By Philip M. Farrell, MD, PhD Incredible as it seems, spring break trips to Siesta Key did not begin with college students but started during the 1930s with excursions by devout groups of Anabaptists— both Amish and Mennonites. During December Read More
Siesta Key Island Chatter February 2019
Staff report Siesta Key jewelry store launches product to benefit Mote Marine Laboratory and red tide research Silver City jewelry store on Siesta Key has created a line of jewelry to assist with red tide research efforts at Mote Marine Read More
Increasing fine for illegal short-term rentals to $5,000 among proposals County Commission to address
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com Proposing an increase in the fine for illegal short-term home rentals from $250 to $5,000 is just one of several new measures Sarasota County staff is working on to try to curb those activities in neighborhoods Read More
Public comments sought on paid beach parking
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com The last time the county commissioners discussed the option of paid parking on Siesta Public Beach, they decided to hold a workshop on the issue, instead of trying to hammer out ideas during a regular meeting. Read More
Goals for Paid Parking on Siesta Key
By Bob Stein County staff has scheduled a workshop on Wednesday, February 27, at the County Administration Center 1660 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota starting at 9 AM. Director of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department Nicole Rissler, reported Read More
Change in Sarasota County Code to allow more flexibility in maintenance dredging of waterways
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com Sarasota County staff recommended against the change. Nevertheless, the County Commission has approved an amendment to the County Code that will enable property owners to undertake maintenance dredging within 10 feet of seawalls, docks and other Read More
New multifamily structure 185 feet seaward of Gulf Beach Setback Line proposed on Siesta Key
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com The same Siesta Key property owner who has proposed a new multi-story structure on the beach near Access 10 has begun a new application process with Sarasota County. This time, he is seeking to replace an Read More
State Senate bill seeks to ban smoking on public beaches
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com Newly elected state Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota is hoping to accomplish something that has eluded county commissioners for years: ending smoking on the public beaches. On Jan. 2, Gruters filed Senate Bill 218. Formally, it Read More
Circuit Court judge once again rules against Siesta Key Association in Big Pass case
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com Once again, a 12th Judicial Circuit Court judge has struck down legal challenges made by the Siesta Key Association (SKA) as the nonprofit seeks to prevent the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass. Yet, just as she Read More
Siesta Key Sheriff’s Report December 19, 2018 – January 20, 2019
There were 16 crimes reported on the Key between 12/19/18-1/20/19 12/27/18 Theft5200 Block Ocean Blvd. A woman reported her iPhone 7Plus ($600) was stolen from a Village bar. Upon realizing she had lost the phone, she was able to track Read More