Sep 26, 2025 FALL DOUBLE ISSUE TOP STORIES: Just past midpoint of 2025 hurricane season, county Emergency Management leaders mark first anniversary of Helene’s 2024 strike and discuss damage, recovery and lessons learned With Knight in dissent, County Commission formally approves 2026 fiscal year county budget of more than $2 billion Saba Sands ends mediation over November 2024 denial of variance for Siesta condo construction, files petition in Circuit Court, seeking to overturn commission vote Adagio project team members required to resubmit plans to City of Sarasota’s Development Review Committee Given open carry ruling by Florida First District Court of Appeal, county commissioners direct staff to research protective measures for them and county advisory board members County Planning Commission members unanimously agree to recommend that County Commission refrain from approving proposal for voluntary condominium demolition and rebuilding on Siesta Sheriff’s Office working to identify man who reportedly screamed from sandbar off Siesta Beach Access 9 before submerging in Gulf on Sept. 21 Helping Hands grant program created to encourage county property owners to prevent citations for Code Enforcement infractions Holderness, Thibeaut reappointed to Sarasota County Tourist Development Council As required by county policy, County Commission agrees to writing off of nearly $4.2 million in Emergency Services and Public Utilities uncollectable accounts 67-year-old man who drowned off southern part of Siesta Key on Sept. 13 was trying to rescue woman caught in current, Sheriff’s Office report says OTHER NEWS (free): Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center named among ‘America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026’ Sheriff’s Office to host Sixth Annual Halloween Drive-Thru event on Saturday, Oct. 25 Project Pride SRQ to present ‘Compassion at the Crosswalk’ on Oct. 4 SMH ranked among ‘America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals,’ published by ‘Forbes’ Sarasota County’s Friends of Lemon Bay Park volunteer group honored with state award Artist Lauren Marshall to have new works exhibited at Big Waters Land Trust offices in Osprey Visit Sarasota County recognizes outgoing board members, sees new officers appointed
