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New Monthly Section Serving the Nation’s #1 Beach WORD ON THE BEACH PAGE 3 SARASOTA WATERS PAGE 4 APRIL 2012
MEET THE NATIVES PAGE 26 FEATURED ARTISTS PAGE 13
ISLAND BEAT PAGE 24 WATER WORLD PAGE 16
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|Is there an electric vehicle in your future? Gasoline prices are anticipated to push through $4.00 per gallon this spring, driving the cost of transportation higher. It will also propel interest in alternatives to a century-long reliance on petroleum to fuel America’s restless movement. Sarasota County averages 1.7 million car trips every day, with smaller households PDNLQJ ÀYH WULSV SHU GD\ 7ZR DUH FRPPXWHV to-and-from work, and the other three are IRU HUUDQGV RU HQWHUWDLQPHQW 7KH ILJXUHV come from surveys conducted to validate the county’s road impact fee. ´7KH DYHUDJH KRXVHKROG GULYHV about 27 miles per person per day,� said Lisa Lisenson, the former Sarasota County greenhouse gas reduction F R R U G L Q D W R U ´ 7 K H average trip length is DERXW ÀYH PLOHV ZLWK a time of 20 minutes.� In other words, most local driving features short distances and slow speeds. A growing constellation of HOHFWULF YHKLFOHV ÀW LQWR
this short-and-slow driving universe, offering HQHUJ\ HIĂ€FLHQFLHV XS WKH HTXLYDOHQW RI miles per gallon. 7KDW¡V D Ă€JXUH IURP 'HE :HDWKHUE\ ZKR operates the Freedom 4 Bike Company on South Osprey Avenue, one block south of Siesta Drive. She and her husband Mike sell the Pedego brand, a state-of-the-art electric bicycle. “It’s only about 15 pounds heavier WKDQ D UHJXODU ELF\FOH Âľ VKH VDLG ´7KH DPS battery will take you 20 to 25 miles.â€? Unlike older styles, if the rider pedals along,
By Stan Zimmerman...
the range increases. Pedegos have a disc brake in the front, a permanent-magnet motor in the UHDU ZKHHO KXE DQG D TXLFN FKDUJH OLWKLXP LRQ battery on the rear carrier. Because it is a bicycle, it can use bicycle lanes DORQJ WKH KLJKZD\ )RU D TXLFN MDXQW WR 6LHVWD Beach in the spring, the Pedego will be faster than a car. And parking is vastly easier. Weatherby acknowledges the bike isn’t FKHDS 7KH PDQXIDFWXUHU¡V UHFRPPHQGHG price is around $1,800. Even with a 10 percent federal tax credit, it is an expensive bicycle. But LW LV HIÀFLHQW ,W FRVWV DERXW FHQWV ZRUWK RI electricity to recharge the battery, and she estimates her electric bikes – with no pedaling by the rider – are achieving WKH HTXLYDOHQW RI PLOHV SHU gallon. Pedego Electric Bikes
6 seater electric car
Continued on page 11A
|Meet Realtor Anja Deichmann Woman’s Collegiate Volley Ball Games April 13 & 14
&KDULW\ %HQHĂ€W hosted by SKOB
See the Article on page 27A
Originally from Munich, Germany, Anja Deichmann moved to Sarasota in 2003 after living the New York City life for almost a decade. Anja is family oriented and an animal lover. She lives with her husband on Siesta Key and enjoys walking the wonderful beach, watching the mesmerizing sunsets Florida’s West Coast has to offer, and feels very fortunate to be able to call this island her home. Anja holds a degree in communications & PDUNHWLQJ ZKLFK KDV SURYHQ WR EH YHU\ EHQHÀFLDO IRU her career in real estate. She is dedicated to her clients and makes reaching their goals her personal mission. She is passionate about all the aspects of the real estate business and strives to build ever-lasting relationships based on exceptional service, high values and strong work ethics. She enjoys assisting her clients in selling their property or buying their dream home, and in return her clients value her friendly and professional
approach, her hard work, her focus on their individual needs and desires, and her never-tiring enthusiasm for real estate. Anja certainly goes the extra mile to earn your trust and your referrals. “When working with buyers, I carefully listen to their priorities, desires and lifestyle preferences. Rather than specializing in certain areas, complexes or price points, I focus on my clients and their goals and make sure they are able to make well informed decisions. I enjoy working with people who are new to the area and making them familiar with Sarasota’s many neighborhoods and communities that are often undiscovered by tourists who explore the area on their own. Siesta Key is one of the most beautiful places in the world and there is a home or condo for every taste and lifestyle�, Anja says. “I enjoy every opportunity to “show off� our amazing island,� she laughs. Continued on page 20A