News
Church fundraiser gaining momentum
An artist’s rendering shows the new St. Michael the Archangel ministry hall. (submitted photo) By Jane Bartnett In early March, St. Michael the Archangel, Siesta Key’s only Roman Catholic Church, officially re-launched its $5.25 million capital campaign to build a new ministry hall that will hold meeting and office space, as well as a full […]
New facility helps prevent sewage spills
By Rachel Brown Hackney, SarasotaNewsLeader.com On April 10, 2018, wastewater began flowing from the new Siesta Key Master Pump Station to the mainland, following a years-long Sarasota County project. The conversion of the Siesta Key Wastewater Treatment Plant to a pump station ensured that sewage no longer would be handled on the Key, county staff […]
Street setbacks, landscaping details and parking plans the focus of county staff comments on Kompothecras project
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com It was not until a December 8th, 2020 deadline that representatives of several Sarasota County divisions that handle land-development issues provided comments on a preliminary application submitted in May for a seven-story, 120-room hotel and a five-story parking garage planned in the Stickney Point Road/Old Stickney Point Road area of […]
Saba Sands protests denial for new condominium complex
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com Saba Sands LLC has filed a Request for Relief through the Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (FLUEDRA), arguing that the Sarasota County Commission’s August 2020 denial of its plans for a six-unit condominium complex on Beach Road was “unreasonable and unfairly burdens Owner’s reasonable, investment-backed expectations for […]
Living
Turtle sculpture a message of stewardship for beach visitors
By Jane Bartnett A large, original sea-turtle sculpture formed from aluminum now graces the main entrance to Siesta Beach. Unveiled during a morning ceremony on April 17, the work of art took a year and a half to design and create. The result of a joint partnership between Sarasota County and the Gulf Coast Community […]
The art of inspiration
Motivated by health scare, Shawn McLoughlin paints a positive future By Jane Bartnett Shawn McLoughlin’s art is woven into the tapestry of Siesta Key life. Found in the form of whimsical island scenes that not only grace the walls of thousands of homes but also in large, brightly colored murals and signs that dot the […]
Community Spotlight: Linda Vasilaki
Take lots of notes, students! Q: You are the general music and orchestra director at Siesta Key’s Out-of-Door Academy’s lower school, where you’ve spent 38 years. Tell us about your path that landed you there. A: “I started teaching general music in the Grand Rapids, Michigan public schools, where I taught for eight years and […]
Sheriff’s Report: May
March 7 identity theft Complainant reported that an unidentified suspect used her name, social security number and other personal information to apply for Illinois unemployment benefits. The suspect used complainant’s son’s Illinois address for the claim, and complainant became aware of the fraud when her son received a letter from the Illinois unemployment office regarding […]