Pelican Press 4.10.14

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PelicanPRESS SIESTA KEY

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

MOTE

DIVERSIONS

Beach run raises money for turtles. PAGE 1B

VICTORY LAP

Classic cars and architecture blend perfectly in our Home of the Month. INSIDE

World-record marathoner takes a step back. PAGE 3A

OUR TOWN

up-close vue by David Conway | News Editor

City expects to OK traffic study Residents are still worried about traffic surrounding a forthcoming bayfront development, but city staff is prepared to allow the condominium and hotel project to move forward.

Pines Foundation President Estelle Crawford, Wendell Kent and co-host Rachele Rivolta

+ House warming Piero Rivolta and his wife, Rachele, opened their home to the Pines of Sarasota March 26. The Pines of Sarasota is a nonprofit care community for seniors. The Rivoltas serve as ambassadors to the Pines and wanted to help spread the word of the Pines’ work. “We are so grateful to have friends like Piero and Rachele,” said Pines Foundation President Estelle Crawford.

+ Team Tony seeks volunteers Team Tony Cancer Foundation of Sarasota/ Manatee counties is looking for cancer survivors to volunteer at Florida Cancer Specialists oncology units. Email jean@teamtony.org or visit teamtony.org.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST SUMMER HUNGER Here are the week’s donation totals for All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger. To donate, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or SkipALunch.org. Drop off non-per­ishable food items at Goodwills and fire stations in Sarasota County.

GOAL: $500,000 matching challenge

At the bequest of bayfront residents, the city decided to revisit the traffic study for a major downtown hotel and condominium development nearly three months ago. Now, the city appears to be satisfied with its findings — even if residents are not. Beginning last year, residents of condominiums such as the Tower Residences at the RitzCarlton and One Watergate

not outline how internal traffic would be managed, caused the city to revisit its work. After further review, the city indicated at a meeting Monday that any traffic solutions at nearby intersections would not include delaying the development of Vue Sarasota Bay, on which the Kolter Group hopes to begin

SEE VUE / PAGE 2A

HALLOWED GROUND

W

hen Anne Virag arrived in Rome, one day before a scheduled meeting with Pope Francis, she didn’t feel nervous about the monumental occasion. As the meeting grew closer, Virag — part of the American Jewish Committee’s 50-person delegation to the Vatican this February — did not have any time to let those nerves build as she was whisked from event to event, traveling through private entrances to see sights such as the Sistine Chapel. It wasn’t until the moment came when Virag shook hands with the pope — “I’d put a lot of excla“I think he felt mation marks the emotion of after that,” she all of us — each said — that the and every one of weight of the finally us had a special moment ov e r w h e l m e d emotional her. She had a feeling with statement she was prepared to him.” share with the — Anne Virag religious leader, but she was unable to get much out after “Your holiness.” “I didn’t say very much because I was too nervous,” Virag said. “He held my hand with a firm grip, almost to stop it from shaking.” Two months later, Virag, the regional president of AJC, said she frequently thinks about the visit. First and foremost, the trip was an opportunity to build on the interreligious relationship between Catholic and Jewish people. The meeting came one year before the 50th anniversary of the Nostra

$54,720 POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED: 53,526 GOAL: 600,000 POUNDS

objected to the traffic study Kimley-Horn and Associates conducted to determine the impact of Vue Sarasota Bay, a project planned for Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41. The Kotler Group’s development will include 144 condominium units and 250 hotel rooms. The complaints from residents, which alleged the study underestimated the peak-season traffic increases and did

SEE VIRAG / PAGE 2A

Courtesy rendering

The Kolter Group, the developer of Vue Sarasota Bay, hopes to begin vertical construction in June.

by David Conway | News Editor

TWO FAITHS American Jewish Committee Regional President Anne Virag, a Sarasota resident, met with Pope Francis in February as part of an interfaith trip to the Vatican.

Courtesy photo

Anne Virag, regional president of the American Jewish Committee, shakes hands with Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican in February.

INDEX Opinion.................8A Classifieds ........ 14B

Cops Corner..........9A Crossword.......... 13B

Permits.............. 11B Real Estate........ 10B

Sports................ 20A Vol. 44, No. 37 | Three sections YourObserver.com Weather............. 13B


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