SIESTA KEY
Observer Formerly the Pelican Press
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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2015 ELECTION CANDIDATE PROFILES PAGES 6-7A
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015
VOLUME 45, NO. 29
GOING IN CIRCLES
Edith Barr Dunn wore many hats PAGE 4A
Does Siesta Key need a roundabout? ROUNDABOUT REDUX
JESSICA SALMOND
Why does this intersection need to be changed? There have been 11 accidents at the intersection in the last five years, although no fatalities.
STAFF WRITER
In November, the Florida Department of Transportation presented three options for a high-accident Siesta Key intersection: Do nothing, signalize the right turn lane or build a roundabout. Residents packed the Feb. 5 Siesta Key Association meeting to see the first renderings of what these options would look like and share their concerns. One of the top concerns for residents was pedestrian safety at the Midnight Pass Road/Beach Road intersection. Consequently, safety is FDOT’s motivating factor in improving the intersection: SEE SIESTA KEY PAGE 3A
ARTS+CULTURE
MIDNIGHT PASS RD.
The Midnight Pass Road/Beach Road intersection experienced 11 accidents in the last five years. The No. 1 concern for Siesta Key residents is pedestrian safety. KEY Current stoplight Current freeflowing traffic
CA P E L E Y T E D R .
St. Boniface Episcopal Church
BE ACH RD.
Siesta Beach Parking
Siesta Beach
POTENTIAL ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION N
Will there be bike lanes with the roundabout? Bicyclists can either act as a vehicle in the roundabout or get onto the sidewalks and use the crosswalks.
YOUR TOWN ALL GROWN PUP
How will pedestrians get around the roundabout? There will be three crosswalks placed on the streets after the roundabouts.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR Sotheby in 2013.
A NEW LEAF
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens seeks to grow in harmony with its roots.
Ginny Eichholz and Sotheby at the graduation ceremony in January.
Jessica Salmond
BLACK TIE
Palm Ball welcomes 275 guests to Historic Spanish Point to benefit conservation efforts.
INSIDE
Christi McDowell-Cameron, the international baccalaureate coordinator at Brookside Middle School, was awarded the Middle School Teacher of the Year by the Sarasota County School District. After the initial surprise wore off, she asked for some hugs, and Michelle McGuire, 12, was first in line.
READ MORE ABOUT THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PAGE 4B
On Jan. 29, guide dog Sotheby walked across the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall stage to receive his diploma as a Southeastern Guide Dog graduate with his new handler, Ginny Eichholz. After a 26-day training program with Sotheby, Eichholz describes him as mischievous but well-behaved when he is wearing his harness. We remember when the yellow lab was just a puppy and Sotheby’s International Realty decided to sponsor the pup, giving him his name.