Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Florida ranks toward the bottom of healthiest states study


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMk3bIuk5k8

High percentages in lack of exercise, social isolation and obesity were contributing factors to the ranking.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Florida’s major power company prepares for this year’s hurricanes by dealing with a fake one

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/to...542fade1&ei=50

Under blue skies, officials at Florida’s largest power company dealt Thursday with the aftermath of a major hurricane that slammed into Miami and Fort Lauderdale — or a pretend one, anyway.

Florida Power & Light is conducting its annual mock hurricane drill this week, simulating how it would respond if a hurricane struck the state and devastated the power grid. Hurricane Benito, with 135 mph (215 kph) winds, did not really hit on Wednesday, but it was imagined to be even stronger than real hurricanes Idalia and Ian, which seriously damaged portions of the state over the past two years.

Ian was one of the worst disasters ever to strike Florida, killing 150 people as it hit the Gulf Coast near Fort Myers in 2022, leaving millions without power. If Benito were a real storm, it likely would cause worse damage, as its imaginary path took it over the state’s most-populated area.

FPL’s territory covers almost Florida’s entire Atlantic Coast, much of its Gulf Coast south of Tampa and the far western Panhandle, where about 12 million people, or 55% of the population, reside.

“Every day we don’t have a storm is a day we are preparing for one,” said Ed DeVarona, FPL’s vice president of power delivery.

In Thursday’s drill, a computer simulated power outages. Crews working at FPL’s emergency operations center had to assess the fake damage and dispatch imaginary crews to make repairs.

FPL officials said making assessments has gotten easier over the past decade. Instead of relying on customers to report outages and then sending crews to drive through the area to pinpoint the damage, sensors now tell FPL immediately where there are blackouts and locate the cause. Drones are used to examine lines. These improvements lessen the time crews spend on each repair, meaning they can get more done in a day.

Also, more lines are underground and most above-ground wires are anchored by metal or concrete poles, not wood. That means fewer major repairs are needed.

“I can honestly say that each of these tools … make it easier for line workers like myself,” said Mike Ochoa, a senior line specialist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NALLO0UH4VI

[wondermint2]

Second Neighborhood Workshop on proposal for 170-home community next to Celery Fields planned for May 14

Application for D.R. Horton proposal remains under formal county review

For full article & graphic:

https://archive.ph/r6uUg

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, representatives of the Arlington, Texas-based construction company D.R. Horton will host a second workshop on a proposal for a 170-home community next to the Celery Fields in Sarasota County, a county Planning Division calendar shows.

The site, known as the Smith Properties, is situated along Raymond Road, south of Palmer Boulevard and north of Porter Road. Although the property comprises six parcels of agricultural land, encompassing approximately 49 acres, project team members have explained that only about 30 acres would be available for construction, given the need for a stormwater pond/lake to comply with county regulations.

The first required Neighborhood Workshop was conducted almost exactly a year ago, on May 23, 2023. Like that one, the May 14 session will be held via Zoom. To register for it, visit this link:

https://www.scgov.net/Home/Component...ar/Event/24988

As of the afternoon of May 8, county Planning records showed that the application submitted to staff in August 2023 remains under formal review. If a land-use proposal has not reached the public hearing stage within a year, county regulations require the applicant to conduct a second workshop. In fact, the application for the May 14 event says, “This second Neighborhood Workshop is being held due to the passage of time since the first.”

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

‘Thank you for loving your students.’ Manatee County teacher marks 50 years in classroom

For full article & photos:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/34343...s-in-classroom

After teaching for 50 years, Linda Carnes is still reminded of the lifelong impact she’s had on children in Manatee County.

Past students from decades ago still reach out to the English teacher with heartfelt messages. During Teacher Appreciation Week , which is celebrated during the first week of May, thank you cards from students sat on her desk.

“Middle school was not an easy time for me, but your classroom always felt safe and welcoming,” Carnes said, reading from a card she recently received from a student she taught in 1990. “I remember you greeting us as we came in and your kind voice. Thank you for loving your students past and present.”

Carnes, a ninth-grade teacher at Palmetto High School, has devoted her life to children. She is the longest-serving active teacher in the School District of Manatee County , a district spokesman said.

“I stayed in the classroom because I felt that’s where I was needed the most,” Carnes said in an interview with the Bradenton Herald. “...I like the idea of me staying back in the classroom with them and seeing them every day. It keeps me young now that I’ve gotten up in age. It makes me look forward to coming to school to be with my ninth graders.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLD3WFmOFk4

[wondermint2]

May 23 meeting planned to seek public comments on latest design proposals for 10th Street/Boulevard of Arts Complete Streets project

Session to be held in SRQ Media Studio in City Hall annex

For full article & graphic:

https://archive.ph/nA0Mb

At 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, City of Sarasota staff will host a public meeting in the SRQ Media Studio to seek public comments about the latest proposed designs of the 10th Street/Boulevard of the Arts Complete Streets project, staff has announced.

The studio is located in the City Hall Annex, which stands at 1565 St. in downtown Sarasota.

A city news release reminds the public that, last fall, during two open houses and through a number of surveys, city staff asked for the public’s thoughts on the initial conceptual designs. “That feedback has been incorporated into a proposed design that will be available for review” on May 23, the release adds.

The project team would like public comments about the designs at this stage, the release notes.

The project webpage may be found at this link:

www.Sarasotafl.gov/10thandBOTAcompletestreets.

A March 24 city document available on that webpage explains,

“The project will enhance approximately 1.25 miles of roadway by providing wider sidewalks, protected bicycle lanes, enhanced landscaping, and other infrastructure improvements within the City of Sarasota. The project will modify critical intersections throughout corridors that encompass neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved. This project links the residential communities of Central Cocoanut, Gillespie Park, Downtown, Rosemary District, the Quay, and other underserved neighborhoods to recreational trail paths, employment centers, parks, essential services, schools, public amenities,” and The Bay, a 53-acre waterfront park located on Sarasota Bay.

The document notes that the project has been planned to include “approximately 0.54 miles of new protected bicycle lanes and sidewalk widening along 10th Street, 0.8 miles of shared-use markings and sidewalk widening on Boulevard of the Arts,” a roundabout at the intersection of 10th Street and North Orange Avenue, and a raised intersection at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Boulevard of the Arts.”

Further, the document points out, “The 10th Street Complete Street project will incorporate variable cross-sections that replace excess vehicle capacity with enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities, shade/canopy trees, low-impact stormwater development, and pedestrian lighting.”

[wondermint2]

Florida insurer hit with $1 million fine for actions after Hurricane Ian

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mark...d=BingNewsSerp

Florida regulators issued a $1 million fine against one of the state’s largest homeowners insurance companies on Thursday over how it treated policyholders after Hurricane Ian.

Tampa-based Heritage Insurance was slow to respond to claims, slow to pay claims, used improperly licensed adjusters and kept poor records, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation found.

The company, which has nearly 150,000 policies in Florida, has agreed to pay the fine.

Regulators’ findings confirm what many Floridians say they experienced after Ian struck Southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm in September 2022.

Taking a random sample of a few hundred of the company’s Ian claims, examiners found numerous violations of state laws:

•In 21.6% of the cases, Heritage didn’t pay or deny claims within 90 days.

•In 30.3% of the cases, Heritage did not acknowledge it had received communication about a claim from the policyholder within 14 days.

•In 42.9% of the cases, Heritage did not ensure that its adjusters provided policyholders with the adjusters’ name and license number.

•In 4% of the cases, Heritage used adjusters that were not properly licensed.

In all, regulators found the company violated nine different state insurance codes. Heritage also violated one of its internal policies, failing 57.4% of the time to initiate voice-to-voice contact with the policyholder within one business day of receiving a claim, regulators found.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Social Diary visits Selby Gardens for its annual Orchid Ball and The Ringling’s “The Greatest Show on Earth” (Photo Gallery)

For full article & photo gallery:

https://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/s...show-on-earth/

With newcomers flooding in to Sarasota, it has been a particularly hectic social season. But two of the town’s most popular destinations: Selby Gardens and The Ringling hosted memorable events of their own.

One of the prettiest parties is The Orchid Ball at Selby Gardens which is in the midst of a major expansion. On a smaller scale this year The Ringling hosted a dinner to celebrate the opening of its new gallery to showcase “The Greatest Show on Earth” or how the Feld family bought and took over the circus from the Ringlings in 1967. Visitors are already flocking to both shows.

[wondermint2]

It's risky to own a mobile home if you don't own the land that it sits on.

Rent for mobile home lots in Florida keeps increasing. Will new law help?

New legislation in Florida allows tenants to go to mediation


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFC1lq0hqJE

What was once a more affordable way of living is now in jeopardy.

Some mobile homeowners in Central Florida told News 6 that the amount they pay to rent their lots is increasing so much that it’s pricing them out of their homes and preventing them from selling them, too.

Since the pandemic, it seems the price of everything has increased, including what it costs to live in a mobile home in Florida.

The state legislature recently passed a measure that is supposed to give mobile homeowners more rights, but is it enough?

Debbie Powell says she has been trying to sell her home in The Falls at Ormond Beach Mobile Home Park for over two years, but there have been no takers.

She says the $1,100 per month in lot rent is the problem, along with the increases that are still coming.

“The person who goes to buy my house will be paying a minimum of $1,300,” Powell said. “So as soon as you talk about that with the potential buyer, they don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Dawn Augsbury says her lot rent has increased $500 in three years and is now nearly $1,500 a month.

“I would be homeless if it wasn’t for my best friend,” Augsbury said. “My friend of 30 years, she pays my rent, she pays for my food, if I can’t.”

About 400,000 Floridians live in mobile homes across the state and there are about 3,500 mobile home parks.

In some, you own the house and the land but in others, you lease the land.

For full article:

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/lo...-new-law-help/

[wondermint2]

Comcast’s New $30 a Month Internet Without Data Caps Is Now Available Nationwide

For full article:

https://cordcuttersnews.com/comcasts...ionwide/?amp=1

This month, Comcast announced Now Internet, a new service that comes with unlimited data and an Xfinity gateway, starting at $30. This new Internet option gives cord cutters new options for Internet service without a data cap. Now Comcast says that this new prepaid internet service is available nationwide in all Comcast markets.

Now Internet starts at $30 a month for 100 Mbps, which is enough for three 4K streams and the ability to surf the web. There is also a $40 a month option for 200 Mbps down, which is enough speed for six 4K streams and the ability to surf the web. There is also NOW Mobile with unlimited 5G, talk, and text for $25 a line.

“NOW is a simple, reliable, and low-cost way for people to get Internet and Mobile service on their own terms.” said Bill Connors, President of Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast. “Our trials have shown that there is a need for a better prepaid product that provides a more consistent and reliable connection and we’re excited to bring fresh new options to this market.”

The service seems clearly targeted at the growth of 5G home Internet services as its marketing even directly compares Comcast Now to 5G home Internet.

Is there a contract with Comcast Now Internet?

Comcast Now Internet is a prepaid Internet service, allowing you to cancel at any time and there are no credit checks.

[wondermint2]

Faith Leaders Call Out Manatee County Sheriffs Office


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wSuiVQ2pxg