Observer JULY 2020
SIESTA KEY
SPIRIT OF
AMERICA
Observer
INSIDE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 50, NO. 50
FREE
YOUR TOWN
W H AT
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M AT T E R S
M O S T
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020
Mask orders set City regulations go into effect indoors and, sometimes, outdoors. PAGE 3
Courtesy photo
Eatery asks classic question
With a nod to a classic literary question, Hamlet’s Eatery recently opened as a food truck stationed at The Bazaar, 821 Apricot Ave. The brainchild of coowners Kim Livengood and Brad Bierman, the truck asks a version of The Bard’s question for the ages: To meat, or not to meat? The idea is that for every vegan option the truck offers, it has a nonvegan alternative. Operators are still firming up hours of operation, but this week the truck will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and celebrating July 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS A tree and a cafe grow in Rosemary. SEE PAGE 16
A tour of 60 parks
Horseshoes? Pickleball? Cycling or walking? Cornhole or kayaking? The city of Sarasota’s Parks & Recreation District is challenging residents during National Parks & Recreation Month to explore a different city park every day in July. Yes, it’s possible, but grab some water first. The city lists 60 sites, from A.B. Smith Park on Adams Lane to Whitaker Gateway Park on North Tamiami Trail. Visit www.LetsPlaySarasota.com for a list of possibilities.
Turtle Tracks AS OF JUNE 27 TOTAL NESTS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 326 529 Lido Beach 89 54 Casey Key 975 1,624 TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2020 2019 Siesta Key 417 861 Lido Beach 150 130 Casey Key 1,379 2,168 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
David Conway
Willow and Whitney Willis sit in the children’s area at the back of Willow’s Cafe, a Rosemary District restaurant that opened in April.
Stress takes time to address Uncertainty drives slow-developing issues with kids. SEE PAGE 6
Vision forms for Fruitville David Conway
The Florida Department of Transportation has signaled an interest in shifting the design of Fruitville Road from an almost-exclusive emphasis on cars to one that more effectively serves cyclists, pedestrians and transit users.
Transportation officials gather ideas for improving corridor between I-75 and the bay. SEE PAGE 5