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Sarasota News Leader September 21, 2012 Siesta Seen centive Village business owners and man- agers needed to help underwrite the cost of the Classic, Matthes pointed out. The Crystal Classic was planned to bring visitors to the island during a traditionally slow time of year. The tens of thousands of visitors the first two years of the event have more than underscored its value, organiz- ers have pointed out. This year, Brian Wigelsworth, founder of the Crystal Classic, has noted that not only will all of the Travel Channel's "Sand Masters" program sandsculptors be partic- ipating, but also seven sculptors from The Netherlands — one of the top two countries for producing masters. (Italy is the other one.) During the SKVA meeting, Cheryl Gad- die, the other co-chairwoman for the Crys- tal Classic, announced that a new website was being designed for the event. It should be ready before the end of September, she said, and "it's going to be quite impressive." Visitors will be able to purchase their tick- ets online, she said, as well as find infor- mation easily about the bus transportation, which will be based again at Phillippi Es- tate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Sponsors will have their logos rolling con- tinuously on the front page of the site, she added, which will be good publicity for them. During the SKA meeting, Smith noted that 400 volunteer spots would be open again for people to assist with all the logistics of the event; he added that more than a few people sign up for multiple spots. As it has the two previous years, Mote Ma- rine Laboratory will be in charge of orga- nizing the volunteers, Smith said. Mote's sea turtle programs are the benefi- ciary of proceeds from the Crystal Classic. When a member of the audience told him she had been unsuccessful so far in finding a link on Mote's website to sign up as a vol- unteer, Smith assured her, "It will be up." During the SKA meeting, the directors vot- ed unanimously to contribute $1,250 to the Crystal Classic. The SKVA has contributed the same amount. The SKA and SKVA logos will be on op- posite sides of one of the sculptures to be crafted to recognize the sponsors, President Catherine Luckner pointed out. Anyone else interested in becoming a spon- sor of the 2012 Crystal Classic may call the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce at 349- 3800, email info@crystalsand.org or visit crystalsand.org. BEATING THE AVERAGES No one knows better than Catherine Luck- ner how rough a summer it was for the en- dangered snowy plovers that nest on Siesta Key. Page 76