IV Siesta Sand - November 2019

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Siesta Key Bar becomes The Destination to watch every game!

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HE’S BACK Dennis Yoder founder and original owner of Big Olaf Creamery

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Mini reefs proposed for Grand Canal

By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Proposals for improving water quality in the Grand Canal a focus of the Sarasota Bay Fisheries Forum, Siesta Key Association members learn The Sarasota Bay Fisheries Forum is working on a number of ideas to improve the degraded quality of Siesta Key’s Grand Canal so the water once again will support an abundance of fish.

A member of the forum, Phil Chiocchio of Sarasota, especially is advocating for the use of “mini reefs” under docks along the canal, which he says would filter out pollutants.

In May, three mini reefs were installed under the dock at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant on Longboat Key, he told about 30 members of the Siesta Key Association (SKA) during their October meeting. In the ensuing months, he pointed out, crabs have been hiding their offspring in the reefs, and mangrove snapper are coming into the area, in turn, drawing dolphins that feed on the fish. He showed the SKA members a video of fish swimming around the mini reefs.

“We’re going back in November to do our next

follow-up to see how this is working,” Chiocchio added.

In the meantime, he said, the forum members plan to install 10 mini reefs at the Holmes Beach Pier.

In introducing Chiocchio, SKA President Catherine Luckner said he has been a program content creator for the University of Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants since 1986, having made more than 800 scientific videos. Earlier this year, Chiocchio initiated a water quality project at Indian Beach Park in the northern part of the city of Sarasota, Luckner added.

In making his case for a mini reef project in the Grand Canal, Chiocchio offered a history lesson about that island feature.

Chiocchio emphasized that he calls the water body “Archibald’s Canal,” referencing a merchant named I.G. Archibald. Along with Sarasota’s first mayor — A.B. Edwards — Archibald created the heart-shaped Palm Island on Siesta.

Light Up Siesta Key and Village Holiday Parade The 35th Annual Light Up Siesta Key and Village Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, November 30, from 5 to 9 PM. Festive décor and holiday atmosphere will Light Up Siesta Key. A community Christmas tree will be at the Village Gazebo.

The Village Holiday Parade will begin at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road at 5:30 PM traveling north on Beach Road onto Ocean Blvd. into the Village. Many businesses and local groups will be participating in the parade and welcoming Santa to Siesta Village. If you would like to participate in the parade, visit www.siestakeychamber.com and click on the scrolling event banner at the top of the home page. There is a $25.00 fee per entry and registration is required.

Santa will arrive at the Siesta Center at approximately 6:15 PM to greet all children.

The first 250 children to see him will receive gift bags donated by Beach Bazaar. At Siesta Center, there will also be face painting and activities.

Photos may be taken with Santa, free of charge.

Shops and restaurants will offer refreshments and special holiday bargains from 5 to 9 PM. There will also be live music at various venues, plus carolers and a martial arts demonstration.

Free public transportation is provided courtesy of the Siesta Breeze Trolley from Turtle Beach to the Village (with multiple stops along the route, including Siesta Beach) making it easier for all to participate in the festivities.

This festive event is sponsored by merchants, businesses, and friends of Siesta Key and is free and open to the public. For more information contact the SK Chamber Office at 941-349-3800, email events@siestakeychamber.com or visit www.siestakeychamber.com.

Archibald went on to dig the 9-mile-long Grand Canal in 1925, Chiocchio indicated. It only has one outlet, into Roberts Bay, he said. Yet, a shoal in Roberts Bay blocks 50% of the flow, he added, leading to “extremely low dissolved oxygen. On the bottom is a dead zone.”

Water quality in the canal has continued to decline over the 80-plus years it has been in existence, he told the SKA members. “At some point in the near future,” he added, the canal “will become a greater health hazard.”

“The Grand Canal is not happy,” he said. “It wants to be a productive estuary.” If its water quality were improved significantly, he added, the canal could become a healthful environment for blue crabs, snook and tarpon, which are popular catches for recreational fishermen in the area.

Continued on page 38

Siesta Key’s trendsetter Lorry Eible was a single mother of two young boys when she made a bold decision to move her little family from New Jersey to Sarasota, Florida.

She may have been young, but she was not naïve about running her own business. Lorry was a third generation hair stylist, and had owned a large salon/ boutique for about eight years, when a friend of hers asked if she wanted to go with her to visit Florida.

“A girlfriend had discovered Lido Beach and brought me here on vacation for two weeks,” she said. “I knew then that I was going to move here.”

In 1972, her sons were 4 and 8 ½, so she moved into what was considered to be a child-friendly condominium off of Fruitville Road. Within about three months, Lorry figured out that it wasn’t going to work for them there, so she

By Debbie Flessner

began to think about moving someplace else in town.

She says at that time, she didn’t even know about Siesta Key—she had been spending most of her beach time out on Lido Key. “I took a drive and saw a sign for Siesta Key, so I followed it,” Lorry said. “I came out here and was just amazed. I was also surprised that none of the Realtors had even shown me a house here, but I ended up buying a house for $45,000 on the water.” Her boys quickly adapted to the island life, enjoying boating on the canal they lived on and visiting Siesta Village, plus, they were attending school at the Out of Door Academy right down the street. Having worked her whole life, though, Lorry became restless and knew she wanted to get back in business for herself.

Continued on page 13

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Siesta Sounds, check out one of the most respected soul singers in our area, Billy Seward

River Road to the state in exchange for the county’s taking over roads on Siesta Key west of U.S. 41

Cosentino asks court to let him essentially start all over in North Beach Road case

Siesta Key Association files appeal of Circuit Court ruling in its efforts to try to prevent dredging of Big Pass

• Village Map/business listings PAGE 22 • Crescent Beach Map/ business listings PAGE 24 • Gulf Gate Shops PAGE 28 • Island Humor PAGE 27 • Accommodations Map/ Listings PAGE 43

Happiness Is... Finding The Ice Cream Man Remember that feeling you had as a kid when you heard the chime of the ice cream truck? You knew (with just a little begging from mom or dad) that a sweet treat was right around the corner.

That’s the feeling you’ll get all over again when you discover Abel’s Ice Cream.

Abel’s has been a staple for many a sweet tooth in Sarasota for more than eight years but surprisingly, not everyone knows about them.

“Our popularity stems from reviews on TripAdvisor and Google. They are great platforms,” explained Jerry Williams, owner of

Abel’s Ice Cream. “But we don’t some great seasonal options always use those sources in our like Carrot Cake (You can own community. I really enjoy stop baking, this is the ultimate meeting locals and hearing their carrot cake recipe...Carrot cake ice 4 years straight! stories of how they discovered cream with fresh walnuts and a thick us. It’s often word-of-mouth ribbon of cream cheese frosting.) from friends and neighbors, or No matter what flavor you sometimes even our ice cream sign choose, you’re certain to find a on Stickney Point.” winner at Abel’s. And with one If you don’t know what the buzz taste, you may just run smack dab is all about, now is the time to find into that little kid with the quarter out. The amazing Florida-made ice in hand.

Abel’s Ice Cream is located cream available at Abel’s is second to none. You’ll find all your favorite at 1886 Stickney Point Road, ice cream flavors like Maple Sarasota in the South Bridge Plaza.

Walnut (sweet maple ice cream Open Sunday through Thursday loaded with Walnuts) along with from Noon-9:30 pm, and Friday

Jerry and Jill Williams, owners of Abel’s Ice Cream

and Saturday from Noon-10 pm.

Learn more online at our website, www.abelsicecream.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Island Chatter Staff Report Siesta Key Breeze continuing extended morning hours Recently, the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce alerted its members to the fact that the Siesta Key Breeze has maintained an earlier morning start.

In mid-August, Lisa Potts, the communications specialist for Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT), reported that the decision was made for the trolley to start its route at 8 a.m. after SCAT received “a favorable show of interest for the extended service.” However, the initial plan called for the longer morning runs to end following the Labor Day holiday.

After seeing the Chamber notice, SNL checked in again with Potts.

In an Oct. 16 email, she wrote, “We have decided to continue the extended trolley service to provide an easier way to travel Siesta Key in the morning.” She added that the SCAT staff would continue to re-evaluate the hours “in order to provide the best possible service for residents and visitors of Siesta Key.” As for ridership: Potts reported that in August, the total number of Breeze passengers was 15,286. For September, the figure was 10,420.

In comparison, in the Breeze’s first year of operation, it had 14,040 passengers in August 2017 and 5,165 in September of that year.

Monthly crime stats and suspects During his appearance before Siesta Key Association (SKA) members in October, Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sheriff’s Office’s Siesta Key substation, reported that the department received slightly more than 270 calls for service during September.

Continued on page 5

NOVEMBER 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Jalisco Mexican Grill serving authentic Mexican food

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“my favorite mexican resturant in sarasota by far,” says one reviewer. “Take it from a former Texan, the food, the atmosphere and the service are all delicious and authentic. Favorite dishes are the Chile Rellenos, Carne Asada, Queso and the Skinny Margarita made with fresh lime.

They make their chips and salsa in house. Popular with locals. If you like Mexican, this is the place.”

The driving force behind this family-owned restaurant, which opened back in February 2018, are family members; Giannina Chavez, MaryAnn Ibanez, and Antonio Mendoza.

Coming from a family of restaurateurs back in Louisiana and Alabama, it was an easy decision for the trio to move to the Sarasota area when they opted to branch out on their own.

“Our recipes have been in the family for many years; however, Chef Mendoza puts his own twist on a few of the dishes to make it more personal to his taste,” says Chavez.

Made from scratch

At Jalisco, they make their own salsas, beans, and mixes, from scratch, for every dish. “Our black bean dip and salsa, served complimentary with chips at your table, are homemade and people are loving it. Our family recipes don’t use any short cuts so our customers are enjoying truly authentic cooking. It can’t get any more homemade or fresher than that,” Chavez says with a chuckle.

They source their meats and vegetables from local companies and farms ensuring ingredients are top quality. And, the meats are marinated giving a depth of flavor to each dish.

Their cheese dip is made from scratch in their kitchen, same as the enchilada, burrito sauce and habanero pesto sauce. In other words - NOTHING COMES OUT OF A CAN. Vegetarian options are also available.

The Margaritas and Sangria served here are made using their own recipe, kicking those prepackaged versions to the curb.

Other online reviews:

The food is fresh and rich in flavor. The prices are very reasonable and the staff is friendly. I have been here five times now and it’s very consistent.

Sisters Giannina and Mary Ann with chef Anthony

The steak quesadilla (#72) is the undisputed best ever. Highly recommend!

“We love mexican food & this place is my favorite in this area so far! Had the shrimp tacos & they were fabulous. My husband loved the mahi-mahi dish that he ordered & my daughter the steak chimichanga. Chips & salsa are hard to stop eating! We will definitely be back!”

Jalisco’s offers weekly specials from 4 p.m. – Close. On Sunday, bring in your church bulletin and receive a 10% discount.

Wednesdays are Fajita Night $11.99, chicken or steak. Lunch special still $8.99, #1-17 soft

drink included!

Kids eat free Mon. and Thurs., one child’s meal with every adult entrée.

Go online to see all the specials being offered at www.jaliscomexicangrill.com/specials/ Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.—9 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m.—10 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.—10 p.m.; Sun Noon—9:00 p.m.

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New crosswalks planned after road swap Rachel Brown Hackney completed By SarasotaNewsLeader.com Over the past months, as Sarasota County Engineer Spencer Anderson has talked about the upcoming swap of Siesta roads to the county in exchange for the state’s assuming control of River Road, he has discussed improvements planned for the almost 90-degree curve at the intersection of Higel Avenue and Siesta Drive.

However, it was not until county staff published the packet of agenda material for the Oct. 8 County Commission meeting that it was learned of proposals for two new crosswalks on the northern part of the Key. One would be placed on Higel Avenue at the intersection of North Shell Road, which is across from the Roberts Point Road intersection, as well.

The second diagram involves a crosswalk on Siesta Drive at the intersection of Old Oak Drive.

Old Oak Drive is just east of the entrance to the San Remo neighborhood.

Both crosswalks would have what the Federal Highway Administration calls a Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB). In other words, a pedestrian would push a button so lights would begin flashing to alert a driver to the fact that the pedestrian was preparing to cross the road. Other RRFB crosswalks have been installed on the Key; among them is the one at the intersection of Beach Way Drive and Beach Road, near Siesta Public Beach.

A chart county staff included with the graphics estimated the expense of each crosswalk with RRFB at $36,960, for a total cost of $73,920.

The crosswalks are listed on that chart along with the

Crosswalk plans for Higel Ave. at North Shell Road

facets of the work at the Higel/Siesta Drive intersection.

Anderson has told the commissioners several times that the Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to give the county $359,137.80 for that project. It appears that the state will be picking up the expense of the crosswalk work, as well.

On Oct. 8, the County Commission unanimously approved the road swap with the state.

In response to a question about the when the crosswalk construction might begin, Media Relations Officer Brianne wrote the News Leader in an Oct. 16 email: “Doesn’t seem the timeline is set yet. The county will not have jurisdictional responsibility over the road segment until September 2020, with maintenance responsibilities anticipated to begin Summer of 2021.”

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Island Chatter

SeeClickFix nets another fan Occasionally, during meetings of organizations on Siesta Key, someone will bring up the county app SeeClickFix (www.seeclickfix. com). The latest quarterly meeting for members of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce was one of those occasions.

Joye Argo of Digital Marketing LLC, a Siesta Chamber director, talked about how impressed she was with how quickly county staff responded after she used the app to submit her report.

Lisa Cece, special district coordinator for the county, explained that SeeClickFix is “an immediate pipeline” to county staff, as the messages are funneled directly to the appropriate departments.

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Continued from page 3

Only 12 of the crimes reported, he said, were in the Part 1 category, meaning they were the most serious types of offenses.

For example, he added, two burglaries and one theft occurred, but suspects already had been identified in those cases. In fact, Smith pointed out, one person was suspected in two of the Part 1 crimes.

Thanks to the “nice, tightknit community out here,” he continued, the Sheriff’s Office does not have to deal with much crime on Siesta.

Again, Smith did emphasize to the SKA members to keep their vehicle doors locked. One incident that deputies investigated in September involved a theft from an unlocked car.

“Get the word out,” he implored the audience. Locking vehicle doors, he pointed out, “prevents 99.9% of the burglaries from vehicles.”

In response to a question from SKA Director Erin Kreis, Smith explained that a burglary is an incident in which someone enters a person’s residence or vehicle without permission. Homes and cars are places where a person has the expectation of privacy, he added.

Larceny, he continued, essentially is a theft. For example, he said, “If I were to take a bicycle from the lot at Siesta Beach,” that would be a larceny. In response to a question from Director Eddie Ward, Smith said he believed that only one bicycle was stolen in September, “which is great.”

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Benderson Development buys Glencoe Rachel Brown Hackney Avenue parcels By SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Big G’s Oyster Happy Hour from 3-6 Every day 1/2 Priced House Oysters Glencoe Avenue homes next to Siesta Promenade site from Furst Siesta 41 Associates

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it, is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere that will get you right into the Island Spirit.

One of the things that set SKOB apart from the other restaurants in Siesta Key Village is that we have some of the best food on the Key.

Live Music Every Day and Night

People who followed the county public hearing process last year regarding Siesta Promenade will recall that the County Commission agreed to a vacation of public right of way along Glencoe Avenue.

That was to assist Benderson Development Co. and its affiliate, Siesta 41 Associates LLP, with the design of the mixed-use project in the northwest quadrant of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.

Recently, Benderson purchased two parcels in the Pine Shores Estates neighborhood for $1,650,000 to further facilitate the project plans in the same general area.

Since Siesta 41 Associates actually is the developer on record for Siesta Promenade, the real estate transactions are in its name, according to records available through the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office.

On Aug. 14, Siesta 41 Associates paid $825,000 for the property located at 6339 Glencoe Ave. The seller was Roxane E. Goodman, the records show.

The 2019 taxable value of the property is $218,000, Property Appraiser William Furst’s staff noted.

Additionally, the records indicate that the house had been owned since 1980 by individuals and trusts

involving the same family.

The house itself was built in 1957 and then updated in 1980, the records also indicate.

The second house Siesta 41 Associates bought — also on Aug. 14 — is located at 6331 Glencoe Ave. It was owned by the same series of individuals and trusts as the other property.

Siesta 41 Associates also paid $825,000 for that parcel, which has a taxable value this year of $250,700, according to the Property Appraiser Office’s records.

That house also dates to 1957.

Trees have been taken down on the approximately 24 acres planned for Siesta Promenade, while removal of concrete pads, septic tanks and asphalt remaining from the days of the Pine Shores Trailer Park also has been underway. Benderson staff and an engineering firm working with the company obtained the necessary county permits this summer to begin the site clearing.

However, litigation over the County Commission’s approval of Siesta Promenade continues in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court as this issue of Siesta Sand went to press.

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Siesta Key Jewelry Store Launches Product to Benefit Mote Marine Laboratory and Red Tide Research During the peak of red tide last year, Silver City Sarasota designed and created a jewelry collection called Tide AwayTM. When asked what prompted the idea, the ladies at Silver City Sarasota responded, “We felt compelled to put our heads together to aid Mote Marine Laboratory in their research and marine animal rescue efforts. Seeing the amazing work Mote scientists, staff and volunteers put out coming daily to our beach to sample the waters, as well as rescuing and recovering turtles and dolphins, birthed the idea for “Tide AwayTM” and then they proceeded to sketch out the concept.

The first product in the collection was the “Tide AwayTM” Keychain. It was so well received by our tourists and local customers that we decided to expand the line in order to donate more to Mote.

As it stands now Silver City Sarasota has two necklaces, earrings, bracelets, a bead that fits all bead bracelets the Keychain. Their newest addition is the “Tide AwayTM” tote beach bag with an actual photo of Siesta Key Beach on it taken by the proprietor.

The generous 25% donation far exceeds the national average of 6%-10%.

The Staff of Silver City Sarasota is very proud of the collection, and with Motes’ encouragement, they are currently working on new pieces to help Save our Beaches.

Located just minutes from Siesta Key Beach, on Midnight Pass Road, Silver City Sarasota has been providing its customers with outstanding service as well as uniquely designed products in a variety of gemstones and diamond jewelry.

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Road swap agreement wins County Commission praise, with FDOT Rachel Brown Hackney planning underway for River Road improvements By SarasotaNewsLeader.com In early September 2017, then-Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer broached what seemed a novel idea to achieve the longdesired widening and other improvements involving River Road.

Staff had been talking with the District One representatives of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), he told the County Commission, about a potential swap of River Road to the state in exchange for the county’s taking over authority for roads on Siesta Key west of U.S. 41.

Slightly more than two years later, on Oct. 8, county commissioners credited the unknown originator of the idea as they prepared to approve the formal resolution making the road swap a fait accompli.

Commissioner Nancy Detert, who made the motion, pointed out that she had worked in the Florida Legislature to try to assist the county with funding for River Road. The problem, she continued, was the fact that “it was a county road.” The road swap, she continued, “was the key to success… so the state would own a road that everybody thought they owned anyway.”

“I can’t put my finger on who came up with the proposal,” Detert added.

Commissioner Alan Maio seconded her motion, noting, “It was a great idea, whoever thought it up.”

He said he expected the idea arose during a meeting of county and FDOT staff members.

“That was a huge breakthrough, the state finally becoming a partner on the project and entering into negotiations,” County Engineer and Public Works Director Spencer Anderson told the board members.

“This project is a massive undertaking,” Anderson said of the River Road improvements, which will cost close to $74 million.

Not only is Sarasota County affected, he added, but also Charlotte and Lee counties, as River Road is a hurricane evacuation route for residents of all three counties. Boca Grande,

he noted, is split between Lee and Charlotte counties, similar to Longboat Key’s division between Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Using slides he also presented to the commission on Oct. 2, when the County Commission met with the North Port city commissioners, Anderson talked about the primary details of the swap and the anticipated timeline.

In April 2020, Anderson said, FDOT will assume jurisdictional responsibility of North River Road from U.S. 41 to Interstate 75.

In September 2020, the county will take over the affected portions of Stickney Point Road, Midnight Pass Road, Higel Avenue and Siesta Drive.

Additionally, he pointed out last week, the county will take over the portion of State Road 758 west of the intersection of Bee Ridge Road and U.S. 41, which will include Bay Road and part of Osprey Avenue in the city of Sarasota.

“I do appreciate your patience and consideration,” Anderson told the commissioners, when county staff takes over the maintenance for Stickney Point Road and State Road 758. “It is a constrained facility.

There is only so much we can do as a county to make changes out there.”

Anderson added, “I would imagine the state has said ‘No’ in the past to a lot of people. I do expect there to be a lot of requests, and we’ll manage those appropriately. That will be a new challenge to us in Public Works.”

Among the facets of the swap — as he noted last week — is the state’s payment of $359,138 for improvements to the almost 90-degree curve where Higel Avenue intersects with Siesta Drive on north Siesta Key. Constructing those measures, designed to promote safety, will be a county project, Anderson said.

Graphics provided to the commission in advance of the Oct. 8 meeting show plans for replacement of the existing signage and guardrails with 108 feet of new guardrails on

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both the north and south approaches to the curve.

Additionally, a 225-foot traffic separator will be installed through the curve, and sod will replace 50 square yards of asphalt in the northwest quadrant of the intersection. The latter feature essentially will help smooth out the curve, based on the graphic’s details.

Anderson also noted that FDOT will complete the resurfacing of Midnight Pass Road from the Stickney Point Road intersection to Shadow Lawn Way — at the entrance to Siesta Isles — in the 2022 fiscal year, “or potentially earlier, if they can move that up.” In conjunction with that work, what he characterized as a “small drainage project” will be undertaken from Little Pond Road to Somerset Drive. That location is a short distance south of the Higel/Siesta Drive curve.

Finally, Anderson reminded the commissioners that the county will become responsible for the maintenance of the two fixed bridges included in the Siesta segments, while the state will continue to maintain the two drawbridges.

To the south As for River Road: Right of way acquisition is underway, Anderson pointed out, for the North River Road work, which will encompass widening of the road to six lanes from U.S. 41 to Center Road and to four lanes from Center Road to I-75.

After the formal roads transfer occurs next spring, Anderson continued, the state’s next step will be putting out the River Road project for bids by early 2020.

Originally, he said, plans called for work on the section from U.S. 41 to the West Villages Parkway to begin in the 2021 fiscal year; then, the improvements would start from the West Villages Parkway to I-75 in 2024. However, FDOT decided to pursue a design/build initiative for the entire North River Road project, with the county paying $750,000 for an update of some facets of that.

Altogether, Anderson said, the county will pay $24,750,000 for the North River Road work, with construction set to begin in the 2021 fiscal year. “That is a very fast track,” he emphasized.

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Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival November 15-18, 2019 • SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com

Brian Wigelsworth; Siesta Key, FL Sandventure Crew Professional Sand Sculpting Services; Owner The Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival; Creator and Sand Coordinator Gidget’s Coastal Provisions Owner with wife, Trudy Wigelsworth

Abe Waterman Canada

John Gowdy Italy

Emerson Shreiner USA

Fergus Mulvany Ireland

Melineige Beauregard Canada

Manuel Campos Columbia

Steve Topazio USA

Ron MacDonald USA

JOOheng Tan Singapore

Chris Guinto USA

Jakub Zimacek Czech Republic

ADMISSION & HOURS

10 am - 5 pm Friday & Monday 10 am - 9 pm Saturday & Sunday $ One-day adult admission 10 ea $ One day ages 5 - 17 admission 5 ea $ 8 ea One day Seniors 65+ & Veterans

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE John Patti & Sunny Jim Ari and The Alibis Lauren Mitchell Band Kettle of Fish 22N Tropical Ave. Band Twinkle Master Sculptor Awards Reverend Barry & The Funk Island Chill Band Cabana Dogs

Friday Friday Saturday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday Monday Monday

11:00-1:00 2:00-4:45 10:00-1:00 2:00-5:00 6:00-9:00 10:00-1:00 2:00-5:00 3:00 - 3:30 6:00-9:00 11:00-1:00 2:00-4:30

Peter Vogelaar Canada

Bruce Phillips USA

Marianne Van Den Broek USA

Ian Deibert USA

Matt Long USA

Maxim Gazendim The Netherlands

Morgan Rudluff USA

Karen Fralich Canada

Matt Deibert USA

Jan Zelinka Czech Republic

Damon Langlois Canada

Walter McDonald USA

Craig Mutch Canada

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS • Eight doubles teams, Eight solo artists • Vendor Village - Over 65 vendors! Retail, Food, Beer • Quick sand speed sculpting, Sand sculpting lessons • Free amateur sand sculpting competition Why drive when you can take SCAT (route 11) or the FREE SK Breeze Trolley right to the beach!

Open Sat & Sun until 9PM LIVE MUSIC LIGHTED SCULPTURES PARTY TENT

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Scholarship Fund for Ringling College Art + Design

Questions? 941-349-3800 Full Festival Schedule at SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com

10

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

Financial Focus Thanksgiving is almost here.

Ideally, this holiday should be about more than turkey, football, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After all, the idea behind Thanksgiving is to share what we have with our loved ones. But if you want your family to take part in your abundance, you will want to look beyond one day in November. To help ensure you leave the type of legacy you desire, you will need to follow a detailed plan of action, including these steps: • Review your estate plans. If you haven’t done so already, take this opportunity to review your plans for managing your estate – and if you haven’t yet drawn them up, it’s never too soon to start. You may want to work with a legal professional to create a will, living trust and other documents essential to your plan.

• Preserve your financial independence. If your financial independence were to be jeopardized, your adult children might be forced to use their own resources to help support you – an outcome you obviously would

941.349.0194

Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family

never want. How can you protect yourself and your financial assets?

For one thing, it’s a good idea to work with your legal professional to create a power of attorney, which would enable someone – possibly a grown child – to make financial decisions for you, should you become incapacitated.

Also, you may want to guard yourself against the devastating costs of long-term care, such as an extended nursing home stay. Consider this: The average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is more than $97,000, according to a survey by the insurance company Genworth.

Furthermore, Medicare typically pays very little for these expenses.

Consequently, you may want to consider protecting yourself in advance by purchasing long-term care insurance or permanent life insurance with a long-term care provision. A financial professional can help you evaluate your options and recommend which ones might be appropriate for your needs.

• Share your wishes with your family. It can take some time to

put your plans in place – and, But by taking the steps described even then, you may need to make above, along with others, you can changes periodically, based on demonstrate the spirit of sharing altered circumstances in your life, with your family for years – and such as changes in your marital possibly generations – to come.

Advertorial status, new family members, new property, etc. In any case, as your estate- and legacy-based plans evolve, you’ll want to communicate them to your family – because, by doing so, you can help spare them some potentially unpleasant surprises when it’s time to settle your estate. Also, by making your wishes known to your family far ahead of when any action needs to be taken, you’ll help prepare the right people for the roles you wish them to Joe St.Onge, ChFC® assume – power of attorney, executor of your estate, and so Financial Advisor on. You’ll also want to acquaint Edward Jones Investments your family with the legal, tax and financial professionals you’ve 5112 Ocean Blvd., selected to work on your estate Siesta Key, FL 34242 and legacy plans. By introducing (941)-346-0560 phone these professionals early on, (941)-320-4030 mobile you can provide your family Joe.StOnge@edwardjones.com members with a greater degree of confidence in the overall estateThis article was written by Edward Jones planning process. for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Thanksgiving goes by in a blur. Advisor.

www.siestasand.net

Island Chatter Continued from page 5

For example, Cece said, a person who sees a pothole can take a photo of it and use SeeClickFix to send the details about the location — along the photo — to county Public Works Department staff.

Argo indicated that she especially was impressed with the fact that she received a notification after the issue she had raised had been resolved.

“If you set up an account… it will keep you posted with information as the repair gets done,” said Michael Shay, who still was the Village maintenance manager at the time of that Aug. 21 meeting.

And even though a person may have an account with SeeClickFix, Shay added, the person still can send information anonymously.

County staff launched SeeClickFix in 2016.

The county’s 2016 Annual Report noted that “the mobile app … allows the public to report quality-of-life issues and request county services.

Citizens can now provide county staff with pictures, videos, specific descriptions and real-time locations of their reports or requests.

Continued on page 15

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

Appeals fees and attorneys’ fees

By Rachel Brown Hackney

All Roads Lead To…

She pointed out that, even though the SKA objected to the LKRA’s motion to participate in the case, the SKA and its co-plaintiff — Siesta resident David Patton — “have essentially the same interest in the action as LKRA: just as LKRA argues that any delay or prevention of the Lido Key Renourishment Project will impact their beaches on Lido Key, the SKA and Patton argue that the implementation of the Project will impact their beaches on Siesta Key.” Thus, McHugh added, the interests of the SKA and Patton in the case “are the equivalent of LKRA, just on the other side of the coin.”

As it has in the past when it needs insights on legal issues, SNL contacted Morgan Bentley of the Bentley & Bruning law firm in Sarasota to ask about the likelihood of the LKRA’s winning a ruling from McHugh for the SKA to pay the LKRA’s legal fees and costs.

Bentley responded in an email: “You actually ask a pretty complicated question. First question is how the Court granted intervention status. For instance did McHugh identify them as a plaintiff or defendant.”

(In this case, the Lido Key Residents Association was identified as “IntervenorDefendant” in records in the case.)

“Second,” Bentley wrote, “is whether there is an underlying basis for fees at all. If not, a prevailing party can ask for costs but not fees.

“Third,” he continued, is did they win in a count that had fees. You can win a lawsuit but still not get fees.”

SNL had not sent Bentley the applicable section of the Florida Statutes, but — as noted above — the statute says the “prevailing parties shall be entitled to costs and attorney’s fees.”

“And lastly,’ Bentley wrote, “is whether they were in fact the ‘prevailing party.’ That is sometimes not as easy to determine as it appears at first blush.”

He concluded the email with the following: “But, none of this matters if you don’t ask for fees. So for now, even if they think they only have a small chance of winning them, they have to ask for them.”

Made In Rome Organic Gelato (MIROG) will be featuring one of their typical Italian flavors for November. It’s a ricotta cheese with mascarpone and honey gelato. The other featured flavor will be a typical American flavor: banana split gelato.

Take the taste-test challenge Owned by authentic Romans, Made In Rome Organic Gelato uses all certified USDA organic ingredients and offers sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan options. Although there are numerous shops around the U.S. selling gelato, “You’d have to take a trip to Italy to find another gelateria where only organic ingredients are used exclusively, and a new batch, made from scratch, is created every 15 minutes,” says Diane Cuna. That’s because husband Massimo Cuna’s family has deep roots creating this favorite Italian confection for many generations. You will find the taste is incomparable and the owners dare you to take their taste-the-difference challenge.

There are 48 flavors to choose from and the staff at Made In Rome Organic Gelato generously provide samples of their made-from-scratch, in-house gelato.

No hydrogenated fats or colorants, or preservatives are ever used.

By using more milk than cream, no egg yolks, along with a slow-churn process, your taste buds will be doing a happy dance with the intense flavors and silky textures this low calorie option provides. Old family recipes that have been improved over the decades are in use and new flavors are developed every month. Also included in the lineup is organic yogurt gelato.

Vegans rejoice Yes, vegans, you can make this one of your go-to places because Made In Rome Organic Gelato is vegan friendly offering a

“Our beautiful Vanessa is offering you an organic pumpkin gelato - just one of 48 flavors,” says owner Diane Cuna. Happy Halloween and thanksgiving. From made in Rome!!

selection of gelato, cones, shakes, and even a vegan affogato al caffe. Whether you choose vegan-friendly or not, the affogato al caffe; a double shot of espresso topped with a scoop of gelato…any flavor, continues to be a customer favorite. Says owner, Diane Theron-Cuna, “People go crazy for this!”

Watch the process Diana and husband, Massimo enjoy showing off the method used to construct their gelato.

They invite you to watch the process as they create a batch of their sinfully delicious gelato, then take their taste-test challenge.

If you’re lucky enough to catch Diane at the shop, she will happily entertain you with stories of her earlier days as a circus performer. She comes from three generations of circus performers and has traveled around the world performing with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The family earned their own “Star of Fame” at St. Armands Circle – The Theron Cycling Troupe.

Welcome to a little part of Italy on Siesta Key. Made In Rome Organic Gelato is located at 5204 Ocean Blvd., in the Siesta Key Village.

Their hours are Mon. thru Thurs. 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Fri. thru Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Their holiday hours are 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

(941) 960-5344. (Advertorial)

Siesta Key Marina Full Service Marina & Water Sports

Fishing Charters

Fun Boat Tours

BEACH - SANDBAR AND ADVENTURE TRIPS

INSHORE & OFFSHORE FISHING SCUBA & SNORKLE TRIPS

Sunset & Dolphin Cruises

Sandbar Excursions

Boat Rentals PONTOONS FISHING BOATS DECK BOATS

Adventure trips

“FUN BOAT” IS A CUSTOM 40’ ADVENTURE BOAT BUILT FOR FUN IN THE SUN. WE BRING PADDLE BOARDS, BEACH GAMES, MUSIC AND R R EFRESHMENTS ON BOARD.

1265 OLD STICKNEY POINT ROAD - SIESTA KEY

941-349-1970 -

11

5204 Ocean Blvd., in the siesta key village

SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Unlike some plaintiffs who appeal decisions of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, the Siesta Key Association (SKA) has been notified of a bill of several hundred dollars, instead of several thousand dollars, SNL learned by checking the docket in the nonprofit’s lawsuit against the City of Sarasota involving the proposed Lido Beach Renourishment Project.

On Oct. 18, Deputy Clerk Barbara Torres of the Sarasota County Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller, notified the SKA that the total amount due for staff’s preparation of the record for the nonprofit’s appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal would be $362.50.

The notice also said the Clerk’s Office staff planned to complete its preparation of those records on Nov. 25. Thus, the full payment needed to be made by that date, Torres indicated.

The SKA announced on Oct. 4 that it would appeal the Sept. 19 ruling by 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh in the case the SKA filed in March 2017 to try to prevent the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass to renourish about 1.56 miles of South Lido Key Beach.

In the meantime, as of Oct. 18, McHugh had not taken any action on motions filed by the City of Sarasota and the Lido Key Residents Association (LKRA) to recover attorneys’ fees and costs related to the Circuit Court case.

Both the city and the LKRA cited provisions of the Florida Environmental Protection Act, which is Florida Statute 403.412, as the basis for their motions. Section (f) of that law says, “In any action instituted pursuant to this section, other than an action involving a state National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPDESD permit authorized under a separate section of Florida Statue 403, the prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to costs and attorney’s fees.”

On June 1, 2017, McHugh issued an order granting the LKRA the right to intervene in the case.

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

www.skmar ina.com

Call Today or Book Your Adventures Online

local c a u g h t s e a f o o d island bites craft beers located @ siesta key marina come by land or by water

12

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

North Beach Road

941.349.0194

By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Cosentino asks court to let him essentially start all over in North Beach Road case because of evidence he has discovered Siesta Key resident Mike Cosentino has filed a new motion, asking the 12th Judicial Circuit Court to essentially throw out earlier judgments against him and let him start all over with his allegations regarding the May 11, 2016 County Commission vote to vacate a 373-foot-long segment of North Beach Road.

Cosentino is asking the Circuit Court to vacate the final order Circuit Judge Frederick P. Mercurio issued on Sept. 11, 2018, dismissing the last of Cosentino’s complaint against Sarasota County in the original North Beach Road case.

In October 2018, Cosentino filed an appeal of Mercurio’s order with the Second District Court of Appeal. SNL checked on Oct. 18 and found that the Appeal Court had set the date of Dec. 19 for oral arguments in the case in Tampa.

Having won Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh’s approval to represent himself in the North Beach Road case — known as acting pro se — Cosentino wrote in his Sept.

11 motion that his basis for his new action is Rule 1.540(B)(3) of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. That rule says a court can vacate a final summary judgment order “on the grounds of fraud, misrepresentation, misconduct of an adverse party, and fraud upon the Court,” he pointed out in the motion.

Cosentino raises an allegation that he made to the County Commission during an Open to the Public period during the board’s regular meeting on Aug. 27.

The motion argues that the commission’s votes on May 11, 2016 to vacate part of North Beach Road and to approve a Coastal Setback Variance — which was sought by one set of petitioners for the road vacation — “resulted directly from years of misconduct by Sarasota County Attorneys, who assisted two sets of the road vacation petitioners in their fraudulent misrepresentations of law and fact …”

The street vacation enabled one set of North Beach Road property owners to assert “unity of title” of parcels seaward and landward of the road, plus the vacated road segment’s square footage, to win county zoning approval for the construction of six

new condominiums on North Beach Road.

During one of the May 11, 2016 public hearings, the County Commission granted a Coastal Setback Variance to allow the new construction to extend 67.2 feet seaward of the Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL). That figurative line was established to protect dune habitat, which, in turn, protects inland structures from storm surge and other flooding events.

Charles D. Bailey III of the Williams Parker law firm in Sarasota explained that the section of the development that would be the furthest west of the GBSL actually would be a retaining wall already on the property.

(The new condominiums were planned to replace existing units that dated back decades. A staff document provided to the board before the meeting explained, “A prior owner developed the property at 89 Beach Road between 1935 and 1940 with seven living units in three nonconforming slab-on-grade buildings.

The structures later were modified to contain 12 units. Two buildings are two-story, and one is one story.”

Additionally, the document said, “There is no significant native dune habitat existing on any areas proposed for development.” The staff memo also noted, “The seaward extent of the proposed residential construction is 4.4 feet more seaward than the existing buildings …”)

In his Sept. 11 motion to vacate Judge Mercurio’s 2018 final order, Cosentino alleges that the county attorney worked in “a years long collaboration his emphasis” with two sets of North Beach Road property owners. One goal, Cosentino contends, was to achieve what he characterizes as the fraudulent manipulation of county staff reports related to potential repairs of North Beach Road.

A 2013 engineering analysis of the segment of North Beach Road that the commission vacated in 2016 included multiple photos of damage storms had inflicted upon the road over decades. The report, produced by Taylor Engineering of Jacksonville, offered options for repairing the affected portion of the road. Ultimately, the commission

chose not to pursue any of them. At that time, the county was continuing to deal with the repercussions of the Great Recession. In the 2013 fiscal year, the county received $108.8 million from property tax revenue, compared to $175.7 million in the 2008 fiscal year, before the economic downturn began.

Since the summer of 2016, Cosentino has referred to recommendations in the 2013 Taylor Engineering report.

He has remained adamant that the County Commission could have stabilized the road for less money than maintenance of the road — with the expectation of continuing damage — would have cost.

He cites that report again in the new motion.

Cosentino further points to a Nov. 26, 2012 letter from attorney Bailey to then-County Administrator Randall Reid — as Cosentino also has done consistently over the past three years.

Cosentino maintains that the owners of the 89 Beach Road parcel wanted to have part of North Beach Road vacated instead of seeing the county repair it.

On Dec. 20, 2012, Reid wrote Bailey, “The ultimate goal is to provide future protection to the coast line in this area emphasis provided,” Cosentino says in his motion.

The goal of the property owners, Cosentino contends, “was to turn their road front properties into beach front properties by having Beach Road vacated.”

However, no structures existed seaward of the road in front of 89 Beach Road at the time the road vacation petition was submitted to the county.

Cosentino further alleges that, following an August 2013 meeting involving the owners of 89 Beach Road, the county attorney and county staff, staff prepared an Oct. 23, 2013 report to the County Commission saying that staff’s recommendation was for Taylor’s “no-action alternative … based on project costs …”

In other words, according to Cosentino, staff advised the commission to refrain from pursuing any project that might stabilize the road and prevent future storm damage.

www.siestasand.net

Flag ceremony honors our fallen firefighters

By Randall Townsend

Our nightly flag ceremony pays homage to Captain Ralph Styles (a decorated WWII Submarine Captain in the Pacific Theater,) who began this tribute ceremony about 30 years ago.

Each sunset our community comes together with new friends from around the world at Siesta Key public access #2, at 10 Beach Road. All are welcome as we say: “Welcome to Patriot’s Pier at Sunset Point. We thank you for joining our nightly tribute to honor the sacrifices of our military and service personnel in protecting our Country and our freedoms. We are the land of the free because of the brave!”

Our special tribute ceremony on October 6, 2019 honored our “Fallen Firefighters.” The Riverview Honor Guard assisted in our memorial ceremony, while the Sarasota Military Academy Katrina sang our national anthem.

Janet Hamel Solomon, daughter of Chaplin Hamel, led our invocation.

So, this month we honor them for their service and have invited them to also join us on October 28, 2019 for our “First Responders Day” ceremony to help us honor our current and future responders and leaders for AWESOMENESS!

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.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

Siesta Key’s trendsetter One day, she was walking on Ocean Blvd., in Siesta Village, and she saw a run-down building with a For Sale sign on it. There was a scruffy man sitting out in front of the building with a table full of fly-covered chicken wings he was trying to sell, but Lorry was intrigued at the thought of buying the building, so she stopped to talk to him.

“It really looked like a condemned building,” she said. “I asked the guy who the owner was, and he told me that it was a Mr. Dickson, from Ohio, so I called him. I closed on the building on my son’s birthday—October 23, 1972.”

Lorry named her new boutique “Foxy Lady,” because at that time, the Jimi Hendrix classic single was very popular. The building was actually a former house, so in each room of the “house,” Lorry featured different items.

For instance, one room displayed blouses and tops, another had bathing suits and tennis wear and upstairs was where she had prom dresses and evening wear.

During the 10 years Foxy Lady operated in that location, many young Sarasota women shopped there for their prom dresses. One of those young ladies was Lori Ann Steiner, who is now an owner/partner/manager of the Siesta Key Foxy Lady.

“I was working with Estee Lauder after high school,” Lori Ann said. “A friend of mine had been working for Foxy Lady for about six months and suggested to Lorry that she give me a call to see if I wanted to work there, too.

At first I turned her down, to stay at the job I had, but I eventually came over in 1982.”

That was also the year that Lorry’s husband John Walter built a brand new building for the store on Beach Road, just around the corner from Ocean Blvd. The new site had much more space, and the business began to grow. Two years after that John found an old gas station for sale on St. Armands Circle, and after some extensive renovation, it became Foxy Lady St. Armands Circle, the second location for the store.

Since then, the name Foxy Lady has become synonymous with stylish clothes and accessories, and exceptional customer service.

Lorry says that it’s not an accident that hers has been a successful business lasting 47 years.

“What we do right is that we really do it all,” she said. “People want to look cute, it doesn’t matter what age you are. We pride ourselves in not getting stuck in what other people are buying, and we’re not label buying. We buy things because they look great.”

When Lorry and Lori Ann go to apparel markets, they will many times have particular clients in mind, as they are buying items for the store. They say they make it a point to know what styles are trending, and bring clothes and accessories into the store that will appeal to people of all ages. Foxy Lady now has casual and dressier apparel, shoes, and accessories like purses, belts and jewelry. A large evening

Spend $125 in June

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

13

Continued from cover story

wear selection can be found at the St. Armands location.

Both women said that they feel the big advantage to shopping in a small, locallyowned boutique is that personalized service that the Foxy Lady staff provides.

“We concentrate on what we know and we’re always thinking about how we can best help the customers,” Lori Ann said. “We are really the only boutique out here on Siesta Key, and we have a very loyal fan base at this store, both with locals and those who live here part-time.”

As a small, privately owned business, Lorry, Lori Ann and their staff really act more as personal shoppers than retail employees.

Though the store is packed with merchandise, every staff member knows exactly what is there and precisely where to find it. Lorry says that she loves for customers to come in and give her a general idea of what they’re looking for and then seeing the shock on the customer’s face when she hits the nail on the head and presents them with the sought after piece in about two seconds.

That intimate relationship with their clientele, plus the incredible sales they all look forward to, is what keeps the loyal Foxy Lady customers coming back time after time, and year after year.

Within that retail community, the day after Thanksgiving Reverse Sale is the stuff of legends. Both the Siesta Key and the St. Armands stores open up early, at 8 a.m., and up until 10 a.m., many of the racks of clothing are sold at 50% off the price. From 10 a.m. to noon, items are 40% off and from noon to closing time (6 p.m. on Siesta and 7 p.m. on St. Armands) clothes on those racks are offered at 30% off.

Though Lorry has owned the Foxy Lady for 47 years now, which is almost a lifetime to be at one job, she says that she can’t foresee a time when she wouldn’t want to do it. For her, the perfect store experience is one where she or one of her staff can help a customer find the absolute perfect thing—something that makes her think, “Wow, I really look good.”

Even so, this career she has built for herself has already gone on much longer than she originally planned.

“Back in 1972, I thought I would do this for about five years,” she said, laughing. “Never did I think it would be forever.”

Foxy Lady Siesta Key is located at 209 Beach Road, and is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Foxy Lady St. Armands Circle is at 481 John Ringling Blvd. It’s open Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, from noon to 5:30 p.m. Call the Siesta Key store at 941-349-6644 and the St. Armands store at 941-388-5239. For more information, visit www.foxyladysarasota.com.

Foxy Lady founder Lorry Eible and co-owner and partner for the Siesta Key location Lori Ann Steiner have known each other since soon after Lori Ann graduated from high school

Lorry Eible and her husband John Walter built the Siesta Village location where Foxy Lady has been since 1982

The Siesta Village Foxy Lady store has been in its current Beach Road location since 1982, but was on Ocean Blvd. for 10 years before that

Foxy Lady has an extensive selection of jewelry at their Siesta Village store

Foxy Lady has clothes and accessories to give you a stylish look from head to toe

♥ Welcome to Siesta Key! ♥

Trends & fashions that women love since 1972. ♥ SHOP LOCAL ♥

20 off any regular priced

$

purchase of $125 or more*

*Some exceptions apply. Valid through November 30, 2019.

Siesta Key 941.349.6644 • St. Armands 941.388.5239

FoxyLadySarasota.com

14

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

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Sheriff’s Report September 17 – October 21, 2019

There were 15 crimes reported on the Key between 9/17-10/21/19 9/22/19 Theft Public Beach A man reported his bike was taken from near the pavilion at the Public Beach. The yellow bike valued at $80 had been left unsecured.

9/25/19 Fraud 5200 Block Ocean Blvd.

on your next visit per table!

941-927-0402 4832 S. Tamiami Tr. (The Landings Plaza, next to Publix)

Captain Curt’s has everything you need to feel Totally Refreshed!

CRAFT BEERS

A couple was arrested for obtaining food or lodging with intent to defraud. The complainant reported a male and female left the bar without paying a $172.83 tab. The couple was familiar to the complainant personally from past experiences and the male had not paid his tab twice before. The complainant advised the male left his credit card at the bar and ran towards his apartment. The officer knocked on the door and advised they needed to pay their tab. After being given 10 minutes to find a card to pay the tab, the couple became uncooperative. The woman, who was intoxicated, attempted to close the door on the officer. He held the door open with his foot, as a crime was being committed. The male had walked to the back of the apartment where he could not be seen and the female began shouting at the officer to get out of the apartment. When the male attempted to leave the apartment to pay the bill, she tried to block him. The woman was arrested for resisting without violence after she continually pulled away from deputies as they tried to bring her out of the apartment. Afterwards, the male walked back to the establishment with a credit card in order to pay the tab. The card was declined, as was the debt card he had left behind earlier. Both subjects admitted to eating and drinking while knowing they wouldn’t be able to pay.

9/25/19 Fraud Address Withheld A man advised someone had changed his mailing address to a home in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He was not aware of any financial loss at the time. He filed a report in order to protect his assets.

Get That Old Florida Flavor!

CAPTAIN CURT’S CAPTAIn

WORLD FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER 1200 Old Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key FL 34242

9/28/19 Burglary Address Withheld A woman reported several items of jewelry were stolen from her residence. She discovered the jewelry was stolen after finding her door pried open. While reporting the missing jewelry, she stated several iPods and electronics were also taken. She stated the jewelry had been located in Ziplock bags in her bedroom jewelry drawer and valued at $51,900. While reporting the jewelry theft, she said she found a pawn shop receipt belonging to a man that had stayed with her. The receipt showed that the houseguest had sold a drill that had previously mysteriously disappeared from her home. The officer investigated and found that the houseguest had also sold her missing jewelry to a pawn shop. He was located and arrested for dealing in stolen property.

941-349-3885 Big Water Fish Market Retail Market & Restaurant

6641 Midnight Pass Rd, Crescent Plaza

www.siestasand.net

6639 Midnight Pass Rd, Crescent Plaza

9/29/19 Burglary Address Withheld A woman reported a burglary at her home that occurred while her husband and son were inside.

The woman, reported that the night before at some point, an unknown person or persons entered her lanai. The unknown suspect took a child’s scooter, a child’s hat, rearranged decorative items inside the lanai and defecated alongside the home. The victim advised there is a security camera at the front of the homeowner’s association. They will attempt to obtain security footage.

9/30/19 Theft Address Withheld A man returning home from working in Alaska reported that sometime during the five months he was gone, his home was robbed. He stated that when he returned home, he noticed four fishing rods and reels ($800), a Bosch hammer drill ($400) and an iPad ($350) was missing. He said he wasn’t going to report the theft until he noticed his gun ($425) was missing. He said the named suspects and their unknown guests were the only people that had access to his residence.

He last saw the items on May 4th just before he left for Alaska. He stated he had left his Smith & Wesson gun in the nightstand drawer. The victim has a security camera system that records around the outside of the residence, although it records over videos after one week. The Sheriff’s Office will attempt to retrieve the videos. The victim stated he thinks the male suspect possibly moved to Texas.

10/5/19 Burglary- Vehicle Address Withheld A woman reported her car was burglarized. The car was unsecured, parked in a gated area which was fenced in. There is residential construction adjacent to the property. She was unsure if there were any workers present at the time of the theft. The woman didn’t notice her purse was missing until she returned to her residence. The purse had been sitting on the front seat of the vehicle. The items missing included a wallet containing $3000 cash, multiple credit cards, a driver’s license, social security card and the purse.

A fingerprint was recovered from a door handle. It is possible the suspect had gloves on as there appeared to be smudge marks below the door handle.

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Island Chatter They can report non-emergency issues, such as potholes or inoperable traffic signals; and they can view and comment on issues submitted by their neighbors. They can even create their own ‘watch areas’ to receive notifications about all the issues reported in their community, not just the ones they report.”

The Siesta Promenade hearing delayed a few days

For weeks, people interested in the lawsuit filed in January to try to stop the construction of Siesta Promenade had their calendars marked for Oct. 10, when oral arguments in that case were to be presented to 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh.

However, because of a family situation, McHugh had to work with the parties to reschedule the hearing, the News Leader learned. On Oct. 9, the parties learned that the hearing would be moved from 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 to the morning of Columbus Day, Oct. 14.

After arriving at the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center in downtown Sarasota shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 14, this reporter found she was not the only attendee who had to search anxiously from level to level for a vacant space in the county’s parking garage, which is located at the intersection of School Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.

With the City of Sarasota’s Parking Division having installed parking pay stations on Ringling Boulevard during the early part of the summer, the garage appears to have become a more popular destination for people with reason to be in the county’s Judicial District. In fact, this reporter observed quite a few vacant metered parking places on her way from the garage to the courthouse.

Because of the change in hearing dates, some people who had planned to attend the proceeding could not do so, Sura Kochman of Pine Shores Estates, the plaintiff in the Siesta Promenade case, reported to friends as everyone waited for the courtroom doors to be unlocked.

Everyone who did make the effort to attend the hearing was able to find a seat, even with a couple having shown up after the arguments were underway.

Only about 35 seats are available for the public in the courtroom

NOVEMBER 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

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Continued from page 10

where Judge McHugh presides over her cases.

On a related note: At the outset of the Oct. 14 hearing, McHugh asked whether either side had made arrangements for a court reporter to be present, to take down an official record of the pleadings.

Finally, a “No” could be heard in the courtroom, though this reporter was unable to identify the speaker.

During a hearing over which McHugh presided several months ago — when a court reporter was present — she told the parties that having a transcript from the court reporter would facilitate her ruling in that case.

After the Siesta Promenade hearing ended, McHugh announced that she would issue a written decision and then said the court would be “in recess.” A couple of the attendees, who were not accustomed to court procedures, indicated that they thought McHugh was going to rule later that day. This reporter told them that that was not how it would work.

Based on this reporter’s coverage of McHugh’s handling of other cases, it is difficult to predict when she will issue her opinion in the Siesta Promenade case.

When a speed limit sign is just a warning sign On Sept. 9, as Sarasota County’s Traffic Advisory Council (TAC) members heard presentations about petitions for safety improvements in the Siesta Isles neighborhood, an issue arose that this reporter had not heard discussed in depth in many years.

Amjid Hussain, the engineer with the county’s Traffic Engineering and Operations Division, showed the TAC members slides depicting two 15 mph warning signs within Siesta Isles, whose placement county staff had adjusted in an effort to get a better response from drivers.

Tony Romanus, who was representing the Siesta Isles Association Board of Directors in the petitions that day, noted that the signs are on either side of what he and other Siesta Isles residents described as a dangerous “S” curve on Shadow Lawn Drive. Staff’s assistance with the signage, he said, “was helpful.”

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Island Chatter However, Romanus emphasized that the 15 mph warning signs are a suggestion only for drivers.

“I wish each of those signs would be a speed limit sign,” Sandy Palmer of Siesta Isles told the TAC members. “The curve has been a terrible thing since 1962. I would like to see each sign say ’15 mph.’

No suggestion.”

Those comments came after Romanus asked for the speed limit in Siesta Isles to be reduced from 25 mph to 20 mph.

TAC member Morgan Skoegard asked about the legal basis for the 15 mph signs to serve as warnings only.

“We call it an advisory speed limit on a curve,” Hussain responded.

No wording on the sign says, “Suggested,” Hussain added.

Then Capt. John Donovan of the Florida Highway Patrol, another TAC member, explained, “The yellow signs like he mentioned are advisory …” Essentially, Donovan continued, the signs are designed to communicate to a driver, “‘Hey, there’s an unusual circumstance coming up …’”

Chair Becky Ayech pointed out that yellow signs on the road as a rule are caution signs.

“It’s nothing we can enforce,” Donovan said.

In January 2012, after a Siesta resident was struck and killed by a driver in a sharp curve on Midnight Pass Road, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office explained that lower speed limit signs drivers see before they enter that curve also are just warning signs. Even though the driver in that incident was alleged to have been speeding, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said, a deputy would not have been able to charge the driver for exceeding the speed posted on those warning signs.

As for the Siesta Isles request for the reduction in the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph throughout the neighborhood: The TAC sided with county staff’s recommendation for denial, as Siesta Sand reported in October.

Hussain explained during the discussion that staff lowered the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph after staff undertook a traffic study in Siesta Isles in 1997.

Additionally, no traffic crashes had been recorded in Siesta Isles over the past three years, Hussain pointed out.

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Having to make numerous trips to the podium on behalf of the Siesta Isles Association, Tony Romanus showed a lot of patience in answering questions during the Sept. 9 Traffic Advisory Council (TAC) meeting.

At one point, Vice Chair Bruce Lorie asked whether the Siesta Isles Association had enlisted the help of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in stopping speeders who use the neighborhood as a cut-through to

Continued from page 15

avoid congestion near Siesta Public Beach.

“When it’s at our worst,” Romanus explained, “there’s a million people at the beach and all kinds of chaos in Siesta Village.”

The Sheriff’s Office’s priority is dealing with those situations, Romanus continued, a fact with which the Siesta Isles Board has no complaint.

“I see where the beach has become so popular in Sarasota, and the resources are not there to protect everyone,” Lorie responded.

“We’re trying to be good stewards of tax dollars and Sheriff’s Office resources,” Romanus said. The Association asks for help from the Sheriff’s Office only “when things are nuts,” he added.

If Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University — known worldwide as “Dr. Beach” — never had named Siesta Beach No. 1 in the U.S., Romanus continued, “I probably wouldn’t be standing here,” asking for lower speed limits and more stop signs.”

Leatherman first gave Siesta Beach that top ranking in 2011.

To mark 25 years of his Top Ten Beaches initiative, Leatherman started fresh a couple of years ago, making past winners eligible for honors once again. Thus, Siesta won its second No. 1 designation.

More public recognition of island traffic problems In late September, when the County Commission heard a presentation about the 2019 Citizen Opinion Survey — an annual project conducted at the county’s behest — one of the project team members noted that the 800 respondents were asked, “In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing Sarasota County today?” The answer for 9% was “Traffic/transportation.”

The project team members then asked whether the respondents citing that issue found certain roads or locations more problematic than others.

As SNL reported at the time, 28% named U.S. 41 as the focus of frustrations. However, a graphic showing the breakdown of the answers listed “Beach Road” as winning attention from 3% of the respondents.

Beach Road did come in last, in terms of those answers, based on the graphic in the PowerPoint presentation shown to the board on Sept. 24. Still, the citation was a figurative exclamation point on statements the commissioners have been hearing with increasing frequency over the past couple of years.

In comparison, Interstate 75 was at the 10% mark, with “Multiple Locations” at 14% and “Everywhere/No specific location tied with “Other” at 17%.

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Siesta Promenade

NOVEMBER 2019

By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Citing a number of court decisions to underscore their arguments, an assistant Sarasota County attorney and an attorney for Benderson Development Co. argued this week that the County Commission took the appropriate steps in approving the Siesta Promenade project.

“They are asking the court to re-weigh the evidence that is in the record,” Benderson attorney Robert Lincoln of Sarasota told 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh on Oct. 14. He was referring to Pine Shores Estates resident Sura Kochman’s challenge of the commission’s Dec. 12, 2018 votes on Siesta Promenade, most of which were not unanimous. However, Lincoln stressed, the law does not allow the court to consider the public hearing record. “The court’s got to deny Kochman’s petition,” he added.

After the nearly hour-long hearing in downtown Sarasota, McHugh told the attorneys and approximately 25 members of the public that she would issue a written decision at a later date.

Kochman’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which was filed in January, seeks essentially to have the court rule that the County Commission violated county policy and regulations in multiple votes the board members took in approving the mixed-use development planned in the northwest quadrant of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.

At two different points during the hearing, McHugh asked Kochman’s attorney, Ralf Brookes of Cape Coral, if he could cite any judicial precedent to support his argument that the County Commission did not adhere to the formal process required before approving a Critical Area Plan (CAP) designation for Siesta Promenade.

One of Kochman’s primary arguments in the case has been that the County Commission disregarded the county’s order of procedure for a CAP in the handling of Benderson’s Siesta Promenade application.

By seeking the CAP designation, Benderson and its affiliate for the project — Siesta 41 Associates LLP — could seek residential density up to 25 units per acre.

McHugh told Brookes that she had read the transcript of the daylong County Commission hearing on the various requests Siesta 41 Associates had submitted to the county. “What I’d really like to hear from you,” she added, “is what legal authority this court has to give you the relief that you are requesting.”

Brookes replied that she has the authority to reverse the commission’s votes of approval if she determines the board did not follow the appropriate processes in regard to the CAP, the rezoning of parcels on the approximately 24-acre site to Commercial General, and the granting of Special Exceptions for increased residential density and building height, as well as construction of multi-family buildings on property in a Commercial General district.

Most of the property — about 23 acres — was zoned Residential Mobile Home, which allowed up to nine dwelling units per acre, he pointed out.

McHugh could remand the matter to the commissioners with instructions that they adhere to county policies and regulations, Brookes added. However, he acknowledged, “There’s been no case law that’s interpreted the CAP ‘flow chart’ that he had shown the court.”

In Kochman’s complaint, Brookes argues that, according to that CAP flow chart, the County Commission should have set the boundary for the Siesta Promenade

CAP before transportation studies were undertaken to determine the impact traffic generated by Siesta Promenade would have on the Stickney Point Road/U.S. 41 intersection and surrounding roadways.

Moreover, Brookes told McHugh, that boundary should have encompassed more territory than just the Siesta Promenade site, as a much wider area will feel the impacts of the traffic from the new development.

Specific concerns about proposed new traffic signal Using poster board illustrations, Brookes explained to McHugh that if the commission had approved the boundary of the CAP first, then a traffic impact analysis would have been able to consider, for example, how a planned new traffic signal at the intersection of Stickney Point Road and Avenue B and C would affect the flow of vehicles on Stickney Point Road and in Pine Shores Estates.

At the outset of his remarks, Brookes noted that the installation of that traffic signal is a stipulation in the record for the County Commission’s approval of Siesta Promenade. “There would be no construction without that light, so the new signal is a very important requirement of the project.”

The reason the traffic light has to be erected, he added, is because the county’s Comprehensive Plan prohibits a project like Siesta Promenade from putting its traffic on neighborhood streets.

Brookes used other poster board illustrations to show McHugh that Pine Shores Estates — a neighborhood of mostly single-family homes — surrounds much of the Siesta Promenade site. Siesta Promenade has been designed with 414 condominiums/apartments, a 130room hotel, 133,000 square feet of retail space and 7,000 square feet of office space.

Additionally, he continued, the installation of that traffic light “will absolutely affect vehicle traffic flow” to and from Siesta Key. During the height of tourist season, Brookes told McHugh, residents in the area of the U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road intersection — including many on Siesta Key — are effectively “marooned” in their homes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., because traffic gridlock is routine.

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

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Attorney for Pine Shores Estates resident contesting Siesta Promenade’s approval unable to provide judge with legal precedents to demonstrate key contention in lawsuit

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Taking a completely different view Assistant County Attorney David Pearce told McHugh that Kochman “wrongly argues that the County Commission did not follow the correct procedures …”

A CAP procedure, he added, can be considered concurrently with a rezoning application. Moreover, Pearce pointed out, the county’s zoning regulations recognize that density, height and multifamily residential use “can be set forth in a CAP ordinance.”

Finally, Lincoln — representing Benderson Development and Siesta 41 Associates as intervenors in the case — talked about the requirement that the County Commission consider all the evidence and testimony — similar to a jury during a trial — before making a decision on a development application.

Lincoln told McHugh, “You don’t get to decide what was adequate. The issue is whether the board thought the evidence and testimony were adequate. Here, the board did think it was adequate. It approved the Siesta Promenade petitions, the applications.”

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The Siesta Creamery As Dennis Yoder handed a loaded ice cream cone over the counter to a customer, and the customer let out an involuntary sigh of satisfaction from the heavenly taste of the homemade frozen treat, a broad smile spread across Dennis’s face. It was, no doubt, something he had witnessed many times before, and was perhaps also one of the aspects of his business that he genuinely enjoys.

Dennis and his wife Nancy are the owners of the Siesta Creamery, which opened up last month on South Siesta Key, but if their names sound somewhat familiar to an ice cream aficionado, it’s because the two were the founders and original owners of Big Olaf Creamery.

Back in the early 1980s, Dennis was selling life insurance in Sarasota, but was playing in a golf tournament in Michigan, where he is originally from. After the tournament was over, he was speaking with a friend, who suggested a new venture.

“He said, ‘There’s a business you should go into in Florida,’” Dennis said. “So we flew out to San Diego to the beach and watched them making the Danish waffle cones. I came back and talked to my wife about it, and we ended up buying the rights for the state of Florida for the waffle cone.”

Back then, people would come from hours away just to get the Yoders’ waffle cones, and the couple even set up waffle cone-making operations for both the Sea World and Busch Gardens theme parks.

In a natural evolution in 1982, Dennis and Nancy decided to open their own ice cream shop on Siesta Key. It was on Avenida Messina, where Another Broken Egg now resides. They started out selling Borden ice cream, but before long, Dennis realized the need to make a change.

“In 1983, we started making our own ice cream,” he said. “We made it the old-fashioned way, with rock salt and ice, in a big commercial maker.

Later on, we went to a big batch version. That was the beginning.”

It was still a relatively small operation at that time. Dennis was making the product in the back of the house and Nancy was instrumental in the store operation and training their staff. By 1984, the Siesta Key Village Big Olaf had moved to its current location on Ocean Blvd.

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The Siesta Creamery, on the southern end of Siesta Key, opened up last month

of growth for the family-owned company. They had opened a second store on St. Armands Circle in 1983, and in 1985 and 1986, three more stores were added on the mainland.

By his own admission, Dennis realized within a few years that the only stores that were really profitable at that time were the Siesta Village and St. Armands ones. So in 1990, he and Nancy sold off all the Big Olaf Creamery stores, plus the distribution facility, to individual buyers—with no strings attached.

Not a person known to sit around doing nothing, Dennis began selling real estate in Lakewood Ranch, and created a successful career of it. But in 2009, the management team at Main Street of Lakewood Ranch approached him about opening up a new ice cream store there, to fill the space that was left when another ice cream store had abruptly closed.

“So I opened a Big Olaf there,” Dennis said. “As long as the new Big Olaf owners kept sending ice cream to us, we were able to keep using the name.”

By 2011, he had sold that place as well, and continued concentrating on real estate. But then this past February, a young man approached Dennis about going into partnership with him and opening an ice cream shop on South Siesta Key. Though at the time, Dennis was not really thinking about getting back into the business, he was intrigued by the thought of being able to offer his expertise on ice cream making and having someone else run the store.

Unfortunately, before the store even opened, the potential partner got “cold feet.” After talking it over with Nancy, Dennis decided that if he could find some really good management to take care of the dayto-day operations, he would still go through with opening the store. This time, though, there is no connection whatsoever to Big Olaf.

“I’m still making the same high quality ice cream, using my original recipes from 1982,” he said. “It can’t be any fresher, because it’s coming from the back room to the front room—that’s it.”

His management hire was Tracy Harris, who he implicitly trusts with the day-to-day operation of the store.

In addition to more traditional favorites like fresh fruits, chocolates and butter pecan, those who have been fans of Dennis’s ice creams in the past will love some of his takes on newer recipes. Both his Kahlua Crunch and Rum Raisin are chock full of the real thing, not extracts, as is his brand new Pina Colada, which includes pineapple, coconut and rum.

The Siesta Creamery also gets daily deliveries of donuts and various pastries from Der Dutchman, an Amish restaurant on Bahia Vista

Manager Tracy Harris, and co-worker Ashley Bullen hold down the fort at the counter of the Siesta Creamery

He’s back! Big Olaf founder Dennis Yoder is the owner of the brand new Siesta Creamery

Street. Dennis has created another new ice cream flavor he calls Donuts and Cream, using those baked goods.

Ashley Bullen, who works at the store, said they will also use the donuts in some other ice creambased treats.

“We plan on adding donut sundaes and banana splits, and we also have various shakes and malts,” she said.

“Nancy used to be a soda jerk when she was 12 years old, so we have those coolers, where we have ice cream and pour sodas on top.”

And if you’re craving a hot or iced coffee drink, they offer a nice selection of specialty lattes and espresso.

The shop is having its Grand Opening in the first part of December.

Though the actual date hasn’t yet been set, you can follow the Siesta Creamery Facebook page, and when the date is announced you’ll be the first to know.

As for what Dennis has planned for the future in business, he’s not looking much past his new store, in which he is heavily involved. He says that he’s thankful that his life partner Nancy is all in, as well.

“She was so very instrumental at the start-up all those years ago, and she’s been supportive and is still a vital part of it all,” he said.

“I’m still here making the ice cream and keeping my thumb on the operations.”

The Siesta Creamery is located at 6575 Midnight Pass Road, on Siesta Key. It’s open Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, from 1 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit the Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/siestacreamery/ or call 941-554-4632.

Special Offer for Siesta Sand Readers If you bring a copy of this article to the Siesta Creamery, Dennis Yoder will give you a free donut or pastry, with the purchase of an ice cream or coffee.

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NOVEMBER 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Patron saint honored with pet blessing Father Michael Cannon of St. Michael the Archangel Church and Rector Wayne Farrell along with Rev. Ralph McGimpsey of St. Boniface Episcopal Church once again celebrated

Island Chatter Condo Council seeking board members The Siesta Key Condominium Council is seeking new board members.

“We advocate for issues of a general nature that impact our 90 or so Condo members and provide three to four information Membership meetings per year,” the organization’s leaders wrote in a recent email blast.

Over the past year, the email continued, the Condo Council has been involved in the following issues: the Siesta Promenade proposal for the northwest quadrant of the U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road intersection; red tide; Save Our Siesta Sand 2’s efforts in federal court to try to stop the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass Dredging; and the plan for a hotel on Old Stickney Point Road.

Informational meetings addressed red tide, insurance and legal issues for condominium associations, and Sarasota County projects that will have an impact on the Key. “In the prior year we covered Hurricane Preparedness,” the email said.

“We also sponsor the Annual Condo Christmas Lighting Contest and perform Membership Surveys for issues of concern,” the email continued.

“Our requirements are that you are a current Condo owner on Siesta Key and that you are a Condo Board Member or have served on a Condominium Board in the past and that you are willing to spend some time in a volunteer capacity with the council.”

In addition to the membership meetings, the Condo Council holds one board meeting each month from October through April, the email noted.

“Send an email to the skcondocouncil@hotmail.com if you are interested and a Board member will be in contact with you,” the email concluded.

A wealth of contact information People needing phone numbers and email addresses for a wide variety of people and places — in Sarasota County and the state — need look no further than the Siesta

Continued from page 16

Key Association’s website, Director Joyce Kouba pointed out during the nonprofit’s Oct. 3 regular meeting.

Just click on “Contact” on the bar at the top of the homepage.

From organizations that assist with the rescue of injured animals, to Sarasota County commissioners, to other elected county officials, to the county’s Code Enforcement staff, to the Governor’s Office and offices of state and federal representatives, a wide array of information is available.

patron Saint Francis of Assisi with a pet blessing ceremony at their respective churches.

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A great new partnership for the Crystal Classic This year, for the first time, a portion of the proceeds from the Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival will benefit student scholarships at Ringling College of Art + Design, assisting “talented, creative students so that they may be able to pursue their dreams of higher education in art and design,” the event’s producer announced.

Siesta Beach Festival Inc. is the nonprofit that puts on the festival each November on Siesta Public Beach.

“The Siesta Key Crystal Classic has been a great artistic event since its beginning in 2010,” Bob Parkinson, Siesta Beach Festival board member, said in a news release. “Talented artists come from all over the world to create masterpieces of ephemeral art. We are pleased to support Ringling College of Art and Design, a notable artistic resource in our community, and their talented student body,” Parkinson added.

The Crystal Classic is a visual and cultural arts festival that has hosted more than 325,000 attendees since its first show. This year, it marks its 10th anniversary, the release pointed out.

“In only 24 sculpting hours, (spanning the four-day event), the master sculptors create sand masterpieces and transform the always beautiful Siesta Beach into an outdoor art gallery,” the news release noted. “The Crystal Classic connects the arts and the beach in ways never before seen in Sarasota.

“And it’s more than just sand,” the release added.

Continued on page 29

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Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

www.siestasand.net

By Rachel Brown Hackney

Seagulls getting sick and dying

SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Save Our Seabirds staff hopes necropsies on two deceased laughing gulls will provide answer about cause of illness affecting birds on Siesta and Lido keys As of Oct. 9, more than 40 seagulls in Sarasota and Manatee counties had died as a result of poisoning, the senior hospital technician with the nonprofit Save Our Seabirds told SNL. Beginning in late September, the avian rescue and rehabilitation organization on City Island began treating birds found mostly on Siesta Key, but also on Lido Key, Save our Seabirds staff reported. As of Oct. 9, 25 deaths had been confirmed among laughing gulls that inhabited an area near Anna Maria Island, Jonathan Hande, the Save Our Seabirds senior hospital technician, said.

On Oct. 4, Rachel Pettit, avian hospital technician at Save Our Seabirds, told SNL in a telephone interview that the initial cases involved juvenile and yearling laughing gulls.

On Oct. 9, Hande reported, “We’re seeing a pretty bigger range” of ages, including adults.

Pettit reported that the birds brought to Save Our Seabirds were suffering with severe dehydration and lethargy.

Hande said he suspected botulism as the poison affecting the gulls.

“Botulism is … in our environment at all times,” he explained, including the soil.

“Clostridium botulinum is ubiquitously present in the environment in soils, dust, and the marine and freshwater sediments of wetlands, rivers, and lakes,” a 2014 paper published by Frontiers in Microbiology says.

“Spores in soil may be mobilized by surface waters in heavy rain, or dust carried away by wind (Long and Tauscher, 2006),” the paper

adds. The gulls could have become sick from eating substances they found on the ground, Hande told the SNL. Botulism is highly contagious, he stressed. “Once it gets into one animal, it can spread pretty rapidly.”

The staff of Save Our Seabirds is hoping that necropsies on two laughing gulls will solve the riddle and offer guidance on medication and treatment to save future victims, Dana Leworthy, avian hospital administrator at the City Island nonprofit, told the News Leader in an Oct. 17 update.

Earlier that week, Leworthy said, Save Our Seabirds staff sent a couple of deceased laughing gulls to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for testing.

Asked how long she expected to wait on the results, Leworthy replied, “I don’t know.” She added that she hoped it would not take more than a couple of weeks.

Leworthy concurred with Pettit that “It couldn’t be red tide,” because “it’s only affecting one species. It’s pretty weird.”

Leworthy estimated that another four or five ill birds had been brought to Save Our Seabirds since Oct. 9. At least, she noted, the number had been decreasing.

When Pettit spoke with SNL on Oct. 4, she said the gulls she was treating “seem to be having an issue standing, feeding and preening themselves.”

Staff members give the sick birds “a lot of fluids,” she pointed out. They flush the gulls’ systems with saline and electrolytes. She

A passion for helping wildlife Long-time members of the Siesta Key Association (SKA) may recall that, years ago, Dave Thomas often asked for help from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office to prevent boaters from endangering manatees that routinely swam the island’s canals.

On Oct. 3, members learned of a new passion for Thomas: helping sick and injured birds.

Thomas was the person who brought up the topic of laughing gulls that had been found suffering from some type of poisoning.

Indeed, he knew many details because he had been taking victims to Save Our Seabirds, the nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation facility and education center on City Island, near Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

SKA President Catherine Luckner pointed out that Thomas had become certified in the rescue efforts.

She also noted that the trip from Siesta to Save Our Seabirds is not a short one.

“It’s about 2 gallons of gas a bird,” Thomas acknowledged with a laugh, thanks to his new car, he added. “It used to be 3 gallons a bird.”

On Oct. 9, Thomas spoke on the phone about his training for this new endeavor, as well as

likened the treatment to the medial response for a person who has suffered food poisoning.

The goal is “to reset everything” in the bodily functions, she added.

Siesta Key Association members alerted to the issue A Save Our Seabirds volunteer brought the issue of the sick gulls to the attention of Siesta Key Association (SKA) members during their October meeting.

Dave Thomas, who told SNL he became certified in bird rescues about two years ago, asked Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sheriff’s Office substation on the Key, if Smith or other officers had noticed any signs of pesticide use or unusual activity near the beach between the blocks of 5900 and 6200 Midnight Pass Road.

“We’re seeing a lot of toxic seagulls,” Thomas added. “Not that I’ve heard of,” Smith replied.

At that point, Thomas said, neither researchers at Save Our Seabirds nor Mote Marine Laboratory had any insight as to what might be causing the illness.

“The poisoning seems to be specific to the laughing gulls,” Thomas told the SKA members. “The other shore birds are not being affected, as far as we can tell.”

SKA Director Erin Kreis asked Thomas if he could contact the managers of the condominium complexes in the areas where the birds had been found, to ask if the managers were doing anything different that might be having an effect on the birds.

By Rachel Brown Hackney

SarasotaNewsLeader.com some of his adventures in the field.

The focus of Thomas’ efforts that day was a He attended a training seminar at Save Our seagull with an injured wing.

Seabirds, he explained, during which attendees After Thomas netted the gull, “The bottom learned, over a period of several hours, how to went from sand to nothing, just the mush that handle birds. accumulates from years of dead leaves and “People like Jonathan Hande are very good other matter in the canal.” about explaining and giving us helpful tips,” “It was like quicksand,” Thomas added.

Thomas said, referring to the senior hospital “Suddenly, I was up to my chest in water … technician at the nonprofit. and I was totally alone.”

The top bird rescuer for the organization He was about 20 feet from the shore, he said. conducts a seminar about once a year, Thomas Nobody seemed to be close by he added. The explained. That person provides handouts to incident happened during the middle of a day. the attendees, as well as equipment.

“It took me 20 to 25 minutes to move a few How much a graduate ends up helping out inches.” afterward, Thomas added, is a matter of “how Finally, he said, he used the long handle on far you’re willing to drive and how deep you’re the net to poke around on the bottom, and willing to wade. … It can be a little harrowing he found a broken tree branch. That branch at times.” enabled him to get sufficient leverage to Then Thomas said, “I almost drowned once. relocate to an area with more solid footing. “I … I got stuck in a slough in a residential area was able to finally wiggle my way out.” …”

Asked about the fate of the gull, Thomas The resident whose call led him to the scene, responded, “I rescued the bird.”

Thomas said, was a student, so the resident That incident taught him to include rope was unable to stay there and potentially offer as part of his gear, along with other safety assistance. “Normally, you have someone devices. who’s hanging around.”

“We share that type of information at the

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Dave Thomas at the SKA meeting

Save Our Seabirds seminars,” he pointed out of the experience.

Along with a cage, gloves and rubber boats, he continued, he also has learned to carry with him towels and a change of clothes.

When SNL interviewed Rachel Pettit, avian hospital technician, about the sick gulls on Siesta, SNL noted that Thomas was the person who had alerted the SKA members to the situation. “He’s an angel,” Pettit said.

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“Very often, it’s the managers of the properties that call us,” Thomas replied.

So far, he continued, none of them had reported any changes in maintenance or other activities.

Usually, he continued, he has rescued one bird at a time. However, that morning, he was called to help three in a group.

The gulls rescued on Siesta Key have been found in three locations, Thomas reported: Point of Rocks, on the southern part of Siesta Beach; the area near the 6000 block of Midnight Pass Road; and the vicinity of the lifeguard stations on the public beach. He had not received any reports of sick birds on the northernmost part of the beach, he pointed out.

During the SKA meeting, Thomas asked that anyone who finds a sick bird call 388-3010, which is the number for Save Our Seabirds.

The nonprofit will dispatch someone trained to collect the bird, he said. However, he asked that the person stay with the bird, if at all possible, after making the call.

Gulls and other birds will move, even if they are sick, he pointed out. If the caller leaves the scene, Thomas said, the rescuer might have difficulty trying to locate the bird.

Save Our Seabirds is located at 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota.

The nonprofit’s website explains that its mission is “to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sick and injured wild birds while educating our community about preventing injuries and preserving habitats.”

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Siesta Key Drum Circle Every Sunday is a perfect time to come to the Key to reconnect with Mother Nature and to enjoy this collaborative community event. I’m talking about the Siesta Key Drum Circle that takes place each Sunday starting about an hour before sunset and lasting until about 10 p.m. The gathering meets up just south of the main pavilion - just follow your ears and watch for the swelling crowd.

Please note the following rules of etiquette that need to be observed at the Drum Circle so that all can enjoy the experience: the inside of the drum circle is for participants only, not for people standing around. Feel free to enter the circle, take a picture and dance, but always keep moving. Never play someone’s drum without getting clearance from the owner. Always ask before borrowing other people’s property, especially hula hoops. Flash photography and bright video lights are distracting, so photograph during daylight or use a night vision camera. And finally, please do not drink alcohol or smoke inside the circle and respect our beach by placing all trash in the appropriate receptacles.

Photo by Jane Dough as shared in Siesta Key Drum Circle Facebook page.

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22

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

Environmental Impact Statement requested

www.siestasand.net

By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Save Our Siesta Sand 2 urges County Commission to press Army Corps of Engineers once again to undertake an in-depth environmen A member of the board of directors of Save Our Siesta Sand 2 (SOSS2) has asked the Sarasota County Commission once again to press the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to undertake an indepth environmental analysis of the federal agency’s proposal to remove sand from Big Sarasota Pass to renourish 1.56 miles of South Lido Key Beach.

On Oct. 7, Mark Smith, a 25-year Siesta Key resident and business owner, made the request as he appeared during the morning Open to the Public period.

Smith pointed out that SOSS2 filed a motion in late August, asking a federal judge in Tampa to rule that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary before the USACE can remove any sand from Big Pass.

A Siesta Key-based nonprofit, SOSS2 filed suit against the USACE in January in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, arguing that the USACE has violated federal regulations in refusing to pursue an EIS before removing up to 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from Big Pass. The waterway dividing Lido and Siesta keys never has been dredged.

“There’s not enough environmental information to confirm no harm to the Sarasota Bay ecosystem,”

Smith said of the modeling the USACE has undertaken for the Lido project.

About 950,000 cubic yards of sand is expected to be placed on the eroded Lido shoreline, Smith noted.

(The rest of the sediment from Big Pass is likely to be lost during the dredging process, based on USACE documents submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.)

Smith stressed that the 950,000 figure is “four times more than the average dredge amount for Lido going back to 1964.”

In a December 2016 letter to the County Commission, Smith — as chair of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce — wrote that Lido Key’s beach had been renourished 12 times since 1964, “on an average of every 4 years.” Further, he added, the average amount of sand per dredge was 253,000 cubic yards.

A manmade island, Lido Key has experienced consistent and severe erosion over the decades. The City of Sarasota completed an emergency beach renourishment project on the Lido shoreline in April, using sand from New Pass.

On Oct. 7, Smith also referenced the peer review the County Commission requested in 2015, in regard to the USACE’s proposal for what officially is the

Lido Key Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project. That analysis of the USACE’s plans, Smith said, reached the conclusion that no assurances could be made that Ted Sperling Park on South Lido, Lido Beach, Siesta Beach or “navigation in Big Pass” would escape harm if the USACE were allowed to proceed without conducting an EIS. The county owns Sperling Park.

(During a March 2016 presentation to the County Commission on the peer review — which was performed by the nationally known firm Atkins — consultant Charles Mopps explained that the technology the USACE used in researching potential impacts of the Big Pass/Lido initiative has twodimensional capabilities. The USACE’s CMS model, Mopps added, is proprietary; the USACE “pretty much developed it.” A three-dimensional technology called Delft3D is preferable, he continued, because of “how truthfully that model could potentially predict results.” Delft3D was created in The Netherlands, he said. It is an open source software, as indicated on the website from which it can be downloaded.)

In August 2016, Smith continued, the commissioners agreed to send a letter to the USACE, requesting an EIS, based on the guidelines of the National

Environmental Policy Act However, no EIS was co In June 2018, Smith adde of Environmental Protec necessary permit to the US for the Lido project — the Then, in September 20 announced its intent to the USACE for failure to dredging Big Pass. That USACE has violated NE with the Endangered Sp Water Act. (In July 2018, th updated Environmental A Significant Impact for the In its federal court case, has been following throug to persuade the USACE to The USACE is stalled righ as Smith explained to the federal agency issued a so project. Yet, in late July, w the two it had received, S was 56% higher than the project’s expense; the high

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Lido Beach renourishment

ntal analysis of proposed dredging of Big Pass

(NEPA). onducted. ed, the Florida Department ction (FDEP) issued the SACE and its co-applicant City of Sarasota.

018, Smith added, SOSS2 file a complaint against undertake an EIS before lawsuit alleges that the EPA regulations, along pecies Act and the Clean he USACE issued only an Assessment/Finding of No Lido initiative.)

Smith pointed out, SOSS2 gh on the county’s efforts o conduct an EIS. ht now in its plans for Lido, commission. In May, the olicitation for bids on the when the USACE opened Smith said, the lower one USACE’s estimate of the her bid was 92% more than

the USACE estimate.

Perhaps, if the USACE revises the bid to reduce the scope of the project, Smith said, that “would negate the need to dredge Big Pass.”

A history of unexpected consequences “The Army Corps has failed in other communities,” Smith pointed out, in pursuing a variety of initiatives.

One of those was in St. Augustine, Smith noted. The dredging of the St. Augustine Inlet was supposed to benefit St. Augustine Beach, he said. It resulted in significant erosion on Vilano Beach, he added.

In another case Smith referenced, the USACE finally agreed to conduct new studies before starting a dredging project to expand Port Everglades so it could serve the newer shipping vessels that are too large to use the Panama Canal.

(In April, the USACE released a status report saying that that initiative had been delayed until 2021.)

“We do not want Sarasota Bay and Big Pass to be added to the list of failed Army Corps projects,” Smith told the commissioners. “This is why you should continue to insist on an Environmental Impact Statement, as stewards of Sarasota Bay.”

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By Rachel Brown Hackney

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

SarasotaNewsLeader.com

Siesta Key Association files appeal of Circuit Court ruling in its efforts to try to prevent dredging of Big Pass On Oct. 4, the Siesta Key Association (SKA) filed notice with the Second District Court of Appeal that it is appealing not only the latest ruling in its 12th Judicial Circuit Court case but also two other decisions, one of which dates to Oct. 12, 2018.

On Oct. 7, the Court of Appeal issued a formal acknowledgement of the new case and assigned it a number on the docket.

On Sept. 19, Circuit Judge Andrea McHugh ruled that the City of Sarasota “did not have an indispensible legal duty” to issue a determination about whether its plans to remove sand from Big Sarasota Pass to renourish about 1.6 miles of South Lido Key Beach is consistent with its Comprehensive Plan.

The SKA originally filed a complaint against the city in March 2017, arguing that the city was in violation of the city’s own Comprehensive Plan and the Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan in proceeding with the proposal for the Lido Key project. At the time, the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) were working through a process within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to obtain the necessary permit for the renourishment

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initiative. FDEP finally issued that permit in June 2018.

McHugh also ruled against the SKA in October 2018 and again in January; both those rulings are among the decisions the SKA is appealing. After each decision, the nonprofit modified its arguments in an effort to win a ruling in its favor.

During the Oct. 3 SKA meeting, Robert Luckner — formerly just a member of the nonprofit’s Environmental Committee but now a director — reported to members that the SKA’s board was considering filing an appeal.

He noted SKA leaders’ surprise at McHugh’s Sept.

19 ruling. The previous month, both he and SKA President Catherine Luckner — his wife — had said they felt confident that McHugh would rule in the nonprofit’s favor.

On Oct. 3, after Robert Luckner offered information about McHugh’s latest decision, he said he believed it would cost the SKA $400 for filing the notice of appeal.

However, “It’s probably another $10,000,” he added, “if we have to file a 20-page brief… That brief would be due 70 days after we file notice of the appeal .”

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Siesta Sand

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CRESCENT BEACH SHOP INDEX

Gifts & Souvenirs Capt. Curt’s Souvenirs.............................B-3 #8 Green Turtle Shells & Gifts................. C-3 #14 Sunshine Sand Hidden Treasures...... D-3 #17 Silver City Jewelry................................. C-3 #14 Health & Beauty Sanctuary Siesta Key............................... A-5 #12 Siesta Key Salon & Spa........................... D-3 #17 The Key Spa & Salon.............................. A-5 #12 Ice Cream & Treats Orange Octopus .......................................B-3 #8 Siesta Creamery....................................... C-3 #14 INTERNET / WiFi SERVICES Davidson Drugs..................................... C-3 #14 Mail Pack Center..................................... C-3 #14 Liquor Stores Crescent Beach Grocery...........................B-3 #1 Crescent Club...........................................B-3 #13 Siesta Spirits............................................. C-3 #17

Mailing & Shipping Mail Pack Center..................................... C-3 #14 US Post Office Sub Station..................... C-3 #14 Markets 7-11 Store.................................................. C-3 #16 Big Water Fish Market.......................... C-3 #17 Crescent Beach Grocery...........................B-3 #1 Miscellaneous Moving & Storage....................................B-3 #10 Flowers by Fudgie................................... D-3 #17 Real Estate / RENTALS Beckmann Properties.............................. C-2 #15 Homes & Condo Rentals........................ D-3 #17 Re/Max Tropical Sands............................B-3 #1 Siesta 4-Rent............................................ C-3 #14 Waterside Realty..................................... C-3 #17 Restaurants / CAFES Big Water Fish Market................................C-3 #17

www.siestasand.net

Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill...............A-5 #12 Capt. Curts Crab & Oyster Bar.................B-3 #7 City Pizza Italian Restaurant................. D-3 #17 Clayton’s Siesta Grille...............................B-3 #9 Daiquiri Deck.................................................A-3 #2 Spear Fish Grill..............................................A-4 #5 Toasted Mango Cafe....................................C-3 #17 Miguel’s Restaurant................................ C-3 #17 Water Sports - Fishing - RENTALS A to Z Beach & Bike Rentals.................. A-5 #12 FIN Island Co. .......................................... A-3 #2 CB’s Saltwater Outfitters........................ A-3 #4 Parasail Siesta........................................... A-3 #2 Siesta Key Bike & Kayak . ......................B-3 #8 Siesta Key Marina.................................... A-4 #5 Siesta Key Jetski . ...................................... A-3 #2 Siesta Sports Rentals............................. C-3 #14 Waves Boat & Social Club...................... A-5 #12

“Home of the Orange Squeeze!”

OPEN 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM DAILY

ING FEATUR

Homemade Ice Cream

Sundaes l Shakes l Smoothies l Coffees Espresso l Cappuccinos

1220 Old Stickney Point Rd., Siesta Key In the Captain Curt’s Plaza Map B-3#8

941-346-0202

Expires 12/31/19

BIKES · BEACH STUFF · KAYAKS PADDLEBOARDS · SCOOTER CARS BEACH WHEELCHAIRS · SCOOTERS

Book Your Next Adventure Online. We Deliver!

BOOK ONLINE OR CALL AT:

RideAndPaddle.com

(941)-346-1797 6551 Midnight Pass Road Southbridge Mall Siesta Key, FL 34242

BOOK ONLINE & SAVE $5.00 OFF YOUR NEXT WEEKLY BIKE RENTAL WITH COUPON CODE: V2019

Map B-3#8

Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill 1500 Stickney Point Rd.

Anna’s Deli 6535 Midnight Pass Rd.

MAP C-3 #14

Big Water Fish Market 6641 Midnight Pass Road

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters 1249 Stickney Point Rd.

MAP A-3 #4

Coconuts Fashion MAP 1215 Old Stickney Point Rd. B-3 #1&8

Crescent Beach Grocery 1211 Old Stickney Pt. Rd.

MAP B-3 #1

Davidson Drugs 6595 Midnight Pass Rd.

MAP C-3 #14

Siesta 4-Rent 6555 Midnight Pass Rd.

Toasted Mango Cafe 6621 Midnight Pass Rd.

MAP C-3 #17

MAP C-4 #17

MAP C-3 #14

MAP A-5 #12

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

Snapshots of Island Visitors 1

Photos by Jaye Clements - Sarasota Photography 3

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Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

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1. Josh, Alexis, Lonni age 2, & Rue age 5 from Sarasota 2. Rich, Trinity age 5, & Renee from Tampa 3. Abbi from Sarasota 4. Steve & Pat from LWR, FL 5. Tais from Italy, Jessica from Mexico, Alejandia from Columbia, Alicia from Sweden, Lola from Argentina, & Vicky from Mexico (front bottom) 6. Jeannie, Natasha, Pablo, & Leam 7. Nancy & Seth from NC, & Barbara from OR 8. Abbi & Ben from Sarasota 9. Katie, Chyna, Shawn, Nina, & James from Sarasota 10. Matt, Janie, Roman & Ember age 4 from Sarasota 11. Jaclyn & Chase age 5 from Sarasota 12. Fabian, Emily age 3, Ariel, age 3, & Kayle age 6 from Tampa 13. Bill, Ed, Rossana, & Nicolette from Sarasota

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Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

Siesta Sounds

941.349.0194

By Charmaine Engelsman-Robins

The soul of Billy Seward

He dug in on the music and started writing some of his own songs while still following such influences from the 60s and 70s soul scene as Curtis Mayfield, Tyrone Davis, O.V. Wright and others he’d been turned on to when he lived in Chicago.

Since then his music career has just propelled him along with invitations to play with bands from the Gulf of Mexico to the Ohio River, which has kept him busy running back and forth on 75. This month, an old Sarasota boy who also spent time playing music in the service came back from L.A. to play again with Billy: Neil Larson ( https://neillarsen.net/bio/ ), who went to Riverview High School with several classmates who later turned into local music luminaries. If all goes as planned, Neil is scheduled to work with Billy again (along with old friend Burt Engelsman and drummer Steve Camilleri) on November 15 at Gilligan’s in Siesta Village. Billy says of Neil, “He’s an amazing, other-worldly player who always has some interesting stuff happening. You just get him up on stage and let him go!”

Billy says he always loves playing Siesta Key as this was the hunk of southwest Florida that first captured his heart when he visited a buddy who was living on the beach there in 1980. “Those were the early days.

I loved the people… met (the late) Rock Bottom, John Lambie… one of my earliest musical memories of this area is seeing Dickey Betts playing in 1980 at the old 5-0 (Clock Club) with Gregg Allman sitting in the audience. Man, I sat there looking around and listening and I thought, “Yeah… this is all right!”

Flash-forward to the present: Billy’s son, Will, is also a musician and they work together sometimes, collaborate on some tunes in addition to their solo writing, keeping the old traditions going while building some new ones. If all goes as planned, one of their joint efforts just might be featured on the upcoming recording Billy has planned, which will be the follow-up to Better Place, a recording he did in Memphis (and you can get a taste of at https:// tinyurl.com/y2orj68f) and his 2016 Chicago-recorded release South Shore (https://airplaydirect.com/ music/billyseward/ ).

Be sure to check out the Gilligan’s gig on Friday, November 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. for some great music, and for more music from Billy Seward check out https://tinyurl.com/y43pqzvq .

If you’d like to check out one of the most respected soul singers in our area, that would be Billy Seward.

Other musicians sing (no pun intended) his praises and cite him as exceptional… and have said as much right here in this column. Just last month when we brought you keyboard player/vocalist extraordinaire Mike Kach (of Dickey Betts and Great Southern, among others), Mike told us that “…when it comes to old time R&B and soul, Billy has got it down. He is just brilliant. You can tell he really loves that music and he really nails it.”

Apparently it’s kind of a mutual admiration society; Billy has nothing but good things to say about the talent he gets to work with here. “I get to play with the best guys in town and it’s really a pleasure,” he says.

Describing himself as a “late bloomer,” Billy didn’t pick up the guitar until he joined the Marines in the 1970s. “The (Viet Nam) war was over … but just barely,” he recalls. “I started out by learning blues and did play in some blues bands after my time in the service, but they also touched on soul and … though rare for that time … a little reggae.”

After the structured daily routine with the Marines, Billy went in another direction, living what he describes as “sort of a bohemian life for 10 years or so, till about 1986.” A good part of the 80’s was spent living in Chicago, where Billy really honed down his style by listening to soul singers in the little clubs there. But after a while, he says, he “hit a stopping point and decided I wanted a ‘normal’ life. Got married, settled down, worked a straight job.”

This was followed by about 15 years living in San Diego. Though playing music may have taken a back seat to the respectable business of earning a steady living installing sound systems for his employer’s customers, he kept his hand in it by playing on an amateur basis in California.

“I got to jam with some top-notch players there,” Billy remembers.

When his employer went out of business in 2010, he got to play even more. For a while he kept working independently for his past clients at the now-gone business, but after a while it was time for another change. That’s when he moved to Sarasota, Florida.

CLUB

MONDAY

BLASE CAFÉ In the Village 941-349-9822 DAIQUIRI DECK RAW BAR In the Village 941‐349‐8697 GILLIGANS In the Village 941‐346‐8122

WEDNESDAY

Dana Lawrence (5 & 26) Frankie Lombardi (12 & 19) 6‐10 PM

Evan Eastmoore 6‐10 PM

THURSDAY Rob Viola 6‐10 PM CLOSED THANKSGIVING

Billy Seward

FRIDAY Callie & The Whole Band 6‐10 PM LIVE MUSIC (3‐7 PM) DJ TJ (10 PM)

6‐10 PM Mike Tozier OR Deven Starr

RPM LIVE ‐ 6‐10 PM DJ Nate – 10 PM

1‐5 PM: Deven Starr (6 & 20) Frankie Raye (13 & 27) Kettle of Fish 7‐11 PM

1‐5 PM: Dana & Co. 7‐11 PM Folklab

2‐6 PM John Whiteleather Band 8‐Midnight st Big Daddy (1 ) th Last Minute Band (8 ) th Deven Starr (15 ) nd Nick LeValley (22 ) th Danny Fox Trio (29 )

DJ Coz or DJ Kensi 9 PM – 2 AM

DJ Coz & DJ Xtreme 10 PM

8‐11 PM: LIVE MUSIC Live DJ: 11 PM‐2 AM

8 – 11 PM LIVE MUSIC DJ Kensi: 11 PM – 2 AM

1‐5 PM: David Morris (5, & 19) J. Gilton (12 & 26) th 7‐11 PM Open Mic (5 ) Audio Orchid (12, 19, & 26)

Karaoke Mondays 9 PM – Midnight

SUNDAY

Shift Change Band th th (9 & 16 ) Melanie Massell & Co. (23 & 30) 6‐10 PM LIVE MUSIC (3‐7 PM) DJ K Conn (10 PM) 1 PM LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM LIVE MUSIC DJ KConn – 10 PM

RPM LIVE: 6‐10 PM

1‐5 PM: Rob Viola (3,11, & 18) th Vince Berardi (25 ) Al Donadi 7‐11 PM

6‐10 PM LIVE MUSIC DJ KConn – 10 PM

SATURDAY

Massell, Moonbear Duo (2nd)

Rodney Shenk: 6‐10 PM

SIESTA KEY OYSTER BAR (SKOB) In the Village 941-346-5443

THE BEACH CLUB In the Village 941‐349‐6311 THE COTTAGE In the Village 941-312-9300 THE HUB‐BAJA GRILL In the Village 941-349-6800 BACKROOM SALOON @ CAPT. CURTS Crescent Beach Shops 941‐349‐3885 SNIKI TIKI @ CAPT CURTS Crescent Beach Shops 941‐349‐3885 Spearfish Siesta Grille Southern end of SK 941‐349‐3474 Turtle Beach Grill Southern end of SK 941‐349‐2280 SAND DOLLAR POOL BAR @ Best Western Plus 6600 S. Tamiami Trl Sarasota 941‐924‐4900 BOATYARD WATERFRONT BAR & GRILL 1500 Stickney Pt. Rd. 941‐921‐6200 CASEY KEY FISH HOUSE 801 Blackburn Pt. Rd, Osprey 941‐966‐1901

TUESDAY

CLOSED MONDAYS

Lelu’s Coffee Lounge In the Village 941-346-5358

www.siestasand.net

Papa Foxtrot 6‐10 PM BREE (3‐7 PM) 1 PM LIVE MUSIC 6‐19 PM LIVE MUSIC DJ Tuesday – 10 PM

Eddie James Jazz Band 7‐10 PM

11 AM – 2 PM Brek Milo (2 & 23) th Chris Connolly (9 ) th Deven Starr (16 ) th Jordy (30 ) nd 3‐7 PM: Jordy (2 ) Evan Eastmoore (9 & 23) th Frankie Lombardi (16 ) th Nick LeValley (30 ) 8‐Midnight: Mike Tozier

10 AM ‐ 1 PM Vince Colaiocco OR Mike Tozier 2‐6 PM th Jordy (17 only) 7 ‐11 PM: Hatley OR The Whole Band 8‐Midnight LIVE MUSIC

Live Music 6-9 PM

Live Music 6-9 PM

Live Music 6-9 PM

Live Music 7-10 PM

Live Music 7-10 PM

Live Music 7-10 PM

Live Music 6-9 PM

Live Music Noon – 3 PM 3:30 – 6:30 PM 7-10 PM

Live Music Noon – 3 PM 3:30 – 6:30pm 7-10pm

Live Music Noon – 3 PM 3:30 – 6:30 PM 7-10 PM

Live Music Noon – 3 PM 3:30 – 6:30 PM 7-10 PM

Live Music 1 – 4 PM 4:30 – 7:30 PM 8:30 PM –midnight

Live Music 1-4 PM 4:30 – 7:30 PM 8:30 PM - midnight

Live Music Noon – 3 PM 3:30 – 6:30 PM 7-10 PM

KARAOKE 9 PM – CLOSE

KARAOKE 9 PM – CLOS

LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 5‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 5‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 5‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 5‐9 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

KARAOKE 9 PM – CLOSE LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM

Kevin Thompson 5‐8:30 PM

LIVE MUSIC 3‐6 PM

LIVE MUSIC 3‐6 PM

LIVE MUSIC 3‐6 PM

John Patti / James Albritton Steel Drum & Acoustic Guitar 5‐8:30 PM

Bri Rivera 5‐8:30 PM

Vince Barardi 5‐9 PM

Jokers Duo 5‐9 PM

Desi Adams Island Sounds 4‐8 PM

LIVE MUSIC 4‐8 PM

LIVE MUSIC 3‐7 PM

LIVE MUSIC 3‐7 PM

Fawny Frost Motown/Disco/R&B 5‐8:30 PM

Above information is subject to change. We suggest calling venues for confirmation.

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

Island Humor An English lady was making plans to take an expensive visit to Switzerland and wrote to the manager of a country inn for a reservation. She ended the letter stating that she wanted a room as close to a “WC” as possible. Now those of you who have visited the UK will know that a “WC” is in fact a WATER CLOSET or what you would call a rest room. The Swiss inn keeper was somewhat confused by all of this and whilst talking to his local parish priest he decided to ask him what this meant. The parish priest thought about it for a while and then said, “I know--it must mean “WAYSIDE CHAPEL”. The innkeeper wrote back to the lady.

Dear Madam: It is with pleasure that I am able to confirm a room for you at our inn and that there is indeed a WC nearby. It is located only five miles away from the inn in a beautiful grove of pine trees, which gives it a feeling of serenity to the visitor. We will be most pleased to arrange transportation for you during your stay with us.

It may surprise you to know that

our WC holds over 200 persons at a sitting. It is a good idea to go as early as possible in order to get a good seat, as sometimes only standing room is available and is especially hard on some of the older ladies!

On Sundays a good number of people take picnic lunches and make a day of it. Others take a bus or horse carriage and usually arrive just in time. I would recommend Madam arrange to go on Thursday evenings when there is Organ Accompaniment.

Although the building dates back to the 12th century, the acoustics are excellent and even the most delicate sounds may be heard in the halls!

We are also rather proud of our unusual bell, donated by a wealthy visitor, which rings every time someone makes an offering.

Unfortunately my wife has a rather delicate condition so she has not been able to attend regularly. Naturally it pains her not to be able to go more often.

In conclusion we hope your stay with us will be most happy, so please let us know if you wish a seat reserved for you for the season at the WC. There is a small service charge but it will

HOTTEST BAR IN GULF GATE...

MLB/College Packages FULL BAR

6500 Gateway Ave • 941.554.8905

insure you an upholstered seat. We suggest you bring your camera as the evening candle lighting ceremony at the WC is very colorful and it’s a beautiful sight to see the light playing on the fountains.

Some come with cheer, some with charity -- but, all leave satisfied!

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

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M e h T f o r e d n e t r Ba

outh Siesta Daiquiri Deck, S (941) 349-8697 , d R t in o P y e n 1250 Stick

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.

But, when you swim in the creek and an eel bites your cheek, that’s a moray!

What do you get when you combine a laxative and alphabet soup?

Letter Rip! Harry was stunned to come home from work one evening and find his wife stuffing all her belongings into a suitcase. “What on earth are you doing?” he cried.

“I can’t stand it anymore!” she shrieked. “Thirty-two years we’ve been married, and all we do is bicker and quarrel and ignore each other. I’m leaving!”

Stunned, Harry watched his wife close the suitcase, lug it down the stairs, and proceed to walk out of the house...out of his life.

Suddenly, he was galvanized into action. Running into the bedroom, he grabbed a second suitcase and yelled back at his wife, “Sylvia, you’re right, you’re absolutely right – and I can’t bear it either. Wait a minute, please, and I’ll go with you!”

President and Mrs. Coolidge once visited a state fair where the prize rooster was brought to Mrs. Coolidge’s attention. “This here rooster does his duty up to eight times a day, ma’am,” the proud owner informed her.

The first lady’s eyes opened wide. “Please see to it that that piece of information reaches the president,” she instructed crisply.

Not long after, the president’s party passed through the poultry barn, and the rooster’s owner dutifully informed the president of the bird’s prowess.

“Eight times a day, eh?” the president marveled. “With the same hen?”

“No sir – with a different hen each time.”

“Pass that on to Mrs. Coolidge!”

Congratulations and a tip of the hat to Taylor who has been selected as our November Bartender of the Month. This home-grown Sarasotan is currently bartending at Daiquiri Deck, South Siesta.

Following is a light-hearted Q&A with Taylor: Q: What’s your bartending experience and how long have you worked at Daiquiri Deck, South Siesta?

A: I’ve worked at the Daiquiri Deck South Siesta for two years and the drink I’ve perfected is called “Spicy Girl Margarita.”

Q: What is the strangest or funniest experience you witnessed or were party to at work?

A: One day 10 minutes before closing time, late at night, a lady wandered upstairs slightly tipsy with a 5-gallon bucket. Inside the bucket were two Chihuahua puppies. So very cute, but so very strange.

Q: Any hobbies, goals, etc. You enjoy when not working?

A: I’m working on obtaining my real estate license and spending my free time out on a boat.

Q: How would you describe yourself?

A: I consider myself very outgoing, a people person that loves to have a good time.

Q: What makes Daiquiri Deck South Siesta a special place to visit?

A: The Daiquiri Deck South Siesta has an open-air beach vibe concept that is family friendly with a three-story view of siesta key beach and the sunset.

Q: What specialty drink is Daiquiri Deck South Siesta noted for?

A: We are noted for our St. Armands margarita, which is made with fresh lime juice and agave nectar – so good!

Q: When is the best time for locals and visitors to enjoy your company at Daiquiri Deck South Siesta?

A: I bartend during Football Sundays where we have the downstairs bar open with sound and offer fantastic football specials.

I also bartend every day of the week for our 3-7 p.m. Happy hour!

CAPTAIN CURT’S VILLAGE

Siesta Key’s “Old Florida” Shopping Village In The Heart of Crescent Beach

BEST SHOPPING, DINING AND FUN ON SIESTA KEY

Enjoy specialty coffees and craft beers

SIESTA KEY’S OLDEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

941-349-3885 CAPTAIN CURT’S CAPTAIn

WORLD FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER

FUN RENTALS OF ALL KINDS 941-346-0891

Island Apparel, Souvenirs, & Chowder Kits 941-349-3885

Ice Cream and more! 941-346-8080

Outdoor Dining / Food until 2am LIVE MUSIC

1200 Old Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key FL, 34242

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Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE

SIESTA NAILS & SPA

(941) 556 9048 Mon-Fri: 9am - 7pm Sat: 9am - 6pm 6517 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 At Sarasota Pavilion Center, Publix Supermarket, next to Hooters.

Enjoy a ComplimEntary Glass of WinE With a $35 and up pEdi Group spECial: ChampaGnE party for Group of 7-10

John Garner

Roberts Realty

Broker Associate

Diane Shane Broker Associate

941-924-2330

Working with Sarasota Buyers & Sellers since 1969 • Local Expertise • Proven Track Record • Happy Clients Condos, Villas, Single Family Homes & Investments

We are with you every step of the way!

M-5 2621 Mall Dr., Sarasota RobertsRealty@comcast.net www.SarasotaCoast.com 1

With our map, located below, you’ll be able to navigate your way to our featured shops with ease.

Siesta Nails & Spa, located in the Sarasota Pavilion (6517 S. Tamiami Trail), a few doors down from Hooters Restaurant, recently changed hands and remodeled their shop. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine with their $35 and up Pedi. Call them at 941-556-9048 to set up an appointment.

The Shop SRQ (G-2) offers flat-tops, fades, tapers, blowouts, razor cuts, and straight razor shaves. Owners, Erick and Dawn use a back to basics approach to grooming with a precise attention to personal detail. Their commitment to excellence has provided them with many loyal customers. They welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. Hours: Tues. – Fri. 8:30am – 6pm, Sat., 8:30am – 3pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Sarasota Brewing Co. (G-4) Sarasota’s first micro brew pub always has something new to offer. From over 20 seasonal beers that rotate throughout the year, the Brewing Company always has at least five unique brews online as well as several favorites from around the world. Established in 1989, their menu has been a winner in the Reader’s Choice Awards of the Sarasota Herald Tribune featuring their mouth-watering burgers, Chicago style pizzas, and Chicago beef sandwiches. With dozens

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of televisions, it’s a great place to catch a game with friends and family.

Gulf Gate Barber Shop (G-11): has been an institution in the community for years, owned

by Kyle Flannery. The super-clean barbershop’s clientele is comprised of primarily men, but the shop services children as well. Scott Reich, formerly of the Siesta Key Village Barber Shop has relocated to this location.

At the original Word of Mouth Restaurant (G-31), every seemingly insignificant detail receives special attention from the warm, inviting decor to each specially crafted variety of freshly baked muffins to the signature menu items. This small diner is where the locals come to eat breakfast and lunch. Take a look at their menu at originalwordofmouth.com.

Hours: Mon-Sun.: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Piccolos Italian Market & Deli (G-47) carries a full line of imported cheeses, fresh baked bread daily, homemade sausages, fresh mozzarella, and numerous hard to get items. They now carry Khorasan Wheat which is an ancient and organic grain. Their Deli is complete with huge hot and cold sandwiches, salads, fresh homemade lasagna and baked ziti.

Continued on the next page

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GULF GATE

© Island Visitor Publishing, LLC 2018

Ba Am nk o eri f ca

Panera Bread

Marshall’s

Bed Bath & Beyond

This section helps highlight what you’ll find within this walkable Gulf Gate shopping Village.

Ross

Dress for Less

Iberia Bank

Five Below 1

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From Vintage to Hipster An extension of your personality

G10 G9 G8 G7 G6 G5 G4 G3

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PICCOLO

SRQ

Italian Market & Deli

S-24

S-16 complete frames* & lenses

69 single vision

99 bifocal | $199 progressive digital lenses

bring your prescription *while supplies last special selection

• FREE FRAMES while supplies last.

Pay only for lenses • FREE ultrasound cleaning of glasses • Most repairs available on site

941.444.7984 onlyeyesoptical.com

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THE SHOP SRQ 6625 Gateway Ave.

G-2

Traditional, Old School Barber Shop

“We Straight Razor Shave” 15 Years + Experience

www.TheShopSrq.com

& Vegetarian Sandwiches

6541 Superior Avenue Gulf GAte BuSineSS DiStrict SArASotA, fl 34231

G12 G11

Gulf Gulf Gate Gate Drive Drive

Hot or Cold

$

G14 G13

S30

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G16 G15

G2

G24

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S59 S58 S57 S56 S55 S54 S53 S52 S51 S50 S49 S48 S47 S46 S45 S44 S43 S42 S41 S40 S39 S38 S37 S36 S35 S34 S33 S32 S31

G23 G22 G21 G20 G19 G18 G17

Superior Avenue

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Beall’s Outlet

Mall Mall Drive Drive

G50 G49 G48 G47 G46 G45 G44 G43 G42 G41 G40 G39 G38 G37 G36 G35 G34 G33 G32 G31 G30 G29 G28 G27 G26 G25

Gateway Avenue

Books-AMillion

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HOURS: Monday - Sunday 8:00AM to 2PM www.originalwordofmouth.com

Siesta Nails & Spa

941-925-2400

Hooters

Sun Trust

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Original Word of Mouth 6604 Gateway Ave. Sarasota, FL 34231

Publix

Sarasota Pavilion is a popular shopping destination for numerous locals and visitors alike. Its prime location is close enough to the island for frequent trips with a nice selection of chain stores set in one convenient location.

But what truly lends to the uniqueness of this district is the host of small, locally owned, specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, and neighborhood bars bordering this pavilion. It makes for a fun and rewarding shopping experience.

Over 150 businesses make up this district.

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Eat Where The Locals Eat!

Stein Mart

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M22 M21 M20 M19 M18 M17 M16 M15 M14 M13 M12 M11 M10 M9 M8

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M6

M5 M4 M3 M2 M1

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G-31

www.siestasand.net

Authentic New York Italian Market & Deli We carry a full line of Imported Cheeses, Boars Head Luncheon Meats, Pasta, Olive Oil, Assorted Imported Olives, Khorasan Wheat (ancient & organic grain), and more.

GG-46 G-47 Specialty Italian gourmet items without the gourmet price

Come See Our New Location Store Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am - 6pm 6518 Gateway Ave.

941-923-2202

www.PiccoloMarket.com

941.626.4894 / 941.536.1656 • No Appointment Needed •

TONSORIAL ARTISTRY

BY ERICK & DAWN

Open Tues.-Fri. 8:30 AM-6 PM Sat. 11/1 - 5/30; 8:30-3 PM Sat. 6/1 - 10/31; 8:30 AM - 1 PM

S-34

Catering Available

We Put the South in Your Mouth 6616 Superior Ave. Sarasota

941.926.0099

COUPON

FREE SIDE With the purchase of ANY entreé

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE

Island Chatter

Continued from the previous page

West End Pub (G-49) Where else can you watch your favorite game with a great selection of beers, wines and liquors served by a friendly staff AND where you’re allowed to bring your own restaurant or deli food?

Right here. 6500 Gateway Ave. – 941-554-8905.

Beef Tony’s Chicago Company (S-16) is owned and operated by true Chicagoans.

Dedicated to deliver Chicago’s best food - Chicago style Hot Dogs wit’ the works...dragged through the garden on poppy seed buns with fresh cut fries, Italian Beef Sandwiches anyway you like, dipped or dry, sweet or hot. All served in true Authentic Chicago Style.

Night Solórzano’s Late Pizzeria (S-32): At every Solórzano’s, they offer an experience familiar to those who understand the importance of family and dedication.

Their recipes and techniques

G-4

have been perfected through three long generations based on the traditional simplicity of the methods used by their Italian ancestors. Dine inside, outside, pick up, or DELIVERY anywhere on Siesta Key, or in Sarasota until 3:30 a.m. 6574 Superior Ave., 941-924-5800.

Pride of the South (S-34) Pride of the South has been awarded Top Barbeque in Sarasota for 2016 by Trip Advisor and Yelp.

It has been awarded for the best Southern Hospitality. Pride of the South has a brisket BLT, hands down, one of the best sandwiches you ever tasted.

The smoked chicken wings are unbelievable. Backed up with the pulled pork sandwiches, the smoked bologna, the smoked Turkey, the collard greens, fried corn on the cob, fried okra, fried green tomatoes and one of the best mac n cheese you ever tasted. We do catering with no limit to size. Call (941)926-0099.

See you soon.

Gulf Gate Food + Beer (S-51): Sarasota’s late-night hot spot for the service industry, night owls, and midnight snackers.

It’s not your typical sports bar offering unique menu selections for carnivores and vegetarians.

Be sure to check out their menu online at: eatfooddrinkbeer.com.

Hours: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Sun. Thurs.) open until 2 a.m. (Fri & Sat.).

One Minute Key Shop (GG51): Left your keys in the car?

No worries, the One Minute Key Shop will help you safely

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

unlock and retrieve your keys.

They specialize in high security locks, keys, re-keying, master keying and safes for residential, commercial or automotive. Call for more info: 941-924-8020 or visit their showroom.

ROBERTS REALTY, Inc. (M5) John Garner, Broker Assoc. & Diane Shane, Broker Assoc. have a combined 40 years’ experience in Sarasota of making dreams come true for our clients. FOR BUYERS, we have had great success in finding the right property for our clients because we listen closely to their wants and needs and matching that as close as possible. FOR SELLERS, over the years we have successfully listed and sold many, many properties throughout Sarasota County.

OUR PHILOSOPHY is to have fun, enjoy the experience, achieve great results, make friends and receive referrals.

We’re with you every step of the way! Call 941-924-2330 or drop by our office.

Only Eyes, Optical (S-24) brings a new, exotic, eclectic, eccentric, unique collection of vintage, hipster, contemporary eyeglasses and sunglasses to the community. Licensed and experienced optician available to fill your prescriptions.

Only Eyes Optical has a large assortment of free frames with the purchase of new lenses.

Call 941-444-7984 to set up an appointment with their licensed optician.

G-27

29

Continued from page 19

The festival also features live music each day, “along with a large village of shopping and food and drink vendors. Among the other activities are the popular three-day ‘Quick Sand’ competition, sand sculpting lessons and an amateur sculpting competition.

Additionally, the release continued, “Beginning this year, the festival will be doing its part to help the environment” by reducing the amount of single-use plastic. Two “Water Monsters” will be on site, where attendees can fill up for free using their own cups or by purchasing one at the festival.

Boxed water also will be for sale at select vendors.

The 10th Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic is November 15-18.

For more information, visit www.SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com.

Announcing the St. Nicholas Fair St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key The real St. Nicholas was born in the third century and dedicated his life to protecting and helping those who were sick or in need—especially children—with incredible generosity and kindness. Over time his legendary gift-giving transformed him into our present-day Santa Claus.

Continuing its 65th Anniversary year, St. Boniface Episcopal Church will celebrate St. Nicholas with a joyous holiday fair on Saturday, December 7, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Children’s crafts and activities will be a highlight.

And a special treat: the chance to meet St. Nicholas himself! Parents, bring your cameras! Other fair offerings include the famous Cookie Walk, Pretty in Paradise jewelry and handbags, holiday decorations and gifts. Artwork and used books will be available, as well as much, much more. Bring the family and enjoy the wonderful holiday festivities.

Visitors can park in the church parking lot at 5615 Midnight Pass Road.

Signs will point the way to fair venues in the Community Center, Parish Hall, and Sunday School rooms. For more information call 941-349-5616, ext. 320.

Kompothecras paid $2.5 million for former Bank of America property Gary Kompothecras, the Siesta chiropractor and businessman known for his 1-800-ASK-GARY medical and legal referral service, has indeed bought the former Bank of America branch building located at 1237 Stickney Point Road.

During the summer, Kompothecras told Siesta Sand that that was his intent. After word spread last year that the bank was shuttering the branch, rumors began flying that Kompothecras would be the most likely person to try to acquire the property. After all, he hired an attorney and a development consultant in late 2016 as he began working on plans for a boutique hotel on Old Stickney Point Road, eventually acknowledging that the site of the former Fandango Café was the location he had in mind.

A search of Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records found that Kompothecras paid $2,526,100 for the former bank branch in late August.

This year, the Property Appraiser’s Office staff put the total taxable value of the property at $1,538,700. The value of the land itself is $1,477,100, the record says. Just a year earlier, the value of the land was put at $860,100.

The zoning is Commercial Intensive. The 25,350-square-foot parcel stands between CB’s Saltwater Outfitters and the south Siesta Daiquiri Deck. The rear of the property is across from the land where Fandango Café was located. The deteriorating remains of the restaurant were demolished months ago.

The Property Appraiser’s website lists the use of the 1237 Stickney Point Road parcel as being “in Transition.”

The actual entity listed as the owner of the former Bank of America property is Siesta Key Parking LLC, whose registered agent is Vincent Payne at 4054 Sawyer Road in Sarasota. The limited liability company was established in late June, Florida Division of Corporations records show.

Payne is listed as the registered agent for about 40 limited liability companies, according to the Division of Corporations records. Among them is Kompo Family Company LLC, whose manager is Gary Kompothecras, with the same Sawyer Road address as Payne.

Continued on page 36

30

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

Florida Fish of siesta key

Red Snapper

941.349.0194

Water World

www.siestasand.net

Fishing photos

Fun Boat Tours: Siesta Key’s ONLY Tour Boat

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters 941- 349-4400

By Kandace / Siesta Key Marina

Yellowtail Florida Puffer Sailfish Spanish Mackerel Dohlpin “Mahi-Mahi”

Mangrove Snapper

Lane Snapper

Black Mullet Snook Red Drum “Redfish”

Tarpon

Baracuda

Florida Pompano Jack Crevalle

Spotted Sea Trout

Sometimes a name says it all. “We named it Fun Boat Tours because we want people to know this is Scoolmaster where you come to have a great time,” says one of the business owners, Josh Pritchett. The word “fun” can have many meanings to different people, which is why the Siesta Key Marina based business Scamp caters to all. “We offer dolphin and sunset cruises with complimentary drinks, for those who want to take in the Siesta sunset in a relaxing environment, while looking for dolphin and learning about some of the area’s iconic homes and wildlife.”

This 40-passenger custom built Skiff also allows parties to come to life while cruising the Gulf. I was recently on the Fun Boat to celebrate a birthday. We danced to music, sang karaoke, and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres while the First Mate served us drinks, bringing great conversations and company to our party as well. The sunset was majestic. There’s truly a special feeling you get while watching Gulf the pink and golden sun setting Flounder while on the water, and watching dolphins play never gets old. I have to admit, the Captain and crew are amazing- friendly, funny and very knowledgeable and happy to accept compliments and cash tips.

Captain Kevin Hagerty says the evening cruise is just one of many opportunities to enjoy Sarasota and Siesta Key aboard the Fun Boat. “Our Fun Boat Cove trip AmberJack is a 4-hour daytime excursion which includes paddle boarding, snorkeling, frisbee, sand buckets,

Cobia

Black Drum

Catfish

King Mackerel

Blue Marlin

Black Grouper

Sheesphead

Jim with the first snook he ever caught!

beach games, lily pad (oversized float), and a guaranteed good time.”

Fun Boat Tours’ private charters also offer you unique, customized experiences. “We have done it all from private weddings on the sandbar, to picking up guests from local resorts for corporate events/outings, and we’ve done burials at sea. All private trips include complimentary beverages, which people really appreciate.

We can also provide your party customized food options such as boxed lunches, snack trays, or a full course dinner by partnering with Spearfish Grille” says Captain Kevin.

Fun Boat Tours is your go-to trip for an excellent time on the water, whether you’re a snowbird, have friends visiting for spring-break, or you call the Suncoast home.

FunBoatTours.com is the site to check out to book your next trip, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Trip Advisor. The daily excursions leave Siesta Key Marina located at 1265 Old Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key.

Tim with a big snook right off CB’s dock

TNT Freedom Fishing Charters 941-400-2452

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

Captain Jim Klopfer’s Fishing Report

NOVEMBER 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

Notes from the Island Fishmonger

31

Adventure Charters 941-371-1390

AVAILABLE ONLY AT BWFM

November is a good month for Siesta Key pompano!

November offers Siesta Key anglers diverse opportunities.

A wide variety of species are available this month, and multiple techniques will be successful. The key is adapting to the conditions; weather will become a factor at times. Water temperatures will be falling as it cools off and the days become shorter, and this will trigger fish to feed.

Both Big Pass and New Pass will be productive spots to fish this month. Pompano will be targeted by many anglers, along with Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish. Drifting with the tide and bouncing a jig off the bottom is a proven technique to catch pompano and other species.

Yellow, white, pink, and chartreuse pompano jigs work very well in deep, swift water. These jigs are small and compact, allowing them to sink quickly. These same jigs are effective in shallow water and on bars when cast out and retrieved back to the boat using short hops.

Spoons and Rapala plugs are very effective when breaking fish are seen working in the passes.

Pompano will also be taken on the deep grass flats, as will speckled trout, bluefish, mackerel, jack crevalle and other species. Soft plastics such as the Bass Assassin Sea Shad baits on a ¼ ounce jig head are extremely productive and a lot of fun to fish. A live shrimp either free lined or fished under a cork is the top choice for anglers who prefer live bait. Fish will begin moving south from the passes to the flats between Stickney Pt. and Blackburn Pt. and will be scattered

over a large area. Successful anglers will fish quickly until the fish are located.

Redfish schools will be thinning out in the shallow water, but there will still be plenty of fish in the pot holes, along mangrove shorelines, under docks, and around oyster bars. Rapala plugs, weedless gold spoons, and Bass Assassin Elite Shiners on a Pro Elite jig head are all excellent choices for probing the shallow flats. These same lures will also catch snook, along with speckled trout and jack crevelle.

Snook will be migrating through these areas on their way to their winter haunts and will be feeding heavily. Points, bars, and docks with current are prime ambush spots for game fish. Large live shrimp are deadly when fished under docks, although it will not allow anglers to cover as much water. Night fishing under lighted docks and bridges will also produce a lot of snook this month.

King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia, and sharks will bend rods and test drags in the inshore Gulf of Mexico, provided the severe fronts stay away. Point of Rocks on Siesta Key is a prime fall spot to either sight cast to breaking fish or troll plugs and spoons. Live bait will also produce, especially once fish are located. Live blue runners and threadfins slow trolled on a “stinger” rig will catch some very nice kings along with sharks.

Drifting a live shrimp or small bait fish will catch plenty of Spanish and albies.

Kathleen D Sailing Catamarans Let’s go sailing, KATHLEEN D Sailing Catamarans, serving Siesta Key from 3 locations: Downtown Sarasota, Longboat Key, and Anna Maria Island. If you would like to experience being on the water viewing Dolphin Watches, Sunset Sails, Snorkeling and Shelling call us at 941-870-4349 or go to our web site for detailed information www.kathleend.net USCG Certified for 20 passengers.

THE GULF COMES ALIVE

5. Fish is an excellent source of protein.

In November our Gulf Coast comes alive with many wonderful fruits of the sea. The colder water and air are one reason. Another is that Stone Crab season is now open. With the Crabs comes the Triple Tail and Octopus who both love a Stone Crab diet. Both of these water animals can be found in or around the plentiful stone crab traps laid out by our fishermen. November also brings us great deals on Mahi, Cobia and Grouper as the price comes down considerably this time of year. All this fish and our beloved Stone Crabs are available on Siesta Key only at your Big Water Fish Market and Restaurant.

SEAFOOD SAFETY 101 1. Buy your seafood from a reputable source.

Your fishmonger should be able to tell you when the fish was filet and how old it is.

2. When you walk into a fish market it should smell like fish. If it smells like bad fish walk out.

You can always ask your fishmonger to smell the product before you purchase it. It should have a fresh mild sea breeze odor. A strong fishy or ammonia smelling product is unacceptable. If it smells fishy – don’t buy it!

6. Low in fat. Most fish are relatively low in total fat and saturated fat, and many have 1g of fat per a 3 oz serving.

7. Fish is a great source of “good fat” and Omega – 3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to a heart healthy life. Eating even a modest amount of fish per week will lower the risk of heart disease by 36%. Also, Omega – 3 fatty acids likely improve early brain development and babies could benefit from the seafood consumed by mothers during pregnancy and nursing. Obviously, my mother didn’t eat enough seafood during her pregnancy.

8. Not only is seafood an excellent choice for a good healthy diet but seafood is delicious and versatile. Maybe you have seen the motto “our fish is delish” in a local neighborhood window.

Live well...Eat fish Scott Dolan

Big Water Fish Market www.BigWaterFishMarket.com 6641 Midnight Pass Road, Crescent Plaza – 941-554-8101 6639 Midnight Pass Road, Crescent Plaza – 941-203-5972

3. Fresh fish should always be stored at less than 41 degrees and a good market will always have a thermometer in the display case to monitor temps.

4. When buying whole fish, the eyes should be clear and not foggy.

NOVEMBER 2019 TIDE CHART Florida, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Sarasota Bay

November 2019

N 27° 20' / W 82° 33' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

1

Fr

2:19a

High Tide 2.5

High Tide

11:16a

Low Tide 0.0

Low Tide

7:41a

6:47p

12:12p

10:51p

2

Sa

2:59a

2.3

12:15p

0.1

7:42a

6:46p

1:05p

11:45p

3

Su

2:47a

2.1

12:20p

0.2

6:43a

5:45p

12:52p

11:40p

4

Mo

3:58a

1.9

8:51p

1.6

1:24p

0.3

6:43a

5:44p

1:35p

5

Tu

5:50a

1.7

9:10p

1.7

1:26a

1.5

2:23p

0.4

6:44a

5:44p

2:12p

12:34a

6

We

7:41a

1.6

9:29p

1.7

2:56a

1.2

3:13p

0.5

6:45a

5:43p

2:47p

1:27a

7

Th

9:00a

1.7

9:47p

1.8

3:52a

1.0

3:56p

0.6

6:46a

5:42p

3:19p

2:20a

8

Fr

10:00a

1.7

10:04p

1.9

4:35a

0.7

4:31p

0.6

6:46a

5:42p

3:51p

3:11a

9

Sa

10:51a

1.7

10:19p

2.0

5:12a

0.5

5:01p

0.7

6:47a

5:41p

4:22p

4:03a

10

Su

11:36a

1.6

10:35p

2.1

5:47a

0.3

5:25p

0.9

6:48a

5:41p

4:53p

4:55a

11

Mo

12:18p

1.6

10:54p

2.2

6:21a

0.1

5:46p

1.0

6:48a

5:40p

5:27p

5:49a

12

Tu

12:59p

1.6

11:17p

2.3

6:55a

0.0

6:05p

1.1

6:49a

5:40p

6:04p

6:44a

13

We

1:43p

1.5

11:44p

2.4

7:32a

-0.2

6:24p

1.2

6:50a

5:39p

6:45p

7:41a

14

Th

2:33p

1.5

8:12a

-0.2

6:44p

1.2

6:51a

5:39p

7:31p

8:40a

15

Fr

12:17a

2.4

3:35p

1.4

8:57a

-0.3

7:06p

1.3

6:52a

5:38p

8:22p

9:39a

16

Sa

12:55a

2.4

9:49a

-0.3

6:52a

5:38p

9:19p

10:37a

17

Su

1:40a

2.4

10:47a

-0.2

6:53a

5:38p

10:19p

11:31a

18

Mo

2:36a

2.2

7:34p

1.5

11:52a

-0.1

6:54a

5:37p

11:22p

12:22p

19

Tu

3:51a

2.0

8:01p

1.5

12:58p

0.0

6:55a

5:37p

20

We

5:34a

1.8

8:27p

1.6

12:43a

1.3

2:00p

0.1

6:55a

5:37p

12:26a

1:51p

21

Th

7:25a

1.7

8:52p

1.7

2:22a

1.0

2:54p

0.3

6:56a

5:36p

1:30a

2:30p

22

Fr

8:57a

1.6

9:18p

1.8

3:34a

0.6

3:41p

0.5

6:57a

5:36p

2:34a

3:09p

23

Sa

10:13a

1.6

9:44p

2.0

4:31a

0.3

4:20p

0.6

6:58a

5:36p

3:38a

3:47p

24

Su

11:19a

1.6

10:11p

2.2

5:22a

0.0

4:53p

0.8

6:58a

5:36p

4:42a

4:27p

25

Mo

12:19p

1.6

10:39p

2.3

6:10a

-0.3

5:21p

1.0

6:59a

5:35p

5:47a

5:09p

26

Tu

1:17p

1.5

11:09p

2.4

6:56a

-0.5

5:45p

1.1

7:00a

5:35p

6:52a

5:55p

27

We

2:13p

1.4

11:41p

2.4

7:40a

-0.5

6:07p

1.2

7:01a

5:35p

7:56a

6:44p

28

Th

3:12p

1.3

8:23a

-0.5

6:29p

1.2

7:02a

5:35p

8:57a

7:37p

29

Fr

12:15a

2.4

4:14p

1.3

9:07a

-0.5

6:56p

1.2

7:02a

5:35p

9:53a

8:32p

30

Sa

12:52a

2.3

9:52a

-0.4

7:03a

5:35p

10:44a

9:28p

10:22p

1.4

©2019 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW

Phase

1st

1:08p

Full

3rd

New

32

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

Arts on the Horizon Third time’s the charm The Sarasota Youth Opera has performed The Little Sweep three times since 2005 - its last production in 2018 - and Hans Krása’s Brundibár has its third production this month. The connection between the two? Both stories - along with Hansel and Gretel - show how children, beset by adversity, survive thru perseverance and a little luck. The two most aligned are Brundibár and Hansel and Gretel. Of course there are differences, otherwise they would be the same opera, just with different names. In H&G, the mother is dead and the father is forced (through poverty and the mean stepmother) to send the children into the woods to seek a new life. In Brundibár, the father is dead and their mother needs milk in order to be cured of an illness. Here, the children go willingly, though also penniless. Being well brought up they won’t steal the milk but will beg as there is no local ordinance forbidding begging or singing for money (yet). This unforced giving will help redistribute money voluntarily thus eliminating income inequality without resorting to taxation. The purchase of the milk, (price determined by an equitable reading of market forces) will, thankfully, ensure stability in the supply chain.

Unfortunately, an evil government official, Brundibár, seeing that a non-pharmaceutically manufactured product is about to be utilized to alleviate pain and suffering, without sufficient markup, tries to stop them. Will Brundibár succeed in his dastardly plan, will a bird, a cat and a dog help these helpless children, will children who attend this opera enjoy it? No, Yes, and Yes. How do we know children will enjoy it? Because the SYO has done this show before and know a good thing when they see it. You will also.

The premiere of this opera was at an orphanage in Prague in 1942. Unfortunately, the next series of performances were at a concentration camp in 1943-44 with the same orphaned children reprising their roles. While the original venues were tragic, the thrust of the opera is positive and full of hope. In order to bring that message of hope to the audience (both younger and older) a prologue was commissioned by the SYO utilizing music and song, blending together uplifting thoughts of brave children from around the world. Performances are November 15th and 16th at the Sarasota Opera House. Additional performances are sponsored by Embracing Our Differences

www.siestasand.net

By Rodger Skidmore and Temple Beth Sholom. More info at SarasotaOpera.Org -and - EmbracingOurDifferences.Org/Brundibar or goggle Sarasota Beth Sholom Brundibar.

An ocean of hope If you add up all the problems in the world and have just one person try to solve them, there is no hope. If you try to do this only for America or Florida, there still is no hope whatsoever.

So, while we should do our part trying to help solve world scale problems, - good intentions can, through persistent effort, become small steps in the right direction - it will still take an ocean of hope to truly move forward. A different effort can, however, be effective in another way. Instead of an ocean of hope, how about a soup ladle of help? World hunger - or just hunger here in Sarasota - is not just of concern to the hungry, it is a concern for all who care for another human being. And hunger does not have to mean starvation, it could be a child in school who can’t concentrate, for the lack of a good nutritious breakfast. Or veterans with PTSD who can’t focus on getting a job. Or addicts whose families can’t deal with them any longer.

Or a single mom or dad who works two jobs but still doesn’t earn enough to fill all the cereal and soup bowls a family needs to have filled.

Yes, you, and your friends and own family can help. Not by directly filling someone else’s bowl but by filling your own. All Faiths Food Bank is at Ed Smith Stadium - on November 10th from 11am till 2pm - hosting Bowls of Hope. Over 1,500 bowls have been hand-crafted by students, potters, and artists. While these bowls currently only contain hope they can, if you attend this event, contain the help that many people need. 40 local restaurants and caterers will be serving delicious concoctions directly into the bowl of your choice. You can take the food (soup, breads, desserts, etc.) home in your belly and the bowl in your helping hand. At your next party fill the bowl with pretzels or crackers and continue sharing with your friends.

Info. at Allfaithsfoodbank.org/bowlsofhope.

Music and dance lead to Classical Romance One of the terrible, rotten, really bad things about Sarasota is that there are so many great things to do here. How does one chose between mango ice cream and guava jelly toast with

bacon? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

One of the choices we always give is to go to the country of origin for some great entertainment, or wait until they appear here in Sarasota, while on tour. One such act is Casa Patas Flamenco. What, you ask, is flamenco? Specifically, flamenco dancing? If you are of a certain age, you might remember José Greco appearing on the Ed Sullivan show. He would dance (stomp around the floor with a clickity-clack of his tap heels) and then leap onto tables and do it again - a vibrant sight to behold. The music, the dance, the rhythm, the interplay of the dancers - es magnìfico. So go. TripAdvisor says you can see them in Madrid for a bit over $150 per person. Or see them at the Historic Asolo on November 6th or 7th. Wonder how you could become a great flamenco dancer? Attend a master class.

Well, why not? See Ringling.org.

Did anyone say Classical Romance? Well, they should because that is what is happening at the Van Wezel, November 8th - 10th. And who says Romance better than Don Juan? And who wrote more romantic music than Richard Strauss? And who plays romantic music in Sarasota better than the Sarasota Orchestra? That all comes together is a lovely evening of Classical Romance at the Van Wezel. Strauss’ luscious tone poem, Don Juan, is just the start of a lovely evening. It is followed by Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 with Lise de la Salle as the soloist. Being written in d-minor, this concerto is a dramatic and impassioned work with dark overtones and is often considered to be Mozart’s best and most loved piano concerto. Beethoven thought enough of it to add it to his own repertoire (but with his own cadenzas).

Ms. de la Salle will be playing Mozart’s concerto here and in Ft. Worth, Texas but in between she is giving two concerts in France. After Texas she plays in Cincinnati and then London.

Wonderful that we are part of this musical circuit.

Colic relates to crying babies while bucolic concerns pastoral settings. Fortunately Dvořák’s symphony, which rounds out the evening, falls into the latter category. While it is not the case that Dvořák started writing late in life, it is true that he was not “discovered” until he was in his mid-thirties - by Johannes Brahms. It is your turn to discover this symphony as it is conducted by Gerard Schwarz, Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony. More info. at Sarasotaorchestra.org.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information.

However, please be sure to always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

Island Churches: • Siesta Key Chapel, Presbyterian (USA) 4615 Gleason Ave, Siesta Key, 941-349-1166 www.siestakeychapel.org • St. Michael’s Catholic Church 5394 Midnight Pass Rd, Siesta Key, 941-349-4174 www.stmichaelssiesta.com • St. Boniface Episcopal Church 5615 Midnight Pass Rd, Siesta Key, 941-349-5616 www.bonifacechurch.org Off- Island: •Temple Sinai, a Reform Congregation (The closest Jewish congregation to the Key for visitors) 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, 941-924-1802 www.templesinai-sarasota.org • St. Andrew United Church of Christ (Protestant) (In the Gulf Gate area, near Beneva and Gulf Gate Drive) 6908 Beneva Road, Sarasota, 941.922.7595 www.uccstandrew.org • The Superior Word Rev. Charlie Garrett Service starts Sunday mornings at 10am.

Bring a friend and share in God’s word.

6512 Superior Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34231 • First Christian Church 7601 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34241.

941-922-4434 www.fccsarasota.com

WEEKLY BEACH CLASSES: • FREE T’AI CHI CHIH - Siesta Beach, Access #5 - Every Monday, 15 minutes before sunset. Open to all, no experience necessary. Contact Diana Daffner 941-346-1024 for information. (Access #5 is in Siesta Village, where Beach Rd. meets Ocean Blvd.)

• FREE YOGA - Mon.-Wed.-Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m. Classes held between blue and green lifeguard station. Call 941320-6693 to register or go to website for more info. www.yogaonsiestabeach.com/about • GROUP FITNESS CLASSES – Join F.I.T. Tribe SRQ every Mon, Wed, & Sat. at 9 a.m. at the main pavilion. For more details, please see facebook page: www.facebook.com/FitTribeSRQ. • NIA - Tues. & Thurs., 9 a.m., Siesta Public Beach (yellow lifeguard chair). Contact Kathy Oravec at 941-724-9719 for more info or check website: www.nianow.com/kathy-oravec • Siesta Key Beach Hoop Jams – Every Tuesday one hour before Sunset on Siesta Key beach we gather for a community Hoop Jam. (Between the red lifeguard stand and the pavilion; around where the Sunday drum circle happens.) Register at: www.outwardspiral.net.

WEEKLY DRUM CIRCLE: • Every Sunday about an hour before sunset. South of the main pavilion.

You can participate or watch this weekly gathering and dance, hoop, play the drum or other musical instrument, and enjoy the spectacular Siesta sunset.

On The Beach…

• NOVEMBER 15-18 (FRI-MON) 10AM- 5 & 9PM / INTERNATIONAL SAND SCULPTING FESTIVAL: Every November, 24 international artists come to Siesta Key, Florida, to compete in this Master Sand Sculpting competition. The sculptors create a large community carve and 12 team masterpieces from tons of sand. This year we will be adding 4 additional sculptures as we hold both a doubles and solo competition on Siesta Key Beach.

The timed competition is judged and the winners are revealed on Sunday afternoon. In the Learning Curve tents, sand sculpting lessons and demonstrations are hosted twice a day, Friday through Monday. And there’s more than sand at this festival: four days of live music under the huge entertainment tent; Quick Sand - an ongoing contest of speed and skill; the Amateur Competition on Saturday; the Barefoot Beach Bar party tent is open all 4 days with music and a full bar along with the Vendor Village featuring 70 food and retail vendors. The festival offers beach wheelchairs for accessibility all 4 days and are available at the sidewalk before the sand entrance by the check-in kiosk an viewing tent. A beach mat will not be installed in 2019 therefore, one must be able to traverse

®

To advertise in print or online contact: Bob or Emy Stein at 941.349.0194 Send editorial and/or photos via email to: islandvp@verizon.net

through the sand to walk through the festival if a beach wheelchair is not used.

The sand sculptures appear under colored lights on Saturday and Sunday nights this year. Come and vote for your favorite sculpture by depositing quarters or bills ($1 is 4 votes but so is $5 - you can increase your votes with quarters - change is available on the sand inside the festival) you can help determine the Peoples’ Choice award.

This event opens at 10 a.m. and closes 5 p.m. Friday and Monday; and closes at 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. See website for complete schedule, site map and ticket pricing as well as this year’s competing sand artists: www.siestakeycrystalclassic.com Around the island…

• WEEKLY FARMER’S MARKET IN THE VILLAGE: Every Sunday from 8am – 1pm in Davidson’s Plaza in the Village. 5124 Ocean Blvd.

Produce, Plants & Flowers, Music, Art, Organic Skincare, Italian Olive Oil, and Freshly Prepared Foods. Listen to live music while you shop.

• OCTOBER 31 (THURS) 3-6PM HALLOWEEN SAFE TREATS FOR KIDS: For the 35th year, Siesta Key will once again host “Safe Treats.” In addition to Siesta Key Village (North), the event has expanded to include merchants on South Siesta Key. Bring your little ones to trick or treat and look for participating members displaying festive balloons.

Hop on the free, Siesta Breeze Trolley which makes a continuous loop between the Village and Turtle Beach, with multiple stops along the way.

This free event provides a safe venue for children on Halloween and is fun for the whole family.

For more information contact the Chamber at (941) 349-3800.

• NOVEMBER 30 (SAT) 5-9PM LIGHT UP THE VILLAGE AND HOLIDAY PARADE: Join us at the 35th Annual Light Up Siesta Key and Village Holiday Parade as festive décor and a holiday atmosphere Lights Up Siesta Key. A community Christmas tree will be at the Village Gazebo.

The Village Holiday Parade which will begin at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road at 5:30 p.m. traveling north on Beach Road onto Ocean Blvd. into the Village. Many businesses and local groups will be participating in the parade and welcoming Santa to Siesta Village.

Shops and restaurants will offer refreshments and special holiday bargains from 5 to 9 PM. There will also be live music at various venues, plus carolers and a martial arts demonstration.

Free public transportation is provided courtesy of the Siesta Breeze Trolley from Turtle Beach to the Village (with multiple stops along the route, including Siesta Beach) making it easier for all to participate in the festivities.

This festive event is sponsored by merchants, businesses, and friends of Siesta Key and is free and open to the public.

To volunteer please contact Events@siestakeychamber.com

Published by Island Visitor Publishing, LLC Contributing Writers and Photographers will be noted with bylines.

Guest commentary not necessarily the opinion of island Visitor Publishing, LLC Reproduction without written permission prohibited. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

All business bios are extensions of the display advertisements.

Island Visitor Publishing, 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. Island Visitor Publishing is not responsible for claims made by advertisers.

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NOVEMBER 2019

Your Monthly Horoscope

of planets, including a new moon of fresh starts on the 26th, will illuminate this area, and you might have a strong attack of the feels. Do something special for pals who’ve gone to bat for you— like hosting a party or organizing an epic evening on the water.

• SCORPIO (October 23–November 21): Something stuck in your craw, Scorpio? Watch for unintended passiveaggressive behavior this month as your ruler, feisty Mars, stokes the embers in your unconscious sector. And with communication planet Mercury amok (aka retrograde) in your sign, you could detonate little bombs with your snarkiness. Not sure what’s bugging you? Vent to a friend (or therapist) to get to the root of it. If you need to have “words” with someone, wait till Mercury straightens out on the 20th.

• SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21): You’ll be in a rare, internally focused mood much of the month as the outgoing Sun and a backward-spinning Mercury (the cosmic communicator) hover in lowpower mode in your house of rest and healing. With the holidays around the corner, it’s a good strategy to recharge your batteries and get some quality “me time” in while the getting’s good! You’ll feel like your old self beginning on the 22nd—the annual advent of Sag season!

• CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19): Energizer-bunny Mars is giving you 18 more days to make any big professional moves you’ve been pondering; then, on the 19th, he blasts into Scorpio and your networking sector, not to return to your career corner for two years. This is not the time to be inhibited or stand on ceremony. Acting with bold confidence can win you the deal, so strike while Mars’ iron is hot.

Vixen Venus enters your sign on the 25th, bestowing “It factor” status on you for the next four weeks.

• AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18): Looking for a window of time to get away? Hurry! Those “openings” may close on the 19th, when activator Mars blasts into Scorpio and your public, professional sector for the first time in two years. Ready or not, you’ll get yanked onto a larger stage with a much bigger audience. If you actually are a performer, this is a dream come true. For “regular” folks, this could be a chance to broadcast your brand’s message in an exciting new way.

• PISCES (February 19–March 20): Your biggest “complaint” this month might be an embarrassment of riches. With the excitable Sun racing through your expansive ninth house, it’ll be hard to say no to anything! (And really, Pisces, why would you want to?)

On the 22nd, el Sol joins the most auspicious planets, Venus and Jupiter, in your public career sector. Good luck hiding on the sidelines now! On the 24th, those good-luck charms align. Make a wish and really focus on it because it could come true!

Suzanne Gerber (www.starsandstoneshealing.com) is a locally based intuitive astrologer, shamanic/energy practitioner and spiritual life coach who loves one-on-one private sessions. She works in-person and over the phone (by appointment). Or book her for your next psychic event!

MarinerWord Search MarinerWord Search Answers on page 37 WORD LIST BALCONY TERRACE WORD LIST BEYOND COMPARE BALCONY TERRACE CHARTER BROKER BEYOND COMPARE DESIGN BREAKER CHARTER BROKER DOCKOMINIUMS DESIGN BREAKER DRIVE IN GARAGE DOCKOMINIUMS ELEVATOR DRIVE IN GARAGE EXPENSIVE TOYS FORT LAUDERDALE ELEVATOR HAMMAM EXPENSIVEROOM TOYS HELIPAD FORT LAUDERDALE KING BABY HAMMAM ROOM LURSSEN KISMET HELIPAD LUXURY INTERIOR KING BABY MOVIE THEATER LURSSEN KISMET SEABREACHER LUXURY INTERIOR SPA FACILITIES STABILIZERS MOVIE THEATER STATE OF THE ART SEABREACHER SUBMARINE DOCK SPA FACILITIES SWIMMING POOL STABILIZERS TEAK DECK STATE OF THE ART TENDER DOCK SUBMARINE DOCK ULTIMATE SWIMMING WATER TAXI POOL WATERFALL TEAK DECK WINE CELLAR TENDER DOCK

ULTIMATEon Page 86 Answers WATER TAXI

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• ARIES (March 21–April 19): You’ll be as alone as you want to be this month, thanks to a passel of planets parading through your people houses. November is great for reconnecting with old friends, hosting a few gatherings and enjoying the perfect weather. Single Rams could have surprisingly good luck meeting someone with potential; couples should get away together or at least plan an epic trip—especially around the 24th, when auspicious Venus and Jupiter align in your adventure zone.

• TAURUS (April 20–May 20): You can take a budding relationship to the next level or go way deeper in your current union this month as your ruler, amorous Venus, cruises through your house of intense emotions. On the 24th, she forms a once-a-year alignment with supersizer Jupiter, followed by a new moon of fresh starts in this same area on the 26th. So plan to take concrete steps toward any changes you’re hoping to make. No more waiting!

• GEMINI (May 21–June 20): November brings one lesson after another about getting in the “flow” and not forcing an agenda. With your ruler, quicksilver Mercury, back-spinning (retrograde) motion in your detail-minded house till the 20th, things may not happen as quickly as you’d like. (Or even the way you’d like!) But you can distract yourself with some romantic adventures, whether with your partner or someone new.

Love planet Venus aligns with supersizer Jupiter on the 24th, which could be a red-letter day!

• CANCER (June 21-July 22): Stand your ground with a family member who’s putting their needs before everyone else’s. You love and take care of your peeps, Cancer, but when someone is acting selfish or immature, it may fall to you to get them back in line.

With the passionate Sun and expressive Mercury in your flirtatious house, this could be a month of surprises. But when Venus enters your commitment corner on the 25th, you won’t be interested in “casual.”

• LEO (July 23–August 22): You don’t need permission to be a homebody this month—if that’s really what you want! Your ruler, the creative Sun, is lounging in your domestic center next to expressive Mercury, which is retrograde till the 20th. You might not be feeling your usual gregarious self—but nobody says you have to be “on” 24/7, Leo. Use this internally focused energy to spruce up your lair and do some entertaining—small groups of friends or just one special someone.

• VIRGO (August 23-September 22): With your ruler, chatty Mercury, retrograde (back-spinning) in your expressive sector, your usually clear and concise messaging could come out garbled. Save any important conversations or business meetings for after the 20th.

In the meantime, home, family and your social life are heating up, which are three of your favorite distractions.

After the 25th, when Venus enters your flirtatious sector, single Virgos can look forward to four weeks of nonstop head-turning attention!

• LIBRA (September 23–October 22): Don’t underestimate the support, fun and brilliant ideas your friends bring to the table, Libra! This month reminds you how lucky you are in this department. A bevy

By Suzanne Gerber

33

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Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

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ACCOMMODATIONS PAGE 43 HOMES FOR SALE PAGE 41 SIESTA KEY MARKET STATS PAGE 37

The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key

Provided by Key Solutions Real Estate / www.keysolutionsrealestate.com

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 PROPERTY: 7652 SANDERLING RD., SOLD FOR: $5,250,000.

This striking contemporary home was designed by renowned architect Robert Geddes, the first dean of Princeton’s School of Architecture, to complement the surrounding coastal environment. The private sandy beach, sparkling aqua waters, lush tropical landscaping, and incredibly colorful sunsets were his inspiration for this amazing home. Located in the exclusive Sanderling Club on Siesta Key’s coveted Gulf of Mexico with arguably the most beautiful vistas in all of Sarasota. Sited on over an acre with 172’ of pristine beachfront where you’ll experience peaceful tranquility in the enchanting surroundings; each area has a distinct character of light and texture.

LOWEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTY: 437 ISLAND CIR., SOLD FOR: $560,000.

Just Reduced... Amazing location and a rare opportunity to get a home that’s ready to go, at this price point! Cool & Coastal Single Family Pool Home: Just two blocks from the crystal white sands of Siesta Key, the #1 Beach in the USA! This sleek 3 bedroom/2 bath coastal cottage is located in Palm Island, a highly desirable and beautiful residential neighborhood. This lovely home has been professionally decorated and is being sold turn-key furnished. Open concept living with warm and welcoming island kitchen, spacious family room with beachy exposed-wood beamed

5,000 square feet of living space was designed for both active and quiet activities, from the office/ library on the north to the family room and pool on the south, all focused on the beach and seascape.

Natural light streams through east-west windows.

Four, second-level ensuite bedrooms offer Gulf views and terraces. Enjoy trellised gardens and an Olympic-size pool overlooking the aquamarine Gulf. The Sanderling Club is a Gulf-to-Bay guardgated community with unrivaled privacy, unique architecture, tennis courts, cabanas, clubhouse and dockage with direct bay access. Culturally rich downtown Sarasota’s restaurants, theatre, ballet, opera, museums, galleries and shopping are a short drive away. The sale on this unit came out to $1,093.98 a square foot. Courtesy of Premier Sothebys.

vaulted ceiling and fireplace. Large dining room for family gatherings. Split plan with two bedrooms w/king sized beds and one bedroom with two sets of twin beds. The owners added a beautiful heated in-ground pool with a sunning area and a huge paver patio, which is fabulous for entertaining!

This home has been used as a vacation home and a successful seasonal rental. One look and you will fall in love with this awesome beach house. Seller just installed brand new duct work. This was the lowest priced home on Palm Island. Being sold “as-is”. The sale of this property came out to $387.81 a square foot.

Courtesy of ReMax Platinum.

HIGHEST PRICED CONDO: 5740 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #201 SOLD FOR: $1,232,000.

Gulf to Bay is a luxurious gated community on 30 acres of beach-front property. A rare opportunity for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath corner unit with balcony to sit and watch the sunrise and lanai to watch the most amazing sunsets. Amenities include eight tennis courts, a fitness center with spa, racquetball and basketball courts, three heated pools and barbecue area with picnic tables. The sale on this unit came out to $701.20 a square foot.

Courtesy of Coldwell Banker.

LOWEST PRICED CONDO: 24 SANDY COVE RD., SOLD FOR: $294,000.

Imagine being only steps away from enjoying the sunset from your private pier or sitting in your beach chair on your private beach watching dolphins, manatees and boats go by on Big Pass leading to Siesta. Maybe you would like to enjoy some great Florida cuisine in Siesta Village and you would only have to walk a block to get there, while others travel across the world to get to this area. What if you could do all

this for under 310k? This condo may be small in stature but big on value and location. This one bedroom one bath beauty features upgraded granite countertops, stainless appliances and enough room to live the Siesta lifestyle reasonably priced.

Your carport area features extra storage for your bikes, kayaks and a private outdoor shower after you have enjoyed your outdoor activities. This condo is Florida resort-style living at its finest! The sale came out to $524.06 a square foot.

Courtesy of Realty One Group Skyline.

LEAST EXPENSIVE HOME ON THE KEY!

Financing Available

This slice of paradise truly is a tropical oasis! Make this home your own or build new and live the island life of Siesta Key. • 1 Mile To Siesta Key Beach • Nestled On A Private Canopy Lined Street • Mid-Century Modern Home • 9000 Sqft Lot

• 2100 Sqft Of Living Space • 4 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Vaulted Ceilings With Exposed Wood Beams • Block Construction

NMLS# 1783476

Marty Remillard 941-223-9416 NMLS# 343653

No Lender Fees

5220 Winding Way Seth Westerberg

Al Nemore

Seth Westerberg 941.342.SOLD (7653)

Meet us at our Open House from 1-4 p.m.

November 3rd & 17th - 4848 Oxford Drive November 10th & 24th - 5220 Winding Way

www.siestasand.net

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NOVEMBER 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

35

Paradise Awaits...

LE NG A S DI N PE

322 Island Circle

5563 Cape Aqua Drive, Sarasota, FL

Siesta Key, FL

Beaches, Boating & Bistros!! Live the island lifestyle in this spacious 4 BR, 4 BA house located on desirable Palm Island, grossing approx. $60k in rental income. Recently renovated with new kitchen, new master BR and master BA. New boat lift on the Grand Canal. Lounge in the heated pool and spa or enjoy your favorite libation at your own private Waterfront Tiki Bar. Huge bonus area on lower level.

Great location only a 3 minute walk to world famous #1 Siesta Beach. 2 BR / 2 BA home in desirable Siesta Isles. Home is partially renovated. 14,050 sf lot. Existing home has split bedroom floorplan, den/office (add a Murphy bed), designer stone flooring, 2 car garage and open floor plan. Large yard with room for a pool. This is a much sought after location just steps to the beach and close to Siesta Village. Property is being sold as is. Bring your ideas.

156 Givens Street Sarasota, FL Welcome to Casa Azul. Spectacular sunsets meet designer decadence in this show shopping 4 BR/5.5 BA modern-luxe masterpiece. 5,040 sq. ft. beauty boasts expansive terraces and floor-to-ceilign walls of glass indulging in the best views. This stunning home is just a short stroll from the famous white sparkling sands of America’s number one beach. You don’t want to let this one get away!

6,300,000

$

825,000

$

585,000

$

IN !

D S L SO DAY 4

621 Treasure Boat Way, Sarasota, FL Siesta Key living at it’s Finest. You will love this 4 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom Home Fully Remodeled in 2017 being sold TURNKEY FURNISHED. Just bring your boat (7 minutes to the ICW) & you are all set to enjoy this Island Paradise. You are also just a short stroll to Siesta Village

1,475,000

$

!

D ol

s

5157 Sandy Shore Ave., Sarasota Florida

Spacious Siesta Key home on excellent boating water. Located on quiet low traffic dead end “Sandy” Street. Split plan 4 BR, 3 BA, 2,493 sq. ft. home with recent updates. PGT Wind Guard Hurricane Impact windows and sliders, hurricane garage door for extra security.Short walk to famous Siesta Key Village with world class bistros and nightlife.

999,900

$

214 Island Circle, Sarasota Florida

1001 Beach Rd Unit#A-602 Sarasota, FL

Wonderful Siesta Key Grand Canal home located on desirable Palm This 6th floor recently updated condo is located right across the street from world famous Siesta Key Beach. Enjoy views of the beautiful Island. 2,600+ sq. ft., 4 BR, 2.5 BA waterfront oasis. Loft area on 2nd level makes nice office space. Screened pool area. Short walk to Gulf of Mexico and Siesta Key canals from your two large terraces as well as the downtown Sarasota lights. The floorpan has generous World Famous Siesta Beach, close to world class dining and night life of Siesta Village. square footage for a beach condo and both bedrooms are of generous size. This unit is offered turnkey furnished & tastefully renovated. $ Our House at the Beach offers amenities such as tennis courts, a community heated pool, and an onsite rental office. This allows for the best of both worlds- Weekly Rental policy for Awesome potential investment income and a vacation home with a Fantastic view of Siesta Beach.

989,000

665,00

$

Tropical Sands Dan D. Miller 941-376-7442 Licensed Real Estate Professional

ddm1@comcast.net

Service.

Integrity.

Results.

36

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

Island Chatter

941.349.0194

www.siestasand.net

Continued from page 29

An ‘umpteenth retirement’ On Aug. 21, when the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce conducted its latest quarterly meeting for members, Michael Shay, manager of the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp., announced that that would be his last meeting in that capacity.

“My contract ends Sept. 30,” he said. “I’m retiring for the umpteenth time.”

Sept. 30 is the end of the county’s fiscal year.

Shay had held the Maintenance Corp. position for close to five years.

The corporation represents all of the owners of property in the Siesta Key Village Public

Improvement District, who pay annual assessments to Sarasota County for the upkeep of the district, which — essentially — is Siesta Village.

After he made his Aug. 21 announcement, Lisa Cece, special district coordinator for the county — who serves as the liaison to the Maintenance Corp. — said she wanted to thank Shay “for the terrific job he has done for the Village and Siesta Key.” Applause rang out in the Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar, where the meeting was taking place.

Shay not only handled issues in the Village, Cece continued, but he also took on the responsibility, for example, of contacting

Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) when he saw streetlights no longer shining. (Shay was known for his early-morning walks through the Village, which enabled him to get a good look at which streetlights were working and which were not.)

“Thank you so much, Michael,” Cece told him. “You’re my eyes and ears out here.

There’s always something going on,” she added, and Sheriff’s Office reports do not always get filed about the incidents that occur. Over the years, Shay has dealt with his share of traffic accidents taking out Village signage, plants and bollards, for just a few examples.

Sarasota Garden Club Presents

HOLIDAY HIGH TEA IN THE GARDENS

In conjunction with the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce’s 60th anniversary Sock Hop on Oct. 4 at Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, members and guests took another opportunity to thank Shay for his years of work. Shay and his wife, Maria, were special guests at the event.

In an email blast, Chamber leaders pointed out that Shay officially was hired as maintenance manager on Jan. 15, 2015. “We want to thank him for his time, diligence and dedication to make the Village and Siesta Key a better place for all to enjoy!” the email blast said. “Congratulate him in person at the party.”

Blooming This Month: Cassia Tree

Friday, December 6th, 2019 – 2:00pm 1131 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota $40.00 Formal teas served in four courses with tea sandwiches, clotted cream, and desserts.

Mimosas butlered while strolling through the gardens for plant sales, poinsettias, a shopping experience from vendors, and more.

Bring your favorite cookie or candies for a “Cookie Exchange” Music by Violinist Prodigy Elijah Luzginov “The Zen of Tea” Presented by Rebecca Tosetano

Go to our Website to purchase your tickets: SarasotaGardenClub.org or mail to SGC-Holiday Tea, 1131 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236

Any questions, please call 941-955-0875

Cassia Fistula, commonly known as the golden shower tree, a flowering plant in the subfamily, Casalpiaceae of the legume family, Fabaceae.

Cassia trees, are known for their display of delightfully showy, and bright clusters of yellow flowers. Currently, blooming in the Butterfly Garden at Sarasota Garden Club. Located at 1131 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL. If you have room for a tree that can get up to 35 feet tall and 25 feet wide, this is a tree for you. It does well in sunny locations and welldrained soil. Mulch lightly around the base of the tree and fertilize once or twice a year with time release fertilizer. The bonus of this tree is that it attracts butterflies and bees. Save the Dates: 12/6/201919-Holiday High Tea; 2/10/2020-Fashion Show (SHIVOO GARDEN PARTY); 3/14/2020-Gardens in Paradise Tour.

Submitted Kay Weber, Sarasota Garden Club, Botanical Gardens Chair. www.sarasotagardenclub.org

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Oceane developer to restore pocket Rachel Brown Hackney park space By SarasotaNewsLeader.com Regular readers will recall that in July, after an observant Siesta resident expressed concern, SNL asked Sarasota County staff about the disappearance of a solitary “pocket park” parking space across Ocean Boulevard from the Givens Street intersection.

In its place, the contractor building the adjacent luxury condominium complex called Oceane had installed a dumpster.

After some research, county Media Relations Officer Brianne Grant learned from Planning and Development Services Department documents that the developer of Oceane had the right to use the site during construction. Apparently, that was the result of a 2005 County Commission vote. However, those spaces must revert to the county — meaning the public — after projects have been completed.

On Sept. 12, SNL learned that the contractor — Gilbane Building Co. — had begun putting trees and plantings in front of the retaining wall at the pocket park/parking space site. A nearby resident alerted SNL to the fact that Gilbane had someone grading the area where the dumpster had stood.

Then, that same evening, the resident emailed to report that a big palm tree and other vegetation indeed had been put into the ground

37

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by Oceane photo October 3, 2019

where the pocket parking space was supposed to be.

It took almost exactly two weeks to get an answer — again through Media Relations Officer Grant — about the status of the pocket parking space.

On Sept. 26, in an email, Planning and Development Services staff spoke with the developer, who “confirmed that they will be restoring the parking spot in the near future.”

The developer is Crossgate Partners LLC, based in Suwanee, Ga. The reader who originally raised the issue during the summer about the loss of the pocket park space sent an email to Commissioner Alan Maio, too, asking about the restoration of that public site, after it appeared to have become part of

Oceane’s landscaping. The reader notified SNL on Sept. 30 that he had received the same answer from county staff that SNL received from Grant.

The next question, of course, is what timeline the developer has in mind for “the near future.” SNL made attempts to get that answer from Gilbane’s staff in Sarasota, but it was unsuccessful in reaching anyone who could address the situation.

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38

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

Grand Canal

941.349.0194

www.siestasand.net

Continued from cover story

Proposals for progress Relatively inexpensive solutions are available to improve the situation, Chiocchio continued.

First, Chiocchio said, the shoal should be removed from the mouth of the Grand Canal at Roberts Bay. “It has been there as long as anyone can remember, and no one seems to know how it was formed.”

Another shoal blocks water flow near the bridge over the canal on Midnight Pass Road, he noted. That shoal also should be removed, he added.

Then, in offering more details about the mini reefs, he showed the SKA members several slides depicting the structures.

The mini reefs are made of polypropylene, a plastic that is considered to have a life of 500 years — quite different, he stressed from “a garbage bag or a milk jug.” After barnacles have encased a mini reef, Chiocchio explained, the structure does not break down, as other plastics do, into micro particles. “It’s almost like a glue,” he said of the effect of the barnacles.

With two mini reefs at every dock on the Grand Canal, Chiocchio pointed out, “You’ve added some filtration” and

are able to remove nutrients from the water that feed organisms such as the red tide algae.

Yet, the concern is whether agencies will allow mini reefs to be used, Chiocchio said.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) does not require a permit if a person just wants to tie a bait bucket to the person’s dock, for example, he noted.

However, Howard Berna, director Phil Chiocchio of Sarasota at Phil Chiocchio slide about Mar Vista Restaurant mini reefs success, of the Environmental Permitting the SKA meeting SKA meeting in October Division of Sarasota County, told Chiocchio that he was awaiting representatives are working with the Bay Foundation, suggested Chiocchio guidance from FDEP before making a Florida Department of Environmental look into the potential of winning funds recommendation on how county staff Protection to determine how the state from the West Coast Inland Navigation should handle mini reefs, Chiocchio might permit or exempt these devices. District (WCIND). pointed out during his presentation to The mission of WCIND, its website PDS is waiting to hear the outcome from the SKA members. the state. Currently these structures are explains, is “To preserve and enhance the In response to a request for follow-up not exempt in Sarasota County and those commercial, recreational, and ecological on Chiocchio’s comments, Berna wrote interested in these devices are encouraged values of waterways within the District in an Oct. 7 email that county Planning to wait until we have received input from we serve.” The district, the website and Development Services Department adds, encompasses Sarasota, Manatee, the state.”

(PDS) “staff attended a demonstration Charlotte and Lee counties. installation earlier this year with the The prospect of grant funds SKA directors expressed their support owner of Ocean Habitats at a location for the Fisheries Forum to apply for one During the course of the Sarasota Bay in Manatee County. Ocean Habitats of the annual WCIND grants, which designed floating ‘reef’ systems that can Fisheries Forum’s research involving are funded by property tax revenue be installed under docks and company mini reefs, Chiocchio said, Jack Merriman, a member of the board of the Sarasota dedicated to the work of the district.

Lido Beach renourishment During the Oct. 7 City Commission meeting, City Attorney Robert Fournier announced the SKA’s decision to appeal McHugh’s ruling.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said. Her order “made it very clear,” Fournier added, “that the argument they were making did not have merit.”

Luckner told the SKA members on Oct. 3, “We’d just as soon settle with the city and the Lido Key Residents Association, which is an intervenor in the case and drop our appeal in return for some things they could do for us.”

The SKA, he continued, has “already been pretty successful in getting the city to modify their design” of the dredging plans.

He was referring to the solicitation package the USACE published for the Lido project in May. The federal agency had eliminated a portion of what has been designated Borrow Area — or Cut — C because of city utility lines that would make dredging in that area more difficult, a USACE spokesman told SNL this summer.

The USACE already is at work on revising the solicitation package, after cancelling the first one in early August. The federal agency announced that the two bids it opened on July 30 were “unreasonably high.”

In September, USACE spokeswoman Amanda Parker reported that the project

Continued from page 23

manager was hopeful that a new solicitation would be advertised in December or January 2020.

Whittling down the arguments In January, after her second ruling against the SKA, McHugh did give the nonprofit a narrow window within which to make one more attempt in court. In her Jan. 18 order, she allowed the nonprofit to try to prove that the city had refused the SKA’s request for the City Commission to ask the County Commission for approval to remove sand from Big Pass.

A county environmental policy, SKA leaders have contended, forbids such action in a waterway that never has been dredged. Big Pass is one of those rare waterways from which no sand ever has been removed, SKA President Catherine Luckner has pointed out.

During a December 2018 hearing in the case, SKA attorney Kent Safriet of the Tallahassee firm Hopping Green & Sams told McHugh that, for the past year-and-a-half, the SKA had called on city leaders to make a formal request of the county to allow the USACE to dredge Big Pass, and city leaders had refused to do so. Thus, the SKA was seeking a Writ of Mandamus — a formal court order directing the city to act.

After McHugh issued her Jan. 18 decision,

the SKA filed an amended Petition for Writ of Mandamus on Jan. 25.

This time, the SKA contended that, during a meeting of SKA leaders and senior city staff members in May 2017, the SKA leaders specifically asked the city staff to seek County Commission approval for the dredging of Big Pass. SKA attorney Safriet provided, as an exhibit, a copy of an email exchange between Robert Luckner and former City and County Commissioner Nora Patterson, who had facilitated the meeting. The SKA leaders said that the email was proof that it had made the request of the city, and the city had failed to act.

Yet, during a five-hour hearing on July 23, city Chief Engineer Alexandrea DavisShaw and City Manager Tom Barwin denied that the Luckners, who were present at the May 2017 meeting, asked them to seek county approval of the Big Pass plans.

Further, Tim Litchet, director of the city’s Development Services Department, testified about the approximately 30-minute review he and DavisShaw had undertaken before she submitted a letter, as part of the permit application to FDEP, asserting that the Lido Renourishment Project would be consistent with policies in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

Coastal setback variance denied

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

By Rachel Brown Hackney

39

SarasotaNewsLeader.com

After declining a second chance to move proposed new construction further landward, Casey Key Road property owners fail to win county Coastal Setback Variance In January, Sarasota County Environmental Permitting staff gave owners of the property at 3761 Casey Key Road in Nokomis an opportunity to modify plans for construction of a new house and pool. That was because the design would destroy a minimum of 651 square feet of native dune habitat, county staff explained to the County Commission on Sept.

24.

Additionally, the plan would put the new construction a maximum of 92.25 feet west of the county’s Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL). The latter is the figurative “line in the sand” established to preserve dune vegetation and, as a result, provide better protection to structures landward of the line when storm surge events occur.

The county’s environmental policies stress that “beach habitat shall be preserved,” Howard Berna, manager of the county’s Environmental Permitting Division, pointed out to the County Commission on Sept. 24.

That day, the commissioners gave the attorney and consultant working for the owners of the 3761 Casey Key Road parcel another opportunity to revise the plans.

“I’m concerned about the beach vegetation,” Commissioner Alan Maio announced after the staff presentation on the request for a Coastal Setback Variance (CSV) for the project.

“If I was the petitioner or his representatives, I would ask for a continuance.”

If they were willing to adjust the design to move the new construction further landward, Maio added, the petition for the CSV would “have a better chance at approval,” from his perspective.

“They’re basically rebuilding anyway,” Commissioner Nancy Detert pointed out, referring to the on-grade structure that has been on the property since 1950.

In January, during staff’s first review of the proposal, Berna said, he suggested relocating the new structures more landward. The owners could ask for variances regarding the county’s requirement for a 25-foot setback from Casey Key Road and for a reduction in the setback for the side yard, he added. Yet, they did not change their plans before staff’s second review of their CSV application, Berna noted.

Another issue Berna pointed out on Sept. 24 is the fact that the representatives of the petitioners have maintained that the two-story pool pavilion would be about 77.5 feet from the Mean High Water Line (MHWL). When staff members visited the site, Berna said, “We measured the distance of the wet sandy beach from the bottom of the steps of a dune walkover structure on the parcel …” They found the wrack line to be only 21 feet away from those steps. Thus, Berna continued, staff estimated that the MHWL actually is only 40 to 45 feet from the westernmost point of the proposed new construction.

The second chance at a redesign “I normally wouldn’t do this,” Chair Charles Hines announced after Berna’s presentation, but “I think it’s worthwhile to maybe give some hints.”

With Maio and Detert clearly leaning against approving the variance, Hines made it clear that he would cast the third vote necessary to deny the CSV petition.

No one had signed up to address the board on the issue except the representatives of the property owners, Hines added. (Berna had noted that the petitioners were unable

to be present for the public hearing.)

While petitions for Coastal Setback Variances always are difficult because of property rights issues, Hines pointed out, in the case of the proposal for 3761 Casey Key Road, “This is almost an entire pool, a significant part of the deck and some living space” that would extend seaward of the GBSL, “plus the destruction of a significant amount of native habitat.”

Hines added, “There’s room on this property” to redesign the project with a “nice home” and allow the owners reasonable use of the land.

In response to a question from Commissioner Maio, County Attorney Frederick “Rick” Elbrecht explained that the board members themselves could not ask for a continuance. They would need to vote to grant the variance, or not, depending upon the presentation made on behalf of the petitioner, Elbrecht added.

With no comment on the commissioners’ remarks from Weiqi Lin of Port and Coastal Consultants of Sarasota, who was representing the owners, the hearing continued.

At the end of Lin’s presentation, Maio made the motion to deny the request for the variance; Detert seconded it; and it passed unanimously.

Before the vote, however, Lin argued that he should be given an extra 5 minutes for rebuttal.

“What are you going to rebut?” Hines asked him.

He had planned to address some of the commissioners’ concerns during that rebuttal, Lin replied, and offer another proffer from the property owners.

“We’re voting on what’s submitted,” Hines told him, suggesting that Lin had missed an opportunity to offer those other details when Lin made his 20-minute presentation.

(Lin was a member of the Environmental Permitting Division for many years.)

Finally, Maio pointed out, “We got out in front of this, expressing our concerns. They should have been addressed

in the 20-minute presentation, and they weren’t.”

“If we grant this variance,” Detert added, “we’re setting a bad precedent … 92 feet past the GBSL.” Such a vote might encourage other residents in the immediate area to begin requesting variances, she added, so they could pursue new construction closer to the beach.

Property ownership A limited liability company bought the property at 3761 Casey Key Road in 2017. The Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records show that LAK 3761 LLC paid $361,200 for the parcel.

According to records maintained by the Florida Division of Corporations, LAK 3761 was established in September 2017. The manager of LAK 3761 is Lynn A. Kodrick of 3761 Casey Key Road.

The total taxable value of the property this year is $1,400,900, the Property Appraiser’s Office records say.

40

Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

Classifieds / Here’s My Card ACCOMMODATIONS / VACATION RENTALS

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• Best Western Plus Siesta Key – AAA -3 Diamond Property, • Hawk’s Nest Construction Inc. is a certified Class A general Free shuttle service to and from Siesta Key 941-924-4900, 6600 S. contractor licensed in all phases of construction. Owner, Mark Hawkins Sr. personally oversees every aspect of your project from Tamiami Trl., Sarasota start to finish, using only the best and most reliable licensed artisan • Siesta 4 Rent - Vacation Rentals, from studios to 5 bedrooms. and craftsmen. His passion is delighting his clients by turning their Serving Siesta Key since 1997, 941-349-5500 home-improvement dreams into a beautiful reality. Call 941-6509499 or visit their website: www.hawksnestconstruction.com

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• Wilson Windows is a State Certified General Contractor specializing in glass porch enclosures and window replacement.

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HELENE M. HYLAND REALTOR®

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• Making things happen on Siesta Key with Real Estate agents Bob and Sheri Ruiz from Key Solutions Real Estate Group. If you are looking to buy or sell on the Key contact us. Bob Ruiz 941-544-3299 RobertRuizRR@aol.com, Sheri Ruiz 941-400-4186 SheriLasley@aol.com

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RESTAURANTS CONTINUED

NOVEMBER 2019

TRANSPORTATION CONTINUED

Sarasota to Tampa Airport $ 89 each way

Airport Shuttle Limo/Taxi

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Mon.- Sat. 9 AM-7 PM Sun. 11 AM-5 PM

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Monday through Friday 9-6 • Saturday 9-2

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SPORTS RENTALS / ACCESSORIES • Robin Hood Rentals – for all your Siesta Key rental needs with a wide variety segways, bikes, kayaks, scooters and more, free pickup and delivery anywhere on the key. 5255 Ocean Blvd Siesta Key Village. 941-554-4242 • Siesta Key Bike & Kayak – Located on Siesta Key in Capt Curts Village serving Siesta Key, Lido Beach and Sarasota. We offer bikes, kayak rentals, kayak eco tours, paddleboards and scooters.

1224 Old Sickney Pt Rd. 941-346-0891 • Siesta Sports Rentals – Located on Siesta Key, bike, kayak, kayak tours, scooter, children strollers and car seats. Delivery and pickup available, 6551 Midnight Pass Rd, 941-346-1797

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• AMAZING LOCATION! 3BD/2BA Florida style ranch home has it all! Don’t hesitate to see this clean and tropical beauty! Meticulously maintained, Siesta Key Village and Beaches just minutes away. $428K. For your personal viewing please call at 941-587-4256 Vicky. MLS P4906250.

• INVESTOR’S PARADISE - 3 homes on adjacent lots located in the expanding Pine Shores Neighborhood.

Minutes from the beach, restaurants, and shopping.

Asking 2,300,000. Call 941-224-3944.

• PALM ISLAND HOME ON THE GRAND CANAL: $825,000. 322 Island Circle, Siesta Key, FL. MLS# A4199085.

Recently renovated with new kitchen, new master BR and master BA. This house boasts a new boat lift on the Grand Canal. Privacy abounds with a lovely tropical view across the canal. Huge bonus area on lower level. Dan Miller, Re/ Max Tropical Sands. 941-376-7442.

• CANAL FRONT HOME: $999,900. 5157 Sandy Shore Ave, Siesta Key, FL. MLS# A4427877. Canal front home on a quiet low traffic dead end “Sandy” street. Split plan 4 bedroom & 3 bath 2,493 square foot home with recently updated kitchen & bath. PGT Wind Guard Hurricane Impact windows and sliders for added storm security. You will love lounging around the large pool on this oversized lot (14,352 SF) and dock with lift on the wide canal with easy access to world class boating & fishing. Dan Miller, Re/Max Tropical Sands. 941-376-7442.

• GRAND CANAL HOME: $989,000. 214 Island Circle, Siesta Key, FL. MLS# A4435268. Wonderful Siesta Key Grand Canal home located on desirable Palm Island. 2,600+ sq. ft., 4 BR, 2.5 BA waterfront oasis. Loft area on 2nd level makes nice office space. Screened pool area. Short walk to World Famous Siesta Beach, close to world class dining and night life of Siesta Village. Dan Miller, Re/Max Tropical Sands. 941-376-7442.

• GULF AND BAY VIEWS HOME: $6,300,000. 156 Givens Street, Siesta Key, FL. MLS# A4438489. Spectacular sunsets meet designer decadence in this show stopping 4BR/ 5.5 BA modern-luxe masterpiece designed by world acclaimed architect, Guy Peterson. Each room possesses unparalleled panoramic views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico by day and breathtaking sunsets and twinkling lights of Lido Key skyline by night. Dan Miller, Re/Max Tropical Sands. 941-376-7442.

• HARBOUR TOWNE YACHT CLUB - Across the street from Siesta Beach with a private deeded boat dock and water views! Renovated two bedroom, two bath. One car garage with attic storage. Gated community on a deepwater marina. Pool, hot tub, tennis/pickle ball, clubhouse.

MLS# A4433033, $539,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.

• THE POINTE - Largest floor plan at 1380 square feet in a 2/2 with spacious lanai overlooking the ICW and Bay to the east and the Gulf and Siesta sunsets to the west. Amazing views from every room. Gated with every amenity. MLS# A4438186, $529,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.

• THE POINTE - Exquisitely renovated 2/2 with incredible 270 degree water views! Beautifully decorated and move-in ready. Gated community with every amenity pool, spa, tennis, pickle ball, fitness, clubhouse, boat docks, kayak racks and launch, picnic area, grills and on-site management. MLS #A4448625 $535,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.

• GULF & BAY BAYSIDE - Fabulous town home with deeded beach access across the street. 3 BR/2 Bath plus loft with soaring ceilings, abundant windows, one car garage.

Beautifully renovated and furnished. Great vacation or investment property. Gated resort with all amenities. MLS# A4446754, $675,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.

• HARBOUR TOWNE YACHT CLUB - Bright and spacious 3/3 townhome directly across the street from Siesta Beach and yards to the ICW by boat. Deeded slip with

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

41

HOMES FOR SALE CONTINUED 20k pound lift directly outside the unit. Attached garage.

Gated community with tennis, pool, clubhouse, etc. MLS# A4447427, $685,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186.

• TRULY FABULOUS 2/2 WITH DIRECT GULF VIEWS. This Gulfside, 1st-floor unit is perfectly positioned overlooking the pool & amazing direct gulf front views of world-famous Siesta Key Beach!! Walk right out the patio to the pool/beach - no stairs or elevators!! A very open, spacious, clean & cared for condo with full-sized washer/ dryer, expansive lanai, walk-in closets, and extra storage.

6342 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #415, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4444324, $1,050,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941894-1255.

• ENJOY STUNNING SUNRISES AND SUNSETS from this lovely two bedroom, two bath PENTHOUSE condo at the southernmost end of Siesta Key. If you seek incomparable views look no further - wake to awe-inspiring sunrises over Neville Preserve on Little Sarasota Bay and marvel at the spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.

9393 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #P2, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4406101, $469,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941894-1255.

• NEWLY CONSTRUCTED Coastal Contemporary on the Grand Canal. Centrally located to Siesta Village and beaches. Natural light abounds this 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms open floor plan with direct walkout access to the open designed saltwater pool and deck. Enjoy sunsets from your pool deck and balconies. This home is minutes by boat, paddle board or kayak to the Intercoastal Waterway.

4866 COMMONWEALTH DR, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4437382, $1,659,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941894-1255.

• YEAR ROUND SUNSETS! This 10th-floor unit is perfectly positioned to enjoy gorgeous beachfront views!

A very spacious, light, bright, clean and cared-for condo with a split floor plan and walk-in closets. The hurricane impact sliding doors (replaced 2018) lead from the living room and bedrooms to the huge screened lanai. Furniture is negotiable. 6300 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #1009, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A4425862, $949,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941-894-1255.

• LEAST EXPENSIVE HOME ON SIESTA KEY! $400,000 4BD/3BA. Less than 1 mile from Siesta Beach and adjacent to Glebe Park, this mid-century modern home located on a designated Canopy Road is still occupied by its original owner. This home boasts “Old Florida Charm,” featuring vaulted ceilings, terrazzo floors throughout, and a combination of jalousie and clerestory windows. With 2100 Sq Ft of living space and situated on a 9000 Sq. Ft. lot, the floor plan allows for either a variety of renovation concepts or the ability to build your Dream Home! KW On The Water, MLS # A4437571, presented by The Westerberg Group, Call Seth: 941-342-SOLD or Al: 856-278-7522.

• EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE YOUR DREAM HOME! The possibilities are endless on this 18,000 Sq. Ft. lot! This waterfront property includes 90 feet of concrete seawall with a dock and is located just off the Grand Canal. Within walking distance of the Out-of-Door Academy and Siesta Village, this property is situated at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac on a designated canopy road. The existing home features a newer travertine pool deck, lanai, and open floor plan which can be remodeled to your taste. Pictured above is a concept designed by the Vision Group, with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, gourmet kitchen, vaulted ceilings, an elevator, and a 3-car garage. Come make this phenomenal property your piece of paradise!

KW On The Water, MLS # A4440889,$1,250,000, presented

by The Westerberg Group, Call Seth: 941-342-SOLD (7653) or Al: 856-278-7522.

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Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce events

October Luncheon at The Grasshopper Mexican Restaurant & Bar The Chamber would like to thank The Grasshopper Mexican Restaurant & Bar for hosting our October luncheon!

We had a great turnout and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Thank you, Dino, Lynzi, and staff, for making this event great!

Also, thank you to the following businesses for donating door prizes: Your CBD Store Siesta, Sherwin Williams, Weddings of Sarasota, Beneva Flowers and Plantscapes, Business World Promo and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

www.siestasand.net

siesta key chamber of commerce 5114 Ocean Blvd, 941-349-3800

Volunteer Trolley Tour The Chamber volunteers enjoyed their annual trolley tour of some local accommodations! While getting an inside look at multiple properties, they were treated to refreshments at each stop. A huge thank you to the properties that participated: Rent Siesta Now, Best Western Plus Siesta Key Gateway, Hibiscus Suites, Captiva Beach Resort, and Siesta Sunset Royale. Also, thank you, Siesta Trolley & Transportation, Inc., for helping make this event a success! And thank you, Morton’s Siesta Market, for donating the food at the last trolley stop- it was delicious!

Siesta Key Chamber’s 60th Anniversary Party The Chamber would like to thank everyone who made our 60th Anniversary Party a HUGE success! We had over 90 RSVPs and felt the love from the whole community! Also, congratulations again to Michael Shay on your retirement as SKVMC Maintenance Manager! We are so glad you came out and partied with us! The Chamber would like to thank the

Off Key

following sponsors for making this event possible: Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, Abel’s Ice Cream, Observer Media Group, Hughes Exterminators, and Your CBD Store Siesta. Also, we appreciate all of our door/raffle prize donations from: Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary, Costco Wholesale, Discover Sarasota Tours, Flowers by Fudgie, Gecko’s Grill

& Pub at Stickney Point, Helene Hyland- Coldwell Banker, Kayaking SRQ Tour & Rentals, Mattison’s Forty-One, Michael C. Graf- Michael Saunders & Co., Rev. Susan Sophie Bierker, MSW, Sunshine and Sand Hidden Treasures, The Grasshopper Mexican Restaurant & Bar and Your CBD Store Siesta.

By Robert Frederickson

“Woke up this Morning, had those Walkin’ Blues…”

A new study from Smart Growth America has this not so shocking news for any Floridian who has been around the block more than a few times (especially if the journey has been on foot): the Sunshine State is the most dangerous place in the nation when it comes to walking. But it gets worse.

Turns out the top five most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians nationwide are all right here in Florida. And coming in at number four? That’s right: Sarasota/Bradenton/ North Port. You’re safer on a Boeing 737 Max with a meth-crazed student pilot at the controls than you are crossing US 41 at any time of the day or night in these parts.

Another study listed the five most dangerous songs to drive to. Coming in at number one was American Idiot by Green Day, which is altogether appropriate as it also serves as an accurate description of many of the drivers careening along our local highways and byways.

So if you’re out for your morning stroll along MPR (which just so happens to have a particularly dire history in this regard) and you hear “American Idiot” shattering the morning calm, run – don’t walk – as quickly as you can away from the shoulder. There are no ‘Safe Places’ along roadways in these parts; not even sidewalks qualify.

Wondering What George Carlin Would Make of Today’s Language Police...

“It used to be seven words you can’t say on television. Now it’s 15,000 words you can’t say in private conversations.”

– David Angelo

California Goes Third World...

California has long prided itself as being a trendsetter when it comes to both public policy and the broader culture at large. But many Californians – including the State’s governor, Gavin Newsom – are hoping the recent “public safety” power blackouts orchestrated by the state’s largest electrical utility, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), aren’t a sign of things to come.

According to the Sacramento Bee, 758,000 electric customers were intentionally taken offline recently due to the threat of extreme fire danger and more than 1.5 million were directly affected when you add in such things as gas station and supermarket closures forced by the outages.

PG&E declared bankruptcy earlier this year in no small part due to financial exposure brought on by lawsuits stemming from fires allegedly sparked by the utility’s faulty equipment and inadequate tree and brush trimming practices.

Newsom, the state’s governor, was quoted as saying, “this can’t be the new normal,” while accusing the utility of not advancing public safety but instead its own profits.

One tweet summed up the mood of many in the state: “This is not Cuba or Calcutta, This is California. And the intentional walk to the Third World marches on! Why do people put up with this foolishness? Unbelievable. #PowerOutage Florida knows a thing or two about dealing with both high winds and fires, but I’ve never heard of a utility here shutting off power days in advance of a high wind event.

Imagine that: Florida...the new trendsetter!

Flute Traumatized by Man’s Off-Key Caper A Janesville, Wisconsin man tried to shoplift a flute from a local music store by sticking it down the backside of his pants. He was easily caught though, owing to the utterly off-key execution of his caper. Unbeknownst to him, the long narrow instrument managed to cause the leather jacket he was wearing to ride up so high on one side that his crime was on display for all to see while he perused other items in the store instead of making a quick getaway.

Though the flute was recovered, the store manager at Voigt Music Center said that after its harrowing journey to the dark side he couldn’t in good conscience put it back on sale.

Conventional Wisdom Run Amok?

A recent headline in the Herald Tribune caught my eye the other day. It read: “Internet is Fundamental for Academic Success.” The story by Kim Doleatto that followed gave this explanation: “A student who can go home to a safe, quiet place where they can use the Internet to do their homework is going to have better quality work than a peer who doesn’t. It makes the playing field completely even…and it gets worse as the curriculum becomes more demanding.”

So why then (as I’ve mentioned in this space previously) are so many of the most accomplished names in Silicon Valley sending their kids to traditional pencil and paper schools and spending dearly to do so...in some cases as much as it would cost in tuition for a year at Harvard or Princeton?

Sherry Turkle, an MIT psychologist and author of such books as “Alone Together,” and “Reclaiming Conversation” says it’s because

those on tech’s bleeding edge know how dangerous life in front of our ubiquitous little blue screens can become.

If school districts truly wanted to be innovative perhaps they’d follow the lead of those visionary high tech innovators and teach kids how to interact directly with those around them instead of through the filters presented by all the supposedly ‘smart’ devices that have been deemed indispensable by educators, reporters, and other so called experts.

Socialism Laid Bare…

The average Venezuelan has lost 20 lbs. in just the past year.

Meantime, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has gained over 50 lbs. since taking office. And all the generals he surrounds himself with look like they too could be ‘before’ models in a Weight Watchers ad.

Which pretty much tells you – from top to bottom – all you need to know about socialism.

Those at the top get fat while the vast majority below waste away in desperation.

Uber Could Use a Lift...

Uber has just laid off another 350 employees working in the company’s corporate offices.

The layoffs are the third round of cost cutting measures since the company went public last May in a lackluster public offering that closed at $41.57 per share that day, far below expectations. Since then shares have sunk to a recent low of $28.37 in early October.

Quote of Timely Note “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

- Benjamin Franklin

www.siestasand.net

941.349.0194

NOVEMBER 2019

Island Visitor Publishing, LLC

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

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Emergency (General)..................................................................... 911 Emergency Animal Clinic.............................................941-929-1818 Fishing & Hunting Licenses.........................................941-362-9888 FPL – Florida Power & Light........................................941-917-0708 FPL – Outage Report................................................. 1-800-468-8243 Marriage License Bureau..............................................941-362-4066 Poison Info Center..................................................... 1-800-282-3171 Sarasota / Bradenton Intl. Airport..............................941-359-2770 Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT)........................941-316-1234 Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce..............................941-349-3800 Sheriff / non-emergency..............................................941- 861-1601 Waste Management.......................................................941-924-1254

Sunset Beach Resort

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Siesta Sand

NOVEMBER 2019

941.349.0194

Volleyball Fanatic

Linzy

This month’s Island Girl is Volleyball Fanatic, Linzy of Tampa.

She keeps herself busy pursuing a nursing degree and playing beach volleyball at Florida Southern University.

Linzy’s favorite movie is “Finding Nemo.“ If you would like to be considered for our next Island Girl, contact us at islandvp@verizon.net (You must be at least 18 years old to participate)

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