Hotelier prevails against county
Judge’s order should pave the way to proceed with construction
By ChrisAnn Allen
Plans are looking up for Siesta Key hotelier Dave Balot.
In an Oct. 24 order, Judge Hunter Carroll, in Sarasota County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court, confirmed agreement with Balot’s assertion stating no need for a comprehensive plan amendment to proceed with his hotel project.
“The Legislature has directed the answer,” Carroll’s order reads.
“Because section 163.3215 provides the exclusive, and time-limited method to challenge inconsistency with a county’s comprehensive plan, the Developer will be entitled to final summary declaratory judgment that the County cannot now require the Developer
to obtain a Comprehensive Plan Amendment before the County will further process plans with respect to increased density and intensive of use for this Project at this specific Parcel.”
Previously, Balot said the purpose of the declaratory action was to “resolve legal uncertainty,” rather than seek damages, so he can move forward with development of the hotel project which is planned to comprise six stories and 112 rooms on 2.15 acres at 5810 Midnight Pass Rd., previously a Wells Fargo bank location.
On March 27, the island resident and businessman filed a declaratory Continued on page 30
Local wildlife suffers hardships, but also benefits from storms
By Hannah Wallace
As we finally emerge from the devastating 2024 hurricane season, Siesta Key and the surrounding areas are still reeling, even as we recover. Along with the toll taken on human residents, our area’s wildlife was battered by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, too. But our animal neighbors lucked out in many ways.
And in the case of some species, the storms provided surprising benefits.
“There are different impacts from different storms,” said Dr. Dave Tomasko, director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “This year, we’ve had in June the highest hourly rainfall amount on record. In August we had Debby, which brought us the highest 24-hour
rainfall. Then Helene was record storm surge, and Milton was a category 3 hurricane.”
While winds can disrupt wildlife habitats and push high-flying bird species astray, it’s the flooding and storm surge that often cause the biggest problems—especially for animals that lay their eggs on the ground (sea turtles, black skimmers, and snowy plovers) and
those that live in the water (fish, crustaceans, and manatees).
The Nesting Toll Siesta beachgoers no doubt worried about the many sea turtle nests hosted locally every summer. Every North American sea
Let us help you plan your lodging, dining, shopping, and activities!
Call or Stop by the Visitor Center
5223 Avenida Navarra, Siesta Key, FL 34242 941-349-3800 and Visitor Center
located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon-9:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from Noon-10 pm. Learn more online at www.abelsicecream.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
Continued on page 24
Crystal Classic brings thousands back to Siesta Key
24 master sand sculptors celebrate the resilience of Siesta Key and the success of another Crystal Classic on the world’s best beach! More coverage on page 16-17. Photography by Carissa Warfield– Still Silve
There’s a new sheriff in town. Only this time around, he’s a county commissioner.
The Nov. 5 general election sealed the deal for Tom Knight as the new District 3 Sarasota County Commissioner. Previously, Knight had prevailed in the Aug. 20 Republican primary defeating incumbent Neil Rainford by a hefty margin of more than 20 percentage points to command nearly 61% of the vote. He then continued the march to triumph over Independent Shari Thornton by a vote of 69.8% to 30.2%.
Knight, a 51-year resident of Venice, maintained an extensive career with the Florida Highway Patrol before being elected Sheriff in 2008, a position he held through 2020.
While District 3 does not include Siesta Key, where the north half is in District 2 and the south half is in District 4, all five members of the board of county commissioners vote on all matters. Thus, Knight’s viewpoints on matters affecting the key will count.
“Although the voters of Siesta Key don’t technically vote for Tom Knight (different district), Tom is one of five votes and supports the best
Knight replaces Rainford as County Commissioner
Siesta Key considers Knight’s future contributions to the board
By ChrisAnn Allen
interests of our community, including Siesta Key,” Michael Holderness, a Sarasota County native and Siesta Key hotelier, wrote in a Sept 10 email to Siesta
Sand, prior to the election.
“Tom Knight is a man of integrity and has certainly earned my endorsement. The mass majority of Siesta Key supports Tom
“Tom Knight is a man of integrity and has certainly earned my endorsement. The mass majority of Siesta Key supports Tom Knight for Sarasota County Commission.”
- Michael Holderness, Sarasota County native and Siesta Key hotelier
Knight for Sarasota County Commission. I am looking forward to working with him on our many unique and forgotten needs such as water quality, traffic, illegal rentals and safe public beaches.”
Siesta Key resident and businessman Dave Balot shared similar sentiments.
“I supported and continue to support Tom Knight for Sarasota County Commission because I know Tom to be a man of morality and integrity who will be a commissioner who protects the citizens of Sarasota County, much like he did when he was our Sheriff. That doesn’t just mean District 3, but all of Sarasota County, including Siesta Key.”
Additionally, Balot cited Knight’s stance on development on the key, writing, “In speaking
early on with Tom Knight about Siesta Key, he agreed unlimited density on Siesta Key, or anywhere in Sarasota County for that matter, would be a very bad change to the Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan.”
In other election matters, for District 5, the southernmost district, which includes Englewood, Commissioner Ron Cutsinger ran unopposed in both the primary and general election. In District 1, which encompasses much of the city of Sarasota, Teresa Mast defeated Alexandra Coe in the Republican primary to run unopposed in the general election. Mast will replace Commissioner Mike Moran, who defeated incumbent Barbara Ford-Coates for Sarasota County Tax Collector.
Storm Debris Cleanup: It’s On You Now
By Ned Steele
Attention homeowners: if you haven’t gotten your household storm debris picked up yet, chances are that, by the time you read this, the responsibility lies with you.
Sarasota County contractors made initial sweeps through Siesta Key in October to collect not only tree and plant
debris, but more importantly construction and demolition debris from homes: drywall, ruined appliances, cabinetry and all the rest.
Another pass was being scheduled as this issue went to press, and the county made it clear: this is the final one.
While the pickup dates had
not been finalized at press time, the county had imposed a November 17 deadline for placing all debris curbside. This applied, the county said, to “all qualified hurricane related debris, including vegetative, construction and demolition, and household goods.”
Siesta Key residents under county jurisdiction were to be given about seven days advance notice for the final pickup.
“Once contractors complete the final pass, they will not return,” the county said in a statement. “Removal and disposal for any remaining materials will be the property owner’s responsibility.”
This means that homeowners who miss the deadline must arrange for their own contractors to collect the debris.
Regardless of deadlines, the county set out guidelines for how to prepare debris for pickup: “Storm debris materials should be placed within three feet of the rightof-way when possible. Do not stack or lean materials near mailboxes, fences, trees, utility poles or other structures including fire hydrants, water meters or backflow preventors and do not place on sidewalks.”
Some Siesta Key residents had criticized the pace of the collection effort, especially in its initial stages. With the beach cleanup a high priority for the county, some questioned whether residents were getting the same treatment.
Sarasota County reported that it had more than 300 contractors “from around the country” working night and day to collect debris. At press time, the county said it had collected more than one million cubic yards of storm debris across its unincorporated areas of jurisdiction.
A major dumping ground for the area’s debris since shortly after the storms has been the vast Benderson property adjoining the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road. Huge piles of debris have been piled up, with trucks filing in and out.
A formerly dormant new traffic light at the intersection of Avenues B and C and Stickney Point Road was activated during the cleanup.
A Siesta Key resident had filed suit last April to block the signal’s activation. The resident, Jim Wallace, had alleged that the light’s operation would cause additional delays on a route already plagued with frequent slowdowns (which have recently intensified with repairs of the Stickney Bridge.)
The delays, Wallace claimed, would lead to “grave danger” for emergency medical vehicles and, ironically, to hurricane evacuation traffic.
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Debris on side of Higel Ave. awaits removal by county. (Photo by Siesta Sand)
Chalk up another HeleneMilton victim – temporarily.
The $11.36 million county project to repave some 37 miles of Siesta Key roadways, begun last August and originally expected to finish next month, has been halted so storm cleanup efforts can continue.
“Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the resurfacing project has been suspended until 2025 to allow for residents, businesses, and County employees to continue with recovery operations,” the County announced last month.
Whether that means work will begin again in January or farther into the year isn’t yet clear, but the County has posted a Spring 2025 projected completion date.
According to the County, the job is about half done with approximately 19 miles having been resurfaced.
Had the original completion date been met, most of the work would have been wrapped up just as the season’s peak took hold. The delay means that at least some work will now have to take place at the busiest, most heavily trafficked times of the year.
The project’s contractor, Ajax Paving Industries, will provide a tentative schedule
Road Resurfacing Delayed
for the remaining 18 miles at an undetermined date in the future. The County has created a web page that breaks out the status of the work in detail: https://www. scgov.net/government/ capital-projects/selectedcounty-projects/resurfacingsiesta-key
Sarasota County’s penny surtax is funding the repaving. According to a presentation earlier this year to the Siesta Key Association by project manager Terra Ray, “This is a resurfacing project, not a reconstruction project. We are trying to address drainage concerns.”
The project includes milling and paving, pavement striping, ADA ramp modifications, curb repairs and roadway base repairs
When complete, the project will have redone most of Beach Road starting from the Midnight Pass intersection, with extra reinforcement for the heavily used section adjoining Siesta Beach, and numerous residential roads on the northern end of the Key between Ocean Boulevard and Midnight Pass Road. Repaving on the southern end of the Key will include Point of Rocks Road and Point of Rocks Circle, Crescent Street and Dee Place.
By Ned Steele
Ajax Paving Industries crew resurfacing road on Siesta Key. (Photo provided by Sarasota County)
County approves amendments to code enforcing commercial boating activities
Next steps taken toward regulation of new permit program
By ChrisAnn Allen
It rings of deja vu, but this time with a different outcome.
During an Oct. 22 regular meeting, Sarasota County commissioners approved an ordinance presented by Nicole Rissler, County Parks and Natural Resources Director, amending the county code Chapter 90, “relating to managing unauthorized commercial activity, updating delegation of authority for approval of fees for use of county parks and making additional policy updates,” according to her presentation. The amendments will allow County Administrator Jonathan Lewis or his designee, which would be any county staff, the authority to change or update fees relating to county parks and beaches, but not to create new ones.
Almost exactly a year ago at a meeting Oct. 24, 2023, Rissler gave a similar presentation requesting an amendment to the same county code. She cited an increase in unauthorized use of county water access points by commercial boating businesses and asked the commission for updated “clarifying language” delegating authority to the county administrator or designee to amend and approve updates to fees associated with this use for those without permits operating out of the public parks. Her request spawned a yearlong flurry of discussion relating to the best way to handle the activities, which had been occurring unregulated for years, and the development of a task force to oversee changes to enforcement.
As part of the process, last April, the board of county
commissioners appointed the fivemember task force comprising two commercial, water-based activity operators with local business tax receipts, two water access/marina property owners or charter tour operators with a lease of land abutting the Marine Park District, and one member-atlarge. This means two members of the task force represent businesses operating out of county parks and two are owner/ operators using privately owned marinas, thus having both sides of the matter represented.
The task force presented their results on Sept. 11, leading to the board’s decision to implement a program for permitting previously unauthorized use of county-maintained, taxpayer funded parks and boat ramps as a launch point for water activity businesses, including charter
fishing and boat tours. The new plan, based on available parking at each park, allows the county to issue 124 permits to Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) license-holders. This permit will grant each OUPV a standard captain’s license which allows the holder to operate a commercial vessel with up to six paying passengers. However, in 2022, county staff completed a similar board-driven assignment wherein they determined there was not enough parking at county parks to develop such a permit program. Their determination was likely due to similar research undertaken by the current task force which found that there are about 800 OUPV licenseholders in the county. The new plan allowing only 124 permits could potentially put many of these OUPV operators out of
business or would mean thatn they would be operating without the county permit. Nevertheless, the commission chose to proceed with the permit program with the understanding that changes to the system likely will occur with time. “There’s going to be a 100% chance that there’s going to be some changes to this,” District 1 Commissioner, Board Chair Mike Moran said Sept. 11, when the board approved the permit program. “So, at least we’ll get it started here.”
Following the Sept. 11 approval of the permit program, the board unanimously voted to bring back the Chapter 90 ordinance to a future meeting. “You need to be able to enforce it, so I think it is really important,” District 5 Commissioner Ron Cutsinger said of the ordinance approved Sept. 22.
When Rissler presented her request for the ordinance amending the code at the Sept. 22 meeting, she asserted, “There is no change or significant update to the new ordinance or new penalties, it is just clarifying, per the work of the office of the county attorney and the state attorney’s office… related to the commercial activity.”
She explained the proposed amendments would “enhance the previous code with clarifying language related to the enforcement of those unauthorized and prohibited uses of county property within our beaches.” She added that the amendment also provides the county administrator or his designee the authority to amend or approve updates to the fees of the county parks and beaches as needed, including correcting scrivener’s errors and updating fee schedules for pavilion rentals, open space or personnel fees, but does not allow for the creation of new fee categories. She said the benefits of the amendment would be to provide up-to-date information to the public and to quickly respond to changing facility and amenity use patterns and market conditions.
District 4 Commissioner Mark Smith said, “Because of the nature of this particular ordinance, I just wanted to read it into the record that nothing has changed from the last time and what we will be voting on today is what everyone has heard in the past.”
The board approved the motion unanimously with no further discussion.
Jason Kobza, owner of Low Tide Tours and Sarasota Boat Tours, is one of two water-based tour operators serving on the county’s task force chartered with recommending resolutions to this issue.(Photo submitted)
Please
Reviewed July
14, 2024
Robert C., Florida
This a cool little spot in a strip mall on Tamiami Trail. There's ample parking and a couple of tables outside under the store rooftop. Inside is a nice dining room and bar seating facing the kitchen. A small "market" with fresh fish and shellfish is located at the rear of the dining room. Very casual.
We were in for lunch and there was only one server, but service was excellent throughout and she was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and products like the canned non-alcoholic beverages.
We started with Devon's Lump Crab Cake which lacks any filler as advertised. Basically held together with some mayo and served with a grilled lemon and house remoulade. Delicious! We took two home!
I ordered the grilled triple tail (any fresh fish available grilled or blackened) on a melt in your mouth brioche bun with a little tartar sauce. Excellent!
My wife went with grilled snapper tacos and she was very happy.
Of course, we saved room for the famous key lime pie which was undoubtedly the best key lime pie we have ever encountered.
They have a good wine list and beer selection as well as some interesting non-alcoholic choices! If you're looking for fresh fish, GO!
Rental Properties: The Recovery Continues
If people like Skip Campana are any indication, Siesta Key’s recovery from the double whammy of Helene and Milton is well underway and the vacation rental unit outlook is promising. It may just take a while.
Campana, a developer-investor from Williamsburg, Virginia, has owned and rented two ground floor units in the Gulf Holiday complex for about a decade. Neither one was looking too pretty after the storms did their damage, but Campana is looking at the future, not the present. And he’s optimistic.
“I want to bring it back bigger and better,” he said.
Everything that was ruined is already out the door. As soon as the county permits come through, he’ll place orders for brand new furnishings, cabinetry, flooring and all the fixings. The two newly restored units, helping to breathe fresh new life into the vintage 1960s condo development with their up-to-date look, will be back on the market in time for peak season.
Swift and decisive action by condo and homeowners like Campana may hold the key to the strength and speed of Siesta Key tourism accommodations’ bounce back, some local real estate pros believe.
Mike Holderness, owner of Beachside Management, which manages Campana’s units and about 100 other vacation rental units, said such ground-level renovations can drive a strong market recovery. The “big silver
lining” of the storm damage is that many units, some of which hadn’t been renovated for decades, will now become up-to-date and will not only bring their own higher prices – but could raise values across the island.
When a newly renovated unit sits next door or on the same block as an older property with old furnishings, it lowers the value for the new unit, he said. When those properties spiff up to modern standards, “it will be a cleansing –it will feel like Siesta Key 40 years ago, all new and fresh.”
Among the units his company manages, Holderness said about half are available now, and he estimates 90 percent will be rentable by the end of this month.
Holderness is practicing what he preaches at the property he co-owns, Siesta Beach Resorts & Suites. Renovation is in full swing with new furniture and appliances coming, and a goal of being fully open by Christmas.
Still, the overall real estate picture may not be fully clear for some time. “The big issues won’t be answered for six to twelve months,” said realtor Bill Burns of RE/MAX. A major issue, he says, is how the insurance industry responds in the post-Milton era. Another concern is whether single family owners can rebuild as they wish given the FEMA limit that renovations cannot cost more than half of the property’s market value.
Observers have noted that a significant number of units, not surprisingly, were taken off the market in the days following the
By Ned Steele
twin storms. But on the other hand, several deals have gone to contract at the same time, though some at price markdowns. “It is a real vote of confidence that people are going to contract on $1 millionplus homes,” Burns said.
Bob Ruiz of William Raveis Real Estate agreed that “the rental market will be strong.”
“There is less inventory and people (vacation renters) are still coming,” he said.
Regarding the condo market, Judie Berger, a realtor at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, said that as of mid-November, six units had gone to contract, twelve had closed, and eight had come on the market. “That’s a lot of activity for coming out of a hurricane,” she concluded.
As to price reductions generally on the island, Berger said that while some properties will have to be sold for lot value, “It is not the
Siesta Photo Bomber
big crash or fire sale people were talking of. Time will tell.”
While “there might be a blip down,” she predicted, prices will generally hold because “people are renovating and staying on Siesta Key with that mindset… It’s not gentrification but renovation. Any time there’s an improvement, prices will improve. I can’t see anything but positive out of this devastation.”
Siesta Beach Resorts & Suites co- owner Mike Holderness and general manager Lee Jennings oversee renovations of a unit that will soon be back on the market. (Photo by Ned Steele)
Sospiri,
Holiday Reception Scheduled
On Thursday, December 12, the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce will kick off the holiday season with a holiday reception at Gilligan’s Island Bar and Grill, 5253 Ocean Boulevard. The party will run from 4 – 6 p.m.
Chamber members are invited to join in the fun and enjoy holiday cocktails, an appetizer buffet, and desserts. Siesta Key Visitor Center volunteers will also be on hand to mix and mingle.
There is a $50 admission fee, and a cash bar will be available. Those attending are being asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit the Toys for Tots drive. Merry elves will thank donors who contribute to the Toys for Tots campaign with a complimentary drink ticket. To register, visit: siestakeychamber.com
Nominations for annual Chamber awards open
The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for their annual awards of excellence. The deadline to submit award candidates for individuals and businesses is Thursday, December 12.
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce member businesses as well as customers and employees are invited to submit nominations. Self-nominations are also encouraged.
Categories for the 2024 Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce awards that will be held on January 30, 2025, are:
• Small Business
• Large Business
• Businessperson of the Year
A New Member Business will also be recognized for extensive engagement with the Chamber in 2024.
Individual award categories, in addition to the business categories, includes:
• The Shining Star AwardPresented in recognition of exceptional service by a front-line tourism employee - the reason that visitors return to Siesta Key time and again.
• The Community Partner Award - Presented in recognition of an individual for their professional service and community engagement and for improving the quality of life on Siesta Key.
• The Volunteer of the Year Award - An honor given to a citizen for his or her initiative and personal involvement that betters the Siesta Key community.
• The Service & Leadership Award - A tribute to an individual or organization. This award is given in recognition of exceptional leadership, time and effort devoted to service projects that benefit the Siesta Key community.
• The Shawn McLoughlin Siesta Selfless AwardNamed in memory of the late, celebrated Siesta Key artist Shawn McLoughlin. This award recognizes an individual for their selfless acts of kindness, generosity, commitment and talent that betters others.
Nominees will be evaluated for:
• Demonstration of excellence in business or profession
• Demonstration of Chamber involvement
• Demonstration of community service
This year’s ceremony and dinner will be held at The Sarasota Art Museum Ringling College Museum Campus, at 20021 South Tamiami Trail. Applications for the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce annual awards are available at siestakeychamber.com/siestakey-chamber/awards/.
Allegiant Airlines announced the addition of eight direct flights into Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ starting in February 2025.
Allegiant Air will provide nonstop service to the following destinations in February 2025:
• Albany, New York (ALB), starting Feb. 14
• Elmira, New York (ELM), starting Feb. 14
• Greenville, South Carolina (GSP), starting Feb.13
• Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS), starting Feb. 14
• Lexington, Kentucky (LEX), starting April 3
• Moline, Illinois (MLI), starting Feb.13
• Omaha, Nebraska (OMA), starting Feb. 14
• Roanoke, Virginia (ROA), starting Feb.14
The announcement of the new flights comes as SRQ prepares to open a new concourse in January 2025, with all five gates leased to Allegiant Air.
SRQ is one of the fastest growing airports in the U.S. with now over 3 million plus passengers being currently served by one concourse and 13 gates. The post-pandemic spike in traffic was incredulous as 3.1 million passengers traveled thru SRQ in 2021 versus 1.9 million in 2019.
Now, with the addition of the new terminal in February 2025, it is projected SRQ will be able to handle upwards of 5 million passengers annually. That is all good news for the local tourism trade.
SKA monthly meetings update
The monthly Siesta Key Association meetings were canceled the past two months (Oct. & Nov.) due to Helene and Milton. Unfortunately, the St. Boniface meeting rooms were damaged during the two storms. The next scheduled meeting is set for Dec 6 from 4:30-6 p.m.
Please check the SKA website for meeting location and topics to be discussed.
Lobster Pot reopens
One of our favorite Siesta Key Village eateries has reopened after having to close due to hurricane storm damage. The Lobster Pot reopened on November 22. Lobster Pot is a family owned and operated restaurant located in the heart
Armando Delgado | Tucson, AZ
of the village that specializes in fresh New England seafood and, of course, lobster.
The Lobster Pot has been a Siesta Key dining destination since 2000.
Lobster Pot is located at 5157 Ocean Blvd in the heart of the village.
Siesta Key’s beaches, cleaned up and reopened after Helene and Milton, immediately worked their storied charms and have been beckoning sun-seeking visitors and locals alike for several weeks now.
By late October, Siesta Beach was back in business, followed not long after by Turtle Beach. Although some accesses remained closed for cleanup and, at press time, concerns about red tide were surfacing, beachgoers and those who serve them responded enthusiastically. Out came the umbrellas and sunscreen and onto the griddle went the concession stand burgers.
“It’s time to start bringing it back,” said Sarasota resident Karen Hastings. “We just love the beach – we love the
The Beach Beckons
By Ned Steele
water; we’ve met friends here. It’s paradise. You simply must learn to navigate the hurricane season.”
It was her fourth visit to Siesta Beach since the reopening and Hastings, a retired school principal originally from Indiana, was sharing a spot on the sand with her sister and brotherin-law. It was a sunny midNovember day and she estimated the beach had triple the number of visitors she had seen the previous week.
Nearby were visitors from much farther away –Belgium, to be exact.
Yearly visitors to the area, Teresa Nehra and her husband Jean Kreusch were staying, as always, at her dad’s house. After checking out conditions at Amelia
Island and Bradenton, they had headed to Siesta Beach and found it in the best shape.
“We were very pleasantly surprised,” Nehra said. “The concessions are open; the bathrooms are open.”
“You can’t tell there was damage here,” Kreusch said. “They did a really good job.”
Siesta Beach’s enduring popularity was underscored by data provided by Sarasota County Parks & Recreation. Even amid the turmoil and damage of Helene and Milton, with the beach officially closed most of the month, the beach still drew an estimated 30,580 visitors – far below normal, obviously, but more than four times as many people as all the county’s other beaches combined.
On vacation from Arlington, Virginia, credit union employee Sauncea Ealey planned her trip after Milton and was undeterred by the storm’s aftermath.
“I looked online, they said it was going to be fine, so I came,” she said. “I’d recommend it, and I’d come back.” Interrupted from her sunbathing momentarily by an inquiring reporter, Ealey said her next move would be a dip in the water.
Camped on the sand nearby, Sean Patrick of Champaign, Illinois and his wife Amber had booked their yearly Gulf Coast stay an hour and a half away in Cape Coral before the storm.
“We saw the beach was open. We came,” he said.
He stated that, because Siesta is their favorite beach in the area, the 90-minute drive was well worth it, even though, he revealed, “I’m not a beach person. I’m here to sit and hold the umbrella in the wind.”
While Amber is the couple’s beach person, Sean was nonetheless pleased with the features he cared most about: “I love the huge parking lot, the soft sand, the clean rest rooms.”
Other beachgoers added Siesta’s extensive food and beverage offerings to the amenities they appreciated. That was music to the ears of Maureen Gresk, manager of the Siesta Beach Eats concessions.
The two main stands suffered minimal damage and Siesta Beach Eats
reopened on Oct. 28 after a monthlong shutdown. The Sun Deck lost its dumbwaiters and was awaiting repairs at press time. But the stand improvised to provide partial service during the Crystal Classic, and Gresk expects a full opening in December if the needed parts come in. If not, she said, the stand will reopen with limited service.
During the October respite, Gresk and her crew set up a portable grill to fuel first responders and struggling homeowners with free hot dogs and burgers. Now, it is back to business with the beverage taps flowing and the cooktops sizzling for beachgoers.
“It started slow, but there’s been an uptick on weekends and it’s getting better,” she said. “By the second week of December, we’ll be ramping up.”
Vincent Ramirez is ready to serve you at Siesta Beach Eats
Karen Hasting, Marsha Schilling and Kenny McDaniel: happy to br back
Sauncey Ealey loves the sun
Lights, camera, action
Siesta Key now has its own weekly podcast – Siesta Sand Live. Created and produced by the Siesta Sand, Siesta Sand Live will be hyper focused on Siesta Key and will broadcast a new episode every Friday.
Guests will include local government officials, newsmakers, business owners, and other individuals who are influencing life on the island. Some guests you may recognize or may know and some you may never have heard of. One thing they will all have in common is Siesta Key.
Originally set to launch in early October, the Siesta Sand Live podcast was delayed thanks to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The storms damaged the home of our podcast, Captain Curt’s Village, to the point an audible needed to be called.
Several weeks later, we were finally able to film our first episode, albeit not in our planned location of the Sniki Tiki Lounge in Captain Curt’s Village. Instead, we went inside Captain Curt’s and took to the Crab TV stage for our first three episodes.
The first episode took place on Nov. 15 and featured Siesta Key business owner and Sarasota Tourism board member, Mike Holderness. Holderness has been a longtime advocate for protecting and enriching the quality of life on Siesta Key.
The first episode also featured Jamie Miller, Executive Director for Save Midnight Pass. Miller discussed how “Mother Nature” took it
Siesta Sand Live podcast debuts
were Brian Wigglesworth, co-founder of the Crystal Classic, who discussed how he became a sand sculptor, the history of the Crystal Classic, and the important role others had in making the event successful, and Siesta Key’s #1 realtor and longtime resident, Judie Berger. Judie shared her own personal hurricane experience and provided an overview of the posthurricane Siesta Key real estate market.
upon herself to reopen Midnight Pass and what needs to happen to keep it open. Also appearing
Subsequent episodes have included County Commissioner Mark Smith, talking about storm cleanup and what the future holds for Siesta Key, Catherine & Robert Luckner,
Siesta Key Association president and treasurer, sharing what the SKA is currently working on, and Tracy Jackson, president of Save Siesta Key, sharing the story of how Jennifer Nelson and a group of “new friends” came to Tracy’s rescue during the hurricane. It is quite a story!
Siesta Sand Live is hosted by Natalie Gutwein, Siesta Key resident, realtor for Premier Sotheby’s, and Siesta Sand columnist. The podcast is filmed at Captain Curt’s Village. Podcast sponsors are Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, Beach Bazaar, Judie Berger with Premier Sotheby’s, Altez Vacations, Pham Development, and the Law Offices of Eric C. Fleming.
You can watch Siesta Sand Live on YouTube at youtube.com/ watch?v=hn-GOobtX8Y&t=2573s
Come experience Bay Village’s stunning and expansive renovation, where every detail was crafted to enhance the experience and beauty of this vibrant and caring community.
Please call us at 941.966.5611 to schedule a tour and learn more.
Scan the QR Code to visit our website.
Host Natalie Gutwein prepares to interview Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith for Siesta Sand Live podcast. (Photo by Siesta Sand)
Apowerful message reading “Siesta Strong” appeared in sand atop the group sculpture that welcomed visitors to the 2024 Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival.
“We made it,” said Andy Daily, sand manager of the Crystal Classic Event Committee. “It was a little bit better and a little bit bigger,” said Daily, an artist, sand sculpting professional and owner of the Sarasota based SandVenture Crew. Referring to the recent hurricanes that were unwelcome visitors on Siesta Key, he said, “We pulled it off.”
“The county really came
together, and the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce is really great to work with,” Daily added.
Crystal Classic Brings Normalcy
By Jane
All photography by Carissa
New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan and Texas.
Speaking of the 24 sand artists whose work was on display at this year’s four-day event that ran from November 15-18, Daily said all remained true to their individual style. “A few artists hadn’t been here before. We’re like family. We all know each other.”
The sand, he noted, did not disappoint. “The sand on every beach is different but the Siesta Beach sand is great to work with.”
Come the spring, Daily and his team will begin preparing
for next year’s 2025 Crystal Classic, the 15th year of the festival. Once again, in midNovember, Siesta Beach will be transformed into a temporary sand sculpture garden.
Much like the thousands of visitors who came to enjoy the annual international sand sculpting event on Siesta Beach, the talented artists who came to create this year’s magical sculptures hale from a collection of different countries including Canada, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands and Portugal. Domestically, Florida was well represented, and artists also came from California, New Hampshire,
Close to 100 vendors offered their wares and visitors enjoyed the busy food court as the strains of live music filled the air every day. Events for children and kids of all ages kept everyone busy and having fun.
Perfect weather was an additional bonus. A visitor from Massachusetts summed it up saying, “It doesn’t get much better than this. I can’t wait to come back next year.”
On Sunday afternoon, Daily joined Master of Ceremonies ABC 7 Sarasota chief meteorologist, Bob Harrigan,
for the festival’s award ceremony that paid tribute to the work of the talented sand artists who took part in the completion.
2024 Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival went to
Solo Winners:
1st Place - “Neanderthal & Narwhal” by Dean Arscott A graduate of Sarasota’s Ringling College of Art & Design, Arscott is a
Dean Arscott, “Neanderthal + Narwhal” took top honors for both the Solo Artist category and for the Sculptors Choice Solo Artist.
Maxim Gazendam, “The Future Awakens” finished second in Solo Artist category
Agnese Rudzite-Kirillova, “Ready to Fly” placed third in Solo Artist category.
Normalcy Back to Siesta Key
Bartnett
Carissa Warfield– Still Silver
Ian and Matthew Deibert, “AI…?” took third place honors in the Doubles category.
professional sand sculptor and member of the Team Santastic company, a professional sand sculpting group, based in Sarasota.
2nd Place - “The Future
Awakens” - Maxim Gazendam Gazendam is a returning award winner to the Classic.
In 2023, he also won the 2nd place solo award. A Dutch sand sculptor, Gazendam first studied architecture before beginning his sand sculpture career.
3rd Place - “Ready to Fly”Agnese Rudzite-Kirillova
In addition to sculpting
sand, Rudzite-Kirillova, a native of Latvia, works in many mediums including ice, snow, wood, bronze and stone. Women’s emotions and the forces of nature are the focus of her work.
Doubles Winners
1st Place Doubles - “Be the Change” - Joaquin Cortez & Craig Mutch
Cortez, a North Texas native and Mutch, from Canada, brings different backgrounds to their teamwork. After beginning his art career in computer animation, Cortez
turned to sand sculpture. Sand is Mutch’s primary medium. His work has been shown at the Olympics and at Whistler. He also works as a set artist/ sculptor for major films.
2nd Place Doubles“Patience” - Edith van de Wetering & Wilfred Stijger
This Dutch duo call the Netherlands home. They travel the world together to compete in sand, snow and ice sculpting festivals and competitions. Van de Wetering first studied architecture. Stijger began his sculpting career in sand.
drinks, grab your beach gear, or stock up on beer, wine, snacks and key lime pie We have a full selection of groceries for a perfect island stay!
3rd Place Doubles - “AI?”Ian Deibert & Matthew Deibert
New Jersey natives, father and son duo Matthew and Ian Deibert, honed their craft on the beaches of the Jersey shore. Ian is a graphic artist, and Matthew holds a degree in graphic design. The pair count the Travel Channel Sand Wars show competition among their honors.
Sculptors
Choice
Awarded by the sculptors themselves, the solo and double Sculptors Choice honors are
highly prized by the artists.
Solo - “Neanderthal & Narwhal” - Dean Arscott
Doubles - “Patience” - Edith van de Wetering & Wilfred Stijger
A portion of the proceeds from The Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival benefit the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Scholarship Fund for Ringling College of Art & Design. More information about the fourday festival is available at siestakeycrystalclassic.com.
Craig Mutch & Joaquin Cortez, “Be the Change” took the top prize in Doubles category
Greg Grady & Delayne Corbett, “8 Arms, No Worries” took home top prize in People’s Choice Doubles category.
Edith van de Wetering & Wilfred Stijger, “Patience” won the Sculptors Choice Doubles category and took second in the Doubles category.
Sarasota’s
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Awareness effort begins as coyote attacks continue
By Ned Steele
With more coyote attacks on small dogs being reported in recent weeks, the community is becoming increasingly aware of the dangers and is starting to protect its pets through awareness, education and prevention.
Through the efforts of the Siesta Key Association (SKA), roadside signs alerting to the possible presence of coyotes will soon start appearing on the island. In addition, posters bearing a similar message will be distributed to condo associations.
The materials are being provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) which has been working with SKA on the awareness effort. “I think they’ll give us whatever we need,” SKA president Catherine Luckner said.
The signage distribution comes after a scheduled community information session last month where FWC officials provided information about the prevalence of coyotes on the island and how humans should respond.
The recent attacks occurred on both the northern and southern ends of the Key. In one incident, Luckner said, a coyote snatched a small dog who was being walked near its home off Higel Avenue, close to the heart of the village. The dog’s owner chased the coyote and got it to drop the pet, but it was too late; the dog had died almost instantly, Luckner said.
The other attack, on the southern end off Peacock Road, had a happier ending but just barely.
Coyotes grabbed and ran off with one of a family’s several dogs, but the family’s 17-year-old son chased the coyote down quickly. The teen rescued the severely injured pet and drove it to a veterinary clinic in Lakewood Ranch.
The roadside signs and condo posters are designed to increase the awareness. They will be placed in areas where attacks have occurred or where the animals have been spotted. They read, in bold lettering, “Caution – Coyotes in Area.”
The signs advise residents and visitors to keep cats indoors and dogs on short leashes, and to always remain alert. The signs suggest visiting a website, MyFWC.com/Coyote, for more detailed information.
Coyotes hunt, often in pairs, at dusk and other times. While they prey on small animals, they are timid around humans. For that reason, the signs warn people not to approach or feed them. Luckner explained that such welcoming responses from humans will encourage the coyotes to venture more boldly into populated neighborhoods. Instead, she said, pet owners need to “haze” the coyotes, or make loud, threatening noises and gestures if they encounter the animals. “Yell as loud as you can,” she said.
FWC takes the position that as a protected species, the coyotes cannot be rounded up and killed or relocated. County Commissioner Mark Smith has disagreed, saying they should be treated as a danger, as alligators are. “It’s crazy. You’ve got wild dogs running around and
The incidents show that coyotes can be anywhere on the island, Luckner said. “They are coming to where people are,” she said. “It’s not like they are in the woods. And they are very smart.”
Luckner added that they have not only ventured into populated areas but are mimicking human behavior. She saw one approach a road and pause to look both ways before crossing it.
Because the prevalence of the animals is relatively recent, the coyotes are believed to have come over the bridges from the mainland. Many residents, and more so visitors, are unaware of the dangers to their small pets. “People are unaware,” Luckner said, “and are not prepared to be on guard or to defend their pets.” She estimated that 60 percent of vacationers bring pets with them.
FWC is giving out pamphlets, saying ‘You’ll have to learn to live with them,’” Smith told this newspaper in October.
FWC for now, at least, is taking the tack of raising awareness and teaching pet owners how to deal with a coyote if they encounter one. FWC has said that it “does not have plans to kill or remove coyotes from Siesta Key at this time” but the agency’s rules allow removal when coyotes are creating a “nuisance.” A nuisance is defined as a threat to public safety, causing property damage or causing a nuisance to a building. Removal is the first course of recommended action, ahead of trapping or killing the creatures. Doing either of those “should be a last resort,” according to the FWC rules.
Catherine Luckner shows the signs that will soon start appearing in locations where coyote attacks have taken place.
Now that the calendar has flipped, it’s time for some New Year’s resolutions. You could decide you’re going to exercise more, lose weight, learn a new skill, reconnect with old friends — the possibilities are almost limitless. This year, why not add a few financial resolutions to your list?
Here are a few to consider:
• Reduce your debts. It may be easier said than done, but if you can cut down on your debt load, you’ll increase your cash flow and have more money available to invest for your future. So, look for ways to lower your expenses and spending. You might find it helpful to use one of the budgeting apps available online.
• Boost your retirement savings. Try to put in as much as you can afford to your IRA and your 401(k) or other employersponsored retirement plan. If your salary goes up this year, you’ve got a good opportunity to increase your contributions to these retirement accounts. And once you turn 50, you can make pre-tax catch-up
Time for New Year’s financial resolutions
contributions for your 401(k) and traditional IRA. You might also want to review the investment mix within your 401(k) or similar plan to determine whether it’s still providing the growth potential you need, given your risk tolerance and time horizon.
• Build an emergency fund. It’s generally a good idea to maintain an emergency fund containing up to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. Without such a fund, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments to pay for short-term needs, such as an expensive auto or home repair.
• Keep funding your nonretirement goals. Your traditional IRA and 401(k) are good ways to save for retirement — but you likely have other goals, too, and you’ll need to save and invest for them. So, for example, if you want your children to go to college or receive some other type of post-secondary training, you might want to invest in a tax-advantaged 529 education savings plan.
And if you have shortterm goals, such as saving for a wedding or taking an overseas vacation, you might want to put some money away in a liquid account. For a short-term goal, you don’t necessarily need to invest aggressively for growth — you just want the money to be there for you when you need it.
• Review your estate plans. If you haven’t already created your estate plans,
you may want to do so in 2025. Of course, if you’re relatively young, you might not think you need to have estate plans in place just yet, but life is unpredictable, and the future is not ours to see. If you have already drawn up estate plans, you may want to review them, especially if you’ve recently experienced changes in
your life and family situation, such as marriage, remarriage or the addition of a new child. Because estate planning can be complex, you’ll want to work with a qualified legal professional. You may not be able to tackle all these resolutions in 2025. But by addressing as many of them as you can, you may find that, by the end of the year, you have made progress toward your goals and set yourself on a positive course for all the years to come.
Joe St. Onge, ChFC® Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments
5011 Ocean Blvd., suite 205 Siesta Key, FL 34242 (941)-346-0560 phone (941)-320-4030 mobile Joe.StOnge@edwardjones.com
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones. Member SIPC. -- Advertorial --
Spa Experience Siesta Key
Maintain that Youthful Look with Microcurrent Treatments
Microcu r rent Facia ls a re a powerf ul
a nt i-ag i ng t reat ment t hat t ighten s a nd
ton e s fac i a l mu s c le s a nd st i mu l at e s
a nd n e c k, r e stor i ng s upple n e s s a nd
a yout h f ul glow wh i le t ighten i ng t he
fa c i a l mu s c le s T h i s m a c h i n e b a s e d t reat ment sends elect r ica l i mpulses of ver y low volt age but h ig h f requenc y t h rough t he sk i n resulti ng i n a more
y o u t h f u l a p p e a r a n c e C r o w ’ s f e e t
b e g i n t o di s a p p e a r, e y e b r o w s l i f t ,
a n d c h e e k b o n e s a r e m o r e d e f i n e d
C l ie nt s nor m a l ly fa l l a sle ep du r i ng t he fac i a l a s it is ext remely rela x i ng a nd pa i n less T here is no dow n t i m e a n d c l i e n t s m ay g o o ut s id e w it h n o con c e r n s a f t e r t r e at me nt s Spa D i r e c tor, Con n ie Lew is has been per for m i ng m ic ro - cu r rent facia ls si nce 2005 a f ter lea r n i ng t he tech nolog y du r i ng her st udies at Fash ion Focus Academy where she ear ned
by t he results I persona lly exper ienced on my ow n face I i m mediately acqui red t he mach i ne r ight out of school,” says Lewis
Re s u lt s o f t he t r e at m e nt s a r e c u mu l at ive a n d t he b e st v i sible re su lt s a re a f ter a s er ie s of 5 - 10 t reat ments t hen mont h ly or week ly t reat ments a re r e com me nded dep e nd i ng on sk i n cond it ion a nd desi red result
T he system i s completely sa fe a nd t reat ment i s non-i nvasive The cur rent is ext remely low, less tha n t he out put of a pacema ker T he system operates on a per-prog ra m med set ti ng a nd conta i n s ca librated internal data mon itoring and resistance meters Th is a llows f ull com for t to t he client as well as opt i ma l perfor ma nce a nd results for t he operator
Microcurrent treatments are usually performed within 45- 60 minutes, and a re u sua l ly pre s c r ib ed i n a ser ie s of 6 to 12 treatments over a course of 60 days with one to two treatments a week re com mended for m a x i mu m resu lt s The number of sessions i n a series is complete, a monthly “booster” treatment is required to maintain results Ou r non-i nvasive t reat ment usua lly offers not iceable results even a f ter just one session a nd effect ively g ives you
Like exercise for the other parts of the body, the facial muscles need a regular workout to achieve good muscle tone Muscle reeducation by microcurrent is often referred to as “sculpting” and “lifting ”
T he l i f ti n g a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g a c t io n h ave a n accumulative effect on the face with each systematic series of treatments, increasing the holding action of the muscles Through repeated sessions, facial muscles will hold their tone Just like the stomach muscles will “re-tone” after repeated sessions of sit-ups During the initial program, we recommend one to two visits a we ek w it h t he tot a l nu mb er depend i ng on t he individual needs A typical course of treatment will range from six to twelve sessions And after that a visit once a month is usually all that is required to maintain good facial muscle tone and youthful appearance
W hen you stop exercisi ng t he body, over a per iod of t i me t he muscle will lose t hei r i ncreased tone a nd the face It will not sudden ly “fall,” but overt ime will beg i n to resume its nor ma l ag i ng process
Most i ndividua ls wi ll see i m mediate cha nges i n
sp e c i a l i st c a n l i f t h a l f of you r face to show you t he di fference compa red to t he ot her side But t he i mprovement is i ncreasi ngly obvious over a per iod of t i me wit h t he ser ies of session s Results depend
W h at ca n m ic r o c u r r ent do for you?
O r ig i n a l ly deve lop e d for t r e ati ng fac i a l pa l s y, m icrocu r rent i n t he est het ic real m ca n:
• Re- educate muscles
• Increase blood a nd ly mph ci rculat ion
• En ha nce t he penet rat ion of t he act ive i ng redients of sk i n ca re for mulat ion s
• Increase t he product ion of collagen a nd elasti n
• Increase protei n sy nt hesis, gluconeogenesis a nd cell membra ne t ra n spor t
Additionally, research has shown that microcurrent may help with anti-aging at an even deeper level In 1982, researcher Ngok Cheng led a study that provided hard evidence of microcurrent’s role in cellular vitality by prov i ng t h at m ic roc u r rent i nc rea sed level s of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in lab-rat skin cells by 500 percent ATP is the fuel a cell needs to function Actually, ATP is a really big deal as it is the energy that fuels all biochemical functions in the body It boosts protein synthesis, necessary for tissue repair
I
at spaexperiencesiestakey.com or by calling 941- 349 - 4833
Spa Experience, Siesta Key is conveniently
Community Spotlight
Margaret Jean Cannon, Siesta Key Association Board Member
QWhat first brought you to Siesta Key?
A
In 1996, I worked as a traveling senior business consultant for IBM. At this point in my career, I could choose my residence if it was near an airport. When I came home, I needed a place to relax and decompress. We have owned a vacation home in Sarasota since the late ‘80s and decided to move from Michigan to Florida permanently. Siesta Key was incredible and I indeed found my paradise there. It became a place to ride my bike, walk on the beach, stargaze, and unwind.
Q
How long did you live on Siesta Key?
A We have lived on Siesta Key for 17 years and watched it grow into a global tourist destination.
QWhat is your favorite memory of living on Siesta Key?
A
There are many memories. The natural environment was unique. One memory in particular stands out - at least a week before a Gulf storm would come, long before the weather reports predicted flooding, turtles would leave the beach and use our beach path to go inland. I would find and pick them up to move them to higher ground in my garden. After the storm passed, they would leave the garden and walk back to the beach. I could finally grow
orchids in the trees outside. The nightly walks on the beach were fantastic, never the same. I took my phone or camera with me on the walks. Pictures of the shorebirds, clouds, and sunsets are amazing. I even captured a photo of a bobcat on our beach path, the existence of which made the rabbits quite unhappy.
Q When did you first become involved with working on behalf of the community?
A I have always been impressed by the tireless efforts of the leaders of the Siesta Key Association and the Siesta Key Condo Association. These organizations are staffed with dedicated individuals, and their meetings are well attended by property owners eager to share their thoughts. These citizens’ associations advocate for the residents and the Island. During these meetings, residents are informed and educated, their concerns are voiced, issues are discussed, and collaborative solutions are developed.
QHow long have you served on the SKA board?
AI have been on the Siesta Key Association Board for five years. The Board made an exception to allow me to remain for this year even though I recently moved to Venice. Leaving Siesta Key was a difficult decision. I visit
the key often and have many friends still here, allowing me to return and walk the beach at night with my camera.
QYou have made many contributions to Siesta Key. What are you most proud of? Tell us more about the mini reef program. How did you become involved with this initiative? What else are you working on?
AWith the support of the Board of the Siesta Key Association, I was encouraged to work on environmental issues. With the help of my team, Dave Vozzolo, Kent Larsen, Becky Seiner, Joyce Kouba and Phil Chiocchio, we have worked on the Island’s marine life and water issues for four years. The Siesta Key residents, along with the Island’s associations and Sarasota County’s Neighbor Initiation Grant program, supported the efforts to purchase mini reefs to be installed under docks on the Island of Siesta Key. Over 480 mini reefs under docks on the Island of Siesta Key are working to rebuild marine life habitats. Our island residents see dolphins in the canal; some bring their babies in to feed around the mini reefs.
Along this journey, this team has worked with our local schools (ODA), from grade school to high school students, and with college students (New College.) Currently, the students are working on creating vertical oyster gardens
(VOGs) and will install them in early 2025. In midNovember, Dr. Samantha Level, a marine biology professor at New College, and her students began analyzing the impact of the mini reefs installed three years ago in November 2021. They will examine marine life’s growth and analyze the canal water’s quality. With ODA and the Sarasota County Stormwater team (Kalya Quinn), we are supporting Art content by ODA students to create a new Siesta Key Village stormwater medallion to be installed in the Siesta Key Village stormwater system early in 2025 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Grand Canal. Additionally, the plan is to educate residents about the Grand Canal’s role in the Island’s stormwater management.
QIf you had a crystal ball, what do you think life on Siesta Key would look like in 25 years?
AI admit I am worried about Siesta Key’s health and environment. These elements are essential to residents, our county’s future income, and visitors. The natural environment is fragile and
plays a crucial role in our Island’s residential quality of Island life. If the differing views between residents, government officials and developers are left unchecked, they could irrevocably harm this precious, unique Island. I lived on the Island when the Comprehensive Plan was being created. I was pleased that the residents, local business leaders, and county commissions worked together and signed this Plan into law. However, today, this Plan appears to be tested constantly and may no longer be upheld or supported by business and county leaders. As a result, the delicate balance between nature, development and the understanding of the Island’s limited resources could be overlooked or disrespected when making critical decisions about its future while caring little about the loss of its natural beautydensity and intensity.
Tis the Season!
Holiday dining options
By Jane Bartnett
8865 Midnight Pass Road Turtlebeachgrill.com 941-349-2280
Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay
8875 Midnight Pass Road 8 p.m. closing on Christmas Day Reservations recommended turtlesrestaurant.com 941-346-2207
very happy new year to one and all!
Dining out on Christmas Day
The following Siesta Key restaurants will be open on Christmas Day:
Cafe Gabbiano 5104 Ocean Boulevard cafegabbiano.com 941-349-1423
Clayton’s Siesta Grille 1256 Old Stickney Point Road claytonssiestagrille.com 941-349-2800
Crescent Club 6519 Midnight Pass Road crescentclubsiestakey.com 941-217-6873
Daiquiri Deck Siesta Key Village 5250 Ocean Boulevard daiquirideck.com Closing at 8 p.m.
941-349-8697
Daiquiri Deck
South Siesta Key 1250 Stickney Point Road daiquiirdeck.com 941-312-2422
Miguel’s 6631 Midnight Pass Road miguelsrestaurant.net Opening at noon at Christmas Day 941-349-4024
Ophelia’s on the Bay 9105 Midnight Pass Road Reserve on opentable.com 941-349-2212
Siesta Key Summerhouse 149 Avenida Messina SiestaKeySummerhouse.com 941-260-2675
SKOB - Siesta Key Oyster Bar 5238 Ocean Boulevard
Christmas Day - 5-11 p.m. - Holiday and regular menu Skob.com 941-346-5443 Turtle Beach Grill
Gulf Gate Restaurants open on Christmas Day Include: Kolucan 6644 Gateway Avenue kolucan.com 941-921-3133
Fin & Tonic
6747 S. Tamiami Trail finandtonicfl.com 941-676-9116
Munchies 420 Opening at 4:30 p.m. Christmas Day 941-303-3304
Solorzano’s Pizzeria 6574 Superior Avenue Soloranzanopizzeria.com Opening mid-afternoon. Call for hours. 941-924-5800
What are you doing New Year’s Eve? New Year’s Eve on Siesta Key and Gulf Gate tends to be a low-key affair but there are numerous choices for a celebratory dinner before the clock strikes 12. For those who want to toast the new year on the town, there are several places to celebrate as 2024 becomes 2025.
Siesta Key
Big Water Fish Market
6641 Midnight Pass Road Closing at 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve 941-554-8101
Blase Martini Bar 5263 Ocean Boulevard Blasepisiesta.com 941-346-1188
Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar 1204 Old Stickney Point Road captaincurts.com 941-349-3885
Clayton’s Siesta Grille 1256 Old Stickney Point Road claytonssiestagrille.com 941-349-2800
Crescent Club 6519 Midnight Pass Road CrescentclubSiestakey.com 941-217-6873
Continued on page 28
Fresh News: Farmers Market is Back
They’re all back. The tomatoes, potatoes, breads, jewelry, crafts, and everything else are back after a onemonth hiatus because of the hurricanes.
The customers are returning to the Siesta Key Farmers Market, a longstanding island tradition, now in its second year of Sunday operation in a new location, sandwiched between the gazebo and the Beach Bazaar store.
“It’s got a good vibe,” declared Key resident Howard Weisbart. He and his wife Lynne inspected the wares at VIP N Soy Candles and engaged in lively discussion with candle purveyor, Kim Johnson, a lifelong Siesta Key resident who’s been selling at the market for 10 years. Once their decision was made, they made their way over to the bread stand.
Sidelined by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the approximately 20 vendors who comprise the weekly market were relieved to see customers trickling back as the season started to gain momentum in November.
“We’re in the heart of the village now,” said market manager Mike Crider. “It’s a much better area for us. The vendors are happy, and the customers are happy.”
Crider runs the Fouta Spa stand, offering loomed beach towels and similar cotton
items from Tunisia.
As the season gets into full swing, customers can find these new offerings at the market: a masseuse, Tex-Mex offerings from Chucos, the 85 Drips coffee bar, handsome hand-carved wood pieces by Barry, Neighborhood Juice (delicious) and Colombian hats and indigenous-made bags from Yancy Handmade.
“It’s adorable,” said Christine Swanson Reker, a Siesta Key native visiting from Tallahassee, as she snapped up a hand-stitched bag from proprietor Ana Yancy. “You usually find something here you can’t live without.”
While the former location in Davidson’s Plaza was less central, it was roomier – stands in the new location are tight up against each other, but it makes for a friendly atmosphere. There’s almost always a performer at the mic stand, adding to the fun atmosphere. Usually it’s Tommy Doerr or John Sollazzo, a.k.a. Siesta John, but you never know when someone else might be strumming or singing for the crowd.
The market is open yearround, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in season and until 1 p.m. during the summer. There’s a Facebook page that provides updates on vendors and market happenings.
By Ned Steele
Top left: Tillman Thomas of TJ Produce has tomatoes in two colors. Top right: Tommy Doer spreads good vibes.
Bottom left: Howard and Lynne Weisbart are shopping at Kim Johnson’s stand.
Bottom right: Christine Swanson Reker found her bag at Ana Yancy’s stand. (Photos by Ned Steele)
Welcome Back, Snowbirds and Holiday Beach Lovers!
As the holidays approach, we’re thrilled to see our seasonal friends returning to Siesta Key. While you were away, we’ve kept busy soaking up the sunshine and preparing for the festive season. There’s something magical about the holidays on the beach, where flipflops meet twinkling lights. Welcome back to your home away from home—there’s no place like Siesta Key for the holidays.
It wasn’t all sunsets and cocktails though. Our community’s resilience shines bright and please pardon our sand as we tidy up after Mother Nature’s recent hurricane visit. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our 24/7 cleanup crews, Siesta Key is on its way to being sparkling and stormfree. We appreciate your patience as we work toward getting back to 100%. After all, nothing can dampen the holiday spirit of our resilient community!
Soup-erb Ideas for Cooler Weather
With the arrival of cooler breezes, it’s officially soup season. And what better way to warm your soul than with the savory flavors
Island Fishmonger
By Chelsea Malcolm & Scott Dolan
of holiday seafood soups and stews? We’ve rounded up five fin-tastic recipes that will have you saying, “Oh, bouillabaisse, it’s the holidays!” From creamy oyster stew to hearty gumbo,
these recipes are sure to make a splash at your dinner table. If you’re wanting the best with less work, Captain Curt’s has the best Clam Chowder, and the best Fish Stew is at Big Water Fish.
1. Oyster Stew – A creamy classic that’s pearl-fect for cozy evenings.
2. Manhattan Clam Chowder – A tomato-based delight that’s always shellshocking.
3. Gumbo – Packed with flavor and love, it’s a holiday hug in a bowl.
4. Lobster Bisque –Smooth, rich, and bisquefully delicious.
5. Cioppino – A seafood medley that brings the ocean’s holiday cheer to your spoon.
Local Love This Holiday Season
In the spirit of giving, let’s support our local businesses and markets, like the Big Water Fish Market here in Siesta Key or get your meats at Southern Steer butcher shop on Bee Ridge Road. Whether you’re picking up fresh seafood for your soups or a quick bite to enjoy after beachcombing, shopping local keeps our community thriving. Plus, there’s nothing better than knowing your holiday feast is made with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients.
Soup’s On, Siesta Key Style! So, bundle up (in your lightest sweater) and dive into the season of seafood soups and holiday magic. With every spoonful of bisque or chowder, let’s toast to good company, great food, and the unbreakable spirit of Siesta Key. Happy holidays, one bowl at a time.
Delicious Seafood Cioppino is currently being served at Big water Fish Market. (photo provided)
turtle species is endangered, and any loss is a major setback. Still, Mote Marine Laboratory officials estimated that hurricane damage through September, the later part of nesting season, affected less than 2% of this season’s turtle nests. According to an Oct. 1 comment from the organization’s Instagram account, “We had 69 [sea turtle] nests left on the beaches we monitor at the time when Hurricane Helene hit, and all have been deemed not viable. We’re saddened by this outcome, but glad most of our 4,000-plus nests this season hatched successfully.”
Birds were luckier.
“The exact impacts on shorebirds depend on the timing and severity of the weather event,”
said Kylie Wilson, a southwest Florida shorebird biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Nesting season for Florida’s imperiled beachnesting birds typically spans from February 15th to September 1st. In Sarasota, the primary species we see nesting are black skimmer, least tern and snowy plover.”
Those species “lay their eggs directly on top of the sand, in a shallow depression they make called a scrape,” she explained.
“Storms can impact beach nesting birds through direct over wash of nests or erosion of suitable nesting sites.”
Despite their nests’ vulnerability, Matthew Press, an avian scientist with the Sarasota Audubon Society, said that damages from this year’s hurricanes could have been a lot worse if the storms had hit earlier in the nesting season.
“Overall, it’s a little early to tell what’s going to happen with the nesting shorebirds,” he said.
“When Debby hit, there were some chick losses, but most of them had successfully fledged.”
In fact, those birds may have even benefitted from the storm surge, according to Wilson: “Storms can create conditions suitable for nesting and overwintering, such as sandy areas with sparce vegetation. Areas with dense vegetation at Siesta Key that experienced overwash may result in conditions that benefit nesting shorebirds in the coming year.” Not only do they have more room to nest, added Press, but less vegetation means fewer hiding spots for predators like raccoons, coyotes, and cats.
As for migratory birds, the hurricanes affected the routes of songbirds that would usually pass through our area in late summer and early fall. Because most species can detect storms a day or two in advance, the animals simply stay put until the storm passes or avoid the area altogether enroute to their winter homes in Mexico and South America. But they’ll be back, and their habitat should be ready to support them again.
“We’re going to see the mangroves bounce back, we’re already seeing the live oaks bounce back,” Press added. “Hopefully by the time migration starts up again in March, a lot of the birds will have a reliable food source.”
In the meantime, avid birders had other sights to celebrate. Several Caribbean species were spotted well outside their typical habitats. “Sooty terns are typically found way offshore,” said Press, “but during Hurricane Debby, the storm just brought them in. A whole bunch of magnificent frigate birds were blown as far inland as Kentucky and Tennessee. And just after Milton we had one seabird, a black-capped petrel, sighted just south of Orlando. They’re generally found far offshore, high up in the mountains of Haiti and the
Dominican Republic. To see one is a spectacular sight.”
Midnight Pass Re-emerges
This summer’s storms also saw the reopening of Midnight Pass, which was closed in 1983 during a failed plan to “relocate” the natural waterway further south. Subsequent attempts to create a new, manmade pass were filled in by the tides, and the issue has stagnated for decades.
That is, until Helene’s recordbreaking storm surge recreated the historic inlet at the south end of Siesta Key, reconnecting the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay. Many residents rejoiced, though it’s unclear if the pass will remain open naturally, or if Sarasota County will implement plans to maintain it.
The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program’s Tomasko, who’s been studying water quality and marine biology for more than 30 years, agrees that the reopened pass will no doubt improve marine life in Little Sarasota Bay. But he also pointed out, the area has never been “dead,” as many people described it.
“For 40 years people have been told it’s dead. That’s just not true at all,” he said. “There’s 600 acres of seagrass; we know it’s a great nursery habitat. There are loads of fish.” Little Sarasota Bay is also a dedicated Manatee Protection Zone, where the slow-moving mammals have flourished with all that vegetation and relatively little boat traffic.
And after five years of catastrophic wastewater overflow issues were resolved in 2019, the bay has met the state’s water quality standards ever since.
Still, Little Sarasota Bay’s marine life has long suffered after storms from an infusion of freshwater, which drains from its relatively large watershed into what has been, without Midnight Pass, a mostly
enclosed body of water. Decaying vegetation in that runoff boosts bacteria levels. At the same time, brackish water sits on top of the saltier bay water and starves fish of oxygen—scientifically known as “salinity stratification and saltwater hypoxia,” said Tomasko. “But since the pass is opened, we don’t think we’re going to see it. What you have right now is a tidal connection that is alleviating the problem that made Little Sarasota Bay the worst water quality after large rain events. It’s going to be a good thing.”
Audubon’s Press added that the newly re-established pass will be a boon for birds, too. “Some species have more successful nesting seasons around inlets because there’s more food available. And during migration, a couple of species like the red knot and the whimbrel are extremely reliant upon inlets for refueling stops.”
Additionally, Wilson’s plovers, which haven’t been seen around Siesta for more than 10 years, could make a return. As with other parts of Siesta Key, this year’s storms eliminated shrubbery near Midnight Pass that otherwise provided hiding spots for hungry raccoons and coyotes. And the pass itself might even cut off those predators’ access to the southern beach.
“However, there is greater human activity, thanks to the opening of the pass.” said Press. “While it’s too early to tell, it’s also possible there may be negative effects on overall nesting productivity.”
And, Tomasko adds, Midnight Pass will also allow more red tide into the previously sheltered waters of Little Sarasota Bay. There will be some consequences to mitigate the benefits.
The Biggest Threat Nature often proves resilient
in the face of natural disasters; it’s the human response that can make the biggest post-storm difference for local species. Beach-nesting birds “are highly sensitive to disturbance from humans, pets, and vehicles,” said FWC’s Wilson. A slower tourism season isn’t great for the local economy, but on the bright side, “fewer people on the beaches could lead to reduced disturbance to beach-nesting birds.”
It’s happened before. “When it comes to nesting birds, we found out [from previous hurricanes] that a lot of these storms have a very beneficial impact,” said Press. “When Hurricane Ian hit, the summer before that we only had one snowy plover that successfully fledged on Fort Myers Beach. The summer after we had 20. The next summer we were back down to one. One theory is that it’s because there wasn’t a lot of tourist activity [after the hurricane].”
On the other hand, while a newly opened Midnight Pass generates a net gain for wildlife in Little Sarasota Bay, Tomasko warned that an uptick in boat activity—especially among people who previously assumed the bay to be “dead”—could harm the animals that have been living there this whole time.
“We just want people to be cognizant,” he said. “Don’t think that you’re exploring a dead zone. Yes, it’s now becoming like it used to be 40 years ago. But It’s a slow-speed/no-wake zone for a reason. The last thing we need is for someone to put a prop scar on a baby manatee.”
In choosing between concern over storm impact optimism about its benefits, the consensus among wildlife experts seems to be, “It’s still too early to tell.”
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Perhaps the most popular pet lizard, bearded dragons are originally from the deserts of central Australia. “Bearded” refers to the expandable flap of skin under their chin that turns black when they are stressed, displaying dominance or being territorial. They are usually even-tempered, docile, easy to tame, bond closely with their caretakers and are generally hardy when cared for properly.
Typical appearance and behavior
• Tolerates handling and interaction with humans
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The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key
The following are properties sold on Siesta Key in the last 60 days,
HIGHEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE
4634 HIGEL AVENUE
$4,740,000
Built by M&J Pham Development this exquisite home features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and 3,801 square feet of living space, this stunning residence offers luxurious comfort and unbeatable location on the water. The home features a modern and elegant kitchen with top-of-the-line Viking appliances, quartz countertops, and custom cabinetry. Two patios with an outdoor kitchen and additional island seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living with meticulously planned landscaping and pool area. The master bedroom boasts an ample layout with plenty of room, and large windows to let in unrestricted natural light. The room also features a generously sized walkin closet with abundant space for storage and organization as well as a private terrace for you to easily enjoy the outdoor scenery. The upper level of the lavish estate features three cozy bedrooms, each with its own private ensuite bathroom and a large rooftop deck that has fantastic views of the gulf. The exterior features multiple terracing outdoor spaces, a saltwater pool and a boat dock with an 8,000-pound boat lift.
Courtesy of Stutzman Realty Group
LOWEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE
5208 CALLE DE RIO
$795,000
Siesta Village pool home on wide lot priced well below market value at seller’s request for quick sale. This home has been professionally gutted and cleaned. The sinks, counters and other inert and cedar materials have been saved for reuse. HVACs and other main items function well, as this home survived both Helene and Milton with over 12” of flooding in home. Now it’s blank canvas for the builder/ renovator. Raze and build new or raise and renovate as this frame home is set on piers and may be elevated.
Courtesy of Bright Realty
HIGHEST PRICED CONDO
5966 MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD, #G-73
$1,525,000
This two-bedroom two-bathroom unit boasts sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico from its seventh-floor vantage point. You will find yourself beyond comfortable in this modern 1,164 square foot space that has a contemporary flair. The bright, white kitchen features attractive stainless appliances and contrasting granite, as well as counter height bar seating and modern light fixtures. The open concept space allows for effortless entertaining while the tile throughout provides low maintenance living and easy clean up from your sandy, Siesta Beach adventures. The enclosed lanai offers the ideal sunset gazing view, where you can open the windows to savor the saltwater breeze. Rest and recharge in the generous owners’ quarters tucked away behind double French doors with privacy glass and featuring a beautiful en suite bath boasting double vanities and neutral, floor to ceiling tile.
Courtesy of Michael Saunders
Happy Holidays
LOWEST PRICED CONDO
9393 MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD, #703
$400,000
This meticulously renovated condo offers comfort and efficiency featuring Impact Glass windows, an HVAC system with UV protection, in-unit full sized washer & dryer & two hot water heaters. The heart of this home is the 22-foot-long glass-enclosed lanai. The modernized kitchen features upgraded cabinets & closet pantry, newer appliances & a custom countertop with bar-top seating for a sunset view of the Gulf of Mexico. The 1-bedroom Ensuite features a custom wall unit & glass sliders gazing out to the eastern water views. Two private entrances open to the newly renovated bathroom with dual vanities & custom walk-in shower. The unit design lives large and includes 5 closets, all hard surface flooring & custom window treatments. A dedicated covered parking space, 1st floor storage & dual building elevators provide additional convenience. Located at the iconic southern tip of Siesta Key Island, this gated community is a 5-acre natural oasis.
Courtesy of Coldwell Banker
Keeping it Real
By Natalie Gutwein
To say it’s been a crazy couple of months on Siesta Key would be the understatement of the century. We went from a quiet little island that hadn’t flooded for as long as anyone could remember to a place where the first question potential buyers ask before scheduling a showing is, “Did the house flood?”
My hurricane story starts like this: It was around 4 o’clock the day of Helene, and I almost went back to the island. The wind wasn’t blowing too hard yet, the rain wasn’t that bad, and it didn’t feel like the hurricane was going to be nearly as destructive as the news made it sound. However, I changed my mind and decided to stay inland.
Around 6:30 p.m., we received videos from a friend who stayed in their condo on the south end of the island showing water creeping onto Midnight Pass in front of Lenny’s Pizza. That’s when we started to worry. We knew high tide was still six hours away. From there, everything went downhill.
Early the next morning, I stopped at Tractor Supply on my way back to the island and bought fans. The kids picked up generators, my friends sent their kids to get squeegees and cleaning supplies, and we did our best to prepare for what we were envisioning. The north bridge was still flooded and closed, so we waited until the
south bridge was open and crossed over.
My first stop was the Village. I couldn’t believe it: everything was flooded. The streets were full of muck and sand, eerily quiet with no power. It felt like a ghost town. When I got back to my house, our belongings had floated all over, and everything on the ground floor was ruined. I was lucky enough to find my kayak and trash cans in my neighbor’s yard, but so much was lost. However, I’m one of the lucky ones. My house is elevated, so I didn’t lose everything like so many of my fellow island residents.
We’ve learned so much since that first day after Hurricane Helene, but soon after Hurricane Milton followed bringing with it, more flooding and wind.
I thought I would share some of that information. The first lesson we’ve learned is about flood insurance. If you’ve purchased insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the maximum amount of coverage is $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents. Many people thought you just get a check for those amounts, but it’s much more painstaking than that. You must list every single item you lost—yes, everything— from socks to stoves. The insurance company only credits a small amount for each item, so you want to make sure you list enough to get the full amount you have in coverage. For example, a refrigerator that you paid $3,000 for might only get a $300 credit.
Many homeowners may be shocked to learn that their standard home insurance policies don’t cover much of the damage caused by natural disasters like hurricanes. It’s important to understand the distinctions between different types of insurance. Homeowners insurance typically covers damage from events like fires, theft, and certain types of wind damage, but it often excludes flooding. Flood insurance, usually purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), specifically covers damage from rising water and is essential for homes in flood-prone areas. Lastly, wind insurance—sometimes included in homeowners’ policies or purchased separately—covers damage from hurricane-force
winds, such as broken windows or roof damage. Knowing these distinctions can help homeowners prepare for and recover from the unexpected, ensuring they have the right coverage for their property. So, what do you do if you find yourself fighting to get the coverage limits in your policy? If you’re not pleased with the response of the person who was assigned as your adjuster, you could contact your insurance provider to request a different adjuster. You can hire a private adjuster who charges a fee and are experts at negotiating with insurance companies. Another option is to hire an attorney who specializes in disaster recovery and employs their own adjusters who will negotiate with the insurance companies.
The Siesta Key community has come together in incredible ways, proving that even in the face of disaster, we’re stronger than the storms we endured. Stay Sunny, Siesta; We’ll be back before you know it!
*This article contains insurance policy numbers based on personal experience. Please consult your insurance broker for more information.
(Natalie Gutwein is a licensed Realtor with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Judie Berger Team and a member of the board of directors of the Siesta Key Association.) (Data accurate as of July 10 from Stellar MLS.)
Dining options
Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill
5253 Ocean Boulevard
Live Music afternoon & night gilligansislandbar.com
941-346-8122
Il Panificio 215 Avenida Madera PanificioUSA.com 941-800-5570
Island House Tap & Grill 5110 Ocean Avenue Islandhousetapandgrill.com 941-487-8116
The Cottage Siesta Key 153 Avenida Messina cottagesiestakey.com 941-312-9300
Lenny’z Pizza & Island Bar 6645 Midnight Pass in Crescent Plaza Lennyz.pizza 941-260-8879
Miguel’s Restaurant 6631 Midnight Pass Road miguelsrestaurant.net Will remain open past midnight. 941-349-4024
The Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen 6641 Midnight Pass Road Facebook Special Event - Buffet & Bagpipes, 7 p.m. - Musical guests Emily Ann and Kell Thompson $50.00 per person (Reservation only.) 941-271-4714
Siesta Key Oyster Bar - SKOB 5238 Ocean Boulevard Open 11 a.m.-midnight. Live music. Annual free champagne toast at midnight. skob.com 941-346-5443
Solorzano’s Pizzeria 6574 Superior Avenue Soloranzanospizzeria.com 941-924-5800
Spearfish Siesta Grille 1265 Old Stickney Point Road spearfishgrille.com 941-349-1971
Turtle Beach Grill 8865 Midnight Pass Road Turtlebeachgrill.com 941-349-2280
Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay 8875 Midnight Pass Road Close at 8 p.m. turtlesrestaurant.com 941-346-2207
Dining Out - New Year’s Eve Gulf Gate Capo Pazzo Pizzeria Kitchen & Bar 2053 Reynolds Street Capopazzo.com 941-487-8677
Divan 6525 Superior Avenue divanturkishcuisine.com 941-924-3030
Dolce Italia 6551 Gateway Avenue DolceItaliarestaurant.com
941-921-7007
Fin & Tonic 6747 S. Tamiami Trail finandtonicfl.com 941-676-9116
Food & Beer 6528 Superior Avenue eatfooddrinkbeer.com 941-952-3361
Fresh Catch Fish Market & Grill 7119 S. Tamiami Trail freshcatchmarketandgrill.com New Year’s Day - take out only. 941-413-7133
Heidi’s Schnitzel Kitchen 6521 Superior Avenue schnitzelkitchen.godaddysites.com 941-922-9299
Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill 6644 Gulf Gate Drive kolucan.com 941-921-0313
Solorzano’s Pizzeria 6574 Superior Avenue nobodymakespizzalikewedo.com 941-924-5800
Tony’s Chicago Beef Co. 5569 Superior Avenue Facebook 941-922-7979
Tortellino Bistrot 6584 Superior Avenue Facebook 941-388-7147
Phillippi Estate Area Isan Thai Restaurant 5758 S. Tamiami Trail Isanthairestaurant.com 941-923-1232
Late Night - Gulf Gate New Year’s Eve Celebration Moondoggies 2234-2236 Gulf Gate Drive zuzumoondoggies.com 941-260-8588
Munchies 420 Facebook 941-303-3304
New Year’s party starts at 8:00 p.m. with live band - 2:00 a.m.
Presents
SCHEDULED DEC. GUESTS INCLUDE:
Dave Balot, Siesta Key hotelier and business owner Scooter on the Beach, Sarasota County lifeguard and social media influencer
NOV. GUESTS
INCLUDE:
Mark Smith, Sarasota County Commissioner
Catherine & Bob Luckner, Siesta Key Association President & Treasurer
Eric Fleming, Siesta Key lawyer and president of Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
Dave Skaggs, local sculpture artist that focuses on environmental art made by recycled materials
Margaret Jean Cannon, Siesta Key Association Board Member and champion of the very successful mini reef program
Tracy Jackson, president of Save Siesta Key and resident shares her personal hurricane recovery story
Dallas Lowe, entertainment director / master of ceremonies MC Host at Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar (and Sniki Tiki)
You can watch all episodes of podcasts on our Siesta Sand Live YouTube channel
WHAT: A weekly talk show video featuring segments on news, community leaders, business, and all things Siesta Key!
WHO: Brought to you by the Siesta Sand with host Natalie Gutwein, SKA Board Member, Siesta Sand columnist, and realtor on Siesta Key.
WHERE: The Sniki Tiki located in Captain Curt’s Village at 1204 Old Stickney Point Road
WHEN: Every Thursday at 9 a.m.
WHY: To provide residents and visitors from around the world all the current information impacting life on and around Siesta Key.
HOW TO WATCH: In-person at the Sniki Tiki, online at Siestasand.us, our dedicated Siesta Sand Live YouTube channel, our dedicated Siesta Sand Live Facebook page, and coming soon on Spotify and Apple.
Siesta Sand Live is Sponsored by
Siesta Sand Live host Natalie Gutwein.
2024 St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
5
December Liturgy Schedule
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monday, December 9th - 9am & 5:30pm
Advent Penance Service
Wednesday, December 11th - 5:30pm
Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Children’s Christmas Pageant - 3:30pm
Christmas Eve Mass - 4:00pm
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 8:00am & 10:00am
judgment asking Sarasota County courts to confirm that his hotel special exception can move forward, assuming he adheres to his approved, binding development plan. For his potential construction process to continue, the county must approve Balot’s site development plan application, which they neglected to do, claiming the special exception was no longer valid due to the court rulings on two other hotel projects. The purpose of Balot’s filing was for the court to potentially issue a ruling stating his plans for the project are “final, non-appealable and binding,” considering a lack of challenge and a previously looming two-year deadline of Oct. 24, 2024, for his special exception on use and height.
Balot’s exception was the third in a series of special exception approvals for high-density hotels granted in 2021 and 2022. The two previously granted special exceptions allowed for transient accommodations and increased height above the existing 35foot cap established in 1989, but an August 2023 legal ruling on lawsuits that named only the two other hotels, negated their special
exceptions. Both those hotels – one with seven stories at Old Stickney Point Road and one with eight stories at Calle Miramar – were approved under the county’s shortlived “unlimited density” decision in 2021.
When Balot’s project was presented to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in October 2022, it was unanimously approved and was not legally challenged. Subsequently, in November 2023, the county commissioners chose to further study and vet a comprehensive plan amendment recommendation that would allow the hotel to advance. The previous green light was given by the county based upon its interpretation of the existing rules making Balot’s project the only one that was excluded.
However, Carroll’s Oct. 24 order states, “The County’s position is clearly erroneous because (1) the approved hotel density and intensity of use for the Project – 112 rooms – is final and non-appealable on grounds of inconsistency with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. This is because the Special Exception and
Scot t Black
approved density and intensity of use of 112 hotel rooms were never timely challenged pursuant to Section 163.3215; (2) as such, the County cannot now refuse to process and approve ABC’s site development plan application on the grounds of inconsistency with the Comprehensive Plan; and the County’s position amounts to an impermissible collateral administrative attack on its own prior official action granting the Special Exception.”
Carroll summed up the order by declaring that the county cannot challenge the density or intensity of use granted by the commission in 2022. Additionally, the county may not decline review of the site development plan application or future submissions related to the project based on inconsistency with the comprehensive plan.
In a Nov. 14 email to Siesta Sand, Balot wrote, “We will continue to meet and work with the county to complete our site and development plan. In the meantime, we will start working on our construction plans, so hopefully we can have both approved by the county sometime next year, and ultimately begin construction.”
