Minuscule flipper prints marked the sands of Longboat Key’s beaches this week. Longboat Key Turtle Watch shared in a June 28 post that the first sea turtle nest hatch of the season occurred that morning. Most hatching typically starts in July, and the official nesting season continues through Oct. 31.
The watch group recorded 585 total nests last year in the area of Manatee County it patrols on Longboat Key.
Members of the public can join educational walks at 6:45 a.m. every Saturday in July, starting at the public beach access at 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Visit LBKTurtleWatch.com for turtle walk details and information about ongoing monitoring efforts.
Community center activities continue
The Paradise Center is still working to secure plans for a long-term home before August. In the meantime, the center is still hosting activities throughout July.
Those activities include a seminar on healing herbs with Kitt Hill from AcuMed Wellness. The wellness talk starts at 12:30 a.m. on July 9 at the center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Executive Director Amy Steinhauser, who is also a reiki master teacher and sound healing practitioner, is also leading a meditative sound bath at 2 p.m. on July 30. Most of the center’s recurring events are set to continue, as well, though Pilates Sculpt is temporarily paused, and Qigong is canceled on July 24. RSVP to Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org or by calling 941383-6493. For a full calendar of events, visit TheParadiseCenter.org.
Longboat hopes to branch out
Dana Kampa
Carlin Gillen
WEEK OF JULY 3, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
“There were two little girls in the store with their mom, and they said, ‘Oh my gosh,
you look like Sleeping Beauty.’ ”
Madison VandenBrekel, Longboat Key’s Miss Florida USA contestant. Read more on page 17
Chief introduces himself
Russ Mager made his first appearance before the Longboat Town Commission, introducing himself as a “very personal person” who understands “my job here is to make your jobs easier.”
Mager recently retired from the Delray Beach Police after more than 29 years. He was hired from more than 75 applicants to replace Chief George Turner, who left in January.
Town officials thanked Deputy Chief Frank Rubino for his role as interim leader, a role that
will continue until Mager (pronounced like the military rank) begins on Aug. 4.
“I’m very big on relationships,” he said. “I’m big on working with you all,”
Town Manager Howard Tipton said one of the key aspects of Mager’s experience was his time in a beach town. “Coming from a coastal community on the east coast of Florida, he has all the storm experience we hope he will never need,” Tipton said.
Contract negotiations with the city of Delray Beach and the union
representing its officers reached an impasse earlier this year over pay and other issues. The last three-year police contract there expired in September 2024.
The Delray Beach mayor recently released a statement saying, in part, “it’s cost us a chief known for his integrity, steady leadership and lifelong commitment to public safety.”
Longboat Key in 2023 ratified police and fire contracts that at the time were termed by Tipton, the town’s “single largest investment to date” in public safety.
St. Regis hires marketing director
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort recently named a director of marketing to its staff.
Emily Bond arrives with more than 15 years of experience in hospitality and more than 10 with the Marriott International brand, with which the St. Regis is affiliated.
Bond began her career in the creative department of an advertising agency as a copywriter, experience that continues to guide her approach to brand storytelling.
“I’m thrilled to join The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort team and contribute to a brand that exemplifies timeless luxury and meaningful guest experiences,” said Bond in a prepared statement. “There’s so much inspiration to draw from Sarasota’s rich cultural community, and I’m excited to build marketing that reflects the spirit of the resort and the beauty of Longboat Key.”
Bond graduated from Creighton University in 2008 with a degree in journalism and mass communications-advertising. She’s also a published fiction writer.
New OnDemand ride fares take effect
Sarasota County’s new schedule of fares for Breeze OnDemand rides took effect Tuesday.
The ride service which operates similar to commercial ride-services, is operated by Sarasota in three zones, including Longboat Key.
The number of annual trips provided by OnDemand service, launched midyear in 2021, has climbed from about 81,000 in its first six months to nearly 400,000 in 2024.
The cost to the county has also grown, now exceeding the savings envisioned when the county shut down a swath of bus service.
The new fares are:
$3: One-way base fare up to three miles
$1: Additional per mile beyond three, up to six miles
$1: Companion flat fee (up to three per full-fare passenger)
$1.50: One-way flat fare for certified Transportation Disadvantaged Riders
Image courtesy of Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post
Russ Mager worked for the Delray Beach Police for 29 years before retiring.
Town nurtures a plan to replace storm-doomed trees on Bay Isles Road.
SHADES OF CHANGE
ERIC GARWOOD
DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
The next time you visit the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, or the post office or even enjoy the town’s Freedom Fest activities on July 4, have a look around.
Notice something missing?
There, in the middle of Bay Isles Road.
Right next to Town Hall.
The trees. They’re gone.
Killed by wind and salt in Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the tree remnants were removed in short order by the town’s Public Works Department, leaving mulched medians, sun-splashed pavement and a generally “something is missing but I can’t quite place it” appearance.
Now, the town is talking about what comes next and how to pay for it. One stumbling block, though: “We have no funding for it,” said Finance Director Sue Smith at the Town Commission’s final budget workshop this past week.
“The medians, the trees all died; they really look terrible,” said Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman.
Before town commissioners broke for their summer hiatus from public meetings on June 27, they signaled their support for at least the beginnings of a plan to fix up the appearance from Gulf of Mexico Drive to the traffic circle adjacent to Temple Beth Israel.
“The idea here is to really rebeautify those medians — or beautify them, actually. They weren’t in great shape to begin with,” Brownman said.
THE PROJECT AND THE DOLLARS
Though the quarter-mile project would have to go out to a competitive bid, town officials are working with a plan that would cost an estimated $300,000 to complete. The most resilient of the landscaping plans calls for a mixture of trees and shrubs to be planted in the six medians.
Resilience is key because the storms’ saltwater is the prime suspect in the deaths of the previous trees, though Town Manager Howard Tipton said the condition of the trees before the storm wasn’t optimal.
“The trees that were lost were hurting already. The saltwater kind of put them over the edge,” he said.
In preliminary talks with landscape engineer David W. Johnston Associates of Sarasota, town officials learned a horticultural truism about color vs. greenery in leaning toward a palette of Florida-friendly species. The same company performed work for Longboat Key’s Town Center Green project.
“We did ask them to throw a little more color in there, and they did point out that color tends to be more fragile,” Brownman said. “They did give us one option that was all color, but we knew that could be wiped out in any given storm.”
Though the Bay Isles Road project is not in the budget, for which town commissioners set a maximum millage rate of 1.960 per $1,000 of property valuation last week, there may be a way to cover the estimated cost.
Smith explained to commissioners estimated funding initially set aside for hurricane repairs to the town’s four parks exceeded contractors’ estimates by $1.7 million — money that would ordinarily return to the town’s general fund reserves.
With assurances from contractors their estimates were dependable, town officials say they are confident in the figures and prepared to return the unused funding to the general fund. Commissioners signaled their support for the tree project and will likely present an amendment to the proposed budget when they return in early September to make the move official.
Money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is not eligible for this kind of work, commissioners were told. “They don’t do landscaping,” Commissioner Penny Gold joked.
Existing irrigation wells along the roadway will save some money on the project, and town workers also helped hold the line on the cost by removing the dead trees in-house, something that would been costly to contract for, said Brownman, the town’s former Director of Public Works.
“It was really great to see our streets team remove all the trees,” he said. “They closed the road and rerouted traffic in a very professional manner. I was impressed, and I ran the group for seven years.”
Planting work could begin shortly after approval, taking advantage of Florida’s rainy season. Freshly planted trees would need bracing for a short period against the wind.
Proper spacing of trees would allow for driving sightlines, and the Florida Department of Transportation recommends the maintaining of shrubs at no more than three-anda-half feet for driver and pedestrian safety.
BEYOND THE PROJECT
While the scope of the proposal encompasses the 1,300 feet or so between Gulf of Mexico
Drive and the traffic circle, planning a second phase for the remaining half that intersects with Bay Isles Parkway and passes Town Center Green’s main parking area in the future makes sense, town officials said, adding the landscape architect also suggested the additional phase.
Consistency of design would be a plus, and it could create a seamless upgrade to what Town Commissioner Debra Williams called “our Main Street.”
There was no initial estimate on what that project would cost.
“That would be the idea,” Brownman said. “At least get the design on paper to get it designed in a similar fashion until we figure out how to build those improvements out, either incrementally or in two phases.
From there, it’s possible to update the landscaping on other adjacent town-owned property including Town Hall and the Building, Planning and Zoning annex.
Ultimately, the section of town encompassed by Bay Isles Road and Bay Isles Parkway could present a consistent look as the center of town, Tipton said.
“The goal really is we’re trying to raise the game for Bay Isles Road,” he said. “What we want is if Bay Isles Parkway looks great, we want Bay Isles Road to look equally as great. Different trees, different approach, but really be first class.”
THE REACTION
Though a formal vote on the addition of the project and the means of financing it won’t come before town commissioners until their first public meeting after their summer recess, those who expressed a viewpoint expressed support.
“I would support it,” Williams said. “I know it’s probably going to be unpopular to say ‘Let’s go ahead and spend $300,000 to do this,’ but I think it’s important for the look of the community. It is our Main Street, so I think we need to do it.”
PLANTING POSSIBILITIES
“I know it’s probably going to be unpopular to say ‘Let’s go ahead and spend $300,000 to do this,’ but I think it’s important for the look of the community. It is our Main Street, so I think we need to do it.”
Gumbo limbo
Silver buttonwood
Southern red cedar
Southern live oak
Cabbage palmetto
Red tip cocoplum
Silver saw palmetto
Golden creeper
Dune sunflower
Carlin Gillen
Medians located along Bay Isles Road are next to Town Hall.
— Debra Williams, Town Commissioner
A canopy of trees shades the 2024 Freedom Fest parade. File image
Courtesy images BEFORE THE STORMS
Tax rate: Same as it ever was
ERIC GARWOOD
DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
By voting to stick with the town’s tax rate for the third year in a row, town commissioners decided to move ahead with a spending plan that could deliver marginally higher property tax bills for many residents.
Some residents, though, could see lower levies, largely based on the level of damage they might have experienced during the 2024 hurricane season.
By a vote of 6-1, with Town Commissioner Gary Coffin dissenting, the seven-member commission voted to move ahead with a maximum millage rate of 1.960 — the same as it’s been since the 2024 fiscal year, which started in October, 2023. The rate can be further reduced but difficult to increase and is rarely done.
This comes in an unusual year where more than a half-billion dollars of new construction takes place to the Sarasota County side of the town and a net drop in certified property values — owing to hurricane damage — on the Manatee County side.
Manatee and Sarasota county property appraisers have delivered final, certified property values with which the town can base its budget, and in both cases, they were higher than the estimates provided in June.
In Manatee County’s case, the values for Longboat Key fell by 9.96%, higher than the June estimate of 11.15%.
In Sarasota County’s case, the values rose 13.53%, up from an initial estimate of 13.25%.
Combined, it’s an islandwide increase of 5.96% in overall property values to $9.7 billion.
That means the town would have about $1 million more revenue as compared to the previous year at the same millage rate, said Budget Manager Sandi Henley.
Henley said the Sarasota-side increase — indeed, the overall increase, too — is connected directly to the increase in new construction.
In turn, that is connected directly to the St. Regis Resort and residences, which is hitting the tax rolls for the first time in this cycle.
Commissioner BJ Bishop raised a concern about potential changes to home values following both counties’ appeals processes through their respective Value Adjustment Boards. At a previous workshop, she said she was concerned about damaged homes but assessed at undamaged levels, which would be grounds for an appeal.
“It’s really a crapshoot to try to figure out where those numbers are,” she said. “Are we going to come back in September and go ‘Oh, wow, we’re missing a million or 2’?”
Henley said big changes were unlikely, and Town Manager Howard Tipton supports him, saying the budget formulation had been specifically conservative to keep this in mind.
“We have a little bit of wiggle room based on what Value Adjustment Boards may do,” he said. “I think we’ll be OK, though it is kind of uncharted territory because we haven’t gone through this before, but we will monitor it closely.”
Coffin suggested considering raising the millage rage to 1.99 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value simply as a means to cover potential unknowns through the heart of hurricane season. He reminded his colleagues a reduction in the millage rate can take place for final approval in September, before the budget takes effect Oct. 1.
“We’ve got storm season coming up, we’ve got FEMA that’s not sure of their destination next year starting in December, Tallahassee has all these various situations that are questionable at this point,” he said.
“What is the downside?”
“The upside would be that it would give you some flexibility to consider some unknowns,” Tipton said. “The downside I’m sure would be the feedback you’d get from residents.”
Mayor Ken Schneier said except for homes damaged, property values continue to rise. Even with the same millage rates, taxes on those properties will still rise.
Overall
PROPOSED LONGBOAT KEY MILLAGE RATES
Town commissioners can reduce rates but are locked in at no-higher-than figures.
That tax increase can be held in check with Florida rules that cap assessment increases to no more than 2.9% a year for homesteaded properties and 10% for nonhomesteaded properties.
According to town figures, homesteaded properties would likely see a town tax bill increase of around 2% to 5% and about 7% to 9% for nonhomesteaded properties. Those caps, though, reset when property changes hands.
Longboat residents also pay earmarked taxes to pay off debt for updates to the town’s two fire stations and beach maintenance. Both sets of rates address fixed costs and both are heading down into the new budget based on higher overall property values. The beach bond debt repayment, which is broken out by Gulfside and Bayside districts, will be complete at the end of the 2026 fiscal year.
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Eric Garwood Lawns and homes are tidy in Country Club Shores.
Underwater land deal key to sewer project
Submerged acreage could help with high-profile town sewer project.
DIGITAL
o, the sales offer didn’t arrive in a text from an Albanian area code.
And no, there isn’t a zero (or two) missing in the price.
The town really does aim to buy two pieces of land totaling about seven-and-a-half acres for no more than $10,000. Probably less.
The catch? Well, they’re submerged just off the eastern shore of Joan Durante Park. But one parcel is vital to a high-priority public works
project. The other could help later on with seagrass preservation. And the seller is motivated, Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said.
The town is interested and gained permission from town commissioners on Friday to pursue the purchase, because of the planned construction of a redundant sewer line under the floor of Sarasota Bay from Longboat Key to Manatee County’s treatment plant.
Brownman told commissioners the town owns upland acreage and submerged acreage on the west side of the proposed route of the pipeline that would parallel the existing line. The two parcels, owned by the Jerome V. Ansel Revocable Trust and Jerome V. Ansel, both of Boca Raton, are the only missing pieces on the Longboat side and would provide not
only better access but also potential seagrass preservation opportunities in the future.
The town has been negotiating with property owners on the eastern side, too, at Longbar Point.
“What the project team is trying to do is knock down these landacquisition elements one by one to get them out of the way,” Brownman said, adding talks had been ongoing with the Ansel group first about a potential easement. “Recently, the Ansel Trust group came back and said ‘You know what, we really want to dispose of these properties on behalf of the trust.’”
Manatee County values the two Ansel parcels at $434 (one acre) and $2,720 (just fewer than six-and-ahalf acres). In comparison, the town in 1983 bought a similarly sized one-acre submerged plot, also from Ansel, for $80,000 county records show.
“It’s probably the only time in Florida you can buy six acres, or appraise it, at $2,720,” Brownman said.
“We think this is a very great opportunity, a very timely opportunity,” Brownman said.
Independent appraisals and a title search are in progress toward a potential sale. If purchased by the
town, the land’s tax value would come off the rolls — to the tune of $25 and some change. The town’s actions last week capped the price at $10,000, but Brownman said it wouldn’t likely cost that much.
The under-the-bay pipeline plan dates back to 2020, when the Nixon-era original pipeline broke on the Manatee County side, spilling sewage. The town shortly thereafter embarked on the plan to build a second, parallel pipeline.
In March, town voters approved borrowing up to $33 million through the State Revolving Fund loan program to cover the cost.
The replacement of the mainland portion of the pipe came in 2023 for $2.6 million while the town began preparing for the more extensive underwater portion.
Loan payments will come through town utility rates.
Commissioners voted in 2024 to approve rate increases of 8% through the coming fiscal year, plus passthrough rate increases from Manatee County.
Rate increases of 7% for fiscal year 2027 and 3% for fiscal year 2028 were also in the new increase schedule.
“It’s probably the only time in Florida you can buy six acres, or appraise it, at $2,720.”
—
Isaac Brownman, assistant town manager
File images
Joan M. Durante Park offers scenic views of Sarasota Bay.
Longboat Key’s sewerage is pumped across Sarasota Bay to a Manatee County treatment site.
TRIBUTES
Ora Mendels passed away at the age of 88 in her home on Longboat Key, FL, on June 23rd, with her family around her. She is survived by her loving husband and partner of 68 years, Joe Mendels, and her children and grandchildren: Gilla, Charles, David, Alana, Danielle, Eli, Toby and Nelson.
Ora was born in Jerusalem in 1936, grew up in South Africa, and immigrated to the US in 1964. She lived in the Philadelphia area and started visiting Longboat Key, FL, over 40 years ago, eventually retiring here. She met Joe on a beach in Cape Town, and many years later they were able to enjoy life together on the beach in Longboat.
Ora was a journalist in her early adult years and later wrote several novels, among them Mandela’s Children and Family Wars. She was committed to the fight against apartheid in South Africa in her youth and social justice throughout her life. She was passionate about tennis, chocolate, cooking, her rose bushes and orchids, books, walks on the beach with her husband, and most of all her family and friends. SERVICE:
Olga Mary (Nene) Bracciano 1933-2025
Olga Mary Bracciano, known affectionately as “Nene” to those closest to her, was born February 19, 1933 in Detroit Michigan.
The middle daughter of Michael and Dorothy (Sowivk) Trush, Olga pursued her passion for education at Wayne State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree before pursuing a master’s degree in social work. It was during her time at Wayne State that she met her husband, Alfred Floyd Bracciano. Together, Olga and Alfred, “Poppy” to his family, built a beautiful life, shared 65 years of marriage and raised four wonderful children: Gloria Bracciano, Dr. Alfred G. Bracciano (Tamara), Dr. David Bracciano (Julie), and Daniel Bracciano (Susan).
Olga was the embodiment of kindness, empathy, and unwavering compassion. She dedicated her life to uplifting others, both as a school social worker and as the heart of her family. Olga was a devout Catholic and found immense joy being active in women’s ministry at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea of Longboat Key as well as Our Lady of the Angels of Lakewood Ranch. Through acts of service, quiet moments of prayer, and simple gestures of love, Olga’s life was a testament to giving. Giving of herself, her time, and her heart, she always
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE!
greeted the world with a radiant smile and an open heart. Olga had a rare ability to make everyone who spoke to her feel as if they were her favorite. This gift was even more precious as four children blossomed into 11 grandchildren and then 6 great-grandchildren. While Olga made a difference in the lives of countless people, there was no comparison to the impact she had on the lives of her family. She was a pillar of strength, but also a model of grace.
Olga was the ever-capable navigator on family road trips while Alfred took the wheel. Her playful spirit brought endless joy to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but was a steadfast advocate for taking time to relax, or “bump” as she called it. She was forever curious about God, about the world, and about the people around her but was also a wellspring of wisdom. From games of charades at Christmas, trips to Disney World, or any number of cruises across the globe with Alfred, Olga’s life was a tapestry woven with family memories. Most recently Olga was a resident at Lakewood Ranch Grand Living where she remained engaged exercising, learning, and socializing. Even with a full schedule, she still always found time for those she loved most. The thread that bound Olga’s life together was her boundless love for her family. Though she is reunited with Poppy, Nene left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone who knew her, most of all her family.
Her legacy of love, faith, and unwavering devotion lives on in her grandchildren–Christian Bracciano (Nina), Angelica Rossi (Haim), Dr. Anthony Rossi (Lucy), Kathryn Walters (Jason), Daniel D. Bracciano (Selita), Dr. Elizabeth Bracciano (Devan), Alfred M. Bracciano (Devon), Nina Bracciano, Matthew Bracciano (Eli), David M. Bracciano Jr., and Stephen Bracciano– and her great-grandchildren –Hayden Bracciano, Nikash Rossi Sharma, Beau Walters, Aubrey Walters, Mischa Rossi Sharma, and Marco Rossi SERVICE: A private mass and memorial service will be held in Olga’s honor.
DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Tidewell Hospice in Lakewood Ranch Florida in memory of Olga M. Bracciano.
447351-1
Pension board leadership will remain a commission choice
Leadership will remain the decision of town commissioners after 7-0 vote.
ERIC GARWOOD DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Town commissioners will remain responsible for appointing the chair and vice chair of the town’s Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees, rejecting a request from the town staff.
All other advisory boards choose their leadership positions internally.
Town commissioners, though, said the retirement board has a different constituency and is unlike other advisory boards. Commissioners voted 7-0 to reject the town’s staff’s request. The retirement board, which will now have eight of nine seats filled, will meet next in August.
Of the nine, the town manager appoints one, one each get elected by general town staff, police department and fire department and the Town Commission appoints five. Additionally, there are four professional advisers from the world of finance: an actuary, a legal adviser, an administrative adviser and a financial adviser.
Mayor Ken Schneier said the issue of leadership selection likely arose recently following the election of longtime Retirement Board Chair Steve Branham to the Town Commission and more recent departures from the board.
“Some members of the staff have asked the question why the chairmanship and vice chairmanship of this board is appointed by us, the Town Commission whereas the officers of the other volunteer agencies, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and a few other things are appointed by the membership of those boards,” he said.
Town commissioners were in agreement the Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees not only serves town employees but does
so with funding for which the Town Commission is directly responsible.
“I don’t have any strong feelings about this, but I know historically it was done because, some of you may not have been here, but our pensions were in serious trouble and had not been well managed, and we had some tough chapters to get this back to a viable point,” said Commissioner BJ Bishop.
It was during that time of rising costs and higher shares of town payrolls to cover pension costs that led to the creation of the board in 2013.
“We needed to be sure they understood that we here are the final authority on anything financial for the town,” she added.
Branham called the pension board a unique entity within Town Hall, and he considers its members fiduciaries, unlike other town boards. As such, they are obligated to operate with the best interests of the employees in mind.
“Consistency is great, but I think in this case this particular body is unique,” he said, adding that sticking with the current arrangement is the right move.
Town Manager Howard Tip -
ton acknowledged that the original request for a change was based on consistency across town advisory boards but conceded the nature of the retirement system board is unique.
“This committee does have fiduciary responsibilities that are very different from the other committees that you appoint, so I completely understand that,” he said.
TWO RESIGNATIONS, TWO APPOINTMENTS
Members Chris Czarnecki and Frank Cona recently resigned from the board, and one applicant expressed interest in the role.
Cona, in his letter of resignation, said he was moving from the town to be closer to family, and Czarnecki said he had accepted an unexpected job offer out of state and has moved from Longboat Key to Austin, Texas.
Debbie Murphy, who served on the Town Commission for a year, the Board of Trustees from 2021 to 2023 and is a current member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, will become vice chair. She was appointed most recently to the board on May 5.
In Maryland, she ran a business and had oversight of high-profile
construction projects, according to her application to be considered vice chair.
She’s a past chair of the Longbeach Condominium Association and serves on the board of directors for the Federation of Condominiums of Longboat Key.
The Town Commission approved her application 7-0.
“She did a lovely job on the commission and she’ll serve well,” said Town Commissioner Penny Gold. Town Commissioner Gary Coffin said “she’s always been pro-Longboat Key.”
John DeCaro was also approved unanimously to join the board for the first time.
The resident of Longview Drive wrote in his application that he’s a founding partner of a $3 billion hedge fund based in Chicago and currently serves on the finance committee of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation in Chicago and recently concluded a two-year stint in 2024 on the finance committee of the Oak Park Country Club.
He’s also the co-founder of Elementum Advisors in Chicago and is a member of the Longboat Key Club.
All other advisory boards choose their leadership positions internally. Town commissioners, though, said the retirement board has a different constituency and is unlike other advisory boards.
Catherine M. Avery, Founder Winner Top Guns Award, Manager of the Decade on December 31, 2024
File image
Steve Branham (left) and Deborah Murphy speak at the election forum held on Feb. 9.
25 years devoted to liberty
For a quarter-century on the Fourth of July, we have used this page as a reminder of the magnitude of 1776.
For the past 25 years, before or on the Fourth of July, we have devoted this page to serving as a reminder of our Founding Fathers’ courageous act of declaring the nation’s independence and articulating the principles that compelled them to do so. One theme dominated these essays: We must constantly remind ourselves to stay committed to Jefferson’s immortal words: “ … That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights … life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Here are passages from those 25 years that we hope will keep you committed to fighting for liberty:
■ June 28, 2007
The American colonists called it the Glorious Cause. They never should have won. They were mostly farmers, little more than a militia of rag-tag misfits, challenging the most powerful military in the known world. And they were young. George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, was 43; John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, was 39; John Adams was 40; Thomas Jefferson, 32. And Thomas Paine, the journalist who rallied all of America with his pen, was 37. That they succeeded against the overwhelming odds was a miracle, a work of Providence, the result of indomitable passion for the Cause.
It is a story to hold in awe, the perpetual emblem of what we have today — freedom.
■ July 3, 2009
The Spirit of America — a relentless burning for Freedom — became etched in our nation’s collective psyche and culture when Thomas Jefferson penned the indelible words that: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
On the occasion of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Sept. 2, 1945, President Harry Truman told the nation:
“We now know that that spirit of liberty, the freedom of the individual and the personal dignity of man are the strongest and toughest and most enduring forces in the world.
“Those principles provide the faith, the hope and the opportunity which help men to improve themselves and their lot.
“Liberty does not make all men perfect nor all society secure. But it has provided more solid progress and happiness and decency for more people than any other philosophy of government in history. And this day has shown again that it provides the greatest strength and the greatest power which man has ever reached.”
■ July 1, 2010
Thomas Paine’s words still reverberate today. While they can bring to mind the images of the incredible struggles our forebearers endured to establish this free, independent nation 234 years ago, Paine’s writing is as relevant to our nation’s struggles today as it was then.
These indeed are times that try men’s souls in America. Yes, of course, there are big differences between now and then. Our
present-day government isn’t murdering American citizens, or ransacking, looting and burning our homes and confiscating our property as the king’s soldiers did in the 1770s. But few Americans now would deny that our federal government today has taken on similarly tyrannical qualities and parallels, though without the violence. …
This makes Paine’s “Common Sense” an allegory for us, a reminder, as he put it, “not to exhibit horror for the purpose of provoking revenge, but to awaken us from fatal and unmanly slumbers … ”
He was not just against the king and British rule; Paine argued for independence and freedom. And in so doing, he planted a seed that grew into the Spirit of America.
Called Paine: “O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!”
■ June 30, 2011
So here is a short shot of historical truths to inoculate from the fatal venom of forgetting how we got here.
■ America was built on the backs of colonists who wanted freedom to pursue their Christian faith without the persecution of state-run religious institutions in Europe.
■ America was built from the minds and hearts of men who understood that life without liberty was not life worth living.
■ America was and is watered by the blood of men and women from Concord to Gettysburg to Belleau Wood to Normandy and Iwo Jima to Inchon to Khe Sanh to Kuwait to Iraq to Afghanistan. They have made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom and kept the shining city safe. Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” And that includes force of arms.
■ America was built on free trading markets and the backbone of capitalism. Although the term was not in use at the time, the founding fathers understood the importance of this and made allowances for free men and women to operate freely in the realm of business. This economic liberty is integral to who we are and is precisely how we came to be the wealthiest nation on earth … America did not just happen; its wealth has not always been; and there is no guarantee that it always will be.
Jefferson’s words never rang truer: “My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”
That is America, the bright city on a hill, the beacon of liberty the world over.
Let us not allow ignorance to put out that lamp. Without a free and prosperous shining America, the world will be a much, much darker place.
■ July 2, 2015
Our ancestors — from the Revolutionary War to the Greatest Generation — endowed us with the obligation that we must never forget.
The Spirit of America is the Spirit of Liberty. It’s not free. We must protect it and spread it, especially
among our own.
■ June 30, 2016
Jefferson penned in that room not only the summary of preceding decades of events and relations with the Motherland and its King, but he crystallized what became the fundamental premise of American life, then and thereafter: We have the right to create our own destiny.
■ June 29, 2017
So it is. On the eve of the day 56 members of the Second Continental Congress ratified and signed the Declaration of Independence — pledging to each other their lives, fortunes and sacred honor; and declaring liberty and renouncing tyranny — on the eve of the day Americans will celebrate the 241st anniversary of the birth of what has become the greatest democratic republic in history, we are ripped apart. A strongly woven garment ripped jaggedly at the seams, with the perpetrators standing opposite one another gripping serrated knives. This is not right. We should be feeling patriotic. We should be feeling proud to be an American, proud of the values we have pursued and cherished for two and a half centuries … As a friend said recently: “To be an American is to win the lottery of life.”
■ July 4, 2019
John Adams warned future generations: “Posterity: You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” Washington, Adams, Jefferson, the 25,000 who died, the other 54 who signed the Declaration of Independence and the thousands of other Colonists who fought and helped out did so for their independence, freedom from tyranny and their unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
How refreshing it would be to hear those who seek national public office today remember the struggles of our nation’s founding and pledge, as the Founding Fathers did, their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in support of the Cause: Liberty. If they won’t, we must.
■ July 2, 2020
(T)his year’s edition of Spirit of America celebrates those among us who rose up in a time of crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic — to lift others’ spirits and serve others in need. The stories and photographs remind us of that quintessential generosity, determination and cando spirit that has been a hallmark of the people who make up the extraordinary tapestry of this great nation.
What’s more, this year’s Spirit of America stories should give us hope, especially when so many of us are worried as never before about what is next and what is to come of the future of our Republic …
On this awkward Fourth of July — with the COVID-19 pandemic subduing our Independence Day celebrations — we hope the holiday nevertheless marks a turning point — a time when the Silent Majority, the vast majority of law-abiding
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
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America-loving patriots begins to reassert its voice.
We hope it’s a unified voice that asserts a decisive call for the defense of our nation’s founding principles; a just enforcement of the rule of law; and a forceful repudiation of life-destroying Marxism, socialism and anarchy.
We hope the Silent Majority, starting this Fourth of July, begins to end its silence and, like our Founding Fathers, recommits to the immortal declaration to everyone’s peaceful unalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
On this July 4, let the Spirit of America rise up once more.
■ July 1, 2021
How do we pursue happiness?
At the root of that pursuit is the human yearning to be free; to be individuals; to be free to make our own choices, choices in our selfinterest and the interests of others; and not to be under the yoke of some tyrannical power who makes us slaves.
Far, far too few Americans seem to appreciate — indeed, revere — all of that. Nor do they appreciate how extraordinary were the Declaration of Independence and the aura around it; or how precious it still is; and how precious it is to their lives today.
■ June 30, 2022
Come Monday, July 4, this is the day Americans want to be happy, the day we want to feel good about the U-S-A.
It is the one day every year we want to celebrate and be thankful to our founding ancestors for two of the most extraordinary human concepts that took root in this land and flourished over the next 244 years: independence and freedom.
■ June 20, 2023 & July 4, 2024
When President Calvin Coolidge concluded his 1926 Fourth of July address, Coolidge told his fellow Americans:
“If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be likeminded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism.
“We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshipped.”
As you wave your flag or fire up your grill on the Fourth of July, we’ll encourage you as we did in 2021: Wave that flag hard. Be resilient, as resilient as the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock and as courageous as the Founding Fathers who pledged their lives, their fortunes and honor with their signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Continue to believe in the magnificent principles that all men are indeed created equal and stand strong for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Happy Independence Day.
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President
MATT WALSH
Courtesy National Archives
Artist John Trumbull’s 12-by-18 oil on canvas painting (1818) of the Declaration of Independence that hangs in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.
The poles are gone, cheers to Lynn Larson
Regarding the last FPL power pole being removed, “Hear, Hear!”
The aesthetics and power service of our beautiful LBK island has now been dramatically improved. The hideous utility poles and wires strung out all over our island are now GONE!
It is important to recognize past Commissioner Lynn Larson who, backed by many year-round residents, urged the other town commissioners not to “knee-jerk” approval of FPL’s proposal to replace the utility poles with larger hurricane hardened poles, which a former town manager and planning department recommended.
Commissioner Larson made a strong case for the town to do the homework on a detailed cost projection for undergrounding power, not just assume a WAG.
With FPL picking up some 25% of cost and doing a more definitive line item cost projection, it became evident that the undergrounding cost was significantly less than was presented to the Town Commission. It then was properly discussed and approved.
Right answer!
That was “a close shave.”
So thank you, Commissioner Larson, for getting the FPL undergrounding project approved during a summer when few were paying attention.
It was the right decision to the benefit of all LBK property owners.
Again, “Hear, Hear” to Commissioner Lynn Larson and the Town Commission!
BOB AND SHANNON GAULT
LONGBOAT KEY
Walsh sounds like the President
If it weren’t for the lack of the misspellings, grammatical errors, and incoherence that often signify messages from Donald Trump, Matt Walsh’s June 19 opinion piece
denouncing the “No Kings” protests in Sarasota could have been dictated by the President himself.
I currently am a registered Democrat, but have voted for Republican, Democratic and third-party candidates (remember Ross Perot?) over the years, based on their positions on the issues, rather than party agendas.
Walsh seems to think that a lot of Sarasotans are fools. I doubt that many of the 7,000 or so who took part in the June 14 demonstrations expect Trump to soon order beheadings. I doubt, too, that many of them would excuse violence against the authorities, as Walsh implies. In fact, the vast majority surely would condemn it. Conveniently, Walsh doesn’t mention the most appalling violence that occurred on the day of the protests: A Trump voter’s attacks on Democratic state legislators and their spouses in Minnesota, which left two dead and two seriously injured. No surprise, there are plenty of dangerous crazies on both sides, as Jan. 6, 2021, amply demonstrated.
I agree with Walsh’s argument that the nation’s borders must be protected, but oppose demonizing immigrants. Walsh also correctly states that Trump is no king ... but it’s certainly not for trying. Consider the obsequiousness that he demands — and gets — from his party. And look how infuriated he becomes when judges block his unconstitutional actions, or when the Fed won’t bend to his will.
As for Walsh’s questioning of the protestors’ patriotism, dozens of them were veterans. I am one, too, like many in my family, including one awarded a Silver Star before being killed in the Battle of the Bulge. It’s ironic that the commander-in-chief, whom Walsh so admires, is quite likely a draft dodger. (The daughters of a podiatrist who figured in Trump’s Vietnam-era medical deferment say the physician told them he did a “favor” for Trump without disclosing what it was). During his first administration, the President denigrated as “losers” American soldiers slain in World War I, according to former Gen. John Kelly, then his chief of staff. And Trump once declared that dating was his “personal Vietnam.”
Despite having this man in the White House, there is no need to Make America Great Again. Regardless of its flaws, the U.S. is great. What we really need is to make America America again.
RICHARD RESCIGNO SARASOTA
WHERE TO SEND
Have something to tell us? Send your letters to Michael Harris at MHarris@YourObserver.com.
Hanging up the shears
David Gregory Salon leaves The Centre Shops.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
At its peak in the 1990s, Longboat Key housed seven hair salons on the island, catering to the needs of year-round and part-time residents. Now, that number is dwindling to one with the closing of David Gregory Salon at The Centre Shops.
Friends reminisced about the shop’s history on the Key on June 27, and owners David Roy and Greg Koss shared how the decision they made was difficult but made sense.
“It was time for us to move on,” said Roy, who has been a stylist for 38 years.
Koss added, “Our lease came up for renewal, and every time that happens, you have to weigh everything and decide if you want to commit to another. From a business perspective, this was a nobrainer. But if you factor in the people and the relationships, it was still a very hard decision. It’s hard to walk away.”
The salon served patrons right until the day of the farewell gettogether in Suite 103 at 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
“I had one client today whose hair I started cutting when I was 26 years old, and she’s still coming to me,” Roy said.
He said the salon’s success over the years came down to having great staff. Koss added the high season always brought a chaotic atmosphere, but the stylists kept everything moving and created a fun getaway, whether a client is seeking a new hairstyle for a special occasion or looking to catch up on all the island updates from while they were away.
“Clients like the energy,” Koss said. “They come in and see their neighbors and friends. It becomes more like a community center at times.”
Koss said they quickly established the salon as a “no drama zone” when it came to helping clients.
The salon navigated any challenges that came its way, even providing stylists with Design 2000 space to work when that store sustained significant hurricane damage last year.
Roy and Koss said they’ve appreciated building a strong relationship with the fellow salon and other community businesses rather than focusing on competition.
years, said that warmth extended to the staff at the shop. While stylists in other salons may become possessive of their customers, he said the David Gregory Salon team enjoyed helping one another and sharing clients.
The longtime Florida resident specializes in cuts and coloring services, and he does plan to stay in the area at least through the winter. He got his start in the business in Lakeland about 25 years ago, and he knew from a young age he wanted to be a stylist.
He said working at David Gregory Salon has been a rewarding chapter in his career.
“There are always big personalities in a salon, and we lucked out that we had a good flow here,” he said.
He appreciated building yearslong relationships with clients.
In particular, he remembers a 12-year-old customer who got her first layered haircut with him.
“Her grandma was a client here, and she eventually started coming here,” he said. “She even sent me a letter later and told me how much the cut meant to her, making her feel more grown up. I just love my clients, and I hope to see them again.”
Stransky Nunes is one of several stylists moving to Design 2000, and owner Irina LaRose said she is happy to welcome them. Fellow stylists Victoria Simko and Robert Barney are also making the shift.
Stylist Michael Stransky Nunes, who worked with the salon for 10
LaRose has watched as the salon scene has shifted over time, from the seven on-island locations at the peak. Design 2000 has operated
at Whitney Beach Plaza since 1994.
While Koss is considering a career shift, potentially to the nonprofit sector, Roy plans to stay in the styling world. He is renting a chair with Hair At Palm Aire at 5891 Whitfield Ave., and he plans to offer a wide variety of styling services. Call 941-228-8185 for information on bookings.
While he will miss the salon, Roy said he does look forward to practicing his craft without juggling the responsibilities of running a small business, particularly amid rising property rates and other expenses. Even though the shop was spared significant damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Roy said future storm threats were also a factor in their decision.
Regardless, the pair is proud of what they’ve offered the community over the years, from their regular services to involvement with initiatives like The Paradise Center’s walk to support breast cancer research.
Koss and Roy, who met 27 years ago through friends to rollerblade around St. Armands Circle, planned to take home the David Gregory Salon sign, which they will hang in their garage. But beyond that, they took with them many pleasant memories of working at The Centre Shops.
On July 4, they will celebrate 14 years of marriage. Future plans for the space are yet to be confirmed, but Roy and Koss said it would be a good opportunity for another salon owner.
Carlin Gillen
The removal of one of the last poles on Longboat Key by Irby Construction.
Dana Kampa
Greg Koss and David Roy, owners of David Gregory Salon, share an afternoon with friends at the shop before closing its doors.
Take charge of your health now
Listening to your doctor can lead to exciting diets and exercise plans to make you look and feel healthier.
MIRABAI HOLLAND CONTRIBUTOR
Most of us have had the experience of eyeballing a cool piece of clothing or something online we don’t really need but kinda want. We visit it online and even put it in our shopping cart but don’t pull the trigger because it’s pricey. We don’t need it, and even wanting it makes us feel a little stupid. But then the thing goes on sale, 40% off and we think — OK, that’s fate. I’m buying this. Well, everybody else must have been thinking the same thing because when you go to your cart to pay for it, you find it’s no longer available.
You’re mad at the company, you’re mad at yourself. They stole it out from under you. You waited too long; if you wanted it, you should have just bought it. You call customer service to see if they can find you one somewhere. Well, your perseverance paid off. The customer service person found one in California and ordered it for you at the sale price. You get a great deal of satisfaction
from that purchase and no buyer’s remorse.
Now imagine how ahead of the game we could be if we apply the same passion to taking care of our own health. Maybe it’s high cholesterol, or you need to lose some weight, cut down on this, quit doing that, whatever.
You know it’s important.
You’ve been meaning to do it and putting it off for no good reason.
Well, maybe it’s just that health care feels like work.
Health care is not sexy.
Personally, when I think of it that way, it unnerves me a little.
Buying stuff is sexier than being healthier and maybe living longer? No, of course not. But it sure seems like it. I think it’s that very premise that prompts ad agencies to come up with TV commercials for various drugs featuring people dancing in the street. Fitting into those sexy clothes and snuggling up with someone.
It got my attention. Ad agencies know if you can’t get them to do it for health, get them to do it for beauty. Twistedly brilliant. So I guess, if beauty is the motivation, go for it. Nothing is wrong with it, especially when the health comes with it.
But it still takes a bit of discipline to do the un-sexy bits, even if they lead to the sexy ones. Here’s where we get tripped up. We procrastinate because we think getting tested and staying
on whatever regimen the doctor puts us on isn’t sexy.
And when you’re facing something we think is going to be tedious, it’s hard to see past that. But it doesn’t have to go down that way.
Sure, going for a test and listening to the doctor say you should do this and not do that is less than thrilling. But right after that, the world is your oyster. You can design a healthy food plan with exciting stuff you’ll love eating. You can ease into an exercise program that will make you look and feel fabulous. You can get those health issues under control. You’ll look and feel like a new you and you’ll like your new lifestyle so much better than your old one. It’s like that 40% off deal because you’re outsmarting the grim reaper and looking good doing it. Health is sexy. Living longer is sexy. Quality of life is very sexy.
Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video production company. She is a certified health coach, exercise physiologist and wellness consultant for Manatee County government employees and has a private practice. Her wellness programs are implemented in hospitals, MD practices, fitness facilities, resorts and corporations worldwide. She is also an artist who believes creativity enhances health. Visit MirabaiHolland.com. Contact her at AskMirabai@MovingFree.com.
WORSHIP directory
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE
8:27 p.m., 2300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: A caller to police relayed his experience with a familiar attempt at telephone fraud. The caller said someone on the other end of their phone claimed to be police officer and asked for money to help a friend avoid arrest. The man said he provided neither access to money or personal information to the fake phone cop. The real officer added some additional advice on dealing with such scam attempts in the future.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
WRONG ABOUT A CRASH
6 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: After coming up empty in finding evidence of a reported traffic crash, an officer encountered a person at Bayfront Park who said she was wrong about some kind of on-road incident. She did say, however, that two people had been arguing and left the area.
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
INCLUDED IN THE EXCLUSION
ZONE
5:45 p.m., Beer Can Island
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
LOST AMMO, FOUND AMMO
3:12 p.m., 3700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: The recipient of a parcel-service delivery of ammunition called police when he returned home and could not locate the delivered package. The resident showed a police officer the delivery confirmation from a few hours earlier, but he told the officer there was no sign of the $324 worth of ammunition. While the officer was investigating, a neighbor said there was a package at the residential site’s community center. The package was found and waiting for its owner.
Illegal parking: A boater was cited after telling an officer he knew he wasn’t allowed to beach a boat in the town’s north-end exclusion zone. The boater went on to say he had hoped to be gone before the officer on marine patrol arrived. He was not.
THAT NUMBER FOR AAA IS ...
4:59 p.m., 600 block of St. Judes Drive
Citizen assist: Police told the driver of a malfunctioning truck there was nothing they could do to help. The truck’s electrical system was operating erratically even while switched off. The responding officer recommended contacting a mechanic.
MONDAY, JUNE 23
THAT’S PROBABLY A NO, THEN
1:45 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Civil disturbance: Repeated phone calls to a town business from a job applicant came to a vulgar conclusion with a voicemail that included scatological references and wishes of ill will. The caller to police said the applicant had previously been interviewed for a position but placed repeated phone calls about the status of the hiring process. An officer left a detailed voicemail for the applicant, and told the employer to call police if they showed up on the premises.
JUST GONE
5:16 p.m., 500 block of Rountree Drive
Missing property: A property
The man said construction traffic frequents the road and has hit the mailbox previously. No security footage was available.
TUESDAY, JUNE 24 IT WAS (PROBABLY) THE GOOD GUYS
9:32 a.m., 600 block of Hideaway Bay
Suspicious aircraft: A report of a suspicious red aircraft in the area was likely linked to water-rescue training being conducted by the Manatee Sheriff’s Office.
TOO TIRED TO SWIM
1:22 p.m., near Jewfish Key Marine rescue: An officer on marine patrol rescued a swimmer who appeared to be struggling against a current. The swimmer said he had been pulled away from a nearby sandbar and was trying to make his way back but was exhausted. The man was brought aboard the police boat, allowed to recover and returned to his vessel.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25
OH, BUOY
10:16 p.m., 7000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Marine incident: A caller to police was concerned that a flashing light in the Gulf was indicative of a boater in trouble. The officer explained the light was really the offshore buoy marking the pathway through Longboat Pass.
image
It's best to ease into an exercise program that will make you look and feel fabulous.
SRQ names new president and CEO to succeed retiring Rick Piccolo
Currently at Pittsburgh International Airport, Paul Hoback Jr. will come in after generating $2.5 billion in economic impact for western Pennsylvania.
Beginning this fall, SarasotaBradenton International Airport will be under new leadership.
Last week, the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority Board of Directors announced the unanimous selection of Paul Hoback Jr. as incoming president and CEO, succeeding Rick Piccolo, who will retire this year.
Tentatively scheduled to begin at SRQ on Oct. 19, Hoback is currently executive vice president and chief
development officer of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, operator of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). He has served in various leadership roles in aviation for 25 years.
“Leading Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is an incredible opportunity, and I’m so excited to follow Rick’s amazing tenure and continue the legacy he has built over three decades,” Hoback said in a news release. “Thank you to Rick, the board and the community. I am truly honored to have been selected, and I look forward to serving the region as we continue to grow SRQ together.”
In his role with ACAA, Hoback provides leadership, oversight and strategic direction for all capital development projects in addition to operations and maintenance. Most recently, he has guided PIT’s $1.7 billion new terminal program that is credited for generating $2.5 billion in economic impact for western Pennsylvania.
In his current role, he oversees several departments within ACAA where he has advanced a variety of regional initiatives, including the Neighborhood 91 additive manufacturing campus, a world-leading
airport energy micro grid and the expansion of airport cargo facilities.
Hoback also serves on several community and charitable boards in Pittsburgh, as well as aviation and construction industry committees. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and an MBA from Geneva College in Pennsylvania.
“The board, with the assistance of the professional search firm Korn Ferry, did an extensive search and review of potential candidates and Mr. Hoback was a unanimous choice,” said Jesse Biter, chairman of the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Board, in the release.
Piccolo will retire as president and CEO on Nov. 30 and will continue in an advisory capacity to the Airport Authority until June 30, 2026. He was to step down originally in June and fully retire at the end of 2025.
When he took over as president and CEO three decades ago, SRQ was $115 million in debt and losing passengers in part because of its proximity to Tampa International Airport to the north and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers to the south.
The airport faced waves of controversy, Piccolo told the Observer in November 2024, as the eight-member board of directors — elected by voters — four from Sarasota County and four from Manatee County, each serving four-year terms with half of
them up for election every two years. Those electees stirred constant issues for the airport director.
“The Sarasota airport had a terrible reputation in our industry, and the reason for that at the time was the board was one of only two boards in the country directly elected by the populace,” Piccolo said at the time. “Every two years, the airport director was spending time fending off criticism from its own board, regardless of performance.”
That changed in 1995, when voter approval of a public referendum in both Sarasota and Manatee counties changed the composition of the Airport Authority Board of Directors from elected representatives to governor appointees.
Most recently, Piccolo has overseen rapid growth of the airport in passenger count, facilities and an aviation industry ecosystem surrounding the airfield. Since the pandemic, SRQ has become the fastestgrowing airport in the world, leaping from 1.3 million passengers in 2018 to more than 4 million per year currently.
To help accommodate that growth, SRQ opened its new Concourse A in January 2025. All five gates are leased by Allegiant.
Piccolo has also led the diversification of the airport’s revenue sources with the addition of multiple aviation industry companies and organizations, most recently announcing plans by Swiss business jet manufacturer Pilatus to build a plant and offices on the east side of the airfield.
The ecosystem includes fixedbase operators including Sheltair, which is currently building a new facility near the Pilatus site, as well as education facilities such as the Manatee Technical College airframe and powerplant program, and the Team Success charter school for grades six through 12.
“We are very pleased that (Hoback) has accepted the challenge and we look forward to him and his family relocating to our community,” said Biter in the news release. “We are extremely grateful to Rick Piccolo for his three decades of service to the airport, the community and industry, and his impact on SRQ cannot be overemphasized. We wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.”
Andrew Warfield
Rick Piccolo has spent 30 of his 53-year airport career at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
Courtesy image
Paul Hoback Jr. has been named president and CEO of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
ALL-AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER
Clyde Butcher’s legacy is secure, but he’s not through with his mission to save the Everglades.
MONICA ROMAN
GAGNIER
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The family of Everglades champion Marjory Stoneman Douglas founded the newspaper that would become The Miami Herald, so it somehow seems fitting when environmental activist Clyde Butcher gets a call from the paper as a visitor arrives at his Venice gallery to interview him about his latest book.
The Herald wants to know what Butcher thinks about “Alligator Alcatraz.” That’s Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s nickname for an immigration detention center springing up in Big Cypress National Preserve. The Miami folks will have to wait; Butcher is fierce about honoring his commitments.
With the new book of his life’s work, “Lifeworks in Photography, 1972-2023,” and a recent National Medal of Arts crowning his many honors, Butcher’s legacy is sealed. But at a time when many octogenarians might be content to play with their grandchildren, Butcher has been galvanized by the plan to build Alligator Alcatraz in Big Cypress, located about 45 miles west of Miami adjacent to Everglades National Park.
Suddenly, the 82-year-old has become the poster boy for the Stop Alligator Alcatraz Movement. Butcher, who looks like Santa Claus dressed for a safari, took the microphone at a June 28 rally in Ochop-
ee, addressing the crowd from his wheelchair. Another speaker at the peaceful demonstration, which drew 1,000 people, was Native American activist Betty Osceola, a Miccosukee Tribe of Florida member. She was joined by other Miccosukees as well as members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, whose ancestors once inhabited the land.
The immigrant detention center under construction is literally in Butcher’s backyard. He and his wife, Niki, have an art gallery in Big Cypress, so one could argue there is some self-interest in Butcher’s opposition to Alligator Alcatraz.
But isn’t that true for some of the world’s high-profile conservationists? Cable TV magnate Ted Turner has acquired 2.1 million acres of land near his various ranches over the years to prevent it from ever being developed. That’s one way to keep the neighbors at a distance.
Butcher doesn’t have such grand ambitions, nor the wealth, to support such private conservation efforts. However, he is a big-picture guy —
IF YOU GO
‘CHRISTMAS IN JULY’ OPEN HOUSE When and Where: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 13 at Big Cypress Gallery, 52388 Tamiami Trail. 4-7 p.m. on July 24 at Venice Gallery, 237 Warfield Ave., Venice.
Clyde Butcher took “Whildens Pond 4” in 2002. “Yosemite 175” was taken by Clyde Butcher in 2006, 90 years after Ansel Adams first photographed the national park.
Many orchid hunters have sought to steal or even see the elusive ghost orchid and failed, but Clyde Butcher managed to take this picture in 1999.
“Tamiami Trail 1” was taken by Clyde Butcher in 1986.
Images courtesy of Clyde Butcher
“Myakka Live Oak” was taken in 2017. Trees in Myakka State Park have recently been carved by visitors who are leaving their initials on the trees, which impacts their health.
literally. His black-and-white photographs of the Everglades and other national parks, such as Yosemite and Grand Teton, can run as large 5 feet by 9 feet. He is often compared to legendary landscape photographer Ansel Adams.
When Butcher received a National Medal of Arts this past October, the White House citation said: “From humble beginnings as a self-taught photographer, Clyde Butcher is considered America’s most acclaimed landscape photographer today. From the Rocky Mountains to the Everglades, and countless pristine places in between, his images inspire and challenge us to respect and defend our natural wonders.”
Ask Butcher why he’s stepping into the political fray with Alligator Alcatraz after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2017, not to mention a recent stay at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for health problems he’d prefer not to discuss, and you’ll get a long, winding story. Butcher describes how he and Niki, an artist in her own right, first discovered the beauty of the Everglades.
The native Californians were living in Fort Myers at the time. “We came here in 1980. I didn’t see or photograph much of Florida until 1984. That’s when I saw Tom Gaskins’ place up at Fisheating Creek. That gave me an introduction to the Everglades,” Butcher explains.
Gaskins, who died in 1998, owned the Cypress Knee Museum in Palmdale, where he sold cypress knees used for decorations and furniture.
A PENCHANT FOR DIALOGUEDRIVEN STORIES
“I brought my camera back the next day and photographed Gaskins’ place,” Butcher says. “The same week, I met Oscar Thompson, who had a studio down on Highway 80. I was looking at slides over his shoulder. I asked him, ‘Did you just get back from Africa?’
‘No.’
‘South America?’
‘No.’
‘Then where?’
‘Down the highway, about two hours.’
‘Can you take me there some time?’
‘How about now?’
Between those two events, I discovered the Everglades.”
Talk with Butcher some more, and it becomes clear that anecdote was not just a one-off conversational event. Butcher likes to answer questions with dialogue.
If he hadn’t been a photographer, maybe Butcher would have ended up in the movie business like Steven Spielberg, whom Butcher met at the National Endowment for the Arts awards ceremony at the White House, along with filmmaker Spike Lee and many other luminaries. (The two directors were the fellow honorees that Butcher mentions by name.) It turns out that Butcher wasn’t the only one who thought the Everglades looked like Africa. That was also the impression of browsers at art shows across the country where Clyde and Niki sold their work. Suddenly, Butcher’s safari attire starts to make sense. He was also wearing it at the December 2023 opening of his exhibition at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point.
“I’ve
been taking photos in Big Cypress and the Everglades for 40 years, and I’ve never seen another person. Never. Alligator Alcatraz will destroy the pristine environment.”
— Clyde Butcher
Given Butcher’s penchant for longwinded explanations, it’s no surprise his family, including his daughter, Jackie Butcher Obendorf, his son-inlaw, Neal Obendorf, and grandchildren Kayla and Robert, have helped distill his messages supporting the Everglades on social media. But even their posts for Clyde Butcher Photography are not short. Here’s an example:
“As the population of Florida increased, and the beauty of the land
“
became overrun by houses and strip malls, I began to worry about the rapid disappearance of natural Florida.
“Suddenly, my photographs of the Everglades were becoming history rather than images of how Florida presently appeared. That knowledge was disturbing and motivated me to begin my conservation activities.
“Saving the Everglades and working with state agencies and national environmental groups became part of my life, and the Everglades became the heart of my photography.”
A SON’S DEATH MARKS
A TURNING POINT
In interviews and books, Clyde and Niki Butcher inevitably return to the loss of their son and how it affected their art. Ted Butcher was killed by a drunken driver in 1986 at the age of 17. Ted’s death prompted Niki to devote herself more seriously to her photography and move away from the cute arts and crafts she was selling to help support the family.
Clyde’s soul-searching sparked his decision to abandon color photography. Upon reflection, he came to the conclusion that black-and-white images better illustrate the strange, wild beauty of Florida’s dark interior.
“When Ted died, we were doing a show in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I sat there looking at my color work. I thought, ‘People are really interested in Florida, but I don’t think they can see it in color. That’s why I decided to go black and white.”
The story continues ... “After my son was killed by a drunk driver, I was pretty pissed off. At the time, they were trying to build a so-called resource recovery plant in Fort Myers, where we living. It turns out it was a trash-burning plant and I decided to try and do something,” Butcher says.
Aha! It turns out the movement to stop Alligator Alcatraz isn’t the first time that Butcher has used his “brand” to publicly oppose a facility that he believes will be detrimental to the Everglades.
For Butcher, here’s the bottom line: “I’ve been taking photos in Big Cypress and the Everglades for 40 years, and I’ve never seen another person. Never. Alligator Alcatraz will destroy the pristine environment.”
With winding discussions about travel to far-flung art shows and
long-gone souvenir outposts, one might be tempted to dismiss Butcher’s musings as those of an elder reminiscing in a rambling fashion about Old Florida.
But Butcher can surprise you with a firm grasp on numbers. This is a man who trained as an architect, after all, before turning to his hobby of photography to support his family when he was laid off during a real estate downturn in California.
When an interviewer points out that Butcher still has plenty of room to run in his crusade to protect Florida’s wilderness if he lives as long as Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who died at 105, he interjects, “She died at 108.”
Butcher may indeed follow the centenarian in longevity. But collectors of his photography understand that life is fragile. They turn out in droves, and we mean droves, for the open houses the Butcher family periodically holds at their Big Cypress and Venice galleries.
Indeed, Butcher’s recent stint at Sarasota Memorial reminded him of his own mortality. So after moving to digital photography in 2017, he has returned to traditional photography. His team, including his photo editor, Paul Tilton, scoured the internet, and found Butcher a camera that met his specifications in Tehran, Iran. After it arrived, the first picture Butcher took was of an oak in Myakka State Park. That photo has turned up in Clyde Butcher Photography’s social media feed juxtaposed with one of an oak carved with someone’s initials.
Some people have to be reminded not to deface trees. After all, younger generations didn’t see the America the Beautiful ads in the 1970s featuring a Native American shedding a tear at the sight of litter. (Since denounced for perpetuating Native stereotypes, they made a lasting impression on kids of the era, as did Woodsy Owl’s plea: “Give a hoot. Don’t pollute.”)
After learning about recent bombings of Iran by Israel and the U.S., Butcher became concerned about the welfare of the Tehran camera retailer. He asked his assistant to email the man. “I was so glad to hear he and his family are OK,” Butcher says. The environmentalist is also a humanitarian.
Courtesy image
Venice photographer Clyde Butcher is flanked by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden after receiving the National Medal of Arts on Oct. 21, 2024.
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$20 adult; $13 child Visit CircusArts.org.
Pack up the car with Grandpa and the kids and head for the Circus Arts Conservatory’s annual Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling. This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. There’s room for walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, you name it — but please arrive early so ushers can store them. Add a ticket to The Ringling’s Circus Museum for just $5 on the day of the show. Runs through Aug. 9.
Fresh from his success with Florida Studio Theatre’s “Jersey Boys,” Ben Liebert directs and choreographs “Dames at Sea.” A parody of 1930s musicals, “Dames at Sea” first debuted Off-Off Broadway in 1966 starring Bernadette Peters. With the help of a sailor/songwriter Dick, Utah chorus girl Ruby lands a role in a musical that’s trying to find its footing. FST’s Ruby is Emily Ann Brooks, making her FST debut. Runs through July 13.
IF YOU GO
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3
Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $42 and up Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
The free Sights + Sounds concert series continues at Waterside Place with a patriotic performance by the Sarasota Concert Band featuring vocal soloist Kathryn Parks. Limited seating, so bring a lawn chair.
If you’re a comedy fan, you may be familiar with Carl Rimi, because he’s been doing standup for more than 30 years in comedy clubs across the country and on cruise ships. In 2013, Rimi began performing in front of the camera, and in 2021, he starred in his first feature film, “iPossessed.” His next platform is TV, where he will write, direct, produce and star in “Mid-Life College.”
‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres. Whether she’s singing songs by Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra or Patsy Cline, she exudes a retro vibe. What’s more, her cool costumes in “Too Darn Hot” evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.
‘HOW SWEET IT IS’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
As the mercury rises, locals know how to escape the heat — with Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer
DON’T MISS FIREWORKS ON THE LAKE
Fireworks on the Lake returns with Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio providing the live entertainment; a Kids Zone, sponsored by Mote Marine; plenty of other family friendly activities; and food and beverage trucks. The fireworks show begins at approximately 9 p.m. VIP Viewing Experience tickets from the finish tower are $105 per adult; $65 per child for ages 12 and younger. The ticket includes complimentary food and beverages, an open bar with beer and wine and access to the air-conditioned finish tower. Parking is $40 per carload at Regatta Island; $30 in the South Parking Lot and the Special Event Parking Lot next to Homewood Suites; $60 for RVs in the South Parking Lot.
IF YOU GO When: 5 p.m. Thursday, July 3
Where: Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle
Tickets: Free; parking and VIP viewing extra Info: Visit FireworksOnTheLake.com.
FST IMPROV: ‘FREEDOM! THE MUSICAL’
7:30 p.m. FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18
Cabaret. The series kicks off with a Motown tribute called “How Sweet It Is.” Led by dynamic vocalist and songwriter Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the enduring appeal of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.
Lakewood Ranch is pulling out the stops for its first-annual StarSpangled Spectacular. A show by the Circus Arts Conservatory at 8 p.m. and a drone show at 9 p.m. are the highlights of this free holiday event. The festivities will include circus acts, games, vendor booths, food and family friendly fun that includes a Kids’ Zone. Parking is free, and a trolley will run between Waterside Place and lots at The Out-of-Door Academy and Grace Community Church from 5:30-10 p.m.
SATURDAY
PATTI SMITH: A BOOK OF DAYS
10 a.m. at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey Included with $20 admission Visit Selby.org.
Selby Gardens collaborates with poet and musician Patti Smith, its artist-in-residence, on an outdoor exhibition of large prints taken from her newly published bestseller, “A Book of Days.” By displaying her photographs outdoors, Selby brings them into conversation with nature. Runs through Aug. 31.
Visit Florida StudioTheatre.org.
Feeling patriotic but looking for a laugh? Florida Studio Theatre Improv explores “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Laughter” in this comedy musical with a promise to share an untold story of the American Revolution.
MONDAY
‘CONJURING THE SPIRIT WORLD: ART, MAGIC AND MEDIUMS’
10 a.m. at the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.
Go on the trail of things that go bump in the night with this fascinating interactive exhibition, which follows the growth of Spiritualism in the mid-19th century from its roots in dining room seances to traveling shows featuring magicians and mediums. Runs through July 13.
TUESDAY
‘LILIAN BLADES: THROUGH THE VEIL’ 11 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in her first solo museum exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum. Her installation of “veils” combine handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing display. Runs through Oct. 26.
Ahoy there!
The show offers a loving pastiche of 1930s musicals packed with plenty of laughs.
MARTY FUGATE
THEATER CRITIC
ames at Sea” has docked at Florida Studio Theatre. Robin Miller and George Haimsohn wrote the musical’s script and lyrics; Jim Wise composed its score. It’s a loving homage to 1930s musicals, not a satirical slap. It’s funny and how!
But short on originality. If you’ve ever seen a Busby Berkeley movie (or one of its imitators), you always know what’s coming. But here’s a plot summary anyway ...
The musical opens with a backstage meet-cute in a WPA theater on Broadway in the 1930s. The theater is putting on a musical — “Dames at Sea.” Fresh off the bus from Centerville, Utah, comes Ruby (Emily Ann Brooks), a wannabe chorus girl. She bumps into Dick (Devin Johnson), a wannabe songwriter who’s in the Navy. It’s love at first sight!
When the director, Joel Newsome, spies them, it’s casting at first sight. Ruby and Dick are instantly hired for the show.
Mona, the diva/star of “Dames at Sea” (Jenna Coker-Jones) takes a fancy to the sailor/songwriter and gives him a big smooch. It wasn’t Dick’s idea, but Ruby thinks she’s been thrown over. Her heart is broken.
Then a wrecking ball breaks into the theater. All is lost, right? Wrong! Dick has a crazy idea that just might work. “Dames at Sea” is set on a battleship, right? Why not use his ship as a theater?
Charmed by Mona, Dick’s captain (Newsome again) agrees. Hearts heal. The show goes on. Is that the sound of wedding bells I hear?
‘Dames at Sea’ sets sail at Florida Studio Theatre
Director/Choreographer Ben Liebert steers this madcap musical ship with a clever mix of choreography and slapstick. (His rat-a-tat tap-dancing numbers are great, though they make me feel uncoordinated.) He’s amped up the farce factor on the song and dance with bits of comic business right out of a Marx Brothers movie. My favorite gag’s the one where Mona keeps trying to strike a seductive pose on top of a piano — and keeps sliding off. The actors make the most of their stock 1930s characters.
Johnson’s Dick is a wide-eyed sailor with a song in his heart and dancing feet. Brooks’ Ruby is a starry-eyed ingenue with a big heart and legs that won’t quit. She’s great as this gee-whiz, good girl, always a thankless part.
Coker-Jones has far more fun playing Mona. Her cad girl character’s definitely on Santa’s naughty list. Just like Tux, Mona’s snarling pet Pomeranian, this domineering diva is fluffy, pretty and vicious.
Dick’s shipmate Lucky (Larry Toyter) and Joan (Kelsey Stalter) hit all the right screwball comedy notes in their romantic banter. Newsome plays both the ship’s captain and the director. Both authority figures are bullish, hassled and past their prime. On land or sea, their respective jobs are like herding cats.
Songs like “Broadway Baby” and “Choo-Choo Honeymoon” sound familiar — by design. The musical’s daffy, charming tunes are sound-alikes of the period — but knock-offs, not rip-offs. (And
“Dames at Sea” is a musical layer cake of corny conventions.
satire’s fair use.) A three-piece band, led with panache by Music Director David Caldwell, punches above its weight and keeps the music flowing.
The show looks as good as it sounds. Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay’s shape-shifting set does double duty as a Broadway theater and a battleship. K. April Soroko’s period costumes are a perfect fit for the show’s nostalgic comic vibe.
“Dames at Sea” is a musical layer cake of corny conventions. Its plot is a roller coaster of lucky breaks, unlucky problems, plucky solution, love scenes and pep talks. That’s the plot of every Busby Berkeley movie. The musical’s creators shamelessly stole his recipe. And carefully followed it — aside from the fact that Berkeley had armies of leggy chorus girls and this parody has a cast of six. But that’s part of the joke. It adds up to a very funny spoof. If your experience of musical comedy begins with “Spamalot,” you might miss the show’s nostalgic/satirical point. But it’s still a boatload of laughs.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine
Devin Johnson, Emily Ann Brooks, Kelsey Stalter, Larry Toyter, Jenna Coker-Jones and Joel Newsome star in Florida
Studio Theatre’s “Dames at Sea.”
Courtesy image
Florida Studio Theatre Resident Director/Choreographer Ben Liebert.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
Longboat Key represented for first time in Miss Florida USA.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
This year marked a first for the Miss Florida USA pageant.
Among those competing was Madison VandenBrekel, the inaugural representative for Longboat Key.
If she couldn’t take the top spot, she said the next best thing would be cheering on a former Orlando First Academy schoolmate to victory, which she did.
VandenBrekel spent her summers in Longboat Key and winters in Orlando. That Orlando connection put her in a unique position of rooting for winner Lou Shieffelin, with whom she attended high school.
“I called that this would be her year, especially when she made Top 5,” she said.
This was VandenBrekel’s first time competing in a pageant of this scale, and she found the experience to be encouraging and enlightening.
“I went into pageantry thinking it would be a chance and an honor to be considered a role model for younger girls to look up to in the state of Florida,” she said. “I hoped to inspire them to not only chase after their dreams, but really believe in them.”
The pageant, which took place during Memorial Day weekend in Orlando, scored contestants on their evening gown and swimsuit ensembles, and the remainder of their total score was based on an interview.
This competition dates back to 1952, yet this was the first year it included a representative from Longboat Key.
“I went through pageantry training when I graduated high school in 2018, but I never went on to compete because that’s when I got accepted into the American Musical and Dramatic Academy College of Performing Arts in Los Angeles,” she said. “I hoped to revisit it in the future.”
With her parents’ encouragement, she did just that.
VandenBrekel spent three days participating in the pageant, and
she said she enjoyed rising to the challenges of learning lengthy choreographed group dances on a quick turnaround, preparing for call times in the early morning hours and voicing everything she wanted to share in on-the-spot interviews.
“The other girls with more experience said this was the longest dance they ever did,” she added.
Even though it was a competition, she said the women did a lot to help one another learn the routine in only 24 hours.
Answering questions from the panel of judges — who included former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield — in only two-and-a-half minutes, was an intimidating task, she said. They sought answers to questions about what motivated the contestants to be there and how they hoped to uplift the state of Florida as a representative. However, she said it was a great opportunity to step up and develop her confidence.
She did have some frame of reference for the dance, given her musical background. As a singer, she enjoys creating cross-genre music, country and electronic dance music.
Every competitor needs a support team, and she was glad to have her mother’s keen eye when it came to helping her select her outfits. Among a multitude of options, she picked a pink dress at Prom Pageant Couture, which she knew was the right choice when some youngsters in the store told her she looked like a princess.
“There were two little girls in the store with their mom, and they said, ‘Oh my gosh, you look like Sleeping Beauty.’ Another called me Galinda, and I knew that was it,” she said.
“After growing up in Orlando, you can’t feel more confident than when you get called a Disney princess.”
The competition also provided her an opportunity to highlight some of her other passions. She works with Orion Sky Charters as vice president in executive concierge, and the company provides transportation assistance to veterans.
VandenBrekel, who now resides in Nashville part time, hopes to do more to combine her interests, in hopes of one day starting her own organization to offer music therapy services to veterans.
Motivated by her volunteer work with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium-organized cleanups, VandenBrekel also shared her interest in work protecting Florida’s environment.
But her talent doesn’t end there. She shared with judges her enthusiasm for golfing, evidenced by her state championship. As she pointed out, the state has no shortage of avid golfers.
“I spent my whole life growing up golfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and doing anything that has to do with water,” she said, which she added is one of the best parts of living in Longboat Key.
VandenBrekel didn’t make it to the group of 16 semifinalists out of 72 contestants, so she shifted focus to cheering on her former schoolmate.
“(Shieffelin) was one grade below me, with my sister,” she said. “At the time, in 2017, she won Miss Teen Florida USA. That’s actually what got me into coaching in the first place.”
Shieffelin continued to compete for the full Miss Florida USA title, and VandenBrekel said it was inspiring to see her win this year. She most appreciated the camaraderie this year, especially when all the contestants and their family members got to enjoy a Hawaiian luau after the first round of competition.
This may have been her first larger pageant, but she doesn’t anticipate it will be her last. The training she underwent was helpful, but she said nothing compares to actually getting experience on stage.
She offered her congratulations to Shieffelin and all the other competitors this year.
“I loved having the chance to meet all these beautifully talented, powerful women and expand my public speaking skills and confidence,” she said.
Courtesy image Madison VandenBrekel represented Longboat Key in this year’s Miss Florida USA pageant.
Passing the gavel
Outgoing Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace started off her final speech as the club’s leader by proudly proclaiming the relatively small club has had a mighty impact in the community in the course of only a year.
She attributed those accomplishments to the members who energetically, enthusiastically and passionately found ways to keep the club going.
Wallace officially passed the gavel to Terri Driver during a ceremony on June 24 at Hugo’s II.
Members credited Wallace with her unwavering dedication to keeping the club running, even when membership reached a low point and members potentially
faced disbandment. Her hard work has paid off, though, as the group continues to grow and has a wider impact on the community.
Jeff Driver, who previously served as president in 2022, started the festivities with a toast. He focused on one of Rotary’s central tenets, “service above self.”
“John F. Kennedy said, ‘Every accomplishment begins with the decision to try.’ The contemplation of trying is transformative for us, and that’s what our presidents here have represented,” he said, adding that their club members follow that initiative with action.
Reflecting on her term, Wallace said, “I could joke and say I’m taking away relief, but really, it’s been better than I ever expected. I feel I’ve done better than I thought I could as president.”
She took up the role to keep moving the mission started by Sydelle Pittas, the late wife of her husband, Philippe Koenig.
Wallace said she had little knowledge of Rotary, but when no one else could step up to the role and she realized just how much the club meant to Koenig, she rose to the challenge.
“I’m very happy, now, that I did,” she interjected. “He was immensely appreciative, and I made all these new friends. I learned how even the smallest thing you can do makes a difference in people’s lives.”
She found the work with chil-
dren in the community, especially the reading program with Tuttle Elementary School, most rewarding. Though outgoing as president, she looks to continuing that work as a club member.
Wallace has every confidence in Terri Driver’s vision, adding, “She’s very capable and has lots of ideas.”
With an exchange of pins, parting gift and a gavel handover, Terri Driver assumed her new role.
She has long been deeply involved in the community, whether it’s rescuing a great blue heron in distress, working with Longboat Key Turtle Watch or speaking to the importance of tree replanting as a member of the Longboat Key Green Team.
“I want to add a thank you to Jan for guiding us through this last year,” Terri Driver added. “Her creativity is amazing, and that helps me in looking forward, though in slightly different ways. I’m excited about it.”
Rotarians also took a moment to recognize Nancy and Jack Rozance for their years of contributing to Rotary. Carol Erker presented Nancy Rozance with a certificate of appreciation from the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation for promoting water safety.
They also played an instrumental role in coordinating a largescale cleanup of hurricane debris on the Key in February, among many other initiatives.
Wallace said, “Words cannot express how grateful we are for what they have done, and what they’ve taught us about do-goodery.”
— DANA KAMPA
Jack and Nancy Rozance, joined by fellow Rotarian Carol Erker, accept commendation from the Rotary Club of Longboat Key for their years of service.
Rotary Club of Longboat Key board members close out the evening after the passing of the gavel. From left: Jeff and Terri Driver, Carol Erker, Brad Marner and Janet Shapiro.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Outgoing Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace, right, and incoming President Terri Driver crack a smile after Wallace officially passes the gavel on June 24 at Hugo’s II.
Lazy Lobster gives thanks
The nostalgic aroma of Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry sauce wafted through the Lazy Lobster restaurant on a warm summer evening, all for a great cause.
On June 26, Lazy Lobster celebrated its annual Thanksgiving in June, marking the half-year point to the holiday. Lazy Lobster partners with Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and All Faiths Food Bank.
Event organizers encouraged guests to donate up to five nonperishable food items, and guests enjoyed a turkey feast.
“It’s a great time of the year for this, for the food banks, because they really struggle in the summer, and their donations are down because of the seasonal population,” said Michael Garey, Lazy Lobster owner. “The schools are out, so there’s a greater need. So it’s a great opportunity for us to step in and give a dinner everybody wants.”
Garey explains the event started in 2017 and has grown exponentially over the years. He predicts donations will total
about three bins, the average size of a utility trash can, worth of nonperishables.
Food that was donated included boxed rice, fruit juices, canned vegetables and fruit, baby formula and much more.
Much like the traditional holiday, this Thanksgiving in June filled the Lazy Lobster with family, friends and giving back to those in need.
“It’s really, really good. And we appreciate the fact that we can bring in canned food and give to the community,” guest Maureen Reuther said. “That’s a really wonderful thing that they’re doing.”
— CARLIN GILLEN
Photos by Carlin Gillen Michael and Gail Ruh enjoy the Lazy Lobster’s Thanksgiving in June celebration.
Manager Kate Ruh, co-owner Michael Garey and Sebastian Villaseca, head chef.
YOUR CALENDAR
FRIDAY, JULY 4 ENJOY DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
8:30 a.m. near Truist Bank, 510 Bay Isles Road. In conjunction with the Freedom Fest, the Rotary Club of Longboat Key is holding its “Hot Diggity Dog!” costume competition, which will be judged during the parade. Contestants should line up by 8:30 a.m. at the Rotary booth near Truist Bank. Prizes will go to the “Most Patriotic Dog,” “Most Creative Dog Costume” and “Best Owner & Dog Combination.” Register in advance by emailing ThompsonLaw@msn. com or calling 274-8741.
FULL SPUD AHEAD
BEST BET FRIDAY, JULY 4
FREEDOM FEST
9-11 a.m. on July 4 at Bicentennial Park, 500 Bay Isles Road. The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual celebration, featuring a parade, butterfly release, entertainment by Chucko the Clown, music, a petting zoo and other familyfriendly activities. The best float or group will win a $500 prize. Visit LongboatKeyChamber.com for more information.
11 a.m. at Bird Key Yacht Club, 301 Bird Key Drive. Club members can put their crafting skills to the test to compete in the premier race of the year — the potato head races. Participants fashion their miniature racing cars out of potatoes, carrots and a few allocated wheel and stick pieces. The preparation begins at 11 a.m., and the ceremony starts at 11:30 a.m. The races follow the noon buffet lunch.
MOORINGS BACKYARD BBQ Friday at Longboat Key Club Moorings, 2630 Harbourside Drive. The marina is hosting a backyard barbecue with games and live music for members, renters and visitors. Family seating is available for a fee. Call 941-383-8383 for more.
COOKOUT AT LONGBOAT
HARBOUR
5 p.m. on Friday at Longboat Harbour Condominium, 4454 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Residents and family members can enjoy burgers and hot dogs from the grill, along with all the fixings, for the association’s cookout. Cost is $15 per person. Pay by in person at the office or via TicketLeap.com.
ANNA MARIA MAKING A SPLASH
10 a.m. on Friday at Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive, Bradenton. The AMI Privateers host the biggest event on Anna Maria Island, with a parade and water fight starting at 10 a.m. at Coquina Beach and ending about 12:30 p.m. at City Beach with a picnic celebration.
RECURRING EVENTS
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-6493.
SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS YOGA
10-11 a.m. Sundays and 6-7 p.m. on Mondays at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. This slow-flow yoga class is free to those 18 and older or accompanied by an adult. Bring a mat or towel and water. Register at Paige@YogaWithPaige.us or visit YogaWithPaige.us to learn more.
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS QIGONG
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Learn all about this ancient healing art of movement and meditation. Fee is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 941-383-6493.
FRIDAYS UP YOUR TAI CHI SKILLS
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Certified instructor Reuben Fernandez leads a weekly intermediate tai chi class, held outdoors when weather permits. Fernandez also leads a beginner class at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, but builds off those skills with a focus on Chen Style, Lao Ca Dija. It’s recommended to wear close-toed shoes. Cost is $20. Call 941-3836493.
Bird Key home tops week’s sales at $7.82 million
ADAM
HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ray Dils, of San Rafael, California, sold the home at 348 W. Royal Flamingo Drive to Gunther Blaseio and Rosa Maria Reimann Blaseio, of Sarasota, for $7.82 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 5,723 square feet of living area.
RESIDENCES AT LONGBOAT KEY
Michael Douglas Burkentine and Emily Kristen Burkentine, of Hanover, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit 407 condominium at 1581 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Virginia Eileen Voss, trustee, of Sanger, Texas, for $2.97 million. Built in 2024, it has one bedroom, one-and-a-half baths and 1,684 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.69 million in 2024.
THE PRESERVE AT LONGBEACH
Timothy Jones and Sylvia Lee, of Sarasota, sold their home at 625 Jackson Way to Bryan Roberts, of Milton, Georgia, for $2.9 million. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,852 square feet of living area.
MARINA BAY
Jerry and Gay Bowles, David Payne and Teresa Monfils, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 251 condominium at 2450 Harbourside Drive to George Rauch III and Sally Long Uihlein Rauch, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $2.4 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, three
baths and 3,083 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in 2013.
CEDAR WOODLANDS
Victor Levine, of United Kingdom, sold the home at 5444 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Brian and Roselle Crombie, of Westport, Connecticut, for $2.3 million. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,828 square feet of living area.
THE WATER CLUB AT LONGBOAT KEY
George Gronwall, of Ontario, Canada, sold his Unit 105 condominium at 1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Carl and Karen Jueng, of Pittsburgh, for $1.95 million. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,585 square feet of living area. It sold for $1 million in 2019.
LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS
James and Nancy Ann Carpenter, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit N-1102 condominium at 603 Longboat Club Road to Mark Rayner Johnson and Michelle Katherine Johnson, of Longboat Key, for $1.5 million. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,458 square feet of living area. It sold for $810,000 in 2013.
BAYPORT BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB
William and Paulette Leblanc, of Laguna Vista, Texas, sold their Unit 523 condominium at 523 Bayport Way to Patrick and Corrie Manning, of Longboat Key, for $845,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,456 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2023.
FAIRWAY Fairway Bay 1404 LLC sold the Unit 1404 condominium at 1928 Harbourside Drive to Kevin Scott Miller and Colleen Ann Miller, of Freehold, New Jersey, for $840,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
baths and 2,565 square feet of living area. It sold for $910,000 in 2021.
GRAND BAY
Richard Buchanan III and Julie Andrews, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 533 condominium at 3080 Grand Bay Blvd. to George and Rebecca Kawaja, of Lexington, Kentucky, for $800,000. Built in 1996, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,329 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2015.
SEAPLACE
Randall and Deborah Tobias, of Carmel, Indiana, sold their Unit M2-313-A condominium at 1945 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Ross and Barbara Engelkes and Jacob Engelkes, trustee, of Lowell, Michigan, for $739,000. Built in 1978, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,265 square feet of living area. It sold for $795,000 in March.
LONGBOAT HARBOUR
Jean Ann McLoughlin, of Florham
Park, New Jersey, sold her Unit 201 condominium at 4410 Exeter Drive to Jeffrey Klein and Wendy Klein, trustees, of York, Maine, for $600,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,376 square feet of living area. It sold for $305,000 in 2011.
CEDARS EAST
Stephen and Alissa Mote, of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, sold their Unit 25 condominium at 653 Cedars Court to Ronald Allen Myers, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, for $585,000. Built in 1988, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,440 square feet of living area. It sold for $225,000 in 2015.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
SUNRISE /
MOON PHASES
TIDES
TICKING AWAY by Les Mots, edited by Taylor Johnson
