Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from December 2007

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from December 2007

TIME'S RUNNING OUT! Last days to ship for delivery before Christmas:.
December 18, 2007... * Priority Mail: Dec. 20 * Express Mail: Dec. 22 * Parcel Post: Deadline has passed UNITED PARCEL SERVICE * 3-Day Select: Dec. 19 * 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20 * Next Day Air: Dec. 21 * Last chance: Dec. 22,...

Fight for Florida Forever Extend preservation program to protect valuable lands.
December 18, 2007... The protection of the ranchlands -- comprised of three ranches in eastern Sarasota County next to or near the state park -- was given a high priority Friday by the state's Acquisition and Restoration Council. The council ranks sites proposed...

Veteran Cliff Floyd signs 1-year deal with Rays that could pay him $4.75M.
December 18, 2007... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com Floyd, who will make $2.75 million with an opportunity to earn $2 million more in bonuses based on plate appearances, hit nine home runs and knocked in 45 runs with a .284...

Tarpons face Taft in Classic.
December 18, 2007... Byline: Dennis Maffezzoli Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft handed Westchester its first loss of the season, 67-60, on Dec. 8. Taft is Charlotte's opening-round opponent in the 35th annual event at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bishop Verot High...

BUCS AREN'T BACKING OFF With a shot at claiming the No. 3 seed in the NFC, Gruden plans to stick with his starters.
December 18, 2007... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com The head coach of the newly crowned NFC South champion Buccaneers (9-5) had a strong case for why it would not be his preferred course of action. Tampa Bay still has a goal it can...

Patient Rams finally score in second half.
December 18, 2007... Byline: STEVE GIBSON steve.gibson@heraldtribune.com The Lady Rams (10-7-4) got things going early in the second half and cruised to a 3-0 win. "We played well," said Brester. "We finished. And that's something we've been having...

Falcons continue tumultuous year Sunday's 37-3 loss to Bucs was Atlanta's worst since losing to Chiefs, 56-10, in '04.
December 18, 2007... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com Later that night, the Falcons, with a former insurance salesman Chris Redman at quarterback, fell to 3-10 with a 34-14 loss to New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Then,...

Palmetto holds off Bruins.
December 18, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT The Bruins (1-8) could not quite overcome a 12-point halftime deficit despite closing to within 56-55 with four minutes left. The Tigers (3-8) managed to pull it out. Travaris Woodie and Bryan Smith each had...

Southeast boys edge North Port.
December 18, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Mike Cline added an assist for the Seminoles while freshman goalkeeper Dustin Clark had six saves. Adam Freitas scored both of North Port's goals. Southeast (10-4-1, 6-0-1) claimed the top seed for the Class...

Ashley Losch not typical freshman.(Kid Profile)
December 18, 2007... Byline: CHRIS DELL CORRESPONDENT The freshman can run the point, score from 3-point range, slash to the basket and bang inside with the big players. The freshman has played an integral role in the Lady Rams' 11-1 start, coming off...

Laid-off worker takes a chance on hot sauce store.
December 18, 2007... Byline: Toni Whitt To him, it was a sign that he should take a risk and follow a years-long dream of opening a fiery foods store. "I knew this was my opportunity to prove to myself that this could work," said Rizzo, a backyard...

Milligan's first challenge New head of raided investment pool readies response to county ultimatum.
December 18, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com With just 180 employees, the SBA handles more than $170 billion on behalf of Floridians, including the $138 billion Florida Retirement System pension fund and the Hurricane...

Hospital president gets top pay raise New salary is $530,436 with 3.5 percent boost.
December 18, 2007... Byline: DAVID GULLIVER david.gulliver@heraldtribune.com The hospital board ratified the raise at its Monday meeting, after approving the goals last year. The hospital system's 276 managers are evaluated under a similar system, where...

Business Buzz.
December 18, 2007... Love joins sales team at Weichert, Realtors Debbie Love has joined the sales team at Weichert, Realtors -- On the Circle on St. Armands Key. Take Care earns a perfect score again Take Care of Sarasota Inc., a private-duty home...

Manatee County-based CarBiz to open Houston 'superstore'.
December 18, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com CarBiz figures the superstore model could generate eight times the annual revenue of one of its 26 regular-sized stores. The new operation that CarBiz leased in Houston "is...

Housing slump stalls Brasota distributions Receiver delays raising more money for victims of the failed Ponzi scheme.
December 18, 2007... Byline: TOM BAYLES tom.bayles@heraldtribune.com The roughly 1,800 investors have received their share of $82 million recovered so far out of $137 million owed, but the state of the real estate market is making the receiver appointed to...

Man, 86, found dead in canal Wife says he enjoyed walking by the docks.
December 18, 2007... Byline: KIM HACKETT kim.hackett@heraldtribune.com The man was later identified as Harold Brown, 86, who lived in the 600 block of South Tamiami Trail. His wife told police that Brown had left to go for a walk to buy the newspaper earlier...

IN BRIEF.
December 18, 2007... Officers found Martin Malloy, 46, in the swimming pool at Brighter Living Home Care, 600 block of Chamber Street, after receiving a call at 4:10 p.m. Saturday. A staff member had tried to perform CPR on Molloy, who was pronounced dead...

BEST BETS.
December 18, 2007... ACT NOW Get your event considered for the Herald-Tribune community calendar. Items must be submitted online using a form at www.heraldtribune.com/calendarform. Please include how frequently your event occurs. Items without that...

Elaborate display delights visitors.
December 18, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT "So park the car in the vacant lot, watch from your car where you can listen to the music on your radio at 107.6 or stroll the length of the yard for the total effect," advised Robin. "We've been...

Obituaries.
December 18, 2007... Aug. 10, 1982 - Dec. 15, 2007 Joshua Ian MacMorris, 25, Englewood, formerly of Wetumpka, Ala., died Dec. 15, 2007. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with services to follow, at Englewood Community Funeral Home. ...

Celtic Christmas Festival is growing.
December 18, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT The festival benefits Florida Elks Children's Therapy Services, which offers free in-home occupational and physical therapy to Florida children in need. Eleanor Sassen wanted to "sample something...

United Methodist Church serves free Christmas dinner.
December 18, 2007... Fellowship Hall will be decorated for the holiday and Christmas music will fill the air. Best of all, there will be no lines, as diners will be greeted and seated by church volunteers. The menu is roast turkey and stuffing, mashed...

Ex-Indian Bear ends WKU days.
December 18, 2007... Byline: Perry Pentz Bear was second on the team with 8 1/2 tackles for losses of 53 yards and led the Hilltoppers (7-5) with 4 1/2 sacks for losses of 39 yards. He also had two interceptions for 38 yards as well as one pass breakup and...

Flower show is beautiful and bold.
December 18, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT "Almost everywhere you look there is another beautiful setting to see, the next even better than the one before," Virginia Cook said. Earlier in the day, judges evaluated each entry before the...

At library event, it didn't take long for treats to vanish.
December 18, 2007... Once the story was over, the children got to prepare their cookies using icing, sugar crystals, sprinkles, M&Ms and other sugary treats. Once the snacks were gone, the youngsters decorated gingerbread men made with paper. The adults...

Obituaries.
December 18, 2007... Dec. 14, 2007 Henry O. "Hank" Belanger, 94, Sarasota died Dec. 14, 2007. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today (Tuesday)at the Toale Brothers Gulf Gate Chapel, Sarasota. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's...

Sonata a Due thrills La Musica's backers.
December 18, 2007... Byline: Marjorie North "It's a rare privilege to be able to hear such brilliant musicians in a magnificent setting," Sally said. "It takes one back to the past when chamber music was performed in a salon. "And then to be able to...

Change is good for this pair.
December 18, 2007... Byline: Alan Dell Entering his junior year at Manatee High, Wickersham was a linebacker who thrived on hitting people and racking up tackles. But Hurricanes head coach Joe Kinnan needed offensive linemen and in his eyes Wickersham...

Building department audited Statements that inspectors took gifts prompt the investigation.
December 18, 2007... Byline: FRANK GLUCK frank.gluck@heraldtribune.com In an affidavit in that case, one building department inspector, asking that charges against Todoroff be dropped, told the court that such arrangements were common. Inspector John...

Officers punished over false pay slip The Bradenton officers were trying to settle a debt, a report says.
December 18, 2007... Byline: ANTHONY CORMIER anthony.cormier@heraldtribune.com Initially, the officers were supposed to lose two days of pay. Instead, Chief Michael Radzilowski reduced their discipline to a "counseling" conversation with a supervisor. ...

POLICE BRIEFS.
December 18, 2007... According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Salvador Martinez was behind Mike's Mini Mart on 15th Street East when 7 to 15 unknown men attacked him. A witness came around the building and the men fled. The witness took Martinez to the...

Obituaries.
December 18, 2007... Jan. 21, 1936 - Dec. 16, 2007 Janice A. "Jan" Anderson, 71, Bradenton since 1974, formerly of Michigan City, Ind., died Dec. 16, 2007. Memorial visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, with services to follow, at Redeemer...

Casey Kelly finally back on the field.
December 18, 2007... Byline: Chad Brockhoff A memorable junior year included Herald-Tribune All-Area Player of the Year honors in football and baseball, a perfect game against Charlotte and a two-hit shutout against DeLand in the 2007 state championship...

Now who's hampering free speech at UF?
December 18, 2007... Byline: Tom Lyons The movie shows Islamic radicals as they teach children to admire suicide bombers and the like. Posters for the film made the point clear. "Radical Islam wants you dead," they said. UF Vice President for Student...

Drag queen bingo show goes on at Sarasota cafe.
December 18, 2007... Byline: DOUG SWORD doug.sword@heraldtribune.com But the bullhorns were gone after neighbors complained about the volume and the profanity of the trio of drag queen entertainers. The city attorney's office warned the cafe management on...

School beats odds to get invitation to U.S. arts event.
December 18, 2007... Byline: TIFFANY LANKES tiffany.lankes@heraldtribune.com Most schools selected for such national honors are those with specialized art programs designed to attract the most talented students. At Gocio, things are different. About 70...

Mooring field plan cleared in Sarasota.
December 18, 2007... Byline: ROGER DROUIN roger.drouin@heraldtribune.com Some boats could be removed from Sarasota Bay as soon as July, but the commissioners also made provisions to allow some boaters to stay anchored for free even after the mooring field is...

Man stopped earlier, but fled.
December 18, 2007... Byline: TODD RUGER todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com Brabazon sped off when the deputy got out of his squad car, starting a chase across Sarasota that ended miles away with Brabazon shot at about 10:40 p.m. Authorities say Brabazon...

Human bodies exhibit to appear at G.WIZ.
December 18, 2007... Byline: CATHY ZOLLO cathy.zollo@heraldtribune.com While a small part of the similar "Bodies... The Exhibition" came to Sarasota for two days in August 2006, this is the first time a full exhibit of this kind will be on display locally....

BEST BETS.
December 18, 2007... Tribune holiday tour of lights at www.heraldtribune.com/holidaylights. ACT NOW Get your event considered for the Herald-Tribune community calendar. Items must be submitted online using a form at www.herald tribune.com/calendarform....

Donations help facility help young offenders with babies.
December 18, 2007... "It's great to have some more room for the babies," said program director Stacie Cherry. "Before, we just didn't have that much room for us to work with them. And the more interaction they get, the better." A total of 43 moms and their...

Obituaries.
December 18, 2007... Dec. 14, 2007 Henry O. "Hank" Belanger, 94, Sarasota died Dec. 14, 2007. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today (Tuesday)at the Toale Brothers Gulf Gate Chapel, Sarasota. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's...

Pilot's career mirrored the boom in air travel.
December 18, 2007... Byline: MARK ZALOUDEK mark.zaloudek@heraldtribune.com Allaman, who died Nov. 25 at age 91, saw revolutionary changes in the industry that not only produced larger and sturdier planes capable of covering longer distances but also sweeping...

ALTERNATIVE HEALING As herbal medicine grows, three treatments gain popularity.
December 18, 2007... Byline: MATTHEW SOLAN CORRESPONDENT Here is an introduction to three popular herbal preparations. TRIPHALA People always welcome the approaching new year as a time to start their lives fresh. But do not forget your internal one....

You have been warned.
December 18, 2007... Byline: David Grimes For example, this year's first prize went to a small tractor manufacturer that warned on its label: "Danger: Avoid Death." I think warning people to avoid death is a perfectly sensible caution, one that should...

Little Havana's political winds are shifting Cuban-Americans still hate Castro, but some reconsider U.S. policies.
December 17, 2007... Byline: CAROL E. LEE carol.lee@heraldtribune.com Amid steaming cups of cafe Cubano and flaky guava pastries at the outdoor counter of Versailles restaurant, rising voices of politicaldebate fill the air, as they have for 36 years at this...

Venice land use rule may end Code allowing living, working and shopping in same building is at risk.
December 17, 2007... Byline: KIM HACKETT kim.hackett@heraldtribune.com But it is how the new council handles the weightier issue that brought three new members into office last month -- growth -- that worries developers and some community leaders. They...

VERSAILLES: THE GO-T0 PLACE FOR POLITICS.
December 17, 2007... John McCain reserved a few tables before a recent Spanish-language Republican debate nearby. Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson have campaigned among the fried plantains and "ropa vieja" there. But Bob Graham, a Democrat, was...

Venice planning comes full circle.
December 17, 2007... Byline: KIM HACKETT kim.hackett@heraldtribune.com When construction resumed after World War II, there were different ideas about what made a good community. The expanding highway system and the proliferation of cars carried people to...

Rein in the CIA Interrogation bill suggests Congress is ready to assert itself.
December 17, 2007... The bill, which President Bush has threatened to veto, says CIA interrogators cannot use techniques explicitly prohibited by a 2006 Army Field Manual. The manual prohibits torture, inhuman, cruel or degrading treatment, including sensory...

Placing a value on forests Program would help maintain a bulwark against climate change.
December 17, 2007... Forests soak up enormous amounts of "greenhouse" gas emissions, and scientists say deforestation accounts for about 20 percent of man-made carbon dioxide emissions that reach the atmosphere. Yet, many indigenous peoples in tropical...

Let beachgoers breathe easy Sarasota County's smoking ban should be adopted elsewhere.
December 17, 2007... The primary goal of the restriction is to reduce the number of cigarette butts discarded in the sand. To many people, that may seem like a trivial pursuit. It isn't. Keep Sarasota Beautiful said cigarette butts are the No. 1 litter item...

Invest in pests, not politicians.
December 17, 2007... Byline: Daryl Lease Termite guts, to be exact. Like me, you may have missed the exciting news about termite intestines when it was first reported a few weeks ago. So I'll share it with you now, in the spirit of the season. (Invest...

History right before your very eyes.
December 17, 2007... Byline: Doug Fernandes Yes, Virginia.... It happened on kickoff 1,865 in the team's 32nd regular season, the previous 1,864 having ended with a variation on "He's tackled." It's been so long, it seemed the Bucs had been trying...

A RETURN TO THE TOP Bucs get first TD return and clinch the NFC South.
December 17, 2007... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com A recent practice squad player named Michael Spurlock made history by scoring the first kickoff return touchdown in the team's 32-year history. Cornerback Ronde Barber once again did his...

Obituaries.
December 17, 2007... June 25, 1934 - Dec. 10, 2007 Icilda M. Brown, 73, Port Charlotte, formerly of Jamaica, West Indies, died Dec. 10, 2007. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, with services to follow, at Community Life Center, Port...

Obituaries.
December 17, 2007... Dec. 14, 2007 Henry O. "Hank" Belanger, 94, Sarasota died Dec. 14, 2007. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Toale Brothers Gulf Gate Chapel, Sarasota. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church,...

Drag queen bingo is making enemies Neighbors dislike volume and profanity; Sarasota says cafe needs license.
December 17, 2007... Byline: ROGER DROUIN roger.drouin@heraldtribune.com On Thursday, city officials sent Canvas Cafe owner Louis Schultz a letter warning that the upcoming bingo night cannot go on because Schultz does not have a bingo license. The...

POLICE BRIEFS.
December 17, 2007... Janki Shanta Brown, 28, was charged with unlawfully disseminating the names, home addresses and telephone numbers of jail employees -- information that is confidential under state law. Brown, a trusty at the county jail with special...

Obituaries.
December 17, 2007... March 2, 1911 - Dec. 15, 2007 Mary Miri, 97, Bradenton since 1979, formerly of Palisades Park, N.J., died Dec. 15, 2007. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach. Burial will follow at Mansin...

Buchanan bobbles votes, but switches.
December 17, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Wallace Buchanan's first goof was on a procedural vote in late October when he sided with Democrats on agreeing to allow a vote on the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, a bill most Republicans opposed. ...

Santa comes early for Sarasota food bank.
December 17, 2007... Byline: BILLY COX billy.cox@heraldtribune.com "The Community Foundation really came through for us." The Community Foundation of Sarasota helped raise $84,000 for the truck, which was needed to help the food bank keep up with the...

Deputies fatally shoot driver Car chase led to gunfire on University after ex-con pointed a gun, officials say.
December 17, 2007... Byline: CHRISTINA E. SANCHEZ christina.sanchez@heraldtribune.com The exact route of the chase and speeds were not released, but deputies chased Brabazon through the areas of Orange Avenue and Myrtle Street, 17th Street and Tuttle Avenue...

Wintry weather chills Sarasota.
December 17, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Temperatures started off in the mid-70s on Sunday and got progressively cooler, with temperatures expected to drop into the 40s overnight. Heavy winds brought down tree branches, and sent debris flying. In...

Obituaries.
December 17, 2007... Dec. 14, 2007 Henry O. "Hank" Belanger, 94, Sarasota died Dec. 14, 2007. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Toale Brothers Gulf Gate Chapel, Sarasota. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church,...

THE BUZZ.
December 17, 2007... The group Sophisticated Jazz will be joined by Grammy-nominated musician David Young, who plays two Renaissance flutes at the same time and has sold more than 1 million CDs. The concert will start at 4 p.m. and run until about 9. "It's...

Business People.
December 17, 2007... Jie Sun of Aquatic Plants of Florida Inc. has been named director of its tissue culture laboratories. Kathie Babcock has been appointed head of laboratory production. Alison Znidarsic recently joined the company as a sales and marketing...

GOOD DEEDS.
December 17, 2007... The Women's Resource Center of Manatee can be reached at 747-6797. The Steak n Shake Co. has partnered for the fifth year with America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network to deliver steakburger patties to the hungry this...

Good gifting Charity cards let recipient choose where to donate.
December 17, 2007... Byline: TONI WHITT toni.whitt@heraldtribune.com This year there has been a proliferation of new gift card sites online offering gift givers a chance to feel good about their gifts and providing the answer to that age-old question about an...

Caterer's retail store sells entrees.(Grand Openings)
December 17, 2007... Chef's Marketplace also carries fine dishes and pottery, hostess gifts and gift baskets. www.chefs-marketplace.com. Phone: 922-3748. Paul W. DeClark has opened Florida's Long Term Care Specialists, serving Sarasota and Manatee...

Realtors say condos are selling.
December 17, 2007... Byline: Stephen Frater "From our analysis, the reason we are seeing condominium median sales prices remaining the same year over year, is the strength of the higher end market. This is both a result of closings of high-end projects,...

Agents find benefits to teaming up By joining forces, costs can be shared and clients can be better served by each person's particular set of skills.
December 17, 2007... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com A team structure no longer requires each agent to pay separate costs for Web sites, marketing materials and advertising. It may also allow individuals more scheduling flexibility...

REAL ESTATE PEOPLE.
December 17, 2007... Chris Smith and Nate Hudson have joined the staff of CTX Mortgage Co. in Bradenton as home loan consultants. Debra Jones has been promoted to manager at Rankin Mortgage. Roger McDonough has become a state certified general real...

Housing downturn slows retiree haven's growth Some seniors who want to move into Water's Edge in Bradenton can't until they sell their homes.
December 17, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL BRAGA michael.braga@heraldtribune.com The second-phase -- a 109-unit apartment building -- is scheduled to open in the spring, while the third phase -- an 80-unit assisted living center -- will break ground late next year....

Appraisers deal with new market.(REAL ESTATE CHAT)
December 17, 2007... A Appraising residential real estate is a challenge right now for several reasons. First of all, the number of homes available for "comparable sales" has decreased. With fewer choices, the sold properties may not be as comparable as one would...

Banks continue to lose plenty as loans go bad.
December 17, 2007... Byline: John Hielscher "While we do not make a practice of forecasting quarterly earnings, I think you certainly can assume results will again be quite disappointing," president/chief executive officer Ken Lewis said in remarks to the...

REAL ESTATE DEALS.
December 17, 2007... LEASES Learning Bees has leased 1,200 square feet at the Ridge Center, 4575 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota from WPC Properties for three years. Debbie Anglin and Steve Horn of Ian Black Real Estate handled the transaction. Bean Shakers...

Despite the name, preferred stocks aren't always preferable.
December 17, 2007... Byline: Dr. Robert Stepleman One reason is that, as we shall see, preferred stocks come in many different "flavors," and each one has its own risk and reward profile. Additionally, it is not always obvious whether the preferred...

We are all guilty in steroid era.
December 16, 2007... Byline: Dennis Maffezzoli As reporters gathered around his locker, waiting for Sierra to unpack his bag, a teammate walked over, pulled Sierra's shirt open and looked inside. The teammate was impressed and gave a nod of approval. ...

In the pocket Jeff Garcia returns for game that could secure division title.
December 16, 2007... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com A playoff atmosphere figures to greet Garcia's return to an emotionally charged Raymond James Stadium, where the Bucs can wrap up the division championship against the troubled Atlanta...

Bobcats' coach Kemble gets 100th victory Host North Port dominates the meet with seven wrestlers going undefeated on the day.
December 16, 2007... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com "We did a nice job today and wrestled pretty good," said North Port coach Mark Kemble. "We had a lot of good individual efforts. We are working pretty hard and adding Walt Ragan to the...

Jack attack Jack crevalle just might be among the strongest and most determined fish in local salt waters.
December 16, 2007... Byline: Steve Gibson He put a fresh piece of cut pinfish on his hook and cast it as far as he could into the middle of the ICW. The rig floated just a few feet in the outgoing tide when the line suddenly became taut and his rod bent. ...

Coaches recognize DeSoto's Arrington.
December 16, 2007... Byline: Barbara Klemt Boxleitner A Lady Royals co-captain, Arrington led the conference in hitting percentage and led Warner Southern (9-15) in games played, kills and total blocks. She ranked second on the team in service aces. MORE...