Longboat Observer 10.5.23

YOU YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOUR TOWN

What turned off the lights?

Teen activist speaks up

Local activist Brice Claypoole wants more protection for the environment he’s grown to love.

Claypoole, 15, was recently featured in a video by Suncoast Waterkeeper because he’s concerned about recent Manatee County legislation aimed at reducing wetland protections. He’s been involved with the organization for about three years.

The video was in response to Manatee County Commissioner James Satcher wanting to bring a human side to the wetlands discussion, Claypoole said in the video.

He expressed how disheartened he is to see recent legislation allowing developers to encroach on wetlands. Claypoole fears he will soon not be able to enjoy the things he loves about the environment — searching for puffer fish, sailing around the bay and finding manatees grazing on seagrass.

“I’m afraid I’m going to lose everything I love about my home,” Claypoole said in the video.

For more information, visit Suncoast Waterkeeper’s website at SuncoastWaterkeeper. org.

Happiest hour

Longboat Harbour men have a brotherly bond, and every Wednesday, you can find a group of them at Chubby’s Lounge for happy hour.

Sparky Pashkow and Turk McCardle started the weekly outing. One of their neighbors had recently lost his wife, so a group of men decided to take him to Chubby’s to cheer him up and show him support.

The group grew bigger every week, from four people to 10-12 people.

Since Chubby’s was closed for the month of September, the group decided to branch out and try happy hour at Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

To combine their love for both spots, the men plan to start getting drinks at Chubby’s before walking to Ventura’s for dinner.

Pashkow said the group is the perfect mix of camaraderie and support that men on the island need.

Budget in place for 2024

but next year’s budget is now official.

Commissioners approved by a 5-0 vote Longboat Key’s 2024 fiscal year budget and millage rate at the second hearing on Sept. 26, after no changes were made from the first public hearing.  District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold and District 5 Commissioner Debbie Murphy were not in attendance.

The approved mill rate for the town remained at 1.9600, which was recommended at the first public hearing on Sept. 11.

Town commissioners originally voted to set the maximum millage rate at 1.9900 on June 30. In Town Manager Howard Tipton’s budget report on Aug. 1, he recommended the millage rate be reduced to 1.9850.

Now, with the town’s millage rate officially set at 1.9600, the total millage rate for the Gulfside District is 2.6712 and 2.1708 for the Bayside District. That’s a decrease of 2.90% for the Gulfside, and a decrease of 2.09% for Bayside residents.

Total revenue for the fiscal year 2024 budget came out to $21,124,125, which is a 14.2% increase from fiscal year 2023’s revenue of $18,503,848.

Total operating expenditures increased by 15.7% from fiscal year 2023, from $18,606,242 to $20,595,614.

The largest portion of the operating expenditures comes from personnel costs. Wages and benefits for employees make up 81.5% of the operating expenditures.

In the budget memo, Tipton pointed to inflation and increases in benefit costs as key drivers in the

MILLAGE RATE CHANGES

overall increase.

On top of that, the town manager added seven full-time employees to the town’s payroll. These positions are grants coordinator, IT security analyst, IT business analyst, support services for the Fire Rescue

Department, plans examiner/building inspector, parks service worker and an additional finance employee.

There was also a total of $5.1 million in transfers. The transfers move funds for the money to be used elsewhere.

In this case, the money is being transferred to the Streets Fund to be used for future infrastructure projects, such as roadway resurfacing and the Broadway Roundabout.

As Tipton mentioned in the last public hearing, these one-time transfers can be misleading, for they cause a large increase when looking at year-to-year trends, but will most likely not be the same the following year.

With the transfers, that brings the grand total in expenditures to $25,695,614. That is a 37.96% increase from the previous year, which was $18,625,408.

A reduction in the millage rate and increase in personnel costs were key discussion points along the way,

DISPATCH DILEMMA

Larson said her ideal situation would be for dispatch to be moved back to Longboat Key.

But Dezzi said that may not be feasible.

“It would be very expensive,” Dezzi said. “The technology, the service would not be what we have today.”

takes an average of 800 emergency 911 calls, according to Tutko. There’s also an additional 1,200 nonemergency calls each day.

With all those calls, Tutko’s staff consists of 94 call takers. That’s still 22 employees short of being fully staffed.

When you’re on Longboat Key and call 911, who will pick up the phone?

In recent years, it’s been Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office dispatch, which Longboat Key contracted with in 2015 to improve dispatch services on the island.

But some recent complaints from residents have prompted town officials to take another look at Longboat’s dispatch service.

At a Town Commission meeting on Sept. 11, resident and former town

Commissioner Lynn Larson came forward to share her concerns.

She started with a story about how she called the nonemergency number after Hurricane Idalia because there was a loose floating dock threatening damage to her property.

While attempting to hold onto the dock with the help of her husband, Larson was on the phone with Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office dispatch.

The dispatcher told Larson to hang up and call Charlotte County, since that was where her location seemed to be.

Larson went back and forth with the dispatcher, trying to explain that she was not in Charlotte County. Eventually, the issue was resolved and help arrived.

But Larson feared what would have happened if she had fallen into the water or had been injured with no neighbors around and a lack of assistance from dispatch.

Another time, Larson said she was driving on Gulf of Mexico Drive when she witnessed a car go off the road. There was another car following her closely, so she couldn’t stop to check on the driver.

She called 911 and was put on hold.

Frustrated after being on hold for a couple minutes, she called the Longboat Key Town Hall front desk, which forwarded her call to the Longboat Key Police Department.

It wasn’t until Larson arrived home that Sarasota County dispatch called her back, asking for more details about the incident.

Larson brought up these concerns at the Sept. 11 commission meeting, and a couple of her neighbors backed her claims, though none wanted to share their own stories.

Mayor Ken Schneier was the first to respond to Larson at the meeting.

“We’ve had a number of issues and a number of complaints over the years about dispatch,” Schneier said. “Sometimes it works, some -

times it doesn’t work very well …

It’s something that we should take a look at again and have some further discussion.”

Commissioner-at-Large BJ Bishop added that out of the seven commissioners, none of them was around when the changes were made to the dispatch services.

She commented that she had personal issues with dispatch as well, and agreed it was time to look into the issues.

“This is a new issue for everyone that’s here on the commission to have a chance to weigh in,” Bishop said.

HISTORICAL CHANGES

Larson was on the Town Commission in 2015 when it made the decision to switch all Longboat Key dispatch services to Sarasota County.

She said, at the time, Longboat Key’s dispatch equipment was outdated and needed to be replaced.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office assured solid service.

“Nothing has been delivered,” she said at the Sept. 11 commission meeting.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department Chief Paul Dezzi said it took a couple years of discussions and meetings to lead to the 2015 contract with Sarasota County.

Dispatch through Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office took effect in 2016.

Previously, Longboat Key had a dispatch service for the police and fire departments. A room in the police department served as headquarters.

Then, in 2009, the Fire Rescue Department switched its dispatch

services to Manatee County.

This arrangement worked for some time, Dezzi said, but around 2013, then-Town Manager Dave Bullock decided to look into making some changes with the dispatch service.

Both Manatee and Sarasota counties were contacted during the early talks, Dezzi said, but ultimately, Sarasota County was chosen to be the unified funnel for Longboat Key’s dispatch.  Since the switch, Dezzi’s department has hosted Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers to take a tour of the island and some of the emergency service buildings on the island.

With Longboat Key in two counties and having its own lingo, it’s been necessary to bring dispatchers in as a part of their training.

In exchange, the town commission would take a trip to visit the dispatch center.

“It is time to do it again with the new commissioners,” Dezzi said. “ I think it might be wise to bring them over and have a look and ask questions.”

NO EASY SWITCH

Before making any decisions, Town Manager Howard Tipton stressed the importance of doing all the necessary research.

Tipton started his due diligence and already met with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office to talk about the issues.

After pulling together some of the background data and examining the situation more, Tipton said the next step would be to clearly define the problem statement. Only then can solutions start forming.

Speaking from what he’s heard in the past, Tipton said emergency dispatch is a difficult job, which is where he thinks some of the issues may stem.

“It’s one of the hardest jobs in public safety,” Tipton said. “Every call is a tough call; every call is someone’s worst day. And it just wears on you.”

The dispatchers often get burnt out, he said, which leads to employee turnover.

Not only would new technology need to be purchased, but staff would need to be hired to handle the calls. That means more salaries and benefits on the town’s payroll.

And even though Longboat Key would hypothetically have dispatch back on the island, Dezzi said the 911 calls would come through public safety answering points. Once received there, calls would be transferred to Longboat Key dispatch, which would send the calls to either police or fire.

That would cause a delay, Dezzi said, which isn’t there with just the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office handling the dispatch.

Dezzi said he’s also spoken with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and asked them to present at a commission meeting in the near future. The office could inform the commission and residents about how the center functions, and also explain the difference between emergency and nonemergency lines.

Tipton said after the talks and presentations, it likely wouldn’t be until December or January before there’s much progress.

At the Oct. 2 Town Commission meeting, Tipton mentioned that an idea had recently been discussed to have nonemergency calls be taken at the town clerk’s office during business hours, and contracted out after hours.

Commissioners were in agreement to continue the conversation in the near future, but most seemed in favor of the idea.

HIGH VOLUME

Capt. Dan Tutko leads the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center dispatch, and said he’s aware of issues raised by Longboat Key residents. But he also said it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind.

The EOC dispatches calls in the unincorporated portion of Sarasota County, Venice, North Port and Longboat Key.

In 2022, the center saw 657,000 total calls. Year-to-date in 2023, the total call volume is at 506,000.

By the end of the year, Tutko expects there to be 100,000 more calls than last year, a 20% increase.

In April, Tutko said the Sheriff’s Office put together an automated call service to try to redirect other calls from the dispatch call center.

Calls like corrections, animal services and court documents would have previously been routed through the same center. The automated line redirected about 7,000 calls in the first three months of its existence.

Each day, the emergency center

But it’s not for a lack of trying. Tutko said he’s made efforts to recruit by going to career fairs, utilizing social media and offering a $2,000 hiring bonus.

Tutko said the training is not as easy as people might expect.

“It’s not a job, it’s a career,” Tutko said.

It starts with a 2-3 month hiring process. Then, new recruits enter a six-week training academy to learn how to take and dispatch calls. Once they pass the academy, recruits spend 17 weeks with a field training officer.

Tutko started in early 2021, when there were 24 vacancies. The number has fluctuated over the years, with the most vacancies being 36 at one point.

The issue of staffing emergency dispatch centers has been felt across the United States, according to Tutko.

On top of vacancies are occasional call-outs, which then require other workers to pick up the slack. There’s also a mandatory overtime requirement for all employees, and some employees choose to pick up even more shifts.

And it’s not an easy job.

“You have cardiac arrest, you have childbirth, you have robberies, you have shootings,” Tutko said. “All these things that play on your emotions. And the hardest part here is, they can only do so much. And that’s what weighs on people.”

Though the center may be facing some staffing issues, Tutko said every emergency call is taken seriously.

Nonemergency calls may be put on hold, Tutko said, because the center prioritizes emergency calls.

Brief holds may also occur for 911 calls. But Tutko said it’s important to stay on the line because calls are answered in the order they are received. If a person were to hang up and call again, that person would lose their spot in the queue.

In terms of Larson’s issue with being told she was in the wrong county, Tutko admitted that there was some fault on the dispatch end.

But Tutko also said his staff is doing the best they can — training people to a high degree and utilizing up-to-date technology to help them perform their best.

“We know that there’s things on our end that we can do, but there has to be this understanding that all because you live in a certain portion of the county doesn’t mean that your phone calls are more important than anybody else’s,” Tutko said.

“It’s one of the hardest jobs in public safety. Every call is a tough call; every call is someone’s worst day. And it just wears on you.”

— Howard Tipton, town manager

First Physicians Group Welcomes

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Fellowship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Transformer troubles

An FPL investigation is underway after the failure of some underground transformers.

are designed to be underground — just not underwater.

When the combination of a king tide and Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge flooded low-lying areas of Longboat Key, 20 underground transformers failed.

This left around 400 Longboat Key Florida Power & Light customers

without power, which the company restored within 15 hours, according to FPL representatives.

Public Works Director Isaac Brownman, along with a team of FPL representatives, discussed the issue with the Town Commission at the Sept. 26 regular workshop.

But first Brownman presented some good news. The project to bury utilities remains under budget by about $3.7 million, and 99% of easements have been completed.

Highway lights for Gulf of Mexico Drive have been delivered and installed, and the town is able to use remaining funds to purchase backlit street signs for the entirety of GMD.

But the challenges that remain are estimating a final timeline for completing the undergrounding project

and investigating what went wrong during the flooding from Idalia.

According to FPL, the company has begun a thorough forensic investigation that will examine the failed transformers to try to identify what exactly went wrong.

But Robert Gaddis, director of FPL’s Storm Secure Underground Program, said the transformers were never meant to be fully submerged.

He said he doesn’t think there will ever be a type of underground transformer system that could be 100% submerged and remain energized.

“This system is the best we can put in, but it’s not perfect, and there’s going to be failures,” Gaddis said.

Gaddis hypothesized that saltwater interacting with certain metals within the transformer may have been the cause. But there’s no way to tell for certain until the investigation concludes in 60-90 days.

While FPL has a lot of experience with overhead utilities, Gaddis said undergrounding is a relatively new concept for FPL. There’s a lot of learning along the way.

Town commissioners fired away their questions, specifically wondering why the area’s historical flooding wasn’t considered in the initial design.

“If you’d have asked us, we would’ve told you that they flood,” Vice Mayor Mike Haycock said. “I mean those streets have been flooding for 30 years.”

District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams wondered whether base flood elevation maps were used as a starting point in the design.

Gaddis said looking at FEMA base flood maps is something that was implemented after Hurricane Ian in 2022.

Longboat Key’s underground utility referendum was passed back in 2016, and Gaddis said the project was engineered around four years ago.

“In terms of specifics around whether those maps were considered at the time, it wasn’t something we did as a process at the time,” Gaddis said.

Another question asked of FPL was how the 20 failed transformers were able to be replaced so quickly. The project is currently delayed due to lead times for remaining trans-

formers in Phases 3 and 4, which won’t be installed until early 2024.

Program Manager for FPL Hau Tran said the two situations require two different types of transformers.

The ones that needed to be replaced after the flooding are simple, single-phase transformers for residential use. The transformers experiencing supply chain delays are more complex and used for commercial properties.

Mayor Ken Schneier questioned what would happen if future flooding caused the same transformers to fail. The FPL representatives said backups would be kept on hand, and the company always tries to restore power as quickly as possible.

Overall, Gaddis assured the commissioners that despite some complications undergrounding was still the best option.

“Given that wind blowing debris and vegetation are the leading cause of outages, I’d say the underground system is the most reliable one you’re going to have,” Gaddis said.

STILL DELAYED

There was also contention over the timeline for completing the project.

Gaddis said FPL’s goal is to harden the entire state’s utility infrastructure by undergrounding. Schneier worried that Longboat Key isn’t a hopeful start.

“How is it possible that we’re going to harden the whole state when we can’t get a 10-mile island done?” Schneier said.

Brownman said that the original completion date for the project was December 2022, but that maybe that was too ambitious.

The project began under the leadership of former Town Manager Dave Bullock. Brownman said at that time the estimate was for the project to take five to seven years, but they would shoot for three-and-a-half years.

“Sometimes things happen,” Brownman said. “We’re still pushing very hard. We are beyond the three-and-a-half-year window that we initially committed to, but we’re going to push and make every effort to get this done.”

FPL External Affairs Manager Devaney Iglesias said while FPL initially agreed to work alongside the

other contractors to get the project done in the timeframe, FPL never guaranteed the three-and-a-half year timeline.

Phase 2 is nearly complete, but Brownman said it is the most complicated phase. The team estimates completion by the end of the year.

The other snag in the project is the need to replace existing underground transformers in phases 3 and 4. Initially, the construction team thought

those could be used, but upon opening them up earlier this year, Wilco Electrical realized the transformers were too outdated.  Tran admitted that this was an oversight on FPL’s part.

The project awaits the remaining 24 transformers to complete phases 3 and 4. All of those are estimated to arrive and be installed in early 2024.

Many low-lying streets, like Marbury Street, flooded during Hurricane Idalia, causing some underground transformers to fail.

Stamp of approval

The parking saga for the St. Regis Longboat Key has come to an end.  On Oct. 2, the second public hearing for the newest amendments to the project ended with a unanimous vote from the Longboat Key Town Commission to approve the amended plans.  “Today, we’re celebrating the shortest hearing,” Mayor Ken Schneier said, leading the room to burst out in applause.

The changes focused on the parking for the development.

Back in June, public hearings were held to discuss the proposed parking garage set forth by Unicorp National Developments Inc. The parking garage plans were met with opposition from the community and commission during the June 5 public hearing.  Commissioners voted to draft an order of denial at the June 5 hearing, but Unicorp President Chuck Whittall asked for a continuance at the June 20 public hearing.

He wanted more time to come up with a better solution — a balance he struck with the community and project.

To accommodate enough parking, Whittall and his team came up with a solution to add surface parking to the lot. The plans expanded a 33-space lot to a 93-space lot and added 12 spaces to the entrance driveway.

Additionally, the 62 mechanical lift spaces that were previously proposed as a possible solution were removed from the plans.

In total, the new plans represent a net gain of one parking space from the original 2021 plans.

The changes in surface lot coverage produce a loss of 3,203 square feet of impervious surface.

“I did want to thank you very much for your patience and your endurance and your astute analysis and comments over all these many months, and maybe years,” said Brenda Patten, Unicorp attorney.

Many of the town commissioners shared the sentiment of relief that the parking matter had finally been put to rest.

Schneier and District 1 Commissioner Gary Coffin spoke about how important The Colony Tennis and Beach Resort was to Longboat Key’s community.

Coffin said his kids worked there, and he’s looking forward to seeing how a similar relationship continues to develop between the St. Regis and Longboat Key.

“The Colony worked itself into the fabric of our community,” Coffin said. “And I think very much so that the St. Regis property will do the same thing.”

Coffin also commented that the lengthy process filled with approvals, denials and legal matters has been a learning experience. He added how this situation set a precedent to show how the community and town can work together on issues at hand.

Patten said that the St. Regis is on schedule to finish construction in March 2024, with the opening expected around July 2024.

The St. Regis parking lot was approved, ending a lengthy debate.

So no matter the condition and no matter how serious , you only need to remember one name .

LONGBOAT

Is Gaetz really the bad guy?

Matt Gaetz’s outspokenness wouldn’t make it in a business. But his brazenness just may be the disruption that is needed in Washington. Finally.

The Wall Street Journal called Gaetz and other House members on his side “Jacobins,” a pejorative reference to political activists during the French revolution in 1791. (Often called radicals, the Jacobins actually advocated for a republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. What’s wrong with that?)

HOW NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN WASHINGTON

Clinton last fiscal year 2001

Surplus: $128 billion (actual)

Debt: $5.67 trillion (54.6% of GDP)

Bush first fiscal year 2002

Deficit: $157.8 billion (actual)

Debt: $6.228 trillion (56.6% of GDP)

Obama first fiscal year 2010

Deficit: $1.294 trillion (actual)

Debt: $13.53 trillion (89% of GDP)

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

Let’s say Groucho has two of the four correct — that Washington politics (in our lifetimes) indeed has been the art of diagnosing the trouble incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.

Certainly, the wrong fiscal remedies have been the course of action for the past 22 years. The last time our Washington lawmakers produced a budget surplus was in Bill Clinton’s final year in 2000.

Ever since the Clinton-Newt Gingrich four years of budget surpluses our subsequent presidents and Congresses have produced an unbroken trendline of ever growing deficits and debt.

As the accompanying box shows, Presidents Bush II, Obama, Trump and Biden and the Congresses from 2001 to 2023 just keep spending, spending and spending and borrowing, borrowing and borrowing. That trend can’t even be considered the well-known definition of insanity — doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Our congressional leaders from either party don’t even pretend that Congress actually will spend less money than it did the previous year — and produce different results. They just keep raising the farcical debt limit.

For Pete’s sake. How many more times are the House and Senate members going to take the country to the brink of a government shutdown, only to avert it with an agreement that just keeps the status quo?

C’mon. Americans’ eyes are totally glazed over by this ridiculous drama and charade.

Which brings us to Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Republican from Pensacola. Wherever you turn in the media, Gaetz is pilloried. Conservative commentators such as Mark Levin, Hugh Hewitt and Sean Hannity all have castigated Gaetz repeatedly. You hear Gaetz being called a flamethrowing, narcissistic lunatic and charlatan.

The flamethrowing intensified Sunday, when Gaetz announced he was going to file a motion to have Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed. Later in the day, Fox News reported House Republicans in turn were organizing to expel Gaetz. Fox quoted an unnamed member of Congress Sunday, saying: “No one can stand him at this point. A smart guy without morals.”

Now, none of us outside the D.C. bubble knows what has occurred behind closed doors in the House, in particular what Gaetz or McCarthy have said or done to each other. You read in various places that the rift between Gaetz and McCarthy is personal. Gaetz says otherwise. He contends his quest is rooted in principles.

But from observing the drama from afar, this is what we see through the looking glass: Gaetz and six to 20 other House Republicans who side with Gaetz’s positions are explicitly saying: “Enough is enough! No more of the status quo!”

Not only are they saying it, they are taking action to reverse Congress’ spendthrift, destructive behavior.

Finally, finally, someone up there is trying to change things — and not just bloviate like so many of them with their pious, meaningless words flowing like wastewater through a sewer.

“But … but,” say those who despise Gaetz. “There is a more adult and mature and respectable way to go about it.”

True. Rarely, if ever, do you succeed or gain respect if you’re constantly a grenade-throwing agitator. People write you off. The common refrain: You need to work within the system and patiently, tactfully go about building coalitions like a mature adult and statesman.

Has that worked over the past two decades?

What’s more, what Gaetz and his colleagues are fighting for are two things that we are guessing the vast majority of Americans want Congress to do:

1) Quit spending and borrowing money at unsustainable rates. Actually reduce spending.

2) Operate the way Congress is supposed to operate. The Republican-controlled House had from January until this past weekend to do both. It did neither.

To understand what happened and what spurred Gaetz to go all

WHY THEY VOTED THE WAY THEY DID

We contacted Florida’s two Republican U.S. senators and three Florida Republican House members from Florida’s west coast to ask why they voted the way they did last Saturday on the continuing resolution that prevented a government shutdown.

Of those contacted, three House members did not vote with the majority. They are:

Rep. Greg Steube, representing Sarasota County, voted against.

Rep. Byron Donalds, representing Collier and Lee counties, did not vote.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who represents Pinellas County, did not vote.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, representing Manatee County and portions of Hillsborough County, voted in favor with the majority.

Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio voted in favor of the resolution.

As of press time, we heard from Reps. Steube and Luna and Sen. Scott.

Rep. Greg Steube

“On Friday, the House attempted to pass H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act to avert a shutdown. I supported this package because it would have cut spending by 29% across the board while fully funding our veterans, homeland security and defense operations. It also would have taken historic measures to secure our southern border …

“I voted no on (the) continuing resolution … I have heard from thousands of you over the past few weeks that you elected Republicans to cut spending, secure the border and get our economy back on track.

Unfortunately, this deal does none of those things…

“I’ve always fought against wasteful spending and business as usual in Washington D.C. …

out, here is how Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, who often sides with Gaetz, explained what happened in a Sept. 28 letter to constituents:

“House Republican leaders promised that we would restore the regular process of producing a budget. That means that 12 separate bills covering the spending of the Great Leviathan, federal government, would be completed in the House by the end of June, and then forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

“Typically, there would be disagreements and then a conference committee of members from the House and Senate would get together and work out the differences.

“Speaker McCarthy boxed in himself and the Republican House by foregoing the promise of limiting spending to $1.471 trillion and allowing those addicted to the federal spending drug to ignore, manipulate and gimmick the various bills to actually spend above that level.

“A significant plurality in the House has made its position known for almost 10 months now. This could have and should have been resolved months ago. I called for a return to pre-COVID spending levels, which are lower than last year’s revenue, and would ensure we don’t add more to the national debt.

“We were told that we would work through August to resolve differences and get the bills ready to go forward. That didn’t happen.

“Before the August recess, the Speaker allowed the Military Construction and Veterans Administration bill to be voted on. We all voted for that because we want to take care of our veterans, and we were told that by the time the recess was over the other bills would be ready.

“That, too, didn’t happen.

“As it stands today (Sept. 28), my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee haven’t finished writing all 12 bills.”

Biggs went on to explain his version of what House members were about to face last Friday, when, as it turned out, Gaetz and others stopped another McCarthy proposal:

“Now, however, the Speaker is advocating for passage of just a few more bills plus a continuing resolution. And of the four bills that

“I am hopeful we can find a path forward that puts American taxpayers first and finally begins to rein in reckless, out-of-control spending that has been going on in Washington for far too long.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

Rep. Luna’s communications director, Edie Guy, wrote that Rep. Luna did not vote because she “just had a baby is currently recovering from an infection. She was told she was not allowed to vote by proxy.”

“Her position on the CR has been clear: The latest data says typical Americans are spending over $700 a month more than they were two years ago just to buy the same goods and services. That’s nearly $9,000 a year being stolen from Americans through the hidden tax of inflation.

“Rep. Luna is standing with the constituents of her district, many of whom are on fixed incomes, who

Trump first fiscal year 2018

Deficit: $779 billion (actual)

Debt: $21.5 trillion (104%)

Biden first fiscal year 2021

Deficit: $1.4 trillion

Debt: $31 trillion (123% of GDP)

he wants to bring to the floor, three actually increase spending over the current year …

“Now we are told that there is a new plan, that looks a lot like the old plan. Pass a few bills now and pass a CR. The claim is that the new CR cuts spending and requires the Biden Regime to enforce border laws.

“But instead of limiting the spending to the promised topline of $1.471 trillion, spending will be $1.526 trillion.”

That is Biggs’ version. But it gives us context as to why outspoken Gaetz has gone as far as he has to challenge McCarthy and his handling of the budget process.

Mind you, McCarthy is in a no-win situation, trying to herd 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats. Neither he nor anyone else likely could ever persuade every Republican (nor all Democrats) to side with him on how to manage and cut the federal budget.

And castigate Gaetz if you will for being what his detractors are calling a petulant child and for not showing an inch of compromising statesmanship.

But from an ordinary taxpayer’s perspective, that of taxpayers who are exasperated with Congress’ ineptitude, give Gaetz and his few so-called renegade Republican colleagues credit. For once in our lifetimes, there are a few leaders in Congress who — in spite of their disdained approach — have the courage to stand up to the status quo Establishment.

While Gaetz’s tactics would not be accepted in small businesses, corporations and other publicly visible organizations, let’s hope his disruptive ways will move the feckless, sheep-like, cowardly members of Congress to begin the process of ending the reckless spending that is deflating and destroying Americans’ standard of living.

People don’t change until they have enough pain. Perhaps Gaetz has provided the necessary pain.

“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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literally cannot afford the uniparty’s reckless spending and Bidenflation.”

Sen. Rick Scott

“I voted the way I did because 1) The disaster relief got in there; 2) We worked to make sure we were able to pass something that stopped the government shutdown; and 3) We have a path.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to get there, but we have a path now not to have an omnibus bill and a process toward spending sanity.

“We’re not going to get a balanced budget in the next 45 days, but we’re better off than we were.

“I think the American public won: 1) We don’t have a government shutdown; 2) We didn’t tie disaster relief to Ukraine aid; and 3) We now have the chance to have more fiscal sanity.”

(“Why Sen. Scott is optimistic about fiscal sanity,” go to: YourObserver.com/Opinion-Rick-Scott)

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Supply and demand

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Parking. It’s a common complaint on Longboat Key. To help address it, Public Works officials are gearing up for peak season by adding as many as 19 parking spaces to Bayfront Park.

The increasing popularity of pickleball at the public park prompted the Public Works Department to investigate ways to mitigate parking issues during peak hours.

Pickleball players won’t be the only park users benefiting. Bayfront Park provides parking for fitness classes, tennis and public beach access.

When Bayfront Park was renovated in 2017, there were a total of 60 parking spaces: 52 regular, seven accessible parking spots and one electric vehicle charging spot.

In March, six spots were added followed by three more in July. At the end of September, Public Works completed the addition of five more parking spots by the dog park.

That’s 14 new spaces, a 23% increase in parking since 2017.

“Compared to what we’re seeing in terms of these parking conflicts, we don’t ever remember 14 people circling around looking for parking spaces,” Director of Public Works Isaac Brownman said. “So we think that’s a pretty significant improvement.”

Brownman brought more good news to the commission at the Sept. 26 workshop — he received a draft lease from Frontier Communications to utilize 10-14 spots on its property, which is located near the center of Bayfront Park.

If the lease is signed, depending on the configuration of the lot, the spaces could be accessible in an estimated one to three months.

All Public Works would have to do is trim vegetation and pick up trash, but the town wouldn’t have to pay for

the parking.  Currently, the park has three courts dedicated to pickleball, with two courts shared between pickleball and tennis.

Though Brownman thinks the increase in parking will mostly solve the problem, he discussed some options to consider if the additional parking doesn’t help, or if the added parking only encourages more activity in the park.

The concept of open play is important to the social aspect of pickleball, Brownman said, which he learned while talking with the pickleball community.

Open play is when players place their paddles in a queue to determine who will play on the next available court. This allows players to meet new people.

To manage busy times, identified as 9 a.m. to noon, Brownman said four main solutions were discussed. Options would be to change open play times based on skill level, restrict open play to afternoons only or create a reservation system.

But all are less preferred than the main option, which is to re-stripe the remaining tennis court for shared use. The idea, Brownman said, is that by adding two more courts then players could cycle through quicker.

Mayor Ken Schneier and other commissioners were in favor of restriping and directed Brownman to do so once the parking was added from Frontier.

OCTOBER EVENTS

A Taste of Freedom Village Cooking Demonstration

Thursday, Oct. 12 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Senior Solutions: How Freedom Village Helps Seniors Overcome Common Issues

Welcome to Freedom Village Freedom Village is a premier Life Care senior living community that features beautiful living accommodations and a full range of health care services at our scenic 34-acre campus located in West Bradenton.

Our community provides financial security and peace of mind in a safe, friendly, and comfortable environment where daily living is stress-free, and friendships come easily. Simply stated, we take care of our residents for life.

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from senior living in our community, please join us for a free luncheon to learn more. RSVPs are required by calling 941-231-7434

6406 21st Ave W | Bradenton, FL 34209 | FVBradenton.com

Thursday, Oct. 19 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Friendship Lunch Table for Widows, Widowers, Singles

Tuesday, Oct. 24 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Director’s Roundtable: Benefits of Worry-free Living at our Life Care Community

Thursday, Oct. 26 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 411288-1

More parking spots and shared courts are coming to Bayfront Park this season.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22

WRONG HOUSE

9:25 p.m., 600 block of Bayport Way

Suspicious Incident: A concerned friend noticed someone on the back porch of a resident’s unit and called the police to check things out. Upon arrival, Longboat Key police weren’t able to see anyone in the unit but contacted the neighbor. The neighbor stated he had been standing on his back porch. Police contacted the owner of the original unit, who said her friend must have mistaken the two units. After calling the friend, it was determined she had been mistaken.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

FOUND DOG

2:22 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Animal Complaint: Police were contacted by a man concerned about a dog running around in traffic. The man was able to get the dog into his car, but the officer said he wasn’t able to take custody of the dog. The officer suggested the man keep the dog at the Bayfront Park dog park until animal services arrived. Sarasota County Animal Services was on call and sent someone to pick up the dog.

MANATEE COMMOTION

5:48 p.m., 6300 block of Gulfside Road Citizen Assist: Two Longboat Key officers were flagged down by several people reporting a possible injured manatee. The officers investigated the situation and found a group of manatees in shallow water. The behavior of the manatee group

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

ENJOYING THE BEACH

6:40 p.m., 3200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious Incident: An officer was dispatched to respond to a caller who reported people trespassing on the beach. When the officer arrived, there were multiple people on the public area of the beach, but no one was trespassing. The caller was notified that no crime was being

TUESDAY, SEPT. 26

WORKING OVERTIME

6:25 p.m., 600 block of Buttonwood Drive Noise Complaint: A Longboat resident called police to report noisy construction after hours. On scene, the crew was packing up for the day and the responding officer asked if they were aware of the town ordinance. The worker said he was unaware. The responding officer then contacted the owner of the construction company, which was installing a fence on the property. A written warning was issued for the noise violation.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 27

TURTLE TROUBLES

was similar to that of the mating manatees seen around the island, but none appeared to be injured, according to the officers.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 24

SUSPICIOUS NOISE

1:10 a.m., 200 block of North Shore Road

Suspicious Incident: A resident reported hearing a loud noise inside her residence. An officer responded and checked inside and around the residence, but all seemed secure.

Blessing Animals

Where: Front entrance of Temple Beth Israel. Free parking in both lots: 563/567 Bay Isles Rd., Longboat Key, FL 34228

Cost: FREE & Open to Community

Blessings will be led by Rabbi Stephen Sniderman of Temple Beth Israel, and Reverend David Marshall of All Angels Church. �e�erend �a��d �ar��all

MONDAY, SEPT. 25

ROAD RAGE REPORT

10:30 a.m., Bay Isles Parkway Citizen Dispute: Police were dispatched to a reported dispute between a man and woman, but neither was on the scene when the officers arrived. An officer made contact with the woman, who said she had gotten into a road rage incident with a man in a white pickup. Due to the confrontation, she called the police to have the incident documented.

“This is me, Danee in both pictures. I know my program works because I’ve done it myself. I lost 28 pounds, went from size 12 to

“Thisisme,Daneein bothpictures. I know myprogramworks becauseI’vedoneit myself. I lost28pounds, wentfromsize12to size6ANDkeptitofffor over 15 years! Letmehelpyou.It’s easierthanyouthink!”

3:48 p.m., 3400 block of Harbourside Drive Animal Complaint: Dispatch asked a Longboat Key officer to respond to an animal problem, called in as a turtle on the roadway. As the officer was en route, dispatch called again to inform the officer that the turtle had been removed from the road and moved to safety. The call was canceled.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28

FALSE ALARM

4:12 a.m., 700 block of Broadway Street Alarm: An activated burglary alarm in the kitchen of a restaurant prompted police response. Upon arrival, the officer checked all doors and windows, but no sign of forced entry was seen. No cars were around.

poundsin30days poundsin30days poundsin30days poundsin30days poundsin30days poundsin30days poundsin30days poundsin30days

Take

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First Physicians Group Welcomes Kristen Walker, MD

We are pleased to welcome a new cardiovascular surgeon to the First Physicians Group network. Dr. Walker specializes in cardiovascular and complex aortic surgery including endovascular procedures and surgical treatment of aortic valve disease, mitral valve disease, coronary artery disease, aneurysms, heart tumors, and pericardial disease.

Specialty: Cardiovascular Surgery

Board Certifications:

American Board of Surgery –Surgery and Surgical Critical Care Medical School:

Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA

Internship & Residency: Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA

Fellowship: Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, GA, and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Now

Thrifty treasures

The Lord’s Warehouse reopens with new wares for the season.

After a monthlong break, the Lord’s Warehouse Thrift Store at the Longboat Island Chapel opened for business again on Oct. 2.

People arrived early and formed a line outside the shop 30 minutes before its opening.

During the month of September, the store closed to rearrange for the season. Entering October, the store is back to its normal hours. The store is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The month we close always feels like the longest month,” said Karen Pashkow, the Monday manager of the store. “We miss everyone so much, so it feels great to be back and

open for business.”

The Lord’s Warehouse collects all clothing, furniture, decorations, paintings, etc.  Pashkow said that it is the place

to find anything that people might need. The proceeds go to funding the chapel, Mount Carmel Resources Center, Stillpoint House of Prayer and Turning Point.

“In September, we pull out things that have been here too long or are just ready to move on,” said Pashkow. “One of the charities that the church works with is Mount Carmel Resource Center. And they work a lot with the Palmetto Sheriff’s Department. There’s a program there to help these people that are coming out of jail or homeless people get back on their feet. So for them, we were able to pack up two vans full of stuff during the month of September. It was amazing.”

Pashkow said that her favorite thing about volunteering at the Lord’s Warehouse is the community that has been formed. Most of the volunteers have been working at the shop for multiple years, and regulars come at least once a week in search of new thrift treasures.

Elaine and Keith Hamilton always stop by the Lord’s Warehouse on their trips to Longboat Key from London. Elaine said that it is such a hidden gem but that it is so worth it

to see what they can find. She loves being able to see her favorite volunteers and finding keepsakes to take back home.

The Lord’s Warehouse also has its regular furry friends that visit whenever they can stop by. The Rev. Brock Patterson always brings his dog Pippa for a treat and to say hello to all the customers.

Stopping by the Lord’s Warehouse for a quick thrift trip is never a bad idea. Pashkow said that they can always expect lots of laughter and friendship while treasure hunting at the shop.

Take Advantage of these Limited

Our vision is everyone deserves a decent place to live.

“The month we close always feels like the longest month. We miss everyone so much, so it feels great to be back and open for business.”

— Karen Pashkow, manager

Vacation rental ordinance on verge of going citywide

minimum stay of seven nights.

“You have a solid code requirement of seven days and seven nights, That is the issue,” said City Manager Marlon Brown, referring to a map that shows vacation rentals operating throughout the city. “If you look at the map, you will see the number of properties that are not compliant.”

Following a 4-1 vote on first reading, it appears a citywide expansion of Sarasota’s vacation rental ordinance is inevitable.

During the city commissioners’ discussion at Monday’s meeting, though, Vice Mayor Liz Alpert sounded the following warning for residents of established mainland neighborhoods.

Don’t expect a requirement to register homes used for short-term rentals and fees to make them to go away. And, don’t expect the ordinance to make wholesale improvements to disruptions of an otherwise peaceful quality of life.

“This doesn’t prevent anybody from having a vacation rental,” Alpert said. “The only thing it adds is the layer of the registration and a designated person to call, and I think that’s a good thing. I think it’s a good thing to have inspections and certain safety requirements for businesses.”

For the most part, they are businesses, and that they operate on neighborhood streets has resulted in a steady flow of complaints to staff and commissioners. With more than 700 homes operating as vacation rentals either part-time or full-time in the city, staff told commissioners Monday that subjecting them to registrations, renewals, inspections, taxes and fees puts them in the city’s database and helps assist in regulatory enforcement.

Chief among the regulations is a

Erik Arroyo, the lone commissioner to dissent, said he wasn’t convinced expanding the ordinance would solve any of the problems voiced by residents.

“These are not mega corporations,” Arroyo said of mainland vacation rentals. “If you had an LLC-owned property, I completely understand that. But that’s just not the vast majority of the short-term rentals, and an ordinance that was intended to be regulatory for hotel houses, which were a very big problem, has turned into an ordinance that targets short-term rentals in general, which are not what we’re talking about.”

Implementing the expansion will come at a cost, likely upwards of three new staff members to register and inspect properties and monitor regulatory compliance. A new fee schedule for vacation rentals was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Arroyo opposed, on first reading. In the likely event it is approved on second reading, staff estimates the program should pay for itself. If not, future adjustments may be made.

Staff estimated the program would cost $315,874 per year. That includes adding three new employees at current staff salary plus Granicus, the web-crawling software used by the city to identify properties operating as short-term rental. Currently the cost to the city is $130,689 to register, inspect and monitor approximately 140 properties on the barrier islands within the city limit.

Commissioners were in agreement that the fee structure will need to be revisited to ensure all associated fees

Although not unanimous, city commissioners approved expanding regulation of short-term rentals to the mainland.

cover the city’s cost should the firstyear projections of $88,000 in revenue over expenses change over time.

“The taxpayer should not be bearing the burden of this cost,” said Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch.

“However in my discussions with staff, because we don’t know how many and what it’s going to look like as far as registration goes, in an abundance of caution of overdoing it they explained that what they want to do is the first year we’ll have that $88,000 and then we can monitor it every year thereafter. And if it looks like we’re going to be in trouble and the citizens will bear that cost we can go back and change those fees.”

City faces Harris Act challenge from Lido Key vacation rentals

Owners of three properties allege loss in appraised value over capacity restrictions.

ANDREW WARFIELD STAFF WRITER

Some speakers during public comment expressed concern that the ordinance would target owneroccupied homes with rooms for rent. Koch assured they are not the subject of the ordinance.

“We all know the feedback we’ve been getting from all the neighborhoods in the city about the impact these hotel houses have been having not only on the barrier islands, but throughout all of the neighborhoods,” Ahearn-Koch said. “I just want to be crystal clear about what it is not. It’s not homeowner-occupied Airbnbs. It’s really, targeted at the ones that are really impacting our neighborhoods and their quality of life.”

During public comment period, Lido Key resident Carl Shoffstall told commissioners decisions in the past have “destroyed” the beach community. Alpert later explained that cities are exempted from prohibiting vacations rentals by state statute, with the only local authority granted to regulate them.

“I think people speaking today and people who have been writing about this think this is going to stop them from coming,” Alpert said. “If there’s a market for it, people are going to do it. It’s not going to stop vacation rentals. It just may help in the enforcement and that’s the only thing.”

Before city commissioners discussed expanding the vacation rental ordinance citywide on Monday, they heard from City Attorney Robert Fournier about potential legal challenges to the existing ordinance applied to the barrier islands.

The owners of three vacation rental homes, all under separate limited liability corporations, allege loss of property values because of occupancy restrictions in the ordinance. All three have a principal address of 1144 Tallevast Road, Suite 109110. Authorized parties are John Hutchins of Casto Vacation Properties of Lakewood Ranch, and Adam Mott and Jennifer Mott of Bradenton.

The challenge falls under the Bert Harris Act, the 1995 legislation that created a cause of action for aggrieved property owners who demonstrate that governmental action “inordinately burdens” property and provided a formal process for resolving differences between land owners and governments.

All three homes are on Lido Key.

Two of them — 234 Grant Drive and 209 Garfield Drive — are zoned multifamily, which under the ordinance caps overnight occupancy at 12 people or two per bedroom, whichever is less, plus two additional persons. One home at 24 N. Polk Drive is zoned single family, where occupancy is limited to 10 people or two per bedroom, plus two additional persons.

All three properties can accommodate 16 and the restrictions, the owners claim, have resulted in dimin-

ished property value — collectively $4.56 million. Those valuations are based on appraisals.

Commissioners voted unanimously to defend the ordinance, if it comes to that.

“There could be some basis for an argument that there’s no loss of value,” Fournier said. “I can’t get into what that is and I’m not qualified to say. I’m just aware that potentially there is some basis for that.”

Fournier told commissioners their options include a settlement agreement brought forth by the owners that will permit them to operate at their capacity in exchange for a higher level of scrutiny; let the matter go to court; or offer a settlement to allow them to operate at capacity with a step-down over three years until meeting ordinance compliance.

“I would want to defend it. At the same time, I don’t know if there’s been any research on the pricing models and the valuation models for a six-bedroom house on Lido,” said Commissioner Debbie Trice.

Vice Mayor Liz Alpert offered a contrarian viewpoint.

“I think that the best regulation is what we’re doing in terms of having them register and having somebody to call if there is a problem,” she said.

“I don’t know how the difference between whether you have four more people or two more people is going to change that fact. They still would have to follow all of those regulations.”

Fournier suggested commissioners consider a counter-offer that would demonstrate a good-faith negotiation should the matter go to court. That could go a long way toward shielding the city from opposing counsel fees, or even allow the city to recover its own fees should it prevail.

Commissioners agreed to offer operating for three years at their capacity of 16, under the additional scrutiny measures, before coming into compliance with the ordinance.

TheRev.Dr.NormanPritchard

The Rev. Dr.Norman

Men’sBibleStudy:Monday@9:00

Women’sBibleStudy:Wednesday@10:00

Visitors&ResidentsWelcome

WatchOur10:00AMServiceLive: www.bit.ly/cclbksermonsor www.christchurchoflbk.org

S INGERS I NVITED F OR M ESSIAH

WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THIS JOYOUS EVENT. LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED CHORAL SINGERS. ALL VOICES

• Rehearsals are every Monday evening, 8:00 PM until 8:30 PM, starting October 16.

• Dress rehearsal is Saturday, December 9, 1:00 PM, with orchestra.

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 presentation is Sunday, December 10, 10:00 AM at our regular Sunday Service.

• You will be provided with the score and a teaching CD with your part on it.

• Contact Robert Romanski, Director of Music at: Robertromanski157@gmail.com

“The only thing it adds is the layer of the registration and a designated person to call, and I think that’s a good thing. I think it’s a good thing to have inspections and certain safety requirements for businesses.”

— Liz Alpert, vice mayor

YOUR NEIGHBORS

A VISUAL FEAST

The St. Armands Art Festival featured accomplished artists from around the world.

St. Armands was packed with art lovers roaming the Circle on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, as they enjoyed a newly added weekend of the St. Armands Circle Art Festival. From watercolor paintings to sculptures to clothing, the weekend showcased the vibrant community of artists in the area.

Leigh Engh just moved to the area and was fascinated by the wide variety of things to see at the festival.

“This was better than I expected. I thought it was just supposed to be a craft festival, so I was a little bit surprised. There is so much to see, so many star artists just waiting to be discovered.”

Here are a few of the outstanding artists whose work was shown at the St. Armands Art Festival.

ALFRED ADOBE

Growing up in Ghana, Africa, Alfred Adobe’s artwork was inspired by his childhood. His father was a sculptor who encouraged him to use anything in his environment to express himself through art. He now lives in Suwanee, Georgia.

“We grew up playing with sawdust and making sandcastles with it,” said Adobe. “I started using it for my influence about 28 years ago. I use it in different ways, like using different adhesive, molding it into different shapes and finishing different styles. This time I finished it with metallic colors which makes it look even better.”

Each art piece displayed at the festival is made completely out of sawdust. He said he loves to make art in an eco-friendly way and it motivates him to work hard to make all his work extra special.

APRIL DAVIS

A longtime art festival artist, April Davis originally was a biology major in college but switched to art after being encouraged by a high school art teacher. She has been an artist for 40 years and has been doing festivals for 20 years.

Davis specializes in landscape paintings, with a variety from lush tropical landscapes to vivid cityscape recreations. She has a gallery in Jupiter, Florida.

She also has taught at the University of Pittsburgh on topics such as

oil painting, watercolor, drawing and design. She received the teaching excellence award for her time there.

“St. Armands Circle is so special, because it gets not only the local people but it gets lots of tourists,” said Davis. “It’s usually a very sophisticated art-buying crowd, which is nice. So I think it was great that they added this extra date in the festival scene.”

LOOKING FOR VIP TREATMENT?

ALINA EYDEL

Originally from Ukraine, Alina Eydel focuses on creating work based on her spirituality. She hopes to provide meditative processes that represent love, health and gratitude through her paintings. Her art featured at the festival is uniquely made out of butterflies sustainably farmed in developing countries.

“After the butterflies die within one to 14 days after emerging from the chrysalis, the farmers collect and sell the insects instead of poaching them or logging the valuable rainforest,” said Elizabeth Dashiell, from Palm Beach Public Relations.

Eydel now lives in Naples and is a frequent artist at the festivals.

JONATHAN HERBERT

“I just take dictation from God. This is God’s paintbrush,” said Jonathan Herbert.

Originally from New York, Herbert now lives in Sarasota and has been in the art world for 50 years.

He focuses on using art to process past traumas and show the world what he is feeling deep down.

Herbert’s most recent paintings are created with alchemical acrylic and urethane paint on a canvas. He makes his paints from scratch.

This was his debut in the art festival world after sticking strictly to displaying his art in galleries.

“I’m so excited to be talking to people and not leaving it to some other person to sell. This is the perfect way to meet new people in the area and share my creativity and art.”

“It was just supposed to be a craft festival, so I was a little bit surprised. There is so much to see, so many star artists just waiting to be discovered.”

— Leigh Engh

The power of food

HEALTHY EATING

Five days and a green smoothie. That’s all it took for Kimberly Knox to realize food is the most important medicine.

In the early 2000s, Knox was working at her marketing company when she started to notice signs in her body of fatty liver disease.

“I had signs of getting a little bit of fatty liver, just because I was eating more than I was doing things. And

it only takes a small amount to start messing your body up.”

She realized that she had to change her diet completely and stop eating processed foods to stay healthy and live a long life.

Knox grew up with a love for cooking and fresh foods on a farm in Vermont. After research on the power of healthy eating, Knox discovered the power of the green smoothie five-day cleanse in 2010. This green smoothie taught her that rebuilding your diet with only simple and organic ingredients, such as those in

To learn more about Knox’s book, five-day program and other services: In the Kitchen with Kimberly Knox: 754-235-1322, InTheKitchenWithKK.com, KK@InTheKitchenWithKK.com Holistic Healing and Wellness Center: 595 Bay Isles Road, 941-867-0346, MedgeJaspan. com, HolisticHealingLBK@ gmail.com

the smoothie, will change a person’s energy, health and lifestyle.

“When I started doing the green smoothie, the whole technique that I

teach on my first day is called hypernourishment to the cells in your body,” said Knox. “It means the cells are getting healthy because the cells know exactly what to do. They just need the tools.”

Feeling inspired, Knox went back to school at the age of 50 at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and completed advanced certifications in hormone health. She moved to Sarasota in 2015 and is now a certified integrative health coach and organic bioenergetic chef. Her mission is to help people rebuild their diets with only clean organic ingredients and remove processed foods that don’t provide energy to the body.

Knox partners with the Holistic Healing and Wellness Center of Longboat Key to teach the importance of eating only clean and organic food. She held several cooking classes there that connect to the energycentric mission of the center.

Knox said that this lifestyle change wasn’t possible without learning the science behind the importance of eating clean.

“I used to be falling asleep at the wheel,” said Knox. “This was 10 years ago. So what was going on there? It’s cortisol; it’s insulin. It’s all of these things with sugar and carbohydrates and processed foods. It’s all the toxins. Because there’s toxins in the food that start to affect the cell. The mitochondria is where you’re going to get energy. That’s if it’s working. The insulin has to make the energy from the glucose. So if insulin is resistant, meaning we’ve been eating so much sugar, now the insulin says ‘Forget it; I’m done.’ Because the body doesn’t really like being high insulin, and we’re always feeding, feeding, feeding. So the cell always gets inflamed.”

“Simple Cooking for Vitality” is Knox’s guide to learning the reason-

ing behind eating clean and how to do that with different recipes. The book was self-published in 2021 and is available on her website or as an e-book on Amazon.

“My book is a humble creation of how I learned about health and how things turned around when the light bulbs came on,” said Knox. “When I was going to natural doctors for a while and they said, ‘You need to stay away from processed food.’ And I thought I ate pretty healthy but how do you actually do that? The book focuses on removing the inflammatory factors of the body.”

Knox provides a variety of services for clients. She usually performs an assessment of their diet and daily lifestyle first and then creates a plan to modify them where needed.

She said the most important thing when it comes to her clients is education and accountability. Knox educates them on the importance of clean food and what it does to their body, teaches them how to personally include it in their lives and then checks in on them as they go on their healthy eating journey.

Knox also has a five-day program that provides the basics and background on everything she does. She said this is the most affordable way to make use of her services.

“When I coach people, it’s going to be cooking and coaching,” said Knox. “I do a four-session program. And then I continue checking in because you need accountability. You can’t just tell me you’re going to do something. And it’s not a diet. Diets are built to fail. This is a lifestyle, a change that comes in slowly and your body adjusts to it.”

The first Lunch and Learn hosted by Knox will be Oct. 27 at the Healing and Wellness Center of Longboat Key. She will provide guests with a natural food spread and then show them how to make chicken salad using simple and organic ingredients.

“People have so much power; they don’t realize their health is so involved in what they’re eating every day,” said Knox. “They are fully empowered over their health. So what I want people to know is they have so much power in their hands for their health. And that clean food is all the body. The healing property of food is so everything.”

“My book is a humble creation of how I learned about health and how things turned around when the light bulbs came on.”

— Kimberly Knox

FL 34236

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Stewards of service

The Kiwanis Club honored the Walsh family with a surprise community service award.

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key held a special reception to honor the Walsh family on Sept. 28 at the Paradise Center.

Kiwanis President Michael Garey said this reception has been in the works for months because the Walshes are highly requested speakers for the club. He explained their hard work and dedication to Longboat Key has provided a great service to the community and continues to inspire many.

Emily Walsh, president of the Observer Media Group, came as a representative of her family while they grieve the death of her mother, Lisa Walsh.

“One of my first memories of living on Longboat was dad dragging me to Kiwanis when you guys would meet at the Colony at 7:30 in the morning,” said Walsh at the reception. “For a teenager, I didn’t want to go to some breakfast at 7:30 in the morning before I go to school, but those were great memories looking back, along with the pancake breakfast and going to lawn parties for years. So you all in the Longboat Key Kiwanis club are near and dear members of our family.”

Guests mingled, drank and ate hors d’oeuvres provided by the Lazy Lobster. Walsh spoke about her family and the company’s history, how the Observer is doing now and the company’s future goals.

Many guests expressed their love for the paper and applauded Walsh for the success and affect her family has on the island. Susan Phillips, assistant to the town manager, said

that Walsh reminds her of Lisa Walsh and will carry on her legacy gracefully.

After Walsh finished speaking, Garey and new president Chris Sachs surprised Walsh with a gift from the Kiwanis Club to show their appreciation. They awarded the Walsh family the LBK Kiwanis Community Service Award to commemorate the Walshes’ dedication to Longboat Key.

“Our club is extremely grateful for the incredible contribution that the Observer Media Group has made in our community and statewide,” said Garey, concluding the reception. “Being here back in the day in 1995, I remember when they bought that paper. And it has grown extensively. So we wanted to share our congratulations on your amazing success.”

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Color Paths

Liz Cole’s two-month art show “Color Paths” is on display at All Angels By The Sea Episcopal Church.

It opened on Sept. 28 and will be displayed for viewing until Nov. 29.

Cole’s collection is a colorful mix of acrylic and handmade collage paintings. The layers of color and pattern provide a rich surface that invites viewers to wander about, explore and find their favorite inlets in her whimsical narratives, she said.  She calls paintings like these “memory shots” — inspired by her favorite moments from her travels from around the world.

“I am from Ohio, and this kind of collection wouldn’t be as appealing to people in Ohio because they have winter, and they decorate with neu trals down here,” said Cole. “People love color here in Florida as part of the environment, and that’s a much bigger market. It also fits into the way I work, which is to tell stories and it’s like a color quilt that I put together.”

Cole has a bachelor’s in paint ing from Ohio University, a master’s degree in art education and a doctor ate in higher education from the University of Toledo. She spent 22 years at University of Toledo in a variety of roles, including director of the art education program, chair of the department of art and associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.

In 1978, Cole co-founded the early childhood program at the Toledo Museum of Art. She then worked as the associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University and retired in 2005.

Carol Doenecke, a member of All Angels, discovered Cole while art gallery hopping. An artist herself, Doenecke was amazed by Cole’s work and decided that it would be perfect for the church.

Doenecke and other artists have displayed their work at All Angels.

She said it is great exposure for artists and can help with making connections in the art world.

Doenecke is excited for her fellow church members to see Cole’s art. She hopes that it will liven up their day and give them something to think about.

“This area is a very rich community for artists with great opportunities, like how I met Carol here,” said Cole. “There’s a lot of clientele, which you don’t get in other big cities, so I’m just so grateful to be able to have this amazing opportunity and have good support from other artists like me.”

Cole will hold a reception for her show on Nov. 5, where she hopes to meet more community members and share insights into her paintings.

“People love color here in Florida as part of the environment, and that’s a much bigger market. It also fits into the way I work, which is to tell stories and it’s like a color quilt that I put together.”

— Liz Cole

Bird Key home tops sales at $2.55 million

Ahome on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Ann Weber, trustee, of Sarasota, sold the home at 632 Mourning Dove Drive to Michael Canney and Diane Canney, trustees, of Leesburg, Virginia, for $2.55 million. Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,743 square feet of living area. It sold for $485,000 in 1992.

CONRAD BEACH

Bart and April Richert, of College Grove, Tennessee, sold their home at 311 Firehouse Court to Victor Francis Gayle and Susan Gayle, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $2,495,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,352 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.95 million in February.

COUNTRY CLUB SHORES

Castleco LLC sold the home at 549 Yawl Lane to Yawl Lane 549 LLC for $2 million. Built in 1966, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,702 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.6 million in 2022.

SEA GATE CLUB

Ted and Sharon Sowder, of Clear Creek, Indiana, sold their Unit 6-A condominium at 2425 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Lindsey Bovinet and Pam Patterson, of Longboat Key, for $1,695,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,513 square feet of living area. It sold for $640,000 in 2017.

BIRD KEY

404 Pheasant Way LLC sold the home at 404 Pheasant Way to RJJM LLC for $1.5 million. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 1,840 square feet of living area. It sold for $730,000 in 2020.

SUNSET BEACH

Edward and Vivian Rabin, trustees, of Westport, Connecticut, sold the Unit 1203 condominium at 2109 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Steven Michael Gmyr and Suzanne Joan

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS SEPT. 18-22

Gmyr, of San Marcos, California, for $1.1 million. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,463 square feet of living area. It sold for $645,000 in 2002.

BEACHPLACE

Michael and Judith Brostoff, of Highland Park, Illinois, sold their Unit 305 condominium at 1085 Gulf of Mexico Drive to C. Richard West, of Longboat Key, for $995,000. Built in 1981, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,819 square feet of living area. It sold for $483,000 in 2002.

ISLANDER CLUB OF LONGBOAT

Kenneth Ageloff and Scott Ageloff, trustees, of New York City, sold the Unit 52-N condominium at 2301 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Emmanuel Turcotte and Jayanti Govindjt, of

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

Sarasota, for $850,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,235 square feet of living area. It sold for $179,000 in 1991.

SANDS POINT Matthew Greer Brittain, of Sarasota, sold his Unit 225 condominium at 100 Sands Point Road to Terry

Harter Fleming, trustee, of Longboat Key, for $750,000. Built in 1966, it has one bedroom, two baths and 1,492 square feet of living area. It sold for $425,000 in 2021.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11

VET’S CANTEEN

1-2 p.m. at the Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. U.S. Veterans are invited to connect, relax, share and support one another at this event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Longboat Key. Free admission. Walkins welcome. Call 383-6493.

FOUNDATION TRAINING

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Paradise Center resident chiropractor Dr. Rhett Bogacz will teach Foundation Training this month. It focuses on how to manage tension in the body and use the breath to expand from the inside. The class helps people improve their range of motion, balance and stability. Cost is $15; free for members. Call 383-6493.

RECURRING EVENTS

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 3836493.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE

The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to noon at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays. 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 383-2011.

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

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

FLYING SCOT FLEET RACING

At 5:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway. This is a club event for Flying Scot Fleet 36, so sailors can enjoy their Flying Scots and the camaraderie of friends. If you aren’t already a Flying Scot sailor, drop by and they’ll find a crew spot for you. Call 388-2355.

Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road.

Debby 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 Amy@ 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 203-6054066 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 3836493.

MARIACHI MUSIC

From 5:30-8:30 p.m. at La Villa Mexican Grill, 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Enjoy dinner and a serenade by Mariachi Contemporaneo. Call 383-8033.

NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH

FORECAST

SUNRISE

/

Jenelle Alber took this photo of the afterglow of a sunset off Whitney Beach on Longboat Key.

High: 86 Low: 76

Chance of rain: 6%

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

High: 86 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 8%

SUNDAY, OCT. 8

High: 81 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 3%

MOON PHASES

Highs Lows Thursday, Oct. 5 3:06a 12:39p Friday, Oct. 6 3:56a 2:00p Saturday, Oct. 7 5:17a 11:28p 3:15p Sunday, Oct. 8 7:22a 11:15p 1:55a 4:13p Monday, Oct. 9 9:00a 11:22p 3:47a 4:57p Tuesday, Oct. 10 10:06a 11:31p 4:44a 5:33p Wednesday, Oct. 11 10:58a 11:39p 5:27a 6:02p Oct. 14 New Oct. 28 Full Oct. 21 First Nov. 5 Last Sunrise Sunset Thursday, Oct. 5 7:24a 7:11p Friday, Oct. 6 7:24a 7:10p Saturday, Oct. 7 7:25a 7:09p Sunday, Oct. 8 7:25a 7:08p Monday, Oct. 9 7:26a 7:07p Tuesday, Oct. 10 7:26a 7:06p Wednesday, Oct. 11 7:27a 7:05p

WEATHER

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