Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 2.2.23

A man of high caliber

Visitors to this past week’s City Hall Art Exhibit had a rare chance to hear about the community’s history and culture from art experts ... and meet a man featured in one of the photographs hanging on the wall.

A photo of Sean Clougherty, also known as the “Human Cannonball,” is featured in the exhibit, and he explained a little about how he ended up in the circus.

“I grew up in Venice, and I was cleaning pools at the age of 21. The gentleman who I was cleaning the pool for had a cannon on the side of his house. One day he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, would you be interested in getting shot out of that cannon?’” said Clougherty. “I said, ‘Yeah’ because I always wanted to be Evel Knievel.”

Clougherty is part of the city of Sarasota Facilities Division team.

You’ve been warned

They said they would warn us.

And so, Florida Department of Transportation did just that this week, relaying through the city of Sarasota that traffic troubles could resume at the Gulfstream Avenue roundabout this weekend.

FDOT went on to say that excavation and curb construction would begin on Sunday and extend through Thursday, Feb. 9, with some work during the day and at night. Work was to begin midweek but was delayed, FDOT said. Access will be maintained for all routes, but lane closures will likely result in traffic backups. Organizers at Save our Seabirds on City Island tweeted that if traffic backups develop as they did when similar work was performed in January, it could compromise bird rescues around the area.

Longboat Key Fire-Rescue officials have said their crews can move through traffic with red lights and sirens, but can be delayed returning from Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

File photo

Dariela Delgado

Southside Elementary unveiled its newly planted daffodil garden in the courtyard to remember childhood victims of the Holocaust.

Dariela Delgado

WEEK OF FEB. 2, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

Realty company donates to 47 causes

The philanthropic arm of Michael Saunders & Company continued its 11-year mission of providing assistance to nonprofit organizations across Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties during its year-end grant distribution this past week.

Company agents, managers and executives gathered at the Lakewood Ranch sales office to present checks to 47 local organizations. Representatives from each of the nonprofits shared details about their cause and how the money will be used.

“Each organization represented here today is a critical part of the philanthropic effort the community counts on,” said Drayton Saunders, president of Michael Saunders & Company and vice president of the MSC Foundation.

“You represent the best of what our community does. We are honored to recognize and support so many organizations that are committed to doing vitally important work.”

The foundation’s twice-ayear grant distribution is made

Four circus luminaries honored under big top

Four stars of the circus world will be honored this weekend at the Circus Ring of Fame Foundation’s 2023 induction ceremonies.

The event takes place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday under the Circus Sarasota Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park.

Honorees are:

n Peggy Williams: In 1970, Williams was 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. She also worked to create Ringling’s Department of Educational Services.

n The Alexis Brothers: Marco and Paulo Lorador have performed their artistic hand balancing to millions of fans worldwide, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Alexis Brothers have been featured in The Greatest Show On Earth and Cirque du Soleil.

n Jeanette Williams: She performed with horses and multiple animals in Europe and the U.S. with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Jeanette produced her own show in America and became a prominent agent for circus arts talent.

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

Two pedestrians killed on Fruitville Road

possible through donations by agents who give portions of their real estate commissions and staff who make payroll deductions and special gifts throughout the year.

Since its formation in 2011, a total of $1.2 million has been donated to 256 organizations throughout the tri-county area – from youth, family, homeless and mental health services to underserved arts and literacy programs.

Two fatal hit-and-run incidents that occurred Jan. 27 are under investigation by the Sarasota Police Department. Investigators do not believe they are connected.

The first happened on Fruitville Road near Orange Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. The victim, a 56-year-old man, was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He died from his injuries at the hospital, police said.

The second, at Fruitville Road near Beneva Road, occurred about 20 minutes later. When officers arrived, a 64-year-old man was found dead.

“Reading is such an essential part of education. There are a lot of things and experiences in reading that you can get.”

Mayor Kyle Battie, Read more on page 12

Courtesy photo

Michael Saunders, president and founder of Michael Saunders & Company, right, and Drayton Saunders, company president and vice president of the MSC Foundation, with Christine Carey, Charlotte County director of

House, one of 47 grant recipients last week.

Fray at

The Quay

Conflict remains in the air in the months-long battle between residents and a developer in The Quay as the off-again, on-again and off-again public hearing process is back. This after a Monday decision by the Sarasota City Commission that outlines the process to be heard by the city’s Planning Board.

The point of contention? Air.

Specifically, the air over the primary access street— Quay Commons — into the 15-acre waterfront mixed-use development.

During a workshop on Monday, commissioners voted 4-1, with Jen Ahearn-Koch opposed, to schedule a hearing before the city’s Planning Board — and by extension eventually before the City Commission — to consider an amendment between the developer and the city that would permit a change in the two parties’ 2016 general development agreement.

One Park developer Quay 1 and 9 LLC wants to combine two planned blocks into a single building spanning over Quay Commons.

The point of contention is a transfer of the air rights over the street — Quay Commons — to make the plan feasible.

To arrive at its eventual decision to allow a hearing, commissioners heard a 26-minute, 4,300-word presentation delivered by City Attorney Robert Fournier, in addition to a 17-page legal memo he wrote.

The matter is complex, he told commissioners, because it is unprecedented here.

One Park is an 18-story proposed tower that would span over Quay Commons at a height of 14 feet. To do that requires either an amendment or a major revision to the development agreement between the city and the developer. The developer is pursuing the amendment route because it requires only approval by the commission. A major revision requires a more complex quasi-judicial proceeding.

Fournier asked commissioners to consider bundling the general development plan amendment with site plan approval to address both in a single quasi-judicial hearing.

That’s a sort of mini-trial that allows for a city-staff presentation, both sides equal time to present their own cases, cross-examination of witnesses and rebuttal by the applicant.

who live within 500 feet — to speak. Because of the nature of the quasijudicial proceedings, decisions can be appealed to a higher court. A legislative hearing allows  three minutes each for speakers.

On a parallel path is litigation in the 12th Judicial District Court, which is scheduled to begin May 8.

Opposing the One Park plan are residents of Block 6 of The Quay — otherwise known as the Ritz-Carlton Residences — the only completed and occupied building in the development. They allege unit owners have a vested easement applicable for use of the common area over the improved areas of Central Quay and the air rights above.

In short, they want to prevent what would be effectively a tunnel beneath One Park and a monolithic structure at the gateway to The Quay.

Jeff Kincaid, a board member of the Block 6 Condominium Association, asked commissioners to delay action on One Park until after the legal process is completed. In December, Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll declined to issue a summary judgment request on the matter, scheduling a full hearing instead on the matter.

“The judge specifically called out the potential for, and I quote, ‘prohibited withdrawal of common air elements’ of the air rights over our road,” Kincaid said. “I would ask that this city put this entire project on hold until the legal issues have been resolved.”

LEGAL CHALLENGE IS LIKELY Commissioners in the 4-1 vote sided with Fournier’s assessment that air rights conveyance is a legal matter between Block 6 residences and the developer of One Park and that the city’s obligation lies in the amendment request, which must be OK’d before a site plan can be considered.

“It’s my legal opinion that air

Contention remains in the air over One Park plan.

WHAT IS ONE PARK?

The One Park plan includes 123 luxury condominiums on 18 floors with a 63,000-squarefoot amenity deck on the fourth floor. Although not the only 18-story building in The Quay, it would be the tallest building there.

rights are private property that we shouldn’t concern ourselves with,” said Commissioner Eric Arroyo, who is a lawyer. “That is a private landowner. They can convey it. They can sell it.”

The 4-1 majority also said Block 6 residences will have plenty of time to be heard in hearings before the Planning Board and City Commission.

Quay 1 and 9 LLC has been waiting since November for its planning board meetings. A hastily called meeting before the city’s Development Review Committee was canceled, to the surprise of City Manager Marlon Brown, as a Nov. 21 City Commission meeting was underway and as Block 6 residents were speaking in opposition to that meeting. That meeting was to occur just before Thanksgiving.

“We had that discussion in November because we were trying to schedule a special (Planning Board) meeting,” Brown said. “Then Mr. Fournier said (he) would take a look at the process and will develop something and bring it back to the commission.”

Which brought both sides together on Monday.

With Monday’s decision by commissioners, when the Planning Board does take up One Park, it will recommend either approval or denial

— separately — of both the development agreement amendment and the site plan.

Fournier suggested the combined approach for the amendment and site plan because, in his opinion, it would be more efficient and would provide a seamless record forwarded to the City Commission for its consideration and potential legal appeal.

Vice Mayor Liz Alpert asked Fournier to confirm that, should the development agreement amendment fail, the process then turns to a major revision to the general development plan. And if so, like site plan approval, that is a quasi-judicial proceeding.

“But ultimately, either one leads up to approval of the site plan because one or the other has to happen before that site plan can be considered,” Fournier said.

Whether the City Commission approves or denies, Fournier said, “I think you’ll probably have an appeal on this one in your future.”

Attorney Robert Lincoln, representing the residents opposed to the project, is no stranger to the city. He also represents Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, which sued the city over the approval of an apartment development at the former Sarasota Kennel Club.

Quay 1 and 9 are represented by the Sarasota law firm Icard Merrill, whose partners Matt Brockway and Bill Merrill.

The city and Quay Venture entered into  the development agreement for the Quay in 2016. To date, only Block 6 has been completed. Construction is underway on Bayso, an 18-story condo tower near the Fruitville Road roundabout, and on Cordelia, a mixed-use residential and commercial project along Tamiami Trail.  Blocks 1 and 9, at the north end of The Quay next to the Hyatt Regency, are serving as staging areas.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Andrew Warfield

The plan for One Park would cover Quay Commons at 14 feet above street level. Residents of the Ritz-Carlton residences (in background to the right) charge the building would violate the common property air rights.

Rachel Burns makes a bid for BID board

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

St. Armands Circle Association may be in the market for its third executive director in two years.

In a newsletter to the members of the merchants association, Rachel Burns announced her candidacy for the St. Armands Business Improvement District. If she is selected to fill a vacant seat on the City Commission-appointed board, she wrote she would step down from her role.

Burns replaced longtime Circle Association Executive Director Diana Corrigan, who retired last summer after more than 22 years of leading the organization.

By virtue of being a property owner within the BID, Burns is eligible to serve on its board of directors.

In December 2022, Gavin Meshad vacated his seat on the five-member board after multiple terms because he was no longer eligible to serve.

“Since then, no other landowners have stepped forward and applied for the BID board,” Burns wrote. “I am excited to announce that this week, I applied for that open BID direc-

tor position. If appointed by the city commissioners, I will be stepping down as executive director and assuming a part-time position as the marketing and events director.”

The St. Armands BID is chaired by Tom Leonard. Burns and Leonard debated before the City Commission last fall over the St. Armands Winter Spectacular, a six-week festival in Circle Park that supplanted some regularly scheduled Circle Association-sponsored events. The festival was an initiative proposed by Leonard to celebrate the new $286,000 holiday tree, paid for by the city.

The St. Armands BID is a municipal board of the city, representing more than 60 property owners in the 13 acres within St. Armands Circle. Board members manage a budget funded by the revenues from special tax district overlay of the property.

The BID is up for a renewal vote of the property owners in 2023.

Rachel Burns has served as executive director of the St. Armands Circle Association since November 2022.

The merchants’ group at St. Armands Circle could be on the hunt for its third executive director in two years.

Photo courtesy of Lori Sax

Expertise sought on Van Wezel’s future

City commissioners held an initial discussion about qualifications for a committee to study the renovation and repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

As is often the case with the subject of preserving and repurposing the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, high-level conversations often conflate that mission with whether a new performing arts center across the parking lot from the Van Wezel is even necessary.

It happened again during Monday’s City Commission workshop, where the first topic of discussion was the composition of a committee to study the extent to which the Van Wezel can or should be renovated alongside the proposed new Sarasota Performing Arts Center planned for The Bay.

Almost as it began, Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch shifted the

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discussion from repurposing the nearly 50-year-old Van Wezel to whether an upwards of a $300 million replacement of the iconic structure was financially viable and in the community’s best interest.

“I have not seen the city entertain spending this kind of money and do something this grandiose,” AhearnKoch said. “I’m not saying that we shouldn’t dream and we shouldn’t think large and we shouldn’t think about the future. I’m one-fifth of this group, and to spend the kind of money and effort and staff time that we’re talking about doing, we shouldn’t be just kind of sure or partially sure this is what we should do. We should be 1,000% positive this is the step we need to take — that this is not a want — but that it is a need. I have not been convinced 100% without a doubt.”

Even as a task force appointed by the City Commission and the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation is whittling down a list of potential architecture firms to design the new facility, a public debate continues regarding the future of the Van Wezel — and if a replacement is even necessary.

Supporters of the Van Wezel say the building is a significant piece of Sarasota’s history that can be renovated to meet the city’s live performance demands. Proponents of a new performing arts venue say repairing the Van Wezel, which would require waterproofing, storm surge protection measures and multiple infrastructure system replacements, can’t address its most glaring shortcomings. They include not enough seats, inadequate backstage facilities and an undersized stage.

“This conversation is about the blue-ribbon committee,” Manager Marlon Brown told Ahearn-Koch.

“If you want to seat a blue-ribbon committee, we have to talk about repurposing of the Van Wezel Hall.

This is not about whether we need a new performing arts hall or not. If you want to have that conversation, then let’s stop this conversation, and we can revisit the partnership agreement, the commission’s vote to proceed with the new performing arts center, and we can stop all of this discussion right now.

“You, as a commission, agreed to a blue-ribbon committee, and you also agreed to move forward with a new performing arts center. You may not have voted for it, but the commission agreed to it.”

To abandon the SPAC in favor of the Van Wezel, Brown said, would require an 8- to 10-foot wall around the building to protect it from potential storm surge, eliminating the bayfront view. Hydrostatic pressure from the bay will continue to undermine the foundation and top shows will continue to bypass Sarasota because the building’s infrastructure isn’t up to contemporary standards.

“If you’re going to add more seats, they have to take the roof off, and you talk about the roof being historic,” Brown said. “If you have to replace the roof, that no longer becomes historic.”

Commissioner Eric Arroyo suggested the panel include a structural engineer, and Vice Mayor Liz Alpert said another should have performing arts center expertise.

Commissioner Debbie Trice suggested a member possess historic preservation expertise. Commissioners also raised the possibility of the committee hiring a consultant to assist it.

Brown said he would schedule an agenda item for a future commission meeting to structure a committee with the various qualifications culled from Monday’s discussion. The size of the committee and how appointments will be made remains to be determined.

“And I think it is critical that it be unbiased and rigorous because we’ve seen what the concerned citizens have said, and unless our recent recommendations or the committee’s recommendations are rigorous and unbiased, our credibility will suffer,” Trice said.

“It’s important that whatever this committee comes back with be credible and accepted as valid by the community at large.”

File photo

Groundwater seepage and occasional flooding from Sarasota Bay are among the reasons the city is pursuing a replacement for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

“I have not seen the city entertain spending this kind of money and do something this grandiose.”

Jen Ahearn-Koch

Connie F., Siesta Key

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Observer managing editor leaves legacy of laughter

Every April, the Observer has a long-standing tradition for readers that has come to be a treat for some, a trick for others: our annual April Fool’s edition. Observer reporters and editors always work to be witty and clever and find the perfect mix of stories that are equally realistic and outlandish. But the past six years, one person has taken this edition — and anything requiring humor, satire and fun — to a whole new level: Managing Editor Eric Garwood. Which is why, upon hearing that he is hanging up his Observer hat to take a position to lead the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s newly created Community News Collaborative, we instantly felt the sadness of losing Garwood — and his trademark brand of comedy. But it’s not just his sense of humor that will be missed. Anyone who has worked with him knows that he’s a tour de force: He wrote many clear concise news stories, keeping Longboaters and Sarasotans informed; he was the king of breaking news on YourObserver.com; he took pictures that showed something no one else saw; and he came up with story ideas that promised to surprise and delight readers with a fresh take on what could otherwise be tired issues. He has been a mentor, a leader and an editor in every sense of the word. As Executive Editor Kat Hughes said

at a recent company meeting, “He is the soul of his papers.”

To say we’ll miss him is an understatement, and judging by the positive comments we get on his Cops Corner items, we know you will too.

Since 2017, he has been leading staff to create content that’s better, more engaging and different, so we weren’t necessarily surprised when the committee charged by the Barancik Foundation to hire an executive editor of the CNC arrived at Garwood as its top choice.

At the CNC, Garwood, 60, will oversee a team of four multimedia reporters supported through an initiative of nearly $600,000 from the Barancik Foundation. They will create free written, video and audio content for syndication to more than a dozen news outlets across the Gulf Coast with coverage in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.

At the Observer Media Group, Garwood’s papers won too many awards to count, including in 2021 when both the Longboat Observer and the Sarasota Observer were recognized with the Florida Press Association’s general excellence awards in their respective circulation categories.

Before joining the Observer Media Group in 2017, Garwood served in a variety of editing roles for nearly 25 years at Florida Today, the Gannett Co. Inc. news site in Melbourne on Florida’s east coast, and the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina.

We wish him all the best in his new role. We know he’ll do great. As for April Fool’s, it is notorious for using pen names as bylines. But you’ll know if it’s him by the laughs.

After six years at the helm of the Longboat and Sarasota Observers, Eric Garwood is moving on.

File photo

Eric Garwood started as managing editor of the Longboat Observer and Sarasota Observer in 2017.

In the worst of times, you want the best of care. And you shouldn’t have to travel halfway across the country to get it. At the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, we’re committed to providing world-class care this community needs, right here at home.

For us, that means utilizing the latest technology to diagnose symptoms early and accurately, employing state-of-the-art interventions to provide advanced cancer treatment, and delivering a lifetime of survivorship and follow-up care planning to help our patients live life to the fullest. It means building a radiation oncology center and a dedicated oncology tower — and now breaking ground on a new outpatient cancer pavilion to take you all the way through your journey. For our patients, that means having access to the expertise they need and the high-touch care they deserve. It means staying close to family when they need it most. And it means always having the most important medicine of all:

Hope

smh.com/cancer

Declare fentynal a WMD

Joe Biden’s ineptness at stopping fentynal from China and Mexico has fueled Florida’s fentynal death toll — second highest in the U.S. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody makes a case for decisive action.

OVERDOSE DEATHS IN FLORIDA BY DRUG, 2019-2021

Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, is alcohol, typically consumed in beverages. Alprazolam is used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, including anxiety caused by depression. It is also used to treat panic disorder. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine, which is a medicine for central nervous system depressants,

Fentanyl analogs are illicit — and often deadly — alterations of the medically prescribed drug fentanyl. They mimic the pharmacological effects of fentynal.

“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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MATT WALSH

You have been living in a cave the past two years if you haven’t heard a daily report of the thousands of illegal aliens crossing our border; the lethal fentynal and related drugs many of the illegals are carrying; and the more than 100,000 Americans who died from fentynal in each of the past two years.

There is no other way to describe this situation than as an all-out foreign invasion and the use of lethal force against us. And yet, it just goes unabated. A few decent leaders are not giving up, and they’re doing as much as they can to fight this war.

One of those people is Florida

Attorney General Ashley Moody.

Last July, Moody sent a 1,100word letter to President Biden, urging him to declare fentynal a weapon of mass destruction.

She makes a good case:

Dear Mr. President:

58,220 Americans died in the Vietnam War. Seven months ago, the CDC released its provisional data for drug overdose deaths for 2021. For the first time in this country’s history, more than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses.

75,673 of those overdose deaths were from opioids, primarily fentanyl. In the last two years, more than double the Americans who died in the entire Vietnam War have died from synthetic opioids.

Fentanyl has become the leading cause of death among adults ages 18-45, claiming more young lives than COVID-19, cancer, car accidents or suicide.

Fentanyl impacts more than those who use it. It can kill first responders and good Samaritans who seek to resuscitate overdosed users.

I am not equivocating overdose deaths of Americans to those of Americans who fought and gave their last full measure of devotion for this country. I provide those numbers to give context to the stark carnage that this country is experiencing.

Fentanyl has hit the state of Florida hard, like many other states across this country, and the death toll is increasing at an alarming, exponential rate. In 2020, fentanyl related overdose deaths increased by 59% to 5,806. In the first six months of 2021, deaths related to fentanyl increased again to more than 3,210. About 10 days ago, within 24 hours, 19 people overdosed on fentanyl, with nine people dying in rural Gadsden County.

That followed other mass poisoning events across the country, including another overdose event in Florida in March involving five vacationing West Point cadets, including two who were simply attempting to resuscitate their comrades.

In the nearly two years that your administration has been in office, you have done little to abate this American tragedy. Indeed, many of your policies have exacerbated the death toll, needlessly wasting America’s youth.

Almost a year ago on July 21, 2021, you described fentanyl as “a dead set killer of people.” You acknowledged in that town hall meeting that China was sending fentanyl to Mexico and that fentanyl was killing Americans. While record amounts of fentanyl have been interdicted by

law enforcement in the last year, the historic number of overdose deaths from fentanyl demonstrate that large amounts of fentanyl are still making it across our border.

As your Administrator of Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”) said yesterday, fentanyl is “poisoning Americans at record rates,” and it is the “deadliest threat (the DEA) ha(s) ever seen.”

New, different and additional tactics are needed to curb this needless slaughter of American youth.

While there are many acts and steps that your administration could take, like stopping the overwhelming influx of illegal immigrants and further fortifying the Southern border, I realize that your administration will not or is incapable of taking those actions.

Your administration has dangerously failed to recognize the ties between criminal drug cartels and both the surge of illegal immigration and the flood of fentanyl into this country.

The state of Florida will continue litigating against your administration’s failure to follow federal law to force your administration to protect the border and effectively deal with the existential threat that the border crisis represents.

But, while that disagreement plays out in court, I would urge you to take a different action that has bipartisan support: Declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction pursuant to your authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“JEEP A”), 50 U.S.C. §§1701 et seq. or, alternatively, urge Congress to pass the “Fentanyl is a WMD Act.”

There is not serious dispute that fentanyl could be weaponized causing a mass casualty event. The Russian army purportedly weaponized fentanyl to end a hostage crisis 20 years ago, killing more than 120 hostages in the process.

The debate on this topic seems to center around some experts who believe that the likelihood of use of fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction is remote and that there are other chemicals more likely to be weaponized.

That may be true, but the same likely could have been said about a commercial airliner striking a building before Sept. 11, 2001. 9/11 happened, and we now have enhanced security because of the risk that a terrorist could utilize an airplane as a weapon.

Relying on nonstate criminal actors and terrorists to think or act as expected is a losing proposition.

The reality is that the deadliness of fentanyl combined with its sheer availability in Mexico to cartels and nonstate actors makes it an increasingly likely weapon for use.

The other criticism lodged against treating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction is that fentanyl is a narcotics control problem. Again, that is true, but treating this solely as a narcotics control problem has failed to curb the proliferation of increasing quantities

FENTYNAL DEATHS BY REGION, 2021

The following table shows fentynal and fentynal analog deaths in Florida. The data are from the 2021 Annual Report of the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, released in December. The Sarasota region includes Bradenton.

TOP 10 STATES FOR OVERDOSE DEATHS, 2021-22

It’s no surprise that the most populous states have the highest number of deaths from drug overdoses. What may be surprising is how many more deaths occurred in Florida, the third most populous state, versus Texas, the second most populous state.

1. California 11,602 +2.3%

2. Florida 8,123 +2.0%

3. New York 6,230 +9.0%

4. Texas 5,347

Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration to coordinate with other agencies or parts of agencies, including the Department of Defense about fentany1.

Thinking about curbing the problem in different, new ways may disrupt what the Chinese companies and drug cartels involved are doing or at least make it more expensive or difficult.

BY

2021

of chemicals that can cause a mass casualty event. Fentanyl’s deadliness, combined with so much fentanyl being manufactured, make it unique compared to other narcotics.

Again, your own DEA administrator has called fentanyl “the deadliest threat (the DEA) ha(s) ever seen.”

We need bold action to meet that threat and end it. If treating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction has the effect of also advancing narcotics control policy, what is the harm in making the declaration?

Given how many Americans are being murdered, the whole federal government and every tactic and capability that we have should be utilized to stop the death and destruction that fentanyl is causing.

Designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction would require the Department of Homeland

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While those agencies would develop federal policy, one could imagine techniques utilized to prevent proliferation or to detect the transportation of existing weapons of mass destruction could be used with fentanyl. As an example, the United States works to disrupt the supply chains of other chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. It is not hard to imagine that similar tactics could reduce the flow of precursor chemicals and equipment to the criminal cartels in Mexico, reducing the resulting amount of fentanyl flowing into this country.

Mass deaths. Lives shattered. More than two hundred Americans die every day from opioids, primarily fentanyl, leaving broken families struggling with incomprehensible loss. I urge you take immediate and decisive action to protect Americans and declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

Sincerely,

Ashley Moody Florida Attorney General

BIDEN’S RESPONSE?

Seven months later: Still not a word.

For a comprehensive view of Attorney General Moody’s efforts against fentynal, go to: myfloridalegal.com and type “fentynal” in the search bar.

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine

CEO / Matt Walsh

Vice President / Lisa Walsh

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1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

Source: Florida Medical Examiners Commission, 2021 Annual Report

Nearly half of Sarasota-area teens are on the job

A study shows 46.6% of teens age 16-19 in the North Port-Sarasota-Brandenton MSA have jobs. That ranks it 20th nationally among midsize markets.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Nearly half of the teens in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton region are in the labor force, according to a report by Smartest Dollar, a company that provides financial decision guidance for businesses and consumers.

A rite of passage in some parts of the country and a way of life in others, labor force participation among 16- to 19-year-olds declined sharply since the late 1970s. Factors include higher school enrollment rates, greater participation in after-school activities and an increased emphasis on college preparation.

In the local metropolitan statistical area, Smart Dollar found that 46.6% of teenagers were in the workforce in some capacity. Smartest Dollar used data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Teens typically find their first jobs in the service industry, working in restaurants, retail, as lifeguards, at car washes, etc. Although the study considered only ages 16-19, Publix, a major employer throughout the state, hires as young as 14.

In a tight labor market, businesses benefit from youngsters eager to earn their own money and the teens, in turn, learn about work life and build hard and soft skills needed for adulthood.

Shepard Condon, a 19-year-old student at State College of Florida, began working at Core SRQ, a fitness center in South Sarasota, as a high school senior. His responsibilities include greeting members, selling memberships and overseeing operations on the exercise floor.

“I make sure everything is tidy and everyone is doing what they are supposed to do,” Condon said. Working evenings and weekends, he typically closes the facility at night.

Why did he decide to become a working student?

“Obviously, the main reason is I wanted to make money,” he said. “I just wanted to have my own responsibilities and have my own money. That way, I don’t have to ask other

people to buy me things, and I can just get what I want.”

More than a measure of financial freedom, being a working student has taught Condon how to manage his time, manage finances and accept responsibilities.

“I pay a couple of bills around my house, so I have to structure how I use my money,” he said. “I think it’s helped because when I get into adulthood, I’m going to have to pay

more bills.”

His career interests include journalism, but Condon said his current role, which has a sales component, is helping develop revenue-generating and public interfacing skills.

“As a front desk representative, we’re the ones bring in revenue for the gym.” Condon said. “This experience definitely helps if I wanted to get in some type of sales job later in my life, but it also teaches me to be structured, motivated and how to be responsible in the workforce.”

Rather than working for companies, some teens find their way into the workforce as independent contractors, taking on jobs such as babysitting, pet care, lawn maintenance, house cleaning and tutoring.

Or, they form their own company.

Matthew DePalma, a 17-year-old senior at Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch, operates his own auto detailing company, 941 Mobile Detailing. After working at a luxury auto dealership for a year, he leveraged connections he made and ventured into detailing. He acquired a van in December and has some parttime employees who are fellow ODA students.

“The biggest challenge for me is balancing school and work, but what’s nice about having a leadership role is I’ve got a team that can help me out,” DePalma said. “I only

have two seats in the van, which is usually plenty for two people out doing details. That allows me the flexibility that when I’m available, I’ll run with the team or sometimes I supervise.”

The flexible schedule ODA offers is helpful to his business. So is his family. His mother is an accountant, and his stepfather is in the financial industry. Together they help with payroll and other employer compliance matters.

His career path is undetermined, but venturing full time into detailing — including boats, motorcycles and even aircraft — is a strong contender. “I wouldn’t say anything is fully decided,” DePalma said. “We’re growing pretty well with the business, so it’s not really something that I want to step away from at the moment.”

Condon and DePalma are just two examples of the nearly half of local teens earning paychecks, a figure that ranks the Sarasota region 20th among midsize MSAs nationally. The national average is 38.3%.

From 1978 through 2011, the national teenage labor force participation rate fell from a peak of 59.3% to 33.3%. While modest gains were made between 2011 and immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic, teen labor force participation remained low when compared to historical levels.

While labor force participation across all workers remains about a percentage point lower today than it was immediately before the pandemic, teen participation is actually up by 1.3%, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Teens were the only age group to see a rise in labor force participation during the pandemic.

Among midsize Florida markets, only the Pensacola area had a higher rate of teen participation at 47.2%, ranking it 18th nationally. LakelandWinter Haven brings up the rear among its Florida peers at 28.4%, ranked 93rd nationally.

Andrew Warfield

Teens Shelby Brann and Shepard Condon work the front desk at Core SRQ, a fitness center in South Sarasota.

“This experience definitely helps if I wanted to get in some type of sales job later in my life, but it also teaches me to be structured, motivated and how to be responsible in the workforce.”

Shepard Condon

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

FREE CHICKEN 5:09 p.m., 800 block of North Washington Boulevard

Dispute: A fast-food worker accused of giving away food threatened violence against the general manager, who said he observed the employee handing over an order of fried chicken valued at about $50 without collecting payment. The manager said this was not the first time. The manager said he felt threatened by the employee’s outburst and only wished to report the dispute for documentation purposes. The manager was advised to call police should the now-former employee return and he wished to have him banned from the property with a trespassing warning. The manager said he did not wish to immediately file

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

BAD HAIR FRAY

1:45 p.m. 2000 block of 12th Street

Disturbance: A barber called police because a customer was causing a disturbance over what she claimed was her son’s badly executed haircut. The woman was being disruptive while waiting for service and was told she could wait her turn or leave. When police arrived, she advised that she wanted to leave, then departed with her children. No crime was reported.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

REPEAT OFFENDERS

12:30 p.m., 1500 block of Mango Avenue

Property damage: Copper bandits apparently returned to the scene of a previous crime. A business owner told police someone entered his property and cut wires in an effort to steal copper. A pipe was also broken as well as a circuit-breaker box that contained wires. The caller to police also noticed the power was disconnected, which led him to believe it was “professionals” attempting to abscond with copper. The victim said this was the second time such

an incident occurred within two weeks, the prior theft costing $7,000 to repair. That incident was not reported to police. Video cameras in the area captured images but were too far away to provide a useful description of the thieves.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

LONG-TERM LOANER

2:54 p.m., 700 block of North Tamiami Trail

Dispute: An auto dealership reported a loaner vehicle was not returned. The dealership told police a customer brought in a vehicle for service on Dec. 14, 2022, and was provided with a loaner vehicle. The dealership representative said he has attempted to contact the customer to discuss service needed, but he had not responded. When contacted by police, the customer said his cell phone was broken and he has been using his work phone. He further stated he has left voicemails with the dealership, but no calls were returned. The customer was informed he should return the vehicle to rectify the situation. He advised he would arrive with the vehicle within 30 minutes. The incident remained civil in nature.

Logan T. Shannon, DPM Podiatric Surgery

Roanoke, VA

Certification: Board Qualified, American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery, American Board of Podiatric Medicine Hospital Affiliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Doctors Hospital Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Story time with the mayor

The students of Bay Haven School of Basics Plus love to take a sharksized bite out of a good book. And last week, they had the hats to prove it and the mayor of Sarasota’s help.

In the annual observance of Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida, fourth grade teacher Jennette Schwaed invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom for story time on Jan. 24.

The Florida Department of Education initiated this statewide event to inspire students and their families to make reading part of their daily routines. This year’s theme: “Take A Deep Dive Into Literacy.”

“Reading is such an essential part of education,” Battie said. “There are a lot of things and experiences in reading that you can get.”

Battie first answered questions the students were eager to ask, then took his reading place in a rocking chair in front.

Forty-seven students wore handmade shark hats as they listened attentively to Battie read “A Sick Day for Amos McGee.”

“If they hear books being read aloud by other people, such as the mayor, I think this helps them understand that reading is so important,” Schwaed said.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Photos by Dariela Delgado

Jennette Schwaed, a fourth grade teacher at Bay Haven Elementary School for Basics Plus, invited Mayor Kyle Battie into the classroom to read.

Mayor Kyle Battie reads to fourth grade students.

Jennette Schwaed quizzes students.

Ava Everett listens to Mayor Kyle Battie read.

Tancred McCarthy, Max McMaster and Levi Nimz show off their shark hats.

Fast Break

Former Riverview High boys basketball star Brion Whitley was named the BoxToRow Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Player of the Week on Jan. 30. Whitley, a guard at Southern University, averaged 23.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in the Jaguars’ two games last week, both wins.

In recent weeks, Riverview High has had Georgia football coach Kirby Smart Alabama coach Nick Saban Florida coach Billy Napier and Miami coach Mario Cristobal stop by its campus, among other big names. It is likely the coaching staff pitched multiple Rams players to these coaches, but five-star defensive back Charles Lester III remains the Rams’ biggest prize.

The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Monday that its 2023 track and field championships, held in May, will move to University of North Florida in Jacksonville after one year at University of Florida in Gainesville.

Sarasota High girls basketball freshman Paisley Binswanger continues to put up big numbers. She scored 21 points in the Sailors’ 73-61 win over North Port High on Tuesday.

Don’t forget about the inaugural NBP Paddling Classic, coming to Nathan Benderson Park on Feb. 4. It will see dragon boats compete in 200- and 500-meter races in various divisions, including a newly formed 18+ division. Food and beverage trucks will be on site. The event is free for spectators. For information visit NathanBendersonPark.org.

High school soccer district tournaments wrap up this week. One team to watch going forward: the Riverview High boys team. The Rams (8-2-6) upset Lakewood Ranch High in penalty kicks on Tuesday to advance to the district championship game against Gulf Coast High (8-2-4) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

COUGARS CLAW BACK

a chance to coach this much talent, it also creates some difficult decisions.

and Sarasota High, Mooney’s next opponent, holds a schedule rating of 0.5.

“We’re battle-tested now,” Cherry said. “We wanted to schedule up and challenge ourselves. If we want to get to where we want to get, we had to do that. Every team we have lost to has seven or less losses, and we’ve battled. We’re ready.”

The Cougars’ schedule has led to the team having a minor dip in record, thanks in large part to a fourgame skid in mid-January, where three games were decided by five points or less — and the five-point loss came on the road against Berkeley Prep (19-2) in overtime.

RYAN KOHN STAFF WRITER

The reception is different now.

The Cougars were the surprise team of 2021-22 in the program’s first year under coach Vince Cherry, finishing 23-5 after losing 78-76 in overtime to Northside Christian in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A regional quarterfinals. The Cougars’ turnaround was spurred by uncommon depth that other teams could not match, allowing Cherry and his Mooney staff to give everyone more rest without a drop-off in quality play.

Mooney finished 7-13 the previous season without Cherry, which worked to the team’s advantage, at least early in the season while the team’s rotations settled.

The team didn’t have the advantage of surprise this year. It hasn’t much mattered.

The Cougars lost three players from last year’s team — and one starter, guard A.J. Russo — heading into 2022-23, and added Outof-Door Academy transfer Kevin O’Donoghue, a wing/power forward, to its talent pool. Given that everyone has another year’s experience, this year’s edition of the Cougars, which holds a 15-9 record, may be even deeper.

Mooney has eight players averaging four or more points a game and three players — O’Donoghue and junior guards Connor Heald and Dylan Higgins — averaging more than 11. Spreading out the scoring means teams cannot key on one player to shut things down and gives everyone an opportunity to be a leader on any given night.  While Cherry will never turn down

“We probably have four or five kids (on the bench) who could start for other teams in the area,” Cherry said. “It’s good and bad sometimes. It’s tough. We do our best to make it work. Everyone feels like they should be playing X amount of minutes. It’s hard to balance.”

The Cougars’ schedule has given Cherry’s roster balance a stress test. According to MaxPreps, Mooney holds a strength of schedule of 9.5, which is in line with many of the top teams in Class 3A. It is especially tough for the Sarasota-Bradenton area; district rival Bradenton Christian holds a schedule rating of 7.4,

But the Cougars have rebounded and won two games in a row heading into its regular-season finale against Sarasota at 7 p.m. Thursday at home. That includes a 57-44 road win over Booker High (10-13) that at one point the Cougars led by as many as 24. In it, the Cougars showed what makes them dangerous, as they moved the ball well in the half-court, creating open shots, but also made the Tornadoes pay for turnovers in transition.

O’Donoghue, who had 11 points against Booker, said he expected the Cougars to be a contender when he came to the school during the offseason. O’Donoghue said he’s known many of the players and coaches since elementary school and has played against them enough to know what they can do. Going forward, O’Donoghue said, the team’s biggest hurdle is a mental one.

“We need to keep getting each other up for every game,” O’Donoghue said. “If we do that, we’ll play well, and I think we can make it far.”

On Thursday, the Sailors will act not just as a challenging tuneup before the postseason, but a fun matchup of coaches. Cherry played for Sarasota’s B.J. Ivey at Riverview and beat Ivey, then at ODA, twice last season. Meanwhile, Ivey picked up his 300th varsity win on Jan. 26.

“I’m happy for him,” Cherry said of Ivey. “I wish him the best in all his games besides Thursday.”

On Tuesday night against Booker, Cherry’s Cardinal Mooney shirt read “We (over) me,” speaking to the idea of a team being greater than the sum of its parts. It is a philosophy Ivey teaches as well — but for this Cougars team, with the depth it has, the saying rings especially true.

Cherry said the team’s potential lies entirely on their own shoulders.

“If we keep our turnovers down, we can compete with anybody,” Cherry said. “We can be (competitive) in any style of basketball game if we do that.”

“Since the first time I played, I have been in love with the game.”

— Cardinal Mooney High’s Kevin O’Donoghue SEE PAGE 16

Courtesy photo

Former Riverview High boys basketball star Brion Whitley is a graduate student at Southern University.

15-9 Booker High is closing year two under Vince Cherry on an upswing.

Mooney’s Kevin O’Donoghue gets fouled on a layup against Booker High.

George Leibold takes a long-range shot against Booker High.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Mooney guard Teddy Foster also plays on the school’s football team and holds multiple NCAA Division I offers as a defensive back.

“We’re battle-tested now. We wanted to schedule up and challenge ourselves.”

— Vince Cherry

The bench boss

knows how to coach and motivate but that someone is committed to leading and teaching long term.

The Sarasota High boys basketball program was in disarray when

when asked about his accomplishment.

No matter what it is, 300 of anything tends

a lot.  You would not want 300 oranges in your refrigerator or a sock with 300 holes. Cincinnati Bengals fans might want to drink 300 beers after the way their team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but I would advise against it. Three protestors on a street corner is not a news story — 300 is. And just ask the Persians how much damage 300 Spartan warriors can do.

What about basketball victories?

At the high school level, where teams play 25-30 games a year, 300 wins mean not only that someone

B.J. Ivey arrived on the bench before the 2022-23 season. The Sailors went 5-20 in 2022 and have not finished with a winning record since

2014.

That will change this year. With one game remaining — with a good road test against Cardinal Mooney High (15-9) at 7 p.m. Thursday — the Sailors are 20-4. Even if the Sailors drop their final game, they will have inverted their record from this past season. And on Jan. 24,

Ivey hit a personal milestone: that magical 300th win, a road victory over a solid Braden River team (148) that beat the Sailors 56-48 earlier in the season.

Ivey was, as usual, deferential

“I don’t think it’s necessarily about what this means to me,” Ivey said. “It’s more about the great memories that I’ve made with kids throughout past years. You just start reminiscing.”

That’s the thing about sports milestones: They are in some ways arbitrary. Reaching 300 wins is not all that different from 299. But we set up these milestones not only as marks of greatness but as road signs reminding us to look back at how we got there.

In Ivey’s case, the road started at Riverview High with the girls basketball program. He coached the girls for three years before moving to the boys program and helping the Rams flourish. Over the next decade, he and the Rams won eight district titles and reached the 2015-

16 state championship game. In the process, Ivey helped players such as Brion Whitley (Southern University) and A.J. Caldwell (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga) reach NCAA Division I teams.

In 2019, Ivey took a leave from the high school ranks to work as the director of operations at Florida Gulf Coast University but returned to The Out-of-Door Academy in 2020, and in 2022 took the Sailors job, getting back to his public school roots.

The Sailors record makes the program’s changes apparent. Even if it wasn’t as impressive, the players’ attitudes make Ivey’s ripple effect known. After a Nov. 29 win over ODA, Sailors junior Daniel Munn said Ivey’s arrival altered how the Sailors approach the game of basketball.

“He has completely changed our culture,” Munn said. “We’re more disciplined. We’re more hardworking. And we hate losing.”

In December, sophomore guard Oliver Boyle offered similar thoughts. Last year’s team was about “me, me, me,” Boyle said. This year has been about the “we.” When you play for each other — when you care about each other — you play better, Boyle said. You don’t want to let teammates down.

Playing for the team over self is a hallmark of Ivey’s coaching. It is how those scrappy Riverview teams overcame size and talent disadvantages to become one of the hardest postseason outs in the state.

After Ivey’s milestone win, the Sailors showered him with congratulations — literally.

At the Sailors home game against Booker High on Jan. 26, the first home game after Ivey’s milestone, the school presented him with a commemorative basketball and T-shirt, both emblazoned with a “300 wins” logo. After the game, a group of Ivey’s former players, including some of his Riverview girls players, walked down to the court to say congratulations.

For someone like Ivey, that is what coaching is all about.

“It means a lot, for them to take time out of their day and come and

share that moment with me,” Ivey said.

Ivey knows more about successful basketball coaching than most, but there’s one piece of advice that stands above the rest in his mind. It comes not from the court, but from the church. Before Ivey married his wife, Samantha Ivey, he met with a priest, who reminded him that love is a choice. The priest, of course, meant that if Ivey wanted to love and commit to Samantha forever, then he should marry her. But Ivey has carried that to his coaching career as well.

“You get an opportunity to coach a group of kids, and you get an opportunity to model choosing to love them,” Ivey said. “Good times and bad. When it is easy and when it is hard. And there’s different kinds of love. Sometimes you put your arm around them and speak greatness into them, encourage them. Other times you have to give a little tough love.”

Ivey said he has too many favorite moments in his career to share, but as examples, he pointed out the state championship game appearance in 2015-16 and the Riverview girls going on the road and beating a Lake Mary High team ranked 25th in the country, then having a joyous bus ride home. The two moments have something in common: a team digging deep to do something most people thought it could not.

That’s another hallmark of Ivey’s teams, and it’s a quality this year’s Sailors team shares. Even on Jan. 26 against Booker, the Sailors showed resilience, trailing into the fourth quarter before winning 45-40.  They have a lot left in their tank — and so does their coach. As the Sailors continue to develop under Ivey’s tutelage, 400 will be here soon enough.

B.J. Ivey has taken his time on the basketball sidelines to heart.

PROSE AND KOHN RYAN KOHN

Ryan Kohn

Sarasota High presented B.J. Ivey with a commemorative basketball and shirt in recognition of his 300th varsity win.

SARASOTA INSTITUTE OF LIFETIME LEARNING

Order

Music Mondays

Monday, February 6 Sarasota,10:30 am - Venice, 3:00 pm

Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, Choreographer

With rhythm in her bones, Cuban American Leymis Bolaños Wilmott found her voice through dance. As Founder/Artistic Director of Sarasota Contemporary Dance she uses those bones to create stunning and imaginative art.

Tuesday, February 7 Sarasota,10:30 am - Venice, 2:30 pm

Post Brexit: What Now?

A er Brexit, the UK economy has worsened. Baroness Margaret Jay will elaborate on some of the current problems and potential solutions.

Wednesday, February 8 Sarasota,10:30 am

The Refugees in SW Florida - The Human Story Yasmin Sayed presents an overview of refugee resettlement at Lutheran Services Florida, its e orts in Florida, and the human stories of the challenges and successes.

Thursday, February 9 Sarasota,10:30 am - Lakewood Ranch, 5:00 Friday, February 10 Venice,10:00 am

Civil War by Other Means

Dr. Jeremi Suri will discuss the two decades a er the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, when some Americans tried to build a multiracial nation, and others refused. It shows how those years are still relevant.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Kevin O’Donoghue

Kevin O’Donoghue is a junior on the Cardinal Mooney High boys basketball team. O’Donoghue scored 11 points Tuesday in the Cougars’ 5744 road win over Booker High.

When did you start playing basketball?

I’m not sure, but I was young. I started with Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast. I’m pretty sure my dad (Morgan O’Donoghue) was my first coach. Since the first time I played, I have been in love with the game.

What is the appeal to you?

I like battling with my teammates and winning games. When there are crowds at big games, you feel the excitement and the adrenaline. I still love it as much as I used to.

What is your best skill?

I would say it is my shot-making. Recently, I have actually been on a bit of a cold stretch, but in general, I have the ability to make shots and get my team going.

What have you been working to improve?

Definitely my defense. It has been a big problem for me for a while. This year, I have tried to stop people from getting by me or going (to the) baseline. I’m also trying to get more rebounds and more blocks. (O’Donoghue leads the team with 4.3 rebounds a game.)

What is your favorite memory?

My freshman year, when I was at The Out-of-Door Academy, I got to play with my brother (Tyler O’Donoghue). We actually beat Cardinal Mooney in the district tournament. That game was important to us, getting to share that.

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.

What is

What is your favorite TV show?

I have to say “Breaking Bad.”

What is your favorite subject?

This year it has been psychology.

I’m interested in learning about the brain.

Which superpower would you pick?

I think I would pick flight. That would be super cool.

What is the best advice you have received?

Play every game like it is your last. Sometimes I have trouble getting motivated to go out and play my best. But when I think about how any game could be my last game, it helps with that. Always give it your all.

The Milestone Financial Group At Morgan Stanley Proudly Presents The S.T.A.R. INVESTOR’S CONFERENCE

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FEATURED SPEAKER: Robert C. Doll, CFA

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Bob graduated with a B.S. in Accounting and a B.A. in Economics from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds the CFA designation from the CFA Institute.

Top Strategists and Portfolio Managers from:

Ned Davis, Senior Investment Strategist, founded Ned Davis Research Group (NDRG), in 1980. Ned has been professionally involved in the stock market for over 40 years. While arguing that forecasting reliably (“Being Right”) is impossibly difficult, he espouses a philosophy that he feels can consistently win (“Make Money”) through a disciplined strategy of following the weight of objective indicator evidence. Because he also believes flexibility (ability to adapt) is crucial, Ned Davis Research Group also produces many sentiment indicators warning investors to be wary at crowd extremes and helping them to be open-minded about potential trend changes. A self-proclaimed risk manager, Ned dedicates his research to avoiding major mistakes, cutting losses short, and letting profits run.

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Top Strategists and Portfolio Managers from:

Event courtesy of John Vita, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, with local office at 1401 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205. The guest speakers are neither employees nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Opinions expressed by the guest speakers are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. Individuals should consult with their tax/legal advisors before making any tax/legal-related investment decisions as Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax/legal advice. There will be no discussion of, or distribution of written materials relating to, specific products or investments at this presentation. Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Principal value and return of an invest-ment will fluctuate with changes in market conditions. This presentation is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a solicitation on our part with respect to the purchase or sale of any securities, investments, strategies or products that may be mentioned. The organizations represented by the speakers provided financial support for this Forum. Investments and services offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC5410564 1/23

LESSONS FROM HISTORY

One Sarasota elementary school hosted two guest speakers to share their stories of the Holocaust on Jan. 27.

“Iwas the butterfly that survived,” said Holocaust child survivor Ginette Hersh to the fourth and fifth graders of Southside Elementary.

In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Southside Elementary invited two guest speakers to share their stories of the Holocaust on Jan. 27.

The school’s fourth and fifth graders joined with their families at the school’s cafeteria to hear firsthand the stories of Ginette Hersh, 95, who is a child survivor of the Holocaust and Steve Koenig, 73, a second-generation survivor of the Holocaust.

“The reason why it’s life-changing, not only do they (the students) hear their stories of survival and inner courage and resilience, but also of hope,” said Bette Zaret, of The Jewish Federation Holocaust Education Programming. “The kids really learn that not only did the Holocaust happen but that there were people who were able to survive primarily at the hands of good people who helped save them and helped them escape.”

A group of students started the program by welcoming the guest speakers with a song about the children of the Holocaust called, “A Million Butterflies.”

“I was a hidden child; I was never in concentration camp. Most of the time I was hiding in schools (helped) by principals who knew I was Jewish,”  Hersh said. “I think God is giving me a long life because of what I am doing. I think the children will know what happened. I feel like that’s why I’m still here.”

Koenig’s father was a Holocaust survivor. Koenig told students how his father and uncle survived the Holocaust.

“I’m a late bloomer. I grew up with stories of the Holocaust because my father escaped from Dachau, and my uncle survived Auschwitz. I heard the stories, but it wasn’t that interesting,” said Koenig. “Later in my life, I got to learn more and more about the real stories of my family, and it’s been only recently that I learned the whole story of my father’s escape. Now, it’s wonderful to share the theme that we can all be upstanders.”

Koenig asks the students who their favorite superhero is as a way to explain to the students what an

upstander is and how they can be one.

“We can be superheroes,” said Koenig as he revealed his Superman shirt under his button-down.

Additionally, the school unveiled

its newly planted daffodil garden in the courtyard and original butterfly art installation in the media center. Both of these mementos are in memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who were killed in the Holocaust.

DARIELA DELGADO STAFF WRITER

Photos by Dariela Delgado

A group of students started the program by welcoming the guest speakers with a song about the children of the Holocaust called “A Million Butterflies.”

Steve Koenig revealed his superman shirt under his button-down as he asks Southside Elementary students to name their favorite superhero.

Ginette Hersh shares her story as a Holocaust child survivor with Southside Elementary students.

BEACHFRONT LIVING

Festival goers sea food, eat it

Feeling guilty after grubbing on seafood never felt this good.

The seventh annual Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival brought food, music and festivities to JD Hamel Park on Jan. 27-29.

“We have a lot of national and local talent and 400 feet of food,” said organizer Bill Kinney, who has been in charge of the event for the past 10 years.

Attendees gathered throughout the park and walked through the aromatic seasoned seafood. The wide variety of food vendors gave attendees many choices to delight their seafood craving.

“One of the things that people come down to Florida (for) is that they want to taste seafood,” Kinney said. “When (tourists) come down, that is what they are looking for. They are looking for local culinary dishes.”

Live musical performances set the ambiance for members of the community as they enjoyed their meals and drinks.

— DARIELA DELGADO

Photos by Dariela Delgado

The Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival at JD Hamel Park ran from Jan. 27-29.

Amy Watson serves up crawfish and shrimp at the Sarasota Seafood and Music Festival.

Jewish food fest returns

Knishes, blintzes, matzo ball soup and more homemade dishes tantalized visitors to this year’s Sarasota Jewish Food Festival.

Temple Sinai invited the Sarasota community to celebrate its 15th annual Sarasota Jewish Food Festival on Jan 29.

After its last festival in 2020, Temple Sinai members celebrated their comeback year with a variety of traditional Jewish dishes.

“Since we were not able to hold the Food Festival during the pandemic, we are especially excited to welcome the community back to celebrate great Jewish food and culture,” said Andrea Eiffert, the director of communications and programming, in a press release.

Attendees enjoyed a selection of traditional homemade Jewish delicacies as they shopped for donated pieces and items made by craft and jewelry vendors.

“We are the only Jewish food festival in the community. All of our food is made by our congregations, except for our meats,” said Temple Sinai and Sarasota Jewish Food Festival Chair Patty Glah. “This is one of the major fundraisers that we have (at Temple Sinai).”

— DARIELA DELGADO

Photos by Dariela Delgado Sheila Namiot and Temple Sinai President Alan Chalfin enjoy some traditional Jewish food.

Marlene Meyers was one of the arts and craft vendors at the Sarasota Jewish Food Festival.

Sitar Ben-Herut and Else Weinstien sell homemade baked goods at the Sarasota Jewish Food Festival.

Patty Schreiber, Stan Liner, Steve Swedlow, Earl Perlinski and Patty Glah celebrate the 15th annual Sarasota Jewish Food Festival.

this year. She brings a wealth of knowledge of Israeli history and culture and the current milieu in Israel. For information, visit TempleBethSholomFL.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

MANIFESTATION JAR WORKSHOP

10:30 a.m. to noon at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, 821 Apricot Ave. This workshop will guide you through creating a manifestation jar, setting your intention and sealing your practice with a short, guided meditation circle. Registration is $25. Call 504-2151.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL

2-4 p.m. at Asolo Center for the Performing Arts-Jane B. Cook Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. The 11th annual festival presents eight plays selected by professional readers and written by area high school students. Tickets are $15-$29. For information, visit TheatreOdyssey.org.

MONDAY, FEB. 6

BOOK ARTS GROUP

4:30-6 p.m. at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail. Join as artists and book lovers talk, show and make book art at this monthly meeting. Each meeting, a member of the group presents a project to create. Free. For information, visit ArtSarasota.org.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE AT THE BAY: JAZZLINKS ‘CIVIL RIGHTS: BRIDGING THE MOVEMENT’

5-6:15 p.m. at Common Ground, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Enjoy a live performance by the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Jazzlinks group showcasing popular music of 1940s to the 1960s. Free, but registration is required. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

BOOK TALK SERIES: “THE FATHER OF MAGICAL REALISM”

1-3 p.m. at Selby Public Library, 1331

BEST BET

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

FRESH FRIDAYS

7-10 p.m. at State Street. The Fresh Friday series announces a celebration of love and dance. This nighttime event will feature music from South Floridabased cover band Resonance. Free. For information, visit FreshFridaysSarasota.com.

First St. Professor Anastasia Bojanowski will discuss Gabriel García Márquez’s style of Magical Realism. Literary works “Love in the Time of Cholera” and “One Hundred Years of Solitude” will be discussed. Free. For information, call 861-1100.

THURSDAY, FEB. 9

OSHIMA BROTHERS

7-11 p.m. at Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court. Oshima Brothers is a Mainebased duo creating melodies and a harmony blending of folk, pop and Americana. Tickets for nonmembers are $20. For information, visit WSLR. org.

CORESRQ AT THE BAY:

PRIMETIME

7:30-8:30 a.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Bring your own mat or towel. Free, but registration is required. For information, visit TheBaySarasota.org.

ASPIRE POLY FURNITURE

717 Cattlemen Rd • Sarasota, FL 34232

941-946-8887 • www.AspirePoly.com

Treat your Valentine to outdoor furniture that they will love for years to come! Poly furniture is made of recycled plastics, free from rust and require no repainting, perfect for the Florida lifestyle. Visit our showroom to see our large selection of products, & options to custom design your Valentine’s favorite colors. Or let them choose with a gift card!

VALENTINE’S GIFT GUIDE

BARTLETT JEWELERS

Creekwood Crossing I-75 & SR70 Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6600 • www.BartlettJewelers.com

We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality jewelry, outstanding customer service & the best possible value. Find just the right gift for your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day. Choose from the latest styles by designers including Gabriel & Co, Allison Kaufman, Ti Sento & Charles Garnier. Pictured are fashion bangles in yellow and white gold by Gabriel & Co.

MOLLY MAID OF SARASOTA, MANATEE & CHARLOTTE COUNTIES

1461 Tallevast Rd • Sarasota, FL 34243 941-753-2220 • www.MollyMaid.com/local-house-cleaning/fl/sarasota-manatee-charlotte-counties

Not sure what to gift your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Why not give them some hours back in their day? Some time to enjoy doing something they love? Real love is saying “Don’t worry about cleaning the house, I got someone to do it for you!” Gift certificates are easy to get and easy to give. Happy Valentine’s Day!

ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR

Find a location near you • www.OysterBar.net

Fall in love all over again with our Seafood Towers! Maine lobster, fresh crab, Gulf shrimp, tuna sashimi, and oysters, of course. And what better way to share the love with your honey on Valentine’s Day? Your neighborhood Anna Maria Oyster Bar has everything to make a romantic evening special: impeccable service, five-star fun, and a delectable selection of fresh seafood.

LE MACARON

362 St Armands Cir • Sarasota, FL 34236

140 University Town Center Dr • Sarasota, FL 34243 941-552-8872 • www.LeMacaron-US.com

Handcrafted by our team of French chefs, these classic pastries come in unique flavors like Sicilian Pistachio & Mango Jam. We use the finest glutenfree ingredients. Visit our pâtisserie to enjoy French Macarons, quality French gelato, classic French pastries, European-style beverages & homemade candies. Order your gift boxes now!

SIRIUS DAY SPA, SALON & MED SPAS

11585 E SR70 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 8512 Cooper Creek Blvd • Bradenton, FL 34201 941-357-4611 • www.SiriusDaySpas.com

The Perfect Gift for Your Valentine, a gift card from the #1 Spa in Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch/Bradenton. Full service hair salon, spa and medical spa featuring state of the art services, 11 treatment rooms (including couples room!), Serenity Lounge, 200+ services including Massages, Facials, Botox, Fillers, Laser Hair Removal, IPL, Morpheus8, Lash Services & More.

MAE REID MERCANTILE

817 Honore Ave • Sarasota, FL 34232 941-323-3815

www.instagram.com/MaeReidMercantile

One of Sarasota’s newest and truly unique shopping destinations. Find fanciful gifts & irresistible treasures in this nostalgic location! Locally owned and proud to offer American made decor, accessories & gifts. Stop in, stroll and find something special for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day!

DIAMOND BAY JEWELERS

Located in the Bay Street Village & Town Center 3976 Destination Dr, Unit 105 • Osprey, FL 34229 941-786-1013 • www.DiamondBayJewelers.com

CARLISLE GIFTS

3713 Bahia Vista St • Sarasota, FL 34232 941-955-4009 • www.CarlisleGifts.com

Come to Carlisle Gifts to find the perfect presents for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day! Shop our exquisite jewelry lines, beautiful home and garden décor, boutique purses, gorgeous handbags as well as fun items for the kids! Can’t decide what to buy? Our gift cards let your valentine select their favorites. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

From classy adornments to engagement specialties, Diamond Bay Jewelers has what you need to create your style for any occasion. Come enjoy the exquisite experience of fine jewelry and expert watchmaking. Jewelry repair, custom design and redesign services available with over 30 years of experience.

MCCARVER & MOSER

1301 Main St • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-387-8000 • www.MccarverMoser.com

McCarver & Moser Jewelry stores are sophisticated with extensive design collections from all around the world. We provide customer service that exceeds expectations with our knowledge, hand crafted designs and personal concierges team that represents over 115 years of experience. Making our customers happy and beautiful is our passion.

MOLLY’S!

A CHIC AND UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

1874 Stickney Point Rd • Sarasota, FL 34231 711 S Osprey Ave • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-921-1221 • www.MollysSarasota.com

Two locations for people seeking a fun and exciting personal shopping experience. Named best Gift Store in Sarasota for 4 years, you are sure to find something special to give or get for yourself. Beyond gifts, both locations have a large selection of quality shoes, jewelry, apparel and accessories too.

MONKEE’S OF LAKEWOOD RANCH

1561 Lakefront Dr, Ste 104 • Sarasota, FL 34240

941-358-8868 • www.MonkeesofLakewoodRanch.com

Stop by and treat yourself or someone special!

Specializing in clothing, shoes, and accessories, we have something for everyone and new arrivals daily. Join us Wed., Feb. 8th from 6-9pm for our Galentine’s Day Sip & Shop - doorbusters, giveaways and more surprises. Grab your girls and see you then! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for details.

1273 S Tamiami Tr • Sarasota, FL 34239 8207 Cooper Creek Blvd • University Pkwy, FL 34201 941-361-3006 • www.ElysianFieldsGifts.com

Looking for Valentine gift ideas?

Look no further than Elysian Fields. From crystal hearts to jewelry to beautiful cards, we are sure you will find the right thing you are looking for. Replicate the feeling of a real hug with the Demdaco Giving Heart Weighted Pillow. A special gift for all the cherished people in your life!

McClellan Park properties sell for $1.8 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Atwo-property sale in McClellan Park tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Michael and Nancy Riney, of Lakewood Ranch, sold two properties at 1731 Seminole Drive to Roger Henry Van Wie, of Sarasota, for $1,787,900. The first property was built in 1940 and has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,378 square feet of living area. The second property, built in 1997, has one bedroom, one bath and 417 square feet of living area. They sold for $800,000 in 2016.

SARASOTA PHILLIPPI LANDINGS

Laurel Loop, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 703 condominium at 1921 Monte Carlo Drive to Susan Horrigan, trustee, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,793 square feet of living area. It sold for $975,000 in 2018.

CONDOMINIUMS OF ORANGE CLUB

Christine and J. Bradley Houser, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 304 condominium at 635 S. Orange Ave. to Lara Cianchi and Massimo Meneghini, of Sarasota, for $1,088,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. It sold for $797,000 in 2021.

SARASOTA BAY CLUB

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 126 condominium at 1299 Tamiami Trail to Shirley Rose, of Sarasota, for $1,031,000. Built in 2003, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. It sold for $709,000 in 2016.

Sarasota Bay Club LLC sold the Unit 508 condominium at 1301 Tamiami Trail to Frank and Anita Zimmerman, of Sarasota, for $890,000. Built in 2000, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,546 square feet of living area. It sold for $550,000 in 2015.

RIDGEWOOD Michelle Bennett sold her home

at 2319 Oak Terrace to Richard and Marcia Kuhn, of Sarasota, for $925,000. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,780 square feet of living area. It sold for $300,000 in 2020.

THE VILLAS ON LAUREL

Joseph and Margaret Spinella, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, sold their Unit 8 condominium at 1685 Laurel St. to Lisa Gail Schauer, of Sarasota, for $799,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,863 square feet of living area. It sold for $465,000 in 2014.

GRANADA Mary Jacobsen, of Coconut Grove, sold her home at 3500 Flores Ave. to Madrid Capital LLC for $650,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,507 square feet of living area. It sold for $147,000 in 1998.

TROPICAL SHORES

George and Paula Gordon, trustee, sold the home at 1701 Livingstone St. to Charles Fredrick Morris, of Cheboygan, Michigan, for $550,000. Built in 1957, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,354 square feet of living area. It sold for $367,500 in 2020.

CENTRAL PARK Charmyn Kirton, of Miami Beach, sold her Unit 203 condominium at 825 Osprey Ave. to Ana Cristina de Sousa Soares, of Sarasota, for $540,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,320 square feet of living area.

GULF GATE EAST

Jeffery and Teresa Wortman, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6540 Waterford Circle to Rebecca Ann Holland-Bierman, of Sarasota, for $510,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,564 square feet of living area. It sold for $553,600 in 2022.

PALMER RANCH

TURTLE ROCK

Gary and Kathryn Wells, of Greer, South Carolina, sold their home at 4846 Sweetmeadow Circle to George Berardi and Jan Berardi, trustees, of Dublin, Ohio, for $945,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,792 square feet of living area. It sold for $460,000 in 2015.

THE COUNTRY CLUB OF SARASOTA

Mary Ellen Kelley and Susan Mitchell, of Richmond, Virginia, sold their home at 3786 Torrey Pines Way to Arthur Fox and Barbara Sheila Kaplan Fox, of Venice, for $891,500. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,209 square feet of living area. It sold for $638,000 in 2020.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of Jan. 16-20, in order of dollar amounts.

COBBLESTONE ON PALMER RANCH

Julie Gwendolyn Swanger, trustee, sold the home at 4100 Ilaria Ave. to Michael Andrew Fosley, of Sarasota, for $783,000. Built in 2016, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 2,241 square feet of living area. It sold for $710,000 in 2021.

John Benson and David Press, trustees, of Pompton Plains, New Jersey, sold the home at 8728 Bellussi Drive to Kevin Donoghue, of Sarasota, for $597,000. Built in 2018, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,697 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2021.

WELLINGTON CHASE

Raymond and Anne Ferrier, of Sarasota, sold their home at 6273 Weymouth Drive to Lambi Gucheski and Ivana Gucheska, of Sarasota, for $512,500. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,691 square feet of living area. It sold for $177,900 in 2000.

Other top sales by area

SIESTA

KEY: $566,700

Siesta Harbor Tracy Roberts and James Smith sold their Unit 104 condominium at 1355 S. Portofino Drive to Maryann Kolb, trustee, of Sarasota, for $566,700. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,355 square feet of living area. It sold for $75,000 in 1977.

ONLINE

PALMER RANCH: $970,000

Silver Oak Jonathan Anderson, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 8918 Bloomfield Blvd. to James Forst, of Sarasota, for $970,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,736 square feet of living area.

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

PET PICS

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!

TRUST. KNOWLEDGE. SERVICE.

FROM THE PLUMBING PLACE

For over 30 years The Plumbing Place has worked hard to earn the trust of our customers and contractors. And with over 150 years of combined experience, our friendly and knowledgeable staffdelivers exceptional customer care.

It’s a frustrating reality for many Gulf Coast homeowners – discolored, pitted and tarnished exterior door hardware caused by our harsh salt-rich air.

We eventually learn that the tease of “lifetime brass” really means a lifetime of maintenance and repair. There is a practical solution to this common problem – Bronze or Stainless

Both materials offer excellent salt tolerance and oxidation/corrosion resistance with a minimum of maintenance. A variety of styles and finishes provide a perfect match to existing color schemes including rich patinas of classic bronze, contemporary polished or matte nickel, and black.

It’s a frustrating reality for many Gulf Coast homeowners – discolored, pitted and tarnished exterior door hardware caused by our harsh salt-rich air.

Smitty’s Architectural Hardware, located The Plumbing Place, displays many lines of door hardware in beautiful styles for your home that are well suited for our demanding environment, and will create the first impression your front door deserves.

We eventually learn that the tease of “lifetime brass” really means a lifetime of maintenance and repair. There is a practical solution to this common problem – Bronze or Stainless

Both materials offer excellent salt tolerance and oxidation/corrosion resistance with a minimum of maintenance. A variety of styles and finishes provide a perfect match to existing color schemes including rich patinas of classic bronze, contemporary polished or matte nickel, and black. Smitty’s Architectural Hardware, located inside

TASTY TV TIME: Zoey enjoys some of her shows in Sarasota.

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

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MOON PHASES

RAINFALL

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

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© 2023 NEA, Inc.

THE LITTLE THINGS by Stella Zawistowski, edited by David Steinberg

Gordon Silver captured this photo of a squirrel at

RED PAGES

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888 redpages@yourobserver.com •yourobserver.com/redpages

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.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

DEWALT COMPOUND Miter Saw, 12”, w/ moveable stand, $150. 941-739-5988 ENTERTAINMENT CABINET, (3pc) shelf for books, etc. Good condition, $50. 941-923-3386

LEADER’S RATTAN Pub Set, 2 swivel stools 31” at seat. Glasstop 41”H. Perfect Condition $199 401-345-6056

ORTHOFIX SPINAL Stimulator:

$100.00 get it!) Original box. Helps spine heal itself. 239-351-4985

TRAYL BIKE- Like new. Double Roar Sprockets $150 OBO. 941-536-3258

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

Puzzle One Solution: “There’s nothing like this extended family that is