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NEWS BRIEFS Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, listens as Nik Wallenda addresses the audience after being named the 2013 Voice of Sarasota on May 9. Photo by Norman Schimmel WALLENDA HONORED FOR PROMOTING SARASOTA Internationally known aerialist Nik Wallenda Wallenda made international headlines in the was honored on May 9 as the 2013 Voice of summer of 2012 for being the first person to successfully cross a high wire over Niagara Sarasota. Falls. ABC telecast the event as he walked The presentation by Visit Sarasota County, from the U.S. to the Canadian side of the tourthe community's tourism office, came during ist attraction. This summer, he will attempt a a celebration of National Tourism Week, held walk across the Grand Canyon. at Westfield Southgate Mall. In February, Wallenda walked on a cable More than 50 members of the hospitality stretched from a crane on the bayfront in industry were nominated for a number of downtown Sarasota to the roof of the Marina awards. One condominium tower in an effort to gain The Voice of Sarasota honor, which is voted national attention for the community. He deby the Visit Sarasota County Board of Direc- signed that event, he told the City Commistors, goes to a member of the Sarasota Coun- sion, to make certain the photogenic waterty community who "has succeeded in putting front was the backdrop for photos and TV Sarasota County on a national stage," a Vis- cameras. it Sarasota County news release points out. Staff Reports