When Grant Gregory was 15, he wanted to take music lessons but didn’t know where to start.
Following his dad’s advice, he signed up for vocals and guitar lessons in 2016 at The Music Compound, not long after it business opened.
Ten years later, he was there for the school’s milestone anniversary, held Jan. 30 at Grove.
Along the way came a job, performances and even an introduction to his now-significant other, Nicole Norwine, after she began there, too.
He says he was always drawn by the vibe put forth by Compound owner Jenny Townsend.
“I do really like that Jenny is one of the main things, and I just enjoyed playing music with everyone, and it was a fun environment to be in.”
After
The
One
Harborside, a new resort, which it is said will bring a modern boutique hospitality experience.
The other will house 117 luxury condominiums.
Ian Swaby
Nicole Norwine, Music Compound owner Jenny Townsend and Grant Gregory
Ian Swaby
Demolition of the Hyatt Regency Sarasota progresses on Jan. 29.
WEEK OF FEB. 5, 2026
BY THE NUMBERS
$21.6 MILLION
$2.2 MILLION
CALENDAR
■ Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, South County Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
■ Sarasota Planning Board regular meeting — 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.
■ Sarasota County Commission Siesta Key Workshop — 9 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, South County Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
“Please take into consideration that this is going to be coming before us again with a totally different Commission, the third or fourth different Commission.”
City Commissioner Kyle Battie on the ongoing Bobby Jones Golf Course Clubhouse issue Read more on page 5A
Bond ratings aid SMH expansion efforts
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is taking advantage of strong bond ratings to advance more than $1 billion in capital projects.
Having recently begun construction on its new $507 million North Port campus with other expansion projects underway, the system reports, according to a news release, the capital projects are supported by strong and upgraded bond ratings from Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings. Strong bond ratings sig-
nificantly lower SMH’s cost of borrowing for major improvements. Last week, the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board voted to issue up to $425 million in revenue bonds this year to help cover capital costs. Also this week, credit rating agency Moody’s upgraded SMH to Aa3 while Fitch reaffirmed the health system’s “AA-” rating in 2025.
Underway projects include:
■ SMH-North Port: Slated to open in 2028, it will be the city’s first acute-care hospital. The
nine-story facility will initially host 100 beds with additional space to double capacity to 208 beds as demand grows.
■ Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion: Opening in spring 2026 at the Sarasota campus, the outpatient cancer pavilion is part of the health system’s expanding Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute.
■ Venice Rehabilitation Pavilion: To begin construction this year, the new, $82.5 million facility will offer inpatient and outpatient rehab services.
City water meter replacement begins
All 17,000 residential customers of city of Sarasota Utilities Department will soon have new water meters in their yards. In an effort to improve resiliency and meter reading accuracy, the city is replacing the existing devices. The project will begin in March and is expected to take two years to complete. National Metering Services will install meters daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., causing limited interruptions to water service. Advance notice of installation will be provided via U.S. mail. In addition to counting consumption, customers will have the ability to view their water usage online via the city’s utility billing portal.
The $3.86 million project is included in the city’s $300 million long-range utilities improvement master plan to replace aging infrastructure and equipment to improve resiliency and redundancy. For information on the water meter replacement project visit NMSNJ.com/Sarasota-FL/.
InternConnect will fund summer interns
An initiative to connect local employers with interns while strengthening the Sarasota area’s workforce pipeline has been initiated by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
The program will provide 50 paid summer internships while helping businesses connect with potential future employees. Participating businesses may receive up to $3,000 in reimbursements per intern to help offset costs while receiving access to talent.
InternConnect is open to college students and graduating high school seniors.
The application period opened Jan. 26 and will close April 17. Selected participants will take part in a required orientation on Wednesday, May 27. The internships will run June 1-July 31.
Students and employers can learn more and apply at interested in participating can learn more at SarasotaChamber.com/InternConnect.
Photo courtesy of Sarasota Health Care System Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is building a new hospital in North Port.
Growing a Legacy
ANDREW
WARFIELD
STAFF WRITER
In the decade since Jennifer Rominiecki arrived as president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the master plan reimagining of the institution has dominated her entire tenure.
And it’s all her own doing.
Upon her first visit in 2015 as a candidate for the job, Rominiecki said all she saw was potential. Sure, Selby Gardens was uniquely situated in a rapidly redeveloping downtown on 15 prime acres along Sarasota Bay. And, yes, it was famous for its world’s largest scientifically documented collection of orchids and bromeliads.
But when it came to visitors, it was a one-and-done.
Having made a career out of leading “living museum” concepts in New York City, her job interview here focused not only on modernizing Selby Gardens, but also transitioning into such an experience here — implementing a constant state of evolution and revolving exhibitions that give visitors reason to return.
“It’s part of why I was recruited for the job,” Rominiecki said. “It was definitely discussed during my interview process, as far as the need for the proper infrastructure.”
That’s a subject Rominiecki knew more than a little bit about.
Her career began in New York
“The location was incredible right on Sarasota Bay, and I knew that the talent was here. There were really two big things missing. One was a sustainable operation model to generate sustainable revenues for the institution, and two was the proper infrastructure necessary to safeguard the scientific collections.”
In her decade with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, its CEO has built upon the institution’s foundations to ensure it remains sustainable for the future.
City in visual art at the Guggenheim Museum, transitioning to performing art at the Metropolitan Opera.
Immediately prior to coming to Selby Gardens, she specialized in living art at the New York Botanical Garden, where she spent 15 years, rising to vice president for institutional advancement and special assistant to the president.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Moving out of New York was never a consideration.
“Then I was approached about this opportunity to be the president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens,” she said. “I was at the tier of leadership — second to the president and CEO — and I just thought, ‘This is an opportunity to really be the leader. I might as well check it out.’
I just think I was approached at the right moment in my career where I was ready to think about the next step.”
When she arrived, she found herself at the intersection of opportunity and potential.
“All I really saw was the opportunity. I just saw the potential of what this place could be,” Rominiecki said. “It had the most magnificent living collections. The location was incredible, right on Sarasota Bay, and I knew that the talent was here.
There were really two big things missing. One was a sustainable operation model to generate sustainable revenues for the institution, and two was the proper infrastructure necessary to safeguard the scientific collections.
“During the interview process, I really, I spoke to the board at that time about the need to address both of these concerns.”
That was enough to convince Selby Gardens leadership that she was the right fit to take the institution to the next level.
“Jennifer’s exemplary leadership has been instrumental in transforming Selby Gardens,” said Board Chair Katherine Martucci. “Through strategic vision, disciplined stewardship and an unwavering commitment to excellence, she elevated the institution’s impact, ensuring its long-term vitality and relevance for generations to come.”
‘IT WAS ALL WORTH IT’
In January 2024, Rominiecki joined the Selby Board of Trustees to cut the ribbon on the downtown campus Master Plan Phase 1, the $57 million phase that brought a new welcome center, plant-covered parking deck topped by a 50,000-square-foot solar array, Green Orchid restaurant and Steinwachs Family Plant Research Center, the latter providing safe haven for Selby’s worldrenowned living collections during the hurricane season later that year.
2017’s Hurricane Irma, Rominiecki said, accelerated the transformation.
“It was that storm that really took us out of being in a planning mode to an action mode, because all of a sudden I felt I was responsible for stewarding these priceless collections that are necessary for biodiversity research,” Rominiecki said.
“I can honestly say that if we hadn’t moved ahead when we did amidst the storms last year, all of our preserved collections might have been completely destroyed if we hadn’t been able to safeguard them in our new Plant Research Center.
“Now we’re turning our focus toward finishing what we started with Phase 2.”
Finishing involves capital — $120 million for Phases 1 and 2 combined
FAMILY TIES
Jennifer Rominiecki’s husband, Rob, had served as head of security of New York City’s Guggenheim Museum for 15 years.
Following the birth of their second son, the couple decided he would leave his job to be a stay-at-home parent and take on freelance consulting work.
“We had transitioned to that model, and all of a sudden I say, ‘Hey, let’s move to Florida,’” she said.
“Once I knew the job was of interest to me, then we really had to look at the opportunity as the right move for our family. Rob and I thought about raising our family here, we knew that the schools were excellent. That was the tipping point that allowed us to make this move because we felt that this would be a great place to raise our kids.”
Ten years later, the couple’s oldest, Luke, is a college sophomore. Noah, their youngest, is a high school sophomore.
“It felt very radical at the time, then once the pandemic hit, we felt like we were so lucky to have made this move at this time,” Rominiecki said.
“It was definitely the right place to be in riding out such an event.”
Now firmly rooted here, Rob Rominiecki has filed as a candidate for one of two at-large seats on the Sarasota City Commission.
— the capital campaign for the latter at $60.9 million. During the Phase 2 groundbreaking on Dec. 2, 2025, it was announced that $56.3 million had been raised toward that goal, totaling $113.3 million, all of it via private philanthropy.
The prospect of being unknown, selling the idea of a complete revamp of the beloved Selby Gardens and raising the capital required was not intimidating.
“I had a lot of experience in fundraising. My prior position at the New York Botanical Garden involved overseeing their campaign to raise $479 million, so I wasn’t afraid of what needed to be done. I think laying the groundwork of the living museum model was critical in building the confidence of the community of what Selby Gardens was going to be undertaking.”
Standing before the crowd of supporters at the Phase 2 groundbreaking, Rominiecki could look toward the improvements brought by Phase 1 while, behind her, preliminary Phase 2 work was concealed by barricades covered with renderings of what is to come.
“It was just so exhilarating,” she said. “My face was beaming with joy because a moment like that is very validating for the work that was put into it. It was a chance to look back on things, and the big thing I said to myself is, ‘It was all worth it.’”
Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Image Courtesy of Nancy Guth/Selby Gardens
Jennifer Rominiecki brought the living museum concept to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens when she was named president and CEO in 2015.
Courtesy image
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki with (from left) son, Luke; husband, Rob; and son, Noah.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13,
7:00 P.M.
Sorry-Grateful: One Sondheim Story in Letters and Song 2024 MAC Award Winner, Female Vocalist
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 7:00 P.M.
A Michael & Mardie Valentine Love songs from around the world... and beyond!
Sarasota County to buy medical examiner property for $21.6M
chase price, the memo says.
The owner of the property is 4480 Fruitville LLC, an entity whose registered agent is John LaCivita, president and CEO of Willis Smith Construction. (Records list the official name as Frank J. LaCivita.)
purchase price will be $21.6 million. The 4.3-acre facility includes two buildings. One is a single-story building for the morgue. The other is two stories and houses the medical examiner’s administrative offices on the first floor with space for Sarasota County on the second floor, according to a memo from Sarasota County Director of General Services Evelio (Dan) Rodriguez and Director of Planning and Development Services Matthew Osterhoudt. Two appraisals supported the $21.6 million pur-
THE COST OF RENTING A MORGUE
Sarasota County began renting 4510 Fruitville Road to house the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office in May 2023. The lease with property owner 4480 Fruitville LLC was for a three-year term, concluding May 14.
In sum, the cost of leasing for three years was more than $5 million, according to a spokesperson for Sarasota County. Of that, almost $2.3 million went to the morgue and more than $1.9 million went toward administrative offices for the medical examiner, the latter of which includes cost-sharing contributions from Manatee and DeSoto counties.
Here is a breakdown of the costs, according to Sarasota County: Medical examiner’s administrative offices: $1,941,694.74
Morgue: $2,295,990.36
Second floor (75% occupied by county staff): $781,164
Total: $5,018,849
“Our primary goal in developing this project was to provide a significant value-add for Sarasota County,” 4480 Fruitville LLC says in an emailed statement provided to the Business Observer. “We recognized a critical need for a facility that required both a competitive value proposition and a delivery timeline far swifter than the traditional government bidding process typically allows, especially through the COVID crisis.”
Before the development of the medical examiner’s office complex on Fruitville Road began in 2021, Sarasota County had been paying Sarasota Memorial Hospital to use its facilities for autopsies.
Lakewood Ranch-based Willis Smith Construction built the facility, a project completed in May 2023.
Since then, the county has been on a three-year lease with 4480 Fruitville LLC, renting the property for a little more than $5 million during that period. The lease is scheduled to end May 14 and includes an option to buy the property.
Commissioners unanimously voted to execute the contract to buy the property without discussion, as part of the board’s Jan. 27 consent agenda.
In addition to being registered to LaCivita, state records show 4480 Fruitville LLC is managed by two LLCs associated with local business leaders. One is DJ Swamp III Properties LLC, with Willis Smith Construction chair David Sessions listed as the registered agent. The other is JJ&K State LLC, which is registered to Joe Hembree, president of Sarasota commercial real estate firm Hembree & Associates.
City pares down clubhouse design
Ideologies clash as divided Sarasota commissioners pursue a smaller centerpiece for Bobby Jones after already paying to design a larger one.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
Gone is the vision of a two-story Bobby Jones Golf Course clubhouse with wraparound veranda and a panoramic view of the course and the adjacent nature park farther in the distance. Gone, too, is the second-floor restaurant sized to accommodate special and private events with the cart barn below.
In addition, gone is $544,211 the city already paid Jon F. Swift Construction to design all that as the blueprints are shelved, perhaps applied to another project for another client in another location. That figure does not include $126,071 added for two on-course bathroom structures and golf cart storage, for a total of $670,282.
And also gone, at least for one meeting of the Sarasota City Commission, is the traditionally collegial atmosphere at the dais.
At its Feb. 2 meeting, a divided commission voted 3-2 to scrap plans for a two-story, $11.5 million clubhouse at Bobby Jones and to instruct Swift Construction to embark on designing a one-story design with separate cart barn at a not-to-exceed cost of $7.2 million. The cost to, quite literally, go back to the drawing board — another $514,957.
Commissioner Liz Alpert, a lawyer who, from the beginning, supported the larger clubhouse design for what she believes would be its ability to generate additional revenue by appealing to a wider audience, tried to drive that point home in her cross examination-style questioning of Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle.
PARLIAMENTARY PRESSURE
As the nearly two-hour discussion over the Bobby Jones clubhouse neared its conclusion, tensions mounted as Commissioner Liz Alpert continued to plead her case, prompting Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich to invoke parliamentary procedure.
“Point of order. The commissioner’s time has expired,” Ohlrich said.
Alpert, who limits her pontificating from the dais, shot back, “And I never usually take any of my time, so thank you!”
In another instance, Alpert attempted to interject a correction into a point being made by Mayor Debbie Trice.
“I was doing my debate, so you’re not interrupting that,” Trice said.
Finally, prior to Alpert’s first failed motion, as Trice was completing her comments, to which Alpert was preparing to respond, Ohlrich said, “Call the question,” a parliamentary procedure to end discussion and require a vote.
“How can you always call the question when I wasn’t even finished talking?” Alpert said.
“I was finished,” Trice responded.
Through her questioning, she also made the case that, after four years of planning — which during that time costs ballooned from a pre -
two, three or four years, construction prices are going to go up,” Alpert said, providing to her colleagues a document of elevated cost estimations based on recent history. “If it’s delayed two years it could be anywhere from $7.9 million to $8.3 million. We’re talking about a timeline — the best case scenario 29 months — how is that (not-to-exceed cost) guaranteed? Are they going to have to continue to shrink the building because they aren’t going to be able to construct it at $7.2 million as designed?”
liminary estimate of $9 million — the clubhouse has a firm price today while the not-to-exceed cost for a new design that may face another two years of planning is unrealistic. So much so, she added, that by the time a design can be considered, it may cost millions more, or otherwise be pared further.
“If this is extended out to one,
Alpert was joined in her opposition to shrinking the project by Kyle Battie, who said a future commission may adopt a completely different approach by the time a new final design is brought for approval, one that could even determine the course operates just fine with its three attached mobile units serving as a clubhouse.
“The next time that it’s brought before us, the composition of this commission could be totally different,” Battie said. “We could go in a totally, completely different direction. Please take into consideration
that this is going to be coming before us again with a totally different commission, the third or fourth different commission.”
Joining forces to oppose two Alpert motions — one to deny a new Swift design and, having failed, a second to propose a smaller design with separate cart barn — Mayor Debbie Trice, Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich and Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch argued fiscal prudence in the face of budgetary challenges left by the 2024 storms and uncertainty regarding the future of property taxes statewide dictate clubhouse belt tightening.
That, and the capital needed to build the larger clubhouse, would result in delays in funding other Parks and Recreation projects.
The matter of moving forward with a redesign settled, by a 3-2 vote with Alpert and Battie opposed, the commission also authorized using the Bobby Jones fund balance in the amount of $1.18 million, for costs related to the construction of the clubhouse.
Andrew Warfield
Commissioner Liz Alpert (right) questions Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle during the hearing about the Bobby Jones clubhouse design as Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch looks on.
Courtesy image Commissioners voted not to pursue the original two-story design.
Charters now on the hook
Following a six-month delay, the County Commission approved a pilot program to require charter captains to bid for permits to operate out of county parks.
ANDREW WARFIELD
Following a six-month pause in the wake of damage to county park gulf and bay access boat launch facilities, the Sarasota County Commission on Jan. 27 unanimously approved implementing a pilot program that requires charter boat captains to purchase permits to operate at county-owned ramps and seawalls.
In June 2025, commissioners suspended the program to enable fishing and sightseeing charters to recover in the aftermath of the 2024 hurricane season.
On her last day as director of the county Park, Recreation and Natural Resources Department, new Assistant County Administrator Nicole Rissler said the issues that led to development of the program still persist in public parks where unauthorized charters have operated for decades, spiking in the COVID-19 and post-pandemic years.
Those issues include passengers occupying limited parking spaces and conflicts with charter businesses that have followed requirements to lawfully operate in the parks.
Pre-storm ramp, bulkhead and seawall boat access remains reduced as the county continues recovery efforts — Nokomis Beach Public Boat Ramp and Loreto Court Bay Access remain closed — and lingering damage at other facilities has reduced capacity.
“We continue to see unauthorized or nonpermitted activity within our parks. It happens everywhere. It’s always going to happen,” Rissler told commissioners. “Our observa-
tions are it’s definitely down a bit, but when you have half of the seawall at Nokomis available, it makes sense that you’re going to have less. We still receive complaints from citizens that there’s no parking at Nora Patterson, but nobody’s in the park because everyone’s taken up the parking because they’re on boats.”
To remedy that, commissioners approved implementation of the program adopted in October 2024, only instead of 124 permits — or medallions — they reduced that number to 60. Medallions are obtained through a bid process that begins at $1,200 but is anticipated to go much higher. Rissler presented a program revenue scenario at upwards of $5,000 per medallion. Operators would also be limited to two permits for the North Zone and two for the South Zone.
The Mid-County zone of Nokomis Beach Park and Loreto Court facilities are not included in the one-year trial run.
A small number of stakeholders told commissioners that it remains inappropriate to place an additional
financial burden — or completely run out of business — charter operators as the tourism-attracting industry continues to struggle toward recovery.
Sherman Baldwin, who served on the commission-appointed summer 2024 task force to draft a county policy, appealed for further delay of the program. Although he opposed the framework, he did vote in favor of the final draft because it was “watered down” from earlier versions.
There is less of a problem today, he said, because there are fewer operators.
“Even in that form, I believe it placed real financial pressure on small, independent operators,” Baldwin said of the approved policy. “The charter fishing reservations are down close to 70% still, 40% to 60% of small charter operators actually are gone — boats sold, businesses shuttered, livelihoods lost. The problem this policy was designated to address largely no longer exists. Reintroducing this now is not thoughtful governance. It is disconnected from
grounded reality.”
Retired captain Johnny Walker, the middle of three generations of charter operators, said the industry is already burdened by required state and local licenses, fees and taxes.
“It’s getting to where their profit margin is not very much. When I first started, there were no controls like that. You just fished, there was no problem and you could go from anywhere you wanted. There are these rules now where you can’t pick them up here and you can’t pick them up there. I don’t know how they’re going to make it.”
Now approved, the timeline for implementation is two to four months for program development, a three- to four-month bid process and program launch three months afterward.
image
Capt. A.J. Grande operates a “six pack” fishing charter business who often picks up and drops off customers at Nora Patterson Park.
Vibrant Senior Living Coming Soon to Lakewood Ranch!
Emerson Lakes Is Now Accepting Reservations.
The first phase of construction is now underway. This includes the beautiful Coral Ridge Clubhouse and three residence buildings: Sandhill Point, anticipated to open in the fall of 2026, followed by Laguna Springs and Mangrove Run, opening in the first half of 2027.
Everyday Resort Living
Here are just a few resort-style amenities you can expect:
• Multiple dining venues
• Outdoor pool with a walk-up bar
• State-of-the-art fitness center
• Pickleball and bocce ball courts
• Outdoor fitness center with meditation garden
• Firepits
Predictable Costs, Exceptional Value
Our community’s smart financial structure will provide peace of mind and security by streamlining most bills into a simple monthly payment. Your Monthly Service Package covers:
• Utilities, maintenance, and property taxes
• Cable TV, internet, and landline phone
A Community You Can Trust
• Use of fitness center, pool, and dozens of other amenities
Emerson Lakes℠ is a part of Erickson Senior Living,® one of the largest senior living providers in the nation. Here, you’ll enjoy a maintenance-free, independent lifestyle backed by over 40 years of trusted experience.
Legislature tackles housing affordability again
With the introduction of two bills, the state attempts to address underlying issues that increase the costs of developing new homes.
While the housing market in Florida ebbs and flows, anyone trying to sell a house right now knows we are in an ebb.
Overall, cities statewide don’t approve new housing at a rate that keeps up with job and population growth in the formation of new households. As you can see at any city commission meeting, the forces of “not in my backyard” remain a potent opposition to adequate housing supply.
Florida faces an ongoing shortage-driven housing crisis. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that:
■ Florida has a shortage of more than 410,000 rental homes that are affordable and available to extremely low-income households.
■ 82% of these households spend more than half of their income on housing.
This gap reflects long-standing land-use restrictions that limit housing construction, especially of small and less-expensive options.
The state Legislature has tried to address this problem in recent years by passing a series of bills to incentivize local governments to permit adequate amounts of housing, notably, a series of Live Local reforms, which have had limited success.
This year the Legislature is trying again, with a pair of bills aimed at strengthening property rights and improving housing affordability by reducing regulatory barriers.
HOUSE BILL 1049
The first is House Bill 1049, which aims to modernize Florida’s permitting framework in a targeted way that lowers costs and delays without compromising safety. New housing projects suffer from regulatory delays, administrative complexity and inconsistent local permitting practices. A recent Mercatus Institute analysis of Florida’s permitting and land use framework shows that the absence of consistent statewide standards has led to fragmented local processes that increase delays, raise soft costs and create uncertainty for homeowners and contractors alike.
HB 1049 streamlines permitting and inspection requirements for low-risk work and residential backup power systems while preserving the Florida Building Code and existing inspection standards. It exempts residential work valued under $7,500 on single-family dwellings from building permit requirements, while preserving permits for electrical, plumbing and structural work regardless of cost. Minor repairs and small improvements are often subject to the same permitting process as complex projects, despite posing minimal safety risk. These requirements raise costs, discourage compliance and delay routine maintenance that helps preserve housing quality. The bill also tackles permitting delays and inconsistent local requirements for residential backup power systems that kick in when hurricanes or other events cut off the power grid. Making it easier to permit backup power systems means more homes will have them, increasing storm resiliency. HB 1049 sets up a clearer statewide framework that preserves compliance with the Florida Building Code
and Florida Fire Prevention Code while improving inspection flexibility. Local agencies keep inspection authority, including virtual inspections, and property owners may use licensed private providers when local capacity is limited. Finally, HB 1049 limits local technical amendments and approval processes that add what are local and informal permitting requirements layered on top of the statewide code. These redundant local rules increase costs and create unpredictability for homeowners and contractors. Reinforcing uniform statewide standards lowers administrative burdens and improves consistency across jurisdictions, which is especially important in Florida, where construction demand can shift rapidly following storms.
Overall, HB 1049 helps create more predictable, risk-based permitting framework that reduces unnecessary delays, improves regulatory clarity and supports housing resilience while keeping Florida’s core safety standards.
SENATE BILL 948
A second bill, Senate Bill 948, reduces minimum lot sizes and parking requirements and creates clear statewide building standards that would lower barriers to building starter homes and expands housing options for low-income buyers across the state.
By reducing minimum lot sizes to 1,200 square feet per home on lots
connected to central sewer and water, SB 948 allows an efficient use of available land and makes small starter homes profitable. With this change alone, the American Enterprise Institute estimates Florida could add 51,700 homes annually at below-average prices. Allowing lot splits and standardizing setback requirements are essential complementary reforms that make minimum lot size reductions workable in practice.
SB 948 also reduces parking requirements for smaller homes and housing located near transit, allowing developers to deliver units that better match the needs of residents who rely on public transportation, using less land without wasting space and requiring them to pay for parking they do not need. By expanding flexibility for both developers and residents, Florida’s Legislature can allow housing supply to grow in ways that align with local demand, including development patterns that reflect residents’ transportation preferences.
The bill also tackles some of the local inconsistencies that the National Association of Home Builders estimates adds up to 23.8% of the purchase price of a new single-family home. It prohibits local height caps below three stories, restricts maximum floor area ratio requirements, and allows manufactured homes in single-family areas statewide.
SB 948 does not require anyone to build smaller homes, forgo parking, or develop on the minimum lot size; it simply makes these options legal and available for those who want them.
NECESSARY STEPS
These two bills are a step in the right direction by the Legislature. They would help ensure Florida can meet the growing housing needs of its residents, including allowing for some new housing to be more affordable, while not taking anything away from anyone.
Adrian Moore lives in Sarasota and is Vice President at Reason Foundation, where Christina Mojica and Eliza Terziev are policy analysts.
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Newtown to receive new Boys & Girls Club
The Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved three measures to permit Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties to replace the McBean club location in Newtown.
ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER
The youth of Newtown will soon have access to a brand new club. On Jan. 20, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties received unanimous approval of three measures to clear the way to replace the existing McBean Boys & Girls Club with a brand new facility.
And as a bonus, the existing building will remain in use until the new one is completed, resulting in no disruption of services.
The organization sought site plan, major conditional use and rezoning approval to allow for a new 21,760-square-foot multipurpose building, approximately 3,600 square feet of covered play area and
a multipurpose athletics field to be built on adjacent property acquired by the organization. The multipurpose building is proposed to include a gym, club room, art studio, technology lab, game room, classrooms, community multipurpose center, kitchen and offices.
The entire 4.49-acre site at 1790 21st St. will be owned by the Sarasota Housing Authority and leased to the Boys & Girls Club, which is adjacent to its under-development final phases of its Cypress Square — formerly known as Amaryllis Park Place — public housing community. The second and third phases of Cypress Square are being built to augment the already completed and occupied first phase.
With the rezoning approval, the entire SHA property will be zoned Governmental within the Housing Authority Overlay District. The major conditional use approval of the added Boys & Girls Club property, which it will convey to the SHA, was necessary as the nonprofit is not a government use.
The Boys & Girls club will have a 40-year lease with the Housing Authority renewable in five-year terms. Commissioner Liz Alpert asked why convey the land to the SHA instead of keeping it.
“Because we would have to pay ad valorem taxes on it,” said Michael
Beaumier, president of Osprey Consulting and chairman of the club’s building committee. “If the Housing Authority has it, we don’t have to pay taxes.”
Boys & Girls Clubs initially planned to renovate the existing building, but those plans were abandoned.
“Things changed a little bit when we realized what terrible condition our existing club was in,” Beaumier told commissioners. “We spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to figure out how we could fix it and make it stop leaking, and after considerable effort and discussion it was decided that the best thing to do is to tear it down.
“With the acquisition of the new property, we have enough land to be able to build a new Boys & Girls Club at the rear of the site while the existing club stays in operation, which was a big part of our goal for our services in Newtown.”
The project received Development Review Committee sign-off on Oct. 23, 2025. Then on Dec. 10, 2025, the Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposed site plan, major conditional use and rezone to the City Commission with the added condition that the removal of the existing building will occur following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the proposed building.
“Essentially, what we get is a new club for Newtown and an enhanced facility that is far beyond what we have on-site today,” project consultant Joel Freedman told commissioners. “It’s been a long effort for us to get to this point, and we’d like to actually start construction as soon as we can.”
The new building will be approximately the same size as the current structure, which will be razed to eventually make way for outdoor play space. Indoor recreation space will keep teens and younger children in separate areas and will also serve as a once-weekly food pantry. The teen center will be open until midnight on Friday nights.
“This has been a very positive partnership with the Boys & Girls Club,” said SHA President and CEO William Russell. “For many years, they’ve had scholarships for 25 of our youth every summer to be able to attend their summer programming. We used to have 160 public housing units on this campus, and the entire campus either has been redeveloped or is in the process of being redeveloped. We’re going to have more families living on that campus, but right next door we’re also going to have a new club.
“It’s going to be a real asset for the community.”
Courtesy image
The McBean Boys and Girls Club site is outlined in red. The area highlighted in green is rezoned property that will become part of its new facilities.
Andrew Warfield Plans are to replace the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown with a new building and convert the current structure into outdoor play space.
Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more
4:53
1500 block of Second Street Fight: Having been notified by a pedestrian there was a fight underway behind
A verbal command to cease and desist all hostilities went ignored, and as fists continued flying the officer donned his gloves in the presence of bloodshed. Grabbing the black male by the arm and issuing more verbal commands did not render the winning brawler compliant, so the officer kneed him in his torso, causing him to turn his attention away from his co-combatant, who took the opportunity to scamper away.
The subject was placed in handcuffs and pinned to the ground until backup arrived. Refusing to accept medical attention from an arriving EMS team, he was then placed in a patrol vehicle and transported to Sarasota County Jail. He was charged with resisting without violence for ignoring lawful commands given by a uniformed officer and had to be forcibly removed from his co-combatant.
The status of the white male was unknown at the time of the incident report.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
2:30 p.m. 2700 block of Palmedelia Avenue
Fight: The victim of an alleged assault said an unknown juvenile male entered the property and, for an unknown reason, began to engage in hand-to-hand combat. It is noted the victim is a special needs person who was unable to answer basic questions, but had also suffered a head injury in the scuffle.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4 A RED CARD OFFENSE
9:30 p.m., 3500 block of Huntington Place Drive
Criminal mischief: A man who was playing soccer with a group of friends in the neighborhood against another group with whom they were familiar, but were not friends, said an argument broke out during the game between he and an opposing player. Shortly afterward, the complainant discovered the windshield of his vehicle was smashed and all four tiers deflated. A fellow soccer player said he observed a shirtless male with a metal water bottle that appeared to be damaged on one end, arousing suspicions he may be a suspect.
Confronting the man about the damage, a physical altercation occurred. Once the fight was broken up the suspect left the area with his crew in tow. A witness who filmed the incident appeared to show the suspect being held back, but breaking free and attacking the victim.
The complainant said he wished to press charges for the battery and would be able to identify his assailant. As of the time of the report, the reporting officer had not received the video of the altercation, which was needed to identify the subject. The case had been inactivated pending suspect identification.
An officer spoke with a witness reporting the incident, who said he didn’t see anything, but when he heard the altercation he told the victim to come inside as the aggressor continued to argue and yell at both individuals.
7-story senior living facility coming to downtown Sarasota
Construction recently began at The Reserve Sarasota, which will offer independent and assisted living residences, as well as memory care units.
ELIZABETH KING BUSINESS OBSERVER
Crews recently broke ground at The Reserve Sarasota, a seven-story senior living facility downtown. When complete, the community will offer independent and assisted living residences, as well as memory care units, supported by what its creators call “upscale amenities.”
Experience Senior Living — which is based in Denver and operates facilities for older adults in seven states — will run The Reserve Sarasota.
ESL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Denver-based health care real estate investment and development firm NexCore Group, is on a mission “to reimagine aging by delivering hospitality-driven, wellness-focused environments,” according to a statement. The Reserve Sarasota will feature multiple dining venues, wellness spaces, structured parking and a rooftop pool overlooking the city.
August 2025, according to Sarasota County property records.
Brinkmann Constructors, based in Missouri with a Florida office on Cattlemen Road, is building The Reserve Sarasota. Other partners in the project are Hoyt Architects, Infrastructure Solutions Services and Senior by Design, according to a statement.
The Reserve Sarasota is projected to be completed by December 2027.
NexCore Group has developed and acquired about 18 million square feet and completed more than $7 billion in health care real estate transactions in 30 states since 2004, according to a statement.
Adults convened and agreed that both boys should apologize to each other in lieu of further criminal action.
Less than two hours later, the victim’s mother called to advise the subject was spotted and the reporting officer responded to the scene. He said the victim had taken his cousin’s bicycle, and when he refused to communicate with him, he became angry.
“This project reflects our thesis that senior living should offer the same level of service, design and attention to detail found in the finest hospitality environments,” NexCore Group Executive Vice President of Development Hunter MacLeod says in a statement.
Spanning almost 250,000 square feet, The Reserve Sarasota is being built at 307 S. Orange Ave. in Sarasota, across from the The McCullough Pavilion and just off Main Street. An LLC tied to NexCore Group and ESL spent $17 million for the 1.84-acre site there in
ESL operates The Gallery at North Port and The Gallery at Cape Coral, according to its website, and the company has multiple communities in development around the region, including The Gallery at South Tampa and The Gallery at Hacienda Lakes in Naples.
Spanning almost 250,000 square feet, The Reserve Sarasota is being built at 307 S. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
Courtesy image The Reserve Sarasota is projected to be complete by December 2027.
VALENTINE’S GIFT GUIDE
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MCCARVER & MOSER
1301 Main St • Sarasota, FL 34236 1601 Gulf of Mexico Dr • Longboat Key, FL 34228
941-387-8000 • McCarverMoser.com
McCarver & Moser Jewelers has sophisticated design collections from around the world. We provide customer service that exceeds expectations with our knowledge, hand crafted designs and a personal concierge team that represents over 115 years of experience. Making our customers happy and beautiful is our passion.
CAFÉ ON ST. ARMANDS
MILLER HAUS FURNITURE
6100 N Lockwood Ridge Rd Sarasota, FL 34243
941-960-2942
DutchHausFurniture.com
Give a gift that lasts longer than flowers! A Miller Haus Furniture gift certificate lets them choose something handcrafted and timeless -beautiful, functional furniture made to be loved and enjoyed for years. Visit a Miller Haus Furniture in store and let us help you find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift today!
431 St. Armands Circle Sarasota, FL 34236
941-388-4415
CafeOnStArmands.com
Join us at Café on St. Armands this Valentine’s Day for a romantic dining experience made to share. Enjoy a romantic brunch, relaxed all-day dining, or let the evening unfold over a special Dinner for Two. Whether you’re celebrating early or settling in for the night, it’s the perfect setting for a memorable Valentine’s Day together.
SIRIUS DAY SPA, SALON & MED SPAS 11585 E SR70 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 1551 Lakefront Dr. Ste 101 • Sarasota, FL 34240 941-357-4611 • SiriusDaySpas.com
Start your journey with the right life partner and a jeweler you trust. Since 1973, Bartlett Jewelers, provides the honest guidance needed before you ask forever’s most important question. We also offer both mined and lab-created diamonds all with prices to fit any budget. Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm.
The ultimate Valentine’s indulgence �� A luxe spa gift card to the #1 ranked spa in Lakewood Ranch & Sarasota - redeemable at either of our two premier locations, including our stunning new Waterside spa. 200+ ways to relax, glow, and feel adored - plus a Serenity Lounge and couples experiences.
Order your Valentine’s Day cookies now-or bring your someone special in for a sweet experience like no other! Where warm, freshly baked cookies meet creamy scoops of handcrafted ice cream. Customize sundaes with toppings or share a gooey cookieand-ice-cream combo for a cozy, delicious date-night dessert.
SPORTS
FAST BREAK
Sarasota senior Bogdan Zverev has been named “Mr. Swimming 2025” by Florida Dairy Farmers, an organization that annually selects one male and one female high school athlete from each sport as the best in the state. It was a triumphant season for Zverev, who powered the Sailors to the FHSAA Class 4A boys swimming state championship. He placed first in the 100-yard butterfly and 200yard individual medley at the state meet Nov. 14, by setting personal bests in each. He also claimed silver in the 400-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay. Zverev has signed with Alabama and will swim for the Crimson Tide this fall.
... The fields are set for the FHSAA girls weightlifting state championships Feb. 11-13 at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center. On Jan. 31, Cardinal Mooney seniors Shelly DiLorenzo (119 lbs) and Cecelia Velotta (139 lbs) took home gold for Olympic style in their respective weight classes at the 1A-7 regional championship, automatically qualifying for states. Junior Lila Dickey (139 lbs) of Booker placed second in Traditional and third in Olympic at the 2A-6 meet. For Sarasota, senior Elizabeth Lawson (169 lbs) placed second in Traditional at the 3A-6 meet.
... The regular season has come to a close for area boys and girls high school basketball teams. On the boys side, Cardinal Mooney finished with the best record at 20-4, and is the No. 3 seed for the 3A-8 district tournament. It’s followed by Sarasota (19-6), Riverview (169), Sarasota Christian (15-10) and Booker (12-13). On the girls side, Riverview finished with the best record at 14-6, and is the No. 1 seed for the 7A-12 district tournament. Its followed by Sarasota Christian (14-7), Booker (13-9), Sarasota (13-11) and Cardinal Mooney (13-12).
... The Spartan Sun Coast Invitational returns to Palm Aire Country Club on Feb. 14-16, bringing together 15 NCAA Division I women’s golf teams. It will be hosted by Michigan State and also features defending national champion Northwestern, Clemson, Charleston, FIU, Illinois, Iowa, Kent State, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Princeton and Purdue. The Spartans won last year’s edition with a 12-under par 276.
“... Putting in the effort and seeing it come out in a good, accomplished way is something that I’m happy about.”
SIDE BY SIDE
Together, Dave and Erma Miller have dedicated decades to Sarasota BMX.
JACK NELSON SPORTS REPORTER
On the road was how Dave and Erma Miller decided to spend their early 20s. They drove all around, and eventually, along the East Coast.
Sarasota was largely unknown to them, but a cousin lived there — their only connection to Florida. A few days in the area became weeks.
“The passion comes because you’re with these kids and the excitement they bring.”
— Erma Miller
Dave Miller took a job with a construction company, and with the financial compensation from a car accident he had been in, he and his wife put a down payment on a home.
So the young couple promptly left their car behind and got on a plane home to Kokomo, Indiana.
“I told our mom and dad, ‘Well, we’re here for a short time, but we’re leaving,’” said Erma Miller. “What a terrible thing we did to our parents.”
They uprooted their lives in 1969 to start anew. Today, nearly 60 years later, this is still home.
Dave and Erma Miller are busy with preparations for one of the premier events on Sarasota BMX’s calendar.
On Feb. 7, the track will host a stage of the USA BMX Gold Cup Championship Series, bringing together the best riders in the southeastern United States.
A love for bicycle motocross has long burned as bright as their love for the area. The Millers have volunteered since 2012 at the country’s oldest continuously running BMX track and previously worked as track operators for 15 years.
Over decades of service to the sport, they’ve dedicated themselves to multiple organizations with local, state, national and international
focuses. They’ve contributed to the development of race series, technical rules of racing and race management software at the professional level. They were inducted into the National BMX Hall of Fame in 2025. And in the same year, the Florida BMX Hall of Fame honored them for a lifetime of impact.
“If you don’t have the passion to do this, you don’t last but a couple years,” said Erma Miller. “You last until your kid quits racing; then you’re gone.”
Their son, Doug Miller, gave them a real reason to care. At 7 years old, he brought home a flyer for a time and skill event, which was to be held at Sarasota BMX on Oct. 7, 1977.
The track was relatively new at the time, having been founded three years earlier. But that one competition was enough to hook his parents. They wanted to get involved.
Volunteering was their avenue to do so.
“You see these kids progress, doing their own thing, coming up with tricks and learning how to compete,” said Erma Miller. “The passion comes because you’re with these kids and the excitement they bring.”
Soon enough, they took on the role of track operators in 1980. Dave Miller got busy building amenities, while Erma Miller dove into registration.
The years that followed were defined by innovation for both of them. They were on the scene when the track begged Florida Power and Light for old poles with which to build jumps and the Sarasota Fire Department to dump water into holes for riders to jump.
Dave Miller helped develop the track’s first electronic gate, doing away with the manual model. He and his wife then went to a flea market and bought a traffic light as their new start light.
They initially placed it in the middle of the track but quickly learned that it belonged off to the side.
“We didn’t know any better,” said Erma Miller.
In the meantime, she had grown tired of relying on pens and paper to sign up riders and sort them into classes for competition. She enlisted the help of her 19-year-old neighbor to write race management software to ease the ordeal.
It was implemented in 1986 and eventually bought by the thenNational Bicycle League and thenInternational BMX Federation — now known as USA BMX and Union Cycliste Internationale, respectively.
As appreciation for their services spread beyond Sarasota, the Millers ascended to the state and national levels of motocross.
Dave Miller was race referee for the Sunshine State BMX Association (1980-95), while his wife was points keeper and race clerk (1984-99) for
MORE ABOUT THE GOLD CUP
The 2026 USA BMX Gold Cup Championship Series assembles the country’s best professional riders to compete at the regional and national levels.
There are 15 qualifying events throughout the southeastern region from February through August, and Sarasota BMX is one of five Florida tracks to host along with Daytona Beach (March 1), Okeeheelee (March 7), Oldsmar (April 4) and Miami South (Aug. 15).
Top riders at each qualifier advance to the finals. Those are set for Sept. 2527 at Blanchard Woods BMX in Evans, Georgia.
the same organization. Their simultaneous and subsequent involvement in the NBL was considerable.
Erma Miller served as national director of field operations (19892009) and director of planning and innovations (2010-11), whereas her husband was national referee and set up/truck driver (1995-2009).
Side by side, the couple served as the southeast regional race event team for the NBL from 1986 to 2007. That included development, organization and execution of the league’s Southeastern Championship Series in 1993, which was later adopted as the model for all four regionals.
Throughout their BMX pursuits, the Millers always managed to stick together.
“We had one child. In a lot of families, you go this way or that way because you have three or four kids,” said Erma Miller. “So for us, it was all together as a family, everywhere we went.”
They traveled the world when Dave and Erma Miller worked for UCI as race commissaire and chief administrative commissaire, respectively. Erma Miller even served as secretary commissaire for BMX in the 2008 Beijing Olympics — the first Games featuring BMX.
But that wasn’t her greatest endeavor. That began on Feb. 24, 2010, when she presented Sarasota County Parks with a proposal to turn Sarasota BMX into a supercross track and training center.
It took more than six years and $2.4 million, but in August 2016, the upgraded track held its first UCI BMX Racing World Cup late that year.
Sarasota’s track is the only one in the country built to Olympic specifications. It will host the final stages of the 2026 and 2027 UCI BMX Racing World Cups, qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“What you put into this is what you’re going to get out of it,” said Erma Miller. “What we got out of this is being able to travel with this sport, learning from all these people from not only local, but (on the) national (and) international. And it’s something that we can still do.”
Dave and Erma Miller knew very little about bicycle motocross when they married in 1964. Over 60 years and one life-changing move later, they’re nearing a 50th year of involvement with the sport. Together, they’ll continue moving forward.
— Sutton Odegard, Riverview girls weightlifting
Jack Nelson Florida Dairy Farmers selected Sarasota senior Bogdan Zverev as “Mr. Swimming 2025,” naming him the state’s top male high school swimmer from the 2025-26 academic year.
Dave and Erma Miller’s history as track operators for Sarasota BMX goes back decades, and in 2025, they were inducted into the National BMX Hall of Fame.
Courtesy image
Sarasota residents Erma and Dave Miller
Photos by Jack Nelson
Carly Kane, of Indiana, heads toward the finish line during practice at Sarasota BMX.
Taking off
College football coaches have carved out time in their busy schedules to visit Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School. In the last few weeks, some even crossed state lines to do so.
Those unable to make the journey have picked up their phones to call or text. They go through mail, too, sending letters in hopes of strengthening their program’s appeal.
By any means necessary, powerful figures on the Power Four landscape want to get in touch with one particular high school athlete who possesses particularly impressive attributes.
Davin Davidson is that athlete.
The junior has rapidly become one of the hottest names among quarterbacks in the Class of 2027. From Jan. 20 through 31, he received 20 offers from NCAA Division I FBS programs, including perennial powerhouse Georgia and defending national runner-up Miami.
Entering 2026, his list looked dramatically different. Six colleges had extended offers — four of which
Davin Davidson’s recruitment has exploded — and rightfully so.
hailed from Group of Five conferences or the FCS.
January transformed his future, fast.
“Just got to take it day-by-day.
Can’t get too high; can’t get too low,” Davidson said. “Trust the process with everything and then let it all play out how it’s supposed to play out.”
He’s not a five-star recruit. He doesn’t even appear on ESPN’s ranking of the top 300 players in the Class of 2027. As of Feb. 3, Davidson has three stars, per 247Sports.
But at this rate — with his skills steadily developing — picking up a fourth star before his senior season seems inevitable. There’s a reason college coaches are clamoring for a closer look.
An MVP-caliber showing at the Miami regional of the Elite 11 quarterback camp on Jan. 17 put him firmly on the map. Among nearly 50 signal-callers from five states, Davidson earned the distinction of “Alpha Dog.”
He was also picked as one of the top quarterbacks at The Opening
in Miami on Jan. 16 and previously competed at the 7v7 Elite Kickoff Classic in Tampa on Jan. 10-11. It was his performance at Elite 11 regionals, though, which turned the most heads.
Davidson won the accuracy challenge that day in what he described as a “dream camp” for quarterbacks hoping to eventually play at the collegiate level.
“That’s the goal going into those camps — put the world on notice, do what you have to do and just play how you play,” Davidson said. “Then see how it pans out after that.”
It’s no surprise the demand for his services is widespread. But at the same time, it feels overdue.
He flexed his talents early on and rarely struggled throughout a stretch of sheer dominance by Cardinal Mooney.
To get the starting nod for the first time in his career, he had to take the job from senior Devin Mignery, who quarterbacked the Cougars to the FHSAA Class 2A state semifinals in 2024 and the 1S state title a year prior.
Mignery was on the mend from successive knee and shoulder surgeries entering the 2025 season. Coach Jared Clark put the ball in Davidson’s hands, and of all opponents, he had to go against St. Thomas Aquinas — then the sixtime defending 5A state champion — for his unofficial debut.
“I definitely got thrown into the fire playing Aquinas for my first start,” Davidson said. “Couldn’t ask for it any other way, though.”
He stormed onto the scene with a towering 6-foot-6 frame and highlevel athleticism to match. Throwing hard and fast is how he operates, and only so many quarterbacks can combine that with the accuracy he displays.
A baseball background helped build that arm strength. Davidson was a pitcher during his freshman and sophomore years, and per Per-
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fect Game, could hurl an 87-mileper-hour fastball. He’s all in on football, though, and has set down his glove and bat for good. Though not a true dual-threat quarterback like Mignery, he sees his ability to run as his most underappreciated asset — something that recruiters overlook.
“People don’t know how fast I am,” Davidson said. “I don’t think sleeping on my legs is a good idea.”
He never surrendered the starting job last season. Permanently taking the reins, he went from largely unknown to a must-know local talent in a mere matter of months.
Davidson led Cardinal Mooney to the 2A state championship when all was said and done. He piled up 2,360 passing yards and 23 touchdowns on a 64.6% completion rate against six interceptions, spearheading a 14-1 finish and 13-game winning streak to close the season. Learning the offense was the bare
minimum to him. Mastering it was his goal.
“Some people can run an offense, but if they’re able to manage it, they can take it to a whole (other) level,” Davidson said. “That was really big — getting the whole offense mastered — and then just trusting what I can do.”
Buoyed by overwhelming success in his first year as a full-time starter, his recruitment has taken off into the stratosphere. College coaches know his name now. It’s past time they did.
Photos by Jack Nelson
Davin Davidson will spend the coming months scheduling official visits to his colleges of interest as he narrows down his list.
Jack Nelson is the sports reporter for the East County and Sarasota/Siesta Key Observers. Contact him at JNelson@ YourObserver.com.
For his senior season this fall, Davin Davidson will look to guide Cardinal Mooney back to the mountaintop and successfully defend its FHSAA Class 2A state title.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sutton Odegard
Sutton Odegard has booked her ticket to a brand-new destination. The Riverview High senior will compete at the Class 3A girls weightlifting state championship Feb. 11, marking her first appearance at states. Her dual-medalist performance at the 3A-6 regional championship Jan. 29 secured her berth. In the 119-pound weight class, she claimed gold in Olympic style and silver in Traditional by lifting 275 and 290 pounds, respectively. Odegard is the Sarasota Athlete of the Week.
What was your experience like becoming a regional champion and first-time state qualifier?
It was pretty eye-opening. This was the end goal I’ve been wanting. And now, with senior year being the last year, I just punched and gave it all I got. Took other people’s numbers, did some math, figured out what I could and just enjoyed it, for the most part. But ended on a good note.
When and why did you start weightlifting?
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.
and seeing it come out in a good, accomplished way is something I’m happy about.
What quote or piece of advice have you always carried with you?
“Everyone runs their own race.” Just take your race as you want it. It doesn’t always have to be linear — some days you have bad days. You’ve just got to keep following the path.
What’s a fun fact about you that not a lot of people know?
I do track and pole vault. I’m team captain (for Riverview girls track and field). That’s something I’ve done since sixth grade, and I’ve just continued loving that, too.
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be and why? Olivia Reeves. She’s just crazy when she gets on the platform and she’s such a sweet person. It’s astonishing to watch her lift.
I started freshman year actually in coach (Dave) Catalfino’s class and he recommended it and said, “You’d be really good at it.” I hadn’t really thought much about it — I didn’t even know we had a team until that year. (Senior) Estanie Bornelus, who’s also going to states, and I were like, “Why don’t we join together?” And we did and then ended up loving it right away.
Why have you stuck with this sport over the years?
I started lifting weights with my dad early on and now, being able to see it follow through in a different way, it just kind of blossomed. It became something I look forward to every day.
How have you improved as a lifter compared to your junior season?
A lot, really. My clean and jerk, especially. I jumped about 40 pounds on that alone this year. But just really putting in the effort
If you could go anywhere for a dream vacation, where would you go and why?
Switzerland. I love skiing, so that’s something on my bucket list.
Patriots Pier in Siesta Key receives new flagpoles to keep alive tradition of honoring those who serve.
Tribute goes to new heights
IAN SWABY | STAFF WRITER
As the person who lowers the American flag on Patriots Pier on Siesta Key Beach every evening and raises it every morning, Siesta Key resident Wayne Bundy has a neverending responsibility.
Other members of the community are behind him, though, as was recently the case when they helped install seven new flagpoles.
The poles fly the flags of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as one for prisoners of war and those missing in action. An eighth, taller, pole flies the American flag.
At about 15 feet, the new poles replace previous 6-foot rebar poles.
“It means a lot,” Bundy said. “It means that we now have a truly
beautiful setup down here now. It brings our community together, and it just means that we’re celebrating our military in a better way.”
The renovation came about through a partnership that included Siesta Key resident Thomas Modly, undersecretary of the U.S. Navy from 2017 to 2019, and acting secretary through April 2020.
Modly donated proceeds from his 2023 memoir, “Vectors: Heroes, Villains, and Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy,” to cover the cost of the new poles at about $2,500.
Others pitched in to help, as well.
One of those was Andy Bass, a Marine Corps veteran who had worked on the home of Modly and his wife, Robyn, a few years ago.
“I was raised in this town, and I basically grew up on Siesta Beach,” he said. “That was where everybody went to watch the sunset.”
He said he is always eager to help service members, and said while he had admired the concept of the ceremony, the original poles hadn’t been correct for the military in his mind.
Bass, who works for Charlie’s Construction Co., found the vendor KingzCrete Construction to drill holes for the new flagpoles.
Meanwhile, SRQ Vets, a local volunteer-led nonprofit, covered the cost of the drilling, which would typically have been $1,000, although the project was discounted $200.
beaches, so it’s just nice that we have something, a lasting imprint that can be done there, and that it was brought to that community by our community,” said Rob Kehs, board president of SRQ Vets.
On Jan. 29, Thomas and Robyn Modly visited the beach to install the poles on the pier at north end of Beach Road. During the Feb. 3 ceremony, the flags were raised, with veterans taking part.
The ceremony began under Capt. Ralph Styles, who was present for the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and retired from a career in the Navy, to Siesta Key, in the 1960s.
Styles began holding the ceremony outside his home with a procession down the beach, until his death in 2009 at the age of 99.
The ceremony moved to Sunset Point, where it was revived by Mike Cosentino in 2017.
His daughter, Anne Overbeck, remained involved, volunteering with the Patriots Pier at Sunset Point group, until she died in 2025.
Modly hopes that the upgrade will serve not only the community, but also those visiting Siesta Key.
“People come here for vacation, and I hope they see the flags and they like them, and they relate to them,” Modly said. “Most everybody knows somebody that served in the military, and so they can think about that person and just take a moment and look at the flags to honor the people that serve us every day that have served us over many years. It’s a nice thing to keep perspective on.” IF YOU GO Every evening at sunset Patriots Pier, 10 Beach Road, Siesta Key
“The board was really excited about what was going to be happening out there, because Siesta Key is why a lot of people come to Sarasota, because of those white sandy
Thomas Modly adjusts the flagpoles as the sun sets.
Vanessa Lima, Wayne Bundy and Maria Guardado fold the American flag.
Robyn Modly helps finish the installation of the flagpoles.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Thomas and Robyn Modly place a flagpole on the pier.
Scottish skies and heritage
he
But
Bob Fair, president of Suncoast Scots, said the group imported the weather from Scotland for the Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival it organizes.
“We said, ‘We don’t really want rain, not a lot of wind, but we do want something that reminds us of Scotland across the pond,’” he said. “So here we got it today.”
Many attendees bundled up in scarves and warm attire as they enjoyed the traditional Highland games, a dance competition, Highland Coos, sheep herding dogs, merchandise vendors and Scottish food.
“It’s just a great day here in Sarasota to come out and celebrate your Scottish heritage, and if you’re not Scottish, just come out and celebrate, period,” Fair said.
— IAN SWABY
Both
Smitty’s Architectural
and style showcased in an astounding
James Timblin’s retired service dog, Bella, a collie and whippet mix, performs at various events. She meets Bonnie Pickett, 5.
Drum Major Steve McClure leads the way in the ceremony.
Jason Briggs, Georgia state commissioner of the Clan Irwin Association, takes a swig from a drinking horn.
Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) rides in the parade.
Osprey’s Austin Gardner, 14, of Boy Scouts of America Troop 77, and his father, John Stanley, hand out water to visitors.
Photos by Ian Swaby Jason Richards of Ocala tosses a caber.
Life revolves around the spectacular 30,000-square-foot clubhouse—now under construction and opening this fall. This is where neighbors become friends over resort pools, shared meals at indoor-outdoor dining venues, and rounds on the premier putting course. With a golf simulator, fitness center, cinema, and stunning waterfront homes by the region’s most sought-after builders, this Lakewood Ranch community is Sarasota’s most distinctive address for those who value connection as much as luxury.
A veteran’s voice
Sarasota veteran helps U.S. Marines and sailors honor those who fought in Operation Swift in Vietnam.
IAN SWABY
STAFF WRITER
Capt. George Phillips of Sarasota never wanted to revisit his service during the Vietnam War.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran never reads war books, has never been to a Vietnam movie, and never wanted to return to the site of Operation Swift.
Nonetheless, when asked to tell his story for a group of young, activeduty Marines and sailors in the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit who were on their way for a memorial visit to the site, he agreed to do so.
“I told the story again, probably about the 300th time, and I was very glad to do it,” he said.
From Jan. 9-11, the group visited the Que Son Valley along the border of the Quang Nam and Quang Tín provinces.
About 127 Marines died there.
Among those killed were two Medal of Honor recipients, Navy Chaplain Vincent Capodanno, who was serving with the Marines, and Sgt. Lawrence Peters, a squad leader.
Phillips is involved with, and also ran for a time, the Capodanno Guild, an organization that advocates for Capodanno’s canonization as a saint by the Roman Catholic church.
He says his admiration of the chaplain and his sacrifice motivates him to tell the story.
Phillips called in by phone to walk the group through the battle in detail as it unfolded nearly 58 years ago.
“This was one of many battles, but this was one of the worst,” said Phillips, recipient of two Bronze Star Combat V medals and two Purple Hearts.
During the operation on Sept. 4, 1967, about 165 U.S. Marines from Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th
Marines, engaged an estimated 2,500 North Vietnamese Army troops.
“I was about the fourth guy back from point,” Phillips told the group.
“The point guy ... said, ‘I think I saw a bush move,’ and Sully, who was the platoon sergeant, yelled back to him, ‘If it moves again, shoot it.’
Well, you know, the bush moved, he shot it, and then the whole world just opened up.”
Capodanno ran through enemy fire to reach a platoon, administering last rites and shielding the wounded.
Peters exposed himself to enemy fire as he led the troops, rescued the wounded, and directed evacuation, inspiring the Marines to regain the fight.
Phillips notes that the chapel at the Navy Chaplains School in Newport, Rhode Island, was dedicated to Capodanno.
“I felt, and I still feel, that I owe Father Capodanno a lot,” he said. “He changed the way I think about things, brought me closer to the church, and it’s not every day you meet somebody that you meet him for the first time, look in his eyes, and know he’s something special.”
Phillips closed out his speech with advice to young service members.
“I hope you never have to go through a day like this while you’re serving the Corps, but if you do, you remember that there are 250 years of Marines and Corpsmen behind you,” he recounted saying. “Don’t let them down.”
Lt. Cmdr. Luke Dundon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
chaplain, and Petty Officer
Second Class Esteban Chavarry, the unit’s religious program specialist, engage with Capt. George Phillips as he tells his story.
Image courtesy of 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
Service recognized
Before coming to Sarasota, James Thompson managed an awards ceremony for police and firefighters at the Rotary Club of New York.
He managed it for 20 of the 50 years it had been running and expects the same longevity for the awards established at Rotary Club of Sarasota.
During its weekly meeting at Marina Jack on Jan. 28, the club hosted a ceremony honoring two members of the Sarasota Police Department and one member of the Sarasota County Fire Department.
Officer Ron Dixon and Lt. Bruce
King of the Sarasota Police Marine Unit were honored for stopping a runaway boat after its driver fell overboard in April 2025, an incident that was captured on video.
Firefighter Gabe Gadah was praised for exceptional dedication to the department and for his work ethic.
“The police and fire department deserve the recognition,” Thompson said. “They’re out there every day, saving the community, doing what’s right for us. It’s nice that we have a chance to recognize them.”
Although the spotlight wasn’t something personnel from the departments were accustomed to, they said they were grateful.
Rotary Club of Sarasota hosts first awards ceremony for first responders.
“We’re honored to be here,” said Capt. Robert Armstrong of the Sarasota Police Department. “It’s really nice for the officers to receive recognition. Normally, officers don’t actually want the recognition or any attention, but it is really nice when they receive it.”
“There’s nothing better I get to do as a fire chief, and to have the Rotary Club recognize one of our folks was super special, and we really appreciated being invited to the event,” said Assistant Chief Curvin Wolfgang. Candace Yaeger, who worked on the program alongside Thompson, said the ceremony is “near and dear to her heart” as it is for Thompson and for club president Pam Akins.
“I have a lot of public servants in my family,” she said. “My father is retired police in Philadelphia. My brother is a firefighter up in Pennsylvania. For me, I grew up seeing how underappreciated all the hard work really was, so when Jim and Pam brought this to me, I’m like, ‘OK, whatever I can do to help, I will make this happen with you guys.’”
She also noted the club was excited to be celebrating its centennial anniversary this year.
Dixon, who could not attend the ceremony, was represented by officer Michael Skinner.
The rescue performed by Dixon and King involved a boat that was circling unmanned near the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
With assistance from other local agencies, the officers were able to board the boat after a tow line from Sea Tow fouled its propeller and slowed the vessel.
Dixon maneuvered alongside the boat, while King boarded it and brought it to a stop.
“I’m thankful that I had the training and the tools to do it, and everybody came out safe, but the recognition is not expected,” King said. “A little embarrassing, but it certainly is nice. It gives a lot of validation that people recognize the hard work we do.”
However, he said there were also other heroes in the room.
“The Rotary group, what a bunch
of heroes themselves, giving back to the community,” King said.
Firefighter Gabe Gadah was awarded for exceptional dedication to the fire department.
“We run about 67,000 incidents a year, so we’re a very busy agency, and I think he ran 66,999 of them,” said Wolfgang, to laughter.
He said Gadah led the agency for the third year in a row, by far performing the most intubations — a procedure to place a breathing tube — in the field, in what were critical calls.
“If I have someone that’s struggling, just to talk, someone’s having a bad day coming out of paramedic school, and I’m looking for someone to help them up, we go to this guy,” he said.
He also praised Gadah for his continued work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for showing up to the department every day in the aftermath of the hurricanes.
Thompson said that so far, the awards are a success.
“I think it went better than we anticipated,” he said. “I think the recipients were very well-deserving. The (crew and families) that were here, I think were very appreciative, and I think the honorees were appreciative, and I think our club very much thought it was a very successful program.”
Photos by Ian Swaby
Officer Michael Skinner (representing honoree Ron Dixon) of the Sarasota Police Department; Rotary Club President Pam Akins; Lt. Bruce King of the Sarasota Police Department; and honoree Gabe Gadah of Sarasota County Fire Department gather together.
Officer Michael Skinner (representing honoree Ron Dixon) of Sarasota Police Department, and Lt. Bruce King of Sarasota Police Department accept the award from Rotary Club President Pam Akins.
The attractions of Amara, diverse and extraordinary, know no equal. This begins with its Golden Gate address— for the Point is one of those rarest of natural wonders — an enclave that looks across the bay and back to the city — once-in-a-lifetime views that are yours every day.
YOUR CALENDAR
FRIDAY, FEB. 6
WATCH IT! AT THE BAY: WINTER OLYMPICS (OPENING CEREMONY)
2-5 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Watch the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics on the stadium-sized LED screen at The Bay. The Nest Café with be serving food and beverages. Registration requested. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
HEART & SOUL ON STATE STREET
7-10 p.m. at State Street. Free. At this month’s Fresh Fridays block party, which features a Valentine’s Day theme, the Josh Greyson Band will take the stage. Visit SarasotaFL. gov.
SATURDAY, FEB. 7
SARASOTA FARMERS MARKET
7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Lemon Avenue. Free. Support local Sarasota businesses at this weekly market featuring local farmers, local businesses, and local artisans. Visit SarasotaFarmersMarket.org.
SATURDAY, FEB. 7 AND SUNDAY, FEB. 8
DOWNTOWN SARASOTA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 1718 Main St., starting at Orange Avenue and heading east to Links Avenue. Free. This show features more than 200 national and regional artists, and has been ranked among the top 100 art festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine. Visit ArtFestival.com.
THURSDAY, FEB. 12
CINEMA AT THE BAY: ‘GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?’
7-8:50 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a film under the stars at The Bay. In this groundbreaking 1967 film (PG), a freethinking white woman (Katharine Hepburn), brings her fiancee, a Black doctor (Sidney Poitier) to meet her parents. Registration requested. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.
SARASOTA SENIOR LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS EXPO PRESENTED BY GUARDANT HEALTH
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Robarts Arena,
BEST BET FRIDAY, FEB. 6 AND SATURDAY, FEB. 7
2026 SARASOTA SHELL & MARINE LIFE FESTIVAL
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Potter Building, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 2896 Ringling Blvd. General admission $5; students ages 12-18 is $3. At Sarasota’s signature event celebrating shells, explore shell art, scientific and artistic exhibits, exotic and rare shells and educational programs, with raffles and prizes available. Visit SarasotaShellClub.com.
3000 Ringling Blvd. Free. This expo will feature more than 40 vendors offering health, wellness and lifestyle information, as well as free raffles and prize giveaways. Visit FloridaPenguinProductions.com.
AFTERNOON STEM: GLITTER SALT CIRCUITS
4-5 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Best for ages 5-12. Under 7 best with adult supervision. Learn about electricity and make a circuit using glitter glue, salt, LED lights and batteries. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.
As our new mausoleum nears completion, we invite families who wish to plan ahead to reserve from the limited indoor spaces available.
Also introducing our Cremation Garden
A beautifully landscaped setting designed for families who choose cremation.
Offering permanent memorial spaces where loved ones can be honored and remembered with dignity. Planning today ensures your wishes are respected tomorrow, while easing the burden on those you love. Contact us for a personal consultation.
Ian Swaby
A serving of culture
ome of the traditional foods
Slaid out across the tables at the Sarasota Jewish Food Festival can be difficult to find sometimes, said Florey Miller, who manages the goods baked by members of Temple Sinai each year.
Those include treats like hamantaschen, chocolate babka and mandel bread.
However, the 18th annual festival, held at the temple on Feb. 1, was a chance for the public and members of the temple to enjoy those foods.
“This is really special because it’s a community event, and it brings all of our members together, as well as people from the Jewish community or outside the Jewish community, to really taste what our food is,” said Sherry Thomas, president of Temple Sinai.
She said the event is one of the temple’s largest annual fundraisers, with 100 volunteers involved and attendance typically above 1,000 people.
For the second year in a row, the festival was presented in partnership with The Original Wolfie’s Restaurant, which offered the help of its staff as well as donations of sandwiches and other dishes.
Attendees could also browse items in an Arts and Treasures Sale and donate to the SunCoast Bloodmobile.
Each year, members of all ages participate in the baking of goods, deciding what items they want to offer.
“Anything that they like will sell,” Miller said.
— IAN SWABY
Ethan Freeman, 14, Skate Segal, 14, Jett Segal, 12, Florey Miller and her husband, TJ Miller, were among those serving foods baked by members.
Ron Katz and Tonya Perry, of Baca Bread, came from North Port to offer challah bread.
Photos by Ian Swaby
Rabbi Michael Cohen (right), his wife, Sharon Poczter, an economist and professor at Yeshiva University, and their daughter, Golda Cohen, 1, joined members and guests at the event.
Jeanne Bereznicki and Daniel Honig head out with some tasty picks.
Ethan Lensing, 2, enjoys a bagel.
Mira-Mar home tops
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
Ahome in MiraMar on Midnight Pass Road tops the week’s sales at $7,454,300.
Samuel and Paula Strickland, of Osprey, sold their home at 8155 Midnight Pass Road to Christopher and Michele Brown, of Sarasota, for $7,454,300.
Built in 1986, it has four bedrooms, four-andtwo-half baths, a pool and 7,497 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.2 million in 2021.
SARASOTA
MARK SARASOTA
Cheryl Town, trustee, of Palmetto, sold the Unit 615 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Lisa Ardito, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.9 million. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,122 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.2 million in 2024.
RUSTIC LODGE
M&J Pham Development LLC sold two properties at 2440 Floyd St. to Moetown LLC for $1,725,000. The first property was built in 2024 and has four bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 2,362 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2024 and has one bedroom, one bath and 384 square feet of living area.
PALM PLACE
James Edward Walden IV, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 502 condominium at 755 S. Palm Ave. to Alan Glover, trustee, of Sarasota, for $785,000. Built in 1983, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,421 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2015.
THOMPSON
Ryan McKeehan, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 2375 Datura St. to Erick Alexander Dunn, of Miami, for $699,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,859 square feet of living area. It sold for $645,000 in 2024.
INDIAN BEACH
Kathleen Chase LLC sold the home at 730 40th St. to Heather MacDonald, of Sarasota, for $695,000. Built in 1954, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,598 square feet of living area.
PAYNE PARK VILLAGE
David Joseph Kozlowski Jr. and Jennifer Wilder Kozlowski, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2408 Ezzell Court to Nicholas and Jennifer Bennice, of Rexford, New York, for $655,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,051 square feet of living area. It sold for $700,000 in 2023.
PINECRAFT
In the Center of It All LLC sold the
home at 1326 Yoder Ave. to Paul and Patricia Yoder, of Nappanee, Indiana, for $655,000. Built in 1945, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,266 square feet of living area. It sold for $38,600 in 1991.
SOUTH GATE
Kelley Rea and Mary Jean Jecklin, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3300 Mineola Drive to 3300 Mineola Holdings LLC for $637,000. Built in 1956, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,701 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2004.
William O’Connor and Karen Blondin, trustees, of Sarasota, Advanta IRA Services LLC FBO William O’Connor IRA and Advanta IRA Services LLC FBO Karen S. Blondin IRA sold the home at 2517 S. Brink Ave. to Giovanni and Ines Lunardi, of Sarasota, for $637,000. Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths, a pool and 1,505 square feet of living area. It sold for $485,000 in 2022.
HAWKINS COURT
Michael Diiulio, trustee, of Punta Gorda, sold two properties at 1825 Hawkins Court to Katherine McGuire Phillips and Katrina Marie Silva, of Earlville, Maryland, for $560,000. The first property was built in 1925 and has two bedrooms,
Other top sales by area
SARASOTA:
$1.95 MILLION
San Remo Estates
M&J Pham Development LLC sold the home at 3851 Tangier Terrace to Michael Griffith and Debra Griffith, of Sarasota, for $1.95 million. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,379 square feet of living area. It sold for $900,000 in 2025.
PALMER RANCH: $1,137,500
Esplanade on Palmer Ranch
Patricia Gelfand, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5419 Lago Maggio St. to Debby Miedema, of Sarasota, for $1,137,500. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,383 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,125,000 in 2023.
OSPREY: $1.85 MILLION
Oaks II
Gregory Vahle, trustee, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, sold the home at 453 E. Mac Ewen Drive to Kimberley Day, trustee, of Osprey, for $1.85 million. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,191 square feet of living area. It sold for $840,000 in 2013.
NOKOMIS: $675,000
Calusa Lakes Scott and Beth Gronland, of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, sold their home at 2042 Timucua Trail to Dennis Hulbert, trustee, of Nokomis, for $675,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,560 square feet of living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2018.
Photos courtesy of realtor Faith Stutzman
The home at 3851 Tangier Terrace was built in 2024 and has three bedrooms, three
The home at 3851 Tangier Terrace was built in 2024 and has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,379 square feet of living area.
one bath and 609 square feet of living area. The second property as built in 1997 and has one bedroom, one bath and 518 square feet of living area.
ESSEX HOUSE
Richard Barthelmess, trustee, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, sold the Unit 407 condominium at 707 S. Gulfstream Ave. to Robert Schroeder, of East Lansing, Michigan, for $550,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,247 square feet of living area. It sold for $142,000 in 1994.
THE 101 John Norris Stone and George Gaines Thurman Vasu sold their Unit 5-G condominium at 101 S. Gulfstream Ave. to Renee Mimica, of Sarasota, for $530,000. Built in 1974, it has one bedroom, two baths and 965 square feet of living area. It sold for $510,000 in 2024.
PELICAN COVE
Gary and Thordis Gulden, trustees, Waldoboro, Maine, sold the home at 1531 Clower Creek Drive to Anitra’s Escape LLC for $506,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,635 square feet of living area. It sold for $345,000 in 2015.
SIESTA KEY
BAY ISLAND
Debra Kay Griffith and Michael Griffith, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 604 Norsota Way to M&J Pham Development LLC for $1.25 million. The first property was built in 1926 and has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,469 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 1925 and has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,067 square feet of living area. The sold for $3.4 million in 2024.
SARASOTA BEACH
Robert Bernier and Karen Morin, of Siesta Key, sold their home at 5448 Avenida Del Mare to Joseph and Deborah Carbo, of Chapel Hill,
North Carolina, for $681,300. Built in 1949, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,258 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.35 million in 2025.
THE ANCHORAGE
William Joseph Drees, trustee, of Vandalia, Ohio, sold the Unit 310 condominium at 6415 Midnight Pass Road to James and Sharon Horning, of Liberty Township, Ohio, for $600,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,290 square feet of living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2020.
THE POINTE ON MIDNIGHT
PASS
John and Diana Lanza, of Caldwell, New Jersey, sold their Unit 505 condominium at 9397 Midnight Pass Road to Momentum Moves LLC for $530,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,029 square feet of living area. It sold for $104,000 in 1986.
PALMER RANCH
ISLES OF SARASOTA
Peter Yewshenko and Relissa Jaremenko Yewshenko sold their home at 5827 Benevento Drive to Lawton Pretre, Lauren Pretre and Kristin Pretre Borbely, of Sarasota, for $530,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,008 square feet of living area. It sold for $562,600 in 2006.
OSPREY
MERIDIAN AT THE OAKS
PRESERVE
Barbara Stanzak, of Chanhassen, Minnesota, sold her Unit 501 condominium at 409 N. Point Road to Patricia Pedersen, of Marshall, Virginia, for $675,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,594 square feet of living area. It sold for $580,000 in 2004.
BELISSIMO: Julie and Mike Johnson enjoying reading the Sarasota Observer on the slopes of Canazei, Italy.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
MEGA FREESTYLE 3 by Rafael Musa, edited by Jared Goudsmit
