On Oct. 4, NASA hosted its International Observe the Moon Night. Yet on Oct. 6, gazes turned upward once again during the supermoon of Oct. 6-7, a full Harvest Moon.
About 22 members of Sarasota Photo Club, a club for early beginner photographers led by Mary Anne Hecht, went to a north Sarasota plaza to view the rising orb and snap some photos amid pizza.
Hecht said members shoot the full moon two to three times a year.
“You just want to be here to stare at the moon, like it’s a nice place to be,” said Hecht’s son, John Hecht.
The club can be reached at 941-726-3418.
‘Spooky Point’ lights up
A year ago, Hurricanes Helene and Milton resulted in wideranging impacts along Sarasota’s coast.
This year, one October attraction is returning. Lights at Spooky Point returned to the Historic Spanish Point campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, located in Osprey, on Oct. 3, and runs until Nov. 1.
The lights display, featuring botanically themed Halloween creations across the campus, brings familiar favorites, as well as some new additions.
“We’re just so thrilled to bring it back once again and provide a really fun outing for the whole family,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens.
$0.10
Jay Heater
Humboldt penguins introduce themselves to patrons during Mote SEA’s opening days.
Ian Swaby
Mary Anne Hecht’s grandson, James Goethe, took a photo of the moon.
Ian Swaby
WEEK OF OCT. 9, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
20 Miles per hour, the citywide speed limit on neighborhood streets per the developing traffic calming plan
PAGE 5
$1 MILLION
The amount the city will reallocate to use on possible Legacy or Circus Trail projects.
PAGE 9
3 The number of years The Bay has been open as the park is celebrating with events all month PAGE 24
CALENDAR
n Sarasota City Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 20, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
n Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd.
n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, Board Chambers, Landings Administration Complex, 1960 Landings Blvd. (black awning entrance).
“Now our Real-Time Operations Center looks like something out of NORAD. It looks like a Jason Bourne movie, and we’re only limited at this point by our imagination.”
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. Read more on page 6
SMH plans rehab pavilion expansions
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is moving forward with plans for a new $82.5 million Rehabilitation Pavilion at its Venice campus.
The location is intended to ensure a seamless, more convenient transition from the hospital to the new inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facility, according to a news release.
The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board approved funding for the project in September. Gresham Smith, who designed the rehabilitation pavilion on SMH’s Sarasota
campus, and general contractor Deangelis Diamond have been selected to design and build the 83,000-square-foot facility.
Construction is expected to take about two years, with the pavilion opening for patient care in early 2028.
Levels two and three of the four-story building will be dedicated to inpatient rehabilitation units with 50 private patient suites, advanced therapy gyms, mobility training areas and therapy tools and spaces that replicate real-life activities and environments.
The first level will provide outpatient rehabilitation therapy and administrative space. The fourth floor will remain as a shell for future expansion.
In September, the hospital board also approved $5.6 million to expand the Sarasota campus rehabilitation pavilion by seven more beds, bringing the total to 67.
That expansion will begin next spring with the new wing opening in early 2027.
Help paint a mural at Arlington Park pool
Bare walls at Arlington Park Aquatic Complex will come to life with splashes of color this fall as artist Alissa Silvers will lead a project titled Rhapsody in Bloom, a large-scale mural.
Known for using bold colors and stylized tropical forms, Silvers will wrap the lifeguard building with an abstract design inspired by Sarasota’s coastal beauty.
Funded by the city’s Public Art Program, the public may participate in creating the mural as residents are invited to take part in a Community Paint Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.
All ages are invited to help bring the mural to life.
The Sarasota Public Art Program is funded through a developer fee of one-half percent of the development cost of any construction project that costs more than $1 million.
SPD speed operation nets 1,100 violations
Between December 2024 and September 2025, the Sarasota Police Department conducted nearly 900 traffic stops and addressed 1,100 violations through an operation funded by a $115,000 traffic safety grant awarded by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The operation involved nearly 450 hours of safety enforcement.
Violations cited included speeding, improper lane changes, cellphone use in active school zones, driving under the influence, suspended licenses, unregistered vehicles and seat belt violations.
“Every stop, every reminder, and every citation reflects our commitment to protecting lives,” said Officer Jason Frank of SPD’s traffic unit.
“Roadway safety is about more than enforcement, it’s about encouraging patience, attentiveness and responsibility.”
Although the grant period has ended, the SPD is continuing its focus on traffic safety.
The department has applied for another traffic safety grant for 202526.
Courtesy photo
A rendering of the new SMH-Venice Rehabilitation Pavilion.
SEA opens to wave of excitement
Sneak preview for members precedes the $130 million aquarium’s Oct. 8 opening to the general public.
JAY HEATER MANAGING EDITOR
TIF YOU GO
the beaches, the sunshine and the aquarium.”
They were laughing, having the time of their lives.
“Awesome,” Higgins said of the new aquarium.
“Amazing,” Scanlon added faster than an otter could break the surface of the water.
here they were on Oct. 6, Lakewood Ranch’s Leslie Higgins and Sarasota’s Nancy Scanlon, with their bodies crunched down on the floor as they tried to get a better angle to take photos at the one of the huge fish tanks in the Mote Science Education Aquarium. The two seniors had a bit of trouble getting back up, but they didn’t care.
They weren’t alone in their jubilation. A stream of patrons gave their evaluation of the facility with oneword superlatives.
What: Mote Science Education Aquarium Where: 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Tickets: Tickets prices vary by day of week, but here are prices for Saturday, Oct. 11 — Adult (13-plus), $37; Youth 3-12, $29; 2 and younger, free (You must buy tickets online at Mote.org/Location/ Mote-Science-EducationAquarium/.) Discounts also are available for buying tickets more than 30 days in advance. ABOUT THE MOTE SCIENCE
Architect: TVS Design
Builders: Willis Smith
Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
Opened to pubic: Oct. 8, 2025
Square footage: 110,000 in the three-story facility
Gallons to fill exhibits: 1 million
Lot acreage: 12
Cost of facility: $132 million
Sarasota County’s financial commitment: $20 million
Manatee County’s financial commitment: $5 million
“It’s the dynamics,” Scanlon said. “The design. The colors.”
“I appreciate the education,” Higgins said. “I can’t wait to bring my grandchildren.”
Those who were visiting Oct. 6-7 were being treated to a Mote members’ sneak preview. The aquarium opened to the general public Oct. 8.
That ended a process since November 2020 in which architect TVS Design and builders Willis Smith Construction and WhitingTurner pieced together the dream of CEO and President Michael Crosby and his Mote Marine family. Crosby called it a long Mote SEA voyage.
The $132 million aquarium can now begin to host the projected 700,000 visitors annually along with more than 70,000 students a year from the region.
“When we started, even the land didn’t exist,” said Kevin Cooper, Mote’s vice president for communications and strategic initiatives.
“It was a lake (at Nathan Benderson Park), so we had to build the ground upon which the facility was built. It took us a couple of years just to do site preparation.”
Although Cooper said a few animals are still waiting to be added because of a challenging permitting process, the scheduled lineup of attractions is pretty much complete. He said over time, Mote will continue to add other species as warranted.
Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn was among the dignitaries who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 3.
“It’s a top-notch marine research facility,” Rahn said. “As far as tourism, it’s going to take the region to another level. You are going to have
Willis Smith President and CEO John LaCivita took a photo with his team at the entrance to the aquarium after the ribbon cutting.
“We couldn’t be more proud,” LaCivita said. “It’s a landmark, and Willis Smith is known for landmarks.”
Willis Smith Vice President Dave Otterness added, “We’ve never done a project like this, but we helped to bring the Gulf of Mexico out to Lakewood Ranch and UTC.”
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan said it took Crosby to steer the ship to the finish.
“You can have someone who has a vision, but can he execute?” Buchanan said. “(Michael Crosby) is an incredible salesman. This was a combination of everyone working together.”
State College of Florida President Tommy Gregory said the educational component will be a game-changer, not only for grade school students, but for college students as well, and even his faculty members.
“We are going to be looking into partnerships with our faculty and Mote,” he said. “It will provide a great hands-on experience.”
Florida Rep. James Buchanan called it a “great day for STEM, for my kids, and for future generations. Kids will be inspired to be our next scientists.”
FUN FACTS
12million Gallons of water drained to empty the lake to put in the pad for the aquarium
140,000
7,000
380
80
27,900
22,200
How about some peanut butter with that jellyfish?
Photos by Jay Heater
Bradenton’s Jennifer Shaw gets a close-up of a manatee.
Lakewood Ranch’s Julia Bakker and her 3-year-old daughter, Aubrey, were able to crawl into a window that put them in the middle of the penguin habitat.
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 25, 2025 | 6PM
St. Martha Catholic School
Cocktail Reception | Open Bar | Gourmet Cuisine Silent and Live Auctions | Chance Drawings | Live Entertainment and More! Don’t forget to visit our Bubbles and Bourbon Bar!
For questions call Kristyn Lubrano at 941-953-4181 or email at klubrano@stmarthaschool.net. Presenting Sponsor
TICKETS AVAILABLE! CALL 941-953-4181 TO INQUIRE.
$40M private aviation facility opening at SRQ this fall
sentative tells the Business Observer.
Anew $40 million private aviation facility is opening at SarasotaBradenton International Airport this fall. Sheltair Sarasota will be centered around a 10,705-squarefoot terminal with an airside canopy entrance when it opens Nov. 1.
Planes the facility can accommodate range from light jets to largecabin aircraft. The terminal will offer private lounge spaces, conference rooms, crew rest areas, waiting rooms and customer service representatives, according to a statement.
“Sheltair Sarasota is designed to feel like more than an FBO — it’s a home away from home,” Sheltair President Lisa Holland says in the statement.
Two commercial storage hangars are also on-site and available for lease. One has 29,655 square feet of aircraft storage and 5,940 square feet of office space. The other hangar is 16,875 square feet with 3,465 square feet of office space, according to the statement.
Future expansion at Sheltair Sarasota will include more large hangars and a 60,000-square-foot maintenance facility. A time frame for those additions has not been set, a repre-
Located on the northern quad of SRQ at 814 Clyde Jones Road, Sheltair will be the third fixed-based operator — which is a company given permission to provide services for aircraft, passengers and crew — on the airport’s campus. Dolphin Aviation and Atlantic Aviation are the others, located on the western and eastern quads of the property, respectively.
When Sheltair broke ground in April 2024, SRQ officials said the airport’s rapid growth and the demand for aircraft storage drove the need for an additional private aviation complex and service provider.
Colorado-based Tectonic Management Group handled architectural services for the project, while Johnson-Laux Construction of Winter Garden oversaw construction. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Sheltair has more than 500 employees. SRQ will mark its 19th FBO and its 15th in Florida. In the region, it also has locations at Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Out of state, there are Sheltair facilities in Colorado, Georgia and Texas. In total, the company manages 4.6 million square feet of aviation-related properties.
ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER
Courtesy image
Sheltair SRQ centers around a terminal with canopy entrance for arriving aircraft.
City sets goal for slower pace on area roads
Traffic
most streets to 20 mph.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Armed with City Commission approval to develop a citywide traffic calming plan as part of Sarasota’s fiscal year 2025 adopted budget, the city’s transportation planning staff has brought forth a plan to lower speed limits throughout the city.
A key component to the traffic calming plan is to set speed limits on local streets to 20 miles per hour. In some instances, that will mean raising speed limits from 15 mph to 20 to comply with Florida law, which restricts local jurisdictions from setting limits below that threshold. That needs to happen as soon as possible.
For county or state-maintained roads, staff recommends restricting speed limits to no faster than 35 mph, excluding interstate connectors and U.S. 301 between 17th Street and the northern city limit.
For all of the affected streets, the goal is to achieve a citywide speed limit with a horizon year of 2055, which met with unanimous commission approval during its Oct. 7 meeting.
But why 30 years, Vice Mayor Debbie Trice wondered aloud. If included in the traffic calming plan, Senior Transportation Planner Corinne Arriaga explained, streets that don’t experience an excess volume of speeding — according to a five-year speed study — by a volume of more than 15% can be addressed simply by
IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO BE
MADE
In addition to the work being performed for the traffic calming plan, speed limits in certain locations must be updated to comply with Florida statutes. Additional speed limit matters that will be brought to the City Commission will include:
■ Changing any speed limits from 15 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour to comply with Florida statute
■ Reducing the speed limit on Ringling Boulevard between U.S. 41 and Lime Avenue from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour due to corridor redesign
■ Reducing the speed limit on Osprey Avenue from Oak Street to Brother Geenan Way from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour due to limits not being coded in the city code of ordinances
installing new signage. The remainder will require engineering mitigation — bump-outs, traffic circles, speed tables, chicanes, rumble strips and other speed calming strategies — that must be designed, approved and funded.
Those, along with future capital improvement projects can take upward of two decades from paper to completion, conforming to the 2055 horizon year for citywide compliance.
To reach this early stage of plan development, Arriaga and Chief Transportation Planner Alvimarie
“We can implement a lot of the projects in the traffic calming plan as part of the capital improvement program.”
Chief Transportation Planner
Alvimarie Corales
Corales led a months-long public engagement effort beginning in spring 2025 with a town hall meeting and online survey. Data analysis was completed over the summer and presented to the commission on Monday.
“We have a community think tank composed of members from the (Coalition of City Neighborhoods) traffic calming group,” Arriaga said. “We also have a leadership task force composed of city leadership, our (police) chief and also our fire department, our health department, Sarasota County Area Transit and other members as well.”
According to the timeline presented by staff, this winter will bring project prioritization, neighborhood outreach, a public hearing and a draft report preparation. By spring 2026, the final report is scheduled to be presented to the commission with a
request for formal adoption.
More than 500 residents responded to the survey with more than 75% in favor of implementing traffic calming plans in their neighborhoods. Of them, 57% reported feeling unsafe, pretty unsafe or very unsafe on their streets. Only 5% reported feeling very safe.
Of perceived residential speed, the survey found speeds were:
■ Way too fast, 37%
■ Too fast, 36%
■ Just about right, 23%
■ Too slow, 2%
■ Way too slow. 2%
The survey also showed 78% of respondents support installing traffic calming measures.
The 2055 horizon year gives the city a “long-term endpoint,” Arriaga said, adding that lowering speed limits involves more than erecting new signs. Mitigating roads currently carrying a higher volume of faster speeds will require design and construction.
“We can implement a lot of the projects in the traffic calming plan as part of the capital improvement program,” Corales said. “As resurfacing happens, we can also implement a couple of these projects. We can also implement some of these as projects move along in the capital improvement program, as well.”
WHY NOT SPEED CAMERAS?
During the traffic calming plan discussion, it was asked whether speed cameras could be included as part of the effort to slow speeds. Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson said the state of Florida restricts the use of speed cameras — as the city currently employs them — to school zones.
He suggested that may be expanded over time.
“My professional opinion on this is that this was sort of a test case,” Robinson said of the school zone speed cameras, adding that if not misused by local jurisdictions, the program could possibly be extended to other areas.
“It is a force multiplier for the police department that you don’t have to staff it with people,” Robinson said of speed enforcement. Otherwise, to consistently monitor speeding live assets must be placed on site for 12 hours a day with a rotating shift, unless a call for service is made “which will pull them away from those enforcement activities,” he said.
You’re invited to celebrate the grand opening of Firethorn and The Towns at Firethorn, sponsored by GE ® Appliances! Come explore our beautifully crafted homes, connect with our sales team, and enjoy family-friendly fun, including a charming flower truck! First 50 guests to attend will receive a $10 American Honey Creamery Gift Card!* Tour our beautifully designed model homes and see why you’re going to love your new Taylor Morrison home at Firethorn or The Towns at Firethorn!
New single-family homes now selling from the high $200’s
New townhomes now selling from the mid $200’s Saturday, Oct. 11 | 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Stop by anytime!
Michael Harris
Morning commuters take Osprey Avenue in Laurel Park into downtown Sarasota.
SPD’s Troche at the forefront of high tech
Sarasota police chief touts technology and realtime information as the future of law enforcement.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Smart glasses that allow the wearer to read criminal records and translate dozens of languages in real time, first responder drones and robotic “dogs” are part of the future of law enforcement in Sarasota.
With that technology integrated into an emerging operations center that allows officers in the field and technicians on computers to collaborate to solve crimes in real time, the future is now.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche explained to members of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce how the SPD is implementing its new and still developing Real-Time Operations Center, which provides live safety and investigative support to officers in the field, and how future technology acquisitions will enhance the department’s crimefighting capabilities.
“This is the ROC,” Troche said during the Chamber’s Sept. 23 State of the Community luncheon, where he appeared alongside Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman.
While just a few months ago the Real-Time Operations Center, located in a former community room at SPD headquarters, was “MacGyvered” with computers and multiple monitors on four workstations arranged in a circle, the now mostly complete build out includes new rows of desks facing a video wall where technicians can monitor much of the city via intersection cameras, license plate readers, gunshot monitors and even private security cameras when provided permission.
The ROC currently staffs four technicians and operates five days a week. Troche wants to add personnel and increase the ROC operations to seven days a week.
“Now our Real-Time Operations Center looks like something out of NORAD,” Troche said of the contrast to its humble beginnings. “It looks like a Jason Bourne movie, and we’re only limited at this point by our imagination.”
Troche’s imagination is vivid.
He spoke of drones serving as first responders to a 911 call, able to reach anywhere in the city within three-and-a-half minutes. They can assess a situation of scene from above, locate heat signatures that could indicate a danger to officers, and actually make first contact with an offender to de-escalate a situation prior to live asset arrival.
“That way, we have more time and distance to make better decisions, and hopefully the operator can have that subject come out and we can put them in custody safely,” Troche said.
Meanwhile, back at the ROC, such a situation is monitored by technicians relaying real-time information to officers arriving at or already on the scene.
“That is a game-changer for law enforcement,” he said.
SPOT AND SPARKLES
That’s just the beginning of what Troche has planned for his law enforcement agency of the 21st century. With license plate readers already in place throughout the city, the SPD can capture the locations of offenders and other persons of interest as they enter and while inside the city’s “dome.”
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche speaks to the Chamber of Commerce.
SARASOTA POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME RATE COMPARISONS
Police Chief Rex Troche credits the
ecosystem with reductions in overall crime. Here are
from 2022 to 2024.
“We can tell if it’s a stolen vehicle, if it’s a wanted subject, if it’s somebody related to a firearm, if it’s a Silver Alert or an Amber Alert,” Troche said. “It automatically goes into the Real-Time Operations Center, and the officers in their cars get alerts immediately.”
The SPD’s network of cameras provides on-demand live feeds of gathering locations in downtown, the Sarasota County Fairgrounds, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and more.
Coming perhaps as early as next fiscal year is a robot dog named
Spot, built by Boston Dynamics. It is equipped with 16 cameras and the ability to detect the presence of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials. It can walk up stairs, open doors and, in potentially dangerous situations, allow officers to communicate directly with subjects. All of its activity can be fed live into the ROC and communicated to officers on the ground or en route. A colorful, friendly outfit can be cloaked over the mechanical mutt to more resemble a friendly pooch for use in community outreach
activities.
“I’m all about squeezing the sponge,” Troche said of the diverse uses.
With a base price of $248,000, Troche said SPD is “close to getting one.”
What he already has, and was wearing at the luncheon, is a pair of smart glasses — a heads-up display that allows him to read emails, text messages, answer phone calls and instantly translate 45 languages. The wearer can ask a question aloud and the device will conduct a Google search displayed in one lens.
It can even load up a speech and scroll as Troche talks.
“I’m testing these because eventually I want to be able to have officers get an ID at a traffic stop, scan it on their body-worn camera and they get all the information in real time,” Troche said. “We know that when officers go back to the car, that’s when things get silly. Bad guys start thinking of ways to get out of there.”
All of this technology will eventually be coordinated through a builtout ROC.
“What’s the future bringing us?” Troche concluded. “I hope that you’re excited about it because what it’s bringing us is a safer community to live in, a smarter community to live in.”
Andrew Warfield
Housing crisis can be avoided
Despite the obstacles a potential homeowner faces, there are solutions.
Anew data website from the Reason Foundation, Florida Policy Project, and the DeVoe Moore Center and Florida State University shows the details of Sarasota County’s housing crisis, and that of every county in Florida and statewide.
The Florida Housing Data Project tracks housing vacancy and occupancy trends, offering a granular view of surpluses and shortages, and examines workable solutions for each county.
Sarasota County faces a mounting housing crisis. With a population swelling to nearly 470,000 by 2023 — a 100,000-person leap since 2001 — the county grapples with a persistent housing shortage, estimated at 2,603 units. Soaring median listing prices, hovering around $500,000, far outstrip the affordability threshold for medianincome households, worsening inequities. The county very much needs targeted policies to boost both rental and owner-occupied housing supply to restore market balance.
Countywide, we are short at least 1,911 owner-occupied units and 692 rental units. As recently as 2010, the county had a 2,229-unit surplus of housing. But as Figure 5 shows, for the last decade, the county has run a consistent housing deficit.
Population growth underpins this strain. From 333,707 people in 2001 to 469,013 in 2023, Sarasota County’s steady 40% rise is fueling housing demand. Permitting of new housing, on the other hand, has been inconsistent and lagged, as Figure 3 shows. The number of new units permitted has simply not been enough to keep up as demand outpaces construction.
Affordability is Sarasota’s Achilles’ heel. In our county, you must make twice the median income to afford a median-priced home.
The 2023 median household income countywide is $80,633, yielding an “affordable” home price of $294,462 under the 30% income rule for a 7%, 30-year mortgage. Yet, the median listing price was $541,706 in 2023, a $247,243 gap for median earners. Even people making 150% of the area median income ($120,950), are looking at average home prices $82,616 more than they can afford.
This gap between incomes and housing prices is locking out lowand moderate-income residents, reserving homeownership for the wealthy, sidelining teachers, nurses, and service workers critical to Sarasota’s tourism-driven economy.
It’s worth noting this is not just a Sarasota County problem. Statewide, we are short more than 120,000 housing units, and many counties have failed to allow housing supply to keep up with demand. And thus, in many counties, household income must be twice the median to be able to afford a home.
There are fixes for these problems. No single policy can erase a 2,603-unit deficit overnight. But the most important thing is for county officials to stop listening to NIMBYs, who oppose all new housing, and allow the supply of housing to keep up with demand. For example, issue more permits.
Florida’s Live Local Act changed state law to make this easier. It allows multifamily housing on commercial and industrial land with affordability mandates. It also has tax exemptions for “missing middle” housing. The county’s recent multifamily permit spike aligns with this, but sustained efforts are necessary to reverse the
HOUSING DATA
You can view housing data graphs and tables for the state of Florida and each county in the state at the Florida Housing Data Project at Reason.org.
692-unit rental deficit. Financial incentives, like impact fee waivers for affordable projects, also show promise. As of March 2023, Sarasota exempts multifamily units at 60% AMI or below from park and library fees and waives mobility fees for affordable developments, slashing developer costs. These should persist, but they are nibbles at the problem compared to issuing more permits.
Likewise, Sarasota’s approval of “surplus lots” for affordable housing and its 2019 Accessory Dwelling Unit policy — allowing units up to 750 square feet in select districts without density limits — are steps
forward. Reforming ADU restrictions further could unlock smallscale supply, ideal for retirees or young professionals.
It would also complement another much-needed change, which is to allow smaller lot sizes, which could allow some new development to be denser than we usually see here.
By leaning into Live Local, expanding incentives, and most importantly, easing land-use rules, Sarasota can chip away at its $247,243 affordability gap. For a county where median prices nearly double affordable thresholds, action is urgent to ensure housing for all, not just the affluent.
President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com
Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@YourObserver.com
Sports Reporter / Jack Nelson, JNelson@ YourObserver.com
Staff Writers / Ian Swaby, ISwaby@ YourObserver.com; Andrew Warfield, AWarfield@YourObserver.com
Digital News Analytics and Marketing Strategist / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com
Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com
Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana
Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com
Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com
Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com
Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com
Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon @YourObserver.com
Adrian Moore is Vice President at Reason Foundation and lives in Sarasota.
ADRIAN MOORE
Matt Walsh will return in October.
File photo Residences like Lofts on Lemon in Sarasota can fall under Florida’s Live Local Act, which is designed to incentivize affordable housing.
Courtesy images
The graph shows Sarasota County’s housing surplus vs. shortage trends.
Single-family vs. multifamily residential permits.
South Sarasota greenway extension ditched for now
The Sarasota City Commission unanimously agrees to reallocate $1 million funding for design to help potentially fund Legacy Trail or Circus Trail extension projects, or both.
Whether an extension of the School Avenue Greenway should move on to the design and engineering phase became a discussion among the Sarasota City Commission on how to better spend the more than $1 million earmarked for the project. At its Sept. 2 meeting, Chief Transportation Planner Alvimarie Corales and Senior Transportation Planner Corinne Arriaga presented the proposal to the commission, which continued the hearing to a future date. That’s because commissioners moved to hear more about other projects eligible for the earmarked multimodal transportation impact fee funds in light of robust neighborhood opposition to the Greenway. That resistance came primarily from residents of the adjacent
Arlington Park neighborhood and those who live along the proposed 0.44-mile greenway path between Webber and Datura streets, running parallel along U.S. 41 on the southern end of the city. The latter were concerned the project would increase flooding potential in an area that proved prone to high water during the 2024 hurricane season.
“Nothing has changed in the past month,” said Arlington Park resident Rob Grant. “Residents living near the project largely don’t want this in their backyards for multiple reasons. Please move on from this proposed extension and put the funds to use on a project that is communityfocused and currently supported by residents.”
Arlington Park Neighborhood Association President Flo Entler told commissioners that portion of the citywide multiuse recreational trail isn’t fully funded for construction and the funds would be better spent elsewhere, “Such as Circus Trail that would connect the legacy trail to Bobby Jones (Golf Club and Nature Park). That’s connectivity and will be used by the entire community.”
The multimodal transportation impact fees may be used for transportation infrastructure that creates new capacity for walking, biking, driving or riding transit, Corales told commissioners, meaning the new capacity funds may be spent on most phases of the city’s transportation network.
They cannot be used for the Bay Runner trolley, operations or maintenance of existing infrastructure or facilities.
Connecting gaps in sidewalks, which are numerous throughout the city, is a permitted use. Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch motioned that the School Avenue Greenway’s million dollars be redirected to fill some of those gaps in the Newtown
community, her move dying for lack of a second.
LEGACY, CIRCUS, OR BOTH
Instead, the conversation turned toward helping fund extensions of the Circus Trail and the Legacy Trail. Already partially in place, the Circus Trail is proposed to extend from its current terminus at Circus Boulevard into Bobby Jones Golf Club and Nature Park, continuing into Sarasota County’s redeveloping 17th Street Regional Park.
Legacy Trail, meanwhile currently ends at Fruitville Road near East Avenue in downtown, and studies continue on an eventual extension to University Parkway near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
A better use of the School Avenue Greenway MMTIF funding, commissioners unanimously agreed, is to direct it into a general “bucket,” from which it could be applied to other
projects closer to actualization.
After all, they were told, any construction of the School Avenue Greenway extension could be as long as a decade away.
“All we were looking at is, is it feasible? Is it cost feasible? Can it even be built? And the answer is, yes, it can,” Arriaga said. “So now we would go into the next phases to determine how is it going to be built, what materials are going to be used, what considerations do we need to include.”
If reallocated, the money could help support a feasibility study to identify the ideal route for the Legacy Trail extension. Circus Trail is closer to reality, Corales told commissioners, which is estimated to cost between $3.5 million to $5 million. Funding is already earmarked by the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, however, “There’s still that gap to be filled in
order to get the project through construction,” Corales said. According to the MPO, $550,000 has been committed to the design phase plus $3.25 million for construction. Short of a final cost, that “gap” has yet to be identified. Either way, the City Commission would possess the latitude to divide the now-formerly earmarked School Avenue Extension funds between the Legacy and Circus trails, dedicate them all to one or the other, or to another qualifying project. Funding pulled from the School Avenue Greenway extension, though, doesn’t mean it will never happen. Just not anytime soon. “I don’t think we should kill this connector,” Mayor Liz Alpert said, “because it is one of the key connections for that piece of the trail.”
Andrew Warfield
Sarasota Senior Planner Alvimarie
Corales (left) and Corinne Arriaga talk School Avenue Greenway Extension with the Sarasota City Commission.
A man riding his bicycle on the Legacy Trail.
More condos coming to Rosemary District
Seven-story, 24-unit residence building proposed.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
With an address of 650 Central Avenue, Tampa and Sarasota-based Halflants + Pichette is proposing to redevelop the eastern end of the block into a seven-story, 24-unit residential building in the Rosemary District.
Currently dubbed 7th & Central Condominiums, plans are to construct the building at the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Cohen Way, mostly above a current stormwater retention area, and replace a residential building on Cohen Way with a public park. The L-shaped project made its second appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Oct. 1.
The commercial building fronting Central Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets will remain. The project area covers 1.12 acres zoned Downtown Edge.
The surface parking will be internal to the site, which serves both the existing residential and the businesses of the 650 Central Ave. building, will remain. All parking for the redevelopment will be located internal to the new building beneath townhomes, which will include green yards. The townhomes will be topped by condominiums.
No attainable units are proposed and vehicle access to the site will remain off Seventh Street.
Requested for the project is an administrative variance to allow trash carts to be lined up and collected along Seventh Street.
Code requires solid waste from residential developments of eight or more dwellings be placed on the
premises or in an abutting alley.
To that end, Halflants + Pichette has provided to the city a statement of unnecessary hardship based on conditions of the property in that there is no alley and space limitations will not accommodate the turning radius for refuse collection vehicles. The statement further reads denial of the variance would “severely limit the functional use of our property, forcing substantial reduction of parking and green area, which are central to our design.
The DRC required a third submittal of the project to address remaining comments.
City to begin water meter replacement program
The Sarasota City Commission approved a nearly $4 million contract to replace some 16,000 water meters with remote-read technology.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
As part of its consent agenda, the Sarasota Commission on Oct. 6 authorized the Utilities Department to execute a purchase order to National Metering Services Inc. for the water meter replacement project in the amount of $3.87 million.
The city of Sarasota owns and operates nearly 16,000 residential and commercial meters for potable water, essential to providing services to all customers. The city has initiated a multiphase project to replace all residential and commercial meters over the next 24 months. The new meters allow it to be read remotely once the Advanced Metering Infrastructure network infrastructure is installed.
Since 1998, National Metering Services has installed more than 1 million meters and reading systems in Florida.
It was recently awarded an agreement with the city of Zephyrhills to install meters, valves, hydrants and a variety of other utility-related services.
Rather than a standard bidding process, the contract is based on the purchase order between the company and the city of Zephyrhills, which interim City Manager Dave Bullock told commissioners is common practice providing the “specifications line up.”
This purchase order will cover the installation services for the new AMI-ready meter boxes, water service line identification with GPS/ GIS location, surface restoration and
testing of the removed meters.
Timing of the project will overlap with existing meter reading cycles to achieve minimal disruption of current billing. In the interim, the new meters may be read using the existing drive-by methodology until the AMI network is activated.
In other business, via consent agenda approval, the City Commission also:
■ Authorized the mayor and city auditor and clerk to executive an agreement between the city and The Color Nine Group for federal lobbying services in the amount of $54,000 per year for three years, a total of $162,000. The contract includes two optional one-year renewal terms.
■ Authorized the mayor and city auditor and clerk to execute the first amendment to the agreement between the city and Passport Labs Inc. for consolidated parking enforcement and management solutions. A 2024 agreement with the vendor did not provide for photo enforcement of the city’s gateless garage system. The amendment will provide a total of 14 cameras inside all three city-owned garages at a first-year cost of $133,095, which includes cameras, hardware, installation, monitoring fees and warranties. The annual cost in subsequent years will be $53,900, which includes monthly fees and extended warranty on equipment.
A rendering of 7th & Central Condominiums fronting Seventh Street at the corner of Cohen Way.
Images courtesy of Halflants + Pichette
The proposed 7th & Central Condominiums is planned to be built above this stormwater retention area. The multifamily building to the rear will be demolished as part of the project.
$15,950,000
Voluntary meeting requested for Adagio
Prior to the Adagio residential towers project’s third appearance before the city’s Development Review Committee on Oct. 1, project consultant Joel Freedman received a formal request for the developer to hold a voluntary community meeting.
The project isn’t required to hold such a meeting under city code, but the request is made in writing by Downtown Sarasota Condo Association President David Lough.
Local governments have no approval authority over Live Local Act projects providing it is built in any area zoned for commercial, industrial or mixed use and providing at least 40% of the residential units are held as attainable for a period of at least 30 years, providing it meets local code requirements and requires no adjustments.
Attainable under Live Local is defined as 120% or less area median income.
Condo Association president asks to meet with developer of the Live Local project.
able,” Lough wrote.
Lough cited that Adagio takes the city “into new territory” as it is the first major local development under the Live Local Act and that it blends that new legislative framework with existing city zoning requirements.
“That, along with site-specific considerations like grand trees and other planning factors, raises important questions best addressed through open dialogue,” he wrote.
The project will require a fourth submittal to the DRC, which came as a surprise to Freedman and representatives of developer The Lutgert Cos. of Naples, as staff felt the lingering traffic study issues could have a domino effect on other project details.
In his letter to Freedman, Lough wrote he hoped the developer would consider hosting a community workshop as part of the development review process.
“While not required, these sessions have often proven productive and, in many cases, helped move projects forward rather than slow them down,” Lough wrote, citing as examples plans for the Zenith building, the preservation of the Mira Mar building combined of the nonhistoric portion of the site, the Saravela residential project and the Hyatt redevelopment as examples.
“We believe a similar approach with Adagio could be equally valu-
Freedman had not responded to the Observer as of Friday whether Lutgert Cos. will consider a voluntary community meeting. At the end of its third DRC hearing, City Planner Tom Sacharski chimed in on the community meeting suggestion.
ABOUT ADAGIO
Adagio is a Florida Live Local Act project, meaning it is a campaign designed to incentivize affordable housing by usurping local government approval authority and provide incentives, tax exemptions, and streamlined approval processes.
Where: Southeast corner of Ringling Boulevard and Palm Avenue
Towers: One 18-Story and one 10-story Number of market-rate units: 103 Number of attainable units: 69
Total space: 31,933 square feet
A rendering of Adagio as viewed from the northeast.
Image courtesy of Kobi Karp Architecture
Vibrant Senior Living Coming Soon to Lakewood Ranch!
Emerson Lakes Is Now Accepting Reservations.
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Everyday Resort Living
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TUESDAY, SEPT. 14 LIMITED VOCABULARY
9:12
p.m., 1200 block of North Riverside Drive Criminal mischief: In a dispute over $30, and perhaps deeper nonspecified issues, a man told an officer, allegedly, his girlfriend shattered the rear window of his car, with whom he said there had been ongoing relationship issues.
The victim stated that at approximately 8:45 p.m. he walked past his vehicle and noticed the rear window had been smashed. Shortly after, he said he received a text message stating, “breaking your whole (euphemism for reproductive activity) car (euphemism for a female dog), and all you had to do was send me my money.”
The victim stated the subject had recently been asking him for $30, which he refused to provide, and she had been upset since.
A witness stated he had seen a “heavyset” woman park near the victim’s vehicle and, while wearing a multicolor dress, throw an object at the victim’s car while yelling “You (euphemism for reproductive activity and euphemism for a female dog)!” The victim said the woman got back in her SUV where she remained for a brief time, then exited again with another object, which she also hurled at the victim’s car.
The subject vehicle’s license plate was captured by nearby license plate reader cameras and the woman was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Due to the witness not being able to positively identify the subject, the case was forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for review.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 16
TAB SKIPPERS LEAVE A TIP
10:56 p.m., 2000 block of Siesta Drive
Larceny: Having had a lengthy dining experience at a high-end restaurant, a group of three individuals skipped out on their $204 tab. An officer met with the manager, who said the three arrived without a reservation. Two men split a $150 steak dinner, and a woman dined on a chicken dish, which had been removed from the bill because of an alleged delay being served. Two of them washed it all down with three
SATURDAY, SEPT. 11
INCENSED REPEAT
OFFENDER
9:41 p.m., 1900 block of Main Street
Disturbance: A man entered a store and, for reasons not explained in the incident report, broke several incense sticks and engaged in a verbal altercation with an employee.
The complainant wished to have the subject, who was identified, trespassed from the store.
Officers made contact with the subject nearby and, although initially advised of the trespassing warning, he was arrested on charges not related to the incident including burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, property damage and DUI, according to Sarasota County Jail records.
drinks at a cost of $36.
The manager reported the group behaved rudely and in an entitled manner, also becoming angry with staff when informed them they would not be served additional adult beverages. They eventually ordered several desserts, but became angry with the perceived delay in being served. As the manager returned from the kitchen after retrieving the desserts, she said they got up to leave without paying the tab.
One man told her, “We aren’t paying, but I left you a tip so be happy with that.” At that, he threw $40 at a server, and the three walked out.
Several staff members followed them as one employee approached them about paying the bill, to which the female responded they did pay it before speeding off. The license plate of their vehicle was captured, but attempts to call numbers associated were not answered. As the address associated with the vehicle is outside of SPD’s jurisdiction, a Sarasota County deputy responded but was unable to make contact. The manager said she did not wish to press charges, but did request the three be trespassed from the property.
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SPORTS
FAST BREAK
Booker football (6-1), the top-ranked team in Sarasota at No. 13 statewide, backed up the acclaim with a dramatic 27-20 defeat of Sebring on the road last Friday. Senior quarterback Joel Morris connected with senior wide receiver/safety Tyren Wortham for a 30-yard, game-winning touchdown with just 6.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Also No. 2 in Class 3A, per the Sept. 30 FHSAA rankings, Booker has Gibbs on tap for 7 p.m. Friday. Through Week 6 this campaign, Morris has 1,406 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air. Also, senior safety and threestar recruit Karaijus Hayes decommitted from Vanderbilt last Wednesday.
... Riverview football (6-0-1) successfully defended John Sprague Field for the final time this regular season, thrashing IMG Academy Junior National 54-14 to complete a perfect five-week home stretch. The Rams’ offense was borderline unstoppable — responsible for 50-plus points for the thirdstraight week. Their 299 total points through Week 7 amount to a plus-189 point differential. Despite ranking No. 17 in the state, Riverview is fifth in a loaded Class 7A, which also features No. 2 Vero Beach (60), No. 5 Spruce Creek (5-0), No. 6 DeLand (6-0) and No. 9 Boone (6-0). The team hits the road for the first time since Aug. 29 to face Venice at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
... Cardinal Mooney (5-1) has found 49 to be a magic number. Last Friday’s triumph over Clearwater Central Catholic — by a 49-28 score — marked the team’s third consecutive outing with as many points scored. The Cougars caught fire in the opening quarter, jumping out to a 28-7 lead against the previously undefeated Marauders. Junior running back Connail Jackson accumulated 121 yards on 18 carries en route to a pair of scores. Senior wide receivers Kymistrii Young and Laron Foye, meanwhile, combined for 156 yards on five catches. Cardinal Mooney is No. 2 in Class 2A and No. 18 overall in the FHSAA, as of Sept. 30, and next hosts Lakewood at 7 p.m. Friday.
... The 50th annual Sarasota City Championships were held at Bobby Jones Golf Club on Sept. 27-28, with champions crowned in four divisions. Shankar Natarajan won the men’s regular title by shooting 64 on round one and 66 on round two to finish at 12-under par, overcoming Todd Elliott (-9) and Charles Campbell/ Bryce Ballard (-8). Sokhary Parvese topped the ladies’ field with an 8-under par — firing a first-round 68 and secondround 66 — to beat out Priya Natarajan (E). George Blackshaw’s two under par and Jeff Stark’s two under par won the men’s senior and super-senior titles, respectively.
A SMASHING STAR
The Sarasota native and Cardinal Mooney graduate has become the go-to outside hitter for the Gators.
JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER
Competitor turned spectator. That was the fate forced upon Jordyn Byrd, not just for one season, but for the entirety of two.
Accustomed to starring on the court, she wasn’t even a minor contributor at the collegiate level. She just sat on the sidelines as weeks of waiting turned into years of yearning.
The Sarasota native had been thoroughly humbled by the end of her redshirt freshman campaign with Texas women’s volleyball. When she sought a change of scenery, her wishlist was short.
“All I wanted was just an opportunity to showcase myself,” Byrd said. “I had been working hard for two years, and I just wanted to be able to show people what I have.”
Indeed, she got that long-desired chance to shine, and with it, has shown why there was once a time she never had to ask.
Byrd, an outside hitter for Florida women’s volleyball, has stormed onto the scene since making her collegiate debut less than two months ago. The redshirt sophomore, as of Oct. 7, leads the Gators with 198 kills and ranks 10th in the SEC with 3.88 kills per set.
She’s racked up 15-plus kills in seven of 13 matches played during that span. That includes 23 in an upset of then-No. 3 Pittsburgh on Aug. 24 — just her second NCAA match — as well as a career-high 24 against Alabama on Sept. 28.
Team-topping efforts even earned her selection to the 2025 National Player of the Year Award Watch List, given by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
It’s been the sort of season recruiters foresaw when Byrd graduated from Cardinal Mooney ranked No. 22 in the Class of 2023 by Prep Dig. Her arrival was delayed, but now, figures across college volleyball know the name.
“She just physically can do things that most can’t,” said Florida coach Ryan Theis to ESPN earlier this season. “It’s a load to stop, and when she is feeling it, anything you throw up there, she’s going to have a shot to kill.”
Volleyball has been in her blood since birth. She wasn’t so quick to embrace the sport, though. For much of her childhood, she actively avoided it.
FLORIDA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
n Oct. 10 vs. No. 25 Missouri, 7 p.m. at Exactech Arena (SEC Network)
n Oct. 12 vs. Vanderbilt, 1 p.m. at Exactech Arena (SEC Network)
n Oct. 15 at No. 17 Tennessee, 7 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena (SEC Network)
n Oct. 19 at No. 3 Kentucky, 3 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum (ESPN)
n Oct. 22 vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m. at Exactech Arena (SEC Network)
Angie Byrd — her mother — played at North Alabama and Seward County Community College in 2000-02 and 1998-99, respectively. She’s currently in her first year as the Booker girls’ volleyball coach and has coached the sport in various capacities for more than 20 years.
Whenever she wanted, Byrd could have chosen to follow those footsteps. But she remained resolute in stopping her mother from forcing her into the sport, not wanting to feel the expectations that can come with a parent-coach. She finally came around in seventh grade. And when early struggles mounted, she pointed the finger at her mother.
“I tried it out, and I was absolutely horrible. I was very bad,” Byrd said. “I was telling my Mom, ‘This is exactly why I said don’t force me to play, because I’m actually so bad.’”
Her rapidly developing body was at the root of on-court troubles. Much like other young volleyball talents, she had longer limbs than most and needed time to learn how to control them.
Ushered forth by her parents’ “no quitter” policy, she committed
to improve, and eventually became the singular freshman on the 2019 varsity roster for Cardinal Mooney girls’ volleyball. That squad won the FHSAA Class 3A state championship — a first for the program.
Fast-forward three years. By the time she graduated, Byrd was a twotime Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the Year in 2021-22 and 2022-23, as well as only the second Floridian to win the award in backto-back seasons.
She had become a bona fide program legend. Still, that meant little when she committed to the Longhorns, the then-reigning NCAA champions.
“Coming from high school to college is a really, really big jump in pace, talent, speed and all that type of stuff,” said Byrd. “I was named one of the best in my area, but in my head, I’m like, ‘I may be one of the best in high school, but I don’t know what that means for me in college.’”
Joining the Longhorns early in spring 2023, she was eager to get a head start, but all her progress promptly went by the wayside. She suffered a foot injury before ever seeing the court and wound up sidelined with a medical redshirt for all of her freshman year.
And it was from the sidelines where she sat and watched as Texas won its second-straight national championship — in Tampa’s then Amalie Arena, of all places.
“Right before I got hurt, I was just getting better every single day. My coaches were telling me that I was getting better,” Byrd said. “So once I got put in the boot and I got hurt, it was crushing.”
By the time she had fully recovered and was ready to go in year two, she had fallen out of favor with Texas brass. She didn’t play even one minute in 2024 under coach Jerritt Elliott’s watch.
That pushed her into the transfer portal, where the Gators came calling. They weren’t the only team to show interest, but they were the right team.
This is home.
She’s now a two-plus hour drive from Sarasota rather than a two-plus hour flight. In Gainesville, she’s not just another contributor — she’s the go-to pin hitter.
“I definitely shocked myself. Definitely didn’t think that this is how this was going to go,” Byrd said. “I didn’t think it was going to be bad, by any means, but I also didn’t think that I was going to become this player that I am today.”
She’s valued now for the player she’s always known herself to be. Texas failed to see it, but Florida isn’t making that mistake.
Jordyn Byrd is a competitor reborn.
Booth, Sarasota boys’
Jack Nelson Isaiah Belt (5) celebrates with senior wide receiver Noah Chieffo after scoring a touchdown against Sarasota.
Photos courtesy Maddie Washburn/Florida Athletics
Jordyn Byrd goes up for a spike during an Aug. 24 match versus Pittsburgh at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Volleyball heads into postseason
For the first time in the 2025-26 academic year, playoffs have arrived. The FHSAA girls’ volleyball postseason begins with districts Oct. 13-17 and ends with states Nov. 3-8. It’s been an up-and-down season for the five Sarasota-area teams, which, as of Oct. 6, are a combined 42-55. Four of them sit below .500 and only one ranks in the top 10 for their respective class.
Here’s how all five squads shape up during this final week of the regular season:
CARDINAL MOONEY
(12-9, NO. 10 IN 3A)
Times have been tumultuous for the Cougars. Former coach Allan Knight resigned in mid-September after just one year and two months on the job.
Now under assistant-turnedinterim coach Leah Mihm, the group’s 12 wins entering Oct. 7 currently qualify as its fewest in a season since 2015. Aside from six wins in seven matches played from Sept. 4-23, they’ve struggled to string together victories.
A largely young team is a big reason. Cardinal Mooney features three seniors on its 15-deep roster, and only one of them — then-junior setter Layla Larrick — was a regular starter in 2024.
Junior outside hitter Charlee Hermann has been a guiding force this season with a team-high 169 kills and 30 aces.
“Charlee’s really coachable. She’s open to instruction and positive affirmations,” Mihm said. “She’s really stepped up into a little bit of a leadership role, as well. The girls rely on her, and she’s just always there for the team.”
Also offering a bright spot in an
off year for the program has been Brooke Gruhl. The sophomore setter has dictated passing with 394 assists, while no other Cougar has 100.
Cardinal Mooney — the 2019 FHSAA Class 3A state champion — will return to the postseason, thanks to its strength of schedule.
RIVERVIEW (10-11, NO. 21 IN 7A)
There have been moments of promise for the Rams, but inconsistency has haunted them.
The team started strong with a defeat of Palm Harbor University (No. 12 in 7A) back on Aug. 19.
Against Clearwater Central Catholic (No. 18 in 2A), it had game points in each of the two sets, but came up empty on both.
Coach Jason Mocherman was all in on devising a tough schedule to prepare his players for this time of year. Steady, positive results simply haven’t come.
“Consistency has just kind of been the mantra for the last couple of weeks. I keep really pushing the girls that I don’t need them to perform at 110% all the time,”
Mocherman said. “If we perform at 90%, we’re successful against the majority of teams we’ve played this season.”
Junior outside hitter/defensive setter Lyla Bailey continues to be a spark in both phases of the game.
As of Sept. 29, she tops Riverview in digs (186), receptions (303) and kills (169).
Establishing the middle as an offensive weapon has been a struggle, but junior middle blockers
Kate Grosso and Madelyn Marsters have combined for 72 blocks to lead the charge up front.
The Rams have indeed battled quality competition, and that’s all
well and good, but very soon, they’ll need to defeat stronger opponents.
SARASOTA CHRISTIAN (9-12, NO. 44 IN 1A)
Few rosters in Class 1A were as utterly depleted as the Blazers’ entering this season. They graduated nine seniors, which meant losing their top five hitters, top four servers and five of their top six passers. Former coach Josh Jordan also stepped down, compounding departures.
So when junior middle/outside hitter Ryan Donlin — one of Sarasota Christian’s few returning talents — missed the first six matches of the season with an injury, the team was stretched thin, eventually losing seven of its first nine contests.
Things seem to be trending positive at the right time of year, though. The Blazers won four of five matches between Sept. 25 and Oct. 4, only helping their postseason resume.
Finley Markley has been the bea-
con of hope under first-year coach Julio Cruz. The outside hitter/right setter/defensive setter leads the squad in kills and aces as an eighthgrader.
“Finley is a good player who’s well on her way to being a great player. She has a vision on the court that only a few players have,” Cruz said. “She takes risks, at any point in the game, without any fear.”
Cruz — a three-time state champion assistant at Venice — is all about creating a new culture based around taking risks without consequence of punishment.
SARASOTA (8-13, NO. 54 IN 7A)
Emma Thrift got a not-so-warm welcome to the head coaching ranks when the Sailors lost five matches in a row to commence her first year at the helm.
She’s likely one of the youngest sideline stewards in the state — just 23 years old — and played for Riverview on the other side of the local rivalry not so long ago.
This year has been a trying one,
no doubt, as she’s tried to kickstart the program. There have been wins, but more than a fair share of humbling losses, as well.
Sarasota has senior leadership offensively in the forms of right setter Julia Norman and outside hitter Braelynn Rebholz, who have produced 106 and 104 kills, respectively, as of Oct. 1. But there’s also talent primed to return.
Junior outside hitter Liza Collier (162 kills) has paced the offense, while junior libero Mikala Moon (197 digs) has made things happen on defense. As of Oct. 6, the Sailors are 0-3 in District 12 play.
BOOKER (3-10, NO. 72 IN 4A)
It was a true coaching carousel last offseason. Four of the five volleyball teams brought in new faces to lead their respective programs. The Tornadoes may very well have gotten the best of the lot.
Booker welcomed Angie Byrd, whose coaching resume spans more than 20 years and includes experiences at the high school, club, NJCAA and NCAA levels. Her highest position was head coach of Division II UNC Pembroke women’s volleyball for three years.
Her newest role, though, has proved to be a much different challenge as she’s tried to resurrect a program that went 2-10 last season.
Booker has victories over Imagine School, Bayshore and Sarasota Military Academy. Losses though, have been plentiful, and eight of the 10 were sweeps. This decade, the program has as many as nine wins in a single season — both in 2023 and 2021 — but 2025 won’t be an addition to that list. Instead, Byrd can get a head start on preparations for the future.
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
Photo by Jack Nelson
Riverview volleyball’s Jason Mocherman looks on during a match. The third-year coach led the program to the 2024 FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinals.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Evan Booth
There was more to celebrate for Sarasota boys’ golf at the South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship than just a secondplace team finish. Evan Booth had a career day at the TwinEagles Club in Naples, carding a 5-under par to place third individually among all golfers at the 16-team tournament. His 67 on the first day alone was the best score of anyone.
When all was said and done, the senior’s 139 total was the best finish of any Sailor. He was also one stroke better than Benjamin junior Charlie Woods, the son of golfing legend Tiger Woods. Booth is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.
When and why did you start playing golf?
I started playing competitively in seventh grade, but before that, I got into golf because of my grandma and my grandpa. I would play with them monthly. And then I just started playing more, and then I got into it and wanted to play competitively. And now, I’m getting to the point where I’m starting to win stuff.
What do you enjoy most about hitting the links on any given day?
I like to just go out there and set my own goals and try and meet those. Then, if you do that, then you can go in a tournament and then those goals will be easier to meet. Then you can start winning.
What’s one quote, if any, that you live your life by?
My grandpa used to tell me, “Hit the ball, but not too often.”
What’s been the highlight of your season so far and why was it memorable?
Last week (Sept. 26-27) was great because we had that tournament in Naples (the South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship) and I was leading after the first day, which
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.
was great. And then we had another tournament against Parrish (Community) and George Steinbrenner, and I shot 4-under par there through nine (holes), which was great as well.
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would you meet and why? It’s got to be Tiger (Woods), just to know how his mentality worked and how he won all those tournaments.
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why? I want to go to Europe. I also want to go with my grandma too, because she’s getting old. I just want to travel a lot in my young years.
If you were stuck on a desert island with only one item, what would you bring and why? It’s probably just got to be a knife.
What’s your favorite movie?
I liked “Happy Gilmore” for a while — that’s got to be it. The second one came out, and it’s good, but it’s not the same.
What’s your favorite meal? I like lobster tails. Recently, I started getting into them, and I love them.
What’s your go-to, prematch hype music?
Just motivation music. Something to get me going, get ready for the Finish this sentence. 2025 state cham-
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Still in the race
Sue McGregor says she’s never placed high in the marathons she’s been involved in. However, for much of her life, she’s been on the move, and as she prepares to turn 84 on Nov. 7, she’s still not stopping.
In the past, she participated in the World Marathon Majors when, at the time, there were five races.
Now, she’s training for the Athens Authentic Marathon, also known as the Athens Classic Marathon, the race tied to the origins of the word “marathon,” on Nov. 9.
The run begins in the town of Marathon, Greece, before heading to Athens and finishing in the place McGregor hopes she will be able to reach, the marble Panathenaic Stadium.
SLOW AND STEADY
The marathon race and course is inspired by the legend of a run from Marathon to Athens after the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.E.
Pheidippides, a messenger in Ancient Greece, allegedly ran the course to announce the Greeks’ victory over the Persians, while the event traces its origins back to the Marathon race at the 1896 Olympics.
“The five majors were my goal,” McGregor said. “I never dreamt I’d do another one again.”
McGregor first got into running nearly 30 years ago, in 1996, through the Sarge Fitness Boot Camp while living in Washington, D.C.
At the time, she was working for a meeting planning association before she started her own company, McGregor Management Inc.
Previously, she had been walking in the neighborhood and the gym, but she said walking became too slow.
“I don’t want to say it was competition; it was camaraderie, really,” she said, of what drew her to running. At the group, she was supposed to meet a friend who ultimately didn’t show.
“I said, you see these feet, they do not run,” she said. “And all it took was two weeks. They made us run, and I fell into it.” Participants were divided into
maintenance groups which she says still meet to this day, while the head of the boot camp will be running with her in Athens.
McGregor’s first race was an 8K in Kensington, Maryland, in 1998, while her first marathon was the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., and Arlington County, Virginia, in 2001.
McGregor recalls that as she crossed the start line in Virginia, she dropped something, maybe an energy gel.
“I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I’m not gonna make it,’” she said.
As other runners came toward her, she had to bend over to pick up the object.
Nonetheless, she continued to run, participating in the prestigious races now known as the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which, at the time, included five cities.
It started with New York in 2003, after she won the lottery for a spot.
“I woke up one morning, and there it was on the screen. You’ve got a number. So that began the majors,” she said.
She also ran in London in 2009, Chicago in 2006, Boston in 2010 and Berlin in 2011. After that, Tokyo was added in 2013.
She says she placed “way down” in the numbers, but she enjoyed the experiences, especially the international races.
“I love those crowds,” she said.
“It’s just so exhilarating to go to the start of one of these major races.”
McGregor attributes the longevity of her running involvement to a program called ChiRunning.
She took her first class in Wash-
and “smelled of new mown grass.”
She says the international events were especially inspiring, like Berlin, where runners finished under the Brandenburg Gate.
Local octogenarian prepares to attempt Athens marathon.
ington with its developer Danny Dreyer, before becoming certified as an instructor.
She still practices that form of running, which is based in the principles of tai chi and purported to reduce the risk of injury.
“People look at me and wonder what I’m doing, quite honestly, because of the stance that you assume to do it,” she said. “It’s one of those where you don’t put the foot out front. You don’t run off from the toe.”
When she moved to Sarasota 10 years ago, at which time she lived in The Meadows, she saw people running and walking at Nathan Benderson Park and decided to get recertified.
She arranged to hold classes at the park for people to learn the technique.
“I’ve taken 80-year-old women in classes up a hill,” she said. “They look at it and say, ‘No way, Jose.’ And then we go. They’re just amazed.”
She says one of the highlights of her running experience was in London, when for the start of the race, she was driven to a field that looked like the one at The Bay in Sarasota
“I’ve taken 80-year-old women in classes up a hill. They look at it and say, ‘No way, Jose.’ And then we go. They’re just amazed.”
Sue McGregor
“If you’re in a charity group, which I was in Boston, you’re one of the last ones,” she said. “So that adds time onto it, but doesn’t matter, eventually you get going, and it was amazing.”
However, after Tokyo was added as the sixth race, she had completed her goals.
“I said, ‘I’m not going to Tokyo in February,’” she said.
TRAINING IN SARASOTA
While training for the Boston marathon, she traveled there in the winter to run the course.
However, she says training hasn’t been any easier in Sarasota, with the heat she’s been enduring after she began in May.
After an incident during a 16-mile run, she ended up changing from a mileage-based format to a timebased one.
During her three weekly training runs, her time spans from 45 minutes to four hours, in contrast to the six or seven hours she had been running previously.
She also performs recovery runs on other days, as well.
McGregor says it’s challenging to practice the distance of a marathon in Sarasota.
Another challenge is finding sloping terrain, and the Athens course is known as one of the more difficult marathon races, with a major uphill climb.
One way she has manages is by spending time on the Ringling Causeway.
“I just go over and back, over and back, over and back. And I’ll probably do quite a bit of that from here on out,” she said. She also enjoys being involved with clubs in the community.
She recently started attending the new Run & Walk Club for All at The Bay on Saturdays, and also takes the Primetime classes held at the park on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“The people are so fantastic,” she said, stating she enjoys the camaraderie of her experiences there.
McGregor also runs with the Manasota Track Club, which she calls “so outgoing and welcoming” and a factor in her decision to move to Sarasota.
“I know I’m putting in the time, I’m putting in the effort and I’ve always felt that the training is the majority of the project, and the race itself is the icing on the cake,” she said. “I mean, you could have a bad day. You could fall at the start line. Who knows?”
With the Athens course open for eight hours, she hopes she’ll be able to make it to the finish line, but it’s not about winning.
“We’ll finish in the stadium, I hope,” she said. “I have no expectations. And if I don’t finish, I will have had the experience.”
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Sue McGregor
Courtesy image
Sue McGregor runs in Berlin in the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2011.
Diana Shaheen, chief operating officer of The Bay, poses with Sue McGregor.
Paw-inspiring prayers
St. Boniface Episcopal Church welcomed “organized chaos” of the best kind on Oct. 4 to its outdoor chapel as the Rev. Nikki Seger led its annual pet blessing service.
She greeted dogs great and small with a reading in Genesis that celebrates the creation of living creatures and “A Litany for Animals.” It’s a longstanding annual tradition that she has personally led for the past four years.
Seger said the tradition came about as a fun way of celebrating the Feast of St. Francis while recognizing the important role beloved pets play in Siesta Key homes.
Dogs weren’t the only animals in attendance, though. Alex Perez and Talia Casey brought their cat, Mister Figment Spirit Wink, for the special service.
They recently adopted him from the Humane Society of Sarasota County.
“He has an adventurous little spirit, so we thought it would be good to get him out of the house,” Casey said. “We left our senior cat at home — this is not her scene.”
Parishioners also brought pet food donations to support the humane society.
— DANA KAMPA
The Rev. Nikki Seger brought her own dog, Bishop, to St. Boniface Episcopal Church’s annual pet blessing.
Talia Casey and Alex Perez brought their cat, Mister Figment Spirit Wink, to the pet blessing at St. Boniface Episcopal Church.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Siesta Key pet owners brought dogs of many breeds to the Oct. 4 blessing for the Feast of St. Francis at St. Boniface Episcopal Church.
Violence prevention falls to all
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
One misconception surrounding domestic violence is the idea that it’s a private matter best left to be resolved by those directly involved, according to advocate Talia Casey. In reality, she said, each instance ripples out into the wider community, and only through conscientious, comprehensive support that gives power back to survivors can a community work toward a brighter future.
Casey, a victim advocate with the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, dispelled misconceptions and spoke about the center’s available services with members of the GFWC’s Woman’s Club of Sarasota to recognize the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Club members invited Casey to speak at the Fruitville Library on Sept. 30 for their Day of Service. They also presented the $1,400 that members collected, along with items to donate for survivors, including cell phones, diapers, hygiene kits and more.
Casey emphasized the importance of normalizing conversations about domestic violence.
“Domestic violence can often be overlooked or minimized because it is misunderstood,” she said. “We aim to change attitudes and beliefs to prevent this through our awareness work.”
Along with its multitude of free legal and medical support services, SPARCC also runs a shelter for survivors, giving them an immediate place to go after leaving a dangerous situation.
One other misconception Casey addressed is that leaving an abusive situation isn’t always as simple as
GET HELP
Love Is Respect is a national advocacy organization offering online quizzes to help identify unhealthy and healthy relationships. Visit Loveisrespect.org for more.
walking out the door. She said on average it takes about seven attempts to leave before it is the final time.
“There are many reasons a survivor may not leave,” she said. “A survivor may also be attempting to leave, but you just don’t see it.”
Casey said one of the most impactful ways community members can support survivors is to listen without judgment. Supporters can help loved ones find helpful resources, but she said supporters should also ensure they are empowering survivors to make their own decisions about how to move forward.
Experts identify domestic violence as a cycle of one partner exercising control, throwing equal power out of balance.
SPARCC’s services are free to anyone in need. Casey said trained advocates are there for survivors through hospital visits, custody disputes, making a plan to leave or reporting a crime to law enforcement, but only at the survivor’s request.
A final misconception Casey addressed is the belief that domestic violence could never happen in one’s own relationship. An abusive relationship doesn’t have a uniform look, and it can include everything from emotional to financial abuse, even if it never escalates to physical violence.
Whatever the circumstances, SPARCC’s trained team is poised to help.
Dana Kampa
To recognize Domestic Violence Awareness month, GFWC’s Woman’s Club of Sarasota, including members Diana Freidinger, center, and Sharlene Cox, right, presented victim advocate Talia Casey with $1,400 and donated items to support Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center’s mission.
NAMI walk at Payne Park raises $90,000
Sarasota and Manatee community members raised the money to support area’s mental health services.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Supporters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Sarasota and Manatee Counties turned out on Oct. 4 to Payne Park, helping the local organization make its fifth annual fundraising walk a success. Through the efforts of more than 450 participants, the organization raised nearly $90,000 to facilitate free mental health services.
NAMI has operated locally for more than 40 years, and as Development Director Jake Hartvigsen explained, its services help residents of all ages. Support groups extend to caregivers and family members, as well, at no charge.
“We are really working to not only break the stigma of mental illness, but also to break down those economic barriers,” he said.
NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties CEO Colleen Thayer said the event is all about connection, community and supporting one another.
“The money we raise from this is unrestricted, so we can really put it toward the area of greatest need,” she said, thanking everyone for their support this year.
She said this funding will primarily support expanded programming, even into DeSoto County.
The Demartini family, in only the week-and-a-half between hearing of the event and joining it, raised the most of any team, more than $4,000.
The 14-member team drew motivation from the memory of Jennifer Demartini, who died by suicide on May 1.
HOW TO GET HELP
Those in need of immediate help can call or text a 24/7 crisis lifeline at 988 or can visit 988Lifeline.org for more resources. NAMI also maintains a national helpline at 800-950-6264. Fore more information about the services the local arm of NAMI offers, visit NAMISarasotaManatee.org.
Her mother said navigating the past few months has been challenging for family and friends, but she hopes that by speaking more openly about mental health, they can contribute to creating a more supportive community where residents feel they can reach out for help when needed. “It makes me feel fantastic,” she said when asked about the impact her fundraising efforts will have in the community. “I’m sorry for what led to this, but if we can help other people, that’s why we’re here today.”
Dana Kampa
Mike Wagner, Andy Demartini and Gretchen Demartini walked at the fifth-annual NAMI Walks Sarasota and Manatee fundraiser on Oct. 4 at Payne Park in memory of Jennifer Demartini.
Bottoms Up!
Bazaar hosts inaugural Oktoberfest celebration.
F or the first time, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime brought some Oktoberfest-inspired fun to its venue in Sarasota, inviting community members to try out their yodeling skills, snack on giant pretzels, test their strength with a stein-holding competition and, of course, sample some German beverages central to the annual festivities.
The Fabulous Schnitzel Brothers band provided the polka music, and attendees brought the enthusiasm.
Owner Kim Livengood said she thought it would be a great event to introduce, considering the bazaar has the outdoor space for spirited events.
Chef Mitch Rosenbaum brought his talents to the outdoor venue, cooking up European favorites including schnitzel and bratwurst in his mobile kitchen, Hamlet’s Eatery.
The Munich-based festival ran from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5 and is celebrated all around the world.
Though there was some tough competition, Anthony Baffo held out the longest in the stein-holding competition this year.
Dave DeWitt, trombonist for The Fabulous Schnitzel Brothers band, entertained Oktoberfest attendees of all ages.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Kim Livengood, owner of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, introduced the venue’s first Oktoberfest celebration on Oct. 4.
Spicy dance in the park
The Bay marks three years of Sarasota community connection.
KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Over the past three years, The Bay has done more for the community than entertain residents with free live music concerts and foster healthy habits with its multitude of exercise classes.
The park has forged deeper connections in the community, as evidenced by the fact it was the only local park not to close in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, partly due to the commitment of residents to clear debris quickly from the park.
Diana Shaheen, chief operating officer at The Bay, reminisced about
in October 2022, three weeks after Hurricane Ian, we would now reach almost a million visits, is fantastic,” she said. “This has really become a beloved gathering place for everybody in the community, which is what it was designed for.”
Fringe was flying as dancers twirled their partners and practiced their footwork in a salsa class led by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Grammy-award-winner Millie Puente and her band enlivened the outdoor amphitheater with live music while attendees danced the night away.
Puente is a cousin of famous bandleader Tito Puente.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Bay opened in October 2022, and over the past three years, the park has hit some significant milestones.
■ 900,000+ visits
■ 180,000+ attendees at free events
■ 92% of those attendees rated their experience “excellent” or “very good”
■ 2,200+ “Friends of the Bay” provided support
■ 300+ volunteers gave their time
■ 150+ partners shared their talents for free
■ 60+ nonprofits helped amplify efforts
■ 20+ awards received, including People’s Choice and Industry
■ 20+ acres of green space continuously maintained
■ 210+ million gallons of polluted stormwater runoff treated at the park before going to Sarasota Bay
events here in three years, and we plan on having thousands more,” she said.
That translates to millions of connections forged and memories made, which she said goes a long way in building a more resilient community.
“It’s good for people socially and emotionally, and it gives them a sense of belonging,” she said.
Residents have plenty to look forward to enjoying this year with the plethora of programs. But there are some large updates coming soon too.
She said organizers just received approval to start Phase IIA of the park’s development plans. This phase focuses on opening up pedestrian paths near North Tamiami Trail, creating a 16-foot-wide treelined promenade.
“The objective is to connect all the cultural buildings in the area,” she said.
“We have four buildings on the national register of historic places, and the promenade connects all of them. Connectivity is one of our key principles within the park, but also across the community.”
that demonstration of camaraderie and other significant moments in the park’s development during the third anniversary celebration on Oct. 1.
“To know that when we opened
But that was only one event of the approximately 80 events planned for this month to celebrate the anniversary. The full lineup is available at TheBaySarasota.org.
Shaheen, who has been involved with the park’s programs from the
beginning, noted with excitement that The Bay has surpassed 900,000 visits and is on track to break the million-visit barrier soon.
“We’ve had more than 2,000 free
One of Shaheen’s favorite annual events is “Boo! at the Bay,” a family Halloween celebration coming up again on Oct. 18. A full list of events is available on the park’s online calendar.
“Whether it’s a bigger or smaller event, I love it all,” she said.
DANA
Photos by Dana Kampa
Instructors Juan Uribe and Miranda Vidro from Fred Astaire Dance Studios demonstrate some salsa dance moves at The Bay’s third anniversary celebration.
Diana Shaheen, chief operating officer at The Bay, shares what three years of memories has meant to her at the park’s anniversary celebration.
Olga Camacho and her dog, Macarena, join in the anniversary festivities at The Bay.
A Century Old Story
A story that began over 100 years ago and is still being written today. Once a beloved landmark, now an enduring icon reborn. Mira Mar is the future of luxury living in Sarasota, grounded in the grandeur of its past, and offering an unparalleled residential experience in the heart of downtown.
One of Sarasota’s few remaining flagships of the great Florida Land Boom of the 1920’s, it is with great pride that we restore the Mira Mar to it’s rightful place as a gleaming icon of Sarasota.
Rising elegantly above South Palm Avenue, the revived and resplendent Mira Mar presents a limited collection of 70 estate-style residences across two 18-story towers. Each home is designed to the highest standards, with sweeping views, refined interiors, and private access to best-in-class amenities.
Mira Mar is more than a residence — it’s a return to grace.
Legacy Estates tops sales at $2 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Daping and Heather Xia, of Inverness, Illinois, sold their home at 12020 Legacy Estates Blvd. to Jeffrey Hawkins and Magdalena Reyes, of Sarasota, for $2 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,639 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.38 million in 2021.
Sarasota Bay
804
at 1301 Tamiami
to O. Walter Renfftlen, of Sarasota, for $1.14 million. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,424 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2019.
BURNS REALTY CO.
Mark Karch sold the home at 525 Rawls Ave. to Donald La Vern Cordes and Karen Olga Walters, of Sarasota, for $1,035,000. Built in 1920, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,316 square feet of living area. It sold for $767,500 in 2019.
ALINARI Russell and Betsy Don, of Solon, Ohio, sold their Unit 317 condominium at 800 N. Tamiami Trail to Enid Marshall, of Sarasota, for $950,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,830 square feet of living area. It sold for $955,000 in 2022.
RIVO AT RINGLING
Peter Currin, of Sarasota, sold his Unit 1104 condominium at 1771 Ringling Blvd. to Terrance Connelly, of Buffalo, New York, for $845,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,735 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2016.
AKIN ACRES
Gavin Quertier and R. Paulo Davis Jr., of Ocala, sold their home at 2154 Bougainvillea St. to Heritage Home Investments LLC for $760,000. Built in 1952, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,395 square feet of living area. It sold for $199,900 in 2013.
1350 MAIN RESIDENTIAL
Christine Lusk sold her Unit 1002 condominium at 1350 Main St. to Jameel Audeh, of Sarasota, for $725,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,336 square feet of living area. It sold for $503,900 in 2007.
WILLOWBROOK
Robert and Joan Dickson, of Venice, sold their home at 4132 Brookpointe Court to Ronnie and Phyllis Wilson, of Concord, North Carolina, for $600,000. Built in 2001, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,268 square feet of living area. It sold for $375,000 in 2013.
SOUTH GATE
Edward and Abbey Gonzalez Kay, Sarasota, sold their home at 2426 Calamonga Lane to Christine Desiderio and Daniel Long, of Sarasota, for $575,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,611 square feet of living area. It sold for $419,000 in April.
The Bristol Co. LLC sold the home at 3011 Bougainvillea St. to M-M’s Dream Investments LLC for $560,000. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,569 square feet of living area. It sold for $390,000 in April.
ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY
April Ann Watson sold the home at 5863 Cavano Drive to Anne Middleton, trustee, of Sarasota, for $550,000. Built in 2013, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,639 square feet of living area. It sold for $725,000 in 2022.
THE UPLANDS
Carl Shaw, of Sarasota, sold the home at 436 Parkview Drive to Guadalupe Carino, of Sarasota, for $550,000. Built in 1949, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,066 square feet of living area. It sold for $210,000 in 2008.
BELLFLOWERS GARDENS
Joshua Barry Craft and Rita Lynn Craft, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4414 Alhambra Ave. to Lina Khalifa and Morad Khalifa and Hanane Honsali, of Springfield, Virginia, for $545,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,383 square feet of living area. It sold for $420,000 in 2021.
SIESTA KEY
HOUSE OF THE SUN
Igor Lomazoff and Elena Rozenblit, trustees, sold the Unit 307 condominium at 6518 Midnight Pass Road to Robert and Stacy Mitchell, of Lexington, Kentucky, for $929,500. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,215 square feet of living area. It sold for $630,000 in 2015.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
GULF AND BAY CLUB
Doug Holmstead, of Ontario, Canada, sold his Unit 710 condominium at 5780 Midnight Pass Road to Gary Gerasimowicz, of Lakewood Ranch, for $875,000. Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,361 square feet of living area. It sold for $912,500 in 2022.
See more transactions at YourObserver.com.
Other top sales by area
SARASOTA: $1.67 MILLION
Palmers
Mission Property Partners LLC sold the home at 2554 Arlington St. to Ruth Stoltzfus, of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, for $1.67 million. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,906 square feet of living area.
SIESTA KEY: $1.3 MILLION
Casarina
Kevin Weber, of Lancaster, New York, sold his Unit 602 condominium at 5880 Midnight Pass Road to Deborah Kay Flynn, of Sarasota, for $1.3 million. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,498 square feet of living area. It sold for $725,000 in 2015.
OSPREY: $1.5 MILLION
Oaks II
Joseph and Jill Anne Faccenda, trustees, of Osprey, sold the home at 462 E. Mac Ewen Drive to Michael and Jane Tellor, of Englewood, for $1.5 million. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two-anda-half baths, a pool and 2,611 square feet of living area. It sold for $530,000 in 2020.
NOKOMIS: $855,000
Mission Valley Estates Bradford and Karen Gardiner, of Springboro, Ohio, sold their home at 1830 Mission Valley Blvd. to Marilynn Petrillo, of Nokomis, for $855,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,695 square feet of living area. It sold for $665,000 in 2008.
Ian Swaby The home at 2554 Arlington St. was built in 2024 and has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,906 square feet of living area.
YOUR CALENDAR
2-3
at Selby Library, 1331
St. Free. Instructor Manching Tom will cover the basics of yoga including strength, flexibility and balance. This class, designed for all ages and abilities, is part of an eight-week series running from Sept. 5 through Oct. 24. Bring a yoga block and strap if available. Registration is required and wavers must be signed prior to class. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
FREE FAMILY CONCERT: ORCHESTRA GAMES PRESENTED BY SARASOTA ORCHESTRA
7-8 p.m. at Van Wezel, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. Free. Prepare for the Winter Olympics with the Sarasota Orchestra’s free performance of “The Orchestra Games” by Gregory Smith. Learn about the unique aspects of each instrument as performers compete in a “musical Olympics.” This event is part of The Bay’s month-long Third Anniversary Celebration. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
9-11 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. In this special version of Cinema at The Bay, the park marks the 50th anniversary of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (R). Actors from the Sarasota Players will be performing alongside the film as a “shadow cast,” and the use of park-friendly props is encouraged, with some props available on-site. This event is part of The Bay’s month-long Third Anniversary Celebration. For more information and a prop guide, visit TheBaySarasota.org.
WITCHES NIGHT OUT
6-10 p.m. at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free. Visit the historic Edson Keith Mansion at Phillippi Estate Park for a Halloweenthemed night out featuring a live DJ, a photo booth, vendors, a cash bar and tasty bites to enjoy. Dress is witch or wizard attire for a costume contest. Advance tickets only. Visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.
BEST BET SUNDAY, OCT. 12
PARK-TOBERFEST AT THE BAY
5-7 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts, Free. Celebrate Oktoberfest at The Bay. The DeLeon Family Band will perform traditional “oompah”-style music and other genres. Take part in the “Chicken Dance” tradition, a steinhoisting contest or a game of cornhole. The Nest Café will be inside serving German-inspired, locally crafted brews, as well as brats, soft pretzel sticks and beer cheese. This event is part of The Bay’s month-long Third Anniversary Celebration. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SATURDAY, OCT. 11
ENDEDANS BALLET COMPANY PRESENTS “CASA HAVANA”
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Enjoy this dramatic piece of dance theater centering on a love triangle in present-day Cuba and choreographed by Tania Vergara Perez of Endedans Contemporary Ballet. Learn dance moves from Perez and others after the performance ends. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
POETRY OPEN MIC
Noon to 1 p.m. in Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. Free ($7 optional donation ticket, with $1.34 fee and $0.58 Sales Tax). Share your original poetry work, whether as a reader or an audience member. Registration required. Visit EventBrite.com.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15
TIME SIFTERS LECTURE SERIES: THE KING STREET SHIPWRECK 5:45-7:15 p.m. Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. This lecture by the Time Sifters Archaeology Society covers the King Street Shipwreck, a 17th century shipwreck in St. Augustine. The lecture is presented by Dr. Sam Turner. Visit SCGovLibrary. LibraryMarket.com.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
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