Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 9.26.24

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

Observer

Tailgate networking

PAGE 22

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

VOLUME 20, NO. 33

YOUR TOWN

Wanted: Committee to envision downtown’s future

The volunteer group will update the master plan for the area.

SEE PAGE 5

Ian Swaby

Marty Melendrez ties a sandbag closed.

Prep for Helene

As soon as Sarasota County opened its sandbag site at Ed Smith Stadium, one of two in the area, on Sept. 24, residents turned out in droves to shovel sand — with some help from staff where needed in preparation for Hurricane Helene.

Some were hoping to mitigate flooding.

“When I found out about this, I said ‘I need to get sandbags,” said Delilah Rosales, who hadn’t known the county offered the service when her home on Fruitville Road flooded during Hurricane Debby.

Others sought to be prepared.

“Just in case this turns into more than we expect, we’re ready,” said Southgate resident Russ Noto.

File image

An artist’s rendering of the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center features a concept with four buildings instead of one.

Ian Swaby

Aimee White, administrative assistant to student services, and Debra Giacolone, executive director of student services

PERFORMING ARTS, ELEVATED New center features out-of-box concept design with raised building over the water. SEE PAGE 2

The road map to college As a former student at Sarasota High School, Aimee White had ideas of features she wished she could have experienced at Sarasota County Schools’ College Night.

During her first time planning the event, White, who is administrative assistant to student services, had the chance to implement her ideas.

“It was a lot of work. It was a lot of fun. I love to be creative,” she said.

Held Sept. 24, the event brought together over 75 colleges and universities, with technical colleges, eight military organizations and organizations offering scholarships all present at tables lining Robarts Arena.

Ready to go The Bay celebrates year two with a full lineup of events.

SEE PAGE 19

$1.00

Courtesy image

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will perform at The Bay on Oct. 18.

A+E ‘Modern masterpiece’ PAGE 14

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Four for the price of one?

Architects’ proposal breaks up the Sarasota Performing Arts Center into four structures, preserving more park space at The Bay — but it may cost more to build.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

A

s a capacity crowd gathered in the Grand Foyer of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to witness the reveal of a conceptual plan for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center, an approaching storm marched across Sarasota Bay.

“The Bay park dream is to make it a park — a real park and not another parking lot — to make it green, and that’s what we believe is a proper thing to do.”

— Mark Carroll, Renzo Piano

Courtesy images

By the time the architecture firms selected to design the proposed facility had completed their presentation, the rain had cleared, the sky turned blue and sunlight filled the room.

It was a fitting metaphor for the Sept. 18 community workshop organized by the architects of Renzo Piano Building Workshop of Genoa, Italy and Sarasota’s Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors as they introduced the initial concept to the public. Some of the few who had previewed the design who were initially reticent over how it would be received were basking in the glow of a generally receptive audience some 90 minutes later.

The concept was, after all, unexpected.

Rather than what was generally expected as a refinement of the big box at the northeast corner of the Van Wezel parking lot that had been shown on site plans for The Bay park for years, attendees were introduced to an out-of-the-box concept of a four-building, raised and partially over-water complex along Tamiami

Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s rendering of covered public plaza and entry to the performing arts center as viewed toward the bay.

Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s rendering of the “cultural promenade,” a shaded walkway along Tamiami Trail at night.

427510-1

2

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

beneath, offering shade and opportunities to interact with the SPAC without having to purchase a ticket.

“This site here is a treasure. If you look at it today, it’s a parking lot, but with a little bit of imagination, you can see it as the park,” Carroll said.

“The Bay park dream is to make it a park — a real park and not another parking lot — to make it green, and that’s what we believe is a proper thing to do.”

BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT PARKING?

Renzo Piano Building Workshop Partnerin-Charge Mark Carroll discusses the proposed layout for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center with attendees of the Sept.

18 concept reveal workshop.

“We look forward to building a project that will last 300 to 500 years.

That’s the way we build in Europe.”

— Mark Carroll

Trail. That allows nearly all of the parking lot to be converted to park space during the latter stages of The Bay park’s transformation.

True to Renzo Piano’s philosophy of designing structures that complement rather than overwhelm their environment, the architectural team displayed a complex that includes a 2,500-seat to 2,700-seat main theater, an 800-seat medium theater, a small theater/multipurpose space, and a lobby — all separated into four buildings connected by overhead walkways.

“When I saw the concept for the proposed performing arts center, my reaction was that it was genius,” said Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert. “It just made so much sense. I loved the idea of the smaller scale, away from the water with view corridors between the buildings.”

To maximize views of the park and Sarasota Bay — and to provide storm surge resilience — the buildings are elevated with public space beneath, the lobby and reception building suspended above the 10th Street Canal.

“When we first arrived here in Sarasota a year and three months ago, it was easily understood that this is a potentially a great project, a cultural project to support bringing people together and bringing them together for many, many years,” said Mark Carroll, Renzo Piano’s partner-in-charge for the SPAC. “We look forward to building a project that will last 300 to 500 years. That’s the way we build in Europe.”

The concept reveal and community workshop is a critical step toward the completion of an implementation agreement between the city and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, which would codify the public-private venture. It would be funded 50-50 between philanthropy and public dollars, the latter derived mostly via a tax increment financing (TIF) district on downtown properties surrounding the 53-acre The Bay park. The TIF revenue is identified as property taxes collected from the improved value of the land benchmarked against fiscal year 2019 assessments.

Both the city and the county collect the TIF funds and, via interlocal agreement, reinvest those funds into and around The Bay park, including a new performing arts facility. Specifically how those funds are spent in the TIF district, however, is subject to discretion of both government entities.

The Sarasota City Commission has scheduled a workshop on Sept. 30 to discuss the design and the implementation agreement. The deadline to enact the agreement is Monday, Oct. 21. That’s when the discussion, which will include a construction cost estimate, will be placed on the commission’s agenda.

For the past two years, the working

number associated with the project has been estimated at $375 million.

How breaking the builiding into four structures affects the cost remains to be determined, but conventional wisdom is that it costs more to build four buildings than one.

“Of course, how we fund it is a concern, but with this new plan it can be built in phases if necessary to spread out the cost,” Alpert said.

“Before we do anything, the funding and business plan will be worked out to ensure it is feasible. I have no doubt there will be a way to make it work.”

BREAKING THE MOLD

The agenda for last week’s noon workshop session included breakout tables following the formal presentation and ahead of closing remarks.

So few remained after the breakouts that the closing segment was canceled for both the noon and the evening session, which was held Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.

Bill Waddill of land planning consultant Kimley-Horn —and one of the primary drivers of The Bay — who emceed both sessions took that as a sign of positive reception.

“When you go to these things there’s always going to be a certain percentage of folks who just aren’t going to be in favor of things, but it was amazing,” Waddill told the Observer. “I’d say it was in the high90s percent of people who were inspired and excited. Certainly people had questions. Some of the big ones were about parking, and so we spent a fair amount of time on that, and certainly they had questions about cost.”

Separating the design into four distinct structures does provide some flexibility relative to the cost.

As Alpert suggested, the SPAC could be developed in phases rather than all at once, similar to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. There, the 2,731-seat Walt Disney Theater opened in 2014 followed by the 1,770-seat Steinmetz Hall in 2022.

Steinmetz Hall cost $240 million as part of the $613 million Dr. Phillips complex, which includes four theaters, a grand lobby, a multipurpose room and an outdoor arts plaza.

Similar to Dr. Phillips, The Renzo Piano plan for the SPAC includes an outdoor auditorium to accommodate as many as 4,000.

“The people who were present and who were able to listen to the entire presentation, I think they all embraced it,” Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko told the Observer.

“There was a fear that this building was going to be smack in the middle of the park, it was going to be a concrete building, it was going to take up all of this park space. What’s brilliant about these architects is that they have brought a complete new set of eyes to the project and have made a much better design than any of us could have imagined.”

north of 10th Street to the Blue Pagoda at Boulevard of the Arts.

That stretch has been identified by the Bay Park Conservancy as the “Cultural District” as part of Phase 2 park development.

In addition to providing shade during the day and lighted security by night, the articulated overhead panels could be topped with photovoltaic cells to supply power to the SPAC, all inspired by the filtered light beneath grand trees.

“What we’re starting to study here is how to re-create that sense of filtered light and how to control light, how to filter it, how to create a pleasant environment for people to walk underneath,” said Renzo Piano architect Kerry Joyce. “One of the main goals of this project is to capture the sun’s energy by integrating photovoltaic panels. We’re talking with our engineers in this early stage, and while these performing arts centers use an incredible amount of energy, we believe that with this scheme we could provide about 90% of the power to this whole complex.”

Rather than a monolith, separating and lifting the structure into four buildings also provides opportunities to maintain vistas, allow light and air to move between the buildings and provide public space

If what is now the parking lot for the Van Wezel is to become a natural green space as planned by the Bay Park Conservancy, what becomes of the 800-space vehicle capacity currently on the site?

Some parking will be underneath the raised SPAC buildings. Otherwise, Renzo Piano architect Ronan Dunphy said much of the parking will be available at a shorter distance from the new SPAC location than many of the current spaces are from the Van Wezel.

“We did some studies of the average walking speed of various age groups, and we decided to calculate an average walking speed of 3 to 3.5 feet per second,” Dunphy said. “This means that if you’re at the far end of the parking lot, it takes you about 5 minutes and 40 seconds to get from your car to the front door of the theater. So we said we need to stay within the same range for the new parking areas of the new performing arts center.”

In addition to existing parking already available within that 5:40 radius, the plan assumes some additional parking created on the north end of Centennial Park combined with new nearby parking facilities currently under exploration by the city.

“We need to think differently about parking,” Dunphy said. “We don’t want to concentrate all of the parking in one place because we see the problems with trying to exit after an event and with all the people leaving at the same time. By decentralizing the various locations of parking, spreading them out around the site, it creates a better flow.”

“One of the main goals of this project is to capture the sun’s energy by integrating photovoltaic panels.”

— Kerry Joyce

Renzo Piano Building Workshop architect Kerry Joyce speaks at the SPAC preliminary concept reveal workshop.

THE PROMENADE

Beyond the four buildings, the design concept went a step further to include a feature to bring synergy and connectivity to the entire frontage of The Bay along Tamiami Trail.

The architects proposed a baffled, covered walkway stretching along the highway from the main theater

Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s rendering of the multipurpose room building with views of The Bay park through expansive windows.

3

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

City attorney decision delayed

IS CONCIERGE MEDICAL CARE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Commissioner Debbie Trice wants to hold off on naming Robert Fournier’s replacement until she can vet her colleagues’ top choice.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

I

Connecting with your primary care & cardiologist doctor when you need them most is crucial.

At Gulfshore Personalized Care, it’s possible to take care of your primary care and cardiology needs all with the same doctor.

Thomas Arne Jr., DO, FACC, proudly offers patient-centered care through concierge services, such as same-day office visits, direct access to Dr. Arne, and a friendly staff always willing to help.

Call us to schedule your no-obligation meet & greet with Dr. Arne today.

Dr. Arne

941-366-2194 | gulfshorepc.com

429452-1

1250 S Tamiami Trail, Suite 401, Sarasota, FL 34239

DIAMONDS & FINE JEWELRY WANTED

f four of the five Sarasota city commissioners had their way, they would have named the next city attorney during their Sept. 16 meeting.

The required supermajority of commissioners appeared ready to name Joseph Polzak to replace City Attorney Robert Fournier when he retires next spring, and John Shamsey and Joseph Mladinich as the chief deputies to replace the also-retiring Michael Connolly.

Commissioner Debbie Trice, though, was not ready to commit.

All five lawyers comprise the same firm — Fournier, Connolly, Shamsey, Mladinich & Polzak — with the remaining attorneys standing ready to step into the roles providing City Commission approval. As a constitutional officer, the city attorney is one of three positions directly hired by the commission in addition to the city auditor and clerk and city manager, the latter also being vacated when Marlon Brown retires on Oct. 15.

As the discussion began, commissioners heard from two local attorneys — Daniel Deleo and Andrew Oppenheim, both of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick — who pitched their firm for contract legal services as outside counsel to the city. The commission, though, seemed well on its way to hiring Polzak, Shamsey and Mladinich, citing their deep institutional knowledge of city affairs and a desire for a smooth transition.

Commissioner Erik Arroyo placed the item on the agenda in an effort to handle the matter expeditiously to provide a measure of job security for the would-be successors rather than extending the process as they may be fielding other officers.

“You’re at this point where you feel like a lame duck president, if you

Andrew Warfield

will. You don’t know what the future holds,” Arroyo said. “You think that you may have years on this job, or you may have a couple months, and I think we owe them at least the courtesy of giving them some sort of direction as to what the commission is thinking instead of waiting. We started the process with Mr. Brown leaving in a month and then we have another situation with the city attorney leaving immediately after, so I figured this one was easier to tackle them than Mr. Brown.”

Ideally, but not a requirement, the naming of a charter official would carry a unanimous vote. Trice, however, argued that while her colleagues have several years of working with the three, she doesn’t have that advantage, and she has yet to have meetings with them individually to discuss the job. For that reason, she said she is not ready to vote, and wanted the matter to be pushed to the second meeting in October.

Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch asked Trice directly if she can attempt to meet with the attorneys and conduct any other research prior to the Oct. 7 meeting. Trice responded that she can try but was noncommittal. If successful, she can add the item to the order of the day in advance of the meeting.

Erik Arroyo wants to name the next Sarasota city attorney sooner than later.

EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE

We are your trusted jewelry buyer ensuring a private, respectful experience and immediate payment

Douglas Constant, M.D. Fellowship Trained & Board Certified

Cartier • Tiffany • Van Cleef • Webb Boucheron • Rolex • Patek Philippe

Interventional Pain Management, Mild/Vertiflex for Spinal Stenosis, Image Guided Injections, Back & Neck Pain/Joint Pain/Arthritis, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, Spinal Cord Stimulation/Kyphoplasty, Radiofrequency Ablation, Complex Headache Management/Treatment

William Alex Mahoney, M.D.

Fellowship Trained / Board Eligible Orthopedic Surgeon

941.366.1014 SAME LOCATION FOR 40 YEARS DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

Adult Hip and Knee Joint Reconstruction, Arthroscopy, Trauma/ Arthritis, Regenerative Injections, Cortisone/Gel Injections

HIGHEST PRICES PAID FOR GOLD

1515 Ringling Boulevard ~ Suite 990 Northern Trust Bank Building - Free Parking 431403-1 431828-1

Licensed Fully Insured | Mon. - Fri. 9:00-5:00

COMPASSIONATE, ACCESSIBLE, EFFECTIVE CARE Your doctor and expert team will create a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan for lasting relief.

The Sarasota/Siesta Key, East County and Longboat Observers meet the legal requirements to publish legal and public notices in Sarasota & Manatee counties, per F.S. 50.011.

Same Day Appointments Available

AUDITOR INFORMATION

(941) 552-2183 5985 Silver Falls Run Suite 101 | Lakewood Ranch

Circulation Verified Council 12166 Old Big Bend Road, Suite 210 | St Louis, MO 63122 314-966-7111 | www.cvcaudit.com

(941) 919-3841 5504 Pinebrook Rd Suite 201 | Venice

(941) 214-2864 5741 Bee Ridge Rd Suite 450 | Sarasota

427168-1

PUBLIC NOTICES

428059-1

4

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Andrew Warfield

Applications are now being accepted by the city of Sarasota for its Downtown Master Plan Update Committee.

Shaping the city’s future Applications are now being accepted to serve on the Sarasota Downtown Master Plan Update Committee.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

F

ollowing an hour-long discussion that focused largely on meeting attendance requirements and how to go about enforcing them, frequency of meetings and whether a developer can serve as chair, the Sarasota City Commission had settled on the composition of an ad-hoc committee to help determine the future of downtown.

The issue of a developer serving as chair, should one be named to the

committee, was raised by Commissioner Erik Arroyo, citing perceived if not potential bias in the shaping of the future of downtown.

“We need to stop fearing this conversation about developers and developers’ interests and individuals in the pockets of developers,” cautioned City Manager Marlon Brown.

“I know we’re trying to satisfy certain voices in this community, but we need to stop that. We need to stop vilifying people who are developers.”

Whether or not a developer should be eligible to serve as chair was not included in the motion eventually made by Commissioner Debbie Trice and approved unanimously.

The committee will have as many as eight other members, after all, more than enough to dilute any sway a single member — such as a developer — may bring.

The volunteer group of at least seven, but as any as nine, members will be tasked to advise staff on an update of the city’s Downtown Master Plan 2020, which expired four years ago. The plan was crafted under the leadership of famed planner and new urbanism guru Andres Duany, who visited the city in January and was among four subject experts in a speaker series hosted by Architecture Sarasota to recommend an update.

At least one member of the committee will be selected from each of these categories: ■ A downtown resident.

■ A downtown merchant.

■ An owner of downtown commercial property.

■ A representative of social services.

■ A representative of services and

5

WANT TO SERVE?

activities for young people who is younger than 40.

■ A person who works downtown.

■ A frequent city resident and patron of downtown businesses.

In addition, commissioners may consider selecting members with experience, background or interest in: ■ Urban design and planning.

■ Sustainability, resiliency and environmental planning.

■ Architecture and/or landscape architecture.

■ Economic development and/or tourism.

■ Historic preservation and/or adaptive re-use.

■ Downtown culture and arts.

Members may satisfy more than one of the criteria, all of which are consistent with the outcome of a commission special meeting held Sept. 9 with one additional caveat suggested by Trice. Should any of the seven primary categories receive only one application, the commission may consider an additional applicant’s experience, background or interest to fill the seat.

As for attendance and enforcement, applicants will be informed the committee’s work could last 18 to 24 months, if not longer. And as is the case with other city advisory committees, enforcement will fall on the department, in this case the Planning Department, that oversees it.

“This isn’t like a lot of our advisory boards. The people applying for this board know that this is going to be a really intense commitment. I believe that they will understand that, want to do this and are all in,” said Mayor Liz Alpert. “I think there’s enough mechanism in the city that they would know that they couldn’t continue and that somebody else would have to be appointed.”

Like the Purple Ribbon Committee, seated to study repurposing of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Downtown Master Plan Update Committee will have a city-appointed facilitator to keep the group on task.

“With seven to nine members, I think there will be enough flexibility, and we’ll have a facilitator and who can alert us if there’s a problem and we need to step in,” Trice said.

The purpose of the Downtown Master Plan Update Committee is to provide input through public meetings to a consultant tasked with updating the Downtown Master Plan and submitting formal recommendations to the City Commission for consideration.

Candidates must submit an application and resume to the office of the city auditor and clerk by 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 17.

Application forms are available on the city’s website at SarasotaFL.gov.

Once appointed, the committee will meet as necessary with a consultant to be selected by the city to provide input on updates to the Downtown Master Plan.

Meetings will be held at City Hall and will be open to public.

Your Luxury Lifestyle Awaits Furnished Model Home Open To Tour

SIESTA KEY WATERFRONT LOCATION

SOLD THE WINDEMERE

1550 S Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239

THE ISLANDER

558 Venice Ln, Sarasota, FL 34242

Open To Tour

$4,985,000

• Winner 2024 Parade of Homes “Best Overall” • Stunning West of Trail Location • Elegant Designer Furnishings & Finishes

4,170 Sq. Ft. | 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 2 Car Garage Study | Media Room | Pool and Spa

Wed - Sun 1-4 PM

MLS A4589732

Thanksgiving

CARRY-OUT

*Rendering shown of Hansen St. Property

Orders Taken Through: Saturday, November 23 Pick Up Order 8am–7pm: Tuesday, November 26 or Wednesday, November 27 ANTICIPATED COMPLETION FALL 2024

THE SAND DOLLAR

118 N Warbler Ln, Sarasota, FL 34236

$7,250,000

4,594 Sq. Ft. | 4 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 3.5 Car Garage Study | VIP Suite | Bonus Room | Infinity Pool MLS A4557763

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION FROM FALL 2024

SERVES 5 $99.99

SERVES 10 $179.99

SERVES 20 $329.99

2½ lbs. slow roasted turkey or sliced ham 1 qt. mashed potatoes 1 qt. dressing (stuffing) 1 qt. gravy 1 qt. green beans or corn 1 doz. dinner rolls (white or wheat) 1 freshly baked pie

5 lbs. slow roasted turkey or sliced ham 2 qts. mashed potatoes 2 qts. dressing (stuffing) 1 qt. gravy 2 qts. green beans or corn 1½ doz. dinner rolls (white or wheat) 2 freshly baked pies

10 lbs. slow roasted turkey or sliced ham 1 gal. mashed potatoes 1 gal. dressing (stuffing) 2 qts. gravy 3 qts. green beans or corn 3 doz. dinner rolls (white or wheat) 4 freshly baked pies

THE BAHAMA

Offering Two Opportunities West of Trail 1625 Hansen St, Sarasota, FL 34231 3,157 Sq. Ft. | $2,449,000 MLS A4538727 3934 Sunshine Ave, Sarasota, FL 34231 2,642 Sq. Ft | $1,818,000 MLS A4541484

Take Advantage of These Limited Opportunities Heritage Builders is pleased to announce these five unique custom homes located in Sarasota’s most desirable neighborhoods. These striking residences feature the same cutting-edge layouts, luxurious appointments and superior construction quality that have made Heritage Builders Sarasota’s leading custom home designer and builder.

Please contact us today to learn more about these limited opportunities.

From Our Kitchen To Yours.

Custom Homes | West of Trail Homes | Waterfront Residences

To Order: derdutchmansarasota.com 3713 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota, FL | 941-955-8007

Visit us at HeritageBuildersWFL.com or call (941) 328-8272

Fully cooked & cold-packed meals — Reheating instructions included

HB Realty Group, Inc. | Licensed Real Estate Broker

428560-1

All designs are the property of Heritage Builders of West Florida, LLC. CBC1259307 Plans, pricing and specifications subject to change without notice. Renderings are artist’s conception and not intended to show specific detailing. Square footages are estimated and may vary in actual construction.

415346-1

More items available for purchase on our website.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

BOGO Bo

Opening bid, $1,200

nanza!

Task force recommends capping charter boat tour operator permits at 124 for county park gulf access.

ACT FAST

Time is Runni ng Out to SAVE BIG !

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

C 5 STARS

Zip•Climb Swing•Soar The Ground Is Overrated BRADENTON

Text 941-322-2130 www.TreeUmph.com

“This place is awesome.

My teens loved it, the courses progressively get harder. It is definitely a workout!”

– Google Reviews

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

*

APE UP AND ADVENTURE ADMISSION GIFT CERTIFICATES! GET YOURS AT treeumph.com

*Cannot be combined with any other promo. After expiration the gift certificates are worth the paid value.

Must use both gift certificates on one reservation.

430155-1

Purchase Ape Up or Adventure Admission BOGOs now and use them to climb anytime between now and November 3, 2024!

harter tour and fishing operators who use Sarasota County public parks will have to bid for access to boat ramps and piers to pick up and drop off passengers.

That is the recommendation of a task force appointed by the Sarasota County Commission to advise on how to resolve unauthorized use public parks by private charter captains, a decades-old situation county officials say has become unamanageable since the start of the pandemic.

On Sept. 11, commissioners voted 4-1, with Neil Rainford opposed while calling the motion shortsighted, to accept the task force report with one modification and instruct staff to craft an ordinance to be considered at a future public hearing. Rather than allowing charter operators to bid for up to four permits per each of three zones — North, Mid-County and South — commissioners decided to limit that to two permits per operator per zone to allow for greater participation.

That means a single operator is eligible for as many as six permits across all three zones.

The task force recommended a starting bid of $1,200 per permit, with excess proceeds to benefit acquisition of additional waterfront properties to support the growing need of water access in the county.

Those permits are good for a period of three years. The final form of the ordinance could be modified following the public hearing, the report characterized by Commissioner Mark Smith as “a good starting point.”

Commissioner Ron Cutsinger called it “something of an experi-

ELECT

Andrew Warfield

ment” that will likely evolve over time.

“I don’t think there’s any way this is going to stay the way it is,” said Chairman Mike Moran. “There’s going to be have some adjustments.

I think the intent of all of this was clear, and I think we’re getting closer to the intent of fixing some of these behaviors.”

On April 23, the commission seated the five-member task force, which met seven times between June 1 and Aug. 1.

In all, 124 permits, or medallions, would be allocated across the three zones, but initially 20 may not be available in the North Zone as Nora Patterson Park, while countyowned, lies within the Sarasota city limit just west of the Siesta Drive bridge.

The park is currently zoned for residential use. Issuing permits for businesses in the park may require a rezoning and other approvals from the city.

The number of permits was determined by a formula factoring use of 50% or the parking spaces available within each park.

The permit program applies sixpassenger uninspected passenger vessels — or “six pack” — fishing charters and tour excursions operated out of the county parks system.

The program does not apply to the Centennial Park boat ramps nor Ken Thompson Park at City Island, both of which are owned by the city of Sarasota.

Luke LaGorin and Frank Martinelli tie off one of two Private Custom Charters boats at Nora Patterson Island Park on Siesta Key.

IMPLANT & AESTHETIC DENTISTRY

Alan Sprintz for SMH Board

Oral Surgery, Periodontal, Restorative, Dental Hygiene Trust your oral health to a specialist

Alan Knows Hospitals.

Alan is the only candidate who has spent his entire career in hospital management.

IMPLANT SURGERY

He has handled virtually every major challenge and opportunity a hospital like ours might face.

ESTHETIC GUM GRAFTING

EXTRACTIONS BONE GRAFTING

COSMETIC VENEERS CROWNS

IMPLANT TEETH

Providing simple to complex specialty dental care in one convenient location

Alan Sprintz cares about you, your family, and our community. Building on his many years of hospital leadership experience, he will advocate for all of us.

A well-governed hospital benefits us all.

Meet Alan at ElectSprintz.com

MAGGIE MISCHHARING DMD, MS

KATHERINE E. MISCH DMD

CRAIG M. MISCH DDS, MDS

SPECIALIST IN PROSTHODONTICS AND FULL MOUTH ESTHETICS

SPECIALIST IN PERIODONTICS & IMPLANT SURGERY

SPECIALIST IN PROSTHODONTICS AND TEETH IN A DAY

Minimally invasive periodontal and implant surgical techniques to improve patients’ oral health

Over 30 years experience with an eye for achieving a natural perfection in dental implant restorations

SPECIALIST IN ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY & PROSTHODONTICS International lecturer, faculty at Univ. of Michigan, U of F & PENN, author of numerous scientific publications and textbooks

A Family-Owned Dental Speciality Practice

CHECK OUR REVIEWS ONLINE

www.drmisch.com

941.957.6444

425412-1

120 South Tuttle Ave Sarasota, FL 34237

VOTE on November 5!

Paid for by Alan Sprintz, Dem., for SMH Board

HARRY F. HARING III DMD

Master clinician using the latest technology to artistically transform smiles using veneers and crowns

432122-1

6

YourObserver.com

7

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Beyond First Class

™

Private Busi n e ss a n d L eis u re Trav el

Seamless

Luxury Ground Transportation

Extraordinary Personal Concierge

Efficiency

Spend Time Where it Matters

Connecting you to Premier Global Destinations Worldwide including: SARASOTA | TAMPA | NAPLES | PALM BEACH | MIAMI

Offering an Extensive fleet of Light to Super Mid-Size Jets, Turbo Props and Helicopters.

Pilot Owned. Empty leg flights with flexible schedules available.

The world’s only 100% Carbon Neutral charter company.

428226-1

All pilots and aircrafts adhere to ARG/Us safety standards and FAA regulations.

8

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

OPINION / OUR VIEW

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

The republic that’s failing All the talk about ‘threats to democracy’ and ‘destroying democracy’ are totally off the mark. It’s mob-rule democracy that is destroying the republic and destroying Americans’ individual liberty.

ELECTION ’24

“Human Action,” Ludwig von Mises

“The Vision of the Anointed,” Thomas Sowell

house, baking and, of course, spinning wool, sewing and other crafts.

“Roman women would pursue their own interests and could even own property … All in all, they were rugged and independent, much like their husbands.”

For Romans, homeschooling was the norm. Both parents were teachers, paying particular attention to their children’s moral character.

Boys were grounded in the most important Roman traits: dignity, self-control, diligence, goodwill, loyalty, a sense of duty, candor and, above all, courageous manliness.

(Sadly, where is that today?)

Religion and worship were also foundational for the Roman family.

Roman families would pray together every morning, asking the spirits “to give them a good, safe and productive day.” Each family worshipped as it saw fit, and “held fast to the idea of maximum personal freedom — an idea born on their family farms.”

This image of the Romans and their cultural traits are identical to those of early Americans — as Madden put it: “a self-sufficient family, hardworking, honest, courageous, friendly and pious.

“The history of American culture begins on the frontier and the family farm, and despite modern affluence, wealth and power, those agrarian values are still held up as quintessentially American. No American today, no matter how rich or cultured, wants to be called ‘an elite.’ Yet, conversely, describing someone as ‘down-to-earth’ is always considered to be quite a compliment.”

Romans also expected their family traits and values to carry over into public life. They regarded the ideal Roman as strong, patriotic, efficient, honest, hardworking and “first and foremost” a man with religious and moral principles.

Madden cites the Greek writer, Polybius, who lived in Rome after 167 B.C., and said of the Romans: “The quality in which the Roman republic is most distinctly superior is in my opinion the nature of its religious convictions.”

Polybius wrote that in spite of many layers of “copyists” and witnesses in Greek government, its public officials “cannot remain honest.” “Whereas elsewhere it is a rare thing to find a man who keeps his hands off public money, and whose record is clean, among the Romans one rarely comes across a man who has been discovered in such conduct.”

Yeah, well, many of our public officials today are nowhere near as virtuous with other people’s money (E.G. the national debt). Nonetheless, the Romans’ characteristics had a profound effect on America’s Founding Fathers. When they were creating the Constitution, they were convinced the stability and strength of the republic required American citizens’ belief in God. Madden quotes John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington affirming that.

Jefferson: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are a gift from God?” Washington, in his farewell address: “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

“Selected Essays on Political Economy,” Frederic Bastiat

“Wealth, Poverty & Politics,” Thomas Sowell

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

“The Road to Serfdom,” F.A. Hayek

“Free to Choose,” Milton Friedman

“The God of the Machine,” Isabel Paterson

“Economics in One Lesson,” Henry Hazlitt

“The Fountainhead,” Ayn Rand

“Anything That’s Peaceful: The Case for the Free Market” Leonard Read

MATT WALSH

I

can’t take it anymore. What follows below and next week in this space are the culmination of a constantly nagging frustration, sadness, anger, despair, disgust and fear — fear for my children and grandchildren — all of which has been building since Barack Obama vowed 16 years ago to transform America.

Through eight years of “you didn’t build that,” apologies for America and telling me I’m a racist; eight years of diabolical, evil lying and efforts to destroy Donald Trump; and nearly four years now of watching — daily — the nation’s ruling elites abuse and destroy the middle class economically, socially and culturally … all of that has reached a crescendo — especially now with the general and presidential elections 42 days away.

The teapot is screeching, its steam billowing. I need to lift the lid before it blows to smithereens.

In this space this week and next, if you are compelled enough to stick with me, I’ll be taking you on a journey — from 200 B.C. to now — that I hope will have the following results: ■ 1) Make you go sit in a quiet place, stare at the sky or the Gulf of Mexico and think deeply about what is happening to this once great nation and about how you and, more importantly, how your children and grandchildren are being affected and will be affected if our decline isn’t reversed.

(First, of course, you must accept and admit the obvious: The United States isn’t ascending, it’s declining — fast. I heard Dr. Casey Means, author of “Good Energy,” say two weeks ago Americans’ life expectancy for our newest generation of children is not rising; it’s falling. It has declined recently by 600 days.

Declined by nearly two years.)

Think about what that means.

We are deteriorating; not just in life expectancy, but seemingly in every way — culturally, economically, physically, socially.

■ 2) Help you see how democracy — rule by mob — unavoidably has brought and continues to bring increasing amounts of cultural, social and economic disintegration.

■ 3) Help you realize that you are not free. Today, all of us are slaves — slaves to the State. Our democratic republic has devolved into Statism and its relatives of fascism, collectivism and rule by authoritarian elites. The State and the “collective,” the democratic mob, have crushed your liberty. If you think you own your property, your house, the lightbulbs you want, your gas

stove — you don’t. The State controls them.

I will show you how we are nothing close to a free-market economy; we are living under destructive, State-controlled economic and cultural fascism.

We have sacrificed every aspect of our lives to the State.

■ 4) Help you see that neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris can rescue us, but that a Harris administration and Democratic Congress would take us further than we already are into the depths of communist and fascist rule.

■ 5) Spur you to stand up for our Founding Fathers’ beliefs and vision: That our government’s No. 1 job is not to rule us, not to sacrifice each of us to the collective mob and the State. Our government’s No. 1 job is to protect your INDIVIDUAL rights.

The individual is superior to the collective. That principle must be revived. To do otherwise will sentence your heirs to total slavery and despair — except for a few.

IT BEGINS WITH ROME

Among my list of favorite books is a recent addition: “Empires of Trust: How Rome Built — and America Is Building — a New World,” (2008)

by Thomas F. Madden, a history professor at St. Louis University.

Ed Tiesenga, an Oak Brook, Ill., lawyer and longtime Longboat Key snowbird, recommended it.

For a dozen years or more, Tiesenga frequently has commented on my editorial ramblings — mostly favorably because we share the same politico-economic philosophies: for individual liberty and laissez-faire capitalism. Two odd ducks these days.

At lunch months ago, while I lamented the U.S. being on its way to repeating the “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” Tiesenga said I should read “Empires of Trust.” You should, too.

“Empires” factually debunks the common belief that Rome fell because of the moral decay of civil and cultural society — in Rome’s case, the orgies, debauchery, gladiator fights, “drunk on hedonism” and fiscal irresponsibility. Many see the U.S. on a similar track.

But Madden’s historical documentation shows that the fall of Rome “is complicated.” In fact, records show there were three falls of the Roman Empire: “The first was the fall of the Roman Republic in 27 B.C. … The old republican government was largely abolished in favor of the direct rule of one man — an emperor. … The second fall occurred in A.D. 476 when the last Roman emperor in Italy was deposed and the Germanic barbarians … took over. The third and final fall was the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, when the last remnant of the Roman Empire was conquered by the Turks.”

The factors contributing to each fall were different. Yes, the Romans had their periods of moral decay and fiscal mismanagement; they

also had multiple civil wars. But as Madden emphasizes, when discussing the Roman Empire, you must remember it lasted 2,000 years. A lot happens in 2,000 years.

The United States, by contrast, is only 248 years old. Madden: “The young United States has nothing at all in common with the aged imperial Rome.” Instead, much of the first half of Madden’s book focuses on how the Roman Empire came about and the many striking similarities in culture, national character, core values and moral codes of early Romans and early Americans.

What many of us believe to be what it means to be an American actually came to us from the Romans. And when I share some of those traits below, you cannot help but say: “Somehow, we need to go back to that.”

OUR ROOTS: THE ROMANS’ VIRTUOUS CHARACTER “The earliest Romans were farmers, living in a frontier world in which each family looked after its own interests and well-being,” Madden writes.

That was the exact story of early Americans as well. When you read Madden’s description of the early Romans, in almost every instance where the word “Romans” appears, you can substitute the word “Americans.”

“For early Romans, the family, living in its traditional round hutlike house, was the place to raise children, to make a living and to worship. Hard work and calloused hands were not shameful things, as they were in the sophisticated eastern cultures, but badges of honor for Romans.

“Every family was led by the father, who had final say in everything … The father’s word — not the state’s — was the law in those days. … Romans believed that the father’s guiding spirit, called a genius, was responsible for watching over the household.

“Powerful Roman fathers, however, did not mean weak and subservient Roman mothers. Quite the contrary. The Roman wife … was a sturdy and hardworking woman.

She was responsible for looking after the young children, going to local markets, taking care of the

EMINENT BOOKS ON LIBERTY, CAPITALISM, INDIVIDUALISM Sowell

“Interventionism,” Ludwig von Mises

“Atlas Shrugged,” Ayn Rand “We the Living,” Ayn Rand “Anthem,” Ayn Rand “Letters of Ayn Rand,” Michael S. Berliner “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal,” Ayn Rand

Hans-Hermann Hoppe “Liberty in Peril: Democracy and Power in American History,” Randall Holcombe

“The Virtue of Selfishness,” Ayn Rand

“Empires of Trust: How Rome Built — and America Is Building — a New World

“Democracy: The God That Failed,”

“Dismantling America,” Thomas

“I, Pencil,” Leonard Read “Our Enemy, the State,” Albert Jay Nock “Memoirs of a Superfluous Man,” Albert Jay Nock “The Incredible Bread Machine — A Study of Capitalism, Freedom and the State,” R.W. Grant

For American Baby Boomers and those in the Silent Generation (1928-1945), the descriptions above of early Roman and American life should bring to mind visions of the way it was in the United States up through the mid-1960s.

You can say that for our first 175 years, even though most Americans likely had no idea, the nation’s cultural ethos and values indeed were rooted in the early Roman way of life — that of a self-sufficient, religious nuclear family; hardworking, honest, independent, friendly and pious.

But what happened?

Of course, we know we have

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@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 Digital Content Producer / Jim DeLa, JDeLa@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / Jenn Edwards, JEdwards@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Chief Revenue Officer / 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 © 2024 The Observer Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

YourObserver.com

never been perfect, just as the Romans were not. We know the list: Slavery; Civil War; the treatment of Americans Indians; Great Depression; 1960s race riots and Vietnam War strife, George Floyd-BLM. But even so, the overall trajectory of the United States over, say, the first 225 years has been mostly that of a nation on the ascendancy, similar to the way it was for the early Roman Empire. But then …

Always simmering underneath the United States’ increasing prowess and progress, rarely detected except by a few, there was what the Founders feared — and summarily and decisively rejected: democracy.

A government whereby decisions are made according to the collective will of the majority.

The Founders totally opposed a democracy of majority rule. As James Madison, father of the Constitution, pointed out in his famous Federalist essay No. 10, once a faction of citizens becomes a majority, “tyranny threatens. … A democratic tyranny may seem a contradiction in terms, but it can be all too real.”

In a letter to a friend in 1798, John Adams said democracy would ultimately evolve into despotism.

And that is exactly what has occurred over the past 248 years.

The frog floating at the top of the pot, unaware that the water’s temperature is slowly, slowly rising, ultimately boiling it to death.

When the Founders created the Constitution, instead of democracy, they created a republic, which, as Madison envisioned, would delegate power to “a small number of citizens elected by the rest.”

Madison had an idealistic view and pragmatic view of these representatives.

Idealistically, he thought the selection process would produce representatives “whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice, will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations.” In other words, he envisioned legislators who would not put their political ambitions first. (Ha!) Pragmatically, he thought that electing few representatives who came from all over the country to legislate in the capital would bring

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

“a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens.” In other words, there would be little chance of majority-mob rule by factions, or special interests. (Ha!) Finally, in their boldest measure to protect individuals from an overpowering government, the Founders adopted the Bill of Rights.

All of it was genius: a government of few representatives; a balance of power with three equal branches; a government with limited powers; and a government whose first and foremost role was to protect the rights of individuals.

The Founders knew a powerful government, a majority-rule democracy, was the biggest threat to individual liberty.

U.S. DEBT: DEMOCRACY AT WORK

Here is one result of majority rule: U.S. debt as a percentage of gross domestic product is at its highest point in history. The World Bank says when debt exceeds 77% of GDP, the debt inhibits economic growth. To see the entire chart, each year from 1929 to 2024, go to: balancemoney.com. $ in billions.

Debt % GDP Major events in presidential term $17 16% Market crash 1929 1930 $16 17% Smoot-Hawley reduced trade 1940 $43 49% FDR increased spending and raised taxes 1946* $269 119% Truman’s 1st term budgets and recession 1950 $257 86% Korean War boosted growth and debt 1960 $286 54% Recession 1970 $371 35% Recession 1980 $908 32% Volcker raised fed rate to 20% 1990 $3,233 54% First Iraq War 2000 $5,674 55% Budget surplus 2010 $13,562 90% ARRA added $400B, payroll tax holiday

ended, Obama Tax cuts, ACA 2020 $27,748 129% COVID-19 and 2020 recession 2023 $34,001 122% Fed raises rates * Previous record

Source: TheBalance.com

DEMOCRACY: RESULTS ARE IN

Today, Madison undoubtedly would be manically despondent at how his grand vision has turned out. Take the assessment of Hans-Hermann Hoppe, an Austrian economic libertarian and anarcho-capitalist, who authored the 2001 book: “Democracy: The God That Failed”: “The results are before our very eyes. The tax load imposed on property owners and producers makes the economic burden even of slaves and serfs seem moderate in comparison. Government debt has risen to breathtaking heights. Gold has been replaced by government manufactured paper money, and its value has continually dwindled.

“Every detail of private life, property, trade and contract is regulated by ever higher mountains of paper laws. In the name of social, public or national security, our caretakers ‘protect’ us from global warming and cooling and the extinction of animals and plants, from husbands and wives, parents and employers, poverty, disease, disaster, ignorance, prejudice, racism, sexism, homophobia and countless other public enemies and dangers.

“The only task a government was ever supposed to assume — of protecting our life and property — our caretakers do not perform. To the contrary, the higher the expenditures on social, public and national security have risen, the more our

private property rights have been eroded, the more our property has been expropriated, confiscated, destroyed and depreciated, and the more we have been deprived of the very foundation of all protection: of personal independence, economic strength and private wealth.”

Hoppe pretty much sums up the state of the U.S. We were warned. Continuously.

Going back to the 1880s and up to today, scores of authors, historians, journalists and economists warned and showed that what the Founders feared was occurring and has — the rise of the State overtaking individual liberty, the rise of democratic rule subverting individual liberty, the slow boiling frog. n 1884: Englishman Herbert Spencer, “Man Versus the State”: He warned of “the coming slavery” as governments grew. n 1926: H.L. Mencken: “[The State] has taken on a vast mass of new duties and responsibilities; it has spread out its powers until they penetrate to every act of the citizen, however secret; it has begun to throw around its operations the high dignity and impeccability of a State religion; its agents become a separate and superior caste, with authority to bind and loose, and their thumbs in every pot.” n 1935: Albert Jay Nock, “Our

Enemy, the State”: “[T]he rate of America’s approach to [the collapse of social power and rise of rhe State] is being prodigiously accelerated; and there is no evidence of any disposition to retard it, or any intelligent apprehension of the danger which that acceleration betokens.”

• 1945: Isabel Paterson, “The God of the Machine”: “It is not liberty and equality that are incompatible, but liberty and democracy. … Such is the inherent contradiction in the theory of democracy: Personal liberty is wiped out at the very beginning. No matter how often a democracy might be tried, it must shortly collapse into despotism.” n 1964: Ayn Rand, “The Virtue of Selfishness”: “Instead of being a protector of man’s rights, the government is becoming their most dangerous violator; instead of guarding freedom, the government is establishing slavery; instead of protecting men from the initiators of physical force, the government is initiating physical force and coercion in any manner and issue it pleases; instead of serving as the instrument of objectivity in human relationships, the government is creating a deadly, subterranean reign of uncertainty and fear, by means of non-objective laws whose interpretation is left the arbitrary decisions of random bureaucrats;

7247 TURNSTONE RD | $2.75M

931 NORSOTA WAY | $6.995M

9

instead of protecting men from injury by whim, the government is arrogating itself the power of unlimited whim so that we are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: The stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.” n 2019: Randall Holcombe, “Liberty in Peril: Democracy and Power in American History”: “The principle of liberty suggests that first and foremost, the government’s role is to protect the rights of individuals. The principle of democracy suggests that collective decisions are made according to the will of the majority…The greater the allowable scope of democracy in government, the greater the threat to liberty … Unfortunately, many Americans do not appear to fully understand these dangers as they continue to push the foundations of their government away from liberty and toward democracy.”

And so it continues, unabated — the destruction of liberty and individual rights and the expanding power of the ruling class and majority mob. Holcombe is being diplomatic when he says the more democracy there is “the greater the threat to liberty” and when he says “many Americans do not appear to fully understand.”

It is more than a threat; it is real.

And it is overwhelmingly clear the majority of Americans do not understand.

They do not know the difference between a republic and democracy, so they go along, like the brainless frog in the pot. That is why I urged you in the beginning to think deeply of what has been and is happening — and imagine, if these trends continue, what that will mean for your children and grandchildren.

Next week: How democracy leads to the worst being elected; the destructive social and economic consequences of redistribution; which presidential candidate and party will take us faster to the Road to Serfdom; and what you can do to stop the decline.

5322 AVENIDA DEL MARE | $2.3M

DEFINING THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF LUXURY 4929 OXFORD DR | $2.1M

5345 SIESTA CT | $1.349M

G

ING

IN

767 TROPICAL CIR | $4.295M

LD

LD SO Y E R BU

SO

SIESTA KEY | $2.475M

ND

ND

3200 HIGEL AVE | $3.65M

1280 HIDDEN HARBOR WAY | $7M 3722 FLAMINGO AVE | $6.65M 778 SIESTA DR | $6M 3731 INDIAN BEACH PL | $6M 4034 ROBERTS POINT RD | $5.6M 6142 MIDNIGHT PASS RD #17N | $5.25M 1035 SEASIDE DR #501 | $5.1M 521 CASEY KEY RD | $5M 832 FREELING DR | $4.8M 8415 MIDNIGHT PASS RD | $4.775M 3650 FLAMINGO AVE | $4.5M 854 N CASEY KEY RD | $4.35M

PE

PE

SOLD

SIESTA KEY | $5.25M

Successfully Connecting Buyers and Sellers of Luxury Properties Since 1999 Ranked in the Top 1.5% of Realtors ® in the USA

1

No.

SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR ® SINCE 2005

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.

Judie Berger, P.A., REALTOR ® Judie.Berger@PremierSIR.com 941.928.3424 homesofsarasota.com 418235-1

Over $86 Million Pending & Sold in 2024 Over $175 Million in Sales 2022-2023

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

NEW

CHECK

OUT

LETTERS

10

OUR LOCATIONS

CLARK RD

5471 Palmer Crossing Cir. Sarasota, FL 34233

LAKEWOOD RANCH 7220 University Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34243

ACE REWARDS MEMBERS GET:

FREE ASSEMBLY AND DELIVERY ON ALL GRILLS FREE TO SIGN UP

See stores for details.

Offer not valid on prior purchases or ship to home orders.

8/20/24�2:16:08PM�Page:�1

20% IN-STORE MERCHANDISE OFF UP TO $100.

HH1542658

20%OFF$100COUPON Expires 10/13/2024. No Cash Value. Can’t be combined with other

DG

NEW STORE HOURS MON-SAT 7AM - 7PM

SUNDAY 9AM - 5PM

3371 17th St Sarasota, FL 34235 941-366-1756

4210 53rd Ave E Bradenton, FL 34203 941-727-0884

3170 Bee Ridge Rd Sarasota, FL 34239 941-924-6614

2881 Clark Rd Sarasota, FL 34231 941-921-5363

426631-1

Since 1981 Family owned and operated.

NEW LOCATION 5471 Palmer Crossing Cir Sarasota, FL 34233 941-278-4242

NEW LOCATION 6398 N Lockwood Ridge Rd 2876 Ringling Blvd 1230 S Tamiami Trl 4231 S Tamiami Trl 7220 University Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34243 Sarasota, FL 34237 Osprey, FL 34229 Sarasota, FL 34231 Sarasota, FL 34240 941-351-3371 941-365-8802 941-918-0001 941-924-5654 941-278-4240

Vascular Surgery

WELCOMES

Incumbent’s rhetoric lacks accuracy The recent “Letter to the Editor” written by the Sarasota County Tax Collector (Sept. 19 Sarasota Observer) was frankly alarming.

Not only was it tone-deaf to public sentiment, but it was also factually incorrect. It is shocking that someone that has been in this office for 49 years can be so misinformed.

First, it was uncovered that the Tax Collector was paying an employee $448,367.92, not $400,000. The actual payroll amounts were $17,244.92 per pay period, and there are 26 payroll periods in the year. Following a Public Records Request, the payroll stopped the next payday.

What’s even more alarming is Mrs. Ford-Coates’ explanation that the additive pay was for “additional responsibilities during the pandemic.” The problem with this explanation is that the “additive pay” was three years after the pandemic. The most troublesome part of this research is that Mrs. Ford-Coates sent mandatory documents to the Department of Revenue showing the employee’s annual salary was $165,474.

Lastly, and most frustrating is this payroll additive is included in the employees Florida Retirement System (FRS) calculation and the residents of Sarasota County will be paying this increased retirement calculation for the life of this employee. These payroll documents are sent to the Department of Revenue so this type of behavior can’t take place. In Florida, government employee’s retirement is calculated on the highest five years of payroll during their career.

Second, the Tax Collector’s explanation to “overcharging our taxpayers” is factually incorrect.

The Tax Collector stated, “…that all fees and commissions this office collects are set and required

by Florida law – they are neither decided nor set by me.” This is simply inaccurate. While state fees are mandated from Tallahassee (for example a driver’s licenses and vehicle plates), Mrs. Ford-Coates mandates the fees on local Non-Ad Valorem Assessments. In just one example, Mrs. Ford-Coates was over-charging almost 13 times more than Charlotte County for the same work. Not 13% more, 13 times more.

In this real example, the Sarasota County Tax Collector charges $1,295.61, and the Charlotte County Tax Collector charges a flat fee of $100. It is unacceptable.

Nobody has taken a deep look into the operations of the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s office for almost five decades. It is time for a change.

MIKE MORAN CANDIDATE FOR SARASOTA COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR

regions, etc. This resulted in turnover at nearly four times our historic rate.

Throughout 2023, one employee worked 75-80 hours per week because of these staffing shortages.

This was the equivalent of two jobs, and I paid the employee for the actual time worked.

The employee was paid $346,000 and not $448,000 as Mr. Moran indicated.

The additional work and associated pay was scheduled to stop once the “Great Resignation” ended and my office was fully staffed. That happened to coincide with Mr. Moran’s public record request. Also, as any manager or leader knows, additional pay or overtime pay is a common practice to make up for staffing shortages.

Concerning Mr. Moran’s comment that the Sarasota County tax collector is “overcharging our taxpayers,” Florida Statute 197.3632(2) says: “A local governing board shall enter into a written agreement with the property appraiser and tax collector providing for reimbursement of necessary administrative costs incurred under this section.”

Further, Florida Statute 192.091(2) says: “The tax collectors of the several counties of the state shall be entitled to receive, upon the amount of all real and tangible personal property taxes and special assessments collected and remitted, the following commissions,” which, according to 192.091(2)(b)(2) is the “Actual costs of collection, not to exceed 2%, on the amount of special assessments collected and remitted.”

My office’s actual cost of collection is approximately 1%, which is paid by the non-ad valorem district for the work my office does to collect its taxes.

I confirmed with multiple counties that my office’s nonad valorem collection fee is approximately 50% lower than other counties. This is the result of my office costs being 50% lower than the state average and the lowest cost per capita in Florida.

Finally, I want to point out that my office’s financial operations are audited each year by an independent, external auditing firm, and I have always received a “clean” audit with no issues or comments. In fact, my office has received the Excellence in Financial Operations Award every year since its inception in 2011.

I am proud of how each of my employees is able to maintain efficient operations and provide exceptional customer service while achieving the lowest cost per capita of any Florida tax collector.

As always, I invite your readers to contact me with any questions about this office.

BARBARA FORD-COATES SARASOTA COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR

Gaby Ghobrial, PharmD/MD

Ford-Coates refutes Moran’s charges Here are the facts, some of which I addressed in my Sept. 11 letter published on YourObserver.com and the Sept. 19 edition of the Sarasota and Longboat Observers: During the period following the pandemic, which has come to be known as the “Great Resignation,” we had employees leave to care for family members, pursue other opportunities, move to other

Vascular Surgery Dr. Gaby Ghobrial brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Cattleridge office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Vascular Surgery.

Undergraduate:

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Graduate School:

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Medical School:

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ

Residency:

General Surgery Resident, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident, Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital

Certification:

Board Certified, American Board of Surgery, Vascular Surgery

A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1

Mold Damage?

Call Teasdale Fenton of Sarasota - We’ve Got You Covered!

8/26/21 3:27 PM

Our expert team specializes in water damage removal & restoration, wind & storm damage repair, and mold remediation helping you get your home or business back to pre-loss condition.

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL

941-341-0042

24/7 Emergency Services A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations

(941) 229-7020 TeasdaleSarasota.com

Cattleridge Medical Building I 3333 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

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

Commercial & Residential Services Available

Why Choose Teasdale Fenton?

24/7 Response Times • Family Owned and Operated

8/26/21 3:27 PM

A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations 8.26.21_IMG-Kassover-LWRII-18x24poster.indd 1

Free Estimates on Mold Restoration!

8/26/21 3:27 PM

430919-1

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

Have something to tell us?

Send your letters to Michael Harris at MHarris@ yourobserver.com.

Licensed & Insured • IICRC Certified Technicians Background Tested

8/26/21 3:27 PM

428334-1

Hospital Affiliations: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Doctors Hospital; Sarasota Memorial Hospital

SEND US YOUR LETTERS

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

11

MATTER BROTHERS FURNITURE INTRODUCES OUR STORE WITHIN A STORE!

Located inside our massive Matter Brothers Furniture showroom on Clark Road in Sarasota.

Save

Up

To

80% OFF This is where you’ll discover unbelievably discounted prices on designer quality furnishings for every room in your home. Enjoy the thrill of the find! Our inventory is always on the move, so visit us weekly to explore new deals and shop often!

Select from these famous name brands and more:

Attention Rental Property Owners, Home Stagers & Builders!

Furnish your spaces with top quality designer furniture at a fraction of the cost! Visit us today!

EVERYONE LOVES A

deal!

432129-1

4675 Clark Road Sarasota FL 34233 | www.matterbrothersfurniture.com

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

COPS CORNER

Plan a Field Trip

Everyone will LOVE!

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

SIDESWIPED BY BIKES 10:45 a.m., 900 block Ringling Causeway Disturbance: As a woman was walking on the John Ringling Causeway, she told an officer that three males passed her while they were riding their bicycles, which startled her. Rather than using the dedicated bike lane, the subjects were riding their bicycles on the walkway, where signs state that riders must dismount their bikes and walk.

The complainant stated that an exchange of words between the males ensued and added that bikes in the walkway are a regular occurrence when she walks the bridge. The officer pledged to conduct extra patrols and notify the traffic unit and officers working the other shifts to do the same.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER 10:57 p.m., 1800 block of 29th Street Family dispute: After her son refused to go to bed when told, an officer was dispatched to resolve the dispute. The complainant stated that when her son returned home late in the evening, with school the next day, an argument broke out between them and other family members after he defied her order.

The son told the officer he could not sleep because other family members were in the bedroom, to which the mother advised that they exit the room. The minor then stated that he wasn’t going to sleep and seemed upset because he was being yelled at and disciplined by his mother. The officer advised that he should listen to his mother, and after some time, he reentered the residence and went to bed.

Book Your Group Today!

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14

A LARGE UNPAID TAB 4:06 p.m., 1000 block of Ritz-Carlton Drive Civil dispute: With a guest having run up a hefty tab since checking in on Aug. 9, a hotel’s director of loss prevention called law enforcement for assistance. He said the male guest had made three payments to the hotel using different credit cards, but when the bill surpassed $15,000, collecting became more challenging.

The complainant said the guest,

has personal belongings in the room and medicine that he is required to take on a nightly basis. He said the hotel planned to hold his personal belongings as collateral, but would return his meds to him.

While on the scene, the complainant called the guest and spoke to him regarding the bill, to which he replied he would return to the hotel and pay half of the bill, then pay the rest on Monday. Having struck an accord, they agreed to meet later in the day. The complainant was advised to contact SPD should further assistance be required.

ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED 6:55 p.m., 1500 block of Ken Thompson Parkway Disturbance: Two officers responded to what was reported as a suicide threat, only to find two inebriated subjects. The complainant advised her boyfriend was walking in traffic with blatant disregard for his life.

Both parties were observed to be “extremely intoxicated” and had been arguing over relationship issues.

The man said he was not suicidal and he had been attempting to cross the street to distance himself from his girlfriend to “cool off.” Both of them agreed that they needed to return home and sober up. The woman’s brother arrived at the scene and transported both to their respective homes.

427497-1

ADOPT DON’T SHOP

OPEN 7 DAYS 10am-6pm - 941-366-2424 | 2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 • www.catdepot.org

Experience Personalized Care & Exceptional Service

Bring your students, class, family gatherings, church or other group for an exciting, hands-on adventure at Sarasota Jungle Gardens!

“I am pleased to recommend Dr. John Massey for his professional care, especially for those of us who dreaded having to need hearing aids.

He made this new challenge as easy as possible for me, as I am sure for all his patients.”

-JEANNE

Educational Shows | Up-Close Animal Interactions Special Groups-Only Shows | Discounted Pricing To learn more or to book your field trip, visit SarasotaJungleGardens.com/field-trips

FREE Consultation 941.312.4274

Board Certified Audiologist dedicated to providing quality hearing healthcare services. During Dr. Massey’s apprenticeship, he did research in psychoacoustics and speech perception. He also has a background as a professional audio engineer and producer, which brings a unique knowledge of acoustics and signal processing to the practice.

Sarasota's Favorite Family Attraction®

SarasotaJungleGardens.com • 941.355.5305

• Hearing Evaluations (Adults & Pediatrics) • Custom Programming that is Individualized using Probe Tip Microphones • Veteran’s Discount • Tinnitus Evaluation • Hearing Aid Consultations • Hearing Aid Fittings • Rehab & Preventive Hearing Consultations

3333 Clark Road, Suite 170 | Sarasota FL 34231

941.312.4274 | HearSarasota.com

412449-1

DR. JOHN MASSEY, Au.D./CCC-A

417996-1

12

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

13

431683-1

YourObserver.com

14

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

STORE OF

DREAMS Sarasota Art Museum showcases Galloway’s Furniture Showroom’s past and possible future.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

I

n New York, the Metropolitan Museum has the 15 BC Temple of Dendur honoring the Roman goddess Isis. The Sarasota Art Museum has a temple of its own — Galloway’s Furniture Showroom.

Designed by Victor Lundy, the mid-century modern pavilion is to retail what “Notre Dame is to cathedrals,” the Wall Street Journal recently declared.

With such an endorsement, it’s as if the gods themselves looked down from on high and bestowed their blessing on “Modern Masterpiece: Galloway’s Furniture Showroom by Victor Lundy.” The exhibition runs through Oct. 27 at SAM, a contemporary art museum that is part of Ringling College of Art and Design.

Curated by a team led by Architecture Sarasota President Morris (Marty) Hylton III, the exhibition celebrates Lundy’s bold design and reimagines new uses for the onceiconic circular structure of wood and glass.

Lundy, who turned 101 on Feb. 1, was one of the leaders of the Sarasota School of Architecture, along with Philip Hiss, Paul Rudolph and Ralph Twitchell.

FROM OPTICAL STORE TO EYESORE

There are probably some who have been in Sarasota long enough to remember Galloway’s, which was built in 1959 and closed five years later. But even longtime residents are more familiar with its incarnation as an optical store in the 1980s.

If you’re a newcomer to Sarasota or haven’t been paying attention, you may be surprised to learn this temple of Florida architecture still stands.

In fact, if you look out the window of the B. Claire Rusen Gallery, where the Galloway’s Furniture Showroom show is on display, you can see the original building on the grounds of SAM, which is housed in the old Sarasota High School building.

Its sparkling glass is long gone, covered by a stucco facade. The once magnificent building is surrounded by a prosaic chainlink fence and a parking lot used by SAM employees. It’s as if a once-great beauty

Courtesy images

Architecture Sarasota President Marty Hylton and SAM Executive Director Virginia Shearer.

IF YOU GO

has been confined to an institution of some kind and is covered with mummy-like bandages.

If you’re driving past the building, you probably wouldn’t notice it except for a mural that was recently painted on the exterior.

But visitors to the SAM exhibition can get a glimpse of the showroom’s former glory.

Or maybe we should say “morning glory,” because Lundy said his design was inspired by the flower that opens in the morning and closes up at night. According to a full-page ad in the Jan. 25, 1959, edition of The Tampa Tribune, the building’s “laminated arches simulate the stems and the redwood decking the petals of the flowers.”

Other features of the showroom included 290 feet of charcoal glass

Galloway’s Signature chair and ottoman at SAM.

‘MODERN MASTERPIECE: GALLOWAY’S FURNITURE SHOWROOM

BY VICTOR LUNDY’ When: Runs through Oct. 27 Where: Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Tickets: Free with $15 admission.

Info: Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

An artist’s rendering of Galloway’s Furniture Showroom.

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

that was 20 feet high to protect the interior from the sun, and a “floating” mezzanine encircling a “trunk” of redwood in the center of the building.

Some of this grandeur is conveyed on one wall of the SAM exhibition with architect Damien Blumetti’s digital reconstruction of the interior of Galloway’s.

USING SARASOTA AS A LAB

Another wall is filled with photographs, news clippings and advertisements for the fabulous furniture showroom. The wall opposing this collage is devoted to the possible future uses of the building that were envisioned by students at Hampton University in Virginia.

The exploration of potential restoration and repurposing of the Galloway’s Furniture Showroom by students at Hampton University, a historically Black college, took place through Architecture Sarasota’s Hub initiative. The Hub encourages research and design institutions to use Sarasota and Florida’s Southern Gulf Coast region as a lab for problem solving.

Of course, in the end, the fate of Victor Lundy’s creation depends on its owner, Ringling College. But the Hampton University student designs are sure to spark a dialogue within the community about the future of the building.

Those kind of conversations have been taking place more frequently under Architecture Sarasota’s auspices. In addition to preserving the annual tradition of Modernism Weekend, Architecture Sarasota has been engaged in lively discussions about the future of downtown and other design and planning issues since Hylton’s arrival in January 2023.

Under his stewardship, Architecture Sarasota polled the community and compiled a comprehensive list of significant buildings in town called “Moderns That Matter.” The list of 100 “places and spaces that give Sarasota its sense of place and character” is organized chronologically across 10 categories.

WHEN DESIGN WAS EVERYTHING

Even though it isn’t a Modern per se, No. 1 on the list is the CaplesRingling Estates Historic District,

including the John and Mable Ringling Museum and the Ca’ d’Zan because of its innovative designs that adapted to Florida’s pre-air conditioning environment.

Coming in at No. 91 on the “Moderns That Matter” ranking (remember, it’s listed chronologically, not by popularity or significance) is Galloway’s Furniture Showroom.

Galloway’s was founded in Tampa by entrepreneur Ralph Galloway in 1948 and expanded to seven locations in Florida. In addition to personally inspecting its Signature Group line of modern furniture, Galloway commissioned cuttingedge architects such as Lundy and Mark Hampton to design its showrooms.

Back in its heyday, the furniture on display was made in Florida. No, this was not the era of made-in-China pieces ordered online from Wayfair and delivered to your door without you ever touching the material or sitting in the chair.

Standing as testament to the reallife shopping experience is a Galloway lounge chair and ottoman in the middle of the gallery floor, not far from a scale model of the showroom where it was once sold.

Hylton has extensive experience in both the academic and historic preservation worlds. Before joining Architecture Sarasota, he spent more than a decade at the University of Florida as director of its Historic Preservation Program.

Prior to that role, he served as a strategic initiatives manager at the World Monuments Fund. A native of Kentucky, Hylton earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a master’s at Columbia University.

WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN

Hylton’s role in an initiative exploring future uses for Galloway’s Furniture Showroom isn’t the first time he’s been involved in trying to save a historic building in Sarasota. While at the University of Florida, Hylton was part of an effort to preserve Rudolph’s Riverview High School building, constructed in 1958 and demolished in 2009.

A walkthrough of the Galloway’s exhibition with Hylton and Virginia Shearer, SAM’s executive director, makes it abundantly clear that fate

15

Image courtesy of Ryan Lester

Visitors to the SAM exhibition can get glimpses of the showroom’s former glory. Or maybe we should say “morning glory,” since Lundy said his design was inspired by the flower that opens in the morning and closes at night. will never befall the landmark building in SAM’s backyard.

“The restoration and repurposing of the pavilion to serve Sarasota Art Museum and the community would be one of the most important projects to preserve and reimagine a Sarasota School resource,” Hylton says.

SAM was formed by 13 founding members in 2004 in concert with Ringling College. However, it didn’t formally open until 2019.

Shearer explains that Ringling College bought the former furniture showroom in 2009 to gain control over the neighboring property to SAM, which has a 99-year lease with the Sarasota County school district.

“It was understood that it could be a beacon, but it was also an exposure.

It could be turned into something that didn’t align with the museum or it could be torn down,” she says.

There are a few cultural projects

Visitors to the Sarasota Art Museum contemplate a digital re-creation of the interior of Galloway’s Furniture Showroom.

in the area looking for donors. Sarasota Orchestra’s new Music Center on Fruitville Road, Florida Studio Theatre’s new Mulva Arts Plaza and Venice Theatre’s reconstruction of its Jervey Theatre in the wake of Hurricane Ian are just three of them.

But maybe there’s an architectureminded donor who wants to help make Lundy’s mid-century modern masterpiece a meeting place for the in crowd once again. There’s no plan yet, but the space clearly deserves a more lofty purpose than storage.

Hylton notes there have been innovations in heat-resistant windows since the building’s original construction. If it is renovated with state-of-the-art materials, the glass pavilion could become yet another example of how Sarasota architecture is at the forefront of meeting environmental demands.

The Sarasota Ballet Presents

OCTOBER 11 – 13, 2024 | FSU CENTER

MEDIA SPONSOR

Xin Ying in Martha Graham’s Errand into the Maze | Photo by Hibbard Nash

11:00 AM WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2024 SHARKY’S ON THE PIER

Jessica Lang’s World Premiere Ricardo Graziano’s Amorosa Johan Kobborg’s Napoli Act III

TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE: CHILDRENFIRST.NET/SPONSORSHIPS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (941) 953-3877, ext. 1126

PROGRAM ONE

OCTOBER 25 – 27, 2024 | FSU CENTER MEDIA SPONSOR

PRESENTING SPONSOR

428457-1

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org

430643-1

Luke Schaufuss in Johan Kobborg’s Napoli Act III | Photo by Frank Atura

16

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 Designer Roller Shades Large Square Cassette 2.0 in Birch PowerView® Automation, PowerView® Motorization

OUR PICK

BLINDS•SHUTTERS DRAPERIES•WALLCOVERINGS heraldtribune.com

WINNER Courtesy image

“The Torch Bearers” runs through Oct. 13 at Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center.

941-925-7800 mmwallcoveringsblinds.com

Janet and Curt Mattson Owners

THIS WEEK

4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings

©2024 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

A M O N T E S S O R I I N S P I R E D H A L F DAY P R E S C H O O L

THURSDAY

JAMIE LISSOW 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $37 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Jamie Lissow is a regular on Fox’s talk show “Gutfeld!” and starred on Netflix’s “Real Rob” alongside “Saturday Night Live” veterans.

Runs through Sept. 28.

Where Your Child Will Thrive Setting your child up for a bright future starts with providing them with a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning. At Ivybrook Academy Sarasota, we take an innovative approach to preschool and are redefining how parents view early childhood education.

Schedule a Tour Today!

‘THE FANTASTICKS’ 7 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $29 Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

You don’t have to try to remember “the kind of September when life was slow and oh so mellow.”

Experience firsthand the magic of “The Fantasticks,” the world’s longest running musical, at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

Runs through Sept. 29.

Our Sarasota preschool offers programs for children ages two through five years.

‘THE FOUR C NOTES’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42

941-216-5336

ivybrookacademy.com/sarasota 428244-1

5911 N Honore Ave, Suite 102 Sarasota, FL 34243

‘STRUTTIN’ WITH THE STILETTO BRASS’ The all-female Stiletto Brass quintet will be joined by Bradenton virtuoso trumpeter Vince DiMartino for a rollickin’ program featuring“Struttin’ with Some BBQ” by Kenneth Abeling and George Gershwin’s “Summertime” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

Season 29 | Talent Unveiled ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 941-306-1202

From Bach to Bluegrass

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 Where: Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $35 and up Info: Visit ThePopsOrchestra.org.

Kayla Williams, viola with Chris McCarthy, piano

October 15, 5:30 pm performance followed by dinner Plantation Golf & Country Club From bluegrass to classical, jazz and gospel, Kayla Williams crosses genres and styles effortlessly. Her performance includes instrumental and vocal music.

She will be accompanied by jazz pianist Chris McCarthy, who has been hailed as “one of the most imaginative and impressive voices on the New York jazz scene.”

IF YOU GO When: Runs through Oct. 13 Where: Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice Tickets: $15-$35 Info: Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

With “The Four C Notes,” Florida Studio Theatre continues its tradition of presenting Four Seasons tribute shows inspired by “Jersey Boys” and starring performers from the Broadway smash hit’s touring production. Runs through Oct. 13.

SATURDAY ‘PALETTE OF SOUNDS’ 6 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court Free Visit MosaicMovements.org.

The Creative Nexus series kicks off with “Palette of Sounds,” featuring indigenous musician Lyla June, guitarist David Munoz and reggae band Jah Movement.

SUNDAY CHAMBER SOIRÉE: BAROQUE BANQUET 4 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $42-$52 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Orchestra opens its Chamber Soiree season with Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3” for strings, Philidor’s “March for Two Pairs of Timpani” and Stravinsky’s Neo-Baroque “Pulcinella.” Among the performers will be the orchestra’s principal timpani player, Yoko Kita.

MONDAY

DON’T MISS

ENDURING LIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROY DECARAVA AND DANNY LYON 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road $30; free on Mondays Visit Ringling.org.

This exhibition showcases works from two complementary portfolios of the U.S. civil rights movement.

The photographs by Roy DeCarava and Danny Lyon are part of a collection recently donated to The Ringling by Richard and Ellen Sandor. Runs through Feb. 9.

9:00 - 11:30AM EVERY SUNDAY

SUNDAY BRUNCH!

Yamazalde Trio

Sandy Yamamoto, violin; Matthew Zalkind, cello; Julio Elizalde, piano

November 2, 4:00 pm • Church of the Palms Sandy Yamamoto has dazzled audiences in concert performances around the globe as a soloist and as a member of the award-winning Miró Quartet. Matthew Zalkind is a top-prize winner in multiple international competitions, and Julio Elizalde is one of the most sought-after recital partners in the country. This program includes music by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Paul Schoenfeld.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar

941.346.5443 | www.SKOB.com

428761-1

5238 Ocean Blvd Sarasota, FL 34242

This project is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; The Exchange; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

429946-1

427869-1

Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989

‘THE TORCH BEARERS’ The Venice Theatre celebrates its 75th anniversary by reviving its first show.

Written by George Kelly in 1922, “The Torch Bearers” is a play within a play about a community theater. The Venice Theatre’s “origin story” features an ensemble cast, including Kevin Fewell, Paul Hutchison, Tan Selby, Nancy Denton, Colette Wheeler and other local thespians.

YourObserver.com

17

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

EATING WITH EMMA

Egg-cellent sandwiches EMMA BURKE JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

F

reshman year of high school, I watched seniors vote for their class superlatives. The captain of the football team and his girlfriend were crowned cutest couple. That wasn’t something I aspired to, but I thought maybe — just maybe — one day I’d be nominated for something like “Best Eyes.” Still, as long as I wasn’t a contender for “Most Likely to Never Leave Connecticut,” I knew I was a winner.

Fast forward to when the yearbooks came out my senior year. I was shocked to see that I and my 13 gal pals had been named “Best Clique.” We donned T-shirts proclaiming ourselves “The Senior Biddys,” while the cool kids tried to make a mockery of our group.

You know what’s funny about high school? In the end, it doesn’t matter. Nearly 20 years later, I’d be happy to have been voted most resilient, most likely to marry an incredible human and best person to ask about breakfast sandwiches.

In honor of National Better Breakfast Month, I’m going to pass along some of my local favorites.

99 BOTTLES TAPROOM & BOTTLE SHOP

1445 Second St., Sarasota; 487-7874; 99Bottles.net A Toast To: Most likely to get you boozy with a side of bagels at brunch.

Egg-Cellent Choice: 99 Bottles hosts brunch every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can get “real deal NY bagels.”

Choose from a bagel with hummus, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and pickled red onion ($9.50) or the bagel BLT ($11.50) with bacon, iceberg lettuce, tomato and aioli. If you’d rather stick to basics, choose

Check out these breakfast bites found in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton.

from cinnamon raisin, everything, plain, poppy, pumpernickel, rainbow, sesame or a bialy. Personally, I can’t wait to bite into the egg salad sandwich ($6.50).

a croissant with bacon, tomato, sprouts and avocado — perfect for a Starman or woman.

BUTTERMILK HANDCRAFTED FOOD

2547 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch; 746-2000; TheGranaryLWR.com

THE GRANARY BREAKFAST & LUNCH RESTAURANT

5520 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota; 4878949; Facebook.com /ButtermilkSRQ A Toast To: Best biscuit of dreams.

Egg-Cellent Choice: I shouldn’t admit this, but the first biscuit I ever had was when I moved down here eight years ago — and I’ve never looked back. Buttermilk — an ingredient of all things flaky and fluffy — led me to Benton’s bacon, baked egg and pimento cheese ($9.95) on a biscuit. Another breakfast sandwich in my rotation? The Benton’s bacon, jam and baked egg ($7.75).

BONANNO’S BAGELS

Food truck locations available online; 724-0798; BonannosBagels.com A Toast To: Most likely to dish out delicious lox on wheels.

Egg-Cellent Choice: Welcome the newest foodie stop on my never-ending search for the best local flavor. Like this foodie, owner Monique is bringing smiles to people’s faces in honor of her late father through food. For lox lovers, the Fifth Avenue ($10.75) is made with thinly sliced salmon, plain cream cheese, thinly sliced red onions, capers and fresh dill. Nostalgia swept over me when I saw the rainbow bagel ($3.50). I had to order it with the honey walnut schmear ($1.75).

COFFEE CARROUSEL

1644 Main St., Sarasota; 365-2826; Facebook.com/CoffeeCarrousel A Toast To: Best Sarasota staple

Courtesy image

Sun Garden Cafe’s Ziggy Stardust ($15.95) sprouts joy on Siesta Key.

serving a sausage sandwich.

Egg-Cellent Choice: Anytime you drive down Main Street, you are certain to see the signature window paintings of a carrousel and immediately smell the aromas of specials that have been cooking up since 1987. Belly up to the bar and order an egg, meat and cheese on toast ($3.75). If you were me, you’d order the sausage on a croissant for an extra 70 cents.

JERSEY GIRL BAGELS

5257 University Parkway, Unit No.103, Bradenton; 388-8910; JerseyGirlBagels.net A Toast To: Tasty, top-notch, tristate area bagels ready to tempt you.

Egg-Cellent Choice: I will forever shout out JGB because they continue to wrap me in a home away from home full of gluten, and I never want them to let go. Go pick up

(or order by UberEats) an egg and cheese with your choice of bacon, sausage or Taylor ham ($8.99) and turn any lazy Sunday into the ideal rot on the couch day. What could be better than you in your sweats, your cats and whatever Netflix show you are currently bingeing on?

SUN GARDEN CAFE

210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota; 346-7170; SunGardenCafe.com A Toast To: Most creative croissants combos on the Key. Egg-Cellent Choice: This garden oasis is a must-stop with out-oftown guests or to simply pretend you’re the one on vacation. With names on the menu summoning up decades past, the well-known beach town eatery serves up classic favorites with a serious ’70s vibe.

The Ziggy Stardust ($15.95) rocks out with two scrambled eggs on

A Toast To: Most likely to create cheese chaos in the most delicious way imaginable.

Egg-Cellent Choice: One bit of advice for this stop on our quest for the best breakfast sandwich: Come hungry! And if you’re thirsty, this Lakewood Ranch eatery showcases a well-stocked bar full of wines, champagne and draft beers.

However, it’s the breakfast grilled cheese ($13.59) that will open up your morning eyes. Scrambled eggs with tomato and onion, topped with cheddar jack, Havarti and swiss with a side of ham sausage or bacon is just what the foodie ordered.

URBAN FRESH SANDWICH COMPANY

719 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 740-624-6445; UrbanFreshSandwich.com A Toast To: Most wonderful, warm and wildly flavorful breakfast wraps.

Egg-Cellent Choice: This food truck is whipping up breakfast and lunch sandwiches with a side of fries right on Cattlemen Road.

Choose from 10 breakfast sandwiches (and a breakfast bowl!) from 7-10:30 a.m. While the Carpe Diem wrap is astonishingly addictive, it’s the Mama’s Choice ($10.50) that leaves me wanting more — and a water chaser. It’s packed with bacon, American and hot pepper cheese, avocado, tomato, onion, jalapeños and deli sauce plus truffle sauce.

ROBLES LAW Attorneys At Law • Estate Planning • Business Entities • Real Estate • Probate • Elder Law • Guardianship • Equine Law

FREE ADMISSION September 27th, 28th & 29th Fri., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Sat., 10 a.m. – 5p.m. • Sun., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The expo halls and grounds are filled with boats and exhibits.

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437

2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4679

Florida State Fairgrounds 4800 US-301, Tampa, FL 33610

www.tampabayboatshows.com

OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN Special Financing Available

www.manasotaonline.com

427694-1

431465-1

0000278608-01

Andrew L. Clark, Esq.

428873-1

M. Michelle Robles, Esq.

New Boats, Exhibits & More.

Tampa Bay's Largest Boat Show!

Presented by

YourObserver.com

BRIEFS

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Temple Beth Sholom Sarasota’s Only Conservative Synagogue invites you to our High Holiday services and to join our warm and embracing community.

Chag Sameach

ַ‫שמֵ ח‬ ָׂ ‫חַ ג‬

Special Offer!

If you or your spouse are 40 OR UNDER, YOUR WHOLE FAMILY CAN JOIN THE SYNAGOGUE FOR JUST $118, this includes High Holiday tickets.

1050 S. Tuttle Ave Bldg. 2, Sarasota FL 34237 www.tbssrq.org - 941.955.8121 - info@tbssrq.org

432792-1

Call or email for details

Lia Romeo wins Urbanite’s Modern Works Festival Following its five-day Modern Works Festival for female playwrights, Urbanite Theatre announced that the winner of its 2024 competition is Lia Romeo, for her play “A Nice Motherly Person.”

Romeo takes home $3,200 to help develop her new work.

Romeo’s play was one of three finalists out of more than 300 works submitted. The other two were “I’m Saving You a Seat” by Sarah Elizabeth Grace and “In the Mouth of the Beast” by Baylee Shlichtman.

“Each of the finalists’ plays was unique in style, contained fantastic writing, and made it nearly impossible to choose a winner,” said Urbanite Producing Artistic Director Summer Wallace in a statement.

“All three of our finalists deserved to take home top honors.”

Sponsored by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and Carole & Malcolm Schwartz, Urbanite’s Modern Works Festival drew soldout audiences from Sept. 4-8 for staged readings of the three finalists, talkbacks, parties and a keynote presentation by playwright Lauren Gunderson.

“A Nice Motherly Person” explores the challenges of new motherhood and riffed on characters familiar to fans of Peter Pan. A recent graduate of the Juilliard playwriting program, Romeo teaches creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Her plays have been developed at institutions such as the O’Neill, La Jolla Playhouse and the Lark, and have been produced at companies including Laguna Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre, Project Y Theatre and New Jersey Repertory Theatre.

Reynardus de Villanueva joins board at Art Center Sarasota

Image courtesy of Matthew Holler

Clara Reynardus de Villanueva has been appointed to the board of Art Center Sarasota.

sota is the oldest visual arts organization in Sarasota. It doesn’t charge admission for its juried regional art exhibitions and solo shows that allow artists to sell their works, relying instead on donations and membership fees to fund its operations.

A first-generation Cuban American mostly raised in Puerto Rico, Reynardus de Villanueva is an ardent advocate for expanding access to the arts, education and social services for underserved communities.

“We are excited to welcome Clara to our board,” says Ramsey Frangie, Art Center Sarasota board president. “Her dedication to community arts advocacy, coupled with her extensive nonprofit experience, will be instrumental in advancing Art Center Sarasota’s mission and ensuring its continued impact on Sarasota’s vibrant cultural landscape.”

Reynardus de Villanueva is the board chair for CreArte Latino Cultural Center, serves as an advisory board member for the Sarasota Ballet and is a volunteer with the Child Protection Center.

She is pursuing an MBA and a graduate degree in nonprofit management, both from USF, and has been recognized with several leadership awards.

“I’m honored to join the board of Art Center Sarasota, an organization integral to our community’s cultural development,” said Reynardus de Villanueva in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating with a talented team to help the center maintain its leadership in the arts, inspire creativity, and support artists from all backgrounds.”

428625-1

Clara Reynardus de Villanueva, director of development for the University of South Florida Foundation’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, has been named to Art Center Sarasota’s board of directors.

Founded in 1926, Art Center Sara-

SPARCCle

A Starry Night Soiree

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2024 8 a.m. at Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota NAMIWalks.org/SarasotaAndManatee

45th Sapphire Anniversary Celebration

REGISTER NOW!

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Start or join a team or participate as an individual!Become a Sponsor!

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

WHY WE WALK

Tickets: www.SPARCC.net/Events

To promote awareness of mental health and reduce stigma.

To raise funds for NAMI’s free, top-rated mental health programs.

Presenting Sponsor Lawrence P. Castellani Family Foundation

To build community and let people know they are not alone.

Gold Sponsors Susan T. Wilson

The Cornerstone Capital Group At Morgan Stanley

• Susan Buck • Sue & Tom Ghezzi • JoAnn Heisen • Jenny & Roger Holland • Georgie Holst-Knudsen • Linda & Ozzie Patzmann • Kimberley Pelyk • Susan S. Scarbrough • Katherine & Andrew Sell • Fred Simmons & Nancy Smith • Kimberly Tude Thuot • E-Dee & Michael Murphy & Shirley & Pat Wulf

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) supports the 1 in 5 who live with mental health conditions and the 5 in 5 who are affected by them. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Mental health is not for some. MENTAL HEALTH IS FOR ALL!

Media Sponsors

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN FLORIDA 1-800-435-7352 OR WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION NUMBER CH580

432889-1

All proceeds benefit

432794-1

18

Classifieds 33 Games 32 Real Estate 27 Sports 29 Weather 32

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

YOUR NEIGHBORS As renovations draw to a close, The Bay prepares to celebrate its second anniversary.

Courtesy images

A couple dances at the Multi Cultural Festival held by The Bay.

Two years, a month of events IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

T

here was still event planning behind the scenes, even as many parts of The Bay were closed to the public for its “Summer Tune-Up at The Bay” projects.

“It was kind of good to get a break, but we really didn’t get a break,” said Director of Park Guest Experience Diana Shaheen.

With the final project set for completion by Oct. 1, which marks the month of the park’s opening, The Bay has plans to recognize its anniversary with a variety of events.

From Oct. 1 to 31, it will be hosting its Two Terrific Years at The Bay Second Anniversary Community Celebration.

“Unlike previous years, we’re actually doing a month-long celebration of all different types of activities and events to allow everybody the opportunity to come and try at least one event in the park during the month, and it’s celebrating the best of The Bay,” Shaheen said.

This year’s lineup includes offerings such as Average White Band on its final concert tour and a spooky new path for kids to explore at Boo! at The Bay, and — with the exception of food and drink offerings — it’s all free to the public.

RENOVATIONS TAKE PLACE

Since the park opened in 2022, Sha-

heen said, some 570,000 people have visited.

However, with The Oval stage and the Sarasota Garden Club facility out of service amid the renovations, there had been a lack of free concerts and Cinema at The Bay screenings throughout the summer.

As of June 17, The Bay has been working on the tune-up projects, which total about $1 million and have included several enhancements to the park facilities.

The garden club building, a 1960 mid-century modern structure, received new windows thanks to a grant by PGT Innovations, as well as a new floor, paint and HVAC system.

The tune-up also included numerous other renovations to the park facilities such as installation of premium artificial turf in the Ibis Playground and The Oval and replacement of wood in park structures.

The only outstanding project is the installation of steps in The Oval, an amphitheater-like area, to allow visitors to move more easily between the artificial turf at the bottom and the park amenities at the top.

FAN-FAVORITE EVENTS RETURN

This year’s lineup brings back a variety of the events that were a hit last year, Shaheen said.

Among the ones she calls a fanfavorite is Boo! at The Bay, held Oct. 25.

“We just keep making it better every year,” Shaheen said, noting

SUMMER TUNE-UP AT THE BAY Estimated Total Cost: $1 million Time frame: June 17 to Oct. 1 ■ Annual golf-course quality lawn maintenance ■ Refresh of Garden Club building ■ Replacement of coquina shell material in the playground with premium artificial turf ■ Replacement of grass in The Oval with premium artificial turf ■ Replacement of coquina shell in the path on the south edge of the common ground lawn with shelled concrete ■ Replacement of wood in various park structures with more durable and resilient wood ■ New paths ■ New bike rack by The Nest Concession ■ New steps in The Oval Visit: TheBaySarasota.org.

expanded offerings include partnerships with nonprofits.

This year, Gulf Coast Community Foundation will staff trick-or-treat stations on a decorated mangrove bayou trail, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation will lead kids in decorating pumpkins and Art Center Sarasota will offer a photo opportunity.

A sensory-friendly option returns from last year, but this time through a partnership with Face Autism that Shaheen said will make the garden club facility “come alive.”

Another favorite is the outdoor food festival Taste of The Bay Presented by Sarasota-Manatee Originals on Oct. 20.

The event will feature 20 popular local restaurants, an increase over last year’s 17, with many returning from last year. Shaheen said a betterorganized ticketing process will also

be used.

However, there are still other major events as well.

Kickstarting the celebration’s signature events on Oct. 6 is Parktoberfest, which features The Deleon Family Band returning and involves activities including a stein hoisting contest (with the chance for the winner to claim a mug).

The event coincides with GermanAmerican Day on Oct. 6, although Shaheen said the timing wasn’t planned.

Park-toberfest is followed on Oct. 12 by Barktoberfest, part of the new Bow Wow! at The Bay series hosted

by Top Dog Training.

The event will bring together local pet-oriented businesses and will host a costume contest for dogs and their owners.

Yet one event that can’t be overlooked is the Two Terrific Years at The Bay Anniversary Community Celebration Party held at The Nest at The Bay Park on Oct. 16.

“We’re celebrating everything two,” Shaheen said. “So twins and 2-year-olds and couples, and I’ve got some sweet treats from the breakfast company again this year, double chocolate brownies.”

NEW CONCERTS

You may recognize some of the names in this year’s concert lineup.

Shaheen describes as the event on Oct. 18 as “one concert with two great groups.”

Headlining the concert is Scottish funk and R&B band Average White Band, who are making their farewell tour.

The band is known for its soul and disco hits in the 1970s and ’80s, most notably the single that topped U.S. charts in 1975, “Pick up the Pieces.”

Opening their act is Sistas in the Name of Soul of West Coast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota.

The following night, Oct. 19, the park hosts The Breakers, considered the country’s premier Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band.

Although Shaheen says it’s convenient, not intentional, Petty’s 74th birthday would have been the day immediately following the concert, Oct. 20.

NEW RECURRING EVENTS

With the park’s facilities open again, The Bay is also debuting some new events that will extend past the month of October.

Starting Oct. 11, it will be partnering with Art Center Sarasota for a plein air painting (painting outdoors in natural light) series held the second Friday of the month.

Architecture Sarasota will begin offering tours of the park area and its multiple historic buildings that include the Sarasota Garden Club, the Blue Pagoda, the Chidsey Building and the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.

On Oct. 19. Marty Hylton, president and CEO of Architecture Sarasota, will personally host the first Moderns that Matter: The Bay Architecture Tour.

There’s still more to come next year in the park, with work on Phase 2 underway.

Construction is taking place north of 10th Street currently, and work will begin on the Cultural District in the new year, Shaheen said.

However, in the meantime, the public can enjoy the anniversary celebrations, with the park fully open once again.

“It’s exciting, and we’re excited that people in the community love the park, and they love it for all different reasons. It’s one park for all and it’s meant to be used.”

A staff member at 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails prepares meat skewers at Taste of The Bay.

The Breakers, the country’s leading Tom Petty tribute band, will perform Oct. 19.

Finding you...

Your Little Piece Of Paradise

Whether You're Buying or Selling... You Can Count On Us Ranked In The Top 1% Of Realtors In Sarasota-Manatee Counties

Are you in the market for a new home, browsing for the future, or considering selling your own home?

We are here to help guide you along the way.

Check out our website, we have the best reviews from our customers!

JENNIFER THOMPSON, P.A., REALTOR®, GRI

TAYLOR THOMPSON, P.A., REALTOR®

941.928.0790

941.928.2372

Jennifer@ThompsonGroupSarasota.com

Taylor@ThompsonGroupSarasota.com

428254-1

Scan the QR code to visit our website 6021 MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD | SIESTA KEY | FL 34242

www.ThompsonGroupSarasota.com

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

YOUR CALENDAR

Venice Home Show OCT. 5 & 6 Sat 10-5 • Sun 10-4 VENICE COMMUNITY CENTER

FREE Admission all weekend!

FORWARD FOR FREEDOM: LETTING EDUCATORS TELL THEIR STORIES 1-3 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road. Free.

Held in celebration of Let Freedom Read day and Banned Books Week, this event features speakers Liz Barker, Jennifer Jenkins and Martha Bird. Children’s activities and childcare are provided on-site by SEE Alliance and UUSRQ. Visit UUSRQ.org.

CHEF WARREN — CUBAN FOOD 2-3:30 p.m. at Fruitville Library, 100 Apex Road. Free. Join award-winning cookbook author Chef Warren as he cooks traditional Cuban cuisine, sharing hints and tips. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.

• Builders • Baths • Windows • Contractors • Driveways • Solar & much more!

• Kitchens • Hot Tubs & Pools

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS The Nest, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Every Wednesday, enjoy $2 off alcoholic beverages from The Nest Café. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

Sponsored by:

FIFTH ANNUAL HAUNTED MINI GOLF 2801 Newtown Blvd., 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Kids ages 5 and up. Enjoy rounds on a haunted mini golf course at the library. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.

Largest Producers of Home Shows in Florida

VeniceHomeShow.com 877.730.SHOW(7469)

BEST BET SUNDAY, SEPT. 29

‘HEROES AND HOSTAGES: A JOURNEY OF COURAGE AND SACRIFICE’ (SARASOTA JEWISH THEATRE) 3 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130. $75. Sarasota Jewish Theatre presents this program commemorating the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in Israel. It features speakers, music, dance and videos. Visit Tickets.

ThePlayers.org.

Courtesy image

The program will feature Ashira Zehavi’s “Heroes of Israel” performed by Cantor Riselle Bain.

MONDAY, SEPT. 30

Everything for in & around your home!

1974

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free.

All ages are invited to help enhance Phillippi Estate Park by laying mulch, weeding, pruning, removing invasive plants and planting native plants around the park. Participants must bring their own tools and supplies.

Water and snacks will be provided.

Visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.

’70S NIGHT ON THE ROOFTOP AT SAGE 6-10 p.m. at Sage, 1216 First St. $25.

Following its ’90s and ’80s-themed nights, Sage takes attendees back to the disco era, with plenty of room for dancing. Tickets include a featured Grey Goose specialty cocktail at the rooftop bar. Visit EventBrite.com.

326 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice

Produced by:

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28

432487-1

THURSDAY, OCT. 3

CINEMA AT THE BAY: WEST SIDE STORY 7-9:30 p.m. at The Oval, 1055 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. Shown in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, this classic musical centers on a modern-day Romeo and Juliet with New York street gangs and narrowly was chosen through a social vote. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

CREATION STATION ADULT LAB: SEW A LINED DRAWSTRING CANDY BAG 1-2:30 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free. Prepare for Halloween by sewing a lined drawstring bag with spooky fabrics. Sew a lined drawstring bag with slightly spooky fabrics that you may use to hand out candy from or give to a trickor-treater you know. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.

FIVE DECADES OF STAYING STYLISH

2024 OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN manasotaonline.com

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437

2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4679

432910-1

20

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

21

Featured Listings

List your house with the Top Brokerage in the U.S.

1

#

Hideaway Bay | Longboat Key 757 Hideaway Bay Drive | $8,500,000 Andrea Cohen | 786.773.0370

Vue Sarasota Bay | Sarasota

Bee Ridge Farms | Sarasota

1155 North Gulfstream Avenue #509 | $2,495,000

4251 Ashton Road | $1,399,000

Stephanie Shaw | 941.544.3770

Phyllis DiBlasi | 941.320.4158

Nancy Greenspon | 203.448.8043

Bayso | Sarasota

Shells on Siesta Key | Siesta Key

301 Quay Commons #1203 | $1,650,000

221 Tenacity Lane #221 | $1,649,000

Bob Ruiz | 941.544.3299

Dawn Bear | 941.468.7224 Jennifer Thompson | 941.928.0790

Preserve At Heron Lake | Sarasota 7572 Conservation Court | $1,595,000 Keith Redding | 941.894.4216

OPEN HOUSES | SEPTEMBER 22ND 332 Cocoanut Avenue #511 | $835,000 Allison Ficken | 941.960.0409 | 1pm - 3pm

Granada | Sarasota

332 Cocoanut | Sarasota

3521 Flores Avenue | $1,200,000

332 Cocoanut Avenue #511 | $835,000

Jennifer Thompson | 941.928.0790

Allison Ficken | 941.960.0409

6503 Mourning Dove Drive #224 | $347,500 Judy Etzel | 941.567.9381 | 12pm - 2pm

Taylor Thompson | 941.928.2372

Explore Our World of Luxury Living

Southold, NY

Greenwich, CT

Boston, MA

5722 Clay Point Road | $5,200,000 New Canaan Office | 203.966.3555

248 Round Hill Road | $11,900,000 Greenwich Office | 203.869.9263

430 Stuart Street, #30C | $8,250,000 Back Bay Office | 617.266.5200

#1 Independent Family-Owned Real Estate Company in Florida, South Carolina and the Northeast

418656-1

BEST LUXURY REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

22

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

The event brought together individuals like David Otterness of Willis Smith Construction, Joshua Day of Fifth Third Bank, Zoë Kasper of Sunshine Movers Sarasota, Anthony Ward of PCS Florida, Angelica Ferreira of Fifth Third Bank, Madeline Mangas of State College of Florida, Philip Cecil of Ameriprise Financial Services and Kristie Calandro of Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.

9 4 1 . 3 4 3 . 9 3 9 6 | w w w. G r a n t s G a r d e n s . c o m

413085-1

East and west

Real Estate Advisors and Certified Waterfront Specialists SOLD

SOLD

2151 Gulf of Mexico Drive #5 $5,288,000

415 L Ambiance Dr. #D206

Susan Alliano, Sally Watson, Realtor, GRI, ABR Realtor, GRI, ABR 941.735.6571 941.586.0892

allianofoxteam.com

BRINGING OLD WORLD CHARM TO FLORIDA SHORES

Photos by Ian Swaby

Linda Jacobs, Molly Lawley and Holly Haas of Serbin Print Marketing & Publishing brought plenty of gear, including the Serbin sign behind Lawley.

Six-month old Sunday Martin and her father, Devin Martin, dressed up as part of a team for DecoCrete Services.

— IAN SWABY

Our Expertise Is Dental Implants Personalized, gentle, and comprehensive patient care is our highest priority

Call us!

DecEMBER 4 - 8 , 2024 th

th

Bone Grafting Dental Implants

Enjoyculinary delights, unique treasures, captivating performances, and festive music.

Teeth in one day IV Anesthesia Wisdom Teeth

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Why Choose Us? Board-certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Dual Degree Licensed Dentists (DMD) & Physicians (MD) Professional & highly trained staff Patient centered solutions backed by cutting-edge technology

Hillview Tamiami Office

Bee Ridge Office

Todd Reuter DMD, MD Scott Roemer DMD, MD (941) 365-3388

Scott Middleton DMD, MD (941) 926-9100

Five Star Rated

@europeanholidaymarket

sarasotaoms.com

430523-1

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT europeanholidaymarket.com

430338-1

424685-1

1212 Ben Franklin Dr. #801

FOR SALE

N

umerous pro and college football team names were on display at the Tradeshow Tailgate Business Expo, while the businesses present spanned Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Yet everyone still found a common goal at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance event, which was held Sept. 19 at Robarts Arena.

Jordan Sebastiano of Servpro said he enjoyed the fit-for-family atmosphere, as people from different businesses mingled before the doors opened to the public.

The expo brought together more than 65 businesses and has consistently drawn 300 to 400 attendees annually, said Brittany Lamont, president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.

Although the expo is now in its 15th year, it featured an “East Meets West” theme until 2023, when the tailgate concept was introduced.

Lamont said after participating businesses embraced the theme last year, businesses were eager to bring it back for a second time.

Business owners said they were pleased with the engagement, as attendees traveled the room, filling out “bingo” cards for a chance to win Southwest Airlines tickets, enjoying activities and trying food samples.

“It was amazing to see it,” said Cindy Garren, a teacher with Kid Potential.

“We didn’t expect to have as many people as we saw here, and we had a lot of activity come by our table ... and we had a lot of people that were really interested in knowing what we offer.”

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

2nd Annual

OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION

OCTOBER 4

TH

| 5-7PM

Beers, brats, and FUN! Come see first hand, why your neighbors are moving into The Alloro!

RSVP Today! (941) 357-1885 One month no rent on select floorplans!

432307-1

SarasotaAlloro.com | (941) 357-1885 3540 Broadway Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34243

23

24

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

100% DEDICATION TO YOUR SATISFACTION THE HOME SERVICE PROS WHO CARE

Ian Swaby

The Rev. Charleston Wilson holds a print depicting Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

Imprints of faith Church of the Redeemer received a donation from Hugh Culverhouse Jr. of 24 works by Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe

0% FINANCING AVAILABLE FOR 18 MONTHS

Enjoy $1200 OFF

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

C

on a New AC unit install or repair* *Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 9/30/2024.

!

CALL NOW

941.366.7676

PLUMBING

ELECTRICAL

24 Hour Emergency Service www.AquaPlumbing.com Lic # cAc1816020 • PLbg cFc1428223 • ELEc Ec13009313

431315-1

WATER TREATMENT

hurch of the Redeemer isn’t anti-museum, emphasizes the Rev. Charleston Wilson.

However, he said, the church believes sacred art is meant for the soul, as did Japanese printmaker Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996).

He said that is why the church was excited to receive a donation of 24 of Watanabe’s works from member and attorney Hugh Culverhouse Jr., as the church announced Sept. 13.

“We’re over the moon about it,” Wilson said. “He’s a really collectible artist, and (his) story is just beautiful, and it fires on so many cylinders

for us.”

Yet, these works are a departure from conventional Christian artwork; Watanabe’s stencil prints depict biblical scenes in mingei, or the Japanese folk art style, and in the context of Japanese culture.

Works by Watanabe hang in the permanent collection of the Vatican Museum, and according to Church of the Redeemer, have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the British Museum in London.

THE COLLECTION

Wilson said the church’s collection of Watanabe’s works, which features both original paintings and prints created by the artist, may be the largest in the world, surpassing the Vatican’s.

The public will be able to experience the artwork with the planned transformation of a hallway in the church’s Robinson Center into a per-

FEATURED DOCS

Sarasota Memorial Presents

FREE LECTURE SERIES October 2024

Insight & Innovation: A New Day In Cancer Treatment

Peter S. Vosler, MD, PhD, FACS

Wesley McIlwain, MD, FACS

The world of cancer care is ever evolving, which means that the treatment offered by the physicians and surgeons of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute is always evolving too. During this free lecture series, hear directly from the doctors about how new therapies and advanced technologies are shaping the future of cancer care. A brief Q&A follows each presentation.

Thursday, October 10, 4:30-5:30pm } Peter S. Vosler, MD, PhD, FACS – Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist } Wesley McIlwain, MD, FACS – Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist

Richard H. Brown, MD

Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Care at Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Tuesday, October 15, 4:30-5:30pm } Richard H. Brown, MD – Medical Oncologist and Hematologist: Oncology 101 - Understanding Systemic Treatment and Future Directions

Jennifer S. Holl, MD

Wednesday, October 16, 4:30-5:30pm } Jennifer S. Holl, MD – Colon and Rectal Surgeon: Colorectal Cancer Care in 2024 - Screening, Risk Factors, What Can You Do?

Wednesday, October 23, 4:30-5:30pm } M. Blair Marshall, MD, FACS – Thoracic Surgical Oncologist: Surgery for Lung Cancer Today - Not What it Used to be } Omar Sheriff, MD – Pulmonologist: Lung Cancer Awareness - Insight to an Evolving Era

SMH-SARASOTA

M. Blair Marshall, MD, FACS

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Auditorium - First Floor 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239 Omar Sheriff, MD

432547-1

This is a FREE LECTURE SERIES with FREE VALET PARKING at main hospital entrance. RSVP required.

Light refreshments served. Reserve your space by phone at (941) 917-7777 or online at smh.com/lectures.

smh.com

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

manent gallery.

“I don’t know if we’re going to get all 24 there, but we’re going to try,” Wilson said.

He said in addition to the paintings themselves, the story and context behind them is significant as well.

Watanabe’s father died when he was just 10 years old, after which point he began working in a factory dyeing clothes. After a neighbor invited him to church, he was baptized at age 17.

He attributed his recovery from tuberculosis at a young age to the grace of God, and resolved thereafter to devote his life to sharing his faith.

His prints, which he created with dye on handmade mulberry paper, made him one of Japan’s most successful artists of the latter half of the 20th century.

His works translate biblical scenes into Japanese context. For example, one of his prints portrays Jesus and his disciples seated around a table of sushi and sake during the Last Supper.

“I think it’s always important for us to remember that God is for everyone, that the Gospel is meant to reach the ends of the earth, and that includes every race, nation and culture under the sun,” Wilson said.

“It gives us also the ability to recognize that everybody is precious in the sight of God, every race and nation and culture. Every human being is made in the image of God, and so when we see art in a different idiom, it renews that sense of appreciation.”

Wilson said the gallery will do justice to the medium, with lighting that brings out the wrinkled texture of the paper.

“One of the challenges in displaying this art is really getting the framing so you can appreciate the texture,” Wilson said. “You’ve got to frame it in such a way that the viewer feels like he or she has touched it.”

The church has a long tradition of members and friends donating artwork, which extends back at least 75 years, Wilson said. For instance, a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the The Holy Family, hangs in the church’s sanctuary.

The painting was left to the church by the mother of Arthur Everett Austin Jr., who was the first curator of the Ringling Museum.

Its counterparts can be found at

25

Sales & Rentals Your Hometown Favorite For More Than Eight Decades!

LOCAL, VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1939

Courtesy images

Condo For Sale-2/2 1540 Glen Oaks Dr E #B122 Sarasota | 55+ Community | Pet w/ approval | Ground Floor| Listed at $149,900 | MLS#A4615943 |Jon Patella - 941-228-1613

Condo For Sale-2/2 | 800 S Blvd. of Presidents

#12 Embassy Villas | Furnished corner unit | Walk to St Armands & Lido Beach | MLS#A4591801 | Listed at $650,000 | Patrice Ivan 941-993-0823 Jon Patella 941-228-1613

ANNUAL FOR RENT

The gallery is targeting an opening date at by the end of the year. Once open, it is planned to be available for free viewing by appointment on weekdays, as well as during church events.

Visit RedeemerSarasota.org.

the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and at Windsor Castle, Wilson said.

Another work found in the sanctuary is a small-scale reproduction of “Ex Nihilo,” the sculpture by Frederick Hart overhanging the entrance to Washington National Cathedral.

Wilson is glad to see these new works joining its collection. “(Watanabe) is on record as saying he wanted his art to hang in places where people routinely met, where ordinary people went, and with frequency,” Wilson said. “So what better place than a church, where people come on a frequent basis, for his art to hang?”

Home for Lease -3/3 + den|6415 67th St East Condo For Sale-3/2 2603 River Preserve Court #2102 Bradenton | Ground Floor | Pet w/ Bradenton | Whisper Bend on Linger Lodge | Unfurnished annual at $2,950 mthly | Lakefront | approval | | Listed at $199,990 | MLS#A4595133 |Jon Patella - 941-228-1613 MLS#A4623191 |Patrice Ivan - 941-993-0823

Home For Sale-3/2 7320 Oak Run Ln. Sarasota | 1 acre lot on Cul-De-Sac | Boat/RV

parking | Lush landscaping and mature trees | Listed at $629,000 | MLS#A4618511 |Mary Moore - 941-757-6061

We’re looking for experienced REALTORS and Property Managers to join our Sarasota team.

1440 First Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 Office: 941.955.1500

427427-1

ABOUT THE GALLERY

55+ ACTIVE LIVING COMMUNITY NOW OPEN IN PA L M E R R A N C H

Limited-time offer!

Get two months FREE on a 13-15 month lease.* *Terms and restrictions apply. Contact our leasing office for more details.

7350 HONORE AVE •

SARASOTA, FL 34238

mira-apts.com

427282-1

(813) 725-3616

•

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

BIRD KEY 340 W Royal Flamingo Drive 4 Beds 6/1 Baths 6,067 Sq. Ft. Barbara May 404-822-9264 A4601285 $8,300,000

SARASOTA 8125 Grande Shores Drive 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 2,850 Sq. Ft. Mark Boehmig 941-807-6936 A4622492 $1,599,999

SIESTA KEY 1260 Dolphin Bay Way 203 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,915 Sq. Ft. Mina Johnson 941-404-9347 A4616567 $1,283,000

SIESTA KEY 4637 Ocean Boulevard 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,065 Sq. Ft. Olivia Marciniak 941-400-1623 A4613846 $1,199,000

SARASOTA 1660 Pine Harrier Circle 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,708 Sq. Ft. Dana Westmark 941-356-5091 A4611614 $1,175,000

SIESTA KEY 19 Whispering Sands Drive 302 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,464 Sq. Ft. Josie Cline 941-266-6661 A4621337 $1,150,000

SARASOTA 5233 Far Oak Circle 3 Beds 3 Baths 2,837 Sq. Ft. Robert Krasow 617-840-1181 A4599907 $1,099,900

SARASOTA 875 Indian Beach Drive 4 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,861 Sq. Ft. Kelley Callaway 941-928-0642 A4622362 $1,075,000

SARASOTA 1771 Ringling Boulevard 604 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,735 Sq. Ft. Bibi-Ann Allard PA, Kelley Callaway 941-685-0422 A4603447 $1,000,000

SARASOTA 7000 Prospect Road 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,972 Sq. Ft. Tim Koons-McGee 941-320-7073 A4611001 $965,000

SARASOTA 1368 Tearose Place 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,542 Sq. Ft. Barbara May 404-822-9264 A4623006 $950,000

SIESTA KEY 6480 Midnight Pass Road 304 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,265 Sq. Ft. Kaitlin Kuhn 941-400-7861 A4593244 $949,000

SIESTA KEY 1201 E Peppertree Drive 234 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,686 Sq. Ft. Heidi Lusk 941-681-5227 A4622300 $859,000

SIESTA KEY 6236 Midnight Pass Road 304 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,150 Sq. Ft. Jennifer Linehan 941-266-7555 A4611665 $850,000

SIESTA KEY 777 Beach Road 1B 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,174 Sq. Ft. Stacy Liljeberg 941-544-6103 A4620950 $825,000

SARASOTA 2105 Sylvan Lea Drive 4 Beds 3 Baths 2,309 Sq. Ft. Jackie Griese 941-718-0045 A4615866 $750,000

SARASOTA 5770 Long Shore Loop 3 Beds 2 Baths 2,098 Sq. Ft. Susie Pelton 941-321-1007 A4606537 $727,500

SARASOTA 2633 Marlette Street 3 Beds 2/1 Baths 1,700 Sq. Ft. Kim Ogilvie 941-376-1717 A4617174 $695,000

SIESTA KEY 6157 Midnight Pass Road C11 2 Beds 1 Baths 690 Sq. Ft. David Anthony 941-786-4282 A4592571 $525,000

SARASOTA 2420 Foster Lane 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,501 Sq. Ft. Max Mann 862-216-6105 A4619943 $525,000

SIESTA KEY 9011 Midnight Pass Road 228 1 Bed 1 Baths 783 Sq. Ft. Maurice Menager & Linn Dunn 941-238-8119 A4566083 $465,000

SARASOTA 3921 Wilshire Circle 180 2 Beds 2 Baths 2,024 Sq. Ft. Stacy Liljeberg 941-544-6103 A4618695 $435,000

SARASOTA 6529 Seagate Avenue 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,258 Sq. Ft. Drew Russell 941-993-3739 A4615731 $419,000

SARASOTA 3541 Wilkinson Woods Drive 40 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,548 Sq. Ft. Elisa Gersman 941-735-0595 A4622688 $365,000

SARASOTA 6103 Carlton Avenue 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,014 Sq. Ft. Laurie Minear 717-824-5703 A4617262 $355,000

SIESTA KEY 8440 Sanderling Road 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 3,302 Sq. Ft. Jeffrey Hinrichs 941-456-1251 A4621267 $6,700,000

SIESTA KEY 7314 Point Of Rocks Road 4 Beds 4 Baths 2,977 Sq. Ft. Jonathan Abrams 941-232-2868 A4586498 $4,890,000

SARASOTA 2385 Fiesta Drive 3 Beds 3/1 Baths 2,627 Sq. Ft. Lenore Treiman 941-356-9642 A4613057 $1,795,000

888.552.5228 | MICHAELSAUNDERS.COM 427616-1

26

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

SEPT. 9-13

ADAM HUGHES

Ian Swaby

The home at 722 Siesta Key Circle has four bedrooms, four-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 3,473 square feet of living area.

RESEARCH EDITOR

A

home in Siesta’s Bayside tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Dockside Homes LLC sold the home at 722 Siesta Key Circle to Olga Buckhannon, of Sarasota, for $3.54 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 3,473 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.16 million in 2022.

SARASOTA

LA LINDA TERRACE Douglas White and Lynn Orr, of Sarasota, sold their home at 2181 Hillview St. to Philip Bronstein and Jody Brott, trustees, of Chicago, for $1.37 million. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,924 square feet of living area.

It sold for $990,000 in 2021.

ESPLANADE BY SIESTA KEY Peter Capodice, trustee, and Margaret Capodice sold the home at 2454 Vaccaro Drive to John and Jeanne DeCosta, of Bedford, Massachusetts, for $1,249,500. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,270 square feet of living area. It sold for $501,800 in 2013.

THE LANDINGS CARRIAGEHOUSE Amy Pedler, of Sarasota, sold her Unit 23 condominium at 4847 N. Kestral Park Way to Michael and Susan Shroder, of Sarasota, for $687,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,770 square feet of living area. It sold for $320,000 in 2014.

GULF GATE EAST Patrick and Ana Murphy, of Sarasota, sold their home at 4154 Kingston Way to Paul and Allison Halucka, of Sarasota, for $670,000. Built in 1984, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,997 square feet of living area. It sold for $180,000 in 2000.

SIESTA KEY

HARBOR HOUSE WEST KE-DA 2017 Exchange LLC sold the Unit 34 condominium at 226 Golden Gate Point to Brett and Sandra McDowell, of Puerto Rico, for $1 million. Built in 1968, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,396 square feet of living area. It sold for $575,000 in 2021.

PEPPERTREE BAY Anne Klutkowski, of Rahway, New Jersey, sold the Unit 111-BA condominium at 1023 W. Peppertree Drive to Shawn and Connie Lyon, of Findlay, Ohio, for $1.1 million. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 975 square feet of living area. It sold for $59,000 in 1974.

NICHOLS Christine Hartshorn sold her home at 1710 Hillview St. to Donna Pickup, trustee, of Sarasota, for $800,000. Built in 1951, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,533 square feet of living area. It sold for $63,000 in 1987.

ISLAND REEF Mark and Cornelia O’Connor, of Pittsford, New York, sold their Unit 404-H condominium at 8779 Midnight Pass Road to Robert John Kowalski and Kristen Holly Kowalski, of Sarasota, for $735,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,303 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2004.

BURNS COURT Nancy Hersh, of Sarasota, sold her home at 410 Burns Court to Samuel Blalack and Heather Bass, of Marco Island, for $790,000. Built in 1926, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 791 square feet of living area. It sold for $145,000 in 1996.

SOUTH GATE George and Catherine Axiotis, of St. Petersburg, sold their home at 2560 Sunnyside St. to Valerie Falahee, trustee, and Lauren Falahee, of Sarasota, for $695,000. Built in 1960, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,388 square feet of living area. It sold for $348,500 in 2018.

REAL ESTATE

Siesta’s Bayside home tops sales at $3.54 million

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

27

Other top sales by area SARASOTA: $1.51 MILLION Harbor Acres Kevin and Roisin Barry sold their home at 1516 S. Orange Ave. to RJJM LLC for $1.51 million. Built in 1948, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,726 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,351,000 in 2022.

PALMER RANCH: $1.1 MILLION

Prestancia Natalie Strazzera, of Clinton, Washington, and Christina Strazzera Kruse, of Sarasota, trustees, sold the home at 3805 Boca Pointe Drive to Patrick Plynaar and Sanja Plynaar, trustees, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,062 square feet of living area.

It sold for $100,000 in 1994.

MIDNIGHT COVE II 1400 Cove II 611 LLC sold the Unit 611 condominium at 1400 Cove II Place to Kelly and Tiffanee Heldreth, of Valrico, for $625,000.

Built in 1979, it has two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and 1,010 square feet of living area. It sold for $445,000 in 2018.

OSPREY: $512,500

Bay Oaks Estates Kelly Perdew, of Osprey, sold the home at 515 Oak Bay Drive to Norman and Carole Klingerman, of Sarasota, for $512,500.

Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,977 square feet of living area. It sold for $361,700 in 2005.

NOKOMIS: $780,000

Mission Valley Estates Charles and Christine Pitts, of Nokomis, sold their home at 951 Shire St. to Sarasota Strategic Holdings LLC for $780,000. Built in 1973, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,119 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2012.

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

ONLINE

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

GOLDEN GATE POINT

LONGBOAT KEY

See more transactions at YourObserver.com

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the largest city of Sarasota and Sarasota County building permits issued for the week of September 9-13, in order of dollar amounts.

CITY OF SARASOTA Permit

Applicant

Amount

1255 N. Gulfstream Ave. #1001 Remodel

David Bellows

$465,000

3135 Hatton St.

Renovations

Karen Annkerstar

$97,000

543 Madison Court

Remodel

Karilea Rhea

$85,000

367 Irving St.

Restoration

Arthur Clode, trustee

$78,514

1974 Hyde Park St.

Pool

Laura Warfield, trustee

$75,600

1858 Datura St.

Re-roof

William Buckland

$58,570

543 Madison Court

Alterations

Karilea Rhea

$55,000

2228 Oriole Drive

Re-roof

Ruth Siegel

$38,200

925 S. Lockwood Road

Restoration

Melvin Kauffman

$29,000

2170 McClellan Parkway

Repairs

Mone Mac Phail

$25,000

1384 Harbor Drive

Restoration

Robert Falahee

$20,000

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

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

Source: Sarasota County, city of Sarasota Prices as of November 2023

427642-1

Address

28

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Cultivating support

T

his November, the annual Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival is planned to host the United States’ first delegation of floral carpet artists.

Yet it’s also a challenging time for the event.

In July, the Sarasota County Commission cut about $40,000 in funding, while Chalk Festival Executive Director Denise Kowal says the city has raised fees to nearly three times the levels of the past.

Nonetheless, at Unwind Massage & Wellness Studio, the sight of flowers was already emerging the evening of Sept. 20.

The business hosted the Flower Power Patron Party, which invited the public for floral arrangements, face painting, light bites, drinks and live music provided by local residents and businesses.

Attendees had the chance to learn about the festival’s Grow the Heart program, which provides free tickets to students and families in need.

Welch, like Kowal, was impressed with the turnout as waves of people crowded the studio space. She said while she always wants to support the festival, the theme of flowers was “ridiculously cool.”

Internal Medicine

WELCOMES

Joseph Narvaez, MD Internal Medicine

Dr. Joseph Narvaez brings to Intercoastal Medical Group at the Palmer Ranch I office a wealth of knowledge and experience in Internal Medicine.

Undergraduate:

University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

Medical School:

Uniformed Services University of Health Science, Bethesda, MD

Residency:

Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA

Certification:

Board Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine

— IAN SWABY

Jeremy Rice of Dive Wine and Spirits helps serve up drinks.

Ringling College graduate Joshua Hardinger demonstrated his artistic makeup for attendees, including Allie Roman, above.

Hospital Affiliations: Sarasota Memorial Hospital; Doctors Hospital A Patient Focused, Multi-Specialty Group l National Expertise l Multiple Locations

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL

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

(941) 921-6618

8/26/21 3:27 PM

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

Palmer Ranch

8592 Potter Park Drive, Sarasota, FL 34238 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

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

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

8/26/21 3:27 PM

Photos by Ian Swaby

Rachel McGrew, Joshua Hardinger, Ana Molinari, Chalk Festival Executive Director Denise Kowal and Glory Rodriguez gather together.

8/26/21 3:27 PM

430710-1

www.intercoastalmedical.com

8/26/21 3:27 PM

430922-1

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

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

SPORTS

“We’re not getting big-headed now because we know what the rest of the season has in store for us, but the Booker game did give us some confidence.”

— Isaiah Belt, Riverview High junior running back. SEE PAGE 31

Fast

Break

Courtesy image

Cardinal Mooney High sophomore running back Connail Jackson.

C

ardinal Mooney High football ran for 451 yards and five touchdowns as a team in the Cougars’ 49-28 home win against Bishop Verot High on Sept. 20.

Sophomore running back Connail Jackson had 25 carries for 224 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Through five games, Jackson has 653 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Cardinal Mooney is 5-0 and will play Lakewood High (2-3) on the road at 7 p.m. Sept.

27. ... Sarasota High football junior tight end Scotty Wells had seven catches for 185 yards and four touchdowns in the Sailors’ 47-23 win over Ida Baker High on Sept.

20. The Sailors are 3-2 and will play Riverview High (2-3) on the road at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. ... Cardinal Mooney High volleyball senior Izzy Russell had eight kills, 14 digs and seven serve receives in the Cougars’ 3-0 home win over Venice High on Sept. 19.

Sarasota High volleyball sophomore Liza Collier had 11 kills, two aces and 10 digs in the Sailors’ 3-1 win over The Out-of-Door Academy on Sept. 19. Cardinal Mooney (12-3) and will host Sarasota (84) at 7 p.m. Sept. 27. ... Former Cardinal Mooney High football star defensive back Teddy Foster, a freshman at the University of Florida, recorded his first career tackle in the Gators’ 45-28 win over Mississippi State University on Sept. 21. Foster finished the game with two tackles on 11 snaps. ... Cardinal Mooney High boys golf senior Nico Bencomo is ranked 11th in the Florida High School Athletic Association, in all classifications, and fifth in Class 1A by iWanamaker. The Cougars are ranked 33rd overall and 11th in Class 1A as a team.

SIGNING OFF IN SARASOTA PAGE 30

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Sarasota Christian quarterback Ben Milliken fires a pass against ODA. Milliken threw four touchdowns in the game.

Against SSAA champ, Blazers show promise RYAN KOHN SPORTS EDITOR

S

arasota Christian School had all the momentum, until it didn’t.

The Blazers, trailing The Out-of-Door Academy 36-31 in the fourth quarter Friday night, stopped the Thunder on a 4-yard, fourth down attempt from ODA’s 37-yard line. The Blazers sideline lit up like fireworks following the stop. Sarasota Christian’s offense got right to work and marched into the red zone thanks to a dominant passing game led by junior quarterback Ben Milliken. It appeared as though Sarasota Christian, in its first year of 11-on-11 football, was on the verge of upsetting a defending Sunshine State Athletic Association state champion.

But the Blazers’ flames of hope would be doused.

Facing a third down and goal with 3:24 to go, Milliken received a shotgun snap and prepared to roll to his right but looked downfield before securing the ball. Milliken dropped the snap and the ODA defense recovered. The Thunder would run out the remaining time to secure the 36-31 win.

Though the final result was heartbreaking for Sarasota Christian (3-3), the game served as a measuring stick for where the program stands as it transitions from two years of 8-on8 football. In taking ODA to its limit, it appears the Blazers have the talent necessary for themselves to compete in the postseason.

The biggest difference between 11-on-11 football and 8-on-8 football comes in the trenches, and it showed against ODA. While ODA has big bodies and prefers to run the football, the Blazers’ offense features air raid-style passing and tempo, scheming receivers open with quick passes and giving them space to make plays. Those are things the program perfected while playing 8-on-8.

Blazers Head Coach Jacob Spenn said he was disappointed in Friday night’s result but proud of the way

SHARING THE LOVE The Sarasota Christian School football team’s offense runs an air-raid style attack, and it gets many different weapons involved.

Here’s a look at how balanced the passing offense has been through six games.

Junior Travis Miller: 33 catches, 447 yards, six touchdowns Junior Justin Brock: 27 catches, 366 yards, seven touchdowns Junior Colton Loftus: 27 catches, 344 yards, two touchdowns Senior Randall Collins: 19 catches, 216 yards, one touchdown Sophomore Dan Jacinto: nine catches, 38 yards Sophomore Jack Keenan: two catches, 36 yards, two touchdowns Sophomore Noah Spenn: seven catches, 34 yards, three touchdowns

Sarasota Christian junior receiver Justin Brock turns upfield against ODA.

his team performed overall, particularly his offense and the way the passing attack operated.

“I thought we had that one won, to be honest,” Spenn said. “But that’s the way it goes.

“When people asked me (before the season), I said we were going to be competitive in every game. And I think this counts as competitive.”

Milliken finished the game completing 32 of 51 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Two of Milliken’s touchdown passes went to junior Travis Miller, one went to junior Colton Loftus and one went to junior Justin Brock. Five Blazers — Miller, Loftus and Brock, plus senior Randall Collins and sophomore Noah Spenn — had at least three catches. It is a breadth of weapons that is hard to match at the SSAA level, and it shows in the team’s results: Sarasota Christian’s offense is now averaging 30.2 points per game.

If there’s an area where the Blazers

In its first season of 11-on-11 football, Sarasota Christian School took defending SSAA Class 4A champion The Out-of-Door Academy to its limit.

can’t match the SSAA’s top programs yet, it is size. Jacob Spenn said ODA’s interior linemen, many of whom play both offense and defense, had “about 150 pounds” combined on Sarasota Christian’s interior linemen. As a result, the Blazers could not stop ODA’s rushing attack; Thunder junior Allen Clark finished with 236 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The previous week, Cambridge Christian junior Lucas Leiton ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns on Sarasota Christian, though the Blazers would win the game 42-32.

Fortifying its run defense is a priority for Sarasota Christian, whether that happens this year or next year.

So is cutting back on turnovers.

For example, ODA’s ball-hawking defense had three interceptions.

Prior to Friday, ODA had allowed just one touchdown all season.

In 2024, Spenn and the Blazers wanted to compete with every team they played, and they have proven themselves capable of doing so. Anything else that happens this season is a bonus — one Sarasota Christian may receive. If the Blazers can continue to outscore teams, they can compete. In the team’s first two losses, to Old Plank Christian Academy (2-3) and to Southwest Florida Christian (4-1), the Blazers scored just 10 and 6 points, respectively. But when the passing attack is in sync, like it has in its wins and the ODA loss, it is difficult to stop.

“That’s how football is supposed to be played, right?” Spenn said.

“You watch (the NFL) on Sundays, you don’t see all this grinding it out and turning people into meat. So that (a spread passing attack) is how we like to do it.”

The Blazers will try to start another winning streak on the road Oct. 10 against Gateway Charter (0-6) before finishing its regular-season slate with three home games: Keswick Christian (5-1) on Oct. 11, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (0-4) on Oct. 18 and Seffner Christian (4-1) on Oct. 25. All games begin at 7 p.m.

30

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

PROSE AND KOHN

RYAN KOHN

Sports editor says goodbye to Sarasota Stories from the beat will stick with Ryan Kohn along his journey.

T

he Baltimore Orioles were my first sports love.

Even though my family lived in a suburb of Washington, D.C., and pulled for the district’s sports teams, there was no Washington baseball team when I was born in 1994; the Nationals would not arrive until 2005. By then, it was far too late for me. This baseball kid had long ago allowed the next-closest team, the Orioles, into his heart.

Then I grew up, learned to write, learned to love to write, and eventually went to journalism school at the University of Missouri. All the while, I kept my O’s fandom running hot, even though most of those years were filled with misery on the field. After I graduated in 2016, I started looking for sports reporting jobs, and one immediately caught my eye: the Sarasota Observer.

For the beaches? For the weather?

No, for the Orioles, who call the city and Ed Smith Stadium their spring training home.

The first time I attended a spring training game as a credentialed media member in 2017, I was too nervous to function. During the team’s designated open locker room period, I walked in feeling like an imposter, stood around for five minutes pretending to check my phone, then walked out. During the game, I sat in the back row of the press box and didn’t talk to anyone.

I ended up writing about the team’s Youth Baseball Day promotion. But I would go back, a few times each spring, and each time I felt more comfortable. Eventually I got over my imposter syndrome and covered not just the O’s, but the Atlanta Braves’ opening of CoolToday Park in North Port, too.

Photos by Ryan Kohn

Ryan Kohn is leaving the Sarasota Observer sports beat after eight years.

Those spring training experiences meant a lot to me, even though I put away my fandom while on the job. They connected me to the team I grew up watching, but they also connected me to my new city. Seeing waves of orange and black in the stands, and hearing a roaring “O” during the national anthem, helped me feel like I was where I was supposed to be.

Along the way, I learned a lot about journalism, and I tried to tell stories people care about. It was made easy by the great athletes (and personalities) that make Sarasota such a unique place.

It made for a great eight years, but all great things come to an end. I’m leaving my Gulf Coast hometown to get closer to my real one.

I have accepted a non-journalism job in Richmond, Virginia. The high school football games held Sept.

20 will be the last games I cover.

My new job will not be as publicfacing, but it will involve a lot of the same tenets that the Observer holds high. Namely, a dedication to its hyperlocal communities, telling the stories of each one in the truest way possible.

I have learned how to do that only because of the kindness I have received from the Sarasota sports community along the way. There are too many individual athletes and coaches to name, but I thank all of you for taking time out of your days to talk to me for stories. Athletic directors, thank you for connecting me with your programs and for let-

ting me romp up and down the sidelines at your sporting events to get in the best position for action photos.

(And for answering my annoying questions whenever I called.)

To Sarasota parents, thanks for letting me know what you thought of my stories, even when you disagreed with something I said in a column. What are sports without debate? As long as you actually read the story — not everyone did — I thank you for expressing your feelings in a (usually) respectful way.

Outside of the high school ranks, thank you to all of the communication and PR professionals at area organizations for alerting me whenever you had a good story idea come across your desk. I was a oneperson sports department at the

Observer, so that type of assistance was always appreciated.

Lastly, thank you for reading, no matter who you are. To serve the sports community, I tried to write as many types of stories about as many niche sports subjects as I could. Sometimes that ethos resulted in things like the story of Todd Kerkering, the city’s emergency manager, who went viral after watching his son Orion Kerkering make his Philadelphia Phillies debut and getting emotional in the stands. At other times, I wrote about legendary Riverview High football coach John Sprague, who was remembered as boisterous and caring by friends and former players after he died in November 2023.

I even got to cover big-time events. I saw some of Earth’s best athletes compete at the World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. I interviewed local Olympians like skateboarder Jake Ilardi, rifle shooter Mary Tucker, rower Clark Dean and swimmer Emma Weyant. I covered the Dick Vitale Gala every year at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, and it never stopped being inspiring.

This is a vibrant sports community, one that is growing, and I’ll cherish my time spent in it. Now, when I think of the Orioles, I’ll think of Sarasota as well as Baltimore. I have no doubt that great stories will continue to be written on athletic fields here long after I’m gone, and I can’t wait to take them in — only this time, as a spectator from afar.

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

ADVERTISEMENT

How Boys & Girls Clubs Are Shaping Sarasota and DeSoto’s Future All-Stars

A great community is like a championship team, where every individual plays their part and is dedicated to the success and well-being of both the unit and its members. Just as teammates support each other and work toward a common goal, a strong community thrives when its people are united and committed to lifting one another up.

For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been building our community’s future championship team. Thousands

You are the key player that takes us from good to great.

Club members have whatever it takes to succeed.

Please help us empower our Club members. From athletes to mathletes, help us help them achieve their full potential this 2024-2025 back-toschool season.

HERE ARE FIVE WAYS TO BE AN MVP FOR LOCAL YOUTH. Season Ticket Holder - $2500 Supports one Club member for the entire year including both school-year and summer seasons.

Brain Booster - $1000 Enhances academic training for the youth with daily homework help and instruction.

Mindful MVP - $500 Promotes positive mental wellness with free access to embedded mental health professionals.

Leadership All-Star - $250 Levels up our community’s future leaders through the development of positive character and leadership skills.

Active Advocate - $100 Champions physical fitness through guidance on nutrition, daily activity, and the importance of play.

All Season Ticket Holders will have their gift doubled thanks to a matching challenge by a generous local couple! Learn more or make a gift at bgcsdc.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties 3130 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237 | 941-366-3911 430539-1

BUILDING CHAMPIONS

of kids and teens, ages 6 to 18, rely on the Club to access essential resources that help them reach their full potential.

It’s more than just an organization— its where local youth transform into something extraordinary.

All summer long the “team” at Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been training to ensure this new academic year is a slam dunk.

With their academic coaches and wellness professionals, Club members sharpened their math skills, boosted their science knowledge, and reached their wellness goals like champions.

Guided by their leadership coach, they also learned to speak up and lead with confidence, just like a captain on the field. As a result, 100% of Club members either maintained or improved their academic performance during the summer.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties fuels the brains, muscles and hearts of children in our community. The children that will grow to be vital contributors to the continued success of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.

Your support will ensure thousands of

YourObserver.com

When did you start playing football?

I started when I was 7 years old. I grew up in Georgia and watched the Atlanta Falcons. I moved to Sarasota before my freshman year of high school.

What is the appeal to you?

I just love the game itself. Being able to go out there and have fun with your brothers, your people, is great.

You create bonds, and you learn to trust your team.

What is your best skill?

I don’t know if I have one best ability. I think I do the little things well. I make the cuts that you are supposed to make, and I trust my blockers.

What have you been working to improve?

My speed. Looking at college football, all those running backs have explosive speed, and that’s where I want to be.

us, but the Booker game did give us some confidence.

What is your favorite food?

Steak, well-done.

What is your favorite school subject?

U.S. History. I like knowing what got our country to where we are today.

What are your hobbies?

I’ve been playing the piano for three years now. I also like to play College Football 25.

This PENDING SALE is in a hidden gem called

Laurel Landings Estates - with

minimal HOA rules!

If you are tired of the ridiculous regulations where you live, come visit this community!

Don’t worry I have another listing in here coming soon!

Contract Pending

What is the best advice you have received?

Stay focused. It’s easy to get distracted with everything going on in the world, but you have to stay focused on the game.

Over One Acre of Land 3.5 Miles to the Beach!

Finish this sentence: “Isaiah Belt is ... ” ... Everywhere. Sometimes I’m funny.

Sometimes I’m serious. I’m all over the place.

Dave the Deal Maker Exclusive opportunities on Manasota Key Oceanfront and Bayside homes for sale (NOT ON MLS) Call me to set up a showing!

DAVID MARTIN

OCEANS GLOBAL REALTY 941-779-3860 dmartin@oceansglobalre.com

What is your favorite memory?

The game against Palmetto High last year. It was the first time we saw what we were going to look like as a team. Everyone was happy after that one. (Riverview won 52-42.)

REALTOR

Customer Trust with Personal Touch

Elevate Your Space CUSTOMER PROOF

FMG Print Solut Flooring Solutions PO Box 13 Fort Worth, TX 7 for Every Style!

Toll Free: 1.866.818.

Please Check For Accuracy

What changed for your team against Booker High?

I think we just executed.

Earlier in the season, we struggled with that. We practiced well, but we had to go out and do it (in games). We’re not getting big-headed now, because we know what the rest of the season has in store for

431529-1

Isaiah Belt is a junior running back on the Riverview High football team.

Belt had 24 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ 41-30 home win over Booker High on Sept.

20. The Rams are 2-3 and will host Sarasota High (3-2) at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27.

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.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Isaiah Belt

31

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Fax: 817.237.

Here is a copy of your ad as it will appear on the Sports Schedules. Please review this proof for accuracy and layout; including name, ad WHOHSKRQH QXPEHU FRORU DQG FRS\ FRQWHQW 8QOHVV VSHFL¿HG RWKHUZLVH DQ\ FRUUHFWLRQV UHTXHႋHG RQ WKLV SURRI ZLOO EH DSSOLHG WR DOO Note: the clarity and colors of your published ad may vary slightly from those shown on this proof. If you have made corrections p refer to your revised proof sheet.

12-1-23 Date: ___________________

P48076 Invoice #: ___________________

Sports Schedules Product: _________________ Riverview Area: ___________________

Riverview Project: ____________________

If corrections are necessary, please indicate the changes on this proof proof is not signed and returned, the advertising will be printed a Corrections are due within 14 days from the date provided or NO CHANGES WILL BE ALLOWED. Note: This form may not be u cancel advertisement.

FL State: ___________________ 4x2 Ad Size: _________________

A Proof Version: _______________

LET US DESIGN A POOL THAT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE

Carpet & Floors, Inc. 3913 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233

“Thanks for throwing your business our way!”

941.923.5499

Showroom & Design

Explore our vast selection of Carpet, Hardwood, Laminate, Tile, Luxury Vinyl

Highest Quality Service

If you have any artwork not present please email: art@fmgprint.com

Professional Installationplease reference your invoice number above

Design•Build•Maintain

Fax back to 817-237-3002 __________ or reply by Email Family Owned & Operated Since 1957 Honest & Knowledgeable Sales Associates

Professional In-House Construction

Proof Correct / No Corrections

Sign For Approval

Proof Correct / With Corre

_________ Sign For Approval

Attention: Art Department

Call today to schedule an appointment

427912-1

www.HolidayPoolsFlorida.com

426624-1

941.927.1882

Lic# CPC1458597

Family Owned and Operated Since 1994

3913 Clark Road, Sarasota | 941-923-5499 | www.chappiescarpetandfloors.com

Plants & Decor

for yo favorite space!

We are your source for everything yard and garden!

424390-1

Largest selection of plants & flowers Including native, tropical & more.

Family Owned • Beautiful Garden Accessories & Gifts • Pottery & Containers

941.366.4954 • YourFarmandGarden.com 735 South Beneva Rd., Sarasota FL 34232

32

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

WEATHER

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FORECAST THURSDAY, SEPT. 26

Sunrise Sunset

High: 85 Low: 82 Chance of rain: 79%

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 High: 88 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 34%

Thursday, Sept. 26

7:20a

7:21p

Friday, Sept. 27

7:21a

7:20p

Saturday, Sept. 28

7:21a

7:19p

Sunday, Sept. 29

7:22a

7:18p

Monday, Sept. 30

7:22a

7:16p

Tuesday, Oct. 1

7:23a

7:15p

Wednesday, Oct. 2

7:23a

7:14p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 High: 86 Low: 78 Chance of rain: 76%

Oct. 2 New

Oct. 10 First

Oct. 17 Full

Oct.24 Last

RAINFALL

SUNDAY, SEPT. 29 High: 87 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 58% Michael Graham took this photo of these nanday parakeets at Bayfront Park in Sarasota.

Monday, Sept. 16

0

Tuesday, Sept. 17

0

Wednesday, Sept. 18

0

Thursday, Sept. 19

0

Friday, Sept. 20

0

Saturday, Sept. 21

0

Sunday, Sept. 22

0

*Rainfall totals from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2024-25. Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2025, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.

YEAR TO DATE: 2024 60.06 in.

2023 22.13 in.

MONTH TO DATE: 2024 3.05 in.

2023 1.87 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

Daily crossword puzzles available at YourObserver.com/crossword

MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS by Dana Edwards, edited by Jeff Chen 123 Gets going

61 “Mais ___!”

DOWN

and Doja Cat

3 Epiphanies 4 Chomp 5 Sierra Nevada and others 6 1980s sitcom featuring an alien 7 Titular literary character who’s never seen 8 Facial treatment at a spa 9 The “A” of UAE 10 Leisurely strolled 11 It’s chalked up in a pool hall 12 Reddit Q&A 13 Analogy phrase 14 Lend a hand 15 Called the shots 16 Narrow escape from a dangerous predicament 17 Put in stitches?

19 Puts the pedal to the metal 23 ___ Reader 24 Name that’s very PC? 29 One looking to acquire 31 Former Cabinet member

©2024 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Sounds starting a nursery rhyme 7 Transcript fig.

10 Base of some healthful bowls 14 Rainbow shapes 18 Difficult, metaphorically 19 Author Jonathan Safran ___ 20 Showy fall flowers 21 Shoppers’ draw 22 *Jam band’s rhythm?

25 Makeup of some men and angels 26 Corona garnishes 27 Handyman’s accessory 28 Somber news bios 30 “Evil Woman” grp.

31 Cause of much conges-

tion

63 *Song such as “All Star”? (2000 film)

Donna

32 Necklaces worn fresh

68 Opportunity to hit a

99 Produce a hard copy

33 Quench, as thirst

34 Shows to one’s seat

homer

100 Repetitive type of wave

35 Did up, as a ‘do

36 Progenitor

71 Region of ancient Greece

101 Smidgen

37 Nail polish brand

39 *Mic check before

72 Screen that streams

102 Nominate

38 Up to, briefly

“Speed of Sound”?

76 Variety of beer

105 Many formal fundraisers

39 Cracking start?

42 Retro Insta filter

77 Hypercompetitive

107 Really emphasizes

40 Celestial sphere

43 One having a ball?

79 Honduras hello

110 Creme de la creme

41 General vicinity

45 “There ___ no words”

81 It’s meant to mix things

112 Soda that takes its name

42 Ump’s call

46 Averting one’s gaze, say

up

after a nut

44 Gas-saving car mode

47 *Robert Matthew Van

82 Au courant

113 *Lyrics like “Fight the

47 Weighty promise

Winkle’s backup dancer?

83 *Verses by the Roots’

power!” and “Bring the

48 Charity

52 “2001” villain

frontman?

noise!”?

49 Believer in Jah

53 Opposite of “ne’er”

88 Bow’s opposite

116 All over again

50 Record for posterity, in

54 Type of sax

89 Navy letters

117 Sicilian landmark

a way

55 Lost

90 Hermione Granger or

118 Affectedly cultured

51 “Stat!”

56 Close relative of a pigeon Peter Parker

119 Take a chance

56

57 Retailer owned by

91 Main artery

120 Crash sites?

walk

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

92 *Playlist from Thom

121 James ___ Space

58 Old Russian ruler

60 Puccini opera

Yorke and company?

Telescope

59 CPR pro

62 Did crew

97 “Remember the ___”

122 So-so

60 Like Lao

64 Shakira’s are famously honest 65 ___ & Chandon (champagne maker) 66 Actress Fisher 67 Exude

“RERG HNMJVN NMPRIRUUGRUU KRZFNRU BGHM HNR CROHNU MD CRUOZBK, HNRKR’U ZIUM Z OKBCR ZGC ARZJHX BG BH, ZU TRII.”

68 B-flat equivalent

ZGHNMGX PZFYBR

69 Beyond saving 70 Ended a bad connection?

73 “Pee-ew!”

74 When repeated, a chant in “Animal House” 75 Churchill’s famed sign 77 Heinie 78 Go-aheads

“DR M PXMI YMPB RDFZU AC UZX GAWI DU DG MIVMKG UZPXX A’TIATB DR UZX EAPRDRF, YMK MCUXP YMK.” C. GTAUU CDUNFXPMIY

79 Best Picture nominee with a main character who’s never pictured 80 Nostalgia-inducing 83 Sales target 84 Number of countries with a nonrectangular flag 85 Spot checker?

86 ___ trance (music genre named after an Indian state)

“J BFV’P SJXU IFDUBG PKEP DEXUN DU MUUS TFYNU EAFZP PKU TFYSB PKEV J ESYUEBG MUSP AUMFYU J PZYVUB JP FV.”

OEIK TFFBN Puzzle Three Clue: G equals Y

2 Its first is for fools

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: E equals M

1 Source of a wake-up call?

62 Record label for D’Angelo

celebrity cipher

Puzzle One Clue: A equals B

crossword

The Grounded Feeling Everyone will Enjoy

426212-1

at MANASOTA FLOORING INC

87 Coffee vessel

© 2024 NEA, Inc.

93 The parents in “Meet the

sudoku

Fockers,” e.g.

94 Modern rental 95 “CSI” locale 96 Big rig

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

98 Notable couple 101 First number in an American date, but the second in a European one 103 Wiped out 104 Green pasta sauce 106 Project, as lava 108 Email from a royal prince, perhaps 109 Present 110 Nobel laureate Wiesel

One walking the

111 Rattle off 112 Zin alternative 114 Beehive State native 115 Jr. and sr. ©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

9-26-24

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888

Homes for Sale

redpages@yourobserver.com •yourobserver.com/redpages

5 ACRES Lake Barn Near Fruitville I-75 Call for Price

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at Noon 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.

Motor Homes/ RVs

941-955-4888

CHAIR MAT for low pile carpet.

46x60, as new, pic online. In Nokomis. $20 (941) 966-6816 TV STAND, wood, 2 drawers.

L 48”, H 30”, W 18”. $200 OBO 941-321-2694 TWO WHITE pvc patio pool lounges w/ cushions & 1 large chair. $200 for all 941-949-2080

Boats I BUY BOATS Paying Cash. Will come to you to view. Vince 941-301-9946

Garage/ Moving/ Estate Sales ESTATE SALE Everything must go.

Furniture, decor, serveware and more. Hosted by T&T Estate Sales. Friday and Saturday, 27th and 28th. 08:30am to 5:00 pm.

4535 Glebe Farm Rd, Sarasota, FL 34235. Go to estatesales.org for more information.

T&T Estate Sales 813 668-6520.

Autos Service SRQ MOBILE MARINE SERVICES - Mobile services for your boat from the comfort of your lift or trailer! We service all major brands including Mercury, Yamaha, and Suzuki. Regular maintenance & engine diag / full repair. Wiring and electronics installs, canvas repair, vinyl letters, detailing and maintenance washes, and more!

Call today to schedule!

(941)320-4746 srqmobilemarine.com

Autos for Sale VW BEETLE 2016 Turbo SE. Very good condition w/ many extras.

Low milage. $15,900 386-344-4517. Leave Message.

Merchandise Wanted

Autos Wanted

GOLD, SILVER BUYING w/ CASH. RETIRED INVESTOR Diamonds, Coins, Jewelry, Watches & Pocket Watches.

Free House Calls.

Discrete/ Confidential. Call David 813-439-2694

CASH FOR YOUR CAR We come to you!

Ho Ho Buys cars.

941-270-4400.

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

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.

Sarasota: Pool home, 4 bed. $649,900 Venice: 2/2 Condo Plantation Golf Club. Call for Price Bradenton: Pool Home, New windows, hvac, Completely Updated $689,900 Longboat Key: 4 pools, beach access. $465,000 Gulf Beachfront Home coming soon: 6.9 million Brooke O’Malley | Club Realty Call 941-726-2677

Want Some Mad Money?

Sell Your Item for Free! $200 or less YourObserver.com/RedPages

ST ARMANDS 4374 sq. ft. You could rent the entire complete building that has 10,000 square feet NNN call me for more details. "This property offers outstanding potential for a variety of businesses, thanks to its versatile layout and prime location. Ideal for a spacious restaurant, 4COP license, bank branch, pharmacy, corporate headquarters, luxury apartments, and more. This prime real estate is situated on the prestigious St. Armands Circle, known as the jewel of Florida's west coast."

IMPORTANT Turnkey $120,000 (561) 931-9727

2BR/2BA SARASOTA This condo is a 2/2 ground floor, end unit overlooking the pool and views of the creek. Appliances including washer/ dryer. Siesta Key beach 3 mi away, close to shopping and restaurants.

(941) 685-0054

GARAGE SALE

LOOKING FOR an off-market waterfront property in either Siesta Key, Casey Key or Longboat Key. Distressed property is ok. I’m a cash buyer and can close quickly. Call Jeff at 941-202-6957.

As low as $17.50 per week!

941-955-4888

Homes for Rent

Condos/Apts. for Rent

Real Estate Wanted

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC 5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 PRIME LOCATION!! **SPACIOUS 4BR, 3BA, 1500 SF HOME WITH POOL**

941-955-4888

CARING/COMPASSIONATE LICENSED CNA 10+ yrs experience. Home health, transportation, appointments, shopping, laundry, travel, & more.

References available.

Niurka Labrada. 305-607-3502 CNA - 20 yrs+ exp. 20 yr.

Sarasota resident. References on req. Will work weekends, nights, holidays. 941-402-6148

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

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

Cleaning BRAZILIAN CLEANING Service

by Maria. Residential. Meticulous Cleaning. Excellent References.

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

RED PAGES IN PRINT AND ONLINE

A POWERFUL COMBINATION 941-955-4888

SEASONAL RATES

Rental office 9a.m. - 5p.m.

STUFF HERE!

Adult Care Services

YourObserver.com/RedPages

WEEKLY MONTHLY

SENIOR LOOKING FOR assistance with meal preparation on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Starting at $25 / hr.

Located in Sarabay.

Call Barbara @ 941-544-1941

SELL YOUR

Sarasota: 2 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car Garage House $350,000

Well-maintained, clean, and perfect for families. Enjoy a fenced-in backyard, washer/dryer, and a short walk to Siesta Key Beach. $5,000/month, annual lease.

Contact us for details!

941-350-4122

M-F Ask about our special rates!

Wagner Realty Since 1939 www.rentalsonlongboat.com

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

Home Improvements, Repairs.

Small and large! 941-284-8488.

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 PAINTING, LLC INTERIOR / EXTERIOR / CABINETS WE ARE THE BEST!!!

Residential & Commercial.

Fully Insured.

CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398

YourObserver.com/RedPages

This week’s Crossword answers

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Even though homelessness reaches into the depths of despair, there’s also a pride and beauty in it, as well.”

Anthony Mackie Puzzle Two Solution: “In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning, day after day.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald Puzzle Three Solution: “I don’t like comedy that makes me feel worse about the world than I already felt before I turned it on.”

Zach Woods

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2024 Universal Uclick

3 Electric Lantern Lights, New. $10 ea.

419-631-8933

RJH & ASSOCIATES seeks one (1) full-time Project Engineer based in Hillsborough/Pinellas County, FL with travel to project locations within the region. Duties: Direct, coordinate, and exercise functional authority for planning, organization, control, integration, and completion of engineering projects within area of assigned responsibility; formulate program plan, organize staff, assign personnel to specific project phases; review product designs for compliance; resolve design and test problems; control project costs and prepare detailed reports. Must have Bach.

Engineering Deg. (Civil/Structural) and 2 years of related experience in Civil/Structural Eng. Email resume to info@rjhassoc.com or mail to 12590 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Unit B, Miramar Beach, FL 32550.

You’re only cheating yourself.

BRAND NEW TABLE & CHAIRS (42”x42” square; 3 ft tall) $125

Help Wanted

peekers’ place

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

YourObserver.com/RedPages

auto

Items Under $200

Bradenton: Condo, 2 bed, 2 bath$199,900 Pet friendly 55+

Visit RED PAGES at YourObserver.com/RedPages

©2024 NEA, Inc.

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

Commercial Property for Rent

jobs

stuff

I BUY RVS Paying Cash. Will come to you to view. Vince 941-301-9946

real estate

Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

home services

Made for where you live. Here!

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

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

STEVE PANEBIANCO H R S

430988

Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain?

Do You Want To Avoid Surgery?

Professional Contractors Network, Inc.

Give Us a Call - We Can Help

Let our Network Handle All your Building Needs

FREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224

Construction Estimating • Custom Homes • Design Build We Prepare Estimates to Challenge Insurance Companies *Hurricane/Flood/Fire

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

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

Trades welcome to join our network! Please send email

Doors

www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.com

Sliding Glass Door Repair

William J. Leininger, JD

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

FIX IT - DON’T REPLACE IT

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

Home Watch

Open Your Doors Smoothly With Expertly Installed Rollers Call Nick 928-2263

FLORIDA PERMIT EXPERTS

CALL PINNACLE TODAY! 941-306-1999

Full Service General Contractor

PALMER RANCH HOMEWATCHERS®

431001

General Contractors

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

FREE 50 OFF ESTIMATES a 199 service.

$

$

Auto Service

SELL YOUR CAR! FAST • EASY • SAFE

WE COME TO YOU 5-Star Rated

Watching your home while you’re away

CGC1507540

Investor & Property Management Company Assistance Resolving Stop Work Orders Engineer/Architect Referrals

431611

431002

Lic. in FL since 2004

FloridaPermitExpert.com - 689.286.1509

COMPUTER REPAIR SALES & SERVICE

Bob & Carol Guthrie 941.993.6613

SPECIALTIES:

Computer

Serving the Palmer Ranch Area Since 2007 Licensed & Insured

www.PalmerRanchHomewatchers.com PalmerRanchHomewatchers@comcast.net

TIME TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

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

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

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

Handyman

Find anything in the RED PAGES

KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES INTERIOR RENOVATIONS & ANYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP

TEXT OR CALL 574-354-7772 KEENS HANDYMAN SERVICES

Doors

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

DON’T let your

CALL BEFOREYOU YOU FALL CALL BEFORE FALL

GRAB BARS GRAB BARS

PATIO DOORS be a DRAG or your

COMPLETE INSTALLATION PACKAGE

www.ezslider.com

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

941.966.0333

Sliding Glass Door Repairs Sliding Glass Door Deadbolts | Window Repairs

941.628.8579

249 235

* $ $235

$

WINDOWS be a PANE!!

Call us today!

430990

431006

6968 Beneva Road

941-955-4888

Dave and Connie Grundy

All Industrial/Commercial Projects Residential Jobs Over $50,000.

HoHoBuysCars.com

941-929-9095

431602

proslidingglassdoorrepair.com

431007

We have mediated divorces involving up to 15 million dollars of assets over past 30 years.

(Next to Beneva Flowers)

DR. DAVID CIFRA, DC

Email Project Information: PCNestimating@gmail.com 941-527-9414

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

941.270.4400

Board Certified in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompression

431610

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.

431622

GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Contractor

Divorce without Lawyers

430969

Health

431623

430986

Attorney

eRvice

FREE (941) 809-7311 ESTIMATES!

24/7 SERVICE

941-735-3362

YoderAluminum.com

epaiR

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

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

Pegatronics.com

941.650.9790 941.650.9790 YoderAluminum.com

Owner /Insured Operator Insured

ome

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

REE

F IN-HOAMTEES ESTIM

364556 431615

Dustin Yoder

Handyman

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

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

Dustin Owner Yoder/ Operator

Computer

430982

Aluminum

431261

34

DRGRABBARS.COM

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

Made for where you live. Here.

RED PAGES YourObserver.com/RedPages

YourObserver.com

Plumbing

General Plumbing Services Inc.

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!

Renovation, Construction and Remodeling Specialist

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

941-923-8140

SPECIALIZING IN KITCHEN & BATHROOM REPAIRS & REMODELS.

SCREEN MASTER

• 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

Realtors

Sarasota Cash Home Buyers

SERVICES WE OFFER

Sarasota Cash Home Buyers

We Are The Most Efficient, Cost Effective, Hassle Free Way To Sell Your House For CA$H Today!

SHOWER & BATH MAKEOVERS

Your Local Home Buyers

Cleaned - Regrouted - Caulked - Sealed

Call John 941.377.2940

We Pay All Closing Costs!

• We Buy In “As Is Condition” • No Need For Repairs 430993

Shell Work & Landscape Stone Driveways | Yards | Dirt Work | Light Demo

Rich Briandi | 941-356-5616

941-202-6957

www.SarasotaCashHomeBuyers.com Wizard Moving SRQ For $149 per hour you get: SUN -AFULL COLOR 2x2 175642 09-06-23 rf truck, 2 men with equipment, experience and a great attitude to Remodeling/Home Improvement make your moving day a pleasure.

431624

Transportation

BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICE “Luxury for Less”

Call us FIRST at

Sarasota Cash Home Buyers Your Local Home Buyers

Licensed and insured #IMT708

LOCAL - FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

WE ALWAYS PAY CASH

Movers

OFF

CALL US FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 941.625.7673

• Any Situation, Any Price Range • No Showing Your House Over and Over • Waterfront Specialists • Close When You Want • No More Uncertainty • We Also Buy Land and Condos SOLD

Lic./ Insured

• We are Local Cash Buyers • We Provide The Flexibility You Want

941 - 248 - 4734 430999

Landscaping & Lawn

500

NEW POOL CAGE INSTALLATION

430507

www.showerandbathsarasota.com

OFF

POOL CAGE RE-SCREEN

$

You Pay NO Realtor Commissions or Fees!

Free Estimates • Sarasota Resident Since 1974

10 %

• INSTALL POOL ENCLOSURES • CARPORTS, FRONT ENTRY• CUSTOM SCREEN DOORS WAYS, & LANAI’S • RE-SCREENING • SCREW REPLACEMENT • PICTURE WINDOW INSTALL / • GARAGE SLIDERS PANORAMIC VIEW • PET & PRIVACY SCREENS

All Florida Airports, Concerts & Dinners - Hourly Cruise Ships & Medical | See Specials at: www.blacklabelcarservice.com

Trees

Mastercraft Construction Remodel & Home Improvements

Licensed & Insured

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS Showcase your products or services.

CALL 941-955-4888

Roofing

Windows

Serving Longboat Key Since 2005

SARASOTA PAINTING, LLC

Res. | Com. | Lic. | Ins.

DIRTY ROOF? SAFE, NO PRESSURE CLEANING

Interior / Exterior / Cabinets.

Owner Operated - 20 yrs. Experience

FULLY INSURED • OWNER OPERATED

941-587-5007 | BensonsSoftRoofWash.com 431608

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

INCLUDING SCREENS, TR ACKS, MIRRORS & FANS

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

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

Dog Sitting (sm/md)

Licensed & Insured CCC - 058059 CBC - 1253936

Cat sitting & Cat/Kitten Introductions 431009

Administering medication

GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE RED PAGES

Call to reserve your ad space: 941-955-4888

TREASURES found here.

Looking for something?

Your lucky discovery is closer than you think.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 941-955-4888 or visit YourObserver.com/redpages

431000

941-626-3194

Dog Walking (sm/md)

160

25 $

STANDARD WINDOWS

Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.

Pet Care by Melanie Gates

(941) 966-2960

UP TO

Building & Roofing Contractor

Pet Services

30+ years Exp. & Excellent References

Formerly known as Sunrise Windows

SPECIAL 00 5

$

senior citizen discount. www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com

PURIFIED WATER WINDOW CLEANING AVAIL ABLE!!

Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES 941- 284 - 5880

431598

$1500 job or more (labor only) Carpentry one time use • one per customer Drywall Find Us @ Call 941.320.5068 Powerwashing for FREE Estimates

Call Today for FREE Estimates in Sarasota County 430994

(Interior/Exterior)

941~400~6786

Introductory Sale $150 OFF

431625

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

RED PAGES

431010

Painting

Painting

430104

941-243-0995 • jsancorporation@gmail.com jsancorporation.com Lic#CBC1265920

410036

- FREE ESTIMATES 430992

Screening

431008

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling

432185

35

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

36

YourObserver.com

SARASOTA OBSERVER | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

READY TO MOVE BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

Look No Further 1479 Bay Point Drive Louis Wery

$5,549,000 941.232.3001

THE GULF COAST LUXURY LEADER

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

NOKOMIS 603 Harbor Shore Drive Jaci Krawtschenko & Jennifer Garrabrant

$3,999,999 941.284.3789

LOMA LINDA PARK 2138 Floyd Street Roberta Tengerdy & Carolyn Collins

BAYSO SARASOTA 301 Quay Commons #1406 Moriah Taliaferro

7665 Sanderling Road Joel Schemmel

15908 Baycross Drive Donna Soda

$1,400,000 941.961.5857

5412 America Drive Maureen Morris & Matt Morris

$1,095,000 941.702.3461

182 Oma Drive Beth Sargent

$799,000 941.716.1277

5732 Puccini Street Thomas Netzel

WHISPERING SANDS

$1,350,000 941.350.0807

20 Whispering Sands Drive #501 Liz Arme

RIVENDELL

NOKOMIS $729,000 941.544.0763

$3,200,000 941.587.4894

PHILLIPPI GARDENS

SUNCOAST HARBORS

DEL WEBB 6912 Gosport Cove Mary Northrup

$1,999,000 941.321.2292

THE LAKE CLUB $1,675,000 941.504.9910

PUNTA GORDA ISLES 3736 Whippoorwill Court Lily Buzey

SIESTA KEY SANDERLING CLUB

1000 Scherer Way Jody Callan

HAMMOCKS AT RIVIERA DUNES $794,000 941.525.8707

1318 3rd Street Circle East Cindy Pierro

SARASOTA $699,000 941.539.0633

1558 4th Street #406 Frank Lambert

$1,250,000 941.266.4003

$749,900 941.920.6818

RIDGEWOOD $695,000 941.920.1500

2304 Sandrala Drive Cindy Taliaferro

$609,900 941.894.7269

Now Under Construction

The Next Evolution of Waterfront Luxury 78 Grand Bayfront Residences from $3.7 Million

Presentation Gallery Now Open at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Hotel 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

PremierSIR.com 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®.

418467-1