Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from April 2010

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from April 2010

Cheap eats, worth the money, family-friendly.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN Correspondent Daiquiri Deck 5250 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota. 349-8697; www.daiquirideck.com. No forks necessary for this spot's "Strawberry Shortcake." At the Daiquiri Deck, Siesta Key Village's famous frozen drink...

Into the mind of an analyst.
April 29, 2010... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE Gray was a divinity student at Princeton when he first encountered Jung and his teachings about psychology. "I'm not really sure if it was part of a class or just something that someone turned me on to reading," he...

Heath Ledger's final movie.
April 29, 2010... Byline: CHRISTOPHER LLOYD Correspondent Ledger plays Tony, a mysterious figure with amnesia who gets adopted by a traveling theater troupe whose featured act, Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), is a (literally) ancient mystic. Living like...

Blowing up beer myths.
April 29, 2010... Byline: Alan Shaw Do you know something else that isn't funny? Misconceptions about beer. OK, actually they can be funny, but I needed a way to work my corny NFL Draft joke into this column. Here are some myths about beer: Some beers...

'Doubt' is a play with questions.
April 29, 2010... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN It's the role of Sister Aloysius, a strict and demanding conservative nun who is the principal of a Catholic school in the Bronx in the early 1960s. She comes to believe that the new and more progressive parish priest...

A Swedish tale of intrigue.
April 29, 2010... Byline: CHRISTOPHER LLOYD Correspondent What makes this Swedish thriller exceptional is, well, the girl of the title. It might interest you to know that its original title is "Men Who Hate Women," and it was only given its new, somewhat...

Some time off inspired Hiatt.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ALAN SCULLEY Correspondent Asked during a recent phone interview what inspired him to go for a friskier sound on "The Open Road," the amiable Hiatt showed his quick sense of humor. "The garages of my youth?" he asked in reply. "No,...

Herald Tribune Obituaries.
April 29, 2010... April 27, 2010 Lila Blondell of Sarasota, Prospect Heights, Ill., and a former longtime resident of Des Plaines, Ill., died suddenly on April 27, 2010. Survivors include Edward, her husband of 54 years; sons Steven (Tina) and Brian;...

Strawberry shortcake.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN Correspondent Daiquiri Deck 5250 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota. 349-8697; www.daiquirideck.com. No forks necessary for this spot's "Strawberry Shortcake." At the Daiquiri Deck, Siesta Key Village's famous frozen drink...

... giving back for the past 15 years.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN Correspondent In a climate of layoffs and foreclosures, many of Sarasota's workers are experiencing the feeling of starvation for the first time. Sudden poverty is snowballing from the labor to the administrative...

New CD reviews.
April 29, 2010... Byline: Gerry Galipault SPARKS FLY The trouble with teen TV stars is that someone puts it in their ear that they can sing and that their faithful will buy their music in droves. It's no different for this "iCarly" actress, who has no...

Potters firing up bowls for food bank.
April 29, 2010... Byline: SHELLY OLATOYAN Correspondent Their creative results from the class Saturday will be used in All Faiths Food Bank's Bowls of Hope annual fundraising and soup-tasting event. The food bank wants to collect more than 2,000 handmade...

Dollar Dynasty thanks its supporters.
April 29, 2010... Byline: JODI WALUKONIS Correspondent "Miss Vickie," as she is known, smiled, directed and encouraged others, something that comes second-nature to her since founding the humanitarian aid and outreach organization in 2003. In the same...

Early start on Earth Day lessons at college.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN Correspondent "What does Earth Day mean to you?" the college's horticulturist and guest speaker Michael Williams asked the group while squatting in the school's backyard and opening a bag of potting soil. About 15...

New College hosts Earth Day for youths.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN Correspondent "What does Earth Day mean to you?" the college's horticulturist and guest speaker, Michael Williams, asked the group while squatting in the school's backyard and opening a bag of potting soil. About 15...

4 QUESTIONS WITH KAY GOODMAN.
April 29, 2010... Byline: Heather Dunhill WITH KAY GOODMAN Kay Goodman has spent her career in the hospitality industry and now holds the position of managing director of Global Marketing Services. A New Yorker transplanted to Sarasota in 1997 and a...

Bigger projects now owe taxes.
April 29, 2010... Byline: DOUG SWORD The company is more than $9 million behind on its property taxes and assessments and again tops an annual list of property owners that failed to pay their taxes by the March 30 deadline. That list, dominated by...

Denise Lee 911 bill about to become law.
April 29, 2010... Byline: JEREMY WALLACE H-T Political Writer For two years, Nathan Lee implored Florida's leaders to improve training for 911 operators in the hopes of preventing the kinds of botched emergency calls that led to his wife's death. On...

Snook are gathering around beaches; so are the fishermen.
April 29, 2010... Byline: Capt. Tony Petrella Correspondent Just remember one very important point. Because of the unprecedented freeze that hit southwest Florida in January and February, resulting in a fish kill that especially impacted snook, jack crevalle,...

Power companies come out winners.
April 29, 2010... Byline: ZAC ANDERSON Senators upended Florida's utility regulation board, removing two pro-consumer regulators who had previously denied a major rate increase to Florida Power & Light and were appointed just last year by Gov. Charlie...

Stepfather will go to trial in death of teenager.
April 29, 2010... Byline: JASON WITZ Correspondent The North Port man accused of letting his stepson ingest a fatal dose of painkillers last summer decided not to plead guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in June. A federal judge granted an emergency...

Jung devotees have a new guide to universe.
April 29, 2010... Byline: BILLY COX Their lair is a small, unassuming, second-floor wing of the Argosy University library off 17th Street. Books like the "I Ching," "Myth and Ritual in Christianity," and "God and the Unconscious" draw the walls in tight. A...

Women helping women and families.
April 29, 2010... Byline: Heather Dunhill During the event, executive director the Rev. Rick Howell gave a serious-yet-whimsical talk on how the wonderful support of the community and the luncheon attendees have assisted many women, children, couples,...

Wins whet Ranch's appetite.
April 29, 2010... Byline: CHRIS DELL Correspondent Mustang boys win six of 10 matches on first day The Lakewood Ranch boys tennis team worked up a big appetite on Wednesday afternoon at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs. After winning six out of 10...

A wind shift could target Florida Keys.
April 29, 2010... Byline: DALE WHITE But officials warned that a change in wind direction could bring the massive spill toward Florida, potentially threatening the Keys and even Miami's beaches. "The question is how strongly will the winds remain from the...

Berkey sparks Sailors' rout.
April 29, 2010... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI Senior first baseman goes 3-for-4 with 4 RBI in victory Josh Berkey did not like the circumstances that vaulted him into the starting lineup. Pressed into duty for injured Jimmie Koch, the Sarasota High senior...

Hoppe leads Mustangs into final.
April 29, 2010... Byline: CHRIS ANDERSON Sophomore outduels Pirates' Fischer in 4-2 victory This time Lakewood Ranch didn't need 14 innings to win. Zach Hoppe saw to it. Hoppe, a sophomore pitcher, was just what the Mustangs needed Wednesday night in the...

Crist looks set to bolt.
April 29, 2010... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER H-T Capital Bureau In an extraordinary break with his own party, Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to launch an independent bid for the U.S. Senate today, creating an unprecedented three-way race that could have a...

State's insurers avoid oversight.
April 29, 2010... Byline: PAIGE ST. JOHN Thanks to pressure from the industry, key property insurance legislation will move forward this week without reforms designed to stop companies from hiding unwarranted profits. The House on Wednesday approved a bill...

Lyons: 'Dumb' doesn't explain misdeeds.
April 29, 2010... Byline: TOM LYONS At least that wouldn't have put the commission's staff in such an awkward, morale-busting spot taking turns helping her break the law. Brown predicted a few days ago that some people would make too much of what she did. I...

Crist decision on Senate race today.
April 29, 2010... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER H-T Capital Bureau Flanked by his wife, Carol, and his parents, Crist is to make an announcement in Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg at 5 p.m. Crist's top political supporters said the governor was prepared...

Herald Tribune Obituaries.
April 28, 2010... June 17, 1948 - April 25, 2010 Donna W. Fleming, 61, of Venice died April 25, 2010. Services are private. Survivors include husband Jim of Venice and brother Jimmy Williams of Wake Forest, N.C. Donations may be made to TideWell...

Sushi takes spotlight.
April 28, 2010... Byline: JACK D. WINNER Correspondent What it hasn't had is a restaurant that specializes in either steak or sushi. Tango Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has stepped in to fill that gap. The restaurant has designed a handsome setting for its new...

It's time for tea.
April 28, 2010... Byline: LEE MCCALL Correspondent My first tea party memory, at age 5, involved a blue-and-white miniature Meissen tea set -- a birthday gift from my mother, which was used to entertain my dolls and probably initiated my enduring affinity for...

Gradually going green.
April 28, 2010... Byline: Linda Brandt I ended the day discouraged and overwhelmed with questions: Am I a bad person because I like hamburgers? What hidden hazards are in so-called green products? Should I avoid frozen vegetables and only eat what is...

How our gardens grow.
April 28, 2010... Byline: Heather Dunhill The Edible Petals Champagne Luncheon was held on the grounds in the Great Room by the Bay. Tranquil vibrations of Celtic harp music, performed by Olivia Swaan, danced lightly through the Banyans. Guests dined on...

Humor and drama fill 'Jar the Floor'.
April 28, 2010... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN Jacobs, the company's founder and artistic director, stepped in just days before Saturday's opening to replace another actress, and he does a fine job in a play that starts off like comedic house afire before it rushes...

Housing-market index shows sign of health.
April 28, 2010... Byline: MICHAEL BRAGA Even though the The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller index, which measures real estate prices for a composite of 20 major U.S. cities, slipped slightly from January to February, its year-over-year comparison showed a...

Land deal worth millions.
April 28, 2010... Byline: ZAC ANDERSON is part of preservation puzzle To keep his agricultural operation diversified, rancher Berryman "Buster" Longino has grown many crops over the years, from oranges to watermelons, grapefruit and sod. The one thing...

Headaches subside from toppled crane.
April 28, 2010... Byline: TODD RUGER Workers on Tuesday removed a tipped crane from the power lines and home it fell onto Monday night and made it possible for power to be restored to about 1,400 homes that were left without electricity. The tipped crane's...

DRYWALL VICTIMS WIN RULING.
April 28, 2010... Byline: AARON KESSLER U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is overseeing the massive combined Chinese drywall litigation in New Orleans, ruled that: A couple affected by the drywall - Tatum and Charlene Hernandez of Mandeville,...

Oil spill poses real risks for Florida.
April 28, 2010... Byline: DALE WHITE Spewing 42,000 gallons of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico, the leak is threatening Florida's fragile environment and tourist-dependent economy. Oceanographers say that fast-moving currents from the northwest are likely...

Chupa sisters make history.
April 28, 2010... Byline: TOM BALOG STATE TENNIS: Manatee doubles team, Bayshore's Garcia win state titles Mary and Carolyn Chupa of Manatee High and Pedro Garcia of Bayshore High came home with state titles from the FHSAA State 2A and 4A tennis...

Man convicted in crash that killed girl, 7.
April 28, 2010... Byline: JASON WITZ Correspondent Jurors found Ronald Judson Smith guilty in the drunken driving death of a 7-year-old North Port girl Tuesday, ending the six-day manslaughter trial attorneys called "highly emotional." The six-member jury...

Energy reform bill approved, but limited.
April 28, 2010... Byline: ZAC ANDERSON It is unclear whether the bill will become law. The Senate must also approve it, and the legislative session ends Friday. The bill passed by the House would authorize $386 million worth of renewable energy from sources...

Ex-coach's brother jailed for contempt.
April 28, 2010... Byline: TODD RUGER James Hunter went to jail Tuesday rather than testify against his little brother, a former Braden River High football coach facing up to 15 years in prison on a DUI manslaughter charge. The parents of James and Josh...

In North Port, skateboard park may soon charge.
April 28, 2010... Byline: JASON WITZ Correspondent The City Commission will consider lifting a temporary ban on user fees to the local skate park, despite pleas from the teenagers who frequent the facility. On Monday, officials reviewed the proposed fees...

Panhandling ordinance is approved 3-1.
April 28, 2010... Byline: CHRIS GERBASI Correspondent With careful attention to language, Charlotte County commissioners on Tuesday approved an ordinance defining and prohibiting aggressive or obstructive panhandling. The new ordinance, which came in...

Venice is told City Hall seems a bit top-heavy.
April 28, 2010... Byline: KIM HACKETT City Hall has a lean staff but too many managers, and not all of them have the education their jobs require. Those were a few of the conclusions by a management consultant hired to streamline city operations to save...

Crist says he'll soon end Senate speculation.
April 28, 2010... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER H-T Capital Bureau With more signs of his growing independence, Gov. Charlie Crist said he will end the drama over his political future on Thursday with a decision on the U.S. Senate race. Most observers expect...

Oglevie hurls perfect game.
April 28, 2010... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI CLASS 5A-REGION 3: Sickles senior retires 24 hitters in a 1-0 victory over Venice in eight innings The way Melanie Dembinski was pitching, along with the way the Venice High softball team was hitting, Tampa...

Lady Blazers defeated in quarterfinals.
April 28, 2010... Byline: PHIL DENIS, Correspondent REGION SOFTBALL: Clawson brilliant in 2-1 loss at home CLASS 4A-REGION 3: BRADEN RIVER 2 STEINBRENNER 1 CLASS 4A-REGION 3: LAKEWOOD RANCH 4 JEFFERSON 2 Land O'Lakes Academy at the Lakes made a...

Mustangs edge Bruins in 14th.
April 28, 2010... Byline: JIM BROCKMAN, Correspondent DISTRICT BASEBALL: Lakewood Ranch moves into semis CLASS 2A-11: SHORECREST PREP 7 OUT-OF-DOOR 0 CLASS 1A-10: MANATEE HEAT 13 SWF CHRISTIAN 3 CLASS 5A-10: VENICE 10 PORT CHARLOTTE 3 CLASS...

Rhodes hurls Venice past Port Charlotte.
April 28, 2010... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 10: Indians use 13-hit attack to advance to district final Thursday vs. Manatee CLASS 3A-10: CARDINAL MOONEY 8 SOUTHEAST 3 Aaron Rhodes was getting his pitches up early. And the Port...

Throwing error gives Ranch the win in 14th.
April 28, 2010... Byline: JIM BROCKMAN, Correspondent CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 10: Lakewood Ranch, Bayshore starters battle for 10 scoreless innings Lakewood Ranch High took advantage of a throwing error in the bottom of the 14th inning Tuesday night to defeat...

Lady Mustangs advance, 4-2.
April 28, 2010... Byline: CHRIS ANDERSON CLASS 4A-REGION 3: First pitch they see is a homer, but game stays close The night ended the same way it began, and that was with a Lakewood Ranch celebration. Corey Hanewich hit the first pitch of the game for a...

Vanderbrandt: what a relief.
April 28, 2010... Byline: DOUG FERNANDES CLASS 6A-DISTRICT 7: Ram goes 4-for-4 at the plate, then saves the game from the mound As if Chris Vanbrandt had not done enough with the bat in his hands, the Riverview Ram was forced to pitch in on the mound as...

HYPERCONNECTED.
April 27, 2010... Byline: WALKER MEADE Correspondent You could roll a horse and buggy and break a bone or two, but an automobile accident can paralyze or kill you much more easily. Historically, the dangers from new technologies have been mostly physical. But...

Volunteer reviews help out children.
April 27, 2010... Byline: STEVE HEISLER Correspondent Training for new people to serve on the Citizen Review Panel begins next week so that foster parents, and the children entrusted in their care, get a fair shake in the court system. The program began 13...

Mustangs use blend of leadership, youth.
April 27, 2010... Byline: CHRIS DELL, Correspondent LAKEWOOD RANCH Huntyre Elling was barely old enough to throw a fastball the last time that the Lakewood Ranch High softball team won a district title. And Dana Hutchins, Taylor Newton and Jennifer...

Key Chorale marks 25 years with song.
April 27, 2010... Byline: GAYLE WILLIAMS Correspondent The chorus went on under the direction of Joseph Caulkins, in his third season leading the chorale, to perform three evocative works by Eric Whitacre: "The Seal Lullaby," "Sleep" and "Lux Aurumque." All...

From boots to ball gowns.
April 27, 2010... Byline: Heather Dunhill About 300 guests joined chair Debbie Plotts for the event, which boasted a silent auction that seemed to stretch the length of the Michael's on East courtyard, where Amanda Morris made a wish list for her husband, Rob....

New country, same sport.
April 27, 2010... Byline: MIC HUBER SARASOTA HIGH: Senior Dayan Rodriguez, who left his native Cuba two years ago, has used baseball to ease the transition If Dayan Rodriguez needs to make one pitch to put a batter away, he goes with his knuckle-changeup....

Real estate veteran at Prudential Palms.
April 27, 2010... Byline: TOM BAYLES Steve Bailey, a veteran manager of real estate companies in Connecticut and Florida, has joined Prudential Palms Realty. "It does feel good to be back," Bailey said Monday. "It's energizing." Bailey is a Prudential...

NADEL VICTIMS AWAIT ANSWERS.
April 27, 2010... Byline: JOHN HIELSCHER Wiand met with about 60 investors to update his progress in seizing and selling assets that will raise money for those who got burned in the scam. During several testy exchanges -- at one point Wiand cut off attorney...

Bruins in hunt for titles.
April 27, 2010... Byline: TOM BALOG STATE TENNIS: Bayshore's Bao and Garcia one win away from being champs Bayshore High's Tianyu Bao and Pedro Garcia will each play for singles championships today at the FHSAA Class 2A Boys Tennis Tournament, before...

Lean plan abandons pay cuts.
April 27, 2010... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER H-T Capital Bureau Compared with the problems facing many states around the nation, Florida's new $69 billion state budget looks positively rosy. Propped up by federal stimulus funds and the cashing of state...

E-mails triggered warning to North Port police.
April 27, 2010... Byline: JOHN DAVIS Murder suspect's ex-husband had pushed for her to be held In a series of e-mails and texts to her ex-husband in Connecticut, North Port mother Morgan Smith sounded troubled, even desperate. She wrote that she was seeking...

'Drill, baby, drill' tune is now 'Spill, baby, spill'.
April 27, 2010... Byline: Tom Lyons He's almost a year overdue. The last time we discussed his vote in favor of exploratory oil drilling three to nine miles off Florida's Gulf coast, he said he didn't mean he was OK with drilling near Sarasota. No way. ...

County finds itself divided on homeless.
April 27, 2010... Byline: CHRIS GERBASI Correspondent Charlotte County leaders and residents agree that homelessness is a growing problem, but some believe the county is systematically implementing an "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" policy. Business owners want...

Stimulus cash may remain after projects are paid for.
April 27, 2010... Byline: DALE WHITE Sarasota County may have $1 million or more available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, depending on what happens with a pedestrian overpass for the Legacy Trail, the last of its stimulus projects for which a...

IMPROPER STAFF USE BY BROWN.
April 27, 2010... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL County Commissioner Gwen Brown routinely asked county staff to type and copy documents for her outside job as an adjunct professor, according to an internal county investigation. At Brown's request, county...

Herald Tribune Obituaries.
April 27, 2010... Blackburn, Alice Josephine Feb. 16, 1924 - April 25, 2010 Alice Josephine Blackburn, 86, of Nokomis died April 25, 2010. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel. A funeral service will be at 1...

Schools sell extra broadcast capacity.
April 27, 2010... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL The school district will net almost $9 million over the next 30 years by selling spare capacity on its local broadcasting system. School Board officials Monday night approved a deal with Clearwire Spectrum...

Crane collapses, damaging power lines and a house.
April 27, 2010... Byline: TODD RUGER A crane being used on a bridge replacement project collapsed and fell onto power lines and a home Monday night, causing an electrical outage for about 1,400 homes near the intersection of Lockwood Ridge Road and Webber...

Passes planned for rides in two counties.
April 27, 2010... Byline: DALE WHITE The $60 swipe card will be valid for one month from the date of purchase. Manatee County Area Transit and Sarasota County Area Transit will determine later if the price needs to be adjusted. The passes are to be...

Charlotte County divided over homeless.
April 27, 2010... Byline: CHRIS GERBASI Correspondent New and proposed county rules set the stage for clash with advocates Charlotte County leaders and residents agree that homelessness is a growing problem, but some believe the county is systematically...

Local woman who claims to be a Tiger Woods mistress, makes court appearance.
April 27, 2010... Byline: Anthony Cormier BRADENTON Melinda Brinling-Caso is a B-list porn actress who says she slept with Tiger Woods once a month during the golf great's admitted reign of adultery. But her mother doesn't believe a word of it. Sandra...

Delivering future benefits.
April 26, 2010... Byline: Matt Sauer Panama remains a bright spot on the growth horizon for Southwest Florida. The great commerce funnel of the canal is something that could greatly benefit Port Manatee and the business prospects of the broader region. I...

Realtors' report puts face.
April 26, 2010... Byline: Tom Bayles THE RECENTLY COMPLETED Face of Foreclosure research project gives an insight on the people behind the numbers, providing an interesting peek into the lives of people going through the loss of their homes. Its most...

Canadian bank makes splash buying failed Florida lenders.
April 26, 2010... Byline: John Hielscher TD at least not yet -- but the Canadian-owned bank just bulked up in other parts of the state. TD Bank on April 16 bought three failed Florida banks, adding $3.9 billion in deposits and 69 offices to the $1.1 billion...

Herald Tribune Obituaries.
April 26, 2010... May 8, 1933 - April 23, 2010 Richard D. "Dick" Beckwith, 76, of Venice, formerly of the Washington, D.C., area died April 23, 2010. Services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Christ United Methodist Church in Venice. Ewing Funeral Home is...

Her rude awakening.
April 26, 2010... Byline: MICHAEL BRAGA All Mila Soccolich wanted was for her dream house to be built near her in-laws in Lakewood Ranch and for the chance to gradually relocate with her husband from Teaneck, N.J. But after three years of battling with her...

Are high-end properties going down?
April 26, 2010... Byline: MICHAEL BRAGA BARBARA ACKERMAN, CHERYL Loeffler and Hannerle Moore are three of the top luxury real estate agents in Southwest Florida. But they have differing opinions about the direction of prices in the months ahead. Ackerman,...