The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is typically in early September, and the town of Longboat Key is playing its part in helping home and business owners be prepared to guard against flooding. The next opportunity to fill sandbags is scheduled for 8-11 a.m. on Sept. 4 at the Broadway Beach Access, 100 Broadway St. Those with proof of residency on Longboat Key can get 10 bags of sand per household or shop. Participants can bring their own containers as well. Contact Public Works at 941316-1988 with questions.
On
Dana Kampa
Jack and Rose, the pair of Aldabra tortoises at The St. Regis Longboat
Under the Sea Lagoon.
21, 2025
“We’re out there. We’re visible. Very rarely are you going to drive down Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key and not see a police car somewhere on it.”
Bob Bourque, Longboat Key Police Department captain Read more on page 6
7
$125.9 MILLION
The
The first Florida location opened in 1997 in St. Augustine. BY THE NUMBERS
Dana Kampa
Kilwins gets a facelift
“Now Hiring” and “Coming Soon” signs hang in the window, though the shop has not yet announced an official reopening date. The St. Armands store, located at 312 John Ringling Blvd., closed because of storm damage. The Siesta Key location remains temporarily closed as well, but its shops in Lakewood Ranch and Venice are open. Kilwins opened its original location in 1947 and now has more than 160 franchisees in 28 states.
Former town manager joins company as SVP
Tom Harmer, whose tenure as town manager of Longboat Key ended in 2022, announced he has accepted a job as senior vice president of Pizzuti, an Ohio-based real estate development company.
Pizzuti has an expansive portfolio, with projects ranging from hotels to office buildings and mixed-use residential. Harmer worked with Pizzuti from 2006 to 2012, according to his LinkedIn.
“I am excited to work again with the talented Pizzuti Team and look forward to partnering with local government clients to assist with their capital project and real estate master planning needs, including managing the design and construction of their facility projects from concept to completion,” Harmer posted.
Harmer has more than 17 years of experience in local government, also working for the city of Titusville early in his career. He was town manager of the town of Longboat Key from 2017 to 2023 and was Sarasota County’s administrator before that.
Police crack down on speeding near Ringling Bridge
Motorists crossing Ringling Bridge from either St. Armands Circle or downtown Sarasota may have noticed new digital signs along the roadside cautioning them to watch their speed.
Sarasota Police Department and the town of Longboat Key are cracking down on speeding in the area.
The department said in response to questions that officers would be rotating the signs throughout the city to encourage safe driving.
Chief Communications Officer Genevieve Judge noted in an email that slowing down saves lives.
“Lower speeds mean drivers can stop quicker, avoid crashes and possibly reduce the severity of injuries if a crash does happen,” she wrote. She said the department has received several complaints. Officers recently cited one motorcyclist for going 60 mph. in the 35 mph zone across the bridge.
THE LONG DRIVE off the Key
For nonmembers, Longboat golfers have to venture to the mainland.
Welcome, neighbor, to Longboat Key. You’ve just moved here and you can enjoy the Gulf beaches, nature walks and of course, Bayfront Park, with its tennis and pickleball facilities, all open to the public. Oh, and golf, you can take part in one of Longboat Key’s public ... well, wait, no you can’t.
If you’ve packed up and moved from the frigid air of the Midwest or Northeast and you brought your “sticks” with you, you’ll be driving to find public golf facilities.
Either that, or you can pay for the luxury of belonging to Longboat’s private country club.
Stretching through the condominiums that line the thin strip of south Longboat Key are 45 holes of golf at the Longboat Key Club’s private courses, the 18-hole Links on Longboat and its three nine-hole Harbourside courses.
Longboat Key Club Assistant Pro Jim Richard said he doesn’t think there’s much demand by residents for a public course on Longboat Key. Plus, there’s the issue of where.
“I don’t know where they’d put a public course out here. I can’t imagine they’d find room for it even if anyone wanted to,” Richard said. “We get a lot of people who might be here who come for a month who want to play and can’t, so we send them to public courses.”
If you moved here for season and want to play at a public course, Bobby Jones Golf Club, 30 minutes away in Sarasota, is your best option.
“We get Longboat golfers here, oh yeah,” says John Sparrow, general manager at Bobby Jones Golf Club. “There are people who have moved there and won’t join a private club. Many are here for the season, or they’re visiting a hotel or Airbnb.”
As far as public courses go, Bobby Jones is the newest of options.
When the city of Sarasota contracted with Indigo Sports to operate its newly restored Bobby Jones Golf Club, the company was tasked with three directives: make it high quality, make it accessible — especially to city residents — and, ideally, make money.
All three don’t often find synergy — particularly among public golf clubs and especially municipal courses — but in the 18 months since reopening as the original Donald Ross layout, it is receiving largely favorable reviews for course quality and value and offers a 40% discount
off greens fees to city residents.
More than a city asset, Bobby Jones has been a regional draw. Even with the steep discount to city residents — and no matter what players pay they also receive lunch and a sleeve of balls and/or other value-added enhancements — some 88% of the club’s 50,000 rounds so far this fiscal year on the Ross course come from outside the city limits.
Sparrow said golfers regularly travel from Longboat and even St. Petersburg to the north and Venice to the south to experience a Donald Ross original, slightly lengthened and enhanced for drainage by golf course architect Richard Mandell of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
“What better golf course that you can have than an original 1927 Donald Ross paired with the name of Bobby Jones?” Sparrow said.
The course was named in honor of legendary golfer Jones, who played an exhibition round there on Feb. 13, 1927.
Like many industries, Bobby Jones employs a dynamic pricing system for its greens fees, the rate based on the volume of website and app traffic at the time of booking. Walk-ups will pay the target rate, which fluctuates by season.
A scan of tee times and fees for a midsummer Thursday, one day in advance, revealed rates of $64.99 starting at 7:15 a.m. dropping to $55.90 at 2:03 p.m., where it remained throughout the afternoon. Saturday tee times and fees started at 7:15 a.m. for $74.99, increasing to $84 at 2:03 p.m., where they remained throughout the afternoon. Sparrow said greens fees during season last year were typically around $99 for a round on the Ross course.
Brad Knight, the reigning Sarasota City Championship winner, had been a member at a few local private clubs before Bobby Jones reopened. Once he experienced the course and practice facility, he gave up his most recent membership.
“It’s amazing what they’ve done. The practice facility, the driving range, the entire course, it’s amazing,” Knight said. “I don’t think anybody expected it to be this good. The practice facility, I’ve been a member at three different clubs, and I would
put up Bobby Jones’ practice facility against theirs.”
However, for many Longboat residents, staying on the island and playing on the private courses is exactly what they want.
When “The Squad” goes out to play golf, there’s no way they’re leaving Longboat Key.
“This is what we do,” Donna Pettinato said after she parked the greyblue golf cart following a round of golf at Longboat Key Club. “We go to the gym here. We play golf here. We eat on the island in here, so we love it.”
Longboat Key residents Linda Weber, Sandy Finnegan, Isabella Paspa and Pettinato are members of the Longboat Key Club, where they regularly tee up for a round. And they never cross the bridge to play on the mainland. The 45 holes allow the group of ladies to play different layouts without leaving the island.
“There’s 27 holes here and 18 across the street, so why would we want to go off the island?” Finnegan asked. “Today, we played white to blue. Next week, we may play red to white. We may play blue to red. So it’s different all the time.”
Richard says, like many businesses on the Gulf Coast, traffic at the club is seasonal, with the busiest time of the year from February to April. The courses are not open to the public unless they are staying at the onproperty resort or are paid members of the Longboat Key Club.
Richard said including social
Longboat Key residents Linda Weber, Sandy Finnegan, Isabella Paspa and Donna Pettinato are regulars at the Longboat Key Club, where they regularly tee up for rounds of golf.
members, the club has a “few thousand” members, with about 1,000 having a golf membership. It’s not cheap to join — single full membership costs, which include tennis, golf, gym, beach and lounge access, are upward of $14,000 per year, not including the $185,000 initiation fee.
“It’s not cheap to be here, but if they’re buying a condo or house here, it’s not usually a big issue,” Richard said. “A majority (of members) live on the Key, or some may live in Lido or downtown, but a majority live on the Key or downtown.”
Even though the club has a “reciprocals” partnership with other private courses around the Sarasota area, members often opt not to play at other courses because they say they see no need, and the ocean breeze is a plus.
“It’s the only game in town, and there’s always a nice breeze,” Finnegan said.
But it’s not just location. Richard says the Ron Garl designed course is not only scenic and fun to play, but the saltwater-tolerant paspalum grass is in excellent condition.
“It’s in the best shape,” Richard said. “It’s better than anywhere in Sarasota. It’s in great shape. The superintendent does an excellent job.”
Some off-the-fairway shots have led to some tongue-in-cheek criticism from “The Squad,” though.
“Except for the rough,” Paspa said before “The Squad” shared a laugh. “Can you put down they should cut the rough?”
Andrew Warfield
The 25-acre practice area at Bobby Jones assures golfers are hitting off quality natural grass at the practice tee.
The golf courses at Longboat Key Club, which is accessible by membership or stay at the resort, has 45 holes to play.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Town budget proposes decrease in spending
The public will have a chance to give input on the 2026 budget in September.
The town of Longboat Key is in the process of forming next year’s budget, and the public can chime in during two meetings in September.
Longboat Key’s fiscal year begins on the first day of October and ends on the last day of September each year, according to the town’s charter. Public hearings are scheduled at 5:01 p.m. on Sept. 8 and Sept. 22 at Longboat Key Town Hall, where residents can share their thoughts on the proposed budget with Longboat Key Town Commission and town staff.
The recommended 2026 fiscal year budget for the general fund is about $1 million higher in revenue compared to last year (from $23.07 million to $24.25 million), but has decreased general fund spending by about 2.9%, from $24.74 million in 2025 to $24.03 million in 2026.
The millage rate for property taxes for the next fiscal year will remain at 1.9633.
In his letter accompanying the proposed budget, Town Manager Howard Tipton said the town is still recovering from the three-hurricane season of 2024.
Because of that, the town had to draw down the $15.31 million in reserves it had at the beginning of the 2025 fiscal year by about $8 million while it waits for FEMA and insurance reimbursements.
However, the proposed budget still has revenues exceeding expenditures by $221,438, which can go toward rebuilding the fund balance. That balance is estimated to be $7.29 million at the end of the 2026 fiscal year.
“Financially, the town is fortu -
nate to have built up its fund balance over the last decade to self-fund this extraordinary three-storm event,” Tipton said in the letter. “Finance has prioritized the pursuit of insurance and FEMA reimbursements, both of which can be a long and time-consuming process.”
The town is expecting a modest increase in revenue, a vast majority of which comes from property taxes, expected to be $18.3 million in 2026, a $1 million increase despite Manatee County property values decreasing 9.96% compared to last year in large part due to the tax rebate program for significantly damaged homes from hurricanes.
“Thankfully, the St. Regis Resort came on-line to the 2025 tax rolls to help offset, with Sarasota County values increasing 13.53%. The combined impact is a 5.96% increase in values generating $1,092,235 of additional revenue at our current mill rate of 1.9600, primarily due to new construction,” Tipton said in his letter.
The town has $41.9 million in debt, $28.7 million coming from the utility undergrounding project, which was recently completed. An amount of $5.9 million of the town’s budget is expected to go toward debt service.
To see the full proposed budget, visit Town-Longboat-Key-FL-Budget-Book.ClearGov.com/20461.
Email press releases, announcements and Letters to the Editor to: Kat Wingert, kwingert@yourobserver.com TO ADVERTISE
Display Advertising: To obtain information, call 941-366-3468, Ext. 345. Classified Advertising / Service Directory: For information and rates, or to place an ad, call 941-955-4888. Hours 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To place a classified ad online, visit www.YourObserver.com, or email your ad to classified@yourobserver.com.
3 WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE
1. FREE HOME DELIVERY: The Longboat Observers offers free home delivery to singlefamily homes on Longboat Key, Bird Key, St. Armands Key and Lido Shore. The Longboat Observer also delivers to every condominium, resort and commercial building on Longboat Key.
2. MAIL DELIVERY SUBSCRIPTION RATES Standard First-Class Canada
One year / $95 One year / $200 One year / $250
Six months / $76 Six months / $160 Six months / $200
Three months / $61 Three months / $128 Three months / $160
To subscribe: Please call
PUBLIC NOTICES
The Sarasota/Siesta Key, East County and Longboat Observers meet the legal requirements to publish legal and public notices in Sarasota & Manatee counties, per F.S. 50.011.
Verified Council 12166 Old Big Bend Road, Suite 210 | St Louis, MO 63122 314-966-7111 | www.cvcaudit.com
The
SANDCASTLE TOPPLED
Luxury hotel developer Opal has plans for the site but has not revealed what it will do.
cinder blocks.
Demolition has begun on the former 176-room hotel at 1540 Benjamin Franklin Drive just about a mile from St. Armands Circle after the building suffered extensive flood damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The property was once owned by real estate mogul Leona Helmsley, who left the resort to her Maltese dog, Trouble, upon her death in 2007. After Trouble died later that year, the ownership resorted to Helmsley’s charitable trust before the resort was purchased by Opal — then Ocean Properties — in 2014. Opal — which owns about two dozen luxury hotels in Florida, including the nearby Cirque St. Armands, Zota Beach Resort and The Resort at Longboat Key Club —is planning a project on the 6-acre beachfront plot of land. Details are yet to be revealed, but the company’s website says to expect “a relaxed yet refined coastal retreat” with “all the classic hallmarks of an Opal: signature hospitality, luxury accommodations, an enhanced guest experience and the best in food and beverage.”
Plans have not been submitted to the city of Sarasota for review, and the company has not responded to a request from the Observer for more information as of mid-August.
The Sandcastle Hotel at Lido Beach was a 176-unit hotel on Benjamin Franklin Drive. On Wednesday, Aug. 13, demolition continued on the building, which suffered extensive damage from the 2024 hurricanes.
To knock down this sandcastle, heavy machinery was necessary. The Sandcastle Hotel at Lido Key is being demolished, and the ownership group behind St. Regis, Cirque and other Florida hotels and resorts have plans to build anew at the location sandwiched by the Gulf and Benjamin Franklin Drive.
Photos by S.T. Cardinal
SAFE TRAVELS
S.T. CARDINAL STAFF WRITER
Every town has its “problem intersections” — where accidents are more common and drivers and pedestrians should urge caution.
But in Longboat Key, the “problem” isn’t serious. Since July 2023, there have been 21 accidents at the five most frequent accident locations, according to data obtained by the Longboat Observer. Town Manager Howard Tipton attributes the pleasantly low accident numbers in part to an appropriate speed limit. Coming onto the 11-mile key, the speed limit is 35 mph and increases to 45 mph at the most.
Gulf of Mexico Drive is the main thoroughfare on the Key and is the only way on or off the island (for land-based vehicles). With just one main road, it’s easy for police to monitor potentially dangerous drivers coming on or off the Key. And Longboat Key Police Department Capt. Bob Bourque said the visibility of police on that road helps calm traffic.
“We’re out there. We’re visible,” Bourque said. “Very rarely are you going to drive down Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key and not see a police car somewhere on it. Usually, you’re going to see multiple police cars. That visibility is very important.”
One thing that could help traffic flow better, Tipton said, is drivers practicing a bit more patience.
son, traffic can get backed up halfway down the key in either direction trying to get off the island, Tipton said.
“It can be quite the quagmire,” Tipton said.
That quagmire may actually serve as a safeguard against more accidents.
“A third of the year, it’s difficult to go (the speed limit) because of the traffic,” Tipton said. “When you’re only going 25 miles per hour or 30 miles per hour, it’s even harder to get in an accident.”
“The biggest problem we have are people who get tired of waiting,” Tipton said. “So when traffic is bad, it can take awhile to kind of work your way or cross over. Thankfully, we have turning lanes down most of the island. Adding that turning lane on the south end, which is that project that’s under construction right now, I think will also help to allow traffic, especially southbound to kind of keep flowing.”
There is traffic at times, though, turn lane or no turn lane. During sea-
Unsurprisingly, all of the intersections that have seen the most accidents have one street name in common. The intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Harbourside Drive has had the most accidents in the past two years, with seven accidents occurring since July 2023.
“A majority of those crashes (at that intersection) are people pulling out from the neighborhood and turning left going south on GMD,” Bourque said. “But when you’ve got a lot of traffic, they find a little opening and they take off and don’t necessarily see another car going south.”
The intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Bay Isles Parkway has
had the second most accidents, five. Three other Gulf of Mexico Drive intersections are tied for third most with three accidents since July, 2023 — Bogey Lane, North Shore Road and Longboat Club Road.
“People would give their right arm to have some of our problems out here,” Tipton said with a laugh after looking at those numbers. “It’s great to have a community of safe drivers.”
None of the accidents at the top five intersections has resulted in any fatalities, Bourque confirmed.
Westin Hotel, Sarasota,
Photos by Dana Kampa
‘Storm-weary’ budget includes 3 more staff
The proposed 2026 fiscal year budget includes three new staff positions, but requests from the police and fire departments are being tabled for now.
aying the salaries for Longboat Key’s 134 employees takes up a big slice of the budget pie.
According to the proposed 2026 budget, 80% of general fund expenses go toward staff salary and benefits. The $19.2 million “personnel services” line item in the next fiscal year is $456,167 higher than in 2025, partly due to a 6.5% employee wage increase.
There are also three new staff positions budgeted, two full time and one part time. The town will add a building permit tech, GIS analyst and senior HR generalist to its ranks in the next fiscal year, but requests from the police department and fire department to expand are on hold while the town recovers from impacts from the double-whammy hurricane impacts that hit the key in 2024.
“This is a storm-weary budget, I would say,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said, adding that on the north end of the key, property damage from hurricanes impacted assessment rates, which will hurt the town’s property tax revenue, though the addition of the St. Regis Hotel to property tax rolls evens that out a bit.
Tipton said the employee pay increase will be two-fold, 3% being a cost-of-living adjustment and 3% merit-based performance pay bumps.
The police department requested to add an officer to its ranks, but with new Police Chief Russ Mager just sworn in, Tipton said he thought it made sense for new leadership to get a footing for a year before reevaluating whether the additional staff are necessary. The fire department requested two new firefighters each year for the next three years, adding
six total. Including benefits, adding six firefighters and one police officer would cost the town about $925,000 per year, according to Finance Director Susan Smith.
“It’s not an unreasonable request, but at the same time, this was just a difficult year to try and entertain it,” Tipton said. “All of those requests would come on the general fund. All of our public safety is what is funded through property tax, and it just was a difficult year to do that. I’ve told the commission, and I’ve told both chiefs that we will circle back around next year and examine their requests more fully and see if their reasoning still stands, and if so try to figure out how we get there.”
The decision to add two full-time positions and one part-time position in other departments came down to readily available funding sources, Tipton said. The building permit tech is 100% funded through building department fees.
The GIS analyst will be split between three departments and will reduce the amount the town has to spend outsourcing GIS work, Tipton said.
The senior HR generalist position is being added as a way to transition a soon-to-retire human resources assistant. Lynn Curreli, the current assistant, will transition to a parttime role and a new HR employee will come on at a higher pay grade with the hopes of transitioning them into Curreli’s role upon their retirement.
The 2026 fiscal year budget would begin in October if the Longboat Key Town Commission approves it. A public hearing is scheduled 5:01 p.m. Sept. 8, at Town Hall. A second meeting will follow, same time, same place Sept. 22, when the commission will give final approval for the budget.
S.T. Cardinal
Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton spoke to the Longboat Observer about the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget, which adds three staff positions to the payroll.
Summer on St. Armands Circle does look a bit different from previous years as multiple shops remain closed from damage caused by last year’s storms. But certain aspects have remained the same — most vitally, the welcoming atmosphere the gift shops, boutiques, restaurants, watering holes and other businesses exude while visitors mill among them.
On a summer’s day in August, families can be found exploring the centrally located park while snacking on ice cream — a welcome relief from the heat. Tourists snap photos of the iconic marble statues dotted around the Circle. Friends catch up over lunch on outdoor patios when summer’s frequent showers bring down the temps.
Even as the community works to rebuild, it has moments to celebrate.
Businesses on the Circle have been working to help one another through the last months of the low season, collaborating to host monthly “Circle the Date” deals and specials. The next one takes place on Aug. 21, when participating shops will mark their doors with colorful balloons.
Owners highly anticipate the peak season boost to come as they continue building back stronger.
— DANA KAMPA
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
President and Publisher / Emily Walsh, EWalsh@YourObserver.com
Executive Editor and COO / Kat Wingert, KWingert@YourObserver.com
Managing Editor / Michael Harris, MHarris@YourObserver.com
Staff Writers / S.T. “Tommy” Cardinal TCardinal@YourObserver.com; Dana Kampa, DKampa@YourObserver.com
Digital News Analytics and Marketing Strategist / Kaelyn Adix, KAdix@YourObserver.com
Digital News Editor / Eric Garwood, EGarwood@YourObserver.com
Advertising Graphic Designers / Luis Trujillo, Taylor Poe, Louise Martin, Shawna Polana
Digital Developer / Jason Camillo, JCamillo@YourObserver.com
Information Technology Manager / Homer Gallego, HGallego@YourObserver. com
Chief Financial Officer / Laura Strickland, LStrickland@YourObserver.com
Controller / Rafael Labrin, RLabrin@ YourObserver.com
Office and Accounting Coordinator / Donna Condon, DCondon@ YourObserver.com
Observer Media Group Inc. is locally owned. Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Key Life Magazine, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine
CEO / Matt Walsh MWalsh@YourObserver.com
Olivia Swanson dishes up a scoop of passionfruit gelato on her last day at Settimi’s Gelato before she heads off to college for a new school year.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Jacquie Silvernail and Jana Sherpan share lunch on an uncharacteristically cool August Sunday outside Cha Cha Coconuts.
Austin Knuth lets customers fight August fire with fire as he doles out samples of zingy hot sauces at the Pepper Palace.
Among other post-storm developments on St. Armands Circle, Le Colonne Restaurant is rebranding as Nōnnō Umbertō Italian Seafood & Steakhouse. Simone Salustri, who has managed the food truck Buonissimo Mobile Italian Kitchen in the interim, wrote in an update that the owners have begun construction for the reopening.
Meckenzie and Makayla DePasquale, from Ohio, have been regularly visiting Longboat Key for years, and the two took in an afternoon on St. Armands Circle during their most recent visit.
Emma Garza, Junny Nunez-Garza, Justin Farrell, Karina Farrell and Sophia Farrell enjoy a family day on St. Armands Circle.
Corcoran’s success at New College can be attributed to low-hanging fruit
Richard Corcoran has had much success in his short time as president of New College of Florida. Much of this success is a result of attention to low-hanging fruit (e.g. building repairs).
This does not diminish Corcoran’s achievements. When a college president receives an outsize salary and disproportionate infusions of taxpayer dollars to make changes, a politically savvy administrator knows that results are not just possible but required — and quickly.
Many important questions related to changes at NCF, however, have not yet been answered clearly. Basically, how would a merger align with the stated mission for NCF to become “the best liberal arts college in America?”
Is merger talk a sign of mission creep?
If so, is mission creep in the best interests of stakeholders of all three campuses and Florida taxpayers?
Curricular change is the core of education at all levels and the most difficult to achieve. Whatever one thinks about recent changes at the college or their motives, at this point the cost/ benefit ratio for NCF is still shaky. NCF remains a damaged brand due to the disruptions of recent years.
Other, more concrete questions deserve answers before distracting from stated NCF goals. Attracting more students is only the first step in growing enrollments. It will take more time to determine if NCF can retain and support to graduation the students it attracts.
What will be the four- and sixyear graduation rates in the new NCF? Is NCF financially sustainable without a merger?
Are key leaders already concerned that the answer to this last question means NCF is likely to be plagued by low enrollments in the future as it has been for the past decade?
Further, at what level should taxpayer funding for NCF be sustained over time?
State support of all three Sarasota Bay campuses has been uneven historically, and not necessarily because of a lack of local leadership.
Presidential and legislative priorities are notoriously mercurial, even with an on-site president. The most effective leaders at any level may not be able to maintain/ repair all building systems at all times, especially while managing funds to deal with emergencies like major hurricane damage.
The Ringling Museum suffered decades of neglect after it became state property in 1946. With community support, dedicated on-site staff made much progress for Ringling even before the complex was placed under the stewardship of Florida State University in 2000. For the next several years, significant infusions of taxpayer funds, plus private donations, made possible major, muchneeded renovations and additions.
A key reason for the increased achievement and recognition of the Ringling/FSU Asolo Center in the past 25 years is due to its affiliation with expert partners at FSU, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the platinum standard for major comprehensive research universities.
Ringling staff, with their FSU collaborators, leveraged state support with significant private funding to give Sarasota and Florida a museum and regional theater recognized today as national leaders — even when Ringling ebbed as a priority on the never-ending list of programs/projects/issues that are always in line for taxpayer dollars.
Similarly, USF had an uneasy relationship with NCF in the late 20th century. University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee seemed to be an unwelcome USF stepchild.
But USFSM thrived under the leadership of its recently retired regional chancellor and regional vice chancellor (now USFSM’s interim regional chancellor).
Their vision, hard work and dedication resulted in important
campus achievements, including plant improvements and, more importantly, curricular changes targeted to current and anticipated societal and labor-force needs.
The retired regional chancellor’s ability and experience likely worked hand in hand with USF’s president to achieve USF’s admission to the AAU in 2023, giving Florida taxpayers three public-university members of this important organization. (UF is the third.) The brand value of the scope and depth of expertise tied to the AAU identities is a significant asset for the state of Florida and Sarasota/Manatee.
The AAU affiliations do not transfer to NCF. Would it be smart to give up the brand advantages of two campuses in order to make the current weakest link (NCF) the lead player in a merger discussion or merged institution?
Other preliminary questions deserve consideration, including those regarding Florida demographics and potential student
pools, changes in instructional technology that affect/may affect teaching and learning, and foreseeable Florida labor-force needs for which college/university students must/can be better prepared in the next 20 years.
Corcoran and others recognize that the campuses’ physical proximity is an important asset.
Location and other strengths should be leveraged to achieve the highest and best use of public and private resources.
But geographic proximity should not be the primary consideration in planning the futures of institutions with such very different missions and goals. A complex of institutions that includes a strong liberal arts college and two AAU member-branches has advantages for regional businesses as well as families who appreciate the quality of life such institutions help create.
Corcoran clearly has demonstrated he is results-oriented and can achieve goals in a short term.
But the most important goals for NCF are not ones that can be solved in a couple of years.
At best, talk of consolidation of the three Sarasota Bay campuses reflects a misunderstanding of their fundamental missions. At worst, it is a sign that NCF and other Florida leaders do not really think they can achieve the goal of making NCF a public, financially sustainable, highquality liberal arts college.
TERRY HYNES
SARASOTA
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
Have something to tell us? Send your letters to Michael Harris at MHarris@ YourObserver.com.
There’s no better time to save BIG
Courtesy image
New College, which sits on 110 acres on Sarasota Bay, was founded in 1960.
balcony at a residence on Gulf of Mexico Drive when she told police she noticed a worker at the property next door filming her.
Concerned about her privacy, the resident called police to report the purported unsolicited videoing. She was sitting in a kiddie pool overlooking the ocean with just a towel around her when she noticed the purported onlooker, and had recently been skinny-dipping and walking around the balcony nude.
Officers went next door to talk to the man who had reportedly been filming the sunbather. He told police he was installing windows at the property and taking pictures of the finished glass installation to show his boss and offered to show officers his camera roll.
Upon inspection, no pictures or videos of the nude bather were seen on the phone, but there were several pictures of installed windows.
Police went next door to inform the complainant. She said she was relieved there were no pictures or videos of her, but that she still believed he was filming her.
Police closed the case.
FRIDAY, AUG. 8
AGGRESSIVE WALKING
7:15 p.m., 567 Bay Isles Drive
Suspicious person: Police were called to a place of worship on a Friday evening after an employee reported a suspicious person. Dispatch relayed to officers that a person was walking around a synagogue’s parking lot in the rain. When police arrived on scene, the employee described to officers that a man wearing dark clothes was walking “in an aggressive manner” around the property, prompting them to call police. Officers canvassed the area looking for the suspicious person but found nobody matching the description at or near the synagogue. As a precaution, officers remained on scene until all attendees had left the grounds. Officers saw nothing of note and closed the case later that night.
SATURDAY, AUG. 9
UNSOLICITED NUMBER SHARING
3:45 p.m., 3760 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: Police were called by a woman who was sick and tired of her phone number being shared without her permission. The woman said her male friend continuously shared her number with people and that it happened again after she and another friend had gone out to a restaurant the night before. She told police her male friend once again gave her phone number to another man without her consent. Police called the number-sharer to inform him of the situation. When it had been determined that there were no threats or violence between the two friends, police closed the
A shell-fless act
Citizen scientists invited to volunteer for scallop survey.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Have you ever wanted to spend a day out connecting with nature in Sarasota Bay while contributing vital scientific data to help the marine ecosystem thrive? Longboaters have a chance to do just that with Sarasota Bay Watch’s latest great scallop search.
The group invites community members to join in the citizen science-led effort on Aug. 23.
Ronda Ryan, executive director of Sarasota Bay Watch, said people should get a special opportunity to see wildlife in the area while they search for scallops off the shores of Longboat Key.
“It’s a family-fun event,” she said. “Bring a boat, bring your kids, and let them snorkel. You can have a lot of people with you on the boat and switch off with who is the snorkeler.”
She continued, “People have a great time at this event, and it’s helpful to have them in the water, really looking. When they pay attention, it increases their appreciation and ownership of our waters because they know what’s in them.”
This survey is especially important to environmental management because scallops, as filter feeders, are sensitive to harmful changes in water conditions. If their populations are struggling, it could be an indicator of pollution threats to other local marine life.
“Other organisms may be able to withstand variations in the water, but the scallops really don’t,” Ryan added.
Numbers can vary, but Ryan said there was one year when Longboat volunteers counted several hun -
WORSHIP directory
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Those joining this year’s great scallop search need to sign up before the event on Aug. 23. Visit SarasotaBayWatch. org to register. Volunteers will need to bring their own snorkels and masks, sun protection and reusable water bottles.
dred scallops, even beating Tampa.
This year, Tampa Bay Watch hosted its 30th annual survey on Aug. 2, documenting 45 scallops.
Teams will meet at 8:30 a.m. either at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron headquarters at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway or North Coquina Boat Ramp at 1507 Gulf Drive S.
“We’re trying to make it convenient for people to pick up their equipment and head out on their boats right away,” Ryan said.
Working in pairs, volunteers will work on either side of a transect, a weighted line with buckets that measures specific survey areas.
Ryan said coordinators are especially hoping to enlist the help of boat drivers, even if they would prefer to take swimmers out to the survey points without hopping in the water themselves. But Sarasota Bay Watch also welcomes any snorkelers or kayakers capable of navigating the waters, especially those families that look forward to participating every year.
Volunteers should take note of any scallops they see, but also any other relevant items in the environment, like seagrass patches, clusters of clams and noteworthy animal sightings.
“We track seagrass because there is one phase of their life that they spend on the seagrass,” Ryan explained about habitat concerns.
“If you have depleted seagrass numbers, you’re going to have a depletion of your scallop numbers.”
She noted no one should be harvesting any of the scallops during this event. It is illegal to harvest bay scallops in the area, per regulations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“These counts are shared with the FWCC ... and it is super important that there is no season to harvest scallops in this area,” she said, noting the low population numbers locally.
Ryan said volunteers will need
to bring their own snorkels and masks, sun protection and reusable water bottles. Otherwise, organizers will provide necessary clipboards, ropes, buckets and survey equipment. Everyone is invited to join a thank you lunch afterward at the Squadron building.
“We’re hoping to get some good information from people, but we also want them just to have a good time on and in the water,” she said.
Organizers do recommend wearing heavy, closed-toed shoes that can get wet.
This survey is always meaningful to Sarasota Bay Watch because it was one of the first events it coordinated as a nonprofit in 2008.
“This is a fine example of citizen science, and what people can do to contribute meaningfully to science,” she said. Environmental groups on the west coast of Florida typically do their surveys in August because bay scallops’ life cycle is about a year, and late summer is when they are at their largest, therefore easiest to spot.
It depends upon how many people register, but Ryan said she hopes the northern group will be able to cover the shallow areas of Longboat Pass from end to end. But they hope to get a sense of the population throughout the area.
“It’s a cooperative effort to see what’s out there,” she said.
Courtesy images
Corey Vandenhoe is snorkeling during the Great Scallop Search.
Close up of a partially open scallop.
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
TIME FOR MISBEHAVIN’
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe tells the larger-than-life story of jazz pianist Fats Waller.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
During his brief 39 years on Earth, jazz composer and musician Thomas Wright Waller believed in living large. He was a big man with an enormous appetite for food, drink and women, which is how he gained the nickname “Fats.”
In the movie “Stormy Weather,” even as Waller proclaims in the song “Ain’t Misbehavin’” that it’s just “me and my radio” until his sweetheart returns, the ladies’ man reveals himself in the song’s finale, when he sings, “I’m saving my love for you ... and you ... and you” as he looks around the room.
So it’s fitting that Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s musical ode to Waller is called “Big Sexy.” Credit for coining that title goes to the show’s leading man, Leon S. Pitts II. He suggested it, somewhat in jest, to WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs, creator and director of “Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue.”
“I was standing in front of a mirror after a dress rehearsal for the Marvin Gaye show, and I ran my hand through my wig and said, ‘Mr. Jacobs, you should create a show for me and call it “Big Sexy,”’” Pitts recalled in an interview, where he was joined by Jacobs and Ariel Blue, the show’s leading lady.
It wasn’t long before Pitts got a call to come visit Jacobs in his office to discuss his vision of a show that would use Pitts as the focal point to tell the life of Waller through music.
Pitts got his introduction to Waller’s life when he was 18 years old. That’s when he played the char-
acter André in WBTT’s 2010 production of“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” the Broadway tribute to Waller’s music that brought back the days of Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club.
Unlike that show, “Big Sexy” tries to tell the story of Waller’s often outrageous life using Pitts as the star who describes how he has been inspired in his own life by the legendary jazz musician.
“When I was in ‘Ain’t Misbehavin,’’ I was so excited that I kept asking the director, ‘Is it time to go on stage? Is
it time?’ He would say, ‘No, Leon, you’ve still got 30 minutes.’”
Jacobs said that director, Harry Bryce, told him that it had been years since he had worked with an actor who was as enthusiastic as Pitts. “He told me Leon literally brought tears to his eyes,” Jacobs said.
In learning about Waller, Pitts was impressed by the entertainer’s tenacity and drive, which may have contributed to his premature death from pneumonia while he was on tour.
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
“He had a willingness to push boundaries, to go into places where we were not invited,” Pitts says, describing Waller’s refusal not to be pushed out of a recording session by white musicians. “He went in there and did his thing in the midst of pressure and ignorance.”
Another way Waller pushed the envelope during his career was by sprinkling his song lyrics with double entendres and sexual innuendo that left his audiences in stitches.
IF YOU GO
‘BIG SEXY: THE FATS WALLER REVUE’
When: Aug. 22 through Sept. 7
Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
Tickets: $52; students younger than 25 and active military $22. Info: Visit WestcoastBlackTheatreTroupe.org.
Photos courtesy of Sorcha Augustine
Leon S. Pitts II and Ariel Blue star in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s “Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue,” which runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 7.
Jazzmin Carson strikes a pose in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s “Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue,” which runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 7.
The joyful tunes of Waller, which include such standards as “The Joint is Jumpin’” and “Jitterbug Waltz,” allow “you to be free in the music,” Pitts says.
Waller was in such great demand as a performer that he was once kidnapped, blindfolded and made an offer he couldn’t refuse — performing at the birthday party of gangster Al Capone.
It would be impossible to tell the story of Fats Waller’s life without depicting his relentless pursuit of women. That’s where leading lady Blue comes in.
“Once I started building a show around Leon in my head, I knew that it had to include Ariel,” Jacobs says. “They play off each other so well.”
“There’s not a whole lot of dialogue, just quick, popping comedic moments,” Jacobs says, as the two stars play out endless variations on the mating dance that has been going on since the beginning of time.
To prepare for “Big Sexy,” Pitts learned all he could about Waller’s life. In his research, he discovered an interview online with the jazz musician’s son, who remembered being told as a child that the numerous women coming and going from his house were all “aunties.” It was only later on that he figured out he couldn’t have had that many aunts, Pitts says.
Since Blue’s character is not based on a single person, she says she draws her inspiration from the lyrics of the
music. “Then I act out my ‘’isms,’ my little Ariel quirks,” she says. The diva character she plays runs hot and cold, sometimes beckoning come hither and other times playing hard to get, Blue says.
With more than 30 songs in the show, Blue’s got plenty of material to work with to create her elusive everywoman that exercises the feminine prerogative of changing her mind.
Jacobs said he dug deep into Waller’s music catalog and discovered some of his lesser-known songs that he added to the song list that includes well-known favorites such as “Sit Down and Write Myself a Letter,” “All That Meat and No Potatoes,” as well as the titular number for the Broadway musical, “Ain’t Misbehavin.’”
“Big Sexy” also features songs by other composers of the era to help move the show along, including “Two Sleepy People,” “Your Feets Too Big” and “Stormy Weather.”
THE SEARCH FOR SUMMER FUN
To help celebrate the life and music of Waller, “Big Sexy” has its music director, Michael McKinnon, dressed in period costume and playing an upright piano on stage. In addition to Pitts and Blue, the production includes three other cast members — Jazzmin Carson, Andrea Coleman and Ulric Alfred Taylor.
This is the second time that WBTT has performed “Big Sexy.” The first
was in April 2023, when it was the last show in the main season. Jacobs said he decided to revive the revue for the dog days of summer this year because of demand from WBTT’s patrons.
Two recent WBTT summer cabarets, one a Harry Belafonte tribute show starring Michael Mendez, and the other, “The Titan and the Muse: Love Deluxe,” showcasing the talents of Raleigh Mosely II and Carson, were more popular than anticipated, Jacobs says.
“More people are moving to Sarasota, and more people are looking for something to do in the summer,” he says. Prior to the disruption to theater during COVID-19, it was traditional for WBTT to present a full-blown mainstage production during July, Jacobs says. In the early days of WBTT, which is starting its 26th season this fall, having a summer show was a necessity “so we could get through to the fall,” he says.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and the demand for subscriptions, those hand-to-mouth days are behind the company, which is dedicated to telling African American stories with Black performers.
Nevertheless, Jacobs is not one to rest on his laurels. Pointing to a space next door to WBTT’s campus at 1012 N. Orange Ave., he says, “I’d like to have another theater there one day.”
In the meantime, get ready for a little misbehavin’, Fats Waller style.
Music group executive director goes back to the future
Keren
Shani-Lifrak returns to the arts after a stint in real estate.
MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
When Keren Shani-Lifrak arrived at Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota earlier this summer to start her job as executive director, it was a homecoming of sorts.
The group’s offices are in the same building at 1226 N. Tamiami Trail where Lifrak once worked as director of events for the group now known as the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
Today, Artist Series Concerts rents space from the Arts and Cultural Alliance. “I feel like I’m back where I belong — in the arts,” said Shani-Lifrak. For the past 13 years, she worked in real estate in Sarasota.
A native of Tel Aviv, Israel, ShaniLifrak grew up surrounded by the arts. As a child, she played the flute and “lived and breathed for dance,” she recalled. She attended a performing arts high school and was a member of a dance troupe called Tzabar. After finishing her mandatory military service in Israel, ShaniLifrak took her life savings and bought a plane ticket to New York. She landed on Yom Kippur, Jewish New Year, in September 1994.
Some young people might have been terrified to be on their own so far from home, but Lifrak relished the challenge. “I was discovering my boundaries and discovering how to survive on my own,” she said.
As she tried to break into the arts, Shani-Lifrak held a variety of jobs, from selling clothing to working as a hostess at the upscale French restaurant Jean-Georges.
After meeting her husband, who is now a sports psychologist at IMG Academy, the couple moved to Sara-
sota. Once in Florida, Shani-Lifrak held a variety of arts marketing and development positions.
When she learned that Artist Series Concerts Executive Director Marcy Miller was retiring, ShaniLifrak says she thought, “Somebody has to do this job.”
Conceived in 1996 by co-founders Jerold Ross and Lee Dougherty Ross, Artist Series Concerts presents about 25 programs a year. When she was chosen to succeed Miller, ShaniLifrak says it “felt good to be back in the artistic realm. I feel alive.”
You can hear her enthusiasm when she describes how Artist Series Concerts brings audiences close to the musicians and vocalists.
“When you go to the orchestra, you are sitting in a hall and it’s a passive experience,” Shani-Lifrak said.
“By holding our concerts in smaller venues, we create intimacy between the audience and the artists.”
Artist Series Concerts kicks off its 2025-26 season Oct. 12 with “Contrasts,” a concert featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist Nicholas Eanet.
Eanet will be joined by Jungeun Kim, director of instrumental accompaniment at the Curtis Institute, and Sarasota Orchestra’s Natalie Helm and Bharat Chandra.
The ensemble will perform Bartok’s “Contrasts” and piano trios by Schubert and Dvorak. Audience members can meet the musicians at a post-concert reception. For more information, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.
The cast of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s “Big Sexy” performs tunes of jazz pianist and composer Fats Waller and other composers.
Courtesy image
Keren Shani-Lifrak
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
‘A BAND CALLED HONALEE’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 Palm Ave. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
The subtitle to Florida Studio Theatre’s last summer cabaret show is “A Tribute to Peter, Paul Mary … and Friends,” but any self-respecting folk rock fan can spot the play on words in the name “A Band Called Honalee.” ICYMI, it refers to the mythical land made famous by the children’s song “Puff the Magic Dragon.” The incarnation of the Band Called Honalee appearing in Sarasota includes Brian Ott, a veteran of FST’s “59th Street Bridge,” as well as Michael Grieve, Geoffrey Neuman and Sigrid Wise. Runs through Oct. 26.
‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether she’s singing songs made famous by Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she leaves the audience with something they never knew before. What’s more, her cool costumes evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.
DON’T MISS ‘THE HIGH LIFE: CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE BIRDS’
Organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, the exhibition features 70 breathtaking works of birds in a variety of locales, including nature, the studio and the museum. The show is curated by William Ewing and Danaé Panchaud, the same team that brought “Flora Imaginaria” to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 2022. The photos are displayed in the Museum of Botany & the Arts and throughout the gardens, where some appear right at home. Runs through Sept. 14.
IF YOU GO
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug.
23
Where: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. Tickets: $28; $23 online Info: Visit Selby.org.
‘THE PRINCE OF EGYPT’
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton
$42.50 Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.
Directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby, ”The Prince of Egypt” brings the biblical tale of Moses to the stage. The musical from the creators of “Wicked” features such memorable songs as “When You Believe.” Runs through Aug. 31.
FRIDAY
‘DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $42 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Even the best laid plans for adultery can go awry, especially when a scheming wife sees an opportunity for a little hanky-panky of her own with her husband’s best friend. Written by Marc Camoletti (“BoeingBoeing”) and Robin Howdon, “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is a high-speed farce sure to shake anyone out of their summer torpor. Runs through Aug. 31.
SATURDAY
SARASOTA YOUTH OPERA FAMILY DAY
Noon at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. Free Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
OUR PICK OPENING RECEPTION
Celebrate the opening of four new exhibits at Art Center Sarasota, a gallery whose admission is free and whose curated artworks are for sale. The four new shows are contemporary bookbinder
Jacob Z. Wan’s exploration of identity, “Vol. 3: me, myself, and I,” “INK: Quilt of Identity” by youth artists, “Praxis,” Dorothea (D’) Calvert’s sculptural and ceramic works, and a juried show with the artists as subjects, “Self Portrait.” Runs through Sept. 27.
IF YOU GO
When: 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21
Where: Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail
Tickets: Free Info: Visit ArtSarasota.org.
Kids are invited to participate in singing lessons, acting games and workshops to learn more about the Sarasota Youth Opera. In addition to a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic opera house, there will be costume and makeup demonstrations, crafts, a photo booth and the opportunity to win fun prizes.
SUNDAY
PATTI SMITH: ‘A BOOK OF DAYS’
10 a.m. at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey Included with $20 admission Visit Selby.org.
Selby Gardens collaborates with poet and musician Patti Smith, its artist-in-residence, on an outdoor exhibition of large prints taken from her newly published bestseller, “A Book of Days.” Runs through Aug. 31.
TUESDAY
‘LILLIAN BLADES: THROUGH THE VEIL’
10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in her first solo museum exhibition. Her installation of “veils” combines handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing display. Blades attributes her use of dazzling color to her childhood in the Bahamas and her process of creating large-scale assemblages to her late mother, an accomplished seamstress. Runs through Oct. 26.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine
Lily Kren and Gil Brady star in “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” which runs through Aug. 31 at Florida Studio Theatre.
Courtesy image
“Rabbit Girl” is one of Dorothea (D’) Calvert’s anthropomorphic works on display at Art Center Sarasota through Sept. 27.
Image courtesy of Matthew Holler
Sex, lies and artichokes
Florida Studio Theatre’s ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ serves up a frenetic farce.
MARTY FUGATE THEATER CRITIC
Marc Camoletti and Robin Hawdon’s “Don’t Dress for Dinner” plays a farcical game of liar’s poker at Florida Studio Theatre. The play’s lying lovers keep losing. The simple truth would set them free. But they stay in the game with insanely complicated lies. Their lying game unfolds at a family cabin in the woods. Bernard (Gil Brady) is vacationing with his wife, Jacqueline (Katharine McLeod). He’d rather vacation with his mistress, Suzanne (Lily Kren). Conveniently, Jacqueline’s visiting her mother over the weekend. Bernard’s made some well-laid plans for hanky-panky while she’s gone. Exit wife; enter mistress! To set the mood, Bernard hired Suzette (Ellen Grace Diehl) — a caterer who’ll cook up a gourmet meal. His best friend, Robert (Jack Berenholtz), will also pop by to provide an alibi for the catering bill. Inconveniently, Jacqueline is Robert’s mistress. Once she knows he’s arriving, she stays put for some hanky-panky of her own.
Robert’s perfect plan is shot to pieces. A frenetic farrago of mistaken identity, costume swaps, heavy drinking, lies, evasions, excuses and pratfalls ensues. Along with a dinner from hell.
Farce runs on intricate clockwork. If it feels mechanical, nobody laughs. Be artificially natural! Tough job. Director Nancy Rominger somehow pulls it off. Her comic timing is perfect. But the action always feels spontaneous. The laughs don’t stop.
The actors never wink at the audience. They stay in character — and always keep a straight face while spouting preposterous balderdash.
Brady’s Bernard has a refined,
IF YOU GO
‘DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER’
When: Through Aug. 31
Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $25-$46
Info: FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
upper-class gentility. His character can be charming. But he’s entitled, self-satisfied and smug — and overestimates his cunning.
Berenholtz’s Robert is Bernard’s reluctant accomplice. He looks and acts like Mr. Nice Guy. But he’s really a dirty rotten scoundrel. He’s cheating with his best friend’s wife, after all.
Kren’s Suzanne is Bernard’s mistress. She’s a chic, sexy, well-paid fashion model. Suzanne has many talents — but she’s no cook. But she pretends to be, so Jacqueline won’t think Robert has a second mistress.
Diehl’s Suzette is the savvy chef who’s roped into pretending to be Bernard’s mistress. She sees it as a business opportunity — and gets paid for every fib she supports.
Like Oliver Douglas in “Green Acres,” her no-nonsense character is the farce’s anchor to sanity. It’s a mad, mad world — but Suzette’s the exception. Will Harrell puts in a comic turn as her husband — a gruff rustic who’d murder any lothario he suspected of touching his wife.
Isabel A. and Moriah CurleyClay’s set is a lovingly detailed, converted barn.
Kathleen Geldard’s costumes aptly capture the era’s class distinctions. Suzanne and Suzette’s quick changes into sexy, suggestive outfits are à propos to the French farce tradition.
As Mark Twain once said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” If the characters had taken his advice, they wouldn’t have made such a fine mess. No cheating schemes. No dinner from hell. The evening would’ve gone smoothly. But that’s not funny at all.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort’s tortoise pair celebrates one year.
ONE SHELL OF A PARTY
Two of the most famous residents at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort celebrated a special occasion this week. Rose and Jack, the pair of Aldabra giant tortoises living at the resort, celebrated their first anniversary of delighting and educating guests on Aug. 14.
The titanic tortoises gradually made their way over to meet their party guests standing outside the enclosure, which was decorated with balloons and sparkly fringe for the special event.
But the part of the celebration they cared about most sat in the middle of the sandy enclosure — a two-tier pink watermelon cake decked out with cucumber slices, bananas, carrots, berries and other animal-friendly treats.
Dan Conklin, curator of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort’s wildlife lagoon, brings out a special celebratory watermelon cake.
Donning their gold party hats, they tucked into the celebratory cake while their human guests enjoyed iced cookies shaped like tortoises.
Their primary caretaker is Dan Conklin, curator of the resort’s wildlife lagoon. He said the sugary delight was a once-in-a-blue-moon treat the pair definitely enjoyed. Typically, they munch on grasses and other healthy snacks.
Conklin said Jack and Rose have been excellent animal ambassadors over the year, bringing smiles to many children’s faces with their lumbering presence in the lagoon area.
“They’re a unique and exquisite animal,” he said. “Kids are always amazed by them, and that’s the power of animals, and tortoises in particular. When you get up close to them, it does so much more than a picture or a video can. You can touch them, feel their shell, scratch their neck. It really brings people closer to wildlife.”
He said visitors are often surprised to learn just how sensitive their hard-shelled carapaces actually are. In fact, a mosquito can even bite them between the massive plates of their shell. But that also means Jack and Rose enjoy a good back scratch from the team of keepers, who have been hard at work getting all the animals at the resort settled into their homes, which officially opened Aug. 16, 2024.
Rose and Jack had an exciting start to their time at The St. Regis, particularly when they
shuffled over to the parking garage to avoid the storm surge during last year’s hurricanes.
It has been smooth sailing for them since then. The tortoises like to spend a sunny afternoon soaking in their pool or diving into a mud bath the team occasionally prepares for them.
Many people who meet Rose and Jack may initially think their names come from the popular film, “Titanic.” However, the origins actually trace back to John “Jack” Jacob Astor, founder of The St. Regis New York and creator of the brand.
Rose gets her name from the favorite flower of Astor’s mother, Caroline.
Conklin said it has been a pleasure getting to know their personalities and habits better over the course of a year. Jack tends to be more outgoing, but both like to stretch their legs and sunbathe.
“Jack is a bit of a ham, and he really likes interacting with people,” he said. “Rose can be a bit more choosy.”
They are uniquely fascinating animals, similar to the Galapagos tortoises made famous by Charles Darwin’s environmental work. Jack is due for a weigh-in, but both he and Rose are well over 225 pounds at 21 years old. Fully mature Aldabra tortoises, native to Madagascar and the West Indian Ocean, can grow to 500 pounds and live to about 120 years old.
Now that Rose has gotten settled, Conklin is optimistic she could start laying eggs. These tortoises typically lay eggs in the winter.
Experiences at the Under the Sea Lagoon are only open to resort guests, and Conklin said people take the opportunity to meet the tortoises and swim with the rays. Despite their slow-moving reputation, Jack and Rose made quick work of their celebration cake, nibbling on the last few bites of cold watermelon while caretakers took a moment to snap a picture and memorialize the milestone.
— DANA KAMPA
Guests at Jack and Rose’s anniversary party were treated to tortoiseshaped iced cookies from The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.
Rose the tortoise needs a little encouragement from aquarist Tammy Nguyen to come out and enjoy her first anniversary party.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Members of the animal care team at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort celebrate the Aldabra tortoises’ first anniversary there. From left, Elizabeth German, Yvanna Paez, Ethan Lundberg, Bill Hatch, Dan Conklin and Tammy Nguyen.
Music with a mission
St. Armands church hosts free concert to boost Circle.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Endeavoring to bring more activity to businesses to St. Armands Circle and provide enlightening entertainment for year-round residents, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church is bringing back its free midsummer concert series.
Minister of Music and Director of Operations Michael Bodnyk said feedback on the first two parts of the four-concert series has been outstanding.
He said church members were inspired to launch the series this past summer.
“The idea behind it was that so many of Sarasota’s performing arts organizations go on a brief hiatus over the summer, but we have more and more people here visiting or as full-time residents,” he said. “We thought we’d give some programs a try and see if we can bring some people out.”
While jazz was the flavor of last year’s shows, this year’s series focuses on classical music with a twist.
The first two shows in the series
IF YOU GO
SARASOTA PIANO TRIO
When: 7 p.m. Aug. 27
Where: St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive
Tickets: Admission is free, and seating is open Info: Visit SAKLC.com.
featured The Classern String Quartet playing songs by The Beatles and brothers Yurii and Andrii Padkovskyi. Yurii plays the clarinet while Andrii plays the violin, and they both moved to Florida from Lviv, Ukraine, to pursue their passion.
“They’re already playing around the world and with several ensembles in Sarasota,” Bodnyk said. In light of the community’s ongoing effort to rebuild from last year’s hurricanes, especially on St. Armands Circle, Bodnyk said the church is glad to play a part in boosting activity for neighboring businesses.
“This year, after all the hurricane damage, the hope is that we can encourage people to come visit the Circle and patronize the shops and restaurants before and after the concert,” he added. “Hopefully, we can help the Circle rebuild a bit.”
IT’S READ EVERYWHERE
Headed on a trip? Snap a photo of you on vacation holding your Observer, then submit your photo at YourObserver.com/ ItsReadEverywhere for a chance to win a $500 cash prize and help a local nonprofit!
Dana Kampa
Jessé Martins, a classic conductor, pianist and voice coach, introduces his counterpart for the evening, clarinetist Yurii Padkovskyi.
JERSEY SHORE: Marian White reads the Longboat Observer while visiting Surf City in New Jersey.
REAL ESTATE BY REAL EXPERTS
Lo’ Key and Monkeys
The founding leaders at Three Island Monkeys and Lo’ Key Island Grille have been working to support one another since they both opened on the north end of Longboat Key early this year. They welcomed community members to see how they’ve grown at the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s latest “Networking at Noon” on Aug. 15.
Guests first partook in a tasting menu with some of Lo’ Key Island Grille’s popular dishes, from shrimp and crab sliders to chicken salad on toast. Attendees at the sold-out event went around the room to introduce themselves, including several new chamber members.
Afterward, they went over to the neighboring gift shop to enjoy dessert, while hearing about some of the pieces crafted by Floridian artists from store owner Brigette Kubin.
Though housed in separate buildings, the stores share a property at 5620 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The restaurant recently shifted to its summer hours, now open from 2-10 p.m. daily.
— DANA KAMPA
SHELLSTONE AT WATERSIDE
Approx. 1,692-3,733 sf From High $500's 2 Amenity Centers Quick
Lo’ Key Island Grille General Manager Courtney Rossler and Three Island Monkeys owner Brigette Kubin co-hosted this month’s “Networking at Noon” on Aug. 15.
Julie Wilson from Skyrun Sarasota Vacation Rentals dishes up some of the cold appetizers at Lo’ Key Island Grille.
Katlyn Deak from Servpro and Sophie McDonald from The Made Cleaning Co. joined the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s “Networking at Noon” event.
Jack Dean, Kim Bouchard, Brad Moltrup and Casey Moltrup chat before Lo’ Key Island Grille dishes up a tasting menu for Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce members on Aug. 15.
Photos by Dana Kampa
David Baptiste, branch manager at Ameris Bank, speaks with Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce members on Aug. 15 at Lo’ Key Island Grille.
MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY PROUDLY PRESENTS
THE SUMMER OF
Opportunity OPEN HOUSE
Extravaganza
ONE DAY ONLY! SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
More than 200 homes across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee Counties are opening their doors for this extraordinary event.
Your dream home could be just a visit away!
If you wait for the headlines to say “Now is the time to buy” – it may already be too late.
Regent Court home tops week’s sales
ADAM HUGHES
RESEARCH EDITOR
James and Laura Rogers, trustees, of Longboat Key, sold the home at 845 Longboat Club Road to Vicki James, trustee, of Auburn, Indiana, for $30.3 million. Built in 2005, it has six bedrooms, six-andtwo-half baths, a pool and 17,714 square feet of living area. It sold for $16.5 million in 2020.
LONGBOAT HARBOUR TOWERS
Robert and Vanda Soper, trustees, of Bradenton, sold the Unit 704 condominium at 4401 Gulf of Mexico Drive to David and Karen Ambre, of Antioch, Illinois, for $1.07 million. Built in 1972, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,314 square feet of living area. It sold for $683,000 in 2015.
LONGBEACH
Denise Carol Adams, trustee, of New York City, sold the home at 611 Hibiscus Way to Peter and Trine Wagner, of Marietta, Georgia, for $730,000. Built in 1953, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,723 square feet of living area. It sold for $790,000 in 2021.
ONLINE
See more transactions at YourObserver.com.
THURSDAY, AUG. 21
4-6 p.m. at Whitney Plaza, 6838 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Support local businesses at the latest Summer Night Out while sipping on beverages and trying some treats. Participating shops include Design 2000 Salon, Driftwood Beach Home and Garden, and Ventura’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. Call 941-960-0568 with questions.
CIRCLE THE DATE
All day. St. Armands Circle, 300 Madison Drive. Join participating businesses on St. Armands Circle all day for special sales and giveaways for this monthly summer event.
QIGONG
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Learn all about this ancient healing art of movement and meditation at the last Qigong class at the current center. Fee is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 941383-6493.
YOGA
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debby Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $20. Call 941-3836493.
FRIDAY, AUG. 22
TAI CHI
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Certified instructor Reuben Fernandez leads a final intermediate tai chi class, held outdoors when weather permits. It’s recommended to wear close-toed
shoes with low heels rather than running shoes. Cost is $20. Call 941383-6493.
SATURDAY, AUG. 23
JOIN THE GREAT SCALLOP
SEARCH
8:30 a.m. at Sarasota Sailing Squadron headquarters, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, or North Coquina Boat Ramp, 1507 Gulf Drive S. Those joining this year’s citizen science-led scallop search need to sign up before the event. Visit SarasotaBayWatch.org to register each participant.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27
TUNE INTO THIS TRIO
7 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive. The Sarasota Piano Trio rounds out the church’s midsummer concert series with their “(Un)Known” performance. Attendance is free and open to the public. Seating is open, and parking is available. Visit SAKLC.com for more information.
THURSDAY, AUG. 28
ENJOY A FISH FRY
5 p.m. at Christ Church of Longboat Key, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Church members can enjoy a summer meal together, featuring George Rauch preparing the fish fry and Sally Rauch whipping up her signature tartar sauce. Sign up to bring your favorite side dish. Call 941-3838833 with questions.
Tony Rives, Wyland
appreciates
BEST BET
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27
NETWORK OVER ART
5-7 p.m. at Wyland Gallery Sarasota, 314 John Ringling Blvd. Owner Guy Vincent and gallery director Tony Rivas plan to give tours of works by artist and conservationist Robert Wyland and other famous artists, while facilitating conversations about forging community connections.
RECURRING EVENTS
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-6493.
TUESDAYS POP-UP LIBRARY
10 a.m. at the Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. The Sarasota County Pop-Up Library hosts services on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with story-time beginning at 10:30 a.m. and other services available from 10-11:30 a.m.
Dana Kampa
Gallery Sarasota’s gallery director, said the shop
showcasing vibrant works by local artists like Stephen Muldoon, who painted live works in the gallery this week.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
FRIDAY, AUG. 22 High: 86
SATURDAY, AUG. 23
High: 85
TIDES SUNRISE /
Aug. 25 7:06a 7:58p
Aug. 26 7:07a 7:57p
MOON PHASES
“RADDAZ PAMB SKJGSKUGJ HKO OA KAG DTG AGYTB XTAXDT’J AXSKSAK
PAM WTUACT PAMB AXSKSAK AR PAMBJTDR.” JHBHY ITJJSUH XHBETB
“H ARZHRWR XTSNHXJ NKBBRXO AV YHOSKGR. VTE GXTP, SNR EXHWRMOR NKO K IHWHXR BZKX.” ZKXK IRZ MRV
“TZK BSO VUZKKO JLUT BSSHCSMZ B XLEHUMZ LS FHTTOGHHX BSX KFZ GHTEZY MHWZ UCSSLSJ.” FZXO TBWBUU
SWAP MEET by Michael Schlossberg, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms
INFORMATION & RATES: 941-955-4888 redpages@yourobserver.com • yourobserver.com/redpages
DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 2PM Service Directory - Friday at 3PM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card
The Longboat Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only.
*All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher.
*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.
