Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from February 2006

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from February 2006

FPL plan responds to storm woes; The utility proposes toughening its system.(A SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: LAUREN MAYK lauren.mayk@heraldtribune.com Florida Power & Light is pitching a plan aimed at building a stronger power system during the next decade, but it probably won't do much to keep the lights on if a storm hits this summer....

Nelson, Martinez ready offshore oil bill to protect Florida waters.(A SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: CORY REISS Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Florida Sens. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Mel Martinez, a Republican, said they would unveil legislation today that would end annual battles over offshore oil and gas drilling in the...

Help mobile home residents; State law's protections should be applied on rezoning requests.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2006... Mobile home parks in Florida are under siege. In recent years, developers have bought out many parks, turning them into high-end developments and high-rise condominium towers. The conversions have ousted many longtime, older and less-affluent...

Preserving farmland; Land-use tools can help direct growth away from rural areas.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2006... As more than a few farmers in fast-growing U.S. communities have observed, it isn't easy trying to raise a crop on Main Street. In Manatee County, where the geographic boundaries of "Main Street" have changed dramatically in recent years, the...

Danger at the crossroads; Consider multiple causes at accident-prone intersections.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2006... Three of the four most accident-prone intersections in Sarasota County are in the Venice area. Do South County drivers concentrate less than drivers to the north? Is road design a problem? Could excessive speed be a factor? How about...

Manta Rays rout Riverdale.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com FORT MYERS -- When the top seed hooks up with the bottom seed, sometimes the results are similar to what occurred Tuesday night at South Fort Myers High School. The No. 1...

Pirates, Tarpons pull off first-round upsets.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Records didn't mean anything in the first round of the Class 5A-District 12 girls basketball tournament. Just ask No. 7 seed Port Charlotte and No. 5 seed Charlotte as...

'Tis the season to recruit; National signing day brings fans' attention to a fever pitch; at least two services rank Florida Gators No. 1 in the race for high school stars.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: MIC HUBER mic.huber@heraldtribune.com GAINESVILLE -- If there is a sudden drop in production today at workplaces across the state, bosses only need to take a look at their employees' computer screens to discover why work isn't...

The mane man; Pittsburgh safety Polamalu anchors a tough defense.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: DOUG FERNANDES doug.fernandes@heraldtribune.com DETROIT -- Come Sunday's Super Bowl XL, you won't see his name on the back of his jersey. Reason? Hair. Really long hair. Last cut in 2000. Orders from a USC coach. Minus the...

Bolts top Leafs in shootout.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- It could have been a game that got away for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Instead, the Toronto Maple Leafs let it get away from them. The Lightning needed a shootout to pull out a 3-2...

Detroit going extra yard for Super Bowl crowd.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
February 1, 2006... Byline: Doug Fernandes DETROIT -- The woman in the elevator flashed a smile bright enough to melt the frost on the cars parked outside my hotel. "Hope you have a great time." Scurrying through freezing temperatures, in the darkness...

Panthers reach 20 wins again.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON With five players in double figures Bradenton Christian had no problem disposing of Seffner Christian Academy. The win was the 20th of the season for the Panthers (20-1) and marks the sixth straight...

Saint Stephen's survives Shorecrest.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT ST. PETERSBURG -- Freshman Ali Schulman picked up six of her 10 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 4 Saint Stephen's beat No. 5 Shorecrest 30-25 Tuesday in the Class 2A-District 11 tournament at Keswick...

Saint Stephen's falls to Tampa Prep on PKs.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: CURTIS WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT TAMPA -- Very little separated Saint Stephen's and Tampa Prep in their Class 2A-Region 3 semifinal match Tuesday night. As a matter of fact, it came down to penalty kicks. After a defensive...

First loss is last for Tigers; Estero upsets Palmetto 4-1, and Tigers finish season with a record of 18-1-0.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: CHRIS ANDERSON chris.anderson@heraldtribune.com PALMETTO -- Palmetto High's soccer season did not end in celebration like some felt it would. It ended in silence instead. Shock and silence. The Lady Tigers certainly...

Housing boom unsustainable, economist says.(BUSINESS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL BRAGA michael.braga@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- One of the state's pre-eminent economists says what a lot of people have been saying: Southwest Florida can't sustain the pace of its housing industry growth. "Over...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
February 1, 2006... Goodwill bookstore celebrates first year Goodwill Industries-Manasota Inc. will mark the first year of business for its bookstore at Tara Boulevard and State Road 70 in East Manatee County on Saturday by offering 25 percent discounts on...

A tip or two or three.(FLORIDA WEST)(Sampler)(Column)
February 1, 2006... Byline: Linda Brandt Gloria Scoboria of Nokomis realizes that sometimes it isn't easy eating greens, even though they are good for you. She has this suggestion for perking up the taste. "Cook the greens to a reasonable tenderness....

Ballet NY delivers a mixed performance.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 1, 2006... Byline: BARBARA LEVERONE CORRESPONDENT A mixed bill of contemporary and neoclassical choreography delivered mixed results when Ballet NY opened Friday at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts as guests of the Sarasota Ballet. In a...

Even its orchestra proves it: Cleveland rocks.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 1, 2006... Byline: GAYLE WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT One never really forgets a first love, and we are lucky when a meeting later in life doesn't disappoint. So it was for many with the Cleveland Orchestra's visit to Sarasota. After a week of...

Laugh through pain in 'Play About the Baby'.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 1, 2006... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com A lot of people may leave Edward Albee's "The Play About the Baby" scratching their heads, wondering what they've just watched and what it's all about. And they can love it just...

Charley victims face deadline; County seeks alternatives to vacating FEMA trailers by Feb. 13.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Even with more than 700 homeless Charlotte County families still living in temporary trailers, federal officials said Tuesday that free housing for Hurricane...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Fly like an Aguila Baseball may be America's game, but the sport is going international at Charlotte County Stadium next month. County tourism officials announced Tuesday that the stadium will host games between a Korean baseball team...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... 1 pedestrian killed, 1 hurt when hit by motorcyclist DEEP CREEK -- A motorcyclist hit two pedestrians on Tuesday evening, killing a woman and seriously injuring a 67-year-old man, authorities said. Charlotte County sheriff's spokesman...

PEO Sisterhood helps women hit goals.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: ALISON POSNER alison.posner@heraldtribune.com Thanks to the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter GA, Port Charlotte resident Donna Mofford can graduate from Edison College as a dental hygienist in May. Mofford was given a $1,500 grant for...

Charlotte Regional's Louey named nurse of year.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT April Louey, who was recently promoted to nurse manager of the intensive care unit at Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda, has been chosen 2005 Nurse of the Year. Louey co-chaired Charlotte Regional's...

OBITUARIES; CHARLOTTE COUNTY.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 1, 2006... David LeJuene Harbert Sr. David LeJuene Harbert Sr., 74, Port Charlotte, died Jan. 28, 2006, at Peace River Regional Medical Center. He was born Aug. 11, 1931, in Greensburg, Ind. For the past three years, he and his wife have split...

Relay kicks off but needs more teams.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: SHARYN LONSDALE sharyn.lonsdale@heraldtribune.com The 2006 Englewood Relay for Life kicked off Monday night at the Suncoast Auditorium with an emphasis on youth and a plea for more teams to join the annual fund-raiser for the...

Health fair draws the curious to Englewood YMCA.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT Sunday's South County Family YMCA Health Fair drew a crowd seeking free information and wanting to see Englewood's Warren Loranger Family YMCA facility for the first time. Hundreds browsed the...

Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates its 20th anniversary.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Road, Venice, will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the noon Choir Mass on Sunday. This 20th anniversary celebration will also include the 45th anniversary of the priestly...

While you're sleeping, they're stealing; Criminals quietly burglarize homes in southern Sarasota County.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: ERIN BRYCE erin.bryce@heraldtribune.com NORTH PORT -- Paul Tesauro, 64, was watching television, nestled in his queen-size bed, when his eyes got heavy. An hour later, he awoke to find all of his dresser drawers pulled out and...

Problems surface at VHA; Outgoing director in business with deputy he backed as successor.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: PAUL QUINLAN paul.quinlan@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- When the director of South County's only public housing complex announced he would resign in March, he recommended that his second-in-command be promoted to fill his seat. ...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... A job for the statuesque With her green crown of foam, flowing robe and torch held high above her head, Sarah Ensell, 18, is Lady Liberty. Well, one of them. At $9 an hour, Liberty Tax Service in Venice has enlisted the help of...

3 programs address violence.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: AMY ABERN amy.abern@heraldtribune.com Mary Smith bit her lip when her spouse told her she didn't need that piece of chocolate. Just look at those hips, he said. Smith, who asked that her real name not be used, kept her...

Mystic Eagle touches down in Osprey.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: FRANCINE MILFORD francine.milford@heraldtribune.com Wearing everything from tennis shoes to beaded moccasins, dancers at the fourth annual Mystic Eagle Pow Wow in Osprey entertained and delighted the thousands of onlookers who came...

North Port Orchestra delivers Super Bowl Valentine.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT The North Port Orchestra presents a program of classical favorites and romantic music in their program, "A Valentine for the Super Bowl," at 3 p.m. Saturday at the North Port Performing Arts Center, 6400 W. Price Blvd....

Ranch reaches region final.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: JON STYF jon.styf@heraldtribune.com LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Melissa Miller had already shown East Lake goalkeeper Ali Burnham her best shot. So she knew the second time around she would have to fool her. The Lakewood Ranch junior...

County buys land for a new, safer emergency center; The downtown operations center is rated as unsafe in winds exceeding 110 mph.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: CORY SCHOUTEN cory.schouten@heraldtribune.com Some communities have built new Emergency Operations Centers after being struck by major hurricanes. Manatee County is hoping to get a new center in place before its luck runs out....

Teen gets community work, probation for fake bombs.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON -- An empty plastic PVC pipe with a wick at the end is, in the eyes of the law, a fake weapon of mass destruction. That's what 19-year-old Jarrett Toth found out when police arrested him and a buddy a...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Ready, aim... slam! Lakewood Ranch resident and community supervisor Phyllis Troy got so tired of youths hanging out and breaking tree branches across the pond behind her house that she finally decided to do something about it. ...

Park's residents give city leaders an earful; Residents accuse city of thwarting deal to sell Bradenton Tropical Palms; officials deny plot.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Residents of Bradenton Tropical Palms accused city officials on Tuesday of sabotaging a developer's plan to pay top dollar for their historic mobile home park. They claimed the...

NEWS OF RECORD; DIVORCES; MANATEE COUNTY; JAN. 18-24.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Accurso, Victor Jr. and Karen. Barnett, Jeremy Christopher and Andrea Nicole Jones. Berry, Michael V. and Annette M. Brooks, Joseph and Linda L. Delacruz, Juan Andres and Luz Elenia. Forson, Michael and Kelly. ...

AROUND THE REGION; News from Sarasota and Charlotte counties.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... NORTH PORT -- Burglars strike while victims sleep Paul Tesauro, 64, was watching the Science Channel, nestled in his queen-size bed, when his eyes got heavy. An hour later, he awoke to find all of his dresser drawers pulled out and...

BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... No evidence found of improper touching LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Sheriff's detectives say there's no evidence that a Lakewood Ranch High School teacher's assistant inappropriately touched a student, but prosecutors this week will review the case...

Scots celebrate heritage at Highland Games and festival.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: BUBBLES GREER The pipes will skirl and kilts whirl as the 13th annual Sarasota Highland Games and Scottish Heritage Festival takes over the Sarasota Fairgrounds on Saturday. There will be all manner of entertainment,...

Anna Maria Islandfest helps wildlife center.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT HOLMES BEACH -- People busy selling wares Saturday and Sunday during the Anna Maria Islandfest raised money for an animal welfare group. The event at Holmes Beach City Hall featured jewelry, clothing,...

OBITUARIES; MANATEE COUNTY.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 1, 2006... Robert James Campbell Robert James Campbell, 77, Anna Maria, died Jan. 27, 2006. He was born Sept. 24, 1928, in Delaware County, Pa., and came to Anna Maria in 1993 from Aston, Pa. He retired as vice president of Keystone Printing Ink...

Riverview win sets up rubber match with Sailors.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: DONNIE WILKIE CORRESPONDENT RIVERVIEW -- Butch Wade knows a thing or two about playoff games, having reached the postseason four times during a 14-year professional playing career in Belgium. Riverview High's interim girls...

Blazers beaten on PKs.(SPORTS)
February 1, 2006... Byline: CHAD BROCKHOFF CORRESPONDENT ST. PETERSBURG -- Sarasota Christian fell victim to the cruelest fate in all of sports Tuesday night. After securing a 2-2 tie late in regulation on a goal by Carley Hamilton and playing 20 minutes...

Ministry OKs moving to park; The group's leader decides to try moving its homeless program to Payne Park.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: MIKE SAEWITZ mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- After meeting Tuesday with the city manager, the head of Gifts From God Ministries decided to try Payne Park for Sunday gatherings with the homeless. Years of complaints...

Judge says no to delay in trial of dermatologist; Dr. Michael Rosin is scheduled to go to trial Monday on Medicare fraud charges.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: TODD RUGER todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Dr. Michael Rosin's trial on charges he defrauded Medicare by performing unnecessary skin cancer surgeries should go forward Monday, a federal judge has ruled. Attorneys for...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Maintaining a balance of critters Longboat Key Mayor Ron Johnson was letting off steam. In a meeting with Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist on Friday morning, Johnson said he's frustrated that dead turtles have shut...

Bush offers $1.5B in tax cuts; Cuts come in a variety of forms; some may not be quite what they seem.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER and MAURICE TAMMAN NYT REGIONALNEWSPAPERS TALLAHASSEE -- Adopting a proposal pushed by House Democrats that would give homeowners a $100 rebate, Gov. Jeb Bush outlined a $1.5 billion tax cut package Tuesday...

NEWS OF RECORD; DIVORCE PETITIONS; SARASOTA COUNTY; DEC. 19-JAN. 01.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Barajas, Maricela and Hector Bertelsen, Edward and Anne Cabrera, Jareth and Michel Collins, Edward and Glorimar Cross, Monalisa and Kyle Demaico, Jeanne and Michael Doss, David and Nancy Dwyer, Yolanda and John...

Language lessons lead to fun festival.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: NANCY CHAPMAN CORRESPONDENT Students at Sarasota Military Academy are so excited about learning to speak Mandarin Chinese that they decided to throw a party Sunday. They were planning a small gathering for their Chinese New Year...

Gathering allows parents a peek at local preschools.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: NANCY CHAPMAN CORRESPONDENT Pam Roux, a representative from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, has some very specific ideas about what parents should look for when choosing a pre-school for there...

Gallagher defends investments he made as state insurance chief.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: JOE FOLLICK CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher said Tuesday that his day trading of stocks from his Capitol office was legal and had no impact on the decisions he made as insurance commissioner....

Sen. Lee says he won't use soft money for CFO race.(B SECTION)
February 1, 2006... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- Some have called Senate President Tom Lee a hypocrite for talking about curbing the use of political committees to raise money while maintaining a $1 million fund of his own. ...

OBITUARIES; SARASOTA COUNTY.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
February 1, 2006... Anna Bunting Anna Bunting, 96, Nokomis, died Jan. 31, 2006. She was born April 23, 1909, in the Czech Republic and came to Nokomis in 1988 from Homestead, Pa., where she had owned Ann's Flower Shop for 55 years. She was a member of...

Friend of Steelers' head coach has small job at big game; Ex-Boca Grande resident minds Bill Cowher's headset, gum.(A SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Chris Anderson Bill Cowher once hit a golf ball so poorly it landed on top of a maintenance building. Instead of taking a penalty stroke and hitting another shot, he actually climbed up to the roof in his golf spikes and hit...

Bush proposes $70.8B budget; It's 7 percent bigger, but governor says his plan remains based on "conservative principles.".(A SECTION)
February 2, 2006... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- Advancing the last budget of his administration, Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday was able to offer something for nearly everybody in his $70.8 billion spending plan. For fiscal...

Martinez, Nelson offer bill on drilling; The senators propose a 150-mile buffer, but the attempt seems ill-fated.(A SECTION)
February 2, 2006... Byline: CORY REISS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- Florida's two senators took a step back from their staunch anti-drilling position on Wednesday, unveiling legislation that would permanently ban oil and gas drilling within 150 miles of...

Take a different path; Preserve downtown park but remove sculpture.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 2, 2006... The public made itself clear Monday at a forum on the future of downtown Sarasota's Five Points Park: Keep it simple, keep the trees, but change "Memory Path." That's solid advice. With the exception of "Memory Path" -- that long, low,...

Historical events; Local programs offer insight to the past.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
February 2, 2006... People don't really know the place where they live if they aren't aware of its history. Fortunately, local history is being kept alive in Venice, North Port and Englewood, and events over the next several days can provide insight to the...

Time to sign.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT SARASOTA -- The dreams of 28 area high school football players began to unfold Wednesday after they signed letters of intent. Instead of stressful phone calls and worries that a college football coach...

Jurevicius: A Super comeback; Despite loss of infant son, then being cut by the Buccaneers, eight-year veteran receiver finds himself playing in his third Super Bowl.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com DETROIT -- Joe Jurevicius would not say, "I told you so," to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Instead, he did it in a more subtle way -- with his performance on the football field. The former...

Parker holds key to team's running game.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: DOUG FERNANDES doug.fernandes@heraldtribune.com DETROIT -- The most famous bus not driven by Ralph Cramden has proven you can go home again. And take hostage a Super Bowl week. The return of the Bus, Pittsburgh Steelers...

Sarasota's Brown (130 lbs.) claims only area title.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com PINELLAS PARK -- Sarasota High's Alex Brown concluded his final district wrestling tournament in style. Brown, a senior, captured the 130-pound weight class to claim the only area...

Success hasn't spoiled 2005 LPGA star Creamer.(SPORTS)(Golf)(Column)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Mark Cardon For obvious reasons, you would think Paula Creamer's favorite color would be green because she won so much of it on the 2005 LPGA Tour, her rookie season. But it isn't, and she indicated this week that money is not...

AREA CHIP SHOTS.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... THE OAKS CLUB Major renovation planned The Oaks Club, a private golf-course community in Osprey, is planning a major renovation for its two courses, the Heron and the Eagle, beginning in April. The Oaks has hired architects Pete Dye...

AREA COURSE PROFILE.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Sabal Trace Golf and CC * ADDRESS: 5456 Greenwood Ave., North Port, 34287 * PHONE: (941) 426-2804 * YEAR OPENED: 1972 * OWNERS: Charlotte Golf Partners * HEAD PRO: Cathy Edelen * SUPERINTENDENT: Roy Jones *...

Golden Bear retires to work.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Jack Nicklaus, who lives in North Palm Beach, was in the Sarasota-Bradenton area last week to open The Concession, a course he designed with Tony Jacklin, a Manatee County resident. Nicklaus, 66, and Jacklin played an 18-hole exhibition to...

St. Pete rolls over Lancers.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON -- Aaron Owens scored 10 points, including two 3-point goals, but it was not enough to help Manatee Community College men's basketball team as it lost to visiting St. Petersburg College 100-63 Wednesday...

Sutcliffe rolls perfect game in Youth Championships.(SPORTS)(Bowling)(Column)
February 2, 2006... Byline: Bill Herald Alan Sutcliffe fired a perfect game to highlight action in the 40th annual Sarasota-Manatee County Youth Championships at AMF Venice. Daniel Shaffer posted the highest three-game scratch series, 754, en route to...

Tigers edge Mustangs in OT.(SPORTS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT PALMETTO -- The Palmetto High boys basketball team jumped out quick in overtime and hung on for a 56-53 victory over visiting Lakewood Ranch on Wednesday night. Junior Rodney Mitchell led the Tigers with 21...

Sarasota to vote Monday on Pineapple Square plan; Some say the $200 million proposal for residences, stores and parking downtown favors the developer more than the city.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: KEVIN McQUAID kevin.mcquaid@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- City officials have concluded that the Pineapple Square project downtown "could provide considerable benefits" but that the $200 million proposal also would require a...

Success in real estate takes back seat to singing, dancing; Agent says her day job simply pays the bills.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Yes, you can start over in midlife, even after some tough breaks and unfulfilled dreams. Financial, professional and artistic recognition all came to Sarasota...

Condo trend may cost counties; Sarasota County seeks data on lost sales, tourist taxes.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: KATHLEEN McLAUGHLIN kathleen.mclaughlin@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA COUNTY -- As a hotel, the Hyatt Sarasota is worth less to the county tax collector than it would be as luxury condos. That is a no-brainer. What Sarasota...

Verizon rolls out TV service; Phone company starts selling FiOS in Manatee County.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2006... Byline: LAUREN MAYK lauren.mayk@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- Verizon started selling TV service in Manatee County on Wednesday, treading on the de facto turf of both Bright House Networks and Comcast Cable. Verizon, which...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
February 2, 2006... DeCecchis to work on Naples properties Realtor Leonard A. DeCecchis recently joined RSVP Associates, a Bradenton-based real estate company that specializes in country estate, equestrian and other recreational properties. He will lead the...

Funny ... chicks don't dig me.(FLORIDA WEST)(Column)
February 2, 2006... Byline: David Grimes I couldn't wait to tell my wife the news. "You'd better start treating me better," I said to her while hopping up and down in an excited, yet at the same time uncoordinated, manner. "Don't bother me. I'm...

Jumping toward equality; Morris, the 555th Infantry blazed trails in the air.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 2, 2006... Byline: MARY AWOSIKA mary.awosika@heraldtribune.com It was Feb. 18, 1944, and 16 men stood in formation, dressed in U.S. Army uniforms, chests out and chins up. The parachute-school instructor placed a paratrooper wing pin on the...

Author traces roots of Jews in Cuba.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 2, 2006... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE susan.rife@heraldtribune.com Ruth Behar's brother once asked her why she would travel halfway around the world and ride a bus for many hours just to interview a person. "It's just another person," she said he told...

Mahler pummels Mozart in symphony concert.(FLORIDA WEST)
February 2, 2006... Byline: RICHARD STORM CORRESPONDENT The decision by Leif Bjaland, conductor and artistic director of the Florida West Coast Symphony, to devote a program to two symphonies of great importance to our musical heritage Sunday at the Van Wezel...