SIESTA KEY
Observer Formerly the Pelican Press
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 46, NO. 50
FREE
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THURSDAY,
JULY 7, 2016
City approves Cask and Ale plans City commissioners signed off on plans for a Main Street bar, calling it a draw for a younger crowd. Can downtown residents peacefully coexist with nightlife in the mix? SEE PAGE 4A
YOUR TOWN
BURSTING IN AIR
Help JR’s, one burger at a time Neighboring businesses are helping rebuild JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe after it was damaged in a six-alarm fire last month. Help start the rebuilding from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday at Cock & Bull, 975 Cattlemen Road. For $10, enjoy a burger and choice of 40 draughts; $2 from each ticket sold will benefit JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe, which seeks to raise $50,000 on its GoFundMe page. Visit the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Facebook event page.
SEE MORE FOURTH OF JULY PHOTOS ON PAGE 1B
Courtesy
Meow Mayor Anna Brugmann
Fireworks explode over Siesta Key beach during the annual Fourth of July celebration.
A+E Sarasota Improv Festival spans three days and 27 performances. INSIDE
Jailhouse talk: Costs mount for county
TURTLE TRACKS AS OF JULY 2 TOTAL NESTS: 2016 2015 Lido Beach 86 64 Siesta Key 269 295 Casey Key 1,184 765
The jail is slated for maintenance, but some problems, maintenance can’t fix. SEE PAGE 3A
Meow Mayor of Cat Depot Sonny “blogged” about everything from his presidential bid to his quirks during his one-year stay. But Sonny’s reign came to an end this weekend, when he was adopted. Carmen, above, 12, a resident since April 2015 who has three legs, is the new mayor. On Facebook, she vowed to keep what’s best for cats in mind.
Anna Brugmann
Automated locks malfunctioned in May 2015, forcing employees like Maj. Jeff Bell to lock and unlock doors manually.
TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2016 2015 Lido Beach 89 91 Siesta Key 837 321 Casey Key 1,831 723 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory