Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 2.29.24

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

Observer

SEASON SPRING 2024

T H E O B S E R V E R ’S G

U I D E TO T H E A R TS

AND SOCIETY

INSIDE

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE

FREE • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

VOLUME 20, NO. 14

YOUR TOWN

Affordable housing heads north Plans for spot on Tuttle include up to 1,500 units at luxury and affordable levels. SEE PAGE 4A

Courtesy image

Box art

Elizabeth Casey and her father, Cosmo Uttero, 100, a WWII veteran, at Sarasota National

Cemetery

Sacrifices remembered It’s been 10 years since the 2014 dedication of Patriot Plaza at the Sarasota National Cemetery, and to mark the occasion, The Patterson Foundation is hosting a free event to recognize the milestone.

The plaza is part of The Patterson Foundation’s legacy initiatives designed to draw visitors to reflect on the sacrifices of U.S. military servicemembers via architecture, symbolic artwork and photography.

The artwork invites visitors to observe the nation’s struggles and victories dating from the Civil War to Desert Storm.

The 10th Anniversary Celebration will be from 10:4511:45 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

The Florida West Post 2 and U.S. Army 29th Infantry Division Association will help mark the occasion along with the Mighty Sarasota Military Drumline and keynote speakers.

The Garbage-Men use homemade instruments to entertain and educate listeners. SEE PAGE 1B

Ian Swaby

Jack Berry, founder of The Garbage-Men band, plays guitar at The Bay Park in December 2023.

James Peter

Atakan Atabas

Time sift

The name of one of the most important archeological sites in the world translates from Turkish to English as “Potbelly Hill.”

That was just one tidbit that researcher Atakan Atabas shared about Göbekli Tepe with dozens of members of the Time Sifters Archeological Society on Feb. 21 at the Selby Library.

Göbekli Tepe has been called the world’s first temple. Located in southeastern Turkey, the site is known for its massive stone pillars. Its construction dates to 9800 B.C., said Atabas.

Atabas is pursuing a doctorate in anthropology at the University of Central Florida.

Time Sifters is a nonprofit association of professional and amateur archaeologists that meets each month at the library for a free history program. For a schedule of events, visit TimeSifters.org.

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A killer musical.

INSIDE

Welcome to date night city

File image

The towers of downtown Sarasota, viewed from the Ringling Bridge, provide a backdrop for a variety of date night options, according to a study that ranks Sarasota as the top date night destination in the U.S.

Data dives in to what makes Sarasota so great for a night out.

SEE PAGE 3A

2A

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W HAT ’S HAPPENING

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

WEEK OF FEB. 29, 2024

Beach University returns in March

“People know that they cannot come to Sarasota and commit a crime without being caught.”

Beach University, an education program of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, returns for its 17th year to Siesta Beach in March. Beach University is held at the main pavilion at 948 Beach Road on Siesta Key beginning at 9:30 a.m. each Thursday of the month.

In partnership with the Siesta Beach Ambassador volunteer program, the free series offers information about coastal environments in one-hour sessions.

The schedule is: ■ March 7: Human and Wildlife Conflict.

■ March 14: Reef Ball and its Contribution to the Marine Environment.

■ March 21: Manatee Rehabilitation at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

■ March 28: The Trickle-Down Effect: Stormwater to Bay Life.

Because seating is limited, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs. No registration is required.

For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 311 or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.

Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. Read more on Page 7A

BY THE NUMBERS 371

Potential affordable housing units planned for a county site at MLK Jr. Way and Tuttle Avenue.

PAGE 4A

0

Murders committed in the city of Sarasota in 2023.

PAGE 7A

1

Number of strings found on the homemade guitars of The Garbage-Men, a local band with a distinct sound.

PAGE 1B

CALENDAR

SCFD offers free child car seat inspections

n Sarasota City

Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m., Monday, March 4, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

Courtesy image

Sarasota County Fire Department will offer car seat safety inspections beginning in March, rotating each month to different SCFD stations to provide service to all portions of the county.

During the monthly inspections, SCFD Child Passenger Safety Technician-qualified personnel will offer instruction on how to use and install a car seat and check to make sure seats are installed correctly.

Inspections are free and by appointment only. Appointments will last approximately 30 minutes.

Drivers must bring the car seat with them. It is not required that the child be in attendance for the inspection.

To learn more about how to schedule a car seat safety inspection, dial 311. More information on Sarasota County Fire Department programs is available at SCGov.net/ Fire.

Read Learn Dream Co-chair Patty Casey reading to A New Beginnings’ pre-kindergarten class.

Literacy effort gives books to preschoolers F

n Public Art Committee special meeting — 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St.

ounded in 2021 amid the pandemic, Read Learn Dream, an early literacy program designed to build home libraries for preschoolers and boost parental engagement with their children, has distributed 3,800 books.

Created and funded by Siesta Key Kiwanis Club in collaboration with the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, RLD distributes one book per month throughout the school year to more than 180 4-year-olds attending select Sarasota city

n Sarasota County School Board regular meeting — 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, Board Chambers, Landings Administration Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd. (black awning entrance).

preschools.

Read Learn Dream, which serves small private preschools and preschool classrooms at Sarasota County Schools, offers a holistic approach to nurturing literacy skills.

Book selection is a joint effort between Siesta Key Kiwanis Club and participating preschool teachers. Each book is accompanied by a bilingual list of home activities relating to the book theme that any family can do together.

At the start of every school

year, participating students receive a custom Read Learn Dream tote bag filled with alphabet magnets, a dry erase board, colored pencils, sketchbooks and more.

The Siesta Key Kiwanis Club Foundation is currently the principal supporter of Read Learn Dream Sarasota. Other funding sources include the Sarasota County Community Foundation’s Giving Challenge, grants from the Florida Kiwanis Foundation, the Wil and Rachel Blechman Foundation.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Date night city When it comes to a night on the town, Sarasota tops 160 cities A Sarasota date night may include a visit to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. across the country.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

I

t’s no secret that in recent years, Sarasota has ranked at or

THE TOP 10 The best date night cities in the U.S. according to BonusFinder. com.

1. SARASOTA: 87.7

near the top of many “best cit-

2. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY: 79.5

ies” lists — best beaches, best

3. SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: 76.1

places to retire, etc. — but perhaps the most surprising is a new ranking that declares it the best date night city in the country.

Among 160 cities studied.

And it isn’t even close.

Sarasota is far and away the nation’s best date night city, scoring a total of 87.7 on a scale of 100 over 10 categories, far outpacing No. 2 Atlantic City, New Jersey, at 79.5, according to BonusFinder.com, a performance marketing business focused on the online gambling industry in North America.

Sarasota came out on top of date night hotspots such as fellow top 10 cities Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando and ... Burlington, Vermont.

“Living downtown, you can make any night an unexpected fun date night,” said Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President Heather Kasten of the ranking. “Just strolling down the streets of downtown Sarasota with our twinkly lights, warm evenings, passing by fountains that are glowing and hearing every kind of music genre to the quaint sidewalk tables, there is something so remarkably charming about our storybook downtown.

“Throw in all of the options to see a movie, an opera, a comedy show, a play or so many forms of music and you could go a month with a different date night each time.”

The rankings were largely based on the number of date-friendly amenities in each city per 10,000 people, as well as the value of date night activities with categories ranging from average meal price for two to the number of romantic hotels per 10,000 people.

Reports BonusFinder: “Nestled along the picturesque Gulf Coast, Sarasota sets the stage for a captivating romantic retreat with its coastal beauty and charming cul-

File images

4. CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: 75.0 5. PORTLAND, MAINE: 74.7 6. ORLANDO: 71.7 7. BURLINGTON, VERMONT: 71.6 8. FORT LAUDERDALE: 70.3 9. WILMINGTON, DELAWARE: 71.2 10. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: 70.5

tural attractions. Whether strolling through the magical Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, embarking on a scenic cruise along Sarasota Bay to admire marine life or simply enjoying the beautiful sunsets, Sarasota offers couples a blend of outdoor adventures and cultural indulgences, making it a delightful destination for a sun-soaked, romantic getaway.”

Sarasota was the only city in the top 10 to have a perfect score in four of the categories with perfect 10s in: number of romantic restaurants; number of cafes, bakeries and dessert shops; number of couplesfriendly attractions; and number of spas — all per 10,000 people. The city also ranked in the top 10 in seven categories.

With a year-round population of nearly 60,000, the city certainly benefits from the tens of thousands of seasonal residents who bring significant retirement spending here, providing a vast array of upscale dining and entertainment options not typically afforded of cities the size of Sarasota.

“For a city of our size, we have an amazing number of great restaurants that provide the perfect romantic atmosphere for date night,” said Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert. “Couples can choose from a variety of cuisines, including vegan. Then after, there

Andrew Warfield

Sarasota offers couples the chance to begin, or end, a romantic date night by watching the sunset at Lido Beach or Siesta Key Beach.

are many choices for dancing, theater, opera or just strolling through our downtown or St. Armands.”

More than a retirement destination now, the greater Sarasota area now attracts young professionals and families, and the variety of date night options is expanding with the demographic shift.

Shana Tibi, a concierge matchmaker and owner of Curated Connections, is at ground zero of the Sarasota dating environment. With a clientele ranging in age from 30s to 70s, she said the city offers something for all demographics.

“Sarasota is particularly good for the 55-and-up crowd because it’s a snowbird destination and there are plenty of newcomers,” Tibi said.

“Sarasota, due to the nice weather, has plenty of casual and upscale date options. Couples can grab a bite or a drink and then walk around St. Armands or Siesta Village. It’s always fun to go downtown and grab a table for two outside as you dine and get to know each other, and by the second or third date you can up the activity level to comedy clubs, live music shows, water sports, circus attractions, installations at Selby Gardens and more.”

BY THE NUMBERS

On a scale of 1-10, Sarasota had perfect scores in four of 10 categories according to the data.

8.4 7.8 8.2 10.0 10.0 8.3 7.6 10.0 7.4 10.0

Meal price for two people

Average price of a bottle of wine Movie ticket price Romantic restaurants per 10,000 people Cafes, bakeries and dessert shops per 10,000 people

Bars and pubs per 10,000 people

Fun date night activities per 10,000 people Couple-friendly attractions per 10,000 people

Romantic hotels per 10,000 people Spas per 10,000 people

TOTAL: 87.7

HOW THE RANKINGS WERE SOURCED Population figures for cities were sourced from U.S. Census Bureau.

The average prices of a meal for two, for a bottle of wine and two movie tickets were sourced from Numbeo, crowd-sourced online database of perceived consumer prices.

The numbers of romantic restaurants; cafes, bakeries and dessert shops; bars and pubs; fun date night activities; couple-friendly attractions; romantic hotels; and spas were sourced from Tripadvisor.

Downtown Sarasota has a wide variety of romantic dining options, including al fresco along Main Street.

A Sarasota date night could also include a free concert at The Bay.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

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The county-owned site off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way was used for recycling vegetative debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

New homes for Newtown area County approvals allow developer to build nearly 1,500 multifamily homes, with 25% priced affordable.

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arasota County commissioners have unanimously approved the groundwork for a mixeduse development on 113.8 acres of county property near the Sarasota city limit, a partially affordable housing project by the same developer building a nearly adjacent upscale neighborhood in the county’s jurisdiction.

At their Feb. 21 meeting, commissioners adopted a three-part application by its hand-picked developer, Midtown SRQ (formerly known as Gracewater Midtown), for land use changes that would allow it to build as many as 1,479 residential units

and up to 20,000 square feet of commercial space on land located at 2501 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, under the condition that at least 25% of the residences must be priced as affordable housing.

If fully built out, that comes to 371 units, half of them priced at 60% or below and half at 80% or below average median income. Affordability is generally defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of household income, including utilities.

The site is bounded on three sides

by MLK Jr. Way, Tuttle Avenue and Myrtle Street.

Gracewater SRQ is also the developer of the Gracewater community just north of the site on Tuttle Avenue, where nearly 500 single-family and twin villa homes are planned on the former Rolling Green Golf Club.

Prices for those start at $500,000.

The contract between the county and Midtown SRQ also requires that the commercial component include at least a pharmacy and grocery store, which attorney Bill Merrill,

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

The need for affordable housing

Proposed main access

MYRTLE ST.

Multifamily residential

Multifamily residential

Multifamily residential

Multifamily residential

ma in

ac ces s

Proposed main access

Open space

Open space

Pro pos ed

notwithstanding, Commissioner Mark Smith’s primary concern was the traffic that nearly 1,500 more housing units would add to the overburdened local road network.

The three access points into the development are at MLK Jr. Way, Myrtle Street and Tuttle Avenue.

City questioned staff on whether the county can expedite improvements to the streets, given the extra burden anticipated.

“Myrtle Street, Tuttle Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Way right now are at a level of service at D,” Smith said. “By 2028, Myrtle will stay at D but Tuttle and Martin Luther King are going to (service level F). Then in the long-range 2045 plan, they basically stay the same.”

The Highway Capacity Manual of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the U.S. defines service level D as “Steady Traffic at High Density,” which creates a “low level of comfort for drivers, as collisions with other vehicles must constantly be avoided.”

The HCM defines service level F as “Congestion,” leading to “unstable speed with the formation of waiting lines at several points.”

Commissioner Joe Neunder mentioned the county’s transportation master plan and asked when improvements on those roads might occur.

“We have a list of projects that, if money was not an obstacle, could be done on our transportation network,” said County Administrator Jonathan Lewis. “You have heard our Public Works Director and County Engineer Spencer Anderson say multiple times how much infrastructure there is beyond that.

Even with the money that the voters dedicated to transportation coming out of surtax, there are many roads that need infrastructure improvement that are not currently funded.”

That could change in May should commissioners provide direction to prioritize the roads around the proposed development as the budget cycle heats up and the county’s capital improvement plan is discussed.

Midtown SRQ cannot be required to improve the existing deficiencies on those streets. That responsibility falls on the governing jurisdiction

N. TUTTLE AVE.

who represented the developer in the public hearing, said addresses a critical need in the area.

“I heard this from Jon Thaxton of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation that this is one of the two primary food deserts in the county,” Merrill said of the location just north and east of the Newtown community. “By bringing a grocery store and a pharmacy to the area, that should resolve that issue.”

After putting the vacant property up for bid, the county reached an agreement with Midtown SRQ on March 29, 2022. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the land was used as a staging area and recycling site for vegetative debris.

Nearby residents who addressed commissioners during the public hearing cited concerns about more traffic on underperforming roads as well as displacement and gentrification.

“This property is currently vacant.

It’s not a recreation area. It’s fenced off, so no one can access it. It’s not a park,” Merrill said. “It’s not proposed to be displacing anyone. We don’t see this as being a displacement situation or gentrification, but instead it is a very ideally situated property near schools so kids can walk rather than have to have their parents drive them to school.”

To allow for planning on the development to take the next step, the County Commission approved: n A comprehensive plan amendment to change the Future Land Use of the property from Moderate Density Residential to High Density Residential. n Defining the project as a Development of Critical Concern. n Rezoning the site from two Residential Single-Family districts to Residential Multi-Family Planned Unit Development.

Staff recommended approval of the comprehensive plan amendment because the site is surrounded by existing residential land uses with similar Future Land Use designations, and that it offers the highest and best use of land for its location. It also lies within an urban area of the county where the demand for affordable housing is acute.

5A

Multifamily residential

DR. MLK WAY Courtesy image

rather than the developer, in accordance with the state’s 2011 Community Planning Act. The developer, though, is required to add sidewalk around the site and has agreed to complete an off-site missing section of sidewalk between the site and the adjacent Newtown Estates Park, which Merrill said will provide safer pedestrian access to Booker Elementary School across MLK Jr. Way and the nearby Booker Middle School.

NEIGHBORHOOD CREATION

The nearly 114 acres won’t be completely developed. The site map shows two wetlands and two large ponds among five phases of multifamily structures. The commercial component will be at the corner of Tuttle Avenue and Myrtle Street.

Kelly Klepper of land planner Kimley-Horn said the development will far exceed county buffer requirements.

“Especially along the western boundary, we’ve actually increased the buffer to not only retain the existing vegetation, but also augment that by about three to four times the minimum width as is required by the county code,” Klepper said.

The unit mix within the project

will draw a variety of residents there, according to Merrill. Throughout the development will be apartment buildings, villas and townhomes, with a range of economic diversity from market rate to affordability for the lower end of the income spectrum.

Commissioner Ron Cutsinger specified the affordability aspect in his motion to approve the comprehensive plan amendment and associated rezoning requests.

“It’s not lost on me that 371 of these units will be affordable, and at the lower levels,” he said. “It could be at 100% or 120% of AMI, and these are 80% and 60%, which is hard to get to that level right now with the cost of construction. I like the fact that the kids are going be able to walk to school, to the library and to the amenities there. I think that creates that internal capture and a sense of community.”

The commission’s actions did not include any site or building plans, which must come before staff and the commission before any construction can begin. No time frame was suggested for those submissions.

The master development plan for 2501 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 Duette® Honeycomb Shades Operating System PowerView® Automation

Bank robbery suspect shot, killed Officers had attempted to stop William Michael Pickett on a county warrant for bank robbery.

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A

man shot and killed in his car

by Sarasota Police on Monday morning has been identified as the suspect of a robbery on Saturday of a Fifth Third Bank branch at 6265 Tuttle Ave. near University Parkway in Sarasota County.

The incident occurred at around 7:50 a.m. on University Parkway just east of the intersection of U.S. 41 as SPD officers attempted to arrest 54-year-old William Michael Pickett, having identified the suspect’s vehicle as involved in the robbery.

Details about why the officers shot or how the tan Cadillac ended up in a pond next to University Parkway have not been released.

When the submerged car was pulled from the pond, multiple bullet holes through the windshield were observed.

“One of our officers initiated a traffic stop on a subject’s vehicle with a Sarasota County warrant, and in the process of trying to get that subject into custody, an officerinvolved shooting occurred,” said SPD Public Information Officer Cynthia McLaughlin.

Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is department policy, and the case is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Pickett was wanted on charges of robbery with a firearm and grand theft of more than $10,000 and less than $20,000.

After the shooting, University Parkway was closed between Bradenton Road and U.S. 41 in

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Law enforcement officers investigate a shooting that took place Monday morning near the intersection of U.S. 41 and University Parkway.

both directions for several hours as multiple law enforcement agencies took part in securing the scene.

Some frustrated motorists trying to find their way to SarasotaBradenton International Airport asked media members, gathered in the Ringling Museum lawn across University Parkway from the scene, for directions to the terminal.

Agencies that assisted the SPD in securing the scene and initiating the investigation included the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota County Fire and Rescue, New College Campus Police Department, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Police Department and the FDLE. As the investigating agency, any additional details regarding the incident will be released only by the FDLE. “We’ve got a lot of agencies working together,” McLaughlin said. “We want this investigation to be done right and quickly, so there are a lot of channels that have to be approved as far as disseminating information.”

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is J. Budny, Director of Membership | dbudny@sarabaycc.org

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

7A

Zero murders in Sarasota last year SPD reports an overall decline in serious crimes last year and no homicides in the city for first time in 56 years.

STAFF WRITER

T

he last time Sarasota went a calendar year without a homicide, most city commissioners and staff present at the Feb. 19 meeting had not yet been born.

That was in 1967.

Fifty-six years later, Sarasota went all of 2023 without a homicide, according to a report presented to the City Commission by Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche and members of the SPD command staff.

Arrests were up and serious crime was down in Sarasota in 2023, all of which sends notice to city residents and outsiders alike that committing crimes here will meet a robust law enforcement response.

That was the message delivered

by Troche and company as they presented the results of last year’s law enforcement efforts. Successful crime-reducing operations, high visibility and building community relations were some of the reasons for the decline in serious crime, they told commissioners.

“I would say the operations that we started doing, using the data and focusing on those hotspots, people know that they cannot come to Sarasota and commit a crime without being caught,” Troche said.

One example is Operation Armistice, which SPD conducted from April through August of last year.

That effort resulted in 99 arrests, 193 felony charges, 46 misdemeanor charges, 20 firearms seized, 5.63 pounds of narcotics seized and 61 traffic citations.

The entire operation was conducted with one sergeant and five officers. Among the narcotics seized, according to Capt. John Todd of the Criminal Investigations Unit, were cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana.

“It was a data-driven and intelligence-led, proactive enforcement operation that was conducted by members of our Community Action team,” said Todd of Operation Armistice. “Before they even started the operation, they got with our crime analysts to find out the who, what, when, where and why these crimes were occurring; where these crimes were occurring; the days of the week

Courtesy image

Police Chief Rex Troche and members of the SPD command staff present crime data to the Sarasota City Commission.

and times and locations; and potential suspects that we need to keep an eye on.

“It was just a fantastic job by them and it certainly curtailed the crime levels that we were seeing.”

Headlining SPD’s presentation, though, was a significant drop in Part 1 crimes — homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny

SARASOTA CRIMES 2022-2023 2022 7 25 75 257 231 1,327 183 2,105

Murder Rape/Forcible Sex Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary Larceny Motor Vehicle Theft Total Index Offenses

2023 0 28 74 243 146 1,129 144 1,765

% Change -100% 12.0% 0% -5.4% -36.8% -14.9% -21.3% -16.2%

ARRESTS COMPARISON 2022-2023 Physical Arrests Total Charges Summons Felony Arrest Charges Drug Charges Firearms Seized Warrant Arrest Charges

2022 2,383 3,437 530 1,145 449 268 975

2023 2,733 3,957 816 1,406 1,048 310 1,097

% Change 14.7% 15.1% 53.9% 22.8% 133.4% 15.6% 12.5%

and vehicle theft — and that, for the first time since 1967, there were no homicides in the city. By contrast there were seven homicides reported In 2022.

“We had to go far so far back that we’re looking at three-by-five cards,” Troche said of the records search.

Overall, Part 1 crimes were down 16.2% with the only category increase a 12% rise in forcible sex crime. The reduction in Part I crimes from 2022 to 2023 is the largest in the city since 1999, according to SPD. Essentially, the things that need to go up went up (arrests), and the things that need to go down went down significantly,” Troche said.

“We did this without alienating ourselves from the community. I think it’s really important to understand that because I’ve seen agencies come up with numbers like this and they essentially become the enemy of the community. “We haven’t done that.

In fact, we’ve done quite the opposite. We have built relationships within the community.”

In addition to data-driven police work, command staff cited SPD’s esprit de corps and its ability to recruit experienced officers to the department.

“We’re thankful to our recruiters hiring law enforcement officers

THE TRUSTED CHOICE //

We know that choosing where to receive care after

with prior experience,” said Capt.

Robert Armstrong of the Patrol Division. “They come with a whole set of tools and they’re ready to go. They’re easier to train and they can be fasttracked. We have very motivated sergeants out there training the officers every day. Right now we’re really feeling the culture and the morale is up. There’s a feeling of family.”

Commissioner Erik Arroyo asked Troche which strategies he felt were most effective in achieving the 2023 numbers.

“I think the most important thing is our use of technology that we have in the city,” Troche said. “No. 2, building the relationships with the community, I think is huge. It’s something that’s not quantitative.

It’s qualitative, and we can see the difference in the partnerships that we have.”

Visibility, Armstrong said during the presentation, is another factor.

The patrol division employs multiple details such as homeless outreach and downtown traffic, and at shift change all those Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles suggest an imposing presence of law enforcement personnel.

“The police Tahoes are big; they’re bright; they have high visibility,” Armstrong said. “It just shows high visibility when there are a lot of Tahoes on the road.”

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ANDREW WARFIELD

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

OPINION / OUR VIEW

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

Start spreading the news Out with the old, in the with the new. The Observer may be the only newspaper company in the country installing new news racks.

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / James Peter, JPeter@YourObserver.com Sports Editor / Ryan Kohn, RKohn@YourObserver.com Staff Writers / Ian Swaby, ISwaby@ YourObserver.com; Andrew Warfield, AWarfield@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / Luke Reasoner, LReasoner@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com

EMILY WALSH

A

fter reaching an agreement with the city of Sarasota, our company, the Observer Media Group, is taking responsibility for replacing and updating all the rundown newspaper stands in downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle.

In many big cities, empty, often blighted newspaper stands dot the streets, reflecting the changed newspaper industry. In downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle, newspaper stands may not be empty, but you’ve seen them — rusted, often marked with graffiti and often filled with trash.

We’re changing that.

Starting next week, new modular news racks will start appearing on the east end of Main Street and work their way west to the bayfront and out to St. Armands Circle.

In March 2020, downtown merchants brought vandalized newspaper stands to the City Commission’s attention in an effort to have the modular news rack at the intersection of Main Street and Lemon Avenue taken out because they believed the racks contributed to issues associated with criminal behavior.

Ultimately, that news rack was removed, resulting in the start of discussions between the Observer and city of Sarasota.

AESTHETICS FIRST

In the early 1990s, when the newspaper industry was booming, news racks were first brought to the city’s attention because a proliferation of singular news racks installed downtown caused concern that the racks would damage the city’s aesthetics.

Thus, the city adopted Ordinance 98-4089 that designated St. Armands Key, Bird Key and Lido Key as a “News rack Improvement District” that required publications to be distributed in “news information centers (aka modular news racks).” This continued as a pilot program through 1998 when the City Commission held a workshop to discuss using a third-party vendor, City Solutions Inc., to administer the modular news racks.

This proposal sparked outrage from area publishers, including the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) claiming First Amendment rights violations.

After working with newspaper publishers for two years, the city further expanded the code with Ordinance 99-4152, which tapped the Sarasota Herald-Tribune as the leader of a voluntary program.

“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.”

Calab Stanton

PARTICIPATING PUBLICATIONS ■ Coastal Angler ■ DSA Downtown City Guide ■ Florida Mariner ■ The Happy Thrifter ■ Jewish News ■ MustDo ■ Taste ■ Ticket ■ West Coast Woman RACK LOCATIONS ■ 1970 Main St. ■ 1991 Main St. ■ 1777 Main St. ■ 1605 Main St. ■ 1661 Ringling Blvd.

■ 5 Bayfront Drive ■ 500 John Ringling Blvd.

■ 410 St. Armands Circle

The Herald-Tribune installed and maintained the modular news racks on behalf of participating publications, which included the Observer Media Group’s publication the Longboat Observer, within city limits. This ordinance included a provision that prohibited the placement, installation or maintenance of any singular news rack within 250 feet of a modular news rack.

Because the program worked so well, the city adopted another ordinance, 04-4551, in 2004 that increased that minimum required distance to 500 feet.

Over the years, similar situations have occurred on Siesta Key and Bradenton Beach, with the Sarasota County Commission and city of Bradenton Beach following and modifying Sarasota’s codes.

NEW(S) RACKS

After nearly 20 years of distributing area publications through the modular news racks, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s parent company, GateHouse Media (now Gannett), pulled out of operating and maintaining the news racks. To no surprise, that led to the current state of disrepair.

But after a 2020 City Commission meeting, the Observer Media Group partnered with the Downtown Sarasota Alliance in a test case

to clean up the modular news rack at Bayfront Park by repainting the racks red. While the fresh coat of paint did make the rack more visually appealing, everyone involved agreed: Brand new racks would be the best course of action.

It took more than two years, but in April 2023, our company and the city entered an agreement allowing the Observer to perform the lead role to install, own, repair, operate, maintain and remove modular news racks in the city in accordance with the city code.

The Observer Media Group and nine other publications (see box) made a $24,000 investment in the new racks, with the Observer covering 65% of the cost.

Finding a rack maker was no simple task. As we all have seen the decline of daily newspapers, there aren’t many companies still making or distributing modular news racks.

We found one in Yoakum, Texas — Mechanism Exchange & Repair Inc. But because our order was so large, its spokesman told us the company did not have any of the parts in stock, and the racks needed to be fabricated from scratch.

He said it would take about four months.

Finally, the new modular news racks are here. We will begin removal of the old racks and installation of the new racks with the unit at 1970 Main St. We’re estimating it will take six to eight weeks to complete the entire project.

Investing in modular news racks is not only important to us and our media colleagues, but these racks are important to the businesses that advertise in our publications.

Our mission at the Observer is to inspire our audiences with extraordinary local content and to help our partners prosper. And to ensure we are fulfilling our mission, we need to get our news and information to you, our readers, everywhere you are in a safe, clean and easy way.

After a meeting with the city to map out our installation plan, the Observer’s circulation manager exclaimed, “I think we’re the only newspaper in the country putting in new racks!”

He might be right, and we’re proud of it.

A rendering of the new modular news rack located at 1970 Main St.

Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Regional Sales Director / Penny Nowicki, PNowicki@YourObserver.com Regional Digital Director / Kathleen O’Hara, KOHara@YourObserver.com Senior Advertising Executive / Laura Ritter, LRitter@YourObserver.com Advertising Executives / Richeal McGuinness, RMcGuinness@ YourObserver.com; Lexi Huelsman, Lexi@ YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@ YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver.com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver.com; Brenda White, BWhite@YourObserver.com Classified Advertising Sales Executive / Anna Reich, AReich@YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator / Account Manager Lori Downey, LDowney@YourObserver.com Advertising/Marketing Coordinator / Caitlin Ellis, CEllis@YourObserver.com Digital Fulfillment Specialist / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com Director of Marketing / Robin Lankton, RLankton@YourObserver.com Marketing Specialist / Melanie Melone, MMelone@YourObserver.com Director of Creative Services / Caleb Stanton, CStanton@YourObserver.com Creative Services Administrator / Marjorie Holloway, MHolloway@ YourObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon @YourObserver.com

Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned.

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

CEO / Matt Walsh MWalsh@YourObserver.com President / Emily Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles Vice President / Lisa Walsh (1995-2023) 1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

YourObserver.com © 2020 The Observer Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

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New College approves airport land purchase With regulatory hurdles remaining, closing the deal on the 31 acres New College rents from SRQ airport remains months away.

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UN IVE RS IT YP

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A conceptual rendering by Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors of Sarasota shows a reimagined New College East Campus on land the college plans to acquire from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

“As an attorney for New College, I love the fact that we’re getting a well-negotiated deal, so that doesn’t bother me,” said General Counsel Bill Galvano. “But to your point, independent agencies — federal and state — are reviewing this agreement.”

Schussler has insisted that any land transfer to New College would not be in the best interest of the airport, and that someday it will need the property as the airport continues to grow. In response, Piccolo last year told the Observer that the airport has plenty of room to grow both its terminal and passenger service areas and has no need for the New College site.

Still, Galvano said that until the FAA signs off, any celebration would be premature.

“I suspect the FAA’s interest is in flight patterns and safety around the airport, but do they have the ability to approve the sale price of land that’s owned by a special taxing district in Florida?” asked Board of Trustees Vice Chair Ron Christaldi.

“I’ve not looked at their complete jurisdiction but I would assume, as the federal regulatory body of airports, that they are going to look at all aspects of it before the airport director can go to his board and say this agreement should be approved,” Galvano replied.

In November 2023, Piccolo said the airport and FAA officials had laid some groundwork for a possible sale via previous discussions, and that the agency’s primary interest is whether the site would be needed for aero-

nautical purposes. The SRQ 2040 master plan, he told the Observer in December, shows that none of the New College land is needed.

“In my short time here what has been done at the airport in the leadership has been nothing shy of fantastic, and conversations have taken place with the FAA and other people for years and years,” said Corcoran.

“Before we even got close, there were loose discussions about what pieces could be acquired, and those conversations are ongoing on the airport’s part, just like our own conversations are ongoing with the legislative component.”

Corcoran referred to the lone political hurdle: The Legislature has to approve the purchase, and allocate the funds, too.

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lthough a number of regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles remain to be cleared, New College of Florida took a significant step toward the purchase of 31 acres of land it has leased for 67 years from the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority.

During its Feb. 22 meeting, the New College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a sales contract with the SMAA in the amount of $11.5 million for land located between Airport Circle and U.S. 41, commonly referred to as the East Campus. The trustees in December approved a purchase agreement with the airport.

Although discussions between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo and New College President Richard Corcoran began last year, Piccolo had approached the school multiple times since 2016 regarding disposition of the land. The airport doesn’t need it, he told former New College presidents Donal O’Shea and Patricia Okker, but when the lease expires in 2056 the airport will be required by the Federal Aviation Administration to charge fair market value going forward.

Instead, he proposed New College acquire the property now at current market value to ensure the school’s longevity. The airport, which receives no tax dollars, would use the proceeds to help fund future expansion projects such as new concourses and permanent parking.

In 1957, the college and the airport entered into a 50-year lease on the land, at the time for a shopping area to be built, at $1,300 per month.

Terms included no increase in rent

with a 50-year option to extend.

In 1966, the lease was amended to allow, among other things, the I.M. Pei college housing to be built on the site. That amendment stipulated a base rent of $13,500 per year with a consumer price index adjustment every five years. Given that the base rent was $13,500, the rental increases now bring it to $92,000 per year after a nearly 60-year period.

Piccolo estimates that could jump to as much as $20 million per year when the lease expires in 2056. Or, New College could buy it then … for perhaps as much as $200 million.

Either way, Piccolo warned, New College will not be able to afford whatever amount the airport would be required to charge.

“The airport is pleased that New College Board of Trustees approved the proposed agreement, and this is the first step in the joint effort to ensure that the New College and the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport can coexist for many more decades, just as we have for over 60 years already,” Piccolo said. “Our joint efforts have been done with great transparency and with diligent attention to all required federal and state requirements.”

The agreement stipulates that the airport will retain ownership of a 3.9-acre parcel north of General Spaatz Boulevard, which was not developed by New College.

Trustee Amy Reid referenced a news report regarding a “whistleblower” from within the airport suggesting the $11.5 million price of the land was too generous to New College, and as a result the FAA may reject the deal. That source is John Schussler, who retired as the airport’s properties director in 2018.

“Is that a possibility here?” she asked during the meeting.

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STAFF WRITER

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ANDREW WARFIELD

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7345 PINE NEEDLE RD | $2.75M

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ND IN G

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

The expansion of One Stop Housing’s Oakridge Apartments on North Tamiami Trail would bring 36 new affordable housing apartments.

The latest version of One Park is planned for Block 1 of The Quay.

Redesign, reconsidered A new plan for One Park, the 18-story building on Block 1 in The Quay, includes 86 luxury condos.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

One Park is back, and this time it’s only on one block in The Quay.

The revamped project had its first appearance Feb. 21 before the city’s Development Review Committee, and the path to administrative approval of the 18-story, 86-unit luxury condominium tower appears to be smoother than the first iteration of the project.

Miami-based developer Property

Markets Group had initially proposed to build One Park on both blocks 1 and 9, crossing over Quay Commons with a 20-plus-foot high activated breezeway.

That met fierce opposition from residents of the Ritz-Carlton Residences — otherwise known as Block 6 in The Quay — and others, and the protracted legal battle that followed ended with a judgement that PMG could not acquire the air rights over the street as the project design proposed.

Observer when the new application was submitted to the city in January.

“The building itself, because it’s not on Block 9, will have phenomenal views. It will be a smaller building than the original, but it will be the same quality. It will be at the same height, and so it will have the same views.”

A resubmittal will be required to address the comments of some DRC members. The committee comprises representatives of all developmentrelated city departments. Projects within The Quay require only administrative approval.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS PROGRESSING

Also during the meeting, partial sign-off was extended to two affordable housing projects planned for north Sarasota on the other end of the housing spectrum.

At 4900 N. Tamiami Trail, One Stop Housing is planning to expand its Oakridge Apartments with a three-story, 36-unit, all-affordable apartment building on 4.91 acres. The new building will be located behind the existing Oakridge structure along the roadway.

Also, at 2012 N. Orange Ave. near 21st Street, the Sarasota Housing Authority is planning Amaryllis Park Place III with 144 residential units over four, three-story buildings.

That project requires demolishing 64 existing units for the third phase of the development, resulting in a net gain of 80 public housing residences.

419064-1

Courtesy images

One Park 2.0 will occupy only Block 1. Representatives of the developer told the DRC that a submission for a separate tower on Block 9 will follow shortly.

“OK, well this is our first submission … so to speak,” said development consultant Joel Freedman in introducing the project.

Many of the architectural elements of the new One Park are similar to the original design.

“This is the first of probably the last two blocks to be developed with The Quay,” said George Scarfe of Hoyt Architects. “Blocks seven and eight were approved recently, and so this is Block One on the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and Tamiami Trail. There are numerous things that are very similar to the prior one that was submitted.”

Dissimilar is more than 5,000 square feet of commercial space and four townhouse-style units along Boulevard of the Arts. A single curb cut will route vehicles onto an entry ramp leading to parking beneath the building. Among the handful of remaining sticking points — the design and material of the screening along the sidewalk adjacent to Tamiami Trail.

Other details pertain to identifying elevators for function, labeling sidewalk widths, providing a detailed floor plan for a typical unit and enhancements to the pedestrian experience along abutting streets.

“It’s going to have a very similar setting to what the otherwise larger project would have had,” PMG Managing Partner Dan Kaplan told the

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

11A

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Our answer to cancer is the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, and we’re saying it louder every day.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

SELLING LUXURY WATERFRONT PRO

1325 Westway Drive LIDO SHORES Deep-water boating and bach club access Lido Shores!

Step into this tropical escape through the hidden courtyard that connects the 3BR main home to the private 2BR guest house, as the perfect introduction to a contemporary masterpiece built by Voight Brothers Construction. Boasting all the amenities required for modern living, the inspired architecture highlights spectacular water views from every room of this home’s 6,500+SF interior.

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97 South Washington Drive ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE

601 Lotus Lane WATERSIDE WOOD - SIESTA BAYSIDE

Discover this captivating bayfront estate, just a stroll from the vibrant heart of St. Armands Circle. Nestled across two sprawling corner lots, encompassing over 1/2 an acre, this 5BR home rests on one of the largest parcels in the neighborhood. Offered turnkey furnished, this exquisite residence spans nearly 8,000 SF, with bay and city views from nearly every room. Transition seamlessly to the outdoor living spaces through vast glass pocketing sliders on both floors, where you’ll find the ultimate in outdoor entertainment and relaxation.

Escape to paradise on Siesta Key with this exceptional custom-built waterfront home, where island living meets coastal elegance. Crafted by NC Ferguson with meticulous attention to detail and completed in 2017, this 3BR + office residence exudes quality and style, boasting recent hurricane specifications for peace of mind. Step inside the nearly 2,600 SF interior to discover a sprawling great room layout, seamlessly blending gourmet kitchen, open dining, and living areas, all adorned with Italian Argento travertine flooring that extends onto the outdoor terrace.

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YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

13A

PERTY FOR 39 YEARS

7652 Sanderling Road SANDERLING CLUB Life at this gorgeously updated, Siesta Key beach home is a one-of-a-kind experience! Directly overlooking the coastal landscape of the Gulf of Mexico, this private estate rests on more than an acre of property, featuring 172’ of beach! Sanderling Club is the only guard gated, Gulf-front single-family neighborhood on Siesta Key. Originally designed by famed architect Robert Geddes to highlight breathtaking Gulf and striking sunset views from almost any room of this beachfront estate. www.7652Sanderling.com

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5610 Avenida del Mare SARASOTA BEACH - SIESTA KEY It’s all about LOCATION! Your Siesta Key dream starts here, with this completely updated compound or beach house rental opportunity, just a short sunny walk away from the infamous Siesta Key Beach. This unique property, comprising two oversized dwellings on two combined parcels, offers the chance to own a piece of paradise with numerous possibilities.

This prime location allows you to enjoy beachside living to the fullest. This compound includes two beautifully updated and meticulously maintained residences, offering incredible flexibility. www.5610AvenidadelMare.com

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6923 Westchester Circle LAKEWOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB The epitome of luxury living awaits at this custom 5BR Arthur Rutenberg home, a true gem situated on nearly half an acre within the prestigious Lakewood Ranch Country Club. This exquisite estate spans spans nearly 7,000 square feet inside, boasting five oversized bedroom suites, stateof-the-art gym, and climate-controlled wine room, offering a lifestyle of unparalleled luxury. From the wood flooring to the gourmet kitchen, custom finishes, 14-foot ceilings, and tropical oasis outdoor living space, every inch of this home exudes sophistication and attention to detail. www.6923Westchester.com

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Awareness, prevention, support Houses of worship raise awareness of sex trafficking.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

T

he six houses of worship on Longboat Key and St. Armands Key hosted a discussion to spread awareness on the reality of sex trafficking.

The discussion was held at 9 a.m. on Feb. 24 at Christ Church of Longboat Key. It was organized by the chairman of Christ Church’s missions committee, Jerry Fox. The houses of worship sponsoring the event included All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Israel, Christ Church, Longboat Island Chapel, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church and St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church. They partnered with the Sarasota Police Department and Selah Freedom.

Selah Freedom is an anti-human trafficking nonprofit organization that supports survivors of sex trafficking while raising awareness and advocating prevention.

About 150 people attended the program. The discussion started in prayer led by the Rev. Kenneth Blyth from St. Armands Key Lutheran Church.

First, the program addressed the problem of sex trafficking in the area. Fox shared that Florida is the third worst state for trafficking in the nation. He also said that the Tampa

Bay area down to Palmetto is tied with Miami as the area in the state with the most trafficking.

Sex trafficking survivor Kelly Bennett set the tone for the discussion with a poem she wrote about her trafficking experience when she was 18 years old. Bennett shared that writing poetry was her escape to express her feelings during that time.

Sgt. Robert Morrison, Community Action Team supervisor for the Sarasota Police Department, followed Bennett with his experience in helping trafficking victims and what the police are doing to address the problem.

“Our officers are highly trained in what to look for in human trafficking in their daily interactions,” said Morrison. “We know human trafficking is not a victimless crime. The victims are the ones who have been sold, so we want to target the buyers of the sex trafficking.

“We’re trying to set up operations in that regard. Also, we prioritize having strong partnerships with Selah so that we can have a good debrief with the victims, having those civilians being able to come in

“I have lived on the island for 10 years, and I didn’t know about the trafficking problem in the area until 2022.”

— Jerry Fox, Christ Church

Photos by Petra Rivera

The Rev. Julia Piermont, Jerry Fox, Stacey Efaw, Laurie Swink, Gabrielle Triplett, Kelly Bennett, Misty LaPerriere and SPD Sgt. Robert Morrison

The Rev. Kenneth Blyth of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church

The Rev. Brock Patterson of Longboat Island Chapel

and relate to them, getting them to open up a little bit more.”

Gabrielle Triplett shared her trafficking story and how Selah Freedom saved her and helped her change her life. She is the awareness advocate for the organization.

“I’m proud to say that I’m a survivor of sex trafficking and a graduate of Selah Freedom’s faith-based rehabilitative program,” said Triplett.

“Though I have escaped the world

of sex trafficking, I still face challenges. But every day I am growing and healing because I have let God and Selah into my life. By my life being changed, it has also changed the lives of my children going forward and protected them from what happened to me.”

The second part of the program discussed how Selah Freedom is responding and preventing the trafficking problem.

Executive Director Stacey Efaw and Co-founder and Director of Consulting Laurie Swink followed Triplett to cover Selah’s program for trafficking survivors. Selah’s five areas includes outreach for survivors on the streets and in jails, prevention by educating schools and community organizations, providing residential opportunities for survivors, awareness across the nation, and consulting for other organizations who want to start their own safe houses.

Law Enforcement Liaison and Trainer Misty LaPerriere finished the talk by going over how to identify signs of trafficking, and how guests of the discussion could take action themselves.

The Rev. Brock Patterson from Longboat Island Chapel closed the discussion in prayer.

“I have lived on the island for 10 years, and I didn’t know about the trafficking problem in the area until 2022,” said Fox. “It is important for our community to be aware and each do our little part to prevent this horrifying problem affecting our community.”

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Thoughts into (climate) action Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Director Dave Tomasko reflects on climate award and future challenges.

STAFF WRITER

D

ave Tomasko is a master of analogies.

It’s one of the characteristics that makes him a good science communicator.

Tomasko has been executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program since 2020 but has more than 30 years of experience in water quality science and science-based management. His experience and ability to be a voice for what needs to be done are part of the reason he was named a 2024 Southwest Florida Climate Champion by the Climate Adaptation Center.

On Feb. 15, the center held a recognition ceremony for the five Climate Champions, dubbed by the CAC website as “Southwest Florida’s most influential and accomplished contributors to the cause of protecting our environment and our Florida way of life.”

Along with Tomasko, the awards recognized Jessica Meszaros, WUSF Public Media; Marshall Gobuty, Pearl Homes; Steve Newborn, WUSF Public Media; and Jennifer O. ­Rominiecki, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

For Tomasko, it’s not about the recognition. He said he’s been delivering the messages about environmental issues the same way for decades and, while the awards are appreciated, the messages stay the same.

The Observer spoke with Tomasko for insight into his career thus far and what he sees for the future of the area’s environment.

What drove your initial pursuit of a career in this field?

Sitting on my grandparents’ carpet watching Jacques Cousteau specials. I come from a family background of coal miners and steel-

What do you feel has been the greatest success story you’ve been a part of?

Originally, it was the initial recovery of Sarasota Bay back in the early 1990s. Sarasota Bay in the early ’90s was better than it was in the ’70s and ’80s.

And it was really a nationally and internationally known success story. It was neat to be around here to see the bay’s recovery.

And then we lost it.

What I’m really, really proud of, is this community investing money to bring about the second recovery.

We know we can do this, but the response has to be commensurate with the magnitude of the problem.

What do you feel is the biggest environmental obstacle that needs to be tackled in the next decade?

I think in the next 10 years, the idea that we are in a changing climate is going to become clearer to more people.

Folks in Longboat Key Village said they have flooding twice a month … our water level has come up about six inches in the last 20 years. That (flooding) is going to happen more often.

And one of the biggest issues, frankly, is the scariness of hurricanes and tropical storms. What is very clear is that there is an increase in the frequency of powerful hurricanes. (Last summer), our water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico

Janet Combs

was higher than 90 degrees, and parts of our bay were higher than 95.

I think when people see the pictures of the almost 100 people that died when Hurricane Ian came ashore, that could easily happen to us. You’d have water completely over our barrier islands.

What’s something that gives you hope for future environmental progress?

When I talk to younger kids, they get it. They understand that they’re being handed a world that’s different than what their parents inherited.

I think the first step is awareness. If we don’t admit we have a problem, we’re never going to fix it, and I think that younger people are more aware of it.

We need people to realize that you can turn things around, but you have to identify the problems, you have to identify the solutions, and you have to devote enough money.

What would be your big piece of advice for that next generation?

You don’t convince people by yell-

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What is something you are looking forward to seeing happen this year?

We’re trying to get the conditions right to map our seagrasses. We know our water quality is recovering, we know our seagrasses are coming back … we know we’re going to have a big seagrass increase, I just don’t know what the number is.

That number will come out next year. The mapping takes a lot to turn out. And when that happens, then I’m going to be able to say, “see, we knew we could do it.”

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ing at them. I think we need to find the reason why people are skeptical about climate change.

Don’t exaggerate. We’re not talking about six feet of sea level rise, we’re talking about nine inches in the next three years. We think it’s better to understate than to overexaggerate.

But also, take it seriously and then try to find ways to turn your thoughts into actions. I think part of it really is to understand how serious it is.

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workers and postal workers, so my relatives were either climbing down into mines or going into steel mills.

And we would watch Jacques Cousteau and I’d be lying on the carpet watching it … and I was just entranced, I thought it was magical.

From an early stage, I wanted to do something as a marine scientist or on the water.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

MAD HATTER 12:44 p.m., 1800 block of 24th Street Disturbance: Accused of taking one of her aunt’s orange basketball shoes, a complainant met officers on the street in front of her residence and was visibly upset. She said she had gotten into an argument with her aunt, whom she accused of throwing a hat at her. The argument was over the lone missing shoe. It was not specified whether the shoe was for the right or left foot.

The aunt also said the complainant was no longer welcome on the property, where she had been storing her own property and living in a shed behind the house. The complainant said she was unaware of the whereabouts of the missing shoe and allowed the officer to search the shed, which turned up nothing.

The subject denied throwing a hat at her niece, and wheeled a basket of her belongings to the sidewalk where they could be retrieved.

The complainant agreed to separate and to not return to the property.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

FIRE EXTINGUISHER VANDALISM 1:18 a.m., 2100 block of Ringling Boulevard Criminal mischief: An officer located a fire extinguisher in a corner of a county-owned parking garage that had been removed from its mount and used to spray the floor in the area where it had been hung. There was no damage to the mount, and the officer reported being unable to determine if graffiti also painted in the area was recent or had been there previously.

The officer determined that an unknown subject had removed the pin to activate the extinguisher and spray the ground. The individual who called to report the incident did not wish to meet or provide a statement.

The extinguisher was delivered to the SPD and was advised that the Sarasota County Fire Department would need to be contacted to replace the device.

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

TAKE A SEAT 1:13 p.m., 4900 block of David Avenue Dispute: A new water heater and a squatter, literally, on a sump pump presumably located on a property next door were the sources of a dispute.

The complainant called law enforcement after becoming involved in a dispute with her neighbor, explaining she had recently installed a water heater at her home and needed access to the sump pump.

She said the neighbor denied her access to the sump pump by sitting on the ground and covering the pump with her body. When she refused to move, the complainant called police for assistance.

The subject said she sat on the pump because the location is owned by her father and she didn’t understand why the complainant needed access. As it turns out, the sump pump was located on city of Sarasota property. After this was explained, the subject removed herself from the pump and left the location.

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PARKING LOT RAGE 9:35 p.m., 1500 block of Main Street Disturbance: Multiple individuals were engaged in a parking lot dispute. Officers made contact with two complainants who advised that while walking into the parking lot from Main Street, a vehicle passed by one of them closely enough to nearly strike her. As a result, she said she tapped on the rear passenger side of the vehicle, prompting the driver to exit the vehicle and confront the pair.

As they were entering their own vehicle, the subject approached them and shoved the driver’s side rear panel, causing a dent estimated at approximately $1,400 in damages. When an officer asked the subject why, he said, “Because she hit my car.” He was then asked if his own vehicle was damaged, and he confirmed it was not.

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FEBRUARY 29, 2024

SPORTS

“Just keep working. It’s all gas, no brakes. I’m pushing the pace. There’s no going easy anymore.”

— Samir Redden, junior, Booker High wrestling. SEE PAGE 21A

Fast

Break

Courtesy image

Cardinal Mooney High softball senior Madison Duncan.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

The Cougars are going to the state tournament in Lakeland for the fourth year in a row.

C

ardinal Mooney High softball senior Madison Duncan went 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple and six RBIs in the Cougars’ 23-1 road win over Booker High on Feb. 22. The Cougars are 1-1 as of Feb. 27. … Riverview High softball junior pitcher Allison Cole is 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA through her first three starts (22 innings). Cole has struck out 42 batters and walked 16. Cole is also hitting .667 (6-9) with two RBIs as a hitter. The Rams are 4-0 as a team. … Riverview High boys lacrosse junior Jack Yochim had two goals and two assists in the Rams’ 9-6 home win over Barron Collier High on Feb. 24. The Rams are 2-2 as of Feb. 27. … Booker High sophomore boys track and field runner Jacobey Mobley won the 400-meter dash (51.17 seconds) and finished 10th in the 100-meter dash (11.35 seconds) at the 2024 Calvary Christian Warrior Invitational on Feb. 23 at Calvary Christian School in Clearwater. Tornadoes sophomore Chauncey Kennon won the boys high jump (1.87 meters) at the same event. … Cardinal Mooney High boys lacrosse junior Jamison McCusker had three goals in the Cougars’ 13-9 road win over Viera High on Feb. 23. The Cougars are 2-3 as of Feb. 27. … Cardinal Mooney High baseball sophomore Jake Armstrong went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the Cougars’ 10-2 home win against Bradenton Christian School on Feb. 20. The Cougars are 1-1 as of Feb. 27.

SPRING STARS PAGE 20A

Fourth time’s the charm?

The Cougars head to their fourth-straight state tournament this week, hoping this time to win it all.

IF YOU GO FHSAA GIRLS BASKETBALL CLASS 3A STATE SEMIFINAL Who: Cardinal Mooney High (21-6) vs. Seffner Christian (25-4) When: 1 p.m., Feb. 28 Where: RP Funding Center in Lakeland At stake: A spot in the state championship game, held at 5:30 p.m. March 1 Of note: Cardinal Mooney has now reached the state tournament four years in a row How to watch: The game will be streamed on NFHSNetwork. com.

RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

A

fter hoisting her girls basketball team’s regional championship trophy alongside her teammates, Cardinal Mooney junior forward Kali Barrett wiped tears from her eyes.

Barrett has been here before; this will be her third straight trip to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state tournament in Lakeland. For the Cougars, it will be their fourth-straight trip. Cardinal Mooney (21-6) will take on Seffner Christian (25-4) at 1 p.m. Feb. 28.

The winner will advance to the state championship game at 5:30 p.m.

March 1.

Cardinal Mooney is going back to the “Final Four” style event because of a 64-40 home win over Tampa Catholic (21-7) on Feb. 22 in the regional finals. This time, Barrett and the Cougars are determined to change their state tournament fate.

Barrett said the tears she shed after the regional title win came because she believes in her squad more than ever.

“This is the year,” Barrett said with a smile.

It is still the 6-foot-2 Barrett, who holds college offers from 13 schools, who leads the way. Barrett is averaging 14.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and can elevate her game even further when necessary. Against Tampa Catholic, Barrett scored 27 points.

Barrett’s optimism about her team’s fate doesn’t stem solely from her own performances, though.

This year’s Cardinal Mooney squad is deeper than during any of its previous three runs to the state tournament, Barrett said.

The arrival of 6-foot-1 freshman Madi Mignery has given the Cougars someone who can play in the post as well as bring the ball up court and drive to the basket. Mignery averages 10.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game and plays sticky defense.

Against Tampa Catholic, Mignery

Cardinal Mooney High freshman Madi Mignery drives past Tampa Catholic’s Zalani Carter for a basket. Mignery finished with 12 points.

had 12 points and either blocked or redirected several shots in the paint, which the team routinely turned into transition offense.

The Cougars get equally important contributions across their lineup. Junior guard Sy’monique Simon averages 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and gets assigned the opponent’s best player on defense. Junior guard Bri Behn averages 7.9 points and 3.5 assists per game, keeping the team in motion both in the half-court offense and in transition. Senior forward Sam Kotasek only averages 4.1 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game, but makes an impact with her defensive positioning in the paint.

Sophomore guard Talia Busser (6.7 points per game), junior guard Josie Meloni (2.8 points per game), junior

forward Avery Davis (1.6 points per game) and freshman guard Ava Bruno (1.5 points per game) round out the rotation.

Under direction from head coach Marlon Williams, the Cougars emphasize defense, yet have potent scorers. The result is a team that can win games in multiple ways.

It is also a team that spent the first half of its season trying to find itself.

The Cougars had an 8-6 record at the end of 2023.

The calendar year was capped with a 59-35 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas High (21-9) on Dec. 30 at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational, held at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex in Wesley Chapel.

“We got our butts kicked,” Barrett said.

The loss was the low point of the team’s season, Barrett said, but it was also the moment the team realized things needed to change. There had to be more focus, more hustle and more energy.

Mooney has not lost a game since.

Though getting to the state tournament has become the expectation for the Cardinal Mooney program, Mignery is new to it all as a freshman.

She spent the regional title celebration hugging her teammates, but remained dry-eyed. Mignery was glad her team won, but was already thinking about what still remains.

“I’m excited, but we have two games left to win,” Mignery said.

“We have to have a ‘one game at a time’ mentality and keep working as hard as we can. We have a lot more to prove.”

Mignery said her physical play in the paint comes naturally. She loves to disrupt opponents and frustrate them, she said. Not only is it good for her team, she said, but it awakens the crowd, which provides Mignery with even more energy. Mignery is the type of player Cardinal Mooney has not had in past visits to the state tournament.

Mooney will enter the game against Seffner Christian as the favorite. The Crusaders are ranked No. 4 in Class 3A and No. 19 in Florida by MaxPreps, while Cardinal Mooney is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A and No. 13 in Florida. Mooney beat the Crusaders 71-57 at home Jan. 26.

20A

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Alumni athletes bloom in spring Sarasota athletes are primed to excel in the college and professional ranks this year.

O

f all the seasons, Sarasota athletes seem to bloom most often in the spring, especially once they graduate high school and go off on their own.

Here’s a rundown of some of those athletes who have a chance at big things in 2024.

VAUN BROWN, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS BASEBALL

Sarasota High baseball grad Vaun Brown is a member of the San Francisco Giants organization, ending the 2023 season with the AAlevel Richmond Flying Squirrels.

(Minor league baseball team names remain wonderful.) The righthanded Brown, an outfielder, had a breakout 2022 season in which he hit .346 with an OPS — on-base percentage plus slugging percentage — of 1.060, which is a high mark and a sign of an all-around stellar hitter. Brown then regressed a bit in Richmond last year, hitting just .246 with a .752 OPS — not a disaster, but not the type of numbers that rocketed him up organizational prospect rankings, either.

Still, Brown ended the 2023 season ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Giants system. Brown, 25, is on the older end of the prospect spectrum. He’s running out of time to develop his technical skills, but he has fully developed physical skills. If he shows the Giants that he can return to his 2022 form, or even close to it, Brown could make his MLB debut this season.

DEVYN FLAHERTY, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL

Flaherty, the former Riverview High

infielder, is in her senior season with the Seminoles, looking to cap off a successful career with another run to the Women’s College World Series.

Flaherty has been named to either the All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team or Second Team each of the last three seasons. Don’t expect her senior season to be any different.

Through 13 games, Flaherty has a .395 on-base percentage, seven RBIs and boasts a .974 fielding percentage. Her play has helped the ’Noles to an 11-3 start as of Feb. 27.

1,600-meter race (4:13.50) at the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A track and field championships in 2022, as a junior at Sarasota High.

He’s now competing for the Gators as a freshman, and though it is rare for first-year athletes to make an impact in track and field right away, Miller has put together some good performances.

To wit: Miller finished 12th overall in the 800-meter run (2:02.13) at the McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational, an indoor track event held in College Station, Texas, on Jan. 14. It was a personal record for Miller.

MADISON BINKLEY AND MCKENNA FLAHERTY, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Binkley, a redshirt sophomore, and Flaherty, the sophomore sister of Devyn Flaherty, both play for the Seminoles’ beach volleyball program. If you did not know Florida State had a beach volleyball program, start learning: The Seminoles were the NCAA Championship runners-up in 2016, 2018 and 2022.

Neither Binkley nor Flaherty got much playing time last season — at least as far as I can tell; beach volleyball is not a stat-oriented sport — but both appear to be in the program’s plans for 2024. Binkley teamed with junior Skyler Germann for a win over a pair from the University of North Florida on Feb. 23.

Binkley and Germann’s win, which came down to a 16-14 third set, clinched the overall match for the Seminoles. Florida State is now 3-0 as of Feb. 27.

MJ MCMAHON, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH MEN’S LACROSSE

McMahon, the former Cardinal Mooney High standout, is in his final college season with the Utes.

He’s been one of the most productive players in program history. As of Feb. 27, McMahon ranks fourth all-time at Utah in career points (81) and goals (49) and is second in

WYATT PLATTNER, UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-LAS VEGAS MEN’S GOLF

Courtesy image

Former Riverview Rams softball player Devyn Flaherty is a star shortstop at FSU.

assists (32).

While the Utes’ program has only existed since 2019, McMahon’s ranks are proof of how he’s helped carry the team on offense since his arrival. Last season, McMahon and the Utes won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament for the first time, taking down Air Force Academy 11-9 in the process. A repeat performance — and perhaps even an NCAA tournament win or two — would be a fitting cap to his career.

KARSON LIGON, MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL

Ligon, a right-handed pitcher and a Riverview High grad, started his career with two years at the Univer-

sity of Miami before transferring to Mississippi State during the offseason. Ligon, now a junior, held a 3-2 record and a 4.90 ERA last season with the Hurricanes.

His first few appearances with the Bulldogs have not gone well.

Ligon has allowed four runs in four innings, though he also has five strikeouts, which tells me his issues are command-based and not stuffbased. If Ligon can iron out those issues, he can still have a successful season in the Southeastern Conference.

ALEC MILLER, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Miller won a silver medal in the

After one season at the University of Cincinnati, former Cardinal Mooney High golfer Wyatt Plattner transferred to UNLV, where he has consistently found himself in the scoring lineup early in the 2024 season.

Plattner has had mixed results with the Rebels, but put together a good final round of the John Burns Intercollegiate tournament, held Feb. 15-17 on the Ocean course of Hokuala Kauai resort in Kauai, Hawaii. Plattner shot a two-underpar 70, a performance which helped the Rebels to a sixth-place overall finish. As of Feb. 27, Plattner is nine over par and tied for 67th going into the final round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate event at Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas.

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

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What is the appeal to you?

Well, practice was hard at first, but once I started to learn (the technique), I got used to it. I started to enjoy it because it was fun tossing people around. I actually shoot people more than I toss people now, but that was the start. It’s fun going against people your size and seeing how good you are.

What is your best skill?

I think I’m a good all-around wrestler. I can do top or bottom. I can shoot. I’ll do whatever my coach asks me to do.

What is your favorite school subject?

I like math. It comes pretty easy to me.

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What are your hobbies?

Honestly, I’m usually working out or running. But I play games like “Fortnite” and “Call of Duty” sometimes.

What is the best advice you have received?

This sport is a mental thing. You have to beat it yourself. No one can help you out there. It’s just you. Go out and win.

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When did you start wrestling?

I started my sophomore year. My head coach (Shane Hamm) said I should come check it out, but I hesitated at first. When he asked me again, I decided to try it. I’ve been going ever since.

What is your favorite food?

I haven’t been eating a lot lately because I’m cutting weight. My go-to right now is bread and jelly.

(Laughs.) But when I’m not cutting, I like beans and rice and spaghetti.

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Samir Redden is a senior wrestler at Booker High. Redden (33-7) won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A Region 3 tournament in the 120-pound weight class, defeating sophomore Uy’Kwon Zi Wimberly (54-12) by fall in 36 seconds. Redden will now compete at the Class 1A state tournament on Feb. 29-March 2 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

There’s no going easy anymore. My coaches are motivating me every day and pushing me to go harder.

They are telling me I can do it.

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

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YOUR NEIGHBORS

The sweet sound of upcycling

INSTRUMENTS OF THE GARBAGE-MEN

The Garbage-Men band creates musical instruments out of the trash heap.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

T

o join the seven-piece lineup of The Garbage-Men, there’s one hurdle you have to clear first.

New band members must prove their ability by creating their own instrument — using recycled materials.

That’s because when Jack Berry started the band at age 13 or 14, he didn’t have any woodworking tools to build a guitar.

But after he heard his father, Dave Berry, playing songs by the Beatles on guitar, he wanted his own instrument, so he decided to use the materials he had available: a Mini Wheats cereal box, a yardstick and a toothpick.

When he brought the instrument with him to school, his friend Ollie Gray suggested they form a band centered on the concept, and so in 2010, The Garbage-Men band was born.

Over the next few years, the band played a string of venues, including Times Square, “America’s Got Talent” and The National Guitar Museum Exhibit, while sharing a mission of sustainability.

But it wasn’t until about two years ago that the band re-formed after a hiatus due to members attending different colleges.

DISTINCT STYLE

Using PVC piping, tattered cereal boxes and guitar picks made of used The Garbage-Men create their instruments using items from the trash.

Electric guitar: A one-stringed, plucked instrument with a cereal box body, yardstick neck, bottle cap pick-up, lipstick bottle bridge, tooth pick frets and shoelace strap Electric bass guitar: A onestringed, fretless bass with a cereal box body, yardstick neck, comb bridge, soda can thumb rest and duct tape strap Upright bass guitar: A wooden box and a PVC pipe occasionally used in place of the electric bass Electric violin: A one-stringed chordophone with a cereal box body, paint stick neck, clothespin bridge and cassette tape tailpiece, played with a shoe horn bow Alto saxophone: An instrument with holes drilled to play an E-flat pentatonic scale, with a corn-popper toy for the body, a balloon for the reed, and a medicine bottle ligature E-flat contrabass bugle: A repurposed PVC pipe with a traffic cone for the bell Trombone: Repurposed PVC pipe and an oil funnel bell, with a slide made from PVC and a mouthpiece made from a bottle Flute: A small section of PVC pipe with drilled holes to play an E-flat pentatonic scale For more information, visit TheGarbageMen.com.

credit and gift cards, the instruments of The Garbage-Men weren’t like anything found among traditional musicians.

The youth band’s first group performance was held on the Towles Court Art Walk and featured Berry, Zach Zildjian and Alex Eiffert. At times, the band’s lineup has included Gray, Evan Tucker, Austin Siegel and Paul Colin.

It was also around that time, while riding his bike through Siesta Key Village to play for donations, that Berry first heard Jamie Tremps performing at The Blasé Cafe & Martini Bar. (She’s now his girlfriend and a member of the band.)

Over time, the band members were invited to play with different bar bands, growing connections in the community. Then the band members split up to attend colleges in different cities. Berry had already turned his focus to real instruments.

But two years ago, Berry realized it

Photos by Ian Swaby

Trent Berry, Wesley Backer, Jack Berry, Jamieson Martel and Jamie Tremps

The Garbage-Men create their instruments using items from the trash.

was time for a revival of the homemade instruments.

Owen’s Fish Camp in Sarasota expressed an interest in a return of The Garbage-Men. Tremps, with whom Berry had begun performing gigs, encouraged him to give the idea a chance.

At the time, the group lacked a drummer.

Although Tremps had experience singing and playing guitar, she had none with drums, but taking up the The Garbage-Men version of the instrument, she discovered the repurposed buckets and materials were easier to play than she had anticipated, due to the lack of foot pedals.

Drummer Wesley Backer also found the instrument easy to take up.

“They only gave me one instruction, which was to hit the drums as hard as I could,” he said.

As the band took to the stage at Owen’s Fish Camp, Berry had some doubts about whether it would achieve the same success that it had on the streets with the captive audi-

ence of a restaurant.

To his surprise, he found the crowd was listening and engaged.

“No one got up and left,” said Backer.

Afterward, Berry’s perspective on the band began to shift.

“After we did a few shows with the new lineup and the singing, I thought, ‘You know what, I’m not scared anymore,’” he said. “I know what it’s like to play in restaurants and bars here, and I know what it’s like to play at festivals here, because I’ve done it with a bunch of other bands. It’s time to do it with my own band, and our own instruments and our own songs.”

RENAISSANCE LINEUP

With a lineup of Berry, Tremps, her son Jamieson Martel, 8, Harrison Paparatto, Backer and his girlfriend Sindie Pennavaria, the band has entered what Berry describes as a renaissance.

SEE GARBAGE-MEN, PAGE 8B

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The rhythms of reggae

I

t was Kia Hostetler’s birthday on Feb. 24, so she decided to head to downtown Sarasota with her friends who were visiting from Pennsylvania for another event she had yet to experience for herself.

Before long, the whole group was in an energetic mood and eager to dance to the beat of the reggae music. Hostetler said her friends were now convinced to come live in Sarasota as well.

“Once you experience the magic of Sarasota and the diversity that is here, it makes you want to be here,” she said.

The eighth annual Reggae Music Block Party hosted by Jah Movement and held outside The Gator Club, which also participated, recognized not only reggae music, but also a figure in its Sarasota history — the late Oswald Caines of Democracy Reggae Band.

Caines founded the band after he arrived in Sarasota from the Caribbean in the 1980s. Caines’ daughter, Makeeda Caines, said that the contributions of her father to music and the community were innumerable.

“I love all this; I get to see my father’s legacy live on all the time. There are so many people that I meet that say, ‘Your daddy saved my soul. Your dad was my best friend. Your dad talked me off suicide.

Your dad made his music live in me.’ And this is years later, and we’re still singing.”

The good vibes extended all around the event space.

“I’m loving it; I’m enjoying the atmosphere, just being able to show my art,” said Sarasota artist Eliza Seabrook, who returned to Osfest for the second year.

“It’s a new energy for me, and it’s bringing a lot of amazing things for me.”

A portion of the proceeds from the ticket purchase benefited the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness.

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Nancy Cason and Josephine Cannella-Krehl dance to the music.

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Broker participation is welcomed and encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state.

This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time without notice.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Photos by Lesley Dwyer

Victoria Kasdan is a co-founder of Making An Impact.

A help connection Making An Impact’s Community Connections Resource Guide contains information on over 300 local organizations that provide assistance.

LESLEY DWYER STAFF WRITER

M

anatee County Sheriff Rick Wells was the first person to place a bulk order for Making An Impact’s Community Connections Resource Guide.

The nonprofit can only afford to print 1,500 a year. Since a special reprint was needed to fill the order, the Sheriff Office’s star logo was added to the reference guides containing information on more than

300 organizations that provide assistance to residents in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

“Every day our deputies come in contact with people who have needs beyond what we as a law enforcement agency are equipped to handle,” Wells wrote in a testimonial.

“It’s great to have the ready reference guide with a list of resource programs and organizations that can provide additional services.”

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when many Americans were on their sofas binge watching “Tiger King,” Victorian Kasdan spent her free time on the phone finding the right people and making a plan.

Kasdan is the former executive director of We Care Manatee Inc., a nonprofit that provides free healthcare to uninsured, low income residents. After transitioning her career into consulting, she found herself searching for something like the

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Community Connections Resource Guide on behalf of a client.

The only guide she found between Sarasota and Manatee counties was one that Turning Points produces for its homeless clients in Bradenton, but it only covers the surrounding service area, not the entire county.

During her search, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County connected Kasdan with Linda Hoy, a retired CPA volunteering her time at Bayside Community Church. Hoy had compiled a list of resources in a handwritten notebook that Kasdan described as being as big as a phone book.

Hoy had contacted the Community Foundation of Sarasota for help putting her notebook to use. She knew the information could be an asset to other helpers in the community, but she didn’t know what to do with it.

At first, Kasdan only contacted Hoy for her clients’ benefit. As her consulting clients dwindled at the start of the pandemic, Kasdan contacted Hoy to do something bigger with her notebook.

The pair formed the nonprofit Making An Impact and went to work in April 2020. The first resource guides were printed that August.

The guides focus on basic needs.

Resources are divided among 17 categories, including addiction, employment, housing, food assistance and mental health services.

Wells has about 120 deputies on staff and found the guides so useful that he told Kasdan he would be sharing them with staff members who work with inmates being released and agencies his office works closely with, like Hope Family Services, a domestic violence center.

Making An Impact also gives some guides away to individuals through outreach events in low-income communities.

“The guides were originally intended to give to those who help others,” Kasdan said. “That’s how we figured as a small group we could have a bigger impact. They see hundreds and thousands of people in whatever they do.”

Whether that means contact with a domestic violence center or homeless shelter, Kasdan said nine times out of 10, people need additional services.

When Hurricane Ian hit, Making An Impact created the Disaster Recovery Resource Guide, which was printed and distributed only two weeks later, along with cards and posters that contained a QR code.

Both the basic needs guide and disaster guide can be found on the nonprofit’s website. The searchable web app is available in more than 20 languages and can search for services according to the user’s location.

The nonprofit is currently launching a Pharmacy Discount Resource Guide, too.

“Medications are very expensive,” Kasdan said. “This one covers where you can get discounts — discount cards, coupons, foundation programs, government programs, online pharmacies and retail programs.”

The guide also includes educational information, such as how to spot an online pharmacy scam.

Making An Impact currently has seven volunteers, three of whom work directly on the guides. The nonprofit is seeking sponsors to hire a staff person and support the operational expenses.

“The guide cost of $8 helps (The disaster guide costs $6.), but even at that price, it doesn’t cover all our expenses,” Kasdan said. “Our board members donate, and we apply for grants. Our biggest challenge as a small, all-volunteer organization is that demand for our service exceeds our financial and human capital resources.”

The guides are updated every year, and organizations can also apply for grants to purchase them.

Making An Impact resource guides make finding help easier for organizations and individuals.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rosewood Residences Lido Key is owned and being developed, offered and sold by WSR—Lido Beach, LLC (“Developer”). The project is not owned, developed or sold by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, L.L.C. or any of its affiliates (“Rosewood”). Developer uses the Rosewood marks pursuant to a license agreement with Rosewood, which may be terminated under certain conditions. Rosewood does not assume any responsibility or liability in connection with the condominium. © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. The Ronto Group®. Rosewood Hotels and Resorts®.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Garbage-Men FROM PAGE 1B

The new-found success has seen a following from the public, part of which Berry attributes to the audience never knowing what to expect.

The band is always innovating, he explained.

Berry has gone through four to five guitars since 2010, but each time members create new instruments, something they do often, they make improvements.

The Feb. 14, 2024, concert at Blasé Cafe Siesta Key was the first time the band ever tried out the “hula horn” and a new trash can lid.

Created from two busted hula hoops discarded by a neighbor, the hula horn involves two hoops ducttaped together to make a single tube, with a trombone mouthpiece fixed to one end and a funnel on the other.

Performing with instruments like these creates a distinct experience, for performers and for listeners.

The drum set, for instance, lacks foot pedals. The guitars feature just one string, as opposed to the standard six strings on guitars.

Initially, these choices were made out of necessity, but Berry said it became a deliberate decision inspired by Ornette Coleman’s harmolodic theory in jazz.

“We’re deliberately working within limits here,” he said.

SUSTAINABLE SOUNDS

As with jazz, Berry said, the musical notes come from disparate sources, but together they create a more com-

Photos by Ian Swaby

Jamie Tremps and Sindie Pennavaria play with The Garbage-Men at The Bay Park in December 2023.

Wesley Backer

plex whole.

Increasingly part of that whole has been Tremps’ son, Jamieson. He enjoys music, constantly listening to

songs on Spotify.

“All these songs ended up on his playlist, and he listens to them repeatedly, never ending, and he

learns them, and they don’t stick in my head as well as his,” Tremps said.

Members also contribute knowledge that goes beyond music.

Before Backer became a band member, Berry went to visit him at college and discovered that Backer had his own record collection, which led to his role as drummer.

His role has grown to become the repair and tech expert of the group who fixes instruments and even created a new one.

Until recently, the band lacked the one instrument it didn’t know how to create from garbage: a microphone. Backer was able to find a substitute in some old telephones acquired from Goodwill. The result was the distinctive, tinny vocals that have come to define the band’s performances.

Trent Berry, Jack Berry’s brother, originally served as their CD salesman, but also became involved with the band, which he said complements the work he performs outdoors restoring native habitats.

“It’s another way to promote an aspect of sustainability and ecological thinking, and I like doing things with my brother. It’s fun,” he said.

Berry said the general sound of the band is inspired by rock ’n’ roll. He describes it as melding various influences and cites major influences as The Beatles and Mothers of Invention.

The band often plays songs by The Beatles, which he said people know and connect with lyrically and musically, and which have several easyto-play yet intricate chord progressions.

Nonetheless, it’s also important to him that people don’t get exact-

Condo on the Bay

Need Help or Want to Help?

ly what they expect. For instance, if they group gets a request to play “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, they don’t respond straightforwardly. They might play the song in a minor key instead of a major key.

“We deliberately subvert that.

And we try to do something different. And maybe a little provocative,” Berry said.

Berry said the band’s current goal is to perform at more community events and festivals locally, traveling and touring to other communities to spread its ethos.

“We want to show people with our instruments and creativity and ingenuity that instead of this consumer culture that we have, instead of just buying things new and throwing them away when you’re done with them, it’s such a more fulfilling and rewarding experience for yourself and the community and the world to find something that already exists, and use your creativity and selfexpression to reuse and repurpose it in a creative, artistic way,” Berry said.

On March 2, the band will be performing at Maine Colony Community Day, at Phillippi Crest Community Club in Sarasota.

Berry said an organization they work with is Transition Sarasota. It helped organize and performed at their most recent annual Eat Local Week, and will perform with them at Fogartyville’s Earth Day Art and Music Fest on April 22.

Berry said the band’s goal is being met; people who have never made instruments before said he’s inspired them to give instruments made from garbage a try.

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

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I t's only Natural The appeal of Wild Blue at Waterside by Stock Development is perfectly natural. With its prime Lakewood Ranch location, incredible amenities, and luxury single-family homes by some of the area’s finest builders, this waterfront community is the perfect blend of back-to-nature fun and resort-style living. Discover outdoor adventures at the 13-acre sports complex, and relax at the social clubhouse, with indoor and outdoor dining, two pools, a movie theater, fitness center, and a 9-hole premier putting course.

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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. ALL RENDERINGS AND PLANS ARE PROPOSED CONCEPTS SHOWN ONLY FOR MARKETING PURPOSES AND ARE BASED ON THE DEVELOPER’S CURRENT PRELIMINARY Proudly presented by DEVELOPMENT PLAN. DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, REVISE OR WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN DEVELOPER’S SOLE DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTICE. NOTHING HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO OBLIGATE THE DEVELOPER, OR ANY AFFILIATE OF DEVELOPER, TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT OR OFFER ANY OF THE PROJECT FOR SALE, AND NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED A YEARS GUARANTY OF ANY KIND. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SALE OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY. 418058-1

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Community commerce

A

single vendor tent within the downtown Sarasota Farmers Market helps provide jobs for roughly 20 Colombian families.

Pepós Shoes offers casual canvas and leather shoes handmade in Colombia, said Gloria Rincon, who founded the company with her husband, Juan Carlos “Pepós” Botero, who is from Colombia.

They began selling the unisex shoes first to friends and family but soon realized they had a hit with the lightweight shoes.

Since 2021, they have sold shoes at the Sarasota Farmers Market. They range in price from $59 to $79. During the Feb. 24 market, the Pepós Shoes tent was teeming with activity, thanks to the sunny, room-temperature Sarasota day.

Rincon said the bestselling shoe is a tobacco-brown model that’s especially popular with men ages 40-65 who are looking for a casual evening shoe for walking around downtown or a night on the town.

Rincon added that Pepós Shoes is actively seeking partners in the community to be

Gloria Rincon and Pepós Botero, founders of Pepós Shoes

able to sell the company’s shoes in area shoe stores.

Elsewhere within the market, which takes over Lemon Avenue and a portion of State Street on Saturday mornings, Kinsey’s Produce was doing a brisk business in fruit.

“It’s been very busy. The strawberries are a hit because they’re in season,” said Dawn Underhill of Kinsey’s Produce.

Molly Rainey of Soap Sarasota said the crowd was about par for the season. She said one of her more popular items was her gardenia soap, which boasts a spring feeling and scent.

Down the street, Lynn Lambris of Greenway Formula 7 demonstrated her all-natural bug sprays and repellents for passersby, with one customer stocking up for a 35-day hiking trip across France.

The Sarasota Farmers Market is held 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday rain or shine. You can find a map of vendors at Instagram.com/ SarasotaFarmersMarket.

— JAMES PETER

Photos by James Peter

Guitarist Dave Miner sings at the Sarasota Farmers Market.

Rod Kelly, box office manager for Sarasota Ballet, is excited about this season’s programming, especially Program Seven, which he described as a mixture of choreographies.

Anwar Desvignes of Succulantes

#BeTheOne who gives in support of growing local entrepreneurs by donating to the

Economic Development Foundation of Sarasota County (EDF) during the #GivingChallenge2024. Your one-time donation will be matched up to $100 by The Patterson Foundation.

Through our programs Sarasota County entrepreneurs who are making a capital investment can access services including liaison to government zoning, permitting, utility partnerships, and access to resources. An entrepreneur can call our team at any time for direct growth assistance and information on the best local resources for their needs.

The Economic Development Foundation of Sarasota County is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on carrying out initiatives that have a positive impact on business growth, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and workforce development to further the tax-exempt purposes and mission of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC). To learn more, visit: https://www.edcsarasotacounty.com/foundation

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The 2024 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

ADVERTISEMENT

There’s a Lot More to Learn About Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson

11B

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR OBSERVER READERS

HAMILTON JEFFERSON VS

THE RIVALRY THAT SHAPED AMERICA BEFORE YOU SEE THE SHOW, HEAR THE HISTORY

Historian Louis Masur recounts rivalry between Hamilton, Jefferson during a recent lecture.

A fascinating presentation on March 7 at The Ora explains how their rivalry shaped the future of our country.

Almost everyone knows the sto-

Of course, Hamilton is not a

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Thursday March 7, 2024 10am to NOON

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Join renowned historian, Louis Masur, for a fascinating multimedia look at the conflict between America’s first political parties—Alexander Hamilton’s Federalists, and Thomas Jefferson’s Republicans.

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When: Thursday, March 7 10 am - Noon Where: The Ora Event Venue, 578 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota | Free Parking Cost: $49 per attendee To purchase tickets, visit: YourObserver.com/hamilton-tickets

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12B

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SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Chloe Niebuhr, Maggie Graham, Executive Director Sarah Wertheimer and Learning and Engagement Director Ben JewellPlocher

Photos by Janet Combs

High school Coexistence Club docents are students Kennedy Flatch, Ashley Rosas-Rios, Isabella Munera and Lillia Jones.

Embracing our Differences

W

hen Sarah Wertheimer, executive director of Embracing Our Differences, delivered her speech at the annual luncheon held Feb. 23, the numbers were staggering: 16,604 art and writing entries were received from 125 countries, 44 states and 584 schools.

Sixty-five percent of the entries were from students, and the top five submitting countries to this juried exhibition were India, United Arab Emirates, China, Iran and Russia.

The nonprofit was founded in and is based in Sarasota. It uses the power of art and education to celebrate individuality and humanity. The art installation can be seen through April 14 at Bayfront Park.

EOD staff, board, advisors, and volunteers sold 432 tickets for a luncheon held at Michael’s On East. Four students spoke about the Coexistence Clubs, which are the student-driven middle and high school component of Embracing Our Differences’ education initiative.

Pine View senior Chloe Niebuhr, Sarasota junior Melora Saing, Riverview senior Maggie Graham and Booker senior Jaylen Benony delivered speeches about how their participation in their high school chapters has changed their lives and set them on positive paths with regard to selfesteem, the art of listening, acceptance, diversity and personal goals.

— JANET COMBS

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SARASOTA 1650 Starling Drive 102 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,712 Sq. Ft. Tara Lamb 941-266-4873 A4596732 $449,000

SARASOTA 3965 Wilshire Circle E 190 2 Beds 2 Baths 2,024 Sq. Ft. Stacy Liljeberg 941-544-6103 A4579045 $419,000

SARASOTA 3673 Longmeadow 18 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,023 Sq. Ft. Stephen Weeks 941-504-3689 A4586843 $385,000

SARASOTA 3678 Gleneagle Drive 8B 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,505 Sq. Ft. Sue Keal 941-320-1689 A4556875 $374,900

SARASOTA 3826 Virga Boulevard 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,376 Sq. Ft. Lindsay Nock 941-735-7005 A4598645 $355,000

SARASOTA 4154 Center Pointe Circle 57A 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,029 Sq. Ft. Peggy Wellman & Robert Moffatt 941-374-0811 A4599921 $324,900

SARASOTA 2240 Stickney Point Road 239 2 Beds 2 Baths 951 Sq. Ft. Josie Cline 941-266-6661 A4600063 $225,000

SIESTA KEY 5300 Avenida Del Mare 4 Beds 4/2 Baths 3,234 Sq. Ft. Rudy Dudon 941-234-3991 A4563903 $4,250,000

SARASOTA 3743 Founders Club Drive 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 4,555 Sq. Ft. Sara Boudarga 941-321-6352 A4599835 $3,325,000

SARASOTA 1713 North Drive 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 3,227 Sq. Ft. Denise Mei 941-685-3198 A4584795 $2,480,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 419915-1

14B

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

FEB. 12-16

ADAM HUGHES

Other top sales by area

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home on Siesta Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. David Vincent Lopez and Shana Marie Lopez sold their home at 3251 Higel Ave. to Gerald Valente, of Nyack, New York, for $6.25 million. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,733 square feet of living area. It sold for $5,775,000 in 2022.

SARASOTA

SAPPHIRE SHORES Michael and Jerry Antonetti, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 437 Sapphire Drive to Grace Jebara, of Sarasota, for $998,900. Built in 1955, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,614 square feet of living area. It sold for $200,000 in 2010.

COCOANUT AVENUE Regina Vandroff and Anita Ochab, of Sarasota, sold their home at 200 Cocoanut Ave. to Matthew and Sharon Jerdonek, of Sarasota, for $945,000. Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,554 square feet of living area.

It sold for $425,000 in 2013.

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS Michelle Eifert, of Sarasota, sold her home at 1619 Loma Linda St. to Marcel Srur and Malgorzata Kowalczyk, of Sarasota, for $855,000.

Built in 1939, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,481 square feet of living area. It sold for $227,500 in 2001.

THE STRAND OF SARASOTA Jaroslaw Chudoba and Agnieszka Teresa Chudoba, of Sarasota, sold their Unit B311 condominium at 1703 N. Tamiami Trail to Steven Parker and Nancy Nalini Parker, of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, for $800,000. Built in 2022, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,203 square feet of living area. It sold for $453,400 in 2022.

Garin Hoover sold the Unit A515 condominium at 1709 N. Tamiami Trail to Michael Casey, trustee, of Sarasota, for $779,000. Built in 2022, it has one bedroom, two baths and 858 square feet of living area. It sold for $396,500 in 2022.

WILLOWBROOK Patricia Forester, trustee, sold the home at 4172 Brookpointe Court to Laura Larson, trustee, of Sarasota, for $660,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,338 square feet of living area.

It sold for $320,000 in 2010.

SARASOTA: $1.2 MILLION

Sapphire Shores Bruce Chasser and Susan Stewart, of Hyannis, Massachusetts, sold their home at 4810 Bay Shore Road to Daniel Jay Cohn and Kathleen Cohn, of Ocala, for $1.2 million. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,073 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.1 million in 2022.

PALMER RANCH: $1,625,000 File image

Built in 1997, this home at 3251 Higel Ave. has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,733 square feet of living area.

for $645,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,323 square feet of living area. It sold for $422,000 in 2019.

THE LANDINGS CARRIAGEHOUSE S. James and Sandra Goldman sold their Unit 4 condominium at 4943 N. Kestral Park Way to Jane Graham Hyslop, trustee, of Sarasota, for $630,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,570 square feet of living area. It sold for $560,000 in 2023.

SOUTH GATE Francine King, of Bradenton, sold the home at 2206 Siesta Drive to Darin Hildoer and Suyapa Yaneth Moncada, of Nokomis, for $500,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,494 square feet of living area.

night Pass Road to MPKD Properties LLC for $1.11 million. Built in 1965, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,462 square feet of living area.

It sold for $500,000 in 2019.

SIESTA ISLES Megan Ellington sold the home at 5544 Cape Leyte Drive to Donald and Kelley Granahan, of Windham, New Hampshire, for $1 million.

Built in 1971, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,764 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2000.

ONLINE See more transactions at YourObserver.com

Legacy Estates on Palmer Ranch Richard James Macey and Tammy Lynn Macey, of Sarasota, sold the home at 5349 Brookgrove Drive to Mark and Tyson Quire, of Sarasota, for $1,625,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, four-andtwo-half baths and 4,525 square feet of living area. It sold for $877,300 in 2020.

OSPREY: $775,000

Southbay Yacht and Racquet Club Ryszard Bolko, trustee, of Lake Worth, sold the home at 172 Sea Anchor Drive to Thomas Donald McGrane, of Osprey, for $775,000. Built in 1977, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,283 square feet of living area. It sold for $393,500 in 2016.

NOKOMIS: $609,000

Mission Estates Joseph Leechner, of Nokomis, sold his home at 2229 Sonoma Drive to Christopher Scott Heatley and Alison Kay Heatley, of Dexter, Michigan, for $609,000.

Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,016 square feet of living area. It sold for $335,000 in 2017.

SIESTA KEY SARASOTA BEACH Steven Lloyd and Kerry Faix, trustees, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, sold the home at 5421 Plaza Des Las Palmas to Dawna and Ryan Howe, of Fairport, New York, for $2.1 million. Built in 1946, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,708 square feet of living area. It sold for $370,000 in 2013.

SUMMER COVE ON SIESTA Henry Hinman III, trustee, and Ellen Hinman, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 104C condominium at 1660 Summerhouse Lane to Amie O’Neill and John O’Neill, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1,925,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths and 2,490 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.75 million in 2016.

ISLAND HOUSE Angela Van Vliet, trustee, of McCordsville, Indiana, sold the Unit 40 condominium at 6150 Midnight Pass Road to CVBONE Midnight Pass LLC for $1.4 million.

Built in 1967, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 1,976 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.55 million in 2022.

In with the new NOW TAKING CONTRACTS

DOWNTOWN SARASOTA SOTA Residences & Hotel | 941.462.3900 | From $1.8M | Visit the Main Street Gallery | thesota.com

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG 400 Central | 727.209.7848 | From the $900,000s | Call for an appointment | Residences400central.com

MOVE-IN SPRING 2024

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

These are the largest city of Sarasota building permits issued for the week of Feb. 12-16, in order of dollar amounts.

GOLDEN GATE POINT

LONGBOAT KEY

CITY OF SARASOTA

En Pointe | 941.685.1598 | enpointesarasota.com | From $2,775,000

ALINARI Martin Fasel, trustee, sold the Unit 602 condominium at 800 N. Tamiami Trail to David and Amy Battel, of Barrington, Rhode Island,

REAL ESTATE

Siesta Key home tops sales at $6.25 million

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

15B

PROVINCIAL GARDENS Robert and Tanya Cowman, of Maineville, Ohio, sold their Unit S-9 condominium at 6005 Mid-

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Permit

Applicant

Amount

1666 Hillview St.

Pool

John Vanzee, trustee

$91,200

1723 Spring Creek Drive

Windows/Doors

Heidi Anderson

$81,635

2968 Greenbriar St.

Remodel

Cole Anderson

$80,000

2159 Sioux Drive

Pool

Marina Parkin

$74,000

916 Indian Beach Drive

Solar System

Viktor Vazhenin

$70,000

2470 Wisteria St.

Pool/Spa

Gregory Mendoza III

$67,000

2888 Bahia Vista St.

Alterations

Daniel Miller

$40,000

1402 S. Orange Ave.

Re-roof

Marilyn Billimek, trustee $29,700

3400 Hamilton Ave.

Wall

Craig Conti

$28,000

1322 12th St.

Remodel

Jill Hovde

$25,000 Source: City of Sarasota

The Residences at the St. Regis | 941.213.3300 | SRResidencesLongboatKey.com

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

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

MichaelSaunders.com/New-Homes | 844.591.4333 | Sarasota, Florida Prices as of November 2023

419898-1

Address

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Sunday Worship 9am & 11am

Join us for Fellowship & Coffee Hour at 10am

5pm

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YOUR CALENDAR

16B

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

ECOWALK: ALIEN INVADERS! 9-11 a.m. Pinecraft Park, 1420 Gilbert Ave. Free. Join UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County educators during National Invasive Species Awareness Week at Pinecraft Park for a walking tour to identify nonnative, invasive plants. Learn about their impacts on Florida ecosystems. Appropriate for ages 12 and older. Call 941-8615000 or email Sarasota@IFAS.UFL. edu.

FRESH FRIDAYS 7-10 p.m., State Street between Lemon Avenue and South Orange Avenue. Free. Fresh Fridays is back on State Street for a block party with live country music from local band Southbound 75, downtown bites and beverages and inclusive fun and games. Visit Downtown­ SarasotaDID.com/fresh-fridays

®

® ®

941.504.3689

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Quality Service Certified

Quality Service Certified

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

Sarasota, FL 34242

5100 Ocean Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34242

941.504.3689 941.349.3444

419472-1

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| Sarasota, 5100Ocean OceanBlvd Blvd| Sarasota, 34242 5100 FL FL 34242

FAMILY ARTLAB 1-3 p.m. Peggy A. Hall Classroom 134 at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail. Free for members; free for nonmembers with museum admission ($15). Bring the kids or grandkids and enjoy making art together every Saturday. Each week’s project is inspired by the works of art currently on display in the museum’s galleries. Kids of all ages, accompanied by their families or caregivers, are invited to drop in and join in the fun. All materials are included. Visit SarasotaArtMuseum. org/saturday-studios.

Beautiful view of Resort Amenities with one of the largest Terraces and best Floor plans Downtown, Light Bright unit so call Me!

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

SUNDAYS AT THE BAY: CLOVER’S REVENGE 4:30 p.m. at The Bay Park,1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Enjoy a free performance by Clover’s Revenge, a band combining acoustic pub music and Celtic punk rock. The trio creates a sound in the tradition of

Passionate Expertise...

Maureen Horn 440 Gulf of Mexico Drive | Longboat Key, FL 34228 941.383.7591 | michaelsaunders.com

SUMMER KICK-OFF YOUTH ACTIVITY FAIR 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Phillippi Estate Park. 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free. Meet local providers of summer kids programs. Enjoy food trucks, live demonstrations and entertainment along with inflatable games and free swag. For more info, call 311.

REALTOR®

CIPS, e-PRO, GRI, RELO, SRES, RSPS

941.539.3384

MaureenHorn@michaelsaunders.com

BEST BET FRIDAY, MARCH 1

ONE BOOK AUTHOR ED YONG AND ‘AN IMMENSE WORLD’ 7-9 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. First come, first seated.

The author of this year’s One Book, One Community selection, Ed Yong, will be presenting at the Selby Library about “An Immense World.” In his book, Yong, a Pulitzer Prize winner, encourages readers to go beyond what they think they know, to better understand the world. Yong’s book helps readers gain a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the vastness of the world. An author book signing will take place after the presentation. Learn more at SCGov. Net/Onebook.

the Dubliners, Pogues and Flogging Molly. Visit TheBaySarasota.org/ Event.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5

TRYING TIMES, TROUBLED TIMES — REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. $15 at the door. In this Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning lecture, Charlayne Hunter-Gault will share her history of growing up in the segregated South where parents, neighborhoods, schools and churches equipped Black children with the armor of history. Visit SillSarasota.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

BROWN BAG CONCERT SERIES Noon-1 p.m. Phillippi Estate Park, Park Gazebo area, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free. Bring a lunch and a chair or blanket and enjoy live music in a park setting. The Brown Bag Concert Series runs every Thursday through March 31. Visit SCGov.net.

RENTALS

Internal Medicine

WELCOMES

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LOCAL, VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1939

LIVING IN STYLE

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Undergraduate:

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Medical School:

Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA

Residency:

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Rental - 1/1 Downtown Sarasota Condo

1350 Main St, Sarasota #504 | MLS#A4568855 Views of Sarasota Bay and Marina Jacks Available Apr 15-Nov | $3,500 mthly (3 month minimum)

Annual Rental 3/2 Home w/pool

7146 Sablon Rd | North Port | MLS#A4600601 Vaulted ceilings w/split floor plan | Close to schools Unfurnished | Now available | $2,200 mthly

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Annual Rental -3/3.1 258 Golden Gate Pt. #701| Sarasota | Unfurnished downtown condo w/360 degree water views | $12,000 mthly | MLS#A4599555 A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations

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www.intercoastalmedical.com Medicare and most insurances accepted 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1

A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations

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8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1

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419670-1

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8/26/21 3:27 PM

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941.955.1500

Prices subject to change. Based on availability. Customary fees (taxes, cleaning, etc will be added).

419105-1

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL

8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Elite Hearing Centers

17B

OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF DOCTORS OF AUDIOLOGY & LICENSED HEARING AID SPECIALISTS

of America

Rated

OVER 50 LOCATION NATIONW S IDE!

OPEN NOW: SARASOTA (941) 278-5392

BRADENTON (941) 278-5391

DELRAY BEACH (561) 377-3057

2807 University Pkwy In Publix Plaza at University Walk

2001 Manatee Avenue E. Ste 104 (Bradenton Pain and Wellness Center)

4900 Linton Blvd #3 (In between Poppies Restaurant and Kristi Cleaners)

BOYNTON BEACH (561) 377-3058 4739 N Congress Ave (In between Dollar Tree and Fon Shan Chinese)

JUPITER (561) 377-3066 6725 West Indiantown Rd Bay 39 (In Jupiter West Plaza)

1Patient will receive $100 gift card upon completion of hearing instrument trial. Not all models are suitable for a free trial (e.g., custom-fitted models such as CIC, IIC, and Virto Black). Complimentary hearing evaluation required. Must have a tested hearing loss. Open to adults 18+ years and older. One gift card per customer, per year. Not valid with managed care or state insurance plans. No cash alternative. Must provide a valid email address for gift card redemption. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery of the gift card. 2Buy one Lumity hearing aid at our list price and get another of the same make & model 50% off. Discount is based on binaural purchase. This limited-time offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

New orders only. Private pay only (not combinable with insurance or network). Not available on all levels of technology. 3On in-store purchases of $200+ in with the CareCredit credit card through the end of the month. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within 24 months. Minimum monthly payments required. Subject to credit approval. Offers expire 3/1/24.

419804-1

We offer 0% interest financing for 24 months!3

18B

YourObserver.com

WEATHER

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST THURSDAY, FEB. 29

SUNRISE / SUNSET Sunrise Sunset

High: 81 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 13%

FRIDAY, MARCH 1 High: 81 Low: 66 Chance of rain: 9%

Thursday, Feb. 29

6:54a

6:30p

Friday, March 1

6:53a

6:31p

Saturday, March 2

6:52a

6:31p

Sunday, March 3

6:51a

6:32p

Monday, March 4

6:50a

6:32p

Tuesday, March 5

6:49a

6:33p

Wednesday, March 6

6:49a

6:33p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 High: 80 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 24%

March 3 Last

March 10 New

March 16 March 25 Quarter Full

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Monday, Feb. 19

0.94

Tuesday, Feb. 20

0

Wednesday, Feb. 21

0

Thursday, Feb. 22

0

Friday, Feb. 23

0

RAINFALL

High: 79 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 24%

Saturday, Feb. 24

Donna Brown took this photo of a roseate spoonbill in Myakka State Park.

0.06 0

Sunday, Feb. 25

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2023-24 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2024, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2024 7.57 in.

2023 1.58 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2024 3.26 in.

2023 0.15 in.

We have all of your luxury flooring needs carpet | hardwood | tile | stone | pavers | and more Sarasota 941.355.8437 | Bradenton 941.748.4679 | Venice 941.493.7441 | manasotaonline.com

Come Shop our Showrooms!

crossword

celebrity cipher

LIVING IN THE PAST by Ricky Sirois, edited by Jeff Chen

DOWN 1 Neighborhood in NYC or

61 Mantra chants 62 UFO pilots 63 Gainesville collegians

4 Classic

65 College QB, stereotypi-

D NTYCF SYPVS PV JKU CTYVS

5 Tease

cally 66 Per item

FPTUNJPYV.”

6 This, that or the other 7 Further down?

67 “___girl!”

8 Some members of Parlia-

69 Actor Shepard of “Par-

ment

enthood”

9 “You may be ___ some-

70 Willing to give it a go

thing!”

73 Plant part

10 Prefix with “thermal”

76 Follow, as at a job

13 Subsequently

81 Against

14 Area at a racetrack

82 Film unit

15 Captivate

83 When the Battle of

16 Martin Scorsese, for one

Normandy began

17 Important element in

85 Cuban line dance

making a paper airplane

86 Tool used on maple trees

18 Drove, as cattle

87 Jazz musician Baker

24 Source of metal

88 ___ California (Mexican

25 St. Kitts and ___ (Carib-

state)

bean country)

90 Type of drum

30 Campsite remnants 33 Totally off-base, informally

ties (Abbr.)

the mall?

98 With jocularity

1 “Laughter in the Rain”

36 Partner in marriage

71 Bit of pageant wear

100 Sitting still

singer Neil

38 Tight undergarment

72 French artist Henri

7 Online journal

41 *Flambeed fondue?

74 Used to be

11 Comedic act

43 Grp. for physicians

75 Up-to-the-minute

101 Awesome, in dated slang 37 Most likely to sunburn, 102 Very early maybe

14 Princess in the Mario

44 Experimental location

77 Pawns on a chessboard,

106 Despise

franchise

46 Simple tops

e.g.

108 Fruit used in gin

19 Starting point

47 Christmas carol

78 Topmost figure

109 Small part of a yard

20 Solo

48 *Result of giving Light-

79 Anxiety about exclusion,

113 Type of chair named for

21 “Not again!”

year new batteries?

for short

its creator

22 Harden (to)

51 High-security clearance

80 Listened to

115 *Did physical therapy on

23 *Got a piercing?

56 Shopping jag

84 One in a cast

the water?

26 Home run, slangily

57 Let out

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105 Attire for some queens

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60 Emotionless

90 Loafer, for one

122 Ascended, as a rocket

29 Justice Kagan

62 ___ Claire, WI

91 Unhappy

123 On edge

31 Lake near Las Vegas

63 “Can we talk, real quick?” 92 English breakfast, e.g.

32 Winter clothing option

65 Worn out

93 *Secured a loan with a

125 Mardi ___

35 Many Monopoly proper-

68 *Extracted bargains at

first-edition Thoreau?

126 Renter

124 Nine-digit fig.

34 “You bet!”

35 Flabbergasted

38 Goes on and on 39 “My turn” 40 Motorola phone brand 41 Hide’s partner 42 Own up (to) 45 ___ Jean King (tennis legend) 46 Financial hostilities 49 More punchy, flavorwise 50 Symbol of control 51 “The One,” romantically

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12 “So much for that idea”

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Puzzle One Clue: M equals F

11 Cone-shaped corn snacks 78 They’re similar to similes

©2023 Universal Uclick

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

London

2 Greek equivalent of Cupid 64 Midwestern slang word expressing surprise 3 Common pickle flavor

ACROSS

417955-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

93 Most inclusive 94 Commercial fee 95 Alpaca cousins 96 Break down, as food 97 Debate after a debate 99 They sometimes come in blocks 102 Hello, in 121-Across

sudoku

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

103 Doughnut shape 104 Actress and activist Ruby 107 Frat members 108 Feature of the Texas state flag 110 It’s most useful after being broken 111 Rock band Motley ___ 112 Pump up

52 Humble

114 Reluctant to engage

55 Alphabet area?

Cup

53 Civil rights pioneer Parks 116 Tail ... or one with a tail 117 Org. awarding the Grey 54 Nights before 58 Contented sigh

118 Flamenco dancer’s cry ©2023 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

2-29-24

Made for where you live. Here!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

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

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.

Merchandise Wanted

3-WHEEL ADULT tricycle. $75 2 fold-up cots. $50 Toddler bed, crib mattress, & bedding. $50 913-645-6469

One grey female cockatiel-$150 10 mos. old, very sweet & starting to sing.

Call 941-217-6782

HOKA SNEAKERS Women's Grey M Bondi 8 8.5 Too big $60 (941) 321-9138 MUSCLE MASSAGER Battery Muscle Massager $30 (941) 321-9138 WALKERS: NEVER USED “Proline” foldable $20 and 4-wheeled “Drive” (hand-brakes) $35 941-321-1808 WEIGHT BENCH - adjustable incline, Nautilus, excellent condition. $175 Call: 941-232-0276

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE! Health/Fitness/ Beauty REGISTERED DIETITIAN PERSONAL CHEF STAGE 3b CKD, 3-4 DAYS/WK. IN MY HOME. 941-525-3761

Avail. March 2024 - May 2024 Call 941-565-4879 or 336-848-3094 FAIRWAY BAY 1,300 SQ.FT., 2 bed, 2 bath (en suite) furnished condominium w/ w/d, sleeps 6. Extended patio. Direct water views of downtown Sarasota.

Pool, fitness room, beach club included. Available May - Dec 2024 . $5,500/month. Jan - April 2025. $7,500/ month. No Pets.

Call 941-545-4471 LONGBOAT KEY Bayside Condo with Gulf View Available January-March 2025 3 month minimum 2 bedroom/2 bath Portobello 4th Floor Spectacular views $7,500/month (including taxes) Call 214-986-2287 WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL RATES Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577

Condos/Apts.

MARINA DEL SOL Luxury for Waterfront Siesta Key Sale MARINA DEL SOL Condo Luxury Waterfront MARINA DEL Siesta SOL - Key Condo Siesta Key Luxury Waterfront Condo

Adult Care Services

wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101

EPIC HOME CARE Personal Care-Respite Care Alzheimer’s Care Light Cleaning Med Administration Meal Prep Shopping, Errands & More Call for a FREE Evaluation!

941-536-6372 Epichomecareprovider@gmail Rosa Torres- Owner

Longboat Key, FL 34228 Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty

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

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

Since 1939

Autos Wanted

FIESTAWARE DISHES: 13 pc. / FIESTAWARE 13 pc. / $6DISHES: ea.

FIESTAWARE 13 pc. / $6DISHES: ea. $6 ea. table set w/ 2 Brand New outdoor Brand New chairs: outdoor$75 table set w/ 2 Brand New chairs: outdoor$75 table set w/ 2 chairs: $75 Call: 864-602-1556 Call: 864-602-1556 GOLF CLUBS. Arnold Palmer The Call: 864-602-1556 Standard irons. 3,4,6,8,9. Good.

Pic online. $30 (941) 966-6816

$8,500 / month + tax. 30 day min

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

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

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

Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421.

RED PAGES IN PRINT AND ONLINE

A POWERFUL COMBINATION 941-955-4888

YourObserver.com/RedPages

2 Bed 2 1/2 Bath- Easy 3 Bedroom. Over 2,500 Sq. Ft. of 2 Bed 2 1/2plus BathEasy 3 living space 3 porches.

Bedroom.

2,500$1,599,000 Sq. Ft. Vacant, Easy to Bathsee.

2 Bed 2Over 1/2 Easy 3 of living space plus 3 Broker porches.

Karen Williams, Bedroom.

Over 2,500 Sq. Ft. of Vacant, Easy toplus see.3Estate $1,599,000 Coastal Living Real and living space porches.

Karen Williams, Broker Property Mgt. LLC 941-228-6756 Vacant, Easy to see. $1,599,000 Coastal Living Real Estate Karen Williams, Broker and Property Mgt. LLC 941-228-6756 Homes for Sale Coastal Living Real Estate and Property Mgt. LLC 941-228-6756 5 ACRES Lake Barn Near Fruitville I-75 Call for Price Bradenton: Condo, 2 bed, 2 bath$229,900 Pet friendly 55+ Sarasota: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car Garage House $359,000

www.rentalsonlongboat.com

As low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888 OUR ONLINE TOOLS MAKE IT EASY TO PLACE YOUR AD

Brooke O’Malley | Club Realty Call 941-726-2677

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

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

2/2 Condo Plantation Golf Club Venice, Call for Price Pool Home, New windows, hvac, Completely Updated $699,000

GARAGE SALE

Handyman Services Visit the RED PAGES YourObserver.com/RedPages

MITCHELL HANDYMAN. Painting, Carpentry, Tile, Pressure Cleaning.

Home Improvements, Repairs.

Small and large! 941-284-8488.

This week’s Crossword answers

Advertise your business or service in the Observer

RED PAGES CALL TODAY 941-955-4888 Painting CARLO DATTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall repair and retexturing.

Wallpaper installation & removal, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos.

Honest & reliable.

Free estimates. 941-744-1020.

35+ years experience.

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING HIGH-END INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “It’s better to walk alone, than with a crowd going in the wrong direction.”

Jennifer Grant Puzzle Two Solution: “My mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.”

Marian Anderson Puzzle Three Solution: “When I was a kid, my father ... didn’t think I would amount to anything. My mother also.”

Architect Frank Gehry

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2024 NEA, Inc.

2 CUSTOM built wooden work tables w/ drawers. $100 / ea.

Call: 323-610-2115

Pets

You’re only cheating yourself.

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

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observer.

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

SENIOR LOOKING to purchase precious metals, diamonds, time pieces, coins, jewelry, antique and estate jewelry, and some collectors plates. Personal and confidential.

Please call Marc: 941-321-0707

peekers’ place

Items Under $200

GOLD, SILVER BUYING w/ CASH. RETIRED INVESTOR Diamonds, Coins, Jewelry, Antiques. Free House Calls.

Discrete/ Confidential. Call David 813-439-2694

auto

stuff

Merchandise Wanted

real estate

WANTED TO BUY Vintage/Old Costume Jewelry & Clothing in large amounts. Jane (941) 356-1568

BEAUTIFUL, LARGE renovated Bayport condo w/ private beach & bay access. 1,720 sq. ft. 2 bd / 2 ba w/ sitting room on 26 acre preserve. Tennis courts, pickleball courts, large heated pool.

We’ll SWEEP you off your feet!

INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

redpages@yourobserver.com •yourobserver.com/redpages

home services

RED PAGES

©2024 Universal Uclick

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Aluminum

Auto Service

Computer

SELL YOUR CAR!

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

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

FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU

941.270.4400

Pegatronics.com

HoHoBuysCars.com

YoderAluminum.com

Caregiver/Companion

Attorney

Concrete

Divorce without Lawyers

Michael Koch Concrete Inc. All Phases of Flat Work & Stone Work

Free Estimates! • No Job Too Small

419950

941-918-8587

Divorce is never fun, but it does not have to be nasty & hateful! Protect your family relationships and assets from expensive Court litigation. Consider Divorce Mediation, the peaceful alternative.

Doors

Sliding Glass Door Repair 419980

24 Hour Care • Full Service Home Health Care www.tlchomecaresrq.com • (941) 320-9678 Now Hiring HHA’s & CNA’s

Call me for a free 30 minute consultation before you call a Divorce Lawyer!

Carpentry

We have mediated divorces involving up to 10 million dollars of assets over past 27 years.

“FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE”

Professional Craftmanship on Carpentry • Cabinets Plank Floors • All Trims and Moldings Pressure Cleaning Services • Painting

Furniture Repair

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

Remodel & Home Improvements

941~400~6786

Sarasota County

Patio Furniture Repairs.com

CREATE BUZZ!

Furniture Sales & Repairs Cushions • Slings • Re-powdercoating

941-504-0903

Advertise your business in the Red Pages. Call 941-955-4888

FREE PICKUP / DELIVERY • FREE ONSITE QUOTES

Computer

Handyman

Is Your Computer Feeling Sick?

Lince Law PLLC

BLUE BOX

Let Us Fix It!

Call A Geek

General Law Matters, Consumer Disputes, Wills, Trusts, ADA ComplianceService Animals, Property Disputes, HOA issues, Breach of Contract

(941) 351-7260 call-a-geek.net

Computer Repair & Service Virus & Malware Removal / Protection New System Set Up / Data Transfer Networking: Wired/Wireless Installation Data Recovery / Remote Support One-On-One Tutoring / Training

420664

Computer ServiCeS

Military & Veteran Low-Cost Legal Services We Have Your Back

As a veteran owned firm, attorney James Lince offers no-cost or low-cost general legal services to active duty/reserve military and veterans. Fees are based on current military rank or veteran’s income.

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

420626

INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772 KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

STEVE PANEBIANCO H R S

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

Showcase your products or services each week in the Red Pages.

ome

(Next to Beneva Flowers)

941-929-9095

420668

6968 Beneva Road

CALL 941-955-4888

804.318.0022 | 941.279.5317

Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling • Concrete • Sheeting Drywall • Painting • Fence • Parquet • Stone Flooring • Tiles

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

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

Alex Demir

H A N DY M A N

Over 19 yrs serving Manatee/Sarasota Counties

First 30-minute consultation free.

Phone: 941 - 328 - 8757 | Website: Lincelaw.com | Email: jglince@lincelaw.com GO ORANGE! PROUD SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ALUM

epaiR

eRvice

• No JoB Too SmaLL • ScReeN RepaiRS • paiNTiNG/DRY WaLL • TiLe RepaiRS • & mUcH moRe!

24/7 SERVICE

FREE (941) 809-7311 ESTIMATES!

Doors

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

GROW

YOUR BUSINESS Advertise as low as $85 per week.

Window Repairs • Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts

Call us today! 941.628.8579 www.ezslider.com

419929

420652

Mike McKnight

Free Estimates

419949

420654

Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator 677 N. Washington Blvd Sarasota, FL 34236 SarasotaDivorceMediator.com 941-727-5555

420656

McKnight Construction

William J. Leininger, JD

RED PAGES

941-735-3362

419967

419984

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

420655

941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

FREE IN-HOM ESTIMATEE S

420647

Dustin Yoder

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

5-Star Rated

419986

“Specializing inin6” Gutters” “Specializing 6” Seamless Seamless Gutters”

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

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

419951

20B

YourObserver.com

Health

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Roofing

THE GRAB G BAR GUY

ulf Gate RoofinG inc.

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

All Work Guaranteed

GLENN KROECKER

Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America

941-228-9850

954-1878 (cell) 780-3346

Joe Murray, Owner

419932

Licensed & Insured

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

Landscaping & Lawn

Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239

Building & Roofing Contractor

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

LANDSCAPING • LANDSCAPE CLEANUP • PRUNING • WEEDING Flowers, Palms, Container Gardening, Tree Trimming

Movers

419981

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

419925

CALL 941-302-3933

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

941-626-3194

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Wizard Moving SRQ

Home Watch

For $149 per hour you get:

A truck, 2 men with equipment, experience and a great attitude to

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/royaltreasurecasino%40yahoo.com?projector=1

420672

419921

Windows

Pet Care by Melanie Gates 419953

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

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

420670

Pet Sitting (cats & sm/md dogs) Dog Walking (sm/md) Over 30 years experience Excellent references Administering medication

419990

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

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

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

941-923-8140

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

GRAB BARS GRAB BARS

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

Find anything in the RED PAGES

941-955-4888

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

INCLUDES22MOEN MOEN STAINLESS INCLUDES STAINLESS STEEL STEELANTI ANTISLIP SLIP CONCEALED PEEN CONCEALED SCREW SCREW GRAB GRAB BARS (16”BARS & 24”)(16” & 24”)

364556 419931

DRGRABBARS.COM

Pressure Washing

• Roofs • Pool Cages • Decks • Driveways Roofs • Pool Cages • Decks • Driveways ••Deck/Paver Sealing • Gutter Cleaning • Deck/PaverAnd Sealing • And Much More Much More!

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Serving Sarasota/Manatee Area Since 2004

419946

Call John 941.377.2940

150

25 $

INCLUDING SCREENS, TR ACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

RIGHT ON TARGET

Honesty, Integrity and Pride

*DRILLING CHARGES MAY APPLY FOR MARBLE, GRANITE OR PORCELAIN. COUPON REQUIRED.

UP TO

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

Power Washing Pressure Washing

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows

STANDARD WINDOWS

420671

General Plumbing Services Inc.

AFTER

1/1

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

Plumbing

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

Trees

High End Interior & Exterior Painting Services

(941) 966-2960

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

10% off

Airports, Concerts, Dinners & Cruises www.towncarservicebradenton.com

Pet Services

Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007 Licensed & Insured

LIFETIME GUARANTEE • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED COVERAGEAREA: AREA:LAKEWOOD PARRISH TO NORTHPORT COVERAGE RANCH TO S. VENICE

941-248-4734

BEFORE

Advertise your business, starting at only $85 per month.

OBSERVER RED PAGES

941-544-1066 | scaperotta@aol.com

Call 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

Italian American Owned

CALL 941-955-4888 YourObserver.com/RedPages

420660

420669

420659

SARASOTA INTERIOR PAINTING, LLC

CALL OR TEXT 941-900-9398 TODAY! OWNER: DON HUBIAK

Bob & Carol Guthrie 941.993.6613

941.966.0333

Luxury for Less

Painting

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

Watching your home while you’re away

249 235

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE

419954

Licensed and insured #IMT708

PALMER RANCH HOMEWATCHERS®

www.PalmerRanchHomewatchers.com PalmerRanchHomewatchers@comcast.net

chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png

Transportation

make your moving day a pleasure.

Dave and Connie Grundy

CALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999

1/10/23, 10:25 AM

410036

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

* $ $235

419956

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

Gardener On Call

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Fully Insured

State Licensed Contractor #CCC057066

420658

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

420666

38 Years Experience

Specializing in Re-Roofing & Repairs

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

$

21B

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

22B

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

READY TO MOVE BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

Look No Further 7159 Manasota Key Road Joel Schemmel

$11,900,000 941.587.4894

THE GULF COAST LUXURY LEADER

Scan below for a full list of Open Houses, property details, driving directions and more

RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES | SARASOTA BAY 555 Quay Common #1803 Donna Deloach

$8,499,000 239.825.1168

SIESTA KEY

LIDO C

4632 Ocean Boulevard Joel Schemmel

THE LAKE CLUB 14750 Como Circle Donna Soda

GOLDEN GATE POINT $2,300,000 941.962.5867

ESPLANADE 13820 Palazzo Terrace Mary Ann Hartmann

1100 Westway Drive Katy McBrayer

$2,875,000 941.928.3424

16011 Daysailor Trail Laura Stavola

SARASOTA $3,850,000 941.961.5857

166 Golden Gate Point #21 Vittoria Rutigliano

$4,000,000 941.587.4894

THE LAKE CLUB

1774 Meadowood Street Judie Berger

SHAKETT ISLAND 877 Hillcrest Drive Crystal Cosby

THE LAKE CLUB $2,695,000 941.447.4875

17011 Verona Place Laura Stavola

ARLINGTON PARK $2,245,000 941.882.0070

THE MARK $1,899,000 407.466.1538

$3,999,995 941.400.2406

2502 Prospect Street Peter Laughlin

CASEY KEY $2,195,000 941.539.0998

Casey Key Road Joel Schemmel

OSPREY

111 South Pineapple Avenue #1021 $1,750,000 Rita Pogany 941.400.7125

675 Crane Prairie Way Tamara & Todd Currey

$2,695,000 941.447.4875

$1,980,000 941.587.4894

SARASOTA NATIONAL $794,000 941.587.1776

23552 Awabuki Drive #102 Julie Russell

$592,500 415.299.2452

The Next Evolution of Waterfront Luxury

Limited Offering of Grand Estate Residences from $3.7 to over $12 Million Presentation Gallery Now Open at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota, Florida 34236 941.499.8704 | TheResidencesSarasotaBay.com

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. The renderings, terms, conditions, and statements contained in these materials are proposed only, and the Developer reserves the right to modify, or withdraw any or all of same in its sole discretion and without prior notice. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sarasota Bay are not owned, developed or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Ritz-Carlton”). KT Sarasota South, LLC uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under a license from Ritz-Carlton, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein. Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

BROKERAGE | RENTALS | RELOCATION | NEW DEVELOPMENT MORTGAGE | INSURANCE | FINE ART CONSIGNMENT

SARASOTA - DOWNTOWN | 941.364.4000

VENICE | 941.412.3323

LAKEWOOD RANCH | 941.907.9541

LONGBOAT KEY | 941.383.2500

RENTALS | 941.203.3433

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Property information herein is derived from various sources including,but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate. Source: BrokerMetrics®.

418452-1

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