PelicanPress SIESTA KEY
Merry Christmas!
AN OBSERVER NEWSPAPER
NEWS Snowy plovers face another threat on Siesta. PAGE 3A
OUR TOWN
FREE • Thursday, december 20, 2012
NEIGHBORhood
DIVERSIONS
Children submit letters to the main man at the North Pole. PAGE 1B
wake up call
Venice Theatre’s Scrooge embraces the holiday. INSIDE
by Alex Mahadevan | News Editor
Resident faces storm aftermath Superstorm Sandy dealt an emotional blow to island residents. Siesta Key Village Association Secretary Helene Hyland found out Superstorm Sandy destroyed her home in Breezy Point, N.Y., by way of Facebook. While scrolling her Facebook news feed to get updates during the storm, the Siesta resident of more than a decade saw a picture of her summer home, which had been destroyed by a fire caused by Sandy. Firefighters had put out the last of the fire’s flames at what remained of the beach-themed bungalow.
The home, which had been in Hyland’s family for more than 40 years, was one of 131 homes destroyed by fire. “It’s heartbreaking, because it’s a home that had a lot of memories,” Hyland said. Because of the fire, she lost her parents’ wedding album, photographs and mementos of summers spent celebrating birthdays and bonding with family. The storm had knocked out most tele-
SEE AFTERMATH / PAGE 2A
Courtesy photo
A fire following Superstorm Sandy destroyed Siesta resident Helene Hyland’s childhood home in New York.
Rachel S. O’Hara
+ Tasty tradition Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Chair Mark Smith arrived a few minutes late, but bearing a gift, to judge the 2012 Siesta Key Condo Council Lighting Contest. The Siesta architect was toting a backpack holding a gallon of eggnog, which has become a tradition for the trolley-ride for judges of the competition. Smith played the part of bartender and served up the concoction, complete with a sprinkle of nutmeg, to his fellow judges. Smith also showed off his impression chops with a few Austin Powers impersonations, which prompted design collaborator Cheryl Gaddie to find another seat on the trolley.
+ Farmers Market extends hours The Siesta Key Farmers Market has extended its hours. The market will now run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The market is located at 5124 Ocean Blvd., at the Siesta Village Plaza. It is expected to grow with more vendors as Siesta Key gets busier during the season.
NIGHT LIGHTS Rachel S. O’Hara
Siesta Dunes condominium complex defended its title as the category 1 (101 units or greater) winner of the 2012 Siesta Key Condo Council Lighting Contest Dec. 18. Six judges evaluated displays based on uniqueness, seasonal theme, colorfulness and the “wow factor.” To see more photos and to find out which condominiums took home bragging rights, see page 6A.
ROAD MAINTENANCE
by Alex Mahadevan | News Editor
FDOT considers future of Midnight Pass Road Sarasota County is in talks with The Florida Department of Transportation about handling maintenance of the road. Traffic safety on Midnight Pass Road is a consistent topic at Siesta Key Association meetings. The Florida Department of Transportation is in talks with Sarasota County that could take some bureaucratic hurdles out of the way of lowering the speed
limit or adding more signage, according to FDOT spokeswoman Debbie Tower. Sarasota County Engineer Jim Harriott, in an email to County Administrator Randall Reid, said County Commission Chairwoman Christine Robinson should
expect requests from FDOT for the county to take over jurisdiction of Midnight Pass Road. “It makes sense because it’s a non-connected state road,” said
SEE FDOT / PAGE 2A
INDEX Briefs....................4A Classifieds .......... 7B
Cops Corner..........9A Crossword............ 6B
Opinion .............. 8A Real Estate.......... 5B
Sports................ 16A Vol. 43, No. 21 | Three sections YourObserver.com Weather............... 6B