SARASOTA/SIESTA KEY
Toy land
Observer
PAGE 1B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
VOLUME 20, NO. 24
YOUR TOWN
Knock it down or keep it up? That’s the question facing a developer with a historic house on a city lot. SEE PAGE 5A
Ian Swaby
Oscar Rodriguez performs jumping jacks.
Start the day at The Bay Sarasota’s Oscar Rodriguez is a big fan of The Bay Park. He’s one of the attendees who is always up just before sunrise to begin his day there with The Y: Primetime + class, held Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Instructor Tom Cahalan of YMCA of Southwest Florida, who leads the sessions, said the aerobic workouts work every muscle group. He said classes can bring participants as young as 20 but usually involve ages 50 to 80, while he provides instructions for those attendees not able to perform the full movements. “It seems like everybody, really, goes away with a feeling of, I got up in the morning, maybe had my morning coffee, came down and got in a workout almost before the sun came up,” he said. Rodriguez also likes to close out his days at The Bay, as people stroll the park to watch the sunsets, often enjoying some bites and beverages with others.
SWEET SOUNDS OF SOLIDARITY The Be Fabulous Pride Fest entertained while mustering support for LGBTQ rights. SEE PAGE 6B
Ian Swaby
Zeta the Babe performs at the Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest.
A+E
Petra Rivera
New addition
Jackie Williams, 18, recently became the youngest member of the Sarasota chapter of Femcity. The group is a branch of a national organization that promotes networking among women business owners. Williams met President Medge Jaspan at the “Launching Leaders in Performing Arts” luncheon for the National League of American Pen Women on April 10. Williams had won a merit award for her painting, “Show Business, Baby.” After speaking with Williams, Jaspan saw a spark for entrepreneurship and creativity in her and encouraged her to join Femcity. Jaspan also bought Williams’ painting, making it the first sale of her artwork. Williams will be graduating this year from Suncoast Polytechnic High School.
Signature sheen Ringling College’s new academic building design is a showstopper. SEE PAGE 9A
Courtroom drama INSIDE Courtesy image
A 2027 opening is planned for the Ringling College Signature Academic Building.