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I'm going to post items on our web site blog for a while. You can get there by clicking here.

Let me know if you prefer one site or the other. We would prefer to have visitors come to our web site and it does have blog capability.

The Mighty Bombax

Located in the long triangle between Bay Shore and Eastchester, just north of Beverly, is the Mighty Bombax.

This is the tree with the huge red petaled flowers in the early spring. These trees can reach heights to 120' and diameters to 10'. The one along Bay Shore is a excellent example - it is a very large tree.

The Bombax is a close cousin to the Kapok tree that is just around the corner on Beverly. The Bombax is quite a bit bigger.

If you like interesting trees, our neighborhood has a lot to interest you.

Looking north at the Mighty Bombax!

Bombax trunk and author's bike. This is a large trunk!

Bombax on Bay Shore

At the e-Fest

Alan Lillie and I stopped by the e-Fest yesterday.

This event showcased local organizations and businesses that are promoting a more sustainable life style. Many interesting exhibits and programs were available.

Our neighborhood was well represented. Jesse White (pictured below) had a booth showing his Architectural Salvage treasures; Sharon Carr had a booth serving some of her yummy creations - food is sustainable you know! - and Doug Perry and Konnie Kruczek were manning a G-Wiz exhibit that used solar energy to power an "antique" kiddie ride (rides were free as well as the power to run it!).

Lots of people were there. It was an excellent event.

Jesse White at his Architectural Salvage booth at e-Fest

Development in and Around Us

An update on development stuff:

• The Houses of Indian Beach appeal (by a group of neighbors) was recheduled for June 6
• Apparently Tony DeLoach, the developer of the Sylvan Dr townhouse project that we opposed earlier this year, will submit a new plan for 8 townhouses with side facing garages instead of 9 townhouses.
• Charles Githler has been talking with the city about submitting a project for the Yacht Center property that would include "rackominiums" - stacked storage units for boats that are sold to individuals, similar in concept to a condominium - the number is not known at this time. Rumor has it that a full service bar is to be included.
• Tony Deloach also has a project, that was recommended to the city commission for approval by the Planning Board, across Whitaker Bayou, that would create a 4 house sub-division and 4 community docks.
• New College has filed an updated "Campus Master Plan" with the City. What's new is their stated intention to acquire the private homes (through willing sale) on 58th, to include the old Circus Hall of Fame property which they recently acquired and to purchase the Car Museum property and add it to their campus. Basically filling in the holes in their campus.

Magnolias in IBSSA

The Magnolia trees are blooming around the neighborhood. There's a nice tree on the corner of 47th and Bay Shore. Also a recently planted memorial tree in Sapphire Shores Park has been blooming.

Magnolia Blossoms in Sapphire Shores Park

Got That Walled Out Feeling?

Seems like a lot of residents are putting up walls. Not sure if they are being walled in or I am being walled out.

Personally, if someone feels they have to have a wall, I would much rather see a low wall set back from the property line with some nice landscaping. I like views, particulary landscapes. If security is perceived to be a problem a "see through" type fence would fit a lot better in the neighborhood. Nice example of this on Chippawa.

Below are four new walls that have sprung up recently. I think all of these are "foam walls" - a thick foam board is set between metal posts and the surface is given a texture, similar to stucco, then painted. One wonders how these will hold up when high winds start blowing objects around.

Take a look at this site for an innovative way to comment on walls and gated communities. It will make you chuckle.

Mecca and Stevens

Indian Beach and Bon Air

Indian Beach Circle

Corner of Alameda and 22nd St

Profile of a Neighbor

One of our neighbors is profiled in Saturday's Sarasota H-T. If you missed the article on George Luzier you can link to it here.

George has lived in the neighborhood a long time. His skill at wooden boat building is well known around Florida. Morgan Stinemetz (sailing columnist for the newspaper) said this:

"The Luzier boat building shop, in its various manifestations, is part of Sarasota's heritage. It's where George Luzier, seer, prophet and certified curmudgeon, continues his magic today. Even if the actual quantity of the magic is a bit diminished by the relentless march of time and paucity of skilled artisans, the quality still shines through like recently polished antique silver on a Duncan Phyfe sideboard.

George Luzier is the real deal, a craftsman/artist who works in wood with skills six decades strong. He calls himself a builder of fine boats. He sees no higher calling."

Nice words about a a neighborhood artisan!

Mailings

I sent an e-mail recently about mail being stolen from a mailbox on Sapphire. A reader indicated they had mail stolen from their Bay Shore Rd mailbox on Wednesday. Another wrote to say that her mailbox was ripped off the post (also on Bay Shore) and thrown across the yard.

Don't have any good responses. We all need to be careful about outgoing mail and report any suspicious activity to the police.

e-mail probably can't be stolen, although sometimes a virus can hijack someone's computer. It's a tough world we live in. But Sarasota and our neighborhood are good despite the occasional glitch.