• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

PHOTO GALLERY: Goodbye party for Dave Sparks


  • By Rachel S. OHara
  • | 5:00 a.m. January 6, 2012
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • Share
PHOTO GALLERY: Goodbye party for Dave Sparks
Dave Sparks talked with many groups of people at his goodbye party.
Dave Sparks talked with many groups of people at his goodbye party.
Marvin and Mimi Sweet
Marvin and Mimi Sweet
Hank Striefler poses with Bev and Bob Dreyfus
Hank Striefler poses with Bev and Bob Dreyfus
Gianna Sparks, 9, with Max Spitzer
Gianna Sparks, 9, with Max Spitzer
Dave Sparks gets a hug from Glad Elias at his goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Dave Sparks gets a hug from Glad Elias at his goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Kathy Powers and Beth Wiele
Kathy Powers and Beth Wiele
Hundreds of tennis center members came out to Dave Sparks’ goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Hundreds of tennis center members came out to Dave Sparks’ goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
John Mrachek poses with Karen and Brian Warrack
John Mrachek poses with Karen and Brian Warrack
The staff of the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center pose together during Dave Sparks’ goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
The staff of the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center pose together during Dave Sparks’ goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Janine Irizarry, Sandra Ceshker and Susan and Irwin Singer pose together at Dave Sparks’ goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Janine Irizarry, Sandra Ceshker and Susan and Irwin Singer pose together at Dave Sparks’ goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Diane and Andy Gladsden had some fun on the dance floor.
Diane and Andy Gladsden had some fun on the dance floor.
Linda Gillott, Lynn Rosen and Cheryl Viera
Linda Gillott, Lynn Rosen and Cheryl Viera
Many people brought cards and gifts for Dave Sparks at his goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Many people brought cards and gifts for Dave Sparks at his goodbye party, Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Gulf Drive Café.
Dave and Rosemarie Carter
Dave and Rosemarie Carter
Willie Buchholz, Brian and Alison McNeary and Paula and Larry Jacobson
Willie Buchholz, Brian and Alison McNeary and Paula and Larry Jacobson
Scott Blum and Howie Banfield entertained the guests with their music.
Scott Blum and Howie Banfield entertained the guests with their music.
Kay Thayer, Fanny Younger and Susan Landau
Kay Thayer, Fanny Younger and Susan Landau

 

Latest News

The property at 1500 Stickney Point Road includes 21 parcels.
  • February 13, 2026
Sarasota County to buy prominent Stickney Point property for $21M project
Waldorf Astoria Residences Sarasota will offer views of Sarasota Bay and beyond from its Five Points location.
  • February 12, 2026
Developer introduces luxury-branded downtown condo tower
Marian Anderson property redevelopment plan advances
  • February 12, 2026
Marian Anderson property redevelopment plan advances
A floating day dock has been built along the refurbished south seawall in the 10th Street boat basin as part of The Bay park Phase 2.
  • February 12, 2026
Day dock fees at The Bay regarded as at the 'lower end'

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

High school sweethearts Jean and Joe Kane made sure they were keeping pace together when they bought a tandem bicycle for their 25th wedding anniversary. They shared advice on how to ride through life together ahead of Valentine's Day.
  • February 11, 2026
High school sweethearts share advice on pedaling through life together
Longboat Key resident Patrice Fanning started off serving as an officiant for friends, and she is now expending her work into an official business.
  • February 11, 2026
Longboaters in love can keep it local with new wedding officiant business
Harry's Continental Kitchens General Manager Hal Christensen said his family has been glad to support the Longboat Key Garden Club through all the iterations of Taste of the Keys. The event celebrates 15 years of raising funds for local scholarships this year.
  • February 11, 2026
Tasty treats promised for Taste of the Keys 2026
There was some tough competition in this year's Superb Owl "Most Valuable Predator" contest. Wanda, one of the bird rescue's resident barred owls, won the title of "Best Defense."
  • February 10, 2026
Whoooo is the MVP of Save Our Seabirds' owlery?
Longboat Key’s social media presence is thanks in large part to Tina Adams, whose duties include leading a communications team who regularly post infographics, flyers and breaking news alerts to its Facebook, Instagram and X pages. On a Thursday afternoon, Adams walked over to the police station to meet with Police Chief Russ Mager to film the latest video series shared by the town: A Minute with Mager. Adams helped get the right take with the chief, tweaking the script and discussing what was important to include and what could be left out.
  • February 10, 2026
Tina Adams' role with Longboat has grown over 26 years
Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President Danielle Gladding, Salvation Army Capt. Jim Curry and bellringing coordinator Chris Sachs, a former club president, celebrate a stand-out year for donations.
  • February 10, 2026
Longboat bellringers ring in record contribution

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now