Beachplace Association recently made a donation of $7,056 and several boxes of nonperishable foods through its end-of-season festivities.
The fundraising event featured a golf tournament at the Longboat Key Club, along with card games and mahjong competitions for nongolfers.
Beachplace has organized its annual golf tournament for many years, and the contributions collected this year support All Faiths Food Bank. Organizers presented the check April 14. Summer break can be an especially challenging time for families facing hunger. To support them, the food bank launched a campaign running through May 15, where gifts up to $1 million will be matched.
Carol Staitman credited resident Linda Gass for being the driving force behind Beachplace’s success this year. For more on ways to support, visit AllFaithsFoodBank.org.
Longboat library seeks book donations
Those looking to clean off their shelves and refresh their reading selection before summer can stop by Longboat Library.
The community library is currently seeking book donations, particularly in fiction published within the past 10 years.
While there, visitors can sign up for a membership or pick up a book from the sale section.
Starting May 1, the library will be switching to its summer hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Stop by 555 Bay Isles Road or call 941-383-2011 with questions.
Town gears up to fight Gulf waves
Landmark isn’t to blame for chronic erosion, but it’s not helping, either. Still, Longboat has a plan. SEE PAGE 3
Half-dozen newly hatched swans paddle their way into the town’s heart. SEE PAGE 18
Image courtesy of Carol Straitman
Volunteer Linda Gass helped organize a Beachplace fundraiser for All Faiths Food Bank
Dana Kampa
Dana Kampa
Swan parents Donald and Lydia shepherd their six cygnets, pictured only about 72 hours after hatching.
WEEK OF APRIL 30, 2026
BY THE NUMBERS
“The big seawall at the north end is the biggest one. It’s obviously kind of the poster child of the problem.”
Coastal Engineering Consultant Al Browder Read more on page 3
Cops, Cars and Coffee cultivates community
As part of its latest outreach efforts, the Longboat Key Police Department invited residents to bring and chat about their interesting rides for a “Cops, Cars and Coffee” themed meetup.
This is the first time Longboat Key has hosted this type of social event. The department shifted the original date to not force car enthusiasts to choose between it and the “Century of Cars” anniversary celebration held earlier this year.
Officer Simon Maple ex-
plained that they wanted to host the event as part of their broader community education outreach. The department offered the latest on its biking safety and turtle season campaigns while also answering any questions visitors had.
The inaugural event had an impressive end-of-season turnout, with an estimated 60 people stopping by to chat and support their favorite local morning brew spots. Car owners showed up too, filling most of the Whitney Plaza parking lot
with classics to new releases.
Ellen and Hans Kirkegaard, who brought their 1986 Mercedes, said they were glad for an opportunity to connect with other collectors and enthusiasts.
“I bought it in the year 2000, and I’ve never regretted buying it,” Hans said. “I grew up with the convertible my parents had. So, when I got to my 30s, instead of getting a motorcycle, I got a convertible of my own.”
Based on the high interest, Maple said the department may turn it into a tradition.
Grant pays for new firefighter gear
Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s wardrobe just got beefed up.
In the closet are 35 new sets of fire armor gloves and protective hoods for the neck and ears.
The new bunker gear was paid for by a $7,976.29 Florida Firefighter Cancer Decontamination Grant.
The second set of gear gives firefighters who are constantly on call an opportunity to wash their gear to remove it of contaminants that have the potential to cause cancer and still have another set ready for use.
“Smoke has carcinogens, and carcinogens are cancer-causing agents. So we want to clean that to remove those contaminants,” Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi said.
“With a second set of gear, that allows us to clean that equipment without having a down time.”
Dezzi said the department now has two full sets of gloves and ear and neck protector hoods and is working to purchase more coats and bunker pants to complete the set.
“This past year, the budget we are in right now we bought one third of the firemen their gear,” Dezzi said.
“This coming year we will purchase another set for the guys.”
MPO accepting public input on plans
Public input is now open for the annual update of the SarasotaManatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s five-year Transportation Improvement Program. The new draft of the plan through fiscal year 2031 is now available for public review and comment through May 18, 2026.
The process to develop the new TIP began on March 31, 2025, when the MPO Board adopted its 2025 list of project priorities. That list was forwarded to FDOT to prepare its draft five-year work program.
A draft TIP is available at MyMPO. org, where comments may also be submitted.
Public comments can also be submitted by calling 941-359-5772, emailing MPO@mympo.org, via mail to 5460 63rd St. E., Suite A, Bradenton, FL 34203 or by attending MPO meetings.
Dana Kampa
Jodene Moneuse
a smile with Longboat Key Police Sgt. Lee Smith, while Hagan Lyssy looks on at the first
Whitney Plaza.
DIARY OF A BEACH
The north end of Longboat Key shows what is now Gulf of Mexico Drive lined on each side with Australian pine trees, a landscaping project spearheaded by John Ringling in his early efforts to develop the island. 1973
In 1973, many manmade structures including the Ohana seawall can be seen as residents battled erosion. 1984
Attempts by residents to engineer against erosion become more clear in 1984 aerial imagery of Longboat Key’s Gulfside Road shoreline.
ENGINEERING AGAINST NATURE
Natural erosion on Gulfside Road beach led to seawall construction, which just made the situation worse.
S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER
From a bird’s eye view of Longboat Key’s shoreline, the Ohana seawall is a jarring sight.
The concrete structure that protrudes into the Gulf more than 100 feet has been a dominating presence on the island’s north end for decades, prompting headlines about public vs. private beach access and downstream erosional impacts of the structure.
The latter of which is evident from satellite images through the years that show continued erosion north and south of the seawall.
But the erosion on the stretch of beach parallel to Gulfside Road on Longboat Key is not caused by the seawall alone.
NATURAL INFLUENCES
The shape of the sea floor plays a part in the high erosion seen on the Gulfside Road portion of the beach.
Al Browder, a coastal engineering consultant and principal and vice president of Olsen Associates, has worked with the town to study erosion habits and plan renourishment projects on Longboat Key for years.
Browder describes an “ebb tidal shoal” that exists on the sea floor.
erbate erosion on the wall and then adjacent to the wall just because of the additional scour that you get when longshore currents and wave impacts hit the structure,” Browder said. “It tends to gouge out the sand around the structure for a certain distance updrift and downdrift of each one.”
The erosional impacts seawalls have on surrounding beaches are well-documented. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers writes in an engineering manual that seawalls protect erosion behind the structure, but “the contribution of littoral material to the system will be diminished along the affected shoreline.” The National Park Service explains it in a more common tongue.
“Although they hold soils in place behind the structure, seawalls usually accelerate erosion on adjacent beaches,” NPS writes in an article on its website. “In many areas, beaches have completely eroded and disappeared on account of seawalls.”
The erosion of the beach that runs parallel to Gulfside Drive is not caused by the seawalls, but they do accentuate the issue. The Ohana seawall in particular.
The town of Longboat Key performed its first island-wide beach renourishment project in 1993, the results of which can be seen in this 1994 aerial photograph of one of the most erosive areas of the town’s beaches.
“It’s like a giant sandbar around the mouth of Longboat Pass. Almost every inlet in the state of Florida has an ebb tidal shoal and a flood tidal shoal. The ebb tidal shoal corresponds to sand that is carried out of the inlet on an outgoing, or ebb, tide,” Browder said. “It’s a big pile of sand. It’s a couple-hundred-acre giant complex of sand. It’s a natural feature.”
That natural feature guides incoming waves to the beach parallel to Gulfside Road.
“The big seawall at the north end is the biggest one. It’s obviously kind of the poster child of the problem,” Browder said. “Structures are great at protecting the upland property for which they are built. You can build a seawall and it works great to defend the landward property. It’s pretty detrimental to the beach seaward of the structure and adjacent to the structure up and down the beach because it exacerbates erosion.”
GROIN FIELD PLAN
TOWN’S
The town of Longboat Key has a plan to combat erosion by constructing a groin field ahead of or during its next renourishment project in 2028.
The groin field project, estimated to cost anywhere from $6 million to $10 million, would begin on the northern end with a permeable groin that juts from the seaward corner of the Ohana seawall.
A beach renourishment project was underway in 2006, with sand being placed between the Gulf and the Ohana seawall as seen from aerial imagery. 2015
Sand can be seen built up to the north of and eroded to the south of the Ohana seawall in 2015 aerial imagery.
“The ebb shoal has a big effect on the wave climate, and it essentially casts a shadow down the beach for a certain distance,” Browder said. “You can see this when you run numerical models and you do analyses, you can kind of tell how far down the beach does the effect of the inlet ebb shoal extend. In our case it extends, and this is no coincidence, down to about Gulfside Road. Now, Gulfside Road wasn’t there 150 years ago, but the ebb shoal effects were certainly there.”
ENGINEERED RESPONSE
Just 500 feet south of the Ohana seawall is another unique seawall, a semi-circular one that gives the house on stilts its “Half Moon House” nickname.
Five lots to the south of that is another seawall and rock groin protecting the rest of the houses that sit off Gulfside Road to the south.
The fight against erosion using man-made structures has been ongoing for decades. Historic satellite imagery shows past attempts In the ’70s and ’80s when more than a dozen makeshift groins can be seen poking into the Gulf on that stretch of beach.
Longboat Key performed a beach renourishment in the Gulfside Road portion of the shoreline in 2025. The project was completed in between the town’s regular renourishment as erosion on this portion of the beach is much more pronounced there.
“You can see a progression of aerial photos that they quickly recognized that they had an erosion problem because the beach was retreating, and pretty soon, it became an every property-owner-for-themself proposition of building a groin or building a breakwater or building a bulkhead, a seawall, whatever. All these individual coastal structures started to pop up,” Browder said. “The problem of the ebb shoal being there, storm impacts, all that stuff. People started defending their property on an individual basis.”
Any solid structure that extends into the sea from a beach will have downstream impacts, Browder said.
“Seawalls have a tendency to exac-
The groin field is similar to a field of structures the town completed in phases on the northern end of the island. Longboat Key Public Works Director Charlie Mopps and Browder look at the north-end groin field project as a success. Now, the town is pointing its periscope just a bit south to Gulfside Road for its next project.
“Gulfside Road has now been promoted, so to speak, unfortunately, as an area of highest need on the island,” Mopps said. “It’s a chronic erosion need.”
The if, and when, the groin field is built depends on permitting.
“If you can’t permit it, don’t chase it,” Mopps said. “Right now, we’re doing modeling that shows what are the impacts to the downdrift beaches, because the state won’t permit structures that are going to have a negative impact to a neighboring beach. You have to prove that through numeric modeling.”
“You can see a progression of aerial photos that they quickly recognized that they had an erosion problem because the beach was retreating, and pretty soon, it became an every property-owner-for-themself
Aerial view of Gulfside Road in September 2023.
Steady as we go
Budget talks continue, with property tax conversations the elephant in the room.
orming the town’s budget takes months of planning, hours of discussion and more than a few punches into the calculator.
The process is even more complicated this year due to conversations far removed from the tranquil barrier island of Longboat Key.
About 300 miles northwest in the Florida panhandle, a campaign to revamp or even abolish property taxes has kept town, city and county leaders across the state up at night. Property taxes are by far the highest revenue source for municipalities, making up more than 75% of Longboat Key’s general fund, which pays for police, fire and other departments in the town.
Town Manager Howard Tipton and Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman told town commissioners at their strategic planning retreat meeting April 20 that despite potentially transformative changes to revenue sources, the 2027 budget is being formed with the phrase “steady as we go” in mind.
The 2027 fiscal year would be safe from any possible property tax changes because the issue would need to be approved by voters in November if it were to move through a state Legislature special session. Even then, it wouldn’t take effect until the following year.
“That’s all to be determined, and that would only hit in 2028 if it were to pass. So we’re not concerned about that this year,” Tipton said. “But we’re looking to the future
because anything new that we take on that’s funded through the general fund we’re going to have to figure out how to do that. When we say steady as we go, one of the things is we aren’t taking on any new projects. We’re not trying to add positions because those could be costs that we just can’t sustain in the future until we have a better idea of what that future looks like.”
With an uncertain future, rebuilding fund balances is a priority now. Hurricanes, rising costs and federal government gridlock are all contributors to Longboat Key’s stressed fund balances.
Finance Manager Sue Smith said the goal for the town’s general fund reserve balance is to have enough money to cover 120 to 180 days of general fund operating expenses. At the moment, that fund sits at $9.4 million.
“We had 159 operating days, so we are in compliance with our policy, but we have not refilled our bucket for emergency and natural disasters yet,” Smith said. “Once we get our
FEMA money in, we would be more than OK.”
One fund balance the town is looking to beef up is the street capital projects fund. With $6.5 million remaining after projects like the Broadway roundabout and Country Club Shores turn lane improvements were funded, how to pay for roadraising projects in several neighborhoods is becoming a more difficult problem to solve now that a price tag has been estimated at $30 million. And that $6.5 million balance is set to be reduced more “because we have a lot of projects budgeted (earmarked) but not yet spent,” Smith wrote.
“The street projects fund is usually funded by road and bridge, gas taxes, and FEMA money,” Smith said. “We did put some money from the general fund in there because a couple of years ago we had some extra fund balance reserves built up, so we moved it over there to help with these projects. But now that the projects are exceeding, there’s not enough in there for all these projects.”
Raising roads in several Longboat Key neighborhoods is a priority for town leaders, but paying for the neighborhood resiliency projects is a more difficult ask than originally anticipated with a new $30 million price tag.
“ When we say steady as we go, one of the things is we aren’t taking on any new projects ...”
— Howard Tipton, town manager
HOMESTEADY OR NOT
In Tallahassee, the conversation behind property tax changes shifted from total abolition of the practice to increasing exemptions for homesteaded properties.
Though a homestead exemption would lessen the impact on municipalities’ budgets, it would still put a dent in Longboat Key’s pocketbook. According to a presentation made to Town Commission on April 20, there are 2,942 properties that are considered homesteaded on Longboat Key. That’s about 29% of properties, and would cause an estimated $4 million hit to the general fund.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said in Central Florida on April 23 that he never expected a property tax bill to come to fruition during the general legislative session. He said he “wants to see something historic” and he “thinks we’ll get there” to get the issue on the ballot in November and that revenue from part-time residents could bridge the gap.
“What will happen is the nonhomestead revenue will continue to go up because you’re going to have Canadians buying homes. You’ve got some very wealthy people from South America; they’ll buy these massive homes in like Coconut Grove down south. Well tax them, fine,” he said.
Pink House in crosshairs
Neighbors, town and courts involved as unkempt house goes through foreclosure.
In the front yard of the threestory pink house that fronts the Sleepy Lagoon neighborhood, multiple boats have sat unmoved for months, and weeds are sprouting under and around a trailer. Landscaping is in rough shape in general, a boat has sunk in the canal and the pool out back is no longer blue. Neighbors have had enough, and showed up in force to a recent community meeting to share their frustrations with Longboat Key town staff.
“It’s a big problem. We’ve done a count. There are four boats, none of them are functional as far as we can tell. There are five trailers, there’s a utility trailer full of dirt and weeds. There’s a golf cart, a car that doesn’t run, a lawn mower, boat engine parts all around the pool,” described Norton Street resident Belinda Bauer.
“There’s a boat sunken in the canal. The dock is hanging halfway broken and submerged in the water.”
The former owner of the house at 501 General Harris St. died in 2019, leaving the property to his beneficiaries. It has not been well-maintained, and payments on the mortgage have fallen behind.
Last August, the process to foreclose the house began. According to court documents, $1.3 million is owed to U.S. Bank Trust National Association for the property.
The town of Longboat Key has also taken action. Electricity and water service have been shut off to the house, and fines have racked up for code violations. Town Manager Howard Tipton described the issues at the property as “a classic code enforcement case.”
“The town has very much been on top of this property going back to 2022. It’s been accruing daily fines since 2022. The last I checked, those fines are up over $50,000,” Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons said. “Last year, the town engaged an attorney to proceed with foreclosure on the property. The town is second in line behind the bank on that.”
At the April 14 Let’s Talk Longboat meeting, residents urged the town to do more, citing the condemnation and potential demolition of the Half Moon House at Gulfside Road as an
example of a potential path forward.
Parsons said the steps taken for the Half Moon House are not applicable to the pink house because the issues are for aesthetics, not safety.
“It would have to be in an unsafe structural condition to be condemned. There’s not evidence that it’s unsafe structurally thus far. It’s certainly in disrepair, but not necessarily to a point where you can condemn the property,” Parsons said. “I share the dissatisfaction here with everyone, just one thing to be able to convey is that there are a lot of legal impediments to government just being able to come into people’s properties and sort of take care of things. It has to go through legal steps in order for the government to be able to do something. You can’t just condemn someone’s property because it’s unsightly.”
With debris scattered across the yard, the pool unmaintained and no fence around the property, the house has become a safety concern, neighbors say. Broker and Realtor
Keith Redding, who has the house next door listed for sale, echoed that concern.
“I wanted to make sure the township understood and weren’t looking past that this is, first and foremost, a safety issue,” Redding said. “You have a delivery driver or someone that’s an inspector, there’s so many potentials for injury.”
Parsons said the town’s options to remedy the situation have been taken.
“It has to go through the legal steps of foreclosure,” Parsons said to the group of frustrated neighbors. “It is turning slowly, so please do recognize that the town shares your frustrations.”
According to court documents, repeated attempts by multiple process servers to locate any of the property owners have been unsuccessful. Process Server Roy Middleton wrote that while attempting to serve the documents at the house, he saw a light on inside the house and multiple cars in the driveway, heard voices and taped a note to the door.
“The people residing in this home are clearly avoiding service,” Middleton wrote.
A virtual court hearing is scheduled in the foreclosure case on May 7 via Zoom.
A REALTOR’S HEADACHE
Keith Redding is a Realtor and broker with William Raveis Real Estate.
One of his listings is at 501 Norton St. next door to the pink house. Now on the market for 50 days (as of Apr. 22), the pink house has caused Redding some issues.
“We actually had a contract on the property that fell through because of the condition of that home,” Redding said. “We had a contract right out of the gate, but the buyers just determined that the house next door was a deal-breaker.”
Originally listed at $3.25 million, Redding has since dropped the price to $2,995,000. He said the pink house “is clearly impacting the values in the area there.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen this, and I’ve been in business for 21 years,” Redding said.
“I’m surprised Longboat hasn’t intervened yet because you know how strict they can be about everything else, so it’s kind of odd that this one, especially at the front of a neighborhood visible from Gulf of Mexico Drive. It’s odd that it’s been allowed to get this way.”
S.T. Cardinal
The house at 501 General Harris St. has received attention from neighbors, city code enforcement, banks and courts as foreclosure of the property inches along, while maintenance is lacking.
Tree talk
Ever since the Longboat Key Town Commission planted a seed for the Planning and Zoning Board to “take a look at” the town’s tree code, the board has been evaluating potential changes.
“Should it be rewritten totally? Should it be modified?” Planning and Zoning Board Chair David Lapovsky said. “That’s up to us to make a recommendation.”
On April 13, the board met with subject matter experts. Longboat Key Planning Manager Elma Glisson said those experts — Todd Little with the state Urban Forestry Program and local landscaper David Glosser — were provided a packet with the town’s existing tree code,
Planning and Zoning Board continues to consider growing tree code ordinance.
memos sent to the board on the subject and questions from the board for clarification from the subject matter experts. Alyssa Vinson with UF IFAS was not able to attend but provided written comments.
Still top of mind to all involved in policy making on Longboat Key are the dual 2024 hurricanes that impacted the barrier island. That includes the tree code, which was amended in 2025 to exempt trees from removal permit requirements that had been severely damaged from natural disasters.
At the meeting, Lapovsky asked Little, coordinator with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Urban Forestry Program, whether potentially expanding the town’s list of prohibited trees should take into account whether a species could survive storm surge
like was seen in 2024.
“In observing the recent saltwater intrusion that we had two years ago with the hurricanes, there were specific species that really fared terribly, and it cost a lot of people and a lot of associations a lot of money,” Lapovsky said. “One of the species was podocarpus, and we saw miles of dead podocarpus that people replaced.” Podocarpus is a nonnative ornamental tree or shrub.
Right now, 11 tree species are prohibited on Longboat Key. The “nuisance exotic” species common names are Brazilian pepper tree, punk tree, ear tree, Chinaberry tree, Cuban laurel, silk oak, silver dollar tree, strangler fig, India rosewood, Australia pine and carrotwood.
Whether that list will be expanded, reduced or left alone is one thing being considered by the Planning
TREE CODE TODAY
The town’s regulations on trees are spelled out in Chapter 98 of Town Code. Some examples of regulations set forth in that chapter are below.
Trimming of trees other than mangroves shall conform to the American National Standards Institute A300 Standards.
Single-family lots are exempt from tree removal permit provisions.
Tree removal or relocation is prohibited unless approved by town manager or their designee.
For every tree removed, two replacement trees must be planted.
Those violating regulations outlined in the tree code are eligible to receive a $500 fine.
and Zoning Board. Little recommended keeping the prohibited list small, instead recommending “supplemental educational documents” that can be shared with those looking to plant on their properties with information about salt tolerance, growth rate and cold hardiness.
After discussions on how to alter the tree code have continued for almost a year (Town Commission gave its initial direction to the Planning and Zoning Board in May 2025.), a draft ordinance may be coming soon, but not before one more workshop.
“We are going to have a draft summarizing all the points that we’ve heard, making some recommendations that the board can sort of mull over and discuss further that we can then turn that into an ordinance with specific recommendations,” Glisson said.
After that workshop, a draft ordinance could be presented before the board at a meeting for the first of two necessary public hearings.
With a summer break scheduled, the draft ordinance would not be slated for a final vote until September. Then it would head to Town Commission with a positive or negative recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Board.
Sworn in
S.T. CARDINAL
Albert Miano Jr. is the newest uniformed officer with the Longboat Key Police Department.
The U.S. Navy and Army National Guard veteran has two decades plus in law enforcement experience, according to Longboat Key spokesperson Tina Adams.
Miano most recently served as an officer with the Greenwich Police Department. Other experience includes as a trooper with New York State Police, and officer with the New York Police Department and Pound Ridge Police Department. He also served with the Westchester County Police Department.
“Al is a good guy, Longboat Key is lucky to have him,” said WCPD Chief James Luciano.
On April 15, Miano’s significant other, Heather Conley, pinned his badge on his uniform after being sworn in by Longboat Key Police Department Chief Russ Mager. Miano is from the Northeast, earning degrees from Western Connecticut State University and Naugatuck Valley Community College.
Dana Kampa
Longboat Key officials are taking an in-depth look at tree regulations on the island, bearing in mind the effects of the 2024 hurricanes.
STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of Longboat Key Police Department Heather Conley pins the badge on Albert Miano Jr.’s uniform during a swearing in ceremony April 15.
Tax collector’s money grab
Mike Moran needs cash to ‘modernize’ his operations. His target: taking money from the schools, in spite of what voters approved.
There is something about power. Something about it that just seems to get to people.
Or maybe, it’s just Mike Moran, the Sarasota County tax collector. It’s the way he goes about things. To that point, an angered Sarasota County School Board filed suit last Friday in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, seeking a temporary and permanent injunction and declaratory judgment against Moran (as Sarasota County tax collector).
The board says Moran unilaterally and illegally has been charging the school district a first-ever commission on the money it collects on the school district’s extra voter-approved one-mill tax.
The board says that commission through March has diverted $2,055,798.65 to Moran’s office, depriving the district — students, teachers, etc. — of funds that were designated for educational uses when voters approved the one-mill tax in 2022.
The lawsuit is the predictable culmination of our new tax collector bullying ahead in a first-year rush to throw out and trash the 40 years of operational success by his predecessor, Barbara Ford-Coates; and to make a grab for millions of someone else’s tax dollars to, as he says, build “a modern institution” to better serve taxpayers. Perhaps it’s more like, well, to build his modern empire.
For the past 16 months, Moran has operated with little public attention, charging ahead from the day he took office in January 2025 to transform the tax collector’s operations.
It’s classic “new sheriff”-Al Haig syndrome: “I’m in charge,” and things are going to change. Indeed. In his first budget year, compared to his predecessor’s last year, the tax collector’s expenses will be up by what most people would say is an astonishing 34%, or by $4,006,968. Payroll increased 26%, up 14 people to 117 and up $2.6 million; and operating expenses jumped 157%, increasing $1,407,004 (see box).
How could he do that? From where did the money come?
The only way a tax collector can get that additional cash is to charge more than his predecessor did for the service of collecting taxes for counties, municipalities, school districts and multiple other special taxing districts.
As state law stipulates, tax collectors can charge a commission for their services according to a prescribed formula.
And surely, for those who have watched Moran during his two terms as a county commissioner, it’s no surprise that when he launched his efforts for more money to do what he envisions, he saw where the money was and armed himself with arguments to justify the grab. Here are two of them:
■ His predecessor left him an antiquated, operational disaster. That’s what he says, and he has made sure to tell that to his former chums on the Sarasota County Commission.
■ He interpreted state statutes to entitle him to the money.
Over the past 16 months, he has forged ahead, determined to get his way, a well-known Moran “M-O.”
And if you watched this saga unfold as if it were a TV series,
When Sarasota School Superintendent Terry Connor showed and explained this slide at an April 12 Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce luncheon, audience members wanted to know how they could stop this.
the school board lawsuit has come about, not just because it’s about money, but because of the way Moran has gone about getting it.
The issue has mushroomed into a legal battle that’s now costing taxpayers legal fees and diverting the time and money of the school district and tax collector resources.
When you know the details, it’s clear: All of this easily could have been prevented.
THE AUDIENCE REACTS
The issue surfaced publicly April 12, when Sarasota County School Superintendent Terry Connor presented a remarkable State of Education for Florida and Sarasota County at a Sarasota Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Connor enthralled his audience with 59 slides of data. But there was one slide that triggered a visceral reaction. The one displayed above. Connor explained that Moran’s office was changing how the tax collector is paid — a method that had been in place for 23 years, ever since 2002, when Sarasota County taxpayers first approved the extra one-mill school tax.
During a Q&A after his remarks, you could see the news of Moran’s new school district commission incensed audience members. They couldn’t believe the tax collector was taking money away from Sarasota County’s children for the tax collector’s benefit.
Few in the audience had no idea what had been occurring since Moran took office in January 2025.
NEW CEO = CHANGE
It’s almost always the case when a new boss takes over. The new CEO wants to show his or her competence. As the cliché goes: Take it to the next level.
That means change.
If the organization is in a tailspin,
Warfield Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran has been collecting a commission on the school district’s special one-mill property tax since November — something that hasn’t been since voters approved the tax in 2002.
the CEO sees that change is needed immediately. If it’s operating successfully, the CEO has time to observe, learn and make gradual improvements.
When Moran came into the tax collector’s office, managers saw he was eager to make changes. He immediately hired Guidehouse, an international consulting firm, to do a forensics accounting analysis.
In the campaign before his election, Moran charged FordCoates with “overcharging our taxpayers.” He specifically questioned Ford-Coates’ overtime payments of $461,752 over a two- to three-year period, mostly during the COVID years.
Guidehouse reported two employees in particular — Joe Garafalo, the collector’s CFO, and Sherri Smith, deputy tax collector, worked 1,672 and 1,764 extra hours, respectively, in fiscal 2021 and 2022. That resulted in additional pay of $191,890 to Garafalo and $166,129 to Smith, according to Guidehouse.
In September 2024, during the campaign, Ford-Coates responded
HOW THE TAX COLLECTORS COMPARE
When newly elected Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran made his budget presentation to the Sarasota County Commission last July, he noted how his office was an outlier among tax collectors in similar sized counties. He said his priorities were to hire more people and update the office’s technology platforms.
to Moran’s charges in the Sarasota Observer: “During the period following the pandemic … we had employees leave to care for family members, pursue other opportunities, move to other regions, etc. This resulted in turnover at nearly four times our historic rate.
“Throughout 2023, one employee worked 75-80 hours per week because of these staffing shortages,” Coates wrote. “This was the equivalent of two jobs, and I paid the employee for the actual time worked.”
Ford-Coates rejected Moran’s indirect allegations of wrongdoing and mismanagement. “My office’s financial operations are audited each year by an independent external auditing firm, and I have always received a ‘clean’ audit with no issues or comments.”
For fiscal 2023-24, the independent auditor, Carr Riggs & Ingram wrote: “Rules of the Auditor General requires us to communicate noncompliance with provisions of contracts or grant agreements, or fraud, waste, or abuse, that have occurred, or are likely to have occurred, that have an effect on the financial statements that is less than material but warrants the attention of those charged with governance. In connection with our audit, we did not note any such findings.
“In our opinion, the Tax Collector complied, in all material respects, with Section 218.415, Florida Statutes, regarding the investment of public funds …”
While noting it does not express “an opinion on the effectiveness of the Tax Collector’s internal control,” the auditor said, “… we did not identify any deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be material weaknesses.”
In the executive summary of its 26-page report, it said:
■ “Executive Leadership: There are instances of questionable business practices and decisions made in staff members’ own selfinterest.”
■ “Internal controls are present but need improvement” — in check, ACH & wire payments; transaction voids and reversals; and procurement (“review CFO’s purchases”).
“The practice of paying extra compensation in the manner observed to exempt employees appears to violate the Fair Labor Standards Act.” It also cited “Inconsistencies between payroll records and CFO’s explanation for extra compensation.”
This was just what Moran wanted — proof of poor management and ammunition for what was to come.
MOST EFFICIENT IN FLORIDA
Here is another business and management truism: When you stay in a job more than 25 years, no matter how passionate you are, you get comfortable, develop hardto-break routines, likely become complacent, not eager to change. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Even so, under Ford-Coates’
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long-time tenure, the tax collector’s office clearly was not broken.
For Pete’s sake, she was elected 10 times — 10 four-year terms. Voters approved her resoundingly each time. They wouldn’t have done that if she were incompetent. Even more remarkable: Ford-Coates was a registered Democrat in a Red Sea. What’s more, thousands and thousands of Sarasotans who made trips to the tax collector’s office repeatedly encountered the unexpected: a pleasant experience at the DMV!
In the course of reporting this, everyone interviewed was universal: They exclaimed how efficiently and pleasantly the tax collector staff treated them under Ford-Coates.
Typical comments: “When you went to the DMV in New Jersey, it was the most horrible experience ever. I couldn’t believe it when I came here.”
“Barbara was obsessed with customer satisfaction,” a former tax collector staff member said. She required staff to give her a report every week on customer reviews and feedback cards.
That is what the public saw. What the public did not see was that Ford-Coates also operated one of the most financially efficient tax collector offices in the state.
Florida has 67 county tax collectors. They collect their county’s ad valorem tax payments, tourist development taxes and business taxes. They issue driver licenses, vehicle tags, boat tags, mobile home decals, disabled parking permits and title applications. They sell hunting and fishing licenses.
The tax collectors fund their operations mostly by charging commissions for collecting ad valorem taxes. They also charge fees for the other services.
The commissions are calculated according to a Legislatureapproved formula. Tax collectors commonly say the formula amounts to up to 2% on all collections.
In fiscal 2023-2024, FordCoates’ final full budget year, her office collected $1,470,442,850 in property taxes and fees for local governments. Its commissions were $21,549,909 million, or 1.4% of collections.
Once tax collectors extract their commissions to fund their operations, they send the leftover amounts, or the “excess,” back to the taxing authorities in corresponding proportions.
During Ford-Coates’ era, the Sarasota County tax collector routinely was among the state’s leaders for sending back the most money and operating the lowestcost office (see box, page 8).
In her final two fiscal years in office, Ford-Coates returned $39,257,573 to her county’s taxing authorities — far more than five other counties of similar size. And when you compare cost of operations on a per-capita basis among similarly sized counties, Ford-Coates’ office was easily the least expensive.
What? Then how could this be an operational disaster that greeted the new tax collector?
‘DEEP, CONCERNING OUTLIER’ Moran, nevertheless, painted a pernicious picture to the Sarasota County commissioners.
At a July 1, 2025, commission meeting for the 2025-2026 budget, Moran began his presentation by providing operational statistics — creating a scene that his office is inundated daily with mounds of work and transactions. By Moran’s numbers: It’s collecting almost $2 billion a year; processing more than a million transactions a year for the state; 1,200 transactions a day; 1,600 phone calls a day; 1,200 online transactions a day; 700 pieces of
mail a day.
“I don’t know if that even really tells the story, because if any of you have been in our offices on a Monday or a Friday, these can have incredible spikes,” he told commissioners.
Then came the slides. First up: Priorities for FY 26 … “Modernize Technology!!!” it said in red letters.
“The second bullet point is the number one, two and three priority of that office is modernizing the technology,” Moran said. “We are a deep, concerning outlier in this area. For perspective, out of 67 tax collectors in the state of Florida, we are the only one that is on the software platform we’re on.”
Moran then gave commissioners a foreshadowing that in the future he may not be returning as much money to the county. “So I’m just being very cognizant that we need to have a hand-in-glove relationship when I’m using the funds to properly run that office. It could affect your excess.”
Then came more data to show how awful conditions were in the tax collector’s office — “the reality of what I’m dealing with,” he said.
He showed two charts (see one of them below) comparing his office’s staff count and expenses compared to nine other counties “that fit in the profile matching Sarasota.”
(Note: Volusia, Brevard and Pasco counties each have more than 600,000 population compared to Sarasota’s 487,000.)
“We are literally 53 full-time employees away from the average, he said. “So this affects everything. It affects turnover and burnout staff. It affects wait times. It is something I have to pay attention to and making sure we’re properly budgeting for it and planning longterm.”
On expenses, Moran told commissioners: “We are literally almost $2.9 million annually behind on operating expenses … it’s just simply an outlier.
“I’m committed to making sure I have the proper staffing and technology like any other business.”
Without context, of course, you’d say he makes a good business case. But you also could see his presentation as a setup — to get the commissioners sympathetic to his desire for more money.
On Feb. 26, 2026, in another budget meeting, Moran did it again — trashed Ford-Coates, albeit more explicit this time.
“The prior leadership was in that office for 49 years. We inherited an organization with artifacts, not office equipment … This wasn’t a forward-thinking organization. It was a museum with office hours.
“Our priority is modernization and infrastructure investment.”
Later on, Moran posted another slide for commissioners: “the onetime expenditures that I’ve had to
INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENSES
Moran presented this list to county commissioners last July in a budget hearing. He said they “are the one-time expenditures I’ve had to deal with …”
Here are excerpts from the Sarasota County School District’s complaint seeking an injunction against Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran:
■ For 23 years, the Sarasota County School Board has not paid any commission to the Sarasota County tax collector on the voterapproved millage.
■ “The School Board, the electorate and the taxpayers have relied upon this long-standing practice in establishing annual budgets, in passing referendum measures and in casting their votes with the reasonable expectation that 100% of voterapproved funds would be directed to the educational purposes for which they were voted.”
■ The tax collector’s proposed diversion of these trust funds to inflate his own budget by more than one-third violates the fundamental trust-fund principle that protects the taxpayers of Sarasota County.
■ The Tax Collector should not now be permitted to inflate his budget by more than one-third on the backs of the Sarasota County electorate and schools,
■ At no point did the ballot lan-
deal with …
“I wasn’t there but a very, very short time, and the IT group came to me that our main server that runs the entire operation was well beyond its useful life and in failure. It was a $325,000 conversation.
“Of course, any reasonable person, I said, would do whatever it takes get it fixed immediately.”
What Moran did not report was that the tax collector’s office, the clerk-comptroller and property appraiser were all on the same platform and had been working with the vendor for at least three years for updates and improvements — before and after COVID. But each time the vendor provided new features, Ford-Coates’ office said the changes were unsatisfactory. “It was a valiant effort on both sides — the vendor and us,” a former staffer told us.
OK, yes, everyone knew the system was dated. But it wasn’t an “artifact.” While Ford-Coates was unsuccessful completely updating technology, the office still was working well enough to remain one of the most cost-efficient.
COMMISSIONERS GO ALONG
As Moran painted a picture of operational neglect and excessively deferred maintenance in that February meeting with county commissioners, he also made a brief reference to the issue that has now mushroomed into a lawsuit.
“Since we last met, there are two issues that we talked about through correspondence between our offices. One is the excess issue. The past tax collector administration was not distributing the annual excess as outlined in Florida statute as far back as our records can show…
“(And) the school board issue. … The Sarasota County government was paying the school board’s state-mandated commissions for approximately 23 years under the past administration. This is corrected in the last tax distribution. For reference, the FY ’25 was almost $2.2 million.”
These were two more dings at Ford-Coates.
But none of the commissioners questioned Moran on either point, showing no interest in the matters. They didn’t need to. By that time, they had already voted to approve Moran’s charging the school district a first-ever commission.
‘NO RATIONALE’
guage disclose that a portion of the voter-approved funds would be diverted to pay the Tax Collector’s commission.
■ Florida Statutes “is completely silent as to whom bears responsibility for tax commissions on voter-approved school millages … Indeed, the Tax Collector is not required to collect any commission at all and does so at his sole discretion.”
■ “… (T)he statute’s silence regarding voted school millage demonstrates a considered legislative choice not to authorize commissions on voted school millage.”
■ “(We) request that this court: Enter a permanent injunction enjoining the tax collector from collecting, withholding or retaining any commission on the voterapproved school millage levied by the Sarasota County School Board; requiring the tax collector to remit 100% of all voter-approved school millage proceeds … without deduction of any commission; requiring the return of all commissions already collected.
To read the full lawsuit, go to YourObserver.com/Opinion, “Sarasota school board lawsuit.
forward …
“I would greatly appreciate it if you could connect and come to a conclusive understanding regarding this matter, and then formally advise my office on how to proceed.
“My goal is simply to ensure that we are handling this appropriately, transparently and in alignment with both the law and the expectations of all stakeholders.”
Classic Moran — always cordial and polite, even though you sense an ulterior motive.
Sarasota School Board attorney Dan DeLeo saw through it. He was perturbed. He responded to Moran’s letter on Sept. 5. Excerpts from his 1,100-word letter:
“This office sees no rationale for the sudden and complete shift of course brought on independently, and without justification, by the newly elected Tax Collector. …
“The gross divestment of funds by the Tax Collector’s office would have real and detrimental effects on the ability of the School Board to continue to adequately provide for its students as well as employ resident staff and educators …
“Be advised the School Board takes this claim very seriously and intends to zealously defend against the unrightful taking of taxpayer dollars intended for the School Board.”
Moran responded with another email. He requested to meet face to face with Connor.
According to Connor, Moran “said if this is already moving down a legal pathway, then we can just let the lawyers take this. But if I was amenable, he said let’s have a conversation. I said, absolutely. I said the last thing we want to do is go down a legal path. So I invited him to the office.”
Moran went to Connor’s office in August 2025.
“It was very convoluted,” Connor said. “I couldn’t get a good grasp of what his stance around the issue was.”
The conversation concluded with Connor recommending Moran meet individually with the school board members. Which he did, all but Tom Edwards.
Politely and cordially, Moran informed the school board members he was just following state statutes.
The school board took no formal action.
MORAN’S OUTLIER CHART
“The reality of what I’m dealing with,” said Mike Moran. Compared to other Florida tax collectors, he said: “We are literally almost $2.9 million annually behind on operating expenses … it’s just simply an outlier.
Indeed, Moran’s grab for school district money actually began well before the February 2026 budget meeting. It had been underway since the first half of 2025.
But his efforts took on full momentum on July 28, 2025. Moran sent Superintendent Connor and Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis a one-and-a-halfpage letter.
Subject: “Clarification on responsibility for payment of millage collection fees related to school board voter-approved levy.”
Wrote Moran: “I am requesting your assistance in determining which entity is properly responsible for the commission on the voterapproved school millage going
to pick up the tab. This needs to be passed on to the school board. They can find the money. It’s time to turn that over after 23 years.”
Commissioner Ron Cutsinger: “We appreciate the collaboration we have with the school board … This is a mistake that needs to be corrected.”
Commissioner Joe Neunder: “We appreciate the relationship with the school board, but business is business.”
With that, Moran had an important imprimatur to proceed full speed. On Sept. 4, 2025, Connor received the following letter from the county: “We’d like to inform you that the Board of County Commissioners discussed this situation at its Aug. 19 budget workshop and voted to discontinue paying this commission on the school board’s behalf beginning in fiscal year 2026.”
Said Connor: “We were like, ‘Oh my God, they just voted this.’”
‘IMMEDIATELY CEASE’
Since November 2025, Moran has been taking a commission on the district’s extra one-mill tax.
According to Connor, the first hit came in December. It was a shocker: Moran claimed $4 million. It was a mistake, but after “back and forth,” Connor said, it was corrected.
The total taken as of April 17, 2026, has been $2,055,798.05. That date is significant. School Board attorney DeLeo sent Moran a letter on that date formally demanding Moran “immediately cease collecting, withholding or retaining any commission on voterapproved school millage funds, and to return all commissions improperly diverted to date, together with any interest accrued.”
DeLeo concluded the letter:
“Please be advised, however, that if this matter is not resolved within five (5) days of your receipt of this letter, the School Board may be compelled to move forward with seeking Judicial relief …
“The harm caused by the continued diversion of these trust funds is real, immediate, emergent and ongoing. As a direct result of your unauthorized taking of millage funds, the School Board has already been forced to limit employee health care benefits, roll back educational programs and implement staff reductions. Every day that passes without resolution compounds this harm to the students, teachers, and taxpayers of Sarasota County.
“We trust that this matter can be resolved cooperatively and in the best interests of the Sarasota County community.”
DeLeo invited Moran to contact him to “discuss terms of a negotiated resolution” in person or via telephone.
Moran’s response? A letter that same afternoon, via email.
He wrote that he was awaiting an opinion from the Florida attorney general, which “will likely resolve the core of this issue, potentially avoiding costly litigation and saving Sarasota County taxpayers significant resources.”
There was no phone call, no faceto-face meeting.
‘CAN WE NEGOTIATE?’
In an interview with Connor and DeLeo April 24, the question was posed: “Did Mike Moran ever say anything like this: ‘This is what I’m thinking regarding the collection of commissions. I know this is a lot of money that would affect you. Is there a way we can figure out how to work this out?’”
‘BUSINESS IS BUSINESS’ But Moran did. He sent letters to the county commissioners, making the case that the county for 23 years incorrectly had been paying the school district’s commission on the extra one-mill tax.
It worked. At an Aug. 19 budget workshop, commissioners took only 2 minutes and 40 seconds to end that 23-year practice. There was no detailed discussion about any of the ramifications to the school district or whether charging the school district was legal. They voted 5-0.
Commissioner Teresa Mast: “I don’t know if this is the right time to bring it up, but I wanted to discuss real quickly the letters that we received from our Tax Collector Mike Moran. One in particular is the $589,556 from the school board fee … I’m not interested in continuing
Connor, recalling Moran’s visit last August: “No. I asked for that. In the spirit of working collaboratively, I asked ‘Is there a glide path to something? Can we negotiate something?’ I told him our budgets were already set and approved. This $2 million will create a major significant deficiency in our budget.”
His response?
Connor: “His response was that it wasn’t his authority. It would be the county commission’s authority. He said he can’t unilaterally decide to create anything outside of what he said the statute says.”
On Friday, April 24, the school board had enough. It filed suit against Moran.
After being served Tuesday, Moran responded: “We respectfully suggested that the School Board wait until the Florida attorney general issued its opinion on the matter, which would save the taxpayers money, but apparently, they would rather spend money on attorneys than the children.”
Murder mystery on LBK
Organizers of the second annual Arts in April celebration closed out the month with the Longboat Key Garden Club’s Dinner and a Movie benefit on April 24 at Bayfront Park.
The evening featured a meal prepared by Jean and Frank Caldwell, a live auction conducted by professional auctioneer Jim Smith, prize giveaways, music by Akiem Esdaile, and a showing of the murder mystery “Knives Out.”
Susan Phillips, board chair of the Longboat Key Foundation and garden club member, thanked community members for supporting this year’s events.
The club recently awarded its annual grants and student scholarships, programs supported through events like Dinner and a Movie.
Phillips noted that this year’s movie night included an auction with even more prizes donated by area resorts, restaurants and more.
She said the garden club looks forward to beautification projects benefiting the entire community with support from these events.
“Every year, we do something to beautify this island,” she said, noting that it was only possible through substantial community support.
Garden Club President Melanie Dale encouraged attendees to mark their calendars for the club’s next big event, the Fourth of July butterfly release at Bicentennial Park.
— DANA KAMPA
sitting on a chair while smoking. When police arrived, they made contact with a man matching the description smoking an unfiltered cigar. While smoking cigarettes is not allowed on public beaches, drop the “ette” and you’re in the clear as Town Code describes, so police closed the case.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
NUDE AND ELUSIVE
5:01 p.m., 3175 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious person: A concerned
beachgoer called police after reportedly seeing a man on the beach, about 70 to 80 years old, and naked. Police responded to the reported beach access and canvassed the 3100 to 3200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive. The search came up short, yielding no results, and police closed the case.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
HOPE SHE GOT THAT RENTAL
INSURANCE
10:45 a.m., 775 Longboat Club
Road
Property damage: A woman was driving a rental car past a golf course when something that sometimes happens when driving past a golf course happened. The woman reported to police that an unknown golfer had hit a golf ball into her rental car, damaging the rear passenger side quarter panel of the vehicle. The police wrote a report, told the woman to contact the rental company, provided a case number and closed the case.
DON’T FIGHT OVER SPILLED WATER
11:33 a.m., 5460 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: At the Longboat Key Police Department, a man walked in to report a troubling incident the day before involving him and one of his neighbors at a community. The man told police that an argument started regarding water spilled in the parking lot. The verbal confrontation escalated when the man’s neighbor got into his face, pushing the brim of his hat against his forehead. The complainant told police that when that happened, he extended his arm into the man’s chest to stop any further progression and that he believed the man was looking to start a fight. He told police he thought his neighbor was trying to start a physical altercation and would like to document the incident. Police wrote down the story and closed the case.
Anytime. Anywhere. Longboat Observer.
Catering chef Jean Caldwell and Longboat Key Garden Club President Melanie Dale welcome guests to Dinner and a Movie.
Photos by Dana Kampa Dinner and a Movie attendees Elaine and Mike Cichon
With event organizer Susan Phillips smiling in the reflection, Steve Branham holds up a custom mirror being auctioned off.
Mary Lou Johnson and Bennie Dods
Barbara Geldbart
1930-2025
Barbara Geldbart passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, at the age of 95.
Barbara was an Atlanta native and a 4th generation Atlantan. Barbara attended Atlanta schools and attended and graduated from the University of Georgia where she obtained an elementary education degree. This is where Barbara met many of her lifelong friends including her husband Jack Geldbart who was attending law school. Barbara and Jack were married in 1951. Jack was a captain in the Air Force Judge Advocate Corps at the time and Barbara and he lived in different places including Japan. They later moved to Atlanta, where Barbara taught 2nd grade and later started a family and she continued to do substitute teaching. In 1962 they built and moved into their home in Buckhead Atlanta. The family spent so many happy years at their family home and have wonderful lifelong memories.
Jack owned a record distributorship business. He and Barbara had great memories of traveling all over the country and meeting so many interesting people in the music and entertainment business. Throughout her life Barbara and Jack were both very active in all facets of the Atlanta community. After her children were raised, Barbara obtained her real estate license and
became very active as a residential real estate agent. She continued to renew her real estate license well into her 90s. In 1978 Barbara and Jack purchased a home in Sarasota, Florida and where they began to spend more and more time at their North Lido Beach house surrounded by children and later grandchildren. By the mid 1980’s Sarasota became their primary residence. Both Barbara and Jack became very active in civic and social organizations. Barbara was also active in cultural and educational organizations including the Friends of Selby Library Board for many years and was very active with several Sarasota theaters and the Sarasota Orchestra.
Barbara was a very up person and loved going to art openings, the symphony or anything that was going on. If it was happening, she was there. She could talk and engage with anyone. She loved her grandchildren dearly and they loved her. She kept up with current events, sports and anything that interested her children and grandchildren. She was thrilled having four great grandchildren in the last couple of years. Barbara loved art, painting, gardening and traveling. Barbara was predeceased by her husband Jack in 1996 and youngest daughter Gina in 2023. She is survived by her daughter Lisa Wells (Peter); daughter Meryl Warner (Garry); son David Geldbart; 7 grandchildren; 4 great
grandchildren; sister Charlotte Falk-Bowen (Grady); brother Gerald Friedman (Sandi); and several nephews and nieces.
SERVICE:
Funeral services in Atlanta were held in early January for family only. According to her wishes, there will be a Celebration of Life for Barbara in Sarasota, FL on Thursday, May 7th at 11:00 a.m. It will be held in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium at Selby Public Library in Sarasota, FL. Please RSVP online by visiting BarbaraGeldbart.com/RSVP. Her only request was for no one to wear black.
DONATIONS:
For those wishing to make a memorial gift, please feel free to contribute to Friends of the Selby Public Library, 1331 1st Street Sarasota, FL 34236 or your favorite charity.
462408-1
Neal Mason Hall, 86, of Longboat Key, FL, passed away on April 16, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Born in 1939, Neal lived a full, vibrant, and active life marked by creativity, dedication, and a deep love for family and friends.
A talented, artistic, and technical photographer, Neal made significant contributions to education by building a television studio and network for the National Education Association (NEA). His technical skill and vision helped bring educational content to a wider audience during a pivotal era of media development. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Neal was a passionate musician. He played drums with the trio “The GadAbouts” and, for 25 years, performed as the beloved “Flaps” with the British Embassy Players’ annual Music Hall productions, delighting audiences with his rhythm and stage presence.
pleasures of life. He was an avid golfer, an enthusiastic reader, and loved sharing good meals and travels with family and friends.
Above all, he cherished his role as “Pop” to his eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, who brought him endless pride and happiness.
He is survived by his devoted wife of many years, Frances; his two sons, Neal and Douglas; and their respective families.
His warmth, creativity, and zest for life will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A life well-lived, filled with music, laughter, and love — Neal Mason Hall will be remembered fondly by his family and the many friends whose lives he touched.
SERVICE: A celebration of life has been held, and the family would like to express their gratitude to all that attended and sent their condolences.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West, Bradenton, Florida, is in charge of arrangements. Neal Mason Hall
Neal found great joy in the simple and meaningful
IN HER WORDS
In an email to the Observer, outgoing Women’s Guild President Kay Kochenderfer offered a few reflective words from her time leading the board: “Serving as president of the Women’s Guild of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, has been a deeply meaningful experience. It has been an honor to work with the dedicated, hard-working and faith-filled women of the guild whose central theme is service to others and fellowship with one another. I am particularly grateful that we established the Guild Scholarship Endowment Fund during my term, which will provide annual scholarships to help students at Catholic schools obtain a good education and more positive life opportunities. The fund value has risen to approximately $200,000, and we are looking to continually grow it.”
Fellow Michiganer Hartrick said she looks forward to giving back to the guild after enjoying its activities for the past two years.
“I’ve been here since 2005 and coming to this church, and as we’ve been staying longer and longer, I’ve wanted to get more involved,” she said.
Women’s Guild welcomes new board
The St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Women’s Guild saw a complete turnover of board members, who recently had their official installation Mass.
DANA
KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Anew chapter in the history of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church started with a fresh page after the installation of an entirely new board. Coincidentally, the leaders in all five board positions finished their terms at the same time.
The outgoing board includes President Kay Kochenderfer, Vice President Lyn Kennelly, Treasurer Marilyn Davol, Recording Secretary Susan Gilmore Clarke and Corresponding Secretary Mary del Pup.
The new board consists of President Barb Sikora, Vice President Mary McGinn, Treasurer Susan Hartrick, Recording Secretary Carol Basi and Corresponding Secretary Paula Sharp.
MEET THE NEW BOARD
Sikora said she was truly humbled and honored to be nominated and elected at their March 16 meeting.
“I don’t think it’s an easy job,” she said. “The past board has done excellent work, and we will all work together to try to get to that same place.”
She moved to Longboat Key about
Outgoing board members for the St. Mary, Star of the Sea,
10 years ago from Michigan and has been a member of the Women’s Guild just about as long.
“I have always felt accepted here, and I think it’s a great social and spiritual thing for women in the community,” she said. “As you get older, it’s more important to stay connected, even when it’s easier to say no.”
Anyone who has been shopping in the women’s clothing department of the guild’s large annual rummage sale will likely recognize Sikora from her hours volunteering there.
The turnover comes as the church is preparing for some extensive expected renovations.
But Sikora said she looks forward
to the challenge of seeing the guild through it all.
McGinn of Milwaukee, brings her experience working in a chief staffing position with Microsoft. She recently retired, and it was no surprise she quickly found a new leadership role.
“The people here and the work that they’re doing is very important to me, which is why I decided to do it,” she said of taking up the board position.
She said she looks forward to further growing the camaraderie in her parish and the good the guild can do for the wider Longboat Key community.
WORSHIP directory
Hartrick was a registered nurse before she retired, and she didn’t hesitate to work in any department that needed her.
“It was exciting and very rewarding work,” she said.
Basi said she hopes to be up to the job. She was certainly off to the right start, taking notes at her own installation celebration.
She has been part of the guild for five years.
“I’m so glad I joined, because I would walk into church and recognize faces but not know anyone’s name,” she said. “Once I joined the guild and got to know these women on a social basis, it was wonderful.”
She raised six kids and worked as a teacher in science and math.
Rounding out the board is Sharp. Guild members named her last year’s special honoree for the May Crowning Ceremony, lauding her willingness to give back to the community and her warm friendship.
This isn’t the first time she has served as the group’s corresponding secretary, and her experience is an asset to the new board.
In a morning service overseen by Father Robert Dziediak on April 14, the outgoing members passed their lit candles to their successors.
Kochenderfer, who has been helping Sikora learn the ropes since last month’s election, expressed every confidence that the new board will carry forward the momentum.
Following the service, the board members joined fellow Women’s Guild members for a celebration luncheon at Father Pick Hall.
“Kay has been a very caring, considerate, kind, gracious, generous, talented, and in many ways, brilliant president,” Dziediak said. “I believe those adjectives can also be said of her whole board.”
“Kay has been a very caring, considerate, kind, gracious, generous, talented, and in many ways brilliant, president. I believe those adjectives can also be said of her whole board.”
— Father Robert Dziediak
Catholic Church Women’s Guild passed the torch to new leaders at the April 14 installation service. The outgoing board includes President Kay Kochenderfer, Vice President Lyn Kennelly, Treasurer Marilyn Davol, Recording Secretary Susan Gilmore Clarke and Corresponding Secretary Mary del Pup. The new board is President Barb Sikora, Vice President Mary McGinn, Treasurer Susan Hartrick, Recording Secretary Carol Basi and Corresponding Secretary Paula Sharp.
Kay Kochenderfer and Barb Sikora
Photos by Dana Kampa
Father Robert Dziediak welcomes everyone to the April 14 installation Mass for the new leadership of the Women’s Guild of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
Board members for the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Women’s Guild welcomed the organization’s new leadership at the April 14 installation service. The new board is President Barb Sikora, Vice President Mary McGinn, Treasurer Susan Hartrick, Recording Secretary Carol Basi and Corresponding Secretary Paula Sharp.
Mother's Day Gift Guide
THE GIVING TREE GALLERY
5 N Blvd of the Presidents • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-388-1353 • TheGivingTreeGallery.com
Celebrate Mom with thoughtful, artful jewelry from award-winning designers. For over 30 years, The Giving Tree Gallery has offered unique, handcrafted pieces on St. Armands Circle. From meaningful keepsakes to 18KT fine jewelry, find a gift as special as she is-paired with exceptional service in a warm, welcoming space this Mother’s Day.
CAFÉ ON ST. ARMANDS
431 St Armands Circle • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-388-4415 • CafeOnStArmands.com
Join us at Café on St. Armands this Mother’s Day for an unforgettable culinary celebration! Pamper her with exquisite dishes like Rack of Lamb, Chicken Al Limone, & our decadent Limoncello Cake. Visit our pop-up bloom bar on the Circle to pick a stunning bouquet for Mom! Make it a day to remember & a meal to treasure!
MCCARVER & MOSER
1301 Main St • Sarasota, FL 34236 | 1601 Gulf of Mexico Dr • Longboat Key, FL 34228 941-387-8000 • mccarvermoser.com
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.
SIRIUS DAY SPA, SALON & MED SPA 11585 E SR70 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 1551 Lakefront Dr, Suite 101 • Sarasota, FL 34240 941-357-4611 • SiriusDaySpas.com
Give Mom what she really wants-a gift card to the #1 luxury spa, salon & med spa with 2 locations in Sarasota & Lakewood Ranch. Enjoy 200+ services including massages, facials, Botox, fillers, laser hair removal, Morpheus8, IPL, hair & nail services, and bioidentical hormone therapy. Get a $15 bonus for every $100 through Mother’s Day!
Now is the time to find the perfect present for your mother! Enjoy 20% off all Fashion Jewelry, Remounts and Lab Created Diamonds. Sale ends May 9th. For 53 years, Bartlett Jewelers has been the trusted source for beautiful jewelry. Stop in today. Open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
MILLER HAUS FURNITURE 6100 N Lockwood Ridge Rd • Sarasota, FL 34243 941-960-2942 • DutchHausFurniture.com
Celebrate mom with gifts she’ll enjoy! From handcrafted furniture for every room of the home to relaxing outdoor seating and locally made candles, Miller Haus Furniture offers meaningful gifts that will last a lifetime. Stop in and shop at a Miller’s location today!
1 HOT COOKIE AND ICE CREAM
1066 S Tamiami Trl • Osprey, FL 34229
941-375-8937 • 1HotCookieAndIceCream.com
Treat Mom to something sweet this Mother’s Day. Whether you’re picking up a thoughtful treat or bringing her in to enjoy it together, it’s a dessert experience she’ll love-warm, freshly baked cookies paired with rich, handcrafted ice cream. Don’t miss their famous hot cookie sundae, loaded with melty goodness and your choice of toppings, or share a decadent cookies-and-ice-cream combo for a simple, memorable way to celebrate.
SLEEPY
The newest additions to Longboat’s swan population have hatched and are carrying on the Key’s legacy for the birds.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Spring has brought many seasonal changes to Longboat Key, but one that has delighted residents perhaps more than any other is the hatching of six new mute swans.
Longtime caretaker David Novak and a handful of helpers gave the swan family a checkup the morning of April 22.
The pair, named Donald and Lydia, made their nest on a pond along Bay Isles Parkway. The team found six healthy cygnets and two unhatched eggs. After confirming the eggs weren’t viable, the team dispersed the nest and eggs to deter predation from animals like coyotes and raccoons.
Novak said it is a joy to see the new fuzzy faces emerge. But it also begins one of the two busiest points of the year for him — when new cygnets hatch and when they’re ready to disperse to new homes as “teenagers” in November.
He took on the role of caring for these iconic birds almost 20 years ago, and he was overjoyed to see the nest do so well. He said half a dozen is about the most offspring a pair can comfortably raise, so this was an excellent outcome.
As of that morning, they were about 72 hours old and all bobbing along, sticking close to Mom and Dad in the middle of the pond.
Seeing such a healthy clutch
Six cygnets a swimming
speaks to the parents’ well-being, considering it takes quite a bit of energy to grow such large eggs.
“I give them extra protein in their feed, because the egg has a white milky liner of calcium, which later forms the bone structure,” he explained. “The embryo starts to grow and gets the calcium from the inner shell, and that, in turn, weakens the shell so they can punch through it with the beak. It’s amazing.”
Novak, inspired by the likes of David Attenborough and other passionate naturalists, said it has been gratifying to care for the local swan population.
He puts just as much thought into the swans’ names as the rest of their care, and he drew inspiration from the John Prine love song, “Donald and Lydia.”
Another Longboat pair, Frank and Andi, also made a nest, and neighbors Frank and Krislyn Lavey said they had seen eggs in the nest at an earlier point. However, those eggs appeared to be missing during a nest check on April 22.
That morning, Novak checked on the hatchlings’ overall health and carefully pinioned them to ensure the nonnative birds do not migrate, proliferate and encroach on native bird populations.
“If I were not to control the population here and let them spread all over Florida, they could all be taken away,” he explained.
Keeping the swan populations separate also helps protect them from the spread of disease. Last December, Orlando residents found nine swans that had died at Lake Eola Park, likely from an avian flu outbreak.
It takes a lot of consideration to find just the right home for the young adult swans.
“The community I’m most proud of is Camelot Lakes (in Sarasota),”
he said. “I just checked in on their cygnets on Sunday. They currently have two lakes and two pairs. This was their first breeding of one pair, and they had three.”
Caring for these birds has been a passion project for him, one motivated by wanting to show Longboaters just how special these birds are.
His efforts seem to have gone a long way, as many passers-by paused to take in the sight of the new swans.
The Laveys said they have gleefully watched the nests progress over the past month, sharing updates with family members along the way. It’s no coincidence that Frank the helper and Frank the swan share the same name, although Novak said the naming credit is a composite of several Franks.
The Laveys have stepped in to help with feeding and watching over the swans when Novak has been away. However, the swan whisperer is still seeking a full-time successor.
Novak said he has procrastinated making any year of caretaking his last. But he hopes to pass along the responsibility to several dedicated caretakers who can share the load.
The new swan family has moved between the pond near the busy roadway and a quieter neighborhood near Longboat Key Fire Rescue Station 92, where the pair has focused on raising the new brood. As of April 25, one cygnet had been culled, while the remaining hatchlings got their first taste of cracked corn from Novak.
As he explained, nature’s lessons in foraging for food and avoiding predators are ones the babies need to learn immediately.
“This is no different from raising kids ... except it happens many times faster,” he wrote in an update.
More hatchlings may come in future seasons. In addition to the two pairs, the Longboat Key Club is home to a swan bachelor.
SUPPORTING THE SWANS
Longtime swan caretaker David Novak developed the Gracie Swan Foundation in 2014, giving Longboat Key residents an avenue to support the care and feeding of its resident mute swans. To learn more, visit GracieSwan.org. Donations can be made in person or by mail to the Truist Bank branch at 510 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228.
Swans Donald and Lydia welcome new cygnets to the world.
Image courtesy of Lou Newman David Novak gives a newborn cygnet a physical exam on April 22.
Photos by Dana Kampa
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
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545 SANCTUARY DRIVE #B806
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1145 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE #401
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THINK 3% INFLATION ISN’T A BIG DEAL? THINK AGAIN.
Over the next decade, that ‘small’ number could raise your cost of living by 34%. The question is - is your financial plan prepared for the long-term effects of inflation?
THE COST YOU DON’T SEE
We can all see the taxes we pay, but inflation is harder to notice - even though it may be one of the most powerful forces quietly shaping your financial future. Even at a moderate rate of 3%, inflation steadily increases the cost of living while reducing the value of money that isn’t growing.
In simple terms: the same lifestyle becomes more expensive over time. At 3% inflation, prices will increase by about 34% over the next 10 years. That means something that costs $100 today could cost $134 in a decade. Over longer periods of time like retirement, the impact becomes even more significant. Inflation doesn’t make dramatic headlines, but its long-term effect is powerful.
STANDING STILL MAY
MEAN FALLING BEHIND
Many people believe inflation is something only governments or economists need to worry about. In reality, it affects financial decisions every day. Doing nothing with your money may feel safe, but overtime inflation can reduce purchasing power. When savings do not grow at a rate that keeps up with rising prices, the value of those dollars may gradually decline.
WHY INVESTING
MATTERS MORE THAN EVER
Investing has typically been about building wealth. Today, it is equally about protecting your purchasing power. Over time, inflation can reduce purchasing power which is an important factor to consider when making financial decisions,
If you don’t plan for inflation your money buys less, your goals require more, and your lifestyle becomes harder to sustain. The good news is that thoughtful planning and investing can help you address the impact on your long-term financial goals and help keep you moving forward.
The key is having a strategy that considers growth objectives, risk tolerance, and long-term planning. At JL Bainbridge, we work with individuals and families to develop disciplined investment strategies designed to support both growth objectives and long-term financial security.
READY TO CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE?
If you’re wondering whether your current strategy is keeping pace with inflation, now is the time to find out. Contact JL Bainbridge today to schedule a complimentary financial review and learn more about inflation and how it can impact your wealth.
Decade of displays
Starting a decade ago, the town of Longboat Key began celebrating its local artists in a new
The town had a long tradition of uplifting area artists, one that goes back more than 20 years. But 2016 was the first year it invited a group of creatives to share their works at a Town Hall-hosted reception, where they could have one-onone conversations with residents about the creative process.
At the 10th anniversary celebration, Mayor Debra Williams commended the talent on display with this year’s selection.
“This display is particularly colorful, and I’m really enjoying it,” she said. “We’re grateful to the artists for sharing this with us, and I’m happy you can all be here to enjoy it, as well.”
Over the years, 119 artists have been represented at Town Hall, the mayor said.
Organizer Susan Phillips has helmed the artists’ reception from the beginning. She noted this event is unique because artists get to hang their creations in the gallery and sell them, with no venue commission. Admirers also get to attend for free, while noshing on complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages from community sponsors.
“I don’t know if they believed me in the beginning when I said I could make it cost nothing,” Phillips said of the reception when she first proposed it to town officials who were reluctant to spend tax dollars on the showcase. “But, I did it.”
This year’s celebration features Lynn Armstrong Coffin, Kimberly Graham, Barbara Jendrysik, Jen Kroeger, Marie Therese Lacroix, Pat Lundy, Cheryl Moody, Collin Rowland and Madeline Wikler.
Pieces will be displayed and available for purchase until early July.
Phillips is the board chair of the Longboat Key Foundation, which stepped in to support several events that were part of this year’s broader Arts in April programming.
She said moving the ball forward on events and projects that could benefit the community is precisely what the foundation is built to do.
“It’s a wonderful thing for the town to have more engagement with citizens, too,” she said.
Returning artist Jendrysik participated in the debut reception, and she said she has appreciated joining it over the years and seeing how it brings Longboat’s artistic community closer together.
She learned the craft of painting from her friend, well-known artist Leona Sherwood, and Jendrysik said she appreciates getting to now share her own artistic insights through local events like this.
— DANA KAMPA
Coordinator Susan Phillips explains her thought process in finding shared color schemes and themes across featured artists to create the gallery for the Town Hall artists’ reception and exhibition.
Appearing for the 10th anniversary celebration of Longboat Key’s Town Hall art showcase was Barbara Jendrysik, who was also part of the first reception.
The Town Hall showcase had a mix of new artists, including Collin Rowland, and returning artists, including Lynn Armstrong Coffin.
Artist Cheryl Moody, who participated in Artists in the Garden earlier this month, The display of works by the featured artists will be up and open for purchases until June.
Photos by Dana Kampa
‘Leaders of the Flock’ celebrate
ongboaters who haven’t visited Save Our Seabirds in the past few months are in for a surprise. The bird sanctuary and education center recently got a hefty refresh of its landscaping and outdoor classroom areas from the helping hands of local changemakers via Leadership Sarasota.
The Class of 2026 celebrated the renovations with SOS staff during a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 22. Projects included repainting,
outfitting the outdoor theater with noise-prevention screening, new interactive signs, additional television screens for use at lectures, tamed greenery and other upgrades.
Lisa Charles, a member of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2026 and CEO of the Embrace Your Fitness lifestyle brand, explained how her classmates’ collaborative efforts made it happen.
She said 500 volunteer hours went into the renovation, and members brought in approximately $20,000 worth of donated supplies.
This is the 42nd class to participate in Leadership Sarasota, a program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Soon-tobe-graduate Jamie Smith said she appreciates having such a highquality, free resource available to local businesspeople who want to get more involved in their communities.
“It’s a great opportunity to build networking and learn new leadership skills,” she said.
Smith, associate vice president of communications and government relations at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and classmate Jeanine Johnson, owner of SailorGirl Cos., said they put in plenty of the classic “blood, sweat and tears” needed for such a project, and they were proud to look around at the results that evening.
“It’s beautiful seeing it come to life,” Smith added. “It’s been a journey of transformation and a lot of hard work. For all of us who came together to do our parts, it’s a lot of fun to see it come together.”
Save Our Seabirds Executive Director Brian Walton thanked those who volunteered their hours and contributed materials to make the makeover possible. More than that, he expressed his appreciation for the community leaders’ willingness to take an active interest in SOS’s future growth.
“Even with your very busy per-
sonal and professional lives, you persevered through this project that was probably a bit challenging at times,” he said. “Thank you for your effort.”
He continued, “This goes way beyond the renovation of a physical space. This really becomes a connecting place, a place where education and inspiration will happen. This is where children will have up close and personal encounters with birds and hopefully be inspired by their beauty and importance.”
Past projects have included a Serenity Garden at the Glasser/ Schoenbaum Human Services Center and a playground at the Roy McBean Boys and Girls Club. For more on getting involved, visit SarasotaChamber.com/Leadership-Sarasota.
— DANA KAMPA
Surrounded by members of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2026, staff from Save Our Seabirds and a cloud of confetti, Lisa Charles cuts the ribbon at the unveiling of an updated outdoor space at the bird sanctuary.
Leadership Sarasota classmates Jamie Smith, associate vice president of communications and government relations at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and Jeanine Johnson, owner of SailorGirl Cos., celebrate the Save Our Seabirds renovation.
Photos by Dana Kampa Among the additions to the Save Our Seabirds outdoor education space is an interactive display where visitors can test their strength against that of an osprey. Executive Director Brian Walton said even more coordinating signage should be going up soon around the education center.
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. See the club’s page on Facebook for more details.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
SIP AND SHOP
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at J. McLaughlin, 515 Bay Isles Parkway. Support First Tee, an organization giving youngsters the opportunity to learn golf.
TUESDAY, MAY 5
MEET THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
4:30 p.m. at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. The Rotary Club of Longboat Key is introducing its new presidentelect. Visit LongboatKeyRotary.org to confirm.
TUESDAY, MAY 5
COMMON GROUND
MEN’S GROUP
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Come connect with other men. Topics may include navigating retirement, health concerns and relationships. Meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month. No RSVP needed. Call 941-383-6493 or visit TheParadiseCenter.org.
THURSDAY, MAY 7
INAUGURAL ‘TURTLE CRAWL’
6-8 p.m. at pre-assigned participating restaurant. Attendees of the first-ever, sold-out Longboat Key Turtle Crawl will dine at three of the island’s premier restaurants: Harry’s Continental Kitchens, Lazy Lobster and Lo’ Key Island Grille. Guests will park at the starting restaurant to be confirmed via booking email. Funds raised benefit the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. Visit LBKTurtleCrawl. com for details.
RECURRING EVENTS
MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS
LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-2011.
IYENGAR YOGA
11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Certified instructor Deborah DiCarlo focuses on alignment, precision, timing and sequencing. Class is on the second floor, accessible via stairs only. Cost is $20 for drop-ins or one class pass. Call 941-383-6493 or visit TheParadiseCenter.org.
TUESDAYS ROTARY CLUB
the
BEST BET
SUNDAY, MAY 3
SARASOTA SKI-A-REES
2 p.m. at the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Stadium, 1602 Ken Thompson Parkway. Catch the last Sarasota Ski-A-Rees’ high-flying water ski performance of the season. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. Visit SkiARees.com.
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 from 10-11:30 a.m.
QIGONG
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Experienced instructor Sandi Love leads this class on ancient healing arts. Cost is $20 for drop-ins or one class pass. Call 941-383-6493 or visit TheParadiseCenter.org.
WEDNESDAYS JUST DANCE
11-11:45 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Debbie White teaches this popular, highenergy class. No dance experience needed. Accessible via stairs only. $20 drop-in or one class pass. 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 262-2152566 or PattySarasota33@gmail. com.
5 p.m. at All Angels Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. The Rotary Club of Longboat Key meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month to hear from guest speakers and plan events. Visit LongboatKeyRotary.org to learn more, or contact President Terri Driver at TDriver1@ comcast.net or 703-517-8925.
Dana Kampa
Steph Ouellette performs a trick on one ski during
Sarasota Ski-A-Rees performance Oct. 19.
Lido Key home tops this week’s sales at $15.8 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Amy Katz, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 171 Whittier Drive to Rachel Lynn Kalin, trustee, of Boston, for $15.8 million. Built in 2023, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,367 square feet of living area. It sold for $13.95 million in 2023.
BAY ISLES
Kevin and Nicole Glass and Jeffery
at 501 Harbor Point Road to Timothy and Chassidy Bello, of Longboat Key, for $7.7 million. Built in 1989, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-a-half baths, a pool and 6,125 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.7 million in 2020.
BIRD KEY Mark and Lisa Vengroff, of Sarasota, sold their home at 635 Mourning Dove Drive to Laura Marie Rybicki, of Sarasota, for $7.2 million. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,653 square feet. It sold for $3.1 million in 2020.
THE L’ELEGANCE ON LIDO BEACH
Mamdouha Ahdab Barmada, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, sold their Unit B-1006 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Evelyn Panichi, of Stanford, New York, for $2.5 million. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,070 square feet of living area. It sold for $920,000 in 2001.
Jerold and Linda Ruschau, of Cincinnati, sold their Unit B-708 condominium at 1800 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Steven Greene, of Sarasota, for $1.8 million. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,700 square feet of living area. It sold for $790,000 in 2020.
CHARLIES
Hans Schellenberger, trustee, of Kemah, Texas, sold the home at 600 Dream Island Road to OSG Coastal LLC for $2.5 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,982 square feet of living area.
SANDS POINT
Rebecca and James Bilbo, trustees, of Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, sold the Unit 114 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road to Cheryl and Onofrio Patafio, of Bronxville, New York, for $1.94 million. Built in 1966, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,094 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.4 million in 2019.
SANCTUARY AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB
David and Gale Pearl, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit B-502 condominium at 585 Sanctuary Drive to Donald and Patricia McLean, of Aurora, Ohio, for $1.65 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,823 square feet of living area. It sold for $850,000 in 2003.
JOHN RINGLING ESTATES
David Mason, trustee, of Osterville, Massachusetts, sold the home at 323 Madison Drive to Lemon & Linen on Lido LLC for $1,245,000. Built in 1953, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,377 square feet of living area. It sold for $115,000 in 1987.
LONGBEACH
Taimim Li, of Glen Cove, New York, sold the home at 6801 Longboat Drive S. to 6841 Longboat Dr S LLC for $1,072,500. Built in 1959, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,328 square feet of living area. It sold for $599,000 in 2018.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
SEAPLACE
Debra Dineen O’Rourke, trustee, of Ontario, Canada, sold the Unit M1-309-H condominium at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Christine Nelson, trustee, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for $879,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,265 square feet of living area. It sold for $649,000 in 2014.
SAND CAY
MEB Properties LLC sold the Unit 309 condominium at 4725 Gulf of Mexico Drive to 6492 S. Quebec LLC for $785,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,120 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2008.
FAIRWAY BAY
Barbara Katz, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 803 condominium at 1916 Harbourside Drive to Paul Duhaime, trustee, of Grosse Pointe
Farms, Michigan, for $642,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,590 square feet of living area. It sold for $475,000 in 2014.
ISLANDER CLUB OF LONGBOAT
Jeffrey and Pamela Konis, of Chester, New York, sold their Unit 64-S condominium at 2295 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Kenneth Leo Skorupa and Anna Maria WegierekSkorupa, of Tinley Park, Illinois, for $595,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $625,000 in 2024.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com.
IS AMARA. The attractions of Amara, diverse and extraordinary, know no equal. This begins with its Golden Gate address — for the Point is one of those rarest of natural wonders — an enclave that looks across the bay and back to the city — once-in-a-lifetime views that are yours every day, along with the luxury of a private marina.
PART OF SPEECH by George Simpson & Zhouqin Burnikel, edited by Taylor Johnson
By Luis Campos
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