This is the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Anna Maria Island, a landmark since it was built in 1964. Unfortunately it was damaged in hurricanes Helene and Milton a couple of years ago, and sadly the church is now closed and the property is for sale. The building was designed by Victor Lundy, from the renowned Sarasota School of Architecture, but it looks like it's going the way of the dodo bird. An application has been filed to turn the entire site into houses.
Sue and I walked past it early yesterday morning, and we enjoyed the light from inside illuminating the stained glass clerestory windows and front door.
Apparently the city tried to acquire the property to preserve the church and surrounding green space. but it couldn't match the $10 million listing price, so private developers have won out.
Sad.
Yesterday was my last day on Anna Maria. As I mentioned, Sue and I walked early in the morning, and then I hit the road after breakfast to drive up to Jacksonville to visit my brother. I don't have any photos from that trip, because I stuck to the interstates and they just aren't very interesting. I stopped for a coffee in DeLand but otherwise kept the pedal to the metal.
In Jacksonville, my brother showed me that there's a Trump counterpart to the stickers that Biden-hating Republicans were plastering on gas pumps during his term. Excellent!
Oh, and speaking of politics, I got word from the local Supervisor of Elections that my ballot was received. So my vote is officially in.
Today we've got some errands to run and hopefully some time for fun in between. Among the things I need to look into is a very strange bill I received for an emergency room visit in Coral Gables on July 11 -- it's in my name, but clearly I was not in a hospital in Coral Gables on that day. (I don't think I've been to Coral Gables in at least 30 years.) I'm not sure whether it's identity theft or some other scam. The bill was initially for $1,400 but the hospital has supposedly written off all but $140, which they want me to pay. Sounds dubious! I thought I'd call the hospital and see if they know anything about it. Definitely one of the weirder pieces of mail I've ever received.
Oh, and speaking of politics, I got word from the local Supervisor of Elections that my ballot was received. So my vote is officially in.
Today we've got some errands to run and hopefully some time for fun in between. Among the things I need to look into is a very strange bill I received for an emergency room visit in Coral Gables on July 11 -- it's in my name, but clearly I was not in a hospital in Coral Gables on that day. (I don't think I've been to Coral Gables in at least 30 years.) I'm not sure whether it's identity theft or some other scam. The bill was initially for $1,400 but the hospital has supposedly written off all but $140, which they want me to pay. Sounds dubious! I thought I'd call the hospital and see if they know anything about it. Definitely one of the weirder pieces of mail I've ever received.
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