SARASOTA
Observer
History of voting.
PAGE 20
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 40
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020
Relief funds coming
County OKs plan to distribute first batch: $18.9 million. PAGE 10
Courtesy photo
Researcher takes on NOAA role Tracy Fanara, an environmental engineer and scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and creator of the Inspector Planet YouTube channel, has accepted a position with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her new role will be contributing to a Unified Earth Systems model to better understand the planet. “In just the first days, I’ve met so many brilliant and driven scientists, engineers, programmers and mangers,” she said in an Instagram post. “I’m ready to change the world!”
WIDEOPEN SPACES Schools open Monday with plenty of changes. SEE PAGE 3
Clean and green
Four Sarasota restaurants were among 100 statewide to receive the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s new Seal of Commitment, emblematic of meeting COVID-19 sanitation standards along with several other criteria. Michael’s On East, Cha Cha Coconuts, The Columbia and Sarasota Yacht Club each received the organization’s honor. To meet the criteria, the restaurants had to meet strict FRLA sanitation standards, along with staffs participating in COVID-19 training.
Turtle Tracks AS OF AUG. 22 TOTAL NESTS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 446 711 Lido Beach 137 98 Casey Key 1,513 2,312
Courtesy photo
Each classroom is fitted with plastic barriers to help keep particles from spreading.
New look for Lido Beach work adds width to sand. SEE PAGE 6
TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 580 1,158 Lido Beach 215 192 Casey Key 1,983 2,983 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
A+E
Sharing a laugh. SEE PAGE 22 Courtesy photo
Once sand is pumped to the beach from Big Pass, it is evenly distributed by machinery.