Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from April 2004

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from April 2004

Speed up courthouse plans; Find a use for the historic structure.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
April 30, 2004... A joint meeting between the Punta Gorda City Council and the Charlotte County Commission this week led to some progress on the old courthouse in Punta Gorda. The two boards agreed, in principle, to rehabilitate the exterior of the...

Artistic, cultural expansion is there for the taking.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Amy Abern There's a new kid on the block. Well, actually, it's not new, it's been in the making for some time and has actually taken a few baby steps in getting to know people in the area. I am referring to the Hermitage...

Weird Al grieves through laughter.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: ALAN SCULLEY CORRESPONDENT CLEARWATER -- When Weird Al Yankovic arrives for his Saturday performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall, it will be with a heavy heart. Rock's premier satirist has decided to perform despite the tragic...

Julliet by any other name...(TICKET)(Admit One)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Rod Harmon BRADENTON -- In 1991, the glam-metal band Julliet was on the cusp of mega-stardom. It was signed to Enigma/Capitol Records, it had the backing of Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow, and it was being touted as the...

McNally tells Jesus' life with a twist in 'Corpus Christi'.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com ST. PETERSBURG -- Some shows are greeted with boos from an audience, but not many generate bomb threats. That's what happened to Terrence McNally's comedy "Corpus Christi," which...

Bowie ch-changes to please himself.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: ALAN SCULLEY CORRESPONDENT TAMPA -- Only a handful of rock artists have pushed well into their 50s and continue to create CDs that are as strong, as challenging and as relevant as the ones that brought them stardom early in...

Mel Greene, 83, nabs hefty kingfish and weekly honor.(SPORTS)(Fishing)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Steve Gibson Catch of the Week honors go to 83-year-old Mel Greene of Longboat Key. Greene caught a 32-pound kingfish on a live pilchard while fishing in 60 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico with guide Rob Roberts of the...

Hungry Fox overcomes inconsistencies.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: JACK WINNER CORRESPONDENT SARASOTA -- The Hungry Fox Treetop Bistro is not, of course, perched among tree limbs, and the simplest way to reach it is by the elevator that is tucked in a corner near the Columbia Restaurant on St....

News Updates.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Two men charged with kicking in door CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Sheriff's deputies arrested two men Wednesday who allegedly kicked in the door of an Englewood apartment so they could beat up a resident inside. Joseph S. Taylor, 19, of Port...

Falcons take title, 10-1.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT Kelsey Falcone's four hits helped Saint Stephen's to a 10-1 win over Tampa Prep to become the District 11 Champions on Thursday. Falcone went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple. Teammates Kim Goss and Jenny...

Heyl, Quinlan place; The two Saint Stephen's athletes place to take medals in the 1A-state track meet.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com GAINESVILLE -- Laura Heyl doubled her medallion output from last year. Competing in the two hurdles events, Heyl, a sophomore from Saint Stephen's Episcopal, captured...

Snowbirds may have left, but the arts season continues.(B SECTION)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Suzanne Marschner Mattes Traffic may be easing and restaurants may not be as full, but that doesn't mean the arts season in Sarasota and Manatee is over. If this coming week is any proof, we can look forward to a full...

Truck parts lead troopers to hit-and-run arrest; Reymundo Ortega, 35, admitted hitting Amy Caplin, an officer says.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: DEBI SPRINGER debi.springer@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- An anonymous caller told state troopers Wednesday where they could find the broken pieces of a Ford F-150 that had front-end damage: a truck that might have been...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
April 30, 2004... Murphy assumes Chamber chair role Charles O. Murphy, president and chief executive of The Bank of Commerce, has officially taken over his post as chairman of the board of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Murphy will serve an...

LOCAL BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Soul food festival to aid Newtown park SARASOTA -- Collard greens, fried chicken, barbecue ribs and macaroni and cheese will be among the foods sold Saturday at "A Taste of Soul Food Festival" to benefit Newtown Estates Park. At...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
April 30, 2004... MANATEE COUNTY Lucy A. Burns Lucy A. Burns, 90, Ellenton, died April 28, 2004. She was born Aug. 15, 1913, in St. Louis and came to Ellenton in 1978 from Chicago. She retired after 35 years from Illinois Bell. She was a member...

Day-care dilemma; Subsidy cutbacks cripple another after-school program.(A SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: CHRISTINA DeNARDO christina.denardo@heraldtribune.com Charlotte County has joined Sarasota and Manatee counties and dozens of other communities across the state in cutting subsidized after-school day care. Hundreds of families...

There ought to be a 'Law' for this movie.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PHILIP BOOTH CORRESPONDENT Would the presence of a laugh track benefit the misguided "Laws of Attraction," someone's idea of a screwball comedy? With canned yucks, at least viewers would know when the funny bits show up, and how...

Man was shot after waving BB gun.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT The homeless man police shot on the Green Bridge on Tuesday is recovering in a jail infirmary. Fidel Armendarez, 42, was waving a .177-caliber pellet and BB gun when Bradenton Police Sgt. Tim Holleran shot him in...

Feisty officials get a scolding; North Port city commissioners receive an e-mail telling them; to behave at meetings.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com NORTH PORT -- City Commission Chairwoman Barbara Gross made it clear Thursday that she's not prepared to trade in her gavel for an umpire's mask and a whistle. In the wake...

Hershberger stepping up.(BUSINESS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com NOKOMIS -- Randy White is looking forward to spending more time on the back of a horse than riding herd over the day-to-day operations of Sarasota County's largest manufacturer....

Rosemary Court rocks for Earl.(TICKET)(The Noise Ordinance)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Dawn E. Scire Mayday, mayday! Saturday is May Day, and it's a perfect day for affirmations of regeneration, love and renewal of life force to be dedicated and directed during the "Rosemary Rocks for Earl" benefit at...

A breather for North Port? City Commission should take chief planner's advice.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
April 30, 2004... The head of North Port's planning and zoning office offers some prudent advice: The City Commission should pause and catch its breath before annexing more land or approving another large development that would require amending North Port's...

Men's chorus focuses on gay marriage.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: SONIE LASKER CORRESPONDENT SARASOTA -- "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry," said Philip Alexander, assistant director of the Gulf Coast Men's Chorus. He was referring to "We the People," the chorus's Saturday...

Privacy and government; State should provide alternatives for identifying public employees.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
April 30, 2004... The Herald-Tribune recently became entangled in a statewide controversy, after the Florida Department of Education gave reporters the Social Security numbers of public-school teachers. As a result of legitimate concerns about access to...

CHYC Harbor Lites tea and fashion show are big hits.(B SECTION)(In the Loop)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Ann Henderson Think spring and you will know that it is time for the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club Harbor Lites to have their annual president's high tea and fashion show. They are never held on the same day, so that means there...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
April 30, 2004... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Wayne Barrup Wayne Barrup, 76, Englewood, died April 29, 2004. He was born Nov. 5, 1927, in West Charleston, Vt., and came to the Charlotte County area in 1989 from East Hartford, Conn. He served three years in...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
April 30, 2004... SARASOTA COUNTY Horatio Bruce Brewster Horatio Bruce Brewster, 61, Sarasota, died April 28, 2004. He was born April 4, 1943, in New Bedford, Mass., and came to Sarasota 16 years ago from South Dartmouth, Mass. He was a dock...

Retelling untold tales of Yes-terday.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: ROD HARMON rod.harmon@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Finally, after decades of uncertainty, here was a chance to answer one of rock's lingering questions: Just what in Sam Hill was "Tales from Topographic Oceans" supposed to be...

Travelogue producer circles the globe and lands in Venice.(B SECTION)(Arts Around Town)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Francine Milford No one values the role a mentor can play more than Lowell Wentworth, who, at age 10, was introduced to photography by a camp counselor. "He was a wonderful mentor who helped me build my first photograph...

There's no genius to be found in 'Bobby Jones' bio-pic.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT Bobby Jones, the only man to win the U.S. and British golf opens and amateur championships, has justifiably been canonized as a champion of his game. Whether his ability with a golf club qualifies...

School gets an earful from parents.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT Facing a room full of unhappy parents and children, school district officials unveiled a plan Thursday to help families deal with the new Heron Creek Middle School starting time. The district changed the starting...

Doctor seeks gag order in malpractice suit.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: MARGARET ANN MIILLE margaret.miille@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- The local doctor who gained national attention when his patient died after breast enlargement surgery is asking a judge to stop her family and attorney from...

Testing, testing ...(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Diane Shelly paints a test patch on the side of the Art League of Manatee County on Thursday afternoon as part of preparations before painting the entire building. Volunteers, working under the direction of Ken Garner Painting Inc., will...

Creeping inflation hits local businesses; The jump in prices is being felt on several levels.(A SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: KEVIN MCQUAID kevin.mcquaid@heraldtribune.com At a time when Southwest Florida resorts are basking in the warmth of the most successful tourist season in years, Katherine Klauber Moulton should be ecstatic. But even with...

'Godsend' is just another devil spawn.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PHILIP BOOTH CORRESPONDENT Darkness lives in the heart of an innocent-looking 8-year- old boy (Cameron Bright) in "Godsend," the third feature from noted British theater director Nick Hamm. The filmmaker, whose earlier...

Stockbarger is dominant again; Charlotte High senior leaves runner-up finishers far behind in shot put and discus.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT TAMPA -- For nearly anyone else, Westley Stockbarger's numbers in the Class 3A-Region 3 Meet would've been a reason to celebrate. But the Charlotte High senior isn't anyone. He holds the state meet...

Do you know the Muphin men?(TICKET)(MAKING NOISE)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: DAWN E. SCIRE CORRESPONDENT PALMETTO -- "You know how Sam's Club's got those big muffin trays?" inquires 17-year-old Dustin White, vocalist, guitarist and bass player of Palmetto's Muphin Chuckrs, while explaining how the trio...

Troupe in a Trunk and 'A Starry, Starry Night'.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... The Troupe in a Trunk will present Story Theatre in the Pinkerton Theatre through May 9 at the Venice Little Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave. This is a full production of Paul Sill's Story Theatre with adaptations of Grimm's Fairy Tales and...

Manatee poised to vote on airport's request for funds.(BUSINESS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: KEVIN MCQUAID kevin.mcquaid@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- County leaders are expected to vote Tuesday on a staff proposal pledging $250,000 to support Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport's marketing efforts. ...

Mustangs fall shy of finishing first.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com SEMINOLE -- The only disappointment for Lakewood Ranch coach Ernest Jones was not getting the first-place trophy. The Mustangs admirably dealt with the absence of Dominique Rodgers and...

County kicking in cash for center.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT NORTH PORT -- The Sarasota County Commission has agreed to contribute $50,000 to help pay for the planned Health and Family Service Center in North Port. The center has secured $370,000 from the Gulf Coast...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Chest Pain Center earns accreditation ENGLEWOOD -- The Society of Chest Pain Centers, a nonprofit international organization based in Columbus, Ohio, has accredited Englewood Community Hospital's Chest Pain Center. The hospital was...

New rink will be a step up; Charlotte's roller hockey league will soon have a place to call its own.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: DARLA MCFARLAND darla.mcfarland@heraldtribune.com ENGLEWOOD -- For several years, more and more in-line hockey enthusiasts have plied their sticks on an ad-hoc collection of parking lots and gym floors. By this fall,...

Winchell has second win in LLM.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT PUNTA GORDA -- Joe Winchell of Davie became the first Limited Late Model driver to claim a second victory in this year's 100-lap series at Charlotte County Speedway. Winchell took the checkered flag Saturday...

Across U.S., gay couples exchange vows.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: ROBERT ECKHART and MIKE SAEWITZ STAFF WRITERS SARASOTA -- Wearing rose corsages, Bonnie Alberti and Wendy LaChaunce stepped into the court clerk's office Thursday morning and asked for the one document they knew they couldn't...

Plaid is forever in Manatee Players' biggest hit.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- David Brown has played lots of characters on stage, and when the shows close, he's usually ready to say goodbye to his roles. But not Smudge in "Forever Plaid," for...

Jury selected for Watts trial.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT SARASOTA -- A jury was selected Thursday for the death penalty trial of Errol Watts, who is accused of robbing and killing his parents. After four days of questioning, eight men and seven women were selected...

Errors prove costly for DeSoto.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT WAUCHULA -- Very little separated top-seed Frostproof and second-seed DeSoto County during their two regular-season showdowns. And that proved to be the case once again Thursday night in the Class...

LOCAL BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Rain, flooding close St. Armands Circle SARASOTA -- Heavy rains and flooding closed St. Armands Circle for almost three hours Thursday and forced drivers to brave bumper-deep water at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Main Street. ...

Mamet's 'Spartan' is pure cinematic delight.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT Filmmaker David Mamet doesn't like those typed explainers so often seen at the beginnings of scenes in international thrillers. You know the ones: "Executive Offices, Secret Service; 7:14 a.m." So,...

Nanotechnology speaker attracts dreamers, doers.(BUSINESS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- When Dr. Laurey Stryker asked 14-year-old Jennifer Wedebrock what she wanted to be when she grew up, the straight-A student bound for Lakewood Ranch High School gave...

Profile of gallery killer is released; Police hope the list of character traits will bring forth new leads.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: MIKE SAEWITZ mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- The man who killed Joyce Wishart in her Palm Avenue art gallery likely has a disgust for society and hides a self-centered attitude behind an "amiable facade," according to...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Later start time prompts new plan SARASOTA COUNTY -- Facing a room full of unhappy parents and children, school district officials unveiled a plan Thursday to help families deal with the new Heron Creek Middle School starting time. ...

Echtler captures state title; Venice star will play for overall singles crown this morning against Eau Gallie opponent.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- Venice's Marcus Echtler captured the individual singles title in the Class 3A state championships after winning two matches Thursday at Sanlando Park. With...

Budget includes $1 million to study Tropicana complex.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: VICTOR HULL CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- The University of South Florida is slated to get $1 million from the state this year to study the potential for turning Tropicana headquarters in Bradenton into a nutrition and alternative...

WMNF festival burns like a Heatwave.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PHILIP BOOTH CORRESPONDENT YBOR CITY -- African Soukous, avant-garde jazz, Latin house music, blues, alternative country, punk, garage rock, reggae, spoken word and more are on the bill for the 23rd annual Tropical Heatwave,...

POLICE BLOTTER.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Compiled from Charlotte and Sarasota county sheriffs' reports filed through April 29. Pentelton Avenue, 11100 block, April 27. Daniel T. Carroll was charged with three counts of sale of cocaine or marijuana and three counts possession...

Three Venice players sign scholarships.(SPORTS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com Three players from Venice High's No. 2 state-ranked baseball team have signed scholarship offers to play in college. Steve Strausbaugh signed to play at Division I Western Carolina...

Sex Mob ready to heat up Ybor City on Saturday.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: PHILIP BOOTH CORRESPONDENT YBOR CITY -- Steven Bernstein's slide trumpet boasts a sound that's alternately ugly and beautiful. It's unvarnished, but decidedly expressive. And, at least as played by Bernstein, it's no longer...

Siesta ponders a problem; Dirty-water advisories may just be the result of better testing.(A SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: TOM BAYLES tom.bayles@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- As long as anyone can remember, high bacteria counts and no-swim advisories were problems that did not occur at Siesta Public Beach. Those memories explain the alarm that...

Earth, Wind and Fire reach a new generation.(TICKET)
April 30, 2004... Byline: JACK BOWLIN CORRESPONDENT SARASOTA -- "We rocked it," Verdine White laughed into the telephone receiver during a recent interview. "We rocked it. That's when a lot of people became hip to us." But a lot of people are...

Developer eyes site close to Van Wezel; Hammons proposes a 300-room hotel adjacent to a proposed conference center.(BUSINESS)
April 30, 2004... Byline: KEVIN MCQUAID kevin.mcquaid@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- A Missouri developer has proposed building a 300-room hotel adjacent to a potential conference center on city-owned land at U.S. 41 and 10th Street. John Q. Hammons...

Pierce remembered at 2004 Wishfest Celebration.(SPORTS)(TENNIS)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: MIC HUBER Tears still fill Ava Leutholt's eyes when she recalls the day she sent her son to the parking lot outside the Publix grocery store at Paradise Plaza to put fliers on car windows. Christopher Pierce, who worked...

Officials talking 3-way land swap; The complicated deal could mean a new site for the Manatee County Fairgrounds.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: KRISTI CECCAROSSI kristi.ceccarossi@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- The school district wants a new elementary school, Palmetto wants a new city hall, and the county wants extra parking for the Sheriff's Office. So the three...

'Saturday Night Live' star Fey makes a 'Mean' movie.(TICKET)(Review)
April 30, 2004... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT Every high school has them, and we've come to know them by that splendid parting-of-the-losers shot of them parading down a hallway as the Six Chicks in "13 Going On 30" or, simply, as "Heathers." ...

Intersecting interests; Commission should ensure it doesn't add to S.R. 70 'nightmare'.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
April 30, 2004... Never underestimate the power of an angry electorate, especially in an election year. Residents of the Tara neighborhood have clearly caught the attention of the Manatee County commissioners, who were quick to acknowledge this week that...

'Deathtrap' engages audience completely.(B SECTION)(Art Beat)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Naomi Donson Gasps and laughs mix in dizzying succession in "Deathtrap," running April 23-May 16 at the Arcade Theatre in Fort Myers. Murder, mayhem, and comedy are its linchpins. The 1978 play by Ira Levin, the author of...

Library funding deserves applause, but chairman's comments don't.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Eric Ernst First the good news. Charlotte County will receive a $500,000 state grant toward the construction of its new central library in Port Charlotte. The stipend was in the budget passed Tuesday by the Florida House and...

Students become teachers at annual Earth Day fair.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Sharyn Lonsdale For the past four years, Margaret Jones has had her fourth-grade class run an Earth Day fair for their fellow students at Englewood Elementary School. "They've worked hard and been the teachers," said...

County to celebrate end of Bay project.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT SARASOTA COUNTY -- The county plans to celebrate the completion of the first phase of a project intended to alleviate flooding in south Venice and restore habitat in north Lemon Bay. The county will hold a...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Jury selected for Errol Watts trial SARASOTA -- A jury was selected Thursday for the death penalty trial of Errol Watts, who is accused of robbing and killing his parents. After four days of questioning, eight men and seven women were...

Now that the box is open, the list of hate crimes will be never-ending.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
April 30, 2004... Byline: Rod Thomson If the issue were not so fundamentally important, I would not respond to fellow columnist Tom Lyons' criticism of my apprehension over "hate crimes" laws. The threat that these laws pose is ignored at our own...

Theft victims pay to recover property.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: DARLA MCFARLAND darla.mcfarland@heraldtribune.com ENGLEWOOD -- Kurt Peschke was stunned when a thief managed to sever the locks and chains securing his water scooter and trailer and make off with the property in March. Less...

Our Community.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... County to monitor its energy efficiency MANATEE COUNTY -- County commissioners plan to make the courthouse and other county buildings a little more energy efficient. Workers with a national campaign sponsored by the Environmental...

Children perform opera tonight.(B SECTION)
April 30, 2004... Byline: JANEL STEPHENS janel.stephens@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- They're a generation that listens to rock band Blink-182, Disney pop star Aaron Carter and country singer Toby Keith. But it doesn't matter whether they've heard of...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
April 29, 2004... Now Booker is gonna be cookin' Members of the Booker High School Booster Club recently bought a $7,500 state-of-the-art grill that will allow them to cook three times the hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs and pulled pork they cooked last season....

Echtler in singles, doubles semifinals.(SPORTS)
April 29, 2004... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com ORLANDO -- Venice's Marcus Echtler and Aaron Haines advanced to play in the individual singles and doubles tournaments of the Class 3A state tennis championships after winning...

ODA jazz group gives crowd the old razzle-dazzle.(H-T EAST)
April 29, 2004... Byline: HELEN MANSFIELD CORRESPONDENT LAKEWOOD RANCH -- It was an evening made-to-order Saturday when 150 upper-school music students from the Out-of-Door Academy created a jazz lounge atmosphere for their first "Jazz Under the Stars"...

Commission votes for road, not trail.(H-T EAST)
April 29, 2004... Byline: ERIN BRYCE erin.bryce@heraldtribune.com LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Residents had mixed reactions about the Manatee County Commission decision Tuesday favoring an east-west road instead of a trail through Lakewood Ranch. Some...

Holyfield spreads his message; The 4-time heavyweight champion visits area schools to talk about perseverance,acceptance.(B SECTION)
April 29, 2004... Byline: TIFFANY LANKES tiffany.lankes@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- By the time Evander Holyfield's white limousine rolled up in front of Johnson Middle School, about two dozen awestruck teachers and students were standing...

Referral help will be only a phone call away.(B SECTION)
April 29, 2004... Byline: KIM HACKETT kim.hackett@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Finding emergency shelter or help with utility bills may be as easy as dialing 2-1-1 for residents of Manatee and Sarasota counties when a new service becomes activated in...

Real Deal not ready to fold.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
April 29, 2004... Byline: Doug Fernandes SARASOTA -- The Real Deal insists he's not the Done Deal. It's Evander Holyfield speaking. Who of sane mind would disagree? "I know how it's supposed to end," he said. "I'll be the undisputed heavyweight...

Bent Tree CC hopes to land LPGA event.(SPORTS)
April 29, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT The members of Bent Tree Country Club have been working to get an LPGA event for five years. Recent events have made the possibility of landing a tournament more promising than ever. Sports marketing firm PSE-3...