SARASOTA
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 17, NO. 32
FREE
YOUR TOWN
Minimal damage.
PAGE 11 •
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
Neighbors hear apartment plan Traffic concerns arise over redevelopment idea for dog-track site. PAGE 3
Courtesy photo
Good tidings
Even after a challenging year of teaching through a pandemic, hundreds of Sarasota teachers have continued to teach students this summer as part of reading programs. Those teachers’ actions have been noticed as well — Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently rewarded summer teachers with gift cards and prizes. Those gifts included tickets for The Ringling, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Sarasota Orchestra and others. The gifts totalled $40,000.
FOURTH OF JULY
IT WAS A BLAST! Fireworks return to Sarasota. SEE PAGE 16
Job done
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s adult leadership program is an involved process in the best of times, with a 10-month program that requires participants to learn about the behind-the-scenes workings of the Sarasota community to build on their skills and broaden their impacts. That work reached its end for the 2021 graduating class with a ceremony at the Michael’s On East Wine Cellar on June 17. The graduation ceremony had 39 participants enjoying dinner and receiving certificates for their months of work with the program.
Harry Sayer
The fireworks show on Sarasota’s bayfront on July 4 followed a parade.
A place to grow this summer
Turtle Tracks AS OF APRIL 25 TOTAL NESTS: 2021 2020 Siesta Key 337 387 Lido Key 65 121 Casey Key 982 1,172 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2021 2020 Siesta Key 422 472 Lido Key 154 179 Casey Key 1,172 1,594 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Courtesy photo
The Puzzle Project builds on 2017’s VIP Program.
FST assembles camp for kids on autism spectrum. SEE PAGE 6
A+E
Skin-deep dance. SEE PAGE 16