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OCTOBER 2014 | 941.349.0194 | ISLAND VISITOR PUBLISHING, LLC | www.SiestaSand.net | COMPLIMENTARY
Q & A with Nora Patterson: Champion of Siesta Key
County Commissioner Nora Patterson addresses the SKA members at her final Annual breakfast meeting as commissioner
Because of term limits, Nora Patterson will step down from the County Commission dais Nov. 5. Siesta Sand caught up with her to talk about the big Siesta issues—from parking to density battles to the U.S. Army Corps proposal for dredging Big Pass—and what she plans to do with some free time starting in November. The new District Four County Commissioner, to fill Patterson’s seat, will be sworn on the Nov. 18. Siesta Sand: How long have you lived on Siesta? Patterson: Since 1970. We visited Sarasota considering it as a place to live and stayed with friends who lived on Siesta Key. We fell in love with the place, and when we moved here we moved onto the Key and never moved off. Siesta Sand: Was there one particular
thing about Siesta that sealed the deal? Patterson: It was pretty much everything: the trees; the preservation of the tropical look; the beach, which was unbelievable; the ambiance; the sort of low-key availability of small restaurants on the Key in the Village area. We just loved it. Siesta Sand: You were chosen in 2003 as Siesta Key’s Citizen of the Year by the Siesta Key Association and then earlier this year this newspaper described you the “Champion of Siesta.” How have you juggled this important role with representing other areas of District Four and the county? Patterson: It wasn’t hard. I love the Sarasota community. I love the variety of different places to live and the general involvement of people. And yes I am a champion for Siesta Key, but I also think over the years I have been a champion for Nokomis or Osprey
Pine Shores resident takes on Benderson’s Siesta Promenade project By Debbie Flessner
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” --Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist Pine Shores neighborhood resident Sura Kochman may be fighting an uphill battle as a
representative of her community’s small alliance group, but that is not stopping her from voicing her opinion. Her target? Only one of the largest commercial developers in the area. Technically, it’s not Benderson Development that she takes issue
with--it’s the logistics of their Siesta Promenade project, if approved by the county, to begin construction on the corner of Stickney Point Road and U.S. 41 in the Spring of 2015. Continued on page 26
Children First to hit the beach for two big fundraisers By Debbie Flessner In a perfect combination of fun and charity, Children First is holding two of its upcoming fundraisers right on the lovely beach at Sharky’s on the Pier in Venice. On Thursday, October 30, the 7th annual Flip Flops and Fashion luncheon will take place and Saturday evening, November 1 is the
2nd annual Rockin’ Lobster Dinner & Beach Party. Both events will be prepared and catered by Sharky’s, a Venice restaurant that has always been very much involved in the Sarasota County community. Sharky’s owner Justin Pachota said that it was an easy decision for his restaurant to help with Children
First’s fundraising efforts. “We love Children First,” he said. “One of the best things about having a family-owned business like this is that, even though we help out a lot of organizations, occasionally you get a charity like this that helps the kind of people who work for us. Continued on page 11
By Roger Drouin
or Venice, sometimes North Port. I am very conscious that my responsibilities include a whole area, and we do represent all the citizens in the county. And I take that very seriously. I probably know this area better than other commissioners, and I look to other commissioners sometimes for insight that I might miss in other areas. Siesta Sand: But you work a lot— representing Siesta while also representing other communities in your district? Patterson: I do work long hours, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I think you have often seen my representation of Siesta Key issues at the table because I am usually the first one they call. The residents and business owners (on Siesta) will usually turn to me first as their voice. But I still get calls from the rest of the county, and emails. Continued on page 24
Property damage in Siesta Village By Debbie Flessner It’s not even season yet, and a rash of vehicle-related property damage has been taking place in Siesta Village over the past few weeks. While Buccaneer Landscape Management is still settling into its new contract for the maintenance of Siesta Village, there are already several accidental damage issues that will need to be addressed. “In the span of four weeks, we had four instances of property damage,” said Michael Shay, president of the Siesta Key Association and the point person within the Village for Buccaneer. “But it’s just coincidental that we had that many instances of property damages in the off-season, all on Ocean Boulevard.” Each of the incidents happened on different dates and are seemingly unrelated. Next to the Siesta Beach
Resort and Suites, a car hit a Black Olive tree and a trash can that was bolted into the ground. Both were severely damaged, and the car probably was, too, but there were no witnesses to the accident. Shay said that it was hard to understand how something as loud as a car accident and on such a busy street could go unnoticed, no matter what time of night it occurred. “On the corner of Canal and Ocean, right by the Lobster Pot, is one of the new lighted bollards, and someone clearly hit it and cut it off by the base,” he said. “But nobody saw that, either, so there is no police report.” However, when a car is incapacitated as the result of an accident, there is no way to avoid at least a ticket. Continued on page 30
Abel’s Ice Cream offers Stonewood Grill Certificate Abel’s Ice Cream would like to welcome back all the returning residents from their summer vacations. Stop in for a scoop of our award winning ice cream and receive a Stonewood Grill (Stickney Point Road location only) certificate for a FREE order of their Signature BRUSCHETTA (Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic, Aged Parmesan atop Grilled Garlic Bread served with Housemade Balsamic Dressing) with the purchase of two adult entrées. Abel’s two favorite ice cream fall/winter flavors have returned to the 38 flavor selection. Carrot Cake (Carrot cake ice cream with fresh walnuts and a cream cheese frosting weave) and Maple Walnut. Stellar Coffee (Rich coffee ice cream with fudge and mini
NOTES FROM THE ISLAND FISHMONGER “IT’S SHELL FISH SEASON” Page 21
dark chocolate coffee cups) continues to be the #1 best seller. A flavor added this year is rapidly climbing their most popular list, Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (A light raspberry flavor rich chocolate ice cream with raspberry ribbon and dark chocolate mini raspberry cups). For chocolate/raspberry lovers this is a must try experience! Bill & Norma Abel are very excited to have reached and remain the #1 rated restaurant in Sarasota by Trip Advisor since July. To learn more visit tripadvisor.com and click on Restaurants, Sarasota Florida. Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road between Stonewood Grill and New Balance Shoe, 921-5700, www.abelsicecream.com
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