Why the world comes to Sarasota
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HAPPY NEW REAR!
JANUARY 2016 | 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.SiestaSand.net | COMPLIMENTARY
Meet the New Executive Director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
JOE ST.ONGE
Sarasota local brings experience and trust to Siesta Key
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SAND CASTLES
Our House at the Beach is a short walk from Siesta’s public beach page
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BEACH WEDDING
The perfect wedding starts with a perfect couple and a perfect beach page
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WHO’S PLAYING TONIGHT
An interview with RPM’s Mark Waelti
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Ann Frescura
I recently had the opportunity to interview Ann Frescura the new Executive Director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. Ann took over the position that was vacated by Debra Lynn-Schmitz this past summer. Question: What prompted you to apply for the Executive Director position? Answer: It has been a lifelong dream of mine to eventually relocate to Southwest Florida and had been actively searching a variety of online employment sites, specifically targeting opportunities in the Sarasota area. When I read the job description I thought - Wow! Q: Do you have any nonprofit or chamber experience? A: Yes, I have 12+ years in nonprofit management and event planning. Q: What do you know about Siesta Key and Sarasota? A: The first time I visited Sarasota (about 5 years ago) I immediately felt at home. I absolutely love the culture, the dynamic arts, tourism, and business community, and of course the beautiful weather and beaches. Q: You have been a Promotion and
Events Director, how long and what was the biggest event you managed? A: For over 5 years, I managed the Springfield Area Arts Council’s First Night Springfield, which is a familyoriented, New Year’s Eve celebration of the Arts. This event involved 10 or so sites where each hosted a variety of arts performances simultaneously from afternoon to midnight, concluding with a major fireworks display. Average attendance was 5000 (with good weather). Another event is the Farmers Market, in addition to the event and promotion duties, I managed 60+ vendors twice a week for the six month season. Over the past nine years the Market experienced significant growth with increased number of vendors, the addition of artisans, and incorporating live entertainment and community programs. Q: What was the funniest event you recently managed? A: I’m so proud of the Downtown Bacon Throwdown (July 2015) - it was great fun to be creative and bring a new event to Springfield. Continued on page 32
South Siesta Key Beach renourishment to start
Atkins Report Big Pass Dredging
The county has secured all final permits, including a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers and approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and secured the contractor New Jersey-based Weeks Marine for $18.1 million. Weeks Marine was the sole bidder for the project, and the County will start the restoration in January and finish before sea turtle nesting season, which begins May 1 and lasts through November. The final federal permit was issued following a lengthy delay due to unanticipated issues regarding a listed species. The potential stopover of the Rufa Red Knot during migration delayed the permitting process, and since spring the county had also been working to put specific safeguards in place to protect both the Red Knot and Loggerhead sea turtles.
Publishers Note: Recently we have heard so many news outlets talk briefly about the Atkins Report that was sent recently to the Board of County Commissioners. The report looks at the potential damage to Siesta Key, the Ted Sperling Park on Lido Key and navigation through Big Sarasota Pass. Please keep yourself informed by reading the summary of their findings. The Atkins Report is a Peer review of the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) plan to dredge the Big Pass Shoal.
In March, county officials notified residents the scheduled start date for the project had been delayed because of the potential presence of the Red Knot, a threatened species protected by the Endangered Species Act in 2014. “The Red Knot is not very common in our area but it can potentially use our gulf shoreline during its trip,” Wreford told Siesta Sand in July. With final permits in hand, county officials were pushing for construction this winter. The construction bid was advertised in October, with bid opening scheduled for Nov. 10. The county did not know the final project costs until the proposals were received, according to what the county spokesman Jason Bartolone told Siesta Sand at the end of October. Continued on page 10
Executive Summary
The Lido Key Federal Shore Protection Project (Lido SPP) is a federally authorized Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction (HSDR) project proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the City of Sarasota (City) as local sponsor. Atkins was tasked by Sarasota County, a key stakeholder, to
review elements of the Lido SPP specific to the potential for physical impacts to Ted Sperling Park, north Siesta Key and navigation through Big Sarasota Pass as documented by USACE studies and reports provided by the County. Reports supplied span approximately 15 years of significant effort by the USACE to assess feasibility and analyze several design alternatives. However, the reports provided do not always include input data (and metadata) used for analysis. This leaves question and uncertainty with respect to data quality, repeatability, and geographic coverage as well as model calibration, verification and results. The reports lack the supporting documentation necessary to confidently accept the conclusions. Continued on page 36
LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Meet Alex Ortega, general manager at Turtles Restaurant page
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LOCAL MAPS & INFORMATION
See Page 21