SARASOTA
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 33
FREE
YOUR TOWN
Patriotic sounds.
PAGE 15 •
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020
Five finalists remain
As big decisions loom, superintendent choice is July 14. PAGE 3
Nat Kaemmerer
It’s off to the Big Apple
Tube Dude will soon be spread peace, love and joy in New York City. Three sculptures, in the shop’s Main Street parking lot, will make their Manhattan debut Aug. 1. Now, about 30-50 people a day stop in the parking lot to take pictures, “President Dude” Scott Gerber said. “They’re designed to have people take pictures with them,” Gerber said. The sculptures are ultimately headed to the city’s South Street Seaport, thanks to a donation by the Howard Hughes Corp. Gerber met representatives at an art show.
SETTING SAIL Summer campers enjoy getting back on the water. SEE PAGE 14
Happy 45th, Selby Gardens
Happy birthday, Selby Gardens! In an email to members July 7, CEO Jennifer Rominiecki celebrated the downtown botanical gardens’ 45th year. Like many 45-year-olds, Selby has expanded a bit – but in a good way. In May, Selby added 30 acres at Historic Spanish Point as a companion campus alongside Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey. The state of Florida recently awarded $600,000 toward hurricane resiliency to protect its collections of orchids and bromeliads.
Nat Kaemmerer
Amaree Juarez holds his rudder while Coach James McGirr adjusts the sail of his Opti I boat. It’s the end of the first week of camp, so Juarez is getting the hang of sailing solo, which is the only way kids can get on the water at Sarasota Youth Sailing this summer.
U.S. court OKs work on beach
Turtle Tracks AS OF JULY 4 TOTAL NESTS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 369 590 Lido Beach 105 70 Casey Key 1,184 1,885 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 472 1,016 Lido Beach 175 157 Casey Key 1,594 2,534 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Siesta group’s appeal rejected as Lido plan cranks up.
David Conway
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to begin dredging work on Lido Key this week.
SEE PAGE 4
A+E Artist leaves work behind. PAGE 18