Big Pass dredging peer review update

The county has moved ahead and contracted with Atkins North America Inc. for $49,000 to review the Army Corps of Engineers’ (ACOE) plans to harvest sand from the Big Pass Shoal for the Lido Beach renourishment project.

In an email to County Administrator Tom Harmer from Manager of Development Services and Environmental Protection Matt Osterhoudt in early June, “We expect the consulting firm Atkins North America, Inc., to complete the peer review by the end of September 2015.”

The county is spending the money for the review at the urging of the Siesta Key Association.

The ACOE has stated in permitting documents that the renourishment would have no significant effect on Siesta Key beaches. The Big Pass Shoal renourishes Siesta Key beach naturally.

Siesta Key - Siesta Fiesta 2016

Siesta Fiesta will continue for 2016, with a small modification to address the problem the village businesses encountered in the past during this event. Businesses complained that signs announcing Ocean Blvd. was closed were posted before entering the Village deterring customers from patronizing their establishments.

Ocean Blvd. will not be closed for the 2016 events was the case in previous years. Instead, booths will be set up on the sidewalks similar to the February Craft Fair to allow traffic to pass through. The dates set for next year are April 9 and 10. Howard Allen will also continue to host the event.

Big Pass dredging peer review update

The county has moved ahead and contracted with Atkins North America Inc. for $49,000 to review the Army Corps of Engineers’ (ACOE) plans to harvest sand from the Big Pass Shoal for the Lido Beach renourishment project.

In an email to County Administrator Tom Harmer from Manager of Development Services and Environmental Protection Matt Osterhoudt in early June, “We expect the consulting firm Atkins North America, Inc., to complete the peer review by the end of September 2015.”

The county is spending the money for the review at the urging of the Siesta Key Association.

The ACOE has stated in permitting documents that the renourishment would have no significant effect on Siesta Key beaches. The Big Pass Shoal renourishes Siesta Key beach naturally.

Visit the Siesta Key Chamber Website

2015 Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition

This November 13-17, twenty-four of the premier master sand sculptors from all over the world will once again be competing for 1st place on the #1 beach. The Siesta Key Crystal Classic has become a favorite of many of the professional sand sculptors who have competed here. Citing the beauty and cleanliness of the pristine white sand, sculptors have remarked that their sculptures look almost as if they are “carved in marble.”

Information regarding sponsorship is now available on the website as well applications for our popular Vendor Village: www.siestakeycrystalclassic.com.

For more information about Siesta Key Crystal Classic contact the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce.