en route.

Maness said he made the call to have Bayflight handle transportation, which reduced the time it took to get to the hospital for treatment.

“I knew what time of day it was. I knew there was traffic especially getting over the bridge,” Maness said.

Accepting the award humbly, Maness gave credit to all who worked

to ensure the driver and passenger made full recoveries.

A Fire Rescue crew receives Phoenix awards when they respond to a cardiac arrest scene, revive a victim who has no pulse or isn’t breathing, and is released from the hospital.

Receiving Phoenix awards were Jason Berzowski, Trey Bowlin, Hoefer, Derek Flaim, O’Brien, Jay Gosnell, Richard Roome, Josh Moss and Richard Traugott — and Lt. Daniel Heath.

Longboat Key Club tennis center employees Ali Cruz, Casey Melton, Katelinn Wurm and Maraj Prakash were also awarded for their part in saving a life when a pickleball player collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest while playing at the courts.

The four employees received accommodation certificates. Larry Phillips of local TV news station ABC 7 received the same award as did the Sarasota County Communications team for its work sharing news in the wake of the 2024 hurricanes. Also, the Longboat Key Communications team received recognition for

its work to increase transparency and for elevating the level of communications of the department.

The department also awarded two unit citations to 10 firefighter paramedics for their responses to a boat fire and a garbage truck fire.

Both were harrowing situations, with natural gas on the garbage truck and lithium ion batteries complicating the operations.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital staff received the Fire Chief Award and Individual Accommodation Certificates for their work, along with Dr. Richard Brown and staff, studying and protecting firefighters from potential cancerous hazards and the hospital’s implementation of a wellness program tailored to LKFD.

The department awarded firefighter paramedic Ron Franklin the employee of the year award.

Dezzi said Franklin “consistently goes above and beyond,” taking on projects to keep equipment running smoothly and acting as “the MacGyver of B-shift.” His mechanical prowess was shared without ever

being asked, Dezzi explained. “Over the past year, he has taken on numerous projects that directly improved the safety, readiness and efficiency of our operations,” Dezzi said. He even fixed the station coffee maker.

Photos by S.T. Cardinal

Ali Cruz, Casey Melton and Katelinn Wurm were recognized with Accommodation

Certificates for their response when a pickleball player collapsed from cardiac arrest at the Longboat Key Club. Maraj Prakash was also recognized.

Firefighter paramedic Aaron Maness and Training Capt. David Eggleston raise their hands to recite an oath before receiving their badges. The two had already completed their training but had not officially received their badges in a ceremony. Maness was later awarded the Medal of Honor by Fire Chief Paul Dezzi.

Firefighter paramedic Ron Franklin was described by Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi as the “MacGyver of B-shift” and recognized as employee of the year.

Fire Rescue welcomes new chaplain to team

The Longboat Island Chapel’s the Rev. Brock Patterson becomes a resource for the island’s first responders.

Like many children, Brock Patterson wanted to be a firefighter when he was young.

But as a 6-year-old, his dreams of working in a firehouse didn’t look quite like this.

On Dec. 4, Fire Chief Paul Dezzi pinned a badge on Patterson and announced him as the newest chaplain for Longboat Key Fire Rescue.

“We have a wellness program we’ve been working with for the last few years, and one of the areas we don’t have is more of the spiritual side of the wellness program,” Dezzi said. “We have the fitness and the physicals and all those types of things, but the side of it that we didn’t have was the spiritual side.”

Patterson, senior pastor of Longboat Island Chapel, said he didn’t accept the voluntary role to preach, judge or convert people, but to be a resource for firefighters and paramedics who deal with traumatic experiences regularly.

“I think one of the greatest helps of chaplains is just being a resource available that allows you to sort of process through some things,” Patterson said. “Sometimes you encounter issues that you really don’t feel like you can share with a superior or a colleague or even a family member for lots of reasons. And that’s OK because all of us have hit times in life where we kind of can get stuck. To me, that’s something that a chaplain can really help with.” Patterson said he wants to be known as a confidential and accessible person firefighter paramedics can talk to. He’s just a text away.

Dezzi said Patterson is a good fit as chaplain for many reasons. One is Longboat Island Chapel is nondenominational, which Dezzi said may make Patterson more approachable. Another plus is Patterson’s previous and ongoing involvement in the community.

“Just his demeanor, in my opinion, fit the organization really well,” Dezzi said. “We have some guys that are Catholic, others that are Jewish, and so we didn’t want any one particular church to provide us chaplain services, and so his being nondenominational made us think we should try this.”

His role as chaplain began immediately, and he will soon introduce himself to each of Longboat Key’s firefighter paramedics, stopping by both firehouses during all three shifts.

For now, as he did before and will continue to do, Patterson is praying for Longboat Key’s first responders.

“I’m always praying for firefighters,” he said. “The firefighters, police and emergency personnel, those first responders. That’s what helps me leave the house in the morning. I know that my life is protected because of what they do.”

S.T. Cardinal

The Rev. Brock Patterson raises his right hand as he is sworn in as Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s second chaplain at the department’s awards ceremony

Dec. 4.

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COPS CORNER

THURSDAY, NOV. 25

BOAT DROPS OFF DIVER AND DIPS

4:28 p.m., Halyard Lane

Suspicious incident: Police were called by a canal-bordering homeowner who said they saw a white boat drop off a diver in a canal behind their house. Police arrived on the scene and spoke with the caller, who said after the diver jumped from the boat, the boat immediately departed. Police inspected the canal but saw no evidence of the diver, who either did not exist or had plenty of oxygen. The case was closed.

FRIDAY, NOV. 26

I THINK I’M BEING FOLLOWED

8 a.m., 1000 block Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: Police were called by a woman who reported that a vehicle had been following her. When police arrived, the woman told the officer that she first noticed a gray sedan when she visited the post office. The next day, she saw the same vehicle again. Days later, she saw the same vehicle with the same driver parked near her residence, and she thought she was being followed. She took a photo of the license plate, which she provided to the officer. A license plate search determined the identity of the man, and an internet search revealed him to be a private investigator. With that information revealed, police determined this did not meet the criteria of stalking and closed the case.

SUNDAY, NOV. 30

SCALING THE BRIDGE

7:25 p.m., 7229 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Juvenile disturbance: Longboat Key police responded to the Longboat Pass Bridge on the north side of the island after receiving a call about people climbing down the bridge to fish. When police arrived, they made contact with two other groups of fishermen who said they saw kids climbing down the bridge. The officer then made contact with the bridge tender, who said they had not witnessed the ninja-esque incident, but joined the officer in surveying the area for the agile fishermen. The bridge tender and police officer located the group of kids, told them they could not be under the

TUESDAY, DEC. 2

DOGS VISIT PARK SANS OWNERS

4:48 p.m., Joan M. Durante Community Park

Animal problem: Police were called to Joan M. Durante Community Park in the late afternoon when town Public Works employees saw two pitbull dogs loose in the park. When police arrived, the town employees said they knew who the dogs belonged to and that one of them had just had a litter of puppies. They tried to return the dogs to where they lived, but nobody was home. Police used prior police report information to call the owner who said they were 45 minutes away and asked police to tether the dogs outside until they could get back. The town employees and police took the dogs home, and police closed the case.

bridge and pointed them to a more appropriate fishing spot. The case was then closed.

MONDAY, DEC. 1

HOA VICE PRESIDENT BARGES IN UNINVITED

1:39 p.m., 1000 block Gulf of Mexico Drive

Civil disturbance: A recent purchaser of a condo on the south end of the island walked into the police station to share his concerns about the homeowner association vice president’s actions. According to the complainant, the condo he recently purchased has been having construction work done, and his neighbor was the HOA vice president (just his luck). That neighbor/vice president had allegedly been harassing construction workers at the condo and even walking into the unit uninvited. The condo owner believed the HOA vice president was trespassing and wanted to make a report that he could bring to the next HOA meeting. The case was closed, but the drama is just beginning.

TRIBUTES

lifelong friends. He spent most of his adult life in Commerce Township. In retirement, he and his wife Karen made their home in Longboat Key, where he enjoyed the warm weather and a slower pace of life.

Paul began his long career with Ford Motor Company in 1963, ultimately serving as the senior staff advanced high-strength steel technical specialist before his retirement. He also served as chairman of the Auto Steel Partnership. Throughout his career, he led major cross-functional engineering research efforts, including the Improved Materials & Powertrain Architectures for 21st Century Trucks (IMPACT) Project, a largescale collaboration between industry and the Department of Defense focused on pickup-truck weight reduction through advanced steel technologies.

After retiring from Ford, Paul continued to work as a consultant to the steel and automotive industries and

Paul Emil Geck 1944-2025 455264-1

taught the Advanced HighStrength Steel Seminar for SAE International. He held two master’s degrees in engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan. His work generated numerous publications in computer-aided engineering, noise and vibration engineering, steel technology, and automotive weight reduction.

Among his professional honors, he received the Industry Leadership Award from the American Iron & Steel Institute in 2006, the Long-Term Contribution Award from the Auto/Steel Partnership in 2007, and earned the SAE-Automotive Resources Institute Registered Consultant designation in 2008.

Outside of his professional achievements, Paul enjoyed both energetic pursuits and quieter pastimes. In earlier years, he could be found on a motorcycle or on a court or field, playing or watching sports. He loved being on the water, boating and fishing, and he especially loved visiting friends in Saratoga, New York, and spending time at the race

track. At home, he relaxed with drawing, reading, doing puzzles and playing solitaire–his mind always active. He once coached a high-school basketball team and hosted a public-access cable show where he interviewed experts in their fields, reflecting his wide-ranging curiosity and steady patience.

Paul is survived by his wife, Karen Geck; his brother, Joseph Geck; his sister, Anna Geck; his sister-in-law, Barbara Geck; his sister-in-law, Sharyn Schymick; Sharyn’s partner, Russ Ravary; and many nieces and nephews. He will be remembered for his intelligence, dedication, humor, and the warmth he shared with those close to him.

SERVICE: Thursday, March 7, 10AM Vendata Center, 216 19th Ave. SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703 (727) 896-9840; VendataCenter.com

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul’s memory may be made to: Alzheimer’s Association or Affinity Care of Manatee — affinityhealthflorida.com or (941) 277-5990

Tips for turtles

Longboat Key Turtle Watch boosts Mote rescue efforts.

As planned, the City Islandbased marine animal conservation facility is hard at work caring for creatures in need, and the Longboat Key Turtle Watch is helping boost those efforts.

The group’s members gave nearly $12,000 to support rehabilitation and education efforts at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

The City Island facility closed to the public after the organization shifted its outreach efforts to Mote SEA in east Sarasota. But the building on the island still houses sea turtles recovering from boat collisions, cold shock and other ailments.

On Dec. 5, the Turtle Watch gave three checks to Mote. The contributions included $5,000 for the Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, $3,900 for educational outreach — $3,500 of which is for Mote Education and $400 of which is for the Orville Clayton Scholarship program — and $3,064 for the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and Stranding Investigations Program. Lynne Byrd, Mote’s rehabilitation and medical care manager, said the

contribution will be helpful in supporting sea turtle rescue efforts.

One particular need is upgrading their stretcher equipment for carrying turtles off the beach. An adult loggerhead sea turtle, the most common species in the area, can weigh anywhere from 155 to 412 pounds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“The new stretchers will aid in picking up turtles that are stranded in the wild, to return them, and to weigh them during the rehab process,” she explained. “It’s vitally important that we have good stretchers. All of ours in numerous sizes have gone through a lot of wear and tear, and this will help us replace them.”

The equipment will be especially helpful because colder temperatures cause cold shock issues for turtles traveling northward. Byrd noted rescuers saw several boat collisions this summer, and she reminded boaters how imperative it is they consistently scan the water’s surface through polarized sunglasses to avoid running into turtles.

Cyndi Seamon, vice president of the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, said she is proud that a group of its size can make a sizable annual contribution.

The group collects funds through shirt sales and turtle nest sponsorships.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

Dana Kampa

Longboat Key Turtle Watch members donated almost $12,000 on Dec. 5 to Mote Marine for sea turtle rescue, education and protection efforts.

Why should e-bikes be forced into danger?

Can you please write a counterpoint to explain why bikes and e-bikes should not be allowed and the reasons why?

Florida legislators have extensively reviewed this matter and have already put in place laws dictating this matter.

Florida has one of the largest number of auto hit and run rates of bicycle/e-bikes death rates in the country. What is Florida’s e-bike killing pedestrian rate?

LBK has an older population of drivers whose skills may not be up to peak awareness. Just sit one day and watch the number of older drivers who must fly right through the flashing hawk signs never even seeing them or knowing their purpose.

Look at how narrow the bike lane is on the side of GMD and tell me that drivers may not wander just a few inches into it and kill a bicyclist or e-bike rider.

How many deaths have been caused by the countless e-bikes and bicyclists who have traveled thousands of miles on Longboat Key’s wide, safe sidewalks?

Would you trade a 0% incident rate of a collision of a bicycle or e-bike where a walker may suffer bruising or maybe a broken limb with a 4,000-pound auto hitting a person on a bicycle or e-bike?

Have you ever paid attention to the number of black marks left on the John Ringling Bridge concrete barriers where autos have crossed over the marked bike lane and crashed into the barriers?

LBK has spent great efforts to protect pedestrians crossing GMD with hawk crossings but is willing to force bicycles and e-bike drivers into continuous exposure to death riding on that very same road?

Keep it simple: Require a 10 mph speed limit for any bikes on sidewalks or paint a line on sidewalks dividing part for walking and part for all types of biking. Let’s come up with solutions that actually save lives and allow everyone to enjoy beautiful LBK.

MICHAEL LAURIE LONGBOAT KEY

SEND US YOUR LETTERS

Have something to tell us? Send your letters to Kat Wingert at KWingert@ YourObserver.com.

TRIBUTES

Milan Vlaisavljevich

Adrian 1945-2025

Beloved father of Amanda Adrian and devoted husband to Linda Adrian, passed away on 11/25 at 5:00 am in his adopted hometown of Longboat Key, Florida, at the age of 80.

Born on July 4, 1945, to Andja and Milan Vlaisavljevich, Milan and his twin sister, Janet, were celebrated as “miracle babies,” arriving after 20 years of marriage and on a day of national significance.

Raised under difficult circumstances in an immigrant community on Chicago’s south side, he had the good fortune to be endowed with book smarts, street smarts, and a natural athleticism. The first in his family to go to college, he attended Lake Forest College, where he played football and baseball, wrote for the school paper, majored in Russian, and met his first wife, Betsy. Milan spent summers back home working at a steel mill, where he earned enough money to put himself and his sister through school. Upon graduation, he found himself in the Army during the Vietnam War. While not an enthusiastic participant in the conflict, he served honorably and earned numerous commendations for his service. Because of his linguistic aptitude, he was sent to the

Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, where he learned Chinese and was assigned to intelligence duties.

After his military service, Milan and Betsy moved back to Chicago. Milan owned a successful photography business, and later had a fruitful career in financial services. They raised their daughter, Amanda, along with numerous cats and one ill-fated rabbit. Milan took up running in his 30’s and was an avid racer, even running marathons and achieving a personal best of 2 hours and 59 minutes. Milan was a loving and involved father, and together he and Amanda spent countless hours playing catch, watching action movies while eating peanut M&M’s, going for walks, cooking, flying kites, and doing lots of math homework.

In a stroke of mid-life

good luck, Milan met and married Linda Lord. For more than 36 years, they steadfastly loved and supported each other through life’s ups and downs. Milan and Linda relocated to the town of Longboat Key, Florida in 2002, where they made many wonderful friends and got involved in the local tennis community. Milan became a skilled tennis player, continuing to play well into his seventies. His love of cooking was evident in the many dinners he and Linda hosted, sharing his culinary creations with family and friends. He cherished visits with his grandchildren, Dash and Zora, and looked forward to updates on their activities and accomplishments. Milan also delighted in sending weather updates to family in Chicago, especially when he knew they were shoveling snow. Milan will be remembered

for his devotion to his family; razor sharp mind (and cheekbones); love of America, freedom and opportunity; curly hair; runner’s shorty-shorts, beloved tank tops, and tiny speedos; delicious meals; affinity for jazz (especially Dave Brubeck) and a stiff drink; strong opinions; and for being the ultimate dancing machine. Milan was preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his wife, Linda Adrian; his daughter, Amanda Adrian; son-in-law, Anderson Gansner; grandchildren, Dashiell (16) and Zora (12); special cousin Sofia Obradovich Scalzitti & family; and kitty cat Misty.

DONATIONS:

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a veterans’ charity of your choice.

Written by Milan’s daughter Amanda and his cousin Sofia.

455081-1

Party on, Lawn Party

One notable absence felt in the wake of last year’s hurricanes was the Lawn Party hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key.

This annual event brings together restaurateurs and community members to enjoy tasty bites while raising funds for the Children’s Guardian Fund, which helps foster kids in a multitude of ways.

Now, it’s back and, according to organizers and attendees, better than ever.

Attendees packed Ken Thompson Park on Dec. 6, meandering among the more than 30 participating restaurant booths to fill their trays with bite-sized delights.

Danielle Gladding, president of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key, said she was touched to see how many organizations and residents turned out to make this year’s celebration spectacular.

“The excitement was over the top for this event and for supporting the kids,”

She estimated attendance to be about 3/4 of the event’s 1,000-person maximum capacity. Considering the tradition that started 30 years ago was once simply a collection of tents and picnic blankets arranged in the parking lot of Temple Beth Israel, it is stunning to see how it has grown, she said.

While Kiwanians are still calculating the total funds raised, Gladding said they surpassed their goal with the central 50/50 raffle totaling more than $36,000.

She said raffle winner Frank Martucci planned to donate his winnings back. Martucci initially was skeptical that the congratulatory phone call telling him he won was legitimate.

“He bought two tickets at the last minute, and when my daughter, Allison, called him, he said ‘That’s not funny; you shouldn’t joke,’” Gladding said. “We had to put Chris Sachs on the phone to tell him

Gladding said a significant contributor to this year’s success was the quality of the food vendors provided. Some of the crowd’s favorite bites included a butterscotch bread pudding offered by Pesto Bistro as well as the jerkspiced ahi tuna from The Resort at Longboat Key Club.

“I’m just so grateful to our community for coming out and supporting this event,” Gladding

— DANA KAMPA

The Blues Pig Band provided the afternoon’s entertainment at the Lawn Party.

Lawn Party attendees Michaela Macdonald, Rebecca Olmstead, Ashley Burroughs and Trudy Teague

Photos by Dana Kampa

Longboat Fire Rescue, including Trey Bowlin, Zach Schield, Abby Kolesa, Brian Kolesa and Tyler Brunton, re-created its award-winning chili for the Lawn Party.

Kelly Ermold, Deborah Purdum, Bill Totten, Nancy Schroeder and Mike Purdum

Scarlette Antigua and Brian Walton from Save Our Seabirds made their way over to the Lawn Party.

Starry-eyed St. Armands

Abit of holiday magic came to St. Armands Circle this weekend with Holiday Night on the Circle.

With only their voices and no background music, members of the Sarasota Academy of the Arts sang the classic wintery tune “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Dozens of attendees in the park lent their voices to bolster the singing right before Santa Claus rode in to help light the 60-foot-tall Christmas tree. The tree lighting on Friday evening, orchestrated by the St. Armands Circle Association, included festive cookies for all, opportunities to mail a letter to the North Pole, ornament decorating and more. Association Executive Director Rachel Burns said the St. Armands Circle Association is proud to host the annual event for free. She said such moments, where families connect, are invaluable to fostering a tighter-knit community and support-

ing local businesses.

“I’m a mom of two now-grown kids, and I remember going to these kinds of festivities, and your kids would want to do everything, and that can add up,” Burns said. “It’s really important to the St. Armands merchants that we provide a venue for families to come and not worry about saying no.”

Viewers can see the lights for themselves every evening throughout the month.

— DANA KAMPA

and Studio Bustan decorated the storefront with whimsical floral arrangements. Harpsoe said holiday sales are already well underway, and she and fellow local shop owners look forward to the rest of the season.

With

Photos by Dana Kampa

Monkee’s of Sarasota hosted a pop-up event with Missy Fashion Accessories, Studio Bustan floral design and James and Jolie Permanent Jewelry. From left: Lexie Zokle, Dana Catalfomo, Lori Harpsoe, Jodi Mathisen, Didi Zudar and Rachel Radtke.

Kay and George Wygal dressed to impress.

Jesse, Marianna and Phoebe Corazza take in the festive sights.

Fernando and Kelly Harb help families decorate ornaments.

Hugh Fiore posts a letter to the North Pole.

All Angels sings angelic tunes

Nothing brings people together around the holidays quite like music, and community members at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church started off their celebration of the holidays with a Christmas concert and tea on Dec. 6.

The afternoon’s performance featured soprano Johanna Davis accompanied by pianist and violinist Donna Smith.

Smith, founder of the Venice Symphony Youth Orchestra, has been an instrumentalist playing in the southwestern Florida area for the past 25 years. She is the former principal second violinist and second violinist for the Venice Symphony and former Punta Gorda Symphony, and she works with multiple organizations, including

as music director of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Venice.

Davis has sung with the Sarasota Youth Opera and Venice Little Theater and danced with the Florida Ballet Arts Company and The Sarasota Ballet. She performs as part of The Qol Quartet and the Siren Song of Sarasota, among other groups.

The afternoon’s setlist included “The Wexford Carol,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “I Wonder as I Wander,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Walking in the Air” and “O Holy Night,” along with several others.

“Walking in the Air,” the theme of the 1982 movie “The Snowman,” holds a special place in Davis’ heart, considering her mother specially orchestrated the song for

her to sing with a symphony.

“It’s one of my mother’s favorite animated films of all time,” she told attendees. “I wanted to share it with you today because it is so beautiful.”

Following the performance, listeners met for tea and finger sandwiches in the community hall.

— DANA KAMPA

UPCOMING EVENTS

All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church has multiple holiday events planned for the month of December, including: „ 5 p.m. Dec. 11: Blue Christmas worship services, offering space for quiet contemplation amid the holiday bustle. „ 10 a.m. Dec. 21: Advent IV & A visit from Bishop Doug Scharf; worship will be followed by confirmation and a coffee hour. „ 5 p.m. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve worship services, including praise and carols.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Graham Toft circulates with extra servings of finger foods at the tea time following a Christmas concert Dec. 6 at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Violinist and pianist Donna Smith performs with singer Johanna Davis at a special Christmas concert for attendees at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church on Dec. 6.

Nancy Scanlon, Zerbe Sodervick and JC Wayne give a cheers at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church during a tea social after the Dec. 6 Christmas concert.

Hanukkah celebrations begin with open house

Attendance was better than ever at Temple Beth Israel’s third annual Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.

Several dozen visitors tried their luck for chocolate coins by playing games of dreidel, decorating cookies, shopped holiday market stalls, among other events and took in the atmosphere of community connection ahead of the holidays.

Hanukkah takes place Dec.

14-22 this year, and Longboat Key residents said they appreciated having time to share with friends before visiting or hosting family.

Coordinator Karen Gary explained that the idea for the open house arose when a local gift shop closed, leaving a collection of holiday menorahs, candles, necklaces and decorations.

Organizers started with the idea of a market to ensure those items could find homes.

But the open house continued to expand, featuring all sorts of Hanukkah-related fun.

“This year, we went all out,” she said.

Temple Beth Israel plans to offer holiday services on Dec. 19.

— DANA KAMPA

Baker extraordinaire Sylvia Pastor helped coordinate the cookie decorating station.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Rabbi Howard Simon and Barbara Pressman explored the Hanukkah open house at Temple Beth Israel last weekend.

Susan Borden, Kelli Veit and Nancy Harris shared a bit about the goods and games available at Temple Beth Israel’s Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.

Attendees at the third annual Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7 at Temple Beth Israel took turns trying to win chocolate coins at the dreidel game, just one of many market activities.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS

6:30 p.m. Visible from all around Sarasota Bay, this festive display of holiday cheer lights up local waters after nightfall. Free. Proceeds from boat registrations support Suncoast Charities for Children.

THURSDAY, DEC. 11

LEARN ANCIENT HEALING

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. Brian Nell and the Rev. Misha Nell of Pillar Healing Arts in Sarasota lead a two-part seminar on traditional medicinal plants and practices. Part two takes place on Dec. 18. Cost is $45 for members; $55 for nonmembers. Call 941-383-8222 or email Admin@ TBIEducationCenter.org.

FRIDAY, DEC. 12

ST. MARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT

1 p.m. at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Take in some holiday melodies at the Women’s Guild Christmas concert, raffle and reception. Visit StMaryLBK.org for more information.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

PORSCHES IN THE PARK

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. Check out some of the area’s most spectacular Porsches on display in the park.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18

CIRCLE THE DATE

All day. Shop local businesses on St. Armands Circle as they offer special sales and promotions for this monthly shopping event.

GOODWILL RIBBON CUTTING

8 a.m. at the Longboat Key Goodwill Manasota Donation Center, 3160 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Join in the celebration of opening a new bookstore and donation center on Longboat Key.

RECURRING EVENTS

TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS 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.

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. Free. No registration required.

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE

Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo at YourObserver.com/ ItsReadEverywhere for a chance to win.

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THINKING WARM THOUGHTS: Denise Kravitz reads the Longboat Observer in her home in Newbury, New Hampshire, eagerly waiting to leave the cold for Longboat Key.

CENTER STAGE CONVERSATIONS

Join us for a series of relaxed, community-focused gatherings where residents can connect with Foundation leadership and City staff about the new Performing Arts Center we’re planning to build.

These small-group conversations are a chance to ask questions, share ideas, and learn more about the vision taking shape. Each event includes light bites, a complimentary drink, and space for meaningful dialogue.

Time for toys

Smiles abounded the morning of Dec. 6 at Stillpoint Mission as children selected illustrated books, toys, jackets and more in celebration of the holidays.

The annual giveaway brings winter cheer to families in Bradenton and neighboring communities, and with the support of organizations including Longboat Island Chapel, about 400 children got to kick off the season with extra cheer as Santa Claus made an appearance to hear Christmas wish lists.

Fellow supporting organizations included members of the Knights of Columbus, the Notre Dame Club of Sarasota and Bealls department store, among others. Notre Dame provided blankets to the 153 families in attendance, Stillpoint Mission said.

Adding to the festivities were costumed Hernando De Soto Historical Society members, who rode to Stillpoint headquarters atop their ship-shaped float with armor shining and feathers flying.

Stillpoint Mission President Gary Scott thanked everyone who played a role in making the day special for families.

Year-round, Stillpoint volunteers support residents in a multitude of ways, including utility bill assis-

tance and through its food pantry.

Scott and fellow workers said requests for aid continue to rise.

For more information about the nonprofit’s mission and volunteer and donation opportunities, visit StillpointMission.org.

— DANA KAMPA

Santa Claus welcomes Ketia Alennsia Joachim, Henry Lerricia Jeanbaptiste and John Kerry Jeanbaptiste for a morning of family holiday fun at Stillpoint Mission. Longboat Island Chapel and other local groups helped make the Dec. 6 toy distribution happen.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Stillpoint Mission’s Linda Troxler helped young readers pick out books at the annual holiday giveaway.

The fearsome crew of the San Cristobal III float, operating as part of the Hernando De Soto Historical Society, sailed Santa Claus safely to shore at Stillpoint Mission for the organization’s annual holiday giveaway on Dec. 6.

Condominium at The Water Club tops

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Bruce Natale and Jennifer Natale, trustees, of Great River, New York, sold the Unit 404 condominium at 1281 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Gregory Berg and Louise Berg, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $2,375,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, four baths and 3,054 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.42 million in 2021.

ON LIDO BEACH

Cathy Abrams and Bradley Root, of Sarasota, sold their Unit B-308 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Salty Wally LLC for $1,075,000. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,700 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million in 2023.

CEDARS WEST OF LONGBOAT

Kenneth and Charity Marie Rice, of Santa Rosa Beach, sold their Unit 105 condominium at 5655 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Accardi Longboat Key Rental LLC for $725,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,274 square feet of living area. It sold for $635,000 in 2022.

CASA DEL MAR

Woodland Rental Properties LLC sold the Unit 2B condominium at 4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Swansea Village Mobile Home Park LLC for $585,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 756 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2021.

LIDO SURF AND SAND

Irene Adjan, trustee, of Weeki Wachee, sold the Unit 407 condominium at 1102 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Keith Pionk and Barbara

Pionk, trustees, of New Baltimore, Michigan, for $550,000. Built in 1976, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,213 square feet of living area. It sold for $237,500 in 1999.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB

Ellen Wallace, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 154 condominium at 556 Spanish Drive N. to Gerard and Loreta Gouldson, of Lewes, Delaware, for $385,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,393 square feet of living area. It sold for $225,000 in 2006.

LONGBOAT HARBOUR

Bruce and Erica Cohn sold their Unit 204 condominium at 4360 Chatham Drive to Maciej and Jorunn Kaczmarek, of Longboat Key, for $340,000. Built in 1969, it has one bedroom, one bath and 747 square feet of living area. It sold for $289,000 in 2020.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Photos by Dana Kampa

The Unit 154 condominium at 556 Spanish Drive N. sold for $385,000.

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

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LET THE MUSIC GUIDE YOU by Hannah Slovut-Einertson, edited by Jared Goudsmit

By Luis Campos

Mary Doty took this photo of a pelican taking a rest on a dock in Sarasota

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