Longboat Observer 2.6.25

LONGBOAT

Observer

Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978

Cleaning up

PAGE 20A

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

VOLUME 47, NO. 25

YOUR TOWN

Bay Isles sued over assessments A group of residents disagrees with what they say are inequities in HOA fees. PAGE 4A

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Commissioner Forum Temple Beth Israel and Miracle on the Key will host a public forum for candidates of the contested Longboat Key Town Commission seat on Feb. 9.

The forum will allow the public to meet the two candidates, Deborah Murphy and Steve Branham, vying for the at-large commission seat in the March election.

Town Manager Howard Tipton will also be at the forum to speak to attendees about the referendum and charter amendments that voters will see on the upcoming ballot.

Miracle on the Key is a group of members from the Republican Club of Longboat Key and the Longboat Key Democratic Club.

A breakfast will take place at 9:30 a.m. prior to the event for $18 per person. The forum will then follow at 10:30 a.m., both of which will be at the Temple Beth Israel Social Hall, 567 Bay Isles Road.

For more information or to register, call 941-383-3428 or email Shana@LongboatKeyTemple.org.

Protecting Nemo

How the St. Regis kept its sealife safe during the storms. PAGE 1B

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Barb Torrence and Susan Walters, Longboat Library volunteers

Dana Kampa

Aquarists Yvanna Paez Mendez and Tammy Nguyen feed the southern stingrays at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort’s Under the Sea Lagoon.

Library expands hours Anyone looking to keep up with their New Year’s resolution to read more will be glad to hear the Longboat Library is expanding its hours for the busy season.

The library is typically open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, but it is adding Thursdays in February.

Then in March, the facility will be open all five weekdays.

It will, however, be closed on Feb. 17 for Presidents Day. For information, visit LongboatLibrary.org.

BOAT BOOST Town OKs first hurdle to allow higher boat lifts.

SEE PAGE 6A

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Carter Weinhofer

Resident Kip Becker said town commissioners should be more cautious about boat lift mechanics being excluded from the height allowance.

A+E Going strong at 80.

INSIDE

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

WEEK OF FEB. 6, 2025

Damage notification sent to properties

“There is no one single silver bullet that is going to solve a red tide bloom. It’s going to take a toolbox.”

The town of Longboat Key announced via social media that it would be sending out notification letters to about 3,000 property owners.

These property owners were identified as having damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton through the town staff’s preliminary damage assessment.

The notification letter is a requirement for the town to continue its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and the Community Rating System. The latter includes several benchmarks that, when met, result in discounted flood insurance rates.

Property owners do not need to do anything in response to the notification letters.

For more information or information about permitting, contact the Planning, Zoning and Building Department at 941-316-1966.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium President and CEO Michael Crosby on the new red tide technology. Read more on page 3A

BY THE NUMBERS 22

Cold-stunned turtles receiving care at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

PAGE 5A

$5.3 MILLION

Estimated budget impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

PAGE 9A

3,000

Bishop appointed to Small Cities Council

Marine animals in the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort’s lagoon.

PAGE 1B

CALENDAR

n LBK Election Forum — 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 9, Temple Beth Israel Social Hall, 567 Bay Isles Road Carter Weinhofer

n Let’s Talk Longboat —

3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive n Town Commission Workshop — 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road

The Rev. David Marshall blesses Spike the bearded dragon at the 2024 Community Open House.

Open House returns March 8

T

he town of Longboat Key’s annual Community Open House will be back on March 8.

According to a release from the town, this year’s open house is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year’s event.

The open house will include live music, food trucks, vendors and complimentary products from Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

Local organizations and busi-

nesses are invited to join the open house to set up tables and tents along the Town Center Green for the event.

Also at the event will be town departments, religious organizations, nonprofits, a Sarasota County HazMat drivethru dropoff and the Sarasota County Pop-Up Library.

“This was such a fun day for everyone last year, and this year we’ll expand to include even more of our community busi-

nesses and all groups that build our wonderful community,” Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips said in a press release.

The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 at the Town Center Green (600 Bay Isles Road).

For more information or to reserve space for a display at the event, contact Phillips at SPhillips@LongboatKey.org.

At-large Commissioner BJ Bishop was recently appointed to the National League of Cities’ 2025 Small Cities Council.

Bishop was elected to serve a one-year term to the national council that develops programs and resources for local elected officials.

“As a member of NLC’s Small Cities Council, Bishop will play a key role among a diverse group of local leaders to encourage collaboration, networking and the development of resources and programs beneficial to communities that share demographics, size or location that can be replicated across the country,” a press release stated.

The National League of Cities is an organization that brings together local elected officials to advocate for cities and towns through federal policy advocacy and local leadership.

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W HAT ’S HAPPENING

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Drones would be used to deploy Clear onto the surface of the water to fight red tide blooms.

FIGHTING

RED TIDE

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

S

olutions to eliminate red tide are here.

Staff from Mote Marine

Laboratory & Aquarium and other Mote consultants displayed an array of new technologies the team developed to fight red tide blooms at a Jan. 29 event for media representatives.

Mote Marine Laboratory President & CEO Michael Crosby said this event marked significant progress for the organization’s long-standing efforts to mitigate red tide.

It’s something he was tasked with from his first day at Mote in 2010.

“We now have nearly two dozen that are ready to be deployed once we get through the permitting,” Crosby said. “Every single one of these developed technologies is a huge advancement in our ability to use science, to use advanced technology to solve problems, to restore ecosystems, to fight these harmful algal blooms. And the impacts are far beyond Florida red tide.”

Red tide is a harmful algal bloom caused by an abundance of the bacteria, karenia brevis. Large red tide blooms have been known to cause respiratory issues and lead to widespread fish kills, which impact the health of marine ecosystems.

At the Jan. 29 event, Crosby and the team at Mote unveiled three red

tide-fighting chemicals and a plethora of ways to deploy them.

Each of the three — Clear, Xtreme and Ozonix — is different in how they work and how they are deployed.

Some can be deployed as a liquid and sprayed on the surface of the water.

Others can come in small particles belatedly onto the surface or anywhere in the water column.

Crosby said until recently, most grant funding for red tide was focused on studying the algae and its impacts. Thanks to support from state officials and federal funds, Mote was able to take things a step forward and develop these technologies.

“Without our legislators and our governor really embracing this vision and believing in us, none of this would happen,” Crosby said.

Crosby tasked his team of scientists with developing these biocides and technologies, which took about four years of research, trial and error.

“We have looked at over 300 different approaches and methodologies. We’ve narrowed it down, we have nearly two dozen diverse approaches,” Crosby said.

Crosby said it’s not difficult to kill the red tide algae. But the trick is finding a solution that kills the red tide without harming the surrounding environment.

“Our mantra is, with all of these technologies, none of them will do any greater harm to the environment than red tide is already doing,” Crosby said.

RED TIDE TOOLBOX

The different products and deployment methods would likely work together through a deployment strategy developed by Mote and its partners.

“There is no one single silver bullet that is going to solve a red tide bloom. It’s going to take a toolbox,” Crosby said.

Dana Wetzel was one of the Mote staff who oversaw the research.

Wetzel is the senior scientist and program manager for Mote’s Environmental Lab for Forensics.

Wetzel’s team developed Clear, which is one of the main biocides in

A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure could deploy a sprayer from a vessel to spray the red tide fighting chemicals on the ocean surface.

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Photos by Carter Weinhofer

The new methods and deployment strategies required years of research and collaboration from Mote and its partners, marking a milestone in red tide mitigation.

Mote’s red tide toolbox.

Her team went through a tiered process of experimentation to evaluate different chemical compounds at varying scales. They utilized a unique red tide testing facility, which Crosby said is the only one like it in the world.

This facility includes mesocosm tanks, which allow the scientists to simulate an environment like a red tide bloom on a larger scale.

It was important to test almost 50 different natural compounds to find the right one, Wetzel said.

“We wanted to make sure that whatever we were proposing to use as a biocide was safe,” Wetzel said.

“That was our priority.”

Finally, the team selected the one that showed the most promise, which is now trademarked as Clear.

Clear has all necessary approvals through state and federal organizations, such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

With these approvals, Wetzel’s team proved that Clear is safe to use and won’t have negative impacts on the environment.

“We can use this product in areas where there would be fish in, in shellfish harvest areas. It’s a safe product,” Wetzel said.

The product comes in different forms, including a liquid form that can be inserted into a remoteoperated device that disperses Clear throughout the water column. Clear can also be utilized as small, engineered particles that could be distributed by drones or a backpack blower.

When Clear is dispersed, the compound starts to degrade algal blooms.

In the mesocosm testing areas, Clear showed its quick effectiveness.

“What we were seeing in the mesocosms in the laboratory was total mortality in less than 15 minutes,” Wetzel said.

Another one of the chemicals in

the red tide toolbox is Xtreme, a nontoxic treatment developed by Heartland Energy Group that is already used for blue-green algae, the freshwater equivalent of red tide.

Through laboratory testing, the team proved Xtreme’s effectiveness in a marine environment with red tide.

David Spiers, senior global product manager for Heartland Energy Group, said Xtreme is liquid, biodegradable and can be sprayed on the water by plane, crop duster, boat or drones.

Heartland Energy Group has 150,000 gallons in its Melbourne, Florida, warehouse and Spiers said they have enough raw materials to make 1 million gallons.

“That product is ready to deploy tomorrow,” Spiers said.

The third is Ozonix, which uses decades-old technology, which Prescott Clean Water will apply to red tide treatment.

Ozonix is chemical-free and uses hydrodynamic cavitation, which uses pressure to create bubbles and break apart substances like red tide blooms. The treatment can also use ozone injection and acoustic cavitation, the latter of which uses sound waves to create substance-breaking bubbles.

“As said, this is not a silver bullet.

Coordination with the other technologies is probably going to be the only way to get this done,” said Steve McKenzie, lead technician with Prescott Clean Water.

With these new technologies and strategies in hand, Mote is ready to act on a red tide bloom. Crosby said combating red tide not only helps the environment, but also the economy by stopping the fish kills that can deter tourists.

“If we had a red tide today, these are all deployable. They’re all approved,” Crosby said. “It’s good science to restore the environment but also to grow the economy.”

Rich Pierce (left) and Dana Wetzel (right) were two of the senior scientists tasked

by Michael Crosby (center) and Mote to develop red tide biocides.

“Every single one of these developed technologies is a huge advancement in our ability to use science, to use advanced technology to solve problems, to restore ecosystems, to fight these harmful algal blooms. And the impacts are far beyond Florida red tide.”

— Michael Crosby

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Bay Isles Association faces suit A group of nine residents began the lawsuit in 2023, which questions how the association is assessing properties for dues.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

W

hen a group of Bay Isles Harbor residents took a closer look at their association fees in 2022, disparities in how their properties were assessed stirred up concern.

That led to a civil suit filed in late 2023, and litigation for the trial is still ongoing. A group of nine residents in Bay Isles Harbor, a subassociation of the Bay Isles Association, claims the BIA has been assessing property owners using homestead exemptions in contrast to what is allowed on its master declaration.

Now, the facts have been presented by both sides and the trial is waiting to be seen by a judge to decide on a verdict, according to Mike Taylor, one of the plaintiffs.

years or less, according to Taylor.

When the group of residents examined its property assessments in December 2022, Taylor said the residents realized a disparity. They first tried to talk with the BIA, before the suit, but Taylor said the answers they received were “not that satisfactory.”

“Pretty quickly, we came to the conclusion that they were allocating assessments based on just assessed value, not fair market value,” Taylor said.

The BIA’s “Master Declaration,” or association code, was recorded in 1976, according to court documents.

At that time, the “assessed value” of property was the “just market value,” and did not include the homestead exemption or Save Our Homes cap, since neither would be enacted until the 1990s and early 2000s.

According to Taylor, the BIA Master Declaration prohibits the use of homestead exemptions and other exemptions for seniors, widowers, disabled veterans and blind persons, for example.

However, the association uses the assessed value of a property. This assessed value could include things like the Save Our Homes cap, which

File image

Harbor Cove Circle is one of the areas in Bay Isles Harbor, a subassociation of the Bay Isles Association.

is a 3% cap in valuation for homesteaded properties per year and a 10% cap for non-homesteaded properties.

“Over time, these disparities become very large,” Taylor said. “In essence, the long-time, homesteaded residents are being subsidized by nonhomesteaded residents and newer owners.”

The crux of the suit claims that the BIA is improperly applying these exemptions.

Further, the Master Declaration does not include Kaufman language, the suit claims. Kaufman language is used by adding phrases like “as

amended from time to time” to allow documents like the Master Declaration to be amended with new statutes like the homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap.

Despite this, the lawsuit claims the BIA has been applying both the Save Our Homes and 10% tax assessment limitations to the market value of properties in Bay Isles in violation of the Master Declaration “and resulting in assessments that favor longterm residents over new residents and homesteaded owners over nonhomesteaded owners,” court documents state.

Another part of the suit claims the BIA previously failed to provide owners with information as required

by Article 14 of the Master Declaration, including data like the assessed value of individual property, the total assessed value of the association and the association’s annual budget.

Taylor said, to his knowledge, the BIA never sent out that information until December 2024, after the suit was filed.

According to Joseph Reiser, president of the BIA, the association’s 2025 budget is about $2.8 million, which he said is higher than in 2024

AT ISSUE

When the BIA collects annual association fees to maintain its budget, the association uses the assessed value of a property rather than evenly dividing the fees among all residents.

Taylor has been a homeowner in Bay Isles Harbor since 2017, and the other plaintiffs in the suit have owned property in the association for varying years, but all for about 10

HOMESTEAD COMPARISON Just Value Owners 1. Homesteaded $881,100 since 2006 2. Homesteaded $3,506,400 starting 2023

Assessed Value $434,824

Taxable Value $384,824

2022 Assessed Value $434,824

% Assessed vs. Just 49%

2023 Fee (Actual) $707.14

2023 Fee on Just Value $1,029.28

$3,506,400

$3,456,400

$3,506,400

100%

$5,702.332

$4,096.08

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

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Cold kids receive warm care Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s rehabilitation facility took in the cold-stunned juvenile turtles for care from the east coast of Florida.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

mostly due to the impact of the hurricanes. Resider declined to comment on the lawsuit given the active status of the litigation.

DESIRE FOR EQUITY

When the plaintiffs first discovered the disparities, Taylor said they went to other subassociations within the BIA. “We presented all this data, and I got a pretty good response from the subassociation presidents,” he said.

“But, what happens is, there are going to be winners and losers … it would be very difficult for a subassociation to join in this suit because not everybody in their association benefits.”

While some residents were “losing” by paying more than what the plaintiffs believed to be fair, Taylor said others were “winning” by paying less.

It’s because of this that Taylor said it was difficult to get an association on board.

Thus, the nine plaintiffs are represented in the suit as residents, not on behalf of their subassociation.

“There were a number of us who felt very strongly about the principles involved,” Taylor said. “And, to be clear, it’s not about the money … we were really upset about the lack of fairness.”

Two years of litigation is not cheap, Taylor said.

“We’re spending the money on behalf of everybody so we can get

back to what should be a fair process,” he added.

According to Taylor, the majority of homeowners in Bay Isles, which has 1,267 units, won’t be impacted significantly if the plaintiffs win the suit and the BIA has to change the way it assesses the properties.

Taylor thinks of it as a bell curve.

The majority of homeowners are in the middle and will be impacted by paying maybe $30 more or less, for example.

But at the ends of the bell curves are where the larger disparities are and where Taylor and the plaintiffs noticed the differences.

“For most people, this is not going to be a big deal. It’s really just getting rid of these inequalities at the ends of the distribution,” Taylor said.

Harbor Point Road is in the Bay Isles Harbor community.

SUM IT UP

When asked to sum up the suit and what the plaintiffs hope to achieve, Taylor said: “Everyone should be treated the same in allocating these assessments. Everybody needs to be treated the same and under the current system, they’re not being treated the same.

There are many people who are paying more than they should, and that subsidizes people who should be paying their fair share and are not. Our intent is to eliminate those inequalities so that we go back to the pre-1994 status, where everybody has their homes valued by the county assessor and those values are used to allocate the assessments.”

M

ote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s rehabilitation center opened a couple of days early to house a group of cold-stunned sea turtles.

The 22 juvenile green sea turtles are receiving care at Mote’s Sarasota rehab facility after being rescued from St. Johns and Flagler counties on the east coast of Florida.

According to Rehabilitation & Medical Care Manager Lynne Byrd, the facility takes in cold-stunned sea turtles, called “cold stuns,” whenever they can.

“We’re happy to help and be back open,” Byrd said.

According to Byrd, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called Mote to see if they would take in the turtles from The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine. The turtles arrived at Mote in two groups, some on Jan. 25 and others on Jan. 27.

Usually, cold stuns come from northern areas like Massachusetts.

Sometimes, though, the temperature in some parts of Florida drops low enough and causes sea turtles to become stunned.

This typically happens when temperatures drop to the low 50s, according to Byrd. Sea turtles generally prefer environmental temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sea turtles are reptiles and cannot internally regulate their body temperatures.

When the external temperatures drop too low, the turtles can’t warm themselves, become lethargic and have a slower heart rate.

Carter Weinhofer

SPECIALIZED CARE

When the turtles are rescued, a rescue facility begins the process by slowly warming the turtles. It’s important to gradually warm them up and not immediately increase the temperatures, Byrd said.

After a couple of days of preliminary care and increasing the temperatures by about 3 to 4 degrees per day, the turtles can be transported to a secondary care facility like Mote.

The more severe turtles are “dry docked,” meaning they are not alert enough to be placed in tanks on their own yet. The rehab team will allow the turtles to take short swims and gradually introduce them to the larger tanks.

The temperatures in the turtles’ tanks will go through a gradual increase.

After a couple of days at Mote, the tanks were in the low 60s but could get as warm as 73 degrees.

Mote will rehab the turtles for as long as needed, but if another large batch needs a place to go, Byrd said the facility might release the strongest turtles to make room for others.

It’s unlikely that a cold-stunned sea turtle would be found in Sarasota Bay, but Byrd said when a coldstunned turtle is found, don’t assume it’s dead just because it’s floating on the surface.

Byrd said to call the FWC immediately.

The juvenile green sea turtles are housed in large, green tanks in small groups of two or three.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

NEW LIFT HEIGHT

OLD LIFT HEIGHT

Not to exceed 11 feet from mean high water line

Not to exceed 5 feet from highest walking surface of dock

Mean high water line Courtesy image

A comparison of the new proposed lift height maximums (left) to the old lift height maximum height allowances (right).

Boat lift ordinance receives first approval The new ordinance would change the way boat lift height is measured, and give boat owners a couple more feet to make lifts more resilient.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

L

ongboat Key town commissioners unanimously voted in favor of a new ordinance raising the maximum allowable height of boat lifts and docks at their Feb. 3 meeting.

The ordinance not only standardizes the measurement of dock and lift height but also raises the allowable height of both structures in response to residents’ experiences of losing or having boats damaged in Hurricane Helene.

With the new ordinance, dock

heights cannot be higher than 5 feet above the mean high water line, and boat lift pilings cannot be higher than 11 feet above the mean high water line, excluding lift mechanics like guides, motors and beams.

In December 2024, the town commission urged staff to draft the ordinance along with the Planning and Zoning Board in an expedited manner.

“The reason that we have undertaken this on an expedited basis is because people who lost their docks, people who lost their boats, people who lost both are interested and some of them are ready to go rebuild,” Mayor Ken Schneier said at

the Feb. 3 meeting. “While they have their contractor in hand, they would like to get the ball rolling on this, so we’re trying to accommodate that.”

The Planning and Zoning Board workshopped the ordinance and then approved it on Jan. 17, which put it in front of the Town Commission.

The expedited ordinance will go before the commission for a second hearing on Feb. 18 in a special meeting. If approved, that would be the final hearing for the ordinance.

Chapter 158 of the town’s code states the highest walking surface of a dock should not exceed the top of a seawall cap. If a property does not have a seawall, the highest walking surface of the dock should be no higher than 5 feet above the mean high water line.

For boat lifts, the current code states that lifts cannot exceed 5 feet above the highest walking surface of

the dock. If the property does not have a dock but is adjacent to a seawall, the dock cannot be higher than 5 feet above the seawall.

Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons said the Planning and Zoning Board attempted to create a uniform measurement method and increase the allowable heights in this ordinance.

The new ordinance standardizes the measurement method so all height maximums are measured from the mean high water line.

In the proposed ordinance, the highest walking surface of a dock cannot exceed 5 feet above the mean high water line, and the top of the boat lift cannot exceed 11 feet above the mean high water line.

According to Parsons, the mean high water line is a commonly accepted measurement that is a long-term average of the high water line in an area. Over time, that measurement may change and, if so, the ordinance would adhere to new measurements.

Town commissioners and Parsons clarified that this new ordinance gives homeowners about 1 to 3 feet of additional height to boat lifts.

If a dock is built 5 feet above the mean high water line and a new lift is built 11 feet above, that would put the lift at about 6 feet above the walking surface of the dock. That’s about a 1-foot difference compared to what’s currently allowed.

Vice Mayor Mike Haycock, who is also an avid boater, added that most

“The reason that we have undertaken this on an expedited basis is because people who lost their docks, people who lost their boats, people who lost both are interested and some of them are ready to go rebuild.”

— Mayor Ken Schneier

boaters would not have their boats raised to the top of the lift on an everyday basis.

“We want to make sure the boat is up high enough to be higher than the high tides … but we don’t raise it all the way up to the top until hurricanes come in,” Haycock said. “I don’t think people will be raising these to the top.”

Haycock agreed with Schneier’s sentiment that an expedited review of the ordinance was in the residents’ best interest.

“I’m very much in favor of these changes and I’m really in favor of doing it now as we have so many docks that are damaged and need to be replaced,” Haycock said.

Some residents showed up to the Feb. 3 meeting to voice their opinions, including Kip and Cathy Becker, who said the town should remain cognizant of others’ enjoyment of waterfront views.

Kip Becker also said he was wary of the commission moving forward with the ordinance’s exception of the lift motors and guides as part of the height maximum.

“I’d like to caution you about putting mechanics in a waiver of height requirements,” Kip Becker said. “I’d like to see some sort of restrictions put on those mechanics.”

Other residents came to show support for the ordinance, including some from the island’s lowest-lying areas of Sleepy Lagoon and the Village.

Resident Jim Haft’s boat was dislodged and damaged during Helene.

He spoke in favor of the ordinance and said the waterfront views would not be impacted for many others except for the boat owners themselves.

“I’m fully supportive of the ordinance as it’s been proposed,” Haft said. “You’re being asked to make a tradeoff, I guess, between protecting boats and the impact on views. And the incremental impact on views here is pretty negligible and, for the most part, it’s going to be limited to the property owner who’s got the boat.”

The commission voted 5-0 in favor of moving the ordinance to the Feb. 18 meeting. District 5 Commissioner Sarah Karon and Commission-AtLarge BJ Bishop were absent.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

OPINION / OUR VIEW

LONGBOAT

Moratorium madness ‘Overdevelopment’ is not the problem in Manatee, and a moratorium is certainly not the answer.

LAKEWOOD RANCH’S FISCAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO MANATEE For the full report, go to: YourObserver.com/Opinion Taxable Value Ad Valorem Buildout $10,272,146,440 $72,351,863

Operating Revenue $91,347,446

Operating Expenditure $67,575,126

Net Fiscal Impact $23,772,321

Source: Fishkind & Associates

MATT WALSH

A

ll it would have taken was one phone call to Sam Staley. Building moratoria, he told us, “are really bad

ideas.”

Staley knows this well. He is the director of the DeVoe Moore Center in the College of Social Science and Public Policy at Florida State University. He is widely known nationally and in Florida for his expertise on economic development, land use and regulation, urban policy, economic development, public-private partnerships, growth management, transportation and regulatory reform.

When we informed Staley of Manatee County commissioners Robert McCann and Carol Felts pursuing a building moratorium in their districts, Staley responded: “They are a sledgehammer trying to pound a finishing nail — more likely to destroy the nail than drive it in for its intended purpose.”

Twenty years ago, Staley penned a commentary on moratoria for the Reason Foundation, where he was a senior fellow. The headline and subheadline tell it all.

Headline: “Moratoria on growth signal failure of planning.”

Subheadline: “Moratoria are bold evidence of poor political leadership.”

Staley’s commentary went on to say: “Sound infrastructure planning also isn’t a short-term fix. It’s a long-term process that requires diligence, commitment and professionalism. This is why growth moratoria are unsuited to solving a community’s infrastructure problems.

“Moratoria have to be short to avoid becoming a government ‘taking’ — a seizure of private property requiring compensation to private landowners. They typically span a year or less. That’s not enough time for a long-term planning process to correct past wrongs.

“Moreover, moratoria may add to local problems if they put communities at risk to lawsuits or investment falls dramatically because developers scoot off to more hospitable (and usually greener) pastures.

“When does a growth moratorium make sense? Rarely, and only as a last resort.”

Commissioners McCann and Felts repeatedly make the claim “my constituents want a moratorium.” They don’t really know that to be true. McCann says the 41,700 people who voted for him is proof.

Sure, there are many who say they want a moratorium. But if they thought through the consequences, they probably would ask what McCann and Felts should be asking: 1) Is there really a lack of infrastructure for what exists and to accommodate additional homebuilding?

2) What are the consequences of a moratorium? And, 3) What are options beside a moratorium?

■ #1: Lack of infrastructure.

McCann cites the flooding that occurred after Hurricane Debby, making it sound as if flooding is a constant problem in Lakewood Ranch. Debby was a once-in-500years occurrence. What’s more, we quoted 25- and 30-year residents of Lakewood Ranch who said Debby was the one and only time they have seen floods in Lakewood Ranch.

And, if McCann had ventured to visit with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO Rex Jensen and his staff, he would learn that Lakewood Ranch has gone far beyond what is required with its roads, drainage and sewers. Flooding is not a major issue.

■ #2: The consequences of a moratorium.

First, can anyone think of the upside benefits to a construction moratorium? Sure, residents

One tyrant for another?

T

here’s a saying about American elections. After the votes are counted, all we have done is swapped one set of tyrants for another.

That comes to mind after seeing how the pendulum has swung on the Manatee County Commission.

Oh, the poor taxpayers. It’s going to be another long four years.

When the 2024 votes were counted, Manatee taxpayers ousted the aggressive, arch-conservative, limited-government, pro-business, sometimes tyrannical Kevin Van Ostenbridge from District 3, and in exchange, chose an unknown populist, Robert McCann from District 5.

Granted, it’s early to put McCann in a behavioral box. But after observing his presentations at the past two commission meetings, you get the sense he sees himself as the “I’m pretty smart” Big Shot legislator. It’s like watching on C-Span a puffed-up U.S. senator bloviating at a Senate confirmation hearing.

Watch the video of his 20-minute ramblings at the Jan. 28 County Commission meeting (YouTube. com/Watch?V=V6WLSoOqYjc).

Take note of attitude and tone.

This was McCann’s big moment.

He was to explain his calling for a residential building moratorium in his district, which encompasses all of the Manatee portion of Lakewood Ranch.

“That’s my district,” McCann began, pounding his stack of papers on his desktop, as a map was projected on the commission monitors.

Throughout his remarks, he

File photo

Commissioner Robert McCann

repeatedly pounds his papers. It’s either a tick or an attempt to send the Al Haig message that he is in power and the smartest and cleverest person in the room — or, at least on the dais.

“Get comfortable,” he began.

“Bring your boat. We got a guy who can help you park it.” What?

A pause, and then he goes on.

“Everybody knows that I am humble, lovable and gun shy.” (Was that a joke? Not from the look on his face.) “I need to start speaking up.

Don’t get much press, so I’ll start writing my own Substack. Because I want to be twice as good as anybody else who is out there, I think I’ll call it ‘For lack of a fourth.’”

What is McCann talking about?

His glib quips fell flat. No one laughed. Then more …

“I’m going to answer questions today: Why? Can I get support?

What is a moratorium? I’ll get there in a roundabout way. OK, if you don’t want a roundabout, all you gotta do is call Rex Jensen and the red shirts, and they’ll change it to

who have their homes and don’t want any more near them would be thrilled to stop construction. But watch out what you wish for.

They would quickly learn the consequences of a moratorium affect everyone — negatively.

No construction equals loss of jobs (contractors, trades, building suppliers; every place where all those workers and their families spend their weekly earnings).

No residential construction means higher housing prices.

Limit supply in the face of growing demand, that’s Econ 101. There already is a shortage of workforce housing; stopping construction would make a bad situation worse.

Home prices would rise not only in Lakewood Ranch. They would increase all over. Contracting supply always drives up prices.

What’s more, if McCann thinks there are too many cars on the roads now, what does he think will happen when the employees of Lakewood Ranch businesses can find affordable housing only in Parrish, Duette or Wauchula? They’ll crowd the roads even more.

This defies logic as well: to shut off Manatee County government’s taxpaying money tree. Take a look at the accompanying box summarizing the fiscal impact of Lakewood Ranch. It makes no sense to halt success.

Halting success is also damaging to future success. Capital flows where it is welcome. When politicians impose moratoria and more restrictions and regulations that interfere with a market-driven economy, investors, business owners, corporations and developers go elsewhere. It takes years to wipe away a bad, anti-growth reputation. Just ask the founders of the Argus Foundation in Sarasota County.

Argus came about in 1982 to defeat a referendum in Sarasota County calling for a construction moratorium. Business leaders and owners coalesced and educated voters on the damage a moratorium would cause. Voters rejected

the moratorium. But for 20 years thereafter, Sarasota County had a widespread reputation as one of the worst places in Florida to deal with county government on development issues and business climate.

In that vein, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and Manatee Chamber of Commerce should speak forcefully against any moratoria. While their message may sound self-serving and selfish, surely the other five county commissioners recognize the importance of a vibrant local economy and how population growth fuels a healthy economy.

What’s done is done. Call it poor political leadership in the past. So learn from it. The charge for the new Manatee County Commission is to determine the best path forward and not halt success.

That path is not a moratorium.

And it’s not demonizing Lakewood Ranch or the region’s homebuilders.

There are better options. Commissioner George Kruse voiced a few options at the Jan. 28 meeting — full impact fees; a supermajority vote for any comprehensive land changes. Likewise, Pat Neal, CEO/ owner of Neal Communities, is ready to present multiple options that are far from the destructiveness of a moratorium — privatepublic road partnerships, half-cent sales tax and state appropriations.

In spite of the accusation, Manatee County is not suffering from “overdevelopment.” It’s growing, and that’s wonderful. Population growth is essential to the flourishing of prosperity.

What’s more, population growth will not stop. This is Florida, a growth state for 100 years. So prepare for it, commissioners. Your job is like that of the owners of a fastgrowing business whose demand for your products is outstripping your ability to supply them.

Raise the capital you need; charge rational prices for your goods and services and speed up production.

Growth is good. Moratoria are bad.

a street light for you.” (Pounds his papers.) “But these roundabouts are now going to go up. We’ve got 16 of them coming up. That’s great.”

No laughs.

Later: “Lakewood Ranch. I don’t know much about that, but looking at the name. After Debby, I found the lake. After Milton, I found the wood. I still can’t find the ranch.” …

“SMR has won many awards for development, but no awards for flooded homes, traffic congestion, bankrupt individuals or ruined dreams.”

And on and on. It was as painful as watching a young comedian bomb on his debut.

More than halfway into his riff, McCann gets around to the subject of moratorium.

“The builders want to build houses. They want to put those houses in before we have roads, before we have stormwater drains, before we even have the river cleaned out.

“Rex Jensen said, ‘I would really like to avoid a moratorium.’ If he is serious about coming to the table and working out what we can do together, I am going to send him an engraved invitation. He knows where the office is; so does Pat Neal; so does Carlos Beruff.

“I’d like to see all of them. I’d like to start this dialogue. They had this dialogue in Palm Beach, and they avoided a moratorium.”

By the end of his lecture, McCann issued another snarky invitation: “I hope Rex Jensen is listening. I would like you to come to my office.

I’ll have my aide contact you. And if we can actually get a good dialogue, that would be fantastic. If you want to trade insults, we can do that too.”

We are recounting all of this to illustrate the opening point — trading one tyrant for another and what

happens when people impressed with themselves get power.

Who is the servant here? Who is serving whom?

McCann repeatedly says he ran a “people-first” campaign. He makes the claim — unsubstantiated with proven data — that the 41,700 people who voted for him all want a building moratorium.

But with his remarks, McCann clearly distinguished and established a we-they confrontation when he said Jensen, Neal and Beruff know where his office is and wants them to come to his office.

And, what is this? “If you want to trade insults, we can do that too.”

What a great way to set the stage.

If McCann sees himself as a public servant for the people, he owes everyone equal respect. Jensen, Neal and Beruff are no different than any of the other District 5 voters and constituents.

Rather than immediately cast them as enemies, create confrontation and grandstand on the commission dais with a jerk attitude, McCann could have ingratiated himself with all voters and with Jensen, Neal and Beruff by being a learner. Before dropping his moratorium grenade in early January, McCann could have and should have been the one to go to them.

Be the public servant who goes to constituents to learn and understand their perspectives and possible alternatives; talk to economists and others to understand the potential consequences of a moratorium.

Power always corrupts. Instead, an effective public servant works to collaborate … To bring people together, not tear them apart. An effective public servant is an exemplar of humility.

“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

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

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Hurricane costs drain emergency fund While the costs of recovery may continue to grow, staff will pursue insurance and federal claims to be reimbursed for them.

BY THE NUMBERS

A breakdown of some of the key numbers to date: $5.3 MILLION Estimated total fund impact of hurricanes on the town’s budget, including to the General Fund, Tennis Fund, Streets Capital Fund, Beach Capital Fund, Building Fund and Utility Capital Fund. $2.6 MILLION Spent on debris removal so far. Of that total, $1.2 million has already been billed, but invoices related to Milton were delayed. The total expense of islandwide debris removal is still to be determined.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

A

s the town of Longboat Key continues to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, town finance staff required commissioners to approve some budget amendments related to hurricane response.

At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Feb. 3 meeting, commissioners approved the budget amendments and received a hurricane-related financial update from Finance Director Sue Smith.

Overall, the total impact on the town’s various funds totals $5,327,978, which includes $1,887,522 in open purchase orders.

The full cost of debris removal is still to be determined, but current estimates are around $2.6 million.

Most of the town’s $1.8 million in open purchase orders are for debris removal, with invoices from Hurricane Milton still to come.

Some expenses are still to be determined, such as repairing damages to the town’s parks and recreation facilities.

“The parks and properties in our open spaces, specifically our boardwalk systems, took a lot of damage,” Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said. “The $2 million (estimate) is looking like a very real order of magnitude.”

To address emergency expenditures in the event of hurricanes, the town has a contingency budget and a natural disaster reserve.

The contingency budget, which started at $250,000, was left with $115,086 after the Feb. 3 budget amendments.

Then there’s the disaster reserve, which town staff aims to have saved up to 60 days’ worth of expenses, or

$2 MILLION In damages quoted for town parks and recreation facilities. According to town staff, none of the repairs requires immediate response. The quoted damage includes repairs or replacements for Public Works infrastructure such as boardwalks, beach access areas, fencing, town docks and boat lifts. $764,000 Requested to address the town’s lift station electrical panels, including replacing the electrical panels at some of the lift stations, cleaning, debris removal and replacing other components of the lift stations.

Photos by Carter Weinhofer

Following the hurricanes, a lot near Jungle Queen Way was used as a collection site for the town’s debris contractors.

about $3,738,000.

After a budget amendment in December 2024 to account for hurricane expenditures, $2,961,000 was depleted from the emergency fund balance.

Now, after the recent budget amendment for $300,000, the emergency reserves are left with $477,000, or about eight days of expenditures.

The town still has two other emergency reserves, one for unassigned

“The parks and properties in our open spaces, specifically our boardwalk systems, took a lot of damage.”

— Isaac Brownman, Assistant Town Manager

purposes and another for economic uncertainty, each about $3.7 million.

These budget amendments allow the town’s finance department to move funds from reserves or other funds to be used to pay the purchase orders or expenditures related to the hurricanes.

The town can then apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Category A and B claims, which cover debris removal and emergency protective measures, respectively. Category G claims for parks, recreation and other facilities could help with the beach and parks.

“We’re not taking into consideration any insurance that might come in and the FEMA reimbursements, because we just don’t know when that will happen,” Smith said.

Depending on the category of the claim and when it is declared, the town could receive between 75% to 100% reimbursement for some of the hurricane-related expenditures mentioned in these budget lines.

$498,320 Requested to be moved from the Building Fund to account for overtime wages, professional services and other equipment used by the Planning, Zoning and Building Department for hurricane response. This includes the need to hire supplemental staffing and about $175,000 in overtime wages. $100,000 For repairs or adjustments to 41 streetlights along Gulf of Mexico Drive and 76 in the neighborhoods that Public Works identified after the hurricanes.

UP TO $20 MILLION In lost sand as a result of Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The town will pursue Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance in future beach nourishment projects to replenish the lost sand.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Big changes on tap for SRQ Concourse B The new Concourse A at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport offers enhanced options for passenger comfort, but big upgrades are also underway for the original gate areas.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

W

ith Patrick’s, Anna Maria Oyster Bar and Peet’s Coffee located in the new Concourse A, SarasotaBradenton International Airport provides passengers an upgraded culinary experience as they await their departures.

That’s great, but what about Concourse B where, for decades, the food and beverage offerings could be described as pedestrian at best?

By the end of the year, all that will change. SRQ is in the midst of wholesale upgrades aimed at bringing a variety of local favorites and new flavors. New vendors in Concourse B will be Mattison’s restaurant, a Motorworks Brewing bar, a renovated Starbucks, a Wahlburgers restaurant and Salty Key Bar. The Jimmy John’s sandwich shop, which SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo confirms is the highestgrossing location in the country, will remain.

All the work is scheduled to be completed, in phases, by the next high season. It can’t happen all at once, Piccolo said, as prudence dictates a graduated approach to maintain a level of service that the flying public demands.

“There will be some inconvenience for passengers for a while as areas get closed off, get redone and then reopen,” Piccolo said. “The goal, though, is at the end, you’ll

have a lot more choices, a lot more variety and we’ll be able to serve our customers much better because we realized, as we grew so fast, we just didn’t have enough concessions and people are waiting in line and taking a long time.”

Taking a tour of Concourse B from the security checkpoint, already completed is Seaside Market, a graband-go space that replaces the CNBC Shop, where buildout is underway for Mattison’s. That is expected to be completed in about 18 weeks. Across from Seaside Market is a temporary bar in the center of the concourse, which will be replaced by Motorworks between gates B4 and B6.

Continuing down the concourse, the Starbucks location is boarded up while it is renovated, and for now has moved to a kiosk in the center walkway nearby. Next to Starbucks, the new Wahlburgers will replace what is now the Tap and Pour restaurant and bar. Across the walkway, Huey Magoo’s Chicken will replace the Kona Bar. Finally, at the end of the concourse where gates B9-B14 are located, will be the Salty Key bar, replacing the Dunkin’ kiosk and a grab-and-go kiosk.

Some of the new establishments will encroach on space currently used for gate seating, but Piccolo said with a million annual passengers now using Concourse A, which is fully leased by Allegiant Air, it will ease crowding in the gate areas. And with the new bars and restaurants, there will be some better places to sit and wait for boarding.

“All of this will be done over the next six or seven months,” Piccolo said. “By the time we get to the heavy season of next winter, this should all be in place, functioning very well, and people will have a lot more choices, a lot more convenience, and that should make things much better for our passengers.”

By 2026, Piccolo said, SRQ anticipates surpassing five million passen-

Andrew Warfield

The Kona Bar in Concourse B at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will be replaced by Huey Magoo’s Chicken.

gers, having served just more than four million in 2024. Gate seats lost to the new additions will be eventually be regained by “bump-outs,” which will expand the gate areas.

Changes also are coming to the main terminal area. The Dewar’s Clubhouse restaurant and bar has been downsized, and work on a new Suncoast Bar in a portion of that space has begun. The remainder of that area wrapping around the fountain will be reconfigured into smaller shops.

Because the current airport facilities were built prior to the installation of TSA checkpoints, the prior location of the larger restaurant space, most recently the Dewar’s Clubhouse, was placed at the terminal at the time when passengers were permitted to move freely between the gate and terminal areas.

“It’s oversized pre-security and undersized post-security because when the terminal was built, that security stuff didn’t exist,” Piccolo

said. “That’s part of what we need to correct, to make it smaller pre-security, because there’s not that level of demand there, and more robust post-security because that’s where the demand is.”

MASTER CONCESSIONAIRES PAY THE TAB

The total investment in the changes in Concourse B and the main terminal will be $15 million to $16 million, but not at the expense of the airport.

Those costs are borne by the master concessionaires, who bid for the right to do business at the airport.

They take all the financial risks, contract with the restaurants, bars and retailers and pay the airport a negotiated portion of the revenues.

Host Marriott was the previous master concessionaire serving the airport; that contract is expiring. The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority selected two new concessionaires, SSP America and Paradies Lagardére, to operate there for the

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next dozen years.

“It just so happened that as we are going through this massive expansion, the contracts with our master concessionaires were expiring, so we put out a request for proposals for new agreements,” Piccolo said.

“The reason we go to master concessionaires is then we have one entity to deal with, and in this case, we have two. If there’s an issue, we only deal with the master concessionaire, not with every little entity, so it’s much more efficient for us from that standpoint.”

The caveat, Piccolo added, was that the new concessionaires focus on bringing in local purveyors of food and drink rather than offering the generic operations typical of the past.

“We wanted to be sure to bring some local businesses with recognizable names for our customers to enjoy, and then maybe they will go visit them while they are staying here,” he added.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

THANK YOU TO OUR

13A

Top 25

THANK YOU TO OUR TOP 25 AND ALL OF OUR GLOBAL ADVISORS IN THE SARASOTA REGION FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL 2024.

Top Sales Team

$

7.6

BILLION

TOTAL SALES VOLUME 2024

Top Sales Individual Judie Berger Team 941.928.3424

Laughlin-Tanner Group 941.662.4299

Gloria Bracciano 941.229.4000

Katy McBrayer-Lynch & Montana Taplinger 941.400.2406

Moriah Taliaferro & Valerie Green 941.504.9910

Charles Totonis Team 941.524.8299

Fernando Viteri 941.400.7676

Laura Stavola 941.447.4875

Currey Group 941.587.1776

Mike Warm 941.525.2740

Debi Cohoon 941.877.2550

Frank Lambert Team 941.920.1501

Hedge Team 941.587.6660

Lisa Napolitano 941.993.0025

Roberta Tengerdy & Carolyn Collins 941.321.2292

Michael Seamon 941.586.1802

Nathan Mathers 941.720.0408

Thomas Netzel and Team 941.539.0633

Laura Pearson 941.993.5167

Martha Pike 941.716.4392

Valerie Dall’Acqua 941.445.7295

Jaci Krawtschenko & Jennifer Garrabrandt 941.284.3789

Lori Carey & Leslie DuFrense 941.780.3427

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PEOPLE

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OVER 40 PREMIER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY LOCATIONS

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Make

A Plan.

File Photo

An online survey will be available for residents to complete from Feb. 10-28.

Citizens Survey coming soon The annual survey allows residents to provide input about town priorities and guide the commission’s next strategic planning cycle.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

T

he town of Longboat Key’s annual Citizens Survey is starting soon.

Residents can expect letters about the survey popping into mailboxes around Feb. 6-8. On the letters will be a link to the online survey with an individual access code.

The online survey will be available for residents to complete from Feb. 10-28. The responses to the survey are entirely confidential, and the survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

“The survey is a major contributor of ideas of priorities from the residents,” Mayor Ken Schneier said.

In the survey are a variety of questions about town issues in different formats like multiple choice, checkboxes and open-ended.

The open-ended questions in particular typically generate good discussion and ideas. Schneier said all the commissioners read the sur-

It Makes a Difference.

vey results to some degree, and he makes it a point to take a careful look through the open-ended responses.

Schneier said the results of the survey sometimes show that one person’s voice can make a difference.

“You don’t need 30 people to say something for it to become a good idea. There may be one or three people … and it rings a bell, and it leads to some action,” Schneier said.

The results of the survey are then compiled in a report and made publicly available on April 2 before the Town Commission discusses them at the April 7 meeting.

On April 7, the commission will also hold a goals and objectives workshop prior to the regular meeting. The workshop gives citizens and stakeholder groups an opportunity to present what they feel are town priorities to the commission.

All of this data is collected and then discussed by the commissioners at the annual strategic planning retreat on April 21.

The survey results and discussions from the goals and objectives workshop help to guide the commission’s discussion at the planning retreat, Schneier said.

The priorities laid out by commissioners from the retreat are then incorporated into the upcoming fiscal year budget.

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

15A

1925 2025

A Century of Care, A Future of Hope In 1925, the people of Sarasota County came together to open a new hospital — their only hospital.

With just 32 beds, it was named simply Sarasota Hospital.

One hundred years later, we have grown into something extraordinary: a healthcare system with two full-service hospitals, a Level II Trauma Center, a renowned cancer institute, comprehensive rehabilitation services, a dedicated behavioral health pavilion, and a vast network of outpatient and physician services. Today, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System stands as an award-winning symbol of excellence, recognized nationwide and respected worldwide.

While our name and reach have expanded, our mission remains steadfast. The promise endures: to safeguard our community’s health, to be there for our neighbors in times of need, and to carry forward the trust that has defined us for a century.

Because at our core, we are still a community hospital. And some things will never change.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

copenhagen imports Presidents Day Sale

STOREWIDE

Big Z Band is the first act set to perform in a three-part concert series for the public.

Courtesy images

Three-part Chamber concert series planned for spring

save save save

Big Z Band kicks off Savor the Sounds concert series March 1 at the Town Center Green.

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or those seeking a break from the business of a new year, Longboat Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kim Verreault has just the ticket.

The three-part concert series begins March 1 with a performance

by Big Z Band. The Dr. Dave Band then plays on March 15, and Easy Street Band is slated to take the stage on April 19.

Big Z Band bills itself as able to tackle nearly every genre of music, from country to jazz to reggae to classic rock and beyond. The Dr. Dave Band says it specializes in “kick-grass country rock.”

“All of this music is good dance music,” Verreault said.

She said the chamber wanted to work with presenting sponsor Bank of America to bring community members several evenings of relax-

ation and fun.

Individual general admission tickets are $25, or up to eight guests can enjoy a sophisticated VIP table together for $250.

Those wanting a table must register in advance and should note that a limited number of VIP spots are available.

Attendees are welcome to bring their own blankets, lawn chairs, snacks, picnic baskets and beverages, though food trucks will be selling food nearby.

Verreault said she hopes concertgoers enjoy “the opportunity to get together in a casual, fun setting, where people have the opportunity to be with one another in a joyous social setting.”

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. at the Town Center Green Karon Family Pavilion, and the performances run from 5:30-8 p.m. each night. Verreault encourages attendees to get there early to enjoy surprise opening performances by artists yet to be announced.

She noted that refunds will not be available if there is poor weather.

Contact the chamber online, at 383-2466 or in person at the office to register or ask questions.

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

17A

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER 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. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rosewood Residences Lido Key is owned and being developed, offered and sold by WSR—Lido Beach, LLC (“Developer”). The project is not owned, developed or sold by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, L.L.C. or any of its affiliates (“Rosewood”). Developer uses the Rosewood marks pursuant to a license agreement with Rosewood, which may be terminated under certain conditions. Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. The Ronto Group®. Rosewood Hotels and Resorts®.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

COPS CORNER

FOR THE FLORIDA LOOK! SCAN for a Peek at our Showroom!

FRIDAY, JAN. 24 HEADS UP 5:30 p.m., 600 block of Bay Isles Parkway Property Damage: Officers responded to a citizen assist call after a cyclist allegedly ran into a gate pole. At the scene, officers met with a security guard who said a cyclist was not paying attention and ran into the downed gate arm.

The security guard said the man was not injured and had since left the scene, but provided the officer with the name of the cyclist. There was no damage to the gate, but the security guard said he needed the incident documented by the police.

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EXTREMELY PAST DUE 10:27 a.m., 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Vehicle Stop: While on patrol, an officer received a hit from the license plate reader for a vehicle with an expired registration. The officer located the vehicle and stopped it, then advised the driver of the reason for the stop. The driver said he was not the registered owner of the vehicle but also admitted his out-of-state license expired last year and he did not have his wallet on him. He was also unable to provide any insurance or registration information.

The officer checked the driver’s information in the database, which showed his driver’s license had expired in 2006 and he had a possible warrant. The database also stated the man should be considered armed and dangerous with violent tendencies, so the officer requested backup.

Backup arrived, and officers received notification from dispatch that the warrant was in-state only.

The officers issued the driver a criminal citation with a court date for driving with an expired license

over six months, and let him off with warnings for the other information he failed to produce. A passenger in the car took control of the vehicle because the driver legally had not been allowed to drive since 2006.

PANTS PROBLEM 3:30 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway Disturbance: Longboat Key officers were dispatched to a reported verbal disturbance. The officers met with the manager of a dry cleaning service who said a man started a verbal argument about two pairs of pants that were allegedly lost. According to the manager, he gave the man a check for one pair of pants, but the second pair was found and returned to the man. The business policy, though, states they are not responsible for lost articles of clothing.

The owner of the pants became irate, according to the report, and demanded they pay for his second pair of pants or he would refuse to leave. The man also said the second pair of pants the business found were not his original pair. The officers reminded the owner of the pants of the business’ policy and ad-

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER 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, square footage and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. This is a limited time offer. Developer may withdraw offering at any time. Coldwell Banker® is a registered licensed trademark. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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18A

ELECT

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

TUESDAY, JAN. 28

MUSIC MUTED 9:22 p.m., 600 block of St. Judes Drive Noise Disturbance: Dispatch sent an officer to investigate a noise complaint in the area. The complainant said he heard loud music coming from a specific address, but the responding officer was unable to hear music from the mentioned residence. The officer spoke to the complainant, who said the music was loud, but he could no longer hear the music and he no longer found it annoying. Before leaving the scene, the officer spoke with the musical resident and advised him to keep the music down, an order with which he complied.

THURSDAY, JAN. 30

PROFANE PLUMBERS 9:47 a.m., 700 block of Bayport Way Civil Disturbance: An officer was dispatched to the scene of a civil disturbance between a plumber and a resident who refused to pay an invoice. According to the plumber, the company previously provided a diagnosis of a cracked pipe to the resident and he was on scene to repair the pipe in the morning. But when he arrived, there was a different plumbing company completing the work, and the resident said he no longer needed assistance from the original plumber. When the plumber told the

resident he still had a $524 invoice to be paid, the resident refused to pay it.

The responding officer told the plumber he could pursue this in small claims court, but the plumber was unsatisfied with the answer.

The plumber’s supervisor called and spoke to the officer, became agitated and said the resident should be arrested if he did not pay the invoice. A Longboat Key sergeant then arrived on the scene and spoke to the supervisor over the phone.

The plumbing supervisor proceeded to call the officer a profane name and said the officers were not doing their jobs. It was again relayed to the plumbers that the matter would have to go through small claims court.

The resident said he never heard back from the plumbing service after the first visit, and he assumed they did not want the job. He also claimed he never signed a contract or agreement with the original plumbing service concerning the invoice. Both were advised this matter no longer required police assistance.

STEVE BRANHAM Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) For Longboat Key Town Commission At Large – Seat 1

Proven Servant-Leader

• Retired Admiral US Coast Guard • CFO - US Coast Guard - $10B Budget, Strong Planning Experience • Led a Force of 11,000 As Regional Operational Commander • Led Local/Regional Service Organizations, Non-Profits

Steve Branham

Proven, experienced leader in previous diverse roles:

o Retired from the US Coast Guard o Senior executive in Disaster Response Management o Chairman, Town of Longboat Key Consolidated Retirement System o President, Board of Suncoast Blood Centers o Real estate advisor for the prestigious Premier Sotheby’s International Realty o President, Longboat Key Kiwanis Club o Longboat Key Garden Club Board - 10 years o Longboat Key Foundation Board

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vised him this was a civil matter, not criminal. The man was also advised it was in his best interest to leave the business to avoid further incident.

He left with two pairs of pants and the check to buy a new pair.

19A

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Trash cleanup makes treasure DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

A

lexandra Lowe-Mains, one of the organizers behind the weekend’s community cleanup of Gulf of Mexico Drive, said the Herculean effort was meant not only to clear the physical debris left behind by recent hurricanes but also to get rid of the reminders of the damage wrought by the storms.

“People are just eager to get the island back to what it was prior to the storms,” she said. “Obviously, storm recovery takes a lot of time, but trash never stops.”

Lowe-Mains, co-owner of SeaMonkey Apparel, said the approximately 100 citizen volunteers collected just shy of 500 bags in a matter of hours, nearly filling a 40-yard dumpster.

It was an all-hands-on-deck

effort, with Longboat Key Public Works taking on the task of picking up garbage bags along the way.

She and Vilia Johnson, who originally approached the town with the idea for the cleanup, were overjoyed with a turnout that exceeded all their expectations.

“This has evolved into not just a storm debris cleanup effort, but a ‘let’s put the island back and beautify it’,” Lowe-Mains added. “There’s never a bad time for a cleanup.”

Volunteers included year-round residents and part-timers aiming to give back to their community.

Also joining the town’s effort were Rotary Club of Longboat Key, Suncoast Aqua Ventures, AMI Cabanas, SRQ Strong, Florida Department of Transportation and Keep Manatee Beautiful.

They all met at Longboat Island Chapel at 9 a.m. to gather their safety vests and trash grabbers, then

Chris Moneuse works among the mangroves to carefully remove storm debris.

divided into seven work zones, starting at the end of North Shore Road and ending at Overlook Park.

New Public Works Director Charlie Mopps, who did his part driving a mini dumpster to various groups, said three of his staff members volunteered their time to help that day.

“We’re part of the community,” he said. “This is our working family and the town that we support.”

He shared that the department has heard the praises community members have offered clean-up crews that were out right after the trio of storms passed and appreciated their support.

Volunteers Belinda Bauer and Pete Haselhorst said they were especially glad to help reduce the amount of glass shards along the road, considering they routinely walk their dog nearby.

Many attendees said they were simply happy to help Longboat Key continue on its healing journey. Though not all the debris could be cleared in a single afternoon, they worked diligently to delicately detangle trash from mangroves, rake the roadside patches of earth and uncover some interesting items— including an abandoned miniature cart, a fishing pole, clothing hangers, a computer mouse and a photo album.

Students Lina Whyte and Hayden Dolan were the ones who found the album and turned it over to LoweMains in the hopes it could be returned to the owner.

They said the afternoon was a winwin, for it earned them community service hours for school and provided a meaningful way to give back.

Jennifer Hoffman, executive director of Keep Manatee Beautiful, said their members knew it was just as important to support Longboat Key residents as anywhere else in Manatee County, and they were glad

WORSHIP

Photos by Dana Kampa

Lina Whyte and Hayden Dolan, two young volunteers in the community cleanup, found a picture album among the roadside debris.

Mike Smith, Alexandra Lowe-Mains, Anthony Moreno, Vilia Johnson and Jennifer Hoffman celebrate a successful cleanup.

to come out in full force to support the recovery.

“There is something called hurricane fatigue, where it brings down everybody’s souls because it takes so long,” she said. “You get a lot of energy in the beginning and you’re going out and doing things, but then the longer it lasts, the more you feel it. One of the low-hanging fruits is going out and picking up the trash

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

An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956

directory

along the roads so that when you’re driving back and forth, it is just the beautiful area that you’re used to. It helps bring people’s spirits back up.”

The group holds regular cleanups on the first Saturdays and Tuesdays of the month, with the next scheduled for March 1 at Taylor Park, 308 Seventh St. W., Palmetto. For the full calendar, visit ManateeBeautiful.com.

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

438104-1

Community members joined a large-scale volunteer effort to clean Gulf of Mexico Drive from remaining storm debris.

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

The Lord’s Warehouse is open Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

YOU ARE WELCOME AT ALL ANGELS

Worship With Us at Our Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM

Worship Service Sunday 10 a.m.

Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor

Live Stream the 10 a.m. service at AllAngelsLBK.org Harp Concert a musical journey from the romantics to today Wednesday, Feb 12th at 3 pm.

Free-will offering taken at the door

Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00 Women’s Bible Study: Wednesday @ 10:00 Watch Our 10:00 AM Service Live: www.bit.ly/cclbksermons or www.christchurchof lbk.org (follow YouTube link)

WINTER CONCERT SERIES

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

CONCERTS ARE FREE • VISITORS & RESIDENTS WELCOME

Catholic Church

SUNDAY • FEBRUARY 16, 2025 • 2:00 PM

Would like to Welcome & Invite You, Your Family Members & Friends to Celebrate Mass with Our Parish Community MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, and 10:30 AM Daily Mass at 9:00 AM; Rosary at 8:30 AM Monday - Friday 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily following Mass.

VALENTINES CONCERT featuring

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The highly acclaimed Astralis Chamber Ensemble presents over sixty recitals each season at venues across the eastern United States. The husband and wife duo, Angela Massey (flute) and Kris Marshall (trumpet), have been performing together for over a decade and are one of the most active ensembles for this pairing worldwide.

Caroline Owen will be joining them on piano to present a brilliant program of Romantic works for Valentine’s Day.

Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-383-1255 • www.stmarylbk.org

Rev. Robert Dziedziak, Pastor

6400 Gulf of Mexico Dr. • 941.383.8833 (office) • www.christchurchof lbk.org

To learn more about our Temple and all our educational, cultural, and social programs, please call us. We’d be delighted to talk with you.

Questions? Email us at info@longboatkeytemple.org 567 Bay Isles Rd, Longboat Key, FL

941-383-3428

longboatkeytemple.org

438169-1

You are invited to join us in worship, song & friendship at Shabbat services every Sharing Values, Friendship, and Faith Friday evening at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am.

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The concert, “Fantaisie d’Amour,” will include an audience favorite written for the ensemble by Andrey Rubtsov, a French Suite by Widor, and an exciting trio by Jim Stephenson. Please join us for what will be a memorable afternoon of music enchantment.

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AllAngelsLBK.org

563 Bay Isles Rd • 941-383-8161

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

21A

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

AY WE P

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1560 HARBOUR SOUND DRIVE

$4,295,000

This impeccably updated waterfront residence in the prestigious Bay Isles Harbor neighborhood offers a seamless blend of luxury and coastal charm. Spanning over 4,200 square feet, the interior welcomes you with spectacular bay views through walls of impact glass.

Boaters will appreciate the 100+feet of water frontage, extended dock and multiple lifts. www.1560HarborSound.com

B U YE R’ S

$9,995,000

50 CENTRAL AVENUE #17PHC

TO

TO

655 LONGBOAT CLUB ROAD #14A

258 GOLDEN GATE POINT #801

1300 BEN FRANKLIN DRIVE #504

1714 IRVING STREET

$4,700,000

$4,495,000

$4,195,000

$3,995,000

TO

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In Sarasota’s “West of Trail” neighborhood, this exquisitely updated 4BR home combines timeless charm with modern luxury. www.1714IrvingStreet.com

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This Ritz-Carlton, 3BR +den & office residence comes complete with 3,550 SF of interior, plus 2 garage parking spaces. www.BeachResidences504.com

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Move right into this 3BR furnished, direct Gulf-front residence in the rarely-available Regent Place community. www.RegentPlace14A.com

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A rare opportunity to craft a luxurious retreat. Spanning over 11/2 acres, this expansive corner Sanderling Club parcel boasts more than 500’ of water frontage on two sides. www.1249SouthBasinLane.com

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$15,000,000

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6603 GULFSIDE ROAD

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CA L L TO DAY FO R YO U R EXC LU S I VE TO U R ( 9 41 ) 3 8 7-1 8 4 0 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F, Sarasota, FL 34236 | Pettingell.com YouTube.com/@PettingellProfessionals | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

440760-1

22A

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Classifieds 20B Games 19B Real Estate 17B Weather 19B

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Aquarist Tammy Nguyen show the Sutton family how to feed the cownose rays.

Dive into D St. Regis’ lagoon

Photos by Dana Kampa

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

Southern stingray gliding in the tank.

sites in the wild. But it also houses two species of rays, the larger southern stingray and the smaller cownose ray, so named for its rounded snout.

“They’re very friendly, and people can actually get in and interact with the rays and feed them,” he said.

The southern stingray are the largest animals in the enclosure, and

aquarists Yvanna Paez Mendez and Tammy Nguyen know them well.

Sarafina likes to shoot water spouts at visitors. Forest has the darkest coloration and a noticeably shorter tail out of the bunch. And they all have personal preferences when it SEE LAGOON, PAGE 2B

437888-1

The lagoon at St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is home to more than 3,000 Florida marine animals, which survived recent hurricanes.

an Conklin, curator of St. Regis Longboat Key Resort’s wildlife lagoon, held up a gloved hand to a crevasse in one of the tank’s reefs.

Cautiously, a spotted drum, with its black-and-white striped body, dotted fins and regal, curved dorsal fin, came out. It grew bolder, dancing around Conklin’s hand, before darting back into its hiding hole.

Conklin, a professional aquarist of 30 years, is responsible for leading the care of the nearly 3,000 Floridian marine animals housed in the Under the Sea Lagoon since it opened in August. The lagoon offers an interactive experience for guests to learn about the area’s unique wildlife. All guests can stroll by the tank’s viewing window and get a close-up look at a sunny school of grunts or the multitude of parrotfish, angelfish, squirrelfish and more.

The most adventurous visitors get the opportunity to hand-feed the rays.

The half-million-gallon lagoon is home to a multitude of fish commonly seen at tropical snorkeling

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Lagoon FROM PAGE 1B

comes to their favorite foods, with some being particularly picky about shell-on shrimp and other treats.

While lagoon staff handle feeding the larger rays to keep a close eye on their diet of shrimp, silverside and squid, guests get to directly feed cownose rays some tasty fish.

The Sutton family took part one recent afternoon, nervous at first to extend the food to the rays but giggling as the animals vacuumed up the treats and splashed about.

Guests Amanda Monin and Jaylin Jones said the experience was unlike any other they’ve had.

“It was awesome,” Monin said. “I loved snorkeling with the fish and stingrays, getting to see them right below you. It was so colorful.”

After feeding the smaller rays, the group could snorkel among the fish and wave through the side panel at other family members.

Conklin said the lagoon is the perfect venue for sharing some of the best of Florida’s natural resources in a way that is accessible and fun for anyone 8 years old and up.

He said the most rewarding part of maintaining this special exhibit is “seeing how excited people are to see the marine life, get up close and learn about it.”

Another unique draw resides in a pen just across from the tank—a pair of Aldabra giant tortoises.

Rose and Jack are about 20 years old and already weigh well over 200 pounds. The species, native to Madagascar and the West Indian Ocean, can grow to 500 pounds and live to about 120.

“They’re a young adult pair, and maybe we’ll have some offspring one day,” Conklin said.

NAVIGATING THE STORM

During a recent visit from the Longboat Key Garden Club, Conklin and St Regis Director of Engineering Christopher Jenkins recounted how team members worked before, during and after the recent hurricanes to ensure the animals’ safety.

“Dan and I were a bit concerned about the storm surge with the

lagoon,” Jenkins told club members.

“We talked about it ahead of time, how to prepare and take care of the people, and how to take care of the resident animals.”

As the threatening weather began rolling in, the resort took preventative measures to protect its facilities, draining the lazy river and adultsonly pool to avoid getting any chlorine in the lagoon.

Staff’s primary concern was that flooding ocean waters would overwhelm the tanks, perhaps drawing the animals out to sea. Though they hoped to avoid it, Jenkins noted that at least all the fish were sourced from the Keys and would ideally survive even in that worst-case scenario.

“Around the edge of the lagoon is rockwork that goes up about 18 inches above the top of the lagoon. At the peak of Hurricane Helene, the storm surge was about 2 inches from going over the rockwork,” Jenkins said, met with gasps from club members.

While waves did lap at the walls of the lagoon, staff said the previously emptied pools luckily provided somewhat of a barrier to the rest of the resort’s buildings. Though cleaning all the sand, mulch and other debris was no small undertaking, they were glad to avoid any more serious damage.

Jenkins told the club the resort’s main building is built to withstand 145 mph winds and is fairly elevated on the Key. But regardless of the resort’s ability to combat storms such as Hurricane Helene, he hopes they won’t be dealing with such storms too frequently.

Conklin said the most challenging aspect of getting through the storm was “the worry about what was going to happen, the uncertainty.”

“We did have high water here, but most of the animals stayed in the

“We talked about it ahead of time, how to prepare and take care of the people, and how to take care of the resident animals.” ­ Christopher Jenkins, — St Regis Director of Engineering

Dana Kampa

lagoon, and it was fine,” he added.

There were a few close calls, but staff stood nearby with nets to prevent escape attempts.

“Dan and I were out there in calfdeep water with nets,” Jenkins added. “There were a few rays that tried to make their way out, but we were able to get ahold of them and get them back to a safe area.”

As for Rose and Jack, they took refuge in the resort parking lot farther away, ready to retreat further if necessary.

Even after the storm passed, the danger hadn’t fully abated. Lagoon experts feared that ocean-borne pathogens could affect the animals in the days after the flooding. But luckily, the animals didn’t seem to suffer any side effects, Conklin said, and they are back to representing Florida’s fauna to tourists.

One question Conklin frequently gets is if he has a favorite animal at the lagoon. While the queen angelfish takes the cake with its fluorescent teal and yellow coloration, and the trio of porcupine pufferfish — Simon, Alvin and Theodore — draw

plenty of attention because of their unique build, he said the hogfish are some of the most playful and interesting to train.

Knowing the animals’ habits, likes and dislikes is an important part of maintaining such a large ecosystem, and Conklin appreciates playing a central role in getting the tanks running, even with the storms and other challenges thrown at the resort since its opening. Other resorts may offer luxury services akin to the St. Regis, but none have this exact experience, he said.

As part of its youth outreach, the resort started a “Reef Rangers” program. Kids get to learn all about identifying the 40 different species of fish, feeding the tortoises and other outdoor activities.

Access to the lagoon is currently geared toward guests, according to Lorna Kirwan, director of sales and marketing, with day passes not yet available. However, memberships for outdoor activities are available.

Full details about the experience are available on StRegisLongboatKeyResort.ipoolside.com.

The half-million-gallon tank holds about 40 different species of fish.

Be Part of an Extraordinary Tradition At The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, every moment is an invitation to embrace life’s exquisite rituals in an atmosphere of timeless elegance and exclusivity.

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2B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

3B

#1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM Michael Saunders & Company OVER $588MM SOLD SINCE 2007

BENCH MBAER KHRMEASU AT EGIC I NG Z ED NC R K LTS R E S U •LTSST• R ST R AT EGIC M M AARR KK ETET ING • P E •R SPER O NASONA L I Z E D SLEIRV I C E SERV ICE E! U L VA T EA GR

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250 SANDS | OFFERED AT $499,000 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR IPOINT V E, #4RD #5105 2067 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L onThis g b o afirst t Kfloor e y | walkdown O f f e re d 1a tbedroom $ 7 79, 0with 0 0 views of Longboat L on g bClub’s o a t KGolf e y | Course O f f e reisdnow a t $available 7 79, 0 0for 0 Key MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487 under $500K! This unit is not in the hotel program but can be rented out by owner or 3rd party

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

7 H A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

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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

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

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

on g b o at K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0SANCTUARY ON L on g b o at K e y KEY | O f f ere d at $ 7 79, 0 0 0 THE LONGBOAT MLS# MLS# A4178487 545 SANCTUARY DR #B406 | 2067 OFFERED $1,975,000 2067 HA4178487 A R BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 H A RAT BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4 L on g b o a t K eExperience y | O f f e reluxury d a t $beachfront 7 79, 0 0 0 living in this 3 bed/2.5 L on gbath b o aoasis t K e behind y | O f fthe e regates d a tof$ 7 79, 0 0 0 the Longboat Key Club.

Enjoy big bay, city and golf course green views from MLS# A4178487 MLS# A4178487the

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4552067 LONGBOAT RD #504 | $4,150,000 H A RCLUB BOUR LINKS DR I V E, #4

L on g b o a t K e y | O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 MLS# A4178487 B U CL Y KE T OA B NG O L

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L on g bPOINT o a t K eRD y | #6103 O f f e re d a t $ 7 79, 0 0 0 225 SANDS | $625,000 MLS# A4178487

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Y BA

4B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Women’s Guild launches new scholarship program Among other activities kicking off the year, the Women’s Guild welcomed dozens of new members.

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

T

he St. Mary, Star of the Sea Women’s Guild is hitting the ground running this year, welcoming 25 new members at its newcomers event on Jan. 30 and making plans to give back to students, among other activities.

President Kay Kochenderfer was proud to announce the group is starting a scholarship fund, an ongoing project she hopes will benefit young community members for years to come.

“It’s designed to be a legacy endowment for the guild,” she said.

“We have something that we’ve created that will go on to future generations.”

The scholarship is intended for students attending a Catholic school within the diocese. But other than that requirement, Kochenderfer said they wanted to leave the criteria fairly wide open to students of various fields and ages.

“We intentionally wanted to give as much flexibility as possible so it will go to people who actually need it the most,” she said.

The guild plans to distribute the scholarships on an annual basis,

contributing an initial $10,000. She said an anonymous donor also plans to match up to $5,000 for funds donated before the end of May. Checks can be made to the name of the scholarship fund and either put in the offertory basket at regular Mass or brought to the parish office.

Questions can be directed to KKochenderfer@mac.com or 862-1540.

ART SHOW UPCOMING

Attendees also made plans for the upcoming “Art for the Heart” showcase, where members may enjoy the art of guild church members — and potentially take some home through the raffle.

New this year, the showcase takes place 1 p.m. Feb. 11 at Father Edward Pick Parish Hall.

Art Avenue Sarasota President Paul Sykes is scheduled to speak, providing insight into artist Frank Hopper and the mural he painted for the church.

RSVP to Linda Olsen by email at Pistol57@gmail.com or text 941544-6938.

Kochenderfer said plenty more is to come from the guild, including a service day, fashion show and rummage sale.

She said she was delighted to see so many people turn out for the meeting.

“Every year, we keep getting more and more people,” she said. “There’s a real fellowship that develops.”

The full calendar of events is available at StMaryLBK.org/WomensGuild.

Photos by Dana Kampa

Susan Gilmore-Clarke catches up with fellow Women’s Guild members.

Father Michael Guarino shares memories of his mother’s participation in the Women’s Guild.

Mary Del Pup, Kay Kochenderfer and Lyn Kennelly

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

5B

REAL ESTATE BY REAL EXPERTS JUST LISTED

JUST LISTED

NEW PRICE

REGENT PLACE • $4,495,000 675 LONGBOAT CLUB RD., #22A • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR+DEN/4BA • 3,654 SF • Beachfront w/walkdown

GRAND BAY • $1,595,000 3060 GRAND BAY BLVD. #113 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/3.5BA • 2,550 SF • Two Expansive terraces

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • $5,000,000 596 YAWL LANE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL 5BR/5.5BA • 7,374 SF • 275’ of Seawall • Large lot

NEW PRICE

NEW PRICE

THE MARK • $1,399,000 111 S. PINEAPPLE AVE., #1004 SARASOTA, FL 2BR/2.5BA • 1,513 SF •City views

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • $2,490,000 597 CUTTER LANE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/2BA • 1,963 SF • 103’ of Waterfront

NEW PRICE

SUTTON PLACE • $399,000 569 SUTTON PLACE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/2BA • 1,198 SF • Furnished

NOW PENDING

NEW PRICE

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS • $1,295,000 603 LONGBOAT CLUB RD., #903N LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,458 SF • Gulf & Bay views

PROMENADE • $2,250,000 BEACHPLACE III • $775,000 1211 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #401 1065 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #104 LONGBOAT KEY, FL LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/3BA • 2,100 SF • Gulf & Bay views 2BR/2BA • 1,503 SF • Private walk-down

ISLANDER CLUB • $649,000 2301 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #25N LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,235 SF • Furnished

ISLANDER CLUB • $799,000 2301 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #85N LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,235 SF

FAIRWAY BAY • $675,000 1932 HARBOURSIDE DR., #242 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2.5BA • 1,192 SF • Bay views

NEW PRICE

WEST OF TRAIL • $2,490,000 1886 PROSPECT STREET SARASOTA, FL 4BR/4BA • 3,444 SF • Built in 2016

NEW PRICE

COREY’S LANDING • $2,800,000 3444 MISTLETOE LANE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 4BR/3.5BA • 2,836 SF • Upgraded

BAYPORT BEACH & TENNIS CLUB • $949,000 LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS • $1,595,000 603 LONGBOAT CLUB RD., #1102N 520 BAYPORT WAY LONGBOAT KEY, FL LONGBOAT KEY, FL 2BR/2BA • 1,458 SF • Gulf & Bay views 2BR/2BA • 1,456 SF • Gulf to Bay

JUST SOLD

JUST SOLD

BIRD KEY • $3,150,000 526 N. SPOONBILL DRIVE SARASOTA, FL 3BR/2BA • 2,762 SF • Waterfront

COREYS LANDING • $2,800,000 3542 MISTLETOE LANE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 4BR/3.5BA • 3,396 SF • Renovated

JUST SOLD

QUEENS HARBOUR • $2,395,000 3596 FAIR OAKS LANE LONGBOAT KEY, FL 4BR/3BA/2HB • 13,416 SF • Remodeled

BRUCE MYER GROUP

• OVER $130 MILLION SOLD - 2024 • RANKED #2 COLDWELL BANKER SMALL TEAM IN THE NATION • TOP 1.5% OF ALL REALTORS IN THE NATION • TOP FLORIDA 100 REALTOR - COLDWELL BANKER

Learn more at www.BruceMyer.com

CHASE MYER (941) 315-5318

BRUCE MYER (941) 376-5311

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

432589-1

This material is based upon information that we consider to be reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such.

The offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes, including price, or withdrawal without notice.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

439361-1

6B

941.924.4481 | 4453 Ashton Road, Unit C, Sarasota, FL 34233 | www.B2END.com

Dana Kampa

Val Evanko, Joyce Mazurek and Dona Petruccelli run the counter at the Lord’s Warehouse reopening.

Lord’s Warehouse reopens to community acclaim

Member SIPC Member SIPC

The Lord’s Warehouse, badly damaged by last year’s hurricanes, fully reopened for the season this weekend.

Member SIPC

Start year with a a Member SIPC Startthe the year with financial review.

Start the year withaa financial review.

Start the year with Let's talk review. about your options. financial financial review.

Let's talk about your options.

K Johnson, CFP , CPWA , CEPA Let's talkMichelle about youroptions. options.

Let's talk about your ®

Financial Advisor

®

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

®

Michelle K Johnson, CFP , CPWA , CEPA ®

® ® ®, CPWA ® ® Michelle Johnson, CFP , CEPA 595 Bay Isles Rd Ste 260CFP Michelle KKJohnson, , CPWA®, CEPA

®

941-263-7821 595 BayRdRd Isles Rd 595 Bay Ste 595 BayIsles Isles Ste260 260Ste 260 Longboat Key, 34228 Longboat Key,FLFL 34228 Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-263-7821 941-263-7821

941-263-7821

> edwardjones.com

MKT-5894P-A AECSPAD

TURNING

Dreams

your

E

lbow-to-elbow crowds milled among the goods offered at the grand reopening of The Lord’s Warehouse on Feb. 1, where nary a trace of Hurricane Helene’s devastation remained.

The high-end thrift store has several rooms filled with donated art, glassware, clothing and more, with even more racks of clothes outside when the weather allows.

The shop is run by the Longboat

Island life begins here.

NEW LISTING 3% Buyer Broker Compensation

into an ADDRESS

3310 Sabal Cove, Longboat Key | MLS#A4634589

1055 Gulf of Mexico Drive #504

1065 Gulf of Mexico Drive #104

$1,525,000

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2BD/2BA/1,503 SqFt Garden View, Southern Exposure

NEW LISTING

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1641 Harbor Cay Ln., Longboat Key MLS#A4636529

721 Old Compass Rd., Longboat Key MLS#A4638118

NEW LISTING 3% Buyer Broker Compensation

NEW LISTING 3% Buyer Broker Compensation

2383 Harbour Oaks Drive, Longboat Key 3465 Winding Oaks Drive, Longboat Key MLS#A4609474 MLS#A4635798 NEW LISTING 3% Buyer Broker Compensation

$488,000

2195 Harbourside Drive, Longboat Key MLS#A4635715

141 Adams Drive, Longboat Key MLS#A4635347

2BD | 2BA | 1,503 SqFt Beachfront, Updated Kitchen, 24 Hour Guard Gated Entrance $1,475,000

Ready to Buy or SELL?

Living and Working on Longboat Key

Maggie Hicks, Coldwell Banker maggiehicks201@gmail.com 941.321.1759

Julie Klick REALTOR®, MBA 941.780.6001

Maggie has been a realtor for 30+ years and focuses on luxury residential real estate in South Florida.

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 595 Bay Isle Road, Ste 250 • Longboat Key, FL 34228

julieklick@ michaelsaunders.com

Beverly St. Hilaire

REALTOR®, GRI, CLHMS 818.416.2505 beverlysthilaire@ michaelsaunders.com

441010-1

2BD | 2BA | 1,108* SqFt Light, Bright & Ready For Your Personal Touch

NEW LISTING 3% Buyer Broker Compensation

1045 Gulf of Mexico Dr. #403

750 Tamiami Trail #504

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Key Chapel, and proceeds go toward supporting community members in need of assistance.

Organizers were thrilled to have a line out the door.

“We expected a big crowd, and it met our expectations for sure,” Val Evanko said. “This is a hot spot of Longboat Key, and we’ve been closed for months, and we’re so happy to be back.”

She said it makes her, the volunteers and the wider community happy to have the warehouse back in business.

She encouraged people to “come, donate and shop.”

Community members can drop off donations on the front porch to be sorted, Monday through Friday at the northeast corner of the chapel in the marked storage area.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

7B

WATER

on the

Reid MuRphy PResents

LONGBOAT KEY GULFFRONT

LONGBOAT KEY BAYFRONT

LONGBOAT KEY WATER CLUB

$

8,900,000

$

One acre gated Gulf front estate. 4 BD home has a separate guest house and Gulf front pool. Incredible views of azure Gulf waters, beautiful white sandy beach, abundant wildlife and spectacular sunsets.

6,200,000

$

Rare Opportunity to build waterfront on 200 feet of bay front property. Located in Bayou Hammock near shopping and restaurants. Deep-water direct access to Sarasota Bay. Walking distance to white sand Gulf beach.

Spectacular Gulf front 3rd floor 3BD/4BA Brighton floor plan the south building of the sensational Gulf front Water Club complex on south Longboat Key. Private elevator to open floorplan & sensational views.

2,195,000

LONGBOAT KEY L’AMBIENCE

LONGBOAT KEY LONGBEACH VILLAGE

LONGBOAT KEY PROMENADE

$

4,595,000

$

DIRECT BEACH FRONT WALKOUT 3BD / 4BA completely redone. Rarely available floor plan w/ front & back terraces. Stunning views. L’ Ambiance amenities include 24 hour guard gate, concierge, plus. two Har-Tru tennis courts.

3,495,000

$

New construction 3BD/ 3BA waterfront home in historic Longbeach village. Corner lot w/ greenspace, water views, boat launch & beach access. 4 car garage or storage.

Behind the gates, beautifully updated 6th floor 2BD / 2BA open plan. Breathtaking sunset and bay views. Resort-style living w/ 400’ of beachfront.

1,895,000

PENDING

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

4,825,000

Newly renovated 5BD/5BA w/elevator and high-end finishes. Breathtaking Sarasota Bay and ICW views. 10,000lb boat lift, 3 car garage & more.

Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach - 8BD/7BA: North Shore, Anna Maria - 5BD/6BA: Avenue A, Bradenton Beach - 8BD/9BA: 72nd St., Holmes Beach - 4BD/7BA:

15,000,000 $ 6,500,000 $ 6,500,000 $ 3,600,000

$

LONGBOAT KEY DREAM ISLAND ROAD

3,595,000

$

Double lot on a wide canal that is 1.06 acres with 200 ft of waterfront. Update the current 4BD/3BA retreat or build a new waterfront home, or possibly two canal front homes. Great tranquil location.

LONGBOAT KEY NORTH

LONGBOAT KEY SLEEPY LAGOON

$

2,900,000

$

$

Great opportunity to build on a private cul-de-sac with private sandy beach access to Gulf of Mexico.

Boater’s Dream. Gated 1/2+ acre lushly landscaped on wide canal. 3BR/2BA across the street from the beach w/new dock & seawall.

Exceptional opportunity to remodel 2BD/2BA or create your own retreat. New seawall, large dock, w/ 2 lifts + space for additional watercraft. Easy access to Gulf & Bay.

2,695,000

LONGBOAT KEY EMERALD HARBOR

2,495,000

LONGBOAT KEY GULFSIDE NORTH

LONGBOAT KEY WIDE CANAL

ANNA MARIA ISLAND

$

1,995,000

$

Opportunity to build a beachfront retreat or your dream home on a quiet, private street for the best in coastal living.

1,995,000

Great opportunity to build or remodel 4BD / 2BA corner canal lot. Direct bay and ICW access. Deeded beach directly accross the street.

72nd St., Holmes Beach - 4BD/7BA North Shore, Anna Maria - 5BD/6BA Avenue A, Bradenton Beach - 8BD/9BA: Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach - 8BD/7BA

BUYING OR SELLING

CALL REID

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for a successful real estate experience!

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

2025 Specials

20% off Bottles of Wine Daily Restaurant and Deli Best Brunch on Longboat Key $12 Double Mimosa $10 Bloody Mary Happy Hour 3-6, Drink Specials Nightly Dinner Specials

Upcoming Events

438904-1

Harry’s Caymus Wine Dinner Thursday, February 6th, 2025

Dana Kampa

Wendy Peck examines a necklace at the end of the first day of the New to You art sale.

Harry’s Deli

Valentine’s Day Special Three Course Dinner TOGO

View our Menu Reservations Suggested

Pick up at Harry’s Take-Out Deli Please order 48 Hours in advance.

Available for Pick Up February 13th & 14th

Breakfast | Brunch | Lunch | Dinner | Catering | Gourmet Deli & Bakery | Corner Store

www.HarrysKitchen.com • 5600 Gulf of Mexico Drive • 941-383-0777

THE SUPREME GOLF SWING PROBLEM

Community members turned out in droves for first day of All Angels by the Sea ‘New to You’ art sale.

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8565 Cooper Creek Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34201 ( I-75/University Pkwy Exit)

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ALL INDOORS • RESERVATIONS NOT REQUIRED

Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch Hampton Inn & Suites Wednesday, February 12th @ 10am or 2pm

5th annual fundraising art sale kicks off strong reasure hunters exceeded expectations for the first day of the “New to You” art sale hosted

by All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, event runners said.

Nancy Boyd, who aided the last few community members with their final purchases Monday evening, said the kickoff was a roaring success.

“It was wonderful,” she said.

Community members took an interest in all manner of art and decor, but particularly the Florida nature-themed paintings.

Boyd said one shopper was excited to take home a painting of an egret as a soon-to-be birthday present, but she was careful not to disclose any details to avoid spoiling the surprise.

The fundraising focus this year is Turning Points, which provides support for Manatee County families and individuals facing homelessness.

Boyd attributed part of the success to All Angels’ ever-growing relationship with its next-door neighbor, Temple Beth Israel.

Besides contributing donated art for the sale, members volunteered to help staff the sale tables. Boyd thanked everyone in the community for their support and offered a reminder that new donations come in every day, meaning freshly replenished tables and exciting new treasures to find.

This sale continues through Feb. 27.

The gallery is open at the church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays. It will also be open for special hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 and noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 23.

For inquiries about the sale or how to donate, call 941-383-8161.

JEFF RHINELANDER JEFF RHINELANDER 941-685-3590 | jef f@jef frhinelander.com 941-685-3590 | jef f@jef frhinelander.com

Join our

941-893-7203 | cour tney.tarantino@floridamoves.com

BIRD KEY

BIRD KEY

Are you an innovative self-starter? Are you persuasive, energetic and focused? Do you build strong relationships?

605 Wild Turkey Lane, Sarasota 3BR/2.5BA • 2,200 SF • $2,090,000

419 CIRCLE, SARASOTA $600,000 7298PARTRIDGE BELLEISLE GLEN, LAKEWOOD RANCH 4BR/3BA 2,229 SF• •Open $2,495,000 2BD/2BA ••1,608 Sq.Ft. Concept $600,000

We are looking for an experienced candidate to sell our complete media offerings including print, digital and niche publications to local businesses in the Sarasota/Manatee markets. Top candidates will have a proven track record of overcoming obstacles and achieving goals.

BIRD KEY - NOW BIRD KEY SOLD

Outside Sales Professional

We are an innovative, growing company offering competitive compensation with the opportunity to grow into six-figure earnings. The plan includes base, commission and bonus opportunities.

The Sky’s the Limit at OMG.

COUNTRY CLUB EAST

BIRD KEY 453 EAST ROYAL FLAMINGO DRIVE, SARASOTA BIRD KEY 453 EAST ROYAL FLAMINGO DRIVE, SARASOTA $8,495,000 KEY 453 EAST ROYALBIRD FLAMINGO DRIVE, SARASOTA $8,495,000 5BD/6BA • 4,500 Sq.Ft. • Pre-Construction 453 EAST ROYAL FLAMINGO $8,495,000 DRIVE, SARASOTA 5BD/6BA • 4,500 Sq.Ft. • Pre-Construction Canal Front Property$8,495,000 • Stunning Views of the Water 5BD/6BA • 4,500 Sq.Ft. • Pre-Construction Canal Front Property • Stunning Views of the Water 5BD/6BA • 4,500•Sq.Ft. • Pre-Construction Canal Front Property Stunning Views of the Water Canal Front Property • Stunning Views of the Water

PENDING PENDING

Be part of our success and growth!

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Please send resume to: pnowicki@yourobserver.com

• Supreme Style •2BD/2BA Meticulously Maintained & Updated • Picturesque Views • 1,608 Sq.Ft. • Open Concept • Supreme Style • Meticulously Maintained & Updated • Picturesque Views

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES COUNTRY CLUB EAST

CLUB EAST 7298COUNTRY BELLEISLE GLEN, LAKEWOOD RANCH 7298 BELLEISLE GLEN, LAKEWOOD RANCH $600,000 $600,000 2BD/2BA • 1,608 Sq.Ft. • Open Concept

2BD/2BA 1,608 Sq.Ft. Maintained • Open Concept Supreme Style ••Meticulously & Updated Supreme Style • Picturesque MeticulouslyViews Maintained & Updated Picturesque Views

TIMBERLAKES

410 MEADOW LARK DRIVE, SARASOTA 4BR/2.5BA • 3,257 SF • $3,550,000

4583TIMBERLAKES TRAILS DRIVE, SARASOTA $668,000 4583 TRAILS DRIVE,LONGBOAT SARASOTA 585 GUNWALE LANE, KEY 3BD/2BA • 2,092 Sq.Ft. • Timeless Design & Comfort $668,000

3BR/3.5BA • OPEN WATER • $5,995,000 Versatile Den/Office Tropical Backyard 3BD/2BA • 2,092 Sq.Ft.••Lush, Timeless Design & Comfort Versatile Den/Office • Lush, Tropical Backyard

BIRD KEY - PENDING

Join the Observer Media Group Team!

7298COUNTRY BELLEISLE GLEN, LAKEWOOD RANCH CLUB EAST

DOWNTOWN COUNTRY CLUB SHORES DOWNTOWN 505 ORANGE AVE, #401, SHORES SARASOTA COUNTRY CLUB 585 SGUNWALE LN, LONGBOAT KEY 505 S ORANGE AVE, #401, SARASOTA

$2,215,000 585 GUNWALE LN, LONGBOAT KEY $5,995,000 $2,215,000 3BD/3.5BA 3BD/3.5BA • 3,003 Sq.ft.

• Elegance MeetsWater Modern Comfort •$5,995,000 4,733 SF • Open

250 ROBIN DRIVE, LONGBOAT KEY 3BD/3.5BA • 3,003 Sq.ft.

•The Elegance Meets Modern Comfort •Breathtaking Private Foyer • Set Desirable Burns Court Area 3BD/3.5BA • 4,733 SF••Large Open Water City & In Bay Views Boat Dockage •&2,548 SF ••$1,900,000 •Breathtaking Private3BR/3BA FoyerCity • Set In The Desirable Burns Area Bay Views Large BoatCourt Dockage

LIDO KEY - PENDING

BIRD KEY BIRD KEY

BIRD 410 MEADOW LARKKEY DRIVE, SARASOTA 410MEADOW MEADOW LARK BIRD KEY $3,895,000 410 LARKDRIVE, DRIVE,SARASOTA SARASOTA $3,895,000 410 MEADOW LARK DRIVE, SARASOTALiving $3,895,000 4BD/2.5BA • 3,257 Sq.Ft. • Waterfront 4BD/2.5BA • 3,257 Sq.Ft. • Waterfront Living • Open-Concept Floor Plan $3,895,000 1800 BEN FRANKLIN DR.Floor #B507, 4BD/2.5BA • 3,257 Sq.Ft. • Waterfront Living Open-Concept PlanSARASOTA

LB Boat Lift• Open-Concept Floor Plan 4BD/2.5BA • 3,257 Sq.Ft. •16,000 Living 3BR/3BA • Waterfront 1,980 SF • $2,200,000 Open-Concept Floor 16,000 Boat LiftPlan 16,000 LB LB Boat Lift

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Siesta Key

Country Club Shores

9B

Aria

$25,000 Bonus through March 31, 2025 with Broker’s Approval – Plus the Seller will pay 3% Commission to Buyer’s Agent!

3500 Bayou Louise Lane - $10,000,000 5 Beds | 5.5 Baths | 6,300 sq. ft.

3500BayouLouise.com

521 Wedge Lane - $1,948,000 3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,758 sq. ft.

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2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive #204 - $7,999,000 3 Beds | 3.5 Baths | 4,032 sq. ft.

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Regency House

Sanctuary

Tangerine Bay Club

435 S. Gulfstream Ave #1004 - $1,128,000 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,829 sq. ft.

RegencyHouse1004.com

575 Sanctuary Drive #A303 - $1,949,000 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 1,823 sq. ft.

SanctuaryA303.com

350 Gulf of Mexico Drive #211 - $1,078,000 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 2,394 sq. ft.

Tangerine211.com

Gulf Front Estate

L’Ambiance

Water Club

5941 Gulf of Mexico Drive - $8,800,000 Lot Size 100 x 465 sq. ft.

5941GulfOfMexicoDr.com

415 L’Ambiance Drive #A401 - $5,890,000 415 L’Ambiance Drive #A801 - $7,500,000 LAmbianceA401.com - LAmbianceA801.com

1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive #105 - $2,575,000 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 2,585 sq. ft. | FURNISHED WaterClub105.com

L’Elegance

Promenade

Emerald Harbor

1800 Ben Franklin Drive #A403 - $949,000 2 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,350 sq. ft. | Furnished LElegance403.com

1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive #211 - $2,300,000 3 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,273 sq. ft.

Promenade211.com

6011 Emerald Harbour Drive - $2,495,000 3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,929 sq. ft.

6011EmeraldHarborDr.com

100 North Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, FL 34236 | Kepecz@JudyHays.com | www.LongboatKeyLuxury.com

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

10B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

VISIT OUR NEW

SHOWROOM & DESIGN CENTER

to CUSTOM-ize your outdoor furniture.

Dana Kampa

New official Kiwanis Club members are Mike Frashier, Jeff Hawks, Bo Fuller, Danielle Gladding and Nick Gladding.

Kiwanis welcomes new members

WHY PAY MORE WHEN YOU CAN BUY THE DIRECT MANUFACTURER

from

QUALITY

Kiwanis Club members held their first monthly meeting of 2025, making plans for pancake socials and more.

OPEN to the PUBL IC

DANA KAMPA

OUTDOOR FURNITURE HIGH END LOOK & QUALITY AT WHOLESALE PRICING

STAFF WRITER

A

s a longtime restaurateur, Longboat Key Kiwanis Club President Michael Garey was particularly excited about the location of the first monthly meeting of the year.

Café on St. Armands recently held its official reopening on Jan. 21, and Garey commended the owners for the work they put into the remodel, despite the hurdles caused by Hurricane Helene. He also shared stories of his own time at the restaurant, formerly known as Café L’Europe.

He offered a brief history of the 100-year-old building, which formerly served as John Ringling’s real estate office. Just by happenstance,

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he met someone who was walking their dog one evening 20 years ago, and the man shared the building’s unknown tidbit of history.

After he and then-owner Titus Letschert did some digging and discovered two aerial photos of St. Armands Circle from the 1920s that helped prove it true.

The building also had a history as an inn, a grocery store and, eventually, the beloved restaurant.

“There are so many stories to tell,” Garey added.

The meeting also offered an opportunity for the club to welcome its five newest official members.

Garey noted the club has also had a strong history of retaining members.

Members will certainly be busy this year, especially as they make plans for its popular pancake fundraiser.

Steve Branham, candidate for an at-large seat with the Longboat Key Town Commission, also introduced himself to club members, touting his own experience as a past Kiwanis president.

Named one of Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams The Cornerstone Capital Group At Morgan Stanley Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams, 2024

If you would like to learn more about our team please visit our website or: Join us at our office Mondays at

9:30am for an Outlook on the Market and latest thinking from the Morgan Stanley Global Investment Committee.

Please RSVP to Amanda Lewis by calling 941-364-3549 or email Amanda.R.Lewis@morganstanley.com.

Susan Tomlinson Wilson

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Family Wealth Advisor Alternative Investments Director Financial Advisor

2 North Tamiami Trail, Ste 1100 Sarasota, FL 34236

Website: advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-cornerstone-capital-group

Thomas Bardwell, CFP®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Senior Porfolio Management Director Family Wealth Advisor Financial Advisor

T. Michael Osterman

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Financial Planning Specialist Financial Advisor

Rylan K. Lanham

Financial Advisor Financial Planning Specialist

Susan A. Knight

Sr. Registered Associate Financial Planning Specialist

Adrienne Lambers

Sr. Registered Client Associate

Amanda Lewis

Client Service Associate

Left to Right: Rylan Lanham, Adrienne Lambers, Mike Osterman, Tom Bardwell, Susan Wilson, Susan Knight, Amanda Lewis

Source: Forbes.com (Jan 2024) 2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams ranking awarded in 2024. This ranking was determined based on an evaluation process conducted by SHOOK Research LLC (the research company) in partnership with Forbes (the publisher) for the period from 3/31/22–3/31/23. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors paid a fee to SHOOK Research LLC, for placement on its rankings.

This ranking is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each Financial Advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC, and may not be representative of any one client’s experience; investors must carefully choose the right Financial Advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. This ranking is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not affiliated with SHOOK Research LLC or Forbes. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

© 2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC6240443 3/24

421749-1

CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S.

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

11B

1212 CENTER PLACE | Lido Shores | $6,995,000 – New Construction | 5 Beds | 6 Baths | 4,750 Sq. Ft. Steps to Private Beach Community | Ready for Occupancy | Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

You’ve dreamed of building your own custom island home for years, but the idea of dedicating three years to making that dream a reality can feel overwhelming. Seaward Homes has the solution: 1212 Center Place in Lido Shores.

This custom-designed home, just steps from your private beach access, is now available. Built by Sarasota’s premier home builder, Seaward Homes, this property is part of our exclusive Seaward Curated Collection. We take pride in delivering a very limited number of custom homes each year, ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet, West of the Trail and on the Sarasota islands.. Our business model focuses on delivering fewer homes while maintaining the highest quality. A reputation we’ve built over the past 30 years.

We use only the finest materials, collaborate with top consultants and trades, and leverage the latest technologies to ensure every detail of each project is a success. Our Seaward Curated homes feature elevated first-floor designs, superior concrete structural elements, and glass systems that often exceed code requirements-ensuring beauty, strength, and durability. Additionally, we offer clients construction schedules, open-book pricing, and a dedicated full-time project manager for added peace of mind. May we assist you with your new build?

• 5 bedrooms | 6 bathrooms | 2-car oversized garage

• Large designer format 24x48 porcelain tile

• Exciting 1,100 sq ft rooftop terrace with views of Sarasota Bay

• Designer quartzite stone countertops in the kitchen

nearly 5,000 sq ft

the Gulf of Mexico, and the Ringling Bridge

• Concrete and block masonry

• Thermador commercial appliance package

• Large second floor family room and dry bar, perfect for guests • Yoga room or art studio

• Cucine Ricci custom fabricated Italian cabinets throughout • Designer Hansgrohe plumbing fixtures

• High quality hurricane safety glass throughout • First floor master suite

• European hardwood floors on the second floor

• Custom Lutron lighting package by Wicked Smart Homes • AV package including home security, shade prewire, and security cameras

• Dramatic 2-story great room

• Summer kitchen with stainless steel appliances

• 10’ tall glass sliding doors

• Gorgeous pool, with waterfall feature and built-in spa

• Custom steel floating staircase • 8’ solid interior doors with Emtek hardware

T H E

• Tim Borden tropical landscape package with shellstone exteriors

Seaward Homes would love to talk to you

G R O U P

941.323.0033

Sarasota’s Fine Home Builder

440525-1

about building your Dream Home.

12B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

REAL ESTATE... REAL PARADISE

Florida Highwaymen painter Harold Newton’s “Cows on the River Bank” is on display at Selby Gardens through Sept. 15.

FAIRWAY BAY I • $1,175,000 1904 Harbourside Drive, Unit 204 • Longboat Key, FL 34228 3 bd•3 ba•2,300 sq ft • Beautiful Remodel MLS#A4632715

Courtesy image

Highwaymen event comes to Longboat The Education Center is hosting a special showing of works by the 22 famous Highwaymen artists this week.

SANCTUARY II • $2,650,000 565 Sanctuary Drive, Unit A203 • Longboat Key, FL 34228 3 bd•3 ba•2,375 sq ft • Exquisite remodel, golf course & beach views MLS#A4630438

DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER

T

he now-celebrated Highwaymen artists are known for their vibrant, brash and evocative depictions of Florida’s key waterways in the 1950s to 1990s, and the public will have an opportunity to see those works free in person at a temporary showing.

The Education Center is showing the works of 22 artists from Feb. 10-16 as a tribute to Black History Month.

The featured artists include Al Black, Alfred Hair, Charles “Chico” Wheeler, Curtis Arnett, Ellis Buckner, George Buckner, Harold Newton, Hezekiah Baker, Issac Knight, James Gibson, John Maynor, Johnny Daniels, Lemuel Newton, Livingston “Castro” Roberts, Mary Ann Carroll, Roy McLendon, Robert Lewis, Rodney Demps, Sam Newton, Sylvester Wells, Willie Daniels and Horace Foster.

While the Highwaymen artists mostly include men, the showing is set to feature the works of a female artist, Carroll.

As Education Center Program Director Susan Goldfarb explained, the artists garnered their title because they famously sold their

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • $3,750,000 Complete Renovation • 3 bd • 3ba •3,000 sq ft • 2 in from the bay Custom dock & seawall plus extended dock w/firepit over canal MLS#A4634879

BUILD OPPORTUNITY

File photo

paintings from their cars at the roadside at the peak of the nation’s segregation of Black Americans.

She said the artists, “are now regarded as having contributed significantly in the history of art.”

The center is also hosting a lecture

by Kevin Costello, who will speak about the unique features of the paintings, particularly those by Hair and Newton. His talk runs 3-4:30 p.m. and costs $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers.

This showing is made possible through the generosity of an anonymous collector.

The free exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Wanda Renee Mills poses in front of a painting by her mother, Mary Ann Carroll, known as the First Lady of the Florida Highwaymen painters.

Celebrating 50 YEARS of Living and Working on Longboat Key Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • $2,400,000 One in from the Bay • 2 bd - 3 ba - 2,273 sq ft • Renovate or Create Waterfront Dream Home

• Consistent top producer on Longboat Key • In-depth knowledge of the real estate market • Active in our community with Longbeach Village Association Longboat Key Historical Society Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Longboat Key Garden Club

MLS#A4636290

THE LIFESTYLE YOU DESERVE WITH

438134-1

the realtors who deliver THE REALTORS WHO DELIVER

941.724.7228

CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

seitreporp esitrepxe stluser

YRANIDEXTRAORDINARY ROARTXE

DELAVIRNU LANOITPECXE

941.928.3559

UNRIVALED t silaicep S lai tn edis eR defi it reC

e t a i c o s s A - r ek o r B EXCEPTIONAL

9553.829.149

moc.srednuasleahcim@notluoMle ahciM MichaelMoulton@michaelsaunders.com

KATHY CALLAHAN 941.900.8088 kathy@lbkathy.com

440738-1

TODD CALLAHAN 941.224.0624 todd@lbkathy.com LBKathy.com

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440 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

13B

T H E G R O U P

Jules Mackie | Tracey Stetler | Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan | Patrick DiPinto | Rene DiPinto | Steven Moore | Janet Coughlin

Over $150,000,000 Volume in the Past 18 Months We are a collaboration of savvy real estate professionals with decades of local experience. We focus on selling exceptional properties located in downtown and on our local islands. We represent buyers and sellers in our marketplace with a unique viewpoint, as we live in the communities that we sell. This local perspective makes us experts in our field, allowing us to provide you all the information for you and your family to make the best decision in your real estate endeavor.

100’ PRIVATE BEACHFRONT | LONGBOAT KEY $16,995,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 5 Baths 6,614 Sq. Ft.

120’ OPEN BAY FRONT | BIRD KEY $10,995,000 – Under Construction 4 Beds 4.5 Baths 4,750 Sq. Ft.

WEST OF TRAIL BAYFRONT | SARASOTA $9,750,000 – Move in 120 Days 5 Beds 7 Baths 5,328 Sq. Ft.

STEPS TO SANDY BEACH | LIDO SHORES $6,995,000 – Immediate Occupancy 5 Beds 6 Baths 4,750 Sq. Ft.

5444 GULF OF MEXICO DR | LONGBOAT KEY $6,900,000 – Bayfront 1.06 Acres 5 Beds 5 Baths 6,000 Sq. Ft.

3480 BAYOU SOUND | LONGBOAT KEY $4,499,999 - Newly Built Construction 5 Beds 4 Baths 4,000 Sq. Ft. With Deeded Beach Rights

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

Contact: Patrick DiPinto 941-323-0033

Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

PENDING

549 SLOOP LANE | LONGBOAT KEY $3,900,000 - Country Club Shores 4 Beds 5 Baths 4,127 Sq. Ft. Contract: Tracey Stetler 941-266-9001

551 SOUTH POLK DRIVE | LIDO BEACH $3,749,000 - Canal Access & Boat Lift Walk to St. Armands and Lido Beach 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,565 Sq. Ft. Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

3408 FAIR OAKS LANE | LONGBOAT KEY $3,249,000 - Bay Isles 5 Beds 5 Baths 4,510 Sq. Ft. Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, 2/9 1:00PM - 3:00PM

3927 SOMERSET DRIVE | SIESTA KEY $2,325,000 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,758 Sq. Ft. Contact: Jules Mackie 773-704-1438

4844 BRYWILL CIRCLE | SAPPHIRE SHORES $1,699,000 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,672 Sq. Ft. with Casita Contact: Jules Mackie 773-704-1438

3318 BAYOU SOUND | LONGBOAT KEY $1,699,999 Bay Isles 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,675 Sq. Ft. Contact: Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan 941-928-2922

941 - 388 - 2021

53 S PALM AVENUE, SARASOTA, FL 34236

425725-1

WWW.THEDIPINTOGROUP.COM | @THEDIPINTOGROUP

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, country records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. Coldwell Banker. All rights reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker system fully supports the principals of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

14B

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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 Designer Roller Shades Large Square Cassette 2.0 in Birch PowerView® Automation, PowerView® Motorization

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

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS heraldtribune.com

WINNER

941-925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com

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Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989

Janet and Curt Mattson Owners

4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

©2025 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

Valentine’s Day Sale!

UNDER COVERS: Bibs is dealing with a cold night this winter on Longboat Key.

Local, family owned roofing contractor specializing in METAL | SHINGLE | TILE

CCC1334855

That’s right, we started it early!

Our Showroom-wide Sale

on all in stock “Handcrafted” Trees and Arrangements!

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8155 25th Ct. E. Sarasota, FL 34243

Contact us today for a complementary estimate

Visit our Showroom @

941.312.5535

2245 PORTER LAKE DR. SARASOTA, FL 34240

OFFICE@NWRSRQ.COM

Plants & Decor

for yo balcony & lanai!

We are your source for everything yard and garden!

435857-1

Largest selection of plants & flowers Including native, tropical & more.

Family Owned • Beautiful Garden Accessories & Gifts • Pottery & Containers

941.366.4954 • YourFarmandGarden.com 735 South Beneva Rd., Sarasota FL 34232

YourObserver.com

15B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

VALENTINE’S

GIFT GUIDE

THE GIVING TREE GALLERY

5 N Blvd of the Presidents • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-388-1353 • www.thegivingtreegallery.com

Make hearts sparkle with high-design jewelry from awardwinning designers. For over 30 years, The Giving Tree Gallery has offered unique, artful jewelry and home decor on St. Armands Circle. From demi-fine to 18KT fine jewelry, we have pieces for every budget. Experience exceptional customer service in a warm, welcoming atmosphere this Valentine’s Day!

MCCARVER & MOSER

1301 Main St • Sarasota, FL 34236 1601 Gulf of Mexico Dr • Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-387-8000 • www.mccarvermoser.com

BOCA BOUTIQUE

6969 S Tamiami Trl • Sarasota, FL 34231 941-529-1000 www.BocaBoutiqueSRQ.com

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift? Stop in and explore our amazing collection. From chic and unique home decor to gifts, wellness and beauty, you’ll find something for everyone on your list.

Local Artists, apparel, jewelry, pet products, indoor & outdoor furniture and so much more. Open daily: 10-5, Thursday till 6 and Sunday, 12 to 4.

McCarver & Moser Jewelers has sophisticated design collections from around the world. We provide customer service that exceeds expectations with our knowledge, hand crafted designs and a personal concierge team that represents over 115 years of experience. Making our customers happy and beautiful is our passion.

ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR

Find a location near you • www.OysterBar.net/locations

Oysters are for lovers, but lobster and crab are for romantics! Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Anna Maria Oyster Bar with a special seafood experience. At the Pier, enjoy a Snow Crab Boil for two, featuring snow crab, lobster tails, mussels, shrimp, and more. At all other locations, savor Twin Lobster Tails with two sides.

A simple, elegant way to celebrate.

MOLLY’S! A CHIC AND UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

1874 Stickney Point Rd • Sarasota, FL 34231 941-921-1221 • www.MollysSarasota.com

BARTLETT JEWELERS

Your perfect Valentine’s gifts can be found at Molly’s!

Named Best Gift Store in Sarasota for 5 years, you are sure to find something special to give or get for yourself. Beyond gifts, enjoy their large selection of quality shoes, jewelry, apparel and accessories too.

Creekwood Crossing I-75 & SR70 Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6600 • www.BartlettJewelers.com

Bartlett Jewelers, your trusted local jeweler for 52 years, offers a stunning selection of engagement rings, wedding bands, and designer fashion jewelry. With an experienced team to guide you, discover the brilliance of lab-created diamonds, identical to mined diamonds but at a more affordable price. Celebrate your love with the perfect piece for your sweetheart.

SAIL AWAY STUDIO (SAS) COASTAL CHIC BOUTIQUE 6612 Gateway Ave • Sarasota, FL 34231 508-971-4410 www.instagram.com/SailAwayNewport

Come in and find some thing as unique as you are! From Euro, chic, clothing, jewelry and accessories. To fine soaps and house warming gifts and enjoy our superb customer service. You won’t be disappointed! Open Mon 12-5, Tues-Thur 11-5 & Fri-Sat 10-6.

SIRIUS DAY SPA, SALON & MED SPA

11585 E SR70 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-357-4611 • www.SiriusDaySpas.com

The Perfect Gift for Your Valentine, a gift card from the #1 Spa in Lakewood Ranch. Full service hair salon, spa and medical spa featuring state of the art services, 11 treatment rooms (including couples room!), Serenity Lounge, 200+ services including Massages, Facials, Botox, Fillers, Laser Hair Removal, IPL, Morpheus8, Lash Services & More. *Gift cards available at LWR location only.

440386-1

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

LONGBOAT KEY 5919 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 6 Baths 5,596 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4628022 $12,500,000

LONGBOAT KEY 5910 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 4/2 Baths 4,272 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4627997 $7,150,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2151 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 5 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,400 Sq. Ft. Susan Alliano & Sally Fox 941-735-6571 & 941-586-0892 A4615514 $5,288,000

LONGBOAT KEY 415 L Ambiance Drive A701 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,220 Sq. Ft. Mel & Jan Goldsmith 941-356-6673 A4636769 $4,975,000

LONGBOAT KEY 536 Ketch Lane 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,960 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4634879 $3,999,999

LONGBOAT KEY 1581 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 407 1 Bed 2 Baths 1,721 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4627871 $3,770,000

LONGBOAT KEY 598 Lyons Lane 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,659 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4630668 $3,395,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3310 Sabal Cove Lane 4 Beds 4 Baths 4,465 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire 818-416-2505 A4634589 $2,900,000

LONGBOAT KEY 565 Sanctuary Drive A203 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,375 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4633772 $2,650,000

LONGBOAT KEY 548 Ketch Lane 2 Beds 3 Baths 2,273 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4636290 $2,400,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3260 Bayou Road 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,156 Sq. Ft. Maureen Horn 941-539-3384 A4634211 $2,350,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6940 Longboat Drive S 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,550 Sq. Ft. Bill Anderson 941-313-4059 A4627373 $2,250,000

LONGBOAT KEY 740 Old Compass Road 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,586 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4636920 $1,900,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1918 Harbourside Drive 902 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,748 Sq. Ft. Jason Moore 941-735-0028 A4634880 $1,375,000

LIDO KEY 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive 607 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,421 Sq. Ft. Michael Yawitz 941-587-8091 A4590874 $1,040,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 6947 Lennox Place 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,239 Sq. Ft. Barbara A Milian, PA 941-504-0660 A4635272 $1,030,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2383 Harbour Oaks Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,222 Sq. Ft. Beverly St Hilaire 818-416-2505 A4609474 $950,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4900 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 205 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,312 Sq. Ft. Richard Perlman 941-228-8580 A4632746 $795,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3080 Grand Bay Boulevard 515 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,276 Sq. Ft. Ian Addy & Gail Wittig 941-961-8850 A4633466 $789,000

LONGBOAT KEY 3240 Gulf Of Mexico Drive B504 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,260 Sq. Ft. Francoise Borel 941-228-3768 A4634033 $739,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4440 Exeter Drive N106 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,376 Sq. Ft. Michael Nink, Pa 941-914-2805 A4626044 $710,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4350 Chatham Drive E307 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,072 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4613210 $699,000

LONGBOAT KEY 4340 Falmouth Drive D104 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,072 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4629065 $537,000

LONGBOAT KEY 2850 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 2 2 Beds 1 Baths 695 Sq. Ft. Eddie Campbell 941-841-9690 A4626210 $519,000

LONGBOAT KEY 549 Sutton Place T19 2 Beds 1/1 Baths 1,008 Sq. Ft. Malihe Karimi 941-376-5099 A4632946 $395,000

LONGBOAT KEY 1581 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 508 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,017 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4630440 $11,900,000

LONGBOAT KEY 801 Longboat Club Road 5 Beds 5/1 Baths 6,923 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4632774 $11,900,000

LONGBOAT KEY 6161 Gulf Of Mexico Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,224 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-809-0907 A4634003 $11,700,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

440830-1

16B

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

T

wo Bird Key homes on Meadow Lark Drive and S. Owl Drive top the week’s sales.

John Michael Holland and Katherine Holland, of Lake Forest, Illinois, sold their home at 410 Meadow Lark Drive to Bradley and Allison Crate, of Sarasota, for $3.55 million. Built in 1973, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,257 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.4 million in 2024. Mark and Moira Hintsa, of Sarasota, sold their home at 526 S. Owl Drive to Mark and Nancy Logan, of Sarasota, for $3.55 million. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,783 square feet of living area.

Dana Kampa

The home at Meadow Lark Drive, which tied for top listing, sold for $3.55 million.

Christopher and Pattiann Curtin, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 3542 Mistletoe Lane to John and Kristin Fette, of Longboat Key, for $2.8 million. Built in 1991,

SANDS POINT

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

JAN. 20-24

it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,216 square feet of living area.

It sold for $1.45 million in 2016.

EMERALD HARBOR

COREY’S LANDING

Old Compass Inc. sold the home at 710 Old Compass Road to Wesley and Maya Beck, of Lakeland, for $1.45 million. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,821 square feet of living area.

It sold for $307,000 in 1993.

Brian Donahue, of Collierville, Tennessee, sold his Unit 220 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road to Stephen King, trustee, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, for $1,075,000.

Built in 1966, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 1,492 square feet of living area. It sold for $760,000 in 2023.

WINDING OAKS

Edward Webler, trustee, of Evanston, Illinois, sold the Unit 27 condominium at 3453 Winding Oaks Drive to Jeffrey William Hall, of Longboat Key, for $1.05 million.

Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,608 square feet of living area. It sold for $619,500 in 2013.

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

LONGBOAT KEY Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

5581 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Repair - Helene

Wicker Inn LLC

$353,486

6832 Pine Street

Hurricane Damage

Sherry King

$297,600

600 Tarawitt Drive

Building

Snowshoe

$236,397

Alt/Renovation

Properties LLC

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive #F1

Repair - Helene

Steven Stroman

$220,000

Kelleen Burns-Amighi

$220,000

Islander Club

$187,000

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive #N1 Repair - Helene 2295 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Hurricane Damage

HARBOUR OAKS AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB

Victor Cuco and Melissa Rodocker, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 305 condominium at 2211 Harbourside Drive to Mark and April Stratton, of Longboat Key, for $1.04 million.

Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,219 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,036,100 in 2024.

FIRST LONGBOAT HARBOUR

Anthony and Kristy Holland, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 108 condominium at 4350 Chatham Drive to Render and Laura Freeman, of Anna Maria, for $705,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,316 square feet of living area. It sold for $719,000 in 2022.

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

of Longboat

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive #E1

Repair - Helene

Carlyn Vigil

$180,000

669 Halyard Lane

Building - Deck

Christopher

$150,000

McCormick 609 Cutter Lane

REAL ESTATE

Two homes each sold for $3.55 million, topping the week’s sales

17B

Building

Anthony Lucki

Dock/Seawall/Lift

Family Trust

$110,000

4234 Gulf of Mexico Drive #H1 Hurricane Damage

Michael Seamon

$108,180

4720 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Hurricane Damage

Eric Brown

$86,996

510 Golf Links Lane

Mechanical

510 Golf LLC

$72,959

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA SOTA Residences & Hotel | 941.462.3900 | From $1.8M | Visit the Main Street Gallery | thesota.com

DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG 400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $900,000s | Call for an appointment | Residences400central.com

New Construction 3970 Royal Road

Repair - Helene

Edward Principe

$71,000

1 Winslow Place

Building

Silke Brinkman-Bracht

$64,891

James Johnstone

$64,410

Loraine Kaplan Revoc

$55,182

Dock/Seawall/Lift 6031 Emerald Harbor Drive

Building Dock/Seawall/Lift

3251 Bayou Sound

Building Dock/Seawall/Lift

657 Halyard Lane 601 Birdie Lane

Roof - Re-roof

Bruce Ira Goldsen Trust $50,380

Building

Cardwell Hill House Farm $45,149

Dock/Seawall/Lift 3541 Bayou Pointe

Building - Demo

William Erickson Trust

$43,686

6453 Gulfside Road

Building - Demo

Ronald Brown

$43,367

6701 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Hurricane Damage

Tiffany Mauycy

$39,840

560 Harbor Point Road

Building

Christopher Connor

$38,928

Stephen Somers

$38,009 $30,000

GOLDEN GATE POINT En Pointe | 941.685.1598 | enpointesarasota.com | From $2,775,000

LONGBOAT KEY The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

Dock/Seawall/Lift Building Dock/Seawall/Lift 634 Buttonwood Drive

Building - Demo

David L Bishop

680 Longview Drive

Building - Demo

Wilson Living Trust

$25,000

3 Winslow Place

Building - Demo

Stephen Gregory

$24,000

6549 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Building - Demo

Robert Gehl

$22,429

616 Buttonwood Drive

Building - Demo

Gulf Coast Cottage LLC

$18,500

571 Golf Links Lane

Building - Demo

Jennifer Petrie

$17,000

3554 Fair Oaks Lane

Building

Nicholas Gladding

$14,640

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

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

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida

Dock/Seawall/Lift Prices as of November 2023

Source: Town of Longboat Key

440811-1

3550 Fair Oaks Lane

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

EXCEPTIONAL EXCEPTIONAL EXCEPTIONAL VACATION RENTALS RENTALS VACATION VACATION RENTALS

Specializing in Specializing Specializing Longboat Keyininand Lido Key Longboat Key Lido Longboat Keyand andHomes, LidoKey Key Private Vacation Condominiums Private Vacation Homes, and Beachfront Private VacationResorts Homes,Condominiums Condominiums and Beachfront Resorts and Beachfront Resorts

YOUR CALENDAR

18B

941-387-9709 941-387-9709 3720 Gulf of Mexico Drive 941-387-9709 Locally owned and Locally owned managed sinceand 1994 Locally owned managed sinceand 1994 managed since 1994

info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com

438880-1

3720 Gulf Key, of Mexico Drive Longboat FL 34228 3720 GulfKey, of Mexico Drive Longboat FL 34228 info@FLVacationConnection.com Longboat Key, FL 34228

MONDAY, FEB. 10

BIW FASHION SHOW Noon to 2:30 p.m. at Michaels On East Sarasota, 12 Shevat 5785. Temple Beth Israel is holding its annual Beth Israel Women Fashion Show.

Call 383-3428 for further details.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

HIGHWAYMEN LECTURE 3-4:30 p.m. at The Education Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. As part of The Education Center’s public display of the Highwaymen artists, guest lecturer Kevin Costello will speak about the unique features of the paintings, particularly those by Alfred Hair and Harold Newton, with a Q&A to follow.

The cost is $20 for members; $25 for nonmembers.

BEST BET MONDAY, FEB. 10

HIGHWAYMEN WORKS ON DISPLAY 9 a.m. at The Education Center, 567 Bay Isles Road. The center is hosting a free public display of the works of 22 of the iconic Highwaymen artists who depicted landscapes of Florida’s waterways in the 1950s to 1990s. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The final day of the exhibit is Feb. 16.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

KALEIDOSCOPE MUSIC RETURNS 3 p.m. at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road.

The church is hosting its second “kaleidoscope” music evening, featuring “The Peace that Follows” by Dr. R. Michael Daugherty and Tasha Robinson on the harp. Admission is by free-will offering.

Our Expertise Is Dental Implants Personalized, gentle, and comprehensive patient care is our highest priority

RECURRING EVENTS MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS

Why Choose Us?

Call us!

LONGBOAT LIBRARY 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road.

The library has expanded its hours for the season, adding Thursdays throughout February. It will be open all five weekdays starting in March.

Call 383-6493.

Board-certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Dual Degree Licensed Dentists (DMD) & Physicians (MD)

Bone Grafting

Professional & highly trained staff

Dental Implants

Patient centered solutions backed by cutting-edge technology

Teeth in one day IV Anesthesia

NEW LOCATION Venice Office

Wisdom Teeth

(941) 263-7343

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

Hillview Tamiami Office (941) 365-3388

PUMPING THE PRIME 10 a.m. at Bayfront Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Led by Mirabai Holland, classes focus on low-impact cardio and muscle-toning strength exercises.

Recommended that participants can readily lower to and rise from the floor. Cost is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. Email Mirabai@ MovingFree.com or call 956-1466.

Bee Ridge Office (941) 926-9100

MONDAYS

STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This class is mostly seated and great for all fit-

sarasotaoms.com

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS

PILATES SCULPT 9-9:50 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Pilates Sculpt is a combination class mixing traditional Pilates exercises into a fun, challenging workout to upbeat music. It will make you sweat, encourage your body to burn calories and make you stronger and more flexible. This class is for all levels.

Cost is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

YOGA 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Debby Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $20. Call 383-6493.

Feb. 14th and Feb. 15th Seating Times: Early Seating 5-6:30 PM Late Seating 7:30-9 PM

535 Sanctuary Dr Unit C807 | A4628990 Totally Renovated, Penthouse 3/3, 2,580 sq ft, LONGBOAT KEY DIRECT BAY FRONT NEW PRICE $3,150,000

ness levels. The focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance.

Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.

Love is on the menu...

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Arts & Central

GULF & BAY VIEWS NEW PRICE $3,995,000

NEW LISTING DIRECT GULF FRONT $1,650,000

Enjoy a 3-course meal by our executive chef and decadent desserts by celebrity pastry chef, Stephanie Boswell LONGBOAT KEY 3606 Fair Oaks Pl | A4632238 4/3, 3,842 sq ft, New Roof

END UNIT DIRECT BAY VIEWS $849,900

LONGBOAT KEY 826 Bayport Way | A4619094 2/2, 1,676 sq ft, Rent Min 30/12 Times Year

LONGBOAT KEY 2105 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Unit 3303 | A4632024 Totally Renovated, 2/2, 1,463 sq ft

NEW LISTING RENTAL INCOME $799,900

75

$ World-Renowned Pastry Chef

LONGBOAT KEY 4621 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Unit 16B A4632978 2/2, Totally Renovated

Stephanie Boswell at Arts & Central for Valentine’s Day

Dennis Girard

Broker Associate

440733-1

941-809-0041 | dennis.girard@premiersir.com 517 Bay Isles Pkwy Longboat Key, FL 34228 dennisgirard.premiersothebysrealty.com

611 Central Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236

440933-1

425520-1

Five Star Rated

Courtesy image

Visitors viewing the Florida Highwaymen exhibit in Sarasota in the summer of 2024.

941-306-2356 Artsandcentral.com

PER PERSON

Reservations are required via OpenTable under experiences

YourObserver.com

19B

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

FRIDAY, FEB. 7 High: 74 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 9%

Submit your photos at YourObserver. com/Contests.

All submissions will be entered for the 2024-25.

Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2025, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

Thursday, Feb. 6

7:13a

6:16p

Friday, Feb. 7

7:12a

6:16p

Saturday, Feb. 8

7:12a

6:17p

Sunday, Feb. 9

7:11a

6:18p

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

Monday, Feb. 10

7:10a

6:19p

High: 75 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 7%

Tuesday, Feb. 11

7:10a

6:19p

Wednesday, Feb. 12

7:09a

6:20p

MOON PHASES SUNDAY, FEB. 9 High: 76 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 9%

Feb. 12 Full

Feb. 20 Last

Feb. 27 New

March 6 First

TIDES Highs Lows Thursday, Feb. 6

—

5:36p

1:53a

—

Friday, Feb. 7

—

6:46p

3:19a

—

Saturday, Feb. 8

—

8:04p

4:29a

—

Sunday, Feb. 9

—

9:13p

5:22a

—

Monday, Feb. 10

1:20p

10:10p

6:04a

4:40p

Tuesday, Feb. 11

1:21p

10:58p

6:38a

5:35p

Wednesday, Feb. 12

1:21p

11:42p

7:06a

6:22p

Donna Jablonski captured this photo of a golden sunset over Longboat Key.

We have all of your luxury flooring needs carpet | hardwood | tile | stone | pavers | and more

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

LATIN ROOTS by Alan Levin, edited by Taylor Johnson

121 Figure out

51 Building wing

122 Doesn’t play, say

54 “Eww!”

123 Prefix for “center”

57 Give off

DOWN

59 Mail 61 Paradise

1 Pledge

63 Unified

2 “Hold your horses!”

64 A cinephile may collect

3 Glasgow gal

them

4 Michael Scott’s “favorite

65 Tattles

New York pizza joint,” on “The 66 Confronted Office”

67 Tehran native

5 Legal

68 Monopoly piece

6 Potato, in Hindi

69 Juvenile

7 Bizarre

70 Ghostly sounds

8 Paris of ___ (prince in

71 Sass

Greek mythology)

75 Auction actions

9 Tear

77 “The Addams Family”

10 East Coast Amtrak service cousin

©2025 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Bird associated with wisdom 4 Barbecue side 8 Theme park shuttles 13 Rudely brief 17 “That’s it!”

18 Digestive juice

28 It might be a stretch?

29 Clickable hypertext 30 The “A” in MoMA 31 Double-helix molecule 32 Winged creatures associated with Halloween

award)

79 Neither’s partner

12 Defrauds

81 ___ II Atreides (“Dune”

13 Sound like a dove

character)

14 Instrument for Israel

82 Sulk

Kamakawiwo’ole

84 Docking locale

15 Pine secretion

85 Vehicles for ETs

16 Blow up on social media

86 Sticky black stuff

20 Cry of discovery

90 Like the game mah-jongg

22 Shapewear brand

91 Food ___ (feeling after a

23 French-American writer

feast)

Anais

92 Detested

25 Sun setting?

95 Potatoes and yams 96 Android download

33 “Peter Pan” girl

services company (in other

95 California border lake

34 “Not in a million years!”

words)

96 Up and about

32 Sear

97 Freezing rain

37 “Geaux Tigers!” sch.

71 Glove material

99 “No bid,” in bridge

33 Fuse, as metal

98 Turkic language

39 ___ Air (Los Angeles

72 Embedded

102 Will Smith/Tommy Lee

34 Fish’s breathing organ

99 Ode writers

neighborhood)

73 Ye ___ Shoppe

Jones film series, for short

35 Clarinet cousin

100 Houston ballplayer

74 “That’s possible for me!”

105 Dull routine

36 Weaken

101 Iron/carbon alloy

106 “Sounds like a ___!”

38 Disco ___ (“The Simp-

103 Bouncers ask to see

(“Works for me!”)

sons” character)

them

80 It may throw shade?

107 Not quite all

39 ___ dry (drained)

104 Data storage units

83 Fur baby

108 *New York Harbor sight

41 Perfect

105 Metal fastener

84 Pesto ingredient

(without preparation)

42 D.C. ballplayer

107 Celebrity roast hosts,

87 Daffy and Bugs

113 *Longtime lead singer of

43 Army NCO

briefly

the rock band Chicago (and

44 Fish in a caterpillar roll

108 Tardy

so on)

45 Cosmetics mogul Lauder 109 Jeans maker Strauss

40 Wild mountain goat

41 *Off!, for one (concerning) 75 Azerbaijan’s capital 50 Arcing throw

24 *The Met and La Scala (in 53 Debtor’s letters 55 Polynesian garland essence) (before the fact)

78 Sticky stuff

27 Soft mineral

19 Steamy kitchen appliance 51 Old saying 52 Not backed up, in a way 21 Flip to get heads or tails

26 *Is allowed to go first

11 ___ badge (Boy Scout’s

56 “Stinging” plant

76 Tugging one’s ear, maybe

88 “The Matrix” protagonist

58 Like a game about to go

89 *Important consider-

into overtime

ations when making a choice 116 Dockworker

46 Couples

59 Cozy

(in practice)

117 Comfortable state

47 Reason to circle a date on 111 Certain back muscle,

60 Singer/activist Horne

92 URL starter

118 At any point

the calendar, maybe

briefly

62 “___ Family” (sitcom)

93 “___ Got the Whole World

119 Certain back muscle,

48 Century when Darwin

112 Hairy cryptid

65 Molars and incisors

in His Hands”

briefly

lived

114 Marbled loaf

120 80-Across, for example

49 Talks up

115 Title for MLK Jr.

66 *Boston-based financial

94 Gold, in Guadalajara

437914-1

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.

“UIV UDGAC OIZXZ KZ M CZFOYBMOYDB UIZB AYLZ YOFZAL YF M WDGXBZV? VDG TD BDO OD TZO OIZXZ KGO OD KZ OIZXZ.”

BYPPY TYDJMBBY

“M’Z EUA EW KXEIA OAEOPA KXSK KXMURI KXMULI XSOOAU WEF S FASIEU, SUY CED GDIK XSHA KE PEER WEF KXA FASIEU.”

TPMUK NPSTR

“ZWP VW HXUWPVX M DOUKWS WB KGGORNO DMKR YXOR UOMEKHZ GOOHN HXO SUOMG.” IXMUEWHHO UMGDEKRV Puzzle Three Clue: W equals O

crossword

Puzzle Two Clue: G equals J

Sarasota 941.355.8437 | Bradenton 941.748.4679 | Venice 941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

Flooring Made for Your Family

Puzzle One Clue: P equals K

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2025 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

110 Part

©2025 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

2-6-25

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM

WEEKLY MONTHLY

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

Appliances KEVIN'S APPLIANCE SERVICE Kevin Weisenbacher / Owner / Technician Homecall - Diagnostic $89.95 941-216-7351

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words ......................... $17.50 per week Each Add’l word ...........................................50¢

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: redpages@yourobserver.com Online: yourobserver.com/redpages

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Call for a FREE Evaluation!

941-536-6372 Epichomecareprovider@gmail Rosa Torres- Owner

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F Ask about our special rates!

OUR ONLINE TOOLS MAKE IT EASY TO PLACE YOUR AD

auto CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

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

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

GARAGE SALE

As low as $17.50 per week!

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Real Estate Wanted BRADENTON CASH HOME BUYERS: We buy off market properties including single family homes, condos and land. Distressed properties are ok. We always pay Cash. Call us first at 941-202-6957. www.BradentonCashHomeBuyers.com

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals L’AMBIANCE, LONGBOAT KEY Beach front 2BR/3BA condo on high floor with wrap-around terrace, 270 degree views over the Gulf, Sarasota Bay and LBK Club.

Sunrises, sunsets through floor to ceiling windows. View at: www.thephotos.smugmug.com Call John at: 203-984-8477 or E-mail: garment@optonline.net

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

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

Call 941-383-3338.

GREAT FINDS LOCATED HERE!

This week’s Crossword answers

TREASURES found here.

Looking for something?

Your lucky discovery is closer than you think.

Since 1939

Visit the RED PAGES

YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

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

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

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos.

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CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Why would there be a destination when life itself is a journey? You go not to get there but to be there.”

Nikki Giovanni Puzzle Two Solution: “I’m one of those people that thinks things happen for a reason, and you just have to look for the reason.”

Clint Black Puzzle Three Solution: “You go through a period of immense pain when reality meets the dream.”

Charlotte Rampling

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2025 NEA, Inc.

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

Reservations 941-383-5577

©2025 Universal Uclick

BUYING GOLD, SILVER W/ CASH. RETIRED INVESTOR Diamonds, Coins, Jewelry, Watches & Pocket Watches.

Free House Calls.

Confidential & Honest. Call David 813-439-2694

Between Houses or Condos

home services

Merchandise Wanted

2BR/2BA WHITNEY Beach Longboat Key Own a condo at the beach at Reduced Price!

Spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath Longboat Key condo for sale for a limited time at pre−restoration price of $569,000. Condo will be completely restored by late spring. Buy now and you can choose your own flooring, appliances, kitchen cabinets and more.

Contact 941−374−9702 $569,000

Autos Wanted

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

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Condos/Apts. for Sale

peekers’ place

stuff Items Under $200

941-955-4888

Beachfront, Bayfront and In

EPIC HOME CARE Personal Care-Respite Care Alzheimer’s Care Light Cleaning Med Administration Meal Prep Shopping, Errands & More

Wagner Realty

kevin@kevinsapplianceservice.com www.kevinsapplianceservice.com

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

SEASONAL RATES

real estate

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.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Adult Care Services

YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Attorney

Home Watch

Remodeling/Home Improvement

CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION

Divorce without Lawyers

REMODELING • CONDO RENOVATIONS

CARING HANDS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME.

Exclusively serving Longboat Key residents.

Storm-ready home preparations Handyman & concierge services

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Call me for a free 30 minute consultation before you call a Divorce Lawyer!

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EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS

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

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Auto Service

SELL YOUR CAR!

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Mike Mailliard ~ Lacey Weaver Allen Hovis ~ Marshall Bruce Matthew Mailliard ~ Julia McIlrevey Christopher Byrne ~ Samantha Ryan Jaimie Simpkins ~ Amanda Nazario

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RED PAGES YourObserver.com/RedPages

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UP TO

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21B

Call 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

www.BradentonCashHomeBuyers.com

Insurance

Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388

510 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE Located 1 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL (Next to SUNTRUST BANK) Office Temporarily at 5390 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Ste 105

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YourObserver.com

LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Local Roots, Legacy of Experience: One Family, Two Generations TOP 1%

of Coldwell Banker Realty Agents Globally

3

$ + BILLION

in Career Sales Volume

49+ YEARS Selling Sarasota & Manatee Counties

LIGHTHOUSE POINT - LONGBOAT KEY

$13,950,000

50 LIGHTHOUSE POINT DR. • 6BR/6 FULL & 1 HALF BA • 7,450 SQ FT Gorgeous Gulf Front Home • New Roof • Newly Resurfaced Pool • Private Boat Dock • Behind the Gates of The Longboat Key Club • Expansive .83-Acre Lot

Ryan Ackerman 941.387.1818

Barbara Ackerman 941.387.1820

HARBOR ACRES

1430 HARBOR DR • 7,049 SQ FT OF LIVING SPACE

$9,600,000

Completely Renovated in 2023 • 110’ on Deep Protected Boat Basin • 1,100 Bottle Wine Room • In Home Elevator • All New Hurricane Impact Windows & Doors

W NE

TWO INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES IN GRAND BAY

ING T S LI

GRAND BAY IV - LONGBOAT KEY

3010 GRAND BAY BLVD., #493 • 2BR/4BA • 2,550 SQ FT

$2,225,000 GRAND BAY II - LONGBOAT KEY

9th Floor Cayman with Gorgeous Sunrises, Sunsets, Bay, Beach & City Skyline Views Blank Palette • Includes 2 Prime Side-By-Side Parking Spaces on Main Level and Private Beach Club Membership • Gated, Pet Friendly Community

OYSTER BAY ESTATES - NEW CONSTRUCTION

3040 GRAND BAY BLVD., #283 • 3BR/3BA • 2,550 SQ FT

Direct Sunrise & Sunset Views • Custom Updates • Private Elevator Foyer • 8th Floor Cayman Plan • Sarasota Skyline Views • Beautiful Wood Floors • Gorgeous Updated Kitchen • Gated Community • Resort-Style AMenities • Includes Private Beach Club Membership • Pet-Friendly

$5,995,000 LONGBOAT KEY MOORINGS

1429 N. LAKE SHORE DR. • 5BR/5 FULL BA & 2 HALF BA • 4,545 SQ FT Open Plan • Gourmet Kitchen • Wine Room • Resort-style Pool & Spa

$2,195,000

$405,000

2800 HARBOURSIDE DR. #E-22 • SPACIOUS 70 FT. SLIP Deep-Water Access • Harbor Master & Security • Electric, Water & WiFi

NEW OPPORTUNITIES COMING SOON

WATER CLUB I - LONGBOAT KEY

HARBOR ACRES - WEST OF THE TRAIL

PROMENADE - LONGBOAT KEY

BAY POINT - GOLDEN GATE POINT

ST ARMANDS - JOHN RINGLING ESTATES

HARBOR ACRES - HILLVIEW

CLUB LONGBOAT - BEACH & TENNIS

SUN N SEA - SIESTA KEY

Completely Renovated • High Floor Stunning Gulf Views

Over 100’ of Waterfront on Pansy Bayou Move-In Ready • Single Story • Back-Up Generator

Estate Sized Lot • Beautiful Tropical Setting Sought-After Neighborhood

Estate-Sized Buildable Lot on Large Boat Basin

High Floor • Terrific Views Spacious Plan

Value Priced • Perfect For Tennis & Beach Enthusiasts

Totally Renovated • Magnificent Bay & Bridge Views • Excellent Downtown Location

Duplex • Great Investment Income Opportunity

The Ackerman Group | Coldwell Banker Realty • 443 John Ringling Blvd., Ste. F | Sarasota, FL 34236

440692-1

22B