Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Water shortage declared in Sarasota, Manatee counties. What does this mean for lawns?

For full article:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/water-sho...195901275.html

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared a water shortage in Sarasota and Manatee counties, along with nine other counties.

The governing board for the district has voted to declare a Modified Phase 1 Water Shortage Order because of dry conditions and water supply concerns. The order will prohibit wasteful or unnecessary water use.

The restrictions will apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumer counties. Portions of Charlotte, Highlands, Marion, Lee, and Lake counties will also be included.

Sarasota County has a once-per-week watering restriction and Manatee County has a twice-per-week watering restriction due to the shortage.

Here are things to know before using water on your lawn:

Some more details here:

Water usage restrictions start today: Sarasota and Manatee counties affected

For full article:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/11/2...outputType=amp

Residents are asked to check their irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly. This means testing and repairing broken pipes and leaks, and fixing damaged or tilted sprinkler heads. Residents should also check their irrigation timer to ensure the settings are correct and the rain sensor is working properly.

Once-per-week lawn watering days and times are as follows unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours in effect (Citrus, Hernando and Sarasota counties, and the cities of Dunedin and Venice, have local ordinances that remain on one-day-per-week schedules):

If your address (house number) ends in...
...0 or 1, water only on Monday
...2 or 3, water only on Tuesday
...4 or 5, water only on Wednesday
...6 or 7, water only on Thursday
...8 or 9*, water only on Friday

Here are more details about watering restrictions in Sarasota County:

https://www.scgov.net/government/pub...r-restrictions

[wondermint2]

Where’s the best place to see Christmas holiday lights around Bradenton? Here’s a list

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/where-best-pl...105000729.html

When palm trees and sailboats are aglow, you know it’s the holiday season in Southwest Florida.

What the Suncoast lacks in wintry weather, it makes up for in colorful Christmas lights everywhere you go.

Around Bradenton and Sarasota, professional light displays, illuminated gardens and some particularly festive neighborhoods all make for great viewing.

If you’re still not sure where to begin your Christmas sightseeing adventure, let us be your proverbial Rudolph guiding the way.

Here are some top picks for Christmas light sights around Bradenton in 2023, plus a roundup of reader-submitted favorites.

[wondermint2]

Flying home for Thanksgiving? Check your flights before you go

It’s the busiest travel time of the year across the country. Millions of Americans will head to the airports to visit their families and friends for Thanksgiving.

As a reminder, it’s always good to check your flight status before you head to the airport.

Here are the flight screens for area airports:

https://flysrq.com/flight-information

[wondermint2]

EcoSummit to focus on coping with Sarasota’s growth

For full article:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/11/2...outputType=amp

As state and local governments continue to expand to accommodate growing populations, a local nonprofit believes they also bear a responsibility to invest in natural resources.

“If we continue to grow our built environment, we need to grow the natural environment, treating it as if it’s an essential utility,” said David Shafer. “You add roads; add more beaches, more parks. If you add more sidewalks and hard surfaces, you need to add more stormwater treatment, and not just the kind stored in a concrete vault, a living system that can do those actions so much better.”

Shafer and his wife, Jennifer Shafer, are co-executive directors of the Science and Environment Council, a non-profit that aims to bring together stakeholders and key members of the community to develop plans to address environmental concerns.

The Science and Environment Council will host the EcoSummit on Dec. 5-6 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, an event designed to open conversation surrounding solutions for the balance of nature and human growth.

The Sarasota-Manatee area is the second fastest growing area in the country, according to US Real Estate News. According to the Shafers, growth is stressing “ecosystem services,” such as clean air, clean water, fish and wildlife, recreational water.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

BB pushes for vote on Bridge St. resort

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/11/bb-...dge-st-resort/

Bradenton Beach is pressing forward on a resort proposal for Bridge Street.

A hearing for a 103-room Bridge St. Resort with restaurant and retail space in the commercial district was continued by the Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board from Nov. 1 to Nov. 13 — after press time for The Islander. The P&Z was expected to finalize its recommendation to the commission at the Nov. 13 meeting.

The city commission scheduled its hearing for the resort Nov. 16, during a regular meeting.

But the commission might lack enough members present to vote on an ordinance related to the resort proposal.

One member of the commission with interests in the project can’t vote and another hasn’t attended meetings since January.

New resort gets provisional OK

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/11/new...rovisional-ok/

Bradenton Beach commissioners voted Nov. 16 to advance a Bridge Street resort development that promises to transform the commercial district.

The Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board, on a motion by vice chair John Burns, unanimously recommended Nov. 13 that the city commission approve the major development application along with an ordinance amending the zoning atlas for the 1.61-acre site, provided certain conditions are met. (See list, p. 2.)

The planning and zoning board recommended changes to accommodate the resort, with up to 106 rooms, a restaurant and retail space on Bridge Street and Third Street South at Gulf Drive.

The city commission will hold a second hearing and is expected to take a final vote on the matter at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.

[wondermint2]

Gold, Williams secure second terms in uncontested Town Commission race

Because the Longboat Key Town Commission race is uncontested, no election will take place, and the two commissioners will retain their seats for three more years.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ontested-race/

There won’t be an election for town commissioners this year.

District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold and District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams secured their spots for their second and final terms in an uncontested race.

Had there been opposition, the preliminary election would have been held on Jan. 30, 2024. The general municipal election would have been March 19, 2024.

Town Commission seats have a two-term limit, so both Gold and Williams are entering their last possible terms.

[wondermint2]

New Gulf Islands Ferry sets sail

County leaders say they plan to add more vessels and have the ferry service expand to the Coquina Boat Ramp and Palmetto in 2024.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l10nLV3hqHo

[wondermint2]

Manatee County free microchip program aims to put an end to lost pets, packed shelters

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/manatee-count...115102046.html

Manatee County’s animal shelter is partnering with a local nonprofit to provide free microchips for lost-and-found pets in the Bradenton area.

Animal welfare workers linked up with Lost Pet Services Inc. to offer the service when pet owners are reunited with their lost animals. Chipped animals allow agencies to scan a small tag implanted under the skin and then alert owners that their lost pet has been located.

Lost Pet Services is a volunteer-based organization that also runs a Facebook page, with more than 50,000 followers, to help find lost pets in the Bradenton-Sarasota area.

“It’s a big deal,” Giarrusso said. “We reunite between 200 and 300 pets every month.”

The nonprofit also provides free microchips in similar partnerships with the Humane Society of Manatee County and the Animal Rescue Coalition.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Annexation into Bradenton a consolidation option

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2023/11/13/an...dation-option/

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was told the city of Bradenton will be included in the Anna Maria Island consolidation study being conducted by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).

On Nov. 8, Titsworth had her first study-related virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. Later that day, she contacted The Sun and said OPPAGA Staff Director of Government Operations Emily Leventhal told her the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and will be considered as one of several potential annexation options if the three Island cities and city governments are to be eliminated by the state.

Holmes Beach Commission weighs in on consolidation

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2023/11/20/ho...consolidation/

Holmes Beach city commissioners discussed the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)’s consolidation study on Nov. 14, which lists the city of Bradenton as a possible annexation destination for Holmes Beach, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.

Reading aloud a statement, Commissioner Greg Kerchner said, “When I offered up my last soliloquy, I poured out my concerns over the influence of local developers, about state and county politicians not having our best interests at heart and about the threat of a consolidation being forced down our throats."

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Where’s the best place to see Christmas holiday lights around Bradenton? Here’s a list

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/where-best-pl...105000729.html

When palm trees and sailboats are aglow, you know it’s the holiday season in Southwest Florida.

What the Suncoast lacks in wintry weather, it makes up for in colorful Christmas lights everywhere you go.

Around Bradenton and Sarasota, professional light displays, illuminated gardens and some particularly festive neighborhoods all make for great viewing.

If you’re still not sure where to begin your Christmas sightseeing adventure, let us be your proverbial Rudolph guiding the way.

Here are some top picks for Christmas light sights around Bradenton in 2023, plus a roundup of reader-submitted favorites.

100-plus fun things to do in December near Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and Punta Gorda

For full list:

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...nd-punta-gorda

As we soon leave November and enter December, 2023 has nearly come to a close. Yet before we welcome 2024, we have one more month full of local events, including ways to ring in the new year.

We're already in the thick of Christmas and other winter holiday celebrations, which'll continue throughout the end of December before switching to New Year's Eve festivities, including an annual downtown Sarasota event that offers a Florida-fitting, tropical take on the traditional ball drop. Other annual events returning this month include arguably our biggest music festival, taking place on downtown Bradenton's Riverwalk, and a seafood and music festival on world-famous Siesta Beach. There'll be plenty of the concerts, stage productions and art exhibitions our area hosts year-round, too.

To help keep track of it all, here are more than 100 events set to take place in December in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, listed in roughly chronological order. Event details are subject to change.