Sarasota Observer 2.10.22

SARASOTA

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Barry, Barry funny. PAGE 14

FREE • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

VOLUME 18, NO. 11

YOUR TOWN

City parks Fillmore lot sale Commissioners turn away from development offers over bond provisions. SEE PAGE 3

STARS OF THE CIRCUS Nat Kaemmerer

Mote manatees like the Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals might be the underdogs at Super Bowl LVI, but manatees Hugh and Buffett at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium seem to feel good about them.

On their 14th year of picking Super Bowl champions, both picked the Bengals.

Buffett’s 11-2 record might take his pick as a good sign, but keep in mind that Hugh picked them, too, and he’s 6-7 on picking the champion.

The tradition uses training that improves the manatees’ care and well-being. Target training involves the manatee swimming to a target when a whistle blows, and they’re rewarded with food afterward.

Trainers use it to get them onto a stretcher to be weighed or to come to a vet. And, of course, what’s life without a little fun?

“Sarasota never gets to host the Super Bowl, so this is the next best thing,” Mote spokesperson Stephannie Kettle said.

“They get training so they don’t freeze up on game day.”

Wallenda, five others added to Ring of Fame.

SEE PAGE 6

Eric Garwood

Ringmaster Mike Naughton presides over Saturday night’s big finale, the unveiling of the Ring of Fame plaques.

A Fresh approach to lasting romance

Harry Sayer

70 years of service Dogs, cats and the humans who take care of them at the Humane Society of Sarasota celebrated the organization’s 70th anniversary this week.

Staffers and visitors at the shelter commemorated the occasion with cupcakes.

The animals enjoyed special shelter-anniversary treats of their own.

The 70th anniversary also marked a “Name Your Price” promotion where adopters could decide what to pay when adopting a pet.

Staff joked that the best present the shelter could be given is having more animals find homes.

For one couple, city’s Friday night street party had a deeper meaning.

SEE PAGE 24 Harry Sayer

Peter and Carol Ferranti share a kiss after renewing their vows.

A+E

A special moment.

INSIDE

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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WEEK OF FEB. 10, 2022

TABS

W HAT ’S HAPPENING

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Vow renewal planned at Siesta Beach

“Dad, right here with this, you have a lot of people bragging for you.”

Couples in the Sarasota area will have a special opportunity to renew their vows on Siesta Key Beach and Nokomis Beach on Valentine’s Day, thanks to a decades-long tradition put on by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.

The event will be held at both beaches at 6 p.m. on Feb. 14. Officiated by Judge Debra Johnes Riva at Siesta Beach and Judge Maria Ruhl at Nokomis Beach, couples can enjoy light refreshments, music and photo opportunities before the vowrenewal ceremony begins.

“Sharing a gorgeous sunset on our beautiful beaches with the most special person in your life is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day,” PRNR Program Coordinator Catherine Wunderlich said.

Couples interested in attending are encouraged to register ahead of time through the Sarasota County website or by calling 861-7275. The event cost is $15 a couple.

Tom Edelston, accepting his late father Willie’s plaque as an inductee into the Circus Ring of Fame. Read more on page 6

BY THE NUMBERS 268

City-controlled parking spaces in and adjacent to the Fillmore Drive lot on St. Armands Circle.

PAGE 3

6

Inductees to the Circus Ring of Fame at a ceremony Saturday.

PAGE 6

321

ID-card readers on order for Sarasota County Schools buses.

Riverview senior aces her ACT exam

PAGE 14

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Passes issued daily at Myakka River State Park for the 2.5-mile hike to Deep Hole.

File photo

Bus riders will be without a SCAT tracking website for two months while a mobile app is launched.

PAGE 20

SCAT bus-tracking mobile app on the way

CALENDAR n Sarasota City

Commission special meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Feb. 14, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15, Board Chambers, Landings Administration building, 1960 Landings Boulevard.

S

arasota County Area Transit’s BusTime website has been discontinued as the online infrastructure is improved and shifts to a mobile application.

Bus tracking will be unavailable until the app has been completed, which is expected to take about two months.

BusTime allowed users to estimate the proximity and schedule of the bus they were waiting on via a web browser. The new mobile app could improve performance and cellphone compat-

ibility, but bus riders could face unexpected waits as the transition takes place.

The two-month period without bus tracking is not limited to the shift of the online infrastructure.

All buses will be equipped with the necessary technology so that the app can function for all routes.

Bus routes, fares, maps and information can be found on SCAT’s website. SCAT also offers on-demand service, which operates much like popular ride-

hailing services, such as Uber and Lyft.

On-demand service can be accessed through the “On-Demand

by Sarasota County” app, which is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Service can also be requested by calling 300-1553.

All SCAT buses have followed a federal mask mandate that applies to all riders. Face masks, hand sanitizer and other cleaning agents are available upon boarding any bus.

Molly Abel, the daughter of Ryan and Andrea Abel and a senior in Riverview High School’s IB program, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

Fewer than half of 1% of students who take the ACT receive a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2021, 4,055 out of 1.29 million students who took the ACT received a top composite score of 36.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores.

The score for ACT’s optional writing test is reported separately and not included in the ACT composite score.

“Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “A student’s exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.”

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Eric Garwood photos

Sarasota sets aside talk of selling parking facility Commissioners vote 4-1 to take no action on proposals to redevelop city-owned lot on St. Armands.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

W

hat started in May as an unsolicited offer to buy and redevelop a cityowned parking lot on St. Armands Circle and inspired four more offers to do the same came to a close Monday with a Sarasota City Commission vote to take no further steps on the proposal. For now.

The 4-1 vote doesn’t mean a developer couldn’t return with a revised offer for the 1.98-acre lot on Fillmore Drive.

But the unique provisions of St. Armand Circle’s paid-parking program and the requirements of a parking-garage bond that runs until 2038 prompted both City Attorney Robert Fournier and City Manager Marlon Brown to recommend commissioners set aside the plan.

“The time will come when it’s quite doable,” Fournier said, adding now was not the time.

The interest in the Fillmore Drive lot dates to mid-2021, when representatives for JWM Management presented conceptual plans for the city-owned site to the commission.

At the time, JWM outlined its desire to construct a hotel, grocery store and residences.

Following that offer, city commissioners in August signaled a desire to receive offers from any prospective purchasers to buy the land for redevelopment.

Five offers were received, ranging from $5 million to $11.8 million.

Condominiums and other hotels were suggested by developer Gregory Thomas Leonard, Jebco Ventures and Property Markets Group, Ocean Properties and JWM. The $5 million offer from Martin Hyde included no details.

But parking, as in the number of paid city spaces now on the site, the number of paid city spaces on streets nearby and the number of private spaces required by a private development once construction was complete arose as a critical issue.

PAID-PARKING REVENUE

Why? Because the city agreed to use paidparking revenue from St. Armands to fund the construction of the North Adams Drive garage.

Under the terms of the bond agreement, the city is not allowed to take any action that would negatively affect paid parking revenue — which means any development plans that reduce the number of public parking spaces could be a no-go.

And bonds don’t work like typical consumer or mortgage loans. Often there is no provision for payoff earlier than the call date, which in this case happens no earlier than 2027.

The bond expires in 2038.

Construction would take away revenue for roughly 18 months when

Courtesy rendering

Above: In addition to a hotel, Ocean Properties said its plans could be expanded to include a grocery store.

Left: Paid street parking runs along South Adams Drive and Monroe Drive, adjacent to the parking lot.

CATCH A RIDE, SOMETIME SOON Don’t want to mess with parking, city-owned or otherwise?

The city’s Bay Runner openair trolley is expected to launch soon on a route from downtown to Lido Key via Bird Key and St. Armands Circle.

The city is awaiting the arrival of the trolleys from its contractor before the end of tourism season.

City commissioners on Monday approved spending $530,082 to match a Florida Department of Transportation grant. Additional funding will come in the form of $750,000 from the city’s Economic Development Fund and $50,000 from both the Downtown Improvement District and the Business Improvement District.

The city has identified 13 stops for the seven-day-a-week trolley service, with endpoints at Main Street and School Avenue downtown and Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach on the barrier islands.

In November, the City Commission approved a three-year contract for the new route.

Washington, D.C.-based CPR Medical Transportation, which runs the Siesta Key Breeze trolley, will manage the city’s service.

ing spaces but one of revenue. He questioned the regular usage of the parking garage and Fillmore Drive parking lot aside from a dozen hightraffic days. He said street parking pays more than three-quarters of St. Armands’ $1 million parking revenue.

“I bet you if the city took a finite look at it, and looked at your lighting bill, your painting, striping, whatever in that parking lot, I bet you’re not even making any money,” he said.

MOVING TOO RAPIDLY

those 268 city slots were rendered unusable, cutting into the required income. (There are about 1,600 paid parking slots in St. Armands in total.)

Any developer would be required to not only replace those 268 public spaces upon completion, but also come up with a plan to bridge the revenue gap created by construction and still find room for up to 100 or so private-business spaces.

Complicating matters, the maximum building height there is 35 feet, making a parking garage underneath new construction a difficult proposition.

Brown said in October, and reiterated on Monday, that paying to retire the bond before the earliest possible date — 2027 — would cost $16 million. The money, he said on Monday, would likely have to come from the city’s general fund. Dissolving the bond earlier than 2027 could also bring legal challenges from investors, Brown said.

“I’m really not in favor of using our general fund balance just so we can facilitate this sale that from every calculation I’m seeing doesn’t seem to give us that much of a benefit fiscally,” Mayor Erik Arroyo said.

In voting to take no further steps on the Fillmore lot proposal com-

missioners said it might make sense later to issue a request for proposal or an invitation to negotiate that includes specific points on what the city would like to see developed on the land including potential zoning changes that could accommodate taller buildings with more parking options. The financial implications would also be spelled out.

St. Armands Circle residents in January objected to proposals to raise maximum heights in the shopping district. In a Zoom-format public workshop, St. Armands Residents Association President Chris Goglia said a residents association survey found 75% of the 125 total respondents were opposed to a 10-foot height increase.

“What’s such the hurry?” said Carl Shoffstall, the president of the Lido Key Residents Association.

Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier read a statement to city commissioners, drawing on the city’s relationship with the barrier island town.

“Sometimes, as here in our view, where the golden goose is thriving if not bursting at the seams, it may be incumbent on government to draw the line.”

Leonard told commissioners the real question is not one of park-

Kevin Hennessy, counsel for Ocean Properties Ltd., said his company supported a bid process and agreed that the city was moving too rapidly.

“Ocean Properties, frankly, submitted a proposal in large part because of a concern that the city was going forward too quickly,” he said.

Gavin Meshad said JWM submitted its proposal in the blind, responding to a 2008 study that indicated a need for a grocery store on St. Armands Circle. “You’ve got to remember how this got started.

We just said let’s put this in play. We said let’s just float the balloon out there and see where it goes.”

Meshad said the issue goes beyond the parking and parking bond issues.

He said he didn’t think any of the 268 spaces could be given up.

With both Fournier and Brown recommending a slower path, commissioners agreed, though Commissioner Liz Alpert cast the dissenting vote.

“Whatever parking can fit or not fit … whatever height may be, at the end of the day, have we taken into account what do the residents of St. Armands want,” Vice Mayor Kyle Scott Battie said. “I haven’t heard enough in terms of what they don’t want and what they do want. If they did want something there, what would it be, what would it look like?”

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Cosentino, Brody file to run for county seat

We are there when you can’t be.

Two Democrats join the race for the District 2 seat held by Ziegler, prompting an August primary.

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Less than a day after Hagen Brody filed to run for the District 2 seat on the County Commission last week, Siesta Key resident Mike Cosentino filed to run against him as a Democrat, in hopes of adding a new face to the commission.

Brody, also a Democrat, will meet Cosentino in the August primary election.

Cosentino said he is already looking ahead to facing Republican incumbent Christian Ziegler in November. Ziegler has not yet filed for re-election.

“I see running against Brody as a warmup for running against Ziegler,” said Cosentino, who lost a 2018 primary for the District 4 seat, which ultimately went to Republican Al Maio. “I hope to reinvent democracy in Sarasota and have a government by and for the people.”

Cosentino said he hopes to prioritize the needs of the community.

He also said he desires a functioning bipartisan system to reflect those needs.

Cosentino has been vocal in his stance on Siesta Key incorporation.

He has published multiple articles in local publications explaining his view and his distrust of current county commissioners.

“The problem is that there are no Republicans on the County Commission; they just have an ‘R’ next to their name,” Cosentino said. “We shouldn’t be voting by people’s names. We should be voting on what they advocate for.”

Brody also noted the importance of Siesta Key in a recent statement.

He also vowed to put citizens first

Courtesy photos

Above: Hagen Brody Left: Mike Cosentino

in governmental decisions.

Brody holds an at-large seat on the Sarasota City Commission. Upon filing for the County Commission seat, he received endorsements from school board members Tom Edwards, Jane Goodwin and Shirley Brown.

“We need to return power back to our residents and move us towards a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous Sarasota,” Brody said in a statement.

“Leadership on local issues most important to the residents of the city of Sarasota, its surrounding neighborhoods and Siesta Key is needed now more than ever on the County Commission.”

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

5

Incorporation efforts reignite for Siesta Key Sarasota leaders will meet Siesta Key Association representatives to discuss the possibility of annexing the island into the city.

But Save Siesta Key and its new director are making a new push for incorporation.

BLAKE FUSSELL STAFF WRITER

A

meeting between Siesta Key Association representatives, Sarasota Mayor Eric Arroyo and City Manager Marlon Brown has been scheduled to discuss the possibility of annexing Siesta Key into the city, but SKA members have a different plan for the island’s future.

The meeting is planned for Feb. 16, but SKA members say that annexation is not the direction they would like to go. Despite the January vote that killed the bill to incorporate Siesta Key, Save Siesta Key incorporation efforts have continued, with plans to resubmit in August.

“Although we are somewhat skeptical that this is a viable alternative to forming our own governmentlite town, out of courtesy, we have agreed to meet on Feb. 16,” a Siesta Key Association press release read.

“One big hurdle is that, currently, the city assesses 3.13 mills on property inside its borders.”

Save Siesta Key added a new director, Tim Hensey, to its board. Hensey detailed what needed to be done to resubmit the request to incorporate the island at a recent SKA meeting.

Hensley said one of the first orders of business would be to gather petition signatures totaling 60% of Siesta Key’s population. The earliest a vote could happen is 2023.

“We were told early on by staff there was no petition requirement, don’t focus on it,” he said. “So we let off the gas pedal on that.”

Hensley also suggested redoing the feasibility study, a requirement

Blake Fussell

Tim Hensey speaks to attendees of the February SKA meeting at St. Boniface Episcopal Church.

for incorporation. Members of the state legislative local delegation took issue with the study’s 0.25 millage as too low.

Even with the petition and feasibility study efforts, Hensley said the odds of incorporation getting on the ballot for Siesta Key voters were not good. He voiced disapproval of the county and state government and said Siesta Key did not get a “fair shake” in the first incorporation attempt.

“If you look at what’s going on in Tallahassee right now, you’ve got a Republican governor, Republican House and Republican Senate that are very anti-additional layer of government,” Hensley said. “We were fighting a huge political wave.”

While acknowledging the difficulty of pushing forward, Hensley presented possible solutions, starting with the Save Siesta Key project. He told those in attendance at the February SKA meeting that experienced

lawyers were needed and could give an incorporation bill a better chance at passing.

Hensley also explained the importance of lobbying in Tallahassee and assured SKA members that lobbying is a common tool. He explained the hiring of lobbyist Jodie Tierney.

“We just brought on Jodie, who’s a lobbyist. That’s something I don’t have much experience in, but it is a real art,” Hensley said. “She’s in Tallahassee all the time, and I think having someone on our board that understands how things work in Tallahassee will be huge.”

The desire to incorporate Siesta Key was originally based on preserving the land, water and culture on the island. Recent approval of two highdensity hotels on Siesta Key further pushed incorporation efforts.

“Our feasibility study expert recommended the lobbyist we (formerly) used, and I think he’s a super nice guy,” Hensley said. “He was up there

on our behalf visiting them (legislators) in their offices and behind closed doors, but I don’t think our voice was heard.”

Before becoming the Save Siesta Key director, Hensley was a construction executive for more than 40 years.

He was also an area manager for the company that built Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice, along with other local projects.

More information on the annexation meeting and Siesta Key’s incorporation efforts can be found on the Siesta Key Foundation’s website. The meeting will be streamed through the Sarasota County website and is budgeted to occur toward the end of the regular meeting.

“I don’t think Siesta Key will ever get where we want it to get until we put our wallets behind our voice and do something about it,” Hensley said. “There’s 7,000 of us. I think we have the ability to do it.”

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Six inducted into St. Armands’ Ring of Fame 2022 ceremony moves under the big top to welcome half-dozen, including Nik Wallenda.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

N

ik Wallenda’s friends had some encouraging words Saturday night at the 26th annual induction ceremony for the Circus Ring of Fame, under the big top in Nathan Benderson Park.

There was Gov. Ron DeSantis on the giant video screen, followed by actor-comedian Paul Reubens.

There were Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski and the Rev. Joel Osteen. David Copperfield and Whoopi Goldberg sent video messages.

Between warm cheers from the crowd, their recorded messages were in step with the credo of the highwire walker and newest member of the Ring of Fame: “Don’t give up.”

Gronkowski even compared induction into the Ring of Fame to winning a Super Bowl, “and I know something about winning Super Bowls.”

Wallenda’s acceptance was the final piece in a glittering event held for the first time inside the big top instead outside in St. Armands Circle, where the Ring of Fame’s more than 140 members are honored with plaques on permanent display.

Circus Ring of Fame Chair William Powell told the audience the organization had plenty of time to rethink its plans for the event after cancelling in January 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While we honor our history, let’s not let it get in the way of progress,” he said in opening remarks to the two-hour, free-to-attend show that was streamed live on several circus-connected websites. “We are evolving our model. 2021 was a lot of meetings. It led to where were we are today.”

Photos by Eric Garwood

Sailor Circus’ Kaylee Dutkiewicz performs high above the circus ring.

Above: Inductee Nik Wallenda responds to the crowd’s applause.

Right: Performer Elan Espana accepts the Generation Next award.

Saturday night featured tributes to the inductees, performances by Sailor Circus’ Kaylee Dutkiewicz high above the circus ring and Elan Espana, an eighth-generation circus performer who dazzled the crowd with his Diablo juggling. Mayor Erik Arroyo and City Commission member Hagen Brody appeared, declaring Feb. 5 Circus Appreciation Day.

Espana was also awarded the first Generation Next award, emblematic of a rising star in the circus world.

The real stars, however, were the six inductees. In a show hosted by ringmasters Heidi Herriott and Mike Naughton, medals and plaques were awarded to “Galaxy Girl” Tina Winn, longtime trapeze artist and Sailor Circus teacher Willie Edelston, cir-

cus producer George Carden, animal act trainers the Richter and Casserlly Families, the circus industry’s advance-promotion professionals and Wallenda.

Edelston’s son Tom accepted the award for his father, who died in 2021. Edelston signed with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a trapeze artist and performed extensively through the decades for numerous shows. He also volunteered for more than 50 years with Sarasota’s Sailor Circus, teaching the art of performing.

Tom Edelston said it wasn’t unusual for former students of his father’s to rush up to him in public for a hug and a thank you. Tom said his father once told him that “if you were truly great, others will do your bragging for you.”

“Dad, right here with this, you have a lot of people bragging for you,” Tom Edelston said of the Ring of Fame plaque and medal. “You’re going to have a ring on St. Armands Circle for generations to come. Congratulations, Dad. You do deserve it.”

Herriott introduced Wallenda as a performer with a deep connection to the early days of the circus. The Wallenda troupe was inducted into the Ring of Fame in 1988.

“They have dominated the headlines for over nine decades, starting with their first appearance with the Ringling Brothers Circus, the Greatest Show on Earth, in 1928,” she said. “Today, it’s only befitting that we honor the great-grandson of the family patriarch, Karl Wallenda.”

Of late, Wallenda has traversed Niagara Falls on a tightrope, and in 2019, along with Lijana Wallenda, crossed Times Square 25 stories above the street. In March 2020, Wallenda crossed a volcano in Nicaragua. During the local COVID-19 lockdown, Wallenda orchestrated a series of drive-in thrill shows at Benderson Park and around Florida.

“Reflecting on my career, I was writing some notes and started bawling my eyes out,” Wallenda said.

“It was a life. I have been so beyond

THE INDUCTEES n Tina Winn: Performing as Galaxy Girl, the seventh-generation performer began her circus training as a child with her family and has performed for decades. She is an extreme aerialist, often performing up to 130 feet off the ground. n George Carden: A Missouribased circus producer who has raised millions of dollars for charitable causes through his circus and sponsoring organizations. n Willie Edelston: He signed with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a trapeze artist and performed extensively through the decades for numerous shows. He also volunteered for more than 50 years with Sarasota’s Sailor Circus. n The Casserlly and Richter Families: Among Europe’s top circus families, best known for animal acts and acrobatic productions. n The advance professionals: The Ring of Fame honored the industry’s promoters who execute marketing, advertising, sales, sponsorships and public relations fucntions. n Nik Wallenda: Great-grandson of legendary performer Karl Wallenda, Nik has performed recently in a series of televised high-wire shows over Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Times Square and an active Central American volcano.

blessed.”

He said he owed all of his TV specials and fame to his family legacy.

“Life is being on stage; life is performing in front of a live audience; life is under a big top, in a ring, doing what I was made to do,” Wallenda said. “That’s life. I think we as performers often take our lives for granted. We take it for granted how blessed we are, to be able to do what we love. Something we are passionate about.”

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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SKA submits ideas for penny surtax Beach parking app is one project that gained traction with Siesta Key residents.

BLAKE FUSSELL STAFF WRITER

Although their suggestions would be included with the rest of Sarasota County, members of the Siesta Key Association recently forwarded their ideas for community uses of the voter-decided 1% sales surtax to the County Commission.

The commission held a penny surtax workshop Tuesday at which two Siesta-specific ideas were discussed. According to Bob Luckner of SKA, six ideas were submitted to the county and more will be provided before March 29’s vote on placing the surtax on the November ballot.

If approved by voters, the sales tax would be renewed for its fourth 15-year run, through 2039. Tourists and nonresidents typically pay about a fifth of the sales tax total in Sarasota County, the county said.

“We asked last month that you send us your ideas,” Luckner said during February’s SKA meeting.

“Limited to that, though, we have sent a preliminary list with half a dozen projects we found to be high priority.”

The commission first discussed the Key’s mini-reef project and the possibility of funding similar efforts to revitalize the coastal environment.

Mini-reef projects have increased on Siesta Key, and county funding could alleviate organizational and funding concerns that could arise.

Siesta residents also suggested a tracking system on a phone app or an electronic sign to display real-time availability of beach parking.

“The parking information system would have sensors in each individual parking space,” Luckner said.

“There would be signs and an app that shows whether there’s parking available at the beaches. The project would cost about $1 million.”

If voters renew the penny surtax, an estimated $900 million would be

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allotted to Sarasota County over its 15-year run. Three-quarters of the money would be divided by population between the county and the cities. The school board is entitled to 25% of the total.

While SKA members expressed that they want their projects included in the proposed budget, it is possible that unallocated funds could be used for Key-specific projects.

“We were a bit distracted last fall with things like hotels, and they didn’t hold any meetings out here anyways,” Luckner said. “But now we’re getting engaged.”

Among the other high-priority projects that made SKA’s list were crosswalk improvements on Midnight Pass and Beach Road, intersection improvements at Midnight Road and Stickney Point, and new traffic signals.

Many of the 48 ideas submitted were traffic, transportation or infrastructure related. New beach bathrooms also made the list.

“We asked about bike lanes, improvements on Midnight Pass and modifications to some of the sidewalks,” Luckner said. “But none of those are defined right now. You just kind of get in the queue and see what happens.”

Luckner said SKA will be accepting new project ideas ahead of the commission meeting in March.

Bob Luckner spoke last week to Siesta Key Association members.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

OPINION / OUR VIEW

SARASOTA / SIESTA KEY

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Hughes, KHughes@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writer / Blake Fussell, BFussell@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Shawn Candela, SCandela@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Spencer Fordin, SFordin@YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@YourObserver.com

Courtesy photo

Autonomous weeders can remove weeds from crops without herbicide.

Everglades, Sarasota Bay could benefit from robot technology Automated weeders could save farmers from using harmful herbicides that contribute to runoff and poor water quality.

ADRIAN MOORE AND GRAYCE BURNS

I

t is likely that weed killer and pesticide runoff from all of us who live near the water, and from farms, contribute significantly to fueling both red tide and blue-green algae outbreaks in Florida. Both cause massive sea life die-offs and foul our beaches and coastal waters, with grave impact to the environment and our beachtourism-based economy. Keeping our water and beaches clean is vital for a better environment and our quality of life.

Technological innovations in agriculture promise to make big inroads in reducing agricultural runoff into rivers, streams and coastal waters and might soon expand to lawn care and landscaping to reduce harmful runoff from urban and suburban areas. In the last few decades, new farming technologies like surveillance drones, autonomous tractors and high-tech greenhouses improved farming efficiency. Those technologies have already spilled over to urban and suburban uses, especially drones and robomowers. New advancements in weed control techniques could be the next big agricultural tech breakthrough to transform modern farming.

For example, a company called Carbon Robotics is one of several companies that make automated farming equipment, including what it calls the “Autonomous Laserweeder,” an automated weeding machine using laser beams to zap a field’s weeds — no chemicals required.

Automated, laser-guided methods of weed control for agriculture could mean that farmers will no longer have to use dangerous herbicides or less-effective natural weed control options. Because natural herbicides cannot kill the roots of weeds as effectively as more chemically modified compounds, many natural pesticides require farmers to spray their crops multiple times a

season, whereas traditional chemical methods need only one application but are loaded with chemicals that poison our waters.

Roboweeders can fully weed anywhere from 15 to 20 acres a day, while weeding by hand the average farm team could barely cover that same ground in a week. And the roboweeder can work day and night, in bad weather, and kills only the weeds and not beneficial plants.

It also does not harm the soil like herbicides do, so the need for soil additives is reduced. Adding up the savings from not buying herbicides and soil additives and the higher productivity of the roboweeder, the economics of lasers over spraying start to makes sense.

This technology, like the others mentioned, starts with farms and their economies of scale.

Laserweeding works by using high-resolution cameras to differentiate weeds from crops and avoid harming the health of the soil. The learning and improvements from agricultural uses will make it easier to build databases to allow that system to recognize yard, garden and decorative plants from weeds.

As the technology improves and costs come down, it is easy to see how they can be used by homeowners and landscapers in urban and suburban settings.

Laserweeding might also have direct benefits for human health.

Current estimates suggest that her-

bicide use within the last half century has caused major soil depletion, leading researchers to estimate that vegetables have lost up to 40% of their nutritional value compared with older crops. Since the farmer does not have to use any chemicals at all, laserweeding is likely more beneficial for the soil than even the safest herbicides. This is even more true for home gardens, where herbicides can get directly onto food plants and the effects on the soil are more concentrated.

It is generally exciting to see the market, and technological innovation, coming up with new ways to solve a tough tradeoff in farming—how to balance keeping food prices down with low-cost weed control vs the harms herbicides can inflict. It’s even more exciting when the same innovation can help us all to cut or eliminate herbicide runoff from our homes, parks, golf courses, street medians, etc. Every bit of that runoff we reduce helps reduce the risk of red tide and bluegreen algae outbreaks. Never seeing one of those again is something we think everyone can get behind.

I was dismayed to read the opinion article by Matt Walsh discussing the “success” stories of Vanessa Hamalian, a nurse practitioner who prescribes ivermectin as both a preventive and treatment for COVID-19, among other protocols.

Credible science is based on large, randomized controlled studies, not the individual experiences of a few.

If I tossed a coin 10 times and seven times it landed on a head, it would not be justified to conclude that tossing coins will turn up a head 70% of the time.

It was recognized early on that the vaccines did not prevent becoming “infected,” which simply means harboring the virus. That is why, despite being fully vaccinated, people were advised to keep wearing masks, maintain safe distancing and avoid indoor gatherings. This was because, although they might not be ill, they can still be highly effective vectors for transmitting

Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma Burke, EBurke@yourobserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Coordinator / Samantha Dischinger, SDischinger@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Director of Information Technology / Adam Quinlin, AQuinlin@YourObserver.com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon @YourObserver.com

Adrian Moore is the vice president of Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota, and Grayce Burns is a writer for the organization.

LETTERS Recoveries are not proof that drug works

Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Sales Manager / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal Bair, RBair@YourObserver.com; Beth Jacobson, BJacobson@YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver. com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver. com; Brenda White, BWhite@ YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Audri Ferguson, AFerguson@ YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator / Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@ YourObserver.com Advertising Assistant / Sam Johnson, SJohnson@YourObserver.com

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the virus.

However, evidence has demonstrated that the vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness and death.

Although many people have died and have suffered longer effects from COVID-19, most people recover and do well. So, citing recovery as proof of the effectiveness of a treatment, in my opinion, is uninformed and irresponsible.

I am not a researcher, a virologist or an epidemiologist. I practiced medicine as a family doctor for 35 years. I learned during that time to listen to people who have earned their “chops” by extensive studies and doing credible research using the scientific method.

Viruses can only mutate when they can replicate. Until we can reduce the number of people who will continue to act as effective vectors for the virus, we will not be able to win this battle, and we may continue to struggle against new variants that may be even more deadly and able to bypass the avail-

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Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota Observer, Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Jacksonville Record & Observer, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine

able vaccines.

A criticism of the mRNA vaccines, which has been frequently promulgated, is that they were launched too quickly under the “Operation Warp Speed.” The reality is that they have been under research and development for decades, which is why once the genome of the virus was known, vaccines to target it were able to be developed quickly.

It is unfortunate that a vaccine that might have prevented the death and lingering illness of so many people has become so politicized.

I hope this letter helps at least a few to go out and get vaccinated.

Yes, it has been said that the latest variant, omicron, is “milder,” but just remember “mild” is not the same thing as “milder.” If it were not a variant of “concern,” would so many people still be filling the hospitals and dying?

CEO / Matt Walsh Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles 1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468 File photo

LORRAINE ROBERTSON, M.D. LAKEWOOD RANCH

Vanessa Hamalian treated more than 1,000 patients with ivermectin.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

File photo

Students arrive at Southside Elementary aboard a school bus.

Student ID technology goes for a bus ride in 2022-23 System to be installed next school year adds new levels of safety on the way to school and back home again.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

S

chool bus-riding students in Sarasota County next academic year will likely swipe an ID card as they board and disembark to document when and where they arrived on their trips to school and back again.

The Sarasota School Board on Feb. 1 unanimously approved a $397,830 contract with Trapeze Software Group of Delaware to provide 321

card readers/keypads, “ruggedized” computer tablets and mounting hardware inside school buses.

Jody Dumas, the district’s chief operating officer, told school board members that schools already use a form of bar-coded ID card for their students, but the addition of the bus card reader system will allow for new capabilities beyond checking out a book at the library or swiftly moving through the lunch line.

“We have had schools throughout the district use student ID cards for a

number of years, but it has not been a coordinated effort,” Dumas said.

“And so, what we’ve been trying to do is create a student ID that’s standardized throughout the district, which can be customized for each school. But that student ID will have a bar code on it that can be used multiple times a day.”

Dumas said the use of the standardized IDs will introduce a new level of safety and security for students who ride buses. Bus movements are already tracked in real time through a GPS-based system, he said. With the additional data of when a student boards a bus and when that student steps off the bus, it will be easier to ensure students are where they are supposed to be. The cards are not trackers and will log the student’s presence only when they swipe the card.

“Way back when, I was a director of transportation, and the most frightening moments in my life as a director were the first couple of weeks of school, when the bus drivers do not know students, and we have all those little ones on buses, and we’re trying to get them home in the evening,” Dumas said. “And God forbid we drop them somewhere we’re not supposed to.”

Part of the same technology will also allow drivers to receive updated route information directly to a computer tablet. Dumas said drivers who are being assigned to cover a portion of another route in the case of a driver absence can receive the new turnby-turn route immediately instead of having to check in with someone in the transportation office.

“If there is a sub bus driver, they’ll know that route exactly through the tablet on the bus,” Dumas said.

The contract calls for the purchase and installation of the hardware for the buses and the operating software, plus a year of maintenance for both systems.

Dumas said Fruitville Elementary is already among the district’s schools using deeper student ID technology. Principal Steven French led part of a districtwide effort to roll out that technology, Dumas said.

“I think this is a great idea because anything we can do to enhance parents knowing where a child is if there is a problem or an issue, the better,”

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school board Chair Jane Goodwin said.

Dumas reminded the school board members about the district’s Where’s the Bus website, which tracks school buses around the county, similar to the way a ride-hailing app shows a user where their approaching car is.

The idea, he said, is to be able to know which students are aboard which buses and where those buses are as they progress along their routes.

School board member Karen Rose said she supported the program and asked if the funding for the contract had been built into the district’s capital plan.

Dumas said it had been budgeted for last year, but there had been a delay in purchasing the equipment.

He said the district’s goal was to have the new system implemented for the new school year.

“I very much would have appreciated it at 9 o’clock at night when a student didn’t get on the bus and went home with someone else,” Rose said of the system.

WHERE’S THE BUS? It’s more than just a question: It’s a site for parents to track the whereabouts of a school bus. Parents interested in using the technology should visit WheresTheBus.com and click on the Set Up Account tab on the Parents menu. Follow the directions from there to set up an account. For information on the program, scan the QR code below.

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STRANGER DANGER 3:35 p.m., 800 block of Mecca Drive Suspicious person: A woman reported to police that she received threats and had money taken from her bank account following conversations with a suspicious person. She began speaking with the suspect via Facebook and WhatsApp but stopped for months because she had a boyfriend. After she broke up with her boyfriend, she began talking to the suspect again but quickly realized he was mischievous. The suspect threatened to post embarrassing photos of her online if she did not send him $500.

When she refused, he showed her the embarrassing photos he had obtained, which she had sent to her ex-boyfriend some time prior. She told police that her ex-boyfriend would never share the embarrassing photos with anyone. The suspect has not been identified.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Book Talk returns with sin-ful fun NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

W

hen you hear “the seven deadly sins,” the classic ones come to mind: sloth, greed, et cetera. But on Feb. 2, those weren’t the sins in question at the Selby Library’s Book Talk event.

Author and psychologist Peter Wish discussed his book, “The Candidate’s Seven Deadly Sins,” and what modern political candidates can do to avoid them.

Wish got his start working on the Mitt Romney presidential campaign and watched as the candidate made what he called blunder after blunder, talking about his wife’s Cadillacs, casually saying he’d bet $10,000 on a cavalier statement, and taking pictures on a Jet Ski rather than with his grandkids.

“As I observed him on the campaign trail, I made several recommendations to the campaign as to how to humanize him, because, as I say in my book, he looks like an 8-by-10 glossy photo, not a hair out of place,” Wish said. “He’s a nicelooking guy, nice guy, rich guy, and all-right temperament, but I didn’t think he was a good candidate.”

Wish spent the next years developing the deadly sins sure to sink any modern politician and figuring out ways to turn them into virtues. Voting is an emotional reaction, Wish said, and you have to play into emotions and how to relate to people.

He included turning pessimism into optimism, tentativeness into decisiveness, reactions into deliberation, canned speeches into authentic ones, a cerebral air into an empathic state and arrogance into humility. He spent about three years writing and distilling neuroscience, brain imaging, research on how people vote, historical case studies and political studies into his book.

“The best weapon any politician can have is storytelling,” Wish said.

“Stories make up 65% of our communication, and a good story will connect with the voters’ feelings, and that’s where you want to be.”

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Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo used the book in his campaign, too, and spoke to the Book Talk group about what he said was a “life-changing” strategy. It taught him to emphasize the importance of being authentic and connecting his political stances back to the community that made him, he said. He is Sarasota’s youngest mayor and grew up with a single mom. He was born in the Dominican Republic, and his family found its footing in Sarasota.

“During the campaign trail, I never said that I don’t make mistakes … it was a level of connection,” Arroyo said. “I felt connected to the voters because they saw the real me … I’m so not the guy that knows everything or has all the money or has all the endorsements, but I’m the person that will listen, and that’s what I said.

And it worked.”

Book Talk is a monthly event held by the Friends of the Selby Public Library, and it’s back after a long time away due to the pandemic. The Friends board gathers authors they can bring in, have them put on a discussion and answer questions from the audience. The next one will be March 16.

Friends of Selby Public Library board member Natalie Best and author Peter Wish

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Photos by Harry Sayer

Above: A false fire alarm had the audience outside for a time until it was all clear to head back in.

Left: Executive Director Stephanie Grosskreutz welcomes the audience back to its seats.

Town Hall Chair Ashley Brown ends the event with a Q&A with Dave Barry.

Columnist, author makes RCLA crowd laugh Jason Good and Jeney Slusser

Above: Chris Cremer and Linda Whitacre Left: VIP attendees picked up gift boxes after the show.

H

umor writer Dave Barry kept the crowd in stitches during an eventful RCLA Town Hall lecture on Feb. 7.

Dozens of Ringling College Library Association supporters traveled to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to see the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, who replaced photographer Paul Nicklen as speaker for February’s event.

The event proved full of surprises, though, when a fire alarm was triggered and forced Barry and the entire audience

to be evacuated from the Van Wezel. The crowd stood in the chilly weather until officials confirmed it was a false alarm.

The audience eagerly returned to the auditorium to hear Barry’s thoughts on modern comedy, the idea of cancel culture and how his weekend trip to the Florida Keys was interrupted by the news that he had won a Pulitzer.

—HARRY SAYER

LOCAL NEWS. A Local Difference.

Eric Garwood MANAGING EDITOR

Hometown: Melbourne, Florida Currently Living: Sarasota, Florida Alma mater: University of South Florida Observer Employee: Five Years What you do when you are not working?

My wife and I enjoy exploring parks, traveling and walking.

Connect: egarwood@yourobserver.com

There’s so much to enjoy here in Sarasota.

I’ve lived in several regions of Florida, and Sarasota has more to offer than any of them. I’m so happy to be part of the Observer team, telling the stories of the people and events that take place here.

JOIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD //

Support independent local journalism today at YourObserver.com/newsies

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

HIGH

SPORTS

5

“...But there is also something about seeing the ball go through the hoop that is satisfying.”

— Sarasota Christian’s Adam Bassil SEE PAGE 17

RISING STORM

1

Riverview High freshman boys basketball player Jamier Jones had 36 points and 14 rebounds Feb. 5 in the Rams’ 86-76 home win against Palmetto High.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Booker’s new football coach says big change is in the air.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

T

2

Cardinal Mooney senior girls soccer player Jenna Santiago scores in the Cougars’ 1-0 home win over Oxbridge Academy in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A regional quarterfinals on Feb. 8.

3

Booker High senior girls basketball player Jaydn Lattimore had 12 points and seven rebounds Feb. 4 in the Tornadoes’ 51-48 win over Lakewood High in the FHSAA Class 4A district championship game.

4

Former Riverview High boys basketball player A.J. Caldwell, a junior at Tennessee-Chattanooga, hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left Feb. 7 in the Mocs’ 74-72 overtime road win over Mercer.

5

Cardinal Mooney sophomore boys basketball player Dylan Higgins scored 19 points Feb. 2 in the Cougars’ 70-35 home win against Sarasota High.

14 IN A ROW. PAGE 16

he turnaround of a struggling high school football program cannot happen in one offseason, but it can certainly begin in a day.

Booker High believes its turnaround began Feb. 4.

That is the day Scottie Littles, 32, was introduced as coach of the program.

Littles is a former Booker assistant who spent six seasons in top coaching roles, three each at Palm Beach Central High and King’s Fork High in Suffolk, Virginia. Between the two schools, Littles has a 54-19 record, three district titles and two regional final appearances.

Last season, Littles’ Palm Beach Central team finished 10-0 before losing 34-0 to Treasure Coast High in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 8A regional final.

Littles was introduced by Stacey Tinkis, Booker High’s assistant principal of administration. During his news conference, Littles called his arrival at Booker “a life move” and told the students and faculty in attendance that he plans to stay at the school for years to come.

“What makes this place special (are) the relationships and the bonds that are built,” Littles said. “When I first came here, I was a 23-year-old young man. And now I returned as a husband and a father and an educator and a leader of young men. I’m appreciative of this opportunity.

“I’m going to love them hard and coach them hard. I don’t have a magic answer (to Booker’s struggles). At

the end of the day, it is a lot of hard work. It is a lot of dedication. There is going to be a standard; they are going to meet that standard, and they are going to excel. They are going to become the best versions of themselves through how we run things.”

Littles said that being a father affects his coaching style. A lot of coaches say they will treat their players like one of their own kids, but until you have kids of your own, you don’t know what that means.

Littles has a 2-year-old son named Kason with his wife, Keline Littles, who is from Bradenton. The couple is expecting their second child.

SENSE OF DISCIPLINE

Littles said he also plans on instilling a sense of discipline in the program.

Sometimes, Littles said, success comes not from what you do, but how you do it.

“Everybody lifts weights,” Littles said. “Everybody runs. Not everybody builds relationships like us. My message (to fans) would be, ‘Buckle up.’ We look forward to seeing you in the stands and in the community. We have an open-door policy here. Let’s get ready for a ride that all of us only dreamed of.”

Littles, who will start the job on Feb. 22, replaces Baraka Atkins, who will remain with the school as girls weightlifting coach and track and field coach. Atkins went 4-24 over three seasons. Booker has had three winning seasons in the last decade, the best in 2013 when the Tornadoes went 7-4. In addition to a lack of recent on-field success, Booker has dealt with low numbers. The program canceled its 2021 spring game because it couldn’t get enough players, and though it did field a team in the fall, the Tornadoes rostered 29 players, according to its HUDL page.

Cardinal Mooney has fewer students but fielded 59 players.

GETTING THE WORD OUT

Littles said he is aware of the program’s struggles with getting players to try the sport.

“We have to get the word out that there is a new era, a new mindset, a new wave,” Littles said. “Booker High School has a very rich tradition.

I would argue it is one of the richest traditions in this area. We want to build on that while we’re starting a new legacy. We want to inject some energy and love these kids hard and let them know that Booker can be a special place. But it won’t be because of me. It will be because of them. If they choose to make it special, then it will be special. I think we will be A poster detailing Scottie Littles’ accom- all right in that (roster) department.” plishments was present at his introducLittles has witnessed some of that tory press conference Feb. 4. Littles is legacy firsthand. Littles said he was the next head football coach at Booker an assistant at the school when forHigh. mer Booker running back Marlon

SCOTTIE LITTLES’ OFFENSE While it is unknown exactly what Booker’s offense will look like under Scottie Littles’ command, a look at his offense at Palm Beach Central could provide a hint.

The Mustangs, who went 10-0 before a 34-0 loss to Treasure Coast High in the Class 8A regional finals, averaged 35.8 points per game in 2021, according to MaxPreps. A large chunk of those points came through the air. Junior quarterback Ahmad Haston threw for 3,018 yards (274.4 yards per game) and 30 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

That doesn’t mean the team ignored the running game.

Quite the opposite, in fact; the passing game set up the running game to gain massive yardage whenever a back got the ball. Senior Markel King was the team’s leading rusher with 1,083 yards — a solid if not mindblowing total. But King averaged an astonishing 16.7 yards per carry, meaning he was extroardinarily effective.

The team’s second-leading rusher, junior Aldorson Estinvil, ran for 498 yards (a still-good 8.2 yards per carry).

The numbers say that Littles likes to be aggressive and put up as many points as possible. That would bode well for Booker, which according to MaxPreps averaged 13.1 points per game in 2021.

Mack played for the team. Mack, who attended South Florida after graduating from Booker, is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Littles said he is still close with Mack and his family and that Mack is a “visual representation” of what a great athlete can be at Booker. Littles said he’ll explain to athletes how they can be like Mack and find success if they work hard on the field and in the classroom.

Tinkis said in her introduction that the school chose Littles for his community building as much as his on-field success. He focuses on his players as students, she said. Littles’ messages throughout the morning reflected that belief — but he reiterated that he plans on winning, too.

“We’re not here to play second fiddle to anybody,” Littles said. “We’re here to be the best and build the best.

We’re going to build a brand that people want to be a part of.”

Scottie Littles was named football coach at Booker High on Feb. 4. Littles holds a 54-19 combined record at two previous schools.

16

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Trail Blazers The Sarasota Christian boys basketball team won 14 games in a row this season, a program record.

W

hen a basketball team can shoot — and I mean really shoot — it grabs my attention.

It’s a skill that translates against most any opponent. Sure, tight man-to-man defense can bother some shooters, and it’s always better to be wide open (and have more time) than not, but for the most part, if you can hit threes against one team, you can hit them against any team. There’s a reason the game of basketball at large has moved that direction in recent years: to catch up with the Golden State Warriors, et al.

That’s why what the Sarasota Christian boys basketball team did against Indian Rocks Christian on Tuesday night was so impressive.

The Blazers hit 16 of 31 3-point attempts (52%) on their way to a 69-36 home victory in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A District 11 tournament.

Indian Rocks (3-20) is not exactly a brick wall defensively, I understand, but a team can either hit shots from long range or can’t. The Blazers can, and that makes them a threat if they stay as hot as they have been.

The Blazers (18-8) will play Canterbury High (15-10) on the road on Wednesday for the right to reach the district championship game.

It might well decide the Blazers’ season. Sarasota Christian Coach Kevin Bruinsma said he believes the team would not make the regional tournament as an at-large bid if the team loses to Canterbury. If the team wins, it has a shot, no matter what happens in the district

championship. That being the case, the Blazers are looking at the game as do or die.

If the last month and change is any indication, the arrow has a great shot at pointing to “do.” The Blazers rode a sweep of the Sarasota Christian Holiday Tournament, which began Dec. 29, and turned it into a 14-game winning streak, the longest in program history.

“It became a total cohesive, collective approach,” Bruinsma said.

“We realized that, individually, we are average at times. Collectively, we can be very good. Once we embraced that approach, doing things collectively, we applied guys to the appropriate shots. Everything snowballed. We were like, ‘Hey, this is pretty fun when we’re running over to each other and helping each other off the floor and we’re making the extra pass and we’re celebrating.’ The best type of success is a success you can celebrate together.”

Bruinsma said he believes the Blazers have the two best outside shooters in the area in seniors Adam Bassil and Drew Yoder. Bassil scored 30 points against Indian Rocks Christian and hit seven of 13 3-point attempts; Yoder had 20 points and hit six of 11 shots behind the arc. As naturally skilled as the two are, Bruinsma said, it helps that the rest of the team knows how to complement Bassil and Yoder’s shooting.

“The shooting provides spacing for everyone else,” Bruinsma said. “(Senior) Brian Hershberger is a tremendous post player. Ben Papineau has had an incredible senior season. (Senior) Nick Webb has emerged late in the year. When you have two guys like Drew and Adam who can shoot the ball well, it creates more driving lanes and more angles for Brian, etc. They have more freedom and opportunity than

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Above: Blazers senior Drew Yoder scored 20 points against Indian Rocks Christian on Tuesday. Left: Blazers Head Coach Kevin Bruinsma said senior Ben Papineau (24) has had a tremendous season.

they would normally have.”

Bassil showcased the team’s selflessness in a post-game interview, giving teammates credit for setting up easy shots to knock down instead of flaunting his own ability.

Bassil said the team is feeling good about itself despite the winning streak coming to an end last week in a 66-65 loss to Universal Academy.

The Blazers led by as many as nine but failed to hold the lead. Bruinsma said he was glad to see the team rebound from that loss.

But now comes a tougher test.

Canterbury is ranked 18th in the class, according to MaxPreps; Sarasota Christian is 31st. The Crusaders are 6-1 against common opponents; the Blazers are 7-3. I never know how much stock to put in rankings like these. All I really know is what I have seen with my eyes, and what my eyes have

seen is the Blazers shooting lights out. If they do that again, they can win. But even if they lose, putting their name on a record-setting win streak is a great accomplishment for this impressive group of seniors.

Elsewhere in the high school basketball world, the Riverview High girls team finally lost a game, falling 44-32 to Gulf Coast High in the team’s district championship game. The Rams (19-1) are still alive, though, just with a tougher regional path; they will hit the road to play Durant High (20-4) at 7 p.m.

Thursday in what should be a close game. If I had to bet, I’d say the Rams advance. They’re too determined to lose again.

Staying at Riverview, freshman boys player Jamier Jones put on an absolute show against Palmetto High on Feb. 5, nabbing 36 points and 14 rebounds. The top-seeded

Rams (18-7) are in their district tournament this week, first hosting North Port High (12-12) at 7 p.m.

Wednesday and then, assuming they advance, hosting either Gulf Coast High (13-12) or Venice High (11-9) in the district championship game at 7 p.m. Friday. I’m telling you, the 6-foot-5 Jones is on his way to high-level, high-flying stardom, so if you haven’t seen him and the Rams play yet, now is the time.

He’s only gotten better.

Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota Observer.

Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

When did you start playing basketball?

I started playing basketball when I was in kindergarten. My dad signed me up. I tried it and loved it.

What is the appeal to you?

I love the team aspect of the game.

But there is also something about seeing the ball go through the hoop that is satisfying. That image always stuck with me and made me want to get better and keep playing.

What is your best skill?

Definitely my shooting. I have put up a lot of shots in practice over the years, and it has paid off. I have a lot of confidence.

What have you been working to improve?

My defense. It’s another important aspect of the game. Also, handling

the ball and making plays for my teammates.

What is your favorite memory?

This year, we won our first holiday tournament in school history, and we had a 14-game winning streak, which is the longest in school history. It is tough to pick between those two. Both have been special for us.

What is your favorite food?

Pasta. Any type of pasta is great, especially with meatballs.

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What are your hobbies?

I like to hang out with my friends. We will walk around downtown a lot, just generally making good memories.

They mean a lot to me, and I would not be where I am without them.

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Adam Bassil is a senior on the Sarasota Christian boys basketball team.

Bassil scored 30 points Feb. 8 in the Blazers’ 69-36 home win against Indian Rocks Christian.

17

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

ISPR GOVERNING BOARD MEETING

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Adam Bassil

If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

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What is your favorite subject?

I like history. I’m good at it. Math and science are not really my thing, but learning about people or our nation is inspiring.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2022

YOUR NEIGHBORS Faith in each other Sarasota couple has been looking forward to their milestone anniversary but still say 70 years together isn’t enough.

HARRY SAYER | STAFF WRITER

L

ooking back, it was the smell of hamburgers that changed John Gary’s life.

John, then just a young man of 18, was on one of his earli-

est dates with Donna Mount, a woman he met at Sunday School a few weeks before.

The new couple worked long hours and often would end their nights on the phone together. John would take an hourlong bus ride from the south side of Chicago where he lived to visit Donna studying at nursing school on the north side.

“I’d be waiting on a street corner for the bus, pounding my feet and holding my ears (to stay warm),” John said. “I’d still go as often as I could.”

Things changed. Donna left nursing school and found an office job, while John started working at an engineering firm, and the two finally tied the knot a couple of years later, in 1952.

Then came children. Donna and John kept busy with five children born over six years, often waking up early in the morning and crashing into bed late at night. Something Donna feels has helped their relationship in those times is having strong communication that helped them reconcile their disagreements.

John worked for more than a decade as a wedding photographer before discovering a different line of work: selling bonds to banks and insurance companies. That profitable decision moved the Gary family up in the world and physically moved them to Boston, where they lived for years.

Linda Conti, their oldest child, remembers the stability and assurance she and her siblings felt from their parents in those days.

“My mom and dad always made it clear they were one. You couldn’t play one against the other,” she said.

“If they were fighting or disagreeing, they didn’t bring it into our lives. It was a peaceful way to grow up.”

A critical part of John and Gary’s relationship over the years has been their unyielding faith, an element that the pair are sure has helped get them through the hardships that

Photos by Harry Sayer

Above: Donna and John Gary have made Bay Village their home for more than a decade.

Left: Donna and John Gary have spent the majority of their lives together.

come with life. Conti remembers dutifully attending church with her parents and siblings every Sunday.

“We had love for God, love for each other, and children on the way,” John said. “(God) was what got us through the hard times. Otherwise, we’d be without hope or recourse or strength.”

The pair moved to Sarasota in the mid-1980s and eventually retired.

But that isn’t to say they became inactive; they quickly signed up for volunteer activities at Covenant Life Church and other organizations.

They moved to the Bay Village retirement community more than a decade ago and have been there long enough that it truly feels like home.

The pair has been looking forward to their 70th anniversary, though

John says 70 years together still isn’t enough.

John and Donna have never been much for Valentine’s Day — what’s the point when their own special day is just a short while later? — but have celebrated their anniversary in ways big and small over the years.

They’ve decided on something quiet for their 70th: maybe a dinner and some FaceTime calls with their ever-growing family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But really, they’re just looking forward to each other’s company.

“Being alive together is what’s fun,” Donna said. “(John) is everything I not only want but need.”

‘‘

They returned to Donna’s family’s apartment after a night out at the Chicago World Fair, where Donna cooked up some hamburgers for the two of them.

It was a small moment in the grand scheme of things, but John realized he’d never had hamburgers that good. He’d already been thinking about asking Donna something important, but that night sealed the deal.

“I looked at her and said, ‘I want you to be my wife,’” John said.

“I turned and said, ‘There’s nothing I’d rather be,’” Donna replied.

Those hamburgers marked a union that has lasted decades — soon to be seven, in fact.

John and Donna Gary, now 90 and 91 years old, respectively, are looking forward to their 70th anniversary on Feb. 23. The couple have cherished the good times and weathered the bad since that dinner, always having each other to see themselves through.

John knew from the day he met Donna that she was the real deal; he says he was struck by her honesty and kindness. The pair were first acquainted at Longdale Bible Church when John was 18 and Donna was 19.

Donna had recently joined the church, which was near their neighborhood, and quickly caught John’s attention.

Unfortunately for John, she had also just received an acceptance letter to a nursing school, which would take up her time and make her move away.

“I was upset,” John said. “I was thinking, ‘You’re kidding; she’s going to leave now? I just met her.’ I had no car (to visit her) at that time.”

He asked her on a date just a week later, and the two caught a streetcar for a night out. They went steady soon after.

UNTIL OUR CLIENTS KNOW HOW MUCH WE CARE THEY DON’T CARE HOW MUCH WE KNOW ‘‘

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K E L LY M O O N E Y REALTOR 9 41 . 5 87. 8 4 3 0

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2022 SHELL SHOW Runs through Feb. 12 at Potter Building at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd. If you’re looking for rare shells or shell art, this annual show will have plenty of options from which to choose. Admission is $5. For information, go to SarasotaShellClub.com.

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SARASOTA OPEN AIR FINE ART SHOW Runs through Feb. 13 at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 Tamiami Trail.

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American alligators have a crucial role in keeping wetland habitats healthy and affect habitats in ways that benefit other species.

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ENJOY THE WILD Wild Florida is a monthly feature written by Miri Hardy, the first executive director of the Friends of Myakka River.

Hardy has been a Sarasota resident since 2014 and holds a doctorate in social psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is happiest exploring wild Florida, often on her bike, and capturing its beauty though the lens of her camera.

system, they depend on wetlands.

And Myakka’s wetlands depend on them.

Wetlands provide many crucial services to the environment and the public (including water purification, flood control and erosion prevention), and alligators help keep them healthy. As apex predators, at the top of the food chain, they limit the numbers of animals that might otherwise overtax marsh vegetation.

Considered ecosystem engineers, the “gator holes” adult alligators create and expand through the years stay full of water, not only during the summer (our wet season) but also in the winter, when rains stop.

This provides vital water, as well as habitat, for them, and many other species.

Winter is a great time to observe alligators — from a safe distance — when these cold-blooded reptiles often come out of the water to control their body temperature by basking in

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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the sun. And to view them, nothing compares to a visit to Myakka’s Wilderness Preserve, a 7,500-acre tract seemingly frozen in time, where you’ll likely find many alligators at the aptly named Deep Hole.

Deep Hole is a 131-foot deep sinkhole at the Lower Myakka Lake, which is mostly obscured during the summer. But during the winter, when waters recede, fish migrate into the hole, concentrating them in a relatively confined area. And alligators, which like an easy meal, congregate on its banks, creating quite a spectacle to behold.

To maintain its wilderness quality, and to benefit reclusive wildlife, visitation to this part of the park is limited to 30 people a day, with no motor vehicles, or even bikes, permitted. Day permits are issued on a first-come-first-serves basis at the Ranger Station each morning and are in high demand. So if you’re keen to take the 2.5-mile walk on the wild side, down to Deep Hole, an early start is highly recommended.

—MIRI HARDY FRIENDS OF MYAKKA RIVER

Friends of Myakka River exists to support Myakka River State Park and the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. Together, we’re protecting and sharing Myakka’s Magic, to the benefit of future generations and our own.

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SIESTA KEY 7108 Midnight Pass Road 6 Beds 5 Baths 4,697 Sq. Ft. Steve Weeks & Jeff Hinrichs 941-504-3689 A4523915 $4,950,000

SIESTA KEY 4910 Commonwealth Drive 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,210 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4512691 $1,750,000

MANATEE 711 Russell Street 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,862 Sq. Ft. Cindy Fischer 941-465-1124 A4520114 $1,400,000

SIESTA KEY 5533 Cape Aqua Drive 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,302 Sq. Ft. Brian Loebker 941-735-4393 A4517797 $1,395,000

SIESTA KEY 6300 Midnight Pass Road 208 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,271 Sq. Ft. Tara Lamb & Judy Greene 941-266-4873 A4520394 $1,275,000

SARASOTA 2203 Hillview Street Tim Koons-McGee 941-320-7073 A4518090 $1,250,000

SARASOTA 1917 Rose Street 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,839 Sq. Ft. Maria Beck PA & Jalina Beck 646-531-4118 A4521547 $1,150,000

SARASOTA 800 Tamiami Trail 307 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,911 Sq. Ft. Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4523832 $995,000

SARASOTA 1 Benjamin Franklin Drive 73 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,389 Sq. Ft. Douglas Parks 941-400-9087 A4523994 $970,000

SARASOTA 7700 Iguana Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,550 Sq. Ft. Lee Byron & Sue Keal 941-350-5542 A4512842 $899,998

SIESTA KEY 199 Whispering Sands Drive 202 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,271 Sq. Ft. Maurice Menager & Lin Dunn 941-809-2154 A4523171 $750,000

BRADENTON 3005 65th Street E 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,272 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4523425 $750,000

NOKOMIS/NORTH VENICE 805 Garland Avenue 2 Beds 1/1 Baths 1,150 Sq. Ft. Helen Moore 941-724-2030 N6118826 $728,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7806 Troon Court 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,951 Sq. Ft. Gloria Bracciano 941-229-4000 A4523433 $625,000

NOKOMIS/NORTH VENICE 134 Palm Avenue E 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,760 Sq. Ft. Robin Sullivan 941-467-4210 N6118703 $599,900

SARASOTA 4542 Cedar Brush Terrace 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,261 Sq. Ft. Linda Driggs & Sara Boudarga 941-374-2920 A4523473 $565,000

SARASOTA 170 Roosevelt Drive 15 1 Bed 1 Baths 672 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4523219 $489,900

SARASOTA 4715 Tivoli Avenue 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,933 Sq. Ft. Pam Sweeney 941-266-9622 A4523596 $445,000

ELLENTON 6023 Broad River Run 4 Beds 3 Baths 1,879 Sq. Ft. Stephanie Okuley 941-773-2677 A4523602 $390,000

VENICE 408 Cerromar Circle S 137 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,581 Sq. Ft. Crystal Cosby 571-230-5013 A4523395 $349,000

VENICE 901 Addington Court 203 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,280 Sq. Ft. Kristen Wheat 941-204-8028 N6119417 $325,000

SARASOTA 5468 Riverbluff Circle V-40 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,480 Sq. Ft. Robert Moffatt & Peggy Wellman 941-374-0811 A4523186 $275,000

OSPREY 152 Pennsylvania Avenue 2 Beds 1 Baths 1,200 Sq. Ft. Stephen Harris 941-780-2352 A4523850 $269,900

SARASOTA 2911 Swifton Drive 71 2 Beds 2 Baths 934 Sq. Ft. Tina Biter 941-932-3367 A4523957 $239,900

NOKOMIS/NORTH VENICE 211 Rubens Drive C 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,290 Sq. Ft. Harvey & Ethel Lovelace & Mina Johnson 941-586-7390 A4523904 $210,000

SIESTA KEY 3913 Roberts Point Road 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 2,793 Sq. Ft. Denise Mei & Nicole Mei 941-685-3198 A4522985 $2,699,000

SARASOTA 1335 Second Street Villa 2E 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,520 Sq. Ft. Brian Loebker & Jonathan Abrams 941-735-4393 A4522536 $2,399,900

SIESTA KEY 6326 Midnight Pass Road 508 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,318 Sq. Ft. Karen Chandler 941-544-4919 A4523199 $2,159,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

Casey Key property sells for $3.3 million

Other top sales by area

A

home on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. William Norman III and Carol Billman, of Nokomis, sold their home at 1300 Casey Key Road to 1300 Casey Key LLC for $3.3 million. Built in 1950, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,170 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,000 in 1989.

WEBER Ross Louis Mercier, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 940 Caloosa Drive to Fred Michael Gerigery, of Douglas, Michigan, for $1,175,000. Built in 1957, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,700 square feet of living area. It sold for $385,000 in 2009.

BAY PLAZA David Michael Rizzo and Jennifer Lynn Rizzo, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 302 condominium at 1255 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Michael and Paula Schneiderman, of Sarasota, for $975,000. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,042 square feet of living area. It sold for $940,000 in 2017.

PINE SHORES ESTATES Allison Zajda sold her home at 6244 Crestwood Ave. to Elizabeth Mary Harbison and Suleyman Omar Saleem, of Sarasota, for $925,000.

Built in 1954, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 1,941 square feet of living area. It sold for $322,500 in 2017.

HUDSON LANDINGS Paul Hennekes and Elizabeth Shockey Waddle sold their Unit 858 condominium at 858 Hudson Ave. to Brandon Taaffe, of Sarasota, for $850,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,453 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,000 in 2011.

ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY Salvatore and Rozelle Corda, of Purchase, New York, sold their home at 5846 Cavano Drive to Margaret Mulvihill, trustee, of Sarasota, for $710,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,886 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,600 in 2014.

REAL ESTATE

JAN. 24-28.

RESEARCH EDITOR

SARASOTA: $1.63 MILLION

Golden Gate Point Thomas Johnson III and Emma Kathryn Johnson, of Sarasota, sold their home at 633 Golden Gate Point to LV7 Investments LLC, Ardent Portfolio LLC, Seetharamayya Nekkanti and Mahesh Jasty, of Sarasota, for $1.63 million. Built in 1956, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,643 square feet of living area. It sold for $800,000 in 2018.

Photo courtesy Roger Pettingell, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury

The home at 1300 Casey Key Road includes three bedrooms, two baths and 2,170 square feet of living space.

THE ROYAL ST. ANDREW Shahriar and Nicole Shahida, of Scarsdale, New York, sold their Unit 304 condominium at 555 S. Gulfstream Ave. to Umberto Salustri and Graziella Toti, of Sarasota, for $700,000. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,252 square feet of living area. It sold for $255,000 in 2002.

PIER 550 Jannice Lamm and Daniel LaDuke, of Ludington, Michigan, sold their Unit 4 condominium at 522 Golden Gate Point to William Joseph Ford, of Winter Springs, for $660,000.

Built in 1948, it has one bedroom, one bath and 563 square feet of living area. It sold for $67,000 in 1984.

SOUTH GATE MANOR 1st Street Realty LLC sold the home at 3357 Bougainvillea St. to Jeffrey Despreaux, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, for $600,000. Built in 1962, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,842 square feet of living area. It sold for $301,000 in 2021.

RENAISSANCE Rimma Yurik and Aline Yurik, of Weston, Massachusetts, sold their Unit 1203 condominium at 750 M. Tamiami Trail to Mark Peter Barulich and Linda Maureen Barulich, of Mansfield, Texas, for $588,000.

Built in 2001, it has one bedroom, one bath and 970 square feet of living area. It sold for $311,000 in 2010.

SOUTH GATE Philip and Monalisa Wheeler sold their home at 3403 Jaffa Drive to Henrik Janum and Meredith Hansen, of Camano, Washington, for $635,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,979 square feet of living area. It sold for $198,000 in 2009.

SIESTA KEY: $2,225,000

Siesta on the Rocks Francis and Christy Naselli, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 3 condominium at 1025 Crescent St. to Alicia Logeman, of Cincinnati, for $2,225,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,349 square feet of living area.

It sold for $1.55 million in 2020.

23

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

ADAM HUGHES

SARASOTA

|

PALMER RANCH: $990,000 Hammock Preserve Barbara Ann Vance and Timothy Robert Smith, of Grantham, New Hampshire, sold their home at 12403 Marsh Pointe Road to Bruce Laishley and Jane Mascola, of Sarasota, for $990,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,697 square feet of living area. It sold for $730,600 in 2020.

OSPREY: $980,000

Oaks II Barbara Nahrgang-Kaz and Diccon Masterman, of Pietrasanta, Italy, sold their home at 370 Mac Ewen Drive to Paul and Sarah Alexander, of Lakewood Ranch, for $980,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,880 square feet of living area. It sold for $495,000 in 2017.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

In with the new NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Fannie Mae sold the home at 3441 Fairview Drive to Laura Calleia, of Sarasota, for $475,000. Built in 1965, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,368 square feet of living area. It sold for $111,000 in 1998.

Longboat Key

Kerry and Georgia Reisinger, of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, sold their home at 2419 Hamlin Lane to Tara Lamb and William Shaddy, of Sarasota, for $400,400. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,480 square feet of living area. It sold for $179,500 in 2013.

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From $2.4MM to $10.9MM | Call for appointment | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of Jan. 24-28, in order of dollar amounts.

Downtown St. Petersburg

CITY OF SARASOTA Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

128 Golden Gate Point #701

Renovations

Beverley Albertson, trustee$198,375

4920 Eastchester Drive

Wall

Mario Lebano

$54,180

1350 19th St.

Alterations

Roland Lee Jr.

$25,000

1363 Tangier Way

Mechanical

Sherill Sutton

$20,832

1255 N. Gulfstream Way

Mechanical

Eugene Beckstein

$19,893

1525 Mallard Lane

Dredge

Eric Konik

$17,862

1720 Morrill St.

Mechanical

Karen Roalson

$16,511

984 Indian Beach Drive

Generator

Susan Groarke

$13,500

1752 North Drive

Demolition

Jamie Ebling

$12,870

905 S. Brink Ave.

Re-roof

Matthew Owen, trustee $10,250

400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $1MM’s | Call for appointment. | Residences400central.com 2 UNITS LEFT

#1502

Downtown Sarasota

SARASOTA COUNTY Permit

Applicant

7853 Estancia Way

Windows/Doors

Leonie Van Passel

$155,000

5125 Oxford Drive

Alterations

Randy Nicolau

$135,000

5820 Valente Place

Pool/Spa/Deck

Edward Doughty Jr.

$89,939

6660 Easton Drive

Windows/Doors

Rafal Zalewski

$80,000

320 Bayshore Drive

Seawall/Dock

Patricia Solomon

$76,000

144 Osprey Point Drive

Re-roof

Randall Benderson

$72,973

5295 Cicerone St.

Pool/Deck

Joseph Traynoar

$68,800

2546 Britannia Road

Solar System

Reddon Wilx

$62,670

1250 N. Portofino Drive #203 Remodel

Maria Bankemper

$60,000

5143 Sandy Beach Ave.

Emmett Bonamarte

Pool/Spa/Deck

Amount

$59,673

Source: Sarasota County, city of Sarasota

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | From the $2MM’s | Call for appointment. | thecollection1335.com

Sales galleries open and available for virtual or in-person presentations.

Virtual home tours | OnDemand local experts | Interactive site and floorplans

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Address

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of February 2022.

Licensed Real Estate Broker

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Love fills the air

L

ove was in the air during the latest Fresh Fridays party on Feb. 4.

The block party did up its “Love in the Air” theme at Selby Five Points Park with light-up heart necklaces, flowers and Polaroid portraits for couples. Vendors passed out tacos as guests danced and played romantic trivia games.

But the biggest attraction was a vow renewal between Carol and Peter Ferranti, a Sarasota couple who have been married for nearly 30 years. The pair met in 1990 and were friends until dating a couple of years later.

“I told him I was falling in love with him,” Carol Ferranti said. “Our first kiss was at South Lido.”

The couple was married 28 years ago and planned to have a vow renewal for their 30th, but when they heard Sarasota was hosting an event that would spotlight the ceremony, they decided to go for it.

The on-stage ceremony was led by Mayor Erik Arroyo, who had the couple exchange their vows and end with a kiss.

Photos by Harry Sayer

Ken and Sonja Hammer — HARRY SAYER

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Mayor Erik Arroyo leads the vow renewal with Carol and Peter Ferranti

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Undergraduate: College Park, Undergraduate: University Park, MD Undergraduate: Universityof of Maryland, Maryland, College Park, MDMD Medical School: Medical School, Newark, NJ Medical School: Rutgers, New Jersey School, Newark, NJ NJ Medical School: Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, Residency: Haven Hospital, Residency: InternalMedicine, Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Residency: Internal Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT New Haven, CT Fellowship: Fellowship: Hematology/Oncology, Johns Hopkins Hopkins University University Fellowship: Hematology/Oncology, JohnsMD Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Certifications: American Board of Medicine; Certifications: American Board of Internal Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology Oncology Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine; Medical Medical Oncology

NOW ACCEPTING ACCEPTING NEW NOW NEW PATIENTS! PATIENTS!

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! TO SCHEDULE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, APPOINTMENT, PLEASE TO AN PLEASE CALL CALL

941-200-1125 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 941-200-1125

941-200-1125

East Avenue Office (Behind Midtown Plaza) East Avenue Office (Behind Midtown Plaza) 1217 East Avenue, South, Suite 201, Sarasota, FL 34239 1217 East Avenue, South, Suite 201, Sarasota, FL 34239 East Avenue Office (Behind Midtown Plaza) www.intercoastalmedical.com www.intercoastalmedical.com Medicare and most insurances accepted

trusted

Dr. Andrew Marple brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at East the East Dr. Group at at the the East Dr. Andrew Andrew Marple Marple brings to Intercoastal Medical Group Avenue office a wealth ofofknowledge andexperience experience in Oncology.

Avenue office aa wealth knowledge and experience in Oncology.

Oncology.

Avenue office wealth in

1217 East Avenue, Suite 201, accepted Sarasota, FL 34239 MedicareSouth, and most insurances 374168-1

www.intercoastalmedical.com A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations l National Expertise l Multiple Locations A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group Medicare and most insurances accepted

A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group • National Expertise • Multiple Locations

375123-1

A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

25

THE CHORUS OF THE KEYS proudly presents

Together... Again The Sarasota Chorus of the Keys proudly presents our 72 Annual Show featuring the best in Acapella four-part harmony...“ barbershop style”. We will be “TOGETHER AGAIN” to entertain you with songs that rekindle fond memories of good times and joyful moments, along with spontaneous laughter and happy expectations for the future.

Manon, Ian and Fabienne Transleau with Nicole Howard

Saturday, Feb. 26th, 2022 Two Performances: 2:30 and 7:00 p.m.

Riverview Performing Arts Center, Sarasota

with Special Guests - Vocal Spectrum 2006 International Champions

By Phone at: (941) 224-0314

$137,000,000 PENDING & SOLD IN 2021 “Although many of our neighbors on Siesta Key have worked with Judie and have said nothing but positive things about her, I had no idea how much effort she puts into each client and how professional she is until we hired her to sell our home.

Selling our family’s home of 23 years was stressful and challenging, but Judie made the process so much easier than I expected and the end result was life-changing for us. I cannot imagine anyone else having had the professionalism, experience, dedication and personality to make this process happen as it did. She is 5 plus stars in every aspect possible.”

SOLD

BUYER | $4.0M LP

BUYER | $1.499M LP

405 BEACH RD | $4.25M

PENDING

SOLD

SUCCESS STORIES

546 FREELING DR | $1.975M

1

No.

SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR ® SINCE 2005

2 DAYS | SELLER | $1.4M LP

PENDING

SOLD

Vanessa & Brent Ballard

1 DAY | 117 PIERSON LN | $1.395M

23 Years Connecting Buyers & Sellers of Sarasota’s Finest Homes Ranked in the Top 1% of Realtors® in the USA

BUYING OR SELLING? SCAN THE CODE FOR MORE INFO

371714-1

941.928.3424 | judie.berger@premiersir.com Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

371749-1

Order Tickets Online at: www.ChorusoftheKeys.org

Above: There were a number of flowers available. Right: Carly Volwiler with Skylar and Gabby Vasden

26

WEATHER

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, FEB. 10 High: 70 Low: 48 Chance of rain: 6%

FRIDAY, FEB. 11 High: 76 Low: 56 Chance of rain: 4%

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise

Sunset

Thursday, Feb. 10

7:09a

6:18p

Friday, Feb. 11

7:08a

6:18p

Saturday, Feb. 12

7:08a

6:19p

Sunday, Feb. 13

7:07a

6:20p

Monday, Feb. 14

7:06a

6:20p

Tuesday, Feb. 15

7:05a

6:21p

Wednesday, Feb. 16

7:05a

6:22p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, FEB. 12 High: 77 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 16%

SUNDAY, FEB. 13 High: 68 Low: 45 Chance of rain: 50% Diane Suner took this photo of a junonia shell on Lido Beach.

March 10 March 18 March 24 March 31 First Full Last New

RAINFALL Monday, Jan. 31

0

Tuesday, Feb. 1

0

Wednesday, Feb. 2

0

Thursday, Feb. 3

0

Friday, Feb. 4

0

Saturday, Feb. 5

0

Sunday, Feb. 6

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 2021-22 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2022, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 0.87 in.

2021 1.57 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 0.43 in.

2021 0.87 in.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC 941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com

crossword

celebrity cipher

WALK AROUND THE BLOCK by Paul Coulter. Edited by Amanda Rafkin 56 Mine extractions 58 Not “with it” 60 Duel-purpose equipment?

61 Gets on DOWN 62 Bring together 1 “___ the season ...”

67 Burn a little 2 As many as 68 Little kids 3 On a ___ (just for fun) 69 Singer India.___ 4 Bad day for Caesar 70 “Go ahead!”

5 Person living the high 71 French film award hidlife? den in “chances are” 6 Brewing ingredient 72 “Ad ___” (2019 film) 7 Boxer dubbed “The 73 “The Matrix ResurrecGreatest” tions” genre 8 Bedside light 74 Reduce by cutting 9 Hot water, metaphori75 Snooped cally 76 Dutch cheese 10 Dutch beer 77 Take in or let out 11 Narrow valley 78 Subtly suggested 12 Beam of sunlight 80 In the center of 13 Not the same 81 Org. that inspects air 14 Its capital is Minsk bags?

15 Fender flaw 83 Blueprint detail, for 16 The “A” of BART short 17 Curiosity rover’s 87 Thurman who played destination Poison Ivy 19 Many kilt wearers 90 “Bravo!”

24 Podcast interviewer 91 Away, in a way 26 Quaint stopovers 92 Egg-based paint 29 Words before a kiss 93 Slam-dancing spot 34 Sound heard through a 95 Fail to articulate stethoscope 96 Small amount 35 Fine-tunes 97 Classic theater name 36 Constantly irritate 99 Does as a group?

37 Holey shoe 100 Bumpy amphibians 38 Like sundial numerals 104 Skater Rippon 39 Artist Yoko 105 Brain section 41 “Still awake?”

106 In need of directions 42 Salsa and guacamole, 107 With proficiency e.g.

108 “Little piggies” 43 LGBTQ+ activist 109 Talk back to George 110 Jason’s ship 44 Bean products?

111 Flirty eye gesture 45 “Ya think?!”

112 Joint with a cap 48 ___ and cheese 114 Dallas NBAer 52 Tennis champ Ste116 Letter before omega phens 117 Football scores (Abbr.)

53 Per item 54 Give the cold shoulder to 55 Capital near a fjord

122 Ran into 123 Group of quail 124 Desert refuge 125 Takes a hit

©2022 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

32 Under-cover location?

33 Coffee vessel 1 Bulb bloom 34 San Francisco gaybor6 Mediterranean island hood (last 4 letters ...) nation 40 Biden’s secretary of 11 Food, informally defense (... + first 2) 15 Beaver’s construction 46 Squirrel away 18 Apple tablet software 47 “I’m treating!”

20 It’s a real eye-opener 49 Cooking liquids 21 Narrow road 50 Big fuss 22 Prohibition, e.g.

51 “Do ___ others ...”

23 Long rides? (See the last 3 letters of this clue’s 52 Country with a Taualuga dance answer ...)

25 Certain makeup pencil 54 Chicken noodle, e.g. (... + the first 2 of this one) 56 Gave the thumbs-up 57 “My fault!” (last 2 let27 “Let’s hear it!” ters ...)

28 Add 30 Airline with a kangaroo 59 Agency measuring the U.S. population (... + logo 31 Non-earthlings (Abbr.) first 2) 63 L.A. winter hours

371152-1

941.748.4679 | Venice

64 “High” time?

65 Orange juice option 66 About an hour before two 67 Get dry, like lips 68 ‘90s exercise trend 70 Speaker’s platform 71 Redeem, like chips 74 Opening for sweat 75 Dessert wine 76 Practical joke 79 Houdini, e.g. (last 2 letters ...)

82 Go it alone (... + first 4) 84 Use a swizzle stick 85 Artistic inspiration 86 Spades and hearts, e.g.

88 Mini-golf stroke 89 Response to “Speak!”

90 Enter 92 Not wild

93 Euripides tragedy 94 A life’s purpose (last 3 letters ...)

98 Online shopping button (... + first 2) 101 Texter’s chuckle 102 Archer’s asset 103 Lip balm brand 104 Indirectly refer (to) 107 Turn into a musical, say 109 Seattle NFL player 113 Part of a frame that you pass through (last 3 letters ...)

115 Material spotted on a runway? (... + first 2) 118 Tummy muscles 119 Racetrack shape 120 Lock of hair 121 Conversed in ASL

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“SDJU HMBBYGT EGSEJG ADTGBLRMDT USA NMD CG HYLGBMCJG MDT PMEEU MR RPG LMHG RYHG.”

– NPBYL BSNZ

“GZF TGFYK TGZYK DP DPNNPF JX UGFP XGYYGTPK OPF PBWURYP. JN JV KJUJEJVOPK TJNO OPF RWVVJEI.” – KWE FWNOPF GE DPNNH TOJNP

“JB WOO EPH DBBJ TBK GWY, VT WOO EPH SHWYX WNWFOWVOH, FY WOO EPH CWTX TBK GWY, FY WOO EPH ROWGHX TBK GWY.” © 2022 NEA, Inc.

– SFW ZWIIBC

Puzzle Three Clue: N equals V

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

Puzzle Two Clue: B equals X

Sarasota

KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, BEDROOMS & MORE

Puzzle One Clue: Z equals K

HARDWOOD

sudoku Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

2-10-22

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

27

UNVEILING:

A World First in Hearing Aids THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED,

PREMIER HEARING AID

Unrivaled Sound Quality # from the World’s 1 Manufacturer of Hearing Aids

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL!

TRY FREE

FOR 30 DAYS!

NO COST, NO OBLIGATION! SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSE NUMBERS: HTP-1029, HTP-1024, HTP-1031, HTP-1023, HAS-0573, HAS-0642, HAS-0637, HAS- 0638, HAS-0633

GEORGIA LICENSE NUMBERS: HADS000995, HADS000996, HADS001001, HADS001003

374447-1

SEE INSIDE FOR DETAILS!

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

EVOLUTION

Rediscover the Wonder of Sound!

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A SOUND QUALITY LIKE THIS! RECHARGEABLE

REMOTE PROGRAMMING

A fast-charging option, a drying function via inductive charging, and intuitive left and right LEDs for status information.

Remote programming to resolve issues and make adjustments from the safety and comfort of your home or office.

UNIVERSAL CONNECTIVITY

SMART PHONE APP

Connect your Star hearing aids to your smart phone for carefree streaming of TV shows, movies, phone calls, music & more!

Remote Control App can control your hearing aid from a smartphone without the need for other hardware!

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL! BUY ONE, GET ONE,

FREE

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

ABSOLUTELY FREE for 30 days!

NO COST, NO OBLIGATION!

SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSE NUMBERS: HTP-1029, HTP-1024, HTP-1031, HTP-1023, HAS-0573, HAS-0642, HAS-0637, HAS- 0638, HAS-0633

GEORGIA LICENSE NUMBERS: HADS000995, HADS000996, HADS001001, HADS001003

374448-1

28

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

29

5-DAY SPECIAL EVENT Monday, February 21st - Friday, February 25th

The Next Evolution in Hearing Aid Technology

Don’t Miss Hearing All the Love!

Introducing Star Evolution.

• Personalized Noise Canceling • Universal Connectivity to All Smart Phones and Bluetooth Devices • Amplifies Only the Sounds You Have Issues Hearing

Five-Star Rated by our Patients!

WE ALWAYS PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FREE!

Reprogram your current hearing aids with your new hearing prescription and up-to-date software improvements at no charge.

FREE

HEARING AID CHECK UP

It is important to have your hearing checked at least once a year.

Our Video Otoscope can detect if ear wax may be the reason you are experiencing hearing difficulty.

FREE

FREE

HEARING EXAM & CONSULTATION! NO OBLIGATION!

VIDEO EAR SCAN MAKES SURE IT’S NOT EAR WAX

OTHER DIGITAL SPECIALS 100% Digital Open-Fit BTE (Open Fit Behind-the-Ear)

100% Digital ITE (In-the-Ear)

100% Digital CIC (Completely -in-Canal)

100% Micro CIC (Completely -in-Canal)

WAS $795

WAS $795

WAS $995

WAS $1995

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

NOW 295 $

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

NOW 395 $

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

NOW 595 $

each

(Up to 40 db Loss)

374449-1

NOW 295 $

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

5-DAY SPECIAL EVENT Monday, February 21st - Friday, February 25th

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL! BUY ONE, GET ONE

FREE

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! We’ll test you for FREE and fit you with

EVOLUTION

to try for 30 days ABSOLUTELY FREE! FREE HEARING EXAM! No Cost, No Obligation!

WE FIT & SERVICE ONLY THE WORLD’S BEST HEARING AIDS

Authorized

Dealer

OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF DOCTORS OF AUDIOLOGY & LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS

Elite Hearing Centers of America

OVER 50 LOCATION NATIONW S IDE!

Rated

OPEN NOW: NOW !

OPEN

SARASOTA 941-210-4310

2807 University Pkwy AL L CD LOC CO C C ATI MP OV ON LIA ID S NT

In Publix Plaza at University Walk

BRADENTON 941-201-6076

2001 Manatee Avenue E. Ste 104

DELRAY BEACH

ROYAL PALM BEACH

4900 Linton Blvd #3

11985 Southern Blvd

561-501-4392

(In between Poppies Restaurant and Kristi Cleaners)

(Bradenton Pain and Wellness Center)

BOYNTON BEACH

561-631-8757

(Publix at Crestwood Square - next to Carter Healthcare) JUPITER

561-619-9274

561-529-3011

4739 N Congress Ave

6725 West Indiantown Rd Bay 39

(In between Dollar Tree and Fon Shan Chinese)

(In Jupiter West Plaza)

Coming Soon! Boca Raton, Orange Park, Sebastian SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSE NUMBERS: HTP-1029, HTP-1024, HTP-1031, HTP-1023, HAS-0573, HAS-0642, HAS-0637, HAS- 0638, HAS-0633

GEORGIA LICENSE NUMBERS: HADS000995, HADS000996, HADS001001, HADS001003

374450-1

30

Made for where you live. Here!

RED PAGES redpages@yourobserver.com •yourobserver.com/redpages DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

real estate

The Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Merchandise Wanted

BALI VERTICAL fabric blinds.

38x44, (2) 70x56, 104x56. Thatch toffee color. $199 (941) 966-6816

FUJI BICYCLE stepthrough 3 speed: 26 inch wheel size Saratoga 2.0, silver. $199 941-927-9816 GOLF CLUBS- Ping Eye 2 irons Green Dot. Many other golf accessories. All for $125.

Call 724.624.0100

POST YOUR AD WITH EASE. YourObserver.com/RedPages LADIES BLUE denim blazer style jacket, embordered and sequin trim M/L, $15. 941-755-6864 NATURAL RATTAN etagere, excellent condition, $100. 5 x 7 black, floral rug, $20. 6’ folding ladder $20 (941)413-7808 PICTURE FRAMES Black, new in cellophane, 4 x 6 and up. $1 each. 941-921-1815 RIGID 5 HP Shop Vac. with accessories. $40 941-925-3084

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

STORAGE FACILITY Boat/ RV/ Trailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area.

941809-3660, 941-809-3662.

WE BUY cars. top $$ paid for your vehicles.

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each add’l word ....... 50¢

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Email: RedPages@ YourObserver.com Online: YourObserver.com /RedPages

Antiques/ Collectibles OLD ORIENTAL RUGS wanted

by Collector. Highest prices paid.

Please Call/Text 203-228-4868

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

jobs

Stroll to Siesta Key Beach 4 B e d 2 B a th Heated Pool, 2 Car Garage $799,000

Call for coming soon listings.

BUSINESS CONSULTANT to consult, advise & suggest solutions for the company's overall business model. Create in-depth reports & presentations, etc. Mon-Fri 40hrs/wk. Bachelor’s in Business Mgmt./Admin. or related field of study AND 24 mos. as Business Consultant/related occupation req’d. Mail Resume to D&P Remodeling & Maintenance LLC, 1057 Willis Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232

Buy or Sell with Brooke O’Malley as your Realtor, and CLUB REALTY will Pay your title insurance.

Call 941-726-2677.

Real Estate Wanted NEED WATERFRONT HOMES canal, beach and bay front.

Buyers looking from 1M - 7M. Contact Michele at Tannersells@gmail.com

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

GARAGE SALE

As low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888 Single Male wants to rent small office with efficency. In Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Bradenton, North Port, or around Sarasota.

Contact Tom 678-755-3804 tomlarsen559@gmail.com

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342. www.braziliancleaningbymk.com

Home Services Epic Home Care Personal Care-Respite Care Alzheimer’s CareLight Cleaning Med AdministrationMeal Prep Shopping, Errands & More Call for a FREE Evaluation!

941-536-6372 EpicHomeCare@yahoo.com Rosa Torres- Owner

SELL YOUR STUFF FOR FREE! Items Up to $200

YourObserver.com/RedPages PERSONAL CARE GIVER- Private care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more.

Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Minimal shift 5 hours can also provide overnight care.

Temporary or long term care.

Over 10+ years experience.

References available. No new faces, one consistent caregiver.

COVID Negative.

Call Kati: 941-536-7706.

Auto Transport SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States.

Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

This week’s Crossword answers

PRESSURE WASHING Homes, pool/patio areas, fences, driveways, mobile homes. Small jobs welcome. Owner operated 30 years experience. I take great pride in doing a good job. Dependable and always ON TIME. (941) 402-6376

Landscaping/ Lawn Services Professional Gardener Design, installation, maintenance, flowers, herbs, vegetables, and exotic gardens.

Regular weekly lawn maintenance and restoration 40+ years experience.

Tomlarsen559@gmail.com farmgirlfarmboyorganics.com 941-357-7750 business or 678-755-3804 cell

Painting CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Only married people understand you can be miserable and happy at the same time.”

Chris Rock Puzzle Two Solution: “Our world would be better if more followed her example. It is diminished with her passing.”

Dan Rather on Betty White Puzzle Three Solution: “Do all the good you can, by all the means available, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can.”

Mia Farrow

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 Universal Uclick

TO ADVERTISE CALL 941-955-4888 OR VISIT YOUROBSERVER.COM/REDPAGES

©2022 NEA, Inc.

7 VINTAGE hand held wood saws, with wooden handles. $30 for all!

508-672-1119

Autos Wanted

941-955-4888 CALL TODAY CALL TODAY 941-955-4888 941-955-4888 Cleaning

Sorrento Shores Waterfront 3 Bed 2 Bath Fantastic Views, New Dock $995,000

Longboat Key Beach House: on Canal, 2BED-2BATH, Dock.

Owner/agent $530,000.

Advertise your business or service in the Observer Advertise your business Observer or service inyour the business Advertise or service in the Observer

RED PAGES RED PAGES RED PAGES CALL TODAY

Adult Care Services

Luxurious Lake Club 4 Bed 4 Bath Built in 2019 Lakefront Lakewood Ranch $2,500,000

Help Wanted

You’re only cheating yourself.

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

Homes for Sale

peekers’ place

Items Under $200

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and collectors plates. Personal and confidential. Please call Marc: 941-321-0707.

auto

stuff

LOCAL COLLECTOR pays cash for flags, guns, medals, helmets, war souvenirs, military items ours/theirs.

941-323-9417.

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

We’ll SWEEP you off your feet!

We’ll SWEEP you off your feet!

We’ll SWEEP you off your feet!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Computer

Doors

Sliding Glass Door Repair

New & Refurbished Computers Servicing PC & MAC on Site or In Shop Virus and Spyware Removal- Free Software We Make Windows 10 User-Friendly!

6968 Beneva Road

941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

(Next to Beneva Flowers)

941-929-9095

YoderAluminum.com

Auto Service

SELL YOUR CAR!

Hardware Repair Virus / Malware Cleanup Software & Printer Install New Computer Setups New Purchase Consults Seniors & Beginners

FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU 374135

HoHoBuysCars.com

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

Learn Computer Basics Phones/Tablet Help Apple & Microsoft Problems Solved On-Site and Off Much More! Call Today!

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

941-504-0903

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

Handyman

Pegatronics.com

5-Star Rated

941-735-3362

374144

941.270.4400

Furniture Repair

Pegatronics Computer Instruction and Repair It’s Easier Than You Think!

374136

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263 proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

DON’T THROW YOUR COMPUTER OUT THE WINDOW – CALL LORITECH! 373445

Dustin Yoder

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Concrete

Cleaning

SIDEWALKS • DRIVEWAYS

CONCRETE FUSION

Interior/Exterior Painting Dryer Vent Cleaning • Gutter Cleaning

cell: 941.250.1505 • FREE Estimates

STEVE PANEBIANCO H R S ome

“No Job Too Small” Driveways • Sidewalks

WITH THE RED PAGES

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888

Reasonable Prices

Licensed & Insured

918-8587

Free Estimates

Doors

DON’T let your PATIO DOORS be a DRAG or your WINDOWS be a PANE!!

Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

Call us today! 941.628.8579 www.ezslider.com

374688

FREE IN-HOM ESTIMATEE S Realtors

24/7 SERVICE

Servicing the Sarasota area since 1999

Also Laying Stone

epaiR

eRvice

• No JoB Too SmaLL • ScReeN RepaiRS • paiNTiNG/DRY WaLL • TiLe RepaiRS • & mUcH moRe!

Michael Koch Concrete, Inc.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

GladysKhabbaz@gmail.com 805 Molly Circle, Sarasota

Ron Chapman Home Service

BUZ CORP D/B/A

Call Bobby • FREE Estimates 319-693-8800 or 941-374-7670

374672

374142

9 EPLACE Don’t R Concrete d of Goo only 5% when cked! is cra

CONSTRUCTION HANDYMAN • Home Repairs & Maintenance • Interior & Exterior 941.504.2745 • Garage Floor Paint 941.400.1563 • Power Wash

Naji Aoun

CRACK REPAIR

#1 in IR REPA Crack 5%

374673

“Specializing inin6” Gutters” “Specializing 6” Seamless Seamless Gutters”

360495

373065

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

373059

Aluminum

374145

|

(941) 809-7311

FREE

373446

SARASOTA OBSERVER

ESTIMATES!

Health

GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression provides safe, gentle & effective relief for Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC University Health Park 2415 University Parkway Bldg. 3, Suite 216 Sarasota, FL 34243

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

373439

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The Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!!

Home Services

Pinnacle Home Watch.com Stop Worrying About Your Home While Away CALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999

374149

Dave and Connie Grundy

PALMER RANCH HOMEWATCHERS® Watching your home while you’re away

Bob & Carol Guthrie 941.993.6613

www.PalmerRanchHomewatchers.com PalmerRanchHomewatchers@comcast.net

373069

373449

Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007 Licensed & Insured

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER

Pet Services

GRAB BARS

Pet Care

INCLUDES 2 MOEN STAINLESS STEEL ANTI SLIP CONCEALED SCREW GRAB BARS (16” & 24”)

COVERAGE AREA: LAKEWOOD RANCH TO S. VENICE

373447

941-228-9850

Joe Murray, Owner

Serving South Sarasota Only including: Palmer Ranch – Osprey – Nokomis

DRGRABBARS.COM

General Plumbing Services Inc. Complete Plumbing Services & Repairs Residential, New Construction and Commercial Serving the area since 1993 No Job Too BIG or Too SMALL. We DO IT ALL!

Veteran Owned & Operated • Third Generation Master Plumber All Major Credit Cards Accepted Generalplumbingsarasota.com

941-923-8140

GLENN KROECKER

Licensed & Insured State Lic CFC056748

Licensed & Insured

Building & Roofing Contractor

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roofing Repair & Installation • Metal Roofing & Tile Roof Repair Specialists

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

YOUR BUSINESS Advertise as low as $40 per week.

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS

Screening

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

www.showerandbathsarasota.com Lawn Care

make your moving day a pleasure.

373071

Licensed and insured #IMT708

PRESSURE WASHING

House Washing, Roofs, Screen Cages, Pavers, Driveways and Walkways.

FREE INSTANT ESTIMATES when you Call RICK for SCHEDULING

Pressure Washing

Pressure Washing

Trees

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

(941) 345-5264 374156

SOFT WASH

941-CLEAN IT 2 5 3 - 2 6 4 8 $100 COUPON

Ray - 941-313-4538

Doors and more!

Licensed & Insured

10 Years Experience

941-232-1192

373073

For $135 per hour you get: A truck, 2 men with equipment, experience and a great attitude to

373769

373070

Wizard Moving SRQ

WE ARE THE SOFT WASH PRESSURE WASHING PROS

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

$100 COUPON

$100 COUPON

Movers

$100 COUPON

$100 COUPON $100 COUPON

724-2945

Lic. & Ins.

$100 COUPON $100 COUPON

$100 COUPON

Free Estimates Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

373-9299

941-345-5264

Power Washing

Curt’s Lawn Service

3687676-01

• Pool Cage Restoration • Rescreening Specialists • Specialty Screens • Paint • Doors and more!

Satisfaction guarantee Satisfaction Guarantee Pool cage Restoration/ Rescreening specialists Manufacture and Workmanship Warranties

Call John 941.377.2940

$100 COUPON

374146

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

Personal Services

Windows

C H R I S T I W. D E C K E R, MSW, RN

Res./Com.

Honesty, Integrity and Pride • Roofs • Pool Cages • Decks • Driveways

Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern Ph: 941.922.2628 | Christi@ShoalviewTherapy.com PO Box 17276 | Sarasota, FL | 34276-0276 ShoalviewTherapy.com

Deck/Paver Sealing• •Decks Gutter• Driveways Cleaning ••Roofs • Pool Cages AndSealing Much•More!

• Deck/Paver And Much More

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

AFTER

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

BEFORE

THERAPY, LLC

CREATE BUZZ! Advertise your business or services in the Red Pages.

Call 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

941-544-1066

| scaperotta@aol.com

Italian American Owned

Rescreening & Repairs

Eldridge Re-Screen Licensed

“No Job Too Small”

found here.

Find a place where you can visit listings, not just imagine them.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

ows

140

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

Insured

941-270-1561

YOUR HOME

25

UP TO

STANDARD WINDOWS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

373443

374150

SHOALVIEW

373061

Anxiety - Depression - Grief & Loss - PTSD related to:

Lic./Ins.

ndow & Pressure Clea et Wi nin s n wn as Sunrise Win g Su erly kno d

Medical Support Therapy for: Diagnoses & Prognoses | Procedures & Treatments Acute & Chronic Illnesses | Sudden Medical Events & Surgeries Aging Health Concerns | Pre-surgical Preparation | Specialty: Cardiac

373072

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

• Drain & Sewer Cleaning • Backflows Installation • Natural Gas Installations - Appliance Hook ups • Power Flush & Comfort Height Toilets • All Water Heaters - Tankless - Gas - Solar • All Major Plumbing Fixtures Repaired or Replaced • Garbage Disposals • New Water & Sewer Services • Dishwashers Installed • Wells & Pump Repairs

GROW

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346

Fully Insured

State Licensed Contractor #CCC057066

Plumbing

THE GRAB BAR GUY 374690

All Work Guaranteed

374674

LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED

Specializing in Re-Roofing & Repairs

(941) 966-2960

374691 364556

941.966.0333

38 Years Experience

374154

$235 235

Gulf Gate RoofinG inc.

• Pet Sitting • Dog Walking • Over 24 years experience • Excellent references

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

$

LEAKY ROOF?

Melanie Gates

by

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

374675

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

Roofing

373441

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

33

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

|

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s TOP PRODUCING TEAM in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

UNDER CONTR ACT IN 4 DAYS T H E OA KS 8 7 2 M AC E W EN D RI V E | $7 9 5 ,0 0 0 Take advantage of this rare opportunity to build your dream home in this sought-after community.

U N D ER C O N T R AC T

SI E S TA K E Y 6 4 8 B E AC H ROA D | $9,9 0 0,0 0 0 The ultimate in beachfront living.

SI E S TA K E Y 8 4 2 3 M I D N I G H T PA S S ROA D | $9, 5 0 0,0 0 0 Escape to your very own private island paradise on world-famous Siesta Key.

S O LD

PRE S TA N C I A 3 9 4 4 LO SI L LI A S D RI V E | $2 ,9 9 5 ,0 0 0 This modern estate is an architectural gem located in Palmer Ranch.

SI E S TA K E Y 3 5 3 6 BAYO U LO U IS E L A N E | $ 6 ,975 ,0 0 0 Gulf-front estate on the north end of Siesta Key.

SOLD

S U N H AV EN 5 30 6, 5 31 2 SOUTH LOCK WOOD RIDGE ROAD | $1 , 895,0 0 0 Incredible investment opportunity including three duplexes and one single-family home.

SA R A S OTA 37 3 6 M ERI DA L E ROA D | $1 2 ,0 0 0,0 0 0 This 13-acre walled and gated estate is located just south of Clark Road in Central Sarasota.

J US T LIS T ED

C O U N T RY C LU B E A S T 14 5 3 6 W H I T EM O S S T ERR AC E | $7 9 9,0 0 0 Move right into this maintenance-free home in Belleisle.

LO N G B OAT K E Y 310 5 G U L F O F M E X I C O D RI V E | $1 2,9 0 0,0 0 0 With over 176 feet of direct beachfront, this is one of the most significant beachfront properties available on Longboat Key.

From the ISLANDS to the GREENS SARASOTA AND THE ISLANDS Joel Schemmel, J.D., REALTOR® 941.587.4894

LAKEWOOD RANCH Donna Soda, REALTOR® 941.961.5857 SCHEMMELSODAGROUP.COM

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

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