The invitation to Paul Thorpe's Thursday, April 25 surprise party read 'Lets make a toast to Paul Thorpe a.k.a Mr. Downtown.' One hundred twenty community members and leaders, friends and family surprised Paul Thorpe at the Gator Club to show their appreciation and celebrate the strides he has been making for Sarasota for the past four decades. 'Young and old, we all love him,' said party organizer and close friend Barbara Strauss. 'This was long overdue.'
