Longboat Observer - Thursday, May 26, 2011

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Thursday, MAY 26, 2011

NEWS

STORM SURGE

Bird Key resident gets to the heart of the matter.

Hurricanes have been a major force in Longboat Key’s history.

Three friends raise the volume on Sarasota’s gallery beat. INSIDE.

PAGE 15A.

PAGE 14A.

OUR TOWN

DIVERSIONS

comp plan amendments

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

‘The end for IPOC’?

Attorneys for the town of Longboat Key and the Longboat Key Club believe a state report eliminates the Islandside Property Owners Coalition’s central argument against the club’s Islandside project.

Courtesy photo

+ Some bunny wants to cool off Looks like some bunny needed to cool off. This beach bunny was spotted swimming at the sand spit near Jewfish Key.

+ Calling all Key graduates

The state’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has no objections to the Comprehensive Plan amendments the town proposed relating to the Longboat Key Club and Resort Islandside renovation-and-expansion project.

Key Club attorney John Patterson said the DCA’s lack of objections means the central argument of the Islandside Prop-

Each year, the Longboat Observer features all graduates — from both high school and college — from Longboat, Lido, St. Armands and Bird keys. If you are graduating this spring, please call Community Editor Robin Hartill at 3835509, Ext. 303 or email her at rhartill@yourobserver.com.

The graduation feature will be published in the June 2 issue.

erty Owners Coalition (IPOC) has been eradicated.

“It’s essentially the end for IPOC,” Patterson said. “If anyone had any doubts of the eventual outcome, they won’t anymore.”

Town attorney David Persson agreed.

“It’s pretty evident to me the process the town is heading in will be ultimately successful,” Persson said. “The question

is,how much the process will be slowed down until we reach the final conclusion.”

IPOC President Bob White said he does not agree with either Patterson’s or Persson’s assessment of IPOC’s demise.

“The report was disappointing but not unexpected,” said White, who said his coalition is most likely moving onto two other pending legal challenges in Sara-

GREATEST GENERATION

SEE IPOC / PAGE 2A

by Robin Hartill | Community Editor

Medal of

merit Longboat Key resident Joseph ‘Joe’ Corben was recognized for his service during World War II with the French Legion of Honor medal.

+ Longboaters fill up food bank The third annual Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Food Drive was again a success.

Kiwanis Club member Tom Michel, who handled collection efforts, reported that he made two trips from Bayfront Park Recreation Center, where collection bins were taken at the end of the food drive, to All Faiths Food Bank, in Sarasota. By Michel’s estimate, Publix led collection efforts.

SEE OUR TOWN / PAGE 8A

Turtle tracks Week of May 8 through May 14

Nests.................................6 False crawls.......................5

2011 2010 Nests 10 1 False crawls 10 2

sota’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court.

IPOC and its attorneys have stated since the Islandside project was proposed in April 2008 that Longboat Key’s Comp Plan does not allow a mix of uses or density clustering in planned unit developments, such as Islandside.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

Joseph “Joe” Corben holds a photograph of himself at age 18, when he was drafted into the Army, along with his Legion of Honor medal.

Joseph “Joe” Corben summarized his service in France during World War II in two sentences: “I ran up and down hills through farms, woods and small towns,” he wrote. “I was cold, hungry, unwashed and weary.”

He thinks the words capture not only his own experiences but those of virtually any infantryman during the war. He was part of a bazooka team in the Army but never speaks about his combat experience.

But about a year-and-ahalf ago, Corben wrote a brief summary of his service in France, after learning from a veterans’ publication that the French government would honor U.S. veterans

who fought for the liberation of France during World War II with the Legion of Honor medal. The medal is France’s highest honor, an award established by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize bravery or honorable service to France. In 2004, the French government began recognizing American World War II veterans with the honor. (See sidebar page 2A.) Corben received multiple honors from the U.S. government, including a Combat Infantry Badge, a European Theater Badge with three battle stars and Bronze Star. He received a Purple

SEE MEDAL / PAGE 2A

INDEX Briefs....................4A Classifieds ........ 28A

Cops Corner....... 11A Crossword.......... 27A

Deal Us In......... 26A Opinion.................6A

Real Estate........ 16A Weather............. 27A

Vol. 33, No. 43 | Two sections YourObserver.com

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MEDAL / FROM PAGE 1A Heart for an injury he sustained during the Battle of the Bulge, where he lay quiet for hours until medics arrived.

But the Legion of Honor medal was different. Corben said it marked the first time the government of one of the two-dozen countries liberated during World War II thanked American veterans for their service. So, he filled out the application and included his military paperwork and sent it to the French Consulate. Approximately six months ago, he received a phone call from the French Consulate notifying him that he would be honored with

Honoring our bravest

the Legion of Honor medal in honor of his heroic service.

Just a few weeks ago, Corben received his medal along with a declaration from the French government. He plans to hang it on the wall of his Water Club condominium. It will hang alongside the medals that border a framed portrait of Corben as an 18-yearold Army draftee in 1943. Like so many in his generation, he had just a few months to become a military man.

“Everyone had to grow up quickly,” he said.

Corben was first assigned to the 69th Infantry Division, and then to the 87th Infantry Division, in Fort Jackson, S.C., with which he was deployed to the European Theater. The division stayed in the tiny town of Northwich, England, before getting orders to go to France. The division landed in Normandy and subsequently was assigned to the U.S. Third Army.

Corben doesn’t describe his experiences in battle, in part because he thinks he has developed a sort of “selective amnesia.”

“I think most people want to remember the pleasant times,” he said.

He’d rather remember dancing at a Northwich pub with a pretty girl or the fact that while other men in his unit received care packages with salami and chocolates from their families, his family sent him carrot juice in hopes of improving his vision at night.

Corben’s Army service spanned less than three years.

By the time Corben recovered from the injury he sustained during the Battle of the Bulge, the war had ended. He was briefly assigned to a unit in Marburg, Germany, before he was discharged.

He then returned to his native

IPOC / FROM PAGE 1A

The Legion of Honor medal is France’s highest honor, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Brooklyn, N.Y., attended Pace University and met and married his wife, Jacqueline. He became an accountant and, later, a partner in a public relations firm.

Today, he is a father of two and grandfather of three.

The Legion of Honor medal will also hang alongside the Corbens’ many family photos that tell the story of the pleasant times.

Although his years at war make up a small fraction of his life, Corben is proud to receive the Legion of Honor medal.

“It’s nice to think that the French government honored the people who participated in their liberation,” he said.

Corben picked up the declaration from a framer Tuesday. It’s written in French and lists Corben’s name and nationality.

It’s signed by Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France — a testament to Corben’s heroic service.

IPOC filed an appeal with the DCA in July, challenging Town Commission-approved changes to the town code that affected the estimated $400 million Islandside project.

The DCA ruled in October that the town’s code changes were partly inconsistent, because it wasn’t clear that nonresidential uses and densities are allowed by the Comp Plan, even though they currently exist in town planned unit developments such as Avenue of the Flowers.

To alleviate the DCA’s concern, Persson recommended the town make Comp Plan amendments that clarified that planned developments allow for a wide range of uses.

On May 20, the DCA issued a letter and an Objections, Recommendation and Comments (ORC) report to Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown, citing that “the department raises no objections to the amendments proposed.”

If the town decides to hold public hearings this summer, the Town Commission could adopt the amendments as early as its Monday, Sept. 12 regular meeting.

IPOC can challenge the Comp Plan amendments once they are approved and sent back to the state. “(But) the crux of IPOC’s argument is over,” Patterson said.

IPOC’s petition for a writ of certiorari, which challenges the Comp Plan and the Islandside project ordinance the commission adopted, is in limbo while a judge rules

whether to postpone the hearing until the town adopts its Comp Plan amendments.

For that petition challenge, a judge would rely solely on the record from Islandside hearings held last year at Temple Beth Israel to make a decision.

And a request for a de novo hearing, which allows IPOC to ask for a new hearing challenging the Islandside project, does not have a court date scheduled. The de novo hearing requires new testimony and does not rely on the Islandside hearings record.

Persson called the DCA’s response last week “excellent evidence” for a judge to make a ruling in the town’s favor in a de novo hearing.

IPOC attorney Michael Furen disputes Persson’s sentiment.

“The report has no direct impact on the status of either pending lawsuit,” he said.

Both legal challenges could take up to two years to be completed after all appeals are exhausted.

White said IPOC’s legal challenges are not delay tactics.

“However, we will remain engaged in the process,” he said. “We intend to continue to oppose the scale of the development and press on with challenges we deem appropriate.”

Patterson, however, thinks IPOC is just wasting its time.

“It’s up to IPOC to decide how much longer they want to spend money on a battle they will never win,” Patterson said.

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U.S. veterans, who participated in one of the four major campaigns in the liberation of France during World War II, are eligible to receive the French Legion of Honor medal. The French government has asked the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Administration for assistance in identifying qualified U.S. veterans for consideration.

French consulates will distribute approximately 100 medals per year. Applicants must have written documentation verifying military history during combat.

For information, contact the French Legion of Honor to the Defense Attache, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, D.C., 20007, or call 202-944-6502.

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longboat Observer

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THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

holding the line

3A

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Younger presents beach-monitoring data Commissioner Phillip Younger created charts using beach-monitoring data from the town’s beach engineer, Coastal Planning and Engineering, and presented them to the Town Commission earlier this month.

Longboat Key Commissioner Phillip Younger presented last week to the Town Commission a variety of beach charts, which reveal that 60% of the town’s entire beach is 10 years or more away from needing renourishment (if any).

The data Younger uses, which was acquired from the town’s beach engineer, Costal Planning & Engineering, shows there has been a 27% erosion rate islandwide since the beach was renourished in 2006 through October 2010. That is equivalent to a 9% loss of the total beach width since 2006.

If you exclude the eroded north end of

the island, which accounts for 14% of the beach, of the 86% shoreline remaining, 4.4% of the total beach width since 2006 has been lost.

Younger’s chart, shown below, shows five sections of the island’s beaches.

While the north end of the island and some sections of the beach in the middle of the Key are not holding sand effectively, all of the green sections on the chart show areas of the Key that are holding and/or accreting sand. The green areas are not in danger of falling below minimum beach-width requirements for at least 10 years.

Younger has said for months that, for the most part, the mandate that the beach width be maintained at 130 feet is holding steady. Younger, however, said he isn’t drawing any conclusions from the charts he created at this time and only wants the data to be reviewed.

Town Manager Bruce St. Denis has maintained that island-wide beach projects are necessary because the sand that’s placed on the beach constantly moves to the south, and if sand is not placed in areas that already have enough sand, other areas of the island’s beach will start to deteriorate.

BEACH RENOURISHMENT DATA Segments of beach in danger of dipping below minimum beach design within three years.

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

Segments of beach in danger of dipping below minimum beach design within three to six years.

SECTION 3

Younger asked St. Denis to provide the charts to CPE and Dr. Kevin Bodge, who is performing a peer review of the town’s Comprehensive Beach Plan. Bodge is an engineer with Jacksonville-based Olsen & Associates Inc. In emails exchanged between Younger and St. Denis May 17, Younger declined to meet with St. Denis and CPE representatives about his charts because he wants to review Bodge’s findings first.

Bodge will present his findings to the Longboat Key Town Commission at a special beach meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, May 27, at Town Hall.

Commissioner Phillip Younger’s chart projects how long it would take each area of sand on Longboat’s beach to fall below the 130-foot beach design minimum.

Segments of beach in danger of dipping below minimum beach design within six to 10 years.

SECTION 4

Segments of beach not in danger of dipping below minimum beach design for 10 or more years.

SECTION 5

SOUTH END

YEARS TO RECEDE TO MINIMUM LEVEL

NORTH END

10 8 6 4 2

TENNIS COURTS

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Colony Lender acquires ownership share Colony Lender LLC now possesses a 15% interest in the recreational assets at The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, including the tennis courts.

Colony Lender LLC acquired Friday the 15% interest of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort’s recreational/resort assets previously owned by the Carolyn Field Trust Friday, according to Colony Lender partner David Siegal.

Colony Lender paid $766,350 for the interest.

The acquisition could potentially give Colony Lender a 95% interest in recreational/resort property that includes a maintenance area (laundry, flower shop, conference center and fitness center), the administration center at the front of the property, the tennis courts, commercial condominiums in the hotel building, the resort kitchen and resort conference areas.

Colony unit owner Andy Adams owns the other 5% interest in the property.

Tim Field told the Longboat Observer he and his mother, Carolyn Field, had intended to sell their interest for a long time.

“We were just waiting for the right offer,” Field said. “We sold to Colony Lender because they had the best offer.”

Colony Lender already has an 80%

secured interest in the properties, because it owns bank loans belonging to longtime Colony owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber. Colony Lender is foreclosing upon those loans and hopes to have a 12th Judicial Circuit Court judge schedule a hearing for June or July to set the total amount due on the loans.

Klauber still owns the 80% interest.

Said Siegal in a press release issued Friday: “The acquisition was made to protect the collateral of the loan, purchased from Bank of America, which is in foreclosure. A 95% interest in the socalled recreational facilities are much more secure than an 80% interest.”

Siegal said a third party “owning a piece of the puzzle” is now eliminated.

“The fewer moving parts, the fewer number of divergent interests, the better for the Colony,” Siegal wrote in his press release.

Siegal told the Longboat Observer that the collateral for the bank loan Colony Lender owns also includes Klauber’s 17,000-square-foot restaurant, his office penthouse unit on the sixth floor of the hotel and another rental unit.

“The Field (interest) just added strength to that of our collateral, in

which Dr. Klauber owns less than 100%,” Siegal said.

Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Association President Jay Yablon said the acquisition by Colony Lender eliminates a hurdle for the unit owners.

“It simplifies the situation going forward, by reducing the number of parties with asset ownership claims at the Colony,” said Yablon.

Going forward, the association could choose to buy the recreational property.

However, if the association chooses not to buy the property, it could attempt to lease the property from Colony Lender and/or work with the company on a new development plan.

Yablon said the unit owners will select the top-three development proposals some time in June. Colony Lender’s plan is still under consideration.

Field, meanwhile, hopes the parties left at the Colony can come together to resurrect the resort.

“I just hope it comes together and everyone tries to resolve the issues by looking at the broad picture and not how much everyone can accumulate,” Field said. “If everyone is realistic, it can all come together.”

Residency requirement update Longtime Colony Beach & Tennis Resort owner Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber informed Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Simpson last week that he was giving the town until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 to issue him a letter stating that his penthouse unit can be used as a residential unit 365 days a year.

The town, however, still hasn’t produced the letter.

Klauber has a contract pending for the penthouse unit and the Vagabond beach unit he owns, but the potential buyer wants the town to confirm residency is allowed in the unit all year long.

So far, Simpson is not willing to issue the letter because she said she still has insufficient documentation from Klauber that states the penthouse unit he has owned for more than 40 years has always been his primary residence.

Simpson told the Longboat Observer that she needs legal documentation from Klauber that goes back as far as he can document to prove that the penthouse unit inside the hotel has been his primary residence.

Klauber, however, is upset that the letter isn’t being produced.

“The town is not cooperating,” Klauber said. “I independently own these units.”

longboat Observer

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NEWSBRIEFS

4A

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

+ Board member questions pension report findings Longboat Key Firefighters Pension Board member Shannon Gault discovered that Benchmark Financial Services President Ed Siedle used incorrect data in his investigation report to reflect the plan’s investment performance.

In a May 17 email sent to the Longboat Key Town Commission, Gault said that Siedle used a 10-year performance period to reflect the plan’s 1.25% under performance, starting in the year 2000.

But the plan’s investment manager,

Meetings agendas

&

 Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Thursday, May 26.  Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, June 6.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, was not the town’s investment manager until 2002.

“I believe we should ask Mr. Siedle to restate his performance numbers to reflect the exact time period that Morgan Stanley was working for us and not tag them with the previous firm’s performance,” Gault said. “It may make a dramatic difference.”

The board will discuss the report further at its 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 pension meeting.

+ Residents concerned about community center Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown assuaged the concern of a resident last week by stating the town is not moving forward with a $5 million to $7 million Bayfront Park Recreation Center project until funds are available.

Longboat Key resident Ray Rajewski sent an email to Brown Sunday, May 22, asking Brown why the town would be moving forward with a Bayfront Park concept plan and a recreation center project when it’s facing millions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities.

“The town is facing a potential pension liability of millions of dollars and a beach renourishment liability of some $40 million to $50 million, and now you are contemplating a community center for some $5 million to $7 million?” Rajewski asked. “It seems that your intention is to move forward and spend more funds for a design on something that the residents don’t need.

While I am not opposed to a community center, what are the priorities?”

Brown responded by explaining that no one is proposing to move ahead with the project until the time is appropriate.

“I share your concerns about potential future burdens on the taxpayers, and I have no desire to make that worse,” Brown wrote. “That having been said, I feel that a community center will be a great asset to the town, and this is backed up by many individuals in the community coming to the commission to ask us to move forward.”

+ Diver off Anna Maria Island pronounced dead A 52-year-old man died Thursday, May 19 after making a dive 12 miles

The Things You DON’T See Are The Most Important…

YourObserver.com

TOP FIVE

The most read stories online last week were:

1. Klauber seeks residency decision (May 18) 2. Longboat Key Cops Corner (May 18) 3. The ‘bling’ king (May 18) 4. Scene and Heard (May 18) 5. Photo gallery: Longboat Key Challenge (May 15) offshore, according to a statement released by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard was alerted by a boater that a diver returned from a 50-foot dive 12 miles west of Anna Maria Island and became unresponsive.

Coast Guard personnel arrived and began to administer CPR on the man, whose name has not been released.

The man was transported to Longboat Pass and placed on a boat ramp on Anna Maria Island, where he was pronounced dead.

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THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

keeping in touch

VISION PLAN

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Subcommittee compiles list of goals

Town commissioners consider iPad purchase The Longboat Key Town Commission will decide whether the town should purchase iPads for commissioners, which would cost taxpayers $4,200.

Since October, Management Information Systems Director Kathi Pletzke has been investigating the possibility of using iPads in a variety of ways throughout town government.

Commissioners can use the iPad, the first tablet computer developed by Apple Inc., which was first released in 2010, to review town agendas, Pletzke said. iPads can also be used in at least three town departments.

At its 1 p.m. Thursday, May 26 regular workshop, the commissioners will vote to use commission contingency fund monies to make the purchase.

“Over the past several months, staff has been modifying our agenda-preparation process to make LBK 2010 - Jit easier to allow for agenda publication in hard copy, the town’s website

5A

The Longboat Key Town Commission will review a goals list that a subcommittee placed in the town’s Vision Plan for possible implementation. The goals, which were submitted by a wide range of groups and individuals, must be discussed at the 1 p.m. Thursday, May 26 regular workshop.

and iPad formats,” Town Manager Bruce St. Denis wrote in a memo to commissioners. “We are at a point where it appears all three methods of publication can be accommodated without significant additional staff effort.”

Commissioners who have access to wireless Internet would be able to download meeting agendas without coming into Town Hall. St. Denis estimates the town could also install wireless Internet for commissioners who need it at a cost of $40 per month, per computer.

The iPads also have town email capability.

The test iPad already has a town-issued, fire-inspection program on it that allows firefighters to make inspections around the Key and allows them to update the program while on-site.

Police officers and code enforcement officers can also fill out police and code reports on the scene with the iPad.

• Consider the benefits of engaging lobbyists for town issues.

• Modify an accountant position in the Finance Department to include the responsibilities of grants research and coordination.

• Look at improving staff manpower efficiencies in order to avoid reducing necessary services.

• Urge the town to continue to provide quality emergency response service.

• Recommend the town consider the installation of a license-plate recognition camera system.

• Recommend the town honor its obligations to its employees but should examine freezing existing pension plans, moving thereafter to fixed contributions rather than fixed benefits.

• Resolve employee pension plan issues within the next 12 months.

• Support an island-wide revitalization effort.

• Support residents first, businesses second and visitors third.

• Support redevelopment within the community.

• Encourage the commission to foster an environment in the community, which is advantageous and compatible with residential, visitor and business interests.

• Provide assistance for the implementation of a master plan for the Village area.

• Support a lower speed limit from the Longboat Pass Bridge to south of Whitney Beach Plaza.

• Construct a pedestrian walkway or pedestrian traffic signal at Broadway and Gulf of Mexico Drive.

• Reinstall the Broadway bridge over the bayou at the entrance to the Village.

• Provide for gas lamps down Broadway.

• Improve landscaping on Broadway.

• Purchase undeveloped property in the area of

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Longboat Drive South and Palm Street.

• Purchase property on the north end of Longboat Drive South and Palm Street.

• Enhance the school bus stop in the Village by providing a new bench.

• Continue to reimburse and support peacock removal.

• Continue to encourage water conservation.

• Encourage businesses to receive grants to improve landscaping.

• Adopt a long-term beach management plan and renourishment program.

• Establish long-term fiscal policies relating to beach maintenance and cost containment options for future beach projects.

• Urge support for the creation of an on-site island medical facility while supporting physical-, mental- and emotional-health initiatives.

• Continue to hold events at Longboat Key facilities to promote organizations and citizen participation, as well as business partners.

• Encourage the town to implement the development of the Bayfront Park fund and construct a community center at Bayfront Park.

• Improve the island’s communication infrastructure.

• Support the town’s efforts to address traffic problems through regional cooperation.

• Urge the Town Commission to press the U.S. Coast Guard for 30 minutes between bridge openings during season to alleviate traffic.

• Support continuation of the trolley service on the island.

• Continue to work toward cost containment in the budget.

• Appoint a blue-ribbon committee to resolve the employee pension plan issues.

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“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.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

opinion | our view

The rec center dilemma Longboat Key residents have known for a long time the recreation center at Bayfront Park needs to be replaced.

The hard parts are deciding how to pay for improvements and how expansive those improvements should be.

To be sure, Longboaters recognize there are nice benefits to redeveloping Bayfront Park into a new park with a new community center. Those who attend exercise classes and play bridge there finally might have the space and facility they’ve always wanted.

Town-wide community events could be held in a convenient location with ample space. The new center would likely be hurricane resistant. And a remodeled park that offers space for more than softball, basketball and hard-court tennis could create a much more useful town amenity.

All that would be to the good.

We have always stumbled, however, on whether the number of users justifies the cost to taxpayers. The current facility hosts a few hundred people per month for activities such as bridge clubs and yoga classes.

That’s only about 4% of the town’s permanent population, only 1.5% of the Key’s peak-season population.

Yet all taxpayers would pay for a new community center.

And that’s part of the dilemma for the town. Voters decisively rejected referenda for a community center in Joan M. Durante Park in 2001 and for a $6 million community center at Bayfront Park in 2003. The latter vote was a resounding defeat, and that was in a strong, growing economy. It is hard to see residents changing their minds and voting for it in the current economic climate.

Because only a small percentage of Longboat residents will use a new Bay-

front Park center, it seems logical that a new community center and other amenities should charge for use. User fees are a matter of fairness, plus they help minimize costs to the entire community. Basic fairness. Indeed, this is how the Longboat Key Public Tennis operates — the users carry the operating cost. That makes sense at a tennis facility.

A community center is a different story.

A few hundred bridge players and exerciseclass participants aren’t likely to be able to carry the operating costs of a community without charging hefty fees. And the higher the fees, the fewer number of users. A selffulfilling prophecy of financial failure.

That’s not the only conundrum. Building a new center at a time of continuing budget cutbacks is a dicey question. One idea is to issue bonds for a $7 million project and pay them off over 15 years with revenue from a series of sources. A bond issue, of course, would require a referendum of the same voters who have said no twice already to a community center.

Trying to think of other financing schemes, Commissioner Lynn Larson wonders if there is enough money sitting in town funds to pay for the park and then those funds would be paid back. In that scenario, the town could pay for the new facility in cash and not increase debt.

Legal opinions, however, have said the town charter requires voter approval even for bank loans. So, Town Manager Bruce St. Denis said he will need a legal opinion on whether that actually would be a way to bypass a referendum.

Avoiding a referendum might be the more politically palatable option, and it does have the benefit of meaning less net

debt to the town and fewer potentially detrimental effects on bond ratings. But it is dangerous territory to circumvent the will of the people.

What to do?

One approach is to build a minimalist facility, in concert with the few people who would use it. But if the town must issue bonds to build it, this would raise another question — is that the wise thing to do when the town is still facing its pension liabilities and about to issue more bonds for beach renourishment projects? This reminds us of the family with limited means.

Should it buy that new car and take on more debt when it’s already deep in previous credit-card debt? Can it put off the car and work down the debt first — clearly the more fiscally prudent thing to do.

Here is a suggestion, one that we have advocated before: Take a good look at the Longboat Library property next to Town Hall. Talk about an underutilized asset.

Is there merit in tearing down that aging building and replacing it with a structure that would have dedicated space for a new Longboat Library, the Longboat Key Historical Society and a larger community room?

This has the added benefit of consolidating all of these town amenities in one location, at a town center, on Bay Isles Road.

The lot may not be big enough for a community center the size the town is considering, plus parking. But given that few Longboaters would use it, perhaps smaller is more in order anyway.

Meantime, what to do with Bayfront Park should take some additional thought. While that baseball/softball field is a gorgeous sight, you have to question whether that’s the best use of that priceless real estate.

Keep the Promise for Israel To understand why The Observer Group created the state of Israel in 1948 with almost newspapers have always been strong supno help from any other country. And ever porters of Israel — and find deep fault with since, they have been beset on all sides.

President Obama’s Middle East speech last Historian Thomas Cahill wrote in his book, week — we have to go as far back into the “The Gifts of the Jews”: “The story of Jewish written record of history as possible. And identity across the millennia … against imthat starts with Abraham, a man living in possible odds … is a unique miracle of culwhat is modern day Iraq, but before there tural survival.” More historical context from were Arabs.

Cahill: “The belief system we have come to In Genesis, God called Abraham to go call Judaism is the origin of the worldview to to a new land. Abraham did and arrived which all Western people subscribe.” in modern day Israel. Isaac was the son of The Jewish people are the reason we Sarah, Abraham’s wife, and the Jewish people believe in one God. “We can hardly get up in come through his line. Ishmael was the son the morning or cross the street,” Cahill says. of Hagar, Sarah’s servant, He goes on: “Most of our and Abraham, and the Arab best words … new, adpeople come through his venture, surprise; unique, ‘Prepare to cross the line. Ishmael was sent away individual, person, vocaJordan here, with all with his mother because of tion; time, history, future; the people into the the enmity between Sarah freedom, progress, spirit; land I will give the and Hagar, and that is the faith, hope, justice — these biblical origin of the ArabIsraelites … the land, are the gifts of the Jews.”

Israeli conflict. The Quran The Jews need a homewhich I swore to actually tells much the same land, and Israel is theirs their fathers I would story. This conflict is many from antiquity. thousands of years old.

More context is freedom. give them.’

After the Egyptian captivIsrael is the only country God’s instructions to Joshua ity of the line of Isaac, Moses in the Middle East that is a when the Jews reached the led the Jews to the Promised free democracy, holding free Promised Land Land — again, modern-day elections with a free media, Israel. Forty years of wanoffering property rights and dering in the desert ended civil rights to all. None of by crossing the Jordan River into Israel. the enemies surrounding it has any sorts of God told Joshua at the time: “Prepare to freedoms. They are run by degrees of tyrants cross the Jordan here, with all the people who kill their own people as well as Jews. into the land I will give the Israelites … be It is worth remembering that 21% of Israeli firm and steadfast so that you may give this citizens are Arabs, predominantly Muslims, people possession of the land, which I swore and they are economically better off than to their fathers I would give them.” their kin in surrounding Muslim countries.

That is Israel, a nation of people who have Arab-Israelis, including several generals, suffered like no other people in the history of serve in the Israeli Defense Force. Even 14 of the world. After being dispersed by Babylothe 120 members of the Knesset, the Israeli nians and myriad other conquerors through Parliament, are Arabs. Jews have no right to the centuries, most Jews settled in Arab and basic survival in Muslim countries. gentile nations around the world. They were The difference between the free, diverse, persecuted under pogroms that killed and tolerant, inclusive nation of Israel and the destroyed families and homes. That long oppressive regimes of the Arab nations history of misery culminated with the Holoaround them could not be more stark. U.S. caust, in which the Nazis and their helpers policy has long recognized the importance of slaughtered 6 million Jews. having a lamp of liberty in the region.

After that climax of genocide, the Jews rePalestinians have been the pawns of Arab

tyrants since the 1940s, used to keep hatreds of the Jews inflamed. Twice the West has strong-armed Israel into pulling out of occupied territories in Lebanon and Gaza. Both times, the violence against Israel escalated, and that is exactly what would happen now.

The problem is not geographic borders, but the utter failure of the Palestinians to create any semblance of a stable, constitutional government. Instead, they have chosen a terrorist state under Hamas where the vast majority of them accept the killing of Jews.

With all of this as context, it is dismaying to see President Obama push for changes realistically only on the part of free and democratic Israel. Calling for a return to the 1967 boundaries of Israel gives important regions such as the West Bank and Golan Heights back to Syria’s dictators, and narrows the nation to nine miles at one point — about the distance from University Parkway to Clark Road. This clearly imperils Israel’s existence.

Credit Obama for coming around to the Bush Doctrine that he so excoriated as a Senate back-bencher. In 2008, he called the surge a failure and was for pulling the troops out of Iraq. He now holds up Iraq as an example of how democracy can work in the Middle East. He practically quotes Bush now when saying freedom, democracy and economic reform are America’s “top priority.”

Yet in the Israeli case, the president cannot see the chasm between the free, inclusive Jewish state and the tyrannical, intolerant Muslim states seeking Israeli’s death. These are not equal negotiating parties.

The president’s sympathy for the Muslim autocrats, and antipathy toward the Jewish democrats, is hard to understand. In his comprehensive speech on the Middle East, he never mentioned the word Islam. And while he verbally opposes violence perpetrated by the Palestinian terror government Hamas, he requires little of them. It is always the free Jewish state that must give in.

His new policy of preemptively requiring 1967 borders is a wrong and immoral position for the president of the United States.

This is a fatal flaw, from a fatally flawed view of Israel and her neighbors.

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

opinion | my view by Gerald Feder

CALLER ID

The pension operation can’t simply be punted

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Longboaters: Be wary of telephone scams

As a trustee of the firefighters’ fund appointed by the Town Commission six months ago, I voted against the pension board expenditure of $50,000 for the (Edward) Siedle investigation, because I believed that the money would be better invested in developing a plan to deal with the future. I also voted to withhold future payments to Morgan Stanley, pending the outcome of the investigation.

At the pension board meeting May 25, I will urge the board to immediately request proposals from alternative investment managers. Sufficient questions have been raised about the fund manager’s performance that fiduciary duty requires the board to explore the availability of alternative providers. I am not as impressed as you with the qualities of the current manager. Nor was I at all pleased to be provided by Morgan Stanley with the extensive documentation purportedly supporting what you describe as “complicated and intricate” simultaneously with the commencement of her presentation.

The Town Commission has begun the process of determining how to deal with the problem going forward. The commission’s efforts should be encouraged and supported by the town. In my opinion, the town does not have the luxury of simply punting.

Longboat Key Police Department warns that a floundering economy has spurred several telephone scams that have hit Longboat Key. The next time your children or grandchildren give you a call, you should interrogate them to make sure that’s really who is on the other line before proceeding with a friendly chat.

A telephone scam that continues to run rampant in the Sarasota-Bradenton area has hit Longboat Key, too.

It works like this.

A person will receive a call from someone pretending to be his or her child or grandchild. The caller says they have a hoarse voice and that he or she was in a car accident and needs some money wired to fix a rental car.

Other potential derivatives of the scam include grandchildren calling from jail. They say they are too embarrassed to call their parents and hope that grandma or grandpa can help bail them out.

If a resident wires money to their “loved one,” (typically the money is wired to Canada through a wire transfer service) it generally can’t be recovered.

“There has definitely been an uptick in activity because of the state of the economy,” said Longboat Key Police Capt. Kris Roberts.

“Everyone is looking for a way to make some money.”

Another popular scam that has picked up speed on Longboat Key again is the bankaccount scheme.

“All year long, we get people calling residents as fake representatives of their bank,

dent and retired attorney. He became a member of the Longboat Key Firefighters Pension Board in November.

Remembering those who made our freedom possible...

To avoid being a victim of phone solicitations, hang up: • If you don’t know the person to whom you are talking.

• If an unknown caller asks you for your Social Security Number, credit card numbers, bank account numbers or date of birth.

• If you receive a call asking you to provide personal information to win a prize.

• If you are called and asked to verify information about your credit cards. If the caller claims to be a bank representative, hang up and call your bank directly using a valid number from a telephone book or the bank’s website. asking them to verify their bank account numbers,” Roberts said. “Don’t do it.”

See the above box for tips on how to avoid being a victim of these phone solicitation scams.

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The notion of punting the town’s pension “operation” (whether the firefighters’ or all three of the town employees’ pension “operations”) does not confront the complexity of the issues facing the town with respect to employee benefits.

If the town needs to have the services of a fire department, and if the town chooses to retain those services by directly employing its firefighters and emergency medical services employees, it must be prepared to deal with the issue of compensation, including pension benefits, on an ongoing basis and the issues of collective bargaining, which that entails.

Our town is facing the same problems as the overwhelming majority of public employers (towns, cities, counties, states). We have committed ourselves to the expenses for providing services during a period of “feast” (relatively speaking) but are facing the need to pay for those expenses during a protracted period of “famine.”

A major source of the town’s funds for paying employee benefits is the tax base, including the real property tax.

The tax is based on the value of property, which has dropped precipitously since 2006. During that same period, the value of most retirement funds has also dropped dramatically and is only now beginning to recover. Even if the town were able and willing to issue bonds adequate to fully fund the “pension operation,” such an action, by itself, would only deal with the past.

7A

8A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

OUR TOWN

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

>> Continued from Page 1A

+ Enjoy a day (or three) at the beach Memorial Day weekend is one of the most popular times to enjoy some fun in the sun. Longboat Key has plenty of public beach accesses, although some are tough to spot. Public beach access is available at the following locations:

Courtesy of Mary Lou Johnson/Mary Lou Johnson Photography

+ Photographer snaps picture-perfect pelicans on Longboat’s waters

+ Keating reappointed to New College board

+ Sharapova shines at Italian Open, readies for French Open

Gov. Rick Scott recently reappointed Longboat Key resident Elaine Keating to New College of Florida Board of Trustees.

Keating is the former president of E. Mason Inc., a Midwest financial services firm. She is president of the Keating Foundation, Keating which continues to support a variety of local arts, social services and educational initiatives.

Keating’s new term will run through Jan. 6, 2016.

Hideaway Bay resident and former No. 1 tennis player Maria Sharapova clinched a victory at the Italian Open May 15 beating Australian Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-4 for the title. Sharapova was seeded seventh in the tournament and beat Stosur in one hour and 23 minutes. Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had to quickly turned around to gear up for the French Open, which began play Sunday. On Tuesday, Sharapova, seeded No. 7 in the tournament, beat Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic 6-3, 6-0 in 56 minutes. If Sharapova wins the French Open, it would complete her career Grand Slam.

Photo courtesy of Matt Callihan

+ Longboat Key Club golf course geese hatch their golden eggs Technically, these geese are more gray than golden.

But we think the newly hatched goslings at the Harbourside golf course look as good as gold. Key resident Matt Callihan snapped these photos of the birds that we’ll assume are Mother and Father Goose, along with their goslings, at Hole No. 5 on the Blue Course.

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Longboat Key photographer Mary Lou Johnson snapped this beak-iful picture: a trio of pelicans enjoying a day on the water.

• 2825 Gulf of Mexico Drive (parking available across the street at Longboat Key Town Hall) • 3175 GMD (onsite parking) • 3355 GMD (onsite parking) • 3495 GMD (handicap parking onsite; other parking is across the street) • 4001 GMD (parking available across the street at Bayfront Park) • 4711 GMD (handicap parking available onsite) • 4795 GMD (handicap parking available onsite) • 6399 Gulfside Road (parking available at General Harris Street) • 6847 GMD (parking available at Broadway Access) • 100 Broadway (handicap parking available onsite) • 7055 Seabreeze Ave. (no parking)

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

9A

Smart Time To Sell

Today’s column begins with an expression of gratitude. As a home buyer or seller, you have many choices of real estate agents situated throughout Southwest Florida. Thank you for choosing an agent with Michael Saunders & Company. Their ability to assist in achieving your goals helped them accomplish one of the best collective performances of any real estate company in the United States during 2010.

This news reached us recently courtesy of Real Trends, the Colorado-based real estate and communications company, whose highly-anticipated annual ranking of the 500 Largest Real Estate Brokers in the U.S. has just been officially released.

During 2010—one of the most challenging years ever for Florida real estate—our agents’ combined productivity propelled the company from 88th to 60th place in total dollar volume among all U.S. brokerages surveyed. This noteworthy improvement received additional praise from Real Trends for being achieved strictly through increased sales. Not through mergers or acquisitions, as most were.

Michael Saunders & Company was also the nation’s 13th most improved firm in terms of total transaction sides closed; its ranking moving from 130th in 2009 to 88th in 2010.

Such improved performance, while certainly a credit to our agents and leadership team, also underscores the growing momentum of our market’s recovery. In fact, recent trends in monthly sales may surprise those buyers and sellers who are just now venturing into the market.

3315 Bay Shore Rd $9,900,000 #A3908479 Klaus Lang

While ours is still very much a buyers’ market, the pendulum is gradually swinging in the other direction.

For sellers planning to list their homes in the near future, the news is encouraging. Over the past several months buyers have finally unleashed several years of pent-up demand, signaling a strong comfort level with home prices that have dropped by as much as 50% since 2005. For the first time in six years, statistics show there are plenty of buyers prepared to purchase well-priced, well-maintained properties.

For buyers holding-out for potentially lower prices, though still counting on a good selection of properties, this current buying spree is your wake-up call. Even with today’s unprecedented wave of foreclosures, short sales and competitively-priced non-distressed properties, our market’s once-swollen inventory of properties has been so thoroughly picked-over that buyers are complaining of the shortage. Our agents, in the meantime, are actively searching for new listings to satisfy this demand, even as they routinely field multiple offers on the best buying opportunities. Nothing portends an improving market for sellers better than a growing trend in multiple offers.

Conventional wisdom throughout the industry agrees that a six-month supply of homes constitutes a balanced market. According to Trendgraphix—the industry’s best source for identifying new trends— Sarasota County presently has 6.7 months of available inventory based on April’s rate of closed sales; but only 5.5 months based on pending sales. Similarly, Manatee County has 6.9 months of inventory based

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1204 Hillview Dr $7,900,000 #A3934316 Marcia Salkin & Paulene Soublis

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4995 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 500 $3,950,000 #A3922746 Debra Lee Rugh

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3315 Gulf Of Mexico Dr $3,800,000 #A3941670 Ian Addy Pa

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870 Jungle Queen Way $1,945,000 #A3938200 Sylvia Zimmerman

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1233 N Gulfstream Ave # 1101 $1,550,000 #A3936030 Judy Nimz

Sarasota 941-951-6660 941-374-0196

1924 Lincoln Dr $1,499,000 #A3919383 Michael Hays

565 S Spoonbill Dr $1,099,000 #A3939831 Audrey Singer

Sarasota 941-383-7591 941-350-2588

380 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 525 Longboat Key $949,500 #A3938164 941-383-7591 Sylvia Zimmerman & Marlene Liberman 941-350-5022

521 Ranger Ln $945,000 Michael Moulton

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615 N Macewen Dr $749,918 #A3937855 Betty Mullinnix & Steve Abbe

Osprey 941-349-3444 941-928-3441

2101 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 2102 Longboat Key $749,000 #A3940790 941-349-3444 Joyce Naegele 941-586-7959

1211 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 404 $647,000 #A3929217 Marilyn Brown

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-388-4447

7149 N Longboat Dr $549,000 #A3937245 Timothy Field, P.a.

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-350-0332

2301 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 81N $545,000 #A3929418 Jim Hanrahan

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4520 Chase Oaks Dr $539,000 #A3928830 Anja Deichmann

Sarasota 941-951-6660 941-284-7987

2035 Harbour Links Dr # 2035 $409,000 #A3937282 Bobbi Banan

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-2659

600 Sutton Pl # 3 $399,900 #A3933837 Sandi Layfield

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4500 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # Ph4 $399,000 #A3915825 Bobbi Banan

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6832 Pine St $1,995,000 Hannerle Moore

on closed sales; and 5.1 months based on pending sales. In Charlotte County, there are 7.6 and 6.7 months respectively. The months of available properties vary by price range; but as inventories generally decline in the wake of stronger sales, competition for the best-priced properties is expected to remain heated—frequently resulting in expedited sales and multiple offers.

Consequently, now is a good time to sell your home, provided it is priced competitively and under $1 million. The market for properties above $1 million remains a challenge, with just over 19 months of available inventory in both Sarasota and Manatee counties. Charlotte County faces an even greater climb. It currently has a 101-month—or 8-plus years—supply of $1 million-plus properties based on April’s rate of sales.

Why is there a shortage of more moderately-priced properties developing even with an indeterminate number of distressed properties still in the pipeline? Quality foreclosures, it seems, have the shortest shelf lives of all once they reach the market. Investors in these types of properties have done their homework and are prepared to pounce. In Sarasota County, for example, there’s only 1.8 months of available foreclosure properties based on April’s rate of closed sales. That month, 205 foreclosures were listed in the MLS. 147 were sold.

This is another reason why we feel confident our market is recapturing its balance. With prices bottoming, inventories declining and demand on the rise, it is both a good time to buy; and a smart time to sell

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Bird Key 941-388-4447 941-928-4445

2185 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 244 $2,475,000 #A3919623 Anne Mitchell

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-725-0227

Sarasota 941-349-3444 941-376-1826

1823 Flower Dr $1,399,000 #A3937142 Bernadette Caswell

Sarasota 941-951-6660 941-320-8265

675 Penfield St $1,195,000 #A3937968 Cathy Meldahl

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-724-7228

2550 Harbourside Dr # 331 $899,000 #A3913703 Jenifer Schwell

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-780-0968

312 Hernando Ave $899,000 #A3922674 Saint Cacchiotti

Sarasota 941-383-7591 941-809-0787

392 Firehouse Ln $849,000 #A3933524 Mary Defrank

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-544-0214

1701 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 5-C $645,000 #A3934402 Maruta Miluns

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-374-9720

2425 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 6E $635,000 #A3942080 Mel & Jan Goldsmith

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-356-6673

335 Arthur Dr $559,000 Douglas Parks

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4825 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # C103 Longboat Key $475,000 #A3932720 941-383-7591 Michael Yawitz 941-587-8091

5231 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 303 $464,000 #A3937561 Maureen Horn

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-539-3384

3235 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 204 $460,000 #A3933602 Diane Otis Stirling

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-320-4261

4725 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 208 $399,000 #A3937165 Steve Abbott

1918 Harbourside Dr # 903 $399,000 #A3940320 Robert Lindeman

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-504-2123

3806 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 401 $330,000 #A3942102 Judy C Beck

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-320-2825

4235 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # G203 Longboat Key $274,000 #A3936274 941-388-4447 Eileen Burke 941-266-8949

523 Sutton Pl # 523 $269,000 #A3941718 M Jenine Meyer

Longboat Key 941-383-5502 941-266-8303

Longboat Key 941-383-7591 941-374-3003

228 Seagull Ln $2,995,000 Susan Mcleod

4621 Gulf Of Mexico Dr # 21F Longboat Key $375,000 - $589,000 #A3893469 941-383-7591 Richard Perlman 941-228-8580

4972 Gulf Of Mexico Dr $299,000 #A3937547 Diana Kryszak

Longboat Key 941-388-4447 941-993-4078

Veranda Beach Club verandabeachclub.com 800.411.5511

White Sands of Longboat whitesandsoflongboat.com 800.230.2428

Colony 941.383.3759 • Mid Longboat 383.5502 • South Longboat 383.7591 • St. Armands 388.4447 • Main Street 951.6660 • Palmer Ranch 966.8000 • Siesta Key 349.3444

51570

Vacation Ownership and Rentals LOngbOAt Key

383-9215 License # CGC043438

ADDITIONS CUSTOM HOMES

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Insured

Café Don Giovanni Casual Italian Restaurant Delicious Dinners Nightly 4:30-Close

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Call for reservations 383-0013

Holiday PickuP ScHedule (Town Of Longboat Key RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ONLY)

Waste Management of Manatee County will not be picking up garbage or recycling on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2011.

Monday's garbage and recycling will be picked up on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

WASTE MANAGEMENT For more information, call 753-7591

56947

Thank you and enjoy a safe weekend!

YourObserver.com Anna Maria Island Privateers Snooks Adams Kids Day — takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 28, at Bayfront Park, on Anna Maria. The event will feature a pirate dress-up contest, games, activities, face painting and a treasure hunt. Call 920-3989.

Mote World Ocean Day — takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 5, at Mote Marine Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway. This ocean-sized event will feature the Dr. Seuss theme, “1, 2, 3 and the Seas,” along with games, crafts, prizes, face painting and more. Call 388-4441.

Republican Club of Longboat Key Summer Barbecue — takes place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, at Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd. The event features a cash bar, hamburgers, hot dogs and more. Cost is $20. For reservations, call Ruth Strauss at 3835349.

Cancer Support Community sessions — take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road. The sessions offer support to cancer patients and their family members and friends.

Call 921-5539 or visit cancersupportsuncoast.org.

Longboat Library — is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The library is located at 555 Bay Isles Road.

Call 383-2011.

The Lord’s Warehouse — is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

The thrift shop is located 5140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Call 3834738.

Mote Marine Laboratory Sea Turtle Walks — take place at 6:45 a.m. Saturdays, beginning at the

longboat Observer

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

DON’T MISS LBK Invitational What: This annual golf tournament is the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce’s largest fundraiser. Cost is $125 per golfer or $400 for a foursome. An awards luncheon will follow the tournament at 2:30 p.m. Cost is $35. For information or registration, visit longboatkeychamber.com.

When: Shotgun start is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 27 Where: Longboat Key Club and Resort Islandside golf course, 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort, 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive. A guide will lead participants on a 1.5-mile walk in which they will learn about turtle nesting and protecting turtles. Call 3884441.

Ringling College of Art and Design Creatives Exhibit — runs through July 21, at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, 6860 Longboat Drive S. The exhibit features the work of Fiore Custode, in the Durante Gallery, and Nathan Skiles, in the Cultural Media Room. Call 383-2345.

Shifting Sands Support Group — meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and at 3 p.m. Thursdays, at the Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Call 3836491 for information.

57432

REMODEL

COMMUNITYCALENDAR

10A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

11A

Cops Corner LONGBOAT

May 11

Dust in the wind 9:53 a.m. — 200 bock of Gulf of Mexico Drive (GMD). Civil Disturbance.

A resort employee told police that a tree-trimming service was cutting down tree limbs in a parking lot and causing sawdust to cover three cars. The tree trimmers agreed to stop working until the owners were located to move their cars.

Better safe than sorry 11:50 a.m. — 500 block of Bay Isles Road. Property Damage. A contractor reported that a small gray car might have bumped into his company truck, although he couldn’t find any damage. He wanted to report the incident because it’s a company truck.

Construction work halted 5:09 p.m. — 600 block of Jungle Queen Way. Code Enforcement. A contractor was told he couldn’t work on a seawall on the island past 5 p.m.

Walk it off 5:41 p.m. — 100 block of Broadway.

Disturbance. A beach project construction worker told police he exchanged punches with a drunken beachgoer who started swinging at him when he was asked to walk around the beach project construction zone. The beachgoer agreed to leave.

May 12

Going ‘bong-kers’ 10:27 a.m. — 600 block of Yardarm Lane. Noise Disturbance. A woman reported that a barge docked directly south of a house was making a loud “bonging” noise that bothered her. The Code Enforcement Department promised to look into the matter.

May 13

Saving it for later 9:34 a.m. — 3000 block of Bayou Sound. Highway Obstruction. A cubic yard of sand was placed on the road for a paving project. A work crew promised to remove the sand as soon as possible.

May 18

Photo finish 5:49 p.m. — 3400 block of GMD. Animal Nuisance. A man called police to report there was a snake under his couch in his living room. Police pulled the couch back and found a 2.5-foot black snake under the couch. The man, who was visiting from the United Kingdom, asked the officer to pose for a picture so he could share the experience with his friends back home. The snake was released in the woods after the photo-op.

Visit our website to read more Cops Corner reports www.YourObserver.com

CLASSIC COPS May 15, 1992

I help create clean, green energy every day.

I am Mosaic.

Mosaic is about more than providing nutrients to help grow the world’s crops. It’s also about environmental leadership. As an engineer for Mosaic, I help convert the steam from our fertilizer manufacturing process into power — enough to run our Florida plants, and then some. The process, called cogeneration, requires no fossil fuels and releases zero carbon dioxide emissions.

Which means it is easy being green.

Delivery attempt 11:44 p.m. Tarawitt Drive. Pizza deliveryman reports home unattended. Customer was asleep in bed.

And I’m proud to be doing just that.

May 14, 1999 Fan letter

®

www.mosaicfla.com 56172

4:12 p.m. 500 block of Bay Isles Road. Suspicious Circumstance.

Complainant said an unknown female wrote him a letter complimenting him on an article he wrote.

She said they were destined to be together. Officer said to write her back but let her down gently.

12A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

creative expression

ISLAND FLAIR

by Rachel S. O’Hara | Staff Photographer

by Stephanie Hannum | Black Tie Editor

Arts Center opens two summer exhibits The RCAD Creatives Exhibition, featuring Ringling College of Art and Design professors Fiore Custode and Nathan Skiles, opened at a reception Thursday, May 19, at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design. Custode’s work is featured in the Durante Gallery, and Skiles’ work is displayed in the Cultural Media Room. Both exhibits will be up through July 21.

Annette Lloyd, Nancy Hoigne and Bill Lloyd

Left: Ed Brickman and Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design

“Der Zauberlehrling,”

by Nathan Skiles

Rebecca and Frank Sachs

Bird Key Yacht Club catches Cuban fever Bird Key Yacht Club turned on the island flavor with vintage cigar boxes and photographs decorating the club Saturday, May 21. The Havana-themed evening featured Cuban-inspired food, sounds by Bossalero and a salsa demonstration by Empire Ballroom Studio.

Photos by Rachel S. O’Hara

When you want to see your best.

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Harbour Circle residents say ‘sayonara’ to season The residents of Harbour Circle held their annual end-of-season barbecue Sunday, May 22, at the pool. The small group of year-round residents enjoyed calamari, chocolate-covered popcorn

and fruit along with hot dogs that Stu Tauber grilled for the group.

The Harbour Circle residents hold outdoor get-togethers every month from December through May.

1st FOUR lessons FREE! Play in a game your first day!

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longboat Observer

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

Enjoy a Slice of Sarasota Every Saturday Morning!

It’s June, the month we traditionally honor fathers. So let’s Celebrate all the men in your life: husbands and fathers,

Lemon Avenue & Main Street 7 am - 1 pm every Saturday

uncles and brothers, friends and others.

Be sure to visit the Downtown Sarasota Merchants - OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

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Fresh Produce • Plants & Flowers Local Seafoods • Prepared Foods • Baked Goods Cheeses & Meats • Local Crafts and more...

Since 1967 UR BAR S O H Y PECIA HAPP 6 PM LS $ 0 4 TO 0 Prem 4 REN & D ium D L I H C rinks IES T R A P E G LAR E STONE CRAB M O C L WE RESTAURANT

Be sure to join us as we Focus on financial health and wealth. Our featured speaker will be Marc S. Wolff, owner and branch manager of Southern Trust Financial Planning in Sarasota. An investment professional with 24 years of Marc S. Wolff experience, Marc will discuss investment strategies, the importance of financial planning at any age and how to manage risk.

Wednesday, June 1 or Friday, June 17 10:30 a.m. for both lunch events

MeMorial Weekend TradiTional BBQ

Celebrate your loved ones. Focus on your finances... and enjoy great meals with us in June.

Choice of BBQ Pork Riblets, BBQ Pulled Pork, or BBQ Chicken Breast served with Baked Beans & Cole Slaw...$12.99 $ 1 Draft Bud or Mich Light • $3 Rum Runners or Margaritas ALL DAY Friday, May 27 – Monday, May 30 – 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

RSVP required for both lunch events.

Call today for reservations: (941) 798-8122

MEMORIAL WEEKEND 10% of all Sales will be donated to MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL’S TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION. With your help we’ll send 4 students to Nationals competitions in Dallas Texas Hours: 11:30 am to 9:30 pm Daily

Exceptional Experiences Every Day is a Service Mark of Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Nashville, TN, USA. 51280EF-ROP01-0611 LB

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Call Ahead Seating/Reservations for 6 or more

A Life Care Community, Exceptional Experiences Every Day 6406 21st Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209 www.brookdaleliving.com

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By Land: 800 Broadway St. • By Sea: Marker 39 on the Waterway North End of Longboat Key • 383-1748

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

Volunteer opportunity

obituaries

by Dora Walters | Senior Editor

Surgeon undertakes heartfelt work

WORSHIP SERVICES

Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian USA, 595 Bay Isles Drive, will hold Sunday worship services at 10 a.m. The Rev. Bruce Porter is the pastor. 383-8833.

Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will hold Sunday worship services at 10 a.m. The Rev. Kenneth Gill is the minister.

383-6491.

Courtesy photo

Dr. Suzy Steelman poses with one of her first patients she operated on in the Dominican Republic.

medical student years at the University of Padua, near Venice.

Later this year, Steelman will again look into the volunteer opportunities with Hearts Afire or other organizations, for which her talents can be used.

“I definitely will volunteer again,” she said. “The rewards of being able to help are overwhelming.”

All Angels by the Sea The Episcopal Church on Longboat Key

563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key All are welcome. Please join us in worship!

383-8161

Sunday Services 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Website: www.AllAngelsLBK.org

Wednesday 10:00 a.m.

Communion & Anointing

The Rev. David L. Danner, D. Min., Rector

595 Bay Isles Road

Mediterranean Plaza

Publix - CVS

A

Gulf of Mexico Drive

383-8833

www.christchurchoflbk.org

Celebrating 100 years of Service in 2013

941-778-0414

512 Pine Avenue, Anna Maria

www.roserchurch.com

Share Shabbat and more:

Temple Beth Israel 56203

Confession before all weekend Masses

s!

SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 8:30 am & 10:30 am

U

A Center of Jewish Life and Learning in the Sarasota Area

n

CATHOLIC CHURCH

i Jo

Temple Beth Israel

St. Mary, Star of the Sea,

Msgr. Gerard Finegan, Pastor

Gary Gary A. Batey, Pastor Pastor A non-denominational, traditional non-denominational, traditionalchurch church

Sunday 9Sunday, AM and AM —Traditional Worship 1011 am – Traditional Worship 9 am –Sunday Adult Sunday 10 AM —Adult SchoolSchool & Book Study 10 am – Children and Youth Church School 9 AM —Children and Youth Church School 57603

Music Director: Dan Hoffman

Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, will hold Shabbat services at 5:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturdays. Jonathan Katz is the rabbi.

Call 383-3428.

Roser Community Church

INVITES YOU

Dr. Dwight Ferguson, preaching SUNDAY SERVICE • 10:00 A.M. SERMoN: “The Bugler’s Call to Remember”

St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, will hold Saturday Masses at 5 p.m. and Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Daily Masses are at 9 a.m.

Monday through Friday. Msgr. Gerard Finegan is the pastor. 383-1255.

Bay Isles Pkwy.

of Longboat Key • Presbyterian USA

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive, will hold contemporary Sunday worship services at 9 a.m. and traditional Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. The Rev. Mark Bernthal is the pastor. 388-1234.

55309

the next day, riding on the back of a motor bike with her husband and son.”

On the first day at the hospital there was another shock. The anesthesiology equipment didn’t work, and the anesthesiologist spent the entire day fixing the problem.

“My experience was very rewarding,” Steelman said. “The patients were so grateful for our help. The poverty was unbelievable. It’s hard to imagine that in the world today, it still exists to this extent and services to help are so limited.”

In 2009, Steelman and her family moved as full-time residents to Sarasota. Previously she had been head surgeon of a four-person group in Mount Pleasant, N.J., for 16 years, until a health issue led to her retirement. Married to Michael Yourison, an importer of Italian products, the couple will be spending several weeks this summer in Umbria, Italy.

Steelman is fluent in Italian, because she spent a portion of her

ChurCh

4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 383-1255

All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road, will hold Wednesday communion and anointing services at 10 a.m. Sunday worship services are at 8 and 10 a.m. The Rev. David Danner is the rector. 383-8161.

Dora Walters

Dr. Suzy Steelman makes Italian mozaics by using tiny pieces of glass. She said her surgery skills serve her well in her hobby.

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

Chris

Miriam Kellner Bazelon Knox, 96, of Washington, D.C., and formerly of Longboat Key, died May 21.

Born Aug. 11, 1914, she was an energetic advocate for social-welfare causes. She founded the first nonsectarian, interracial, child-guidance clinic in Washington, D.C., under the auspices of the Jewish Social Services Agency, of which she served as the first female president. She was a founding staff member of Head Start and also established in Sarasota one of the country’s first children’s reading festivals.

Mrs. Knox is survived by her husband, Robert; sons James and Richard Bazelon; stepdaughter, Ellen Knox; sister, Betty Cahn; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A funeral took place Tuesday, May 24, at Washington Hebrew Congregation. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, bazelon.org.

57604

Dr. Suzy Steelman, retired general surgeon and Bird Key resident, volunteered to spend a week in March, in the Dominican Republic, working with Hearts Afire, a Christian medical volunteer organization.

Dr. Joe Pecoraro, a Bradenton surgeon, is a co-founder of Hearts Afire and was a colleague of Steelman’s during their residencies at University Hospital, in Newark, N.J. “Shocking” is her description of what she found at the 10-bed hospital, in Las Terrenas, a resort area on the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the of Santo Domingo.

“I couldn’t believe what I saw on our tour of the hospital,” she said.

“The birthing room had a table and a floor lamp, both rusty. The designated operating room had a table with a magnificent overhead light.

(But there was) one problem. There were no bulbs for it.”

About 15 volunteers were in Steelman’s group. Some were assigned to the hospital and the remainder assisted at clinics or wherever needed.

“I was preparing to do my first surgery, removing a large cyst from a patient’s neck, and I pumped the pedal for water for my hands,” she said. “Nothing happened. I tried another. Nothing. The hospital had no running water.”

Improvising, Steelman set up an IV with saline solution and had it dripped onto her hands.

“Despite the conditions, I wanted to do my best to keep everything as sterile possible,” she said.

Operating in a side room, which was quite dark, Steelman asked that a window be opened for more light.

As she turned to begin the procedure to remove the cyst, a rooster jumped onto the windowsill and let out a loud cock-a-doodle-doo.

Post-op care doesn’t exist at the hospital; families provide it. Also, the hospital has no sheets. Patients bring them when admitted.

“Sometimes patients leave almost immediately (after their procedures),” Steelman said. “One of my hysterectomy patients went home

Miriam Kellner Bazelon Knox

Friday Evening, 5:30 pm Saturday Morning, 10:00 am Please visit our Judaica Shop 941-778-0414 Pine Avenue, Anna Maria 941.383.3428 512www.tbi-lbk.org www.roserchurch.com

Community 567 Bay Isles Road Roser • Longboat Key, FLChurch

57360

14A

Gary A. Batey, Pastor

A non-denominational, traditional church

9

Neighborhood B U S I N E S S | C L A S S I F I E D S | G A M E S | K E Y L I F E | R E A L E S TAT E | S P O RT S | T R AV E L | W E AT H E R

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

NEWS

REAL ESTATE

See this week’s weather photo contest winner.

Three-bedroom Orchid Beach unit sells for $1.65 million.

PAGE 16A.

PAGE 27A.

HISTORY LESSON

Honors St. Armands Circle Association presents annual awards.

PAGE 22A.

by Robin Hartill | Community Editor

Center of the stvrm It’s hurricane season — the six-month period, from June through November, in which Longboaters experience the price of living in paradise. Being a barrier island, Longboat Key is especially vulnerable to the destructive path of storms. But, year after year, the island seems to weather the storm season: The last time the Sarasota area was directly hit by a hurricane was 1944.

But, although Longboat has largely avoided being at the eye of a major hurricane, storms have had an impact on the island’s character and history.

As a barrier island, Longboat Key is vulnerable to hurricanes, but historically the island has avoided major storm damage.

Hurricane of 1848

The first Longboat Key settlers wouldn’t arrive for more than three decades. Hurricanes wouldn’t get official names for another 102 years.

But the hurricane of 1848 permanently changed Longboat Key — even though few saw its impact.

According to Karl Grismer’s, “The Story of Sarasota,” and Ralph Hunter’s, “From Calusas to Condominiums,” early Sarasota settler William “Bill” Whitaker spent the storm in his mainland log cabin. The next morning, he went out to check on his fishing nets. The nets were gone — and in the aftermath of the storm, what he described to his friends as a “new pass” had separated present-day Longboat Key and Lido Pass. The name New Pass stuck and provided a permanent reminder of a storm long forgotten.

Hurricane of 1921

The island provided fertile ground for growing limes, avocados and guavas.

By 1921, mid-Longboat Key had been home to a thriving community for nearly a decade. Farmers shipped produce off homesteader Byron Corey’s dock, which was also the site of the island’s first post office. But that changed in October 1921.

Evey Huntington and Cy Bispham spoke to the Longboat Key Historical Society in 2009 about how their parents, Jackson and Katherine Bispham, lived and farmed on Longboat Key for more than a decade before the hurricane struck. The fam-

Hurricane Elena caused extensive seawall damage during Labor Day weekend in 1985. ily survived by tying a boat between two trees. The hurricane covered farms with salt water, which brought farming activity to an end and destroyed Corey’s dock.

Today, the condominium community Corey’s Landing, which stands at the same location, bears the early pioneer’s name.

Hurricane of 1944

The next major hurricane for Longboat Key came Oct. 19, 1944.

Village pioneer Lora Colvin Whitney recalled the storm in her memoir, “Hail This Feisty Village!” which details life in the

Brace for impact The latest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast calls for an active hurricane season.

2011 prediction Named storms 12 to 18 Storms that have the potential to become hurricanes 6 to 10 Storms that have the potential to become major hurricanes 3 to 6

AVERAGE 11 6 2

STORM DEFINITIONS Named storms — Winds of 39 mph or higher Hurricanes — Winds of 74 mph or higher Major hurricanes — Categories 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher

File photos

Longbeach Village from 1885 to 1955: “ … there seemed to be an ominous stillness in the air, although the sun was still shining,” Whitney wrote.

As block mother, Whitney collected information about residents to give to the Coast Guard before evacuating to the mainland. Later, Whitney returned with the Coast Guard to assess the damage in the Village and to the Whitney family’s Whitney Beach Cottages. Although trees had fallen around the cottages, the cottages, along with most Village homes, remained intact. For the next two weeks, Longboaters had to live with no electricity, refrigeration or telephone service. Whitney did all of her cooking on a small Sterno stove. The hurricane — which made landfall in Englewood — was the last storm to directly hit the Sarasota-Manatee area.

Hurricane Agnes

Hurricane Agnes swept down on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island in June 1972 and destroyed at least 25 homes and caused major damage to at least a halfdozen motels.

“I’ve been coming to this island for 68 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” a man told The Islander newspaper.

The man was one of the few residents who had been around for the hurricane of 1921. But that hurricane didn’t bring the same level of destruction that Agnes did,

JoJo Rogers helped his dad, Joe Rogers, pump water out of Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub after Hurricane Dennis flooded the restaurant and surrounding area in July 2005. because the islands had little development in 1921.

Hurricane Agnes played a key role in the history of The Colony Beach & Ten-

SEE HURRICANES / PAGE 24A

16A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

real estate | transactions

By Robin Hartill | Community Editor

Orchid Beach unit sells for $1.65 million Allen and Christine Ottoson, of Neddick, Maine, sold Unit B904 at the Orchid Beach Residences, 2050 Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key, to Mark and Kathy Morrison, of Monroe, Conn., for $1.6 million. Built in 2005, the 2,936-square-foot unit has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It last sold for $1.65 million in June 2007.

The sale was the top of 22 transactions recorded on Longboat, Lido, St. Armands and Bird keys during the week of May 9 through May 13 at the Sarasota and Manatee county courthouses. Of the week’s sales, 16 occurred on Longboat Key, including seven in Manatee County, while six occurred on Lido Key. Three of the week’s sales exceeded $1 million.

Sleepy Lagoon

Michael and M. Deborah Imparato, of Palmetto, sold the home at 675 Penfield St. in the Sleepy Lagoon subdivision to Wallace Krapf, of Macedon, N.Y., for $1 million. Built in 1991, the 2,980-square-foot home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a swimming pool. It last sold for $750,000 in February 2003.

Marina Bay

Burton and Sandra Polishook, of Redwood City, Calif., sold Unit 252 at 2450 Harbourside Drive in the 60-unit Marina Bay to David and Athena Stetson, of Lincoln, Mass., for $980,000.

Built in 1990, the 2,830-square-foot unit has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It last sold for $989,000 in March 2004.

Grand Bay

John and Joanne Valdes sold Unit

544 at Grand Bay V, 3080 Grand Bay Blvd., to Richard and Patricia Belford, of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., for $580,000.

Built in 1996, the 1,329-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It last sold for $855,000 in December 2005.

Richard and Eleanor McGrath, 3557 Fair Oaks Lane, sold Unit 623 at Grand Bay VI, 3070 Grand Bay Blvd., to Robert and Mary Allen for $475,000. Built in 1995, the 1,329-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It last sold for $805,000 in January 2007.

Country Club Shores

In what appears to be an intrafamily transaction, Girard and Frances Godin sold their home at 510 Birdie Lane in Country Club Shores V to Bart Alford and his wife, Jennifer GodinAlford, of Cincinnati, for $550,000.

Built in 1968, the 1,562-square-foot home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a swimming pool.

Jungle Queen Way

Longboat Observer founders Ralph and Claire Hunter, of Bradenton, sold their home at 816 Jungle Queen Way to Lian and Petrija Jen, of Punta Gorda, for $550,000. Built in 1995, the 2,568-square-foot home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a swimming pool. The property sold for $38,000 in September 1978 before the current home was built.

Harbour Oaks Drive

Bryan and Maureen Gaze, of Ingatestone, England, sold their home at 2373 Harbour Oaks Drive to Doris Hurwitz, of Rockville, Md., for $435,000. Built in 1987, the

S aint C acchiotti,

PA, Direct: 941.38.SAINT (387-2468) Cell: 941.809.0787 Toll Free: 877.581.3444 SaintCacc@aol.com

2,245-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. It last sold for $465,000 in June 2003.

Longboat Harbour Towers

Jack Luhtanen, of Copemish, Mich., sold Unit 805 at the 73-unit Longboat Harbour Towers, 4401 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to Salvatore Bizzarro, of Colorado Springs, Colo., for $425,000.

Built in 1972, the 961-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom. It last sold for $155,000 in May 1993.

Also at Longboat Harbour Towers, Bizzarro sold Unit 303 to Michael Steinhauer and Janice Curtis, as joint tenants with full rights of survivorship, for $280,000. Built in 1972, the 725-square-foot unit has one bedroom and one bathroom. It last sold for $288,000 in February 2003.

Harbour Oaks condominium

Wilfred and Christie Wardowski, of Sapphire, N.C., sold Unit 601 at 2205 Harbourside Drive in the 42-unit Harbour Oaks condominium at the Longboat Key Club to Douglas and Ann White for $419,000. Built in 1984, the 2,219-square-foot unit has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It last sold for $649,000 in August 2005.

McCall’s Beach Castle

Michael and Barbara Wolfe, of Ghent, N.Y., sold Unit 4 at McCall’s Beach Castle condominium, 5311 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to Michael and Julie Liber, of Cincinnati, for $400,000.

Built in 1973, the 1,028-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bath-

SEE REAL ESTATE / 18A

File photo

Unit B904 at Orchid Beach Residences, 2050 Benjamin Franklin Drive, has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 2,936 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.65 million.

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56415

unIVErSITy PArK

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

17A

Coldwell Banker

®

FLORIDAMOVES.COM A Home Search in 13 Different Languages only on FloridaMoves.com.

Sarasota, Siesta Woods. $629,000 3/2/2 SHF#A3943172 Baskind Warren Team 941-388-3966

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Longboat Key, Regent Place. $3,500,000 4/3.5/2 SHF#A3943005 Judy Kepecz-Hays 941-924-9000

Sarasota, Bird Key. $2,895,000 3/4.5/2 SHF#A3943282 Bruce Myer 941-924-9000

Longboat Key, Country Club Shores. $849,000 3/3/2 SHF#A3938996 Carolyn Donnelly 941-924-9000

Longboat Key, Bay Isles. $749,000 3/2.5/2 SHF#A3942892 Lynne Koy 941-924-9000

openhouse weekend is coming!

Anna Maria

Whether you’re buying, selling or just dreaming, you’ll want to visit hundreds of beautiful open houses — June 4-5.

Country Club Shores $1,334,000 Toni Giliberti, 941-924-9000 3BR/3BA Totally redone from studs - new pipes, electric, marble, & granite. SHF#A3934308

FloridaMoves.com Mainland Sarasota

Key Royale $1,400,000 Gabe/Charles Buky, 941-924-9000 Oversized bay- Sabal Cove $1,150,000 Linda Weber, 941-924-9000 3BR/3BA Single-family Coral Cove $1,880,000 Louis Wery, 941-924-9000 Enjoy the charm of this in the LBK Club. Caged pool & lanai in pvt setting. SHF#A3894897 front lot w/122’ bay frontage, 90’ dock, deep sailboat water SHF#A349724 4BR/4BA with endless southern views of the bay. SHF#A3938814

Bird/Lido Key

Pierre $1,095,000 Barbara Ackerman, 941-924-9000 8th floor; Sweeping Bird Key $1,449,000 Lynne Koy, 941-924-9000 4BR/4BA Canal front home southwest Gulf, Bay & City views; 3BR/2BA. SHF#A3942325 on Bird Key. Stately staircase, stone fireplace. SHF#A3902527

Bird Key $2,195,000 Barbara Ackerman, 941-924-9000 Enjoy the special Inn on the Beach $1,075,000 Gabe/Charles Buky, 941-924-9000 2BR/2BA Sapphire Shores $1,010,000 Carl Meyer, 941-388-3966 Acquire a piece of charm of this tile-roofed 4BR/4+BA home. Ceiling fans. SHF#A3941193 Updated condo w/panoramic views from each room. In rental program. historical with this Sapphire Shores 3BR/3BA residence. SHF#A3938793 SHF#A3893281 Beach Residences $1,949,000 Roger Pettingell, 941-924-9000 3BR/2BA condo w/views of downtown, the gulf & bay from wraparound terrace. Water Club $999,000 Roger Pettingell, 941-924-9000 2BR+Den Richly ap- Silver Oak $669,000 Anita Boakes, 941-388-3966 Todd Johnston built 3/3 waterfront home in private setting. Pool& spa. SHF#A3942834 SHF#A3932054 pointed with wood and marble flooring and gourmet kitchen. SHF#A3909044 Lido Surf & Sand $469,000 Barbara Miller, 941-388-3966 2/2 TKF Condo. Tangerine Bay Club $850,000 Baskind/ Warren Team, 941-388-3966 Is- Alinari $585,000 Ellen Orlop, 941-388-3966 2/2 Alinari 1031 bay & gulf views wealth of recreeational & cultural. SHF#A3931621 Gulf-front heated pool and jacuzzi. Walk to St. Armand’s SHF#A3943096 land living at it’s best! Spacious 2BR+den/2+BA w/bay and lagoon views.

SHF#A3940736 Ashley Trace $449,000 Bob Itts, 941-388-3966 Spectacular Lakefront 3/2 Lido Ambassador $449,000 Kathy Hoonhout/Lynn Luken, 941-388-3966 Lido beach front. Spacious 2/2 gulf & beach views. Recently renovated. TKF. Sunset Beach $725,000 Gabe/Charles Buky, 941-924-9000 This is it, look home, totally upgraded. Premier gated community. SHF#A3941865 SHF#A3943256 no further! Like new 2BR w/forever sunsets owner motivated SHF#A3938774 Condo On The Bay Tower II $399,000 Barb Sigurdson, 941-388-3966 Lido Key $398,000 Angie Campbell, 941-924-9000 Enjoy this welcoming Beachplace III $659,000 Maggie Hicks, 941-924-9000 Direct beachfront Live proudly in this comfortable 2BR/2BA waterfront condo. Elevators.

SHF#A3943376 2BR/2BA waterfront condo, turnkey furnished. SHF#A3935627 2B/2B unit w/views of the gulf has pool & fitness center. SHF#A3917382 Lido Key $309,000 Teresa Simmons, 941-924-9000 Large & rarely available; Sea Gate $649,000 Bruce Myer, 941-924-9000 Transformed 2BR/2BA condo Heritage Oaks $349,000 Babette Paige, 941-388-3966 2/2 + den Heritage Oaks Country Club. Pond & 3rd fairway view. SHF#A3943152 turnkey furnished; 1BR w/southern gulf views. SHF#A3940819 set against magnificent elevated water views. SHF#A3942954 Lido Regency $274,500 Angie Campbell, 941-924-9000 1BR/1.5BA Very Westchester $599,000 Toni Giliberti, 941-924-9000 Begin and end your Country Creek $345,000 Gerry Antonetti, 941-388-3966 Sitting on 1+ acres, 3BR/2BA home has heated pool, fireplace & tiled roof. SHF#A3936082 special condo on the beach with heated pool. SHF#A3941033 search with this distinctive 2BR/2BA condo. SHF#A3938267

Longboat Key

Harbor Oaks $599,000 Maggie Hicks, 941-924-9000 Tile-roofed 3BR/3+BA Sarasota Harbor $284,900 Inger Lill, 941-388-3966 Sarasota Harbour Doll House, 2B/3rd fl w/gorgeous bay views. Price to sell. SHF#A3904847 condo in a gated community. Cathedral ceilings. SHF#A3939443

Country Club Shores $3,700,000 Judy Kepecz-Hays, 941-924-9000 New Longboat Key $580,000 Scott Norris, 941-924-9000 Canal front 3BR/2BA w/ 3BR/4+BA waterfront residence. Wheelchair access. Community tennis. large master, walk in closet, 2 guest rooms & garage. SHF#A3919280 SHF#A3941847 Seaplace II $529,000 Lynne Koy, 941-924-9000 Updated 2BD/2BA with diRegent Place $2,895,000 Bruce Myer, 941-924-9000 Captivating views from rect gulf views, beautifully furnished. SHF#A3937198 this 3BD+Den/3.5BA gulf front home w/over 3500SF. SHF#A3942686 Islander Club Of Longboat $519,000 Patrick DiPinto, 941-924-9000 Beach Residences $2,499,000 Judy Kepecz-Hays, 941-924-9000 Stun- Breathtaking, direct Gulf of Mexico views. Furnished 2BR/2BA residence. ning 11flr 3BR gulf & bay views. Beach luxury defined by Ritz-Carlton. SHF#A3934814 SHF#A3940507 Seaplace III $450,000 Angie Campbell, 941-924-9000 2BR/2B turnkey Water Club $2,395,000 Judy Kepecz-Hays, 941-924-9000 3BR/4BA Gulf furn,updated granite, 24” tile floors & fully remodeled bath SHF#A3925268 view condo w/large terraces, pvt elevator, & travertine floors SHF#A382362 Fairway Bay $449,000 Judy Kepecz-Hays, 941-924-9000 Bay views corner Bay Isles $2,249,000 Linda Weber, 941-924-9000 Boaters dream - custom updtd & furn to perfection 2BR+offc residence w/bch access SHF#A3941131 3800sf waterfront home w/pvt 100’ deep water dock. SHF#A3933263 Seaplace $379,500 Sandy Endres, 941-924-9000 Don’t miss this bright & Queens Harbour $2,199,000 Martina Coppenrath, 941-924-9000 4BR/5+BA lovely furnished, remodeled, large 2BR/2BA condo. SHF#A3942130 wtrfront home w/views of the bay. Many custom details throughout.

SHF#A3934524 Seaplace II $355,000 Carolyn Donnelly, 941-924-9000 Beautiful updated 2BR/2BA condo in beachfront complex, 2 pools, tennis. SHF#A3941465 Country Club Shores $1,699,000 Roger Pettingell, 941-924-9000 4BR/5BA residence w/tumbled marble floor, custom windows & teak ceilings. Sand Cay Condo $324,900 Lynne Koy, 941-924-9000 Beautifully updated SHF#A3926122 2Bd/2Ba condo in a gulf front community. SHF#A3940462 Water Club $1,599,000 Barbara Ackerman, 941-924-9000 Achieve the gra- Sand Cay Condo $315,000 Toni Giliberti, 941-924-9000 Compare your cious living that comes with this exquisite 3BR/3BA condo. SHF#A3939856 dream to this 2BR/2BA condo. Central air, ceiling fans. SHF#A3938000

Broadway Promenade $264,900 Martina Coppenrath, 941-924-9000 Explore the many charms of this hospitable 2BR/2BA condo. Elevators.

SHF#A3940696 Sarasota Harbor $254,900 Don Straka, 941-388-3966 Location says it all.

Fabulous bay front view, just steps to St. Armand’s SHF#A3941203 Mote Ranch $234,900 Sue Sweeney, 941-388-3966 Mote Ranch 3/2 + den home w/pool. Greenbelt & lake view on a private lot. SHF#A3943335 Broadway Promenade $185,000 Martina Coppenrath, 941-924-9000 Explore this cheerful condo. Elevators. Community swimming pool.

SHF#A3943207

Siesta Key Midnight Sea $350,000 Janet Dugan, 941-388-3966 Outstanding Siesta Key location 3BR/2BA condo. Near the world famous beach SHF#A3927761

St. Armand’s Key Lido Beach $1,399,000 Patrick DiPinto, 941-924-9000 Location! Estate size waterfront double lot. Dock and lift. SHF#A3935851

Venice/Osprey/Nokomis

Grand Bay $1,195,000 Louis Wery, 941-924-9000 Visualize perfection in this Sutton Place $284,000 Patrick DiPinto, 941-924-9000 This furnished, light & Town Center $199,900 Pablo Arthur, 941-924-9000 Large new home historic open floor plan offers 2BR/2BA & one car garage. SHF#A3926381 Englewood, in corner, no deed Rstr. close beach-pear. SHF#A3942360 exhilarating 3BR/3+BA condo. Elevators. SHF#A3941438

FLORIDAMOVES.COM ©2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned And Operated By NRT LLC.

56557

Residential ❙ Commercial ❙ Mortgage ❙ Rentals ❙ Corporate Relocation ❙ Closing Services

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rooms. It last sold for $783,900 in May 2005.

Sea Pines

Thomas Foster, of Williamsburg, Va., sold Unit 23 at the 28-unit Sea Pines condominium, 6937 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to John Erickson, of River Forrest, Ill., for $400,000. Built in 1973, the 1,170-squarefoot unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom. It last sold for $240,000 in May 1998.

Privateer South

Howard and Judith Wiener, of East Brunswick, N.J., sold Unit 405 at the Privateer South, 1000 Longboat Club Road, to Richard and Sonja Ennis, of Oakville, Ontario, for $380,000. Built in 1972, the 1,290-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It last sold for $210,000 in June 1998.

The Shore

Eunice Edwards, of Southport, N.C., sold Unit 114 at the 54-unit Shore condominium, 5757 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to Ronald and Gail Schimel, of Columbia, Md., for $345,000. Built in 1971, the 1,561-square-foot unit has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Fairway Bay

Donald Foster Jr. and his wife, Eileen, of Wexford, Pa., sold Unit 1704 at 2004 Harbourside Drive in Fairway Bay II to Gary and Barbara Ehlers, of Keymar, Md., for $337,000. Built in 1985, the 1,420-squarefoot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It last sold for $461,000 in January 2005.

Arbomar

Olive Blackwell, of Sarasota, sold Unit 703 at the 32-unit Arbomar Apartments, 4485 Gulf of Mexico Drive, to 902 Long Boat Inc., a Florida corporation, for $300,000.

Built in 1973, the 1,022-square-foot unit Observer Ad5-26-11.pdf 1 5/23/2011 10:44:54 AM has two bedrooms and one bathroom.

Lido Beach

Ralph and Claire McLaughlin, of San Bruno, Calif., sold their home at 426 Cleveland Drive in the Lido Beach subdivision to Robert Ohanesian and Cheryl Moore, husband and wife, for $1.45 million. Built in 2010, the 2,396-square-foot unit has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a swimming pool. The property sold for $900,000 in October 2009 before the present home was constructed.

Also in the Lido Beach subdivision, Vicki Webb, of Sarasota, sold the home at 508 Polk Drive to James and Margaret Kishpaugh, of Houston, for $695,000.

Built in 1946, the 2,081-square-foot unit has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

It last sold for $130,000 in December 1992.

Lido Harbour Towers

Catherine Ludvigsen, of Annapolis, Md., sold Unit 307 at Lido Harbour Towers, 1770 Benjamin Franklin Drive, to Buckswild Properties LLC, an Ohio limited-liability company with a Cincinnati address, for $410,000. Built in 1970, the 1,207-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Lido Towers

Zeilon Investments Inc., a Florida corporation with a Casey Key address, sold Unit 307 at Lido Towers, 1001 Benjamin Franklin Drive, to John and Maria Hughes, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, for $315,000.

Built in 1980, the 1,224-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It last sold for $99,900 in July 1982.

Lido Royale

Shobha and Srinivas Koushik, of New Albany, Ohio, sold Unit 201 at Lido Royale condominium, 129 Tyler Drive, to William and Donna Jakuta, of Parkville, Md., for $176,500. Built in 1979, the 766-square-foot unit has one bedroom and one bathroom.

It last sold for $379,900 in August 2005.

Visit our website to see a map of the real-estate transactions

BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of May 13 through May 19, in order of dollar amounts. (GMD = Gulf of Mexico Drive) Address Permit 6633 GMD Addition

New 3025 GMD construction 593 Rountree Drive Alteration 6633 GMD Alteration 2045 GMD Alteration 548 Outrigger Lane Alteration 2045 GMD Alteration 813 Bayport Way Re-roof 808 Bayport Way Re-roof 630 Emerald Harbor Drive Alteration 4325 GMD Alteration 616 Bayport Way Re-roof 3554 Fair Oaks Lane Alteration 3556 Fair Oaks Lane Alteration 605 Bayport Way Re-roof 3240 GMD Alteration 561 Wedge Lane Re-roof 581 Broadway Re-roof 796-804 Spanish Drive S. Re-roof 3740 GMD Re-roof 530 Bowsprit Lane Addition 5 Winslow Place Alteration 3003 Grand Bay Blvd.

Alteration 549 Schooner Lane Alteration 5920 Emerald Harbor Drive Alteration 5655 GMD Alteration 3251 Bayou Sound Alteration 2131 Harbourside Drive Alteration 3535 Mistletoe Lane Alteration 1200 Bogey Lane Alteration

6800 GMD Alteration 3320 GMD Alteration 3289 Harbourside Drive Addition

Temporary 4711 GMD event

Call 941-383-5577 or visit www.wagnerrealty.com

CONRAD BEACH

Incredible opportunity to own 2 adjoining lots west of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Conrad Beach boasts timeless architecture, community pool & clubhouse.

Purchase separately or with M5815731 Peter Uliano $260,000 #M5815734

make buying and selling a truly pleasurable experience

JUST REDUCED

ISLANDER CLUB

GREAT OPPORTUNITY

to own in the “Village” on Longboat Key. Turn this into your dream home with a little TLC, 4BR/2BA, large fenced backyard with room for a pool. Community boat launch, fishing pier & beach access.

Teresia Bradford #M5812424

2301 Gulf of Mexico Dr #85N

Updated 2 bedroom/2 bath 8th floor residence offering uninterrupted island & partial bay views from your 38 ft. private balcony. Updated kitchen, generous sized rooms, perfect for entertaining.

Offered at $379,900

$299,000

BAYFRONT UNIT FURNISHED

C

M

Beautiful 2BR/2BA, 1st floor, deeded 40’ boat slip, glass enclosed lanai, walk out to pool.

Marcia Bayard #M5810517

Y

MY

CY

CMY

K

SHANGRI-LA

$424,900

ROCHESTER, NY 1555 Creek Street

JJ Gulfside LLC $1,026,000 George Symanski Jr. $452,606.84 Robert Hutcheson $238,896 David Rzotkiewicz $40,612 Alan Burkhard $28,640 Ruth Windmuller, trustee $28,000 Yenda Stern $26,820 Carol Measham $19,713 Frederick Gowan $18,250 Robert Viragh $17,377 Sharon Burde $13,026 Thomas Gould $10,000 Leah McCoy-Soderblom $9,800 William Bauman $9,163 Dolphin Associates $8,941.14 Nicholas Coch $8,500 Rudolf Wunsch Jr. $6,600 Streinz Family LLC $6,190 Robert Hansen $6,000 Country Club Shores LLC $5,298 James Bearden $4,500 Grand Bay condominium $4,403.58 Richard Kennedy $4,022 Kevin Greene $4,000 Ausband LBK LLC $2,821 Lorraine Kaplan, trustee $2,495 Harbour Oaks II condominium $2,475 Irwin Kaplan $2,470 Joyce Taylor, trustee $2,450 Susan Alber Individual Property Trust $2,450 Longboat Arms Association $1,306 Longboat Key Club and Resort $0 Oprock Longboat Fee LLC

$0

WATERFRONT

PENDING SALES

Realtor®

941.504.4435 Karin.Stephan@sothebysrealty.com Sarasota-Islands.com

Mrs.Rogers’ Neighborhood

Annette Rogers has ranked among Greater Sarasota’s top-producing Realtors for 37 years.

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OLDFLORIDA/CORTEZ WATERFRONT HOME 3BR/2BA with bonus room, sun deck & 150FT dock on the Bay. Mature landscaping. SEPARATE studio in back. DIRECT Bay view. One of a kind. Must see!

Debra Ibasfalean #M5814790

SOLD in 2011

KARIN STEPHAN

It’s Still

3BR/3BA Island pool home with finished bonus room, elevator, new kitchen, SS appl., granite counters & maple cabinets. Wood deck, tropical landscaping, steps to the beach. Teresia Bradford $479,000 #M5819230

241 17th Street #9 | 315 17th Street No #22 301 17th Street N #15 220 17th Street #39 | 244 17th Street #25 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive Unit #103N 2295 Gulf of Mexico Drive Unit #36N | 301 17th Street N #15 1212 Ben Franklin Drive Unit #809

REDUCED

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Unrivaled as the most luxurious and highly functioning estate in the city of Rochester.

The amenities and refined features of this distinctive property are for those with the most discerning of portfolios.

Offered at $3,900,000

57655

CM

Amount $1,883,400

www.YourObserver.com 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101, Longboat Key

I

Applicant Robert Hutcheson

MEDITERRANEAN LUXURY

On North LBK. Sailboat water with 40’ dock, davit & 13,000 lb. lift. 3BR/2.5BA & office, high ceilings and completely renovated!

Huge pool, patio & walk to the beach. Jerry Cunningham/ Marta Altizer #A3935452 $779,624

$495,000

941.383.7591 (office) 941.284.7373 (mobile) annetterogers@michaelsaunders.com

Michael Saunders & Company Licensed Real Estate Broker

®

53677

REAL ESTATE / FROM PAGE 16A

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

56569

18A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

19A

You may not know what you’re looking for, it. but now you know where to

find

To be notified of special events and open houses, we invite you to join our private registry at SignatureSIR.com

464 Golden Gate Point, PH9 Over 6,000 square feet of elegance and luxury combine to make this the most exquisite Penthouse on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Views extend from the downtown skyline & marina to the Gulf of Mexico. Residence includes two grand solons, opulent dining room, game lounge, generous sized gourmet kitchen, home theatre, master suite of 3,000 sq/ft and much more. $6,495,000 Peg Davant 941.356.4552

759 N Shore Drive Terry Hayes

$1,420,000 941.302.3100

223 Harbor Drive N Terry Hayes

$1,399,999 941.302.3100

7030 Firehouse Road Cheryl Loeffler

$1,195,000 941.302.9674

524 N Spoonbill Drive Judie Berger

$1,195,000 941.928.3424

7475 Preservation Drive Cindy Migone

$1,175,000 941.812.7438

990 Boulevard of the Arts, 602 Cheryl Loeffler

$995,000 941.302.9674

464 Golden Gate Point, 402 Cheryl Loeffler

1919 Grove Street Joel Schemmel

$799,000 941.587.4894

858 Hillcrest Drive Courtney Green

$625,000 941.809.8432

357 S. Shore Drive Terry Herschberger

$569,000 941.468.8439

7661 Calle Facil Drive Joel Schemmel

$529,000 941.587.4894

1350 Main Street, 1507 Perry Corneau

$525,000 941.650.4626

$2,190,000 941.302.9674

4235 Gulf of Mexico Drive, 84 Dennis Girard & Joanne Zimmerman

941.364.4000

$1,750,000 941.809.0041

877.317.7003

5547 Merrimac Drive Maureen & Matt Morris

SignatureSIR.com

©MMX Signature Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. ®,™ and SM are licensed trademarks to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

$549,000 941.350.0807

To preview open house selections from your phone, scan this code.

51181

CoNtRACt PeNDING

20A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

SALES SNAPSHOT

by Robin Hartill | Community Editor

April REAL ESTATE sales summary The following is a summary of key residential real-estate sales recorded last month at the Sarasota and Manatee county courthouses. Sales data from April 2010 is also listed for comparison.

Longboat Key

Lido Key/St. Armands Key

Condominiums April 2011 Total: 34 High: $2.4 million Low: $140,000 Median: $405,000

Single-family homes April 2011 Total: 19 High: $12.5 million Low: $215,000 Median: $665,000

Condominiums April 2011 Total: 11 High: $1,067,500 Low: $185,500 Median: $395,000

Single-family homes April 2011 Total: Four High: $735,000 Low: $265,000 Median: $427,500

April 2010 Total: 35 High: $1.6 million Low: $142,250 Median: $512,500

April 2010 Total: Seven High: $4 million Low: $530,000 Median: $875,000

April 2010 Total: Six High: $2.2 million Low: $280,000 Median: $491,250

April 2010 Total: Seven High: $1,895,000 Low: $285,000 Median: $615,000

This home at 1224 Westway Drive, in Lido Shores, sold for $735,000 at the end of April.

Bird Key April 2011 Total: Three High: $1.05 million Low: $620,000 Median: $477,000 April 2010 Total: Five High: $1.1 million Low: $501,000 Median: $839,000

Courtesy photo

The home at 825 Longboat Club Road sold for a Longboat Key record of $12.5 million in April.

Right: This home at 607 Owl Drive, on Bird Key, sold for $477,000 in April.

DOWNTOWN W/DIRECT BAY VIEWS! 3317SF/3-4Br/3Ba/2CG w/pvt elevator, detailed & high ceil, crown molding, marble, built-ins, gas fp, granite, imported cabinets, MBa w/jetted tub & bidet, state-ofthe-art sys, 2 balconies in secure bldg w/ amenities! MLS#A3943537 $1,500,000

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 5 Star Best in Client Satisfaction

FURN W/PANORAMIC BAY VIEWS! Downtown 1360SF/2-3Br/2Ba/1CG w/ faux & artisan finishes, crown moldings, wood cabinets, ceramic tile, granite, plantation shutters, walk-in closets, openair balcony & pvt laundry in secure building w/amenities! MLS#A3929596 $450,000

Sheldon Paley, Realtor® Certified International Property Specialist

941.356.1857

Jspaley@comcast.net www.SheldonPaley.com PENTHOUSE-RITZ CARLTON! Down-town w/views, 4,704SF, 4Br/4+Ba/2CG w/ exceptional finishes and luxury appoint.; marble, granite, wood floors, handcrafted wood details, built-ins, 2 wet bars, 4 balconies and the list goes on w/5-star amenities! MLS#A3894745 $3,750,000

UPDATED DIRECT GULF FRONT! 2360SF/3Br/3Ba/2CG w/unobstructed water views, extended Lr & MBr, tile, plantation shutters, crown moldings, artisan finishes, Corian, granite, marble & private laundry in secure N Siesta Key building w/pool! MLS#A3933310 $800,000

FEATURED PROPERTY

SIESTA KEY, REMODELED & FURN! 1445SF/2Br/2Ba/1CP w/bonus rm, den, raised ceil, tile, plantation shutters, granite, crown moldings, wood cabinets, & w/d included in Island Reef w/resort-like amenities; pools, tennis courts, docks, beach access & more! MLS#A3943588 $425,000

OPEN SUNDAY

DOWNTOWN W/VIEWS! Completely remodeled 1688SF/3Br/2Ba/2CG w/diagonal tile, granite, furniture quality wood cabinets, SS appls, pocket doors, modern MBa w/Roman shower & dual sinks, pvt balcony in Bay Plaza w/full service amenities! MLS#A3939930 $750,000

SOLD 1211 Gulf of Mexico – Promenade – 2BR/2BA with full gulf view...$650,000 SOLD 2020 Harbourside in Bay Isles – 2BR with full bay view...............$465,000 Fairway Bay Atrium – 3BR/2BA , 2031 sq. ft., full bay view.

PENDING Staghorn Lane in Deer Creek – Lakeview with 4BR .................$469,000 REDUCED Alinari Downtown – MAKE OFFER – 1070 sq. ft. & turn key furnished ...................................$295,000 REDUCED Bellagio in Osprey Harbour Village – Perfect for boaters: 3BR/2½BA & 45 ft. dock ..................................$699,000 7323 Kensington Court in University Park – 2/3BR - Lake front 1800 sq. ft ...................................$359,000

57589

MODERN DOWNTOWN BAY FRONT! 1688SF/2Br/2Ba/1CG w/marble, granite, Corian, tile & bamboo flrs, furniture quality cabinets, built-ins, architectural elements, fp, updated eat-in kitch. & baths, pvt balcony & laundry, secure building w/ amenities! MLS#A3942652 $400,000

GULF & BAY VIEWS! Furn & updated 1615SF/2Br/2Ba/1CP end res w/views in EVERY rm, remodeled kitchen, upgraded baths, neutral carpet & tile, raised panel cabinets & pvt open-air balcony in the renovated Aquarius Club on LBK w/amenities! MLS#A3934996 $599,000

50694

UPDATED & FUR BEACH TOWNHOUSE! Gulf & Bay views; 896 F / 2+Br / 1Ba / 2HaBa / 1CG end res w/Corian, diagonal tile, bamboo flr, plantation shutters, French doors & 2 balconies, in renovated bldg across from Bradenton Beach! MLS#A3929050 $350,000

May 29, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM 2016 Harbourside Dr. in Bay Isles REDUCED $100,000 Rare 3BR/3BA with full bay view and 2462 sq. ft. of spacious living....$650,000

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

21A

GEENNTT I INN SSAALLEESS VV O O LL U U ME E ### 1 11AAA G E N T and I NManatee S A LCounties E S VinO2009 L UM ME forG Sarasota

real estate reports

TOP SALES ASSOCIATE forfor Sarasota and Manatee Counties Sarasota and Manatee Countiesinin2009 2009

#1 COLDWELL BANKER AGENT

Ranked the top # 1# 1C C OO LL D WWE E LL Lin EERRofAAGGEENNTT D LB BA AN NKK1% in Florida for 2009 Florida for2009 2009 Worldwide in in Florida for Coldwell Banker Associates

By Robin Hartill | Community Editor

+ Re/Max announces strong year-to-date sales Re/Max announced that its company has sold 5,772 homes year-to-date in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

The sales give the company a 15.27% market share, according to the MidFlorida Regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS). According to the prepared statement, the company’s closest competitor sold 4,642 homes in the same period, giving it a 12.31% market share.

Ackerman Ackerman Ackerman

BARBARA BBAARRBBAARRAA

REALTOR®

REALTOR ® REALTOR

®

The name to know in real estate The nam e to know in real estate www.barbaraackerman.com The name to know in real estate www.barbaraackerman.com www.barbaraackerman.com

As seen on Sarasota’s

“Hot ProPerties”

Segment Every Other Wednesday!

NEW

www.barbaraackerman.com

LIS

TIN

G

+ Michael Saunders & Co., Signature Sotheby’s make list Michael Saunders & Co. and Signature Sotheby’s International Real Estate were each ranked among the nation’s top 100 residential brokerages by REAL Trends Inc. Signature Sotheby’s was ranked 54th in terms of total sales volume, with $1.464 billion in closings in 2010, and also ranked 15th in terms of average sales price.

Michael Saunders ranked 60th, with $1.432 billion in total sales from 2010.

According to a prepared statement, that total was up 21% from 2009.

Longboat Key – Boater’s Fantasy 3,435 SF home with 114 feet of DEEP water frontage!

Extra large rooms, with living area on one level and tons of ground floor play space. Covered 45x20 slip and Jet $ Ski dock included.

995,000

Bird Key - Wide Open Bay Front

Promenade - Penthouse Sweeping Gulf and Bay views with sunsets. 2,612 luxurious sq. ft. w/ 10 ft ceilings, fireplace, wet bar, granite & marble baths, 2 terraces, & 2 valuable $ garage parking spaces included.

999,000

La Bellasara – Golden Gate Point

Siestas Bayside – Deep Water Canal Gorgeous waterfront home fully updated with wood & granite throughout, 2,641 square feet, three bedrooms/ two baths and a large tropical patio area with pool/spa, boat $ dock with lift and floating jet-ski dock.

918,000

Pierre – Spectacular Views

Sparkling water views from this amazing 5,585SF Penthouse apartment with 4BR/5BA, private his & hers studies, wine cellar & separate tasting area, media room and large terrace overlooking the Bay and downtown. Private $ 5,950,000 boat dock & 2 car garage.

BUSINESS OBSERVER

Gulf, Golf Course, Sarasota Bay, & downtown city lights views from this 2BR + den/3rd BR apartment on the 8th floor with 3 full bathrooms and 2,410 sq. ft. Behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club.

1,095,000

$

SANCTUARY IV – GUlf, BAY & CITY VIewS 7Th flooR 3BR/3BA ENDING $1,125,000

P

By Robin Hartill | Community Editor

NoRTh loNGBoAT KeY – waterfront 4BR + Study 4,700 Sq.IN ft.G $1,795,000 END

+ Touche De L’Afrique opens on the Circle

P

MAINlAND – Bay front Tidewood 5BR 4,600 INft.G ENDSq.

P

Water Club I - Gulf & Bay Views

6th floor 3 bedroom, 3 full bath apartment with beautiful water views, private elevator, 10 foot ceilings and two expansive terraces for viewing nightly sunsets. Gated community with excellent amenities. $1,699,000

941-953-6000 941-359-3435

Bird Key – Bay & City Views Gorgeous two-story home on 213’ of waterfront ReD RoCK TeRRACe - oyster Bay Vacant lot lot w/ house Plans $439,000 with wide open City, Bay and canal views. 4BR/5 full & 2 half baths, Infinity edge pool & boat dock $ GRAND BAY II - Bay & City Views with 20,000 lb lift.

4,950,000 4th floor 3BR/3BA 2,781 Sq. ft. $1,395,000

BeAChPlACe III – Direct Gulf front #302 - 3rd floor 2BR/2BA $695,000 loNGBoAT KeY – Boater’s fantasy Deep water frontage 3,435 Sq. ft.

La Bellasara - Downtown Bay Front Outstanding Bay, Marina, & City Skyline views! 3BR/4.5BA + study or 4th BR with 3,370 SF. 28’ balcony w/ summer kitchen, private elevator lobby, 2-car garage & gated $ security. Turnkey furnished.

2,395,000

SAVoY - Downtown & Bay Views Longboat Key – Direct Beach Front 9th floor 3BR+Den/3.5BA 3,172 Sq. ft. $1,985,000 “The Johnson Estate” Gated privacy on 2+ acres w/ BeAChPlACe III - DIReCT GUlf fRoNT

3rd floor beach front apartment.

150 ft. of Gulf front. 10,000 SF. 7BR/6.5BA includes separate attached guest wing. New in ‘07. $ 11,500,000 www.Johnsonestatelongboatkey.com

Sanctuary III - Behind the Gates Desirable 5th floor Southeast corner 3BR/2.5 BA with wide open Bay, City, and LBK Club Golf Course views. 3rd bedroom doubles as a den with quality built-in’s and renovated kitchen has granite, $ wood and newer appliances.

799,900

Lido Shores - Direct Gulf Front Palazzo Bayport- Sporting Community Combines 200 ft. of seawalled Gulf front with private Dock Beach retreat that lives like a home. Beautifully & and Beach access. This 7,415 SF residence built in 2003 freshly remodeled, 3 full BR with sitting areas, and has 5BR/8BA, exercise room, his and her bath & studies, loads of storage, 2 private patios, his/her bath ar$ $ 50 ft pool/spa & 5-car garage.

8,900,000 eas. Steps to private beach.

649,900

Grand Bay I – 9th Floor Bay Front

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, LLC 941-387-1820 Direct 37328 54245

$995,000

Water Club I - Direct Beach Front Exquisite 3,045 SF luxury on 5th floor w/Gulf views, private elevator foyer, 3BR/4BA, study area in master suite. Beautiful window treatments, plantation shutters, marble floors, full wine bar. $1,800,000

Sea Gate Club - Direct Gulf Front Floor-to-ceiling glass frames the Beach and Sunsets from every room in this 1,470 SF 2BR/2BA with higher ceilings, wood floors and 2 terraces. Great amentias and on-site management. Walk to shopping. $579,000

LEASING & MANAGING HOMES & CONDOS Annual, Seasonal, Vacation

MARINA ToweR – Downtown Bay front G DIN 10th floor 4BR/4.5BA Sq. ft. $2,250,000 PEN5,800

PIeRRe - longboat Key Direct Beach front 3rd floor 3 BR/3BA 2,410 Sq. ft. $799,000

+ Harry’s Continental Kitchens now open for summer hours Harry’s Continental Kitchens is now open for summer hours. The deli is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Harry’s restaurant is open for breakfast and brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner is served from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Harry’s Corner Store is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. For information, call 3830777.

$1,495,000

●

●

Best of both worlds, sunrises on the Bay and sunsets on the Gulf! 3BR/3.5BA with private elevator foyer, 11 ft. ceilings, his & her baths and two large terraces. Many unique interior finishes! 2 garage spaces. $1,195,000

201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite #1, Longboat Key

800-910-8728 Toll-Free

All of Barbara’s listings are linked Internationally in 13 languages.

55351

Touche De L’Afrique has opened at 464 John Ringling Blvd., on St. Armands Circle. The art-and-lifestyle boutique offers African-inspired décor, furniture, accessories, jewelry and collectibles, along with African masks. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

For information, call 877-480-6881.

www.JennetteProperties.com

Stunning Bay views from this fully renovated contemporary 2-story home on fabulous Bird Key. 3 BR + large office/4th BR, 4.5 baths, family room, private dock with boat lift &2-car garage. $2,195,000

22A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

business bash

by Robin Hartill | Community Editor

Awards honor members who make Circle go round

Photos by Robin Hartill

Christy Perry, Destination Florida, with Debbie Repici, Breezin’ Up

The St. Armands Circle Association stayed strong despite a sluggish economy and reduced budget during the 2010-11 season. The strong state of St. Armands was a cause for celebration at the association’s annual meeting and awards ceremony Tuesday, May 17, at the Lido Beach Resort.

The group honored its members and volunteers, while looking back on the season’s successful events.

When you are serious about Buying or Selling Estate

Above: Sandra Rios, Longboat Key Club and Resort, Noreen Delaney, Sarasota magazine, Kurt Hennard, Marine Max, and Sheri Hennard, Tommy Bahama

Talk to the team that has been Selling Sarasota Successfully for over 20 years

Tom & Pat Hanly (941) 388-2331

James Maslen, Comcast Spotlight, receives an award from St. Armands Circle Association President Andrew Vac.

Hanly & Associates St. Armands Circle Sarasota, FL 34236 www.HanlyHomes.com pahanly@aol.com

Ethna Lynch, Lynches Pub & Grub, with Nancy Metcalf, Foxy Lady West

DIRECT BAYFRONT

7,000 sq ft of living space, 4Br, 7 Full, 2 Half Baths, Elevator, Exercise Room, Home Theater, Office.

FABULOUS HOME. Longboat Key

www.592ranger.com

$5,495,000

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

Building lot, 2nd in from Sarasota Bay, Sailboat Water, 110’ of Waterfront.

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME

www.590wedge.com

$1,095,000

57535

Juan Ayala, Wachovia, with Linda and Dr. Ed Carlstrom, St. Armands Medical Center

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

2nd in from Bay, Dock with lift on deep water, 3Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Updated. FANTASTIC BAY VIEWS

www.591golflinks.com

$1, 139,900

BEHIND THE GATES OF LONBOAT KEY CLUB

Direct Beach Front, Top Floor, Completely Updated. 2BR/2BA, 2 Balconies, Pool, Tennis Fitness, BREATH TAKING VIEWS

www.1000longboat.com

$649,000

St. Armands Circle Association Executive Director Diana Corrigan, right, thanks Sarasota Police Officer 1st Class Donia “Officer D.” Franklin for her service.

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

LONGBOAT KEY

23A

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

Gorgeous enProvence unit with 3 Bedrooms Plus office. Full Gulf Views, Generous Terraces and Private 2-car Garage.$2,990,000

Spacious Custom Two-Story Laurel Park Home Built in 2006 w/ Detached Guest House. $649,000

HARBOR ACRES

$790,000

Fabulous Neighborhood! Wonderfully Updated Pool Home with Charm & Character.

LONGBOAT KEY

CASEY KEY

LONGBOAT KEY

Sparkling Contemporary Waterfront Home in Bay Isles w/ Great Boating! $2,349,000

Three Bedroom Island Getaway With Tranquil Bay Views and Boat Dock. $1,899,000

L’Ambiance Walk-Down w/ 3 Bedrooms, 4 1/2 Baths Plus Den. 3380 SF

LONGBOAT KEY

$2,700,000

LONGBOAT KEY

Very Impressive Conrad Beach Beauty Just Steps to the Beach. $999,000

Completely updated Beachplace Unit with Wonderful Direct Gulf Views! $695,000

GOLDEN GATE POINT

$2,190,000

Beautiful LaBellasara with over 3100 SF of Marvelous Finishes & Lovely Bay and City Views!

LONGBOAT KEY

LONGBOAT KEY

Direct Bay Front Estate-Size Property Comprised of Three Buildable Lots. $3,249,000

Contemporary Bayfront Home on 2 Acres w/Boat Dock and Tennis Court $2,675,000

SIESTA KEY

Peacock Bay Estate w/ 5 En-Suite Bedrooms, Guest Suite, Superb Views and Unparalleled Architectural Finishes! $8,595,000

Distinctive homes presented by Cheryl Loeffler Today, it is not simply about creating a website or advertisement and waiting for buyers to find your listed property.

It is about developing mixed-media strategies and integrated partnerships that position our brand and your home ubiquitously throughout multiple print and digital platforms, providing more relevant levels of engagement for consumers to seek out your home and the services offered by Signature | Sotheby’s International Realty.

To learn more about our exclusive marketing program, please call Cheryl Loeffler at 941.302.9674.

Signature Sotheby’s Top Producing Agent 2010

Each office independently owned and operated

Signature 56912

Cheryl Loeffler | MBA, Realtor | 941.302.9674 | Cheryl.loeffler@SothebysRealty.com The Plaza at Five Points, 50 Central Avenue, Sarasota, 34236236 www.CherylLoeffler.com

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Luxury

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

HURRICANES / FROM PAGE 15A

What’s in a name?

nis Resort, one of the properties that sustained damage. The extent of the destruction was the catalyst that led Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber to form a condominiumhotel partnership, the first in the state.

Knows no Limits

Hurricane Elena The Ritz-Carlton Beach Residences

The Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton

HoTel ResidenCe 1106 - BEST PRICE at The Ritz! Lovely views of Big Pass, marina, city skyline and a sliver of the Gulf from this charming 1Bd/1.5Ba $775,000 HoTel ResidenCe 1008 – Perfect pied-a-terre in the City. Spacious 1768 sq.ft. 1 Bd/1.5 Ba corner with Bay & City views.

Furnished $899,900 HoTel ResidenCe 1108 – Lovely 1 Bd/1.5 Ba Southeast location with custom designed kitchen and marble flooring. $1,150,000 HoTel ResidenCe 1205 - 2 Bd/2Ba split plan with custom kitchen & master bath with beautiful Bay views. $1,350,000 HoTel ResidenCe 1408 - Gorgeous views of the marina, Bay and Big Pass from this corner residence with a spacious and open kitchen, 2Bd/2Ba. Reduced $1,295,000 HoTel ResidenCe 1102 - New Listing. Fabulous and rarely available 2Bd+den/3Ba with exquisite sunset, marina and city views. $1,425,000 ToweR ResidenCe 1106 – 3 Bd/3Ba Spacious corner residence open great room plan with views of Marina, City & Bay. Contract Pending $1,190,000 ToweR ResidenCe 804 – Beautifully appointed with many custom designed features including fireplace and built-ins.

Sold $1,465,000 ToweR ResidenCe 503 – Sunsets over the Bay and direct west views from this spacious 2990 sq. ft. residence.

Furnished $1,595,000 ToweR ResidenCe 1103 – 3 Bd/3Ba with many custom built-ins and cabinetry with travertine flooring another gorgeous sunset location.

Contract Pending $1,875,000 ToweR ResidenCe 601 - Most popular SW corner with terrific views of Sarasota Bay from all rooms $2,100,000

Hurricane Elena struck over Labor Day weekend in 1985. Although the storm headed north, sparing Longboat Key a direct hit, winds hit their highest speeds at a time of extreme high tides, bringing damages of an estimated $5 million. The storm also showed the indirect economic impact a storm can have: At the time, an Inn on the Beach official estimated lost revenue from canceled reservations at $100,000, while managers at the Longboat Key Holiday Inn and Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort each said that they each lost more than $50,000 in revenue.

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton

ToweR ResidenCe 502 - Spacious floor plan with views of marina, Bay and city skyline and featuring the highest level of interior finishes $2,250,000 ToweR ResidenCe 1603 - Penthouse views from this 16th floor 3 Bd/3Ba featuring a gas fireplace with custom mantel.

Fabulous sunsets views.

Contract Pending $2,350,000 ToweR ResidenCe 802 - New listing. One-of-a-kind 3Bd/3Ba sophisticated residence with views of Big Pass, marina and city skyline $2,595,000 ToweR ResidenCe 1203 – Sophisticated 3 Bd/3Ba professionally designed by Sally Trout with numerous custom finishes. A MUST SEE! Contract Pending $2,695,000 BeaCH ResidenCe 303 – Rarely available perfect beachget-away 1 Bd/Den/2Ba. Enjoy sunset views and close proximity to special building amenities. $990,000 BeaCH ResidenCe 308 – One-of-a-kind 2259 sq.ft 1 Bd/ Den/2Ba over 1000 sq.ft terrace with private walk down to the pool area.

Furnished $1,500,000 BeaCH ResidenCe 707 – Exceptional value for 3055 sq.ft.

3 Bd/2.5 Ba open great room with very large eat-in kitchen views of City, Bay & Preserve. $1,500,000 BeaCH ResidenCe 706 - Never before lived in and recently finished with beautiful travertine flooring throughout & designer touches. Full Gulf & beach views. $2,069,000 BeaCH PH ResidenCe 1206 - Fabulous direct Gulf views with wraparound terrace with gas grill special interior finishes every detail expected in a PH residence. $3,000,000 BeaCH ResidenCe 1101 – Fantastic Gulf, City & Preserve views from two spacious terraces 4194 sq. ft. of gracious living space. $4,195,000 BeaCH PH ResidenCe 1208 – The largest Penthouse suite at 5286 sq.ft. with elegant interior finishes throughout… never before occupied. $5,250,000

Hurricane season of 2004

On Aug. 13, 2004 — Friday the 13th — Hurricane Charley seemed to have its eye on Longboat Key. By 8 a.m. that morning, Gulf of Mexico Drive was virtually empty, and by 9:30 a.m., Longboat Key’s Critical Incident Response Team (aka the “last-out, first-in” team) began preparations to leave the island. But by 2 p.m., Charley headed east and made landfall in Port Charlotte.

Longboat Key had a few downed power lines and tree branches, but by 6 p.m., it was clear that Longboat had avoided Charley’s wrath. That was just the beginning of the 2004 hurricane season: Frances brought heavy wind and power outages.

Ivan barely touched the island. Jeanne blew off the loose clay from the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center’s Har-Tru courts and a 2-foot layer of beach. But with minimal

Beth Afflebach & Joan Dickinson Toll Free 800.555.7784 •

Local 941.364.8884

Cell: 941-737-1756

Cell: 941-914-0496

The 2011 named Atlantic tropical storms will be: Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert

Harvey Irene Jose Katia Lee Maria Nate

Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney

damage and no injuries, everyone agreed that Longboat Key got lucky in 2004.

Hurricane season of 2005

That luck continued in 2005 — a year that tied for the most active hurricane season in history. Longboat Key avoided the destruction of major storms, such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Hurricane Wilma brought minor damages, and Hurricane Dennis flooded the Longbeach Village.

Hurricane season of 2011?

Hurricane seasons have been uneventful for the last five years on Longboat Key. This year, forecasters predict a hurricane season that will have less activity than last year’s but still more than average.

But there’s one prediction we can make: Hurricanes have impacted Longboat Key and will continue to impact Longboat Key. So be prepared: Have an emergency plan in place. Preparation information is available at the town’s website, longboatkey.org.

Leave the island when emergency officials tell you to evacuate. And, although it’s important to plan, cross your fingers that it’s all for nothing and that this year’s storms — from Arlene to Whitney — keep their eyes off of Longboat Key.

www.SarasotaCondoHotels.com Beautifully renovated/decorated free standing 2BR/2BA villa on the lake. New roof, a/c, sun room, kitchen, baths, floors and lots more. Deep water marina with docks up to 40 ft, no bridges to the bay. Deeded beach access, active clubhouse with heated pool. A3906084 $339,900

57563

941.383.5502 or 941.724.7228 CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com

57601

3174 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Longboat Key, FL 34228

Michael Saunders & Company Cathy C. Meldahl P.A. Licensed Real Estate Broker

REID MURPHY PREsEnts...

Luxury on the Water

Call Reid Today! 941.232.3304 www.reidmurphy.com

DIRECT BAYFRONT NEW MEDITERRANEAN 5BR MASTERPIECE - Magnificent pool/patio bayside, plus a lg. patio off master suite. Designer finishes. Gated w/ BOAT DOCK. $9,500,000 GULFFRONT ESTATE - BEST BUY ON BEACH – 1+ acres with a gated entrance and a private boardwalk to beach. Stunning Gulf, Beach and Sunset views!

REDUCED $5,700,000 WESTWAY ESTATE - 210 FT. DIRECTLY on New Pass, views to Gulf, outstanding sunsets. 4 BR home plus 4 BR guest house. Gorgeous courtyard pool, dock, private beach access. $8,900,000 BAYFRONT ESTATE – w/ approx. 100 ft. on the bay and canal along one side.

$2,435,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION - with custom finishes. Direct Bay views to the north, canal views to the south, protected boating water and walking distance to the beach. $1,875,000 BAYPORT 3 BR direct beachfront corner - rarely available! Great tennis, beach & pool complex. $625,000 HIDEAWAY BAY – Exceptional 5,000 sq. ft. custom canal home. Deep water dock accommodates 50’ boat. A great family home. $1,995,000 SABAL COVE – Spacious 4BR w/first level magnificent master suite. Exquisite lakefront! $1,795,000 RITZ CARLTON TOWER RESIDENCE – 10th floor views of Sarasota Bay to Big Pass, and views of Marina Jack. Southeast corner with two large terraces and morning sun. $2,700,000 BAYFRONT ESTATE – Gated, Private. Spectacular Bay vistas from home, terraces & pool. Private beach access. Boat dock & lift -BAYFRONT LiViNG AT iTS BeST! REDUCED $3,450,000 WIDE CANAL WITH DIRECT BAY ACCESS – Tim Seibert School of Architect home and former Showcase tour home awesome condition new pool finish. $850,000 ISLANDER CLUB – Fantastic gulf side 2 Bedroom / 2 Bath updated condo with dramatic Bay views from every room! Beautiful beach & many amenities.

REDUCED $495,000 LONGBOAT KEY CLUB -INN ON THE BEACH – Gulf front 2BR $995,000 Club Suites $445,000 & $345,000 LONGBOAT HARBOUR – Bayfront with boat dock and great amenities.

$270,000

UNIVERSITY PARK – Incredible 3/3 upgraded home with numerous extras on amazingly landscaped private setting with exceptional outdoor patio/pool area.

REDUCED $399,000 WIDE CANAL W/NEW BOAT DOCK – 3 in from Bay. Great 3 bd. home w/ new finishes.Lg. pool. $895,000

developers Realty inc. Lic. R.e. Broker 1266 1st St., Suite 9, Sarasota, FL 34236

57623

Michael Saunders & Company Licensed Real Estate Broker

655 SPANISH WAY

57545

Visit our office in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive • Sarasota, FL 34236

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

Lynne Koy ◆

25A

presents her

Luxury

PrEMIEr COLLECTIOn◆ Bird KeY - Classic Mediterranean home on open bay with gorgeous sunset views and deep water docking. www.344WRoyalFlamingo.com $2,995,000

941.387.1803 lkoy@coldwellbanker.com

SE OU H N 4 OPE N 1 – U S

E PRIC TION UC RED

Tour Lynne’s properties at

www.lynnekoy.com At The Chart House on Longboat Key

Broker / Associate, CrB, CrS, GrI Previews International Property Specialist International President’s Premier,

Lido ShoreS – Sweeping views of the Bay, John Ringling Bridge & Downtown Sarasota will mesmerize you from this spectacular custom built 5BR/5.3BA furnished home. www.1418JohnRinglingPkwy.com $3,795,000

Bird KeY - Fabulous 4BD/4.5BA canal front home on deep sailboat water. Stunning foyer, gourmet kitchen & game room with bay views. www.647Nowl.com

$1,995,000

NEW G IN LIST

Involved Citizen: Sarasota Opera, SPArCC, Make-a Wish, Meals on Wheels, Breast Cancer Awareness

◆

SALES YEAR TO DATE IN 2011 ◆ Global Marketing: NYtimes.com Birdkeynews.com Coldwellbanker.com Worldproperties.com Trulia.com LynneKoy.com Rightmoves.com Greatwaterfrontliving.com Realtor.com Zillow.com Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / YouTube

You can search Lynne’s website in 13 languages – including English.

SeAPLACe

– Beautifully designed, skillfully remodeled 3BD/2BA residence with direct gulf views! $749,000

Bird KeY - Sprawling sanctuary once occupied by famous movie star with fabulous grounds and partial bay views.

www.201Seagull.com

KeY ToWer SouTh

– Fabulous full gulf views and expansive white sand beach surround this 2 BD/2BA turnkey furnished condominium home that is tastefully decorated w/one covered parking space. $569,000

$1,495,000

SeAPLACe - Direct Gulf views from CASTiLLiAN

– Direct Gulf View! this stunning 2 BD/2BA furnished condo Tastefully furnished 2BD/2BA penthouse with views of the Gulf of Mexico from w/covered parking. most rooms.

$529,000

$559,000

NEW G IN LIST

CoNdo oN The BAY – Endless BAYPorT - Fully furnished 2BD/2BA SeAPLACe - Enjoy fabulous Southwest gulf views from this tastefully updated day and night views of bay, bridge, and condominium w/deeded beach access.

2BD/2 BA penthouse level condominium.

LBK yacht basin, Beautiful 2BR/2BA condominium updated by Barbara Gardner $349,000 www.1925Seaplace406.com $439,000 of Collins Interiors. $455,000

E PRIC TION UC RED

PLAYerS CLuB - Fully furnished LoNGBoAT hArBour – 2 Bedroom SANd CAY – 2BD/2BA with Gulf & 2BD/2Ba condominium w/updated / 2 Bath fully furnished with beautiful Bay views, fully furnished, great rental kitchen and gorgeous gulf views! bay views and deeded beach access. property!

$649,000

$299,000

$324,900

56254

26

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

games | deal us in

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

By Donna Swan | Contributing Writer

To jump-shift or not to jump-shift?

When your side has all the aces and most of the kings, it is often difficult to stay out of a slam, especially if you have the count. Although South’s jump-shift in the second round with 18 points does meet textbook requirements, the modern view is not to jump-shift unless you have a fit for your partner’s suit or a suit of your own that requires little support.

North was trying to show a hand better than minimum, but it is dangerous to jump-raise your partner’s second suit when you have no honor, even with four-card support. South

was not thrilled when he saw the dummy. There was a certain trump loser, and he had to lose a club trick unless he could engineer an end-play. He decided to play the hand wide open.

Declarer won the opening lead with the king of spades and cashed the ace and king of hearts and ruffed a heart in the dummy. He discarded a club on the ace of spades and ruffed a spade in his hand. After cashing the ace and king of trump, he ruffed another heart to set up the long heart in his hand, then he ruffed dummy’s last spade.

If West over-ruffed, he would have

had to lead a club away from his king, so he sluffed a club. That just postponed the inevitable. Declarer led his last heart. If West did not ruff, the ace of clubs would be declarer’s 12th trick.

When West ruffed, he was forced to lead away from his king of clubs, and that permitted the declarer to score two tricks in that suit and make his slam.

Piano Man

years, After 19 an l will give Ted Reh ormance. encore perf

, MARC ThURSDAY

h 24, 2011

ir or’s cha kes may Brown ta rhood.

By Kurt

PEOPLE,PLACES PICS &

Schultheis

| City Editor

e. first tim or for the or. may omes may Brown bec elected as vice sioner Jim id Brenner is Commis sioner Dav Commis

n. the ion is broke The tradityears in a row, isFor five Key Town Commsemost Longboat selected the -person sion has er of its seven town’s nior memb become the to group 21 March mayor. its Monday, comBut at meeting, the Jim statutoryvoted 5-2 to selectLongof n photo mayor issioner missio Courtesy as the Brown McCalden over Comm ann is Siekm and Sarah boat Key Alexander Siekmann.and final year Robert term uins) wille Brown in his thirdissioner, while as a + VIP(eng rd Mot a comm his second term towa as ch will ium ng mar e Aquar is enteri beginer. in and Mote Marin tie guests commission blackwas sworn at the blackhost some Once he his new seat n exber: four a ning in Novemns as part of be after takingthe dais, Brow will of footed penguiexhibit that center his gratitude. fellimited-time uin Island.” thank mytheir pressed like to called “Pengation of this black“I would issioners for “I will has a In anticip low commBrown said. bunch, Mote a name. be as hite ully rt,” and-w hopef suppo t who needs and Dora Walters just lost best and new masco rg/penguinisl do my the mayor we e Spoll).” left, Brown, .

Visit mote.o 15 to vote. good as Mayor Georg Youngof service Mayor Jim p before April appointed de for his years (outgoingissioner Philli off y, newly n.

Comm g Monda town’s gratitu g signs isn’t ated Brow ry meetin expresses the Commisl it sells, he + Friedber s statuto er nomin Younger, that nove Comthat whenever a plaque Commission’ Brown, Brenner, n and his wife ed, though, on her first Key resi- a Key TownGeorge Spoll with David Larso Longboat Longboat sioner disappoint mayor.

Lynn to be Former ia Friedberg heldand ct 1 Com- At the ts outgoing Mayor missioner -in Distri irked Siek- wasn’t votedhave been nice . decline dent Patric an voted presen book signing ay, er terms mayoral vote Longboat “It would newly swornJack Dunc tunity to The lecture Saturd told the ated Brenn ng he given the oppor at missionern. n nomin mayor, and mann, who the meeti issioner March 19, 1, in Larso vice after Brow poComm ed.” for ver and ated town’s 8A point to the Bookstore for Siekmannel, who nomin for as the er was voted — on his Obser“clearly disap Land’s End R / PAGE voted whose Sarasota, vote move Brenn SEE MAYO was was Hal Lenob as mayor, novel, by a 7-0 Siekmann, sale and will with one else her first e.” for h sition ay — after no west Siekmann house is c North “21 Aldgatis brief speec birthd Siekmann. r and to the Pacifi made a ation and The novel n, nominated. new mayo Lenobel one-year his nomin to honor set in Londo The town’s during Friedberg r will serve during on, to commission vice mayo Germany wars. urged the with the positi France andbetween world Siekmann the period film based on the h e no avail.

A featur development throug in novel is Pictures Ltd., in go to ss Progre For information, com.

England. ate.blogspot. http://21aldg 2A

See OUR

TOWN /

PAGE

INDEX

means h project um. million beac bond referend town’s $16 h-project s Feb. 14. r for the ate the beac week of the error mean ing the valid town, n beach bond rtising erro in daily For the millio An adve judge must now referendum in the the town the $16 beach bond publications election, that be issued until election or a county er

Dora Walters

Editor

Diversions No. 34 Vol. 33, ns Three sectio server.com www.YourOb

ARTS | EN T E R TA I

NMENT | SOCIETY | FOOD | FA SHION | D éCOR

NEWS MUSE

by Heidi Kurpiela

The Observer

WWW.yo

UroBSErv

Er.coM

thUrSDAy MARCH 24, 2011

| A&E Editor

INSIDE

FILM: A preview of the Film Festival / 7B Sarasota

BLACK TIE thE SocIAL oBSErvEr

covEr: Senior Friendship centers Madcap Evening ’ “A at the circus” / 9B

Posh paperboy

© Tribune Media Services

Talk to Tina Today - Longboat Key’s International Connection

WHITNEY BEACH GULF & BAYSIDE OPPORTUNITIES

Fax: Phone:

57600

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Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 201 Gulf of Mexico Dr. • Longboat Key, FL

Team

EQUESTRIAN COMPOUND: 12 acre horse farm with 4 stall barn, paddocks, trail access and lovely pool home. Room to expand all ......$1,600,000 COUNTRY CLUB SHORES: Two in from the Bay! Magnificent deep-water canal and Bay views. 3BR/3BA retreat. European cabinetry, open plan. No expense spared. ..................................................................................... $1,334,000 THE WESTCHESTER: Exotic, breathtaking sunsets from this outstanding property. Stroll the 7-acre premises including 2 heated pools and tennis court.

Gulf front view ....................................................................................... $560,000 Gulf front view - totally renovated. ........................................................ $599,000 SAND CAY: Gulf front property offers heated pool, tennis court, grilling area and iN-houSE RENTAl pRoGRAM. partial Gulf Views ............................................................................................. $315,000 Garden/pool ....................................................................................................... $399,000

Zip/ Postal Code_______Country_____________Phone ____________

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Cell: 941-284-9208 Toni Giliberti Cell: 941-779-5518 Cathy Giliberti

address______________________________________________________

Andi Munzer and Jan Feidelman

www.engelvoelkers.com/longboatkey

Giliberti

Date of request ______________________________________________

Heidi Kurpiela

dresser for a dumpster diver. trash bins dressed in a flashy blue button-down It’s hard to picture shirt, pinstri 51-year-old with a and shiny pe pants 30 black shoes creating window years experience on this — particular Tuesda his outfit displays for luxury clothing retailer y.

But it’s where s rooting throug h his best materi he says he unearths als.

Longboat Key Realty

Tina Rudek • 941-920-0303 • Tina@LBKRealEstate.com

Audrey@AudreyMarten.com

pictured here

Artist Eric Cross grabbed local headlin to this weeken d’s ‘iconcept’ fashion es for his tea-length contrib ution show at Art Center ric Cross is Sarasota. a pretty dapper

CROSS CONTI NUED ON PAGE 2B

♠

941-587-5060 Cell Direct

Credit card__________________________sec Code ________________ cAMErA rEAD y: the out-of-Door emy’s Banyan Ball Acad/ 11B

“I’ve always been fascinated with the packing by paper design creating something three-dim he created for ensional from this year’s “iconcept a bolt of fabric,” ” show. says Eric Cross,

East Pass Pass Pass

INCREDIBLE LONGBOAT VALUE - Full Bay Views. $ 239,000 2BR, 2B Pool, Tennis, Beach & Boat Dock.

the longboat observer, 5570 gulf of Mexico Drive, P.o. box 8100, longboat Key, Fl 34228.

to newspaper prior to the m. State can’t holds anoth by a counbe used week either proble validated that will eroded north has fourth created the a bond refer- gets the vote the Large pipes on oat Key which the error funnel sand onto were placed 18. ates that tised in the ty judge. of Longb funds island discovered adver , March the The town $16 million in for a law mand end of the Island Friday must be Granger prior to to ved no access voters appro due to a endumand fifth weeksndum should Beer Can third the PAGE 8A that Key t last week, tising election. The refere during TION / published Feb. 21. Inbeach projec s Office adver SEE ELEC have been 7 and durTown Clerk’ er told weeks of Feb. published error.

Trish Grang it was only Monday Town Clerk Observer tised the stead, oat adver the Longb office only that her

| City Schultheis

By Kurt

North 1 ♠ 5 ♦ Pass

6000 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217

You can have The Longboat Observer delivered right to your mailbox no matter what your zip or postal code.

Just complete the form below and send it, fax it or drop it off:

vote NDUM REFERE validates BEACh error in Town ad

.........11B ...................... ........12C Black Tie ...................... .......11C Classifieds ......................

C Crossword ..................10 In........... ........... 2C Deal Us Estate...........

Key Real ...............7A the Editor ...6A Letters to ......................

Opinion ........... .....................11C ...........

Weather

West Pass Pass Pass

57654

OUR TOWN

5 A K 10 9 2 A K 10 9 A53

Updated 2BR/2BA ground floor end unit overlooking canal .............. $275,000 Immaculate 2BR/2BA offering Gulf peeks & pool views ...................... $274,000 Serene Bayou views from updated 2BR/2BA ........................................ $349,900 Spacious ground level 1BR/2BA with Gulf views .................................. $425,000 Incredible value & views! Inviting & updated 2BR/2BA ....................... $475,000 Contemporary & stylish 1BR/1BA w/ gorgeous Gulf views ................$499,000

Stay connected to your Longboat Key neighbors and neighborhood.

ges ion chan commiss

You. You

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

north pacific ocean. Chick this out: Dr. Lou Newman brought his Longboat Observer to the Midway Atoll, which is home to the Battle of Midway National Memorial, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument — along with 512,000 nesting pairs of Laysan albatrosses and approximately the same number of chicks.

r neighbo

rs. You r neighbo

South

♠ Q8764 ♥ J75 ♦ J2 ♣ 10 8 6

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box. See answers on page 28A.

1C NEWS

Style guru isn’t dead at proves printfashion show. upcoming

East

Edited by The Mepham Group

ver r e s b O PAG INSIDE Eric Cross

♠ J 10 9 ♥ Q863 ♦ Q54 ♣KJ9

observerSudoku

BOAT LONG

’s census Longboat show numbers lation 9.4% popu 3A. e drop. Pag

West

♠ AK32 ♥4 ♦ 8763 ♣Q742

Opening Lead: J

If you must leave, take us with you.

NEWS OFFICIAL COUNT

Vulnerable: Both

North

Bidding: South 1 ♥ 3 ♦ 6 ♦

the longboat observer subscribe to your neighborhood newspaper

NS: DIVERSIO POSH BOY PAPER E 1B |

Dealer: South

Donna Swan is a resident of Longboat Key, an ardent bridge player and an American Contract Bridge League certified director who plays “for the fun of it.”

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE The Observer’s “It’s Read Everywhere” photo contest is now online at YourObserver. com. Visit our website, YourObserver.com, to upload your photo submissions from now until Oct. 15; photos submitted directly to the paper will automatically be uploaded to our website. Online voting takes place from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7. Winners will be announced in the Nov. 10 issue of the Longboat Observer.

Email your entries to nschwartz@yourobserver.com or mail them to the Longboat Observer, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Fla., 34228.

BRIDGE HAND

toni.giliberti@floridamoves.com cathy@cathygiliberti.com

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228

57547

26A

longboat Observer

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

Sunrise/sunset

RAINFALL

Mon., May 16 Tues., May 17 Wed., May 18 Thurs., May 19 Fri., May 20 Sat., May 21 Sun., May 22

North Mid 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Month to date: 2011

2.63 in Year-to-date:

South 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

2010 0.58 in.

2011 2010 15.87 in. 11.00 in.

Sunrise

Sunset

Thurs., May 26

6:37

8:18

Fri., May 27

6:37

8:19

Sat., May 28

6:37

8:19

Sun., May 29

6:36

8:20

Mon., May 30

6:36

8:20

Tues., May 31

6:36

8:21

Wed., June 1

6:36

8:21

27A

WEEKLY WINNEr: MOMENT OF REFLECTION

TemperatureS

Temps.

High Low 82 71 83 68.5 84 63 87.5 68 90 74 90 72.5 89 70

Tues., May 17 Wed., May 18 Thurs., May 19 Fri., May 20 Sat., May 21 Sun., May 22 Mon., May 23

Record Temps.

High Low 94 (1992) 65 (1992) 94 (1995) 60 (1992) 93 (1984) 62 (1992) 93 (1981) 58 (1992) 92 (1996) 58 (1992) 92 (1996) 61 (1986) 95 (1991) 66 (1983)

Average Gulf water temperature: 82.4 Susan Feulner submitted this sunset photo, taken in the 5500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

TIDE CHART

Highs

Lows

Thurs., May 26

8:39a

9:12p

2:25a 3:54p

Fri., May 27

9:06p 10:33p

3:06a 4:48p

Sat., May 28

9:31a 11:42p

3:42a 5:34p

9:57a

Sun., May 29

—

4:14a 6:16p

Mon., May 30

12:41a 10:24a

4:40a 6:54p

Tues., May 31

1:33a 10:54a

5:04a 7:32p

Wed., June 1

2:19a 11:26a

5:26a 8:10p

MOON PHASES June 1 New

PHOTO CONTEST: Enter your local sunset, sunrise or weather-related photos for The Observer’s weather photo contest, sponsored by Cool Today. Please include where you took the photo when submitting photos, as well as your mailing address. Each week’s winner will receive a $50 restaurant gift card. Please send your photos to the Longboat Observer, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, Fla., 34228, or email them to nschwartz@yourobserver.com.

June 9 First

Visit YourObserver.com to click on our interactive weather button, which features current weather conditions, weather radar and a five-day forecast.

June 15 Full

June 23 Last

52544

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

C R Y P T O G R A M S by Myles Mellor 1. C J

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OR ELSE by Paul Jenn ACROSS

71 Without a chaperon 72 Just a bit, if that 75 “___ as good a time as any!”

76 Mouse-spotters’ cries 77 Snorkeling destination 78 Icelandic literary collection 79 “If the ___ fits ...”

80 World Series site of 1969 81 Rhyming writers 83 In bundles, as hay 84 Feather go-with 85 Railroad stops (Abbr.)

86 Mafia bosses 87 Monkeyshines 88 Less stale 90 Consequently 91 Zilch 92 “The ___ Queene” 94 “The First ___” (Christmas tune) 95 Protect from depletion 100 Pro Football Hall-ofFamer Michael 101 Words of finality 104 She may cry “Uncle” 105 Roman greetings of old 106 Letter-shaped support 107 Best or Ferber 108 ___ Lee (frozen dessert brand) 109 Heredity unit 110 Town near Tuscany 111 Negative votes

1 Rank 5 Haul with effort 10 Small, medium or large, e.g.

14 See in the distance 18 Squashed circle 19 Courtship participant 20 Start of many Ocean Spray juice names 21 Banished person 22 Risky stakes 25 Roll over, as a subscription 26 Caused by necessity 27 Pink, as cheeks 28 Heavy hooded coats 29 Cunning 30 Winnie-the-___ 31 “Go for the ___” (old Schlitz slogan) 32 Football and golf 36 Seat that often swivels 38 Gaelic language 39 Boarding-pass word 42 Hefty volumes 43 Single-masted boat 44 Terrier’s tormenter 45 Scandinavian capital 46 ___ Bator, Mongolia 47 Pond covering 48 Property claim 49 Nincompoop 50 In any manner necessary 55 The Hindu destroyer 56 Health resort 57 Norms on the links 58 Fly off the handle 59 Hypothetical primates 60 Religious ceremony dOwn 61 Unit of magnetic 1 Went by train, e.g. flux density 2 Mary Kay rival 62 Fuzzy image 3 Tight as a drum 63 Incisor’s neighbor 4 Temporary home for 66 Positive replies Napoleon 67 Rude, crude dude 5 Potential boat 68 Ambulance chaser’s capsizers advice

55 Short burst of 6 Bunch of bunk energy 7 Shepherd in the 59 Standoffish 23rd Psalm 60 Step before spin-dry 8 Suffix for “velvet” 61 ___ kick out of 9 What an amateur (enjoys) may turn 62 Radius, ulna, etc.

10 Group of fish 63 Art capable of 11 Apt to celebrate 64 Word meaning March 17? “hello” and 12 Off-the-wall “goodbye” 13 Chang’s bosom 65 Words to a waverer buddy?

66 “Yowza!”

14 Put out, as effort 67 Author Harte and 15 Success/failure pitcher Saberhagen metaphor 16 Statement of guilt or 68 Move like a crab 69 Fully anesthetized innocence 70 “By Jove!”

17 Trees used in 72 Composer of “The making longbows Merry Widow” 21 Undo, as writing 73 Layered cookie 23 Shoppers’ guides 74 Old, dilapidated car 24 Girl Scout unit 76 Lauder of cosmetics 28 South Korea’s 81 St. ___ Girl (German second-largest city beer) 30 Nanki-___ of “The 82 Covert ___ (army Mikado” assignment) 31 “My Big Fat ___ 83 Ultralight wood Wedding” 85 Sty denizens 32 Ticket halves 86 Crackers go-with 33 Tentacled sea 87 Screening locale creature 89 “Fanny” author 34 D-day beachhead Jong 35 City near Lake Tahoe 90 Subway turnstile 36 Speaks indistinctly feeder 37 Grant has a famous 91 “Inception” director one Christopher 38 T.S. of literature 92 Goldfish propellers 40 Popeye’s skinny 93 Delivery from a diva sweetie 94 Where the 41 Wagner’s Valhalla congregation sits god 95 Manitoba tribesmen 43 Pinball machine 96 Not odd display 97 Update, as a room 44 Broadway bombs 98 Street crossing 45 Turn the ___ cheek Hollywood 47 Use rollerblades 51 Offer one’s thoughts 99 JFK predictions 52 You’ll get a rise out 101 “___, you are it!”

102 “My country, ___ of of this thee ...”

53 Merciless 54Charlotte ___ (cream- 103 Kimono cinch filled dessert)

Last weeks Cryptograms 1. Figure this out: how did a ten-thousand-word legal document come to be called a brief?

2. Vanity shows itself in numerous subtle ways. Those people affected by it are often me-deep in conversation..

Thursday, May 26, 2011 Boat Slips For Rent/Sale

Auctions

32FT. BOAT slip for rent, Boat House of LBK, 3rd level, dry. Call 718-974-5269 or 718-979-8017.

AUCTION

BOAT SLIP. High and dry, indoor, for sale or lease. Southend of LBK at the Boathouse.

Owner financing available. For info call 941-544-5597.

MEMORIAL DAY EARLY DEADLINES

FOR RENT: 24/ft. inside Boat Rack at Boat House on Longboat Key. $295/mo.

(708)267-6704.

for June 2nd edition

Boats

CLASSIFIED ADS Deadline Friday, May 27th, 2:00pm SERVICE DIRECTORY Deadline Thursday, May 26th, 12:00pm The Observer will be CLOSED Monday, May 30th for the Memorial Day Holiday.

We will reopen Tuesday, May 31st at 8:30am.

2001 GRADY WHITE 232 Gulfstream w/250 Yamaha. Runs great. $25,900. Call Tony 941-232-5071. Osprey Boats are Selling - Boats are Needed.

16’ Center Consoles to 65’ Motor Yachts.

Island resident 15 years, many referrals.

“Let’s talk about selling your boat”.

941-228-3489 - Yachtingflorida@aol.com

Furnishings

Call 941-955-4888 To Place Your Ad

Items Under $200 For Sale ADVERTISE YOUR merchandise with the total value of $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month, 15 words or less. Price must be included. No commercial advertising. Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks.

Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com or online at: www.yourobserver.com/classifieds COLLECTIBLE COKE collection, 7 pieces. $50. 941-795-8734

Autos For Sale 1998 BENZ ML320 SUV- Outstanding shape. Sunroof, Leather, New Radio, Heated Seats, Trunk Liner. Clean inside and out.

New brakes all around. Tires are in good shape. 139k miles. Car has no mechanical problems. Call to come and look! 941-3833313 or cell 201-452-2063 Asking $6,500.

2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS: 2 WD, CXL. Immaculate, 1 owner, non-smoker, garage kept, Car is flawless like new. $8995.

Call David, 518-6661.

NOW BUYING USED FURNITURE...

WANTED: La-Z-Boy Lexington Chremecraft Drexel

Leather Ethan Allen Wicker Thomasville

Call for Fast Free Bid

745-2596 Manatee Furniture

3015 1st St. (Hwy US41) Bradenton Buying & Selling Quality Used Furniture Since 1987

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales   FLEA MARKET. Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. Saturday, May 28, 10a.m.-5p.m. & Sunday, May 29, 10a.m.-4p.m. For info: 954-4165.

PALM AIRE Estate Sale. Fri & Sat, 5/27 5/28, 9am - 2pm. 7020 Gold Rush Lane, University Park. Cash/Credit. Furniture, Rugs, Artwork, Crystal, Silver, Orientalia, Tools, China, Kitchen Items, Etc. Addt’l info: www.AbsoluteEstateSalesLLC.com

Autos Wanted

General Merchandise

AUTOS WANTED! Let me take the hassle out of selling your car. Cash offered today!

Call Mike, 941-713-2277.

THRIFT SHOP: LORD’S WAREHOUSE. Hours: Summer Schedule: Tues. & Sat. 9a.m. to 1p.m. Non-profit. Clothes, jewelry, furniture, other items. 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. 941-383-4738.

Pets

THE OBSERVER LP # 56736

BIEWER YORKIE/ SILKY TERRIER: 9 week old female, first shots given, $600. Can be seen locally. 941-713-1559.

O

FINDBIG TYPE. The Observer Classifieds IT! 955-4888

EASY READ. FAST RESULTS.

in The

Observer Classifieds

May 28, 11a.m.

Full house of furniture, art, glass & collectibles 3479 51st. Circle West, Bradenton.

Condos/Apts. For Rent THE PIERRE- Contemporary living behind the gates. Gulf front with full gulf views from every room. 2BR/3BA. Fully furnished.

Available Annual $3800/mo Seasonal $7850/mo. 3 month minimum. 865.603.3126

Condos For Sale

For pictures & More Information, www.afraac.com ALL FLORIDA REALTY & AUCTION CO. Ab923 941-746-5355 Au1333 10% Buyer’s Premium for cash or local checks, 13% with VISA, MC or Discover

Storage STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer.

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

Help Wanted CHURCH CUSTODIAN/ MAINTENANCE person. Approx. 25 hours per week. Contact Longboat Island Chapel, 941-383-6491.

Positions Wanted Multi-Talented Couple Available To Be Your House Manager, Companion, Cook, Driver.

Housekeeper, Estate Manager/Property Caretaker, Personal Assistant, Computer Guy. Estates, Homes, Condos. Live-in position desired. Experience working for senior couple in private home & executive living in gated estate. Will travel with homeowner. Available immediately.

We currently live in West Palm Beach.

Dan & Margie Curry. 561-385-6424, dancurry@bellsouth.net

Commercial Property For Sale LBK GAS Station Site. Corner Gulf of Mexico Dr. & Broadway. Various commercial uses. $850,000 Longview Realty, 941-383-6112. www.longviewrealty.com

Condos/Apts. For Rent ANNUAL RENTAL- Direct gulf front 2/2 furnished condo available 1995/mo. Linda 941-962-4884 BEACH-TO-BAY CONDO at Bayport BTC. First floor, end unit. Newly decorated 2 bed/2 bath. Free local phone, cable and wireless Internet. Pictures and details: www.bayportbtc.com. Contact owner at 615-376-9448

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA BAYFRONT GULF VIEWS. DOUBLE UNIT - REGENCY HOUSE - 435 GULFSTREAM AVE. 3330+ sq.ft. living area with split 2-3BR/3BA. Totally remodeled, parquet floors, granite kitchen, walk-in closets, office/den with built-ins. Hurricane shutters, a 180 degree view of the keys and the Gulf. A must see unit. Steps to downtown activities and restaurants. Price reduced. RON STAHL REALTY, 941-374-1671.

NEW TO MARKET! Waterfront 3/2/2 condo on private Island. Discover the other Island, Tidy Island in Sarasota Bay. Views of lake, bay & preserve. Former model, sold furnished! $249,900. Katharine Pepper, RoseBay Real Estate 941-792-9459.

PELICAN HARBOUR LBK- FULL BAY VIEW, boat slips, beach, tennis and pool.

Custom wood and granite kitchen opens to dining & living room for a Great Room effect.

2BR/2BA. No weight limit for dog. $349,000.

Steve or Craig Abbott, Michael Saunders & Company. 941-374-3003

Your source for

LOCAL Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

Classifieds You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.

This week’s crossword answers

FIRST LIDO 1900 Ben Franklin. Large 1BR/2BA condo. Gulf view from all windows, No obstruction. Rent for 6 months or longer. $1500. 513-541-1135.

GULF, BEACHFRONT: 2BR/2BA, lanai, W/D, pool. Pet okay. $1800/mo. O/B/O. 760-944-1124, debbieschaefer@msn.com or www.5201gulfofmexicodrive.com STUDIO APARTMENT for rent at Lerfald Landings on a canal across from Whitney Beach. Water included. $700 month.

1 year lease required. (941)565-1401, (941)792-0411.

THE OBSERVER LP # 56733

longboat Observer

THE LONGBOAT OBSERVER THURSDAY, may 26, 2011 Thursday, May 26, 2011

www.yourobserver.com

Condos For Sale

Homes For Sale

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

DIRECT GULFFRONT 4BR/4.5BA +den, 3 car garage, pool/ spa, elevator, security.

Immaculate 2005 Mediterranean style architecture with breathtaking Gulf views.

5,146 sq.ft. under roof on N. Anna Maria, 12106 Gulf Drive. $3,400,000 furnished.

Contact Owner/ Broker, 941-920-1699.

Reservations: 941-383-5549 Visa/ MC Fax: 941-383-7925

Real Estate Wanted

“Take our video tour at” www.casadelmar.net

LUXURY ANNUAL RENTALS WANTED for waiting clients. Furnished or unfurnished.

941-356-5610 or 941-358-7401

Riverfront Condo with dock at your back door! Central Sarasota Location $320,000

A Players Club, LBK: luxury waterfront penthouse, 3BR/3.5BA, 8 rooms. Must see to appreciate. 941-400-8547. For pictures: dterry285@aol.com

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals $7500 FOR ALL SUMMER

392 FIREHOUSE LANE, LBK. Newer upscale & stylish Gulfside home. Steps to beach & pool. 2BR +loft. Annual or Seasonal. No pets. Owner/Agent, 941544-0214, www.LuxuryHomes-Condos.com BEACHPLACE

Prudential Lakewood Ranch

HaroldLasky@gmail.com

Duplexes For Sale LUSH TROPICAL setting backed up to Durante Park. 1BR/1BA & 2BR/1BA. Seller motivated. $299,000. Call Deborah Thrasher, 941-518-7738.

Homes For Rent

3BR, UPDATED, TASTEFULLY DECORATED. GULF & BAY VIEWS. AVAILABLE IN SEASON & ANNUAL CALL CYNTHIA 407-492-5749 BIRD KEY: 3/2/2, pool, bay view. First, last & security. Available 2011-2012 season. $4000/mo. 941-554-4248.

CHARMING COTTAGE, furnished. Seasonal $2350/month. 2BR/1BA, 5 minutes to St. Armands. Carport, sun porch. $1350/mo.

Annual. Includes lawn, water/ sewer and garbage. Non-smoking. Pets considered.

941-554-4248.

FAIRWAY BAY, 2BR/2BA, furnished condo overlooking Sarasota Bay. Gated community, access to private beach club, pool & tennis on premises. Rent by the season or monthly, 2 month minimum. 412-370-8787 502-456-4361.

O

GATED 2BR/2BA +Office, Living Room, Great Room, fully furnished (Ethan Allen), caged pool. Verizon Fios Internet & HDTV, security system & lawn service included. $3100/month. 941-918-4488

Say You Saw it in

WEEKLY RENTALS GULF FRONT/ GULF VIEW

ISLAND COTTAGE- 3 bed/ 2 bath home for sale, 601 St. Judes Dr. Longboat Key. Appox. 1400 sq ft. $285.000. 941-387-0136 RITZ CARLTON TOWER RESIDENCES 35 Watergate Dr. #406 Priced Under $1 Million 2800sf, NE corner + private elevator.

2br/3ba + office. Plus 840sf terraces.

Marble, granite & wood upgrades thru-out.

Attached to the Ritz Carlton but private and secure. (941)356-4050

2BR/2.5BA with 2 car garage, 1583 SF Walk off your deck & onto your boat!

Direct access to ICW. Impeccable property, perfect condition. Priced to sell fast.

Harold Lasky 941-780-8514

CASA DEL MAR BEACH RESORT

LBK BEACHPLACE Condo. Beachfront, 2BR/2BA. Elegantly furnished, heated pool, tennis court, covered parking, exercise room. Available June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct. & Dec. 2011. Non-smoking/ pets.

By owner. 941-383-1884.

Office Open 7 Days, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

4621 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key 34228

WASHER/ DRYER IN EVERY UNIT BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS LARGE HEATED POOL GULFSIDE FREE Wireless High Speed Internet

29A Classifieds 29A YourObserver.com

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals EXQUISITE GETAWAY on Longboat Key (LBK) Beachplace property available for RENT – NEWLY owned - Luxurious 2BR/2BA condo with views of the Gulf of Mexico & private golf course. Private terrace. New appliances. Fully equipped unit with recent upgrades and decorating. Steps to the beach, Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts, gym, organized social activities and sports are optional. Covered parking, excess closet/storage space. Maid service is optional. By owner: rental options on a monthly basis, from 07/2011 to 12/2012.

Rent is negotiable based on length of stay.

Corner unit. We welcome your inquiries, email kimberley@kpaa.ca or call us at (647)225.3003.

LBK: BAYFRONT, 2BR furnished condo, Longboat Harbour. Spectacular water views from every room, ground floor, end unit.

Covered parking, no trucks/ pets/ smoking.

Gulf/ private beach house access. Boat dock available. Avail. May 1st to December 1st. $950/mo +utilities. 734-216-6622.

“Where People Return Year After Year” “INTENTIONALLY BETTER”

Exceptional Vacation Rentals Since 1994 Homes & Condominiums Studios to Six Bedrooms Beachfront, Intercoastal or Garden Excellent Service & Staff

LIDO BEACH CONDOMINIUMS Weekly - Monthly - Seasonal

Resort Properties, Inc. Licensed Real Estate Broker 941-388-3921 - 888-388-3921 941-650-1857 Visit us at: resortproperties.pro

FLORIDA VACATION CONNECTION

LIDO BEACH Vacation paradise. 1 & 2 bedroom condos overlooking beautiful Lido Beach. Weekly rates. Lido Dorset.

Rental condo. 1-800-734-3370.

www.FLvacationconnection.com 941-387-9709 877-705-2460

LONGBOAT KEY. Gulf front, heated pool on beach, 1BR/1BA condo, full kitchen, dining, sleeps 4, king pillowtop. 617-328-7145.

Now Offering Beach Castle Resort Nightly and Weekly

LBK- Live at Beach. Huge ranch home.

Private community, has everything! Water views. LPP02@yahoo.com, 773-842-3445 LBK: 1BR condo, Gulf side with Island view.

Minimum required stay of 7 nights.

941-383-1083.

LBK: 2BR condo with breathtaking Gulf view. Minimum required stay of 7 nights.

941-383-1083.

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.

LONGBOAT: DIRECT Beachfront condo, 2BR/2BA. Rental $3800 +tax/mo. Jan, Feb, or March. 727-501-3675.

LONGBOAT: DIRECT Beachfront Condo, 2BR/2BA. $2000+ tax/mo. April-December.

727-501-3675.

LOOKING FOR A Rental: House or condo, April 11 - May 23, 2012. Desire a pool, water view, pet friendly (12/lb. good poodle). $5K. Contact Barbara at: Figaro@wcvt.com Thank you!

ON THE Gulf w/pool. 1BR condo, sleeps 4.

Nicely furnished, cable, phone, full kitchen, living, dining area, W/D in building. Weekly or Monthly. May through January. $1600/mo.

351-5101.

Observe

what you are missing...

Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

Local News that’s

LOCAL NEWS! YourObserver.com

30A

30A Classifieds YourObserver.com

longboat Observer

www.yourobserver.com

Vacation/Seasonal Rentals

30A Classifieds Seasonal Rentals on the Gulf!

Vacation/Seasonal CEDARS WESTRentals Available: 2 Bedroom Condos Seasonal Rentals on the Gulf! on the beach with heated pool!

CEDARS WEST 5655 Gulf of Mexico Drive

LONGBOAT KEY, FL

Available: 2 Bedroom Condos on the beach with heated pool!

941-383-4666 or 866-383-4666 5655 Gulf of Mexico Drive

LONGBOAT KEY, FL

www.Cedarswest.com Wagner Realty 941-383-4666 or 866-383-4666 Since 1939 www.WagnerRealty.com www.Cedarswest.com Wagner Realty 1939 TOWN HOUSE Since at Seaplace, steps to 2 www.WagnerRealty.com miles private beach. Fully equipped, 2BR/2.5BA, lanai, terrace, tropical garden, pools, tennis, clubhouse, barbecue sites, TOWN HOUSE at Seaplace, steps to 2 sauna, Jacuzzi. Available for $3800 during miles private beach. Fully equipped, season, add 10% tax. mandalka@gmx.de 2BR/2.5BA, lanai, terrace, tropical garden, pools, tennis, clubhouse, barbecue WEEKLY RENTALS. Luxurious, fullysites, fursauna, 1Jacuzzi.

Available for $3800 during nished - 4 bedrooms.

Condominiums and season, add 10% to tax.Bay. mandalka@gmx.de Cottages.

Beach On-site management. Pools, tennis, boat slips. Visit: WEEKLY RENTALS. Luxurious, fully furwww.FloridaRent.com for information and nished 1 - 4 bedrooms. Condominiums and virtual tours. 800-333-7335, 941-383-3117.

Cottages. Beach to Bay. On-site management. Pools, tennis, boat slips. Visit: www.FloridaRent.com for information Weekly/ Monthly/ Seasonal Rates and virtual tours. 800-333-7335, Beachfront, Bayfront and941-383-3117.

In Between Houses or Condos Weekly/ Monthly/ Seasonal Rates Reservations 941-383-6127 Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Visa/ MC Houses or Condos 800-352-0367 Reservations 941-383-6127 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Visa/ MC Longboat Key, FL 34228 800-352-0367 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m. M-F 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Ask about our special rates!

Longboat Key, FL 34228 Wagner Realty Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m. M-F Since 1939 www.wagnerrentals.com Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since condo, 1939 water views, LBK: 1BR furnished www.wagnerrentals.com includes cable, Longboat Harbor. Covered parking, no pets/ smoking, Gulf/ private beach house access. Boat dock available.

LBK: 1BR furnished condo, water views, Available May 1st - Nov. 1st. $750/mo. +utilincludes cable, Longboat Harbor. Covered ities. 248-231-3793. parking, no pets/ smoking, Gulf/ private beach house access.

Boat dock available.

Auto Transport Available May 1st - Nov. 1st. $750/mo. +utilSUNCOAST ities.

248-231-3793.TRANSPORTER Long Distance Delivery.

Auto “Snowbirds” I driveTransport your car door to door!

One Inclusive price.

SUNCOAST TRANSPORTER Mike 941-993-0236 Long Distance Delivery.

“Snowbirds” I drive your car door to door!

One Inclusive price.

Mike 941-993-0236

THE LONGBOAT THURSDAY,OBSERVER may 26, 2011 Thursday, May 26, 2011

Cleaning

Home Improvement/ Remodeling

5 STAR Cleaning Services: Meeting www.yourobserver.com residential clients’ home cleaning needs on Cleaning the Keys, Sarasota and Bradenton area for over 25 years. Friendly, Reliable, Bonded 5 STAR Cleaning Services: Meeting and Insured. Free Estimates. Call Laura now residential clients’ home cleaning needs on at 941-302-3992. the Keys, Sarasota and Bradenton area for over 25 CLEANING years. Friendly, Reliable, Bonded EDLA’S SERVICES: Residential and Insured.

Free Estimates.

Call Laura now Commercial, New Construction. Meticulous, at 941-302-3992. deep cleaning top to bottom. We Guarantee.

Affordable & Reliable. Excellent References.

EDLA’S CLEANING SERVICES: Residential Free Estimates. Licensed & Insured. 30% off Commercial, New Construction. Meticulous, first cleaning. 371-9869. deep cleaning top to bottom. We Guarantee.

Affordable & Reliable.

Excellent References.

RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL/ Resorts/ Free Estimates.

Licensed & Insured.

30% off House Checks. We take pleasure in pleasing first cleaning.

371-9869. our customers. When quality counts!

941-756-4570.

RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL/ Resorts/ House Checks.

We takeServices pleasure in pleasing Computer Classified Bring Results our customers.Ads When quality counts!

- lbk.cmagik.com, LBK resident.

Cmagik 941-756-4570.

941-955-4888 Over 20 years experience PC or MAC. Services ComputerComputer service, setup, tutoring or web design. TV/ computer/ stereo integration.

Cmagik - lbk.cmagik.com, LBK resident.

Digital camera, iPod/ iPhone help. Call Cort, Over 20 years experience PC or MAC. 383-3878, 587-5588.

Computer service, setup, tutoring or web design.A TV/ computer/ stereo OWN MAC? MacTutor offersintegration.

21 years Digital camera, iPod/ iPhone help. Callfollow Cort, experience.

Unlimited free telephone 383-3878, 587-5588. up.

(941)812-3887 www.FLMacTutor.com OWN A MAC? MacTutor offers 21 years Health Services experience. Unlimited free telephone follow up. (941)812-3887 www.FLMacTutor.com

Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Services Stop Suffering Today! Health  Amazing New Approach

 Based on 30 Years Research

www.SarasotaClinicalHypnosis.com Irritable Bowel Syndrome?  Stop Suffering Today!

941-321-9267 New Approach  Amazing Based on 30 Years Research  www.SarasotaClinicalHypnosis.com

941-321-9267

Y E N O M E V A $ And Y E N O M E k A M Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

Reserved Space LP Reserved Space

GARAGE SALE As low as $15 for 1 week!

Get a discount when you run your ad in more than one Observer.

Call 941.955.4888

Home

JOHN GUBERNAT HANDYMAN SERVICES Improvement/ Remodeling ALL HOME REPAIRS

JOHN GUBERNAT Carpentry, Painting, HANDYMAN SERVICES Property Caretaking, ALL HOME REPAIRS Roof Leaks/ Coatings, Power washing, Dock Repairs.

Carpentry, Painting, Property Caretaking, Excellent service. 30 years experience.

Roof Leaks/ Coatings, Power washing, Dock Repairs.

941-383-5765 Home 941-962-4867 cell Excellent service. 30 years experience.

LBK Resident Licensed/Insured 941-383-5765 Home TILE TILE TILE 941-962-4867 cell LBK Resident Licensed/Insured All Variations of Ceramic Tile Supplied & Installed.

TILE TILE TILE Free Estimates & Custom Designs.

All Variations of Ceramic Tile Expert Marble & Travertine Installation Supplied & Installed.

Floor & Walls Free Estimates & Custom Designs.

Grout Cleaning & Sealing Service Available Expert Marble & Travertine Installation Floor & Walls Call Ashdown Flooring, Inc. LICENSED (941) 726-3077 INSURED Grout Cleaning & Sealing Service Available Call Ashdown Flooring, Inc. ISLE TILE LICENSED (941) 726-3077 INSURED FOR “QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE” ISLE TILE Floors, bathrooms, showers, backsplashes, patio and pool decks.

FOR “QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE” 20 years design background.

Floors, bathrooms, showers, Licensed - Insured - LBK Resident backsplashes, patio and pool decks.

References upon request.

941-383-2659 20 years design background.

Licensed - Insured - LBK Resident References upon request.

Visit941-383-2659 us online at

www.yourobserver.com Painting/Wallpapering

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

CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including reliable. Free estimates. 941-744-1020. drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper 35+ years experience. installation & removal, pressure washing.

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

35+ years experience.

Services THEPersonal LONGBOAT OBSERVER YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Thursday, May 26, 2011 Gail Sunray, Owner

Personal Services Personal & Business Bookkeeping YOUR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPER, LLC Accounting/ Taxes Gail Sunray, Owner I come to your home or office.

Personal & Business Bookkeeping Taxes & Account Reconciliation  Bill PayingAccounting/ Organizing Personal and Business Files  & Financial Reports I come to your home or office.  Budgets  Federal and State Tax Returns  Bill Paying & Account Reconciliation  Organizing Personal and Business Files & INSURED & Financial Reports  BudgetsBONDED and 25 State Returns  FederalOver yrs.Tax experience Telephone: 941-749-5646 BONDED & INSURED yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com Over 25 yrs. experience

Pressure Cleaning

Telephone: 941-749-5646 RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL. Roofs, Pool yourbookkeeper@tampabay.rr.com Areas, Driveways, Lanais, etc. When Quality Pressure Cleaning Counts! 941-565-3935.

RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL. Roofs, Pool Professional Services Areas, Driveways, Lanais, etc. When Quality ***PERSONAL Counts!

941-565-3935.ASSISTANT*** Organizing, bookkeeping, appointments, Professional Services shopping, etc. Experienced with references.

Call and leave a message 941-321-9615

***PERSONAL ASSISTANT***

Organizing, bookkeeping, appointments, Tile shopping, etc. Experienced with references.

Call and leave a message 941-321-9615 STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS

Tile

PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION STEVE ALLEN FLOOR COVERINGS 20 YRS. EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONAL TILE & MARBLE INSTALLATION CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 20 YRS. EXPERIENCE LIC/ INS CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE 726-1802 LIC/ INS

D L SO in The

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THE LONGBOAT OBSERVER Thursday, May26, 26, 2011 THURSDAY, may 2011

longboat Observer

Classifieds 31A 31A

www.yourobserver.com

MOVERS

For Every Size. For Every Budget. Energy Savings for Everybody!

Reduce electric bills from 25% to 100%!

Free energy analysis and consultation

LOCAL - LONG DISTANCE FREE ESTIMATES

174 175' 5 74 v E 4+14+6;

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Phone (941) 704-4278 Fax (941) 538-3781

) # # s $/4 &, -/6%23 )-

Dave McCarthy

364-5900 57544

CLEANING

Operator/Owner 56772

COMPUTER

EcoTechnoUSA.com

CVC56744

PAINTING

Corby J. deKozlowski Specializing in Residential Painting Fully Insured

(941) 388-3580

STORAGE 56382

+%'05'& g 10&'& g 0574'&

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U Spray Foam Insulation U Solar Hot Water and Pool Heaters U Solar PV Electricity U Variable Speed Pool Pumps

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FLORIDA CLASSIC CAR STORAGE Discreet, secure, climate controlled/dehumidiďŹ ed storage for your collector car.

PATIO REPAIRS Furniture Repairs FurnitureSales Sales &&Repairs /54$//2 &52.)452% %80%243 s 777 0!4)/2%0!)23 .%4

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Free Termite Inspections Fogging for Fleas & Bed Bugs Organic Lawn Fertilization Indoor Pest Control Call Stacey 941-730-3013

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INSURANCE

West Florida Contractors, Inc.

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57460

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INSURANCE

Prices Include:

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U.S. DOT No. 1915800

00

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Diversions YourObserver.com

COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

Heidi Kurpiela

“We’re not exactly Palm Avenue,” says Stephanie Broche, pictured with Rocky Bentley, right, and Midgeann Schotsch, left. “You don’t have to have a large pocketbook to walk into our gallery.”

Friends with vision The Five Points Collective is redefining what it means to be artists and gallery owners in downtown Sarasota.

T

he Five Points Collective isn’t afraid of becoming a hangout.

In fact, it’s striving for that.

How else do you explain the community skateboard that’s available to patrons hoping to hop a quick ride into downtown Sarasota?

You heard right: a community skateboard.

It turned up last month in the Five Points break room following a Thursday night live-music session.

After unsuccessfully trying to track down the board’s owner on

Facebook, Five Points founders Stephanie Broche, Rocky Bentley and Midgeann Schotsch decided to give up their search and proclaim the skateboard “an in-house board” and offer it to anyone wanting a quick ride into downtown Sarasota.

FIVE POINTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

INSIDE

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2 ■ Diversions >>

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THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

COVER STORY

FIVE POINTS from 1 “We’ve got a friend who comes by and asks if he can borrow it pretty frequently,” Broche says. “He brings it back every time.”

Located in a small oft-forgotten plaza next door to Porter Paints off U.S. 301, “the collective,” as its founders refer to it, is a five-minute skateboard ride from the heart of downtown Sarasota.

A multi-hyphenate arts venue that functions as an art gallery, recording studio and bead store, Five Points occupies a 1,100-sqaure-foot space that once housed a day spa.

The gallery, which sits on the outskirts of Towles Court, is edgier than most of its neighbors. A hip, new outlier to Sarasota’s deeply rooted, grown-up arts colony, Five Points is decidedly less cutesy than the rustic garden-chic galleries on Adams Lane.

Its name has nothing to do with downtown’s Five Points intersection, park or condominium. More poetically, it signifies the five points on a star.

“Everybody wants to be a star,” says Bentley, who 25 years ago played in a Los Angeles “hair band” that fizzled when grunge rock came on the scene.

The self-described “grandpa” of the group, Bentley, 45, fronts the local band, Rockstarr Bentley, in addition to hosting “The Rock Show” every Monday night on

IF YOU GO The Five Points Collective is located at 300 S. Washington Blvd. across from Payne Park. The studio streams live music by local bands every Thursday night on www.fivepointslive.com. Tune in from 7 to 9 p.m. May 26, for Traphik 3:16 and June 2 for Hangman Jury.

WSLR radio.

“The entire concept of the collective came from Rocky’s desire to have a clean space to practice his music,” Broche says.

“We realized it’s no small affair to rent rehearsal space.”

Broche is Bentley’s girlfriend. A legal billing specialist by day, artist by night, Broche, 41, who specializes in large-scale mixed-media works which were rarely exhibited in public.

“I looked inside the windows along Palm Avenue, and I could never picture my work there,” Broche says. “It didn’t fit the mold.”

The first thing she did upon opening her Rivoli Gallery inside the Five Points storefront was put her canvases on display.

One of her pieces, “Alphabet Soup,” takes up nearly half of the store’s front window display. Dubbed a “painted poem,” the work is a mix of metallic paint, hematite stone, papier-mâché, alphabet charms and glitter gel.

Broche, a Laurel Park resident, is among

25 artists represented by the Rivoli Gallery, the name of which comes from her Sicilian ancestors.

“In order to get it going we had to function differently than other galleries,” Broche says. “We’re a little more friendly to the average starving artist.”

Admittedly, Broche, Bentley and Schotsch only make up three-fifths of the collective. DJ Frankie Valencic (aka Frankie V) and drummer Michael Kiss are also members.

It was the threesome’s friendship, however, that took the collective from a distant dream to a functioning one-stop art/ music studio.

“It’s been like kismet,” Bentley says.

“Serendipity.”

It was only a month ago that they opened the space and less than a year ago that they outlined a business plan.

The idea grew out of a chance encounter last year with Schotsch, a 37-year-old, mother of three with a fashion degree from the University of South Florida, Tampa.

Schotsch wanted to open a bead studio and jewelry store when she meet Bentley and Broche for the first time following a Rockstarr Bentley concert last October.

“The more we started hanging out, the more we realized we each had visions of having a place where we could do our own thing,” says Schotsch, a Gillespie Park resident. “We had so many ideas streaming through our heads.”

Adds Bentley: “We wanted to create something cool, so the kids from Ringling would think it was edgy and the Towles Court crowd would still be comfortable.”

Mission accomplished.

The group successfully established what fellow Sarasota art gallery owner Lori Frary refers to as a throwback to the “emporium business model of the 1970s hippie generation.”

Lounging in a windowless break room, the friends are chatty, energetic and optimistic, still basking in the glow of a new business venture.

An Ace of Base remix pipes through the store, giving the place a ’90s record store feel. The atmosphere drums up the kind of nostalgia you don’t often come by in an iTunes world.

“This place has become our home,” Broche says. “At the end of the night, we’ll lock down the doors, listen to music and talk about our days. The next thing you know, it’s 11 o’clock and time for bed.

That’s how good we feel when we’re here.”

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Diversions

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3

COLUMN

art scene HEARD

+ Frary closes Rosemary District gallery

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

+ Evancho tapes solo concert at Ringling Museum The Ringling Museum slipped this one under our noses while we were preoccupied with the Sarasota Film Festival. “America’s Got Talent” sweetheart Jackie Evancho, an 11-year-old classical singer with pipes like a veteran opera diva, shot her first solo concert April 10 through April 14, at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Accompanied by 16-time Grammy Award-winning composer and producer David Foster and several musicians from the Sarasota Orchestra, Evancho performed selections from her second album, “Dream With Me,” for the PBS series, “Great Performances.”

The Ringling crew remained mum about the concert, which airs next month on PBS stations across the country. (Locals can catch the program at 3:30 p.m.

June 4 and 7:30 p.m. June 5 on WEDU.) According to Pam Fendt, director of marketing and communications for the museum, only select board members, volunteers and staff were allowed to watch performances, which were shot in four locations around the Ringling campus: the courtyard, Cà d’Zan, Historic Asolo Theater

The Rosemary District has suffered some serious blows this season.

First, it saw the opening and closing of two cafés in the former Sarasota Olive Oil location and, then, it bid farewell to Laura Daniel Gale, whose Central Avenue boutique, everything but the girl, ended its sixyear-run in April.

Now the latest neighborhood casualty — Frary Gallery, which opened in 2009 on Fifth Street — has closed up shop and is looking for temporary “pop-up” space to showcase its collection of eclectic art.

“I had to make a decision before summer hit,” says owner Lori Frary. “Otherwise, I’d be sitting here like the Maytag repair

Heidi Kurpiela

Lori Frary man waiting for someone to walk through the door and buy art.”

In just two years, Frary, a no-nonsense, straight-shooter with an affinity for mid-priced contemporary art, has made a big impact on the Rosemary District.

She provided rare wall space

for local emerging artists, was elected to president of the district and won a People magazine contest in which she gloated about the neighborhood.

“A pop-up gallery scenario makes the most amount of sense,” says Frary, who had to resign as the neighborhood’s president now that she’s no longer a business owner. “You’re utilizing people’s empty space, and you’re no longer a static location that people take for granted. It creates a sense of urgency when you have only so much time to see or purchase art.”

In the meantime, Frary will continue to sell art off her website, frarygallery.com. Good luck, girl. We’ll miss your colorful footprint.

+ Oh baby, the places you’ve been!

Courtesy photo

Jackie Evancho and Rubens Gallery.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen something of this caliber shot at the museum,” Fendt says. “It was an opportunity for us to be highlighted in the most extraordinary way. We were thrilled to get involved.”

You wouldn’t know it from the headshot that runs with this column, but I’m nine months pregnant and less than a week away from my due date.

To those of you whom I’ve interviewed this past season: Thank you for being so protective of The Bump, as I’ve scaled chairs, stools, desks and condominium roofs to snap photos.

To those of you in publicrelations departments who’ve provided me with Reese’s Cups at evening press conferences: thank you.

I feel like my kid has soaked up more arts and culture in utero than some people do in a lifetime.

On one recent assignment at Ringling College of Art and Design, actor Andy Garcia even paid heed to The Bump when a cell phone went off in the middle of his lecture.

The ring tone was (coincidentally) a nursery rhyme, and its owner happened to be sitting next to me in the crowd.

Garcia stopped mid-sentence as his eyes met mine.

“It’s not my phone,” I squeaked.

To which Garcia replied in his famous Cuban accent: “The baby isn’t even born yet and you’re already singing it lullabies.”

So, dear readers, I leave Diversions in good hands. I’ll

The Bump at last month’s Vinyl Music Fest. be on maternity leave for the summer, and in my stead, The Observer’s talented and effervescent community editor, Loren Mayo (lmayo@yourobserver.com), will take over the section and with it, this column.

I’ll be back in the fall — ironically, around Labor Day. See you then!

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4 ■ Diversions >>

YourObserver.com

BACKSTAGE PASS

■

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

by Heidi Kurpiela | A&E Editor

Primal colors

Abstract painter Beverly A. Smith peels away layers of paint to reveal what lies behind her uninhibited brushstrokes.

Beverly A. Smith has experienced the kind of success for which some artists wait a lifetime.

The 52-year-old started painting four years ago, and already she’s produced almost 100 paintings, nearly half of which have sold to fervent art collectors enamored with her intense brushstrokes and penchant for dense layers and vivid colors.

“For a kid who just fell off the wagon, I think I’ve done pretty well,” Smith says. “Initially, it was scary. Most people don’t wake up at my age and say, ‘Ahh, I have this talent I never knew about!’ It was kind of embarrassing.”

A former Massachusetts gymnastic coach and physical education teacher, Smith is enjoying her second incarnation as an artist.

She’s showcased her work in galleries from Tampa to New York City, and in February she garnered a full-page review, in New York’s Gallery & Studio Magazine, in which her work was compared to 1960s abstract expressionist Helen Frankenthaler — a hefty accomplishment for any artist, much less an artist with no formal training.

If the metamorphosis seems like an overnight sensation to some artists, to Smith, who

IF YOU GO Beverly A. Smith is one of four female artists collaborating with Fuzión Dance Artists for “Dancing through the Eyes of Women,” an art-meets-dance performance scheduled for June 3 through June 5, at Art Center Sarasota. For tickets, call 365-2032. works out of the Celery Barn, in Towles Court, it feels like a longtime coming, the manifestation of years of pent-up emotions.

“People will look at a painting, and they’ll ask me how long it took to create, and I’ll say, ‘Three hours,’ and they’ll be blown away,” Smith says. “Then I tell them, ‘Yes, but it took me a lifetime of pain.’”

The seventh of eight children, she says she spent years in therapy having grown up in a dysfunctional family plagued by mental illness.

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her mid-30s, Smith began painting as a way to cope with her turbulent past and relentless energy.

The first painting she ever produced, an abstract piece titled,

Heidi Kurpiela

“I felt like I had barnacles on me that were beginning to break off,” Beverly A. Smith says of her first attempt at painting. “The creativity was fighting to get out.”

“Emotional Storm Over Edgartown,” was submitted along with an impressionist landscape to a show at the Attleboro Arts Museum, in Massachusetts.

Of the 300 pieces in the exhibit, Smith’s abstract was one of two that sold.

“My husband and I were walking through the museum, and he turned to me and said, ‘There’s a red dot on your painting,’” Smith says. “When I realized what that he meant, I was like, ‘Get outta town!’”

Smith, who lives in The Landings, still has the demeanor of a gymnastics coach and former gym teacher. She’s athletic, loud and outspoken. She gets to the point quickly and breaks down her artistic process the way you’d

imagine someone who spent 18 years coaching girls through back handsprings would: with little frilliness.

She has a mater’s degree in physical education and exercise physiology, which she had expected to use to help rehabilitate cardiac patients at hospitals. Instead, she pursued art.

“I don’t think I’d be an artist if I hadn’t gone through all the things I’ve gone through,” she says. “It’s like peeling away the layers of an onion.”

Walking around her gallery and studio, you sense the unbridled passion that makes her work so powerful.

The things that inspire her are rendered in thick gobs and lush streaks of oil paint: her 23- and

24-year-old sons, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, her travels abroad, her left-leaning politics, even cartoons she grew up watching as a kid.

“I use a ton of paint, and I make a big mess,” she says, gesturing toward the laundry room and shower stall inside her studio. “I’m a real dirt bag when it comes to painting.”

Eventually, she says she’d like to do smaller, more refined work, improve on her figurative skills and try her hand at more representational landscapes.

“I’ve been a good student all my life, but I’m afraid I’m not a good art student,” Smith confesses. “When it comes to this stuff, you can’t anchor me down.

It’s too primal.”

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EDIBLES

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5

by Molly Schechter | Food Editor

Florida fresh produce hits the spot RECIPE

Cantaloupe and prosciutto salad with rustic croutons Yield: Eight to 10 side-dish servings

Photos by Molly Schechter

Cantaloupe and prosciutto salad with a rustic crouton and goat cheese What comes after strawberries in the way of widely available, locally grown produce? According to Dale Rodgers, produce manager of the Publix store on Longboat Key, it’s quite a list: “Florida blueberries from growers around Kathleen, outside of Lakeland; Florida peaches from the same area; sweet corn, bi-color is the most popular with everybody; and, this year, the Athena variety of Florida cantaloupes. They started a week early, right around Mother’s Day, because of the warm weather.” Rodgers should know — he has been with Publix for 39 years and at the Longboat Key location since 1983.

At two for $5 and weighing about five pounds each, these cantaloupes are a bargain and all but irresistible. A cantaloupe is a musk melon, so named for its alluring fragrance. All cantaloupes are musk melons, but not all musk melons are cantaloupes; the family (botanically, cucumis melo) also includes honeydew, casaba

and others. The cantaloupe has a netted rind; others are smooth. The whole lot originated in Persia (today, Iran). Athena is an early maturing variety “in a class of its own,” according to Gurney’s seed catalog. Transplanted northerners will recall setting out cantaloupe seedlings with tomato plants in late May, just about when we start enjoying them here.

Selecting a ripe cantaloupe in the store is, according to Rodgers, a matter of both sight and smell.

“Less green equals more ripe,” he says.

“You want that nice banana color.”

A ripe cantaloupe will let you know by its fragrance.

A slice of cantaloupe makes a great breakfast. Add some blueberries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a couple of tablespoons of any orange-flavored liqueur for a simple, splendid dessert. This easy-tomake salad is great as a stand-alone light lunch or as a side dish with almost anything for dinner.

“A PHENOMENON ” -NPR

Let come to room temperature before serving for best flavor. Garnish with longer strips of chives.

1 cantaloupe, approximately five pounds, cut into bite-sized pieces 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 cup prosciutto di Parma torn into small shreds (approximately four ounces) 3 tablespoons fresh chives, snipped (almost all of a one-ounce cello package) plus additional for garnish 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste Combine the melon pieces, olive oil, vineggar, prosciutto, sugar and chives in a medium bowl and toss gently to blend.

Add pepper to taste. Salad can be made ahead several hours and held refrigerated.

Thinly sliced prosciutto can be knife-chopped or (preferably) torn into small shreds.

To make the rustic croutons 1 loaf crusty country bread (Publix’s Tuscan boule is photographed), approximately one pound Olive oil for broiling 8 ounces fresh goat cheese Preheat broiler.

Cut the bread into 1-inch thick slices.

Coat generously with olive oil, using a pastry brush, or pour some oil onto a flat plate or shallow dish and briefly dip both sides of each slice. Toast under a broiler on an ungreased baking sheet until golden, approximately two-and-a-half minutes per side. Watch closely. Let cool, then spread generously with goat cheese or serve the cheese separately.

For a variation and about 50% cost savings, use sopressata instead of prosciutto. Cut thin slices into narrow strips.

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PREVIEW

YourObserver.com

■

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

by Pam Nadon | Film Critic

Film >> SUMMER

MOVIE PREVIEW

Beat the heat, grab a seat and chill out at your favorite movie theater. Hot sequels and superheroes aside, I’m opting for substance and style with this year’s summer picks. The top 10 are …

an openly gay man and really enjoying it, he’s diagnosed with a terminal illness. His son supports, grieves and finds unexpected love throughout the experience. Sound far-fetched? It’s based on the real-life experience of director/writer Mike Mills.

Starring Christopher Plummer (who really gets better with age) and Ewan McGregor. June 3

Brad Pitt Courtesy photos

Adam Scott and Paul Rudd in “Our Idiot Brother.”

‘THE TREE OF LIFE’

Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor

ties in 1942. She stumbles onto a horrific secret, which evolves into a journey of self-discovery. Directed by Gilles PaquetBrenner of the disturbingly brilliant “Pretty Things.” July 22

‘COWBOYS & ALIENS’

‘PROJECT NIM’

A remarkable documentary about a chimp (Nim), who was the subject of an experiment to ascertain whether he could learn language. Not only a study on Nim, the film reveals volumes about the people who participated in the project. Oscar winner James Marsh (“Man on Wire”) tracked down the family who raised Nim 30 years ago. July 8

This is a sci-fi Western (my only guaranteed blockbuster pick), starring Daniel Craig, aka James Bond, and is described as “ … the ‘Unforgiven’ with aliens landing.”

It can’t hurt that Harrison Ford also stars with heavy hitters Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer producing. Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”). July 29

This is an unprecedented look into the underground world of Iranian youth culture. A family is torn apart by their children’s highly illegal, obsessive and defiant behavior. It’s not often Westerners are privy to such volatile information. “Insightful” would be an understatement. Aug. 19 The title alone is a draw. In the opening scene, the title character (Paul Rudd) gets busted selling pot to a uniformed (yes) police officer. I like it so far. Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks and Emily Mortimer play sisters to idiot brother and score another major draw. Aug. 26

The always-profound Kristin Scott Thomas stars as an American journalist researching an article about the Vel’ d’ Hiv Roundup of Jews by French authori-

‘BEAUTIFUL BOY’

The unconventional love story is about a couple on the verge of separating when their son goes on a shooting rampage at school. Needless to say, their lives are drastically altered. Expect intimate performances from Maria Bello and Michael Sheen, master actors. June 3

‘THE DEBT’ Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis in “The Help.”

‘THE HELP’

Based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett, the film centers on the ability to create change through unlikely friendships. Three courageous women destroy

‘BEGINNERS’

Kristin Scott Thomas in “Sarah’s Key.”

In this espionage thriller, two former Mossad agents capture and kill a notorious Nazi war criminal in 1966 in Berlin.

Mission accomplished. Or was it? Director John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love”) assembles a dream cast, which includes Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds and Sam Worthington. Aug. 31

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‘CIRCUMSTANCE’

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‘SARAH’S KEY’ Maria Bello in “Beautiful Boy.”

the code of rules in a small Southern town by exposing rampant racist behavior in the 1960s. Nice casting including Sissy Spacek, Viola Davis and Emma Stone just for starters. Tate Taylor, who won an Audience Award for Best Short (“Chicken Party”) in 2003 at our own Sarasota Film Festival, directs. Aug. 12

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Get your long-awaited Brad Pitt fix in Terrence Malick’s fifth flick. In the making for decades, surprisingly, plot details are scarce. Sean Penn plays the grown-up version of a boy raised by parents diametrically opposed to one another in their view of the world. It looks as though patience may have been a virtue, having seen the amazing trailer. May 27

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YourObserver.com

Diversions

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THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

7

THE SOCIAL OBSERVER

Black Tie

CAMERA READY Women’s Leadership Council Page 11

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

By STEPHANIE HANNUM

Black Tie Editor

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota became the hub for sports and social reporters (more than 40!) all trying to catch a glimpse of famous coaches and personalities. The Dick Vitale Gala Saturday, May 21, treated the sold-out crowd of 860 guests to an exciting event that honored college basketball coaches John Calipari, of University of Kentucky, Roy Williams, of University of North Carolina, and tennis legend Nick Bollettieri. The gala, chaired by Mary KenealyBarbetta, raised more than $1.3 million for The V Foundation and cancer research. Vitale dedicated the evening to Adrian Littlejohn, Johnny Teis and Lucy Weber.

Next year’s gala is scheduled for May 18, 2012, and will honor Villanova coach Jay Wright, former Maryland coach Gary Williams and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz.

The evening was dedicated to Adrian Littlejohn, Johnny Teis and Lucy Weber.

Photos by Stephanie Hannum

John Scott, Ashley Dimare and Debbie Dimare, Lauren Scott and Casey Grosso

Rimi and Arun Khazanchi

Coach Billy and Christine Donovan with Pat Williams and Peter Vecsey

Sisters Sherri and Terri Vitale

Paula and Steve Andrews with their daughter, Erin Andrews

Mindy and Chip Bennett

Leigh Larosa, honoree John Calipari and Mike Larosa

Lorraine and Dick Vitale

Honoree Roy Williams with Julie and Pat Warren

Don and Krista Johnson

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

Diversions

YourObserver.com

■

9

COLUMN

black tie tales

+ Perennial favorites

by Molly Schechter | Social Editor “At the end of all our wanderings, we return to the place of our very beginning, and see it, as if for the first time,” T.S. Eliot. Once again, a season has flown by. Here is what many of you remember …

+ Admirable accomplishments

Stephanie Hannum

Keith and Debbie Lowrance, Bibb and Pam Swain, Deb Knowles, Diane and Keith Anderson at the Orchid Ball

+ Big bands are still No. 1

Harry Leopold: “Sarasota landed Roxie Jerde to be CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County — a giant home run! We will be seeing wonderful things happen.”

Harold Ronson: “This year’s co-producers dinner for the Sarasota Opera was the largest in history. The program accounted for about $250,000 in donations when Susan Danis came on board 11 years ago; this year it raised $1.3 million.”

Dennis Stover: “Never in Sarasota have I seen a dance floor fill up so fast as it did for Beatlemania at the New College 50th anniversary event.” Margaret Callihan: “The lads … really rocked the Ritz, and we all had a blast singing and dancing along with them!”

+ New and notable …

+ Memorable moments

Hillary Steele: “One of my most favorite moments was when Jean Weidner appeared on stage and danced at the Sarasota Ballet’s 20th anniversary Gala. Scott Anderson: “When Jean Weidner appeared on stage, she took everyone’s breath away.” Jules Rose: “The Perlman Winter Residency Music Program and Itzhak Perlman singing Be Bop with a group of teachers.

Flora Major: “Sarasota doesn’t always remember that RSVP means respondez s’il vous plait — please reply!”

Susan Jones: “Make a plan and stick to it; deviation is death to an event.” Gloria Moss: “Where was the message?” Veronica Brady: “The band playing too loud during dinner keeps people from talking. The unintended consequence is that when the music stops, people start to talk and nobody listens to the auctioneer or whatever comes after.”

Bob Plunket: “I hate to sound self-serving, but my favorite thing all year was my dance at CANdance. Never have I felt so much love.” Wendy Feinstein: “It was absolutely a blast to win ‘The Best Shoes’ at Wine, Women and Shoes.” Phil King: “Being nominated for the Standing O Award (Outstanding Couple) was fun, flattering and, on a serious note, a very good political statement by the Sarasota community.”

KC and the Sunshine Band at the Firefly Gala

Chris Pfahler: “The best event band was KC & The Sunshine Band for Forty Carrots’ Firefly Gala.” Gloria Good: “They refer to themselves as ‘The Party Band,’ and KC held his arms out and called himself ‘KFC.’” Deb Knowles: “The Asolo Rep’s Men Who Cook — seeing all those men with their signature dishes was inspiring!”

+ Room for improvement

+ Personal bests

Nora Johnson: “Pique Nique was just magic … every piece that went down the runway was something the women in the room would die for.” Pam Swain: “We invited long-time friends from Virginia Beach to the Orchid Ball, and they said it was the best event they had ever been to.” Carolyn Michel: “Seeing the artistic directors on the runway at the Designing Women Boutique fashion show, strutting their junk … er … stuff, pardon the expression.” Betty Schoenbaum: “The Sarasota Orchestra at the Jewish Family & Children’s Service Gala and ‘Inventing American Sound,’ written, produced, narrated and conducted by Leif Bjaland.” (And then he broke our hearts by announcing that he was leaving — on Valentine’s Day, no less.)

+ More to eat

+ A thank you note and an invitation

Thanks to all of you who responded to my request for your season highlights and for all you do to keep us informed all season long.

And, please send information on your events for next season to Stephanie Hannum, SHannum@ YourObserver.com. See you in the fall!

+ Last words

Phil Mancini: “We worked hard on creating new entrées including braised meats like Kobe short ribs, veal osso bucco, brisket and lamb shanks.

We also did a lot of rack of lamb, special cut veal chops and even skirt steak.”

Keith Coleman and Ruby Tuesday

Courtesy Photo

Margaret Wise: “It was the best year in the last three; everybody seemed to enjoy themselves more. The gloom is gone and there is a party mood.” Terri Klauber: “Wow, what a season! Sarasota really knows how to throw great parties; there’s no place better!”

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10 ■ Diversions >>

YourObserver.com

■

THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

CAMERA READY

Hurricane Bash Golf Tournament and Celebrity Chef Cook-Off

Designing Daughters’ ‘A Fashionable Gala’

Designing Women Boutique Thursday, May 19 | Michael’s On East Wine Cellar

Photos by Stephanie Hannum

Kathryn Sperber and Bob Johnson

Brian and Caroline Drechsler

Co-Chairs Tatyana Sharoubim and Molly Klauber

Brigid Hewes and Kelly Engel

American Red Cross | Friday, May 20 | University Park Country Club

Diane Capobianco and Beverly Arias

Mary Rainey, Jeannie Slater and Rochelle Dudley

Event chair John Boyle with his wife, Marta

Photos by Pam Eubanks

Phyllis and Mac Carraway with Cyndi and Todd Pokrywa

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THURSDAY, may 26, 2011

>>

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Diversions

YourObserver.com

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11

CAMERA READY

Women’s Leadership Council Luncheon Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County | Monday, May 16 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

Photos by Stephanie Hannum

Lisa Bechtold, honoree Lem Andrews and Dana Bakich

Celebration of Hope Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County Thursday, May 19 | Chelsea Center

Photos by Stephanie Hannum

The Hon. Rochelle Curley and Sylvia Taylor

Victoria Berry and her mother, Debbie

Peter Abbott and Saul Coplan

Marjorie DeCanio and Darlene Craver

Elaine Lunkes and Elizabeth Barrett

TM

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Sarasota in June never sounded so good.

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This year’s highlights include: • • • •

World premiere of completed Mozart fragments Masterpieces by Bach, Brahms, Dvořák and more Festival premiere of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony Two new conductors take the podium

Artist Showcases - June 2, 9 & 16 - 5:30 pm | Holley Hall Friday Festival Concerts - June 3, 10 & 17 - 8:00 pm | Opera House Saturday Symphonies - June 4, 11 & 18 - 8:00 pm | Opera House

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