Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Something Is Blooming on the Suncoast, and It's Not Pretty

If it’s not red tide, what’s that awful smell? The answer is dapis pleousa, another type of algae.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUnSa9HNpH4

Have you noticed big, brown globs of muck floating in our local waters recently? Well, there’s a name for it: it’s a bloom of Dapis pleousa algae, caused by warm temperatures and an increased amount of nutrients in our watershed. The blooms pose a threat to marine life, coastal ecosystems and humans alike. Not only does Dapis algae emit a sewage-like stench as it starts to decompose, but exposure to the bloom can cause skin problems, respiratory trouble, itchy eyes, throat irritation and other ailments. (Sound familiar?)

Dapis starts to grow near the bottom of the bay, attaching to seagrass and other structures before floating to the surface. The bloom has begun to dominate certain seagrass ecosystems and is noted as a potential cause for the loss of seagrass in the Tampa Bay area.

The local environmental protection group Suncoast Waterkeeper has been tracking the pervasive bloom over the past five years. According to its observations, Dapis, along with red tide, has increased in intensity over that time due to an influx of nutrient pollution. Previously known as Lyngbya, Dapis, like all algae blooms, needs a handful of ingredients to grow: sunlight, heat and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and iron.

Those nutrients enter our waterways at abnormal levels mostly because of human behavior. In its May newsletter, Suncoast Waterkeeper states that “rapid coastal development, boating and groundwater are likely sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron contributing to the bloom.”

For full article & photo:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/new...algae-sarasota

[wondermint2]

Veteran suicide prevention group wants to educate you to spot warning signs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBtp_KE9sSM

May is Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. However, bringing about that kind of awareness happens daily by the team at The Fire Watch.

The veteran-run non-profit is working with businesses and organizations across the state, training everyday workers to spot warning signs of suicide, specifically among our Florida veterans.

On Wednesday, government workers with Manatee County went through the training, learning about S.A.V.E.:

(S) Spot the signs of someone contemplating suicide
(A) Ask if they're contemplating suicide
(V) Validate the veteran's experience
(E) Encourage treatment

For full article:

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/na...8-bf0ad4d86811

[wondermint2]

Slim Chickens, known for its fried tenders, plans another Manatee County restaurant

For full article & photos:

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...nty-restaurant

Arkansas-based Slim Chickens, which opened its first Manatee County restaurant last year, has plans for a second in the Bradenton area.

Florida’s Best Chicken, LLC recently filed paperwork with Manatee County Development Services for the eatery. Planned is a 4,252-square-foot restaurant with double drive-thrus on a 1.13-acre parcel at 8427 Moccasin Wallow Road, Parrish.

The Parrish restaurant would be similar in size and design to the one in Lakewood Ranch in the Braden River Shopping Center , 14529 State Road 70 E.

The planned restaurant would be located west of Bayshore Community Church and south of the Del Webb Bayview community.

[wondermint2]

Chiles Hospitality Awards Nine Employees with Student Scholarships Through Manatee Community Foundation

For full article:

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...ity-Foundation

Chiles Hospitality has awarded scholarships to nine eligible employees from Sandbar Seafood & Spirits and Beach House Waterfront Restaurant through its scholarship fund with Manatee Community Foundation.

Established by Ed Chiles in 2010, the fund provides scholarships for qualified individuals who are employees or children of employees of Chiles Hospitality in support of their pursuit of higher education at accredited institutions.

Chiles Hospitality owns and operates three waterfront restaurants, a scratch-artisan bakery and an organic-certified farm in Manatee County. The Chiles Hospitality Scholarship Fund has awarded over 70 scholarships since its inception. Manatee Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee reviews the applications and selects the recipients based on their grades, volunteer service and leadership ability.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

City of Sarasota orders New College of Florida to stop removing trees from Uplands Preserve

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/news/city-sar...C%20she%20said.

New College of Florida’s construction at the Uplands Bayfront Preserve is in limbo as the City of Sarasota ordered them to halt the removal of trees in an effort to turn the land into athletics facilities.

The city posted a stop order at New College’s Uplands property early Saturday morning — which the college initially did not comply with, city spokesperson Jan Thornburg said Tuesday. Attorneys for both New College and the City of Sarasota plan to meet to discuss interpretations of legislation that dictate who has authority over tree removal on the property, she said.

Locals outraged on New College Construction


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s8M17BCvaE

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

New College of Florida set to punish student protesters following boos at commencement

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ne...82d2d11a&ei=34

New College of Florida is moving forward with disciplinary action against some students who participated in protests at the college’s commencement ceremony on May 17, according to a statement from the college and documents obtained by the Herald-Tribune.

In a statement, New College said it had filed five conduct violation complaints related to the school’s student code of conduct. A copy of a letter sent to a New College graduate and obtained by the Herald-Tribune states that a student protester had “(Failed) to Respond to Instruction” in reference to disruptive conduct.

New College President Richard Corcoran said in a statement that students could face consequences ranging from withholding degrees until they issue an apology letter or take mandatory classes on civil discourse to suspension or expulsion from New College. Rescinding an issued-diploma in higher education is rare — typically reserved for instances of plagiarism or cheating.

New College grads may lose degrees for behavior during commencement ceremonies


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fknG8mz6vU

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Hot and dry with a better chance for weekend showers

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/05/3...outputType=amp

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Slightly drier air has moved in and allowed the high temperatures in the afternoon to climb to the low to mid 90s near the coast and some mid to upper 90s inland. At the coast the onshore winds will increase the moisture content of the air in the afternoon and bring some high “feels like” temperatures near 102.

Rain fall remains scarce, with only a few well inland showers to be found. The rainfall we do get will be on the light side. Things may change a bit on Friday as a cold front approaches and increases our chance for a thunderstorm or two and rain showers. This will be in the later afternoon and early evening.

These afternoon rain chances will continue into the weekend as moisture increases. Even if the rain chances are better, they will still remain low. The summer rainy season has not kicked in just yet.

Bay Area extremely dry! What about rainy season? Berardelli Bonus


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMoVE7yc1Ys

[wondermint2]

Man charged for abandoning yacht in Charlotte Harbor


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikw3K7rY4So

A Charlotte County man is facing criminal charges for abandoning his boat in the Charlotte Harbor. Tim Torrento owned the 59-foot-yacht 'Game.'

[wondermint2]

Bradenton Man Accused Of Shooting Manatee Deputy Booked Into Jail


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9JmFw9Ic8g

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office released video of Sean Francis Calcutti being released from a local hospital and arriving at the Manatee County Jail. Calcutti is being charged with several offenses including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer after crashing his car into an assisted living facility on May 24, 2024.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Opinion - Let's end the myths, confusion on proposed SRQ-New College land deal

Opinion piece by Rick Piccolo - the CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...bd83d427&ei=53

Various media reports have covered the proposed land swap and sale agreement between the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority (SMAA) and New College of Florida. Some, including the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, have provided fair and accurate accounts of this issue; others, however, have not.

The issue involves the sale of 30-plus acres of property presently leased by New College from the airport known as the Pei Campus, located immediately southwest of General Spaatz Boulevard. This was part of the former military training base that was deeded by the federal government to the local community in 1947.

During the early 1960s, with the airport already in existence, a group of community leaders started a local college and hence the beginning of more than 100 acres of various classrooms, dormitories, student support and recreational facilities – with the majority of it located west of US 41 and owned by New College.

In 1957, nearly a year before the Federal Aviation Administration was created, a 99-year lease with the airport for a shopping center on 20 acres east of US 41 was created. This lease was assumed by New College in 1964 and an additional 13-plus acres were added in 1966 with the same expiration date of 2056. The added 13-acre lease has a consumer price index rent increase every five years as required by FAA regulation after its creation (and which did not apply to the pre-FAA, 20-acre lease).

The agreement has positives and negatives for each party.

Opinion - FAA was right to reject proposed SRQ-New College land deal

Opinion piece by John Schussler the former director of properties at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/news/faa-reje...-related%20use.

I was repeatedly mentioned in a May 27 guest column written by Rick Piccolo, the CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, and I offer this as a response to his piece.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rejected the sale of airport land to New College of Florida in early April. The FAA clearly wasn't convinced that the airport would be better off getting $11.5 million by selling the land, instead of keeping it for future airport terminal-related use.

In his column, Rick correctly stated that I handled the airport's land sale to New College in 2007; however, that 3-acre site was not nearly as close to the airport terminal as the 33 acres that the airport authority now wants to sell.

In addition, the airport’s situation in 2007 was much different than it is today. From 1990 to 2018, the airport's annual passenger traffic was flat at about 1.5 million passengers; today, it draws an estimated 4.3 million annual passengers.

So I question Rick’s position that because the FAA allowed 3 acres to be sold in 2007, it must allow 33 acres that are much closer to the airport's terminal to be sold in 2024. Indeed, I believe selling that land would put future airport needs at risk.

The expansion of New College was announced by the state in 2023, but the school doesn't own enough land to expand upon. That is not the airport authority’s problem, but political interests are trying to make it one anyway. This is evident when you study the land sales agreement and see how much it favors New College.