No issue has so clouded the question of what constitutes environmental presentation as much as Midnight Pass. A waterway closed down in the 1980s for clearly selfish reasons, boaters and barrier island residents for decades fought for the waterway’s reopening, as environmental agencies and activists argued this would disrupt an ecology that came to exist over nearly a half century.

But a funny thing happened as Hurricane Helene pummeled Florida’s Gulf coast. The same storm surge devastating neighborhood and relocating boats from docks to highways also re-opened Midnight Pass.

Video shared on social media by numerous sources showed water clearly flowing Friday between the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay.

I’ll leave it to marine biologists to determine if this ultimately will be good or bad for the environment. But it’s an odd twist, presuming it sticks, for the struggle between the “We Dig Midnight Pass” crowd and those who say it would be a boondoggle for man to try and control ocean currents.

Sarasota County Commissioners just this month voted to begin a lobbying effort for the Florida Legislature to review laws prohibiting the reopening of the pass. It’s hardly the first time the county has pushed forward with plan to dredge open a channel. The Florida Legislature this year also budgeted $500,000 to study the benefits and ramifications of such a project.

It’s unclear what the ramifications will be on the fight to spend millions in taxpayer dollars on something that just happened on its own Thursday night or Friday morning. 

Of course, that assumes this environmental development sticks.

Glenn Compton, chair of Manasota-88, has put up arguably the most consistent opposition to dredging midnight pass for decades. He has his doubts whether some storm surge will genuinely reopen the pass for any meaningful period of time.

He has long argued that the tidal flow around Sarasota’s barrier island shifted considerably since 1983, and that even if the government dredged the pass open, it’s doubtful the efforts would be successful, it would quite likely close again on its own. “I’m doubtful it’s going to remain open for any period of time,” he said.

But while it is? Well, it looks like Sarasota will endure a real scientific experiment and the consequences of letting it flow. Those longing for re-opening say it proved catastrophic to the environment that existed decades prior when the waterway closed and promises to big a new pass to the north went unfulfilled. Opponents of reopening the pass long argued the estuary environment now would be compromised by saltwater intrusion of the Gulf.

But the funny part of the argument to leave nature as it is sits today is that nature just changed on its own yesterday. A Category 4 hurricane arguably isn’t the same thing as natural evolution, growth and adaptation over 40 years. But it wasn’t a man with a bulldozer and county permit who created this change, but a giant storm named Helene.

Social media now brims with people volunteering to dig the soft sand at the bottom of the shallow pass. And I know many long dreamed of a channel deep enough for boats the pass, not just the wading that takes place now. Bad weather may have just delivered the outcome politics had yet to achieve. And it did so in a way that leaves even the most recalcitrant willing to let the sweater run its course.

“If mother nature determines to reopen the Pass,” Compton said, “then so be it.” 

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA. 

Image courtesy Jesse Biter: Aerial footage of Midnight Pass after Hurricane Helene.

Located in a bustling corporate park off Jacaranda Boulevard in Venice, D-Trans LLC's new corporate headquarters is not only open for business, but it is also a beautiful building. When entering the pristine office, a person's eyes are drawn to the natural beauty that can be seen outside every window. The corporate office and bonded warehouse facility were thoughtfully designed to service their nationwide freight operations while embracing the beauty of Florida's natural fauna. As a full-service trucking and logistics company, D-Trans is dedicated to the service-sensitive sector and high-value shippers, providing advanced security and reliability. Their new facility adds 25,000 sq. ft. to the company's footprint in Sarasota County. The journey to this successful point was challenging, but D-Trans never wavered.

D-Trans was co-founded in September 2005 by Vladimir (Vlad) and Tanya Durshpek in Portland, Oregon, only five months after they were married. It consisted of one truck. Vlad had always aspired to work in the trucking and logistics industries. Tanya played a vital role in the establishment of D-Trans. She did everything, from working on operational policies to overseeing the company's finances and working together with her husband to ensure the company's success.

In 2008, the Durshpeks moved their business to Sarasota County. Over the next decade, the staff grew to 40 employees, serving most of the United States. It was in 2020 that Vlad first contacted the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC). Shortly after, the teams started working together. The EDC assisted Vlad and Tanya as they embarked on a growth plan to double their staff and capabilities. The EDC became part of their project team, helping to navigate the permitting processes, utility hookups, and much more.

D-Trans will expand its capabilities in its new corporate headquarters, adding 50 new team members over the next three years. "People are vital to building a company and culture," says Vlad.

As D-Trans continues to prosper, the EDC will remain a key partner. Vlad and his team are now eager to give back to the community that has supported them by helping other local entrepreneurs and contributing to the economic development of Sarasota County. This commitment to supporting our community is a testament to why small businesses like D-Trans are vital to a vibrant Sarasota County.

The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County is a team of engaged public and private leaders committed to being the catalyst for a sustainable, globally competitive, vibrant economy. Their mission is to grow and diversify the economy of Sarasota County while enhancing its unique natural and cultural environment. To learn more about the EDC of Sarasota County, visit www.edcsarasotacounty.com. 

Pictured: The D-Trans team (l-r) Dina, Eugene, Vladimir and Tanya Durshpek. Photo by Lori Sax.

To learn more, visit.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe.  All of you are in my thoughts. Many have inquired about how both campuses of Selby Gardens fared with the storm, so I wanted to provide a brief update following the initial assessments we have made.

The Downtown Sarasota campus was affected by storm surge and, as you can imagine, has debris to be cleared. The docks and decking appear to be lifted up in some areas by the surge and will need attention. However, I am happy to report that all buildings appear to be okay. The Green Orchid restaurant opened for lunch today, as well as the area of the gardens surrounding the Jean Goldstein Welcome Center and Morganroth Family Palm Promenade. The rest of the gardens will be roped off to the public until debris is cleared.

At the Historic Spanish Point campus, the seawall at the point collapsed and will need attention. The small bridge broke up, and the Packing House dock will likely need attention. Some of the pathways were washed out and will need to be replaced with new shell gravel.  However, I am happy to report that all buildings appear to be okay. The campus has no power, and will need to remain closed until the power is back on.

Please check selby.org and our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) for updates on the status of both campuses.  We hope to be fully up and running soon to provide you with the refuge and respite of our bayfront sanctuaries. Sending you wishes for a safe recovery.

Jennifer Rominiecki is president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. 

Photo courtesy Selby Gardens.