SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Fashion dreams. PAGE 16
FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023
VOLUME 19, NO. 33
YOUR TOWN
The price tag to put officers on patrol Population growth means a call for more sworn officers. PAGE 3
James Peter
Tyler Fite pours a red, white and blue daiquiri.
Day drinking
If any drink deserves its day, it has to be the daiquiri. That beloved beach drink, with its countless variations and occasional literary pretensions, will be celebrated in all its frozen glory on National Daiquiri Day — July 19. But what’s the secret to the perfect rum-soaked concoction? When in doubt, turn to the experts. “The secret to a great daiquiri is to mix the fruity and the creamy together, so you get the best of both worlds,” said Tyler Fite, a bartender at the Siesta Key Daiquiri Deck. The Yukon, Oklahoma, native knows a thing or two about the drink. He’s been behind the bar at the Deck for five years while making art in a variety of media. He also makes a mean red, white and blue daiquiri. (That’s layers of strawberry, piña colada and electric blue lemonade, if you care to dabble.) To ring in the holiday, all five Daiquiri Deck locations will be giving away one free 10-ounce daiquiri with any purchase on July 19. And one lucky winner at each location that day will win free daiquiris for an entire year, among other giveaways.
UNDER SUN FUN A back to school bash combined healthy habits and good vibes. SEE PAGE 18
Pack it up
The Sarasota Police Department is already thinking about the school year. SPD has asked community members to “Pack the Patrol Car” with school supplies to help the underserved. From July 19 to Aug. 2, supplies may be dropped off at SPD headquarters at 2099 Adams Lane or at Core SRQ, 1075 S. Euclid Ave. “We’re excited to bring back our annual Pack the Patrol Car school supply drive event again this year,” said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. “This will be the sixth year our community has partnered with our agency to make sure every child goes back to class with the school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom.” Drop-off times are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Ian Swaby
Grace Barger, 7-year-old Allison Silveira, and Shannon Carrasco get their groove on. The Fun in the Sun Back to School Bash, at the CenterPlace Health — Women and Children’s Health Center, brought together community partners for a morning that included free school supplies, music and dancing.
A+E Sounds of Summer Page 12
Turtle Tracks AS OF JULY 1 TOTAL NESTS: Siesta Key Lido Beach Casey Key
2023 2022 310 382 139 116 1,472 1,304
TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2023 2022 Siesta Key 540 409 Lido Beach 263 140 Casey Key 1,693 1,281
RENTAL REGS? Vacation rentals ordinance may be expanded citywide. SEE PAGE 5
Source: Mote Marine Laboratory File photo