Siesta Sand - August 2023

on hold

Save Siesta Key now eyes 2025 legislative session for another attempt

By John Morton

Concluding that the political climate in Tallahassee is far from conducive for its effort for incorporation, Save Siesta Key announced on July 15 that it would be putting its mission on hold. That means it will be bypassing the Sept. 1 deadline for an incorporation application that would have been its third.

After the next round of state elections are complete next year, the group feel its chances are better in the 2025 legislative sessions – where the House, Senate and governor must vote to approve incorporation. Again, the application deadline would be Sept. 1 -- this time in 2024.

The decision comes on the heels of two failures – the first in January of 2022 when the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation voted against an incorporation bill advancing to the Florida Legislature, and the

second coming this year in May when, despite being approved by the local delegation, a required committee in Tallahassee literally killed the bill (House Bill 923) by ignoring it.

The incorporation group, which is calling its decision “a strategic pause,” reports that its lobbyists have subsequently continued to have conversations with House leadership and “have been informed of ongoing concerns over the creation of new taxing authorities and additional layers of government.”

Continued on page 24

Despite objection by Smith, waterfront condo approved

By ChrisAnn Allen

Despite the objections of the commissioner who resides on Siesta Key, the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners on July 12 approved a variance request relating to a plan to build an 11-unit condo complex at 77 Beach Rd. It will replace the nearly 100-year-old structure that is the current six-unit Sunset Beach Resort, built in 1925.

It will be knocked down, along with a single-family structure behind it at 70 Avenida Veneccia that was built in 1977.

The coastal setback variance that was approved allows the new complex to extend a maximum of 75 feet further seaward of the gulf beach setback line – a line established in 1979 as a representative boundary line limiting seaward construction for the protection of structures landward of the coastal habitat.

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The project will occur in a coastal high hazard area. According to the county’s comprehensive plan, in part, it “is the area below the elevation of the Category 1 storm surge line … and is an area particularly vulnerable to the effects of coastal flooding from tropical storm events.”

District 2 Commissioner Mark Smith, an architect of 40 years who represents the area on Siesta Key where the project will take place, cast the only dissenting vote. Smith motioned for a denial of the resolution, which was not supported beyond a

Continued on page 20

A little fireworks fan is mesmerized by the bright boomers that entertained those on Siesta Key during the Fourth of July celebration. (submitted photo)

Hensey Smith

Iwasinvited in July on two beach dates with two different great gals, four days apart.

I mention this not to brag, but rather in the performance of my duties as someone sworn to chronicle all things Siesta Key that are, well, all things Siesta me.

Did I just hear a groan out of you? Watch it, I just bought my first selfie stick and I’m sure someone can teach me how to use it.

Anyway, my first gettogether was with the lady for whom I had always planned to name my daughter, despite having never met her. Having eaten thousands of Anna’s Deli sandwiches, it only seemed right.

Yes, there I sat at a public beach pavilion with none other than Anna James, the one who started my 50-year feeding frenzy.

Her longtime friend, former Siesta resident Gary Chappell, put out a notice on the “If you grew up in Sarasota … then you remember” Facebook page that Anna would be holding court on July 12. It was a delight to hear her talk of the early 1970s, which she called “magical,” when she started her sandwich shop in the Village – an institution that has lasted more than half a century.

“I never would have believed it,” said Anna, who still laughs at her original motivation being something so simple as figuring people coming from the beach must have been hungry.

She was also supported by the many artists and hippies that spent time on her front porch, including a young gal that played the guitar outside her modest little house where the Daiquiri Deck now sits.

“It was an artist colony,” said Anna, who just turned 92 and now lives in Bradenton. “There were so many creative people, whether they were visiting or living here.”

That Siesta Key era no doubt inspired

Greetings from the Gulf

Just a couple of gals with a story to tell

By

John

Morton

lightning in the chest when visiting Siesta Beach for the first time back in 2020. His injuries left him paralyzed from the waist down.

“He’s a fighter. He’s an inspirational kid,” his mother, Barbara, said to me at Siesta Beach on July 16 – the same daunting date when that bolt came out of nowhere three years earlier. “He wakes up with a smile and goes to physical therapy. He goes to work.”

As did Barbara this scorching-hot day, erecting a table and tent at the beach’s entrance, ready to hand out educational literature on the dangers of lightning.

And she delivered some promising news regarding her son: Thanks to a “Rise” stimulation machine the family discovered in Austria earlier this year and brought back home after emptying the 401K, Jacob can now stand on his own for as long as three minutes at a time. His fried muscles and nerves regenerated, thanks to endless rehabilitation sessions, and are now beginning to reconnect. The hair on his legs is even beginning to grow, as are his toenails.

Anna to become a published author for the first time at the age of 90, with her book The Marsh Bird. Today, she’s putting the finishing touches on her second book. It’s a memoir about her days on our island entitled Anna’s – the Beginning. She read me the introduction, and I beamed. Talk about capturing the essence of a time and place.

Tack on a tinge of that southern drawl that Anna makes sing so nicely, and you’ve also got audio book written all over this one!

The Siesta Sand is delighted to let you know that we will be running an excerpt of her book in an issue later this fall. ***

Speaking of stories, let’s hope the Brewer family collaborates on one someday. It would be beyond uplifting.

You may recall that Jacob Brewer, a Texas 14-year-old at the time, was struck by

The 17-year-old is about to become a man.

“This September he’ll have his first birthday party with friends,” Barbara said. “I can’t believe he’ll be 18.”

Furthermore, Jacob is now on pace to graduate from high school in May with excellent grades he has earned through online classes. Come next fall, he hopes to be enrolled in college and begin the pursuit of a career in neuroscience.

“He’s very determined. I know he’ll do it,” Barbara said.

Mom, as it turns out, is brave in her own right. She and her husband in November, as part of a documentary, stood at the very spot near Beach Access 10 where the tragedy took place. It was their first return to what had been dreaded Siesta Key.

“It was rough,” she said of that moment as tears welled up in her eyes.

But Paula Hillard, a Sarasota resident, was there to give Barbara a comforting hug. Hillard learned of Jacob’s story through Facebook and began sending him a monthly greeting card. When she learned of

Continued on page 18

Left, Anna James has a good laugh with frinds at Siesta Beach. Below, she is joined by Gary Chappell. (photos by John Morton)

Above, Barbara Brewer addresses a family on the risks of lightning. Below, she hands out educational literature at the entrance to the beach. (photos by John Morton)

Lawsuit landscape gets more and more hazy

In relation to the lawsuits against the Sarasota County-approved hotels, the legal carousel keeps turning.

And the ride for Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez gets ever more tedious. And expensive.

Since January, Ramirez – who sued the county in late 2021 – has had representatives go before the 12th Circuit Court on several occasions and even a commission at the state capitol building comprised of members of the governor’s cabinet. Nothing has been ruled upon, however, and a trial set for November combining both Ramirez’s case and another similar lawsuit is still possibly in play.

“Legal costs keep piling up,” Ramirez said. “But that is what the developers count on -- they

hope to make it a financial burden for citizens to challenge their developments.

“But I’ll keep moving forward.”

On July 7, in the most recent round of activity, attorney Richard Grosso presented on Ramirez’s behalf his opinions on how the county violated its own comprehensive plan when giving the green light in late 2021 for an eight-story, 170-room hotel near the Village along Calle Miramar and later a seven-story, 120-room hotel on Old Stickney Point Road near the south bridge – including a five-story parking garage across the street. In 2022, a third hotel was approved at 5810 Midnight Pass Rd., at the location of the former Wells Fargo Bank, with six stories and 112 rooms in the plans.

Unlimited density was allowed

By John Morton Ramirez

by the county’s commissioners as part of the 2021 decision, opening the door for the large hotels. Previous to that, there were limits on the island of 26 rooms per acre and 35 feet of height for such developments. In the Calle Miramar case, which is the focus of Ramirez’s lawsuit, the 170 rooms would be on .96 acres. The proposed hotel is near where she resides. A second lawsuit against the county involves all of the hotels and was filed jointly by Robert Sax and the Marina Del Sol condominium, which is located by the Old Stickney Point hotel and

where Sax is the president, and by the residents of the complex at 222 Beach Rd., near the Calle Miramar project.

Attorneys for the county and the developers also spoke on July 7, now before Hunter Carroll, a judge with the 12th Circuit Court. That court was asked by both Ramirez and the county late last year for a summary judgment instead of a trial.

The testimony was similar to a hearing in January before Judge Stephen Walker, who in April would recuse himself from the case because of a relationship with one of the lawyers helping to represent Gary Kompothecras, the Siesta Key resident hoping to build the hotel on Old Stickney Point Road.

Carroll said that day he would make a ruling in a few weeks,

and what impact that ruling, if any, could have on the slated trail remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, a second Ramirez filing with the state’s Division of Administrative Hearings did receive a ruling in the spring, and it was in Ramirez’s favor. Susan Van Wyk, an administrative law judge, determined on April 3 that the county’s actions were not consistent with its comprehensive plan. That led to a May 23 hearing before the Ron DeSantis-led Florida Administration Commission, where the members would possibly rule on whether Sarasota County could suffer sanctions for its decision unless it’s repealed –sanctions that could impact the state’s contributions to the county

Continued on page 21

Boatyard owners convicted of fraud

A pair of local restaurant owners have been convicted of failing to pay business-related taxes to the IRS at least as far back as 2013, according to a July 10 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Middle District of Florida located in Tampa.

Karl Knocker and Madeline Nikolson, co-owners of the Boatyard Waterfront Bar & Grill at 1500 Stickney Point Rd., removed records of cash sales from pointof-sale registers totaling more than $725,000, resulting in more than $100,000 in taxes due, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. Both provided falsified information with tax-form preparers who handled both their corporate and personal filings in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Only credit-card sales were properly recorded at the business, according to the release

An email to the business requesting comment from Knocker and Nikolson was not answered.

Knocker faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. He entered a guilty plea on three counts related to defrauding the government in early July.

Nikolson, who faces a maximum penalty of five years, has an Aug. 1 sentencing date. She entered a guilty plea on a single count related to defrauding the government in May.

This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Hoffer.

-- John Morton

Potential new funding source emerges as panel addresses ongoing Midnight Pass debate

The fate of Midnight Pass, the once natural passageway that allowed water to flow into Little Sarasota Bay from the Gulf of Mexico before it was filled with sand some 40 years ago, continues to be one of Siesta Key’s most prominent topics.

In April, Sarasota County commissioners heard a presentation on restoring the pass to its original state.

On July 20, a packed house of members and guests of the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club heard a panel of environmental experts and Siesta Key advocates speak on the topic. The luncheon presentation, held in the ballroom of Michael’s on East, was filled with local business and civic leaders along with concerned Sarasota and Siesta Key residents. The panel included Siesta Key resident Mike Evanoff, president of the Midnight Pass Society II; Mike Holderness, coastal activist and Siesta Key business owner; Glenn Compton, chairman of ManaSota-88 and a former supervisor of the Sarasota Soil & Water Conservation District; Jono Miller, former director of the New College Environmental Studies Program and a member of the Midnight Pass Blue Ribbon Task Force; and David Tomasko,

executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

Jon Thaxton, senior vice president for community leadership at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, served as moderator.

While the panelists presented differing opinions on what do about the pass and whether it should be opened or not, and what environmental repercussions could lie ahead, one issue that everyone agreed on is the importance of money.

Thaxton reported that one possible source of funding may be available through a new federal grant. Later this year, Sarasota County will be the recipient of $201.535 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will be awarded as part of its Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program to assist with Hurricane Ian recovery and mitigation efforts.

Sarasota County is one of only four in Florida to directly receive these funds.

The award, Thaxton said, led to Sarasota County’s creation of the Resilient SRQ program. Restoration of infrastructure and mitigation are among the categories included

By Jane Bartnett

in the projects that fall under the guidelines.

“If the county could make the case that opening a pass would improve the community’s resilience, rather than increase its vulnerability, to future storm events it could qualify for the minimum 15% mitigation allocation,” Thaxton said.

In June, Sarasota County invited community members to participate in the Resilient SRQ survey. It was open to the public from June 2 through June 28. The county also held three public meetings held during this time.

Another public comment period that began July 26 will run through Aug. 25. Comments can be made by emailing ResilientSRQComments@scgov.net.

At 6 p.m. on Aug. 9, an opportunity for in-person feedback is planned at the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice.

During the next several months, the county will review information gathered from surveys, public meetings as well as data from federal, state, and local sources and then develop an action plan outlining the use of CDBG-DR funds. It will detail projects and programs to best meet the county’s identified unmet needs. Prior to taking receipt of the funds, the county’s plan will require approval from the Sarasota County Board

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of County Commissioners and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Evanoff has high hopes for these federal funds. “We were denied $1 million in state funds,” he said, referring to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision in June to cut the money previously allocated by the Florida Legislature. “Now we are working with county commissioners on issues related to Hurricane Ian to put money into restoring Midnight Pass. Our goal is to restore the pass to its original state.”

Should funding become available, Evanoff said his group would wait for the scientists to determine the best course of action regarding Midnight Pass. If restoring it is indeed the plan, among the ideas for doing so include dredging, creation of a culvert, or installation of a pipe.

Holderness, a vocal supporter of restoration efforts, urged action. “Let the engineers look at it,” he said. “We need restoration and money shouldn’t be an issue. If we put money into restoring Midnight Pass, Turtle Beach wouldn’t need re-nourishment. If we save the pass, we save millions of dollars. The time has come. We’ve kicked the can too long.”

Tomasko, an expert in water quality assessment and the development of science-based natural resource plans in the Gulf of Mexico and international

locations, spoke about Hurricane Ian’s impact on Midnight Pass and Little Sarasota’s Bay.

“The water quality was improving in Little Sarasota Bay until Hurricane Ian,” he said. “The lack of a tidal connection created a situation where rainwater sat on top of the salt water. The big fish were able to swim away but the lack of oxygen killed small fish, including starfish and other small creatures.”

But Tomasko urged caution in moving ahead with opening the pass.

“There are pluses and minuses involved, including an increase in red tide if the pass is opened,” he said. “Decisions made today will impact the region for decades to come.”

He urged the audience to look beyond the region and Florida, explaining that there are many places around the world that have faced similar issues.

As the election season looms ahead, the conversation on what to do about Midnight Pass and how to fund the studies, plans and actions that will determine its fate show no sign of fading away. Strong interest among residents of Siesta Key, the environmental community, those in the legislature and all of Florida indicate that the future of Midnight Pass will be a vital issue for years to come.

Several elected officials have voiced support, including U.S. Rep. Greg Steube and state Sen. Joe Gruters, who was in attendance at the Tiger Bay event. Sarasota County commissioners have also gone on the record in favor of improving water quality in Little Sarasota Bay, with Midnight Pass a focal point.

“It’s worth a shot,” said Mark Smith, District 2 commissioner, regarding the potential of asking for Resilient SRQ funds.

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Mike Holderness (right) addresses the audience at the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club luncheon regarding his thoughts on Midnight Pass (photo by Jane Bartnett)

Minus parallel parking, changes approved

Neighboring residents sway county planners to eliminate 39 roadside spots added to Siesta Promenade development

Parallel parking was the only roadblock.

And, following a revised motion excluding 39 proposed parallel parking spaces, members of the Sarasota County Planning Commission on July 20 approved amendments to the plans for Siesta Promenade – the commercial and residential project by Benderson Development to be constructed at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.

The project was first approved in December of 2018.

The company has since acquired two additional parcels, totaling .78 acres, which were recently incorporated into plans for the development. Changes to the plan had to be heard by the planning commission for recommendation or denial before again being presented to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners.

Part of the amendments included traffic calming for the streets feeding into the development, including feedback signs, speed cushions, a raised crosswalk, a mini-roundabout at Glencoe Avenue, and parallel parking spaces along that roadway outside the proposed 20-foot landscape buffer.

concerns and vehemently dissented to the updated parking as a “traffic calming measure.”

“It is not safe for children,”

James Williams, a 20-year Glencoe Avenue resident, said during public comment. “It is not safe for bicyclists and it is not safe for people walking their dogs.

“Putting parallel parking in there would fundamentally alter and damage the character of the neighborhood. It would be unsafe and unpleasant. Please don’t do this.”

He added that there is a church and rehabilitation facility in the neighborhood which creates a significant amount of pedestrian traffic, including disabled people in wheelchairs and their assistants.

Planning commissioner Kevin Cooper asked Kimley-Horn engineering consultant Philip DiMaria if the additional parking was necessary to fulfill plan requirements, to which DiMaria responded “No.”

Planning commissioner Colin Pember asked Kimley-Horn traffic engineer Christopher Hatton why he deems parallel parking a traffic calming element. Hatton said it produces “friction,” making people more aware that vehicle

By ChrisAnn Allen

transportation manager Don DeBerry said “I do believe it is a traffic calming measure. I do not believe it is safer than no parking.”

He added that diagonal parking is less safe than parallel parking, and cited Federal Audit Clearinghouse studies to support his stance.

Commissioner Andy Stultz said “I’m going to be in favor of the motion as presented, but it’s a coin flip, quite honestly,” and recommended the residents take their concern to the county commission, with which the final approval rests.

The vote was split 3-3, so the motion failed.

Commissioner Emmalee Legler asked a county attorney if the motion could be revised

removal of parallel parking due to safety concerns. The motion passed 5-1 with commissioner Cooper voting “nay.”

Following the vote, Legler commended the community members present for their persistence and encouraged the group to attend the county commission meeting when the board considers the matter.

“We are just one advisory board that brings this forth to the Sarasota County commissioners,”

They are scheduled to hear the

An artist’s rendering of the residential and hotel portions of the Siesta Promenade project. (submitted images)

Smoking ban will begin Oct. 1

Immediate educational campaign by Sarasota County will feature signs, social media messages to inform those using beaches, parks

By ChrisAnn Allen

“No butts about it at parks and beaches” is the new slogan for Sarasota County’s smoking ban, adopted by the commission during a July 11 meeting and set to become effective Oct. 1.

Penalties for disobeying the ban can carry a fine as high as $500.

The motion to amend the current ordinance and restrict smoking at public parks and beaches, approved 4-1, was made by District 2 Commissioner Mark Smith and seconded by District 4 Commissioner Joe Neunder, who like Smith represents part of Siesta Key. Commissioner Mike Moran cast the dissenting vote.

As county parks, Siesta Key’s public beaches of Siesta and Turtle will be subject to the ban.

“It’s almost common sense,” Smith said. “You’re relaxing at the beach or you’re at a park, that you don’t like to smell smoke any more than you like to smell it at restaurants.”

Prior to the vote, Nicole Rissler, the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources director, gave a presentation on the history of the ordinance change and plans for promotion and public outreach.

Rissler said state legislation allowing counties and municipalities to once again regulate smoking within public beaches and parks, excluding unfiltered cigars, went into effect July 1 of last year. Previously, the matter was controlled by the state, after local regulation was overturned in 2012 through a circuit court decision. From 2007 to 2012, smoking on public beaches and in parks was prohibited in Sarasota County.

During an April 25 county commission meeting, a motion also made by Smith for staff to proceed with development

of an ordinance amendment to prohibit smoking was approved. The board asked administrators to speak with municipalities and surrounding communities which have already enacted the ban to determine the best ways to enforce the prohibition while creating public awareness.

“In regards to the penalty of this violation, we are consistent with what we are proposing, which is up to a $500 fine,” Rissler said. “That was consistent in all of our municipalities that have enacted this

ordinance, as well as Charlotte County.”

The cities of Sarasota and Venice, and the town of Longboat Key, were included in Rissler’s reference.

She said, upon speaking with those other administrators, the one aspect they would have engaged differently would be increased outreach prior to the ordinance change going into effect. So Rissler recommended a 60-day lead time before enacting the change.

“I will tell you there is an extensive marketing and education plan behind this

that would be launched if approved today, which will include social media, Facebook video posts, website announcements, banners and signage at a variety of select parks and beaches, press releases and media engagement,” Rissler said, and recommended Oct. 1 for the effective date, with an extensive community education campaign launching early August.

There was no public comment on the matter during the July 11 meeting.

Neunder asked Rissler about the penalty of imprisonment for up to 60 days, as specified in the cities of Sarasota and Venice smoking ban.

She responded that punishment was consistent with the other penalties and is included in the amendment with the addition of a fine up to $500.

“OK, good to know,” Neunder said. “People better behave out there.”

The ordinance amendment focuses on the possible damage to the environment and wildlife, due to improper disposal of cigarette butts, stating, “The litter caused by those who improperly dispose of cigarette butts within public beaches and parks is difficult to remove, can lead to severe burns and/or ingestion hazards to park patrons and wildlife, can significantly detract from a healthy environment, and reduce the enjoyment of the County’s beaches and parks for those individuals and families who want to enjoy a healthy environment, free of smoking-related pollution and hazards.”

Commissioner Neil Rainford said of the amended ordinance, “I think it’s great. No one wants their kids playing in a park having to inhale secondhand smoke, so I’m all for it.”

Sarasota County’s new campaign theme to educate the public. Image courtesy of Sarasota County.

Not in our back yard

Neighbors chime in during workshop against Crescent Club’s desire for live music going later into the night

They did not like the sound of it. That’s how several people felt about the Crescent Club’s desire for later live music.

“The notion that this is a quiet venue, that abides by the law, is fundamentally a lie,” resident Joe Reagan, who owns a residence across the street from the tavern, said regarding its recent request to Sarasota County for extended livemusic hours. “And that is proven by the fact that you have had citations for noise violations.”

Last year the Crescent Club, located at 6519 Midnight Pass Rd., received a $4,000 fine for having live music go beyond the current 10 p.m. limit on several occasions. That penalty was later reduced to $1,000.

Reagan was one of several residents who voiced concern during a June 19 neighborhood workshop held via Zoom. About 35 people participated in the online session, including residents, managers and owners of condominiums and residential developments located near the tavern. All those who spoke expressed concerns about the potential change, which would extend hours for live music to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday.

Presently, only recorded music can be played past 10 p.m., according to Sarasota County code.

“This entire property has turned into nothing short of a nightmare for people who live across the street,” Reagan said. “So now you are asking for this nightmare to be extended so that it goes to midnight?”

If approved, the special exception would not allow any change to the loudness of music, which is measured by decibel meters installed at the establishment. Additionally, music would continue to only be performed in the existing entertainment area.

“We are not proposing any stages anywhere else than where it occurs today,” said Bo Medred, president of Genesis Planning and

Development, who represented the Crescent Club and hosted the meeting. He added that the club last year installed overhead, retractable blinds that expand the performance space to indoor/ outdoor, but nothing would take place outside that area.

Al Van Cleave also said he lives across from the Crescent Club and he agrees with Reagan that noise is an issue. “We find it tolerable up until the ten-o-clock hour, but beyond that it gets a little obnoxious and uncomfortable,” he said.

Van Cleave added that “from an investment perspective” he has had complaints from renters who did not rebook, due to the noise.

Neal Schleifer, Siesta Key Condominium Council vice president, said he’s also heard from many people stating that “this could set a precedent.”

By ChrisAnn Allen

“There are many residences around it and the sound does carry because it is surrounded by water,” Schleifer said, and asked Medred to recommend to the owner that the request be rescinded.

Rita Miotti said she lives further away from the Crescent Club, at Vista Hermosa, and can still hear the loud music most nights. She also said she is worried that extending the live music hours would set a precedent for other businesses.

“Just like everything else on Siesta Key, once one business gets it, everybody else wants it, Miotti said. “If they’ve just denied it in the larger Village, down at the north end of Siesta Key, there was probably good reason for it.”

Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, 5253 Ocean Blvd., recently also requested extended hours for live music but was voted down by

the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners in January. That business had asked that

A performer at the Crescent Club, located at 6519 Midnight Pass Rd. The business hopes to have its live-music hours extended. (photo by John Morton)

Community Spotlight

QBryan, you are a longtime Realtor and real estate broker who recently established a business again on Siesta Key, this time in Crescent Plaza. Tell us how and why this came about.

AAfter over 18 years of looking to expand on Siesta Key we were presented an opportunity to open an additional RE/MAX franchise.

We are very fortunate to secure the location in Crescent Plaza. There is so much happening in the south village of Siesta Key that we wanted to be a part of the excitement.

does it feel to be back?

QHow

AWe are extremely grateful to be back servicing Siesta Key residents directly with a great location. Even though real estate agents are now mobile and utilize technology to help buyers and sellers, we know real estate is local and both agents and clients prefer dealing in person with Realtors.

This aligns with our company mission for RE/MAX Platinum Realty. Our vision is to have smaller, high-profile locations so we can provide outstanding local service.

QYou used to also reside on Siesta Key. Share with us your history with the island.

AWe have always had a soft spot for Siesta Key in our heart. In the late ’90s and early 2000s we lived here.

We were a small part of the original Siesta Key drum circle and very proud that Siesta Key has been voted the No.1 beach numerous times.

We were involved with the fireworks, Christmas tree lighting in the Village, and many other chamber events.

QIndeed, about 20 years ago you were a member of the board of directors for the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and even served as president. What were the hot local issues back then?

AOne of the hottest topics was the attempt to save the original Summerhouse restaurant.

I really enjoyed serving on the chamber board and as president. Many wonderful memories. It was definitely a challenge at times and extremely rewarding, too.

QIn 2000, you found a buyer for a Siesta Key property at just shy of $8 million — a record price at the time for the area. Today, a local property is listed for $22 million. More than 20 years later, what’s your reaction to the explosion in property values on the island?

AI always believed that Siesta Key values were underpriced compared to Naples and Miami Beach. Siesta Key is such a unique and beautiful place.

The current values are a product of low supply and high demand. In the last 20 years, Siesta Key has definitely been discovered

QYou landed some very desirable internet domains back in the day. Can you tell us a bit about that?

AWe have always embraced technology and marketing. Being patient, we were very fortunate to secure a few.

Years ago, we were able to acquire SiestaKeyBeach.com. I approached a local retiring real estate agent and was able to purchase the domain.

The site is currently going through a refresh which promotes Siesta Beach, real estate, and our expanding vacation rental business.

20 years later, he’s back where he belongs

Bryan Guentner sets up shop in the south village area with his real estate operation

Left, Bryan Guentner in his new office in Crescent Plaza.

Below, the boss and his crew at the ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. (photo by John Morton and submitted photo)

From the Grill...

Reviewed Januar y 29, 2023

Ann T via TripAdvisor

FRESH, DELICIOUS SEAFOOD

A s f re q ue n t vi s ito rs to Sa r a s ot a , we ’ re not su re h o w we m anaged t o m i ss thi s place in the pa s t. Now tha t we h a ve f o und it, we will be b ack t o s a m ple eve r ythi n g

We tried the stone crab chowder and the grouper tacos. Both were delicious and loaded with fish. Our tacos were dressed with a pineapple, watermelon salsa and accompanied by a side of wheatberry salad which had just the right balance of sweet and tangy

Our son also raved about his broiled tripletail which came with fresh green beans and potatoes. Prices, including beer, were reasonable and portions were plentiful.

‘One of a kind’ season coming from Key Chorale

Key Chorale, the Suncoast’s premier symphonic chorus under the baton of artistic director Joseph Caulkins, announces season 39.

This season you’ll experience a U.S. premiere by an Iranian composer based on an ancient Persian love story, be swept away by the Argentine tango, be immersed in the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, and awestruck by the spine-tingling harmonies of Eric Whitacre and Morten Lauridsen.

Combine that with dynamic collaborations with the Sarasota Ballet, the Circus Arts Conservatory, Artist Series Concerts, modern marimba, and the Venice Symphony, and Key Chorale knows you will agree that season 39 is truly “one of a kind.”

Season 39 concerts at a glance:

Sept. 23 – Tango, celebrating the Argentine Tango

Oct. 13-15 – Bachtoberfest – three-day festival with Bach & beer

Nov. 18 – CEASAR: Power. Fate. Conquest. –an Artist Series Concerts collaboration

Nov. 26 – Wintertide, with the Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company

Feb. 10 – Triumph of Love, U.S. premiere of a Persian love story

Feb. 20 – Tomorrow’s Voices Today, high school choral festival

Feb. 23 & 24 – Disney’s Maestro, a Tribute to Alan Menken – a Venice Symphony collaboration

March 22 & 23 – Cirque des Voix with the Circus Arts Conservatory

April 7 – Light & Gold – luminous and lavish settings by Eric Whitacre & Morten Lauridsen

April 23 & 24 – The Crown Jewel Finale – a

Venice Symphony collaboration

“When we say, ‘one of a kind,’” we are highlighting what makes Key Chorale unique,” said Caulkins. “Our creative ingenuity and collaborative spirit are the special sauce that goes into each and every program. These are programs you cannot experience anywhere else in the country. They are cultivated and crafted into imaginative collaborations that linger well after the final curtain call. They are performances that entertain and enlighten in powerful ways and fill your soul with joy.”

In support of education and community outreach, Key Chorale will hold its annual Perfect Pitch luncheon on Nov. 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Enjoy performances by Key Chorale’s Chamber Singers, 2023/24 student scholars, and a special operatic tribute to Sarasota Opera’s maestro Victor DeRenzi.

On March 4, Key Chorale’s student scholars will showcase solos and group numbers at the annual Student Scholar Soirée and Recital.

Beyond this full season of musical presentations, Key Chorale is involved in the community through its outreach groups. Off-Key Chorale is for those living with Parkinson’s and Where Are My Keys? Chorale is for those dealing with memory loss.

Caulkins creates a unique curriculum of vocal exercises, breathing exercises, and musical selections around a theme which concludes with an end-of-session performance for friends and family.

Season subscriptions and single tickets are on sale at keychorale.org or by calling (941) 552-8768.

Researcher argues on behalf of his invention

‘Opod’ creator in Siesta Key waters fights county on whether or not his project is a vessel as possible fines, court action come his way

Is it agriculture – or is it aquaculture?

That dispute between environmental entrepreneur Todd Kleperis, who is piloting a planned global-scale aquaculture business by growing mushrooms on an “Opod” floating in Siesta Key waters, and Sarasota County, which says he is operating illegally, is heating up.

At issue is whether the pod is a sea vessel, as Kleperis maintains, or a structure that should be shut down for illegally engaging in agriculture at its shoreline location, as the county claims.

After a mid-June enforcement deadline passed for Kleperis and his company, Tekmara, to stop the mushroom-growing operation, the county said it would issue a violation and haul Kleperis into court, where he could be fined up to $500 a day.

Kleperis, calling county regulators “idiots,” has provided registration documents to the Siesta Sand he says prove that the state of Florida has officially registered the pod as a sea vessel.

He also provided a video that shows the mushroom pod puttering about its offshore location under its own power, which Kleperis says is solar. Photos posted on the Tekmara website show the pod sitting on stilts in shallow water just offshore, however.

“This is a vessel and has been proven as such,” Kleperis told the Siesta Sand. “They are idiots trying to get a fee out of us. I won’t stand for it.”

Kleperis said the county

enforcement action is delaying Tekmara’s planned $2 million round of financing and “has cost us money, resources and legal fees to even defend something they have no right over … they have zero jurisdiction and we have asked countless times for proof they can permit or fine a maritime vessel.”

Sarasota County, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the state boat registration documents or the video, saying it “does not comment on pending or active litigation.” But the spokesman said that “the property owner will receive an affidavit of violation that will set a date with the special magistrate.”

“As you can see this clearly moves under power -- electric power,” Kleperis said, referencing the video supplied to the Siesta Sand. He added that previous court cases in the state support his position.

The pod, which looks rather like a small outdoor shower stall mounted on a raft, floats off Siesta Key Circle, near the north bridge, off property Kleperis owns. Inspired by Asia’s floating farms, it is the vanguard of what Kleperis envisions as a global business that raises crops on solar power and desalinates the water it sits in. The desalinated water cools the growing plants, eliminating the need for air conditioning and lighting.

The mushrooms are being offered for sale to local restaurants. Kleperis chose them for this pilot project because they are an easy-growing, high-yielding crop.

By Ned Steele

Top image: A screenshot from a video viewed by the Siesta Sand shows Todd Kleperis’ research structure being powered through Siesta Key waters. Middle and left: Proof of his registration and title from the state, indicating the structure is documented as a vessel.

(Located at Channel arker 62 at the Siesta Key South Bridge)

We all scream for ice cream, the saying goes.

At an early age, Thierry Cassagnol learned to scheme for ice cream.

“When I was about 5 or 6 my grandmother would spoil me with big swirls of ice cream,” he recalls. “One time I dropped the whole thing on the ground, and I tried to pick it all up. But my grandmother just replaced it.

“So, I learned that if I dropped an ice cream cone, it reappears – I get a new one.”

The young entrepreneur-to-be realized he could eat just part of his cone, and repeat the trick to earn another. It taught him a valuable lesson: when it comes to ice cream, the old rules go out the window and new ones magically apply.

Four decades later and now a successful hedge fund owner, Cassagnol has returned to Siesta Key, where he once was a skateboarding teenager devoted to Big Olaf’s. Last December he opened an outlet of the highly regarded Kilwins national brand of ice cream and confectioneries in Davidson Plaza.

Running a hedge fund may be challenging and lucrative, but owning an ice cream shop in a beach town is … fun.

“It started on a whim,” Cassagnol confesses. “Siesta Key built who I was, and I wanted to give back to the community.”

And what better gift to a community than ice cream?

Someone at Kilwins, the national 150-plus outlet chain of frozen desserts and fresh-made sweets, had reached out to him and his team. The chain was interested in opening a spot on Siesta Key and “the universe aligned,” Cassagnol recalls.

With a background in restaurants –he worked for several years at Daquiri Deck – and in real estate – via his hedge fund Linear Mortgage which works with distressed bank portfolios – Cassagnol was an instant attraction for the Kilwins chain.

Although he reports “I have a good scooping arm,” you probably won’t see Cassagnol behind the counter should you stroll into Kilwins. With his investment background, he’s more likely to be poring over the sales reports and the numbers.

But an ace team is on the front lines. Cassagnol brought in a schoolmate friend, Christopher Welch, and Christopher’s dad Michael to run the shop on a daily basis.

Michael had been chief operating officer of two of the world’s largest fast-food chains, and he helped Cassagnol set up the business.

An army of about 15 young people and seniors staffs the front lines, scooping out the frozen delectables and serving up the chocolates, candied apples, and caramel corn.

The store offers 36 flavors. The most popular overall, Cassagnol reports, is toasted coconut. Adults line up for cookies and cream flavor, while kids clamor most for the Superman concoction – described on the Kilwins website as “a swirling mix of fruity pink, yellow and blue.”

Cassagnol’s personal favorite? It’s a tossup between the toasted coconut and a raspberry sorbet.

With a multi-career background that has also included studying marine biology (until he realized that “there aren’t many jobs in marine biology”) and working in the construction, chemical and oil industries, Cassagnol has found owning an ice cream shop to be a learning experience. Three things he didn’t know until opening his Kilwins:

• “How cold it is in an ice cream freezer. It doesn’t matter what kind of gloves or coat you have; it’s minus-7 and you have Florida blood.”

• It is very difficult to pack ice cream into a small pint container: “You have to really mash it in.”

• Preparing candies and sweets “is cooking and science at the same time. You have to match up cooking time and temperatures of the ingredients, and you learn how to temper chocolate and to paddle the fudge in a certain way.”

But Cassagnol’s earliest ice cream discovery, the one that dates way back to the grandmother who replaced his dropped cones, has returned to drive a business policy that stands today at the Siesta Key Kilwins. If your child drops their newly-bought cone in front of the shop, Cassagnol and his team will replace it for free.

Thierry Cassagnol, owner of Kilwins in the Siesta Key Village, hands a caramel apple with nuts to Sophia, a happy little customer in his new business.

(photo by John Morton)

June 13, theft

Deputies were dispatched to a gas station where the complainant, an employee, showed them surveillance footage of a male and female who both appeared intoxicated.

After the two individuals entered the store, the male took a pair of sunglasses from a rack and put them on. The woman then handed the male a can of Twisted Tea she had taken off of a shelf. The subjects then engaged in a verbal altercation with store employees and left the store without attempting to pay for either item. They entered a red 1990s Chevy Suburban and left the vicinity. Surveillance cameras were unable to capture footage of the

Sheriff’s Report

license plates on the vehicle, and the subjects had already left when police arrived.

June 13, theft

Deputies were dispatched to a gas station where an employee stated that six white males wearing pink shorts had been lingering in the front of the store. One of the subjects took three water bottles from an opened case and handed one to another subject. They then exited the store quickly without paying for the three bottles of water. No suspects were located in the area and the surveillance video system was unavailable at the time of the incident.

July 2, theft

The complainant stated he had parked his electric scooter at a bike rack when he went to drum circle on Siesta Key. When he returned to the rack, his scooter was gone. He stated that he had the key to the scooter in his possession at the time of the incident and that the scooter does not function without it.

July 4, drug possession

The defendant appeared to be intoxicated while operating his vehicle in a parking lot along Beach Road. Deputies conducted a DUI investigation and placed the defendant under arrest for operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Deputies also found

a glass pipe, metal marijuana grinder and 32.1 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.

The defendant had an expired medical marijuana card in his possession and the marijuana tested positive for THC.

July 5, vehicle theft

The complainant received a call that her business cards and other personal items were disposed of on a property. As she left her house, she noticed her silver 2019 Mercedes GLC was missing. The complainant said she believed she locked her vehicle but could have left her spare set of keys inside it.

She went to the location the caller specified and found her

business cards and papers from her vehicle. Her Ring doorbell camera had not detected any motion on her property, and no other surveillance video was obtained.

The items inside the stolen vehicle included an iPad, two laptops, the victim’s passport and driver’s license, two whicker purses, miscellaneous clothing and makeup, house keys, and $17 cash.

July 5, burglary

Deputies responded to a complainant who said his gray GMC Sierra had been broken into in a parking lot along Beach Road. He said he had no alerts in his app of the vehicle alarm going off. The estimated damage was $5,000.

What to expect from a financial advisor

Sarasota Local Brings Experience & Trust to Siesta Key

If you know how important it is to invest for your future, but you’re unsure of the road to follow, you may want to get some guidance and direction from a financial professional. But if you’ve never worked with one before, what can you expect?

Here are some things to look for:

• Assessment – A financial advisor will assess your current financial situation – assets, income, debts and so on – but that’s just the start. These days, advisors recognize the need to view their clients’ lives holistically. Consequently, you will see questions like this: What are your feelings about investing? How would you judge your risk tolerance? What are your individual financial goals? What hopes and dreams do you have for your family?

• Recommendations – Only after fully understanding your needs, goals and preferences will a financial advisor recommend any investment moves. There are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions. You may want to steer clear of individuals claiming to be financial advisors who “guarantee”

big returns with no risk. In the investment world, there are few guarantees, and every investment carries some type of risk.

• Communications – Financial professionals communicate with their clients in different ways, but you should always feel free to reach out to an advisor with any questions or concerns. Most financial advisors will want to

meet with clients at least once a year, either in person or through an online platform, to review their investment portfolios. During the review, the financial advisor will help you determine if any changes are needed. But financial advisors won’t wait a full year to contact clients to discuss a particular investment move that might need to be made.

Also, depending on the firm you choose, you should be able to go online to review your portfolio at your convenience.

• Technology – A financial advisor can employ a variety of software programs to help clients. For example, a financial advisor can determine the rate of return you might need to attain specific goals, helping shape your investment strategy. But there are also a lot of “what ifs” in anyone’s life, so an advisor can use hypothetical illustrations to show you where you might end up if you take different paths, such as retiring earlier (or later) than you had planned or putting in more (or less) money toward a specific goal, such as education for your children. Anyone’s plans

can change, so the ability to view different potential scenarios can prove valuable.

Above all, a financial advisor can help you feel more confident as you pursue your goals. Among investors who work with a financial advisor, 84% said that doing so gave them a greater sense of comfort about their finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted in 2020 by Age Wave and Edward Jones. And during times of market turbulence, such as we’ve experienced this year, a financial advisor can help you avoid overreacting to downturns.

When unexpected events crop up, such as a lapse in employment, a financial advisor can suggest moves that may enable you to avoid major disruptions to your financial strategy. Conversely, when a new opportunity emerges, perhaps from an inheritance or some other windfall, your financial advisor can help you take advantage of it.

Navigating the investment landscape can be challenging – but the journey can be a lot smoother if you’ve got the right guide.

Barbara’s recent plan to visit, she offered to have her stay at her home and assist her on the beach.

“So many Sarasota and Siesta Key people have been so kind,” Barbara said. “We get so many letters from them. It’s a wonderful community.”

After the beach, Barbara was off to Fire Station 13 to share videos of Jacob’s progress with paramedics. She still marvels at how they performed CPR in the pouring rain while lightning bolts flashed around them, and then carried a lifeless body about 40 yards to a waiting ambulance.

“Standing back out there on the beach where it happened, I can’t believe how far that was,” she said. “It seemed like forever.”

Meanwhile, Barbara has created the A Bolt of Hope charitable foundation to assist other families victimized by a lightning strike. Its website (aboltofhope.com) shows a lightning bolt shooting across the sky behind a rainbow.

To assist Jacob, you can visit the Team Jacob website (bit.ly/jointeamjacob), which is part of the HelpHopeLive.org

platform that helps families afford medical equipment that insurance doesn’t cover.

A GoFundMe account also exists in support of the Brewer family. Visit gofundme.com/f/Jacob-brewer.

As for Jacob, he’s not taking his progress for granted.

“He never gives up,” said Barbara, noting that beyond physical therapy Jacob interacts with his Rise machine for an hour-and-half each and every morning and night.

And despite the promising future, the occasional doubt that all teens face does creep in.

“He said he was worried that a college might not want to accept him – that he wasn’t doing the kind of things a lot of other kids were doing to build their applications,” Barbara said. “I assured him that he had more than most to offer.

“That he was a survivor. That he had a story to tell.”

(John Morton is managing editor of Siesta Sand.)

Barbara Brewer shows videos of her son Jacob’s progress to Siesta Key firefighters Pat Evans (left) and Andrew Arbor at Fire Station 13. (photo courtesy of Sarasota County)

A neighborhood kind of place

Plenty of food, spirits, and a sense of community make for an active scene at Oak & Stone restaurant on Clark Road

There’s something special about a welcoming neighborhood restaurant. It’s a place where families and singles and everyone in between can right feel at home dropping in for a weekend brunch, early weekday lunch, snack, or late dinner. Oak & Stone on Clark Road is that kind of place.

“We do it all,” said Oak & Stone’s manager Kurt Henson. “The food is phenomenal. It’s a casual environment and the pizza’s fresh. Our beer selection changes daily.”

On Oak & Stone’s Wall of Beer, there are 50 beer taps waiting to be tried. Customers can bring their glass to the wall and purchase beer by the ounce. If one brew isn’t to your liking, there are many more to try.

Oak & Stone’s beer ambassador and assistant manager Chris Lashinske keeps tabs on the taps. “We use up to nine beer distributors and offer many local and Florida beers from as many craft breweries both small and large as we can, with a variety of flavor profiles,” he said.

Come the fall, Lashinske reported, pumpkin beer will be on tap. And, as Santa makes his way around town, he may want to stop in at Oak & Stone for a cool and frosty peppermint beer.

Bourbon fans will enjoy discovering more than 39 different varieties on the menu. “We offer four bourbon flights that include the Modern Kentucky Flight, the

By Jane Bartnett

range from classic cheese to the “Fun Guy” pizza that arrives at the table topped with cremini and oyster mushrooms, roasted garlic sauce, savory herbs, truffle oil and arugula. Gluten-free pizza crusts are also available, for an upgrade charge.

Wings are also an Oak & Stone’s staple and weekly wing nights are being planned. With six slowroasted stone oven wings to choose from in a variety of flavors, they make a great starter or light meal.

An ample selection of salads, appetizers and hand-held items for lunch and dinner are also on the menu. There are burgers, chicken, turkey, and grouper sandwiches, as well as the classic Reuben, served on grilled rye bread and made with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Oak & Stone’s own secret sauce.

On the weekends, starting at 10 a.m. Oak & Stone offers a generous brunch menu. Start off with a “bottomless” bloody Mary or mimosa. If you’re more inclined to breakfast fare, there are egg dishes, French toast, waffles and several biscuit dishes. If lunch is on your mind, then try the “Hangover Pizza” or the “Heifer & Hen” -- a burger and egg served sunny side up with bacon.

All-Around America Flight, the Florida Bourbon Flight and the Classic Kentucky Flight,” said Henson.

Pizza lovers can build their own pizza by selecting from seven different cheeses, nine proteins and 13 different toppings. Or pick from one of the 10 different cleverly named pizzas on the menu that

Oak & Stone’s large bar area has plenty of seating and features several high-top tables. There is ample indoor seating in the dining room area. Outdoors, couches and tables are in the front of the restaurant.

Continued on page 26

Above, the exterior of Oak & Stone on Clark Road. Below, employee Libby Cox donates blood. (photos by Jane Bartnett)

Oak & Stone assistant manager and beer expert Chris Lashinske admires a newly poured beer from the Oak & Stone beer wall. (photo by Jane Bartnett)

second by District 4 Commissioner Joe Neunder, for the purpose of discussion.

Smith asserted the requested variance extends beyond what is necessary for the project and the proposed plan would increase density and intensity in an area which aerial photographs show was under water in 2012.

“The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. It just so happens that the Lord’s been giving sand to Siesta Key recently,” said Smith, who noted that the area, based upon historical data, “is temporarily above water.”

He said his biggest issue with granting a variance is based on minimizing the amount of construction seaward of the gulf beach setback line, and on a barrier island in general. The variance, Smith said, would increase the habitable area seaward of the line by 514% and create a 175% increase in non-habitable space, on what are shifting sands.

Smith suggested that the applicant build a structure that is smaller.

“Again, going from six motel units to 11, somewhere in between that would be more reasonable,” he said.

Attorney Matt Brockway of Icard and Merrill, representing applicant Sunset Beach Resort LLC who bought the two parcels for a combined $10 million in 2021, emphasized that the current structures are nonconforming and do not meet the modern county code, the Florida building code, and FEMA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection requirements and

regulations. He also said his client’s request is the minimum variance necessary to permit reasonable use of the property.

Brockway said that not allowing the variance would “impose an unreasonable or unjust hardship on the land,” and stated the requested use would not impact native or sea turtle habitats or coastal systems and the applicant voluntarily prepared and submitted a dune enhancement and preservation plan for the area. Additionally, Brockway said the proposed development would be a less intense use as the current six-unit motel and event venue is occupied 90% of the time, turns over every four days and, on average, hosts 24 events per year with approximately 200 guests per event with 50 vehicles.

He said, based on the size of the property, 14 dwelling units could be built, but the applicant is

proposing 11, and all construction will take place on previously developed land about 450 feet from the mean high-water line.

As part of his presentation, Brockway also showed aerial images which included the neighboring properties and pointed out the commission granted similar variances to the six closest parcels.

“It’s common sense,” Brockway said. “You’re replacing these aged structures that don’t meet modern codes with a new, modern structure that is able to better withstand storm events.”

Smith disagreed. “This is not the minimum use of this property,” he said, adding that with a different design the entire property could likely be constructed landward of the gulf beach setback line.

“I believe this is too much and not in the spirit of a coastal setback variance,” Smith added.

District 1 Commissioner Mike Moran motioned to approve the variance, which was seconded by District 3 Commissioner Neil Rainford, and it passed 4-1.

Moran said he understands Smith’s concerns, but the parcel is not only already developed but is so with something noncompliant and nonconforming. He said new construction would meet current criteria with no impact to the surrounding habitat, and stated he stands behind the previous variance approvals to the neighboring properties.

Rainford agreed, stating he had a residence on a barrier island with a neighboring nonconforming structure and during a hurricane part of the home blew apart, damaging an adjacent structure.

“I think it is very important we bring as much as we can up to the current standard of building code,” Rainford said.

New Energy Medicine Technologies are Now Offered at Spa Experience, Siesta Key

After completing the Life Transformation program at Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, and experiencing firsthand the cutting-edge energy medicine offerings there, Connie Lewis is excited to bring Qrs and H-Wave healing therapies to Spa Experience Siesta Key. Lewis has created a new service that encompasses all her areas of expertise including trigger point therapy, Reiki, Cupping, CBD massage Hot stone Massage, Sports Massage, and now QRS and H-Wave therapies. Consultation and coaching time are included with your session.

Qrs is energy medicine that utilizes PEMF (pulsed electric magnetic therapy via a mat laser and ear and eye accessories. These noninvasive therapies are painless and ultra-relaxing and healing in nature. Some of the many benefits of the Qrs Mat and laser are improved and speedier recovery from physical tiredness and over-exertion. Qrs balances the body’s acupuncture points in 8 minutes leaving you feeling stress-free, energetic, and ready for whatever the day may bring. Qrs aids in healing muscle soreness and post-workout stress while healing the muscles joints and bones.

H-Wave is an FDA-approved medical device used to flush lymphatic fluid, increase circulation and eliminate pain and restore function. If the space around the cell is congested, the cells cannot uptake the oxygen

and nutrition it needs resulting in pain sickness, disease, and premature aging. If the space around the cells is free of congestion and metabolic waste products, the cell can now uptake oxygen and nutrition resulting in less pain sickness, more energy better health, and slower aging physically and mentally.

Incorporating these technologies into her Spa treatments will be an incredible leap forward in assisting clients live a more painfree relaxed life.

Spa Experience Siesta Key was opened in January of 2021 when Connie decided to expand her Spa in scope and services. Having owned and operated Massage Experience Siesta Key for 22 years she wanted to offer a wider range of services now including Acupuncture, Qrs, H-Wave energy medicine,

and Spa Parties. Lewis continues to offer her pampering results-driven facials using Pevonia Botanica Skincare and body line. Pevonia Botanica products are available for purchase by calling or stopping by the Spa.

Spa Experience Siesta Key boasts 5 treatment rooms that can accommodate up to 8 guests at a time. We are happy to help you make arrangements for your Bridal party, family reunion, or a spa day with friends. Please call for details and package options.

Spa Experience Siesta Key is conveniently located near the Siesta Key public beach at 5700 Midnight Pass Road, Suite 4b, Siesta Key, FL 34242 Our phone number is 941-349-4833 and our website is www.SpaExperienceSiestaKey.com

The current Sunset Beach Resort, located at 77 Beach Rd. (photo by John Morton)

Lawsuits

Continued from page 4

in areas such as funding for roads. No such findings against a Florida county have occurred since 1996.

However, once the commission learned that the county planned to appeal Van Wyk’s ruling, which it did by a July 12 deadline, it held off on a ruling.

“We might as well let that run its course,” DeSantis said of the appeal, noting he’d take testimony under advisement.

Ramirez and her attorney both made the trip to Tallahassee, as did attorneys for the county and the developers. Each party was allowed time for a brief presentation.

“Yes, a 10-hour round trip for my one-minute speech,” Ramirez said of her journey. “My attorney flew in for his two-minute speech.

“But it is an important part of the process and, frankly, I’m glad I got to make a speech. I was not nervous until that morning when it hit me about how important this hearing is for my case. Then I saw all the people in the room and all of the cameras, and my heart began

to race. I’m so glad I got to read the speech without my voice cracking.”

Here is what Ramirez said to the commission:

“It is not easy for citizens like me to challenge the local government. But I believe strongly that the state laws are in place to protect human life, especially after the close calls we on Siesta Key experienced with Hurricane Charlie, Irma, and most recently Ian.

“I decided to challenge Sarasota County’s new ordinance because I am concerned about the vulnerability of my family, friends, neighbors, and visitors. For these reasons, the commission should require the county to repeal this ordinance that violates our comprehensive plan, as per the administrative law judge, and in doing so make the county follow the state laws that exist to protect life and property.”

Regarding the lack of a yet another decision, Ramirez said:

“I was hoping we can resolve the case this year but it will probably take another year or two for the

appeals to be completed. In the meantime, I doubt there will be any progress in developing megasized hotels while legal challenges exist.”

One appeal has Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith concerned. The Siesta Key resident, who had yet to be elected to the commission when the hotels were approved and has gone on record of being against the action, feels a battle with the state’s Division of Administrative Hearings is

risky. Smith noted that former county attorney Rick Elbrecht confided in him before Elbrecht’s recent retirement that the county had only “about a 10% chance” of winning the appeal. Smith said the county “should not underestimate the seriousness of the DOAH ruling.”

Smith added, “If we lose, sanctions are around the corner. The decision is not to be taken lightly. It could cost this county gravely.”

The county commissioners, however, voted 4-1 in favor of the appeal in June.

How Carroll treats the Van Wyk decision remains unknown. At the end of the July 7 hearing, he said he was not planning on waiting for the Division of Administrative Hearings’ case to go through an appeal before making his decision, also saying the state judge’s ruling “is not binding on me” and that he would determine “if it’s persuasive or not.”

From left, artist renderings of the hotels approved for Calle Miramar, Old Stickney Point Road, and Midnight Pass Road. (submitted images)

Community

Welcome home to The Landings, one of Sarasota’s most beautiful deedrestricted communities located west of the Trail. A winding, tree-shaded path leads to the front door of this 3,114 sf. residence, where a host of renovations have created a special retreat on a large cul-de-sac. Sold at $1,200,000

This beautiful unique treehouse shows a fabulous combination of classy elegance and Florida casual living. Located close to the nature walk which leads to the fishing pier and kayak launch at the Intercoastal Waterway, this home is very private, and surrounded by lush vegetation. Sold at $857,500

Located West of Trail. This totally renovated Eagles Point 3rd floor condominium is tucked away amid the serene natural beauty of The

with

Located in the sought-after community of The Hamptons in the heart of Palmer Ranch, this renovated property is tucked away amid serene natural beauty Custom gourmet kitchen with white wood cabinetry and Quartz counters. Solar heated pool. Offered at $745,000

Located

Impeccably maintained villa in the sought-after gated community of Deer Creek in the heart of Palmer Ranch. Entertain effortlessly from the formal dining room or the open kitchen, which features a breakfast bar, an abundance of cabinetry and new black appliances. Offered at $519,000

6232 DONNINGTON COURT • Sarasota • 3B/2B

4612 DEER TRAIL BOULEVARD • Sarasota • 2B/2B/Den

5400 EAGLES POINT CIRCLE #304 • Sarasota • 3B/2.5B

Landings. Waterfront owners suite

two walk-in closets. Gourmet kitchen with Lube cabinetry and Quartz counters. Offered at $799,000

1451 LANDINGS CIRCLE #66 • Sarasota • 3B/2.5B

7242 BOUNTY DRIVE • Sarasota • 3B/2B

in Gulf Gate, this home comes with a private pool and expansive back yard. Generous living and entertaining areas include formal living room, formal dining room, family room and an elegant kitchen with gleaming newer appliances and solid surface counters. Offered at $659,000

1586 LANDINGS TERRACE • Sarasota • 4B/3.5B

443 John Ringling Blvd. Ste. F Sarasota, FL 34236

The Highs and Lows of Properties Sold on Siesta Key

Provided by William Raveis Real Estate / www.raveis.com

The following are properties sold on Siesta Key in the last 60 days, providing a snapshot of home values on the Key for both single-family homes and condominiums.

HIGHEST-PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE

4129 HIGEL AVE.

$6 MILLION

This custom-built and custom-designed residence is almost 4,900 square feet of living space all on one floor. Its back lanai features a covered outdoor living space that is 96 x 43. There is a heated saltwater pool, an outdoor kitchen, a pool bath, and screened sun terrace. The outdoor space is great for entertaining. A true 4 bedroom, 4 bath home with 3 half baths.

Upgrades include the gourmet kitchen with custom wood cabinets, concrete and quartz counters, a beverage center including an ice maker, water chiller, refrigerator drawers, and Miele espresso machine, Subzero refrigerator and freezer,

wine refrigeration, Viking gas range, Miele microwave, 2 dishwashers and more. The master bedroom includes an ensuite sitting room, a breakfast nook with built-in refrigeration and custom closets. The spa like bath has a freestanding soaking tub, Toto Waterlet, custom designed shower, floating sinks crafted by glass and concrete artist. Windows and French doors rated to the 2012 Hurricane code.

Architectural details include 35-foot soaring ceilings with transom windows, steel- and wood-beamed architectural detailing, a floor to ceiling fireplace, a wall of French doors offering views of the Bayou and window vantage points. The property is complete with a large circular drive, a 5-car garage.

Courtesy of Coldwell Banker

LOWEST-PRICED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE

356 ISLAND CR.

$1.25 MILLION

Incredible waterfront opportunity with this Palm Island gem on the Grand Canal. Boat, kayak, or paddleboard from your backyard or just simply relax and enjoy the island life in this rustic cabin style home.

Or build your new dream home on this 8,420-squarefoot lot or dream even bigger and include the adjacent 6,595-square-foot vacant lot (MLS#A4560774), totaling 15,015 square feet with 80-plus feet of water frontage. This property has endless possibilities; build your family estate or two luxury homes!

Courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway

HIGHEST-PRICED CONDO

915 SEASIDE DR., #612

$1.87 MILLION

This luxurious 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo has 1,750 square feet of living space and offers an open floorplan that features a kitchen/family room combo and split bedrooms. Amenities include numerous custom features including ceiling fans, crown molding, window treatments, countertops, walk-in closets, wood cabinets, built in oven, dishwasher, range, range hood, exhaust fan, microwave, and disposal.

LOWEST-PRICED

Every detail thought through, down to the American-made silverware, Tommy Bahama bed and nightstands, Ethan Allen King bed, dresser, and nightstands, stressless chair, ottoman, coffee table, and sofa. One covered parking spot next to condo with easy guest

Courtesy of Michael Saunders

Said Tim Hensey, chairman of Save Siesta Key, “Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” adding that 42% of the registered voters on Siesta Key participated in a 2022 straw ballot and 87% of those responding favored incorporation “yet the current House leadership does not give us a path to pass a bill in 2024.

“House Bill 923 never asked the Legislature to create the town of Siesta Key or increase taxes for the island’s residents. Rather, House Bill 923 would have allowed the residents of Siesta Key to vote and decide for themselves.

“Given the straw poll, it is logical to conclude the vast majority of Siesta Key

residents think an additional one-half mil is a reasonable additional tax to have more of a voice in the governance of our island.”

According to Hensey, members of the House noted their primary concern is that the initial proposed millage of .5 could increase over time.

“That is a fair concern for many municipalities in Florida but we think Siesta Key, with its projected total taxable property value of roughly $8.78 billion in 2024, is different,” Hensey said.

According to Save Siesta Key, the required feasibility study it submitted to the legislature concluded the revenue derived from ad valorem taxes and other sources would cover all anticipated operating costs,

discretionary additional law enforcement, and public works, with a reserve of $1.2 million growing to more than $2.8 million in five years.

Save Siesta Key also reports that it will continue to work with state Rep. Danny Perez, the House speaker designate for 20242026, and his leadership team in an effort to secure approval during the 2025 session –assuming Perez is re-elected next year.

State Rep. Michael Grant, a member of the local delegation, cast a decisive vote this year in favor of the incorporation bill going to Tallahassee provided a final local referendum would be held during a presidential election – which would have been in November of 2024.

When Hensey was asked if he fears his group may now have to wait until November of 2028 for such a possible vote, he said “Not really. Grant has said previously that he will not seek re-election in 2024. So, even more to the point, we don’t really know what individuals will comprise the Sarasota County local delegation in late 2024/early 2025. We certainly hope our bill sponsor (state Rep. Fiona McFarland) keeps her seat.”

Save Siesta Key was created as a nonprofit entity in March of 2021 and has raised roughly $265,000 since its inception, with all of it spent. Its board of directors consists of island residents Hensey, Tracy Jackson, John Davidson, Steve Lexow, Jodie Tierney, and Gary Rodkin.

Keeping it Real By

Natalie Gutwein

Be cautious of those slippery stats

Nomatter where you get your news these days, you’re probably being inundated with doomsday scenarios regarding the real estate market. Whether you go to social media, listen to a podcast or newscast, or ask your neighbor (unless they are a real estate agent) you’re likely left feeling the end is near.

According to a USA

Today Gallup poll in April of 2023, people surveyed to determine how the American public feels about the market stated that “only 21% of adults say it’s a good time to buy a house.” This is only the second time since 1978 that number has dropped below 50%. But let’s face it, sensationalized videos and articles are more likely to get clicks and clicks translate to money.

In fact, our little hometown of Sarasota was featured on the website thestreet.com in an article by Veronika Bondarenko entitled “These five cities have a lot of homes on the market (this should worry you)!” The article states “the number of for-sale homes in Sarasota rose 128.1% since May 2022.”

Wow! That caught my eye and I’m sure it did yours as well. I follow stats and the market in Sarasota like it’s my job (because it is!) and I couldn’t imagine how that could be true. So, I looked into it. Turns out, the statistic is correct. But does it tell the real story? Not even remotely. Just as I thought, it’s a skewed number to grab attention and get clicks.

I ran statistics from the database we Realtors use: StellarMLS.com. I looked at listings, with Sarasota listed as the city, for May of 2022 and compared those numbers with May of 2023. That number wasn’t close to the 128.1% number. After a bit more digging, I figured it out. The

number quoted in the article includes all of Sarasota and Manatee counties. On top of that, it also includes every single form of real estate, which includes not only single-family homes but condos, all new construction, the hundreds of lots that have been listed in North Port lately, and even mobile homes.

Don’t be fooled by statistics, they can be easily manipulated!

The reality is quite different for what we consider Sarasota. If you look at homes with Sarasota listed as the address (which includes Siesta Key), the numbers are much less drastic and paint an entirely different picture. Yes, the number of listings in Sarasota did increase from May 2022 to May 2023, but that’s actually a good thing.

In the two years prior to the pandemic, Sarasota averaged 4,236 listings a month in 2018 and 4,238 in 2019. In fact, from 2013 to May of 2020, Sarasota averaged about 3,900 active listings each month. So, even though the number of listings has gone up significantly year over year from May of 2022 we are still significantly below what had previously been a rather predicable, pre-pandemic inventory level, as the chart below indicates.

Natalie’s Numbers

2009, yet there are virtually no foreclosures in our area. There are reports of a collapse of the banking industry, yet in fact only three banks have closed representing only 2.4% of assets. All I do know for certain is that market predictions are not science, they are conjecture. The market has slowed down a little bit here on Siesta Key, but it’s also July (at the time of writing). Traditionally, the summer months have always been a slower sales season, so it’s entirely possible that we are returning to our

It’s a tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Depending on who you listen to, you’re getting two diametrically opposing opinions. Some say there’s a drastic recession on the horizon, others say it’s a resilient economy and consumer. Some are stating that foreclosures are going to be like

Oak & Stone

Continued from page 19

Prior to joining Oak & Stone at Clark Road, Henson managed the Oak & Stone restaurant in Bradenton. A military veteran with a long career in the restaurant business, he’s settling into his new role. Looking ahead to the busy fall and winter season, Henson is focusing on increasing Oak & Stone’s presence in the local Palmer Ranch and Gulf Gate neighborhoods, along with nearby Siesta Key.

In July, the restaurant joined with SunCoast Blood Centers and hosted two urgent blood drives in support of the local Boots vs. Badges competition. A friendly year-long challenge between the Sarasota fire and sheriff’s departments, the effort encourages blood donations. Donors are asked to cheer for either the Boots or the Badges. A trophy and bragging rights go with the end-of-year win.

“I’m very proud to say that a number of our Oak & Stone servers were among those who donated blood,” said Henson.

SunCoast Blood Centers’ senior donor group representative Cassie Vassallo, who was on hand at Oak & Stone along with the SunCoast Bloodmobile staff, reported that “during the summer months there’s a very large need for blood donations.”

Henson is talking with the Sarasota County Humane Society and veterans’ groups to arrange events. He also wants

to encourage area churches and local organizations to consider Oak & Stone for their events.

“I want the Oak & Stone Clark Road location to be a place for fundraisers. People feel at home here,” he said. “Every day

there’s something different going on here, that’s why I love coming to work. It’s a great neighborhood place.”

The Oak & Stone Clark Road restaurant is in the Expo on Clark Shopping Center at 4067 Clark Rd. Happy hour is Monday

through Friday, 2 p.m.to 6 p.m.

Restaurant hours are Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m to 11 p.m. No reservations. Call (941) 893-4881 or visit oakandstone.com.

Al Frederick & Danielle Mahon Mor tgage Loan Officer s 847-989-7709

FrederickMahonMor tgageTeam@ goFCM.com

FrederickMahonMor tgageTeam.com Co NML S: 132763

AL: 462432 Danielle: 1623790

Oak & Stone manager Kurt Henson talks with Cassie Vassallo of SunCoast Blood Centers. (photo by Jane Bartnett)