SARASOTA
SEASON SPRING 2018
Observer
TS A N D S O C I E T Y G U I D E TO T H E A R T H E O B S E R V E R ’S
MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE
INSIDE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 14, NO. 14
FREE
YOUR TOWN
‘Enough is enough’ Tragedy spurs high schoolers to act. SEE PAGE 3A
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THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Wide world of ‘walks Residents want swift action to widen city sidewalks, but officials say the issue is thornier than it may appear.
Helaina Rodarte dressed as Wonder Woman for Purim Pandemonium.
Purim Pandemonium Superman, Wonder Woman, and a Ghostbuster made cameos at the superherothemed Purim Pandemonium on Feb. 25 at the Temple Emanu-El. The event brought together children and their families to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim. Kicking off the event was the annual performance of the play “Purim Pandemonium” written by Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg, the reading of the Purim story and a costume parade. Families then enjoyed a carnival featuring a bounce house, dunk tank and climbing wall. Proceeds from the event will support scholarship programs at Temple Emanu-El.
DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR
Cassidy Alexander
Lis Sundberg, Katy Cartlidge, Anton Kernohan and Emma Bailey are student organizers at Riverview High School who are working on plans for a March 14 walkout.
City planners largely agree on the biggest challenge to creating a more walkable downtown: a lack of available space. Residents have recently asked the city to prioritize building wider sidewalks on key pedestrian corridors. It’s a core issue for the resident activist group STOP, which has earned an endorsement from more than a dozen neighborhood and condominium associations. STOP has identified streets such as Fruitville Road and Tamiami Trail as subpar pedestrian experiences because the sidewalks aren’t wide enough. And city staff generally doesn’t challenge the assertion that the sidewalks should, ideally, be wider. SEE PAGE 5A
A+E Speaking the same language.. INSIDE
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On the cover
Evelyn Kroeger loves to draw and is also active in the drama club at Brookside Middle School, where she’s an eighth-grader. She also has a knack for knowing what kind of artwork resonates with police. It was her design, chosen from dozens submitted by middle and high school students, that will be featured on the Sarasota Police Department’s next Annual Report. The SPD received submissions in the form of crayon, paint, photography and digital media. Chief Bernadette DiPino said it was a tough decision to select a design.
Kayleigh Omang
Queen (bee) for a day Writer suits up for honey of a story. SEE PAGE 1B