SARASOTA
Health Matters AUGUST 2020
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
INSIDE
KNOW YOUR FUTURE
Genetic testing can tell you what conditions you and your children might face — and possibly the best ways to stay healthy. PAGE 2
E-EXERCISE?
While home for school, kids still need physical activities.
PAGE 4
VOLUME 16, NO. 39
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
SARASOTA
Observer
HOT SPOTS
PICTURE OF HEALTH
The best — and worst — sites to exercise while distancing.
Social media can promote motivation.
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020
The winners are…
New faces on school board; City Commission races set. PAGE 3
File photo
Police win award
Landmark occasion
The Sarasota Police Department’s traffic unit received the High Visibility Enforcement Agency of the Year award from the Florida Department of Transportation on Aug. 12. Trenda McPherson, state Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety program manager with Alert Today Florida, presented the award to the department for its work from August 2019 to May 2020 to improve bike and pedestrian safety. Sarasota police officers worked 166 enforcement details over 35 weeks, resulting in 1,228 education encounters and 377 enforcement encounters.
Veterans gather to remember end of World War II. SEE PAGE 2
Children First lands grant
The Children First nonprofit recently received a $20,000 grant from the Wilson-Wood Foundation for programs to assist at-risk Sarasota families. “With an incredibly high percentage of the families enrolled living below the federal poverty level of $21,720 for a family of three, funding from the Wilson-Wood Foundation is critical to combatting the systemic pressures of poverty, pressures which create an environment of chronic stress for both children and adults,” CEO Philip Tavill said in a statement. The nonprofit assisted 900 families in reaching selfsufficiency in 2019.
Eric Garwood
About 100 people attended Friday’s ceremony at the site of Unconditional Surrender.
Board firms up mask plan
Turtle Tracks AS OF AUG. 15 TOTAL NESTS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 445 711 Lido Beach 137 98 Casey Key 1,512 2,309 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 577 1,157 Lido Beach 215 192 Casey Key 1,983 2,980 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
File photo
Superintendent Brennan Asplen says the added restrictions are intended to help minimize the spread of particles.
School board sets new standards for students and staff. SEE PAGE 4
NEIGHBORS
Feeling connected. SEE PAGE 13