SARASOTA
Observer
Circus stars in spotlight.
PAGE 19
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 14, NO. 7
FREE
What is the deal?
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
YOUR TOWN
Gil Waters 1927-2018
Courtesy photo
Police dog, officer team up to win
Remembering a man of vision — and action.
Sarasota Police Officer Jake Nelson and his four-legged partner, Bronson, won the obstacle course portion of last weekend’s Gulf Coast K-9 Competition in Cape Coral. Nelson and Bronson were among 19 teams from Florida competing. The obstacle course consisted of up-and-over maneuvers, jumping through tunnels, shooting simulations and taking on a balance beam, for both human and canine contestants. “Officer Nelson and K-9 Bronson are an excellent team,” said Sgt. Bruce King, the supervisor of Sarasota Police’s K9 unit. “They train hard and work diligently to catch criminals and keep the city of Sarasota safe.” All proceeds and donations from the Gulf Coast K-9 Competition will benefit the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Paw for Patriots Foundation and Holidays for Heroes Foundation.
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Questions surround a proposed land swap that would allow the city to build a roundabout at U.S. 41 and Fruitville. DAVID CONWAY DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR
A Dec. 18 community workshop regarding proposed zoning changes for a property at U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road provided few definitive answers about the future of the land. Residents at the meeting said there was a lack of clarity regarding what the eventual development of the property would entail. But property owner Palsar Developments Inc. hopes to get the land rezoned without a specific site plan, citing external pressure associated with the city’s efforts to build a roundabout at the U.S. 41-Fruitville intersection. SEE LAND SWAP, PAGE 5
BLACK
TIE
File photo
Against a tide of criticism, Gil Waters helped lead the charge to replace Sarasota’s drawbridge to the barrier islands with an iconic structure that came to be known as Ringling Bridge.
Courtesy photo
Dr. Jill Morris and Dr. Burr Burke
Big smile for 30th anniversary
Shopping for a plan Showcasing young musicians. INSIDE
Developer’s new design for Siesta Promenade shifts traffic but not neighbors’ criticism. PAGE 6
“This is a shopping center that’s going to serve the neighborhood.” — Todd Mathes, Benderson Development director of development
Dr. Jill Morris this month is celebrating 30 years in the dental profession, opening her practice in Sarasota in 1987. Morris, a graduate of University of Florida’s College of Dentistry, opened World Class Dentistry after she couldn’t find a position at an established practice. “Believe it or not, I couldn’t find an employer who would hire me as an associate,” she said. “It was very rare to have women dentists at the time.” Today, she and husband, Dr. Burr Burke, practice together at 3951 Swift Road.