Siesta Key, and Longboat Key
Local Issues 2008
* Yes, bring on the Boston Red Sox to Sarasota, they would be a much bigger draw for the area. Talks are in the process.
It was a sad day this week when we learned of the death of Kevin Brown who
led the Suncoast Boat races for the past eight years. Kevin also worked on
the race event from its origin. He was only 55. 4-08
The AMC theatre at Sarasota Square Mall
remains vacant years after AMC shut it down to build a new theatre inside
the mall.
* OMG Jennings and Buchanan are going to go head to head again in 2008?
Sometimes you just have to wait and wait and wait
for AAA to rescue you. This woman in her 80's had been waiting over an
hour, in a Publix parking lot, and still no sign of AAA to help her unlock
her car. We have waited almost two hours for AAA to show up to get a jump
start. We dropped them. 4-11-0
Gov. Charlie Crist tells reporters Allstate Insurance agents should work for a more ethical company. The state claims Allstate won't release 100's of documents to prove their requested rate increases. 4-11-08
* As upwards of 40% of our nations bee colonies have disappeared, Florida beekeepers head to California to help pollinate the state.
Former Sarasota local attorney and founder of one of the largest
youth rowing clubs died last week. Peter de Manio was a controversial
figure and was finally ousted as head of the rowing club he founded the
Sarasota Scullers Youth Rowing. He probably coached over 1,000 youths
and had 28 varsity titles credited to his rowing program. Many rowers had
a love hate relationship with him. They loved him for changing their lives
and making them a better person but hated the acidic methods that he was
known for. One former rower reported that near his death he apologized for
how he treated her.
Sarasota County Clerk, Karen Rushing, looking into a so
called expired county ordinance that allowed the Sarasota Airport to
charge a fee for parking
violations. Jim Ley county
administrator says the ordinance expired last year. OurTown50.com exclusive.
The old Quay building has disappeared and a new hotel and retail
may not finally arise for another five years.
Dolphin, named Winter, that is getting the
first full prosthetic tail in the world made a temporary stay at Mote
Marine as the Clearwater Aquarium remodeled their tanks.
Sarasota School Superintendent
sends a letter, about him seeking another position, to teachers and
staff. He sites making great strides focusing on 'rigor'. Note how
Dictionary.com defines 'rigor'. Rigor: strictness, severity, or
harshness, as in dealing with people.
"made great strides in addressing the needs of the new generation of digital learners by focusing on rigor, relevance and relationships in the classroom."
* Sarasota Charter Board to review putting appointed Sheriff position on ballot. The Sarasota County Sheriff budget is around $90 million a year.
The number of retirees and pre-retirees will jump by
30 million over the next decade. SW Florida will get its
share:)
Sarasota County repairs a street
drain pipe that is almost 40 years old. The county also
took over most private water/sewer companies years ago and
will have to replace millions of dollars of piping in
the county.
Sarasota County looks into
recycling discarded recycling bins after OT50 conducts inquiry why they haven't done
so thus far.
Can Sarasota handle 14 new
hotels planned? Current hotels think probably not.
Sarasota Square Mall continues
to struggle with more parking spaces then customers to
fill them.
The docks at Coasters restaurant are being repaired
after being closed for 5 years for disrepair.
* Manatee County Schools to invest over $16 million in TV studio and building. Are they in the education field or a TV broadcaster? Why don't they contract out TV services to a local TV station? We hate to know how much Sarasota County and their schools spends on TV production.
Florida Insurance Commissioner decides you 'are not in
good hands' with Allstate. They banned the company from
selling any new insurance in Florida after the company
refused to release information. A day later a Judge
ruled to allow Allstate to sell insurance in Florida
pending a hearing.
In Sarasota County Waste Management won't recycle the
broken recycle bins. Is that ironic or what:)
Killing of American Bald Eagle in Manatee County raises
reward ante to $12,000 by individuals and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife agency
to offer a combined $2,000 reward to find the shooter.
Photo: Tony Brown
* Airport director initiates study to replace air-traffic control tower at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
New Venice Waterside Hotel gets the
go ahead to begin the 255 room hotel along the
intra-coastal.
* 80% of homeowner's insurance
rates have not been lowered as promised by Florida
regulators.
* UF may cut summer school to help make up for recent budget cut of $16 million.
* Sarasota man, Daniel Prewett, and his staff may be in deep trouble. The IRS says they defrauded the government out of $130 million in income taxes by claiming false write offs for their local tax clients. The company Hewitt Jackson/ JS Accounting had over 7,500 local clients. One dentist wrote off his $800K yacht. Mr. Prewett escaped to Italy and is in custody there. Mr. Prewett was not an Investment Advisor as defined in Florida and erroneously reported in other publications.
Residents and tourists will not be happy with
traffic delays beginning in February caused by
work on the Anna Maria bridge.
"Winter" the famous
dolphin located in Clearwater is being pet by a trainer. The dolphin is
being fitted with the world's first full tail prosthetic by a Sarasota
resident and a team of experts. 4-08
Things look optimistic for opening Midnight Pass as Sarasota County
Commissioners listen to how the state would like the remediation process
to go. 4/08
Longboat Key Club to get $500 million dress up. With a Ritz-Carlton in the area and a Waldorf planned the club needs to play catch up.
Denise Lee's husband comes forward to say he holds Charlotte County
Sheriff's Department responsible for his wife's murder. Story makes
national news on CBS. 4-11-08
* SHT newspaper nominated for the 1st time for a Pultizer prize. Kudos!
Myakka River is only one of two Florida rivers with the designation "The
Wild & Scenic " While the river's head waters are in Manatee County
the river runs for 34 miles in Sarasota County.
![[OB-BE695_10pt_existinghome.gif]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-BE695_10pt_e_20080324103712.gif)
The
National Association of Realtors said existing-home sales rose 2.9% in
February compared to January. Regionally, existing-home sales in February
rose 2.5% in the Midwest, 11.3% in the Northeast, and 2.1% in the South.
Demand fell 1.1% in the West.
* Charlotte County stuck with $100 million loan after developer backs out of deal to buy land.
* Sarasota Bradenton Airport traffic up over 12% in February from the previous year.
A wise owl once said, 'quit cutting down
our environment'. We caught this owl sitting in a tree this week on a
Sarasota County preserve. The county has taken a pro-active stance in
helping to preserve our trees and land.
* Sarasota County cuts almost $6 million from current budget. 3-08
Affordable homes? Neal Communities breaks ground on homes starting at
$135,000. 3-08
How does U.S. 41 get gridlocked? One of the reasons is slow moving
trucks in the left lane. Another is slow passenger vehicles in the left
lane. OK, so heavy traffic is also a factor:)
Chip Shore Clerk of Court
At least two Manatee elected officials, the elections supervisor and clerk of the courts collect retirement benefits while also getting to get paid full time salaries. The State needs to correct a loophole that allows for this double dipping costing the State over $300 million last year alone.
Here comes the new Waldorf-Astoria to downtown Sarasota. It is expected to be finished in about 2 years.
Pool cage builders used to have a six month waiting
listing just to get you an estimate. Now their trucks sit
idle and they have laid off most of their work force. The
same pool cage estimate was $15,000 in 2004. Today the
same pool cage will cost you $6,000.
* The Florida Building Commission today recommended to the Legislature that new buildings along Florida’s coast that will be insured by the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation be built to stronger standards than current building codes require.
* 52% of voters cast a ballot in Sarasota County in the primary, a record setting number.
* Sarasota Memorial breaks ground for a medical center in a lucrative Manatee development Heritage Harbor. Manatee Hospital isn't happy with them moving in their turf.
* From 2004 to 2005 Manatee County school budget increased 25% by over $200 million. Then in 2006 it went up $50 million. In 2007 it went down $130 million. Now they are screaming about more possible cuts. Gov. Crist though has proposed another $138 million statewide.
Tourists stroll St. Armands Circle
Tuesday with balmy temps in the low 80's. Tourists still
seem to be visiting our area:)
* Sarasota County Commissioners turn down mail in ballot system. And talk about debating making Sheriff's position an appointed one rather then elected. In other action they approved a payment for damages to the tune of $65K to a developer. Commissioner Mercier says Fruitville Rd. will have traffic problems.
* For the past umpteen years the Sarasota metro area only had one TV service provider. Now we have two, Comcast and Verizon. Verizon was just named the Consumers Report Best Bet for their Verizon FiOS service which gives you TV, phone and Internet. Thank you Verizon and the Sarasota County Commissioners for opening up the market and giving us a choice.
Mel's
Diner closes one restaurant in Bradenton and two
in Sarasota . Morton's Market in Lakewood Ranch will close
the end of February.
* Sarasota Realtor Bill Furst said
he became so frustrated with the increasing assessments
throughout Sarasota County that he announced this week
he has decided to run against Property Appraiser Jim
Todora in the upcoming Republican primary in August.
* Tampa developer offering new
homes for $120,000.
* New report shows Florida 38th in education. Now
that's a record to not be proud of.
* Sarasota County says it
will keep at least some camping at $6 million dollar
beach property it bought two years ago.
* Over 20,000 Manatee and
Sarasota residents request absentee ballots for
January 29th primary elections and voter amendment to
lower taxes.
* Local prominent builder plans to
give up to $100K rebate on homes bought over a 10
year period. Benderson is offering the deals on homes in a
1000 unit sub-division in Port Charlotte. 
31 year old pilot and his parents
perish in St. Pete plane crash just short of the SP
airport late Saturday.
AP Photo
* New study shows cell
phone drivers slow traffic down and help create
gridlock. We knew that you can see it up and down
U.S. 41.
* Sarasota County pursues
opening Midnight Pass at meeting with state next month.
* Sarasota County looks at $14 million loss of revenue if voters approve statewide tax measure this month.