Pelican Press 2.19.15

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SIESTA KEY

Observer Formerly the Pelican Press

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE

2015 ELECTION CANDIDATE PROFILES PAGES 6-7A

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

VOLUME 45, NO. 30

Another hotel on U.S. 41? A developer has plans for a 200-room Marriott. Can downtown handle the hotel boom? PAGE 3A BLACK

TIE

SIESTA BEACH:

NO. 1 AGAIN!

ORCHID BALL

JESSICA SALMOND STAFF WRITER

Visit Sarasota County held a press conference Wednesday to unveil Siesta’s newest accomplishment, the 2015 Travelers’ Choice Award for the best U.S. beach from TripAdvisor. Siesta placed first out of 25 other beaches, receiving 2,010 excellent ratings from visitors. St. Pete Beach and Ka’anapali Beach in Hawaii placed second and third, respectively. County commissioners, administration and staff joined the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and

ARTS + CULTURE From shelf to stage: Iain Webb’s personal ballet library.

INSIDE

TAKING LOVE TO NEW HEIGHTS

Courtesy photo

SHOW ME THE MOONEY

DIGITAL EDITOR

SEE VACANCY PAGE 5A

YOUR TOWN

SEE SIESTA KEY PAGE 3A

ALEX MAHADEVAN

While Sarasota County prepares to revamp its comprehensive plan and the economy rebounds, five candidates have emerged for the advisory board that will play a key role in the update and the county’s future. Sarasota County commissioners will consider nominations for a vacancy on the Planning Commission March 4, following the resignation of Mike Moran, who is running for County Commission in 2016. Kevin Cooper, Mark Hawkins, Roland Piccone, Lourdes Ramirez and Andy Stultz have applied for the empty seat. The nominee the County Commission chooses for the seat will join eight fellow planning commissioners and a non-voting

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Based on positive user reviews and ratings, Siesta Key Beach ranked first of 25 beaches in the U.S for TripAdvisor award.

Selby Gardens celebrates Valentine’s Day with a ruby affair.

Candidates emerge for Planning Board vacancy

Q+A with Kate Lowman

Ryan McMahon, middle, looks to pass during the third quarter of the Cardinal Mooney High School basketball home game Tuesday, against Calvary Christian. The Cougars won 64-61. READ MORE ON PAGE 22A

The sky was the actual limit for the vow renewal of Ed and Dora Sementelli Saturday, at Autumn of Sarasota. Family, friends and members of the community came together to celebrate the occasion that kicked off at 9:30 a.m. when two parachute jumpers landed near the facility to hand-deliver the couple’s wedding rings as well as Valentine’s gifts for all residents at Autumn of Sarasota. The ceremony marked the first official wedding for the Sementellis, who originally married in a ceremony before the justice of the peace in 1956 in Commonwealth, Pa., without the approval of their parents. Preparations for the wedding were a community effort that even included help from CEO of Autumn Senior Living Jim Soper, who walked the bride down the aisle.


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