Longboat Observer 2.25.21

LONGBOAT

Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 43, NO. 29

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Kiwanis loses a friend.

PAGE 18A

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

THE NEXT COURT

YOUR TOWN

Tennis pro retires and heads off to a new home.

SEE PAGE 1B Eric Garwood

Nat Kaemmerer

Half of Sage’s 16 units are sold at the site of the former Sun ‘n’ Sea.

Ringing reminder Mary Drugan is dedicating her daily walks to fitness and — even though she’s on foot — bike safety.

After close calls with sidewalk cyclists, the Longboat Key resident made a drawstring backpack she carries on walks with the message “Please ring your bell” for cyclists coming up behind her to see. Drugan hopes to draw awareness to the fact that signaling fellow sidewalk users is not only courteous but also a town law.

“We’re all sharing, and you have to consider your neighbors,” Drugan said.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

So far, Drugan has made another bag for a neighbor and is planning to restock her supplies to make more as requested.

Condo sales swing

higher Prices rise in town as luxury projects begin selling well.

PAGE 3A Nat Kaemmerer

Dave Sparks taught a few lessons last week on his north-end court before his move to Arkansas.

A+E

‘Safe House’ is a digital maze.

PAGE 23A

Eric Garwood

Rules can be ruff

New way to cross As renovation work continues on the New Pass Bridge, cyclists and pedestrians are asked to use the protected sidewalk on the west side of the span.

Structural, mechanical and electrical work on the drawbridge is expected to continue until summer on the structure built in 1986.

Traffic will maintain two lanes, but shifts are already in place. The sidewalk on the Gulf side of the bridge is protected by a wall.

Total cost of the project is about $2.8 million.

Humans, dogs pine for room to run, but town park is the only site.

PAGE 5A Mark Bergin

2A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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Commissioners accept FDEP consent order UTILITY FUND

Documents show Longboat Key budgeted these amounts for the utility capital fund in the upcoming fiscal years: ■ 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021): $2.89 million ■ 2022: $4.94 million ■ 2023: $2.46 million ■ 2024: $4.17 million ■ 2025: $15.58 million

MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Town Commission voted unanimously Monday to accept a consent order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection after the town’s June 2020 mainland sewage line break and spillage of millions of gallons of effluent.

In the coming weeks, the town still must decide between two options: paying the state $188,382 in civil penalties and costs or offsetting the amount by implementing an in-kind environmental project worth at least $281,073.

An in-kind project would be subject to FDEP approval.

“It was a normal negotiation process that occurred,” Town Manager Tom Harmer said. “We finalized negotiations. We think we received as many changes as we could while still trying to end up with an order that met the state’s needs and requirements and protected our ratepayers going forward.”

Harmer, the commission, Town Attorney Maggie Mooney, Assistant Town Attorney David Jackson, attorney Ed Steinmeyer and attorney Jack Fiveash met privately Monday afternoon before commissioners reconvened pub-

Note: Figures from Sept. 29, 2020, Town Commission agenda, approving the fiscal year 2021 budget during that meeting.

Courtesy photo

Damage to the sewage pipe from June 2020.

licly to vote and ultimately accept the state’s consent order.

With the help of consultants, Harmer said the town now will conduct additional surveying and testing work at the site of the break, about 400 feet from the shores of Sarasota Bay in Manatee County.

“They’ll still be a fair amount of back and forth between [the town] and the state as we do the

com use.

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evaluations and present things to them,” Harmer said.

Berkeley Research Group determined about 14.7 million gallons of effluent spilled from June 17-30, 2020.

“Clearly, it was an unfortunate event, and things happen,” Harmer said.

“We’ve worked out, I think, the language with the FDEP to move past this and focus on the

future, and so we’re now ready to do that.”

The consent order requires the town to notify the FDEP within 15 days of the desire to do an inkind project. Then the town has 60 days after that to present the project to the state for review.

“We will be sharing with the commission our identified inkind projects,” Harmer said. “If they have any feedback or input or direction on that, we’ll be happy to take that, but we’re going to develop some initial projects that we think meet the intent and share that with the commission.”

Harmer said the town’s utility fund, which is separate from the general fund, will be used to pay for either the penalty or the in-kind project. Water and sewer customers pay into the utility fund, Harmer said.

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In December 2020, consultant Berkeley Research Group found that a buried log rubbing against the underground pipeline likely caused the break.

In August 2020, Environmental Science Associates determined the environmental effect of the break was low based on its watersample testing in the Sarasota Bay waters.

“The environments could have been worse,” Harmer said. “They were relatively minor, but we’re still looking at a number of ways that we can improve the system, including ways to find out sooner if there’s a pressure issue or a flow issue.”

Harmer said he believed the town was “very proactive” in monitoring its pipe even before the June 2020 break.

He cited Greeley and Hansen’s report on Aug. 14, 2017. At the time, the pipe was given years of estimated life remaining. The force main was built in 1973.

Longboat Key is in the process of advancing its redundant pipe project, which has an estimated cost of $16 million.

“Our consultant is still working on [the] design and permitting of that project,” Harmer said. “We see that as a long-term project no matter what.”

Harmer said Longboat Key must present a plan to the FDEP documenting how the town has a plan that is safe and efficient in delivering wastewater.

Earlier this month, Town Finance Director Sue Smith said the sewage break had already cost the town $448,392.

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Now, town must decide on paying $188,000 or implementing an environmental project worth at least $281,000.

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

3A

GOING UP

Courtesy rendering

Longboat condo market climbs ISLAND TRENDS several categories of condominium/town home sales, Longboat Key’s year-over-year gains eclipsed as a pair of new projects come In those of the broader market in Sarasota and Manatee counties. closer and closer to fruition.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

W

ith more than half of the units spoken for in the Sage condominium development and still more in the upcoming St. Regis residential project, sales and prices of condos on Longboat Key are surpassing some of the region’s record gains made in 2020.

Demolition was approved last week at the site of the former Sea ‘n’ Sun Resort at 4651 Gulf of Mexico Drive, making way for a spring groundbreaking on Sage.

The 16-unit condominium is expected to be ready for occupancy in the fourth quarter of 2023.

At least nine of the four-bedroom units are under contract, including all four penthouses that sold for between $5.8 million and $6.3 million each. Lowerfloor unit prices range from mid$4 million to about $5.5 million.

Sales are being handled by Premier Sotheby’s International.

Down the beach at the St. Regis, which expects to break ground this summer, broker Michael Saunders & Co. announced late last summer it had passed the halfway point in reservations for its 69 units ranging in price from $2 million to $20 million. As of last week, about 35% were under contract, Chief Marketing Officer Randall Graham said.

And existing condos are selling too, continuing a 2020 trend that drove Longboat Key’s median condominium sales prices — the point at which half sell for more and half for less — up 7% to $545,000, according to data from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee. Median singlefamily home prices on Longboat rose as well, but not to the same degree: up 2.7% to $1.2 million.

Already in 2021, a penthouse in the Aria community (2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive) sold for $5.7 million, and a beachfront townhouse

LBK

LBK

LBK

2020

2019

CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE

Closed sales Median price

470 $545,000

383 $500,000

22.7% 9%

11.8% 8.1%

20.1% 12.3%

Total sales volume Year-end inventory

$333 million 105

$252 million 212

32.3% -50%

26.6% -38%

36.3% -40.8%

Median time to contract

84 days

93 days

-9.7%

-23%

-15.7%

Eric Garwood

The 3.4 acres of the former Sun ‘n’ Sea Cottages and Apartments are now fenced off in preparation for demolition.

in Bonaire (5005 GMD) sold for $7.13 million. For comparison, the highest-priced residential real estate to ever close in Manatee and Sarasota counties was a Regents Court home behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club for $16.9 million in 2020. A mainland Sarasota home took the second-place spot on that list earlier this year at $13.25 million.

One of the common factors driving the surge in Longboat’s condo volume and prices: age.

Sage and St. Regis are new construction with the latest features and technology. Bonaire and Aria are two of the newest developments on Longboat. Of the 27 gulf-front condominiums and condo complexes in the Sarasota County portion of the Key, twothirds of them (18) were developed 30 years ago or more. Aria opened in 2016, along with Infinity. Bonaire began selling in 2017.

Aging condo units were one of the main concerns of town officials last year when taxable

property values dropped for the first time since 2013. Traffic and mainland competition were also cited, though a consultant hired by the town assured commissioners the slip of less than a percentage point was just a blip.

“The significant sale price indicates that the demand for luxury real estate — particularly waterfront residences — continues to be strong in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” said Gigi Silverberg of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, who listed the Aria penthouse. Reid Murphy handled the Bonaire sale.

Dan Kaplan, managing partner of PMG, which is co-developing Sage with Floridays Development, said Sarasota and its waterfront communities are ideal for high-end developments. PMG also helped develop The Concession in Lakewood Ranch.

“Kevin Maloney, our senior principal, spent a good portion of time down in the area and just really loved the area,” Kaplan

Four living levels are planned above a ground-level parking facility.

SARASOTA MANATEE

said. “So he felt as though there was a market for high-end condominiums there, so it’s an area that he feels special about. That was really it. And then obviously, there was an opportunity.”

The developers purchased the 3.4-acre Sun ‘n’ Sea Cottages and Apartments in September for $13.25 million. The family-owned resort, which dates to 1948, had been closed in preceding months.

Kaplan said his project’s customers are largely from the North, split evenly between the Midwest and the East. The St. Regis clientele hail from similar locations, as well as London, Graham said.

“Just personally, I actually just moved from New York to Miami full time,” Kaplan said. “So I can tell you the tenor of the cities up North is a negative vibe. In Florida, right now, it’s just a very positive place.”

Another common factor: amenities. The St. Regis will share 800 feet of beachfront with a hotel wing and offer all the features of a resort.

At Sage, each unit will span the width of the five-story building, offering both bay and gulf views.

Elevators will deliver residents into their homes.

“So it feels very much like a single-family home, other than the fact that it’s not,” Kaplan said.

“It’s really meant to be focused on people who are looking for a single-family home experience but don’t necessarily want the trials and tribulations of the upkeep.

And they want to be able to come and go as they please, but the condo association takes care of it.

It will not feel like an apartment building at all.”

TOP DOLLAR Of 157 condominiums listed as for sale or sale pending in Longboat Key, 14 are priced at $2 million or more, including: SAGE ■ $5.46 million ■ $4.85 million ■ $5.27 million (Sale pending) ■ $4.38 million ■ $6.24 million (Sale pending) ST. REGIS ■ $6.97 million ■ $3.92 million

4A

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

line to clear in the sand that there build,” Bishop said. may be offsets and little things Mayor Ken Schneier described that the town does to help overall, the ongoing process as a classic and that would be minimal.” conundrum.

Commissioner George Spoll “[It’s] obviously a little bit of said he suggested the change. chicken [and] egg in the process,” “Immediately, I said, ‘It should Schneier said. read minimal cost’ because there In February, Harmer and are things that the town can do Schneier met with Longboat in its own interest to support the Key Education Center Executive project,” Spoll said.

Director Susan Goldfarb about The town must figure out how potential programming at the to move forward after Ringling Town Center site.

College of Art and Design stepped “She talked to us about some back from its relationship with of the programs that she does,” Longboat Key in 2019 after five Harmer said. “Some are musicyears of discussion. related; some are performanceRingling College President related that she does inside.”

Larry Thompson said recently it Harmer said the town has enviis “not probable” for the college to sioned allowing combined proreturn as a partner with the town. gramming at the Town Center.

A concept plan from Hoyt “From a staff perspective, Architects shows the possibility we’ve been working on, ‘How do of up to an 11,200-square-foot we activate the property because structure at the northeast part we think that’s going to generate of the Town Center site and up interest but also ideas?’” Harmer to a 7,700-square-foot structure said. “People are going to say, alongside.

‘Wow, if you can do this here, you Longboat Key Public Works might be able to do that.’”

Director Isaac Brownman is in the Spoll said he supported mulprocess of putting together a bro- tiple options for programming at chure to market the Town Center the Town Center, but it ultimateFile photo site to potential partners. ly comes down to which entity With phase two in the permitting stages, by year’s end the land between the public tennis center and the Shoppes Commissioners recently talk- finances it. of Bay Isles is expected to include walkways, bathrooms, lighting and accommodations for outdoor events. ed about whether the brochure Spoll said he would continue should include a cost estimate. working on the project as a pri“As I see it, to attract a private vate citizen on the Longboat Key partner, we need to categorize to Revitalization Task Force when some extent what we’re talking his term and that of Jack Daly about dollar-wise,” Commis- come to an end March 22. sioner Jack Daly said. “That’s the “I am helping to plant trees that only way I think we can get off the I may never sit under,” Spoll said. ground again.”

“I think that is an incredible kind MARK BERGIN Town leaders have continued to Commissioner BJ Bishop didn’t of philosophy.

It’s unclear what STAFF WRITER search for a partner to help sup- think the town should include “That statement is what drives specifically a Town port a privately funded facility cost information in the brochure me. I know that I want to see all The phrase “minimal cost to the but recently shifted to accommo- until forming a private partner- these things, but I’m perfectly Center entails and PUBLICATION: CLIENT: DESIGNER: town,” has entered the conversa- date a wider range of possibilities. ship. excited aboutlena@lenashore.com planting those Sarasota Observer Turner Pest Control Lena Shore, how it will be financed. tion in talks on how an arts, cul- “There was a concern by say- “Until you have developed a trees, and I know will never sit DATE: Tom SIZE: 5”W xpossibly 8”H FILE NAME: ture and education center might ing ‘no cost,’” Town Manager partnership, AD you can’t under them, but that doesn’t January 8, 2021 2:42 PM COLOR: Full Color - noto bleedmatter.

Turner someday be financed.

Harmer said. “That was drawing a know what that partner wants ”Ad-SarasotaObserverNewspaper-Vertical-quarter

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5A

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Dogs, Longboat beaches don’t mix Unless it is a service animal, dogs are not allowed on the beach in Longboat Key. MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

■ Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive: The dog park at Bayfront Park is the only place in Longboat Key where dogs are not required to have a leash.

■ Joan M. Durante Park, 5550 Gulf of Mexico Drive: Allows dogs, but leash laws apply.

■ Laurie Crawford Dog Park, 2811 51st St. W. in Bradenton: Leashes are not required for dogs.

■ Ken Thompson Park, 1700 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota: Allows dogs, but leash laws apply.

■ Arlington Park, 2650 Waldemere St. in Sarasota: Leashes are not required for dogs.

■ Brohard Beach and Paw Park, 1600 Harbor Drive in Venice: Only area where dogs are legally allowed on the beach.

K

Photos by Mark Bergin

Kelly Ermold walked a 5-month-old Cavapoo named Finn on Feb. 18 along Gulf of Mexico Drive. Ermold said she’d like to see more places in Longboat Key where dogs aren’t required to wear a leash.

beach in Longboat unless it is a service animal.

“I always used to think, ‘What’s the big deal with a dog on the beach?’” Longboat Key resident and dog owner Maureen Merrigan said. “And then, the beach volunteer program, we had an update on why that ordinance is in place and why it’s important.”

Shorebird nesting season started earlier this month, and sea tur-

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tle season begins in May. “When they see a dog, they see it as a predator, and then what happens is they end up using extra energy that they should be using for nesting or for their migration,” Merrigan said.

The Longboat Key Police Department has received an influx of calls about dogs on the beach.

Longboat Key Deputy Police Chief Frank Rubino explained the

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PARK RULES

elly Ermold was walking a client’s dog along Gulf of Mexico Drive on a picture-perfect morning in Longboat Key while wishing for an even better route.

Finn, a 5-month-old Cavapoo, enjoys walking along the sidewalk but would probably love the occasional unleashed burst of speed.

Without leaving town, the only place that’s allowed is Bayfront Park’s fenced dog park.

“It’s a shame,” Ermold said.

“I wish they could have just like a quarter of a mile because they could let it go where you throw the ball.”

Dog owner and north-end Longboat Key resident Paul Hylbert understands the need to protect marine life and shore birds but said other locations have figured out how to balance the two.

“It’d be good if we had a place on the beach several hundred yards long where the dogs could run free and play,” Hylbert said.

Aside from the fenced enclosure, dogs must be on a leash in town — a leash no longer than 8 feet.

Pets are also not allowed on the

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Bayfront Park, where dogs can legally roam unleashed

difference between how service dogs are allowed on the beach while therapy dogs are not.

“A therapy dog doesn’t necessarily fit the criteria because anybody can call their dog a therapy dog if it makes them feel good, but the service dog is actually a trained dog for a specific ailment or disability,” Rubino said.

Rubino said it is a seconddegree misdemeanor to misrepresent a dog as a service dog.

However, Rubino said enforcement can be challenging.

“There are people out there with service dogs that might not have an obvious disability, and we can’t go up there and ask them what their disability is,” Rubino said.

“If [someone] sees somebody that they feel might not be disabled, [it] doesn’t mean they’re not disabled.”

There is also the possibility of boaters with dogs on board.

Many times, the dogs have to relieve themselves at some point or another.

“Unless the owner is really picking up after them, you’re ending up with not only dogs around the seabirds, but you’ve got dogs that are defecating on the beach,” Merrigan said.

Since August 2020, Rubino said the Longboat Police Department has received 43 calls categorized as dog complaints, including six warnings of dogs on the beach.

To report illegal dog behavior, call the police department’s nonemergency number at 316-1201.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Carousel proposed for St. Armands Circle

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DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

Could a carousel be coming to St. Armands Circle Park? How about a statue of daredevil Nik Wallenda?

The St. Armands Business Improvement District discussed a pair of concepts last week that would add new features to the park at the center of the barrier island commercial hub. The board expressed initial support for both.

The carousel proposal came from Jeff Koffman of Ride Entertainment, a company that provides services to theme parks and other amusement facilities. In addition to the carousel, Koffman’s proposal for the park included games, swings and photo-friendly circus-themed features, all within a roped-off area requiring a fee.

Another group brought the concept of the Wallenda statue to Sarasota staff in 2020 and got a positive response, said Steve Cover, the city’s planning director. Cover said the idea was to do an interactive piece that would allow visitors to pose alongside the artwork.

Both proposals drew some

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Presenters showed members of the St. Armands Business Improvement District an image of what a carousel might look like.

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questions about permanence, aesthetics and the flexibility to accommodate events in the park.

Still, board members encouraged both presenters to move forward.

Board member Gavin Meshad said the ideas were in line with the group’s efforts to revitalize St. Armands Circle and add more amenities.

Even if the carousel and statue don’t work out, the BID is interested in making changes to make St. Armands Circle Park more of an attraction.

“It’s an underutilized asset in the Circle,” Meshad said.

Crossing guards are expected to begin working in the circle March 6 until early April to assist in keeping traffic moving through the often-congested shipping district. They will be on duty from 4-7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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Town ponders added turtle protections Commissioners have yet to consider an ordinance, but discussions have continued.

WRONG WAY LONGBOAT KEY ■ Turtle nests: 4,748 ■ Disorientation rate: 14% LIDO KEY ■ Turtle nests: 542 ■ Disorientation rate: 11%

MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

More stringent sea turtle nesting season rules could be coming to Longboat Key. Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons presented to town commissioners at a workshop last week recommendations meant to head off distractions to the turtles.

“Primarily, what it’s addressing is lighting and reducing the amount of lighting out onto Gulf of Mexico beach and also addressing obstructions,” Parsons said.

The Town Commission has yet to consider a specific ordinance on the marine protection proposals, which include: ■ Window tinting for beachfront properties; ■ Regulating exterior sources of artificial light; ■ Prohibiting beach furniture to be within 5 feet of marked marine turtle nests; ■ Adding language to explain the permitting review process; ■ Adding an inspection process for seaward developments; ■ Allowing the use of permitted motorized vehicles to retrieve beach furniture on the beach; ■ Prohibiting temporary lights, such as lanterns or Tiki torches; ■ Allowing safe storage of por-

SIESTA KEY ■ Turtle nests: 2,158 ■ Disorientation rate: 7% CASEY KEY ■ Turtle nests: 6,876 ■ Disorientation rate: 1% VENICE ■ Turtle nests: 2,158 ■ Disorientation rate: 12% Source: FWC from 2017-2020

File photo

Sea turtle nesting season runs each year from May 1 through Oct. 31.

table recreational equipment at night; ■ Adding a recreation-use agreement to avoid having people leave beach furniture on the beach; and ■ Requiring beach furniture to be stacked.

“You don’t have an ordinance in front of you on purpose,” Town Manager Tom Harmer told commissioners. “This is really the policy-level discussion.”

The reason the town is proposing turtle protections is because of Longboat Key’s increasing number of disorientations. Data provided by the town showed the

town had a yearly average of 175 disorientations from 2017-2020, which is an increase from a yearly average of 147 from 2013-2016.

Longboat also has a much higher disorientation rate compared to nearby municipalities, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data.

“When there is artificial lighting, it can have the turtles heading away from [the] intended direction, and they’re making it into the water,” Parsons said.

Commissioner BJ Bishop asked Parsons and FWC biologist Tonya Long why Longboat Key has seen

much higher disorientation rates.

“This list [of proposals] that you just heard is just a sampling of all the things that can impact [marine life], whether or not turtles are disorienting,” Long said.

Long said disorientation specifically is a lighting-related issue.

One of the potential resolutions to fixing the beachfront-lighting issues is to change the town’s window tinting.

Specifically, town staff is recommending the change to the percentage of light allowed to be transmitted from 45% to a recommended 15%. If implemented, the change would be mandatory

for new construction or replacement windows.

Commissioners and town staff are still considering whether there will be a differentiation for window-tinting requirements between tourism and residential uses.

However, Longboat Key Turtle Watch Vice President Cyndi Seamon said the disorientations are happening on the entire 10.5mile island.

“Disorientation rates, as we can see, are on the entire Key,” Seamon said. “They are not just tourism locations.”

Citing conversations with Sarasota-based Universal Window Solutions, Parsons said the darker-tinted windows would not cost more than lighter ones. Universal Window Solutions works with six different window manufacturers, Parsons said.

Still, Commissioner Ed Zunz was among the commissioners who wanted to hear an expert provide public testimony about no added costs for window tinting.

Zunz also pointed out that it could void a window’s warranty if someone were to add tint.

With the start of the turtlenesting season in May, Seamon is hopeful the town can get the changes approved before then.

“I think the town is going in the right direction,” Seamon said.

“We just need to get the little loopholes that we’ve created with our last ordinance, tighten [them] up a little bit.”

A follow-up discussion is scheduled for the March 22 Town Commission workshop meeting.

Actions Speak Louder Than Awards

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

LONGBOAT

OPINION / OUR VIEW

Good to come from bad Vanessa Baugh’s handling of the pop-up vaccine clinic might just be what the Manatee County commissioners needed to get on track.

MATT WALSH

D

isruption is hard. Often messy. Full of strife and stress.

Especially in politics.

The metaphorical daggers, snippy barbs and disrespect come out. And the new gang in charge is prone to rookie mistakes, mistakes that make the Old Guard say to voters, “See, we told you those people weren’t up to the job.”

This is what Manatee County citizens have been watching ever since the November elections.

A new majority took control of the Manatee County Commission, with three of the four in the group being elected for the first time — Commissioners George Kruse, Kevin Ostenbridge and James Satcher.

What a beginning. And we thought the Manatee County School Board was dysfunctional.

A recap of some of the lowlights: Practically day one on the job, Ostenbridge, with support from Kruse and Satcher, leads an effort to follow through on a campaign promise to bring less government, less spending and lower taxes to Manatee taxpayers. And how best to do that? Sack the person at the top: Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea.

Why waste time? If you’re going to disrupt an entire system, be bold. Be Trumpian. To heck with the advice of a wise newspaper publisher decades ago: “On your first day,” he advised his proteges, “do not move an ashtray. Do not move a chair.” Don’t change a thing.

Spend your first few weeks, months learning how the place operates, who does what and the strong and weak links.

It’s difficult to recover from a bad start — as we’re witnessing in Manatee. Hasty change is often the Miracle Gro for distrust, dissension and cultural disintegration.

Whitmore, a longtime member of the commission Old Guard, was spreading information about his affair. Whitmore said photos connected to the affair had been circulating in the community.

Then this: Reports surfaced in early February that Satcher bounced a $10 check to the state to pay for his election certification. Oh, my — an elected official overseeing a nearly $1 billion budget sends off a bad check.

Satcher explained he was in the process of switching banks.

Then the whopper: The story we all know — Baugh’s handling of the now infamous Gov. Ron DeSantis pop-up vaccination clinic in Lakewood Ranch.

By now, you’ve heard some or most of the details. The story, after all, and to the chagrin of the commissioners, did go national at one point on Fox News.

It’s a classic case of politics that turned into what people hate about politics, as well as a case of how no good deeds go unpunished. Everything that occurred pretty much followed a predictable script. And, of course, it had to happen in Manatee County and add to the strife and discord on the Manatee County Commission.

POLITICS IS SELF-INTEREST

First, set the baseline. As we all know, in politics rarely is anything done purely for the benefit of the citizenry. Politicians want to be reelected, so politicians’ actions almost universally have self-interest at the root of what they do — no matter how sincere they are about being a true public servant.

Look at it this way: DeSantis sincerely is trying as best he can to get as many Floridians vaccinated as quickly as he can.

At the same time, he knows his handling of the pandemic likely will determine whether he earns a second term. So he is going to try to go to as many communities as he can in 2021 to distribute vaccines. As a health care CEO told us, “He’s like Santa Claus handing out presents.”

Toward that end, self-interested politician DeSantis has a conversation with one of his trusted adviser-supporterdonors, Pat Neal, longtime Manatee-Sarasota home builder, owner of Neal Communities.

That’s what politicians do.

They talk to people they know and people they know who can

get things done.

DeSantis offers up 3,000 additional vaccines for Manatee County, and he wants to distribute them in a place with a lot of 65-plus residents — just as he has done in the Villages in Central Florida and multiple other spots around the state.

“Seniors first,” the governor says often.

Neal, a man of action, of course wants to help the governor, the state and Manatee residents. He then reaches out to a peer, Rex Jensen, CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and developer of Lakewood Ranch, one of the premier planned communities in Florida.

Jensen hears the governor’s request and, like Neal, wants to help. Not because he expects special favors but because that’s what you do. Most people know this: All success starts with charity — helping someone else.

At the same time, Jensen also knows: You don’t tell the governor no. It’s not good business or human decency.

Jensen takes the governor’s request to next most logical helper — Baugh, Lakewood Ranch’s district commissioner and chair of the commission.

Like most people in her position, when Baugh hears a request from the governor and leader of her political party, she wants to deliver. Almost all of us would be flattered to be involved with the governor and would want to do our best to come through for him. Who knows where success could lead?

Now add this element: Time is short. Baugh must act fast.

She scrambles to organize the details — all with the good, honorable intentions. Just like DeSantis, Neal and Jensen.

But in the process, she makes mistake No. 1: She fails, or neglects, to inform her fellow six commissioners what she is doing. We don’t know if that was intentional; Baugh did not return our request for an interview.

She pays a dear price. When word spreads, at the next Tuesday meeting, her fellow commissioners scold her: 1) for not letting them know; and 2) worse, for selecting the recipients from two ZIP codes in her area.

This gaffe roils Baugh’s colleagues. All of them have been telling their constituents that commissioners are committed to the county’s lottery system for the vaccines, and there would be no exceptions. But Baugh has betrayed that assurance.

Then it gets worse. Mistake No. 2: An email Baugh sent to one of the county employees

SERIES OF DISRUPTIONS

The Coryea crusade was just the start. One month later, Michael Barfield, the region’s lead (watch)dog in the pursuit of Sunshine Law violations for the American Civil Liberties Union, sued Ostenbridge, Kruse, Satcher and Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh. He’s alleging the foursome colluded out of the sunshine to fire Coryea.

Then this: In late January, Kruse admits to the world he had an extramarital affair before the election. Kruse revealed to his fellow commissioners that he heard rumors over a weekend that Commissioner Carol

Jay Heater

With Manatee Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh listening, Gov. Ron DeSantis defends his choice of the Lakewood Ranch pop-up clinic.

helping her organize the popup clinic is sent to a Bradenton Herald reporter. The reporter reveals that the list of 3,000 people to receive the vaccine include Baugh, Jensen, Jensen’s father and two of Baugh’s former neighbors.

‘S’ HITS THE FAN

The proverbial S hits the fan.

You saw and heard the stories — DeSantis and Baugh accused of doing back-door, special favors for their political friends.

The daily press goes into overdrive. Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist Chris Anderson cited Florida Statute 112.313: “No public officer shall corruptly use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure a special privilege or benefit for himself, herself or others.”

He peppers his column with pejorative, snide adjectives and phrases that so often reveal the mindset of media reporters: calling the clinic “slippery paybacks to wealthy donors or deceitful favors for friends and neighbors”; vaccines “to the beautiful people of Lakewood Ranch”; “Baugh, a fanatical DeSantis supporter.”

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County called for Baugh to resign. Even Congressman Charlie Crist weighed in, calling for the Department of Justice to investigate DeSantis’ handling of the vaccines.

To her credit, Baugh owned up to her actions at the Feb. 18 commission meeting. “I want to apologize to all the residents whom I have disappointed in actions I have taken,” she said at the start of a 10-minute apology. “Let me say I love Manatee County, always have. I have always tried to do what was best for her, Manatee County.”

She said repeatedly she takes full responsibility for it all — not telling her colleagues, submitting the list of names from two ZIP codes and submitting her own name (at the same time noting that she did not receive the vaccine at the pop-up). She apologized to the governor.

You could say the pop-up clinic was the height of embarrassment for this new Manatee County Commission. But if you listened to Baugh’s apology and the comments from her colleagues afterward — they appreciated her apology and taking full responsibility — that meeting should stand as a turning point for the commission.

Crises and calamities often bring disparate people together and can end disruption and discord.

Reggie Bellamy, the lone Democrat on the commission, struck a tone at the Feb. 18 meeting that, hopefully, resonated with the commissioners: “In a situation like this, all of us need to examine ourselves.

What could we have done differently? What could we have done better? Because we still have 410,000 people out there who trust us to be public servants and leaders and count on us to perform the best that we can so we can make our county the best we can.”

To read Vanessa Baugh’s full apology, go to YourObserver. com.

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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Residents ask for decorative lights MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

Courtesy photo

Village resident Pete Rowan provided this example of a street light in Palmetto for what he would like to see installed.

The Longboat Key Town Commission agreed last week to examine adding decorative bases to three new light posts along Broadway Street in Longbeach Village.

First, the town’s Public Works staff must determine the cost and who would be responsible for that cost.

The town’s $49.1 million utilities project has prompted a restart of the street light conversation as poles and overhead power lines start to come down. New light poles fed by underground power have already gone up on the south end of the island near Gulf of Mexico Drive and Sloop Lane.

Town commissioners approved the style and height of the street light poles in 2019.

“We all went and visited different places in Sarasota and looked at examples,” Vice Mayor Mike Haycock said. “We really vetted the heck out of this, I thought.”

On May 20, 2019, the commission agreed to a street light height of 35 feet for the poles on Gulf of Mexico Drive with black color, a cobra-head highway-type fixture style. On Sept. 23, 2019, the com-

Mark Bergin

Crews have installed the base of the new street lights near Gulf of Mexico Drive and Sloop Lane.

mission approved a 25-foot height for the neighborhood poles.

The height limits include any potential antennas added to the top as part of a wireless communication upgrade. The Town Commission has acknowledged the importance of improving cellular service throughout the island, especially on the north end.

Village resident Pete Rowan was among the members of the public who spoke to commissioners Tuesday.

“We’re in two different worlds here, what the town is doing, and they’re moving forward,” Rowan said. “I know it’s rush, rush, and let’s get going [compared to] what the residents desire.”

Rowan said he would like to lower the poles to 15 feet in the neighborhoods but would settle on an 18-foot fluted pole. He also questioned whether there would be any maintenance costs for a street light pole.

“There’s no maintenance part on a pole,” Rowan said. “If it gets knocked down by a car, … then you have to order a new pole.”

Public Works Director Isaac Brownman mentioned how many of the pole replacements are actually shorter than what currently exists. Town-approved pole orders for the Village are expected in the coming days, said Project Manager Mark Porter, of CDM Smith.

“Most of the poles in the Village right now far exceed 25 feet,” Brownman said. “So I’ve also read emails that talk about putting in taller poles. We’re not putting in taller poles. We’re putting in shorter poles.

“They’re not 15 feet. They’re not 18 feet, but they’re certainly not taller than anything that’s out there right now.”

The town has retained KCI on a three-phase contract not to exceed $16,300, Brownman said, to help the town in its discussions with AT&T and Verizon.

“They’re both interested in enhancing those coverages, particularly AT&T on the north end, based on the conversation we had some time ago,” Brownman said.

“But both of them told us that 25 foot is already a challenge, [and] please don’t go lower.’”

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The town plans to stick with commissionapproved light heights for Longbeach Village.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

P&Z Board approves cottage, parking lot plans Plans call for the historic cottage to permanently sit at 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

The Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board voted last week in favor of allowing a historic cottage to permanently sit just north of Whitney Beach Plaza.

The board voted 7-0 to approve The Chiles Group’s site amendment plan for 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“We look forward to seeing you start and complete construction and see the renovated building there,” P&Z Chair David Green said.

Lynn Burnett submitted The Chiles Group’s application. LTA Engineers Senior Planner Sarah Propst presented the application to the board Thursday.

“The main difference being the size of the building and 10 fewer parking spaces,” Propst said.

The Chiles Group, which owns

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, plans to permanently place the 1,493-square-foot cottage at the site as a satellite office. The parking lot at the site will have 88 parking spaces. Mar Vista employees will use 24 of the parking spaces, and customers can use the remaining 64 spaces.

The new plan replaces the previously approved plans to build a 98-space parking lot with a 300-square-foot office.

“The reason for the decrease [of parking spaces] is, of course, the building got larger than what was previously approved,” Longboat Key Senior Planner Maika Arnold said.

Mar Vista plans to have its valet company use a golf cart to take employees and customers between the parking lot and restaurant. The shuttle is set to run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. along Palm Drive and Broadway Street.

Nat Kaemmerer

For now, the larger L-shaped cottage will temporarily sit on cribs near 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

The golf cart will charge next to the on-site office when not in use.

Initially, Propst said The Chiles Group wanted to purchase the smaller of the two cottages that sat at 521 Broadway St. The smaller cottage is still owned by the Longboat Key Historical Society.

It now sits at the Town Center site between the public tennis center and the Shoppes of Bay Isles.

Longboat Key Historical Society President Michael Drake told commissioners the smaller cottage will be permanently set on foundation pilings this week.

“From there, there will be a final grade to the earth around the cottage,” Drake said.

Late last year, The Chiles Group purchased the larger L-shaped cottage from the Longboat Key Historical Society. Both cottages were built in the 1930s and were among the original structures of Whitney Beach.

“I just want to compliment The Chiles Group for purchasing the building,” Green said. “We were uncertain, as a community, what was going to happen to it.”

Propst said even though The Chiles Group will use the cottage as an office building, there is historic significance as well.

The Chiles Group said it would consider potential opportunities for the public to have meetings that have traditionally happened at the historic cottages.

“I hope you’ll follow through on the community relations aspect of it, as opposed to us putting conditions in a development order that don’t seem appropriate from a land-use standpoint,” Green said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

North-end neighbors revamp entrance Three neighbors still going strong in keeping up a formerly uninspiring patch near the front of their community.

NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

T

here’s no second chance to make a first impression.

Lynette Emmons and Laura Forecki knew that, but it seemed their neighborhood entrance at the northern tip of Longboat Key hadn’t received the message. Just north of the “Welcome to the Town of Longboat Key” sign, at the turn onto Firehouse Court and visible from Gulf of Mexico Drive, was an empty island of dirt — not such a good impression for those traveling southbound onto the island.

Emmons looked at their own flourishing yard and that of their neighbor and got an idea.

Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

Lynette Emmons decided about a year ago that a little patch of landscaping near her home needed some love.

.

A Jatropha tree was chosen for the island entrance to add a bit of color.

“I’m retired, so for me it was just like this eyesore, so I went with the intention that I was just going to rake it,” Emmons said.

The trees were in the island already. So Emmons and neighbor Dave Sparks, with some help from Forecki, decided to spruce things up. That was about a year

ago. And they’re still working on the patch these days.

“I feel like I’m giving back a little bit,” Emmons said. “It makes me feel good about living in a beautiful place.”

It now flourishes with a variety of bromeliads, a Jatropha tree with red flowers, aloe and other bright natives. Most of the plants came from Emmons’ yard and that of Sparks, but they bought some extra Liriope to trim the edges. Sparks, who had landscaped his own yard, was vital to the effort, bringing tools and digging up more plants from his own yard to fill in the space. The neighbors’ houses on Firehouse Court are both bursting with trees and plants, and Emmons figured she and Forecki had enough experience to get the job done.

“David and I are always joking [that] we have to go work on the island,” Emmons said. “We love doing it — don’t get me wrong.

We’re both big gardeners. It’s interesting. It’s a way to get away from my own yard.”

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THE RESIDENCES 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive #1404 $2,000,000 Lisa Rooks Morris 941.544.3332

GOLDEN GATE POINT 166 Golden Gate Point #52 $1,495,000 Peter Laughlin 941.356.8428

BEACHES OF LONGBOAT KEY 775 Longboat Club Road #705 $879,000 Jaya Brossard 941.914.8414

SARASOTA

SARASOTA

LONGBOAT KEY

149 Luxury Condominiums within Quay Sarasota

Residences from the $800,000s to more than $3,000,000 Gregg Center | 941.220.0828 Lisa Otte | 941.281.5472

Visit or call us for a private consultation

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SARASOTA

629 North Osprey Avenue $749,000 Frank Lambert & Anita Lambert 941.920.1500

LONGBOAT KEY

PELICAN HARBOUR

6750 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #172 $574,900 Jayne Kocher 941.915.6000

Z AHR ADA 2 Residences from $1.699M Anita Lambert | 941.920.1501 Frank Lambert | 941.920.1500 View video at PSIR3.com

SARASOTA 1928 8th Street $925,000 Tamara & Todd Currey 941.587.1776

REGENCY HOUSE

635 North Osprey Avenue $749,000 Frank Lambert & Anita Lambert 941.920.1500

WHITNEY BEACH

625 Neptune Avenue $575,000 Vittoria Rutigliano & Walter Hackett 941.962.5867

16 Boutique Beachfront Residences from $4,290,000 Lisa Rooks Morris | 941.544.3332 Moriah Taliaferro | 941.504.9910

9641 18th Avenue Circle NW $949,900 Martha Marlar 941.812.0455

SARASOTA

4725 Gulf Of Mexico Drive #103 $750,000 Dennis Girard 941.809.0041

SAGE

LOOP OF NW BRADENTON

111 South Pineapple Avenue #1118 $1,045,000 Louis Wery 941.232.3001

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

BAYSO

in Total Company Sales Volume for 2020

770 South Palm Avenue #PH-1 $1,695,000 Peter Laughlin 941.356.8428

1832 6th Street $1,150,000 Robert Sherman & Janet Boyden 941.313.1301

LONGBOAT KEY 600 Saint Judes Drive $650,000 Nisey Carbone 941.685.3607

$7.1 Billion

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

3716 Gulf Drive #C $1,749,000 Laurie Mock 941.232.3665

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA 235 Cocoanut Avenue #104A $769,000 Linda Dooley & Dwight Dooley 941.400.7359

128 Golden Gate Point #901-1001 $3,495,000 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894

HOLMES BEACH

LONGBOAT KEY 3100 Gulf of Mexico Drive $1,250,000 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894

LONGBOAT KEY 650 Triton Bend $650,000 Walter Hackett Jr. 941.685.3994

GOLDEN GATE POINT

317 Iris Street $3,700,000 Shellie Young 941.713.5458

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive #Q2 $465,000 Mike Seamon 941.586.1802

435 South Gulfstream Avenue #501

$684,000 Tony Souza 941.928.1040

THE 101 CONDOMINIUM 101 South Gulfstream Avenue #7A $365,000 Joel Schemmel 941.587.4894

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE DEVELOPMENTS BY VIEWING EACH VIDEO

GR ANADA PARK

MAGNOLIA PARK

West of Trail New Custom Homes from $1,020,000 Peter Laughlin | 941.356.8428 View video at PSIR11.com

Condominiums from $279,000 Cynthia Wickson | 941.441.8060

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541 SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000 LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.1526 VENICE TO PUNTA GORDA | 941.412.3323 RENTALS | 941.364.4032

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

FEB. 16

PRIME SUSPECT: WIND 4:54 a.m., 500 block of Halyard Lane Suspicious incident: A couple called the police when they found their front double doors open.

The officer examined the door and found the deadbolt that engages at the bottom was not activated. The couple said they had been moving the previous day and had both doors open.

The officer theorized high winds overnight might have pushed open the unbolted door.

VIRTUAL

12 TH ANNUAL

CONTACT MADE 8:56 a.m., Marbury Lane Traffic: Police investigated a reported collision between two commercial vehicles. A witness reported hearing a bang when the two vehicles passed and seeing the remains of broken lights on the pavement. After police contacted one of the companies, a driver reported to the police station saying he had been unaware of a collision. Some old damage was noted on his truck, but it could not be determined where the damage came from.

SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE

March 1 – 25, 2021 PRESENTING SPONSOR: SARASOTA ART MUSEUM

CO-CHAIRS CHERYL SHAPIRO AND BUNNY SKIRBOLL

FRONT TO BACK 3:27 p.m., 5200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Traffic: A driver was cited for careless driving in an accident that resulted in two injuries and serious damage to both vehicles.

Police reported that the first vehicle was hit in the rear by the second vehicle, and both had to be towed. Both drivers were treated at the scene but refused transportation to the hospital.

The cited driver said traffic ahead began to slow and there was not time to stop.

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M E DI A PA RT N E RS

To become a sponsor, contact Jeremy Lisitza at 941.343.2113 or jlisitza@jfedsrq.org

PICKING UP A TAIL 8:53 p.m., 900 block of Spanish Drive Suspicious incident: A resident who had been shopping called police after a red sedan with several people inside followed her home. When an officer came to investigate, he could not find a vehicle of that description anywhere around. The officer said he would check on the area throughout the evening.

FEB. 18

ACCESS DENIED 1:25 p.m., 4600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: A complaint was registered with police about construction materials blocking a public beach access that runs between two private properties.

The town’s code enforcement officer was alerted.

TERRACE PROGRAM 1

5 - 7 March 2021

ANYTIME. ANYWHERE. ANY PLACE.

FEATURING The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company & Conservatory Trainees

SIGN UP TODAY FOR FREE! www.yourobserver.com/e-edition-subscribe We made it even more convenient to enjoy reading The Observer. You can now receive the Observer’s eNewspaper delivered direct to your inbox every Thursday.

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Tickets $20 941.359.0099 SarasotaBallet.org

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This is a live, in-person, socially distanced program. Face masks will be required for all audience members.

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Asolo Rep’s Terrace Stage

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

IT’S STILL THE LAW 4:21 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Pandemic: An officer was called to a retail location on a report of a person inside without a face covering. The officer walked through the location but saw no one without face coverings.

FEB. 21

A GOOD SIGN 1:29 p.m., North Shore Road Dogs on the beach: A caller reported four dogs on the beach in violation of town rules. An officer found people loading a vehicle similar to one described in the call. The people said they intended to bring their dogs to the sand but spotted a sign prohibiting it, so they turned around. The officer gave them a Helpful Information for Dog Owners pamphlet.

FEB. 21

NEED A RIDE? 3:41 p.m., 5000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious person: An officer asked a man lying in the grass if everything was OK. The man said leg pain prompted him to get off his feet on his walk home, but he needed no medical attention. The officer drove the man home.

A concierge practice devoted to internal medicine and wellness.

FEB. 22

NOT HERE 1:42 p.m., off the key Boating warning: The town’s marine patrol officer stopped a vessel that was pulling riders on an inner tube in the Intracoastal Waterway, a violation.

EVERYBODY DO THEIR SHARE 12:27 p.m., 500 block of Companion Way Suspicious incident: A caller to police was concerned that workers who had arrived in trucks to perform utilities work would leave without cleaning up the site.

An officer spoke to one of the subcontractors who assured the officer the crew would clean up.

SMELL OF SMOKE 3:14 p.m., 7100 block of Longboat Drive Fire: The driver and passenger of a garbage truck extinguished a fire in the loading hopper of their vehicle, but a heavy smell of smoke concerned them that the fire might reignite. Fire rescue responded, and police conducted traffic control during the incident.

FEB. 20

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 7:21 a.m., 2000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Noise: A resident called police to complain about the noise produced by a leaf blower on a nearby golf course. An officer explained that noise produced as part of sporting venue maintenance was exempt from the town’s work-noise rules. The officer spoke to the worker with the leaf blower, who agreed to work elsewhere and return later.

CHRISTOPHER S. LITTLE, M.D. and STEVEN W. FINEMAN, M.D.

FEB. 23

STOPPING TO HELP 8 a.m., 2400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Rescue assist: A bicyclist and an off-duty town paramedic stopped to help a man who fell on the sidewalk while jogging. An officer who saw what was happening called fire rescue. The man said he wasn’t sure if he lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital.

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THE GLENN MILLER SOUND Rick Costa’s Jazz Sextet

featuring vocalist Walt Andrus

March 7 • 3:00 pm Outdoors at Nathan Benderson Park

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The best of Glenn Miller and the ‘40s Swing era.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

*Terms of Offer:Submit your rebate ONLINE ONLY at NAPARebates.com and enter code:NAPAAUTOCARE.Submit with the installation receipt, showing the qualifying NAPA®️ part numbers circled.Must claim online by 03/15/21.

Receipt must be dated during promotion period of 01/01/21 through 02/28/21 to be eligible for this offer. Offer may not be combined with any other offer or applied toward warranty service or replacement parts. Group or organization requests will not be honored. Dealers, distributors and other resellers are not eligible for this offer. Use of multiple addresses or PO Boxes to obtain additional reward is fraud and may result in prosecution. Employees of participating stores and dealers, and their immediate families are not eligible for this offer.This offer is only valid to US residents.Limit of two (2) Battery rebates and a limit of one (1) Starter or Alternator rebate per customer or household/address. Cards are issued by Bank of America, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa®️ Inc.These cards are not credit cards and expire six (6) months from issue and have no value after that date.These cards may be used for purchases at merchants that accept Visa®️ debit cards. These cards may be subject to fees and certain restrictions on use. See your cardholder agreement and associated materials for details. Void where prohibited.

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Christ Church of Longboat Key BE SOMEONE’S HERO. UNITE IN THE FIGHT.

Donate #Donate4Life

Courtesy photos

Amy, Deja and Deliyah McClanahan

BLOOD

Surfriders group cleans up north A group of north Longboat Key residents decided to show their home a little extra love on Valentine’s Day. The morning of Feb. 14, several volunteers headed out to the beach access point at 100 N. Shore Road; grabbed pickers, buckets and bags; and spread out along the sand. The garbage cleanup crew went as far as the edge of Greer Island and gathered pounds of trash, which it pooled together to dispose of as the cleaning wound down. As usual, the refuse consisted mostly of discarded singleuse plastics.

The next Surfriders Foundation cleanup will be March 13. Contact Tahniya Smith at 284-2276.

Monday, March 1, 2021 Monday, November 2, 2020 9:00AM AM -- 2:00 9:00 2:00PM PM

Christ Church of Longboat Key Key Christ Church of Longboat 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive - Longboat Key

6400 Gulf a ofFleece Mexico Drive Plus, - Longboat Key All donors will receive Blanket! a wellness checkup COVID-19 antibody test,Card, bloodapressure, All donorsincluding will receive a T-Shirt and $10 e -Gift chance to temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening! win one of two $25 VISA Gift Cards, plus a Complimentary Wellness Checkup, including COVID-19 antibody test, blood Appointments are encouraged, please visit and useand sponsor code #61176 pressure,www.oneblood.org/donate-now temperature, iron count, pulse cholesterol screening.

Appointments are encouraged, please visit:

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Do not present to donate if you have a fever. You must wait at least 14 days before donating if you have been exposed to someone who has or may have COVID-19, have recently been tested and are (If unavailable, please contact: 941-284-5333) SHQGLQJ WHVW UHVXOWV IRU &29,' RU LI \RX KDYH D FRQƣUPHG DFWLYH FDVH RI &29,'

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required. Donors must be at least 16 years old. Those who are 16 years old need parental permission. See website for more details. *One offer per donor, per donation. No cash value. Not-transferable. If you have Do notIDrecently present to donate if you have a fever. You must wait at least 14 days donated, thank you. Please visit us when you are eligible to donate again. Donor must have successful donation to obtain results. If donor does not have account created in donor portal already, they must email address to phlebotomist at the time of registration so account can be created. Donor will receive email post donation with instructions. The same email provided at registration is used to activate donor beforeprovide donating if you have been exposed to someone who has or may portal account. have COVID-19, have recently been tested and are pending test results for REQUIRED Covid-19, or if you have a confirmed case of Covid-19. IDIDREQUIRED.

John Kurz

— TAHNIYA SMITH

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Lifestyle Connoisseur

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The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort delivers uncompromising beauty and pleasure at every turn.

For the privilege of ownership please call (941) 213-3300 or visit www.srresidenceslongboatkey.com

The St. Regis logos are the trademarks of Marriot International, Inc., or its affiliates. A Unicorp National Developments, Inc. project. The Residences at The St. Regis Longboat Key are not owned, developmed or sold by Marriot International, Inc., The St. Regis or their affiliates. Unicorp National Developments, Inc. uses the St. Regis trademarks and trade names under a license from The St. Regis. If this license it terminated or expires without renewal, the residential project will no longer be assoicated with, or have any rights to use, the St. Regis brand trade names or trademarks. All images and designs depicted herein are artist’s conceptual renderings, which are based upon preliminary development plans, and are subject to change without notice in the manner provided in the offering documents. All such materials are not to scale and are shown solely for illustrative purposes.

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FAMILYSTYLE MEALS

Share quality time with a quality meal from the comfort of your home.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

ADD OUR AWARD-WINNING HOUSE MARGARITA

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LANDSIDE

6906 14th Street West 941.758.7880

106.9 FM SARASOTA/BRADENTON • 95.9 FM VENICE 1220 AM ON THE FLORIDA SUNCOAST

File photos

Reg Ware, right, and longtime companion Faith Blais, who died in 2020

Longtime Kiwanis member R Reg Ware dies

NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

9 4 1 . 3 4 3 . 9 3 9 6 | w w w. G r a n t s G a r d e n s . c o m

Jewe lr y B u ying Eve nt February 24-27

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The Salvation Army bell-ringing initiative wouldn’t be the same without him.

eg Ware, an Englishman who helped transform the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club’s annual holiday-season bellringing campaign into a model of organization and volunteerism, died Feb. 13. He was 84.

Ware, who once owned Sarasota’s Tatum Ridge Golf Links, joined the Kiwanis Club in the late 1990s after he was recruited by current member and thenPresident Woody Wolverton.

It wasn’t long before he revamped the fundraising effort, laying the groundwork for today’s effort that attracts dozens of helpers in front of Publix on Bay

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

health began failing, Ware was determined to attend as many meetings as he could.

He was living off Longboat Key in his later years, so Lazy Lobster owner and Kiwanis member Michael Garey would pick him up on his way onto the island on meeting days, and member Jim Larson would drive Ware back into town after the meeting. The pair even organized for Ware to have a shift ringing the bell in front of Publix in 2020.

In early 2021, the club recognized Ware, Krepela and 2020 organizer Chris Sachs for their work on bell-ringing over the years.

Each man was presented with a gold bell with a promise to have his name engraved on it. Ware’s was never engraved before his death, but Larson plans to have it engraved soon regardless.

“We’ll be ringing that bell to start our meetings, and we’ll ring that bell at Christmas, so he will still be ringing the bell for us,” Larson said. “That bell will be ringing long after he’s gone.”

THE

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

LEATHER SALE

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the State of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. This is a limited time offer. Developer may withdraw offering at any time. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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Isles Parkway. He recruited volunteers and scheduled them into time blocks for about five years and was followed by Ed Krepela.

Typically, from late November through the prime shopping season, not a single shift is left open, staffed by club members, town staffers, members of other local groups and residents.

“The hardest job we have in Kiwanis, frankly, is coordinating all those people and keeping the slots full, so that there’s someone ringing the bell every day from Thanksgiving to Christmas,” Kiwanis member Bob Gault said.

“It’s a tough job, but [Reg] did a great job.”

Ware was active outside of the annual bell-ringing, setting up the club’s website and sending out a newsletter with photos and a summary of the speaker of the week after every meeting. A longtime businessman, Ware applied the same kind of and devoted eye to his Kiwanis dealings as he did to his businesses.

“Service organizations around the country are having trouble maintaining membership, and when he got that newsletter up, and the pictures and the notes from the previous meeting, it really did help,” Gault said. “It helped keep the organization together and helped that sense of community within the Kiwanis Club, which is really important to maintaining membership.”

Gault said Ware often kept to himself, so most of his fellow Kiwanians knew him mainly through the club’s activities.

“We had a lot of social gatherings and stuff, and I worked with him on the Lawn Party, … so we’re really going to miss Reg,” he said.

“He was just a sweet gentleman.”

Even throughout 2020 as his

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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

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

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

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Our vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live.

DEEP THOUGHTS: Jenelle Alber’s Jack Russell terrier, Cali, is on the lookout for dolphins on Longboat Key.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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TRIBUTES Carla Gusovius Atkins 1927-2021

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Lois met the love of her life, Dick Katzenbach, at Haverford High School and they never dated anyone else during the years leading to their marriage in Pensacola, FL in the early days of World War II. She was the cute, supportive and loving wife of a Marine pilot and was able to share so many stories of their adventures together during a very difficult time for the world. Lois was always an optimist with a contagious sense of humor. At every family gathering there were special joyful moments courtesy of Lois. Lois had the perfect maiden name – Best – because she was the best wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother to her family.

Lois was predeceased by her beloved husband, Dick Katzenbach. She is survived by her son, G. Richard Katzenbach, Jr, (Paulette) and her daughter, Carol Katzenbach Falck. Her grandmother name was “Dodie” and those lucky enough to know her as “Dodie” are Kimberly Katzenbach Jones, Kerry Katzenbach Wilson, Courtney Katzenbach Romance and Victor Falck.

Dodie is also survived by eight great grandchildren– Carter Jones, Chloe Wilson, Emilie Jones, Claire Wilson, Hayne Falck, Drew Falck, Walker Romance and Riley Romance.

There is less laughter and joy in the world and much more laughter and joy in heaven. God speed, Dodie.

Hearts Forever in our

Carla Gusovius Atkins, age 93, of Anna Maria, Florida, died peacefully in her sleep of natural causes on Wednesday, 3 February 2021, at her son’s home in Arlington, Virginia.

Born on 21 April 1927 in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany, to Dr. Paul Gusovius and Ella Schwarz Gusovius, Mrs. Atkins was an avid English student at the Königin Luise Schule in Königsberg and received her Abitur. She perfected her English by listening to the BBC and other English language broadcasts. Following the British bombing of Königsberg in 1944, she travelled with her family 750 miles to the safety of a new home in western Germany, where she eventually was employed as a translator and secretary by the US Army in Hessen, Germany, and as manager of an Amerika Haus library. She emigrated to Detroit in 1955 to take a job as a secretary for an import-export firm. In 1957 in Philadelphia she wed Neill Stewart Atkins, Jr., of Lillington, North Carolina, a career Army officer whom she had met in Germany.

During their Army years, Col. and Mrs. Atkins lived in Lillington; El Paso, Texas; and Brooklyn, New York. They settled in Tampa, Florida, in 1964, where Col. Atkins was employed as a computer systems architect until his retirement. In 1976, they moved to the beach at Anna Maria. Mrs. Atkins loved her family, travelling domestically and overseas (she flew roundtrip supersonically on the Concorde in 1997), walking and swimming at the beach, collecting

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seashells, and feeding the ever-present blue herons, who never went hungry. Mrs. Atkins is predeceased by her husband and by her elder brother, Harald Gusovius. She is survived by her two sons, Paul Stewart Atkins and his wife, Sarah, of Arlington, Virginia, and Harold Turner Atkins and his wife, Tracey, of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Stewart, Peter, Henry, Margaret, and Marshall; and her younger brother, Burkhard Gusovius, his wife, Ute, their son, Nico, and his wife, Ilse, all of Wiesmoor, Germany.

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SERVICE: Interment will be in the family plot at Summerville Presbyterian Church in Lillington, North Carolina, at a future date.

Submit your Loved One’s Obituary Call Adela at 941-366-3468, ext. 346; tributes@yourobserver.com or ask your funeral director for assistance.

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Lois Best Katzenbach was born in Chestnut Hill, PA. She was the daughter of James and Mary All Best.

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Lois Best Katzenbach 1922-2021

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

TRIBUTES

William Robert Hasenfus, 72, of Longboat Key, passed away February 11, 2021, after a heroic battle against Pancreatic Cancer, diagnosed on December 23, 2019. He took on every day working his way back to greatness, a man who truly loved life to the fullest, a legend in many people’s eyes.

Born and raised in Norwood, MA, attending St. Catherine Catholic School and was a Graduate of Norwood High School Class of 1966, where he maintained lifelong friendships that he had up until this day. In his youth, growing up in Norwood he started playing little league baseball at a very young age, graduating to Babe Ruth and working his way to a legendary four year baseball career at Norwood High.

Paralleled with a life-long love of hockey, Billy starting out skating on various ponds with his life-long buddies which led to another outstanding state championship run at Norwood High School.

After high school, he was a member of the Army National Guard during the Vietnam era. Later joining the Local 550 Union as a Sprinkler Fitter where he worked for EM Duggan for 31 years. He retired at the age of 57 and enjoyed every single minute of retirement up until his diagnosis and even then, made the most out of every day he could. He loved going up to the Inner sanctum in Maine every year to hunt with his dear friends and brothers for the past 50+ years. He was a Lifetime member of the North Walpole Fish and Game Club where

he enjoyed countless memories with family and friends. He was an avid golfer, golfing 4-5 days a week once he retired to FL in 2014 buzzing around LBK in his mustang convertible. A Family Feud enthusiast, Bill loved his daily walks to Harry’s corner store for his newspaper and scratch tickets and enjoying the powder sandy beaches of LBK with his beach friends as often as he could. He had a positive outlook every single day and never let his diagnosis define his life. He battled hard and enjoyed many-many good days on his beautiful island of Longboat Key with his loving wife, Anne and his family, enjoying boat rides, sunset happy hours cruises, happy hour at Spanish Main on his patio, sitting at the round house watching the wall and backers and enjoying his shows and many sports on TV. He is survived by his wife of 49 + years, Anne M. (Carchedi) Hasenfus, they were highschool sweethearts who met in the halls of Norwood High School and married

in October 24, 1971; daughter, Kristen J. and her husband, Peter P. Laviolette, Jr., of Longboat Key, FL; grandchildren, Peter Laviolette, III, Jack Laviolette, and Elisabeth Laviolette; son, William R., Jr. and wife, Christy J. Hasenfus of Attleboro MA; grandchildren, Isabella Hasenfus, Gulianna Hasenfus and William Hasenfus, III; son, Paul M. Hasenfus, and Fiance Stacey Houle of Norfolk MA; grandchildren, Cameron Hasenfus, Collin Hasenfus and Grace Hasenfus; parents, ( Deceased) Robert Hasenfus, Theresa (Paquette) Hasenfus of Norwood; brothers, (Deceased) Stephen Hasenfus and his wife, Barbara of Norwood MA, David Hasenfus and his wife, Simone of Sandwhich, MA, brother, Paul Hasenfus of Norwood, MA, brother, Beano Hasenfus of Sandwich, MA; brother in laws, Robert Carchedi and Paula of Mansfield, MA, Michael Carchedi and Patti of Mansfield, MA, Richard Carchedi and Maura of Foxboro, MA; sister in law, Jean Mosman of Norwood; mother in law, Jessie Carchedi of Norwood; father in law, Peter Carchedi (Deceased) At this time, the family will be postponing any formal services until this summer. There will be a Catholic Mass held at St. Catherine Church in Norwood, MA and a Celebration of life to follow with all Hassy’s family and dear friends

when it is safe to do so. For his Friends in Florida, we will be holding a small celebration shortly and will reach out with those details. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, at this time, the family asks if you would like to make a donation in Memory of Billy, you can do so at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797 or Tidewell Hospice, Inc. 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34205. Condolences may be made to www. brownandsonsfuneral.com SERVICE: There will be a Catholic Mass held at St. Catherine Church in Norwood, MA and a Celebration of life to follow with all Hassy’s family and dear friends when it is safe to do so. For his Friends in Florida, we will be holding a small celebration shortly and will reach out with those details.

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, at this time, the family asks if you would like to make a donation in Memory of Billy, you can do so at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797 or Tidewell Hospice, Inc. 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34205. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com

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He took on every day working his way back to greatness, a man who truly loved life to the fullest, a legend in many people’s eyes.

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William Robert Hasenfus

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Brendan Ragan’s ‘Safe House’ enters a terrifying maze of digital manipulation and misinformation. It’s hard to find your way out. Knowing whom to trust is the secret.

What inspired you to write this play?

I’ve always been highly interested in immersive theater.

I think it’s going to play a major role in the future of the American stage. I’ve been brainstorming this concept with other collaborators for a while. So yes, a vague idea was forming in the back of my mind. But the pandemic forced me to focus it.

Last October, I realized that immersive drama was the perfect theatrical response to social distancing. We could tell an entire story with video and voice-over and create a walkthrough experience for microaudiences of four people or less. Theatergoers could actually see a show at the Urbanite without the fear of running into strangers. We had everything we needed to make this concept work. Except a script.

Courtesy photo

“Safe House,” Urbanite’s latest production, will make you question everyone — and everything.

distant future has arrived. We just didn’t recognize it because it didn’t look like the movies.

Today’s digital technology doesn’t seem that grim.

Heck, our pocket-sized tech is friendly, cute and calls us by name! But all those nonthreatening screens and devices closely follow all the cyberpunk specifications for manipulation, surveillance and mind control. As a result,

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

S

cience fiction writers have long predicted a grim dystopian world in the not-too-distant future. In the 1980s, their bleak vision was the beating heart of cyberpunk film and fiction. In the 2020s, it’s not even a prophecy anymore. The cyberpunks’ grim, not-too-

Let’s talk about the play itself. What will the audience experience?

An immersive digital mystery.

You’re in the safe house trying to solve it. The experience is … kind of like navigating a maze.

As you move through different rooms and corridors in the safe house, [you] encounter a series of digital displays where the two main characters speak with you and provide a lot of information.

IF YOU GO BRENDAN RAGAN’S ‘SAFE HOUSE’ What: An immersive digital mystery maze.

When: Feb. 26 to April 4 Where: Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. Tickets: $25 Info: Call 321-1397, or visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

today’s world is wired for all the state and corporate abuses that those cyberpunk Cassandras kept warning us about.

That insight animates director and playwright Brendan Ragan’s “Safe House.” His immersive play premieres Feb. 26 at Urbanite Theatre.

I assume you can’t tell me the ending.

There are actually multiple endings and no single solution.

The mystery changes, depending on how you respond. You have to find additional parts of the story and ultimately make a decision. The ending you experience flows from that choice.

5 Ways to Worship at All Angels

• Walk-up Church, enjoy the garden setting and listen to the service • Live-stream - go to AllAngelsLBK.org to watch on-line 347371-1

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

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An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

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Please join us in worship in person on Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. or online at our website and Facebook Live Stream at 11 a.m.

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

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Visitors & Residents Welcome

•

Now I see where you’re going. Conceptually, a cyberpunk world doesn’t have to look like “Blade Runner.” It can look a lot like our world, in fact.

Yes, it can. Cyberpunk doesn’t care about art direction. It cares very deeply about hightech power and information control.

Catholic Church

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So there’s no way to know the truth?

That’s not what I’m saying.

You can — it’s just very hard.

We want our audience to investigate which people and news sources they can trust and how they can distinguish between information and disinformation.

Would like to Welcome & Invite You, Your Family Members & Friends to Celebrate Mass with Our Parish Community MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 3:30 PM & 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30 AM During Lent: Monday-Saturday 9:00AM Stations of the Cross: In Church, Friday, 5:00 PM

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You don’t want to telegraph who’s the good guy and who’s the heel.

No. We try to keep you on the razor’s edge of doubt. At the end of the run, I’m thinking the audience vote will be 50-50.

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

Sunday Service 10:00 AM

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr.

So to take a metaphorical leap, the maze of the safe house is analogous to the internet. You turn a random corner, and some QAnon cultist whispers a conspiracy theory in your ear. If you choose to believe them, you go straight down that delusional corridor.

That’s it. And it’s so very close to one character’s point of view. Everything hinges on who you trust.

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

Worship With Us at Our Church

or www.christchurchlbk.org (follow YouTube link)

One of them is lying, right?

Maybe. It’ll be your decision to determine who is or isn’t reliable.

JOIN US FOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP on Sundays at 9 and 11am. Or join us online at 9am at www.saklc.com/live or on Facebook THIS WEEKEND: Sat. 2/27 Drive-Thru Diaper Drive from 11-3pm Sun. 2/28: Blood Drive from 9-1pm FREE GARDEN CONCERT at 4pm featuring Dave Morgan & Friends

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Let’s narrow that down.

What kind of a choice?

Let’s say, … as you navigate the safe house, you’ll have a series of close encounters with the two key characters. They’ll offer two highly different interpretations of the same story. Who will you believe?

LUTHERAN CHURCH

• Indoor worship services this Sunday at 8 am and 10 am

Growing in Jesus’ Name

23A

St. Armands Key

All Angels Episcopal Church | 563 Bay Isles Rd

941-383-8161 • www.AllAngelsLBK.org

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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

COVID-19 safety measures are still in effect.

Please visit our website for the most current information or to view mass.

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

Temple Beth Israel

A Center of Jewish Life and Learning in the Sarasota Area Your health and well-being are of the utmost concern to us!

With the situation engendered by the current public health emergency around the country and the world, we want to err on the side of caution.

All TBI physical gatherings are postponed until further notice.

Please access our Shabbat Services and programs on our website, YouTube, Facebook and Zoom.

941.383.3428 | www.tbi-lbk.org

RABBI STEPHEN L. SNIDERMAN, D.D.

567 Bay Isles Road • Longboat Key, FL

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Lost in the Funhouse

So that’s what inspired you to write.

Absolutely. I instantly hit the keyboard and completed the script in about five weeks.

After that, we read the script aloud and fine-tuned.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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

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FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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YOUR NEIGHBORS NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

A

HE’S AN

ACE

Longtime tennis pro Dave Sparks is moving on from Longboat Key.

Nat Kaemmerer

Dave Sparks hits a serve on his home court.

fter more than 20 years on Longboat Key, tennis pro and teacher David Sparks is preparing to retire.

Sparks’ story lines up neatly with the beginning of public tennis on Longboat Key. He was hired as the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center’s first pro and gave the facility’s first lesson in November 1998. He was an adept teacher and the frequent emcee for events, known for offbeat phrases including “stylin’ on the island,” tennis center Manager Kay Thayer said.

“I really met a lot of people, not only my students but just the people that came there,” Sparks said. “I think, in retrospect, the tennis center has really brought a lot of people together into Longboat Key and brought them back to Longboat Key.” Although he’s lived on the Key for more than 40 years, the 63-year-old didn’t always work there. He not only started as the tennis coach at Bayshore High School but also coached football, basketball, volleyball and crosscountry for 15 years.

“I am the only tennis pro still to this day that did not come from the Colony,” he said. “For me being a high school teacher and coach to be offered a job, … that was a huge, huge move for me.”

Not long after he came to the tennis center, someone from his days coaching high school showed up too: current manager and former rival high school player Kay Thayer. The longtime Floridians became fast friends.

“I mean, it was easy — we just got along so well,” Thayer said.

“We thought the same way. …

Many times, we wouldn’t even have to talk, and we kind knew what we were thinking.

So it really made it nice when I first got here because we just were great coworkers and friends, and that makes a difference.”

Alan Yaruss said he’s probably taken about a thousand lessons from Sparks over the years.

He started taking lessons when the tennis center just had a little receiving shack where it sold grip

tape and T-shirts. Yaruss and Sparks got to know each other in the time they spent chatting as they warmed up, and Yaruss said they’ve become dear friends.

“I’m 77 years old, and my game is still getting better because of him, and that’s a very big thing to say that at my age,” Yaruss said.

“He worked miracles with people.

[He] can tap into what I can do and what I can’t do, and he’ll just work on things that I can do.”

In the years since his tennis center days ended, Sparks has taught at his neighborhood court on the north end. It’s a hidden gem that he said might be the best court on Longboat Key, sheltered from the wind and midday sun. A lot of his tennis center students continued to take lessons from him up there.

“When I take lessons from him on the north end, someone will stop by on a bike or a car, and Dave will look at them, and look at them, and look at them, and then he’ll say, ‘Barry?’” Yaruss said. “And it would be one of his students. It happened often.

People were always coming out to see him.”

“I am the only tennis pro still to this day that did not come from the Colony.

For me being a high school teacher and coach to be offered a job, … that was a huge, huge move for me.”

– David Sparks

As Sparks has wound down his schedule of lessons in preparation for retirement and his move to Arkansas, he said it’s been hard to part ways with some of his longterm students, folks he’s been hitting with for years.

It’s hard to step away from, he said, but there’s a time for everything. And now he’ll get to return to trying to beat players opposite him, rather than trying to impart wisdom upon them.

“As much as I’ve been on the court every day for the past few years, I really haven’t played competitively,” Sparks said. “But I’ll play a little more competitively when I do retire.”

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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

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Although boat-tailed grackles have adapted to urban habitats in Florida, they are by nature marsh birds. They nest in large, noisy colonies, in the tangles of upright tall, reedy aquatic plants of marsh vegetation and mangroves.

Audubon’s Birds and Climate Change Report, a study that analyzed decades of bird sighting data, projects a 95% loss of breeding range for boat-tailed grackles and a 93% decrease in climatically suitable areas.

Grackles, and many other bird species, might need human intervention and support to survive.

— MIRI HARDY, SAVE OUR SEABIRDS

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

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Oliver | Lynne | Courtney

Eye color in the boattailed grackle varies across regions.

Grackles along the Atlantic coast north of Florida have yellow eyes while Florida birds have brown eyes.

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ith striking, iridescent black feathers, a penetrating brown-eyed stare and harsh, repeated calls, male boat-tailed grackles are easy to spot along our freshwater and brackish marshes. Females, less showy with dark brown plumage above and russet below, and smaller, are not as conspicuous — or as loud. Although both sing, females rarely do so.

Longer and lankier than your average songbird, grackles are sometimes mistaken for crows.

Their slender build and narrower bill will help you tell the two species apart. In flight, boat-tailed grackle tail feathers form a V shape, like the keel of a boat, hence their name. These boisterous blackbirds are omnivores, feeding on everything from seeds and human-food scraps to crustaceans scavenged from the shoreline.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

BENCH M A R K R E SU LTS • S T R AT EGIC M A R K ET I NG • PER SONA L I Z ED SERV ICE

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2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

YOUR 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 PROPERTY HERE

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

It’s a great time to be a Seller! Call us for a complimentary market analysis today.

SUPERIOR RESORT-STYLE LIVING

210 SANDS POINT ROAD #2807 ‘ LONGBOAT KEY ‘ OFFERED AT $1,950,000 Unobstructed Gulf, Bay and City views on south Longboat Key, expertly renovated with 2 bedrooms and steps from the white sand beach. MLS# A4470962

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CO 2067 H A RRBOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 E K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 L on g bNoDat U MLS# A4178487

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o at K e y | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487

535 SANCTUARY DR. #405 | $1,950,000

D OL S ST JU

RENOVATED RESORT 2067 H A R BOUR DELUXE LINKS DR I V E, #4 2067 HPENTHOUSE A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 #4607 L on g b o240 at KSANDS e y | O f fPOINT ere d at RD $ 7 79, 0 0 0 | LONGBOAT LKEY on g b|o OFFERED at K e y | O fAT f ere$1,699,000 d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 Completely renovated 2 bedroom Deluxe Penthouse residence currently partA4178487 of the hotel program MLS# A4178487 MLS# with gross annual earnings over $161K. MLS# A4490397

I A N A DDY, PA R E A LT O R ®, M B A

I A N A DDY, PA

IanAddy@MichaelSaunders. com R E A LT O R ®, M B A IanAddy@MichaelSaunders.com

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229 BIRD L on g b oKEY at KDRIVE e y | O|f$1,075,000 f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0

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D OL S ST JU

G A I L W IT T IG

BROK E R-A SSOCI ATE GAIL W IT T IG

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K E R-A SSOCI ATE GailWittig@MichaelSaunders.com

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901 NORSOTA WAY | $5,900,000

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Turtle Watch continues its island cleanup duties The island organization partners with Keep Manatee Beautiful to organize monthly cleanups.

NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

O

n Feb. 20, four groups of volunteers spread out along the Manatee County beaches of Longboat Key and spent the morning crouching over the sand and searching for bits of refuse.

On Greer Island, Longboat Key Turtle Watch Vice President Cyndi Seamon and volunteer Carlyn Vigil combed the sand, which has piled up since Tropical Storm Eta hit in November. New sand and buried trash have piled ashore, with the remnants of plenty of sandbags strewn about too.

As Seamon and Vigil picked up trash, Seamon noted larger items, such as an abandoned duffel bag, construction debris and a staydry bag, and documented them to enlist a county official to help remove it.

The Longboat Key cleaners, led by the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, work with Keep Manatee Beautiful on the monthly cleanups. It’s an extension of the annual agreement the groups have to host a joint cleanup for International Coastal Cleanup, which

falls in September. Through their partnership, LBKTW is obligated to hold one cleanup a month when it’s not turtle season; when it is, the patrols clean up the beach on their daily walks anyway.

“A lot of what we get during the offseason [is] Cyndi Seamon has accumulated a variety of neighbors — we call them beach cleanup helpers — and they don’t want to do Longboat Key Turtle Watch, but they love to help,” cleanup organizer and LBKTW board member Dawn DiFoggio said.

“This past weekend, I had more beach helper cleanup people than Longboat Key people,” DiFoggio said. “It really supplements because some people make such a big commitment in the summer during turtle season to come out here, so they sometimes can’t do beach cleanup.”

Across the board, the cleanups have had more volunteers since the pandemic, Keep Manatee Beautiful Executive Director Jennifer Hoffman noted. The group’s first major cleanup of 2021 took place on Coquina Beach and drew 120 volunteers.

“We have had wonderful success with our cleanups this year,” Hoffman said. “It seems to be a trend that after being kind of locked up in COVID-19 and keeping people at a distance, a lot of people are very interested in volunteering outdoors, where they can be socially distant and do things with friends and family.”

Cyndi Seamon finds a road bump while picking up trash along Manatee County beaches.

Photos by Nat Kaemmerer

Above: Cyndi Seamon drags a watertight bag from the beach.

Left: Carlyn Vigil shakes sand out of a sandbag remnant.

Work with JoDene 941.302.4913

JoDene Moneuse

Realtor ®, Certified Staging Agent

#1 individual agent in units sold for the Mid-Longboat Key office

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Five-Star customer service award-winner Sarasota Magazine Rising Star Real estate Agent

Michael Saunders & Company’s “Best of the Best” top performers 3174 Gulf of Mexico Dr | Longboat Key, FL 34228 | 941.383.7591 | michaelsaunders.com

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Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor

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Our sellers are receiving multiple offers and top dollar!

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

Consider Selling Your Property In This Robust Market Call today for a no-obligation, no-cost market analysis!

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

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

EXPERIENCED & KNOWLEDGEABLE. Call Bobbie to sell your Longboat Key or Sarasota property.

Call our experts at Wagner Realty 941.383.5577

PROUD CONTRIBUTOR TO THE MSC FOUNDATION AND MEMBER OF

BOBBIE BANAN, REALTOR® 356-2659 | www.bobbiebanan@michaelsaunders.com

Longboat Key • Anna Maria Island • Sarasota Lakewood Ranch • East & West Bradenton

THE MSC FOUNDATION

Michael Saunders & Company

www.WagnerRealty.com

ADVISORY COUNCIL

St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL (941) 388-4447

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Ambassador’s Circle

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Longboat Key Office • 5360 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Ste 101 • Longboat Key, FL

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

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

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Bruce Myer

Realtor

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

®

941.387.1847

COLDWELL BANKER REALTY 595 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE 250 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228

Just Listed!

HARBOUR COURT - 2224 Harbour Court Drive 3BR+DEN/3.5BA, Updated with fabulous Bay views and private dock that can accommodate up to 32 ft. boat. $1,895,000

Just Listed!

Just Listed!

WINDING OAKS - 3417 Winding Oaks Drive 3BR/3BA with pool; ideal location with water and golf course views. $1,195,000

Just Listed!

PRIVATEER - 1050 Longboat Club Dr., #901 2BR/2BA, Great location with sweeping Gulf views. $789,000

New Price!

SANCTUARY - 565 Sanctuary Dr., #B205 3BR/2.5BA spaciou residence with Bay and Golf Course views.

565sanctuaryb205.com $1,695,000

L’AMBIANCE - 415 L’Ambiance Dr., #E507 2BR/2.5BA, Gulf, city and golf views. $1,795,000 415lambiance507.com

Now Pending!

PELICAN HARBOUR - 4234 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #AA1 Turn-key furnished 1st Floor 2BR/2BA, updated with Bay views and Gulf & Bay access. $549,000 4234gulfofmexicoaa1.com

GRAND BAY VI • 3070 Grand Bay Blvd. #612 Corner 2BR/2BA residence with all of the Grand Bay amenities, including private Beach Club with Gulf access. $559,000 3070grandbay612.com

IN 2020 NO ONE ASSISTED MORE BUYERS AND CLOSED MORE SALES FOR SELLERS ON LONGBOAT KEY

What are you waiting for? Call me!

941.387.1847

Bruce@BruceMyer.com

www.BruceMyer.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

MONDAY, MARCH 1

Drive, suite 212. Class size is limited. Members $88, nonmembers $104, or pay as you go. Call 383-8811, email info@ LBKEducationCenter.org, or visit LBKEducationCenter.org.

CHRIST CHURCH OF LONGBOAT KEY BLOOD DRIVE From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the parking lot at 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. All donors will receive a T-shirt, a $10 gift card, a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card, plus a wellness checkup including COVID-19 antibody test. Appointments encouraged. Visit bit.ly/CCLBKBlood, or call 284-5333.

ROTARY CLUB Meets at 5 p.m. virtually on Zoom every first and third Tuesday. Call Nancy Rozance at 203-605-4066, or email info@ LongboatKeyRotary.org.

WEDNESDAYS

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE From 3-4:30 p.m. on Zoom or in person, Longboat Key Education Center, 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive, suite 212. The troupe will put on a show created for the center’s 35th anniversary.

Members $25, nonmembers $30. Call 383-8811, email info@ LBKEducationCenter.org, or visit LBKEducationCenter.org.

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS

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

Groups are limited to 10. Fee is $10. RSVP to DonnaSharpBlaney@TheParadiseCenter. org, or call 383-6493.

HULA CLASS From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., dance with Debbie White. Held outdoors with social distancing. Free for members, $10 per person. RSVP to DonnaSharpBlaney@TheParadiseCenter.org or by phone at 383-6493.

10:30 a.m. Cost is $10. RSVP to 383-6493.

DON’T MISS

SUNDAY, FEB. 28

KIRKIN O’ THE TARTANS SERVICE 10 a.m., Christ Church of Longboat Key virtual Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans service acknowledging the Scottish history of the Presbyterian church. The service begins with the skirl of the pipes, a procession of Scottish clans banners and the congregation’s praise accompanied by pipes and drums. Go to bit. ly/CCLBKSermons, or visit ChristChurchLBK.org, and follow the YouTube link on the site’s front page.

THINKING OUT LOUD: TIMELY TOPICS WITH MIKE KARP From 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Topics will include U.S. and world current affairs, popular culture and topics relevant to seniors. Groups are limited to 10, and masks are required. Cost is $10. RSVP to DonnaSharpBlaney@TheParadiseCenter.org or by phone at 383-6493.

TUESDAYS

QI GONG From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qi gong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve men-

tal and physical health. Cost is $10. RSVP to DonnaSharpBlaney@TheParadiseCenter.org or by phone at 383-6493.

MAHJONG From 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Work on your skills playing other beginners and/or intermediate level players. Face masks required. RSVP to MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter. org, or call 383-6493.

SWEET AND SPIRITED YOGA Eight sessions from 9-10 a.m. at the Longboat Key Education Center, 5370 Gulf of Mexico

RESISTANCE IN EUROPE IN WWII From 3-4 p.m. with the Longboat Key Education Center.

Limited in-person class with a Zoom option. Four sessions about the activities of the Underground, their major organization, contributions and fates.

Members $75, nonmembers $85. Call 383-8811, email Info@ LBKEducationCenter.org, or visit LBKEducationCenter.org.

TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. outdoors at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Cost is $10. RSVP to Mary Ann Brady at DonnaSharpBlaney@TheParadiseCenter.org, or call 383-6493.

YOGA AT THE LONGBOAT ISLAND CHAPEL From noon to 1 p.m. at the Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 GMD. Class is limited to 10 members. Call to register at 383-6491.

FRIDAYS

THURSDAYS

KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT KEY At 8:30 a.m. at the Lazy Lobster, 5350 GMD every first and third Thursday of the month for breakfast, a social hour and a speaker. Breakfast is $10.

Email President Lynn Larson at LynnLarson@comcast.com to register.

ZUMBA AND MAT PILATES FOR SENIORS From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

The class, designed for active seniors, starts with Zumba and shifts to all-level mat Pilates at

Maggie Hicks

IPHONE & IPAD: ‘BEYOND’ BASICS PLUS From 1-3 p.m. on Zoom with the Longboat Key Education Center. Four sessions with Keith Coker, an IT and technology consultant. Members $100, nonmembers $110. Zoom only.

Call 383-8811, email info@LBKEducationCenter.org, or visit LBKEducationCenter.org.

YOGA AND MEDITATION From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Walk-ins welcome. Cost is $10 for nonmembers, free for members. RSVP to 383-6493.

VIRTUAL COCKTAIL HOUR At 5 p.m. on Zoom with Temple Beth Israel, join for a themed cocktail hour. The temple is holding “My Jewish Journey,” a series of talks from congregation members. Contact iazerad@TBI-LBK.org or info@ TBI-LBK.org for information.

LOWEST PRICED FULL GULF & BEACH VIEW ON ALL OF LONGBOAT KEY

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845Longboat LongboatClub ClubRoad Road 845 www.845LongboatClubRoad.com | Regent Court 19,300 | A4440615 | $19,750,000 19,300 SFSF| A4440615 $19,750,000 A4440615 | 19,300SF | 140’ on| the Gulf | $16,500,000 LD SO

Water Club #401 Water Club 65 Lighthouse Point Drive#401 | Gated Community 3,400SF|SF | A4421764 | $2,575,000 3,400 | A4421764 $2,575,000 A4438181 4,933sf | 4BR ‘ |Bay Front | $3,510,000

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LighthousePoint PointDrive DriveCommunity 6565Lighthouse www.35LighthousePointDrive.com | Gated 4,933|SF SF| A4438181 | A4438181 | Front $3,795,000 4,933 | $3,795,000 4,430sf | 4BR | Bay | $3,300,000 A4477572 G DIN EN P E SAL

501Halyard HalyardLane Lane| Lido Shores 501 www.1212WestwayDrive.com 2,340 | A4448464 | $1,995,000 2,340 SFSF| A4448464 | $1,995,000 A4482176 | 4,627sf | 5BR | $3,825,000

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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Whether you are Buying or Selling,

REID MURPHY

WILL LEAD YOU TO A SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE! Photo taken by Reid Murphy

CALL REID TODAY! | 941.232.3304 | www.ReidMurphy.com

LONGBOAT KEY EXQUISITE BAYFRONT ESTATE $7,800,000 LONGBOAT KEY CUSTOM KEY WEST STYLE HOME $6,950,000 Casually elegant behind private gates. Stunning features & panoramic views. One of the finest Exceptional Bayfront custom Key West style 4 bedroom home. Spectacular views. Bayside pool. properties on Florida’s west coast! 75’ heated pool on 600’ of frontage deep bay water w/3 boat Roof top viewing area. Boat dock. The best! slips, guest house & 8 car garage.

NEWLISTING

NEWPRICE

LONGBOAT KEY COUNTRY CLUB SHORES $1,695,000 SARASOTA HARBOR ACRES $3,495,000 Remodeled 4BD/3BA home on wide deep-water canal w/ direct access to Sarasota Bay - no bridges. 4/5BR Home w/panoramic Bay views from rooftop deck. Superior details plus expansive cook’s New dock will accommodate a large vessel and it there is deep sailboat water. The dock & lift. Lush kitchen, pool & outdoor kitchen. Prestigious location. landscaping & fenced for pets. Short walk to beach. Short drive to shops & St. Armands.

ST. ARMANDS VAN BUREN $2,945,000 Stunning 3 Level Coastal Home features 5BD/4.5BA - including a Huge Master Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom - w/3 Living Spaces. Multiple Balconies & Patios, private heated pool & spa.

Landscaped & fenced for privacy.

PENDING

LIDO KEY JACKSON $3,315,000 Gorgeous 3 level Coastal Home w/ elevator 6/BD - 5w/en-suite baths. Balcony off the Master + shared balcony on 3rd level. 3 minute bike ride to beach 3 minute walk to St. Armand’s Circle.

Private heated pool w/covered gaming area & bar. 2 car garage.

Developers Realty Inc. Lic. Real Estate Broker

LIDO KEY COOLIDGE $3,195,000 Perfectly located 3 Level Coastal Home 5/BD 6/BA beautiful Gulf, Beach, and/or Downtown Lido and Sarasota Views. Walk to everything: 2 minute walk to beach 10 minute stroll to St. Armand’s Circle. Multiple balconies give perfect sun, shade & fabulous views.

www.ReidMurphy.com

BIRD KEY BOATERS PARADISE $5,500,000 Beautiful Bird Key custom home. 4BD/4BA +nursery/office w/ master. Many upgrades inside and out 100ft Sarasota Bay frontage w/ bay front infinity pool. Deep water slip w/new dock, large lift & 2 jet ski lifts. Four car garage.

PENDING

LONGBOAT KEY POSITANO $3,595,000 Spectacular Gulffront 3BR+den. Florida living at its finest in this 3319 SF second floor corner with multiple terraces and breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, beautiful beach, Sarasota Bay and city. Marble floors, 10ft ceilings & exquisite custom finishes. Two car direct access garage.

595 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key, FL 34228

347408-1

LIDO KEY POLK $3,875,000 Close to everything! 3 Level Coastal Home w/Gulf & city views from 20’x20’ roof top deck w/elevator & stair chair service. 5/ BD 6/BA all w/en-suite private baths. Impressive pool area w/ eleveatd spa and rock waterfall. One block to beach.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

LOCALLY KNOWN. GLOBALLY CONNECTED. SINCE 1976.

LONGBOAT KEY 500 Harbor Point Road Jenifer Schwell 941-780-0968 A4491328 $5,595,000

SARASOTA 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive 1604 Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4481610 $2,750,000

LONGBOAT KEY 240 Sands Point Road 4607 Ian Addy, PA & E. Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4490397 $1,699,000

SARASOTA 1155 N Gulfstream Avenue 808 Andrea O'Brien & Marci McFarland 978-257-5176 A4491374 $1,529,000

SARASOTA 1155 N Gulfstream Avenue 707 Stacy Haas & Gloria Bracciano 941-587-4359 A4489633 $1,349,000

LONGBOAT KEY 350 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 219 Sherry Dominick 941-500-3774 A4489936 $1,225,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1485 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 104 Kathleen Callender 941-321-3115 A4483591 $925,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2101 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 2501 Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4490860 $895,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2425 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 13A Douglas Parks 941-400-9087 A4490525 $859,000

HOLMES BEACH 107 66th Street 12 Kristi Berger & Deborah Capobianco 941-730-3801 A4452254 $848,888

LIDO KEY 1750 Benjamin Franklin Drive 3C Linda Thompson 941-400-0805 A4466823 $790,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5461 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 402 Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4483717 $749,900

BRADENTON 73 Tidy Island Boulevard Kathy Valente & Gregory Zies, LLC 941-685-6767 A4477926 $670,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3240 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 602 Michael Moulton 941-928-3559 A4484014 $649,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1445 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 203 Tina Von Kessel & Brigitte Von Kessel 941-266-2848 A4489284 $620,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4234 Gulf Of Mexico Drive Q1 Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4488478 $535,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3240 Gulf Of Mexico Drive B305 Terri Derr & Rita Holbrook 941-356-6694 A4485219 $510,000

SARASOTA 707 S Gulfstream Avenue 704 Marybeth Flynn 941-704-1477 A4490466 $510,000

HOLMES BEACH 103 66th Street 10 Kristi Berger 941-730-3801 A4452245 $488,888

SARASOTA 800 N Tamiami Trail 802 Sandi Layfield & Michael Nink, PA 941-914-2807 A4449371 $455,000

SARASOTA 800 N Tamiami Trail 311 Pam Sweeney & Maureen Doherty 941-266-9622 A4419222 $415,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6324 Laguna Drive The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4479329 $395,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4400 Exeter Drive J-201 Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4485703 $389,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4390 Exeter Drive I-102 Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4480405 $339,800

LONGBOAT KEY 729 Saint Judes Drive S 2 Cathy Meldahl 941-724-7228 A4488291 $339,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5230 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 201 Becky Sirigotis 941-201-8000 A4489753 $339,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3155 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 253 Susan Mitchell 941-780-5085 A4490518 $325,000

LONGBOAT KEY 600 Sutton Place 101 George Zimmerman 941-320-8931 A4479167 $319,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3440 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 14 Susan Smith & Cathy Meldahl, PA 941-302-3440 A4473639 $239,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5372 Sandhamn Place Richard Perlman 941-228-8580 A4458496 $3,700,000

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

LONGBOAT KEY 1511 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 202 Carol Aviles 941-356-6777 A4481414 $3,075,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

348853-1

SARASOTA 1155 N Gulfstream Avenue 1802 Francoise Borel & Ken Desautels 941-228-3768 A4485046 $3,950,000

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

FEB. 8-12

to Kelley Galica Peck and Kathleen Galica, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $775,000. Built in 1966, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,941 square feet of living area. It sold for $987,500 in 2007.

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Sleepy Lagoon tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Sidney and Troy Turner, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6111 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Randall Welch and Cynthia HeitWelch, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $6.1 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,320 square feet of living area.

ARIA

Stuart and Valarie Ross, of Garden City, N.Y., sold their Unit 501 condominium at 2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Steven and Tina Swartz, of Bronxville, N.Y., for $5.7 million. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths and 3,921 square feet of living area. It sold for $5.4 million in 2018.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

9B

CONTINENTAL’S SEA CLUB

Scotty Jones, of Pitts, Ga., sold his Unit 30 condominium at 4141 Gulf of Mexico Drive to George and Kathryn Pappas, of Northville, Mich., for $625,000.

Built in 11954981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 696 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2014.

GRAND BAY

Courtesy photo

Built in 2017, the home at 6111 Gulf of Mexico Drive has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,320 square feet of living area.

square feet of living area. It sold for $1.58 milion in 2013.

LONGBOAT KEY ESTATES

James Springer, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 569 Kingfisher Lane to GCH Properties LLC for $1.4 million. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,860 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2001.

Richard Barratt, of North Yorkshire, England, sold his home at 524 Spinnaker Lane to David and Tracy Bespalko, of Allendale, N.J., for $2.01 million.

Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,826 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.37 million in 2009.

INN ON THE BEACH

ORCHID BEACH CLUB RESIDENCES

Veinte Partners 403 sold the Unit 403 condominium at 2675 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Alexis DeJoria, of Austin, Texas, for $998,900. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,896 square feet of living area. It sold for $644,400 in 2011.

Richard and Denise Harrison, of Oneida, Wis., sold their Unit B503 condominium at 2050 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Georgaynne Holst-Knudsen, of Bonita Springs, for $1.9 million. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,936

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

REAL ESTATE

Sleepy Lagoon home sells for $6.1 million

|

2702 LBK LLC sold the Unit 2702 condominium at 210 Sands Point Road to David and Linda Weiler, of Sarasota, for $1.35 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,284 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.27 million in 2020.

BEACHPLACE

Suzanne Downer and Robert Prusak, trustees, sold the Unit 404 condominium at 1055 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Beachplace LBK Realty LLC for $805,000.

Built in 1981, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,503 square feet of living area. It sold for $422,000 in 1998.

SANDS POINT

Barry and Gail Finn, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 309 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road

Robert and Deborra Oser, of Prospect, Ky., sold their Unit 611 condominium at 3070 Grand Bay Blvd. to Anatoly Temkin and Alla Barskaya, of Dennis, Mass., for $610,000. Built in 1995, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,270 square feet of living area.

FAIRWAY BAY

Steven and Linda Siegel, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 131 condominium at 1930 Harbourside Drive to Robert Weingartner, of Longboat Key, for $590,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. It sold for $525,000 in 2019.

SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 10B

In with the new

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

VEINTE

MOVE-IN READY

Bayfront Sarasota

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota | 941.702.2300 From the $3,700,000s TheResidencesSarasota.com

SALES GALLERY OPEN

Longboat Key

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

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of Feb. 12-18 in order of dollar amounts.

L O N G B OAT K E Y PERMIT APPLICANT Interior alterations Gregory J. Parseghian

AMOUNT $1 million

Revocable Trust 575 Linley St.

Addition to

existing home

Donald A. Fancher

644 Spanish Drive N.

Interior alterations Tamsin Morrison

$114,449

2301 GMD #94N

Interior alterations Irina Solovey

$90,000

771 St. Judes Drive N.

interior alterations Jack McGinnis

$64,080

521 Wedge Lane

Seawall

$49,875

1590 Harbor Sound Drive

Interior alterations Sachin S. Kamath

3491 Bayou Sound

Re-roof

Kuno F. Von Duerckheim $43,359

3527 Fair Oaks Lane

Re-roof

Thomas D. Sappenfield $35,948

560 Chipping Lane

Replace gutter

Mark J. Kara

1965 GMD #209

Interior alterations Constance Z. Reider

James Roy

$44,275

$33,000 $30,756

Daniel Alan Novreske

536 Reclinata Drive

Andrew Richard Maass $23,335 Gary Eisenberg

$17,386

3251 Bayou Sound

Lorraine C. Kaplan

$17,254

A/C change-out

Revocable Trust

3030 Grand Bay Blvd #344

Roger H. Lutz

A/C change-out

Downtown Sarasota

Risdon on 5th | 941.365.1414 From the high $300,000s RisdonOn5th.com

WATERFRONT HOMES & HOMESITES

Bradenton Riverfront

Riverside Point | 941.201.8505 Home sites from $229,900 | Homes from the low $600,000s RiversidePointFlorida.com

NOW SELLING NEW PHASE

Northwest Bradenton

Palma Sola Bay Club | 941.216.7436 From the high $300,000s PalmaSolaBayClub.com

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

$28,000

2550 Harbourside Drive #314 A/C change-out

Sandhill Lake | 941.234.0432 From the high $500,000s SandhillLakeSarasota.com

MOVE-IN READY

$397,328

4320 Falmouth Drive Unit 204 Windows Dock

South Sarasota

$17,112

Source: Town of Longboat Key

348889-1

ADDRESS 2141 GMD #PH

NEW MODEL OPEN

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

Licensed Real Estate Broker

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Real estate FROM PAGE 9B

CLUB LONGBOAT BEACH AND TENNIS

Brian and Amy Rivotto, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 113 condominium at 5055 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Hunter and Claudia Judson, of Longboat Key, for $560,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,484 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2002.

LIDO DORSET

Mingmin Deng and Meng Yin, of Osprey, sold their Unit 201 condominium at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Nancy Green, of New Albany, Ohio, for $409,000. Built in 1963, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 988 square feet of living area. It sold for $345,000 in 2016.

The Observer Red Pages has a lucky giveaway for you.

Enter to win a Shamrock Gift Basket! St. Patrick himself would be green with envy over this basket filled with Guinness Beer, a gift card to McGrath’s Irish Ale House and lots of tasty treats! Value: $150+

Debra Nierenberg, trustee, of Venice, sold the Unit 118 condominium at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive to William and Frances Salatino, of Bronx, N.Y., for $275,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 593 square feet of living area. It sold for $204,000 in 2016.

It’s easy to enter, go to www.yourobserver.com/luck-of-the-irish Hurry and get those entries in; we’ll draw for a winner on Thursday, Mar. 11, 2021

BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB

Ravi and Shirley Venkataraman, of Cookeville, Tenn., sold their Unit 843 condominium at 843 Bayport Way to Robert Shy and Nina Ellen Shy, of Cape Coral, for $407,500. Built in 1983, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,260 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 2014.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

351607-1

YourObserver.com/redpages

OUTDOORS ON THE TERRACE STAGE

NOW-FEB 27

A Rolling WORLD PREMIERE in association with Goodman Theatre and Seattle Rep

A new play by

CHERYL L. WEST with E. FAYE BUTLER

THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF FANNIE LOU HAMER

Tickets at asolorep.org

E. Faye Butler in Fannie. Photo by Cliff Roles.

Inspired by the life of one of America’s true unsung heroes.

LIDO SHORES

Robert and Ann Ryan, of Cresskill, N.J., sold their Unit 301 condominium at 350 S. Polk Drive to Karen Crowley and William Crowley, trustees, of Rochester, N.H., for $395,000. Built in 1977, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,036 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2016.

SARASOTA HARBOUR APARTMENTS

Kathleen Galica and Kelley Galica Peck, trustees, of Columbia, Conn., sold the Unit 3 condominium at 763 John Ringling Blvd. to Nikolich Properties LLC for $370,000. Built in 1963, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 816 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 2017.

LIDO TOWERS

Randall and Susan Parker, of Perrysburg, Ohio, sold their Unit 312 condominium at 1001 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Mark Granroth, of Carlisle, Pa., for $310,000.

Built in 1980, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 813 square feet of living area. It sold for $200,000 in 2014.

KINGSTON ARMS

Charles Fegley Schoonover Jr. and Claire Elizabeth Schoonover, of Javea, Spain, sold their Unit 19B condominium at 500 S. Washington Drive to Robert Barry Titler and Beth Ann Titler, of Sarasota, for $305,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 770 square feet of living area. It sold for $255,000 in 2014.

asolorep

Camelot Lerner and loewe’s

IN CONCERT

March 19-31 | Previews March 17 & 18 New Orchestrations by Steve Orich Directed by Celine Rosenthal

941.351.8000 • 800.361.8388

Headline Sponsors: Drs. Joel and Gail Morganroth

351308-1

10B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

11B

Making Higher Education Possible.

Thank you for your continued support.

Stephen and Redenta Picazio

The Morin Family Insurance Agency

Fawley Bryant Architecture First Physicians Group of Sarasota Florida Power and Light G. Stephens & Associates Hepner Architects Jaymie Carter Realty Key Agency Lois Lucek Manatee Physician Alliance

Mauldin & Jenkins Premier Sotheby’s International Realty-Linda Bradway Premier Sotheby’s International Realty-Debi Cohoon Roberts Insurance Group, LLC Rowe Architects, Inc. Stainless Hardware Specialists Victoria Stultz Team Weichel Fuller Financial

SCF-Foundation.org

352499-1

Anna Maria Oyster Bar Atlanta Braves Bayshore Eyecare Centennial Bank CenterState Bank Sarasota Dale K. Ehrhart, Inc. Doctors Hospital of Sarasota Englewood Bank and Trust Englewood Community Hospital

12B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, FEB. 26 High: 77 Don’t worry, Low: 66 I T ’ S S M A R T S T R A N D. Chance of rain: 6% Only SmartStrand® can handle the 747 lbs of ice cream a family will eat in a carpet’s lifetime.

SATURDAY, FEB. 27

Other carpets use stain protection that has to be reapplied. But only SmartStrand’s stain resistance is built right into the fibers. So it never wears or washes out. Even after multiple cleanings. Even better, It’s on sale now!

To learn more about what makes SmartStrand® with DuPont™ Sorona® #1 in customer satisfaction, visit MohawkFlooring.com/SmartStrand.

High: 79 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 7%

High: 80 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 14%

Friday, Feb. 26

6:57a

6:29p

Saturday, Feb. 27

6:56a

6:30p

Sunday, Feb. 28

6:55a

6:31p

Monday, March 1

6:54a

6:31p

Tuesday, March 2

6:53a

6:32p

Wednesday, March 3

6:52a

6:32p

March 28 Full

April 4 Last

March 13 March 21 New First

TIDES

Highs

Lows

Thursday, Feb. 25

12:33p 10:29p

6:04a 4:54p

Friday, Feb. 26

12:44p 11:18p

6:38a 5:41p

Saturday, Feb. 27

Voting for this year’s contest is open through March 1. The photo that receives the most votes will receive $500. To vote or submit photos for the 2020-21 contest, visit YourObserver.com/ Weather. Stay tuned for the 2020 contest and prize information.

6:58a 6:29p

MOON PHASES

SUNDAY, FEB. 28

Joanne Hummert captured this image of a sunset from Longboat Key.

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Feb. 25

— 12:56p

Sunday, Feb. 28

12:06a

Monday, March 1

12:57a

Tuesday, March 2

1:52a

1:11p

7:09a

6:28p

7:39a

7:18p

1:30p 8:07a 8:11pa 1:54p

8:34a

9:10p

Wednesday, March 3 2:56a 2:23p

8:57a

10:17p

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY 349207-1

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

CROSSWORD

941.748.4679 | Venice

PAM KLAWITTER by David Steinberg; Edited by David Steinberg

*DuPont™ Sorona® contains 37% renewably sourced ingredients by weight. The DuPont Oval logo, DuPont,™ Renewably sourced™ and Sorona® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates and are licensed to Mohawk.

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com 110 Where a play starts 113 Like peacocks, when evaluating mates?

117 German automaker 118 “Ciao!”

119 Smartwater alternative 120 Futbol chant 121 What’s more?

122 Pianist’s talent 123 “Fresh” flower 124 Zilch, slangily

DOWN 1 (Over here!)

2 Will figure 3 2012 film set in Iran 4 December temps 5 Prefix for “center” 6 Calls something different 7 Yang of “SNL” 8 Some Apple music players 9 Blue, on an electoral map (Abbr.)

10 Before, to Browning 11 Dee or Oh 12 Bete ___ 13 Dull speaker 14 World’s most common birds 15 Digital marketing communications 16 Tossed beanbag’s path 17 Home for many fish 18 Amy who penned “Saving Fish From Drowning” 24 Student’s stat.

26 Uncompromising ©2021 Universal Uclick 30 Green house plant?

ACROSS 31 Sneaky pitch from Don 57 Pigpen noise 83 Part of NYC 32 Two-purpose 1 Sci-fi stunner Draper, say?

58 Perjure oneself 84 Risky pace for a horse 33 Mare’s male baby 7 ___ one’s time (waits) 35 Persevere with 59 When it’s all over carrying reds and whites?

34 Beauty superstore 12 “Zoey’s Extraordinary 39 It’s up for debate 61 Crocheter’s tool 87 Church VIP 36 Part of a city bus?

Playlist” network 41 “Love the skin you’re in” 63 Bartlett kin 88 Craft show merchants 37 “Set Fire to the Rain” 15 Post in the Navy? brand 65 Yiddish cry 90 Pub handout singer 19 Shawl in Rivera’s “Za42 Atlantic Ocean’s ___ 66 Where the top racehorses 92 Yellowstone beast 38 Pics from parlors patista Landscape” Triangle reside?

93 What tailors and tilers do 39 “That’s enough for me!”

20 Drama with many singers 43 German automaker 70 Notes before sols 94 Cain’s victim 40 Forecaster Roker, to his 21 “I’m in awe!”

44 Road crew supply 73 Omar of “Fatal Affair” 96 Fall zodiac sign wife?

22 Zone 48 “Care to make a wager?” 75 Entertainment center 98 Sprinkled, as a snowy 42 Give support to 23 Those who join the Se49 Perfect collection road 43 Huge uncertainty attle Storm or L.A. Sparks? 51 Congregation’s strata76 Currently living 99 Guilty pleasure of reading 45 Vehicle that rhymes with 25 Fingerprint alternative gems?

78 “The Jungle Book” python Marie Kondo books? “train” 27 Pace slower than a run 54 Targets for reform 79 Stitch’s buddy 103 Gland above a kidney 46 Car starter?

28 Copied 55 Leaves 81 People to move on from 105 “Sesame Street” series 47 Sailor’s assent 29 Runs the show 56 Reduce, as expenses 82 “Benson” star Swenson 106 Connection point

KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

48 Victory 50 Fire sign?

52 Refrigerates 53 Kind of torch at a beach barbecue 56 ___ up (adds spice to) 60 Medium’s “ability,” for short 61 Mayhem 62 Far from fresh 63 Rite for a Jewish baby boy 64 Yiddish cries 67 Sitting around 68 Irks 69 Bring to bear 71 Germany’s Merkel 72 Like some contrasts 74 Karachi natives 77 Up to, for short 78 Seoul, South ___ 79 Part of a script 80 Job connections 81 ATL guess 83 Orange Thanksgiving foods 84 Gateway to Narnia 85 PC brand 86 French Quarter’s city, briefly 87 Name whose last letter may also be “k” 89 Shoemaker’s leather 91 Reason for an apostrophe, at times 94 “I’m ___ loss” 95 Took off in a hurry 97 Jane Austen’s Elizabeth 99 Disdainful look 100 Posh parties 101 Ivory counterpart 102 TiVo ancestor 104 One-named Irish singer 107 “Or, maybe ...” in a tweet 108 Supermarket section with ham 109 Early garden 110 Nickname within “Rosalyn” 111 Hint from offstage 112 Style guide users, briefly 114 Director DuVernay 115 Second sequel letters 116 “Strange Magic” grp.

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“XE PSKKGV JEZ PFOJ BEF CEX’K INTG BEFVHGIM EV KJG CVSPS EM BEFV INMG, BEF OSX HKNII MNXC HEPG OEPGCB NX NK.” – KEPPB IGG YEXGH

“UHBAIS VLLF PSA S ESGHBTN, STE KOHH LK JIU EUYBH. S PBGUE-OC HBJJHU KUHHLP PIL PSA SHPSRA DOAR, DOAR, DOAR.”

– XSGBU PBTEALG

Puzzle Two Clue: F equals K

Sarasota

SAVE ON EVERY SPECIES, COLOR AND STYLE!

Puzzle One Clue T equals K

HARDWOOD

© 2021 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

02-25-21

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Homes for Sale

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

Luxurious 4 Bed 4 Bath Built in 2020 Lakefront Lakewood Ranch $1,599,900

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

2 CEILING fans, $60 and $40.

One dining room light fixture $20. LBK, cash, you pick up.

321-8007.

GRAY CORDUROY Lazy-boy recliner for sale for $60. Just professionally cleaned. You must move it. 941-383-3882.

SELL IT FAST HERE! POST YOUR AD WITH EASE YourObserver.com/RedPages

MARINA SLIP for sale. Longboat Key Club.

Moorings Lot C-01. $150k.

62 x 21.

Call Steve: 727-898-9388.

LOST KEYS: set with 2 FOBs and other keys on St. Armands Circle. Please call if found: 941-730-6685.

(1) BEDROOM DIRECT BEACHFRONT MONTHLY RENTAL MINIMUM

502 - 558 -7845

Longboat Key Beach House: on Canal, 2BED-2BATH, 1/CAR, Dock. $530,000. Owner/agent Private Boat Lift: beach access villa/condo Pet Friendly $399,000 Call for coming soon listings.

Buy or Sell with Brooke O’Malley as your Realtor, and CLUB REALTY will Pay your title insurance.

Call 941-726-2677.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE! CALL 941-955-4888

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

VRBO #2082812

Condos/Apts. for Sale

This week’s Crossword answers

Boats 2021 BOTE AD 10' 9" Length board with Paddle.

One board for everythingFishing machine or family fun.

In Perfect Condition with Board Bag: $1,350.

(917) 821-4564.

Merchandise Wanted WANTED: HEALTHRIDER exercise machine in excellent condition.

Call/text 815-751-4160 or email Richard.katz1@gmail.com

FAMILY SECURITY DRIVER 941-735-4732.

Ask for Eddie.

Many years experience with rock stars, wild teens, children, elderly, and foreign families.

Feel safe, Be safe 24/7 Licensed and Legal.

Autos for Sale

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! 941-955-4888

REDUCED PRICE! MERCEDES BENZ 1999 For Sale- S500 (stretch) M: 136K; Asking: $3,800 OBO. Great Condition.

Sunroof, Heated Electric Seats, Original W/S with sticker, 4Dr, Original MB hood emblem.

Black Car w/ light grey interior.

Located on Lido Key Cell 315.727.4933. Theresa

Autos Wanted

YourObserver.com/RedPages WANTED: LOCAL church needs garage type storage shelves: metal or heavy plastic.

Will pay if reasonable, will pickup. Contact: 863-660-2044.

Sporting Goods Announcements

Autos Service

Located in the Resort at Longboat Key Club

55+ Beach and Boating: One story villa 2BED-2BATH $424,000

FOR SALE: KAYAK; SANTEE 140T 2-seater, lightweight, 5yrs old, seldom used; white and orange with seats, oars, car rack, life vests. $1100.00. Call: 616-710-2910.

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

SELL STUFF HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

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

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

BAYVIEW CONDO contemporary, 2BR/2BA 1618/sqft, remodeled, laminate flooring, luxury kitchen storage, turn-key, carport, pool, private beach, 4 Har-tru courts, kayak launch, $710,000.

941-962-0767.

GOLDEN GATE POINT: Beautiful 2BR/1BA, top floor, end unit, remodeled kitchen and bathroom, polished Terrazzo floors, peek-a-boo views of bay from every room, For Sale: $332,900.

303-944-8300. eceonlbk@msn.com Please no agents.

SELL IT NOW! 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Homes for Rent COZY COTTAGE Sandpiper AMI 55+. 1.5 minute walk to the beach or bay, near pool. 1BA/1BR, W/D for sale or rent.

Call: 941-251-4767 leave message.

Homes for Sale LBK BEACH Harbor Club 2BD/2BA Condo 1062sqft Fully updated corner unit with new furnishing $349,000.

Call Jean: 941-524-0264.

©2021 Universal Uclick

You’re only cheating yourself.

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less.

Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

Boat Slips for Rent/Sale

Condos/Apts. for Rent

Everything Updated Sarasota's Phillipi Gardens 3/2/2 $359,900

peekers’ place

Items Under $200

THERESA SISTO FORMER HAIRSTYLIST AT TINA' BEAUTY SALON Theresa Sisto, former hairstylist at Tina's Beauty Salon has relocated. She is now at Scissors Styling Studio, located at 4308, Suite D, 75th St W Bradenton FL, 34209.

(941)747-6806.

This is an established salon in a new location. A quaint, clean salon, following Covid-19 regulations. Private appointments and outdoor appointments available, by appointment only.

Looking forward to seeing you. (941) 747-6806.

auto

stuff

Announcements

351953

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

real estate

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

The CRYSTAL CLEAR choice!

RED PAGES

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “No matter how much you don’t like yourself or the drama of your life, you can still find some comedy in it.”

Tommy Lee Jones Puzzle Two Solution: “Elisha Cook was a darling, and full of the devil. A wired-up little fellow who was always busy, busy, busy.”

– Marie Windsor

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2021 NEA, Inc.

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Real Estate Wanted LOOKING FOR a 2BR furnished beach home or condo. 1 or 2 months: June, July, August. 2 Adults.

Non-smoking, no pets.

Will provide local references.

Call or text: 727-224-4859.

Rentals Wanted MATURE FEMALE seeking annual unfurnished room with private bath. Excellent references. 941-730-9480.

|

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals WEEKLY/MONTHLY SEASONAL RATES Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

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

Ask about our special rates!

Adult Care Services

Wagner Realty

- Transportation - Meal Preparation - Light Housekeeping - Personal Care - Dementia Care - Companionship - Medical Reminders

941-809-3725 www.alhhomecare.com NR#30211577

941-955-4888

RED PAGES AD RATES

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each Add’l word ....... 50¢

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

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

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

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN

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

Call 941-383-3338.

NEED ASSISTANCE? A LENDING HAND HOME CARE

Schedule your free in-home consultation today!

Since 1939

EPIC HOME CARE Personal Care-Respite Care Alzheimer’s Care-Light Cleaning Med Administration-Meal Prep Shopping, Errands & More Call for a FREE Evaluation!

941-536-6372 EpicHomeCare@yahoo.com Rosa Torres- Owner

Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Fax: 941-362-4808 Email: redpages@ yourobserver.com

PRIVATE NURSE Registered Nurse looking for part time private duty nursing work, pet lover, non smoker. Looking to help with light cleaning, errands, medication organization, breakfast and lunch preparing. Helping you follow doctors orders and whatever you need to get you back to good health.

Rate $30hr.

Have had COVID-19 Vaccine.

Call or Text Jessica at: (412) 851-0840.

Auto Transport AIRPORT RIDES to Tampa, St.Pete, Sarasota from surrounding islands. Super ride, super fares. Call/Text Anna: 941-932-1600.

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE! Advertise items less than $200 for FREE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

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

Auto Service

Doors

SELL YOUR CAR!

Sliding Glass Door Repair

WE COME TO YOU

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

HoHoBuysCars.com

351217

941.270.4400

5-Star Rated

Restaurants

CLAUDIA C. Cleaning Services.

Experienced, dependable, and ready to begin!

Residential.

Excellent references.

941-773-6895.

BLUE DOLPHIN CAFE

Home Services ESTATE MANAGER/ HOUSEHOLD MANAGER Olga has ability to manage all of your properties with seamless service standard. As a highly organized and intelligent professional, I will represent your family in the highest manner. I have over 20 years of experience managing household services.

PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES. (248) 755-0327. www.olgascleanhouse.com WEEKLY VACANT Home checks: Oversees maintence appointments, organize/declutter, post departure cleaning.

Free consultation Christine: 407-461-9573.

Local, personal, & trustworthy.

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

FRIDAY **FEBRUARY 26TH**

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

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

941-383-3787 CALL FOR RESERVATIONS BEER & WINE AVAILABLE

Painting CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing.

Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

ES HANDYMAN & REMODELING. Hardwood flooring, kitchens, painting and electrical.

Honest and best prices.

30+ years exp. Fully ins/lic.

716-474-8492.

Transportation LONGBOAT LIMOUSINE Your local luxury transportation provider since 1994.

New luxury Sedans and SUVs. Fully Licenced and insured.

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

Handyman

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

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

Naji Aoun 351514

FAST • EASY • SAFE

Cleaning

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady.

Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential.

Commercial. New Construction.

941-400-2866.

M-F

www.rentalsonlongboat.com

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Adult Care Services

GladysKhabbaz@gmail.com 805 Molly Circle, Sarasota

941.504.2745 941.400.1563

351525

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

home services

Insurance

SECUR-ALL INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Smith

| 941.383.3388

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

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

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

TO ADVERTISE CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT

YourObserver.com/RedPages

350830

14B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Health

|

Landscaping & Lawn

THE BEST This Doctor is Among

Roofing

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

IMPROVE YOUR CURB APPEAL!

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION PHYSICIANS IN AMERICA

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

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“Medical Breakthrough Technology for bulging, herniated and degenerative disc ...

No Pain, No Drugs, No Injections, No Surgery”

shadylady_14x16magnet_FN.pdf

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12/14/16

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Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

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Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

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DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC FOR MORE INFO 941.704.9025 ShadyLadyFL.com

Call 941.358.2224 today to schedule a 352524

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

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

Home Services

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint Doors and more!

Trees

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

(941) 345-5264

Movers

352408

David McCarthy Moving

WHO’S WATCHING YOUR HOME & BOAT?

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

941-704-4278

dmccarthymoving@gmail.com

• • • •

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

GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE RED PAGES

www.davidmccarthymoving.com

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

DAYANA

352026

351703

Call a certified HOME WATCH PROFESSIONAL you can trust!

Insurance

Windows

Power Washing Pressure Washing

352401

941-544-1066

AFTER

BEFORE

| scaperotta@aol.com

Italian American Owned

Made for where you live. Here!

Home • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat

RED PAGES YourObserver.com/RedPages

199923

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

Lic./Ins.

& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing s a S u n n w r o i s n e k W Sun y ind erl

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

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

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

Res./Com.

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

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

Pressure Washing

FUR BABIES found here.

Look here where you can actually meet and greet a new pet.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

25

UP TO

STANDARD WINDOWS

ows

120

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

351521

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941.348.1359 TheConcierge.co

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350832

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

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

351520

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

MIC INSURANCE

15B

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

LONGBOAT OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021

MAKE IT YOURS!

LONGBOAT KEY $1,255,000 QUEENS HARBOUR 3560 Fair Oaks Lane

IF NOT NOW....WHEN?

SARASOTA $599,000 OAKS PRESERVE MERIDIAN 3603 North Point Rd., #302

LONGBOAT KEY $11,495,000 DIRECT GULF-FRONT ESTATE 5965 Gulf of Mexico Drive 7BR/6.5BA | 10,087 SQFT

3BR/3BA | 2,545 SQFT |Preserve views

DOWNTOWN THE “Q” 267 Cosmopolitan Ct.

$1,795,000

3BR/3BA | 4,566 SQFT | Stunning Townhome

OYSTER BAY ESTATES NEW CONSTRUCTION 1421 N. Lake Shore Dr.

$2,595,000

4BR/4 Full / 2 Half BA | 4,217 SQFT

COLDWELL BANKER’S

#1 SMALL TEAM

IN SARASOTA & MANATEE COUNTIES FOR SALES VOLUME 2019-2020

THE NAME TO KNOW IN REAL ESTATE

RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net

BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.net

www.ackermangroup.net

JUST THIS WEEK... we connected all of these sellers and buyers!

PROMENADE

UNDER CONTRACT

LONGBOAT KEY

CONDO ON THE BAY

LAKEWOOD RANCH

WEST OF THE TRAIL

LONGBOAT KEY

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

1211 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #706 Representing Seller

988 Blvd. of the Arts, Penthouse #1914 Representing Buyer

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7005 Dominion Lane Representing Buyer

JOHNSON ESTATES 1518 Pine Bay Drive Representing Buyer

GRAND BAY

3080 Grand Bay Blvd., #535 Representing Seller

LIDO BEACH CLUB

BEACHES

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

RITZ CARLTON RESIDENCES

CLUB LONGBOAT

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

UNDER CONTRACT

LIDO BEACH

1212 Benjamin Franklin Dr., #608 Representing Seller

LONGBOAT KEY

775 Longboat Club Rd., #404 Representing Seller

LONGBOAT KEY

631 Ranger Lane Represented Seller & Buyer

DOWNTOWN

35 Watergate Dr., #809 Representing Buyer

LONGBOAT KEY

5055 Gulf of Mexico Dr., #536 Representing Seller & Buyer

CALL THE ACKERMAN GROUP 941.387-1820 COLDWELL BANKER REALTY | 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 This is not a solicitation of another broker’s listings.

348303-1

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XNLV19038

Flip the page for more sales and specials!

February 25th and March 4th, 2021

SELLING LOCAL LUXURY WITH G L O B A L C O N N E C T I O N S

Coldwell Banker Realty 423 St. Armands Circle Sarasota, FL 34236

Website: www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com | Email: Kepecz@JudyHays.com

941.587.1700

Judy Kepecz-Hays

$2.2 BILLION IN CAREER SALES

Steven Kepecz

941.387.1825

Over $185 Million SOLD & PENDING in 2020

$125+ Million CLOSED and $60+ Million PENDING SALES

2020 Harbourside Drive #442 | Fairway Bay $455,000 | MLS A4490699 Sarasota Bay is your backyard with endless views of the mainland. This residence glows with lights as a diamond bracelet glows at night. Instant enjoyment awaits you in this updated 2 bedrooms/2 bath residence on the 4th floor of Fairway Bay. This residence is within the gates of the Longboat Key Club Harborside. Walk or bicycle to Publix, CVS, tennis, 27 holes of golf, 2nd largest Marina on the West Coast of Florida, or your private deeded beach. www.FairwayBay442.com

Ritz-Carlton Managed Foyer

Private Garage

Guest Suite

Theater

Fitness Room

352467-1

1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive #1203 | The Beach Residences $5,200,000 | MLS A4490587 Enjoy this exquisite 4 bedroom Penthouse with Beach to Bay - Sunrise to Sunset views. This home in the sky is the pinnacle on the beach at The Ritz-Carlton managed "THE BEACH RESIDENCES". Unsurpassed luxury, unimaginable legendary Ritz-Carlton services and lifestyle where memories are made, and dreams are treasured. Enjoy BBQ on your terrace, 2 pets welcome, and a private garage in the garage. www.TheBeachResidences1203.com

Pets Welcome

Ritz-Carlton Managed

Ritz-Carlton Beach Club

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1300 Ben Franklin Drive #PH1203 1300 Ben Franklin Drive #PH1208 1300 Ben Franklin Drive #606 $5,200,000 | MLS A4490587 $3,800,000 | MLS A4448354 $2,675,000 | MLS A4445110 TheBeachResidences1203.com TheBeachResidences1208.com TheBeachResidences606.com

1300 Ben Franklin Drive #708 $2,350,000 | MLS A4471978 TheBeachResidences708.com

Amenities: over 400 ft. of Gulf frontage,guest suites, 2 pets-no weight limit! Dedicated staff & legendary resort-style amenities.

1050 $749 Indu on th 2/2, www

Priva Olym beau laun

8

SELLING LOCAL LUXURY WITH G L O B A L C O N N E C T I O N S

Coldwell Banker Realty 423 St. Armands Circle Sarasota, FL 34236

Website: www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com | Email: Kepecz@JudyHays.com

941.587.1700

Judy Kepecz-Hays

$2.2 BILLION IN CAREER SALES

“From the moment we signed with Judy, we knew we were in good hands. Her personal approach was evident with phone calls and e-mails advising us of market conditions and offering suggestions to improve our condo unit’s first impression.

Steven Kepecz

941.387.1825

I N G ppen!

D N PE t ha ei

d I ma

Weekly advertisements of our property are further evidence of Judy’s aggressive marketing skills. We came to realize why Judy is always recognized by her peers as a top selling agent. She takes great pride in her ability to “make it happen”, to go the extra mile, while maintaining a strong business ethic. Judy and her team guide you through the entire selling process.

Judy Kepecz-Hays has become a good friend. We highly recommend her.

If you want to sell your property, Judy is the real estate agent you need.”

Dr. and Mrs. John Soscia “Dear Judy, I am writing to thank you for the professional and thorough manner you helped us sell our home on Corey’s Landing. You helped us with the big things, but also several ancillary items such as return of the Comcast equipment.Please consider this note as a recommendation to any future clients.

Best of health to you and your family in the future.”

Len and Ann Berenfield

1281 Gulf of Mexico Drive #401 | Water Club $3,600,000 | MLS A4489409 | Furnished BEACHFRONT - Water Club II. Choice southwest corner on 4th level. Furnished 3 bedrooms plus den or 4 bedrooms 3,460 sq. ft. of understated elegance with SUNSETS and endless Gulf of Mexico views. This Arlington model is ready for instant enjoyment to create new memories. This residence has been thoughtfully planned and meticulously executed. The Clubhouse, 17,000 sq. ft. offers a large and luxurious social room with beach and pool views that can be reserved for private parties, a private bar with liquor lockers, a state of the art fitness center with his and hers locker rooms, a game/billiards club room, a handsome oak-paneled library & Mahjong room. Those who prefer to be outdoors can choose from playing on lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, swimming in the Olympicsized pool, or enjoying the powdered-sugar sandy beaches and turquoise water. www.WaterClub401.com

Residence #304

Residence #704

1050 Longboat Club Road #304 | Privateer $749,000 | MLS A4485457 Indulge in luxury and privacy in this completely updated residence on the beach within the gates of The Longboat Key Club, Islandside.

2/2, 1,409 sq. ft. www.1050LongboatClub304.com

1050 Longboat Club Road #704 | Privateer $888,888 | MLS A4485456 Better than NEW! Panoramic views of the spectacular beach, city skyline, SRQ Bay, and the mainland! It looks close enough to touch!

2/2, 1,409 sq. ft. www.1050LongboatClub704.com

Privateer North has every amenity. A newly updated club room with catering kitchen, a well-equipped fitness room with saunas, heated Olympic sized pool and spa, tennis and pickleball courts, shuffleboard, BBQ grill, and a new gas fire pit where residents gather. The beautiful lobby and common areas include the onsite office with helpful management staff. Not to be missed, there is storage and FREE laundry on every floor. Don’t miss this opportunity, a must-see!

SELLING LOCAL LUXURY WITH G L O B A L C O N N E C T I O N S

Coldwell Banker Realty 423 St. Armands Circle Sarasota, FL 34236

Website: www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com | Email: Kepecz@JudyHays.com

941.587.1700

Judy Kepecz-Hays

$2.2 BILLION IN CAREER SALES

Steven Kepecz

941.387.1825

SE HOU8 - 1–4pm N E OP 2/2 ay 0 Sund

7107 Hawks Harbor Circle | Hawks Harbor $699,900 | MLS A4458161 This 3 bed/3 bath home resides in the gated enclave of Hawks Harbor with a deeded boat slip on a double lot. Immaculately kept w/stunning hardwood floors, updated kitchen and cozy wood burning fireplace. Mature lush landscaping located close to all Sarasota has to offer! www.7107HawksHarborCircle.com

916 North Casey Key Road | GULF to BAY ESTATE $4,975,000 | MLS A4408082 200 ft. private beach, 2 guest homes on the Gulf of Mexico. On the bayside, main residence with 3 bedrooms, pool, dock, and lift. Total 1.5 acres. Enjoy year-round sunrise and sunsets. www.916NCaseyKeyRoad.com

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50 Central Ave Penthouse 16 South | Plaza At Five Points $2,499,000 | MLS A4454416 Magnificent and breathtaking views from each and every room in this open design plan with 4,000 sq. ft. Walls of glass to view all of Sarasota & Her Islands. Endless amenities and upgrades in this 3 bedroom plus den. 3 parking spaces. www.PlazaAtFivePoints16G.com

1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive #1006 | The Ritz-Carlton $995,000 | MLS A4143524 Enjoy picturesque views of Sarasota Bay & Her Islands. Elegant 1 BR, 1.5 bath residence with high ceilings in the coveted RitzCarlton w/5-star amenities in the heart of the City. www.Ritz-Carlton1006.com