By Roger Drouin Every time Michael Holderness drove by the Siesta Beach Resort & Suites, in the past, he thought about the potential. The only official hotel on Siesta, the property had seen more glorious days as a small, yet popular tourist mecca that was built in the fifties. Now, Holderness is working to put […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com With one partial summary judgment ruling already having gone against the plaintiff in the case, Sarasota County is seeking a second one relating to the County Commission’s May 11, 2016 vacation of a 357-foot-long segment of North Beach Road. In a June 2 filing in 12th Judicial Circuit Court, Assistant […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com As sand has continued to accrete on Siesta Key’s beach, more and more property that once was completely or partly underwater has become increasingly attractive to developers. Still, within the past four years, the Sarasota County Commission has remained stalwart in denying petitions for Coastal Setback Variances to allow new […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com Adjacent neighbors refused to support the plan, and a county environmental specialist explained why it did not conform to standards for such projects. That led the Sarasota County Commission to unanimously deny the request of residents on Siesta Key’s Lotus Lane to construct a dock and boatlift on the canal […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com Since the free Siesta Key Breeze trolley was launched on March 20, county commissioners have joined representatives of island organizations in lauding its effectiveness. In recognition of its high ridership levels, Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer has assured the County Commission and the public that the circulator will continue to […]
Siesta Key Beach… Summertime Fun! So many wonderful visitors enjoying the white powder-fine sand of our beautiful No.1 beach. Photos by Sarasota Photography / Jaye Clements~
By Rachel Brown Hackney Lin Kurant, manager of the county’s Real Estate Services Division, had identified the 1.84-parcel as owned by the county’s Utilities Department, with a structure on it used for training purposes by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Although the commissioners were talking about surplus property the county could sell, Kurant recommended the […]
By Diana Colson In May, Siesta Key’s own Judith Thomas was presented with the 2017 Sonja Henie award at the Professional Skaters Association banquet held in Franklin, Tennessee. This much-coveted award has been given annually since 1996 and is bestowed upon a female Professional Skater or Coach who has brought recognition to the sport in […]
By Rodger Skidmore George Orwell’s Newspeak In Orwell’s novel, 1984, “blackwhite” referred to the usage of a word with the understanding that it meant its opposite. Thus, when the leaders spoke of peace, everyone understood them to mean war, and it is sometimes the same with theater. When one says Absolute Brightness everyone […]
By Roger Drouin Every time Michael Holderness drove by the Siesta Beach Resort & Suites, in the past, he thought about the potential. The only official hotel on Siesta, the property had seen more glorious days as a small, yet popular tourist mecca that was built in the fifties. Now, Holderness is working to put […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com It all came down to a question of the correct interpretation of the Sarasota County Zoning Code involving potential commercial redevelopment on Siesta Key. In a case focused on an application from a Siesta Key resident, the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3-2 to affirm the county zoning administrator’s […]
Name of Bartender: Alex Hometown: Saline, MI How long have you been bartending? 6 years Q: What was the strangest or funniest thing you experienced at work? A: I love when people dance at bars and the energy it can spread. With that in mind, this young lady was dancing with her friends in […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney For a couple of months, Siesta resident Mike Cosentino stopped making appearances at County Commission meetings. He was back at it on May 23, as the board held two regular sessions in Sarasota. On May 23, Cosentino voiced admiration for Commissioner Nancy Detert, who was elected last fall, but he indicated […]
July fishing can be excellent, but tactics need to be a little different and windows of opportunity are smaller. It is simply too hot to fish in the middle of the day. Early morning will be the most reliable time to fish, evenings are good too, but frequent thunderstorms can make planning a trip […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney/Bob Stein Help for Brian Wigelsworth During the May 17 Siesta Chamber membership meeting, Chair Mark Smith reported, “We have very sad news.” Brian Wigelsworth, Siesta’s own master sand sculptor who originated the idea for the Siesta Key Crystal Classic, “is battling throat cancer,” Smith said, “and he doesn’t have any insurance.” […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney One of the new owners of the building that for years housed the Jo-To Japanese Restaurant in Siesta Village says it probably will take two to three months to decide on the best new tenant. “We’re still in the looking process,“ Jim Syprett said in a June 13 telephone interview. Syprett […]
If successful, the charter amendments would cost the county $450,000 to hold a countywide special election, timing may get tricky By Roger Drouin Sarasota County residents continue to sign a pair of petitions related to the increasingly tense fight over a 357-foot stretch of Beach Road. There are two separate charter amendment initiatives spurred by […]
