Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

City of Sarasota makes plans to remove Shade Avenue Circle

For full article:

https://www.wtsp.com/amp/article/new...1-fa71644c6279

Sarasota city officials want to hear from people who live in the Shade Avenue corridor near the Legacy Trail.

The city has launched an online survey to crowd-source suggestions on what to do about the traffic circle at a small intersection along that road.

Many neighbors said it is a problem area and drivers are not paying attention to the signs alerting them about the circle.

"If anybody knows about that circle, it's me," Dawn Buchroeder said.

Buchroeder has lived in the neighborhood near Shade Avenue and Novus Street for more than 30 years.

"It used to be a four-way and there were so many accidents...that's why they put the circle in," she said.

However, she says the circle hasn't solved the traffic safety problem at the intersection.

Buchroeder said despite several signs urging drivers to slow down, yield, or look out for pedestrians and cyclists, many drivers are often speeding through. Additionally, with the perimeter of the circle worn out and blended into the road, the circle is not very visible which can become a complication for drivers especially with longer service vehicles to navigate.

To learn more about the survey:

https://www.sarasotafl.gov/Home/Comp...s/News/3497/16

[wondermint2]

Studies examine SR 64 widening, White Eagle speed limits

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-speed-limits/

With so many projects already in the works or planned for State Road 64, Manatee County and the Florida Department of Transportation continue to look ahead.

A $1.2 million Project Development and Environment study to widen the 7.75-mile segment of S.R. 64 between Lorraine Road and Verna Bethany Road from two lanes to four was added to the county’s list of legislative priorities at the commission meeting on Jan. 9.

Traffic Management Deputy Director Clarke Davis told commissioners that while S.R. 64 isn’t there yet, it won’t be long before the road needs capacity improvements.

The request was also added to the list of Metropolitan Planning Organization priorities because regional support helps secure state and federal funding.

“This is an area of the county that’s growing rapidly,” Davis said. “The state seems supportive. It recognizes the emerging need there.”

A PD&E study is the first step before design, right-of-way acquisition and construction. The request is for a study only. Design and construction of the project are not on either priority list yet.

Another item on the commissioners' agenda was requests from residents to evaluate the speed limits on White Eagle Boulevard between State Road 64 and State Road 70. An engineering study was completed, but residents hoping to slow drivers down are out of luck.

[wondermint2]

Myakka bird count shows park's avian habitat importance

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...at-importance/

On Dec. 18, 2023, 50 participants gathered for the annual Myakka River Bird Count. The count took place in a 15-mile-wide circle, within which all birds seen or heard were tallied.

Despite winds so strong they created white caps on the Lower Myakka Lake, a total of 14,386 individual birds were counted. And an impressive 124 species were identified, including a new record: a single house finch.

The National Audubon Christmas Bird Count, now in its 124th year, is one of the longest running citizen science events in the world. It was first held in 1900 as an alternative to traditional Christmas “side hunts,” where teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds.

Conservationists, recognizing these hunts were devastating bird populations, proposed an alternative — counting, rather than shooting, the birds.

From CBC records, scientists can draw insights about the abundance of species and how their ranges are shifting year to year and decade to decade. As 3 billion birds — 1 in 4 breeding birds — have disappeared from the U.S. and Canada in the last 50 years, such insights can inform critical conservation action required to protect birds and the habitats they need to survive.

[wondermint2]

Severe weather nationwide causing flight delays

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

Severe weather nationwide is causing significant delays at airports around the country, including right here in the Suncoast.

Locally we are seeing delays and cancellations for both arrivals and departures at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

It is always a good idea to check your flight status before heading out to the airport. You can do that below:

https://flysrq.com/flight-information

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

City of Sarasota makes plans to remove Shade Avenue Circle

For full article:

https://www.wtsp.com/amp/article/new...1-fa71644c6279

Sarasota city officials want to hear from people who live in the Shade Avenue corridor near the Legacy Trail.

The city has launched an online survey to crowd-source suggestions on what to do about the traffic circle at a small intersection along that road.

Many neighbors said it is a problem area and drivers are not paying attention to the signs alerting them about the circle.

"If anybody knows about that circle, it's me," Dawn Buchroeder said.

Buchroeder has lived in the neighborhood near Shade Avenue and Novus Street for more than 30 years.

"It used to be a four-way and there were so many accidents...that's why they put the circle in," she said.

However, she says the circle hasn't solved the traffic safety problem at the intersection.

Buchroeder said despite several signs urging drivers to slow down, yield, or look out for pedestrians and cyclists, many drivers are often speeding through. Additionally, with the perimeter of the circle worn out and blended into the road, the circle is not very visible which can become a complication for drivers especially with longer service vehicles to navigate.

To learn more about the survey:

https://www.sarasotafl.gov/Home/Comp...s/News/3497/16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWU9P5w0Ijk

[wondermint2]

'It will make us thrive': New Palmetto convention hotel set to open this spring (Video)

For full article & video:

https://news.yahoo.com/us-thrive-pal...212453505.html

PALMETTO, Fla. - Eight stories high and providing a breathtaking view of the Manatee River, with 252 rooms, The Marriott Palmetto Resort and Spa is nearing completion.

"This is where we will connect directly to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, their meeting space and ballroom," said Tony DeRusso the managing director.

A 48-million dollar renovation and expansion of the Bradenton Area Convention Center is underway. Combined with the hotel, Manatee County’s Tourism Director Elliot Falcione said it’s bound to have a positive impact on the area.

[wondermint2]

Applications for SHIP housing rehab/replacement program for special needs households open

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...e2775690&ei=44

Manatee County low and very low-income Special Needs Homeowners can now apply for financial help for housing rehabilitation and replacement assistance from the Manatee County Community & Veterans Services Department.

Special Needs households are defined as having a member of the household with developmental disabilities, disabling condition, receives SSD/SSDI or other disability benefits. The program emphasis is on home modifications, including technological enhancements and devices, which will allow homeowners to remain independent in their own homes and maintain their homeownership.

From Jan. 16 through Feb. 2, low and very low-income Special Needs Manatee County residents can submit entry forms through the Housing Rehabilitation/Replacement Program. The program provides 0% interest-deferred payment, 30-year loans to make code-related repairs to single-family homes or replace dilapidated single-family housing structures. Through this program, housing conditions can be corrected and modified to improve the health, safety and welfare for the people who live there.

Program entry forms are available on the Manatee County’s Rehabilitation/Replacement Program Webpage here:

https://www.mymanatee.org/department...repair_program

Those who need help completing and submitting an online entry form can call 941-749-3029.

On Feb. 9, County staff will use a lottery-style drawing to determine which applications to review first. Funding will be awarded to households who meet the eligibility requirements until all funds have been committed.

To be eligible, Special Needs households must be located in unincorporated Manatee County or City of Palmetto and be within the program standards for very low/low income and property value. Read eligibility requirements on the Rehab/Replacement Program Webpage here:

https://www.mymanatee.org/department...ty_development

[wondermint2]

Rancher says Manatee County faces key conservation decisions

Myakka's Jim Strickland says Florida is headed toward ecological disaster if the public doesn't deal with important issues now.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ion-decisions/

[wondermint2]

Athletic academy plans expansion into all-encompassing sports complex

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ports-complex/

UMR Sports complex in East Bradenton has six pickleball courts, four sand volleyball courts and a baseball and softball training facility.

Once approved by the county, UMR Sports will expand to include a five-plex of 12-U baseball and softball field for all ages, an adult baseball field, a multipurpose field for football, soccer and lacrosse. There also will be a mini golf area and a covered pickleball barn.

Moore hopes UMR Sorts will be an all-encompassing park complex that will bring people of all ages together to participate in multiple sports through its expansion.

Another aspect of the expansion will be apartments. Moore said some of the approximately 200 units will be reserved for teams to stay and play while the rest will be leased for Manatee County residents. The apartments, which will be called The Vibe at UMR, will have the same colors as UMR Sports, which is blue, yellow and orange.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota/Manatee restauraunt inspections for the week of Jan. 7-13

See which restaurants failed (along with violations) - and which restaurants passed inspection.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...nt/ar-AA1n72uv

Our digital database of restaurant health inspections is updated regularly with the latest information on which Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice area restaurants passed or failed.

You can use the database to search by Sarasota or Manatee County or by restaurant name. You can see which restaurants were fined and which were forced into temporary closure.

*Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as “a ‘snapshot’ of conditions present at the time of the inspection." On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment.

Each week we share the area restaurants that aced their inspections, while also rounding up those that racked up violations.

Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.