Siesta Sand - November 2024

Mother Nature opens Midnight Pass, stabilization sought

With a little help from Helene and Milton, Midnight Pass was back in the flow for the first time since the 1980s. Now, the goal is to keep it that way.

By ChrisAnn Allen

Mother Nature provided a miracle in the face of natural disaster.

Hurricane Helene started the job on September 26 and Hurricane Milton carried it through October 10. Now, Midnight Pass, which historically ran between Siesta Key and Casey Key but was filled in the 1980s due to concerns with property erosion, is flowing once more.

“I am personally BLOWN AWAY!” read an October 10 post on the RESTORE MIDNIGHT PASS NOW!! Facebook group

page, representative of nearly 9,500 members and the social media outlet for the nonprofit Midnight Pass Society II has been working as the grassroots support for the County’s effort to restore the tidal connection between the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay. The post contained a photo of the newly reopened pass and garnered 780 “likes” on the page.

Since then, the group page has blown up with hundreds of daily posted photos and videos of people Continued on page 26

Helene brings surge, Milton makes a windy landfall

Anguish meets optimism as islanders sort through the rubble following two historic hurricanes and delve into what comes next

By ChrisAnn Allen

They were the most powerful storms to impact Siesta Key in longer than most people can remember.

Our area experienced back-to-back

hurricanes, with Helene rolling along the coast Sept. 26 bringing an 8-foot storm surge, followed in short order by Milton, making landfall on Siesta Key Oct. 9 as a Category 3

storm with winds exceeding 100 mph.

“We had all heard the story before,” said Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith, an architect and 26-year resident of Siesta

they’ve said

Continued on page 22

Key whose district includes the northern portion of Siesta. “In the past,

A reported 200+ boats celebrated the reopening of Midnight Pass with a community boat parade on Oct. 26. (Photo by Hannah Phillips Photography)

Greetings from the Gulf Resiliency

By Siesta Sand Staff

We will come back.

We are already coming back. Look around. The signs are everywhere.

The signs of rebuilding; the signs of determination.

Yes, we will rebuild. Life on Siesta Key is a microcosm of life itself. Who among us has breezed through this life unscathed, untroubled, unhurt?

Yet, who among us has not been blessed with the days of joy and beauty that life also brings?

So, it is with Siesta Key; so, it is with life itself. We have work to do, but we want to do it.

So, keep those chain saws humming. Make way for the debris-hauling trucks and shout out a “thanks” to the folks running them.

Yes, our community suffered – and lost – much. Some were hurt worse than others, and we must do all we can to support those neighbors.

But Siesta Key will come back.

The tourists will come back.

“The season” will come back.

Happy hour at SKOB is already back.

Arguments about hotels, incorporation and beachfront development will come back.

Beach boom boxes blaring too much Foreigner and Beach Boys will come back.

The sea turtles will come back.

Golf carts will putter along

Midnight Pass Road again.

The delightful sound of laughing children scampering in the surf will come back.

It will take a lot of sweat and a lot of money. More, unfortunately, than some of us may have. So, we may not necessarily be 100% whole again. Some of what was torn from our community can never be replaced.

But what choice do we have, really? Give up? Flee? Live or run a business in someplace ordinary?

It takes a special kind of person to live or run a business on a barrier island... the kind who’s willing to take on some risk for, hopefully, a greater gain. Those people, and those businesses, exist in abundance on Siesta Key. It’s time to show what we’re made of.

Let’s take those risks, but let’s mitigate them as best we can, for our own good. Let’s give Mother Nature the respect she deserves. When we rebuild, we may have to do it smarter, or at least differently, than before.

But let’s rebuild.

So, let’s haul away the debris and break out the drywall.

Start up the barbecue – and invite your neighbors who lost their home.

Clean up the boat.

Raise a glass at happy hour.

Hug your loved ones -- more precious to us than ever.

We’re coming back. Paradise is worth fighting for.

Island Chatter Siesta Beach: It’s Back!

The beach is back.

After an extended posthurricane shutdown and “a whole lot of raking and leveling,” the fabled white quartz sands of Siesta Beach were slated to welcome visitors as of October 26.

“You’re good to go,” the nation’s foremost beach scientist, “Dr. Beach” Stephen Leatherman, who famously named Siesta Beach number one in the United States in 2017, said in an interview with this newspaper.

Although noting he hadn’t seen the beach here personally, he was monitoring reports and believed “I don’t see any

By Ned Steele

problem unless there is a lot of debris.”

At press time Turtle Beach, which suffered more extensive damage, was still being cleaned up.

Best news of all, according to Sarasota County: Siesta’s white sands did not get mixed in extensively with debris and remain pristine. But they did blow into the parking lots and beyond to the road.

“That beautiful sand is still here and the same as it always been,” said Nicole Rissler, director of parks, recreation and natural resources for Sarasota County as she announced the reopening plan.

A special note of thanks from

John Morton

Dear Jim and Harry, aka our Palm Island superheroes, thank you so much for saving our hides! Your furry friends forever, Kirby and Smokey

“In some cases, it had to be separated a little bit but in a lot of cases it was able to be put back on the beach,” Rissler said, “and then just a whole lot of raking and leveling.”

“We’ve done everything we can to make it safe and accessible.”

Water quality at Siesta and other reopened county beaches remained solid, Rissler added.

But Turtle Beach, Rissler said, suffered “a lot of substantial damage.” She did not provide a timetable for reopening as this newspaper went to press.

Kirby (left) and Smokey seen resting peacefully after having to find shelter from the surge waters of Hurricane Helene. There were many acts of kindness and support in the community. Go to page 22 to read another story of the community pulling together to help a neighbor. (Photo by Kirby and Smokey dad, John Morton)

Siesta Key’s restaurants and bars are in full recovery mode – just in time for the season’s arrival.

At press time in late October, a Chamber of Commerce running list showed more than two dozen eateries and taverns open, with more being added every day.

Retail shops and accommodations are catching up as fast as they can.

Helene and Milton were a fierce one-two blow, but Siesta Key’s eateries and drinkeries are getting back on their feet. “After Milton,” said Crescent Club manager Mary Pisano, “we had the attitude, ‘We [cleaned up] last week; we’ll do it this week.’”

At the village’s iconic Siesta Key Oyster Bar (a.k.a. SKOB), General Manager Samantha Lemmer said, “The outcome of all this has made us stronger.”

SKOB was closed for a total of 14 days between Helene and Milton – Helene’s flooding damaged the interior spaces and Milton knocked out power.

The outdoor deck reopened Oct. 18 and the indoor dining room was eyeing an end of October reopening.

“We will celebrate the Crystal Classic and Veterans Day weekend,” Lemmer vowed.

Getting there wasn’t easy for SKOB, but not as bad as it could have been. The inside room took on a foot of water, so two feet of wall had to go. The kitchen and its equipment and the deck were relatively intact. Still, the whole

place – kitchen, dining room, offices, furniture and deck – had to be disinfected top to bottom and pressure washed.

SKOB’s 97-person staff stayed on the payroll, many of them coming in before the reopening to help with the cleanup. “We are very grateful to have the team we have,” Lemmer said.

People started trickling in the moment SKOB reopened, many of them eager for a break from the stress and hard work of cleaning up their home. “They said we were the light at the end of the tunnel,” Lemmer recalled.

At Big Tiki Lounge, where two feet of water flooded and bar tables floated down Ocean Boulevard, reopening was scheduled for the last Saturday in October. The entire thatched roof, some of

which had just been redone in July, had to be replaced. The audio system was destroyed, as was the refrigeration, but the tiki bar itself held up fine. Big Tiki’s food truck took a hit and will need major repairs. But the lounge put together a limited food menu for the reopening.

Damage was heavier at the adjoining Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites, owned by the same people as Big Tiki. There, 45 of the 56 units are ground level; all were severely flooded. The upstairs units had to be shut to guests because the air conditioning failed.

Co-owner Dave Balot said he brought in contractors from Jacksonville and Gainesville, local electricians and plumbers, and demolition laborers from as far away as North Carolina. The resort hopes to partially reopen next month and resume full operations in January. The biggest unknown, Balot said, was the delivery of new furniture.

Other restaurants to reopen early included Big Water Fish Market, Café Gabbiano, Clayton’s, both Daiquiri Decks, Gilligan’s, Lenny’z Pizza, Made in Rome Organic Gelato, Miguel’s, Summer House, Toasted Mango and Turtles Restaurant. (Current list is at https://www.siestakeychamber. com/now-open/)

In South Village, Crescent Club is on track for a mid- month full reopening after taking in up to five feet of water and a foot of sand.

The bar has already reopened, with everything disinfected and treated, but the rest of the facility’s indoor area is getting a major rebuild.

“We’ll keep the original look,” manager Mary Pisano promised, “but there’ll be new floors and new touches throughout.”

High on Pisano’s reopening agenda: a “Milton Recovery party” before Thanksgiving, and Crescent Club’s traditional opento-all buffet style Thanksgiving Day feast.

“You can’t cry over spilled milk,” she said. “We will come back stronger than ever.”

Up the road at SKOB, the attitude was the same. “The next thing you know,” SKOB’s Lemmer said, “we’ll all be acting like this never happened – hopefully.”

Servers Lauren Bogart (left) and Alyssa Salerno (right), flanking general manager Samantha Lemmer, celebrate SKOB’s reopening. (Photo by Siesta Sand)

They’re pouring and chilling again at the Crescent Club, with patrons joining general manager Mary Pisano (2nd from right) and bartender Mindy Aderman. (Photo by Siesta Sand)

Workers renovating tiki lounges seem happier than most. At Big Tiki, the repaving work neared completion late last month. (Photo by Siesta Sand)

The Great Rebuild has begun. Whether it is – or was – an Old Florida cottage or a multimilliondollar architectural gem, many Siesta Key residents have effectively lost their homes.

But many are coming back. Following different scenarios towards different end games, but with the same determination: to rebuild and get on with their lives.

Mark Van Voorhees: Renovate

Back in the 1940s, Heron Lagoon Circle was a quiet, secluded haven of 13 cozy fishing cottages set back on the Gulf side of Midnight Pass Road, at the Key’s south end. It was a close-knit community – almost communal, Mark Van Voorhees remembers.

His grandmother moved there in 1960 and stayed for the rest of her life – as did many of the neighbors, most as close as family. His mother lived her years out there too, and since 2008 it has been his.

The damage from Helene was heavy: “First the water was ankle deep. Then knee deep, then hip. Then the sofas were floating.”

It reached four and a half feet. Along with everything inside the home, Mark, retired from running an electronics company, lost his 2003 Subaru Forester. He moved in with friends in Sarasota, then with relatives a few towns away.

He will be back. “At first I had doubts,” he recalled. “It was so damn disheartening.”

But then he thought of his mother. And his grandmother. He started clearing out the two beds, the two sofas, and the futon. He will restore the home. “It might be good money

They Will Rebuild

after bad,” he said with a resigned sigh. “I have a hard time letting go of things.”

Mark talked things over with his neighbors on Heron Lagoon Circle. Most will stay, and that helped him make his decision. His roof held, and he has flood insurance, and hoping for substantial reimbursement: “The adjusters were good about it.”

One thing that won’t be back: the vintage 1970s décor and furnishings.

“It’ll be like I moved into an AirBnB,” he said, “but I’ll get used to it.”

Frank Martinelli: Restore and Sell

Thirty years after Frank, owner of a luxury yacht charter business, moved into his home along Higel Avenue, the big one finally hit.

Helene’s floodwaters reached up to the doorknobs, destroying all the kitchen appliances and furnishings installed in a 2017 renovation. Before new drywall could be installed, “Uncle Miltie came calling,” Frank said. He and his wife retreated to stay at the mainland home of his ex-wife.

Frank will rebuild – “I’m a builder.” The cabinetry and furniture are on order.

But he won’t be back. The plan: sell the restored house, retire, and spend summers in Canada. Winter “somewhere warm,” he said, not necessarily Siesta Key.

“I anticipate someone will buy our home, make it an AirBnB for a few years, then tear it down and build new, up to code.

“More and more people will come here. The connection to the water

By Ned Steele

and the lifestyle are worth every bit of it.”

Joe and Kelley Church: Tear Down and Build New

After several years of renting on the island, the Churches, of St. Louis, MO, bought their dream winter home on Palm Island, a three-bedroom Mediterranean style ranch, in spring 2023. They immediately undertook a major renovation: new flooring, fixtures and furniture; a redo of the pool and lanai, new AC and a tougher seawall.

“Those improvements were a waste,” Joe said as he surveyed photos of his dream home after Helene and Milton. “I was pretty naïve.”

Five feet of water undid it all.

“Anything that wasn’t on the ceiling was taken out,” he said.

The Churches will be back, and so will their dream house. But it won’t be the same one. It will be the new one they build on the lot after tearing down the ranch they lovingly renovated just last year.

“There is a clear path to enjoying Siesta Key for a long time,” Joe said.

The Churches calculated that between FEMA regulations and the housing market’s economics, it isn’t feasible to either renovate the ranch or tear it down and sell the lot. “We don’t have much of a choice,” Joe said. “I know a lot of people can’t do this, but it’s the best thing for us to do.”

So, they will build a new home, up to code and elevated 10 feet, as the second home they’d always envisioned sharing with their four children, one grandson, and Joe’s

91-year-old mother through the long, cold northern winters.

“I have no hesitation. We will enjoy it again. This is a great community with a lot of friendly people,” Joe observed. “What’s not to love? It’s the Zen of the Key.”

Mark and Lorrie Bogart: Rebuild

Their home is one of the island’s gems: a historic Paul Rudolphdesigned classic, a block from Beach Access 11, they bought in 2009. Helene poured 42 inches of water in; Milton another two feet.

Lorrie’s family goes back 60 years on Siesta Key, and they live in an architecturally significant home.

So, the decision was a no-brainer: “We are dedicated and committed to rebuilding and restoring the rich legacy of Paul Rudolph,” Mark said.

The insurance claim hasn’t been resolved yet and the details aren’t yet set – “Maybe we won’t go to the

staying in Lorrie’s parents’ winter home across the street, which is fortunately vacant this time of year. But they’re focused on lining up contractors and eager to start. Mark estimates it will take 9-12 months “to do it right.”

“We are very committed to staying on Siesta Key for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Judie Berger and James Fox: TBD

Between the two of them, realtor Judie Berger and her boyfriend James Fox lost three homes and two cars from the storms.

They were out of town when the damage hit. On returning, Judie had to shovel 15 inches of debris from her front entry just to get inside her 1961 Siesta Isles home.

Judie is practicing what she preaches to her clients: get the mitigation done quickly but take it slow and think it all through before determining the best course of action.

“Right now, we’re putting out the loudest fires first,” she said during a break from cleaning out the mess her home is in. “I’m not going to rush to renovate.”

The couple are staying in a rented condo temporarily while they weigh their moves.

Considering all the options, understanding the FEMA regulations on rebuilding limits and the state of the market all takes time, she notes. “Take a pause,” she advises clients. “New information comes out every day.”

One thing is certain, she said: “I’m not leaving the key.”

- Increase Range of Motion

Mark and Lorrie Bogart will rebuild their mid-century classic home designed by famed architect Paul Rudolph.

Fetaured Listings

The draw of Siesta Key’s beaches is so strong that despite the impact of the recent hurricanes, it reached across the ocean to entice Richard and Ines Meade from England.

There they were on Turtle Beach last month, just days after Milton, strolling the sand, alongside the cleanup contractors and heaps of sand and debris.

“We don’t have this in London,” Richard said. “It’s nice to see it up and running again.”

The Meades had held to their pre-storm plans to visit her dad on the mainland, and after determining his home was fine, they crossed the Stickney Bridge and headed for Turtle Beach.

“It’s quite impressive, the work they’ve already done,” Ines said.

The couple were optimistic about Siesta Key’s continued appeal to their countrymen.

“The Brits love Florida. I’m sure they’ll be back,” Richard said.

Nearby, Chad Abel and Mindy Miller of Indianapolis were wading at the shoreline with their 9- and 12-year-old daughters. They too had kept their annual fall school break trip to Siesta Key, where her dad lives, on the calendar.

“The power is up; the water is back. Everything seemed ok to come,” Chad said.

“When we saw the restaurants were opening up, we thought we could come and spend some money in them,” Mindy said. “And we’re talking about tipping a little more.”

If these visitors are any indication, Siesta Key’s tourism industry will bounce back. It

will be aided by Visit Sarasota, the county tourism agency.

Visit Sarasota has launched a new campaign for social media and web, “Support the 941.” It will enable any of Siesta Key’s restaurants, bars and attractions to showcase their promotions and announce their reopening. Residents can support their favorite establishments by posting testimonials on social media using #SupportThe941 “to show their local love.”

Visit Sarasota is also working with adjoining jurisdictions to mount a nationwide campaign as soon as Florida’s Gulf beaches are back and ready to enjoy. At Siesta Sand’s press time, a launch date had not been determined.

“We have to be sensitive to different levels of recovery,” said the agency’s Hunter Carpenter.

“We’re going to combat the narrative that we were devastated,” Carpenter said.

The campaign, which will also include the Bradenton and Port Charlotte areas, will run through November and into the holidays, he said.

On Siesta Key, early signs of rebound are already evident.

Mike Holderness, head of the Beachside Management rentals firm, said that by mid-October, “We’re getting calls and we have properties available.”

The problem, he said, is getting the heaps of debris cleared away by the county.

Holderness, who is also co-owner of Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites and Big Tiki Lounge, estimated that about 20% of Siesta Key’s available

By Ned Steele

rentals were flooded and off the market. “That’s 80% that can be rented,” he said. He predicted a “very good” tourism season, and that with supply down, the 80% available on the market will fetch premium prices. “For some, it will be the best year,” he said.

Not only will the Crystal Classic be back, but plans are being made for the return of the traditional Thanksgiving Day parade with an appearance by Santa. “It’s on our radar and

we’re working on it,” said Ann Frescura, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. The planned date for the parade is Saturday, November 30th.

The Chamber’s Visitor Center has posted on its website a running list of available accommodations as places reopen – there were eight listed at press time – and are fielding calls from people holding reservations hoping to still come.

“We are all working together as a community,” Frescura said. Strolling the beach, Chad Abel and Mindy Miller shared the optimism. Abel said, “Everyone I talk to back home in Indianapolis who comes here is looking forward to coming back.”

“This is a special place for a lot of people,” Miller said. “People aren’t going to give this up.”

Chad Abel and Mindy Miller of Indianapolis on Turtle Beach with their two daughters.

Londoners Ines and Richard Meade visiting Siesta Key.

CB’s remodels after two hurricanes

By Jane Bartnett

“We’re still moving but we have a cast on,” said CB’s Saltwater Outfitters’ owner Mason Tush with a laugh as he spoke about the state of the iconic Siesta Key business that first opened its doors in 1959.

Although the waterfront building that houses the store is undergoing a complete restoration, CB’s began selling bait at the front of the store, on a limited basis, a week after Hurricane Milton. Their boat rental business is also open. Fin Island Company, CB’s sister company, located next door to the Daiquiri Deck on Stickney Point Road, is selling the store’s merchandise.

The waterfront location made CB’s a prime target for Hurricane Helene’s devastating water. “We got about 2 - 2 1/2 feet of flooding and we had to gut the entire store,” explained Tush. As clean up began after Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton came along. The store’s plumbing and electrical areas, he reported, were not damaged.

Looking ahead, Tush is hopeful that CB’s can open its doors by Thanksgiving, however, he cautioned that construction may not be completed until December.

The 65-year-old business has grown to become the largest on-the-water bait and tackle shop in Sarasota. Known for its fishing charters and knowledgeable captains who are experts when it comes to navigating the waters of Siesta Key, CB’s is a family business.

Facebook posts from CB’s loyal customers echoed the sentiment of many local business owners, residents and visitors. “Wishing our friends at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters the best for a swift recovery and to make it through round two. God bless,” wrote the owners of Cruisin Tiki’s Sarasota, a fellow Siesta Key business.

To track their progress as a new and even better CB Outfitters emerges in the coming weeks, visit cbsoutfitters.com and their Facebook page.

Community Resource Information

As Siesta Key and Gulf Gate continue to recover following Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricanes Helene and Milton, resources are available for those who need assistance.

The following is a rundown of offices and contacts on the federal, state and local level that have been provided by Sarasota County to help residents and business owners.

FEMA Assistance

Sarasota County residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can apply for FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance by Dec. 11.

NOTE - If you completed an application for FEMA assistance involving Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, you must complete a separate application for Milton in one of three ways:

1. Going to DisasterAssistance.gov

2. Using the FEMA APP

3. Calling 800-621-3362

Learn more: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4834

There are three ways to apply for disaster assistance: ONLINE – Disasterassistance.gov

FEMA APP - Download the FEMA app CALL - 800- 621- 3362

SNAP Recipients

Visit the Florida Department of Children and Families website at: https://www.Myfamilies.com/milton

Business Recovery Resources

Local, state and federal resources are available to businesses as recovery continues. Sarasota County offers resources to help guide business owners.

Email BusinessRecovery@scgov.net

Visit scgov.net Call 311 or 941-861-5000

Sarasota County Planning and Development Services

Private Property Recovery FAQ

Call Sarasota Operations Center - 941-861-5000 or 311 https://www.scgov.net/government/planning-and-developmentservices/building/disaster-recovery

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

• In nature, their skin is tan-colored, but they have been bred for a variety of di erent colors and patterns

Communicate with each other through gestures such as “arm waving” in which they lift a front leg and wave it back and forth in submission to another lizard

They also bob their heads as part of their mating ritual or to display dominance

Emails: Operation Center: building@scgov.net Permitting: stormpermitting@scgov.net

Flood Plans review: floodplansreview@scgov.net Unlicensed Contractors: ula@scgov.net

Community Resource Contacts:

• American Red Cross 1-800-RED-CROSS

• Disaster Legal Aid (Bay Area Legal Services) 1-833-514-2040

• Florida Disaster Legal Aid Helpline 1-833-514-2940

• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-8011

• HOPE Florida (Mental Health Line - operating 24 hours a day) 1-833-GET-HOPE or 1-833- 438- 4637

• Insurance Fraud Hotline 1-800-378-0445

• Insurance Consumer Helpline – FL Dept. of Financial Services 1-877-MY-FL-CFO or 877-693-5236

• Samaritan’s Purse – Homeowners Helpline for Hurricane Relief 1-833-747-1234

• State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) - Florida 800-342-3557

Sarasota County Planning and Development Services Call 311 or 1-941-861-5000 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota

Sarasota County Parks & Beaches visit sarasotacountyparks.com

• Will spend their day in a hiding spot, basking and climbing.









Happy Thanksgiving Siesta Key

Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at one of these local restaurants

Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 28. Kick off the holiday season, give thanks, and enjoy a relaxing, delicious meal at one of these Siesta Key’s restaurants. Discover special menus just for the holiday.

Cafe Gabbiano 5104 Ocean Boulevard cafegabbiano.com

Dine in or carry out.

Traditional Thanksgiving menu as well as other dining options.

941-349-1423

2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

*Reservations are recommended.

Crescent Club

6519 Midnight Pass cresentclubsiestakey.com 941-217-6837

Thanksgiving Party Buffet opens at 2:00 p.m.

Daiquiri Deck

South Siesta Key 1250 Stickney Point Road 941-312-2422

Serving a Thanksgiving multicourse dinner.

Daiquiri Deck

Siesta Key Village 5250 Ocean Boulevard https://www.daiquirideck. com/locations/siesta-keyvillage 941-349-8697

Serving a Thanksgiving multicourse dinner.

Note - All Daiquiri Deck

restaurants will be open, and all will serve Thanksgiving menus.

Miguel’s Restaurant

6631 Midnight Pass Road 941-349-4024

miguelsrestaurant.net

Opening at noon - 10:00 p.m.

Traditional turkey dinner as well as ham and prime rib dinners as well as Miguel’s regular menu.

*Reservations are recommended.

Siesta Key Summer House

Steak & Seafood

149 Avenida Messina 941-260-2675

siestakeysummerhouse.com

Opening at noon. Traditional turkey dinner and a full dinner menu available.

*Reservations are strongly recommended.

Siesta Key Oyster BarSKOB

5238 Ocean Boulevard

941-346-5443

skob.com

Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay

8875 Midnight Pass Road 941-346-2207

Noon - 8:00 p.m.

Special Thanksgiving menu.

*Reservations are highly recommended.

Set

Sospiri, Dutz , Michel Atlan, Ottica Venenta, and more

Bridge project resumes

Not to be deterred by the three storms that impacted the community, FDOT wants to complete the Stickney Point Bridge maintenance project on schedule – before season begins in January 2025.

To do that, crews will resume construction the week of Oct. 27 with single lane closures or bridge diversions (Nov. 4) planned through the remainder of the year. Estimated travel time remains from 1 to 5 minutes.

Regular bridge openings for marine vessels will also continue.

This bridge improvement project will extend the bridge’s service life and operational reliability, mitigating the effects of the harsh coastal environment, severe weather, and wear from the volume of vehicle and marine traffic. The project duration is expected to be 200 days.

Starting the week of November 4 FDOT will resume a weekly bridge diversion. Trucks should

News Briefs

have no issue with clearance in the lanes. There will be no lane closures on evenings or weekends. Pedestrians will continue to be able to use the bridge.

Disputed Traffic Signal Temporarily Activated

The legally challenged traffic signal at the intersection of Avenue B/C has been temporarily activated by the county to assist with hurricane debris removal and to ensure motorist safety. The impetus behind this decision is the vacant property on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road is being utilized as a debris management site (DMS). This 25-acre property is the planned home of the Siesta Promenade, a Benderson Development Co. project that has won the Sarasota County Commission approval for a 130room hotel, 7,000 square feet of office space, and 133,000 space of

retail space.

Trucks moving hurricane debris will be entering and leaving the DMS at the intersection of Stickney Point Road and Avenue B/C.

According to Spencer Anderson, Sarasota County’s Public Works Department director, the county will be temporarily activating the new traffic signal at this intersection to provide protected left turns from the DMS. The signal will be flashing yellow for a period of time prior to full red/green/ yellow functionality. The county will also be using message boards to alert approaching motorists of the new signal operation.

The new signal is equipped with vehicle detection cameras that will only change the signal when traffic is present at the DMS and Ave B/C approaches. Otherwise, through traffic on Stickney Point Road will maintain green signal priority. When it does change, the cross-traffic signal will be set to the shortest possible green duration. The red/ green/yellow cycles will only be operating when DMS activities are active, otherwise it will be flashing yellow signals.

The DMS will be active until al the debris from the recent storms have been completed, according to the county’s Public Works Department. Currently, over 90,000 cubic yards of debris has been collected and deposited at the site.

Ultimately, when DMS activities are fully complete, the signal will be either put on flashing yellow or turned off.

Truck traffic accessing the DMS site is limited to major throughfare roads (i.e. U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road) and not permitted to utilize adjacent residential roads.

The county is being provided use of this property at no cost to the public.

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!

Stone Crab Season Starts October 15th

Master Sand Sculptors Will

By Jane

It’s official. “The 2024 Crystal Classic is a go! It is with great pleasure that we announce the November 15-18, 2024, Siesta Key Crystal Classic will be moving forward as planned,” reported Ann Frescura, Executive Director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce.

Presented by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, a portion of proceeds from the Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, an event that draws some 40,000 attendees annually, will go to the Siesta Key Scholarship Fund for Ringling College of Art & Design.

Master sand sculptor Brian Wigglesworth, the creator of the Crystal Classic along with representatives of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau, began the tradition in November 2010. Since then, the sand sculpting festival, which draws artists and visitors from around the world, has grown to

become a premier event.

The 24 artists taking part in this year’s 2024 Crystal Classic will arrive at the beach on Wednesday, November 14. Each sculptor will begin with a fresh pile of Siesta Key sand. Sculpting begins on Thursday. Each artist will work for eight hours a day through Saturday. On Sunday, four hours are allowed for final touch ups. In addition to their own creations that feature eight solo sculptures and eight team sculptures, the artists also work together on a large “community carve.”

Artists taking part in this year’s 2024 Crystal Classic come to Siesta Key from Canada, Hungary, Latvia and the Netherlands. Participating American artists hail from California, Maine, Missouri, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas and Sarasota, Florida.

The Amateur Contest will also take place on Saturday, November 16. Online registration for amateur carvers must be completed by November 13 at 3:00 p.m. at SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com.

2024 Artist Teams

Brian Wigglesworth and Matt Long

Founding artist, The Siesta Key Crystal Classic

2023 People’s Choice AwardDuo Sculpture - A tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett

“With the help of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and local businesses like the former Best Western Siesta Key, Smith Architecture and others,” said Wigglesworth, the festival became a reality. After a successful art career, he returned to sand sculpting. Wigglesworth and his partner, sculptor Andy Daily, own the “Sand Venture Crew” company based in Sarasota, Florida. Their clients include Hyundai, Marriott, New York Life, L’Oreal, Peterbilt , Margaritaville Clothing and The Inns of Sanibel. Matt Long has placed in four world championship competitions and was a cast member for the twoseason run of the Travel Channel Show Sand Masters. In 2001, he began creating sand sculptures around the world. . His work has appeared in locations as

diverse as Thailand, New Zealand and in New York City’s Times Square and Rockefeller Plaza. He also designed and patented the Can You Dig It Sand Tools that are used in all his team building events.

Marie-Line Gagne and Isabelle Gasse

2023 Sculptor’s Choice AwardDuo Category

Marie-Line Gagne became a professional carver seven years ago. She began working in snow and ice and now enjoys creating sand sculptures on beaches around the world. Isabelle Gasse began her career at a snow sculpting event in Quebec, Canada, at age 16. In 2021, she gained international recognition for her sand sculpting and now works in sand, wood, snow and ice.

Matthew and Ian Deibert

2nd Place Doubles Winners2023 Siesta Key Crystal Classic 3rd Place Doubles Winners2021 Siesta Key Crystal Classic The award-winning father and son team of Matthew and

Ian Deibert make their home on the New Jersey shore. The pair compete together and as solo artists. In 2018, they won the “people’s choice award” at the Virginia Beach International Championships and in 2013, they captured the Travel Channel Sand Wars show competition.

Matthew, a former Atlantic City lifeguard and retired Atlantic City firefighter captain, holds a degree in graphic design. He began competing and working as a sand artist professionally 25 years ago. Ian, a graphic artist, began sculpting with his father as a boy on the New Jersey beaches.

Karen Fralich and Dan Belcher 3rd Place Doubles Winners, 2023 Siesta Key Crystal Classic

Karen Fralich is a four-time World Champion and four-time North American Champion. She is the only woman to win the Solo Canadian World Championship and has competed in 92 master level international sand sculpture contests. She is a native of Ontario, Canada. Dan Belcher has won 14 world championships in the Team, Doubles, and Solo categories.

2023 Master Sculptors group project. (Photo provided.)

2023 First Place Solo Winner - “Be Proud” by Ludo Roders (Photo provided.)

Will Reenergize Siesta Key

Bartnett

He has competed in hundreds of events around the world. A landscape architect, the Missouri native began his sand sculpting career in 1990.

Joaquin Cortez and Craig Mutch

North Texas native Joaquin Cortez and his Canadian partner Craig Mutch bring diverse backgrounds to their work. A visual artist, Cortez studied computer animation before he discovered the art of creating sandcastles. Sand sculpting is Mutch’s primary medium, although he also sculpts in snow and ice. His work has been shown at Whistler in Canada’s British Columbia and at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He works as a set artist/ sculptor for feature films.

Edith van de Wetering and Wilfred Stijger

Dutch sand sculptor Edith van de Wetering travels the world to compete in sand, snow and ice sculpting competitions. What began as a hobby during her days as an architectural student became her career. Her husband and sculpting partner, Wilfred

Stijger, also of the Netherlands, began sculpting on Dutch beaches before entering competitions in festivals around the world.

Morgan Rudluff and Amanda Bolduc

Morgan Rudluff, a full-time massage therapist from Oakland, California, began sand sculpting in 2007. Amanda Bolduc, a master sculptor, has competed in semipro competitions throughout the United States. She competes annually at the Snow Sculpting Championship in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. A resident of Maine, she began sand sculpting on the beaches of Florida.

Greg J. Grady and Delayne Corbett

Marine Corps veteran and New Hampshire native Greg Grady is a self-taught artist and a 2nd generation sand sculptor. He has competed professionally around the globe for the past 15 years. Delayne Corbett, a multidisciplinary artist and sculptor from Canada, is known for his creations in stone, ice, snow, and sand. A film industry artist, he has contributed to such notable projects as the 2022 film “Prey.”

Solo Artists

Ludo Roders

1st Place Solo Winner - 2023

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

Ludo Roders comes to Siesta Key from the Netherlands. In 2021, she won the top prize at the Dutch television show Ice Masters. Her sculptures depict dreams and reality, reflecting a magical and poetic image.

Maxim Gazendam

2nd Place Solo Winner - 2023

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

2023 Sculptor’s Choice Award in the Solo Category

Gazendam’s professional sand sculptures reflect his architectural training. He first discovered sand sculptures as an architectural student.

Carl Jara

3rd Place Solo Winner - 2023

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

People’s Choice Award Solo Category - 2023 Siesta Key

Crystal Classic

Professional sand sculptor

Carl Jara has won over seventy medals and has competed against “almost every sand sculptor in the business.” He is the exhibits

creator for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Agnese Rudzite- Kirillova

Latvian native RudziteKirillova’s work has been seen around the world. She holds a master’s degree in sculpting. The theme of women’s emotions is a strong influence in her work.

Emerson Schreiner

A painter and sand sculptor from west Michigan, Emerson Schreiner holds prizes from the Siesta Key Crystal Classic, the Texas Sand Fest, and South Padre Island’s Sand Castle Days. He runs the Galveston, Texas branch of Sandy Feet Sand Castle Services. He has taught sandcastle lessons for 13 years and creates sand sculptures for events and competitions.

Sèveline Beauregard

One of the youngest professional carvers in the world, Sèveline Beauregard is an awardwinning sculptor. She owns Sculpture BeauRegard in Quebec, Canada. Her father and sister, Guy and Mélineige Beauregard, are both international carvers.

Dean Arscott

Dean Arscott is a sand sculptor with Team Sandtastic, a professional sand sculpting company in Sarasota, Florida. A graduate of Sarasota’s Ringling College of Art & Design, he creates commercial projects for corporate events, resorts, and global brands. He was born and raised in central Maryland.

Ferenc Monostori

A professional sculptor from Budapest, Monostori trained as a stone sculptor. He lived and worked in Portugal as a stone sculptor and began sand sculpting in 2003. He has shown his work throughout Europe, in Australia, China, Qatar and Chile. He also sculpts in bronze and concrete.

Crystal Classic Information & Tickets

For information on tickets, parking, vendors and special event information, visit The Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival website at https://www. siestakeycrystalclassic.com/ and on their social media pages.

2023 People’s Choice Award, Duo - “Thanks Jimmy,” by Brian Wigglesworth and Matt Long (Photo provided.)

2023 Amateur competition - Cookie Monster and artist.(Photo provided.)

Experiencing and creating art are two of the many things that make humans unique compared to all other species.

Patty Narozny, Founder & Executive Producer of Hot Works Fine Art & Craft Shows not only enjoys art as a hobby, but also as her job. She has been doing this since 2003, though art wasn’t always her job. Initially, Narozny’s background was media and special events. She has a corporate finance degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

“I found out very fast that I didn’t like the corporate world,” Narozny said. “I worked at NBC in Detroit, and I worked at the Metro Times, an alternative news weekly so that’s how I learned how to work with the media,” she said.

Narozny soon figured out that she didn’t like her job at NBC and started looking for jobs she

Show Business!

Hotworks

Fine Arts & Craft Show comes to Phillippi Estate Park

By Mackenize Palmer

was interested in.

“I got experience working major events and then decided to start one show, the Orchid Lake Fine Arts Show in Michigan in 2003,” said Narozny, “I started that, and now it’s in West Bloomfield, Michigan and is voted in the top 100 shows in America.”

An artist who has unfortunately passed, Roy Schallenberg, did Narozny’s first Orchid Lake Fine Arts Show and he told her to, “quit working these other events, we need you.”

Narozny said, “Roy started helping me, as I had no art show background, but I had event experience and media experience. I had a great team of people who went to all the shows and solicited for me.”

The Sarasota shows started in November 2020. The government didn’t know anything about COVID yet, so they didn’t get their permit until seven days before the show.

“I had to plan the whole show, but couldn’t take any money, while the media was saying that everything is on hold until we have permission to go,” Narozny said. “Then we put the show together in seven days. I knew I could do that… we saved a lot of artists. We did it because it was our profession and our expertise.”

“We were able to slam in

five shows at Phillippi Estate Park during COVID when the rest of the country was shut down,” Narozny said. “We were outside, social distancing, and wearing the appropriate mandated face masks. That’s how this location got started.”

If you are interested in attending one of Hot Works Fine Art & Craft Shows you won’t have to wait long for them to come to you. There will be a Fine Art Show at Phillippi Estate Park November 16-17 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. This show will feature the work from diverse group of artists at their booths.

According to Narozny, “The media or discipline of art includes everything: paintings, sculptures, clay, glass, cyber, jewelry, wood, mixed media, and photography. Also, digital is a category now.”

There is something there for everyone. All work is original and personally made by the artists in the show. Top notch artists are a part of this event. One of these artists is Micheal Coronius who is driving down from Michigan. He creates gorgeous chairs and is the featured artist of this show.

The show will have limited food available and working restrooms at the gazebos.

“The $5 parking ticket gets you a receipt to write off for the nonprofit and it gets you in and out access,” Narozny said. “If you come to the show and want to go home and think about it, you can come back without having to pay for parking a second time.”

The November show will also feature a Youth Art Competition involving kids ages 5-13.

“It’s a way we expose students to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living,” Narozny said. “We want to let them know that they can do something that they love for a living. The earlier they get started in life, the better.”

The application is available at Hotworks.org and it is $3 to enter up to two pieces of art. The artist can apply up to a week before the show, and the kids’ art is publicly displayed in the art show the weekend of the show. On Sunday at 3 p.m. the awards will be presented and there will be $250 in kids awards with four big prize ribbons.

If you are looking for something to do as a family during the fall or even by yourself, go to Phillippi Estate Park and visit the tons of artists waiting to show you what they can do.

Brillant piece of art being sold at previous Show. (Photo provided.)

Patty Narozny, Founder & Executive Producer of Hot Works Fine Art & Craft Shows (second from left), with artists and customer at one of her shows. (Photo provided)

10-3 Trailer Theft

Complainant received notification that a work trailer, being used for hurricane cleanup, was stolen from a residence on Siesta Key. The customer indicated that the trailer was stolen from the property, likely between 7 a.m. on September 30 and 4 p.m. on October 1. On October 7, a complainant reported that the trailer was found behind a supermarket. Complainant indicated that the trailer had a lock on the hitch that did not belong to him and that the temporary registration affixed to it was missing. Fingerprints were obtained from the trailer and video surveillance footage was requested.

9-28 Jewelry Theft

Complainant reported that someone stole her jewelry the prior evening. Victim came to check her residence following Hurricane Helene. She indicated she stayed until approximately 5 p.m., secured her residence and went to stay off the island. The following morning at approximately 9 a.m., the victim returned to the residence to find a door to the north side of the residence partially open. The victim then noticed that the drawer where she keeps her jewelry was open as well. Upon investigation, the complainant discovered several pieces of jewelry were missing.

9-22 Phone Theft

Complainant reported that

his phone was stolen the prior evening while he was at Turtle Beach. He advised that he left his phone with his belongings and took his daughter swimming. When he came back from the swim, he realized that his phone was missing. The phone was reported to be a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with a dark green back. The value of the phone was estimated at $1,200.

9-17 Theft of License Plate

Complainant indicated that the license plate from his trailer was missing. He found out by receiving numerous invoices from SunPass. The SunPass invoices had a picture of his license plate on a silver Chrysler minivan. The stolen license plate was subsequently recovered by a Sheriff’s Deputy.

10-2 Vehicle Theft

Complainant indicated that someone took her fanny pack from her rental vehicle. Items stolen included the key fob to the vehicle, her driver’s license, her bank debit card and a credit card.

9-17 Bicycle Theft

Victim reported that two bicycles were stolen from a bike rack located at the victim’s address. Victim indicated that the bikes were locked to the rack and that the lock was cut.

The serial numbers of the bikes were provided.

Great Sandwiches Since 1994

There’s good news for stone crab lovers. Despite worries that Hurricane Helene and Milton may have made the start of the stone crab season a bit less bright than last year, the Florida delicacies are here and ready to be enjoyed.

Regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the stone crab season officially began on October 15, about a week after Hurricane Milton struck our coastline. It will continue through May 1, 2025.

Scott Dolan, owner of Big Water Fish Market in the Crescent Beach Shopping Center on Siesta Key, reported that his crabber has been making deliveries and does not anticipate a shortage in the supply. “I make sure to enjoy them myself at the start and close of every season,” said Dolan. “They are delicious.”

Big Water Fish Market’s head chef Aaron Mobley agrees that the seasonal delicacy is something that he and many customers look forward to every year. “The crabbers cook the crab legs as soon as they get off the boat,” he said. “When they arrive at fish markets they are on ice and ready to be enjoyed.”

Mobley said that this seasonal seafood delight can be served as an appetizer or as a main course.

Big Water Fish Market offers a special homemade mustard sauce for dipping the crab meat. “Personally,” he said, “I’m a purist. I like to dip my stone crab

Stone crabs are on the menu

meat in hot butter.”

Stone crabs, said the chef, should be served cold. He recommends them as a delectable appetizer or as a main course. “They make a great first course and go well with a nice steak. A dry white wine is a nice complement to the stone crabs. The meat has a sweet taste, and you don’t want to interfere with that,” he said. For beer lovers, the chef suggests the local Sarasota Calusa Zote IPA beer as a good pairing.

When serving stone crabs as an appetizer, Mobley allows half of a pound per person. If stone crabs are the main course, he recommends one pound of stone crabs per person.

Sold as Jumbo, Large and Medium, Mobley said that the culinary rule of thumb is that three Jumbos yield one pound. Four to five large stone crab claws will yield one pound, and six to eight Medium stone crab claws are needed for one pound.

The Fresh Catch Market and Grill on South Tamiami Trail, owner Bob Provost was also upbeat about this fall’s stone crab season. “We have stone crabs of every size,” he said. “The season should be fine.”

Found primarily in the waters of the sunshine state, stone crabs are best when harvested locally. According to the FWC, “the Florida Stone Crab Fishery makes up 99% of all stone crab landings in the United States. The stone crab fishery is unique in that only the claws

By Jane Bartnett

are harvested, and the crabs are returned to the water.”

Commercial stone crab fishing is closely monitored by the Crustacean Fisheries Group, a part of the FWC. The Commission also carries out continuous research of the stone crabs throughout the year. Unlike other crabs, only the claws of the stone crab are harvested. The crab is returned to the water where a new claw will be regenerated. Most

commercial fishermen collect stone crabs in baited traps. Although the smooth, heavy and thick hard-shelled crabs thrive in Florida’s Gulf Coast waters, as well as on the Atlantic side of the state, they can also be found as far north as North Carolina and off the coast of Belize to the south.

Stone crab meat, experts say, should always be eaten fresh. A well-known “seafood secret” for many years, this Florida

delicacy has become better known among visitors who may never have had it before. Once they try it, Mobley says, they are a fan for life. In keeping with the stone crab’s culinary status as a very special seafood treat, they carry a fancy price tag. Perhaps because they are here for a limited time during the height of the winter season, the high price of this special delicacy is justified and definitely worth the splurge.

Chef Aaron Mobley, Big Water Fish Market with a serving of fresh stone crabs. (Photo by Jane Bartnett)

Delectable stone crabs are on the menu and plentiful from Oct. 15 thru May 1. (Photo by Jane Bartnett)

There are countless delicious spirit and food pairings that elevate flavors on both sides—like the classic duo of Guinness with fish and chips, wine perfectly complementing a tangy caper sauce, or Sherry enhancing the richness of lobster bisque. As bourbon lovers, we’d love to take this opportunity to inspire you with some bourbon-forward ideas. Think bourbon-glazed ribs, smoky old fashioneds paired with BBQ brisket, or a warm bourbon butter sauce drizzled over bread pudding. The versatility of bourbon allows it to shine with both savory and sweet dishes, making it the perfect companion for your next culinary adventure. When it comes to pairing food and drinks, bourbon and fish might seem like an unlikely duo—but trust us, it’s a catch! The rich, complex flavors of bourbon can complement a variety of fish dishes, creating pairings that are both surprising and satisfying. From smoky to spicy, light to buttery, each fish recipe gets a boozy sidekick that enhances its best qualities. These matches are sure to reel in some laughs alongside delicious bites. So, grab your cocktail shaker and fishing line—because these fish-andbourbon pairings are about to make a real splash!

First up, we’ve got grilled salmon drizzled in a maple-soy glaze. Its rich, buttery flavor calls for an equally smooth companion, like a Maple Old Fashioned— bourbon, maple syrup, and orange bitters. The smoky char on the salmon marries perfectly with

Island Fishmonger

By Scott Dolan

the caramel notes in the drink. It’s a match so harmonious, they might need couples counseling— except they’re too busy making your taste buds swoon. You could say these two are “swimming upstream... together.”

Next, a blackened mahi-mahi brings the heat with Cajun spices, and it deserves a drink that can handle the fire. Enter the Spicy Bourbon Sour, a tangy mix of bourbon, lemon juice, and jalapeño syrup. The cocktail’s citrus cuts through the mahi’s spice while the bourbon adds depth. They’re a fiery pair—like that one couple who bicker passionately but can’t get enough of each other. In this case, though, it’s all love and no hard feelings—just hard liquor.

For a lighter option, let’s pair a lemon-butter grouper with a refreshing Mint Julep. The herbaceous, cooling mint plays nicely with the delicate grouper, while the bourbon’s vanilla undertones highlight the butter sauce. This duo is perfect for those warm, lazy afternoons when you don’t want to do anything too complicated. It’s like the culinary equivalent of “Netflix and gill.”

In the end, the secret to a great fish-and-bourbon pairing is finding balance—whether it’s smoky and smooth, fiery and tangy, or light and refreshing. Just remember, it’s all about having fun with your food and drinks. And if anyone gives you a hard time about pairing bourbon with fish, just tell them: “You’ve got bigger fish to sip!”

Siesta Photo Bomber

Siesta Spirits has the bourbon and Big Water Fish Market has the fish. A dynamic duo on the key!

It Takes a Village

By Tracy Jackson

I will never forget the moment I found out my home had flooded. I was a thousand miles away, up north with my parents, when Hurricane Helene tore through, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. I wasn’t there to protect my home, to grab what I could, or to shield the memories that had shaped my life.

Instead, I was helpless, stuck in a place where I couldn’t do a thing. I relied on neighbors, people I was equally worried about, to keep me updated.

The moment I booked my flight home, I knew. I knew my house, my sanctuary, was submerged under water. Every photo, every keepsake, every small piece of me that had been tucked away inside those walls, was gone. The weight of it was suffocating. I didn’t even know where to begin. I felt like I was drowning, too.

In the chaos of it all, when the weight of the loss seemed unbearable, my phone began to light up. Friends, old and new, started reaching out from every corner, their messages a lifeline when I felt lost in a sea of grief.

“Do you need help, what can I do?” The question came from Jennifer, Wendy, Nick, and so many others. But Jennifer, in particular, was different. I hadn’t known her long, but from the very first conversation, it felt like we had been friends for years. It was an instant bond, something you don’t often experience, but when it happens, you know it’s special. And then came that text. Just three simple words: “I got you.” At the time, I didn’t know what those words meant.

But as the days passed, I realized just how deeply Jennifer’s friendship would be woven into every step of this journey. She didn’t wait for me to ask; she just showed up. She, along with everyone else, reminded me that I wasn’t walking this road alone. And with the love and strength of so many, I would find my way through, piece by piece.

The next morning, after spending the night at Wendy and Randy’s, Nick picked me up to take me to my home for the first time since the storm. I wasn’t sure I was ready for what I was about to face. When we pulled into the driveway, Cathy and John pulled in behind us. They stepped out of their car, and without missing a beat, said, “Jennifer and Jesus sent us.” It was a simple phrase, but it carried so much weight in that moment, like a sign that I wasn’t walking this road alone.

Once we pried open the door, jammed from the buckled floor, the devastation inside was overwhelming. Cathy paused, gathered us in a circle, and with a steady voice, she prayed for me, for my home, and for all those affected by the storm. In that sacred moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, as if the strength of that circle of strangers who had become family was already starting to heal the wounds of the flood. I knew that no matter how hard this journey would be, I wouldn’t have to face it by myself.

The outpouring of support that followed was nothing short of miraculous. Women began arriving, each one saying, “Jennifer said you needed help.” At first, I couldn’t believe how many people were walking through my door; strangers who had seen

Jennifer’s post and decided to give their time, their energy, and their compassion.

No one needed direction. They just got to work. They cleaned, they carried out soggy furniture and broken appliances, they removed ruined drywall and occasionally, they’d stop to offer a hug or a kind word.

I watched in awe as these women many of whom had manicures and pedicures waded through muck and debris, giving everything they had, their hearts as big as the flood itself. Theresa, Patricia, Amy, Teresa, Xitlalic, Diane, Teri, Kirsten, Angie, Emma I’m forgetting to name some, but every one of them was an angel in disguise. They weren’t just helping they were lifting me, offering comfort, and showing me that Sarasota’s heart is immense.

Even more help came from unexpected places. One person brought buckets filled with tools, masks, trash bags, and cleaning supplies; everything we needed to keep going. Others showed up with fans, pizzas, and cases of water, ensuring we had what we needed to keep working.

As the day wore on, I could only stand there in awe, overwhelmed by the love pouring into my life from people I had never met. These strangers had seen Jennifer’s post and decided to spend their weekend helping someone they didn’t even know. The men, Joe, Chad, Brandon, Mark, Larry, and Daniel and his two sons (I hope I have named them all), hauled away the ruined appliances, lifting them with strength and hauling them to the curb. The women kept cleaning, gathering salvageable items, and making sure the helpers were fed and hydrated. The pile of debris in front of my house grew. Each piece a testament to the love and generosity that had flooded my life.

I will forever be grateful to Jennifer Rogers for sparking the chain of events that brought so many to my doorstep. People who didn’t know me but gave freely of their time, their hearts, and their love. What began as a personal disaster soon became a profound reminder of the goodness in the world. When life floods you with sorrow, it takes a village to help you find your way.

Looking back, I can honestly say I gained more than I lost. The house, the belongings, the memories, they were all washed away. But what I gained was far more precious: a community, a tribe, a family. Wendy and Randy gave me shelter and a safe space to process everything. Nick, always there for the practical details, helped me in ways big and small. Jennifer, too, never stopped showing up and together, along with the countless strangers who arrived to help, they restored my faith in humanity. What I thought I had lost was nothing compared to what I gained: hope, strength, and a renewed belief in the power of love. Thank you to Jennifer, Wendy, Randy, Nick, and everyone who gave their time, their care, and their hearts. You didn’t just help me save my home you helped me see the true power of human kindness within our community. And, most of all, Jennifer, those three words you sent me, “I got you,” will forever echo in my heart because you truly did. You got me sister, and so much more.

Community of support at its finest! A group of friends, neighbors, and strangers come together to help Tracy Jackson clean her flooded home after Hurricane Helene. (Photo provided)

Maria Reyes-Jones, Painting

Hurricane Continued from page 1

that surge was going to be bad, and then it was never at the level they projected. Well, this time it was.”

Smith said his house is at a high enough elevation to not get flooded, but his office on Calle Minorga in the Village took in two feet of water from Helene. Like many others affected, he had not anticipated the actuality. “It was a surprise to everybody I’ve talked to,” he said. “I believe it’s a complacency that occurs when you’ve lived through enough of these.”

Smith also noted that the storm was about 130 miles offshore so many people did not expect the impact to be so far-reaching. “Helene was a strong storm, a big storm,” he said. “Because of that strength, it pushed that water right up onto us. It was a surprise attack.” Helene’s surge started its devastating slog forward late in the evening, with many who chose not to evacuate scampering to avoid the rising water. “Some people

had to climb up on their kitchen counters to avoid it,” Smith, who had evacuated with his wife, said of those who stayed on the island. By dawn the water had retreated, leaving in its wake damaged structures, totaled vehicles and an abundance of sand and sewage from pipes that broke due to the sheer force of the floodwater.

Michael Holderness, a Sarasota County native and Siesta Key hotelier/owner of Beachside Management, said he was floored the morning after Helene rolled through. “I was the first one at the hotel after Helene and it was just covered with muck. The storm just spewed mud and sewage all over us,” he said. “I was just walking in circles at the hotel thinking, where do I start?” So, he pulled out the pressure washers and had staff get to work draining the pools. “We had 75 dehumidifiers ordered the same day,” he said, adding within a week they had drywall removed,

rooms cleaned, and new furniture and appliances on order. “But then here comes Milton,” he said. However, Holderness pointed out two remarkable components of Milton’s strike. He said the back end of the storm eroded upon making landfall, with the wind dissipating, and the surge blew out Midnight Pass, relieving the pressure of the previously projected surge. “That would have done us in,” Holderness said of the rising water. “As it came through the village, it rose a few feet within a matter of minutes. Then, suddenly, and I mean instantly, it was gone. And that was when Midnight Pass opened. It saved Siesta Key. The wind dissipated and then the surge rescinded. It was a miracle.”

Similarly, Smith said he was grateful for the way Milton passed over the Key. “I didn’t think I’d ever say, ‘Thank goodness the eye went over us’, but, because of that, the wind and water were going down

ENGAGE ABUNDANTLY

Discover the heart of vibrant community living at Bay Village, where welcoming connections flourish and friendships blossom. Please call us at 941.966.5611 to schedule a tour and learn more.

Scan the QR Code to visit our website.

Siesta Key business owner Mike Holderness talks with Governor Ron DeSantis during his visit to Siesta Key on October 10, following Hurricane Milton’s landfall. (Photo provided)

the beach, not at the beach.” He added, considering what happened with Helene, “Now you’re thinking maybe they’re going to be right,” regarding the potential for a forecasted maximum 15-foot surge.

“But we basically had a negative surge,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of what I’ve been calling drive-by hurricanes because they have been either inland or out to sea,” Smith said. “But Milton had our number, for sure.”

Picking up the pieces

Holderness said he met with Gov. Ron DeSantis on Oct. 10, the day after Milton. He expressed concerns to DeSantis that the county didn’t work faster to remove Helene’s debris before Milton made landfall with Category 3 winds. “He’s a nononsense guy,” he said of DeSantis. “When there are events like this, there is no one better to handle it. If you are honest with him and to the point about the problem, he is listening.” Holderness said

through DeSantis’s decisive actions, as well as assistance from Sen. Joe Gruters and Rep. Greg Steube, power was returned “in record time.” Additionally, Sen. Ben Albritton, the incoming state Senate president, came later in October and met with Holderness and some other residents to get a better understanding of the needs of Siesta Key and to help with the process of restoring order.

“Ben Albritton was amazingly in-tune and understanding of what’s needed in our situation,” Holderness said. “I truly believe that Senator Albritton is going to do whatever he can to help our residents and business owners.”

Business owners are clamoring to get debris removed and streets cleaned so they can proceed with work and recoup losses. “As soon as the debris is removed, units are ready to be rented,” Holderness said. “It will be hard for many that got flooded, including us, just to get back to even. I would estimate 90%

of ground level units got flooded. We likely had to toss out $1 million worth of damaged property.”

Regarding debris removal, Smith said two hurricanes within two weeks was more than anyone in the area has ever had to deal with.

“If we had just had one bad one, it would take a couple months to get the debris contractors down here and get it cleaned up,” he said. “But with two, one with storm surge and the other with wind, it is just a huge undertaking.” He said, because the devastation from two hurricanes in a short time period extended throughout the state and into others, and the companies contracted for debris removal are nationally based, “they were in short supply and they go to the highest bidder.”

Smith also said he met with Sens. Gruters and Albritton and brought to their attention the desire to use more local contractors for future debris removal efforts.

“That’s going to be on the agenda

for our legislators,” he said. “I know that’s something I am going to be bringing up when I go to Tallahassee.” Additionally, Smith said the county worked with representatives from Benderson Development Co., the developer for Siesta Promenade, a proposed development at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road, who provided use of the property as a staging area to get the debris off Siesta Key as quickly as possible before sending it to the landfill. “We are doing everything we can,” Smith said. “One of the penalties of living in paradise is that 5% of the time, it is not paradise.”

But there is a light shining through the eye of the storms.

“We have to build with more resiliency,” Smith said. “We have to build stronger for the future.” He continued to say that the storms are getting more powerful, so the county must rise to the challenge. He said even though

Sarasota County has more stringent stormwater standards than many other counties around the state, they must evaluate stormwater systems to make sure they are up to par with what might be coming down the line. “We need to do everything we can to be proactive, not reactive.”

Holderness said he is optimistic about the future. “It’s a lot of work, but it was a cleansing in so many ways,” he said, citing the storm events coinciding with changes to the county commission and leading to the reopening of Midnight Pass.

“Everybody is taking ownership. We got completely stopped in our tracks, but it forces us to redo everything, to make it better. It’s like a refresh, even spiritually. Everybody is helping each other, and it is a truly amazing experience. Now everybody is united in getting it fixed and I’m so positive about tomorrow.”

Armando Delgado | Tucson, AZ

The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key

The following are properties sold on Siesta Key in the last

HIGHEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE

1250 HIDDEN HARBOR WAY

$7,250,000

Nestled on a private, peninsula lot, the home has sweeping bay views all the way to the Sarasota skyline, with 409 ft. of water frontage, offering 280-degree unobstructed water views. This lavish 5 bed, 5 1/2 bath residence boasts 7,506 sq ft under air, a 5-car garage that includes an additional several thousand sq. ft. of finished space and sits on over half an acre of lush grounds. The newly painted main living space is completed surrounded with bay views and is comprised of a living room with cathedral ceilings, dining room, a two-story office with loft, art niches, a gourmet kitchen, a family room, theater room, and large laundry room with loads of storage. The primary suite features a private terrace, with dual walk-in closets and a spa-like bath with marble floors and countertops, a free-standing soaking tub, dual vanities, glass walled double shower and two water closets. On the upper level, you’ll find 4 generous bedrooms. Each has ensuite custom tiled baths and spacious walk-in closets.

Courtesy of Michael Saunders

LOWEST PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY

RESIDENCE

437 ISLAND CIRCLE

$780,000

This cottage is located on Palm Island which is a great walking neighborhood. Coastal single-family home with heated pool is Block Construction. This 3-bedroom 2-bath coastal cottage is furnished. Open concept with spacious family room with exposed wood beamed vaulted ceiling and fireplace. Large dining room for great entertaining. The home sleep 8. The backyard is very private with a heated in ground pool with a large paver patio. This home has been used as a seasonal rental with great income.

Courtesy of Compass Real Estate

HIGHEST PRICED CONDO

6140 MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD, #801

$2,425,000

Step into this fully renovated 8th floor corner unit, where wide-open vistas of the Gulf of Mexico and Crescent Beach greet you. Professionally decorated, this condominium boasts a chef-inspired kitchen. Wake up in the primary bedroom to sensational views and indulge in the custom closet and ensuite updated bath with custom cabinets, quartz countertops, standalone tub, tile shower with frameless glass and updated Kohler fixtures. Bedroom 2 showcases custom cabinets and bookshelves, walk in closet and renovated bath with updated cabinet, quartz countertop, Kohler fixtures, sink and hardware, mirror, and frameless glass shower. This condominium includes one carport space with a Tesla charging station.

Courtesy of Coldwell Banker

LOWEST PRICED CONDO

1350 N PORTOFINO DRIVE, #207

$446,000

If you are looking for a 55+ community with boating access and no bridges to the Bay, then this Siesta Harbor condo is waiting for you. This immaculate one bedroom, two bath second floor condo offers canal frontage and partial bay views. Recent upgrades include: wew impact resistant windows and sliders, plantation shutters, new interior paint, stainless steel appliance package, resin kitchen countertops, under cabinet lighting, ceiling fans, reset lighting and much more. Beach access and assigned covered parking are all included in your monthly maintenance fee. You can also dock a boat upon availability.

Courtesy of ReMax Platinum

Cautious optimism and ‘waitand-see’ sum up the attitude of real estate industry professionals after Hurricanes Helene and Milton swept through Siesta Key.

“We are still Siesta Key, which will always be one of the world’s beautiful beaches. That’s not going away,” said Wendy Kesslak, a realtor at RE/MAX Alliance Group.

The real estate recovery will take varied forms, brokers interviewed for this article predicted. Some owners will rebuild, some will tear down and build anew to code, some will tear down and sell for lot value. Some will leave Siesta Key forever, and some will stay to eventually reap handsome rewards.

The course a homeowner takes will depend on numerous individual factors including a property’s extent of damage, cost of renovating, FEMA regulations, insurance status, and the personal needs and preferences of the owner.

One thing seems likely: after a period of time Siesta Key will emerge with newer, more resilient, sturdier homes – probably carrying higher price tags.

“Out of the ashes will rise a much newer Siesta Key – but it

What’s next for the Siesta Key real estate market?

will take time,” Kesslak said.

A 2023 study in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management examined the effect on property values of hurricanes across Florida over 16 years. It concluded that home prices temporarily rise, and wealthier buyers move in after a hurricane.

One reason prices may move up, at least in the short term, is reduced supply. With many houses off the market, potential buyers - and brokers believe these will still exist in ample numbers –will have fewer options, leading to higher prices for habitable houses.

Joe Kesslak, Wendy’s husband and also a RE/MAX broker, said, “We believe it’s going to be a very strong market. Buyers who have been watching are going to swoop in.”

While many homeowners who sustained serious losses are still in shock and weighing their next move, investors are circling. “We Buy Homes” signs have popped up along Siesta Key’s roads, and residents report receiving phone calls from professional investors.

Judie Berger, a realtor at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, said about 50 of her clients have reached out to her since the two storms and “only one or two

By Ned Steele

want to sell.” The rest, she said, were seeking advice as to how to proceed with their damaged homes. Many are exploring options for elevating their homes to meet the current code requirements.

“There is hope out there,” she said. “Siesta Key is strong and it’s desirable. There will be a paradigm shift – things will change.”

While heavily damaged homes have obviously lost value, she believes intact or repaired homes will hold or increase their value. “Teardowns,” she added, “will be for lot value.”

Berger urged homeowners uncertain of their next move to avoid making quick decisions under duress. Renovating may be the best scenario for many, depending on how much damage was done. (FEMA regulations will block many homeowners from rebuilding if the cost of doing so exceeds 50% of the home’s value.)

For some, she added, moving from a one-family home to a condo may be the solution.

The condo market is even more uncertain than that of the onefamily home market. Concerns about soaring insurance costs

and HOA dues may depress sales and prices. “Or not”, said Berger: “Maybe more people will want to move from one family homes into condos.”

As for tourist rentals, supply and demand may determine the market’s health as the season approaches. Mike Holderness, owner of Beachside Management, estimated that 20% of the Key’s rentals are damaged, reducing supply to 80%. Many properties are renovating and refurbishing, he said, driving the market in a positive direction when they go back online: “The quality on Siesta Key will be better than it’s been in 40 years,” he predicted. “Everyone is getting new furniture and new landscaping.”

Real estate professionals are eternal optimists, and no one knows what the future will bring. It’s too soon to take a serious appraisal of where the market is or where it’s going. But some realities remain true, and they cut both ways.

Hurricanes can and will happen, unpredictably and occasionally devastatingly. But, as Judie Berger observed, “Once the debris is cleaned up and it gets cold up north, people will see the beauty of Siesta Key again.”

joyfully boating, fishing, birding and simply enjoying the natural beauty of Midnight Pass.

So now what?

On September 10th, just prior to the storm’s reopening the pass, Sarasota County Commissioners unanimously voted for a motion directing staff to work with lobbyists, the community and state delegates to draft an amendment changing state statute language to allow for restoration of the tidal connection as part of a water quality master plan for Little Sarasota Bay. Prior to that, in October 2023, commissioners also unanimously approved the initiation of a feasibility study.

The decision to proceed with the study was based on information provided earlier that year by David Tomasko, PhD, Executive Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, who pointed out the importance of previous tidal restoration projects. However, a 2023 $1 million state legislature appropriation request to fund initial design and permitting was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Nonetheless, this past July, hopes were again lifted when the county received a $500,000 state appropriation in the FY25 budget for continued work on the feasibility and design for the project.

Applied Technology & Management, Inc. (ATM) was the coastal engineering consultant for the study, with the project taking place in two phases. The first phase cost $75,000, lasted about 180 days, and consisted of a review of existing information and process requirements, including speaking with stakeholders, researching state and federal regulations to develop options to provide tidal flow, and a report of recommendations for the board to plan the next phase if they chose to continue. The firm concluded that for approval of such a project by state agencies, the state must be lobbied for statutory changes regarding existing versus new tidal connections since

the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had implied denial of a permit based on those concerns back in 2008.

On October 20, Jamie Miller, spokesman and government relations contact for Midnight Pass Society II, stated that, considering actions in the past which involved people displacing sand, such as when the Intercoastal Waterway was cut in the 1960s, when sand from that area was dumped on mangroves and created spoil islands in the north channel, and in the 1980s when the pass was filled, the county continued to put sand on that beach. “So, there’s a lot of sand in that area that is not naturally occurring there,” he said, adding that the group’s engineer, Karyn Erickson, had done modeling “that said exactly what did happen would happen, for both Helene and Milton.” According to Miller, Erickson said the energy behind the water in Helene would need somewhere to go and would breach the dunes due to lack of a pass, which was further reinforced when Milton arrived on an incoming high tide, yet water receded on Siesta Key. “We’ve claimed all along that in a storm, it is better if that energy is guided,” he said. “If it had opened anywhere other than Midnight Pass, it would have possibly destroyed not only property but lives.”

Miller said that since the pass had now formed on its own,

and the government would be focused, as it should be, on the post-hurricane recovery for people and property, the nonprofit group has worked with their attorney and engineer and submitted language to the county and state supporting stabilization of the pass under the county’s Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency order. “The governor can, at the county’s request, add stabilization efforts to the emergency declaration for Sarasota County,” he said. Regarding the upcoming legislative session, Miller said he hopes, in addition to the clear focus on the needs of the area residents, the county will continue to work on stabilization efforts to keep the pass open as it has been a priority of the commission for the past three years. “Our engineer suggests that this process can be completed within a year and in compliance with the county’s Inlet Management Plan,” he said. “This overall plan would include surveys to determine depth and the actual center of the pass and then placing training groins to ensure the pass, over time, does not creep north threatening people and property.”

Miller pointed out that on October 20, for the first time in the 40-year history of the closure of the pass, there has been “complete political synergy” supporting its restoration, including from

Congressman Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.). “Now that nature has restored the tidal connection, the question is, what is the best way to stabilize that area to keep the pass open?”

As if on cue, in an October 22 press release on his website, Rep. Greg Steube shared a letter he wrote calling on Lt. General William H. Graham, Jr., of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permanently restore Midnight Pass, as it was the corps that closed the pass in 1984. “By reopening Midnight Pass, the water quality in Little Sarasota Bay would improve since cleaner water would be able to flow into the Bay,” Steube wrote. “This would improve water circulation, reduce pollution, and foster the development of marine life like oysters and shrimp, which have disappeared since the Pass was closed. Although we are still assessing the damage from Hurricane Milton that made landfall near Midnight Pass, it is very possible that the damage was mitigated due to the Pass being naturally reopened by Hurricane Helene. It is possible that the Pass provided an outlet for waters to escape from Little Sarasota Bay. Due to the environmental and recreational benefits of opening the Pass permanently, the Army Corps of Engineers should work to restore Midnight Pass expeditiously.”

Local IPA

Brewed in Sunny Sarasota

Tiki Haze is an IPA with pronounced flavors of Pineapple, Citrus, Tropical Fruit, and Orange Peel, finished in a slightly hazy kellerbier style

Available only at Captain Curt's and the Sniki Tiki