Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/122777
BUMBLING FORWARD AS USUAL Chalk Festival founder Denise Kowal poses with artwork from the 2012 event. Photo by Norman Schimmel THE LATEST CHALK FESTIVAL REQUEST FOR FEE WAIVERS LEADS TO A PROPOSAL FOR A CITY POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT SUCH EVENTS By Stan Zimmerman City Editor The readers of SRQ Magazine rate the Sarasota Chalk Festival as their favorite outdoor event. But for city and county commissioners and their staffers, it may rate as their No. 1 nightmare — a highly popular event that never follows the rules. It was no different Monday, April 15, when organizer Denise Kowal came before the Sarasota City Commission to ask for funding support once again. It is understandable that the commissioners were leery. Last year, she did not tell them it was a 10-day festival. This year, she was clear that it will last six days. "We're entering our sixth season. We're the only international [chalk] festival in the U.S. We are the chalk of the world, with the most debuts of new techWe're the only international niques. We receive [chalk] festival in the U.S. We are the more than 500 applicachalk of the world, with the most debuts tions from around the of new techniques. world to participate, at no transportation cost Denise Kowal Founder to us," she told the Sarasota Chalk Festival commission.