Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer 12.26.24 by The Observer Group Inc.

SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY

Lighting the way

Temple Emanu-El’s religious school extensively prepared for its visit to Aviva Senior Living on Dec. 15, practicing a play and songs, making cards and learning how to interact with seniors.

Students performed the short play, a lighthearted retelling of the miracle of Hanukkah, the story in Jewish tradition of the oil to light the menorah at the temple in Jerusalem miraculously lasting eight days, after the Maccabees drove the Greeks from Judea.

Rabbi Michael Shefrin called Hanukkah a “season of light.” He said he hopes it is a time where a divided world comes together, with a reminder of the gift of religious freedom.

“It’s wonderful they have the opportunity to express themselves and to share their beliefs with others,” said resident Al Koral.

Kwanzaa across the community

The African American holiday of Kwanzaa involves giving and celebrating the fruits of one’s labor, a concept embodied in the poetry readings, music and other offerings of the Kwanzaa Community Celebration at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library on Dec. 9.

The Friends of Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, which organized the celebration, hopes to give its own gifts, not only to the African American community but also the wider community.

The celebration continues today to Jan. 1, with Kwanzaa candlelight events being held in various locations, from the library to First Congregational United Church of Christ.

THE YEAR IN PHOTOS 2024

What we will remember most in 2024 is what we don’t want to remember. But what should be remembered are the exceptional moments we as a community enjoyed.

Sarasota’s dominant news story of the year is a oneword summary — hurricane. Pick one, Debby, Helene, Milton, all etched in city history.

Before the trio of misery, we had moments of kids’ joy at the simplest things, chefs giving us tasty treats, moments shared at concerts and furry friends bringing smiles to our faces.

After our despair and cleanup, we witnessed moments of a thrilling comeback and a return to normalcy where once again we smiled, laughed and welcomed the holiday season.

Sarasota proved its strength in its resurgence.

SEE PAGE 3

OCTOBER

SHIPWRECKS

The

OCTOBER PASSING FANCY Wendy Miller navigates Midnight Pass by kayak.

After Hurricane Helene opened Midnight Pass slightly after 41 years, shovelers attempted to keep the pass open, but it started to close again. A week-anda-half later,

Ian Swaby

Milton punched a hole in Midnight Pass that is still open today.

GRAD NIGHTS

Guadalupe Maldonado enters the stadium with eyes set on 2024 at Sarasota High’s graduation ceremonies.

wind of Hurricane Milton took boats from Sarasota Bay and tossed them around like this one that ended up in front of the Bayfront Park entrance in Sarasota.

JULY BIT OF BUBBLY During Bubbles Under The Banyans at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a bubble collides with Alanna Phan, 2, and her father, Will Phan. The event at Selby Gardens featured Blaise Ryndes, of Tampa, owner of Spheres Bubble Show and a contestant on Season 13 of “America’s Got Talent.”

2024: Sarasota by the numbers

From hurricane damage to government legal fees, here are some of the most notable figures in 2024.

$12 MILLION

The

$472,421

17,445

$7-$10 MILLION

Preliminary estimate of the cost of repairs at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall after Hurricane Milton.

$36.9 MILLION

The maximum amount of the city-approved design agreement with Renzo Piano Building Workshop for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center. The architecture firm is responsible for hiring and paying all design phase vendors.

17.78 Inches of rain dumped on Sarasota by Hurricane Debby, according to the National Weather Service, resulting in widespread flooding of coastal and inland areas. 350 Anticipated jobs to be created by Pilatus Business Aircraft’s $40 million investment at SarasotaBradenton International Airport. Pilatus is one of several aviation ecosystem companies locating around the airfield.

848 The maximum number of residential units that could be built in the redevelopment of Crossings at Siesta Key. The apartments are part of a multiuse town center-type of development to include residential, retail and commercial spaces.

Photo courtesy of Sarasota Drone Guy

JANUARY

SNOW WAY

The Downtown Baptist Church brought in 20,000 pounds of “real” snow, courtesy of the Sarasota location of Lee’s Ice of Central Florida, for a Snow Day. Children like Galleria West and Raelynn West were tossing snowballs, building small snowmen and sliding down a snow-covered slide using inflatable floats.

FEBRUARY

SOCIAL PUPS

Owners of Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar are creating events like Doggy Valentine’s Day. The whole concept allows people like Janet Guzman, with Kalua and Kiwi, to get out and socialize with other dog owners.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

FAB FROSH Riverview High’s Ashley Eisenacher outmaneuvers a Lakewood Ranch defender during a lacrosse match. Eisenacher is part of a talented Rams girls team that finished 11-7 this past season.

MARCH

A FAIR

CENTURY

The Sarasota County Fair celebrated its 100th anniversary earlier this year, and certainly more thrills and spills than when it started, well at least Haylee Palasz and McKaya Wolf feel that way.

MARCH

MOOVING SHOW Eighth grader Addy Porter said it meant a lot to her to showcase a St. Patrick’s Day costume created by former 4-H

Tori Collins, of Conch Collins, fries up some conch during the Newton Juneteenth Celebration, which focused on supporting local community businesses.

JUNE

YOUR MOVE

Nicholas Lewis, David Pratt, Mark Hamel and Evan Santiago, 9, play chess. They are all part of the Manasota Chess Club that meets at the Crossings of Siesta Key. Said to be one of the only brickand-mortar chess clubs in the state of Florida, the center offers a contrast with most

clubs, which are nomadic, meeting at locations like libraries, cafes and bookstores. Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Brenner Glickman and his wife, Rabbi Elaine Glickman, had just adopted their dog Ellie from Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. In June, the rabbis offered blessings to furry family members.

JUNE FLAG SUPPORT

Luna Cassandra and August Ray were just two of the participants who carried a 700-foot Pride flag across The John Ringling Causeway during the Project Pride SRQ event. More than 700 took part in the march.

JULY THE ART OF FLYING

Camper Annabelle Coone, 12, and counselor-intraining Calvin Owen, 14, practice the Spanish web during the Circus Arts Conservatory’s summer camp. The camp teaches basic aerials, tightrope and trampoline arts.

AUGUST NONSTOP RAIN

Hurricane Debby didn’t hit Sarasota, but consistently dumped rain. This is flooding off Shadow Ridge Circle near Celery Fields.

COSTUME

Our priority: birds, people?

There is a simple solution to the proposed rezoning of the Smith Farm. The Audubon Society and stargazers should buy it.

It is just never enough. Never enough.

You get the impression if the Florida Audubon Society and similar environmental groups, statewide and locally, were the autocratic rulers of Florida, they would turn all of undeveloped Florida into untouchable, taxpayerfunded, preserved environmentally sensitive park land.

Just watch what happens next month when the Florida Audubon Society, the Sarasota Citizen Action Network and other eviro groups descend on the Sarasota County Commission to block the rezoning of 50 acres of the Smith family farm near the county’s Celery Fields bird sanctuary.

The owners want to rezone their property from its current status of one home per 10 acres to 3.5 homes per acres to allow for the development of 170 homes. The property, by the way, is listed on the county’s future land use map for moderate density residential.

But as these things always go in Sarasota and Manatee counties, the anti-development forces want government to intervene and stop property owners from having the

rightful benefits and use of what they own.

Indeed, we often say that anyone who thinks he owns his home and has the rights that come with ownership — e.g. managing your property for your own use, benefit and enjoyment — is delusional. Earlier in the year, we referred to the current state of property ownership as economic fascism. That is, lawmakers leave ownership in the hands of private individuals (you maintain it; you pay the taxes), but pressures from the mob cause lawmakers to bow and coerce private individuals to cede control of their property to the government.

That’s exactly what they want with the Smith Farm.

In spite of what existing county ordinances and regulations allow, in spite of what the law allows, opponents of the Smith Farm development made their case against development with the standard stuff: Incompatible with the neighborhood; too much traffic; likely to cause flooding of streets.

Incompatible? Uh, look at the accompanying aerial map. If you define the neighborhood only as the Celery Fields to the north and west, maybe so. But if you’re honest, look to the east and south of the Smith Farm. It’s all residential. Look to the

Victim-offender dialogues help victims’ healing process

At its heart, the criminal justice system is a mechanism for protecting rights, sanctioning misconduct and mitigating harm. The government, as the prosecutor, takes on the role of the aggrieved party on behalf of society. The aim is to uphold the rule of law, protect the interests of the public and maintain order. But often, victims in this process are relegated to a secondary position. They often feel disconnected from proceedings and decisions. And as the government pursues conviction or resolution, victims’ needs, concerns and desires can be overshadowed.

A growing trend, however, known as victim-offender dialogue, is showing evidence of addressing many of these needs, while at the same time helping prevent recidivism.

Over the past 40 years, states have pursued reforms that establish and protect victims’ rights. Broadly, victims in Florida have constitutional rights “to be informed, to

be present and to be heard when relevant, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the constitutional rights of the accused.”

This means victims are notified regarding court hearings and other developments in their cases. They are entitled to provide testimony during trial and make a statement at the time of sentencing. Victims may also receive financial compensation through restitution payments or a victims’ compensation fund.

Yet, many victims are left seeking more.

It is common for victims to want to speak with the person who harmed them — to express how the offender’s conduct impacted their life and directly hear the offender accept responsibility for his or her actions.

Victim-offender dialogue — sometimes referred to as restorative justice dialogue or victim-offender mediation — is a tool for addressing the needs, concerns and desires of victims.

Essentially, this process is nonadversarial, and all parties must be willing participants.

There is extensive vetting prior to contact between victims and offenders to ensure no additional harm occurs. Moreover, victims initiate the process, which means that victim-offender dialogue only occurs if the victim seeks it. When these dialogues occur, trained and experienced facilitators mediate them.

Victim-offender dialogue is not appropriate in all cases and is not

stargazers in Sarasota County have been under constant assault from the influx of population. The loss of the Smith Farm to development would be just another horrible “nail in the coffin” of injustice to the birds and stargazers.

The existing 400 acres of Celery Fields simply are not enough for their protection and enjoyment.

Ok, pardon the cynicism. But put these 50 acres in context. For one, anyone can see what has been occurring around the Celery Fields and what has been predicted for decades to occur. That region is in the path of common-sense development.

What’s more, the point of creating the Celery Fields was to create a preserve in the path of future development. It was not created to prevent all future land uses.

west of the Celery Fields; it’s light industrial and commercial. There is traffic and human activity all around. Incompatible? Ha. Likely to cause flooding? You can bet that any homebuilder with integrity these days is well in tune with the issue of flooding in East Sarasota County, especially after Tropical Storm Debby. From now on, demands and expectations will be high for homebuilders to design extensive mitigation — not just in their projects, but also to include the surrounding areas. And you can bet smart buyers are likely to be wary of the flooding question before buying. So it will be in any homebuilder’s economic interests to design low flood-risk projects. But even then, the environmental opponents are likely to persist with, shall we say, their laughable objections. They say lights from the homes and street lights will disturb the birds in the Celery Fields sanctuary, and they will spoil the fun for stargazers and local astronomy clubs. Oh, by all means, let’s not forget the rights of the birds and stargazers. Much like the Native American Indians who lost to the encroachment and takings by European and American conquistadors, for the past six centuries, the birds and

a substitute for the traditional criminal justice system. It is just an additional tool to address needs that criminal prosecution does not meet.

With some caveats, research evidence suggests that victimoffender dialogue can have positive impacts on victims’ healing and may even have positive effects against recidivism.

A recent review of research found that victim-offender dialogue programming may help reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress among victims of crime. This matters because many victims report they do not receive help dealing with this trauma through the criminal justice system. What’s more, large majorities of crime victims prefer alternative accountability mechanisms over incarceration, according to a recent survey.

Additional studies have reported high levels of satisfaction among victims and offenders participating in victim-offender dialogue programs compared to those exposed solely to the traditional criminal justice system.

In addition, offenders participating in victim-offender dialogue are less likely to re-offend, although some of these outcomes may be attributed to self-selection rather than the dialogue itself. In other words, offenders who voluntarily participate and show remorse may already be at low risk for re-offending, so it is difficult to attribute lower rates of re-offending directly to their participation in victimoffender dialogue. Nevertheless, the primary objective of victim-offender dialogue is to address the harm experienced by victims, rather than solely focusing on reducing recidivism.

In light of these positive research findings, many states have embraced victim-offender dialogue. In 2020, Florida’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

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More, larger context: Consider that 126,700 acres, or 34.4%, of Sarasota County’s 368,000 total acreage are already preserved and off limits to future development, according to Sarasota County data. How much more is needed or necessary?

Now flip the coin. It’s widely accepted and known that throughout Florida, especially in Sarasota County, there is an acute shortage of housing for the lower and middle class working population. Demand far outstrips supply. It’s the No. 1 economic challenge in Sarasota County. So every time Sarasota County commissioners deny and/or restrict development, they drive up the cost of housing and living in general. Which begs the question: What is the greater priority — people or birds?

Actually, there is always a simple solution to situations such as the Smith Farm. In fact, it can apply to every case where people don’t want development to encroach on them. That simple solution is this: Buy the property.

If the Audubon Society, stargazers and birds believe the Smith Farm’s 50 acres are so crucial to their existence and happiness, they can ensure that with one, simple act: Buy the property themselves.

(OPPAGA) released a report examining research evidence on victimoffender dialogue and its use across the country. Thirty-seven states provide some statutory support for victim-offender dialogue or similar restorative justice practices. Many of these states have programs that enable victim-offender dialogues within the adult criminal justice system. Other states, such as Florida, have programming that is limited to the juvenile justice system.

As the OPPAGA report noted, there is only limited statutory support for restorative justice in Florida, and the Florida Department of Corrections does not have any formal victim-offender dialogue programs for adults.

Despite a lack of statutory support and official programming, victim-offender dialogue is occurring in Florida. In pockets around the state, organizations such as the Florida Restorative Justice Association are working with public officials and facilitating victimoffender dialogues. The informal nature of this work unfortunately means that many victims are unaware that victim-offender dialogue is an option in the state.

Florida has made great strides establishing and protecting victims’ rights, but too often, victims are still relegated to a secondary role.

It is essential for Florida lawmakers to consider reforms that further enable victim-offender dialogues throughout the state.

Even relatively minor steps such as defining victim-offender dialogue in statute and ensuring that victims are aware of its availability would go a long way.

Vittorio Nastasi is director of criminal justice reform at Reason Foundation and lives in Tallahassee.

A version of this article appeared in The Journal of the James Madison Institute.

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VITTORIO NASTASI

Courtesy image

The 50-acre Smith farm property is nestled southeast of the Celery Fields. PALMER

OCTOBER

Youth Sailing took over the helm from Sarasota Sailing Squadron for the 76th Labor Day Regatta in Sarasota Bay. Curt Wheeler and Brynn DeJongh navigate through the waters of the bay, competing against other youth from other sailing clubs.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki, Cecelia Grove and her daughter, Aria Grove, 7, and Linda Carson of ABC7 Sarasota lead the flipping of the switch for the Lights in Bloom. The Selby Gardens event features 2 million lights.

TREE OF LIFE

The 50th annual Singing Christmas Tree Spectacular begins with a solo by Walter Godfrey. The performance features a large centerpiece styled as a Christmas tree adorned with more than 10,000 lights and holds church choir members.

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The top 10 stories of the Sarasota sports scene in 2024

These moments and victories stood out among the rest in 2024.

regional championship win, before losing 28-23 to Jacksonville’s Raines High in the state semifinal.

1. Booker football repeats as regional champions

Although Booker (10-4) didn’t finish its dominant season with a state title, the football program still made its mark on the Sarasota sports scene. Since the arrival of head coach and Athletic Director Scottie Littles, the Tornadoes have turned a once bottom-dwelling program into a bona fide powerhouse.

In 2022, Booker went 6-5. Last season, Booker made it all the way to the final four of the 2S FHSAA Football state championship tournament and followed it up this year with another

“One thing I know for sure is that everybody in the state knows who Booker is now,” said Littles.

In 2024, Booker cemented itself as a flashy, high-scoring team, bursting at the seams with high-end Division I talent — many of whom transferred into the school. Senior QB Ryan Downes connected with junior wide receiver Tyren Wortham for 14 touchdowns.

Freshman wide receiver Tyree Mannings Jr. established himself as a force to be reckoned with, with 11 total touchdowns in the regular season. Junior defensive end Kevontay Hugan continued to excel, leading the tornadoes in sacks with 14 in the regular season.

“One thing I know for sure is that everybody in the state knows who Booker is now.”

Scottie Littles, Booker head coach and athletic director

2. Maddie Muller places second in state cross-country meet

Riverview High freshman Madie Muller burst onto the cross-country scene this fall. Muller kicked off the year with three straight first-place finishes: the Lemon Bay Invite (Aug. 24), Lakewood Ranch XC Invite 2024 (Aug. 31) and the Venice Invitational on Sept. 14. Muller ran a personal best 17:33.2 in her first-

place finish at the FHSAA Region 4A-3 meet on Nov. 9. Muller followed up her regional championship win by placing second (17:54.2) to MacKenzie Roy (17:19.5) of Port Orange’s Spruce Creek High in the Class 4A state championships on Nov. 16 in Tallahassee.

The Men’s Eight is one of the oldest and most storied races in the Olympics. It is a race that the United States has historically dominated since its introduction in 1900, winning 12 gold medals.

Recently, however, the U.S. Men’s Eight boats have struggled in the Olympics, failing to medal since winning bronze in 2008.

That all changed on Aug. 3, when Sarasota native Clark Dean and his teammates took to the water in the final of the Men’s Eight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

5. Emma Weyant has a career year

The Riverview High alum had herself quite the year in 2024. It began in March at the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Championships, when Weyant, a senior swimmer at the University of Florida, won a gold medal in the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Weyant followed up her gold by winning silver in the 500-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley. In July, Weyant competed for Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games, winning the bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley. It was Weyant’s second Olympic medal — the 23-yearold won silver in the same event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Dean, who sat in the boat No. 4 seat and grew up rowing for Sarasota Crew, had been there before. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, his boat finished fifth in the Men’s Four. This time, he was determined to have a different outcome.

Team USA won bronze in the race, with a time of 5:25.28, a tick behind second-place Netherlands (5:23.92) and Great Britain (5:22.88), which won gold.

For much of the year, Cardinal Mooney appeared to be untouchable. The Cougars didn’t lose a game until they fell to Cocoa 31-21 in the semifinals of the 2A FHSAA football tournament. Cardinal Mooney’s 18game win streak, which stretched back to Oct. 27, 2023, was apparent of the program’s positioning in the Sarasota football ecosystem. Under coach Jared Clark, the Cougars have thrust themselves into the upper echelon of high school football — and have reason to believe that the trend will continue.

Junior quarterback Devin Mignery excelled in his first full year as a starter, throwing for 21 touchdowns and rushing for nine. Sophomore running back Connail Jackson also thrived in his first year as a full-time starter, averaging over 128 rushing yards per game and totaling 28 touchdowns.

Junior Elijah Golden showed why he’s the top-rated defensive end in the country per 247 sports, recording eight sacks during the regular season, after transferring in from IMG Academy.

The Cougars held their own against a more experienced Cocoa team that saw its star wideout, FSU commit Jayvan Boggs, break the Florida high school single-game receiving yards record with 378 on 17 catches.

6. Riverview girls swimming wins fourth consecutive state title

DYLAN CAMPBELL SPORTS REPORTER

3. Clark Dean, U.S. Men’s Eight win bronze in Paris

Cardinal Mooney football posts 12-1 record

Dylan Campbell

Booker High two-way player Dylan Wester (left) and wide receiver Tyren Wortham warm up before Booker’s regional semifinal game against Nature Coast Tech.

Ryan Kohn

Sarasota rower Clark Dean (fourth from right) took bronze in the Men’s Eight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Image courtesy of Mike Lewis/USA Swimming

Emma Weyant captured a bronze medal in the Women’s 400 IM on July 29 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Dylan Campbell

Cardinal Mooney junior defensive lineman Konnor Whitesell leads his team prior to Cardinal Mooney’s regional final bout with Bishop Verot.

7. Cardinal Mooney indoor volleyball downs Berkeley Prep

If there was ever a way to judge a head coach in their first year, this would be it. When Allan Knight took over the Cardinal Mooney indoor volleyball program, he knew the team had potential. He just wasn’t sure what its ceiling was.

Although Cardinal Mooney (225) lost to perennial powerhouse Berkeley Prep in the regional finals of the 3A FHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships, the Cougars proved they could hold their own against the best when they hosted the 16-time state champions on Oct. 1.

Cardinal Mooney edged out Berkeley Prep 3-1, thanks to monster nights from some of its top seniors.

Outside hitter Izzy Russell — who didn’t let a ball touch the floor, said Knight — and middle hitter Zoe Kirby had 14 kills each. Middle hitter Riley Green had nine kills along with 10 digs. Junior setter Layla Larrick kept the Cougars in rhythm, setting the table with 44 assists.

For Knight and his team, the regular season defeat of Berkeley Prep was a statement: The Cougars are here to stay.

8. Paradise has best season

After two seasons, Sarasota Paradise has established itself as the soccer team in Sarasota. A pre-professional team playing in USL League 2, Sarasota Paradise had its best season yet in 2024 while playing at Sarasota High.

This summer the Paradise, which sported a roster full of local talent like captain Felipe Rojas, posted a 8-1-3 record, good enough to win the USL’s South Florida Division title and earn the team its first ever postseason berth.

Sarasota Paradise grew most significantly off the field, however. Since its inception, Owner/CEO Marcus Walfridson’s goal has been to turn Sarasota Paradise into a fully professional organization by making the jump from USL League 2 to USL League 1. Walfridson grew closer to that goal by adding investors such as the Papanicholos family and creating brand partnerships, like the team’s three-year apparel deal with Hummel PRO North America, a Danish sportswear brand.

In December, Walfridson announced Sarasota Paradise would finally have a home of its own — for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Sarasota Paradise will play under the lights of Premier Sports Campus’s 3,000-plus capacity stadium in Lakewood Ranch.

9. Sarasota High basketball wins district title

In the competitive world of Sarasota high school basketball, the Sailors emerged as a legitimate postseason threat in 2024.

Sarasota posted a gaudy 21-6 record in 2023, but fell to crosstown rival Riverview in the Class 7A-District 12 game in head coach BJ Ivey’s first year.

The Sailors came back with a vengeance in 2024, going 24-3 en route to beat North Port 63-36 in the district title game.

The Sailors were led in scoring by thenfreshman Johnny Lackaff, a 6-foot-1 shooting guard with a silky jump shot, who averaged 13.0 points per game and senior forward Michael Drayton, who chipped in 12.9 points per game.

10. Sarasota boys soccer changes course

The Sarasota High boys varsity soccer team experienced a significant improvement in 2024. The Sailors posted a 9-5-4 record and made it to the semifinal of the district tournament game before losing 1-0 to North Port.

While these numbers aren’t glamorous, they are significant — in 2022-23, the Sailors went 5-8-5. The year prior they went 3-11-2 and in 2020-21, Sarasota bottomed out at 3-13-3.

In 2024, the Sailors are already off to a strong start, having logged wins against Booker, Venice, Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch and more.

supported through philanthropy. You can play a vital role in ensuring that families continue to find the hope and healing they deserve. Learn how you can make an impact, call 941.917.1286 or visit smhf.org

Learn more.

Ryan Kohn

Cardinal Mooney junior Layla Larrick sets a pass during a team scrimmage Sept. 9. Larrick said the team’s win over Calvary Christian on Sept. 5 was the team’s best performance of the season thus far.

Courtesy image

Sarasota Paradise left back Felipe Rojas served as a team captain. His play helped the team win the USL League Two South Florida division with an 8-1-3 record.

BJ Ivey believes in a “one day at a time” approach to building the Sailors boys basketball program. Ryan Kohn

FRIDAY, DEC. 27

JAZZ CLUB AWARD WINNERS

CONCERT

2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists

SRQ, 3975 Fruitville Road. Admission at door, $15-$20. Students always free. This performance features many of the 14 young recipients of the 2024 Scholarship Awards by the Jazz Club of Sarasota. These talented students will perform in concert and jazz jam formats. Visit JazzClubSarasora.org.

ARTS & CRAFTS — JUNK JOURNALING

2-3 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtiss Ave. Free. Create a journal while you reflect on your life journey. All materials will be provided, but you may bring personal items to include. Visit SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com.

SUNDAY, DEC. 29

TASTE OF CHANUKAH

4-6 p.m. at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free. This family friendly event will feature a helicopter drop of Hanukkah gelt, a LEGO menorah display, magicians, a snow slide, a trackless train ride, a giant LED light robot, catered kosher food from fine caterers including Michael’s on East, and more. Visit ATasteofChanukah.com.

TUESDAY, DEC. 31

NEW WAVE NYE AT ART OVATION’S PERSPECTIVE ROOFTOP

8 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1 at 1255 N. Palm Ave. $50-$1,000. Spend New Year’s Eve at Perspective Rooftop Bar, located on the top floor of Art Ovation Hotel, with an ’80sthemed full band and DJ, along with ’80s-inspired cocktails and cuisine. Visit EventBrite.com.

2025 NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY AT THE BIG TIKI LOUNGE

6-11:30 p.m. at 5311 Ocean Blvd. No cover charge. Enjoy live music all night by Casey on the Key and DJ Nathaniel Nattress. Bottle service upon reservation. Visit EventBrite.com.

ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE BAYFRONT FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Midnight at Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Drive. Free. Start the new year with this fireworks display over Sarasota Bay organized by Suncoast

BEST BET

TUESDAY, DEC. 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE BLOCK PARTY & PINEAPPLE DROP 1 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. along Main Street and Lemon Avenue. Free. Head downtown for the 25th annual pineapple drop block party, which will feature a carnival, multiple outdoor stage performances and a pineapple drop count down. Visit DestinationDowntownSarasota.com.

Charities for Children in partnership with Marina Jack. Visit SuncoastCharitiesForChildren.

THURSDAY, JAN. 2

EVENING NAMASTE AT THE BAY WITH CLAUDIA BAEZA

6-7 p.m. at Sarasota Garden Club, 1130 Boulevard of the Arts. Free. This series of yoga sessions brings a different popular yoga instructor in Sarasota to The Bay each Thursday. Claudia Beza, owner of Pineapple Studios: Pineapple Yoga + Cycling in downtown Sarasota, offers a range of classes from the body-focused Vinyasa to the gentler Hatha. Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

BONSAI AND BREWS 7-9 p.m. at Sun King Sarasota, 1215 Mango Ave. $75. This workshop-style event explores the art of bonsai with experts, providing everything you need to create your own including a tree, a pot, soil, wire and tools. It also includes craft beer from Sun King Sarasota, an award-winning brewery and tap room. Brews not included in the ticket price. Visit SunKingBrewing.com.

File image

Aaron Wilson and Holly Jensen celebrate at the New Year’s Eve Block Party.

2024 Digital Year in Review

Thirteen of the 25 mostviewed stories of 2024 were hurricane-related.

Observer stories publish on the web first, before the print versions hit the street. And many of the articles you see on YourObserver.com are specific for online consumption.

This digital effort is an important piece of how we deliver news to our community.

But unlike the print version of the Observer, we can track what stories are read online, and after analyzing the data, the most-viewed stories of 2024 reveal some not-so-surprising observations. 1.) The violent weather we experienced this hurricane season affected us profoundly. 2.) We love restaurants; and 3.) We’re paying attention to development in the area.

According to the data, 13 of the 25 most-viewed stories of 2024 were hurricane-related; several were food/restaurant stories; four were business/development related and one was a breaking news story about a father and son dying in a Manatee County boating accident. Here is a sampling of the top stories of 2024 on YourObserver.com.

NATURE’S FURY

According to the web, the biggest story of 2024 was the weather. In 66 days, three hurricanes slashed through the area, wreaking havoc on the barrier islands and low-lying areas of the mainland. Observer staff were some of the first people on the ground after each of the storms rolled through. The sights of wind and water damage captured by reporters and residents made for compelling viewing.

NIGHTMARE FLOODS

Before becoming a hurricane and making landfall in the Panhandle, Tropical Storm Debby whirled past Longboat Key’s coast Aug. 5, bringing heavy winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge.

After expecting a normal rainy weekend in Florida, the aftermath of the tropical storm-turned-hurricane took aback residents.

Debby’s impact surprised Longboater Karen Pashkow. She said the seawall flooded along the walkway of Longboat Harbour Condominium and heavy debris prevented many cars from exiting the parking lot.

Monday morning, Pashkow found herself still watching the rain on Sarasota Bay and thought, “When is this going to stop?”

Rain fell for two days, inundating already-flooded roads on Longboat and Siesta keys.

Low-lying areas, including the Pinecraft neighborhood off Bahia Vista Street, experienced heavy flooding.

HELLO, HELENE

On Sept. 26, Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, brushed past Longboat and Siesta keys, sending three to five feet of water into homes and businesses.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Paul Dezzi was stunned by what crews assessing damage were seeing.

“It was shocking with what we found as we moved north,” Dezzi said. “We found that there were homes that were damaged, a few destroyed, lots of debris, lots of sand, lots of construction material.”

The storm made landfall on Sept. 26, and its main impact to Longboat Key came from the high storm surge. Some residents reported three to five feet of water intrusion in their homes.

The day after the storm, Siesta Key was closed off as rescuers combed through the area. County Commissioner Mark Smith described the scene, saying, “There’s a lot of property damage. Siesta Village is wiped right now. It’s going to take awhile for it to come back.”

Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun said firefighters were as prepared as they could be before the storm hit. “Areas had water of six feet where our vehicles could not go through, so unfortunately, those residents who chose to stay behind had to tough it out until the waters began to recede,” he said.

This amount of water flooded out many in Longboat Key’s low-lying areas like Buttonwood, Sleepy Lagoon and the Village. Many homeowners tried to get back to the island as quickly as possible to begin ripping out drywall and restoration.

The town followed a tiered reentry protocol after Helene, which resulted in residents being allowed back Sept. 29.

SEE DIGITAL REVIEW PAGE 18

JIM DELA DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER

Ian Swaby

The public gathers at the entrance to Midnight Pass as boats make their way through the opening.

Jim DeLa

Large boats washed shore along Sarasota’s Bayfront Park following Hurricane Milton.

Kat Wingert

Just off the Legacy Trail north of Bahia Vista Street, the entire neighborhood was flooded from rain from Hurricane Debby.

According to estimates from the town of Longboat Key, about 2,200 properties in the town were damaged, which resulted in $176 million worth of damage. Some homes, like beachfront properties along Gulfside Road, were almost completely destroyed.

MILTON MAKES

LANDFALL

Barely two weeks later, on Oct. 9, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Lido and Siesta keys at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm.

Debris that had been piled up for pickup after Helene was scattered again from Hurricane Milton. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall suffered significant water intrusion damage from Hurricane Milton, as did the Little Ringling Bridge.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport was closed for several days after it sustained major damage at the passenger terminal and on buildings surrounding the airfield, including two sections of roof over the main concourse and several private hangars destroyed or damaged.

More than 226,000 FPL customers lost power at some point, 76% of all county customers.

FOUR-LEGGED CELEBRITIES

DRAW CROWDS

Everyone loves seeing a celebrity in their backyards, and in February, Lakewood Ranch residents got the chance to see eight of the biggest stars on TV, the Budweiser Clydesdales, up close.

Clydesdales are one of the largest horse breeds in the world. And to be a Budweiser Clydesdale, a horse has to stand at least 18 hands — that’s six feet — tall and weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds.

So, when the team made famous by Super Bowl commercials and parades made a series of public appearances in the area, hundreds turned out on Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street to see them, and thousands more viewed on YourObserver.com.

LET IT FLOW

An inlet between Siesta Key and Casey Key, Midnight Pass was closed 40 years ago due to human intervention after two homeowners feared the impacts of erosion to their properties. It also caused decades of protest from environmentalists who said the closure prevented the exchange of tidal waters in the area, resulting in poor water conditions in Little Sarasota Bay. This fall, Mother Nature took matters into her own hands and used hurricanes, Helene and Milton, to reopen Midnight Pass. Hundreds converged on the site Oct. 26 to join in a massive boat parade celebrating the reopening.

LET’S EAT!

Our readers are always on the lookout for a new epicurean experience and 2024 saw some new restaurant

In April, we learned the Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port region led the nation in residential housing market price reductions, according to a report from real estate data company Redfin.

That data said 48% of all real estate listings in our area experienced a price cut, followed by Tampa, where 44% of listings had a price cut, Indianapolis with 43% and Cape Coral with 41%.

South Sarasota will have a new mixed-use town center in the coming years as the Sarasota County Commission gave the go-ahead to redevelop the largely vacant Sarasota Square Mall.

The project hopes to convert the 93-acre site into a mix of retailers, restaurants, offices and apartments, bringing an upscale lifestyle experience to the site just south of the city adjacent to Palmer Ranch.

In March, it was announced that the Heritage Golf Group purchased the Lakewood Ranch Country Club and its amenities, the country club, its three 18-hole golf courses and its tennis center.

debuts. Accordingly, we offered readers some advice on where to find the best of whatever you may have a hankering for.

Our community is a magnet for awesome culinary endeavors, with new restaurants seemingly opening every day. But the success of these newbies stands on the shoulders of a few historic eateries.

In January, we offered an appreciation of six longtime favorites that have paved the way for the rest and put Sarasota on the map as a foodie destination.

In March we told you about a new upscale sports bar in East County. The Greyson offers every sports package available for viewing. There are 28 TVs inside and eight on the dog-friendly patio, with canopy and roll-down screens.

In June, we dug into some of the culinary comfort food that made its way across the pond and into our Gulfside community — fish and

chips. It definitely struck a chord with readers.

In July, you read about Jason Starkman adding to his family’s legacy in the restaurant business with a new The Original Wolfie’s grab ’n’ go and delivery service in Lakewood Ranch. And, of course, after the hurricanes, we kept an eye on when things were reopening.

In December, you read that Shore, a longtime restaurant and retail store on St. Armands Circle, is leaving after hurricane damage was too much to overcome, and that Cafe L’Europe, a 51-year staple on the Circle, is coming back in 2025 with a new name and concept.

AN EYE ON DEVELOPMENT

Development and housing has always been a hot topic in our area, and our readers proved it remains so with traffic to stories on the subject.

“This is a monumental day. This will be our flagship club,” Heritage Golf Group CEO and President Mark Burnett said. “This is one of the best residential communities in the U.S. and this is what we do.” Lakewood Ranch Country Club will be the Heritage Golf Group’s 37th club in the eastern and central U.S. to go along with three clubs in Denver. The Lakewood Ranch Country Club will be its eighth in Florida.

TRAGEDY ON THE WATER

A father and his young son died in a boating accident April 13 on Ward Lake in east Manatee County, a story that garnered sympathy from readers.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the bodies of Wayne Raber, 36, and Josiah Raber, 4, of Wilmot, Ohio, were recovered from behind the water treatment facility on Ward Lake, a freshwater reservoir fed by the Braden River.

Authorities said fishermen often navigate into a lagoon behind the treatment plant to catch shad using cast nets.

THE LAKE

Liz Ramos

Everyone’s phone camera was busy as the Clydesdales make their way down Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

Cops Corner: Best of 2024

Nudes, lewds and dudes highlight this year’s greatest hits from the files of the Sarasota Police Department.

CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR

112:22 a.m., Jan. 16, 1700 block of 35th Street

Criminal mischief: Swinging his arm in a defensive fashion to avoid what he said was either a thrown object or projectile saliva resulted in him striking and damaging a vehicle’s side mirror. That’s the story a subject told officers responding to a property damage call. When officers arrived, the vehicle’s passenger side mirror was damaged and dangling. The complainant said that the subject approached the car and began arguing with her passenger. She said during the argument; the subject hit the mirror, breaking it. The subject told the officer that as he was walking toward the car, he saw an object flying toward him, which is when he accidentally struck the mirror. The complainant countered that during the argument, the subject grabbed a pot or pan and struck the mirror.

Exactly how the subject produced cookware standing outside the vehicle was not disclosed. As a result of the statements the subject was issued a citation for criminal mischief with damage between $200 and $1,000.

CRISP C-NOTES ONLY

5:12 p.m., Feb. 6, 0 Block of Central Avenue

Suspicious incident: A bank teller advised a responding officer that she believed there is fraudulent activity regarding an elderly customer. She said an

87-year-old man arrived with his “fiancé” and attempted to withdraw a large amount of cash. The teller said the pair were in the bank the day prior and withdrew several thousand dollars, requesting it in new $100 bills.

Becoming suspicious, the teller spoke with the man in a private room, where he explained he needed the cash to pay bills. After they left, the teller put a freeze on the account, and later discovered the pair had been going to other bank branches and withdrew money. She called the police when they returned to her branch to withdraw more cash, but could not because the account was locked.

The pair had left the branch before the officer arrived, but it was confirmed that both of their names are on the account. The case was forwarded to the SPD Criminal Investigations Division.

BORED DAREDEVIL

10 p.m., Feb. 9, 300 block of Quay Commons

Trespassing: Passersby noticed a male standing on top of a construction crane in The Quay and called law enforcement to investigate.

An officer met with a witness who advised a man was standing at the edge of the crane and was unaware of whether he was in distress.

By the time officers spotted the subject, he was sitting near the stairs portion of the crane. They made several demands for him to come down safely, and after the third such pronouncement, he was observed descending the stairs of the crane.

There were several “No Trespassing” signs posted around the construction site, additionally stating that it was a felony to trespass on the property.

The subject told officers he was not having a mental episode and is not suicidal,

only that he “was simply bored and wanted to climb the crane,” according to the report. The man was charged with trespassing and was arrested.

HAMMER TIME

3 p.m., Feb. 23, Palmedia Avenue

Dispute: The complainant reported he was assaulted approximately 45 minutes earlier by a boarding house roommate known only as “G Money.” He advised that he had just returned home when he thought he heard the landlord at the residence and went to the front door to check. There, Mr. Money was sitting in a chair outside, whom the complainant asked if the landlord had been there.

That’s when G Money allegedly told the complainant to go back to his room, to which he responded that Money should engage in an anatomically impossible act and that “I’m not an 8-year-old. You don’t tell me what to do!”

In an enraged reaction to that retort, the complainant said the roommate picked up a hammer and approached him in a threatening manner. Telling him was going to call the police, the roommate then backed down. The officer was unable to locate the would-be bludgeoning weapon. Also, G Money was not at the residence at that time.

The complainant contacted the landlord and was provided with G Money’s true identity, which contains neither the letter G nor any reference to legal tender. He completed a written statement, wished to prosecute and was advised that if the subject returned to the residence to call law enforcement.

JAILBIRD RELEASED

7:28 a.m., May 6, 100 block of South Orange Avenue Animal problem: In one of the more creatively written police reports, an officer wrote that he observed a small bird — which was later identified as an English sparrow, or “house sparrow” — in distress in the roundabout of Ringling Boulevard

NO FREE LUNCH

4:04 p.m., March 1, 1300 block of Main Street

Dispute: A man entered a downtown restaurant, stated that he was on Facebook Live and demanded a free chicken sandwich, according to the manager. When the sandwich was not provided, the subject became irate and accused the restaurant of being a military operation. He then briefly held the door shut, blocking customers from leaving or entering before eventually walking away.

The subject was contacted nearby by an officer and the restaurant manager responded to that location where a trespassing warning was issued. The subject stated he understood and would not return.

and South Orange Avenue.

The officer advised dispatch that the bird would be in transit to the avian rescue organization Save Our Seabirds.

The officer was informed the bird is an invasive species, and if the organization took in the bird it would have to be either euthanized or released into its natural environment which, according to the National Audubon Society, is “Cities, towns, farms. General surroundings vary, but in North America essentially always found around manmade structures, never in unaltered natural habitats.”

In other words, its natural environment is primarily not in nature.

Save Our Seabirds personnel informed the officer it does not conduct releases of invasive species; that responsibility falls on the individual bringing the bird to its care.

“The staff member checked the drop-off cage, where I placed the bird. He opened the cage, and the bird flew away,” reads the report.

“Due to the bird returning to its natural environment, my role in the grand theatre of law enforcement was no longer needed.”

SKINNY-DIPPING

9:53 p.m., July 1, 200 block of John Ringling Boulevard

Suspicious incident: When officers arrived at a home on St. Armands, the homeowner told them an unknown woman had entered the property and was swimming in the pool. The officers then made contact with the woman who was standing

poolside while nude, a towel draped over her, smoking a cigarette and holding a partially consumed bottle of wine.

An officer asked her where her clothes were and to put them on, at which point the subject began “speaking gibberish,” and that the comments that were comprehensible were described only as “outrageous.”

She finally agreed to get dressed, but stopped and again began making outrageous comments, at which time she was taken into protective custody. One of the two responding officers then assisted the woman into her dress.

After being placed in the back seat of a patrol vehicle, she claimed to be with the CIA. She was taken into custody under the Baker Act. As for the complainant, she said the woman took towels and went into the refrigerator located in the pool area. She did not wish to pursue charges.

AN OUTDOOR BATH

7:44 a.m., July 29, Central Avenue near Ninth Street Lewd and lascivious: While New York City boasts the infamous “Naked (but not quite) Cowboy,” Sarasota is now becoming known for its “Naked (completely) Bathers.” Combined with a recent spate of women found au naturale in swimming pools featured in prior editions of Cops Corner, another was discov-

SEE COPS PAGE 22

Best of Cops

wet, standing on the sidewalk. The woman was observed, among other things, as having white soap around her hair and body. She claimed to be taking a bath and did not know at first where she placed her clothes. Covered by a bedsheet from a bystander, she then walked with officers to find her bathing suit. The officer concluded probable cause existed to arrest the woman on charges of obscene disorderly conduct and sexual exposure “in a vulgar and indecent manner out in public in front of (a witness), me and other bystanders in the area.”

GOOD SAMARITAN

9:30 p.m., Aug. 6, 1700 block of Ken Thompson Parkway

Battery: Driving through the streets of downtown, a man told an officer he observed a woman he did not know and believed he was helping her by giving her a ride and taking her through a fast-food drive-thru to provide sustenance. He then stated they drove to Hart’s Landing so he could speak with the woman further.

DRIVE-BY SQUIRTING

10:20 p.m., June 17, St. Armands Circle

Disturbance: Following an unpleasant encounter with multiple male juveniles, a complainant requested that an officer meet him at his residence on St. Armands Key. The man said he was leaving a friend’s place of work on St. Armands Circle when a vehicle containing the subjects approached and nonspecified comments were made between the two parties.

He said the woman seemed to enjoy listening to music with him for a while, then he drove to Ken Thompson Park to enjoy the view. That’s when, according to the man, for no discernible reason, the woman began to scream at him and struck him with her fist. He said he attempted to calm her for about 10 minutes but she reached over and kept activating the car horn. The complainant said he then told the woman he was calling law enforcement and, while doing so, she left the area on foot. He provided a description and said he does not wish to press charges. A canvass of the area to locate the mystery woman was unsuccessful.

AS SEEN ON TV

6:49 a.m., Sept. 25, 400 Benjamin Franklin Drive Suspicious incident: A woman called 911 to say she was hiding in the bushes near Lido Beach because she observed a male a long distance away and became concerned. She said the man made no attempts to approach her, but she was frightened because she has seen on TV incidents of women being sexually assaulted while walking on a beach. Officers were unable to locate anyone on the beach besides the complainant.

The woman said she was unable to locate her keys or contact anyone to pick her up. She was transported to Marina Jack at her request. Of-

The complainant said he believed the encounter to be over when the carload of teens came back around and, after hurtling further derogatory comments toward him, they proceeded to squirt yellow mustard on him and his vehicle before fleeing the scene. The victim said he was unable to describe the assailants because they were wearing face masks, but he was able to describe the vehicle and license plate number. He said he did not want to press charges, but wanted them to be “spoken to” if apprehended. The officer was unable to locate the vehicle, but did find that it is registered to an address in the county outside of the city.

ficers determined the woman did not fit criteria for Marchman Act or Baker Act.

THAT SINKING FEELING

8:39 p.m., Nov. 10, 0 block of Bayfront Drive

Dispute: A visiting couple met up with the owner of a boat at a local popular waterfront restaurant and bar who invited them to hang out on his boat anchored in Sarasota Bay. After more drinking on the boat, the man advised their host that they wished to leave because they had a flight to catch the next morning. That’s when the sequence of events took a peculiar turn. After boarding the boat owner’s dinghy, he was unable to start it and, for reasons not described in the incident report, it began to sink. After tumbling over each other in the tiny vessel, the three fell into the water, the couple swimming to a nearby boat to seek refuge. The woman said she believed the boat owner intentionally flooded the motor.

The boat owner told officers he had advised the couple could stay on his boat for the night due to not being able to get the dinghy started, adding they had been hanging out all night and there was no dispute between anyone.

As for the couple, they just wanted their eventful evening to end and return to their hotel after returning to dry land. No further action was taken.

WRAP!

2024 Top Real Estate Sales

Sarasota condominium sells for $11.35 million, Siesta Key home tops all sales at $14.9 million.

SARASOTA

EPOCH

R. Curtis Jordan, trustee, and Paige Peterson sold the Unit 17 condominium at 605 S. Gulfstream Ave. to Samuel and Dona Scott, of Sarasota, for $11.35 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 5,328 square feet of living area. It sold for $7,194,100 in 2021.

OYSTER BAY ESTATES

Linda Balot, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 1124 N. Lake Shore Drive to Fred Starling and Tina Starling, trustees, of Sarasota, for $10,625,000. Built in 1990, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 7,169 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.7 million in 2017.

CHEROKEE PARK

P. Compton Cramer Jr., of Tampa, and Ann Cramer, of Sarasota, sold their home at 3000 Southwest Drive to Erin Christy, trustee, of Sarasota, for $9.4 million. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-two-half baths, a pool and 8,125 square feet of living area.

BLOCK 6

Patrick and Mary Mulva, trustees, of Dallas, sold the Unit 1403 condominium at 401 Quay Commons to John and Margaret Russell, of East Lansing, Michigan, for $9.3 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, five baths and 4,818 square feet of living area. It sold for $4.48 million in 2021.

OYSTER BAY ESTATES

Michael and Christine Hays sold their home at 4410 Camino Real to Kristine Voelker, trustee, of Sarasota, for $9.3 million. Built in 1972, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,902 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.43 million in 2015.

SAN REMO ESTATES

Tangier Properties LLC sold the home at 1479 Tangier Way to Lance and Marina McGrath, of Sarasota, for $8.25 million. Built in 2023, it has five bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths and 5,786 square feet of living area.

CHEROKEE LODGE

Bradley Ytterberg, trustee, of Sawyer, Michigan, sold the home at 1575 S. Lodge Drive to Jeffrey McMillin and Pamela McMillin, trustees, of Sarasota, for $7.75 million. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, sixand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,495 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,235,000 in 2020.

HARBOR ACRES

1515 Hillview Drive LLC sold the home at 1515 Hillview Drive to Alan Jay Perkins and Sondra Perkins, of Dallas, for $7.25 million. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, fourand-two-half baths, a pool and 5,220 square feet of living area.

SIESTA KEY

FIDDLER BAYOU

Chanel Holdings (Nevis) LLC sold the home at 4300 Higel Ave. to Mitchell Schepps, trustee, of West

5,328

Palm Beach, for $14,995,000. Built in 2008, it has six bedrooms, sixand-three-half baths, a pool and 8,623 square feet of living area. It sold for $12 million in 2021.

SIESTA PROPERTIES

Sanderling Beach LLC sold two properties at 8218 Sanderling Road to Earl Weinman, trustee, of Aventura, for $12 million. The first property was built in 1986, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 8,638 square feet of living area. The second property was built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,302 square feet of living area. They sold for $7.5 million in 2019.

BAY ISLAND SHORES

Paul and Cindy Balliette, trustees, of Sarasota, sold the home at 799 Freeling Drive to Philip Haag and Yvonne Haag, trustees, of Sarasota, for $9.25 million. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 5,859 square feet of living area.

89 BEACH CONDOMINIUM

J.B. Development of Sarasota LLC sold the Units 202 and 203 condominiums at 89 Beach Road to Allan Apple, Thomas Tryforos and John Neary, trustees, of Sarasota, for $8,325,600. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 6,206 square feet of living area.

POINT CRISP

Michael Martin Kaiser and John Spencer Roberts, of Great Falls, Virginia, sold their home at 1321 Point Crisp Road to Elizabeth Gold, of Sarasota, for $8.1 million. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, sixand-a-half baths, a pool and 6,572 square feet of living area. It sold for $7.2 million in 2022.

OSPREY PALMERS

Casey Key Properties Inc. sold the home at 1544 N. Casey Key Road to Anthony Badala, trustee, of Osprey, for $9.35 million. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a pool and 6,997 square feet of living area.

Photo courtesy of realtor Lisa Rooks Morris

A condominium in Epoch tops all condominium transactions at $11.35 million. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and

square feet of living area.

Photo courtesy of Dustin Worth, Legacy Imagery Chanel Holdings (Nevis) LLC sold 4300 Higel Ave. to Mitchell Schepps, trustee, of West Palm Beach, for $14,995,000. It sold for $12 million in 2021.

Courtesy image

The Epoch condominium, at 605 S. Gulfstream Ave. was completed in 2021.

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