Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from February 2004

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from February 2004

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... ENGLEWOOD -- Four arrested at surprise checkpoint The Sheriff's Office arrested one person Friday night on charges of driving under the influence during the agency's third sobriety checkpoint in as many months. Officers diverted...

After intense preparation, students will take the FCAT.(A SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: CHRISTINA DeNARDO and JESS ANDREWS STAFF WRITERS Bring it on. That's what some students and teachers are saying about the FCAT, after months of preparation, after-school study sessions and pep rallies. Now, all they can do is...

Accept meeting's Christian prayer as 'community standard' or get out.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Tom Lyons Declaring themselves victims of intolerance is a great ploy by ministers promoting Christian prayer at government meetings. That makes them the tolerant ones, you see. The group of Christian ministers called...

Local step dancers perform before heading to Ireland to compete.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... During the February meeting of the Irish American Club of Port Charlotte, held at the Knights of Columbus on U.S. 41, attendees were treated to a special performance by local Irish step dancers. Jamie Sison and Caitlin McGuckin, both...

SARASOTA COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
February 29, 2004... $125,000 MINIMUM Source: Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Court. Recorded December 2003 and January 2004. 5R Ranch Limited Partnership to Villa Lago LLC, Block G, Tract 12, Sorrento Ranches, $940,000. AJ Petroleum Group LLC to...

We'll need room to breathe.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
February 29, 2004... Byline: John Hamner We are about to do something here in Manatee County which we have done several times over the last few years -- vote on a sales tax. It isn't, of course, a matter of a clear-cut choice. It's therefore worth your...

It's all child's play for Perez; Son of Hall-of-Famer Tony Perez walks his own path in the major leagues.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com ST. PETERSBURG -- Eduardo Perez grew up playing in parks, but not the kind of playgrounds with swings and sliding boards. The son of a Major League Baseball player,...

Bon appetit! Mental Health Communities serves up fun.(B SECTION)(Venice Notes)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Judy Huskey Miscues, service mishaps and outrageous entertainment have become staples on the menu at the yearly Celebrity Waiters Dinner, which benefits the Mental Health Community Centers. Held at Village on the Isle, the...

Going to bat for Chambliss.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Doug Fernandes SARASOTA -- "I expect to be on somebody's list because I know how to manage. Not because I'm black." -- Chris Chambliss, 1991 In more than a decade, little has changed. He belongs on that list. Perhaps no...

Commission seeks public comment on city's police.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT PUNTA GORDA -- As part of an on-site assessment of the city police department, agency members and the public are invited to provide comment to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. The...

Honor roll; Local architectural firms win AIA Design Awards.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
February 29, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT Seibert Architects' as-yet unbuilt design for an addition to a mid-century modern house on Siesta Key won the lone Honor Award in the 2004 Design Awards competition held by the American Institute of Architects'...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Parking fees start at boat ramps, beaches CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Beginning Monday, parking fees at county beaches and boat ramps will be 50 cents per hour. Parking receipts may be purchased at the pay stations on site. The parking...

Baldini-Vancelette.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Rona Michele Baldini and Rene Stephen Vancelette, both of Sarasota, were married Jan. 17, 2004, at noon at Sarasota Garden Club in Sarasota. The bride is the daughter of Joseph and Wendy Baldini of Sarasota. The bridegroom is the son...

Pribes celebrate 50 years.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... James W. and Jane Pribe of North Port celebrated their 50th anniversary Feb. 13, 2004. They were married Feb. 13, 1954, in Toledo, Ohio, and have lived in North Port for 27 years. They are the parents of Jamie Reinbolt of Delaware,...

Investigator helped protect kids.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 29, 2004... Byline: HILDEGARD SCHEIBNER hilde.scheibner@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Lori Ann Poulin, former director of the Child Protective Investigation Division for Manatee County, died Feb. 20, 2004, of brain cancer at the Phillip Hulitar...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 29, 2004... There were no Manatee obituaries published on this date.

Levinus-Keefer.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Stephanie Olga Levinus and Daniel Thomas Keefer, both of Sarasota, is announced. She is the daughter of Loretta Levinus of Sarasota and Wallace Levinus Jr. of Sarasota. He is the son of Gary and Marsha Keefer of...

A picture in pieces; Did courts ever have a clear impage of Joseph P. Smith?(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
February 29, 2004... In the wake of Carlie Brucia's murder, many people are asking why Joseph P. Smith -- the Sarasota man charged with her death -- wasn't reined in by the criminal justice system long before now. We've been pursuing that same question, and...

Symphony showcase: Variations on a theme.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
February 29, 2004... Byline: DOROTHY STOCKBRIDGE-PRATT dorothy.pratt@heraldtribune.com Visitors to the Symphony Association Designer Showcase 2004, now through March 21 at the new Seagrove condominium on Siesta Key, will see the same floorplan twice, but they...

Legislature gets annexation fight; The sides say the hard-fought proposal may not be perfect, but it's better than nothing.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JEREMY WALLACE jeremy.wallace@heraldtribune.com Battles between Sarasota County and North Port over annexation, well known in Tallahassee, are part of the impetus for legislation that seeks to change the way Florida's cities and...

Coonley-Holland.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Erin Elizabeth Coonley and J. Carter Holland, both of Carol Stream, Ill., is announced. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Terry R. Coonley of Dekalb, Ill. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry O. Holland of...

Charlotte County Transfers.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
February 29, 2004... $125,000 MINIMUM Source: Charlotte County Clerk of Circuit Court. Recorded January and February 2004. Adams Homes of Northwest Florida Inc. to Jafer Properties Inc., Lot 34, Block 600, Section 20, Punta Gorda Isles, $147,922. ...

Insurance salesman charged in scam; The Lake Wales man may have invested $1 million on behalf of elderly clients.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: ROBERT PATRICK robert.patrick@heraldtribune.com Doris Akers isn't much of a traveler. The 81-year-old Ellenton resident has pain in her legs and can't fly alone. Yet Akers paid tens of thousands of dollars to a time-share...

Porter-Wagner.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Lindsey Brooke Porter of Palmetto and Kenneth Jeffry Wagner of Terra Ceia is announced. She is the daughter of Charles and Nancy Porter of Palmetto. He is the son of Stanley and Kay Wagner of Terra Ceia. The...

GOING UP/Venetian Golf & River Club, Venice; A commitment to 'green' construction.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
February 29, 2004... Byline: DOROTHY STOCKBRIDGE-PRATT dorothy.pratt@heraldtribune.com Venetian Golf & River Club has been a busy place since its first two models opened almost a year ago. Now it's really hopping with four of its seven models in the Parade of...

'Noles advance to state Final 4; 59-41 win over Fort Lauderdale sets up state semis match Thursday.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- It wasn't pretty, but at this time of the year the only thing that matters is the final result. The Southeast High girls' basketball team overcame an uncharacteristic rash of turnovers...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Groundbreaking set for library expansion NORTH PORT -- Sarasota County will hold a public groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for a $1.7 million expansion and renovation project at North Port Public Library. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m....

'Retired' columnist brought more to community than just her humor.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Eric Ernst On Monday, for the first time in 21 years, Linda Salisbury's column will not appear in this newspaper. She's retiring, sort of, and moving to the hills of Virginia where she'll be closer to her family. Yes, while...

Adults enjoy skating at rec center.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Adults skating at the Recreation Complex often remember childhood experiences as they roll around or dance. They bring their skates, usually with four wheels rather than in-line, and enjoy the fellowship and music. The regulars are more than...

Has the time come to be cautious with REITs?(BUSINESS & MONEY)(The Rational Investor)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Dr. Robert Stepleman Over the last several years I have repeatedly suggested that readers consider adding to their portfolios both Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, in general, and two specific REITs that I particularly...

Sports park in limbo; Amphitheater, training facility are being considered for its future.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JAMIE MANFUSO jamie.manfuso@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Steve Tatone looks at second base at the Charlotte Sports Park stadium and envisions a concert stage. At home plate, he sees a soundboard. Overhead, he imagines a...

Nine tied to identity theft ring arrested.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JENNY LEE ALLEN jenny.allen@heraldtribune.com SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- State and local investigators announced Saturday the arrest of nine people tied to an identity-theft ring that used counterfeit credit cards to buy massive...

Up a creek; Being in a proverbial tight spot isn't necessarily a bad position when it comes to catching snook, trout and redfish.(SPORTS)(Outdoors)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Steve Gibson For the past two years, Jessie Beye, a 21-year-old native of British Columbia, has spent just about every free moment exploring the Charlotte Harbor backcountry. He moved to Nokomis a couple of years to ago to...

A joint YMCA-county project, Dotzler Park opens to the public.(B SECTION)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Melynda Lee As community leaders gathered around Monday, Charlotte County's Dotzler Park opened to the public, welcoming residents to enjoy the shade trees and natural environment of the new public park. The 21-acre property,...

Chace-Hildebrandt.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Rose Lyn Chace of Boulder, Colo., and Andrew Jeffrey Hildebrandt of Englewood, Colo., is announced. She is the daughter of Dr. Todd R. Chace Sr. of Englewood, Fla., and Tizza Chace of Sarasota. He is the son of...

Midwife to peace; Mediating deeply rooted conflicts requires patience and an ability to get all the parties to focus on a shared future.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE susan.rife@heraldtribune.com "Mediation is an imperfect process that employs an imperfect third person to help imperfect people come to an imperfect agreement in an imperfect world." --Leonard Marlow The...

Customers create 'home away from home' at cafe.(B SECTION)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Yvette Kimm Walking into Denise's Beachway Cafe is like taking a trip back to when Bradenton earned its nickname: "The Friendly City." Located just east of the Palma Sola Causeway on West Manatee Avenue, Denise's is known as...

Venice High's baseball team wins two.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: STAFF REPORT ORLANDO -- Venice High School's baseball team went on the road to Orlando and won two games over the weekend. On Friday night, the Indians bested Boone 5-1, getting off to a quick start with a three-run first...

Nader's in a no-win situation.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Dan Radmacher It is far too simplistic to say that Ralph Nader cost Al Gore the presidency in 2000. Simplistic, but true. If Nader hadn't run, Gore would be in the White House today. But Gore is not blameless. ...

Manatee School Board should rethink its stance on public prayer.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Thomas Tryon This time, the Manatee County School Board has its back up against the wall between church and state. The board members recently vowed to fight -- with taxpayers' dollars -- a lawsuit that challenges the school...

Schottenhamel-Burke.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Erin Frances Schottenhamel and Adam Burton Burke, both of Port Charlotte, is announced. She is the daughter of Carl and Debbie Schottenhamel of Port Charlotte. He is the son of Robert and Jeannette Burke of Punta...

Pedersen-Moore.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Brenda Dawn Pedersen of Sarasota and Eric Bruce Moore of Englewood is announced. She is the daughter of Erik and Lynnae Pedersen of Sarasota. He is the son of Ann and Roy Blodgett of Englewood and Bruce and Jill...

MANATEE COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS.(SUNDAY REAL ESTATE)
February 29, 2004... $125,000 MINIMUM Source: Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court. Recorded September through November 2003. Covered Bridge Development Corp. to Richard A. and Texse Lu Boons Cole, Lot 112, Covered Bridge Estates, Phase 3A, Subdivision,...

Potshots at Kerry fall short.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Waldo Proffitt Once upon a time there was a young American lieutenant who fought in a war he regarded as "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation." And he wrote, "Nations, like individuals, are...

Rams fall as star Grace not enough; Kissimmee Osceola ends Riverview's season in Class 6A-Region 2 final.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JON STYF CORRESPONDENT KISSIMMEE -- Shantia Grace was frustrated. Accustomed to being the star, making the dramatic final basket or directing the offense, she has stood up to Florida's best competition all season, until...

Past actions could guide voters; Manatee's preservation history should influence whether a tax is OK'd, an ecosystems manager says.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: KRISTI CECCAROSSI kristi.ceccarossi@heraldtribune.com Out on State Road 64, about 35 miles past Lakewood Ranch and Heritage Harbour, there's 25,000 acres of woods and flatland. There are no gas stations, no supermarkets and no...

Lightning keep on rolling along; Fredrik Modin scores a pair of goals as Tampa Bay continues to surge toward the playoffs.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Tampa Bay figured it would be no easy task. The Washington Capitals proved it. The Lightning squandered a 2-0 lead, but got two goals in the final four minutes to pull out a 4-2...

TEST TIME; Group: For black students who are struggling, exam is last hope.(A SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: LAURA GREEN laura.green@heraldtribune.com While some black parents plan to go to Tallahassee next week to protest the FCAT as unfair to their children, another group is quietly spreading a different message: The test is the last...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Hearing to discuss condo-retail complex SARASOTA -- Plans for a 17-story condominium and retail complex on Main Street -- the first project to take advantage of new downtown development rules -- will be discussed at a public hearing...

Attention to detail; Congress must ensure that, next time, agencies connect the dots.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
February 29, 2004... Apparently Marwan al-Shehhi was not on the radar screen of anyone in U.S. law enforcement or the CIA when he took flight training in Venice. Consequently, the 23-year-old native of the United Arab Emirates played a key role in the Sept....

Gortemoller-Briggs.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Ashley Jay Gortemoller and Andrew Jason Briggs, both of Orlando, is announced. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Michael Gortemoller of Marianna. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley A. Briggs of Sarasota....

O'Quinn-Norman.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Joy Marie O'Quinn of Bradenton and Daniel Joel Norman of Venice is announced. She is the daughter of Van O'Quinn of Tampa and Dawn McMichael of Bradenton. He is the son of Robert and Patricia Norman of Venice. ...

The rebirth of midwives; They attend more births locally, nationally.(BUSINESS & MONEY)
February 29, 2004... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com ARASOTA -- Two months ago, Melissa Schildkraut gave birth to her son Jonah in a large tub of warm water in her Sarasota living room. Neither doctors nor nurses were in...

LOCAL BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Police chase man across two counties MANATEE COUNTY -- Sarasota police and Manatee County sheriff's deputies arrested a man suspected of stealing a car after they chased him through both counties Saturday morning. Tron Calloway, 21,...

Napolitans celebrate 62 years.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Andrew L. and Gertrude (Jones) Napolitan of North Port celebrated their 62nd anniversary Jan. 14, 2004. They were married Jan. 14, 1942, in Pittsburgh and have lived in North Port for 23 years. They are the parents of David A....

Gagners celebrate 60 years.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Warren and Madelyn (Wooster) Gagner celebrated their 60th anniversary Feb. 24, 2004. They were married Feb. 24, 1944, at the Banana River Naval Air Station and have lived in Bradenton for 32 years. They are the parents of Barbara...

Unexpected car ride leaves victim jittery.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: TOM KIM tom.kim@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Deirdra Cole wasn't sure if it was the drinks or something else that left her feeling so sick early Saturday morning. But she knows why she's still jittery: While she was asleep...

Chadwick-Tulloch.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Jennifer Susan Chadwick and Thomas Andrew Tulloch, both of Dallas, were married Jan. 24, 2004, at 5:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sarasota. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jon D. Chadwick of Sarasota. The...

Venice Y's fund-raiser rakes in the treasure despite bad weather.(FLORIDA WEST)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Marjorie North Neither strong winds nor lashing rain could keep the almost 500 swashbucklers and their wenches from reaching the Venice Y's Treasure Island for its annual fund-raising gala... and, even before the final tally,...

Down 12, Panthers rally to capture title.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Trailing by 12 points entering the final quarter, the Bradenton Christian girls basketball team didn't ponder what could have been. Instead, the Panthers...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 29, 2004... SARASOTA COUNTY Raymond McKinley Ayers Raymond McKinley Ayers, 79, Venice, died Feb. 24, 2004. He was born Nov. 13, 1924, in Detroit and came to Venice from there in 1981. He retired as a lithographer. He was a Navy veteran of...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 29, 2004... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Joseph Richard Horsfall Joseph Richard Horsfall, 82, Sarasota, and formerly of Punta Gorda, died Feb. 23, 2004. He was born March 21, 1921, in Norristown, Pa., and came to Sarasota in 1998 from Punta Gorda. He...

Undefeated champ; Venice's Shawn Rouhan finishes perfect year with state title.(SPORTS)
February 29, 2004... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com LAKELAND -- Shawn Rouhan didn't want his first loss of the season in his last wrestling match. No problem. Rouhan, a senior, concluded an unbeaten season to become Venice's...

Bell-Kyzer.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Tarrah Ann Bell and Gregory Wayne Kyzer, both of Melbourne, were married Feb. 13, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. at Mead Gardens in Winter Park. The bride is the daughter of G. Wayne and JoAnn Bell of Melbourne. The bridegroom is the son of...

Charting social change and emotional truth.(FLORIDA WEST)(Review)
February 29, 2004... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE susan.rife@heraldtribune.com When it seems that social change happens at a glacial pace, reading a collection of op-ed columns by a writer such as Ellen Goodman can be instructive. "When you put together a...

Safers celebrate 50 years.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... Pattie and Marty Safer of Sarasota celebrated their 50th anniversary Feb. 28, 2004. They were married Feb. 28, 1954, in New York City and have lived in Sarasota for 20 years. They are the parents of Brian Safer of Allentown, Pa.,...

Workshop teaches various ways to make personal greeting cards.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... With the high cost of many commercial greeting cards, card-making classes are becoming more popular than ever. By using stamps, chalk, ink and fairly cheap card stock, a beautiful handmade card can be created for any occasion, for mere cents....

Health Plus says thank you to Meals on Wheels volunteers.(B SECTION)(Out & About)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Ann Henderson Meals on Wheels was founded in 1969 to make sure that the elderly in Charlotte County received a healthy meal every day. It is one of a number of programs offered by Health Plus Action Inc. Volunteers deliver...

Jungmeyer-Strand.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 29, 2004... The engagement of Karen Curry Jungmeyer and Aaron Douglas Strand, both of Sarasota, is announced. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Jungmeyer of Bradenton. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale E. Strand of Sarasota. ...

Lakewood Ranch -- send in the clones.(A SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com LAKEWOOD RANCH -- At the moment, the other Main Street, the one planned for Lakewood Ranch, is 23 acres of weeds sloping down to Lake Uihlein. True, a town hall is sprouting...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Kinnan to register kindergarteners MANATEE COUNTY -- Kinnan Elementary School, 3415 Tallevast Road, will register kindergarten students March 11 for the 2004-05 academic year. To be eligible, a child must be 5 years old by Sept. 1. ...

'Booker's Cookers' boost their team.(B SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JULIAN PECQUET julian.pecquet@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- All season, members of the Booker High School Booster Club support their football team by grilling burgers, hot dogs, chicken and ribs. But now they've got another...

Oscar makes his move; The 76th annual Academy Awards' change to an earlier date has caused a ripple effect in Tinseltown.(ARTS & TRAVEL)
February 29, 2004... Byline: AMANDA SCHURR CORRESPONDENT As anyone who has ever sat through an entire Oscar ceremony can appreciate, the last thing the folks over at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences seem to be concerned with is time. So it...

Verdi's 'Il corsaro' debuts -- again.(ARTS & TRAVEL)(Review)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Although Verdi's "Il corsaro" was first produced in 1848, it will be almost like a world premiere when it opens Saturday night at the Sarasota Opera House. The...

CRITICS' PICKS.(ARTS & TRAVEL)
February 29, 2004... AMANDA SCHURR Has it really been a whole year since that uncommonly memorable, altogether-odd Oscar evening? Actually, it hasn't. But 11 months after that low-rated, high-drama evening, host Billy Crystal is back, and so is the red...

Creative Sparks at film society.(ARTS & TRAVEL)(STATE OF THE ARTS)(Column)
February 29, 2004... Byline: Charlie Huisking When Darlene Sparks was hired as the Sarasota Film Society's executive director late last year, she knew the organization had growth potential. But she had no idea things would accelerate as quickly as they...

Music changed course of soprano's life.(ARTS & TRAVEL)(Review)
February 29, 2004... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Those who think opera's appeal is mainly for a wealthy and older generation need to meet singer Barbara Quintiliani, who is living proof that opera can appeal to anyone....

Debate on health care to hit Legislature; Critics say that insurance, hospital and drug dollars will drown out the public's voice in Florida.(A SECTION)
February 29, 2004... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- Katherine Bourassa hasn't hired any lobbyists to promote her cause. She hasn't made any major campaign contributions. But the 79-year-old retiree from Dade City has a lot...

Little tennis academy at Ritz has some big plans.(SPORTS)(TENNIS)(Column)
February 28, 2004... Byline: MIC HUBER Tony Driscoll and Jason Berke grew up only about 40 minutes apart in upstate New York but it took them years and thousands of miles to finally meet. Now they are partners -- along with Ray Kuzava -- in a little...

Sarasota topples Charlotte, 11-0.(SPORTS)
February 28, 2004... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA On a cold, blustery night when the temperatures dipped into the 40s, Sarasota High baseball coach Clyde Metcalf urged his team to jump out early. "In...

Nine and Dine serves golf fun.(PLAY!)
February 28, 2004... Byline: MARK CARDON mark.cardon@heraldtribune.com NOKOMIS -- Some hit balls on the aqua driving range, while others get directions to the restaurant of the week. Some practice putting, butscoring birdies isn't as important as making...

State again says 'no' to competition in hospice care.(BUSINESS)
February 28, 2004... Byline: MARGARET ANN MIILLE margaret.miille@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- For the second time in two years, Hospice of Southwest Florida Inc. has won state approval barring competition from the fastest-growing part of its region....

Archaeological probe opposed; City Council members they can't support a dig at a downtown site where human remains were found.(B SECTION)
February 28, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- The historic preservation board recommendation that the city require an archaeological dig at a property on Gilchrist Street is not sitting well with...

Summerhouse facing demolition; The landmark restaurant on Siesta Key will be torn down to make way for a condo project.(A SECTION)
February 28, 2004... Byline: LAUREN MAYK lauren.mayk@heraldtribune.com SIESTA KEY -- After November, the only diners who will be able to get dinner with the view from The Summerhouse will be the ones who live there. The landmark restaurant is expected...