Sarasota Observer - December 16 2010

Observer

SARASOTA

NEWS secret. santa

diversions:

NEIGHBORHOOD 9A

Puppy love

PEACE SIGNS

Attorney helps Furry friends display one family buy canine Christmas presents this season. PAGE 3A cheer at event.

INSIDE | PAGE 1B

Painter Pamela Sumner shares her ancient Chinese secrets.

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

SLICE OF THE CITY PEOPLE, PICS . & PLACES

Thursday, december 16, 2010

park place The Sarasota Observer got an exclusive tour a week before the scheduled opening of the Palm Avenue parking garage, which will soon feature a modern, sail-like appearance on the outside and roomy parking levels inside.

Loren Mayo

Aimee Barnes and Cynthia McGrail

+ Phillippi Shores lifts spirits with gifts ’Tis the season for giving, and that’s just what Phillippi Shores Elementary school is doing.

Along with the help of parents, staff and community members, school guidance counselor Aimee Barnes and I.B. coordinator Cynthia McGrail rounded up a roomful of gifts to make the holidays extra special for 79 needy children.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Team leaders Mike Beaumier, vice president of Suffolk Construction, and Jonathan Parks, senior principal of Jonathan Parks Architect, on sixth level of the Palm Avenue parking garage. With views of the water to the west and north, the top floor may be the most attractive place to park.

Garage sets sail

Debbie Comer

Maria Amodio

+ Selby guests pine for decorations Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Great Room by the Bay was transformed into a holiday wonderland for the Marie Selby Gardens Associates’ Wine, Dine and Pine event Nov. 30. Guests enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres while they bid on a selection of 30 trees, wreaths and centerpieces.

By Robin Roy | City Editor

Just one step into the soon-to-open Palm Avenue parking garage, it’s apparent this is not a typical parking garage.

The light flows throughout each of the six parking levels. Support columns are set back against the wall, instead of in front of the parking spaces, which gives the garage a feeling of vastness.

The $12.5 million garage could open as early as Dec. 22. With 735 spaces, the city hopes it will draw drivers off the street to free up more parking for tourists and shoppers directly in front of Sarasota’s stores and restaurants.

Several design features are intended to attract people to the parking garage.

Sarasota architectural firm Jonathan Parks Architect developed a modern-art

exterior that appears to be sails. That will cover the second to sixth parking levels on the front and a portion of the sides of the building.

The sails are made from perforated aluminum. Each sail consists of up to 30 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets to create the

SEE GARAGE / PAGE 2A

SEE SLICE / PAGE 12A

INDEX Classifieds..............................15A Cops Corner..........................14A Crossword.............................14A Opinion....................................6A Real Estate...........................14A Vol. 7, No. 6 Two sections www.YourObserver.com

The metal trusses that will secure the exterior’s sails are currently being attached to the garage.

Architect Jonathan Parks calls the main entry with staircase and elevator “the lobby.” The curving shapes and winding staircase base was designed to be consistent with the curvy sails that will be placed on the building’s exterior.

not easy being green

GARAGE / FROM PAGE 1A sails that are between 50 and 70 feet tall.

The sails are attached to the building with large metal brackets, which are being installed this week. The exterior should be completed within the next two weeks.

Jonathan Parks, who created the sail design, also wanted some of the interior to continue the same theme.

The area called the lobby, which is the entrance to the main stairs and elevator, is made up of large curves and semi-circular shapes. Even the staircase has its own unique design, resembling Robin Roy a grand staircase and curving around as it rises.

Trees were placed into the sidewalk in front of the “It’s almost like a cruise ship,” said Parks.

Retail space makes up most of the ground eight separate store entryways. The storefronts have floor. Eight separate storefronts have been in- varying layouts of door and window frames to create less of a uniform appearance. stalled, but placing walls to divide the spaces will be up to the buyer.

The city is trying to sell the 11,000 square feet city code minimums, many residents asked that of retail. Parks said he’s aware of nine different the Palm Avenue garage offer more room for drivers. potential buyers.

Gallagher was able to deliver.

Sidewalks as wide as 17 feet made of concrete Spaces in the Palm Avenue garage are a miniand brick lead up to the storefronts, which have differing door and window patterns and sizes, mum of 9 feet wide. And the support columns are against the walls, so drivers much like the Citrus Square development on North Orange AvBY THE NUMBERS aren’t at risk of clipping them as they back out of their spots. enue. Citrus Square was also a A few minor touch-ups are Jonathan Parks Architect project.

6 — parking levels scheduled to take place in the The entrance to the garage 4 — electric-car charging next two weeks, including instalwas intended to prevent backups stations lation of the staircase handrails, — parking is prohibited on the 56 — photovoltaic energy painting, parking space striping, ramp. panels landscape planting and driveway The interior’s designer, Chris 735 — parking spaces paving.

Gallagher, referenced the prob11,000 — square feet of Mike Beaumier, vice president lem in the garage next to Hollyretail space of Suffolk Construction, the gawood 20. Parking is allowed on rage’s builder, said he’s pleased the ramps, and Gallagher said it 253,00 — total square feet with the project. ties up traffic when drivers pull “We promised a lot, and our out of their spaces.

While the design of the garage was being dis- team delivered,” he said. “The end product is excussed last year, many residents were drawing actly what the city asked for.”

The parking garage is just the latest in a series comparisons to the Whole Foods garage — mostof downtown improvements, including the Five ly asking that it not have an identical layout.

Difficult to navigate because of the concrete Points roundabout, Selby Five Points Park makecolumns at the entrance to parking spots and over and the sprucing up of the Main Street Palm narrow spaces, which at 8 1/2 feet wide just meet Avenue intersection.

137 Big Pass Ln $2,499,000 Lorraine Neal

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

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Board demands greenspace guarantee An advisory board cautioned City Hall not to demand more plant beds for downtown without assurance those greenspaces will be maintained.

By Robin Roy | City Editor

As it seeks support for its new greenspace policy, the city is talking with its advisory boards, but what it’s receiving is qualified support.

The city wants a major shift in its greenspace policy. The master plan currently states the city should “reduce the use of shrubs and bushes to a bare minimum.”

That language was crafted with the help of urban planner Andres Duhany, who believed too many trees and plantings did not make for a walkable city.

The new policy is a 180-degree turn and says that greenspace is preferred to hardscape, such as brick pavers.

City planners visited both the Planning Board and the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board last week to ask their blessing to put the new policy in the city’s master plan.

A split Planning Board voted 3-2 to endorse that plan, with the two members dissenting because no details were provided on paying for the policy’s implementation and

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no guarantees were given on maintaining trees, shrubs and plants once they’re installed.

CRAAB members went a step further, giving their support on the condition that the city include in the master plan a requirement that plantings have to be maintained.

“If we’re going to have greenspace, the city has to maintain it,” said CRAAB member Ron McCullough.

“Five Points Park was a disaster. (The greenspace outside of ) C’est La Vie (restaurant) looks awful. I’m sure it looked nice at one time, but it wasn’t maintained.”

In January, the city will form a work group of interested citizens to determine an official greenspace mitigation policy. For example, if a business owner wanted to remove a plant bed in front of his store and replace it with pavers, he may have to offset that loss of greenspace by creating another plant bed somewhere else or donate some money to a city fund that creates greenspace.

The City Commission is expected to vote in February on placing the greenspace policy in the master plan.

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECember 16, 2010

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3A

turnaround story

Rebound could balance city fund

By Robin Roy | City Editor

A one-time dire forecast for a tax fund used to redevelop downtown and Newtown has turned around, thanks to a rosier economic prediction from the state.

Two years ago, the city was forecasting tax-increment financing, or TIF funds, to be $4.4 million in the hole this fiscal year and as much as $19 million in the red by the time the TIF ended in 2016.

The city predicts the fund will break even, as it is supposed to, when it expires.

The TIF is created by freezing the tax rate in a designated area. When property valuations or tax rates rise, the increase in tax revenue is put into a fund to pay for redevelopment projects in the city.

Because TIF money comes from property taxes, just like the city’s revenue, the funds took a big hit in recent years with the dramatic decline in property values.

But now the state is predicting a recovery in housing prices. This year, the city is expecting to collect $7.6 million in property taxes. After another decline next year to $6.6 million, the city forecasts a slow rise in revenues each year to 2016, when it believes property taxes could bring $9.4 million to the city.

Also helping this year’s TIF budget was the elimination of a $4 million contribution to the parking facility the city shares with the county at the justice center on Ringling Boulevard. Using that garage became unnecessary for the city, once the

Once predicted to be millions in the hole, Sarasota’s tax-increment financing could break even if a state economic forecast becomes reality.

TIF PROJECTION

Revenue Debt service Pineapple Square public parking Newtown redevelopment Downtown redevelopment Strategic parking facilities Downtown transportation Enhanced maintenance Planning initiatives Administrative charges Interfund transfers Total expenditures Revnue over expenditures Beginning balance Ending balance

2010-2011 $7,655,666 $2,910,719 $1,039,108 $441,616 $441,616 $220,000 $87,978 $15,000 $90,000 $7,648 $2,531,746 $7,785,431 ($129,765) $1,636,545 $1,506,780

parking garage in the new police station opened in late spring.

A parking garage on State Street, which the city is obligated to build within the next four years, will be funded through TIF funds. About $6.5 million was to be set aside for a Pineapple Square parking garage on State Street, but last week the city

2011-2012 $6,625,343 $2,748,612 $1,001,950 $288,778 $288,777 $220,000 $90,617 $15,000 $90,000 $7,954 $2,531,746 $7,283,434 ($658,091) $1,506,780 $848,689

2012-2013 $7,255,901 $3,395,146 $964,792 $393,149 $393,149 $220,000 $93,336 $15,000 $90,000 $8,272 $2,531,746 $8,104,590 ($848,689) $848,689 0

2013-2014 $8,008,564 $3,538,420 $927,633 $290,513 $290,513 $220,000 $96,136 $15,000 $90,000 $8,603 $2,531,746 $8,008,564 0 0 0

approved a new development agreement with Pineapple Square.

That agreement gives control of the State Street parking lot back to the city and requires the city to build a garage with at least 300 spaces within four years.

The price would be determined during the bidding process, but the Palm Avenue

2014-2015 $8,871,710 $3,690,425 $890,475 $663,049 $663,048 $220,000 $99,020 $15,000 $90,000 $8,947 $2,531,746 $8,871,710 0 0 0

2015-1016 $9,447,675 $2,875,524 $1,669,475 $473,308 $473,308 $220,000 $101,991 $15,000 $90,000 $17,006 $2,531,746 $8,467,358 $980,317 0 $980,317

garage is being built for about $17,000 per space. At that rate and size, the total cost of a State Street garage would be about $5 million.

But the city had a study done to show that a four-level garage on State Street could contain 690 spaces. That could cost $11.7 million.

SECRET SANTA

The Christmas Spirit

By Loren Mayo | Community Editor

As two parents in Georgia contemplated a way to break the news to their 9-year-old son that they couldn’t afford Christmas presents this year, a Sarasota resident was already making calls to obtain the boy’s Christmas wish list.

Dan Dannheisser, a personal injury attorney in Sarasota, had been reading an Associated Press article about the government terminating unemployment benefits around the country, even though nearly 2 billion people had lost their jobs.

“In the article, it talked about a family in Georgia — a hardworking guy named Wayne Pittman — who had been on unemployment from his job as a carpenter for some time because of the economy,” Dannheisser said. “It sort of diverted me from the analytical thing. I thought, ‘I can’t fix the problems in Washington, but I can fix the fact that this little boy gets Christmas presents.’”

After contacting four AP writers, Dannheisser obtained the Pittmans’ phone number. He explained that he wanted to fulfill the Christmas list of their son, Joshua, but only on one condition — that they would tell Joshua that either Santa had delivered the presents or his mom and dad had bought them.

As Dannheisser and his wife, Debbie, began purchasing and collecting gifts for Joshua, the presents piled up. There were LEGO Star Wars and “Star Wars” movies, Jenga and other

how to donate In the spirit of the holiday season, many local businesses and organizations are serving as drop off locations for the Marine Toys for Tots as well as places for angel trees that contain wish lists of local children.

Toys for Tots drop off locations: • City of Sarasota City Hall, 1565 First St. • Insignia Bank, 5850 Fruitville Road • K-Mart, 501 N. Beneva Road • Publix locations • Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, 2071 Ringling Blvd., Suite 1 • Senior Friendship Center, 1888 Brother Geenan Way • Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, 5118 Ocean Blvd.

• Toys “R” Us, 8201 S. Tamiami Trail • Wachovia Bank, 1819 Main St. and 5701 Bee Ridge Donate online at www.sarasota-fl.toysfortots.org

Loren Mayo

Debbie and Dan Dannheisser fulfilled the Christmas wish list of a boy whom they had never met. games, a football, trading cards and a LeBron James jersey.

Dannheisser will also be sending a photo of his own family to the Pittmans.

“I talked to both Wayne and his wife, and they were both a little choked up and touched,” Dannheisser said. “I think it’s one thing when you’re dealing with obstacles, but another when it gets on your kids. I think this took some weight off their

shoulders, because the financial problems wouldn’t reach out and touch their child.”

It isn’t uncommon for Dannheisser to involve himself in random acts of kindness.

Just this past Thanksgiving, the YMCA board member donated 20 turkeys for the YMCA Youth Shelter kids to take to homeless families.

“It was just the right thing to do,” Dannheisser said.

Angel tree locations include: • Applebee’s, 5550 Fruitville Road • IHOP, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail • John Carl Spa & Salon, 1345 Second St. • Landmark Banks; four Sarasota locations • Publix, 3428 Clark Road • RBC Bank, 5440 Clark Road For more information, call 364-8845, Ext. 221.

4A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

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INBRIEF + Commissioner Robinson to officially take office The newest Sarasota County commissioner will be sworn into office during a ceremony at 9 a.m. Dec. 17, at the Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringing Blvd.

Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Christine Robinson last month to replace District 3 Commissioner Shannon Staub, who retired Dec. 15 after 14 years in office.

Robinson will serve out the two remaining years on Staub’s term. The new commissioner would then be able to run for that seat again if she wishes, but says it’s too soon now to make that decision.

+ Farmers Market moves to Thursday for one week For one week only, the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market will be held on a weekday.

Because Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, the Farmers Market will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23.

Just like on a Saturday, Lemon Avenue will be closed from First Street to Pineapple Avenue, so all parked cars will need to be removed from that section of the street.

A small part of State Street will also be closed on either side of Lemon Avenue.

Lemon Avenue will re-open at 2:30 p.m.

+ Sarasota real-estate sales climb 10% in November With 534 transactions, Sarasota realestate sales climbed 10% in November. The previous month saw 487 home and condo sales.

Last month’s sales, however, were 7% lower than November 2009.

The median sales price for a home last month was $160,100, which was $12,600

higher than October’s median price.

At $159,000, the median sales price of condos in November was less than $2,000 higher than the previous month.

The Sarasota Association of Realtors believes a slight upward trend in sales and prices over the past five months indicates a sign of recovery.

“There certainly appears to be a solid foundation for consistent, stable sales and prices as we enter the new year,” said 2010 SAR President Erick Shumway.

+ Gold Coast Eagle kicks off Tow to Go for the holidays Gold Coast Eagle Distributing will begin its 12th year of its Tow to Go program.

Now through New Year’s Day, anyone of drinking age can take advantage of the program, which provides a free tow service and ride home for people.

Tow to Go is aimed at keeping drunk drivers off Sarasota and Manatee county streets.

Anyone seeking a free ride and tow can call 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357).

+ Parking-ticket office prepares to move

Those who need to pay their parking tickets will need to take note of the parking office’s new location.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 20, the office will be located in the Sarasota Police Department headquarters, 2099 Adams Lane.

To prepare for the move, the current office in City Hall will be closed Friday, Dec. 17.

+ Clarification Westfield Southgate Shopping Mall paid for the two elephants to be transported to Sarasota for the Holiday Parade.

pays for redevelopment downtown and in Newtown. Page 3A 2016 — The expiration date for the city’s tax-increment financing, which LBK Revised

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WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

Boats deck their hulls for parade

By Rachel S. O’Hara Staff Photographer

The 24th annual Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights lit up the waters Saturday, Dec. 11, from City Island all the way to Sarasota Bayfront Park. Though the official boat parade began at 6 p.m., people were enjoying some holiday festivities long before the start time.

New this year was a small dinghy parade that took place at Bayfront Park and entertained the crowd while they waited for the larger boats to arrive. One dinghy even included an inflatable Santa in a sleigh with a shark fin eerily following behind.

Addison Hartley

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

One dinghy was turned into a sleigh adorned with colorful lights and included an inflatable Santa and a shark fin following close behind.

For , it feels like someone truly cares.

ls like cares.

Jaelyn and Will Landers pose together at Bayfront Park prior to the start of the parade.

Nicole, Anne and Todd Weidler enjoy some festive family bonding.

Marty and Jody Kyle wait for the boat parade to begin.

A rowboat makes its way around Bayfront Park.

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6A

OPINION

www.YourObserver.com

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

Observer our view SARASOTA

“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 Editor and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Publisher/Executive Editor / Lisa Walsh, lwalsh@yourobserver.com Associate Publisher-Multimedia / Emily Walsh Parry, ewalsh@yourobserver.com Managing Editor / Jessica Luck, jluck@ yourobserver.com Assistant Managing Editor/Design / Nancy Schwartz, nschwartz@ yourobserver.com City Editor / Robin Roy, rroy@ yourobserver.com Community Editor / Loren Mayo, lmayo@yourobserver.com Black Tie Editor / Stephanie Hannum, shannum@yourobserver.com Social Editor / Molly Schechter, mschechter@yourobserver.com Arts & Entertainment Editor / Heidi Kurpiela, hkurpiela@yourobserver.com Staff Writer / Maria Amodio, mamodio@ yourobserver.com Staff Photographer / Rachel O’Hara, rohara@yourobserver.com Director of Advertising /Jill Raleigh, jraleigh@yourobserver.com Advertising Executives / Tracy Bender, tbender@yourobserver.com; Louise Lewis, llewis@yourobserver.com; Suzanne Munroe, smunroe@yourobserver.com; Kathleen O’Hara, kohara@yourobserver. com; Laura Ritter, lritter@yourobserver. com; Lori Ruth, lruth@yourobserver.com; Wendi Simons, wsimons@yourobserver. com; Maria Witty, mwitty@yourobserver. com Marketing Manager / Sandy Young, syoung@yourobserver.com Marketing & Advertising Coordinator / Victoria Baga, vbaga@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Supervisor / Pam Cooper, pcooper@yourobserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Maureen Hird, mhird@yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@ yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@ yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@yourobserver.com; Shawna Polana, spolana@yourobserver. com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@ yourobserver.com Multimedia Production Manager / Caleb Stanton, cstanton@yourobserver. com Circulation Manager / Paul Simons, psimons@yourobserver.com Controller / Laura Keisacker, lkeisacker@ yourobserver.com Accounting Manager / Lori Downey, ldowney@yourobserver.com Accounting Assistant / Kathy Klein, kklein@yourobserver.com Administrative-Circulation Assistant / Donna Condon, dcondon@yourobserver. com

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The plunder of business subsidies

Gov.-elect Rick Scott knew when he entered the state’s political arena and certainly knows now that turning around Florida’s economy is likely to be the toughest challenge he will have faced in his professional life.

The objective is simple on paper: Create an environment that gives entrepreneurs and existing businesses — here and elsewhere — incentives that are more persuasive and convincing to invest in Florida than elsewhere. Scott has teams of economists and Florida business people examining this. And we could fill several pages of this newspaper with steps that must be taken to make that happen.

One of the steps we would not recommend is the one every economic development specialist and scores of county and city commissioners and state legislators pull out of their briefcase: giving companies tax breaks and subsidies tied to moving here and creating jobs.

That is and for the past 25 years has been the standard operating procedure in the field of economic development.

Everybody does it.

But it’s wrong.

Lately, Sarasota County has become much more aggressive in this arena than it has been in the past. To be sure, the county’s 12% unemployment rate has a way of getting politicians’ attention — that maybe they should think more about creating an environment for attracting commerce than focusing on how to make their empty public buses more “green.”

To this end, Sarasota County recently

joined the subsidy/incentive practice by earmarking $10 million of taxpayer money to companies expanding or moving here to create jobs. Some of the beneficiaries: • PGT Industries, the Venice window and door manufacturer. It is expected to receive about $600,000 in subsidies and $16 million in tax abatements on equipment when it moves most of its North Carolina operations here.

• Sanborn Studios, a new TV production venture of Sarasota’s Ken Sanborn, is expected to receive about $650,000.

• Tervis Tumbler, one of this region’s big success stories, is expected to receive about $450,000.

• Texas-based Swimwear Boutique will receive $50,000 for moving its administrative and online operations here.

These are among nearly 20 companies benefiting from the Sarasota County Commission and state of Florida’s generosity. All in the name of economic development and creating jobs.

But there is no justification for any of these subsidies. One of the best illustrations of this unjust largesse came to light earlier this month when Ryan Jasper, chief executive officer of Sarasotabased Swim World Inc., told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: “Our tax dollars are moving in our competitor.”

Swim World, by the way, has built its business to 11 stores and 65 employees — without one dime of tax subsidies.

All of the economic development professionals will tell you if Sarasota County is to be competitive for business

expansion and relocations, it will have to play in the incentive game because everyone else does.

No it doesn’t.

One of the reasons states and counties feel compelled to give tax breaks is because their tax laws and regulations are barriers to begin with. If lawmakers would look at the obstacles that shoo companies to begin with, they wouldn’t have to plunder everyone else. Think about it: How would you feel if you were Ryan Jasper at Swim World — writing a check to the government, which in turn takes your money and hands it to your competitor? That’s not economic development; it’s plunder.

+ $10 minimum wage

In this space last week we noted to our surprise that Sarasota City Commissioner Terry Turner, a Ph.D. economist, was among the majority of commissioners who did not favor placing a referendum question on the March city ballot to rescind last year’s vote raising the city’s minimum wage to $10.70 an hour.

Commissioner Turner says it’s not that he favors the $10.70 an hour minimum wage. He doesn’t, not at all.

He says he would prefer that question go on the ballot at the same time several other pending charter questions go on the ballot. It was a timing issue; not the merits of the minimum wage.

Mayor Kelly Kirschner wants voters to know he and Vice Mayor Dick Clapp favored putting the question on the ballot.

my VIEW

Legacy of the spending blob The Legacy Trail in central Sarasota County is becoming a costly government entertainment venture, for which there is never a good time.

Why should local politicians and bureaucrats decide which entertainments are to get the largesse of the public purse and which will have to pay taxes — in essence, subsidizing entertainment dollar competitors?

Who — stepping back from his favorite I’m sure the Legacy Trail and its ever business? Why do local governments own subsidized entertainment — can say this is mounting cost is nice for those people who theaters and give taxpayer money to the a fair idea for government originated on the live near it — and who like to bike and have symphony, orchestra, opera, ballet and ugly concept of protecting freedoms? Oh we’ve bikes. But that is not a large percentage of lumps of twisted metal alleged to be art? come a long way, baby. But to where? the people in Sarasota Why does local government own a baseball Well, to an incredibly expensive bike trail County, and not a great stadium? Why does local government own at the moment. reason for public policy. boat ramps and swimming pools and tennis We’re going to subsidize, that’s obvious.

The trail starts south courts?

But who is keeping track of this tab? This of Clark Road and goes And why is local government in the bike is important because the expense of this south to Venice, not trail business? dubious public policy just keeps growing particularly convenient How many taxpayers never go to the and growing and growing. for the population center Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, to a To wit: in the north. I don’t spring training baseball game, to the opera, • $12 million for the purchase of the see myself ever using symphony or ballet, but have to subsidize railroad land. all those? How many don’t go because they it in that I live in the • $14.6 million for the initial design and can’t really afford to — but are forced by northeastern part of ROD construction of the bike trail. the power of law to subsidize those who can THOMSON the county. It would be • $3 million for the new trestles over afford to go? about a half-hour drive Dona Bay and Roberts Bay. And how many of those who cannot to get to the northern • $3.1 million for the fancy new biking part of it. (Hey, were road impact fees levied afford a $30, $50 or $70 ticket will go to and pedestrian bridge over U.S. 41 in an $8 venue to watch a movie — something on this development? Ha!) Osprey. that is not only not subsidized, but it is I doubt any of my neighbors or others in • $2.9 million for the land to build a taxed? that region of Sarasota County will ever use trailhead (Florida DOT tax money). it. In fact, I suspect the vast majority Total: $35.6 million. And growing. of all Sarasota County residents will In the midst of a deep and difficult never use it. recession, while local governments But we all get the warm, tingly bemoan their shrinking tax honor of paying for it. Because, golly, revenues, it just keeps shoveling at least we are helping some people money at the Legacy Trail. Where have fun biking on it. There is surely will it end? a greater good here somewhere.

It won’t.

I’ve been spitting into the wind Not until taxpayers pay enough on this issue for years. It seems few attention, stand up and shout others are concerned about the cost, “Halt!” the timing, even the philosophy Unless, of course, most of you of using taxpayer funds for such like paying for other people’s a geographic- and demographicentertainment. specific entertainment enterprise.

Rod Thomson is executive editor Even other conservatives just sort of The latest cost add-on to the ever-growing costs of the Legacy of the Gulf Coast Business Review chuckle.

Trail: a $3.1 million bike and pedestrian overpass over U.S. 41. and can be reached at rthomson@ But I will ask again: Why is Money is apparently no object with the ballooning Legacy Trail. review.net. government in the entertainment

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECember 16, 2010

OPINION • NEIGHBORHOOD

www.YourObserver.com

MY VIEW

7A

CHEERFUL CHATTER

Marina Jack’s annual financial obligations exceed the average In response to Rod Thomson’s “My View” editorial of Dec. 2, although he is entitled to his opinion, the matter of Marina Jack’s ad valorem tax status will be decided judicially based on facts — many of which were misconstrued in Mr. Thomson’s column.

Rather than continuing to foster public misconception about Marina Jack and its partnership with the city, we think a better service could be provided by outlining the facts accurately.

The most glaring factual discrepancy is the comparison of Marina Jack’s restaurant to any other restaurant in the city of Sarasota. Because the very underpinnings of the restaurant and marina are cityowned assets, Jack Graham Inc. (parent company for Marina Jack) is held to a much a higher standard than any of the restaurant-only facilities Mr. Thomson mentions.

According to public records, the landlord’s expectation for Marina Jack is to provide “a public service to the inhabitants of the city of Sarasota in their pursuit of recreation … ” and, further, that the facility would “serve the economic welfare of all the inhabitants of the city by virtue of being an attraction to visitors and tourists” as well as residents.

To that end, JGI has privately financed more than $10.5 million in dock facilities and improved amenities since 1995. These are capital improvements that increase the value of the city’s asset. They also enhance the city’s revenue stream from the operations; they have resulted in increased performance rent payments on top of the base fees included in the lease.

When the performance rent, facility investments, other costs and fees Marina Jack incurs per city and state conditions are considered along with the base rent, not only do Marina Jack’s annual financial obligations exceed the national average for agreements of this kind and type (according to the city’s own consultant, Mr. Jeffrey Walker; whose report is of public record), but they far exceed typical overhead paid by local restaurateurs.

Taxpayers and Observer readers would be better served to learn more detail of the public benefits derived through the investment of more than $10.5 million in facility upgrades of city-owned property that have been privately financed without ever requiring any subsidy from the city. That is one of the clearest distinctions between Marina Jack and other restaurants mentioned by Mr. Thomson. Not to

LETTERS

to the

+ Democrats’ losses reflect the voters’ feelings

$188,000 in total contributions from every source, while Fitzgerald received $336,000. Despite the nearly two-to-one advantage in contributions, Fitzgerald lost.

Ferrandino’s lame attempt to lay off her party’s defeat to the Republicans buying the election illustrates her party’s arrogance. To Ferrandino, the voters are a bunch of dimwits who would have voted for her candidates if not for the rich, evil Republican Party’s money. That the voters simply disliked Fitzgerald’s liberal leanings simply couldn’t be

possible.

The Democratic Party’s elitist ideas of governing the peasants in the electorate discounts the idea that the peasants can think for themselves, and if her party didn’t win, it’s not because the electorate was somehow duped into voting against the Democrats. In fact, the Democrats’ losses reflect the disconnect between the issues important to the electorate and the Democrats’ perception of those issues.

John J. Killen Jr. Sarasota

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Dear Editor: If the Democratic Party wants to know why it loses elections, it needs to look no further than its Sarasota County chairwoman.

According to Ms. Ferrandino, Keith Fitzgerald lost to Ray Pilon because poor ole Keith “is a college professor and doesn’t have the resources to fight $200,000 (pumped into Pilon’s campaign by the Republican Party) at the last minute.”

In fact, Pilon received only

mention how the community shares in Marina Jack’s business success through the $3.5 million payroll generated annually by more than 150 employees, whose wages circulate back into the local economy.

The implication that Marina Jack is not doing its utmost to be a fair and responsible partner to the public interest is preposterous. No other restaurant operator is expected to meet the threshold that Marina Jack has met or exceeded since JGI assumed responsibility for one of our area’s most beautiful and prized possessions in 1968.

I’d also like to point out that Marina Jack has been paying all other customary business-related taxes and has been operating according to the 1988 court decision that established our property-tax exempt status.

Sarasota Property Appraiser Bill Furst instigated the current legal challenge through an overzealous and erroneous interpretation that a new agreement was enacted in 2006. Marina Jack is merely exercising our legal right to defend our position.

We are not interested in a prolonged legal conflict and will honor the court’s decision.

Bob Soran is the CEO of Jack Graham Inc.

8A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

NeIGHBORHOOD

www.YourObserver.com

neighbors

Briana Calderon shares her thoughts ...

Briana Calderon

... On chalk festivals …

Calderon won the People’s Choice Award in October at the Sarasota Chalk Festival.

“It was incredible for me because the only reason I did it was because my teacher suggested it, and I had never done anything like it before.”

Briana Calderon, a 16-year-old girl junior at Booker High School for the Visual Performing Arts, says that her love for art has been a part of her life since she was a little girl.

“Probably since I could hold a pencil,” says Calderon. “When I was little, all I would do was draw. I would find paper and crayons and just draw all the time. I’ve always been really into it.”

This past summer, Calderon took an illustration and design course at Ringling College of Art and Design. Since the course, Calderon has thought about applying to Ringling and staying in Sarasota for college.

Calderon has been working on a special piece that she planned on donating to the city of Sarasota in celebration of the Dec. 10 arrival of the mayor and other government officials of Merida, the Mexican sister city to Sarasota.

“Because I am of Mexican descent, I felt really kind of connected to it and felt like it was a really good idea,” said Calderon. “I thought it was the perfect way to contribute, because I love Sarasota and I want to show it.”

— Rachel S. O’Hara

To learn more about Calderon and her latest artistic endeavors, visit her blog at: http://brianamakesart.blogspot.com/

... On blogging …

An avid blogger, Calderon runs three different blogs — The Diary of a Starving Artist, Antisocial and ART-Shirts. She will soon be starting an online store for her T-shirts, prints and fine art.

“You meet people from around the world and everyone is really nice and really supportive … it is really good for people who have something to share and it allows you to express yourself.”

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Briana Calderon mimics the pose of the woman she painted on this wooden canvas.

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NeIGHBORHOOD

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9A

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BriGht & cheery 2BD/2BA true/end/corner unit on ground flr with golf views. Condo has brand new above average furnishings, newer carpets& AC system, freshly painted, extra windows for more light. Full golf equity incl. Renovated clubhouse with stunning new grill room. Assumable rental in$178,000 come in place for 2010 season. country cluB livinG At its Best!! Well maintained 2BR/2BA furnished Condo overlooking the 2nd fairway, tiled flrs, new upgraded carpeting, dry bar, steps from pool, golf $174,000 equity incl. renovated fitness Ctr. & clubhouse. Debt free community Wonderful home w/ beautiful lake views, featuring sprawling tiled floors, cathedral ceilings, huge family room, spacious kitchen, corian counters, new fixtures, freshly painted, new carpet, hurricane shutters and large lanai. Golf equity incl. renovated fitness center & clubhouse. Debt free & financially stable community. $395,000 enJoy Golf & WAter vieWs plus morning sun & evening sunsets from this 1661 sq. ft. 2/3 with den Abbey Veranda on 18th fairway. Turn-key, cathedral ceilings, enclosed lanai, well maintained. Full golf equity incl. Assumable rental income for 2011 season. Renovated fitness center and clubhouse. $304,000 enJoy fABulous Golf & WAter vieWs from this well maintained 2BD/2BA top floor Condo on 3rd fairway. Beautifully furnished & decorated, tiled floors,cathedral ceilings,berber $183,900 carpets,fresh paint,new appliances,enclosed lanai. Golf Equity incl. loWest priced cArlton verAndA in stoneyBrook! Turn-key furnished 2bd/2ba ground floor with exceptional golf views on 4th fairway & green.Tilef flrs., Nice furnishings , excellent condition.

Steps from heated pool. Full golf equity incl. Renovated fitness center and clubhouse. Debt free & fi$209,000 nancially stable community.

48845

Beinyet

Photos by Loren Mayo

Elaine and Jordan Oye with Cassie

Lily is all smiles at the event.

10A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

NeIGHBORHOOD

www.YourObserver.com

BOUNTIFUL BITES

Jewish Food Festival serves up fun afternoon

historic hoorah

By Maria Amodio | Staff Writer

Temple Sinai hosted an afternoon of food and fun at its third annual Jewish Food Fest Sunday, Dec. 12. Homemade Jewish foods, including chicken soup with matzoh balls, stuffed cabbage, blintzes, kugel and knishes, were all on the menu.

The food fest also featured a health fair, flea market and book sale, as well as an inflatable bounce house that kept children entertained all af- Scott and Judy Barde, Harriet Gersman and Elyse Diamond serve cheese blintzes and fruit kugel. ternoon.

Back row: Lorrie Muldowney, Ron Conners, Beverly Scott, Joyce Waterbury, Dee Calvert, Jan and Don Smally and Rebecca Morgan; front row: Jesse White, Debra Flynt-Garrett and Chris Fitzgibbons

History buffs throw sublime celebration

By Loren Mayo | Community Editor

The Historical Society of Sarasota County, Daughters of the American Revolution Sara DeSoto Chapter and the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation celebrated fellowship and food during an old-fashioned holiday gettogether Dec. 14, at the DAR building. It was the first tri-organizational event for the groups.

Above: Kate Mitchell and her son, Jackson Right: Temple Sinai Co-President Laurie Lachowitzer and past President Richard Greenspan

Photos by Maria Amodio

Don Gersman cooks kosher hot dogs.

Milton and Isabel Rauch

Community eduCation R E N O V A T I O N

Journey to WellneSS: Lifelong Recovery from Mental Illness

kyle cicchetti owner state certified contractor cbc 1254055

SAtURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2011 9 am – 1 pm

w w w. r e n o vat i o n s rq . c o m residential renovations and building

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

commercial buildouts

Doors open and CEU registration begins at 8 am Community Information Tables 8 am - 1 pm

49431

Free SympoSium

Photos by Loren Mayo

Kit Graves and Beverley Dennis

WHo SHould attend?

Friends, family, health care professionals and those personally diagnosed with any form of mental illness.

Dorothy Hamill was “America’s sweetheart” in 1976, the perky 19year-old with the famous hairdo — “the wedge”—won an Olympic gold medal for her dazzling figure skating at the Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Her life seemed to glide as easily as her skates.

But as Hamill reveals in her frank new book, A Skating Life: My Story, behind the scenes, she was in the grip of serious depression, which ran through her family.

48747

HigHligHtS:

“Lighting Up Brain Pathways: New Ways of Understanding Mental Illness” with Susan Voglmaier, MD, PhD, International Mental Health Research Organization/Staglin Family Assistant Professor.

“Adolescent Development and Mental Health: Hormones, Genes and the Brain” with Elaine Walker, PhD, Samuel CandlerDobbs Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at Emory University. moderated by: Andrew Cutler, MD, CEO and Medical Director, Florida Clinical Research Center There will be a question & answer session with our three speakers.

SPONSORS

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[941] 308-MIND [308-6463] or www.SunshineFromDarkness.org www.facebook.com/SunshinefromDarkness 48658

Two (2) continuing education credits (CEU’s) for professionals with registration fee of $20.

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECember 16, 2010

NeIGHBORHOOD

www.YourObserver.com

11A

DRAMATIC ENTRANCE

Colorful cast engages in murder-mystery dinner

By Loren Mayo | Community Editor

The Sarasota Orchestra Association held its 1920s-style, murder-mystery dinner drama, “In Gold Blood,” Monday, Dec. 13, at the Sarasota Yacht Club. The drama, chaired by Caroline Ryan, featured nine association members in period costumes who worked the room and dropped subtle clues to guests while they sipped cocktails.

The play was dedicated to the late Ted Morton, who had arranged to hold the event at the yacht club. Proceeds will benefit the Youth Orchestra Program.

John Stam, Sue Bowman, Armand Ross and Dan Bowman Photos by Loren Mayo

Shirley and Sherwin Taradash

Jill Ross, Tim Ryan and Anne Scott

Sally Brown and Jennifer Meyer

We Can Train Any Dog!

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Are we in a

BOND BUBBLE? Please join us for an enlightening discussion of the following: • Performance of bonds during times of rising/declining interest rates • Things to consider when choosing between: - Individual bonds or bond funds?

- Tax free or Taxable bonds?

- Long term or short term bonds?

- High yield bonds or preferred stock?

• Ways to hedge against rising interest rates

Sarasota County ’s

B E ST FA R M E R’S MARKET! Florida Fresh Fruits, Produce, Prepared Foods and more!

*Bond prices fluctuate inversely to changes in interest rates. Therefore, a general rise in interest rates can result in a decline in the value of your investment. *Mutual funds will be discussed at this seminar. Investing in mutual funds involves risk. The principal value and investment return will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Tuesday, Dec. 21 2:30pm Thursday, Dec. 23 10:30am

P H I L L I P P I • FA R M H O U S E • M A R K ET

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Wells Fargo Advisors Education Center, 7100 Beneva Rd., Sarasota

November - April

Seating is limited.

Kindly R.S.V.P. to 941-388-6635 or email Andrew.Lowther@wfadvisors.com

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value 46912

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Becky Miller, Sarasota Orchestra CEO Joe McKenna and Katie Couchot

Andrew Lowther Financial Advisor

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2010 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 1010-2128.

47784

Sheila Luetkehans and Jane Helmer

12A

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

NeWS

www.YourObserver.com

Slice OF THE CITY

+ Gleaming lights brighten the night

>> Continued from Page 1A

+ Little White Houses cover Christmas tree

Rachel S. O’Hara

Miniature replicas of the White House adorned a Christmas tree at the DAR Sara DeSoto Chapter House in historic Pioneer Park. The adorable tree was one of the highlights of the holiday party Tuesday, Dec. 14, for members of the Historic Society of Sarasota County, Historic Preservation Society and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Rebecca Morgan, DAR chapter regent, adorned the tree with her entire collection of White House ornaments, creating a spectacular spectacle.

Photo courtesy of Mary Lou Johnson/Mary Lou Johnson Photography

+ Young authors showcase stories Bay Haven School of Basics-Plus third-graders authored holiday books and read them to parents and teachers at the school’s fourth annual Authors Tea Thursday, Dec. 9. Through writing drafts, editing and revising, each student experienced the writing process and wrote a nine-chapter winter holiday book that included illustrations.

+ SMOA throne room gets a colorful makeover Although the Sarasota Museum of Art is still fishing for $11 million to begin renovations on the former Sarasota High School building, there has been one minor update — the bathroom. Using fluorescent colors of pink, green, blue and orange and donated items, including everything from clown shoes and boas to a fishing rod and baby cradle, Peppi Elona (artful bathroom creator) turned the dismal restroom into its own museum of art.

+ Prima ballerinas dazzle with daring dance

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Independence At Home...

We Guarantee Compassionate Care

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• Free Nursing Evaluation • Administration of Medication • Errands, Shopping, Transportation • Activities of Daily Living • Personal Care Bathing • Meal Preparation

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+ Community Youth Development’s gingerbread fest shows sweet designs

Loren Mayo

Little darlings from the West Coast Civic Ballet held a holiday performance Saturday, Dec. 11, at the State of the Arts Gallery’s new space, which connects to the existing gallery. The tiniest ballerinas fluttered around the room in sheer pink tutus trimmed with lace, while girls a few years older danced the afternoon away in satiny gowns.

While The Sarasota Observer photographers were stationed at Marina Jack during the Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Saturday, Dec. 11, Longboat Key resident Mary Lou Johnson snagged a prime spot on Golden Gate Point and snapped this photo looking back at the Ringling Bridge. The annual boat parade brings out thousands of spectators who line the shores of the Sarasota Bay every year.

Maria Amodio

Candy-coated castles and quaint cottages were all on display for the Community Youth Development Gingerbread Festival kickoff Dec. 2, at Sarasota Square Mall.

The gingerbread village was made up of more than 100 houses, made by middle-school and high-school youth groups and classes and local business and organizations. At the center of the village stood a giant gingerbread house made by the chefs at Cosimo’s Brick Oven.

The kickoff event featured an “Iron Chef”-style decorating competition between chefs from Mattison’s and Pastries by Design, in which Lyndsy McDonald and Crista Cotton took the cake with their house styled after Sarasota Square Mall.

The Art of Holiday Catering Sarasota: University @ Honore / 941-351-5999 Port Charlotte: US 41 and SR 776 / 941-235-3354 www.jasonsdeli.com

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECember 16, 2010

NeWS • SPORTS

donor spotlight

www.YourObserver.com

13A

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Each week, The Sarasota Observer will feature a different donor who is involved with Season of Sharing, a 10-year, community-wide fundraising partnership created by the Community Foundation. Donations to the Season of Sharing fund may be made by check or credit card, payable to the Community Foundation of Sarasota, or online at www.cfsarasota.org. For information, call 955-3000.

ALEX UPHAM Alex Nugent Maria Amodio

When Upham first heard about Season of Sharing almost 10 years ago, it was the organization’s emphasis on community involvement that drew her to become involved.

“It was really a call for community participation and caring; it is a collaborative effort that reaches out to all,” says Upham. “If people believe in themselves and have hope we can all be self-sufficient … sometimes we just need others to help us believe.”

— Maria Amodio

When you want to see your best.

941-365-9700

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www.YourObserver.com

The Observers.

Don’t Miss these special eDitions!

December 23, Christmas Issue Deadline: Thursday, December 16, 11am December 30, Year in Pictures Deadline: Friday, December 17, 1pm January 6, Seven People to Watch in 2011 Deadline: Thursday, December 23, 11am

happy holidays from all your friends at the observer!

Visit Our Beautiful HunterDouglas Gallery or Call for a Free In-Home Estimate

The Observer Group offices will be closed from Dec 24 until Jan 3.

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We Accept All Major Credit Cards

Owners

Visit our website to see a video of more of Nugent’s answers.

Early Holiday Deadlines for

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What is the best part about football?

The best part about football is hitting.

I love hitting people — as mean as that sounds!

—Rachel S. O’Hara

or call 941.366.3468

HONEYCOMB SHADES

Curt and Janet Mattson,

What could you improve on?

I could probably improve on accuracy with passing.

To reserve space or for questions, contact your Observer advertising representative

CONSERVE ENERGY WITH

4801 S. Tamiami Trail (Across from The Landings)

What are you best at?

Making plays when the original play breaks down — just improvising.

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with my wide receivers.

SHARE YOUR STORIES Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized as Athlete of the Week? If so, please e-mail your suggestions to rohara@yourobserver.com.

Paul J Strom, Jr., M.D.

Sarasota, Florida 34239

Rachel S. O’Hara

SARASOTA LONGBOAT EAST COUNTY

Observer

48895

Eye Center

How often do you play?

In the summer I played football every day with morning workouts and practice. During the season, Monday through Friday, we had practices and games. On Saturdays, I’d go and throw

2020

Strom 2020 S. Tamiami Trail

Senior Alex Nugent just finished his last football season as quarterback at Cardinal Mooney High School this fall.

As the team captain and quarterback, Nugent worked his way to the top over the last four years and was recommended by his coach, Josh Smithers, to be recognized as Athlete of the Week in The Sarasota Observer.

45998 17724

Alexis Upham remembers what it was like growing up with little money. Her parents were Canadian immigrants who worked long hours as a nurse and a teletype repairman.

Upham’s family didn’t have much, but looking back on her childhood she says she never felt poor.

“We always shopped at secondhand stores, but that didn’t matter,” she says. “My parents managed their money in such a way and loved us so much that we always felt our lives were abundant.”

Upham, who now resides in Sarasota where she is the senior director of development at the University of South Florida, has never forgotten the values she learned as a child.

As a young girl, Upham would give a large portion of her 50-cent allowance each week to the Episcopal church she attended. Today, she donates to Season of Sharing, and even though she has more than a few cents to give, she still believes that every little bit counts.

“Whether it’s an act of kindness or caring for or loving our neighbors, we all have the power to help each other,” Upham says. “That’s what I hope to do through Season of Sharing.”

14A

REAL ESTATE

COPS

BayViewAcreshome sells for $405,000

Victimless crime 12:40 p.m. — 200 block of Shopping Lane. General Suspicion. A supermarket worker saw a man running in the rear of the business holding a purse.

The man realized he had been seen, so he ducked behind a truck. He peeked around the truck and again began running. He was no longer carrying the purse. Police couldn’t find the man, and a purse-snatching victim has yet to come forward.

A home in Bay View Acres tops all realestate transactions this week. Fifth Third Mortgage Co. sold the home at 1767 Baywood Drive to Aaron and Tiffany Carroll, of Sarasota, for $405,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,021 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $915,000 in 2005.

SARASOTA

Sarasota welcoming committee 11 p.m. — 5200 block of Ocean Boulevard. Petit Theft. A tourist was at a restaurant and bar. She left her wallet on her table, while she walked away for a minute. When she returned, the wallet was gone. A member of the wait staff found the wallet in a trashcan. The $100 inside and her driver’s license were stolen.

Rachel S. O’Hara

Phillippi Landings

U.S. Bank NA, trustee, sold the Unit 201 condominium at 1921 Monte Carlo Drive to Eugene and Shelly Gelpke, of Sarasota, for $315,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,024 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $765,300 in 2006.

SIESTA KEY Siesta Beach

HSBC Bank USA NA sold the home at 632 Treasure Boat Way to Richard and Paula Baxter, of Sarasota, for $355,000.

Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,466 square feet of living area.

It previously sold for $415,000 in 2003.

Peppertree Bay

Michael Preston, trustee, sold the Unit 501 condominium at 1200 E. Peppertree Lane to Gabor Williger, trustee, for $315,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,200 square

This home at 1767 Baywood Drive has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,021 square feet of living area. It sold for $405,000. feet of living area. It previously sold for $51,500 in 1973.

Dec. 7

Boca Siesta

Unusual campaign strategy

Carter and Anita Lewis sold their Unit 203 condominium at 5911 Midnight Pass Road to Bruce Allan, of McLean, Va., for $305,000. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,447 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $212,000 in 1999.

11:15 a.m. — 7300 block of South Tamiami Trail. Suspicious Incident. A political party volunteer reported a man walked into the party headquarters and rambled about “bad guys,” the Bible and Benjamin Netanyahu bringing guns to The White House. The man called himself Christ and called President Obama the anti-Christ. During the conversation, the employee determined that the real reason for the man’s visit was to inquire about running for office.

PALMER RANCH

Stoneybrook at Palmer Ranch

Etta Anderson sold her home at 4091 Westbourne Circle to Sandra Murphy, of Sarasota, for $260,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,165 square feet of living area. It previously sold for $230,000 in 2001.

T H E O B S E R V E R C R O S S WO R D Edited by Timothy E. Parker

Scared straight 1:20 p.m. — 4800 block of Fallcrest Circle. Attempted Burglary. A hom-

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Eureka! He struck gold 5:30 p.m. — 8200 block of South Tamiami Trail. Grand Theft and Resisting a Merchant. A department-store security guard saw a young man shove four boxes of gold earrings in his pockets. The guard followed the man to the exit and nabbed him as he left the store.

The thief struggled and tried to get away, but the guard threw him to the ground and handcuffed him. Police arrived, and the young man admitted to stealing $399 worth of jewelry.

Dec. 8

License lie 2:35 a.m. — 1000 block of Siesta Drive. Driving While License Is Revoked. An officer responded to a report of a reckless driver. He began to follow a pickup truck that was weaving all over the road. After the officer pulled the truck over, he asked the driver to see his license. The driver said he didn’t have one. The officer asked if he ever had a license, and the driver said, “No.” Upon checking the driver’s license plate number, the officer discovered the man did used to have a driver’s license, but it had been revoked in February. This was the fourth time he has been caught driving since then.

ACROSS Social rebuff Healing ointment Galloway girl Go (through), as evidence Breastplate of Zeus ___ podrida (spicy stew) Musical featuring “Little Girls” Having the wherewithal Finish work and leave Robin Hood’s gal pal Food sources for whales Provide with a quality Peddlers of petals Ending for ordinal numbers Waterfall sound Greek salad cheese Taps a shoulder on the dance floor Moog-made machine (Abbr.)

Offsets a credit Gives a lousy review Agent, briefly Bishops’ jurisdictions Worked in a soup line “What ___, chopped liver?”

Fish for squid Roald or Arlene Spanish friend Southpaw Certain high degree “When in Rome, ___ the Romans ...”

Wish one hadn’t Coupled Open to breezes Batman’s Robin, for

one dOwn 72 Crayola choice 1 Hopping-race need 74 Fast Caribbean 2 Around the corner dance 3 Jamaican fruit 76 Joined forces (with) export 77 Large quantities 4 Military lodgings 80 Appeal to a higher 5 Flapper garb authority?

6 Hardwood tree 82 Tasty mushrooms 7 Gaucho grasslands 85 Leftover morsel 8 Help-wanted word?

86 Calf-length skirt 9 Shimmery fabric 87 Concubine’s place 10 Literary olio 89 Antisocial elephant 11 Smell like a dog?

90 Pony’s paces 12 Moved like a crab 93 Curtain fabric 13 Delhi dress 95 Peripheries 14 Stork kin 97 Protein synthesis 15 Exactly, as a time molecule, for short 16 Some treasury bills 98 One who can’t keep 18 Some bank deposits off the grass?

21 Acted broadly, on 100 Gridiron division Broadway 102 B-movie machine 24 Rock concert gun souvenir 103 Hammermill unit 26 Last word of the 104 Catch in a snare title of the 1962 Best 106 Praises Picture 109 Restraint for a dog 29 Diner dispensers 111 Yemen’s port 34 “Along ___ Spider” 113 They’re often liberal 35 Joining in college 36 Bookworm, in 115 “___ you sure?” stereotypes 116 Poison from 38 Danson of sitcoms belladonna 39 Bed part 120 Writer George or 41 Capital ending?

T.S. 42 Intensive 121 Mean explicitly questioning 125 Holder for a jacket 43 Speaker’s bridge 127 Unreliable, as a 44 Insect’s sensory business organ (Var.) 129 Mark up for revision 46 Smurf elder 130 1962 Best Actress 48 ___-in (certain winner Sophia victor) 131 Prefix with “phone” 50 Mover and shaker or “photo” 53 Capricious 132 Holy shroud city 54 Milan exchange 133 Blockhead unit, once 134 Survey choice, at 56 Is a valuable hen times 59 Race pace, 135 Huffy state sometimes 136 Badlands formation 60 Cheerleader’s forte 62 Kind of node

64 Not sink 67 Destine for destruction 70 Polecat’s defense 71 Pianist Peter 73 Racetrack fence 75 Hill in the Highlands 77 Marshy areas 78 Be grandiloquent 79 June 6 of 1944 81 Safecracker, in slang 83 Eclipse type 84 Petticoat junction?

88 Food for a carnivore 91 Dynamite letters 92 Angel above a cherub 94 Span of history 96 Unswerving 99 Tire type 101 Two-part 103 Atomic number 75 105 Long, narrow banner or streamer 107 Winter driving hazards 108 Swiped 110 Council of ___ (16th-century assembly) 112 United ___ College Fund, once 114 Phonograph needles 116 Scored 100 on, e.g.

117 Heading for a chore list 118 Midnight visit to the fridge 119 ___ the Great, Holy Roman emperor 120 Flying fish-eater 122 Storybook brute 123 “___ won’t hurt a bit” 124 It’s active in Europe 126 Browning’s bedtime?

128 Use a parimutuel machine

Last weeks Cryptograms

2. X L Y D E B G N V T D L T Z D X E D B F U V S C Q X X Q Y T Z D B P Q LY : Q W Q S Q X K ’ S U F L N D K , W Q P Q S I K S Q Z

eowner had her family staying with her.

They don’t speak English well, and that’s why when the homeowner was at work and someone rang the doorbell, they didn’t answer the door. The two men ringing the bell were burglars, and they figured nobody was home. The two men crept through the pool area. One of the family members saw them approaching the back door and she screamed. The burglars were startled and ran.

wHAT’S BEHInd THE HOUSE? by Tim Reid

17 19

M A V A V YA M

CORNER

Dec. 6

By Adam Hughes | Research Editor

1. H C T

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

NeWS

www.YourObserver.com

1.

The deer were having a meeting. The vote to limit herds to eleven deer was regarded as brilliant and a doe-brainer.

2. Math students are known for their zealous and organized minds. They are famous for always making tidy sums.

The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECember 16, 2010

CLASSIFIEDS

www.YourObserver.com

15A

Holiday Worship Guide

St. Andrew United Church of Christ 6908 Beneva Road, Sarasota 34238

Candlelight Christmas Eve service 7:00 p.m.

941-922-7595

48949

Come early at 6:40 for the singing of Christmas carols

Living Lord Lutheran ChurCh

Trinity United Methodist Church

The Rev. Charles Mann, Rector • 355-3262

Christmas Eve

48947

Christmas

Christmas Worship Opportunities 5:00 PM - Family Candlelight Communion

5:00 pm Family Worship Service 7:30 pm Traditional Worship Service 11:00 pm The Eve of Christmas Service

(Reception Following)

11:00 PM - Candlelight Communion

Christmas Day

Christmas Begins with Christ

10:00 AM - Worship - Devotion & Carols

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 7:00 and 10:30 pm Music and Carols 6:40 and 10:10pm

49363

Christmas Day 10:00am

Nursery provided at the 5:00 & 7:30 services

Sunday, December 26th

Pine Shores Presbyterian Church

10:00 AM - Worship Carols…Celebration…Cookies

4150 South Shade Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34231 941-924-7756 u www.iTrinity.org

49362

Join us as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

St. Mary Magdalene St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Episcopal

11:00 pm Traditional Midnight Mass with Incense

CHRISTMAS DAY: SATURDAY - DEC. 25TH CHRISTMAS DAY: SATURDAY-DEC 25TH

• 10:00 am Holy Eucharist - Rite II 10:00 am Holy Eucharist-Rite II

Northminster Presbyterian 3131 61st St. • Sarasota, Fl. 34243

8:00 am Traditional Service

“Join us for joyful, family friendly worship, 10:00 am Family Service Nursery and faithful service to with Christ our Lord”

Dr. Paul Eckel, Interim Pastor

at the corner of LWR Blvd, between 70 and 64

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

941-753-7778

www.PEACEpcusa.com

7 pm

Tel: 355-4729 • www.npcsarasota.com

48260

48229

751-5048 • www.stmmag.com Turn South and then take the very next right onto Palmbrush Trail.

11315 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch - 751-5048 –www.stmmag.com We look forward to meeting you!

We Look forward to meeting you!

10902 Technology Terrace

9 am and 11 am

11315 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood From I-75 , take SR 70 East (exit 217) to Lakewood Ranch Ranch Blvd. (2.5 miles)

Lessons, Carols, and a Live Nativity ending with communion and candlelight.

A family-friendly service 6:00-7:00 Peace Presbyterian Church

SUNDAY SERVICES

From I-75, take SR 70 East (exit 217) to Lakewood “Join us for joyful, family friendly worship, and Ranch Blvd.

(2.5 miles). Turn South and then take faithful service to Christ our Lord” the very next right onto Palmbrush Trail.

6116 Crestwood Avenue (West of US 41 - North of Stickney Pt.) www.pineshorespres.org • (941) 922-1597

A Peace-Filled Christmas Eve

CHRISTMAS FRIDAY-DEC CHRISTMAS EVE: EVE: FRIDAY - DEC.24TH 24TH • 4:00 pm4:00 Family Worship Service Children’s pm Family Worship Servicewith with Children’ s Pageant Pageant (Nursery Available) (Nursery Available) • 11:00 pm Traditional Midnight Mass with Incense

1ST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: DEC 26TH SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: DEC 26TH • 8:00 am1ST Traditional Service • 10:00 am Family Service with Nursery

Eve

Communion & Candlelight Services

49365

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

5900 N. Lockwood Ridge Road • just south of University Pky.

49393

St . Paul Lutheran Church

www.stpaulsarasota.org 2256 Bahia Vista St. ~ Ph: 955.6479

48948

49361

10:00 am Worship service

11120 St Rd 70 E, Bradenton, FL 34202 • (941) 753-9365 Pastor Jeffrey R Gross • www.livinglordfl.org Your family is invited to join our family to lift our voices as we celebrate our Savior’s birth!

ADVENT HOLDEN VESPERS: 7PM Wednesday Evenings during December BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE: 7PM Dec. 22 - Getting Thru TROUBLED times during Christmas CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES: CANDLELIGHT – COMMUNION – CAROLS 4:00 PM Traditional Service • 7:00 PM Family Service 11:00 PM Traditional Service with Choir

Classified Ads: Tuesday at Noon Service Directory: Monday at 3 pm

Thursday, December 16, 2010 Items Under $200 For Sale

Items Under $200 For Sale

Furnishings

BABY STROLLER by Graco for 40# baby.

New. Padded with hood. $45. 941-388-5094

LONGABERGER BASKETS- 1991 Discover & 1996 Tissue Baskets $50 for both.

941-723-2515

BEDROOM SET- 5-piece, Lexington $699.

Ekornes “Stressless” chair/ottoman, like new, $850. 3-piece home office-Desk & return, with hutch $995. Leather Sectional, Robb & Stucky, cost $3700-now $1995.

Thomasville (Hemingway) & Henredon (Contemporary) King-Bedroom Suites.

5-piece Casual Creations white patio Slings $399. Hooker 3-piece wall unit$599.

BIKE- BOYS, 12” wheels. Has training wheels. Perfect. Great gift. $20. 941-3497565 leave message.

CHRISTMAS DECOR; Sofa Bed $20.

Kitchen set $20. Lanai Set, 6 piece $25.

941-556-9046 ELECTROLUX VACUUMOxygen, Microseal Technology. Like new. Power nozzle w/4 attachments.$130. 941/922-2027 GRILL- WEBER, Natural Gas. 3 Burners $125. Art Deco 17” Upper Torso Ceramic $40. 941-966-3030 HOMEDICS CHAIR/BACK Massager. NEW with remote $50. BIKE- 26" tires. Very Good condition. $35. 941-924-2431

SHOWER CHAIR- Never used. Adjustable legs, anti-slip feet, weight capacity 400 lbs. $75. 941-488-1853

Antiques/Collectibles BUYING OLDER paintings; landscapes, beach, watercolors, any subject. Early furniture, oriental rugs, silver, etc. Quality items.

Terry, 941-349-8560.

Autos For Sale ‘06 LANDROVER LR3 SE- AWD, 7 passenger, 68k miles. Navigation, 6 disc, sunroof, new brakes. $19,999. 941-586-1651

3015 1st Street, Bradenton 1 block north of DeSoto Square Mall 941-745-2596

General Merchandise CARDBOARD BOXES- For shipping.

18x18x28. I have 950 boxes. Sell for $1 each. 941-918-9171

Turn your TRASH into CASH! Have a

Yard Sale Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

Is your home or garage cluttered with stuff you don’t use anymore?

Are your kids outgrowing their toys and clothes?

Would you like to earn a little extra money for your family?

Reduce the clutter and make some money at the same time with a yard sale.

Think no one wants your old junk? Remember the old adage: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Yard Sale ads start at just $ 15 a week.

To place your ad call 941-955-4888 or go to www.YourObserver.com/classifieds

48668

33961

The Classified Dept. will CLOSE Dec. 23rd at at 5pm TheObserver Observer Classified Dept. will CLOSE Dec. 23rd 5pm Thinline 480. $325. Call 941-383-8218 for holidays.

We will reopen Monday, Jan. 3rd4th at at 8:30am forthe the holidays.

We will reopen Monday, Jan. 8:30am. (before 6:00 p.m.)

Want some extra money?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN FRENCH?

FRENCH CLASSES at the

MASSAGE CHAIR- Sharper Image.

Black leather with massaging ottomon.

Many massaging functions. Paid $5000. Will sacrifice $1600. Call 941-918-9171

GERANIUMS: Buy One Get One 1/2 Off. Dec. 23rd 24th Service Directory deadlines Dec. 15th, 16th, 3pm 12pm Quality, low prices, thousands available in Classified Ads deadline Dec. 15th, 17th, 4pm many colors! Troy’s Tropics, 5212 Proctor Road 923-3756. Bring this ad.

OBSERVER Dec. 30th 31st # 48668 Service Directory deadlines Dec. 15th, 16th, 3pm 12pm Classified Ads deadline Dec. 15th, 17th, 4pm Health/Fitness/Beauty Jan. 6th 7th ELLIPTICAL TRAINER Service Directory deadlines Dec. 22nd, 23rd, 12pm 12pm Jan. 5th, 12pm Classified Ads deadline Dec. 22nd, 5pm(no change) Brand new. Never been used. Proform XP

Happy Holidays To You and Yours!

Parlez-vous franÇais?

MANATEE FURNITURE

The Observer Observer Classifieds ClassifiedsHoliday HolidayEarly EarlyDeadlines DeadlinesforforDec. Dec.23rd, 24th, 31st and Dec. 30th andJan. Jan.7th 6theditions. editions.

THE LP

Things To Do

Sporting Goods

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SARASOTA Sarasota's premiere organization for teaching French language and culture Classes at all levels, beginner to advanced, with native teachers.

Weekdays, evenings, Saturdays.

Small Classes.

Call us at 941-955-0700 or www.afsarasota.org Next session starts January 17th Open House 10am-Noon January 15th

SCENIC FLIGHT $99, Flight Training, Plane Rentals, Gift Certificates.

Universal Flight Training 1234 Clyde Jones Rd. 941-388-8966. www.flyuft.com

GOLF CLUBS

Help Wanted

We make custom golf clubs, also re-gripping and club repair. 941-483-0014, Osprey. www.reasongolf.com

Homemakers/ Companions CNA’S/ HHA’S

Events CHRISTMAS TREES. Lot will open Friday, Nov. 26 at 9a.m. and will remain open until Dec. 18. Fresh Christmas trees of all sizes, garland, wreaths, crafts. Open MondayFriday, 1-8p.m. Saturdays, 9a.m.-9p.m.

Vamo United Methodist Church, 8521 Vamo Rd., Sarasota. 941-966-3306.

Storage STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer.

Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area. 941-809-3660, 941-809-3662

3 4 EASY EAsy WAYS WAys To Place Your your Classified Classified Ad

You Can Make a Difference. Help seniors stay independent. We provide: non medical care, personal care, meals, light housekeeping, transportation & companionship.

Flexible hours available- F/T, P/T, Overnight, Weekends and Live-In. Positions available in Sarasota/ Bradenton/ Venice. To work now fax resume to 941-929-7438 or email: joanieck@comcast.net LIVE-IN COMPANION needed for couple.

Duties consist of some personal care, cooking, shopping and driving to appointments.

Lovely home. private room, board and salary. Send resumes including references to: Box 27, Sarasota, Fl 34230.

This week’s crossword answers

Call 941-955-4888 Call 941-955-4888 Fax 941-362-4808 Fax 941-362-4808 Email classified@yourobserver.com Email classified@yourobserver.com Online at

www.yourobserver.com/classifieds We gladly All major accept credit/debit all majorcards credit/debit accepted. cards.

THE OBSERVER LP # 39513

The sarasota Observer THE SARASOTA OBSERVER THURSDAY, DECember 16, 2010

Help Wanted SALES POSITION- Local Manatee County A/C company is looking for a top sales person with 3+ years of experience in the sales and service of the Air Conditioning & Heating Industry. Warm friendly office, drug free workplace and medical benefits are just a few of the perks offered in this job. Please call 941-722-9276 for more info.

Commercial Property For Rent EXECUTIVE SUITES: South Tamiami Trail, Gulf Gate area. Full service conference room. One month free rent. Wireless internet and utilities included. From $250/mo. Call 941-923-6050.

Classified Ads Bring Results 941-955-4888 Condos/Apts. For Rent DOWNTOWN: 2BR/1BA. Quiet, secluded, tropical, cathedral ceilings, skylights, patios, cable and water. No pets. $900/mo.

941-366-8862.

NICELY FURNISHED 1BR/1BA, close to downtown. Immaculately clean, fully tiled, 3 blocks to bus stop. Pool, tennis courts.

Walk to shops, downtown. $650/mo. annual.

No pets. 941-374-3401.

SUNRISE COVE. Deluxe 2BR/2BA, unfurnished, bay view. Annual rental, no pets/ smoking. First month and security deposit required. $1375/mo. 366-3282/ daytime, 355-3915/ evenings.

Condos For Sale LIDO BEACH, on Gulf: 1BR/1BA, large condo unit, upgraded, nicely furnished, large terrace with Gulf view. All amenities: pool, party room, gyms. Reduced to $329,000.

Financing available. 941-228-7261.

Homes For Rent LUXOR MHP $395mo-1 bed/bath mobile homes.

55+ community. No Pets.

5811 14th St. W. Bradenton.

Sarasota Real Estate Assoc, Inc. Greg Nowak 941-809-6034

17A Classifieds 17A

CLASSIFIEDS www.yourobserver.com

Thursday, December 16, 2010

www.YourObserver.com

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

Cleaning

Home Services

ASHTON LAKES 2BR/2BA

A CLEANING EVEN YOUR MOTHER-INLAW WILL APPROVE! Every time, guaranteed! Licensed/Insured. Bonded. www.CleanTimeServices.com Pamela, 941-320-0023.

EUROPEAN HOUSE DOCTOR TIME FOR RESTYLE/ MAKEOVER/ CLEAN

Clark Road, 2 miles from Siesta Key. Heated pool, tennis courts,walk to shopping. Monthly or Seasonal, December-May. Ashton Realty, Joe, 941-923-1945 or cell 941-356-6356.

HARBOUR OAKS VILLA- Ground level, 3 bedrooms/2.5 Baths. Private Pool. Small Pets okay. Near Publix on Longboat Key. Call Kathy 941-932-5939 LBK/SUNSET BEACH- Sale or rent Condo 4th floor. 2BR/ 2BA, gulfview on 2 sides.

Bayview, city lights, heated pool, 2 car garage. Updated kitchen with granite.

No Pets. 217-493-6216 LBK: TIFFANY Plaza Beachfront Condos, 1st floor, 2BR/2BA, walk out to beach.

Beautifully furnished, heated pool, covered parking. 1 mo. min. 941-383-3338.

SEASONAL RENTAL House 2BR 2bath, garage, well furnished, completely renovated. 3 houses from St. Armands circle, steps from Lido Beach. Vacation in HEAVEN!!!!

Available Jan. 1st onward. 941-2848532.

SIESTA KEY. Beachfront condo, 2BR/2BA, with full Gulf views. Furnished, internet, pool, tennis courts, fitness and billiard room, etc. $2200-$5000 monthly. 941-554-4020.

Broker/Owner.

Adult Care Services CNA/HHA WILL take care of your loved one.

Excellent references. Great rates. Flexible hours. Call 941-726-0392.

COMPLETE CARE from Homemaking/ companionship through Medical Care with Medicare/ Medicaide affiliations. 28 years experience. Bonded/ Insured $5m. Licensed 30211372. True Caregiving Is A Vocation Not “Just a Job”. Call Kitt 377-4465 Available 24/7. We handle any emergency!

LET US take care of your elderly loved one in our adult family care home. Licensed by the State. Clean and nice family environment. Reasonable prices. 941-922-8340.

Homes For Sale

PRIVATE CARE for your elderly loved one 24/7 in our Mennonite home with CNA license. 941-926-8442, 941-343-7422.

PALM AIRE VILLA 3/2/2 2150 sf.

Remodeled. Open plan/ views. Community pool. Bigger & better than new. Immaculate. $240K. 941-355-4345. Open Saturday/ Sunday or call for appointment.

Compassionate, Caring, Professional Care.

Providing all your Private-Duty Healthcare needs. 20 years Nursing Experience, past 11 in Home Health. Flexible. 941-780-5574

RN, BSN

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria.

Residential/ Commercial.

Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./ Ins. 941-400-3342 CLEANING SERVICE RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL. Professional Service, Excellent References, Affordable Rates.

Lic./Ins. Call 941-284-7466 24hr/7 days

First hour FREE. Excellent local references.

Book appointment: 941-907-8921

Painting/Wallpapering CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing.

Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

EDLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: Residential Commercial, New Construction. Meticulous, deep cleaning top to bottom. We Guarantee.

Affordable & Reliable. Excellent References.

Free Estimates. Licensed & Insured. 30% off first cleaning. 371-9869.

YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Gail Sunray, Owner

HOUSE CLEANING, housekeeping, pet sitting, window washing. Excellent services

by European couple. 941-350-8072

I come to your home or office.

M&B CLEANING. European touch.

House, Condo, Office. Free estimates.

Call 941-704-9667. www.europeantouchcleaning.vpweb.com

Personal Services

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Accounting/ Taxes

 Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation  Organizing Personal and Business Files  Budgets & Financial Reports  Federal and State Tax Returns

Computer Services OrliMeliPC COMPUTER SERVICESOrlando Martinez. On Site PC Technician since 1998. A+ Certified. 941-321-8710 941-423-8798. Repair- Upgrade. SympathyEmpathy. Everything about Computers. www.OrliMeliPC.com

Flooring R.J. DAVIS WHOLESALE FLOORING: Sales & installation. Tile, stone, wood, pavers, laminates and Travertine. 18 years Lic./Ins. Low overhead = low prices. Call me and I will absolutely save you money compared to larger companies. Free estimates. 941-586-8996 ☺ .

BONDED & INSURED Over 25 yrs. experience Telephone: 941-749-5646 yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com

Pressure Cleaning RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL. Roofs, Pool Areas, Driveways, Lanais, etc. When Quality Counts! 941-565-3935.

Tile STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION

Home Improvement/ Remodeling

20 YRS. EXPERIENCE

COMPLETE HOME/ Business Maintenance: Light electrical, plumbing, pressure washing, painting, deck repair & rebuilding, audio, video and all other repairs. 30 years experience. All Pro Maintenance Company, 941-894-4440.

WATER HEATERS, faucets and small plumbing repairs. Reasonable rates.

941-737-0349.

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS

Visit us online at www.yourobserver.com

Get all 3 Observers for only $99 Stand out from the crowd and get widespread exposure with The Observer ‘Make Your Move’ real estate ad. Your ad will appear in all 3 Observers – reaching prime prospects in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Buy Now

Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

The Longboat Observer • The East County Observer • The Sarasota Observer

That’s over 75,000 in circulation and more than 150,000 readers!

To advertise your listing call (941) 955-4888 or email classified@yourobserver.com

The Observer You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.

Ad Specifications Ad Size: 2.5” x 3” Photo size: 2.5” x 1.5” Avg # of words: 40 Full color available!

No logos.

Designate your headline.

P M

e l

A S

absolutely elegant home in silver oak.

Model perfect Biscayne floor plan by Bamboo Builders. One of best lots w/lake & Private Views. Over 3400 sq. ft. under air. 4 BD + den, 3 1/2 BA. Gourmet kitchen w/wood cabinets, granite counters, stainless appl. 3 car gar., large htd pool & spa w/outdoor kitchen. Built in 2001! $899,900. John Doe Real Estate.

John Doe

941-555-5555

18A Classifieds 18A www.YourObserver.com

CUSTOM WOODWORKING

LANDSCAPING & LAWN

Frank Beck Upholstery

-964 *65*,7; ;6 -050:/

Native Son Landscape Services, Inc. GO GREEN!

Allow me to do my very best for you!

(OURS -ONDAY &RIDAY AM PM s 7EEKENDS BY APPOINTMENT

ESTABLISHED 1975!

941s 925 s 2447

Gulf Gate Village 6568 Superior Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231

Thomas

586-4791

0

Mottern :2 20 2':2 5.,1* &

Quality Furniture Made With Fine Wood #VJMU *OT t &OUFSUBJONFOU $FOUFST t "SNPJSFT $PNQVUFS %FTLT %JOJOH 3PPN 5BCMFT t )VUDIFT 'VSOJUVSF 3FQBJS 3FmOJTIJOH t $BCJOFU 3FGBDJOH

YOUR DESIGN - YOUR CHOICE OF WOOD

ATTORNEY

s ,ANDSCAPE DESIGN RENOVATION INSTALLATION s .ATIVE PLANTS 8ERISCAPE %XPERTS s 3OD 2EPAIR s #ONTAINER 'ARDENING s 3EASONAL #LEAN 5P 2EMULCH s .EW 0AVERS 0AVER 2EPAIR s /RGANIC 'ARDENING &ERTILIZING

49023

In shop free estimates Pick up and delivery services available

(< &8672

48248 38314

NEW TV - CALL ME

(ONESTY s )NTEGRITY s 1UALITY s 6ALUE

35 26

REFACE OR NEW IN BAMBOO

ALTERATIONS/UPHOLSTERY

Home Furnishing Restoration and Upholstery Specialist!

48555

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2010 Thursday, December 16,16,2010

CLASSIFIEDS www.yourobserver.com

365-2407

%XPERIENCED s )NSURED 7ORKER S #OMP Lic. #RGLAN-SL-A1815

,%7)3 !6% s */(. -!'')% &2/34 /7.%23

DOG GROOMING

MOVERS

WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE, ELDER LAW Law OfďŹ ce of

Sharon M. Guy, P.A.

359-1904

552-5766

U.S. DOT No. 1915800

ELECTRIC www.unitedelectric.biz

...and more!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Will move anything from a couch to a householdâ&#x20AC;?

FLOORING

Team Up Today With Classifieds 941-955-4888

O V I N G

Dave McCarthy

COMPUTER

Operator/Owner

PAINTING

Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x160;JĂ&#x160;fĂ&#x2021;°xäĂ&#x2030;Ă&#x192;¾°Ă&#x160;vĂ&#x152;°Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; >Â&#x201C;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;>Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160;JĂ&#x160;°Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Ă&#x2030;Ă&#x192;¾°Ă&#x160;vĂ&#x152;° *Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;ViÂ?>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â?iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160;JĂ&#x160;f£°Ă&#x17D;Â&#x2122;Ă&#x2030;Ă&#x192;¾°Ă&#x160;vĂ&#x152;°Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;7Â&#x153;Â&#x153;`Ă&#x160; >LÂ&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x152;Ă&#x192;

FREE

49011

Installation available on all.

Call Scott @ 941-315-0857

ESTIMATES

PC & LAPTOP REPAIR

HANDYMAN

SALES & SERVICE NEW & REFURBISHED NETWORKING DSL AND CABLE SETUPS TRAINING BACKUP & RECOVERY SETUP, INSTALL, UPGRADE AFFORDABLE RATES

Frustrated depending on unreliable servicemen?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No Job Too Smallâ&#x20AC;? (941)

320-1397

PET SERVICES

Pet Care

by

Melanie

s 0ET 3ITTING s /VER YEARS EXPERIENCE

Weekly Services from $15 (941) 928-0391 Karen@the-lyons.com

Newberry Computer Services

Pamela Newberry (941) 400-3191

UĂ&#x160; iĂ&#x152;>Â&#x2C6;Â?i`Ă&#x160;Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x160;Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160; Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x203A;Â&#x2C6;ViĂ&#x192;

Mark Scaperotta

Pressure Washing

UĂ&#x160; Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x2030; Ă?Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;ÂŤiVĂ&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160;*Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; iÂ&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â?i`Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x17E;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;

Courteous, Professional Service

UĂ&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x20AC;ÂŤÂ&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;ÂŤÂ&#x2C6;VÂ&#x17D;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x2022;ÂŤĂ&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;`Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;ÂŤĂ&#x160;Â&#x153;vv UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;iÂ&#x17D;iiÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x203A;Â&#x2C6;ViĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160;Â&#x2C6;vĂ&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;iÂľĂ&#x2022;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x20AC;i` UĂ&#x160;,iviĂ&#x20AC;iÂ&#x2DC;ViĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x2022;ÂŤÂŤÂ?Â&#x2C6;i`

Dr. Grab Bar 941.966.0333

Bathroom Safety Specialists 48772

POOLS

UĂ&#x160;6Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;V>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;LiĂ&#x160;V>Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;i`Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160; 7iiÂ&#x17D;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2030; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Â?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Â?Ă&#x17E;

Avoid slips and falls

www.drhaircaredrgrabbars.com

1/2 price for 2nd Grab Bar

Ask About Our Season Discounts Licensed and Fully Insured

KITCHEN/BATH REMODELING

Personalized in home training Web and systems development Local references available

(941) 966-2960

49033

48557 48556

Home Watch Services â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Peace of mind is pricelessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

49512

Professional Interior Painting

"ASIC 0AINTING s $ECORATIVE 7ALLS s &URNITURE s ,IGHTS s -ISC )TEMS

s %XCELLENT REFERENCES

Lyon

941-921-7552

Painting by Karen

s $OG 7ALKING

HOME SERVICES

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From setup to backup, we do it all

49076

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49020

3204 Gulf Gate Dr., Sarasota (Across from the Library)

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48213

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49079

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49120

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48798

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48190

DOCKSIDE BOAT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

49078

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49311

48250

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49058

OfďŹ ce in Palmer Ranch 8586 Potter Park Drive, Sarasota, FL 34238

Sharon M. Guy

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, 2010 Thursday,DECember December16, 16, 2010

Classifieds 19A

CLASSIFIEDS www.yourobserver.com

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The sarasota Observer THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

48529

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