Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Metros where people in North Port/Sarasota/Bradenton are getting new jobs

https://stacker.com/florida/north-po...tting-new-jobs

Stacker compiled a list of metros where the most people from North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL found new jobs using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Jobs-to-Jobs Flows. Metros are ranked by the number of people that started a new job from North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL in the first quarter of 2021.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

I didn't see any cities from Sarasota/Manatee County on this list?

Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Florida

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Florida using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the dollar change in the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes from the 12 months ending January 2024. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib. Data was available for 50 cities and towns in Florida.

For the full list:

https://stacker.com/florida/cities-f...prices-florida

---------------------------------------------------

*This probably explains why there weren't any cities from the above list in our area. Each city in our area from the link below has an easy to understand graph. It's clear home prices in our area peaked in mid-2022:

Cities with the most expensive homes in the North Port/Sarasota/Bradenton metro area

For the full list:

https://stacker.com/florida/north-po...t-metro-area-0

This list contains the 1-year price change, 5-year price change and typical home value for local cities (with easy to understand charts).

Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the North Port/Sarasota/Bradenton metro area

For the full list:

https://stacker.com/florida/north-po...t-metro-area-0

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL metro area using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by their one-year price change as of January 2024.

[wondermint2]

Nominations deadline extended for 2024 Sarasota Top Workplaces

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news...363f3315&ei=31

If you have a workplace worth celebrating, you have more time to get into the spotlight by earning recognition as a Sarasota Top Workplace.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to April 5. Anyone can nominate any organization, whether it is public, private, non-profit, a school or even a government agency. To nominate an employer, just go to:

https://topworkplaces.com/nominate/sarasota/ or call 941-413-1720.

So far, more than 50 companies in the region have signed up to participate. This marks the third year the Herald-Tribune will honor quality workplace culture in Sarasota or Manatee counties. Any organization with 35 or more employees is eligible to earn Top Workplaces recognition.

To qualify for a Sarasota Top Workplaces award, employees evaluate workplaces using a short 24-question survey that takes about 5 minutes to complete. Companies will be surveyed through April.

There is no cost to participate, and winners will earn the coveted gold Top Workplaces badge to tout their achievement in 2024.

Energage, the Pennsylvania-based research partner for the project, conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year.

[wondermint2]

Circus Arts Conservatory raises over $400,000 for youth education and outreach programs

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...363f3315&ei=38

The Circus Arts Conservatory and 350 guests gathered in February at the CAC’s new Big Top on Regatta Island at Nathan Benderson Park for the organization’s Royal Gala, raising more than $400,000 in support of the CAC’s signature youth training, education and outreach programs.

Guests enjoyed performances by Sailor Circus Academy students and world class professional circus artists, heartfelt remarks by CAC founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs and executive vice president/COO Jennifer Mitchell, a paddle raise, a catered dinner by Michael’s On East, and dancing in the Center Ring.

“Our Gala generates financial support that provides significant and critical funding for the CAC’s arts education and youth training programs,” Mitchell said. “We are very grateful to our sponsors, guests, circus artists, volunteers, and all who made our Royal Gala such a spectacular success.”

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota County leaders are giving an update on the future of Midnight Pass this weekend. (Video)

For video:

https://www.wtsp.com/video/news/loca...9-f72ebd0da17f

Sarasota County to work on Midnight Pass

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...363f3315&ei=57

Sarasota County commissioners unanimously approved the initiation of a feasibility study for reopening Midnight Pass, which historically ran between Siesta Key and Casey Key to connect the Gulf of Mexico with Little Sarasota Bay.

On Sunday, Sarasota County District 4 Commissioner Joe Neunder and members of the Midnight Pass Society II talked with hundreds of locals about the next steps.

The goal is to restore the water quality of Little Sarasota Bay by opening up the waterflow in and out of the Bay to the Sea, like it was before it was closed by human intervention in 1984.

Experts will research the best possible options for restoring the health of the bay and come to a conclusion for next steps, but it will take quite a few years, and quite a lot of research.

“This is very near and dear to my heart as it is for a lot of our community here in Sarasota,” said Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Neunder. “Remembering some of the previous iterations of trying to open the Pass, I made it one of my top missions to go ahead and try and see if we can make this endeavor a little different and do some water quality initiatives, restoring a historical connection for the health and quality of the bay,” he explained.

For more information on the project, click here:

https://restoremidnightpass.org/

[wondermint2]

Polo for brain health event draws hundreds

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...363f3315&ei=35

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fl: While the Sarasota Polo Club is busy on most weekends, Sunday’s main event drew big crowds and dollars for a great reason.

The club hosted the first “Polo For Brain Health” event to raise dollars and awareness for the Roskamp Institute. The research facility has been around the Suncoast for nineteen years with the goal of identifying new diagnostics and treatments for neurological disorders.

Vivian McDorman was on hand for the polo match and silent auction. She lost her mother two years ago after a fourteen-year battle with dementia. As a retired nurse, she hopes dollars will continue to help improve lives of many affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injuries, as well as Gulf War and Red Tide illnesses.

“I don’t think people always realize big changes, come from little changes,” McDorman said.

The Roskamp Institute is a nonprofit organization funded by grants and philanthropic support.

“I was in it right from the start with a team that first identified the first genetic codes of the disease in London in the early 1990′s, so, it’s a very long process,” said Roskamp Institute president and CEO Dr. Fiona Crawford, Ph.D.

For more information on the Roskamp Institute, visit:

https://www.roskampinstitute.org/

[wondermint2]

Family demands more mental health resources after in-custody death (Video)

For video:

https://www.wtsp.com/video/news/loca...a-cf2ac0e05932

The family of Breonte Johnson-Davis is demanding more mental health resources at the Palmetto Police Department after his death.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Saturday morning bank robber eludes law enforcement

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...-sarasota-bank

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who entered a bank and demanded money from a teller Saturday morning.

Deputies responded to the Fifth Third Bank, located at 6265 Tuttle Avenue along University Parkway after the robbery occurred around 10:52 a.m.

The man allegedly left the bank and ran northbound towards University Parkway after taking an undisclosed amount of money.

No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office’s Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477.

This remains an ongoing investigation.

Deputies searching for Sarasota bank robber who demanded money and ran (Photo)

For photo of the bank robber:

https://news.google.com/articles/CBM...S&ceid=US%3Aen

[wondermint2]

Creative Liberties Will Celebrate Regional Art and Artists Through March and April

For full article:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/saraso...April-20240225

Creative Liberties Artist Studios and Gallery will continue its season's offerings with an all-packed March, starting with its House of Hues Pop Up Shop, February 29, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and March 1 and 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Artists will take over the community space at Creative Liberties 927 N Lime Avenue location, filling the space floor to ceiling with everything that makes a house a home. Art, furnishings, and more!

Creative Liberties Artist Studios and Gallery was founded in November 2021 by Barbara Gerdeman and Elizabeth Goodwill, both artists and art educators. Goodwill explains that "more than 35 independent local artists have artwork on display or are working at our three locations." She adds that Creative Liberties provides “affordable working studio spaces, display walls, emerging artist residencies, education opportunities, community outreach, and unique events—all in close proximity to the downtown center of Sarasota."

[wondermint2]

Wallace ready to sue county

For full article:

https://siestasand.us/wallace-ready-to-sue-county/

Siesta Key resident Jim Wallace is going forward with his threat to sue Sarasota County in its relation to approving late last year a revised plan for the building of the Siesta Promenade mixed-use development at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.

That is what he told attendees at the Feb. 1 meeting of the Siesta Key Association civic group, with a filing to likely occur before the end of February.

At the crux of Wallace’s concern is that a county-mandated stoplight was approved at the intersection of Stickney Point and Avenue B & C, where an entry point into the Siesta Promenade would exist. The signals and related infrastructure have already been installed, but the light is not yet activated. Wallace maintains that studies show that traffic would stop every 85 seconds as a result on a roadway that is already congested.

His recent fight against the Florida Department of Transportation for issuing the needed permits failed last year on appeal, and now he’s taking aim at the county itself.

Wallace says that recent court decisions against the county by both the state’s Division of Administrative Hearings and Sarasota County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court in relation to the approval of high-rise hotels should also put a halt to Benderson Development’s Siesta Promenade project.

Those decisions said, in part, that development on barrier islands should be discouraged in part because of issues with ease of hurricane evacuation.

“The access roads are included,” said Wallace. Stickney Point Road, home to the south bridge, is one of only two leading to the Key.

Thus, the Siesta Promenade project violates Sarasota County’s comprehensive plan that governs land use.

“Everything we’re fighting has been done in an illegal fashion,” Wallace said.