Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from February 2005

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from February 2005

Disconnected and discontented; Sprint-FEMA standoff leaves 200 families with no phone service; Families in FEMA park have no phones.(A SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- More than 200 families still don't have phone service in the government-run mobile home park for people left homeless by hurricanes. And the hurricane victims --...

Carlie's lost legacy; State has yet to fix tragic flaws in its probation system.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... If the sight of a pink backpack makes you pause, then you don't need a reminder that today is the first anniversary of Carlie Brucia's murder. Authorities eventually found the body of the 11-year-old Sarasota girl. But the backpack -- the...

Reassessing Babcock Ranch; Public purchase price should be based on a realistic appraisal.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... The state has been accused of lowballing its offer for the 90,000-acre Babcock Ranch, but a member of the coalition formed to assist the purchase thinks the Babcock family and unrealistic appraisals deserve a share of the blame. ...

A vote for democracy; Defiant Iraqis brave violence to help set a nation's course.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... As many as 8 million courageous Iraqis earned worldwide admiration Sunday by defiantly participating in their national election despite threats from terrorists that the blood of voters would run red in the streets. Early estimates indicate...

Hicks goes to Arena2's Xplorers.(SPORTS)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Dennis Maffezzoli The Arena Football2 indoor pro football league assigned former Charlotte High football and basketball standout Elgin Hicks to the Memphis Xplorers. After playing all 12 games and catching 21 passes for 250...

Tarpon boys slip past DeSoto, 50-48.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2005... Byline: CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT PUNTA GORDA -- Paul D'Alesandro came off the bench to make two clutch free throws in the final seconds as Charlotte High outlasted DeSoto 50-48 Monday night at Wally Keller Gymnasium. Trailing...

Lone goal propels Pirates; Naveed Lone scores 14 seconds into OT; Pirates end Tarpons' season.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2005... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- A Charlotte County rivalry went 55 miles north to decide whose boys' soccer season would come to an end Monday night. Charlotte High had more chances to score, but Port...

Brookside Middle goes undefeated.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2005... Byline: CHRIS DELL CORRESPONDENT SARASOTA -- Winning has become a girls basketball tradition at Brookside Middle School. The Lady Barracuda basketball squad won its second consecutive county championship with a 37-19 victory over Booker...

Obee's plans major expansion in Florida, California.(BUSINESS)(What's in Store)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Lauren Mayk Florida and California will be key areas for Obee's Franchise Systems as it continues an expansion that started when it was a privately owned company with a handful of stores in Southwest Florida. Before Charlotte...

Comdial's gear a hit in call center.(BUSINESS)
February 1, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA COUNTY -- Comdial Corp.'s smart phone system found its way into a new 911 Call Center in small-town Arkansas that has won applause -- and more importantly, grant money --...

If Eagles soar, will stocks roar?(BUSINESS)
February 1, 2005... Byline: JOHN HIELSCHER john.hielscher@heraldtribune.com Bullish investors will cheer for the Philadelphia Eagles to win Super Bowl XXXIX on Sunday. Those who trust in the Super Bowl Market Predictor believe that a win by a team from...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
February 1, 2005... Birnbach is senior VP at Sandcastles builder Luxury home and real estate developer Sandcastles of Sarasota has appointed Jeffrey M. Birnbach as senior vice president and chief financial officer. He previously handled business development...

Foxx taps into the genius.(FLORIDA WEST)(DVD WATCH)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Philip Booth Is Jamie Foxx's Oscar-nominated turn as Ray Charles in "Ray" (Universal, $29.98; VHS, $23.98) merely a sincerely flattering imitation? Or does the actor, also nominated for his work in "Collateral," channel...

thirteen; AND ON THE ROAD NOT TAKEN ...(FLORIDA WEST)
February 1, 2005... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN CORRESPONDENT Saturday night arrives, and swarms of teenagers head for neighborhood skating rinks, shopping malls and movie theaters. They laugh, flirt and swap gossip until their chauffeurs pick them up at...

News you can use in 'Front Page'.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 1, 2005... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE susan.rife@heraldtribune.com As screwball comedies of the American stage go, "The Front Page" has to be one of the finest, with madcap pacing, terrific satire and dialogue spattered across the stage like machine-gun...

Fans of Faulk, Reiser find festival to their liking.(FLORIDA WEST)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Marjorie North Hollywood lights, the Van Wezel and "The Thing About My Folks" -- a sweet family flick -- was a hands-down favorite film fest opener this year, and having Peter Falk and Paul Reiser in on the festivities was just so...

Deliveryman says he took back most of his money.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- Pizza driver Arthur Williams wasn't going to let some stranger walk away with his hard-earned cash. Williams, 18, who drives for Hungry Howie's, made a...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Ex-officer at jail accepts plea deal PUNTA GORDA -- A former jail officer arrested and charged with bringing prescription pills and tobacco to an inmate has been sentenced to two years of probation. Anthony Phyles, 25, who was arrested...

Dance gives way to art for Sara Mantle.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: MARILYN CARPENTER CORRESPONDENT Last summer Charlotte High School senior Sara Mantle's dreams took an unexpected and perhaps a predestined turn. After 16 years of ballet lessons at Dance Plus, where she studied with former...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Selby Scholar Symposium Students from Charlotte County joined other county students to attend the annual Selby Scholar Symposium on Dec. 29. Selby scholars received scholarship funds up to one third of the student's financial need for...

Belly dancing offers a different exercise opportunity.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Belly dancing, a new course offered this year at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, is becoming a big hit. Dressed in comfortable clothing, some with hip scarves, some in full costume, the ladies are shaking things up. The...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 1, 2005... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Mildred Elizabeth Bohrer Mildred Elizabeth Bohrer, 75, Punta Gorda, died Jan. 28, 2005, of breast cancer. She was born June 29, 1929, in Middlesex, N.J., and came to Florida 30 years ago. She was a member of...

60 artists to display their wares at show.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: AMY ABERN amy.abern@heraldtribune.com ENGLEWOOD -- Sixty artists will put their talents on display Saturday and Sunday in the 17th annual Englewood Bank Invitational Fine Art Show. Artists can't buy their way in, and there's...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Tropical Spice Grille out of business ENGLEWOOD -- Tropical Spice Grille Restaurant in Cornerstone Plaza, 1720 S. McCall Road, closed Monday after operating for less than two months. Owner Mike Cataldo, who refused to comment further, said...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Selby Scholar Symposium Students from Charlotte County joined other county students to attend the annual Selby Scholar Symposium on Dec. 29. Selby scholars received scholarship funds up to one third of the student's financial need for...

Guitar solo highlights assembly.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Myakka River Elementary School students had an exciting program at the fourth WOW awards assembly. The entertainment was superb and very exciting. It started off with Angela Cicchella's third-graders performing the song "Let It Shine,"...

VHS sends five singers to all-state chorus.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: FRANCINE MILFORD francine.milford@heraldtribune.com Earlier this month, five students from the Venice High School chorus, under the direction of Stephen Johns, attended the Florida Music Educators Association annual convention in...

Weedo gets a shot with Firecats.(SPORTS)(At Home)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Perry Pentz The Venice Vikings minor league football team is losing a key offensive player but for a good reason. Wide receiver and free safety Aaron Weedo was signed by the Florida Firecats, the Arena Cup champions of the...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... 'Envision Venice' meeting is tonight VENICE -- Residents may offer their views at a special meeting tonight on how Venice should chart its course for the future. The "Envision Venice" meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Grace United Methodist...

Hospitals get new names, leaders; Health Management Associates names new CEOs at the Venice and Port Charlotte facilities.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: LAURA GREEN laura.green@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- Health Management Associates Inc. took the the reins of hospitals in Venice and Port Charlotte today, promising to maintain quality health care but with a better bottom line. ...

Toledo Blade Elementary learns about turtle aid.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Toledo Blade Elementary School third-graders discovered the mysteries of loggerhead turtles recently when the Coastal Wildlife Club came to visit their classrooms. The endangered loggerheads are the most common turtles nesting on Florida's...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Auditions for scholarships The Cecilian Music Society of Venice, in its continuing effort to foster music appreciation and education, is again offering young musicians in the area the opportunity to earn a scholarship to help them continue...

Development linked to schools; Other counties may provide example for Manatee.(A SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: TIFFANY LANKES tiffany.lankes@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- The crowded hallways in Palm Beach County schools a few years ago looked very much like Manatee County schools do today. More than half the district's schools were...

Don't ditch Accord yet; County should try to improve agreement before seeking a charter.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... Three years ago, officials of Manatee County and its cities used words like "wow" and "historic" to describe a new document that they hoped would foster greater cooperation on growth-related issues. Today, they're using decidedly less...

Bowling has a new challenge.(SPORTS)(At Home)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Alan Dell He is 50 pounds lighter, feels 10 years younger and is full of energy. But despite rumors to the contrary, Bob Bowling says he will not be the head football coach at the new Braden River High School that opens in August....

Seniors lead the way for Lady Seminoles.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON -- Senior guard Casey Baker led Southeast High to a 62-37 win over visiting Manatee High with a game-high 21 points, 7 steals, 7 assists and 7 rebounds on Senior Night Monday. Senior teammates Cherelle...

Taxpayer group fighting back, finding sympathy.(BUSINESS)(Manatee At Work)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Rich Shopes Most property owners don't go so far as to start a taxpayers group to bemoan high taxes but Nigel Brown, owner of the Anna Maria Beach Cottages, has had enough. Before starting the organization in October with...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... County looking into Tallevast relocation MANATEE COUNTY -- Eighty-five households in the Tallevast neighborhood want the County Commission to help them relocate, at least temporarily. Homeowners say their health is deteriorating...

Waterfront living on a budget; Houseboats offer life on the water and a feeling of community.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: MITRA MALEK mitra.malek@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Four members of the Ranney family sleep in a sailboat barely big enough to hold four narrow beds, a bathroom and an alcove kitchen. It's so small, everybody has to go to...

Ideas floated for water bus; City and county officials want planners to put together a proposal for a regional service.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com Detailed plans could be launched this year for a floating bus that would take tourists and commuters to downtowns, island cities, entertainment venues or other waterfront destinations in...

ArtCenter Manatee focuses on future generation to support arts in community.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... ***** CORRECTION: The following correction was published on Tuesday, February 1, 2005: Correction: * The Arts Council of Manatee County sponsors several programs for local arts education. An incorrect name of the organization was published...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)(Campus Notebook)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Melissa Williams Robinson On Jan. 24, Manatee Technical Institute held graduation ceremonies for the following Health Occupations students at Lakewood Ranch High School Auditorium. The graduates are as follows: Dental...

Sprint-FEMA standoff leaves 200 families with no service.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- More than 200 families still don't have phone service in the government-run mobile home park for people left homeless by hurricanes. And the hurricane victims --...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 1, 2005... MANATEE COUNTY Stanley G. Bennett Stanley G. Bennett, 74, Bradenton, died Jan. 28, 2005. He was born Aug. 31, 1930, in Sidney, N.Y., and came to Manatee County in 1971 from Otsego, N.Y. He retired as a master electrician. He was a...

Group pitches conference center; Sarasota business leaders seek an increase in the county's "bed tax" to pay for the bayfront venture.(A SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: LISA RAB lisa.rab@heraldtribune.com ***** CORRECTION: The following correction was published on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005. Sarasota County's tax on short-term rentals and hotel rooms would increase from 10 percent to 12 percent...

Conference center promoters: Soak the tourists and give us the cash.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Tom Lyons The push to use tax money to build a conference center in Sarasota is back on, and it is deja vu all over again. Speaking before a joint meeting of the Sarasota County Commission and the Sarasota City Commission, a...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Red tide causing irritation at beaches A patch of red tide extending from St. Petersburg to Englewood is likely to make area beaches unpleasant this week. Concentrations of the near-shore red tide bloom range from very low to high....

Meals program struggles; Rising costs force greater scrutiny of who qualifies for Meals on Wheels.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: PATTY ALLEN-JONES patty.allen-jones@heraldtribune.com The rising cost of gas and food means it's going to become more difficult for some elderly people to get meals delivered from Senior Friendship Centers. Two years ago, the...

LOCAL BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Film about Janie Poe complex is sold out SARASOTA -- Today's screenings of "CONDEMNED," a documentary about conditions at the Janie Poe public housing complex, are sold out. Because the movie has played to sold-out audiences, a third...

Coutinho excels at Dartmouth.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... Byline: BROOKSIE BERGEN CORRESPONDENT Danielle Coutinho's parents, Dr. Selma Coutinho and Dr. T.Z. Coutinho, immigrated to the United States from Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the west coast of India 25 years ago. They arrived in...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... 'Catch A Rising Star' to benefit Riverview Riverview High School will host "Catch A Rising Star" at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Country Club of Sarasota, 7451 Beneva Road. The evening will include a buffet dinner catered by Morton's...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2005... SARASOTA COUNTY Robert L. Ball Robert L. Ball, 67, Venice, died Jan. 29, 2005. He was born Feb. 7, 1937, in Grand Rapids, Mich., and came to Venice in 1974 from Flint, Mich. He retired as a truck driver and worked for Hazeltine...

Need a bunk for the bowl blowout? Bring the big bucks and bid high.(A SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
February 2, 2005... Byline: DOUG FERNANDES doug.fernandes@heraldtribune.com JACKSONVILLE -- For fans looking for more than the average hotel room in which to rest their sleepy and probably hungover heads during Super Bowl week, George has your pad. A...

Talk of cuts has housing officials worried; Rental subsidies program could be slashed, affecting region's low-income residents.(A SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com Confronted with hurricane-damaged homes and soaring rents from Florida's skyrocketing real estate values, housing officials are alarmed by reports that the White House intends to cut millions...

Strong medicine for Medicaid; As costs spiral, the Legislature will consider privatization.(A SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: VICTOR HULL victor.hull@heraldtribune.com Florida runs one of the cheapest Medicaid programs in the country, spending less per person than all but nine states. But rising numbers of families in poverty, low-income elderly and...

Joining the parade; It's official: Combat 'death benefit' is inadequate.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 2, 2005... The military's "death benefit" was not much of an issue in Washington a month ago. Now, all sorts of politicians are scrambling to march up front so they can be seen fighting for an increase in the money that survivors receive. At present,...

A failure to keep up; Manatee County, schools need a major shift in growth planning.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 2, 2005... The Manatee County Commission and the School Board need to make significant, rapid and maybe even radical changes to the way they plan for growth. The status quo is a disservice to children, parents and taxpayers. The commission and board...

Praise for the author; Writer's visit opens new chapter at Venice High.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 2, 2005... Who says young people don't read? Novelist Tim O'Brien seemed to believe that stereotype before reluctantly agreeing to spend two days at Venice High School. O'Brien, speaking Jan. 27 to students and adults packed into the school's...

Port Charlotte survives scare; Pirates jump out early then allow Mariner to climb back into the game before sealing the narrow win.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: DONNIE WILKIE CORRESPONDENT CAPE CORAL -- At no point, insists Port Charlotte junior Jason Wood, did he think Tuesday night's game at Mariner was slipping away. Wood's nerves must be made of steel. Oh, sure, the Pirates...

Inane Day is more like it.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
February 2, 2005... Byline: Doug Fernandes JACKSONVILLE -- Why can't we call the Tuesday of Super Bowl week what it really is? It's called Media Day, but to anyone who's covered more than zero Super Bowls, it's not that at all. It's...

ZIP IT; Everyone agrees Freddie Mitchell should shut up.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com JACKSONVILLE -- Freddie Mitchell had no luck trying to escape the media onslaught, doing a zig-zag route through the Alltel Stadium stands, fully aware Tuesday that the firecracker he threw...

Bobcats rally over LaBelle for win; North Port scores three goals in the final 15 minutes for a 3-1 win to advance to the semifinals.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com NORTH PORT -- It took a game of firsts for the North Port High boys soccer team to advance to the semifinals of the Class 3A-District 11 soccer tournament. The fourth-seeded Bobcats...

Mustangs come from behind to trip up Indians.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT VENICE -- Lakewood Ranch outscored Venice by seven points in the final two minutes for a 52-50 comeback victory on the road Tuesday night. LeCory Ruffin led all scorers with 16 points while Dustin Yoder added 12...

Barton's 32 pace Pirates.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT PORT CHARLOTTE -- Freshman Sara Barton had 32 points, 21 of which were from behind the 3-point arc in leading Port Charlotte to a 52-44 victory over North Fort Myers on Tuesday. Jackie Akers had 24 points for...

Lemon Bay loses tight battle; Manta Rays fall to Blue Streaks, 4-2, on penalty kicks.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT LEHIGH ACRES -- Very little separated the Lemon Bay High and Sebring boys' soccer teams during the regular season. And that proved to be the case once again Tuesday night in the Class 4A-District 14...

Developer withdraws plans for condo towers; The owners of land on Whitaker Bayou are considering their options.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2005... Byline: RICH SHOPES rich.shopes@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Developers have shelved plans for a pair of five-story condominiums on Whitaker Bayou after scaling back their original proposal last summer. The Yacht Center Land Co. was...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2005... Wetherington posts another record year Lee Wetherington Cos. said it completed another record year for 2004, with 392 homes sold for a volume of $170 million. That represents a 32 percent increase in sales compared with 298 homes sold...

Editor and elves compete.(FLORIDA WEST)(Sampler)(Recipe)(Column)
February 2, 2005... Byline: Linda Brandt Delores Hegmann's request for a pecan sandies recipe reminded me of a silly exchange I recently had with my husband. Acting like an insecure young bride instead of a happily-married-for-many- years woman, I was...

FRONT BURNER.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 2, 2005... Suck the heads; squeeze the tails Bayou Bleu, 1359 1/2 Main St., Sarasota, will be the site Saturday of a crawfish eating contest in anticipation of Mardi Gras and Lent. Show up at 4 p.m. ready to suck the heads and squeeze the tails. For...

Miller tapped for School Board; The former Sallie Jones Elementary teacher will fill the vacancy created by Gayle Dean's death.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- When Alleen Miller started teaching at Sallie Jones Elementary School in 1969, the school had no air conditioning and birds occasionally flew in through open...

'Killer' on loose, or nabbed? FEMA park guard denies stealing 5-pound Chihuahua.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- This is not your typical lost-dog story. Sheriff's detectives are convinced that "Killer," a 5-pound tan Chihuahua, has been dognapped. And detectives...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Gala attracts 'Ernest' celeb The Sarasota Film Festival's first annual Gala on the Green party attracted one noteworthy low-profile guest: director John Cherry, best known for the 1987 movie "Ernest Goes to Camp." Cherry, who has a...

AARP provides tax help.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT Free tax counseling and preparation for low- and middle-income taxpayers is available from AARP Tax-Aide now through April 15. Taxpayers do not need to be members of AARP or retirees to use the service. AARP...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Veterans Services reopens its office PUNTA GORDA -- Charlotte County Veterans Services has reopened its Punta Gorda office, which had been closed because of hurricane damage. The office is in the Charlotte County Human Services...

Dozens of new city manager candidates pop up.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: JENNY LEE ALLEN jenny.allen@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- There's a new crop of hopefuls for the city manager position. Nearly three dozen applicants have contacted the Human Resources Department. About a third have city...

Retired CPA helps out at tax time.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: MARILYN CARPENTER CORRESPONDENT It's that time of year again -- time to gather all your records, prepare the tax forms and pay Uncle Sam his due. No one knows this better than Don Obriecht, 76, a retired certified public...

Education, art team up at nature festival.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... The fifth annual Charlotte County Nature Festival was held Saturday at the Charlotte Sports Park, which offered a nice shady venue. The booths surrounding the stadium were either under roof or a tent. That's a significant improvement over...

OBITUARIES; CHARLOTTE COUNTY.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 2, 2005... Joseph R. Gareri Joseph R. Gareri, 75, Port Charlotte, died Jan. 28, 2005. He was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Milford, Mass., and came to the Charlotte County area in 1989 from there. Survivors include his wife, Jean; a daughter, Karen...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Is being #1 a good thing? Marie Jacintho, dean of students at Lemon Bay High School, didn't think twice about volunteering for a tsunami relief fund-raiser where students paid to vote on which staffers would take a pie in the face for...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... School's concert, auction postponed ENGLEWOOD -- The Lemon Bay High School Band Boosters' benefit jazz concert and silent auction planned for Sunday has been rescheduled for Feb. 20. The concert with Sophisticated Swing and the Lemon...

Thrift shop work is part of busy schedule.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: NANCY CHAPMAN CORRESPONDENT Janet Kasabian learned to be an American by reading Family Circle and Woman's Day magazines. You would think that as a young bride living in Manhattan, she could have found an American to help her....

Food is the big draw at Mobile Gardens sale.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... The Annual Mobile Gardens Rummage Sale had cheap prices on oodles of items but food may have been the biggest attraction. Residents of the 55-and-older community spend all year collecting items for the sale. Proceeds help offset the cost...

Venice MOMS Club to host open house.(B SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: FRANCINE MILFORD francine.milford@heraldtribune.com The MOMS Club of Venice, North, is hosting an open house at 10 a.m. today in the youth department meeting room at the Venice Public Library. The event will feature crafts for...

Schools reach for more land; The county needs sites for new facilities in growing North Port.(A SECTION)
February 2, 2005... Byline: ERIN BRYCE and CHRISTINA DENARDO STAFF WRITERS ***** CORRECTION: The following correction was published on Thursday, February 3, 2005: Correction: The Sarasota County school district says the estimated price for a new...