Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Spring 2024 Forecast For Florida: When Will Temperatures Rise?

Take a peek at what is predicted for Florida.

For full article:

https://patch.com/florida/stpete/spr...peratures-rise

Spring could arrive on schedule in Florida, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s 2024 spring weather forecast. That's good news after a few rounds of cold air that triggered warming shelter alerts and forced residents to bundle up this winter.

Meteorological spring starts March 1, and the spring equinox on March 19 is considered the official first day of the season.

The forecast, released Friday, suggests Florida will see normal weather in March. High temperatures in the Tampa Bay area average 75 degrees at the start of the month to 80 degrees on March 31, according to Weather Spark.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

The Atlantic hurricane season gets underway on June 1, although May storms have become more common in recent years. The almanac's forecast said the strong El Niño that has been in place in recent months should not be a factor by late spring and could switch to a La Niña system by later in the summer. This would lead to the potential for an active season in the Atlantic.

"Our main area of concern will be in the Gulf Coast states, where we’re watching for a hurricane to strike Florida or the Southeast in late August and along the Gulf Coast in early July and early September," the publication said. "There will also be the potential for a tropical storm to hit parts of Texas and the Deep South on a couple of occasions from July to September."

[wondermint2]

From Bradenton to The Bahamas: Descendants, community honor Angola (Video)

An annual festival takes place at Manatee Mineral Springs Park to honor Angola's descendants and its past.

For full article & video:

https://www.wtsp.com/amp/article/new...a-a81658c5610b

Daphney Towns came to Bradenton from The Bahamas in 1992 to train as a missionary, however, she would find another important calling two decades later.

Towns said she had a vision that was calling her, but she wasn't sure what to search for.

“Hidden treasures in the sand,” Towns describes in reference to a scripture.

The treasures would be found at Manatee Mineral Springs Park in 2017, where she said she learned more about the settlement of Angola and its link to Red Bays on Andros Island in The Bahamas.

Oral history about Angola would be passed down through family, Towns said, but that's as far as it got.

"I’m grateful to say that over 200 years later, I’m here to say, ‘Hey, we’re alive.' We were once here,” Towns said.

Angola was a Maroon community of freedom seekers. They were former enslaved Africans and Seminole Indians who settled along the Manatee River, among other locations nearby. While their history is vast, much of the focus is between the years of 1812 and 1821 when historians said they found a haven for freedom.

Historians said the community of Angola was destroyed in 1821 under the direction of General Andrew Jackson when Spain turned over Florida to the U.S. After the violent raids, a number of Angola’s people eventually made their way to Red Bays.

Many of its descendants are still alive today.

Vickie Oldham of Sarasota had heard about Angola before, but the information was limited. Her interest led to more research and excavations confirming the evidence of Angola's past.

Oldham founded the “Looking For Angola” project, which served as the catalyst to uncover Angola. She now serves as president of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition and founder of Newtown Alive.

[wondermint2]

City of Venice to host New Flood Zone Map Open House

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/0...outputType=amp

On February 12, 2024 the City of Venice will host an Open House to release and inform residents about the new city flood zone map from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The open house will be held at the Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S.

Venice residents will be able to speak to City representative and Community Rating System Coordinator, Christina Rimes.

[wondermint2]

Jury Scams on the Rise in Sarasota County

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...arasota-County

Karen E. Rushing, Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, warns the community of a statewide surge in imposters calling residents and accusing them of missing jury duty, and it is occurring with increased frequency in Sarasota County.

Citizens are being informed that there is an outstanding citation and/or warrant out for their arrest due to missing jury duty. The caller presents themselves as a Clerk official, judge or law enforcement officer, and requests that payment be made (often by wire, ‘green dot’ loadable debit cards or other prepaid gift cards) to avoid arrest and incarceration.

Like most scams, jury duty scammers have a few versions, not all of which ask for money outright. In certain circumstances, the jury scam may be used to trick you into providing sensitive information that can be used for identity theft.

There is no such process at the Sarasota Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller’s office. Neither the Clerk and Comptroller, nor law enforcement employees initiate phone calls for missed jury duty. Nor will employees of either agency demand payment by phone or request personal financial information. Moreover, failure to appear for jury duty is not grounds for immediate arrest.

Court-related communications are typically sent through normal mail.

Important tips to remember: Jury summons come in the mail, not by email or phone; If no jury summons was received, then ignore phone calls from anyone claiming to be calling about jury duty; The Clerk and Comptroller’s office will not contact you by phone for failure to appear for jury duty; The Clerk and Comptroller’s office will not phone or email you to request any type of payment for missing jury duty; If someone asks you to pay a fee or fine with a gift card, it is likely a scam; Ignore calls for immediate action because scammers will often try to get you to act before you think by creating a sense of urgency;

Be wary of relying on Caller ID, as many phone numbers can be “spoofed” making a phone call look like it’s coming from a legitimate source; If a caller threatens you, hang up and call 311 immediately; Do not give out financial or other personal information over the phone.

Protecting yourself against phone or email scams is simple: just hang up or do not reply to written communication. Unless you have initiated contact, never give your personal or financial information over the phone. If you receive a court-related call and are unsure about its authenticity, call the Clerk and Comptroller’s Jury Office at (941) 861-8000 for verification. If you feel you’ve been a victim of fraud, call local law enforcement at 311.

[wondermint2]

Venice council to consider need for more police, fire personnel at strategic plan session

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...on/ar-BB1hN1U5

The Venice City Council will conduct its day-long strategic planning meeting Monday at Village on the Isle. Topics include public safety services, a parks agreement with Sarasota County, the Venice Municipal Airport, roads and transportation plans, Seaboard area development and emergency operations.

City officials, especially in pubic safety, are asking for several more employees to offset the impact of growth.

Public comments can be made after lunch.

Betsy Steiner will facilitate the meeting, scheduled to end at 5 p.m. There will be no live transmission of the meeting, though an audio recording should eventually be posted on the city website:

https://www.venicegov.com.

Village on the Isle is at 920 S. Tamiami Trail.

[wondermint2]

Second annual Model Home Showcase Introduces New Wellen Park Neighborhoods, Lifestyles

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...ds--Lifestyles

From lite bites and beverages to live music, caricature artists, photo booths, pickleball demonstrations, gift card raffles and swag bags, Wellen Park homebuilders are ensuring guests have a memorable experience during the 2024 Model Home Showcase Saturday, Feb. 10.

With 34 fully furnished model homes open to the public, the second annual event also highlights Wellen Park’s newest lifestyles and neighborhoods, including the first for active adults 55+, luxury custom homes in the community’s inaugural multi-builder community and a multigenerational enclave with amenities designed for families of all ages.

The annual showcase, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., covers 11 neighborhoods, each offering builder-sponsored activities and self-guided tours of model homes illustrating the latest in architecture, amenities and interior design.

The Wellen Park Model Home Showcase is free and open to the public. To receive access to the 2024 tour book providing full details of all model homes, homebuilders and Wellen Park, guests should register at: wellenpark.com/2ndannualmodelhomeshowcase.com.

For more information, call the Welcome Center at 941-960-7805. In addition to model tours and builder events, Downtown Wellen is hosting live music, games and activities with facepainting and a photo booth from noon to 5 p.m. and a performance by Bradenton blues band Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones on the Solis Hall stage from 1 to 5 p.m. Guests will also enjoy downtown’s variety of dining options, shopping and outdoor recreation.

[wondermint2]

There's been a rash of local pedestrian fatalities recently. Almost one per day it seems.

59-year-old man killed crossing State Road 70 in Bradenton, troopers say

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ay/ar-BB1hM6Mb

A 59-year-old man was hit by a truck and killed while attempting to cross State Road 70 in Manatee County on Saturday night, Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release Sunday.

The crash happened at 7:37 p.m. near S.R. 70's intersection at 15th Street East in the Bradenton area.

Troopers say the man was trying to cross the travel lanes of S.R. 70 on foot when he was hit by a pickup truck traveling west. He died at the scene.

Troopers said the man's city and state of residence were unknown. FHP had not made contact with his next of kin as of Sunday afternoon.

The pickup truck driver, a 37-year-old Bradenton man, was uninjured.
The crash remained under investigation on Sunday, FHP said.

[wondermint2]

Virginia-based poke bowl restaurant opens Sarasota County location

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/venice-fl/...ounty-location

A Virginia poke bowl concept has expanded to Sarasota County, joining the long list of recent restaurant openings, several coming from out of state.

PokeHub is now open at 1693 U.S. 41 Bypass S. in Venice's Jacaranda Plaza, according to an employee who answered the phone. (Attempts to reach an owner for further comment were not immediately successful.) The restaurant's other locations include Fairfax, Reston and Centreville, all in Virginia. It joins such other restaurants in Jacaranda Plaza as Bonefish Grill, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ, Crisp & Green, First Watch, Jersey Mike's, Kendo and Norma Jean's.

The restaurant offers build-your-own versions of poke, the traditional Hawaiian dish of diced raw fish served with seasonings and toppings.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County picks firm to design Legacy Trail connector at Nathan Benderson Park

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33228...benderson-park

Sarasota County agreed this week to pay a design firm to plan a portion of the Legacy Trail connector at Nathan Benderson Park.

The extension would run along 17th Street’s north side to Honore Avenue, then north along Honore’s east side to the park. The 12-foot-wide asphalt trail extension would run about 1.5 miles. The county’s design includes lighting and signals.

At a Jan. 30 meeting, the County Commission finalized an agreement to pay Kimley-Horn and Associates about $440,000 for the trail design. The firm has previously consulted with the county on construction projects at Sarasota’s Boulevard of the Arts and for additions to the 17th Street athletic facilities.

Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Rissler said the aim is for the design to be completed by the end of 2024.

“This connector is going to go from the Legacy Trail and connect to Nathan Benderson Park and ultimately Lakewood Ranch when the overpass" extending Lakewood Ranch Boulevard over Interstate 75 is built, Rissler said. “The Legacy Trail itself is really a railroad corridor that we put a trail on. All these points that connect in, we really call them connectors to the Legacy Trail.”

The estimated cost for the Nathan Benderson connector is about $3.5 million. That number is fluid until the designs are finalized, Rissler said.

“Once we have the design, we will put out for solicitation for a contractor to bid on developing it,” Rissler said, adding that she does not yet know when the entire trail may be completed.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota deputy busts out window to save dog

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/0...outputType=amp

Deputies arrived at the UTC mall parking lot to find a dog overheating in the car, tied to a headrest, panting and trying to stay within the shaded parts of the interior. According to a deputy at the scene, the temperature inside was 90 degrees.

Two witnesses advised that the dog had been trapped inside for at least an hour. The deputy at the scene called their sergeant, who gave the order. The window had to go.

The deputy shattered the glass, and an animal services officer stepped in to treat the dog.

Later, when the family finally came out of the mall and showed up at their car, law enforcement identified and ticketed the owner of the dog, Sabolon Lam-Siles, on one charge of tormenting, depriving, mutilating, or killing an animal.