Siesta Key Observer 5.27.21

SIESTA KEY

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 51, NO. 46

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YOUR TOWN

Seafood lovers have their fill. PAGE 23 •

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Still reeling in the cash Mote, Selby, The Bay make financial progress on signature projects. PAGE 3

Courtesy photo

Medical money

Sarasota and Manatee County high school students had their hard work pursuing careers in health care recognized at a scholarship ceremony at the Doctors Hospital of Sarasota location on May 25.

Nineteen students from Booker High School, Sarasota High School, Venice High School and Manatee High School received nearly $50,000 in scholarships at the event from the Volunteer Auxiliary group at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota.

The nonprofit supports local students in the hopes they will return to the medical field after college.

Eyes on the skies

Recognizing good work

Five years ago, the Girls Inc. organization received funding from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to establish a mental health program meant to strengthen the social and emotional health of girls in the Sarasota community.

Now the organization and its CEO are being recognized for their work.

Girls Inc. CEO Angie Stringer has received a Visionary Voice Award from Saks Fifth Avenue for its work providing referrals for mental health services and helping cover financial costs.

The award comes with a $10,000 grant.

Turtle Tracks AS OF APRIL 25 TOTAL NESTS:

2021 2020 Siesta Key 54 84 Lido Key 5 34 Casey Key 115 198 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS:

2021 2020 Siesta Key 54 54 Lido Key 12 28 Casey Key 162 207x Source: Mote Marine Laboratory

Bird watchers help propel newcomers into the high-flying hobby. SEE PAGE 19 Harry Sayer

Adriana Perez, Lucero Guzman and Audubon Society local President Jeanne Dubi look to a passing bird at Celery Fields.

A+E

Look both ways Key crosswalk closing while work progresses.

SEE PAGE 4

David Conway

City Manager Marlon Brown said he’s discussed concerns about traffic backups on U.S. 41 with Longboat Key officials during conversations about the Gulfstream Avenue roundabout project.

Scaled-down festival begins.

SEE PAGE 20

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WH AT’S H A PPENING

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

“We’re kind of experiencing pent up demand squared because there’s traditional uncertainty and then everyone’s been kept up in their homes, so there’s a double desire to return to normal.”

WEEK OF MAY 27, 2021

SCAT sets fares for new service County Commissioners, acting in their role as the Sarasota County Transportation Authority, established $1.25 fares for Sarasota County Area Transit’s mobility-on-demand service when it launches in June.

Commissioners in April approved a one-year, $2.3 million contract with River North Transit LLC to provide the services, which will replace many of the county’s fixed bus routes.

By replacing lesser-used bus routes with the service, SCAT expects to eliminate about $4 million in ineffective service. The new mobility-on-demand service will link county bus service with ride-share companies to take passengers to a trunk-line bus stop, or when it makes more sense, their final destinations.

Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Forecasting at the University of Central Florida. READ MORE ON PAGE 10

BY THE NUMBERS 4 AND 8

Units and parking spaces approved by the city for a condo building on Golden Gate Point.

PAGE 5

15

Acres of proposed built wetlands at Bobby Jones Golf Club site.

PAGE 6

26,000

Building permits issued

by Sarasota County so far this fiscal year. It’s an increase over the mid-year point in 2020.

Poll favors keeping ‘David’

PAGE 10

CALENDAR

Harry Sayer

n Special Sarasota City

Cyclists head out on the Ride of Silence from Robarts Arena to downtown and back.

Commission meeting — 6 p.m. Thursday, May 27, City Hall, 1565 First St. n Sarasota County School Board meeting — 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, Board Chambers, 1980 Landings Blvd. n Sarasota County Commission meeting — 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 8, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd.

Cyclists pay homage to those killed on the road T he Village Idiots cycling group hit the road in support of riders injured and killed in auto accidents during the national Ride of Silence event on May 19.

Dozens of cyclists assembled at Robarts Arena to ride at no more than 12 mph for 7.2 miles to Main Street and back to raise

awareness of cyclists’ rights to public roadways.

Before the ride, Village Idiots president Dawn Zielinski and Vice President Lisa Michel thanked the cyclists for assembling and read a poem in honor of those who were killed in accidents.

The people have spoken (well, 62 of them, anyway) in favor of the city keeping its official logo featuring Michelangelo’s David.

In The Observer’s unscientific online poll, 56% of respondents said the city does not need to update the logo. The image is a nod to the city’s connection to the arts and Ringling College’s iconic re-creation of the carved marble masterpiece that stands in Florence, Italy.

City Commissioners voted 4-1 this month to consider possible changes to not only the city logo but also its official seal.

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PROGRESS REPORTS Two other major capital projects are marking milestones this spring:

File photos

Mote leaders joined local and state officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the aquarium project in November. To date, work on the site has focused on preliminary improvements such as construction of a parking lot.

FINISHING TOUCHES Still shy of a $130 million fundraising goal and awaiting development approvals, Mote Marine officials say plans for a destination aquarium remain on track.

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

A

tract of dirt near Interstate 75 and University Parkway may not have looked like much to motorists for the past six months, but Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium sees the upturned soil as the first step of what the organization expects to be a transformative project for the region.

Since 2018, Mote officials have been pursuing plans for a new four-story, 110,000-squarefoot aquarium on county-owned land in Nathan Benderson Park.

They’ve cleared a number of hurdles necessary to facilitate the project, called the Mote Science Education Aquarium — Mote SEA for short. In 2018, Sarasota County approved the terms of a deal with Mote, setting aside the 11 acres. In early 2020, the organization secured a commitment of $20 million in tourist tax funding from Sarasota County and an additional $5 million from Manatee County.

Those developments occurred prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic locally, but Mote officials said the health emergency hasn’t had any effect on its plans for the project. In November, Mote held a groundbreaking for the aquarium, hosting local and state officials who spoke effusively about the plans for a landmark attraction.

“Today we are celebrating this milestone event ... bringing Mote SEA alive,” Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby said in November. “This site is going to be a gateway for Southwest Florida and a gateway for the sea.”

Still, half a year removed from breaking ground, there remains a series of tasks remaining. Mote officials declined to share up-to-

The four-story, 110,000-square-foot Mote SEA facility will be built on 11 acres of county-owned land within Nathan Benderson Park.

date fundraising numbers, but as of summer 2020, the organization had secured $75 million in commitments — less than 60% of its $130 million fundraising goal.

Michael Moore, a special adviser leading the $130 million fundraising campaign, said the organization hopes to meet its goal by the end of 2021.

“We’re waiting to make a big announcement when the time is appropriate,” Moore said.

Moore said Mote has not had any donors back out because of the pandemic or other reasons, but those commitments don’t necessarily translate to cash in hand at the moment. The county’s $20 million pledge has not been finalized, requiring additional budget approvals and the issuance of a bond. The County Commission conditioned its financial support on Mote successfully meeting the balance of its fundraising goal, making the county contribution the last money in.

The commission has not

“When you can start to show people that you’re moving dirt, and that you’re making progress— that takes it to a whole new level of excitement.”

– Michael Moore, Mote adviser

strayed from that commitment, but in 2020, members of the advisory Tourist Development Council suggested the county may need to revisit its plans to reallocate tourism promotion funds toward the Mote project. Dan Bebak, Mote’s aquarium, education and outreach vice president, said there’s been no discussion with the county about possible changes related to that funding.

Although Mote officials said COVID-19 has not affected their

progress, the project has lagged behind targets the nonprofit initially set. Upon announcing plans to relocate the aquarium from City Island, Crosby said he was shooting to break ground in 2019 and complete the facility by 2021.

Today, Bebak said Mote is working to begin vertical construction in January 2022, a process expected to take two years to finish.

Mote officials remain confident in their outlook. The county has authorized the ongoing first phase of construction, focused on preliminary site work and creation of a parking lot.

Earlier this month, the County Commission approved a land use change that, once finalized, will make an aquarium a permitted use on the land Mote is leasing.

And Bebak said Mote is on track to finalize the purchase of that land from the county for $100, as outlined in the initial agreement between the two parties.

Moore acknowledged raising funds for such a large capital goal is a cyclical process. More than three years into this initiative — and with at least $75 million in resources already secured — Moore said landing new money requires constant contact and leveraging existing relationships to expand the network of potential donors.

The site along the highway still might not look like much to most people, but Mote is hopeful it will be a tool to invigorate prospective supporters of the aquarium and ultimately help make the project a reality.

“When you can start to show people that you’re moving dirt, and that you’re making progress— that takes it to a whole new level of excitement,” Moore said.

THE BAY SARASOTA On May 18, The Bay Sarasota announced it had hit a $20 million fundraising goal for the first phase of constructing a downtown waterfront park.

The Bay is a private organization working in collaboration with the city to implement and manage a public park project on more than 50 acres of city-owned land surrounding the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The Bay teamed with The Patterson Foundation in 2019 on a fundraising challenge for the initial $20 million goal, set to facilitate the construction of the 10-acre phase one of the park project.

The Patterson Foundation provided a total of $5 million in matching funds for $15 million of private contributions toward the project, with the last $1 million gift triggered this month. In a release, Patterson Foundation President and CEO Debra Jacobs said the successful fundraising effort “demonstrates our community’s keen awareness of The Bay’s value and the opportunities it will bring to people of all ages and backgrounds.”

The Bay intends to open a portion of the phase one park by spring 2022.

MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS After finally securing the city’s approval of a redevelopment plan this year, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will break ground next month on the first phase of a master plan for renovating its bayfront campus.

Selby Gardens is using the June 3 groundbreaking as an opportunity to complete its fundraising goal to facilitate construction. In the past two weeks, Selby has announced three $1 million donations toward the project. In total, Selby has raised $38.5 million, more than 90% of the $42.5 million goal for phase one.

Plans for the initial phase of construction include a four-story, 450-space parking garage, a welcome center, a plant research building and an accessory restaurant. Selby President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki has said the redevelopment effort is designed to ensure the sustainability of the nonprofit.

“This master plan is a vital opportunity to realize the full potential of our beloved gardens, while also preserving our important history for the generations to come,” Rominiecki said in an email to the organization’s mailing list.

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In addition to building a roundabout at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue, the city is working to address flooding on the street to the north.

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

Pedestrians crossing U.S. 41 near downtown Sarasota are set to lose two points of access this year durHEADLINE HERE HEADLINE HERE ing construction of a roundabout Gulfstream Avenue.

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I NWith D R E S I D E N C E The S. 2Br/2Ba includes plans to improve the or the 1Br/1Ba Bay side pool house w/expansive views over 4,000 sq. ft., features include wood floors, custom millBoat volume ceilings, roadway on U.S. 41 between GulfL T O D Aover Y the T OBay.I N QDock.

U I RLush E gardens A B Owith U Tmeandering T H E S Ework, ON E-O F - Afireplace, - K I Nchefs’ D kitchen R E S and I Dscreened ENCES. paths throughout. A spectacular architecturally significant pool and spa. Elevator services all 3 levels. Oversized 2-car stream and Fruitville Road, where offering. $7,650,000 garage. $3,495,000 TO INQUIRE ABOUT THESE ONE-OF-A-KIND RESIDENCES. another roundabout opened last year. City Manager Marlon Brown CALL TODAY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THESE ONE-OF-A-KIND RESIDENCES K I M O G® I L V I E referred to the roadwork as a “gap RE ALTOR , G RI project,” designed to adjust the K I M O G® I L V I E elevation of the street to address RE ALTOR , G RI 9 4 1 . 3OGILVIE 76 .17 17 flooding in the area of The RitzK I M O G® I L V IK IEM O G I LVKIM ® REALTOR , GRI E@ R E A L T O R9, 4 G1 R I. 3 7 6 . 1 I7 Carlton, Sarasota.

1M7I C H A E L S A U N D E R S .C O M K I M O G I LV I E . C O M The state was working with K I M O G I LV I E @ M I C H A E L S A U N D E R S .C O M 9 4 1 . 3 7 6 . 1K I7M O1 G7KIMOGILVIE@MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM local municipalities on plans for I LV I E . C O M a temporary pedestrian bridge K I M O G I LV I E @ M I C H A E L S A U N D E R S1605 .C OMain M Street | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.951.6660 KIMOGILVIE.COM over U.S. 41 while construction K I M O G I LV I E . C O M was ongoing. On May 17, how1605 Main Street | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.951.6660 ever, FDOT District 1 Secretary 1605 Main Street ı Sarasota, Florida 34236 (941)951.6660 357271-1

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L.K. Nandam emailed Brown and Longboat Key Town Manager Tom Harmer to inform them the state agency determined the bridge was not feasible. The barrier island town hoped such a pedestrian overpass would serve as a prototype to eventually replace surface pedestrian crossings with the goal of keeping traffic moving.

Nandam cited longer-thanexpected construction time and costs in excess of three times the initial estimate.

“We all came to the conclusion that this would not be worth it,” Brown said.

Even without the pedestrian bridge, Brown encouraged the state agency to explore the deactivation of the signalized crosswalk and adjustments to the timing of other pedestrian-activated signals in the area. In addition to accessibility concerns during road construction, Brown suggested the pedestrian signal was linked to traffic back-ups along U.S. 41.

Preliminary construction on the Gulfstream roundabout began in March, and the first full phase is scheduled to start in August, according to the FDOT website.

Brown said the city may revisit the status of the signalized crosswalk on First Street as seasonal activity picks up.

“We may have to take a look at what we do in the OctoberNovember-December-January time frame,” Brown said.

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Golden Gate Point condo earns city approval Resident concerns about the size of on-site parking spaces weren’t enough to derail plans for a four-unit condominium in the waterfront neighborhood.

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

T

he City Commission voted 4-1 to approve plans for En Pointe, a Golden Gate Point condominium project that has generated resident concerns about the waterfront neighborhood’s parking capacity for more than a year.

Although the Planning Board declined to endorse the project at a series of meetings, and a representative for the Golden Gate Point neighborhood association continued to raise objections to the proposal, a majority of the commission found the plans for En Pointe in line with city’s standards for approval.

“It isn’t a legislative decision,” Commissioner Liz Alpert said at a May 18 meeting. “It isn’t, ‘Do we like it or not like it?’ It has to meet the criteria for the city, and it does do that.”

En Pointe is a four-unit condo planned for 509 Golden Gate Point. The building is designed to be four stories above eight ground-level parking spaces. The infill redevelopment will replace a one-story, four-unit building with three on-site parking spaces.

Since the developer behind En Pointe first began discussing the

project with neighboring residents in 2019, the parking plans have been a central point of contention. For more than five years, as the 22-acre peninsula has been built out and builders have turned their focus to demolition and redevelopment, people living on Golden Gate Point have raised concerns about the parking supply in the neighborhood.

Residents in Golden Gate Point worry that new development will lead to more residents, which leads to more demand for the on-street parking spaces in the neighborhood. Although new projects must meet city standards that require two parking spaces per unit, speakers at community workshops have said parking becomes a challenge once you account for seasonal increases in activity and the presence of guests or workers.

The parking configuration for the En Pointe project has heightened resident fears about how the project might affect the neighborhood. Although city staff said the proposed parking spaces meet the dimensional standards outlined in the code, Golden Gate Point Association President Joan Lovell questioned whether En Pointe residents would use a garage that required multi-point

“Why are we concerned about this? It’s just one little property, but there are five lots the exact same size on Golden Gate Point.”

— Joan Lovell, Golden Gate Point Association President

turns to exit certain spaces.

During a presentation to the commission, Lovell argued cramped quarters on the En Pointe site would spark problems for the entire neighborhood. Lovell acknowledged the four-unit, 0.16-acre project was relatively small, but she said residents worried approving the plans would set a precedent for redevelopment in the area.

“Why are we concerned about this?” Lovell said. “It’s just one little property, but there are five lots the exact same size on Golden Gate Point.”

Representatives for the development team argued resident fears about potential parking problems did not meet the city’s standards for competent, substantial evidence in determining whether to approve a project. Architect Kortnee Gonzalez highlighted city staff’s testimo-

File photo

The En Pointe condominium will replace a one-story, four-unit residential building on the interior of Golden Gate Point.

ny that the parking design was adequate and the project should be approved. The applicant also pointed out the project would increase the on-site parking supply by five spaces while maintaining the same number of units.

Steve Rees, a land use attorney with Icard Merrill, said individuals interested in units at En Pointe would be well aware of the parking situation before purchase.

“We’re going to find more and more complicated sites in the city as infill development continues,” Rees said. “But as you’ve all pointed out, that changes the type of clientele who’s going to be looking at these sites and making those types of decisions. What

we do have is standards of review that we meet. We have parking spaces that exceed what your code requires. We’ve got staff presentations and other professionals that have identified these are adequate.”

A majority of the commission sided with the developer, with multiple board members stating they believed they were obliged to approve a plan that complied with regulations in the code.

“I definitely don’t find it to be optimal or pleasurable, if you had one of those spots, but I do find it to be adequate,” Mayor Hagen Brody said. “And that’s the standard that we are charged with applying to the site plan.”

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Regional board reverses denial of Bobby Jones wetland grant

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Following support from county officials and members of the public, the Southwest Florida Water Management District endorsed the city’s request to fund a stormwater project.

Let’s Get SEER-ious

DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

Understanding the SEER rating for your A/C Your cooling system is about to be very busy. As Florida’s temperatures rise, your air-conditioner will be working overtime to beat the heat and keep you comfortable. You’ll notice the difference on your monthly electric bill.

But there is hope. SEER-iously.

Many homeowners today are wellversed in finding energy efficient appliances and fixtures to save on costs. They know to look for the yellow EnergyGuide label, which tells how much it costs to run that appliance with regular usage throughout the year. It also allows you to compare the efficiency of that product to similar models. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run, and the lower your utility bills might be.

The same idea applies to your A/C with its SEER rating.

To start, SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. This rating is devised by formulating the ratio of the cooling output of an air conditioner over a typical cooling season, divided by the energy it uses in watt-hours. Why does this matter? Well, if you are considering upgrading your air conditioner, or your existing system is showing signs that it’s at the end of its life, the SEER rating is an important factor to consider when shopping for a new A/C. That’s great… but what does it mean?

Understanding your SEER rating is the first step in making sure you are choosing the most energy efficient unit for your budget and your home. To help, the U.S. government introduced a standard, mandating that residential A/C systems made after 2005 should have a SEER rating of 13 as the minimum. The regulation was further amended in 2015, stating that the minimum rating of 14 is required. So, if your air conditioner was installed before 2015, it’s possible that it is much less efficient than it needs to be.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board unanimously endorsed the city of Sarasota’s request for a $1.5 million grant for a created wetlands project at Bobby Jones Golf Club.

The vote at Tuesday’s meeting reversed the decision of a SWFWMD subcommittee, which in April moved to deny the grant request despite an endorsement from water management district staff.

The city intends to create an 18-acre wetland on the Bobby Jones site designed to treat stormwater runoff from an approximately 5,800-acre watershed to the north. The project is estimated to cost $3.02 million, and the city hoped to get half of that expense covered via a SWFWMD grant.

As part of the process of evaluating funding requests from throughout the region, SWFWMD staff ranked the city’s project as a high priority, calling it

So, which one is right for you?

There are a few factors to consider in determining what A/C SEER rating is suitable for your needs.

First thing is the location of your residence, followed by the climate in your area and inside your home, the size of your air conditioning unit and how long and how often you will be using the air conditioning unit each day. Currently, the SEER highest rating is 25, but most systems range between 14 and 16. If you need to buy a new A/C, know that the higher SEER rating is equivalent to better efficiency. This comes with a price. However, you will usually make up the difference over the years through lower power costs.

How do I know what SEER rating I have now?

If you have purchased a new A/C unit in the last few years, your purchase paperwork will include your SEER rating. If you have an older system or can’t located the paperwork, the AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute) Directory of Certified Product Performance has a directory lookup, allowing you to enter the make/model of your unit to find its SEER rating. You can find it at ahridirectory.org.

in line with a directive from Gov. Ron DeSantis to pursue initiatives capable of mitigating harmful algae blooms. At Tuesday’s meeting, SWFWMD staff continued to speak positively about the proposal’s potential to reduce nutrients entering Sarasota Bay. “The project is highly cost effective,” said Randy Smith, chief of the SWFWMD natural systems and restoration bureau.

Tuesday, the staff presentation led to the 12-member governing board’s decision to include the city’s grant request in the recommended budget for fiscal year 2022.

That was not the case in April, when the Southern Region Cooperative Funding Initiative voted 2-1 to recommend against the city’s request — the lone denial among 22 projects ranked as a medium priority or higher.

Subcommittee Chairman Joel Schleicher also rejected staff’s request to make a presentation to the full SWFWMD board for further consideration.

City Manager Marlon Brown called the outcome of April’s meeting “highly unusual” and unlike anything he had experienced in his career in government.

Following the meeting, critics of the subcommittee’s decision drew attention to Schleicher’s history as an active critic of the city government. Schleicher is the co-founder of BEST Plan for Sarasota, a nonpartisan advocacy

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Image via SWFWMD

The full governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District voted to add the Bobby Jones wetland project to the agency’s 2022 recommended budget.

group that has said the city lacks effective leadership. He contributed $50,000 to a political committee under the same name in 2019.

Following the meeting, Schleicher defended his vote, stating it was rooted in questions about the value of the project and the city’s ability to follow through on its plans. Tuesday, however, Schleicher reversed his previous position, voting with the rest of the governing board in favor of the city’s proposal.

“To take the nutrients out of this broad watershed area I think makes a lot of sense,” Schleicher said.

Schleicher cited new information about Sarasota County’s support for the project as a factor that led to him changing his outlook. On May 18, the County Commission voted unanimously to endorse the city’s plans for the created wetlands at Bobby Jones.

Smith said 85% of the watershed

the project would reach is located outside of the city limits in unincorporated Sarasota County.

Smith also said county staff has been coordinating with the city on the project for about two years.

In a letter to City Manager Marlon Brown, County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said the county would continue working with the city on construction and maintenance of the wetlands.

“Water quality is a top priority to the Sarasota County Commission,” Lewis wrote.

SWFWMD board member Rebecca Smith said she was excited to see the city submit a plan related to stormwater treatment.

“I’m a big fan of the project and glad to hear, Joel, that you’ve gotten behind it, because I think it’s an amazing asset,” Smith said at Tuesday’s meeting.

The city hopes to secure permits for the wetlands project in July and begin construction in November.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

SARASOTA / SIESTA KEY

OPINION / OUR VIEW

Misguided obsession with race Here is a sampling of how Florida universities are brainwashing students that the U.S. is systemically racist.

M

ost everyone paying attention to current events has heard of it by now — Critical Race Theory.

Over the past four years, and certainly now, it has become one of the most socially and culturally destructive, anti-American trends spreading throughout the classrooms of American high schools and colleges and government agencies.

The proponents of Critical Race Theory hold that U.S. laws and institutions are inherently racist and explicitly function to create and maintain social, economic and political inequalities between whites and non-whites, especially blacks.

It’s being used to brainwash the next two generations of young Americans.

Indeed, if you want to see how this aggressive cancer is spreading, tap into criticalrace.org, a project of the Rhode Island charitable non-profit, Legal Insurrection Foundation. Criticalrace.org is a website that has documented how Critical Race Theory is being promulgated in more than 200 U.S. universities and colleges.

Florida’s state universities are in the vortex of the movement.

And to illustrate what is occurring at them, we are printing excerpts from criticalrace.org. which quotes material from the universities, as well as printing excerpts from materials posted on the universities’ websites.

Each source is noted.

We encourage anyone who has children or grandchildren attending these schools or thinking of attending one of them to explore the website. You should want to make yourself aware of these taxpayer-funded efforts that promote the false, destrucive, divisive, narrative that the United States is systemically racist.

— Editor

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Criticalrace.org: “USF has taken steps to finance research into Critical Race Theory and anti-racism. The provost created a $500,000 research fund to research “systemic racism” and find potential solutions.

USF has also financed the creation of the DARE Dashboard, which collects data on students, faculty and staff. This data will be used to make policies designed to “institutionalize” antiracism.”

From a USF website: “Our goal really as an institution is to institutionalize anti-racism, to really embed that in everything that we do,” explained Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, senior adviser to the president and provost for diversity and inclusion.

“It allows us to ask new questions that we haven’t asked before; it allows us to take seri-

ously the fact systemic racism is multi-dimensional, so the data that we collect has to go beyond just the composition of our student body, the composition of our faculty,” she said.

From the Anti-Racism Office of the President: “Our specific focus on anti-racism on these performance dashboards is intentional because it reflects our understanding that systemic racism is real, and the recognition that our success as a university hinges on our ability to eliminate racial inequities.

“Anti-racism describes the active process of re-evaluating organizational structures, policies, practices and beliefs in or-

der to eliminate systemic racism and ensure racial equity.”

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

From Criticalrace.org: “The University of Central Florida has taken multiple steps to commit to ‘equity, diversity and inclusive excellence.’”

“Initiatives include making ‘the position of chief equity, inclusion and diversity officer a vice president and, as such, a member of the president’s cabinet,’ creating a ‘President’s Executive Committee on equity, inclusion and diversity,’ making a ‘requirement that all units and colleges demonstrate their

UF PRESIDENT’S ACTION PLAN ON RACE Here are excerpts from a letter University of Florida President Kent Fuchs wrote students and faculty on June 18, 2020: “Amid global protests and intentional reflection here on campus, many UF colleges, departments and individuals have joined the growing effort to address racism and inequity.

“To build on this important work, we announce today actions that align with our strategic goals in The Decade Ahead plan … ” EDUCATION, RESEARCH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT n UF will require training of all current and new students, faculty and staff on racism, inclusion and bias. n UF’s Office of Research will make available this academic year competitive grants to faculty on topics of race, equity, justice and reconciliation. n The 2020-21 academic year will focus on the black experience, racism and inequity. Each of our colleges will feature speakers, seminars and courses. Led by faculty, we will also reevaluate and revise appropriate elements of our curriculum. n Student Government will join in this effort by organizing programs and speakers across campus … n The UF Faculty Senate will organize Town Hall meetings and add a standing agenda item as part of their monthly Faculty Senate meetings. n In UF’s spring semester, we will devote a day to community service and learning as guided by local leaders.

HISTORY, SYMBOLISM AND DEMONSTRATING BEHAVIORS CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES n A presidential task force will document the history of UF in relationship to race and ethnicity, particularly African Americans and Native Americans. n A second presidential task force will review and recommend values, principles and reasons for establishing and maintaining honorary namings, both historic and current. … Ultimately there will be a process to review all historical namings to determine if they should be retained or removed.

n I am personally committed to removing any monuments or namings that UF can control that celebrate the Confederacy or its leaders. n While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our “Gator Bait” cheer at UF sporting events, there is horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase. Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer. n There are agriculture operations where UF has relied on prison and jail inmates to provide farm labor. The symbolism of inmate labor is incompatible with our university and its principles and therefore this practice will end.

REPRESENTATION, INCLUSION, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY n I am charging the university’s leadership, acting within state and federal laws, to intensify our efforts in recruiting, supporting and retaining our students, faculty and employees of color, particularly black students, faculty and staff.

To promote transparency and accountability, we will publish by department and college the race, ethnicity and gender trends for faculty, staff and students and present regular reports to the Board of Trustees. n UF will redouble efforts to support local small businesses and vendor diversity. n UF will work with East Gainesville community leaders and residents to develop specific and sustainable programs and activities that will contribute to improving the community’s educational and economic well-being. … We know that we cannot undo lifetimes of injustice and racism, but we believe we can make progress — in education, in advancing truth, reconciliation and justice, and in antiracism, equality and working to eradicate inequities.

This process will not be easy, and we will need to work together through the imperfections, missteps and complications that always accompany change. But the progress we seek is fundamental to who we are at UF and to our expectations of ourselves …”

own commitment to inclusive excellence, through dedicated resources and training’ and increasing ‘institutional resources and full-time staff who are dedicated to helping deliver on these promises.’ “‘Through the use of three policies — the University’s discriminatory harassment policy, its computer use policy and its Just Knights Response Team (JKRT), the school’s version of a bias response team — the University of Central Florida and its administrators have created a series of rules and regulations that restrain, deter, suppress and punish speech about the political and social issues of the day.’”

From a UCF website: UCF also has an Office of Social Justice and Advocacy, whose role, among other activities, “encompass the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) and LGBTQ+ Services to cover all areas of under-represented communities and exclusivity.”

From the university website: “[Office of Diversity & Inclusion] hosts diversity and inclusion training workshops throughout the year … Students, faculty and staff can engage in individual sessions or complete multiple workshops to earn certificates in various topics, such as “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.” Workshops offered over the years have included the “ABCs of Diversity”; “Micro-Messages and Microaggressions: Impacts on Inclusion”; “Race the Power of an Illusion” and “Understanding Power and Privilege.”

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Criticalrace.org: FSU has not yet taken steps to embed Critical Race Theory into its curriculum.

It hosted a “Collaborative Collision: Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion” event, where more than 36 scholars shared their work and how it related to diversity and inclusion.

FSU also held its spring Social Change Symposium. The symposium was described as follows: “Over the course of three weekends, students from FSU and several regional visiting campuses will be invited to virtually attend workshops and small group sessions on topics such as anti-racism, interfaith inclusion, anti-sexism, transgender inclusion, anti-heterosexism, anti-classism, anti-ableism and anti-xenophobia.”

Florida State University News: “The hope with [the Collaborative Collision] event was that it will lead to a greater understanding of the need to pursue and support compelling research that can provide informed direction to practices and policies that are rooted in social justice,” Vice President for Research Gary K. Ostrander said.

“Faculty who ultimately form collaborations related to diversity and inclusion as a result of the event are eligible for seed funding from the Office of Research Development to help kickstart their work. ORD’s Collaborative Collision seed fund provides up to $25,000 for researchers and helps teams position themselves to apply for external funding for new research initiatives.”

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Charter Review Board postpones district debate Residents argued for 90 minutes the merits of single-member districts.

DATA GATHERING

BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER

F

or more than 90 minutes last week, residents stood before the Sarasota County Charter Review Board and argued the merits of singlemember districts.

About 80% of the evening’s 45 speakers were in favor of the districts and asked board members to keep the districts in place.

However, board members pushed a decision to its next board meeting to comply with procedural bylaws.

Board members were reviewing single-member districts at the request of the Sarasota County Commission, members of which wanted to discuss the potential of reverting to a system where county residents cast at-large ballots for commissioners.

Commissioners in April asked the Charter Review Board to review the voting system and consider a repeal for the November ballot. Commissioners can at any time approve an ordinance to place an amendment on the ballot.

Commissioners argued that residents didn’t realize what they were voting on in 2018 when they approved the referendum, which requires voters to cast a ballot only for the commissioner in their district.

File photo

Aside from the Charter Review Board examining single-member districts, county commissioners said they want a question placed on the 2021 Citizen Opinion Survey that will gauge voter opinion of the system.

Although the citizeninitiated measure was approved with a 60% vote, commissioners have since expressed disdain for the measure.

A final question has yet to be determined, but County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said leaders are considering, “How does the community feel about being able to vote for only one commissioner every four years?”

The survey is conducted annually over the phone and takes about 15 minutes to complete. Survey calls typically are made in June with results ready in September.

Residents argue in favor of single-member districts.

“I’ve yet to have somebody come up to me and say, ‘You know, I’m pretty glad and absolutely delighted that I gave up my right to vote for commissioners,’” Chair Al Maio said. “I’m still waiting for that person, and I’m never going to meet them.”

However, speaking in a shortened two-minute time frame instead of the usual five-minute allotment, most residents pres-

ent argued the single-member district idea is better.

Resident Valerie Buchand argued that the commissioners’ attempt to revert to the previous system sends a message that they don’t care about the voters’ will.

“Here we are again to undo what the voters have chosen for their life,” Buchand said. “My question to you is, how long will it last? The voters have decided

for a single-member district. We wouldn’t have had to go that route if we had been represented at the table … but the people they represent is developers in their special interest.”

Attorney Dan Lobeck argued that nearly no other Florida counties the size of Sarasota County have countywide elections.

Additionally, he said countywide elections increase the cost

of running, which limits the field of potential candidates.

“Single-member districts make sense. It empowers the people,” Lobeck said. “You’re having contempt for the people if you put this back on the ballot.”

Jack Brill, the Sarasota Republican Party chair, said the change to single-member districts meant voters lost 80% of their voice when it comes to the county commission.

“This is the worst form of voter suppression possible,” Brill said. “…It is not only the right decision to put on the ballot the option to repeal single member districts, but it will also allow democracy to be in action for all Sarasota County voters.”

After listening to the arguments, Charter Review Board members were mixed in their reactions.

Board member David Samuel said the ballot in 2018 was too busy with federal, state and local races all represented, which left room for confusion.

“The will of the people, certainly it’s very important,” Samuel said. “But also, the people need to know what they’re voting for.

They need to be educated.”

Although not all board members shared their opinion on the matter, they unanimously agreed to move forward a discussion.

However, citing bylaws that dictate how the board operates, board members agreed to put the debate off until its next meeting.

A discussion and debate of single-member districts is set for the board’s Oct. 20 agenda.

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

County collecting revenues better than it budgeted

Changes to the American Rescue Plan increase financial assistance, making more people eligible for help.

Most sources of revenue are reporting an increased level of return at the mid-year mark.

GENERAL FUND REVENUES At mid-year, the actual revenue collection stands at $41.9 million, 1.25% over the budgeted figure of $41.4 million. Among the highest performing segments:

BRYNN MECHEM STAFF WRITER

There have been several recent changes by the government that allow more people living in Florida to sign-up for affordable health insurance. The COVID-19 relief law (American Rescue Plan) provides additional financial assistance and allows even more Floridians to get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare).

The government has also reopened enrollment in ACA plans until August 15. This means you can take advantage of the new financial assistance options that are available.

Highlights of these recent changes include:

As leaders head into budget season, they are learning that county earnings are not as low as projected.

Sean Snaith, the director of the Institute for Economic Forecasting at the University of Central Florida, told county commissioners last week Florida is seeing something of an economic resurgence as the state begins to see tourism and optimism return.

Snaith said the national debt had surpassed a trillion dollars before COVID-19 hit and has steadily continued to rise to its current rate of $28.3 trillion. The increased debt could mean local governments experience pressure on interest rates and a general lack of consumer spending.

However, he said spending in 2021, particularly in Florida,

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

11

File photo

gency circumstances.

All told, the county’s revenues exceed budget expectations by approximately $525,000 with mid-year spending at or below expectations.

“We took a very determined approach at the beginning of COVID to not just make cuts but also make pauses,” Lewis said.

“We continue to monitor that as we go forward.”

The county also was able to secure $122.8 million in grants to help offset several costs it faced during the pandemic. The county is awaiting approval of another $94.2 million.

In fiscal year 2022, the county has approximately 85 capital improvement projects planned, the largest of which include improvements to fire stations and the addition of a regional fire training academy, jail facility renovations, a remodel of the R.L. Anderson Building and continued upgrades to the county’s wastewater systems.

County administrator Jonathan Lewis said the county’s budget is in better shape than anticipated.

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in their homes, so there’s a double desire to return to normal,” Snaith said. “Many who are tired of being locked up decided, ‘We’re traveling as a family and friends,’ which is an indication of pent up demand.”

During spring break, the county saw 145,600 visitors who stayed in paid accommodations, with hotels reporting an occupancy rate of 91.7% at an average of $231 a night.

Those numbers were reflected in the county’s collected Tourism Development Tax. The TDT is a 5% tax on all hotel rooms and residential units rented for six months or less. Taking the pandemic into consideration, the county anticipated a collection of $9.7 million at mid-year. However, to date, the county has collected $12.7 million, a 31% return over the estimate.

The infrastructure surtax has collected 2.1% more than budgeted and combined utility revenues have collected 10% more than was budgeted at the mid-year review.

“When we were in the budgeting process last year, we still didn’t quite know where we were going to be as it related to COVID-19 and the economic impacts as a result of that,” County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said. “So this is good news.”

However, some metrics are falling short. The communications services tax is off budget projections by 6.6% and state revenue sharing is down by 2.7%.

An unexpected loss, however, came in the form of ambulance fees, which are down 9.4% compared to the projected rate. Director of Financial Management Kim Radtke said the shortfall was attributed to fewer people calling for assistance in less-than-emer-

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Beginning with the next budget year, the city will no longer receive funds from Sarasota County to support the management of several regional park facilities, including Arlington Park.

City sees budget challenges Headed into the 2022 budget season, staff is seeking direction from the City Commission on how to handle shortfalls linked to COVID-19, parks operations and more.

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In total, city staff has forecast a $1.53 million hit to the general fund and parks and recreation fund as compared to the current budget, and it is asking the commission to provide guidance at Thursday’s meeting.

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Although there are some favorable breaks for the city’s general fund and parks district projected in the 2022 budget, the majority of the changes staff identified will have a detrimental effect on the bottom line. Here are some of the biggest adjustments staff has identified: POSITIVE $2.11 million — changes in pension plans $389,797 — elimination of five positions

of the negative impact on the 2022 budget staff has identified.

City documents indicate the city’s projections are based on the use of the roll-back millage rate, which is the rate at which the city would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as it did in 2021, new construction excepted.

Although the city has received emergency funding and the state has lifted most restrictions related to COVID-19, City Manager Marlon Brown said the pandemic continues to dampen revenue projections. At a March meeting, Brown said staff will continue to take steps to limit the city’s financial commitments in the proposed 2022 budget, including not allowing any department to request the creation of new positions.

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to the resumption of some activity that was frozen to save costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city plans to resume funding for 14.5 positions that were put on hold in 2020 or 2021, including three jobs in the parks, police, finance, engineering and maintenance departments. The city also intends to resume its equipmentreplacement program.

The city’s budgetary challenges extend beyond the effects of COVID-19. Since 2018, officials have discussed strategies for covering the costs of managing seven city-owned parks that Sarasota County previously operated. When the county and city struck a new parks agreement in 2018 at the county’s behest, the county agreed to provide three years of funding for the parks it handed back to the city to manage. Because 2021 was the final year of county payments, the city must now deal with the loss of $882,000 in parks funding.

The city created a parks and recreation taxing district in 2018, a mechanism officials intended to be a tool to help manage parks funding. But establishing a new dedicated tax rate for the parks district requires a unanimous vote of the City Commission, and Mayor Hagen Brody has repeatedly opposed the prospect of a parks tax. As a result, the city has continued to fund parks operations via general fund revenue.

Projections suggest most of the new costs can be covered via the unassigned balance in the general fund. After accounting for federal emergency funding, the city anticipates it will end 2021 with a balance of $24.7 million — $1.5 million more than at the beginning of the fiscal year. That fund balance could cover all but $29,135

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1:03 a.m. — 2900 block of Hawthorne Street Dispute: A woman said she agreed to let an acquaintance stay at her home in exchange for doing some tasks around the house. The two got into an argument because the woman said the acquaintance did not do the tasks and would not leave when asked. The acquaintance had left the property by the time officers arrived. While officers were on the scene, the woman mentioned that a portion of her fence was broken and she wasn’t sure what happened to it. An officer took photos of the fence to document the damage.

BIKE BACKLASH 5:15 p.m. — 1300 block of 14th Street Dispute: A woman said she was upset with her neighbor for talking to her grandson about using the key to the neighbor’s dirt bike. The woman said she did not think the neighbor should be speaking to the grandson, and if there was an issue, he should be bringing it up with the parents instead. The woman said she would call the police if the neighbor came back to her house, but she also said she may handle the issue herself. An officer encouraged her to let the police settle any future disputes.

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NO SERVICE 2:31 a.m. — 700 block of South Washington Avenue Dispute: An employee at a restaurant said two people would not leave the dining area even though she told them she would not take their order. Both people said they just wanted to get food, but they both agreed to leave the area without further issue.

SOUR NOTES 8:48 a.m. — 2300 block of Ixora Avenue Dispute: A man reported an ongoing issue with his neighbor. The man said the neighbor has been frequently complaining about the landscaping being done on the man’s property. Both of the past two days, the neighbor has left a note on the door of the man’s car. The man said he was attempting to address some of the neighbor’s complaints, but he did not want her coming onto his property to leave notes. An officer was unable to contact the neighbor. The officer suggested the man could have an attorney send a cease-and-desist letter to the neighbor.

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School district negotiating with county on fire academy Leaders are deciding what they would need from a partnership and how much they could contribute.

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NOW OPEN WITH FULL TABLE SERVICE ers hope to compare the school’s list of needs with what the county already is paying for to avoid duplication.

“There’s no sense in us having classroom space and them having classroom space,” DiPillo said. “If we’re not using it at the same time, it could be a shared resource.”

If board members wish to proceed with the partnership, they can expect to see a plan for the facility added to the district’s five-year budget plan.

District leaders would then work on an agreement with the county that outlines how the partnership operates and who is responsible for paying for building maintenance and utilities.

Initial conversations with the county estimate the district’s cost at about $5 million.

“What’s expected of us,” board chair Shirley Brown asked. “I mean just student parking alone could be costly. We’d need parking for at least 100 cars.”

Although she acknowledged it would be a significant investment, board member Jane Goodwin said the district should seize the opportunity.

“I think we really need to be in this environment,” Goodwin said.

“I think we need to upgrade our facilities.”

The Suncoast Technical Academy fire training program attracts about 145 students annually.

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School leaders are again negotiating preliminary terms for a partnership with the county to create a regional firefighting training site.

The county is building a 32-acre site off Knights Trail and extended an offer to the school district to partner in the venture.

However, district leaders need to make a decision relatively quickly. The county is tentatively set to break ground in November.

Chief Operations Officer Jody Dumas said that means the school district has about six months to decide, which surprised some leaders because the district’s lease with the city of Sarasota doesn’t end until 2033.

“This is kind of being fasttracked,” Dumas told school board members. “So we don’t have a recommendation yet, but we want to keep you as up-todate as possible so you’re ready to decide when the time comes.”

School board members have shown preliminary support for the partnership. Since the opportunity came about, school leaders have developed a list of required spaces to be a state-certified fire training academy.

The list of requirements include educational spaces, an outparcel for burn pits and smoke towers, hydrants with particular water specifications, computer labs and parking.

Ron DiPillo, the executive director of career, technical and adult education at Suncoast Technical Center, said now lead-

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SPORTS

“If I have a bad day at home or at school, I can come and let everything out on the field.”

— Riverview High’s Tyre Smith SEE PAGE 18

HIGH

THE GREEN LIGHT

5

1

Sarasota Military Academy graduate Mary Tucker, a sophomore at University of Kentucky, won the Smallbore Three-Position division of the 2021 National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships, held May 1216 in Hillsdale, Michigan.

2

Former Riverview softball player Devyn Flaherty, a sophomore at Florida State, went 2-3 with a double, an RBI and a run in the Seminoles’ 2-0 win against University of Central Florida in the NCAA Regionals. The Seminoles will play Louisiana State in a three-game Super Regional series. Watch on ESPN (May 27) and ESPN2 (May 28-29).

Courtesy photos by Lyle Anderson

Lyle Anderson (above), who will graduate from Sarasota Military Academy, drove his blue Ford Mustang in the Daytona Beach 14-hour race (right).

Sarasota Military Academy racer takes the next step in his endurance career.

3

Cardinal Mooney senior Christian Laureano was named to the 2021 USA Lacrosse All-American team May 26.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS REPORTER

S

itting in the driver’s seat of his blue Ford Mustang on April 10, Lyle Anderson took a moment to look at the road in front of him.

It wasn’t a typical road. Anderson, 18, was at Daytona International Speedway. He was about to race in the RVA Graphics & Wraps Daytona Beach 14-hour race, part of the ChampCar Endurance Series. The place was intimidating. The nerves hit, Anderson said, until words from his father,

4

Sarasota senior Luke King and Tanner DeMarzo, finished first overall in the Nacra 15 Nationals sailing race, held May 21-23 in Clearwater.

5

Riverview boys senior John Solomon signed with University of Montana’s basketball team on May 14.

Lyle F. Anderson, came through his radio headset, telling him to forget about everything and simply drive like he was born to drive.

From a young age, Anderson, who will graduate from Sarasota Military Academy next month, has been interested in racing, he said. Not just the results, but the process. Anderson played the “Forza” series of video games when he was young, which inspired him to notice such things as sponsorships and tiny tweaks to a car to go faster.

Three years ago, Anderson took his love of racing from the screen to the track. He started driving go-karts at Palmetto’s Andersen Racepark. For two years, Anderson was a student of the sport’s basics. He learned how to go fast with finesse. He also began eating healthy and working out.

“Go-karts may not be the most

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exciting form of racing, but they were great to get me into the sport,” Anderson said. “You have the same challenges you find at higher levels of racing. I learned things there that I can use at higher levels.”

All along, Anderson had his eyes on something bigger. He wants to be an endurance driver, the ones who race for hours on end. His dream is to compete in the International Motor Sports Association in its endurance races, which include the Daytona 24-hour, the Sebring 12-hour and the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

“I have always thought that endurance racing is the purest form of racing there is,” Anderson said. “It’s a huge challenge. You get to show who is the most dominant car and the most dominant driver. I have always loved that.”

So that’s what Anderson pursued, and in April, he took part in his first race. That’s when he found himself on the grid at Daytona. And the nerves hit, until he remembered he was born to do this. Then, Anderson was calm.

Day turned into night and rain fell on and off. Anderson drove through it all. He and his team, Trident Motorsports, finished 21st out of 124 cars. For a first race, Anderson was thrilled. It earned him the chance to compete in more races this fall, including the Creventic 24 Hours of Sebring.

Anderson signed a sponsorship deal with NEPTN (pronounced “Neptune”), a bracelet company based in Miami. The company’s website says Neptune was chosen as its brand name because the Roman sea god stands as a symbol of freedom, of living in the present moment.

It’s akin to how Anderson feels behind the wheel: free.

NO CHEAP SPORT One of the biggest hurdles to starting a racing career is money.

Many professional drivers come from wealthy families, but Anderson and his team had to scrape together money for his races. To drive in the Daytona Beach 14-hour race, He paid an entry fee which of approximately $2,000. He also had to acquire tires, brake parts, a clutch and other backup parts in case something went wrong. And he paid for racing gear, costing approximately $2,000.

When factoring in those expenses, hotel rooms, food, gas, transport costs and other day-to-day expenses, the entire race cost approximately $16,000.

Anderson knows that paying for race expenses won't get easier for a while. But when he finishes as well as he did at Daytona, it all becomes worth it.

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PROSE AND KOHN

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

17

RYAN KOHN

Keep things rolling Cougars baseball makes a logical move with new head coach.

be around campus, and Mercurio said he plans on taking advantage of that. No one on the baseball staff has a day job at the school, so it’s difficult for coaches to do things like talk with teachers and make sure their student-athletes are living up to the “student” half of that moniker.

Asked if he ever considered stopping coaching alongside his Sheriff’s Office retirement, Mercurio said no.

“As long as I have something to contribute to the team or a player, I’m going to keep doing it,” Mercurio said. “My family will tell you I thought about baseball 24/7 before, but I’m thinking about it even more now.”

Mercurio has done more than coach. He’s also kept the program looking sharp in other ways, such as taking care of the field or making repairs. Before a game last season, Mercurio had to rewire the scoreboard to get it to work. He’ll never complain about it, though; if it helps out the boys, it’s worth it to him.

T

he Cardinal Mooney High baseball program has always taken a communal approach to coaching.

The varsity and junior varsity teams practice together, and coaches at both levels get their say in what adjustments are made. There are coaches at both levels, sure, but they always value what their assistants say.

Even now, as one coach leaves and another steps up, that approach isn’t changing.

Mike Mercurio was named the Cardinal Mooney varsity coach on May 19. Mercurio will take over for Greg Mulhollen, who stepped down after 13 seasons.

Mulhollen, who compiled a 22698 record at Mooney, will take an assistant position with Sarasota High. Mercurio was an assistant under Mulhollen for nine years and coach of the Cougars’ junior varsity team for three years.

Mercurio, a former three-sport athlete at the school, said not much would change under his watch, at least initially.

“Everyone is counted on,” Mercurio said. “This isn’t one way or the highway. Our guys have a lot of different experiences, from the pro level to col-

New baseball coach Mike Mercurio

lege ball. That’s why it has been successful. It is foolish to think there’s only one way to run a program or strategize for a game.

There’s always an open line of communication.”

Being a small school, the program faces challenges other schools don’t have. The Cougars’ field doesn’t have lights, for example. But Mercurio pointed to the team’s hitting facility, a new addition, as an example of how the team can grow and remain competitive even with limitations. And make no mistake: continued growth will always be the goal.

This summer, Mercurio, a lieutenant with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, plans to retire after 34 years. That means he’ll have more time to

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

Photos courtesy of Cardinal Mooney

Mike Mercurio has been coaching the Cougars for as an assistant for nine years. Now he’ll be the varsity head coach.

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Tyre Smith

If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at rkohn@ yourobserver.com

Tyre Smith is a junior linebacker on the Riverview football team.

According to Rams Coach Josh Smithers, Smith has impressed during offseason workouts and is expected to be a leader on the defense as a senior during the 2021 season. The Rams will play a spring game Thursday on the road against South Fort Myers.

What have you worked on this offseason?

Getting more mobile. Getting my hips open. Getting more agile.

Those are the main things.

When did you start playing football?

I started playing football when I was 7 years old. I played for the Sarasota Seminoles. I was a bigger kid. I was a little, fat center. I tried the sport after school one day and loved it right away.

What is your favorite food?

I love steak. I like it cooked medium rare.

What is the appeal to you?

If I have a bad day at home or at school, I can come and let everything out on the field.

What is the best advice you have received?

Don’t live for today, live for tomorrow.

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

My favorite show is “AllAmerican” and my favorite movies are the “Narnia” movies.

What is your best skill?

I think I’m a great leader. I like leading. It makes me feel good as a person. I lead by example, physically, producing on the field, and mentally, while watching film.

I do a little bit of everything.

What is your favorite memory?

My sophomore year I had to step up when one of our starting linebackers was injured. I took his place against Venice High, and we beat them on the road, 24-21. It was the first time we had beaten them in a long time [11 games]. That one felt good.

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Classifieds 29 Games 28 Real Estate 25 Weather 28

MAY 27, 2021

YOUR NEIGHBORS BREAKING INTO BIRDING

Ximena Contraras looks at a purple gallinule.

The Sarasota Audubon Society is pausing its workshops and classes for the summer, but you can still take the time to get into birding on your own.

Go to the right place: Celery Fields, just south of the Fruitville Road exit on Interstate 75, is the top spot.

Also consider: Pinecraft Park off Bahia Vista Street; the beaches of Lido Key; Manatee County’s Robinson Preserve, on the shores of Tampa Bay; Rothenbach Park at the eastern end of Bee Ridge Road; Red Bug Slough Preserve, on Beneva Road south of Proctor Road; and Quick Point Preserve, on the southern end of Longboat Key. Get binoculars: No trip will be complete without binoculars or a long camera lens to better see birds flying about.

Explore and explore early: It’s best to get out and look for birds as early as sunset, for that’s when they’ll be roosting or looking for bugs. Dress comfortably and remember to protect yourself from the sun.

Commit: The most important thing for new birders is to commit to the craft and to keep going out and seeing new species. It takes repetition to be able to recognize different feather patterns and colors and know which bird calls belong to which species.

Courtesy photo

A green heron rests on a branch at Celery Fields.

see a variety of species.

Young says the summer is baby season when the year-round species pause to lay eggs and raise their young. She’s seen northern mockingbirds rustling for bugs to feed their chicks and other birds circling the wetlands looking for food.

“There’s 10,000 kinds of birds in the world,” Young said. “In North America, we have about 1,000 species. So everything changes; it’s never the same.”

The society relies more and more on technology. It’s fitting that a hobby that’s so detail oriented has a lively internet community.

Dubi and Young check the website and birding apps for what’s popular at the time and then make trips to see what they find.

More than just informing them about the trends and migration patterns, Young says the internet has helped provide them with a greater sense of community.

They have their white whales — or birds — that they’ve still yet to see in person. Dubi’s is the baird sparrow in North Dakota and Young’s is the Connecticut warbler. These “life birds” have eluded Dubi and Young for years.

The summer season is close at hand and the bird watching group will soon close its nature center and pause its activities beyond Zoom meetings to wait for the snowbirds to return this fall.

Both Dubi and Young will take time to recharge, plan new birding activities, and prepare for a new season.

They’re also going to take time and look for birds they haven’t seen yet — there’s always something new to see.

Photos by Harry Sayer

BIRDS OF A FEATHER HARRY SAYER | STAFF WRITER

C

elery Fields is a busy place on a Saturday morning.

The hills and marshes are filled with children running

and playing, couples walking their dogs and athletes training.

It’s a veritable flurry of activity enough to distract anyone.

But Sarasota Audubon Society Education Chair Kathryn Young isn’t worried about any of that — she’s too busy looking up.

Young and President Jeanne Dubi have been observing the world’s birds for years, and they spend their time sharing that knowledge with others.

The organization — based at the nature center at Celery Fields – spends much of the year hosting tours, workshops, classes and meetings to inform and encourage Sarasotans about bird watching.

“It’s a secret that people don’t

know about,” Young said. “People think bird watching is old ladies sitting and watching their feeders ... you should see these competitive birders.”

Young became involved in the hobby after noticing birds on her walks. She picked up a field guide, found Audubon, and started accompanying volunteers. Every time she returned from a trip she would read up on two or three new birds in her guide and would repeat that process for months.

“Field trips are really the way to really learn about birds,” Young

President Jeanne Dubi and Education Chair Kathryn Young and lead groups through Celery Fields.

said. “Go with someone who knows birds.”

The organization relies on volunteers and has around 50 bird enthusiasts helping run things during the season before taking a pause during the summer.

The center typically has a pair of docents managing the Audubon Nature Center building at Celery Fields along with two experienced birdwatchers at the boardwalks.

It’s from there that many fledgling and veteran birders alike can

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Sarasota Music Festival returns with revised format

Beth Jacobson Multi-Media Account Executive 8 Years with The Observer

HARRY SAYER STAFF WRITER

IF YOU GO

J

2021 SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL When: June 12-19 Info: SarasotaOrchestra. org/festival/concerts

effrey Kahane said there’s a certain spirit to the annual Sarasota Music Festival — a sort of consistency that makes the event what it is.

A typical schedule for the Sarasota Orchestra’s annual event features three weeks of concerts, master classes and programs that bring in countless visitors and music lovers to enjoy classic works and pieces from revered artists.

This year, some of that has changed. But, there’s that event spirit shining through, again.

“The circumstances made it impossible for us to do anything approaching the scope and scale of what we normally do,” said Kahane, the event’s musical director. “We decided we needed to do something to create an event that would symbolically stand for the festival and let people know that the festival is alive and represent the main parts.”

He said the 2021 Sarasota Music Festival accomplishes that goal. The eight-day event offers in-person concerts as well as a lecture that Kahane said will evoke the festival proper, albeit

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Courtesy photos

Jeffrey Kahane will perform in the festival and host a lecture.

in a scaled-down way. It will also include streamed events from Holley Hall.

The festival begins June 12 with

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21

Meet Our

Hero Docs Matthew Byers, MD, Otolaryngologist For nearly 30 years, the Sarasota Memorial Community Specialty Clinic has been the place where Sarasota County’s most financially vulnerable residents can find the specialized healthcare assistance they need. But it would be little more than a building without the tireless physicians, who volunteer their most precious resource — time — and contribute their invaluable medical skills to the community they serve.

Angelo Xiang Yu will perform the violin for the first concert June 12.

and played the most music,” Kahane said. “It seemed like something that’s a natural thing to talk about and share. I haven’t done something like it at the festival before.”

Audiences will then hear music from those composers for the duration of the festival. “... The idea was finding something that wasn’t just a random selection throwing things together but something with a coherence and internal logic for those who want to hear all he concerts will find satisfying,” he said.

It’s not the same as usual but Kahane is thrilled to deliver live music to the orchestra’s guests.

“It’s small in quantity but large in its spirit and symbolism in its message that the festival is very much alive,” he said. “This was the right choice at the right time.”

Thanks to dedicated volunteer physicians like Dr. Matthew Byers, our clinic community will always find an expert hand, a sympathetic ear and the high quality medical care it deserves.

Our patients remember that, and, if you see Dr. Byers around town, we hope you will too.

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a “Voices of Violin” concert from longtime festival participant Angelo Xiang Yu and pianist Feng Niu performing works of Mozart, Britten and Beethoven.

The subsequent three concerts will have performances from senior faculty including Kahane with pieces by Brahms, Chopin, Schumann and more.

The final concert will feature the Calidore String Quartet playing Schumann and Mendelsohn.

Kahane on June 13 will host a lecture on the Romantic Revolution in which he plans to play excerpts of piano and give an overview of romanticism looking at a generation of composers who pushed each other to grow.

“The very end of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century is the period of music where I have lived most deeply

If you’re an active or retired specialty physician interested in volunteering at our clinic, please call (941) 917-2566.

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DON’T MISS MAY 29

ART AND RACE MATTERS: THE CAREER OF ROBERT COLESCOTT May 29 to Oct. 3.

The Sarasota Art Museum will unveil the works of Robert Colescott, whose art examines diversity and racial stereotypes. General admission $15.

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PASSPORT TO THE BAZAAR 4 to 8 p.m. at 821 Apricot Ave. The Bazaar celebrates its third birthday with an evening that promises drinks, live music, and the chance to win a Sarasota-area vacation. Free. Visit BazaarOn ApricotAndLime.com

MAY 29

SIXTH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY 5K HIKE 9 a.m. at J.D. Hamel Park Bayfront Entrance, 199 Bayfront Drive. This annual hike hosted by SRQVets raises funds for veterans and comes with food and drinks. $25 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. Email Rob@ srqvets.us.

REGGAE BLOCK PARTY 2 to 10 p.m. at The Gator Club, 1490 Main St. The fifth annual reggae music block party honors the late musician Osward Caines of Democracy Reggae Band.

Courtesy photo

General admission $15, $10 for 12 and up. Go to JahMovement.com.

MAY 31

SARASOTA CONCERT BAND 5 to 7 p.m. at Philippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. The band will perform its traditional Memorial Day concert along with vocalist Kathryn Parks.

All branches of the military will be honored with a selection of patriotic music and themes from movies of the past. Bring a blanket or chair. Food vendors will be on hand. Free.

MEMORIAL DAY EVENT 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at J.D. Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive.

Though the Sarasota Memorial Day Parade has been delayed again, there will be a special ceremony with singer Lauren Nielsen and speaker Linda Gould.

Free. Visit SarasotaFL.gov.

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

23

Nancy and Andre Gomez and Danielle Morris Above: Gabby and Valarie Stern with samples of some of the seafood that was available for hungry guests.

Left: Wyatt and Mason Bishop

Seafood fest brings fun, flavor

T

he Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival returned with a weekend of fun and flavor at J.D. Hamel Park on May 20 through May 23. The annual event featured plenty of live music from bands such as Sarasota Steel Pan Band, Brenda Watty & Her Peeps, Fleetwood Max and Out of the Blue. Guests picked up savory seafood while relaxing to the beat of the bands.

Photos by Harry Sayer

Above: Kristin, Joe and Axel Signore Left: Bella says hello to strangers.

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

SIESTA KEY 405 Beach Road BBLK27 4 Beds 3/2 Baths 4,646 Sq. Ft. Felix Power 941-586-8958 A4499219 $4,190,000

SIESTA KEY 95 Columbus Boulevard 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,560 Sq. Ft. Christine Kramer 941-914-5011 A4499958 $3,200,000

SARASOTA 7693 Cove Terrace 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,636 Sq. Ft. June Howell 941-350-7521 A4499300 $3,100,000

SARASOTA 1335 2nd Street PH-7 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,363 Sq. Ft. Jonathan Abrams 941-232-2868 A4495711 $2,799,900

SARASOTA 7422 Clark Road 5 Beds 3/1 Baths 4,158 Sq. Ft. Jami Kellogg 941-809-6931 A4499425 $2,695,000

SIESTA KEY 4708 Ocean Boulevard E4 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,300 Sq. Ft. Carol Aviles 941-356-6777 A4490359 $1,549,000

SARASOTA 3520 Trebor Lane 4 Beds 5 Baths 3,300 Sq. Ft. Ann Martin & Joanna Benante 941-356-7717 A4488570 $1,500,000

SIESTA KEY 6140 Midnight Pass Road 208 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,798 Sq. Ft. Mina Johnson & Ethel Lovelace 941-404-9347 A4493412 $1,189,000

SARASOTA 3299 Glenna Lane 4 Beds 4 Baths 3,142 Sq. Ft. Phyllis Garfinkel 941-302-6400 A4500028 $899,000

SIESTA KEY 5963 Midnight Pass Road 332 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,270 Sq. Ft. Harvey & Ethel Lovelace & Mina Johnson 941-586-7390 A4498366 $750,000

SARASOTA 1151 Annie Laurie Lane 5 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,314 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4498976 $750,000

ENGLEWOOD 1375 Beach Road 101 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,821 Sq. Ft. Scott Johnston & Helene Johnston, P.A. 941-232-5482 N6114551 $699,000

SARASOTA 1478 Landings Circle 55 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,137 Sq. Ft. Elizabeth Van Riper 941-993-6842 A4499773 $695,000

SARASOTA 2557 Ringling Boulevard 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,445 Sq. Ft. Matthew Voss 941-237-0877 A4497940 $590,000

SIESTA KEY 5855 Midnight Pass Road 502 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,152 Sq. Ft. Joyce Naegele 941-586-7959 A4500378 $589,000

SARASOTA 1990 Main Street 7 2 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,293 Sq. Ft. Maurice Menager & Lin Dunn 941-809-2154 A4481614 $575,000

SIESTA KEY 145 Avenida Messina 2 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,016 Sq. Ft. Elizabeth Gardini 941-356-0096 A4498940 $575,000

SARASOTA 7560 Aguila Drive 4 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,612 Sq. Ft. Tom Childers & Madeline Childers 941-544-2715 D6118252 $539,000

SIESTA KEY 9022 Midnight Pass Road 213 2 Beds 1 Baths 624 Sq. Ft. Barbara Dumbaugh & Victoria Lear 941-951-6660 A4499922 $420,000

VENICE 124 Grand Oak Circle 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,875 Sq. Ft. Jared Ross 941-539-1705 A4500136 $399,990

SARASOTA 4951 Creekside Trail 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,044 Sq. Ft. Maureen Doherty & Patrick Doherty 941-993-3159 A4500426 $399,000

VENICE 3170 Willow Springs Circle 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,933 Sq. Ft. Chris Tritschler 941-376-7740 N6115191 $395,000

SARASOTA 325 Golden Gate Point 6 2 Beds 1 Baths 716 Sq. Ft. Dede Curran 941-928-3255 A4490453 $360,000

SARASOTA 435 S Gulfstream Avenue 907 1 Bed 1 Baths 1,201 Sq. Ft. Pamela Wall & Gladys Carrasco 941-504-5019 A4488260 $329,000

ENGLEWOOD 1625 Edison Drive 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,532 Sq. Ft. Ana Varone 941-504-8083 A4499226 $324,000

VENICE 1700 Fountain View Circle 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,356 Sq. Ft. Laura Bennawy & Edie Lomason 941-416-3132 N6115349 $310,000

SARASOTA 3947 Panola Lane 180 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,372 Sq. Ft. Rachelle Golden & Peter Salefsky 941-538-8998 A4500731 $209,900

SARASOTA 5401 Tri Par Drive 9 862 Sq. Ft. Joanna Benante & Ann Martin 941-356-7717 A4498798 $199,000

SARASOTA 1968 Toucan Way 1406 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,385 Sq. Ft. Gloria Totti-Cervoni 941-544-7746 A4496006 $164,900

LIDO KEY 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive 1208 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,254 Sq. Ft. Susan Fox & Jonathan Fox, PA 941-544-6648 A4492990 $3,900,000

SIESTA KEY 1291 Southport Drive 4 Beds 5/1 Baths 4,149 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4485002 $3,495,000

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

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

Casey Key home sells for $7.5 million ADAM HUGHES

A

SARASOTA

THE TOWER RESIDENCES Eileen Normile, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 802 condominium at 35 Watergate Drive to Irwin and Andra Press, of Sarasota, for $3,175,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,751 square feet of living area. It sold for $2,062,500 in 2013.

THE BLVD OF SARASOTA The BLVD Sarasota sold Unit 901 condominium at 540 N. Tamiami Trail to Todd and Heather Raker, of Darien, Connecticut, for $2.85 million. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, four-and-ahalf baths and 3,698 square feet of living area.

PLAZA AT FIVE POINTS S. Sanford and Patricia Schlitt, of Sarasota, sold their Units 16G and 16I condominium at 50 Central Ave. to Sharon Casaburo, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2,275,000. Built in 2005, it has

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

25

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

MAY 10-14

Other top sales by area

RESEARCH EDITOR

home on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Eugene Garro, trustee, and Patricia Garro, of Osprey, sold the home at 13 N. Casey Key Road to Ansel and Janet Schwartz, of Osprey, for $7.5 million. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 5,701 square feet of living area.

|

SARASOTA

Vue Patrick and Mary Mulva, trustees, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1802 condominium at 1155 N. Gulfstream Ave. to William and Monika Owens, trustees, of Sarasota, for $3.4 million. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,274 square feet of living area. It sold for $3,299,000 in 2018.

File photo

three bedrooms, three-anda-half baths and 4,099 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,522,600 in 2006.

Unit 1802 of the Vue was built in 2017.

It has three bedrooms, three-anda-half baths and 3,274 square feet of living area.

Lincoln Ramirez and Carolyn Bell, trustees, of Madison, Wisconsin, sold the Unit 15B condominium at 50 Central Ave. to Sean and Michele Rollman, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, for $885,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, five baths and 1,671 square feet of living area. It sold for $621,400 in 2005.

SIESTA KEY

Point Crisp Addition 3065468 Nova Scotia Ltd. sold the home at 1356 Point Crisp Road to Courtney Hutchins McCollum, trustee,

of Sarasota, for $4.9 million. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 7,048 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.5 million in 2012.

PALMER RANCH

Hammock Preserve DiVosta Homes LP sold the home at 12271 Hidden Hammock Road to Robert Gleason and Mary Dimanno, trustees, of Sarasota, for $891,800. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,489 square feet of living area.

ONLINE

THE OSPREY AVENUE Nolan and Dana Schmelzer sold their home at 612 Ohio Place to William and Coreen Adamany, of Sarasota, for $1,012,500. Built in 1923, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,776 square feet of living area. It sold for $837,400 in 2019.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

In with the new

MARK SARASOTA Parviz Daneshjoo sold the Unit 1118 condominium at 111 S. Pineapple Ave. to Joseph DeVito and Susan Marchione-DeVito, of Sarasota, for $990,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,498 square feet of living area. It sold for $930,300 in 2020.

SALES GALLERY OPEN

Longboat Key SEE REAL ESTATE, PAGE 26 The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | From the $2,000,000’s | Call for appointment. SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

MOVE-IN READY

These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of May 10-14, in order of dollar amounts.

C I T Y O F SA RAS O TA Address

Permit

Applicant

990 Blvd. of the Arts #501

Remodel

Thomas Rinaudo

Amount

1100 Imperial Drive #307

Remodel

James Wright

$ 99,832

778 40th St.

Pool/Deck

Cody Davis

$ 51,000

3818 Bay Shore Road

Spa/Deck

Cody Davis

$ 45,000

2212 Tami Sola St.

Pool/Deck

Fredy Monroy

910 Whitakers Lane

Dock

Keith Monda, trustee

4449 Bay Shore Road

Alterations

Maryann Armour

128 S. Shade Ave.

Pool

Adam Rudnicki

$ 28,300

387 S. Shore Drive

Panels

Eric Audette

$ 28,000

411 S. Shore Drive

Pool Cage

Stephen Fernandez

Downtown Sarasota

$ 148,000

$ 41,411

Risdon on 5th | 941.365.1414 | From the mid $500,000s | RisdonOn5th.com

NOW SELLING NEW PHASE

$ 35,754 $ 30,000

Northwest Bradenton

$ 21,799

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

Permit Applicant Amount

289 Cedar Park Circle

Remodel

Timothy Martin

$ 188,200

730 Siesta Key Circle

Remodel

Karen Sailor

$ 114,300

1244 Derby Lane #A-2

Windows/Doors

John Hansen

$ 98,458

7618 Midnight Pass Road

Addition

John Amato

$ 96,720

5120 Windward Ave.

Windows/Doors

Michael Hershberger

$ 92,000

411 W. Rossetti Drive

Re-roof

Nancy Groth

$ 84,887

622 Bayshore Drive

Pool/Spa/Deck

James Cooper

$ 84,233

2921 Valley Forge St.

Addition

Nancy Fichter

$ 84,000

Source: Sarasota County, city of Sarasota

Palma Sola Bay Club | 941.216.7436 | From the high $400,000s | PalmaSolaBayClub.com

Sales galleries open and available for virtual or in-person presentations.

Virtual home tours | OnDemand local experts | Interactive site and floorplans

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

357300-1

Licensed Real Estate Broker

26

SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

Real estate

Siesta Key Bayfront Estate

3821 Flamingo Ave.

FROM PAGE 25

 1 1⁄2 acres w/ 200 ft of Bayfront  5 BR/ 5.5 BA 5860 sq ft + guest house and 3 car garage  Dockage for 2 boats on the bay plus add’l dockage on

Hanson Bayou for a 50 foot boat and lift  Built in 1925, updated and expanded to enhance the authentic character of this southern hospitality home  Verandas, brick terraces, 4 fireplaces, French doors, formal dining room opening to private pool and expansive lawns

MLS#A4496158 $6,900,000

South Siesta Key Vacant Lot at Heron Lagoon

NEW

Q Jebco Ventures Inc. sold the home at 253 Cosmopolitan Court to Charles Alexander Bingham and Brigitte Genovefa Bingham, of Sarasota, for $975,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 2,670 square feet of living area.

8206 Midnight Pass Road

NG! LISTI

Build your Dream Home on this 13,970 sq ft lot!

96 ft on the tranquil blue water of Heron Lagoon Peaceful lot on the south end of Siesta Key Perfect for enjoying kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding  Short walk south to Turtle Beach or north to Crescent Beach  Spectacular sunsets every night    

MLS#A4486398 $799,000

NICHOLS David Craig Holliday and Lisa Holliday, trustees, sold two properties at 1715 Hyde Park St. to Donna Pickup, trustee, of Sarasota, for $965,000. The first property was built in 1925, it has four bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,289 square feet of living area.

The second property was built in 1960, it has one bedroom, one bath and 520 square feet of living area. They sold for $75,400 in 1992.

Condo at “The Inlet” Near Turtle Beach 9200 Midnight Pass Rd., #22

 Turnkey Furnished 2BR/2BA 1122 Sq.ft  Beautiful direct views of Blind Pass and partial

views of the Gulf

 Boat dockage is available on a first come/

first serve basis

 ½ mile walk to Turtle Beach  Washer & Dryer in the unit  Direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway

MLS#A4500496 $449,000

#1 Agent in the Siesta Key Office for 29 years!

Jackie

de MANIO Eberley

de MANIO cell: 941-914-5540 office: 941-349-2922 betsy@betsydemanio.com

356988-1

Voted Sarasota Magazine’s Five Star Agent “Best in Client Satisfaction” 14 Years in a Row Coldwell Banker - International President’s Premier Agent

Betsy

WESTBROOK Peter Magnuson, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 4120 Camino Real to Alyssa and Jonathan Haskins, of Sparks, Nevada, for $980,000. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,518 square feet of living area. It sold for $50,000 in 1971.

cell: 201-233-1959 office: 941-349-2922 Jackie@JackieEberley.com

AVON HEIGHTS Maurizio Colucci, of Sarasota, sold his home at 2520 Tami Sola St. to Gregory Quinn, of Longboat Key, for $900,000. Built in 1946, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,979 square feet of living area. It sold for $183,000 in 2018.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 726 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Herbert Vogel, of Sarasota, for $895,000. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. It sold for $531,000 in 2003.

CEDAR COVE ESTATES Joseph and Deborah Antonelli, trustees, sold the home at 1900 Baywood Terrace to Donald Taylor Anderson and Julie Johnson Anderson, of Sarasota, for $730,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,959 square feet of living area. It sold for $345,000 in 2003.

PLAT OF SARASOTA Francis Bauer and Sharon Leonard, of York, Maine, sold their home at 524 Columbia Court to Patricia Rezende Blanco, of Sarasota, for $730,000. Built in 1937, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,107 square feet of living area. It sold for $556,000 in 2018.

MANDARIN PARK Joanne Warber, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1226 Holly Fern Lane to Michelle Moran, of Atlanta, for $653,000. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,872 square feet of living area. It sold for $410,000 in 2004.

Karel Cooperman, of Wittman, Maryland, sold her home at 1379 Tearose Place to Danielle Castellano and Joseph Castellano, of Sarasota, for $607,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,191 square feet of liv-

Coldwell Banker Realty Owned and Operated by NRT,LLC

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THROUGH JUNE 27

Beverly and Bob Bartner; Better-Gro; BMO Private Bank; Ed and Betsy Cohen/Arête Foundation; Gold Coast Eagle Distributing; Ernest R. Kretzmer; Flora Major; Cornelia and J. Richard Matson; The Westin; and Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen MAJOR SPONSORS SELBY.ORG Beverly and Bob Bartner; Better-Gro; BMO Private Bank; Ed and Betsy Cohen/Arête Foundation; Gold Coast Eagle Distributing; SUPPORTING SPONSORS Ernest R. Kretzmer; Flora Major; Cornelia and J. Richard Matson; The Westin; and Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen

James and Maryann Armour Foundation; Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial Foundation; First Home Bank; Jean Weidner Goldstein; SUPPORTING SPONSORS Teri A Hansen; Marcy and Michael Klein; Katherine and Frank Martucci; Keith D. Monda; Jennifer and Rob Rominiecki;

SARASOTA OBSERVER

YourObserver.com

ing area. It sold for $395,200 in 2002.

1,467 square feet of living area. It sold for $216,500 in 2019.

PAYNE PARK VILLAGE Weekley Homes LLC sold the home at 399 Wingfield Drive to Karen Toor and Duminda Unantenne, of Sarasota, for $632,300. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-ahalf baths and 2,123 square feet of living area.

Living Reflection LLC sold the home at 2441 Tangerine Drive to Danelle and Thomas Haag, of Sarasota, for $405,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,316 square feet of living area. It sold for $325,000 in 2019.

1350 MAIN RESIDENTIAL Bernice Mann, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 1007 condominium at 1350 Main St. to Kimberly Crowell, of Sarasota, for $575,000.

Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,165 square feet of living area. It sold for $515,000 in 2018.

GULF GATE WOODS Randell Johnson and Robert Jensen, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 7459 Biltmore Drive to Sean O’Donnell and Nichole O’Donnell, trustees, of Weldon Spring, Missouri, for $530,000.

Built in 1972, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,840 square feet of living area.

It sold for $150,000 in 1998.

SOUTH GATE Damaris Lambert, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 2232 River Ridge Drive to David Phinney, of Sarasota, for $520,000.

Built in 1959, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,316 square feet of living area. It sold for $200,000 in 2020.

Carsten Fringel, of Sarasota, sold his home at 2425 Clematis St. to Thomas McCarthy, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey, for $467,500.

Built in 1959, it has two bedrooms, one bath, a pool and

Albert Wilson and Sandra Wilson, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 2222 School Circle to Circum LLC for $375,000.

Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,324 square feet of living area. It sold for $110,000 in 2004.

HUNTINGTON POINTE Matthew Todd Osborne, trustee, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, sold the home at 8831 Huntington Pointe Drive to Jeffrey and Erin Dausch, of Sarasota, for $510,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,083 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2006.

BAHAMA HEIGHTS Epic Sun Homes LLC sold the home at 2642 Trinidad St. to Caleb and Suji Fugleberg, of Sarasota, for $499,000. Built in 1953, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,484 square feet of living area.

|

27

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

donate & shop Building Materials | Furniture | Appliances Art | Decorative Accessories | Lamps

3 Stores n 1 Location Tuesday - Saturday n 10:00am - 5:00pm 2095 17th Street n Sarasota Have large items to donate?

Call to schedule your free pick up.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

(941) 444-5783

n

www.habitatsrq.org

Our vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live.

347879-1

5 DAYS | BUYER/SELLER | $1.249M

5129 SANDY COVE AVE | $1.895M

11 DAYS | BUYER/SELLER | $1.2M

317 BEACH RD | $3.4M

3 DAYS | SELLER | $1.4M

548 BEACH RD | $1.695M

SOLD

PENDING

SELLER | $3.8M LP

NEW

SOLD

PENDING

W ho you list with matters

SOLD

PENDING

1 DAY | SELLER | $1.395M LP

BUYER/SELLER | $1.22M LP

YEAR-TO-DATE SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR® SINCE 2005 • $88M Sold & Pending 2021, $72M Sold 2020, $71M Sold 2019 • I live and sell the Siesta Key lifestyle!

• Best in Client Satisfaction Real Estate Agent 15 years in a row by Sarasota Magazine

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.

356994-1

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

28

SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

FORECAST

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

THURSDAY, MAY 27 High: 88 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 9%

FRIDAY, MAY 28 High: 87 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 15%

SATURDAY, MAY 29 High: 87 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 24%

SUNDAY, MAY 30 Ann Klemeyer captured this anhinga drying its wings at Camelot Village Lake in Sarasota.

High: 87 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 23%

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/Weather. All submissions will be entered for the 2021-22 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2022, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, May 27

6:35a 8:17p

Friday, May 28

6:35a

8:17p

Saturday, May 29

6:35a

8:18p

Sunday, May 30

6:35a

8:18p

Monday, May 31

6:34a

8:19p

Tuesday, June 1

6:34a

8:19p

Wednesday, June 2

6:34a

8:20p

MOON PHASES

June 17 First

June 24 Full

July 1 Last

July 9 New

RAINFALL Monday, May 17

0

Tuesday, May 18

0

Wednesday, May 19

0

Thursday, May 20

0

Friday, May 21

0

Saturday, May 22

0

Sunday, May 23

0

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2021 8.89 in.

2021 0.07 in.

2020 13.58 in.

2020 2.24 in.

MANASOTA FLOORING INC 349220-1

941.355.8437 | Bradenton

CROSSWORD

941.748.4679 | Venice

F IN FILM CLASS by Matthew Stock; Edited by David Steinberg

941.493.7441 | www.manasotaonline.com 114 + 115 “Pinocchio” quote?

120 Originally unflavored chips brand 121 “In that case ...”

122 South Carolina tribe 123 Porsche model with an arachnid-inspired name 124 Showered affection (on) 125 Comes to a end?

54 Fruity dessert 55 Altar words 56 Stray cat’s home, perhaps 57 Vegetables related to radicchio 58 Cause to change course 63 Eagle’s nest 64 Edges of the fashion world?

66 Muslim greeting 67 Tugboat’s task 68 Facing trouble DOWN 70 Chopping tool 1 Table-wiping cloth 73 Former quarterback Tim 2 Bygone anesthetics 3 What you may catch or hold 75 Sandwich not found at a kosher deli 4 Four of clubs, e.g.

76 Touch with a stylus 5 Suffix with “lemon” 77 Bygone airline 6 Goofs 79 Ancient harplike instru7 Kangaroo motion 8 Lang. in which “I” is a raised ments 80 Olympic speed skater pinkie Davis 9 Person with no seat 81 Washed (down) 10 ___ de gallo 82 Walked back and forth 11 Sunflower support 87 Flash drive initials 12 Quarterback Prescott 88 Politician’s chance for 13 Forbidden fruit’s garden 14 When doubled, a fish taco a pic 89 The “heart of Black culture option in Boston” 15 Atomic variant 91 “Two thumbs up from me!”

16 “The usual” 17 Word after “eagle” or “evil” 93 General principle 95 Slows from a canter 19 ___ scheme 96 Corned beef dish 20 “Hey, pops!”

97 Irish poet W.B. 22 ___ Perce 99 ___ to (hint at) 23 Volcano flow 100 Not masculine or 29 Fleeting feminine 30 It’s never a bad thing ©2021 Universal Uclick 101 Shares, as gossip 31 Attempt again ACROSS 29 Hawklike bird of prey 61 Rest atop 85 Sincerely wish 105 “How interesting!”

33 Like hot wings 1 Zoom date need 32 Former soldiers’ hosps. 62 Whitlock Jr. of “Your 86 Poker pot starter 108 It has a low pH 35 Consultation price 7 Hinged fasteners 34 “That punch hurt!”

Honor” 87 Hullabaloo 109 Words per minute, for 37 Church chorus?

12 Downfall 36 Piano key next to A 65 “Go team!”

90 Swanky functions one 39 “Aargh!”

18 Online brokerage 38 “Coco” quote?

66 Sailor’s plea 92 Pet adoption org.

111 “___ no one ever” 19 Sticky note 43 “Other” category (Abbr.) 67 Leans 94 “The Wolf of Wall Street” 40 Skips, as syllables 112 Welcome desk offering 41 Australian bird’s liquid 20 Got one’s voice heard 45 Swipe 69 South Asian lentil dish quote?

114 Study, as for the ACT 21 “Field of Dreams” quote? 46 Get in the way of 71 Shape of flying geese 98 Return to a lower court product 115 RB’s distance units 42 Uncorks, perhaps 24 Enjoy a book 47 You, biblically 72 Greek letter hidden in 102 Cereal container 116 Negative conjunction 44 Game with melds 25 Rep. such as Mazie 49 Assert “talk the talk” 103 Mrs., in Spanish 117 Letters next to cellphone 47 Bat mitzvah’s text Hirono 51 Olympics city where 74 Cut smaller than a 104 Caught on tape bars 48 Japanese fruit candy 26 Person with a mobile Simone Biles won five med- porterhouse 106 Garland traditionally 118 “___ Mubarak” (Muslim brand home? als, briefly 76 Concert passes, for short returned to the earth greeting) 50 Exclusive pass holder, 27 “Day ‘n’ ___” (Kid Cudi 53 Actor’s prompt 77 Long-lasting ‘do 107 Skier’s lift 119 Oolong, e.g. briefly hit) 54 “Interstellar” quote?

78 “Moulin Rouge!” quote? 110 “Do the Right Thing” 52 “... but the price is flexible” 28 The Earth without it is 59 Curved trajectories 83 Chesapeake or Hudson actor Davis (Abbr.) just “Eh” 60 Fist bump 84 ___ Mahal 113 Rep. from the Bronx

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.

“NR EUU WEFR WDKITUEYY MSTKIRY; ADKI YEHP XKYG YRGGURY SH PSMMRIRHG OUEZRY.” DZGEFSE YORHZRI

“B TYUI FJ AYM, DGTT B CBCS’I TYUG BI, B ESYD DXGVG BI BU, IXGVG’U AWUI UYFG YIXGV LWJ CYBSL BI SYD.” MYMRZI LYTCIXDZBI Puzzle Two Clue: E equals K

Sarasota

OUTDOOR KITCHENS, DECKS, WALKWAYS AND MORE

Puzzle One Clue F equals V

PAVERS

© 2021 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

05-27-21

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

RED PAGES Condos/Apts. for Sale

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, May 23, and May 30 from 1-4 pm Windward Bay 4900 Gulf Of Mexico Dr. B 303 Longboat Key, FL 34228 Condo, completely remodeled, 2BR/2BA. Every room has unobscured panoramic view of Sarasota Bay. Marina with boat slips available. Deeded access to beaches on the Gulf. Must See! For photos https://sjones598.wixsite.com/ website or call 812-499-2215.

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

Items Under $200

Rentals Wanted

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

941-323-9417.

REAL LOCAL STUFF HERE!

YourObserver.com/RedPages

auto Autos Wanted

2013-2014 Ford Focus wheel $125 good condition, do not text. 941-879-7105

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

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

25 VINTAGE Linens Embroidered runners, dolly’s tablecloths, pillowcases, apron.

Various sizes. Good, clean condition. $25 for all!941-504-0165

YourObserver.com/RedPages

LARGE METAL toolbox loaded with tools of all kinds, 2 levels $50 for all. 941-349-4875 MAJESTIC PALM in a pot, established, nice. $20 941-228-9467 NEUTRAL LAMP with linen shade, 21” H, $10. Framed mirror 26X22”, $15. Both like new.

941-685-0094 PERFECT AA Citron gemstone rectangular 13.5mm x 10.5mm. $199 310-720-7285 SHELVES FOR Display 4 Tier as seen on Target.com.

Missing lamp. $7 each 941-921-1815 WINDOW AC, 5000 BTU, $95 941-350-4481

jobs

BUY STUFF HERE!

Adult Care Services

GARAGE

PERSONAL CARE GIVERPrivate care: Meal preparation, errands, shopping, and more.

Affordable hourly rates, available weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Temporary or long term care.

Over 10+ experience.

References available. No new faces, one consistent caregiver.

COVID Negative.

Call Kati: 941-536-7706.

SALE

Advertise as low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

SARASOTA 55+ condo, nice area, elevator, 2 beds,2 bath, not furnished, $1400 month, close to I75, shopping & more!

Drive by to see, 1620 Gleanoaks Drive East or call 941-536-7706

EXPENSIVE ROOM Darking Curtains - 4 pinch-pleated curtain panels (2@ 80”wx80”l) and (2@62”wx80”l). Needs cleaning $75 for all. 941-922-4122 ICE MAKER, countertop, $65, Holmes floor fan 3’ tall $30, Keurig coffee maker - new $30, office chair has wheels $30 941-359-8460

SELL YOUR STUFF

Help Wanted MARCELLO SPORT Men’s Fashions St. Armands, parking provided, 15 hrs. a week, independent, people skills, sales. No heavy lifting.

Vaccination proof, references needed.

Call/text 404-295-9819 Marcellosportsrq_jrm@ icloud.com

You’re only cheating yourself.

Items Under $200

OR RENT ANNA MARIA FO ISLAND UPDATED 5 STAR CONDO. Available May-November (monthly with multimonth discounts) millions $ waterview, first floor, 2br/2b, patio, walk to beach, pool, tennis, smoke free, boat slip available. marketreps@aol.com

peekers’ place

stuff

Condos/Apts. for Rent

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

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

BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service by Maria. Residential.

Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References. Free Estimates.

Reliable. Lic./Ins. 941-400-3342. www.braziliancleaningbymk.com

CLEANING BY Brazilian Lady.

Meticulous, reliable, deep cleaning specialist. Residential.

Commercial. New Construction. 941-400-2866.

K & R CLEANING SERVICES No job too small, I can clean it all! Bonded and Insured. Lots of experience. Free estimates.

Call 941-799-0414

Landscaping/ Lawn Services Professional Gardener Design, installation, maintenance, flowers, herbs, vegetables, and exotic gardens.

Regular weekly lawn maintenance and restoration 40+ years experience.

Tomlarsen559@gmail.com farmgirlfarmboyorganics.com 941-357-7750 business or 678-755-3804 cell

RED PAGES AD RATES First 15 words .................. $ 17.50 per week Each Add’l word ....... 50¢

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 941-955-4888 Fax: 941-362-4808 Email: redpages@ yourobserver.com

Painting CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing.

Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

This week’s Crossword answers

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888

SELL YOUR STUFF HERE!

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “We all have hourglass figures; your sand just settles in different places.”

Octavia Spencer Puzzle Two Solution: “I lost my job, well I didn’t lose it, I know where it is, there’s just some other guy doing it now.”

Bobcat Goldthwait

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2021 Universal Uclick

©2021 NEA, Inc.

Merchandise Wanted

WRITER SEEKS affordable, COVID-Safe mother-in-law suite or private room. I’m quiet, clean, professional & discreet.

Will caretake or housesit for snowbirds.

Excellent references.

941-271-1778.

home services

WATER GLASSES, 6 different state emblems, collectable and usable, nice, $25.

941-755-6864

real estate

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISE with the total value of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less.

Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising.

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to: classified@yourobserver.com (Please provide your name and address) Or Online at: www.yourobserver.com Or mail to: The Observer Group 1970 Main St. - 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236

Cleaning

The CRYSTAL CLEAR choice!

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

Aluminum

Boat Services

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

358379

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

“Specializing in 6” Seamless Gutters”

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Concrete

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Since 1967

Residential Concrete Specialist Patios - Driveways - Sidewalks

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922-3157

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Michael Koch Concrete, Inc.

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

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Computer

Auto Service

941.270.4400

Pegatronics.com

Reliable, Dependable, Prior Military Call, email or text 401-644-5370 • upsmar29@gmail.com

“No Job Too Small”

Servicing the Sarasota area since 1999

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Also Laying Stone

Reasonable Prices

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Owner / Operator Insured

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Free Estimates

Doors

Doors

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

Sliding Glass Door Repair

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

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

Furniture Repair

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Patio Furniture Repairs.com patio RepaiRS

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Handyman

CONSTRUCTION HANDYMAN

Realtors

Naji Aoun GladysKhabbaz@gmail.com 805 Molly Circle, Sarasota

941.504.2745 941.400.1563

357141

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

Licensed Lic. #38333 References

“OUR ESTIMATES & ADVICE ARE FREE”

(941) 504-3168

BUZZ! CREATE Advertise your business or services in the Red Pages.

358080

Call 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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THE BEST This Doctor is Among

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SARASOTA OBSERVER

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021

ROGER SELLS

LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES MORE THAN $113 MILLION SOLD SINCE JANUARY 2021

1588 NORTH CASEY KEY ROAD

$9,500,000

This secluded and exquisite beach-to-bay estate is perfectly situated on almost three-acres on the private and gated northern Gulf shores of Casey Key. Wonderfully updated and partially rebuilt, you will love the charm it exudes, complemented by a beautifully maintained 4BR main residence and a separate 2BR guest house. The impeccable finishes, impressive outdoor entertaining, and your own private beach are the perfect finishing touches.

$669,000

This lovely, updated home in the wonderfully private and family-friendly community of Oak Ford is located on nearly one-acre of property adjacent to a lush preserve area that protects your privacy. An ideal spot to escape, this 4BR residence offers beautiful renovations inside and out that you will immediately appreciate.

www.1905PalmViewRoad.com

www.1588NorthCaseyKey.com

3731 INDIAN BEACH PLACE

1905 PALM VIEW ROAD

$6,495,000

1300 CASEY KEY ROAD

$3,495,000

Direct bayfront estate! Built in 2006 with the high standards of Triangle Construction, designed with energy efficient and sustainable materials, this 5BR, lavish bayfront residence is the epitome of luxury waterfront living.

The perfect place to escape, with its enviable central location minutes from downtown, verdant gardens protecting the nearly one-acre of property, and a beautifully elaborate interior that is ready for you to immediately enjoy.

An enviable direct Gulf-to-bay location is the highlight at this 3BR bungalow on the private island of Casey Key. This unique parcel offers nearly 100’ of direct beach frontage with an additional peninsula that juts out to the sailboat waters of Little Sarasota Bay, and includes a protected dock in a sheltered basin with multiple boating possibilities. Create your own dream-home experience at this remote jewel.

www.3731IndianBeach.com

www.1300CaseyKey.com

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TOUR (941) 387-1840 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F | Sarasota, FL 34236 595 Bay Isles Road, Suite 250 | Longboat Key, FL 34228 Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com Owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC 358285-1

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