SARASOTA
Observer
Talent ready to step up in 2019. PAGE 13
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 15, NO. 6
FREE
YOUR TOWN
•
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019
WHAT’S AHEAD IN ’19?
Courtesy photo
Sarasota Military Academy Prep Cadet Major Thomas Canales, Cadet Major Garrett Pearson, Cadet Major Pranit Rajakar and Sarasota Military Academy Prep Head of School Thomas Vara
Clean-up project earns an award Keep Sarasota County Beautiful recently awarded Sarasota Military Academy’s middle school cadets and staff with the “School Excellence” award. The cadet-led community project, initiated by SMA eighth-grader Major Thomas Canales, was a litter and beach clean up at Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach. The Sarasota Parks and Recreation Department nominated the project and cadets for the award. “The best part of community service is seeing friends, family, kids from school, and even people we have never met, come together and work towards one common goal: a better environment,” Canales said.
Struggling vet awarded an SUV Caliber Collision-North Sarasota and GEICO gifted Army veteran Robert Brockhart and his family a Ford Escape on Dec. 19. Brockhart served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2010 with a 15-month deployment in Iraq from 2007 to 2009. After being medically discharged from the Army, Brockhart struggled in civilian life. With the support of his family, wife and two sons ages 10 and 12, Brockhart began to rebuild his life. The car donation from GEICO and Caliber Collision will help Brockhart and his family become more selfreliant. “This is going to be the best year yet for me and my family,” said Brockhart. Brockhart was nominated for the car donation by Soldiers Angels, a nonprofit that supports veterans and active service members.
Mote wants to break ground this year, but will the county approve a major funding request? PAGE 3
Virginia Haley keeps her eye on tourism’s big picture. PAGE 5
Like it or not, change is coming to parking in downtown and St. Armands Circle. PAGE 6 Bayfront project shifts focus to getting first phase off the ground. PAGE 4
Coming around to 2019 Amelia Hanks
Nala and Kyan Wingate ride the merry-go-round New Year’s Eve at the annual Pineapple Drop in Sarasota.
Young and old alike enjoy New Year’s Eve. PAGE 18
A+E
Plan ahead for 2019. INSIDE