U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, met with Sarasota County officials and lent his support to efforts to re-open Midnight Pass. But some 40 years after the waterway was closed, environmental groups call a new push for the project remains as unwise as ever.

Steube held a virtual briefing with Sarasota County Public Works Director Spencer Anderson and Government Relations Director Rob Lewis on the steps ahead for obtaining federal support. The congressman said there were clear environmental benefits to reopening the pass.

“Reopening Midnight Pass would bring a series of positive improvements to Little Sarasota Bay – from both a water quality standpoint and a healthier environment for wildlife, homeowners on the bay, and visitors,” Steube said.

“My office stands ready to assist our local leadership in jumpstarting a critical project that will make a real difference in Sarasota County. We are prepared to be a partner at the federal level as we navigate the many federal and state agencies involved in the unique nature of opening an inlet and restoring the bay to a marine system.”

County officials estimated a project would have an $84-million price tag. But there has long been public support for re-opening. The pass was originally closed in 1983 at the insistence of two prominent property owners, Syd Solomon and Pasco Carter, who feared land erosion. The paid promised to finance the reopening of the pass at a location that didn’t threaten homes, but the costs stopped that from taking place.

The recent support from Steube to reopen the pass comes after state and county elected officials in recent months spoke up in favor of the plan. But that activity comes almost 15 years after Sarasota County abandoned the project when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection denied a state permit to the county.

Glen Compton, chairman and director of Manasota-88, said the plan is futile, and no matter what government officials invest now, he doubts the state will ever sign off.

“Sarasota County has been denied twice,” he said, noting the state also stopped a project in 1991. “At this point, it’s a waste of time and taxpayer money to see whether or not it will be denied a third time. Midnight Pass is a very environmentally sensitive area, and the last thing we to do is make culverts or dredge and cause irreversible ecological harm.”

Most environmental groups generally affirm closing the pass was a bad move when it happened. But in four intervening decades, a brackish ecology now exist within the Bay that would be threatened by carving a channel to the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico.

Moreover, Compton said, there’s no guarantee a new Midnight Pass would stay open. The changing course of the pass is what prompted the concerns of property owners in the first place. No matter what gets invested into a reopening project, Compton said nothing will stop nature from closing the culverts.

“A lot of people would like to see it opened, but the tidal regime is just not there for it to exist,” he said. “Probably the biggest reason is the tidal flow north and south through the intercoastal.”

Local environmental advocate Jono Miller said it would be wise for county officials to research “what benefits they could secure for our bays if an equivalent amount of money was spent in other ways.”

But advocates for reopening the pass continue to make inroads with officials. The Midnight Pass Society II released its own environmental studies predicting benefits from the project. “Opening the Pass would revitalize the sea grasses, permitting new fish varieties and birds in the immediate vicinity, and restore the crystal blue of the Gulf waters,” reads a statement. “The new hydrology would improve water circulation, reduce pollution, and increase the viable breeding areas for shrimp, clam, and oysters, all of which are now gone due to the stagnation of the waterways.”

 Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s best-selling master-planned community for all ages, recently announced a new tenant for its newest town center, the 36-acre Waterside Place – a retail, services, dining, and entertainment destination. The Black Dog store, which will sell resort wear, including T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, hoodies, and shorts, among other things, started in Martha’s Vineyard with stores mostly in the northeast, with the only other Florida location on St. Armand’s Circle. The most recently opened businesses at Waterside Place include Man Cave for Men, a luxury modern barber shop; Monkee’s, an upscale women’s boutique; Florida Provisions Co., a retail and bar concept; Forked, a breakfast, lunch, brunch and cocktails establishment; the John Cannon Model Experience Center, M/I Homes Design, M/I Homes Financial, and M/I Homes Title Agency. Between now and May, additional planned openings include SHACK (a yoga studio), Capstan Financial, Marmalade, featuring home decor and furnishings along with women’s apparel and unique gifts; Modish Salon, Good Liquid Distilling Co., Osteria 500, an Italian restaurant; and Shore Rejuvenation, offering spa services and treatments. Tenants expected to open in the third and fourth quarter of 2023 include Agave Bandido, a Mexican-American restaurant and tequileria; Deep Lagoon, a seafood & oyster house; Duck Donuts, Platinum Palm Properties, Cileone Jewelers, and Williams Parker Law. The new businesses will join the currently operating Korê Steakhouse and cocktail lounge, Good Liquid Brewing company, O&A Coffee Supply, CROP Juice, Bay Area Aesthetics, Body Bar Pilates, 3Form Fitness, Kilwins, Paint Nail Bar, Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, and Smith Law. Recently named the “Best Lifestyle Program in the U.S.” by the National Association of Homebuilders, Waterside Place is already active with festivals, music, and sporting activities. It is home to the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, with more than 100 vendors offering organic produce, baked goods, pet products, and prepared food, etc. Ranch Nite Wednesdays, “your favorite weeknight hangout,” runs every Wednesday through May 31, from 6-9 p.m., and features food trucks, live music from local artists, a weekly night market, and a vintage mobile bar hosted by Cornerstone and Co., and the second largest recreational cornhole league in the nation, hosted by MVP Sports & Social. There is also live music on the plaza Friday and Saturday nights, and is home to the new “Sights and Sounds at Waterside Place” music and arts series. For more information about Waterside Place, visit www.WatersidePlace.com. For more information on Lakewood Ranch, please contact Lisa Barnott at 941-757-1542. 

Local and national businesses continue to flourish at Babcock Ranch, the No. 5 best-selling master-planned community in the U.S. With the Publix-anchored Crescent B Commons shopping center near full capacity and construction now underway for a freestanding Pet Supermarket and a drive-thru Starbucks, town developer Kitson & Partners is planning the neighboring Shoppes at Yellow Pine, complete with a lakefront restaurant. Since residents lined up for the September 2021 grand opening of Crescent B Common’s first business – the 48,000-square-foot Publix – remaining spaces have filled quickly. Recent business openings include NV Realty, Kumon learning center, Dental Care at Babcock Ranch, Great Clips, the Animal Hospital at Babcock Ranch offering on-site wellness, emergency and surgical care, and the popular U-Yee Sushi, supplying a steady ding of notifications on Matt Buehler’s cellphone from happy customers. Crescent B Commons is also home to Publix Liquors, Clover Nails & Spa, The Postal Place Pack & Ship, The Royal Paw Grooming and doggie daycare and Stellar Vision. Resident-owned Pi Local Pizza and M’xuma Tacos Mexican Grill offer a taste of local flavor for guests attending Babcock Ranch’s many events and exploring the town’s new parks and trails. The restaurants are also favorite spots for homebuyers visiting the Discovery Center, where they learn about Babcock Ranch’s neighborhoods, builders and the new Midtown development phase. Crescent B Commons recently completed a 1,700-square-foot playground with towering slides and raised decking with tables and chairs for alfresco dining. Also on tap is a national bank with a drive-thru. With Babcock Ranch in the national spotlight and plans underway for the next phase of development in Midtown, regional and national businesses are taking notice, prompting Kitson & Partners to accelerate the introduction of The Shoppes at Yellow Pine. Groundbreaking is planned toward the latter part of 2023. The new center will offer 120,000 square feet of commercial, retail, office and restaurant space – 1.5 times the size of Crescent B Commons – plus patios and outdoor dining areas. In addition to new eateries, including a freestanding restaurant overlooking Sunset Lake, Buehler anticipates The Shoppes at Yellow Pine to attract general shopping, medical offices, a hardware store and services. Created by Kitson & Partners with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand, half of the town’s footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and expansive lakes, providing recreation and scenic backdrops for Babcock Ranch’s homes and the Founder’s Square downtown district. Babcock Ranch homebuilders offer more than 50 home designs ranging from 1,120 to more than 4,000 square feet. Homes appeal to young millennials, families, empty nesters and retirees alike, with prices ranging from the upper-$200,000s to over $4 million. Built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards, homes emphasize energy and water conservation and offer a full gig of fiber-optic connectivity. The town also offers homes from national and regional homebuilders, including D.R. Horton, Lennar, Meritage Homes, Pulte Homes, Toll Brothers, WCI and William Ryan Homes and custom homes by AR Homes by Arthur Rutenberg, Divco Custom Homes and Florida Lifestyle Homes. Christopher Alan Homes will also soon introduce new homes at Babcock Ranch. For more information about Southwest Florida’s new hometown, located just northeast of Fort Myers off Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31, visit the Woodlea Hall Discovery Center at 42850 Crescent Loop in Babcock Ranch, call 877-709-6620, or visit www.BabcockRanch.com.  

Residents and homebuyers at DiVosta’s Talon Preserve in the sought-after Palmer Ranch area of Sarasota County are getting excited about the community’s elevated lifestyle soon to be enhanced as progress on the sprawling amenity campus continues. With the 18,000-square-foot grand clubhouse, freeform pool with rock waterfall and beach-entry features, and 14 sports courts for pickleball, tennis, and bocce ball taking shape before their eyes, there’s heightened anticipation for the grand opening later this year and vision of an enhanced get-to-know-your-neighbors lifestyle. Designed to be the social destination for the community, the expansive amenity campus was created collaboratively by the area’s top planners, architects, and designers. It offers an array of social, recreational, and fitness opportunities with inviting indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. The centerpiece of Talon Preserve’s alfresco lifestyle is the resort-inspired pool with a sloping beach entry, rock waterfall, and lap lane area. The expansive pool deck provides chaises for lounging in the sun, and the convenience of a full-service outdoor bar and grill. Outdoor amenities also include a splash pad, a spa and fire pit lounge area with a water view, and a playground. The clubhouse features a state-of-the-art fitness center with cardio and weight training equipment, a performance training room, and a group fitness studio to practice aerobics, yoga, or Pilates. Gathering rooms for clubs and activities, a classic arcade with games, and a welcoming social lounge encourages conversation and camaraderie, while a community room complete with a catering kitchen is ideal for hosting larger group events. The clubhouse’s covered terrace and outdoor lounge offer additional gathering places with an open-air living room positioned by the soft glow of a freestanding fireplace. The court complex caters to sports enthusiasts at Talon Preserve, offering eight pickleball courts, four bocce courts, two tennis courts, and shade canopies with seating. Residents also enjoy a full calendar of social events, community clubs, classes, and outings coordinated by a full-time activities director. Blending an active community and resort lifestyle with a sought-after Palmer Ranch address and proximity to nearby Gulf of Mexico beaches on Casey Key, Talon Preserve is a popular choice for today’s Sarasota homebuyer. With homesites overlooking lakes and preserves, the community offers a collection of 17 stunning new attached villa and single-family home designs starting from the $400,000s. One- and two-story home designs include two to five bedrooms, up to four-and-a-half baths, 1,405 to 4,000 square feet of living space, and two- and three-car garages. Upscale exteriors, from tile and metal roof options to stone accents and sophisticated exterior paint selections, add elegance to Talon Preserve’s streetscapes. Four beautifully furnished model homes are open for touring and showcase the innovative new architectural styles, exterior colors, and home designs that await at Talon Preserve. Featuring new floor plans tailored to today’s homebuyers, the models offer zero-entry walk-in showers, well-designed point-of-use storage, widened hallways, flexibility in space design that reflects the preferences and passions of today’s homebuyers, and expansive outdoor living spaces for alfresco entertainment. Planned for approximately 926 residences, Talon Preserve on Palmer Ranch is designed for an authentic ambiance in a natural environment with community-spanning sidewalks, and 170 acres of lakes and nature preserves. Talon Preserve also connects to Venice’s Legacy Trail, a continuous 20-mile nonmotorized path connecting to parks and beaches. Talon Preserve on Palmer Ranch is located at 6400 Talon Preserve Drive in Nokomis off Honore Avenue, half a mile south of FL-681. The on-site model center is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call or text (941) 300-1116 or visit www.TalonPreserve.com. 

Pictured: With homesites overlooking lakes and preserve, Talon Preserve offers a collection of 17 stunning new villa and single-family home designs ranging from 1,405 to over 4,000 square feet of living space..

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards during a ceremony Tuesday to recognize the 2022 Employees of the Year. Communications Operator I Cynthia Ansurez and Communications Operator I Crystal (Crissy) Moore, 2022 Quality Assurance of the Year Award recipients, do not only work side by side but are sisters. Deputy Dale “Eric” Ellis, 2022 Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year, has demonstrated exemplary performance in all areas of law enforcement and is the only member of our agency attached to the US Marshal’s Service Task Force. Investigative Aide Tammy Gilleo, 2022 Civilian Employee of the Year, has served the sheriff’s office for twenty-two years with the criminal investigations section and is the only civilian field training officer within that section. Corrections Deputy Ian Vaughn, 2022 Corrections Deputy of the Year, has worked in many correctional facility areas and gained respect for his work ethic, quality and quantity of work, and commitment to this agency. 

Pictured: From left: Communications Operator I Crystal (Crissy) Moore, Communications Operator I Cyntihia Ansurez, and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; Deputy Dale “Eric” Ellis, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; Investigative Aide Tammy Gilleo, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman

Aviva Senior Living is proud to announce President and CEO Jay Solomon has been appointed to the national board of The Association of Jewish Aging Services. He will serve on the organization’s Government and Policy Committees until 2025. Jay says, “Serving on the AJAS board gives me the opportunity to learn from my colleagues all across North America on new trends in caring for our residents. This information will enhance the quality of life of our residents every day as we expand our offerings for the next generation that will be coming through the doors of Aviva.” The Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) was founded in 1960 as the North American Association of Jewish Homes and Housing for the Aging (NAJHHA). It functions as the central coordinator for senior living communities for Jewish seniors in North America. It promotes and supports senior services in the context of Jewish values through education, professional development, advocacy, and community relationships. The AJAS membership is comprised of over 95 organizations with Jewish-sponsored senior living communities, and outreach programs throughout the United States and Canada. Jay also serves as a trustee on the board of Leading Age Florida. He has an extensive background in healthcare and senior living and has led Aviva since 2017. Aviva is Sarasota’s only single-site, not-for-profit, rental, senior residential community offering a full continuum of care with independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing facilities. 

Michael Linton has joined RE/MAX Platinum Realty as a Broker-Associate in the downtown Sarasota, Florida, office. He has 37 years of real estate experience, including 22 years in Florida, specializing in new construction of both condos and single-family homes. A National Commercial Real Estate Advisor (NCREA) and Commercial Real Estate Investment Property Specialist (CREIPS), Linton has a background in new construction sales. Originally from the Chicago area, he attended Keiser University’s paralegal program and completed coursework in investment banking. Linton brings strengths in negotiation, marketing and digital marketing. He and his wife enjoy cooking and relaxing near the water. RE/MAX Platinum Realty’s Sarasota office is located at 1500 State Street, Sarasota, Florida 34236. Linton can be reached at (312) 612-1031 or Michael@LintonGlobal.com.