Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Nik Wallenda and Circus Arts Conservatory Extend Run of A Brave New Wonderland

For full article:

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...New-Wonderland

When hometown hero and international superstar Nik Wallenda and the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) announced their intention to bring an extraordinary holiday circus spectacle to the UTC area, the hope was that the community would respond.

Their holiday wish has been granted: due to popular demand, the run of the show has been extended through January 7, 2024. Previously scheduled for 45 performances from November 18 through December 31, an additional seven opportunities to see “A Brave New Wonderland” have been added in the New Year.

The additional shows will take place Wednesday through Sunday, January 3-7, at 2 p.m., with evening shows on Wednesday, January 3 and Saturday, January 6 at 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $30-$75. Performances take place at the Holiday-Themed Big Top in the East District at UTC (195 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota). To view the “Wonderland” performance schedule and/or to purchase tickets, visit wonderlandcircus.com.

Sarasota daredevil brings mom out of retirement for performance for 71st birthday (Video)

For full article & video:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/saras...h-birthday.amp

A wire cable that comes 35 feet off the ground is where Delilah Wallenda shines.

"When I’m up on the wire it’s thrilling, it’s exciting," she said. "I want to please the crowd. It’s my passion. It’s something I’ve done my whole life."

In October 2019, Delilah performed a wire walk with her son, daredevil Nik Wallenda, at Tampa's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. It technically marked Deliliah’s retirement.

"When I’m not doing it, I feel like something is missing," she told FOX 13.

Despite back and hand surgery along with a hip replacement, Delilah kept practicing, and Nik recognized her longing to perform once again.

"As I thought about it, my mom’s passion is performing," said Nik.

With Delilah’s 71st birthday and Christmas just weeks apart, Nik asked his mom a question which would be greater than any gift received.

"I thought it might be real cool to offer her an opportunity to perform, not knowing what the outcome would be," he said.

Without hesitation, Delilah said yes.

She will join her son and other family members under the big top for two performances of a "Brave New Wonderland" on Thursday, December 28. The show is a collaboration between Nik and the Circus Arts Conservatory.

"It’s home. I’m home when I’m up on the wire," Delilah said.

[wondermint2]

I'm a fan of professional wrestling. I think most of the performers are athletic and good actors. Some of the storylines are so corny that it's amusing. It's a rough life being a professional wrestler - and sadly for whatever reason many die at a younger age than they should.

Universal Championship Wrestling bringing entertainment to families throughout the Suncoast

For full article:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/12/2...outputType=amp

When it comes to the genre of sports entertainment that is pro wrestling, it’s split down the middle in terms of popularity and those who aren’t fans. However, despite all of that there is a pro wrestling company based right here on the Suncoast -- Universal Championship Wrestling.

The promotion is based out of Manatee County and has only been in business since 2021. Two of the owners, Heather Davidoff and Jeff Crean, tell ABC7 they’re proud of the growth they’ve seen in terms of fan participation.

“Our crowd has just grown immensely over the last two years that we’ve been in business,” Davidoff said.

“UCW is built on the idea that first and foremost, we want to entertain people,” Crean said. “We want to bring families together.”

Crean is also one of the wrestlers. He performs under the ring name Johnny Walker. Although the storylines of what he and his comrades in the ring do are scripted, what they put their bodies through in and out of the ring is not.

“The guys do get injured,” Davidoff said. “The ring really is steel, and wood and little bit of padding on top. No matter what you think wrestling is, it is a real sport with 200 plus pound grown men throwing each other onto steel and wood beams. There are injuries that happen.”

UCW is a smaller wrestling company, but both Crean and Davidoff have big dreams for expansion.

UCW’s next big show is in January at the Manatee County Fair.

[wondermint2]

Remembering Tommy Smothers: Comedy duo made Suncoast View appearance (Video)

For video:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/12/2...outputType=amp

Tommy Smothers who, along with his brother Dick, formed a groundbreaking comedy duo that made people laugh for six decades, died Tuesday at age 86.

His family confirmed the death via a statement. Tommy’s brother and partner Dick, is a resident of Sarasota. The two appeared on Suncoast View in 2018 for a segment. You can watch both parts below:

[wondermint2]

Road Rage & guns don't mix.

North Port man arrested for firing gun into moving truck (Video)

For video:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/12/2...-moving-truck/

Mason Bernhard, 23, of North Port was arrested after firing a gun into a moving truck.

The road rage incident occurred on Price Blvd, near the intersection of Citizens Pkwy and W Price Blvd on Friday.

According to the report, Bernhard became angry about being ‘brake checked.’ He then aimed his firearm out the window at the victim’s truck and fired a single round into the rear of the victim’s tailgate.

The victim told police he heard the gunshot but didn’t realize his truck was struck until pulling over and noticing the bullet hole in the top right portion of his rear tailgate. The victim was uninjured.

North Port Police located Bernhard a few hours after the incident, despite his attempt to change the appearance of his car by removing stickers and taking off the lights. He also hid evidence, including the firearm and two magazines.

Bernhard told police he immediately regretted shooting at the victim.

NPPD located the hidden evidence and transported Bernhard to the Sarasota County Jail without incident. He is facing four felony charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

Just last summer, Mason Bernhard was honored for helping save a missing person in North Port.

[wondermint2]

See Sarasota's 2023 in photos

For full article & photos:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...s-2023-photos/

Here at the Observer, we like to get in the holiday spirit by doing the heavy lifting for our readers, sorting and organizing our favorite photos from the past year in the hopes that you might spend a few minutes with us pausing and reflecting on where we’ve been and of course consider where we might be headed.

[wondermint2]

Bradenton Solid Waste Division Announces Christmas Tree Collection Schedule for January 2024

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...r-january-2024

The Bradenton Solid Waste division will begin Christmas tree collection from the week of January 1, 2024. Residents should place their trees curbside on yard waste day.

Artificial trees are not recyclable and should be placed in green garbage cans. Despite the city's administrative offices being closed on Monday, January 1, 2024, the collection schedule for that week's Thursday and Friday remains unchanged.

For more information on waste collection schedules, contact the Solid Waste division at 941-708-6340.

[wondermint2]

‘Something just didn’t feel right’: Woman narrowly avoids losing everything in scam attempt (Video)

For video:

https://www.snntv.com/story/50263147...n-scam-attempt

A woman narrowly avoided falling victim to a scheme that could have cost her everything.

“Something didn’t jive with me,” Jeanne Teel said.

Teel shared her cautionary tale this holiday season.

“It was a lot of money,” Teel said. “He wanted me to transfer that money they had accidentally put in my account back to their account.”

Teel worked with the Achieva Credit Union in Bradenton. She said a person claimed to be a part of the organization that she has been a part of since 1970.

Looking back, she said his knowledge about her and the credit union was alarming.

“He knew stuff, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe he’s legitimate,’” Teel said. “But then, something just didn’t feel right.”

That is when she decided to hang up and call the credit union herself, using the main phone number. They quickly caught on to what was happening and shut down her account.

“If it wasn’t for that, God knows where I’d be today,” Teel said.

She said it took 10 days before she could access her funds again. Teel said the man on the phone knew all the right things to say, but there were some red flags.

“He kept wanting me to do this and that with my account number, to give him this information, that information, and I needed to call him back in like 15 minutes,” Teel said. “And if that didn’t happen, I was toast.”

While Teel was targeted this time, it could have happened to anyone. So, it does not hurt to follow some tips to help keep potential scammers at bay.

“Make sure you’re talking to the actual company, not the invoice phone number they are providing,” Vice President of Risk Management at Achieva Credit Union Jeff Trunzo said. “In many cases, they are scammers, and they will do whatever they can to take that person’s money.”

He said to watch for pressure tactics that push you to act without thinking.

Teel said she is grateful for people like Trunzo at the credit union who took the time to save her money from falling into the wrong hands.

Trunzo added that her case was one of many.

“We’ve stopped a lot this past year,” Trunzo said. “Close to $2 million in losses.”

While he said there were a lot of scam attempts all year long, he said they do see a spike during the holiday season.

[wondermint2]

This is an opinion piece from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Proposed change opens huge loophole for bars in downtown Sarasota

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...75b73154&ei=13

I would like to dispel some of the confusion and misstatements about the proposed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) for restaurants, bars and nightclubs currently in front of the Sarasota City Commission.

Some of these misstatements appeared in a guest column that recently ran on the Herald-Tribune's Opinion page.

First, the proposed Zoning Text Amendment would eliminate the traditional 500-foot separation between bars and churches – and other houses of worship – in the downtown neighborhoods.

The proposal's sponsors have said that the few requests for variances have been granted by the houses of worship, so why do we need such a rule?

The reason is because we don't know what will come down the pike.

Many in this community don't want to see bars across the street from churches and other houses of worship without at least a modicum of oversight.

Even Manhattan has a 200-foot minimum separation requirement. In fact, I can find no community in Florida that has eliminated such a separation.

Second, under our current zoning outdoor bars are only permitted as accessories to hotels and clubs. Also, both indoor and outdoor bars require public input and approval from Sarasota's planning board and city commission.

The proposed Zoning Text Amendment would allow for outdoor bars, including rooftop bars, throughout Sarasota – except in purely residential areas.

In theory, outdoor bars would be subject to public input and planning board approval whereas indoor bars would not be subject to such approvals.

However, the proposed Zoning Text Amendment has a loophole that would allow outdoor bars to be zoned as “indoor” bars. All you need to achieve this is to have retractable or roll-up walls (i.e., “enclosable” structures).

[wondermint2]

This is from the 'Letters to the Editor' column in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Appraiser threatens Save Our Homes tax cap

For the full column:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...0f924d46&ei=43

I can fully understand Joseph McCarthy’s frustration about his fully homesteaded property losing the Save Our Homes protection simply because he replaced his aging roof (“Sarasota retiree hits the roof over appraisal,” Dec. 26).

Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst’s office stringently applies provisions from legislation that can change a longtime homeowner’s status under Save Our Homes, which caps increases in assessed value at 3%.

Last year, I also had a spot of bother with Mr. Furst: I received a bill for $15,321.05, payable within 30 days or a lien would be placed against the property.

The amount was for estimated unpaid taxes, going back 10 years, with a huge penalty (50%) and interest (15%).

The problem was a small cottage on my property; it had been my mother’s home but I now use the cottage for rentals.

This changed the status of that portion to “commercial use,” making it no longer eligible for the Save Our Homes protection – and so, forever forward, the increase in the appraisal on that portion is no longer limited to 3% per year.

[wondermint2]

Put these can't-miss East County events on your calendar for 2024

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...n-events-2024/

A new year means an opportunity to make new memories.

That might mean another visit to an old — or annual — event.

East County has many signature events, many that are offered each year. Whether it's checking out the animals at the Manatee County Fair, honoring veterans at the annual Tribute to Heroes Parade or cheering on runners at the Turkey Trot before feasting, there are events for all ages.

Here is a look at 15 signature East County events that are sure to be unforgettable in 2024.