When hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Florida last year, SeaHorse Beach Resort faced devastating impacts—pool decking and landscaping were washed away, first-floor units flooded and the electrical system was heavily damaged. But the Longboat Key resort has made a quick comeback, and now, as the first anniversary of these storms approaches, they’ve even taken the opportunity to make improvements to units and amenities.

Director Sam McCarter says the community SeaHorse has built was essential to the resort’s recovery and successful reopening. While the resort was closed for a short period after the storms, the housekeeping and maintenance teams joined condo owners in helping dry and clean out first-floor units. Owners and board members also joined together to help rebuild and restore these condos after securing the necessary permits. “One of the things about what happened is that we've been blessed with finding a great group of people with a common sense of purpose—to get us back up and running as quickly as we can,” says McCarter.

One of these people is the resort’s contractor, Jack Kirkman. “The night of the storms, I called him and said, ‘Jack, we're going to need your help, so I want to put you on retainer. I don't know what you're going to do, but we're going to need your help for a long time.’ And he's been with us since September 26 of last year, even today, helping us with these restoration projects,” says McCarter.

Throughout the time these projects took, the resort owners aimed to turn their misfortune into an opportunity for improvement. “It was a horrible thing. However, you can look at it from one of two perspectives. You can look at it as, ‘Oh my gosh, what happened to us is terrible.’ Or you can look at it as we chose to, as an opportunity for us to really reinvigorate the SeaHorse,” says McCarter. These improvements included remodeling the damaged units, an upgraded electrical system, and new landscaping and outdoor areas, all designed to withstand future storms.

SeaHorse Beach Resort, 3453 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key, 34228 

Cleanup and restoration after Hurricane Helene was a group effort. Photo courtesy SeaHorse Beach Resort.

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Christopher Alan Homes has named Trish Sing as land acquisition manager. In this role, she is responsible for identifying and securing land opportunities and supporting the company’s continued growth across Southwest Florida. Sing brings more than a decade of experience in land acquisition, real estate development and market analysis. Over the past seven years in Southwest Florida, she has held roles in both land acquisition and underwriting for several national homebuilders. Her expertise in site evaluation, pipeline management and negotiation is supported by a strong network of relationships with brokers, landowners and consultants throughout the region. For more information about Christopher Alan Homes, visit christopheralanhomes.com or call 855-44-MYCAH (69224). 

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Join us for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County - where bold ideas transform into big impact! Presented by Brown & Brown, during the meeting, you will discover the dynamic synergy of passionate public and private leaders driving economic growth and global competitiveness in our vibrant economy. This event is where innovation meets action, shaping the future of Sarasota County. Don't miss your chance to be part of this dynamic conversation supporting a thriving business community and global success! 

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Bank of America has named Stephenie Whitfield, Business Banking market executive, president of Bank of America Sarasota/Manatee. She succeeds Erik Vatter, who led the market since 2022 and will focus on his new role of Merrill senior financial advisor. As president and head of the market, Stephenie will connect clients, teammates, and communities to the full power of the franchise and drive integration across the bank’s eight lines of business. She will oversee the company’s efforts to grow market share by fostering local connections and identifying opportunities to grow and deepen client relationships. 

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Visit Sarasota County, in partnership with  Sarasota BMX, announced that Sarasota County will host two consecutive UCI BMX  Racing World Cup events in 2026 and 2027 at the Sarasota BMX track. The events will serve  as key qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with Sarasota joining an  international lineup of host nations that includes France, the Netherlands, Turkey, China  and Australia. “We are thrilled to welcome back the UCI BMX Racing World Cup to Sarasota in both 2026  and 2027,” said Pete Harvey, Visit Sarasota County Director of Sports. “Hosting these  events in the lead-up to the LA2028 Olympic Games is an incredible opportunity to  showcase our community’s passion for sports on the world stage.” 

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Don’t miss one of Florida’s most anticipated festivals — a weekend filled with music, motors, and making a difference! The 28th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motors Festival returns to the Sarasota Fairgrounds February 13–15, 2026. This iconic festival, organized and benefitting Suncoast Charities for Children, promises a weekend packed with fun and entertainment. Featured headline acts include:

Night Ranger — Rock legends known for hits like “Sister Christian” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”

38 Special — On their 50th Anniversary Tour, celebrating a brand-new album release!

Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery — Bringing high-energy country hits to the stage. The weekend also showcases an incredible mix of additional live music performances, from Maiden Cane, “Given To Fly” (Pearl Jam Tribute), Bobby Friss, and Crossfire Creek. 

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