The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “Holiday Off the Clock” event on Dec. 18 at Harry’s Continental Kitchens.
The holiday event has been a chamber tradition for 34 years. Guests mingled and enjoyed a spread of appetizers and desserts, including Harry’s famous brownies.
About 60 guests attended the holiday event, including town representatives.
This was also the chamber’s first marketing event since after the hurricanes. Marketing & Member Relations Manager Felicia McDermott said this event was special for the community to reconnect before the holidays.
McDermott and the chamber expressed much gratitude to Harry’s for hosting the event after recovering from the hurricanes and reopening to the community.
Rotary Club hosts
Hope Services
Tears welled up in Hope Family Services Dawn Bryant’s eyes when she saw the overflowing table of toys collected by the Rotary Club of Longboat Key. She knew this would make Christmas special for the families the nonprofit serves.
“We were nervous this year that we wouldn’t have enough gifts after the hurricanes,” said Bryant. “But this makes all the difference. We can’t do this without all of you.”
The Rotary Club collected the gifts from Longboaters who attended Light Up Longboat on Nov. 23.
Rotarian Nancy Rozance asked members who attended the party to each bring two extra toys to add to the haul.
Courtesy image President and CEO of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Kim Verreault and Irina Bronstein.
Petra Rivera
Longboat Key Rotary Club President Jan Wallace, Tiffany Ogline and COO of Hope Family Services in Bradenton Dawn Bryant.
Parard was recently named the head
Required utility relocation for Cortez Bridge project will continue through 2025
The work will likely close the shoulder areas of the Cortez Bridge area intermittently through 2025.
CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER
Preliminary construction work for the Cortez Bridge replacement project will go through 2025, but no significant traffic delays are expected.
The bridge north of Longboat Key is essential for those traveling from the key and other barrier islands to the mainland. Currently, Manatee County is working on a utility replacement project that is necessary before the larger project begins.
According to the project website, construction on the utility replacement project is anticipated to last through summer 2026.
The project involves relocating the water main and force main Intracoastal crossing, which are 24-inch and 20-inch pipes. The pipes will move to the south side of the existing Cortez Bridge, necessary because of the proposed alignment of the new bridge.
Strategic Affairs Manager for Manatee County Public Works Ogden Clark said throughout this construction there will be closures of shoulders and potential periodic flagging if road closures are necessary.
“Throughout 2025, utility drilling work will continue to occur within the shoulder areas of the right of way (just outside the pavement).
Periodically, incidental and brief traffic detours might be needed to
move equipment or materials from one side to the other,” Clark said in an emailed statement. “The contractor will use flagmen for these periods, allowing traffic to move in both directions throughout. Motorists will receive advanced notice before these operations are required.”
Clark also said the project team will continue to provide updates and outreach to the public about potential timeline changes.
As of Dec. 18, the sidewalk and bike lane on the south side of Cortez Road West from 119th Street West to Avenue B are closed with a detour for pedestrian traffic. This is on the mainland side of the bridge.
“Intermittent closures of the out-
er merge lane on eastbound Cortez Road West will also be in effect as needed to allow for the moving of equipment, with flagging operations in place to assist travelers. This activity is expected to continue through spring 2025,” the project website states.
FUTURE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
The utility replacement project is necessary before the Florida Department of Transportation begins construction on the larger project: replacing the Cortez Bridge.
The existing drawbridge from Cortez to Bradenton Beach was constructed in 1956 and has a vertical clearance of 22 feet. There are two
lanes for vehicle traffic and pedestrian lanes on either side of the vehicle lanes.
The proposed replacement bridge will be a high fixed-span bridge and have two 12-foot vehicle lanes with a 10-foot shoulder on either side, followed by a traffic barrier and a 10-foot pedestrian lane.
This fixed-span bridge will have a 65-foot vertical clearance from the mean high-water line and eliminate the need for a drawbridge.
Infrastructure services firm Lochner will handle project management, design and permitting for the project.
“Although the replacement bridge will be located to the north of the existing bridge, right of way constraints will cause the new and existing bridges to overlap, making phased construction critical for success,” Lochner’s website states.
The project is in the design phase, which costs $6.7 million. According to the FDOT project website, final designs should be submitted in summer 2025 and construction will begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
Carter Weinhofer
The sidewalks and shoulders of the Cortez Bridge will experience closures during Manatee County’s utility relocation project.
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR KEY PROJECTS IN 2025
CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER
2024
was a difficult year for Longboat Key.
The active hurricane season brought Debby, Helene and Milton, and all three impacted the Key. Helene was the real kicker, and its storm surge flooded many residents’ homes and destroyed properties.
Throughout the latter months of the year, town staff worked with the community to rebuild Longboat Key. Some backup was also needed through the state, which sped up the debris removal.
After all this, the Longboat Key community came together at events like Light Up Longboat and the LBK Strong Community Concert to regroup and start celebrating the holidays.
While the effects of Helene and Milton will probably linger for a while longer, a new year brings new opportunities and fresh perspectives.
Town staff and Longboat Key Town Commission will continue with a full workload once the holiday break ends. Here are several projects that will either wrap up or make significant progress in 2025.
Looking ahead at the year to come, here are a few topics that will likely move along this year.
CANAL MAINTENANCE TAX
At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Dec. 2 meeting, commissioners passed the second vote to approve a taxing district for a canal maintenance project.
This ad valorem tax would be one part of the funding method for the project. The second, a non-ad valorem tax, still requires further discussion by staff and commissioners.
At the Dec. 2 meeting, residents showed up to share concerns about the taxing method and wanted the chance to be heard before the commission approves any tax.
“When or if the commission decides to move forward with the imposition of any tax assessment for canals by a special district or otherwise, there will be many opportunities for property owners to weigh in on such levies at public hearings like this,” Mayor Ken Schneier assured the public at the Dec. 2 meeting.
Town staff have documents dating back to 1996 of commissioners talking about a canal maintenance program.
In 2003, the canals were dredged, which was the last time the town’s canals were maintained. A further maintenance program fell through due to the 2008 recession and other factors.
“I don’t think there’s anybody who says we shouldn’t have canals that are maintained, it’s just a question of how do we go about it,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said at the meeting.
The Dec. 2 meeting included a vote to approve the taxing district for the ad valorem tax — a tool that is in place and up to the commission to use.
“It does not require or commit a future board to use it. It’s just a tool that’s there if the board so wishes,” Tipton said.
Now that the district is approved, the commission could start using the tax for the November 2025 tax roll. The only dissenting vote for the taxing district was District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams.
Before that happens, though, staff plan to have several public workshops and opportunities to hear from the community after the March election, which will see the election of one new commissioner.
“There are reasons to do it as quickly as possible. It’s been delayed too long. There are some canals that are pretty well-silted up,” Schneier said.
How to split the remainder of the cost through a special assessment, or non-ad valorem tax, is still undecided.
“We’re not even close to the decision...a lot more has to be done,” Schneier said.
Construction for the dredge project won’t begin as soon as the tax is collected, though.
Staff estimates it will take five years of taxing before the project can start. To collect the necessary $9.25 million, construction would likely not start until 2031.
With all that ahead, residents can expect public workshops in 2025 to learn more about the program and provide input.
BROADWAY ROUNDABOUT
The Broadway Roundabout project will likely make significant progress in 2025 now that the state found funding to help pay for the increase in costs.
This roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Broadway Street and Gulf of Mexico Drive on the island’s north end to enhance pedestrian safety. The end of Broadway Street has one of the island’s popular public beach access points.
In June 2023, the project was close to a fully complete design when the Florida Department of Transportation said it would not approve the design because of concerns with the roadway banking, or curved slope of the road.
This forced the town to redesign the roundabout, which requires the banking to be fixed by lowering one side of GMD while raising the other side. Drainage on both sides of GMD in that area also needs to be redesigned.
Previously, the town had about $2.7 million in funding from its own budget, FDOT and Manatee County. But with the new design, costs are estimated around $5.4 million to $6 million, which left a shortfall of over $3 million.
Extra funding was scheduled to come from the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in 2030. Recently, the MPO told the town it may have funding as soon as fiscal year 2026 due to other projects that fell through.
Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman told town commissioners at the end of 2024 that the MPO confirmed that funding would be available when FY26 starts in July 2025. He also said the FDOT agreed to manage the project, which would expedite the permitting process since the project requires special certifications.
If FDOT can work through permitting and other logistics, the project could see some early construction by the end of 2025.
Courtesy images
The Broadway Street Roundabout project on Longboat Key has been in talks since 2017.
The broken sewer main lies on its side at the Town of Longboat Key’s Public Works Department. The breach was in the bottom invert of the pipe.
WHAT’S AHEAD
SARASOTA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Sarasota County still wants to build a public library on Longboat Key. Whether there will be an enhanced version is still undecided.
The library will be placed on the Town Center Green, the same area where the Karon Family Pavilion was unveiled in November 2023.
The core version of the library will be 8,780 square feet and cost around $11.1 million. After several public workshops early last year, residents suggested enhancements that would make the library more enjoyable for the community.
These enhancements included a $1.5 million terrace and expanding the community meeting space for $2 million. With the enhancements, the
library would be about 11,230 square feet.
But to add those enhancements, the Longboat Key Foundation was tasked with fundraising that money over last summer.
Naming rights were a possibility, with a large donation that covered 25% of the total project cost, about $3.65 million.
After the initial deadline passed last summer, the Longboat Key Foundation and the town asked Sarasota County for an extension.
The two reasoned that many residents were away for the summer, and it would be easier to run a fundraising campaign and reach out to people in the fall.
Then Helene and Milton happened. The town was thrown in disarray and the fundraising campaign stalled.
Tipton said the town might try to work with Sarasota County to work out another extension on the deadline to fundraise for the expanded version.
The design for the library won’t be finalized until a definitive answer on the enhancements is reached. Then, construction can proceed.
In the previous workshops, Sarasota County said it anticipated opening the library sometime in 2026.
CONTESTED COMMISSION ELECTION
In March, the town commission will have three seats open.
Two are already spoken for, though. District 5 Commissioner Sarah Karon and At-Large Commissioner BJ Bishop are running unopposed to retain their seats.
But Vice Mayor Mike Haycock, who will reach his term limit and be ineligible to run again, currently holds the other at-large seat. This
vacancy led to two applicants, and a rarity for the commission: a contested race.
The two candidates who qualified for the race are Steve Branham and Deborah Murphy.
Murphy was formerly a District 5 commissioner who resigned from her seat in November 2023. The main reason for her resignation was her discomfort with the state’s new Form 6 requirement, which increased the financial disclosure requirements for elected officials.
In June, a federal judge blocked the Form 6 requirement after many elected officials spoke against the requirement as a violation of the First Amendment.
After the commission seats are solidified, the commissioners will also have to choose a new mayor and vice mayor among themselves.
Also on the ballot in March will be a referendum for the town to pursue a loan through the State Revolving Fund program. The referendum would allow the town to take a loan for up to $33 million to assist in paying for necessary big-ticket projects like the subaqueous force main replacement and Country Club Shores asbestos cement pipe replacement.
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image
A May 2024 rendering of the Sarasota County library on Longboat Key.
WHAT’S AHEAD
UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
PROJECT (AGAIN)
Hopefully, this will be the last year the underground utilities project appears. The town embarked on the undergrounding project in 2019, and now
there appears to be an end in sight. Before Helene and Milton, Florida Power & Light committed to finishing underground conversions by the end of October 2024 and to have all the overhead poles removed by the end of 2024.
However, the hurricanes caused damage across the state, and FPL had to divert resources to help other areas in need. This temporarily shifted FPL’s priority away from the town’s project.
When FPL and the main contractor Wilco Electrical could get back on the scene, debris around the town created more obstacles, and the crews often had to work around the piles.
At one of the commission’s last
Sarasota Memorial Presents
meetings of the year, Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said the timeline was uncertain. He said staff would continue to press FPL to give Longboat’s project priority to switching conversions, which was granted before the storms.
On Dec. 2, Brownman said he hoped that FPL would have all underground switching done in about six to nine weeks, which would put that around the end of January.
Then, it would take about two months following that to remove all the overhead poles. This would put the total project completion somewhere around the end of March.
Without any more obstacles, the town can cut a metaphoric ribbon on this project early this year.
LEFT-TURN LANE AT COUNTRY
CLUB SHORES
After about eight years of discussion and design, the left-turn lane project along Gulf of Mexico Drive adjacent to Country Club Shores will begin construction in February 2025.
This project’s main purpose is to provide safer turns in the Country Club Shores communities.
Originally, the town wanted to simply widen a 1-mile stretch of GMD and stripe a longer left turn lane. In 2017, the initial design for the project cost about $200,000.
But after the FDOT raised concerns, the project was transformed into a more advanced project with several individual lanes, including raised medians and widened bike lanes.
In fall 2024, project bids came in at $2.6 million from Superior Asphault Inc. This bid was higher than FDOT’s original $1.4 million reimbursement agreement.
After further conversations with FDOT, town staff negotiated a full reimbursement from FDOT for construction, which will move the project along to construction in February.
This project — along with others like the Broadway Roundabout — will eventually be a part of the town’s larger vision of a GMD complete streets corridor.
The complete streets project would include more multimodal enhancements to GMD, and town
commissioners and staff requested from the MPO and FDOT a study for the project.
SUBAQUEOUS FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT
Another project that has been in the works for several years, the subaqueous force main replacement project will break underwater ground in 2025 as long as residents approve the referendum in March.
A fracture in the mainland portion of the pipe in 2020 led to the need to replace the entire force main, which transports Longboat Key’s wastewater to the mainland in Manatee County.
The town replaced the mainland portion of the pipe in May 2023 through a slip-line rehabilitation that cost around $2.72 million.
But now comes the more costly portion of the project: replacing the pipe that runs under Sarasota Bay.
This project will install a new pipe about 50 feet away from the old one, a measure taken to decrease the chance of accidental fracture during construction.
After the project is finished, the town must follow through with seagrass mitigation necessary after disturbing the bottom of the bay.
The March 2025 referendum allows town voters to say “yes” or “no” to the town’s pursuit of a loan through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program.
The loan would be for up to $33 million and come at a 2.89% interest rate for a 20-year term. Annual payments of $1.9 million would largely come from the town’s utility rates. Throughout the loan, the total payment would be around $37.6 million.
Town staff proposed a cost of $31.4 million for final design, easement acquisition and construction for the project. This will begin in fall 2025 as long as the referendum passes. If the referendum fails, the town can pursue revenue bonds that don’t require a referendum but come at a higher interest rate of 5-5.5%.
Early this year, the town plans to increase public outreach and education about the referendum before it
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appears on the March ballot. Then, construction on the underwater pipe could start in the fall.
COUNTRY CLUB SHORES
CEMENT PIPE REPLACEMENT
The Country Club Shores water pipes were as old as the subdivisions themselves.
Installed in the late 1960s and early 70s, the pipes were made of asbestos cement, an outdated material. The ones in Country Club Shores aged beyond useful life and became more fragile, which was the main reason behind replacing the pipes.
After this replacement project, about 90% of the outdated pipes in Longboat Key will be replaced.
New polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes will replace the asbestos cement pipes in Country Club Shores.
The project split Country Club Shores into four phases. Phases 1 and 2 include the subdivisions of Country Club Shores 4 and 5. Then, Phases 3 and 4 take care of Country Club Shores 1, 2 and 3.
The first two phases cost around $5.5 million to replace 15,000 linear feet of pipe and install new meter boxes, fire hydrants, mill and overlay asphalt after the underground work finishes.
Phase 1 and 2 began in October 2023 and were expected to be completed near the end of 2024 or early 2025.
The final two phases of the project were on target to go out to bid after the FY25 budget was adopted, and town staff estimated the cost to be around $3 million to $3.5 million.
Phase 3 and 4 will involve lessintrusive, and less-expensive, work through a method called pipe-bursting. This was not an option in the first two phases due to the complexity of those pipe systems.
To help pay for the remainder of the project, the town intends to use part of the SRF Loan to cover the costs.
As stated previously, the SRF Loan requires approval from a voter referendum in March.
Brian A. Schofield, MD
Ngoc-Lam Nguyen, MD
Sean R. Dingle, MD
Edward Stolarski, MD
File image
The town of Longboat Key previously planned to have its $49.1 million underground utilities project finished by the end of 2022.
The Word for 2025: ‘Elon’
Elon Musk is flawed. We all are. Nonetheless, Musk is emblematic of the mood of Americans. He symbolizes the can-do, pioneering spirit that made the United States. Forget the moon; shoot for Mars.
Yep. “Elon” as in Musk.
That name, that word, should be emblazoned on billboards throughout the U.S. interstate highway system. That name, that guy, is the metaphoric emblem of what we Americans should be all about. Go back to and renew our national pioneering, optimistic, can-do, reach-for-the-stars, kick-ass roots and go for it. Dream — Big. Try. Fail. Adjust. Try again … and again. Keep going. Never give up. That is the formula for everyone.
Elon.
That is our Word to live by in 2025; to keep in mind every day; and to be a reminder to strive to be the best version of ourselves every day.
Longtime readers know this routine. In the first edition each year, we have a tradition of publishing a word, the Word — one word to live by, to guide our direction and actions in the new year, to inspire us year-round, to serve as a guidepost for what we do and want to accomplish in the new year.
The challenge is to think of a symbolic word that captures the mood of Americans, and make it a word that inspires us to go forward and do better in the New Year.
How does “Elon” capture the mood of Americans?
of shadowing Musk’s every move.
After reading Isaacson’s 615-page opus, to conclude that Musk as a person is complex and mercurial is a gaping understatement.
Early in the book, Isaacson wrote that Musk “didn’t have the emotional receptors that produce everyday kindness and warmth and a desire to be liked. He was not hardwired to have empathy. Or, to put it in less technical terms, he could be an asshole.”
Since his childhood with an unlikable father, Musk “developed a siege mentality that included an attraction, sometimes a craving for storm and drama, both at work and in the romantic relationships he struggled and failed to maintain.
“When he faced tortuous challenges, the strain would often keep him awake at night and make him vomit,” wrote Isaacson. He quoted Musk’s brother, Kimbal: “He is a drama magnet. That’s his compulsion, the theme of his life.”
Perhaps one of Isaacson’s best
How then, could “Elon” — a word symbolizing someone with flaws that most of us would want to avoid possibly capture the mood of Americans, or be the symbol for Americans to aspire?
Hey, we are all flawed. And throughout history we see that with every hero and icon — be it record-breaking athletes, business leaders, inventors, scientists, musicians, artists. Tiger Woods. Donald Trump. Alexander Graham Bell. Albert Einstein. Elvis Presley. Salvador Dali. The list is endless. Their personal lives are messy.
Focus on the good.
You can make the case that the word “Elon” is emblematic of the mood of Americans. Based on the national election results in November, Americans said: “No more.” We want what Musk wants. We want “DOGE.” We want to go to Mars.
At least head in that direction again.
We want to blow up the ossified government Leviathan and
to approve the flight test did not share Musk’s love of it. The engineers briefed him on all the safety reviews and requirements they had endured.” One of the engineers described obtaining the license as “existentially soul-sucking.”
Musk, holding his head, responded: “My [expletive] brain is hurting. I’m trying to figure out how we get humanity to Mars with all this B.S.”
Musk continued: “This is how civilizations decline. They quit taking risks. And when they quit taking risks, their arteries harden. Every year there are more referees and fewer doers.”
That’s what the United States has become — a massive blob of soulsucking regulations and regulators. But now “Elon” and his partner, Vivek Ramaswamy are determined to flip that narrative — to far more doers and far, far fewer referees.
For once in the history of this republic, almost all non-federal government employed Americans would love to see that federal, ossified bureaucratic monster choked and deflated, if not slain altogether. It’s a monumental task, to be sure, like “trying to get humanity to Mars.” But at least, for the first time in our lifetimes, it appears that three people — Musk, Ramaswamy and Trump — against all odds, are going to try. Which is more than anyone else has ever done.
OK, no doubt there are plenty who will sneer or recoil at the mention of Elon Musk. Especially after he has gone all-in with President-elect Donald Trump.
And those who have followed Musk’s flamboyant career know that some of his behavioral traits would never qualify him as a model Vatican altar boy or as an icon of personal virtue. Uh, three wives, 10 children?
He is nowhere close to the model CEO for whom you would like to have as a boss, especially if you prefer a work life of consistency and modest amounts of work drama.
That certainly is crystal clear in author Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. Isaacson autopsied Musk’s complex personality after two years
summaries of Musk is at the end when he recounts the launch of Space X’s Starship in April 2023 (see sidebar).
“The explosion of Starship was emblematic of Musk, a fitting metaphor for his compulsion to aim high, act impulsively, take wild risks and accomplish amazing things — but to also blow things up and leave smoldering debris in his wake while cackling maniacally.
“His life had long been an admixture of historically transforming achievements along with wild flameouts, broken promises and arrogant impulses. Both his accomplishments and his failures were epic.”
clean up the debris of the past four years. Americans want us to act again the way we did for 200 years when Americans made this republic the world’s beacon of pioneering, risk-taking achievers. Orville and Wilbur Wright. Henry Ford. Amelia Earhart. And on and on.
Before Musk’s Space X Starship launch in April 2023, Isaacson described a pep talk Musk gave to his team: “It’s worth keeping in mind as you go through all the tribulations that the thing you’re working on is the coolest [expletive] thing on Earth. By a lot …”
Isaacson: “The talk then turned to the topic of risk. The dozen or so regulatory agencies that had
How to be the best version of yourself
If the word “Elon” is symbolic of reaching for Mars or doing better in 2025, it’s another thing to actually do it. How do you make yourself be the best version of yourself, to go for it with the passion of Elon Musk?
In midDecember, the monthly breakfast of the Gulf Coast CEO Forum featured Alan Stein Jr., an acclaimed basketball performance coach and speaker who has worked with such NBA luminaries Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. He also is the author of “Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best.”
His message to the attending CEOs focused on how they could improve their performance and impact as leaders. His message and formula, however, could apply to
everyone and fits with “Elon,” our Word for 2025 (see above).
Stein ingrained in the CEOs the simple concept of the importance of constantly working on “the basics.”
He told of being invited to work with the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. Arriving around 5 a.m. at the gym where Bryant conducted his daily workout routines, Stein said when he arrived, he learned that Bryant already had been at the gym since 3:30 a.m. — working on the fundamentals of basketball.
“The basics work,” Stein said. “They always have and always will.”
Stein says start your week hyping the fundamentals that you need to muster to become the best version of yourself.
Stein’s tips to get there:
n Perspective: “Choose to see the world through this lens: “It’s not about me; it’s about you.”
Do that with everyone you meet, he says. You’re not the center of attention, the person in front of you is. “When you shift from what you want from people to what you want
for people, you will become the most magnetic person in the room,” Stein said.
n Core values: What do you stand for, and what do you believe are uncompromising values?
“If what you say is not in alignment with what you believe, then take a pause and course correct,” Stein says. “If you say something that doesn’t align with your values, you immediately destroy your credibility.”
n Purpose: “What is the why behind what you do? When you lead toward your purpose, you become inspirational.”
n Habits: “Ask yourself: How many of your habits are taking you where you want to go?”
Stein recommends drawing a vertical line down the middle of a notebook paper. On the left side list “the things that you love doing and that warm your heart.” On the right side, write how you spend the bookends of your day — the first and last hour of each day. Then ask yourself: “Are you doing what you know you need to do?”
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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The word “Elon” symbolizes the idea that we can and will do better. To reach higher. To shoot for Mars.
When you see or say the word “Elon,” think of achieving or of accomplishing more or doing better. “Elon” can be the reminder telling us not to accept the status quo and to take the steps in 2025 to be better, to be the best versions of ourselves.
In our own shop at the Observer Media Group, we don’t talk about going to Mars. But we have a similar vision that we frequently repeat as a reminder of where we want to go. It is borrowed from the British Royal Air Force. Its motto: “Per ardua ad astra” — “By struggle to the stars.”
In spite of what Iasaacson described as Musk’s swings through “light and dark, intense and goofy, detached and emotional, with occasional plunges to what those around him dreaded as ‘demon mode,’” Elon Musk is what he is because he believes wholeheartedly that he and all of us can be better and can make ourselves better than what we are. That’s what the Word “Elon” means for 2025.
Are the items on the left side showing up in your day?
Do you have a performance gap — “what we know we should do on the left side of the page and what we know we’re not doing on the right side. Sprinkle the items on the left side of paper into the right side.”
n Mindset: That’s how we choose to view the world.
Stein recommends waking up each day and reminding yourself “to do the best you can with what you have wherever you are.
“If you do that, you automatically eliminate a trilogy of behaviors: blaming, complaining and making excuses.”
n Focus: “WIN — What’s important now? Ask yourself that every minute. Be where your feet are, then your head and heart will be there, too. Focus on the controllables: your effort and your attitude. With attitude, we can always control our responses.”
n Focus on the process: “You can have crystal clear goals, but focus on the process. If you’re building a brick wall, focus on the bricks. When you focus on the process, the scoreboard takes care of itself.” — MW
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MATT WALSH
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
Alan Stein Jr.
Best animal calls of 2024
Sometimes, the officers of Longboat Key find themselves acting as animal control for the island’s residents.
DOGS BEING DOGS
9:54 a.m., Jan. 30, 500 block of Schooner Lane
Animal Problem: An officer was dispatched for a welfare check on a dog that was howling. The officer arrived at the reported residence and tried to contact the homeowner, but it appeared no one was home. From outside, the officer could see two dogs inside the residence, but did not hear any howling. The dogs seemed to be OK, according to the officer’s report.
DOG ON THE LOOSE
6 p.m., Feb. 28, 500 block of Birdie Lane
Animal Problem: A citizen called to report a loose Doberman that was biting other dogs. An officer requested Sarasota Animal Control Services also respond to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer met with the complainant, who said he saw the loose Doberman running around without a leash, and he was concerned the dog would bite others in the neighborhood. The officer canvassed the area and was able to locate the dog’s owner. The owner said his dog accidentally got out of the harness and was running around for a few minutes when they encountered the complainant. It was confirmed that no other dogs or humans were bitten.
CHIHUAHUA CHASE
9:03 p.m., July 5, 6300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Animal Problem: An officer responded to a report of an unleashed dog on the beach and, upon arrival, found a group of people with a Chihuahua on the beach. One of the men in the group told the officer the dog had escaped from the rental property and they were trying to corral the dog. The owners eventually captured the Chihuahua and the owner was given a warning for the violation of having a dog on the beach.
RACCOON LOUNGE
10:58 a.m., July 27, 2200 block of Harbourside Drive
Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was asked to check out a report of a raccoon laying on top of a resident’s lanai cage. At the residence, the officer spoke with the resident, who said the raccoon had been there for a couple of hours.
The officer thought the raccoon appeared to be sick and asked for backup from animal services. While waiting for backup, the officer used a pool cleaning stick to direct the raccoon away from the house. The raccoon climbed off of the roof and tried looking for an escape route, which led the officer to believe it wasn’t sick. Backup was canceled.
SNAKE EVICTION
1:45 p.m., Oct. 11, 3400 block of Mistletoe Lane
Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was dispatched to a resident’s call about a snake inside a home. When the officer arrived at the scene, the homeowner said she saw the snake in the lanai and wanted it to be removed by the police.
The officer found the snake inside a table cover and moved it outside.
CAT IN THE WALL
6:06 p.m., Nov. 15, 3800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Animal Problem: A resident called dispatch for help getting a cat out of a wall. An officer with the Longboat Key Police Department called the resident and said the department does not respond to animal calls like this. Luckily, the caller said the cat got itself out of the wall.
TO WATCH
The Wellness Entrepreneur
AMY STEINHAUSER THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PARADISE CENTER
Since her children had left the nest, she felt sad, lonely and didn’t know what to do next in her life. Steinhauser decided to turn to her childhood friend and the former executive director of the Paradise Center, Suzy Brenner. She uprooted her life in New Jersey and moved to the Key to live near Brenner. Little did she know the move would lead her to become the center’s program manager and work alongside her.
With the help of the island’s posi-
tive atmosphere, Steinhauser is out of her shell and found her purpose again by serving the people of Longboat Key.
“I came back to myself after kind of going into hiding,” said Steinhauser. “Everything about Longboat, the people, the nature, the beach, brought me back to myself. People have told me, ‘We are so happy Amy is back.”
After taking over for Brenner as executive director in April, she now leads the center into a new era of solidifying its location on the island
WELLNESS GURU
Throughout her career, Steinhauser was the jack of all trades. She has worked in the dental field for a toy sales company and a meal prep business. But wellness was always her genuine passion. When living in New Jersey, she owned two Curves women’s fitness centers with Brenner. The two have been friends since childhood.
With their shared interest in health and wellness, Brenner and Steinhauser opened two Curves studios in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., where Brenner had been living. The studios’ objective was to make women feel more comfortable when working out by being a women’s-only gym.
After moving to Longboat Key in 2021, Steinhauser loved going to events at the Paradise Center. She was attracted to the center’s strong community and active lifestyle. She jumped at the opportunity to work with Brenner again while getting to know the island’s people better.
BIG SHOES TO FILL
While she was program manager, Steinhauser did everything to be at Brenner’s aid. She organized all membership opportunities, the volunteer corps, and day-to-day activities so that Brenner could focus on the business side of the center.
During this time, Steinhauser also got to grow her sound-healing and reiki skills. She introduced the art to Paradise Center members through her frequent sound baths. With the time to perform these, the sound baths were instrumental in finding her purpose again.
When Brenner resigned, Steinhauser said yes to becoming the interim executive director.
Taking over in April, she tried to continue running the center in the same manner Brenner had. After stressing herself out to fill Brenner’s shoes, she knew it was time to switch it up. Since the center helped her come back to herself, Steinhauser decided to take it to the next level and make the center her own.
With the center’s Wellness Direc-
DEEPER DIVE
What is your biggest inspiration or what drives your passion? The countless individuals in our Longboat Key community who radiate joy and enthusiasm well into their late 80s and 90s. Their vitality, energy and zest for life remind me that there is so much more to live for beyond raising a family. They are living proof that age is just a number, and their example has inspired me to stay engaged and celebrate life at every stage.
What does your day-to-day look like? I always start by watching the sunrise. Then I’m here at the Paradise Center from 9 to 4 and I can never really predict the day. There is always something surprising here. And I love to end the day watching the sunset, too.
What do you like about the Longboat Key community? The feeling of wanting to be active and wanting to be outdoors. Also, I find that people here have lived really fascinating lives, so I love hearing about them.
What are you looking forward to in the next year? Definitely the new membership program. It will give people more of an opportunity to try everything and focus on health and wellness.
Favorite Longboat Key restaurant: The Lazy Lobster, Shore Longboat Key and Guppy’s
Favorite off-hours activity: Walking on the Beach
tor Debby Debile, Steinhauser has remodeled the membership system and has added a variety of new programs to appeal to everyone on the island.
Steinhauser also started the campaign to buy its building from the Tidewell Foundation. As the new year comes, Steinhauser’s biggest goal is to make the Paradise Center a place where everyone can call home.
“We are here for everyone,” said Steinhauser. “If you are a member of the Longboat Key Club, the tennis center, or you go to Bayfront or the Education Center, the Paradise Center is also a place you can drop in for one or become an annual member.”
Plan a Field Trip
LONGBOATERS TO WATCH
The Chef de Cuisine
Former kitchen manager for now the formerly named Cafe L’Europe, chef Will Parard can be found in one of two places — in the kitchen or out catching the fish he is going to serve.
Bradenton native Parard has been a part of the Oysters Rock Hospitality family for nine years and consistently brings his Florida roots and family recipes into his work. As Cafe L’Europe heads into a new era with the renamed Cafe on St. Armands, Parard was promoted to the head of culinary for all Oysters Rock Hospitality restaurants, which includes six Anna Maria Oyster Bars.
His new position debuted on Thanksgiving as he guided the Oysters Rock team through Thanksgiving dinner, which was the first time they had opened for the holiday.
DEEP FLORIDA ROOTS
Parard’s grandfather, Gene, was the cook of the family, running Friday night dinners for the American Legion. While he helped in the kitchen there, the Kentucky native learned about the ins and outs of Florida cuisine. Gene started growing vegetables, smoking mullet, harvesting clams in winter and shrimping with all the native Floridan cooks.
Parard said the spices were the most important lesson of his grandfather’s recipes. As a World War II veteran deployed in the Philippines and living in the Dominican Republic for a few years, Gene’s travels taught him to love unique spices and how to use them to enhance food.
Gene would use chili peppers, herbs, cloves, star anise, soy sauce, citrus and vinegar in his classic meals. His base flavors and spice mixes are in everything Parard cooks today, prioritizing his family’s love of sweet, salty and sour tastes.
Gene died before Parard was born, but his father, William Sr., shared all of Grandpa Gene’s recipes with him. William took over the Friday night dinners at the Legion for Gene, with Parard being a dishwasher and running food for him.
“My dad taught me all my grandfather’s recipes, like how to fillet fish and smoke it,” said Parard. “They are my biggest influences in the kitchen. My dad broke the barrier for me as a child about a man in the kitchen.”
During his teenage years and early 20s, Parard worked at many restaurants in the area, including Tommy Bahama on St. Armands Circle, Pelican Pete’s in Cortez Village and Ezra Cafe on Manatee Avenue. In between these, he tried different jobs, such as tree cutting and crab fishing.
In 2016, Parard started working at Anna Maria Oyster Bar on Cortez Road as a part-time breakfast cook and was promoted to assistant kitchen manager in 2017. In 2019, he was promoted to kitchen manager at the pier location.
During this time, Parard said the cooks would go out to Anna Maria Pier to catch fresh fish for dinners at the Oyster Bar.
“I’m a fisherman, so I grew up catching fresh fish and grilling them right afterward,” said Parard. “That’s one of my favorite things and it connected me a lot with my grandpa’s recipes, working at the pier location and fishing right at the pier. We would have just had fresh fish mul-
DEEPER DIVE
What is your biggest inspiration or what drives your passion? My family taught me everything I know. My dad is the most hard-working man I have ever met. My mom was disabled with rheumatoid arthritis that attacked many parts of her body. So, my dad supported our family as a mailman my whole life. His presence always came through. What does your day-to-day look like? It is different every day. Some days, I go to the office and do paperwork and meetings. On other days, I’m working in the restaurants, going through the coolers, going through checklists and putting out fires. My favorite part is that I get to pick whichever restaurant I want to be at for the day.
What do you like about the Longboat Key community? Growing up in the Gulf Island community, I love their uniqueness and the variety of food that they want. They definitely like to have a little bit of everything. Expectations are high, and you need to be on a very high caliber of what you offer.
What are you looking forward to in the next year? I’m looking forward to doing this job and being thrown back into on-the-job training, which is one of my favorite things about working.
Favorite Longboat Key restaurant: Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant
Favorite off-hours activity: Fishing WILL
tiple times a week. We also dove for stone crabs and ate them fresh. That is what I am hoping to bring back.”
PRESENCE IN THE KITCHEN
When Oysters Rock bought Cafe L’Europe in 2022, Parard started working there temporarily. After no one matched his energy in the kitchen, Parard happened to be the right fit and became its permanent kitchen manager in February 2023.
“The most important thing I have learned at this job was presence in management,” said Parard. “John Horne, our owner, has a big presence. He’s not a sit-at-home manager. He’s a come in and open your coolers manager, who eats your French fries and tries your coleslaw and walks down your line to make sure you’re doing your job.”
After Hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded Cafe L’Europe, the restaurant decided to use it as an opportunity to remodel its vision and reputation. With his ambitious work ethic and unique menus, Parard became head of culinary to lead the kitchen team into this new era at the Cafe.
In his new position, he is responsible for creating new recipes and menus for all the restaurants, team building activities and leading the staff through catering events. He will first be focusing on launching the “Cafe on St. Armands” concept. Along with doing paperwork and hiring new employees, Parard said he is happy he still gets to stay in the kitchen about three days a week experimenting with different flavors for new menu items.
PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER
Petra Rivera
A LIFE AQUATIC.
By the water, in the water, on the water. Whenever you wish. Wherever you want. All this, steps to Sarasota, yet secreted privately away on Golden Gate Point. This is the incomparable life Amara, unquestionably, Sarasota’s most exciting and remarkable residences, ever. Add your name to our early interest list.
JON MONGEAU
The accidental florist
PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER
Le Gardenia Bleu Florist Jon Mongeau got scolded in kindergarten because he wouldn’t color in between the lines.
This was his first hint of creativity in his life. Now, as the in-house florist at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, he creates floral arrangements for its new residents, decor and events.
While coming up with avantgarde arrangements weekly, Mongeau can’t help but be reminded of his kindergarten self wanting to do something different.
Between the hotel arrangements, his floral studio and extravagant events he does across the country, he is grateful that he gets to color outside of the lines every day.
UNCOVERING HIS CREATIVITY
When Mongeau was 14 years old, he originally went into the seminary with the intention of becoming a cloistered priest. As a social and creative person, he knew that wasn’t his path, so he left when he was 18.
He ended up moving to New Hampshire to go to school for computer science. Inspired by his uncle and his own logical thinking, Mongeau became a programmer in Boston for 10 years.
After years behind the computer screen, he fell out of love with what
DEEPER DIVE
What is your biggest inspiration or what drives your passion? Opportunity. When something presents itself, I don’t shy away from it. Gears will start to kick in, thinking about many ways how I can achieve it.
What does your day-to-day look like?
First thing in the morning, I’m at the flower market. Then, in the shop, every day is different. We could be doing the St. Regis or events around town. I never know when I will get a rush order.
he was doing.
He stopped in a local flower shop to get decorations for a tropicalthemed party he was throwing. There, he noticed the flower shop was looking for help for the week of Valentine’s Day.
“The owner of the shop was my friend,” said Mongeau. “I walked in there and saw the help wanted sign and thought, ‘Anybody could do flowers.’ On Monday, I quit my job and started selling flowers two weeks later. I did not know what I had coming during Valentine’s Day.”
Mongeau’s flower career took off with the help of his mentor and the shop owner, Maynard Winston. After six months of working there, Mongeau was creating floral arrangements with confidence.
“Maynard looked at me one day and said, ‘You are a designer now,’” said Mongeau. “I was like, ‘What are you talking?’ And then he said, ‘You just sent an arrangement without checking it with me first. You are an official designer.’”
From there, Mongeau became the in-house designer for different buildings in New England including the Meridian Hotel in Boston and the World Trade Center in New York before Sept. 11, 2001. He won Best Flowers in Boston for his work at the Newbury Hotel. While working for different hotels, Mongeau started doing weddings and formal events across the country.
What do you like about the Longboat Key community? People are generally happy and not judgmental as a whole across the board, no matter where you come from.
What are you looking forward to in the next year? For the shop to succeed and lots of traveling.
Her first presidency was when she was 11. In the suburbs of Boston, her friends picked Longboater Lois Barson captain of the Safety Patrol. It caught her by surprise.
Another time in her childhood, Barson remembered how involved her family was in the local Jewish community center. She resisted when her parents forced her to go to the youth group there.
“When I came home, I looked at my parents and couldn’t keep my surprise,” Barson said. “I was elected president. I didn’t know why I kept getting those positions. I must have been that I was the oldest child and I’m a bit bossy, although I’m a quieter bossy.”
Now, as president of Temple Beth Israel, Barson couldn’t help but think back to those times. They taught her skills that she brings into her life now and the lives of her fellow congregants.
After a hectic start to her presidency, she hopes to use her many years of leadership experience to guide the temple in the right direction this season.
STARTING FRESH
Looking back to 18 years ago, Barson had just become a widow when she started attending the temple regularly. During her grieving time, she would sit in the back left corner of the synagogue and leave immediately when the service was over.
Wanting to get her life together after the sadness, Barson started mingling with people after services, especially those who she recognized from other organizations, such as the Longboat Key Democratic Club.
While helping clean up after service one day, she started talking to her friend Judy Goldstein, who persuaded her to join Beth Israel Women. Barson explained after the first session, everyone felt like an old friend.
TEACHING BACKGROUND
For 40 years, Barson worked in the education field in Pennsylvania as an elementary school teacher, college professor and superintendent. She specialized in teacher training, curriculum writing, and curriculum implementation. She moved fulltime to Longboat Key in 2004.
Barson was asked many times to be president throughout her many years of involvement at the temple.
DEEPER DIVE
What is your biggest inspiration or what drives your passion? It’s just being able to experience life and share that with other people one way, one way or another. I am a 56-year survivor of cancer and I wasn’t supposed to survive. So, I have an immense respect for life.
What does your day to day look like? I don’t keep regular hours, which is not good. I will be here at the temple taking multiple meetings throughout and helping out where I can.
What do you like about the Longboat Key community? That you can be yourself.
What are you looking forward to in the next year? I am looking forward to signing up for all the classes at the Education Center here. I need to keep learning.
Favorite Longboat Key restaurant: The Lazy Lobster
Favorite off-hours activity: Preparing a nice meal for myself and my daily walk at the beach because it is so therapeutic.
With the variety of opinions on the board, she thought she could use her experience as an educator and leadership skills to bring the congregation together.
On the first day of her presidency, Barson did not anticipate the roof falling in after Hurricane Debby, with two major hurricanes following.
After a setback because of these events, things are looking up as season begins. Barson’s primary goal is to revitalize membership and keep the temple’s finances stable.
“I’m a facilitator,” said Barson. “I really look at my job as a representative for the congregation that elected me. I lead them through their many opinions. I’m very grateful for both executive director Isaac (Azerad) and our rabbi because it makes my life a lot easier.”
Photos by Petra Rivera
What Would the Founding Fathers Think of America Today?
It would be nearly impossible to overestimate the reverence afforded America’s celebrated founding fathers. They were real men whose brilliance launched our country, and they vigorously discussed and debated the important political issues of their time.
By focusing on key writings and speeches of founders such as Washington, Jefferson, Adams and others we can certainly speculate what they’d think about the issues of today. That’s the fascinating and unique idea behind the Observer’s upcoming event in Sarasota on February 6th. It will be presented by renowned Brown University Professor Wendy Schiller, Chair of the Department of Political Science.
Here’s an example. The partisan hostility of our two major parties
has certainly frustrated nearly everyone. It turns out that the “Father of our Country” and our very first President was concerned about that very issue. In George Washington’s words from his famous farewell address in 1796, “There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and keep alive the spirit of liberty. But then he went on to assert “the constant danger of excess” and ended by referring to a political party as “ a fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance topresent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume”
Another subject area that was discussed thoroughly at the start of our country and continues to be a major focus today is the role of religion. While many believe
that the Founders felt that religion should be kept entirely outside political life, that’s really not what most of them felt. James Madison wrote that all men are “equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience”. In actuality the founders were less concerned about religious influences on government than they were with any effort to exclude some religions and favor others. That is what they had experienced as citizens of England and was what they were primarily concerned with. One more example would be concerns about economic and wealth inequality. Many think of this as an area of concern only in recent times, e– launched in large part by the now well known “occupy Wall Street” movement in 2011. In fact, it was a subject ad-
vanced by many founders, and some of their thinking was quite advanced. Thomas Paine wrote of the need to “make some provisions for people become poor and wretched not only at the time they become so. Would it not, even a matter of economy, be far better to devise means to prevent their becoming poor?”
And finally, apparently federal spending has been a hot button
Dive into the past with our exciting speaker series, featuring renowned scholars from top universities. Each lecture brings history to life with fresh insights and captivating stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
issue for as long as our country has been in existence. It was Thomas Jefferson who wrote
“That same prudence which in private life would forbid paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public monies” Sounds a lot like something you hear every day on TV!
YOUR NEIGHBORS
SAVE THE DATES
FOR 2025
RIVERA STAFF WRITER
t’s on to 2025, Longboaters. To celebrate, the Observer gifts you the dates of your favorite events happening on the island this year.
From the Lawn Party to Savor the Sounds to Light Up Longboat, all of your favorite events are back. So bring your appetite, dress your best and mark your calendars.
Here is an overview of the fun to come this year on Longboat Key.
THE MARKET ON LONGBOAT KEY
Every first and third Monday from January to April at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. VisitFacebook.com.
Shop until you drop at the Market on the Key. The bi-monthly Market, run by Markets by Nancy, has everything from art to apparel, shoes, fresh flowers and more. The market also includes live music and food trucks. The market opens at 10 a.m. on the Town Center Green every first and third Monday from January through April.
PICKLEBALL AT THE PARADISE CENTER
The first Monday of every month at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. VisitTheParadiseCenter.org.
The Paradise Center offers monthly clinics that will teach participants everything they need to know about the fastest-growing sport in the world. Instructor Terri Noyes teaches this series with no equipment necessary. The workshops start at 11:30 a.m. in The Paradise Center parking lot, 546 Bay Isles Road. RSVP for Special Programs at The Paradise Center by calling 383-6493 or emailing Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org.
EINSTEIN’S COMPASS: A STAGED PLAY READING
2 to 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Rd. Call (941) 383-8222.
Learn about the life of the man who revolutionized science at the beginning of the 20th century, Albert Einstein, in a staged play reading at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel. Watch the Temple’s very own Rabbi Stephen Sniderman read the leading role of Einstein as he takes attendees through the struggles and discoveries starting when Einstein was a child. The play will dive into the opposition he faced and how Germany’s anti-Semitism transformed his view of his Jewish heritage. A discussion will follow.
OBSERVER CHALLENGE
Jan. 17-19 at the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, 590 Bay Isles Road. Call (941) 316-8367. The staple tennis tournament of Longboat challenges all players while forming camaraderie across the Key. It all starts with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the Resort at Longboat Key Club Restaurant, Spike ‘n Tees.
With more than 100 players every year, each team comprises two men and two women for four levels of play. Men and women play doubles. When finished, one man and one woman go straight into singles, and the other players play mixed doubles. It’s the best three out of five pro sets.
There’s a $60 entry fee per player. Non-players can attend the reception for $40. Call (941) 316-8367 for more info or to register.
TASTE AND TUNES OF THE KEYS
Feb. 27 at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Ballroom, 3000 Harbourside Drive. Taste and Tunes of the Key is one of Longboat’s most iconic events hosted by the Longboat Key Garden Club. As one of its biggest fundraisers of the year, restaurants from across the area will bring their best samples for everyone to taste while people are on the dance floor listening to music for a local band.
SAVOR THE SOUNDS
March 1, March 15 and April 19 at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Call (941) 383-2466.
Local bands highlight this series of outdoor concerts. Last year, the lineup included Kettle of Fish, SoulRcoaster and Yesterdayze. The three bands bring a variety of tunes from genres such as reggae, Motown, blues, jazz, disco, country and soul. Contact the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce for tickets and information.
LAWN PARTY
Late April or Early March. Details to come. VisitLBKLawnParty.org.
Postponed to 2025 due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club Lawn Party will feature bites and drinks from area Longboat Key restaurants and raise money for kids in need for the Children’s Guardian Fund. Live entertainment, food and drinks are all included with admission.
WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE PERFORMANCE
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 9 at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Call (941) 383-8222. Sarasota’s own Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will perform its original musical “Soul Man” at Temple Beth Israel, which celebrates the music from the late 1960s. It touches on how Black music has grown during the Civil Rights movement through powerful soloists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke.
ROYAL RUMMAGE SALE
March 1 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
As the biggest fundraiser for St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, people can shop for various items from clothing, furniture, art, collectibles, housewares and jewelry. Early shopping starts on Feb. 28.
Royal Rummage Sale
Observer Challenge
Market on Longboat Key
LONGBOAT
CITYVIEWS
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
THE SANCTUARY ON LONGBOAT KEY
545 SANCTUARY DR #B406 | OFFERED AT $1,975,000
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
Experience luxury beachfront living in this 3 bed/2.5 bath oasis behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club. Enjoy big bay, city and golf course green views from the floor to ceiling sliders in this creatively updated property.
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
MLS# A4631653
2067 HARBOUR
A4178487
GRAND BAY ON LONGBOAT KEY
3080 GRAND BAY BLVD #515 | OFFERED AT $789,000
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
Enjoy peaceful Sarasota Bay views from this 2 bedroom first floor residence offering 2 under building parking spaces. Grand Bay offers resort-style amenities behind the gates of the Longboat Key Club.
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
2067 HARBOUR LINKS DRIVE, #4
Longboat Key | Offered at $779,000 MLS# A4178487
Hit the reset button this year
Health is more than being sick or not, it’s about balance and can lead to a smoother lifestyle.
MIRABAI HOLLAND CONTRIBUTOR
I’m a health coach and exercise physiologist working with government employees in every imaginable job description. Their health needs and personal goals are as varied as their occupations. But every year about this time, a lot of my clients make a similar request for advice on how to make their New Year’s resolutions permanent.
It’s human nature to make promises to ourselves during the New Year. It is a chance to press the reset button on our lives, a chance to get it right this time. Mindfulness is the first step toward positive change. And the start of a New Year is a perfect reminder to take mindful stock in ourselves, where we are now and where we want to go.
The formula I’m about to suggest can be applied to making any set of positive changes permanent.
The first thing we have to realize is that we can’t just lose weight and be healthy and happy. No change is an island. Lifestyle is
called lifestyle because it’s all about everything. Health is more than not being sick. It’s all about balance. It’s physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental well-being.
This pie chart is sort of like the wheel of life. When the wheel is in balance, life rolls smoothly. When even one spoke gets out of whack, the wheel wobbles. If enough spokes are out, life becomes a hot mess. Everything affects everything else, but you don’t have to fix it all at once. In fact, trying to make too many changes at once is an express ticket to quitsville. Let’s take a quick look at these pie pieces one by one. It’ll help you come up with a way to balance them that works for YOU.
Start with one healthy change you’ve been meaning to make and EASE into that. Make that first one something that you know you can accomplish.
Something sustainable, like “I’m going to take a half-hour walk twice a week” or “I’m going to try whole grain breads till I find one I like and switch to that.” Take as much time as you need. When it becomes permanent, start another one the same way. Eventually you’ll never want to go back to your old ways.
Use this as a template. Set one goal at a time. Remember, you’re going for balance, and there are a lot of big and small aspects to the spokes in this wheel. Let’s take a look at the basics.
MOVE
Fitness equals longevity. The results of a 40-year-old study still hold true. Moderate fitness, 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise five days a week, can reduce your risk of premature death by a whopping 50%. Combining that with moderate weight training
three times a week every other day, and stretching the muscles you worked, can make a huge difference in how you feel, how you look and probably how long you live.
EAT HEALTHY
The processed food industry has appealed to our love of fat, salt and sugar. They’ve got a lot of us addicted to stuff they call food that’s really little more than good tasting, nutritionally bankrupt junk.
Gradually replace old favorite junk foods with healthy foods you actually enjoy eating. The Mediterranean food plan is mostly plant based, with veggies, fruits, whole grains and some lean meats, poultry and fish. It’s considered the healthiest and most delicious food plan on the planet. And there is enough variety to build your own personal cuisine, one you’ll prefer to any old junk food.
SLEEP
One in three Americans is sleep deprived according to the CDC. It’s one of the most ignored aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Getting less than seven hours of sleep increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and yes, obesity. Sleep deprived people tend to overeat. We keep busy schedules, but we’ve got to stop stealing sleep time from ourselves. This is a tough one. It’s going to take a lot of putting away devices and relaxation. But it’s a bad habit worth breaking.
STRESS
It’s everywhere. It’s a big contributor to sleep deprivation and bad for your longevity. Stress adversely affects all your bodily functions. Chronic stress can kill you. Here again, mindfulness can help. If you realize you’re stressed and what you’re stressed about, you’ll have an easier time putting it in perspective and not letting it eat at you.
NEUROAESTHETICS
It’s the study of how our brains react to experiencing art. It’s a fabulous stress reducer and so much more. Music, visual art, crafts, playing an instrument, dancing, singing to the radio, whatever, influences our brain’s cognition, promotes mental health and helps balance the wheel. It stimulates our insight to explore our innermost selves and universal feelings that connect us all to the world. Decorating your home or workplace to make it a comfortable and pleasing place to be is environmental art. I hope I’ve given you food for thought, perhaps inspiration for change, and maybe the beginnings of a formula you can use to move you toward that new you in the New Year.
Mirabai Holland is CEO of NuVue LLC, a health education and video production company. She is a certified health coach, exercise physiologist and wellness consultant for Manatee County government employees and has a private practice. Her wellness programs are implemented in hospitals, fitness facilities, resorts and corporations worldwide. She is also an artist who believes creativity enhances health. Visit MirabaiHolland.com or contact her at AskMirabai@ movingfree.com
Exclusive Dinner, Wine for Four at the famous Maison Blanche
Hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks
Thursday, Jan. 16 | 5 to 7 p.m. at The Resort at Longboat Key Spike ‘n’ Tees, Islandside
Friday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 19
Longboat Key Public Tennis Center NEW
Four Players per Team at Comparable Levels (2 women, 2 men)
Two doubles pro sets (men vs. men; women vs. women)
Two mixed doubles matches; tie breaker if necessary $60
Includes
Pre-tournament
$40/person for
PET PICS
Have photos of your four-legged family members? We want to see them! Share them at YourObserver.com/contests/petpics to be published online and for a chance to see them in print!
SALTY, BUT SWEET: Buddy loves going to The Old Salty Dog on City Island for the views, treats and snuggles from the servers #saltystrong.
SAVE THE DATES
springtime with the nice weather and blooming nature on the island. Longboat Key Garden Club is hosting four days of art in the Garden at the Longboat Island Chapel.
FREEDOM FEST
July 4 at Bicentennial Park, 500 Bay Isles Road. Call (941) 383-2466.
This Fourth of July features the “Shortest Parade in America.”
Sponsored by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce and businesses, organizations, nonprofits and residents parade down Bay Isles Road in celebration. Dogs dressed in patriotic costumes follow in the Hot Diggity Dog contest, hosted by the Rotary Club of Longboat Key. Bicentennial Park has activities, including a butterfly release by the Longboat Key Garden Club, a petting zoo, children’s games and the Blue Dolphin Cafe’s famous waffles.
INTERFAITH SERVICE
Nov. 25. Details to come.
Every Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the Interfaith Ministerium of St. Armands and Longboat Keys comes together for its most important event. Each year, one of the six congregations of Longboat Key hosts Longboaters of different religious
backgrounds in a Thanksgiving service to celebrate the camaraderie of the religious institutions of the island. Together with an “All-Faiths” choir and post-service chatting, the event is also a fundraiser for All-Faiths Food Bank as a way to give back during the holiday of gratitude. The churches include All Angels By the Sea Episcopal Church, Christ Church of Longboat Key, Longboat Island Chapel, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church and Temple Beth Israel.
LIGHT UP LONGBOAT
Details to come.
Traditionally this is the opening event of the Christmas season on Longboat Key. The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosts this free tree-lighting event with holiday music, raffles, food and Santa Claus. Attendees can also learn about multiple local nonprofits and how to get involved in the community.
CHRISTMAS IN THE GARDEN
Dec. 1-31 Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The holiday cheer continues in
December with the annual Christmas in the Garden at the Longboat Island Chapel. The community’s organizations, nonprofits and businesses come together to donate and decorate trees to be displayed in the garden. The event includes musical performances from local musicians throughout the month and renowned hot chocolate and sweet treats from the Chapel’s in-house chef, David Stone. Last year, the Rev. Brock Patterson created a community tree where people could pick an ornament to hang by themselves when they visited the exhibit.
The Longboat Island Chapel car in the Freedom Fest parade.
Nancy Rozance (Santa) and the current Rotary Club President Jan Wallace said residents brought a record number of gifts to donate at Light Up Longboat 2024.
File images
Barbara Koetsier browses the various tree displays at Christmas in the Garden.
MONDAY, JAN. 6
MOTION IS LOTION
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Michael Ehlers, a board-certified physical therapist, will explain and illustrate the healing power of specific movements and how you can change the direction of your pain. Members $40, Non-Members $50. Call 383 8222 or email Admin@TBIEducationCenter.org.
TUESDAY, JAN. 7
YOUR CALENDAR
AMERICA AND THE WORLD IN 2025
From 3 to 4:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. What will be the biggest challenges for America and the world in 2025, given the results and impact of the presidential election? Students will be encouraged to give their input and feedback to lecturer Michael Gibson, a foreign affairs consultant specializing in relations with China and East Asia. Members $20, Non-Members $25. Call 383-8222 or Admin@TBIEducationCenter.org.
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
COMPULSIVE HOARDING
LECTURE
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Dr. Jason Brandt, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, will talk about the fine line between “collecting” and hoarding and the brain mechanisms underlying these behaviors, as well as different approaches for treatment. Members $20, Non-Members $25. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@ TBIEducationCenter.org.
RECURRING EVENTS
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS LONGBOAT LIBRARY
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011.
MONDAYS STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN
From 10 to 11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This class is mostly seated and great for all fitness levels. The focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the
BEST BET
MONDAY, JAN. 6
MARKET ON LONGBOAT KEY
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Join the fun every first and third Monday, December through April. Try the many food trucks while you do your local shopping. You will find artists, apparel, sandals, fresh flowers, plants and more. Follow The Market on Longboat Key or Markets by Nancy on Facebook and Instagram to see who will be there and what they will be bringing. You can also pre-order pies, cakes and breads to be ready and waiting upon your arrival. Call 289-4141.
class. Fee is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.
PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS
Thirty-minute appointments starting at 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Learn to read music and play your favorite songs the “easy” way with popular piano instructor Betsy Tomasso. Eight lessons. Members $280, Non-Members $320. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@TBIEducationCenter.org.
STRATEGIC APPROACH TO BRIDGE BIDDING AND PLAY — ADVANCED PLAYERS
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. Advanced players will hone their skills and learn new strategies with certified bridge teacher Dick Wegman. Four sessions. Members $60, Non- Members $70. Call 383-8222 or email Admin@TBIEducationCenter.org.
Jules Mackie | Tracey Stetler | Nicholle DiPinto McKiernan | Patrick DiPinto | Rene DiPinto | Steven Moore | Janet Coughlin
Homes in Bird Key and Emerald Harbor top this week’s sales
PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER
BIRD KEY
Arnold and Dolores Kropf, of Sarasota, sold their home at 421 Wood Duck Drive to Adele Julia Morris, of Sarasota, for $1.9 million. Built in 1962, it has three bedrooms, threeand-a-half baths, a pool and 2,052 square feet of living area. It sold for $620,000 in 2011.
EMERALD HARBOR
Daniel and Brigitte Schaufelberger, of University Park, sold their home at 771 Binnacle Point Drive to Dawn Ellen D’Onofrio, trustee, of Lakewood Ranch, for $1.9 million. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,685 square feet of living area. It sold for $173,000 in 1983.
COUNTRY CLUB SHORES
Ellen Hutcheson, trustee, of Williamsville, New York, sold the home at 521 Putting Green Lane to Stacie and Jerry Goodrich, of N. Conway, New Hampshire, for $1.75 million. Built in 1966, it has two bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,786 square feet of living area. It sold for $585,000 in 2011.
Dillon Properties LLC sold the home at 1180 Bogey Lane to John Davis and Linda Crouse, of Longboat Key, for $900,000. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 2,180 square feet of living area. It sold for $400,000 in 2008.
THE SAND DOLLAR
Kenneth and Loretta Ayotte, of Sarasota, sold the Unit 3 condominium at 555 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Joseph Cunnane and Susan Scoton, of Sarasota, for $1,385,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and 1,780 square feet of living area. It sold for $500,000 in 2010.
LONGBEACH
Virginia Luke, trustee, of Bradenton, sold the home at 6890 Longboat Drive S. to 6890 Longboat DR S LLC for $950,000. Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, one bath, a pool and 1,533 square feet of living area.
FAIRWAY BAY II
Marc Rickabaugh, trustee, of Keswick, Virginia, sold the Unit 323 condominium at 2016 Harbourside Drive to Keith Peck and Kelley Galica Peck, of Columbia, Connecticut, for $925,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,905 square feet of living area. It sold for $255,000 in 1985.
LIDO TOWERS
EGD Properties Two LLC sold the Unit 606 condominium at 1001 Benjamin Franklin Drive to John and Leslie Buhrmaster, of Scotia, New York, for $765,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,224 square feet of living area. It sold for $745,000 in 2022.
LIDO DORSET 107 Lido LLC sold the Unit 107 condominium at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive to M and M Biz LLC for $505,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 593 square feet of living area. It sold for $410,000 in 2005.
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
Images courtesy of Yvette Sellyn
Arnold and Dolores Kropf, of Sarasota, sold their home at 421 Wood Duck Drive to Adele Julia Morris, of Sarasota, for $1.9 million.
Capturing the sun
In 2024, you captured photos of stunning sunsets, colorful skylines and Mother Nature at her finest. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2025 for our weather and nature photo contest.
END OF THE LINE by Paul Coulter, edited by Jeff Chen
By Luis Campos
Gary Wise took this photo of the sun setting off Longboat Key.
Donna Brown took this photo of the sunrise from Longbeach Village.
Patrick Bogert took this photo of a stunning sunset at the beach at Gulfside Road on Longboat Key.
Billie Dawson took this photo of a sunset on Longboat Key.
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