Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota County Extension conducts food waste study

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...8cb2bb72&ei=41

The University of Florida IFAS Extension in Sarasota County is doing what it can on Earth Day to make disposing food waste environmentally friendly.

The Extension wrapped up a 2-week study on Monday, which involved 100 households in the county.

The study asked participants to keep track of their food waste and packaging by weighing it at the end of each day.

Randy Penn with the Extension said, “We’re working with communities and schools to think of different ways to dispose of our compostable waste rather than just see it at our landfills.”

The Extension will be holding a class about composting on May 1 in Sarasota.

Video here:

Sarasota County Extension conducts food waste study

For video:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/34119...od-waste-study

[wondermint2]

'Justice For Breonte' coalition calls for change after in-custody death


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DewH3fguP9I

The coalition called on the Manatee County Commission to create a program to help people through mental health crises.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Massive development with thousands of homes proposed for 2,700 acres in Sarasota County

For full article & graphic:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...ty/ar-AA1njIA8

Sarasota County’s latest master-planned community is one step closer to bringing thousands more homes east of Interstate 75.

The Sarasota County Planning Commission has unanimously recommended next steps for the development of 3H Ranch — a mixed-use project with more than 6,500 residential units, 250,000 square feet of commercial space and 120,000 square feet of office space. The development, which will stretch across more than 2,700 acres south of Clark Road and east of I-75, will now go before the County Commission.

With more than 1,000 units, 3H Ranch was approved as a Development of Critical Concern: a designation that requires a more rigorous application process with greater criteria than others. The site was also rezoned to allow for more units.

Developers 3H Ranch LLC and Sioux Investment Partners LLC — the latter of which is owned by prominent Sarasota developer Pat Neal — proposed the project in a joint venture. Construction is slated to begin next year and conclude in 2040.

“This will be a hot property,” Neal said. “It will be fiscally very powerful.”

The Sarasota School Board discussed purchasing 125 acres of the land from 3H Ranch for a K-12 magnet school, a middle school and an elementary school in 2019. 3H Ranch's development plans include space for future schools.

The development echoes other local master-planned communities like Lakewood Ranch and the neighboring Skye Ranch. Housing will include both single-family homes and multifamily complexes across 14 neighborhoods, according to the site plan. Each neighborhood will have its own focal “neighborhood center,” which will include either parks and recreation areas or small commercial centers.

The development will include 447 acres of preserved space for native animal habitats, wetlands, wildlife corridors and other natural components. The county’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan typically requires designated village developments to reserve 50% of land as open space, but as a Clark Road Property, 3H Ranch was eligible to reduce the requirement to 33% with proof that the space will provide the same ecological benefit.

The commission approval also exempted 3H Ranch from a standard 500-foot greenbelt buffer requirement, which drew criticism from the public.

Speakers found the proposed greenbelt buffers — which, per the project plan, could span as long as 50 feet or as little as zero feet — insufficient in separating 3H Ranch from nearby neighborhoods. Residents of the Serenoa community were particularly vocal about the buffer, as they felt development too close to Ibis Street would burden the usually quiet area with noise and traffic.

New master-plan community 3H Ranch closer to becoming a reality


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9pp63_zFY

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

TDC considers adding third ferry boat

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2024/04/22/td...rd-ferry-boat/

The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) discussed the status of the new water ferry service and the possibility of adding a third ferry on April 15.

The Gulf Islands Ferry service began in January with two boats stopping at the Bradenton Beach Pier, the Anna Maria Pier and the Bradenton day dock. The service initially ran Friday through Sunday, with Wednesdays and Thursdays added to the schedule.

According to TDC member and Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, a third boat is needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBLeEV3RsCQ

[wondermint2]

Rep. Buchanan lauds excellent educators in Manatee, Hillsborough counties


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0UgRQgABzo

Educators from the Suncoast were honored by a Suncoast Congressman over the weekend.

Rep. Vern Buchanan hosted the 10th annual Congressional Education Awards ceremony for 26 dedicated professionals in Florida’s 16th Congressional District for exceptional achievement. Twenty-one of those were on the Suncoast and five were in Hillsborough County.

The program included all school employees for the first time this year.

A cafeteria manager, school counselor and even a firefighting instructor were recognized as the very best of our education system.

The congressman also recognized the recipients in the Congressional Record for their achievements.

“School employees work tirelessly because they understand that their efforts are not just about fulfilling a job description, but about shaping the future,” Buchanan said. “These outstanding men and women are the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive, and they deserve to be recognized.”

This year’s award recipients include:

For full article:

https://www.snntv.com/manatee/congre...ough-counties/

[wondermint2]

Venice man tackles Ironman competition despite Alzheimer's diagnosis


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53hpWzr2eow

A Venice man with an early onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis is taking his mission to bring attention to the disease all the way to the finish line.

[wondermint2]

How new forecast cone will impact Suncoast forecasts

The standard cone will still be in use, but the experimental tropical cyclone forecast cone will also be released within 30 minutes of the standard update.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3lFW4KrQU0

With Hurricane Season officially starting in a little over a month, many of you who have lived in Florida a while are well aware to look out for the cone of uncertainty, otherwise known as the National Hurricane Center’s “track forecast cone.”

When the NHC shares an updated storm track, it’ll look like the track on the left. They’ll still use the left one, but you’ll see the right one being used as well to show the wind risks for areas further inland.

It’s meant to add more information without overcomplicating the map.

The new map won’t impact forecasts that SNN delivers. Last year for Hurricane Idalia, SNN would regularly share watches and warnings for those of you east of Interstate 75.

But the NHC will ensure that you’re getting these updates regularly throughout the day no matter what you use for TV and streaming.

The reason it’s important to relay this information is because the effects of a storm occur far from the storm’s center.

For full article & graphics:

https://www.snntv.com/weather/how-ne...ast-forecasts/

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County cuts all funds to United Way, including employee payroll deduction

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...on/ar-AA1nwKmX

The Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to cut ties with United Way due to its 211 helpline listing Planned Parenthood as a resource.

The first resolution removed a payroll deduction program for county employees which had allowed participants to have their money go directly to United Way or to other charities and nonprofits in the area, which United Way would facilitate.

The program’s termination affects not only United Way Suncoast – which operates in five counties, including Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto – but also the United Way of South Sarasota.

Chris Johnson, United Way of South Sarasota’s vice president of community impact, said that stopping the payroll deduction program will affect not just the United Way organizations but also the groups they facilitate donations to.

"All these other agencies with funds from the county employees will also feel that hit. They will have to absorb that somehow within their budget and operation,” Johnson said. “If they’re offering services, they will have to decide: ‘Do we have to cut services? Do we have to lessen what we do? Are we going to have to cut an employee?’”

Although commissioners framed their opposition to the payroll deduction program as a separate issue from the links to abortion providers, Johnson said commissioners never raised an issue with it until they began to make noise about public funds used to support the 211 helpline.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County school rated best high school in Florida in new rankings

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...gs/ar-AA1nx2oG

Pine View School was rated the best high school in Florida in new rankings released by U.S. News and World Report Tuesday morning.

The ranking reflects an increase from the previous year's rankings, where Pine View was listed as the second-best in the state. The school was also ranked the 18th-best high school in the country, reflecting a five-spot drop from last year's national ranking. Two other Sarasota County high schools, Suncoast Polytechnical and Riverview, ranked in the top 100 of Florida high schools at 37th and 71st respectively. The rankings represented an increase of 17 spots for Riverview High School, and a decrease of one spot for Suncoast Polytechnical.

U.S. News & World Report rankings are calculated in six weighted categories: college readiness (30%), state assessment proficiency (20%), state assessment performance (20%), college curriculum breadth (10%), underserved student performance (10%) and graduation rate (10%).

[wondermint2]

Proposed Manatee County development would bring affordable housing to State Road 64

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...64/ar-AA1nwLvL

Nearly 1,400 new housing units — including over 300 affordable ones — could be coming to State Road 64 in Manatee County.

The Musgrave West project, which sits on the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 64, is working its way through Manatee County Government Building and Development Services.

Because at least 25% of the 1,370-unit development — approximately 342 homes — would be designated as affordable housing, the county is fast-tracking the approval request.

The 325-acre property includes eight parcels with eight different owners.

Planned are a mix of residential uses, including single-family detached and attached and multi-family.

Also planned are three commercial parcels of 17 acres, 15 acres and 5 acres along State Road 64.

Musgrave West is on the opposite side of the road from the Market Place at Heritage Harbour shopping center, home to Costco and where Whole Foods Market, Target, Hobby Lobby, LongHorn Steakhouse and other new businesses are planned.

The developer is requesting a change in zoning from agriculture to planned mixed-use.

"At application submittal, a proposed schedule of uses will be provided with an estimated square footage consistent with the traffic study," according to the county's neighborhood registry of projects.