Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Scott Hopes enters plea at arraignment

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/04/0...t-arraignment/

Former Manatee County Commissioner Scott Hopes was arraigned Friday morning where he entered a written plea of not guilty. He was not in court.

Hopes is accused of submitting incorrect timecards in 2021 and 2022, resulting in the county overpaying him thousands of dollars. Judge Steven White was previously overseeing Hopes’ case.

White recused himself in February. Judge Frederick Mercrurio has now taken over the case.

[wondermint2]

Law enforcement torch run (Video)

For video:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/04/0...ent-torch-run/

Officers from more than 300-florida agencies will be stopping by the Suncoast this weekend... all for the law enforcement torch run, which benefits athletes apart of special Olympics Florida. Each year, over 5-thousand officers carry the torch on a 15-hundred-mile relay through 67-counties in the state.

The torch will arrive in Manatee County on Saturday and residents of all ages are invited to participate in a 5-K race along the downtown Bradenton riverwalk.

Those interested can register ahead of time or at the race. And the kids dash will kick off at 8 am Saturday, and the Manatee County 5-k will get underway shortly after at 8:25 am.

[wondermint2]

Do you love Bradenton? What would you change? The Friendly City wants your feedback

https://www.yahoo.com/news/love-brad...095000774.html

A new public survey is seeking feedback on growth, development and the city of Bradenton’s future.

The 12-question survey asks what residents and visitors love about Bradenton and what they think needs to change. The questions ask about redevelopment, homelessness, crime and other hot-button issues.

Some of the questions include why residents choose to live in their neighborhood, where you like to shop and eat and what improvements you want to see in the city.

“We want to understand how YOU use the city day-to-day,” Bradenton posted on its website. “Please provide input about what you like about the city, what you dislike about the city, and what you would like to see in the future.”

The city plans to use the feedback to see if it should make changes to its comprehensive plan, which plots a roadmap for the city’s future growth, said planning and community development director Robin Singer.

“We’re all willing to listen and then we have to make decisions,” Mayor Gene Brown said.

Bradenton survey seeks public feedback

The survey does not ask for your name, but those who participate will be asked to provide their age range, email address and whether they live or work in Bradenton.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the survey has received over 300 responses., said city spokesperson Tiffany Shadik. The survey is set to close Wednesday, April 17.

To take the survey, visit: http://www.CityofBradenton.com/survey.

Manatee County Government has a similar survey to receive feedback from people who live or work in the area. Those results will also be used to help government leaders “better serve their constituents,” county officials previously told the Bradenton Herald.

The Manatee County survey is here:

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/e...69f2ce78ae92c8

[wondermint2]

Health Department in Sarasota County encouraging residents to complete first Community Health Well-being Survey since 2019

Online portal open through May 15

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/healt...ey-since-2019/

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) is inviting residents to complete its Community Health Well-being Survey.

The survey has been designed to collect data from Sarasota County residents on nutrition, physical activity, access to care, and mental health, a news release explains.

The survey is available online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X6SDWMZ
It is open through May 15.

This survey is only for Sarasota County residents who are 18 years of age or older, the release points out. “All survey responses are anonymous and no identifying information is collected,” the release adds. “The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.”

“You have the power to help shape our community’s well-being,” said Chuck Henry, DOH-Sarasota health officer, in the release. “Sharing your health concerns builds awareness and leads to positive health outcomes,” he added

Data gathered from the Community Health Well-being Survey will help DOH-Sarasota staff “better understand the needs of the community and will be used to develop a community health improvement plan, addressing the issues residents are most concerned about,” the release notes.

The Sarasota County Community Health Well-being Survey results will be shared with members of the community on the DOH-Sarasota website, the release says.

The most recent Sarasota County Community Health Well-being Survey was performed in 2019.

Anyone with questions about the Sarasota County Community Health Assessment may contact Stephanie Seiffert at 941-861-2779 or Stephanie.Seiffert@flhealth.gov.

[wondermint2]

MULTIPLE DOWNTOWNS? Why it could happen in North Port

City leaders are considering it; supporters say the designations would boost the local economy and save taxpayers money.

For full article:

https://www.fox4now.com/north-port-e...-in-north-port

A downtown in any city can contribute to job growth, a sense of identity, and so much more.

North Port is growing quickly. It even has its own committed professional journalist from Fox 4 (that's me, Victoria Scott, your North Port Community Correspondent!)

And I got some insight Thursday into how more than one downtown could be coming to North Port. City leaders say they want to create environments that serve as a central hub for residents.

North Port Director of Development Services Alaina Ray said Toledo Blade and Price Boulevards in addition to Toledo Blade and I-75 are a couple of possibilities.

Ray said the land is available, and since it's visible from the highway, it could help draw more people into North Port.

Downtown areas could also help alleviate traffic and provide more money from businesses that set up shop.

"People who are able to get their needs met further east, would not have to drive on Price," Ray said. "We also capture that tax revenue that we don't get now. For every business that develops here and builds here, we get tax revenue from those property taxes and different revenue streams that we don't get when those businesses are in Sarasota, or Venice, or Port Charlotte."

City officials said they're working hard behind the scenes to bring new businesses to the area. They told me they hoped to share some more information soon.

[wondermint2]

Letters to the Editor - Siesta Key Beach isn't a hotel room - guests must help keep it clean, too

For full column:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/sies...120117762.html

Guests must help clean Siesta Beach

I recently spent two weeks on Siesta Key. To me it was paradise.

I stayed on Crescent Beach and took daily hikes up and down the entire waterfront, from the Point of Rocks to the Sunset Pier and into the village.

At daybreak each morning, I would pick up trash at my end of the beach, sometimes making several trips to properly dispose of trash left behind, including soiled diapers, beer cans and plastic.

On my daily walks, I often filled my pockets and had my hands full of discarded material (waste) left behind.

It is a beautiful key because of its ecological environment. We are guests and should respect that.

Steve Stasyna, Sarnia, Ontario Canada

[wondermint2]

Debut Sarasota County Anna Maria Oyster Bar looks to hire personnel

Anna Maria Oyster Bar opens its North Port location in April 2024.

For full article:

https://www.businessobserverfl.com/n...ire-personnel/

Oysters Rock Hospitality is looking to hire people for a variety of positions at a new Anna Maria Oyster Bar scheduled to open this spring in North Port, south Sarasota County.

This is the first AMOB to open in Sarasota County, joining its five sister locations in Manatee County: Landside at 6906 14th Street W., Bradenton; Cortez at 6696 Cortez Road, Bradenton; Ellenton, at 1525 51st Ave. E., Ellenton; Pier on the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach; and UTC at 5405 University Parkway, Bradenton.

The North Port location is at 14132 Tamiami Trail.

[wondermint2]

Cousin of Israeli hostage to speak at 'Bring Them Home' event in Sarasota at Temple Emanu-El

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...el/ar-BB1l7TL9

Leat Corinne Unger, a cousin of Omer Shem Tov – one of the estimated 134 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza – will share his story in Sarasota during a “Bring Them Home” event on April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El (151 McIntosh Road).

The free event is supported by several local Jewish organizations, including American Jewish Committee, Aviva Senior Living, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, Jewish Congregation of Venice, Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, JFCS of the Suncoast, Jewish National Fund, Temple Beth Israel, Temple Emanu-El, and The Harvest Sarasota.

[wondermint2]

18-year-old pulled trigger despite gun safety warning, killing teen, Manatee sheriff says

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ys/ar-BB1l6hlQ

As a group of teenagers hung out in a Bradenton backyard, one of them warned Carter Layne not to point a gun at others, according to an arrest report.

Moments later, the 18-year-old fired the weapon at one of those teenagers, striking him in the chest and killing him, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said.

According to investigators, the shooting happened at a house in the 5900 block of Eighth Avenue Drive West on March 8 around 7 p.m. Layne is facing a manslaughter charge after deputies say he inappropriately handled a firearm he "knew or should have known was loaded with ammunition."

[wondermint2]

Photo - Alligator ends up in kitchen

For full article & photo:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33922...-up-in-kitchen

WELLEN PARK — What many social media users assumed was an April Fools’ prank was a nightmarish experience for an area resident.

Mary Hollenback, who lives in the Grand Palm community, called 911 on March 28 after an 8-foot alligator broke through a retractable screen attached to her front door.

Hollenback was watching television while looking through old photos when she heard a growing commotion outside.

“I figured someone was just in the wrong place,” Hollenback said.

She assumed the sounds of scratching against the door was a person who did not know how to operate the screen door.

That confusion turned to fear when she came around the corner and was face to face with “Bubba,” a neighborhood nickname for a gator of a nearby pond.

In all of 30 seconds, Hollenback said, the scaly trespasser managed to make it through the curved front porch, busted through the retractable screen door and entered the foyer when Hollenback got up to approach the noise.

“The turns he had to make to get into the house, I don’t know how he got there,” Hollenback said, pointing out her curved front walkway has turns too narrow for a large animal to squeeze through.

“He was not a small guy,” she said.

Officially, he was measured at 7 feet, 11 inches.

After locking eyes with Hollenback, Bubba started making its way into one of her bedrooms after gaining his footing on her hardwood floors.