Longboat Observer 8.8.24

YOUR TOWN

Rehab and release

Save Our Seabirds recently released an osprey at Bayfront Park, marking a success story made possible by a collaborative network.

In June, SOS received a call about an injured osprey that was near the main road by the New Pass Bridge. The osprey was unable to fly, and the Longboat Key Police Department arrived on scene to help keep the osprey off the road and out of harm’s way until SOS arrived.

SOS volunteer rescuers Ray and Heather Sellers arrived to meet with the caller and the responding officer. The team was able to rescue the bird and transport it to the SOS facility to be evaluated and rehabilitated.

The osprey spent a month at SOS receiving rehabilitative care, and then was cleared to be released back in the

Have a seat

The Paradise Center continues to keep Longboaters in their seats with new classes.

Program Manager Debby Debile started teaching chair yoga at the center in August.

Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga practiced while sitting on a chair or using a chair for support. It offers the option of mobility and stability to be accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels.

The class focuses on flexibility, stress relief and improving overall wellness. Debile said she wanted to offer this class to encourage more movement in people’s lives who thought they couldn’t do exercise classes because of health issues.

Chair yoga at the Center is from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every Wednesday. It is free for members and $15 for nonmembers. Call 383-6493 or visit TheParadiseCenter.org for any questions.

New committee for Commissioner Bishop

This will be Bishop’s first year on the Resolutions Committee, which sets the FLC’s legislative priorities.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Longboat Key Commissioner-

At-Large BJ Bishop was recently appointed to serve the Florida League of Cities’ Resolutions Committee, which is tasked with setting the league’s legislative priorities.

The FLC is an organization that acts as a unified voice for local municipalities across the state, according to its website. Local municipal officials from more than 400 cities work with the league in various committees tasked with sharing ideas and sometimes attempting to advocate for or against legislation.

The Resolutions Committee appointment is a new one for Bishop, though she has been an active member of the FLC for years prior.

Bishop has been on the Longboat Key Town Commission for a little more than four years and was on the Planning and Zoning Board for 15 years before that. During her time as a town commissioner, Bishop has served on several of the FLC’s legislative policy committees.

Aside from the new appointment, Bishop is a part of three policy committees this year: Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works; Public Policy Administration; and Federal Action Strike Team.

Bishop said that FLC President Greg Ross asked her to come on board the committee this year. The committee comprises roughly 30 members.

The Resolutions Committee is one of the league’s overarching committees that prioritizes the league’s resolutions for the upcoming legislative year. Bishop said the separate policy committees will all recommend specific legislation to prioritize and submit those recommendations to the Resolutions Committee to select the most important.

Bishop will head to Hollywood for the first meeting of this committee on Aug. 15. The committee will reconvene in October.

Though it’s still early in the process, Bishop said she thinks issues of home rule, short-term rentals and land-use interference will be prominent.

“There are so many issues that keep coming back year after year,” Bishop said. “Home rule issues are always huge.”

Bishop has also historically been an advocate for home rule, which is the ability of a local municipality to address local issues with minimal state interference. For advocacy efforts in the past legislative session, Bishop was awarded a Home Rule Hero award from the FLC, along with Mayor Ken Schneier and District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold.

Courtesy

image Commissioner-At-Large BJ Bishop and Scott Dudley with the Florida League of Cities Advocacy Committee.

The town’s new digital budget book breaks down info into easy-to-read charts, like this one on population.

Transparent town tech

The Digital Budget Book allows citizens to see more details about the town’s budget, departments and demographics.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Interested in diving further into the town’s fiscal year budget?

The town of Longboat Key recently launched its first Digital Budget Book through a platform called ClearGov. According to the town’s website, staff with the Finance Department were working for a year on the digital tool for citizens.

This digital budget “provides a comprehensive, transparent and easy-to-understand overview of the Town’s finances,” according to a public notice from the town.

A general overview at the start of the digital budget gives citizens insights into the town’s history and current demographics. Some data here includes things like the daytime population of about 9,051, which represents the number of people coming to or leaving the island for work, entertainment, shopping or other activities during a workday.

It also shows an estimate of the population by age group, which is mainly in the range of 65 to 84 years old.

In the digital budget, citizens can see specifics about the overall budget, fund summaries, debt, capital improvements and a detailed overview of each department.

Included in these breakdowns are charts and graphs for fiscal year 2025. In FY2025, the town is expecting $23.12 million in revenue for the general fund, which is a 9.4% increase from the previous year, according to the digital budget. General fund expenditures are expected to be around $24.63 million, a decrease of 4.2% from last year.

Graphs present the budget in new formats, like the “Total Funding Requested by Department,” which divides the total $79 million requested to the different departments and town areas. This number includes carryover from the previous fiscal year.

Department breakdowns include some specifics of what each department does, department objectives, an organizational flow chart as well as expenditure summaries from FY2020 to FY2025. The expenditure summaries also divide the expenditures by operating expenditures, personnel services and grants and aids.

To explore the Digital Budget Book for FY2025, visit the town’s website then go to “Town Government,” “Departments,” “Finance” and click “Annual Budgets” to find the FY2025 information at the top of the page.

Storied past, future-focused

Bird Key Yacht Club’s new building will be hurricane-resilient and compliant with federal regulations.

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Before Bird Key had a yacht club, it had a castle.

New Edzell Castle was built in 1914 on the site that now hosts the Bird Key Yacht Club, which opened its doors to its first members in 1960.

Now the club’s leadership is eyeing another transformation.

Club leaders have renderings in hand for a state-of-the-art new club building, which will be hurricaneresilient and compliant with federal regulations. The rebuild will also offer the opportunity to evolve with its membership demographic.

“It’s kind of honoring the footprint that we’ve had for the last 65 years, but, again, just modernizing it and really capturing all the different aspects of what our new membership wants,” BKYC General Manager Tammy Hackney said.

STORIED PAST

The current leadership of BKYC — Commodore Michael Landis, Vice Commodore Tony Britt and Hackney — is well aware that the island’s history played a big part in shaping the yacht club for the past 60 years.

“The history, I think, kind of grounds us and gives us a sense as this little club in this little location that has really been intertwined with Sarasota history for a long time,” Britt said.

The five-acre plot of land that is now BKYC began its story in 1905. Back then, Bird Key was a 12.8-acre island. After Davie Worcester from Ohio visited the island in 1905 and fell in love with it, her husband, Thomas Worcester, purchased the island, according to “Gulf Coast Chronicles” by Jeff LaHurd.

In 1906, the island fetched $2 an acre. Thomas Worcester purchased the whole island of Bird Key for about $25.

The couple then began dredging the island to expand it while also raising it about three feet. Still, the island was only accessible by boat at the time.

A few years later, in 1911, the Worcesters began building what would become New Edzell Castle, but Davie Worcester died in 1912, two years prior to the castle’s completion, according to LaHurd’s “Gulf Coast Chronicles.”

The home took about three years to build and cost around $100,000. According to Sarasota History Alive, the home was one of the grandest in Sarasota with electric lighting and gas — rarities in the 1920s.

In the early 1920s, John Ringling purchased the whole island, and three years later constructed the first bridge to connect Bird Key to the mainland.

The island was sold again in 1959, this time to Arthur Vining Davis and the Arvida Corp., according to “The Rise of Sarasota: Ken Thompson and the Rebirth of Paradise” by Jeff LaHurd.

Arvida’s intention was to expand the island to 511 lots — 291 of which would be on the water, plus a yacht club. Lot prices at the time were estimated between $9,000 and $32,000.

Arvida’s plan also included extensive dredging to increase the island by about 10 times its original size, according to Sarasota History Alive.

Arvida also had a plan for New Edzell Castle, which was situated on the island’s premier spot.

The castle was transformed into BKYC, which opened in the 1960s.

At the time of its grand opening, BKYC was 6,850 square feet with a marina for 40 boats.

BKYC also was one of the 13 founding members of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, which now has 36 affiliated clubs across the state.

Aside from a few renovations, the structure has remained, but will soon be transformed again.

FUTURE FOCUS

Around the neighborhood, construction crews are just one sign that tells newcomers that the aesthetics of the island are entering a new phase. Homes on the island are modernizing, bringing new looks.

But aside from keeping up with modern looks, a club reconstruction is also about necessity.

In 2021, club leadership realized the building was in desperate need of renovations.

The building was also in need of new windows and new structural materials that can withstand hurricanes. After Hurricanes Irma, Ian and, more recently, Idalia, insurance became a problem not just for BKYC but for many Floridians.

According to Landis, the club realized in 2021 that even if renovations were made, it couldn’t meet the floodplain requirements to get adequate insurance coverage without a total reconstruction. Renovations didn’t change the fact that the building was built below the current floodplain laid out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The plans were a part of the club’s 2021 master plan, but there wasn’t enough support from members to go

through with it at the time.

This time, leaders spread the word throughout the club, shared renderings and got people excited about what the future of the club could be. They gained support from over 92% of the members.

About $15 million of the total $20 million necessary for the project was funded by the club’s members. The membership, which is capped at about 375, is like a tight-knit family. Britt said the club is sometimes referred to as the “Cheers” of Bird Key — the island’s local hangout.

The club is working with local firm DSDG to create a building that Principal Architect Mark Sultana called “coastal contemporary.”

This new building will include hurricane-resistant windows, reinforced structural material and be raised above the current floodplain requirements so that it will hopefully serve its members for an additional 60 years.

“We’re really excited about this,” Britt said. “Our goal is to make this like the premier destination in Sarasota.”

The groundbreaking for the new yacht club is expected to be in May 2025, with construction lasting about 16-18 months. If all goes well, the club will celebrate a soft opening of the new building in August 2026.

A CHANGING CLUB

As the BKYC expanded in the 1960s, so did events like the Blessing of the Fleet and the Change of Watch. Those traditions have added to the yacht club’s history, something highly important to the members.

“We don’t want to lose the yacht club traditions that have been estab-

lished here,” Landis said.

With these traditions still at the foundation of the club, the leadership understands that the club is changing now more than ever.

Part of that change is with the member demographics, which have broadened from the 1960s.

“Sixty percent of the membership at that point were actually Bird Key residents,” Britt said. “And now it’s actually reversed. About 60% of our membership is not on Bird Key. Which is great because we’re kind of a Sarasota institution in that regard.”

The average age of the members — who hail from as far as Tampa and Venice — has gone down. Two years ago, the average age was around 75. Today new members’ average age is closer to 64.

Now, the yacht club isn’t only about boating. Landis and Britt said the members are about one-third boaters, one-third tennis players and the remaining third are members mainly for the social aspect.

This changing demographic — both inside the club and throughout Sarasota — was considered in the new plans, which account for an additional tennis court and state-ofthe-art fitness center.

“We’re looking at the growth of what’s happening. Sarasota is rapidly becoming a year-round city,” Landis said. “That’s why  what we’re looking at is what are the new people coming to Sarasota looking for?”

CLUB WITHOUT A CLUB

Britt is set to become the club commodore next year. He’ll be a commodore without a club, but he and Hackney are looking forward to trying out new activities to keep the club together during that time.

Britt, Landis and Hackney also hope that the new chapter of BKYC can include a tighter focus on community outreach, even during a long period without a physical building.

“We want to be not just a premier club for members, but we also want to be a club that participates and contributes to the city of Sarasota and growth of the Sarasota community,” Landis said.

Britt said this could mean events like providing boating lessons to youth in the area, establishing scholarships and giving back to the Sarasota arts community.

“I think everyone (in the club) shares the sentiment that we really want to support the Sarasota community in areas that we can help make a difference,” Britt said.

FAMOUS FACES AT BKYC

Having been a staff member, mainly in the kitchen, for 43 years, Terry Burnett has a plethora of funny stories and fond memories to share about the club. He also recounted some of the famous faces he’s seen over the years at BKYC.

„ Walter Cronkite

Well-known broadcast journalist who spent much of his career with CBS Evening News.

„ Dick Smothers A former member of Bird Key Yacht Club, Smothers is known for being half of the comedy group the Smothers Brothers.

„ Former President Jimmy Carter This particular guest brought with him an entourage of cameras and Secret Service officers.

„ Stephen King & Jerry Springer Just days apart in their visits, Burnett said the two were humble guests who enjoyed simple dishes like meatloaf.

“We’re really excited about this. Our goal is to make this like the premier destination in Sarasota.”

— Tony

Hurricane Debby catches Longboaters by surprise

After expecting a rainy weekend in Florida, residents were taken aback by the aftermath of the tropical storm-turned-hurricane.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

When warned about Tropical Storm Debby, Longboater Karen Pashkow did her normal storm preparation shopping to stock up on Friday evening. She went out one more time during the weekend on Saturday and saw people buying the essentials as she did the day before. After doing last-minute chores and preparations, she hunkered down inside her condominium to watch the Olympics and let the storm pass.

Monday morning, Pashkow found herself still watching the rain on Sarasota Bay and thought, “When is this going to stop?”

Most Longboaters like Pashkow were surprised by the impact of

Hurricane Debby. She said Longboat Harbour Condominium was flooded along the walkway by its seawall and heavy debris prevented many cars from exiting the parking lot.

Pashkow’s husband, Sparky, and other members of the Longboat Harbour Yacht Club secured its boats on Sunday evening. She said one of their neighbor’s boats was mostly underwater Monday morning.

For those who live on the Gulf side, more precautions were taken. At Seaplace Condominiums, workers packed up the beach and pool furniture. Resident June Hessel said elevators stopped working throughout the night, and there was some flooding on the ground floor of her building.

“Each year, we get evacuated at least once,” said Hessel. “Last year, we went to a hotel and we were back on the island in two days. This year, we didn’t even get evacuated. I feel like it has been much longer than last year and it affected more. It was the whole weekend and now it is still raining on Monday.”

The Rev. Brock Patterson checked on the Longboat Island Chapel Monday morning and found lots of debris to clean up in the midst of its renovations. He said the worst flooding he saw when driving down Gulf of Mexico Drive was in front of Zota Beach Resort.

Many businesses and community spaces were closed on Monday, including The Paradise Center, the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce and Temple Beth Israel. TBI took precautions beforehand on Friday by securing a tarp over its roof because of its roof renovations.

Owner of Longboat Key Fitness Petar Sibinkic drove onto the island early on Monday morning and said St. Armands Circle wasn’t flooded at 7 a.m. Besides a few cancellations due to safety concerns, most of his

clients came to work out at the gym if they lived nearby. While checking on his friend’s home, Sibinkic did turn around because of flooding by St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

After reading through people’s experiences on Facebook, Longboat Key Chamber President Kim Verreault echoed everyone’s concerns about the impact Hurricane Debby had on the area. She said the one that broke her heart the most was hearing that most of the turtle nests on the beach had washed away.

“I did read somewhere that turtles are very smart, and most of them have multiple nests,” said Verreault. “So, I hope a good majority of them are safe. Besides that, this ended up being far more than what anybody anticipated. From everyone that I have talked to from the chamber and in Sarasota, the magnitude of this took everybody by surprise.”

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Debby’s damage

The storm left many parts of Longboat Key flooded, and water damage was the main issue seen by the town’s damage assessment team.

CARTER WEINHOFER

STAFF WRITER

In the wake of Hurricane Debby, Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said that while Longboat Key wasn’t free of impacts, things could have been worse.  Dezzi, who also serves as the town’s emergency management coordinator, was in command of the town’s storm operations, which he said began Wednesday. At that time, town staff began watching the storm and, as it got closer, met with Sarasota County officials.

In emergencies, the town follows the direction of Sarasota County, even though the northern half of the island is in Manatee County. This is so there is one unified direction, but Longboat Key officials still coordinate with Manatee County and keep its direction in mind, Dezzi said.

Before the weekend, Dezzi had Public Works staff start to put out signs that cautioned drivers of high water, while the police and fire rescue departments secured vessels. Dezzi said this is all part of normal preparations for big storms.

From Saturday into Sunday, police and fire rescue crews stayed on the island per Dezzi’s request, and a skeleton crew from Public Works was also out on the island, assisting when needed and ensuring the high water signs were in place.

When Debby brushed past Longboat Key, it was not yet a hurricane, but it brought heavy winds and rain-

fall. Dezzi said the National Weather Service reported the highest wind gusts on the island were around 56 miles per hour — about 20 mph less than a Category 1 Hurricane.

The brunt of the impacts for Longboat Key came on Sunday and into Monday morning. During that time, Dezzi said there wasn’t an increase in call volume, and no storm-related injuries were reported. There were no calls for water rescues nor requests from residents needing help evacuating.

“The roads were really empty, which we were glad about,” Dezzi said.

From what he heard and saw, Dezzi said Longboaters were staying put in their homes or had evacuated on their own, which is a positive in these situations.

“As far as we’re concerned, that’s good,” Dezzi said. “I think one good thing is, people listened. They took this seriously.”

Dezzi and town staff worked in close communication with Sarasota County, but the emergency management team never had to go to the county’s Emergency Operations Center as they do with major storms.

The town’s main concerns were the lowest-lying areas in the Village, Buttonwood and Sleepy Lagoon areas, which all experienced flooding during Debby, according to Dezzi.

Something that was a pleasant surprise to Dezzi was that St. Armands Circle didn’t have major flooding issues. This was a positive

that made getting off the island from the south end easier, he said.

But on the north end, a sailboat lodged against the Longboat Pass Bridge caused some trouble, and the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to take care of the issue. The bridge was closed for a few hours on Sunday.

Early Monday morning, Debby became a Category 1 Hurricane as it made landfall in Steinhatchee of Florida’s Big Bend region.

On Longboat, the effects of flooding were experienced into Monday afternoon. Parts of Gulf of Mexico Drive were impassable until about 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5.

From Sunday into Monday, Dezzi evaluated the island’s conditions and made the call that town staff would work remotely if possible. But police, fire rescue, Public Works and Planning, Zoning and Building officials were brought onto the island to begin damage assessment and cleanup.

Assessment crews patrolled the island, some needing to utilize the fire rescue department’s high-water

vehicles to get down more flooded side streets.

“We got more water than what was expected,” Dezzi said.

On Tuesday, some areas to the side of Gulf of Mexico Drive were still flooded, side streets were still damp and crews were starting to take care of some of the debris.

NEXT STEPS Though reports won’t be finalized until later this week, Dezzi said crews mainly saw water intrusion damage in the flooded areas. Town facilities still need to be looked at with more detail, but for now, it doesn’t appear there were any major damages, according to Dezzi.

Next, PZB staff will work with residents and those affected by the island’s flooding to compile reports that will be sent to the counties. The damage assessments will include pictures of the damage and calculate a percentage of areas affected, which will be compiled in a report.

Overall, Dezzi said that while there

was more water and flooding than originally expected, this wasn’t a hurricane when it swept past Longboat Key. At the time, the storm’s gusts weren’t yet at the level of a Category 1 hurricane.

“This was just a tropical storm and not a hurricane,” Dezzi said. “So what they (residents) saw out there this past weekend, they need to understand that it’s going to be a lot worse (with a hurricane) than what we saw this weekend.”

Dezzi also said people should be aware that Florida summer weather and afternoon showers will continue to saturate the ground, which could cause flooding.

Another important thing is for residents to make sure they are enrolled in Alert Longboat Key, the town’s emergency messaging service. To register for Alert Longboat Key, visit the town’s website at LongboatKey. org. Contact Phillips at SPhillips@ LongboatKey.org or 941-316-1999 with any registration issues.

Yacht sinks after fire

Lithium batteries may have caused all-night blaze, officials say.

OBSERVER STAFF

Investigators are trying to find the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a 65-foot motor yacht at the Longboat Key Club Moorings on Aug. 5, fire officials said.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department Assistant Chief Jentzen Barton said the owner of the boat, who was in Canada at the time, received an alert from the boat’s security system at about 8:30 p.m.

Seeing smoke on a video feed from the boat, the owner called the Longboat Key Fire Department, which responded to the fire. The owner of the boat, called Steady AF, has not been identified by fire officials.

Barton said the fire may have been

caused by lithium batteries onboard the boat but said the state fire marshal’s office will make any official determination on the cause of the fire.

Lithium battery fires are particularly difficult to fight, Barton said, because the chemical reactions inside the batteries are nearly impossible to extinguish.

When the chemicals mix, it causes extreme heat that sets everything around them ablaze. Water does not have an effect on a lithium reaction, he explained.

“You’re fighting a losing battle,” he said. “You basically have to let it do its thing.”

The fire on the boat burned through the night, Barton said.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded and has set up barriers to prevent water contamination from leaking diesel fuel or chemicals, Barton said. Preparations are underway to raise the boat, which has partially sunk, for the investigation to continue.

SATURDAY, JULY 27

RACCOON LOUNGE

10:58 a.m., 2200 block of Harbourside Drive

Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was asked to check out a report of a raccoon lying on top of a resident’s lanai cage. At the residence, the officer spoke with the resident who said the raccoon had been there for a couple hours. The officer thought the raccoon appeared to be sick and asked for backup from animal services. While waiting for backup, the officer used a pool cleaning stick to direct the raccoon away from the house. The raccoon climbed off of the roof and tried looking for an escape route, which led the officer to believe it wasn’t sick after all.

Backup was canceled, and the resident was advised to call again and request animal services if the raccoon returned.

MONDAY, JULY 2

NOT A CONVENIENCE STORE

12:03 a.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: Dispatch sent officers to respond to a disturbance at a local resort. The responding officers met with the person-in-question, who was upset at the staff because they did not sell cigarettes. According to the officers’ report, the person was intoxicated and being loud, but eventually complied when asked to return to her room. The officers were familiar with her, though, for she was the subject of another call two days prior.

MAY I ORDER AN … OFFICER?

8:55 p.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Abandoned 911 Call: An officer responded to an abandoned 911 call placed by a resort guest. The guest said she was attempting to call for room service and misdialed. Everything was fine, but the report did not mention if she ended up getting the room service.

THURSDAY, AUG. 1

NO DAMAGE DONE, BUT NO DRIVER’S LICENSE

10:09 a.m., 600 block of Marbury

Lane

ILLEGAL WAY TO ENTER THE OCEAN

12:01 p.m., 7200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Juvenile Disturbance: A caller reported that there was a group of juveniles jumping off the Longboat Pass Bridge, and Longboat Key officers responded to check out the scene. At the bridge, an officer spoke with the group, who said they were fishing and jumping off the bridge. The officer advised them that jumping off the bridge was not only dangerous but in violation of Florida State Statute. The group was let off with a warning, but the officer said if they were caught again that they would receive citations.

Civil Disturbance: Officers investigated a reported civil dispute between a homeowner and landscapers. The landscapers parked their truck next to the officers at the scene and the officers asked the driver to explain what happened. The driver said he was in a verbal argument with a homeowner because he drove over the residence’s grass due to the narrow street, but he said he did not damage the yard. The officer asked the driver for his license so that the incident could be documented, but the driver admitted that he did not possess a driver’s license. One of the officers called the complainant, who also said the argument was strictly verbal, and both agreed no damage was done to the property. Since the landscaping driver admitted to not having a driver’s license, he ended up receiving a criminal citation.

Beyond First Class™

Enough of the smearing

ELECTION ’24

Dishonest tactics and dirty falsehoods disgust voters. One Manatee candidate decided not to take it anymore.

It’s a wonder anyone who is decent, modest and eventempered and whose head and ego don’t swell when speaking to audiences would want to run for public office. It’s such a nasty, ugly, dirty business.

Which often makes it no wonder we end up with the choice of the least worst person on our ballots. Indeed, other than the few sincerely motivated (naive?) idealists and power-hungry narcissists, who wants to go through what it takes to win an election?

Here in Sarasota and Manatee counties, it sure feels like we are seeing more than usual a surge in the vitriol and sleazy campaign ads. And the nastiness is coming from all sides (See “Republicans killing their own; ‘go negative to win,’ July 10, YourObserver.com/Opinion).

The consultants swear the sleaze brings victory, but voters are disgusted and turned off. When candidates constantly tear down their opponents or engage in dirty tactics, they tarnish their character and integrity. Trust and likability are diminished. But they just keep doing it.

In Manatee County, one candidate and his wife, to their credit, decided not to take it and not to engage in it, either.

Tal Siddique, 30, is running for office for the first time, seeking the District 3 County Commission seat as a Republican. Siddique and his wife, Kristen Truong, 29, two super nice young adults who are involved in their community — just the kind of people we need more of — have been barraged with what must feel like cannon fire hitting the walls and windows of their home every day — negative, false, truthstretched and twisted mailers and text messages. Unfortunately, they have the disadvantage of not being part of the Manatee Republican Party establishment. Siddique is running against the chair of the Manatee County Republican Executive Committee, April Culbreath.

And no surprise, Culbreath has the financial backing of the traditional donors, developers and homebuilders. Perhaps most important, Culbreath signed up with the region’s notorious political hit man, Anthony Pedicini. Pedicini has relentlessly fired Scud-like missiles, one after another, via mailers into District 1 in west Manatee, attempting to viscerate Siddique. He has called him a “Biden Democrat” because Siddique formerly was a registered Democrat. Pedicini alleges Siddique “is connected to the radical, anticop Black Lives Matter Organization”; that he is a “Never Trump” guy; that “the Siddiques are softon-crime Democrats”; and that Siddique’s wife has “ties directly to the Clintons.”

One mailer has a doctored photo of Siddique and his wife standing with the Clintons; another with them wearing sweaters doctored with the Democrat Party mule embroidered on their chests.

At first, Truong took it. “I expected there would be negative campaigning against Tal,” she told us. “I did not expect to be attacked or have negative campaigning against me as a spouse or a family member, let alone unfactual and defamatory

A SLEAZY TAKEDOWN OF A DECENT GUY AND HIS WIFE

OBSERVER RECOMMENDS

U.S. Senate — Republican: Rick Scott; Democrat: None

U.S. House, District 16 — Republican: Eddie Speir; Democrat: Neither Florida House District 72 — William “Bill” Conerly MANATEE COUNTY County Commission — Carol Ann Felts; Talha “Tal” Siddique; Ray Turner; George Kruse School Board — Mark Stanoch; Charles Kennedy Property Appraiser — Charles Hackney Supervisor of Elections — Scott T. Farrington SARASOTA COUNTY County Commission — D1: Now leaning toward Alexandra Coe; D3: Now Undecided School Board — Karen Rose; Gregory Wood Tax Collector — Charles Bear Sarasota Public Hospital Board — Sharon Wetzler DePeters; Kevin Cooper; Pam Beitlich; Sarah Lodge Charter Review Board — Nicholas Altier; Tom DeSane; Greg “Tex” Bukowski

falsehoods put out.

“When they brought me in as the spouse, and I’m not a public figure. Yes, I’m involved in the community. I’m on the Manatee County Foundation board; I was elected to serve on the Bradenton Kiwanis board; I’m out in the community, but I don’t consider myself a public figure. To attack me to discredit his campaign is, honestly, despicable.

“People were calling, texting and emailing me saying, ‘What the heck is this? Why are you on these negative mailers? Why are they attacking you? It doesn’t make sense.’”

Her family members became especially upset when, in one mailer, it implied the Siddique and Truong had just moved to Manatee from Washington, D.C. “I was born here,” Truong said. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Bradenton Christian High School.

The tipping point came after mailers on July 25 and 26. “What Pedicini and his candidates have done to this county, which is my hometown, is so sad,” Truong said. “I said, ‘Enough is enough.’”

So they turned to Tampa lawyer Mike Beltran, a Harvard law graduate and former undefeated light heavyweight wrestler from Brooklyn whose tag line is: “I’ll fight anyone, anytime, anywhere.” Beltran sent a two-page cease-

and-desist letter to the lawyer representing Pedicini and The Committee to Expose Fake Republicans.

“Fake Republicans’ text message falsely alleges that Ms. Truong is a ‘Democrat,’” Beltran wrote. “In fact, however, Ms. Truong has been a registered Republican since she was 18 years old. She has never been a Democrat.

“Second, the text claims Truong has a ‘direct connection to the Clintons.’ Ms. Truong has never met or spoken to the Clintons, and certainly lacks any ‘direct connection.’”

Truong is vice president of public affairs for the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm Capitol Hill Partners. One of its partners served as a chief of staff in the Department of Labor during the Clinton administration.

Beltran also takes issue with the doctored photo with the Clintons. “The fabricated scene … is highly defamatory in that it seeks to show Ms. Truong in a negative light to Republican voters, damaging her reputation.”

On the accusation of Siddique’s connections to BLM, here’s the thin thread:

Truong is a registered lobbyist for the D.C.-based not-for-profit, Results for America. Its mission is to “elevate and amplify the voices of community leaders, particularly leaders of color,” and it says it is “inspired by the many groups and evidence-driven organizations that are pursuing solutions to reduce police violence and reform our legal system.” One of those groups it lists: BLM.

Clearly, that was the “a-ha” hook to smear Siddique and Truong.

To which, Siddique says: “I do not have any connection to BLM. In public forums I publicly deny any connection to BLM.”

Says Truong: “I have never lobbied for Black Lives Matter.”

Beltran went on to demand “full and fair corrections, apologies and/ or retractions” and that they be sent and mailed in the same manner and to the same people as the original mailers and text messages. He also recommended no further smears until after the Aug. 20 primary.

Predictably, Pedicini’s lawyer responded: “(N) o retraction, correction or apology appears to be warranted” and that Beltran’s threat of litigation is “a clear attempt to silence political speech on matters of public importance in advance of an upcoming election.”

For now, Siddique and Truong are pausing on whether to pursue litigation — at least until after the primary. But even then, the likelihood of prevailing in a libel and defamation suit would be difficult and costly. Truong would have to prove the mailers’ authors published false

“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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information with reckless disregard of the truth and that the information caused tangible damage to Truong’s reputation.

They know the hurdles. But as Truong told us: “To me, every penny we paid was worth it, because Pedicini has been getting away with way too much for far too long. The cease-and-desist letter is a start. Someone needs to put something out there and stand up to him and hold him accountable.”

At the same time, Siddique and Truong also have gone on the offense. On July 27, Siddique posted online: “Open Letter: Why I Joined the Republican Party.” (VoteTal. com/Media/Open-Letter-Why-IJoined-The-Republican-Party.)

Siddique explains how he grew up in the D.C. suburbs in a workingclass family and “experienced firsthand the slow decline which forced many families like mine into poverty or on our streets — the American Dream put out of reach. My environment in a blue state taught me government should be the answer and that standing in lines for benefits was normal in America.”

But in his late 20s, he began “to enjoy a successful career. I felt I could relate to (Ronald) Reagan’s maxim: ‘Government is not the solution … (O)ne can only help themselves. My beliefs about limited government, personal responsibility and individual liberties aligned more with the Republican Party.”

Astutely, Siddique’s letter also made this point: “Reagan and Donald Trump switched parties based on their core values and vision for America.”

Siddique’s second retaliatory shot was loading his campaign website with a personal dossier that can make voters reach this conclusion: There is no relation between the real candidate Tal Siddique and the one Pedicini has made up.

See for yourself. Go to Siddique’s site: VoteTal.com/#Meet-Tal. And for good measure, add to that dossier Truong’s own history in Bradenton: “I received the Manatee Community Foundation Spirit of Manatee Young Spirit Award in 2013 and Golden Herald honorable mention award for Citizenship in 2013. I’m not a newcomer to being involved in our community.”

Tal Siddique and Kristen Truong are not going to bring an end to sleazy mailers and dishonest campaigning. But if Siddique wins at least his primary, that victory can send a strong message.

Just imagine how the tone of America would be if candidates and their handlers focused on selling the candidates’ competence, qualifications and core beliefs.

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

Sarasota, St. Armands drying out after Debby’s

Many shops slow to open after a weekend of heavy rain and wind.

covering entire fairways spilled over a concrete wall and sidewalk, covering two of the three lanes of westbound Fruitville Road, forcing traffic into a single lane.

Firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement were inundated with rescue calls, some that required boats to reach stranded people.  Dana Judge, spokeswoman for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, said from Sunday to Monday, the county’s Emergency Operations Center had logged 500 incidents involving water rescues, vehicles in water or evacuations from flooded houses throughout Sarasota County, including Longboat Key, Venice and Englewood.

By 10 a.m. Monday, Sarasota’s Main Street had little standing water, with small tree limbs littering the sidewalks. Normally bustling on a Monday morning, the street was nearly deserted and most businesses were still closed.

During a break in the rain about 11 a.m., a handful of vehicles were navigating their way through standing water around St. Armands Circle and Lido Key, but most businesses remained closed. Many had makeshift barriers of sandbags and packing tape pressed against storefronts to keep floodwaters out.

The lights of Kilwin’s Chocolates

stood out amid the darkened shops. They were open for business, and Dino Coit, manager, was preparing two batches of fudge on the marble tables by the front window.

“I’m not sure why we’re even here,” he said with a grin as he allowed the fudge to rest before slicing it into individual pieces.  He said the shop was open Sunday, but

reopened Monday

“We’re open every day,” he said. Because of the additional rainfall the area received Sunday night, Sarasota County Government offices were closed Monday and Tuesday.

For Mote, every call counts

Information gathered from rescue calls, necropsies and bone study aids research on local species.

CARTER WEINHOFER

STAFF WRITER

Behind the scenes at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, the Stranding Investigations team takes on every necessary call, and every one could have a different end result.

Staff Scientist and Program Coordinator Gretchen Lovewell said the end result is important no matter the outcome.

If a rescued animal is able to be saved, Lovewell’s team works hand in hand with the rehabilitation teams at Mote, who take over once the animal arrives at the facility on Ken Thompson Parkway.

But even if the animal can’t be saved, what that animal’s necropsy, or animal autopsy, reveals can be equally as important. Any amount of data can help to show what happened to the animal or give insight into the local environment.

“If we don’t tell these animals’ stories, who will?” Lovewell said.

ANIMAL EMTS

On call 24/7, the Stranding Investigations crew receives about 600900 calls per year, according to Lovewell.

The department is fully dependent on public reports, which Lovewell said was made much easier with the introduction of cellphones. That not only increased their call volume, but made it easier to “troubleshoot” the issue with the caller.

For example, sometimes the call is more about educating the public rather than an emergency. Someone may call concerned about seemingly abnormal manatee behavior, but that could just be normal mating behavior that can be described over the phone after the caller sends a video.

But when the call does require a response, Lovewell’s team springs into action.

“When they’re alive, we put on our EMT or rescue hats, and we go out there and try to do the best thing we can for that animal,” Lovewell said. In some cases, sea turtles or marine mammals that the team responds to can be released right away. This is relatively rare though, Lovewell said, and usually is when an animal is tangled in something like fishing line or buoy markers.

When new patients arrive at

Mote’s hospital, Lovewell said teams immediately start taking things like vitals, blood work and pictures, while also starting necessary medicine and fluids.

Sometimes, the team has some help from local law enforcement. Lovewell said agencies such as the Sarasota Police Department and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office frequently assist the Stranding Investigations team on rescue calls given they can launch boats quicker, and some officers have enough experience to help transport the animals.

“So it’s such a great partnership at all levels,” Lovewell said. “It’s remarkable.”

One recent rescue is a prime exam-

ple. Lil’ Dougie, a current patient at Mote’s sea turtle hospital, was named after the SCSO officer that helped rescue her. She was found floating in Blackburn Bay, and upon investigation was found to be missing a piece of her front left flipper, possibly from a shark bite.

Lil’ Dougie arrived at Mote on May 27. She is healing well and almost ready to be released, according to Lovewell.

Releases, Lovewell said, are some of the best days.

“When you see a lot of the sad, awful stuff that our team sees, it’s really good for us to be able to see that full circle,” Lovewell said.

WORSHIP directory

questions by doing that (necropsy),” Lovewell said. “It gives us a sense of the health of our local waters in our backyard, the sort of effects we’re having on the animals with human interaction.”

Human interaction, through things such as boat propeller strikes or fishing line, is a frequent cause of death, which is the case for 40% of sea turtle deaths, according to Lovewell.

But, there are times when the team can’t define a specific cause of death.

“If the animals are really decomposed, we can’t always get cause of death, but there’s still a lot of valuable information about life history,” Lovewell said. “We still find value in it.”

RENOWNED COLLECTION

Even after death, an animal can be important for research.

Mote is home to the Ruth DeLynn Cetacean Osteological Collection, named in honor of the Mote volunteer who started the collection and curated it for about 30 years.

“When

they’re alive, we put on our EMT or rescue hats, and we go out there and try to do the best thing we can for that animal.”

— Gretchen Lovewell

EVERY BIT OF IMPORTANCE

In cases that don’t end in release — whether an animal is found dead or don’t make it through rehabilitation — the job isn’t done.

The next step for Lovewell and her team is a necropsy. Each one is different depending on the species, but could last anywhere from two to eight hours, Lovewell said.

She compared it to being crime scene investigators — trying to find the cause of death and investigating what happened to the animal.

A necropsy is a systematic process. Each one usually starts with photographs and measurements of the animal and an evaluation of any signs of human interaction. Then, the animal is opened up, which is a different process for each animal.

When examining the animal, Lovewell and the Mote staff are looking for any abnormalities in color, smell, texture or shape. Sometimes, tissue samples will be sent for pathological review and samples sent for biopsies.

“We’ve asked a lot of different

“It’s really a biological library,” Lovewell said.

The skeletons, some dating back to the 1970s, have been used for studies on bone density, skull morphology, age, growth and other things.

According to Mote’s website, The Committee on Systematic Collections of the American Society of Mammalogists said the collection is “one of the most important and significant cetacean collections in the world.”

In the collection, skeletons of marine mammals — mostly dolphins — are preserved in boxes on bookshelves, each with an identifying number. Lovewell can go around the room, picking out boxes and telling the animal’s story.

For example, she can tell the story of one bottlenose dolphin, which was the subject of a deep-dive necropsy. Lovewell said the team spent a while trying to figure out the cause of death, when they noticed an abnormal shape on the back of the skull.

Upon further examination, the team discovered part of a stingray barb lodged in the back of the skull.  Lovewell said that the information gathered in all stages — whether it’s the rehabilitation intake or the necropsy — can be valuable information to work toward advocating for more protection for these animals, and to help tell the story of a species.

“If we can do a really good job and document things well enough, we can effect change and help the rest of the animals that are out there which, I think, is really important,” Lovewell said.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

A bridge to art adventure

Five area museums collaborate on a fresh look at contemporary Florida art.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Everyone knows about the Great American Road Trip. Long before the NBC reality show of the same name, Mom and Dad would pack the kids in the station wagon and head for national parks, Disney or Busch Gardens, staying in Howard Johnson’s or camping along the way.

But what if you’re an art lover and prefer to while away the dog days of summer in air-conditioned galleries before adjourning to the museum gift shop or cafe? We’ve got just the road trip for you.

Five area museums — two in Sarasota, one in St. Petersburg and two in Tampa —have collaborated to bring you the freshest in Florida art.

1. THE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART

If it’s scale you’re looking for, The Ringling’s “Skyway” installation won’t disappoint. The museum has devoted its Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing West, its largest rotating galleries, to the works of 13 artists.

The multimedia exhibition runs the gamut, from small pieces such as Caitlin Albritton’s whimsical jewelry to Kiko Kotani’s breathtaking installations of crocheted crepe satin. A native of Hawaii who lives and works in Gulfport, Kotani drew inspiration from watching her mother sew blankets and clothes when she was a child.

Kotani has two monumental pieces in The Ringling’s exhibit: “White Falls,” whose flowing structure evokes reverence for nature and spirituality, and “Neon Forest,” three conical structures whose lemon, lime and orange hues are plucked straight out of Florida’s fruit groves.

With “State of Waters,” a huge map of Florida

Their joint exhibition is called “Skyway,” after the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Interstate 275 that serves as the gateway to Tampa Bay.

Best of all, the cultural institutions — The Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Art Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, the University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum in Tampa and the Tampa Museum of Art — are offering reciprocal admission.

That means you can see all five “Skyway” exhibitions for the price of one. Consult each institution for details.

To do all five shows in one day (or two), you’ll want to get the timing right. The window when all the exhibitions are open at the same time runs from Aug. 28 to Oct. 27.

This is the third “Skyway” collaboration — the others were in 2021 and 2017. It also marks the first time that five museums are included in the tri-

bookended by large images of flowing currents, the collaborative team of Carol Mickett and Robert Stackhouse, of Tarpon Springs, draw attention to the state’s creeping saltwater intrusion and warming waters.

Bradenton artist Jake Fernandez’ “Myakka Fork” invites the viewer to get lost in its 64 wood panels spanning 88 by 154 inches. Fernandez is a conceptual artist who paints representational work termed “durational” because it emerges over a long period of time.

The grandeur of The Ringling’s “Skyway” interpretation is sure to immerse viewers of all ages into a meditation on the beauty of Florida and the encroaching threats to our often paradisiacal surroundings.

5401 Bayshore Road. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. Thursdays. $30. (Free Mondays.) Through Jan. 25, 2025. Visit Ringling.org.

ennial show. This year’s newcomer is the Sarasota Art Museum.

THE RINGLING TAKES THE LEAD

Each museum and its curators have taken their own approach to the exhibition, which attracted submissions from nearly 300 artists.

Of these, 63 artists were chosen by the participating museums’ curators with the help of guest curator Evan Garza, a curatorial fellow at MASS MoCA, in North Adams, Massachusetts.

The big difference between this “Skyway” show and earlier iterations is the breadth and quality of the works, says Christopher Jones, curator of photography and media arts at The Ringling. “A lot of artists have moved to the Tampa Bay area since 2017, the year of the first exhibition,” Jones says.

Some of the newcomers came to study or teach art at Tampa Bay edu-

cational institutions and remained in the area.

How did the curators decide how the works of the show’s artists would be divvied up among the participating museums? Evidently, a bit of “horse trading” was involved, but some people in the rarified art world prefer not to call it that.

Read on for each museum’s take on “Skyway,” which explores such themes as identity, community and environment. The statement by the participating curators in the catalog says, “This exhibition is an investment in bold ideas, aspirational values and resilience in the face of division.”

In other words, prepare to be dazzled.

Museums

FROM PAGE 11

Since Sarasota Art Museum, an arm of Ringling College of Art and Design, is, by definition, a contemporary art museum, the works of “Skyway” artists don’t seem unexpected in the galleries of the former Sarasota High School.

In some ways, the “Skyway” exhibition is just another day in the life of SAM. That’s not a bad thing. It’s a reminder of how lucky we are to have a museum dedicated to contemporary art in Sarasota 365 days a year.

SAM’s presentation isn’t as grand as the “Skyway” show across town at The Ringling, but its juxtapositions of multimedia works speak to the important contributions of Florida immigrants from places as diverse as Upstate New York and Cuba.

Some of the most arresting creations are by Havana native Tatiana Mesa Paján, who uses white “puffballs” from dandelion plants to surround religious statues and other objects, one of which is called

“Piedra.” Although the white milky material conveys ephemerality, says SAM Senior Curator Rangsook Yang, the plants are capable of traveling great distances.

Bradenton resident and New College Professor of Art Kim Anderson creates paintings that look like photographs. Her images at SAM let the viewer know that its female subjects are always conscious of the male gaze, Yang notes. Those who like scale and color will be pleased with the works of Sue Havens, originally from Rochester, New York, and Kirk Ke Wong, who was born in Shanghai. Wong’s mural, “GimGong Road” honors the contribution of an Asian American to Florida’s citrus industry more than a century ago.

1001 S. Tamiami Trail. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. $15. Through Oct. 27. Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

New College Art Professor Kim Anderson’s paintings have a photo-like appearance, are part of the “Skyway” exhibition at the Sarasota Art Museum.

4. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM OF ART

Some participating museums in “Skyway” don’t have a theme for their exhibition. That isn’t the case for the University of South Florida’s Contemporary Museum of Art, which has named its exhibit “12 Ways of Looking at Landscape.”

In the interest of full disclosure, of the four “Skyway” exhibits I saw, this was my favorite. The USF galleries aren’t as elaborate or well-appointed as some of the others in the exhibition and the show is primarily paintings, with a few multimedia exceptions.

But the kaleidoscope of colorful, large-scale images of Florida’s landscape seems apt for a time when Earth has just experienced the highest temperatures on record.

Many images by artists such as Eric Ondina and Andres Ramirez include comforting symbols of the Sunshine State like Mickey Mouse, bountiful farms and poolside cocktails. Then they’re turned sideways or set against terrifying backdrops like wildfires. Paradise may not be lost yet, but it’s under assault.

Still, there’s much left to savor and even unexpected treasures to be found, stashed away in garages, attics and even lying on the ground.

One of the first pieces in the exhibition, “Archipelago” by Elizabeth Condon, looks like a cross between a puttputt golf hole and a topographical map.

Among the found objects embedded in the work made from detritus, polymer and acrylic is a golden charm from a baby cake traditionally served at Mardi Gras celebrations.

Finding the baby in your slice of cake is said to signify good fortune. But it also brings responsibility because the finder is usually asked to provide the cake at next year’s party. As Floridians, what is our duty to the environment?

Fans of the late Sarasota artist John Sims, who died unexpectedly in December 2022 at age 54, will want to make the trip to USF to see Keith Crowley’s painting, “Mid-Morning, 1639 10th Street (Letter to John).” Crowley’s depiction of Sims’ studio is definitely the

3. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

As is the fashion these days among museums, the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg has placed its contemporary art selections for “Skyway” within its existing galleries, allowing them to engage in “conversation” with legacy pieces.

Sometimes the dialogue is muted, as is the case with Anat Pollack’s bronze-cast fertility objects inspired by the Venus of Willendorf. They seem right at home among the other pieces in the MFA’s ancient Greek and Roman galleries.

The interchange between two marriage-inspired artworks in the MFA’s baroque gallery is more animated. The two pieces in dialogue here are the 2024 acrylic painting, “1974 (Mother’s Embrace)” by Emily Martinez, and “The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine” by Fabrizio Santafede.

While some of the art world’s conversations between old and new seem forced and even hamfisted, these brides — one who is marrying a human and the other who is forging a spiritual union with God — communicate brilliantly, as do other juxtapositions of “Skyway” pieces within the MFA’s galleries.

After conducting a tour of the MFA, Stanton

artist’s vision, notes Leslie Elasser, the museum’s curator of education, because the interplay of shadows seen in the painting isn’t possible in real life.

Another piece by Crowley, the watercolor “Dawn, Sunshine Skyway Bridge (A Letter to Strangers),” shows a closeup of the fence installed to stop suicides on the bridge. Sometimes, it’s just not possible to “Have a Nice Day,” despite the signature yellow smiley face and riot of flowers across the hall in Karen Tucker Kuykendall’s “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”

3821 USF Holly Drive, Tampa. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, until 8 p.m. Thursday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free. Through Nov. 23. Visit USFcam. USF.Edu/cam.

Thomas, curator of collections and exhibitions, encourages visitors to “exit through the gift shop.” Of course, Thomas is riffing on the 2010 documentary about the London street artist Banksy. But he’s also leading visitors in the direction of the last installation in the museum’s “Skyway” exhibition.

The work is a faux gift shop, which Tampa artist Emiliano Setticasi calls “Department of Contemporary Art, Tampa, FL is Selling Out.” Visiting the “shop” is an exercise in frustration, especially if you’re a fan of souvenirs. None of the tote bags, T-shirts and other collectibles is for sale.

Perhaps selling reproductions in an installation called “Selling Out” would be anathema to the artist. Not being able to buy any tchotchkes certainly makes them more coveted and can prompt reflection on the relationship between perceived value and scarcity.

Luckily, the Museum of Fine Arts has a real gift shop where visitors can get their fix of retail therapy before leaving the museum.

255 Beach Drive N.E, St. Petersburg. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. $22. Through Nov. 3. Visit MFASt.Pete.org.

5. TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART

The “Skyway” exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art doesn’t open until Aug. 28, but the “Skyway” catalog includes the artists whose work will be on display, providing some clues about its interpretation of the show. A familiar name to Sarasota residents whose work will be in Tampa is Joe Fig, the department chair of the Fine Arts and Visual Studies programs at Ringling College. His multidisciplinary works focus on artists’ studios and the process of creating art. Fig is known for his miniature reproductions of artist studios. One piece in the “Skyway” exhibition may be familiar to those who saw Marina Shaltout’s show at Sarasota’s Spaaces gallery in late 2023. Titled “Affirmation #1,” the work is made of tile, plywood and human hair forming the words “Live Love Laugh.” Shaltout’s work takes a deep dive into what she terms the self-care industry, whose products run the gamut, from scented candles and bath oils to pictures with reassuring slogans. As technology increases the demands upon our fragile selves, it takes more than a smiley face to keep us looking on the bright side, even in the sunny state of Florida.

120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday and until 8 p.m. Thursday. $25. Runs Aug. 28 to Jan. 5. Visit TampaMuseum.org.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR

11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road

$20 adults; $15 kids Visit Ringling.org.

The 2024 Summer Circus Spectacular is heading into its final days.

Presided over by Ringmaster Jared Walker, the summer circus includes contortionist Uranbileg Angarag, acrobatic hand balancers The Bello Sisters, hair hang artist Camille Langlois, slack wire performer Antino Pansa and clown Renaldo, a veteran of the Big Apple Circus. Runs through Aug. 17.

JAZZ THURSDAY AT SAM

5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free to $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents the

DON’T MISS

‘DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE’

Acclaimed playwright Ken Ludwig tells the story of his parents’ courtship during World War II. The play follows U.S. Army Capt. Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, who begins a lifechanging pen-pal relationship with Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress living in the Big Apple. Runs through Aug. 11.

IF YOU GO

When: 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9

Where: FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.

Tickets: $29-$46

Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Gustav Viehmeyer Quartet on the Marcy and Michael Klein Plaza. The evening also features extended hours in the galleries, the Bistro and the gift shop.

ANDY HENDRICKSON

7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

$26

Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

During his 20-year career, Andy Hendrickson has appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Late Late Show” on CBS and NBC’s “The Guest List” and has performed his brand of clean comedy at clubs and festivals around the world. Runs through Aug. 11.

‘ANYTHING GOES’

7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $32-$42 Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

Can’t get enough Cole Porter? Then this Manatee Players revival of the 1934 musical “Anything Goes” is the show for you. Set sail on the SS American as two unlikely couples try to chart a course to lasting love. Runs through Aug. 18.

‘THE FOUR C NOTES’

8 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.

$18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

With “The Four C Notes,” Florida Studio Theatre’s summer cabaret continues the tradition of doo-wop. This Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute show, created by John Michael Coppola, has been a hit in the Midwest. Runs through Oct. 13.

OUR PICK GREEN DAY’S ‘AMERICAN IDIOT’

Come get your grunge on at the rock opera created by Michael Mayer, Broadway director and playwright (“Spring Awakening,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”), and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. This explosive production, directed by Brian Finnerty, is just the cure for the summertime blues. Runs through Aug. 16.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8

Where: The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130

Tickets: $30/ Student $13

Info: Visit ThePlayers.org.

FRIDAY

‘CLYDE BUTCHER: NATURE THROUGH THE LENS’

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey $20 Visit Selby.org.

Venice photographer Clyde

Butcher’s large-scale photographs of Florida flora and fauna are on display at Selby’s Historic Spanish Point campus overlooking Little Sarasota Bay. The 30-acre waterfront park is filled with landmarks such as a prehistoric burial ground, Sarasota pioneer Bertha Palmer’s gardens and a Victorian chapel with a cemetery. Through Aug. 31.

SATURDAY

COMEDY LOTTERY

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St.

$15-$18

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Everyone’s a winner in this FST Improv show where audience members select the night’s lineup of games, replete with scenes, sketches and songs designed to provoke laughter. Runs Saturdays through Sept. 28.

MONDAY

JAZZ JAM SRQ

5:30 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St.

Free Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Thanks to the efforts of Jazz Club of Sarasota, the jazz scene is growing in Sarasota. This bi-monthly jam session is open to professional and amateur musicians alike. Come play, sing, watch and enjoy jazz.

Taking aim at the politics of stupidity

Find out what happens when a nerdy lieutenant governor suddenly finds himself running the state.

FUGATE

MARTY

THEATER CRITIC

Paul Slade Smith’s “The Outsider,” now on stage at Florida Studio Theatre, is a lightweight political satire with a heavy target. Hold that thought. The play begins right after a sex scandal forces the governor of an unnamed state to leave office. His entire staff goes too  — except for Dave Riley (Gil Brady), his former chief of staff.

Ned Newley (Sheffield Chastain), the former lieutenant governor, instantly becomes the new governor. The man’s a genius-level math whiz. He was once a state treasurer and still thinks like one.

Newley hates crowds, public speaking and TV cameras. Hiding in his office and running budget numbers is his idea of a good time. That’s no longer an option. Before Newley knows it, he’s mumbling the oath of office while surrounded by a firing squad of TV cameras. The embarrassing video goes viral.

Arthur Vance (Roy Stanton), a James Carville-esque political flack, sees it — and spots political gold. He flies in and sweet-talks the mortified Newley with twisted logic. Yes, the viral vid made him look like a moron. But that’s a good thing!

That’s what the people want! Keep acting like a moron and you’ll do fine. Riley’s disgusted by this fraudulent play-acting.

But Newley plays along, and puts on a lumberjack shirt for his next TV interview. The Q&A begins. The idealistic reporter

(Tatiana Williams) and her taciturn cameraman (Kevin Cristaldi) know something’s up, but Newley keeps playing dumb. And gets away with it — until Lulu (Eileen Ward) a scatterbrained temp with a Minnesota accent, barges into the shot and ruins his act.

What’s her job? Ditz that she is, Lulu has to think about it. Gee. Lieutenant governor, maybe? The interview ends, with no time for correction. Lulu’s now running for office! It’s on TV, so it’s official.

Vance is delighted to his toes to be her campaign manager. If Newley’s political gold, Lulu’s platinum. This chick doesn’t have to pretend to be clueless. She really is clueless! In the play’s topsy-turvy world, this airhead just might win — or go further. But Governor Newley just might get real. That sounds like a tight political satire. But my summary paves over a few plot holes. The first act underwhelms. Its fast-talking screwball comedy dialogue’s funny. But it’s loaded with heavy exposition, and that drags it down.

Instead of showing you, the first act tells you. You hear about this scaredy-cat new governor, but he’s usually off-stage. Kooky characters, wacky situation. Haha. I chuckled a few times, and that’s it.

But the second act won me over. Gov. Newley finally shows up — and sticks around. He now feels like an actual character, not a rumor. The other characters also snap into focus. After that, I invested in their story — and started laughing out loud.

Director Kate Alexander has a

IF YOU GO

‘The Outsider’

When: Through Aug. 18

Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $25-$42.

Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

knack for comedy. She distracts you from the first act’s story problems with slapstick. When the second act gets the story straight, she takes it to comedy town. And makes the audience howl.

But the actors get credit, too.

Chastain’s Newley is a smarter, kinder cousin of Stephen Root’s character in “Office Space.” He’s a quiet man, a shadow man, a man who isn’t there. Chastain shines when his character drops the dummy act and explains how government works to the cameraman. His eloquent words are sincere and from the heart. It could’ve been a cornball scene, but Chastain makes it feel real.

Riley’s great as a sane man in a mad, mad world. His character heroically keeps a positive attitude, thinks the best of his crazy colleagues and always does the right thing. On top of all that, he

struggles to keep his own sanity. Stanton does a spot-on James Carville impression as the Vance character. (I’m not sure if that’s in the script, but Vance nails it.)

Paige Caldwell’s pollster digs his Machiavellian, chess-master mind — and probably digs him. Williams is perfect as Rachel — a low-level TV reporter with high journalistic standards. She’s constantly forced to compromise by bosses with no standards. Williams makes you feel Rachel’s simmering frustration. Cristaldi’s grunting cameraman reminds me of every cameraman I’ve ever known.

But Ward’s clueless Lulu steals the show. Her scatterbrained character can’t remember anybody’s name, which intercom button to push or where to find the door to the governor’s office.

But ignorance is bliss, at least for Lulu. Despite her constant screw-ups, Lulu is always a beam of sunshine. Thanks to Ward’s hilarious portrayal, she always gets big laughs.

Smith’s political satire unfolds in a Bizarro World where up is down, competence is stupidity and idiocy is the ideal image. It’s over the top and never even tries to be realistic.

Daniel Ciba’s Technicolor costumes are a perfect fit for

the playwright’s looking glass universe. But Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay’s drab governor’s office is realistic. Their set’s dominated by a grinning portrait of the disgraced ex-governor, and stuffed with cheap, shabby furniture. There’s zero glamor, and it’s utterly believable. Little else is in Smith’s play. “The West Wing” it ain’t.

But the playwright’s not going for verisimilitude.

“The Outsider” is a surreal political satire. As noted, the world of the play is Bizarro World. I didn’t believe in it for a second, but so what? It got me laughing, and that counts for a lot.

But I have one gripe. “The Outsider” is a political satire with very little politics. Its satire aims at a single political target. Just one. And it’s a narrow one. The politics of stupidity. That’s Smith’s satiric target. His play hits the bull’s eye on that one.

“The Outsider” ignores a massive shooting gallery of other political targets. But it’s still pretty funny. And it ends with a note of hope.

When Governor Newley finally drops the dummy act and reveals his high IQ, his voters love it. They might not be as stupid as Vance thinks.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Resident Olympian

Personal Trainer Petar Sibinkic, a two-time Olympian, helps Longboaters reach peak fitness.

RIVERA STAFF WRITER

When watching the 2024 Paris Olympics, Petar Sibinkic remembers where he’s from.

It was 1996, when he was the second man in a four-man canoe representing his home country of Serbia in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He trained twice a day for eight years for that one race.

Sibinkic said they moved like a machine, putting their paddles in the water simultaneously as fast as they could.

Most Longboaters know him as the owner of Longboat Key Fitness, a trainer and a friend. But watching this year’s Olympic Games reminds Sibinkic who he is first and foremost: a two-time Olympian and threetime European kayaking champion.

NATURAL-BORN COMPETITOR

Sibinkic grew up in Serbia near a river. His elementary school teacher trained local children in kayaking, so it was only natural that the river became his backyard.

The sport challenged him physically and mentally. As a result, he and his younger brother immediately fell in love with it. When Sibinkic was 12 years old, he entered kayak racing competitions.

Being naturally competitive, Sibinkic started to train by kayaking twice a day. He said he didn’t race to just participate; he raced to compete. This was a mentality he saw in most of his Olympian colleagues.

Sibinkic described kayak racing as an intricate and unpredictable sport. Each stroke had to be completely in sync with the other paddlers on the boat or it would move it in the wrong way. The team also had to take into account the wind and how it would affect their chances of winning.

Through his teenage years, Sibinkic trained and competed to become the best in his country. Along with kayaking around 20 miles a day, he incorporated weight and interval training to build stamina. His team also went cross-country skiing during the winter to improve their cardiovascular conditioning.

Sibinkic won three kayak championship medals in the Canoe Sprint European Championships.

ONE AMONG HIS OWN

At 20 years old, Sibinkic qualified for the kayak and canoe sprint at the Olympic trials in 1996. He said he’d always felt a call to the U.S. and he was excited to finally answer it at the Atlanta Olympics.

On July 19 of that year, Sibinkic walked out with a small group of athletes from his country at the Centennial Olympic Stadium. Roughly 3.5 billion people were watching around the world, which made it the mostviewed opening ceremony in Olympics history at the time, according to Axios Atlanta.

“That’s the dream of every athlete to compete,” said Sibinkic. “We were surrounded by the best athletes in the world. Hearing the national anthems, and seeing the flags, it was electric to carry the spirit of the modern Olympic Games, which has so much history.

“The camaraderie was just incredible. We were enemies on the field but friends on the sidelines.”

Sibinkic’s days started with breakfast in the Olympic Village. This was his time to mingle with other athletes from across the world.

Sibinkic said the energy of the Olympic Village was indescribable. It was a cluster of cultures in every corner. Each athlete had a story that most people watching didn’t know about.

Though he was experiencing different lifestyles from across the world, he noticed how all the athletes had the same mentality: a love for competition, an openness to make friends and a passion for their countries. Sibinkic is still amazed that he was surrounded by many of the

“The work ethic and the mindset are the most important thing I got from the Olympics. I wouldn’t be standing here today enhancing people’s lives if I didn’t go to the Olympics.”

— Petar Sibinkic

greats, such as wrestler Aleksandr Karelin and basketball player Shaquille O’Neal.

THE REAL DEAL

Sibinkic and his competitions took place in Gainesville, Georgia, which meant a roughly hourlong bus ride to the competition venue. When he arrived, Sibinkic immediately got on the water to feel how the winds would affect his racing and prepare for his event.

“Before every race you have to deal with this initial anxiety,” said Sibinkic. “But when this pistol fires, anxiety leaves you out and you immediately start paddling. I would find that so interesting, but it was a crucial part of my competition experience.”

Sibinkic placed eighth in the semifinals in the 1996 Olympic Games.

After he finished his events, Sibinkic watched other sports, such as basketball, and cheered on new friends.

On one of his days off, he got lost wandering around the Olympic Village. In search of assistance, he ran into a crowd.

“It was Muhammad Ali,” said Sibinkic. “He was with a group of people and reporters and I came to him, and he shook his hand. For a 20-year-old who had only heard of or seen him on television, it was one of the most inspiring moments.”

In 2000, Sibinkic competed in the Sydney Olympics for Bulgaria. He felt more experienced and determined that time around, which resulted in him placing fifth.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE KEY

After the Sydney Olympics, Sibinkic followed his dream of moving to the U.S. in 2005. Sibinkic hung up his paddle after getting his degree in sports technology training. With his vast knowledge of how the body

works from being a professional athlete, he wanted to help others grow their health and life span.

To do this, he followed a friend to Longboat Key to work as a trainer at the Longboat Key Club for a year.

After making a name for himself as a trainer in Sarasota, he bought his own gym on the island because, for him, all roads lead to Longboat Key.

“By training the way I did as a professional athlete, I have so much knowledge of the human body,” said Sibinkic. “I can tell how to push people when working out and when to stop pushing. I can tell by their breath, in their face and how their bodies move. It feels amazing to turn around the years of training to better myself and use it to improve longevity and help people reach their goals.”

At Longboat Key Fitness, Sibinkic trains about 50 people per week. Using his Olympian determination, he tailors his training to promote

peak health as people get older and get the desired results in the lives of Longboaters. Living here for about 20 years now, Sibinkic calls his clients his extended family and prides himself on the community atmosphere of his gym.

With the Olympics airing this year, he has found himself reminiscing. He loves having the sporting events on at the gym so he can constantly share moments from his past with his clients.

Sibinkic found himself on a kayak for the first time in months recently and said he had forgotten how much he loved the feeling of paddling his way around the water.

“This experience shaped me as a person,” said Sibinkic. “The work ethic and the mindset are the most important thing I got from the Olympics. I wouldn’t be standing here today enhancing people’s lives if I didn’t go to the Olympics.”

Networking event sets record

Networking at Noon hit record numbers for a summer networking event with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, according to Chamber President Kim Verreault.

Fifty-five people attended the monthly event on July 31 at Lazy Lobster to meet with local businesses and spread the word about their companies’ mission. There were eight new members and guests who attended the event.

Lazy Lobster co-owner Michael Garey welcomed back his longtime friend, Brad Marner. Garey surprised everyone with ice cream samples from Tyler’s Gourmet Ice Cream next door.

Marner used to work at the Fidelity and Ameris Bank in the Centre Shops of Longboat Key. He became well-acquainted with other business owners and employees in the area. Along with being a part of the chamber, he also joined the Longboat Key Rotary Club.

In 2019, he moved with his branch to work in its Bradenton office after the bank at Centre Shops closed. While attending the chamber’s Savor the Sounds concert series this year, Marner met employees from Bank of America. After hearing he could come back to work on Longboat, he leapt at the opportunity to become financial manager at Bank of America on the Key.

Marner said it was the relationships he formed through the chamber and Rotary Club that brought him back. — PETRA RIVERA

Ship-shape service

UPS Store on Longboat Key makes house calls and ships cars.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Expensive

statues. These are only a few of the items that the UPS store on Longboat Key has shipped.

Because shipping options are limited on the island, the store is trusted by many snowbirds to handle their prized possessions and new purchases when the season ends.

Owner Mike Rusnak said this causes the Longboat Key branch to see some of the most unique shipping items across UPS stores. The store’s main goal is to make moving these items easy by accommodating customers and providing as many options as possible.

According to Rusnak, the store became the first UPS store in the area to ship cars.

“I saw the great demand for shipping cars here,” said Rusnak. “We also live in a unique area where snowbirds come back and forth, so I thought it was important to expand the shipping options here and how people can ship things. I think we are the first store in the country to ship cars.”

After seeing the struggle car carriers have on the Key, Rusnak thought he could make it more accessible by having a specific location for shipping cars. After working closely with UPS headquarters, he was able to start the car-shipping process this year.

When shipping a car with the store, customers will park in the parking lot of the Centre Shops of Longboat Key and leave their keys with the team. Then, Rusnak works with a trusted car carrier to ensure it’s shipped in about three days.

Customers can also leave their luggage with UPS to make the trip

even easier. Many customers have told Rusnak it removes the stress of returning home because all they have to do is catch a flight and their belongings will meet them at their destination. Along with shipping cars and belongings, Longboaters are known to collect interesting objects from the numerous shops in the area. Rusnak and his team make many home visits to package these usually heavy and fragile items to ensure a safe trip back.

“Not a lot of UPS stores do house visits,” said Rusnak. “Once, we shipped a lady’s whole pottery collection. We went to her house and packed it all up. We have done a bunch of lightsabers from trips to Disney. There is this one guy ... every time he comes in, he talks about this huge lion statue that he sent to the Detroit Lions. The owner wrote back and said they displayed it in their locker room.”

Originally from Texas, Rusnak resigned from being a fire chief to live out his dream of moving to Florida and owning his own franchise. He bought the UPS store three years ago. Rusnak’s favorite part of owning the UPS store is finding unique ways to help customers with their shipping needs. He said that he loves that the variety in his clientele keep presenting him with new challenges.

Think the summer real estate market in Sarasota slows down? This has not happened in years!

• Sarasota has experienced explosive growth in recent years, becoming the second fastest-growing region in the U.S. in 2022 and 2024. Population and employment have surged, dramatically transforming the area.

• Sarasota’s typical retiree and snowbird demographic has shifted significantly to include families and young professionals, a trend that is expected to accelerate over the next 10 years.

• Every summer, buyers flock to Sarasota, seizing the chance to explore properties in a more relaxed setting. They aim to secure their winter homes before January 1, reaping significant tax advantages and making Sarasota their ultimate retreat.

• Recognized for unparalleled expertise in the Sarasota/ Manatee region, The Ackerman Group is consistently ranked among the top 0.5% of all Coldwell Banker agents globally, and provide their clientele with unmatched local expertise.

Aspiring butler hopes to clean up in his new profession

Marines boot camp is known as one of the most grueling training regimens in the world. About 10% of men don’t make it through. I might have found something tougher.

Lakewood Ranch’s Michael Gula attended the International Butler Academy in Simpelveid, Netherlands.

It’s a 10-week program to produce butlers for private service. Gula, a 2015 Cardinal Mooney graduate, has completed eight weeks of the program. Of the five people who signed up, two dropped out. That’s a 40% loss, which Gula said is not unusual for the program. They dropped out despite paying $16,000 to attend the program.

Yes, they paid big bucks to be a butler. Go figure.

If you are like me, your exposure to butlers has been through the movies. When I hear “butler,” I think of the old classic comedy “Arthur.” Actor John Gielgud introduced us to the profession by playing the character “Hobson,” who took care of lovable alcoholic Arthur. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work.

Time’s Gary Susman wrote about the role that Hobson “displays a frosty hauteur, his every syllable dripping with sarcasm and contempt.” Thus, that’s what I think of when I hear “butler.”

There have been many other movie and TV butlers who have carved our image of the profession as well. Batman, on both TV and in the movies, always had Alfred, Louis Winthorpe in “Trading Places” had Coleman, and in the TV series, the Owens family had “Mr. Belvedere.” Heck, the Addams Fam-

ily had Lurch.

All were stiff, sarcastic, proper, and all-knowing. They were a mix of valet, maid, cook and psychologist. Seldom, in the movies, did you see a butler actually having fun. They often take abuse from their quirky clients.

So my question to Gula, who spoke to me by phone from the Netherlands, was “why?”

Kids often want to be like their parents (Dad Tony Gula was an air conditioning supervisor for the New York City Transit Authority and mom Roseann Gula was a career educator) or perhaps a fireman, policeman, doctor, professional athlete. But a butler?

What attracted him to such a profession?

“My story is that, growing up, I was fortunate to have been able to do a lot of traveling,” Gula said.

“With that, you become used to being in the hospitality environment. It is a fun, exciting environment.”

But isn’t it more fun and exciting to be on the receiving end of the hospitality?

“I want to make people happy,” he said. “I can create extra special moments.”

So, after high school, Gula earned his degree in hospitality management from the University of South Florida. Then he started looking around for a job. He found information about the International Butler Academy, which calls itself “the best butler academy in the world.”

The academy’s website notes, “Immerse yourself in a transformative journey where every detail matters, where etiquette and precision intertwine, and where the true art of service becomes a way of life. We are honored to serve some of the wealthiest families and most discerning employers in the world, and they rely on us for staff training, recruitment and highly specialized consulting services.”

It’s not an easy 10 weeks.

While the International Butler

Academy doesn’t offer the kind of physical grind of a boot camp, it does familiarize those who sign up with a schedule that simply can wear them out mentally. It prepares its students for a job that can be relentless.

“I will be working all the hours that nobody wants to work,” Gula said with a laugh.

Butlers often are required to serve breakfast and lunch and dinner. They have duties first thing in the morning, and at night, and on weekends, and all the times in between. They basically are on-call 24-7. The responsibilities can seem to be never ending.

None of it scares the 27-year-old Gula, who said he has total support from his parents.

“They have always told me, ‘We are OK if this is what you want to do,’” Gula said. “And all of this is so fascinating to me.”

He also noted that private service butlers can earn six-figure incomes.

He said his first eight weeks at the International Butler Academy were interesting and informative. The building itself is a former monastery that is set up to function like a private household. It also has dedicated space for subjects such as a Flower Room, a Candle Room, a Porcelain Room, a Table Decoration Room and more.

Two three-hour classroom periods are worked into a day where they clean, do laundry, serve food and take inventory of all the household needs.

“It’s kind of like a royal household,” Gula said. “Someone is assigned to be the head butler each day, and I’ve been that four times.”

The classes cover subjects such as their recruitment for a position, how to interview and lessons on etiquette. The academy scheduled field trips to places that support luxury lifestyle, such as a Bentley dealership, luxury interior designers and five-star hotels.

Some of the lessons centered on

appearance.

“We learn how to present ourselves, how to walk in and how to exit rooms,” Gula said.

The academy has a placement agency that works with clients who know any potential butler who has been through the 10 weeks will be well-schooled.

Gula will not be going into private service. Before he left for the International Butler Academy, he attended a job fair by the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and was hired to be a hotel butler with an early August start date. While it isn’t private service, Gula will use much of what he learned at the academy in his new job.

Eventually, he will try to move up at the resort or he could even pursue private service if he decides to go that direction.

“You do have more flexibility in a hotel,” he said. “You need to produce surprises for your guests and go the extra mile. It’s still luxury hospitality, and you need to have a special talent to be able to predict the needs of your guests.”

That sparked my memory to one of my favorite scenes in “Arthur.” Hobson goes to the apartment of the female lead (Linda Marolla played by Liza Minnelli) and tries to convince her to pursue Arthur. At one point he asks her to get him some aspirin, which she does. They finish talking and Hobson gets ready to leave when she tells him, “You forgot your aspirin.” Hobson quips, “The aspirins are for you, my dear.”

Jay Heater is the managing editor for the East County Observer. Contact him at JHeater@ YourObserver.com.

Worship in the works

LBK congregations use summer to renovate properties.

PETRA RIVERA STAFF WRITER

Religious congregations are taking advantage of the slow months of summer to renovate and improve their properties.

The Longboat Island Chapel and Temple Beth Israel both started renovations in June, funded by dedicated congregants.

TBI’s Executive Director Isaac Azerad and the Rev. Brock Patterson shared the progress and what renovation plans they have for the future.

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL

After receiving $500,000 from the late Harold Ronson, Temple Beth Israel is in the process of renovating

its entrance lobby and restrooms.

“This year’s theme is renovation, which was prompted by a generous gift from our beloved Harold Ronson,” said Azerad. “We have been thinking about renovating for a while now. We had put together some aspirational goals that were not concrete in the sense that we did not have funding for them. When the gift came, we decided to proceed with certain items on our wish list.”

With Ronson’s gift, the lobby walls and ceilings were replastered and rewired for electrical and internet security. The construction crew just began to tile the floors in time for the custom doors to be installed.

The restrooms were completely torn down. Azerad said the plumbing was replaced due to its being 40 years old. It will have all new fixtures, cabinets, mirrors and accessories.

As the renovations progressed this summer, Azerad said they noticed parts of the building were out of date. Because of this, TBI is also renovating the roof and air conditioning,

funded by a campaign that raised $200,000.

Services have not been disturbed due to the safe path that they created through the building to the synagogue.

The generosity of Ronson and the age of the building have inspired congregants to be open to the new changes and contribute to TBI’s goals of moving forward.

Renovations are scheduled to be finished by October before the season starts. Azerad said the next step will be to raise enough money to renovate the social hall.

LONGBOAT ISLAND CHAPEL

After 10 years of small renovations, Longboat Island Chapel has launched a new campaign with a goal of raising $640,000.

Patterson said the campaign has raised more than 25% of its goal for renovations, which are still in their early stages.

This summer’s project is to renovate the restrooms, staff offices,

conference rooms and its small prayer chapel.

“The Chapel is a hub of activity on the island,” said Patterson. “We have so much social interaction with organizations. A lot of places use the chapel for events. We also have been growing immensely. So it is very important to make sure everything is top of the line and convenient for use.”

Instead of having the staff separated on two floors, all offices will be on the ground floor. For the restrooms, the crew plans to replace the plumbing, which has been there since the chapel opened in 1956. Patterson also mentioned the small prayer cha-

pel will be moving locations. Besides having to use temporary restrooms, services have continued without interruption. The renovations are scheduled to be finished by December.

Once the chapel finishes its interior renovation project, it plans to remodel the whole exterior of its property. Since its garden is used for many events on the island, Patterson said chapel members are ready to give it a makeover and make it a welcoming place that appeals to all Longboaters.

$12,000,000

YOUR CALENDAR

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

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.

THINKING OUT LOUD

1-2:30 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Retired Lawyer Mike Karp will lead a lively discussion on current topics such as world affairs, national politics and local issues. Bring questions, thoughts and an open mind. Call 383-6493.

TUESDAYS PILATES SCULPT

From 9-9:50 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Pilates Sculpt is a combination class mixing traditional Pilates exercises into a fun, challenging workout to upbeat music. It will make you sweat, encourage your body to burn calories and make you stronger and more flexible. This class is for all levels. Cost is $15. Walk-ins welcome. Call 383-6493.

QIGONG

From 10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Qigong 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.

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.

TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday and Friday. 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 3832011.

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.

BEST BET

MONDAY, AUG. 12

MAKE YOUR OWN TERRARIUM

1-3 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Create your own self-contained plant terrarium with a sand landscape and self-watering mini garden. Supplies and plants provided. The fee is $10 for members; $25 for nonmembers. RSVP by calling 3836493 or email Amy Steinhauser at Amy@TheParadiseCenter.org.

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.

THURSDAYS

ZUMBA & TONING

9:45-10:30 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Taught by Reena Malik, this class begins with 30 minutes of zumba and finishes with mat Pilates for flexibility and strengthening core muscles. Come for 30 or 60 minutes. Free for members; $15 for nonmembers.

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.

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. Walkins welcome. Call 383-6493.

QIGONG AND MEDITATION

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

Bird Key home tops sales at $2.4 million

ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

Ahome on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Suzanne Steelman and Michael Yourison sold their home at 614 Owl Way to Judith Christian, trustee, of Sarasota, for $2.4 million. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,366 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.2 million in 2008.

LIDO Thomas Roach III, of Bradenton, and Susan Thompson, of Sarasota, sold their home at 1130 Center Place to Lido Center LLC for $1.7 million. Built in 1952, it has three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, a pool and 972 square feet of living area.

LIDO HARBOUR

Gregory Klingsporn, trustee, of Menlo Park, California, sold the Unit 305 condominium at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Robert Grady Penley and Faith Penley, of Sarasota, for $1.1 million. Built in 1967, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,131 square feet of living area. It sold for $685,000 in 2016.

LONGBOAT SANDPIPERS

Juris and Kimberly Shibayama, of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, sold their Unit 105 condominium at 5635 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Wayne Heus and Cynthia Heus, trustees, of Longboat Key, for $1.1 million. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,786 square feet of living area. It sold for $860,000 in 2019.

WHITNEY BEACH

Edward and Annelise Gillespie, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, sold their Unit 156 condominium at 6750 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Daniel Sherry and Sandra Kay Sherry, of Georgetown, Texas, for $650,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,377 square feet of living area. It sold for $122,000 in 1981.

SUTTON PLACE

Markus and Lois Waite, of Longboat Key, sold their Unit 302 condominium at 600 Sutton Place to Rif Real Estate LLC for $550,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,132 square feet of living area. It sold for $385,000 in 2020.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS JULY 22-26

LIDO DORSET MB Lido Properties LLC sold the Unit 218 condominium at 475 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Lydell Troyer and Karmen Renee Troyer, of Goshen, Indiana, for $495,000. Built in 1963, it has one bedroom, one bath and 593 square feet of living area. It sold for $310,000 in 2021.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

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INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888 redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages

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Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

WEEKLY MONTHLY SEASONAL RATES

*It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Longboat Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

kboothroyd@businessobserver . com. Please also specify your available date to start.

*This position must be performed in the of ce. No remote work is available.

Competitive pay, paid time off and health insurance available

Homes for Rent

**SPACIOUS 4BR, 3BA, 1500 SF HOME WITH POOL**

Well-maintained, clean, and perfect for families. Enjoy a fenced-in backyard, washer/dryer, and a short walk to Siesta Key Beach.

$5,000/month, annual lease. Contact us for details! 941-350-4122

Vacation/ Seasonal Rentals

LONGBOAT KEY: Beachfront Condos, 1st or 2nd floor, 2BR/2BA, W/D in units, free Wi-Fi, heated pool, & parking. Call 941-383-3338.

Beachfront, Bayfront and In Between Houses or Condos

Reservations 941-383-5577 wagnerlbkrentals@gmail.com Visa/MC

5360 Gulf of Mexico Dr.,