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MAY 2016 | 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.SiestaSand.net | COMPLIMENTARY
CHANGES TO NORTH BEACH RD 360-foot section of North Beach Road on Siesta Key has been impassable page for years
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HURRY UP & LIVE SK RESIDENT PROFILE
Meet Karen Dobbs the founder of Hurry Up and Live ™
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ELIMINATING THE ODOR County working on eliminating odor on the Key
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REAL ESTATE AGENT PROFILE
Meet Annmarie Tucker of Siesta Key Resort Rentals, LLC page
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BEACH WEDDING
Palms May be Tops with Tourists, but not all Locals Agree
By Robert Frederickson
“I think that I shall never see... A poem as lovely as a tree...” - Joyce Kilmer With all due respect to Ms. Kilmer, some Siesta Key residents might add this caveat to that sentiment: It depends on the tree. Despite generally positive reviews from those attending opening ceremonies earlier this year for the recently completed Siesta Beach improvement project, at least some Key residents have questioned the county’s landscaping choices for the park’s makeover. Of the project’s $21 million budget, $850,000 was spent on trees, shrubs and other landscaping improvements, according to Brad Gaubatz, the county’s point man for the project. “There are 40 royal palms at the main entrance, 12 live oaks in phase one near the maintenance
building, 94 green buttonwoods near the playground for shade, 62 sea grapes and 1041 sabal palms in the parking lot,” Gaubatz explained in a phone interview recently. All told, more than 1600 native trees were included in the park’s landscaping plan, as designed by the consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates. But some residents have questioned why so many trees were planted in the parking lot and along the new esplanade, blocking views of the project’s focal point: the beach beyond. The issue was raised at a Siesta Key Association meeting in February. In a follow-up e-mail to the SKA after that meeting, later forwarded to the county, Jane McIntire, president of the
Palms in Boyd Park on Siesta Key are maintained by Sarasota County. Is this how the 1041 palms recently added to the newly renovated #1 beach will look like in time?
Beachway Condo Association board of directors, pointed out that prior to the renovation “the only place on Siesta Key where
Turtle Beach gets updates
A buffered shore and new sidewalks among county improvements By Roger Drouin With Siesta Public Beach’s major facelift now completed, it’s Turtle Beach’s turn to receive some upgrades. The improvements come in the form of two major county projects: a just wrapped-up beach renourishment; and a Turtle Beach Park capital project set to begin early this summer. By next tourist season, an eroded shore and sharp escapements will be replaced with a sandy beach, and Turtle Beach Park will have expanded parking, new sidewalks, and a rain garden,
among other park improvements. • The South Siesta Renourishment, as of press time, was expected to be completed by April 30. The $21.5 million renourishment project added nearly 750,000 cubic yards of sand along 2.1 miles of shore and 1.1 acres of dune vegetation. The project was designed to buffer stretches of beach that had been severely eroded since an initial renourishment in 2007. The timeline for construction was planned so the project could be completed outside of sea turtle nesting season.
• Meanwhile construction of the Capital Improvement Project at Turtle Beach Park could start by early summer. The project is slated to cost $601,000. The improvement project includes expanded parking, new sidewalks and crosswalks, a relocated and improved children’s playground, fresh landscaping, a kayak launch, and an expansive rain garden with native plants. Siesta Sand takes a look at both projects. Continued on page 18
Big Pass Dredging Update By Rachel Brown Hackney - SarasotaNewsLeader.com
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SAND CASTLES
On the Bayou at Somerset Cove
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has granted a six-month extension to the City of Sarasota
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide a response to the agency’s second Request for Additional Information
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Donate to Keep Fireworks on Siesta Key In 2015, we celebrated the 25th year of having fireworks on Siesta Key for the 4th of July. According to Mike Simmons, Project Manager at Zambelli Fireworks, this display was the largest private show in Sarasota County and one of the largest in the state of Florida. Because all funding for the annual fireworks comes completely from sponsorships/ donations, the group of volunteers that serve on the fireworks committee took on a challenge when we agreed to raise extra funds to beef-up the show from prior years. Continued on page 34
NOTICE:
Stickney Point Drawbridge Daytime Lane Closures
|State grants six-month extension to City of Sarasota and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for answers on Lido project
Halpern beach wedding, love across the pond
you could drive down the road and see the number one beach was at the main beach parking lot.
(RAI2) regarding the proposal to dredge Big Sarasota Pass to renourish Lido Key Beach. Continued on page 13
Daytime single lane closures began the week of April 24 while crews paint portions of the bridge and railing. Expect single lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the next few weeks in either the westbound or eastbound direction. Nighttime/overnight lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. should also be expected.
Passing the Baton In January, Abel’s Ice Cream store founders Bill and Norma Abel retired after nearly five years in business and passed the ownership baton to Jerry and Jill Williams to carry on the legacy of awardwinning tastes and superb customer service. Throughout the past months, the Williams have had multiple conversations with longtime customers about Bill and Norma, which prompted them to create a memory board (pictured), where a note of well wishes could be jotted for the Abels. When they were presented with the framed piece, both Norma and Bill were deeply moved. “Norma and I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the very touching gift from you and the customers,” Bill said. “It will be treasured for the balance of our lives.” Jerry and Jill hail from the Midwest, and are now permanent Sarasota residents. The couple have thoroughly enjoyed their welcome to the community and the wonderful legacy that Bill and Norma created.
“Bill and Norma are such wonderful people, and they really teed it up for us,” Jerry said. “From the ice cream, fine chocolates, and gourmet food, to the cleanliness and service, we couldn’t have created a better business model. We hope the only change the customers notice is a couple of faces. We feel blessed to have this opportunity.” Speaking of wonderful people, Mother’s Day is just around the corner! If you’re looking for a gift that will have Mom smiling from ear to ear, Abel’s Ice Cream has you covered. All-natural, handmade chocolates from Sweet Shop USA are ready to go, or can be customized if you prefer. Stonewall Kitchen’s famous jellies, jams and chutneys are also on hand. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with fantastic pints and quarts of mom’s favorite ice cream, or a gift card so she can treat herself. Featured flavors in May are a nod to Jerry and Jill’s own mothers, so make sure to enjoy Black Cherry (Deep black cherry ice cream exploding with
Abel’s Ice Cream new owners, Jerry and Jill Williams, presented the store’s founders, Bill and Norma Abel, with a framed photo surrounded by celebratory notes for the Abel’s retirement from customers and friends Bordeaux cherries), and Mint Chip (Mint flavored ice cream with large chocolate chips). Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, 921-5700. Learn more about Abel’s Ice Cream online at www.abelsicecream.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
LOCAL MAPS & INFORMATION
See Page 19