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SEPTEMBER 2025 | 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA LLC | www.SiestaSand.us | COMPLIMENTARY
Stormwater, Midnight Pass among key issues for Siesta Key in 2026 budget Commissioner Smith tells residents several projects are funded, others need support
By ChrisAnn Allen
I
t’s budget season for the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners. With a projected $2.5 billion total budget for 2026, property taxes equate to 58% of the general fund revenue at $296 million, a 5.6% increase over 2025. And residents and business owners are hopeful Siesta Key – and its value within the county – will be considered as part of the spending. District 2 Commissioner Mark Smith, an architect who lives on the key and whose district includes the northern portion, spoke on Aug. 14 at a meeting of the Siesta
Key Association (SKA), a neighborhood advocacy organization which meets monthly to discuss issues affecting the key. Smith updated the group on a list of current projects and items added to the 2026 budget, which is being workshopped before the fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Catherine Luckner, SKA president, introduced Smith to the group, stating, “We need you,” regarding Smith’s consistent efforts toward enhancement of the key since he was elected in November 2022. “You understand what goes on in terms of building, development, living Continued on page 18
Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith discusses upcoming projects and the proposed 2026 budget during the Siesta Key Association meeting Aug. 14. (Photo by ChrisAnn Allen.
Shorebird populations show signs of recovery Audubon credits conservation while urging residents to protect nesting and resting sites
By Jane Bartnett
S One snowy plover on the beach amidst beach grass and shells. (Photo Audubon: Kara Durda)
iesta Key’s beaches and shoreline are home to a great variety of shorebirds who live amongst us. Shorebirds, as their name implies, live along the shoreline. To find their food, they dive into the water for fish to eat. Shorebird species found on and near Siesta Key include the least tern, snowy plover, American oystercatcher, black skimmer, and Wilson’s plovers. Least terns, black skimmers and snowy plovers all nest along Florida’s coasts and in
the Sarasota area. Piping plovers also migrate to the Sarasota area during the fall and winter months but return to northern beaches for their breeding season. One year after the hurricanes that impacted our coastline, scientists at Audubon Florida report that they were generally pleased by what they discovered during the past year as the Siesta Key and Sarasota region recovered. There was some good news to report.
“This year, Black Skimmers and Least Terns have nested at Lido Key Beach, just north of Siesta, with great success,” said Evan Powers, Sarasota stewardship coordinator, Audubon Florida. The last year, he said, has been one of the most productive for the endangered black skimmer. “On the northeast end of Siesta Key, there were a lot of junior black skimmers.” Kara Durda, shorebird program manager of the National Audubon Society, called it “a pretty great Continued on page 20
Page 6 and Visitor Center
Rip currents are a real risk
Pages 12-13 Tropical paradise
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High Low of real estate
WELCOME GUESTS! Let us help you plan your lodging, dining, shopping, and activities! Call or Stop by the Visitor Center 5223 Avenida Navarra, Siesta Key, FL 34242 941-349-3800
Happiness Is…Being A Local Being a local comes with its own set of privileges. While “season” brings a vibrant mix of visitors from across the country and around the globe, locals—like Jerry and Jill, the owners of Abel’s Ice Cream—quietly look forward to the calmer months. It’s the time of year when favorite restaurants have open tables, beach parking is plentiful, and the roads flow freely once again. This quieter pace is the perfect backdrop for savoring time with family and friends, and Abel’s Ice Cream has become a favorite gathering spot. Here, laughter is shared over creamy scoops and joyful conversations.
Two flavors are winning hearts right now: Raspberry Truffle (a heavenly blend of raspberry ice cream, a ribbon of raspberry, and dark chocolate raspberry cups) and Special Praline (Praline pecans & caramel swirled together in smooth vanilla ice cream.) In the off-season, life moves a little slower. And at Abel’s, that’s just how locals like it so stop in today and discover your favorite. Abel’s Ice Cream is located at 1886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, in the South Bridge Plaza. Open Sunday through Thursday from Noon – 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday from Noon – 10 p.m. Learn more online at www.abelsicecream.com or connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
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