Longboat Observer 5.4.23

Rotary Club of Longboat Key keeps GMD clean

Clad in neon yellow vests and armed with pole grabbers, members of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key scoured the southern portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive for trash the morning of April 29.

Jim Chirgwin and Andy Sawyer were part of the Rotary pickup crew that is responsible for the one to two miles of Gulf of Mexico Drive just north of Longboat Club Road. Sawyer said the club picks up trash about three times a year.

“You’d be amazed at the amount of cigarette butts we pick up,” Sawyer said. “But in general, it’s pretty clean. There’s not too much for us to find.”

Pickleball expansion takes time out

HANDS-ON TRAINING

fire department gets refresher course on search and rescue. PAGE 4

Finding allies, stamping out hate

The Temple Beth Israel Social Action Committee on April 24 brought together more than 130 community members in person and 33 people on Zoom to learn about becoming allies against anti-Semitism.

The night started with the documentary, “Not in Our Town,” which focused on a Jewish family living in Billings, Montana, whose home was attacked during Hanukkah.

After reporting on the story, the local newspaper printed pictures of a menorah and the community displayed the pictures on their own windows showing their support.

Lindsey Mintz, director of community engagement for the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, concluded the event by explaining ways to counteract bigotry: become an ally, stop conversations that use words that may offend, speak to someone privately and explain that they may not understand the real meaning of their words.

LIFE ON THE REEF

Mote’s coral reef restoration will have far-reaching benefits. PAGE 3

Ready for his close-up.

Spotted: The first turtle nests of the season

sea turtles are typical on Longboat Key through the season, which is May 1 to Oct. 31.

LAUREN TRONSTAD

STAFF WRITER

Turtle nesting season has kicked off with a strong start. Twelve nests have been laid on the north end of Longboat Key. Ahead of nesting season, which started May 1, the town sent reminders of best practices and rules for protecting nests and hatchlings, which include keeping beaches dark and free of trash. Residents also need to keep beach furniture out of the way during the night for nesting turtles.

Thousands of sea turtles nest each year on Southwest Florida beaches. The number of nests in the area is updated each week on Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s website.

The town released another installment of its video series “Tip Talk” (formerly known as “Talk of the Town”) hosted by Town Manager Howard Tipton. This installment covered turtle season, conservation reminders and more.

Longboat Key typically sees the nesting of loggerhead turtles and green sea turtles.

Mote Sea Turtle Conservation Manager Melissa Macksey said the organization estimates about 1,000 nests will be laid on Southwest Florida beaches this season.

In the video, Tipton asked what has led to the rise in the number of

turtle nests on Florida beaches over recent decades. “A bunch of protection measures went into place (in the 1970s) to protect turtles in the water as well as the nests on the land,” Macksey said. “Since then, they have a very long lifecycle, so we have a very big delay in the protection measures going into place, and now we’re starting to see nesting numbers rise.”

The town sent out another batch of reminders last week regarding the importance of keeping pets off the beach.

During marine turtle and shorebird nesting seasons, the town typically experiences an increase in complaints about dogs on the beach.

The town’s code prohibits dogs and cats on Longboat Key beach access and beaches. Only trained service animals are allowed on the beach and require leashes at all times. Therapy or emotional support animals are not allowed on the beach.

Hurricane season motivates pole and power line removal

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Aerial power lines and poles could be removed from the town of Longboat Key as early as August.

The town hopes to have poles removed by that time, or at the latest by September, to avoid damages that may occur during peak hurricane season.

“The town remains hopeful and working with (Florida Power and Light) to target pole removal throughout July, August and September 2023,” Public Works Director Isaac Brownman wrote in an email.

Pole removal is the responsibility of FPL. The town has been working with FPL to expedite work, but the town doesn’t decide scheduling.

Within Phase 2, construction of FPL infrastructure is complete and the town is working with FPL to initiate switching orders. Switching orders is a process in which FPL energizes sections of the new underground utility. Then, the contractor is able to perform meter conversions to individual properties. Once all switching orders in a phase have been issued and meter conversion work completed, then FPL can begin scheduling pole and aerial wire removal.

Town partners, such as Longboat Key Turtle Watch, have verified that when turtles see a dog, cat or other predator, they expend extra energy. That stress hampers their nesting and migration. The presence of pets or other predators causes nesting turtles to flee and disrupts successful nesting.

To report animal complaints please contact one of the following:

n Longboat Key Police Department: 316-1201

n Manatee County Animal Services: 742-5933

n Sarasota County Animal Services: 861-9500

The only Longboat Key park that allows dogs to be off-leash is the dog park at Bayfront Park. Outside the fenced dog park, dogs brought to Bayfront Park or Joan Durante Park must be on a leash no longer than eight feet. No other parks in the town allow dogs.

“The town continues moving forward with switching orders and conversions, albeit taking a little more time than expected as electrical switching orders and conversions on a major system undergrounding are a complicated, integrated process between the town’s contractor, Wilco, and FPL,” Brownman wrote. “There are many steps to that process and due care is required at every step.”

As of the most recent project updates, all work has been completed in Phase 1, and all FPL poles have been removed. Phase 1 covers Country Club Shores and the Longboat Key Club.

Phase 2 runs from the north end of the island to Dream Island Road. Much like in Phase 2, in Phase 3 infrastructure construction is substantially complete. Final equipment still needs to be placed within Twin Shores and Gulf Shore Mobile Home Park, which is expected to be complete by the end of September. The town is continuing to work with FPL to initiate switching orders in the phase.

Phase 3 runs from the north end of Country Club Shores to the Sarasota County line.

In the fourth and final phase, nearly all underground work is complete, excluding 10 switches on Gulf of Mexico Drive. The additional switches became necessary as FPL worked to update its infrastructure. FPL installed the new infrastructure at no additional cost. The phase includes south of Dream Island Road to the county line.

The nestings of loggerhead turtles and green

REPLANTING THE ‘RAINFOREST OF THE SEA’

grant from NOAA to lead restoration of Florida’s Coral Reef.

LAUREN TRONSTAD STAFF WRITER

Even though there are no coral reefs in Sarasota area waters, local residents and wildlife will still reap some benefits of coral reef restoration efforts spearheaded by Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium following a nearly $7 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“What it means for Mote is not all that important when compared to what it means for the coral reefs of Florida and the world,” said Michael Crosby, Mote’s president and CEO. “It’s a grant that now allows Mote and our scientists to really build upon an incredible history of research that we’ve been working on in the Keys now for 30 years.”

Since starting restoration efforts, Mote scientists have had success in restoring over 200,000 corals.

The Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Award allows Mote to take a leadership role in partnership with NOAA in a “holistic, community-based restoration effort.”

The grant will cover a four-year, multifaceted project focused on implementing a holistically transformative coral reef restoration initiative at 10 reef sites along Florida’s Coral Reef, just offshore of the Florida Keys Archipelago, according to a news release from Mote.

Seven of the 10 reefs being targeted are NOAA’s iconic reefs and include:

n Carysfort Reef

n Horseshoe Reef

n Checca Rocks

n Newfound Harbor

n Eastern Dry Rocks

n Sombrero Reef

n Looe Key Reef

All seven iconic reefs are within sanctuary preservation areas or areas where activities such as fishing and anchoring are prohibited or tightly regulated.

“That only accounts for a fraction of a percentage of the reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Florida’s Coral Reef,” Coral Reef Restoration Research Program Manager Jason Spadaro said. “We wanted to include a series of sites that were outside of those protections to really demonstrate that we can do restoration in these areas where the public is allowed to use the resource.”

The remaining three reefs are in waters where people are more likely to recreate.

“We want to make sure that restoration is going to work in areas where the public is allowed to use the resources in those extractive ways,” he said. “If we need to go back to the drawing board and redesign how we are doing restoration in zoned versus nonzoned areas of the reef.”

Living coral cover, the proportion of the reef covered in living coral, on Florida’s Coral Reef is currently between 1% and 5%. The number is dramatically less than about 40 years ago, when coverage was more than 30%.

“Mote is all about restoring the entire coral reef,” Crosby said. “(The grant) also allows us to really have a statistical analysis approach of adaptive management strategies both within those seven iconic reefs and outside of them.”

Not only can extra work be done, but the additional funding allows Mote scientists to take additional time to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs that have already been in place.

The initiative, which is led by Spadaro, is seeking to expand the laboratory’s capacity to continue making strides toward restoring coral reef habitats. It is more than just outplanting coral. The work also focuses on placement of key members to a coral reef ecosystem such as Caribbean king crabs, which help keep down growth of macroalgae on the reefs. Twenty-five percent of the biodiversity of ocean species across the globe exist on coral reefs, Crosby said.

HOW DO YOU RESTORE A CORAL REEF?

There is more than one way to restore a coral reef, but the primary method, and the one Mote is pursuing, is called direct or active restoration.

“You’re literally cultivating pieces of coral and then putting them back on the reef or outplanting them onto the reef,” Spadaro said. “The goal isn’t to literally restore the reef. We’re not trying to produce or outplant the same amount of coral that we want to end up with. We’re trying to do it in a thoughtful way, so that we place corals in different genotypes within close proximity so that their probability of reproduction is much higher.”

HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT SARASOTA? In Sarasota, Crosby said, between 50% and 80% of oxygen we breathe comes from plants in the ocean.

“To be able to produce that oxygen,

requires a very healthy rainforest of the sea — coral reefs,” he said. “If you want to continue to breathe and live, you need a healthy coral reef.”

A Caribbean king crab hatchery is being completed at Mote’s Sarasota campus and is set to be operational in the near future. This species of crab will be placed in the 10 targeted reefs and are crucial to restoration efforts as they graze on macroalgae that would otherwise compete with the corals that are being restored.

The Sarasota campus is also the home to the international coral reef bank that has 6,500 genotypes of coral species being used to outplant in the Florida Keys and elsewhere across the globe.

“Sarasota is sort of that focal point for much of the research that is being implemented in the coral research and restoration program,” Crosby said.

DOES SARASOTA HAVE CORAL REEFS?

No. Sarasota borders a region where there is a shift from corals as a foundation species to sponges and oysters. The Sarasota area does not have the right conditions for a coral reef ecosystem to thrive.

“There are reefs,” Spadaro said.

“They’re just not coral reefs.”

The absence of coral reefs is largely because of latitude. By coral standards, the Sarasota area gets too cold.

“There are some reefs that occur further north, but they tend to be well offshore and deeper where the loop current keeps them warm yearround,” Spadaro said.

The Gulf of Mexico is not particularly conducive to coral reef building because it is categorized as a more temperate ecosystem. Moving north into temperate latitudes, the water gets cold enough in the winter that nutrient loads increase and can lead to microalgae blooms.

IMPORTANCE OF CORAL REEFS

“Coral reefs are Mother Nature’s first line of coastal resiliency to storm waves and surges,” Crosby said. “The Florida Keys and much of the coastlines in tropical and subtropical areas around the world would not be able to exist without a thriving coral reef environment.” Crosby likened coral reefs to the rainforest of the sea because they are home to more than a quarter of the ocean’s biodiversity. In the same way the coastal resiliency element serves an environmental purpose, it also serves the area economically by providing additional protection from damages suffered from major storms.

TRAINING DAY

Fire department practices search and rescue technique.

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department dove back into the fundamentals of search and rescue during a special training Thursday at a two-story house on the 6400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive that is scheduled for demolition.

“(The training) is just a reminder of a standard technique that is used worldwide,” said John Elwood, training captain. “As you look at all the new construction for single-family residences, they’re two stories. That is becoming more common for us. It’s to reacclimate people to using this skill.”

Longboat Key averages about four to five fires per year, Elwood said.

“This helps to reinforce that (knowledge) because you have a tendency to use prime recognition decision-making, to go off what you did the last time. Hopefully, by doing this with some repetition, people will be able to draw from that and it will become more of an instinct.”

The training followed a technique called VEIS: Ventilate the atmosphere. Enter the area. Isolate, meaning keep doors closed to contain fire. Search.

Each firefighter at Thursday’s training followed the same basic path, starting with a ladder climb to the house’s second-floor balcony. Once on the balcony, a shield was placed over the trainee’s mask to simulate the look of a smoky room. The reduced visibility forced firefighters to use their tools to detect and avoid obstacles in the house, which included a ladder, decorative pillows and a bed frame.

Firefighters then climbed through a second-story window and crawled through the house, staying close to the walls.

“Whether you go left or right, you always maintain orientation in the building, so that way if you have to get out, you know which way is out,” Elwood said.

At the first door, the training firefighter opened it and hooked one foot on the door jamb to avoid becoming disoriented.

After crawling back into the room, the door had to be closed and the firefighters made their way to the next door to repeat the process. They had to make their way back to the first door before the training was deemed complete.

Some firefighters conducted their training earlier in the week, so the department could ensure others were available should an emergency occur.

The last time the department trained at a house scheduled for demolition was before Hurricane Ian hit the area. During that training, firefighters practiced breaking hurricane-resistant windows, which

are challenging to break. Without homes made available for use by the department, training has to take place off the Key because the town does not have its own training facility. If members of the department are training outside Longboat, personnel from Manatee County or Sarasota County help cover the area.

When a building is scheduled for demolition, the fire marshal’s office is notified of the permit. At that point, the department may contact the homeowner about using the space for training. More commonly, homeowners contact the department about a space’s availability.

“When we have the opportunity to use a real building it adds to the realism,” Elwood said. “We’re using the type of floor plans and construction that we (have) on Longboat Key.”

“As you look at all the new construction for single-family residences, they’re two stories. That is becoming more common for us. It’s to reacclimate people to using this skill.”

Elwood,

In hopes of putting the pickleball issue to rest, the Town Commission took up the topic one more time.

Mayor Ken Schneier suggested the discussion be brought forward in an agenda item with the following considerations at the forefront:

n There would be no elimination or movement of amenities at Bayfront Park now.

n The second tennis court would be over-lined, adding two pickleball courts. In the absence of tennis players, pickleball players could use the courts. A condition of the arrangement would be that pickleball play-

Pickleball conversation paused, for now

other amenities there ... I think this should solve the short-term problem that we have as we move forward to try and figure out how to deal with longer-term issues.”

people coming to Bayfront Park who want to park and play pickleball or play tennis or use the park for other uses. We still don’t have enough.”

Williams and the majority of other commissioners were in favor of a court scheduling system to cut down on large crowds that were waiting for courts and taking parking spots during peak season.

“I think that’s really the equitable way to take care of the parking,” Williams said. “It’s also the right way to take care of the use of the courts.”

Three residents spoke during public comment. All of them shared personal experiences with parking issues and concerns that restriping the tennis court would be favoring pickleball players over other users of the park.

“Where is the equity in striping the last tennis court for pickleball and hoping that play will move faster?” Donna Patterson said. “That’s just not realistic. It’s not equitable.”

She added that restriping would likely push tennis players looking to use the free space to other courts in the town, which require payment for use, whereas pickleball players are not expected to pay for using the town’s public courts.

“Our park is being taken over by a group that feels entitled to use all the courts, making their own rules and not considering that others can’t use the park because they have taken up all the parking spots,” she said.

ers would supply the nets and posts needed for pickleball on the newly overlined court.

n The town would continue to explore additional parking opportunities for Bayfront Park. For example, conversations are still in the works for use of the lot on the Frontier property.

n The town would continue to consider the demand for additional racket sport facilities, where to locate them and how to fund them.

“In my view, it says to everyone involved, we have limited space in this town,” Schneier said. “We’re happy that we have people that want to play pickleball. We’re also happy that we have people that want to take classes at the Bayfront (Park) Recreation Center and use the

Ultimately, the conditions above were voted down 2-5, with only Schneier and Commissioner Penny Gold voting in favor.

The main concern, again, was the lack of parking at the park not only for pickleball players, but for other people wanting to use the space.

When the issue came before commissioners during peak season, striping the tennis court was voted down out of concern that additional courts would draw more people to play at an already overcrowded space.

“I still don’t think we’ve addressed the major problem, which is parking,” Commissioner Debra Williams said. “We’ve added six spaces and that’s great, but that’s not the whole picture here. We still have a lot of

To address parking, commissioners discussed the possibility of designating the six new parking spots on the south end of the park for recreation center use only during busy season.

As far as the reservation system goes, the only people interested in implementing one are the board members, said Schneier.

Implementing a fee for use of the courts was another idea suggested to help limit park traffic and parking strain.

“You can only accommodate so many people,” Commissioner BJ Bishop said. “This park may not be able to accommodate two more fulltime pickleball courts.”

Because of the failed motion, the remaining dedicated tennis court will not be restriped and, for the time being, use of the park will continue unchanged.

A proposal to address pickleball problems at

Park failed to gain support.

A new point of view

While other children were dancing exuberantly to international folk music, 11-year-old Beckett Hill chose a more physically restrictive activity April 28 at the International Intergenerational Event at Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota.

“I felt stiff and dizzy and tired,” he said, after experiencing the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit.

Yet, he said he was glad for the experience and would even repeat it. He wasn’t intimidated by trying on the unusual gear in a room of other attendees — at least, not too much.

“It wasn’t really hard; it was easy and hard,” he said.

Hill said he had wanted to know what it was like to be in one’s 70s and 80s. The experience was accomplished through the suit’s extensive features including bungee cords

that ran from the suit’s helmet to its waist, mimicking spinal curvature and limited spinal extension.

Based on the suit originally designed by MIT AgeLab, who called it AGNES (Age Gain Now Empathy System), the suit was re-created in Sarasota in January 2023 after the lab gave its blessing to the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County.

Erin McLeod, president and CEO of Senior Friendship Centers, said the center’s hope was that by mixing an experience of age and culture at the International Intergenerational Event, it might be able to bring more awareness to the larger world around it, including issues associated with aging.

Event organizer Jenny Macias said when she found out about the Aging Sensitivity Suit, she thought it was a great way to create more empathy for the elderly community.

McLeod said in requesting the

suit, the organization was seeking to help people understand not just the physical nature of aging, but its social nature as well.

“There’s a lot of ageism in the world, and I think as young people, we hustle around and push past people, not understanding they’re slowing down for a reason,” she said. “You instantly have empathy when you feel that extra pull on your back or the muddiness in your ears.”

In addition to the bungee cords, the suit included a neck collar to limit joint mobility, wrist guards to reduce wrist flexibility, gloves to reduce tactile sensation, earplugs for reduced hearing and glasses for reduced visibility, among other features.

McLeod said the suit demonstrates how issues like arthritis can make basic tasks more difficult, including picking coins out of a jar, buttoning one’s clothes and operating a smartphone or other device. It helps people understand hearing loss, which is often mistaken for dementia because it reduces communication, and neuropathy, which causes tenuous movements and difficulty feeling the ground under one’s feet.

McLeod added the suit was also important for helping others understand the sense of isolation older people experience.

“You become invisible to society, often you’re discounted as being old, so therefore your opinion, your idea doesn’t really count,” she said. “And that’s a challenge. A lot of people begin to feel marginalized, like they don’t matter anymore. Something that’s very important to us is that they feel like they matter and their voice can be heard.”

Since its creation in January, the department has been taking the suit to events and has even partnered with Suncoast Technical College for certified nursing assistant training for about 60 students performing geriatric rotations.

The students reported their reactions in surveys, mentioning physical restriction and fatigue while wearing the suit, and also, the following day, a sense of loneliness.

The event also mixed cultural experiences and community with the experience of aging.

Many seniors in the room were flexing their joints. The Sarasota Grapeviners demonstrated dances

FEATURES OF THE SARASOTA AGING SENSITIVITY SUIT

n Reduced hearing (earplugs)

n Clouded vision (goggles)

n Limited joint mobility and selection, and limited extension of the spine (neck collar)

n Reduced shoulder mobility (elastic bands running from hip to wrist)

n Reduced flexion and extension of the wrists (wrist guards)

n Reduced tactile sensation and restricted hand movement (two layers of rubber gloves)

n Compression of musculature, tightened joints, restricted movement, and fatigue (knee and elbow braces)

n Restricted movement, reduced spinal extension mimicking spinal curvature, and reduced spinal rotation (bungee cords running from suit helmet, to hip)

n Reduced sensation in feet (shoes)

If you are interested in bringing the Sarasota Aging Sensitivity Suit to an event, contact Quiana Tolbert at 941-780-8074 or Quiana.Tolbert@FLHealth.gov.

from countries including Greece and Romania, sometimes accompanied by children in attendance who were eager to participate.

“I was really hoping for a little bit more kids,” said Macias. “But I think the ones that came had an enjoyable time.”

The event was part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days and promoted foreign language programs at the center and offered American, Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean food from Tamiami Tap.

“I think it’s important to bring generations together, families and older adults together, to give people a chance to see each other as human beings and break down barriers, so, then pretty soon, you realize we’re all just people,” said McLeod.

-

Interactive event on aging combines empathy and culture.

Your Friends Are Waiting

When was the last time you swung a racket or hit a golf ball, biked the trail or simply took a long walk with your favorite person to talk to?

Joint pain can creep up on us, faster than we’d expect, robbing us of the activities and experiences we used to treasure. Shoulders get stiff. Hips hurt. Knees creak and the back aches.

Before you know it, you’re spending more time watching Friends than seeing your own.

At Sarasota Memorial, our award-winning team of orthopedic specialists and surgeons is nationally recognized for excellence in joint repair and joint replacement, using the latest robotic and minimally invasive techniques to rebuild and restore, so you can get back to the things you love and the people you love sharing them with.

smh.com/ortho

So don’t wait . Life’s too short to spend it on the sidelines.

LONGBOAT

He tried to fix the Navy

and details that explain how and why the incident occurred.

Maybe some will say what we’re about to say is to be expected.

After all, the book is only Modly’s version. But when you read “Vectors,” you cannot come to any other conclusion than Modly’s dismissal of Crozier was the right thing to do.

In fact, Crozier said so himself.

On page 457, Modly recalls:

“As I began to discuss my reasons (for dismissing Crozier), he abruptly interrupted me and said, ‘Sir, you don’t have to say anything more. I respect you as secretary.

I put you in a difficult position. If I had been in your shoes, I would have relieved me too … but I did it for the crew.’”

And so begins Modly’s story as undersecretary of the Navy for the next 19 weeks. He approached the job as he does everything — with deep thought and reflection. He researched the average time acting secretaries of the Navy lasted in their jobs — 110 days. He vowed that even though he was “acting” secretary, he was not going to be an actor or a pretender. He was going to take action.

Modly’s first step was to do what he does with everything: He made lists. He made 11 lists of priorities by category, each with 10 objectives he wanted to accomplish — 110 objectives in 110 days.

“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

President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com

Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com

Managing Editor / James Peter, JPeter@YourObserver.com

Staff Writers / Lauren Tronstad, LTronstad@YourObsever.com

Most of you probably don’t recognize the name — the Hon. Thomas B. Modly.

In early 2020, he was the national media’s villain. But in truth, Modly, now a Siesta Key resident, is an unsung American hero. If you don’t remember Modly’s name, you most likely remember the story in the early stages of the COVID pandemic.

It was late March 2020, and news spread nationally and worldwide as fast as COVID spreads that it was quickly infecting the crew of 4,500 sailors aboard the USS Teddy Roosevelt in the Pacific.

Capt. Brett Crozier, commander of the ship, ignited the news with “a signal flare” email that he sent over an unsecure network to a small group of Naval aviators, bypassing his chain of command. The email, picked up by and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, was instantly interpreted around the world as a Code Blue cry for help from one of our nation’s most powerful military assets.

In the days that followed, as the “TR” firestorm continued to spread, Modly, then acting secretary of the Navy, flew to Guam and relieved Crozier of his duty for violating the Navy chain of command. The story exploded, as if a bomb blew a hole in the side of the ship.

In the aftermath, the national media characterized Crozier as the hero trying to save his crew from COVID. Modly became the villain, a Trump political appointee who unfairly threw the captain overboard. Social media posts called him a traitor, and Joe Biden implied Modly’s action was “criminal.”

Predictably, Trump was not happy and wanted to intervene.

But at 4 p.m., April 7, 2020, a week after Crozier’s departure from the ship, with the firestorm still red hot, Modly resigned. He had served as acting secretary for 19 weeks.

For three years now, while Americans’ memories of this incident have faded, the record still stands online: Modly was the villain.

That should no longer be the case. Modly told his story this month with the release of his book, “Vectors: Heroes, Villains & Heartbreak on the Bridge of the U.S. Navy.” Modly gives his version of what happened with Capt. Crozier and the Teddy Roosevelt. And he does so in an even-tone voice, with straightforward, believable and honest storytelling. He provides what never came out — rich context

“Vectors” is vindication. It’s what good people in the news business often say and know: There are always at least two sides to every story, and we should not rush to judgment (almost an impossibility today in this tidalwave of instant, nonfact-checked information). Context matters, and Modly provides plenty of it with recollections of events and details that show and reveal much about the Navy, the Pentagon and the ugly politics of Washington, D.C.

“Vectors” is so much more than vindication for Modly and so much more than the story of the Crozier and the “TR.”

Altogether, “Vectors” is Modly’s memoir — of his service in the Trump years, from 2017 to early 2020 as the undersecretary of the Navy (the Navy’s COO) and ultimately, the acting secretary of the Navy (the Navy’s interim CEO).

It’s a short period for a memoir. But in the structure of the book — a chronological journey, this comes through: Thomas B. Modly is the kind of person this country needs in our military, the Pentagon and Congress. He’s exceptional in his deep love of country and patriotism, and those characteristics repeatedly surface throughout the book. One moving section was his swearing in as undersecretary at the Naval Academy and his speech. Modly describes his time as a midshipman as “a life-defining experience.”

“For me, the swearing-in ceremony was surreal,” he writes. “In all the years I’d spent walking through and past Memorial Hall as a midshipman, I’d never imagined that I would be there 30-plus years later being sworn in as the Navy’s undersecretary. It just wasn’t something that I thought would ever happen, nor was it a position to which I had realistically aspired … I wanted to make a statement that I wasn’t there for the pomp and circumstance but rather to have an impact on the future of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

He tried mightily to make that impact. He wasn’t in it for the political glory, like so many others.

As you read, Modly demonstrated a seriousness and intelligence that we wish everyone in Washington and the Pentagon would emulate. His grasp of how to be an effective leader; of the world as it relates to the nation’s security; and of what needs to be changed and how to change an extraordinarily complex organization is, well, astonishing. For 400 pages, 80% of the book, Modly chronicles in engaging storytelling his mission as undersecretary and acting secretary to change the Navy’s culture — from one of intransigence and resistance to that of agility and accountability. Just imagine the near impossible task of trying to change the culture of a business with an annual budget of $250 billion, 520,000 employees and no motive to make a profit.

Colleagues told him in an oftrepeated refrain: “Tom, you can’t fix government.”

You can see through Modly’s experiences how that is 99% true. As Modly chronicles his short terms as undersecretary and acting secretary, he opens wide the hull to the inner workings of the Navy, Pentagon and Washington, D.C. politics. And it’s shocking.

Shocking at how dysfunctional everything is there and how resistant to change the entire apparatus is. He may not have intended it, but his stories of what he encountered leave you with the impression that the Department of Navy and Pentagon have been an operational and business disaster, and if the United States goes to war with any of our foreign adversaries, we are not the superpower we think we are. Not even close.

Worse, our congressional politicians are oblivious, egregiously negligent and not at all inclined to do anything about it.

The structure of the book reflects Modly’s personality of thoughtfulness, his vast knowledge of so many subjects and impressive leadership style.

The first four chapters set up the narrative, filling in the reader on Modly’s family and background and his appointment as undersecretary. Modly is of modest middle-class means, the son of Eastern European immigrants who escaped the Nazis in World War II, settled in Cleveland and lived ordinary, productive lives, always grateful for the freedoms afforded to them in America. They instilled in him a love of country.

The background chapters culminate in Chapter 5, with the resignations in 2019 of former Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer. Both ran aground with Trump.

“I knew it would be physically impossible to meet all 110 objectives,” he writes. “But I also knew each one was important.”

Modly also decided to do something a Navy secretary had never done — send out a weekly communication to every activeduty and reserve Sailor and Marine and all Navy civilian employees.

These weekly memos — sent via an unclassified email — were intended to give everyone insights and an understanding of what was on Modly’s mind. Modly called these weekly emails “Vectors.”

A “Vector,” he writes, tells you where to go and how fast.

Modly sent out 19 weekly Vectors, one for each week he served as “acting.” The Vectors became the frame for the book. Modly corresponded his Vector messages with his weekly calendar, enabling him to refresh his mind on the events of the weeks and reconstruct a captivating narrative of the hectic life of the secretary of the Navy.

Modly also includes at the end of each chapter a discussion of “Heroes” and “Villains.” The heroes were “people who were unsung, people who do things behind the scenes and are never the ones you ever hear about too much.”

Modly’s villains are obstacles that get in the way of and often prevent success — time, complacency, arrogance, pride, routines, cynicism. All of these and more abound inside the huge Navy and Pentagon bureaucracy.

Modly wrote the last half of the book at the Selby Library in downtown Sarasota, spending two to four hours in the morning in a cubicle on the second floor.

He finished the book a year ago. It took him a year to get it published.

“Vectors” is a book for every American who has an interest in our security. It should shock all of us into demanding more from our politicians in D.C.

“Vectors” especially should be a must-read for everyone in the Navy, Marines, Pentagon and Congress. Modly’s stories of what he did and why are great lessons in leadership — for the military and private sector.

Thomas B. Modly has been an extraordinary public servant for American citizens and taxpayers and has performed a great public service with “Vectors.”

Two years ago, when we first interviewed Modly, we asked if he still thought about the “TR.”

“I think about it every day,” he said.

Last week, we asked again: “Oh, sure. I will think about it the rest of my life. I’m not obsessing over it. It’s part of my story now.

“I think about it all the time.”

Once you read the book and have all of the context, you should surely conclude: He made the right decision. Go to YourObserver.com/opinionVectors for an unabridged version.

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The following is an excerpt from the Epilogue of “Vectors.”

As first year midshipmen (plebes) at the Naval Academy we were all required to shout “Beat Army, sir!” every time we turned 90 degrees to change our walking direction inside a building.

It eventually became an act of compliance — and defiance. The louder and more expressively we screamed “Beat Army,” the more it disturbed the peace that normally

permeated the halls. That shout, that one phrase, shattered the silence of submissive conformity to which we were expected to comply.

Although we were the lowest of the lows at the Academy during that first year, the cacophony of “Beat Army” chants bonded us together as a class.

Its significance extended beyond just a football game, or the broader rivalry with West Point. “Beat Army” taught us the importance of maintaining relentless focus on our ultimate adversary. It reminded us that we weren’t

alone in that focus. It reinforced our understanding of what our team was about and who was on it. It taught us to never, ever give up the ship …

“Beat Army” gives us purpose — and hope.

So I say, “Beat Army” to the status quo, to time and to complacency.

“Beat Army” to complexity and to divided memories.

“Beat Army” to inertia, to empty rhetoric, and to arrogance.

“Beat Army” to isolationism and to detachment.

“Beat Army” to the dysfunctions of the network and to the fair share

myths.

“Beat Army” to pride and to the sexy stuff.

“Beat Army” to gracelessness, to fear and to frustration.

And most importantly, “Beat Army” to the cynicism that erodes both the trust we have in each other and the love we must have for our nation in order to defend it.

Say it loud. Live it louder. Confront the villains and defeat them.

“Beat Army” today. “Beat Army” tomorrow.

“Beat Army, sir!” Forever, and ever and ever more.

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1970 Main St. Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

Thomas Modly’s new book, ‘Vectors,’ gives the untold context to what was a national controversy in 2020.

Pickleball needs to make room for other park activities

We would like to call your attention to the article in the April 13 issue of the Longboat Observer, regarding the ongoing pickleball demands, “Pickleball raises commission concern.” The fourth paragraph in the article on Page 5 makes the case for those of us who do not play pickleball but use the park for tennis, exercise classes, the dog park and water sports, as well as the children’s play area.

The paragraph in question states, “The park currently has five courts available, allowing for a maximum of 20 people to play the sport at any given time. In February, resident Dan Levine told commissioners that more than 40 people are waiting to play on one court.” The math is simple, if 60 pickleball players are on the courts playing or waiting, and there are only 52 parking spaces at the park, then there are no spaces available for other activities.

The town has since installed six more spaces on the side of the property by Ace Hardware, bringing the total of the available parking spots to 58, which includes designated spaces. That is still not enough to accommodate everyone at the park at the same time. The exercise classes, of which there are two every morning, five days a week, pay a small fee to use the clubhouse, plus a class fee to the instructor who returns a part of her fee to the town. Oftentimes, neither class participants nor their instructors can find parking.

The issue for the town is trying to figure out how everyone can share in the amenities at the park. The commission has proposed possible solutions such as a scheduling app, to reduce the crowd size, and a fee for booking a court for a certain period of time.

Some pickleball courts in Sarasota are currently going to a fee system for a defined period of time.

Arlington has a registration/feebased system as do many other towns all over the country. Some towns, like Darien Court, use the

reservation system to permit play for residents only. These suggestions were rejected by the pickleball group.

They were asked by the Town Commission to suggest ways that everyone could share in Bayfront Park. None were forthcoming. The explanation given was that pickleball is a social event and many people come to spend an entire morning there, socializing between playing. Their answer was to convert the final tennis court to pickleball, look at parking under the clubhouse and be prepared for more players next season.

If Bayfront Park could be

expanded, adding more pickleball courts might be a possibility. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be enough space in this recently revamped community park of roughly 3 acres to expand and create more pickleball courts and parking to accommodate them. The Town Commission is considering converting the last tennis court to pickleball — effectively making recreational tennis players who may come to the courts when grandkids and other families visit, use the public courts. This makes no sense! Town Commission is avoiding charging nonresidents to play pickleball but making residents who want to engage in some friendly tennis with their visitors pay to do so at the public courts! Before the advent of pickleball, Bayfront Park was able to accommodate all of the other activities that took place at the park and provide adequate parking. So, what are the solutions?

As pickleball courts are not hard to construct, perhaps some other spot can be found on the island for dedicated pickleball

A hero or an ogre?

I’ve been a Republican most of my life, but the current turmoil

Gov. Ron DeSantis has created with The Walt Disney Co. is shameful. With all the strife, war and inhumanity evident around the world, how can you express such animosity toward a company that has brought joy and happiness to children everywhere?

courts. Having their own pickleball park would allow the players to come and go when they please and socialize as long as they want, without preventing the remainder of the community from enjoying the amenities they use at Bayfront Park. If this is not a solution, then the fair way of proceeding is to create an online reservation system to minimize the number of people who show up at one time, and charge a fee to maintain the courts.

Half the current tennis courts should be left for tennis players, who were there first and are being displaced, and the other half could be for the pickleball players. We hope that an equitable solution can be reached before next season so that we don’t spend another six months writing letters and attending meetings to resolve a problem that other communities all over the country have already adopted in their towns.

Gov. DeSantis, I encourage you to ask your children what they think of Disney. Who their favorite character is and what they think of Disney World. Then think how they might feel as they get older about their dad’s attempt to destroy a company that has given us the adorable, and sometimes cranky, characters who make us sing, dance, pretend to be princesses, pirates, knights, superheroes. Disney-created animals to cuddle with at night. Maybe you should ask them before you continue to bash the company only to wake one day to learn your children are ashamed of the battle you waged with a beloved company. Would they embrace you as hero, or ogre?

It hurts my heart to think how sad it would be for children and grandchildren and even adults to have missed the relationships Disney espouses through diverse characters and stories. The sense of being part of a family. Experiencing sadness, love, loss, fear, achievement, power and selfconfidence they see portrayed by Disney characters in movies, cartoons and theme parks.

Please find a way to get beyond whatever anger or outrage you’ve collected toward Walt Disney and be an adult. A leader. An example of what greatness we have in Florida. So far, I’m embarrassed to consider myself a Republican and a Floridian who has an ogre for governor. Your battle with a great company that has contributed hugely to the state’s coffers. Ogres are not worthy of my vote. Happy Earth Day, governor!

As pickleball courts are not hard to construct, perhaps some other spot can be found on the island for dedicated pickleball courts.

3720 Gulf of Mexico Drive Longboat Key, FL 34228 info@FLVacationConnection.com FLVacationConnection.com

Smoking ban ordinance in the works for county, including Lido beaches

County commissioners voted 3-1 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that is enforceable.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Following the lead of the cities of Sarasota and Venice and the town of Longboat Key, the Sarasota County Commission on Tuesday approved a staff recommendation to prepare an ordinance to ban smoking on county beaches and in county parks.

The legislative action is enabled by House Bill 105, which was signed into law in 2022 and permits local jurisdictions to ban smoking on public beaches and in parks. The bill does not apply to unfiltered cigars.

The Longboat Key Town Commission and Sarasota City Commission banned smoking on beaches last fall except in designated smoking areas.

In a 3-1 vote with Commissioner Mike Moran opposed, staff was directed to draw up the ordinance and to contact other jurisdictions that have already approved similar bans to learn about effective enforcement measures.

Enforcement was one of two pri-

BUTT-BANNED BEACHES?

Sarasota County beaches where a smoking ban would be in effect:

n Blind Pass Beach Park

n North Jetty Park

n Manasota Beach Park

n Caspersen Beach Park

n Nokomis Beach Park

n Palmer Point Beach Park

n Turtle Beach Park and Campground

n Siesta Beach

n Siesta Key Beach Accesses

n South Lido Beach

mary objections raised by Moran during a discussion before the vote.

“I have great hesitation when the government tries to get involved in controlling people’s behaviors,” Moran said. “There’s an element of personal accountability on the one side of controlling people’s behaviors. I get it with the youth parks and where kids are around, and I get it that you have kids on a beach. I just feel a real slippery slope there of government intrusion into people’s lives.”

Commissioner Mark Smith took the opposite position.

“I believe the government’s role is to protect us from ourselves on occasion. That’s why we have speed limits, so I don’t have a problem with prohibiting smoking,” Smith said.

“We prohibit it in restaurants.”

Commission Chairman Ron Cutsinger struck a more conciliatory tone while coming down in favor of a smoking ban.

Litter is a secondary problem, with the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources reporting thousands of cigarette butts collected from the beach sand.

Moran also raised questions about enforcement, suggesting that if he asked the sheriff he’d hear his deputies have more important things to do than become the smoking police, and that he’d need more deputies to be able to enforce the ban.

Cutsinger said he would expect the enforcement issue to be mitigated by a robust education campaign including ubiquitous signage informing beachgoers that smoking is not allowed by law. Awareness and public pressure, he added, will be a necessary element in enforcement.

“I think a lot of the enforcement will come as people become more aware of it,” Cutsinger said. “We will have voluntary compliance and peer pressure, but beyond that maybe we won’t get 100% enforcement, but we’ll certainly cut down on the amount of smoking.”

O Omazing

Mother's Day Gift Guide

MOLLY MAID OF SARASOTA, MANATEE & CHARLOTTE COUNTIES

1461 Tallevast Rd • Sarasota, FL 34243

941-753-2220 • www.MollyMaid.com/gift-certificates

What does mom really want this Mother’s Day? A CLEAN home and TIME to herself! Give her a Molly Maid gift certificate so she can take some time off from housework and enjoy some me time! Gift certificates are easy to get and easy to give. To all moms Happy Mother’s Day from Molly Maid!

CAFE L’EUROPE

431 St Armands Circle • Sarasota, FL 34236

941-388-4415 • www.CafeLEurope.net/contact/reservations

Join us in celebrating Mother’s Day! Our all-day menu starts at 10am with a wide selection of Café favorites, including seasonal features for brunch and dinner. Brunch options include Florida Benedict, Quiche Florentine, Ham and Eggs, and Bread Pudding. For dinner, enjoy Coquilles St. Jacques, Chicken Milanese, and much more, from 4pm to close. Reserve your table now!

LE MACARON

362 St Armands Cir • Sarasota, FL 34236

140 University Town Center Dr • Sarasota, FL 34243

941-552-8872 • www.LeMacaron-US.com

Handcrafted by our team of French chefs, these classic pastries come in unique flavors like Sicilian Pistachio & Mango Jam. We use the finest glutenfree ingredients. Visit our pâtisserie to enjoy French Macarons, quality French gelato, classic French pastries, European-style beverages & homemade candies. Order your gift boxes now!

BARTLETT JEWELERS

Creekwood Crossing I-75 & SR70 Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6600 • www.BartlettJewelers.com

Show mom your love with a classic paperclip necklace from Ti Sento. Locally owned and operated since 1973, Bartlett Jewelers has been your full-service, jeweler offering the area’s finest collection of timeless jewelry pieces. We offer several styles of bridal and fashion jewelry as well as repair and remounts.

ELYSIAN FIELDS

1273 S Tamiami Tr • Sarasota, FL 34239 8207 Cooper Creek Blvd • University Pkwy, FL 34201 941-361-3006 • www.ElysianFieldsGifts.com

Elysian Fields continues to be Sarasota’s ideal destination for one of a kind, hand selected gifts. Now also located in The Shoppes at UTC, make sure to stop by to find something special for the mothers in your life. This year’s featured product comes from Penny & Rose - A Scent For Your Thoughts. Fill every room with warm nostalgia and excite your home this Mother’s Day!

MAE REID MERCANTILE

817 Honore Ave • Sarasota, FL 34232

941-323-3815

www.instagram.com/MaeReidMercantile

One of Sarasota’s newest and truly unique shopping destinations. Find fanciful gifts & irresistible treasures in this nostalgic location! Locally owned and proud to offer American made decor, accessories & gifts. Stop in, stroll and find something special for your Mom or Grandmother. Happy Mother’s Day!

& MED SPAS

SIRIUS DAY SPA, SALON

11585 E SR70 • Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 8512 Cooper Creek Blvd • Bradenton, FL 34201 941-357-4611 • www.SiriusDaySpas.com

The Perfect Gift for the Moms in your Life, a Gift Card from the #1 Spa, Salon & Med Spa in Lakewood Ranch/Sarasota/Bradenton. Full service Hair & Nail Salon, Spa, and Medical Spa featuring 200+ services including Massages, Facials, Botox, Fillers, Permanent Make Up, Laser Hair Removal, Morpheus8, IPL, Lash Services and More.

DIAMOND BAY JEWELERS

Located in the Bay Street Village & Town Center 3976 Destination Dr, Unit 105 • Osprey, FL 34229 941-786-1013 • www.DiamondBayJewelers.com

From classy adornments to engagement specialties, Diamond Bay Jewelers has what you need to create your style for any occasion. Come enjoy the exquisite experience of fine jewelry and expert watchmaking. Jewelry repair, custom design and redesign services available with over 30 years of experience.

ASPIRE POLY FURNITURE

717 Cattlemen Rd • Sarasota, FL 34232 941-946-8887 • www.AspirePoly.com

Treat your Mom to outdoor furniture that they will love for years to come! Poly furniture is made of recycled plastics, free from rust and require no repainting, perfect for the Florida lifestyle. Visit our showroom to see our large selection of products, & options to custom design your Mom’s favorite colors. Or let her choose with a gift card!

MASSAGE ENVY

1279 S Tamiami Tr • 941-308-7600

MOLLY’S!

A CHIC AND UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

1874 Stickney Point Rd • Sarasota, FL 34231

711 S Osprey Ave • Sarasota, FL 34236 941-921-1221 • www.MollysSarasota.com

Two locations for people seeking a fun and exciting personal shopping experience. Named best Gift Store in Sarasota for 4 years, you are sure to find something special to give or get for yourself. Beyond gifts, both locations have a large selection of quality shoes, jewelry, apparel and accessories too.

MONKEE’S OF LAKEWOOD RANCH

1561 Lakefront Dr, Ste 104 • Sarasota, FL 34240

• www.MonkeesofLakewoodRanch.com

941-358-8868

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching! Stop by Monkee’s Boutique in Lakewood Ranch to find all of your Mother’s Day needs. Brand new Julie Vos jewelry, Hammit Bags, and Lemon Jelly sandals all make fantastic gifts! We get new shipments daily, so stop by any day of the week and check out what’s new!

4055 Clark Rd • 941-927-6200 2855 University Pkwy • 941-556-6400 4734 Cortez Rd W • 941-909-0800 www.MassageEnvy.com

Give the gift of ME time for Mother’s Day!

The past couple of years have been...a lot. We could all use a little more self-care these days! Encourage someone you care about to put themselves first with a gift card that lets them choose customized experiences and goes where they go. Massage Envy gift cardseasy to give. Easy to love!

LEONARD’S NURSERY

8000 Fruitville Rd • Sarasota, FL 34240 941-302-3933

Show your Mother your appreciation by giving her a potted plant designed for this special occasion or a unique gift from our newly opened Gift Shop. Bring in this ad in between 5/9 and 5/13 and receive 10% off on all nursery stock (trees excluded) or our Gift Shop. For those Mothers who are difficult to shop for, gift cards are available as well!

caller said there was damage to the front of the vehicle and the driver appeared to be slumped over the steering wheel. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the driver, who said a tow truck was on the way and that there had not been an accident and the damage was from a previous accident.

TRAFFIC CUSHION

10:24 p.m., 6700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic hazard: While traveling northbound, an officer noticed a large couch cushion in the middle of the road. The officer removed the cushion and disposed of it.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

HEAVY STREAM

12:22 a.m., 3600 Gulf of Mexico

Drive

Citizen assist: An officer was dispatched to the location in response to a broken water line. Upon arrival, the officer noticed a large stream of water coming from what appeared to be the irrigation system. Public Works staff were notified and advised police they were on their way to investigate.

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

SOURCE UNKNOWN

2:39 a.m., 500 block of Putter Lane

Citizen assist: The officer met with a homeowner inside her residence where she told him that she had been reading a book when she heard a loud bang coming from the back bedroom. At first, she thought something had fallen down, but after investigating she noticed some of the lights in her home were not working properly. The officer checked the residence’s breaker box, but did not notice any sparks or smell of smoke. He advised the homeowner to call an electrician in the morning.

OPEN AND SHUT CASE

8:17 p.m., 700 block of Marbury Lane

Suspicious incident: Police were

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

ON THE JOB

11:30 a.m., 3700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious vehicle: Police were sent to the area on a report of a vehicle parked in the area taking photographs. Upon arrival, the officer noticed a Florida Department of Transportation vehicle. The worker was waiting for the arrival of a contractor for underground utility work.

notified of a nearby neighbor’s suspicions after a garage door had been open for two days across the street. Upon arrival, officers checked out the area. There were no signs of forced entry and all other doors and windows appeared to be secure. It appeared the garage and downstairs of the residence was under remodel or construction, and the garage door had likely been left open accidentally. Officers were able to close and secure the garage door. The original caller was notified of the officers’ findings.

MONDAY, APRIL 24

A LITTLE CREEPY

1:42 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles

Parkway

Suspicious person: An officer was called to the police station for a walk-in complaint originating at the above address. The woman stated that while at CVS a man had approached her and asked to see inside her vehicle and was being intrusive. She told officers her friend had met the same man at CVS later that day and they had further discussed her vehicle. The officer then patrolled the area in question but did not see any males matching the description given.

Legendary Luxury. Innovative Design.

A literary feast

Bookstore1Sarasota book fair spotlights 28 local authors.

Outside Bookstore1Sarasota, downtown Sarasota visitors found new stories to experience and fresh conversation with local authors.

Taking place April 22 and 29, which was Independent Bookstore Day, the Local Author Book Fair spotlighted 28 local authors and was one of two fairs the bookstore holds throughout the year. The second book fair takes place in the fall.

“It was fantastic,” said Andrea O’Brien. “It was very inspiring to talk to authors and to see where they were coming from and what inspired them to write their book. I just learned so much from listening to their experiences.”

Among the authors looking to meet potential readers was Lucy Beebe Tobias, who wrote the 2008 book “50 Great Walks in Florida” as well as the 2015 book “Florida Gardens Gone Wild(er)”.

Tobias said in selecting the locations of the walks for the former

book, which all feature “wild Florida,” she wanted to hear from locals throughout the state rather than selecting locations based on their appeal to tourists.

A former writer and photographer for the New York Times in Florida, she spent a year wandering through Florida, talking to people for ideas on locations and cataloguing her walks through sites such as Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.

Bryn Durgin, director of programming at the bookstore, said the event allows attendees to get to know the books through their authors instead of the other way around.

“People fall in love with the author before they fall in love with the book, which is a really unique experience,” she said.

Durgin said on both weekends some authors sold out of their book copies. She said even small numbers of purchases, such as four in one week, can land a book on the store’s bestseller list.

Author Brian J. Morra said he sold all but one copy of his book “The Able Archers,” a Cold War thriller

about one American and one Soviet participant who help prevent a global nuclear war, and had even received speaking engagements.

Durgin also said the event was valuable for allowing authors to network among themselves, for many accomplished writers are not sent on tour by publishers.

“It’s such a remarkable opportunity for authors to learn from one another and to connect because writing a book is such a solitary process,” she said.

WIDE RANGE OF GENRES

The authors and their books spanned the spectrum of genres, with some authors taking a more fantastical direction in their work, but for Eddie J. Morales, that direction was still tied to his past.

Morales said he has enjoyed writing horror fiction since he was entertaining his high school classmates with writing assignments. Although he worked as a business analyst previously, he began self-publishing five years ago.

His 2022 autobiographical horror novel, “Haunted by Life: A Paranormal Coming of Age Story,” follows a boy named Javier who is followed by a ghost while moving from Puerto Rico to New Jersey while dealing with dark family secrets.

Morales said he lived in both locations when he was younger; in fact, he claimed a ghost haunted his home in New Jersey and helped inspire the story.

Launching a book can be a challenge, he said, especially as he manages the process independently, creating his own covers and using his own photographs. He said book fairs can be “very helpful” for local authors.

For Lakewood Ranch resident

Lucille Messina, the book fair was a chance to reach people struggling while caring for a disabled or medically fragile child.

Messina’s daughter, Jacklyn Messina, who was born in 1984 and lived for just over 11 years, had a degenerative neurological disease and could not walk, talk or see. After her death, Lucille Messina wrote the book “Waiting to Hear ‘Momma’ — A Mother’s Memoir.”

She said the title comes from the

fact that while all parents wait for the day that their child will say “Momma” or “Daddy,” not all parents get to hear those words.

“If I can help one person, who knows what that one person will go on to do in life?” said Messina. “It’s wonderful because this is what community is about, helping one another survive and struggle.”

Sara Jonas wrote the children’s book “Ham’s Big Adventure” for the benefit of The Tidewell Foundation in honor of her friend, Jamie Meyers, who died of brain cancer in 2016.

The book’s main character, Ham, is a young pirate who travels to outer space on a mission to find where love is hidden.

“I think it’s great that they put this on for local authors to help support them and get the word out because it’s so hard to get the word out, and as somebody who was born and raised local, this is great for giving back to the local people as well,” she said.

BOOKSTORE1SARASOTA

Store location: 117 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota Contact: 365-7900 or 365-7902

To sign up: To receive notification when applications open for the book fair, visit SarasotaBooks.com/LocalAuthorBookFair.

St. Mary welcomes new officers at

Mass and luncheon

St. Mary, Star of the Sea held an installation Mass for new officers followed by the Star of the Sea Women’s Guild luncheon.

“Every year, officers are installed for another year for the Star of the Sea Women’s Guild, and we had a total of five installed during Mass at 11 a.m.,” said Cindy Noble, president of the guild. “It is the time when those who have carried the responsibilities of leadership for past administration are returning to the ranks.”

The guild installed a new treasurer, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, vice president and president. According to Noble, the treasurer will serve as the custodian of all the funds of the organization. The

corresponding secretary will respond to all correspondence of the organization in correspondence with the bylaws. The recording secretary will keep minutes as well as call the meetings to order if the president and vice president are absent. The vice president will preside at all meetings and assume the president’s duties. The president will have many duties and will be the leader of the guild.

Noble explained that new officers were chosen because of their ability, their willingness to serve and the interest they hold in the church.

“Our guild is continuing to grow, and usually we have a speaker at the luncheon meetings, but this was more of a way to thank the

members for their support,” said Noble. “It was a time for celebration to talk to friends and celebrate each other. This is our second year doing it. We were supposed to do a luncheon during (COVID-19), but that was canceled.”

Susan Gilmore-Clarke, recording secretary, explained the funds they receive go to good use.

“Funds we earn go to charitable organizations in the greater Sarasota area,” said Gilmore-Clarke.

“I’m glad we can get together to celebrate who we are.”

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Lord’s Warehouse hours are 9:00

C

In these tumultuous times give yourself and your friends, relatives, and neighbors this opportunity to appreciate all that we have through the power of prayer.

You are invited to join us in worship, song & friendship at Shabbat services every Friday evening at 5:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am.

To learn more about our Temple and all our educational, cultural, and social programs, please call us. We’d be delighted to talk with you. Questions? Email us at info@longboatkeytemple.org

The church’s women’s guild celebrated its members after installing five new officers.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Taste the rainbow

Most chefs have culinary idols they look up to — someone whose example was worth following into a career in the culinary arts.

British chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay inspired local personal chef Bruno Wu, who serves more than 200 clients in Longboat and the surrounding area.

While other children were watching Saturday morning cartoons, Wu’s eyes were glued to the Food Network. Wu started cooking when he was 13 years old.

His eyes darted back and forth as the colors of fresh spices and herbs danced before his eyes. The dicing and slicing fascinated Wu.

“I was absolutely enamored by it,” said Wu. “I’ve always had a passion for cooking. Once a month, I’d cook dinner for my family when I was 13 years old.”

When Wu entered high school, he was in charge of holiday dinners. He prepared beef Wellington for Christmas and a standing rib roast for New Year’s.

“After a decade of home cooking, I received formal training,” said Wu.

Wu graduated from the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles, and has worked in almost every aspect of the restaurant business from washing dishes to being a general manager. But after 12 years, Wu walked away from the restaurant scene to start his own business as a personal chef in 2018.

“I helped a colleague with a personal chef gig in LA, and I realized that this was a great opportunity for me to start my own business. I wanted to own my own business,” said Wu.

Two years after he started his business, Wu moved to Sarasota County in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

“I think (COVID-19) definitely helped my business because many people weren’t wanting to go out to eat during that time, and they were more comfortable having a personal chef come to their home to prepare them a meal,” said Wu.

Currently, Wu has clients that are local, seasonal and some who vacation in the area.

“I cover Sarasota and Manatee counties, but I’m willing to drive to the surrounding counties as well,” said Wu.

After two years of building his

SAMPLE MENU

ITALIAN

n Focaccia

n Marinara mussels

business in the area, he has a client list of over 200 people.

THE CHEF BRUNO EXPERIENCE

Wu explained that he tries to curate a culinary experience for his clients instead of just cooking them dinner.

“I custom-tailor the entire menu to each client and I try to figure out the best dishes that would work for them while taking into consideration any food allergies or food restrictions,” said Wu.

Most of Wu’s dinners are five courses: two courses of hors d’oeuvres and three courses of plated dinner, which includes appetizers, salad and an entree followed by dessert.

Wu envisions the flavors and textures of each ingredient, imagining how they would come together, creating a symphony of taste to satisfy his guests’ palates.

“The fact that I can have a shared

n Shrimp and mascarpone ravioli

n Gnocchi alla vodka

n Tiramisu

SEAFOOD FEAST

n Chesapeake Bay crab cakes

n Lobster tortellini

n Prince Edward Island mussels

n Pan-seared salmon with potato gratin

n Créme brûlée

experience with my clients is what’s fulfilling to me,” said Wu. “Having that connection with who I am cooking for makes it that much more special.”

Wu travels with everything he needs to prepare his five-course dinners.

“I’ll have table settings with me, linen, napkins, centerpieces and everything related to the cookery. Because I’m in a different kitchen every night, I like having the consistency of bringing my own set of knives and what I need to cook with,” said Wu. “I also bring cleaning supplies and the motto is, ‘leave the space cleaner than you found it.’”

Wu serves anywhere from a dinner for two to a party of 70 people.

“When it’s up to 70 people, it’s more of a buffet style,” said Wu.

Wu has also launched a catering business with his partner, Marko Radisic, called East West Catering.

“We started doing events at the beginning of April, and I wanted to scale what I built as a personal chef to accommodate more people,” said Wu. “We can actually accommodate

over 100 people, but we can also cater smaller ones, too.”

Wu explained that after two years of working with his clients, he has a few different set menus clients can choose from.

“I have an Italian menu, a steakhouse menu, a Southern feast and Asian (menu),” said Wu.

He explained he was booked for 29 days in the month of April and expects to be busy this month as well.

“I think what makes a Chef Bruno experience special is just my personal interaction with my clients. I find that I can give them a unique and delightful experience because I can relate to many people from different walks of life because of everywhere I’ve lived.”

To book Wu for a dinner event or to contact him, email Bruno@ ChefBrunoWu.com.

A local personal chef cooks colorful cuisine.

Ribbon-cutting marks opening of La Villa Café in Longboat

started with selling this type of food, and I always loved it. So I’m excited to be selling breakfast food again.”

Villegas explained Latin flavors inspired the menu that includes freshly made empanadas alongside coffee, juices, fruit bowls and smoothies.

Anew cafe has opened its doors, bringing a fresh and welcoming space for coffee lovers and foodies alike.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 10 a.m. April 27 to celebrate the opening of La Villa Café, next door to La Villa Mexican Grill, which opened in September of last year.

Many diners awaited the unveiling of the new establishment, owned by Estella Villegas. “We’ve been open since midApril, and we’re finally having a ribbon-cutting to signal its official opening,” said Villegas. “When we first opened our restaurant (in Hillsborough County) 10 years ago, we

“We make Colombian and Argentinian empanadas, and in the future we’d like to make Cuban sandwiches,” said Villegas.

“We are so excited because we have so many healthy options, and it just takes me back to the beginning of when we decided to open our very first business.”

The café boasts a warm and inviting atmosphere for anyone in need of a cozy and convenient spot to grab a cup of coffee or have a quick bite to eat.

La Villa Café is now open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and is located at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

La Villa Café is officially open and serving healthy breakfast items and empanadas.

MOONSHINE POINT

1250 SEA PLUME WAY | OFFERED AT $4,400,000

This 4 bedroom property offers the ultimate in island lifestyle amenities! Vaulted ceilings, bay views, 2 primary suites (1st and 2nd floor options), chef’s kitchen, elevator, saltwater pool, putting green, deep water dock with 2 lifts, sandy beach, 2 car garage with apartment suite and 2 minutes from the gulf beach access across the street. Call for a private showing.

MLS# A4559353

Women’s Golf Association tees off end of season

Club members gathered for a luncheon at the Harbourside Ballroom to celebrate another great season.

The Longboat Key Club & Resort’s Women’s Golf Association celebrated the end of the season on Longboat Key after teeing off together during the year.

Over 90 women attended the luncheon at the Harbourside Ballroom at 12:30 p.m. on April 25.

There was a variety of delicious food served buffet style.

“We play all summer but this marks the end of the season, and it went so well. We played with amazing women and had so many new members, too,” said Sandy Finnegan, former president.

The WGA has more than 188 members in total, with 23 members who joined this year.

During dessert, members voted

on their new president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

“Lyn Haycock is our president, Mary Taylor is our vice president, Cindy Ray is our secretary and Gloria Hartman is our treasurer,” said Finnegan. “It was my pleasure and honor to have served the girls. It’s just a wonderful group of women and the camaraderie is inexplicable.”

Margaret Lachmann, past president, was awarded the honor of having the back of the locker room

Fox Leiter Team

building named “Margaret’s Way.”

The room roared with laughter and applause.

Terry O’Hara, director of golf for Harbourside and Links, gave a rundown of all the winners that day.

“When I started in 2009, we probably had about 80 to 90 members in the WGA and look at

us now,” said O’Hara. Toward the end of the luncheon, Finnegan took the podium to express her gratitude and say her farewells as president. She received an engraved vase and flowers for the duration of her service and contributions to the WGA.

Paradise Center emphasizes importance of brain health in May

Center will host ballroom dance lessons and improv classes to aid cognitive function and physical health.

Brain health is important for everyone, but as people age, it takes on increased importance. The Paradise Center is hosting ballroom dance lessons and improv classes in the month of May that will help cognitive function as well as the body.

“There are a lot of things with the aging body you have no control over, but you can do a lot to stay mentally healthy,” said Suzy Brenner, director. “Everybody knows that doing puzzles is good for the brain, but if you do them every day, not so much.”

Brenner explained that participating in new activities is what keeps the brain young. She cited a study conducted in 2018 that explains how simultaneous movement and memory training maximizes the benefits of both.

“According to a (University of California Los Angeles) study, out of the 55 participants, 29 were assigned simultaneous exercise and 26 were assigned aerobic exercise,” said Brenner.

After four weeks, the results showed those who participated in simultaneous exercise saw sufficient improvement in memory, attention and reasoning abilities.

“The ballroom classes help with memory because you’re memorizing steps and it gets you moving,” said Brenner.

Brenner explained that there are many ways to improve brain health, such as learning a new language or learning how to play an instrument.

“One of my board members at Florida Studio Theatre (Will Luera) is coming here to host an improv class on May 17 and May 31 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.” said Brenner. “The process of brain-to-brain and social-emotional interaction strengthens many aspects of the brain from dealing with anxiety to creative thinking.”

Ballroom dance lessons have begun; the next lesson will be from 1-2 p.m. May 24 at the Paradise Center. To register, visit TheParadiseCenter.org.

LONGBOAT KEY EN PROVENCE $4,935,000

Spectacular 3BD/ 4BA 3,400sf open plan w/10’ ceilings & Gulf-side wrap around terraces. One of 21 in meticulously maintained Gulf front gated community w/ Gulf-side pool & spa. Conveniently located mid-key.

LONGBOAT KEY

L’AMBIENCE $3,750,000

Casually elegant direct beachfront walk-out. Rarely available 3BR/4BA floorplan + amenities include lobby concierge, 24 hr guarded gate, olympic sized pool, 2 har-tru tennis courts, fitness center & more.

NEW LISTING

LONGBOAT KEY WATER CLUB $3,750,000

Spectacular 6th floor 3BR/4BA redesigned Dover plan. Highend finishes include private elevator opening to Sarasota Bay & city skyline views from floor to ceiling glass and mastersuite terrace offers Gulf vistas.. Luxurious resort style lving on beautiful beach w/all amenities.

LONGBOAT KEY BOATERS DREAM $3,100,00

Meticulous 4 BD/3 BA wide deep water canal with direct access to Sarasota Bay - no bridges! Great dock. 2 boat lifts. Private beach access directly across the street.

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KEY • CANAL LOT#1 $1,995,000

• CANAL LOT#2 $1,995,000

Build your dream home on one of north LBK’s most desirable streets. Premier boating location. Great canal leads directly to Bay & ICW No bridges. Walk to beach.

LONGBOAT KEY DREAM ISLAND ROAD $3,195,000

Your Dream House, lovely & tranquil on Dream Island Road. Completely remodeled updated home on lushly landscaped 1/2 acre. 100’ wide canal w/ great boat dock, open living & saltwater pool/spa.

LONGBOAT KEY EMERALD HARBOR $2,495,00

Updated & meticulously maintained split-plan 4 BR/3 BA pool home on wide canal w/ direct Bay access. A boater’s dream w/new dock and 10,000lb boat lift.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10

VETERANS CANTEEN

1-2 p.m. at the Paradise Center, Tidewell Foundation Building, 546 Bay Isles Road. Veterans’ Canteen sponsored by the Rotary Club of Longboat Key. A welcoming space for our U.S. veterans to connect, relax, chat, share and support one another. Free.

RECURRING EVENTS

WEEKDAYS LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, 555 Bay Isles Road. On Wednesdays, most books are on sale for $1 or less. Call 3832011.

MONDAYS STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. This class is mostly seated and great for all fitness levels Focus is on strength training and flexibility for balance. Suzy Brenner leads the class. Fee is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

THINKING OUT LOUD: TIMELY TOPICS WITH MIKE KARP

From 1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Topics will include U.S. and world current affairs, popular culture and topics relevant to seniors. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE

The thrift store will be open 9 a.m.

to 1 p.m. at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

TUESDAYS QI GONG

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qi gong is a mind-body-spirit practice designed to improve mental and physical health. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

YOGA

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debbie Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $15; free for members. Call 383-6493.

MAHJONG

From 1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Fun time for experienced players. To check availability at the tables, email MaryAnnBrady@TheParadiseCenter.org.

ROTARY CLUB

Meets at 5 p.m. on first and third Tuesdays in All Angels Parish Hall, 563 Bay Isles Road. To learn more, call Nancy Rozance at 203-605-4066 or email Info@ LongboatKeyRotary.org.

WEDNESDAYS

BEGINNER TAI CHI

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Class is outdoors, weather permitting. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

MARIACHI MUSIC

From 5-8 p.m. at La Villa Mexican Grill, 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Enjoy dinner and a serenade by Mariachi Contemporaneo. Call 383-8033.

THURSDAYS

KIWANIS CLUB OF LONGBOAT

KEY

At 8:30 a.m. at Lazy Lobster, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive. This service organization meets every first and third Thursday of the month for breakfast and a speaker. Breakfast is $15. Email Lynn Larson at LynnLarson@Comcast.net to register.

ZUMBA AND MAT PILATES FOR SENIORS

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. The class, designed for active seniors, starts with zumba and shifts to all-level mat Pilates at 10:30 a.m. Come for 30 minutes or the full hour. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

FRIDAYS INTERMEDIATE TAI CHI

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Reuben Fernandez teaches Chen-style class. Outside if weather permitting. Free for members; $15 for others. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

QI GONG AND MEDITATION

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road, take qi gong and meditation with Sandi Love. Free for members; $15 for others. Call 383-6493.

Living and Working on Longboat Key for 40 Years

File photo

A red Corvette on display at the 2019 Corvettes on the Circle car show at St. Armands Circle.

BEST BET SATURDAY, MAY 6

CORVETTES ON THE CIRCLE — 25TH ANNIVERSARY

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Armands Circle. One of largest classic Corvette shows in Florida will feature more than 150 models of classic American cars. A range of cars will be on display with Corvette models from the 1950s through the present. Trophies will be awarded to the top three Corvettes in each generation, as well as Best in Show, and Skyway Corvette Club Favorite. For additional information visit SkywayCorvetteClub.com. The event is free for spectators, but car registration proceeds will be donated to the Honor Flight of West Central Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Sarasota/Bradenton-area veterans with honor and closure.

NEW LISTING

ROSEWOOD RESIDENCES

PRE-CONSTRUCTION

New on Lido Key!

Sugar-soft sand and the glistening Gulf will soon be home to the 65 owners of Rosewood Residences.

Five unique floorplans, 3335 to 4942 sq. ft.

Offered from $5.9 million

BANYAN BAY on the Bayside

5260 Gulf of Mexico Drive 404 | LONGBOAT KEY

3 bed, 3 bath | 1,453 Sq Ft

Rarely on the market! This Gulf to Bay community is a pet-friendly (no weight limit), 44 residences only, that offers tennis courts, pool and day dock fishing pier.

Offered for $749,000

L'AMBIANCE

535

3 bed, 4 bath | 2,525 Sq Ft

Almost new within the gates of the exclusive Longboat Key Club. From sunrise to sunset, this residence offers an abundance of natural light and lovely views from the wrap around terrace.

Offered for $2,600,000

408 Jackson Dr | St. Armands - LIDO KEY

3 bed + den, 3 bath | 2,344 sq.ft.

The Gem of all Jewels on St. Armands Circle!

Location makes this spacious home with a pool an exceptional opportunity for those who want to be minutes from St Armands Circle, Lido Beach, and Main Street in the heart of the city. The residence has many modern updates and unique features that add to its overall appeal. Newer windows improve energy efficiency, and high ceilings give an open and airy feel. With its glass walls, the family room/office can be readily transformed into a fourth bedroom. Walk out to the garden, pool, and patio.

Offered for $2,988,000

2 bed + den or 3 bed, 4 bath | 2,525 sq. ft.

Updated perfection is here, ready for enjoyment. Iconic luxury, 270 degrees of endless views. Welcome to L’Ambiance, Longboat Key’s spectacular residence defined by sophistication, casual elegance, and gracious living. Surrounded by gentle breezes off the water, set as one of the most prestigious residences to live on Longboat Key. Endless amenities plus three guest suites. Legendary service, extraordinary Bay and Gulf of Mexico views. COMPLETELY UPDATED.

Offered for $4,200,000

RITZ-CARLTON MANAGED THE BEACH RESIDENCES

3 bed, 3.5 bath | 4,194 sq. ft. BEYOND IMAGINATION, with unparalleled amenities and a lifestyle of privacy and comfort awaits you here to create everlasting memories. Instant enjoyment with captivating views from this ultimate southwest corner residence. Generously proportioned wrap-around terrace with sliding floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors offer stunning views in this meticulously designed, ALMOST NEW residence.

Offered for $5,500,000

3030 Grand Bay Blvd #321 | LONGBOAT KEY

3 bed, 3.5 bath | 2,925 sq. ft.

Be prepared to be WOWED! Upon arrival home, you take your private elevator to your residence. Here you are hypnotized by the captivating views of the Sunrise, Bay, City, and the Longboat Key Mooring Marina. Every room has a sliding glass door with access to your wraparound terrace to enjoy Sarasota and her islands. Three bedrooms and three and a half baths await its new owner. This gated community includes 24 hr. security, clubhouse activities, heated swimming pools and spa, tennis courts, a library, a fitness center, and deeded beach access via Bay Isles Private Beach Club.

Offered for $2,750,000

JUST LISTED!

Manchester Bay home tops week’s sales at $3.7 million

Ahome in Manchester Bay tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Russell and Mary Meloche, of Rochester, Michigan, sold their home at 3614 Fair Oaks Place to William Adam Ehret and Julia Suzanne Ehret, of Westfield, Indiana, for $3,675,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, three-and-ahalf baths, a pool and 4,050 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.7 million in 2011.

LONGBOAT KEY TOWERS

Barbara Horowitz, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the Unit S-603 condominium at 601 Longboat Club Road to LBKT LP for $1,725,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,458 square feet of living area. It sold for $315,000 in 1994.

SLEEPY LAGOON PARK

Cari Steed, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 553 Juan Anasco Drive to Brian Bevel, of Galien, Michigan, for $1,715,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,337 square feet of living area. It sold for $745,000 in 2019.

FAIRWAY BAY

Maryann Tarnok, of Mount Kisco, New York, sold her Unit 512 condominium at 2110 Harbourside Drive to Judith Weber, of Lady Lake, for $989,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,039 square feet of living area. It sold for $745,000 in 2017.

Paul and Marilyn Blankman sold their Unit 411 condominium at 2020 Harbourside Drive to Bradley and Carla Bower, of Knoxville, Tennessee, for $967,500. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,442 square feet of living area. It sold for $435,000 in 2011.

COREY’S LANDING

Philip Kreis, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 3501 Mistletoe Lane to Lola Ans Holding LLC for

The home at 3614 Fair Oaks Place sold for $3,675,000. sold for $519,000 in 2016.

$985,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,049 square feet of living area. It sold for $570,000 in 2001.

LONGBOAT BEACH HOUSE Charles and Barbara Elliott, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, sold their Unit 604 condominium at 4311 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Todd and Elizabeth Way, of Exton, Pennsylvania, for $975,000. Built in 1977, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,239 square feet of living area. It sold for $141,000 in 1988.

SANDS POINT

Ann Louise Lance, trustee, of Tallahassee, sold the Unit 208 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road to David Burke and Jennifer Pokriefka, of Bay City, Michigan, for $935,000. Built in 1966, it has one bedroom, two baths and 1,492 square feet of living area.

SEA GRAPE INN

Allison Hessell LeBuhn, trustee, of Denver, sold the Unit 6 condominium at 5125 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Georgia Tsarnas, trustee, of Peninsula, Ohio, for $869,000. Built in 1983, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 961 square feet of living area. It

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

ISLANDER CLUB OF LONGBOAT William Whistler, of Dayton, Ohio, sold his Unit 55-N condominium at 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Kevin and Carolyn Giordano, of Longboat Key, for $749,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $397,500 in 2019.

SPANISH MAIN YACHT CLUB Margaret Richlin, of Columbia, Maryland, sold her Unit 182 condo-

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

APRIL 17-21

minium at 699 El Centro to Nancy Steger, of W. Bend, Wisconsin, for $472,500. Built in 1969, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,327 square feet of living area. It sold for $382,000 in 2021.

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