Siesta Key Observer 12.24.20

SIESTA KEY

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VOLUME 51, NO. 23

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Who’s on the nice list?

PAGE 13A

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

In the right direction

School budget deficit forecasts shrink as year closes. PAGE 3A

Harry Sayer

Siesta condos win contest

The Siesta Key Condominium Council recently named the winners of its annual outdoor decorating contest.

The annual competition takes place among residences and vacation rental complexes in three size categories.

Judges named Excelsior Condos, Fisherman’s Cove and Sea Shell Condos as the winners in the large, medium and small categories.

Council Director Hilla Blatt noted that there were 13 contestants this year — a smaller number than usual — but that the ones that did enter did an outstanding job, not to mention several condos that decorated without participating.

More than a job Downtown business lends a hand.

SEE PAGE 1B

Harry Sayer

Mercedes Matthews makes coffee and ice cream and might one day deliver it with the company’s delivery bike.

Courtesy Photo

Equine trio takes over

Right on the hooves of two veteran horses departing the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office’s Mounted Patrol Unit, three new horse recruits have joined the organization.

Colonel, Sabre and Special will soon be found in the Sarasota community.

The trio were gifted to the Sheriff’s Office in February and have spent much of the year undergoing training.

Colonel is a 6-year-old Bay Thoroughbred Gelding donated by an agency in Indiantown. Sabre is a 15-year-old Bay Quarter Horse Gelding donated from Polk City. Special is a 16-year-old Bay Oldenburg Mare from Myakka City.

Building on holiday traditions Courtesy photos

Nurse Cathy Semmens has more than 60 buildings in her Christmas village.

Memories of seasons gone by fuel new sentiments.

SEE PAGE 6A

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Circus of a holiday.

SEE PAGE 17A

WH AT’S H A PPENING

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

WEEK OF DEC. 24, 2020

Fired CEO sues company

“We had a large number of students who kind of chose to red shirt themselves out of kindergarten or who chose home-school options or virtual school options, which provide less funding.”

Former FCCI Insurance Group CEO Craig Johnson, fired in May after his arrest on a charge of a battery on two police officers during an incident at a Sarasota restaurant, is suing the company and seeking more than $5 million in damages.

According to the filing, Johnson alleges that pursuant to his employment agreement, he “should have been paid out a severance of $5.05 million, 12 months of COBRA continuation and unused accrued PTO, for which he has not been paid.”

“We are in receipt of Mr. Johnson’s complaint and are currently reviewing the allegations,” the company said.

On Dec. 7, Johnson entered a no contest plea to reduced charges for misdemeanor obstruction and misdemeanor assault on a law enforcement officer.

Mitsi Corcoran, Sarasota County Schools’ chief financial officer. READ MORE ON PAGE 3A

BY THE NUMBERS 43,388

Sarasota County Schools first semester enrollment.

PAGE 3A

200

Families helped this holiday season by Mothers Helping Mothers.

PAGE 13A

20-30

Planned full-time employees of Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches.

PAGE 1B

Courtesy photo

CALENDAR n Regular Sarasota City Commission meeting — 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Regular Sarasota County School Board meeting — 3 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, Board Chambers, 1980 Landings Blvd. n Regular Sarasota County Commission meeting — 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, Commission Chambers, 1660 Ringling Blvd.

Sheriff’s toy drive doubles up on 2019

D

onations to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office toy drive, benefiting children enrolled in the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Guardian Ad Litem program, more than doubled the totals from last year.

From Dec. 1-15, donations to the program reached 3,608 toys and $11,340 in gift cards.

Gifts were selected for

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Sheriff-elect Col. Kurt A. Hoffman (left) and Guardian Ad Litem Circuit Director Toni Latortue (center) were joined by Sheriff’s Office members and GAL employees following the donation delivery.

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children ranging from newborn to 18 years old who reside in Sarasota, Manatee or DeSoto counties and have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

“We really had no idea what to expect this year in terms of support,” said Colonel Kurt A. Hoffman, the county’s sheriff-elect.

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The home is in Hamrick’s name.

jobs and businesses shut down due to COVID-19, our goal was simply to match last year’s numbers. You can imagine our surprise when we counted the toys and realized we more than doubled last year’s donation.”

In 2019, the Sheriff’s Office donated 1,453 toys including $4,120 in gift cards.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

BACK ON THE PATH Sarasota County Schools started the year with a projected deficit of $21.8 million. At the semester break, that’s down to $18.3 million, with more federal dollars on the way.

File photos

When school got underway in late August, school budget planners didn’t know they would have to recalculate their figures several times during the first semester.

BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER

A

fter much uncertainty over how COVID-19 would affect the district’s $503 million operating budget, district administrators say the plan is slowly getting back on track.

Quick-changing COVID-19 regulations and state directives prompted administrators to rework budget projections several times. However, the latest show the district is closer than ever to ending with a balanced budget.

Original projections had the district ending the 2020-21 year with a $21.8 million deficit. New projections show the district with an $18.3 million deficit thanks to several changes. And the district is eligible for up to $5.1 million in new coronavirus relief, which will go toward paying staff for an extra week of training before the start of the school year in August.

Under the state’s Emergency Order No. 6, the district would receive funding based on what legislators approved in the General Appropriations Act. Half the funds were awarded in October and the other half will be awarded in February.

That order meant that the district still received funding based on projected number of students, not the actual number of enrolled students, which Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent Mitsi Corcoran said helped the district immensely.

“This has proven to be a lifesaver for us because we are down large numbers of students,” Corcoran said. “We had a large number of

students who kind of chose to red shirt themselves out of kindergarten or who chose home-school options or virtual school options which provide less funding.”

The district projected an enrollment of 44,845 students for the 2020-21 school year. The actual student enrollment is 43,388.

With per-student funding at about $8,000, that’s an $11.6 million difference between projected enrollment and actual.

Although the emergency order helped schools with lower enrollment numbers, it didn’t help districts that have seen an increase in enrollment.

Districts that have a higher number of enrolled students will receive funding based on actual enrollment.

The cost to fund the increase in growth districts will be proportionately spread across all school districts, and the estimated impact for Sarasota is a reduction of $1.5 million in projected revenue. The revenue in the new budget has been adjusted accordingly.

Even with the reduction, Corcoran said the plan is “more generous” than anticipated.

“I can’t tell you how relieved we were when this emergency order came out in terms of where it leaves us for the current year,” she said.

According to its latest projections, the district anticipates ending the school year with $49.7 million in its reserve fund after covering for deficits, which is equal to 10.9% of its revenue, within the state’s mandated 3% and the district’s more stringent

The school district scheduled, and had to pay for, five extra training days before classes started in August.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS — AGAIN As the district adjusted to new expenses and changes in funding from the state, administrators had to recalculate the $503 million operating budget several times.

The latest projections show the budget has a lower deficit than administrators projected at the beginning of the year, but some areas are costing the district more than anticipated.

For example: FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIPS The district will see higher revenues than originally predicted. It will receive $1.5 million more from the Florida Education Finance Program and another $828,156 from other scholarships.

INSTRUCTION Due to decreased enrollment, the district started the year with 34 fewer teacher units than normal.

Additionally, there were several staff

self-imposed minimum of 7.5%.

Costs for several line items of the budget came in lower than anticipated, including scholarships, travel and teacher units.

The district reduced full-time teacher positions by 34 because of vacancies and leaves, and there wasn’t a need for as many teachers this year due to lower enrollment.

As of Oct. 31, the district had more than 100 instructional vacancies.

However, some estimated revenues also came in higher than anticipated. For example, materials and services is higher because of personal protective equipment purchases, and the operation of plant appropriations are higher because the district is pumping more air through the schools to improve circulation.

Still, Assistant Budget Director Christa Curtner said the district is in good shape.

“All in all, it’s trending very well,” Curtner said. “It was a breath of fresh air.”

In previous years, the district had a revenue stream for Best and Brightest incentives for teachers. That program was replaced this year by the statewide teacher salary increase allocation, which allowed the base salary for all Sarasota teachers to be raised to $47,500.

The increase means the district will receive about $3 million more than it would have for the Best and Brightest allocation.

vacancies or leaves of absence. So the district is saving about $7.4 million on instruction this year.

AIR CONDITIONING The district is spending $676,000 more than budgeted on operation of cooling plants largely due to the increased circulation of air. The district is pumping more air through all campuses to allow for better circulation.

FOOD SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION Another $44,000 will be saved on transportation and food services.

This is in large part due to less travel because the district is not allowing field trips at this time.

TEACHER TRAINING The district added five extra duty days ahead of the school year to help train teachers for concurrent learning. Increases to instruction and curriculum development services and instructional staff training services total $180,000.

The district also had to recalculate federal relief funds that were previously budgeted for private schools. Originally, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said private schools were to receive funding proportionally based on enrollment.

However, after several court cases were filed disputing the mandate, DeVos reversed her position, which caused the district to recalculate. The reappropriation left the district with about $300,000 to apply toward public school use.

Now that the district has a contingency plan for struggling concurrent learners submitted to the state, Corcoran said the district can request the $5.1 million in relief funds for which it’s eligible.

Board members questioned why the district hadn’t already received funds, but Corcoran said the administrative changes caused delays while the budget was repeatedly recalculated.

“There’s been a lot of talk in the Legislature about why these dollars haven’t been spent because we’re claiming we’re suffering, and I agree,” Corcoran said. “It’s just that there’s the administrative burden of having to change what went to private schools and teacher salaries, and I only wanted to bite the apple one time. I didn’t want to keep going back with nickel and dimes.”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Selby, appraiser still at odds Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is preparing for a legal battle with Tax Appraiser Bill Furst over its tax-exempt status in the new year.

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

After decades of being exempt from local property taxes, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is facing nearly $1 million in taxes and assessments on its bayfront campus near downtown Sarasota.

Selby Gardens officials said the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s decision to deny the nonprofit its tax-exempt status represents a change that jeopardizes the organization’s financial outlook. Since 2016, Selby has been granted more than $60 million in tax exemptions annually on the property at 1534 Mound St. In 2020, the entirety of the site’s $61.8 million assessed value is taxable.

“The bill we’ve been issued … is absolutely crippling to this organization and is something that would greatly affect our longterm sustainability,” Selby President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki said.

The property appraiser’s office said the challenge to Selby’s tax exemption — an effort that dates back more than a year — was a response to business activity that did not adhere to state standards for tax-exempt property, citing Selby’s partnership with a for-profit food service provider.

After notifying Selby Gardens,

Property Appraiser Bill Furst said the botanical garden had failed to provide information justifying its tax-exempt status.

“The burden is on the applicant to prove that they are qualified to receive an exemption,” Furst said. “When that is not done, no exemption is granted in the interest of fairness to all others.”

At the center of the dispute is a section of the Florida Statutes pertaining to the tax-exempt status of such properties as Selby Gardens.

“Only those portions of property used predominantly for charitable, religious, scientific or literary purposes shall be exempt,” the statute states. “In no event shall an incidental use of property either qualify such property for an exemption or impair the exemption of an otherwise exempt property.”

Furst’s office has contended that Selby’s exclusive catering agreement with Michael’s On East for the site’s event space represents a nonexempt, nonincidental use. Selby Gardens argued that events and other disputed activity on the site are a small fraction of the income the nonprofit generates.

Furst pointed to a section of the Michael’s On East website advertising event sites on the Selby property, including

MASTER PLAN UPDATE The City Commission will continue its review of a proposal to redevelop the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens property at its Jan. 4 meeting.

The commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the rezoning and site plan application for the 14.7-acre site at 1534 Mound St. Selby Gardens is seeking the city’s approval to build a four-story, 450-space parking garage, a plant research building, a welcome center and an accessory restaurant. The site plan application represents the first phase in a three-phase, $72 million master plan for redesigning the Selby campus.

Earlier this month, the commission voted 4-1 to approve a zoning text amendment proposed to facilitate the master plan.

File photo

Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens is a popular venue for galas and other events. The relationship between Michael’s On East and Selby Gardens is at the center of a dispute over the botanical gardens’ tax-exempt status.

Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens, a 4,800-square-foot venue described as “Sarasota’s premier waterfront indoor event facility.”

In an Oct. 9 letter to the property appraiser’s office, attorney Morgan Bentley disputed the notion that the partnership with Michael’s represented a change in operations at Selby or a violation of tax-exempt eligibil-

ity. Bentley said that Selby Gardens has ultimate authority over which events are allowed to occur on its property, adding that less than 2.5% of the organization’s revenue comes from commissions derived from the agreement with Michael’s On East.

In an interview with the Sarasota Observer, Bentley said thirdparty vendors have always provided food service for events at Selby Gardens. The 2015 partnership with Michael’s On East just ensured Selby Gardens got a cut of the catering income, money that gets funneled toward Selby’s plant research mission, Bentley and Rominiecki said.

“There’s been no change in activity that would have changed the underlying analysis that’s been written in stone for decades,” Bentley said. “It’s a little baffling why this change of course is happening.”

Although Furst said Selby has failed to provide sufficient information to justify exemption of the property, Selby representatives said they’ve shared substantial documentation. Asked whether Selby Gardens would be entitled to its tax exemption if the partnership with Michael’s On East were terminated, Bentley said it’s unclear whether that’s the entirety of the property appraiser’s objection.

“It’s a little bit like whack-amole,” Bentley said. “Every time you go back and try to address an individual issue, another one pops up.”

Selby Gardens is appealing the property appraiser’s determination. The dispute is scheduled to head to the Value Adjustment Board for a hearing in front of a magistrate Jan. 21, according to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

5A

St. Armands group advances parklet plan The St. Armands Business Improvement District also wants to work with city staff on plans to potentially allow housing and hotels in the Circle.

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

A

re visitors to St. Armands Circle interested in playing a game of chess?

That’s just one of the questions the St. Armands Business Improvement District hopes to answer by building a parklet in the median along South Boulevard of the Presidents.

At its Nov. 18 meeting, the BID unanimously voted to approve a concept design for a small amenity zone set to include a small performance area, rocking chairs, an oversized chessboard and overhead lighting. The final product is still subject to change, but the BID board of directors expressed excitement about the parklet as an opportunity to bring energy to the Circle and to encourage outdoor activity.

“I want people to come to St. Armands Circle and go, ‘Oh, my God, this place is so cool,’” board member Geoffrey Michel said.

The BID worked with Dan Lear of DSDG Architects on the design.

Lear estimated the cost of the project as designed at $19,813.

Although the BID voted to move forward with the project, board members and other stakeholders did have some questions. Multiple board members questioned whether the outdoor equipment, such as the chess pieces, might

be stolen from the public space.

Lear said the visibility of the site should prevent issues during the day, and chess pieces are relatively inexpensive to replace.

Board member Gavin Meshad questioned whether the BID could make better use of the space dedicated to the chessboard, suggesting additional seating could be more practical. Diana Corrigan, the executive director of the St. Armands Circle Association, wanted to make sure that the project was being designed to complement shopping and dining activity in the commercial district and stated she didn’t want the Circle to become “a place of amusement.”

Michel and board member Mindy Kauffman said they liked the chessboard, with Michel stating he got positive feedback on the feature from people who saw the concept image. BID Operations Manager Brandy Wiesner said she saw the game as a bonus feature, not an attraction.

“I don’t think someone’s going to say, ‘I’m just going to go out there to play chess and leave,’” Wiesner said. “That would be surprising to me.”

Before it can build the parklet, the BID will work with the city on a plan for long-term management of the public space.

The group also remained undecided on some aspects of the

things work as we start expanding our overall vision of the Circle.”

ZONING UPDATES

Rendering courtesy of city of Sarasota

At a Nov. 18 meeting, Dan Lear of DSDG Architects presented a concept image depicting the proposed design of a parklet on St. Armands Circle.

Amenities include a stage, rocking chairs and lighting for daytime and nighttime.

project, discussing the possibility of removing the performance stage and freeing up funds for a second parklet on North Boulevard of the Presidents. The board initially conceived of the project as a trial program to explore the addition of a variety of amenities to St. Armands.

Despite some debate about spe-

cifics, the group remained committed to the parklet as an exciting placemaking opportunity.

“Are people going to rush to the Circle because we have a chessboard out there?” Meshad said.

“Probably not. But is it going to spur a little bit of interest and a little bit of panache? I think it’s a good test run to see how these

The BID continues to pursue larger changes to the zoning on St. Armands Circle, voting unanimously to work with Lear and city staff on an effort to revise the building rules within the district.

The board agreed to retain Lear as a consultant for up to $35,000 as the BID pursues amendments to the code for St. Armands. In a presentation to the BID, Lear identified three goals from the zoning amendment process: n Promote residential construction on the Circle; n Allow hotels in the district; and n Include guidelines for future development.

Once the process of exploring potential zoning changes begins in earnest, Kauffman said it was crucial to reach out to other stakeholders including residents and merchants.

“I know we all have some idea of what we want to achieve, but I don’t know that we have exact numbers of exactly how high, exactly how many units,” Kauffman said. “Until we really engage the community, we’re not going to have a sense of what other options and challenges are going to be there.”

As it attempts to identify the optimal process for pursuing revisions, board members spoke highly about the potential to transform St. Armands.

“This is the only way we’re going to take the Circle to the next level,” Meshad said.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Holidays past and present Sarasota residents look back on their favorite holiday memories and share how they’ll celebrate the season this year.

HARRY SAYER AND BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITERS

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sk a person their favorite holiday memory, and you’re sure to get tales of Santa Claus, delicious food and perhaps even some holi-

Tim and Jan (Hamel) Solomon

BEACHY RECOLLECTIONS

day mishaps.

The holidays are sure to look a little different this year with many traditions adjusted to accommodate for best COVID-19 safety practices, but that doesn’t mean the cheer has to stop.

We asked a few Sarasota residents to share their favorite memories of holidays past and how they plan to celebrate the season this year. Although there are tales of roof-built trampolines and snowed-in parents almost missing Christmas, all the memories had one unifying factor: time spent with family.

White Christmas in the Hamel household meant watermelon at the beach after dinner with family. No one ate until the Christmas story was read, and we gave sincere thanks for our blessings. Christmas Eve candlelight service was followed by a drive to see our small-town paradise aglow with lights and manger scenes from Marina Jack to Midnight Pass. Faith, hope and love were cherished and modeled in my Sarasota childhood. When the Solomons came to visit from faraway lands for the holidays, the good china came out with stories from these old friends.

The next chapter began as we (Jan and her husband, Tim) were married by both fathers and set sail with our young family to “change the world.” The world followed us home with Sarasota becoming the top city in the U.S. for retirement. As a beach girl who has now taken 40,000 guests on our Key Sailing yacht charters, I have experi-

Courtesy photos

The photo was taken at Jungle Gardens in 1964. Parents Jean Hamel and Rev. Dr. J. D. “Bud” Hamel. Children are JoAnne, Jan, John.

enced the secret of our community spirit.

Here we live and give together as family.

And even though it seems we have invited more people to play in the sand, we are still a small town.

So how are we spending Christmas with our children and grandchildren? Trimming the tree, looking at lights from the sea and yes, giving thanks for our blessings.

JAN SOLOMON, SARASOTA TOWN GRANDMA

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

A TIME TO KEEP PERSPECTIVE FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY

MATT WALSH

I

n this season to be jolly, it is, by golly, hard to be jolly.

And if you’re not all that jolly, when you think of what you, your family, your friends, your business and your work colleagues have endured in this trying year, perhaps we should put it in perspective — keep our perspective on what this season is really all about.

Compare, for instance, our lives today to those of Mary and Joseph in the year 4 A.D. We all know what happened on Christmas — as St. Luke masterfully wrote in his Gospel (see box). But having some of the context that led up to that holy, remarkable day adds to its richness.

In truth, Jesus’ birth is a story for Jews and Christians alike. After all, Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, were Jews. And the setting for this momentous, monumental event was in the heart of the land that God promised to Abraham and Moses: Israel.

The main characters leading up to Jesus’ birth — Mary; Joseph; Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth; and her husband, Zacharias — were anything but celebrities in their day. They were as common as Iowa farmers. And yet, in reality, Mary and Joseph were indeed connected to royalty. Biblical scholars tell us they actually were both descendants from the lineage of King David, the longtime king of Israel.

But at that time — around 4 B.C. — the Jews of Judea (central Israel) were anything but a privileged, royal class.

They were living under the rule of Caesar Augustus and his vast Roman empire and under a maniac ruler, King Herod, an Arab-Jew who was a client king for Caesar Augustus.

Imagine life under Herod. The biblical historian Josephus wrote that “Herod inflicted such outrages upon the Jews as not even a beast could have done if it possessed the power to rule over men.” So vile and monstrous, Herod became infamous for murdering his wife, three of his own sons, his father-in-law, his brother-in-law and 300 of his military leaders.

On top of this, and even though Herod allowed Jews to practice their religion without much interference, the Jews also had to contend with the Samaritans, half-Jew, half-Gentile who lived between Judea and Galilee.

“The enmity between Jew and Samaritan was so intense” wrote biblical historian James Edward Talmadge, “that travelers between Judea and Galilee would make long detours rather than pass through Samaria.”

This is what Mary and Joseph faced when they received word of Caesar Augustus’ order for a census. He demanded that everyone register in his hometown. For Mary and Joseph, this meant traveling from Nazareth in Galilee in the north to Bethlehem in Judea in the south — an 80-mile, four-day journey that would have taken them right through Samaria.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

— St. Luke, 2:1-16, King James Bible

And let’s not forget: Mary was nine months pregnant.

In his gospel on the birth of Christ, St. Luke was sparing on the details of Mary and Joseph’s trip. The fact there are few details must mean it was mostly uneventful. But you could imagine it otherwise: Any woman in her ninth month of pregnancy is physically miserable — can’t sit for long stretches, can’t sleep, constant heartburn, hemorrhoids. So imagine Mary and Joseph traveling in a caravan, with Mary riding much of the trip on a donkey. The nights were cold.

On Dec. 23, they had two days to go before reaching Bethlehem. And at this point, they would just be passing through Samaria. Jewish travelers who dared that route were marks for bandits.

But we know God was watching over Mary and Joseph. They made it to Bethlehem, but only to find out there was no room at the inn.

Bethlehem was normally a sleepy little town, but it was bustling with Jews who had returned to register for the census.

Mary and Joseph, we know, found a stable. But this wasn’t the stable we see on the Hallmark Christmas cards.

The stables in those days often were dark, cold caves with “mangers” — animal-feeding troughs carved into the stone walls. The mangers in those days were not wooden cribs padded with dry, neatly arranged hay.

With nowhere else to go, Mary gave birth — under the stars; amid the manure and muck; among the sheep, cows, goats and chickens; no doctors present to administer an epidural; with Joseph, her carpenter husband, assisting as best he could. Those who have witnessed birth know it’s difficult

in a hospital bed. Imagine the scene in a smelly, dark, cold cave.

Yet this lowly, humble setting was the way Jesus Christ, the savior whom God sent for mankind, came into this world.

Now contrast the differences: Caesar Augustus maneuvering for worldly power and the biggest worldwide celebrity of his day; Herod, a regional celebrity, abusing his power in unspeakable ways. They were all about self-centered status, power and ego.

Mary and Joseph were the antithesis. Humble, not materially wealthy, ordinary in all appearances. And yet they were extraordinary.

God sent his messenger, the angel Gabriel, and stunned the innocent Mary, that she would conceive miraculously and bring forth a son who would “reign over the house of Jacob forever.” She would be his mother.

And Joseph, the quiet carpenter, he fretted over what would happen to Mary, his fiancee, if people found out she was pregnant before they were married. The angel Gabriel gave comfort to Joseph, just as he did to Mary.

And with humility, without complaint and far below the status of celebrity, they carried out God’s will, remembering all the while Gabriel’s assurance to Mary: “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.”

This is our heritage.

If we do anything in this holiday season, we should keep our perspective — give thanks to God and bring “peace on earth, good will toward men.”

Happy Hanukkah. Merry Christmas.

(Editor’s note: A version of this has appeared annually since 2010.)

Caesar Augustus and Herod were all about self-centered status, power and ego. … Mary and Joseph were the antithesis. Humble, not materially wealthy, ordinary in all appearances. And yet they were extraordinary.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Memories FROM PAGE 6A

KEEPING THE VIBE ALIVE A favorite holiday memory of ours is enjoying the food, lights and festivities of New York City in December. We visited the Rockefeller Center with the famous ginormous tree in 2016.

This year, we are enjoying Christmas locally with a tropical vibe and, of course, a lot of glitter and twinkling lights. Those are 365-day staples in our house — the boys are used to my “decorating” style after so many years.

We really do miss traveling and connecting in person with our friends and family, so 2021 can’t come fast enough. Until then, sending you all socially distant holiday cheer!

Above: Pat Robinson Left: Pat Robinson as a baby growing up in the city he now serves.

UMBREEN KHALIDI-MAJEED PHILANTHROPIST

WHAT A PLACE TO GROW UP

Courtesy photos

Umbreen and Farhan Khalidi-Majeed with their children, Rehan and Zain, in New York City in 2016.

As a child growing up in Sarasota in the 1980s and ’90s, Christmastime was always a blur of shopping with my dad in Burdine’s at Southgate for my mom and little sister, pining over the newest Nintendo games at KB Toys, buying special ingredients for Christmas dinner with my mom at Geier’s Market and fancy holiday dinners with my grandparents at Marina Jack. I grew up on Pine Terrace on the east side of U.S. 41 and have vivid memories of walking our two Dalmatians across U.S. 41 into Oyster Bay to look at all the Christmas lights and decorations on the “big houses.”

One memory stands out in my early childhood: One fateful Christmas, Santa saw fit to deliver a 17-foot circular trampoline into our backyard. This resulted in my little sister and me spending hours on Christmas day (freezing in 50-degree weather) jumping up and down. In my mind, this giant gift had to have come from Santa himself. Little did I know my parents assembled it all on Christmas Eve, outdoors in the dark and cold.

My folks worked extra jobs during the

holidays most years to make sure my sister and I had everything we needed. The trampoline was just one of many examples of my parents putting in extra work that I never had an inkling of as a kid.

Now with a family of my own, I have come to truly appreciate what my parents made look so very easy but must have been so very difficult: the extra hours they put in, so we had a safe home and stable environment to grow up in. Christmas was always great in the Robinson household. I’m so grateful my parents allowed our family to have those memories.

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SEE MEMORIES, PAGE 10A

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Memories

We Serve All Families

FROM PAGE 9A

BRING ON THE LIGHT

In this time of need, know who to call.

I have two different distinct favorite memories of my childhood. One is decorating the window. In Judaism, the holiday is the festival of lights, and the one commandment that's associated with it is that you're supposed to publicize the miracle. So you put your menorah in your window.

And my mom, who is very creative, got us stickers and all kinds of things to put in the window, but all the decorating was inside the house. Growing up as a Jewish kid, we never did anything outside of the house. But we have these big windows on either side of our front doors, and I remember decorating them and feeling so proud and excited that I got to put something in the window.

Another thing is a vivid memory of just staring into the flames of the menorah while my family was singing, and my grandpa was leading the blessings. I always love the melody; the Hanukkah blessings are wonderful and very traditional. And then my mom, who is silly, would play popular songs because there were so many hit songs lighting candles.

So I remember the transition from my grandfather's booming, serious prayer voice into my mom's silly songs and just looking at the flame. And that was the first time I think I saw that blue color in fire. And I remember thinking, "Look, it's blue for Hanukkah."

This year, my family's doing stuff, and then we have our

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congregation doing stuff. In my family, I've really taken the lessons of displaying the miracle and the idea of it being the festival of lights, and I decorated my house outside as well. We went a little crazy this year because of COVID-19 and being stuck at home. So we kept getting more decorations, and we have friends who joke around saying we're the Sarasota Hanukkah house, and we're very proud that of that.

As a congregation, we've actually been doing all sorts of things.

We're reading children’s books to classrooms across Sarasota, we're doing virtual lightings every night at 5 p.m., and we have a virtual room where people can explore Hanukkah traditions.

Even though we can't be together, we're still finding ways to celebrate.

Rabbi Samantha Kahn and her family are celebrating the festival of lights with bright yard decorations.

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SEE TOP MEMORIES, PAGE 12A

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

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Memories

A BABY CHANGES EVERYTHING

FROM PAGE 10A

MAN OF THE HOUSE

I grew up on the south side of Chicago as the oldest of three brothers. My parents must have thought I was a pretty responsible kid because by the age of 15, they would have me order food for our restaurant, collect rent and take care of both of my brothers whenever they were out of the house. Well, one December, my parents decided to take a quick road trip to Texas and leave me at home with my brothers for a few days. No big deal.

They left us food and cash enough for five days. But on their way back from Texas, they hit a storm, which would delay their return. Now, instead of coming back on Christmas Eve, they would be getting back on the night of the 25th at the earliest. It was my job to now make Christmas happen for my two brothers.

At 10 and 5, they were still very much into Santa, so I needed to somehow make that happen.

I took the remaining cash and went to the local Woolworth’s to buy as many toys as possible and then went to the local grocery to get what they requested: hot chocolate and T-bone steaks. My parents owned a restaurant, so I figured, how hard could it be?

Courtesy photos

So I took the still-frozen T-bone steak and threw it in a frying pan.

The apartment filled with smoke, set the fire alarms off, and the steak was ruined, but I wouldn’t let Christmas be ruined.

I spoiled my brothers with hot chocolate, and while they were asleep, I wrapped the Woolworth gifts and put them under the tree.

My brothers woke up shortly after 7 a.m. to see Santa had made it, though with a slightly cheaper assortment of gifts.

My parents arrived later that night with even more gifts and then spoiled us with food. We never fully told my parents about our sibling Christmas until months later, but it remains one of the most special memories for me and my brothers.

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WILL LUERA, DIRECTOR OF IMPROVISATION AT FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE

Let’s rewind to my first Christmas as a mom. Everything was enveloped with a magical glow. Our son was shy of 1 and full of smiles and constant “oooo’s” and “aaaahh’s” from my husband and I. This magical holiday was catapulted to the next level. It didn’t just define what I wanted. It was about reliving childhood through the eyes of my pre-toddler. Santa was real again.

My husband and I had a new slate on which to create new traditions.

Matching pajamas entered our realm. Other traditions include getting the tree and shopping for ornaments that honor each year to

provide a timeline. We jumped right on board the family photos wave.

Fast forward to Christmas 2020: We are now a family of four and are looking forward to having our annual Mom versus Dad cookie bake-off, annual matching pajamas, watching “Elf” as many times as possible, doing puzzles next to the tree, praying for surf and savoring fleeting years.

It has been a tradition to help others in our community during this time of year before the pandemic hit, and this year we were thrilled to adopt a family via Meals on Wheels.

We hope that as we embark on a new year, the climate will be renewed and full of unity and love.

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REMEMBERING HERITAGE The fondest memories and traditions in my family are with loved ones and my Cuban heritage. We celebrate Noche Buena on the 24th in anticipation of Christmas Day. We roast a full pig with all the Cuban sides of black beans, rice, plantains, yucca and more. However, what will always resonate with me is the joy of bringing the family together to prepare.

To me, it is not the food, the lights or the gifts.

It is the sense of time. Time with those we hold nearest to our hearts. This year has taught me that the simpler things in life matter the most.

Time is of the essence, as they say, and we truly don’t know how much we will have left of it. So in short, once we realize how essential cutting onions, slicing garlic and squeezing citrus with your loved ones is, I believe that those moments become wholly irreplaceable and unforgettable.

ROGELIO CAPOTE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE SERVICES AT CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH

IT TAKES A VILLAGE When I started as a nurse about 20 years ago, I started collecting pieces for my Christmas village. Over the years, my collection has grown, and I now have hundreds of pieces. There are 60 houses along with people, trees, cars, buses, a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round and even a monorail. Each year, I set it up in November, and it takes several days to assemble.

Each year my husband and I set up the display, and this is my favorite Christmas memory, having the village for my children and grandchildren to enjoy.

This year, because of COVID-19, my children and grandchildren, who live in New York, will not be able to visit. So this Christmas will be quieter and smaller. I worry about our patients in the hospital away from their loved ones. I have taken photos and videos of the Christmas village this year and sent those to the grandchildren, so they can still see it. I will put up the Christmas village again next year and hope my family will be able to be with me to enjoy it.

CATHY SEMMENS RN — ICU CHARGE NURSE AT DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF SARASOTA

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Nice list BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER

T

he holidays are a time of good tidings and giving, and Sarasota has no shortage of generosity even in the midst of a pandemic.

Here’s a roundup of some of Sarasota’s do-gooders this holiday season:

File photo

THE PATTERSON FOUNDATION

The foundation has donated $200,000 to the community’s Season of Sharing Campaign, which helps families in crisis get back on their feet. The foundation also pledged to donate an unlimited amount of $100,000 gifts for every $500,000 the campaign raises until Jan. 31.

The foundation also donated $50,000 to Wreaths Across America at Sarasota National Cemetery to provide ceremonial wreath donations for the headstones of the veterans laid to rest there.

MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS

The nonprofit held its annual Toy Day on Dec. 18 to collect toys, monetary donations and gift cards for local families in need. This year, the nonprofit helped 200 families.

VERN AND LILLIAN CHALFANT

Doctor’s Hospital ICU nurse Cathy Semmens works to help COVID-19 patients.

We would like to thank you for your continued patronage & wish you a A Happy and Safe Holiday Season

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

The Chalfants are celebrating their love and passion for the performing arts with a matching donation challenge benefiting the Van Wezel Foundation. The Chalfant Challenge will match dollar for

Iris Dahlberg welcomes guests into the Ringling toy drive.

dollar donations to the foundation through March 2021.

THE RINGLING MUSEUM

Although the annual toy drive looked a little different this year, the museum made sure to collect toys and donations benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Attendees drove through a spectacle of performers before dropping off their donations.

SPARCC

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center turned its parking lot into a winter wonderland for a pandemicfriendly toy drive. SPARCC “elves” greeted donors with bells and carols as they dropped off donations.

The toys were then set up for a “shopping day” for SPARCC clients to select holiday toys for their children at no cost to them.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

What are you most excited for this holiday season?

Southside Elementary School students share what they’re excited for this holiday season.

GEORGIA, 8 I am excited about the present and the food. I like the smell of the fresh food that comes out of the oven. I like the presents because its like a suprise that you don’t know about!

HARRY SAYER | STAFF WRITER

T

he holidays are an exciting time, full of warmth and connection and the promise of a new start with a new year. Children especially have plenty

to be excited about. Beyond having school off, many celebrate with family they don’t always see. That’s not even to mention the promise of presents that can brighten up a Christmas or Hanukkah season.

We reached out to second and third grade students at Southside Elementary School to write what they’re most excited for this holiday season. This is what they told us.

DAVIS, 8 I am most excited about having two weeks off to celebrate cristmas. I can’t wait to play basketball with my dad.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

15A

NIXON, 8 I am excited most for this holiday season for Jesus’ birthday.

ELLE, 8 I’m most excited to spend time with my family. I think christmas is about spending time with your family. I love Christmas — Elle

PEDRO, 8 I am excited for my family to visit.

They live in Texas. I am excited that everyone will be together to open their Christmas presents!

LAURA, 8 I am so excited because I am getting presents.

And my mom and me and my sister are baking cookies. And my dog and my cat are getting presents too. I Love christmas.

LILLY, 7 I am most excited for my baby sister to be born and moving to Oklahoma.

LEONA, 8 I am so excited for the presents.

Because I am happy and presents are cute. I think I am getting a big stuffed animal.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

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CATCH A CHARGE 12:23 a.m. — 4900 block of North Tamiami Trail Dispute: A guest at a hotel said she was charged an extra $100 deposit on her debit card after already paying a $100 cash deposit for her room. The customer said a hotel employee originally denied taking a $100 bill from her but changed his story once she said she was calling the police.

The hotel employee denied intentionally charging the guest an extra $100, stating it was a glitch from the online booking website.

The employee initially denied running the guest’s credit card but later pulled up reservation information that showed the guest paid by credit card. When asked, the employee said he did run the card but did not charge the $100.

The employee confirmed the $100 charge would be reversed at checkout if no issues arose.

The guest notified her bank to dispute the extra charge.

FULL HOUSE 2 p.m. — 300 block of Monroe Drive Misc. officer: A man reported that multiple cars and trucks were parked at a neighboring property, some of which were blocking the sidewalk or on the wrong side of the street. An officer made contact with the individuals renting the property, who said there was a wedding party at the house getting ready for a wedding. The bride said there were so many cars because photographers and makeup artists arrived at the property.

The bride said they were almost finished and that the cars would be moved within 30 minutes. The bride said there would not be any parking problems after the wedding. The man who made the complaint said there are ongoing parking and noise problems at the property. The officer noted the property was a very large rental house that appeared to have insufficient parking for the number of people that stay there.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

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CIRCUS GREETINGS Starting Dec. 26, Sailor Circus promises a cheerful holiday show like no other.

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

T

Performers have been hard at work getting ready for the 2020 show.

Courtesy photo by Cliff Roles

here’s something about a holiday card.

They’re upbeat and cheerful with an unspoken promise that things are going to be OK. Often cheesy or campy — there’s no getting around that — cards deliver a warm message and a special feeling hard to replicate elsewhere on the calendar.

That’s the feeling the Circus Arts Conservatory hopes to capture with the Sailor Circus Academy’s new show.

Starting Dec. 26, the “Season’s Greetings” production makes its debut with a 90-minute show through Dec. 30 at its Bahia Vista Street arena. The show features more than 40 students performing aerial silk dances, acrobatics, contortion acts, juggling and trapeze.

“This is very grounded and is like comfort food,” Sailor Circus Creative Director Jared Walker said. “It’s a very traditional approach.”

The show will have segments for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, family gatherings and more. Holiday

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Dec. 26; 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 27; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 28; 7 p.m. Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 Where: Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St. Tickets: In-person, $20, $25, $30; virtual, $25 Info: CircusArts.org

greeting cards will be displayed on screens during each act to properly represent each holiday to the audience.

It’s about time for the students, who Circus Arts Conservatory Executive Vice President and COO Jennifer Mitchell said have been eager to perform. A normal year would have the students out and about all over Sarasota, but this year has kept them home practicing online and unable to perform live.

“You would see them at Designing Women Boutique [events]; you would see them at Nathan Benderson Park; you see them at every single [event],” Mitchell said. “This year it was minimized. … The kids have wanted to get out there as much as they could.”

Sarah Catalano, a 16-year-old

Sailor Circus student, has performed for six years as a clown but hasn’t in front of a crowd since March. Practicing for the show since September has made a world of difference.

“Us being able to come here and do what we care about and hang out with our friends has made a big difference for us this year because it really boosts your mental health,” she said.

In the Season’s Greetings show, Catalano will sing for the first time. That part required a different skill set that, on top of practicing her usual gags, has been a lot of work.

“It has been a bit of a learning curve, getting used to stuff that used to be really easy,” Catalano said. “It took a little bit of extra effort, but seeing the show come together the way it is now is encouraging.”

Sailor Circus Arena has an air ionization system in tandem with the ventilation system to help mitigate COVID-19 spread. Duo and group acts will wear masks, and the audience will be asked to as well.

A streaming version of the show is also available.

“I think that when you see the show, you can really tell how all of us are excited to be here,” Catalano said. “I think when you see that in a performance, it really shines through. And I think honestly it’s going to be a big relief to people after such a crazy year.”

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DECEMBER 24, 2020

SPORTS 5

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The top five Sarasota sports moments of 2020.

N

o one could have predicted 2020. The high school spring season was canceled after a few weeks, and the fall season was delayed and shortened. Youth, club and professional

sporting events were also affected. Still, there were uplifting moments. Moments of perseverance and triumph. While some occurred before the world changed, others came after, providing a much-needed sense of normalcy. Within these moments, a handful separated themselves from the rest. Here are the top Sarasota sports moments.

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RIVERVIEW HIGH GIRLS GOLF TEAM WINS STATE TITLE After finishing third at the 2019 Class 3A state tournament, held at Mission Inn Resort and Spa in Howey-in-the-Hills, the girls golf team turned disappointment into motivation.

The Rams — senior Aaron Whitley, junior Jacqueline Putrino, junior Rachel Carlson and freshman Alana Kutt — were not going to finish anywhere but first place in 2020.

They followed through on that goal. The Rams won the tournament in November, shooting 589 as a team over two days. That

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was 10 strokes better than second-place Niceville High. Putrino repeated as the tournament’s individual champion, shooting 141 (three under par), including a two-under final day to hold off Bartram Trail High’s Elizabeth Kondal (142) and Lakeland High’s Analiese Raath (143).

As Putrino stood on the final green, watching her opponents finish their rounds, she and Riverview Coach Joe Angelo found themselves soaked. Her Rams teammates had drenched them with water bottles in celebration.

“It was the funniest thing,” Whitley said. “We got them pretty good.”

www.manasotaonline.com

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RYAN KOHN | SPORTS REPORTER

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

3

MARY TUCKER QUALIFIES FOR OLYMPIC GAMES IN RIFLE Sarasota’s Mary Tucker shot her shot, and it worked out for her.

Tucker, now a sophomore on the University of Kentucky rifle team, finished first overall at the U.S. Olympic Air Rifle Team Trials in February in Colorado Springs, Colo. She did so despite battling a broken gun two days before the trials began. There was not much time for her to adjust to a new gun, so she had to “wing it.”

She won anyway.

Tucker first took up rifle at Sarasota Military Academy before leaving the school team to practice on her own. Tucker said she taught herself to shoot by watching YouTube videos and reading as many news articles on the sport as she could.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

19A

Divorce without the Fight

4

ALLISON KUKANZA MAKES HISTORY AT RIVERVIEW HIGH What started as a way to stay active during a pandemic break from club soccer turned into history.

Riverview High senior Allison Kukanza first asked her friends about the idea — “What if I joined the football team as a kicker?” — as a half-joke. But they responded positively, so Kukanza reached out to Rams Coach Josh Smithers. From there, a talk and video proof of her skills led to a tryout, which led to Kukanza joining the team for real.

On Oct. 2, Kukanza connected on an extra point in the Rams’ victory over Lennard High. In the process, Kukanza became the first girl to score a point for the Riverview football team.

The Rams consistently used Kukanza at kicker after that moment through the end of their season

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BOOKER BASKETBALL UPSETS COCOA HIGH IN PLAYOFFS Throughout the 2019-20 season, Booker High boys basketball Coach Markus Black said he was waiting for his young players to develop winning habits. They were still young, he said. He and the team’s fans had to be patient.

Those habits, that tenacity that winning teams have, did develop as the season progressed.

Despite a 9-16 regular season record, Booker hung in almost every game and sneaked into the playoffs as a seven seed. The Tornadoes faced second-seed Cocoa High (20-11) on the road Feb. 20 in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals.

They were not scared. They played with toughness and heart — and won. Booker defeated Cocoa 77-61, proof of how far the program had come. Even though the Tornadoes fell in the next round, the win was proof of the things this collection of talent can do in the future.

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SARASOTA HIGH BOYS SWIM TEAM WINS STATE TITLE If you ranked every swim team title from “least team effort” to “most team effort,” the Sarasota High boys swim team’s state title win would place close to the “most” edge.

That’s because the Sailors won the 2020 state title without winning a single event. And it was not close: The Sailors finished with 254.5 points, besting second-place Barron Collier High (200 points). How did they do it? By believing in the value of depth and of one another. The Sailors were helped by the arrival of senior Owen Matteson, who moved to the area from Buffalo, N.Y., during the offseason. Matteson was part of the team’s 200 medley (1:33.17) and 400 freestyle (3:09.12) relay teams, both of which finished second, and finished fourth in the individual 200 freestyle (1:41.67) and 100 butterfly (49.43).

Sophomore swimmer Evan Keogh, who finished fifth in the 200 individual medley (1:53.49), said the team wanted to jump back in the pool after winning, but new restrictions would not allow for that. Instead, the Sailors celebrated by hitting Five Guys for burgers and fries, which has become something of a tradition.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

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DECEMBER 24, 2020

YOUR NEIGHBORS WORK WORTH DOING

The Rise Coffee Co. and Nye’s Cream Sandwiches business employs people with disabilities.

HARRY SAYER

IF YOU GO

STAFF WRITER

M

aking ice cream sandwiches at Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches on State Street is a new job for Kristi Stadler.

Scooping up various flavors and sandwiching them between two cookies isn’t always a perfect science — sometimes the ice cream slides off the spoon — but she’s getting the hang of it.

Still, Stadler, who has a disability, has been able to do all sorts of things she never could before at work. Her favorite part hasn’t anything to do with frozen confections, though. It’s more about meeting new coworkers, making friends and trying new things.

“I like doing everything,” she said. “It gives me something to do instead of standing around. I like helping people.”

Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches, a soon-to-open coffee and ice cream shop, employs people with disabilities to make various coffees, scoop ice cream and serve customers. The enterprise receives help from The Haven social services organization and Easterseals Southwest Florida.

The program is meant to furnish work experience to build on.

But to Founder and co-Owner Beaver Shriver, the shop’s focus on employees with disabilities should eventually feel like something mundane.

“The hope is after awhile that this is a regular coffee and ice cream shop,” Shriver said. “Over the years, the hope is [people with disabilities] will be included in the workforce, and it won’t be ‘Wow, look at this place.’ It’ll be ‘Oh, it’s a coffee shop.’”

Shriver, a businessman and philanthropic figure, said he has been involved with the special needs community for much of his life. He’s worked with the Special

RISE COFFEE CO. & NYE’S CREAM SANDWICHES Address: 1534 State St., downtown Sarasota Visit: RiseAndNyes.com

Olympics, Best Buddies and other organizations that champion individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“For so long, this population has been marginalized or institutionalized even,” Shriver said.

“Attitudes have changed over the years, but there’s still a lack of understanding. … To me, that’s just not right. We’re giving these guys an opportunity and a platform to shine and succeed.”

His contacts have come in handy for establishing the new coffee shop. Shriver is on the board at Miracle League of Manasota, a baseball nonprofit for people with disabilities who play at Longwood Park in North Sarasota, and has brought several people from that group to work at Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches.

Shriver’s business partner, Chef Christian Nye of Nye’s Cream Sandwiches, handles the designs for the ice cream sandwiches.

Photos by Harry Sayer

The store’s workforce is a blend of people with disabilities and team leader supervisors. While other coffee places emphasize speed with a small number of employees at behind the counter, Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches has several employees all performing tasks.

Mercedes Matthews, 27, is a client with Easterseals and a Rise Coffee Co. & Nye’s Cream Sandwiches employee who enjoys her time serving up coffee at the shop.

She has only spent a handful of days learning the ropes — the plan is to for Matthews to work around three days a week — but has picked up cleaning and putting together drinks for customers.

She hasn’t been nervous, instead excited to go to work each day. There’s a satisfaction to making ice cream sandwiches and watching her customers chow down.

“I scoop the ice cream, … put it on the cookie, and then [customers] eat it,” Mercedes said.

“They’re good.”

General Manager Chris Cushman said the plan is to have 20 to 30 employees working when the business is fully up and running.

Work has been consistent at the shop. Kushman said construction and remodeling has been underway for more than a month.

New tables are coming in, the menu is being finalized, and decorations are almost finished. They went ahead with a soft opening Dec. 16. Shriver said the plan is to have an official opening at the end of December and a ceremony marking the occasion in January when the staff has more experience under their belts.

There’s still a lot Stadler and other staff to learn, but it’s something she looks forward to.

“It’s going to take me a while to understand stuff,” Stadler said.

“But I’ll get a hang of it.”

Above: Mercedes Matthews makes coffee and ice cream.

Left: Matthew Brooks, Tyler Cook, Ocean Allison, Mercedes Matthews, Adam Carmona and Chris Cushman work at Rise Coffee Co. and Nye’s Cream Sandwiches.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Elf workshop spreads cheer

Photos by Harry Sayer

Above: Starlyn Delpero hands out letters at the North Pole Polar Express.

Right: Mason and Wylder Mangino climb around.

T

he Children’s Garden and Art Center brought plenty of Christmas cheer to happy families during its Elf Workshop on Dec. 19. The annual event had children engaging in holiday activities at a number of stations including a kindness bank, where children promised to be good to others in exchange for currency; a North Pole Post Office, where they wrote letters to Santa; and an elf name station, where they learned their special elf titles.

— HARRY SAYER Jeremy and Theo Howe take a seat.

Andi, Michael and Missy Domson work as a team.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

UNDERSTANDING

Left: Nika Mukhametvaliyeu and Beatrice Stahis color together.

Below: Alex Troke takes a climbing break.

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VEIN DISEASE

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Baseball players host fundraiser for late teammate Past and present Sarasota high school baseball players raised money for Kevin Gallardo.

KEVIN GALLARDO FUNDRAISER For those looking to contribute to Kevin Gallardo’s family, you can find a GoFundMe page at GoFundMe.com/f/ for-kevin-gallardo.

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

Harry Sayer

The tournament had a number of players cycling through games.

“He was an outgoing kid,” Higgins said. “He didn’t have to do anything to make you smile.

You’d see him and smile. … It’s hard to process because the nicest kids are the ones that stuff like this happens to.”

Dozens of players played in the Sunday tournament, each paying $10 with the total donated to Gallardo’s family.

Austin Brinling, a former student at The Out-of-Door Academy who now plays at Daytona State College, has helped organize the informal pickup games since the start. Teams of five played three-inning games in a doubleelimination format.

He felt that hosting a tournament in Gallardo’s honor would be a fitting way to support his

family. Sarasota’s baseball scene is tight-knit, with many players growing up and playing together since they were in grade school.

Brinling, 19, said it wasn’t hard bringing players together in support of Gallardo’s family.

“We thought seeing the tragedy with [Gallardo], being able to get people together and help them donate to his family that this would be the easiest way to do it,” Brinling said. “A lot of people I know were upset and affected by this. It’s a way to have fun but to help people out.”

Tanner Crump, one of Gallardo’s best friends, was woken up by his dad to learn his friend

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It was an overcast and chilly morning Dec. 20 at Twin Lakes Park, but that didn’t stop Sarasota High School baseball players from coming out to play.

The Sunday games traditionally focusing on fun and camaraderie instead of uniforms and lineup cards, but this gathering offered a different purpose. Teammates were there to pay tribute to Sarasota High School student Kevin Gallardo, a friend who died in a traffic crash Dec. 4.

Gallardo, 16, was a pitcher for the Sarasota Sailors baseball team and had a reputation for making teammates laugh. Teammate Justin Higgins said Gallardo had an infectiously upbeat energy.

had died.

The two met at a football game Crump’s first year and Gallardo’s second year and became inseparable. They were both pitchers for the Sailors and threw the ball back and forth almost every day.

Crump said Gallardo had a natural ability to make him laugh.

But Sunday morning, he watched his teammates and friends play while he sat on the sidelines — he decided it wouldn’t feel right to play without his best friend.

“He was a great person,” Crump said. “He was so competitive.

[The fundraiser] is going to help his family get through this.”

He says he’s been managing the past couple weeks trying to think of the good times with Gallardo.

All the same, he felt good watching his teammates unite in honor of his best friend.

“I’m trying to think about the good memories and not grieve his death,” Crump said. “I want to learn from what he did and try to be the kind of friend he always was.”

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Mark Bergin

Staffers release the loggerhead sea turtle into the Gulf of Mexico across from Bayfront Park in Longboat Key.

Mote releases rehabbed sea turtle MARK BERGIN STAFF WRITER

M

ote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium released a rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle named Violet last week into the Gulf of Mexico from a Longboat Key Beach.

Mote requested the town’s assistance in carrying Violet and to help stop traffic along Gulf of Mexico Drive as the lab’s cargo van got onto the beach. About a half dozen people helped carry the turtle from the van.

Mote Marine Lab Content Development Manager Hayley Rutger said Violet weighs about 215 pounds.

Violet had been at Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital since Sept. 1, Rutger said. Mote initially found Violet beached near Martinique North Condos in Holmes Beach.

“She was brought into our hospital by our Stranding Investigations Program,” Rutger said.

“They got a call from the public, they picked up the stranded turtle, and then they brought her in, they did a physical examination.

And we saw that the flipper had been amputated.”

She said scientists believe Violet lost her left front flipper to fishing gear entanglement.

“They didn’t see the gear, but based on their knowledge and the appearance of the injury, it looked that way,” Rutger said. “When we see this come in, we’re usually sad to see it, but it’s definitely not the first time, so we kind of put the message out that people need to be very careful about not leaving fishing gear behind in the environment.”

Mote scientists also did an X-ray on Violet’s front right flipper because of a possible dislocation. Doctors gave her an injectable antibiotic and then moved to iron supplements. On Nov. 13, they moved Violet to a larger rehabilitation pool for deeper diving and exercising her flipper.

Despite missing her front left flipper, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission deemed Violet was cleared for release after 15 weeks of rehabilitation.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

LOCALLY KNOWN. GLOBALLY CONNECTED. SINCE 1976.

SIESTA KEY 1291 Southport Drive Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4485002 $3,995,000

SARASOTA 500 S Palm Avenue 10th Floor-102 Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4469606 $2,795,000

SARASOTA 300 S Pineapple Avenue 901 Jonathan Abrams 941-232-2868 A4471966 $2,499,000

SIESTA KEY 915 Seaside Drive 605 Julia Mcclung 941-356-6499 A4452565 $2,475,000

SARASOTA 306 Golden Gate Point 5 Dede Curran 941-928-3255 A4455791 $2,399,000

SIESTA KEY 5880 Midnight Pass Road 911 Linda Stowe 941-228-5685 A4462559 $1,950,000

SARASOTA 300 S Pineapple Avenue 601 Robert Lindeman & Nancy Lindeman 941-504-2123 A4470350 $1,890,000

SIESTA KEY 8600 Midnight Pass Road 202 Kaitlin Kuhn 941-400-7861 A4430866 $1,800,000

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SIESTA KEY 1660 Summerhouse Lane 502 Tak Konstantinou 941-374-1606 A4460714 $1,300,000

SIESTA KEY 1280 Dolphin Bay Way 402 Karen Chandler 941-544-4919 A4470659 $1,200,000

SARASOTA 4131 Boca Pointe Drive Marianne Lebar 941-650-0337 A4475001 $1,190,000

SIESTA KEY 420 Beach Road 803 Suki Scollo 941-587-2289 A4480981 $1,150,000

SIESTA KEY 4712 Ocean Boulevard W2 Carol Aviles 941-356-6777 A4485945 $926,000

SARASOTA 8869 Bloomfield Boulevard Peggy Wellman & Robert Moffatt 941-374-0811 A4480947 $899,900

SIESTA KEY 20 Whispering Sands Drive 706 Michael James 941-724-4034 A4485196 $899,000

SARASOTA 8985 Rocky Lake Court Jackie Griese 941-718-0045 N6112451 $843,795

SARASOTA 1876 Hawkins Court Tony Boothby 941-799-1948 A4480847 $835,250

SARASOTA 1708 Pine Harrier Circle Nancie Kalin 941-928-8833 A4484942 $814,000

SARASOTA 888 Blvd Of The Arts 1003 Wayne Fastzkie & Philip Pisano, III 941-315-0442 A4485927 $680,000

SARASOTA 523 S Palm Avenue Kristen Srur 941-350-0612 A4476013 $585,000

SARASOTA 5531 Cannes Circle 301 George Zimmerman 941-320-8931 A4484944 $535,000

SARASOTA 350 S Polk Drive 301 Kristy Sommers 941-504-4247 A4483567 $425,000

SARASOTA 6285 Donnington Court Beverly Alter 941-228-4556 A4479574 $342,500

SARASOTA 7768 Fairway Woods Drive 1306 Susan Katanic & Janet Montgomery 941-400-0601 A4466126 $324,800

SARASOTA 1026 Deer Hollow Way Chris Schwartz 941-961-5200 A4484312 $259,900

SARASOTA 835 S Osprey Avenue 405 Beth Pheney 941-345-5636 A4475699 $224,900

VENICE 732 Nectar Road Linda Bastian 941-321-6203 A4485648 $219,000

SARASOTA 4118 Central Sarasota Parkway 1621 Jack Dellamico 941-281-5225 A4479192 $186,900

SIESTA KEY 1011-1019 Point Of Rocks Road Rudy Dudon & Jamie Styers 941-234-3991 A4481381 $3,500,000

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YourObserver.com

Sanderling Road home sells for $5.4 million ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Siesta Properties tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Nickolas and Tonie Branica, of Bradenton, sold their home at 8230 Sanderling Road to Jeffrey Roberti, trustee, of Sarasota, for $5.4 million. Built in 1969, it has four bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 6,939 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.5 million in 1997.

SARASOTA

DESOTA PARK RJJM LLC sold the home at 1959 Hibiscus St. to Teresa Schwab and Kenneth Schwab, trustees, of Ozark, Mo., for $1.44 million.

Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,720 square feet of living area. It sold for $440,000 in 2019.

MARBLEHEAD Bruce Collison and Marisol Arzeno-McGill, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2514 Marblehead Drive to Stephen Vigar and Margot Leonard, of Sarasota, for $1.43 million. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,978 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million in 2014.

PRIME Alan and Bonnie Ross, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 943 Pomelo Place to Thomas and Margaret Wiegand, of Sarasota, for $1.38 million. The first was built in 2005; it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,590 square feet of living area.

The second was built in 2005; it has one bedroom, one bath and 528 square feet of living area.

They sold for $875,000 in 2012.

GRANADA Robert Pisano and Tasa Kvistad, of Sarasota, sold two properties at 3538 Almeria Ave. to Florida Almeria Avenue LLC for $1.1 million. The first was built in 2008; it has three bedrooms, four baths and 3,608 square feet of living area. The second was built in 2008; it has one bath and 197 square feet of living area.

They sold for $750,000 in 2013.

HARBOR ACRES Drayton Saunders, of Sarasota, sold his home at 1735 Flower Drive to Richard and Jane Rosen, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,840 square feet of living area. It sold for $797,500 in 2003.

Keffie Kristine Lancaster and Lewis Brewer, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1393 Harbor Drive to John Thompson, of Sarasota, for $910,000. Built in 1951, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,837 square feet of living area. It sold for $124,000 in 1986.

OYSTER BAY ESTATES William Thompson Jr., of Sarasota, sold his home at 4487 Camino Real to Peter Spindler, of St. Paul, Minn., for $1.01 million.

Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,687 square feet of living area. It sold for $950,000 in 2006.

BEAU CIEL Adrienne Rudolph, trustee, of New York City, sold the Unit 602 condominium at 990 Boulevard of the Arts to Cathi Wilson and R. Reed Wilson, trustees, of Sarasota, for $900,000. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,335 square feet of living area. It sold for $950,000 in 2012.

These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of December 7-11, in order of dollar amounts.

C I T Y O F SA RAS O TA Address

Permit

Applicant

Amount

1541 Bay Point Drive

Windows/Doors

Arthur Hall IV

140 Faubel St.

Remodel

Brian Reilly

$220,000

2533 Davis Blvd.

Addition

William Cromie

$195,000

1533 S. Lodge Drive

Renovations

Matthew Borland

$104,444

1440 Flowers Drive

Spa/Deck

Deborah Arbitman

$74,000

|

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

7B

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

DEC. 7-11

Other top sales by area SARASOTA

OSPREY

Questar Lane Equity Trust Co. as Custodian FBO Karl Bryan Helbig IRA, Premier Capital Properties Inc. and Stakada Group LLC sold the home at 1726 Questar Lane to Patrick and Brenda Smith, of Sarasota, for $4.8 million. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 6,718 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.54 million in 2019.

Sorrento Shores David and Ruth Kraft, of Sarasota, sold their home at 413 Vanderkloot Drive to James and Sharon Talkie, of Osprey, for $1.33 million. Built in 1973, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,379 square feet of living area. It sold for $420,000 in 1989.

NOKOMIS

Twin Beaches John and Holly McGrath, of Nokomis, sold their home at 2509 Casey Key Road to Jaclyn Kim Brunckhorst, of Sarasota, for $3.64 million. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,528 square feet of living area. It sold for $3.55 million in 2018.

PALMER RANCH

Arbor Lakes on Palmer Ranch Darren and Abigail Kaufman sold their home at 5726 Hydrangea Circle to Edward Delgado and Jennifer Knaack, of Sarasota, for $750,000.

Built in 2017, it has seven bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,911 square feet of living area.

It sold for $616,600 in 2017.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

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Alterations

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

Permit Applicant Amount

2305 Casey Key Road

Seawall

Pamela Sullivan

$350,000

2309 Casey Key Road

Seawall

Ping Pan Faulhaber

$350,000

2209 Casey Key Road

Seawall

Marily Kreiseder

$350,000

2316 Fiesta Drive

Pool/Spa/Deck

Nathaniel Macksey

7350 Captain Kidd Ave.

Enclosure

Farhan Majeed

$71,160

4051 Higel Ave.

Re-roof

Paul Dupuis Jr.

$67,900

1624 Stickney Point Road

Remodel

William Jennings

$63,300

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

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Scott Brynski, Trudy Barry, Patty Lowe, Kate Sidney and Marshall Fernandes

Yacht club hosts blessing of fleet

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the Fleet holiday party.

IDENCES . Rev. Craig Collemer spoke The about the long-held tradition of blessing boats that dates to the 16th century.

“Tonight, we come together for this very ancient tradition in a time when we find ourselves sort of in an unusual time, to say the least,” Collemer said. “I suspect many of us feel like, ‘Boy, could I use a blessing.’”

In keeping with tradition, Keara Escobedo sang for the gathered crowd and was joined by the past and present commodore.

— NAT KAEMMERER

Keara and Jennifer Escobedo. Keara sang after the Rev. Craig Collemer’s speech.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

IN STA PERS RT ON SA SH TU OW RD S AY !

Left: Irene and Earl Hagman were decked out in their holiday finest.

Below: At the yacht club, the wreaths were lifesavers.

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Debi Lander, Elaine Markos, Alex Forsyth and John Antonuk

346443-1

Limited capacity, Socially distanced seating | Masks required Seating sanitized before every performance | State of the art, fresh ionized air

OV E R $ 1 0 0 M I L L I O N P E N D I N G & C LO S E D I N 2 0 2 0 OUR SELLERS ARE BUYERS ARE OUR BUYERS ARE

COMING

SELLING

BUYING

$6M | 10216 46TH AVE W

PENDING IN DECEMBER | $2.2M

SOLD IN NOVEMBER | $1.995M

NEW PRICE $1.675M | 828 IDLEWILD WAY

PENDING IN DECEMBER | $625K

SOLD IN DECEMBER | $1.399M

$1.5M | 8335 MIDNIGHT PASS RD

SOLD IN DECEMBER | $1.199M

-

Your Home Has Never Been Worth More SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR® SINCE

I Don’t Just Sell the Siesta Key Lifestyle, I Live It!

2005 -

#

2

Small Team by Sales Volume in Sarasota

#

29

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

We are honored to be ranked in the top 1.5% of 1.4 million real estate professionals in America.

346595-1

Small Team by Sales Volume in Florida

10B

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

2022 RCLA Town Hall Lecture Series lineup announced HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

18 Months Promotional Financing Available!

- Reset tiles - Repair tiles - Replace tiles

$199.00 Call for details!

A former governor, a prize-winning journalist and a Hall of Fame NFL coach comprise the 2022 Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series.

The lineup was initially scheduled for 2021, but the entire series has been pushed back to 2022.

The two remaining speakers from the 2020 season — neuroscientist Lisa Genova and photographer Annie Leibovitz — are scheduled to deliver presentations in April 2021.

Lectures will be presented twice, at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Those looking to become an RCLA member and subscribe to the 2022 Town Hall Lecture Series can call 309-5100 or visit the RCLA website, RCLAssociation.org.

The speakers are: FORMER NEW JERSEY GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE

Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, is scheduled to lead off the series Jan. 17. He ran for president in 2016 as a Republican and was named chair of the president’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis in 2017.

341664-1

241 Interstate Court Sarasota, FL 34240 Florida State License CCC1325654

OPTIMISM / op • tuh • miz • uhm / noun feeling nostalgic about the future OUR COLLEAGUES IN CARE NAME

Kate Deluca

R E L AT I O N S H I P QUOTE

Tidewell Volunteer

Because of my family experience with

hospice care, I formed deep connections volunteering at Tidewell.

When Kate joined the volunteer ranks at Tidewell, her commitment to caring for the patients was apparent from the start. Her shining personality warms the halls of our hospice houses.

By starting with relationships, the Tidewell Foundation is redefining care. It’s how the Tidewell family has done it for 40 years.

Brighten lives today CareRedefined.org

346069-1

THE TIDEWELL FAMILY OF COMPANIES

PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL NICKLEN

On Feb. 7, Nicklen is sched-

uled to speak about his 25 years documenting the world’s beauty as a photographer, director and marine biologist. He’s been studying the world’s polar regions since 1995 and is a photographer for National Geographic.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST RONAN FARROW

Ronan Farrow’s work investigating Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual abuse for the New Yorker helped propel the #MeToo movement. He’s scheduled to speak Feb. 21.

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL FELLOW KAREN GORDON MILLS

Mills, a former administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2009-2013, is scheduled to give a lecture March 15 about her time as Senior Fellow at the Harvard Business School and at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.

HALL OF FAME NFL COACH TONY DUNGY

Tony Dungy has a long career as an NFL coach, broadcaster and groundbreaking figure. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach from 1996-2001 and later joined the Indianapolis Colts, where in 2007 he became the first Black head coach to win a Super Bowl.

He is scheduled to present his lecture March 31.

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

11B

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

SUNRISE / SUNSET

THURSDAY, DEC. 24 High: 76 Low: 47 Chance of rain: 50%

FRIDAY, DEC. 25 High: 57 Low: 38 Chance of rain: 5%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 24

7:17a

5:42p

Friday, Dec. 25

7:17a

5:43p

Saturday, Dec. 26

7:18a

5:43p

Sunday, Dec. 27

7:18a

5:44p

Monday, Dec. 28

7:18a

5:44p

Tuesday, Dec. 29

7:19a

5:45p

Wednesday, Dec. 30

7:19a

5:46p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, DEC. 26

Jan. 6 Last

High: 57 Low: 41 Chance of rain: 0%

Jan. 12 New

Jan. 20 First

Jan. 28 Full

RAINFALL Monday, Dec. 14

0

Tuesday, Dec. 15

0.22

Wednesday, Dec. 16

SUNDAY, DEC. 27

Robert Fleurant captured these fisherman silhouetted against the sunset on Sarasota Bay.

|

0 0.48

Thursday, Dec. 17

High: 67 Low: 52 Chance of rain: 5%

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 2020-21 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2021, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

Friday, Dec. 18

0

Saturday, Dec. 19

0

Sunday, Dec. 20

0

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 56.91 in.

2020 1.42 in.

2019 48.45 in.

2019

1.16 in.

A REFLECTION OF NATURE’S BEAUTY 342484-1

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

CROSSWORD

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com

REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE by Hal Moore; Edited by David Steinberg

©2020 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Like tropical weather 6 Confuse 11 Music box?

17 Dubai or Sharjah 20 Marketing connections 22 Solved, with “together” 23 Removes (oneself) 24 Dull time in Canada?

26 In medias ___ 27 Words before “long way” or “step further” 28 Blunder badly 29 Touchy-___ 30 Predicament at basic training?

34 Bowling feats

941.748.4679 | Venice

36 Jill Biden, ___ Jacobs 37 Round that’s downed 39 Respectful address 40 Tiny bit 43 Diana who played Emma Peel 45 Hip bones 47 Yellowstone grazer 49 ___ Vision (LensCrafters competitor) 51 Off base?

53 Kind of bear in Alaska 56 Follows 57 Coffee shop order with skim milk?

59 Plumber’s service or remuneration?

114 Like well-traveled paths 116 Earth is a pale blue one in a famous photo 117 Moo goo ___ pan 118 Words you use when you’re apprehensive?

121 Extremely insistent 123 Moved like a hummingbird 124 Bring under control 125 ___ Line (WWII fortification) 126 Eating utensils used in jug bands 127 Studio stand 128 Fresh-mouthed

KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS

52 Ques. response 54 Unwrap 55 White Russian ingredient 58 Guide for grading student work 60 One of the Gershwin brothers 63 Pat gently 66 Where to take off your boots 67 Bruins great Bobby 69 Mani’s partner 71 Antics 72 “Take responsiblity!”

73 Its hands are near your hand DOWN 74 Oktoberfest venue 1 Considered, as a case 75 Pizzeria fixture 2 Earth tone 77 Circled-off area?

3 Evolutionary mystery 78 Droop 4 Pique 79 Din 5 Hang down 80 Exchange 6 $$$ dispenser 81 Cash register part 7 Devil, in Spanish 82 Fellow fighter 8 Drained 83 National econ. figure 9 “___ & Stitch” 10 Noted celebrity gossip show 84 Musk of SpaceX 86 Pursue romantically 11 Tax pro 87 Attempt 12 Sum’s opposite 90 They’re better than one, 13 Hands over, like land it’s said 14 43,560 square feet 15 Piece of wax on a document, 95 ‘60s attorney general’s monogram say 99 Rum-soaked cake 16 Pushing boundaries 101 Mother ___ (native 18 Firebird roof option language) 19 Morales of “Ozark” 102 They’re attached to pet 21 One may be Freudian collars 25 GPS guesses 103 “Cool beans!”

31 Folktale 104 Second place?

32 Forensic show until 2015 61 Transmits 89 From Ireland, perhaps 105 Global legal venue, with 33 Casual pants originally 62 Not in mint condition 91 Like much expensive “The” worn by soldiers 64 Company number? produce 107 Dutch cheese 35 Became ready to pick 65 Annoy 92 Elite NFL player 38 Tried to avoid getting tagged 108 Baby ___ (“The Mandalo66 Group with pitchforks 93 As you solve this rian” nickname) 40 Factual 68 Short snooze 94 “Iliad” setting 109 iPods after Minis 41 Actor Guinness 70 Young bloke 96 “Do the ___!” (“Figure it 110 Poker pot 42 Common surface for a 71 What to do before you reap out!”)

111 Casino calculations laptop, ironically 74 Southwestern beast of 97 Tissue layer 112 Snare 43 Martini’s partner in burden 98 Toothpaste amount 113 Sub sandwich vermouth 76 Steady guy 100 Phone alert, slangily 115 Oompah instrument 44 Comic book artist 78 Upside-down “e,” phoneti- 102 Charged particle 119 SLC church cally 103 Quarterback nicknamed 45 College wall growth 120 Slippery swimmer 46 Was in charge of 80 Acting bug?

“Broadway Joe” 122 Farrow or Wasikowska 48 Mario ___ (racing video 85 Knack for tying chess 106 Beer enjoyed while game) games? watching the Stanley Cup? 88 Less tame 111 Not this or that, with “the” 50 Campfire residue

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“PZB KZYT BTMKZD, ETZEVT TNCSTB MBT LNH PMDK MDW SMRT CZ JKT YT, ZB CSTU WZD’C AJNCT JDWTBKCMDW GSMC N’Y WZNDH.” – PBTW GNVVMBW “Z NHECR CZGD AH DKR NHLCR PEKUDL WKR YLDWAD NHLCR ODWYD, TAHO YHLLEOAZHK, TAHO RLEUT UDAAZKU AH GZRT.”

– GDCCX OLDTAHK Puzzle Two Clue: P equals H

Sarasota

HUNDREDS OF COLORS AND STYLES ON SALE NOW!

Puzzle One Clue L equals B

CARPET

© 2020 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

12-24-20

12B

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Holiday Worship Guide Look for area services, programs and events to celebrate this joyous time of the year.

Faith Lutheran Church ELCA Christmas Eve Services

BLUE CHRISTMAS If you have experienced a loss and this is a hard Christmas for you, you are invited to this special service for encouragement, comfort, hope and peace.

7pm Sunday, December 20

CHRISTMAS EVE Join us for a worship service under a canopy of stars! We’ll gather outside to sing our favorite Christmas songs, celebrate Jesus’s birth, and cap the night off by singing Silent Night by candlelight. Kids are welcome! Bring a chair and a blanket.

Candlelight Communion | 6:00 & 8:00 p.m.

345731

7pm & 9:41pm Thursday, December 24

All are Welcome

GRACE CHURCH, SARASOTA CAMPUS

347183

7750 Beneva Rd, Sarasota, FL 34238 | 941.924.4664

Weekly Outdoor & Online Worship Sundays at 9:41am 8521 Vamo Road, Sarasota, FL 34231 egracechurch.com 941.966.3306 Facebook @SarasotaGrace YouTube @GraceChurch941

Celebrate with us

CHRISTMAS

45 MINUTE PERFORMANCE WITH LIVE ANIMALS AND FREE REFRESHMENTS

DEC. 10-13 2020 7:30 PM

WWW.MYTAB.CHURCH

4141 DESOTO ROAD. SARASOTA 34235

SIESTA KEY CHAPEL PRESBYTERIAN USA

Christmas Eve Services In-Person & Live Stream

Siesta Key Beach Service 12/23 @ 5 pm

Masks required

Casual and contemporary Christmas service. Sing Christmas carols & listen to the Christmas story. Bring a chair or blanket.

Christmas Eve Online Worship 12/24 @ 7 pm via our website, YouTube & Facebook

Traditional Christmas Eve worship with lessons, carols and candlelighting.

347179

Christmas Eve In-Person Services 3 pm in the Sanctuary

Meditative service in the Sanctuary. Website registration required.

Christmas Isn’t Canceled!

5, 7, & 9 pm in the Courtyard

It’s Under the Stars ** It’s in the Sanctuary 6:00 pm 8:00 pm

A night under the stars with carol singing, candlelighting and a message. Bring a chair.

Social distancing protocols will be in place and mask wearing will be observed.

Saint James

December 24th | Please wear your mask.

346469

United Methodist Church 2049 N. Honore Ave, Sarasota FL 34235 941-377-6180 www.saintjamesumc.org

Come! God’s Son Is Born for All!

See the Christmas schedule and register to worship at ConcordiaSarasota.org See there also our worship videos and Facebook updates.

Concordia Lutheran Church

2185 Wood Street

ConcordiaSarasota.org

347564

(Along School Avenue, North of Sarasota High School) 346637

Church of the Palms 3224 Bee Ridge Road Sarasota FL 34239

347306

WWW.CHURCHOFTHEPALMS.ORG

CLASSIFIEDS

Thursday, December 24, 2020

LV9433

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

INFO & RATES: 941-955-4888 • Fax: 941-362-4808 • EMAIL: classified@yourobserver.com • ONLINE: classifieds.yourobserver.com HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon • Service Directory - Friday at 3pm • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236 BLACK MEDIA center, lots of storage 42”w x 20” deep 32” h. $160 OBO. 941-928-2698.

FRANCISCANWARE DESERT Rose china set.1 dinner, 12 bowls, 6 saucers. $40. (941) 966-6816.

NEW VIOLIN with Bow and Case for Sale. Never used! $180. (941) 358-8511.

RECUMBENT EXERCISE cycle, like new, with manual. $110. 816-686-6842.

RIVERHEAD ELECTRIC Bass guitar with hard case. 900 new, $200 OBO. 941-321-0843.

SCHWINN GIRLS 10 speed $80. Queen Air Bed w/pump: $40. Golf clubs, ladies $30.

941-321-2694.

Condos For Sale

1BD/1BA CONDO for sale. Ground floor in the Meadows overlooking pool area. Kitchen with ample cabinets and appliances. Separate laundry space. Car port w/storage space. Asking $116,000.

941-923-6050 OR 941-303-3951.

CONDO SALE: Beautiful waterview walk to beach. 2BD/2BA has it all! State of the art kitchen.

A must see! $409,000. Principals only.

941-400-4808.

NORTH SIESTA Key Penthouse for Sale: Whispering Sands, 12th floor corner unit 2BD/2BA 55+ community. 270ft of incredible gulf and beach views from your 50ft wrap-around lanai. Private beach included. $1.375 million. 941-373-5432.

Homes For Rent

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

Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

Boat Slips For Rent/Sale

BOAT SLIP for rent. High and dry indoor marina.

Excellent location, instant access to Gulf and bay.

Up to 23/ft. Call: 941-544-5597.

Furnishings

BEAUTIFUL GLASS TOP round pinnapple table with 4 matching unholstered chairs. Light beige.

30” high 54” wide. $395. Glass cabinet: 76” x 30” x 13” deep. Perfect cond. $150. Ready for the Holidays. 941-366-7113 (ask for pictures)

Merchandise Wanted

LOCAL COLLECTOR pays cash for flags, guns, medals, helmets, war souvenirs, military items ours/theirs. 941-323-9417.

Storage

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

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

Business Opportunities BUSINESS FOR SALE Successful, profitable, and scalable nation-wide school security system business for sale.

Please call for details: 419-487-1971.

Help Wanted HELP WANTED: Servers and bartenders for Chef Rolf's New Florida Kitchen. Call: 941-806-6820.

WORK FROM HOME: Busy sales man seeks appointment setter. Work from home calling local businesses. For more info, Call Paul: 917-751-6506.

Commercial Property For Rent

EXECUTIVE OFFICES: South Tamiami Trail, Gulf Gate area. 24/7 access, conference room, WIFI, utilities included, ONE MONTH FREE RENT. From $300/mo. Call 941-923-6050.

Puzzle One Solution: “For some reason, people either are big fans and have to use me, or they don’t quite understand what I’m doing.”

Fred Willard Puzzle Two Solution: “I would like to end world hunger and create world peace, stop corruption, stop drugs getting to kids.”

– Kelly Preston

This week’s Sudoku answers EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER SARASOTA RN to provide managed/coordinated care to seniors who want to stay at home.

Call: 941-961-4674.

Classified Ads Bring Results • 941-955-4888

Homes For Sale ©2020 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers NEED ASSISTANCE? A LENDING HAND HOME CARE

REDUCED PRICE! MERCEDES BENZ 1999 For Sale- S500 (stretch) M: 136K; Asking: $6,100 OBO. Great Condition.

Sunroof, Heated Electric Seats, Original W/S with sticker, 4Dr, Original MB hood emblem.

Located on Lido Key Cell 315.727.4933. Theresa

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars. 941-270-4400.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

VINTAGE ST. ARMANDS: 3BR/2BA, fireplace, formal living room, Florida room, 2 blocks from the Circle and beaches. furnished.

Annual Rental, negotiable. Small pets okay.

All other services included. 813-778-3252.

Autos For Sale

Autos Wanted

Adult Care Services

- Transportation - Meal Preparation - Light Housekeeping - Personal Care - Dementia Care - Companionship - Medical Reminders BAHIA VISTA ESTATES Sarasota’s best kept secret! New and Pre-Owned homes for sale starting at the mid 20’s! A premier 55+ property. Great location! 8.4 miles from Siesta Key beaches and 7.1 miles from Lido Key beaches/St Armand’s Circle. 6 minutes to downtown Sarasota. Close to shopping, restaurants, and hospitals. 15 minutes from I75. Beautiful manufactured home property with all the amenities you need including shuffleboard, pickle ball, clubhouse, pool, fitness center, and dog park. December special is zero application fee. Call or stop by today. www.bahiavista.us 844.552.4574.

Restrictions and conditions may apply Third party financing available Sun Homes EHO Offer expires 12.31.2020

Beach Front Home: 4BED-5BATH, 2CARGAR $3,999,000 University Pool/Spa 4BED-3BATH $425,000

Schedule your free in-home consultation today!

941-809-3725 www.alhhomecare.com NR#30211577

Auto Transport

SHIP YOUR car, truck or SUV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors, 941-923-3421.

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady. Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential. Commercial.

New Construction. 941-400-2866.

GET RESULTS! PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE TODAY classifieds.yourobserver.com

2.5 Acres: 4BED/3BATH, 3CAR GAR. Luxury kitchen, barn, horses. $645,000

Painting/Wallpapering

Private Boat Lift: beach access villa/condo $399,000 Sarasota: Built in 2010 4BED-2.5BATH Lakeview Lanai $335,000 Phillipi Gardens: $209,000

CARLO DATTILO PAINTING. Licensed & insured.

Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates.

941-744-1020. 35+ years experience.

Personal Services

INVESTORS 3BED-2BATH

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

Call 941-726-2677

LOCATION LOCATION! 3BD/2BA, Walk to beach.

Great rental or retirement home. $369,999, Principals only. Call today: 941-400-4808.

Real Estate Wanted

SEEKING GREENHOUSE and small commercial kitchen use. 678-755-3804.

Windows

Cleaning

55+ Beach and Boating: One story villa 2BED2BATH $424,000

Longboat Key Beach House: on Canal, 3BED3BATH, 2/CARGAR, Dock/Lift. $530,000.

2020

FREEDOM SHADES AND SHUTTERS Free estimates- roller shades-blinds-plantation shutters-high quality, FAST! (941) 441-5751. www.FreedomShadesAndShutters.com

CLASSIFIED LINE AD PRICE First 15 words .........$17.50 per week Each Add’l word ........................... 50¢

15% DISCOUNT for 4 week Run Yellow color $5 per Week Border as low as $3 per Week Call: 955-4888 Email: classified@yourobserver.com Online: www.yourobserver.com

FAMILY SECURITY DRIVER 941-735-4732 Ask for Eddie.

Many years experience with rock stars, wild teens, children, elderly, and foreign families.

Feel safe, Be safe 24/7 Licensed and Legal.

YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL CLASSIFIED ADS

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

COMPUTER

DOORS

Sliding Glass Door Repair

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

941-735-3362

HANDYMAN

CONCRETE

COMPUTER

LACIVITA CONCRETE

State Lic. CR CO25291

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

Residential Concrete Specialist

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

Patios - Driveways - Sidewalks

Driveways • Sidewalks

346434

(Next to Beneva Flowers)

941-929-9095

DEAD ON

Also Laying Stone

Reasonable Prices

Call 955-4888 to reserve your space

918-8587

Licensed & Insured

SERVICE DIRECTORY

LV10366

FOR

Naji Aoun

Servicing the Sarasota area since 1999

TARGET WORKS

The Observer Service Directory

347755

Michael Koch Concrete, Inc.

“No Job Too Small”

YOU

Free Estimates

CALL 955-4888 to reserve your space

LV10321

DOORS

“OUR ESTIMATES & ADVICE ARE FREE”

(941) 504-3168

STEVE PANEBIANCO H R S

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

966-5094 Cell #809-7311

FREE

ESTIMATES!

THE BEST SPINAL DECOMPRESSION PHYSICIANS IN AMERICA “Medical Breakthrough Technology for bulging, herniated and degenerative disc ...

No Pain, No Drugs, No Injections, No Surgery” Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

Call us today!

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

FREE IN-H ESTIMOATMEE S

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com

Call 941.358.2224 today to schedule a

FREE CONSULTATION

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

REALTORS

HOME SERVICES WHO’S WATCHING YOUR HOME & BOAT?

Lower your home insurance with our GPS stamped reports on every visit.

Call a certified HOME WATCH PROFESSIONAL you can trust!

941.348.1359 TheConcierge.co

DAYANA

SINESS U B R U O Y W GRO irectory 346568

347733

Licensed Lic. #38333 References

This Doctor is Among

• Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

REALTORS

✦ Carpentry ✦ Indoors ✦ Remodeling ✦ Ceramic Tile ✦ Water & Fire Damage ✦ Kitchen/Baths

HEALTH

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

www.ezslider.com

941.504.2745 941.400.1563

GladysKhabbaz@gmail.com 805 Molly Circle, Sarasota

24/7 SERVICE

DOORS

941.628.8579

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

3680493-01

922-3157

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

6968 Beneva Road

CONSTRUCTION HANDYMAN

Since 1967

347751

346969

348223

347739

Pegatronics.com

941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

Owner / Operator Insured

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

334711

Dustin Yoder

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

346435

“Specializing in 6” Seamless Gutters”

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

348238

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

346484

ALUMINUM

LV9459

SERVICE DIRECTORY

347956

14B

with Service Dspace, 955-4888 ur

serve yo Call today to re

LV10306

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

|

15B

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

HOME SERVICES

KITCHEN/BATH REMODELING

SERVICES

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

941-228-9850

Joe Murray, Owner

Free Estimates Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

373-9299

724-2945

Lic. & Ins.

MOVERS

941-315-2415

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

...will move anything from a couch to a household

High Tech Home Watch and Concierge Service available Who is checking the house while you are gone?

941-704-4278

dmccarthymoving@gmail.com

• • • •

Local And Long Distance Movers Residential Moves Commercial Moves Pack, Crate & Wrap

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

www.davidmccarthymoving.com

347756

346417

Watching your home while you’re away

For $95 per hour you get: A truck, 2 men with equipment, experience and a great attitude to

346980

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

CALL BEFORE YOU FALL

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

941-923-8140

941.966.0333

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

347741

WINDOWS Res./Com. 346436

• Drain & Sewer Cleaning • Backflows Installation • Natural Gas Installations - Appliance Hook ups • Power Flush & Comfort Height Toilets • All Water Heaters - Tankless - Gas - Solar • All Major Plumbing Fixtures Repaired or Replaced • Garbage Disposals • New Water & Sewer Services • Dishwashers Installed • Wells & Pump Repairs Licensed & Insured State Lic CFC056748

STANDARD WINDOWS

120

$

INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

5

$

COVERAGE AREA: LAKEWOOD RANCH ƭƨ S. VENICE

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Purified water window cleaning available!!

348687

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941- 284 - 5880

THIS SPACE COULD BE

GLENN KROECKER

954-1878

GROW YOUR BUSINESS 347742

(cell) 780-3346 Licensed & Insured

25

UP TO

ows

SPECIAL 00

LIFETIME GUARANTEE Licensed • Bonded • Insured

THE GRAB BAR GUY

Lic./Ins.

& Pressure C Window lean t e s ing wn as Sunrise Win o n k Sun y l r e d Form Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

POWER WASHING

DrGrabBars.com

Licensed & Insured

941-232-1192

PLUMBING

General Plumbing Services Inc.

(941) 345-5264

10 Years Experience

with Service Directory

Call today to reserve your space, 955-4888

LV10306

235

$

Melanie Gates

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

KITCHEN/BATH REMODELING

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

by

(941) 966-2960

CALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999

Manufacture and workmanship Warranties

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

Dave and Connie Grundy

TREES

Licensed and insured #IMT708

PET SERVICES

Pet Care

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

GRAB BARS

specialty screens / screw replacement / paint Doors and more!

Ray - 941-313-4538

346983

www.PalmerRanchHomewatchers.com PalmerRanchHomewatchers@comcast.net

941-345-5264

make your moving day a pleasure.

Licensed & Insured

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

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

348240

Wizard Moving SRQ

347757

Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007

SCREENING

348231

PALMER RANCH HOMEWATCHERS® Bob & Carol Guthrie 941.993.6613

346438

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

David McCarthy Moving

HighTechHomeWatch.com Rita@hightechhomewatch.com

Fully Insured

State Licensed Contractor #CCC057066

348239

346485

Rita Raimer

BONDED/INSURED

All Work Guaranteed

Curt’s Lawn Service

610.657.6792 Free estimates.

38 Years Experience

Specializing in Re-Roofing & Repairs

LAWN CARE

3687676-01

Cell

Gulf Gate RoofinG inc.

347746

Specializing in painting, tile, flooring, level 5 drywall finishes & more. Meticulous & hard working.

Licensed & insured.

346973

Call John 941.377.2940

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

346439

HOME

LEAKY ROOF?

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

YOURS!

about Call for Information y or ct re Di ce rvi the Se

955-4888

SPREAD THE WORD For more information, call 941-955-4888 or visit classifieds.yourobserver.com

347747

FINE LINE

ROOFING

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS

Owner: Gregory Farnack

LV9459

SERVICE DIRECTORY

LV10365

16B

SARASOTA OBSERVER

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

YOUR DREAM HOME WILL NEVER MEAN MORE

WWW.SCHEMMELGROUP.COM N E W LIS T I N G

N E W LIS T I N G

S I E S TA K E Y 1 2 14 S H A RSWO O D L A N E | $ 3 ,4 5 0,0 0 0

N O KO M IS 2 1 1 5 LYC H E E L A N E | $ 3 , 3 5 0,0 0 0 RE D U C E D $ 3 1 ,0 0 0

S I E S TA K E Y 1 2 5 8 T R E E B AY L A N E | $1 ,0 8 5 ,0 0 0

PR E S TA N C I A 3 9 8 8 LO SI L L I A S D RI V E | $9 49,0 0 0

PR E S TA N C I A 4 6 3 4 M I R A DA WAY #1 5 | $ 3 9 9,0 0 0

U N D E R C O N T R AC T I N 2 DAYS

S I E S TA K E Y 3 3 6 0 G U L F M E A D D RI V E | $ 3 ,6 5 0,0 0 0

G O L D EN G AT E P O I N T 1 2 8 G O L D E N G AT E P O I N T # 9 01-10 01 | $ 3 ,49 5 ,0 0 0

O U R R E S U LT S S P E A K FO R T H E M S E LV E S

WE WISH YOU

$

PE ACE, LOVE AND JOY DURING THIS HOLIDAY SE ASON

76

MILLION CLOSED IN 2019

$

100

MILLION CLOSED IN 2020

JOEL SCHEMMEL, J.D., REALTOR® 941.587.4894 | JOEL.SCHEMMEL@PREMIERSIR.COM SHARON CHIODI, REALTOR® 941.809.0380 | SHARON.CHIODI@PREMIERSIR.COM SCHEMMELGROUP

SCHEMMELGROUP

SCHEMMELGROUP

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate and neither suggests nor infers that Sotheby’s International Realty participated as either the listing or cooperating agent or broker in the sale or purchase of the properties depicted. *Based on information from 2020 REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals list for 2019 sales volume and transaction sides.

346603-1

SCHEMMELGROUP

. . . t i a W But

S ’ E R THE !

E R MO

XNLV19038

Flip the page for more sales and specials!

www.yourobserver.com/detwilers-weekly-flyer

Est. 1987

Real Patients. Real Results.

Dental Implants, Same Day & ALL-ON-4®

Before

After

Before

After

After Cosmetic, Veneers & Laser Periodontics

Before

After

Before

After

On-Site Laboratory with Master Technicians to Customize and Control Results

Advanced Care and Dental Technology at One Location Cosmetic Dentistry

Holistic Dentistry

• Bruxism Treatment • Smile Makeovers with Veneers • Conservative “No-Prep” Veneers • Nonsurgical Facelifts w/Neuromuscular Bite Correction

• Orthotropic and Airway Orthodontics for Adults • Orthotropic and Airway Orthodontics for Children • Safe Mercury Removal • Laser Periodontal Treatment with Ozone

Implant Surgery & Restoration

Facial Esthetics

• AII-On-4 • Bone Grafts/Sinus Lifts • Digitally Guided Surgery with On-Site CAT Scan • PRP Platelet-Rich Plasma • Sedation

• PDO Thread Lifts • Erbium and Nd: YAG Laser Treatments • Botox • Fillers

Call (941) 999-3205 or Visit www.SarasotaDentist.com 347159-1

Sarasota’s Accredited Dentists with Over 30 Years of Expertise

Jill Morris, DMD

Burr Bakke, DDS

Cameron Johnson, DMD

Our team at World Class Dentistry & Facial Aesthetics can treat patients with a multitude of concerns at the Sarasota facility, which maintains quality control and streamlined treatments. With a focus on individualized patient care and connection, Dr. Jill Morris, Dr. Burr Bakke, Dr. Cameron Johnson, and their on-site dental laboratory team offer implant surgery, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, biological dentistry, and more. Serving Sarasota since 1987, our team has over 60 years of combined talent and expertise. Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation or visit our website at SarasotaDentist.com.

Call (941) 999-3205 or Visit www.SarasotaDentist.com Stay Connected With Us

#WorldClassDentistry | 3951 Swift Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231 340296-1