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ObserverYOU . YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.VOLUME 45, NO. 49 YOUR TOWN Puppy love Love was in the air during the Hot Diggity Dog Contest at Freedom Fest this year. þ Tink erbell and Bisou met in Bicentennial Park while waiting for the buttery release, and it was puppy love at rst sight. They started playing together and didn’t want be separated. Bisou’s owners, Michael and Medge Jaspan, said it was their rst time at Freedom Fest. They heard about it a week before the fest and decided to go all out. The Jaspans dressed up their dog Bisou in patriotic attire with a red, white and blue top hat and an American agthemed bow tie. Bisou’s immediate luck in nding friends led to the two couples mingling at the fest. Tinkerbell’s owners are Frank and Martina Kinslow. Tinkerbell was dressed in a cowboy hat and overalls to match Martina Kinslow.A day in the lifeEver wondered what it’s like to be a Realtor on Longboat Key? þ L ongtime Realtor Rae Hayo of Wagner Realty recently gave a high school senior the chance to nd out. þ B en Barclay, a senior from New Jersey, shadowed Hayo for a week in June to learn the basics of the business. After his grandparents bought a house on Longboat Key through Hayo, Barclay expressed interest in shadowing her. She was thrilled to give him the opportunity. þ “It’ s just to kind of show that it isn’t all just going in there and selling a house yourself in ve minutes,†Hayo said. “You will walk out of there and gain a really good relationship with your clients.†During their time together, Hayo took Barclay to some listings, helped her write up a contract and got familiar with the day-to-day of being in a real estate oce. A lot of the business is “go with the ow,†Hayo said. þ Ha yo has been in the real estate business for about 25 year and has been with Wagner Realty for 15 of those years. Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978LONGBOATCarter Weinhofer Ocer Josh Connors scans the waters o Longboat on Saturday. Petra RiveraTryla Larson, Earl Larson, Cassie Yeager and Mimi Krouk celebrate Fourth of July by participating in the Longboat Key Freedom Fest. Petra RiveraTinkerbell and BisouTurtle tracksLONGBOAT June 25 July 1 þ 202 3 þ 202 2 Nests þ 99 þ 156 False crawls þ 153 þ 2 63 Totals since April 23 þ 202 3 þ 2022 Nests þ 7 54 þ 807 False crawls þ 990 þ 953Source: Mote Marine Laboratory New parking plan nixes garageThe St. Regis submitted a revised proposal that expands surface parking. SEE PAGE 6 The 20th annual Freedom Fest brought all the Americana. SEE PAGE 14 A+EFREE • THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 Songs of Summer Page 10 Building better.PAGE 4 Riding shotgun with the ocers who keep waterways and beaches safe. SEE PAGE 3On patrolFree on the Key
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2 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 rfntbtbb 12 MONTHS NO INTEREST*rffrfntrfttbftffrbtffftfrffrrfrtr rfrfbrrffrtrfrrfrrrffrbttffrtfrrfr ftrrttbfbfrrtfrrrtrffrbttfffrfttbrffrrffftbrt rffrffffrfrrrffrrfrtttfrtrftf frrbfb‘fftrfrffbtrtrfr’t“rrrtâ€f•rfrtrffrrtt fbbrtrfffrtrffrtâ€f•–trffrfffrftrrSOUTH SARASOTA r NORTH SARASOTA ‘’“ ҠBRADENTON r• n‘’ ELLENTON â€â€ t VENICE – n‘’’ â€â€œ PORT CHARLOTTE —– †Stores Hours: Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 11-6 $ $ 499 499 99 99 t t ’ ’’ ‘’ $ $ 599 599 99 99 –– $ $ 399 399 99 99 r r –’ $ $ 499 499 99 99 rf rf b •– 406197-1 Town embarks on sterling journeyCARTER WEINHOFERSTAFF WRITERGetting an organization from good to great can be a chal lenge, according to Town Manager Howard Tipton. But when it comes to achieving institutional excellence, Tipton is no stranger. Over the coming years, Tipton and Support Services Director Carolyn Brown are spearheading a series of institutional changes to improve the functions of Longboat Key’s town government. The goal is to win the Florida Governor’s Sterling Award, a system used to evaluate and improve performance in organizations. Based on the national Malcolm Baldrige criteria, the Sterling award has been used to evaluate manufacturers since 1992. However, the principles translate well to organizations such as town government. “It’s a very organized way of elevating the performance of a company, or an agency in our case,†Tipton said. “Instead of manufacturing a widget, we manufacture a service, so you can use the same principles.†In 2008, Tipton was a part of the team at the Orange County Clerk of the Courts that won the Sterling award. He said going through the process and then winning the award transformed the organization. Key areas of focus for the town’s Sterling journey are: leadership, customer focus, workforce, work processes, knowledge management and measures/results. According to Tipton, the benchmarks meant to evaluate the town will improve how the town can be more aware of citizens’ expectations, and then exceed those expectations. Sterling criteria will also help the town build a framework to measure the performance of meeting or exceeding those expectations. Those measurements can then be used as a metric to compare Longboat’s town government to other governments and organizations. A main focus for Tipton and Brown is to create a well-trained, cross-sectional team of employees. The foundation of this training, Tipton said, will be the Lean Six Sigma yellow or green belt training, in which Tipton is green belt certified. The Lean Six Sigma training teaches people how to ask a series of “why†questions to get the most desired solution from a problem. Having a team of trained employ ees from multiple departments will allow them to see problems from dif ferent angles. For example, if there’s a problem in the Planning and Zoning department, a team of employees from departments like Police, Fire Rescue, Information Technology and more may be able to see the problem differently. The idea is to have everyone trained on the function of the entire system, so no one is left wondering how the processes of the town work. Vertical and horizontal communication then, said Tipton, are crucial. Realizing how individual actions work up the ladder and affect the system as a whole is the vertical communication. Horizontal communication is looking at those individual processes by themselves, like permitting and 911 responding. Right now, Brown is in the first stages of the path toward Sterling. This includes familiarizing herself and others with the process, and creating a dashboard to track the progress. In the fall, Tipton said one of the focuses will be on revamping the strategic plan to make it more robust. He wants it to be a more active document for every employee, rather than a binder only a few may be familiar with. Tipton said there may be costs associated with training and implementation, but those have not yet been identified. But the Sterling journey isn’t something that is done in a month or even a year. “It won’t be instantaneous, but I think we’ll internally see a lot of improvement as we make our way,†Brown said. When Tipton believes the town is ready, he will submit an organizational summary to the board that reviews the Sterling award. This can be tough, Tipton said, because it requires summarizing all the processes and training in about 10 pages. Once submitted, reviewers from other agencies will come to the town to witness the systems firsthand and interview employees. The reviewers will grade the town’s processes in accordance with the key areas of the award. Both Brown and Tipton said the town is already doing a lot of “Ster ling†things. One example is in the customer service surveys, which take feedback from residents. Another example are the meetings depart ments have to set goals and objectives. Tipton said the town already receives high marks in the customer service surveys. “We’re doing good; we just want to be exemplary,†Brown said. “We want to be the best of the best.†Another example is external validation, Tipton said. A recent example is the achievement of Building Official Patti Fige winning the Plans Examiner of the Year award from the Florida Building Officials Association of Florida. Going from an A to an A-plus organization is a bit more difficult than one may think, Brown and Tipton said. In the end, Tipton said going through the Sterling process will add a greater degree of transparency and accountability between departments, while continuing to provide great service. “Even if we never get the award, which I think we will, we’ll be better than we were,†Tipton said. “It’s not about the award, it’s just about providing excellent service every day.â€The town manager hopes to achieve excellence in operations and training, with the goal of þ winning the Fl orida Governor’s Sterling Award. THE STERLING AWARDS use a systematic approach to improve performance and customer service. The steps involved in the system are detailed below. APPROACH Plan, including the design of processes, selection of measures and deployment of requirements DEPLOYMENT The team executes its plans from step 1 LEARNING Assess progress and capture new knowledge, including seeking opportunities for innovation INTEGRATION Revise plans based on assessment ndings, harmonizing processes and work unit operations and selecting better measuresSource: Sterling Awards
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 3 CARTER WEINHOFERSTAFF WRITERThe Longboat Key Police Department’s fourwheeler glided from asphalt to sand with ease at the Broadway Street public beach access. It was a Saturday afternoon. The sun beat down, but the vehicle provided some shade. The noise of the motor overpowered the sounds of waves and nearby seabirds. Officer Joe Ferrigine, 27 years old and from New Jersey, patrolled the beach. He was working overtime. He became an officer on Longboat Key about a year-and-a-half ago after starting his career in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and spending some years in Baltimore City, Maryland. “I used to work in the worst city in America, so this is a big change,†Ferrigine said. He started at the Broadway Street entrance and drove down the beach before exiting the way he came in. It was time to go to the next access point. The vehicle has a windshield of only 6 inches tall, so the wind blows aggressively while going 45 mph down Gulf of Mexico Drive. “If you tilt your head down a little, your glasses and hat won’t go flying off,†Ferrigine said. Gulfside Road is the next public access point. After entering this access point, Ferrigine made his first stop of the afternoon. A family had open containers of alcohol, which a town ordinance prohibits on public beaches. Each violation can mean a $100 citation. Oftentimes, like in this case, Ferrigine cuts people a break. If there’s a party with multiple alcoholic bever ages, he most likely will only serve one citation. The ordinance has its own caveats. If individuals are in the water or on private property, they can’t be cited for drinking alcohol. Private resorts on Longboat Key also own the beach directly in front of the property to allow guests to bring drinks from the resort bars. In those cases, guests can’t be cited. Only if people have an open alcoholic beverage on the sands of a public beach can they be cited. Coolers can’t be searched if they’re closed, but if Ferrigine sees alcohol in an open cooler, it’s “fair game,†he said. “No one’s ever tested me for this before,†Ferrigine said. That is, until a few minutes later.GROUP TESTFarther down the beach, Ferrigine passed another group’s setup. The four were in the water, but Fer rigine spotted their three Whiteclaw seltzers among their things on the beach. He turned the vehicle around and waited from a distance until they came out of the water. He approached the group and asked for IDs, which they didn’t have. One of the individuals in the group argued they weren’t doing any thing wrong. She claimed they were on a private part of the beach just enjoying their day. Ferrigine calmly reminded the group about the ordinance and clarified that they were not on private property. Voices were raised, and tears began. Two members of the group left to get their IDs from their nearby rental. In the end, the beachgoers real ized they were in the wrong. Since they entered the public beach from a private beach access, they didn’t see the signs that state the rules, they said. The case ended in a single $100 citation.WHIFF OF SMOKEThe rest of the stretch yielded no citations, so Ferrigine returned to Gulf of Mexico Drive, headed toward the first beach entrance, and attempted to repeat. A minute into the second patrol, he passed a woman sitting alone on the beach. He whipped the vehicle around then got out as he shifted it into park. He asked the woman if she was smoking marijuana. She admitted she was. The smell was a dead giveaway, Ferrigine said. She also admitted to having alcohol on the beach. Possession of marijuana counts as an arrest. Ferrigine called for backup as he and the woman headed to her car. The beach four-wheeler lacks the typical computer that’s mounted in police vehicles, and Ferrigine doesn’t have equipment like evidence bags. Three squad cars pulled up with the sergeant on duty and two officers. After an hour in the sun, Ferrigine served the woman with a citation for the alcohol and a notice to appear in court. The charge was possession of under 20 grams of marijuana. Rather than taking the woman to the station for the arrest, he chose to check her name for warrants in the field, and issued the notice. She was fully cooperative, so this was the ideal route, Ferrigine said.EDUCATION ON THE WATEROn the water, the department’s only marine patrol officer, Josh Connors, also enjoyed the perks of the job: the weather. Being on the water is breezier than the beach. Connors navigated the boat slowly enough so its radio’s classic rock could be heard among the radio calls and sounds from nearby vessels. He’s another officer from the northeast, a common trend for Longboat Key officers. Connors spent his life growing up in Cape Cod and, after 10 years of being an officer there, got sick of the damp, cold weather. It was a slow Saturday, possibly because of the partly cloudy weather. “Seems like a Friday out here,†Connors said. “Not much going on.†This is Connors’ fifth year with the Longboat Key Police Department. On marine patrol, he mainly sees wake zone and safety violations. He often prefers to educate people rather than issue a citation. But for violations like one earlier in the day, when a vessel didn’t have life jackets for the toddlers on board, that’s an automatic citation. Connors said the best part of the job is “being able to educate people rather than enforce, but enforce when necessary.†Coming from a Coast Guard background, he likes being able to use that knowledge in his full-time job. When Connors saw a vessel with their registration sticker on the wrong side, he turned on the lights and flagged the group down. The registration sticker violation is just a warning, but Connors said mak ing these stops gives him the ability to do a safety inspection — checking for life jackets, a life preserver and fire extinguisher, all of which are necessary.Around 3:45 p.m., Connors spotted a dog on Greer Island. He approached the shoreline and gave the owner a warning that the dog must stay in the water or on the pontoon boat. After that, Manatee County Police Department’s new air-conditioned vessel passed Connors. “You got room for one more in there?†Connors joked. It’s essential to have a good work ing relationship with the other departments, Connors said. He works closely with Manatee and Sarasota county police departments, as well as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “We don’t have much backup on the water,†Connors said. Connors has noticed most boaters head in for the day around 4 p.m. After one final sweep around Jewfish Key, he decided to call it a day and head back to The Moorings at Longboat Key Club, where the depart ment keeps its Yellowfin boat. Twelve-hour shifts are common for Connors. His days start with prepping the vessel before heading onto the water and end with cleaning and paperwork. On this Satur day, Connors was on the water from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and was scheduled for security detail at a resort from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Toto’s “Africa†played on the radio as Connors guided the vessel into its lift. He had to prepare for his second shift. Beach patrolA reporter spends a day on the job with Longboat beach and marine patrol ocers. Ocer Josh ConnorsPhotos by Carter WeinhoferJoe Ferrigine has been with Longboat Key Police Department for about a year-anda-half. He frequently takes beach patrol shifts on Saturday afternoons. Ocer Joe Ferrigine
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4 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 rfnnntn b Make your party come alive! Hassle-free parties are our specialty. Various packages are available, including food, all-day admission, animals brought to your party, reserved are just some of the special ways we celebrate with you! Book your party online and learn more at SarasotaJungleGardens.com 402825-1 406251-1 rfffntbt bttb ff rfnttnt fnbtrnrffrn rn rfnrnnfnf rrrfr nnrnr rfnnfntbr r rf nn fn tb tbn tbnn bbbn bb rrfrnb rtr b rrffnbb bb bb ‘fnn’ nn“â€rrn •f–nn“b rfrntnrb nrrrfntnrb ffnrfrntnrb rbbnrfbnfrbntnnr CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITERPatti Fige’s work is not nor mally in the spotlight. It’s relegated to rooms filled with large-scale building plans and binders of Longboat Key building codes. But in June, it received special attention when Fige, a building official with the town of Longboat Key, was named Plans Examiner of the Year. Although Fige accepted the award at the June convention of the Building Officials Association of Florida, which bestowed it, she actually found out she received it in March. The co-worker who nominated her received a voicemail in March saying Fige had been chosen for the award. The employee then went to Allen Parsons, director of Planning, Zoning and Building, who called Fige and the rest of his staff into his office. He played the voicemail, which shocked Fige. She said it was really nice to be recognized, though she doesn’t particularly care for the public recognition. “But I do know that I work real hard every day to try to make things better for people, for customers,†Fige said. “It’s important to think about what their needs are and just care about them.†Her days start early, usually get ting into the office just as the sun is starting to rise. She tries to meet early with inspectors and the rest of the team around 7 a.m., to talk about the day’s schedule. The rest of her day is spent responding to the many calls and emails the office receives, dealing with whatever needs to be done. The office opens to the public at 8 a.m., and the inspectors are out around 8:30 a.m. Leaving work for the day doesn’t always mean putting the job aside, Fige said. “I try to get that work-life balance so I can get away and have some recharge time,†Fige said. “And then I do some more work in the evenings.†Parsons said this award is an incredible achievement; he and the department agree Fige is the most deserving person for it. The organization has more than 2,500 members, representing most, if not all, of the counties and cities in the state. That says a lot about Fige to be selected, Parsons said. Fige has spent her entire working career in public service and identifies as a lifelong learner. She’s been with the town of Longboat Key for about six years, working as a plans examiner until last year. Prior to that, she was with Sarasota County for almost three decades and the Florida Department of Transportation for a few years before that. She started with FDOT straight out of high school, but then went back to get associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. Last year, Fige earned her master’s in construction with accolades in volunteering and academics. Even while working fulltime and getting her master’s degree, Fige found the time to volunteer at a homeless shelter and for a fundraiser collecting books for a school’s summer reading program. Weekends, she said, were the key to managing such a busy schedule. Recently, Fige has been serving as vice president of the Manasota chapter of the Building Officials Association of Florida. In her small amount of free time, she also mentors students at Everglades University who are interested in the construction industry. One of the most rewarding parts of the job is receiving feedback saying that the planning, zoning and building team on Longboat is the most professional and easier to work with compared to other municipalities, said Fige. “It’s a small group, but we all help each other and work as a team,†Fige said. “That’s really rewarding.†Fige isn’t done yet. Next year, she could serve as president of the chapter and wants to continue learning and find more ways to be efficient in her industry.The Building þ Ocial s þ Ass ociation of Florida honored Longboat’s Patti Fige in June.Longboat ocial earns top industry award Photos by Carter WeinhoferBuilding Ocial Patti Fige recently won the Building Ocials Association of Florida’s Plans Examiner of the Year award. The Building Ocials Association of Florida honored Fige with the award in June 2023.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 5 406538-1 AldermanOaks.com Call 941 955 9099 To Schedule a Tour and Complimentary Meal From Very Independent, Independent with Support, to Assisted Lifestyles Downtown Sarasota s Premier Senior Rental Retirement Residence Annual, Relocation, Vacation, and Respite Stays 406227-1 406562-1 LIC.#CFC1429635 ~ CPC1459826 ~ CAC1818472 PLUMBINGPLUMBINGPROBLEM? PROBLEM? Call... 778-5622 778-5622Visit our Holmes Beach Showroom 401 Manatee Avenue, Holmes Beachwww.lapenseeplumbing.com Intertidal implicationsCARTER WEINHOFERSTAFF WRITERVinyl sea walls protect many waterfront Longboat Key homes and canals, but they may not be as habitable for oysters as concrete sea walls. And that could be a problem for Sarasota Bay, because oysters help filter ocean waters. In a recent small-scale study, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Director Dave Tomasko and members of the SBEP observed 32 sea walls in the Sarasota Bay area, 16 concrete and 16 vinyl. Of the 16 concrete sea walls, all had a considerable number of oysters growing on them. Only six of the 16 vinyl sea walls had any oysters attached and had few compared to the number of oysters on the concrete sea walls. “You could miss it if you weren’t carefully looking for it,†Tomasko said of the oyster presence on vinyl sea walls. The two most common types of sea wall are concrete and vinyl, said Tomasko. Particularly in the south of Sarasota Bay, concrete walls are being replaced with the newer vinyl, or plastic, sea walls. “It doesn’t look like they have the same capacity to allow oysters to attach,†Tomasko said. “And so that is not a good thing for the bay.†This is a problem because oysters are important filter feeders for the bay, said Tomasko. Losing oysters causes a loss in assimilative capacity, i.e. the ability for an environment to adapt to wastewater entering it. Most of this activity has to do with the intertidal zone, which is below the high-tide line and above the lowtide line. Organizations like SBEP work to encourage the reduction of wastewater, fertilizer, grass clippings and other pollutants from entering the bay. But if at the same time there is a decrease in oysters and assimilative capacity, it undermines the organization’s time and efforts, said Tomasko. Tomasko and SBEP still aren’t sure why oysters seem to fail to attach to vinyl sea walls, but there are three possibilities. One could be that the vinyl sea walls are too smooth. The second reason could be because oysters primarily settle on other oysters or calcium carbonate surfaces like concrete. However, Tomasko said there are plenty of examples of oysters attaching to plastic structures that have been in the water for a long time, like plastic lawn chairs or the plastic liners on dock pilings. If it’s not the plastic itself, then Tomasko said it could be some sort of additive such as a UV protectant that may be inadvertently killing off oysters that try to attach. It’s still early in the research process, so they don’t know, Tomasko said. Tomasko said that vinyl sea walls may be increasing in popularity because they’re cheaper and may last longer. But he said more thought needs to be going into the potential ramifications of their use.ON THE SHORESlated for SBEP’s fiscal year 2024, the organization will work with the town of Longboat Key to reimagine the shoreline along Bayfront Park. The project is anticipated to cost $500,000 and will be funded via allocation from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. There are two main parts to the shoreline project, Tomasko said. The first will be to replace a por tion of the crumbling sea wall along Bayfront Park. SBEP thinks there is enough area there to create a sloped living shoreline. This would involve a harder structure on the outside to break waves, and then a vegetated slope. Right now, the organization is still in the early planning stages. The second aspect is with the vinyl sea wall at Bayfront Park. Rather than removing the sea wall, SBEP Staff Scientist Jay Leverone found “mangrove panels.†Made of marine-safe concrete, these panels are designed to create habitats for oysters and emulate the look of red mangrove roots, hence their name. Keith Van de Riet, a professor at the University of Kansas, designed the mangrove panels. More than 80% of the shoreline in the Sarasota and Longboat Key area is armored, mostly with sea walls, according to Van de Riet. “It seems a missed þ opportunit y that we haven’t created fringe reefs within canal environments to improve water quality and create habitat — not to mention reduce wave energy from boats,†Van de Riet said in an email. He also said there’s been success with mangrove panels in other areas like Lemon Bay and Fort Pierce. Shorelines like the envisioned liv ing shoreline at Bayfront Park need to plan for anticipated future sea level rise. It’s anticipated the average water level in 30 years will be what the current average high tide is now. The average high tide in 30 years will be 9 inches higher, said Tomasko. Projects like the mangrove þ p anels will allow SBEP to support the desired environmental changes while also not being too intrusive. “We are supporting a variety of efforts by the citizens who desperately want to do something to improve water quality and provide habitat,†Leverone said. “We want to support legitimate, well-intentioned efforts.â€A recent study showed vinyl sea walls may pose a problem for oysters, while a new Bayfront Park project will attempt to mitigate the walls’ possible drawbacks. Courtesy photosExisting sea wall surfaces at Bayfront Park will be reenvisioned with Sarasota Bay Estuary Program’s new project that addresses habitat loss and sea level rise. Most of the sea wall surface exposed to the water is made of vinyl. Mangrove panels, pictured here in Englewood, Florida
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6 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 rfntrbbbbfbfbrbbrftrbbtrfrtrbfrnrttbnbbn bbbnrbrbrbbrbr rbrbbbbrfnntfffbnfnn tnfftnfnfttnrn nnrnffffff new neighborhoods now open! rfnfrf ffffnall home. 405613-1 CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITERThe Longboat Key Democratic Club welcomed immigration attorney Emily Brown to lead a discussion on U.S. immigration issues. The free Zoom event held on July 11 drew a virtual crowd of about 40 people. Brown began her presentation, titled “State of the U.S. Immigration System†with an overview of the main ways non-U.S. citizens can immigrate to the U.S. There are an estimated 11 million “undocumented†individuals in the United States, according to Brown. This is the category that is most tar geted and talked about by politicians as “problems,†Brown said. She then discussed the ways in which people can apply for a green card. The most common is family based immigration. Most of the processes are flawed, said Brown. “You’ll literally be waiting decades,†Brown said in regards to the long waiting times for green cards. To back that up, she showed a chart that represented green card wait times for people immigrating from certain countries. One of the highest waits was India, which is 18 years behind according to Brown’s presentation. “If you file one today, you’ll be waiting at least that long, probably longer,†Brown said. One of the biggest problems in the immigration system, said Brown, are inadmissibility grounds. Immigration violations could disqualify a person from entering the country legally in the future. Those violations include entry without inspection, prior removal or reentries. The next part of Brown’s presentation was about temporary humanitarian protections, including temporary protected status granted due to armed conflict or disaster. This protection states that if an immigrant is already in the U.S., the person won’t be deported if there is an armed conflict or environmental disaster in the immigrant’s home country. “As I see it, the biggest problem is that we have 11 million undocumented people, and most don’t have a path to a green card,†Brown said. Brown also covered backlogs for family and employment visas, and restrictive asylum criteria. Accord ing to Brown, it’s a problem that the U.S. is letting in fewer refugees now than in the past. The last segment of Brown’s presentation talked about possible ways to help these issues. In terms of what Congress can do, Brown said enacting laws such as the American DREAM and PROMISE Act and U.S. Citizen Act could be important steps. Everyday people can call and write to members of Congress, and advocate local and state lawmakers to stop anti-immi gration legislation.The Longboat Key Democratic Club’s July event featured a presentation from immigration attorney Emily Brown.Dem Club discusses immigration issuesCourtesy photoEmily Brown is a visiting professor of law and director of the Immigration Clinic at The Ohio State University. CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITERUnicorp National Developments has submitted a new proposal for an increase in parking for the St. Regis development. The two-story park ing structure has been removed from discussion, and the new plans incor porate an expanded surface parking lot. The newest plan proposes a total of 469 parking spaces, which is one more than the total proposed in 2021. In the new total, a 93-space parking lot and 12 surface spots are proposed. An increase in landscaping from the 2021 plan is also included in the new est proposal. After the 2021 plans were proposed, Unicorp CEO Chuck Whittall said the company realized parking lifts were not ideal and could lead to operational problems. Additionally, Whittall said an increase in travel and demand for luxury leads Mar riott to believe the St. Regis will be a “very successful, top U.S. luxury resort destination.†Whittall said he knows the hotel will be busier than expected because of this and wants to ensure the resort delivers the best quality in the most efficient manner. The proposal to increase parking from the 2021 plan via a two-story parking garage met with opposition from some members of the community. After the Town Commission rejected a requested change to build 157-space parking garage in June, Whittall said he challenged his engineers to reimagine a way to add more parking and landscaping. This led to the current proposal, which removes the 62 lift spaces and 38-space lot of the 2021 plan. Instead, a lot that includes 93 spaces has been designed, while also adding 12 surface spaces. The changes represent a 3.2% decrease in lot cover age and 0.5% decrease in open space. The additional lot spaces come from removal of portions of the development’s interior roadways. The proposal adds 60 more trees than were planned in 2021 to try to improve the buffer around the parking lot. “We hope the community would get on board for this,†Whittall said. “We’re trying to make this project community friendly and guest friendly.†Town staff will now review the proposal. According to Town Man ager Howard Tipton, the town’s landscape architect will conduct the first review, and then the proposal will be reviewed according to the town’s rules for development. A staff report will be sent to commissioners in advance to the first public hearing. The proposal will be heard during the first public hearing on Sept. 18 with a second public hearing to follow on Oct. 2. According to Whittall, all other aspects of the St. Regis project are going smoothly and are still slated to be finished next year, with an opening date of July 2024.Unicorp’s proposal eliminates the multistory garage and expands surface parking.The new plan for St. Regis parkingThe new St. Regis parking plans sent to Longboat Key sta include changes to impervious surfaces: Previously proposed impervious area (to be removed).Currently proposed impervious area. III Currently proposed pervious pavement area.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 7 rrfrntbrr rtbrnrnnn frbrfrnrn rnbftfrnfrf ntbffrrrtr Make A Pl. FUNERAL HOME, CREMA TORY & PREARRANGEMENT CENTERrfrrrnfrtrr 396222-1 donate & shopHave large items to donate? Call to schedule your free pick up.( 941 ) 444-5783 www.habitatsrq.org 3 Stores 1 Location Tuesday Saturday 10:00am 5:00pm 2095 17th Street SarasotaBuilding Materials | Furniture | Appliances Art | Decorative Accessories | LampsOur vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live. 396353-1 SATURDAY, JULY 1MISSED APPOINTMENT þ 2:29 p .m., 4100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive þ Suspicious Incident: Police were dispatched in response to a caller stating a massage appointment had been made for 2 p.m. but then saw no workers in the building. The responding ocer walked through the open massage shop and also saw no workers present. An attempt to call the owner was unsuccessful, and the ocer was unable to lock the door. SWIMMERS TO SAFETY þ 3:1 0 p.m., Longboat Pass Boat-Miscellaneous: While on marine patrol, two swimmers in distress were found holding onto a otation device and seemed to be caught in the outgoing tide. The marine patrol ocer brought them on board and transported them to a nearby boat. þ þ  DOG DISP UTE 3:28 p.m., Greer Island þ D og on the beach: Police on marine patrol noticed two dogs o leash on Beer Can Island and made contact with the owner. She was advised that no dogs were allowed on the beach; meanwhile, one of the dogs got comfortable and relieved itself. A citation was issued to the owner. þ SUNDAY, JULY 2SNAKE ON THE LOOSE 5:20 a.m., 200 block of Sands Point Road þ Animal C omplaint: Early in the morning, police were dispatched because a snake was seen in the kitchen of a property. Two employees and the responding ocer attempted to locate the snake in the kitchen but with no luck. The ocer told the employees that Animal Services would not be available until 8 a.m. TRASH CAN TROUBLES 9:47 p.m., 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive þ Fir e: Longboat Key Fire Rescue was already on scene when police responded to a re in a trash can. A bystander had worked with friends and family to put out the trash can re using a hose from a nearby resort and buckets of water from the gulf. The bystander said he did not know who started the re, but did see reworks in the trash can while putting it out. Authorities took pictures of the damaged trash cans, vegetation and picnic table. þ MONDAY, JULY 3SUSPICIOUS SUPPLEMENTS þ 6:1 6 p.m., 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive þ Citiz en Assist: An ocer was dispatched to a resident’s home due to the presence of a suspicious package. The resident said she received an unusual package containing dietary supplements that she did not order. The ocer recommended she check with family members or friends to see if anyone had sent her the package, and said she could return the package to the post oce. þ THURSDAY, JULY 6CYCLE OF FRUSTRATION 8:09 p.m., 2800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive þ  Suspicious P erson: A caller said a suspicious man was seen yelling at the beach, prompting police to respond. On the scene, police identied the suspicious person. He said he had fallen o his bike, was frustrated and yelled toward the water but not at anybody specically. He did not exhibit any other concerning behavior, so police left the scene. þ  COPS CORNER
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8 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 2020 The Observer Media Group Inc. All Rights ReservedYourObserver.comLONGBOAT “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 / James Peter, JPeter@YourObserver.com Sta Writers / Carter Weinhofer, CWeinhofer@YourObserver.com; Petra Rivera, Privera@YourObserver.com Digital & Engagement Editor / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com Copy Editor / Gina Reynolds Haskins, GRHaskins@YourObserver.com Senior Editorial Designer / Melissa Leduc, MLeduc@YourObserver.com Editorial Designer / Miguel Elasmar, MElasmar@YourObserver.com A+E Editor / Monica Roman Gagnier, MGagnier@YourObserver.com Director of Advertising / Jill Raleigh, JRaleigh@YourObserver.com Sales Manager / 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 Bair, RBair@YourObserver.com; Beth Jacobson, BJacobson@YourObserver.com; Jennifer Kane, JKane@YourObserver.com; Honesty Mantkowski, HMantkowski@YourObserver. com; Toni Perren, TPerren@YourObserver. com; Brenda White, BWhite@ YourObserver.com Classied Advertising Sales Executive / Lexi Huelsman, LHuelsman@ YourObserver.com Sales Operations Manager / Susan Leedom, SLeedom@YourObserver.com Sales Coordinator/Account Manager / Lori Downey, LDowney @YourObserver.com Digital Fulllment Specialist / Emma B. Jolly, EJolly@YourObserver.com Tributes Coordinator / Kristen Boothroyd, Tributes@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 Ocer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com Oce 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, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach 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 President / Emily Walsh Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles 1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed Senate Bill 7024, which makes sev eral changes to the Florida Retirement System, the state’s retirement plan for government workers. And let’s say there is good news and bad news. The good: A change to improve the long-term viability of the state’s defined contribution plan. The bad: More risks and costs to an already strained public pension system. Most Sarasota city and county and school district employees are in the FRS. Indeed, only a minority of government workers getting their retirement benefit from FRS are state employees: about 48% are employed by school districts, 24% by counties, 14% by the state, 8% by universities and colleges and 6% by cities. This year’s reforms roll back several cost-saving reforms that were implemented in 2011 for public safety workers, an unfortunate move considering the pension system is still on a long path to becoming consistently fully funded. The plan has about $38 billion in unfunded liabilities and still relies too much on higher-than-realistic investment returns, even after taking a $14 billion loss in fiscal year 2022. Instead of adding more benefits with unpredictable costs, lawmakers should direct their attention to eliminating the pension debt that has loomed over state budgets and taxpayers for decades. Alongside this potentially costly change comes a positive development for Florida employees and taxpayers. Florida government employers will increase their contributions to the state’s defined contribution plan — similar to a 401(k) — dubbed the Investment Plan. While this contribution increase comes with a cost increase for those governments, it’s crucial for the benefit adequacy of the defined contribution plan, which is a key component in the state’s effort to reduce long-term pension risks and costs for taxpayers. Florida’s Investment Plan has been a valuable retirement savings option for public workers since 2002. After years of wrestling with unpredictable runaway costs associated with FRS’ traditional defined-benefit pension plan, state legislators voted to make the existing defined contribution plan the default option for new hires — excluding police and firefighters — beginning in 2018. Now, the majority of newly hired teachers and government workers participate in the Investment Plan, making it the state’s primary retirement plan and a keystone of the Florida Retirement System for the foreseeable future. With its increasingly prominent role in providing retirement security for the state’s government workers, many began taking a closer look at the Investment Plan’s longterm viability. Unfortunately, the state set up the Investment Plan with the lowest employer contribution rate among all states with similar retirement plans. This meant that even if state and local government workers put in the maximum amount allowed out of their own salaries, they would not have enough money in their retirement plan when they reached retirement age. This put the employee’s retirement security in extreme risk and taxpayers at risk to bail the system out years from now when it is much more expensive to do so. The Reason Foundation warned the state in legislative testimony and reports in 2021 that this was a problem in urgent need of repair. In 2022, the state took the first step with a 3% increase in employer contributions for all members participating in the Investment Plan. This raised Florida up to at least compete with the lowest contributors among other states offering similar plans, but it still remained the lowest on this list. That brought total contributions per year per employee up to a max of 9.3%, which was still well below industry guidelines of 12% to 15% of pay going toward retirement. This year’s reforms increased employer contributions by another 2%, bringing total employer contributions to 8.3%, with employees still contributing 3%, for total contributions of 11.3%. This is closer to the industry standard, and as the table shows, in the middle of the range offered by states with comparable retirement plans. However, Florida policymakers should not surmise that their work is done. The next round of reforms should look to increase employee contribution rates, which have remained at 3% for decades. Florida policymakers should also be wary of more calls to undo previous cost-saving reforms. Despite a still-growing $38.3 billion shortfall in assets needed to cover pension promises already made to FRS members, some have taken the state’s recent budget surpluses and renewed calls from public unions about recruitment and retention challenges to justify costly boosts to retirement benefits. Adding more pension liabilities while the state is having trouble paying for the ones already promised is bad practice and exacerbates a costly problem for Florida taxpayers. At the same time, Sarasota area school districts, the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County will see some increased costs as they must make higher contributions to both the Investment Plan and the pension plan for their workers. But that is far better than allowing the retirement plan to continue on its previous unsustainable path with rapidly mounting costs for future taxpayers. It is far more efficient to pay the costs now and each year than to let these plans build into a kind of massive balloon payment. Florida policymakers’ contribution improvements to the Investment Plan are prudent steps toward achieving the difficult task of providing adequate retirement benefits for public workers at a responsible level of risk and cost to the taxpayer. By improving the state’s defined contribution plan, they are bolstering its longterm plan of reducing runaway costs, which will be instrumental in reducing and preventing expensive pension debts for future generations. Florida policymakers should continue to seek reforms that strengthen the Investment Plan and reduce the risks of public pension debt. It is important to vigilantly guide FRS all the way back to full funding without adding more risks of runaway costs. Zachary Christensen is managing director of Reason Foundation’s Pension Integrity Project, and Adrian Moore is vice president at Reason and a resident of Sarasota. OPINION / OUR VIEWPensions below standardsFlorida lawmakers altered the Florida Retirement System in ways that improved the system, while also increasing the future burden on taxpayers. Florida’s system still falls below industry guidelines.ADRIAN MOORE AND ZACHARY CHRISTENSEN ChristensenHOW STATE PENSION SYSTEMS COMPAREThis table shows the contribution rates for dened contribution-style plans. Data for the table is from the Pension Integrity Project’s plan reports and websites. The rates displayed for the Florida Retirement System are for the regular class, which includes most nonpublic safety members. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLANSWhat is the dierence between a dened-benet pension plan and a dened-contribution plan? A dened-benet plan — also commonly known as a traditional pension plan — provides a specied payment amount in retirement. A dened-contribution plan allows employees to contribute and invest in funds and other securities over time to save for retirement. Dened-contribution plans have replaced dened-benet plans as the most popular type of pension plan in corporations. This has shifted the burden of saving for retirement to the employee from that on the employer.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 9 r fnnn tttbbb rffntbrfntbnf ttt tttbbb rfrntbtrff ntfffrf rf b 406561-1 40 North Adams Dr., Sarasota, FL • 941.388.1234 • Questions? Contact: michael@saklc.comSummer Worship Sundays at 10:00am Sunday Coffee Hour at 9:00am All Are Welcome! 401468-1 406466-1 All are welcome at All Angels no exceptions• In-person worship service Sunday at 10 a.m. • Live-stream at AllAngelsLBK.org to participate on-line • Discussion Groups on Tue & Wed at 10 a.m.563 Bay Isles Rd • 941-383-8161 AllAngelsLBK.org 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, Florida 34228 • 941-383-6491Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.orgLord’s Warehouse hours are 9:00 12:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays The Lord’s Warehouse will be closed during the month of September.Please join us for worship in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. or online at our website and Facebook Live Stream at 10 a.m. An Ecumenical Church that Welcomes all People Founded in 1956406468-1 567 Bay Isles Rd, Longboat Key, FL 941 383 3428 longboatkeytemple.org To learn more about our Temple and all our educational, cultural , and Questions? Email us at info@longboatkeytemple.org You are invited to join us in worship, song & fr iendship at Shabbat services every Friday evening at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am. 406566-1 ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITERWith a 14.46% increase of the taxable value of property in Sarasota County, the good news is the county government has more than $30 million in additional ad valorem revenue to work with for next fiscal year, should the millage rate remain unchanged. On the other side of the budgetary coin, spending requests among constitutional and other county departments were up by 36% when County Administrator Jonathan Lewis presented the preliminary spending plan to county commissioners dur ing their first fiscal year 2024 budget workshop. For the benefit of the three new commissioners who had yet to experience the county budget process — Mark Smith, Joe Neunder and Neil Rainford —Lewis pointed out that the preliminary budget is just that, and is not a recommended budget. Additionally, it’s based on a preliminary assessment of the total taxable property value in the county. “This is a preliminary budget,†Lewis said. “My proposed budget to the board doesn’t come out until after we receive the final property values from the property appraiser. This is a preliminary budget combining the departments under my responsibility as well as the others that you are responsible for funding. I think it’s important to note that much of the actual revenues and expenditures in here are projections, three to 15 months out into the future. “This is a plan for a budget that’s projecting that far out into the future in terms of what our departments are going to have to buy 12 months from now and how does that relate to where we are in the economy. It also tries to anticipate new needs as we go into (fiscal year) 4 that the board has looked at and it always works to balance between revenues and expenditures as we go forward.†Lewis based the preliminary budget on a projected taxable value of $93.4 billion, a number that was officially certified on June 27 by Bill Furst, the county’s property appraiser, at $94.2 billion. At $93.4 billion, ad valorem rev enue for the next fiscal year was projected in the preliminary budget at $255.7 million, up from $226 million in the current fiscal year. Both of those are based on 95% to budget. Actual revenue collected in fiscal year 2022 was $195.2 million. Now with the property valuation complete, Lewis and staff will go about the process of finalizing his proposed budget, which is due July 11, when the County Commission is scheduled to set the tentative millage rate for next fiscal year. The board can change that rate as it goes deeper into budget season, but it cannot exceed that tentative rate. The budget growth coincides with the property value increase, largely affected by the value of new development, which brings population growth. More county citizens mean more county personnel to serve them. The preliminary budget included an increase of 54.42 full-time equivalents across all departments. That keeps pace with the number of FTEs per capita for departments under the county commission’s purview of 5.36 per 1,000, and 3.02 per 1,000 for constitutional officers and other boards and agencies — both ratios the same as the current fiscal year. Should all additional FTEs be approved, that would bring the county’s total employment to 3,894. The adopted general fund millage rate for FY 2023 is 2.9251 and total rate for all funds is 3.4463. On average, the county collects approximately 0.89% of a property’s value in taxes. For a property worth $500,000, that amounts to $4,450 per year. Costliest of the county-funded departments is the Sheriff’s Office, which this year is requesting $181.8 million in spending, up $30.37 million from last year’s $151.44 million for an increase of 20%. The Sheriff’s Office includes operating the Sarasota County Jail. Lewis, though, is looking to trim the preliminary budget prior to submitting his recommended budget. “It is my recommendation that we look at doing a reduction at the total general fund budget of $3.3 million,†Lewis said. “The majority of it would fall to me and the sheriff at $1.4 million each. That’s not a cut in today’s resources. That’s a cut in growth going into 2024.â€Personnel requests keep pace with population increase, but county administrator looks to trim $3.3M before submitting the recommended budget for scal year 2024.Preliminary county budget increases spending by 36% BUDGET BREAKDOWNFiscal year 2024 preliminary spending requests by category. Operating: $1.26 billion Capital: $305.41 million Transfers & Reserves: $311.46 million Debt: $101.32 million Total: $1.98 billion BUDGET SCHEDULEJuly 11: Set tentative not-toexceed millage rate Aug. 25: Budget workshop (if needed) Sept. 11: Public hearing Sept. 26: Public hearing and budget adoption File photoKeep the Van WezelWords make worlds— the shore-hugging, organically modern, Wright-rooted Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has long been lauded as the “Crown Jewel of Sarasota Bayâ€. Words proclaim— legendary architect Carl Abbott called the Van Wezel “Sarasota’s iconâ€. Words shape sentiment — status markers, like “world class,†bestow esteem, or take it away. Words build drama — descriptions like “in the flood plain†are true of the entire bayfront. Words evoke emotion— “Sarasota has the Wright stuff,†envied St. Pete’s mayor at the debut. Words compare— musician John Legend likened the audience intimacy to “performing in someone’s living roomâ€. Words drive action — “paint it the color of this scallop,†intoned Frank Lloyd Wright’s widow, setting off decades of word wars about the lilac shell with the rippled roof that glistens in the gloaming, performing Sarasota’s beachy Mod vibe, playful spirit, artsy nature and civic essence. Words make-believe — thespian Helen Hayes described the lavender lady as “an actor’s ideal theater.†Words award — since the expansion twenty years ago to make the stage house large enough for Broadway sets, the Van Wezel has won “best in class†touring theater seven times. Words reverberate — theatrical flytowers aren’t ideal for orchestral performances, and the popularity of the Broadway series led to competition for booking dates during season. Words resonate — these were among the considerations that led to the Sarasota Orchestra’s decision to start planning its own dedicated concert hall over a decade ago. Words preserve— when The Bay Park Master Plan was drafted, a placeholder was sketched reflecting the possible new symphony hall to complement the Van Wezel. The situation changed when the orchestra announced its new regional music center. Words wound— the capital of Florida’s cultural coast boasts a remarkably memorable performance hall whose reputation has been unfairly tarnished by expecting the Apollo Theater to be Carnegie Hall or Sarasota to be Sydney. Words elucidate — with seats available for almost 90% of the shows, the Van Wezel is sized correctly. Given Sarasota’s proximity to Tampa’s Straz, there is no reason to add capacity. Words admit— the middleaged building isn’t perfect – deferred maintenance is needed, storm surge protection measures should be evaluated, backstage areas need facelifts, and routine theatrical equipment upgrades should be ongoing. Words repair — once the purple ribbon panel is seated, the city will have the right experts to analyze what it will cost and take to restore the theater’s luster, protect it, and keep it what it has been for 53 years — a pearl of a performing arts presenting hall. Words communicate — while they study, the taxpaying residents of Sarasota, generous philanthropists at the Performing Arts Foundation, civic stewards in the city’s government, and visionaries at The Bay Park should have a community-wide conversation to collectively reimagine what indoor and outdoor arts and leisure spaces would bring the most enjoyment to the greatest number of people at Sarasota’s bayside culture park. Words co-create — we could convert Holley Hall to smaller performance spaces for local artists. Or ask Renzo Piano to design an iconic amphitheater like Clearwater’s new The Sound. Or build a parking structure so the asphalt expanse could be repurposed as free greenspace for families and festivals. There is no one right answer. But there is one wrong one – entertaining the idea of putting Sarasota’s purple heart and soul out to pasture.KELLY FRANKLINSARASOTAKelly Franklin is a city of Sarasota resident and the editor ofKeeptheVanWezel.com. She studied the Van Wezel, the bayfront context and benchmark symphony halls as part of the 2016 University of Florida CityLab master’s in architecture program. LETTERS SEND US YOUR LETTERSHave something to tell us? Send your letters to James Peter at JPeter@ YourObserver.com.
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Actually, the four guys dressed in tight white jeans and pastel polos were “The Surfer Boys,†one of three cabaret shows playing at FST this summer. Their bachelor party routine was pretty convincing though, as was the woman in an American flag dress pulled from the audience to dance to “Come Go With Me.†She was a real trouper, especially since she was hindered by a broken leg. When the temperature soars and the snowbirds fly home, it is traditional for Sarasota’s arts venues to close their doors and start planning for the next season. But as more people discover the charms of Sarasota — not just rock stars and retirees but remote workers — summer entertainment is heating up. FST’s cabaret scene is sizzling. Some may recall how Megan Thee Stallion coined the tag “#hotgirlsummer†back in 2019. Following her lead, The New York Times recently polled people on their proposed hashtag for summer 2023. In Sarasota, it’s shaping up to be an #FSTcabaretsummer. “The Surfer Boys†brings back the good vibrations of the Beach Boys, but you won’t hear any references to the Wilson brothers (Brian, Dennis and Carl) or their cousin, Mike Love.These Surfer Boys are generic. Broadway veterans perform Beach Boys hits like “I Get Around,†“Barbara Ann†and “Little Deuce Coupe†and pepper their show with local references in the spoken part of the show, what music types call the “libretto.†It’s a winning formula that has worked twice before for “Surfer Boys†creator and Director Brian Noonan. He created and performed in “The Jersey Tenors†in 2017 at FST and returned in 2022 with “The Jersey Tenors — Part II.†Some of the Jersey Tenors and Surfer Boys spent time in the trenches in touring productions of “Jersey Boys†and also appeared in the Broadway sensation “Les Miserables.†The six-member cast of “The Surfer Boys†consists of J.D. Daw, Joseph DePietro, Kenneth Quinney Francoeur, Brandon Lambert, Bruno Vida and Michael Jayne Walker. (Only four of the six perform nightly in the show, which runs through Aug. 13.) Sarasota audiences will remember Lambert as a Jersey Tenor from this past summer, when he appeared along with Noonan, Vaden Thurgood and Michael Pilato. Thurgood is coming back to FST with his own musical revue, “Creedence Clearwater Remixed!,†which runs Aug. 22 through Oct. 22. It follows CCR founder John Fogerty and his 50-year battle with Fantasy Records to obtain the rights to his songs (He finally won in January) as well as his struggle with alcoholism and depression. Don’t worry, though. It’s not a dark tale, Thurgood says. It’s good vibes only on cabaret time. In his autobiography, Fogerty credits his current wife, Julie, with stabilizing his life and helping him discover the joys of domesticity after so many years on the road. Indeed, “Creedence Clearwater Remixed†includes a female performer, even though the group was all male. Thurgood has been shopping around his CCR show for a few years at conferences that specialize in such things. Some producers and venues didn’t think Fogerty’s repertoire, which includes the Tina Turner anthem “Proud Mary†and CCR hits like “Bad Moon Rising†and “Fortunate Son,†was recognizable enough to form the basis of a successful show. Industry people had the same reaction to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons before the runaway success of “Jersey Boys,†Thurgood notes. For Thurgood, CCR is personal. “In my household growing up, you were allowed to like the Beatles, but you had to like CCR,†he says. “There were no ifs, ands and buts about it.†When he began working on “Creedence Clearwater Remixed!†Thurgood said “Fortunate Son†was his favorite Fogerty song, but now “Born on a Bayou†tops his chart. Asked about hits from Fogerty’s solo career, Thurgood said he only could find room for “Center Field†in his show. He regrets that “Rock and Roll Girls†and “The Old Man Down the Road†didn’t make the cut. The shows at FST’s summer cabaret are 70 minutes long, slightly shorter than the 90 minutes common on the cruise ship circuit. Despite some industry skepticism about CCR’s modern-day appeal, Catherine Randazzo is a believer. Randazzo, whose official title at FST is literary manager/associate artist, is the dynamo behind the venue’s summer cabaret season. In a telephone interview, Noonan said Randazzo practically finishes his sentences (in a good way). She also customizes FST shows so they’re filled with local landmarks and humorous references. One reason why Randazzo has confidence in FST’s 2023 summer lineup is the track record of Noonan and Thurgood. Both delivered knockout performances night after night in “Jersey Tenors — Pt. II.†Like every good marketer, Randazzo understands that audiences like the familiar but they also want something new. “The ’60s and 0s are the sweet spot for our audiences,†she says. Many cruise lines, which are a popular venue for musical revues, have moved onto the ’80s, but Randazzo and Noonan agreed that FST audiences might not be ready for that era. Lest anyone think summer cabaret is a boys club, fear not. The third show in the FST summer lineup is “Divas Three,†featuring a trio of powerhouse pipes in sequins belting out the songs of Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and other superstar songstresses. Subscribers are responsible for filling nearly every seat at FST’s summer cabaret shows, but single tickets are available. The subscription for the three shows brings the ticket price down to less than $20 for each show before the cost of food and drink. Regional theaters are hurting and closing down across the country, with attendance down 30% from pre-Covid levels. But at FST, cabarets YOUROBSERVER.COMJULY 13, 2023 “The ’60s and 0s are the sweet spot for our audiences.â€Catherine RandazzoCatherine Randazzo, literary manager/ associate artist at Florida Studio Theatre, has been the driving force behind its summer cabaret series.Courtesy photos
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 11 Zip•Climb Swing•SoarTh e Ground Is Overrated BRADENTONText 941-322-2130www.TreeUmph.com rfntb 50% OFF* YOUR BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE! VALID WITHIN 7 DAYS OF YOUR BIRTH DATE. Discount applies when you bring a friend who purchases a full-priced, same-day adult ticket. For details, text: 941-322-2130. *Cannot be combined with any other offer. 395976-1 406522-1 are booming, expanding from one summer show of four weeks to three shows of eight and even 10 weeks since the debut of FST summer cabaret in 2014. Their growth has coincided with Randazzo’s nineyear tenure. The Randazzo-Noonan-Thurgood collaboration is certainly responsible for the success, but demographics have played a part. (The moving company PODS recently listed Sarasota as its No. 2 destination for final container dropoffs.) What might be on FST’s stages in the future? Nothing has been signed yet, but Noonan says he is working on a show called “To Be Perfectly Frank,†featuring a young crooner and an older singer paying tribute to Old Blue Eyes. A pianist makes up the third member of the musical revue. For his part, Thurgood says cabaret lovers should keep their eye on a group called MidAtlantic Men, which has been performing on cruise ships featuring a battle of U.S. and U.K. bands and could be heading to a cabaret near you. Thurgood is working on a show featuring Emily Ann Yates, who has made musical waves on cruise ships with her revue, “The Show Must Go On.†Yates “shows you what it is like to be a true diva,†he says. We’ll see what the cast of “Divas Three†has to say about that. The show opened July 11 and runs through Sept. 10 at FST’s Court Cabaret.Created and conceived by Brian Noonan, “The Jersey Tenors†laid the foundation for The Beach Boys tribute, “The Surfer Boys,†which runs through Aug. 11 at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret. Created by Vaden Thurgood, “Creedence Clearwater Remixed!†follows the career of John Fogerty, founder of Creedence Clearwater Revival, and features hit songs such as “Proud Mary†and “Center Field.â€
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12 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN Special Financing Available 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 www.manasotaonline.com406437-1 THURSDAYSUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $15-$20 Visit CircusArts.org. Heidi Herriott, a third-generation American circus artist, presides over performances by hand balancers, clowns, jugglers and aerial rope artists, just to name a few. The aordable entertainment is a partnership between Circus Arts Conservatory and the Ringling. Runs through Aug. 12. THURSDAY JAZZ AT THE SAM 5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free-$20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org. In partnership with the Jazz Club of Sarasota, the Sarasota Art Museum presents a performance by David Pruyn Quartet. THE SURFER BOYS 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org. From the group that brought you The Jersey Tenors comes a rousing tribute to the band that took America on a “Surn’ Safari†in the early 1960s. Four Broadway veterans bring The Beach Boys’ biggest hits to life with classics like “California Girls,†“Good Vibrations,†“Barbara Ann†þ and many more. Runs through Aug. 13. DIVAS THREE 7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $18 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org. Three female vocalists present four decades of songs made famous by Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and other women who have won the coveted title of “Diva.†It’s not just their voices that make them divas; it’s their costumes and their attitude. Runs through Sept. 3.FRIDAY FIVE FLORIDA ARTS TEACHERS IN CONVERSATION 1 p.m. at Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood Free with $5 registration fee Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org After spending two weeks on the Hermitage campus, ve arts educators from across the state will share their perspectives with the community. The ve teachers are Jerey Brown (music, Orange County), James Finch (painting, Brevard County), Omar Otero (photography and painting, Seminole County), Rachael Pongetti (visual art, Escambia County) and Katherine Gebhart (writing and illustration, Palm Beach County). SARA NELMS 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, Venice Free Visit VisitVeniceFl.org/Friday-NightConcert-Series. A favorite on the Gulf Coast music circuit, Sara Nelms appears in the free summer concert series hosted by Venice MainStreet. Bring your own chairs or picnic blankets. No alcohol permitted.WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH ALYSON DOLAN 1:15 p.m. at Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300 Free Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance. org. Alyson Dolan was Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s inaugural Choreographer in Residence from 2012-14 An original member of the Austin Soundpainting Collective, Dolan returned to Sarasota this summer. THIS WEEK OUR PICK‘LIVING IN PARADISE’ OPENING RECEPTION The outpost of the arts collective Creative Liberties presents artwork by the residents of the ARCOS Apartments in the Rosemary District. Meet the artists and enjoy light bites and beverages. IF YOU GO When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 13 Where: Creative Liberties at Gaze Gallery, 340 Central Ave. Tickets: Free Info: CreativeLiberties.net DON’T MISS‘FAME! THE MUSICAL’ “Fame! The Musical†showcases students in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s annual summer musical theater program. Based on the 1980 musical lm of the same name, the program follows students at New York’s High School for the Performing Arts as they deal with classes, auditions and life. IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m., July 15-16 Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. Tickets: $27 Info: WestcoastBlackTheatre.org. Courtesy photos“Fame! The Musical†runs July 15-16 at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe featuring students in WBTT’s summer intensive musical theater program. “Living in Paradise†features artwork by the residents of the ARCOS Apartments.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 13 NOW – SAT AUG 12 rfntfn br $20 $13 b rfntbf f Incredible Family Entertainment 390601-1 rfnftb 405799-1 406558-1 Saving Songs from SilenceMARTY FUGATECONTRIBUTORTime is cruel to art — music especially. The authentic folk songs of the past are often silenced. Why do a few still play? It’s often because someone fought against the silence. Frank Higgins’ “Black Pearl Sings!†brings a fictionalized version of this very real fight to Florida Studio Theatre. Back in the 1930s, “songhunters†like Alan and John Lomax crisscrossed the country making recordings of genuine roots music. Susannah Mullally (Rachel Moulton) is the play’s fictional folklorist. She’s on a quest for Black folk songs — as close to the originals as she can get. Susannah’s search takes her to a Texas prison, where she finds Alberta “Pearl†Johnson (Alice M. Gatling). This woman has a powerful voice — and powerful memories of slavery-era songs passed down by her Gullah ancestors. Most of those songs remain unrecorded. If Susannah adds Pearl’s songs to the Library of Congress audio archive, she’ll achieve the lofty goal of preserving history. But Susannah is an underpaid musicologist. Those recordings will win her an academic position and a decent income. But Pearl’s indifferent to Susannah’s mixed motives. This white lady wants recordings of the old songs? Fine. Pearl wants something in return. The archivist gets her out of prison, but that’s not enough. Pearl demands that Susannah help find her missing daughter. If she can’t help, Pearl will remain silent. The tug of war continues throughout the play. Pearl releases one song for every clue Susannah finds. But she keeps the song her ancestors brought from Africa in her pocket. Director Kate Alexander makes the most of Higgins’ strong characters and razor-sharp dialogue. It turns on a dime from heartbreaking to hilarious. The actors make the most of it, too. Gatling’s portrayal of Pearl reprises her performance in FST’s 2009 production and the play’s 2007 premiere. Her Pearl has no illusions about the machinery of the white power structure (do-gooders and bleeding hearts included). She doesn’t spare Susannah’s feelings — and speaks her mind about her white savior’s hypocrisy. Gatling’s singing voice comes from the depths of her soul. With never a false note. Moulton’s Susannah is no saint. But the playwright doesn’t set her up as a cardboard villain, either. Despite her character’s flaws, Moulton plays her as an idealist. Susannah doesn’t become bosom buddies with Pearl. But the two characters do form common cause before the final curtain. It just takes lot of bickering to get there. This human chess game comes to life in Isabel & Moriah CurleyClay’s two sets — the warden’s spartan office in the first act, and a wealthy bohemian’s New York City walkup stuffed with books and art in the second act. From prison stripes to evening gowns, Nia Safarr Banks’ costumes are visual shorthand for the era’s identity code. Ethan Vail’s lighting goes from realistic (in the present) to phantasmagoric (in moments of memory and imagination). Louis Vetter Torres’ music design is vital in this play. “Black Pearl Sings!†isn’t a musical. But it’s packed with music — with songs like “Down on Me†and “This Little Light of Mine†punctuating the spoken world dialogue. Torres makes the music seem like the background score of the play’s world, not a stagey interruption. But who wins the chess game? Does the constant verbal (and occasionally physical) sparring between Susannah and Pearl make any sense? You’d better believe it. After experiencing Higgins’ smart, heartfelt play, you won’t take the old songs for granted ever again. The playwright shows the cost of what it took to save them from silence. Courtesy photosAlice M. Gatling and Rachel Moulton engage in a tug of war over slave music. REVIEWS IF YOU GO‘BLACK PEARL SINGS!’: When: Through July 30 Where: Florida Studio Theatre’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. Tickets: $25-$39 Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org
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406560-1 Hot diggity dogThe Longboat Key Chamber rang in the Fourth of July with a buttery release, a patriotic dog costume contest and the shortest parade in America. YOUR NEIGHBORSJULY 13, 2023 Classieds 28 Games 27 Real Estate 25 Weather 27PETRA RIVERASTAFF WRITERThe 20th annual Freedom Fest was decked out in red, white and blue, and Bay Isles Road was full of hundreds of people ready to experience one of the most anticipated and beloved events of the year. “Everything ran incredibly smoothly,†said Connie Darrah, parttime assistant at the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce. “Chamber members volunteered. The parade started right on time. Bicentennial Park was jam-packed with people for the butterfly release. And the games were a really big success too.†Chamber President Gail Loefgren and Observer Vice President Lisa Walsh co-founded the Freedom Fest. Loefgren had to miss the fest this year due to knee replacement surgery, but she organized most of it beforehand and then finalized everything from home. She said that since she has been planning this event for years, everything was easy to set up again and fell into place nicely. Since she wasn’t able to attend, her new assistant Darrah managed the event. The “shortest parade in America†started next to Truist Bank on Bay Isles Road and marched to Temple Beth Israel before turning around and ending at Bicentennial Park. Longboat Key residents and their families lined up along the road to wave and cheer. The Longboat Key Garden Club led the parade as the grand marshals. The lineup also included the Longboat Key Police Department, Fire Rescue Department, Observer Media Group, the Paradise Center, Cannons Marina, chamber members, the Rotary Club, Michael Saunders & Co. and the dogs of the Hot Diggity Dog Contest. The groups threw candy, necklaces and other prizes to the crowd. Cannons Marina was planning to offer a $500 cash prize to the most patriotic business entry in the parade so long as there was a minimum of 10 business entries. Unfortunately, the quota wasn’t met, but Cannons Marina did select the Observer as the most patriotic entry. “Great for the kids with the butterfly release,†said Ivan Zunz, who works the front desk at the Longboat Key Police Department. “I like the fact that there’s just one road on and off. It’s sort of a tight-knit little community, especially around this time, it is people who are here year-round and aren’t visiting.†The butterfly release happened at 9:30 a.m. after the parade. People gathered in Bicentennial Park and each received a package with an individually wrapped butterfly. Each person released a butterfly, filling the park with young butterflies, who took their time to wake up and fly. Children couldn’t help but follow them and attempt to pick them up. Each group that participated in the parade had a table set up in Bicentennial Park for an opportunity to mingle and chat about their mission. There were also games, face painting, live music and Belgian waffles from the Blue Dolphin Cafe. Nancy Schroeder has been going every year since she moved here and brought her family this year. “I have my two grandkids here and they’re loving it. They’re playing games. They let butterflies go. They love their waffles from the Blue Dolphin. They’re having a great time.†The Hot Diggity Dog parade costume contest is a crowd favorite for Freedom Fest. It was started by the Longboat Key Rotary Club as a way for people to support their mission of putting in an off-theleash dog park in Bayfront Park. Now, after 10 years, it’s hard for people to imagine the fest without it. “When we put out our email blast to the community to the people who participated in the past, I get some immediate responses from people who’ve done it every year,†said Carol Erker, who organized the Hot Diggity Dog contest. “They always say, ‘My dog really looks forward to this.’ Oh, really? Just the dog was looking forward to this? So it’s just a fun thing to rally around.†Erker said the event has created a big community of dog-lovers in the area. This year, 23 dogs and families entered in the contest. “It’s just so Americana from a sophisticated place like Longboat Key,†said Jim Seaton, who has played Uncle Sam every fest. “This and the 9/11 flags are two of the greatest things that happened on this Key.†Photos by Petra RiveraThe Longboat Key Garden Club led the 2023 Freedom Fest parade as the grand marshals. A canine participant in the Rotary Club’s Hot Diggity Dog parade. Jim Seaton plays Uncle Sam at Freedom Fest. Beth Gotthelf and her dog Lena WINNERS OF THE HOT DIGGITY DOG PARADEMost Patriotic Dog: Biscuit, with owners Nancy and Tony Roberts Most Creative Dog: Kali and Kiwi, with owners Kristy and Bart Connelly Best Owner & Dog Combination: Heather Shuh and her family and their dog, Rosey Honorable mentions: Gail Yeager and her dog Hetty; Rick Rubeis and his dog Lucky; Jorge and Hailey Aguero and their dogs, Lucky and Lady
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 15 BEACHPLACE SHOWSTOPPER1055 GULF OF MEXICO DR #205 | OFFERED AT $1,795,000 Expertly renovated 2 bed/2 bath with tumbled marble ooring, raised ceiling, quartz counters, impact windows, top of the line appliances and direct azure water views from almost every room. MLS# A4571524 RECENT ACTIVITY THE RESORT AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB210 SANDS POINT RD #2304 | OFFERED AT $1,050,000 Enjoy direct views of the Gulf of Mexico from this fully renovated Junior Suite, which realized $174K in gross 2022 income resulting in a 5/5% ROI aer all expenses. Amenities include 45 holes of Championship golf, Tennis Gardens, Spa, 5 exclusive restaurants, white sand beach and more! MLS# A4574879 LONGBOAT KEY CLUB #1 LONGBOAT KEY TEAM Michael Saunders & Company Follow on Instagram @LongboatLifeWWW.LONGBOATLIFE.COM BENCHMARK RESULTS • STRATEGIC MARKETING • PERSONALIZED SERVICE406563-1 BIG GULF VIEWS 1250 SEA PLUME WAY | $4,400,000 MOONSHINE POINT 535 SANCTUARY DR 205 | $2,375,000GULF VIEWS 1085 GULF OF MEXICO DR #305 | $995,000 JUST REDUCED
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16 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 403110-1 “ Rick is the man! He WILL make it happen! He helped us sell our old house and get rf ntbbbttbbbnbtnbttbnntb nnbbntbbbttbb nbbbbnbtt r Longboat Harbour Condominium hosted a Fourth of July celebration for its residents to connect and engage on the holiday. The party was lled with great conversation, delicious food and patriotic music. Husband-and-wife duo Karen and Richard “Sparky†Pashkow are co-chairs of the recreation committee and hosted the event in the recreation hall. Karen Pashkow explained that she recently had ear surgery, so a group of volunteers stepped forward to help set up for the event when she needed to rest. There were supposed to be 48 people in attendance but the list grew to 65, said Karen Pashkow. “We have a lot of new people. I was looking at Friday afternoon. The secretary sent me the list. I was so surprised because it’s oseason, but there’s new members here at the residence.†Marilyn and David Bottger bought a condo at Longboat Harbour in 2015 and are nally getting to utilize it for the summer. “It’s so nice for them to organize this because we are down here and we don’t know exactly what to do,†said Marilyn Bottger. þ The v olunteers decked out the hall in red, white and blue and made a dinner and dessert spread. They also helped with serving, handing out name tags and playing music. “I love the camaraderie. I am always meeting people,†said Gregory Bodkin, who has lived in Longboat Harbour for over a year now. He has been taking new residents under his wing, such as the Bottgers and Ted Lowder, who has been testing out if he wants to live at Longboat Harbour. þ Bill C oughlin has lived on Longboat Key for 20 years and runs the Yacht Club and the Men’s Club at Longboat Harbour. He and his wife, Bonnie, are involved in the community as Bonnie Coughlin is the president of the board of Longboat Harbour. Bill Coughlin explained there are about two events a month between the dierent clubs and committees. Bill Coughlin said, “This is by far the most active community on Longboat Key. No one’s even close.â€â€” PETRA RIVERAPatriotic party at Longboat Harbour Photos by Petra Rivera Gina Spillers, West Ludwig, Joeanne Schuster and V-Ann Hobby relax before the party. Gina Spillers and V-Ann Hobby handed out name tags as people came into the Longboat Harbour Fourth of July party. Residents and visitors dig into the spread. Carol Pacheco made Fourth of July-themed cakes for the Longboat Harbour Fourth of July party. Karen Pashkow and Bonnie Coughlin enjoy putting on the Longboat Harbour Fourth of July party.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 17 INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES! 595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOA T KEY, FL 34228 • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE. F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 LA BELLASARA DOWNTOWN $3,995,000464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #503, SARASOTA, FL 3BR/4.5 BA • 3,490 SF • 2-Car Garage SIESTA COVESIESTA KEY $3,987,0005212 SIESTA COVE DRIVE, SARASOTA WATER CLUB I LONGBOAT KEY $3,495,0001241 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #704, LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/4BA • 3,045 SF THE SEA BREEZE SIESTA KEY NEW MOTIVATED PRICE $2,900,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5, SARASOTA, FL SORRENTO SHORES MAINLAND $949,000449 S. SHORE DRIVE, OSPREY NEW PRICE NEW PRICESTANDING UNITED WITH UKRAINE941.387.1820 www.ackermansrq.com RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.netAVAILABLE PROPERTIESCRYSTAL SANDS SIESTA KEY6300 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #101, SARASOTA, FL • 2BR/2BA • 1,240 SF • $1,395,000 NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW PRICE NEW PRICE 406018-1 595 BAY ISLES RD., SUITE 250 | LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 • 443 JOHN RINGLING BLVD., STE., F | SARASOTA, FL 34236 941.387.1820 www.ackermansrq.comTOP PRODUCING SMALL TEAM IN SARASOTA COUNTY RYAN ACKERMAN ryan@ackermangroup.net BARBARA ACKERMAN barbara@ackermangroup.net THE ACKERMAN GROUP LIDO REGENCY $549,0001700 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DR.#5F, SARASOTA1BR/1.5BA • 981 SF • Bay and city views LA BELLASARA $4,289,000 464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #503 , SARASOTA, FL3BR/4.5 BA • 3,490 SF • 2-Car Garage COREY’S LANDING $1,899,0003414 FAIR OAKS LANE, LONGBOAT KEY SIESTA COVE $4,250,0005212 SIESTA COVE DRIVE, SARASOTA 10,000 lb. LA BELLASARA $3.395,000464 GOLDEN GATE PT., #202, SARASOTA CONFUSED ABOUT NEW CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS?DEMYSTIFY THE EXPERIENCE — CALL THE ACKERMAN GROUP! 941-387-1820PRE-CONSTRUCTION ONE PARK SARASOTA Completion : Fall 2026 THE EVOLUTION Completion : Fall 2023 THE EDGE Completion PENINSULA SARASOTA Completion THE DEMARCAY Completion :: Fall 2023 688 GOLDEN GATE PT Completion : TBD THE COLLECTION 1355 2nd Street Completion : Winter 2023 EN POINTE Completion : Winter 2024 ZAHRADA 2 1546 4th Street Completion : Fall 2025 ROSEWOOD RESIDENCES Completion : Fall 2026 VILLA BALLADA Completion :: Fall 2025 NOW PENDING NOW PENDING AQUARIUS CLUB $1,260,0001701 GULF OF MEXICO DR. #207, LONGBOAT KEY NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NOW PENDING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTINGWATER CLUB I $3,495,0001241 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #704, LONGBOAT KEY, FL 3BR/4BA • 3,045 SF terraces.THE SEA BREEZE $3,199,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 SARASOTA, FL SOTA 1703 Main Street Completion : S 2025 SIESTA COVE SIESTA KEY $3,495,0005212 SIESTA COVE DR. | 5BR/6BA/2HB | 5,133 SF 120’ Of New Dock | 1,000’ Of Screened and Open Deck Area ROYAL ST. ANDREW DOWNTOWN $775,000555 S. GULFSTREAM AVE. #903 | 2BR/2BA | 1,252 SF Ready for immediate occupancy THE SEA BREEZE SIESTA KEY $2,900,0009008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., #5 | 3BR/3.5 BA | 3,700 SF SARA SANDS SIESTA KEY $2,290,0005182 SANDY BEACH AVE. | 3BR+STUDY/4.5BA | 3,398 SF 116’ Of Waterfront | Watercraft Storage with Upland Cut QUEENS HARBOUR LONGBOAT KEY $1,995,000 GRAND BAY I LONGBOAT KEY $2,695,0003060 GRAND BAY BLVD. #126 | 3 FULL BR/3.5BA | 2,925 SF Over the NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTINGVISTA BAY POINT GOLDEN GATE POINT NEW PRICE $3,299,000128 GOLDEN GATE PT. #1002A | 3BR+DEN/3BA | 3,477 SF
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18 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 OPEN FOR IN-HOUSE DINING XNLV20411 402920-1 EARLY DINING & HAPPY HOURAT THE LAZY LOBSTER EXCLUDING: THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY & NEW YEAR'S EVE MON SAT 3:30 5 RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED CALL 941 383 0440 DINE-IN ONLY THROWBACK Our Featured Throwback Classic for THURSDAY JULY 20TH: HOMEMADE, FAMILY MADE ICE CREAM SINCE 1984 Electrical Water Treatment SEE HOW MUCH MORE YOU CAN SAVE! The Home Service Pros Who Care LIC # CAC1816020 • PLBG CFC1428223 • ELEC EC13009313 941.866.6210CALL NOW! 406275-1 The Area’s most Trusted Name since 1974 or visit www.AquaPlumbingSarasota.com $99 OFF HOT WATER HEATER INSTALLATION** CARRIER COOL CASH Save up to $1550 in Cool Cash rebates Seaplace Condominiums hosted a party for its residents in the clubhouse in celebration of the Fourth of July, and residents came with their families who were in town visiting. “It’s paradise. The grounds are beautiful. The people are so nice. There’s great security. We have great community,†said Sandy Swindal, a new resident attending her rst party at Seaplace. The event planning committee, headed by June Hessel, took the whole morning to decorate the clubhouse and prepare for everyone to come. There was a whole spread of classic Fourth of July favorites such as hot dogs and hamburgers, which were cooked on the grill by dierent residents. Inside, there was an assortment of sweets. The committee plans for every major holiday, along with other special events that happen throughout the year, such as the start of season in Longboat Key, the Kentucky Derby, a Seaplace golf tournament and a Seaplace art show. “Seaplace is like a home to me, and I have known most of these people for 30 some years,†said Nancy Chanos of building connections with her fellow residents. Chanos explained that her friends at Seaplace have become family, sharing holidays, such as the Fourth, and everyday life together, as well. Chanos loves life on Longboat Key so much she invited her son to come down to join her. People sat with friends they have known for many years and made at events like this one. þ — PETRA RIVERASpending the Fourth with friends Photos by Petra RiveraJuan Rivera, MJ Blum, Sandy Swindal, Nerissa Darter and Lee Darter Sue Antonello and Ronda Montminy at the desserts table Nancy Hjort, Dottie Pirolli, Glen Hjort and Marilyn Watsey helped decorate the clubhouse for the Seaplace Fourth of July party. June Hessel, Michael Darter and Sandy Endres enjoy the view of the Gulf of Mexico from the Seaplace clubhouse patio.“The community is so wonderful and warm, very welcoming. They welcome everyone there. They’re very supportive. We have so many events here, and they love the events.†— Sandy Endres
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 19 REAL ESTATE BY A REAL EXPERT Bruce@BruceMyer.com • www.BruceMyer.com941.376.5311 Bruce MyerRealtor 595 BAY ISLES ROAD, SUITE 250 LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 OVER $79 MILLION PENDING AND SOLD 2023 OVER $97 MILLION SOLD IN 2022 • OVER $134 MILLION SOLD IN 2021 NO REALTOR HAS EVER LISTED OR SOLD MORE LONGBOAT KEY PROPERTIESLONGBEACH • 7105 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #11 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $995,000 Furnished 2BR/2BA, corner residence, with first level access to the finest in beachfront living. The redone kitchen opens to the living and dining areas, where sliding doors in the living room lead to the fully covered and screened terrace. GRAND BAY V • 3080 GRAND BAY BLVD., #532 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $899,000 L’ AMBIANCE • 435 L’AMBIANCE DR., #K905 • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $3,995,000 SEA GATE CLUB • 2425 GULF OF MEXICO DR., #6A • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $1,795,000 COUNTRY CLUB SHORES • 510 CHIPPING LANE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $1,795,000 New seawall just completed. THE BAYOU • 3210 BAYOU SOUND • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • NEW PRICE $1,395,000 BIRD KEY • 632 MOURNING DOVE DRIVE • SARASOTA, FL • $2,995,000 QUEENS HARBOUR • 3590 FAIR OAKS LANE • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $2,995,000 BAYPORT BEACH & TENNIS CLUB • 516 BAYPORT WAY • LONGBOAT KEY, FL • $1,275,000 . 401501-1
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20 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 rfnftnbfffbf nffbf 400587-1 941.724.7228CathyMeldahl@michaelsaunders.com• Consistent top producer on Longboat Key • In-depth knowledge of the real estate market • Active in our community with Longbeach Village Association Longboat Key Historical Society Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Longboat Key Garden Club Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Cathy C. Meldahl, P.A. Your Longboat Key Community Realtor Your Longboat Key Community Realtor 406469-1440 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Longboat Key, FL 34228Celebrating 50 YEARS 50 YEARS of Living and Working on Longboat Key READY TO BUY OR SELL?Maggie Hicks, Coldwell Banker maggiehicks201@gmail.com 941.321.1759Maggie has been a realtor for 30+ years and focuses on luxury residential real estate in South Florida. Owned and operated by NRT, LLC DEDICATED TO LUXURY REAL ES TATE 406458-1 1145 Gulf of Mexico Dr #5053BD | 2BA | 1,819 SqFt | Direct Beachfront | New Impact Windows | $2,600,000 1115 Gulf of Mexico Dr #305$1,399,000 1764 Oak Lakes Dr | $1,274,000 Turning into an ADDRESS 406147-1 406471-1 St. Regis Residences #201 | New Construction 11,000sf | Longboat Gulf Front | $21,244,000 PENDING 440 Gulf of Mexico Dr | Longboat Key, Florida 845 Longboat Club Road | Regent Court 19,300sf | 140’ on the Gulf | $16,500,000 845 Longboat Club Road 19,300 SF | A4440615 | $19,750,000 Water Club #401 3,400 SF | A4421764 | $2,575,000 65 Lighthouse Point Drive 4,933 SF | A4438181 | $3,795,000 501 Halyard Lane 2,340 SF | A4448464 | $1,995,000EXTRAORDINARY properties UNRIVALED expertise EXCEPTIONAL resultsMichaelMoulton@michaelsaunders. com Broker-Associate941.928.3559 finest .com440 Gulf of Mexico Dr | Longboat Key, Florida SOLD Water Club #402 | Longboat Key 3,400sf | 3BR | Gulf Front | $3,850,000 SOLD 845 Longboat Club Road 19,300 SF | A4440615 | $19,750,000 Water Club #401 3,400 SF | A4421764 | $2,575,000 65 Lighthouse Point Drive 4,933 SF | A4438181 | $3,795,000 501 Halyard Lane 2,340 SF | A4448464 | $1,995,000EXTRAORDINARY properties UNRIVALED expertise EXCEPTIONAL resultsMichaelMoulton@michaelsaunders. com Broker-Associate941.928.3559 finest .com440 Gulf of Mexico Dr | Longboat Key, Florida EXTRAORDINARY UNRIVALED EXCEPTIONAL MichaelMoulton@michaelsaunders.com 70 Lighthouse Point Drive | Gated Community 5,474sf | 4BR | Gulf Front | $8,000,000 SOLD SUNDAY, JULY 16MUSIC BY CHAD TALLMAN þ Noon3 p.m. at Whitney’s 6990 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Free. Enjoy the musical performance of New York native Chad Tallman over a meal. The guitarist and singer plays all styles of rock, pop and some jazz. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19IMPROV FOR EVERYONE þ F rom noon to 1 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Florida Studio Theatre is teaching an improvisation class that incorporates brain games. This class focuses on the tenets of improvisation: creativity, comedic interaction and thinking quickly on your feet. Fee is $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. RSVP by July 17. Call 383-6493.RECURRING EVENTSMONDAYSSTRETCH AND STRENGTHEN þ 9 a.m. to noon at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is mostly seated and great for all tness levels. Focus is on strength training and exibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493.MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYSLORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to noon at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738. þ TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYSLONGBOAT LIBRARY From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays. 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011.TUESDAYSQI GONG From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qi gong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493. þ YO GA From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debbie Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $15; free for members. Call 383-6493. MAHJONG 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Enjoy a game aimed at experienced players. To check availability at the tables, email Amy@The þ ParadiseCenter.org. ROTARY CLUB Meets at 5 p.m. on the rst and third Tuesday in All Angels Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. Call Nancy Rozance at 203-605-4066 or email Info@ þ LongboatKeyRotary.org.WEDNESDAYSBEGINNER TAI CHI From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 3836493. þ YOUR CALENDARBEST BETTHURSDAYSSUNSET YOGA þ 7 :15 p.m. at Bayfront Park, 3970 Royal Road, Longboat Key. Free. Yoga instructor Angela Mali leads a holistic yoga class at 7:15 p.m. most Thursdays near the public beach access across from Bayfront Park, weather permitting. Get in touch with Mother Nature in a beautiful, tranquil beachfront setting during this relaxing and engaging yoga class appropriate for all ages and levels. Enjoy the sunset while practicing breath work, poses and gratitude. þ RSVP before class with a call or text to 618-789-7226.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 21 rfn tbtrrfntfbt ffff ntf ntf b b rffbfb rffbfb n n ff ff rrn rrn f f fffff fffff ff ff 406583-1 rbffn‘nbfr‘f‘bfbb f ’““â€â€¢â€¢â€¢â€â€¢â€¢â€¢rfnftbbfff fr rbf r‘f‘b f ’–â€â€œâ€”•â€â€¢â€¢â€¢nbn ‘t’ “n rbf f f ’â€â€”â€â€¢â€¢â€¢fâ€rnfbbtb “t “ “ rbf rn f ’â€â€”•â€â€¢â€¢â€¢fn “• n fff“ f rbf frfrb f ’â€â€”â€â€¢â€¢â€¢ frfrb“ f ’â€â€”â€â€¢â€¢â€¢â€“— • rbf f bft f ’“â€â€”•â€â€¢â€¢â€¢rn â€â€œ • rbf bfr f ’â€â€”—â€â€¢â€¢â€¢â€nr †–
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22 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 A Longboat Key Landmark Mixed Up Monday’s Half Price Cocktails Steak & Frites Tuesday and Thursday Nights $34.95 Wine Down Wednesdays 25% Off All Bottles of Wine Four Course Summer Dinner Prix Fixe $49/person Restaurant Summer Specials ON A BOAT, AT THE BEACH OR BY THE POOL HARRY'S GOURMET DELI & BAKERY HAS THE CUISINE TO MATCH THE VIEW! 20% off wine every day! (Three bottle minimum) Buy two entrees, get a free dessert! Buy two soups, get one free!Deli Summer Specials 406467-1 FRESHEN UP YOUR SPACEQuick Response & • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR • DRYWALL REPAIR • STUCCO REPAIR • EPOXY FLOORING • POWERWASHING • TEXTURINGFor Your Free Quote & call us Today! 406575-1RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL 2542 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34234 | www.catdepot.org | 941.366.2404CAT DEPOT SUPPLY & GIFT STORE www.catdepot.org/shop#1 PLACE TO SHOP FOR CATS & CAT LOVERSNOW OPEN406184-1 EXCEPTIONAL RENTAL MANAGEMENT & VACATION RENTALSLocally owned and managed since 1994 If you own a rental property on St. Armand’s, Lido or Longboat, let us put our 29 years of experience and expertise to work for you!CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS!941-387-97093720 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com 396782-1 IT’S HOT, STAY COOLAC Tune-Up Special $19 Performance test, ACUV dye, up to 1 lb of freon for 134a systems. CALL GROOMS NOW!5608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach 941.896.7898 406567-1 rfn tbt n ff 406055-1 A fabulous opportunity to build on one of the few remaining vacant lots on great boating water with a 50 ft dock already in place. To make it even more special, homes on Lyons Lane are only on the south side of the street. 628 Lyons Lane, Longboat Key | MLS#A4565151 $1,450,000628 LYONS LANE, LONGBOAT KEY r fntbrfr nfr r n r ‘’ PENDING PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITERThe Longboat Key Paradise Center received a $4,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to relaunch its volunteer program. Amy Steinhauser, the center’s new program manager, will lead the vol unteer program. She started in her part-time position in April but was a member of the Paradise Center since moving from New Jersey to Longboat Key in 2021. The volunteer program was paused during the pandemic to ensure health safety, explained Executive Director Suzy Brenner in a press release. Now, the staff is excited to reopen the doors to such an important part of the center. Brenner said that the money from the grant is mostly for Steinhauser’s salary, since coordinating volunteers is a big part of her job description. She also mentioned that the grant will be used to promote the relaunch of the program. “There’s so many people in our community who have had incredibly accomplished careers, and to have them here would be an honor, whether it’s helping us in the garden or to help sign people in or set up for a mahjong game,†Steinhauser said. Along with these volunteer positions, Steinhauser added that the center will need volunteers for its annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk that it sponsors in October. She emphasized the center is open to having volunteers help with almost anything, and hopes it will be an opportunity for volunteers to get involved in the community. Those interested in volunteering at the enter should call Steinhauser at 383-6493. “We talk so much about isolation and loneliness among seniors,†said Brenner. “And one of the things that’s important, particularly for senior mental health, is having a purpose outside yourself. One of those pur poses is a volunteer assignment like someplace that needs you.†According to the press release, there is no minimum time commitment. Individuals can volunteer shortor long-term to make them feel as comfortable as possible. Steinhauser added in the press release, “We need a team of people we can rely on for ongoing tasks, either on a regular schedule, or for special events as needed. The retir ees on Longboat Key have incredible professional experience and we’re lucky to have their skills for even a few hours a week.â€The center recently received a $4,000 grant to relaunch its volunteer program.Wanted: Volunteers for the Paradise Center Petra RiveraSuzy Brenner and Amy Steinhauser at the Paradise Center
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 21 rfn tbtrrfntfbt ffff ntf ntf b b rffbfb rffbfb n n ff ff rrn rrn f f fffff fffff ff ff 406583-1 rbffn‘nbfr‘f‘bfbb f ’““â€â€¢â€¢â€¢â€â€¢â€¢â€¢rfnftbbfff fr rbf r‘f‘b f ’–â€â€œâ€”•â€â€¢â€¢â€¢nbn ‘t’ “n rbf f f ’â€â€”â€â€¢â€¢â€¢fâ€rnfbbtb “t “ “ rbf rn f ’â€â€”•â€â€¢â€¢â€¢fn “• n fff“ f rbf frfrb f ’â€â€”â€â€¢â€¢â€¢ frfrb“ f ’â€â€”â€â€¢â€¢â€¢â€“— • rbf f bft f ’“â€â€”•â€â€¢â€¢â€¢rn â€â€œ • rbf bfr f ’â€â€”—â€â€¢â€¢â€¢â€nr †–
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24 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 rf rntbn t bb r rfrntbn tf bb rfrntbn rf bb rf rntbn bb ‘’ rfrntbn “tâ€n• bb “nn rfrntbn r–nt bb r rfrntbn “tâ€n• bb –t rfrntbn —tf bb nt rf rntbn t bb fnn rfrntbn —ntftbnt bb n—f rfrntbn –r bb ’nr rfrntbn ffbâ€nnb— bb ‘’ rfrntbn “tâ€n• bb nnf rf rntbn bb fr rfrntbn –r bb rtf rfrntbn bb —t– rfrntbn bb —n rfrntbn nrn bb r– rf rntbn – bb â€f—’ rfrntbn nnt bb —n rfrntbn nnt bb ‘’ rfrntn ’ b r n—n rfrntbn b f rf rntbn “tâ€n• bb – rfrntbn nt—t bb ntnn rfrntbn f– bb ‘’ rfrntbn ffbâ€nnb— bb r—n rfrntbn n’ bb r 406102-1
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 25 rf ntbtb rffrnntbbtbbr r rfrffrnntbbtbbrf fntfbftf fffftb ftfb t tft ff Licensed Real Estate Broker Prices as of December 2022 406126-1 LONGBOAT KEYAddress þ P ermit þ Applic ant þ Amount 535 S anctuary Drive Bldg. 4 þ Electric al Alt þ S anctuary II þ $2 70,000 þ þ at L ongboat þ 6 31 Ranger Lane þ W indows/Doors þ V ishal and Melissa Soin þ $182, 894 50 Lighthouse Point Drive þ W indows/Doors þ R ajesh Soin þ $1 69,812 535 Sanctuary Drive #B505 þ Alt/R enovation þ Sue Ellen K orach þ $115 ,000 þ F amily Trust þ 500 Harbor C ove Circle þ R oof þ IT Living Trust þ $11 4,508 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. þ Electric al þ Gr and Bay LBK III þ $62,11 6 þ þ Association þ 2 0 Lighthouse Point Drive þ R oof þ P ete Simonson þ $62, 000 1115 Gulf of Mexico Drive #503 Windows/Doors þ R obert Morrissey þ $58 ,506 561 Halyard Lane þ Electric al New Con þ Thomas McC ollum þ $50 ,000 1580 Harbor Cay Lane þ Electric al Other þ T odd Rieke þ $46 ,031 þ 2 020 Living Trust þ 7 00 Old Compass Road þ D ock/Seawall/Lift þ D onald Johnson þ $44 ,195 3030 Grand Bay Blvd. þ Mechanic al þ Gr and Bay LBK þ $36 ,153 þ III A ssociation þ 551 Chipping L ane þ D ock/Seawall/Lift þ K enneth McPartland þ $32, 850 584 St. Judes Drive þ R e-roof þ Nicholas Ierulli þ $31,500 2 333 Gulf of Mexico Drive #1C2 Electrical þ Gor don White þ $30 ,000 370 Gulf of Mexico Drrive #434 Shutters þ Ir win Parmet þ $29 ,920 2067 Harbour Links Drive þ P ool/Spa þ T eresa South þ $2 6,495 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive þ R e-roof þ T own of Longboat Key þ $25 ,375 610 Buttonwood Drive þ R e-roof þ John Ne wman þ $2 3,470 5382 Sandhamn Place þ W indows/Doors þ Cly de Thomas þ $21,299 The se are the largest building permits issued by the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Department for the week of June 30-July 6 in order of dollar amounts.Source: Town of Longboat Key TOP BUILDING PERMITSWINDWARD BAYTransport Holdings LLC sold the Unit 306 condominium at 4960 Gulf of Mexico Drive to 4960 Investments LLC for $975,000. Built in 1975, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,152 square feet of living area. It sold for $275,000 in 2013.SANDS POINTMaria Santos and Lucia Ratmiroff sold their Unit 206 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road to Justin Eugene French, of Longboat Key, for $899,900. Built in 1966, it has two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and 1,492 square feet of living area. It sold for $360,000 in 2012.CLUB LONGBOAT BEACH & TENNISThomas and Susan Paulson sold their Unit 115 condominium at 5055 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Philip and Patti Duncan, of Slatyfork, West Virginia, for $775,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,484 square feet of living area. It sold for $430,000 in 2016 for $585,000. Built in 1978, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,076 square feet of living area. It sold for $140,000 in 1985.QUEEN’S HARBOURRobert Heller, trustee, and Esther Heller, of Palm Beach Gardens, sold the home at 3636 Fair Oaks Place to John and Kimberly Jetts, of Washington Township, Michigan, for $3.5 million. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,463 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.7 million in 2012.LONGBOAT KEYRenee Waitkus, trustee, and Robert Waitkus, of New Orleans, sold the home at 830 Tarawitt Drive to NL Holdings LLC for $2,724,900. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,447 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,099,000 in 2008.LIDOOlga Selivanova and William Shoff, of London, England, sold their home at 1168 Westway Drive to Hue Tuyet Tran Davis and Mark Lloyd Davis, trustees, of Sarasota, for $2.6 million. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 2,858 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million in 2015.BAY ISLESRonald and Margaret Roth, of North Oaks, Minnesota, sold their home at 3358 Bayou Gate to Christopher Yanney and Elsie Rose Digoy Yanney, of Longboat Key, for $2.25 million. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,526 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.9 million in 2007.TANGERINE BAY CLUBSanford and Marcia Mackman, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 523 condominium at 380 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Edwin Holstein and Sherry Moss Holstein, of Belmont, Massachusetts, for $1.8 million. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,350 square feet of living area. It sold for $580,800 in 1994.LONGBOAT SHORESThomas Tucker and Kim Royster, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 620 Buttonwood Drive to Iroquois Realty Corp. for $1.75 million. Built in 1960, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,405 square feet of living area. It sold for $535,000 in 2018.SLEEPY LAGOON PARKThomas Lee McCollum Jr. and Kaltrina Mavraj, of St. Johns, sold their home at 714 Norton St. to Rachid Baligh and Rosalia Belem Baligh-Ortega, of Longboat Key, for $1.74 million. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,518 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.8 million in 2022.FAIRWAY BAYKatheryn Ruff and Elizabeth Ruff, trustees, of Chicago, sold the Unit 611 condominium at 2120 Harbourside Drive to Michael and Deborah Turpin, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, for $1 million. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,550 square feet of living area. It sold for $370,000 in 1993. REAL ESTATEADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITORA home in Country Club Shores tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Steven and Wendy Pickford sold their home at 610 Yardarm Lane to Olden and Carol Lee, of Dallas, for $4.05 million. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, fourand-a-half baths, a pool and 4,138 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.4 million in 2014. Country Club Shores home tops weekly sales at $4.05 million RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS JUNE 26-30James Peter This home located at 610 Yardarm Lane sold for $4.05 million and has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,138 square feet of living area.
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26 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 rfnt fbfrffntbbbt rrfntnbtb trbbbttft rbtbtbtntb ntbfbbrtb nbtftnnfbfbfrffbbt rrbtbbbr tbntrb frb tfrfb brntrrbbtb ‘’“ “â€â€¢â€˜â€“‘‘— t• “bb •“bb “‘ “ 405039-1 399390-1 Sarasota’s BestVoted One of 29 Years in a Row! r r Janet and Curt Mattson Owners Wallcoverings & Blinds, Inc. Since 1989941-925-7800mmwallcoveringsblinds.com 4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Across from The Landings heraldtribune.com WINNER “Alustra Architectural Shades Operating Systems PowerView Automation r fffnt tbbnnnttbn bfn ft r fntbr rfntb 404737-1 Longtime residents of Longboat Key with over 30 years of combined experience specializing in Longboat Key real estate.2326 HARBOUR OAKS DR.3 BR | 2.5 BA | 2,282 SF $1,225,000 | MLS# A4550092540 HARBOR COVE CIRCLEVACANT LAND LISTING $3,400,000 Residential MLS# A4534178 Vacant Land MLS# A4535177JUST LISTED...AND UNDER CONTRACT BUILD YOUR DREAMHOME!2341 HARBOUR OAKS CIR. SOLD FOR $1,275,000 3555 FAIR OAKS LANE SOLD FOR $2,300,000 580 BIRDIE LANE SOLD FOR $4,260,000 2101 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE SOLD FOR $1,310,000HOME SALES IN LAST SIX MONTHS61 S. Boulevard of the Presidents | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.388.4447 | www.michaelsaunders.comJULIE KLICK941.780.6001 JulieKlick@michaelsaunders.comLivingonLongboat.comBEVERLY ST. HILAIRE818.416.2505beverlysthilaire@michaelsaunders.com BeverlySellsSarasota.com EXCEEDING SELLERS’ EXPECTATIONS ON LONGBOAT KEY Longtime residents of Longboat Key with over 30 years of combined experience specializing in Longboat Key real estate.2326 HARBOUR OAKS DR.3 BR | 2.5 BA | 2,282 SF $1,225,000 | MLS# A4550092540 HARBOR COVE CIRCLEVACANT LAND LISTING $3,400,000 Residential MLS# A4534178 Vacant Land MLS# A4535177JUST LISTED...AND UNDER CONTRACT BUILD YOUR DREAMHOME!2341 HARBOUR OAKS CIR. SOLD FOR $1,275,000 3555 FAIR OAKS LANE SOLD FOR $2,300,000 580 BIRDIE LANE SOLD FOR $4,260,000 2101 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE SOLD FOR $1,310,000HOME SALES IN LAST SIX MONTHS61 S. Boulevard of the Presidents | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.388.4447 | www.michaelsaunders.comJULIE KLICK941.780.6001 JulieKlick@michaelsaunders.comLivingonLongboat.comBEVERLY ST. HILAIRE818.416.2505beverlysthilaire@michaelsaunders.com BeverlySellsSarasota.com EXCEEDING SELLERS’ EXPECTATIONS ON LONGBOAT KEY Longtime residents of Longboat Key with over 30 years of combined experience specializing in Longboat Key real estate.2326 HARBOUR OAKS DR.3 BR | 2.5 BA | 2,282 SF $1,225,000 | MLS# A4550092540 HARBOR COVE CIRCLEVACANT LAND LISTING $3,400,000 Residential MLS# A4534178 Vacant Land MLS# A4535177JUST LISTED...AND UNDER CONTRACT BUILD YOUR DREAMHOME!2341 HARBOUR OAKS CIR. SOLD FOR $1,275,000 3555 FAIR OAKS LANE SOLD FOR $2,300,000 580 BIRDIE LANE SOLD FOR $4,260,000 2101 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE SOLD FOR $1,310,000HOME SALES IN LAST SIX MONTHS61 S. Boulevard of the Presidents | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.388.4447 | www.michaelsaunders.comJULIE KLICK941.780.6001 JulieKlick@michaelsaunders.comLivingonLongboat.com BEVERLY ST. HILAIRE818.416.2505beverlysthilaire@michaelsaunders.com BeverlySellsSarasota.com EXCEEDING SELLERS’ EXPECTATIONS ON LONGBOAT KEY Longtime residents of Longboat Key with over 30 years of combined experience specializing in Longboat Key real estate.2326 HARBOUR OAKS DR.3 BR | 2.5 BA | 2,282 SF $1,225,000 | MLS# A4550092540 HARBOR COVE CIRCLEVACANT LAND LISTING $3,400,000 Residential MLS# A4534178 Vacant Land MLS# A4535177JUST LISTED...AND UNDER CONTRACT BUILD YOUR DREAMHOME!2341 HARBOUR OAKS CIR. SOLD FOR $1,275,000 3555 FAIR OAKS LANE SOLD FOR $2,300,000 580 BIRDIE LANE SOLD FOR $4,260,000 2101 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE SOLD FOR $1,310,000HOME SALES IN LAST SIX MONTHS61 S. Boulevard of the Presidents | Sarasota, FL 34236 | 941.388.4447 | www.michaelsaunders.comJULIE KLICK941.780.6001 JulieKlick@michaelsaunders.comLivingonLongboat.comBEVERLY ST. HILAIRE818.416.2505beverlysthilaire@michaelsaunders.com BeverlySellsSarasota.com EXCEEDING SELLERS’ EXPECTATIONS ON LONGBOAT KEY rf ntbtt rfrnrtbnnfrrffntb nnnfbfbrffntb bfbffrffntbf 406587-1 nfnbfnnb b fbbfb rfntb fbbfb fbbfb bfnfnf‘t fbbtb ‘’ “ â€â€œf•tft–r rbbfn•f–nt– fnttb â€brn–r —nf••fn –tfnbbfn nb•fntfnt â€bfnbnn fn â€fnnfbf–rbft nfntfb•f â€â€œâ€“fbfbf â€ftf–fb•–r “nr nnf ‘’ ’ â€rn•bf nfbfn â€bbfn•f–nt– tbfbtfbtnb nbnfntf b â€n–bf•fbnt •brfntfn â€â€¢nfnnfbf–r rfbt–tbnfnt n â€fbnb–rrft •fnt•f â€bft–f–f ffntfffnr Exceeding Expectations f PET PICSHave photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them! Share them at YourObserver.com/contests/petpics to be published online and for a chance to see them in print!IN THE “RUFFâ€: Tee time for Bailey Leish at the Longboat Key Club.
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 27 rfn ntbtbfnn nf rf nrt rf nttb btb f tr rrft t b r nfbf rf fb rfb f bbb bf btrb bf rb ‘ ’“bf tbbâ€nâ€â€¢b• nbb br nb f• tbt –—f bbfb —“ bb bt brb rbr nbf b frr b btrb rbbb rbb —bt tr b fb ’bb rrf —rft bbtrbb r —’’b ffbt ’â€b ’r ’tb bf ’rbb‘ ’’bt r tbrrb nft ‘b r• ’fbfb t rrt ft r – brbr t— rb ttb rrbbb• bt fbf b bb br f bb b ntb bbf t —btr bb ’nbb “brb bf†—bfb rbb tf “bfrbb n bbr fr ’“ffb—‘rf’ffbb• —b btbâ€tb bf f tbr t• rrbf rff bt bbf t bbb tb ’b bbtb “bfbb nb ft nt nttb bb ’rbf †bb rbb“ frb ’r†bt tb — — fb b• nb n nrb f ‘b b• ’ff ’bb ’bb—b tbb ’fbbfbb ’b bt ’t ’f f — —bfbf f ff fb nb b ntrf ’nâ€bb rbrrb†rfff nrnn fnfnn rf rfntb rrrt nt fnn b fnf rrrfrr frfrrr rrfrnr rbn 2023 NEA, Inc. r fnt7-13-23 406254-1 rfntbbnftrfnfnfrrfnfrtnff rffntnbat MANASOTA FLOORING INC KITCHEN | CABINETRY OUTDOOR PAVERS 399844-1 þ Highs þ Lows Thursday, July 13 þ 8:43a þ — þ 2:1 3a þ 5:43p F riday, July 14 þ 9:28a þ — þ — þ 6:33p S aturday, July 15 þ 1 0:14a þ — þ — þ 7 :16p Sunday, July 16 þ 1 0:58a þ — þ — þ 7 :55p Monday, July 17 þ 11:40a þ — þ — þ 8:29p T uesday, July 18 þ 3:3 7a þ 12:2 0p þ 5:55a þ 9:01p W ednesday, July 19 þ 3:40a þ 1:00p þ 6:51a þ 9:30pFORECAST NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH TIDES SUNRISE / SUNSET MOON PHASESFRIDAY, JULY 14High: 91 Low: 81 Chance of rain: 19%SATURDAY, JULY 15High: 91 Low: 82 Chance of rain: 24%SUNDAY, JULY 16High: 90 Low: 82 Chance of rain: 31% Jenelle Alber captured this photo of the sun setting over Longboat Key. WEATHER Submit your photos at YourObserver.com/contests. All submissions will be entered for the 2023-24 Weather and Nature photo contest. In February 2024, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card. þ Sunris e þ Sunset Thursday, July 13 þ 6:44a þ 8:28p Friday, July 14 þ 6:44a þ 8:27p Saturday, July 15 þ 6:45a þ 8:27p Sunday, July 16 þ 6:45a þ 8:27p Monday, July 17 þ 6:46a þ 8:26p Tuesday, July 18 þ 6:46a þ 8:26p Wednesday, July 19 þ 6:4 7a þ 8:26p July 25 First Aug. 8 Last Aug. 1 Full Aug. 16 New
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rfntbftfnfftf tfrfntnftftnntnftftntfrfrfnftb frf rfn tbrbbrbbb bbbbbb bbbbbbbrb bbbn bb brbbbbrb brbbbbbbbrb bbbnbbrb bbbnftftfnttrfnttfrtr r rfnfnn rfr fntb b nr bt fnb bnbf rtfbr r rr rfntbrf ntb Items Under $200 ADVERTISE YO UR MERCHANDISE with the total va lue of all items $200 or less in this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 word s or less. Price must be included next to each item. No commercial advertising. Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks in 1 Observe r. Call 941-955-4888 Or Email ad to : classified@you ro bserve r. com (Please prov ide your name and address) Or Online at: www.youro bserve r. com Or mail to : The Observer Group 1970 Main St. 3rd Floor Sarasota, Fl 34236 LADIE S BI C Y C LE, Jamis Explorer, Like New $100 941-383-2940 S IDE TABLE S BR O WN W / GLASS TOPS & ROUND 2/$25 (941) 920-2494 Antiques/ Collectibles HALL OF FAME Florida Highwaymen paintings. Al Black et al., $1650+ No texts (941) 702-8982 Boat Slips for Rent/Sale LONGBO AT KEY MOORINGS 2630 Harbourside Dr., Longboat Key 65 Foot Deep Water Boat Slip For Sale. $350,000.00 Please call Jennifer 727-831-3133 Merchandise Wanted S ENI O R L OO KIN G 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 Autos W anted CA SH FOR Y Y O O U U R R C C A A R R We come to you! Ho Ho Buys cars. 941-270-4400. DESPERATELY NEEDED Low mileage, cars and trucks. Also rare or unusual vehicles. Larry 941-350-7993 ST OR AG E FA CILITY Boat / RV / Tr ailer. Secure facility, low monthly rentals, Clark Rd area. 941-809-3660, 941-809-3662. r WE BUY c c a a r r s s . . t t o o p p $ $ $ $ p p a a i i d d f f o o r r y y o o u u r r v v e e h h i i c c l l e e s s . . C C a a l l l l H H a a w w l l e e y y M M o o t t o o r r s s : : 9 9 4 4 1 1 9 9 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 2 2 1 1 . . jo bs Help Wanted AUDI O/ VI S UAL TE C H rf ntbtt tttt rfftf nrt ttttntttt t ntt real esta te V acation/ Seasonal Rentals LO NGBO AT KEY : Beach f ro nt Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking. Call 941-383-3338. V acation/ Seasonal Rentals WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL RA TES rrfr rntrb rt trf tt b‘ ’rr‘tr“ †tbb r hom e serv ice s Auto Transport SHIP YO UR car, truck or S UV anywhere in the United States. Great rates, fast quotes. Call Hawley Motors: 941-923-3421. Cleaning EUROPEAN HOUSEKEEPING r frntbb nn Painting CARLO DA TTILO Painting Licensed & insured. Interior/ Exterior painting including drywall re pair and retexturing. Wallpaper installation & re moval, pressure washing. Residential & commercial, condos. Honest & reliable. Free estimates. 941-744-1020. 35+ years experience. Painting SARA SO TA INTERIOR PAINTING HIGH-END INTERIOR PAINTING WE ARE THE BEST!!! Fully Insured. CALL or TEXT Don 941-900-9398 r fntb brfntrbrn frr rnrt rfrnrtbbrfrnrtb rrrn r
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LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 29 At torney rrfrfnntbrfr nn405295ntbnbn bfrtfrf rbbbbbbn rbnt trrn rrr nntbnrn rrrrbbbbnbfb Auto Service 405073SELL YOUR CAR! FAST • EASY • SAFE WE COME TO YOU941.270.4400HoHoBuysCars.com 5-Star Rated Autos W anted 406031 DESPERATELY NEEDED Low Mileage, Cars & Trucks. Also Rare or Unusual Vehicles. UNIQUE SPORT & IMPORTS 941-350-7993 Doors Sliding Glass Door Repair New Deluxe Rollers Will Make Your Doors Roll Better Than Ever Call Mark 928-2263proslidingglassdoorrepair.com “FIX IT DON’T REPLACEâ€405074 Furniture Repair 406512 Patio Furniture Repairs.com Patio Furniture Repairs.com rfrntbf 941-504-0903 941-504-0903 FREE PICKUP FREE PICKUP / / DELIVERY DELIVERY • • FREE ONSITE QUOTES FREE ONSITE QUOTES Health Board Certied in the specialty of non-surgical spinal decompressionGive Us a Call We Can HelpFREE CONSULTATION 941.358.2224 Recognized Among the Best Recognized Among the Best Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Physicians in America Physicians in America Midtown Medical Park 1215 S. East Ave. Suite 210 Sarasota, FL 34239www.SarasotaDiscCenter.com DrCifra@SarasotaDiscCenter.comThe Only Thing You Have To Lose ... Is The Pain!! Do You Have Neck or Low Back Pain? Do You Want To Avoid Surgery? 406035 Home Wa tch FIRST RESPONDER OWNED & OPERATED (941)544-0475dan@shorelockhomewatch.com www.shorelockhomewatch.com405076 Insurance EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS595 Bay Isles Rd. Suite 215941.554.8909 | www.micinsurance.comHome • Condo • Auto • Umbrella • Boat • FloodOur team of professionals provides superior service and expertise for all of your insurance needs.Mike Mailliard ~ Lacey Weaver Allen Hovis ~ Marshall Bruce Matthew Mailliard ~ Julia McIlrevey Haley Jestings ~ Samantha Ryan Jaimie Simpkins ~ Amanda Nazario 406518 rf Mass age rfrntbnrfn 406039 rf nrtbfn Painting rf rf rf nttbn rff rff 406038 Roong 405079 • Aluminum, Vinyl, & Wood Soft & Fascia Repair & Installation • Roong Repair & Installation • Metal Roong & Tile Roof Repair Specialists Kenneth Fuhlman Inc.941-626-3194Licensed & Insured CCC 058059 CBC 1253936 Transportation 405080 BLACK LABEL CAR SERVICELuxury for LessBooked Referral Program Next Ride with Booked Referral All Airports, Hourly & Tours www.blacklabelcarservice.com 1/10/23, 10:25 AM chrome_qrcode_1671726737617.png https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/royaltreasurecasino%40yahoo.com?projector=1 1/1 10% off941-248-4734 Windo ws Res./Com. Lic./Ins. Sunset Window & Pressure CleaningFormerly known as Sunrise Windows Serving Longboat Key Since 2005 Call Tibor for FREE ESTIMATES | 941284 5880rfnftfbb$150 UP UP TO TO 25 25 STANDARD STANDARD WINDOWS WINDOWS INCLUDING SCREENS, TRACKS, MIRRORS & FANS SPECIAL$500 www.sunsetwindowcleaningsrq.com senior citizen discount. Sandra Smith | 941.383.3388 405071 rfnt fnt
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30 LONGBOAT OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 549 SUTTON PLACEDelight in the best of both worlds at this beach-to-bay townhome at Sutton Place on Longboat Key. Offered furnished and move-in ready, with deeded beach access. www.549SuttonPlace.com$499,000 9150 BLIND PASS ROAD #505Beautiful recent updates (including added square feet, impact windows) and sunny water views create the perfect spot for you to move right into at this FURNISHED, 2BR Fishermans Haven, 5th-oor residence. www.FishermansHaven505.com$799,000 173 CIPRIANI WAYYou will love the convenience of immediately enjoying this well-maintained home, with its sunny and open interior, 3BR plus den layout, and many resortstyle amenities that residents relish. www.173CiprianiWay.com$549,000 235 COCOANUT AVENUE #125DOnly a few minutes from downtown Sarasota, this townhome is in a central location. You’ll feel right at home with its contemporary 2BR design and move-in ready condition. www.MarqueeEnVille125D.com$995,000 816 JUNGLE QUEEN WAYOPEN HOUSE: Sat & Sun, 1pm-4pm. Turnkey furnished! This 3BR waterfront on Longboat Key is ready to enjoy! You will love the deeded beach access and easy boating access to the bay. www.816JungleQueen.com$1,599,000 2315 WEBBER STREETWest of the Trail, discover this exceptional opportunity to design your dream home on more than 20,000 SF just moments from all the charms of Sarasota. www.2315WebberStreet.com$445,000 415 L’AMBIANCE DRIVE #PH-ADiscover the nest penthouse in Sarasota at this gorgeous, top-oor residence at L’Ambiance, just a few steps from the famed Longboat Key Club. Spectacular views from the Gulf to the Bay and downtown’s city skyline welcome you. The recent designer updates throughout this 3BR, nearly 5,000 SF residence are the perfect complement to the luxurious Gulf-to-bay lifestyle that awaits. www.415LAmbiancePHA.com$12,000,000 CALL TODAY FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TOUR (941) 387-1840 443 John Ringling Boulevard, Suite F | Sarasota, FL 34236 Pettingell.com | www.bestSarasotarealestate.net Twitter.com/RealRoger | Instagram.com/RogerPettingell | Roger@Pettingell.com The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verication. Afliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker System is comprised of company owned ofces which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised ofces which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 201 NORTH WASHINGTON DRIVEThe walkable location of this St. Armands home will immediately draw you in. Ideally situated, offering an oversized, -acre lot for you to design your dream home. The best of Sarasota is a sunny bike ride away. www.201NorthWashington.com$2,195,000 3040 GRAND BAY BOULEVARD #251Sunny bay views welcome you to this 5thoor Antigua residence, featuring a open concept, 3BR layout waiting for you to add your personal touches. Includes 2 deeded parking and private beach club access. www.GrandBay251.com$2,295,000 469 EAST ROYAL FLAMINGO DRIVEThe light and open interior of this 4BR home is spread across 3,300 SF, offering access to outdoor entertaining from nearly every room. Boaters will appreciate the newer seawall, rebuilt dock and deep-water lift. www.469EastRoyalFlamingo.com$3,595,000 ROGER SELLS LUXURY WATERFRONT PROPERTIES #1 SARASOTA SINGLE AGENT 2008, 2010, 2012 2022 7652 SANDERLING ROAD SIESTA KEYResort-style living at this spectacular Siesta Key beach home is a one-of-a-kind experience! Directly overlooking the coastal landscape of the Gulf of Mexico, this beautifully private estate rests on more than an acre, with 172’ of beach! Designed to highlight the sparkling Gulf and striking sunset vistas you can enjoy from any room of this delightful beachfront estate. www.7652Sanderling.com$9,995,000 401529-1
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