Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Sarasota business owner sent to prison for real estate fraud

For full article:

https://archive.is/iWO1C

A Sarasota construction firm owner, in what officials call a case of unbridled greed, faces prison time after orchestrating a complicated scheme to use homeless people to commit multiple counts of real estate fraud going back at least four years and spanning at least four states.

Jose “Jay” Manuel Santiago, 43, owner of Santiago & Sons Construction at 4030 Sawyer Court in Sarasota, pleaded guilty to multiple federal fraud charges earlier this year.

That fraud case — prosecuted in Virginia and involving homes in that state as well as in Tampa and Sarasota — came to a culmination May 3, when Santiago was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Santiago was also ordered to pay $553,028.33 in restitution. Santiago pleaded guilty to mail, wire and bank fraud in federal court in Virginia in February for the scheme that involved selling houses that did not belong to him, court documents show.

[wondermint2]

Landmark Sarasota restaurant Hob Nob Drive In rumored to be closing

For full article:

https://archive.is/Qstbr

At noon on Tuesday, Hob Nob Drive In was packed.

People were lined up outside the restaurant’s open walls, waiting to order a burger, or maybe a beer, and watch the traffic on U.S. 301 flow in and out of downtown Sarasota.

But today there was a sense of urgency.

The rumors, on Facebook and Reddit, had started a day earlier — The Hob Nob, a mixture of kitsch and the common man since 1957 — was closing.

Elizabeth Henson was standing in line with her daughter, Danielle Winkler.

“My first reaction was ‘No!” Henson said, adding she had been a patron of the Hob Nob for 30 years.

“All of my children and grandchildren have come here,” she said. “My grandson from Tampa was devastated,’ when he heard the news. No more root beer shakes.”

But whether the drive-in is closing or even when it may close, remains a mystery, at least to customers. When a patron at a table asked a woman they identified as the general manager if they were closing, she only replied, “I’m not sure,” and smiled.

Calls to one of the owners, Cary Spicuzza, went unanswered.

[wondermint2]

Two Tara Elementary teachers join coast-to-coast Florida running team

For full article & photos:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-running-team/

When Holmes Beach was in sight, Vanessa Sloman and Katelyn Fulghum had one final burst of adrenalin.

After taking turns with seven other team members running 162 miles across the state from Fort Pierce to Holmes Beach in 37 hours, their journey almost was over.

With only a few miles to go, Sloman and Fulghum, and their teammates, had a police escort to the beach. As they approached their finish, traffic stopped to let them through, with the drivers all wondering what was so special to deserve such treatment.

Their friends and family cleared a route on the beach to give them a direct path to the water.

“It was like slow motion for me as we were all running down the road,” Sloman said.

Sloman and Fulghum, who are third grade teachers at Tara Elementary School, kept running across the beach, and then into the water.

“It was the most refreshing water I’ve ever felt in my life,” Fulghum said with a laugh.

The two have been running partners on and off for the past decade. They’ve run 10Ks, 5Ks, marathons and a 50K.

Fulghum said they were looking for a new way to push themselves mentally and physically. Cue the idea to run across the state from coast to coast.

[wondermint2]

Opinion - Red tide and you is a great place to START

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...t-place-start/

If you are not familiar with the local nonprofit Solutions to Avoid Red Tide, you should be. It is doing yeoman’s work to reduce the scourge of red tide in our community.

I’ve seen its public presentations a couple times and spoken with its staff. It has a terrific presentation called Red Tide and You (hence my title for this column) that gives the average Gulf Coast resident a much more basic understanding of what is Red Tide; why it happens; and what our community and we as individuals can do about it.

If you belong to a local organization that needs speakers, you should reach out to get a speaker from START to give this presentation (www.Start1.org).

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Sheriff presents heroic achievement and life savings awards

For full article & photo:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/05/1...avings-awards/

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards at a ceremony on Monday.

“Unselfish dedication to service is exemplified in the work of each of these deputies,” said Sheriff Hoffman. “Extensive training has prepared them for quick and precise action that makes it possible for them to save lives in our community.”

[wondermint2]

Behold the Most Expensive Residential Sale in Sarasota County (Photo Gallery)

Listed for just under $34 million last year, this Harbor Acres waterfront home sold for $20 million—cash.

For full article & photos:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/hom...lion-home-sale

The priciest Sarasota County residential sale ever—the Taylor Swift, the Beyonce, the G.O.A.T. of local real estate—has officially been recorded.

A single-family home at 1233 Hillview Drive in Sarasota’s ritzy Harbor Acres neighborhood sold for $20 million in March. Million-dollar sales have only ever reached the teens prior to this one—the county’s previous top sale fetched $17.5 million in 2022.

Oh, and by the way, this was a cash deal.

And yes, a $20 million sale is eye-popping for this area. However, it’s actually a great deal considering how much the home was originally listed for. We wrote about it last year when it hit the market as the most expensive residential listing in Sarasota County, with an almost $34 million asking price. With that perspective, a nearly 41 percent price drop is a big win for a buyer. (It’s similar to when a Casey Key home ultimately sold for $12 million as opposed to its $20 million asking price.)

[wondermint2]

Top residential real estate sales for April 29 to May 3 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...tate-longboat/

A condominium in The Beach Residences tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Carmine and Shari Cacciavillani, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 1001 condominium at 1300 Benjamin Franklin Drive to Fun Fish LLC for $5.7 million. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 4,194 square feet of living area. It sold for $5.5 million in 2022.

[wondermint2]

Opinion - Zoning: Killer of creativity

Truth is, zoning has created a disaster in the U.S. — unaffordable housing and high-rise columbariums.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...of-creativity/

Look at the view on Tamiami Trail looking south in the photo. With few exceptions, that’s everything. The same standardized, gigantic concrete oversized columbarians — with external touches here and there. Architects try to design those features to create something consumers will buy, and, equally important, that the neighborhood NIMBYs and central planning commissars will approve.

This look is everywhere. And you know what? It’s contrary to what used to be the American way. Americans used to embrace creativity and, dare we use this disgustingly overused word — “diversity.”

Look at the variety and creativity in the way people dress — all kinds of kinds and styles. Look at the variety in automobile brands and styles. The variety in foods and restaurant cuisine. Look at the different designs of single-family homes, inside and out. On one block, you can have a midcentury Frank Lloyd Wright gem next to a Mediterranean Revival palace, each painted different colors.

But no matter what in Florida, when anyone proposes to construct a multistory building, the NIMBYs come out from under the rugs, and the planning commissioners pull out their 2,000-page zoning codes.

“We can’t have that!” the chorus goes. “It will destroy the ambience of our beloved street.”

[wondermint2]

Photos: First Look at TWELVE ANGRY MEN: A NEW MUSICAL at Asolo Repertory Theatre

Now on stage through June 9th, 2024.

For full article & photos:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/saraso...eatre-20240514

Peter Rothstein, Asolo’s Producing Artistic Director, directs this powerful new musical, with a book by David Simpatico and music and lyrics by Michael Holland, based on the play by Reginald Rose. Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical runs May 11 through June 9, 2024, with previews May 8 – 10, in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. 

Some books, plays or movies seem more naturally suited to being turned into musicals than others. Who ever thought a musical about a vengeful barber (“Sweeney Todd”) would become such an enduring hit?

Perhaps such a positive outcome awaits “Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical,” which seems as unlikely a musical prospect as many others out there. The story of 12 men often angrily deliberating the fate of a young man accused of killing his father doesn’t seem to scream for musical numbers.

I’m not quite sure why those men are now singing, but they’re doing it in an engaging and entertaining way that is often surprising and impactful, even though they don’t convey the raw power of the original drama.

‘Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical’

Music and lyrics by Michael Holland, book by David Simpatico. Directed by Peter Rothstein. Reviewed May 10. Through June 9, Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $35-$98. 941-351-8000; https://asolorep.org

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*Another article with more info. & photos:

The jurors sing and swing in new Asolo Rep musical ‘Twelve Angry Men’

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news...d=BingNewsSerp

[wondermint2]

Commissioners Approve $2.9 Million toward Potential Future Parking Garages

For full article:

https://thebradentontimes.com/storie...-garages,88053

On Tuesday, Manatee County Commissioners approved a budget amendment that designated $2.925 million toward preliminary design services for three proposed parking garages, including the controversial Manatee Beach parking garage.

The measure appeared on Tuesday’s BOCC meeting agenda as part of a broader budget amendment resolution. The resolution was placed on the consent agenda. Budget resolutions appear on most regular meeting consent agendas as they are common financial “housekeeping” measures.