The National League of American Pen Women Inc. Sarasota Branch celebrated the winners of the 2026 Launching Leaders in the Arts scholarships at an April 15 luncheon, supporting the talents of high school seniors in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
President Wilma Davidson, of Longboat Key, said this year’s students were exceptional.
The visual art awardees are: Hana Mullen (first), Angelika Beauvil (second), Coral Sheridan (third), and Lilliana McGrath and Cristal Saavedra (honorable mention).
The letters awardees are: Maxwell Lindskog (first), Megan Halperin (second), Nathan De Souza (third), and Mia Morales and Eden Hurley (honorable mention). Evan Lian won first place in the music category.
Meet the artist
Artist Rick Pals introduced some of his newest works at last weekend’s “Meet the Artist” event hosted at Three Island Monkeys.
The Sarasota-based artist works with alcohol inks, blending bright pigments on metal wall art. At the April 18 showcase, he displayed some of his latest works, including a collection of butterflies. Pals and his wife, AnnMarie, said they have plenty of painting planned for this summer.
The art shop and gallery plans to shift to summer hours soon. Visit ThreeIslandMonkeys.com for updated hours and upcoming Meet the Artist events.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026
Beach
Image courtesy of Jo Jo Fusco Coral Sheridan won third place.
Dana Kampa
Dana Kampa
Le Gardenia Bleu’s John and Lita Brannan showcase their ornament tree filled with
iconic flamingos and more at the 20th annual Meet Greet Eat.
WEEK OF APRIL 23, 2026
BY THE NUMBERS
“What we’ve been seeing is earlier nest activity. Typically, it will be late April, early May.”
Longboat Key Turtle Watch President Jeff Driver Read more on page 14A
20
Sailboat strikes bridge
On Friday, April 17, a sailboat struck a piling on the Longboat Pass Bridge, causing major traffic backups for more than an hour.
Longboat Key Fire Rescue and Police Department units both responded to the scene. Police marine units arrived at 9:24 a.m., a police report states. Photos showed a sailboat named Hula Girl and lifeboat named Hula Doll lodged against support pilings of the bridge with the mast hitting the deck of the Longboat Pass bascule bridge.
The police report says the boat had lost steering and was pinned to the bridge by the strong tidal current.
U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boats also responded to the scene. When Coast Guard boats attempted to tow the boat away, the mast, still pinned on the bridge, broke off.
“As a result, the vessel shifted position abruptly, increasing the risk to passengers and responding personnel,” the LKPD police report describes. “Due to the
unstable conditions, this officer maneuvered vessel alongside and safely removed all passengers, as well as one Coast Guard crew member, without incident or injury.”
By about 10:45 a.m., the town reported traffic was moving again in both directions on the north end of the island.
The bridge, which the Florida Department of Transportation is considering replacing, was built in 1957.
The drawbridge was undamaged, the police report states.
Giving Challenge raises $16.7 million
Jasmin Graham, president and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences, said after heading to The Bay park for 2024’s Giving Challenge, she was eager for the organization to return. She said the event was a chance to hear others’ stories about sharks, while dispelling myths about the animals, connecting with people looking to become involved in the organization’s programs and sharing its mission of broadening participation in the marine sciences.
The Giving Challenge Pop Up Station at The Bay, held on April 15, highlighted 19 local nonprofits, allowing the public to engage with the organizations and make donations.
The pop-up was part of the 24hour Giving Challenge event, held from noon April 15 to noon on April 16 by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The biennial event raised more than $16.7 million, with over 50,000 donors making nearly 88,000 gifts to a record 751 nonprofits in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.
Sarasota Deputy City Manager
retiring
On Monday, Deputy City Manager and Public Safety Director Patrick Robinson notified the City Commission and senior staff of his intention to retire, effective May 26. Robinson’s retirement will conclude a 25-year career with the city, which included rising to the ranks of deputy chief of police before being named deputy city manager in early 2021. Among the first tasks of new City Manager Karie Friling, whose official state date is May 29, will be to select Robinson’s successor. Robinson, 48, grew up in Sarasota, attending Phillippi Shores Elementary, Brookside Middle and Riverview High schools. As deputy city manager, he has overseen the police department, Office of Emergency Management, Public Works Department, Parks and Recreation, Public Utilities Department, Information Technology, Office of Homelessness Response Office of Independent Police Advisory Panel and Complaint Committee.
DUNES’ DAY
As renourishment winds down, the city of Sarasota is gearing up for a project to build 6-foot-plus dunes for much of Lido Key.
ANDREW WARFIELD | STAFF WRITER
Like most of the area’s coastline after the back-to-back visits by the 2024 power couple of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, much of the beach and dune sand from Lido Beach was left strewn about on roads, parking lots and inside homes.
DUNE FORMATION AND BENEFITS
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a line of sand dunes can provide protection from flooding resulting from high water levels and overtopping waves. They can also reduce wave damage in developed areas by breaking up waves as they cross over dunes.
Sand that comprises the dunes also serves as a sacrificial contribution to the increased sand transport during storms, which can reduce the landward movement of the shoreline during storm events.
Dunes may also naturally form when vegetation or other obstructions to the wind results in sand being trapped. In areas of sufficient sand where the beach is wide, dunes can be encouraged to develop naturally by planting dune grass or other vegetation or by installing sand fences to trap blowing sand.
According to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, protective functions of dunes include:
Storm surge buffer: Dunes act as a physical barrier that breaks the force of waves and slows water velocity, preventing or delaying the flooding of inland areas.
Sand reservoir: During intense storms, dunes erode, releasing sand into the nearshore system, helping to create offshore bars that force waves to break farther offshore, reducing energy reaching the beach.
Vegetation stabilization:
Coastal plants such as sea oats have extensive root systems that trap sand and hold it in place, allowing dunes to naturally build height and width.
Post-storm recovery: In calmer periods, wind blows sand back into the dune system, allowing them to rebuild and recover after sustaining damage.
Dunes also provide essential habitat and food source for wildlife, including: Nesting and breeding: Dunes provide safe, elevated and dry areas for sea turtles to lay eggs and are critical nesting sites for shorebirds.
Refuge from storms: Dunes protect inland habitats, providing a barrier of protection against high waves and storm surges, shielding species that live adjacent to the shoreline.
Foraging: Many insects and small mammals live in the sand dune environment, providing a food source for birds and reptiles.
plete Lido Beach renourishment, this fall the city will begin a project to raise the protective dunes from Lido Beach Pavilion south to, but not including, Ted Sperling Park.
the height of dunes that exist along Lido Beach by 2 feet to an elevation of 6.6 feet — and build them where they currently don’t — to improve storm protection from a 10-year to a 25-year event. Included will be installation of native salt-tolerant plants for added storm protection.
dunes got hit pretty hard,” said Sarasota City Engineer Sage (pro nounced sah-jee) Kamiya. “There are locations that do have what is left of dunes, and they were higher before the storms lowered them and spread all the sand everywhere that we didn’t want it. This project will restore and increase them for added storm protection and also environ mental benefit for native plants and flora and fauna alike.”
mately 75 days. Unlike the under way beach renourishment work, the selected contractor will have to haul some 3,000 cubic yards of sand by truck to the site from an inland mine approved by the city, according to Kamiya. That will require 215 to 300 dump truck loads, depending upon the trucks’ capacity.
plantings will follow. A mainte nance period will follow to ensure the plantings have taken root. The project is funded 50% by tourist development tax revenues, charged to occupants of hotel rooms, and 50% by Florida Department of Envi ronmental Protection grants.
renourishment projects will effec tively create a new beach. While the work is taking place, access will be maintained. In all, there will be more than 30 beach access locations avail able during and after the work, which will include post-and-rope barriers bordering the pedestrian areas.
$1.2 million, including construction costs of nearly $700,000.
the removal and replacement of three beach walkovers, one at the pavilion, one at the north end of the pavilion parking lot and the other at the North Lido Beach access at the curve of John Ringling and Benjamin Franklin boulevards. Cost of the walkovers project is $840,000, including construction cost of $770,000. The funding formula for the wooden boardwalk areas will mirror that of the dunes project.
“It’s going to have to be done in stages, and as they are done, there are going to be crossings between the dunes marked with posts and ropes,” Kamiya said. “There will always be access to the beach.”
JohnRinglingBlvd.
BenjaminFranklinDr
“It’s going to have to be done in stages, and as they are done, there are going to be crossings between the dunes marked with posts and ropes. There will always be access to the beach.”
Sage Kamiya, Sarasota City Engineer
RENOURISHMENT COMPLETION
EXPECTED SOON
As planning continues in advance of Lido Beach dunes installation, the beach renourishment project on 1.2 miles of shoreline is nearing completion, which is expected by the end of April.
For now, the black pipe still stretches from New Pass — where a dredging project supplies the sand for the renourishment — along Lido Beach, through which the sand is pumped. Sand bridges provide crossing access to the water for beachgoers.
It’s a separate project executed by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the city of Sarasota, part of a 50-year agreement for sand replacement to occur at approximately five-year intervals. That project cost is approximately $12 million, paid for with federal funding.
Funds for the restoration of the federally authorized beach template were secured through the work of the city’s federal government lobbyist the Color Nine Group, in coordination with the offices of U.S. Rep. Greg Steube and Florida Sen. Rick Scott.
INSIDE LOOK
A cut-away view of the planned dunes along Lido Beach shows the slope, height and vegetation, which will solidify the dunes and naturally trap blowing sand.
Sarasota City Engineer Sage Kamiya at the Lido Beach Pavilion walkover, which will be replaced when 6-foot-high dunes are built in the area.
Andrew Warfield
Murder suspect arrested on Longboat Key
A 44-year-old Parrish man was arrested on seconddegree murder stemming from a cocaine overdose.
Asuspected drug dealer was arrested in Longboat Key last month on a murder charge related to a death by overdose.
Toby Davis was arrested by Longboat Key police March 20, according to a police report. Police Chief Russ Mager said Davis was on the island for work. On the day of the arrest, he was driving a pickup with a ladder rack, according to the report.
Davis’ murder charge stems from an overdose that occurred in October 2025 near Ellenton in Manatee County. According to a Manatee County arrest warrant, a medical examiner’s autopsy of a Manatee County resident identified as “the decedent” in the report showed the likely cause of the person’s death as intoxication due to cocaine and oxycodone with a contributory of hypertensive heart disease.
According to the warrant, text messages between the victim and Davis were “consistent with” a narcotics transaction. The warrant states the father of the victim saw Davis enter the house the same day as the text message thread where Davis allegedly agreed to sell cocaine to the victim.
The warrant also describes a sheriff’s deputy using the deceased person’s phone to have Davis deliver additional drugs to the same address while Davis was surveilled.
“Davis arrived as the sole occupant of the vehicle. Davis exited and walked toward the carport entrance.
As detectives approached Davis to detain him, he made a tossing motion with his hand and turned between
vehicles in the carport area, appearing to discard an item,” the warrant describes.
A white, powdery substance was found and tested positive for cocaine, and more was found on Davis’ person upon his arrest, the warrant states.
“Davis was charged on Oct. 28, 2025, with possession with intent to sell a controlled substance and is now being charged with the death of the decedent,” the warrant concludes.
Davis was arrested after a “be on the lookout” alert was sent to nearby jurisdictions March 20, stating Davis was traveling toward Anna Maria Island. That alert was followed up saying that he had been traveling south on Longboat Pass Bridge onto Longboat Key. An LKPD officer ran a tag search and saw that the vehicle had been tracked entering the island through one of the license plate readers, showing the vehicle on the north end of the island.
After the arrest, Davis told an officer that he felt unwell. He was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where Manatee County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Davis.
The charge description on the affidavit is listed as “murder dangerous depraved with premeditation.”
Florida State law’s murder chapter includes the unlawful killing of a human being “which resulted from the unlawful distribution by a person 18 years of age or older of any of the following substances, or mixture containing any of the following substances, when such substance or mixture is proven to have caused, or is proven to have been a substantial factor in producing, the death of the user.”
On April 16, Davis entered a plea of not guilty and a demand for a jury trial.
Town sends compliance agreement to Half Moon House owner
The town proposed a June 1 deadline for repairs to avoid forced demolition.
S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER
Get it done by June 1.
That’s the gist of the proposed compliance agreement the town of Longboat Key has sent to the owner of what is known as the Half Moon House on Gulfside Road.
Located at 6541 Gulfside Road more seaward than any other Gulffacing property on Longboat Key, the town has stated its concerns with the structural health of the 1973 bungalow on stilts. The town’s building official has declared the building unsafe; the town has cut off water, sewer and electric service, and now it is seeking a condemnation and demolition order. In March, the Town Commission retained a law firm to represent the town for any potential legal challenges to the condemnation and demolition order.
The reasons for the possible demolition are mainly due to the state of the support beams, or pilings, on which the house sits. According to a pile assessment report by a marine structural engineering firm, 80% of the pilings on the building have rot or splits, and the town wrote in a June 2025 letter to the property owner that the structure is “hazardous to neighboring properties and the public due to its likely collapse from marine environment, wave action and/or tropical storm events.”
The latter is the reason for the town’s June 1 deadline.
“The town’s most pressing and primary concern is seeking the immediate abatement of the structural integrity issues associated with the residential structure,” Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons wrote in an email. “Shoring up the structure is needed before the start of hurricane season (June 1).”
DEADLINES
The town’s compliance agreement sets various deadlines for the property owner: APRIL 22: On or before April 22, the owner is to send the town “a written, step-by-step plan prepared by a structural engineer/licensed design professional detailing the measures to be taken to stabilize the dwelling and address the imminent danger concerns raised by the town.”
The owner of the property, Donda Mullis, has retained counsel to fight against the demolition of the property, which she purchased for more than $4 million in 2023.
“On March 27, 2026, the owner’s legal counsel, attorney Stephen Rees, sent correspondence to the town requesting the town enter into a compliance agreement with the owner, the building official and town manager, and requested an extension of time of (60) days for the abatement of the unsafe and unfit conditions,” the compliance agreement states.
The town did not agree to a 60-day extension, instead countering with the proposed compliance agreement that includes deadlines for steps on April 22, April 30, May 15 and June 1 (see box). Mullis said April 17 that she had just gotten out of a meeting with town leaders “working towards a resolution for all ... with strict deadlines.”
APRIL 30: On or before April 30, the owner is required to submit “a complete permit application for the stabilization/ shoring of the dwelling, including all required supporting documentation and stabilization/shoring plans prepared, signed, and sealed by a structural engineer or other equally qualified design professional acceptable to the town.” The town wrote that it would expedite the permitting process due to the state of the structure.
MAY 15: The owner is required to submit a construction schedule to the town by May 15 for repairs to the pilings.
JUNE 1: All work to stabilize the structure “to render the building structurally safe as determined by the Building Official, a structural engineer or other equally qualified design professional acceptable to the town” must be completed by June 1.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
S.T. Cardinal The support beams, or pilings, the Half Moon House sits on have visible wear, and a pile assessment by a marine structural engineering firm notes that 80% of the house’s pilings have rot or splits between the sand line and girder.
ONE WAY OUT
Longboat commissioner proposes reducing Coquina Beach park exit points to relieve Gulf Drive congestion.
The problem is known. Traffic chokes up around the Bradenton Beach portion of Anna Maria Island, especially during peak season. What isn’t known, however, is what can or will be done to relieve that congestion. During a Longboat Key Town Commission meeting April 6, Longboat Key Town Commissioner Sarah Karon brought up the topic in hopes of starting a conversation to improve the situation that has caused frustrations for Longboaters trying to get to the mainland via the Cortez Bridge. Karon said changing where vehicles are allowed to exit the Coquina
Beach parking lot is a “little bit of low-hanging fruit” that could lead to traffic flow improvements.
“If you’re on the north end, you see traffic routinely back up to Longboat Island Chapel, the 6500 block (of Gulf of Mexico Drive),” Karon said.
“If you’re trying to make progress to the north, one thing you see as you’re coming across the Longboat Pass Bridge is the Coquina Beach parking lot all along the road to your left.
It’s got I think five different egress points.”
Karon proposes closing some of
those egress points during certain times of the day and season to lessen the points of entry onto State Road 789.
“It would make a difference,” Karon said. “If you’ve got it down to one or two egress points, that means you’ve got one lane coming off Longboat Key and one lane going north headed off Coquina Beach instead of four to five side streets dumping in at that point with cars at every single one filing in.”
The Coquina Beach parking lot is Manatee County owned and main-
tained. The 857-space lot is free to park at and is home to the Coquina Beach Farmers Market three times a week from October through June.
A Manatee County spokesperson said discussions on changes to egress points in the parking lot are “tied to” Florida Department of Transportation’s planned Longboat Pass Bridge replacement project. According to FDOT’s project website, the Coquina Park entrance is the northern limit of the bridge project.
“The county has had initial conversations with FDOT, and early stages of coordination are underway. At this time, there has been no final determination on design, funding, or specific traffic modifications related to the parking lot,” a Manatee County spokesperson wrote in an email. “Given that these considerations stem from FDOT’s project and planning efforts, FDOT would be best positioned to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding potential changes and traffic management associated with the project.”
FDOT did not respond to questions regarding traffic flow and whether the Barrier Island Project Development and Environment study will evaluate ways to alleviate traffic. The study’s website states the goal is to “consider strategies to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and enhance mobility options for all users along the study corridor.”
Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique isn’t sold on the egress idea, something that has been talked about for years.
“The conversation has to shift away from the adjustments to exit points,” Siddique said. “The challenge is if we shift to reducing the exit points, we simply cause a traffic jam inside our parking lot. If you try to expand them, you create problems for Gulf Drive. I think we’re at a happy medium where we are, and I don’t think there’s anything we can do to improve Gulf Drive’s traffic challenge by adjusting the exit points.”
Instead, Siddique wants to look at ways to get people on and around the island without using a car.
“We want to create better ways to get around. What the cities are doing is essentially saying, ‘Well, people already bike. They bike in unsafe conditions. Why not make
FERRIES, BIKES AND BUSES
Manatee County Chair Tal Siddique makes a case for increasing multimodal transportation as a way to relieve traffic congestion on Anna Maria Island. He said FDOT’s Barrier Island PD&E Study will look at ways to improve pedestrian safety and access on the island, hopefully removing the need for cars on the island and thus reducing traffic congestion for drivers.
“Cars don’t eat ice cream or pizza or go to the beach. It’s people riding in cars,” Siddique said. “When you think about the problem that way, we need to find a way for people to move around. For the longest time the idea has been let’s just get cars around because people are in cars, but we have to get back to the person.”
Coming soon is a Coquina Beach stop for the county’s water taxi system, the Gulf Islands Ferry. Siddique said the new 92-seat boat called the Manatee Belle will stop at Coquina Beach and that visitor and resident usage could lead to fewer cars on the road on the island.
it safer and get some state funding for this?’” Siddique said. “I think that’s the future. If you look at Sanibel Island, for example, very early on they built a separate 8- to 10-foot trail that’s completely off the road. I think that’s the future for the island. More ferry stops, a trail and I think just a general recognition that we’ve maxed out our ability to serve cars on the island.”
The short-term pain, as Siddique described the replacement of the Cortez drawbridge set to begin in the coming months, may lead to a longterm traffic improvement. Siddique said replacing the drawbridge with a fixed span bridge will reduce backups. The Cortez Bridge opens at the quarter hour and three quarter hour marks, according to WaterWayGuide.com.
Photos by S.T. Cardinal
Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach is a popular area for tourists lined with bars, restaurants, mini golf and a pier that extends into Sarasota Bay. The street intersects with Gulf Drive South with a small roundabout that
The Coquina Beach parking lot has dozens of free spots for beachgoers. There were plenty of open spaces Monday, March 30, as rain began to fall.
The vision for St. Armands?
It depends on whom you ask
Flooding and traffic mitigation are common goals for St. Armands residents and businesses.
The outlook on density, height and merchant mix in the area remains divided.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
If there was one takeaway from the two-part visioning exercise about the future of St. Armands Circle it would be this: If floods resulting from occasional heavy rain events — never mind storm surge — are not mitigated, nothing else really matters. The same goes for addressing St. Armands’ aging infrastructure, both above and below ground.
Certainly there were multiple conclusions delivered to city and county staff by participants during the first visioning session at Mote Marine Laboratory on Feb. 27. That data was then distilled, prioritized and delivered during the second session, also held at Mote, on April 13.
In addition to preventing flooding and addressing traffic, among the higher priorities expressed by residents of the city, St. Armands and Longboat Key were a degraded tenant mix and vacant storefronts, much of that attributed to recovery challenges in the wake of severe tropical weather events in recent years, especially 2024.
In summary, participants said St. Armands needs fewer “T-shirt shops” and more higher-end boutique offerings.
Regarding traffic, “Solutions varied from removing all cars from the Circle, to another bridge away from the Circle, to various kinds of automated traffic management controls,” facilitator David Brain said. “The general gist is people would love to see cars go away, but obviously the Circle thrives on people visiting, so making the cars go away altogether is probably not in our future, but there was clearly a concern to control traffic congestion.”
Persistently lurking in the backdrop are suspicions about potential redevelopment of the commercial district. Pressures exerted on and by the merchants and building owners result from the question of whether to improve their existing spaces until — and presuming — flooding will be resolved, an underway initiative by Sarasota County that, in a best-case scenario, is five years away from starting.
Planning on how to spend $13.5 million in federal Resilient SRQ funding, plus another nearly halfmillion dollars matched by the city, is in its infancy. And even if freshwater flooding can be effectively addressed, severe storm surge — which inundated St. Armands twice in 2024 — is nearly impossible to prevent should it crest the planned
profile facing businesses and owners.
“If you think your business is going to flood every five years, then you have to cut your expected profit by 20% because you’re going to get wiped out,” he said. “If you could take that 20% probability of being flooded once every five years and bring it closer to zero, then you’re going to invest more. It’s all about the risk discount rate, and we need to reduce the risk discount rate.”
For now, he said, that risk profile is a deterrent to heavy investment.
Geoffrey Michel, who owns The Met at 35 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, brought up the unpopular notion among residents of adding second and third floors to buildings to help provide a more secure return on investment in the properties. He cited Naples, which has enabled floodproofed design on the first floor and allowing residential on the second and third floors on its two most iconic retail districts — Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South.
“We all want new shops. We need new shops,” Michel said, his next sentence eliciting audible groans from the crowd. “But that said, the new shops need new buildings. So in the math conversation of risk resilience, the third floor allows a cost wash. I know it’s not a popular statement, but I do pay a significant amount of property tax.”
Absent the risk resilience, owners tend to shy away from investing in their buildings. Lido Key Residents Association President Carl Shoffstall suggested, at least in some cases, it may be intentional neglect.
“They’re not reinvesting in their buildings, and now they’re falling apart. So what’s the thing? Tear it down and build new and go higher?” Shoffstall said. “We’re not talking about that, but that’s where this is leading. Floods are going to happen ... but we can mitigate them a little bit better. I’m worried about the height and the density and more traffic. We all want visitors because we’re blessed to live out here, but that’s where this is going. I can see it.”
Brain hinted at future meetings between staff, property owners and merchants, which concern residents regarding possible rezoning pressures to permit more height and density than currently permitted in the Commercial Tourism district.
6.6-foot sand dunes to be installed along Lido Beach later this year. Therein lies the conundrum for both tenants and building owners around the Circle as hesitancy to improve properties lingers over uncertainty of flood resilience, at least in the near term.
St. Armands Residents Association Vice President Chuck Haff told the crowd that for 25 years he was an investor in commercial properties as a precursor to explaining the risk
As Commercial Tourist, the zoning of St. Armands Circle serves tourism and local residents with an iconic mix of retail, dining and service businesses. Building height is limited to 35 feet, and hotels are prohibited, although hotel proposals have been attempted in the past. Residential use is permitted on upper floors to allow for a mixed-use environment.
The area is subject to the FEMA “50% rule,” which requires renovation costing more than half of the tax-assessed value of the building — excluding land value — be made in compliance with current flood codes, serving as a deterrent to making substantial improvements. The rule includes requires the first floor be raised to or above the base flood elevation. Proposals to amend the CT district that include raising height limits, permitting hotels and increasing density restrictions have been proposed in the past in the face of residents’ opposition over traffic and density concerns.
Rochelle Gallant of the city’s Office of Economic Development said the purpose of any future meetings with commercial property owners will be “to understand things that are holding commercial property owners back. It’s not, ‘Well, why don’t you do this?’ It’s more of ‘What will help you to be able to do this?’”
Regarding tenant mix, Gallant said staff and the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County are pursuing a possible retail study to help identify the appropriate retail options for St. Armands and how they may be attracted to locate there.
Image Courtesy of Visit Sarasota County
Andrew Warfield
City of Sarasota Business Relations Coordinator Rochelle Gallant speaks to the crowd at the second St. Armands Circle visioning session on April 13.
Visioning sessions for the future of St. Armands Circle have been completed.
Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more
Faith 250 breaks new ground
Community members of all faiths joined in a cleanup for the U.S.’s 250th.
Residents of the Keys are no strangers to interfaith events, like the highly celebrated Thanksgiving service that religious leaders have joined together to hold for 45 years. But in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary, leaders introduced something new this past week.
With grant funding from Faith 250, those leaders united April 18 for an hourlong community cleanup, breakfast and morning service.
Faith 250 is a nationwide program promoting shared civic values across religions in recognition of the country’s anniversary. It spotlights texts central to the country’s history and future, including The Declaration of Independence.
At least 60 community members coming everywhere from Longboat Key’s north end to St. Armands Key joined in the community effort. They met at Temple Beth Israel to don their reflective vests, grab their garbage-pinchers and trash bags, and start cleaning up the roadways of Bay Isles Road and Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Residents have joined in similar cleanups after the 2024 hurricanes and for regular Adopt-AHighway maintenance. But this event had a special focus on unity.
Organizers planned the event to coincide with the anniversary of Paul Revere’s famed ride to warn patriots of incoming red coats.
Volunteers paired up to help one another with filling their bags before returning to the temple for a red-white-and-blue themed breakfast.
Jason Brandt, chair of the Environmental Action Committee, also known as TBI’s “Green Team,” said participants filled 22 large bags with approximately 140 pounds of trash.
The amount is commendable considering, unlike the post-hurricane cleanup of roadside debris, much of the trash was small, including cigarette butts and small pieces of plastic.
“The turnout is great,” Brandt said as teams set out that morning. “It looks pretty clean, but once you start getting in there, you find a lot of stuff.”
Besides getting waste out of the island’s ecosystem, the interfaith cleanup gave participants a chance to form deeper connections with neighbors of other faiths, Brandt explained.
TBI’s Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates welcomed all the visitors to the celebratory service afterward, which started off with attendees singing, “This Land is Your Land.”
Many people contributed to the program through speech, song and poetry.
All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church’s the Rev. David Marshall read from The Declaration of Independence. Anne Lieberman read aloud a poem based on Henry Wadsworth Long fellow’s work entitled “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church’s the Rev. Kenneth Blyth, after making a joke about being a Brit celebrating the 250th anniversary, delivered heartfelt reflections on what the Statue
of Liberty has meant to so many people over the centuries.
Christ Church of Longboat Key’s the Rev. Julia Piermont mused on the symbolism of the lyrics in Katharine Lee Bates’ anthem “America the Beautiful.” Longboat Island Chapel’s the Rev. Brock Patterson read excerpts from Frederick Douglass’s address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Dennis Piermont from Christ Church and TBI Choir Soloist Kei Sulhi brought the service to a close with song.
The selection of materials stems from Faith 250’s guidelines on what texts sacred to the country should be extolled.
Mates said the effort came about because, “There are faith leaders all around the country who are figuring out, in a time when we can feel so separated, how we can come together to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.”
She said leaders endeavored to make sure all voices are being heard in this year’s celebrations.
As for why an environmental cleanup was at the heart of it all, Brandt said, “On Longboat Key, we are surrounded by a world that is both beautiful and vulnerable. Our beaches, our waters, our birds, our mangroves, our skies are all part of what makes this place special. But they are also reminders that creation is not a one-and-done deal. Creation must be nurtured.”
Asked why she wanted to help with the community effort, Maxine Spitzer of TBI said she appreciated the idea of everyone coming together as one unit.
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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“This is what Longboat Key is all about.”
— Maxine Spitzer
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Temple Beth Israel’s Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates welcomes one and all to the morning service.
Jason Brandt, chair of the Environmental Action Committee, also known as Temple Beth Israel’s “Green Team,” said volunteers collected about 140 pounds of trash in just one hour.
Longboat Island Chapel’s the Rev. Brock Patterson welcomes people back and helps collect cleanup gear.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Chris Sturm from St. Armands Key Lutheran Church and Maxine Spitzer from Temple Beth Israel team up at the Faith 250 cleanup.
Temple Beth Israel choir soloist Kei Sulhi starts the Saturday morning interfaith service by leading a group singing of “This Land is Your Land.”
legal in Longboat Key, a woman called police on two men doing just that. The woman told dispatch she felt the two fishing from shore was illegal. Longboat police then called the woman, who told the officer she knew there was nothing he could do, but she wanted to better understand the rules behind fishing from the beach because she had never seen anyone do so and “felt it was illegal.” The officer explained the practice was not forbidden and the woman hung up on him. The case was closed.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
WORKING, JAMMING ON THE ROOF
11:03 a.m., St. Judes Drive
Noise disturbance: A neighbor called police on a construction crew next door to her playing loud music. When the officer arrived on scene, he saw a group on workers on the roof of a two-story building while a loud radio was playing.
Police determined the radio was violating the town’s noise ordinance and approached the workers, who responded “in broken English” that they would keep the radio turned down. Police closed the case.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
URINATING, SPEEDING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT
6:17 p.m., Broadway Street
Citizen assist: 911 dispatch received a report by a woman who described seeing a man in his 50s, about 5-feet, 7-inches tall, wearing a white shirt and navy pants and urinating in front of her home. Police arrived on scene and canvassed the area but found no one matching the description, instead, stumbling upon a group of people walking a black Labrador. The dog walkers advised they had not seen anything of the sort and had been walking in the area for a while. Police then heard a woman’s voice coming from a balcony of the house. The officer walked to the rear gate of the residence, surprising the woman who said
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
THE LONGBOAT COCONUT
HEIST
6:57 p.m., 1000 block Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious person: When a man returned home to his condo, he saw a brownish-red car parked on the shoulder of Gulf of Mexico Drive with its flashers on. When he pulled through the gate to the complex, he saw a group of men gathering coconuts. A verbal confrontation commenced between the group and condo owner, who told the group that this was private property. The group’s response was “No, we are gathering coconuts.” The man then went to his unit and called the police. By the time the officer arrived, the coconut burglary was complete, the brownishred getaway car was gone, and the condo owner was left with several fewer coconuts to his name. The man told the officer he didn’t want the crime investigated and that he would be in contact with the property managers. The case was then closed.
she had not called the police. She then checked her call log and saw that she had indeed called the police. She said she had done so because of the speeding vehicles leaving nearby restaurants. A second officer arrived on scene and had a similar conversation with the woman, who said to both officers she had never mentioned a urinater and had not seen any such thing, despite what the dispatcher logged. The officers saw no vehicles speeding while in the area and closed the case.
Charitable milestone T
Hope Seeds volunteers close out season with a lofty goal met.
updates on missionaries delivering seed packets to farmers in Uganda and Rwanda at the April 13 packing event, the last of this season.
his season was one of milestones for the volunteers with the local Hope Seeds chapter. Contributors surpassed their goal of assembling 500,000 seed packets the year of the group’s 10th anniversary.
Volunteers celebrated the accomplishment at the last packing event of the season on April 13.
With Tim Liggett livening up the hall at Christ Church of Longboat Key through his piano playing, the approximately 40 attendees got to work filling individual bags with portions of early producing jalapeño seeds to be distributed to farmers in need.
Organizer Ann Quackenbush said it meant everything to longtime contributors to recently reach their packing goal of half a million.
“I’m very goal-oriented, so when I knew we were getting close in the past year, that was my new goal,” she said. “All these people keep showing up. It’s a great group of people.”
Along with the other notable accomplishments this year, the group also recorded the most packets assembled in a single afternoon. Last month, 56 people helped pack 12,400 packs of cabbage seeds, bringing the lifetime total to 508,100.
Quackenbush said she and her sister, Sue Wertman, always endeavor to arrange the seating so attendees get a chance to meet and chat with new people.
Volunteers that afternoon shared conversation with their tablemates about everything from their summer travel plans to book recommendations before tucking into the doughnuts and sandwiches Helen Owen and Beverly Sutton provided. She told attendees that day, “Thanks to you, thousands have been given the seed of life.”
The group plans to resume its monthly meetings this fall. Visit ChristChurchOfLBK.org for dates.
— DANA KAMPA
Photos by Dana Kampa
Ann Quackenbush, one of the organizers of the local Hope Seeds chapter, gives
Volunteer Jane Webb joins approximately 40 other volunteers in packing jalapeño seeds on April 13 at Christ Church of Longboat Key. This was the final monthly meet-up of the season, and contributors celebrated their milestone of packing 500,000 seed packets this year.
Volunteers joined in the final Hope Seeds packing day of the season.
On the watch for turtle tracks
Longboat Key Turtle Watch began patrolling the beach April 15 as sea turtle nesting season begins May 1.
It’s technically not turtle season yet, but dozens of volunteers are waking up early to walk the beach in search of turtle tracks.
Longboat Key Turtle Watch President Jeff Driver said that although turtle season doesn’t begin until May, volunteers began patrolling April 15. “What we’ve been seeing is earlier nest activity,” Driver said. “Typically, it will be late April, early May.”
Since 1969, Longboat Key Turtle Watch has been caring for turtles that trek onto the Manatee County shores of Longboat Key. That year, there were nine nests. Last year, 1,473 were found. From coolers filled with eggs kept on volunteers’ lanais to GPS coordinate tracking of nest locations, the process has evolved over the past 57 years. The five tasks Turtle Watch volunteers perform begin with the start of daily patrols.
PATROL
The Gulf-facing Longboat Key shoreline is about 11 miles long and is split by the Manatee-Sarasota county line. Mote Marine volunteers patrol the southern end of the island. To the north of the county line, Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers walk the beach in groups.
The Manatee County shore is split into four zones, and each group is responsible for taking early morning walks along their zones.
“The patrols are always at what we refer to as civil twilight. That’s right before the sun really emerges and you’re starting to see twilight because you need enough light to see things reasonably well, the tracks in the sand and other things we’re looking for,” Driver said. “So we go out at civil twilight, which varies each day. On the first day of patrol it was 6:40 a.m.”
Of the four to six Turtle Watch patrollers, two are required to be permitted biologists, Driver said. Their training comes in when turtle tracks are finally discovered.
“At the beginning of the season, it’s kind of fun; you’re just strolling the beach,” Driver said. “But then the work starts happening. You’ll see a peak nesting density in the middle of the summer.”
MARK
When turtle tracks are seen by beach patrollers, the volunteers tap into their bags of supplies.
“As the season gets busier, you have to have more of your inventory available, so that’s why you need multiple people to carry all the material,” Driver said. “We have these bags we carry those yellow stakes in. You have tape you put around the stakes; you have signage to put up; you have the Garmin GPS device; you have a tape measure; you have a rubber mallet to pound the stakes in; pencils and markers.”
The stakes are used to mark the turtle nests. Some are marked with one and others are marked with two or four. The markers are meant to prevent beachgoers from disturbing the nests. They also tell a story.
“The stakes have various information that you put,” Driver said. “When you observe a nest you want to put an effective date that it was there. We have kind of a code for each day of the season, we write the zone you’re in, the address that we associate it with on GMD, the species of turtles, whether or not we took a GPS measurement is indicated.”
REPORT
Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers diligently track all sea turtle-related activity they see on the beach, whether it’s false crawls — in which a turtle goes onto the beach but does not lay eggs — or nests. When nests begin hatching, they are also monitoring that activity.
“As soon as we finish the patrol
WORSHIP directory
for a given zone, we call Mote Marine and give them a verbal report, and then we also go back to our computers and enter data for that day’s observations,” Driver said.
There’s reporting data, and there’s reporting code violations.
Volunteers are also thinking about the marine turtle protection ordinance on their morning strolls. Visible lighting from the beach is a major concern. With just two dedicated code enforcement officers on town staff, volunteers play a big role in alerting the town of violations.
“We rely, not entirely, but heavily on a lot of the volunteers that are out there. Longboat Key Turtle Watch as well as Mote,” Code Enforcement Officer Paul Goodwin said. “They have a direct line to us and they can send us pretty much daily reports.”
Goodwin said code enforcement hours are adjusted at times during the season “not only to make our own observations, but to address the issues that are brought up to us.”
DIG
As sea turtle season continues, volunteers will start to see smaller flipper prints in the sand. And there are other signs even before a nest is hatched.
“As the embryos mature and they’re near ready to hatch, they start wiggling around in the egg and chirping like a bird making noise. They have a little part of their beak that we call an egg tooth that they use to cut through and break through the leathery eggshell,” Driver said. “As they start to move, the sand starts to settle a bit up top. You get this little dip, this little divot. We call it a drop. So sometimes we get evidence that a nest is probably
going to hatch soon if there’s a drop in the sand.”
The next sign of activity are little flipper marks in the sand. For some of those hatched nests, more data is literally dug up.
“We want to record the date that it hatched, and then we’ll wait for several days after that. For some nests, we excavate the nests to determine the hatching outcomes,” Driver said.
“The field biologist does that work. They carefully move the sand away and they try to find the top of the clutch. You dig carefully and then take a measurement from the top of the sand to where the clutch begins. Then you start to find eggshells that were hatched. You’re carefully pulling out each egg and separating them in each category by hatched versus unhatched eggs.”
EDUCATE
Informing the public is the final and, to Driver, most important aspect of Longboat Key Turtle Watch’s work.
“Educational outreach is our key component,” Driver said. “We look for a lot of different opportunities.”
Volunteers attend community events throughout the region sharing tips on how to be good stewards of the beaches. That includes filling holes dug, knocking down sand castles and installing FWC-certified wildlife lighting near the shore.
In 2026, Longboat Key Turtle Watch hopes to expand its educational outreach. The group is continuing to work with Florida Eco Films to produce video content and has made an ask to Longboat Key Town Commission to jointly host an informative open house event to spread awareness of how to keep baby sea turtles swimming into the Gulf safely.
Image courtesy of Jeffrey Driver
A leucistic loggerhead turtle was excavated from its nest on Longboat Key.
File image
Terri Driver is a long-time volunteer with Longboat Key Turtle Watch, seen here caring for a nest in 2016.
20 Years of Meet Greet Eat
Some of Longboat Key’s newest additions to the local business community shined at the latest Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce networking events.
The chamber put on its 20th annual free Meet Greet Eat event, where community members socialize with local business owners and hear about their latest offerings on April 14 at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
New to the showcase this year were Longboat Key Provisions and the shops that opened early this year at Brista Commons, including Couch LBK.
Noel Ladd, who co-founded Couch LBK with Ken Rushing, had a special setup with balloons for his birthday.
Ladd said the community has been tremendously welcoming since the Jan. 20 opening.
“It’s been amazing. The response from the island has been incredible. We couldn’t be happier.”
Ahead of the opening, they stocked a wide variety of furniture and furnishings, and Ladd said patrons seem to appreciate the range of styles and prices available.
Longboat Key Provisions opened Dec. 19, and owner Jason Bond said the shop featuring charcuterie, snacks and more has enjoyed an equally warm reception.
Bond said customers seem to appreciate having high-quality bites to pack for a beach picnic or other outing. But some of the sleeper hits have been their humorous accompaniments, like joke napkins his mother, Donna DeLuca, was sure would hit Longboaters’ funny bone.
The shop owner said he still plans to maintain his regular hours for the summer, giving shoppers somewhere to turn 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for their provisions.
Especially coming as a new shop owner on the Key, Bond said he was glad to contribute to Meet Greet Eat as a booth runner.
“It’s great to reach some of the
people I haven’t quite gotten to yet,” he said.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Ellen Thomas said about 30 organizations joined this year’s event, which about 200 attended over the two hours.
Attendees said they appreciated getting to hear about new services and products.
Servpro’s Kellie Spring said if homeowners haven’t yet made a disaster preparedness plan, now is the time.
“Do your research on your local restoration companies and make sure you have a connection with them,” she said. “Have somebody that you know and trust to call.”
Especially in light of the community’s hurricane recovery journey, establishing a connection before leaving for the season can give
residents some peace of mind, Spring said.
“People were scrambling, and when it comes to being prepared, doing your research really makes a big difference.”
She said events like Meet Greet Eat are helpful for making those connections, especially considering Servpro is a franchise with local offices. Residents get the chance to speak directly with the team members providing those restoration services.
The chamber’s next networking event is scheduled for 5 p.m. April 29 with the Humane Society of Sarasota County at 2332 15th St. Attendance is $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Visit LongboatKeyChamber.com to register.
— DANA KAMPA
Photos by Dana Kampa Representing Cabex Construction, Debbie Shaffer gives the prize wheel a spin at the company’s booth at the 20th annual Meet Greet Eat social.
Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce organized the April 14 networking event.
Jason Bond, owner of the newly opened Longboat Key Provisions, chats with a visitor at the 20th annual Meet Greet Eat, hosted by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.
Servpro’s Katlyn Deak meets and greets visitors at Meet Greet Eat, hosted by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.
Holly Barrett shows the progress she’s made so far in getting her passport stamped.
Florida’s funnymen
Five comedians performed on April 16 at the Town Center Green as part of the Arts in April programming this year. Funds benefited the Longboat Key Garden Club.
Susan Phillips, board chair of the organizing Longboat Key Foundation, thanked attendees for supporting the monthlong celebration of local creatives.
Arts in April launched last year, and with support from the foundation, Comedy Night returned for another evening of entertainment, for which the performers donated their time.
Emceeing the event was returning performer Al Ernst, who opened the show with a set on post-Easter snowbird migration, his own ill-fated flooding preparations ahead of Hurricane Milton.
“I am the best comedian in my price range,” he introduced himself, garnering some early laughs from the crowd. “When you are playing the Longboat Key Garden Club at 5:30, your career is on damn fire.”
He then introduced fellow performers Eric Wilder, Joe Mahoney, Cliff “Gerry Atric” Hornsby and Greg Shwartz. Ernst didn’t stray far, though, often giving his fellow performers the biggest laugh of all the listeners.
Hornsby, another familiar face for attendees of last year’s inaugural Comedy Night, is fresh off recording his first streaming special. He launched his stand-up career at 82 years old and is now almost 87.
The hometown comedian sported his U.S. Navy hat that evening, paired with patriotic socks. He recently recovered from a stroke and jovially introduced himself as the night’s “sit-down, standup comic.”
Wilder drew on his 22 years of military service for his set, joking, “Freedom still rings for me every day ... in my ears, because the hearing protection sucked.”
Mahoney, married for 40 years, offered his insights into family life, and Shwartz shared his exploits in online dating and as a former teacher in New York.
Arts in April concludes April 24 with Dinner and a Movie at Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park.
—DANA KAMPA
Comedian Cliff “Gerry Atric” Hornsby, who recently recorded his first special, brings his act to Comedy Night on Longboat Key.
Comedy Night attendee Jim Larson cracks a smile during
Al Ernst’s opening set on April 16 at the Town Center Green.
Photos by Dana Kampa Stand-up comedian Al Ernst opens the second-annual Comedy Night performance through Arts in April, made possible through the Longboat Key Foundation.
Joe Mahoney jokes about family life in his stand-up set.
Proceeds from entry and raffle tickets for the secondannual Comedy Night benefited the Longboat Key Garden Club’s community beautification projects and educational outreach.
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So long, farewell
Tropical vibes met pizza party nostalgia at Longboat Harbour’s seasonal farewell gathering this past week.
Residents met up one more time April 16 at the Sutton Place beachside property so those departing for the summer could share a few moments with their friends.
Guitarist and singer John Rinell set the scene with tunes by Jimmy Buffett and company, and attendees snacked on piping-hot slices of pie from Joey D’s Chicago-Style Eatery & Pizzeria while sharing their travel plans.
Event coordinator Karen Pashkow reassured residents staying on Longboat Key that there are plenty more social events to come, including their big Memorial Day gathering.
“I want to thank everybody for coming and making this the best party of the whole year,” Pashkow said. “For those of you who are leaving us, we’re sorry to see you go. Happy travels, and we’ll see you back in the fall. For us who live here full time, we’re going to party on all summer.”
Sourdough
Grilled Cheese on Grilled Sourdough
— DANA KAMPA Karen Pashkow, Connie Haubert DiMaggio and Carole Shaw share a smile at the Longboat Harbour annual farewell party.
Ken and Penny Krol, Karen Talty and Carol and John Bruno kick up their feet at the tropical-themed April 16 pizza party to bid farewell to Longboat Harbour residents departing for the summer.
Guitarist and singer John Rinell brings his musical talents to Longboat Harbour’s seasonal farewell party on April 16 at the Sutton Place beachfront property.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Fresh pizza was on the menu at the popular annual farewell party at Longboat Harbour.
Margarita Lenk, Ari and Stephanie Weiner
Not taken for ‘grant’ed
The Longboat Key Garden
Club is celebrating Arbor Day with its annual distribution of organization grants and student scholarships, and it is going bigger than ever.
Members held their annual meeting on April 17 at Longboat Island Chapel, inviting the awardees to join and share how the funding will help them this year.
President Melanie Dale reviewed what has been an exciting year for the club, which started off the season by receiving the “Non-Profit of the Year Award” from the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.
“That just got the ball rolling for us,” she said.
The 15th Taste of the Keys was a record-setting year, with proceeds of $23,000.
Funds raised through the flagship event and all the other events go toward the club’s grant and scholarship award winners celebrated that afternoon.
Altogether, the club budgeted $80,200 for awards and grants this year.
STUDENT SET TO SUCCEED
Last year, the club was proud to support student Annie Camille Haut with a $15,000 scholarship to finish out her senior year at the University of Florida, studying biotechnology and sustainability.
This year, through extensive outreach and networking efforts, organizers connected with more students, ultimately awarding a dozen scholarships.
Gretchen Burns, chair of the scholarship committee, announced the awards and recognized the five students who could attend that day.
This year’s awardees are: Adam Goodman (Florida State University); Eli Myron (FSU); Deanne Mungle (University of Florida); Leah Diehl (UF); Laurel Field (FSU); Riley Bergmann (UF); Tori Guarino (UF); Carter Oleckna (UF); Alexis Demetropoulos (New College of Florida); Rebecca Juntunen (UF); Emma Jackson (FSU); and Kai Sanchez (University of Central Florida).
The students are pursuing a mix of doctoral, master’s, and bach-
Luxury Villas
elor’s degrees.
Myron, the recipient of a $10,000 Charles T Bauer Charitable Foundation scholarship, is working toward a doctorate in studying coral reefs. He shared a deep appreciation for the award, saying it can be challenging to find significant funding sources as a first-year Ph.D. student in marine sciences.
“This award is going to help me hit the ground running, and I am extremely grateful for it,” he said. “It’s going to have a great impact on my field work and getting things started.”
His area of study specifically focuses on sustainable coastal infrastructure development and artificial reefs.
Burns said the committee is thrilled to be reaching so many new students this year, hopefully having a ripple effect in future environmental conservation.
“Every little bit helps these students,” she said. “A secondary education is so expensive, so anything we can do to help makes me feel good.”
FOSTERING EDUCATION
The other component to the garden club’s annual awards is the grant presentation.
Linda Ulrich, head of the grant committee, invited representatives from the winning organizations to share how the grants will support their environmental projects and outreach.
This year’s grants are funding: Mote Marine Laboratory’s summer camp need-based scholarships, aquaponics in the classroom program, and veterans farming program; Marie Selby Botanical Garden’s Camp Lookout and Set Sail with Selby programs; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota DeSoto Counties Mote STEM-focused education summer program in-house; school gardens at St. Martha Catholic School, Southside Elementary School and the Dreamers Academy; Longboat Key Turtle Watch’s Flip A Switch educational program; Save Our Seabirds’ renovation of two bird enclosures; Florida Maritime Museum’s native planting; and Cortez Village’s native planting.
Ulrich said this year’s awards include a mix of long-supported programs and cutting-edge projects, like the aquaponics program Mote is expanding. Those interested in applying for next year’s awards can learn more about the criteria and how to apply at LBKGardenClub.org/Activities.
— DANA KAMPA
Awardees joined members of the Longboat Key Garden Club’s grant committee on April 17 to celebrate receiving funding for their community environmental education and outreach programs. Members raised money all year to support local organizations and fund student scholarships given at the annual meeting.
Photos by Dana Kampa Lyn Haycock, a coordinator of the Taste of the Keys fundraiser, celebrates with President Melanie Dale at the end-of-season luncheon.
Attending the Longboat Key Garden Club annual grant and scholarship awards were recipients Eli Myron (Florida State University of Florida), Tori Guarino (UF), Alexis Demetropoulos (New College of Florida), Riley Bergmann (UF) and Carter Oleckna (UF).
FROM BEACH TO BAY
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
MEMORY SCREENINGS
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Youthful Aging Home Care specialists offer free, one-on-one private memory screenings. Be proactive about your brain health, and learn practical steps toward a healthier cognitive future. Appointments are 45 minutes and limited. Call 941383-6393 to RSVP.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
DINNER AND A MOVIE
5:30-10:30 p.m. at Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Join the Longboat Key Garden Club for its annual dinner and a movie, featuring the film “Knives Out.” Tickets are $85 per person and include entry, a gourmet dinner, a chance to win a door prize, popcorn, concession candies and more. Also features a live auction. Tickets are available at LBKGardenClub.org.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
COPS, CARS & COFFEE
8-10 a.m. at Whitney Plaza, 6920 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Show off your wheels at a social with first responders from the town of Longboat Key Police Department. Officers will be meeting with community members while spotlighting local businesses at Whitney Plaza. Coffee and food available by purchase. Visit LongboatKey.org for more information.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
RINGLING BRIDGE RUN
7 a.m. starting at The Bay Park, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Sup-
port the Education Foundation of Sarasota County at the third annual Ringling Bridge Run. If you haven’t already, register by noon April 23 to join the 5K ($65), 10K ($75) or free family fun run. Parking is at the Van Wezel, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. The 10K starts at 7 a.m., the 5K at 7:30 a.m. and the fun run at 8 a.m. Visit EDFoundationSRQ.org.
ARRIVEDERCI LUNCHEON
11 a.m. at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Congregation members can bid one another a happy end to the season over a meal prepared by Chef David at Shook Hall. Sign up is available in the hall.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
OFF THE CLOCK — PET EDITION
5-7 p.m. at the Humane Society of Sarasota, 2331 15th St., Sarasota. Join the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce for the latest Off the Clock networking event. Light bites included with registration, and a cash bar is available. Attendees are encouraged to bring an item from the rescue’s wish list. Cost is $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. Visit LongboatKeyChamber. com to register.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
BREAKFAST WITH KIWANIS
8:30 a.m. at Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Hear from guest speaker Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key’s latest breakfast meet-up. See the club page on Facebook for more information.
Dana Kampa
Artist Angela Thierman, who also displayed her work at “Artists in the Garden,” joins the artists’ reception at Town Hall.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
10TH TOWN HALL ART EXHIBITION
5-6:30 p.m. at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road. View works by local artists at this annual art showcase, part of the monthlong Arts in April celebration of Longboat’s creatives. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and beverages with free admission. See LongboatKey.org for details.
RECURRING EVENTS
MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS
LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Open to peruse a variety of books. Call 941-383-2011.
TUESDAYS ROTARY CLUB
5 p.m. at All Angels Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. The Rotary Club of Longboat Key typically meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month to hear from community guest speakers
and plan upcoming events. Visit LongboatKeyRotary.org to learn more or contact President Terri Driver at TDriver1@comcast.net or 703-517-8925.
POP-UP LIBRARY
10 a.m. at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. The Sarasota County Pop-Up Library hosts services on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with storytime beginning at 10:30 a.m. Other services available from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAYS
ZUMBA 11-11:45 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This cardio fitness class, led by licensed Zumba instructor Suzy Brenner, features high-energy music with easy-to-follow moves. All fitness levels welcome. Call 941-383-6493 or visit TheParadiseCenter.org.
COMMUNITY BINGO
2-4 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Caller Renee Fannin runs the show for this fun and lively game. Cards are $1 each; $2 for the final round. Call 941-383-6493 or visit TheParadiseCenter.org.
THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS
BRIDGE CLUB
1 p.m. at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This American Contract Bridge League-certified group meets twice weekly. Reservations required. Contact Patty Mayer at 262-215-2566 or PattySarasota33@gmail.com.
WALKING CLUB
9-10 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This new walking group meets outside The Paradise Center before heading out to local sites. Led by certified Nordic walking instructor Enrico “Sam” DiGiammarino Jr. To RSVP, email Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org or call 941-383-6493.
QUEENS HARBOURS’
Lighthouse Point home tops week’s sales at $13.5M
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Remer Stephen Buffington and Mary Ellen Buffington, of Atlanta, sold their home at 70 Lighthouse Point Drive to Bishop’s Bayou LLC for $13,505,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, five-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,979 square feet of living area. It sold for $8 million in 2022.
COUNTRY
Alvin and Kathleen Neumann, of Sarasota, sold their home at 585 Gunwale Lane to Richard White, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $4.7 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,733 square feet.
Lary and Virginia Lindsey sold their home at 524 Schooner Lane to Edward and Theresa Ann Dare, of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, for $3,985,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,438 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.3 million in 2020.
BIRD KEY
James and Martha Chadwick sold their home at 488 Meadow Lark Drive to Michael Redlawsk, of Erie, Pennsylvania, for $3.5 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,970 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,387,500 in 2013.
Michael and Deborah Aronica, of Longboat Key, sold their home at 335 Bobwhite Way to LVL Holdings LLC, trustee, for $3.3 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,844 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,857,200 in 2019.
L’AMBIANCE AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB
James and Lauren Whitehurst, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit E507 condominium at 415 L’Ambiance Drive to Alfred Sanfilippo and Janice Mikulic, of Longboat Key, for $2,675,000. Built in 1992, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,385 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,695,000 in 2021.
L’ELEGANCE ON LIDO BEACH
George Maurizi and Gayle Uhlen-
burg, of Sarasota, sold their Unit B-809 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to James and Elisa Popovich, of Hopewell Junction, New York, for $2.4 million. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,230 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2012.
Marni Brucato, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit A-205 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Clifford Mazer, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.65 million. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,350 square feet of living area. It sold for $340,000 in 1998.
The Estate of Geraldine Koche, of Tampa, sold the Unit A-405 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin to Charles Edward Markley and Renee Joan Markley, trustees, of Belton, Missouri, for $1.3 million. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,350 square feet of living area. It sold for $245,000 in 1996.
HARBOUR OAKS AT LONGBOAT
KEY CLUB
Bart and April Richert, of Franklin, Tennessee, sold their Unit 903 condominium at 2123 Harbourside Drive to Kimberly Kupferberg and Chipper Kupferberg, trustees, of Cincinnati, for $1.2 million. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,224 square feet of living area. It sold for $925,000 in 2024.
THE PLAYERS CLUB
Gregory and Louise Berg, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 106 condominium at 1465 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Peter and Diane George, of West Falmouth, Massachusetts, for $1.2 million. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,815 square feet of living area. It sold for $600,000 in 2014.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
LIDO BEACH CLUB
Carolyn Tricomi, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 907 condominium at 1212 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Craig Lawrence Smith and Anila Grover, of Ontario, Canada, for $780,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,421 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2010.
SEAPLACE
Paul Langer and Judith Frank, of Lincolnwood, Illinois, sold their Unit G4-309-C condominium at 1975 Gulf of Mexico Drive to George and Claire Prezioso, of Brooklyn, New York, for $700,000. Built in 1977, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 933 square feet of living area. It sold for $598,000 in 2019.
FAIRWAY BAY
Susan Ginsburg, trustee, of Longboat Key, sold the Unit 217 condominium at 1932 Harbourside Drive to Scott Randall Muller and Tina Lynne Muller, of Longboat Key, for $590,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. It sold for $439,000 in 2013.
ISLANDER CLUB OF LONGBOAT
Mildred Yezdimir, trustee, sold the Unit 54-N condominium at 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Leslee and Gordon Woolf, of Norwell, Massachusetts, for $550,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $173,000 in 1999.
LONGBOAT HARBOUR
John and Mary Bock, trustees, of Charlotte, North Carolina, sold the Unit 307 condominium at 4420 Exeter Drive to Richard James Shirtz and Margaret Shirtz, of Camillus, New York, for $550,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,152 square feet of living area. It sold for $75,000 in 1979.
Image courtesy Linda Driggs, Michael Saunders & Co.
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SQUARED UP by Dylan Schiff, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos
Donna Jablonski captured this photo of a group of sea birds lining the shoreline on Longboat Key.
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