Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

These 21 restaurants, food trucks get near-perfect health inspections in Bradenton area

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...bradenton-area

The Bradenton Herald regularly reports on local restaurants that don’t pass inspection by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

But readers have frequently asked which restaurants have done well during inspectors’ visits, too, and we agree they deserve a shout-out.

Passing inspection without flaw is no easy feat. Florida bases its inspection standards on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code , which contains many, many possible violations. These Bradenton-area restaurants did more than pass their regular state inspection — they aced it.

These local businesses earned perfect or near-perfect health inspections Dec. 27-Jan. 12.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

New Mosquito Management Services facility in Nokomis breaks ground

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...f2b8927d&ei=34

Sarasota County officially broke ground on a new Mosquito Management Services facility on Friday.

It is located at 16500 Honore Ave., Nokomis.

The new 19,600 square-foot building will include laboratories, an insectary, disease surveillance, aquaculture facilities, workshop spaces, and areas for educational and community outreach. A rendering of the facility is attached. Learn more about the project here:

https://www.scgov.net/home/showpubli...98684561270000

It is expected to open in the spring of 2025.

After malaria outbreak, Sarasota County starts work on $12.7 million mosquito center

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33011...osquito-center

Sometimes, on a particularly humid night outside, it can feel like Florida belongs to the mosquitos, and they just let us borrow it.

However, with last Friday's groundbreaking for a new $12.7 million facility, Sarasota County's Mosquito Management Services hopes a new location and updated infrastructure will help them keep the local population under control.

Wade Brennan, the department's manager, said the new facility's central location will give his team easier access to the community it services.

"We're literally managing the entire mosquito population throughout all of Sarasota County, Brennan said. "Our crews are heading out to wood lots. They're treating ditches. They're also completing service requests."

Rather than focusing on managing the mosquito population as a nuisance, Brennan said his team views it from a public safety standpoint – like preventing the spread of diseases such as Dengue fever. Of the over 80 species of mosquitos that reside in the Sunshine State, Brennan said the county Mosquito Management focuses on the ones that can harm humans.

The facility is equipped to better store biological pesticides used to kill mosquitos. An on-site aquaculture unit will also allow mosquito services to cultivate more mosquitofish – which eat precisely as their name implies.

"Mosquitofish are at a lot of the existing lakes and ponds," Brennan said. "But when we have developments going on, we will double-check and make sure that the fish are there."

Less than six months ago, Brennan was at the forefront of Sarasota County's rare battle against a locally transmitted malaria outbreak, the worst in Florida in two decades, and one that drew national attention. It was declared over last September.

[wondermint2]

Palmetto High launches successful student mentorship program (Video)

For full article & video:

https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/ne...orship-program

Two Manatee County schools have teamed up to start a new mentoring program pairing high school students with elementary students, and administrators say it’s proving to be a success.

“It’s a true team work activity, but the only way it’s going to work is if you work together and if you communicate,” said Susie Ebbesmeyer, Palmetto Elementary’s Assistant Principal, as she explained the activity to students in the mentorship program.

What You Need To Know:

- Mentorship program pairs elementary students with high school students

- Program is geared towards young men in Palmetto High School's leadership program

- Administrators say it’s important to provide younger kids with the visual of where they’re going, so they know they’re capable and have something to work towards

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

New College of Florida faculty vote against college's online program with billionaire

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ne...re/ar-AA1n8U1l

New College of Florida faculty approved a resolution Wednesday afternoon expressing their disapproval of the recently announced online degree program in collaboration with billionaire GOP megadonor Joe Ricketts.

The faculty approved the resolution in an overwhelming 25-1 vote, sources told the Herald-Tribune, citing a lack of consultation from the administration on its decision to launch the program. The vote appears to hold no impact on whether the college launches the program, but formally shows the group's position on the issue.

"The proposed online program at New College did not arise from any vision or strategy to make the College thrive but from a process that lacked transparency, excluded the faculty, and acceded to the conditions of a donation from a self-interested outside party," the resolution read. "And the donated money could be better spent to improve New College's in-person experience."

My own commentary on the news story above...

College is going virtual, so college campuses & tenured professors are becoming obsolete....it's the future.

The Covid scare helped to speed up the process of remote learning.

Of course, faculty will resist this trend, since their jobs are at risk. I'd like to remind them that they work for the State of Florida...the tone of the quote above comes from faculty that needs reminding. The State will decide how best to spend large donations & taxpayers money....not faculty.

Colleges failed to control costs, costs which have outpaced inflation for decades. Thus, steps are being taken to reduce costs, with, or without them.

Kudos to Gov. DeSantis for taking steps today to make a college education in FLA more affordable in the future, & thx to Mr. Ricketts for his kind donation.

[wondermint2]

North Port homeowner set to get new roof 16 months after Hurricane Ian

8 On Your Side Investigator Mahsa Saeidi has the story.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE-E1uRFq_o

[wondermint2]

Rare Florida panther sighting at Duette Preserve


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

A panther was recently spotted on the prowl at a preserve in Manatee County this week.

On Tuesday, the county posted a video on Facebook showing the slow-moving panther making his way into some bushes at Duette Preserve. The post said a Manatee County Ranger named Jerry sent the footage of the male panther.

Male panthers are known to explore a “broader territory,” spanning over 200,00 acres, compared to females, the county said in its post.

According to the county, Duette Preserve, which has over 22,000 acres, has become “a frequent sighting location” for the male panthers as they seek out females and additional resources.

“What a fantastic illustration of the success of Manatee County preserves!” the county wrote.

[wondermint2]

Bay Park Conservancy reaches new fundraising milestone with Patterson Foundation

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...b13d8c33&ei=32

The Bay Park Conservancy, a nonprofit responsible for designing, developing, and operating Sarasota's signature public park on 53 acres of city-owned land along Sarasota Bay, has reached another financial milestone.

Thanks to donors, local businesses and other friends in the community, The Bay has raised another $5 million from private sources, triggering a third $1 million match from The Patterson Foundation’s challenge match. The result is a cumulative Patterson Foundation gift of more than $8 million to date.

“The Bay has been the beneficiary and exemplar of excellent stewardship," said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. "Over the last five years, generous donors have enabled ‘one park for all’ to become a reality.”

The additional match marks the third milestone in The Patterson Foundation’s challenge for the $24 million campaign announced in July 2021, which has generated over $15 million from private philanthropic, community sources, and matches. All funds will be used to operate, maintain and program the first 10 acres of The Bay, which has been visited by more than 300,000 park guests.

[wondermint2]

Manatee County to break ground on ADA-accessible playground

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/01/1...outputType=amp

Manatee County is getting ready to construct a first-of-its-kind-in-the-county ADA-accessible playground at the Tom Bennett Park, located at 280 Kay Road, Bradenton, FL 34208.

A groundbreaking scheduled for Jan. 30 will celebrate the start of this much-anticipated project, in conjunction with the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. Bradenton Kiwanis members presented $784,000 to the County in May 2023 towards the construction costs. They’ve been working with County staff to ensure the design and construction are consistent with the Club’s vision on this legacy project.

“I’m hopeful this playground will bring our whole community together in play, while helping those with disabilities have fun, further their development and experience a true sense of belonging, as well as helping others in this community embrace the values of inclusion,” said City of Bradenton Vice Mayor and Kiwanis Club Board Member Jayne Kocher.

Some of the planned features for the playground include ramp accessibility onto the play structures, slides, climbing nets, a climbing wall, built-in sensory and cognitive activities, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, zip lines with accessibility seats, shade covers and synthetic turf ground.

“This is a project with generational impact,” said Manatee County Commission Chair Mike Rahn. “It is exciting to see a partnership come together like this to build a legacy of play for all.”

The groundbreaking ceremony will be in conjunction with the Bradenton Kiwanis Club’s regular meeting on Jan. 14 and also will include a collection of food trucks.

[wondermint2]

Top 10 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news...od/ar-BB1gW9Jk

January continues to be a busy time for events here in Sarasota-Manatee, including concerts, with multiple Grammy-nominated musicians in town this week. In fact, one such Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter will play back-to-back nights of shows in Sarasota, joined by an artist that NPR proclaimed is "poised to become the next queen of Americana-Folk."

They're among the multiple folk musicians set to visit our area this week, along with numerous blues artists, including a Blues Music Award-nominated act who was recently signed to esteemed blues label Alligator Records. This concert picks installment also includes jazz, rock (both of the regular and yacht variety) and classical — with an act up for a Grammy this year representing the latter genre. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

[wondermint2]

New Parrish nature preserve is the first of many for Manatee County. Here’s a preview

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/parrish-natur...105000129.html

A voter-backed vision to preserve some of Manatee County’s remaining natural spaces is taking shape with plans for a new nature preserve in Parrish.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase of Crooked River Ranch, located south of Old Tampa Road between Interstate 75 and Fort Hamer Road, on Dec. 12 for a price of $11.2 million.

The 68-acre property sprawls along the north side of the Manatee River.

It’s the first land buy at the direction of a local conservation referendum passed in 2020 with majority and bipartisan support.

The program is funded by up to $50 million in bond funds. It generates $6 million to $7 million a year from a 0.15 mill property tax, with a cost of about $45 a year for the average homeowner.

Thanks to voters, many more preserves are on the way, Manatee County natural resources staff say. With guidance from a citizen volunteer group — the Environmental Land Management and Acquisition Committee — the park planners have identified eight other potential conservation sites as priorities.