Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Weekend Sounds: February 9-11

For full article:

https://thebradentontimes.com/storie...ary-9-11,73723

It's another weekend, and you know what that means. If you guessed another great lineup of local, talented musicians in Manatee, Sarasota, and surrounding counties, you would be correct. Check out The Bradenton Times Weekend Sounds to see what bands you can catch at your favorite venues.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County begins distributing HUD money for Hurricane Ian recovery

For full article:

https://www.wusf.org/economy-busines...e-ian-recovery

Sarasota County this week began the process of distributing more than $200 million in federal funds for long-term recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian.

The money is coming to the county through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the form of a disaster recovery block grant. It is designed to address the unmet needs that persist in an area after a hurricane when other funding sources, like FEMA and SBA, have been exhausted.

Sarasota County leaders started a program called Resilient SRQ to administer the $201.5 million.

“HUD is really … the last funding source to come in and help with some of the most vulnerable populations that may not have been able to recover,” Resilient SRQ program manager Laurel Varnell said.

After nearly a year of planning and public input, county leaders launched the first program under Resilient SRQ on Tuesday.

“We are very excited to have our first one off and running and we hope to launch many more,” Varnell said.

The Infrastructure and Public Facilities Program, which is now accepting applications through Mar. 18, earmarks $45 million of the disaster recovery block grant for projects related to unmet infrastructure needs and financial support for local nonprofits.

The county is accepting initial applications from nonprofits and public entities to determine eligibility. Projects eligible for funding should serve low- to moderate-income areas.

Final applications, once submitted, will be scored by the Resilient SRQ team before the Sarasota County Commission makes official funding decisions, according to the program website.

“We heard from a lot of nonprofits … who either had damage directly to their buildings, or nonprofits who saw a need from … before the hurricane that was exacerbated because of the hurricane,” Varnell said.

Varnell said that several other programs under Resilient SRQ are set to launch this year that address the two remaining funding priorities, including housing impacts and economic recovery.

Varnell estimates that programs to address unmet housing needs, like hardening homes and bolstering affordable housing options, will begin rolling out in March.

For more info:

https://www.scgov.net/government/fin...covery-cdbg-dr

[wondermint2]

Top 12 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Englewood

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...nice-englewood

February is among the busiest times of the year for events in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and live music is no exception, with this week featuring a star-studded lineup of performers. Multiple Grammy and Blues Music Award-winning or nominated acts will be in town for concerts — some on Valentine's Day, including a famous musical married couple.

There'll also be plenty of the talented musicians who currently or have formerly called the Sarasota area home, including at a fundraiser concert for a local personality and an inaugural country music festival. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

[wondermint2]

This study said North Port was the 6th most affordable big city in Florida.

The cost of homeownership in Florida’s top cities

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...70b9d17c&ei=20

Florida, often referred to as the Sunshine State, beckons with its warm climate, picturesque beaches, and vibrant communities. However, for many, the dream of homeownership in this paradise comes with a hefty price tag. A recent study by GOBankingRates sheds light on the financial reality of purchasing a home in 50 of Florida’s most populous cities, revealing a wide spectrum of affordability.

The study examined the average monthly mortgage payment, grounded on the average home value with a 10% down payment. Essential living expenses, including groceries, healthcare, utilities, and transportation, were calculated to provide a comprehensive view of the monthly financial commitment. Employing the 50/30/20 budgeting rule — which allocates 50% of income to housing and living expenses — the study meticulously determined the necessary salary to embrace homeownership in each city.

[wondermint2]

Breeze 76 Flyer Trolley service begins

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...e14a2c09&ei=18

From the air, now to the ground, a new way to see the Suncoast launched Friday called the “Breeze 76 Flyer Trolley.” The service takes visitors from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to eight separate hotel stops in downtown Sarasota.

County officials said last year alone, around three million people visited Sarasota, and just over 30% stayed in downtown Sarasota hotels.

On Friday morning, the service started its daily schedule from 7 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. every 30 minutes. Tickets will cost you $1.50 until March, when the price increases to $2.

“The main audience that we are trying to attract for this new service includes both visitors to our community as well as individuals who may live downtown,” said Jane Grogg, the Transit Director for Sarasota County’s Breeze Transit.

[wondermint2]

More Details Released in Criminal Charges Against Former Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes

For full article:

https://thebradentontimes.com/storie...istrator,73826

More information is becoming available concerning criminal felony charges brought against Manatee County’s former administrator Scott Hopes. Hopes was booked at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office almost a year to the day of his unexpected separation from the county last year. On Feb. 8, Hopes, also a former school board member, was processed and released on a $2,500 bond per each of the three third-degree felonies charged—notary fraud, grand theft, and criminal use of public record.

[wondermint2]

I looked on the Freebee web site and the hours of operation for Bradenton are kind of limited.

Free rideshare service comes to Bradenton (Video)

Freebee is funded by the city's community redevelopment agencies

For full article & video:

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/r...s-to-bradenton

Take a drive down Manatee Avenue or U.S. 41 in Bradenton any day of the week and the signs of redevelopment and growth will be all around you. But with that progress also comes the growing pains of heavy traffic and limited parking.

The city's Community Redevelopment Agencies is working on changing that.

"The City of Bradenton is trying to develop itself as a livable, walkable area," Bradenton Vice-Mayor Marianne Barnebey said.

Last month, a new ride-share service, Freebee, launched in Bradenton's urban core. The app-based service, which was started and based in Miami, has expanded to more than 30 cities or business districts mostly across the state of Florida.

Freebee delivers an eco-friendly mode of transportation with it's all electric vehicles, made up of mostly Teslas, as is the case in Bradenton.

“The best feature, of course, is that it’s free," Freebee Regional Manager Chris Walker said.

The easiest way to catch a ride with Freebee is to order through the app. It is recommended that you order your ride 15 or 20 minutes ahead of time, especially as demand for the service grows.

But you can also just flag a Freebee down, and they will happily take you where you need to go.

“So Freebee can give you the same service as Uber or Lyft, except it is provided by a public service," Walker said.

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*From the Freebee web site:

Bradenton - Hours of Operation:

Wednesday: 10am - 8pm
Thursday: 10am - 10pm
Friday - Saturday: 10am - 12am
Sunday: 10am - 8pm
Monday - Tuesday: No Service

[wondermint2]

Ex-Manatee official accused 2 commissioners of Sunshine violation. Prosecutors disagree

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ex...ee/ar-BB1i3TqD

Two Manatee County commissioners accused of discussing official business outside of a public meeting will avoid charges after an investigation into the complaint, prosecutors announced Friday afternoon.

Former Acting County Administrator Lee Washington filed a whistleblower complaint in June that accused Commissioner Mike Rahn and former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh of violating Florida law during a March 2023 lunch conversation. The State Attorney's Office said it could not find enough evidence to file charges against either commissioner.

In November, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office found probable cause to determine that Rahn and Baugh had broken the law, but in a memo released Friday, the State Attorney's Office said it conducted an investigation but declined to prosecute the case, citing "insufficient evidence."

[wondermint2]

This was posted online about 11 hours ago.

Firefighters on the scene of Sarasota County brush fire at Oscar Scherer park

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fi...rk/ar-BB1i3BBm

Sarasota Emergency Services are working to put out a brush fire at Oscar Scherer State Park after losing control of a prescribed fire on Friday.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deployed its aviation unit to assist with efforts, the department announced. Officials said that Honore Ave to Legacy Trail and Bay Street from Honore were also closed and recommended caution for those in the area.

Multiple units – including the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department, Sarasota County Fire, and the Florida Forestry Service units – are also on the scene.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota manufacturer moves Ohio facility to local headquarters campus

For full article:

https://www.businessobserverfl.com/n...arters-campus/

Sarasota-based engineered motion control and hydraulic cartridge valve manufacturer Helios Technologies recently moved a facility from Ohio to Florida.

The publicly traded company, which develops, makes, markets and sells customized electronic control systems and hydraulic cartridge valves, says it moved a “quick release coupling order fulfillment” center in Maumee, Ohio, to a building on its Sarasota campus. The facility is for Helios’ Faster North America’s products, the company says in a statement; Helios acquired the Faster Group, a global manufacturer of quick-release hydraulic coupling solutions based in Milan, in February 2018 for $531 million.

A Helios Technologies spokeswoman says there were about 30 employees in the Ohio location impacted by the move. Those employees impacted were offered the opportunity to relocate to Sarasota or Indiana. "We have had a number of employees take advantage of relocation offers and it has been a great way to develop our talent internally, growing their individual skills and knowledge across our businesses," the spokeswoman wrote in a Friday afternoon email to the Business Observer regarding a question about the jobs impacted.