Sarasota Observer 9.23.21

SARASOTA

Observer

Endless summer.

PAGE 23

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 17, NO. 43

FREE

YOUR TOWN

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Town vision building

Siesta lays out details of what incorporation looks like. PAGE 3

Courtesy photo

Peaceful garden

Filling in funny

People visit Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center to speak with advocates, to understand their options when experiencing domestic violence and to heal from pain.

Visitors to the Main Street location will now see a new sight to make the experience easier: a Zen garden full of vibrant colors, running water and a variety of plants to encourage peace and tranquility.

SPARCC recently partnered with the Manasota chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association to install the outdoor space Sept. 18.

Sarasota High senior picks up where TV show leaves off. SEE PAGE 17

Hurricane helpers

Tourists flock to the Siesta Key Oyster Bar and often leave dollar bills hanging from the ceiling and walls. In 2019, the bills were harvested to support victims of Hurricane Dorian.

It’s happening again, this time for victims of Hurricane Ida. It takes longer than you’d think. SKOB Manager Samantha Lemmer said staff members staple the bills to the ceiling with a staple gun and have now to remove them by hand — but the end result is worth it. The restaurant recently donated around $8,000 to the Red Cross to support victims of the storm, with more money still to be collected.

Harry Sayer

Anya Studebaker spends hours each week filming and editing her parody news show in her dad’s studio.

Chamber celebrates milestone

Turtle Tracks SINCE APRIL 25 TOTAL NESTS:

2021 2020 Siesta Key 521 465 Lido Key 107 153 Casey Key 1,471 1,515 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS:

2021 2020 Siesta Key 603 581 Lido Key 279 220 Casey Key 1,773 1,985 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

Members and guests cheer Sarasota group.

SEE PAGE 13 Nat Kaemmerer

Dennis Murphy presents former Chair Larry Thomas with a plaque commemorating his service.

A+E

Van Wezel returns.

SEE PAGE 18

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WH AT’S H APPENING

SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

WEEK OF SEPT. 23, 2021

Driver killed in U.S. 301 crash

“Without the support of our over 1,200 members, frankly, this would not exist.”

The driver of a sedan that investigators said was hit by a car that proceeded through a red traffic signal without stopping was killed Sept. 17 on U.S. 301, north of downtown.

The identities of those involved were not released, though the Florida Highway Patrol said a 26-year-old Sarasota man died in the 10:43 p.m. collision.

According to a report from the FHP, the Sarasota man was driving west on Myrtle Street through the intersection and was hit by a northbound vehicle that entered the intersection against a red traffic signal.

The northbound driver, a 37-year-old Venice man, received minor injuries.

Charges are pending.

Dennis Murphy, new chair of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce READ MORE ON PAGE 13

BY THE NUMBERS $3.7 MILLION Proposed first-year budget if Siesta Key becomes a town.

PAGE 3

$50,000

Financial help city officials will seek from two selftaxing districts for a new trolley route.

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77.6%

Percentage of city voters in 2007 who approved instant-runoff voting.

Andréa Martone

The plant sale runs 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 9 at Twin Lakes Park.

PAGE 5

Developer plans Lido Key condos

Plant sale helps gardening volunteers

CALENDAR n Sarasota County

Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m. Sept.

27 and 28, Commission chambers, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. n Sarasota School Board regular meeting — 6 p.m.

Oct. 5, Board chambers, Landings Administration Building, 1960 Landings Blvd.

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plant sale planned for Oct. 9 at Twin Lakes Park serves two purposes: supplying the raw materials for gardeners and raising money for UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Sarasota County.

The group, in its 15th year, is developing its garden space in the park into a horticultural education area and a public garden, complete with an outdoor classroom, a greenhouse and an ADAcompliant sensory garden.

To become a Master Gardener Volunteer, all you need is an interest in gardening, a willingness to learn and a desire to help others learn.

The training program is offered once each year from mid-January to mid-April.

If you reside in Sarasota County and wish to become a volunteer, call 861-5000, or email Sarasota@IFAS. UFL.edu.

The UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener program also includes a full calendar

A 65-unit condominium is proposed for Lido Key, to open in 2025.

Rosewood Residences Lido Key is Rosewood Hotels and Resort’s first stand-alone residential project.

Reservations are expected to launch in December.

The Ronto Group acquired the Coquina on the Beach hotel on June 1 for $15 million, property records show.

The acquisition at 1008 Benjamin Franklin Drive comes five months after the firm bought the Gulf Beach Resort next door.

of events, clinics and classes for those who want to learn everything from conservation of energy (irrigation) to eco-friendly pest control.

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County services, such as police and fire protection, would be retained, officials say.

BREAK AWAY

Organizers leading a push to turn Siesta Key into its own town finish the first stage of their campaign.

DAVID CONWAY | DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

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f the group Save Siesta Key is successful in its campaign to incorporate the barrier island, the new municipal government would be led by a five-member Town

Commission, an elected body whose members draw no salary.

The Siesta Key government would employ five people: a town manager, a finance director, a clerk, a planner and an administrative assistant. The town budget would be $3.7 million in its first year. The government would be charged with adopting a code of ordinances and foundational land use documents. Officials would also need to formalize agreements with Sarasota County and the Sheriff’s Office to maintain existing essential services pertaining to streets, utilities, parks and law enforcement.

These are the details outlined in Save Siesta Key’s proposed town charter and feasibility study, submitted to the state ahead of a Sept. 1 deadline for consideration.

After completing that task, Save Siesta Key leaders are focusing on the next step of their campaign, a Sept. 30 presentation to Sarasota’s delegation of state legislators.

If Save Siesta Key is successful, voters will ultimately decide the question of whether Siesta Key should form its own government. But to get to that point, the group must get legislators to sponsor and pass a bill authorizing an incorporation referendum.

Incorporation isn’t a particularly common occurrence: Florida has added 11 new municipalities in the 21st century, and only two were created since 2006.

Still, Save Siesta Key is optimistic about finding a receptive audience in the local legislative delegation. Harry Anand, a resident and member of the Save Siesta Key board of directors, said elected officials have indicated that they have an open mind about the proposal in preliminary conversations.

“They understand our concerns,” Anand said. “They understand why this would be important not only for Siesta Key but for the rest of the region.”

FOCUSED LOCAL CONTROL

The design of the town charter and proposed government speaks to the issues that are fueling the drive to incorporate Siesta Key. The feasibility study states the town would be focused on ensuring planning and zoning on the island is consistent with the desires of residents. Save Siesta Key formed in response to four proposed hotel developments on the island that have drawn outspoken opposition from residents. In August and September, the first two of those projects to go before the county’s Planning Commission both came away with endorsements from the advisory board.

“Our goal is to have a say in our land use,” said Tracy Jackson, a Save Siesta Key board member.

“That’s where a majority of people are upset — the decisions that have been made for our community that have been made by people who don’t live in our community.”

As part of the application to the state, Save Siesta Key attempted

to quantify that sentiment. In a nonrandom online survey of 500 residents, 94.9% of respondents expressed interest in incorporation, and 89.6% said they did not currently feel represented in decisions affecting Siesta Key. More than 1,800 people have signed petitions in support of an incorporation referendum, and Save Siesta Key hopes to hit 2,000 before meeting with the local delegation.

Jackson said the displeasure on Siesta Key dates back long before the hotel proposals. She cited the dredging of Big Pass and the approval of the Siesta Promenade development on the mainland near the south bridge as other major points of contention between residents and county officials.

“The hotels are really the last log on the fire for many people,” Jackson said.

Anand said that as Sarasota County has grown, the weight of input from Siesta Key residents has diminished. Rather than a rebellion against county leaders, Anand framed incorporation as a strategy for creating a lower layer of government that’s more attuned to the specific needs of the island.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

“Siesta Key has become a much smaller portion of the overall county, and we feel the local residents — who live here, who walk the beach every day — would be able to better represent and nourish this crown jewel that we have, that we all cherish,” Anand said.

Although Save Siesta Key said residents are receptive to the idea of incorporation, Jackson acknowledged some pushback.

She said the majority of the questions the group has received has focused on the prospect of a property tax increase to fund town operations.

“People want to go: ‘What’s going to happen? Are my taxes going to go up?’” Jackson said. “‘How much more is that going to cost me?’”

The group’s application proposes establishing a 0.25-mill property tax for the Siesta Key government in addition to levies to maintain existing county services. Save Siesta Key said the average cost associated with the local tax for a homeowner on the island would be $97.65 annually.

In hopes of winning support from residents, the group sought to minimize the expenses associated with incorporation. Under the proposed “government lite” model, Siesta Key officials would primarily focus on planning, zoning and code enforcement. Sheriff Kurt Hoffman already affirmed his office would be able to maintain its levels of service following incorporation, and Jackson is confident the same will prove true for other county operations.

The two most recently created Florida municipalities also use a government-lite model: Westlake, a planned community in Palm Beach County, and Estero, a Lee County village that incorporated in response to annexation efforts in nearby Bonita Springs.

The origin story behind those places is different than the one driving Siesta Key, and Jackson acknowledged that getting the Legislature behind an incorporation is a challenging task.

Still, six months after Save Siesta Key formed, Jackson thinks the group has put together a compelling case.

“I do feel that we have gone above and beyond everything that is required,” Jackson said.

Next, state legislators will decide whether they agree with that assessment. If they don’t, the incorporation campaign will have fallen short for now. If they do, the proposal will head to Siesta Key residents for consideration at the ballot box.

File photos

Left: Siesta Key residents have led campaigns against proposed hotel developments and other projects that they fear will be detrimental to the barrier island.

Above: Save Siesta Key board members Tracy Jackson and John Davidson say they’re pursuing an incorporation referendum because they believe residents want greater local influence on their government, particularly related to planning.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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s the City Commission finalized its budget for fiscal year 2022 on Tuesday, officials undid a decision that could have thrown into question the future of the Downtown Improvement District and St. Armands Business Improvement District.

Headed into Tuesday’s meeting, the city planned to appropriate $150,000 from the DID and $100,000 from the BID to help fund a $1.5 million trolley service running from downtown to Lido Key. Earlier this month, despite objections from the DID and BID boards of directors, the commission voted 3-2 in favor of authorizing the spending.

But on Tuesday, the commission voted 4-1 to scale back the use of DID and BID funds to $50,000 from each group. Commissioners who initially supported taking more money from the improvement districts said that they changed their minds based on follow-up conversations with downtown and St. Armands property owners.

“Upon reflection, I found their arguments both substantive and procedurally valid,” Commissioner Hagen Brody said.

The DID and BID are self-taxing bodies that generate funds via an additional 2-mill tax on commercial properties within the district’s boundaries. When the city turned to both groups with a request to assist with funding the trolley route earlier this year,

both boards of directors were reluctant to acquiesce, expressing skepticism about the benefits the service would provide for them.

Both boards instead set aside up to $50,000 toward the trolley.

When the city subsequently attempted to allocate the requested money without approval from the boards of directors, representatives for both groups called it an overreach that jeopardized the autonomy the improvement districts have historically enjoyed.

At a DID meeting Friday, board members called into question the commission’s legal authority make such a decision. Members of both boards mentioned dissolution as a possible response to the city’s funding plans.

DID board member Mark Kauffman said he was grateful that officials were willing to adjust their position.

“You are a far better commission to have been able to change your mind on something that’s so important to two boards,” Kauffman said.

City officials indicated additional funding for the trolley would instead come from the city’s economic development fund. Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch cast the lone vote against the finalized DID and BID budgets, stating she did not believe the city should use any funds from the groups for the trolley.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the commission officially adopted its 2022 budget. The city set its general fund millage rate at 3.1372 mills, a 3.9% decrease over 2021.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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City seeks authorization for ranked-choice voting The city is considering partnering with an outside group on a challenge that would facilitate a change to instant-runoff balloting for local elections.

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

File photo

If the state certifies tabulation software for ranked-choice voting, the city would overhaul its election process within two years.

there’s as little burden on staff as can be,” Angel said.

The city charter describes ranked-choice voting as “an efficient and cost-effective process that fosters broad and diverse participation.” On Monday, proponents of the system advanced similar arguments. Angel said surveys and other analysis from places that have implemented ranked-choice voting have shown satisfaction with the process among all demographics. He said the system would offer fiscal benefits because the city would only hold a single election for commission seats, rather than a primary and runoff.

Sarasota residents who supported ranked-choice voting

urged the city to take up the legal challenge because their grassroots advocacy has proven inadequate for getting new ballots in place.

“We’ve hit a wall,” resident Arlene Sweeting said. “We can’t climb over the wall without your help.”

Commissioners Kyle Battie and Hagen Brody both shared some concern about a change to ranked-choice voting.

Battie said he was worried the electorate that approved the charter amendment — 6,554 voters in 2007 — was not necessarily reflective of the will of the electorate today.

“I just have a problem with this not being an actual true representation of the population of the

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n 2007, 77.6% of city voters cast ballots in favor of a charter amendment that calls for the use of instant-runoff voting in municipal races.

Although the amendment was adopted, the city never made the change to ranked-choice ballots — because the necessary technology wasn’t available. Now, at the request of the group Rank My Vote Florida, the city is considering taking legal action in hopes of removing regulatory obstacles to a new voting system.

On Monday, the City Commission voted 4-1 to partner with Rank My Vote Florida to seek a declaratory judgment that affirms local governments have the authority to use ranked voting for their elections.

A majority of the board supported the idea Monday, noting the electorate had codified a change to ranked-choice elections more than a decade ago.

“This went before the voters,” Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch said. “They voted for it overwhelmingly. It’s in our charter.”

But on Tuesday, Commissioner Erik Arroyo expressed a desire to revisit that decision despite his vote in favor of the legal challenge. As a result, the city has not made a final decision on the

declaratory judgment, and the commission will discuss the topic again at a future meeting.

Ranked-choice voting — or instant-runoff voting, as it’s referred to in the city charter — is a form of balloting that allows voters to numerically rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the lowest-ranking candidate is eliminated from consideration, and votes are reallocated based on rankings. The process continues until one candidate reaches majority support.

David Angel, the general counsel for Rank My Vote Florida, said the group approached Sarasota officials because, due to the adopted charter amendment, the city is the only party in the state with standing to seek a declaratory judgment. The Florida Department of State office has said that it will not certify a software tabulator for ranked-choice ballots because the state constitution prohibits it. But Angel said that prohibition does not apply to municipal elections.

Angel said the pursuit of a declaratory judgment that contradicts the Department of State’s stance is a low-risk proposition for the city. Rank My Vote Florida has offered to provide the legal argument and funding for the litigation.

“We do all of the legwork so

city,” Battie said.

Battie and Brody both questioned whether a change to ranked-choice voting would have an uneven impact across socioeconomic lines, with Brody citing reports from the New York City mayor primary that said lowerincome communities were less likely to use the ranking system.

Angel said analysis of other races in New York City showed different results, and in surveys from New York, Minneapolis and San Francisco, at least 83% of voters of color and voters aged 60 and older said ranked-choice voting was easy to use.

Brody cast the dissenting vote against pursuing the declaratory judgment on Monday, with the rest of the board initially approving the proposal.

“It’s our responsibility as elected officials to exercise the voice of the community,” Ahearn-Koch said. “This is our job. I am in support of doing our job.”

On Tuesday, Arroyo said he was a proponent of ranked-choice voting, and he imagined it would continue to have support from a majority of voters, but he felt the city needed to take more time to consider the details of a potential switch to a new ballot.

“We need to have a game plan in place,” Arroyo said.

Angel said he anticipated the legal process could take six months before a final judgment.

If software for ranked-choice voting is approved, the city will have two years before it must adopt a new instant-runoff ballot.

SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

ADVERTORIAL

Members of the city’s ad-hoc committee on the penny tax extension shared information with the public and solicited feedback at a Sept. 16 meeting at Arlington Park.

Courtesy photo

City and county seek thoughts for your penny

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DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

Representatives for the county, city and school district are putting together plans for spending nearly $2 billion between 2024 and 2039 — even though there’s no guarantee that money will come to fruition.

Local governments in Sarasota are in the midst of a campaign to extend the 1-cent infrastructure

sales tax, colloquially known as the penny tax, for another 15 years. The sales tax, which must be authorized by voters, won’t go to a referendum until next year. Before formally putting the penny tax on the ballot, officials

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It’s a sweltering September afternoon in the Sunshine State. It’s 92 degrees out there. Your house is unusually warm inside and you inspect your A/C unit outside to find… ice? In this unforgiving heat?

Officials are conducting public outreach as a precursor to a planned referendum on a 15year extension of Sarasota’s infrastructure sales tax.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

are working to build support for what they see as an essential source of revenue.

“We never think of it getting a no vote,” said Doug Jeffcoat, the city’s public works director.

That’s why, on Sept. 16, representatives for the city held a meeting at Arlington Park to solicit community input on plans for spending a cut of sales tax funds. The meeting was lightly attended, and two members of the public spoke.

Jeffcoat anticipated more people would engage with the process as it advances, and he said the lack of early feedback was a sign that citizens feel confident officials are in tune with their priorities.

“I think that we hear a lot of what the needs are for the neighborhoods,” Jeffcoat said. “I’m not as concerned as if we didn’t have those relationships.”

One of the people who spoke at the Arlington Park meeting was Andy Tugendhat. He encouraged the city to pursue environmental projects, particularly those related to mitigating and adapting to climate change. He said he thought climate response was a crucial aspect of long-term planning, particularly for funds restricted to capital spending.

“Not everyone thinks this way, but it is a factor as to whether this place is going to be livable or not, so we’ve got to take this serious,” Tugendhat said.

The other speaker, Dan Lobeck, called on the city to be more specific with how it planned to spend funds, rather than listing a generalized project. Jeffcoat said the specificity of the plans would depend on the nature of the project, but he said officials wanted to be as forthright as possible.

“The sidewalk program isn’t

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

PRELIMINARY PROJECT LIST The city of Sarasota won’t finalize a list of proposed projects to be funded with future penny tax funds until staff has gathered public input, an ad-hoc committee reviews and refines the plan, and the City Commission gives final approval.

Still, at the outset of the community engagement project, city staff has identified more than 50 projects across six categories that could benefit from sales tax revenue, should voters authorize an extension. Those projects cover infrastructure, transportation, public safety, parks and the environment. Named projects include: n Citywide intersection, sidewalk and traffic-calming projects; n Building repairs for public facilities; n Parks master plan implementation; n The Bay Sarasota bayfront park; and n Police vehicle-replacement program.

Beauty is our Business

going to list out every street because I would have every street in the city listed out,” Jeffcoat said. “But when you get to things such as parks, those types of things will get really detailed — replacing gazebos, replacing a playground structure.”

The list that local governments develop for consideration alongside the referendum isn’t binding. If circumstances change or new opportunities arise, there’s a process for officials to adjust spending plans. Still, any changes have to go through a public hearing and review from an oversight committee.

“We want to make sure there’s enough detail in the description of the projects that people are comfortable, because at the end of the day, this is about getting a ‘Yes’ vote,” Jeffcoat said.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

SARASOTA / SIESTA KEY

OPINION / OUR VIEW

The silencing of dissent Rattled by the citizenry’s outrage this summer, the Sarasota School Board majority responds, showing its disdain for the people it serves.

H

ey, Shirley Brown and Jane Goodwin: You asked for it. You wanted the job.

Deal with it. It’s your job.

Take the heat. Take the criticism.

Let the people speak. Sit as long as it takes. Listen.

Above all, remember this: You are the servants.

It is not the other way around.

The taxpayers are not your peon slaves.

School boards across the state and country apparently are rewriting their public comment policies in the wake of angry parents criticizing their school boards over mask mandates and the spreading of critical race theory.

After being the recipients themselves of what Goodwin called citizenry “acrimony” at recent Sarasota County School Board meetings, not surprisingly, she and board Chair Shirley Brown initiated and produced for Tuesday’s meetings options for rewriting the board’s public comment policies.

The overriding theme: Stifle public comment and dissent.

Brown and Goodwin would argue otherwise. They will say the proposed changes are intended to assure that school board meetings will be conducted with proper decorum.

Goodwin said Tuesday it’s an effort “to get some guardrails on the whole thing.”

Yes, this summer’s school board meetings became intense at times. Brown called them “out of control.”

But whose fault was that? If you attended or watched any of these meetings, you saw Brown bang her gavel like a flustered schoolteacher, trying to keep her unruly students under control.

She barked and yelled and threatened citizens with forced removal from the meetings if they didn’t behave — in effect throwing gas on citizens’ emotions.

It should go without saying: Threatening an already angry citizen just begets more anger.

Oh, all elected officials will say they are in favor of public comment, mind you. And in the preamble to one of the proposed policy changes, it says the obligatory: The board recognizes “the value” and “importance” of public comment. But then the

VINDICTIVE, NOT A UNITER Joe Biden campaigned that he would unite us.

That must explain why he cut Florida’s supply of monoclonal antibody infusion treatments for COVID-19.

It’s so obvious. This is Biden’s vindictiveness toward Gov. Ron DeSantis, who refuses to kowtow to Biden’s bungling policies.

Uniter? Ha! Divider-inchief.

proposed changes enumerate a laundry list of restrictions.

Consider: The current policy consists of only four guidelines (see box). One of the proposals is four pages. What does that tell you?

Most outrageous are the proposed new time limits: three minutes per speaker if 10 or fewer citizens sign up to speak, two minutes per speaker if 11 to 20 sign up and one minute if 21 or more sign up.

If citizens want to make a comment on a subject not on the meeting agenda, they will be given one minute.

This is ludicrous. It is prima facie stifling of speech, debate and dissent — a standard tactic of authoritarians.

There’s more to be outraged about: “No person may address or question board members individually.” Nor would citizens be allowed to record any of the proceedings on their phones. No signs or banners?

This is just so galling. Elected officials want to make all these rules for the citizens they supposedly serve and yet exempt themselves. There is no limit on how long board members can pontificate. And all boards create video recordings of their meetings.

We get it. No one wants public meetings to become raucous circuses, riots and shouting matches. And for the most part, school board and city and county commission meetings are conducted with decorum and respect.

But there are those rare times when the citizenry becomes roiled over a controversy. And it’s then that school board members and city and county commissioners need to realize and accept that they should let their constituents say what is on their minds, however long it takes.

That is democracy. The right to address and redress grievances. Why should school board members have the leeway of saying what they want to bloviate, but not the citizen?

Or think of it this way: When large numbers of citizens show up for a meeting, that is clearly a sign the issue is important, and it is the one time, the rare time, that citizens want to be able to express their views face to face with the people they elect.

Emails, text messages, Facebook posts — none of them is as effective as being in person, looking eye to eye and expressing your views.

If large numbers of the citizenry go to the trouble to attend a board meeting, this is clearly a sign the board should relax its rules and let the public speak.

You board members are there for them. Give them their due.

Board members Bridget Ziegler and Karen Rose are right: This is not the time to institute major changes to the board’s public comment policies.

HERE’S ONE OPTION FOR CHANGING THE PUBLIC COMMENT POLICIES The Sarasota County School Board discussed on Tuesday options for changing its policies regarding public comments during board meetings.

What follows are excerpts from one option, a four-page document entitled “Potential Bylaw, Public Participation at Board Meetings”: The board recognizes the value to school governance of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest.

Members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before the board.

For purposes of the policy, a proposition is an item before the board for a vote and includes, but is not necessarily limited to, all items on the agenda noted as unfinished business, consent and nonconsent.

A proposition may also include a vote on a motion to rescind or to amend action previously taken but does not generally include items on the special order agenda. A proposition does not include items wherever found on the agenda upon which the board votes in its quasi-judicial capacity or under board discussion and information.

The opportunity to be heard need not occur at the same meeting at which the board takes official action on the proposition if the opportunity occurs at a meeting that is during the decision-making process and is within reasonable proximity in time before the meeting at which the board takes the official action.

This policy does not prohibit the board from maintaining orderly conduct or proper decorum in a public meeting.

The opportunity to be heard is subject to policies adopted by the board as follows: GUIDELINES ON THE TIME A PERSON CAN ADDRESS THE BOARD: Agenda Items n If there are 10 public speakers or fewer, each speaker shall have three minutes to address the board. n If there are 11-20 public speakers, each speaker shall have two minutes to address the board. n If there are 21 or more public speakers, each speaker shall have one minute to address the board. n Persons will be recognized in the order in which the requests were received. n The time period may be extended by a vote of the board.

SELECTION OF ADDITIONAL PROPOSED CHANGES n For all public speakers addressing non-agenda items, each speaker will have one minute to address the board. n Procedures for allowing representatives of groups or factions on a proposition to address the board: Rather than all members of groups or factions for or against a proposition addressing the board at meetings which

SCHOOL BOARD’S CURRENT POLICIES A) Citizens wishing to speak at a board meeting must complete a hearing citizens’ card and submit it to the administrative assistant.

Each speaker will be called forward during the designated time on the agenda and will state his/her name.

B) Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of three minutes to speak unless time is extended by the board.

C) Speakers addressing the school board shall not make remarks which are irrelevant to the business of the school board or which are abusive, threatening, defamatory, obscene, profane or otherwise of a disorderly nature, or play any CDs, DVDs, or any other audio or video recordings.

D) No speaker may yield his or her time to any other persons.

a large number of individuals wish to be heard, the board may require representatives of such groups or factions to address the proposition in their representative capacity. n No person may address or question board members individually. Staff members shall not be expected to answer questions from the audience unless called upon by the board chair or the superintendent. n No taping or video recordings, signs, flags, banners or other similar items will be permitted.

PRESIDING OFFICER MAY: n Interrupt, warn or terminate a participant’s statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene or irrelevant. n Request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum. n If a speaker is called during the agenda public comment time, but their comment is not in regard to an agenda item, the presiding officer may terminate their comment move them to the nonagenda portion of the meeting. n Request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person’s conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting.

The portion of the meeting during the participation of the public is invited shall be limited to a reasonable time to allow the board to conduct its business in an efficient manner. The above scale of time for public comments is deemed by the board to be reasonable; however should a situation arise that the board believes additional modifications to the public comment times need to be made, the board may make additional adjustments with a majority vote of the board.

“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 Deputy Managing Editor / David Conway, DConway@YourObserver.com Sports Reporter / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Copy Editor/ Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Editorial Designers / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com; José Valle, JValle@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Andréa Martone, AMartone@ YourObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Harry Sayer, HSayer@ YourObserver.com 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 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, 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

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Attack on Biden is not a shock

SEPT. 19

CAN’T HACK IT 2:50 a.m. — 1300 block of Boulevard of the Arts Suspicion: A man said his ex-girlfriend was hacking his phone. When an officer asked for proof of that claim, the man refused to share anything. The officer said the man’s account of events did not make sense.

The officer told the man he would not be able to provide much help if the man would not share any evidence.

It’s not shocking the relentless attacks by the Walsh family (owners, operators and opinionators of the Observer) to keep the big lies going strong.

So “doddering, incompetent old man” Walsh, in his white supremacist bow tie, proves his ignorance on public health.

So too the “boobs” (Matt uses such high-class language) who came up with the Sept. 16 editorial titled “Hey Joe: Take your mandate and shove it.” Let me explain that we have vaccine mandates in this country.

Your argument against vaccines would put us back in the dark ages with polio, smallpox, measles and the like.

Governments and schools have always mandated vaccines for children.

That’s how we stop dreaded diseases. So in order to stop the current pandemic, we need everyone to get on board and get vaccinated, or continue this tragedy of citizens unnecessary dying of COVID-19. This is not about personal freedoms but public good. There is no other choice.

Of course your ilk is against abortion, which should be a personal choice, and your insistence on government coercion.

Your editorial is filled with the usual Trumpian lies, misstatements and false equivalencies.

Your voice in promoting the pandemic instead of trying to stop it is unconscionable.

Many will die needlessly, our lives will still be COVIDrestricted, masks needed, and there will be no end to this

SEPT. 18

ROOM SERVICE 11:45 p.m. — 1200 block of North Palm Avenue Dispute: A security guard at a hotel bar said staff had to remove a man from the bar several times because he was intoxicated and bothering customers. Officers spoke to the man, who was drinking in the lobby.

The man said he was not trying to cause any problems and was just trying to go to his hotel room. The guest was escorted to his room.

SEPT. 19

IN A FIX 10:45 a.m. — 1300 block of Seeds Avenue Dispute: A man had his car repaired, but he was not satisfied with the service, so he brought it back to the shop. The shop conducted additional repairs, but the man did not want to pay an outstanding bill of $1,400. The mechanic said he told the man the car would still have issues following the initial repair, which the man agreed to. An officer told the man that this was an issue for civil court.

Sarasota’s Best Voted One of

American tragedy.

Walsh family, take your editorial and shove it!

CAROL STAITMAN LONGBOAT KEY

President should be lauded, not vilified It is hard for me to know where to begin to rebut Matt Walsh’s vitriolic, insulting and disrespectful attack on the president of the U.S. for carrying out his constitutional duties to address the public health crisis we are battling against the surge in COVID-19.

Do you think that President Joe Biden would proceed with the various parts of his actions to combat the rising spread of COVID-19 among the unvaccinated and unmasked without having the full backing of his legal team? Clearly not. The Constitution is clear: Congress makes laws, and the executive branch carries them out. Perhaps Walsh should read the Constitution again to see how government actually works.

The U.S. has arguably the worst record among developed nations on gaining supremacy over the deadly pandemic we have had in our midst for 20 months now. Other countries have done far better. The question is, why? Why do so many people, with seemingly total disregard for their own health and that of their loved ones, steadfastly refuse to wear masks and get vaccinated?

The science is clear. If you are unvaccinated, you risk hospitalization 10 times more than the

|

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

9

vaccinated and 11 times more the risk of dying. What is the survival rate among those hospitalized with COVID-19 who are unvaccinated versus those who have break-through infections who are hospitalized?

How many children below the age of 12 who cannot yet get vaccinated are at risk if their parents or teachers are not vaccinated or refuse to wear masks? There have been more than 10,000 deaths in the U.S. in the past three days alone.

Masks in schools also significantly stem the rate of infection, as was said this morning by an official in Nashville, Tennessee, where outside of that city, Tennessee now has the highest rate of infection of any state in the union, followed closely by, you guessed it, Florida.

Former President Donald Trump fanned the fires of disinformation, debunking of science and made it clear to his followers that his macho approach and denial would simply plow through the virus and conquer it.

We all know how that strategy worked, don’t we?

Biden was lauded in the first few months of his presidency for getting millions of shots in people’s arms, but clearly it was not enough to get to herd immunity.

It is the craziness of the unvaccinated and unmasked who are prolonging this pandemic, and the president is correct in taking the full range of his authority to turn this around. He should be applauded and not vilified for his efforts.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Building community mourns death of industry leader Longtime Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association executive dies at 62.

JAY HEATER OBSERVER STAFF

I

t was a few days after the death of his wife, Beverly Smock, when Bill Smock was going through Facebook messages.

Many of them carried the same theme.

“They would say: ‘The first person I met at the builder’s association was Beverly. … She made me feel loved,’” he said.

The impact of Beverly Smock, who died Sept. 13 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital from COVID-19, was undeniable when it came to the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association.

Rebecca Queen, the events and communications director at the MSBIA the past four years, said Beverly Smock made her better.

“It’s not the easiest thing for single moms with little experience to have career opportuni-

ties, but like myself, Bev had been down that road, and she gave me a shot,” Queen said. “It didn’t take long for us to develop a quick bond. She was a good resource when everything in my life was falling apart. She was one of the first phone calls or texts when I needed to vent, and we always had a good laugh over the chaos that seems to follow me wherever I go.”

Queen said that after her twins were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, Smock told her she would support her every step of her journey.

She remained true to her word, rearranging Queen’s schedule so she could work from home or go to doctor’s appointments or her children’s hospitalizations.

“Bev knew everything about me — the good, the bad and sometimes ugly,” Queen said.

“She has witnessed my weakest moments and been by my side in my most successful moments.

Courtesy photo

Beverly Smock spent 27 years with the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association. She died Sept.

13 at age 62.

She loved with her whole heart and never judged.”

Bill Smock has heard similar stories countless times after 31 years of marriage.

“Everything she did, she did with love and kindness,” he said.

Beverly Smock was working for a temp agency in 1994 when she landed a job as a receptionist at what was then the Home Builder’s Association on Main Street in Bradenton.

She moved up the ladder quickly, becoming what her husband calls “the right hand of the executive officer.”

Eventually, she received the title of deputy executive director.

The Home Builder’s Association became the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association, and she went through 15 executive directors over her 27 years, often acting as interim executive director between them.

“She had a list in her drawer,” Bill Smock said. “She used to threaten whoever was the executive director at the time, ‘Don’t make me write your name on this paper.’”

The owner of Gator Plumbing and Gator Construction, Bill Smock has been a board member of the MSBIA for more than 20 years.

“The association is our world,”

he said. “We would go to fundraisers, and we stay involved with everything. Our best friends were builders. Our vacations were conventions.

“The reality is that we lived and breathed the association.”

After a builders convention in Orlando in July, both Bill and Beverly Smock tested positive for COVID-19.

“She had a fever for a couple of days, and then she was fine from days three through nine,” he said. “I lost 15 pounds, and I was exhausted. I lost my sense of smell, and my fever was up. But on the 10th day, she woke up and said, ‘I can’t breathe.’”

Beverly Smock went into the hospital Aug. 2 and by Aug. 4 was placed on a ventilator. For the next month and a half, Bill Smock could hardly see his wife due to COVID-19 protocols. On Sept. 13, she died.

“God gives us a certain amount of days,” he said. When those are done, you are done.

“But there are a lot of things we didn’t get to do.”

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FABULOUS ARTS FOUNDATION EVENTS The Harvey Milk Festival returns as the Fabulous Arts Foundation with two weeks of music, arts and film events celebrating the LGBTQ community. For event details, visit HarveyMilkFestival.org.

DEREK RICHARDS AT MCCURDY’S 6:30 and 8:50 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. Comedian Derek Richards performs at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre through Sept. 26. Tickets $25. Call 925-3869.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

13

Nat Kaemmerer

Eric Troyer and Larry Thompson present Teri Hansen with the Chair’s Cup Award.

Sarasota Chamber celebrates 101st annual meeting NAT KAEMMERER STAFF WRITER

Members of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce took the afternoon to celebrate the successes of the past year at the Sarasota Chamber’s 101st annual meeting Sept. 17.

About 400 members flocked to the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota for lunch and the opportunity to catch up with fellow businesspeople and public officials in the organization’s 100th year. The chamber also took the occasion to usher in the new leadership of Chair Dennis Murphy. Larry Thompson held the position of chair during 2020-21. He thanked and praised Sarasota’s business community on its tenacity throughout the pandemic.

“Like all of you, the chamber has

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been stressed, it has been strained in many ways, … but the chamber has not only survived but thrived,” Thompson said. “A chamber is nothing without you, the people, its members. Without the support of our over 1,200 members, frankly, this would not exist.”

The chamber introduced new programs during 2020-21, including the Women at Work and C3 events, and is planning its Centennial Celebration for Oct. 22. During its centennial year, 195 new members joined.

During the meeting, the chamber also presented the Chair’s Cup Award. This year, it went to Teri Hansen, the president and CEO of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation.

The meeting wrapped up with a presentation from Mark Wilson, the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, who emphasized the importance of getting the whole community on the same page working toward the future of Sarasota, a fastgrowing area.

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

— Cardinal Mooney High’s Wyatt Plattner SEE PAGE 16

HIGH

SPORTS

“No matter how good you shoot, after a round you’re always thinking, ‘Man, I could have shot two shots better.’”

5 CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Ryan Kohn

2

Booker High junior volleyball player Lesa Snipes Williams had 16 assists, five kills and three aces Sept. 21 in the Tornadoes’ 3-0 road win against Southeast High.

3

Sarasota High junior girls cross-country runner Ella Menke (19:38.82) finished 11th in the Elite division at the North Port Invitational, held Sept.

18 at North Port High.

4

Cardinal Mooney sophomore girls cross-country runner Addison Dempsey (19.39.05) finished second in the Small School division at the North Port Invitational, held Sept.

18 at North Port High.

5

Sarasota High announced Heather Walker Mushrush as its softball coach on Sept. 21.

Mushrush was an assistant with the program for three seasons.

www.manasotaonline.com

The Cougars had too many hitting errors to beat Calvary Christian, but the match can be a learning moment.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS REPORTER

I

t’s only been a month or so since Cardinal Mooney High volleyball Coach Chad Davis said he wanted his team to be challenged early in the season.

That’s why he scheduled the team’s first 11 matches on the road. That stretch is now over, finishing it 8-3.

But the team went just 3-2 at the highly touted Berkeley Prep Invitational, held Sept. 17 and 18.

Finally returning home on Tuesday, the Cougars were welcomed with a stiff test against Calvary Christian (12-3), one of the teams that bested them at the Berkeley Prep Invitational.

The atmosphere was rocking, but Calvary Christian, ranked No. 6 in Florida by MaxPreps, served the 28th-ranked Cougars a three-set loss. It was a sight the Cougar faithful were not accustomed to seeing; Mooney had not been swept at home since 2019.

Davis said his team had too many hitting errors to beat an elite team like Calvary Christian.

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“We’re practicing those areas,” Davis said. “It’s just, unfortunately, we don’t always execute them in games. That clearly has to get better. It’s disappointing.

These are things we work on, and we’re just not executing right now. That falls on me to do a better job as a coach.”

Davis said that despite the recent losses, he’s happy with how the team has responded to the early schedule. The Cougars, who have just one senior in libero Kat Moore, have gained necessary experience. Even though Mooney wishes it could have a few matches back, the tough games will help them down the line. That’s why, although the program does end the season with a run of home games, it still won’t be easy. “(Calvary Christian) is one of the toughest teams in the state to start our home schedule with,” Davis said. “We got exactly what we wanted out of it, which was getting challenged. We were hoping for a different result, but we have to accept that part of it. And we’ll line it back up. We play Braden River on (Sept. 21), and it gets even more challenging from there.”

There’s a silver lining in the loss to Calvary Christian. In 2019, the Cougars took that home sweep against Lake Highland Prep and learned from it, eventually winning the Class 5A state championship in five sets against Bishop

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IF YOU GO Cardinal Mooney High volleyball (8-4 as of Sept.

22) vs. Bradenton Christian School (7-1) When: 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Where: Cardinal Mooney High Cougars player to watch: Junior Jordyn Byrd, who is averaging 6.2 kills and 3.2 digs per set Panthers player to watch: Senior Emma Laade, who is averaging 4.9 kills and 3.2 digs per set

The Cougars players had an on-court chat following their three-set loss to Calvary Christian on Tuesday.

McLaughlin Catholic. It’s possible that this year’s Cougars follow the same path. They still have Jordyn Byrd, a junior who was a freshman on the state championship team. Byrd is averaging 4.9 kills and 3.2 digs per set. Byrd and junior Madeline Carson (3.2 kills per set) have become a formidable attack in conjunction with sophomore setter Helena Hebda (11.2 assists per set) and others.

If the Cougars can iron out their hitting errors, they should once again be a force in Class 5A, and their road to the postseason will have them prepared to face whoever is in their way.

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Former Sarasota High running back Brian Battie, a sophomore at South Florida, ran for 110 yards on 10 carries Sept. 18 in the Bulls’ 38-17 home win against Florida A&M.

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PROSE AND KOHN

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

RYAN KOHN

A gridiron glance

What have we learned about Riverview, Sarasota, Cardinal Mooney and Booker thus far?

A

month into the football season, things — teams and story lines — are beginning to take shape.

It has been an exciting first four weeks, and there is much more to come. I wanted to take a look at each team to see where things stand now and what we have learned about them, as well as what might happen next.

game of the season last week in a 48-25 game against First Baptist Academy (3-0). I’m sure the loss hurt, but FBA is one of the best small-school programs in the state.

There’s no shame in losing that game. What matters more is what happens next. The Cougars play Carrollwood Day (2-2) on Friday. It should be a tight game to the end. A win could indicate a strong season ahead.

RIVERVIEW

Riverview High’s defense is for real. The Rams moved to 3-1 on the year with a 21-14 comeback win against Sebring High on Sept. 17. Riverview’s offense is still a work in progress.

The Rams scored two touchdowns following muffed Sebring punt returns and another on a 61-yard touchdown run from senior Jay’den Birch, but they struggled to sustain drives.

It fell on the defense to hold Sebring down while the offense scored what it could. The defense was up to the task. In the team’s three wins, all against good competition, the defense is allowing just 11.7 points per game. Even with an inconsistent offense, that is a formula for a lot of wins.

The Rams face Lake Gibson High (2-2) on the road on Friday, perhaps the toughest test for their defense since week one.

15

BOOKER

Ryan Kohn

The Rams take the field against Sebring High on Sept. 17.

by MaxPreps for a reason.

So Sarasota fans: Feel free to throw that game out. Look at your other three games for proof of how far your program has come. You shouldn’t expect a state title this year, in all likelihood, but the rest of your season should be quite fun, this Friday’s home contest against Port Charlotte High (1-2) and the follow-

SARASOTA

Sarasota High is making strides.

Yes, the Sailors (3-1) lost 49-13 to Venice High (3-0) last week. That’s actually a sizable improvement on last year’s 71-0 game. Plus, if I’m being honest, I don’t think anyone in the area is in Venice’s class this year, at least not yet. They are ranked No. 1 in Class 8A and 44th in the country

ing week’s rivalry game against Riverview included.

You also have maybe the best quarterback in the Sarasota/ Bradenton area in senior Lance Trippel. Enjoy it.

It has not been pretty for Booker High (0-3) thus far. The Tornadoes have allowed 119 points and scored eight. But the team had a bye last week and another one this week. Perhaps that extra practice time will help Booker’s young players round into midseason form by the time they play Port Charlotte on Oct. 1.

The schedule doesn’t do Booker many favors, but hopefully the Tornadoes will be able to score points consistently by the end of the season if nothing else.

Ryan Kohn is the sports writer for the Sarasota Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

CARDINAL MOONEY

Let’s see how Cardinal Mooney High responds to a loss. The Cougars (3-1) dropped their first

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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Wyatt Plattner Wyatt Plattner is a senior on the Cardinal Mooney High boys golf team. Plattner’s round of 70 was the lowest at the Crutchfield/ Hawkins Invitational, held Sept.

20 at Sun N’ Lake Golf Club in Sebring. The Cougars (304) finished fifth as a team.

When did you start playing golf?

I started playing golf when I was 5 years old. Everyone in my family plays golf, so I learned it from them.

What is the appeal to you?

I like the competitiveness of golf.

No matter how good you shoot, after a round you’re always thinking, “Man, I could have shot two shots better.” It makes you want to go practice and eliminate those two shots.

What is your best skill?

Right now it is my consistency.

I’m not missing a lot. I’m hitting a lot of greens and making a few putts when I need them.

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.

What is your favorite golf memory?

Last December I played in the IMG Academy Junior World Challenge. I shot a 66 in the first round and then went to the beach with my friends. When I got there, they all knew about how well I played. It was really cool to see nongolfers know about the tournament and understand how big a deal that was. (Plattner won the 54-hole event by four strokes.)

What has been your biggest challenge?

Right now my wedges are not as good as I would like them to be, so I’ll say those.

What are your goals for this season?

We want to win every event we play and then win state. That’s really it.

What is your favorite food?

I love a nice filet mignon. I get it cooked medium rare. You can’t go any higher than that.

What is your favorite movie?

It’s either “Lone Survivor” or “Step Brothers.”

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Classifieds 25 Games 24 Real Estate 21 Weather 24

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

YOUR NEIGHBORS BRIDGING THE GAP

Anya Studebaker spends hours each week filming and editing her show in her dad’s studio.

Sarasota High senior’s parody news program fulfills her search for comedic absurdities.

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

A

nya Studebaker walks into frame, decked out in cowboy attire.

She might look something like a rodeo clown, but it’s no laughing matter for the Sarasota High School senior. She’s made her bones producing and hosting a comedy news show about Sarasota High, based on the premise that she fills in with parodies, wisecracks and inside jokes when the school’s real news program doesn’t deliver.

And it just delivered. For the first time this school year.

As the saying goes, this town just ain’t big enough for the both of them. Until next week, that is.

The goofy gunfight was another day of filming for Studebaker’s show, “The Backup Bridge,” a weekly program posted on YouTube each week poking fun at her school’s official news production, “The Bridge.”

The 17-year-old sits behind a news anchor desk each week and gives updates about the school’s goings-ons as satirically as she can. As her catch line goes, her show is “The news source that fills in when ‘The Bridge’ does not fulfill.”

“The Backup Bridge” started in early 2021 as a way to escape boredom during the pandemic but has become something much more important to Studebaker: a way to express herself.

“I’ve learned to take myself less seriously,” she said. “In the beginning I was super self-conscious about doing a Western accent that’s really bad or wearing a fake mustache. … I didn’t want people to think I’m weird. Now I’ve just

accepted that I am weird.”

Studebaker’s path began when a COVID-19 exposure at school sent her home to quarantine.

At the same time, she said “The Bridge” began falling behind.

“Why not?” she said. “I had nothing better to do.”

If a typical “The Bridge” edition covers sports and weather and random school facts, then “The Backup Bridge” would do the same — with some twists. “(‘The Bridge’) kept coming up with new segments, but they wouldn’t always keep going with them,” Studebaker said. “In the last quarter they added a fast facts (segment), and I was like ‘That’s so weird but also great (for me).’”

The videos started as something of an in-joke for her and her classmates — a recurring segment has her talking trash about her classmate Gabe who runs a club she doesn’t understand — but it’s grown in popularity. Now Studebaker is recognized in school as “The Backup Bridge” girl.

Her father’s career involves video and podcast production, so some of the technical skills have rubbed off. Growing up in and around the studio, including a teenage rebellion phase where she tried to ignore her dad’s tech savvy, Studebaker now films her shows from that very place.

She concedes — now — that her dad’s knowledge is handy. Studebaker is busy with extracurricular activities but carves out time each Monday to shoot and edit.

Her dad often helps with editing throughout the week, and the video is typically posted Friday.

“We used to sit down, and it would take hours to edit,” Studebaker said. “He tried to teach me, and I was resistant at first. But

Harry Sayer

Studebaker’s shows are usually full of background effects and costumes to go with them.

now I’ve become very specific in what I want, and I do it all.”

Studebaker grew up watching “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” which has given her an appreciation of absurdist comedy. She often leans into the awkward, finding funny where others might not look.

“I like to find the absurdities in regular things,” she said. “I’m not a serious person at all. … It’s so much funnier to find everyday situations you can pull comedy out of.”

Her shows now included eerie, empty re-creations of the “Full House” intro, re-editing sports reels of her soccer games to have opponents blowing up mid-trip

and a “Family Guy”inspired “Grinds My Gears” segment featuring teacher Adam Hughes. In one episode she parodies her own show, taking over Hughes’ segment, which failed to meet its deadline that week.

Still, everything has an end, and Studebaker has thought about what will happen when she leaves for Rollins College next school year. She could pass the torch, let the show go or perhaps continue sketch shows in college.

“It’s nice to have something you put a lot of work into and how you want it and getting to see reactions,” Studebaker said. “I’ve put the hard work into this. I edited and did all this stuff, and people enjoy it.”

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

CURTAIN TIME Sarasota’s largest performance site kicks off with Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Escape to Margaritaville.’

AS EASTERSEALS HAPPINESS HOUSE CELEBRATES

ANDRÉA MARTONE A+E EDITOR

WITH THE

W

hen Paul Anka takes the stage at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in early 2022, it will be a homecoming of sorts for the singer who wrote his concert staple “I’m Coming Home” nearly 60 years ago.

“I’ve been away from you/ Such a long, long time/ Since I’ve been gone/ The sun won’t shine.”

Anka on March 11, 2020, was the last act to perform live at the Van Wezel before COVID-19 prompted broad closures of arts establishments, a shutdown that now is beginning to loosen.

“I know that our community longs for a full return to live entertainment, and we will do everything we can do to make it so,” Van Wezel Executive Director Mary Bensel said in a written statement.

Opening the 1,741-seat theater on Oct. 29, perhaps appropriately, is Jimmy Buffett’s 2017 musical, “Escape to Margaritaville,” a Broadway production based on the singer’s forget-your-cares music.

The Van Wezel is one of nine Sarasota-area arts organizations

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SAFETY RULES If attending live performances: n Within 72 hours before showtime, all patrons age 12 and older attending a performance indoors must show a negative PCR COVID-19 test administered by a medical provider/official testing center or a negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test. (Note: Home testing kit results will not be accepted for entry.) Both physical and electronic presentation of documents will be accepted.

Photo ID must accompany the presentation of all documents. n If patrons prefer, CDC or another official vaccination record showing the patrons are fully vaccinated (at least 14 days since the final dose) may be voluntarily presented at the door as an alternative to negative COVID-19 test results. n Masks are required by all indoors.

that last week rolled out a series of indoor protocols for performers, staff and patrons. Asolo Repertory Theatre, Circus Arts Conservatory, Florida Studio Theatre, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Sarasota Ballet, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Sarasota Orchestra are also participating in the #SafeArtsSarasota endeavor that requires masks and either a negative COVID-19 test or the voluntary showing of vaccine documentation for audience members.

Bensel said she hopes recent

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downward trends in COVID-19 positivity rates continue into the season and that audiences will again feel confident in gathering together. The hall has upgraded its air-handling and filtration systems and taken other safety measures, she said.

Following the Oct. 29 opener, Van Wezel has rounded Broadway productions, rock ‘n’ roll headliners, superstar vocalists, comedy shows and a dose of entertainment for kids. n “The Allman Family Revival” was recently announced for a Dec. 3 show, featuring Devon Allman (son of Gregg Allman) who will be anchored by his group, The Allman Betts Band. n One of the season’s earliest shows is “Disney Princess: The Concert,”on Nov. 3, a new touring version of the Broadway Princess Party nightclub shows featuring stars of Disney musicals and other stage performers. n An impressive Broadway and classical music lineup includes timely extended runs of the Broadway musical “Come From Away” (Nov. 23-28), the story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Newfoundland on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. n Van Wezel will welcome the debut of newcomers to the stage including Bruce Hornsby (Nov. 11); George Thorogood and The Destroyers (Dec. 7); Sarah Brightman, known for being in the original cast of “The Phantom of the Opera,” (Dec. 14); and Jefferson Starship (Dec. 31). n Il Divo, an international singing quartet that was originally booked for the hall’s 50th anniversary last year, takes the stage Jan. 6. The season also includes “The Four Phantoms in Concert,” featuring four past stars of the

|

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

19

Enthusiasm reigns for staff at Van Wezel as they open their doors to a new season.

Andréa Martone

FULL SCHEDULE

For a full listing of performances, dates and ticket information, visit VanWezel. org.

Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, on Feb. 14 and “The Ten Tenors: Love is in the Air” on March 10. n Comedian Jay Leno returns Jan. 15. Engelbert Humperdinck (Feb. 28), Johnny Mathis on his “The Voice of Romance Tour” (April 12) and Anka (Feb. 20) will also perform. Ventriloquist and Last Vegas performer Terry Fator, who won the second season of “America’s Got Talent” will visit the Van

Wezel for the first time April 10. n Also on the slate are numerous tribute shows, including “Proud Tina: The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner” on Jan. 13; “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul” on Feb. 9; “The Simon & Garfunkel Story” on Feb. 12; “Stayin’ Alive” recalling the music of the Bee Gees on Feb. 24; “The Sweet Caroline Tour” offering the sounds of Neil Diamond; the return of “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles” on March 6; “ABBA The Concert” on March 27; and “One Night of Queen” starring Gary Mullen and the Works, which closes the season May 7.

“The magic of live theater is what brings us back — show after show, day after day. I want to hear

the music soar through the air to fill our audience with joy,” Bensel wrote in an email.

“I want to hear laughter from our patrons when they come to see renowned comedians on our beloved stage. I want to hear our patrons singing on their way out after they’ve just seen one of their favorite artists perform, knowing that they’ll have some of their favorite tunes stuck in their head for a whole week after the concert.

“I want to see first dates, family outings, school time performances, anniversary outings, celebrations with friends and the special occasions that bring us together to celebrate life.”

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

SARASOTA The Ritz-Carlton Tower Residences, Penthouse 1701 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,251 Sq. Ft. Beth Afflebach & Joan Dickinson 941-737-1756 A4500204 $5,690,000

UNIVERSITY PARK 7320 Barclay Court 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 7,579 Sq. Ft. Bernadette Caswell & Victoria Turner 941-320-8265 A4500081 $3,950,000

BRADENTON 8341 Lindrick Lane 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,193 Sq. Ft. Sara Boudarga & Nancie Kalin 941-321-6352 A4511384 $3,750,000

SARASOTA 1335 2nd Street PH-7 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,363 Sq. Ft. Jonathan Abrams 941-232-2868 A4495711 $3,299,900

SARASOTA 473 Partridge Circle 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,226 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4511642 $3,095,000

SARASOTA 3129 Founders Club Drive 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,873 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4507917 $2,800,000

SIESTA KEY 1660 Summerhouse Lane 503 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,400 Sq. Ft. Kevin Wiegand 941-350-7345 A4510014 $2,795,000

SIESTA KEY 1281 Tree Bay Lane 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,616 Sq. Ft. Kelly Quigley 941-356-9954 A4505720 $2,600,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 520 77th Street 2 Beds 2/2 Baths 3,241 Sq. Ft. Leah Secondo & Lynne Callahan 941-545-4430 A4508576 $2,300,000

SARASOTA 1723 Oak Street 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,862 Sq. Ft. Judy Nimz 941-374-0196 A4510139 $1,750,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 2719 Gulf Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,119 Sq. Ft. Melinda Alvarez 941-704-0633 A4506596 $1,749,000

BRADENTON 6510 200th Street E 4 Beds 3 Baths 4,185 Sq. Ft. Leslie Emery & Aaron Corr 941-400-9710 A4489175 $1,675,000

SARASOTA 1233 N Gulfstream Avenue 602 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,780 Sq. Ft. Barbara May 941-312-1302 A4506289 $1,500,000

SIESTA KEY 5770 Midnight Pass Road 607 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,447 Sq. Ft. Karen Chandler 941-544-4919 A4505576 $1,250,000

SARASOTA 5430 Eagles Point Circle 203 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,943 Sq. Ft. Tina Von Kessel & Brigitte Von Kessel 941-266-2848 A4511954 $1,250,000

SARASOTA 5925 Anise Drive 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,487 Sq. Ft. Lorraine Neal 941-350-0997 A4509323 $1,150,000

LAKEWOOD RANCH 17641 Azul Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,872 Sq. Ft. Gloria Bracciano 941-229-4000 A4509926 $1,150,000

SARASOTA 1771 Ringling Boulevard 1101 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,895 Sq. Ft. Linda Driggs & Sara Boudarga 941-374-2920 A4511187 $1,050,000

SARASOTA 1899 Buccaneer Circle 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,942 Sq. Ft. Jami Kellogg 941-809-6931 A4505815 $995,000

SARASOTA 17773 Deer Prairie Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,360 Sq. Ft. Tina Von Kessel & Brigitte Von Kessel 941-266-2848 A4504988 $899,999

SARASOTA 988 Blvd Of The Arts 1515 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,555 Sq. Ft. Nora Johnson & Klaus Lang 941-809-1700 A4507718 $899,000

PARRISH 3911 Twin Rivers Trail 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,557 Sq. Ft. Cheryl Roberts 941-266-1450 A4510445 $875,000

SARASOTA 3624 S Lockwood Ridge Road 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 4,013 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4508564 $870,000

SIESTA KEY 5858 Midnight Pass Road 12 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,071 Sq. Ft. Veronika Bajtala 941-504-0307 A4505766 $825,000

SARASOTA 4291 Highlands Bridge Road 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,524 Sq. Ft. Amy Chapman 941-225-1500 A4511153 $799,900

LAKEWOOD RANCH 13404 Ramblewood Trail 6 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,009 Sq. Ft. Toma Milbank & Rebecca Milbank PLLC 941-720-5174 A4506789 $769,000

SIESTA KEY 4822 Ocean Boulevard 5D 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,440 Sq. Ft. Denise Mei & Nicole Mei 941-685-3198 A4503577 $749,000

SARASOTA 2550 Marblehead Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,046 Sq. Ft. Judy Greene & Tara Lamb 941-350-0451 A4511604 $649,000

BRADENTON 5449 46th Court W 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,039 Sq. Ft. Adam Cuffaro 941-812-0791 A4511158 $630,000

361783-1

CORTEZ 12925 42nd Terrace W 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,138 Sq. Ft. Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4502107 $4,750,000

SARASOTA 2052 Benjamin Franklin Drive D202 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,697 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4503738 $4,700,000

ANNA MARIA ISLAND 102 Cedar Avenue 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,290 Sq. Ft. Hannah Hillyard & George Myers 941-744-7358 A4507978 $4,200,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Home in The Landings sells for $1.6 million ADAM HUGHES

A

SARASOTA LA LINDA TERRACE Arlington Portfolio Homes LLC sold the home at 2202 Hillview St. to Maria Cecilia Freeman, of West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, for $1.49 million.

Built in 1958, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 728 square feet of living area.

THE CONDOMINIUM ON THE BAY George Trovato and Benjamaporn Tirat, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1208 condominium at 888 Boulevard of the Arts to Michael Joseph Campbell Jr. and Stacey Campbell, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for $1.3 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,642 square feet of living area.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

21

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

SEPT. 6-10

Other top sales by area

RESEARCH EDITOR

home in The Landings tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Kenneth and Deirdre D’Silva, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4808 Peregrine Point Circle W. to Reginald and Lauren Saint-Hilaire and David Goldstein, of Sarasota, for $1.6 million. Built in 1985, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,965 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 2014.

|

SIESTA KEY

Courtesy photo

POINSETTIA PARK Christopher and Sophann Bretz, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1954 Oleander St. to Eugene and Alexandra Vellon, of Sarasota, for $890,000. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,245 square feet of living area.

The home at 4808 Peregrine Point Circle W. was built in 1985 and later remodeled.

Allison Menke Miller and Warren Miller, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1947 Magnolia St. to Opendoor Property Trust I for $593,000. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,324 square feet of living area.

The Palm Bay Club of Sarasota Gwendolyn Franco and Joseph Hennessy Jr. sold their Unit G-31 condominium at 5966 Midnight Pass Road to Florida Sunset LLC for $1.51 million. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,050 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2020.

PALMER RANCH

Arbor Lakes on Palmer Ranch Salvatore and Erica Gianino, of Sarasota, sold their home at 5930 Anise Drive to Stephen Ryan and Janelle Whiteman, of Sarasota, for $840,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,487 square feet of living area. It sold for $494,800 in 2017.

OSPREY

Bay Acres Grace Brookshire, of Osprey, sold her home at 413 Bayshore Drive to Miles and Kayla Anderson, of Sarasota, for $590,000. Built in 1965, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,128 square feet of living area. It sold for $293,500 in 2014.

NOKOMIS

Blackburn Ridge Charles and Bozena Almasy, of Nokomis, sold their home at 16871 Full Sail Way to Mikhail Zarkhin and Marina Zarkhin, trustees, of Nokomis, for $1.28 million.

Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,250 square feet of living area.

ONLINE

MARQUEE EN VILLE David and Linda Thompson sold their Unit 106-B condominium at 235 Cocoanut Ave. to Thomas and Cindy Jones, of Sarasota, for $730,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,097 square feet of living area.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

In with the new

EAGLES POINT AT THE LANDINGS Robert and Ann Segal, of Margate City, New Jersey, sold their Unit 401 condominium at 5420 Eagles Point Circle to Marilyn Rosengarden and Paul Frederick, of Sarasota, for $690,000. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,930 square feet of living area.

SALES GALLERY OPEN

Longboat Key The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From the $2,000,000’s | Call for appointment. SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

MOVE-IN READY

These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of Sept. 6-10, in order of dollar amounts.

C I T Y O F SA RAS O TA Address

Permit

Applicant

305 Ringling Point Drive

Renovations

Houston Morris

2200 Oriole Drive

Windows

Rafael De La Puente

$23,965

123 Faubel St.

Re-roof

Pamela English

$23,100

2432 Alameda Ave.

Re-roof

Denise Campbell

$21,735

888 Boulevard of the Arts #601 Doors

Amount

Downtown Sarasota

$320,000

Kathleen Barclay, trustee $18,512

1745 Irving St.

Re-roof

Lucretia Hawkrdige

$12,500

2159 Bay St.

Re-roof

Gary Barnhill

$11,650

2368 Wood St.

Windows

Patrick Doherty

$9,320

Risdon on 5th | 941.365.1414 | From the low $600,000’s | RisdonOn5th.com

MOVE IN FALL 2022

Downtown Sarasota

SA R A S O TA CO U N T Y Address

Permit Applicant Amount

800 Mission Valley Blvd.

Addition

Barbara Heinsler

7508 Midnight Pass Road

Addition

Christopher Powers

625 Beach Road

Renovations

Michael Armour

$121,403

1350 Casey Key Road

Pool/Deck

William Crosskey

$110,000

512 Treasure Boat Way

Windows/Doors

Hamed Abouzeid

$106,198

5780 Midnight Pass Road

Renovations

James Toon

$98,421

2845 Bentley St.

Re-roof

Tony Lujan

$92,778

1900 Cove II Place #133

Remodel

Ralph Lilly

$88,900

2712 Ashton Road

Re-roof

Nhan Ngo

$85,000

$2.1 million $455,000

The Collection | 941.232.2868 | From the $2,000,000’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

Source: Sarasota County, city of Sarasota

WWW.MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM/NEW-HOMES | 844.591.4333 | SARASOTA, FLORIDA Prices as of September 2021.

361763-1

#102

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Left: Patricia Okker spoke to her experience and plans for New College.

Below: Guests eat at the Bird Key Yacht Club.

18 Months Promotional Financing Available!

• Repair tiles • Replace tiles

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he Sister Cities Association of Sarasota gave a warm welcome to New College President Patricia Okker at the group’s luncheon Sept. 15.

The luncheon at the Bird Key Yacht Club had organization members mingling and sitting for lunch before hearing words from Okker, who took over as president in July from Donal O’Shea.

The Sister Cities group works to foster international relationships and cultural exchanges with overseas groups.

Okker later took questions from the audience.

Call for details!

241 Interstate Court Sarasota, FL 34240 Florida State License CCC1325654

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Photos by Harry Sayer

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

23

BLACK

Endless Summer Nights

|

F

WELCOMES

TIE

oundation for Dreams & Dream Oaks Camp started its two-day Endless Summer Nights event with a dinner party and auction Sept. 16.

More than 200 supporters of the organization, which develops the skills of children with disabilities and chronic illnesses, were welcomed by Dream Oaks campers at the IMG Academy Golf Club. Guests mingled and scoped out silent auction items in the opening half-hour before sitting for dinner and hearing from Board Chair Annette Larkin, Dream Oak camper mother Katie Roberts and others.

The dinner party was followed by a golf tournament Sept. 17.

Jared Hinds, DO Internal Medicine

Dr. Jared Hinds brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine.

Photos by Harry Sayer

Emalynn and speaker Katie Roberts —HARRY SAYER

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pikeville, KY Residency: Internal Medicine, Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL Certification: Board Eligible, American Board of Internal Medicine Hospital Affiliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Doctors Hospital Undergraduate: Medical School:

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

941-379-5121 Cattleridge Medical Building Left: Board Chair Annette Larkin with Vice Chair Elizabeth Murphy Above: The two-day event included a silent auction.

www.intercoastalmedical.com Medicare and most insurances accepted

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SOLD

SOLD

Your home has never been worth more

1 No.2 No.

Siesta Key’s Top Selling REALTOR*

3 DAYS | SELLER | $1.5M | OVER LIST

SOLD

SOLD

9 DAYS | SELLER | $1.565M | OVER LIST

4 DAYS | SELLER | $1.5M | OVER LIST

No.

11 DAYS | BUYER/SELLER | $1.25M | OVER LIST

4

REAL Trends Small Team

by Sales Volume in Sarasota*

SOLD

SOLD

3 DAYS | SELLER | $1.51M | OVER LIST

Sotheby’s International Realty® Affiliate in The World*

Our 2021 Sarasota-Manatee Market Update at jb.media/2021Q2

3 DAYS | SELLER | $1.01M | OVER LIST

*Numbers and ranking based on MLS data, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty reporting and REAL Trends 2020 data as of 8/11/2021.

Who you work with matters SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR® SINCE 2005 23 Years Selling Sarasota’s Luxury Real Estate $114 Million Pending & Sold 2021 Year-to-Date Ranked in the Top 1.5% in the USA | #58 in Florida out of 200,000+ Realtors

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.

363800-1

941.928.3424 | judie.berger@premiersir.com | www.homesofsarasota.com |

24

SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

THURSDAY, SEPT. 23

Submit your photos at YourObserver. com/ Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 202122 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.

Judith Horn captured these alligators relaxing alongside some spoonbills in Myakka State Park.

High: 89 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 37%

FRIDAY, SEPT. 24 High: 89 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 24%

SATURDAY, SEPT. 25 High: 88 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 58%

SUNDAY, SEPT. 26 High: 87 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 24%

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Sept. 23

7:18a 7:24p

Friday, Sept. 24

7:19a

7:23p

Saturday, Sept. 25

7:19a

7:22p

Sunday, Sept. 26

7:20a

7:21p

Monday, Sept. 27

7:20a

7:19p

Tuesday, Sept. 28

7:20a

7:18p

Wednesday, Sept. 29

7:21a 7:17p

MOON PHASES

Oct. 12 First

Oct.20 Full

Oct. 28 Last

Nov. 4 New

RAINFALL Monday, Sept. 13

0

Tuesday, Sept. 14

0.85

Wednesday, Sept. 15

0 0.14

Thursday, Sept. 16 Friday, Sept. 17

0

Saturday, Sept. 18

0

Sunday, Sept. 19

0

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2021 43.32 in.

2021 5.30 in.

2020 43.36 in.

2020 7.08 in.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC KARASTAN, MOHAWK, AIRO, SMARTSTRAND, ALL PET

CROSSWORD

©2021 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Fawning flattery 6 Jump like a joey 9 Picket line crosser 13 Erupt 17 Hawaiian island with no traffic lights 18 Birds in barns 20 Story 21 Express feelings onstage 22 First, second, third and so on (Hint: This answer includes five letters from 8-Down) 24 Felt bad about 25 Fowl place 26 Exercised, as authority

941.748.4679 | Venice

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com

LOWER THE SHADES by Paul Coulter; Edited by David Steinberg

27 Sundae topper (... includes five letters from 13-Down) 30 Mouth off to 31 Sansa's older brother on "Game of Thrones" 33 "The loneliest number" 34 Actor Stoltz 35 Suggested, as a deal 38 Seize the opportunity 41 Event with discounts 43 ___ well (succeeded) 44 Mercury and Mars 45 Marginal revenue's subj.

47 Bitter disagreement 49 Streaks in marble 51 Sauce brand

52 Aging (... includes four letters from 53-Down) 56 Key that may pause a game 57 Burj Khalifa's country, briefly 59 Adage 60 Dry run 61 Place-holding folds 63 In ___ (as found) 65 Bread that might be dark 66 Spills (over) 67 Apply to 70 Pres. advisory team 73 Late-night fridge visit 75 Liberals, collectively 77 Actor's goal

104 Philip of "Kung Fu" 105 What melting icicles do 106 Actress Condor or Turner 110 Corporate oversight group (... includes four letters from 101-Down) 114 Advance in a video game 116 Like oily hair 117 Hilo feast 118 Autumn tones, and a theme hint 120 Young hoodlums 121 Mispronounces a word, e.g.

122 Close angrily 123 Present, for the verb "gift" 124 Big boats 125 Open, as an envelope 126 Boot tip 127 Barely beats

79 Haul to a garage, say 82 School support org.

83 Lingerie item 84 "Homeland" star (... includes three letters from 85-Down) 86 Yolk's counterpart 88 Ecological community 90 WNBA great Weatherspoon 91 Luxury hotel chain 92 Animal with a mane 94 Trombone material 98 Blowgun insert 99 Oozing 101 Inedible mushroom 103 Caddie's bagful

DOWN 1 Reduces speed 2 Journalist Shriver 3 Chilean mountain range 4 Nickname Lincoln got from chopping logs for fences 5 One is literally impossible to read 6 Withstand 7 Have the rights to 8 Pipe cleaner?

9 Hair piece 10 Make happen 11 Baldwin of "Dr. Death" 12 Bad hair day phenomenon 13 Person who's kissing 14 Like a D grade 15 Handmade wallet website 16 Dewy 19 Org. issuing nine-digit IDs 21 Bert's bestie 23 Prefix for "nautical" 28 Antlered Eurasian animal 29 Bothers 32 Deg. hidden in "job fair" 36 Mortgage adjustment, briefly 37 Gun, as an engine 38 Rap's ___ Def 39 High or low cards 40 Stress-reducing discipline 41 Animal in a roundup

42 Like a crafter 44 Vitamin chain 46 "This instant!"

47 Rank above cpl.

48 Breaks up 50 Unit of Time 51 One may need to be walked 53 Meir in Israeli history 54 "I" problem 55 Single situp or squat 57 The States, casually 58 "Don't ya think that's true?"

62 Houston baseball player 64 Without equal 68 Latter-day Saints' HQ 69 Moray ___ 71 More rational 72 Colgate rival 74 "Tarzan" extra 76 It often flavors pea soup 78 Org. that scans baggage 79 A couple 80 Resistance units 81 Merlot, for one 83 Coal container 85 Change the look of 87 Neckwear pins 88 Impede, with "down" 89 Progressive ___ 92 Emulated Pinocchio 93 Shoe liners 95 Make food less bland 96 Kazakhstan, once (Abbr.)

97 1998 memoir in which Christopher Reeve described how he coped with an injury 100 Fringe benefits 101 Driving force 102 Crude grp.

104 Pong maker 107 Word after "run" or "tag" 108 Give medicine to, say 109 Church recesses 110 Get fuzzy 111 Sty cry 112 Roll up 113 Failing grades 115 Cast a ballot 116 Hot tub 119 Language of Vientiane

349237-1

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

"HVVDI PYT EVMLKI PAK RLDK PUURKI PYT VAPYSKI. WNKJ HVWN PAK OAZLW, HZW WPIWK XVEURKWKRJ TLOOKAKYW." IWKUNKY DLYS "GA YRS SLGA O SUZF OZSZVY POW? DZAS SLF ASGTT VFTOYKLRTW SLOS G TRHF – SLOS VOMFA TGEF OYP YOSZUF LOUVRYGIF."

NFRUNF FTGRS

Puzzle Two Clue D equals J

Sarasota

Puzzle One Clues M equals V

CARPET

© 2021 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

9-23-21

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Real Estate Wanted

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon

WM wants to buy home for sale by owner. Deposit and terms negotiable and according to the owner.

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

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.

Items Under $200 SMALL DORM/OFFICE refrigerator freezer by Magic Chef, Like New $100 941-918-8007 Standing Mirror, $45 941-923-3386

jobs

Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

BIKES: 26” 18 speed Women’s Mongoose $50. Men’s 26” D Vega 18 speed $50. 26” Men’s Schwinn 21 speed, cruiser $50.

941-350-9431.

CEMENT PELICAN 2 feet tall $65. Ceramic garden stool 2’ tall $70. Golf putter 10K gold plated $65. 941-359-8460

COINS, STAMPS & PAPER MONEY WANTED We are always buying! Suncoast Stamp & Coin 8520 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota FL 34238 (941) 921-9761 WWW.SUNCOAST STAMP.COM

Boat Slips for Rent/Sale TWO SLIPS BOATHOUSE ON LONGBOAT. For sale by owner. Slips 2304 and 1203. Both currently leased, cash positive. Free indoor boat storage, unlimited in-out. Monohull only, max 8.5’ beam, 30’ LOA. $125,000 for both. 941-951-8929.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

941-955-4888

DISNEY – Minnie Mouse Victorian Christmas Tree Topper $150. Barbie - Little Debbie 1, 2, & 3 for $45.

941-720-3899

YourObserver.com/RedPages

FINE ITALIAN Terracotta by Seibert and Rice, large handmade 21X22” with plant, $200. 941-922-4025

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales

FORD F150 SB Tonneau cover Locking black roll up cover for short bed f150. $150 (719) 250-8565

ESTATE SALE All must go!

King bedroom, used beds, oak table, etc.

September 25, 8am- 3pm 12003 Whistling Way

FRANCISCANWARE DESERT Rose china set. 1 dinner, 12 bowls, 6 saucers. $25 (941) 966-6816

BUY & SELL HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

MEN’S TREK Bike, $50. 2 framed Indonesian batiks $50 each. 941-907-9530 ROUND TABLE-45"DIA. Tile top w/wood edging and 4 chairs. Great for kitchen,den or patio. $90. 941-250-6205

Merchandise Wanted 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 Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

SELL YOUR STUFF FAST!

GARAGE SALE Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

CALL 941-955-4888

Condos/Apts. for Rent

YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

941-809-3660, 941-809-3662.

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

LOOKING FOR a condo to lease for 3 months. In LBK, Lido or Downtown Sarasota.

Must be at least 2,000 sq ft no steps, and nicely furnished 3 bedrooms. December - February or January - March. Brokers welcome. Respond to:Brenbrook234@gmail.com

Adult Care Services A LENDING HAND Looking for HHA'S AND Certified Nursing Assistants Flexible Schedules/ Weekly pay Call 941 809-3725. # 30211577 PERSONAL CARE GIVERPrivate 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.

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria. Residential.

Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates.

Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342.

Advertise your business or service in the Observer AdvertisePAGES your business RED or service in the Observer Advertise your business

orCALL service PAGES inTODAY the Observer RED 941-955-4888 RED PAGES

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

www.braziliancleaningbymk.com

This week’s Crossword answers

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Books and movies are like apples and oranges.

They both are fruit, but taste completely different.”

Stephen King Puzzle Two Solution: “Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love – that makes life and nature harmonize.”

George Eliot

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2021 Universal Uclick

©2021 NEA, Inc.

4 FT glass patio table set, brown wicker frame, including 4 chairs LWR. $180.

941-388-8916

COIN COLLECTOR Collector buying U.S. silver and gold coins. Happy to appraise. Paying highest prices as a collector. (973) 723-5299

BEAM4D ENTERPRISES, LLC in Sarasota, FL seeks a Software Developer to focus on devel’nt & maint of a multi-tiered SW proj, BEAM. No trvl; no telecomm. Send resumes to: Beam4D Enterprises, LLC, Attn: HR, Job Code, SD, 4081 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240.

real estate

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

Antiques/ Collectibles

Help Wanted

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

THANK YOU St. Jude thank you for providing me with needed strength and answering my prayers for my two grandsons. MJR

peekers’ place

stuff

Announcements

home services

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

The The The CRYSTAL CRYSTAL CRYSTAL CLEAR CLEAR CLEAR choice! choice! choice!

RED PAGES

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

Cleaning

Home Services

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady.

Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential.

Commercial. New Construction. 941-400-2866.

HOME INSPECTIONS and walk throughs, while home or away $50 per month by a FL licensed home inspector.

Lic. #DBPR#HI14065 and insured. 866-492-8374 clark@ cleanwatercompany.com

CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE HERE! CALL 941-955-4888

Home Services GRAB BAR Installation 20 YEARS experience (212) 804-8525

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE! Advertise items less than $200 for FREE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

Landscaping/ Lawn Services

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

Aluminum

SEARAY SPRINKLER SERVICES Repairs, Additions, Drip, Timer/Head Adjustment Call Rick Today: Office 941-920-0775

SELL IT NOW! 941-955-4888

Painting

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.

ES HANDYMAN & REMODELING. Hardwood flooring, kitchens, painting and electrical.

Honest and best prices.

30+ years exp. Fully ins/lic.

716-474-8492.

POST YOUR AD WITH EASE.

SELL YOUR STUFF FOR FREE!

YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com/RedPages

Items Up to $200

Auto Service

Beauty

SELL YOUR CAR!

SERVING YOU IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME 364606

26

FAST • EASY • SAFE

Dustin Yoder Owner / Operator Insured

941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com 363487

941.270.4400

5-Star Rated

HoHoBuysCars.com

AMANDA 424-333-0713 | rockstarmobilehair@gmail.com

364260

WE COME TO YOU

“Specializing in 6” Seamless Gutters”

www.rockstarmobilehairsalon.com

Doors

Cleaning

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

363659

Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

10% OFF

2 PANELS OR MORE

Covid-19 Clean Practicing Business

Call us today! 941.628.8579 364553

www.ezslider.com

FREE IN-HOM ESTIMATEE S

Cleaning your home at it’s finest.

Trusted & Professional

Free in-home estimates!

(941) 413-8815

364607

For the Month of July.

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888

Computer

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

Realtors

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 (Next to Beneva Flowers)

941-929-9095

363982

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

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

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

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

363489

Pegatronics.com

941-735-3362

363984

Concrete

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

Driveways • Sidewalks

Servicing the Sarasota area since 1999

Also Laying Stone

Reasonable Prices

Licensed & Insured

918-8587

Free Estimates

360495

TREASURES FOUND HERE!

Michael Koch Concrete, Inc.

“No Job Too Small”

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Doors

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

Sliding Glass Door Repair

Roofing

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

LEAKY ROOF?

GRAB BARS

Gulf Gate RoofinG inc.

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

$

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED COVERAGE AREA: LAKEWOOD RANCH TO S. VENICE

Specializing in Re-Roofing & Repairs

941-228-9850

Joe Murray, Owner

DRGRABBARS.COM

364544 38056

/ DELIVERY FREE PICKUP ONSITE QUOTES outdoor furniture experts• •FREE www .patiorepairs .net

Building & Roofing Contractor

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

954-1878

(cell) 780-3346 Licensed & Insured

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

364555

363981

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS

• Home Repairs & Maintenance • Interior & Exterior • Garage Floor Paint • Power Wash

Screening

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

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

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

364253

Call John 941.377.2940

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

Pet Care

Doors and more!

Melanie Gates

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

(941) 345-5264

(941) 966-2960

Health

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

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

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!

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

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

941-923-8140

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression provides safe, gentle & effective relief for upwards of 90% of patients that qualify for care.

Licensed & Insured State Lic CFC056748

Power Washing Pressure Washing

Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

STANDARD WINDOWS

• Roofs • PoolCages Cages•• Decks Decks ••Driveways • Roofs • Pool Driveways • Deck/Paver Sealing • Gutter Cleaning • Deck/PaverAnd Sealing • And Much More Much More!

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

AFTER

120

$

SPECIAL 00 5

$

BEFORE

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Home Services

Rescreening & Repairs

Pinnacle Home Watch.com Stop Worrying About Your Home While Away

Eldridge Re-Screen

Dave and Connie Grundy

CALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

| scaperotta@aol.com

Licensed

“No Job Too Small”

CREATE A LOT OF BUZZ!

Advertise your business or services in the Red Pages.

Insured

941-270-1561

Call 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

364546

941-544-1066 Italian American Owned

363987

363980

363483

Purified water window cleaning available!!

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

364257

ows

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

Honesty, Integrity and Pride

University Health Park 2415 University Parkway Bldg. 3, Suite 216 Sarasota, FL 34243

25

UP TO

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Lic./Ins.

& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing wn as Sunrise Win o n k Sun y l r e d

• 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

Pressure Washing

Windows Res./Com.

Plumbing

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Trees

364104

(941) 504-3168

364256

“OUR ESTIMATES & ADVICE ARE FREE”

by

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint

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

✦ Carpentry ✦ Indoors ✦ Remodeling ✦ Ceramic Tile ✦ Water & Fire Damage ✦ Kitchen/Baths Licensed Lic. #38333 References

941-345-5264

Pet Services

363285

941.504.2745 941.400.1563

364258

GladysKhabbaz@gmail.com 805 Molly Circle, Sarasota

364545

Naji Aoun

364549

CONSTRUCTION HANDYMAN

363989

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

GLENN KROECKER

Handyman

Fully Insured

State Licensed Contractor #CCC057066

THE GRAB BAR GUY

Patio Furniture Repairs.com patio RepaiRS 941-504-0903 941-504-0903

38 Years Experience

364556

941.966.0333

Furniture Repair FurnitureSales Sales &&Repairs Furniture Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating Cushions • Slings • Umbrellas

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

All Work Guaranteed

364543

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

$235 235

27

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

|

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

$

210

MILLION

CLOSED AND PENDING IN 2021

S I E S TA K E Y 8 2 1 8 S A N D E R L I N G R OA D | $14 ,0 0 0,0 0 0 Relax, escape and unwind from everyday life in the ultimate beachfront paradise on Siesta Key. Offering one of the area’s most coveted lifestyles, this private resortlike compound rests on over 4 acres between the tranquil blue Gulf of Mexico waters and the quiet banks of Heron Lagoon in the Sanderling Club on Siesta Key.

S I E S TA K E Y 3 97 7 R O B E R T S P O I N T R OA D | $ 3 ,7 8 5 ,0 0 0 This beautiful home is perfectly located on the north end of Siesta Key.

S A R A B AY AC R E S 1 3 3 W E S T B AY S T R E E T | $1 , 5 4 5 ,0 0 0 Direct bayfront investment opportunity.

S U N H AV E N 5 3 0 6, 5 31 2 SOUTH LO CK WOOD RID GE ROAD | $1 ,49 0,0 0 0 Take advantage of this incredible investment opportunity.

U N D E R C O N T R AC T I N 1 DAY

S I E S TA K E Y 6 4 8 0 M I D N I G H T PA S S R OA D # 5 14 | $1 , 10 0,0 0 0 This beachfront condominium is conveniently located.

L A K E WO O D R A N C H C O U N T RY C LU B 74 24 RI V I E R A C OV E | $ 5 8 7,0 0 0 A golfer’s dream in Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

LO N G B OAT K E Y 3 10 5 G U L F O F M E X I C O D R I V E | $1 2 , 9 0 0,0 0 0 This is one of the most significant beachfront properties available on Longboat Key.

S E V I L L E AT C E N T E R G AT E 4 3 47 M A R C OT T C I R C L E | $ 47 9,0 0 0 Great lakefront home in a convenient location.

S I E S TA K E Y 3 5 3 6 B AYO U LO U I S E L A N E | $ 6 , 97 5 ,0 0 0 Gulf-front estate on the north end of Siesta Key.

SARASOTA AND THE ISLANDS Joel Schemmel, J.D., REALTOR® 941.587.4894

LAKEWOOD RANCH Donna and Jim Soda, REALTORS® 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.

357978-1

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