News
Sheriff’s Report: August
June 13 battery The security staff at the location of a fight advised the arriving officer that the suspect was intoxicated and causing a disruption at the bar. A security guard in uniform was attempting to find the suspect a ride home when the suspect began screaming profanities and pointing her fingers into the guard’s […]
Mote personnel move sea turtle nest off Beach Road
Quite a bit of buzz was generated on June 23 by the discovery of a sea turtle nest near Beach Access 2 on North Beach Road. Sarasota County Communications Department staff members indicated that they had received calls about whether county workers would install protective turtle netting in the area. The Communications Department advisory explained, […]
Island Chatter: August
Crystal Classic event taking shape Tickets and parking passes are now available for the Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, slated for Nov. 12 through 15. Adult tickets are $10 per day, while a child ticket (ages 5 to 17) is $5 per day for those accompanied by a paying adult. Children under […]
Civic group scores grant for Grand Canal project
Siesta Key Association Secretary Margaret Jean Cannon, who is one of the leaders of the nonprofit’s Grand Canal Regeneration Project, has announced that the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program has awarded the association a $1,469 grant to introduce aeration devices around mini reefs already installed in the Grand Canal. The goal is to increase the level […]
Living
Wanted: Hive hosts with honey in their veins
By Hannah Wallace We may envision beehives in open, country areas. But according to Sarasota Honey Co. founder Alma Johnson, the best honey comes from our own backyards — literally. “By having our hives in residential areas, the bees aren’t exposed to big agriculture and monoculture,” said Johnson, who with her team oversees around 70 […]
Casting for a Cause
By Jane Bartnett The second annual Casting for the Kids fishing tournament, held to raise funds in support of local families whose children are battling pediatric cancer, will take place Sept. 24 and 25. The event benefits the Sarasota-based Dancing with Clayton Foundation, a non-profit corporation founded in memory of 3-year-old Clayton Van Landuyt. At […]
Parrot owner hopes to prepare Gringo for life on his own
By Hannah Wallace Seven years ago, Dan Sweeney “committed the sin of buying a parrot,” he said, referring to the sometimes-problematic exotic pet industry. Only later did Sweeney, now 58, fully understand the responsibilities involved in properly caring for the bird. “There’s obviously a lot of abandonment (of parrots) because people buy them without realizing […]
Community Spotlight: Brad Ward
A local kid helps keep life here totally beachy Q: You’ve been a lifeguard with Sarasota County for 12 years, spending part of your time on Siesta Beach. As a local guy, how did Siesta Key influence your interest in this profession? A: I grew up on the island and always thought the beach was […]