Longboat Observer 3.7.24

Coastal defenses under review

No minimum height can be established at present for seawalls, but Longboat Key staff recommend a higher maximum height.

CARTER

For now, the town of Longboat Key won’t be able to recommend a minimum seawall height. But the town is on its way toward making some changes to the maximum allowed height.

On March 4, the Town Commission had the first hearing of a new ordinance that would increase the maximum allowable height from 4.5 feet to 6 feet.

The ordinance would amend Chapter 151 of the town’s code. This change is something that is aligned with the town’s Sea Level Rise and Recurring Flooding Resilience Plan.

“That plan had a number of components to it that are near-term, mid-term, longer-term items and various action items,” Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons told commissioners. “This is one of the first regulatory items that’s one of the near-term items.”

Parsons said that the original recommendation pertaining to seawall heights was to establish a minimum height of 3.5 feet in the town code. There is currently no minimum height requirement.

But Senate Bill 250, which was extended in summer 2023, prohibits municipalities within 100 miles of Hurricane Ian or Nicole’s landfalls from adopting more restrictive regulations to land development regulations or town comprehensive plans.

The bill is set to expire in 2026. Unless it gets extended again, the town could revisit the recommendation of setting a minimum seawall height.

For now, Parsons and his Planning, Zoning and Building staff recommended increasing the maximum allowed height, giving property owners the freedom to build higher

seawalls.

The current maximum height is at 4.5 feet. Parsons said that there may be some properties in Country Club Shores that are at that height, but it’s not a common height in general across the town.

Both staff and the Planning, Zoning and Building board were in favor of this recommendation, according to Parsons. The board recommended approval at its Jan. 16 meeting.

Raising the maximum allowable seawall height addresses issues that residents face not only in severe weather events, but on a recurring basis with king tides.

“Seawalls that are very low in height are overtopped very easily here within the town,” Parsons said. “That overtopping can add to all kinds of issues with the overall structural integrity of these.”

Parsons added that seawalls have an average lifespan of about 30-50 years, and are an expensive build. The cost could be anywhere from $650 to $2,000 per linear foot, according to Parsons’ presentation.

Therefore, increasing seawall height might help mitigate the weathering of these seawalls overtime due to water overtopping them.

Parsons also said that raising seawall heights addresses sea level rise factors.

He presented statistics from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program that state over the last 20 years, average sea level increased by 6 inches. That rate is three times higher than the rate between the years 1947 and 2000, according to a report from SBEP Executive Director Dave Tomasko.

“So allowing for these kinds of significant investments, long-term investments at the election of the property owner … is a real positive for property owners,” Parsons said.

After Parsons’ presentation, District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams inquired about how changing the height of seawalls on a property would impact adjacent properties.

Parsons said there are things that are necessary, like design and engineering, when increasing a seawall height. That design process would take into account the impact on adjoining properties, and if any additional fill would be necessary.

Existing language in Chapter 151 of the town’s code requires that, if a seawall is raised 6 inches or more, that a drainage assessment be conducted to demonstrate there are no negative stormwater runoff impacts.

The same chapter of the town code states that, “Along manmade canals, new seawalls will be permitted only

where a seawall exists on adjoining properties.”

This is to, in a way, discourage property owners from installing seawalls.

Assistant Director of Public Works Charlie Mopps added some context for commissioners, stating that natural, sloped shorelines are better for wave action. Living, sloped shorelines can slow down wave energy more effectively than seawalls.

In general, town commissioners weren’t opposed to adding the new height allowance.

Commissioners voted 6-0 to move the ordinance to the second hearing at the April 1 regular meeting. Vice Mayor Mike Haycock was the only commissioner absent.

“That plan had a number of components to it that are near-term, mid-term, longer-term items and various action items. This is one of the first regulatory items that’s one of the near-term items.”

— Allen Parsons, director of Planning, Zoning and Building

A

A SHARED VISION

Manatee County works with Longboat Key residents to solidify north end community center plan.

Acollaborative effort between community members and Manatee County’s project team is driving the Whitney Plaza Community Center project toward the finish line.

The community center project, also referred to by the county as the LBK North Learning Center, will provide 6,140 square feet for adulteducation programming and meeting space for Longboat Key residents.  Manatee County entered the lease for the space at 6810 Gulf of Mexico Drive back in January after it was approved by the board of county commissioners on Jan. 9. The plaza is owned by Porter Investment Holdings Inc.

The town of Longboat Key held a community input session in July 2023 to hear from residents about what they would like to see in the space. Early ideas like classes for crafts and adult education, and community meeting space, have stuck.  North end residents in particular have been interested in the project.

Longboat Key North, a coalition of 28 neighborhoods and homeowners associations on the north endchaired by Maureen Merrigan and Paul Hylbert, has been working on bringing it to fruition.

According to Merrigan, a former town commissioner, the need for community space on the north end is something that has been talked about by Longboat Key North for three or four years. When she was a commissioner in 2021, she was working with Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van

WHAT’S

Ostenbridge on the idea.

Longboat Key North has been actively providing input to the county’s project team through the group’s subcommittee, the North End Space Team (NEST).

North end resident Jill Ball was appointed to lead the NEST committee. Her main job is to act as a liaison between the north end community, the county team and the town.

“Everybody’s been phenomenal to work with,” Ball said.

Within the NEST committee, there are three focus groups: community, recreation and arts.

The community focus group, led by Bob McRae, focuses on working with the various homeowners associations and neighborhoods to gauge what space is needed for events and meetings for organizations.

There is also a lot of interest in the main component of the space: adult education. The team is exploring the

“I want to complete it for (the residents) and they want to occupy it.”

— Simona Brinkman, county project manager

possibility of implementing environmentally focused programming as well.

Deborah DiCarlo is leading the recreation side of things, and Ball said DiCarlo has been working closely with other recreation facilities, like The Paradise Center and the Bayfront Park Recreation Center.

The arts component, though, is one that has been the most popular.

“I would say the biggest voices, or the largest group, I would have to say right now is the arts,” Ball said. “And I think that stems from the prior arts

center that was in the Village. That was very well-received and highly attended, and I think that the population of folks that are still here are excited to have an arts focus as a part of this learning center.”

That focus group is being led by residents from different parts of the key: Lynn Coffin, Pat Lundy and Patricia MacDonald. Interested residents in the arts community have been pushing for equipment and space for artists.

All the members of the various focus groups have been talking with neighbors to gather ideas, and bringing them back to the NEST team over time.

“There’s no shortage of input from the community,” Ball said.

Some of the NEST committee members were able to tour the space at Whitney Beach Plaza and meet with the county’s project team, according to Ball. Being able to see the space was helpful for them to visualize the opportunities available.

Simona Brinkman, the county’s project manager for this project, has been communicating frequently with the NEST committee and actively taking their input into consideration.

“She took that and ran with it, so that was really great,” Ball said.

WHAT’S LEFT TO DO?

No construction has kicked off yet, but the project team is working hard to ensure the community’s input is taken into consideration.

The architects, Ohlson Lavoie Corp., are finishing up the drawings after hearing that feedback from the NEST committee, according to Brinkman.

“The committee already had a bunch of ideas,” Brinkman said. “The architect took the layout and the wishlist items and made it happen.”

The architect, OLC, has completed projects in 48 states and 11 countries. The extensive list of its previous

projects includes many community centers and recreation spaces.

The project will then go through the design and development process before submitting the plans to the town for permitting.

It’s a lot of work to do, all compressed into a seven-month timeframe.

The county was given seven months by the landlord before needing to pay rent on the space. Brinkman said the project team is focused on getting the construction completed in that time.

“I want to complete it for (the residents), and they want to occupy it,” Brinkman said.

One aspect that helps is that the facility already has existing plumbing. Though there’s a lot of remodeling that needs to be done to the bathrooms and other facilities, running pipes through the building would have taken a long time.

Ball said the county proposed possibly trying some pilot programming later in 2024, and Brinkman is trying to complete the construction within the seven-month timeline.

But Brinkman said there’s always the chance that construction runs over a little bit.

It was previously estimated that the construction would cost around $1.2 million. The county is responsible for paying for construction and rent.

Monthly payments for the lease would be $11,256.67, or about $135,080 for the first year. The lease is good for four years, with the ability to renew terms.

Programming for the space will be run by Manatee Technical College, under the guidance of  Paul Gansemer, executive director for the Adult, Career and Technical Education department. An interlocal agreement between the county and school board outlined that the center would provide “feebased adult enrichment classes.”

Two candidates file for District 2 seat

Activist Ron Kashden challenges Mayor Liz Alpert in the Sarasota City Commission election.

Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert has one challenger thus far for the Sarasota City Commission District 2 seat in Laurel Park resident Ron Kashden.

Alpert was first elected in 2015 and is serving her second term as mayor. The Sarasota mayor and vice mayor are selected annually by a vote of the City Commission. Kashden frequently appears before the commission to speak on topics, often opposed to the majority of the board.

ported the creation of The Bay, renovation of the Bobby Jones Golf Course and Nature Park, and the new playground and splash pad at Bayfront Park. She has supported incentives to create more affordable housing and multimodal transportation options to relieve congestion.

“This election is about moving our city forward with smart solutions for local issues,” Alpert said in the news release.

Professionally, Kashden is a certified public accountant and former CEO of a fund accounting software company in New York. Alpert is a family law attorney and principal of Alpert Law of Sarasota.

Both have filed for the Nov. 5 election with the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office. This is the first time Kashden has run for elected office.

“I’m running to give the public a seat at the table and bring a voice of reason to civic discussions,” Kashden said in a news release. “Engaged leaders approach problems the way software engineers handle bug reports — identify issues, research the causes, consider possible solutions and then implement fixes.”

According to a news release, as a city commissioner Alpert has sup-

Kashden’s wife, Kelly Franklin, has filed a defamation lawsuit against City Commissioner Kyle Battie over his racism allegation against her related to an apparent hoax social media post. Battie made the claim during a Jan. 16 commission meeting. Franklin has denied creating the post and her attorney has claimed Battie was aware the post was false weeks before presenting it in the public forum.

To date, Battie, is the lone candidate to have filed for his District 1 seat, and incumbent Erik Arroyo is being challenged by former Planning Board member Kathy Kelley Ohlrich in District 3. Both Battie and Arroyo are running for a second term.

Right heights for right now

Town commissioners and staff debate freeboard ordinances in response to new flood maps.

Mowners more flexibility when it comes to freeboard? That was one of the Town Commission’s main topics at the March 4 regular meeting.

After analyzing new base flood elevation maps put out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, town staff with the Planning, Zoning and Building Department worked with Planning and Zoning Board members to draft an ordinance related to freeboard height.

Freeboard is a safety factor for flooplain management. Freeboard plus base flood elevation equals what’s called design flood elevation, the elevation from sea level to the bottom of the first habitable floor (see graphic, right).

Planning and Zoning Board members also pushed a little further than the original recommendation, according to Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons. The board’s recommendation to go beyond the status quo led to discussion among town commissioners.

On March 4, Parsons presented to commissioners the proposal for allowing for an additional two feet of freeboard on top of the alreadyrequired foot of freeboard.

The new FEMA flood control maps for Sarasota County are still pending until March 27, but the maps enact a general decrease of about 2 feet for base flood elevation recommendations.

In January, town commissioners

voted to adopt the maps when they become official on March 27.

FEMA regularly updates flood control maps. Manatee County’s maps were last updated in 2021. Parsons said the last Manatee County maps showed a similar decrease.

Base flood elevation represents the level of surface water expected during a 100-year base flood event. It’s also described as a flood level that has a 1% chance of occurring in a given year.

“Older homes, like we have many out here in the town, are built below the base flood elevation,” Parsons said. “They are certainly at higher risk of flooding.”

Parsons added that structures built with habitable floors at or above the BFE are less likely to incur damage from major flooding events.

The FEMA decrease in BFE for an area like Longboat Key was striking for Parsons and other staff.

“I will fully acknowledge that this probably makes no common sense … and so the question is why has it gone down by two feet?” Parsons said.

According to FEMA, new advances in technology allowed for more accurate estimations, which contributed to the reduction in BFE recommendation.

The Florida Building Code also requires one foot of freeboard.

FREEBOARD ALLOWANCE

After commissioners voted to adopt the maps in January, the Planning and Zoning Board met in February to determine what the next steps would be in response to the new maps.

First, PZB staff and the board started with the recommendation to allow an optional two feet of additional freeboard on top of the already-required foot. Adding the optional two extra feet would allow houses to go back to status quo, as if the FEMA maps weren’t lowered.

But the Planning and Zoning Board, like Parsons said, wanted to

do more.

That’s what led it to the recommendation to allow for an optional four feet of freeboard, if the commission agreed.

David Green, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board, said the board believed that the town commission should approve the two feet option at a minimum.

“We were surprised, shocked may be a better word, that the FEMA maps came back and actually lowered the standard,” Green told commissioners. “We wanted to enhance the resiliency of the island and create incentives for people to build more safe structures … We felt like, as a consensus of the board, that we

wanted to do more than just maintain the status quo.”  Commissioners heard from a couple members of the public before debating whether the additional four feet was the direction they wanted to take.

The idea was brought up that the commission could approve the twofoot recommendation first, and then look into adding the additional two feet before the ordinance’s second hearing on April 1.

Some commissioners also suggested that the PZB department explore the option to only allow the four feet in certain areas that have a lower BFE.

Commissioner-at-Large BJ Bish-

WHY ADOPT THE MAPS?

Adopting FEMA’s base flood elevation maps allows for the town to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and receive flood insurance discounts through the community rating system. The CRS grades municipalities on actions taken to reduce flood risk, such as public awareness efforts, mapping, regulations and flood damage reduction ordinances.

Longboat Key is currently a Class 6 municipality with the CRS, which results in a 20% discount for flood insurance.

But Parsons said the town is close to becoming a Class 5 municipality, which would be a 25% discount. If the freeboard ordinance would be a requirement rather than something that’s optional, the points achieved through the ordinance would push the town to the Class 5 rating.

Senate Bill 250, extended in 2023, prohibits municipalities within 100 miles of Hurricane Ian or Nicole’s landfall from enacting ordinances that would be more restrictive or burdensome on land development. That said, the freeboard ordinance language must remain as something that is optional, rather than required.

If the bill isn’t extended again, it would sunset in 2026. The town isn’t due for a CRS reevaluation until 2028, so there is the potential to make the optional freeboard allowance a requirement before the next evaluation.

op was in favor of adopting the fourfoot option.

But most other commissioners were in agreement to stick with the two-foot option for now and explore adding the additional two feet in select areas. That motion was moved and seconded, leading to a 5-1 vote, with Bishop being the only opposed.

Lido loses 80 free parking spots

City Commission approves converting free spaces along Benjamin Franklin Drive to paid parking.

AOn Monday, the Sarasota City Commission approved by a 3-2 vote converting the free spaces along the beachfront road to metered parking at a cost of $1 per hour. The 368 spaces in the Lido Pavilion parking lot will remain free of charge.

The vote was one of a package of parking overhaul measures presented by Parking Division General Manager Broxton Harvey, which were considered individually by the commissioners. With Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and Commissioner Erik Arroyo vehemently opposed to charging for beach parking, it was among the most contentious of the parking program topics.

“In addition to decreasing the general public’s access to one of our greatest parks and open spaces, which is the beach, decreasing free access to that is just absolutely something I cannot support,” Ahearn-Koch said.

As they were on Monday, AhearnKoch and Arroyo were in unison in their opposition to the paid beach parking during previous discussion and a workshop. While both objected to restricting free access to the beach, Ahearn-Koch was further concerned about overflow parking spilling into nearby neighborhoods and Arroyo — who was the lone no vote on several of the proposed changes — main -

tained the city shouldn’t increase fees and convert free parking simply because it can. As for the Lido parking matter, Harvey said he received little pushback from the coastal neighborhoods.

“I really haven’t gotten too much negative feedback,” he said of St. Armands and Lido Key neighborhood groups. “I think a lot of people feel that it would actually assist with some of the people parking and ‘camping’ in those spaces, which we get a lot of phone calls regarding that. This would eliminate that issue as well. “People actually — quote unquote — spend the night on the beach and park in those spaces.”

Immediately as the beach parking item was introduced, Ahearn-Koch motioned to not approve, seconded by Arroyo. That motion failed

“In addition to decreasing the general public’s access to one of our greatest parks and open spaces, which is the beach, decreasing free access to that is just absolutely something I cannot support.”

3-2 along those lines. Kyle Battie motioned to approve the measure seconded by Debbie Trice, who said,

“I was of two minds on this, but recognizing that we will continue to have free 368 spaces in the lot and we do have the trolley, I think that we’re offering enough free that it’s not unreasonable to charge on the street.”

The purpose of the changes is twofold: to ensure the city’s parking program pays for itself and to improve efficiencies. Lido Beach parking was just one of a “buffet” of menu items, as Arroyo described it. Several other changes will affect how visitors park in downtown. They include: „ Gateless garage program, which will eliminate gates in city-owned parking structures to increase ingress and egress speeds. That was approved 5-0. „ Waiver program removal, which eliminates parking waivers for

first-time

were offered as a temporary program, which was implemented in 2019 when the parking program began. That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

„ Extending parking enforcement by two hours until 10 p.m., excluding Sundays and holidays. The intent is to assist with parking turnover of vehicles and increasing the available spaces for customers of downtown businesses. AhearnKoch motioned to deny the measure, which died without a second. However, that was followed by a motion to approve, which failed 4-1 with Trice in favor, effectively denying approval as Ahearn-Koch motioned.

„ Sunday safety parking enforcement to issue citations for violations such as double parking, blocking drive lanes, blocking fire hydrants, ADA violations, illegal ADA parking, etc. That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

„ Initiate Centennial Park boat ramp parking fees at $5 for single vehicles and $10 for vehicles with boat trailers. Currently, parking at the boat ramp is free, although 70%

of users are for commercial purposes. A 3-2 vote to not approve was later rescinded by Battie, who said he changed his mind after it was explained to him that a significant number of users of the boat ramps are not city residents. A revote to approve passed 3-2, with AhearnKoch and Arroyo opposed.

„ Initiate a fee of $1 per hour for use of electric vehicle charging stations in city-owned garages. That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed. „ Limit metered parking spaces to credit card payment only. That was approved 5-0.

„ Increase appeals fee from $7.50 to $25 to cover the cost of the magistrate. Customers who win the appeal do not pay the citation or appeals fee. That was approved 4-1 with Arroyo opposed.

„ Increase parking citation fee schedule by $10 above the current fines of $25, $30 and $35. Fines paid within 24 hours of the violation date and time shall be reduced by $5. A motion to deny approval passed 5-0.

LONGBOAT

OPINION / OUR VIEW

Here is what LBK needs

Sure, Longboat residents would like all three venues — a community center, a dedicated education center and a library branch. The county has the cash for all three.

So many thoughts come to mind when you ask a Longboat Key resident to comment on the library

It’s the topic on Longboat.

What size public library — paid for with Sarasota County tax dollars (uh, Longboat tax dollars) — should be built on the Town Center Green? Should it be an 8,000-square-foot structure the county proposed?

Half that size? A McDonald’s hamburger ordering kiosk? Or even a library branch at all?

Ask 100 people, and you’ll get 100 varied opinions.

But here is the one opinion we have heard frequently since the town’s charette two weeks ago: Longboaters definitely do not want an 8,000-square-foot library.

Instead, here’s what is needed, in order:

A community center that can accommodate 300 people in a room. A dedicated-space education center. And, if need be, a modest, modest library that makes sense for the 21st century’s digital era and the Key’s demographics.

Why, even in multiple public meetings, a majority of town commissioners have put the words “community center” and “education center” ahead of a library.

But whenever you watch the commissioners converse on this subject, you get the sense that even though they see the need for a community center, they are fixated on a library — driven that way because that is what Sarasota County will fund and, as a county commissioner said, “That ship has sailed.”

That’s what came out of discussions among town and county commissioners and their administrators in 2021 and 2022 — much to the surprise in 2024 of Longboat residents.

But alas, who could ever be against a library?

Actually, it’s complicated.

A PLACE FOR 300

Longtime Longboaters know the history of this long-sought facility. We’re not going to rehash every last detail of what has occurred over the past quarter-century to bring about a community center and a home for the Longboat Key Education Center. But context is important.

Longboat taxpayers rejected what became a built-by-committee, overly expensive monstrosity (complete with swimming pool) in the early 2000s.

Through the years, there also have been attempts to raze the Bayfront Recreation Center for a real community center.

The now-gone Longboat Key Center for the Arts in the Village limped for years as a quasi-community center.

And then, as many remember, the partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design for an Arts, Cultural and Education Center with a black-box theater fizzled.

Here’s the point: Not once in any of these efforts did any of the leaders of these efforts or residents say the word “library.”

The need is for a community center. To wit:

Before the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center came to life, a developer proposed constructing an assisted-living complex on that site. Residents went bananas. The Town Commission needed a place to accommodate outraged citizens at public hearings, so it jammed everyone in the All Angels by the Sea Parish Hall, with dozens of residents standing around the

perimeter of the hall, spilling outside the entrance.

Later, in 2010, when the Longboat Key Club and Resort proposed a $400 million expansion, Longboaters became riled again. Expecting large public turnout at public hearings, the Town Commission moved to Temple Beth Israel. Day after day, Longboaters took over nearly every pew.

More recently, when developer Chuck Whittall proposed the St. Regis, the Town Commission scheduled public hearings at the John Ringling Ballroom at the Resort at Longboat Key Club. There was standing room only for more than 200 people.

The need is for a community center that accommodate 300 people in a room for public meetings, lectures, art shows and the like.

The need is for dedicated space for the Longboat Key Education Center, now the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel. This 40-year-old, not-for-profit institution has 3,000 to 5,000 life-long registrants a year. It’s our version of the famous Chautauqua Institution in New York.

Town commissioners should ask longtime Education Center Executive Director Susan Goldfarb about its needs and the center’s effects on Longboat’s quality of life.

There were days before COVID, when the Education Center’s 12 daily programs would almost fill the parking lot at the Centre Shops. This week, the center will have more than 250 people attending the 15th annual performance of the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe. Last month, more than 250 people attended a Neil Diamond program. Jazz nights attract 80 to 150 people.

Think how that will work — sharing and scheduling community center and education center space; or the WCBTT rocking to the Temptations, while Longboaters in the adjacent library are trying to read “War and Peace.”

The education center is crucial to Longboat Key’s resort-retiree, high net worth demographics. Goldfarb told us last week of a woman who moved to the Key and knew no one. She started going to the Education Center almost daily — a regular now for 15 years.

“I told her she should be given a Ph.D. for all the classes she took,” Goldfarb said. “She told me she made friends and felt less lonely.”

The education center is more than education. It’s a social center that helps make Longboat the community it is.

And there is this: It reduces traffic going to the mainland.

CASE FOR A LIBRARY

A group of Longboat women told a town commissioner how excited they are about not having to drive to Selby Library in downtown Sarasota. North Longboat moms with preschool-age kids told the commissioner it would be a place to take the children for activities.

We know of one resident who told a commissioner he more than likely would not use a library.

Another resident said there is no need for a brick-and-mortar library on Longboat; if Amazon can deliver books in two days, why can’t the Sarasota library have one-day service to the Key?

To be sure, a healthy public library is a symbol of its residents’ commitment to their city’s quality of life. Sarasota County is testa-

YOUR CHANCE TO BE HEARD

What do you want at Town Center Green: A library? A community center? An education center? All of the above?

How big of a library?

Should there be a two-story building on the site?

Who should pay for the facilities — Sarasota County? Longboat taxpayers? Private philanthropists?

The town of Longboat Key and officials from Sarasota County will conduct their second public meeting on the proposed library at 1 p.m. Monday, March 18, at Town Hall.

ONLINE SURVEY

Does Longboat need an 8,000-square-foot library? A community center? Who should pay?

Fill out our survey. Go to YourObserver.com/LibrarySurvey/

ment to that. It prides itself on the strength of its library system.

So the argument goes: It doesn’t make sense that Longboat Key should be the only municipality in the county that does not have a library branch.

WEIGH THE VALUE

The case for all three venues is compelling. But space is limited.

So weigh the value. Prioritize their contribution to the needs of the Key’s residents and quality of life. But who should do that — the county, town commissioners or Longboat Key taxpayers and property owners? A referendum?

ANNUITY FOR SARASOTA

The money.

As the story goes, after the dissolution of efforts to develop a $17 million arts, cultural and education center with Ringling College, to their credit, a few Longboat commissioners considered turning to Sarasota County and the Sarasota County Public Schools system as potential sources of capital.

The idea had merit.

Former Sarasota County Commission Chairman Al Maio became an advocate for the county to fund a library branch. What’s more, that funding would include county taxpayers paying for annual operating costs and staff salaries.

Longboat commissioners, including current Mayor Ken Schneier and former Town Manager Tom Harmer (a former Sarasota County administrator) all liked the idea.

The discussions evolved in 2021 and 2022. The county would fund the library, and Longboat Key would fund anything extra — e.g. community center and/or education center.

Remembering Longboat Key taxpayers’ rejection of a bond issue and an increase in property taxes 20 years ago, Longboat commissioners accepted the idea of Longboat philanthropists funding the extras.

An equitable deal?

It’s not. Longboat deserves better — and more. Here’s why: Longboat taxpayers are a magnificent annuity for Sarasota County and the county’s public schools.

In fiscal 2024, the Longboat taxpayers on the Sarasota County side of the Key will send $25,890,230 to Sarasota County. That amount covers the county’s property tax, general debt service and debt service on the Legacy Trail. (The state and

county also will collect another $3.7 million in tourism bed taxes from the Sarasota portion of Longboat.)

For the school system, the Longboat-Sarasota County taxpayers will send $18,549,726 as the local tax portion and another $16,745,011 to cover the state portion of school taxes. Altogether: $35,294,737.

The total for Sarasota County and schools: $61,184,967.

All that from just one-half of a tiny barrier island, whose Sarasota County portion of the permanent population is 4,775.

That begs the question: What do Longboat Key taxpayers and property owners receive in return that directly benefits the island? Little.

A REASONABLE ASK

So far, Sarasota County allocated $1 million out of its library budget for the design of a Longboat library branch. County budget documents show no other funding.

The county’s five-year library capital spending plan totals $48 million, but there is no mention of an earmark for Longboat.

If, say, the county is to appropriate funds for a library, a defendable and reasonable amount for Longboat would start at a minimum of $10 million. That would be the equivalent in today’s dollars of what the county spent to build 25,000-square-foot libraries in Newtown and the Fruitville library east of the interstate in the 2000s.

But Longboaters don’t want a $10 million library.

The thinking of town and county commissioners needs to shift to the possible. Whatever is appropriated doesn’t need to come from the county’s library capital plan. It can be earmarked from somewhere else — say, an infrastructure fund.

What’s more, be creative: Appropriate it to the town, giving the town, not the county, the responsibility for the project’s completion and accountability to the county.

That would not be an unreasonable ask.

Nor would this: $15 million.

County commissioners would likely choke. But the truth is that $15 million would hardly be noticed.

The Sarasota County 2023-24 budget is $2 billion — $1.44 billion for operations, $570 million in capital outlays. What’s more, the county has been gushing with new cash (up 33% from 2023 to 2024 ).

You could also make the case that a $15 million appropriation would be a wise investment for the county. It will enhance the value of Longboat Key as a destination for high-net-worth retirees, who will continue to drive up real estate values and property taxes, feeding ever more money to the county.

Politically, such an appropriation would help endear the county to Longboat taxpayers and voters. Longboaters would be forever grateful and friendly to future endeavors with the county. And … Longboat-Sarasota voters at election time would remember which commissioners supported the town.

THE ROI

You could expect county commissioners’ initial reactions to a request for $15 million to be this: “How can we possibly justify that to all of our constituents outside of Longboat Key?”

The answer is simple: A onetime contribution of $15 million in exchange for more than $60 million a year in perpetuity. Amazing ROI.

DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

Town commissioners and others have expressed frustration and dismay that this development has taken as long as it has and lament that further delays are either unnecessary or jeopardizing progress. That’s what happens when no one individual or private entity owns the property or when government committees are involved.

But another perspective is this: Whatever is developed is likely to stand for 50, 60, 70 years. Which brings to mind the famous, simple admonition of the late W. Edwards Deming, father of what became the Japanese manufacturing miracle of post-World War II: Do it right the first time.

“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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Pop-up luxury

ily Development President and CEO Matthew Whitman Lazenby said, specifically noting the SarasotaLakewood Ranch market’s combination of high-net-worth residents and deep-pocketed seasonal tourists. “This is a great time of year for us to be here.”

Bis

Access Popup Tour to The Mall at University Town Center this month. Whitman Family Development, which owns Bal Harbour Shops, announced the forthcoming pop-up event in a media announcement last week, followed by a social media campaign.

“The west coast of Florida is a fantastic market for us,” Whitman Fam-

Retailers have been hosting popups in and around stores for years, selling everything from makeup to microwave ovens, usually around Christmas. But the Bal Harbour Access Pop-up Tour is a rather unique offering: It consists of 30 individually designed, customized shipping containers, with a list of brands that include Tiffany & Co., Balmain, Etro, Gianvito Rossi, Addict and Santa Maria Novella.

The pop-up operation, spanning 17,000 square feet, also includes covered walkways with fans, a retractable canopy and The Whitman, a fine-dining restaurant seating 150. (The restaurant and bar menus for The Whitman will be custom-made for the Sarasota stop.)

SHOP LINEUP EXPANDS

Ahead of its opening this week, the luxury pop-up mall announced it’s adding another ultra-high-end brand to its lineup: Dolce & Gabbana.

The company behind the popup, Whitman Family Development, announced the addition of the famed Italian fashion brand in a Monday news release.

In addition to Dolce & Gabbana, Whitman Family Development

An official grand opening is scheduled for March 8, and a Whitman Development spokesperson said it will remain open through April. The UTC Mall and its multiple other connected restaurant and retail districts straddle the Manatee-Sarasota County line, just west of the University Parkway exit of Interstate 75.

also announced that Golden Goose, a luxury sneaker brand, will join the roster of stores at the UTC Access Pop-up Tour. The nearest Dolce & Gabbana store to Sarasota is in Orlando, while there’s a Golden Goose at International Plaza in Tampa. The Access Pop-up Tour scheduled an official grand opening for March 8 and will remain open through April.

“The west coast of Florida is a fantastic market for us. This is a great time of year for us to be here.”

Whitman Lazenby said. “This is a really unique high-end shopping experience.”

The idea for such an extensive experiential retail pop-up tour, Whitman Lazenby said, dates back to the pandemic. The Whitman Development team had planned to open a smaller version of today’s pop-up tour in the Florida Keys. But due to a number of issues, that plan fizzled.

“It didn’t work,” Whitman Lazenby said. “It never opened.”

But the idea, Whitman Development executives believed, had merit. So the company kept at it, adding to it and enhancing it. The current version chose its four markets by looking for places with underserved luxury offerings and higher than average ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals. The Tampa and Naples markets, with International Plaza and Waterside Shops, respectively, have “access to luxury,” Whitman Lazenby said. “Sarasota less so.”

After finding the locations, the next step was planning and logistics. In Sarasota, Whitman Development is partnering with UTC landlord Benderson Development, which Whitman Lazenby said has been a big help. In North Carolina, explaining the concept to Raleigh city officials for permits and other approvals was a challenge. “They said ‘you want to do what?’ recalls Whitman Lazenby with a chuckle.

The area has been a hotbed of retail and restaurants recently: new and coming-soon brands include Trader Joe’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and an Anna Maria Oyster Bar location. A Tesla dealership outside the mall is under construction.

The pop-up tour of stores, Whitman Lazenby said, is more like a “retail carnival” than a standard pop-up event. The Sarasota-east Manatee County market is the second stop on the four-stop Access Pop-up Tour. It debuted in Raleigh, North Carolina last December and went through January. Stops after Sarasota include Walton County in the Panhandle and Greenville, South Carolina. Each stop lasts about two months.

“We are excited to be bringing Bal Harbour to customers and markets that might not be familiar with it,”

Another challenge? Getting the show road-ready. Participating pop-up stores are sending boxes and cases of merchandise, which has to be accounted for and displayed properly. In some cases, the brands send their own employees to staff the pop-ups, and in others Whitman Family Development staffs them, Whitman Lazenby said. In all cases, attention to detail is key. “This is a personal touch, high-touch experience,” he said.

45 years of Harry’s

Though they expanded over 45 years, Harry and Lynn never grew their business past Longboat Key.

It’s a generational thing at Harry’s Continental Kitchens.  Harry and Lynn Christensen have expanded their family business a lot over the course of 45 years. They’ve seen generations of families walk through their doors.  All the while, they were raising their own family.

Today, Harry’s Continental Kitchens has four main components: the corner store, the deli, the restaurant and the catering business. Hal Christensen, son of Harry and Lynn, oversees the day-to-day business as their general manager.

“We made Longboat Key our home,” Lynn Christensen said. “I think why we’ve lasted is because we keep our nucleus here and we stay here.”

The Christensens found Longboat Key in 1973 during a trip to Naples. They stopped to visit an old high school friend in Sarasota, drove out to Longboat Key and decided that was far enough.

Harry and Lynn rented a cottage in the Village and started building their life in Longboat Key.

There were a couple stints of time when they lived near the Pocono

The Christensens say the key to their business’ longevity has been gradual evolution.

Mountains of Pennsylvania, they said. When Harry would be working in the Poconos, he said he would spend his days off visiting New York City, learning about different styles of takeout food.

Around 1976, the Christensens found their way back to Longboat Key and Harry began working for Café L’Europe. There, he harnessed his methods of takeout. He said he would practice preparing dishes for chefs early in the day, so the line cooks could quickly throw the premade meals in the oven during dinner service.

Then Harry and Lynn were ready for a place of their own. They started leasing their first restaurant location

in 1978.

At first, it was only the restaurant. Originally called Continental Kitchen, Harry and Lynn Christensen opened their business in 1979. Back then, it was located at 5440 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Harry recalled learning about the convenience of takeout food. During that time on Longboat Key, he said it was hard to get into restaurants on the island. He thought the concept of takeout with high-quality food would be a good fit.

Takeout dishes like gazpacho with shrimp and beef Wellington were popular from the start, and remain on the menu today.

Also during that era on Longboat Key, Harry said that condominium complexes were a lot more social, throwing cocktail parties and other gatherings left and right.

That’s when he started doing “party specialties,” bringing platters of quality food to these parties.

Harry said he remembers when they first started the party specialties, they would have to close the restaurant early to prepare the platters. Customers would peek through the windows to see what

extravagant platters Harry was creating.

The success of party specialties led to the addition of their catering business.

Over time, catering became a more prominent aspect of their business, Harry said. A reputation for highquality food at a good price was forming for all aspects of the business.

In 1984, Lynn thought it would be a smart business idea to create more of a brand. The business name changed to Harry’s Continental Kitchens. Their business kept evolving, gradually becoming what it is today. But the Christensens said everything had to be well thought out, ensuring there were the proper facilities and financial stability.

“We gradually did things as we could afford them,” Lynn Christensen said.

While Harry and Lynn were becoming a fixture on the island, they were also raising their two sons, Eric and Hal.

Harry and Lynn said that trying to manage multiple aspects of the business during the day and raising a family in their free time made time

fly by.

But when trying to find that balance between work and family, Harry said he always thought of it as “quality over quantity,” emphasizing the importance of making the most of the time they did get.

Harry and Lynn also spoke proudly of the community connections they have been able to sustain on Longboat Key. Their catering business has allowed them to connect with residents at events like christenings and weddings. And returning customers have continued traditions of coming to Harry’s, bringing their families throughout the years.

“Don’t let anybody ever go away unhappy,” Harry Christensen said as one of his secrets to success.

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

When Hal grew up, he went to Florida State University for a degree in hospitality. He started at a corporate chain where he worked for about three years after graduation.

Then, the opportunity arose to come back to Longboat Key and work for his family’s business.

He’s gotten to see his parents almost every day since he started at

Harry’s 24 years ago.

Hal is now the general manager for the business. He and his parents said one of the most important aspects of their business are the employees.

They like to give opportunities for growth, and have seen staff rise from busboys and dishwashers to servers and beyond.

Some of their kitchen staff have been with the business for 25-30 years, Harry said. A couple in the corner store have been there since they started.

To celebrate their 45 years of business, they plan on hosting specials including a four-course, prix-fixe menu for $45.

A little further down the road, the Christensens are hoping for an expansion that would utilize the building behind the restaurant, currently used for storage.

But they aren’t in a rush. Like with their previous expansions, it’s all about getting the timing right.

And Harry and Lynn know that the business will remain in good hands with Hal at the helm in the future.

TRIBUTES

Margaret “Pat” McGouran 1942-2024

Margaret “Pat” McGouran, resident of Bradenton, FL, passed away on February 17, 2024 at the age of 81. Pat was born March 3, 1942, in New York City, to Peter J and Mary K (McKiernan)

After graduating from Mother Cabrini High School, Pat met the love of her life, Daniel P. McGouran. They married in 1967, and remained married until his death in 2002. Pat went on to have three children, Suzanne M, Peter J and Daniel K. McGouran. She was involved in various organizations including St. John Church and School and Leonia Public Library in Leonia, New Jersey. After moving to Florida in 2007, Pat volun-

teered for Save Our Seabirds and The Woman’s Guild of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Longboat Key, where she served as Membership Chair from 2008 - 2020. She’s survived by her two sisters, Susan C. Binder and Kathleen M. Connor, her three children, two grandchildren, Kevin and Matthew McGouran and daughter-in-law, Beth Klavir. The Funeral Mass will be held in New Jersey and she will be laid to rest at Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee, next to her husband.

“Have you seen the new showroom?”

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• Behind the Scenes VIP Tour of Mote Marine Aquarium and Research Lab for 6 people.

• Dinner for 6 guests at Zota Beach Resort.

• Casa Del Mar Beach Resort Stay’cation with Longbeach Café breakfast for 2.

• Full Day Cannon’s Boat Rental, and much MORE!

Date: Friday, March 22, 2024

Rain Date: March 23, 2024

Cocktails: 5:30pm

Dinner: 6:00pm

Live Auction: 7:00pm

Movie: 8:00pm

Location: Bayfront Park

4052 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key

Admission: $75 per person

To

TOP MARKETING SERVICES

We won Top Brokerage in the United States because our marketing services are among the top in the United States.

NOW OPEN IN SARASOTA

Little Ringling Project public hearing

A public hearing for the study of the Little Ringling Bridge is scheduled for March 21. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently conducting a Project Development and Environment Study for the roadway from Bird Key Drive to Sarasota Harbour West.

According to the FDOT, this study investigates alternatives that address issues with structural integrity, mainly caused by age and operational deficiencies.

Possible improvements that will be discussed include safety enhancements, changes to traffic operations, increasing bridge resilience in storms and a transit lane.

Interested residents can take part in the March 21 public hearing inperson at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. The meeting will run as an open house from 5-6 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 6 p.m. There is also a live online option for the meeting, which requires advanced registration.

Materials for the project will be posted on the project website by March 14 for participants to review before the meeting.

New fire vehicles on the way

The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department is preparing to add some new vehicles to their fleet.

A new ambulance is first, scheduled to arrive in March. The ambulance was funded in the town’s fiscal year 2022 budget and ordered in

Courtesy image

The Florida Department of Transportation is in the study phase of improvements to the Little Ringling Bridge.

May 2022, costing $350,000 without equipment. This one replaces a 2009 ambulance, which has become outdated.

The department is also waiting for a new fire truck, which is supposed to be delivered around May. This truck replaces a 2010 fire truck and cost about $850,000 in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

This price also does not include equipment, but Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said that communications equipment can be changed over.

In the Feb. 20 Town Commission workshop, Dezzi presented this information and also told commissioners that the department is working on acquiring a second high-water vehicle to respond to calls during flood events.

Gulf Islands Ferry expands service

Gulf Islands Ferry added Thursdays to its regular schedule on Feb. 29.

Now the ferries run four days a week, Thursday through Sunday. Both ferries, the Downtown Duchess and Miss Anna Maria, operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., depending on weather conditions.

The service includes three stops at Downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and the Bridge Street Pier.

One-way tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors over 60 years old, $4 for children ages 4-18 and free for children 3 and younger. Round-trip tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $6 for youth.

For more information and to view the full schedule, visit the Gulf Islands Ferry website at GulfCoastWaterTaxi.com.

Open Wednesday - Sunday • 11am - 11pm (closed Monday & Tuesday) 201 N. Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach 941-778-0771

Growing in Jesus’ Name

COPS CORNER

Worship With Us at Our Church Sunday Service 10:00 AM

Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor

Men’s Bible Study: Monday @ 9:00

Women’s Bible Study: Wednesday @ 10:00

Visitors & Residents Welcome

demonstrate the scope, depth, and range of this amazing new addition to our church. Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont, Pastor, will do a brief Dedication Ceremony. Please join us and be mesmerized by the majesty and glory of Chris playing the “King of Instruments.”

FRIDAY, FEB. 23

FETCH ELSEWHERE

12:54 p.m., 100 block of North Shore Road

Animal Problem: An officer was sent to respond to a complaint about a dog on the beach. When the officer arrived at the beach, there was a small dog playing fetch with a group. The officer spoke with the dog’s owner, and said not only are dogs not allowed on the beach but the dog also needed to be on a leash. The owner said she was unaware of the ordinance and would leave the beach.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

CLEAR THE WAY, PLEASE

10:27 a.m., 1600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Officer Public Service: A citizen called for police assistance regarding his car being blocked by construction vehicles. The complainant said he wanted to leave the site but could not because his vehicle was being blocked by other vehicles and equipment. The officer then spoke with the construction superintendent, who said the crew needed a few minutes to finish something up before helping unblock the complainant’s car.

CLEAR THE WAY REDUX 5:28 p.m., 3000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Highway Obstruction: While on patrol, an officer noticed a broken beach chair blocking a lane of Gulf of Mexico Drive. The officer removed the chair and disposed of it in the dumpster at the police department.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25

DOORKNOB MALFUNCTION

8:25 a.m., 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Officer Public Service: Dispatch sent a Longboat Key officer to respond to a lock-in. At the scene, the homeowner told the officer that the door handle to the baby’s room broke off. The homeowner was unable to get inside the room. The Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department was also called to the scene. Fire Rescue used a ladder to climb up to the balcony and get into the bedroom through a sliding glass door and open the other door from the inside. The baby was safe.

MONDAY, FEB. 26

SHOPPING SPREE

8:34 p.m., 1900 block of Harbourside Drive

Officer Public Service: This call started as a possible missing person. An officer arrived on scene and met with the caller, who said her husband had gone shopping but hadn’t returned home yet. The husband was contacted by the officer. He said he was fine, and that his wife was overreacting.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28

DOG ON THE LOOSE

6 p.m., 500 block of Birdie Lane Animal Problem: A citizen called to report a loose Dobermann that was biting other dogs. An officer requested Sarasota Animal Control Services also respond to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer met with the complainant who said he saw the loose Dobermann running around without a leash, and he was concerned the dog would bite others in the neighborhood. The officer canvassed the area and was able to locate the dog’s owner. The owner said his dog accidentally got out of the harness and was running around for a few minutes when they encountered the complainant. It was confirmed that no other dogs or humans were bitten.

THURSDAY, FEB. 29

DOG IN DISTRESS

11:16 p.m., 500 block of De Narvaez Drive

Officer Public Service: A resident called for police assistance in locating his dog who was crying somewhere in the canal. Longboat Key Police units were able to find the dog in the canal and rescued it. The dog had minor cuts from barnacles, and officers advised the owner to clean the dog’s wounds and seek veterinarian care.

Bark in the Park

Dog lovers discuss ideas with the town manager about how to make the dog park more enjoyable.

The town of Longboat Key hosted Bark in the Park on March 1 in the big-dog park in Bayfront Park for residents and their dogs to come together to discuss enhancements to the town and future Longboat events.

“This is what our town is all about,” said Town Manager Howard Tipton. “Getting together over our common interests and putting our ideas together to make our Key a better place.”

In 2022, resident Irene Hess donated $123,000 to the Longboat Key Foundation to cover 75% of the big-dog park with artificial turf. Tipton announced at this event that the town has budgeted the $175,000 needed to add artificial turf to the remaining 25% of the big-dog park and the entirety of the small-dog park.

Chair of the Longboat Key Foundation Jim Brown said work on the project would start in May.

Tipton shared that the artifi -

LONGBOAT KEY FOUNDATION

To make a donation to the Bayfront Park Dog Park Project, contact Chair of the Longboat Key Foundation Jim Brown at JimBrown@LBKFoundation.org

Donations of $10,000 and above will be acknowledged on a donor recognition plaque.

cial turf currently in the park has helped keep it clean and well maintained for the frequent parkgoers.

Residents who attended Bark in the Park shared ideas with Tipton that they think would help improve their experience.

People suggested lights for the nighttime, high-top tables and working fire hydrants for the dogs to play in the water in the summer.

Tipton said that since the town will be paying for the artificial turf, the Longboat Key Foundation would appreciate donations to make the ideas happen.

Residents enjoyed the discussion with Tipton and Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips as well as other dog owners on Longboat. The town provided a food spread along with homemade dog treats made by resident Shawn Leven.

6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive • Longboat Key, Florida 34228 • 941-383-6491

Follow us on Facebook • www.longboatislandchapel.org

NFL

Rickey

five seasons as Offensive Line.

In his seventh season in the NFL, Rickey responded to God’s call to pursue full time ministry. He became an active pastor in the Southeast Christian Fellowship which quickly became a beacon of light in the Southeast DC community.

Rickey serves our nation’s leadership on Capitol Hill by hosting weekly Bible Studies with a number of Congressmen, along with working with community and business leaders throughout the Washington D. C. Metropolitan area.

Visitors

VISIT US AT THE LBK COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 • 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

TOWN CENTER GREEN • 600 BAY ISLES ROAD • LONGBOAT KEY

We hope you will come by our tent to meet our friendly members, our wonderful new Pastor, Dr Julia Wharff Piermont, and learn about the numerous activities we offer and the outreach missions with whom we are involved.

421285-1

1350

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Practice with a master

Anyone passing by The Paradise Center the morning of March 1 could feel the chi in the air.

Dedicated tai chi students filled its parking lot at 10 a.m. like they do every Wednesday and Friday. But these regulars of Reuben Fernandez’s tai chi class at The Paradise Center were in for a treat Friday morning. Fernandez’s master, Max G. Yan, had come to teach his annual tai chi class on Longboat Key.

This year, Yan’s class was about getting back to the basics and understanding what tai chi can do for your health and lifestyle. As he led the class, he sprinkled it with personal anecdotes and references to understand each movement better. Yan explained that the energy, or the “chi,” is the main principle of the whole practice and is what draws him and others to tai chi.

“Today, I wanted to speak to them about the basic concept of the tai chi exercise,” said Yan. “It is very complicated, but it is all based on the same concept. You have only two movements. It’s just different combinations. Knowing these two movements helps us stay loose and feel

IF YOU GO

REUBEN FERNANDEZ

TEACHES TAI CHI

When: 10 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday at The Paradise

Center Where: 546 Bay Isles Road.

Cost: $15. Walk-ins welcome.

Info: Call 383-6493. Fernandez teaches a beginner class on Wednesdays and then the intermediate class on Fridays. Class is outdoors, weather permitting.

the peace and energy or the ‘chi.’  Tai chi is different and unique from the other exercises.”

Originally from China, Yan started to practice kung fu in his childhood. Due to a medical problem, it was recommended he start tai chi. He said this changed his body in one year in every aspect of his health. He has been dedicated to the practice ever since.

Yan learned the oldest form of tai chi from Grand Master Chen Quanzhong. Chen tai chi was passed down in Quanzhong’s family line and is the most popular form of the exercise.

Yan now has his own school in

“I have known these students for a long time, and they are just blessed to have Reuben as a teacher. So I love coming to teach here because it is really like teaching in paradise.”

— Master Max G. Yan

Hollywood, Florida, and passed this style of tai chi down to his students, including Fernandez. He is a part of the World Taoist League and also taught in New Hampshire.

Fernandez started practicing tai chi under Yan when he moved to Hollywood. They have known each other for more than 20 years. Fernandez was looking for a new outlet to practice martial arts to pay homage to his childhood hobby.

Yan’s open demeanor and the serenity of tai chi attracted Fernandez to dedicate himself to the practice. He said that the familial concept of tai chi also drew him to it. His classes revolve around Yan’s lessons of community and supporting one another in physical, mental and spiritual health.

“His whole philosophy is everyone supporting each other,” said Fernandez. “It is not about being super strict and critical of everyone. That is not what tai chi is about. It is about helping everyone move forward in their tai chi journey and lifestyle.”

Four years ago, Fernandez moved

to Sarasota and started teaching tai chi at Elite Health Medical Center, where he taught for one year. After being recommended to The Paradise Center by Town Commissioner BJ Bishop, Fernandez has hosted tai chi classes for Longboaters for three years.

“I have known these students for a long time, and they are just blessed to have Reuben as a teacher,” said Yan. “So I love coming to teach here because it is really like teaching in paradise.”

Yan also stayed after class to give

some private tai chi lessons. Janet Milliken attends Fernandez’s class every week and said she was amazed by Yan’s class.

“I love how he explains everything in depth,” said Milliken. “This class, he went into how the two basic movements affect different parts of the body when you use different combinations. He also is just funny and livens up the class. I go to class every week, so being able to learn from Reuben’s master really makes a difference.”

Fundraiser fore a cure

Asea of pink could be seen on the golf course of the Longboat Key Club on Feb. 27 for the Women’s Golf Association of Longboat Key’s annual “Go for a Cure” tournament.

“This cause is very meaningful,” said golfer Kari Smith. “Everyone is somehow impacted by breast cancer, whether that is because you are a survivor or you know someone. It is tied to everyone’s life somehow.”

All proceeds went to Breast Health Sarasota. The event was organized by Mary Taylor for the Key-Niners and the Eighteenholers. A luncheon followed in the Harbourside Ballroom.

Golfers could become sponsors of the event by donating to BHS. Bill and Linda Mitchell and Jan and Mike Wilcox with the Wilcox Family Foundation were platinum sponsors by donating $5,000 or more. — PETRA RIVERA

The smart play

B“I

part,” said Baril. “I’ve played

many tournaments in the last two weeks. It was crazy. My game just kind of came together, and I played well.”

Director of Golf at the Longboat Key Club Terry O’Hara said this is a monumental moment in Key Club History.

“She is the newest winner in 40 years,” said O’Hara. “She really works hard, so we are proud of her and can’t wait to see what she continues to do in the world of golf.”

Baril said she has played in the tournament for the past couple of years. Learning from her experience from previous tournaments, her strategy changed a bit this year.

“Last year, I lost by a stroke because I did not play very smartly,” said Baril. “So my game plan this year was to just play smart. One of my friends who I play with, her words of wisdom are that every shot has to be smart. You don’t have to score great throughout. You’ll be fine as long as you play smart.”

Baril has been a member of the Key Club since 2019. She said she was more into tennis then, but when she started getting into golf, she brought a lot of her tennis friends with her. She is a part of three golf teams and two tennis teams at the club.

Baril said she is thankful for all the support she has gotten from her friends at the club and her loved ones.

“I like competitive play no matter what it is, but I like to have fun at it,” said Baril. “Golf is all about people and the friends that you make, and they carry on outside of the game. That’s the most important thing now that I’m older. It’s just all about having fun and being out there with your friends. The best part is also my husband, he’s so awesome. He is my biggest supporter.”

Spacious 5BD/7BA

custom home stunningly remodeled in 2022.

ready. Large corner lot on bayou with stunning

down waterway to Sarasota Bay.10,000 lb. boat lift, saltwater pool. Remodel included all new custom finishes including painting, hardwood floors, lighting, hardware, countertops and designer

From injury recovery to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Longboaters are turning to Pilates.

Lisa Baskfield, with Pilates Longboat Key in the Centre Shops, said that she’s seen more and more people becoming interested in Pilates since she opened the studio about five years ago.

WHAT IS PILATES?

CARTER WEINHOFER STAFF WRITER

Mike Condensa said that throughout the course of his 20 years running Pilates classes alongside his wife, Emily, he’s seen how she’s been able to help people recover from serious injuries.

“Over the course of time, the trend has been fantastic,” Mike Condensa said. “People have realized Pilates is a solution.”

Going down the 11 miles of Longboat Key, residents and visitors could pick a couple places for a Pilates class, from the Condensas’ Performance Pilates studios on the north end to Pilates Longboat Key farther south.  Mike Condensa said their online portal to sign up for classes often has a waitlist.

Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates, a German circus tumbler and gymnast who was taken into custody during World War I by the British.

While in the prison camp, he led exercise routines for other inmates while developing his fitness ideas.

After the war, Pilates was able to learn from other medical professionals to hone those ideas. Working with injured soldiers allowed him to refine his methods and develop an apparatus that would eventually become known as a reformer.

In the 1930s, Pilates and his instruction became a reputable form of therapy for injured dancers. His fitness ideas were then published in his first book in 1934.

Over time, more Pilates machines came to fruition, beyond the universal reformer.

Though it wasn’t accepted at first

by the medical community, it picked up steam in the 1980s and 1990s with doctors and the media. All this led to the current popularity of the Pilates lifestyle.  “Studios and health clubs, teacher training programs, celebrity endorsements and extensive media coverage now regularly extol the benefits of studying Pilates,” states an article from the Pilates Method Alliance.

PILATES AS A LIFESTYLE

Emily Condensa is a master Pilates instructor, and though Mike isn’t a certified instructor, he helps teach some classes like the Fuse Ladder — a dynamic, full-body workout that uses the Fuse Ladder machine.

Both group classes and individual, private classes are offered at Performance Pilates and Pilates Longboat Key.

Mike Condensa said there are different levels of Pilates enthusiasts he’s seen on the island. There’s casual class-takers, those who take classes almost every day and then there’s those who come to Emily looking to use Pilates to address specific issues or injuries.

The Condensas realized there was a high demand for Pilates on Longboat Key, and their classes continue to be filled.

That’s what led them to open a second studio a couple doors down from their first Longboat Key location. Mike Condensa said they wanted to open more space to serve the community even more.

The Battleground, as it’s now called, created a separate space to focus on classes like Fuse Ladder and Power Bar.

Nate Sipos also joined the team. He also offers functional strength training. Though not identical to Pilates, the training Sipos does has similar components, like focusing on stretches and “knees over toes.”

Knees over toes is a philosophy that promotes movements where the knees extend past the toes, like deep squats or walking backwards with a weighted sled, according to Sipos.

Those movements stretch the muscles in ways that strengthen the joints. Sipos’ classes are also becom-

“The trend now is people are seeing that Pilates isn’t just a form of exercise; it’s a lifestyle for healthier living.”

— Mike Condensa

ing increasingly popular in Whitney Beach Plaza.

But Pilates isn’t something that’s just popular on Longboat Key.

Condensa commented about how Pilates has been an emerging trend among professional athletes, too.

“Over the course of time, the trend has been fantastic,” Mike Condensa said. “People have realized Pilates is a solution.”

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

What started as fitness for war prisoners and a method of physical therapy for dancers has evolved into something that people are doing every day to stay fit and recover from injuries.

“The trend now is people are seeing that Pilates isn’t just a form of exercise; it’s a lifestyle for healthier living,” Mike Condensa said.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Pilates offers numerous health benefits like improved flexibility, core stability and muscle tone.

Moves done as a part of Pilates can help to loosen tight muscles and help with alignment, which could also alleviate back pain.

A lot of the movements also focus on balance and stretching, which help with flexibility and coordination.

There’s also the suggestion of Pilates helping with breath control and overall mental health. During a Pilates class, blood flow is increased and some have expressed that the blood flow mixed with stretching can also be calming.

Baskfield said many of their clients at Pilates Longboat Key have spoken about how the classes have improved overall health, balance, flexibility and helped them to regain confidence in their ability to remain active at an older age.

She also said there have been clients who have come in with injuries like muscle tears, back disc issues and conditions like Parkinson’s disease looking for relief.

“After working with us in our studio, they comment to us on how they see improvement in their movement, strength, overall well being, including their mental well being,” Baskfield said in an email.

Whether it’s people looking to stay in shape at an older age or wanting to recover from injuries, Pilates continues to grow in popularity.

Family feel for finance

Edward Jones is now on Longboat for residents’ financial

Financial adviser Michelle Johnson opened the first Edward Jones branch on the island and is excited to bring a personalized financial experience to Longboaters.

“Our biggest focus is just listening to the clients,” said Johnson. “By listening to people, we provide a higher level of service than most others. Most advisers talk to their clients once a year. For our clients, we work with just a small group of folks so we can have regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year.”

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribboncutting for the branch Feb. 28 at the Edward Jones office in Mediterranean Plaza, 595 Bay Isles Road, Suite 260. It officially opened in October 2023. Originally from Wisconsin, Johnson has 20 years of experience in

the financial services industry. She moved to Longboat full time with her husband seven months ago. The branch will host its first monthly Dessert Club meeting 2:30-3:30 p.m. March 21 in its office. To register by March 14, call Linda Dillon at 263-7821 or email Linda.Dillon@EdwardJones.com.

Souper Bowl of Caring

Christ Church fundraiser collects $23,500 over Super Bowl weekend for Bradenton soup kitchen.

When Our Daily Bread of Bradenton’s steam kettle broke the Friday before the Super Bowl, the soup kitchen and food pantry nonprofit knew who to ask for help.

Christ Church of Longboat Key raised $23,500 during this year’s Feb. 11 Super Bowl weekend to replace the important appliance for Our Daily Bread. The steam kettle is used to prepare meals to feed 175 to 200 people daily. Our Daily Bread needed a replacement fast.

Pastor Julia Piermont was already working with Lark and Bliss Rippy, the youngest members of the congregation, to take part in the Souper Bowl of Caring program. A Presbyterian youth group started this national program to raise money for hunger ministries while celebrating the Super Bowl.

“All the churches that I’ve served have done this offering, and the youth groups had a lot of fun with it,” said Piermont. “Here on Longboat, we have this congregation that is mostly retired people, but we do have some younger folks. We have one family with two daughters who are active in our church choir.”

The Souper Bowl of Caring set up three pots for people to donate a few dollars in after the Super Bowl Sunday services. One pot represented the San Francisco 49ers and the other the Kansas City Chiefs. A third said “Game? What Game?” for those who didn’t plan on watching the game but still wanted to contribute.

“I got to thinking after Christmas that this was a perfect way to get the girls more involved,” said Piermont. “So, I met with the girls and told them all about it. They thought it sounded like fun, so they learned about the three different hunger ministries we support in town.”

When informed of the crisis at Our Daily Bread, picking which ministry should get the money was a no-brainer for the girls. Ann Quackenbush held the “Game? What Game?” pot decked out in her Buffalo Bills gear.

During the Super Bowl Sunday service, Lark shared with the congregation that $6,000 was needed to repair Our Daily Bread’s steam kettle. Thinking they would only raise a few hundred dollars, Piermont was surprised to learn that Sunday they raised about $7,000.

Christ Church was then informed Sunday evening that Our Daily Bread was going to replace the steam kettle instead of repairing it, and this would cost $23,500. The congregation continued to submit donations to the Our Daily Bread treasurer, and the total to replace the appliance was raised by Tuesday, Feb. 13.

The steam kettle was replaced that same week. Piermont took the Rippy sisters to meet Our Daily Bread treasurer Robert Eikill and see the new steam kettle.

“It started out as a fun way for the girls to learn some more about the mission we do,” said Piermont. “And it just grew like ‘loaves and fishes.’ It was just so full of blessings all the way around.”

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ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR

home on Bird Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Kimberly Ann Weidlich, trustee, and Richard Boyle, of Lakewood Ranch, sold the home at 259 Robin Drive to Jeffrey and Carol Edgar, of Sarasota, for $5,995,000.Photos courtesy of Roger Pettingell

BEACHPLACE

Joan

APARTMENTS

Paula and David Heidrich, trustees, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 4835 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Julie Groff, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, for $1,141,000.

Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,393 square feet of living area. It sold for $845,000 in 2022.

WHITNEY BEACH

Jeffrey Stuffings, of Longmont, Colorado, sold his Unit 202 condominium at 6800 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Julie Alison Marx, trustee, of Longmont Colorado, for $800,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,377 square feet of living area. It sold for $260,000 in 2012.

FAIRWAY BAY

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

FEB. 19-23

at 1932 Harbourside Drive to Warren and Denise Hood, of Mahomet, Illinois, for $610,000. Built in 1982, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,192 square feet of living area. It sold for $330,000 in 2013.

TOP BUILDING PERMITS

YOUR CALENDAR

your trunk and remain in your vehicle as staff unloads. No walkups accepted. Items accepted include adhesives and glues, aerosols, automotive products, cleaners, electronics, gasoline, paint, rechargeable batteries, etc. Items not accepted include ammunition, fertilizers, fireworks, flares, medications, needles, syringes, radioactive materials, tires, TVs and monitors. This event is only for residents of Longboat Key. Proof of residency may be requested. Call 316-1999.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14 MEET GREET EAT WITH THE LONGBOAT KEY CHAMBER

4-6 p.m. at the Longboat Key Club Bayside Ballroom, 3000 Harbourside Drive. Free. This gathering allows community members to connect with local businesses in a relaxed setting. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants will be served. A cash bar will be available. The night’s entertainment includes prize drawings and the music of 13-year-old piano prodigy Timmy Phelan. RSVP by March 8 by calling the Chamber at 779-7823.

RECURRING EVENTS

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LONGBOAT LIBRARY

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

BEST BET MONDAY, MARCH 11

MARKET ON THE KEY

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center Green, 600 Bay Isles Road. Enjoy food trucks and live music while browsing clothing, flowers, plants, artwork, sunglasses, handcrafted goods and more in the market. Follow The Market on Longboat Key or Markets by Nancy on Facebook and Instagram to see who will be there and what they will be bringing. Some food vendors let you pre-order pies, cakes and breads so they will be ready and waiting upon your arrival. For more information, call 289-4141.

File image

The Market String Band at the Market on Longboat Key

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

PUMPING THE PRIME: CARDIO, STRENGTH & STRETCH

10 a.m. at the Bayfront Park Recreation Center. This low-impact class helps burn calories and increase stamina. It also includes strength exercises for a total body workout. Participants should be able to get down on the floor and get up readily. (Please bring a towel.) Runs until the end of April/May 2024. Classes are $10 for rec center members; $15 for nonmembers. Contact Mirabai Holland at Mirabai@MovingFree.com.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS LORD’S WAREHOUSE THRIFT STORE

The thrift store will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 6140 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Donations are accepted during business hours. Call 383-4738.

FORECAST

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