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SEPTEMBER 2018 | 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.SiestaSand.net | COMPLIMENTARY
RAMIREZ CIVIL CASE DISMISSED Ramirez facing potential of paying nearly $40,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs after Circuit Court judge dismisses her civil complaint against Robert Waechter
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VILLAGE MAINTENANCE NEWS Information on the latest maintenance projects from around The Village
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CITY OF SARASOTA LEGAL FEES Residents question some of City of Sarasota’s legal fee payments in Big Pass case
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SIESTA SOUNDS
Get to know Ted Stevens & the Doo-Shots
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SAND CASTLES
Short Term Rental Violations LBK Begins Ticketing; Fines Still Rare on Siesta
By Robert Frederickson
In the past, it has taken months for Longboat officials to document violations and track down the owners of properties breaking the 30 day rule; but now the town’s code-enforcement officers have been armed with new tools to quickly get the attention of offenders – including the ability to write tickets on the spot – even to renters if they are uncooperative with the code officials.
Siesta and Longboat Keys share much in common. Fine sugar sand beaches, magnificent views of the gulf and bay, fine restaurants and a resort lifestyle, all combined with the promise of owner occupied neighborhoods with a small town feel, where neighbors know one another, yet respect each other’s privacy. Continued on page 15 But Longboat Key has recently added an amenity related to that last item – privacy – that has become elusive for some on Siesta; and it will likely make quite a few Front end loader dumps homeowners here facing what they describe as an assault dead fish in truck, on their right to the peaceful enjoyment their properties – See pages 12/13 for envious. You see, Longboat has initiated a serious push to Red Tide articles enforce rules regulating short-term vacation rentals aimed at protecting the single-family ambience of the town’s residential neighborhoods. Those rules are much the same on Longboat as on Siesta. Homes zoned Residential Single Family (RSF) are prohibited from being rented out for periods less than 30 days. Trouble is, that rule has been routinely ignored for many years by some property owners and overlooked or misunderstood by their rental agents...including companies like the increasingly ubiquitous AIRBNB and VRBO. And enforcement on both island communities has often been a long and tortuous process, which has frustrated homeowners who have awakened to the heartbreaking More than 139 tons of red tide debris was cleared from Sarasota County public beaches reality of their once peaceful neighborhoods taking on the from Aug. 1 to mid-August, at a cost of $96,546.27. character of a year-round spring break resort.
Looking Better — New Village Maintenance Approach Aims to Keep the Area Pristine By Roger Drouin In Siesta Key Village, sometimes it ends up being cars vs. plants. “My biggest amazement is sheer number of things we’ve had to replace because people just run over them,” says Mark Smith, an architect and President of the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp. (SKVMC), which oversees maintenance in the Village. Recently, Wilhelm Brothers, a new contractor responsible for providing landscaping work in the Village, tackled replacing two landscape beds that required attention after cars drove into them. Those projects include the landscape beds on the north end of the Village — damaged during two car crashes — and at the
“Siesta Key Village” sign at Beach Road and Ocean Boulevard — that was destroyed during a car crash on New Year’s Eve. New native, drought resistant plants, such as Mammy Crotons, Dwarf Allamanda, and Blue Daze, updated irrigation, and solar lighting was replaced, says Lisa Cece, Sarasota County Special District Coordinator, who oversees two major contracts for upkeep and maintenance in the Village. Wilhelm Brothers, Inc., the new landscaping contractor, which is based in Sarasota, has proven itself adept at not only re-doing damaged landscaping, but also addressing black mold and an attack of Aphids that had
spread over some vegetation over time. Landscaping work in the Village, as well as other aspects of maintenance in the Village, are now a big improvement over the past few years, say SKVMC and County officials, who manage how Siesta’s Public Improvement District funds are spent. Wilhelm and a new custodial contractor, Greenscape Enterprises, doing business as Boro Building and Property Maintenance, now provide the bulk of work keeping the Village looking it’s best, and the SKVMC and county say it is a vast improvement. Continued on page 20
Sura Kochman is One of Many Fearless Opponents of Siesta Promenade By Diana Colson Perfect Location and Well-Kept, at Peppertree
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ALLIGATOR
The controversial Siesta Promenade - a proposed mixed-use Benderson development at the corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road - is heating up again. Among the most vocal citizens critical of the project is Sura Kochman, who has passionately scrutinized it since its inception four years ago. In materials recently presented to Sarasota County, which have been deemed sufficient
and complete, Benderson hopes that their approximately 24-acre property (once primarily a trailer park) can now be used for a 130-room hotel, 140,000 square feet of retail space, and 414 multifamily residential units. By using the Critical Area Plan (CAP) they are essentially requesting the permitted residential density for the property be increased from 13 units per acre to 20 units an acre.
“This is simply too intense a use for that property!” says Kochman. “These are small neighborhood streets built in the 1950’s. We should not be playing second fiddle to a developer’s property rights! What about our property rights?” She continues: “And it’s not just the density! There is also a height issue. Continued on page 17
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Ramirez Facing Potential of Paying Nearly $40,000 in Attorneys’ Fees and Costs After Circuit Court Judge Dismisses Her Civil Complaint Against Robert Waechter By Rachel Brown Hackney Almost six years after the former chair of the Republican Party of Sarasota County used her identity to try to smear her reputation, Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez says she has been victimized again. On Aug. 1, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh dismissed the last remaining portions of a civil complaint Ramirez filed against her fellow Siesta Key resident Robert Waechter in March 2015. Ramirez took that action in the aftermath of his pleading guilty in December 2013 to using a prepaid credit card to make contributions in her name to Democratic candidates running in 2012 races. Ramirez is a Republican. Then, on Aug. 2, Morgan Bentley of the Bentley & Bruning firm in Sarasota — who served as Waechter’s attorney in the civil case — filed a motion seeking close to $40,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs. “So now I’m being victimized again,” Ramirez wrote on the Facebook page for her campaign for the District 4 seat on the Sarasota County Commission. “Where is the justice?” she added. Ramirez filed the complaint against Waechter after she lost a 2014 campaign for the same seat she is seeking this year. Her opponent in that race — Alan Maio of Nokomis — will face her once more, in the Aug. 28 Republican Primary, as he seeks re-election. Ramirez and Waechter had served together on the Board of Directors of the Siesta Key Association for more than eight years before she stepped down in 2011 to take on a leadership role with the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA). “I have been victimized every step of the way,” Ramirez said on Aug. 3, referring to Waechter’s admitted criminal actions and the years-long civil case. On her Facebook page, she wrote, “I respectfully but vehemently disagree” with the court’s dismissal of the complaint. In her Aug. 1 ruling, McHugh noted that the court — on March 2 — already had dismissed three of the counts in the second amended complaint Ramirez filed in the case, in late August 2016. The remaining counts focused on defamation and libel, McHugh added, and McHugh agreed with Waechter’s argument that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations. Additionally, McHugh wrote that she found no evidence in the case that Waechter’s actions and the resulting news media attention “cost Ramirez any votes” during the 2014 County Commission race. McHugh added that Ramirez’s claims that the identity theft “caused humiliation fall far short of proving damages necessary to support a lawsuit for
defamation.” Therefore, McHugh concluded, Waechter and his company, RWR Installations — which also was a defendant in the case — “are entitled to judgment as a matter of law because Ramirez cannot demonstrate actual damages as required.” In his subsequent motion for fees and costs, Bentley pointed to a September 2017 settlement offer in the amount of $500, which Ramirez did not accept. From that point until the case’s dismissal, Bentley continued, Waechter and RWR Installations had incurred attorneys’ fees in the amount of $34,370.92. The defendants are entitled to recover that as specified by the Florida Statutes and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, he added. The total costs are $5,300.14, Bentley noted. On Aug. 14, McHugh set a hearing for 10 a.m. on Oct. 22 on Bentley’s motion.
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Lourdes Ramirez
An admission of wrongdoing In December 2013, Waechter pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony charge of Making an Election Contribution in the Name of Another and a misdemeanor count of Harassment by Use of Personal Information. Surveillance video from a grocery store, which the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office had obtained, showed Waechter purchasing a $500 prepaid credit card, which was proven to have been used to make a $35 donation to a Democratic state House candidate and to give $250 to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. Both donations were in Ramirez’s name, the investigation showed. Ramirez went to the Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 15, 2012 after she received a thank-you note for a donation to Sarasota Democrat Keith Fitzgerald’s congressional campaign. The Sheriff’s Office report said she advised an officer “she had never contributed to the Fitzgerald Campaign and felt someone had stolen her identity.” That launched the Sheriff’s Office’s investigation. Waechter was arrested on Dec. 14, 2012, court records show. He originally was charged with a felony count of Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information. Reading a prepared statement as part of his pleading, Waechter called his actions “a few moments of sophomoric hand-rubbing glee” that had cost him greatly. “I have embarrassed myself and I have caused great embarrassment to my family and friends,” he said.
Waechter was ordered to serve three months of community control, perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $5,000 fine and court costs. He also was given two years of probation.
The complaint On March 4, 2015, Ramirez filed the civil complaint against Waechter and RWR Installations Inc., the company whose IP address the Sheriff’s Office connected to the 2012 campaign donations. “The purpose of the fraudulent campaign contributions was to … paint Ramirez as a RINO (Republican in Name Only),” the complaint said. As months and then years went by, portions of the case were dismissed. Then, late last year, Waechter proposed what Ramirez characterized on her campaign Facebook page on Aug. 3 as a “small settlement.” The offer came with two significant caveats, Ramirez said in a telephone interview. The first specified that she agree never to run again for public office. The second called for her to refrain from any disparagement of Waechter or anyone with whom he is affiliated. “I could not accept those conditions,” Ramirez said. Waechter has connections to county commissioners and developers, she pointed out. If she signed the agreement, she said, “I could never speak up on any issue” without fear of reprisal. As a result, she added, the parties went forward with depositions and hearings.
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Remembering Frank Kelleher Village Maintenance News On July 24, Siesta Key lost one of the pillars of the business community, Frank Kelleher owner of Turtles Restaurant, On little Sarasota Bay. Kelleher was born September 15, 1934 in Brockton, MA. According to his obituary, Kelleher graduated from Coyle High School in 1953 and received a BS degree in Business Administration from Stonehill College in 1956. He began his career in the late 50’s as an Electronics Salesman and dabbled in real estate in the 70’s and eventually found his calling, Frank Kelleher full time, in the hospitality industry. He owned and operated his beloved restaurant, Turtle’s, on little Sarasota Bay since 1986. The obit went on to say, Frank touched so many lives with his strength and wisdom - he always believed in second chances and was notorious with his creative expressions and Irish wit. Above all, his renowned motto was always “The Bottom Line.” More than anything, Frank treasured his family and friends beyond measure. His hobbies over the years included golf, travel, boating and reading. A funeral Mass was held on July 30 at St. Michael the Archangel Church on Siesta Key.
‘BigBelly’ solar compactor to be installed in Siesta Village In August 2013, more than three years before the Siesta Key Village Association (SKVA) was absorbed into the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, a past SKVA president suggested what a great addition to the Village a solar-powered garbage compactor would be. Nothing came of Russell Matthes’ idea at that time. Finally, however, the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp. (SKVMC) has proposed installing a 200-gallon Bigbelly double solar compactor near The Lobster Pot. That was part of the news Lisa Cece, the special district coordinator for Sarasota County who oversees Village maintenance, announced during the Aug. 15 quarterly members meeting of the Siesta Chamber. During this year’s past tourist season, Cece pointed out, “we were inundated with the highest volume of trash that we have ever experienced” in the Village. The good news is that more and more people are visiting Siesta Village, she added. “But for the Maintenance district, we’re struggling to keep up with that volume.” The BigBelly compactor, she explained, would replace eight of the steel garbage cans in the Village. The plan is to install it near the Siesta Key Breeze trolley stop in front of Morton’s Siesta Market, she told the 18 attendees at the Chamber meeting. Many people ride the trolley into the Village, she pointed
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Staff Report
out, and many of them walk right over to Meaney’s Mini Donuts shop adjacent to The Lobster Pot, at the corner of Canal Road and Ocean Boulevard, as soon as they arrive. The garbage cans closest to that intersection overflow on a daily basis, Cece continued. Altogether, the Village has 50 of the 30-gallon decorative garbage cans, plus about half-adozen recycling bins. “That seems like a lot,” she acknowledged, but that is not the case, given the growth in tourism. The BigBelly,” she pointed out, “would offer the Village … high technology, automated, 24-hours-aday, self-compacting service.” By the time the garbage cans run out of their warranty period, Cece noted, it is time for the SKVMC to replace them. Having the BigBelly in place would save money for the SKVMC, she added. The maintenance company that works in the Village, under terms of a county contract, collects the garbage five days a week and hauls it by hand to the central bin in the Municipal Lot, Michael Shay, manager of the Maintenance Corp., told the meeting attendees. People who own property in Siesta Village pay an assessment each year for the upkeep, Cece noted. The Office of the County Attorney has been reviewing the contract for the Bigbelly compactor, Cece said, indicating she hoped the office soon would give its approval to the plan. Continued on page 6
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Mediation the New Focus in North Beach Road Lawsuit By Rachel Brown Hackney The complaint Siesta resident Mike Cosentino filed against Sarasota County in June 2016 regarding the County Commission’s vacation of a 357-foot-long segment of North Beach Road also remains unresolved. Although the complaint was filed only about a month after the board vote, it was not served on the county until right at the 90-day deadline required by the state for such service. Therefore, the case got off to a slow start, one might say, in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court. On July 24, Judge Frederick Mercurio heard more motions in the case, which not only involves the county and Cosentino but also North Beach Road property owners Dennis and Wendy Madden. The Maddens were among three sets of petitioners in 2016 who had sought the road segment vacation. They want to tear down old rental structures they own on property landward of the road segment so they can construct fewer new dwelling units that will conform to modern building codes. The County Commission in May 2016 granted them a Coastal Setback Variance for that work, but they have not begun the project as the Cosentino case has continued. On Aug. 7, a document filed in the Circuit Court says Cosentino and the Maddens stipulated to a motion for a temporary abeyance of the case “in order to pursue settlement negotiations and formal mediation …”
That motion points out that, following the July 24 hearing, “the above-named parties expressed an interest in pursuing formal mediation as soon as possible. … The parties will need a temporary abeyance of these proceedings in order to give the mediation process a chance to resolve all outstanding issues. Due to the schedules and obligations of all concerned, the parties request more time than was originally requested …” The motion indicated that the Maddens and Cosentino hoped to conclude mediation by 5 p.m. on Aug. 9. Then an Aug. 10 motion from Cosentino notes the “voluntary, preliminary mediation” was held on Aug. 9 at the offices of the Williams Parker law firm in Sarasota. (Williams Parker has been representing the Maddens.) That motion points out that the county declined to send counsel to the session, and an intervening party in the case, William H. Caflisch — one of the other petitioners for the road vacation — never responded to emails from attorneys for Cosentino or the Maddens regarding his attendance at the mediation session. The motion adds, “Resolution of the complex issues involved in this cause require all parties to attend mediation to reach a viable and binding settlement.” Therefore, Cosentino asked the court to compel mediation and issue an order requiring that it be held within 60 days of the date of
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that order. In the meantime — as detailed in another motion filed on Aug. 9 — Cosentino’s attorney, Lee Robert Rohe of Big Pine Key, asked for a continuance of any hearings scheduled between Sept. 4 and Oct. 4 because the Florida Supreme Court had suspended Rohe from practicing law for 30 days beginning on Sept. 4 and ending on Oct. 4. “No petition for reinstatement [to the Florida Bar] will be necessary,” Rohe added. “The suspension arises from an October 2015 complaint to the Florida Bar by a nonparty, out of state witness,” the motion says. Rohe had served a subpoena on that witness in Michigan. However, the motion explains, “The subpoena did not comply with Florida’s Uniform Foreign Depositions law, nor with the Michigan Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act. Thus, there was no compulsion for the witness to appear.”
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Happiness Is…Being A Local It’s been almost three years since Jerry and Jill Williams, owners of Abel’s Ice Cream, made the decision to leave the Midwest for sunny Sarasota. So, does that earn them the right to be considered a “local?” Depends on who you ask. Some friends who are naturalborn Floridians would beg to differ. Others who have been here for anywhere from six months to thirty years consider themselves locals. “We looked for a hard and fast definition of what constitutes a ‘local’, but couldn’t find one,” Jerry said. “However, we stuck around and rode out Irma last year, so we’re voting ourselves into this wonderful group of people.” And now that they’re here, Jerry mentioned that they are getting to enjoy watching some of their friends transition from seasonal or part-time residents to fulltime. “Can’t wait to welcome them to the Locals club,” he quipped. Season is always such a busy time, flooded with a beautiful diversity of people from all over the country and the world. But locals, including the Williams, certainly appreciate the slower pace and the perks that come along with the off-season. Like no wait times at their favorite restaurants, plentiful parking at the beach and of course, less traffic. Since it is a little quieter, now is the perfect opportunity to spend a little extra time with the family, enjoying
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each other’s company over a cup or cone of any of Abel’s forty-two flavors of delicious parlor-style cream. Two current favorites are English Toffee and Cream (Sweet Toffee Ice Cream loaded with Heath® candy bar pieces) and Cookie Dough (Sweet cookie-flavored ice cream, loaded with chunks of cookie dough and sweet chocolate chips). Stop in today and let Jerry know if or when you earned your “local” status and from where you originally hail (if you’re not a lifer, that is). Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon – 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday from Noon – 10 p.m. Learn more online at www.abelsicecream.com or connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
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Village Maintenance News
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Continued from page 4
Unexpected garbage issues drawing attention in Village
Connie Lewis, LMT and Aesthetician, formerly of Massage Experience Siesta Key, is pleased to announce her new location at Spalypso. She continues to offer therapeutic massages and her popular facial sculpting at her new location, just as she’s done the past 20+ years at the spa she’s owned and managed in Davidson’s Plaza in the Village. Call 941-350-7495 to receive the high-level service her loyal customers have come to expect.
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Along with the news about the BigBelly compactor, county Special District Coordinator Lisa Cece and Michael Shay, manager of the Village upkeep for the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp., told Siesta Chamber members on Aug. 15 about other garbage-related issues, one of which was a bit unusual, they indicated. Shay said he and Cece had discovered that people had been putting household trash in Village garbage cans. Obviously, Shay continued, that had contributed to the cans filling up “a lot sooner” than they would have under normal circumstances. A county Code Enforcement officer recently visited two residences, to which such garbage had been traced, Cece added. “They were surprised to get that visit.” Along with the residential garbage, Cece noted, she and Shay have found construction debris in Village garbage cans, which also is not allowed. If any Chamber members have construction underway in the Village, Cece continued, “Take ownership of your projects.” County staff is asking all business owners to make sure construction debris “is being disposed of properly.” Yet one other recent garbage can issue, she pointed out, involved the relocation of a can from the area in front of Ripfire Pizza — in the former Jo-To location — to the Sandal Factory next-door. Before the Sandal Factory stood at 5232 Ocean Blvd., she reminded the Chamber members, a 7-Eleven occupied that spot for many years. County staff put in two bollards and even a boulder, she continued, in an effort to keep people from backing over a garbage can at that site. Nothing seemed to prevent damage to the can. After the garbage can recently was moved from the Ripfire Pizza location to the Sandal Factory site, damage ensued again. “Now we had to replace the can,” Cece added. The new one was installed at Ripfire Pizza, she said; “it needs to stay there …” Cece told the meeting attendees, “If we could all keep a ‘Do No Harm’ mentality,” the Maintenance Corp. would far fewer issues — and expenses — to handle on behalf of its members. “The Village is evolving and improving,” Cece continued, “but as it does, let’s continue to keep everything in a resort-like manner. I only ask because I oversee the maintenance in the Village by contract for the county. … I know you all want the same thing.” The reference to a “resort-like manner” has been used in the county’s solicitations for companies to bid on the Village upkeep and landscaping contracts since the county paid to undertake the Village beautification project about 10 years ago.
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Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Chair Wendall Jacobsen, general manager of Beach Bazaar, reported during the Aug. 15 meeting that members of the organization had talked with island artist Shawn McLoughlin about painting “a nice picture” in front of Morton’s Siesta Market, where the Siesta Key Breeze trolley stops in Siesta Village. The goal, he and past Chamber Chair Mark Smith explained, is to encourage people waiting for the trolley to stand in a certain area. “There was at one time a sticker,” Jacobsen pointed out, letting people know where the Breeze would make its pick-up at Morton’s. That sticker did not last long, he added. “We’re hoping this’ll be a better indicator,” he said of the painting. “You know it takes two years to get a stop sign in the Village,” Michael Shay, manager of the Village Maintenance Corp., responded. “It’ll probably take three years to get permission from Sarasota County to put a painting on top of the pavers.” In response to a member’s question for clarification, Smith said that the painting would indeed need to be on part of the decorative brick pavers, not on Canal Road. Continued on page 8
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Residents Question Fee Payments in Big Pass Case A number of Siesta residents have questioned the fact that the City of Sarasota has paid some of the expenses of the Lido Key Residents Association (LKRA) as that organization has fought the Siesta Key Association (SKA) and Save Our Siesta Sand 2 (SOSS2) in their efforts to prevent the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass. Siesta businessman Michael Holderness sent an email on July 12 to the city commissioners, noting that, as of May 1, the city had paid $203,829.20 to the St. Petersburg firm of Lewis, Longman & Walker, which has represented the LKRA. “Under what authority can a City use public funds to pay for the attorneys of private landowners?” Holderness wrote. “I think such expenditures may even be illegal. “Did the City Commissioners approve this expenditure? “Please investigate this use of funds.” This spring, City Attorney Robert Fournier provided an explanation about those payments. He pointed out that the city’s outside counsel in the Big Pass cases — John R. Herin of GrayRobinson in Fort Lauderdale — would have had to have help from other people in his firm if Lewis, Longman & Walker had not handled certain aspects of preparation for the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) proceeding in December 2017, during which the SKA and Save Our Siesta Sand 2 fought the dredging proposal. In a July 12 email, Fournier provided more details, replying to Holderness’ note to the commissioners. “The subject expenditure is certainly not ‘illegal,’ he wrote. “The fact that the Lido Key Residents Association (LKRA) is an organization composed of private citizens (all City residents) is not determinative as to the legality of the expense. There are two relevant questions in this regard. The first question is whether the expense was for a proper municipal purpose. I would answer this question affirmatively. The expense was necessary to obtain the permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to nourish Lido Beach — a valuable City asset. The second question is the extent to which
the interests of the City of Sarasota and the LKRA coincided or overlapped in the administrative proceedings before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). The answer to this question is that the interests of the City and the LKRA were identical.” Fournier continued, “The City Commission did not specifically authorize this expense. But that is not unusual as the City Commission generally acknowledges that the management of litigation and the hiring of outside counsel and expert witnesses are included within the scope of my responsibilities. For example, the City Commission did not specifically approve the hiring of the Gray Robinson firm in the DOAH proceedings. The fact that this expense was not specifically authorized by the City Commission doesn’t mean that it was kept secret. I have sent out updates regarding the legal expenses of the DOAH proceedings, have mentioned this at public meetings and have spoken to Commissioners individually about this particular expense. Also, the City Manager has been aware of this expenditure from the outset as I believe the request for cost sharing was initially communicated to him. Both … City Manager Tom Barwin and I were well aware of the commitment to the restoration of Lido Beach on the part of the City Commission and viewed the expenditure as fully consistent with this commitment.” Fournier added, “I would also note that this was a two way street. The City did not pay all of the attorney fees charged by the Lewis, Longman & Walker firm. The LKRA paid significant fees to that firm as well. The legal work that was paid for by LKRA also benefitted the City.” Fournier concluded his letter with the following: “Finally, if you don’t know this already, Mr. Holderness was one of the individually named petitioners in one of the petitions filed with DOAH to challenge the issuance of the FDEP permit. (SKA was his co-petitioner). To the best of my knowledge, he is not a City resident. But for the unfounded petitions that were filed to challenge the issuance of the permit, the City would not have
incurred any legal expenses in defending its right to obtain the permit in the first place.” The email exchanges apparently caught the eye of Sarasota businessman Martin Hyde, who ran for City Commission in 2017. Hyde routinely appears before the board at its regular meetings, offering his views on a variety of issues. He also has indicated that he plans another run for a seat on the commission. On Aug. 13, Hyde sent an email to Fournier in response to Fournier’s explanation. “With all due respect,” Hyde wrote the city attorney, “you are glossing over a few highly relevant points as follows: “1. The City commission had already authorized the hiring of its own counsel in the matter. “2. There is NO letter of agreement between the City and this law firm,” he added. Therefore, “I’m at a loss to know how monies can disbursed to them? “3. Subjectively by implication you are asserting that there is no limit or caveat on legal fees or the manner in which they are agreed to be paid. “4. Even if the Commission doesn’t want to participate in substantial cash expenditures citizens are certainly entitled to know and this has absolutely been done out of the public domain. “5. If there is no legal agreement between the City and this law firm does it not present an issue of disclosure to the defense and the court if the City has a de facto shadow counsel? “6. Can I see the email today as a public record from the City manager to you that agrees to the amount of the payments or to whomever it was sent to authorize the disbursement of a check on behalf of another organization whose name was the only one on the invoice? “7. Can someone confirm that the City is willing to pay invoices this haphazardly going forward i.e. without a direct bill in the City’s name and sans any direct Commission authorization? “8. Is there any point at which the sums might be questioned? $200k would seem
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By Rachel Brown Hackney a significant level to warrant more formal arrangements but maybe I’m old fashioned.” Finally, Hyde wrote, “I have a few bills I’d like the City to pay too. Can you tell me to whom I should forward them? They’re all for the common interest of the City so perhaps you could use the same system and slush fund as you did for this?”
City attorney provides updated figure for outside counsel’s expenses; Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has been prompt in responses over the past months when an inquiry was made about the city’s legal fees in the Big Pass cases. Recently, he wrote that the total amount the city has paid GrayRobinson — where its outside counsel practices in Fort Lauderdale — is $415,085.71. In his previous update to a request, Fournier noted that the total paid to GrayRobinson as of July 10 was $392,595.25. Fournier added in his Aug. 13 email that the latest sum for GrayRobinson “includes both the administrative proceedings and the Circuit Court case.” The latter reference is to the SKA’s efforts — as detailed in the 2017 filing of a verified complaint — to show that the city must have approval of Sarasota County to dredge Big Pass, thanks to a county environmental policy in the county’s Comprehensive Plan. On July 24, Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh heard arguments relative to the city’s Motion to Dismiss that case. She allowed both sides to file supplemental material. It could be early September, SKA Vice President Catherine Luckner told members during their Aug. 2 meeting, before McHugh rules on the motion. In his Aug. 13 email, Fournier also noted, “The other totals are the same and will remain the same.” In that statement, he was referencing payments involving preparation for the DOAH proceeding and expert witnesses, as well as the fees to Lewis, Longman & Walker, which has been representing the Lido Key Residents Association.
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Village Maintenance News The idea is to keep people out of the road, he pointed out. “We’re going to figure out how to pay for the painting,” Smith said, and then the Maintenance Corp. would try to get county permission to proceed with the Chamber plan. “Can’t you just do it?” Russell Matthes, co-owner of the Daiquiri Deck restaurants, asked, referring to letting McLoughlin paint a section of pavers. “Well, then it would be considered a ‘tag,’” Smith replied, referring to graffiti, which the county would have removed.
Landscaping problems another Village issue Among other news related to Siesta Village’s appearance, Michael Shay, manager of the Village Maintenance Corp., said during the May 15 Chamber meeting that attendees probably had noticed, since May, that the landscaping bed near the Sub Zero ice cream and yogurt shop at 219 Avenida Madera had disappeared. A new paid parking lot is being constructed at 5160 Calle Minorga, behind Sub Zero, Shay added, “and they needed a stormwater ditch” that had to be connected to the sewer, “so they pulled out the whole bed.” Shay noted, “No permit; no nothing. So we did let them know that they have to replace everything.” Along with the landscaping bed, he said, three trees were removed. Because the reconfiguration of the area for stormwater purposes will make the site too shallow to support tree roots, Shay continued, new Village locations will be settled on for the three replacement trees. “We are going to re-plant the landscaping bed and put the irrigation back.” Yet another matter that has been a focus of his and county Special District Coordinator Lisa Cece’s attention, Shay said, has been the removal of pavers in a number of areas as businesses have installed gas lines. All of those areas are being restored, he noted. TECO Energy employees had to excavate in a number of places, Cece added, in their effort to install a gas line to the planned ice cream shop on the south end of Davidson Plaza. The workers had to cut into the concrete, she said. “It was re-poured just a few days ago.”
Continued from page 6
Cece further pointed out that the landscaping firm that works at Whispering Sands, on the north end of the Village, had blown debris into the landscaping beds in that area, killing plants. County staff had worked to restore the affected sections by planting perennial peanut ground cover, she said.
FPL’s LED lighting project completed Another update Siesta Chamber members received during their Aug. 15 quarterly meeting concerned Florida Power & Light Co.’s efforts to replace the high pressure sodium lights with LED fixtures on the 325 poles it owns and maintains on the north and south ends of the island. As of Aug. 14, Lisa Cece, the county’s special district coordinator, reported, Florida Power & Light (FPL) had just about completed that project. Members can take note of the new fixtures, she said, as they “drive up and down the main roads …” FPL crews were working on some “parts and pieces,” she added, to complete the switch. Then Michael Shay, manager of the Village upkeep for the Maintenance Corp., explained that the project did not involve the lighting in the Village. Just as she had told Siesta Key Association members during their June meeting — when FPL representatives were present to discuss the initiative — Cece explained to the Chamber members on Aug. 15 that the Maintenance Corp. had not requested such an upgrade for the Village. A proposal for any project like that, she said, necessitates a discussion of the corporation’s budget and the potential expense. The Maintenance Corp., she continued, already has purchased four complete sets of the decorative streetlights installed in the Village during the 2008 beautification project, so it can replace them as needed. In fact, she noted, one pole was knocked down a few years ago, so a new pole had to be erected in its place. Several fixtures had been damaged, too, she added, so new ones had to be installed. In the future, though, she continued, it will be possible to pursue a conversion to LED lighting in the Village, if the property owners who are assessed for the maintenance wish to incur that expense. By the way, Cece added, the assessments for those property owners will go down with the next tax bills.
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Siesta Key Association Questions FDEP’s Intention to Allow City of Sarasota to Dredge New Pass Without City’s Having Completed Required Inlet Management Plan By Rachel Brown Hackney As this issue of Siesta Sand was being published, the engineer for the City of Sarasota was expecting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to issue its formal Notice to Proceed at any time for an emergency beach renourishment project on Lido Key Beach. According to a technical specifications document from the city, which FDEP has posted on its website, the dredging of New Pass would begin no later than Nov. 14, and the entire project would have to be completed by Feb. 12, 2019. The document said the contractor would have 90 consecutive days to finish the work, “which includes lead time for mobilization of all resources (dredge, equipment, personnel and materials, etc.) necessary to complete the work and demobilization of said resources evidenced by the complete removal of all equipment and materials from the beach and project work sites on Lido Key.” During an Aug. 6 segment on ABC7 in Sarasota, City Engineer Alexandrea DavisShaw said the plan is to use about 185,000 cubic yards of sediment from New Pass. The latest materials the city has submitted to FDEP say 222,500 cubic yards of sand is available in the New Pass borrow area. According to spokesman Jason Bartolone the city already has the permit for the emergency project. The city alternates with the Town of Longboat Key in using sand from New Pass for renourishment initiatives. The city applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to undertake this latest effort so it can repair damage inflicted on Lido by Hurricane Hermine in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017, according to a July 10 letter to DavisShaw from Thomas P. Pierro, director of operations for the Boca Raton firm APTIM — the city’s consultant for the emergency project. He was providing responses to a Request for Additional Information from FDEP, which the city received on June 29. Pierro pointed out that the renourishment would take place along the central and southern portions of Lido’s shoreline. The FDEP permit the city will use for the initiative was issued on July 2, 2015 and is valid until July 2, 2030, Pierro added. However, two representatives of the Siesta Key Association have questioned how FDEP can allow the project to proceed, because no inlet management plan was completed after the city’s removal of sand from New Pass in 2014. In correspondence with FDEP staff, Robert Luckner, a member of the nonprofit organization’s Environmental
Committee, has pointed out that the plan was a provision of the permit for that prior project. Nonetheless, Gregory W. Garis, a staff member of FDEP’s Division of Water Resource Management, replied in a July 31 email to Luckner, “We have been in contact with both the City of Sarasota (City) and the Town of Longboat Key (Town) regarding the need to conduct an updated Inlet Study. Several factors have delayed the execution of a study to date, mainly storms and projects in the area,” Garis continued. “We will be scheduling a call with the Town, City and their respective coastal engineering consultants to discuss paths forward and stress the need for a study.” Garis added, “I also wanted to provide clarification on our procedures for adopting inlet management plans as well as the difference in an inlet study and an inlet management plan. Upon completion of an approved ‘inlet management study’ by a local government and their coastal engineering consultant, the Department will develop an ‘inlet management plan’ to implement those strategies determined necessary to balance the inlet sediment budget and to mitigate erosion to adjacent beaches, pursuant to Section 161.142, Florida Statutes his emphasis.” Garis concluded his July 31 email by noting, “Lastly, because the permit doesn’t specifically require that a study be submitted for a Notice to Proceed, nor does it have a specific condition requiring a study, we cannot withhold a Notice to Proceed for this reason.” Luckner responded the same day, writing, “With all due respect, that is a pretty tortured reading of the regulation which plainly reads: ‘62B-41.005 (15) requires that ‘Where such a plan is not available the applicant shall provide the information required in paragraph 62B-41.008(1)(b), F.A.C., and shall, as a condition of the permit, be required to provide a complete inlet management plan within a period of not less than two years from the date of issuance of the permit’ (emphasis added).” Luckner continued, “This law says that it is a condition of the permit and the City and Town are required to provide a complete inlet management plan for FDEP approval. How can you say that it is not a condition?” Bartolone, the city communications specialist, wrote in his Aug. 7 email to that the city would defer to FDEP any comment on Luckner’s points. FDEP did not respond to requests for comments about
Luckner’s emails to the department.
A formal explanation The July 10 letter from APTIM Director of Operations Pierro to City Engineer DavisShaw did address Luckner’s questions. It said, “There is no requirement in the permit the city will use for the emergency project for the permittees (the City of Sarasota or Town of Longboat Key) to prepare an Inlet Management Plan. Although discussed as part of the normal course of permit application review and coordination, the permit was issued on July 2, 2015 without any condition regarding the Permittee to provide an Inlet Management Plan.” Pierro pointed out that “the existing New Pass Management Plan … completed in 1993 … provides the basis and justification for dredging the channel and placing the sand on Lido Key and Longboat Key. The Project remains consistent with … long established practices for dredging the federally authorized navigation channel of New Pass and nourishment of the Lido Key shoreline, and is authorized under current permits. The FDEP is the only entity that can formally adopt an Inlet Management Plan, which is beyond the City’s control and not required for the emergency project to move forward.” “Furthermore,” Pierro continued, “the City has been coordinating closely with the FDEP for the upcoming Project and has received no indication the State would ‘suspend this permit’ as suggested by Luckner’s comment.” Second, Pierro responded to a comment Luckner had provided FDEP regarding the potential for the city to use a different sand source, including trucked-in sand, since the inlet management plan had not been completed. (The Town of Longboat Key brought in sand from Immokalee in Lee County in 2016 for a renourishment project on part of its beach.) “The City will maximize the economy of scale with an estimated volume of 175,000 cubic yards dredged from New Pass and placed on Lido Key,” Pierro wrote. “A truck haul of equal quantity at $70 per cubic yard would exceed $12,000,000 and be cost prohibitive,” he added. “The Project is eligible for FEMA funding and is authorized under current state and federal permits,” Pierro concluded the letter.
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Staff Report
A distinct decline During the Aug. 2 Siesta Key Association (SKA) meeting, long-time member Margaret Jean Cannon mentioned at one point that the number of registered voters on the island has been decreasing. She cited that fact in the context of the increasing number of multi-story houses being constructed for tourists, indicating that fewer property owners actually live on the Key. Rachel Denton, communications and voter outreach manager for the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office replied to a request for this information. The number of registered voters on Siesta Key for 2008, 2013 and 2018 provided prove Cannon is correct. The figures follow: • 2008 — 8,202 registered voters as of 12/1/2008. • 2013 — 7,739 as of 11/1/2013. • 2018 — 7,136 as of 8/1/2018.
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Both the Siesta Key Association and the Siesta Key Condominium Council sent out email blasts to their members in mid-August, encouraging them to attend the required Aug. 23 workshop as Benderson Development seeks county approval for its Siesta Promenade project. The proposed mixed-use development — with 414 condominiums/ apartments, a 130-room hotel and 140,000 square feet of office/retail space — would stand on about 23 acres at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road. “This is the one and only meeting that Benderson is required to hold to present the project and to ‘hear Sarasota residents’ concerns,” the SKA email blast said. “County staff will be in attendance.” The message added, “If you are concerned about the effects of this project on Siesta Key, please make every effort to be there.” The Condo Council email blast noted, “It may be that Benderson is trying to fast track the application to get it heard prior to the election, or at least before the new commissioners start their terms.” At least one member of the County Commission — Paul Caragiulo — is not seeking re-election. However, in the District 4 race, Commissioner Alan Maio is running for a second term on the board. He was facing a primary opponent, and the winner of the primary will square off against a Democrat in the November election. “Visit our Siesta Promenade Project Page for more information from SKA,” the SKA email blast said.
Two Florida House candidates set out their positions on Big Pass dredging SKA Vice President Catherine Luckner and her husband, Robert — a member of the nonprofit’s Environmental Committee — let the Siesta Sand know that they had been in communication with two of the candidates for the Florida House District 72 seat about the SKA’s opposition to plans for dredging Big Sarasota Pass to renourish South Lido Key Beach. Both Luckners have undertaken considerable research on behalf of the SKA to underscore the nonprofit’s concerns about the potential for damage not only to the waterway but also to Siesta Key if millions of cubic yards of sand are removed from Big Pass over the proposed 50-year lifetime of the renourishment initiative. The candidates are Democrat Margaret Good of Siesta Key, the incumbent, who is unopposed; and Ray Pilon of Sarasota, a former House member who is facing Jason Miller of Sarasota in the Aug. 28 Republican Primary. During a meeting with Good, Robert Luckner told the Siesta Sand, he and Catherine explained why the SKA believes the project should not proceed without an in-depth environmental analysis having been undertaken. (See the related story in this issue about Save Our Siesta Sand 2.) Continued on page 23
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Sheriff’s Report
SEPTEMBER 2018
July 18 - August 17, 2018
There were a total of 19 crimes reported on the Key between 7/18-8/17/18 7/20/18 Theft 5100 Block Windward Ave. A man reported the theft of prescription drugs from his home. He had hired a company to do some work at his house. The man the company sent was working near the bathroom where the pill bottle was located. It had been in the medicine cabinet before the worker arrived. He noticed it was gone after the man left the home. The hydromorphone pills were valued at $300.
7/20/18 Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle 400 Block Canal Rd. A rental car parked in a residential driveway was reported stolen. The complainant noticed the silver 2018 Ford Edge was missing from the driveway as he left early that morning. The car had been in the driveway the night before. Another car parked in the driveway owned by a relative had been broken into. At the time of the incident, the keys to the stolen vehicle were in the residence. The doors to the car were not locked. None of the occupants of the home heard anything suspicious during the night. There were no possible suspects and the home was not equipped with a video surveillance system.
7/22/18 Petit Theft /Auto/ Attempted 4900 Block Commonwealth Ave. A man discovered someone had rummaged through his glove box in the middle of the night. He reviewed on site video and discovered that three vehicles loitered on his street that night. The three cars acted as a unit with the first and third cars acting as lookouts. An occupant from the middle car could be seen running out and opening the complainant’s car door. He then turned on the interior light and rummaged around the center console. He ran out of the car towards the road and out of camera view. The man found nothing missing from his vehicle at the time. No fingerprints were
found. The video will be turned in for evidence.
7/22/18 Theft/Auto 4800 Block Commonwealth Ave. A Grey 2018 Dodge Challenger was stolen from a driveway. The car was valued at $50,000. A marine extension cord ($600) and a bag of clothing ($180) was inside the car. The unlocked car was parked in the victim’s driveway with the keys in it.
7/23/18 DUI/ Fleeing to Elude 6200 Block Midnight Pass Rd. A man was arrested after reports of a red Mustang driving on sidewalks at a high rate of speed. Deputies located the car parked on the sidewalk of Midnight Pass. A man was observed staggering around the vehicle. As the deputy approached, the suspect got in the car and started driving forward. Assuming the driver was impaired, the deputy activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle. The driver spoke with slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. He stated he was going to pick up his girlfriend and admitted to drinking “a little.” After saying he was getting his license and registration, he turned away from the deputy, put his car in drive and sped away heading north. Another deputy arrived on scene and gave chase to the defendant who was traveling at speeds of approximately 80 MPH. After a distance of .8 miles, the defendant pulled over. While it was apparent that the driver was under the influence, the driver refused to participate in field sobriety exercises. The man, who told deputies he was in the “Mexican Mafia” and that he wanted his trunk contents to remain confidential, was arrested.
7/26 Battery- Injuries 5000 Block Ocean Blvd. A large crowd was gathered outside a Village bar to witness a fight between two males. Club bouncers were separating the fighters as the
deputies arrived to the scene. They observed the subjects on the ground, struggling with the bouncers. The subjects were put into handcuffs and removed from the crowd for their own safety and the safety of the deputies. Multiple members of the crowd attempted to prevent the deputies from resolving the fight. One subject had a laceration on his arm but refused medical assistance. The other subject had no injuries. Each claimed the other had started the fight for no apparent reason. Due to a lack of witness cooperation, a primary aggressor could not be determined. Both subjects stated they did not wish to prosecute.
8/1/18 Grand Theft 3000 Block Shell Rd. A woman reported someone stole several of her travertine tile pavers. She stated the pavers were delivered in an unopened crate and placed in her front yard. Several workers were on her property doing housework and maintenance. The crew left the house and advised the pavers were still there. When they returned the next morning, they noticed the crate had been broken open. There were approximately fifty white travertine pavers missing from the crate. On site security cameras were not working at the time of the incident. There is no suspect information. The value of the pavers was approximately $2000.
8/7/18 Grand Theft 9100 Block Midnight Pass Rd. A man filed a report regarding a bike theft. He said acquaintances of his girlfriend had briefly lived next door to him. He said last month the female admitted she and her boyfriend had stolen his $750 Cannondale bike and sold it. The man also reported a burglary to his second residence at the same time and by the same people. He said he had not reported the crimes earlier because he had been in discussion with the suspects and hoped to get his property back without law enforcement involvement. That had proved not to be the case.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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Red Tide: County Staff Providing Information, SK Businesses Dealing With It By Rachel Brown Hackney Red tide not only was the scourge of visitors and residents in late July and early August, but it also prompted plenty of calls to the Sarasota County Contact Center. Media Relations Officer Drew Winchester said in an Aug. 6 email that he did not have exact numbers, but the week of July 31, the Call Center was averaging
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about 50 to 60 calls a day “related to Red Tide/fish kill. They saw that number drop after the Thursday Aug. 2 cleanup efforts took place,” he added. On Aug. 3, only about 24 calls on the topic came into the Contact Center, Winchester noted. A purple banner at the top of the county’s website has alerted the public to the following: “Sarasota County is actively monitoring the beaches and cleaning in accordance with beach policy. To report a fish kill, call 800-636-0511. Find current beach conditions at Mote Marine Daily Beach Conditions (https:// visitbeaches.org). Find updates on the county’s beach cleaning efforts at Red Tide Status.” A visitor to the homepage at www.scgov.net can just click on the links. The Red Tide Status webpage has a wealth of statistics. For example, the Aug. 3 update noted that 9 tons of fish were removed from Siesta Key beaches, including Turtle Beach. However, it added that on Turtle Beach alone, 1,120 pounds of fish were removed. On Lido Beach, 7 tons were hauled out that day. The weekend update for Aug. 4-5 noted that 2.13 tons of fish were removed from Siesta Public Beach, and 1.27 tons were taken off Turtle Beach. Another 9.06 tons were removed from Lido Beach. As of Aug. 6, the update pointed out, “Due to improving conditions and no fish kill/aerosols reported, fish removal did not occur on Siesta Beach, Turtle Beach and South County beaches.” That webpage also directs visitors to read the county beach-
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cleaning policy. Among the primary points of that policy are that beach cleaning generally is limited to the following: areas owned by the county and open to the general public; areas below the approximate Mean High Water Line “and in close proximity to a County-owned public beach or beach access”; and areas that are part of a federal or state beach renourishment project and seaward of the Erosion Control Line. Other significant defining factors, the policy notes, are that two tidal cycles have not removed the debris and dead fish naturally, and the accumulation has reached the level — on a continuous 2-mile stretch of the beach — at which it would be sufficient to fill one truck capable of holding 5 cubic yards. Additionally, that swath of beach must be “accessible to motorized equipment or vehicles …”
Siesta business owners dealing with repercussions of red tide As Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce members aired frustrations in mid-August about widespread negative publicity regarding red tide, Director Joye Argo had a suggestion. Perhaps Chamber Executive Director Ann Frescura could figure out a way to put a link on the Chamber’s homepage to the “beach cam” provided by https:// www.earthcam.com/usa/florida/ sarasota/?cam=siestabeach. Argo, managing member of Studio F Digital Marketing LLC, was responding to frustrations voiced by a past Chamber chair, Alana Tomasso, who manages Midnight Cove on the Key. Frescura agreed that the idea was a good one. After the Aug. 15 meeting, she said would work on it. In a follow-up email late that afternoon, Frescura wrote, “I have asked our tech guy to post the link to our website.” During the Aug. 15 quarterly meeting for members — which the Chamber board hosted at the Daiquiri Deck on Stickney Point Road — Tomasso talked of renters
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upset about the red tide telling her and her staff “we’re awful people,” because the refund policy does not allow staff to give them their money back after they have stayed on the property. The Guest Rental Agreement and Rental Policies for Midnight Cove — which were found online — says, “All cancellations require written notice. For reservations of less than 3 weeks there is a $95 fee for cancellations made outside of 60 days from check-in. No refunds for cancellations/alterations made less than 60 days from arrival.” “We’re getting beat up every day,” Tomasso said during the Chamber meeting. Moreover, she added, “People coming in December want to cancel.” She asked Frescura what type of feedback the Chamber staff has had from other businesses. “We at the Chamber don’t step into the middle of anyone’s policy,” Frescura replied. Chamber staff tells people complaining about specific properties that they will have to deal with management at those properties, Frescura pointed out. The staff also offers examples of activities people can pursue in the area, she noted, other than going to the beach.
on businesses, Frescura noted. On its website, Visit Sarasota County says it has begun “weekly monitoring of our tourism industry to determine the impacts of the red tide on your business. These surveys will be sent to you every Wednesday during the duration of this occurrence.” The results of the first survey were for the week of Aug. 1 to Aug. 7, the website pointed out. Those results showed the following: • 90% of respondents were less than 3 miles from the beach or Sarasota Bay. • “90% lost business” • “The average loss that week compared to same week last year was 5%” The Siesta Chamber website also has a link to a fact sheet and other information about red tide provided on the website of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). That’s our effort,” Frescura said: “to just put that information there in addition to fielding the phone calls …” (Visit Sarasota County offers links on its website, too, to a variety of resources related to red tide, including Mote’s Beach Conditions Report.)
‘A unified effort’
Tomasso brought up her concerns at the conclusion of the regular business on the Aug. 15 agenda. Argo first suggested that property managers encourage their clients to look at the beach web cam, which features the day’s date and a digital clock imposed on the image of Siesta Beach. When people read the recent Mote beach conditions reports, Argo continued, they see words such as “Heavy” and “Intense” describing fish kill levels and respiratory conditions on Siesta Public Beach. “People are afraid,” she added. Yet, she goes out to the beach herself most mornings to check on the actual conditions, she pointed out, indicating she has found far better circumstances than those people might expect after reading the Mote data.
Early during the Aug. 15 meeting, Frescura told the group of about 18 attendees, “I know that red tide has been affecting everyone.” The Chamber, she continued, has “been fielding a lot of phone calls, questions, concerns …” On Monday, she said, she participated in a conference call with Virginia Haley, president of Sarasota County’s tourism office, Visit Sarasota County. As part of “a unified front,” Frescura explained, the Siesta Chamber has posted links on its website homepage, directing visitors to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Beach Conditions Report, which covers a swath of the Southwest Florida shoreline — from the beach on Caladesi Island to South Marco Beach. Visit Sarasota County also has started regular surveys to determine the effects of red tide
A trying time
Continued on the nest page
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941.349.0194
SEPTEMBER 2018
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
Florida Red Tide FAQ’s: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium With the horrific recent outbreak of Red Tide, we thought the best place to get answers to frequently asked questions is from Mote Marine. The following are directly from their website. • What causes a Florida red tide? The Florida red tide alga, Karenia brevis, needs the following components to form a bloom. The first is biology — the organism must be present in the water and it must out-compete other phytoplankton. The second is the correct chemistry — this includes the appropriate temperature, salinity, and nutrients that it needs to grow and multiply. The third component is the right physical conditions to concentrate and transport K. brevis. The fourth component is ecology – the presence or absence of other life forms, such as other marine algae that may encourage or inhibit K. brevis blooms. • Has coastal (nutrient) pollution caused the Florida red tide? In contrast to the many red tide species that are fueled by nutrient pollution associated with urban or agricultural runoff, there is no demonstrated direct link between nutrient pollution and Karenia brevis red tide formation or frequency (how often they occur). Florida red tides develop 10-40 miles offshore, away from human-
contributed nutrient sources. Red tides occurred in Florida long before human settlement, and severe red tides were observed in the mid-1900s before the state’s coastlines were heavily developed. However, once red tides are transported to shore, they are capable of using humancontributed nutrients for their growth. • Do freshwater outflows from Lake Okeechobee affect Florida red tide blooms that have moved to the Charlotte Harbor area? To investigate this question, we must consider several variables with each bloom. Here are some key variables: Nutrients, both natural and human-contributed, can be carried in these freshwater outflows, and have the potential to serve as additional “food” sources for K. brevis (see the previous question). Salinity also matters. Riverine flows into the estuary have low salinity (less salt than the ocean), which is not conducive to K. brevis red tide growth. Other algae species besides K. brevis live in the lake, river or Charlotte Harbor estuary, where rivers meet the sea. When nutrient rich-water flows down the river and into the estuary, the nutrients are available to freshwater species including
blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and estuary-dwelling algae species that can each form blooms. The potential linkages between nuisance algal blooms in the estuary, any freshwater algae carried in riverine flows to Charlotte Harbor, and saltwater K. brevis red tide (all collectively referred to as harmful algal blooms – HABs) is an important topic that needs further research. • Are red tides new to Florida? No. Red tides were documented in the southern Gulf of Mexico as far back as the 1700s and along Florida’s Gulf coast in the 1840s. Fish kills near Tampa Bay were even mentioned in the records of Spanish explorers in the 1500s. • How long does a Florida red tide bloom last? Red tides can last as little as a few weeks or longer than a year. They can even subside and then reoccur. The duration of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on physical, chemical, biological and ecological conditions that influence its growth and persistence, including sunlight,
nutrients and salinity, as well as the speed and direction of wind and water currents. • Is the Florida red tide found in estuaries, bays or freshwater systems? The Florida red tide can be found in bays and estuaries but not in freshwater systems such as lakes and rivers. Because K. brevis cannot tolerate low-salinity waters for very long, blooms usually remain in salty coastal waters and do not penetrate upper reaches of estuaries. However, other harmful algae, including cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), typically bloom in freshwater lakes and rivers. • Can I swim in the ocean when
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there’s a Florida red tide bloom? Swimming is safe for most people. However, the Florida red tide can cause some people to suffer skin irritation and burning eyes. People with respiratory illness may also experience respiratory irritation in the water. Use common sense. If you are particularly susceptible to irritation from plant products, avoid an area with a red tide bloom. If you experience irritation, get out of the water and thoroughly wash off. Do not swim among dead fish because they can be associated with harmful bacteria. To read all the FAQ’s go to Mote Marine’s website, www.mote.org
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On the beach web cam, Argo added, “You can see people are sitting at the water. They’re putting up umbrellas.” Tomasso responded that her staff has been posting photos on the Midnight Cove homepage each day, showing actual conditions in an effort to dispute news media accounts that have left people with the impression that the situation on Siesta Key is dire. Staff is telling people, “‘This is our beach … our current situation,’” Tomasso said. In her correspondence with the Siesta Sand, Frescura wrote that the Chamber staff would be sending out an email blast on Aug. 16 to all members, with references to the web cam, visitbeaches.org and the FWC information. “We will also encourage members to share/post positive images on their websites
and social media,” she added. Yet another key piece of information she passed along to members in that email is that when Gov. Scott declared the State of Emergency, he activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Frescura shared with the Siesta Sand information about that program from Sarasota County’s director of governmental relations, Robert Lewis. It is “available to small business owners located in designated disaster areas that experienced physical and/or economic damage as a result of red tide and the Lake Okeechobee discharge/algae blooms issue. Small business owners can qualify for up to $50,000 per eligible business,” Lewis wrote. This is the link to details about that program: www.floridadisasterloan.org.
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
Guest Commentary
941.349.0194
www.siestasand.net
|Tilting at Windmills on Siesta Key
Thirty years ago, we found the neighborhood of our dreams on Siesta Key. It was just the type of community we liked. We could leave our garage doors open, park our work vehicles in our driveways, and if anyone’s grass got a little long in late summer, nobody minded. For the first twenty-five plus years here, that didn’t change too much. Some of us were owners and some of us renters. Some homes, like ours, were extensively remodeled from the original beach cottage. While others tore the old places down and built new. The resulting neighborhood has become an eclectic mix of people, architecture, and culture. In the past five years though, our neighborhood has taken a corrupt turn. It was slow at first, but incrementally and steadily, some homeowners rearranged their places into vacation spots. Some even moved and turned their entire homes into short-term rentals. And thanks to technology, they have been able to do so with ease. Like the proverbial camel’s nose in the tent, it did not seem too bad at first, but unfortunately our story is turning out just the same. During this past spring, the crowds of strangers enjoying our neighborhood noticeably increased. Some properties had four or more out-of-state cars parked in yards and driveways, blocking sidewalks, and changing out weekly. Overflowing garbage and recycling would be set out days ahead of pick up, stinking, blowing in the wind, and attracting vermin. And believe us, vacationers generate a much different level of noise than residents,
and at different hours. Before you see us as cranky old folks yelling for kids to get off our lawns, consider the fact that our neighborhood is zoned RSF, residential single family, and that rentals here should not be less than 30 days. All these short-term rentals are blatant infractions of our zoning laws which are well known and traditionally, not easily changed. Yet in our neighborhood, the reality has changed. We have discovered several important reasons for our dilemma. Though some of our neighbors are truly taking advantage of us, there is also a breakdown in government. First, our neighbors are doing this because it is lucrative. During tourist season, they are making roughly $100 to $500 a night, depending upon their set up. Following the laws of economics, they are maximizing their assets, but for that to be okay, they need to get the zoning laws changed. Not to be left out, our local government leaders negotiated a deal with an online booking agent to collect our local tourist tax. That is, collect from everyone, legal and illegal. So now, all these illegal transient neighbors are supposedly paying into the till. But would it make you feel better knowing that neighborhood drug dealers were paying sales tax? Do you think our government leaders have incentive to take actions that will lower this revenue? And, by the way, they get a flat payment, no details from whence it came. Which seems like good, old fashioned protection money to us. Not that all that additional revenue helps, because
we have also learned that our local code enforcement agent is responsible for all of Siesta Key and a large part of the mainland and serves a department that, despite tremendous area growth, has not been expanded and faces budget cuts in the coming year. Thanks, County Commissioners! Our zoning laws and the character of our neighborhood are all flexible, but only if we agree to it. The lack of zoning enforcement has allowed these illegal shortterm landlords to take our neighborhood from us and our local government officials have complacently allowed it all to happen. We are asking that our County Commissioners reconsider their status quo. We don’t need a law, we need increased enforcement. Some additional funding and personnel would be a great start. We don’t require these illegal short-term landlords to be punished, as much as they may deserve it. We just want the illegal rentals to stop. These landlords are perfectly free to pursue zoning changes through legal means or to rent their homes within the current rules. Free riding may be a great lifestyle, but as it’s said, eventually you run out of other people’s money. Or at least, what they are willing to tolerate. Michael D. Sprout represents Good Neighbors of Sarasota Beach, an association of neighbors dedicated to protecting the traditional and legal use of real property around their neighborhood. To learn more about their effort, contact: goodneighbors@sarasotabeach.org
One of the Best Steakhouses in Sarasota Alpine Steakhouse again received the prestigious award from Sarasota Magazine naming them one of the Best Steakhouses now Five years in a row. Alpine Steakhouse has been in business over 40 years, a “one-stop shop with an old fashioned Meat Market (with experienced butchers) and a newly remodeled 70 seat Steakhouse all under one roof”. It is located at 4520 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota--one block north of Proctor Road at traffic light of Field Road and US 41. Mark and son Matt Rebhan owners want to invite everyone to come and enjoy a great meal in this unique restaurant. Here is what they are saying online. Delicious!! My family ordered the steaks and they were AMAZING. Great quality food, great quality service! My father and brother have tried many steaks in their lives and said this was one of their tops. Very good! Steaks in a meat market This is a restaurant located in a meat market. The steaks were superb and I definitely would return for dinner here again. The service was great and steaks were cooked to perfection. WOW!!! A Steak with That Midwest Taste!!! Cannot wait to go back! Better steak than the five star steak houses in the Sarasota area. I started with the Clam Chowder...it was every bit as good as some of the better
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seafood restaurants in the area. My husband had the baked French Onion Soup. It was extremely flavorful and was broiled to perfection. My husband had the prime rib. I had the cowboy ribeye steak. They cooked them as requested. They were awesome. Personally, we will never go to any other steak restaurant in the area. My quandary is, I would really like to try the Weinerschnitzel, but I don’t know if I can resist the steaks! The Rebhan’s want everyone to know that they offer a complete catering service for business, holiday and events. In September call for Hours; Closed Sundays (941) 922-3797.
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They also believe the City of Sarasota — which is a joint applicant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the project permit — needs Sarasota County permission to dredge the pass. Good responded in an Aug. 8 email, “Thank you for meeting with me. Issues surrounding the health of our coastal waters and Sarasota Bay are of upmost interest to me. Once I have studied the issue further, I can then determine what role, if any, I can contribute to the conversation. “Again, thank you for your level of engagement in such an important issue to our community,” Good added. In an Aug. 14 email, Pilon wrote the Luckners, “I support your stance 100 percent.”
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With the Siesta Chamber preparing for the 2018 Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, which will be held Nov. 9-12 on Siesta Public Beach, the Vendor Village already has been sold out, Chamber Executive Director Ann Frescura reported during the Aug. 15 members meeting. Maria Bankemper, whose family owns the Best Western Plus-Siesta Key Gateway hotel and who serves as the chair of the Crystal Classic, pointed out that this was the earliest that all the Vendor Village spots had been taken, Frescura said. The festival began in 2010. “That’s a good indication of the interest in this event,” Frescura added.
The Chamber is seeking volunteers, as usual, to assist with the Crystal Classic, Frescura said. “It takes an army to pull this one off. … There’s nearly 300 people that are needed for all the positions and all of the time slots,” she continued. “If you can give your time and energy, we sure appreciate it.” Frescura also asked the meeting attendees to encourage friends and loved ones to volunteer. Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact the Chamber office at 941-349-3800.
Daiquiri Deck 25 years on Siesta Key Daiquiri Deck, famous across Sarasota and Manatee counties for its slushy beverages teeming with booze, celebrated its 25th anniversary of frozen drinks, pub grub and more at its Siesta Village location in August with throwback prices, hourly prize raffles, giveaways and live entertainment. Daiquiri Deck, 5250 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; 941-349-8697.
Ripfire Pizza on Ocean Boulevard The new pizza restaurant in the former Jo-To location at 5218 Ocean Blvd. cleared a big hurdle in mid-May when it received its Sarasota County alcoholic beverage permit — at a cost of $215. However, as August began it still had not opened. Then, about noon on Aug. 2, the new restaurant’s Facebook page posted the following: “Ripfire is hiring! Email jobs@ripfirepizza.com for more information!” “Everything’s coming together,” said business owner Gus Escalera. Continued on page 28
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Short Term Rental Violations The new guidelines were approved by the town commission and took effect June 4th. “The tickets start at $100 for a first offense, jump to $200 for a second and then move to $500 for a third and all violations after that,” Longboat’s Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons told the Siesta Sand in a phone interview last week. And Parsons points out that these are real tickets, like speeding tickets. That’s a huge difference from a ‘notice to appear’ as often occurs on Siesta after county code enforcers like Susan Stahley spend hours, days or weeks tracking down the owners of homes where neighbors complain illegal rentals are occurring. The addresses are not listed in the ads online, so they have to be matched with the actual homes they are describing – often a painstaking process.
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
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Continued from cover story
this story is published. Two of those tickets were even given to renters, which Parsons explained can be issued at the officer’s discretion if renters are uncooperative or in some way obstruct the officer’s efforts to determine who rented them the property in question. Of the 32 tickets issued, Parsons noted that only two have been contested. And the town has already held the contesting hearings for both. “They were both upheld,” Parsons added with just a hint of satisfaction. The new approach has been welcomed by Longboat residents like Penny Kentosh who watched for years as the home next to hers in the Country Club Shores subdivision of single family homes skirted the rules. She told WWSB reporter Adam Cellini recently that she never thought her issues would get resolved. “It was like, make the call and never get one back.” “We get what we’re supposed to have out here, which is a one month minimum and not overnight and weekly,” she added. A call to Sarasota County Zoning Administrator Donna Thompson seeking comment on this story was not immediately returned prior to publication. We were able to reach County Commissioner Alan Maio, however, and asked if he thought Longboat’s heightened enforcement efforts could be adopted on Siesta Key. He seemed surprised by the lack of fines related to short term rental violations in single family neighborhoods on the Key, saying “I think those who violate the rules here should be fined... especially repeated offenses...however the county chooses to enforce it.” Which is of course where Longboat and Siesta now diverge. Longboat’s new enforcement model did interest Maio enough for him to say he will add it to his list of topics to discuss during his next meeting with County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, scheduled for late August. Siesta Sand will follow up on this story in coming months to update progress on the issue on both Longboat and Siesta.
“They work hard trying to do everything it takes to get some of these places into compliance,” Siesta Key resident Joe Volpe said last week in an interview at his home on the Island. “But they have to document everything about the case – whether there was an actual violation, when it occurred, who owns the property, whether an outside company was involved...it takes a lot of work.” And time. As for fines? Well, that’s often up to a special hearing magistrate. How often are such fines levied here? Almost never. We asked Stahley how many fines had been assessed over the past year for short-term rental violations for RSF homes. Her response? None. ‘It’s not her fault,’ points out Volpe who has While the most commonly cited nuisance by neighbors of homes violating dealt repeatedly with the issue of such violations short-term vacation rental ordinances on Siesta Key is loud music and partying late into in his own neighborhood off Higel Avenue, as the night, there are other aggravations as well, including multiple cars parked on narrow well as island wide as an SKA director. “That’s up residential streets, which can block access for residents and more importantly emergency to the judge. I think she’s frustrated too,” referring vehicles, and the issue illustrated here: garbage piling up outside of rental homes to Stahley. by renters who ignore or are unaware of trash collection rules which prohibit placing Such frustration is nothing new. trash curbside prior to 5 pm on the day prior to pickup. The trash shown here is on John Lally was the code enforcement officer Treasure Boat Way, where neighbors have lodged repeated complaints to county officials of multiple homes violating the 30 day rental rule that applies to homes zoned RSF. covering Siesta before retiring in 2015. We Photo by Joe Volpe. followed several of his non-compliance rental cases through the hearing process before a special magistrate for a story we ran on the issue that speeding down your street at 60 mph. They should live year. In both cases we observed, after establishing repeated out here and see how they like it,” he continued, referring violations had taken place, the magistrate asked Lally if the to County Commissioners and policy makers www.siestakeyassociation.com owners were now in compliance. When he replied that they involved in setting the framework code were, the hearing ended with any accumulated fines waived. enforcers like Stahley have to work within. In one case the entire process from beginning to end stretched Things were much the same out on Longboat out eight months. until the paper chase approach was abandoned After the last hearing we attended, we asked Lally how in favor of the new streamlined enforcement many fines had been levied in his eight years on the job. His effort adopted earlier this summer. answer? Instead of months, code enforcement officers “One. For $250.” can now respond within a day or two of a Apparently things haven’t changed much, though Volpe complaint by a neighbor and begin enforcing 5615 Midnight Pass Road does add that several homes have been brought into compliance on the spot. GUEST SPEAKER: compliance in recent weeks and he is grateful for that. He Planning and Zoning Director Parsons tells us just wishes the process could proceed with a greater sense 32 tickets have been written by the town’s code DR. TRACY FANARA, E.I., PH.D Program Manager, Environmental Health Program of urgency and efficiency. enforcement officers since the town commission Mote Marine Laboratory “It’s a heck of a thing to hear music blaring and people there updated their guidelines in June. This TOPIC: Red Tide swearing and yelling...you can hear them even when you’re piece was filed on August 16th, so the number inside your house,” he said. “And cars and motorcycles will likely be considerably higher by the time public is always welcome with questions for our guests.
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
Siesta Promenade Update
941.349.0194
www.siestasand.net
By Rachel Brown Hackney \ SarasotaNewsLeader.com
The issue of combining a number of petitions during a single public hearing came up earlier this year, as the County Commission was considering Neal Communities’ proposal for its Grand Lakes development east of Interstate 75 and south of Clark Road. One resident concerned about the density of that project — which won board approval in July for up to 1,097 homes — sent a March 6 email to Deputy County Attorney Alan Roddy. “The BCC [Board of County Commissioners] Rules of Procedure affords individuals the opportunity to speak for five minutes on the hearing subject at public hearings (unless modified by the BCC),” R.N. Collins pointed out. “Standard board procedure at simultaneous hearings, however, has been to
SETBACK
PROPERTY LINE
SINGLE FAMILY
R-2 3 STORY MULTIFAMILY
PEDESTRIAN PATH
R-1 5 STORY MULTIFAMILY
50’ R.O.W. 130’ 19’
29’
20’
33’
62’
SECTION 1” = 50’ SINGLE FAMILY
PROPERTY LINE
1
SETBACK
GLENCOE AVE
R-2 3 STORY MULTIFAMILY
PEDESTRIAN PATH
R-1 5 STORY MULTIFAMILY
50’ R.O.W. 20’
33’
26’
19’
59’
126’ 61’
GLENCOE AVE
50’ GLENCOE AVE. R.O.W.
SINGLE FAMILY
24’ 6’
12’
SECTION 1” = 50’ 50’ R.O.W.
Typical / Actual Pavement Width Varies 12’
2’
6’
SETBACK
2
MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL SITE PLAN - M.T.S.
PROPERTY LINE
R-1 3 STORY MULTIFAMILY
99’
10’ 44’
19’
16’ 20’ 33’
Kochman asked, “How does [the Planning Division] decide how much people should be able to say?” referring to the plans for the public hearings. “The audacity to determine that the public doesn’t have the full right to speak … is absolutely mind-blowing!” she said. In response to other questions, county Planner Steve Kirk — who has been given oversight of the project on behalf of the Planning and Development Services staff — wrote in an email that all facets of the Siesta Promenade application “will be scheduled for public hearing at the same date and time. I believe the Planning Commission and the [County Commission] have the option of opening one hearing and taking public comment on all applications, or opening separate hearings for each application. Historically,” he continued, “both the Planning Commission and BCC have taken public comment on multiple applications at the same time when the applications are interrelated.”
PROPERTY LINE
As Sarasota County staff has worked on its formal review of Benderson Development Co.’s Siesta Promenade application, neighbors around the site have continued to voice their opposition to the proposed density of the project. Additionally, Sura Kochman, a leader of the Pine Shores Neighborhood Alliance, has begun to emphasize a new issue of concern: Based on her discussions with county Planning and Development Services Department staff, she says, each person who wishes to speak during public hearings on the project will have just the traditional 5 minutes to cover the array of facets related to the project. Not only is Benderson Development seeking the rezoning of the approximately 23-acre site at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road, but it also is seeking a Critical Area Plan (CAP) designation for Siesta Promenade. The latter would allow the firm density up to 25 dwelling units per acre, instead of the 13 per acre allowed in county property with Commercial zoning. Benderson’s most recent revisions of its proposal for Siesta Promenade call for a 130-room hotel, 140,000 square feet of retail/office space and 414 multifamily residential units. A county fact sheet issued on July 18 noted that, based on the hotel and residences planned for the project, the proposed density would be 20.8 units per acre. The 130 hotel rooms count as half units, county staff has explained. Third, the county’s Planning Commission and the County Commission must determine the final CAP boundary for Siesta Promenade. While Benderson has sought to keep a circle drawn just around its property, Kochman — who has years of planning expertise — has pointed out that CAP boundaries typically encompass surrounding parcels. An extension of the boundaries for Siesta Promenade, she has explained, would give other stakeholders the right to express their views about the final design of the project. Finally, residents of Pine Shores Estates — who would be the closest neighbors of Siesta Promenade — have been focused on Benderson’s proposed street vacations for the development, which would affect their community. “Benderson wants to take parts of neighborhood/ county streets to use for ingress/ egress,” Kochman wrote in a recent update for people who have been following the progress of the proposed development. Kochman emphasized in that update that Planning and Development Services has determined that even though Benderson’s application covers four separate issues, “THIS project is being considered as one unified project and all items will be combined in 1 report for the [Planning and County commissions’] consideration. Public testimony is now ONLY one, 5-minute opportunity. Also, because of the potential for a large number of speakers, the [boards] may reduce this time to ONLY 3 minutes for each person to cover ALL FOUR items.” She added, “In my opinion, this is a violation of due process and is limiting the public’s opportunity to express their concerns about four distinct issues.” During a telephone interview,
PROPERTY LINE
|Opponents arguing that one public hearing on four facets of application would not allow sufficient time for speakers to address concerns
ROAD
GLENCOE AVE
2’ MAIN CURB
PROPOSED GLENCOE AVE. R.O.W. - 1” = 10’
SIDEWALK
3
SECTION 1” = 50’
Existing western edge of pavement to remain unchanged
Siesta Promenade residential building height for county Dec. 28 2017
limit each speaker to a total of five minutes,” he continued. In the Grand Lakes case — which involved three petitions — Collins suggested three consecutive public hearings. When Sarasota County Planning and Development Services staff announced in the latter half of July that it had begun the formal review of the Siesta Promenade application, it explained that the process would take about 45 days. Then, the first public hearing would be scheduled before the Planning Commission — likely 30 days after the completion of the formal review. The final hearing, before the County Commission, would be expected to follow within about 45 days, staff added. Kirk also said in the Aug. 7 email, “No public hearing dates have
been scheduled.” Benderson Development did schedule its required Neighborhood Workshop on Aug. 23.
The height issue Yet another concern has bubbled up again for Pine Shores residents, as Benderson Development seeks final approval of Siesta Promenade. In reviewing the latest county staff compilation of Benderson’s applications for Siesta Promenade, Kochman found a document — dated April 17 — that showed the planned heights of buildings on the site. The hotel would have a maximum of 80 feet, for example, while one residential block next to Pine Shores Estates has been
marked up to 40 feet in height and the block adjacent to it is listed at a maximum of 65 feet. Further, a commercial block across one street from part of Pine Shores Estates would stand up to 50 feet tall. In her recent update to interested persons, she wrote, with emphasis in some sections, “There are three, 40-foot apartment buildings; two, 65-foot apartment buildings; one, 50-foot retail-office-restaurant building as well as one, 80-foot hotel/restaurant/retail [structure]; plus six, 35-foot additional retail/ restaurant/office buildings being proposed. A total of 13 buildings. Buildings of these heights would be towering over single-family dwellings in the neighborhood,” she stressed.
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941.349.0194
Sura Kochman
SEPTEMBER 2018
Continued from cover story
There are three, 40- foot apartment buildings; two, 65 -foot apartment buildings; one, 50-foot retail-office-restaurant building as well as one, 80-foot hotel/ restaurant/retail; plus six, 35 foot additional retail/restaurant/ office buildings being proposed. A total of 13 buildings. Imagine! Buildings of these heights looming over single-family dwellings in the neighborhood.” She is also opposed to the use of neighborhood streets to move traffic to and from Siesta Promenade. Traffic is another huge problem. In season, it hardly moves at all at that intersection. Says Kochman, “The health, safety, and welfare of many people who go over Stickney Point Bridge is at risk. The effects are often far-reaching. In February of this year, a southbound ambulance and fire truck were both stuck in traffic between the Beechwood/41 light and the 41/Stickney Point intersection, sirens screaming to the max.” According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there has been an “astonishing increase in crash rates” at this intersection. Of concern is also a traffic light proposed to be added at Stickney Point Rd and Avenue B & C. In addition, Benderson is presenting a separate application to vacate and realign Crestwood Avenue adjacent to the project. In their new materials, Benderson submitted an updated traffic study conducted by Kimley-Horn that shows how Siesta Promenade would affect traffic, and what Benderson will do to mitigate it. Opponents say it will make traffic worse in an already-congested area. Kochman disagrees with Kimley-Horn (Benderson’s engineering firm) that traffic will improve once the new project is built. She finds that conclusion simply not acceptable. She stated that the traffic study was not done during Monday-Friday peak beach-going hours. A formal review will likely be completed by County staff by the end of August. There is a tentative neighborhood workshop scheduled for Sept 5, provided the formal review is completed. The application has 4 parts (rezone, boundary, CAP and street vacation) and each part is supposed to have a separate hearing in which members of the public would be given 5 minutes to address each of the issues. However, Kochman says that The Planning Department is now only going to allow only 5 minutes in total to cover all 4 topics. Kochman feels this limitation is a violation of due process and that if the Commissioners do this, they would be stifling the public from expressing their full comments on all four issues. Sura Kochman was born and raised in SRQ. She graduated from Riverview High and then from FSU. She eventually ended up in NJ., married and has two sons. She is no stranger to planning issues, having served on the Wayne, NJ Planning Board for 10 years, and chairing that board for 9 of those years. She and her husband live in the Pine Shores neighborhood directly across from the proposed Siesta Promenade Development. In 2017, all five members of the Sarasota County Commission warned that they were far from accepting of the planned Siesta Promenade mixed-use development, which has been fiercely opposed by residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. Formerly a trailer park, this controversial project has been in the works for over four years.
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Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Events July 19 Business Card Exchange at SunCoast Blood Bank The Chamber had a fun and informative BCE at the SunCoast Blood Bank! We learned about donating blood, platelets, and plasma while getting a tour of the facility. Several members even donated blood! Thank you Teresa Taft and staff for opening your doors to us. Also, we are very grateful for the door prizes donated by On Time Pool Service, Paver Mac, Eddie’s Limousines of Sarasota, and SunCoast Blood Bank.
August 3 Networking Luncheon at Clayton’s Siesta Grille Thank you Clayton’s Siesta Grille for hosting our August Chamber Luncheon and providing such a warm welcome, and delicious menu! With nearly 40 people attending, it was a wonderful networking opportunity! A big thank you also to the following for donating raffle prizes: Kayaking SRQ, Eddie’s Limos, Sip’N’Cycle, Concept Digital Media, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Peppertree Bay Association, Siesta Healing, All Faith Food Bank, and Historic Spanish Point. See you next month, September 7, for a Networking Breakfast at TPC Prestancia!
August 16 Business Card Exchange The Chamber’s August Business Card Exchange at Escape Countdown was a blast! Members had the opportunity to mingle, munch on snacks, and participate in trying to solve the Siesta Key themed escape room. Escape Countdown is a perfect indoor activity for family fun, team building, birthday parties, and more. Thank you to our door prize sponsors: GEM Travel, NES Health, Gidget’s Coastal Provisions, Ruth’s Chris, and Escape Countdown.
The SK Chamber would like to welcome the following members:
• Engulfed Adventures • Swell Things • Vitality Bowls • Hughes Exterminators • Siesta Key Wine Bar • The Inn Team at Yorkshire International • Friends of Sarasota County Parks • Local Chill Ice Cream • Gary Rhodus @ Michael Saunders • City Scene Network • Chef Rolf’s New Florida Kitchen
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce 5114 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, 941-349-3800
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COMMUNITY IS KEY! PEOPLE FIRST. REAL ESTATE SECOND.
BUYERS AGENT - 5224 Winding Way, Siesta Key, Florida 34242
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LISTING AGENT - 4522 Banan Pl, Sarasota, Siesta Key, Fl 34242
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Committed to achieving exceptional results by helping clients reach their goals.
E XCELLENCE I N S E RV I C E
941.468.7224 LISTING AGENT - 8108 Midnight Pass Rd, Siesta Key, FL 34242
BUYERS AGENT - 116 Vista Hermosa Cir, #204C, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Dawn@SarasotaAndSiestaKeyRealEstate.com KeySolutionsRealEstate.com
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
941.349.0194
www.siestasand.net
DISCOVER GULF GATE’S SHOPPING VILLAGE
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. And, you cannot leave without trying their cannoli filled with their own homemade cannoli cream or the tiramisu or Sfogliatelle from Brooklyn. Here is where you will find great Italian specialty gourmet items without the gourmet price. Tony’s Chicago Beef 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. 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 of televisions, it’s a great place to catch a game with friends and 1
family. 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. The Shop SRQ (G-2) Local owners, Erick and Dawn use a back-to-basics approach to grooming with precise attention to detail. Their commitment to excellence has provided them with many loyal customers. Their old school barber traditions, clean contemporary shop, coupled with their southern hospitality and humor are what separates them from the rest. They welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. Hours: Tues. - Fri. 8:30am - 6pm, Sat., 8:30am - 3pm. (Nov. 1st - May 30th) and Sat., 8:30am - 1pm (Jun. 1st - Oct. 31st). Closed on Sundays and Mondays. 6625 Gateway Ave, 941-626-4894. 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. Each staff member works hard to make sure you receive the best service and quality food so you’ll want to return often. Take a look at their mouth-watering menu at www.originalwordofmouth.com. Hours: Mon-Sun.: 8AM-2PM. 6604 Gateway Ave., Sarasota, 34231, 941-925-2400. Pride of the South (S-34) has been awarded Top 2
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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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Gulf Gulf Gate Gate Drive Drive
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PICCOLO
SRQ
Italian Market & Deli
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THE SHOP SRQ 6625 Gateway Ave.
Traditional, Old School Barber Shop 15 Years + Experience
www.TheShopSrq.com
& Vegetarian Sandwiches
941.626.4894 / 941.536.1656
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
G-2
“We Straight Razor Shave”
Hot or Cold
S-16
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
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Mall Mall Drive Drive
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Superior Avenue
Books-AMillion
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Original Word of Mouth 6604 Gateway Ave. Sarasota, FL 34231
Publix
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Hooters
Sun Trust
Stein Mart
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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HOURS: Monday - Sunday 8:00AM to 2PM www.originalwordofmouth.com
M7
GULF GATE
G-31
941-925-2400
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Eat Where The Locals Eat!
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 the size of the group. Come in and follow your nose to 6616 Superior Ave, Sarasota, FL 34231. Call (941)926-0099. See you soon. One Minute Key Shop (GG-51): Left your keys in the car? No worries, the One Minute Key Shop will help you safely unlock and retrieve your keys. They specialize in high security locks, keys, re-keying, master keying, and safes for residential, commercial or automotive. Give them a call at 941-924-8020 or visit their showroom where they have a large display of locks and safes. 2120 Gulf Gate Drive. Solorzano’s Late Night Pizzeria (S-32): At every Solorzano’s, they offer an experience familiar to those who understand the importance of family and dedication. Their recipes and techniques 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 4:00 a.m. 6670 Superior Ave., 941-924-5800.
• 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
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941.349.0194
SEPTEMBER 2018
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
LIVE MUSIC PAGE 24
VILLAGE MAP pgs 20 - 21
ACCOMMODATIONS PAGE 39
GULF GATE SHOPS pg 18
19
CRESCENT BEACH MAP pg 22
Siesta Key Drum Circle Before You Leave...
If you have any non-perishable food items that have not been opened, the Siesta Key Chamber, located at 5114 Ocean Blvd, in the Village at the Davidson Plaza along with St. Michael’s Parish, located at 5394 Midnight Pass Road will gladly take these items and pass them on to the less fortunate in the Sarasota area. Chamber hours for items to be dropped off are as follows: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For instructions on after hour drop-offs, please contact the Chamber office at 941-349-3800. St. Michael’s hours for items to be dropped off are as follows: Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – Noon and again from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. – Noon.
If you are dropping off items after hours, please leave any items at the front door of the parish office. For any additional questions, please contact the office at 941-349-4174.
Every Sunday is a perfect time to come to the Key to reconnect with Mother Nature and to enjoy some wonderful entertainment. 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 Courtesy: Erick Dunton/Positive Repercussions located in the Village.
Before you leave Sarasota, you must try this one! As seen on the Food Network Guy Fieri’s “Diner’s, Drive-In’s and Dive’s” show. The TurDucKen “One big bird” Boneless chicken stuffed in a boneless duck stuffed in a boneless turkey with a variety of great seasonings. Alpine Steakhouse just off of Siesta Key located between the bridges at 4520 S. Tamiami Trail. 941-922-3797
Lunch Turducken Sandwich $8.95 and Dinner Turducken $18.95 w/mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
Looking Better
941.349.0194
www.siestasand.net
Continued from cover story
As part of the Siesta Village Public Improvement District, Sarasota County assesses all the businesses in the Siesta Business Improvement District area (the assessment is part the business owners’ annual property tax bill), and utilizing the tax revenue collected in the PID, the county oversees contracts for maintenance, while the Siesta Key Maintenance Corp. (SKVMC) and the county manages the contractor operations and oversight. “I am happy with both vendors,” says Michael Shay, the SKVMC Maintenance Manager who implements and oversees repairs and maintenance using funding from the PID. But that wasn’t always the case. As the commercial and entertainment epicenter of one of the country’s most visited places, Siesta Key Village is a unique place with unique challenges when it comes to upkeep and maintenance. Major improvements were completed in the Village by Sarasota County in 2008 for the existing Public Improvement District, yet only recently have the County and the PID found what they say is the right combination of contracting agreements and a maintenance approach that keeps the Village looking it’s best. Previously, one contractor — Buccaneer Landscaping and Maintenance — provided all of the trash cleanup, landscaping, and hardscape maintenance. But that
Native palms and royal palms would add shade. “Every inch of that sidewalk, every inch, should be covered with shade,” Holderness told Siesta Sand. “Current tree planting provide little shade, leave a mess, and aren’t native,” Holderness says.
NOTICE: Looking fo
For those that have enjoyed th cuts and camaraderie at the Villag Barber over the years, you can sti continue to see Scott Reich at hi new Gulf Gate Barbershop locatio at 6575 Gateway Ave. in Gulf Gate The Siesta Center was sold an the new ownership of the Ocea Blvd building wasn’t quite meetin up to expectations. Notice: Change of Phone Numbe Call Scott at 941-600-4533. Hi hours are 8:30-4:00 Tuesday thr Friday and 8:30-12:00 Saturday. ACCOMMODATIONS Siesta Key Beach Resort & Spa........ Map-A #38A ART GALLERY / STUDIO The Gallery on Siesta Key................... Map-D #11 ATM / BANKS PNC ATM.............................................. Map-C #61 Martin Funding.......................................Map-E #1 Sun Trust Bank & ATM..........................Map-E #4 BARS & NIGHTCLUBS Blaśe Café.............................................. Map-A #38 Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar.................Map-B #42-43 Gilligan’s.............................................. Map-B #33 Siesta Key Oyster Bar......................... Map-B #45 The Beach Club..................................... Map-D #22 The Cottage........................................... Map-C #58 The Hub-Baja Grill............................... Map-D #59
Map B #42
COFFEE SHOPS LeLu’s Coffee Lounge........................ Map-B #31 The Local Bean.....................................Map-D #62 DRUGSTORE Davidson Drugs..................................Map-D #65 FASHION & ACCESSORIES Beach Bazaar’s & Swin Shack........... Map-C #28 Blvd. Beachwear....................................Map-B #30 Comfort Shoes-Birki & More...........Map-D #64 Everything But Water.......................... Map-D #12 Foxy Lady Fashions............................. Map-A #40 Gidget’s Coastal Provisions.............. Map-B #44 Island Boutique.....................................Map-B #50 Island Style............................................ Map-C #53 Marley Vibes........................................... Map-D #9 Sea Shanty............................................. Map-C #24 Siesta T’s.................................................Map-B #30 The Sandal Factory...............................Map-B #46 GAS STATION Circle K Store...........................................Map-E #6 GIFTS & SOUVENIRS Beach Bazaar........................................ Map-C #28 Gilligan’s Gift Store..............................Map-B #32 Island Trader......................................... Map-C #51 Sea Pleasures & Treasures.................. Map-C #29 Siesta Key Outfitters...........................Map-D #11 Siesta Kids..............................................Map-B #36
5114 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key located in the Village
(941) 349-3800
HEALTH & FITNESS Indep. Lifestyle Solutions .................. Map-D #10 Siesta Healing......................................... Map-D #9 Siesta Key Fitness............................... Map-B #73 ICE CREAM/TREATS Big Olaf Creamery............................... Map-C #52 Ciao Gelato............................................ Map-C #50 Curly Cream Ice Cream......................... Map-D #9 Local Chill Ice Cream.......................... Map-D #60 Made in Rome Gelato.......................... Map-C #53 Meany’s Mini Donuts.......................... Map-C #24 SubZero Ice Cream/Yogurt................ Map-D #16 Sunni Bunni Frozen Yogurt................ Map-C #53 INTERNET / WiFi SERVICES Davidson Drugs..................................Map-D #65 LeLu’s Coffee Lounge........................ Map-B #31 The Local Bean.....................................Map-D #62
www.siestakeychamber.com
JEWELRY Created Gems....................................... Map-C #51 Mount -N- Repair Jewelers................... Map-D #9
www.siestasand.net
941.349.0194
setup proved to fall short. There were several complaints about the contractor, which is based out of the area in Pinellas Park, FL, and both the county and the SKVMC, which represents business property owners in the Village, were not pleased with the level of service. As one example, that previous contractor had drilled holes in the bottom of all trash containers in the village — leading to a troubling side effect, says Shay, manager of the Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corp. “During their time, they [the previous maintenance contractor] drilled holes in the trash liners,” Shay recalled to Siesta Sand. “They had put holes in the bottom, because they didn’t want to deal with liquid from trash forming in the bottom of the pail. We began asking why there was staining on the pavers all around the trash containers. We found out the hard way what they were doing, and the county and SKVMC held them accountable to replace all liners immediately.”
A new direction This year, however, maintenance of the Village has been divided between two companies with a more specialized approach, and so far, the county and the SKVMC say it is working.
SEPTEMBER 2018
“Really no one outfit could handle it all,” says Smith, of Smith Architects and SKVMC President. The new contracts appear to be a big improvement so far, says Cece, the liaison between Sarasota County — which oversees the contracts with the two companies — and the Maintenance Corp Board. “We’ve been able to economize the maintenance costs that property owners are being accessed for. This approach provides a better level of service that is much more responsive, with much more specialized services,” Cece says. There might be room for refinement, but Cece has already seen a difference. “As a lifelong Sarasota County resident, I am proud to have a role in keeping the Village looking its best. It has changed, and I think it is going in a good direction.” For example, Wilhelm Brothers did an excellent job with the new landscape beds. Moreover, irrigation services are now provided by Wilhelm, instead of a separate contractor taking care of that, as was previously the case. Trash upkeep in an area that has 50 trash and six recycling containers has improved, as well. Greenscape Enterprises, the new company that now handles custodial services is obligated,
through the contract, to have a wheeled cart and bring it right up to trash to avoid spillage on the pavers when emptying trash containers. The company has assigned one employee to handle the custodial services in the Village: he is thorough, takes his job seriously, and pleasantly greets people as he is going about his duties in the early morning hours, Shay notes. It is offering recycling pickup for the first time in the Village, Shay emphasized.
Feeling the Pressure The Village has pavers, and that has been another challenge when it comes to upkeep. “The pavers themselves trying to keep them clean, was a challenge I never anticipated,” says Smith. “It’s always been an issue,” adds Cece. Gum, soda, anything you can think of — that’s what stains the pavers. As part of the new maintenance approach, the county uses its pressure cleaning contractor, which has to adhere to strict requirements. Previously, however, Buccaneer (the former maintenance contractor for the Village) used a subcontractor. The county, through a county-wide contract, is paying considerably less for pressure cleaning now, Cece notes, and the county’s
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Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
contractor has big scrubbers and cannot use toxic chemicals. They also have to immediately dry the surface, which decreases the chances of people slipping. In addition, now, pressure cleaning takes place after major events such as the arts and craft festival and Siesta Fiesta that take place in the spring in the Village. That’s helped keep the pavers clean for a longer period of time after a cleaning. Periodic cleaning is also possible throughout the year. But hotelier Mike Holderness says pressure cleaning should happen more often than the county currently plans. He says stains and dirty pavers make a poor impression on guests that travel to the Key, and keeping the pavers clean should be a priority. “There are some in the community who think should do it before major events. How about before and after those events — is that too hard to grasp,” Holderness tells Siesta Sand. In addition, Holderness, owner of Siesta Beach Resort, Siesta Key Beachside Villas, and Beachside Management, which alone manages over 100 properties, would like to see a big picture plan for daily and long-term maintenance goals in the Village — something he says is lacking now. Continued on page 35
or the Village Barber?
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er. is ru
941-554-4242
LIQUOR STORES / FINE WINES Gabbiano’s Wine Club.......................Map-D #70 Gilligan’s.............................................. Map-B #33 Siesta Key Wines.................................. Map-C #61 Siesta Village Liquors........................ Map-C #26 The Beach Club..................................... Map-D #22 MAILING - SHIPPING UPS store............................................... Map-A #41 US Post Office....................................... Map-D #65
Map D #64
MARKETS/FOOD STORES Circle K Store...........................................Map-E #6 Morton’s Siesta Market...................... Map-C #25 MASSAGE Hands of Light Massage......................Map-B #35 Massage Therapy....................................Map-E #1 The Spa at Calle Minorga.....................Map-E #74 MEDICAL - DENTAL Siesta Dental...........................................Map-B #49 Siesta Key Physical Therapy............... Map-D #20 Siesta Medical Center.......................... Map-D #63 Siesta Village Dentistry....................... Map-D #63 MISCELLANEOUS Chamber of Commerce....................... Map-D #67 Positive RePercussion..........................Map-D #9 Roberti Enterprises.............................. Map-A #39 Tarot Card Reading & Gifts.................Map-B #50
Bringing you quality and comfort for more than 30 years!
Birkenstock & More 5128 Ocean Blvd. Siesta Village
941-346-7425 www.rickscomfortshoes.com
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Edward Jones Investments................. Map-D #68 Smith Architects...................................... Map-E 74 REAL ESTATE / RENTAL SERVICES Coldwell Banker Realty....................... Map-D #20 Keller Williams Real Estate................. Map-D #11 Key Realty.............................................. Map-E #5 Michael Saunders Realty................... Map-E #72 ReMax Alliance Group........................ Map-C #29 ReMax Tropical Sands.......................Map-D #67 RentSiestaKey.com................................. Map-D #9 Robasota Rentals & Real Estate.......... Map-A #39 Siesta Key Rental Prop........................ Map-D #10
48 47 46
RESTAURANTS / CAFÉS Another Broken Egg................... Map-C #54 & 55 Big Water Fish Market, N..................Map-D #15 Blasé Café.............................................. Map-A #38 Bonjour French Cafe............................ Map-C #47 Café Gabbiano.....................................Map-D #71 Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar.................Map-B #42-43 Flavio’s Brick Oven & Bar....................Map-B #29 Flavio’s Italiano Ristorante..................Map-B #30 Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill............ Map-B #33 LeLu’s Coffee Bar................................ Map-B #31 Lobster Pot............................................ Map-C #23 Old Salty Dog Rest. & Pub.....................Map-E #2 PI Pizza & Craft Beer............................ Map-A#37 Ripfire Pizza...........................................Map-B #47 Señor Siesta........................................... Map-D #69 Siesta Key Oyster Bar......................... Map-B #45 Solorzano Bros. Pizzeria....................Map-D #15 Subway Sandwiches.............................Map-B #30 Summer House..................................... Map-C #57 Sun Garden Café.................................. Map-D #19 The Cottage........................................... Map-C #58 The Hub - Baja Grill............................. Map-C #59 Village Café..........................................Map-D #14 SPAS - HAIR & BEAUTY LaPlaya Spa........................................... Map-C #50 Sassy Hair Salon..................................Map-A #40 Siesta Key Nails & Spa........................Map-D #9 SPORTS INTEREST/RENTALS CaliFlorida............................................. Map-C #29 Robin Hood Rentals........................... Map-B #34
Map D #11
THE LOCAL BEAN • Internet Café • Coffee Shop • Tea Room 5138 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key Village
941-346-8000
WHAT BETTER WAY TO START YOUR DAY IN PARADISE?
Map D #62
Organic and Fair Trade Coffees & Teas Cold Pressed Coffee Organic Smoothies Light Lunch (Salads & Sandwiches) Breakfast Sandwiches, Bagels & Lox Local Pastries Free Snacks
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
ATM & BANKS Bank of America........................................ A-3 #3 BARS & NIGHTCLUBS Capt. Curt’s Backroom Saloon................B-3 #7 Crescent Club........................................... C-3 #13 Sniki Tiki....................................................B-3 #8 DELIS / BAKERIES A Taste of Germany................................ C-3#14 Anna’s Deli & Sandwiches.................. C-3 #14 Nutritious You......................................... C-3 #14 The Beach Deli @ Crescent Beach Grocery......B-3 #1 DRUG STORES Davidson Drugs..................................... C-3 #14 FASHION & ACCESSORIES Fin Island Co............................................. A-3 #2 CB’s Saltwater Outfitters........................ A-3 #4 Coconuts Fashion......................................B-3 #1 Coconuts / Island Colors..........................B-3 #8 Green Turtle Swimwear......................... C-3 #14
941.349.0194
CRESCENT BEACH SHOP INDEX
Key Casual Fashions............................... D-3 #17 Things You Like...................................... C-3 #14 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 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 A Taste of Germany................................ C-3#14
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 Munchies.................................................. 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
Big Water Fish Market................................C-3 #17
“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 12/31/18
Open 5 pm pm Map C-3#14 O pen77DDays ays99am am--5
941-346-1797
“Voted Small Business of the Year 941-346-1797 by Siesta Key Chamber”
RepaiRs, sales anD accessORies New 50cc Scooters
HOuRly • Daily • Weekly
TREK BIKES • BEACH WHEELCHAIRS • PADDLEBOARDS SCOOTERS • SCOOTER CARS • KAYAKS • KAYAK TOURS CHAIRS/UMBRELLAS • STROLLERS • SNORKELING GEAR
KAYAK TOURS ONLY 45 54 /PERSON • BEST PRICE AROUND FREE DELIVERY AND P/U ON SIESTA KEY FOR MOST RENTALS $
6551 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key, FL in Southbridge Mall • Map C-3#14
5
$
SCOOTER RENTALS f f o Half Days/Full Days/Multi Day Rentals with this Coupon EXPIRES 12/31/14 EXPIRES 12/31/18
Bikes • Kayaks • Scooters • Kayak Tours
welcome!
Willkommen
GERMAN BAKERY & CAFE German café offering fresh soups and sandwiches on freshly baked breads!
Rum Cakes Breakfast Lunch German Beers and Brats
941-346-1800 • www.ATasteofGermany.net 6575 Midnight Pass Rd., Siesta Key (South of Stickney Pt.)
Map C-3 #14
Map B-3#8
A Taste of Germany 6575 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-3 #14
Anna’s Deli 6535 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-3 #14
Big Water Fish Market 6641 Midnight Pass Road
Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill 1500 Stickney Point Rd.
MAP A-5 #12
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
Siesta 4-Rent 6555 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-3 #14
Toasted Mango Cafe 6621 Midnight Pass Rd.
MAP C-4 #17
MAP C-3 #17
www.siestasand.net
941.349.0194
SEPTEMBER 2018
Snapshots of Island Visitors
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
Photos by Jaye Clements - Sarasota Photography 2
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5
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10
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1. Eli and Anna from Sarasota 3. Sami, Tyger age 6, and David from Kentucky
2. The Taylor Family from Canada
4. Steve, Crystal, and Joe from Sarasota
6. Delphine and Lavabre from France 8. Joy and Mayte from France
5. Nicole from Maryland
7. Poland from Warsaw
9. Nicholas age 10, Mariama, and Isabel age 7 from Argentina
10. Alyssa, Charity, and Tony from California
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24
Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
Siesta Sounds
941.349.0194
By Charmaine Engelsman-Robins
Ted Stevens & the Doo-Shots
CLUB BLASE CAFÉ In the Village 941-349-9822 DAIQUIRI DECK RAW BAR In the Village 941‐349‐8697
MONDAY
TUESDAY
CLOSED OPEN LABOR DAY rd Amandah Jantzen (3 ) 7‐10 PM
Photos ourtesy of the band/Tara Fuchs
versa, ever since. “We love Gilligan’s,” Ted says. “They’re just really good people and their crowds are the best mix of locals and tourists. Since we started playing there, we’ve pretty much been their every-other-Saturday night regular band, and we love always seeing those familiar faces with some new ones mixed in at every gig there. It’s really got good energy.” The “we” Ted refers to include the two guys known as the Doo-Shots; drummer Smokin’ Joe Hendricks and stand-up bass player Upright Butch Alan. Far more than mere back-up guys, each is an enjoyable performer in his own right, and their roles contribute equal shares to what Ted describes as “… not just ‘playing,’ but ‘entertaining’.” Joe must be one of the most energetic guys on two islands: a gifted, award winning journalist with the Anna Maria Island Sun, his brain gets a good workout at his day job, then he evens it out with the good physical workout he gets playing drums for the roots rock music that has him double-timing a lot … and when you’re doing a bunch of tunes at that pace, you are workin’. His wife and greatest fan, Amy, is at lots of his gigs and they have a pretty full life of their own, which includes doting on their much adored dog-daughter, Mabel. Full disclosure: I know a little bit about Joe because we both came to Florida from Holland, MI and met when we covered a lot of the same stories on Anna Maria Island, where he was a generous and gracious guide to my new territory even though we worked for competing publications. Good guy. Joe’s been with the Doo-Shots since 2010. In 2012, the other half of the hard-driving rhythm section joined up; Butch works the stand up bass that helps give this music it’s unique, rootsy sound. Most of the gigs are a bit of a drive from his home in Wesley Chapel but he deems it worthwhile and does it not only for full band gigs but also for the duo dates he and Ted do. Though Butch bills himself as the contributor of “crappy back-up vocals” that’s just a little selfdeprecating musician humor, as you can hear in the music samples on the band page www.tedstevens.net/ music, on the five CDs the band has out (and another in the works soon), or at any of the gigs. Speaking of which, Gilligan’s in Siesta Village welcomes them back on Saturday, September 15, so come on down and rock!
If ever we needed a good-time band to give us a lift and make us smile, this is that time. During The Great Depression, movie houses were jammed with patrons seeking escape and a chance to just tune out their troubles for a little while. Now is not so different; between all the distressing political and environmental news, it can be a real challenge to keep on smiling, but this band is bound to help with that challenge. Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots are seriously silly, wildly talented, focused on fun, and a great escape. For Boomers who may have forgotten and millenials who don’t yet know this music … which the band website describes as “revved up rockabilly and surf…” we’re talking about light-hearted, good time music you could almost describe as “silly.” Even the “sad” songs give a giggle (Drivin’ Nails in my Coffin Over You) and are definitely danceable. And these guys have got a million of ‘em. Well, O.K., maybe not a MILLION, but a couple hundred per gig anyway. What is it about this music that makes us feel like “Oh what the heck!” when we were in a bad mood a minute ago? Of course a lot of the appeal depends on who’s playing it and how; the trio of Ted Stevens and the DooShots is made up of three pretty darn happy guys who sound as if they were born to this sound. Guitar player and vocalist Ted Stevens is the highly entertaining front man and band leader who moved to Sarasota in 2008, primarily for the boating and fishing lifestyle. He’s a native of Rhode Island but came to us by way of Vegas after having played for years in casinos there. (And in April 2018 had a little blast from his past when he went back there to play the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, complete with the Doo-Shots.) Ted’s repertoire is pretty much unlimited in that he listens to and has played many genres of music and spent stints performing most of them at one time or another. But when it came time to settle on a signature sound, it was the rockabilly and surf sound good-time music he saw few other bands embracing and chose to share. Starting over in southwest Florida, getting just the right mix of guys for the group and figuring out where their music would work was a big challenge at first, but talent won out and at this point the band can pretty much enjoy the luxury of being able to pick and choose gigs. One of the first rooms they played on Siesta Key was Gilligan’s; they’ve been loyal to the venue, and vice
WEDNESDAY Savanah Brady & Zak Yoder 7‐10 PM TH CLOSED SEPTEMBER 9
CLOSED
Rodney Shenk: 6‐10 PM
RPM LIVE: 6‐10 PM
Lelu’s Coffee Lounge In the Village 941-346-5358
SIESTA KEY OYSTER BAR (SKOB) In the Village 941‐346‐5443
1‐5 PM: rd J. Gilton (3 ) th Frankie Lombardi (10 ) th David Morris (17 ) th Charlie Morris (24 ) Al Donadi 7‐11 PM
1‐5 PM: th Jordy (4 ) Jeanine & Stu (11 & 25) th J. Gilton (18 ) Open mic night 7‐11 PM
THE BEACH CLUB In the Village 941-349-6311
Karaoke Mondays 8 PM ‐ Close
THE COTTAGE In the Village 941-312-9300
Live Music 6-9 PM
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 Turtle Beach Grill Southern end of SK 941‐349‐2280
Live Music Noon – 3 PM 3:30 – 6:30 PM 7-10 PM
BOATYARD BAR & GRILL Over the South Bridge 941‐921‐6200
CLOSED SEPTEMBER 4 Marcel Almanzor (5‐8 PM)
SAND DOLLAR POOL BAR @ Best Western Plus 6600 S. Tamiami Trl. Sarasota 941‐924‐4900 CASEY KEY FISH HOUSE 801 Blackburn Pt. Rd, Osprey 941‐966‐1901
THURSDAY
TBA: 6‐10 PM DJ Tuesday – 10 PM
BAND WEBSITE: www.tedstevens.net
FRIDAY TH
Nancy Gauvreau (6 ) TH Amandah Jantzen (27 ) 7‐10 PM TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20
The Whole Band (7,21,28) 7‐10 PM LIVE MUSIC (3‐7 PM) DJ TJ (10 PM)
GILLIGANS In the Village 941-346-8122
RPM LIVE ‐ 6‐10 PM DJ Nate – 10 PM
TBA: 1 PM TBA: 6‐10 PM DJ KConn – 10 PM
1‐5 PM: Dana & Co. FolkLab 7‐11 PM
1‐5 PM Whiteleather (7 & 28) 2‐6 PM Whiteleather (14 & 21) 8‐Midnight th Big Daddy Boys (7 ) th Charlie Morris (14 ) st Deven Starr Band (21 ) th Blue Mason Barter(28 )
1‐5 PM: Evan Eastmore (1,15,29) Bri Rivera (8 & 22) Mike Tozier 8‐Midnight
DJ Coz or DJ Kensi 9 PM – 2 AM
DJ XTREME 10 PM
8 – 11 PM: The Funk (7 ) th st 22N (14 ) TL (21 ) th Pitbull Toddler(28 ) Live DJ 11 PM ‐2 AM
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 – 6:30pm 7-10pm
Live Music Noon – 3PM 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 – CLOSE
LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
LIVE MUSIC 5‐9 PM
LIVE MUSIC 5‐9 PM
The Richy Kicklighter Band 5‐9 PM
Joker’s Duo 5‐9 PM
Tribal Love 4‐8 PM
LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
KARAOKE 9 PM – CLOSE LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
TH
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 13 Island Sounds Dezi/Dami Canies (5‐8 PM)
TH
TBA: 1 PM TBA: 6‐10 PM DJ Tuesday – 10 PM
1‐5 PM: Frankie Ray (5 & 19) Deven Starr (12 & 26) Kettle of Fish 7‐11 PM
LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
CLOSED SEPTEMBER 4
Acoustic Pete: 1 PM TBA: 6‐10 PM DJ KConn – 10 PM
BREE (3‐7 PM)
Eddie James Jazz Band 7‐10 PM
SUNDAY Latin Rendezvous nd (2 ) rd Lisa Ridings Band (23 ) Alex Ross & Mojo Revival th (30 ) 7‐10 PM
TH
SATURDAY ST Lady B & the Buzz (1 ) th Kat Crosby Band (8 ) nd Jason Haram (22 ) th Goodbyeddy Band (29 ) 7‐10 PM LIVE MUSIC (3‐7 PM) DJ K Conn (10 PM)
th
LIVE MUSIC 6‐10 PM
www.siestasand.net
TH
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27
10 AM 1 PM Vince Colaiocco (2,16, 30) Mike Tozier (9 & 23) 2‐6 PM Vince Berardi (2nd) th
Endless Vibes (9 ) th Ty Kirkland (16 ) 7 ‐11 PM: The Whole Band (9 & 23) Hatley Band (2,16,30) st 8 –11 PM: No Filter (1 ) 7‐11 PM th Actual Bank Robbers (8 ) Jah Movement (9 & 30) th th Torched (15 ) Propaganjah (16 ) nd rd Sweet Spot (22 ) Nostaljah (23 ) th Mixed Signal (29 ) 9PM – 1AM nd Live DJ: 11 PM‐2 AM No filter (2 )
RPM (5‐9 PM)
Bri Rivera (5‐8 PM)
LIVE MUSIC 3‐6 PM
LIVE MUSIC 3‐6 PM
LIVE MUSIC 3‐6 PM
LIVE MUSIC 4‐8 PM
LIVE MUSIC 3‐7 PM
LIVE MUSIC 3‐7 PM
Above information is subject to change. We suggest calling venues for confirmation.
www.siestasand.net
941.349.0194
SEPTEMBER 2018
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
25
Island Humor After living in the mountains most of his life, a hillbilly decides to take a trip into the city. He stops at one of the stores and picks up a mirror. Never having seen a mirror before he looks into it and exclaims, “How ‘bout that this here’s a picture of my pappy.” Thinking it was a picture of his dad he buys it but on his way home remembers that his wife didn’t like his dad, so decides to hang it in the shed. Every morning before going hunting, he’d go in the shed and look at it. His wife started getting suspicious of his many trips to the shed. So, one day after her husband leaves, she goes to the shed to find the mirror. As she looks in the mirror, she fumes, “So that’s the ugly wench he’s running around with.” (Story from a Kansas State Highway Patrol officer) I made a traffic stop on an elderly lady the other day for speeding on U.S. 166 Eastbound at Mile Marker 73 just East of Sedan, KS. I asked for her driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. The lady took out the required information and handed it to me. In with the cards I was somewhat surprised (due to her advanced age) to see she had a conceal carry permit. I looked at her and asked if she had a weapon in her possession at this time. She responded that she indeed had a .45 automatic in her glove box. Something---body language, or Ingredients: • 1/2 teaspoon sugar • 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest • 3 drops fresh lemon juice • 3 raspberries • 2 tablespoons limoncello • crushed ice (as needed) • 1/2 cup sparkling wine • lemon zest (strip for garnish)
the way she said it---made me want to ask if she had any other firearms. She did admit to also having a 9mm Glock in her center console. Now I had to ask one more time if that was all. She responded once again that she did have just one more, a .38 special in her purse. I then asked her what was she so afraid of? She looked me right in the eye and said, “Not a doggone thing!” A Russian scientist and a Czech scientist had spent their lives studying the grizzly bear. Each year they petitioned their respective governments to allow them to go to Yellowstone to study the bears. Finally their request was granted and they immediately flew to New York and on west to Yellowstone Park. They reported to the ranger station and were told that it was the grizzly mating season and it was too dangerous to go out and study the animals. They pleaded that this was their only chance and finally the ranger relented. The Russian and the Czech were given portable phones and told to report in every day. For several days they called in, and then nothing was heard from the two scientists. The rangers mounted a search party and found the camp completely ravaged, with no sign of the missing men. They followed the trail of a male and a female bear. They found the female and decided they must kill the animal to find out if she had eaten the scientists because they
feared an international incident. They killed the female animal and opened the stomach to find the remains of the Russian. One ranger turned to the other and said: “You know what this means, don’t you?” The other ranger responded: “Of course...The Czech is in the male.” A guy walks past a high, solid wooden fence at the insane asylum and he hears all the residents inside chanting, “Thirteen!, Thirteen!, Thirteen!” He continues walking along the long fence, but, can’t help wondering why they’d be chanting, “Thirteen!” over and over again. Are they chugging beer? Or maybe they are taking turns beating one of the inmates? They could even be counting the number of patients that have jumped off the roof. As he continues to walk along the fence wondering what they are doing, he comes to a spot with a hole in the fence. Hah, he thinks, now’s my chance to see what the heck is going on in there. He turns and peeks into the hole. As he looks, someone inside pokes him in the eye. Then everyone inside the asylum starts chanting, “Fourteen!, Fourteen!, Fourteen!” Having a bad day? Just remember, it could be worse. This was taken from a Florida Newspaper. Read on... 1. The average cost of rehabilitating one seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony,
two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild, amid cheers and applause from onlookers. One minute later, in full view of everyone, a killer whale ate them both. 2. A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current she whacked him with a handy plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in two places. Until that moment he had been happily listening to his Walkman. 3. Two animal right protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn, Germany. Suddenly the pigs all 2,000 of them - escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death. And finally... 5. Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn’t pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with “return to sender” stamped on
it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits. Now, YOUR day’s not so bad, is it??? Back when I was about 2 ½ years old, my grandma asked my grandpa to watch me while she ran to the store. He saw that I was busy playing with my new toy tea set so he went in the living room to watch the news. After a while, I brought him some tea, which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, grandma came home. Grandpa made her sit in the living room to watch me bring him several more cups of tea, because he thought it was just the ‘cutest thing’. After several minutes of watching grandpa make a big show of drinking down every drop, grandma said to grandpa, “Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?” Our Bartender of the Month will resume with the October issue
HOTTEST BAR IN GULF GATE...
Sparkling Limoncello-Raspberry Cocktail
MLB/College Packages FULL BAR
Directions: On a small plate, stir together the sugar and grated lemon zest. Dip a clean finger in the lemon juice and moisten the rim of a Champagne flute or other glass. Dip the rim in the sugar mixture to coat. In a small bowl or ramekin, using a cocktail muddler or the end of a wooden spoon, pulverize the raspberries with the limoncello. Transfer the puree to the sugar-rimmed glass. Place a spoonful of crushed ice in the glass, then pour in the sparkling wine. Garnish with the lemon zest strip and serve immediately. Serves 1. Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Good Food to Share, by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan (Weldon Owen, Inc., 2010).
6500 Gateway Ave • 941.554.8905
Karaoke Thursday, Friday & Saturday
26
Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
941.349.0194
www.siestasand.net
Environmental Issues By Rachel Brown Hackney
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program gives county kudos 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. 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 941346-1024 for information. (Access #5 is in Siesta Village, where Beach Rd. meets Ocean Blvd.) • FREE YOGA - Mon.-Wed.-Fri.-Sat. 8 a.m. Classes held between blue and green lifeguard station. Call 941-320-6693 to register or go to website for more info. www.yogaonsiestabeach.com/about • 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… • SEP 22 (SAT) 7-11AM / YMCA SHARKS TRIATHLON: Registration Deadline: September 17, 2018. “The Original Siesta Key Triathlon” has been held annually on the #1 beach in the USA since 1985 with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Sarasota Sharks Swim Team. The race consists of a 0.3-mile Swim in the Gulf of Mexico just out from the iconic lifeguard towers of Siesta Key Beach. The bike loop is a fast 13-miles along an open course south to Turtle Beach, north through Siesta Key Village, and back. The 3.1-mile run takes you out to the hard packed white sands of Siesta Key Beach, south along the shoreline to the turnaround at Old Stickney Pt. Rd Beach Access and back. Go to website for more information: https://runsignup. com/Race/Events/FL/Sarasota/ SiestaKeyTriathlon Around the island… • WEEKLY FARMER’S MARKET IN THE VILLAGE: Every Sunday from 8am – 2pm 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.
simple cremations
740
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• KIDS RHYTHM JAM!™ – 11:30AM: Drumming Fun For Everyone!™. Every Saturday and Tuesday. Everyone gets permission to play and make noise to create rhythm and song! Come & enjoy group drumming with your family and friends. $15/ family - Positive RePercussions 5049 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key Village - (941) 677-3786. Please check out our wide variety of other programs at: www. positiverepercussions.com/calendar And Beyond… • PALM AVENUE FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK / 6-9PM: Every month local galleries open their doors to the public for the evening, offering a chance to meet with artists and admire their work. See website for location map. http://palmavenue.org/ • TOWLES COURT THIRD FRIDAY ARTWALKS / 5-9PM: Gallery and studio openings on a moonlit evening of fun and beauty- both natural and handcrafted beauty. Free music, events, refreshments. Meet the artists, shop and dine in authentic “ Old Florida” in downtown Sarasota. 1938 Adams Lane Sarasota, Florida 34236. www.towlescourt.com/index.htm • RADIO SHOW WRITERS ON AIR: Writers of all levels and students are invited to read their work for three to five minutes per round each Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (Sign-up: 2:30), at the Common Grounds Meeting Hall, 12735 Tamiami Trail, North Port in the bright, yellow building in Springs Plaza on the frontage road between “Caddy Carts” to the North, and “Dollar General” to the South. For details: Linda Schell 941223-1262. Comfortable seating, BYOB. Broadcast live. Open to the public. FREE • LIVE RADIO “OPEN MIC”: BYOB with host Bud Buckley. Wednesdays at Common Grounds Meeting Hall. Lots of prizes from Mindy Buckley of Bishop West Real Estate. Free $50 gas card on the first Wednesday to lucky performer. No later than 6:30 sign up. Guidelines: Only 14 performers at 11 minutes each. Random drawing for order of performance. No exceptions. Stay in the “On Deck Circle” when you are next. Get on and off stage in the allotted time. No amps, no effects or backing tracks. Our Bose system makes you sound excellent. Common Grounds is a unique BYOB listening room in the Springs Plaza on the frontage road between “Caddy Carts” to the North and “Dollar General” to the South at 12735 S. Tamiami Trail in North Port. For more info, contact Bud Buckley at Bud. buckley@gmail.com
simple burials
1,195
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Online arrangements available Sarasota (941) 312-6371 | Manatee (941) 213-9234
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Under the heading, “Last large, full-time wastewater discharge to Sarasota Bay removed,” the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) recognized in its summer newsletter that the conversion of the Siesta Key Wastewater Treatment Plant into a master pump station had been completed. Released on July 31, the nonprofit’s newsletter says, “One of the original goals in SBEP’s first Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was the removal of surface wastewater discharges to Sarasota Bay. Wastewater discharges contribute excess nitrogen to estuaries, which can cause algal blooms that reduce the amount of light that seagrasses need to grow while also depleting available oxygen for resident fish populations, the major cause of periodic fish kills.” The article continues, “In 1990, wastewater contributed about 50 percent of the total nitrogen to Sarasota Bay. When the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was adopted in 1995, the community had already made many improvements to wastewater treatment within the watershed. Nitrogen loads had decreased by 25 percent as a result of enacting the Grizzle-Figg Act of 1990, which required all regional wastewater treatment plants with direct surface water discharge to meet Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) standards. However, several major discharges to Sarasota Bay remained, each contributing excess nitrogen and fresh water to the Bay.” The article notes, “Over time, those discharges have been removed as local governments and state agencies invested millions of dollars in modernizing our region’s wastewater treatment systems.” On April 10, the Siesta plant marked its first day as a master pump station, Robert Luckner, a member of the Siesta Key Association’s Environmental Committee, reported to members at their May meeting. Wastewater from Siesta Key is being pumped “to Sarasota County’s large treatment facility on Bee Ridge Road,” the SBEP added.
Speaking of the environment … The August newsletter of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce congratulated The Hub Baja Grill “for becoming an official straw-by-request restaurant.” The newsletter added, “Thanks for helping keep our oceans clean” and includes the hash tag #srqskipsthestraw. An accompanying poster pointed out that the International Coastal Cleanup collects 400,000 plastic straws a year, “because plastic straws are on the Top 10 lists of plastic trash found in our oceans, causing harm to our marine life!” The poster lets Hub customers know that if they need straws, they may request them from a restaurant employee.
Pauvre plovers We cannot say it was totally unexpected, but still, it was most unfortunate. “I have sad news yet again,” Kylie Wilson, coordinator of Audubon Florida’s Shorebird Monitoring & Stewardship Program in Sarasota County, reported on July 26. “Both our Snowy Plover nests are gone on Siesta Key. The one next to the public beach was likely buried by sand due to the strong winds we have had recently.” The one on property owned by the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, she added, “was most likely predated, I would guess by ghost crabs. These nests were the closest nests we had to hatching on Siesta all season. It is really discouraging but we have to keep our hopes up! I’m not sure if we will see any more nesting this season on Siesta but I will keep you all informed if any activity comes up.” Then, in her Aug. 2 update, she conceded: “Siesta’s nesting season has likely come to an end. There are still some Snowy Plovers hanging around (we saw 10 … on the Audubonguided beach walk last Saturday) but they are not paired up or displaying territorial behaviors so it is likely they are done nesting. Still the buffers will stay up for a little longer just in case!” On the positive side, she pointed out, “Longboat has been an amazing haven for the birds. The Least Terns there have been very productive. I would guess there were at least 30 fledged chicks between the two nesting cycles. The snowy plover chicks are also still alive!” The plover chicks, she wrote, were just over two weeks old, which meant they were halfway to fledging — having feathers and wing muscles sufficiently developed for flight. “Hopefully these little guys will be a success story for the plovers this season,” Wilson added.
Island Churches: • Siesta Key Presbyterian Chapel 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
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Water World
Captain Jim Klopfer’s Fishing Report Adventure Charters 941-371-1390
Mitch French from Chicago, IL with a nice Siesta Key snook
September is the month that redfish begin schooling up in Sarasota. The expansive shallow flats in Sarasota Bay are traditionally the most productive areas to fish. A low, incoming tide in the morning is preferred, allowing anglers to see the large schools of reds. As the tide rises, the fish will work up from the edges of flats and holes onto the grass to feed. Locating the fish can be difficult under flood tide conditions; there is just too much water up on the flat to effectively sight fish. Speckled trout fishing has been outstanding this year and this should continue in September. Deeper flats will produce more fish, while the larger specimens may be found in shallow water. A topwater or shallow diving plug worked over bars at first light is a deadly technique for fooling gator trout. Along with trout, anglers fishing the deep grass will catch a variety of species this month including bluefish, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, pompano, gag grouper, and ladyfish. Both live bait and artificial lures will catch plenty of fish. A Bass Assassin grub on a ¼ ounce jig head is a great choice for anglers who enjoy casting artificial lures. Olive (08) X-Raps and other plugs are also effective along with gold and silver spoons. A live shrimp under a popping cork is a time-proven technique for catching “specks” on the West Coast of Florida. Snook will migrate from the beaches back into the bays. Both passes will be great spots to fish, especially on afternoon outgoing tides. The bars and mangrove shorelines along Siesta Key are prime spots as the fish move towards their fall feeding areas. Artificial baits will allow anglers to cover more water, while a well full of pilchards practically guarantees success. Redfish, large speckled trout, jack crevelle, and mangrove snapper may also be encountered while pursuing the mighty snook. Lighted docks and bridges are snook magnets and will provide great action for anglers looking to catch fish and escape the summer sun. Live and artificial shrimp free lined in the tide are deadly, as are small white flies. Surf fishing off the Siesta Key beaches should be good for snook, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and other species. Point of Rocks is the best spot as there is a lot of fish-holding structure, but any stretch of beach is likely to produce. Live bait such as shrimp and small bait fish works great. A #1 live bait hook with a short piece of leader and a split shot is the preferred rig. Spoons, plugs, and jigs are also effective baits in the surf. The rocks and bridges in Big Pass will be excellent spots to target mangrove snapper this month. These tasty saltwater panfish will be migrating out of the bay and into the Gulf of Mexico. Slack tides are the best times to drop a live shrimp or bait fish along the structure. Don’t be surprised if a big snook intercepts a bait meant for a mang!
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.
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Notes from the Island Fishmonger SUPER SALMON Salmon, as we all know, is not a local fish. That brings up the first question of why are we reading about salmon? The answer is because salmon, no matter if you live in Alaska, Florida, or anywhere in the world, is a fish that should be a consistent part of everyone’s weekly diet. For this reason, salmon is a staple in every fish market around the world including Big Water Fish Market on Siesta Key who specializes in local, wild caught, sustainable seafood. Even though that concept stands true as our business model, a fish market is not a true fish market without fish standouts such as imported salmon and cod. Salmon has a distinct flavor and texture comparable to no other. This inexpensive fish has an orange colored flesh which is meaty, moist, and flakey and is absolutely delicious. It is definitely one of the healthiest foods in the world that our bodies can ingest. It is full of omega-3 fatty acids that not only is heart healthy but may prevent cancer and lower blood pressure and stress according to the “experts.” I know for a lot of you farm-raised is inhumane, as the fish are grown in small tanks with hundreds of fish. Chilean grown salmon, like the salmon sold in major grocery chains, is very inexpensive and surprisingly still very healthy because of its high fat content but frowned on by the seafood industry because of the farming process and chemicals used to grow this fish. There is an alternative to this process though, and it is called organic ocean farming. This process still has a ton of environmental benefits to it and surprisingly organic ocean farm raised salmon have more of the fatty acid of omega-3 than wild salmon does. Second in omega -3 is wild Alaskan King Salmon followed by Coho Salmon and then Sockeye. Big Water Fish Market has carried and experimented with them all and after several seafood shows and a few years of research, we decided years ago that the product carried on a consistent basis is the organic ocean farmed Salmon from Ireland or Scotland. We have two suppliers that import and deliver the fish to the back door 3 to 4 times a week. Despite the fact that the fish is actually caught on either Ireland’s Atlantic West Coast or the North Atlantic, it is delivered fresh out of the water on daily flights to North America within 24 hours of being out of the sea. Big Water Fish Market manager, Sebastian Marin says “We will put our organic Irish salmon up against any wild salmon in a taste test…any day. The organic salmon is simply better for you and it definitely tastes better.” Organic ocean farmed salmon have unique conditions: They are isolated from pollution outbreaks, enjoy a stable 39 to 50 degree water yearround and the fish are grown in exposed marine sites off the coasts of Ireland or Scotland with strong currents which leads to firm fleshed salmon with low fat content. On average, the organic ocean
farmed salmon has more than 10,000 cubic meters of water to swim around in. Each body of water has 1% fish to 99% seawater. This fact, along with strong marine currents, contributes to a very high-quality product with no color enhancement, no antibiotics and they feed from the wild. This organic ocean farmed salmon is served daily at Big Water Fish Market on one of the healthiest plates in the world. Grilled Irish Salmon loaded with omega-3, served with fresh seasonal veggies such a broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots and cauliflower, which are all loaded with vitamins and nutrients. This superfood plate is even now served with a fish oil pill. No nap needed after this lunch/ dinner as you will be supercharged for the rest of the day. We also use this sushi grade organic salmon to make our house made specialties such as honey hot smoked salmon, Lox, Salmon Poke and we include chunks of fresh salmon in our fish stew. Here’s my simple “Citrus, Salt and Herb” Salmon sauce recipe: ½ cup plain reduced fat yogurt 1 tsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 ½ tbsp. of chopped fresh dill 1 tbsp. capers Deli Dust to taste (only available at Big Water Fish Market) Simply mix all ingredients in a bowl and chill. Cook your salmon baked or stovetop for approximately 10 minutes (or less if you like it pink inside). Serve your salmon with the above mentioned sauce on top along with a side dish & enjoy! Live Happy…Eat Fish! Scott Dolan Big Water Fish Market 6641 Midnight Pass Rd, Siesta Key - 941-554-8101 www.BigWaterFishMarket.com
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
Arts on the Horizon
941.349.0194
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By Rodger Skidmore
Art by Susan Carden-Flicker
for more info about workshops, the exhibition and the trade show or to www.Realizebradenton.com/Riverwalk for the 1.5 mile scenic walk along the river.
there is free admission to the Ringling including entry to the Circus Museum - a must see for those of all ages. Tickets for Museum Day are available at www.smithsonianmag.com/ museumday. September’s added attractions are live music and dancing in the Museum Courtyard on Sept. 6th (College students with ID admitted free); three films will be shown (the 7th, 14th and 21st) at the Historic Asolo; and an exhibit of 250 years of circus posters continues to Sept. 10th.
Watercolors by Sarasota Bay What better place to see watercolors but by the water? Perhaps in the Sahara desert? But the Sahara is not where these watercolors are on display. No, they are smack dab on Sarasota Bay and on the Manatee River. We are talking about watercolors galore, in all their glory. Also about the things that make them watercolors and about the people who convert raw materials into art. Yes, the Florida Watercolor Society is having its (47th Annual) convention at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, alongside Sarasota Bay, from September 27th through the 30th. Normally a convention is a place where like minded people get together to have some discussions, socialize and elect officers for the next years convention - a private kind of affair that no one else actually wants to attend. This is different, partly because it is also a trade show and everyone wants you to come and buy some of their stuff. What stuff you might ask. Not those 8 different hard round dots of rainbow-y colors that you get at the dollar store but the real stuff. Paints in different textures, the brushes where you can really individualize your strokes - you know, different strokes for different folks - different boards and canvases, everything you need to really display your talents. Not sure your talents are up to snuff? - take a workshop, they are open to the public. The first one is presented by Thomas W. Schaller. His work often has an architectural bent which seem to present the opening to some mysterious tale. The second workshop is hosted by Dale Laitinen who specializes more in broad brush landscapes and discusses how to bring out their natural beauty. Janet Rogers brings you into her world of beautiful flowers and surrealistic portraiture. Moving into the realm of the abstract, we come to Sue Downes Allen who takes us a step beyond - learn principles of contrast, composition and color while creating an original work of art. And what is the result of the raw materials and instruction? The art, of course. On display at ArtCenter Manatee will be the 100 best jury selected watercolors done by members of the Florida Watercolor Society this past year. They will be there from September 7th thru October 26th. Plenty of time to plan an excursion. Note: ArtCenter Manatee is right at the start of Riverwalk on the Manatee river. Lots of art outside as well as inside. Go to www.Floridawatercolorsociety.org
Island Chatter
Photo by Art Legault
Drums by Sarasota Bay
Drums by the Gulf of Mexico
When you hear thunder, the lightening may already have hit you, but when you hear drums at the Ringling Museum, the lights follow. Currently on display, and running thru September 9th, are a series of performances entitled Volumes. A special three-dimensional matrix of LED lights has been installed in the Monda Gallery within the Ringling, and twice a day drummers ply their trade (11 AM and 3 PM) each Tuesday thru Sunday. The velocity and pitch of the percussive sounds determine the quantity of light that floods the gallery creating a dynamic (extra)sensory experience. This immersive audio-visual installation was created by the artist/musician Ezra Masch. During these performances, which started earlier in August, over 60 drummers (many of them local) are making these lights dance. These extraordinary shows are covered by your admission to the museum. In addition, there will be two special shows nightly on August 30th (Greg Fox) and September 6th (Antonio Sánchez) at 7:30 and 8:30 PM. Fox has recorded with Liturgy, Guardian Alien and Skeletons, among others. Sánchez is a Mexican jazz drummer who composed the score for the film Birdman (for which he won a Grammy) and has played with the Pat Metheny Group since 2002. Did you know that before there wasn’t television there was a time when there wasn’t radio? Really! So, besides gossip, how were stories told? In books, of all places. And to keep you interested those books actually had pictures. So, naturally, the Ringling has a show devoted to Storytelling: French Art from The Horvitz Collection. On display from September 9th thru December 2nd there will be 60 drawings, 10 prints for book illustration and 10 paintings created between the 16th and 19th centuries, giving a rich overview of the narrative tradition in French art. More info at www.Ringling.org. The main museum has a policy of free admission each Monday. On September 22, the Ringling, and other participating museums across the country, celebrate Smithsonian magazine Museum Day Live!. On this day
So you and your friends had a really good time on Saturday night but when you woke up Sunday morning you had a drumming in your head? That’s to be expected if you party too much or too late. But if you still have that rhythm pounding away come Sunday evening, it’s not from the night before, it’s from the Sunday Drum Circle on Siesta Beach. Every Sunday, starting about one hour before sundown, people commence to gather on the beach, just south of the main pavilion. A number of conga and bongo drums materialize and the drumming gets under way. No one is truly sure how it all came into being but this musical event has outlasted the Energizer Bunny - it just keeps on going. When the music begins, the circle starts to form and grows larger and larger. Snare drums and other percussive instruments make their entrance, as do more and more people. In the center of the circle the dancers begin. Some just sway while others start to gyrate and twirl their hula hoops. Everyone participates in their own way. Some dance, some drum, some weave around the others looking at the costumes and lack thereof, while others sit in their beach chairs and simply observe. And there is always something to see. One year the police (yes, there is proactive crowd control keeping everyone happy) were seen to escort an exotic dancer off the beach, with her even more exotic boa constrictor decoratively draped around her shoulders (no pets allowed on the beach without a leash). As the evening progresses and the sun slowly sets far in the distance, some dancers bring out their LED ribbon lights to add an even more festive glow to the evening. And some of the attendees have their own glow on, but that is from other substances. Multiple percussion instruments abound and the rhythm subtly changes, ebbs and swells. Everything and everyone is peaceful and calm. A wonderful warming experience as the heat of the day subtly changes and ebbs away.
Continued from page 14
At that point, he did not want to offer a definitive date for when the restaurant would open its doors. “We’re hoping for August,” he added with a laugh. Siesta business partners Jim Syprett and Jay Lancer purchased the Jo-To parcel on May 1, 2017 for $1,350,000 and then took a few months to decide on their new tenant. In the meantime, they began remodeling the building. On Aug. 29, 2017, county staff received a permit application for the reconstruction; the permit was issued on Oct. 4, 2017 for the creation of a new front façade, new plumbing and electrical systems and a new air conditioning system. The permit was modified in February of this year to include interior renovations specifically for Ripfire, county records show. “Rough” inspections and then final inspections of the gas and mechanical systems and the plumbing began in June and were wrapping up in early August, the permitting records said. The structure failed its final commercial electrical inspection on Aug. 10, however. Asked if any issues in particular had contributed to the long timeline for the work, Escalera responded, “Anybody who knows construction can tell you,” things usually do not happen as fast as an owner would like. For one thing, Escalera continued, the original building was old. (Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records note it dates to 1974.) During construction, Escalera said, workers had to contend with some unexpected situations. “The building was completely, 100% renovated,” he pointed out. Nonetheless, Escalera added, “It’s going to be probably the prettiest restaurant on the Key” when those doors open for business. The restaurant is located at 5218 Ocean Blvd.
Waiting mode in Big Pass case
Because the Siesta Key Association (SKA) had no meeting in July, the August session gave Vice President Catherine Luckner the opportunity to bring members up-to-date on the status of the nonprofit’s latest legal challenge to try to prevent the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass. The SKA was awaiting the filing of supplementary material by its own attorney and then responses from the City of Sarasota and the Lido Key Residents Association (LKRA) in a 12th Judicial Circuit Court case, following a July 23 public hearing. The SKA filed a verified complaint in March 2017, arguing that the City of Sarasota violated Sarasota County’s Comprehensive Plan by not seeking county approval of the proposed sand removal from Big Pass to renourish about 1.6 miles of South Lido Key Beach. The Thursday night before the July 23 hearing, Luckner said, the city’s outside counsel — John R. Herin of GrayRobinson in Fort Lauderdale — filed an amended Motion to Dismiss the SKA complaint. It added up to 301 pages, including exhibits and a copy of the city’s original, April 2017 Motion to Dismiss in the case, based on the records kept by the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. Kent Safriet of the Tallahassee law firm Hopping Green & Sams, was out of the office that week, Luckner continued. “He actually came and stayed here that weekend” before the July 23 hearing, she continued, so he could work on his response to the city’s action. What is unusual about the city’s amended motion, Luckner told the approximately 20 people at the SKA meeting, is “It appears that the city is attempting to require that the county enter into this conversation.”
The SKA’s complaint is termed “verified,” she explained, because it deals only with facets of the applicable law. Therefore, any response has to stay “within the four corners” of what has been filed, she added, referring to other legal terminology. Yet, the city was arguing — as of July 19, she noted — that the county “is an indispensable party” to the case. Last year, she pointed out, the city did not want the county involved. Circuit Court Judge Andrea McHugh laughed at one point during the July 23 hearing, Luckner added, when Safriet told her, “‘This is kind of a political hot potato.’ … He told the truth on that one, and I think she agreed.” “We’re not asking for the county to be interviewed or deposed,” she continued. “We are very certain that we have the basis and the foundation to be heard.” When Alexandra Coe of Sarasota, a candidate for the District 2 County Commission seat and a guest at the SKA meeting, asked what the SKA would like for the county to do, Luckner replied, “Uphold their own Comprehensive Plan. … There’s two areas that we’d like to see removed from the borrow area list for sand,” Luckner added. “They’re not necessary; we know that from an engineering standpoint, and, also, the Comprehensive Plan indicates that the city does not have the right to dredge without agreement from and quasi-judicial oversight of the county.” Luckner was referring to Borrow Area B, which is close to the northern part of Siesta Key, and the easternmost 1,200 feet of Borrow Area C. In issuing the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a permit for the dredging of Big Pass for the Lido project, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Secretary Noah Valenstein ruled on June 18 that those areas could not be touched from April to September. Continued on page 31
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Off Key
941.349.0194
SEPTEMBER 2018
By Robert Frederickson
From iRide’s Slide to Media Miss on Red Tide Sarasota’s ‘Gotcha’ Moment? The City of Sarasota spent $300k over the past year to bring the Gotcha iRide service to town. The company’s cute little blue and white stretched golf cart-like vehicles circle downtown offering free rides to any and all. They’ve been a big hit with the city’s homeless population, but have garnered little more than yawns from the rest of us. So the city is cutting its losses and not renewing its contract with the company. The original thinking behind the city’s $300k investment: To reduce traffic and free up parking spaces downtown, all in furtherance of its fervent devotion to the mantra of ‘sustainability,’ (whatever that means...). But in the end, it turns out the plan just wasn’t... well...sustainable. $300,000 here, $300,000 there...pretty soon you’re talking about real money. My question is this: Couldn’t the city’s Sustainability Manager (a real thing) have seen this coming, oh, say about $300,000 ago?
“Survey Says...” A recent survey found that 47% of our time is now spent interacting with our technology, i.e. smart phones, computers, tablets and the like... which just might explain why we’re having such a hard time interacting with one another...especially the youngest members of society who often seem positively stymied by the most basic forms of human interaction.
Anna Maria a ‘Million Dollar’ City? Almost... A new Zillow.com report expects the city of Anna Maria to be among 23 municipalities nationwide to reach the lofty status of having a median home value of $1 million sometime over the next year. Anna Maria is the only Florida city being added to the list this year. The current median value for the island community is $964,200 according to Zillow and is expected to reach $1,049,404 within the next 12 months. No area cities are on the full list (i.e. the one that includes those added this year and in previous ones), but there are four listed in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area, where Fisher Island off downtown Miami is at the top of the heap with a median home value of $3.2 million.
Too Close for Comfort? Sarah Klum of North Port got an unwelcome surprise one recent morning when she saw something out of the corner of her eye in the garage as she was heading off to work. That something turned out to be a snake; but not just any snake, rather a deadly five-foot long eastern diamondback rattler.
She rushed outside through the open garage door and quickly called her husband who was inside watching after their young daughter. A call to Sarasota County Animal Control was quickly answered and the responding officers thankfully caught the snake and removed it from the garage where they surmised it had gone to seek shelter from recent rains. The next part of the story threw me for a loop though. As reported by WWSB television, instead of taking the rattler to oh, I don’t know, Cincinnati maybe...well, the officers released it into the woods across the street from the Klum home. Now I’m no Marlin Perkins, but I do know that most creatures, warm blooded or cold, are territorial by nature. And for whatever reason, that snake thought the Klum’s garage belonged to him (or her... don’t want to offend the personal pronoun police along with all the animal rights folks I’m about to send into orbit). I remember reading (as an impressionable youth) Edward Abbey’s narrative “Desert Solitaire” recounting the writer’s time as a park ranger in Arches National Park in Utah in the 1950s. One day he discovered a rattler had taken up residence under the floorboards of his raised cabin. Ardent and reflexive environmentalist that he was, Abbey undertook the dangerous task of capturing the serpent and removing it some distance from his living quarters...only to have it return. Another extraction, another return. Finally a dose of reality set in, cutting through the Disneyesque vision of the natural world he had brought with him to the tough, hardscrabble landscape of the high desert. And so a shotgun was dispatched and soon thereafter that rattler was on its way to kingdom come. Which would be just about the right distance for me, were I in the Klum’s position with a threeyear-old child playing in that front yard...or perhaps some day wandering off into those woods.
WORD LIST ROBERT BLLARD WORD LIST CHALLENGING ROBERT BLLARD CONDITIONING CHALLENGING JAMES CAMERON CONDITIONING JAMES COOK JAMES CAMERON JACQUES COUSTEAU JAMES COOK DECOMPRESSION JACQUES COUSTEAU DIVE DECOMPRESSION SYLVIA EARLE DIVE EDUCATION VAGN SYLVIAEKMAN EARLE ENGINEERING EDUCATION EXPERIENCE VAGN EKMAN EXPERTISE ENGINEERING EXPLORER EXPERIENCE GEOGRAPHIC EXPERTISE GEOGRAPHY EXPLORER GPS GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT GEOGRAPHY LOMBARDI GPS NAVY HABITAT PICCARD JACQUES PRESSURES LOMBARDI PRODUCTIVE NAVY REEF JACQUES PICCARD SPECIALIZE PRESSURES STUDY PRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY REEF TOOL SPECIALIZE WATER
STUDY Answers on Page 53 TECHNOLOGY TOOL
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Ocean Explorer
Ocean Explorer
Continued on page 38
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Wake & Shake
Speaking of WWSB, the station’s co-anchor Jacqueline Mattes strikes me as a personable young woman who clearly enjoys her job and works enthusiastically to excel at it. I’m sure she has a rewarding and successful career ahead of her. But toward that end, someone simply has to explain to her that baseball scores are measured in ‘runs,’ not ‘points.’ Part of the appeal of tuning into the evening news each night is to hear something new; but being informed “The Rays beat the Yankees by ‘one point,’” doesn’t qualify. The station dropped its sports anchor – the last to fill that chair being the colorful Don Brennan – now with SNN, during the Great recession. But given the rebounding economy, isn’t it time to revisit that decision? I’m sure Jacqueline wouldn’t mind.
MarinerWord Search Answers on page 37 MarinerWord Search
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
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ACCOMMODATIONS PAGE 39 HOMES FOR SALE PAGE 31 SIESTA KEY MARKET STATS PAGE 35 SAND CASTLES PAGE 34
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: 4011 SHELL RD., SOLD FOR: $5,675,000 This property is set on nearly an acre on the coveted north end of Siesta Key directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Incredible sunset views over the calm blue Gulf waters is what this property offers. Completed in 2007 by premier Sarasota luxury homebuilder Perrone Construction, Inc. this estate was built to provide the perfect backdrop for indulgent relaxation or lavish entertaining both inside and out. Eight open porches and patios, a pool with waterfall, lounging area, spa, and slide highlight the exterior features. Inside there are five bedrooms, five full and four half baths, living/dining rooms, kitchen, family room, home theater and a two-story office. Direct beach access. This property was sold as bank owned. The sale of this property came to $616.71 a square foot. Courtesy of Premier Sothebys. HIGHEST PRICED CONDO: 6342 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #121: SOLD FOR: $1,330,000 Rarely available direct beach front townhouse at desirable Midnight Cove. Extended living room with slider doors open to the gulf air and outstanding views of Crescent Beach and Gulf of Mexico. This is like your own house on the beach! Living, dining, kitchen, laundry area and
LOWEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTY: 5208 WINDING WAY, SOLD FOR: $476,000 Enjoy this island lifestyle in this “like-new� newly remodeled 3 bedroom/2 bath home on Siesta Key. NEW roof, A/C and water heater, as well as upgraded electrical and plumbing. Upgraded kitchen with quartz countertops, all new appliances and beautifully redone baths. Winding Way is a private, canopied, oak-lined road offering peace and quiet. Siesta Key beach is just a short bike ride or walk away or head into the Village for shopping and dining. The sale of this property came out to $343.93 a square foot. Courtesy of Premier Sothebys.
LOWEST PRICED CONDO: 116 VISTA HERMOSA CIR, #204C: SOLD FOR: $255,000 Best price for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo on Siesta Key.... 2nd floor....Elevator and laundry (plus storage closet) across from unit....Glass enclosed porch for extra space....Newer refrigerator and hot water heater....Walk in closets in both bedrooms.... Bldg. C in rear of complex....Vista Hermosa is conveniently located just south of the Stickney Point Bridge....A short walk to the beach and beautiful Gulf waters, as well as Crescent Village....Offering a heated swimming pool, shuffleboard, gas grill and clubhouse w/kitchen for functions....Some new upgrades being done during summer months....Great investment opportunity with a 2 week minimum on rentals, up to 26 times a year.... Pets welcome. The sale came out to $283.33 a square foot. Courtesy of Re/Max.
half bath on main level. Second floor offers two master suites with small balcony overlooking pool area and large balcony off beach front master suite with more breathtaking views! Excellent income opportunity and unit with onsite rental program. Pet friendly for owners. Property expands beach to bay. Two heated pools, two tennis courts, gas grills and picnic areas, gulf side restrooms, exercise room, boat docks and fishing, private beach with chairs, umbrellas and beach attendant. The sale on this unit came out to $867.58 a square foot. Courtesy of Waterside.
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Continued from page 28
On that point, he upheld the recommendation of Administrative Law Judge Bram D.E. Canter, filed on May 8 after Canter weighed expert testimony and evidence in a Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) proceeding held in Sarasota in December 2017. One of the expert witnesses for the SKA and Save Our Siesta Sand 2 testified during the DOAH proceeding that spotted sea trout spawn in those two areas of the pass between April and September each year. Following Canter’s release of his Recommended Order, the SKA filed Exceptions in the DOAH proceeding, asking that FDEP eliminate the two sand borrow areas altogether from the city/ USACE list. That effort, as illustrated by Valenstein’s decision, was not successful. “It was declined quite aggressively by the city,” Luckner said of the SKA’s request in the Exceptions. “I was surprised in a way, because I would have thought if they wanted to do some friendly dickering about the whole situation, that would have been an easy thing for them to do, easy because they don’t need the sand in one of those areas and easy because the 1,200 feet where we have the seagrass has very little sand it.”
“One of the things that tells me,” she continued, “is that it’s more than about the sand, because it would have been easy to give those borrow areas up. … That was our ‘tell.’” In response to another question, Luckner said, “I would like to see the county commissioners implement their Comprehensive Plan. If they would veto the dredging of Big Pass, that would be great. They’ve not been asked, and they probably don’t want to be asked at this point …” After all, she noted, the county commissioners represent city of Sarasota residents, as well. “It’s a very difficult situation.” Then Luckner brought up a scenario related to County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh’s assertion on July 10 that the environmental policy in the county Comprehensive Plan which has been the foundation of the SKA’s verified complaint does not deal with public dredging initiatives. Does that mean, Luckner asked, that if the City of Miami comes up with “a really great idea” and wants to haul sand away from a Sarasota County waterway for a public project, “we can’t say anything?”
Gulf Gate shop now offering CBD products Wild Ginger Apothecary is Sarasota’s Community for Health + Wellness. The Apothecary has been successfully providing sustainable, ethically produced and non-toxic products for beauty, home and nutrition to the health conscious consumers of Sarasota since October of 2014. Wild Ginger Apothecary also offers classes and workshops for a variety of audiences on topics that cover lifestyle, creativity, health and more in the Studio + Lounge. The shop now features a CBD Boutique area featuring hundreds of hemp oil CBD products. Wild Ginger Apothecary: Studio + Lounge community for health + wellness; Nicole Leffler, Owner. 6557 Superior Avenue 34231, 941.312.5630 www.wildgingerapothecary.com
Save Our Siesta Sand 2 formally demands an Environmental Impact Statement for the Lido Beach nourishment project On August 14, 2018 Save Our Siesta Sand 2 formally demanded of the Army Corps of
Engineers to conduct a full analysis of the contemplated Lido Key beach nourishment project in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement (commonly referred to as an “EIS”), providing the Corps one last chance to fully examine the consequences of dredging a pristine ecosystem before commencing with legal action. The dredging project is one of the largest contemplated in the State of Florida. It spans a 5 decade time frame and seeks to dredge 1.3 million cubic yards from Big Sarasota Pass. “Given the sheer size of the project and the fact that it contemplates dredging an area that has never been dredged before, there are many unanswered questions about the impacts to not only the natural ecosystem, but also the local economy that depends on tourists flocking to Siesta Key’s famous white sand beaches” noted attorney Jane West who is making the formal demand and simultaneously preparing to file suit in federal court. “We don’t expect the Corps to do the right thing here – which we view as a legal obligation to thoroughly examine the economic, environmental and navigational consequences of this dredging project in Big Sarasota Pass.” Continued on page 32
Paradise Awaits... LDeks! O S e
2 In
195 Vista Hermosa Circle, #9-A Sarasota, FL
Just a short walk to Siesta Beach. 2 BR, 2 BA villa. Ideal rental opportunity. Custom wood cabinets in the kitchen with granite counters & upgraded appliances. Bathrooms boast tumbled marble & granite. Custom lighting. New A/C in 2017 and recently installed water heater. Roof replaced in 2016. Sold turnkey furnished (with some exclusions).
450,000
$
797 Beach Road, #305 499,900
757 Beach Rd Unit #412 Sarasota, FL
FULL GULF VIEW...PRICED TO SELL...EXCELLENT INCOME WITH GROWTH POTENTIAL...WEEKLY RENTALS!!..Fall in love with this 2 BR, 2 BA 4th Floor CORNER UNIT!! Turnkey furnished. Crescent Royale offers onsite rental program/management, heated pool, lounge, pool table and recently upgraded exercise facility. Conveniently located across from Public Beach. Just a short walk to dining & nightlife of Siesta Village. Stuffing Gulf view. Check this one out, you will be impressed.
665,000
$
322 Island Circle
Sarasota, FL
Full Gulf view of #1 Beach in the USA. Completely remodeled, priced to sell! High end tile floors in main living area, quality custom kitchen cabinets, deisgner kitchen. Crescent Royale offers an onsite rental program, heated pool and much more!
$
W
Sarasota, 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.
899,000
$
Tropical Sands Dan D. Miller 941-376-7442 Licensed Real Estate Professional
ddm1@comcast.net
Service. Integrity. Results.
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“We are very excited to have new Trolleys with distinctive bright colors for tourists and locals to recognize easily,” says Kendra Keiderling from SCAT. “The new Breeze Trolleys have low kneeling steps for easy access, open air circulation in the back and A/C in the front. The new vender is C.P.R. Medical Transportation. The staff will be local for hands on support.”
Because the project is considered “major federal action” under the National Environmental Policy Act, a comprehensive analysis of the effects must be thoroughly analyzed. So far, several Environmental Analyses (“EA”) have been performed, but they are dated. While the Corps may be working to update the EA, the level of review in such an update fails to take the requisite “hard look” at the effects of a Project
in the same manner that an EIS contemplates. Sarasota County previously made a demand for an EIS but the request fell on deaf ears. “We have seen numerous instances where the Army Corps has caused serious and irreparable environmental damage despite what their models predicted. We must prevent this damage from happening to Siesta Key and we are speaking for thousands of Siesta Key residents, visitors and business owners who feel the same way.” stated Peter van Roekens, Chairman of Save our Siesta Sand 2.
Invitations declined
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Vice President Catherine Luckner also noted during the August SKA meeting that she had emailed Commissioners Alan Maio and Charles Hines about the SKA’s July 23 hearing, asking that they consider attending it or — if neither was able to do so — that they send “designated County Staff.” In that July 9 email, a copy of
which county Communications staff provided, Luckner wrote that the hearing was set from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on July 23. “This doesn’t involve any testimony,” she pointed out. Maio — who represents Siesta Key as part of his District 4 territory — replied, “Unfortunately, I’m out of town for a few days beginning the evening of 7/19.” Hines wrote, “Thanks but no I will not be available then as I will be out of town. Also I will not be attending the hearing as the County is not in this case.” Luckner did extend her appreciation on Aug. 2 to the many SKA members who attended the July 23 hearing. She noted that it was the largest turnout for any of the legal proceedings the nonprofit has pursued, including the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings proceeding held in Sarasota in December 2017.
Connie Lewis moves to a new location
Connie Lewis, LMT and Aesthetician, formerly of Massage Experience Siesta Key, is pleased to announce her new location at Spalypso. She continues to offer therapeutic massages and her popular facial sculpting at her new location, just as she’s done the past 20+ years at the spa she’s owned and managed in Davidson’s Plaza in the Village. Call 941-350-7495 to receive the high-level service her loyal customers have come to expect. Spalypso is located at 7037 S. Tamiami Trail Suite C,
34231. MM33422 MA17597
Checking the beach for Red Tide Some of our beaches are experiencing red tide and fish kill. So before you head out to a beach you may want to visit the following website for the most up-to-date conditions: visitbeaches.org
Plaza Mexico coupons If you love Mexican food, it’s time to visit Plaza Mexico. Plaza Mexico is offering two discount coupons, $5 off for Dinner and $3 off for lunch. Take advantage of the coupons located on page 5 of this month’s edition. Plaza Mexico is located in the Southbridge Plaza, 1894 Stickney Point Road.
Big Water Fish Market to open a Village store The one of kind popular fish market /restaurant located in the Crescent Plaza on the south end of Siesta Key is opening a second location in the former Donut Experiment at 217 Avenida Madera, sandwiched between Solórzano’s Pizzeria and SubZero, target date sometime in September. Big Water Fish Market opened its doors 6 years ago and has been a popular destination for local residents and visitors since it opened. The restaurant is located at 6641 Midnight Pass Road, open 7 days a week. www.bigwaterfishmarket.com 941-554-8101.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
AT THE BEACH
Obvious watermelon fans, Chloe (7) and Harper Hendrick (4) of Uestis, FL enjoying all that Siesta Beach has to offer while their brother competes in a recent volleyball tournament
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Photos by Trebor Britt
Sophia (5) and Andrea (12) of Livingston, NJ with their sandcastle masterpiece along the shoreline of incredible Siesta Beach. On their second visit this week, Andrea said, “I love the sand, it’s so soft, and the Gulf, it’s so pretty.”
South Bridge Apartments Have New Owner By Rachel Brown Hackney On July 18, a Fort Lauderdale-based limited liability company, MRI South Bridge, paid $1,475,000 for the South Bridge Apartments at 1648 Redwood St. in Sarasota, Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records show. The 32,260-square-foot parcel has six buildings with a total of 13 dwelling units on it. The site is located in Pine Shores Estates between Beechwood and Elmwood avenues; it is just north of Stickney Point Road’s intersection with Avenue D. The seller was Omega Investment Properties, which paid $1,450,000 for the property in early January 2005, the Property Appraiser’s Office records show. The total taxable value of the property this year is $1,122,000, the records say. The oldest two structures on the land — which are one story each — date to 1950. Three others, which are two stories each, were built in 1952. The last building was constructed in 1973, the Property Appraiser’s Office records note, and it has two stories, as well. The registered agent for MR South Bridge LLC is Kevin M. Coffey of Fort Lauderdale, according to the Florida Division of Corporations. The manager of the company is William D. Evans Jr. of Littleton. Colo., the records noted. MRI South Bridge LLC was registered with the state on June 14. In conjunction with the purchase, MRI South Bridge borrowed money from Guaranty Bank and Trust Co. in Denver, according to a mortgage filed with the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. The registered agent for Omega Investment Properties is Susan L. Saltalamacchia, who has a Flamingo Avenue address on Siesta.
• Windows • Doors • Glass • Repair 4384 Independence Court Sarasota, Florida 34234
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Perfect Location and Well-Kept, at Peppertree By Roger Drouin With a beautiful Beach-to-Bay location, two pools, fishing pier, deeded beach access, tennis courts, clubhouse overlooking the beach, and other amenities, Peppertree Bay is one the Key’s best-loved complexes. The community has 362, two and three bedroom units. It features a variety of floor plans, including garden villas, town homes, and highrise (six floor) buildings. Condos are spread throughout 16 acres of lushly landscaped grounds, and the complex provides both private access to the soft powdery beaches of Crescent Beach and Siesta Key and boating on the Intracoastal Waterway. “Peppertree property is really well kept,” says Dennis Oralls, who purchased and completely renovated a Gulfside tower unit with his wife in March, 2017. “They really stay on top of everything. Most communities on the Key do, but it really stood out to us how well they care for the property at Peppertree.” The central mid-Key location, on Crescent Beach, as well as the more-uncommon garage parking cinched the deal for the Orallses. “Peppertree is one of the more sought after communities on Siesta Key,” Realtor Bob Ruiz, of Key Solutions Real Estate tells Siesta Sand. “It has tremendous amenities, is very well maintained, offers a successful rental policy for those who wish to offer their units to renters, and onsite management.” Its location affords easy access to either the north or south bridge onto the island — as well as proximity to restaurants, shopping, and activities, says Ruiz, who has an upgraded, two-bedroom unit in one of the high-rise buildings listed for sale. Prices are on the rise, in Peppertree, as is the case across the Key, and the unit price-per-square foot for recent sales and listings fluctuates based upon location in the complex, view, and the level of unit renovation. About half or more of the units have been renovated. Many of the upgrades are extensive and have exceeded $150,000, Ruiz tells Siesta Sand. Peppertree Bay has onsite management, and they do an excellent job, Ruiz says. “The HOA itself completes several projects per year for beautification in the community,” Ruiz says. “Most recently they converted all the asphalt to pavers and had the garage floor redone under the building.” The community has a one-month rental minimum. “With the community being right on Crescent beach and a pool and fitness center beachside it’s a haven for rental tenants,” Ruiz says. “They make excellent investment properties but are not overly transient so personal use is enjoyed as well.” The Orallses renovation of the two-bedroom, two bath tower unit was expansive. They opened the kitchen and ceiling completely up, so there is a bright and open feel to the unit now. They also enclosed the lanai, so that adds to the overall square footage. The previous owners and their family might have been the original owners of the unit that was built in 1974, Dennis Oralls believes. “We literally stripped down to the skeleton, raised the ceilings and changed layout and make it a much more efficient space.” “There is an openness” to the unit now, he adds. The Oralls stay at Peppertree as often as they can now, and they do rent out the unit. But they plan to spend more time on Siesta in the coming years. Carol Oralls has already retired, and the couple, based in Upstate New York plans to spend Christmas through April at Peppertree once Dennis retires. “We wanted to pick a place where we would be comfortable staying for an extended stay,” he tells Siesta Sand. “We had a longer-term vision for us to be there seasonally.”
Listings: • Bob and Sheri Ruiz, relators with Key Solutions Real Estate, have a two bedroom, two bath unit listed for $449,000. At 1,456 square-feet, the listing comes out to $309 a square foot. The first-floor unit is on the Gulf side of the complex and just steps to the beach. This larger unit has been “beautifully renovated,” with some of the upgrades including new tile flooring in the foyer, living, dining and kitchen areas. According to the MLS listing, the large lanai with new hurricane rated windows lets in an abundance of light and provides space for office/dining/ relaxation. Bathrooms have also been updated with new vanities. A large in-unit laundry room and ample closets add great storage space. The HVAC system has been recently replaced. Underbuilding parking is convenient to the secure elevators. “It is larger as are most of the units in the high rise buildings,” says Ruiz. “This particular unit is the split floor plan model with ensuite bedrooms on either side of the unit. The unit fronts Midnight Pass and overlooks beautiful green space. It’s a short walk to the beach and very close to the garden pool.” • Another unit was pending (as of press time) with a listing price of $649,000. This unit has two bedrooms, and two baths, at 1,115 squarefeet. According to the MLS listing. At this price point, the listing works out to $582 a square foot. The “truly one-of-a-kind custom-finished waterfront condo offering full expansive views of Roberts Bay on Siesta Key. “The unit has a “coastal inspired, open, and spacious design” and has been remodeled with high quality finishes. The kitchen features custom-made solid wood cabinetry with soft close doors and drawers, granite counter tops, reverse osmosis water filtering system, and stainless steel appliances. Throughout the residence, high quality touches are abundant, low E insulated impact sliding glass doors and windows, porcelain wood-look tile flooring throughout, decorative wainscoting panels, and a custom-built entertainment center featuring a fireplace. This residence also was recently updated with a new roof in 2018, new dishwasher, washer, and dryer. Recent Sales: • A two-bedroom, second floor, light and bright condo unit sold for $489,000, or $452 a square foot, in July, 2018. The unit has 1,083 square feet and two baths. According to the MLS listing, the renovated, turnkey unit featured elegant finishes throughout. The renovated kitchen includes: high end cabinets; a paneled, counter depth refrigerator; accent lighting; and a contrasting dark granite. Owner’s ensuite and second full bath have floor-to-ceiling porcelain tile. During renovation, the lanai was enclosed “to expand the living space, but is still a source of natural light and peaceful views of the pond and gorgeous banyan trees and plush landscaping.” • A few months previous, in April, 2018, another two bedroom, firstfloor unit sold for $435,000. The renovated unit also has an enclosed lanai. Recently renovated in 2016, the unit includes new kitchen and appliances, washer/dryer, bathrooms, flooring, paint and more. • A rarely-available top second floor unit sold for $570,000 in August, 2018. The two-bedroom unit has 1,180 square feet and a direct view of the Intracoastal Waterway and Roberts Bay. This sale came out to $504 a square foot. Open floor plan features a large living room and dining room, tile throughout except for the 2 bedrooms, new ceiling fans, new airconditioning unit (2016,) new roof in 2018, custom blinds, washer/ dryer, private garage and more. The screened porch has new panel windows and new hurricane slider doors.
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Blooming This Month
Snippets For Your Garden What is a floral designer doing talking about plants and gardening…first of all, one must Grow it to Show it. Secondly, one never passes up an article about growing and planting in the South when one is not originally from here! Southern Living has the best Home and Garden pages for all parts of the South. To share their latest ideas for containers of the month, would be most helpful to the new arrival and the tried and true gardener. This time of year, our gardens, planters and containers look a little frazzled, and tired. Shall we say the bloom is off the rose. To perk up an outdoor, patio, or balcony area find some sun shy plants at the local nursery. Look for cool leafy greens that will withstand the remaining heat of August and September. Southern Living suggested
varieties such as arrowhead vine, ‘illustris ‘elephant ear, ‘limelight dracaena, and caladiums. It was noted that these can be put into a tall container that should be watered slowly to be sure that the plant roots absorb the moisture. Outside, on a patio, or balcony or in the house, this makes for an interesting display. If these are not readily available, ask the nursery for their other suggestions. These varieties can handle about on hour of early morning sun and will thrive in indirect light all day. It is fun to create a new planter to tide over the rest of the summer season. Yes, I have learned that there really are seasons in Florida… Of course, if you are a fan of Southern Living, there is a column not to be missed by the Grumpy Gardener that is always a hoot and quite spot on for growing problems here in our neck of the woods. He discusses aphids, Japanese beetles, crepe myrtles and moth orchids
Looking Better
Continued from page 21
Landscaping in the Village falls short, he adds. Native cabbage palms and royal palms would add shade. “Every inch of that sidewalk, every inch, should be covered with shade,” Holderness told Siesta Sand. “Current tree planting provide little shade, leave a mess, and aren’t native,” Holderness says. Although Holderness believes a lot more can be done to keep the Village pristine, the county and SKVMC new approach has scored some points with the critic. Holderness believes the employee for Greenscapes, who handles trash pickup, typically five days a week, is doing an excellent job. But Holderness thinks the level of service can go one step further. “He is really nice and always smiling,” Holderness says. “But I could see him [and other maintenance employees] come down with a super nice cart — with Chamber of Commerce visitor fliers — that doesn’t look like a garbage cart. He can tell people what there is to do. Maybe if there is red tide, he can say Mote Marine is having this event. He can be promoting different reasons for a family or couple to stay and to come back.”
this month. Just reading the article gives one an appreciation for growing and knowing about plants and gardens plus a few chuckles to boot. It is amazing to see how prolific and beautiful everything grows with the abundance of rain and heat that happens here in the South every summer. Come to the Sarasota Botanical Gardens any day and see our lush gardens that our Friday morning group weeds, feeds and maintains and continues to create more beautiful areas. The grounds are kept up by our members all year round. Visitors are always welcome. Kudos to these guys and gals who work out in the heat and rain to keep our grounds looking summer sharp. Also, be sure to visit our gardens in all their glory and come to the Sarasota Garden Club Flower Show and Plant Sale on Saturday, October 13, 9-4 to see what is really meant by you must Grow it to Show it. Submitted by Barbara Rao, Master Floral Designer, Sarasota Garden Club www.sarasotagardenclub.org
SIESTA KEY 2019 SEASONAL BEACH RENTAL AVAILABLE (Minimum 1 month)
Contact Linda Stowe
Broker Associate, Michael Saunders & Co.
941-228-5685
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Classifieds / Here’s My Card ACCOMMODATIONS / VACATION RENTALS
CONTRACTORS
• Best Western Plus Siesta Key – AAA -3 Diamond Property, Free shuttle service to and from Siesta Key 941-924-4900, 6600 S. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
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LANDINGS RESIDENT OWNED AND OPERATED
• Hawk’s Nest Construction Inc. is a certified Class A general contractor licensed in all phases of construction. Owner, Mark Hawkins Sr. personally oversees every aspect of your project from start to finish, using only the best and most reliable licensed artisan and craftsmen. His passion is delighting his clients by turning their home-improvement dreams into a beautiful reality. Call 941-650-9499 or visit their website: www.hawksnestconstruction.com.
BOATING RENTALS / FISHING CHARTERS
Having Fun Fishing in The Sun
1922 Bay Rd., Sarasota
LIGHTING
• Custom Lampshades • Recovering • Lighting Components LIZ MARTIN 3519 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd. • Sarasota, FL 34234
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Veteran Owned Business
• CB’s Saltwater Outfitters – CB’s Saltwater Outfitters is an ORVIS Endorsed Outfitter Fishing Charter Service serving Siesta Key as well as Longboat Key, Lido Key, Sarasota, and Venice. Our veteran guides offer exciting Fishing Adventures for anglers of all ages from novice to the expert. See our website: www.CBsOutfitters.com or stop in their store for additional info. 1240 Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key. (941)349-4400.
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• Quality Screening, Window & Door Inc. Windows • Doors • Glass • Repair, 4384 Independence Court, Sarasota, 34234 (941) 953-2670. CGC 1505896 / CBC 1250402 • Wilson Windows is a State Certified General Contractor specializing in glass porch enclosures and window replacement. They offer only top quality products installed by professionally trained technicians. All projects are engineered and permitted to meet the new state building codes related to impact, water infiltration and high velocity windload calculations. Their services include window repair, new custom screens, glass cut to size, and hard to find window parts inventory at both locations. Fully insured and their work is guaranteed. 941-921-1113, www. wilson-window.com.
MEDICAL
Dermatology Skin CanCer laSer, Botox anD Hair/nail DiSorDerS 1952 Field Road Sarasota, Florida 34231
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DRY CLEANERS Sailing From Marina Jack, Sarasota
Kathleen D Sailing Catamaran 941-896-6400
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• Siesta Key Marina Located at 1265 Old Stickney Point Rd, Siesta Key, has been serving Sarasota boaters and fishermen since 1961. A staple in the Sarasota boating community, offering 243 dry storage racks, a full service ship store, onsite boat service, boat rentals, bait, fuel, fishing tackle and more. 941-349-1970
CHURCH SERVICES • WEDNESDAY CHURCH - Traditional worship every Wednesday at 6 PM. Committed to reaching 55+ Widows, Widowers, Veterans, Singles, and Adults. 7811 Kennedy Ln., Sarasota, FL 34240. Pastor Trebor Britt, 941320-4309. SJG5232@verizon.net
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MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
HOUSE WATCH
CLEANING SERVICES
Green Magic Cleaning Service
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A family owned business with 16 years of experience.
• High quality services • Competitive rates • Great references • Always the same crew www.SarasotaHouseCleaningService.com
GreenMagicCleaning@gmail.com Call for a FREE estimate today!
(941) 780-4248
Insured, Bonded and Licensed by The National Home Watch Association.
(941) 961-4309
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REAL ESTATE AGENTS
HELENE M. HYLAND
Affordable and Dependable Service Solutions For Your Home While You Are Away
REALTOR®
(941) 685-2274 Cell (941) 349-4411 Office (800) 237-9403 Toll Free (941) 349-8090 Fax HeleneHyland@comcast.net
COMPUTER SERVICES
BUY - SELL - TRADE - REPAIR SAME QUALITY - BETTER VALUE Pre-Owned Mac® Computers iPhone® and iPad® Mobile Digital Device Repair Computer Upgrades - Memory, Batteries, More
4858 S. Tamiami Trl. Sarasota, FL 34231 941-922-7790 WE TAKE THE RISK OUT OF BUYING A USED COMPUTER!
R. BRuce Whittinghill, llc (941) 955-1864
Call or e-mail sarasotabruce1@housewatchsrq.com housewatchsrq.com for quotes and references Serving SaraSota and Surrounding areaS Since 1979
5145 Ocean Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34242 Owned and Operated by NRT, LLC
Place your classified ad here for $6. (15 words) and $.10 for each additional word. Copy must be submitted with payment on or before the 15th of the month prior to publication.
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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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SEPTEMBER 2018
Classifieds
community with boat docks, kayak racks and dock, tennis, pool, spa, sauna, beautiful clubhouse, island gazebo with grilling, and more. MLS# A4401699, $349,999. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz. Bob: 941-544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • THE POINTE Renovated 2/2 with magnificent views. North to downtown Sarasota and South to Casey Key. See beautiful Neville Preserve and Little Sarasota Bay to the East and the Gulf of Mexico with Siesta’s amazing sunsets to the West. Penthouse unit. Sold furnished. MLS# A4406101, $595,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz. Bob: 941544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • EXCELSIOR Fabulous 2/2 penthouse end unit with Bay views and private beach access! Totally renovated to include exquisite fixtures and furnishings. Soaring ceilings. Open and split floorplan. Turnkey. Great community with resortlike amenities. MLS# A4410196, $725,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz. Bob: 941544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • PEPPERTREE BAY Lovely 2/2 with new tile flooring and bathroom vanities. New hurricane rated windows all across the back of the unit on the expansive lanai. Large in-unit laundry room. Under building parking. Deeded beach access. 2 pools, tennis, fitness, clubroom. MLS# A4409909, $449,900. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz. Bob: 941544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • DOLPHIN BAY This is the one! Incredible views of the ICW and Bay. Ideal floor plan split bedrooms, huge living/dining area, 2 bedrooms each with en-suite bath, kitchen with large sitting area/ den/office. Fabulous outdoor living - large screened lanai overlooking the water and 2 patios off the front of the unit. Space for a 3rd bedroom. Walk to Siesta Beach and Village. $720,000. Key Solutions Real Estate
Olde Fashion Barber Shop 941-312-6001
Southgate Barber Shop
OFF
& Spa
7119 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, FL 34231
(Buccaneer Plaza across from Lincoln Dealership)
SENIOR SERVICES
TRANSPORTATION CONTINUED 941-928-9200
• A Bridge for Independence provides in-home companion services including companionship, transportation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and meal preparation and planning. Call us at 941-925-2433, FL License #230517
RIDE THE KEY FREE
15-20 MINUTE RESPONSE TIME (Based upon traffic)
SERVICING
Siesta Key Beach Siesta Village Turtle Beach
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
DRIVER TIPS ONLY
Restaurants and Accommodations Operating 10AM to 2AM Daily
www.JonnysOriginalFreeRide.com
Transportation for everyone on the Sun Coast Friendliest Ride In Town
Answers from Page 14
Ocean Explorer
Sarasota’s Premier “Chauffeur” Starting At Only
30 941.735.4732 $
All Ports In Florida
Stress Free • Smooth and Easy Ask for Eddie • Jonny’s Original Free Ride – The Original Ride the Key Free service on Siesta to anywhere, everyday from 10 AM – 2 AM. Driver tips only. Call 941-928-9200. • Dollar Limo – holds up to 10 people and is cheaper than a D.U.I or taxi. Call 941-735-4732
Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz. Bob: 941544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. • TRULY FABULOUS 2/2 WITH PRIVATE BEACH ACCESS. Completely renovated TOP FLOOR END UNIT with exquisite finishes and furnishings, the unit is being sold turnkey. The open floor plan with SOARING CEILINGS features a huge living room with views of the ICW and Bay. This is truly a must-see. 6285 MIDNIGHT PASS RD, #307, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS#A4410196, $725,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 8941255 • PARK-LIKE SETTING! Peppertree Bay affords a beautiful park-like waterfront setting from Beach to Bay on Siesta Key! This lovely 2 bedrooms 2 bath unit has been upgraded to include new tile flooring in the foyer, living, dining and kitchen areas. This is a great unit at a great price. 1200 E PEPPERTREE LN, #206, SARASOTA, FL 34242, MLS# A440990, $449,900, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 894-1255 • 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, $595,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 894-1255 • COMPLETE REMODEL In 2016 including new impact resistant sliding glass doors. This convenient first-floor unit features FULL HARBOR VIEWS, DEEDED BOAT SLIP, NEW, 10,000 LBS BOAT LIFT and comes TURNKEY FURNISHED! This will be the nicest property you show your Buyers on Siesta Key! 1209 DOCKSIDE PL, #103, SARASOTA, FL 34242 MLS# A4402683, $675,000, Key Solutions Real Estate, 941- 894-1255
IMPORTANT NUMBERS 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
MarinerWord Answers to theSearch WORD SEARCHwww.TheMariner.com found on page 29
TRANSPORTATION
Airport Rides
37
HOMES FOR SALE
• SHORT WALK TO SIESTA BEACH: $450,000 195 Vista Hermosa Circle, #9-A, RESTAURANTS Siesta Key, FL. MLS# A4189942 5 for $9 Lunch Specials Mon. - Fri. 11 am - 2 pm Wonderfully remodeled 2 BR, 2 BA villa. Designer tile & carpet Your Choice: throughout. This villa is being • Cheeseburger sold turnkey furnished (with some • 10 Boneless Wings exclusions). Dan Miller, Re/Max • Grilled Chicken Tropical Sands. 941-376-7442 Salad All entrees served with • FULL GULF VIEW OF • Buffalo Chicken your choice of fries, #1 BEACH: $499,900 Sandwich, baked beans (available grilled) or coleslaw. 797 Beach Rd, #305, Siesta Key, • Wraps: FL. MLS# A4188853 941.923.4666 (turkey bacon, Completely remodeled unit buffalo shrimp or 6507 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota buffalo chicken) with high end tile floors in main living area, quality custom kitchen cabinets with granite counters. All SPAS / HAIR & BEAUTY the lighting has been upgraded throughout this TURNKEY FURNISHED (some artwork excluded) unit. Dan Miller, Re/Max Tropical Sands. 941-376-7442 • PALM ISLAND HOME ON THE GRAND CANAL: $899,000 322 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 Tapers • Flattops • Fades • Styling • Razor Cuts • Shaves • SARA SANDS 3/2 remodeled and furnished ” r e h t “Hot La ranch home at the north end of Siesta Key. Easy bike to the Village and Beach. Outdoor living at its (Across from the Westfield Siesta Key Mall) best - located at the end of a canal 2081 Siesta Drive, Sarasota, FL 34239 with a great water view, dock with Walk-Ins Welcome lift, tiki hut, beautiful pool, outdoor Mon., Tues., Wed. & Fri. 9 AM-6 PM; Thurs. & Sat. 9 AM-2PM fireplace, huge screened lanai, RV www.OldStyleBarberShop.com parking! If you enjoy entertaining, this is the one! MLS #A4211194, % ANY SERVICE! $1,225,000. Key Solutions Real Estate Group, Sheri & Bob Ruiz. Bob: 941Great service...great prices! 544-3299 or Sheri: 941-400-4186. Sanitation first! • THE POINTE - Penthouse! We care about your well-being! 1/1 at the southernmost end of $ $ Regular Manicure 15 Pedicure 25 Siesta Key. Incredible 270 degree Try our DELUXE PEDICURE views of the Gulf and Bay. Large Call for an Appointment for an awesome experience! lanai. Plentiful storage in the unit 941-952-3301 YOU DESERVE IT! and on the first floor. Convenient (We do other nail services, too!) underbuilding parking. Gated
10 Summer Nails
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WELNESS HELP
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Siesta Sand
Off Key
SEPTEMBER 2018
941.349.0194
You Saw What in The Bay?
Continued from page 29
Half-Baked News... My definition of so called ‘Fake News’ isn’t as narrow as some on both the left and right who simply define it as any news with which they disagree. What makes me start talking back to the TV though is better described as ‘half-baked news,’ namely news that misleads viewers, often by conflating one really bad thing with something else that is assumed to be related in some way, despite no actual evidence being presented that it actually is. You often note examples of this when you know something about a subject through local knowledge that the broader media - based elsewhere - doesn’t when it ‘drops-in’ to cover a story playing out in your own backyard. Case in point: here on Florida’s Gulf coast we know first hand about the devastating Red Tide that has lingered along our coast for the past nine months. We also are familiar with the algae bloom on Lake Okeechobee which has sent slimy green water to both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic via the Caloosahatchee River and St. Lucie Canal, respectively. Now the national media has ‘discovered’ these stories and broadly conflated the two events, treating them in some cases as if they are the same thing. Here was the breathless report from a recent prime time edition of ABC World News: “Back now with the environmental disaster plaguing more than 100 miles of American coastline, even making it hard to breathe in some cases. It’s destroying marine life, local businesses and family vacations.” “Here’s ABC’s Victor Oquendo…” Oquendo: “This is what a marine disaster looks like. Beaches littered with dead fish, manatees, even a whale shark washing ashore.” “I’ve been here twenty years and this is probably the worst I’ve seen it,’ says an unidentified beach walker. “100-plus miles of coastline from Naples to Sarasota ravaged by what’s called ‘The Red tide.’ Residents and tourists suffering too. This family cutting their vacation short in Sarasota:” (Cut to a tourist on the beach...) “It was horrendous. There were hundreds of dead fish in the water, on the shoreline, it smelled, said Caroline Pelleya-White (visiting Sarasota with her family). The report did briefly mention that Red Tide is naturally occurring, but went on to say “but mankind is making it worse. Runoff from large farms and businesses feed the algae in Lake Okeechobee. Because of fears of dam breaks the Federal Government is forced to send that algae clogged water down rivers toward the coasts where this green slime dies in Salt Water then feeds the Red Tide bloom. (emphasis mine). All this leaving air in some places too dangerous to breathe. And if you’re swimming in an infested beach, it’s harmful if ingested. Experts say this year’s red tide could be the worst in decades. Larry Brand, Marine Biologist: ‘the problem is the source of nutrients. And we humans are the source of nutrients. We’ve got to stop that runoff of nutrients.’ “ Now the part about the ‘runoff’ –
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be it from Lake Okeechobee or years ago from septic tanks along Phillipi Creek – “‘feeding’ the red tide” has been oft discussed over the 35 years I’ve lived in Sarasota; but it has never been proven, and most local reporters know better than to put those words into the mouths of our local Mote Marine researchers who take their science seriously and pursue it with care and integrity. A call to Mote Marine and a conversation with Dr. Richard Pierce last week confirmed my understanding. After all, Spanish Conquistadors noted red tide in area waters in the 16th century when they first landed in Florida. And of course, Big Sugar wasn’t dumping nutrients into Lake Okeechobee at the time. ABC’s Oquendo continued: “There are no short fixes here. And this red tide isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It will likely last until the end of the rainy season, here in Florida that’s late October, but it could last even longer than that, potentially threatening more wildlife and people. Back to you, Tom.” Anchor Tom Llamas wrapped things up with this: “Victor Oquendo with those devastating images tonight, Victor, thank you.’ Ya, thanks Victor, you’ve made our day... Virginia Hayley at Visit Sarasota must be especially thrilled. And maybe it’s time for Tom Barwin to once again don his “Anchors Away” sport coat (… never mind). A few days later a similarly conflated report aired on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight, with the majority of the video images showing the human influenced Okeechobee algae but the ensuing commentary focused on the loss of marine life attributed to red tide, as if the former must be the primary cause of the latter. Even our own Dr. Richard Pierce of Mote Marine – Tucker’s guest for the segment – was unable to steer the narrative fully back onto a focused, less hysterical track. He of course pointed out that the Karenia Brevis algae responsible for red-tide is a naturally occurring organism... But Tucker would have none of it. He ended the piece as if he hadn’t heard a word Pierce had said: “Anyone adding to this should be in real trouble...” And on the very same day that segment aired, the Herald Tribune reported on Rep. Vern Buchanan’s presser at Mote Marine announcing additional grant money for research organization aimed at eradicating red tide. (Late Breaking News: sadly and seemingly unbeknownst to Buchanan, none of that money will be reaching Mote, but that’s a story for another day). But to continue, the HT story did add this interesting perspective from a Mote researcher working just down the hall from where Buchanan was speaking. He cautioned that we don’t know whether or not there are benefits to red tide we don’t yet understand; comparisons were drawn to forest fires that remove underbrush and allow forests to be rejuvenated. But then, we currently live in an age of reaction, not reason. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio Than are dreamt of in your philosophy…”
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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
By Rachel Brown Hackney On July 27, a south Siesta resident sparked a lot of attention after he began distributing a photo he took in Little Sarasota Bay. A resident of the Island Reef condominium complex on South Midnight Pass Road, Rick Wulterkens said he was watching a group of manatees when he spotted an alligator heading toward land. The mangroves visible in the photo are on the Island Reef property, a neighbor, Libby Sloan stated. “Apparently gators can tolerate brackish water but this is very unusual!” Sloan wrote. “He/She looks to be about 6 feet long.” Sloan added, “We are warning those who get in the Bay to clean their boats!” According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), “Courtship for alligators begins in early April, and mating occurs in May or June.” FWC adds this caution:
Females build a mound nest of soil, vegetation, or debris and deposit an average of 32 to 46 eggs in late June or early July. Incubation requires approximately 63-68 days, and hatching occurs from mid-August through early September.” Of course, we are not sure whether the gator in Little Sarasota Bay might still have been looking for love. Regardless, residents are keeping a keen watch when they are near the water, just in case the critter is lingering in the area.
Looking for Siesta Sand off-island? Pick up a copy at the following locations:
4&20 Patsy Co........................................................................... 5638 Swift Rd. A’s Sandwich............................................................... 6300 S. Tamiami Trail Abel’s Ice Cream: Southbridge Plaza........................1886 Stickney Pt. Rd. Alpine Steak House.................................................... 4520 S. Tamiami Trail Best Western Plus........................................................ 6600 S. Tamiami Trail Casey Key Fish House.................................... 801 Blackburn Point, Osprey Corkscrew Deli: Landings Shopping Plaza * ....... 4982 S. Tamiami Trail Culver’s......................................................................... 7520 S. Tamiami Trail Dutch Valley Restaurant........................................... 6721 S. Tamiami Trail Eager Beaver Carwash *............................................. 6449 S. Tamiami Trail Economy Tackle *........................................................ 6018 S. Tamiami Trail Fresh Catch Market & Grill: Buccaneer Plaza....... 7119 S. Tamiami Trail Gecko’s Restaurant..................................................... 6606 S. Tamiami Trail Grasshopper Mexican Restaurant & Bar................ 7253 S. Tamiami Trail Ham Heaven & Devil Dogs/GG*....................................... 2647 Mall Drive Hibiscus Suites......................................................... 1735 Stickney Point Rd. Hooters........................................................................... 6507 S Tamiami Trail Philadelphia Cheesesteaks........................................ 7523 S. Tamiami Trail Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar........................................ 5353 S. Tamiami Trail Plaza Mexico Restaurant: Southbridge Plaza..... 1894 Stickney Point Rd. Pride of the South Restaurant/GG................................6616 Superior Ave. Rico’s Pizzeria & Pasta House..................................................1902 Bay Rd. Sarasota Brewing /GG.................................................... 6607 Gateway Ave. Solorzano’s Pizza /GG.....................................................6670 Superior Ave. Special Nutrition Store: Southbridge Plaza.............1882 Stickney Pt. Rd. The Oaks BBQ............................................................. 6112 S. Tamiami Trail The Shop SRQ/GG......................................................... 6625 Gateway Ave. The Table Creekside................................................... 5365 S. Tamiami Trail Tony’s Chicago Dogs/GG...............................................6569 Superior Ave. Word of Mouth/GG........................................................ 6604 Gateway Ave. Interested in Distributing our Publication? Call 941-349-0194 NOTE: * Denotes availability first week of each month only.
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.
P.O. BOX 35086, SIESTA KEY, FL 34242 www.siestasand.net
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
Snapshots of Island Visitors Photos by Jaye Clements - Sarasota Photography
Margaret & Noah from Sarasota
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Siesta Sand
SEPTEMBER 2018
Island Girl This month’s Island Girl is Adrea of Fargo, ND. On only her second visit to fabulous Siesta Beach she’s decided she just can’t get enough. Being on or near the water sets her soul free and she absolutely loves going to many of the lakes in Minnesota with her friends. After earning her Masters degree in Criminal Justice, she went to work in the administration at the Department of Corrections in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
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ANDREA
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