Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Fire causes shutdown of the El Jobean Fishing Pier

For full article & photos:

https://winknews.com/2024/05/29/el-j...r-closes-fire/

Multiple fire crews responded to a fire at the El Jobean Fishing Pier, causing the complete closure of the fishing spot until repairs were made.

According to Charlotte County Public Safety, fishermen reported the fire after witnessing smoke from the bottom of the pier at around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday.

A Charlotte County fire station across the pier responded to the fire, detailing that fire was seen burning the railings on the left side of the El Jobean Fishing Pier.

Anglers forced to find new favorite fishing hole after fire at El Jobean Pier (Video)

For video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4oarMniNrc

Anglers who frequent the El Jobean Fishing Pier will have to find a new spot to drop a line in the water for the time being, after a fire caused the pier to close.

According to Charlotte County Fire and EMS, the fire started on Tuesday night around 7, and was difficult to put out because the pier was burning from underneath its planks.

Smoke from the fire briefly shut down El Jobean bridge while it burned approximately 100 feet of the pier.

Fire investigators said it will be difficult to determine the exact cause of the fire but “high probability" the fire started due to the careless handling of a cigarette butt.

Fox 4’s Charlotte County Community Correspondent Alex Orenczuk went to the parking lot of the pier early Wednesday morning to speak with anglers about having to find a new favorite fishing spot.

For full article:

https://www.fox4now.com/port-charlot...r%20to%20close.

[wondermint2]

Pets for Patriots Program


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0QX2lHmFEw

Pets for Patriots: The Dude Abides

[wondermint2]

Opinion - New College's ceremony was a joyful event. But then juvenile 'rebels' took away the joy.

New College graduation disruption proves need to scrap leftist past

Opinion piece by Robert Allen Jr., a 1978 graduate and former board trustee of New College of Florida, an international lawyer and serves as chairman of the Palm Beach Freedom Institute.

For full article:

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/...g/73897884007/

As one professor put it to me: “Education should result in people being able to listen deeply and take turns in conversation. That we have students engaging in such juvenile behavior is not a good sign for how they've been educated in our culture and at New College.”

Last year’s graduating students made a fiasco of the commencement exercise, shouting down the speaker and justifying their immaturity as a protest against an illusory “right-wing takeover” of New College.

This year, sadly, the deficient work of some of the faculty in teaching students about life outside the ivory tower –and, in particular, the destructive leadership of the faculty chair and her acolytes representing the last vestiges of the left-wing activism that had long poisoned New College – was still evident.

[wondermint2]

Opinion - New College of Florida's students are being treated like political pawns. Again.

This guest column was jointly authored by New College of Florida faculty members Katherine Walstrom, Amy Reid, Sonia Labrador-Rodriguez, Sarah Hernandez, David Gillman and Amy Clore.

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/care...BingNewsSearch

Campuses across the country have been roiled by protests in recent months, which have led to disruptions at graduations and even the cancellation of some ceremonies. Yet the New College campus has been markedly quiet up to – and including – the May 17 commencement.

Here's why: The NCF administration has been successful in squashing free speech on campus, driving away 27% of last year’s otherwise continuing students and punishing student leaders. In addition, the administration has encouraged an exodus of educators; upward of 30% of the NCF faculty had left by last summer. Sadly, another cohort of talented students and dedicated faculty are leaving at the end of this academic year.

Were there some students who heckled the speaker?

Yes.

However, it was scattered and short-lived; there was nothing that was coordinated and nothing that threatened violence. Frankly, the voices of the adults who responded by shouting down the students were louder and more profane.

Still, the New College administration seems intent on scapegoating a handful of our students; it is alleging that their behavior disrupted graduation and it is threatening punishments before any disciplinary review.

This is especially concerning because, in fact, the problems resulted from the administration’s following choices:

- Imposing an unpopular commencement speaker on the graduating class.
- Hiring an inexperienced audio-visual firm.
- Failing to simply ask the speaker to pause his speech – and the audience to remain patient – while the technical issues were resolved.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County beach bar named one of best in Florida by Southern Living

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tri...931de8a5&ei=28

A popular waterfront restaurant in Sarasota County has been named among the best beach bars in Florida.

Southern Living, the lifestyle magazine that debuted in 1966, recently published an article titled "The 12 Best Beach Bars in Florida for Sun, Surf, and Stiff Drinks." The Sunshine State is represented from the Panhandle to the Keys.

The list includes two favorites from the Tampa Bay area: Jimmy B’s Beach Bar on St. Pete Beach, which was featured in our USA TODAY Network's list of best beach bars in 2021, as well as Salt Shack on the Bay in Tampa, which was recognized on The New York Times' list of best restaurants in 2023.

For Sarasota and Manatee counties, Southern Living chose the celebrated Venice dining and drinking destination, Sharky’s on the Pier.

[wondermint2]

New rule coming for joining Citizens Insurance (Video)

For video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooZGk1CO1r0

A new rule will soon make it just a little more difficult for homeowners to get a policy with Citizens Insurance.

Starting on July 1, insurance agents will need three appointments instead of just one, in order to help customers move to the state insurer of last resort.

"It's a company that you contract with to be able to secure policies for your clients," said Gregory Buck of National Risk Experts in Palm Beach Gardens.

The new law is just the latest tool to try and keep Citizens policy numbers down, as Citizens now stands at 1.18 million polices.

"We as agents like the concept of keeping as many people out of Citizens, because we think it's better for the community in the long run," Buck said.

Citizens is also continuing take out offers into the summer, moving Citizens policies into private insurance and lowering their risk exposure.

https://www.wptv.com/money/real-esta...zens-insurance

[wondermint2]

Republicans Van Ostenbridge, Kruse set to face off in major Manatee County primary race

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ca83cf67&ei=28

District 3 Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge announced a change of heart and will run for the At-Large Commissioner's seat currently held by incumbent Republican candidate George Kruse during the August primary.

The decision has also had a chain reaction. Manatee County Republican Executive Committee Chair April Culbreath, who was challenging Kruse for the at-large seat, told the Herald-Tribune that she now intends to run for the District 3 seat currently held by Van Ostenbridge.

Flush with cash, Van Ostenbridge made the announcement Friday afternoon. He has raised more than $214,000 for his re-election run and spent less than $10,000. He will take on Kruse, who has raised just over $37,000, during the upcoming Republican primary.

"Manatee County Republicans deserve a truly conservative representative who believes in the free market; who will never apologize to liberals; and who will protect and defend every God-given Constitutional right," Van Ostenbridge said in a statement. "I can continue to represent west Bradenton, and at the same time restore the promise of conservative representation to the county as a whole."

Kruse told the Herald-Tribune he expected the change, and called it the county's "worst kept secret."

"I called this out in October," Kruse said. "Kevin can't win in District 3. Everyone knew that. He had to get out of that race. They've been trying to find someplace else where there is enough uninformed voters, so it had to be a county-wide race."

[wondermint2]

Manatee County expecting growth in coming years

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...ca83cf67&ei=34

Change is in the air all throughout the Suncoast, and one of the places seeing lots of new development is the Heritage Harbor Plaza in Bradenton.

The shopping center is located just east of I-75 off of State Road 64.

The developers are expecting a population increase of 11 percent in the area over the next five years.

And while some are worried about the congestion this plaza could cause, other long-time residents are excited to see what’s in store.

New concept plans show 10 new restaurants on the way, accompanied by luxury apartments and large retailers like Academy Sports and Outdoors.

[wondermint2]

Scott, Rubio vow to block Biden nominees, legislation after Trump conviction

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ca83cf67&ei=37

Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, both Republicans, signed on to a letter with six others vowing to block all of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees and any Democratic legislation after former President Donald Trump was convicted Thursday of 34 felonies.

“We are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart,” the letter reads, which was posted by Sen. Mike Lee and shared by Scott.

“Statements of outrage are no longer enough,” Rubio said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Republicans who signed the letter suggest that the White House was responsible for Trump’s conviction, despite the charges being brought and tried at the state level.

The senators also added that they will not allow any “non-security related” funding to pass.

[wondermint2]

DeSantis signs bill to limit HOA fines, increase transparency

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...ca83cf67&ei=50

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday evening announced he signed a bill that would limit some homeowners association fines and increase transparency.

The Florida legislature passed the bill, HB 1203, unanimously in March.

The bill states that HOAs can’t fine residents for leaving out a trash can within 24 hours before or after the collection day or time, or for leaving holiday decorations up for longer than indicated in governing documents unless the decorations are left up more than one week after a written notice is issued.

HOAs can’t ban residents from parking personal vehicles, “including a pickup truck,” or work vehicles — that aren’t commercial vehicles — on the property. It also amends part of the law pertaining to parking law enforcement vehicles on the property to include any assigned first responder vehicle.

The associations would not be allowed to set requirements or rules for the inside of a home for things that are not visible from the outside or from a neighboring home.

HOAs with more than 100 parcels would have to post online any articles of incorporation, recorded bylaws, declaration of covenants, current rules, annual budgets, and other documents by Jan. 1, 2025.

The law goes into effect July 1.