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By John Morton A man with a name familiar to Siesta Key residents is returning to a project with which he’s quite familiar. John Davidson, a resident here since 1958 and known as the founder of Davidson Drugs and later The Pelican Press, has stepped forward to lead a group seeking incorporation of the island. […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney, SarasotaNewsLeader.com A fourth hotel project has been planned for property on Siesta Key. This one would be constructed on the approximately 2.15 acres where the former Wells Fargo bank stood at 5810 Midnight Pass Rd. On March 19, Sarasota County Planning and Development Services Department staff received a preliminary application from […]
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 […]
By Hannah Wallace Siesta Key tourism needed a win, and Spring Break 2021 delivered. As southwest Florida experienced idyllic spring weather (and minimal coronavirus restrictions), visitors swarmed down from the Midwest and Northeast for the traditional spring vacation period. Groups flocked to Siesta Key Beach and strolled in droves along Ocean Boulevard, gathering around sidewalk […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney, SarasotaNewsLeader.com After a thorough investigation into the applicable laws, Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office substation on Siesta Key, has determined that electric bicycles are not permitted on the county’s beaches. If someone is pedaling such a bicycle it is allowed, because then the bike is not […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney, SarasotaNewsLeader.com As traffic congestion has worsened on Siesta Key in recent years, residents have voiced elevated worries about whether the Sarasota County Fire Department is able to get its vehicles to emergencies in a timely fashion. Photos provided by residents since the tourist season began this year have shown both fire […]
Welcome to some warmer water! The temperature of the Gulf of Mexico off Siesta Key sees a robust increase each May, going up an average of five degrees from April’s average of 73. At 78 degrees, you’ll find wading about in the water much more pleasant. It’s quite the improvement from the average yearly low […]
A new streetscape appeared on the southern end of Siesta Village the last full week of March. Lisa Cece, the special district coordinator for Sarasota County, explained that the black olive trees that had stood in front of Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill for many years had grown too large for their space; their root structure was lifting bricks in the walkway, and they were encroaching […]
If an incorporation effort succeeds, this sign could someday read “Welcome to the Town of Siesta Key.” (photo by John Morton) By John Morton Convinced that Sarasota County officials don’t act with Siesta Key’s best interests in mind, island resident Mike Cosentino is spearheading an effort to have Siesta Key become its own town. If […]
Despite losing some parking spots, owners at the Toasted Mango Cafe erect a tent each morning because of the demand for outdoor seating. (photo by John Morton) By John Morton When city rules were temporarily loosened to encourage outdoor seating at restaurants due to the pandemic, the eateries at Crescent Plaza got a taste of […]