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Meanwhile, some hotels and chamber submit comp plan suggestions By John Morton In the ongoing Siesta Key saga regarding new hotels, not only has the first and largest one initially approved returned to the fold but a new one proposed by a large, prominent developer has also emerged.All this, less than two months after a […]
By Jane Bartnett Oh what a night! And oh, what a weekend it was for Siesta Beach. The Crystal Classic was on! Thousands of visitors had come to see the exceptional sand sculptures designed and created by 24 of the world’s master sand sculptors who traveled here from all over the U.S. and Canada, and […]
By Hannah Wallace In November, a few hours before their flight was to take them back home to Chicago, Joanna Abdelhadi took her four kids to Siesta Beach one last time.The family owns a vacation home in Cape Coral, and while Abdelhadi’s husband of 11 years, a Chicago police officer, had to stay home this […]
Mike and Donna Nix deliver not only one beautiful boat of a float, but Santa Claus himself! By Ned Steele Skip the sleigh, Santa. This is Siesta Key; we’ve got a boat for you.And Rudolph? You won’t need him to guide the way either. Because when you cap off the annual Light-Up the Village Holiday […]
Maria ‘Mia’ LeoneAug. 22, 1961 — Sept. 6, 2023 By Jane Bartnett Visitors to the Siesta Key Visitor Center had a good chance of being greeted by Maria “Mia” Leone, who served for more than eight years as the center’s manager and coordinator of its volunteers.Talk about a good first impression.“We lost a dear friend […]
Brian Wigelsworth and Matt Long are a creative force By Hannah Wallace Of all the world-class artists competing in this month’s Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, none knows our famed quartz sand better than Brian Wigelsworth. And as much as anyone, he recognizes this sand’s potential for mind-blowing entertainment.A professional master sculptor […]
The annual Siesta Key Safe Treats for Kids event is from 3 to 6 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31.If your business is located in the south or north Siesta Village and you would like to participate in handing out treats for the event, please send an email to events@siestakeychamber.com by Oct. 27 to have your […]
Lithuanian sand sculptor recalls first steps on Siesta Beach, and is back for more By Hannah Wallace “Siesta Beach is unique,” said Lithuanian sand sculptor Andrius Petkus. “I never seen the sand [like] what you have here. I remember my first steps on the beach — my skin immediately was covered by goose skin.”Petkus’ sentiment […]
Nominations are now being accepted through Dec. 14 for various awards presented by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. To submit a nomination form, visit siestakeychamber.com/siesta-key-chamber/awards/. Here are the awards: The chamber recognizes its members with an outstanding Small Business, Large Business and Businessperson of the Year for their achievements and contributions. A new-member business will […]
Businesses and groups are invited to enter a unit in the annual Light-up the Village holiday parade, set for Saturday, Nov. 25. Registration is now open: click here on Guidelines & Information.The parade will begin at Avenida del Mare and Beach Road at 5:30 p.m., traveling north on Beach Road onto Ocean Boulevard into the […]