May 2, 2025 TOP STORIES: Kompothecras reviving proposal for high-rise hotel on South Siesta Key by seeking amendment to county’s Comprehensive Plan Given concerns about price and potential lack of need for it in reconfigured Criminal Justice Corridor, County Commission declines to buy parcel at 2100 Main St. In effort to make best use of $210.1-million HUD grant, county commissioners agree to slight adjustments in allocations for responses to 2024 hurricanes Firm handling City of Sarasota’s manager search withdraws from process In planning for 2025 Citizen Opinion Survey, Commissioner Mast suggests ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions related to growth and development statistics, while other board members focus on traffic, roads and jail Existing and future county thoroughfares to be focus of upcoming County Commission discussion Pride flag to fly at Sarasota City Hall from May 5 through May 12 One young man deceased, another injured after April 26 shooting at ‘house party,’ Sheriff’s Office reports Resurfacing of Siesta Key roads resumes, with extra work planned on about 1,000 feet of Ocean Boulevard between Gleason and Higel avenues Sarasota Police Department’s Marine Unit officer gains control of unmanned boat in bay after operator falls overboard Public comments welcomed on proposal for speed cushions on South Casey Key Road Homicide on Cowry Road in Venice under investigation by Sheriff’s Office New 227.5-foot-long seawall at 4154 Higel Ave. home on Siesta Key wins County Commission approval Portion of Myakka Road to be closed starting Monday, May 5, for replacement of culvert (free) OTHER NEWS (free): Community workshops and expos in May to offer ‘important information on stormwater management’ for county residents Both Sarasota Memorial campuses again notch an ‘A’ in latest Leapfrog Group reports Speakers announced for Sarasota County’s ‘Community Conversation: Hurricane Preparedness’ on May 8 at Riverview High Safe Children Coalition earns Council on Accreditation reaccreditation Sarasota Memorial unveils state-of-art Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute Big Waters Land Trust reveals new Strategic Conservation Plan, which targets Southwest Florida’s most urgent conservation opportunities Sheriff’s Office’s first Block Party nets 11,265 pounds of donated food and $547 in cash to support All Faiths Food Bank and Sarasota County Schools
