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Michael Penn, Publisher, Our Town Sarasota,
welcomes visitors to Siesta Key Beach. Although our highest visitor
month is around Easter many visitors come here in late spring and for
summer vacations. A storm gets ready to rear its head in the background.
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Work continues on a second
repaving coat on Beneva forcing drivers to use one lane headed south
of Clark. Work should be finished in around a week.
It could happen, $2.15 a gallon for
gasoline. In fact it did happen on our North Carolina Tour this past week,
gas at $2.15 a gallon in southern Georgia.
A little bit of Americana on our North
Carolina tour exhibited by this vintage wall logo for Coke a Cola. We
wonder if Coke still pays a royalty to advertise their sign?
We found Mrs. Johnson & Johnson's
1999 Bentley at a local car dealer, or so they say. Our own Peggy O'Brien
says she wouldn't mind owning it.
We're a little mixed up, are we in
Sarasota or Mount McKinley. Nah, it's a lady training on Siesta Key Beach
with ski poles and a backpack. Her trainer rides along on a bike. |
A local Heron catches a fish but has a hard time positioning the fish
to swallow it. The Heron won eventually.
This man became frustrated when he put money in the
paper box and couldn't get his newspaper. Shaking the machine didn't work
for him.
Love broadcasts its message on this persons van
window parked at Publix. How bliss.
The first military caisson funeral in Florida took place at the new
military Sarasota National Cemetery.
Two cows get friendly along U.S. 41.
Add a little tranquility to your week by catching a sunset at the
beach. Cooler temps expected by Friday, yo baby:)
We conduct a number of tours each year.
This year we did Portland, OR, Phoenix, AZ, New York, Atlanta,
North Carolina, Marco Island and a few other areas. Do you have
any ideas where we should tour and report from next?
This lady starts her advertising day
early, around 8:30AM, as she heads across U.S. 41 east on Stickney Point
Road. Don't you just love the low emission vehicle.
You can't make these sunsets up at our Gulf
beaches, they are way incredible. In the background looks like SW stone
monuments. And where did that trail of blue sky come from to the right
that seems to fall from the sky to the sunset.
This driver cools off by leaving his top down while it rains on U.S. 41 in
Sarasota.
It looks like the White House is being built on Siesta Key. Not,
it's just the 'Ask Gary' guy having a house built here.
Sarasota High School is one of the last
classic and classy buildings in town. Forget about all that Sarasota
school of art square block buildings, our dog can draw better:)
It's been a tough Labor Day Weekend around
the pool, you caught me sleeping after a tall lemonade. Hey, what do you
want I am only six months old.
A bagpiper pays tribute to the sunset at
Siesta Key Beach Monday evening.
Sarasota Chrysler is now Sarasota Certified
Cars, the times they are a changin'.
Neighbors are worried that this
vacant house is growing more then plants or vegetables. No one lives in
the house but someone is putting up plastic privacy walls around the
backyard.
Photo courtesy Linda Robertson. 7 foot python along State road 72 by
Myakka Park. 9/09
Sarasota Chrysler Plymouth readies for
selling out it's new cars and transitioning into strictly used car sales
as Chrysler puts thousands of dealers to the curb.
We had a great weekend visit
at the Don Cesar in Saint Petersburg. Known as Florida's "Pink Palace,"
the Don Cesar, facing the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, was built in
1928 to resemble a Mediterranean-style castle
At a recent stay at the Don Cesar we
noticed that both the Saint Petersburg Times and the New York Times
were giving away their newspapers for free in the lobby. The Sunday
New Times above is normally $6, whoof.
Walking on water?
Nah, he's balancing on a surf board with a paddle in his right hand at
Siesta Key Beach Friday evening.
We returned from our America Cross Country Tour II, from New York.
The passengers above arrive before the baggage at SRQ airport, unusual
since many are over 65 or 90:)
You can't help but be amazed by our local
bird life. A Sandhill crane takes in a local golf course.
Englewood fishing
captain, Bucky Dennis, catches 1060 lb Hammerhead shark. Mote Marine is
outraged. The last one he caught had 55 unborn pup sharks. It makes
you sick to think this shark who was killed also had unborn pups.
photo courtesy Julie Deibler
A speeding driver rounded a corner in a Sarasota
development spun out of control and rammed two cars parked in this couples
driveway this week. Thank goodness no one was walking on the sidewalk when
it happened.
It is such a joy everyday you drive by this piece of art on
Sarasota's bayfront. It captures a moment in time.
Coast Guard calls off search for 3 remaining missing
boaters. Only one was found as shown in photo above.
Photo: U.S. Coast Guard.
Bill of Sarasota
celebrates his 90th birthday
with wife Jeanne and 70 other guests at a local restaurant.
Yes, it was another great sunset
Saturday evening. A bit of a chill in the air but the hot vibes from
the sunset made it all worth it.
* An eco burn so it's called along State Road in Sarasota County
clear cuts bush along the highway.
Ginger, the bottlenose
dolphin that stranded Dec. 16, 2008, on Siesta Key, was released back
to her home waters just after 8:30 a.m. The dolphin submerged after being
released from the sling that had been used to carry her to the water
behind Mote’s main Lab building on City Island then thrilled the crowd
with several giant leaps.photo:
marc ellis great shot
mark!
 This is just not any bird. It is a
bird with at least two extra lives. It walked across U.S. 41 without
getting killed and then it proceeds to walk south along U.S. 41 without
getting killed.........so far.
We heard about it.......the great
corn beef sandwich at Too Jays in Sarasota. Sorry, if you have ever had a
real NY corn beef sandwich, like the ones at Carnegie Deli, this one didn't cut it. Besides it was served
not hot like a good one should be.
It was a dog day Sunday as these
twins truck on down U.S. 41. The dogs love it but it's really not safe if
the driver has to make an emergency stop.
The mighty peaks of the
Skyway Bridge protrude into the clear blue sky yesterday.
Two severely burned at Terrace East condominiums fire near Siesta
Village on Ocean Boulevard Monday evening.
Talk about a full mooner, Sunday morning, full of a bit of haze. We think our digital camera skewed
the shape a bit.
Our hero. This young man was kind
enough to chase all those pesty seagulls at the beach so they wouldn't eat
people's food. To all you tourists...it's a nuisance when you feed these
beasts.
This two-story "Cracker" house was built in 1889 by William H. Tatum and
his two step-sons as the home for his wife and children. Over the years,
the house was expanded to accommodate the couple's thirteen children. One
of the oldest examples of rural architecture in Sarasota County today, it
was relocated to the Crowley Center and restored to its 1892 appearance.
The Crowley Museum's work shed exhibit houses hundreds of antique
artifacts.
If you haven't seen an Eagles nest close up this one will do. The size of
the nest is massive, and they return each year to the same nest. This nest
is on the private property of the Crowley's next to the Crowley Museum in
eastern Sarasota County.
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Holy cows they came rolling to this Sarasota residents front lawn for his
birthday, great idea.
It's been a tough Labor Day Weekend around
the pool, you caught me sleeping after a tall lemonade. Hey, what do you
want I am only six months old.
A pickup truck on U.S. 41 cut across the
highway and landed in a ditch early Thursday morning.
Happy New Year and Halleluiah, this bank is giving away free money, ya
think.
The last moon of 2009, taken Thursday morning 12/31. Get ready to welcome
in 2010,,,,,,it has a nice ring to it.
Ladies from the Sarasota Roller Derby group conducted a fundraiser for one
of their members who lost her house to a fire around Thanksgiving.
The OurTownSarasota choir practices their Christmas routine by
the banks of our office on their lunch break..
We caught the dog waiting in the car while the owner went into
a convenience store. At least they left the sun roof open for the dog.
You say you want front door delivery of your paper, you got it if you
live on this person's SHT route. It's the only time we have seen a local
newspaper delivered directly to your door, literally.
The vibrant fall colors were in full bloom at Wednesday's sunset.
A full moon hits its stride Tuesday evening over Sarasota.
Skyriders sail over Siesta Key.
Manatee veterinarian, Carolyn Kohn, poses for fundraising
calendar for the Manatee Humane Society. Her husband took
the photo.
This person driving along U.S. 41 in Sarasota, slowing traffic is a
perfect example of why Florida legislators are looking at banning
cell phones while driving.
Seagulls line up at Siesta Key Beach readying themselves to
dive bomb people eating dinner before sunset and stealing their meal
out of their hand.
Geier's Sausage Kitchen held its 25th
Oktoberfest this past weekend.
The driver of this SUV is looking for
their midwife, or so the lettering on their windows says. Whod a thunk:)
The SUV was at Publix but, the plates are from North Carolina.
A bit of nostalgia, the Ringling Towers
Hotel built in 1926. We have a piece of it from the demolition in 1998.
Instead we now have the Ritz Carlton Hotel in it's place. Too bad, so sad.
Sarasota the home of the free, the
flipper and the two car Mercedes Benz families. These owners moved
here from a foreign land started flipping houses and became so prosperous
they can afford two Mercedes Benz's, a Vette and a pickup to do work.
Uh, you feel a little stuck? This poor drivers convertible top is
stuck in the half open position as he drives down U.S. 41 in
Sarasota. We hope he doesn't drive too fast and become airborne:)
This driver saves a ton of gas by driving a tiny scooter on S.Tamiami
Trail and wearing a bikini for less wind resistance:)
Smart woman improvises while waiting
for a bus on U.S. 41, and brings her own beach chair to sit in. We love
it.
No traffic jam here, just a slew of sailboats anchored at the Sarasota
Sailing Squadron off of City Island.
Welcome to Gary's house, you know
the "Call Gary 1800............" for a lawyer if you have been injured.
His home unfinished above on Siesta Key after 3 years.
Talk about dedication to reducing car
emissions. This Sarasota man walks his way to work at near 90 degree
temps carrying his laptop and wearing a suit.
It's a full moon rising
over an empty new Hyatt time share on Siesta Key Monday evening.
This lady isn't on sarfari taking
videos, she is taking videos of a Sarasota County sidewalk project before
work begins.
This flag flown now in Sarasota was flown
by U.S. Troops in Iraq. We salute our troops and thank them for their
service and sacrifices.
Temps cooled a bit this morning with morning lows at least getting
to 70 by sunrise instead of 76 for a low yesterday.
Cattle sprinkled on undeveloped land in
Sarasota help land owners keep their taxes low.
Joe Perry from Aerosmith readies to help
clean Sarasota Bay. He and his wife own a home on Longboat Key. Photo:
Mote Marine
From $698,00 to $399,000. A sign of
the times as inflated home, condo prices come closer to earth. This condo
is on Stickney Pt. Road near the bridge.
Baby, it was a huge sunset
Friday evening at the beach.
Dumpsters line up by Sarasota's Outback
restaurant before it is demolished for a total rebuild. Hold your tongues
steady, it should be open in the fall.Sports bar on the market for almost
3 years after it closes, sports sold sign on U.S. 41 in Sarasota. It was
listed for over $2 million, the owners lost their shirt on trying two
ventures here.
A full moon was rising Friday evening. We caught the
full moon above as a reflection in a swimming pool.
It was Fiesta Sunday at Home Depot in Sarasota. They had a Mariachi
band and employees danced in the aisles. The only one not smiling was the
violin player on the left.
It's uncanny, listen to Ken Jefferson from local
wwsb-tv and to John Roberts CNN and they sound like brothers. We'll ask
Ken if they are related:) It's a day later and Ken didn't get back to us.
Hmmmm we guess they aren't related.
This is the last time you will see empty roadways on
U.S. 41, next week should be our peak week for tourist. We just happened
to catch some empty roads in mid-afternoon.
Amy Beechy nominated for Teacher of Year in Sarasota. (She is in
red)
Stanley Judd nominated for Teacher of Year in
Sarasota.
Chuck Evans nominated for Teacher of Year in Sarasota.
You won't get lost in this parking lot in Sarasota
with all of these direction signs:)
Seven of our staff relax on lunch
break and take in a little sun:)
Our animated sign man is back on
the job on Stickney Pt. Rd and 41. With his flash moves and changing
animations he garners drivers attention to visit a local gym with his
sign.
The end of an era was marked in
Sarasota with the closing of the K-Mart at U.S. 41 and Beneva. The
store had been there for over 30 years.
These turtles raise their heads Saturday in praise of the sun which
finally started to head temperatures up after a chilly week.
Now that's a large cup
of java. This retrofit coffeehouse on S. Tamiami Trail used to be a
gas station.
Check out our local heritage at the Crowley Museum It offers a rare snapshot of the early
settlers in this area.The flag above
displayed at the CMNC is from the mid 1800's.
www.cmncfl.org
The First Baptist Church steeple makes
an impressive statement in downtown Sarasota. Too bad Art Nadel
whose office is across the street didn't go there for ethical lessons.
Parasailer's try to get in a last run
before the sun sets off Siesta Key.
Florida Gators Defense holds Sooners Offense in 24
to 14 win for Florida in the National Championship. AP and
Washington Post photos Gators/Sooners
A man we knew who worked at this store for years used to call it Rob and
Stickem.
Baby, if you haven't made it down for a
sunset in the past week you are long overdue. Siesta Key sunset Friday
evening, it doesn't get any better then this.
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