Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/141988
Sarasota News Leader July 4, 2013 Page 73 Siesta Seen "Believe it or not," he said, the garbage can at matters to come to a meeting to discuss what The Beach Club had a large number of water options that firm could offer. bottles. That made him wonder whether the "Awesome!" Gaddie said. club offers water to patrons at night. Kirscher confirmed that it does. THE FOURTH Then Russell Matthes, past SKVA president and co-owner of the Daiquiri Deck and the Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar, pointed out that the island of Venice, in the southern part of the county, has solar-powered recycling bins that compact items placed in them. "It seems to be working pretty well," he said of that system, and "aesthetically, they look pretty cool." Beyond that, he said, they represent "clean energy." Two days before the big fireworks show at Siesta Public Beach, Kevin Cooper, executive director of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, said ticket sales for the VIP holiday picnic the Chamber sponsors had not been selling as well this year. "It's really strange," Cooper told me, especially because the economy has been improving. Part of the problem may be that too few peoShay responded that he is familiar with that ple understand that the income from those type of unit; a company similar to Waste Man- sales covers the biggest portion of the apagement services the equipment. proximately $35,000 cost of the fireworks, he "I'm sure it's something we can look at," Shay added. added, though "I do recall … they're pretty The fireworks are going to happen, Cooper expensive." emphasized, but "we can't operate on a loss." Perhaps the SKVA could work on obtaining The event is "break even," he stressed. a grant for such units in the future, Matthes The VIP package includes a gourmet picnic said. at the beach; a parking pass; beer, wine and When Gaddie asked whether he had investi- soft drinks; and live entertainment before the gated how other communities — besides Ven- fireworks light up the sky. ice — handle recycling, Shay said he had not Early in the afternoon of July 2, the Chamdone that yet. ber sent out another email blast from July Going back to the aesthetics theme: Shay sug- Fourth event Chairwoman Alana Tomasso, gested the Village probably should have simi- saying, "[W]e need help raising $5,000 more lar-looking garbage and recycling bins. by July 4th. Please purchase your VIP tickets Smith proposed the SKVA invite a Waste Man- so we can raise enough money to fund the agement representative who handles recycling fireworks."