Turtle Disorientation Rate is Down Significantly
To: Editor
As your paper states, the number of turtle nests increased in 2025 to a record number and the number of disorientation events also rose to a record, to 716. Dr. Lasala of Mote calls this a “new challenge” creating an “urgent need for community action to address this new challenge”. He is not telling the whole story. In fact, he should be congratulating the community for their commitment and success on behalf of the turtles! Yes, the number of disorientations did increase from last year, but only because the number of nests increased by a whopping 31 percent. Disorientations on the other hand increased by barely half of that, 17 percent by Mote’s own numbers. Over the past 3 years, the disorientation rate has decreased from 19 percent in 2023 to 14 percent in 2024 (source: 1/28/25 issue of the Observer) to a record low rate of 11.5 percent in 2025! This is a fantastic success by the beach communities in the county, showing their steady commitment to the turtles. It is sorely disappointing that the community is being chastised for the number of disorientations instead of being congratulated for the dramatic and significant decrease in the rate of disorientation.
Eric Lofgren
Longboat Key
GT Alert | Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes | November 20, 2025
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Penny Gold
Thanks for sharing Penny. Likely a negotiating move on the House’s part. We shall see what the Senate does with the ball now that it is in their court.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
GT Alert | Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes | November 20, 2025
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Penny Gold
According to this report, today’s House Select Committee on Property Tax approved and moved forward all eight property taxes proposals with plans for each to be included in a ballot referendum. Hopefully, the Senate will take a more measured approach to this complex issue. I hope citizens will realize that destroying their property tax base will directly impact the quality of life they enjoy here in Florida.
Penny Gold
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: Scott Seabaugh
Sorry David – we aren’t involved with ownership behind gates only know canal was dug when the Bayou was built and since no seawall was erected on the side near Buttonwood Longview has flooded with king tides and storms.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Thank you for the detailed information and clarification provided in the emails below. I have contacted the Bay Isles Association service provider responsible for the mangrove and waterway maintenance. They confirmed that, upon completing their current mangrove project, they will address the downed tree referenced in this email thread. I will follow up with them to ensure the work is scheduled promptly once they finish their active assignment. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Scott Seabaugh
General Manager Bay Isles Association, Inc.
Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
I think we can work thru these disconnects. I’d like to correct one statement though: the Perimeter Channel and the Private Waterways are the domain of Bay Isles Master Association with the exception of the Key Club owned sections as denoted on the Property Appraisers map. This is clearly documented in the governing documents of Bayou and Bay Isles but had been ignored until five years ago. Since that time, Bay Isles has been trimming the mangroves on both sides of the waterways. Bay Isles is also responsible for the shoreline up to the property line of the Bayou homeowner. One exception: Bayou owners who construct docks in the channel must maintain the areas of their docks.
To correct the fallen tree issue in the waterway, I will ask Scott Seabaugh of Bay Isles to have the tree removed. This is allowed under the Florida Tree Law. Compensation for removing the tree is another issue and I trust whoever caused the tree to fall will provide reimbursement.
David E. Novak
Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: David Novak
David, The Commissioner is correct. You may want to get Neil involved, he has the backstory. We had meeting to discuss the maintenance of that area in July of 2024. I attached an email from back then to help with this understanding. The area highlighted in blue is part of Bay Isles responsibility to maintain.
Charlie Mopps
Public Works Director
Town of Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: David Novak
Bayou Sound owns the property on the Buttonwood side of the canal. They have not maintained(Bayou) property in decades. Next to Bayou property is Town property. No homes are under construction on Longview at this time. If there is a tree in Bayou Canal the canal is the Bayou’s. There is no management company for Buttonwood.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: Longboat Key Public Works Director Charlie Mopps
Charlie, I do not have firsthand information on the situation below, and I would normally contact the management company for Buttonwood. But apparently management has changed. Can you assist in determining the danger to Mr. Tonnesen’s property
Charlie, I do not have firsthand information on the situation below, and I would normally contact the management company for Buttonwood. But apparently management has changed. Can you assist in determining the danger to Mr. Tonnesen’s property and how the situation can be best relieved? I have copied Scott Seabaugh, manager for the Bay Isles Association, who maintains the perimeter channel.
David E. Novak
Longboat Key
Tree in the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound
To: David Novak
I’ve been meaning to let you know that there’s a tree hanging down into the canal between 3131 and 3121 Bayou Sound coming from the other side of the canal probably from the workers working on houses in Buttonwood. My concern is this could cause a boat accident. We’ve already had 2 boats hit into our boat lift so they could avoid hitting the tree. Can you please have the town remove that tree before anyone gets hurt.
Scott Tonnesen
Longboat Key
Bell Ringling at Publix
To: Longboat Key Town Staff
Thank you for your incredible response to our note last Friday—the spreadsheet looks terrific!
Kevin Register will kick off the ringing in just 3 days. His Dad, Cash Register, is surely smiling down from heaven. Kevin has already taken about 7 shifts so far—an amazing commitment! We challenge anyone to match that dedication.
There are still more shifts to fill, and we’d love your help. Please feel free to pass this invitation along to friends who might also want to join in.
Every ring makes a difference. The funds raised as Salvation Army bell ringers provide year-round support in Sarasota through:
• Social services assistance
• Homeless shelters
• Disaster relief
• Children’s programs
• Rehabilitation services
• Anti-human trafficking efforts
Your support is deeply needed and greatly appreciated. Together, we can bring hope and help to so many. Wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving.
Sue Wertman, Chris Sachs, and Lynn Larson
Longboat Key
St. Regis support of Longboat Key
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
As discussed with Winfred, please find attached a list of recent activations the hotel has supported for the Town of LBK. We value our partnership and remain committed to supporting our community however we can.
Jenny Quinn
Executive Assistant to the General Manager
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
St. Regis support of Longboat Key
To: Jenny Quinn
Thank you for your quick response Jenny, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Development, Code Compliance and Redevelopment Committee Packet
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Your hotel room is already booked (attached) for check in on Dec. 3 and check out on Dec. 4. You don’t need to register for your policy committee meeting but if there is anything else you want to attend let me know and I can help.
Savannah Cobb
Assistant to Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Development, Code Compliance and Redevelopment Committee Packet
To: Longboat Key Assistant to Town Manager Savannah Cobb
Savannah did you register me for this along with the room or should I do this part of it?
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Bell Ringing
To: Longboat Key Town Clerk Trish Shinkle
Trish, could you put Susan and I down for two slots both on December 10 from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.?
Steve Branham
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Bell Ringing
To: Longboat Key Commission
Dear Friends, We are less than one week away from our much-anticipated bell ringing at Publix! Shifts begin next Friday, and we’ve attached the latest schedule for you to review. Please take a moment to look it over and email both Chris and me with the shifts you’d like to take. Let’s focus on filling in the first week so we can start strong together. Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Sue & Chris
Longboat Key
The arch on the pier in front of The St. Regis Hotel
To: Longboat Key Commission
We are asking you to have the arch removed from the pier across from the St. Regis Hotel. The main reason is that it is unattractive, actually an eyesore. It disturbs the view of that otherwise beautiful stretch of beach. As neighbors, we have enjoyed the view of the Gulf, sand, and simple pier for many years. It now looks tacky.
Another problem with it is that during the day, it catches the sunlight, making it unpleasant to look in that direction. I will attach a photo that gives you an idea of how difficult it is to look at when the sun is on it. It is worse in person.
As far as we understand, the pier is public property and not for the hotel to decide to change or add on to. That pier protects the beach and is for all to enjoy. It is not a wedding venue. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Laura Moskowitz
Longboat Key
Information on another approach to alleviating chronic homelessness
To: Anand Pallegar
I am currently in Salt Lake City attending the National League of Cities’ annual City Summit conference. One of the best things about this conference is the “Mobile Workshops” which gives participants the opportunity to see, firsthand, how the host city is addressing issues that most cities are facing.
Wednesday morning, I visited “The Other Side Village” and had my eyes opened to a different approach to ending chronic homelessness: “Human First” instead of “Housing First.” The Other Side Village is the core of a unified system that includes a Prep School which is a transition program from the streets to permanent housing in the Village, Village businesses which offer paid employment to Village residents and revenue to make the Village financially self-sustaining, plus the Village itself in which the residents are a self-governing community. As I listened to the presentations, I thought of the various organizations in Sarasota that offer some of the pieces, with Harvest House leading the pack, but none in an end-to-end system — and not necessarily with the “Human First” focus. But I thought it would be worthwhile to bring Harvest House into the discussion and exploration of whether a model like The Other Side Village would be feasible and worthwhile for Sarasota.
The following are some of my notes from my visit. I’d welcome an opportunity for us to get together to decide whether to pursue this concept.
Guiding Philosophy: Single major factor in chronic homelessness is lack of connection to family and community, and their support. Coping mechanisms developed over years on the street are counterproductive in community living. Housing alone doesn’t solve the problem. People need to change. This can happen with a supportive community that sees more in the individual than they see in themselves.
The Other Side Prep School provides an “onboarding” process — a 6-12 month residential program with daily coaching by staff who themselves have overcome chronic homelessness. This is a significant departure from the way Housing First is implemented. There is an application and interview process for acceptance into the Prep School, which currently has a waiting list and 85 percent success rate.
The Other Side Village is the community that Prep School “graduates” are seeking admission to. Members of the community are permanently housed, self-reliant, drug free and crime free. Phase 1 houses 60 single adults in individual cottages, 10 percent of them are on-site coaches. Residents police themselves in a democratic community — including deciding whether a Prep School resident is ready to join the community. The community is designed to have neighborhoods and a central community space. Buildout will be 470 homes on 38 acres.
The houses: Stick-built offsite and dropped in place. Some were built as part of high school vocational training programs. Sizes are 350-450 square feet, monthly rents are $450-500. Rents are not based on income. If you want a more expensive unit, you need to earn more money to afford it. Solar panels on all buildings.
Social Enterprises: provide employment opportunities for community residents and income to eventually replace philanthropy to maintain the community. Currently there’s an award-winning donut shop and a “hotel.” Plans include a grocery store. The businesses also serve the adjacent area — which reduced neighbors’ resistance to the Village.
Local government involvement: Zoning changes were required. Land itself is city owned, former landfill (some remediation is needed). Development is in phases; city provided 99-year ground lease for phase 1.
Additional information is available at www.theothersidevillage.com
They’ve also developed a Leadership Institute to share information about their methods.
NPR’s Morning Edition ran a story about The Other Side Village last month. It is available online. Let’s plan to get together after the Holidays to discuss possibilities in Sarasota.
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
Sidewalk Art
To: Morgan Bentley
I received this email after I accepted your invitation to join the Tiger Bay panel (now scheduled in March). I subsequently discussed the situation with City Attorney Polzak. As you can imagine, he is recommending against participation in the panel by any City representative while there is pending or threatened legal action.
I may be naïve in believing the issue will be resolved before March, so I’m not backing out at the moment. But I guess the likelihood is fairly high that it might happen. So you might want to line up a replacement for me. Sorry. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
Sidewalk Murals in Sarasota Panel Discussion
To: Sarasota City Mayor Debbie Trice
From the moment I learned of the destruction of the sidewalk murals, I have been working to find justice for the artists involved. As early as late August, I began to research the
Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990. To be clear, a VARA case is a federal case, not a local court case.
I compiled evidence and asked the University of Miami Law School for assistance. The Art Law faculty reviewed the project and referred me to LegalArtLink / LocustProjects. A group of attorneys and law students studied the case and found it qualified as a strong case under VARA Law. Their opinion document allowed me to reach out to over 70 top law firms nationwide.
A small group of artists and I have narrowed down our attorney prospects to three firms. In the last month, the ACLU of Florida has also committed to providing us with pro bono legal support. A formal announcement will be coming soon…. I’m happy to discuss this with you. If you wish me to be part of the panel discussion at Tiger Bay, I’m available.
BTW- I’m not now, nor have I ever been associated with the Avenue of Art or Denise Kowal. This was my independent project. I initially shared some documents with Denise, but I am not connected with her or any of her proposals for the city.
Wendy Rosen
Sarasota
Sidewalk Art
To: Sarasota City Mayor Debbie Trice
Hope everything is going well. I was reaching out today on behalf of Tiger Bay. There is an interest in putting together a panel regarding the recent removal of the sidewalk art downtown. I believe you had an interest in that subject so I was wondering if you would be willing to be on the panel for a City perspective or perhaps recommend someone who would be good to give the City’s side of things? We are looking to either January 8 or February 5. Any direction you can give would be great.
Morgan Bentley
Bently, Goodrich, Kison, P.A.
Sarasota
Noise Ordinance revisions, Dec 1 agenda item X3, “The Schools”
To: Sarasota City Commission
While I’m pleased with City staff’s work on this revision to improve our noise ordinance, there’s one aspect that is not dealt with, that of amplified noise issuing from The Schools, specifically Sarasota High School. As you know, this has been an ongoing issue for the surrounding neighborhood for several years now.
Yes, I bought a house abutting SHS, knowing full well that I would hear normal school noises (also from nearby SSIS, now Innovation Academy charter elementary school). I, personally, actually enjoy hearing the MSB — Mighty Sailors Band (and unlike many, i also enjoy the drums, even pre-7am); I’m fine with the “crowd sounds” of athletic and other events. [Although that year when a coach decided on using an Air Horn for daily afternoon football practice, that was a bit much!] However, in recent years SHS has upgraded their amplified sound systems for their stadium (and other athletic fields), apparently without thought of neighbors. Sometimes these are used responsibly, but other times whoever is running the equipment seems to have no thought as to sound limits, and the technology enables their actions.
We all know we live in a loud world (and this is a City), but this is just what the revision of the Ordinance is meant to balance with the “peaceful and quiet enjoyment of one’s property.” Why would one entity, such as a government entity such as The Schools, be held to different standards than all others? This doesn’t need to be so!
As you know, another Alta Vista resident, Mr. Martinucci, has been working long and hard with The Schools on many specific, and often simple and inexpensive, actions that they could take to mitigate their sound issues, sometimes with good results and other times, shall we say, with less willingness on their part. The Schools is not compelled, due to this exemption, to solve these issues.
Schools, specifically SHS in this case, are a part of our City, they are surrounded by dense residential zones, by City residents, who should be able to expect the same standards enforced for all their neighbors, including any nearby government entities. How is unreasonable noise blasting from one neighbor, perhaps a local resident, any different than that blasting from another neighbor, perhaps a SHS PA system? Please see what you can do.
Linda Kitch
Sarasota
Noise Ordinance revisions, Dec 1 agenda item X3, “The Schools”
To: Linda Kitch
Thanks so much for your input on this, and “yes” I am well aware of Mr. Martinucci’s efforts and communications with SHS over many years. We have met and discussed this on a number of occasions and many of his requests and solutions are reasonable.
I have copied the City Attorney, City Manager, and Government Affairs Director, along with Mr. Martinucci on this email as this is an aspect of our sound ordinance that is often not taken into consideration. It is my understanding that schools in the City have an exemption from our ordinance (but that may be too simple of a description of the situation) but the conversation around “why” they are exempt and if that should or should not (could or could not?) is a worthwhile discussion, as Mr. Martinucci has talked about for a while now. To your point, as the City grows, so do the schools and learning institutions, and we all have to work together to make room for each other. If the learning institutions are exempt, then the opportunity is lost.
The above may be a mis-characterization of the situation and I look forward to a discussion (or email response) with the City attorney on this and learning what our opportunities are now that this “door may be open”.
Thanks so much Linda for your participation in our community and for taking the time to reach out to me with your invaluable input.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
