SARASOTA
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 25
FREE
YOUR TOWN
Classic, reimagined.
PAGE 16 •
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
Lido Beach will stay closed St. Armands merchants appeal to city to reconsider in hopes of building traffic. PAGE 5
MARCH FOR MOM
Courtesy photo
Police have you covered
Alderman Oaks hosted a special Mother’s Day. SEE PAGE 18
Sarasota Police this week continue distributing free masks, while supplies last. The next distribution begins at 9 a.m. Friday at the front desk of police headquarters, 2099 Adams Lane. The masks are free. Recipients must be city residents.
Happy Mom’s Day, Ms. Manatee
No, manatees don’t celebrate Mother’s Day. But the timing of a rescue of a pregnant sea cow near Siesta Key last weekend was coincidental enough to make even a cynic smile. Sarasota Police and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium teams, along with other state and local agencies, rescued a struggling and injured female manatee near Harbor Towers Yacht and Racquet Club on Siesta Key on Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day. The 1,700-pound animal gave birth May 12 at SeaWorld. “These are the good days. When all of our partners come together, from our city, county and state law enforcement officers, to the FWC stranding biologists that led the rescue, to the SeaWorld Orlando team now caring for her and her calf, it is our stranding network at its finest,” said Gretchen Lovewell, manager of Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program.
Turtle Tracks AS OF APRIL 19 TOTAL NESTS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 14 31 Lido Beach 3 2 Casey Key 43 63 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 13 37 Lido Beach 9 0 Casey Key 58 51 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Harry Sayer
Lotte Winer welcomes cars into the parade, held May 8 at Alderman Oaks in Sarasota.
A lot to look forward to
Debate goes on, al fresco
County planning board moves ahead on parking site for Siesta Key. SEE PAGE 4
City delves into the details of temporary outdoor dining. SEE PAGE 3 David Conway
City leaders are considering a variety of outdoor plans that would open up space for restaurants to serve more clientele while also following state distancing rules.