SIESTA KEY
Observer
More than just a clean load of wash. PAGE 17
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VVOLUME 49, NO. 7
FREE
Incumbents sweep
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018
YOUR TOWN
School Board trio hangs on, two in tight outcomes. SEE PAGE 3
Red tide
Courtesy photo
Brentwood Elementary students find the Lollipop Dragon.
takes toll
Dragon hunting At the beginning of each school year, the Lollipop Dragon visits Brentwood Elementary. The big, clumsy creature sneaks around campus, making a mess wherever he goes. Kindergartners search for him every day during the first week of school, and along the way, they learn about the different parts of campus like the cafeteria and library. Finally, they catch him in principal John Weida’s office. Some students are thrilled, and others are frightened. But the Lollipop Dragon is a friendly one and hands out lollipops from his dragon pouch. “It becomes sentimental for them because they get to relive when they first met the Lollipop Dragon,” Weida said.
Smelly effects keep Siesta Key businesses scrambling for patrons and hoping for a change. SHANE DONGLASAN COMMUNITY REPORTER
T
he Beach Bazaar in Siesta Key Village normally leaves its door wide open to welcome customers, but for the past few weeks, the doors have frequently been closed, particularly when the smell of decaying fish nearby has been the worst. General Manager Wendall Jacobsen said few people have been walking through the shop’s doors anyway since this summer’s red tide outbreak began. Sales are down by 35% year over year, prompting Jacobsen to cut staff to curtail expenses. “We still want to be open and offer something to do for any visitors that are here in town,” Jacobsen said.
Paint party
SEE SIESTA, PAGE 6 Shane Donglasan
Beach Bazaar’s general manager, Wendall Jacobsen, says red tide has led to a 35% drop in sales.
A+E
Turtle Tracks
Human’s help goes a long way Back on the music scene. INSIDE
The walls of BOLD Lofts Sarasota got a bit more colorful on Aug. 22. BOLD Lofts held a watch party where the public enjoyed food and drinks as they witnessed artist Erik Jones paint a mural titled, “David,” based on the Michelangelo sculpture of the same name.
AS OF AUG. 25 TOTAL NESTS: 2018 2017 Lido Beach 123 186 Siesta Key 359 638 Casey Key 1,185 1,853
Gillespie Park dogs ready to have a ball thanks to Dale Orlando. SEE PAGE 13
TOTAL FALSE CRAWLS: 2018 2017 Lido Beach 144 209 Siesta Key 326 665 Casey Key 1,432 2,115 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory David Conway