Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 12.08.22

YOUR TOWN

The road ahead

Chatting about Sharing

The aroma of fresh coffee filled the room as members of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County on Wednesday listened to former publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and recently retired dean of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Diane McFarlin speak about generosity.

McFarlin teamed up with the Community Foundation in 2000 to launch Season of Sharing, a charitable fund to help provide emergency funding for people on the brink of homelessness. The project has since been joined by other partners, such as The Patterson Foundation, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and others.

“More than 41,000 households have been helped by more than $34 million.

“There is nothing as complex and yet simple as Season of Sharing,” McFarlin said. “This complexity of partnerships that is supporting something that is so straightforward. So easy to comprehend that this is $1,500 so you can get back on your feet. Part of this is the magic of Sarasota. There’s no community like Sarasota.”

City lays out vision for street projects to come.

PAGE 3A

WINTER WONDERLAND

Main Street parade takes the most direct route to holiday cheer. SEE PAGE 1B

We want to see your pretty lights

Best Christmas decoration this year: An inflatable Santa in the lotus position, wearing a T-shirt that says “Oooommm for the holidays.’’

OK, maybe comedy and Christmas aren’t naturally linked in your book. Still, is your neighborhood looking merry and bright?

If so, we want to know. The Sarasota Observer is making its list and checking it twice to find the most vibrant holiday lights across the area.

If your house, or your neighbor’s, is lighting up the neighborhood, email EGarwood@ YourObserver.com by Dec. 11. It could end up in our Christmas issue. Please include the address if possible.

Light, bright, holiday delight

Marine veteran comes home surprised to a fully decorated house and yard.

Dariela Delgado

Dariela Delgado

Brooklyn Athridge, Santana Leyva and Sofia Leyva ride with Stage Door Studios’ float in Saturday’s Main Street parade.

Dariela Delgado

Carlos Moreira in surprise by the kind gesture of FPL and USF volunteers.

The keys to great theater INSIDE

Mischa Kirby, Diane McFarlin and Roxie Jerde.

Eric Garwood

Frosty and Buddy the Elf share neighboring yards in Sarasota.

TABS WHAT’S HAPPENING

WEEK OF DEC. 8, 2022

BY THE NUMBERS

PAGE 5A

$250,000

Years

PAGE 12A

1977

Year tennis legend NIck Bollettieri was interviewed for a job at then-iconic Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key.

YOUROBSERVER.COM

CALENDAR

n Sarasota School Board regular meeting — 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, School Board Chambers, Landings Administrative Complex, 1960 Landings Blvd.

n Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, Commission Chambers, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd.

Four picked for Circus Ring of Fame

he Circus Ring of Fame Foundation has announced four inductees to the Circus Ring of Fame Class of 2023.

The Circus Ring of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the art and culture of circus throughout their career.

The induction ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Feb.

4, in the Circus Sarasota Big Top located at Nathan Benderson Park Regatta Center.

The 2023 Circus Ring of Fame inductees are:

Peggy Williams, the first female graduate of Clown College to perform in The Greatest Show On Earth. In 1980, she was the company’s first female performance director.

The Alexis Brothers, who performed their artistic hand balancing to millions of fans worldwide, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Jeanette Williams, from Germany’s famous Circus Williams family. She performed with liberty horses and multiple ani-

mals in Europe and in the United States with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Jeanette produced her own show in America and became a prominent agent for circus arts talent.

The Rev. Jerry Hogan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston for 46 years who served for three decades as the national “Circus Chaplain” under the direction of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Father Jerry frequently traveled ministering to different circus troupes.

City finishes storm debris collection

Two months after Hurricane Ian, the city of Sarasota has brought to a close its vegetative storm debris collection program, and with that, regular yard-waste rules and collections have been reinstated.

More than 113,200 cubic yards of Hurricane Ian storm debris has been collected in the city over the past eight weeks, four times the amount of regular yard waste collected in all of 2021.

For collection of household items such as furniture, appliances and construction debris, residents should contact the city’s Solid Waste Division at 941-263-6170 to schedule a bulk waste pickup.

Iconic tennis pioneer, founder of IMG, dies

Iconic tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, founder of what is today IMG Academy, one of the most prominent youth sports training facilities in the world and a major economic driver of west Bradenton for decades, has died. He was 91.

IMG announced Bollettieri’s death in a statement released the morning of Dec. 5.

“Anyone who knew Nick knows how much he loved developing the potential in young people, coaching tennis and this academy,” Tim Pernetti, the president of IMG Academy Bradenton, says in the statement. “Even in his last days, you could often find him on campus, coaching and mentoring young student-athletes and staff with the same passion and enthusiasm as he did in his 20s. Our heart goes out to his wife, Cindi, and his children. He has made a permanent and lasting impact on all of us.”

Bollettieri founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy — now IMG Academy — in 1978 with a focus on intense physical training, total immersion and ongoing competition among the most talented players in the world, the release states.

Considered by many to be one of the best tennis coaches of all time, he would go on to train, develop and coach 10 world No. 1 players, including Andre Agassi and Boris Becker.

“The permit was finalized and approved by them, but it sat on someone’s desk for six to eight weeks and we had to call to find out why that was the case.”

Richard Mandell, Bobby Jones Golf Course renovation architect, Read more on page 6A

File photo

Sailor Circus’ Kaylee Dutkiewicz performs high above the circus ring during the 2021 induction ceremony.

Weeks of pay proposed as severance for Sarasota Schools Superintendent Brennan Asplen.

Amount by which the city’s $12.5 million Bobby Jones Golf Course renovation is under budget.

of active duty served by Carlos Moreira in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Mapping out the future

Sarasota City Commissioners approve a long-range priority list of transportation projects. But don’t start planning alternate routes, yet ... most have a start date of 2030 and beyond.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

The bad news for constructionweary residents of Sarasota is that there are plenty of road projects on the horizon.

The good news is that most of the projects are five to eight years — and beyond — from breaking ground.

That was the dichotomy presented to Sarasota City Commissioners on Monday by Alvimarie Corales, the city’s chief transportation planner, in her annual report of the Saraso ta/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization 2023 Transportation Project Priority List.

Prepared by the region’s planning body, the list highlights all road proj ects in various stages of the pipeline, more than 20 within the city limits.

“A lot of the projects look like they’re imminent, like they’re going to happen any second now, and I know some of the residents are suf fering from construction fatigue,” said Commissioner Jen AhearnKoch. “This is not all happening in the next week. These are really longterm plans and the funding and the permitting, it all takes time to get into place.”

Most of the road construction projects, not including various traffic management infrastructure upgrades, within the city show a start date of 2030 and beyond. Those range from intersection improve ments at University Parkway/U.S. 41 at $2.34 million to shared-use paths between U.S. 41 and Interstate 75 along Fruitville Road and University Parkway at $14.54 million.

The report included the city’s 10 priority projects in the Sarasota In Motion plan. They include:

1

EXPAND CITY TRAIL NETWORK

The project includes walking and biking connections throughout the city. Treatments may include off-road trails, protected bike lanes, wayfinding signage and sidewalk widening.

■ Trail connections to the bay, including Oak Street, Ringling Boulevard bikeway, Alderman Trail, Lukewood Park Trail

■ Connecting neighborhoods to Legacy Trail

■ Enhance connections from North Sarasota neighborhoods to The Bay park

■ Bobby Jones Golf Club park to Legacy Trail

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike Project score: 85/100

STREETSCAPES FOR

2

EAST-WEST CORRIDORS

May include wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, on-street park ing, landscaping, decorative light ing, street furniture, ADA improve ments, roundabouts, underground utilities and multiuse trails.

■ 10th Street from the bayfront to Orange Avenue

■ 12th Street from Orange Avenue to Tuttle Avenue

■ 17th Street from Orange Avenue to city limits

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike, car Project score: 80/100

3

NORTH LEGACY TRAIL

■ Continue Legacy Trail through the city center from Payne Park and Fruitville Road to the county limit with further connection into Manatee County

■ Preserve rail line for potential future light rail connection between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and downtown

large, medium or small vehicles; covered stations; transit vehicle priority; pedestrian crossings; pedestrian access and multimodal/ micromobility hubs at key destina tions. Provide high frequency service with extended hours of operations. Transit circulators to connect: ■ New College/Airport ■ St. Armands Trolley Route. Hospital ■ Downtown Primary modes: Pedestrian, bus Project score: 77/100

COCOANUT AVENUE AND SECOND STREET ROUNDABOUT

a roundabout at the intersec tion of Cocoanut Avenue and Second Street to improve vehicle flow and pedestrian safety. Improvements may include:

Parallel bikeways along Second and Fourth streets

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike, bus, car Project score: 73/100

MAIN STREET REDESIGN

Main Street from U.S. 41 to U.S. 301. Treatments may include:

Conversion to parallel parking

Widening sidewalks

Landscaping amenities

Pedestrian mall at certain times/ locations

Primary modes: Pedestrian, car Project score: 71/100

9

RINGLING CAUSEWAY/ COON KEY BRIDGE

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike Project score: 78/100 4

Pedestrian crossing distances

SHADE AVENUE COMPLETE STREET

From Fruitville Road to the south city limit. Potential improve ments may include:

■ Adding bike lane

■ Wider sidewalks, lighting, multiuse pathway.

■ Undergrounding of utilities

■ Landscaping enhancements

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike, car Project score: 77/100

Traffic calming Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike, car Project score: 73/100

FRUITVILLE ROAD COMPLETE STREET

Fruitville Road from U.S. 41 to U.S. 301. Improvements may include:

lane width for safer side-

State Road 789 from U.S. 41 to Washington Drive. Corridor bridges enhanced with dedicated lanes for walking, biking and transit vehicles.

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike, bus, car Project score: 71/100

10

BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS

From the bay front to Orange Avenue. Improvements may include:

Intersection improvements

Streetscape improvements

Reduced pedestrian crossing distance

Wider sidewalks

Separated bike lanes

Undergrounding of utilities

Primary modes: Pedestrian, bike, car Project score: 68/100

Scores are based on a scale of 100 with 20 points maximum each in five categories.

The Sarasota/Manatee long-range transportation plan is updated every five years and spans a 25-year trans portation project plan within Sara sota and Manatee counties.

“It also lists projects for federal and state funding to be submitted as project priorities,” Corales said.

“The MPO project priorities list gets updated annually and we submit annually. The projects need to be in the long-range transportation plan in order to be eligible for MPO fund ing.”

Andrew Warfield

A protected bicycle lane is one of the features on the Ringling Boulevard “complete street” project, here marked in green paint as it approaches the roundabout at Orange Avenue. More complete street projects are on the city’s Sarasota In Motion transportation improvement list.

Couretsy rendering

Enhanced streetscapes and complete street concepts on 10th Street from the bayfront to Orange Avenue are among the city’s Sarasota In Motion plan.

Harry Sayer

The U.S. 41 roundabout at Sarasota’a bayfront is expected to be open to traffic by the end of the year.

Rents rise in region nearly 35% since 2019

Although home prices are stabilizing, fair-market rents in the Sarasota-Manatee metro area are up by 34.5% over 2019 as market pressures continue.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

When it comes to fair-market rent, the North Port-SarasotaManatee metropolitan statisti cal area finished just outside of the top 15 among midsize metro areas in increases since before COVID-19, according to a new study by trade publication Construction Coverage.

Since 2019, the region has seen an increase of 34.5% compared to a national average of 24%. Fair-mar ket rent is an estimate of the cost of gross rents (rent and utility expenses) on 40% of the rental housing units in an area. It serves as the basis for several Housing and Urban Develop ment calculations, including Section 8 vouchers.

Even as housing prices cool, rents continue to rise. Since 2019, some local housing markets are seeing rent increases in excess of 50%.

Although Florida has four regions ranking among the top 15 large met ros and two among midsize metros, renters in Arizona and Nevada have contended with the largest rent increases in the country at 53.9% and 48.4%, respectively. At the opposite end of the spectrum, rents rose 5% in Alaska since before the pandemic.

Housing stock pressures in high in-migration states such as Florida are exacerbated by the growth in the number of households, which grew by 750,000 from 2020 to 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, many would-be buyers priced out of the housing market continued renting, placing addi tional pressure on rental supply.

In Florida, top 15-ranked large metros for increases in fair market

rent are: Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater: No. 3 at 46.9%; Orlando-KissimmeeSanford: No. 8 at 35.8%; Jackson ville: No. 9 at 33.8%; Miami-FortLauderdale-Pompano Beach: No. 13 at 31.5%. Among midsize metro areas are: Cape Coral-Fort Myers: No. 5 at 39.5%; Palm Bay-Mel bourne-Titusville: No. 10 at 37.7%.

To determine the metro areas with the largest increase in fair market rent since 2019, Construction Cov erage analyzed data from the HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau, ranking them according to the percentage change in costs.

AVERAGE FAIR-MARKET RENT

In the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area, average fair market rents are:

n Studio: $1,065

n One-bedroom: $1,277

n Two-bedroom: $1,593

n Three-bedroom: $2,112 n Four-bedroom: $2,514

This compares to national averages of: n Studio: $1,074

n One-bedroom: $1,177

n Two-bedroom: $1,427 n Three-bedroom: $1,863 n Four-bedroom: $2,159

Robust apartment construction activity in the North PortSarasotaBradenton metropolitan statistical area may serve to relieve pressure on rent rates in the region.

Andrew Warfield

Sarasota School Board sets meeting to vote on terms of Asplen’s departure

Superintendent Brennan Asplen would be paid a total of about $170,000, along with moving expenses, upon departure.

ERIC GARWOOD MANAGING EDITOR

The Sarasota County School Board has set discussion of Superintendent Brennan Asplen’s departure for its next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13 after canceling a penciled-in special meeting this past week.

According to an agenda posted on Tuesday, discussion will not only focus on terms of Asplen’s resigna tion but also the appointment of an interim superintendent.

Among the key points of a separa tion agreement between Asplen and the school board are that his depar ture will be considered a resignation — not a firing — and that his pay will continue for 32 weeks, along with pay from unused vacation time and sick leave.

The school district also would pay Asplen’s legal fees and moving expenses.

Additionally, the agreement calls for a period of consultancy for three months after Asplen’s departure to whomever the school board chooses as an interim superintendent, during which time Asplen would agree to be available for questions or counsel.

If the agreement, which totals more than $170,000, is agreed to by the school board next week, the next step would be to find an interim superintendent.

The agenda calls for discussions of nominations, salary determination and a vote to appoint.

Although dozens of other routine matters also appear on the Dec. 13 agenda, consideration of Asplen’s

ouster is scheduled as the final two agenda items of a meeting that is set to begin at 6 p.m., likely end ing weeks of uncertainty over what would ultimately take place.

In a five-hour special meeting on Nov. 29, a meeting that featured dozens of speakers in support of Asplen, the school board voted 4-1 to proceed with negotiations with Asplen to complete his ouster from the school district after two-andhalf years.

Without detailed specifics, board member Karen Rose cited communi cation problems with Asplen and an atmosphere of tumult surrounding board meetings as her motivation to begin the process, which launched Nov. 22.

In an interview with the Observer for an opinion piece published this past week, Rose said: “My sole goal was to initiate a process for how we are going to bring unity back to the district. I’ve had the opportunity to work for three decades in this district with unity. So the divisiveness has to be addressed. … There has a been a strong, consistent voice for change in the district going back to COVID. … And I’ve tried for change on the dais and in one-on-ones. But I don’t see it.”

Rose and newcomer-to-theboard Tim Enos both expressed concerns with the lack of growth in reading, science and math achieve ment scores.

After the Nov. 29 meeting, a follow

IF YOU GO

The Sarasota County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Landings Administrative Complex, 1960 Landings Blvd.

up meeting on Friday, Dec. 2 was ten tatively set, but the school district announced on that day the meeting had been set aside.

In a statement from Saraso ta County Schools on Dec. 2, a spokesperson wrote: “Matters were addressed during the School Board Special Meeting earlier this week

(Tuesday, November 29) and nego tiations are ongoing per the School Board’s action. No additional busi ness items have been requested from any School Board members to war rant a meeting this evening.”

This week, the Sarasota County Teachers Association, the union that represents teachers, released results of a poll that it said drew more than 2,000 responses from its 5,000 members in two days.

Of those responses, 97% “wanted the school board to do everything in their power to retain Superintendent Asplen.”

“The decision ... made on (Nov. 29) will completely disrupt our school district and may have ramifications that will last for years,” wrote Barry Dubin, the SC/TA’s executive direc tor. “What high-quality, Sarasotaquality, if that term still has any meaning, superintendent would come here to work under these con ditions? Will we just get applicants who have no other choices?”

A consistent refrain from those supporting Asplen was a perceived political motivation by the new board majority, three of whom won contentious elections in August, defeating a trio of Democratic Partysupported candidates.

Although nonpartisan, Ziegler, Enos and Marinelli drew backing of not only the local Republican Party but also that of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who campaigned for and supported like-minded school board candi dates statewide.

Also this week, the Longboat Key Town Commission consid ered making its opinion known on the situation with the school board and Asplen, but in the end decided against taking sides.

“We don’t have people tell us how we hire or fire our town manager,” Vice Mayor Maureen Merrigan said. “These folks were voted in, good or bad, whether we agree or disagree.”

Mayor Ken Schneier, though, wrote a personal note to the school board, asking that more consider ation be given to working out differ ences.

“Please try,” Schneier wrote. “You would all be heroes.”

File photo

Joyce Peralta, Arthur Wasserman and Marc Schreiber hold signs along Tamiami Trail in protest of Asplen’s potential

termination.

Bobby

tee

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

When the years-long rede velopment plans of the Bobby Jones Golf Course were finally approved by Sarasota City Commission in Febru ary, the ambitious goal was to have restoration of the original 18 holes designed by Donald Ross open to play by November of this year.

Nature had other plans, and a bureaucratic snafu that resulted in a two-month delay opened a cascade of circumstances that have now pushed the opening date to late sum mer or early fall 2023.

On Monday, golf course architect Richard Mandell, whom the city hired in 2017 to design the restoration of the city facility that was closed in 2020, told city commissioners dur ing a project update that all the dif ficult work has been completed and, barring a catastrophic disaster, he sees no delays going forward.

The best news, he added, is that the project so far is coming in at more than $250,000 under the $12.5 mil lion budget, thanks to some creative value engineering. The budget for the entire project, including the golf course, nature park and wetlands conservation is $18.8 million.

First the reasons for the delay.

“We were hoping that we could start right away and we would get done in November, but that was real ly only in a situation where every thing was good to go,” Mandell said.

“That hasn’t been the case since we had (Southwest Florida Water Man agement District) slow us down with permitting. The permit was finalized and approved by them, but it sat on someone’s desk for six to eight weeks and we had to call to find out why that was the case.”

No good reason, as it turned out, but those critical two months pre vented earth moving from beginning well in advance of the wet season. When the rains did begin, construc tion was as much about moving water around what is otherwise a floodplain as it was about building a golf course.

Then came Hurricane Ian. Then Tropical Storm Nicole.

Finally dry again, contractor QGS Development of Plant City has been progressing at an accelerated pace as grass planting has begun on the back nine, those holes visible from 17th Street.

“Now that the rainy season has gone, QGS has picked up progress and we’re doing very well,” Mandell said.

Challenges brought by the after math of the COVID-19 response, he told commissioners, required unan ticipated value engineering, which so far has resulted in $253,000 in savings from the original budget.

“We’ve had major challenges that none of us foresaw, such as the pan demic, which basically added 25% to 30% of cost to the golf course. And despite that we’re able to still overcome that by being smart with what we’re doing value engineeringwise,” Mandell said.

Among those was the elimination of concrete cart paths in favor of shell paving, which not only is sig nificantly less costly than concrete — both to build and to maintain — but also results in even greater impervi ous surface, which reduces storm

water runoff. It is made of compact ed pulverized sea shells.

“I was never really a fan of con crete cart paths. I always wanted shell screening for the car paths,” he said. “The cost of concrete went up and shell screening did not go up nearly as much, and we were to save a good $500,000 to $600,000 just on that move alone. And when you talk about Sarasota and Florida golf … we really sort of capture that old Florida feel.”

Some of that savings went into bunker liners, which were not origi nally planned, that will preserve the longevity and integrity of the sand bunkers. Mandell said he also found savings during irrigation installa tion — which is now operational — by identifying areas where fewer sprinkler heads covering larger areas could be used.

But don’t tuck that $253,000 in the savings account just yet, he warned. It could easily be absorbed by other unforeseen circumstances.

The golf course renovation is only part of the overall 261-acre project. Reducing the course to the original 1926 Donald Ross 18-hole layout from the 36 holes it became in the decades since left 153 acres to create

the nature park and wetlands con servation area. Many of the exist ing cart paths there will be re-used for the nature trail, which will one day connect with Sarasota Coun ty’s expanded regional park off 17th Street.

The nature park will be accessible once the golf course opens, but full development of it, Director of Parks and Recreation Jerry Fogle told com missioners, is still years away.

“From day one in 2017, we’ve talk ed about the synergy between golf and nature, and we’d always planned to expand the wetlands and work on

flood control for the city with the site. This is a perfect example again of how it works together,” Mandell said.

“The dirt we’re removing to create the wetlands is being is being trans ferred to the golf course to build up the fairways to get it out of the flood plain.”

Earth moving is also now under way on the par-three “adjustable” golf course across Circus Boulevard from the main course.

Mandell told commissioners he expects that to open mid to late next year as well.

Andrew Warfield

reconstruction of the Bobby Jones Golf Course, both to prevent the formerly fre-

adjacent nature park. The entire project is designed to purify water flowing through

Courtesy photo

The practice range at the Bobby Jones Golf Course is surrounded by a stream that feeds water into the nature park adjacent to the golf course. Development of the park will occur in phases, but is expected to open with walking trails.

It’s time for Florida to stop relying on ‘taxation by citation’

Because fines and fees are not generally scaled based on income, they tend to disproportionately harm low-income people who are unable to pay. Failure to pay outstanding fines and fees can result in driver’s license suspensions and even incarceration. A recent report by the Fines and Fees Justice Institute found that nearly 2 million Floridians have their drivers licenses suspended because of unpaid fines and fees. Considering that approximately 80% of Floridians drive themselves to work and many jobs require a driver’s license, suspending driver’s licenses reduces the likelihood those individuals will be able to pay their fines and fees. It is counterproductive to make it even more difficult for individuals to pay off their debts and create additional administrative costs for governments.

In the fiscal year ending in September 2020, clerks of courts collected $377.4 million in fines and fees compared to $432 million in the year prior. Revenues in both years represent a dramatic decline from the $539 million collected in 2009. Declining revenues are already causing trouble for organizations and programs that depend on fines and fees revenue. Epilepsy Florida, for example, pulls in $5 from every seat belt infraction in the state. In 2020, that translated to just $240,000 compared to $1.1 million in 2014 according to reporting by FL Keys News.

Fortunately, fines and fees revenue make up a very small portion of Florida’s budget and there are many options for reform.

Across the country, state and local governments use court fines and fees as a source of revenue to fund services. This “taxation by citation” is not only a threat to individual liberty, but it can also undermine public safety and result in fiscal instability. Fines and fees are commonplace throughout the justice system. In many cases, fines are desirable because they are an “intermediate” form of punishment. In other words, slapping someone with a fine is less severe than incarceration but is tough punishment for many low-level offenses.

A person may be charged a fine for any criminal or civil infraction. In addition to any fines, they might also be charged fees meant to cover court costs.

The state court system in Florida is funded through general revenues, but a large share of funding for the state’s clerks of courts is provided by filing fees, service charges and court costs that are collected from individuals when they interact with the court system.

The fact that many people are financially unable to pay may provide some explanation for why governments are notoriously bad at collecting outstanding court debts. A report from the Brennan Center for Justice found that 36% of the fines and fees assessed in Florida between 2012 and 2018 were actually collected, resulting in over $1.13 billion in cumulative unpaid fines and fees.

Even setting aside problems with collection, fines and fees are not a particularly stable source of revenue.

In Florida, statewide fines and fees revenue have declined significantly over recent years—a fiscal issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Courthouses were closed during the early months of the pandemic, leading to a backlog of cases and disrupted revenue flows. Over that same period, lockdowns and stay-athome orders kept drivers off the road, reducing the number of traffic violations—a major source of fines and fees revenue in the state.

Generally speaking, no program or agency should be specifically funded by fines and fees revenue. Instead, court revenue should be sent into the general fund to avoid poor incentive structures within the justice system. Fees, which only exist to raise revenue, should arguably be eliminated. Meanwhile fines, which serve as punishment, could be scaled to account for individuals’ ability to pay. Florida could also eliminate fines and fees in juvenile cases and abandon the counterproductive practice of suspending driver’s licenses for failure to pay.

These reforms would realign incentives for law enforcement and help reduce the desperate impact of fines and fees on low-income communities. Florida lawmakers would be wise to address the fiscal challenges presented by declining fines and fees revenue and put an end to “taxation by citation” in the Sunshine State.

By Vittorio Nastasi, Director of Criminal Justice at Reason Foundation, and Dr. Adrian Moore, Vice President at Reason Foundation.

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“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

CEO / Matt Walsh

Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles

ADRIAN MOORE AND VITTORIO NASTASI

As a lifelong Democrat, it is not often I agree with Matt Walsh’s opinions in the Observer. But I am in accord with that in the Dec. 1 edition concerning the School Board’s misguided attempt to remove of Superintendent Brennan Asplen without cause.

I never heard or read any cogent or precise reason for Superintendent Asplen’s removal. I see reported “controversy” and “communication problems and tumult” as reasons advanced by the Board for his removal. In my opinion, those are probably curable and are too indefinite and nonsubstantive to justify 1) an extensive severance package to Asplen, 2) a lengthy and likely expensive search for his replacement who, given the tight labor market, history of this incident and inflationary climate, will likely command greater compensation than is paid to the present superintendent. Moreover, and just as important, 3) the Strategic Plan Asplen and others developed for the System over, I believe, more than a year, surely will not be implemented as it would were he still employed here. I did not hear any criticism of that work product.

While I have no personal knowledge of the operations of the school system (I am much too old to have children presently attending it.), I credit the large number of parents, faculty, staff and dissenting School Board Member Tom Edwards who discredited any argument relative to Asplen’s responsibility for ultimately enacting a school mask mandate policy a year ago. I also understand that the comparative fourth-grade reading scores in public schools of our country from 2019 and 2022 are unsatisfactory in many jurisdictions and that experts put the blame for that primarily on necessary remote learning during the pandemic. That reason rings accurate to me. Lastly, I concur with Mr. Walsh (who, I suspect, has far more corporate expertise than I) that the School Board’s paramount obligation is to collaborate with the superintendent if they perceive there are problems in their interpersonal relations toward solving them. In that regard, I opine that at least four of them have failed us — and themselves.

PAUL SARNO OSPREY

LETTERS SMH Board chair vows to impartially examine COVID-19 response

members. More than 200 citizens attended to voice their opinions on the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 33 speakers offered comments: 17 shared heartwrenching stories of patients and families affected by the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic; 16 expressed praise and support for the dedication, sacrifice and service of SMH physicians and staff during the pandemic.

As a result of over two-and-ahalf  hours of public comment, the board asked that management and the medical staff conduct a thorough review of the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

to voice their opinions with the objective of doing what is best for our system.

As a publicly elected body, our duty is to provide oversight for the hospital and, as part of that, to listen to the citizens and to our medical professionals.

Iam honored by the trust and confidence placed in me to serve as chairman of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board of Directors for the coming year.

I have said on many occasions that Sarasota Memorial Hospital is a community treasure.

Ever since 1921, when a group of citizens in Sarasota began fundraising for a hospital, SMH has grown from a 32-bed hospital that opened in 1925 to a hospital system with more than 1,000 beds on two campuses with more than 8,000 employees.

Our hospital has been led by committed citizens elected from the populace who are charged with oversight responsibility of the hospital. We serve without compensation. I am proud to be a part of that tradition as we enter our 98th year of serving the health care needs of Sarasota County.

We recently had our first board meeting with newly elected board

The board wants to know what we did right, what we did wrong, what lessons were learned, and how we can be better prepared for the next pandemic, which will inevitably come.

We should not pre-judge the outcome of such a review until we can gather the information and understand the challenges facing a health care system in a future pandemic.

We expect the report to be public in the next 60-90 days.

As chairman, I pledge my wholehearted effort in working together to build on the success of our hospital system. I want you to know three things:

First, the board wants to do what is best for the hospital system, for our patients, the medical professionals, the hospital staff, and the citizens of Sarasota County who elected us. We may not agree all the time, but as chairman, I promise to be straightforward and open to debate. I will conduct our meetings impartially and allow everyone, both board members and the public,

Second, I am not out to disrupt the operation of the hospital or the staff. Some have called me a maverick on this board because I have been willing to ask hard questions and challenge management to be the best they can be. I have said on many occasions the administrative team and medical staff are doing an outstanding job running this hospital. The proof is in our numbers and the national recognition the hospital has received year after year. I know this will continue.

I also want to reiterate my commitment for SMH remaining a public hospital. I said this in 2016 when I was first elected and reconfirmed it when I was reelected in 2020. And I state again, this hospital is not for sale. It is a community treasure.

Third and finally, my goal as chairman is to channel the new energy of the board for the good of the hospital and the community. We will continue to deliver the very finest health care for our citizens. I ask for your help in doing that.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve.

Tramm Hudson is the chairman of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board. He is a retired Sarasota banker, U.S. Army officer and wellknown community leader. He has been a resident of Sarasota since 1986.

TRAMM HUDSON

Report expected on what went right, what went wrong and what the hospital system can learn.

Jane Wittlinger and Ann Walborn backstage in

kitchen.

Jeri Nelson and a donkey. Petting zoo animals are part of the live nativity on St. Armands Circle.

Jack, Kevin and Karen Randolph

Aarya Strnad steps out in a snow princess dress.

Live nativity is a lasting tradition

Petting zoos aren’t quite posh enough for St. Armands Circle on the average day, but once a year, the two make for a magical combination.

The sidewalk in front of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church was packed Friday night for its annual live nativity scene. Members can’t seem to settle on the year it started, but it’s been a handsdown favorite ever since.

While Jane Wittlinger says they’ve been doing the nativity for five or six years, Sandi Love says she’s been an angel for seven. Either way, Friday night was her husband David Lawrence’s reluctant debut performance as a shepherd.

“On the way over, he said I owe him big time,” Love said. “What

amazes me about the whole event is that you look out at the kids, and their little eyes light up. To me, that’s the best part of it.”

Visitors were allowed to pet the donkeys and get up close to the goats’ cage, but the camels were off limits. They were busy trimming the church’s trees by munching leaves off the high branches. But the entertainment didn’t stop on four legs. A quartet led the crowd in a round of Christmas carols, and the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble performed throughout the evening.

This is a holiday tradition with no end in sight, even if no one can remember when it began.

— LESLEY DWYER

change

Zach Stobaugh and Tatiana Clegg play Joseph and Mary.

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Sarasota Marine veteran receives a bright holiday surprise

DELGADO STAFF WRITER

lorida Power and Light last week again celebrated an annual hol iday tradition of giving back to local heroes, something it’s done for 15 consecutive seasons.

With the help of the Denis V. Coo per Foundation, a Sarasota veteran and his family received a holiday surprise to remember.

Carlos Moreira spent more than 15 years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, plus three years as a reservist before enrolling at Univer sity of South Florida.

Since retiring from military ser vice, Moreira has continued to give back as a veteran services adminis trator at USF’s Military and Veterans’ Success Center.

“I was a student at USF, and Car los helped me out a lot with G.I. Bill and the benefits. My dad was in the military and I’m a dependent. I met Carlos through the USF Veter ans Success Center. He got me a job as a work study,” said USF alumna Madison McMahon. “He’s involved

in everything. He is a great person to have on your side.”

With the help of Moreira’ wife, Rayne Moreira, the  Denis V. Cooper Foundation and Florida Power and Light were able to show how appre ciative they are of Carlos Moreira

heart of

veterans, the nation and the community.

“FPL reached out to us and asked us to nominate a vet. I asked some people. We work with veteran orga nizations all throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. I knew Carlos,

but I didn’t think about it, however, he was mentioned by other people. So we nominated Carlos to FPL, then FPL reached out to his wife, who kept it a secret and worked with her to make sure he wasn’t home so we could do this,” said Maverick John

DARIELA

and his

helping

FPL teams up with the Denis V. Cooper Foundation to surprise Carlos Moreira and his family with an energy-efficient holiday light display.

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Rayne Moreira worked with organizers to surprise her husband, Carlos, with a decorated-for-the-holidays home.

son, founder of the Denis V. Cooper Foundation.

FPL and USF volunteer “elves” started going to work converting his front yard into a winter wonderland.

After two hours of dedicated light decorating, The “elves” waited for Carlos, Rayne and two children — Carlos Jr. and Miguel Moreira — to arrive home.

When the Moreira family arrived, Carlos was in disbelief. He jumped out of his vehicle with a big smile as his co-workers and FPL volunteers cheered “Woo-hoo” and “Carlos, Carlos, Carlos.”

The FPL and USF “elves” gifted Carlos Jr. and Miguel toys right after the grand arrival.

“I’m shocked even though I was in on the surprise,” said Rayne Moreira.

“When I saw that all my security cameras were off, I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ said Carlos Moreira as he lifted his eyebrow toward his wife.

“At the end of the day, it’s about helping people. The more you help people the more you help your com munity without thinking about it.”

With a smile, Moreira said now he doesn’t have to do the decorating.

Luncheon brings together guide dogs, those they help

“As an ambassador dog, we are asked to attend functions like this; we are to educate people, talk to peo ple,” Cox said. “Personally, I have bad vision. It speaks to me about helping others that are visually impaired.”

DARIELA DELGADO STAFF WRITER

“These are love dogs,” said Vicky Cox as she peered at her ambassador dog, Keni.

Southeastern Guide Dogs held its Tails of Hope Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency on Friday, Dec. 2, bringing together a special community, which includes furry tails and wet noses, for a luncheon.

More than 250 people attended to have a moment to share the ways their companions gifted them with hope.

Tails of Hope was an opportunity for guide dog recipients to reflect on how their dogs changed their lives. This event unified people who had a hand in training and raising the guide dogs with the graduates whose lives have been affected.

“Seeing a graduate come back to the Southeastern Guide Dogs inde pendent, proud and living a fulfill ing life is an incredible feeling and a beautiful moment to reflect on our mission,” said Southeastern Guide Dogs Media Relations Manager Ashlie Handy.

Three speakers from different

The Tails of Hope Luncheon was held at the Hyatt Regency on Dec. 2.

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Vicky Cox with her ambassador dog, Keni.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bob MacPherson was one of the three to share his story about how receiving his service dog, Blue, changed his life.

MacPherson was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a result of a set of circumstances brought on as a Marine Corps officer and 20 years of humanitarian work.

“If a little 10-minute speech does something for somebody else, if I can wake one person up who is at the end of their ropes to grab somebody with PTSD and give them some hope and say hope never dies, it’s out there.

Just speak up,” said MacPherson.

Junie Fiaschetti, 6, is  blind. When his mother, Destiny Fiaschetti, first received the call to foster 2-year-old Junie, they advised her that he was nonverbal and could be aggressive at times.

Destiny took Junie in with no hesi tation. She adopted Junie in 2020 and applied for Southeastern Guide Dogs Kids Companion Program.

The Kids Companion Program was created for visually impaired children to have a gentle and skilled companion dog at no cost.

This helps children gain confi dence by learning how to care for a dog and have a sense of ownership, responsibility and maturity before transitioning to a guide dog.

“We just wanted to spread our message on how Southeastern Guide Dogs has given me hope for Junie’s future as a blind child and the poten tial for him having a guide dog in the

future to have his independence as an adult,” said Destiny Fiaschetti. “We want the world to recognize that blindness is beautiful, too.”

Merlot is Junie’s companion dog. Now, Junie is giggly, likes to sing and is confident in social settings.

Stand-up comedian Kenneth E. Hughes was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that causes vision loss, in his 20s and left him almost completely blind by the late 2000s.

“Ever since I received Buddy, I wanted to play my part and every thing I can to bring awareness to the organization. I was invited here to speak of my story, what my life was like before I lost my vision, how los ing my vision affected me and the difference getting a guide dog has made in my life,” Hughes said.

Destiny and Junie Fiaschetti with Kids Companion Dog, Merlot.

WELCOMES

WELCOMES

Andrew Marple, MD, PhD

COPS CORNER

TUESDAY, NOV. 29

HE NEEDS A TALKING TO 8:28 p.m., intersection of Myrtle Street and Iroquois Avenue

Andrew Marple, MD, PhD

Andrew Marple, MD, PhD Board Certified,

WELCOMES

Board Certified, Hematology/Oncology

David G. Mohr, DO

Dr. Andrew Marple brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge Medical Building II office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Oncology.

Board Certified, Family Medicine

Dr. Andrew Marple brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the East Avenue office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Oncology.

Dr. Andrew Marple brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge Medical Building II office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Oncology.

Reckless driving: as she was driving north on North Orange Avenue near Myrtle Street. She said she followed the truck to see the license plate number to report to dispatch. When officers arrived, she said she followed the truck so she could tell the driver to stop driving recklessly. No damage was done to the woman’s vehicle and she said she did not wish to press charges, only that the other driver be spoken to regarding his driving. An officer spoke with the driver of the pickup truck, who was unable to provide any details of the incident and that no dispute occurred. It was determined no crime was committed.

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park, MD Medical School: Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ Residency: Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park, MD Medical School: Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ Residency: Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park, MD Medical School: Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ Residency: Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT

SUNDAY, NOV. 27

UNWELCOME BABY SITTER

Fellowship: Hematology/Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology

Medicine, Chicago, IL Residency: Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, La Grange, IL

Fellowship: Hematology/Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology

Fellowship: Hematology/Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD Certifications: American Board of Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology

Fellowship: Sports Medicine; St. Anthony North Hospital, Westminster, CO

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!

4:05 p.m., 3000 block of North Orange Avenue

Dispute: A woman arriving back in town after her arrest in Jacksonville called for police assistance after she arrived home to find her ex-boyfriend at the location. The man told police he had been at the residence for two days with their child and the woman’s other child.

shop brought police to a service center. The complainant said the proprietor would not release her car to her unless she signs some documents. She refused to sign because she said she is “not an attorney” and did not understand them.

Certification: American Board of Family Medicine Hospital Affiliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL 941-200-1125

East Avenue Office (Behind Midtown Plaza) 1217 East Avenue, South, Suite 201, Sarasota, FL 34239 www.intercoastalmedical.com Medicare and most insurances accepted

The woman advised police the four traveled to Jacksonville the previous Friday. When she returned, she requested an SPD officer escort her home after learning the ex-boyfriend had been staying at her residence. After being contacted by police, the man said he would leave after gathering his belongings. He then left the residence without incident, and no further action was taken.

THURSDAY, DEC. 1

SHE’S NOT AN ATTORNEY

3 p.m., 2200 block of North Washington Boulevard

Property dispute: A dispute over the release of a vehicle by a repair

The woman said she has previously called police for assistance regarding the matter and was initially told by the shop owner that he would release the vehicle once payment was made for services rendered. She did return on Dec. 1 to make a payment and was still denied her vehicle.

Officers spoke with the shop owner, who said he needed the document signed because the vehicle required additional analysis and he believed the vehicle would be further damaged if driven. The document spelled out the analysis that was needed, as well as a warning to the woman that the vehicle repair warranty would be voided if she drove away after being advised of the risks of damage. After simplifying the document, both parties signed and the vehicle was released.

Fast Break

Cardinal Mooney High junior defensive back Teddy Foster picked up an offer from Boston College on Monday and the University of Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Foster, rated a threestar player by Rivals, has also received offers from Tennessee, Indiana and Rutgers, among other schools.

Football is great, but after a season of covering those three-hour-plus games, it’s wonderful to be covering a slew of soccer games, capped at 80 minutes of game time, and high school basketball games, the quickest of which can be over in approximately an hour of real time.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Christmas Glow Run, scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Nathan Benderson Park. Bright lights and holiday music will accompany runners as they complete their 5Ks. Registration is $45 and parking is $5. For more information or to register, visit RunEliteEvents.com.

Sarasota High freshman Paisley Binswanger is having an impact on the Sailors girls basketball team. Binswanger dropped 25 points in a 72-68 loss to Lake Gibson High on Nov. 17 and 18 points in a 58-42 win over Palmetto High on Saturday. She is one to watch.

Putting out a final call — If you know of any area athletes doing something charitable during this holiday season, let us know soon by sending an email to RKohn@YourObserver.com. We love to feature athletes doing right by their community.

SPIRALS OF POTENTIAL

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

Carl Williams turned and stared at the Booker High gymnasium rafters.

“All you have to do is look up,” he said. “You see a national championship and state champi onships. There’s tradition here. We want (our players) to understand that, man, they’re part of something special. It has to be special.”

IF YOU GO

What: Booker High boys basketball (1-3 as of Dec. 6) vs. Venice High (2-1) When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14

Where: Booker High Why: The next Booker home game is a chance to see if the young Tornadoes can put it all together against a quality opponent.

Booker player to watch: Junior guard Jovan Palavra, who plays aggressive defense and can get to the basket.

Williams is the Tornadoes’ third boys basketball coach in three sea sons. He’s a veteran of the SarasotaManatee coaching scene, with stints at, among others, the Riverview High and Sarasota High girls programs. Most recently, Williams was the boys coach at the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences. Wherever he’s been, he’s won; Williams has amassed more than 200 varsity wins in his coaching career.

Williams has the pedigree to turn around the Tornadoes, whose for tunes have wildly fluctuated of late. As recently as 2017-18 under coach Markus Black, the Tornadoes reached the state Final Four.

In 2021-22, the team went 4-22.

Williams’ first priority after tak ing over in August — a late start for a  coach — was letting his players know he wasn’t going anywhere and neither was his staff

Williams said he wants to lock onto what made Booker great back when those rafters were hung.

The Tornadoes won the 1966-67 national high school title and have won five state championships, most recently in 2005-06. To get back,

Williams

“Sometimes with young teams, the lights turn on for a game and the kids put undue stress on themselves,” Williams said. “We need to get to the point where they realize it’s the same thing, games and practice.”

Pressure might have handed the Tornadoes a loss on Tuesday night. Booker hosted North Port High and found itself down 8-0 to start the game.

The Tornadoes were rushing shots and not getting any to fall. Eventu ally, that changed, and the rest of the quarter — and the next three — saw the teams play even: Booker trailed by eight, 38-30, entering the fourth quarter.

That’s when the Tornadoes turned things around. A breakneck run to start the quarter, spurred by steals and put-backs off missed shots, saw Booker tie the game at 40 with six minutes left in the game. The gym got raucous.

The players, like their coach want ed, were playing with passion and a lack of pressure.

But as quickly as the Tornadoes were able to tie it, they let it slip. The Bobcats went on a 13-6 run to end the

game and won 53-46. Booker now stands at 1-3 on the season, the win coming in the Nov. 21 season opener against Riverview High. Williams said the team could be, and perhaps should be, 3-1, but tiny mistakes and lapses in concentration add up.

He’s confident the team Booker fans see at the end of the season will win games like the North Port con test. The only returning Tornadoes player to get significant minutes on the varsity team is junior guard Jovan Palavra, a sticky defender. Even two of the team’s seniors, Eliseo Dawkins and Johari Jones, are new, coming over from Sarasota Military Acad emy. The team is also giving signifi cant minutes to freshmen such as wing/forward J.P. Lattimore, who led the team with 13 points in the Riverview win.

Getting this group of players to gel together will help the team immensely, Williams said.

“It’s a nice little melting pot right now,” Williams said. “We’re going to get it. It’s just going to take some time.”

Williams said it with a smile, an embodiment of how he wants his team to play: cool, calm, collected and enthusiastic. With that attitude, the Tornadoes hope to add another addition to their gym’s rafters soon enough.

said, the Tornadoes will need to play hard-nosed defense — something that always comes before good offense — but also bring pas sion and fun to the floor.

The Booker High boys basketball team huddles during a time out against North Port High on Tuesday. The Tornadoes came back from and eight-point deficit to tie the game at 40 before ultimately losing.

Booker High junior Jerry Olaince scores on a put-back against North Port High.

“Being unable to play for 11 months made me miss it and love it even more.”

—

Cardinal

Mooney High’s Olivia Davis

Courtesy photo

Cardinal Mooney High defensive back Teddy Foster.

The Tornadoes are inexperienced and on their third coach in three years, but a talent base is there to spin up success.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Winter has arrived for college athletes

With football finished, now is the time to watch a new batch of talented players.

ow that the college football season is more or less over — though the transfer portal is open and quite active — fans can turn their gridiron focus to other sports that deserve attention.

As much as I love college football, I do enjoy a chance to step back and see what else is happening on the college landscape, especially in regards to Sarasota-area athletes.

So many Sarasotans excel at other sports. Sure, there is plenty of basketball talent here, too — not exactly an underground sport — but what other communities could boast athletes who shine in rifle, volleyball and swimming, let alone all three?

Here’s a look at some winter sports athletes you can follow over the next few months, plus some fall athletes for whom attention is overdue, as well as two former coaching superstars who are continuing their journey at the next level.

Riah Walker, the former Riverview High volleyball captain, is now a junior at Kentucky, where she leads the No. 12-ranked Wildcats in sets played with 103. Walker, a libero, does not accumulate a lot of stats owing to the defensive nature of her position, but it’s telling enough that Kentucky (22-7) plays her more than anyone else.

As a 12 seed in the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats play the University of San Diego (29-1) on Dec. 8, with the winner playing either Stanford (26-4) or Houston (30-3) on Dec. 10 in the quarterfinals (Elite

Eight).

A full NCAA Tournament bracket can be found at NCAA.com, and the San Diego match can be watched on ESPNU at 8 p.m.

Mary Tucker, the former Sarasota Military Academy student (and Olympic silver medalist) transferred from Kentucky to West Virginia this offseason.

While it is still early in the collegiate rifle season, Tucker, a senior, has already found some 2022 success on the international circuit.

Tucker won gold in the 50-meter three-position event and took silver in the 10-meter air rifle at the Continental America Championships, held Nov. 8-12 in Lima, Peru. The event doubled as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Her college events have gone well, too: Tucker set a Mountaineers record by recording an overall score of 1,196 — four points off a perfect score —  at the team’s meet against North Carolina State University on Nov. 18. Tucker was named the school’s Student-Athlete of the Week for her performance.

Brion Whitley, the former Rams boys basketball star, is a senior at Southern University and has earned a starting role in each of the Jaguars’ eight games. Whitley, a senior, is second on the Jaguars at 10.6 points a game and 13 total steals as of Dec. 6. While Southern is 3-5 on the year, their losses include tough games against big schools such as Arizona, UNLV and Louisiana Tech. The Jaguars did defeat California 74-66 on the road Nov. 18 in the Emerald Coast Classic, which was an impressive win. Once Southwestern Athletic Conference play begins for the Jaguars in January, expect their record to look a lot better — and for Whitley’s stats to get

even bigger.

Like his former Riverview teammate Whitley, A.J. Caldwell has started all eight games for University of Tennessee-Chattanooga this season — and like usual, Caldwell is doing a bit of everything for his team. The ultimate “glue guy,” Caldwell, a senior, is averaging 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and he’s third on the Mocs with 19 assists and six steals. The Mocs are 5-3 but have won three straight games as of Dec. 6. They will begin Southern Conference play Dec. 29 on the road at The Citadel.

Caldwell’s stats likely won’t balloon when that happens. But he’ll do a lot of things, some of them

invisible to box scores, that help the Mocs win games.

The Commodores are on a break in their schedule, but Mercedes Traba, a sophomore women’s swimmer, had a strong fall season and should be one of Vanderbilt’s top scorers when its season resumes next month.

The former Sarasota Sailor set a program record in the 1,000 freestyle (10:04.12) on Oct. 7 and finished second in program history in the 400 individual medley (4:19.81) as a freshman at the SEC Championships.

OK, technically golf is classified as a spring sport by the NCAA, but it has a fairly prominent fall season,

so I’m comfortable including it here. Plus, Wyatt Plattner’s performance for University of Cincinnati, which improved as his freshman season progressed, deserves recognition enough to fudge the rules (that I made up anyway).

Plattner, a Cardinal Mooney High alum, made strides with the Bearcats. At the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Championship, held Oct. 9-11 in Jonesborough, Tennessee, Plattner tied for seventh overall (seven-under par, 209) as the Bearcats took the event’s team title, squeaking by the University of Missouri by four strokes.

Plattner improved his finish in every fall season event he played, a sign that he’s taking his coaching to heart and getting better.

University of Arkansas’ Markus Black, who coached Booker High boys basketball to a state championship game appearance in 2018, is a graduate assistant with the Razorbacks, who have started the season 7-1 and are ranked No. 11 in the NCAA as of Dec. 6. It is Black’s second season with the program after leaving Booker in 2021.

Chad Sutton isn’t technically an area alumnus, but because he did coach the Cardinal Mooney High volleyball team to a state championship in 2018, I think he’s worthy of an update. After spending a year with Purdue University as a volunteer assistant coach, Sutton is now on staff as an assistant with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, who went 17-13 in 2022, bowing out of the Sun Belt Championship tournament in the quarterfinals.

If the trajectory continues, Sutton could be running a program of his own sooner or later.

Ryan Kohn is the sports editor for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer. Contact him at RKohn@ YourObserver.com.

Courtesy photo

Former Riverview High volleyball star Riah Walker leads Kentucky in sets played with 103. The Wildcats are ranked No. 12 in the country.

Olivia Davis is a senior on the Car dinal Mooney High girls basketball team. Davis, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, leads the 4-0 Cougars with 19.3 points a game scoring average and 3.8 assists a game as of Dec. 5. She is signed to play for the Univer sity of Tampa next season.

When did you start playing basketball?

I started playing so young that my parents (Jodi Davis and Nate Davis) don’t even remember. It was probably around 4. My parents played basketball, so it was just one of those things that happened. I started on boys’ teams and eventu ally switched to girls’ teams and now I’m here.

What is the appeal to you?

Ever since I tore my ACL as a fresh man I have seen the game from a different perspective. Being unable to play for 11 months made me miss it and love it even more. The gym is somewhere I go to have a safe place. I don’t have to worry about anything but basketball there.

What is your best skill?

I think it’s my leadership. It’s not a physical skill but as the only senior on the team, I feel like I have to lead the younger girls. It’s a big priority for me. I’m trying to get everyone involved in each game, putting them before myself.

What have you been working to improve?

I am always trying to increase my basketball IQ, especially now that I have signed to play at the next level. I still am working on the defensive side also, things like foot speed and lateral quickness.

Why did you sign with the University of Tampa?

I could tell right away it was a spe cial place. It was right for me. On my official visit, I bonded with the girls on the team and coach (Tom) Jes see, I feel like he prioritizes me even outside of basketball. He knows what I can do and embraces me as a point guard.

What is your favorite memory?

Last year we played Carrollwood Day at home in the regional finals. It was a packed house. We won that game by 19 (62-43) and it was like, ‘Oh shoot, we have a chance at a state title this year.’ It didn’t work out, but we’re getting closer each year.

What is your favorite movie? ‘Hoosiers.’ I was born in Indiana and it’s a classic to me.

Total renovation overlooking the

Total renovation overlooking

Total renovation overlooking the Oaks Club

Finish this sentence: “Olivia Davis is … ” … A competitor.

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

110 North CreekLane • OakCreek • Osprey • 3 BR+ loft • 3.5 BA • 4071 SF • $ 1.39M

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

Extensive custom home renovation just completed! As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by a grand 2-story tall foyer, and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways are your rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining at the front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls of windows, kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long butler’s pantry hallway with both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/ home office that’s 11’ x 19’ in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms (with ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

Extensive custom home renovation just completed! As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by 2-story tall foyer, and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long pantry hallwaywith both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/home office that’s in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

PAUL STERN 941.330.3051 paul@sarasotabrokers.com

JAMIE STERN 210.612.6654M jamie@sarasotabrokers.com

110 North CreekLane OakCreek • 4071 SF MLS # A4549599 Extensive custom home renovation just completed! As soon as you cross the threshold, you’re greeted by a grand 2-story tall foyer, and long golf course views of the Oaks Club main clubhouse. Trees, ponds, and fairways are your rear sightlines – not homes. The first floor features a master suite on the main level, formal living and dining at the front of the home, separate family room at the rear facing the golf course, a breakfast room with 2 walls of windows, kitchen with both a large eat-in kitchen island and additional serving counter for the family room, a 22’ long butler’s pantry hallwaywith both upper and lower cabinets, and an immense laundry/craft room/home office that’s 11’ x 19’ in itself. The second floor features a sizable loft/sitting room at the top of the stairs and two large guestrooms (with ensuite full baths). Call Paul Stern at 941.330.3051 for further details.

If you would like to make a recommendation for the Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer’s Athlete of the Week feature, send it to Ryan Kohn at RKohn@YourObserver.com.

Parade of cheer

Let it foam! Let it foam! Let it foam!

Bubbles and foam were launched in the air to resemble snow at Sarasota’s 26th annual holiday parade on Dec. 3.

The parade’s theme was winter wonderland. Tens of thousands gathered along Main Street for the Florida-style holiday cheer.

Holiday music blasted through speakers as paradegoers applauded and cheered. School marching bands played rhythmic beats at a fortissimo. Countless dance groups did back handsprings and shimmied into a choreographed Christmas routine.

From Storm Troopers to alligators in Christmas hats, paradegoers hollered at every float. Children stuck out Christmas stockings as they waited for parade cars to hand out holiday candies.

The annual holiday parade was hosted by Sarasota Holiday Celebrations and featured many local businesses, schools, groups and community members. Santa Claus made his appearance in the holiday parade before his busy day on the 25th.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Leah Nicole, Santa and Leah Pagh rejoice in holiday parade spirit.

Kayleigh Pritchett, Alexandria Maulfair and Zoey Selby participate in the parade with Sara-

The Grinch rides in style.

Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs wave at the Sarasota paradegoers.Cali and Petunia walk with Cat Depot’s entry in the parade.

New tree brightly lights up St. Armands

Liz Alpert gave their holiday greetings to the crowd. The Rev. Kenneth Blyth of Church on the Circle gave a brief prayer before the big countdown.

Hundreds gathered along to watch the super-sized tree light up as the kick off to the holiday season in Sarasota.

The evening radiated with holiday spirit as families gathered together for Mr. and Mrs. Claus to make their arrival in front of the tree in a vintage Mercedes.

and Vice

Battie and Santa stepped on the podium and said, “Starting at 10.” The crowd counted down with the mayor and Santa as they pressed the button to bedazzle the 60-foot tree.

Future of Dance immediately followed the tree lighting as they performed various choreographed holiday routines.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Sarasota Mayor Kyle Battie

Mayor

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Eden Williams, Rian Dunn, Jane Goins and Lincoln Dunn are excited for the St. Armands tree lighting.

Christina Denuijl, Brenda Watty and Devron Minion came out to support Sarasota Mayor Battie.

Mrs. and Santa Claus make their stylish arrival in a vintage Mercedes.

Mr. Claus and Sarasota Mayor Kyle Battie begin the countdown to light the tree.

SOUTHSIDE VILLAGE HOLIDAY

STROLL

5-9 p.m. at Southside Village, between U.S. 41 and Opsrey Avenue. Join the evening festival filled with face painting, rock climbing and more. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit Girls Inc. Free. For information, visit SouthsideVillage. org.

HOLIDAYS AT THE BAY: FESTIVE

DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIE NIGHT 6-9:45 p.m. at The Bay Sarasota, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Catch two family-friendly holiday movies by the water. “Polar Express” and “Elf” will show at The Bay Sarasota. Free. For information, visit The BaySarasota.org.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 11

SUNCOAST RENAISSANCE

FESTIVAL

10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd. Step back in time with Sarasota’s renaissance festival. Tickets are $26 for adults; $17 for youth (ages 5-11); free for children (under 5). For information, visit SuncoastRenaissanceFestival.com.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

SUNDAY SONGS IN THE PARK 3-5 p.m. at Cafe in the Park, 2010 Adams Lane. Come out and listen to local hip hop music by Sarasota artist Treedomm. Free. For information, call 361-3032.

MONDAY, DEC. 12

A NOVEL IDEA!

3-5 p.m. at Selby Public Library, 1331 First St. Join in for one or all fiveparts novel writing series to jump start your book. Free. For information, call 861-1100.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13

THE ELIXIR ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC

7-10 p.m. at The Elixir Tea House. 1926 Hillview St. Join in for an evening of acoustic music. Players of all levels are welcome in this intimate listening environment. Free. For information, call 373-1800.

BEST BET

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

YOUR CALENDAR

File photo

SARASOTA HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE 6 p.m. on Marina Plaza, 2 Marina Plaza. Enjoy a holiday parade by the bay. Watch this annual holiday event full of boats decorated with colorful lights. Free. For information, visit SuncoastCharitiesforChildren.org.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14

CORESRQ AT THE BAY: TAI CHI 8-8:45 a.m. at The Bay Sarasota, 655 North Tamiami Trail. Come out and enjoy this outdoor group class using ancient forms of Chinese exercises. Free. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

THURSDAY, DEC. 15

THE ELIXIR COMEDY OPEN MIC 7:30-10 p.m. at The Elixir Tea House. 1926 Hillview St. Whether you are an aspiring stand-up comedian or a comic veteran, you’ll find an appreciative audience at The Elixir Teahouse. Free. For information, call 373-1800.

DECEMBER WINE TASTING 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Reserve Retreat, 1322 N Tamiami Trail. Enjoy six Argentinian wines while mingling with other wine enthusiasts. Tickets are $15. For information, call 2536003.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

Asunny day and a new loca tion made the annual Kiwanis Lawn Party by the Bay bigger and better than ever.

The  fundraiser for the Children’s Guardian Fund was held on the tra ditional first Saturday in December, but for the first time, it was not on Longboat Key.

For years, the party has bounced between locations on the island. Last year, 800 people attended the event at the Town Center Green. Because that location is still under construc tion, organizers moved the party over the bridge to City Island.

“Ken Thompson Park really proved to be a tremendous location for our event,” event Chair Michael Garey said. “We were able to have more res taurants participate. There was more space for the guests to enjoy, and we even had more space between the restaurants.”

Last year, 22 restaurants partici pated. With this year’s larger loca tion, six more joined the roster. There were also five wine support ers, and Gold Coast Eagle provides the beer each year. Attendance rose by 100 guests.

Despite the location change, the

concept remained the same — eat, drink, be merry and give.

The final donation numbers haven’t been tallied yet, but last year’s event raised more than $90,000.

Brian Costello spent $750 on raffle tickets alone. His generosity paid off when he won the $5,000 grand prize.

By a twist of fate and history, Scott MacDonald of Crab & Fin won sec ond place. MacDonald’s family has supported the event since it was called the St. Judes Gourmet Lun

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Guests dine under a tent in Ken Thompson Park for the Lawn Party by the Bay on Saturday.

Rick Rone and Chef Roberto Dominguez

cheon more than 40 years ago. His father was one of the founders.

Regardless of its name, food has always been the main event. La Norma plated 600 meatballs, and Columbia served its famous 1905 salad, which Rick Rone called the “best salad anywhere on Longboat Key or St. Armands Circle.”

The father-and-son team of Rob bie and Robbie Ball from the Blue Dolphin served up a dish that’s fea tured on their lunch menu. Their chilled gazpacho is grandma’s recipe.

Another favorite plate was the Longboat Key Fire Rescue’s fire house chili. It would be easy to give these lifesavers a pass on their cook ing skills, but they don’t need one. In their downtime, the amateur chefs have perfected an award-winning recipe they bring to the Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-off each year.

“We place almost every year,” fire fighter Jason Berzowski said. “I’m the main chef, but everybody helps. This is not a one-person event. We just keep tinkering with it over the years.”

One thing that looks like it won’t be tinkered with for next year’s lawn party is the new venue on City Island.

“Our biggest challenge, in my opinion, is the last four lawn par

Garey said. “I can tell you

certainty, anything gets better with repetition and practice, and we are already working on improve ments for next year.”

Jason Berzowski and Tim Haas, of Longboat Key Fire-Rescue, serve up their award-win-

Two-property Siesta Key sale totals $5.25 million

HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Atwo-property sale on Siesta Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate.

Adam and Morgan Zanotti, trustees, of Palos Verdes Estates, California, sold two properties at 7303 Midnight Pass Road to Michael Andrew Sanchez, of Sarasota, for $5.25 million. The first property was built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 5,547 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2000, it has one bedroom, one bath and 1,583 square feet of living area.

SARASOTA

VALENCIA ROSEMARY PLACE

TOWNHOMES

Ronie and Krista Ashley, of Sarasota, sold their home at 126 Boulevard of the Arts to Joseph Albano and Susan Marie Beatty, trustees, of Sarasota, for $985,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,088 square feet of living area. It sold for $750,000 in 2021.

GULF GATE EAST

Sharron Elizabeth Guthrie and Walter Branch Guthrie, of Naples, sold their home at 6635 Easton Drive to Jacqueline Conroy, of Sarasota, for $660,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,789 square feet of living area. It sold for $355,000 in 2018.

PHILLIPPI LANDINGS

Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc. sold the Unit 4102 condominium at 5589 Cannes Circle to Robert Scott Dautel and Sharise Dautel, of Winter Garden, for $544,900. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,745 square feet.

BRIARWOOD

Marilynn Reason, of Sarasota, sold her home at 3084 Grafton St. to Dan and Cheryl Dirmeyer, of Highland, Michigan, for $500,000. Built in 1987, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,603 square feet of living area. It sold for $138,000 in 1997.

SIESTA KEY SARASOTA BEACH

Norine Cohen, of Siesta Key, sold her home at 5406 Avenida Del Mar to Lawrence and Tina Landry, of Sarasota, for $1.2 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,644 square feet of living area. It sold for $216,000 in 1999.

WHISPERING SANDS Barbara Powers, trustee, of Oakwood Hills, Illinois, sold the Unit 1202 condominium at 19 Whispering Sands Drive to Joseph and Jennifer Jo Lower, of Palm Beach Gardens, for $1.35 million. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,564 square feet of living area. It sold for $910,000 in 2017.

CRYSTAL SANDS

Morgan Florida Properties LLC sold the Unit 3 condominium at 6300 Midnight Pass Road to Reliable Ready Mix Inc. for $990,000. Built in 1969, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,253 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2007.

Editor’s note: County offices were closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, limiting the number of transactions available for this report.

Other top sales by area

SARASOTA:

$1.3 MILLION

The Landings Treehouse Richard and Lynn Hammett, of Roanoke, Virginia, sold their Unit 17 condominium at 1303 Landings Drive to Peter Max Buehler and Liza Ilona Buehler-Konradt, of Wollerau, Switzerland, for $1.3 million. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, twoand-a-half baths and 2,260 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in 2016.

PALMER RANCH: $735,000

Esplanade on Palmer Ranch Alyssa Mae Desario and Jonpaul Desario, of Morristown, New Jersey, sold their home at 5359 Cicerone St. to Theodore and Anita Lieb, of Sarasota, for $735,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,918 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,700 in 2022.

OSPREY: $653,000

Rivendell

Dianne Enger sold the home at 727 Shadow Bay Way to John and Ina Krebsbach, of Osprey, for $653,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,096 square feet of living area. It sold for $214,500 in 2001.

NOKOMIS: $690,000

Mission Valley Estates Nicholas Zeoli Jr. and Jessica Polchinski, of Long Beach, New York, sold their home at 1720 Mission Valley Blvd. to Ilirian and Valdete Duro, trustees, of Ontario, Canada, for $690,000. Built in 1977, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,994 square feet of living area. It sold for $650,000 in February.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

ADAM

Courtesy Sara Ferguson/Compass Realty

The driveway at 7303 Midnight Pass Road leads past tennis courts and guest house on its way to the main house.

Holiday Stroll

Holiday Stroll

Holiday Stroll

The Most Family Friendly Fun Time in Southside Village

The Most Family Friendly Fun Time in Southside Village

PET PICS

Stroll

Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them! Share them at YourObserver.com/contests/petpics to be published online and for a chance to see them in print!

The Most Family Friendly Fun Time in Southside Village

The Most Family Friendly Fun Time in Southside Village

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House

Unbelievable Raffle

Friday, Dec. 9 • 5-9 p.m.

Return of the Snow Slide!

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert Treats & Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

TO BENEFIT

Unbelievable Raffle

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

Return of the Snow Slide!

Unbelievable Raffle

Return of the Snow Slide!

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

Pictures with Santa Music Compound’s annual Holiday Concert

& Activities for Kids of ALL ages!

TO BENEFIT

TO BENEFIT

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall THANKS

Hot Cocoa & Castle Bouncy House Unbelievable Raffle Return of the Snow Slide!

Exhilarating Trampoline Adventurous Climbing Wall

FREE Parking available in the South Parking Garage of Sarasota Memorial Hospital at 41 and Hillview St.

SOUTHSIDEVILLAGE.ORG

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Penny takes a walk around the Rosemary District.

The natural choice for luxury coastal living.

Wild Blue at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch by Stock Development is a natural choice for those who appreciate luxury living, a connected and relaxed coastal vibe and an array of social and active lifestyle amenities. Here, a verdant waterfront setting, along with quality design and construction, blend seamlessly to create a naturally beautiful community. Featuring a collection of single-family homes by some of the region’s most acclaimed builders. Sales Center Now Open: 8307 Lake Club Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941.313.3852

Proudly presented by

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

High: 75 Low: 59 Chance of rain: 58%

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 High: 67 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 19%

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 High: 71 Low: 57 Chance of rain: 17%

SUNDAY, DEC. 11 High: 71 Low: 57 Chance of rain: 18%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec. 8 7:12a 5:37p

Friday, Dec. 9 7:12a 5:38p

Saturday, Dec. 10 7:13a 5:38p

Sunday, Dec. 11 7:14a 5:39p

Monday, Dec. 12 7:14a 5:39p

Tuesday, Dec. 13 7:15a 5:40p

Wednesday, Dec. 14 7:15a 5:40p

Monday, Nov. 28 0.15

Tuesday, Nov. 29 0

Wednesday, Nov. 30 0

Thursday, Dec. 1 0

Friday, Dec. 2 0

Saturday, Dec. 3 0 Sunday, Dec. 4 0

YEAR TO DATE: 2022 51.65 in. 2021 45.79 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2022 0.00 in. 2021 0.00 in.

HOLIDAY EARLY DEADLINES FOR DEC 22, 29 &

JAN 5

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

December 22

•East County & Longboat: Thursday, 12/15 noon

•Sarasota / Siesta Key: Friday, 12/16 noon

D December 29

•East County & Longboat: Friday, 12/16 noon

•Sarasota / Siesta Key: Monday, 12/19 noon

J January 5

•East County & Longboat: Thursday, 12/22 noon

•Sarasota /Siesta Key: Tuesday, 1/3 11am

The Observer Classi ed Dept. will CLOSE on December 23rd at 4:00pm for the Holidays. We will reopen on January 3rd at 9:00am.

CHANDELIER, BROWN METAL, MANY BULBS, LIKE NEW $25. (941) 920-2494

COLEMAN 6 P. Skydome Tent, NEW in Carrier $60. TARP- Gray, Heavy Duty- 12' x 20' New in pkg. $25. Call 941-924-2431 Leave name/#

FILE CABINET w/ drawers& shelves $20, rattan/white end table $5. Red/metal patio set $25. New twin mattresses, $25 each. (941)358-6001

LADIES 26" mountain bike, Mongoose, red $25. 941-408-6770

MEN’S 26” bicycle, good condition. Schwinn Sidewinder. New 198. Sell $50. 941-413-6097

WATCHES 20+ men's wrist watches (some new in box). All need batteries. $20 or best offer. 941-921-1815

WEBER GAS Grill, New, Spirit2 burner. $200. (941)350-5651

WHIRLPOOL LARGE capacity gas dryer. Under two years old. $199 rm. 575-649-3405

WOLF COUNTERTOP oven, brand new, retail 749. Sell $200. 416-564-7779

ZILDJIAN CYMBALS polished bronze, 20” gen 16, ride cymbal $120 OBO. (941)928-7708

Merchandise

Wanted

I BUY Vintage Costume Jewelry & Clothing, porcelain, China & art...Jane (941) 356-1568

SENIOR LOOKING to

WANTED:

Pets

EXPERIENCED

DOG WALKER/PET SITTER Available anytime- short or long term. Call Lauren (631)953-7292

POMERANIAN TRICOLOR puppy w/ blue eyes! Born 8/6, Sarasota, cash $995. (303) 4442721

POMERANIAN TRICOLOR puppy. Female, hard of hearing, Sarasota, cash $100. (303) 444-2721

Murphy Stevens, Realtor 941-587-8879

Alan J Stevens, Broker 941-925-1818

VILLAGE BROOKE 3269 Beneva Road Sarasota, FL 34232

Walk to grocery stores, shops, restaurants and Legacy Trail. Quiet, 1B/1B, 1st oor, partially furnished, steps to tennis court and heated pool with seasonal rental potential.

$ $209 000 941-650-1292

Homes for Sale

2BR/2BA WHITNEY BEACH, 1st Floor Condo for Sale. North Longboat Key- Large living and bedrooms. Peaceful gardens on Bishops Bayou, boat docks, beach access across street, tennis courts, heated pools, 2 dogs allowed. $769,000.

jm.higgins@mail.com

5 521 broadway longboat key the tranquility of being on the water your boat’s just steps away build your dream home in this historical village on the island of longboat key on 521 broadway you are the star

only $956,000 call for details

jerry cunningham, jr 941-321-8848 shortstorieslongboatkey@gmail keller williams on the water

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

2BR/3BA LONGBOAT

Cleaning

Auto Transport

YOUR HOME DESERVES

TREATMENT

Painting

UROLOGIC CARE

We’ve got this down to a ‘P’

Excellence is never a one-time thing. And consistency is the difference between practice and perfection.

At Sarasota Memorial, our multi-disciplinary team of urologists and urologic surgeons knows this. And armed with the latest in diagnostic technology and trained in the latest interventions — including minimally invasive robotic surgery — they have consistently led the way in treating everything from chronic kidney disease and acute bladder dysfunction to troublesome prostate enlargement and complex genitourinary cancers, earning national recognition for both innovation and excellence along the way.

So it’s no surprise U.S. News & World Report has named SMH the #1 hospital in Florida for urologic care

After all , we’ve got this down to a , well , you know.