Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 1.8.26

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

Plans for 2026?

All too easy.

Observer

PAGE 1B

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

VOLUME 21, NO. 48

YOUR TOWN

LOOKING AHEAD

Courtesy image

Corey Gifford and William Zimmerman welcomed their son, Zaiden Amaris Zimmerman, affectionately known as “Zaz,” at 12:50 a.m.

New babies and a new year Sarasota Memorial Health Care System welcomed its first babies of 2026 on Jan. 1.

The first was born at SMHVenice to Corey Gifford and William Zimmerman (above).

Zaiden Amaris Zimmerman, known as “Zaz,” was born at 12:50 a.m. Zaz weighed 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches. He has two sisters.

At the Sarasota campus, Austin Gordon Jr., known as “AJ,” was born at 1:25 a.m. to first-time parents Isabel Castillo and Austin Gordon. AJ weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19.7 inches long.

Redevelopment of The Bay park will reach a critical juncture for Founding CEO AG Lafley in 2026.

2026: Works in progress

Progress of the new Sarasota County Administration Building as of late November 2025.

Courtesy of Sarasota Police Department

Officer Danny Robbins, of the Patrol Division, Community Relations Unit, with a recipient of a gift during the Sarasota Police Department’s Three Kings Day event.

File photos

A lot of unfinished business will move toward completion in the next 12 months. Probably.

SEE PAGE 3A

Paul Hoback is the new president and CEO of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, succeeding Rick Piccolo after 30 years.

A joyful duty

Sarasota Police Department’s drive for Toys for Tots, which is a program of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, has helped support the department’s community outreach during the holiday season.

That continued on Jan. 2 with an early celebration of Three Kings Day (Jan. 6) during which officers distributed toys to children and families in need at Orange Avenue.

The event emphasized connection with the community, positive youth engagement and the department’s commitment to building trust with families.

The event followed toy distributions in December at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.

Developers march east from center of the city Projects begin popping up along Ringling Boulevard.

SEE PAGE 6A

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Image courtesy of DSDG Architects

A rendering of a proposed condo building at the corner of Ringling Boulevard and Osprey Avenue.

A+E ‘Bad,’ but in a good way.

INSIDE

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

WEEK OF JAN. 8, 2026

“This is really high-end stuff. And no, I am not going to become a member, and they didn’t offer me (a membership) in lieu of my fee.”

Entler enters race for City Commission Arlington Park neighborhood advocate Flo Entler has announced her candidacy for one of two at-large seats on the Sarasota City Commission, both of which are up for grabs in 2026.

A frequent speaker before the commission, the Long Island, New York, native moved to Sarasota 37 years ago. Her career spans bookkeeping, law office administration, advertising and human resources.

She is president of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association and former second vice president of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations.

Entler enters the field for the two at-large seats held by Mayor Debbie Trice and Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch, the latter of whom has filed for reelection. Other candidates include former Florida State Senator and Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett and Rob Rominiecki, former head of security at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and husband of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki.

According to the Sarasota County Elections Supervisor website, Sherman Baldwin has withdrawn.

Development consultant Joel Freedman on the proposed 1000 North private club. Read more on page 12A

BY THE NUMBERS $108 MILLION

Cost of two new Sarasota County office buildings scheduled to open in 2026 PAGE 4A

58

Apartments proposed for 1701 and 1715 N. Tamiami Trail, denied by the city but set for mediation PAGE 5A

45²

The recently rung-out year of 2025 was the most recent perfect square year (one number multiplied by the same number) since 1936.

The next is 2116.

PAGE 8B

CALENDAR n Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13, South County Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice n Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, South County Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice n Sarasota Planning Board regular meeting — 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

Courtesy image

A rendering of Sarasota Station, which will feature 202 workforce housing apartments.

Sarasota Station set to break ground A

fter more than 15 years, One Stop Housing CEO and Managing Partner Mark Vengroff is finishing what his father started as groundbreaking ceremonies for Sarasota Station will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 15.

The event will be held at the 2211 Fruitville Road site of the project, which will bring 202 workforce-priced apartments to the former 4.38-acre industrial site. Vengroff is following in the footsteps of his late father, Harvey Vengroff, who pioneered affordable housing projects in

Sarasota and Manatee counties, initially converting former roadside motels into apartments before expanding into new construction projects.

The development theme pays homage to the historic Suncoast Sarasota Railroad. Central to the property will be the historic Ringling circus train, fully renovated and reimagined as Bob’s Circus Train. A local favorite, the Bob’s Train restaurant will remain on the site and will highlight an extensive collection of circus and Sarasota historical artifacts, photographs and memorabilia.

Sarasota Station will be the first Florida Live Local Act development built in Sarasota.

Amenities will include a clubhouse, basketball court, dog park, business center, community center and a connection to the Legacy Trail.

One Stop Housing has more than 4,000 workforce units already developed or under management. Based in Sarasota, it is the largest workforce housing owner, builder and management company in Florida.

SMH women’s advocate honored Sarasota Memorial Health System Chief Academic Officer Dr. Wilhelmine Wiese‑Rometsch was recently recognized for her leadership, advocacy and mentorship to advance women in medicine across Florida. She was the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to Advancing the Careers of Women in Medicine Award by the American College of Physicians, Florida Chapter.

Wiese-Rometsch oversees the health system’s graduate medical education programs and research initiatives, which help create a pipeline of new physicians serving Florida and the Suncoast region.

Since launching Sarasota Memorial’s education program in conjunction with Florida State University a decade ago, it has more than tripled in size.

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TABS

W HAT ’S HAPPENING

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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LOOKING AHEAD

2026 ANOTHER YEAR OF ‘MIGHTS?’ From a new Sarasota city manager (maybe) to an implementation agreement for a new performing arts center (also maybe), 2026 promises to be an eventful year in Sarasota. Maybe.

ANDREW WARFIELD | STAFF WRITER

F

or last year’s edition of Stories to Watch, readers were informed a new Sarasota city

manager was on the way. It didn’t happen. So this year, the Observer is hedging its bets with no guarantee the long-awaited replacement for Marlon Brown, who retired from the post in October 2024, with a prediction that it absolutely, positively might happen in 2026.

File photos

The city of Sarasota is investing in the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to make it more resilient and keep it operating.

VAN WEZEL REPAIRS AND RESILIENCE WORK WILL CONTINUE After missing half of its 2024-25 season because of flood damage wrought by Hurricane Milton, it’s business as usual for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The building underwent a couple million dollars’ worth of restoration, including replacing bay water-soaked carpet in the Grand Foyer and other public areas with epoxy-coated concrete.

As the long-term future of the building remains to be determined should a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center be built, the city is making investments into resilience of the building and addressing deferred structural and mechanical systems maintenance, which will be covered by reserves built by the building’s operating revenue.

The work, Interim City Manager Dave Bullock told an audience at a September meeting of the Tiger Bay Club, will

take about two years to complete.

Already completed are flood panels, which have been purchased, installed and tested in September and are now placed in storage. According to the city, additional floodproofing construction (covered by state funding) is anticipated for mid-2026 and more mitigation efforts are in the design phase. Theatrical upgrades are scheduled for 20262028.

The scope of work was part of a recommendation by Karins Engineering, which was commissioned by the city to prepare a report for use by the Purple Ribbon Committee, which made a repair and maintenance proposal to the city as part of its repurposing report for the Van Wezel in the event a new PAC is built.

Also what might happen is the implementation of an implementation agreement between the city and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation to continue planning for a new performing arts center.

Given no mention of that critical step since March 2025, that, too, is no guarantee. A couple of controversial urban residential projects also may move forward pending mediation and a revisit by the City Commission.

For certain is critical dredging of Phillippi Creek, continued development of The Bay park, two new county government buildings opening and new leadership at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. These and more will be stories to watch in 2026.

THE BAY MOVING INTO PHASE 3

Redevelopment of the 53-acre city-owned property into The Bay park will reach a critical juncture in 2026 as it seeks the next batch of public funding for planning and construction of Phase 3. Meanwhile, Phase 2 work continues in both the resilient shoreline along Sarasota Bay and in the Cultural District fronting Tamiami Trail.

Last year, the Bay Park Conservancy completed work on the south side of the Canal District with dredging of the 10th Street boat launch basin, rebuilding of the south seawall and construction of new day docks. Work will continue on the east and north seawalls, adding more day docks, building a fourth boat launch ramp and parking lot enhancements in the Centennial Park portion of The Bay, all as part of Phase 3.

The BPC is seeking $20 million in tax increment financing revenue collected by the city and county on improved property tax value on downtown properties immediately surrounding the park, funds that must be invested within the park or on improved access to the park. The City Commission approved its one-third share for Phase 3, but the County Commission has taken a wait-and-see approach as the state Legislature takes up a possible statewide referendum to possibly eliminate real estate property tax.

No property tax, so the county’s cautious approach goes, then no TIF district revenue to pay for construction of The Bay. Meanwhile, planning continues for Phase 3, the most significant element covering the parking lot of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with green space. Construction also continues on Phase 2 with remaining Cultural District projects that include renovations of Municipal Auditorium and construction of a town square shade structure, both scheduled for this summer.

Work is complete along the pedestrian promenade and parking area at The Bay along North Tamiami Trail.

Interim City Manager Dave Bullock was chosen to serve in the role in spring 2025.

NEW CITY MANAGER TO BE NAMED IN MARCH? MAYBE. Fifteen months after the retirement of Marlon Brown, the city of Sarasota still has no permanent city manager. The city’s new collaboration with Sumter Local Government Consulting of Alpharetta, Georgia, though, is intended to yield a positive result in 2026.

The city is on its second interim city manager in Dave Bullock, who came out of public-sector retirement to succeed Doug Jeffcoat after eight months as the city’s first top temp.

Jeffcoat returned to his day job as public works director just three months prior to retiring after 30 years with the city.

Bullock is expected to hold down the fort until commissioners select Sarasota’s next permanent chief executive.

Having parted ways with Colin Baenziger and Associates of Daytona Beach Shores — the executive search firm selected by staff through the standard procurement process — in May 2025, commissioners wanted more direct involvement in the securing of a field of candidates. The commission also took the process out of the hands of the city’s Human Resources Department and assigned City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs to shepherd the task.

They found what they were seeking in Sumter, a young, small, self-described “hungry and scrappy” firm that pursued the city’s business as a resume builder and, eager to please, is more than willing to let the City Commission take the lead.

The firm has laid out an ambitious schedule, with screening of semifinalist candidates as early as January, interviews of finalists in February and perhaps an offer extended sometime in March. That said, whether the commission hires a new city manager by the second anniversary of Brown’s departure remains to be seen.

SEE STORIES TO WATCH, PAGE 4A

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

STORIES TO WATCH, FROM PAGE 3A

NEW COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS TO OPEN The eastern migration of the Sarasota County government will continue this year with the opening of two significant buildings in the Fruitville Commons area. Construction delays at the new Sarasota County Administration Center, just north of Celery Fields on Apex Road, have postponed the move of several county departments.

Since the closure of the former headquarters at 1660 Ringling Blvd. on Oct. 24, 2025, staff formerly housed there have been working from offices in scattered locations. There is no date certain on the completion of the new 120,000-square-foot, $75 million building, but once it is occupied, it will feature a brand new meeting chamber with 230 fixed audience seats, 50

more than the prior meeting room, plus bench seating for approximately 18 more.

Just about a mile away at the corner of Apex Road and Palmer Boulevard is the new $33 million, 55,600-square-foot, “one-stop shop” to house the county’s Planning and Development Services operations.

The purpose of the One Stop Shop is to centralize all the planning services operations and improve efficiency and convenience to customers and residents.

Planning for the facility began in the summer of 2022, the design process completed in winter 2023.

Previously scheduled to open in fall 2025, it too will not be occupied until sometime this year.

File photos

New Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Paul Hoback.

HOBACK SUCCEEDS PICCOLO AT SRQ Not noticeably absent by the traveling public from the terminal at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, but certainly by airport staff and others, will be now-retired president and CEO Rick Piccolo, who hung up his wings after three decades of leading the airport.

Piccolo handed the keys to Paul Hoback, who joined SRQ following a 25-year stint at Pittsburgh International Airport, rising there to the rank of executive vice president and chief development officer.

Hoback brought to the position many attributes and experiences that align with the goals of the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority, having most recently led a $1.7 billion renovation and expansion of the PIT passenger terminal and other improvements. He also oversaw all of the airport’s capital development, operations and maintenance.

Hoback joins SRQ as the airport addresses growth needs of its own. January 2025 marked the opening of Concourse A with five new ground-based boarding gates, all leased by Allegiant, with longer term plans to expand the concourse and eventually connect it with Concourse B. Meanwhile, renovations to modernize Concourse B and bring enhanced food and beverage options to passengers have largely been completed, and work remains under way on improvements to the terminal area near the entrance to security screening.

Next on the SMAA Board of Directors’ agenda is implementation of a master plan that includes a parking structure to replace the short-term surface lot and streamline rental car operations among other infrastructure improvements.

In November 2025, SRQ was voted by editors and readers of USA Today as the nation’s best resort destination airport.

Phillippi Creek at Blossom Brook Canal

PHILLIPPI CREEK DREDGING PROJECT WILL BEGIN Limited capacity of Phillippi Creek to carry stormwater to Little Sarasota Bay was blamed for severe flooding in south Sarasota neighborhoods during the 2024 hurricane season. In the aftermath, Sarasota County government created a new Stormwater Department, spun off from Public Works, which went right to work planning to dredge the creek.

The dredging began in late December with a plan to ensure a 30-foot-wide, 4-foot-deep mean low water area along the centerline between Tuttle Avenue and its mouth at the bay. The project will be managed by West Coast Inland Navigation District but paid for by Sarasota County taxpayers to the tune of $14.48 million.

Sarasota County government reports there are 44,818

homes and 2,108 commercial properties within the Phillippi Creek basin.

The county has set up a web page for residents to monitor the progress of the project at SCGov.net/PhillippiCreek.

Meanwhile, engineering and planning work will begin in 2026 for two other significant dredging projects, Whitaker Bayou and Hudson Bayou in the Sarasota city limits and to expand the stormwater holding capacity at Celery Fields.

In November, the County Commission approved nearly $30 million in federal Resilient SRQ funds for all three projects.

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LOOKING AHEAD

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

MEDIATION ON TWO DENIED RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

A REFERENDUM ON PROPERTY TAX Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged a referendum to eliminate property taxes placed on the 2026 statewide ballot. To become reality, it must meet the 60% threshold required to approve an amendment to the state’s constitution.

Although it has yet to be taken up in the halls of the Florida Legislature, the matter will with 100% certainty headline the 2026 legislative agenda. Some critics have charged that because multiple referenda on the subject may appear on the ballot, each with a different strategy for local jurisdictions to compensate for the lost revenue, none will be able to achieve the necessary 60% margin.

The threat alone has already begun to reverberate in the halls of governance as the Sarasota County Commission in particular is taking a cautious approach to how the matter takes shape early in the legislative session. Commissioners have instructed staff to loop them into the budget process months earlier than normal. It has also prompted them to delay release of tax increment financing district funds for The Bay park, revenue needed for the organization to begin Phase 3 construction.

Among the options that may be considered is relief of property tax for Florida primary residences only, leaving the burden on parttime residents to make up at least part of resulting deficit. As for the rest, Florida voters may have the option of choosing their flavor among other forms of revenue generating measures.

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Opponents of the Obsidian condominium tower demonstrate their solidarity by wearing red shirts.

In January, two controversial residential developments that were declined by the Sarasota City Commission will undergo mediation before likely finding their way back to the dais.

In 2024, commissioners denied Obsidian, the proposed 327-foot, 18-story tower at 1260 S. Palm Ave., and a 58-unit apartment development on vacant property at 1701 and 1715 N. Tamiami Trail.

In July, commissioners voted 4-1 against the apartments, siding with residents of The Strand, which stands along Whitaker Bayou northwest of the site. They claimed the change from the original plan for commercial development there would bring more traffic and exacerbate existing flooding problems.

Commissioners were not swayed by the developer’s argument that residential

rather than commercial on the site would be less intense.

In May, by a 4-1 vote, the commission upheld the appeal by the residents of Bay Plaza, who opposed the administrative approval of Obsidian. Bay Plaza’s position is that the developer manipulated space between floors to artificially achieve greater height, was out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood and posed significant risks during construction given its proximity to their building.

Both project developers filed for a Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act hearing, effectively mediation with the city before a special magistrate following a process outlined in state statutes. Any resolution from that process will go again before the City Commission for approval or denial.

STILL NO SARASOTA PAC IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT The last time the public heard about the implementation agreement between the city of Sarasota and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation over the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center was in March 2025. And for the time being, at least, the longoverdue agreement that would facilitate continued design of the PAC remains in the wings.

Estimated at upwards of $425 million, the proposed location of the Sarasota PAC — it may no longer be called the SPAC under threat of litigation by the Saratoga (New York) Performing Arts Center, which apparently has a monopoly on the combination of those four letters forming an acronym — the next stage of the facility design is on hold until the implementation agreement is reached.

The original proposed location by Italian architecture firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop, at and over the 10th Street Canal along Tamiami Trail on the north side of The Bay park, would be moved closer to the original park master plan location. That’s at the southeast quadrant of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall parking lot.

Built-in off-ramps for the city’s continued participation include the requirement of the implementation agreement. Like all other development within the 53-acre, city-owned The Bay park, the project would be half funded by private philanthropy and half by the city and county from tax increment finance district revenues culled from the downtown area surrounding The Bay. The Sarasota County Commission has signaled a disinterest in releasing those funds for the Sarasota PAC, and the potential looming of a statewide referendum to eliminate property tax — ostensibly on non-Florida residents — could significantly reduce those TIF dollars from original projections.

So far, neither the foundation nor the city have announced a date to revisit the matter.

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko speaks with supporters following a hearing before the Sarasota City Commission.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

More new condos on tap for Ringling Boulevard City reviewers consider a planned 50-unit residential building as redevelopment continues to march eastward from the downtown core.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

A

s redevelopment extends eastward from the core of downtown Sarasota along the Main Street and Ringling Boulevard corridors, the corner of Ringling Boulevard and Osprey Avenue is the next up for a proposal to change in the coming years.

A condominium development at 1776 Ringling Blvd. made its first appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Dec. 17.

Under the working name Ringling & Osprey Condos, PFI 721 Development, in collaboration with DSDG Architects, has proposed a 10-story, 50-unit multifamily project at the southwest corner of the intersection.

It joins the eastward migration of improved properties that included the recently completed Aster & Links Apartments and the underconstruction Caragiulo’s at Ringling and Links Avenue.

It also comes at a time when Benderson Development is making plans for the redevelopment of the former Sarasota County Administration Center just one block west at 1660 Ringling Blvd.

The project is planned for two parcels totaling 0.64 of an acre. The parcels are divided by an unused deadend public right of way, for which the applicant is pursuing a vacation by the city under a separate application.

Currently on the site is a multistory office building and a multifamily residential building, both of which will be demolished. There is no rezoning request from the current Downtown Core district nor future land use designation, meaning the project qualifies for administrative approval.

Additional density for the project is achieved by including two residential units priced as attainable under the city’s affordable housing bonus density ordinance, one priced as attainable for households earning 80% or below area median income and the other at 80% to 100% AMI. According to documents filed with the city, the project will include a two-level podium lined with habitable space on the first two levels to provide an enhanced pedestrian experience, along with amenities including a gym, meeting rooms and a pool deck.

Located at the northern edge of the historic Laurel Park neighborhood, “The project contributes to the diverse mix of building types and ground-floor uses to promote functional and visual vitality,” reads the application. “At the rear of the site, the transition to the Downtown Edge District is carefully managed to respect the adjacent Laurel Park neighborhood. … The development’s scale and configuration are intentionally modulated at this edge to maintain the compatibility with the walk-to-town neighborhood emphasized by the (2020 downtown) master plan. The proposed development is compatible with the growth patterns of the surrounding area and nearby developments.”

With a number of comments remaining to be addressed with staff reviewers, the project is required to make a resubmittal before the entire DRC. 333 COCOANUT

Receiving partial sign-off, though, was 333 Cocoanut, a project proposed by Colonial Brick Co. of Chicago in collaboration with Halflants + Pichette Architects of Sarasota for a 12-story, 18-unit condo tower with

Image courtesy of Halflants + Pichette

A rendering of the proposed 333 Cocoanut condominium development just north of Fruitville Road. The project has received partial sign-off from the city.

10 levels of residences above a twostory parking structure capped by a rooftop terrace.

Documents on file with the city show vehicle ingress via an alley off Cocoanut Avenue just north of Fruitville Road, which is shared with the adjacent Encore condominiums.

Egress is shown onto westbound Fruitville Road, just west of the Encore.

Concurrent with the administrative site plan application, requested are three administrative adjustments. They include: ■ An approximately 18% reduc-

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

OPINION / OUR VIEW

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

2026 Word: Laissez-faire That two-word phrase is a reminder — a reminder to politicians and officeholders to let us live our lives the way we want to live, and a reminder that we must teach the next generations of the virtues of capitalism.

MATT WALSH

J

ust leave us alone!

That’s what we want.

Laissez-faire.

That is our Word for 2026.

Longtime readers know this tradition. In the first or second edition each year, we publish a Word — one word to live by, to guide our direction and actions in the new year, to inspire us year-round, to serve as a guidepost for what we do and want to accomplish in the new year.

Laissez-faire is a bit different.

It’s a reminder — on multiple levels. It’s a reminder and direct admonition to every elected and wanna-be officeholder of how most Americans want to live; a reminder of what is required for liberty and economic prosperity; and a reminder of what we should be teaching our children and grandchildren.

Indeed, my guess is if you cut through all the noise, divisiveness and vitriol that erupts as a result of the actions of our politicians and governments — federal, state and local, Republicans and Democrats alike — at the core of Americans’ most fundamental desires is to be left alone.

We want to live our lives the way we want to live them; to live in the ways that make us happy; to live as neighbors who respect one another’s personal interests (so long as they do no harm). To live in peace.

Yes, we also want to live by the rule of law. But we want to live by the rules our Founders established — with our governments constrained and limited, and reversing the never-ending, growing, freedomsucking leviathan that nags, nips and intrudes into every facet of our lives.

Laissez-faire.

Then there is the economic side.

It’s quite obvious today the term laissez-faire capitalism is reviled.

There are only a few of us who embrace the idea of an unfettered, free-market economy based on peaceful, voluntary trade with one another; with government serving only as a forum for determining the rules of the game; as an umpire to resolve disputes; and, most important, serving to protect our individual rights.

In the words of laissez-faire capitalism’s most ardent advocate in history, the late Ayn Rand, “If one wishes to uphold individual rights, one must realize capitalism is the only system that can uphold and protect them.”

Sadly, however, it’s no exaggeration to venture that most Americans reject this truth: That we would all be so much better off and prosperous if the chains of government were taken off U.S. businesses and individuals. Abolish crony capitalism and subsidies; dismember the federal regulatory leviathan.

a merchant named M. Le Gendre responded: “Laissez-nous faire!” …

“Let it be!”

Seventy years later, according to Tucker, the incident was reported in a French economic journal, and the full phrase became “Laissez-faire et laissez-passer, le monde va de lui même!” Translated: “Let it be, and let goods pass; the world goes by itself.”

But the roots of laissez-faire go back even before the French disaster. Tucker found that wise Chinese philosophers spoke of laissez-faire as early as 300 B.C. In his 2017 essay, Tucker recounted Chinese references. A sampling: ■ Chuang Tzu (369-286 B.C.): “I would rather roam and idle about in a muddy ditch, at my own amusement, than to be put under the restraints that the ruler would impose. I would never take any official service, and thereby I will [be free] to satisfy my own purposes….”

The world “does simply not need governing; in fact, it should not be governed.”

■ Ssu-ma Ch’ien (145-90 B.C.): “Each man has only to be left to utilize his own abilities and exert his strength to obtain what he wishes…

When each person works away at his own occupation and delights in his own business, then like water flowing downward, goods will naturally flow ceaseless day and night without being summoned, and the people will produce commodities without having been asked.”

■ Lao Tzu (6th century B.C.): “The more artificial taboos and restrictions there are in the world, the more the people are impoverished…

The more that laws and regulations are given prominence, the more thieves and robbers there will be…

“The Sage says: ‘I take no action, yet the people transform themselves, I favor quiescence and the people right themselves, I take no action and the people enrich themselves … ’” MEDDLING POLITICIANS

And yet, the politicians cannot help themselves.

So many of them, of course, are smarter than we are and know far more than we how we should live our lives. Clearly, the majority of them must believe that.

Judging from their actions, they obviously think it is their votergiven mandate and right to go to Washington or Tallahassee or Town Hall to pass laws that regulate how you live; to prescribe a benefit or favor to one group at your expense; to create a government benefit that can be seen now — but to heck with thinking about the inevitably negative unintended consequences.

They can’t help but meddle.

In the Florida Legislature, for instance, the 120 House members are limited to filing six bills each a year.

Typically, they do — 720 bills.

There is no limit for the 40 Senate members. In the 2025 legislative session, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, sponsored or co-sponsored 45 bills; Sen. Lori Burton, D-Palm

THE LEVIATHAN One measurement of the ubiquitousness of the federal government is the Federal Register, the journal daily journal of all agency regulations; proposed rules and notices; executive orders, proclamations and presidential documents.

The annual average of pages during their presidential terms: Ronald Reagan........ 53,300 Barack Obama..........70,700 Donald Trump I......... 72,400 Joe Biden.................. 88,200

Beach, sponsored or co-sponsored 48 bills. Altogether, 1,959 bills were filed in the 2025 session.

Really? There is that much that requires new laws?

Thankfully, only 269 were passed.

Still, imagine that every year.

Mind you, some bills are necessary to keep Florida’s government operating. Many come to life from constituents who want the government to tilt the playing table one way or another.

Still others are the result of what Milton Friedman referred to as “the law of laws.” A legislature adopts one law to fix a perceived wrong.

Then it comes back the next year to modify the unintended consequences of the original law. And then the next year it modifies the consequences of the previous year.

Ad infinitum this goes.

Washington is far worse. It’s always a pendulum swing — from the exasperation and disappointment brought on by one side to the exasperation and disappointment from the other — e.g. Biden to Trump; Democrat majority to Republican majority. We merely trade one version of egregious intervention and picking winners and losers for another.

Neither is successful. They both bring ever-more government, with a never-ending litany of failures from both sides — $38 trillion national debt; $1.7 billion annual deficit; $100 billion a year taken from taxpayers to subsidize 42 million Americans on SNAP; disastrous health-care regulations; and on and on.

Or consider this marker of the extent of government in our lives: The Federal Register. The register is the daily journal of all agency regulations; proposed rules and notices; executive orders, proclamations and presidential documents. See the accompanying box showing how government always grows.

When you put all of the federal Leviathan together, you can still apply Milton Friedman’s conclusion in his 1962 classic, “Capitalism and Freedom”: “The greater part of the ventures undertaken by government in the past few decades have failed … The central defect of these measures is that they seek through government to force people

THE GILDED AGE OF INVENTORS AND ENTREPRENEURISM, 1865-1900

CHINESE AND LAISSEZ-FAIRE

The idea of laissez-faire has been around since long before Christ.

Jeffrey Tucker, founder and president of the Brownstone Institute, wrote an engaging essay in 2017 on the meaning and origins of laissezfaire for the Foundation for Economic Education.

The French term came about in 1680 during the reign of King Louis XIV. Like all despots, he created an economic disaster with ever-increasing taxation (Some things have never changed.) To reverse this, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the king’s finance minister, believed that imposing more government regulations and controls would boost economic activity and prosperity.

But as the story goes, when Colbert asked a group of manufacturers what he could do for industry,

Christopher Sholes the typewriter, 1868

Henry Ford automobile 1896

Alexander Graham Bell the telephone, 1876

John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil Co.

Thomas Edison electric light bulb, 1879

Andrew Carnegie Carnegie Steel Co.

to act against their own immediate interests to promote a supposedly general interest.”

How and why does this happen?

Friedman: “Men of good intentions and goodwill who … use the power of the state to achieve their ends and confident of their own ability to do so.”

As noted earlier, they are certain they know better than we how we should live. Talk about hubris.

When you vote in the mid-term elections in 2026, choose the candidates who reject the Zohran Mamdani dogma that “there is no problem too large for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about.”

Choose the candidates who will leave us alone. As the late Austrian economist F.A. Hayek noted: “Though democracy is probably the best form of limited government, it becomes an absurdity if it turns into unlimited government.”

Laissez-faire. Leave us alone!

CAPITALISM WORKS

The word “capitalism” has been a dirty word in the U.S. for a century.

The full phrase, laissez-faire capitalism, has been even dirtier.

Progressives and conservatives alike harrumph that we can’t have an unfettered, unregulated, freemarket economy. They fret there would be anarchy and unbridled greed.

Indeed, as Jeffrey Tucker wrote: The Left thinks “if we let the economic sphere be free, the world will collapse.” Oh, imagine what a horrible calamity life would be without government control. Ha! Likewise, the Right disdains a free market because it “is similarly convinced that state control is necessary, lest the world collapse into violent, warring, culture-destroying gangs.”

Neither would happen.

History is always a good reference point. If you go back to the beginning of the second century of the U.S. — for 35 years from the mid-1860s to 1900 — laissez-faire capitalism and limited government worked.

In “The Fall and Rise of LaissezFaire in the United States, 17891900,” economic historian Burton Folsom Jr. chronicles how the “Gilded Age” was the most laissezfaire and limited government era in American history. The U.S. prospered.

“More Americans than ever before,” Folsom wrote, “came to believe that if the United States were ever to become a serious economic force in the world, it would have to be done in free markets with very limited federal aid.” Leading Democrats and Republicans alike actually embraced that.

Folsom: “To help ensure that Congress would not be tempted to seriously intervene in future economic development, President Ulysses Grant worked to eliminate the federal income tax” — a goal he achieved in 1872.

During this period, the U.S. and Congress achieved 28 consecutive years of budget surpluses. The national debt shrank from $3 billion in 1866 to less than $1 billion in 1893.

More important, Folsom said, the achievements of entrepreneurs, inventors and developers during this period were “in a word, spectacular.” A few: Christopher Sholes secured a patent for the typewriter in 1868.

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Thomas Edison changed the world with electricity and invented the phonograph and movie film in the late 1880s. Henry Ford operated his first car in 1896.

And, of course, there were John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, the kings of oil and steel. Their businesses made kerosene and railroad travel widely affordable and created thousands of jobs.

By 1900, the U.S. surpassed Great Britain as the greatest economic power in the world.

It can be done — limited government and free-market capitalism.

And with great success.

But sadly, Folsom wrote: “The triumph of laissez-faire lasted only one generation.”

“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

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THE WORD FROM PAGE 8

The Gilded Age gave way to the Progressive Era (1900-1920), when the cries began for government intervention … taxing high earners; regulating railroads; breaking up big businesses. Cries that have carried on for a century and have spread into every corner of the economy and our lives.

From agriculture to health care to home building to employee pay to savings accounts to light-bulb wattage to toilet bowl flushing, our so-called free-market, capitalistic, economic system is anything but free.

It’s a system of crony capitalism, subsidies, regulations and lawsuits — tentacles of an incurable cancer that persistently pervades federal and state governments. Quoting Friedman again: When it comes to asking for favors from government, businesses are always first in line.

There are no signs the evils of interventionism and crony subsidizations will end. It’s quite the opposite. Not only is our current Republican president an interventionist extraordinaire, constantly picking winners and losers, we have a socialist radical as the mayor of New York City.

This is why we’re heralding laissez-faire as the Word for 2026.

Even 60 years ago, F.A. Hayek, said of the slide toward serfdom and socialism, “What is most urgently needed in most parts of the world is a thorough sweeping away of the obstacles to free growth.”

Let the world take care of itself.

Laissez-faire. Leave us alone!

9A

How to turn the tide toward laissez-faire

E

lecting pro-liberty, procapitalist candidates to public office is one way. Another is education — of the American populace and next generations.

This is crazy: Typically, the most important issues to Americans in every election are their pocketbook and the state of the economy. And yet, so few Americans appear to have an understanding of or care how economics and capitalism work, or how their freedom and capitalism are so intertwined and so adversely affected by government intervention.

Indeed, the amount of disdain Gen Zers have for capitalism is alarming. When pollster Frank Luntz conducted focus groups of Gen Zers in 2024, Luntz summarized the results: “(They) think the inequality that exists in America justifies economic redistribution and government directly engaging in the economy in a more aggressive fashion. The intensity is anti-capitalism rather than pro-socialism. Young people resent and reject the current system much more than they embrace and support socialism.”

Much of that can be attributed to ignorance.

To that end, when we asked Florida State University economics professors about their experiences with first- and second-year undergrads who come into their classes, here are the comments of Professor Michal Hammock, Ph.D., who teaches principles of micro and macroecomics to 2,000 students a year: “Most of my students … had a high school economics class of poor quality. The class is usually taught by a coach with no knowledge or interest in the subject, and students come away from this experience with an impression that economics is boring, and no clear understanding of what economics is. A small group of students has taken AP economics courses in high school, and those are much higher quality.”

For 75, years, the Council of

STATUS OF ECONOMIC EDUCATION

Source: Council on Economic Education

Economic Education has tried to spread the knowledge of economics and personal finance. This not-forprofit coalition of economics and personal finance educators, privatesector corporations, business leaders and economists has been dedicated to training teachers and integrating economics and personal finance into K-12 schools. It has been slow going, but it’s making progress. (See: CouncilForEconEd. org/Cee-History-Timeline/.)

In 2024, the CEE said it reached 5 million students. Sadly, that is not quite 10% of the estimated 55 million children in U.S. schools. To

the good, the numbers continue to grow, albeit slowly. (See map.)

But the economic educators’ plight is also a clear indicator that if the understanding of capitalism versus socialism versus entitlementitis is to spread, it must happen in our homes.

Ultimately, we are responsible for teaching our children the virtues of capitalism and limited government.

No other economic system in the world has lifted more people out of poverty than capitalism. And it is also true than whenever government intervenes into the market, it inevitably makes matters worse,

more expensive and less efficient.

As written here in 2024, it’s worth quoting Ronald Reagan again from a 1989 speech: “Let me offer lesson No. 1 about America: All great change in America begins at the dinner table. So tomorrow night in the kitchen I hope the talking begins …”

Laissez-faire means more than “Leave us alone.” It’s a symbolic phrase for liberty and prosperity.

Advocate that word in 2026.

— MW

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TRIBUTES Helen Rhodes Woodward Searle 1946-2025 Helen Rhodes Woodward Searle, 79, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born September 28, 1946, in Reno, Nevada, to Orator Frank Woodward and Dorothy Ann Reid. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Ann Woodward Russell, and her brother Frank Woodward.

Helen grew up in Palm Beach, Florida, and studied human development at the University of Geneva, where she learned under renowned psychologist Jean Piaget.

In the 1960s, she returned to Palm Beach, where she enjoyed working for Gucci.

She is survived by her children, James A. Searle III (Denise), Jane Searle Russo (Justin), and Julie Searle Vanas; her brother Warren Woodward; her niece Nicol Russell; her nephew Andrew Russell; and five grandchildren: Thaddeus James Searle, Oliver Nicolas Searle, Andrew James Vanas, Christopher Bowen Vanas, and Justin James Russo, Jr. Helen raised her family in White Sulphur Springs (WSS), West Virginia, where she was deeply engaged in the community. She supported St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, the Garden Club, and was a beloved presence at the St. Thomas Labor Day Fair. She founded

Courtesy image

The exclusive club 1000 NORTH will be located in the BLVD Sarasota building at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail.

Elite Sarasota club edges closer to city’s approval Co-founded by Michael Jordan in partnership with other pro athletes, 1000 NORTH is planning its second location in the BLVD Sarasota.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

the WSS Dandelion Festival and the Youth Soccer Association, both of which continue today. A gifted artist and entrepreneur, she founded Creations of Sorts and published the Valley Guide newspaper throughout southwestern West Virginia and into Virginia.

After retiring to Venice, Florida, Helen immersed herself in the arts, studying sumi-e ink painting, creating mosaics, quilting, alcohol-ink works, and teaching mosaic classes. She also enjoyed studying astrology and sharing astrological insights.

Helen’s greatest joy was her grandchildren, whom she enthusiastically supported at sporting events

and celebrations. She will be remembered for her creativity, generosity, and lifelong pursuit of beauty and meaning.

J

ust over a year after announcing plans to bring its exclusive club to Sarasota, representatives for 1000 NORTH secured partial signoff of the city’s Development Review Committee this past month.

Planned for the BLVD Sarasota building at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail, it will be the second location for the exclusive club featuring a who’s who partnership of professional athletes.

The original location is in Jupiter. Its partnership group includes Michael Jordan; professional golfers Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Justin Thomas and others; former NFL player and broadcaster Ahmad Rashad; and retired professional tennis player Serena Williams, among others.

According to its application for administrative approval, the club will lease two of the three previously approved commercial spaces on the first floor and mezzanine level of the

SERVICE: There will be a celebration of life held January 4th, 2026 at 1-3pm in Sarasota, FL at Salt of the Earth and burial later this year in LeRoy, NY. DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Manna Food Bank https://mannafoodbank. org/?give=7xewnrd8 or Village on the Isle Tidewell Hospice House, where she received dedicated care during her final days. The mailing address is Tidewell Foundation, ATTN: VOTI Hospice House, 3550 S. Tamiami Trail FL 1, Sarasota FL 34239 or go to tidewellfoundation.org 456076-1

building. The first floor will be a fine dining restaurant with seating for 179. The mezzanine level will have a private dining room, wine lockers and a lounge area with an additional 70-seat wine-tasting lounge area.

The club’s goal is to have up to 200 members.

According to project consultant Joel Freedman, members will have access to a private limousine service to shuttle members and guests to and from the club, as well as private jet service, access to yachts for cruising along Sarasota Bay and other exclusive services.

“This is really high-end stuff,” Freedman told the DRC members.

“No, I am not going to become a member, and they didn’t offer me (a membership) in lieu of my fee.”

No details about membership pricing was included in the presentation before the DRC. According to the club’s website, the original Jupiter location is open to the public with a membership option. The Sarasota location will be open to members and invited guests only.

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BACK TO THE FUTURE 4:10 a.m., 3700 block of Delta Street Fight: As a party went deep into the early morning hours, officers responded to a reported fight outside an apartment. A caller advised dispatch she heard screaming, and upon stepping outside saw two men fighting.

Upon arrival, an officer met with a couple who weaved a tale of an unknown white male with dreadlocks trying to enter the residence. After a confrontation, the subject stated the mystery man said he came from the future and threw rocks at the man, causing a scratch to the left side of his forehead. He said after he fought the unknown man, he fled the scene, presumably back to the future or to perhaps into a parallel dimension.

Not surprisingly, the story — which may have seemed plausible at 4:10 in the morning after a night of partying — was fictitious, including the claim that a man traveled through time for the expressed purpose of throwing rocks at a late-night reveler. When the woman was asked about the rock throwing, she asked “What rocks?” according to the incident report, indicating the whole story was made up.

Rather, it turns out two men got into a fight inside the residence, which spilled out into the parking area. All parties involved were separated and neither men said they wished to press charges. Officers remained on the scene until the couple, who were guests at the all-nighter, were picked up by a third party and transported, in the present, to another location.

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The complainant told an officer she had been staying in her ex’s van parked outside his residence. She was lying down in the back of the van while he was sitting in the front seat when an argument ensued over her accusing the man of stealing her cigarettes. Her ever-evolving story morphed into a claim that he climbed into the back of the van with her and struck her one time and then left. She was unable to describe which hand she was struck with or if it was with an open hand or closed fist. She further advised she waited to call the police because she wanted him to return her cigarettes.

The man confirmed he had been allowing his ex to sleep in his van.

He brought her some extra blankets, and she asked him for a cigarette.

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He advised that while the argument occurred she was sitting inside the back of the van while he stood outside.

An investigation into his cell phone log indicated nine missed calls from the woman within the previous hour, which included a voicemail stating if he did not return her cigarettes she would contact the police and claim he hit her in the face and she was covered in blood. Six minutes later, another voicemail stated that if he didn’t return her cigarettes, she would call the police and claim he is dealing drugs.

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JANUARY 8, 2026

SPORTS

“Everyone on the team has a reason to play, and it definitely shows on the field.”

— Bronwyn Leggett, junior, Riverview girls soccer SEE PAGE 17A

FAST

HOOPING TO

BREAK

NEW HEIGHTS The eighth grade guard wrapped her middle school career as the Bulls’ all-time leading scorer in basketball.

Jack Nelson

Sarasota Christian girls soccer coach Armand Dikranian has guided the Blazers to a 6-3-1 record with the SSAA championships and FHSAA postseason quickly approaching.

JACK NELSON

T

SPORTS REPORTER

E

va Lopes clutched a shiny, blueand-gold trophy close to her chest. She kept a firm grip on it. After all, this was something she had worked tirelessly for three years to secure.

The eighth grader stood surrounded by her teammates on the hardwood. They shared smiles and exchanged embraces as the tears began to flow for Lopes.

Coach Eric Hoskins took the microphone, waiting a moment for the echoey gym to quiet down so his words could be heard.

He promptly broke the news — Lopes had surpassed 500 points in her middle school career.

Sarasota Suncoast Academy, a K-8 charter school, won the Florida Suncoast League girls basketball championship on Dec. 18 at the Sarasota Baptist Church gym. The group defeated Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences 47-32 to lift the first title in program history.

Lopes further cemented her standing as a Bulls legend. The guard put up a game-high 21 points en route to completing her middle school career with 509 in all. She’s the alltime leading scorer not just for the program, but for all boys and girls athletes since the school’s founding in 2004.

The girls’ record stood at 125 career points before her arrival. After piling up 213 this season alone, Lopes has smashed through that ceiling.

“It’s honestly what she deserves, because she works really hard. She’s very passionate about basketball, so she’s always practicing, working out, shooting ... she really wants it,” said Alicia Lopes, her mother. “When all that hard work pays off, it feels really good.”

Ultimate glory for the Bulls also meant a 12-0 season — another first for the program. They returned to the FSL title game after losing to these very Tigers on this stage in 2024, and by scaling the mountain once more, earned redemption behind Eva Lopes’ dominance.

Sarasota Suncoast Academy trailed at halftime of its Dec. 18 rematch, struggling to sink shots early. But the No. 1 seed pulled together in the third quarter and pulled away for good.

Rather poetically, perhaps, its star guard had possession of the ball as the clock expired.

Driving to the basket, Eva Lopes tries to get past an opponent from Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences. Her 509 career points with the Bulls more than quadrupled the program’s previous alltime record of 125.

“I do think this is a special group,” Lopes said. “I thought that we would have a pretty good bond, and after last season, (we wanted) to come even harder this season.”

Lopes averaged a team-high 17.7 points per game as an eighth-grader in a league where quarters are 6 minutes long.

In her title-clinching performance, she displayed the well-rounded shot arsenal that has regularly distinguished her from teammates and opponents alike. Lopes got active in the midrange, fought for buckets in the paint and made contested looks from beyond the arc.

This is the game she’s been developing for years. Basketball is a longtime love that precedes her middle school playing days.

“It just came naturally for me,” Lopes said. “I just worked on different elements to get to this point.

I’m really grateful for all the time my parents and family gave me.”

Her father, John Lopes, was a heavily involved athlete himself growing up. He played baseball and football for a time, but stuck with basketball most at the high school level.

These days, he hoops with the Bunker League, a four-on-four amateur age group league operating out of Longwood Park. He was even named to its latest all-decade team.

Such an insatiable hunger for winning was passed down to his daughter, and unapologetically so.

“I used to be really tough on her.

It’s just my nature,” he said. “I’m competitive, so I’ve always told her, ‘You’ve got to be competitive.’ But little by little, I haven’t had to say (as) much, because she’s developed her own little thing.”

Hoskins had already heard of Eva Lopes before she showed up at fall 2023 tryouts for Sarasota Suncoast Academy. He’d seen her in action with his own eyes, having coached

Photos by Jack Nelson

Coach Eric Hoskins (right) speaks to the crowd after handing the Florida Suncoast League championship trophy to Eva Lopes. He has coached her at the middle school level ever since Lopes joined in sixth grade.

SARASOTA SUNCOAST ACADEMY GIRLS BASKETBALL PROFILE 2025 Florida Suncoast League champions, finished with 12-0 record Led for 283 of 296 total minutes played (95.6% of the time) Scored 623 points (51.9 per game) against 136 points allowed (11.3 per game) Dating back to 2023, team is 25-5 overall

SCORING LEADERS

Eva Lopes, eighth grade — 17.7 points per game, 213 total points Mazzy Cacic, seventh grade — 11.3 ppg, 136 total Caitlyn Windisch, seventh grade — 9.8 ppg, 117 total

against her in G League, a Sarasotabased youth basketball organization.

So when she scored all 24 of the Bulls’ points in her debut as a sixthgrader, he wasn’t surprised. He’s since coached her for all three of her middle school seasons, and in that time has watched her game improve from good to great, and then some.

“Eva doesn’t stop when you take away (her best shot) — she’s creative.

She thinks when she’s on the court, so she has a really high basketball IQ,” Hoskins said. “There’s no quit in her, and you can’t stop a kid like that.”

Lopes’ impact on the scoreboard, though, goes hand in hand with the intangibles she carries. She offers leadership and intelligence on the court at 13 years old, Hoskins said.

Sarasota Suncoast Academy had never won 12 games, posted an undefeated season or claimed a league championship entering 2025. All of those achievements came to pass with her in the fold.

Through the eyes of Hoskins, the real blessing of Lopes’ presence is the teammate she’s been throughout a historic period for the Bulls.

“At this age, you don’t think you’re going to have an extension of your coaching staff on the floor. She was always a coach,” Hoskins said. “She was always a steadying force. Every player on the team trusts her ... She’s going to lead well, and she does it with no ego.”

Lopes will join the high school ranks in the fall. As of Dec. 18, her parents are strongly considering enrolling her at Cardinal Mooney, but no decision has been made.

Wherever she does end up, it will prove to be a stepping stone to something greater, should she have it her way.

“I want to play in the WNBA,” Lopes said. “That’s always been my dream.”

he postseason is rapidly approaching for local high school girls soccer teams. Ahead of the FHSAA regular-season finale on Jan. 17, it’s Riverview and Sarasota Christian who stand out.

The Rams were 7-2-2, as of Jan. 6, and boast a six-match winning streak entering the new year. Their two defeats this season have come by 1-0 scores to Braden River and North Fort Myers. Junior midfielder Emily Simone spearheads the attack with a team-high five goals, complemented by a team-leading three assists from sophomore midfielder Sophia Oszlanczi. The Blazers, meanwhile, sit at 6-3-1 and will compete in the SSAA championships beginning on Jan. 9.

Their group is guided by the trio of seventh grade forward Reagan Volkert, eighth grade forward Brooklynn Mruczek and junior forward Selah Spenn, who account for 56.6% of the team’s scoring production in 2025-26. ... Practice for the 2026 FHSAA baseball season will begin on Jan. 12, with the regular season set to start on Feb. 9.

Sarasota finished 22-8-1 and reached the Class 7A regional semifinals last season, while Cardinal Mooney assembled a 21-9 campaign ending in the 2A regional semifinals. Sarasota Christian went 14-8, Booker went 10-10 and Riverview went 7-18, though none of the three made it out of their district tournaments. Both the Sailors and the Rams are under new leadership. Sterling Pell, a former Florida Atlantic pitcher, will guide Sarasota. Mark Sobolewski, a former third baseman in the Blue Jays and Twins organizations, has taken the helm at Riverview. ... Kate McCarthy, a 15-yearold Sarasota resident, represented Canada at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, from Dec. 12-20. She crewed a Nacra 15 (high-performance, multihull boat) with skipper Alvin Wang and placed 10th of 13 boats, earning her country’s best finish in that event and format. McCarthy trains locally with Sarasota Youth Sailing, and volunteered as a coach there during the summers of 2025 and 2024.

DYNASTY? PAGE 16A

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

NELSON’S NOGGIN

JACK NELSON

Big questions for 2026 For the first time since 2014, teams will feature NHL players, and 18 names from the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are listed on Olympic rosters. Team USA will feature Jake Guentzel, Matthew Tkachuk and Seth Jones, in that regard.

Sarasota residents without any legitimate stake can be equally invested like those with a real reason to care. That’s the beauty of the Games.

MIGHT WE SEE LOCAL ATHLETES IN THE WINTER OLYMPICS?

An Olympic year never fails to pique the interest of sports lovers.

The greatest athletes in the world go toe-to-toe on the grandest of stages.

It’s one heck of a spectacle to witness, even for Sarasota residents who will tune in on TV nearly 5,000 miles away from Milan, Italy.

The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are set to run Feb. 6-22. That means less than one month until the opening ceremony, and with the lion’s share of trials completed, we have yet to see a local athlete book their ticket.

Historically, the Sarasota-Bradenton area has been well-represented at the Summer Games in swimming and rowing, but it rarely sends medal-chasers to the Winter Games.

There just aren’t enough nearby facilities — a product of our tropical climate — for this to become a breeding ground for winter Olympians. And those select few athletes who do spend time here end up seeking colder parts of the country for training.

That said, Florida did send some of its best to Beijing in 2022. Seven members of Team USA hailed from the Sunshine State, including Ocala’s speedskating gold medalist Erin Jackson and bronze medalist Brittany Bowe.

Milano Cortina represents a major moment for men’s ice hockey.

File image

Sarasota Crew’s championship-winning Women’s U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar for 2026.

WHO WILL WIN BIG AT USROWING YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS?

marquee local sporting events, and at a time of year when high school sports are dormant.

That’s all the more reason to go yourself and see who triumphs.

This area is an aquatic sports fan’s paradise. Ideal conditions and picturesque views are just part of what makes Sarasota perfect for competition in the water.

Premier young rowing talents from every corner of the country will, once again, join in on the fun when the summer rolls around.

On June 11-14, the USRowing Youth National Championships return to Nathan Benderson Park after celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025. The top youth rowers in the U.S. are slated to race here for the seventh straight year.

Sarasota Crew secured gold in last year’s Women’s U16 Eight with the boat of coxswain Lillian Teague, Rose Ottaviano, Sydney Soboleski, Isabella De Liz, Megan Murdock, Maya Jewell, Gabrielle Davis, Brooke Wilson and Addison Wilson.

That crew clocked a 6:56.81 in the 2,000-meter race — more than 5 seconds ahead of the pack.

Also in 2025, there were thirdplace and sixth-place finishes for Sarasota Crew in the Men’s U17 Eight and Women’s Youth Four races, respectively. The organization churns out elite rowers and, in 2026, will likely have even more boats recognized nationally.

These national championships have become one of the summer’s

IS A DYNASTY POSSIBLE FOR CARDINAL MOONEY FOOTBALL?

A state championship means greatness. Two in a row is all the more impressive.

Three in four years? Well, that’s a dynasty. It’s a special distinction no Sarasota-based high school football program has ever earned.

The Cougars are in pursuit of such a rarity as they enter 2026, having just claimed the FHSAA Class 2A state title in December 2025.

Major personnel losses, though, loom for Cardinal Mooney football. Chief among them: defensive lineman Elijah Golden and wide receiver Kymistrii Young.

There were 25 seniors on the 56-player roster last season, so nearly half the team is set to graduate. Seven of them are early signees to Division I programs.

Coach Jared Clark and Co. have already begun assembling the puzzle for 2026. Quarterback Davin Davidson and running back Connail Jackson will both return as seniors, so much of the offensive firepower will be back.

Some big-time additions are on

the way, too — Riverview running back Toryeon James, Parrish Community defensive lineman Kaleb Exume and Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver/defensive back Cedric King are all transferring to Cardinal Mooney.

Exume, a junior three-star recruit with 15 Division I offers, will have a considerable impact in the trenches. James’ move is especially intriguing following a junior season in which he racked up 1,941 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Cougars are poised to have one of the state’s most lethal backfields with Jackson and James splitting carries, and the reloading process has only just begun.

Several months remain until spring football gets under way. Even more stand between now and the fall. Already, a dynasty is what Cardinal Mooney is building toward.

HOW COULD A NEW SPORTS COMPLEX AT 17TH STREET PARK IMPACT SOFTBALL?

There is arguably no more significant project for local athletes than the youth and adult sports complex under construction at 17th Street Park.

Put simply, it has real potential to turn Sarasota into a genuine softball destination.

The 18-month first phase of the

In celebration of our 48th Anniversary in providing quality In celebration of our 48th in providing Cardiovascular Care toAnniversary Sarasota County residentsquality In celebration of our 50th Anniversary in providing quality Cardiovascular Care to Sarasota residents The Cardiovascular Center ofCounty Sarasota Cardiovascular Care Sarasota, FL and appreciation for the Thethe Cardiovascular Center ofinSarasota and ElinShahawy Family Foundation Lifetime and Achievement Award from the city of Sarasota to the Shahawy Family Foundation are El pleased to sponsor the Dr. Shahawy, M. El Shahawy Family areThe pleased to sponsor the Foundation is pleased to sponsor:

Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.

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project began in spring 2025 and is on schedule for a December opening. It will add three adult softball fields to the park as well as several multiuse fields for soccer, lacrosse, football and more.

Already, there is an arrangement for Division I, Power Four softball to be played on these grounds. The Sarasota College Softball Classic will launch on Feb. 11, 2027, with Alabama, Baylor, Florida State, James Madison, Ohio State and Texas State in the mix.

Softball has a strong foothold locally at both the high school and club levels — look no further than Sarasota High reaching the 2025 FHSAA Class 7A state semifinals.

This facility can only boost interest by being a magnet for coaches, players and parents alike. After all, athletes dream of playing on the same surface as their collegiate idols.

The years to come will shift Sarasota’s standing on the statewide softball landscape.

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new year always brings new moments. There will be some worth celebrating and some worth forgetting.

In Sarasota, the sports scene of 2026 offers more than just highs and lows. There are lingering uncertainties that encourage discourse and debate.

Here are some big questions to consider in the year to come:

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After all these years, what’s driven you to stick with the sport?

I’ve just been pretty decent at it, and I think it’s a good challenge — especially for my position. It’s really fun, I love playing and I don’t see myself playing a different sport.

What has been the highlight of your career so far and why was it so memorable?

Playing internationally. I went to England last year in March (with Iconz Elite), and I played a bunch of pretty good teams. We played Chelsea (F.C.) and Everton (F.C.).

Entering your junior season here, what were your goals personally and for the team?

My personal goals were to balance school and soccer the best I can, and just get better. For the team, it’s trying to (become three-time) district champs and then hopefully move on in regionals.

The Rams have won six matches in a row entering the new year, why has this group been so successful lately?

We all mesh together pretty well and everyone’s equally as dedicated. Everyone on the team has a reason to play, and it definitely shows on the field.

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When you’re not playing soccer, how do you spend your free time?

I like to go to the beach a lot. I like to draw, and I used to play the trumpet. Mostly just homework — I have a lot of homework this year.

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What’s one quote or piece of advice that you’ve always carried with you?

Every time I dive and parry the ball, I think to myself, “I should have caught it,” so I always try my best to have good hands and catch the ball.

NOW THROUGH JAN 28

If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be and why?

Mary Earps. She (was) a goalkeeper for England (but retired from international soccer in May 2025). She’s just really good on and off the field.

I just admire her.

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When and why did you start playing soccer?

I started playing soccer when I was 5 or 6. I did a couple of other sports beforehand, but they didn’t really stick. Then I started playing soccer, and it just felt good.

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How have you tried to improve your game and become a better goalkeeper this season?

I’m trying to work on different styles of distribution. I’ve been trying to work on my sidewinder

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Junior goalkeeper Bronwyn Leggett allowed seven goals across those seven contests. She’s surrendered just eight goals this campaign while making 64 saves for an .888 save percentage, keeping opponents largely at bay. Leggett is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.

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

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JANUARY 8, 2026

Classifieds 15B Games 14B Real Estate 11B Weather 14B

YOUR NEIGHBORS Festival. The experience will feature exotic, common and rare shells, rocks and minerals on display and for sale, jewelry, clothing and shell crafts for sale. A raffle for shells and coastal-inspired prizes will also be held. Guests will receive a free bag of shells with their admission fee. Some new participants include Turtle Watch, Bay Watch, Tampa Bay Fossil Club and the New College Marine Biology Department.

Brooks DeLoach, 10, holds an albino Okeeteee corn snake during Repticon.

THUNDER BY THE BAY MUSIC & MOTORS FESTIVAL Feb. 13-15 at Sarasota Fairgrounds.

Visit SuncoastCharitiesForChildren. org.

This three-day festival centered on music and motorcycles is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Suncoast Charities for Children, which supports funding for seven local nonprofits that benefit children, teens and adults with special needs.

The event features continuous live music, a motorcycle charity ride, bike and car shows, food, more than 90 vendors and on-site camping.

File photos

A full year ahead IAN SWABY | STAFF WRITER

I

t’s a new year, and with that comes a new slate of things to do. Here are some of the events you will want to mark on

your calendar in 2026.

SARASOTA NATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION Jan. 16-18 at Sahib Shrine Event Center, 600 N. Beneva Road. Visit SarasotaNationalStampExhibition. com.

Established more than 70 years ago, the Sarasota National Stamp Exhibition is a World Series of Philately event and the largest show of its kind in the state of Florida. The event has temporarily relocated to Sahib Shrine Event Center this year, due to ongoing renovations at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. A booth of judges, including American Philatelic Society and American Stamp Dealers Association dealers and past judges of the show, will be available to provide free evaluations of collections.

A CENTURY OF CARS Jan. 17 from Main Street, Sarasota to St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.

A major anniversary is arriving in 2026, as the Sarasota Yacht Club

and St. Armands Circle, both founded in 1926, celebrate 100 years with the Century of Cars Parade and Car Show. The event will feature a total of 175 vehicles, between the parade and the exhibitors on the circle who will be dressed in period clothing to match the era of their car.

2026 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. UNITY WALK Jan. 19 from Robert L. Taylor Community Complex to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1845 34th St. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.

stores, as well as supplies to help you care for your pet, and offers the chance to talk to breeders to learn about their animals.

SARASOTA JAZZ FESTIVAL March 9-14. VIP Reception at John C. Court Cabaret, Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., with the three main stage concerts at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail. Visit SarasotaJazzFestival.com.

The Sarasota Jazz Festival is dedicated to promoting the art form of jazz, featuring major names in the

SARASOTA SHELL SHOW AND MARINE LIFE FESTIVAL Feb. 6-7 at Potter Building, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 2896 Ringling Blvd. Visit SarasotaShellClub.com.

The Sarasota Shell Club returns to the event scene this year with an expanded event known as the 2026 Sarasota Shell and Marine Life

Shells line a shelf at the shell show in 2025.

Sarasota’s community will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with this annual memorial walk involving local schools and organizations. On that same day, the walk will be preceded by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, and followed by the Dr. MLK Medical/Wellness Fair and the Dr. MLK Park Festival at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

REPTICON Jan. 24, May 16, July 11 and Oct. 31 at Sahib Shrine Center,600 N. Beneva Road. Visit Repticon.com.

Reptile enthusiasts or those who are curious to learn more about these critters may want to take the opportunity to catch this traveling reptile exhibition and sale during one of its showings this year. The event features exotic reptiles and other creatures not normally found in pet

Keith and Chris Spirgel take part in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk with their dog, Bodhi.

SEE SAVE THE DATE, PAGE 2B

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

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Angelica Kevra, Sarah Anderson, Emma Baird, 8, and Leah Quattro, 8, along with Tokyo and Nairobi as a hamburger and hot dog, brought a delicious costume idea and claimed third place.

Save the date FROM PAGE 1B

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SIESTACON May 9 at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Visit SiestaCon.com.

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jazz world each year. The festival begins with the Monday Night Jazz Cabaret with Danny Sinoff (March 9) and continues with the Jazz Trolley Pub Crawl (March 10), Terell Stafford Quintet and Florida All State High School Jazz Band (March 12), the John Pizzarelli Trio and Sammy Figueroa (March 13), Arturo Sandoval Band and Michael Ross & the SRQ All Star Band (March 14). The event is hosted by Jazz Club of Sarasota, a membership-based nonprofit founded in 1980.

This locally run ComicCon-style event returns for its third year. In past years, the event has featured numerous exhibitors, tournaments for major trading card games, memorabilia for sale, a cosplay contest, guest stars you may recognize and vehicles on display.

EASTER EGG HUNT April 4 at Siesta Key Chapel, 4615 Gleason Ave. Visit My.SiestaKeyChamber.com.

The Siesta Key Chamber hosts this Easter egg hunt each year on the grounds of the Siesta Key Chapel.

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SIESTA KEY CRYSTAL CLASSIC SANDSCULPTING FESTIVAL Nov. 13-16, Siesta Key Beach, 948 Beach Road. Visit SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com.

BAYFRONT FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR July 4, Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Drive

This annual event involves professional sand sculptors from around the world creating massive sculptures live in front of attendees over the course of the event. Hosted by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, it helps support the business community of Siesta Key and includes other activities such as a speed-sculpting contest featuring professional sculptors, and an amateur sculpting competition.

Each year, residents head to Bayfront Park on July 4 for the signature fireworks event of the Sarasota area.

Suncoast Charities for Children has hosted the fireworks display in partnership with Marina Jack.

DOG-A-WEEN CONTEST Late October, Sarasota Farmer’s Market, N. Lemon Ave. Visit SarasotaFamersMarket.org.

During October, Destination Downtown Sarasota hosts this opportunity for the community and their pets to get into costume and showcase their creativity during the Halloween season. Past events have featured pets dressed as anything from characters from “The Wizard of Oz” to ice cream cones.

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The event features activities and surprises, with local organizations sharing their offerings, as well as the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny.

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How Two Local Leaders Are Strengthening Community in Downtown Sarasota EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KEN JOKISCH AND SECRETARY ALEXIS LAROCCA ARE DEDICATED TO BUILDING A MORE VIBRANT DOWNTOWN SARASOTA.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the DSA has a mission to provide a forum and build a community or “alliance” among the residents, businesses and government entities of the downtown Sarasota Districts.

“Community involvement is something that’s important to us,” LaRocca said.

The two had been active members of the DSA for several years and took on their current roles to prevent the nearly 20-year-old organization from closing.

“It’s been here before us, and I don’t think we should be the ones that let it disappear, especially when we do so many amazing things.” Jokisch said.

During their first six months in leadership, Jokisch and LaRocca implemented two new programs that reflect their passion for their community: a back-to-school supply drive and a road cleanup initiative through Keep Sarasota County Beautiful.

“We held our first back-to-school drive in July, and we’re planning to make it an annual event,” LaRocca said.

DSA member businesses placed drop-off boxes inside their offices, shops and restaurants to collect school supplies for Booker Elementary School’s teacher closet with the help of the United Methodist Church downtown.

“Our members rallied in a big way,” LaRocca said. “The volume of supplies we collected speaks to how committed this community is to backing real, local impact.”

DSA Board Member Kevin and team clean up Ringling Boulevard.

Ken Jokisch with Pastor Brett from First United Methodist at their Back to School Drive.

DSA also adopted Ringling Boulevard in 2025.

“We pick up trash on the second Saturday of each month and we encourage members and businesses downtown to participate,” Jokisch said.

It’s been so popular, they’re thinking of expanding the program to include more than 12 cleanups per year.

“The DSA already had its pillars and what they did, but to be able to include those two community engagement initiatives, I’m very proud of that, and I hope that they’ll outlast our leadership,” Jokisch said.

Besides these two new community initiatives, the DSA hosts monthly networking events, publishes the Downtown Sarasota City Guide, and manages the Streetlight Banner Pole Program.

Members of the DSA can include residents, business owners and government officials in the downtown area. Jokisch and LaRocca invite anyone affiliated with downtown Sarasota to attend their free networking events, get involved in their community initiatives, become a member and even join the board.

“We want everybody to join,” Jokisch said.

“There’s something for everyone to do, and we’ve made it easy for people to get involved” To learn more about the Downtown Sarasota Alliance, sign up for their newsletters at DsaSarasota.com and follow them on social media at @DowntownSarasotaAlliance.

“Our goal is to make sure that everyone feels there’s a place for them and that they’ve made a difference,” LaRocca said.

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When Executive Director Ken Jokisch and Secretary Alexis LaRocca stepped into leadership roles with the Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA) in June 2025, their main goal was to make where they live and work in an even better and more connected place.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

Songs of Siesta

Cynthia Jordan poses by the “No. 1 Beach in the USA” sign on Siesta Key.

Parrish resident writes musical about a spiritual awakening on Siesta Key. IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

W

hen musician Cynthia Jordan visited Siesta Key Beach for the first time after moving to Florida three years ago, she didn’t see waves like the ones she had surfed growing up near the California coast.

What she did find was something she says was even more special: elegant rolling waves, turquoise waters, and powdery white quartz sand with a history in the Appalachian Mountains thousands of years ago.

Some people, she noted, call the island a vortex of magical energy, a description she says she agrees with.

For Jordan, the scene also became the inspiration to write a musical.

“The way I wrote ‘The Beach’ was, first of all, going to Siesta Key, and going, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing.

I’ve never been to a beach like this, and I’ve been to beaches all over the country, but not like Siesta Key,” she said.

The Parrish musician hopes that once she brings a cast together, she can premiere the musical in the Sarasota area.

AN AWAKENING ON SIESTA

Currently, Jordan is seeking out actors and local theaters, and she has been receiving creative support that involves the musical’s book from Broadway director Bruce Lumpkin.

Jordan grew up in the world of music and is part of the steering committee of the Sarasota Jazz Club.

However, she is best known for her song “Jose Cuervo,” which became a No. 1 Billboard country hit in 1983 and is about a woman who drank too much tequila the night before.

Country music artist Shelly West released the song as a single, and boosted her career — as well as the sales of Jose Cuervo tequila.

At the time Jordan was growing up in California during the ’60s, the sound of music was basically “poetry plus The Beatles,” she says.

“Everybody’s singing about love, and getting together and peace and all of this stuff, which is what we desperately need right now,” she said.

That kind of musical environment, she says, helped inspire “The Beach,” a musical about a suicidal man who ultimately overcomes his past challenges and discovers his authentic self while spending time in Siesta Key. Jordan says although the island was her first inspiration for the musical, her second was all of the people that come from the north, including from New York, to the area.

“I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got to put New York in this play, because people from New York come down here for the same reason. It’s magical, right?” she said.

Charlie, a man in his 30s living in New York, who has hit rock bottom, is the musical’s main character. His best friend and wife have betrayed him, stealing his money, business and apartment, while his grandmother has also just died.

However, the story begins even before that, when a spirit, Brave Soul, talks with the Master Life Planner and agrees to return to Earth for another human experience, with a reminder that life’s purpose is to “rediscover its divine power and light despite trials and pain.”

Jordan says the play’s story and characters draw from her own experiences and from other people she has known, and that Charlie’s experiences are inspired by events that have happened to her.

“I have been betrayed, yes. I have lost my grandmother, yes. I lost a lot of money, yes. I lost a best friend, yes,” Jordan said.

Ian Swaby

She also says the play will speak to the idea that “music is the language of emotion, and emotion is the mirror to the soul.”

“We’re divine beings having this human experience, and so when you discover that, and you realize that, then you can harness that power to create miracles in your life,” she said.

Near the beginning of the story, Charlie climbs to the top of a skyscraper prepared to jump, where Joy, the Master Life Planner in human form, rescues him and encourages him to go to the beach.

After traveling to Florida and arriving in Siesta Key, he meets a series of characters who share their own journeys amid their past struggles, in a story that is set primarily on the beach.

Those include Duke the Beachcomber, a musician and veteran; Maya, a woman of Native American descent who teaches Charlie about ancient spirituality; Father Iggy, a priest who was once an alcoholic, and Margarita, a senior woman who offers him shelter and support.

There is also a woman, Bliss, who turns out to be a crush from the third grade, expressing Jordan’s belief that the events of life come together for a reason.

Along the way, are musical numbers like “Down on Siesta Key,” whose lyrics begin with, “I like drinking

SECOND OPINIONS

ABOUT CYNTHIA JORDAN Jordan has worked in genres including country, Celtic, and ambient piano. Her 13 ambient piano albums have received more than 5 million downloads worldwide.

Her other musicals are “Miss Pearl’s Parlor,” a story about a high-class brothel in the 1920s, and a ballet, “The Miracle of the Lady in Blue,” the story of a nun, Maria de Agreda, who was said to have bilocated between Spain and North America during the 1600s.

She has also written music tutorials and books, and serves as a speaker, with her keynote speech and workshop being “Music: The Powerful Soul-ution.” She also says she is passionate about helping introduce children to music.

Visit CynthiaProductions. com.

piña coladas down on Siesta Key.” In another song are the words, “Oh yes, it’s time, to get out of your mind.”

“It’s a song about how our minds

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get full of junk, and how to just sit at the beach and just get it all cleared out,” Jordan said.

By the end of the story, through the people he has met and his experiences in nature, Charlie’s outlook on life transforms.

“What’s interesting in my career is when I ask any human being, ‘What is the strongest energy in the universe?’ I’ve never heard anybody not say love,” Jordan said. “Everybody says love.”

Jordan says due to Siesta Key being the setting of the story, it’s essential to her that the musical debut there, or in Sarasota. She is in talks with local theaters and likes to think of it premiering at the Historic Asolo Theater at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Regardless of what venue she may find, however, she thinks it’s a story today’s world needs.

“People are looking for some kind of positive change… because everybody’s understanding that things are in chaos, and this musical is all about tuning into our spirituality, which will absolutely change the world when we all come from a place of love, and understand that we have the power,” she said. “If enough of us understand that … the world will become totally peaceful, and totally in harmony, and harmony is music.”

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

5B

O N SA R AS OTA’ S MOST C OV ET ED BAY FRO NT PRO PERTY.

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.

6B

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP

directory

Chapel Worship: Saturdays @ 4:30 p.m.

Contemporary : Sundays @ 9 a.m.

Traditional: Sundays @ 11 a.m.

941.365.0844 | concordiasarasota.org 2185 Wood Street, Sarasota, FL

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Jesus’ Harmony for Sarasota’s Heart

FRIDAY, JAN. 9

MODERNS THAT MATTER: THE BAY ARCHITECTURE TOUR 10-11:30 a.m. at Blue Pagoda, 655 N. Tamiami Trail. Free. Join a guide from Architecture Sarasota to explore historically significant buildings in the Cultural District at The Bay, four of which make up a U.S. National Register of Historic Places District.

Registration required. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

FRESH FRIDAYS NEW YEAR ON THE BLOCK 7-10 p.m. at Main Street. Free. Celebrate the new year at this month’s Fresh Fridays block party, featuring local vendors, games, specialty refreshments, light bites and live music from Mylon & The Pop-Ups. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.

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FRIDAY, JAN. 9 TO SUNDAY, JAN. 11

SARASOTA BRADENTON HOME SHOW 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Free with online registration; $10 at door. Interact with home improvement professionals.

Visit HomeShowFlorida.com.

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SATURDAY, JAN. 10

POP-UP LIBRARY AND STORYTIME AT THE BAY 10 a.m. to noon at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. The Sarasota County Mobile Library will bring books appropriate for different ages and interests. Bring kids to one of the Nursery Rhyme Storytime sessions, beginning at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

STAGEFEST: THEATRE SHOWCASE 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hamlet’s Eatery, 821 Apricot Ave. Free to attend.

Enjoy free performances from such groups as Dingbat Theatre Project, The Players, Bell‚ Princess Parties with Jump Encore, Music Compound, Urbanite Theatre, West Coast Black Theatre Troupe. Visit HamletsEatery.com.

SUNDAY, JAN. 11

SUNDAYS AT THE BAY FEATURING MWIZA 4:30-5:30 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Tampa

Ian Swaby

Darlene Quiala enjoyed the experience with her friend, Areana Thompson.

BEST BET

FRIDAY, JAN. 9 TO SUNDAY, JAN. 11

SUNCOAST REGGAE & FOOD FESTIVAL 4-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Free admission. Celebrate reggae with live music, Caribbean-inspired cuisine, treats and drinks, as well as an arts and crafts marketplace featuring handmade goods. Visit ParagonFestivals.com.

Bay musician Mwiza will perform his Indie style music that includes R&B, folk, rock and Spanish sounds.

Registration required. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

DRUM CIRCLE INSIDE DANCE PARTY 6-9 p.m. at Casey Key Resort Mainland, 1660 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey.

Free. Enjoy a night of professional drummers and dancers, as well as locals from the Nokomis and Siesta Key drum circles. For ages 50+. Visit Meetup.com/Sarasota for more information.

THURSDAY, JAN. 15

CINEMA AT THE BAY: FARGO 7-8:40 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free screening of “Fargo” (rated R), the Coen brothers’ black comedy crime drama, at The Bay. The Nest Café will be serving delicious food, fresh popcorn and refreshing drinks.

Registration required. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2026 6:30PM TO 11:00PM THE ORA | 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota BLACK TIE | JAMES BOND-INSPIRED | LIGHT FARE | OPEN BAR

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CASINOROYALE26.GIVESMART.COM Hosted by YMCA of Southwest Florida Sarasota City and Palmer Ranch Community Boards, with proceeds benefiting both locations

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

7B

The Ar t of Waterfront Living at Wild Blue LUXURY DESIGNER-DECORATED MODELS NOW OPEN NEW HOMESITES AVAILABLE

Life revolves around the spectacular 30,000-square-foot clubhouse—now under construction and opening this fall. This is where neighbors become friends over resort pools, shared meals at indoor-outdoor dining venues, and rounds on the premier putting course. With a golf simulator, fitness center, cinema, and stunning waterfront homes by the region’s most sought-after builders, this Lakewood Ranch community is Sarasota’s most distinctive address for those who value connection as much as luxury.

NOW OPEN: MIDWAY SPORTS PARK Tennis • Pickleball • Basketball Dog Parks • Children’s Playground

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. ALL RENDERINGS AND PLANS ARE PROPOSED CONCEPTS SHOWN ONLY FOR MARKETING PURPOSES AND ARE BASED ON THE DEVELOPER’S CURRENT PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, REVISE OR WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN DEVELOPER’S SOLE DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTICE. NOTHING HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO OBLIGATE THE DEVELOPER, OR ANY AFFILIATE OF DEVELOPER, TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT OR OFFER ANY OF THE PROJECT FOR SALE, AND NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED A GUARANTY OF ANY KIND. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SALE OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY.

8B

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

Pineapple Drop ushers out a ‘perfect square year’ C

Rosalyn Aparcedo sets out seafood for customers.

Taste of the new year

A

t the Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival, a marked increase in attendance over last year could be seen on Jan. 3, as attendees filled tables and munched on everything from clam strips to grilled octopus.

Bill Kinney of Paragon Festivals, which hosts the event each year, said the festival attracted 20,000 people over the three days it ran, Jan. 2-4, at Robarts Arena.

That turnout was about twice as many as last year’s event, which was held at J.D. Hamel Park downtown.

“Last year was a good show. This year, it is one o’clock, and it is a great show,” said Kinney on Saturday.

Guests at the free event enjoyed fresh seafood, meats and vegetarian offerings cooked on-site, live music by regional bands and an arts and crafts marketplace.

— IAN SWABY

ouldn’t mingle with a million people at Times Square on New Year’s Eve? Then Sarasota was the place to be Dec. 31.

Sponsored by the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association, Sarasota’s 26th annual block party, complete with a pineapple drop, attracted about 40,000 guests who ushered 2025 out and loudly roared 2026 in.

A rare mathematical event, 2025 will be remembered for many things, but it is also a “perfect square year” because 45 x 45 equals 2025. (You knew that, right?) For those calculating, our last perfect square year was 1936 and the next is 2116.

Located at the intersection of Lemon and Main streets, festival organizers began closing off the roads and setting stages and barricades 24 hours ahead of time.

The carnival folks expertly moved in with colorful rides, big-prize games and food that took one back home to beloved boardwalks of “down the shore” New Jersey.

Featured bands included Bradenton’s Nauti Girl, Nashville-based country/rock singer and songwriter Chas Collins and the Venicebased powerhouse Gas House Gorillas.

Local restaurants were open, with tables set and reservation books filled. Many businesses remained open and vendors lined the

Photos by Janet Combs

Sawyer O’Dell takes a turn on the mechanical bull and stayed on for 44 seconds, which was a record for at least part of the day.

street with treats for everyone. Eventgoers lined up to get their caricatures drawn, ride the mechanical bull, bungee jump or just get a beer.

A 15-minute fireworks display was held over Sarasota Bay beginning at the stroke of midnight as it became official: 2026 is here, and 365 new days are ahead.

— JANET COMBS

On vacation from chilly Pittsburgh are the Matt family: Joe, 6-year old Everly, Brionna and 3-year old Ada. Photos by Ian Swaby

Rein Ross, 1, enjoys ice cream.

Terri Bacon and her daughter, Zoeie Bacon, enjoy time together.

2026 SARASOTA OPERA GALA

Caregivers Forum 2026 Connect • Educate • Support

Friday, February 6, 2026 8 am – 12 pm Harvest House Venue 3650 17th Street, Sarasota 34235

Honoring Don and Rachael Worthington

Caregiving begins with self-care.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026

This morning retreat is for you… those new to caregiving and those well into their caregiving journey.

RECEPTION AT 6 PM | DINNER AT 7 PM THE ORA, SARASOTA

For more information call Senior Friendship Centers, Georgann Nugent, (941) 556-3216.

$25 tickets: SFC2026.eventbrite.com

THE HARRIS FAMILY

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Limited seats available, secure your spot today!

Media Sponsor Media Sponsor

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R ESERVE TO DAY! (941) 366-8450, ext. 813 SOA • Events@SarasotaOpera.org HARRIS

Chairwomen: Paula Falk and Pam Polowski

Breakfast • Speakers • Panel Discussions Senior Service Resources • Bring your questions!

GALA CHAIRS: TAMARA JACOBS, CARLA KOEFFLER, & EILEEN BUZZARD Catering by Michael’s On East

SARASOTAOPERA.ORG/EVENTS THE

Keynote: Derrick M. DeSilva, Jr., M.D

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

9B

Luxuriously Fresh Perspectives INSIDE AND OUT.

R E SI DE NCE SL I DOK EY.COM

Welcoming Owners 2026 • From the $7 Millions • 941-888-3131 Visit Our Sales Gallery: 540 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236 ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.

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This project has been fi led in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rosewood Residences Lido Key is owned and being developed, offered and sold by WSR—Lido Beach, LLC (“Developer”). The project is not owned, developed or sold by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, L.L.C. or any of its affi liates (“Rosewood”). Developer uses the Rosewood marks pursuant to a license agreement with Rosewood, which may be terminated under certain conditions. Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. © Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. The Ronto Group®. Rosewood Hotels and Resorts®.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

SIESTA KEY 3820 Flamingo Ave 4 Beds 4/2 Baths 4,775 Sq. Ft. Fred Sassen & Barbara May 404.408.5956 A4673215 $8,395,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 540 N Tamiami Trl #701 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,698 Sq. Ft. Francoise Borel 941.228.3768 A4675649 $3,600,000

SIESTA KEY 6910 Midnight Pass Rd #A 5 Beds 5/2 Baths 2,966 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon & Fred Sassen 941.234.3991 A4674217 $2,975,000

SIESTA KEY 4757 Higel Ave 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,232 Sq. Ft. Victoria Turner 662.614.2783 A4669548 $2,750,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 509 Golden Gate Pt #3 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,439 Sq. Ft. Brittany Perrone & Kim Ogilvie 941.685.1598 A4674933 $2,695,000

SARASOTA (EAST OF I75) 9255 Mcdaniel Ln 3 Beds 3 Baths 3,244 Sq. Ft. Richard Hearn 941.313.1591 A4658914 $2,195,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 111 S Pineapple Ave #1007 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,893 Sq. Ft. Lisa Morris, PA 941.544.3332 A4671048 $1,875,000

SIESTA KEY 5966 Midnight Pass Rd #G113 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,300 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon & Sophia Dudon 941.234.3991 A4673331 $1,750,000

SIESTA KEY 5341 Siesta Ct 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,902 Sq. Ft. Fred Sassen & Barbara May 404.408.5956 A4671562 $1,450,000

SIESTA KEY 1260 Dolphin Bay Way #404 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,200 Sq. Ft. Mina Johnson & Ethel Lovelace 941.404.9347 A4673762 $1,395,000

SARASOTA (EAST OF I75) 7915 Kavanagh Ct 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,910 Sq. Ft. Susan Alliano 941.735.6571 A4656211 $928,400

SIESTA KEY 6415 Midnight Pass Rd #211 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,358 Sq. Ft. Mina Johnson & Ethel Lovelace 941.404.9347 A4675481 $927,000

SIESTA KEY 6500 Midnight Pass Rd #208 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,086 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon & Sophia Dudon 941.234.3991 A4675137 $890,000

SIESTA KEY 6265 Midnight Pass Rd #306 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,556 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941.356.9642 A4674553 $889,000

SIESTA KEY 5962 Midnight Pass Rd #129 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,268 Sq. Ft. Brian Loebker & Adam Cuffaro 941.735.4393 A4672593 $869,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 800 Hudson Ave #106 3 Beds 3 Baths 1,562 Sq. Ft. Maureen Doherty 941.993.3159 A4673881 $795,000

SIESTA KEY 1309 Siesta Bayside Dr #1309c 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,280 Sq. Ft. Shane Lewis 941.685.3252 A4672436 $699,900

SIESTA KEY 5970 Midnight Pass Rd #177 1 Bed 1/1 Baths 956 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon & Sophia Dudon 941.234.3991 A4667894 $699,000

SIESTA KEY 6150 Midnight Pass Rd #26 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,101 Sq. Ft. Linda Stowe 941.228.5685 A4672145 $699,000

SIESTA KEY 6150 Midnight Pass Rd #13 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,101 Sq. Ft. Linda Stowe 941.228.5685 A4672146 $699,000

SARASOTA (EAST OF I75) 7536 Aguila Dr 4 Beds 4 Baths 2,771 Sq. Ft. Angela Adams & Heather Hoffman 941.809.9760 A4658359 $650,000

SARASOTA (EAST OF I75) 2921 Seasons Blvd 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,402 Sq. Ft. Michelle Silva & Alex Stafford 941.993.8993 A4626853 $585,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 1064 N Tamiami Trl #1116 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,425 Sq. Ft. Nancie Kalin 941.928.8833 A4671529 $575,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 4811 Glenbrooke Dr 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,705 Sq. Ft. Christine Pope & Paul Pope 941.685.5565 A4674819 $499,900

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 2417 Parson Ln 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,316 Sq. Ft. Allison Werner 941.961.3212 A4675748 $475,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 1365 Harbor Dr 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,978 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941.376.1717 A4672827 $6,375,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 33 S Palm Ave #1701 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,407 Sq. Ft. Philip Pisano, III & Wayne Fastzkie 941 468.8603 A4674550 $6,250,000

SARASOTA (WEST OF I75) 1749 Lincoln Park Cir 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,020 Sq. Ft. Michael Hays & Jeff Hinrichs 941.376.1826 A4674729 $3,975,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM

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10B

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

DEC. 15-19

ADAM HUGHES

Other top sales by area

RESEARCH EDITOR

W

illiam and Margaret Roth, trustees, of Nokomis, sold two properties at 2513 Bayshore Road to Jay Macklin, trustee, of Nokomis, for $5.5 million.

The first property was built in 1993 and has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,350 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1997 and has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,302 square feet of living area.

They sold for $2,125,000 in 2023.

SARASOTA

Murat Camoglu and Jorge Alberto Aristizabal Restrepo, of North Bay Village, sold their home at 1631 Hillview St. to Mark and Leslie Laven, of Sarasota, for $3.45 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,155 square feet of living area.

GROVELAWN 2038 Datura LLC sold the home at 2038 Datura St. to Todd and Kristin Jaenke, of St. Charles, Missouri, for $3,075,000. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,313 square feet of living area.

HUDSON CROSSING Mara Hilderman sold her Unit 3-D condominium at 888 S. Orange Ave. to Michael and Courtney Glickman, of Sarasota, for $1,997,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,355 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,575,000 in 2020.

BAYVIEW JCaliber Investments Inc. sold the home at 3464 Camino Real Drive to Justin Barton and Jessica LugoCastro, of Sarasota, for $1.9 million.

Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 2,958 square feet of living area.

BURNS COURT VILLAS Beth and John Littman-Quinn, trustees, sold the Unit 18 condominium at 1513 Oak St. to Scott and Kristina Pelle, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1,562,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,910 square feet of living area. It sold for $943,000 in 2007.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 726 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Stephen Shanklin and Patricia Franklin, of Sarasota, for $1.5 million. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. It sold for $960,000 in 2022.

ONE WATERGATE

Douglas and Ingrid Johns, of

REAL ESTATE

Nokomis property tops sales at $5.5 million

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

11B

SIESTA KEY: $2.2 MILLION

Coronas Park Christopher and Dawn Walsh, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6925 Bochi Circle to Martin Anthony Key and Nicola Clare Key, of Sarasota, for $2.2 million. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,796 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.1 million in 2022.

Courtesy image

Dahlonega, Georgia, sold their Unit 11-E condominium at 1111 N. Gulfstream Ave. to Richard and Trina Hutchins, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,575 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2022.

GRANADA John Austin and Rachel Nelson, of Tampa, sold their home at 3716 Camino Real to Michael and Alexa Oates, of Lake Mary, for $1.15 million. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,023 square feet of living area. It sold for $22,500 in 1972.

CORAL COVE Stanley Raymond III and Merry Beth Raymond, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1806 Caribbean Drive to Donald Eggebrecht and Pamela Eggebrecht, trustees, of Sarasota, for $950,000. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,848 square feet of living area. It sold for $635,000 in 2021.

CITRUS RESIDENCES Joseph Francis Ruggiero III and Jan Ruggiero, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 302 condominium at 555 N. Orange Ave. to Lina Murakishi Whitted and John Alfini, of Northbrook, Illinois, for $650,000. Built in 2021, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,033 square feet of living area. It sold for $516,500 in 2021.

The property at 2513 Bayshore Road in Nokomis sold for $5.5 million.

BAYWINDS ESTATES Jean and Ofelia Phillips sold their home at 1635 Baywinds Lane to Sterling Coast LLC for $620,000.

Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,916 square feet of living area. It sold for $150,000 in 1989.

BROADWAY PROMENADE Florence Hanowski and Roger Cook, trustees, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, sold the Unit 1519 condoSEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 12B

PALMER RANCH: $1,035,000

Silver Oak Peter and Patricia Brotchie, of Rye, New Hampshire, sold their home at 8844 Bloomfield Blvd. to Timothy Jay Albert and Patti Jo Albert, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1,035,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,174 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,045,000 in 2023.

OSPREY: $850,000

Willowbend Mark and Jean Malkasian, trustees, of Venice, sold the home at 678 Crane Prairie Way to Dieter and Barbara Lubbecke, of Osprey, for $850,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,483 square feet of living area.

PAYNE PARK VILLAGE Valerie Nadine Bosmans, of Sarasota, sold her home at 2217 Muesel St. to Patricia Emond and Jean Paul Emond, of Concord Township, Ohio, for $945,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,711 square feet of living area. It sold for $695,000 in 2021.

BAY HAVEN Toni Cusumano, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, sold her home at 2814 W. Tamiami Circle to Travis Drost, of Sarasota, for $850,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 1,997 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million in 2023.

TAHITI PARK James Krah, of Sarasota, sold his home at 1155 Tahiti Parkway to YAG Holdings LLC for $678,100. Built in 1950, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,686 square feet of living area. It sold for $579,900 in 2021.

THE BOATYARD Sylvia Rosenfeld, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 102 condominium at 1586 Stickney Point Road to B&B Holdings of Illinois LLC for $665,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,270 square feet of living area. It sold for $148,900 in 1994.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

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Let’s build something extraordinary together.

These are the largest city of Sarasota building permits issued for the week of Dec. 15-26, in order of dollar amounts.

CITY OF SARASOTA Permit

Applicant

Amount

2114 Rose St.

Addition

Natalie Smith

$271,000

456 Acacia Drive

Pool/Spa/Deck

Decarla Kramer

$90,000

2860 Michigan St.

Alterations

Deborah Meyers

$73,225

941.951.6650

144 Garden Lane

Alterations

Ilya Rudiak, trustee

$50,000

MSCDeveloperServices.com

1781 Spring Creek Drive

Windows/Doors

Christopher Botti Ettore

$40,153

404 S. Pelican Drive

Alterations

Kristen Dibella

$30,000

451 Woodland Drive

Windows

Donna Koffman

$28,470

1887 Morris St.

Alterations

Brian Kuhn

$28,000

1700 South Drive

Re-roof

Michael Schubring

$28,000

953 Pomelo Place

Demolition

Todd Stockhausen

$24,500 Prices as of January 2025

Source: City of Sarasota

Issa Homes at SeaFlower | 941.491.7879 From $1.29M | SeaFlower.IssaHomes.com

455008-1

The Edge Sarasota | 941.866.3068 | From Mid $3M Sales Gallery at 1801 Main Street | TheEdgeSarasota.com

Address

12B

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

Real estate

EXPERT FOOT CARE IS JUST A STEP AWAY.

FROM PAGE 11B

minium at 1064 N. Tamiami Trail to Oscar Golbert and Miriam Golbert, trustees, of Sarasota, for $605,000.

Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,447 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2019.

FOOT & ANKLE CARE  Non-surgical and Surgical  Wound Care  Heel and Arch Pain  Bunions

 Hammertoes  Ingrown Nails  Sports Injuries  Diabetic Foot Care

SIESTA KEY HAMILTON CLUB Janet Lovelace, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 7 condominium at 3925 Hamilton Club Circle to Jeanne Hamm, of Siesta Key, for $2 million. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,884 square feet of living area.

It sold for $925,000 in 2009.

Joseph Barak, DPM

448960-1

Joan Koewler, DPM

BAY ISLAND PARK Patrick Michael Hogan and Lynda Diane Hogan, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3455 Flamingo Ave. to 3455 Flamingo Avenue LLC for $1.1 million. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2000.

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BRATING CELE

PINDRIFT Mildred Killian, of Owensboro, Kentucky, sold the Unit B-2 condominium at 460 Beach Road to Scott Fowler and Tamara Lynette Fowler, of Tiki Island, Texas, for $1.05 million. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,363 square feet of living area. It sold for $299,000 in 2016.

heraldtribune.com

WINNER

ISLAND REEF Thomas Gallahue IV, trustee, of Gulfport, Mississippi, sold the Unit 406-H condominium at 8779 Midnight Pass Road to Kanstas Gus Valkanas and Marzena Valkanas, of Sarasota, for $800,000.

Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,768 square feet of living area. It sold for $705,000 in 2016.

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS 941-925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com

Janet and Curt Mattson Owners

4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

THE ANCHORAGE Kathleen and Richard Saunders, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 505 condominium at 6415 Midnight Pass Road to RFIH LLC for $660,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,287 square feet of living area. It sold for $359,000 in 2013.

LA SIESTA Peter and Janet Emanuel, of Skillman, New Jersey, sold their Unit 321 condominium at 915 Beach Road to Meiling Gao, trustee, of Fresh Meadows, New York, for $570,000.

Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 940 square feet of living area. It sold for $405,000 in 2019.

PEPPERTREE BAY Stephen Settimi, trustee, of Purgitsville, West Virginia, sold the Unit 101 condominium at 1200 E. Peppertree Lane to Chad and Bronya Zamarin, of Tulsa Oklahoma, for $540,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,105 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 2014.

PALMER RANCH THE COUNTRY CLUB OF SARASOTA Stephen and Theresa Tasch, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3948 Torrey Pines Blvd. to Terese Oaks, of Avon, Ohio, for $985,000.

Built in 1985, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,928 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 1995.

ONLINE

SIESTA HARBOR Albert and Anna May Crosby, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, sold

©2026 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved.

All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

www.AnthonysAirConditioning.com

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On behalf of Anthony’s, I want to thank you all for an incredible 2025 and wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy 2026!

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453401-1

454815-1

Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989

their Unit 310 condominium at 1325 S. Portofino Drive to Roy Teresky and Roseann Murphy, of Siesta Key, for $750,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,400 square feet of living area. It sold for $450,000 in 2020.

©Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. Member SIPC. MC-1773600.

Scan Here to Register

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

13B

Treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids may delay cognitive decline.*

Better hearing.

Better thinking.

Did you know that your ears and brain work as a team?

Recent studies have found that treating hearing loss can support healthy aging and reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 48% over three years.¹

RISK-FREE IN-HOME TRIAL of the latest hearing aid technology² Offer expires 01/30/26

Hear better for years to come. Request our

SAME-DAY SERVICE

Protect your brain with just one visit.

941-398-9956

SL-AT1217155121

2807 University Pkwy., Sarasota 836 Pinebrook Rd., Ste D-5, Venice

• 14800 Tamiami Trail, North Port • 1720 S. McCall Rd., Ste H, Englewood

* Source: Sarant et. al 2023 https://healthsciences.unimelb.edu.au/research-groups/audiology-and-speech-pathology-research/hearing-and-cognition-research-program/research/remediation-hearing-aids 1Lin, F., et al. (2023, July 17). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X 2Certain types of hearing loss may require a hearing instrument model that is not appropriate for the trial. Hearing evaluation required. See clinic for details. Only available for selected hearing instruments. Offers expire 01/30/26.

456079-1

BOOK NOW

14B

YourObserver.com

WEATHER

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, JAN. 8

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

High: 81 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 9%

FRIDAY, JAN. 9 High: 82 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 14%

Thursday, Jan. 8

7:21a

5:52p

Friday, Jan. 9

7:21a

5:53p

Saturday, Jan. 10

7:21a

5:54p

Sunday, Jan. 11

7:21a

5:54p

Monday, Jan. 12

7:21a

5:55p

Tuesday, Jan. 13

7:21a

5:56p

Wednesday, Jan. 14

7:21a

5:57p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JAN. 10 High: 80 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 8%

Jan. 10 Last

Jan. 18 New

Jan. 25 First

Feb. 1 Full

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, JAN. 11 High: 77 Low: 50 Chance of rain: 12% Gordon Silver took this photo of a sandhill crane as it flies over Celery Fields in Sarasota on a clear morning.

Monday, Dec. 29

0

Tuesday, Dec. 30

0

Wednesday, Dec. 31

0

Thursday, Jan. 1

0

Friday, Jan. 2

0

Saturday, Jan. 3

0

Sunday, Jan. 4

1.06

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Contests. All submissions will be entered in the 2026-27 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2027, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 1.06 in.

2025 0.08 in.

2024

MONTH TO DATE: 1.06 in.

2025 0.08 in.

2024

We have all of your luxury flooring needs carpet | hardwood | tile | stone | pavers | and more Sarasota 941.355.8437 | Bradenton 941.748.4679 | Venice 941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

SPLITTING HAIRS by Ryan Mathiason, edited by Jared Goudsmit 115 Isolated from other

51 Dubuque’s state

departments

53 ___ tube (water park

116 Get there

item)

117 List of mistakes in a text 55 Citrus drink suffixes 118 Goes viral online

57 Port-au-Prince’s country

119 Piled up

60 Like full lips

120 Ocean passage

62 TV remotes often go

65 Most shortly

2 “The Big Lebowski”

66 Khaki garment

actress Reid

67 Zero, zip, nil

3 Ocean predator in a pod

68 Slip-on shoe

4 Make a choice

69 Greasy salon product

5 Some Japanese perform-

71 Pro golfer Rory

ers

72 “Later!”

6 Carved in stone

73 Code in which “code” is

7 “i c it this way ...”

“-.-. --- -.. .”

8 Showed the ropes to

74 iPhone downloads

10 Starting lineup

agewise

11 Name hidden in “play-

76 Like human thumbs

land”

77 Hinder

12 “Killer Klowns From Outer 78 Atkins diet no-no

58 Cockatoo’s home

86 Off in the distance

selves with air

59 Drink quickly

87 Vim

61 Goes from 0 to 60, say?

88 Syrup-producing trees

7 Stick using a wooden stake 40 Potato pancake 13 Like “Saturday Night Live” 42 Key next to Q 19 “Magic” conveyance in “Aladdin” 20 Use as a rendezvous point 21 Enter from outside 22 “I Wanna Be Yours” band 24 Left-___ (like about 10% of people) 25 Sheep’s cry 26 “___ sells seashells ...”

27 Blue-green hue 28 Security org. busts 30 “Howdy!”

32 Prefix meaning “largescale” 34 Mechanical pencil brand

here!”

85 Responsive to stimuli

14 Low-alcohol lager, for

86 Like Usain Bolt’s last

example

name

15 Hawaiian porch

90 Not widely recognized

16 Habit-forming

94 Say “I’m kind of a big

17 Like an even score

deal,” say

18 Doesn’t continue

95 Pueblo bricks

23 Blend together

97 “Kiss the Cook” garment

28 Chilly coffee drinks

99 Be very fond of

29 Annoy

100 “Kama ___”

31 NBA great James

102 “Wild” U.S. region 103 Arab ruler

62 ___ Diego

89 “Star Wars” heroine

45 Word after “french” or

64 “Only Murders in the

90 Slanted writings

“curly”

Building” actress Gomez

91 ___-Caps

46 Actress Arthur

65 Planted a bug, say

92 Bosc fruits

47 Activist Scholl

67 Completely useless

93 African plant that stores

48 Water cooler?

70 American currency

water in its trunk

33 Disguised

49 ___ Danbury (“Bridger-

(Abbr.)

ton” noble)

71 Castle defense

96 Impractical Joker Vulcano 35 LGBTQ+ advocacy org.

36 Cyan planet 98 Small bits

50 Cranes and cockatoos

72 Stormproof space

101 Wisconsin dairy blobs

37 Fit as a ___

108 Nibble and nibble

52 Computer data storage

74 Bit of bismuth, e.g.

102 Swords, spears, etc.

38 “The Four Seasons”

109 Rabbit-protecting org.

devices

77 Widely recognized

105 Tear ___ (channel next

actress Tina

110 “Don’t go!”

54 Fish ___ chips

79 Cheese that’s made

to the eye)

39 Give lip to

112 “Not interested”

55 Potatoes, in Indian

backward?

cuisine

80 “Te ___” (Spanish “I love

107 Rep. who played “Among 41 Child 43 Las Vegas WNBA team Us” with Ilhan Omar

56 “Wastin’ away again in

you”)

108 Google Maps tech

44 Outdo

114 “___-la-la!” (Captain

47 Theater platform

Underpants’ cry)

Margaritaville / Searchin’ for 81 Christmassy candy my lost ___ of salt”

84 Zones

111 Stage of life after zygote 112 “Swish!”

H.T. IJRWD

“BG X MBZVC / B XY KNZ XUJZGLZ AM MBZVC. / KNBJ BJ XVTXFJ KNZ LXJZ. / TNZDZIZD B XY / B XY TNXK BJ YBJJBGS.”

YXDP JKDXGC

“ZB KUL NRSC R GRIIK TSYZSM, CGRC YTITSYH, UB DULPHT, US NGTPT KUL HCUI KULP HCUPK.”

UPHUS NTXXTH

Puzzle Three Clue: G equals H

1 Curly, Moe or Larry

35 Vipers that inflate them-

CYM RAKC MW KJXWT JSYAZ ZCWR.”

82 Hired

13 “Didn’t expect to see you 83 “Hair Love” actress Issa

ACROSS

JXW TWJT ZCJZ MW KJF DJLWVB DCYM

63 Throat-clearing noise

9 Chinese toy dog, for short 75 Many a college freshman,

©2026 Universal Uclick

“HWXCJHD OZ’D YFVB MCWF HWYHVW

missing in them

1 Picket line crosser

Space” beings, e.g. (Abbr.)

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: I equals V

DOWN

celebrity cipher

Puzzle Two Clue: S equals B

crossword

Flooring Made for Your Family

448064-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2026 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

104 Affirming gestures 106 Teacup flaw

113 “Game of Thrones” father Stark

50 Lightheaded? ©2026 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

01-08-26

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

RED PAGES Condos/Apts. for Rent

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon

THREE BEDROOM CONDO Unit 1701 available for monthly rental in Copperleaf the Brooks.

Contact donnamariecos5@icloud.com

redpages@yourobserver.com •yourobserver.com/redpages Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card The Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

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

Merchandise Wanted

WANTED TO Buy Large amounts of costume jewelry 978-390-8803

GARAGE SALE

As low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888

SILICON INFRARED Heater 1500 Watts, as new, $50 (941) 321-5136 Leave Message

BUY STUFF HERE! YourObserver.com/RedPages

Vacation/ 15% DISCOUNT Seasonal Rentals FOR 4-WEEK RUN

40+ years in Sarasota Honest Evaluations NO ONE PAYS MORE!

941-400-8811 Merchandise Wanted SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

auto

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. 941-448-8468.

35+ years experience.

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC INTERIOR / EXTERIOR / CABINETS WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

RED PAGES AD RATES

Beachfront, Bayfront and In

First 15 words ......................... $17.50 per week Each Add’l word ...........................................50¢

Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week Advertise your business or service in the Observer

Visa/MC

Call: 941-955-4888 Email: redpages@yourobserver.com RED PAGES

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite

Place your ad online: yourobserver.com/redpages CALL TODAY

101

941-955-4888

Longboat Key, FL 34228

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F

This week’s Crossword answers

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

Autos Wanted CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

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

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

Over 1 Acre Beachfront House $6.5 million Sailboat Access Canal 4 Bed Pending $675,000 Plantation Golf Course View Condo 3 Bed $294,000 House on Canal with Pool & Dock $1,250,000 Pool Home Completely Upgraded $545,000

jobs

Al Tomlinson

Painting

WEEKLY MONTHLY

Ask about our special rates!

ANTIQUES WANTED

Paintings •B Bronzes •P Sculptures •O Oriental Rugs •S Asian Art •A Antique Furniture •A

Real Estate Wanted Looking to buy a house with no hoa and a yard. Good, bad or ugly, with down payment, I’ll pay closing costs and make payments.

941-529-6822

PLACE YOUR AD: Between Call: 386-447-9723 Houses or Condos Email: redpages@ormondbeachobserver.com Online: ormondbeachobserver.com/redpages

Antiques/ Collectibles

WANTED

To schedule a tour, call 844-552-4574

MITCHELL HANDYMAN. Painting, Carpentry, Tile, Pressure Cleaning.

Home Improvements, Repairs.

Small and large! 941-284-8488.

Help Wanted NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR sought by I-Net Consulting in Sarasota, FL to monitor cloud-hosted and end-user systems using remote monitoring and management tools. Reqs Bachelors in IT or rltd field. Mst hv perm auth to wrk in US. Snd rsm & cvr lttr to 1900 Main St, Ste 308, Sarasota, FL 34236.

Luxury Sarasota Bay views 4 Bed 5 Bath with Boat Dock $1.76 million Near South bridge to Siesta One level, heated pool, stroll to shops. 3Bed-2.5Bath $1,250,000 Brooke O’Malley CLUB REALTY Call 941-726-2677

SELL IT FAST HERE! POST YOUR AD WITH EASE YourObserver.com/RedPages

SELL IT FAST! Place Your Ad Online YourObserver.com/RedPages

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

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

©2026 Universal Uclick

You’re only cheating yourself.

BOOKS ON art, collectibles, history.Like NEW! Great Xmas gifts. $1.00 ea Call 941-780-4467

Real Estate Wanted

Homes for Sale

Handyman Services

peekers’ place

23 PIECE vintage 22k gold accented glassware bundle, good condition $125 Call/Text (941) 504-0165

Positions Wanted

View our listings online: www.bahiavistafl.com

home services

2 VCRS. Mitsubishi HS-U449, w/boxes, remotes, cords, manuals. $40 & $60.

(941) 966-6816

Open House 1st Saturday of the month 10am-2pm

Color background: $5 per week RATES $ Ad border: as low asSEASONAL 3 per week

Items Under $200 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

Manufactured Home Community 55+ Active Lifestyle

3901 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota

PRODUCT ENGINEER Join our team to design & analyze motorcycles, increase efficiency & performance and develop new products. Requirements. BA + 5yrs work exp. Send resume to Robert Fisher to 2171 13th St, Sarasota, FL 34237.

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

Free Estimates. Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342. Instagram: Braziliancleaningservicess

JAMES BOTTORFF HANDYMAN SERVICES Call or Text 941-807-0032 Registered in the state of FL.

SARASOTA FL, Co. seeks a Purchasing Coordinator. 2 yrs exp as a purchasing coordinator or store manager req. Send detailed resume to: Italian Idea SRQ, LLC, 136 S Pineapple Ave Sarasota, FL 34236. No calls pls.

real estate

stuff

BUYING GOLD, SILVER W/ CASH. RETIRED INVESTOR Diamonds, Coins, Jewelry, Watches & Pocket Watches.

Confidential & Honest.

FREE HOUSE CALLS. Call David (941) 499-6417

Help Wanted

Open House

Cleaning

you off your feet!

We’ll SWEEPWe’ll youSWEEP off your feet!

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “Perhaps it’s only when people are dead that we can safely show how much we cared about them.”

P.D. James

Puzzle Two Solution: “In a field / I am the absence of field. / This is always the case. / Wherever I am / I am what is missing.”

Mark Strand Puzzle Three Solution: “If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.”

Orson Welles

This week’s Sudoku answers

Cleaning BETTY’S HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE. Residential, high quality cleaning. Reasonable rates. Lic./Insured.

Free Estimates!

Call 941-650-6180

©2026 NEA, Inc.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

Aluminum

Doors

Home Services

DON’T let your

INJECT-AFLOOR SYSTEM

PATIO DOORS be a DRAG or your

MAKE YOUR

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941.966.0333 LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED COVERAGEAREA: AREA:LAKEWOOD PARRISH TO NORTHPORT COVERAGE RANCH TO S. VENICE

WASHED SHELL, LIMESTONE RIVER GRAVEL, GRAYSTONE BOULDERS, BRICK PAVERS

YARDS INSTALLED DRIVEWAYS

(941) 228-6479

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

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

Pegatronics.com

941-735-3362

DAVID

Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

Shell Work & Landscape Stone Driveways | Yards | Dirt Work | Light Demo

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Rich Briandi | 941-356-5616

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

Lic./ Insured

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

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

TREASURES found here.

Looking for something? Your lucky discovery is closer than you think.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE SARASOTA NATIVE

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

DRGRABBARS.COM

ROCK & SHELL LANDSCAPING

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

6968 Beneva Road

INCLUDES22MOEN MOEN STAINLESS INCLUDES STAINLESS STEEL STEELANTI ANTISLIP SLIP CONCEALED PEEN CONCEALED SCREW SCREW GRAB GRAB BARS (16”BARS & 24”)(16” & 24”)

Landscaping & Lawn

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

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

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

*DRILLING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR MARBLE, GRANITE OR PORCELAIN. COUPON REQUIRED.

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

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

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FREE (941) 809-7311 ESTIMATES! Health

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

GRAB BARS GRAB BARS

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

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941-929-9095

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

STEVE PANEBIANCO H R S

RED PAGES Bring Results | 941-955-4888

Email steve@setohealthgroup.com setohealthgroup.com

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES INTERIOR RENOVATIONS • DRYWALL • PAINT • TRIM • DOORS • TILE • FLOORING • SHOWER TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772

(Next to Beneva Flowers)

Direct Call 941.993.4137 Text 941.993.4427

SERVING SIESTA KEY & SARASOTA COUNTY

Call Mike Today!

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

Handyman work by C.T.MALLETT SERVICES LLC

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Carpentry All Phases • Cabinets • Molding & Trim • Plank Flooring • Live Edge Epoxy Tables & Countertops

MASTERCRAFT CONSTRUCTION

• Carpentry, instalations and repair • Painting, Finishing and Assembly

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REMODELING SERVICES INCLUDING

C.T. MALLETT

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455111

HoHoBuysCars.com

CONTACT ME TODAY.

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941.270.4400

DON DI STEFANO (941) 893.8475

WITH THE RED PAGES

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Dustin Yoder

NEW AGAIN

Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts | Window Repairs

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

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

LOOK LIKE

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WINDOWS be a PANE!!

GROUT

DO YOU HAVE LOOSE & HOLLOW TILES?

364556 455197

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

Movers

Rescreening & Repairs

Wizard Moving SRQ

Eldridge Re-Screen

For $149 per hour you get:

A truck, 2 men with equipment, experience and a great attitude to

Licensed

Painting

“No Job Too Small” Insured

• Pet Screen • 20/20 No-See-Um Screening • We Paint Pool Cages

941-270-1561

Tree Removal Tree Trimming Lawn Maintenance and More!

Roofing

Exterior / Interior / Cabinets

20 years local experience

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

Licensed & Insured

Building & Roofing Contractor

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

FREE ESTIMATES, CALL TODAY!

455832

• Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soffit and Fascia • Metal & Shingle Roofing • Pool Cage, Pan Roofs & Lania Fabrication • Aluminum Welding & Fabrication

NEED HELP?

Find local business and service professionals in the Observer Red Pages.

YourObserver.com/RedPages

(941) 544.5663

luislopeztreeandlawnservices.com

941-626-3194 kennethfuhlmaninc.com

Pet Services

Windows 455818

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

SCREEN MACHINE

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

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

941-879-3136

Dog Walking (sm/md) Cat sitting & Cat/Kitten Introductions Administering medication

455814

RE-SCREENING

Screen Repair | Per Panel Pricing Building | Under Truss | Lanais | Entryways Prompt Estimates (usually no visit necessary)

Dog Sitting (sm/md)

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows

Transportation UP TO

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE “Luxury for Less”

455827

(941) 966-2960

941 - 248 - 4734 455819

Remodeling/Home Improvement

All Florida Airports, Concerts & Dinners - Hourly Cruise Ships & Medical | See Specials at: www.blacklabelcarservice.com

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00

Trees

Remodeling & Custom Homes

455807

941-888-4868

TandemHomesFlorida.com | Office@TandemHomesFlorida.com Licensed General Contractor - CGC1537429

455788

• On Time, Quality Work • Available 24/7 • Free Estimates • Financing Available

160

25 $

STANDARD WINDOWS

410036

30+ years Exp. & Excellent References

• 30 Years Experience • Locally Owned • Full Service Design in 3D • Fully Insured

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

Screening

Pet Care by Melanie Gates

455808

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

5

$

senior citizen discount.

www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

Find anything in the RED PAGES

941-955-4888

STUFF

found here.

The Red Pages is the perfect store to buy and sell locally! You’ll find a wide selection from antiques to furniture to condos!

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

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

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

455820

Licensed and insured #IMT708

Trees

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455787

make your moving day a pleasure.

17B

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

It’s Written In the Stars

Since 2016, Sarasota Memorial has accomplished what no other Florida hospital could: a perfect 5-Star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — every year — for 10 years straight.

What does that mean for our patients?

It means timely care and world-class results.

It means the highest possible ratings for patient safety and patient care, with substantially fewer readmissions and complications than the national average. It means healthcare our patients can trust from a healthcare system that has been tried, tested, and proven to put its patients first.

Don’t believe it? It’s written in the stars★

smh.com/5stars 456115-1

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