SIESTA KEY
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 48, NO. 51
FREE
YOUR TOWN
Activist students team up in Sarasota. PAGE 14 •
THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018
Incentive inventory The city examines economic development ideas. SEE PAGE 3
Courtesy photo
Final five
Lauren Amber Nielsen had a whirlwind week competing in Miss Florida 2018 in Lakeland. The opera singer, who teaches at Sarasota Academy of the Arts, won the swimsuit and talent categories. For the latter category, she performed “O Don Fatale” by Giuseppe Verdi. Nielsen was named one of five finalists at the end of the pageant June 30, but Taylor Tyson of Palm Coast took the crown. Nielsen said she wants to use the platform to promote self-worth.
A FRIEND IN NEED
Courtesy photo
Hitting the high notes
Kayleigh Omang
Pianist and recent high school graduate Nicole Pekarek received a Gold Cup award by The National Federation of Music Clubs last month for her participation and high marks in Sarasota’s NFMC Music Festival for 13 consecutive years in the junior division. Pekarek has played in the festival since she was 5 years old. About 500 participants compete annually and are rated on individual merit.
Performers Taylor Reister, Emma Johnson and Jonah Dushesne-Shaw wear yellow, Isabella Smith’s favorite color. Booker theater students threw a benefit show June 14 for their classmate Isabella Smith after she suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Booker High performers take the stage to help an injured classmate. SEE PAGE 18
A+E Local laughs. INSIDE
Turtle Tracks AS OF JUNE 30 TOTAL NESTS: 2018 Lido Beach 75 Siesta Key 228 Casey Key 724
2017 89 200 903
TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2018 2017 Lido Beach 66 132 Siesta Key 438 469 Casey Key 1173 1468 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
David Conway
Valets: helping or hurting? Parking concerns persist on Siesta Key. SEE PAGE 6