SARASOTA
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 12, NO. 40
FREE
YOUR TOWN
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Bridge: A young man’s game? PAGE 19
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
SCHOOL BOARD RACE:
DIVIDED BY PARTY LINES Does the District 2 race signal the start of partisan politics for the school board? SEE PAGE 4
Courtesy
Car-directing force is strong In a carpool lane far, far away... or at St. Martha Catholic School, parents recently spotted an unfamiliar face. On Aug. 26, secondgrade teacher assistant and “Star Wars” fan Christina Via-Reque, above, dressed as Boba Fett, a galactic bounty hunter. Her plan is to keep the fun going with a new costume and mask combination every Friday during the afternoon pick-up. She’s hinted that this Friday’s costume will strike back with a heavy-breathing favorite of the Star Wars franchise.
Building hope Fifteen members of St. Boniface Episcopal Church met at Carla’s Clay to make 58 bowls for All Faiths Food Bank’s Bowls of Hope fundraiser. The annual event distributes bowls to symbolize the empty bowls the food bank hopes to fill. Bowls of Hope is scheduled for Nov. 13, at Ed Smith Stadium.
TURTLE TRACKS AS OF AUG. 27 TOTAL NESTS: 2016 2015 Lido Beach 170 95 Siesta Key 450 389 Casey Key 2,052 987 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2016 2015 Lido Beach 178 112 Siesta Key 1,323 403 Casey Key 3,241 941
Amanda Morales
Anna Brugmann
Hearing the initial results, Caroline Zucker, left, celebrates an early lead over opponent Teresa Mast, right, who offered friends and family a tearful “thank you” for their support throughout her campaign. “We’ll get ’em next time,” Mast said.
Ringling: No stop to traffic
Flower
Power
Residents worried about traffic when they opposed a Wal-Mart, but a study says alternatives would bring more traffic to the shopping center.
A new initiative seeks to make downtown bloom. SEE PAGE 3
Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
ALEX MAHADEVAN NEWS INNOVATION EDITOR
A+E
Art Center Sarasota embraces the unknown. INSIDE
David Conway
Plant Parents employee Mark Miller waters a flower basket on Main Street. Maintenance is one of the primary expenses associated with the Downtown in Bloom project.
When neighbors spoke in opposition of plans for a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the Ringling Shopping Center three years ago, traffic was among their concerns. But a transportation study generated by city staff found that alternative possibilities for the property could generate up to 24% more traffic during rush hour than a similar Wal-Mart concept that eventually died with a 2013 City Commission decision. SEE RINGLING PAGE 6