aiquiri
Entertainment
YOUR HOME FOR THE COLLEGE BOWLS AND NFL PLAYOFFS!
o o
see our ad on page
Captain Curt’s Village
Every Day
K a rao k e
5
Why the world comes to Sarasota
Tues & Thurs
Captain Curt’s Village
©
SiestaKeyFitness.com ds Sand Nee The Siesta ort! Your Supp
JANUARY 2024| 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA LLC | www.SiestaSand.us
A glorious greeting
formation For more in ge 21 turn to pa
Benderson proposal the focus By John Morton
They say the wheels of government turn slowly. Well, for those who oppose the recent efforts from Benderson Development to build a hotel on Siesta Key, a speeding locomotive may instead come to mind. Less than two months after it informed Sarasota County of its desire to construct an 85-foot, 147-room hotel upon 0.97 acres of land it owns at 5221 and 5239 Ocean Blvd. in the Village, the company on Nov. 28 received a 3-1 vote by county commissioners (with Siesta Key’s Mark Smith opposing) to pursue its process request for an amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan to allow unlimited density. All this, just a couple months after an August ruling by a county judge that said the commissioners violated their own policies in previously allowing unlimited density when approving three large hotels between the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022. That ruling said no hotel can be taller than 35 feet or have more than 26 rooms per acre (recalculated by the judge to 36) as set forth in 1989. That amendment request by Benderson was selected exclusively in favor of two others submitted to the commission – one by Dave Balot, who in 2022 was approved for a six-story, 112-room hotel on 2.15 acres at 5810 Midnight Pass Rd. (he’s calling for 52 rooms per acre on a minimum of
Muralist Jaime Valdeiglesias works on a most welcoming message on the side of the Crescent Beach Market. (photo by John Morton)
It’s transition time The Village’s Davidson Plaza seeing new tenants and a possible new trend By Jane Bartnett Major changes are on the horizon for Davidson Plaza, the popular shopping and dining center in the heart of Siesta Village. The unexpected Oct. 28 closing of the long-standing Davidson Drugs store – it served as the anchor of the shopping center and a staple of the community for 65 years -- set the stage for new businesses in what was already a plaza in transition. Existing Davidson Plaza tenants, as well as residents and the small businesses that make up the
Continued on page 22
Page 20
Page 15
Amen to worship on that soft sand
It was another doozy of a year
community, were surprised and concerned. When Davidson Drugs closed, company president Richard Davidson reported that because of the company’s agreement with Walgreens (which bought the pharmaceutical operations), leasing the space to another drug store was not permitted. That statement fueled increased speculation about what kind of retail or restaurant establishments might consider the valuable location. Continued on page 25
Page 35
Page 10
This information is completely classified
Here’s to a guy who’s in command
IN OUR SECOND SECTION: • Music Calendar PAGE V3 • Village Map/business listings PAGES V8, V9 • Crescent Beach Map/ business listings PAGE V10 •Gulf Gate Shops PAGE V13
p Sho es tor In-S nline or O W NO SIESTA KEY
SWIMWEAR RESORT WEAR ACCESSORIES
1960 Stickney Pt Rd 941.922.4545
DOWNTOWN
50 N Tamiami Trl 941.954.8800
LONGBOAT
3170 Gulf of Mexico Dr 941.383.2288
www.SwimCity.com
1398
2
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us NE W
3200 HIGEL AVE | $3.8M
DEFINING THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF LUXURY
816 EDGEMERE LN | $3.1M
622 TROPICAL CIR | $1.695M
PE ING
W
ND
NE
832 FREELING DR | $5.4M
854 N CASEY KEY RD | $4.5M
Successfully Connecting Buyers and Sellers of Luxury Properties on Siesta Key Since 1999 Ranked in the Top 1.5% of Realtors ® in the USA $82 Million Pending & Sold In 2023 $89 Million Sold In 2022
1
No.
SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR ® SINCE 2005
Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Judie Berger, P.A., REALTOR ® Judie.Berger@PremierSIR.com 941.928.3424 homesofsarasota.com
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
Greetings from the Gulf Go ahead and rat ‘em out! ... or, an SOS for a SIS ... or, time to shine once again By John Morton
E
XTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT YOU! That’s right, 2024 is going to be the year when you make the headlines. And you don’t need to propose a skyscraper hotel to do so! In fact, at this rate, that will only get you a few sentences next to the obits -- you know, right where Siesta Key will soon be as far as many of you are concerned. No, as we continue to celebrate life in a place named in honor of daytime napping, the Siesta Sand is going to break character and get to work. We’re going to put more of you characters in the local newspaper. That’s right, we’re asking the community to stop harboring the family and friends we know darn well are guilty of great things. If you believe that everyone has a story to tell, this is the perfect place to tell it. Whether it be our Community Spotlight, or a regular feature story, or a scathing exposé (just kidding), we are ready to write. Now, we could start knocking on doors with a U.S. Census form in hand, asking for your background and reminding you how your participation is required by federal law, but we’d rather get an email (info@27statemedia.com) with an idea, a suggestion, a name of someone whose story belongs in your community newspaper. A quick story about doing well-intentioned things -- ahem -- behind someone’s back: It was in a church pew in Tampa where I discovered a notecard that invited folks to fill-in a request for “guidance” from the pastor. I glanced at my older sister and maniacally smiled -- she sheepishly smiled back -- and seconds later her name, address and phone number graced the card that would join the contents of the offering plate. Sure enough, she received a call that night. And it remains my most diabolical achievement to date. Please join me among such lofty ranks of evil. We want to showcase the people here who deserve it ... so to speak. Feel free to be a tattletale, and we’ll take care of the telling of the tale.
This place is loaded with incredible residents. Time to tip us off to those who we have all yet to meet. (By the way, my church prank was 30-yearslater revenge for her insisting to me during my toddler years that I was adopted. She even had a name selected for my real mother: “Mrs. Louis Parchner.” (Sadly, when Facebook first arrived, that was the first name for which I searched. After all, I couldn’t possibly be related to these people I had called family, right?) Anyway, don’t hesitate. Contact us right now. Reporters are standing by. *** The robust pelican action is sure exciting and downright heartwarming. It means fish are thriving and the water is clean right now. In fact, we haven’t seen any red tide impact since March. Fingers crossed for more of that in 2024! My favorite limerick highlights the pelican -which just so happens to be featured in Section 2 of this issue. It’s our “Tweet Life” subject. In case you haven’t heard it, it goes like this: A wonderful bird is the pelican, his bill will hold more than his belly can He can take in his beak, food enough for a week I’m damned if I know how the hell he can *** Who’s the poor soul who has the task of knocking down the Crystal Classic masterpieces after the festival? It’s county employee Pete Sauchinitz. I think I’d rather be an executioner.
*** Speaking of the county ... Nothing makes you feel more forgotten than posting a message board on Stickney Point Road, warning of a Turtle Beach project IN AUGUST, and leaving it sit there until the following year. Unless, of course, you count closing the north bridge on Nov. 8 for repairs and providing NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. And more on the county ... You may notice that our esteemed commissioner, Mark Smith, continues to be a lone vote on many Siesta Key matters. Two more of them are chronicled in this issue. It’s too bad that Joe Neunder, our other Siesta Key rep, wasn’t at the meeting when the Benderson vote went 3-1 in his absence. It might have been at least a somewhat revealing moment on where he stands on the hotel front. And speaking of commissioners ... Had we not gotten a new one for District 2, the onslaught of news about our old one would have likely resulted in this being a double issue. Check that, a triple issue. Will it hurt his career? Help his career? Make no difference? I guess there are three ways of looking at this. Snicker, snicker, and snicker. *** Finally, on a more sincere note, page 18 of this month’s issue showcases the bright lights at the Fisherman’s Cove condo. What do you say we bring back the annual Holiday Lighting Contest? If you hold some sort of leadership role with one of the island’s condos -- you know, like Your Royal Happy Hour Highness -- and you think you’d like to get involved with the comeback of this bright and shiny tradition, once again send us a note at info@27statemedia.com. We want to see you, it, everyone, everything, shine bright in 2024. (John Morton is managing editor of Siesta Sand.)
Word on the beach What is the latest that live music should be allowed here? Scott Phillippi Shores “I’d say midnight -that’s plenty late enough. 10 o’clock is too early and 2 a.m. is too late.” Lynley Sarasota “Until a place closes, even if it’s 2 a.m. What’s the difference whether it’s live music or pre-recorded? Kathleen Siesta Key “We need to be respectful of the residents, so I’d say 11: 30 p.m. one night per weekend -- let’s say Friday night. Those who live here should be able to handle that. Otherwise, 10 p.m. is fine.” Jon Sarasota “Midnight is reasonable. The bars have to make their money and 10 p.m. seems too early. In the summer, it’s barely dark outside.”
801 Blackburn Point Road, Osprey, Florida
941-966-1901
3
7 Miles South of Stickney Point Road
4
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE January 9,2024 3:00 PM Siesta Key Chapel 4617 Gleason Ave
SPEAKER 1: MIKE ANGERS on Insurance Brown and Brown Agency SK Condo Association Insurance, 2024 & Beyond
SPEAKER 2: LOURDES RAMIREZ Comm. Advocate Siesta Key Community Inc President Fighting Mega Hotels on Siesta Key
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
Voluntary demolition concerns arise at workshop By ChrisAnn Allen
Sarasota County is considering amending its comprehensive plan and unified development code (UDC) to allow aging buildings to be demolished and rebuilt instead of repaired, through a process it has named the Siesta Key Voluntary Demolition Project. The county Nov. 20 hosted an online neighborhood workshop to answer questions from area residents and owners on the stipulations of the amendments, if approved. Concerns centered around exploitation of overdevelopment, density and intensity. Mark Spiegel, former president of the Siesta Key Coalition (a community organization working to protect quality of life
for Siesta Key residents), said he understands the intention of the proposed change is related to safety but is worried about the results. Spiegel “My biggest concern is that unintended consequences follow -that the real people that will initiate and exploit this opportunity to basically get around the underlying zoning for density are thirdparty developers that aren’t the original owners trying to protect their interest and rebuild their condominiums; that this will really end up being an avenue for future developers to buy-out owners so
that they can build a more transient property and circumvent the underlying zoning by doing so,” Spiegel said. County planner Everett Farrell responded that he agrees that is “a possibility that outside influence will come in to buy up these units,” because short-term rentals are allowed in the zoning district, and noted “It is an issue.” However, Farrell also pointed out any person could take control of the board of an existing condo, currently. In early 2022 the county was approached by representatives of Sea Club V. The condominium, located at 6744 Sarasea Circle Continued on page 27
LOVE A B U N D A N T LY Savor every moment and do more of what you love with the special people in your life. To schedule a tour and to learn more, please call us at 941.966.5611 BAYVILL AGE.ORG
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
Legal fees coming back to Ramirez As expected, a Dec. 1 follow-up ruling related to Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez’s victory against Sarasota County has determined she is entitled to attorneys fees. Ramirez, who in August prevailed in a non-trial summary judgment by Hunter Carroll of the 12th Judicial Ramirez Circuit Court, has reported that she spent in excess of “six figures” in her fight against the county where she alleged it had violated its own comprehensive plan when allowing unlimited density for developers looking to build large hotels on Siesta Key. How much she will receive has yet to be determined. However, Hunter ruled that the developers associated with the case, who also had legal representations as “intervenors” on the matter, will not have to reimburse any money to Ramirez. “I’m disappointed that the developers, who have wasted a lot of my time in litigating this case, are not also held responsible for attorney fees,” Ramirez said in an online newsletter to her supporters. In April, Ramirez also received a favorable state ruling from an administrative law judge but is not entitled to reimbursement in that matter. “I’m in the process of reviewing all of the legal expenses and removing any costs associated with the state legal challenge, which we knew were not recoverable,” Ramirez said in her newsletter. “My attorney will discuss attorney fees with Sarasota County soon.” Sarasota County commissioners originally voted 4-1 in favor of appealing the state ruling but in October voted unanimously to not only drop that pursuit but to also not appeal Carroll’s subsequent county ruling against them. -- John Morton
27th State Media LLC
5
COME TO THE COOLEST BAR IN TOWN AND ENJOY OUR AIR CONDITIONED OUTSIDE OASIS MULTIPLE NEW TVs
WATCH COLLEGE AND NFL FOOTBALL HERE!
LIVE MUSIC 7 NIGHTS A WEEK FROM 7-10 PM OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR UNTIL 2 AM ON-SITE FOOD TRUCK!
17 TVS, 4 BARS, GIVEAWAYS, AND DRINK SPECIALS
BEST HOMEMADE BLOODY MARYS ON THE KEY GREAT DRINKS AND BEST BARTENDERS ON THE KEY LOTS OF NEW MERCHANDISE FAMOUS FREE HOT DOG SATURDAY FABULOUS MARGARITAS
Follow us on
941-217-6837
@crescentclubsiestakey #crescentclubsiestakey
6519 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key Bar and Package • First Pour 1949
Siesta Key’s First and Only Irish Pub Authentic Irish Menu Live Irish Music Happy Hour from 4:00-6:00 Open Tuesday-Sunday Dine in or Take Out 2023 Top Five Hotlist
6641 Midnight Pass Road, Crescent Plaza, Siesta Key 941-271-4714
6
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
Despite concerns, beach house approved By Ned Steele Going against a staff recommendation and the vote of commissioner Mark Smith, the Sarasota County Commission has greenlighted construction of a twostory, one family home on the beach side of Beach Road, just off Access 4. With its 3-1 decision after a Nov. 28 hearing, the board accepted the applicant’s argument that the property is safely far enough from potential storm waves, and rejected two key concerns raised by opponents: that future beach erosion could jeopardize the proposed house, and that its construction would destroy too much dune habitat. Third time was the charm for the plan to develop 168 Beach Rd. Twice before, in 1991 and 2012, the commission had opposed proposals to build a home on the site. This time, principal owner Rebecca Keiver and her representatives submitted evidence to show that the beach just beyond the property has been expanding by 18 feet a year since 2001, placing the planned house 504 feet from today’s mean high-water mark. But county environmental staff, looking back farther, cited historical evidence suggesting that over time the beach could just as likely erode as expand. “Sand comes and sand goes,” said the environmental official, Howard Berna. He also cited technical objections to the development request in recommending that the board reject the application. But Keiver’s representative, William Galvano, called Berna’s concern about future erosion “speculative.” The 21st century trend of beach growth “appears to be continuing,” he said.
An artist’s rendering of the beach house proposed by Rebecca Keiver, and its location on the map. (images courtesy of Sarasota County)
Continued on page 24
Locals and visitors agree Clayton's Siesta Grille is top shelf! Macadamia nut crusted Grouper, Mahi Mahi tacos, seared scallops, crabcakes, world class pizza, and desserts to die for. Join us for happy hour, dinner or dessert.
941-349-2800 • Open Daily 4pm - 10pm
1256 Old Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, FL claytonssiestagrille.com
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
7
FISH MARKET OPEN UNTIL 11AM-2PM ON NEW YEAR'S EVE FOR SPECIAL ORDER PICK UP Please place your special orders as early as possible
Restaurant will be closed for dining New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Reviewed January 29, 2023
Happy New Year From the Market...
Large selection of fresh seafood. Special Orders Welcome!
From the Grill
Fresh Catch Tacos: your choice of Grouper, Mahi Mahi, or Shrimp on a soft tortilla with homemade coleslaw, aioli sauce and choice of tropical salsa or pico de gallo.
Stone Crab Season Starts October 15th. Fresh Catch Market & Grill has the Freshest & Best Stone Crabs in Sarasota Area
★★★★★ Ann T via TripAdvisor FRESH, DELICIOUS SEAFOOD As frequent visitors to Sarasota, we're not sure how we managed to miss this place in the past. Now that we have found it, we will be back to sample everything. We tried the stone crab chowder and the grouper tacos. Both were delicious and loaded with fish. Our tacos were dressed with a pineapple, watermelon salsa and accompanied by a side of wheatberry salad which had just the right balance of sweet and tangy. Our son also raved about his broiled tripletail which came with fresh green beans and potatoes. Prices, including beer, were reasonable and portions were plentiful.
7119 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Just off the Key, 1/4 mile south of Stickney Point Road 11 AM - 8 PM Monday-Saturday • Full menu available for takeout
941-413-7133 | www.FreshCatch FishMarketandGrill.com
8
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
SIESTA KEY – SARASOTA On Siesta Key, steps from Point of Rocks, newly remodeled 3 BR, 3 BA home and vacation rental, winter retreat and a cash cow are just minutes from St. Armand Circle and the mainland. • pristine, ensuite ground-floor-efficiency • chef’s kitchen, • cozy fireplace • wrap-around balcony • two lavish master suites • oversized two-car garage. • steps from Point of Rocks beach • close to shops, restaurants, clubs, and bars. Seize this opportunity and call now!
$1,400,000 James Brylinke REALTY EXPERTS, INC Cell (727) 612-9988 jgbrylinke@gmail.com www.BaylinkGroup.com
LAKEWOOD RANCH Freshly remodeled 5 BR 3 BA Executive Home in Lakewood Ranch, “America’s favorite place to call home.” • Almost 3,000 freshly renovated square feet • Huge living room & master suite • Only home for sale in Gleneagles Village • Great schools nearby • Balcony overlooks screened pool and spa • Great room w/gas fireplace overlooks pool • Adjacent open chef’s kitchen • Brand new state-of-the-art appliances 7724 US Open Loop: $1,399,999 James Brylinke REALTY EXPERTS, INC Cell (727) 612-9988 jgbrylinke@gmail.com www.BaylinkGroup.com
NOKOMIS
VENICE
2485 SQUARE FEET, NEEDS UPDATING, GREAT LOT, NEW SEPTIC AND METAL ROOF, MUST SELL
POOL HOME, 1963 SQUARE FOOTAGE, TOTALLY REMODELED, MOVE IN NOW,
425 Laurel Road: $525,000
416 Gulf Breeze: $560,000
JAMES BRYLINKE REALTY EXPERTS
(727) 612-9988 | 153 107th ave Treasure Island FL 33706 BROKER PARTICIPATION INVITED WATERFRONT PROPERTIES FROM 1M TO 15M
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
MADEIRA BEACH MADEIRA BEACH Amazing 3 BR 2 BA waterfront oasis on the Isle of Capri!
from this 3.5 BA 3-story o perfection!
ery
• Impeccably renovated, no expense spared • Open-split floor plan • Stunning Sekas custom pool • Scenic waterfront views. • elegant white shaker kitchen, a chef’s dream • spacious great room overlooks the water and pool • bathrooms have undergone meticulous remodeling • updated windows, • Trane HVAC system, • dock, lift, and more! • walking distance to the beach
rea adjoining
Schedule an appointment to view this property soon, as it is sure to be in high demand!
near the renowned
13007 Boca Ciega Avenue: $1,799,999
nary haven tertops nces ers h pool and spa below K boatlift ite the master suite
mmission!
ours for only 4% too!
Photos by brannon Glover
on
James Brylinke REALTY EXPERTS, INC Cell (727) 612-9988 jgbrylinke@gmail.com www.BaylinkGroup.com
ESTA KEY - SARASOTA
TREASURE ISLAND
nt of Rocks, your new and vacation rental, a cash cow areWalk just to the beach from this magnificent 4 BR 3.5 BA 3-story rmand Circle and the mainland. home, recently remodeled to perfection!
d-floor-efficiency
• chef’s kitchen is a culinary haven • exclusive granite countertops • state-of-the-art appliances • elegant accordion sliders es age • expansive balcony with pool and spa below. cks beach • updated dock with 20K boatlift ants, clubs, and bars• two-bedroom guest suite. • third floor to discover the master suite nd call now! • with top-tier finishes • an ideal office or nursery mmission! • oversized garage ours for only 4% too!• additional man cave area adjoining one of the garages. • strategically situated near the renowned Johns INKE | REALTYPass EXPERTS, Village. INC. | Cell 727.612.9988 | www.BaylinkGroup.com Call today, as it won’t be on the market for long!
ParadiseNewsFL.com | JANUARY 2024
59
12450 6th Street East: $2,499,900 James Brylinke REALTY EXPERTS, INC Cell (727) 612-9988 jgbrylinke@gmail.com www.BaylinkGroup.com
JAMES BRYLINKE REALTY EXPERTS
(727) 612-9988 | 153 107th ave Treasure Island FL 33706 BROKER PARTICIPATION INVITED WATERFRONT PROPERTIES FROM 1M TO 15M
9
10
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
Community Spotlight A salute to our Siesta Key commander
David Blackwood is making the most of his final years at ‘Club B South’
Q
David, your family has Northeast roots but also a long history with our island, owning one of the 1950s originals in the Sanderling Club that you affectionately call “Club B South.” Share with us your Siesta Key history and some details about the house. I grew up outside of Boston. When I was a teenager my parents bought a two-bedroom vacation condo on Sanibel Island, but when I left to attend the Naval Academy in 1987 they decided to upgrade to a house so they could live in Florida for six months of the year. The “empty-nesters” wanted to evolve into “snowbirds!” After finding the beautiful Siesta Key beaches and Sarasota golf clubs, they knew this was the place. They landed on a somewhat modest one-story, two-bedroom beach house with a separate guest cottage in the back. Yes, one of the original bungalow-style homes built during the Siesta Key building boom in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Over the last four decades, most of the Sanderling Club houses have been torn down one by one and rebuilt into magnificent mansions, similar to what has happened all over the island. But as far as the “Club B South,” Mom and Dad liked it just the way it was and made essentially no changes to the property, especially to the house’s interior -- same super-thick wall-to-wall shag carpeting, wood paneling, crazy -- almost psychedelic -- wallpaper,
A
Formica countertops, original pressed wood-like cabinets, plumbing, electrical, etc. It’s like visiting a Brady Bunch-era time capsule, but I love it. They don’t build them like this anymore!
Q
You have had a distinguished career in the Navy. Commander Dave, how about some of your military history, sir? I retired fairly recently after 32 years in uniform and what I considered a varied and interesting career as a Naval officer. I received a commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991 and, after specialty training in San Diego, I reported aboard the amphibious ship USS Peleliu, which was noteworthy for its support of the coalition forces withdrawal from Somalia in 1994. I next served at the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific outside
A
Tokyo, followed by assignments to the Navy Office of Information in Dallas, the U.S. Forces Korea Command in Seoul, and by 2000 the Navy Chief of Information Headquarters in the Pentagon where I was lucky to survive the near destruction of my office on 9/11. That dark day marked a turning point in my career. By that time, after 10 years of relatively peaceful assignments, I was planning to resign my commission and start a civilian career, but now we were at war, and I knew I couldn’t walk away. I extended my tour in the Pentagon through 2003 and the first few years of the war on terror. In early 2004 I transferred to the Navy Reserves. But as we were obviously still in the war on terror, there were plenty of full-time assignments needing experienced leadership. For example, in 2005
I mobilized to Djibouti, Africa and established a formal liaison office between my international base in the Horn of Africa and U.S. Navy Central Command in Bahrain. Over the ensuing years I had extended orders to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as the Office of Chief of Naval Operations, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. In 2010, I again sought out a chance to deploy to the combat zone and spent a year at coalition bases in and around Kabul, analyzing the politics of the growing Afghan government, developing a new liaison office inside the Afghan Presidential Palace, and helping organize an office to study the Afghan population. This was a highlight of my career and, based largely on this deployment, in 2012 I was selected in a nationwide competition to receive the Admiral Rufus Taylor Award for Leadership, presented annually by the National Military Intelligence Association. After returning from Afghanistan, I served with the Office of Naval Intelligence and Navy Criminal Investigative Service at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island before joining the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, synchronizing with Joint Staff and other Intelligence Community counterparts on oversight of
Special Operations activities. Another highlight came in 2015 when I was picked for a sixmonth tour to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels as the acting senior US Intelligence officer to the US Military Delegation, providing situational awareness into US/NATO collection efforts supporting coalition operations against ISIS, the Ukraine/Russia crisis, and other regional threats against NATO allies’ security. When I returned from Belgium in late 2015, I came back to Siesta Key again to visit Dad and Mom. It was pretty clear they needed some help by this time, and thus I decided to scale back on military assignments to spend time at Club B South with them -- at least Continued on next page
Stickney Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy New1500 Year. Point Road Sarasota, FL
Live Entertainment Thursday - Monday
Lunch and Dinner Served Daily
(Located at Channel Marker 62 at the Siesta Key South Bridge)
Now accepting reservations for large groups
Happy Hour Monday - Friday 2 - 6PM
BoatyardWaterfrontGrill.com • 941-921-6200
Every Seat has a
Water View
Waterfront Dining…at its best!
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
11
Community Spotlight
Continued from previous page
A
during their six-month stays. Sadly, in the summer of 2017, my father passed away and Mom decided she would rather stay in New England to remain closer to family. Shortly thereafter I returned to full-time work in the Washington, D.C. area at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and then found a final two-year Navy Reserve assignment at the Navy Yard in D.C. with Navy’s History and Heritage Command, becoming a certified Naval Historian and leading small Combat Documentation Teams deploying to conduct oral interviews and collect historical artifacts associated to various overseas Naval operations. I formally retired in 2019 and was in Siesta Key when the
COVID-19 pandemic struck. I spent much of 2020 and 2021 hunkered down at Club B South, avoiding the shutdowns and riots taking place in Washington, D.C. I have recently started a new project as a professional consultant to a firm providing expertise to raise funds and donations directly supporting military and veteran non-profit foundations and charities, to include a $250 million campaign to build a modern National Museum of the US Navy in D.C. at the old Navy Yard in partnership with my former office of the Navy History and Heritage Command.
Q
A few months back you attended an annual charitable event in Boston that is meaningful to you. Tell us about that.
CREATED GEMS
in
Absolutely, although this has nothing to do with my new position as a military non-profit fundraiser. The Boston Red Sox Foundation’s “Run to Home Base” is a 9K charity run through Boston, with a ceremonial finish stepping on Fenway Park’s home plate! I have been personally participating since its inception in 2012. For 14 years the Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Hospital have teamed up to conduct this important fundraiser where 100% of the money raised goes directly for clinical care and support for our veterans and their families -- those that have sacrificed in defense of our country. It might shock you to learn approximately one-in-four veterans suffer from the “invisible injuries” of PTSD and/or traumatic brain injury, plus on average 25 veterans commit suicide a day. We’ve seen a 20% increase in veteran suicides since the COVID pandemic. In my humble opinion, the federal government does not do enough, but I am proud to help in some small way to raise vital funds to help fill the need. This year, more than 2,500 participants both in Boston and around the country raised nearly $3 million to help those impacted by the invisible wounds of war. For more information, visit runtohomebase.org.
A
Sadly, no. My siblings and I will likely sell Club B South when we inherit it and get the step-up-in-cost basis. I fully expect the old house will then quickly be torn down and rebuilt like so many other homes on the island. But in the meantime, I am very appreciative of the place and take full advantage of it. As long as I am able, I will keep coming for extended visits, see old friends, host the occasional party, and spend whatever time I can walking one of the best beaches in the world.
Q A
Which one do you prefer, the Siesta Key you first discovered or today’s version? The Siesta Key I remember in my 20s and 30s and 40s doesn’t look all that different than today -- at least on the surface. By the early 1990s, Siesta Key had already been largely built out -- there were very, very few empty lots. The view up and down my 3-mile stretch of Crescent Beach
looked mostly like it does today. But look a bit closer and you can see the differences. Like the proverbial frog in the pot, slowly getting up to boiling, the changes taking place on Siesta Key have been gradual, the old one-story beach bungalows getting replaced one-by-one with fourstory rental houses, going from accommodating a family of four to a party house of 20, and one car becomes five cars. Slow season in May through July isn’t so slow anymore and peak season during spring break has become cursed by mile-long caravans of beach-goers trying to cross the bridges and all-day traffic jams up and down Midnight Pass. I don’t want to sound like an old man yelling at people to stay off my lawn, and I soon enough won’t have skin in the game, but I hope the residents and leaders in the community act to slow the pace of development before it’s too late and the frog is cooked. Who boils frogs, anyway?
Q
Do you see your Siesta Key house staying in the family for generations to come?
Handmade with Siesta Key Sand and Larimar
Gold & Silver
Exclusive Distributor Of ®
Sale $24.95
2.00 ct. t. w. Sale $19.95 Spektralyte
The Affordable Diamond As Seen On ABC7
www.SiestaKeyGems.com 941.346.0988
5212 Ocean Blvd. (next to Big Olaf’s) | Siesta Key Village
As Seen On Channel 7
12
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
Gilligan’s music issue sees final arguments By ChrisAnn Allen The end might be in sight. Or perhaps a new beginning. Attorney Casey Colburn, representing Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, and David Pearce, Sarasota County assistant attorney, gave closing arguments Dec. 19 via Zoom before special magistrate Scott Steady to potentially close the matter of later live music at the popular Village establishment, located at 5253 Ocean Blvd. Currently, per Sarasota County, ordinance, Gilligan’s must end live music at 10 p.m. unless it has a special exception. The establishment stays open until 2 a.m. and seeks the opportunity to possibly have performances go that late. Following a failed mediation attempt at a settlement, Steady heard both arguments and will issue a recommendation to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners by Jan. 12. During the session, Steady emphasized, according to state statute, his order is not final -- just a recommendation as to whether the county’s initial decision not to extend the hours for live music at Gilligan’s was “unreasonable or unduly burdened the property” and thus the matter should be reheard. “It is a recommendation,” Steady said. “It is not binding.” The application for the special exception was initially heard by the planning board Dec. 1, 2022, where it was unanimously approved by five of nine planning commissioners present. According
to Colburn, changes to the application, which did not make it into the report presented to planning commissioners, were made between staff and Gilligan’s representatives, eliminating the use of the back parking lot as part of the special exception application. Staff and members of the public were concerned with mitigating sound issuing from the lot. This was explained by Colburn to the planning commission, which then approved the application with stipulations. However, when the application was presented Jan. 31 to the county commission, changes to the staff report were not completed and the parking lot was still included. Colburn said he was surprised, but expected commissioners to approve the special exception anyway, based on the planning commission’s recommendation. Instead, the commission voted it down 4-1 with commissioner Mark Smith, a Siesta Key resident, casting the sole supporting vote. Then, near the end of the meeting, an additional motion for reconsideration was voted down 3-2. During the Dec. 19 session, Colburn posed the question of why the county resisted correcting the “staff’s admitted mistake” and asserted it involves the public’s insistence in “peace and quiet,” and the notoriety of the establishment under the previous owner, who sold the property to the Gilligan’s owner (doing business as Nocturnal Properties) in 2001. “Could it simply be that the
Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill is located at 5253 Ocean Blvd. in the Village. (file photo)
senior county staff, the BCC and the county attorney are all just trying to show the applicant who’s boss?” Colburn said. “It sure feels like it. The record confirms it.” Colburn also challenged the county commissioners’ individual statements for denial, and said “None of the commissioners cited any evidence that the site would be any louder or intense with live, human performers leading up to 2 a.m. than it currently is with recorded music and video at those hours.” In conclusion, Colburn said that the county attorney’s refusal to disclose the falsehoods and misrepresentations contained in the staff report, leading to the commission’s denial, was unreasonable under state law and rules of professional conduct. Pearce led the county
presentation stating Nocturnal Properties’ application was “tone deaf.” “We have a fundamental difference in opinion and perception of the way the public hearing occurred in this matter,” he said. Pearce said the application was tone deaf because there was a history of denial for a previous special exception application in 2001 for entertainment limited to an inside stage until 1 a.m. The 2023 application requested a more intensive use, with live entertainment outdoors with no time constraints. He said, according to state statutes, the property owner can be granted relief if the current order is “unreasonable or unfairly burdens the use of the owner’s real property,” and that is not the case
for this matter. Pearce also stated only three special exceptions for live entertainment have been granted in Siesta Key Village and all were more than 20 years ago, on the west side of Ocean Boulevard, and each have included mitigation measures. Pearce said, in summary, Nocturnal Properties had the opportunity to elucidate its mitigation efforts during the public hearing, that county staff “correctly presented” the concept plan submitted by the owner, and any alleged error was irrelevant given the 4-1 commission vote. Additionally, the owner did not provide sufficient mitigation measures to justify a special exception and the current standing is not unreasonable or unduly burdening his use. In his rebuttal, Colburn continued with his assertion that the past 20 years of operation have shown the current owner of the establishment, Siesta Key resident Scott Smith, follows the rules as evidenced by just one code violation during that time and concluded the errors to the staff report were the fault of the entire matter. “That’s the genesis of this whole situation,” Colburn said. “If those had been corrected or if the commission had been given the chance to weigh that and decide what to do about it, we wouldn’t be here where we are now. “And I believe that failure to do that on the county’s part was unreasonable.”
Inspired by you. Created by us.
Concierge Custom Construction | Remodeling | Project Management 3534 South Osprey Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34239 | 941.924.1868 | NutterCustomConstruction.com LEED Accredited Professional Florida Licensed Building Contractor CBC 060004 Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker BK3222256 Florida Licensed Home Inspector HI4630
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
They are stone-cold delicious Around here, the stone crab rules the dining scene this time of year By Jane Bartnett
A
delectable Florida delicacy found primarily in the waters of the Sunshine State is available to enjoy through the winter months and into the early days of spring. This year’s stone crab catches that became available on Oct. 15 are abundant and delicious. May 1 will close out this year’s stone crab season. The Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill, just blocks away from the Gulf Gate neighborhood near the intersection of Stickney Point Road, is considered one of the best places in the Siesta Key region to enjoy a meal of stone crabs. Enjoy them in the restaurant, at 7119 S. Tamiami Trail, or take them home. Co-owner Bob Provost says that local diners have been delighted with this year’s stone crab selection. “Our stone crabber delivers the fresh claws daily. We’ve been working with him exclusively for close to seven years since we opened in February 2016,” Provost said, noting they come directly from the local Gulf of Mexico waters. “He harvests 6,000 stone crabs each day during the season.” They can also be found in the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. However, Provost said, “The Intracoastal stone crabs have a different flavor than those that come from the Gulf. Our stone crabs come only from nearby Gulf waters and our crabber goes about a mile out from shore.” To prepare the stone crabs at the restaurant, Provost cracks the crab claws open with a special cracking device. Once plated and served, they’re ready to be enjoyed. The sweettasting crabmeat is so light and delicate that it can be eaten without any added flavoring, one small forkful at a time. Provost, however, suggests a traditional approach to enjoying a stone crab: dipping the forkful of crabmeat in warm melted butter. And many of his customers enjoy dipping the stone crab meat into the special house white mustard sauce. “Some people like their stone crabs warmed up but most enjoy them served at room temperature or cold,” he said. And freshness goes a long way, especially with stone crabs. “Stone crabs should always be eaten fresh and never frozen,” Provost said. “It’s a sweet flaky crab that’s totally different than other crabs. They’re best when harvested locally. They’ve been popular as long as Florida has been around.” For the uninitiated, Provost noted that, unlike lesser forms of crab meat, stone crabs should never, ever be tossed with
Bob Provost of Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill is ready to please his customers with the one and only stone crab. (photos by Jane Bartnett)
mayonnaise and turned into a stone crab salad or a crab cake. His only other recommendation, aside from enjoying them fresh, is to enjoy a bowl of his cream-based, Fresh Catch stone crab soup, served with a medium crab craw. At $14, it sounds like a perfect lunch on a cool winter day. Commercial stone crab fishing is closely monitored by the Crustacean Fisheries Group, a part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The commission also carries out continuous research of the stone crabs through the year. Continued on page 26
13
14
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
What to expect from a financial advisor Sarasota Local Brings Experience & Trust to Siesta Key
If you know how important it is to invest for your future, but you’re unsure of the road to follow, you may want to get some guidance and direction from a financial professional. But if you’ve never worked with one before, what can you expect? Here are some things to look for: • Assessment – A financial advisor will assess your current financial situation – assets, income, debts and so on – but that’s just the start. These days, advisors recognize the need to view their clients’ lives holistically. Consequently, you will see questions like this: What are your feelings about investing? How would you judge your risk tolerance? What are your individual financial goals? What hopes and dreams do you have for your family? • Recommendations – Only after fully understanding your needs, goals and preferences will a financial advisor recommend any investment moves. There are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions. You may want to steer clear
of individuals claiming to be financial advisors who “guarantee” big returns with no risk. In the investment world, there are few guarantees, and every investment carries some type of risk. • Communications – Financial professionals communicate with their clients in different ways, but you should always feel free to reach out to an advisor with any questions or concerns. Most financial advisors will want to meet with clients at least once a year, either in person or through
an online platform, to review their investment portfolios. During the review, the financial advisor will help you determine if any changes are needed. But financial advisors won’t wait a full year to contact clients to discuss a particular investment move that might need to be made. Also, depending on the firm you choose, you should be able to go online to review your portfolio at your convenience. • Technology – A financial advisor can employ a variety of software programs to help clients. For example, a financial advisor can determine the rate of return you might need to attain specific goals, helping shape your investment strategy. But there are also a lot of “what ifs” in anyone’s life, so an advisor can use hypothetical illustrations to show you where you might end up if you take different paths, such as retiring earlier (or later) than you had planned or putting in more (or less) money toward a specific goal, such as education for your children. Anyone’s plans can change, so the ability to view
different potential scenarios can prove valuable. Above all, a financial advisor can help you feel more confident as you pursue your goals. Among investors who work with a financial advisor, 84% said that doing so gave them a greater sense of comfort about their finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted in 2020 by Age Wave and Edward Jones. And during times of market turbulence, such as we’ve experienced this year, a financial advisor can help you avoid overreacting to downturns. When unexpected events crop up, such as a lapse in employment, a financial advisor can suggest moves that may enable you to avoid major disruptions to your financial strategy. Conversely, when a new opportunity emerges, perhaps from an inheritance or some other windfall, your financial advisor can help you take advantage of it. Navigating the investment landscape can be challenging – but the journey can be a lot smoother if you’ve got the right guide.
Joe St. Onge, ChFC® Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments 5011 Ocean Blvd., suite 205 Siesta Key, FL 34242 (941)-346-0560 phone (941)-320-4030 mobile Joe.StOnge@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Edward Jones. Member SIPC. -- Advertorial --
Sheriff’s Report Nov. 10, battery A tenant and landlord got into a dispute over the early termination of a lease. The tenant alleged that landlord pushed him in the chest and kicked him on his lower leg. A sheriff’s deputy sought to contact the landlord in his apartment and also attempted to contact him via landline and cell phone. The deputy was unable to locate the landlord and therefore proceeded to charge him with battery. Nov. 12, assault A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a Village bar/ restaurant to investigate a reported assault. Upon arrival, the defendant was on the ground in handcuffs in the rear parking lot of the bar and was thrashing about and yelling obscenities at everyone nearby.
The defendant refused to get into the patrol car and was finally carried and placed into the back of a patrol car where he began to kick the car doors. The manager of the establishment indicated that defendant was asked to leave the bar multiple times due to violent and erratic behavior. The defendant attempted to strike the manager and at that time was restrained until deputies arrived. The defendant was charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, and giving a false name. Nov. 13, theft A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a store for a reported theft. The store manager indicated that a group of juveniles entered the store and one of the juveniles separated from the group, took a 12-pack of Modelo beer, and made
a swift exist. The beer was valued at $22.99. A search of the area, including the beach, was conducted but the suspect was not located. Nov. 16, stolen vehicle A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched at approximately 10 a.m. for report of a stolen vehicle. The victim, who was out of town, advised the deputy that the vehicle was a white Jeep Grand Cherokee which was only used by family when they were in town visiting. Nov. 21, theft A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a convenience store with respect to a theft. The manager of the store indicated that a female suspect stole two bottles of wine. The female subject fled the store on foot north on Ocean Boulevard.
The value of the two bottles of wine was $24. The manager indicated that the store wished to pursue charges. Victim believed the vehicle was
24 BEERS ON TAP • WINE • FULL BAR • PIZZA • WINGS BURGERS • HOAGIES • SALADS • CALZONES • MUNCHIES
unlocked with the keys in it. Prior to the victim’s report, the vehicle was recovered and a suspect, who was attempting to flee the stolen vehicle, was arrested.
IN STORE COUPON
$5 OFF OF $30+ No cash value. Can not be used for gratuity or tax. Can not be combined with other discounts. Must be surrendered at time of purchase. One per customer per month. Dine-in ONLY. Expires 03/31/2024 Expi
Get FREE Pretzel Bites!
Super fresh ingredients, crust is perf ect, everything w as delicious!
VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS HAPPY HOUR EVERYDAY 3-6PM! INCLUDES FOOD & DRINKS GLUTEN FREE & VEGAN OPTIONS AWARD WINNING PIZZA LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED GREAT FOR LARGE GROUPS DINE-IN, TAKE OUT, DELIVERY
Join the Shroom Room. Exclusive access to promos, and all things Mellow delivered to your inbox.
Great for Large groups!
941-388-7504 order.mellowmushroom.com
6727 S. Tamiami Trail, SRQ
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
No chance to catch our breath!
15
Another wild year on Siesta Key is behind us, and there are likely many more of them to come
T
he Year 2023 on Siesta Key was seemingly lining up as one of conclusion for the two major issues in play: incorporation and hotels. Yes, there was lots of action and plenty of outcomes involving the topics, but at the end of the year there was somehow, some way, even more uncertainty on both fronts. In between, plenty of happenings good and bad, depending on your point of view, kept the spotlight on an island that remains in demand and certainly in a state of flux. Let’s review another year that, as recent history can attest, was once again quite a doozy. Incorporation: In early January, a mission that debuted in early 2021 appeared to be on the cusp of success when the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation, featuring not only a new member but the departure of two previous Hensey no votes, sent the bill to Tallahassee with a 3-1 vote. Only state Rep. James Buchanan, for the second straight year, dissented. Things appeared even more promising on Capitol Hill in March when members of the first committee to examine the bill voted 17-0 in unanimous support. Next up was the state’s Ways and Means Committee, of which Buchanan served as vicechairman, and the bill mysteriously was never even addressed. By the end of April, a Save Siesta Key team that had raised and spent about a quarter of million dollars in its quest decided to throw in the towel as the legislative session neared the end. The effort had officially “died in committee.” By summertime, Save Siesta Key chairman Tim Hensey announced that his team’s effort would be
Commentary by John Morton, managing editor on hold until after the 2024 elections in hopes of new leadership at the state level. Thus, the earliest the Florida Legislature would address a new effort, if indeed moved forward, would be in 2025. Hotels: Oh man, where to begin? In January, testimony from both plaintiff Lourdes Ramirez and defendant Sarasota County, as well as lawyers representing the developers, began to be heard by county 12th Judicial An artist’s rendering of the aerial view of the Siesta Promenade. (file image) Circuit Court Judge Stephen Walker. Siesta Promenade: commissioners to vote to In late 2021, Ramirez and The massive, mixed-use project amend the comp plan, and another party had sued at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 Benderson made a request the county for what they and Stickney Point Road near the for consideration. alleged was the county south bridge to Siesta Key received Others came from wouldmisinterpreting (and in September what appears to be be hotelier Dave Balot (112 thus violating) its own a final vote of support, by a 4-1 rooms and six stories on comprehensive plan by margin, after it adjusted its plans 2.15 acres at 5810 Midnight giving the green light to two and had to face both planners Pass Rd.) and the Siesta Key large hotels that exceeded and commissioners. It was first Chamber of Commerce the existing limits in height approved in late 2018. (recommending no more (35 feet) and the number Always controversial, this latest than 75 rooms). of rooms (26 per acre). In Lourdes Ramirez with Judge Hunter Carroll’s ruling in approval was no different as the Both Balot and the December of 2022, Ramirez front of the property where a hotel was approved between county’s planning commission chamber recommend no and the county asked for a Beach Road and Calle Miramar. (file photo) more than 52 rooms per acre. endorsed the Benderson summary judgment from development as long as it removed In a 3-1 vote, with Walker in a new plan to include parallel District 4 Commissioner dropped when Carroll also ruled order to parking along Glencoe Avenue Joe Neunder (representing in favor of Ramirez, putting a halt avoid a trial. in the neighboring Pine Shores the southern portion of Siesta to development approval for what In April Estates subdivision. Key) absent, the county in late at that point had been three hotels. he suddenly However, Benderson came back November chose the Benderson The ruling also applied to the recused himself to the commission for a vote with proposal for the potential approval second lawsuit, filed by resident from the case the parallel parking still in the fold, process (see story on page 1 of this Robert Sax and his Marina Del Sol because of his ignoring the planning commission issue). condominium complex and also Carroll affiliation with request. And commissioners With the Benderson parameters the residents of the 222 Beach Road an attorney who approved it nonetheless. being the largest in density condominium complex. helped represent hotelier Gary Another Siesta Promenadeand intensity, Balot’s proposed In October, Sarasota County Kompothecras. Judge Hunter related ruling came in January hotel and the others in play commissioners voted to drop the Carroll would take over the when an appeal by Siesta Key (Kompothecras’ proposed hotel state appeal and not pursue a assignment. resident James Wallace was denied on Old Stickney Point Road at 120 county-court appeal. Meanwhile, in also in April the by Florida’s Second District Court rooms and seven stories on 1.17 Yet, just when it appeared state’s Division of Administrative of Appeal in Tampa. Wallace acres and Robert Anderson’s hotel the issue had reached an end, Hearings ruled in favor of Ramirez had earlier lost his request to on Calle Miramar near the Village Benderson Development in on the same matter and the county reverse a Florida Department of at seven stories and 163 rooms on October announced its intertest in faced possible sanctions as a result Transportation decision to install .96 acres) would fall within the building an eight-story, 210-room – an outcome yet to be finalized as traffic lights along Stickney Point limits and be approved. hotel on 1.14 acres of land it owns the county initially appealed the Road at Avenue B & C -- lights that It would mean four new hotels in Siesta Key’s Village. ruling, causing the state to put any could simultaneously get the goSuch a project would require deliberations on hold. Continued on page 28 ahead. four out of five of the county In August, the other shoe
GRAND OPENING!
Dr Ta has been in practice since 1995 in San Francisco CA and Manhattan NY. A full service practice from cosmetic restorative dentistry, oral surgery/ implants, root canals, to hygiene. Dr. Ta testimonials I recently had the pleasure, yes pleasure of receiving dental care from Dr. Ta, Siesta Village Dentistry, and I can confidently say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked into the office, the friendly and professional staff set the tone for a positive visit. The waiting area was clean and welcoming, and I didn't have to wait long before being seen. Dr. Ta is not only highly skilled but also incredibly personable. She took the time to thoroughly explain each step of the process, addressing any concerns or questions I had. This level of communication made me feel comfortable and well-informed throughout my appointment and subsequent procedure.
Classic and Trendy Cuts Straight Razor Shaves Call or Book Online Walk-Ins Welcome
4968 S. Tamiami Trail, The Landings Plaza (941) 231-1800
www.1800barbershop.com
The attention to detail during the dental procedure was outstanding. Dr. Ta demonstrated precision and care, ensuring a pain-free and efficient experience. I truly appreciated her commitment to providing high-quality dental care. Moreover, the staff's commitment to a safe and hygienic environment was evident. The equipment was modern, and hygiene protocols were strictly followed, contributing to an overall sense of trust and confidence in the practice. In addition to their professional competence, Dr. Ta and her team created a warm and friendly atmosphere that eased any apprehensions I had about dental visits. Overall, I highly recommend Dr. Ta for anyone seeking top-notch dental care. Her expertise, professionalism, and genuine concern for her patients make them stand out in the field. Thank you, Dr. Ta, and the entire team at Siesta Village Dentistry for providing an exceptional dental care experience! – Steve Wenke I was on vacation in Siesta Key and broke a tooth. Dr. Ta and her assistant went way beyond anything I could imagine. She took images, performed oral surgery, a root canal, temporary crown, and then the permanent crown all in less than one week! You have a great team and what you did for me was way beyond words. Anyone in the Siesta Key beach area would be lucky to have you as their dentist. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. – Phillip Randy Anders, Sr.
CALL FOR AN APPOINMENT TODAY • 941-505-1200 5136 Ocean Boulevard • Siesta Key, FL 34242 SiestaVDentistry@gmail.com • SiestaVillageDentistry.com • See us on Facebook
16
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
These VOGs are A-OK!
www.siestasand.us
Students at Out-of-Door Academy are creating vertical oyster gardens to help with Siesta Key waterways By Jane Bartnett Calling all Siesta Key dock owners! Marine science students at the Out-of-Door Academy have a New Year’s gift for you and, what it is, also happens to be beneficial to our waterways: a vertical oyster garden system. Vertical oyster gardens, known as VOGs in the marine world, create new habitats for young oysters. Out-of-Door Academy upper school students in Lakewood Ranch are creating them by hand as a marine science project and making them available to Siesta Key-area residents, free of charge. Once installed, the vertical oyster gardens are maintenance free. Out-of-Door Academy’s lower school (pre-K through grade 5) is on Siesta Key. The students drill and then string lines of oyster shells. The recycled shells, donated by area restaurants to the Robinson Preserve in Bradenton, have been cleansed, sterilized, and baked in the sun for six to eight months. Science department chairwoman Lurea Doody is directing the program. “Each VOG has a multiplying effect,” she said. “Oysters are a very important part of the ecosystem. One oyster can filter up to 40 gallons of water a day.” Jean Cannon of the Siesta Key Association, who has worked with Out-of-Door Academy students on numerous projects over the years, is very supportive of Doody’s efforts. She sees great benefit to the students as well as the community. “It’s wonderful for the Out-of- Door Academy students to see firsthand that they can have a positive impact on the environment and watch wildlife thrive,” she said. “Siesta Key residents also benefit from the students’ efforts, and over time as the vertical oyster gardens grow the quality of our water improves and marine life can thrive.” Inexpensive and easy to install, Cannon believes that vertical oyster gardens are perfect for docks. “On Siesta Key’s Grand Canal alone, there are 837 docks and at least 300 to 400 more on the rest of the island. With more than 1,000 docks, Siesta Key is an excellent location for these devices,” she said. Doody’s students learn that vertical oyster gardens offer a hospitable home for young marine life when baby oysters and juvenile fish attach themselves to the shells. Larger fish are attracted, and food sources grow. The result is an improved ecosystem for all marine life. The school’s marine research
Above, Sonia Camillo (left) and Ella East, 12th-grade students at the Out-of-Door Academy, admire their nearly completed vertical oyster gardens. Right, 10th-graders (from left) Allen Clark, Heath DeRusso and Aengus Doody work on creations of their own. (photos by Jane Bartnett)
project began during the 2022-2023 school year. “It gives our students the opportunity to appreciate how connected we are to our natural environment,” said Doody. This past fall, the students created close to 40 vertical oyster gardens. “My class will be doing their VOG projects after the holiday break so we should have more in stock soon,” she said. Marine studies are incorporated in all Outof-Door Academy grades, said Caitlyn Dixon, the schools’ director of STEM. “In the spring, our upper school students will spend time teaching younger students on the Siesta Key campus about marine ecosystems,” she said.
Vertical oyster gardens are growing in popularity. While inexpensive and easy to create, Cannon noted that they are not as powerful as professionally installed mini reefs that can filter more than 30,000 gallons of water a day. The larger mini reefs create valuable habitats for not only oysters, but also fish, crabs, clams, shrimp, and other sea creatures. When the Siesta Key Association launched its Grand Canal Regeneration program in 2020, it had a goal of installing 500 mini reefs under docks to restore habitat. At the end of December, 461 had been installed across the island. Last summer, the group released a
YouTube video called “Sounds of the Mini Reef,” offering a glimpse into the busy lives of thriving wildlife in a Siesta Key mini reef. View the video at: youtu.be/UarSh3B8Niw. “While a vertical oyster garden creates a much smaller area than a mini reef,” said Cannon, “it too brings new life. Both help to improve our environment and create a habitat for oysters and juvenile fish. Both are valuable.” As the school year continues, Cannon is looking forward to working with students as well as Sarasota County schools’ marine biology students. Continued on page 34
Your Go-To Store on the Island Morton’s Siesta Market is your one-stop shop for easy island living. We offer a large selection of staple groceries, beer and wine, as well as fresh produce, meats and seafood. In keeping with our Morton’s tradition, we also carry a delicious array of prepared foods, perfect for take-out, picnics, parties and more.
Please stop in and say hello!
205 Canal Road, Siesta Key • 941-349-1474 • MortonsMarket.com
VISIT OUR SIESTA VILLAGE LIQUORS JUST NEXT DOOR!
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
LUNCH SPECIAL
Now Serving We Have Your Holiday Platters & Trays! Call to Order.
& Gluten-Free Crust Pizza!
17
2 SLICES OF CHEESE PIZZA AND A CAN OF SODA
Fountain drinks extra. Toppings extra. Plus tax. Valid at Sarasota location only with this Local Trend offer. One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offers EXPIRES 2/10/24. SRQ041 or discounts. Restrictions apply. EXPIRES 4/10/23. SRQ033
1-TOPPING 16” PIZZA
DINE-IN / TAKE-OUT / DELIVERY
OR GET 2 FOR $26.99!
Contactless Options Committed to Providing a Safe Environment
Premium toppings extra. Plus tax. Valid at Sarasota location only with this Local Trend offer. One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Restrictions apply. EXPIRES 2/10/24. SRQ041 SRQ033 EXPIRES 4/10/23.
LARGE PIZZAS
ANY 3 LARGE PIZZAS
Valid at Sarasota location only with this Local Trend offer. One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. EXPIRES 2/10/24. SRQ041 SRQ033 Restrictions apply. EXPIRES 4/10/23.
Your Favorite Italian Dishes Prepared Fresh Daily! 941-366-8988
FAMILY FEAST (2) 1-TOPPING 16” PIZZAS, (6) GARLIC KNOTS, AND A LARGE GARDEN SALAD
Connect with Us!
PLUS TAX. Valid at Sarasota location only with this Local Trend offer. One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Restrictions apply. EXPIRES 4/10/23. SRQ033 EXPIRES 2/10/24. SRQ041
4 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU Bay Road • St. Armands Circle • Sarasota • Tamiami Trail / Airport
1902 BAY ROAD • SARASOTA • CORNER OF BEE RIDGE & US 41
18
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
BOAT RENTALS Fishing Charters 941.349.4400 Open 7 Days 7am-6pm
1249 Stickney Point Road, just over the Stickney Point Bridge
ORVIS ENDORSED FLY CASTING SCHOOLS
Instructor Capt. Rick Grassett Jan. 13 and Feb. 10 call to reserve.
“Voted BEST Parasail Company”
ParasailSiesta .com
941-346-8200 SUNSET CRUISES
Gulf Gate's artisan French bakery. Authentic French food from the South of France made on site by trained French chefs. 2336 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota, 34231 Tuesday - Sunday, 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. • 941-922-2253
We offer off-site catering. Ask about reserving for private parties any time.
loperabakerybistro.com
,
.,t� ~ 7(/uee, ~ g'ee,r LUNCH & DINNER -SERVED 11 AM -9 PM Live Music Thursday-Saturday 5-9 pm on the patio deck
q)ill=��
886 Midni ht Pass Road www.TurtleBeachGrill.com
www.siestasand.us
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
19
Exploring Siesta Key ... with Jane Bartnett
H
Let’s light-up that wonderful contest once again
ere’s a tip for the season: When night falls, head over to Fisherman’s Cove, the condominium community that sits right next to Turtle Beach. Get ready to be enchanted by the brilliant dancing lights that turn this complex facing both the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay into a magical place. It’s no wonder that Fisherman’s Cove won two first-place prizes for its category of 50-100 units in the island’s annual Holiday Lighting Contest in 2019 and 2020. The friendly competition -- organized by the Siesta Key Condominium Council and co-sponsored by the Siesta Sand, the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, and the Siesta Trolley -- awarded first-, second- and third-place winners for condominium complexes of 101 or more units, 51-100 units, and those with 50 or fewer units. Sadly, the event became a casualty of the pandemic. It ended in 2021. No contest? Not a problem for the folks at Fisherman’s Cove. Last year, as in years past, to the delight of residents the many boaters and beach walkers who came by were bathed in brilliant-colored lights. Although the past year brought its fair share of challenges to this small bit of Siesta Key paradise when the beach restoration project closed the beach and roadpaving projects left owners frustrated, Fisherman’s Cove carried on. Determined to make the season bright, Jack Matalka, a resident of the condominium complex, and his dedicated small band of workers made the decision that the show must go on. Matalka has been the man behind the holiday lights for the past three-and-a-half years. Along with strong support of the HOA board, his fellow homeowners and dedicated maintenance staffer Greg Brazie, work began work on the Fisherman’s Cove light show about two weeks before Thanksgiving. Residents and staff also pitched in and, by mid-December, the job was done. “This year, we had about 25,000 lights -- about 10,000 more than we had in 2022,” said Matalka with pride as we toured the 84-unit, three-building. “I think it’s fantastic,” said Fisherman’s Cove general manager Dan Bronkhorst said as night fell and the colorful lights began to shine and twinkle. “Our owners and long-standing guests who come for the holidays look forward to it. This year is probably one of the best ever.” Matalka and Brazie handled the majority of the lighting projects that included not only lighting the threestory buildings but also creating spectacular light shows on majestic palms, trees and bushes. There were weeping blue-and-white lights in trees that looked like icicles, plus nets, ropes and strings of lights in white and many colors that adorned the buildings. Along the dock, a boat was decorated with festive white lights that matched a nearby light pole. I wondered if it was there for Santa. When I asked if Matalka sketched out a plan for the lights in advance, he shook his head and said “Oh no. We just eyeball things.” Brazie nodded his head in agreement. “There’s no formal design plan or anything like that. We just design the lights as we go. The trick is to attach the lights with zip ties,” he said. “But we do make sure that each building has different colored lights.” Are you sure you don’t have any professional theatrical lighting experience, I asked. “Not me,” Brazie said with a laugh. “I’m just a guy from Ohio. But I do love it here on Siesta Key and I love Fisherman’s Cove.” As we cruised along on a golf cart on a tour of the lights, Matalka noted that “One of the best views is from the canal. Boaters really enjoy the lights. They slow down as they go by. We get a lot of visitors. It makes people happy.” One busy condo resident stopped by to thank Matalka for his work and said, “I just drove down from Pennsylvania and boy was it beautiful! It’s so welcoming and warm. We need these lights right now with everything going on in the world,” as he rushed off. He’s right. A visit to Fisherman’s Cove is a real moodbrightener. “The lights really do bring so much joy,” said Bronkhorst. Added Matalka, “That’s why we’re going to keep them up through the season.” That brings me to some exciting news. Behind the scenes at the Siesta Sand, there’s been talk about bringing back the Holiday Lighting Contest in 2024. As a longtime sponsor, we’re big fans of the event and we hope to make 2024 the year that a new contest makes its debut. In fact, please email us if your condo is interested in participating. What fun it would be to get everyone back in the swing of things next year? How’s that for a new year’s resolution?
Set yourself apart from the rest!
Unique artisan inspired eyewear
Sospiri, Dutz , Michel Atlan, Ottica Venenta, and more Superior sunglass protection with Maui Jim, Costa and other high quality polarized lens products
Jack Matalka, a resident at Fisherman’s Cove, begins the process of lighting-up his condo complex with some stunning results as the reward. (photos by Jane Bartnett and submitted photos)
6627 Midnight Pass Rd. • 941-413-5146 eyestyleopticalboutique.com Follow us on Facebook!
Key Casuals Dress Like You Are On Vacation
Clothing, Gifts and More! 6625 Midnight Pass Rd. | South Siesta Key | 941-349-6625
Shop online at SarasotaKeyCasuals.com
Ask us about our many locally made products!
We offer a fun and affordable assortment of unique coastal themed souvenirs, gifts, home decor, t-shirts, hats, beach gear, hostess/new home gifts plus much more!
6635 Midnight Pass Rd. 941.346.0226
20
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
‘Chapel on the Beach’ brings worship to the sand By Hannah Wallace
S
iesta Beach has always inspired spiritual descriptions — “serene,” “glorious,” “transcendent.” Now, that divine glory can be channeled through weekly church services by the heavenly shores, hosted at Patriots Pier by the Siesta Key Chapel and its senior pastor, Ruth Smalt. “I deeply appreciate the peace and renewal that come from such a glorious setting,” said Smalt. “People say to me, ‘I never knew that we could worship God with our toes in the sand.’” Beginning Sundays at 9 a.m. during tourist season (8:30 in warmer months), Smalt the half-hour “Chapel on the Beach” services feature songs with guitar accompaniment, scripture readings, and a brief homily. Smalt tries to choose familiar Christian music and hymns and often caters her lessons and her language to be inclusive of attendees on any given Sunday, regardless of their backgrounds or denominations. (Siesta Key Chapel is officially Presbyterian.) “It will feel familiar to churchgoers and accessible to those who aren’t,” she said. Planning for beach services first began late in 2020, not long after Smalt had been recruited to Siesta Key Chapel from her former church on Nantucket. While Chapel leadership had long been considering beachfront services, COVID-19 gave them a practical push to find alternatives to indoor gatherings. And Smalt brought her experience — and her calling — as an “island pastor.” “I grew up on a peninsula [in New York], served on the island on Manhattan, and had my first fulltime call on the island of Nantucket,” she explained, adding that she’d also helped to create a beach ministry during
Pastor Ruth Smalt shares the word to a group of worshipers at Siesta Key’s Patriots Pier. Her beach service is at 9 a.m. every Sunday. (submitted photo)
her time in Massachusetts. “[Siesta Key] turned out to be a wonderful fit. It all came together in a beautiful way, guided by the Holy Spirit.” Chapel leadership spent more than a year working on county permitting and parking solutions, trying to find the right location. Eventually Mike Cosentino, who owns Patriots Pier (aka Sunset Point) near the end of Avenida Messina, offered his location. Then they just had to figure out, as Smalt put it, “Who were we called to reach out to?” They experimented with sunset services, then worshiping on the beach on various mornings, at different times and in different
seasons. They finally settled on monthly services on Sunday mornings. “We started out with whoever might be walking by. It was literally a guitar and a couple of us singing,” Smalt said. “It’s not about numbers, but you want to have that sense of community.” Soon enough attendance grew, and so did provisions. The first attendees just stood the whole time; then they began bringing their own towels and beach chairs. Then an anonymous donor funded the purchase of 100 LL Bean camp chairs. Leadership also organized the Frog Hop shuttle to bring worshipers — as well as chairs and sound
equipment — from the Chapel parking lot to the beach and back. To overcome the elements — “Wind is always part of the adventure,” said Smalt — amplification is necessary. But Smalt stays considerate of other beachgoers nearby. “We invested in two small speakers and a couple of mics. They’re not blasting across the beach,” she said. “The people that gather will be able to hear the prayers and songs, and hear a homily. But we’re not taking over. [The sound system] is just for the size of folks that gather.” Continued on page 32
NOW OPEN in THE LANDINGS PLAZA! 4942 S. Tamiami Trl. #500 Sarasota, FL. 34231
Tampa Bay's Award Winning Restaurant Now In Sarasota! Locally Founded, Owned, and Operated! Bring in this ad for a FREE DOLE WHIP!
POKÉ BOWLS - SUSHI BURRITOS BOBA TEAS - HOT DOGS - DOLE WHIPS Open Everyday 11am - 9pm • Order Online @ PacificCounter.com
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
21
From the Publisher’s Desk ... by Brion Palmer
Thank you, loyal readers, for your ongoing support
D
ear loyal Siesta Sand readers: This is it – the last complimentary issue of the Siesta Sand you will receive in the mail. Last month, I shared our plans to discontinue the complimentary mailing of the Siesta Sand to all residents to help offset the rising costs of printing and mailing. In addition to these costs substantially rising, we have made significant investments to our operations including our editorial resources, paper quality, and new digital offerings. To offset some of these rising costs and to support continued investments into the quality of the paper we are asking residents of Siesta Key to help support the Siesta Sand through an annual subscription in the amount of $60. This will ensure that you will continue to receive the Siesta Sand every month in the mail. We hope you will consider a subscription to continue to support having a dedicated community paper that provides the following benefits: • Local news coverage providing detailed coverage of the stories and issues affecting Siesta Key. • A platform for community engagement that serves as a medium for residents, local organizations, and the business community to come together. • Promoting Siesta Key and its businesses to our many visitors from around the country and from around the world. • Preserving local history by continuing as an ongoing publication that documents the history of Siesta Key. Therefore, we ask that you consider
Your mail-in form Name _________________________________________________________________ Primary Address ________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________________________ State_______
Zip______________________
Phone ___________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________ Secondary Address (if applicable)
Diane Chechik-Temple, a beach ambassador with Sarasota County, hands out an issue of Siesta Sand at the pavilion at the public beach.”It’s my favorie publication for those who want to know about the island,” she said of the newspaper. (photo by John Morton)
______________________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________________________ State_______
Zip______________________
Months to receive @ secondary address ______________________________________ Send this form and a check to: 27th State Media, 6547 Midnight Pass Rd., PMB 70, Sarasota, FL 34242. Thank you! mailed to each residence. We want to thank those of you that have already subscribed to the Siesta Sand. We truly appreciate your support. We have also received many complimentary notes of thanks for our service to the community. One resident, Deborah Harvey, wrote “As a long-time resident of Siesta Key, I appreciate your monthly news. It keeps me well informed! Thank you.” Thank you, Deborah, for the kind words and the subscription. If you elect not to subscribe, you can still
supporting local journalism in your community by subscribing to the Siesta Sand today. You may subscribe by: 1. Going to siestasand.us/subscribe and entering your mailing address and credit card information; 2. Filling out the form on this page and returning it with payment to the address at bottom of the form. Note: If you are a seasonal resident, we will mail your subscription to either residence. Simply enter both residences and indicate the months in which it should be
pick up a complimentary copy of the Siesta Sand at one of 150-plus distribution points on and around Siesta Key. You just won’t have the convenience of receiving the paper in the mail any longer. We thank you for your continued support and readership of the Siesta Sand and look forward to providing you with the quality journalism that Siesta Key deserves in 2024 and beyond. Brion Palmer Publisher, Siesta Sand
Support "The Sand" and local journalism by subscribing today. ME FOR YOUR HO GE BOWLS E LL O C THE S! PLAYOFF AND NFL
aiquiri o o
e
’s Villag
n Curt
Captai
Why the
on page see our ad
es
world com
Y JANUAR
nt Entertainmkee Every Day
o K a r aTh urs Tues &
5 ©
ta to Saraso
312.0665 2024| 941.
e
’s Villag
n Curt
Captai
ƐƐ͘ĐŽŵ
ŝƚŶĞ ^ŝĞƐƚĂ<ĞLJ& | 27TH S
D IA TATE M E
LL
us | C O M
iestaSand. C | www.S
P LI M E N TA
RY
g s greetin A gloriou
STICKER eeds S Sand N iesEta TheGSO Support! HYEoRurE
formation For more in ge 21 turn to pa
on Benders ill w proposal cus be the fo By
I
n John Morto
ng message st welcomi rks on a mo iglesias wo Jaime Valde
on the side
ent Beach of the Cresc
oto by John Market. (ph
Morton)
ime t n o i t i s It’s tran
Muralist
SUBSCRIPTIONS ONLY $60 SUBSCRIBE AT SIESTASAND.US
new trend a possible ants and new tenn ng ei se a n Plaz rtnett ’s Davidso By Jane Ba The Village
22
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
Benderson request 1 acre) and the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce (which is calling for 52 rooms per acre and a maximum of 75 rooms, no taller than 35 feet if in a residential area and 45 feet in a commercial area). Just days after the county’s selection, Benderson scheduled a Dec. 21 virtual neighborhood workshop – the first countymandated step in the process for potential approval. A presentation to the county’s planning commission for a possible recommendation, and then a final commission vote, would be the other two steps where public input is heard. That workshop was postponed until Jan. 8 because Benderson did not meet the required public notice guidelines. “This is just the early stages of the process but public records show that the development process is going through pretty quickly,” said Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez, whose lawsuits against the commissioners were victorious at both the state level – with a ruling in April by a Division of Administrative Hearings judge – and then with the county ruling in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court from Hunter Carroll in August that
941.312.0665 Continued from page 1
but an end, for now, to any hotel development orders. Regarding Benderson’s attempt for a quick workshop, she added: “It is not surprising yet unfortunate that Benderson Development decided to hold a public workshop on proposed changes to the comprehensive plan and their planned mega-size hotel for Siesta Key on the Thursday before Christmas week. Most people will not be able to attend this Zoom workshop due to travel for the holidays.” Meanwhile, some Siesta Key community leaders began to regroup on strategy during a Dec. 7 meeting of the Siesta Key Association civic group. “I am appalled at what Benderson is doing,” said Balot, a resident of the Key, who added that he was told that some wouldbe developers were “upset with me because I have the largest undeveloped land on Siesta Key, and set the bar too low at 52 rooms per acre” with his comp plan amendment proposal. Added island resident Jim Wallace at the meeting, “It’s going to be an all-out war. But we have legal ways to get us to November.” That’s when the commission
We have Artisan Breads! Gift Certificates Available! Leave a rating and Like Us on FB and Instagram!
Family Owned & Operated
www.siestasand.us
OPEN 7AM-3PM Monday-Saturday
5900 South Tamiami Tr. • Sarasota, FL 34321 • 941-926-2692
The strip centers (middle) at 5221 and 5239 Ocean Blvd. that are home to several businesses and is anchored by Flavio’s Brick Oven Pizza & Bar restaurant is believed to be the location where Benderson Development hopes to build a hotel. The company also owns land across the street at 5214 Ocean Blvd. where Bonjour French Cafe is the anchor business among other stores. (photo by David Geyer)
seats will be up for grabs for three members who have a track record of approving Siesta Key-related development. Wallace Mike Moran (District 1, who faces term limits) and Ron Cutsinger (District 5, up for reelection) both voted in favor of the three approved hotels, and Neil Rainford (District 3, appointed in 2023 after Nancy Detert’s death and up for re-election) supported the hotels while on the planning commission. The districts that include Siesta Key (District 2 the northern half and District 4 the southern half) ate held by Smith and Joe Neunder, respectively. Neunder was not
present for the Nov. 28 vote. As for Wallace, he has also been fighting Benderson’s plans to build a 24-acre mixed use Siesta Promenade project at the corner of Stickney Point Road and U.S. 41 near the Key’s south bridge, and at the Siesta Key Association meeting said he plans to file a lawsuit against the county – he previously lost a fight against the Florida Department of Transportation regarding the installation of a project-related traffic light at the entrance to Siesta Promenade on Stickney Point Road at Avenue B & C that the county mandated as part of its initial approval in December 2018. The Nov. 28 decision Smith suggested to his fellow commissioners that only the amendment proposals by Balot and the chamber receive consideration, while saying of the Benderson request “We’ve already been on the losing end of (two) lawsuits. I’m not comfortable changing the comprehensive plan for unlimited density on Siesta Key. If you’re talking about other parts of the county, that’s another matter.” But Moran then countered by not only saying he only supported the Benderson request, but made a motion that Rainford seconded. “I want the most latitude possible,” Moran said. “I’ve said over and over on this dais that there’s no substitute for a good project. Ultimately, this board will have the power and authority, through the legislative process, to not move forward or move forward. “The real discussion, the real debate, from the public will come through those public hearings.”
Happiness is…Resolving to Succeed It’s that time of year again. Time for New Year’s Resolutions. Did you know that less than 10% of the population follows through though? Jerry Williams, owner of Abel’s Ice Cream and Simon’s Coffee House, thinks that maybe we’re just not making the right resolutions. The secret to keeping a resolution is simple – resolve to do something you’ll enjoy. Like committing in 2024 to enjoy more great food and great ice cream. Simon’s is home to some of the best vegan and traditional breakfast and lunch in the area for over twenty years, and Abel’s is Trip Advisor’s #1 ice cream store in Sarasota. Need more incentive? Ask about their punch card rewards program next time you stop in at either location.
There’s still time to enjoy your favorite flavor of the season, Peppermint Flash, (Refreshing and vibrant peppermint ice cream filled with peppermint candy) Or ring in the new year with one of Abel’s perennial favorites, Raspberry Truffle (A Heavenly combination…Raspberry ice cream with raspberry ribbon & dark chocolate raspberry cups.) or Kahlua Almond Fudge (Kahlua ice cream swirled with chocolate fudge & whole roasted almonds.) Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon-9:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from Noon-10 pm. Learn more online at www.abelsicecream.com or connect with them on Facebook, Instagram.
Smith then asked to amend the motion and add that all three proposals receive consideration – “I see serious flaws … in narrowing Smith public input,” he said of the exclusion of Balot and the chamber – but Moran said his motion stood and the vote was cast. The requests were of an out-of-cycle, publicly initiated manner. Typically, changes to the comprehensive plan come the county itself after careful review – the last one was made in 2016 after an 18-month examination. Nearly 20 Siesta Key residents who spoke at the start of the Nov. 28 meeting voiced opposition. Village resident David Wolter spoke first. “You will kill the Village,” he said. “That’s the best half-mile in America. I moved here to live in that Village. I raised my children in that Village.” He added, “You’ll overtax the infrastructure. You’ll not be able to control the guests. You’ll not have the resources to deal with MTV when they bring spring break here.” Neal Schleifer, a director with the anti-hotel Siesta Key Coalition and vice-president of the Siesta Key Condominium Council, was also among the opponents. “Why would the commission risk rushing into the high winds of litigation, in which it could further jeopardize county and taxpayer funds?” he asked. “What’s the rush? Is it for developers? “Developers should not be driving public policy or devising comprehensive plans. That’s like the fox guarding the henhouse. County staff should not be working for private enterprise but for the public and its interests. We urge you to have stakeholder input.” If Benderson’s proposal is approved, not only would Balot’s hotel fall under the unlimited density parameters but so would previously approved hotels proposed for Calle Miramar (now at seven stories and 163 rooms on 0.96 acres; neighborhood workshop is Jan. 9) and Old Stickney Point Road (at seven stories and 120 rooms on 1.15 acres), both given the green light in late 2021. It could mean the construction of four new hotels, none less than six stories in height, could begin simultaneously.
www.siestasand.us
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
TURTLES
On Little Sarasota Bay
27th State Media LLC
Casual Waterfront Dining Fun, Fresh & Affordable
Outdoor Waterfront Dining!
Open 11:30am-9pm Daily. Sunday Brunch starting at $11.99 from 10am-1pm.
Turtles All Day Menu APPETIZERS
SOUPS
New England Clam Chowder Cup … $6 Bowl … $8 Signature Crab Bisque Cup … $9 Bowl … $13
SALADS
Sweet ‘n Spicy Shrimp … $12 Coconut Shrimp … $12 Shrimp Cocktail* … $12 Calamari … $13 Stuffed Mushrooms … $12 Fish Bites … $12
Turtles Salad … $20 Turtles Deluxe Salad … $16 Caesar Salad … $19 With grilled shrimp or chicken Kale Salad … $20
SIDE SALADS
Grouper Sandwich … $20 Salmon BLT … $19 Mahi Mahi Sandwich … $19 Chicken Sandwich … $13 Cheeseburger … $13 Vegan Burger … $12
Fresh Garden Salad* … $7 Caesar Salad … $8 Turtles Wedge* … $12 Kale Salad … $11
SANDWICHES
ENTREES Stuffed Shrimp … $23 Potato Crusted Haddock … $21 Coconut Crusted Mahi Mahi … $21 Gulf of Mexico Grouper … $24 Salmon … $22 Sea Scallops … $22 Shrimp and Seafood Au Gratin … $16 Fisherman Platter … $32 Baby Back Ribs … $24 Orange Pecan Chicken … $16 Filet Mignon … $24 Filet Mignon & Stuffed Shrimp … $34 Filet Mignon & Maine Lobster Tail … $48 Stuffed Shrimp & Maine Lobster Tail … $42 Twin Maine Lobster Tails … $54
FRIED SEAFOOD PLATTERS Coconut Shrimp … $22 Large Gulf Shrimp … $20 Fish & Chips … $19 Fried Combo … $28
PASTA & BOWLS
Shrimp & Crab Scampi … $24 Salmon Pasta … $21 Chicken & Shrimp Curry … $21 Sweet ‘n Spicy Chicken & Shrimp … $22 Pasta Primavera … $16
DESSERTS
Turtle Pie … $9 Key Lime Pie … $9 Sample Platter … $12 Ice Cream Bar … $6 *Prices subject to change*
It’s Turtles Time!
8875 Midnight Pass Rd. • Siesta Key 941-346-2207 • Turtlesrestaurant.com turtlessiestakey • turtlessiestakey Ride the Siesta Breeze Trolley from the Village
23
24
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
Beach house
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.net
Continued from page 6
Additionally, commissioner Smith, who lives on Siesta Key, noted that the property is currently the site of expansive dune growth, some of which would be lost by the development. “The entire site is a dune habitat,” he said, and building the house would “basically destroy several thousand square feet” of the beach vegetation. But ultimately the board majority sided with the owner’s right to develop the site and accept the risk of future storm damage. Commissioners cited not only the beach expansion trend, but the revelation that the county has already labeled the site developable, assessing it at $1.58 million and
taxing the owner for $22,383 yearly – “for a parcel that is essentially unusable,” Galvano said. “That makes it a fairness issue.” The development plan, Galvano said, moved the home’s location 12 feet back from a prior application, and made other concessions to environmental concerns. One of the application’s apparent strengths was the architectural design’s appeal. While Berna noted the house would be larger than some neighboring ones, Keiver flipped that coin with an alternate perspective. Calling the proposed home’s style “in keeping with Sarasota’s architecture,” she voiced hope that it would influence future low-density residential development on the Key.
“If I can start a trend and start building a beautiful home that is more modest, not a hotel home, maybe other people in this area will help me keep the beach as pretty as it is,” she said. The site is currently zoned multi-family residential, and Keiver maintained that similar sites along the same stretch of Beach Road already were, or could legally become, multi-family “hotel homes.” Indeed, the design for the property was such that not even the application’s critics could object to it. Siesta Key Association representative Catherine Luckner said she was “very impressed” by the renderings, although she made clear the civic group
could not support the plan because of concerns about erosion and flooding. Renderings submitted with the application show the house as a two-level rectilinear affair with clean, simple lines rising above a pool and pool deck, with an adjacent driveway. If built as proposed it will be, according to Keiver and her representatives, a more attractive, appropriate and storm-resilient structure than many of its neighbors. Alternatively, say the plan’s opponents, it could be a disaster waiting to happen someday. The Gulf of Mexico holds the deciding vote.
YOU PICK IT OUT. WE’LL PACK
AND SHIP IT WITH CARE. 15 PARADISE PLAZA, SARASOTA, FL 34239
(941) 957-1776
store0089@theupsstore.com Brennan, Shelter, Toni, Chevy and Conner Brennan, Shelter, Toni andSam, Chevy Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Copyright©2012 Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. C4CE276337 04.12
presents the 5th Annual
Angels for Artists SILENT ART AUCTION
Over 100 Works Donated By Accomplished Artists Nationwide
Funds Support Visual Artists Halo Fellowship Awards
ONLINE ART AUCTION Thursday, January 25, 2024 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Preview at the Gallery begins Monday, January 22 – Thursday, January 25
— PALMER MODERN GALLERY — 925 North Lime Ave. Sarasota FL, 34237
Cocktails - Meet the Artists info@haloartsproject.com
Haloartsproject.com Halo Arts Project, Inc is a registered IRS 501 C 3 charitable organization
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
Davidson Plaza And one of the questions was this: Will the current, changing real estate culture continue to bring about national brands instead of the local businesses that have long been part of Siesta Key’s identity? What is next is beginning to take shape and seems to answer that question. Well-placed sources within the Siesta Key business community have reported that talks with national retailers Alvin’s Island and Tommy Bahama are moving ahead. Alvin’s Island, the largest beach store chain in the southeastern United States, is expected to open in the 8,500-square-foot space that was the home to Davidson’s. A Tommy Bahama retail store is believed to be the new tenant for a second, 2,904-square-foot space that was once occupied by the Sarasota Medical Center as a primary and urgent care doctors’ office. That space has been vacant since September 2020. With corporate offices in Miami, Alvin’s Island has 34 existing locating in Florida and Alabama, including a store on St. Armands Circle. Tommy Bahama, a national lifestyle brand owned and marketed by Oxford Industries, also has an existing retail presence in the Sarasota area and on St. Armands Circle. This past summer, Southern Tide, a premium coastal lifestyle brand that is also owned by Oxford, opened its doors in Davidson Plaza in June, next door to another Oxford brand, Lilly Pulitzer. A second Southern Tide store opened soon after the Siesta Key
JANUARY 2024
store in the Mall at University Town Center. Lilly Pulitzer, a Davidson Plaza tenant since 2019, also can be found at St. Armands Circle, and at the Mall at University Town Center. In recent months, when reached for comment, Davidson has stated that he does not discuss his tenants. Davidson did not respond when called for comment on this article. When contacted, Joe Hembree of Hembree & Associates Commercial Real Estate also declined to discuss his company’s involvement in leasing the two Davidson Plaza properties. In the early part of 2024, another Davidson Plaza tenant, Sassy … the Little Day Spa, will join its sister business Sassy Hair Salon in relocating to 219 Avenida Madera in the Village. The property, owned by the Davidson family, was formerly occupied by the Seafood Joint and Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream in separate storefronts that will now be combined. Sassy Hair is currently located at 209 Beach Road, next to the Foxy Lady boutique. Once in their new space, the two Sassy businesses will operate together under one roof, providing hair and spa services. “The move will more than double our space,” said spa manager Patricia McDaniel. “Depending on permits and construction, we hope to be able to open there in late January. Until that time, Sassy Spa will remain in its Davidson Plaza space it has occupied since September 2021. Meanwhile, as the retail face of Davidson Plaza and Siesta Key Village evolves, a continuing
Davidson Plaza, from two different views. (photos by John Morton)
parade of up-scale national brands have been making their way into Siesta Key. Prior to Southern Tide’s arrival, in June of 2023, Kilwins -- the national chocolate, ice cream and confectionery franchise with roots in the resort community of Mackinac Island, Michigan -- moved into the corner store of Davidson Plaza at the edge of Ocean Boulevard in 2022. Kilwins became the second national brand at the plaza, joining
Lilly Pulitzer. Mike Migone, senior investment advisor at SVN Commercial Advisory Group in Sarasota, believes that the influx of national retailers will have a positive financial impact on the future of Siesta Key. “It will bring more people to the island, and it will raise the value of the retail and residential market,” he said. “But parking will continue to be an issue.”
In addition to the anticipated changes at Davidson Plaza, Migone noted that Benderson Development’s desire for a 210room hotel in the Village will potentially further change the face of the area. “We’re seeing an upscaling of Siesta Key Village. National retailers will continue to come in and all of this will raise the value of the Siesta Key retail and residential market,” he said.
Sarasota
Phillippi Estate Park @hotworksartshows
25
Continued from page 1
Fine Art Show hotworks.org
27th State Media LLC
www.facebook.com/hotworksartshows
Juried Fine Art & Craft Show – Something For Everyone Free Admission - Great Food & Live Music - Sat & Sun 10-5 Daily
Phillippi Estate Park – 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota While at the show be sure to visit the Youth Art Competition!
January 6 & 7
Tara Funk Grim, Painting
26
Siesta Sand
Stone crab
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.net
Continued from page 12
Unlike other crabs, only the claws of the stone crab are harvested. The crab is returned to the water where a new claw will be regenerated. Most commercial fishermen collect stone crabs in baited traps. Although the smooth, heavy and thick hard-shelled crabs thrive in Florida’s Gulf Coast waters as well as on the Atlantic side of the state, they can also be found as far north as North Carolina and off the coast of Belize to the south. According to the commission, “the Florida stone crab fishery makes up 99% of all stone crab landings in the United States.” Befitting their status as a seasonal treasure of the culinary seafood world, stone crabs carry a steep price tag. The good news is, Provost has managed to avoid a recent increase. “We kept our stone crab prices the same as last year,” he said. During last year’s season, customers of the Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill bought a thousand pounds of stone crabs. This year, Provost expects to do the same, if
not more. “As of mid-December, we’ve already sold over 600 pounds,” he said. Sold by the pound, Fresh Catch categorizes and prices them by the size of the claw. One pound of medium claws is $39. An order of large claws sells for $49 a pound. Jumbo claws are $59 per pound. The colossal claws, as they’re called, are $69 per pound. The price per pound is the same for stone crabs purchased and served in the restaurant or for takehome orders. When ordering by the pound, a pound of medium stone crab claws equals six to seven claws, Provost said. An order of large claws is four to five claws. A jumbo order is three claws, and a colossal order is two claws. With several months of the winter and early spring season left, seafood lovers have plenty of time to enjoy this regional Florida delicacy. “ It’s a flavor that’s hard to beat,” said Provost.
Customers eyeing the stone crabs is a common sight at Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill. (photo by Jane Bartnett)
Sarasota’s only old-fashioned Meat Market, Deli and Restaurant under one roof
Voted Sarasota’s best non-chain Steakhouse 4 years in a row!
Home of the Sarasota TurDucKen, as seen on The Food Network with Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
ORDER NOW:
Time to order:
TurDucKens
• Beef Tenderloin • Prime Rib
Shipped Anywhere in the U.S.
• TurDucKen
GREAT GIFT!
• Crown Roast (Pork or Lamb) • Party Platters • Stone Crab Claws
Prime Aged Steaks, Chops, Seafood, NY Deli Meats, Sausage and Salads Voted Sarasota’s Best Philly Cheesesteak and NY Reuben Serving Sarasota Since 1975
Place your orders now!
Review our menu at
Sell for the Siesta Sand Part-time sales opportunity working for Siesta Key’s #1 newspaper and website. If interested, email info@27statemedia.com or call 941-312-0665
We offer takeout and complete catering services.
ADVERTORIAL
Fashion, Fun and Style on Siesta Key Casa Smeralda, inspired by the emerald green coast of the Mediterranean, is a fashion forward women’s boutique in Siesta Key Village. Marie-Louise, having travelled around the world, selects pieces inspired by life near the sea, with many years of experience as a boutique owner and designer. Marie-Louise understands lifestyle, quality and comfort. The flowy fabrics, pre-washed linens, washable silks, the fun and eclectic mix of women's clothing, footwear and accessories, are mainly sourced from the continental US, Peru, Italy, Canada, Nepal, Hawaii and Bali. Marie-Louise, being environmentally conscious, loves styling women who visit her store and loves helping them "to step into their best and sometimes even beyond their fantasy."
Siesta Center • 5121 Ocean Blvd. • Siesta Key, FL 34242 941.388.1305 • 941.232.4542 • casasmeralda.com •
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
Voluntary demolition on Siesta Key, has structural deficiencies due to age and representatives are attempting to initiate a process which would allow voluntary demolition to rebuild the 41-unit timeshare property. Since the 2022 discussion, county staff has met with stakeholders and considered amendments to both the comprehensive plan, the county’s guiding document for growth and development, and the UDC, which includes zoning and land development regulations. County commissioners on Sept. 12 considered the fine print attached to this question in the form of a publicly submitted comprehensive plan amendment During that meeting, they unanimously approved a motion authorizing staff to move forward with the publicly initiated comp plan amendment, with an accompanying UDC amendment allowing the voluntary demolition of multi-family, nonconforming structures -- namely, aging
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
27
Continued from page 4
condominiums -- to be rebuilt according to modern codes before a storm causes destruction. Based on that meeting and information provided by stakeholders and subsequent staff suggestions, the board guidance presented Nov. 20 by Farrell included: • New construction to contain the same type and number of residential units. • Aside from existing non-conforming density, the requirement that any new construction follow the residential multifamily/Siesta Key Overlay District standards of the UDC, which includes setbacks, height and lot coverage. • No commercial or ancillary uses that would not be residential in nature. • The limitation of no variances to the UDC requirements being included in the proposed UDC text amendment and the comprehensive plan amendment. • Allowing demolition/
rebuilding of any structure built prior to 2000. • Requiring a unit count and type prior to a demolition permit. During the Nov. 20 workshop, Rita Miotti, a Siesta Key resident, asked Farrell for clarification on whether, with the new construction, larger units which could hold more people would be allowed but density would be restricted to the same as before – and how this would be monitored for violations. “I don’t understand how you can justify going higher because you need to have bigger units and still keep the density where it needs to be,” Miotti said. Farrell gave background, stating that the initial board guidance said the new building needed to be in the footprint of the old structure. But, when it came before the commissioners for feedback, they said they would keep the unit count the same but the size of each unit could increase to be less “dated.” However, as to how many
Owners at Sea Club V are facing significant structural issues. (file photo)(
people will occupy the unit, he said her concerns were founded. “We’re very short on unit count police,” he quipped, adding that the county doesn’t plan to check how many people are in the space but the intent is for units to remain 1:1 or 2:2 if that is what they were prior to the rebuild. Bob Luckner, acting president of the Siesta Key Coalition, asked Farrell if he believes this comp plan amendment is in the public interest. Farrell responded that
safety, specifically the damage to Sea Club V, was the “driving factor” for the amendments and stated “I do think the intent is that you end up with safer buildings out on Siesta Key.” Farrell closed the workshop by explaining the county will include the feedback from the workshop as information for the planning commission and for the state to review, followed by an adoption hearing before the commissioners as a large-scale amendment.
Your best life begins here. Primary Care for Adults 60+ Do you have trouble getting in to see your current provider when you’re sick? Same-day appointments are just one of the ways we make life after 60 healthier and happier. So why wait? Switch to ArchWell Health today and say “goodbye” to long doctor waits for good!
As an ArchWell Health member, you’ll enjoy: • Same-day appointments • More time with a doctor who knows you by name • A care team who treats the whole person— not just ailments
ArchWellHealth.com | (941) 297-2126
28
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
Year in review
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.us
Continued from page 15
were required by the county as part of the entryway to Siesta Promenade. Wallace maintains that the lights, which stand only a few blocks from a major intersection at U.S. 41, will cause even worse traffic gridlock. They have yet to be activated. Siesta Promenade will feature 414 condominiums/apartments in multi-story towers; an 80-foot-tall, 130-room hotel; and 140,000 square feet of retail and office space on a site that is just shy of 24 acres Odds and ends: On April 24, the South Siesta Beach Repair Project began after a long delay – just six days prior to what was supposed to be its completion date because of the need to avoid the start of sea turtle nesting season. Sarasota County had requested from FEMA a one-year extension on the project that brought 92,500 cubic yards of sand to the Turtle Beach area, but never heard back from the government agency with a June 30 deadline looming. The request came due to a lack of bids and the desire to avoid competing with the tourism season. Thus, after obtaining a permit that allowed it to move nests if needed, the county hired Ahtna Marine & Construction to do the work for a not-to-exceed price tag of $8.2 million – more than double the initial grant amount of $4 million.
In a hurry-up operational mode, the project saw more than 100 trucks arrive with sand each Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On June 19, the final truck was emptied. Sadly, a substantial portion of that sand would be washed away in late August as the result of Hurricane Idalia, just like Hurricane Hermine had done in 2016 just months after a similar beach renourishment project had occurred in the same area. *** Speaking of Hurricane Idalia, its arrival caused the recommended evacuation of Siesta Key for the second straight year. Like Ian before it in 2022, minimal damage took place on the island. Storm surge was the most significant event, causing flooding and the temporary closing of the north bridge.
in 1983 in an attempt to reroute its path. Having publicly recognized water quality in Little Sarasota Bay as a goal for 2023, the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners took matters into its own hands in and unanimously approved on Oct. 10 the initiation of a feasibility study for reopening Midnight Pass at what was projected to cost between $250,000 and $500,000. Beyond that, design and permitting was projected at $2 million, followed by $25 to $40 million for initial construction and mitigation. The study will help determine if the area should be dredged as a navigable waterway (like it was originally) or instead feature a culvert or connection pipe. State Sen. Joe Gruters, meanwhile, would accuse the governor of making a politically motivated decision with the cut because of Gruters’ re-election support of Donald Trump. Gruters’ territory includes Sarasota County. *** On Oct. 1, a smoking ban went into effect on Sarasota County’s beaches and in its parks. Filter-free cigars were excluded from the ban.
*** On April 5, Sarasota County District 3 Commissioner Nancy Detert died at home in her sleep at age 78. Although Detert didn’t directly represent Siesta Key, she often voiced her support of various issues that she felt protected the island and often voted accordingly. Gov. Ron DeSantis would replace her with Sarasota County Planning Commission member Neil Rainford.
In April, District 2 commissioner Mark Smith, a Siesta Key resident, made the motion to adopt the ordinance. It was made possible when the Florida Legislature in 2022 ruled that counties and municipalities could act on their own in determining the prohibition. It ended a three-battle that Gruters had been initiating annually in Tallahassee, this time emphasizing the drawbacks of beach litter. The county had a similar ban from 2007 through 2012 before it was overturned in court and given to the state for governance. *** On Oct. 28, an end of an era took place when Davidson Drugs closed the doors on its presence in the Village in the very plaza that bears the family name. It ended a 65-year history of serving as Siesta Key’s pharmacy, as all subscriptions were sold to Walgreens. Davidson The Davidson’s location on Midnight Pass Road on the island’s south end remains in business, serving as a general store.
*** Speaking of DeSantis, in June he would veto the $1 million budget item the Florida had passed that was earmarked DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 AM 11/18/19Legislature 8:25 AM DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 11/18/19 8:25 research and permitting related to the DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 AM 11/18/19for 8:25 AM DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 11/18/19 8:25 DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 AM 11/18/19 8:25 AM DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 11/18/19 8:25 potential restoration of the former Midnight Pass tidal connection between the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay. It once ran between Siesta Key and Casey Key before filled-in on behalf of two homeowners DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 8:25 AM DaRuMa-ChristmasAd.pdf 1 11/18/19 8:251 AM 11/18/19being
AWARDING MORE THAN $9 MILLION IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
It doesn’t need to be NEW to be
AWESOME! Est. 1962
Find your joy Sarasota’s #1 consignment shop The joy of shopping The joy of giving The joy of recycling The joy of supporting students and the arts in our community
.. O YhOelpUe.d T S K N THA ses like this nts
Purcha 500,000 in gra our award $ rships during ola al year. and sch 024 Fisc 2023-2
539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4 | www.sarasotawex.com
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
29
Spa Experience Siesta Key The Synergy of Acupuncture and Infrared Light Therapy: A Powerful Healing Duo In the pursuit of holistic healing, the convergence of ancient wisdom and modern technology has given rise to innovative therapeutic approaches. Spa Experience Siesta Key is now offering a combination of acupuncture, an age-old practice rooted in traditional medicine, and infrared light therapy, a cutting-edge technology, to help promote healing and well-being. Together, they form a dynamic synergy, addressing both the body and mind's intricate needs. Acupuncture, based on the principles of balancing Qi, taps into the body's energy pathways, addressing physical and mental imbalances. Through the strategic insertion of fine needles, acupuncture stimulates natural healing processes, addressing issues such as chronic pain, digestive disorders, and immune imbalances. Infrared light therapy, on the other hand, harnesses the healing power of light wavelengths. Penetrating deep into tissues, infrared light stimulates cellular activity,
enhancing circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue repair. This non-invasive therapy has gained recognition for its ability to accelerate healing and relieve pain. When acupuncture and infrared light therapy are combined, their benefits amplify. Acupuncture prepares the body's energy pathways, optimizing the receptivity of cells to light therapy. The infrared light, in turn, enhances the effects of acupuncture by promoting faster recovery, reducing pain sensitivity, and aiding in the resolution of chronic conditions. The combination of acupuncture and infrared light therapy is particularly effective in addressing chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal disorders. The therapy duo reduces inflammation, eases muscle tension, and promotes joint mobility, offering relief to those suffering from persistent pain. Both therapies also contribute significantly to mental well-being and clarity.
Acupuncture's stress-relieving properties, coupled with infrared light's ability to regulate neurotransmitters, create a powerful synergy for managing anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders. This dual approach not only fosters emotional balance but also enhances overall cognitive function. The integration of acupuncture and infrared light therapy marks a significant milestone in the realm of holistic healing. By combining ancient wisdom with modern technology, individuals can experience profound relief from pain, enhanced mental wellness, and accelerated healing. As this dynamic duo continues to garner attention in the healthcare landscape, it offers a beacon of hope for those seeking comprehensive and effective solutions for their physical and mental well-being. Marika Doviak is a Florida licensed Acupuncture Physician and Massage Therapist. You can find her at Spa Experience Siesta Key, located at 5700 Midnight Pass Rd. Unit 4b, Siesta Key, 34242. Office Tel: (941) 349-4833.
ADVERTORIAL
Serving the Florida Gulf Coast Since 1975 Welcome to Seascape Aquarium & Pet Center. We have:
CRITTER
• 10,000 feet of showrooms • 25,000 gallons of freshwater, salt water and coral.
OF THE MONTH Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum
Once an incredibly niche pick, Axolotls have recently been thrust into the spotlight as pets. Thanks to being featured in one of the most popular video games of all time, demand for these little aquatic salamanders has skyrocketed. Luckily, they lay hundreds of eggs at a time, so there’s plenty of these adorable guys to go around. Axolotls are a species of salamander that, unlike most others, stay in their larval stage throughout their entire lives. This means they never come out of the water, so their care is more like that of a fish than that of most other salamanders. Unlike tropical fish, axolotls prefer cool water. Ideally, their water should not exceed the low to mid 60s in Fahrenheit. These little critters can be messy eaters, munching on frozen foods like bloodworms and shrimp as babies, and larger prey like earthworms as 8-10 inch adults! While axolotls are more than plentiful in captivity, these Mexican salamanders are on the verge of extinction in their native habitat due to their limited range, pollution, and invasive predatory fish.
Typical appearance and behavior: Axolotls come in different varieties!
Located in Gulf Gate 2162 Gulf Gate Drive Store hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM Sunday 12 - 4 PM
• "Wild type" Axolotls are a dark brown color. • All white albino and leucistic axolotls are not uncommon. • Some even have the "green gene," which makes them glow green under certain light! • Axolotls are pretty lazy, preferring to sit still in dim areas until food arrives.
941-922-0914 info@seascapeaquariums.com
• Axolotls can regrow lost body parts! If they lose a limb, a portion of their tail, or even parts of gills, there is no part of an axolotl's body that won't grow back just the same as it was! • These adorable little amphibians aren't social creatures. They can be kept together with enough space, but young axolotls in close proximity will occasionally grab and eat a limb belonging to their tank mates. Not to worry, though, it won't be long before the limb grows back!
seascapeaquariums.com
30
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
The 47th annual Sandy Claws beach walk/ run brought plenty of fun and energy to Crescent Beach on the morning of Dec. 9. (submitted photos)
BRING THIS IN TO REDEEM PROMO
OVER 100 YEARS OF COMBINED PERSONAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE!
Word Search
Over 100 years of combined personal training experience!
NO MEMBERSHIP CONTRACTS.
FITNESS Personal Training & HIIT Studio
WORD LIST BABBO NATALE BLACK PETER DED MOROZ FATHER CHRISTMAS FATHER FROST
Strength & Conditioning Functional Training Personal Training & Nutrition
5VTGPIVJ %QPFKVKQPKPI r (WPEVKQPCN 6TCKPKPI New clients NO MEMBERSHIP CONTRACTS 2GTUQPCN 6TCKPKPI r 0WVTKVKQP
THAT STRETCH GUY 564'6%*+0) (.':+$+.+6;
A technique known as The Mattes Method of stretching is utilized to increase joint range of motion and muscle flexibility. In post-surgery cases, our stretching specialists work closely with your doctor to aid in your complete recovery. Casey Torrance, Stretching Specialist AIS Practices Active Isodated Stretching
CALL TODAY!
$1&; r JQN[ITCKN ƂVPGUU EQO r 5 6COKCOK 6TCKN Bring this ad in for a FREE evaluation
GWIAZDOR HOTEIOSHO JOULUPUKKI JULEMANDAN JULTOMTON KALEDU SENELIS KANAKALOKA KERTZMAN KRIS KRINGLE MIKULAS PAPA NOEL PERE NOEL SAINT NICHOLAS SANTA CLAUS SHENGDAN LAOREN SINTER KLAAS SWEITY MIKOLAI
Answers on Page 34
Global Santa
www.siestasand.net
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key
27th State Media LLC
31
Provided by William Raveis Real Estate / www.raveis.com
The following are properties sold on Siesta Key in the last 60 days, providing a snapshot of home values on the Key for both single-family homes and condominiums. HIGHEST-PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 5131 JUNGLE PLUM RD. $9.33 MILLION This fabulous estate is in Hidden Harbor, an exclusive and sought-after neighborhood on the northern end of Siesta Key. This magnificent bayfront retreat is framed by 150 linear feet of water frontage and situated on over three-quarters of an acre with incredible landscaped gardens. For the boating enthusiast, this property provides deep water with two boat lifts and a floating dock for easy access for kayaking and paddle boarding. Awe-inspiring remodeling which was completed in February 2023 has beautifully blended West Indies style and a truly contemporary feel with open living spaces, soaring ceilings, a dream kitchen and panoramic views which can be
enjoyed from nearly every room. The primary suite offers dramatic water views, an expansive covered terrace, dual bathrooms, soaking tub, and a walk-in shower. You will enjoy 6,369 square feet of interior living space including five bedrooms and seven baths, and a media room or sixth bedroom ensuite. Oversized lanais leading from the living areas and bedrooms create the perfect indoor/outdoor atmosphere. A stunning multi-level infinity pool and spa, complemented with a designer outdoor kitchen with swimup bar, creates a resort-like ambiance. Other noteworthy amenities include a three-car garage, generator, 500-gallon saltwater aquarium, whole house water filtration system, and much more. Courtesy of Michael Saunders
LOWEST-PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 5579 CAPE AQUA DRIVE $1.3 MILLION Situated on one of the largest lots near the beach, this Florida-style home with saltwater pool and spa is in the sought-after Siesta Isles neighborhood in the heart of Siesta Key. Siesta Key public beach is approximately 100 steps and Siesta Key Village is less than a mile away. Owner has active rental history available upon request, consisting of one long-term (January to March) contract and active listings on VRBO and Airbnb with all 5-star reviews that can be transferred to new owner. Courtesy of Savvy Avenue, LLC HIGHEST-PRICED CONDO 5570 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., UNIT C709 $1.395 MILLION An exquisite, fully updated, fully furnished twobedroom two-bathroom beach oasis! Located in the heart of Siesta Key at the exclusive upscale Gulf & Bay Club. Featuring high-end detailed finishes and interiors professionally crafted to perfection. This LOWEST-PRICED CONDO 6157 MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD, UNIT D21 $402,000 This amazing two-bedroom, one-bath, first-floor unit is just off Sarasota’s Intracoastal Waterway and just steps away from the crystal powder sands of Siesta Key Beach! Bay Oaks offers ultimate condo living in this turn-key furnished unit. New tiled floors, new granite countertops in the kitchen, and stainless-
unit is in C Building with direct beach access just steps away from your front door. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets from your personal balcony. The sandy white powder stretches 800 feet across this pristine 32-acre meticulously cared-for tropical community. You will be impressed with world class amenities offered at Gulf & Bay Club. Courtesy of Keller Williams
steel appliances. Close to Siesta Key Village with shopping, restaurants, community events, and activities. Perfect for living full time, serve as a vacation home, or use as a rental. Bay Oaks is rental friendly. They offer one-week minimums and no years of ownership prior to leasing. Don’t wait because this will go quickly! Courtesy of Coldwell Banker
Happy New Year! 5243 HERON WAY #203 SARASOTA | $725,000
We wish you much love, health, happiness, and good fortune in the new year and always. Bob and Sheri Ruiz
1253 DOCKSIDE PL SIESTA KEY | $975,000
1111 N GULFSTREAM AVE #10F SARASOTA | $1,595,000
Scan The QR Code For More Information About Our Listings
Bob & Sheri Ruiz
Your Resident Siesta Key Experts
9393 MIDNIGHT PASS RD #202 SIESTA KEY | $595,000
C. 941.544.3299 | RobertRuizRR@aol.com SiestaKeyNow.com 6021 Midnight Pass Road | Siesta Key | FL 34242
1319 DOCKSIDE PL SIESTA KEY | $1,295,000
32
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
Beach service
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.net
Continued from page 20
By the start of 2023, the Chapel on the Beach services were so popular that they moved to weekly. When Chapel leadership suggested cutting back for the summer months, attendees pleaded that they continue. “People were like, ‘No way, this is our church,’” said Smalt. Attracting a completely different set of worshipers on the beach than she sees at the chapel, Smalt
recognizes that the beach services aren’t just a temporary necessity during the pandemic or a frilly luxury to show off Siesta; they’re a matter of accessibility. “Mostly people come to church because someone invites them,” she said, while beach worship allows passersby to ease their way in from a distance. “There are a lot of folks who just aren’t going to be comfortable in a physical church for
all kinds of reasons. This brings the opportunity to joyously worship God to a different audience.” Smalt hopes soon to invest in a roll-up beach mat that can accommodate mobility aids and service-goers who might struggle to walk in the soft sand. In the meantime, the services will continue on a weekly basis to accommodate lifelong worshipers as well as the mildly curious, Siesta
residents as well as vacationers just in town for the weekend — and anyone else who happens to be on the shore on any given Sunday morning.
SERVING FLORIDA SINCE 1980
ANNUAL CLEARANCE SALE
UP TO
65 OFF
Take advantage of this
$829,000 1129 LAKE HOUSE Circle #C-113 SARASOTA, FL 34242-1800 2 bd | 2 ba (full)
“We’ll be on the beach, with a guitar and some prayers and some song, for those folks who are walking by and feel the pull,” said Smalt.
%
Sizes from 2’x3’ up to 16’x20’ in stock
Traditional • Contemporary Persian & Area Rugs
10% OFF
HAN CLEA D NING w ith th
is ad
941-366-6511
4801 S. Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Tues. - Sat 10am 4pm, Sun & Mon by appt www.shahabbasrug.com
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
33
27th State Media LLC
Keeping it Real By Natalie Gutwein
H
New construction surge packs a punch
appy New Year! Can you believe it’s already 2024? Time seems to be flying since the pandemic, and changes are happening rapidly -- especially here on the Key. Who knows what’s going to happen with all the proposed hotel projects, what’s going into the Davidson’s building, or how Benderson seems to always get a yes to anything for which it asks. Nevertheless, these developments significantly impact the lifestyle of residents and visitors on the Key. Those aren’t the only changes. One of the most notable changes is the surge in new construction across the island. This is a function of a few different factors: Once a home has deteriorated past a certain point, the FEMA 50% rule prevents unlimited renovations to a property.
As a reminder, FEMA regulations on homes in flood zones that are below base flood elevation limit renovations to 50% of the value of the improvements. The value of the improvements is determined by the Sarasota County property appraiser and is listed on that website as the “improved value.” This dictates the maximum allowable renovation cost. For example, if the improved value is listed as $100,000, the homeowner is only allowed to invest $50,000 into renovating the home. This policy was designed to encourage homes to be built above base flood elevation, and it seems to be working. The other very obvious factor is value. Property values have increased so significantly over the last few years, thus making the lot value of our properties so high, many longtime residents with older homes have chosen to sell their houses to builders. For
Natalie’s Numbers Siesta Key / Nov. 2023 Active listings Days on market Closing price to original price ratio Avg. sale price New listings Number of sales Mos. of inventory Sold price by sq ft
88 88 100.1% $2,718,500 31 4 26 $930
instance, a canal-front tear-down at 4838 Higel Avenue sold for $1.5 million in September to a local builder. That same home was briefly listed for sale in August 2020 at $699,999 but didn’t sell. Similarly, the canal-front home at 540 Givens St., at the corner of Givens Street and Higel Avenue -- also a teardown -- sold for $1.45 million in September. There has been similar activity
in other areas of the Key as well. The canal-front home on a double lot at 5300 Avenida Del Mare was purchased in April of 2022 for $1.975 million. The original home was built in 1954. It was demolished, and two homes are being built on the property. The new builds are priced at $4.250 million and $4.5 million. On the north end of the Key, the homes/lots at 3722 Flamingo Ave. and 3550 Flamingo Ave. sold for $1.95 million each. The new home at 3722 is currently listed at $6.75 million and is due to be completed in the next couple months. As of the date of this writing (Dec. 8), there are 19 single-family new construction homes listed on Siesta Key and that number doesn’t include several of the recent lot purchases where new homes are slated to be constructed. Fourteen of the 19 new homes listed are over $3 million, with the highest current price at $8.95 million. There are
also 18 lots currently listed for sale. The island is undergoing significant transformations with many older homes being replaced by newer, hurricane-resistant structures, contributing to the continual rise in the average sales price. While this has advantages for existing property owners that may eventually cash in on the equity in their homes, prospective buyers face the challenge of higher costs for new construction. However, there are still many existing homes available with a much lower price tag. The evolving landscape brings anticipation and curiosity for what lies ahead. Stay sunny, Siesta! (Natalie Gutwein is a licensed Realtor with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Judie Berger Team and a member of the board of directors of the Siesta Key Association.) (Data accurate as of Dec. 8 from Stellar MLS.)
WHO YOU WORK WITH MATTERS
5188 SIESTA WOODS DR | $1.8M
NE
NE
W
W
319 OGDEN ST | $1.8M
W
565 COMMONWEALTH PL | $1.695M
3532 FLAMINGO AVE | $3.25M
SO LD
1280 HIDDEN HARBOR WAY | $7M 778 SIESTA DR | $6M 3731 INDIAN BEACH PL | $6M 4034 ROBERTS POINT RD | $5.6M 521 CASEY KEY RD | $5M 8415 MIDNIGHT PASS RD | $4.775M 5315 HIDDEN HARBOR RD | $4.15M 1035 SEASIDE DR #501 | $3.95M 326 ISLAND CIR | $3.9M 3423 LA PALOMA AVE | $3.55M 7340 PINE NEEDLE RD | $3.5M | RECORD SALE 7323 PINE NEEDLE RD | $3.375M 642 WATERSIDE WAY | $3.2M 713 TREASURE BOAT WAY | $3.1M 5382 SHADOW LAWN DR | $3M | RECORD SALE 746 SIESTA DR | $2.75M 8008 MIDNIGHT PASS RD | $2.675M 6909 LONGBOAT DR S | $2.615M 657 SIESTA DR | $2.5M
NE
RECENTLY SOLD
1
No. SIESTA KEY | CASA BLANCA | $1.449M
Judie Berger, P.A., REALTOR ® Judie.Berger@PremierSIR.com 941.928.3424
SIESTA KEY’S TOP SELLING REALTOR ® SINCE 2005
LONGBOAT KEY | BUYER | $2.615M
Natalie Gutwein, REALTOR ® Buyers’ Agent
homesofsarasota.com Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
34
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
Oyster gardens
941.312.0665
www.siestasand.net
Continued from page 16
“We’ve installed many vertical oyster gardens on Siesta Key Canal docks and worked together on other research projects, too,” she said. Cannon offers these tips for installing a vertical oyster garden to a dock: Step 1: Choose a location that’s away from turbulence and boat traffic. For heavy boat traffic, place the vertical oyster garden on a corner or under the dock. It should be in the water most of the time. At high tide, make sure the vertical oyster garden is fully immersed. Step 2: Use a rope to thread the eye-bar that supports the deck Tie the vertical oyster garden to the dock. Leave enough room to hang it at the correct height. To request a free vertical oyster garden, contact Doody by email at: ldoody@ oda.edu. Once ordered, they may be picked up on Siesta Key from the school at 444 Reid St. You can call the main office at (941) 349-3223.
Vertical oyster gardens doing their thing in Siesta Key’s Grand Canal. (submitted photo)
Word Search Answers from Page 30
Global Santa DIRECT WATER VIEWS Located near Siesta Key’s Turtle Beach this Somerset Cay 2nd floor condo has spectacular water views from your private 900 SqFt lanai! Furnished 3BR / 3BA, 2558 SqFt featuring high ceilings, crown moldings, bamboo floors, generous storage, restricted entry and an oversized 2 car garage. 9122 Midnight Pass Road, Unit # 24 $1,450,000 Murphy Stevens, Realtor 941-587-8879
Alan Stevens, Broker 941-925-1818
®
To advertise in print or online contact: 27th State Media LLC at 941-312-0665 Send editorial and/or photos via email to: info@27statemedia.com
Published by 27th State Media LLC Contributing Writers and Photographers will be noted with bylines. Guest commentary not necessarily the opinion of 27th State Media LLC Reproduction without written permission prohibited. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. All business bios are extensions of the display advertisements. 27th State Media LLC is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. All ads are subject to the approval of the publisher. It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in Siesta Sand to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town, county and state codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property. DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that when you hire an unlicensed/uninsured person to do work at your home, you accept the liability. 27th State Media LLC is not responsible for claims made by advertisers.
6547 Midnight Pass Road, PMB 70, Sarasota, FL 34242 www.siestasand.us
www.siestasand.net
941.312.0665
JANUARY 2024
27th State Media LLC
35
CLASSIFIED
CONNECTION SiestaSand.us Have something to sell? Hiring for your business? Have place to rent or sell? Provide a professional service?
941-312-0665 Delivering Siesta Key & Surrounding Area $25 for 50 words $35 for 75 words $45 for 100 words Add photo for $10
Advertise in print & online for 30 days.
Deadline is the 15th of the preceding month.
Includes ad on SiestaSand.US for 30 days. To advertise, email your text, to info@27statemedia.com and include your phone number. Credit card payment is required prior to advertising. Questions? Call 941-312-0665.
COMPANIONSHIP
POOLS
HOME WATCH (CONT.)
Insured, Bonded and Licensed by The National Home Watch Association.
(941) 961-4309
www.SuncoastHomeConcierge.com
CONTRACTORS
LANDINGS RESIDENT OWNED AND OPERATED
PRESSURE WASHING
Welcome Back Snowbirds! Happy Holidays!
Citizen Jack
HOME WATCH SERVICE,LLC Accredited, Bonded, Insured & Certified
Jim Farley 941.350.3610
info@citizenjackhws.com citizenjackhws.com
DESIGN SERVICES
LEGAL SERVICES
REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Tracy Boutelle
HELENE M. HYLAND REALTOR®
tracyboutelle@gmail.com buildingbridgesdesign.com
Building Bridges Design
(941) 685-2274 Cell (941) 349-4411 Office (800) 237-9403 Toll Free (941) 349-8090 Fax HeleneHyland@comcast.net
518-852-3831
5145 Ocean Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34242 Owned and Operated by NRT, LLC
DRY CLEANERS
www.SheSellsSiestaKeySarasota.com
LIMOUSINE TRANSPORTATION
Airport Rides Starting at
$5.00
Environmentally Conscious Laundry and Dry Cleaning Service
Free Pick Up & Delivery Service
from your home or business NOW EXCLUSIVELY PICK-UP AND DELIVERY ONLY Call 941-275-4647
ExEcutivE Shirt SErvicE • houSEhold itEmS • SamE day SErvicE availablE
HOME WATCH
Call Jerry
941.735.4732
Airport Shuttle Limo/Taxi
Sarasota to Tampa Airport $ 89 each way
PAINTING
PAINTING / INTERIOR / EXTERIOR: Sarasota Interior Painting. CALL or TEXT Don @ 941-900-9398. We are the BEST High-End Painting Business. I’m the Owner & the Painter. Free Estimates. Fully Insured Licensed Business. You’ll love the results.
TOP NOTCH OVER 7,500 TRIPS AIRPORT TAXI SERVICE • SK to SRQ..................$40 Regular Hours • SK to Tampa............$80 XL Van add $20 • SK to PIE.....................$70 All Luxury Cars • SK to PGD.................$80 Never Late www.Topnotchtransportationservice.com 941-718-9933
36
Siesta Sand
JANUARY 2024
941.312.0665
Siesta Key’s destination for Dining, Drinks, and Entertainment
Home of the world’s best clam chowder, real fruit daiquiris, fresh seafood, and more Captain curt’s village has something for everyone food & drinks til’ 12am
daily live music weekly karaoke Check out this month’s music schedule →
www.siestasand.net