Pelican Press 11.15.12

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PelicanPress SIESTA KEY

AN OBSERVER NEWSPAPER

DIVERSIONS

NEWS

Gulf Gate Library checks out rental space at the mall. PAGE 3A

OUR TOWN + Siesta jams out for Sandy victims Some of Siesta Key’s favorite bands are gearing up to rock out Sunday, Nov. 18, at Blasé Café, in order to help raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy has left hundreds of thousands of people without homes, electricity, water and other daily essentials. Siesta Jams for Sandy will include sets by Kettle of Fish, Smoking J’s, Ship of Fools and Spark Notes There will also be a buffet from 5 to 9 p.m., drink specials, a 50/50 raffle and auctions items. All monies collected will go toward benefiting Hurricane Sandy victims.

FREE • Thursday, NOVEMBER 15, 2012

SPORTS

Gabrielle Woodruff followed in her mom’s footsteps on the court. PAGE 17A

Unique recipes show different sides of the sweet potato. INSIDE

planning process by Alex Mahadevan | News Editor

Beach project details emerge Sarasota County commissioners’ frustrations flare after receiving a timeline of Siesta Key beach improvements. The large number of stakeholders in the Siesta Key Beach Improvement Project has created a communication disconnect, which has led to delays — and

heated debates. Sarasota County commissioners approved the $16.4 million preliminary project design Sept. 14, 2011, but during a Nov. 13

meeting, commissioners continued to criticize staff involved, along with the current estimated cost of $26.7 million. County Administrator Randall

Reid sent out a memo to commissioners before the Nov. 13 meeting that included a breakdown of prices for options the county is considering for the project, and included an option to pare the current $26.7 million estimate back to the $21.5

SEE BEACH / 2A

+ Leaders will celebrate holiday Local government leaders will collaborate Wednesday, Nov. 21, at the St. Martha Parish Hall, for the 12th annual Thanksgiving community celebration theater luncheon. The Sarasota Ministerial Association will congregate local government representatives, religion and other community leaders to dine with Sarasota’s homeless and people in transition and watch a performance of “The Turkey Trot … Who Took the Turkey?” written by local playwright Kathryn Chesley.

+ Forks and Corks sells out The Sarasota Manatee Originals, a trade organization comprised of more than 50 independent restaurants in the two counties, sold out of tickets for its annual Forks and Corks event in four hours — a record time. According to Executive Director Kate Atkin, this year’s event sold more tickets in the first 45 minutes than it did in 36 hours last year.

Yaryna Klimchak

Delayne Corbett works on the first-place sculpture, “Fossil Fuel,” at the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition, which took place on Siesta Key Beach Thursday, Nov. 8 through Monday, Nov. 12. For more photos, see page 1B.

bridge the gap by Alex Mahadevan | News Editor

Canal connectors bound for rehab Sarasota County plans to look for contractors to repair eight humpback bridges on Siesta Key in January. As Siesta Isles Association President Tony Romanus walks along Contento Drive, where trucks and trailers traverse a small bridge to prepare homes

for sale or new owners, he points out a problem he’s had little time to monitor. The approach to the humpback bridge that connects the

small island where his home sits to mainland Siesta Key is sinking. The Florida Department of Transportation is wrapping up

the Siesta Key north bridge rehabilitation project, but more island bridgework is in the works. Road and bridge engineers refer to the problem as “settling,” and Sarasota County recently finalized plans to rehabilitate

SEE BRIDGES / 12A

INDEX Briefs....................4A Classifieds ........ 10B

Cops Corner....... 10A Crossword............ 9B

Opinion .............. 8A Real Estate.......... 4B

Sports................ 15A Vol. 43, No. 16 | Three sections YourObserver.com Weather............... 9B


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