SIESTA KEY
Observer
SUMMER FUN GUIDE Your guide to summer camps in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Formerly the Pelican Press
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 46, NO. 37
FREE
2016
Your guide for when school’s out. INSIDE •
Observer
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
Gillespie Park residents balk at expanded social services The Bethesda House has operated on Fourth Street for two decades, but a plan to grow the campus has neighbors concerned. SEE PAGE 4A
HERO IN A HALF SHELL
YOUR TOWN
Amanda Morales
Wet paint Blue handprints for the Child Protection Center’s Paint SRQ Blue cover windows at many businesses in Burns Court in support of CPC’s monthlong campaign against child abuse. Local businesses and community partners are asked to show their support through any display of blue and the poster for the campaign in their windows. Some restaurants are serving blue plate specials and cocktails with proceeds from the purchases benefiting CPC. Show your support on social media using hashtags #paintthetownblue, #getyourblueon or #cpcsrq. Amanda Morales
Shelley the turtle with Jamie Jalwan and her hatchling, Connor, at the 30th annual Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Run for the Turtles 5K at Siesta Key Beach April 2. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 18A
BLACK
TIE
Spring Cleaning
Girls Inc. honors superwomen. INSIDE
Amanda Morales
The trash pail outside of Sub Zero Ice Cream & Yogurt overflows with garbage before being emptied Wednesday morning.
As Siesta’s seasonal visitors overwhelm trash service, residents pitch in to help clean up the Village. SEE PAGE 6A
Can you stop summer hunger? Here are the week’s donation totals for All Faiths Food Bank’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which runs through May 9. To donate, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. GOAL: $600,000 MATCHING CHALLENGE AMOUNT RAISED TO DATE: $109,888 POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED TO DATE: 14,263