Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/86226
Sarasota News Leader October 5, 2012 Next up: the Crystal Classic. Co-chairwoman Maria Bankemper reported that the event's new website had been launched the previous day. It is TheCrystalClassic.org. However, Co-chairwoman Cheryl Gaddie added that the former domain name, crystalsand.org, would still work. Bankemper pointed out that since the storm- water project at Siesta Key Public Beach would not get under way until April 2013, ac- cording to the latest county projections, the Crystal Clas- sic organizers planned to sell VIP parking packages, so visi- tors could park on the former ball field near the picnic area at the beach. The VIP pass is $49, she said, with an extra $10 for two tickets to the Crystal Classic. Turning to transportation, Bankemper said organizers had met with representatives of the Sarasota County Sher- iff's Office after Deputy Chris McGregor had raised some concerns about details she had discussed during the Septem- ber SKVA meeting. Page 49 said, adding that travel arrangements from Phillippi Estate Park at 5500 S. Tamiami Trail would be much better "than they've been in the past." Additionally, Gaddie reported, "Support [from the community] has been overwhelming." Still, more sponsors are welcome, Gaddie said. Rack cards and posters were available at the meeting for business owners to display, she pointed out. "We feel that this is going to be the best [Crystal Classic]," Gaddie said. This will be the third consecutive event to draw sandsculptors of interna- tional reputation to Siesta Key. "We're five weeks away," Bankemper added. Third on the list: Light Up the Village — the SKVA's biggest annual event. Matthes noted that another committee plan- ning meeting had been set for Oct. 4. Plans call for flexibility in bus- es dropping off people within the parking lot at the public beach or at the Sarasota County Area Transit stop on Beach Road by the beach park, de- pending on how heavy traffic is in the parking lot at any given time, she said. Cards like this will be dis- tributed to the Sarasota County Public Schools to let children and parents know about the annual Safe Treats event in Siesta Village. "This [year's] parade is going to be bigger than ever," he said, with "a lot of quality par- ticipants. … This has really ex- ploded." Bus capacity has been tripled for Saturday during the event and doubled for Sunday com- pared to the 2011 shuttle-bus capacity, she "We already have several floats scheduled for this year's parade," SKVA Secretary Helene Hyland said after distributing a flyer seeking more sponsors for Light Up the Village, sched- uled for Nov. 24, the Saturday after Thanks- giving.