LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 37, NO. 27
FREE
•
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015
Plymouth Harbor plans 70 new units
DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND Notice something different? No, we didn’t change our hair. We rethought every inch of your Observer to make it more informative and more fun than ever. Look inside to learn more about our bold new look. SEE PAGE 9A
BLACK
TIE
The Sarasota Bay community seeks a new 150,000-square-foot building by 2017. CIRCUS ARTS GALA
ROBIN HARTILL
Attendees got into the circus act at the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park.
MANAGING EDITOR
Plymouth Harbor is planning for a growth spurt. By early 2017, the Sarasota Bay retirement community, located at 700 John Ringling Blvd., plans to build a new 150,000-squarefoot building with three stories over parking in the property’s western-most parking area that’s adjacent to the Smith Care Center. Plymouth Harbor is still finalizing the number of units it will seek, but it is currently planning approximately 70 new residences: 30 in a memory-care unit, 30 assisted-living units and 10 independent-living units. The estimated cost of the project is $21 million to $25 million, which will be funded through both traditional bank financing and a bond. The Sarasota City Development Review Committee will discuss the project during a Feb. 4 meeting, at Sarasota City Hall. DRC SEE CARE UNITS PAGE 2A
CELEBRATING 60 WITH GRACE
ARTS + CULTURE Go behind the scenes with Sarasota Opera’s set designer.
INSIDE
YOUR TOWN The town is finally getting the answers it will need to make critical calls about the future of its police dispatch services. PAGE 3A
Paralympian push Ryan Chalmers and Travis Dodson hope to get on track for future Paralympic Games. KRISTEN HERHOLD STAFF WRITER
On Jan. 29, Dick and Connie Grace celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple began visiting Longboat Key more than 50 years ago with their children and later grandchildren. They have wintered on the Key for 20 years.
You may have observed Ryan Chalmers and Travis Dodson training on Longboat Key recently. The past month, they’ve been training twice a day along Gulf of Mexico Drive, traversing 90 to 120 miles each week based on the goal their coach gives them. But here’s what you probably didn’t know: Chalmers and Dodson are training in hopes of competing in the track portion of future Paralympics competitions. The pair, who “push” on specially designed three-wheeled hand cycles, decided to spend a SEE ATHLETES PAGE 5A
ALL ANGELS MEN BLUNT ON POT Dr. Herbert Kaufman, professor of pharmacology at Louisiana State University, spoke about legalizing medical marijuana Jan. 20, at the All Angles by the Sea Episcopal Church’s Sandpiper Men’s Group meeting. He asked attendees to raise their hands if they support legalizing recreational marijuana, and approximately 70% of attendees showed their support “This doesn’t really surprise me from the conversations I’ve had,” the Rev. David Danner said. “There’s always some reluctance about legalizing a questionable drug, but there’s also people pretty much in tune with the concept of the needs to relieve pain in many situations, and they’re willing to explore the possibilities. The research has been done, and it seems to be effective.”