Island groups to consider new league
As a result of a unanimous vote on June 4, the Siesta Key Association is going to explore membership in a new Barrier Island Defense League with representatives from the Manasota Key, Casey Key and North Manasota Key associations.
SKA President Lourdes Ramirez told her board members she had met with people from each of those organizations that morning to discuss the new group, "which is just in the talking stages right now ...."
Ramirez pointed out that the associations do share similar views on certain issues, such as concerns about how Sarasota County will structure its Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s rules about renovations of houses in flood plains.
If the new group is organized, she said, one goal would be for it to hire attorneys to represent it before the Sarasota County Commission on issues on which all the members shared a specific view.
"I know that this is a big step for us," she added.
Other than incorporating, "is there a way that the group could have more legitimacy?" SKA board member Bob Waechter asked. "It just seems that incorporation is such a huge step to try to gain the ear of the county."
"I don’t think we should give up any of our independence," SKA Vice President Paul van Deventer said. If the SKA members did not agree on an issue with the other members of the new group, he said, he would be concerned that the majority view would make it appear the SKA was in concurrence. "But I’m all for combining votes where it makes sense."
Ramirez said she made it clear that if the SKA disagreed, its view would be conveyed in any discussion with the county or other entities.
Connie Davis, representing the Casey Key Association with her husband Dick, told the SKA board that none of her association’s members wanted to give up their decision-making prerogatives, either. "But we felt that we had enough common issues ... and we needed a broader base of folks to really research some of those issues."
"I really support what Paul said," Ann Kaplan, former SKA vice president, told the board. She added that the SKA had to be "very careful about getting involved in lawsuits."
Van Deventer also voiced concern about the possibility of the new organization being open to the public, instead of just to representatives of the associations. "It could lead to dissolution of our membership."
Ramirez said the June 4 meeting had focused only on having three directors from each association belong to the new organization.
Further, she said, SKA would not share its membership list or legal opinions for which it had paid attorneys.
Instead of getting bogged down in specifics, Waechter suggested the SKA board vote just to proceed to the next step in discussions. Van Deventer agreed, saying that next step should focus on the structure of the organization and its bylaws. Waechter made that motion, which won approval.
Then Ramirez said the group had asked for $750 from each association to pay for research into what would be necessary for incorporation. The vote also was unanimous to provide the funding.
COMBATTING CRIME
Another big topic at the SKA meeting was home invasions, especially in the aftermath of the late May attack on the key.
"What I would like to stress to everyone is that you have to lock your doors and you have to close your blinds," Sgt. Scott Osborne of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, said in his report.
The person or persons behind the attacks seem to be targeting older women who live alone in houses which can be seen into very easily, he added.
In the majority of the attacks, the victims’ doors were unlocked and the perpetrator had a clear view of the house’s interior through a window.
Osborne emphasized that the Sarasota and Manatee county sheriff’s offices and the Sarasota and Bradenton police departments are working around the clock to catch whoever is responsible for the attacks.
The victims have given widely varying descriptions of their assailant, Osborne said. The only consistencies are that he wears black clothes, gloves and mask and carries a gun.
Osborne also reminded everyone that it is unsafe to keep garage door openers in plain sight in vehicles parked outside homes, as a criminal could smash a car window to grab the opener, then make his way into the house.
Kaplan told the group that residents of the Treasure Boat Way neighborhood have formed a Citizens Watch Patrol to promote safety on their streets. It is the 81st such organization in the county. The action stemmed from residents’ concerns about thefts from cars and garages, illegal house rentals with resultant noise and trash, vandalism and reckless driving, according to a news release Ann sent me.
All the Watch volunteers have been trained by a deputy.
"Patrolling vehicles, aka ‘Security Patrol,’ are now a common sight during the day and at night," her release says.
Joe Volpe, the Treasure Boat group’s spokesman, told me in an e-mail exchange that about 100 neighbors had signed up to participate in the Citizens Watch as of June 8. "Others waiting for training [by a deputy] are going out on patrol with qualified patrol members."
The weekends are a particularly busy time for the volunteers, he added.
Thus far, the top violation being observed is people rolling through or not even slowing down for stop signs. The patrols are reporting these offenders to the 365TAGS hotline. The next most common offense is speeding on residential streets. "This is extremely dangerous as we don’t have sidewalks," Volpe wrote.
About 250 homes are being covered by the patrols, which are run randomly "so no one can second guess where we are," he wrote.
I asked Osborne before the meeting whether he and his fellow deputies had been getting a lot more calls about "bumps in the night" after the attack on the key. He replied that they had, for which he was most grateful. People paying attention to their surroundings foster safety and could lead to the capture of the assailant.
Col. Steve Burns of the sheriff’s office checked records for me from the eight-day period before the incident and compared them to the eight-day period afterward. The week prior had a total of 14 calls; the week after, 20.
"Crime has increased everywhere in this economy," Osborne told the SKA audience.
A BIG INSPIRATION
I’ve never talked to anyone more upbeat than George Miller, who – with wife Kathy and twin sons Alex and Nick – lives on Siesta Key. He called recently to ask whether the Pelican could help publicize a June 27 fundraiser Alex has organized for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Alex, who is 10, had one leg amputated below the hip when he was a baby, Miller explained. The twins were both born very prematurely, he added.
About two years ago, CAF donated a running leg to Alex that – cliché or not – literally has changed his life, his dad said.
The Shriners had provided help for Alex when he was very young, Miller noted. Then a meeting with Kevin Carroll of the "Modern Marvels" TV series led to the CAF essentially providing all the parts for Alex’s running leg – at a savings to the family of thousands of dollars. Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics of Sarasota figured out how to attach the leg.
Now Alex has set his sights on participating in the annual CAF triathlon in San Diego in the fall, his dad explained. The June 27 fundraiser will help make the trip possible and, in all likelihood, assist another child whom Alex has befriended through CAF events.
According to its web site, CAF grew out of a desire to assist one athlete, a trailblazing, below-knee amputee named Jim MacLaren. A second accident had left MacLaren paralyzed from the neck down, so his many friends organized the first San Diego Triathlon Challenge, an annual fundraiser at La Jolla Cove. The CAF goal is "to make sure that people with physical challenges have the same freedom to enjoy sports that the rest of us take for granted."
Alex’s 2 Mile/0.5 Mile Kids Fun Run/Walk will be held at Glebe Park on Siesta Key from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 27. Children 6 and under will run/walk/stroll 0.5 miles; those 7-9 and 10-13 will run/walk 1-2 miles. All the participants will receive medals, goodie bags and a post-race lunch, followed by games. Food will be available to nonparticipants for a nominal donation to CAF.
The entry fee is $10 per child or $25 per family.
For more information or to register, e-mail Kathy Miller at kathy.miller1@yahoo.com or call 349-7190.
By the way, George Miller said Alex recently broke his prosthetic foot, which alone cost about $4,000 because of the high-grade materials and technology involved in its production. Alex was afraid his dad would be upset, but Miller said he told his son, "‘Good for you! You wore it out.’"
The Swallow family of St. Louis enjoys the shaded benches in the new gazebo in Siesta Village: (from l.) Dad Brad; son Danny, 3; daughter Carsen, 12; mom Laura; and son David, 17 months. Photos by Ric Miracle.
Carsen and Danny enjoy the new drinking fountain, too.
(From l.) Dan Wolfert, general manager of the Sarasota Reds, 4-year-old Jeno of Siesta Key, and RaliGator, the Reds' mascot, enjoy the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce's Ballpark Beach Bash on June 6.
June 17th 2009 - 4:48PM