Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Selby Gardens awards Sarasota student $15K leadership scholarship

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...p-scholarship/

Zuleima Martinez of Sarasota has won the inaugural Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship, earning a $15,000 award to aid in her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

Martinez graduated May 3 with an associate’s degree from the State College of Florida and a 3.72 GPA. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of South Florida in Tampa this fall, according to a news release from Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

“The Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship, awarded in honor of and in partnership with Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki as the scholarship’s first mentor, is a merit-based scholarship aimed at recognizing and encouraging female students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements and leadership qualities,” the release states.

The program was established to aid development of future leaders and professionals who can contribute in impactful ways to the Sarasota community and its nonprofits.

The scholarship aims to build pathways to female leadership in the business and nonprofit world in Sarasota by providing mentorship, shadowing opportunities and financial support to high-achieving collegiate juniors or seniors pursuing bachelor’s degrees and holding a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

[wondermint2]

Armed motorcyclist flees Sarasota County officials at 100 mph, hides in woods with pistol

https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-c...s-with-pistol/

An armed Venice man riding a motorcycle fled from an attempted traffic stop at speeds over 100 mph before fleeing on foot into the woods, according to the Venice Police Department.

Around 10:45 p.m. Friday night, an officer watched as Liam Golden, 26, of Lehigh Acres, drove recklessly in the area of West Venice Avenue and Nassau Street.

The officer tried to pull Golden over, but he fled southbound on Tamiami Trail, traveling at speeds over 100 mph.

Just moments later, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a motorcycle crash at the intersection of South Tamiami Trail and U.S. 41 Bypass. The caller told officials they saw the driver of the motorcycle fleeing on foot.

K-9 Palmer tracked to a fence and into a wooded area at the back of Bob’s Carpet near Gentian Road and Ginger Road. During the search, officials found a “loaded magazine to a semi-automatic pistol” near a bike.

Golden was found lying down in pepper trees and refused to come out. While being arrested, he was found armed with several weapons and is now facing charges.

[wondermint2]

Alligator stops for a latte at Starbucks drive-thru in North Port (Photos)

For photos:

https://www.nbc-2.com/article/alliga...-port/60691478

'Gator-got-your-coffee?

An alligator was spotted waiting for its morning caffeine fix in the drive-thru of a North Port Starbucks on Saturday.

North Port Fire Rescue received a call to the Starbucks at 1595 Grand Venture Drive, right in front of the fire station.

"We were washing the trucks and doing our morning duties when we heard someone yelling for us at Starbucks," NPFR District Chief Dave Ingalls explained.

He said they saw a five-foot alligator when they arrived.

The North Port Police Department helped to release the alligator unharmed in a nearby pond.

[wondermint2]

FHP: Pedestrian hit, killed trying to cross Sarasota roadway

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/r...rasota-roadway

A pedestrian was hit and killed in Sarasota on Saturday after he tried to cross an area roadway.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, the 40-year-old pedestrian attempted to cross all lanes of State Road 72 (Clark Road) in front of approaching traffic at about 8:54 p.m.

A 24-year-old Sarasota man was driving a sedan westbound on Clark Road, approaching the intersection of Swift Road, when he hit the pedestrian.

After he was struck and lying in the travel lanes, the pedestrian was hit by a second vehicle, an SUV driven by a 34-year-old Sarasota man, the report stated.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sedan driver suffered minor injuries.

The SUV driver was not injured, nor was his 9-year-old passenger.

The crash remains under investigation.

[wondermint2]

Better Living Mini Market and Goodies Gelato to Open in Bradenton

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...n-in-bradenton

Located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Fifth Street West and 44 th Avenue West in Bradenton , Orange Blossom Plaza will soon welcome Better Living Mini Market , a new shop offering home goods, kitchenware, office and back-to-school items, and beverages like beer and wine. And that’s not all: joining Better Living Mini Market, in an attached space, is a new gelato concept, Goodies Gelato.

“We’ll be offering gelato, espresso, and pastries like cookies and muffins,” Tom , who owns the upcoming gelateria and mini-market, told What Now on Friday. “And of course, we’ll also be doing some affogatos.”

The space attached to Better Living Mini Market will feature several tables for guests, along with a lounge area meant for memorable, Instagrammable photo-ops.

The market and the gelato shop are expected to open in tandem, but no opening date as has been announced yet. Launching in the Orange Blossom Plaza , location they will join restaurants like Mr. & Mrs. Crab and Mr. Tequila Authentic Mexican .

[wondermint2]

National Nurses Week shines light on local nurses

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...nes-spotlight/

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people regularly asked James Livingston and other nurses at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center why they would risk their lives.

Livingston would answer with another question, "If I don't do it, who will?"

"It's kind of a job that's not just an occupation," he said. "We live this. That's who we are."

Nurses are celebrated for who they are every year from May 6-12 through National Nurses Week. The week ends on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing.

“It takes someone really special to be able to care and want to make a difference and connect with patients,” said Judy Young, chief nursing officer at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

Nurses clock in and out at the hospital, but the instinct to help never clocks out.

“We're always running into the fire,” said Lyn Swann, a nurse at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

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

*Nursing by the numbers
These numbers are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

- 3,172,500 Registered Nurses are employed in the U.S.
- 207,910 Registered Nurses are employed in Florida
- $86,070 is the median annual wage in the U.S.
- $41.38 is the median hourly wage in the U.S.
- $84,760 is the annual mean wage in Florida
- $40.75 is the hourly mean wage in Florida

[wondermint2]

Movie nights return to CoolToday Park

https://www.newsbreak.com/venice-fl/...cooltoday-park

WELLEN PARK — Sometimes, a baseball stadium hosts different types of entertainment.

CoolToday Park will do just that again this summer, as it hosts its annual “Summer Movie Nights” in June and July.

Along with hosting a variety of concerts and Florida Complex League baseball, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves also has a lineup of movies that it says are fun, affordable and for everyone, according to a news release.

“Enjoy ‘Paw Patrol Mighty Movie’ with little ones, make your Father’s Day celebration extra special with a movie for Dad, ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning,’ and end Shark Week festivities like never before with a screening of the ‘Shallows’ on our 40 foot by 80 foot scoreboard,” the news release stated.

The movies will run on most Sundays during June and July, it noted.

Among the movies:

June 2: “Wonka”June 9: “Paw Patrol Mighty Movie”June 16: “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning”June 23: “Barbie”June 30: “Back to the Future”July 14: “Arthur the King”July 21: “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”July 28: “The Shallows”

The movies begin at 5 p.m.

“Children ages 3 and under will receive free admission, while tickets for ages 4-9 are only $3, and ages 10+ are $7,” it stated. “Tickets are available now at the CoolToday Park box office, online at:

https://cooltodaypark.com/movies, or by calling 941-413-5004.

It noted no outside food, beverages, or chairs are allowed inside. Its Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill will be open, the news release noted.

The Summer Movie Nights are presented by Sharky’s on the Pier, Fins & Snook Haven.

For more information, visit www.cooltodaypark.com or call 941-413-5000.

[wondermint2]

Woodmere Paw Park — an oasis for dogs

https://www.newsbreak.com/venice-fl/...oasis-for-dogs

VENICE — Visitors to the area who bring along dog often exercise their pet at Brohard Paw Park beach.

Unleashing your dog in the water may be a novelty, but not many know there is a hidden gem with shade, walking paths, toys, fresh water and benches at Woodmere Paw Park South.

“Venice’s Woodmere Paw Park was built in 1999 after the first dog park on 17th Street in Sarasota was constructed,” said Dorian Hardy, program coordinator for Sarasota County Parks and Recreation.

It’s located at 3951 Woodmere Park Blvd.

Linda and Bob Hodgkinson, who live in Venice, praise the park.

“During the last hurricane, the park lost many trees, and it took some cleanup but now it looks normal and beautiful again,” Linda Hodgkinson said.

In the large dog exercise area, you’ll sometimes find Brittney O’dea and Joe Grouse, owners of Opal and Bowie, who run around socializing with other pups in the park.

The couple also do some socializing of their own.

“It’s a like a little-known sanctuary in Venice,” O’dea said. “Someone should write a sitcom about visiting here.”

O’dea and Grouse know many of the dogs and their owners who bring their pets for a run each day.

“We were new to the area and didn’t know anyone,” she said. “Through this park, we have made a lot of friends who are also dog owners.”

Nick Smith, of Sarasota, has two dogs, Arlo and Theo, and he drives to Woodmere at least three times a week to exercise his pups.

“I live in an 800-square-foot apartment, and both these dogs have Australian Shephard in them — they love to run,” he said. “Theo is only three months old, and it is impossible to keep him cooped up in an apartment.”

Ed Kight took his dog Bailey to Woodmere Paw Park after someone mentioned it at the dog beach.

“This is really a nice park and after Bailey experienced the park for the first time, he enjoyed it so much that we kept coming back,” Kight said.

Kight has been taking Bailey to Woodmere Park for the past three years after they discovered it’s cooler and a lot shadier than the dog beach.

[wondermint2]

‘There’s no forewarning’: Late soldier honored in Manatee County (Video)

For full article & video:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/34261...manatee-county

Dozens gathered Saturday to dedicate a Gold Star Memorial at the Lakewood Ranch Library.

It pays tribute to Gold Star families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price, like Stefenie Hernandez.

Her son, Army Specialist 4 Patrick Lay II, made that selfless sacrifice.

He was born and raised in Manatee County and was a part of the first graduating class at Braden River High School.

“He felt he was always called to serve, but wasn’t sure if he was ready,” Hernandez described. “Then that call just kept tugging on his heart.”

So Lay enlisted in the US Army in 2009.

“My heart sunk and basically inside, my heart was screaming ‘no,'” she explained.

In March of 2011, Lay was deployed to Afghanistan.

Five months later, Hernandez’s life changed forever.

“There’s no forewarning,” she said. “It’s just a knock on your door with two uniformed officers there.”

Lay and four other soldiers were killed when an IED blast destroyed their vehicle.

It’s heroes like them that were honored Saturday outside of the Lakewood Ranch Library.

[wondermint2]

COLUMN: These local birds prey differently

By CORKY DALTON NATURE COLUMNIST

For full column:

https://www.newsbreak.com/venice-fl/...ey-differently

My bike rides along the Venice Waterway Park Trail and Harbor Drive take me to places where ospreys, anhingas and brown pelicans feed.

Each bird has a unique way of preying in our coastal waters.

Humans are consumers and animals are predators. We have an attitude when defining our eating habits. Predator is a special monicker set aside for the stalking lion, the diving osprey the silent shark.

The human, with an array of weapons, pitting human skills against nature’s big game, is not a predator, but a hunter. A bit of semantics at play.