Why the world comes to Sarasota
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AUGUST 2018 | 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.SiestaSand.net | COMPLIMENTARY
SIESTA PROMENADE Siesta Promenade formal review process underway
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CANDIDATES
Candidates for District 4 County Commission
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SIESTA KEY TRANSPORTATION Information on the new trolley operator, off island trolley parking, and long range Siesta parking consideration
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SIESTA SOUNDS
If It Looks Like a Boat Channel Soon after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Sarasota announced their plans for the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass to renourish a critically eroded area of South Lido Key Beach, Siesta residents began pointing to the proposed sand borrow areas and noting something distinctive about one of them. Borrow Area — or “Cut” — C, they said, sure does look like a designated channel from Sarasota Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, as leaders of the Siesta Key Association (SKA) have pointed out, that cut is especially troublesome for property owners on the northern area of Siesta Key and Bird Key. Those people are expected to suffer significant damage because of increased wave energy related to the Lido project, as shown by research undertaken by experts the SKA hired for the December 2017 Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) challenge to the Lido project. “It’s time to start asking why the city is putting the residents of Lido at risk because that particular piece of sand is so important,” SKA President Gene Kusekoski said of the Big Pass sediment during the organization’s June 7 meeting. The 1.3 million cubic yards of sand that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the city have set their sights on, Kusekoski stressed, is “150% the size of The Vue and the Westin,” referring to the condominium complex and adjacent hotel at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Siesta organizations and residents opposed to the dredging of Big Pass have offered full support of renourishing South Lido, but they have called for the USACE and the city to use sand from another source. During a recent telephone interview, Kusekoski emphasized, “Our biggest objection is this Cut C. … They’ve gone out of their way to say this is not a navigation channel,” he added, in spite of how it appears. Yet, he continued, “Once you dig that trench, you change the dynamic of the pass, and God knows what’s going to occur.” Continued on page 18
By Rachel Brown Hackney
Property Owner, Mike Holderness Makes a Statement See page 4, “Pleas for County Commission Action”
Reopen Beach Road Proposed Sarasota County Charter Amendments to be Focus of Aug. 29 Public Hearing
Lisa Ridings is just the vocalist perfectly suited to perform here page
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SWIMSUITS
Men’s swimsuits evolved with Siesta Key’s beaches
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SAND CASTLES
By Rachel Brown Hackney \ SarasotaNewsLeader.com Thanks to a unanimous vote, on Aug. 29, the Sarasota County Commission will hold a public hearing on a draft ordinance that could put two proposed Sarasota County Charter amendments on the ballot that relate to the commission’s May 2016 vacation of a 357-footlong segment of North Beach Road. However, County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh said on July 10 that he would be prepared to talk at length, during the public hearing, about the potential ramifications of the measures, if they are approved by the voters
during the Nov. 6 General Election. After Siesta Key resident Michael Cosentino filed a complaint against the county in June 2016, alleging that the board violated its Comprehensive Plan in approving the road vacation on a 4-1 vote, he also began a petition drive on the two Charter amendments. His goal not only was to reverse the road vacation approved on May 11, 2016, but also to ensure that no County Commission ever again would be able to vacate or sell road segments on rights of way along waterways.
He submitted his first batch of signed petitions to the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office on July 20, 2016. On June 25, Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner wrote formal letters to Commission Chair Nancy Detert, informing her that Cosentino had obtained the necessary number of valid signatures, under the aegis of the County Charter, to have the amendments put on the ballot.
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A half-day workshop to be held later this year regarding paid parking at Siesta Public Beach
Siesta Village business owners were abuzz because of a rather unusual incident
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County Commission Splits 3-2 on Allowing Construction of New Sanderling Road Home
Happiness is…Cooling Off
A tranquil point where land meets water
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Most of the country is sweltering in the midst of a summer heatwave. Jerry Williams, owner of Abel’s Ice Cream, remembers those Midwest summers. “We visited family in Kansas City recently,” he said. “It didn’t take us long to start counting the minutes until we could get home and dip our toes in the ocean.” That’s exactly what he and his wife Jill did when they returned. Well, a little more than just their toes. “We dumped our luggage, changed clothes, and headed to the beach, he grinned.” When they moved to the Sarasota, the Williams promised they’d never take for granted the beauty and the blessings here. As you can tell from the photos, the stunning Siesta Key area is definitely their “happy place.” We certainly haven’t escaped the toasty
summer heat in Florida, though. And at Abel’s they’re celebrating the tropical feel with two fantastic seasonal flavors. Stop by their clean, air-conditioned store to sample Toasted Coconut (Toasted Coconut ice cream with mounds of toasted coconut flakes. Consider yourself warned, it’s addicting.) or Banana (No monkey business around here! This delicious ice cream will have you screaming B.A.N.A.N.A.S!) If you weren’t already enjoying the summer, these two flavors are guaranteed to get you in the right frame of mind. If you’re still just not feeling the summer vibe, remember Autumn is just around the corner, and before you can say tropical heatwave, it will be back to school time for our area students. Embrace the waning days of summer with your friends at Abel’s. We’d
love to hear your favorite summer memories. We’re located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon-9:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday from Noon10 pm. Learn more online at our website, www.abelsicecream.com or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.
5 years straight!