-
Subscribed but not receiving your weekly mailing? Spam filters may be to blame. Add:
Sub@SarasotaNewsLeader.com
to your email address book. That should solve the problem. -
Have a hot news tip? Rachel Brown Hackney,
Email it to us at:
SNL TIP LINE
STAFF- Editor & Publisher
Stan Zimmerman, City Editor
Robert Ross, Opinion Editor
Scott Proffitt, Staff Writer
David Staats, Columnist
Tyler Whitson, Staff Writer
Fran Palmeri, Contributing- Writer
- Writer
Vicki Chatley,- Copy Editor
- General Manager
- Production Manager
-
Advertise with the SNL!
Contact us about special introductory rates being offered for a limited time.
Click for SalesWin a new iPad!
When we reach 1,000 "Likes" on our Facebook page, one lucky reader who has subscribed to the SNL here on our website will be chosen at random to receive a new Apple iPad absolutely free.
See us on Facebook -
Recent Artcles
- Harvey Milk Festival wants to connect you with your ‘inner activist’
- New PAC launches campaign for nonpartisan county elections
- Waechter charged with felony in case involving Ramirez
- Top stories – Nov. 2 Edition
- Voters’ guide for Election Day 2012
- ‘No swim’ advisory posted for Bird Key Park
- Romney rally a violation of Ringling Museum no-politics policy
- Search for new police chief down to final five
- Blessed be they, large and small
- Siesta stormwater project set to go out for bid in November
News Categories
Search articles by date:
Archives
Search by keyword(s)
-
About this site
The Sarasota News Leader is a news publication founded and edited by Rachel Brown Hackney, a veteran journalist with more than three decades experience. For the past several years, she was the editor of The Pelican Press on Siesta Key.
The Sarasota News Leader became a full-featured electronic weekly - or eWeekly - on September 21, 2012, with the publication of the first edition readable on iPad, Android, Kindle, Nook and other personal readers, as well as laptop or desktop computers.
When you subscribe now, you will receive email notification each Friday of the latest issue of The Sarasota News Leader. To subscribe, please enter your email address in the box at the top of this column.
Copyright © 2012-The Sarasota News Leader. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. We specifically exclude from "fair use doctrine" any reproduction of our logos or banners in any other medium or publication without written permission. Meta
Monthly Archives: July 2012
Fitzgerald says Buchanan no-show demonstrates ‘contempt for the legal process’
Democratic congressional candidate Keith Fitzgerald told reporters on a conference call this afternoon he is “disappointed” that U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan was a no-show at a deposition scheduled for today, July 30, saying “we’re a nation of laws” and that … Continue reading
Storm readiness and recovery to be focus of SKA meeting
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new information. Ed McCrane, Sarasota County’s emergency management chief, and George Tatge, a county parks and recreation manager, will be special guests of the Siesta Key Association during its monthly meeting on … Continue reading
Posted in Neighborhoods, Sarasota County, Siesta Key
Comments Off
Siesta Village crosswalk lighting demo a success
County staff says there’s no guarantee the model seen will be installed The three representatives of Siesta Key organizations present for a Siesta Village crosswalk lighting demonstration Thursday night, July 26, liked what they saw. However, the type of lighting … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism
Comments Off
Seaweed cleanup on Venice Beach expected to start no later than Saturday
Equipment problems have hampered Sarasota County workers this afternoon in their effort to start cleaning up a mix of red drift algae and seaweed on South County beaches, George Tatge, a county parks and recreation manager, told The Sarasota News … Continue reading
Posted in Environmental News, Sarasota County, Tourism
Comments Off
City offers Barwin $175,000 for annual salary
The man selected as Sarasota’s new city manager has agreed to a $175,000 salary. Tom Barwin’s contract will be reviewed on Wednesday, Aug. 1, by the Sarasota City Commission. Barwin has indicated he would like to start work on Sept. … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
Comments Off
Buchanan deposition scheduled for Monday morning
If everything goes as planned, at 10 a.m. Mon., July 30, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan will walk into a U.S. Legal Support office in Orlando and be deposed under oath. The action is part of the lawsuit filed against Buchanan … Continue reading
Posted in Political News
Tagged Federal Election Commission, Josh Kon, Keith Fitzgerald, Lee Haworth, Mark Ornstein, Sam Kazran, U.S. Legal Support, Vern Buchanan
Comments Off
New Riverview High program gets $100,000 boost from anonymous benefactor
A $100,000 anonymous donation will make it possible for students from all over Sarasota County to participate in the new Stars to Starfish program at Riverview High School. The Sarasota County School Board accepted the donation during its regular meeting … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Sarasota People, Sarasota School Board
Comments Off
New group of Hermitage STARs to present free program
The five latest winners of the Hermitage Artist Retreat’s State Teachers’ Artist Residency (STAR) will present a free public program on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Hermitage’s campus on the Gulf of Mexico on Manasota Key, 6660 Manasota Key Road … Continue reading
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Nonprofit News
Comments Off
New Siesta Village maintenance contractor could be approved Aug. 21
If no bid protests come in by Friday, July 27, the Sarasota County Commission is expected to vote Aug. 21 on the awarding of a new contract for maintenance in Siesta Village. The county Procurement Department announced on July 23 … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism
Comments Off
Deputy county administrator receives Community Visionary Award
On June 26, Deputy Sarasota County Administrator Bill Little was among a group of people the Sarasota County Commission recognized for the success of a regional program to help reduce prescription drug misuse. The county had been honored by the … Continue reading
Posted in Health & Medicine, Sarasota County, Sarasota People
Comments Off
Early-voting schedule and drop-off booth for absentee ballots announced
The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office is offering early voting for the Aug. 14, primary election beginning Saturday, Aug. 4, and continuing through Saturday, Aug. 11, the office has announced. The shortened schedule is a result of action by … Continue reading
Posted in Political News, Sarasota County
Comments Off
School district taxes set to rise less than 2 mills
Because the Florida Legislature approved an extra $100, or about 3%, in base funding per pupil statewide for the 2012-13 school year, the Sarasota County School Board has no choice but to raise its required local millage rate for the … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota School Board
Comments Off
Sarasota County School Board joins statewide initiative to change testing system
The Sarasota County School Board this week became the 28th in the state to approve a resolution calling on Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Legislature and the State Board of Education to improve the state testing system, Wayne Blanton, executive … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Sarasota School Board
Comments Off
Re-registered Democrats want a say in who their next supervisor of elections is
When Victoria Brill, the daughter of a local GOP bigwig, filed paperwork to run as a write-in candidate in this year’s supervisor of elections race, she immediately blocked more than 150,000 Sarasota County Democrats and independents (56% of registered voters) … Continue reading
Posted in Local Government, Political News, Sarasota County
Tagged Christine Jennings, Jon Thaxton, Joyce Soltis, Kathy Dent, Vern Buchanan, Victoria Brill
Comments Off
City parking citation amnesty program to get under way Aug. 1
A driver with a past-due parking ticket will have a one-time only opportunity to pay the citation with the City of Sarasota forgiving the late fee, the city has announced. The Parking Citation Amnesty program will run Wednesday, Aug. 1, … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Transportation
Comments Off
Wood stork a key character in stormwater drainage project’s delay at Siesta Public Beach
A type of stork not known to local birdwatchers as a regular resident of mangroves near Siesta Public Beach nonetheless is proving a key factor in holding up final permits needed for the stormwater drainage project at the beach, The … Continue reading
Posted in Environmental News, Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Wildlife
Comments Off
New Sarasota County procurement official appointed
Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid named current county Contracts Manager Ted Coyman Jr. as the county’s new Procurement Department official, he notified the county commissioners by email on July 20. The appointment was effective immediately. Coyman’s salary will be $93,000, … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Original judge’s removal from Siesta Key DUI fatality case results in trial delay
The defendant in an alleged drunken-driving case that involved the death of a Siesta Key runner in January likely will not be tried before early 2013 because the original judge in the case was disqualified, The Sarasota News Leader has … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement, Siesta Key
Comments Off
County building permits for single-family homes up 160% from June 2011 to June 2012
The most recent Sarasota County business statistics show continued growth for the county, with the total number of building permits for single-family homes up 160% from June 2011 to June 2012. Residential real estate sales are up 18.7% for those … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Food for thought
There are many ways to preserve memories and, conversely, there are myriad varieties of memories we can preserve. The obvious choices for the preservation side of things might be photos, diaries or scrapbooks, all excellent ways of communicating from the … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota People
Comments Off
Some Venice businesses without water this afternoon
Several businesses in the 1600 block of U.S. 41 Bypass in Venice have lost water service, Sarasota County has announced. Crews installing a tap in the watermain discovered a problem with the line, which has been shut down for repairs, … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Environmental News, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Sample ballots going out this week in Sarasota County
Official sample ballots for the Aug. 14 primary election will be mailed to all registered voters beginning Tuesday, July 24, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent has announced. The primary ballot includes three “Universal Primary Contests,” Dent’s office said … Continue reading
Posted in Political News, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Seaweed cleaned up on Siesta and Lido beaches
On Saturday, Sarasota County workers cleaned up seaweed that had come ashore on Siesta Key Public Beach starting Thursday, July 19, George Tatge, a county parks and recreation manager, told The Sarasota News Leader today, July 23. Workers probably would … Continue reading
Posted in Environmental News, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Advisories lifted for Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches
A beach water advisory for the Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches has been lifted this afternoon, July 21, the Sarasota County Health Department has announced. Health officials received testing results from samples taken Friday, July 20, that were at … Continue reading
Posted in Health & Medicine, Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism
Comments Off
Siesta Seen: North bridge appears to be on schedule
Although she was responsible for plenty of damage in the county, at least Tropical Storm Debby appears not to have delayed the timeline for completing work on the north Siesta bridge. That was the word today, July 20, from Jennifer … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement, Environmental News, Siesta Key, Siesta Seen, Tourism, Transportation, Wildlife
Comments Off
Boil-water advisory issued for north Siesta residents
Sarasota County Utilities crews are repairing a water main break that has interrupted service to at least 125 customers on Siesta Key, between North Shell Road and South Shell Road, the county announced late this afternoon, July 20. The area includes … Continue reading
Posted in Health & Medicine, Neighborhoods, Sarasota County, Siesta Key
Comments Off
Riverside Drive bridge opening postponed
The Riverside Drive bridge, northeast of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way bridge over Whitaker Bayou, is expected to reopen Friday, July 27, the City of Sarasota announced this afternoon, July 20. The bridge had been scheduled to reopen … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Transportation
Comments Off
Sarasota NAACP president: National organization taking lead in fight against precinct consolidation
Trevor Harvey, the president of the Sarasota County branch of the NAACP, told the organization at its monthly general membership meeting Thursday evening, July 19, that the national NAACP is taking the lead in the fight against precinct consolidation, at … Continue reading
Residents warned not to swim at Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches
Beach water advisories have been issued for the Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches, Sarasota County Health Department officials announced late Thursday, July 19. Health Department officials received testing results from beach water samples taken Wednesday, July 18, that show … Continue reading
Posted in Environmental News, Health & Medicine, Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism
Comments Off
WCIND board OKs extra funding for law enforcement agencies
As it turned out, Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson had no trouble this week getting approval from the West Coast Inland Navigation District board for a special request. A WCIND board member, Patterson was in the minority on a 3-2 … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement, Longboat Key News, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Warning issued about suspicious phone calls
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is warning all residents, but especially business owners and managers, about three suspicious incidents that recently have occurred and are under investigation. In each case, a suspect called a local restaurant claiming to be a … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement
Comments Off
Estimate reduced for number of incorrect voter information cards
No other Southwest Florida county has reported the same problem Because she was able to catch the mistake in time, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent says only around 1,500 of the county’s approximately 280,000 voter information cards will … Continue reading
Posted in Political News, Sarasota County
Comments Off
Interfaith group finds positive news in the ‘real Israel’
Not all of the news coming out of the Middle East is bad. Twenty-one representatives from area churches and synagogues decided to create some good news of their own. This interfaith delegation, organized by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, recently … Continue reading
Posted in Religion, Sarasota People
Comments Off
Group breaks ground for 9/11 Memorial in Venice
The intermittent downpours on Monday, July 16, did not prove a deterrent to members of Salt of the Earth USA and officials of the City of Venice as they broke ground for a 9/11 Memorial at Patriots Park. Following remarks … Continue reading
Posted in City of Venice, Sarasota People
Comments Off
City tax rate to drop a microscopic amount
Florida governments for the past several years have kept a race running, in a manner of speaking, between declining income and reducing expenses. Revenues declined because politicians refused to raise tax rates to compensate for the declining property tax rolls. … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota
Comments Off
‘Strong manager’ initiative makes the November ballot
As a result of a professional citizen petition drive, Sarasota city voters in November will consider changing their charter to strengthen the city manager at the expense of the auditor and clerk. “It took five weeks to gather 3,297 signatures,” … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Political News
Comments Off
Bayfront mooring regulations in place
The Sarasota City commissioners on July 16 put the final ordinance in place to establish a legal bayfront mooring field downtown. This required only a decade of government activity. Commission approval followed approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation … Continue reading
Posted in City of Sarasota, Tourism
Comments Off
Recipe for the perfect sunset
We year-round residents are spoiled. That’s because in summer we’re treated to pyrotechnic sunsets beyond the wildest imaginings of snowbirds who are back home in Indiana. They’re used to “red ball descends into blue Gulf” with a regularity we would … Continue reading
Posted in Environmental News, Tourism, Wildlife
Comments Off
County staff to follow new recommendations on construction staging areas
Extra measures being taken with Siesta-Casey keys water project Given that only three construction staging areas have been the focus of complaints out of the 111 capital improvement projects Sarasota County has pursued over the past couple of years, the … Continue reading
Posted in Neighborhoods, Sarasota County
Comments Off
New deputy administrator named; three interim county leaders get formal appointments
John McCarthy retiring this week Sarasota County Government this week gained a new deputy administrator and saw the removal of “interim” from the titles of three department leaders. Staff also has been preparing for the departure of a 31-year employee … Continue reading
Posted in Parks and Recreation, Sarasota County, Sarasota People
Comments Off
Disputed Sarasota County Medicaid billing total down about $2.3 million
The Sarasota County Commission has received some good news regarding the amount of disputed Medicaid bills the county would be asked to pay under a law signed in late March by Gov. Rick Scott. While early estimates had put the … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, State Government
Comments Off
County finances continuing a positive trend
Almost all of Sarasota County’s revenue figures for the fiscal year through June continue to show positive trends, with tourist development tax money leading the way, according to data released by the Office of Financial Planning. TDT revenue was up … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism
Comments Off
Report on beach ball signs delayed until Aug. 1
It will be at least Aug. 1 before Sarasota County staff delivers a report to County Administrator Randall Reid on the use of signs with a beach ball logo to mark Siesta Key’s No. 1 beach status for 2011-12, The … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism
Comments Off
Sarasota County crime down in first half of 2012
Major crime is down 24% for Sarasota County for the first half of 2012, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported this week. The office is crediting new county ordinances, efforts to target prolific offenders and crime prevention partnerships with citizens … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement
Comments Off
County tourism marketing return climbs 47%
The return per dollar invested in Sarasota County tourism advertising rose from $18.16 in 2009 to $34.40 in 2011, about 47%, Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, told the County Commission during a July 11 report. Television and online … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, Sports, Tourism
Comments Off
County has saved close to $40 million through early bond redemptions
As Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton pointed out last week, it’s a trend “that gets very little public attention,” but one that probably has saved the county tens of millions of dollars. His comment came on July 11, just before … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County
Comments Off
Sarasota County residents deemed eligible for individual disaster assistance
The federal government has approved five more counties, including Sarasota, to be included in the Tropical Storm Debby declaration for Individual Assistance (IA), the county has announced. IA makes federal and state assistance available to individuals, families and businesses that have … Continue reading
Posted in Sarasota County, Weather
Comments Off
Man arrested for lewd behavior on Siesta Beach
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 41-year-old man for displaying lewd conduct in front of young children on Siesta Key Beach today, July 17. According to a Sheriff’s Office report, a law enforcement officer visiting from Indiana saw Joshua … Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement, Siesta Key
Comments Off
An open letter to the City of Sarasota
Let’s give a warm and big welcome to Tom Barwin, our new city manager. He still has to negotiate a contact and get settled in. If we don’t scare him away, he may be exactly what we’re looking for. To … Continue reading →
Share this: