Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from July 2008

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from July 2008

Home may be sweet at last for rising Rays.
July 1, 2008... Byline: Doug Fernandes Red Sox fans to the left of him, Red Sox fans to the right of him, and if the St. Pete resident turned around, a slew of Red Sox fans behind him. That was OK with Johnson. Even better? The Red Sox...

OPEN-OR-SHUT CASE Sarasota County makes its final push to dredge Midnight Pass.
July 1, 2008... Byline: DOUG SWORD doug.sword@heraldtribune.com This week, Sarasota County will begin sending a final package of scientific data, arguments and commitments to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The last of the...

Midnight Pass plan has interlocking parts.
July 1, 2008... Byline: DOUG SWORD doug.sword@heraldtribune.com The $15 million project to reopen Midnight Pass and restore dozens of acres of sea grass and mangroves is either beautiful in its array of interlocking pieces or doomed to failure by its...

What a waste Bottles and cans that could be recycled are littering our streets.
July 1, 2008... * The debris ends up in storm-water runoff, at times blocking drains. When it washes into streams and bays, it threatens wildlife. * Failing to recycle plastic, aluminum and glass wastes power, petroleum and other resources. It also...

Showalter 16th in 400 free Linn has her 100-back best.
July 1, 2008... Byline: PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENT Both girls swim for the Sarasota Family YMCA Sharks. American record holder Katie Hoff, 18, finished No. 1 in the prelims in 4:05.61. She holds the national record for the 400-meter freestyle in...

Twins' rally trips Orioles.
July 1, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT Also in the two-hit parade were Jae-Hyung Jang (two doubles), Herbert Lara, Aaron Hicks, Mike Gonzales and Juan Sanchez. Jang and Sanchez had back-to-back RBI doubles in the eighth. Edinho Meyer was 2-for-4 for the...

NOTEBOOK.
July 1, 2008... At least not as hard. After going 29-52 away from Tropicana Field last year, Tampa Bay is one of four American League teams and one of eight in the majors playing .500 or better on the road. After a 5-1 road trip to Miami and...

DiLacqua rises to occasion.(Kid Profile)
July 1, 2008... Byline: CHRIS DELL CORRESPONDENT A starting center fielder and pitcher for the 13-Under Manatee All-Stars, Andrew was the only 12-year-old on the roster. Despite dropping their first two games in the 15-Under division, the Manatee...

Local company helps restore flooded Midwest homes.
July 1, 2008... Byline: Toni Whitt He talked to the Service Master business operator in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and worked out a deal that allows him to work with homeowners who do not have flood insurance to help them clean up the muck, mold and mess the...

BEFORE IT GETS BETTER, FLORIDA'S ECONOMY WILL GET WORSE Expert at UCF sees growth in long run but more pain first.
July 1, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT By 2011, housing starts will have recovered but will be operating at levels 100,000 starts below the peak reached in 2005 -- roughly 273,000. In the retail arena, Snaith expects that after the initial burst of...

Tomato growers fault FDA for losses Call for better tracking of food-borne illness.
July 1, 2008... Byline: TOM BAYLES tom.bayles@heraldtribune.com Though tomatoes have a "strong association" with many of more than 800 salmonella cases across the nation, the FDA has not confirmed that the fruit carries the illness or that tomatoes were...

Business Buzz.
July 1, 2008... Entrepreneurs set to get down to business The Community Entrepreneur Opportunity program recently graduated six participants. The 12-week-long business-training series provides entrepreneurs core instruction using a business plan model and...

Manatee bakery has new leader Longtime Flowers worker takes helm.
July 1, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT "Mike has more than 25 years experience with Flowers and has done an outstanding job in sales since joining our Bradenton team in 2000," said Brad Alexander, president of parent company, Flowers Bakeries, in a...

Sun Hydraulics buys lot adjacent to Manatee plant.
July 1, 2008... Byline: TOM BAYLES tom.bayles@heraldtribune.com While Sun has been quietly gearing up for a plant expansion that could add roughly 250 employees during the next 10 years, spokesman Rich Arter said Sun officials have no immediate plans for...

Obituaries.(Obituary)
July 1, 2008... Oct. 21, 1959 - June 28, 2008 Michael John Lenart Sr., 48, Port Charlotte, formerly of Sicklerville, N.J., died June 28, 2008. The services will be private. Survivors include his wife, Mary; a daughter, Mary of National Park,...

BEST BET.
July 1, 2008... Phartist seminar: Artistic Photo Canvas. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Venice Art Center, 390 S. Nokomis Ave. Learn to transform traditional photo prints and modern digital photos into ready-to-hang artwork. 485-7136. ACT NOW Get your...

North Port reneges on deal City will divert funds to Sumter Boulevard.
July 1, 2008... Byline: JOHN DAVIS john.davis@heraldtribune.com "Far as North Port is concerned, Sumter right now is more important to us," said Commissioner Fred Tower. The housing construction slowdown in North Port and corresponding loss of impact...

Judge grants access to e-mail Venice council members can sort through computer files with their attorneys.
July 1, 2008... Byline: KIM HACKETT kim.hackett@heraldtribune.com "They can dig through their own trash bin first," said attorney Andrea Mogensen, who is representing the activist, Anthony Lorenzo. The computer copying is supposed to take place within...

BEST BETS.
July 1, 2008... Phartist seminar: Artistic Photo Canvas. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Venice Art Center, 390 S. Nokomis Ave. Learn to transform traditional photo prints and modern digital photos into ready-to-hang artwork. 485-7136. CALENDAR TODAY ...

Skilled skaters put tricks to the test.
July 1, 2008... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT Close to 100 participants zoomed up and down the ramps and slopes competing for skateboards donated by Heather Mooney, owner of Kooks Skate Shop, which co-sponsored the event with the city of North Port....

Determine your risk level for a stroke.
July 1, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT Bone density screening to assess the risk of osteoporosis is also available. Each screening takes 10 minutes or less to complete. The cost of a complete vascular screening package is $119; and with the...

Obituaries.(Obituary)
July 1, 2008... Oct. 2, 1924 - June 28, 2008 Dr. C. Richard "Dick" Bowers, formerly of Anderson, Ind., passed on to his Creator on June 28, 2008. Arrangements for a family memorial will be made at a later date. There will be no local funeral service....

Pit plan hearing turns into trial Upscale neighbors say farm's borrow pits would bring noise and dust.
July 1, 2008... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL chris.odonnell@heraldtribune.com Shackelford has the support of Manatee County planners and the region's water agency. But the project at 4 Star Tomato Farm has pitted the down-to-earth farmer against...

Advantage, Rays Tampa Bay takes opener from Red Sox to move 1 1/2 games ahead in the AL East race.
July 1, 2008... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com That brought Joe Maddon to the mound. He did not go alone. Trainer Paul Harker accompanied the Tampa Bay manager. Once again, Maddon was concerned with the health...

Fields, Englewood claim 9-10 opener.
July 1, 2008... Byline: DONNIE WILKIE CORRESPONDENT Trey Fields, all 4-feet, 6-inches and 73 pounds of him, came off the bench to slap a pair of singles and drove in a run as Englewood's9-10-year-olds overcame a 4-3 deficit to beat East Central ...

Manatee East now 4-0.
July 1, 2008... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT The victory put Manatee East (4-0) solidly in the driver's seat. It is the only undefeated team in the seven-team tournament. Each team plays six games and the two with the best record will play for the...

IN BRIEF.
July 1, 2008... District officials say the cut is needed as part of their plans to slash $21 million from their budget. But officials from the Manatee Education Association, which bargains on behalf of 2,700 teachers and teaching assistants, have said...

POLICE BRIEFS.
July 1, 2008... The mother told Palmetto police she was home with the girl doing household chores, which distracted her, Lt. Scott Tyler said. The child was able to open a door to the swimming pool deck. There was no child barrier to the pool, Tyler...

BEST BETS.
July 1, 2008... "Totally Electric" will be presented at 8 p.m. Wednesday and 2 and 8 p.m. Thursday at Manatee Players Riverfront Theater, 102 Old Main St., Bradenton. The new '80s musical is written and directed by Clearwater resident Jonathan Van Dyke....

Casino-style fun benefits animal rescue.
July 1, 2008... People paid $60 each to play casino-style games. Prizes given out throughout the evening included trips to Las Vegas for the top two game chip holders. Animal Network volunteers help both individuals and other animal rescue groups....

Obituaries.(Obituary)
July 1, 2008... June 26, 2008 Danny L. Dodson, 71, Longboat Key, died June 26, 2008. Services will begin at 11 a.m. July 12 at the United Methodist Church in Linneus, Mo. Survivors include his wife, Ethelyn; daughters Dawn of Walldorf, Germany,...

Episode arms foes of police stun guns.
July 1, 2008... Byline: Tom Lyons But the critics do have a point when they say that, because stun guns don't normally cause permanent damage, some officers start handling and using them far too casually. I have to think that Sarasota County...

Taxes are tasking for two candidates Buchanan and Jennings criticize each other's issues with the IRS.
July 1, 2008... Byline: JEREMY WALLACE H-T POLITICAL WRITER Both campaigns are showing little hesitation in challenging the other's history of IRS problems. The exchanges illuminate how Buchanan and Jennings are digging in for another scorching campaign,...

Flash in the sky prompts arrest Man faces felony charge after laser briefly blinds sheriff's helicopter pilot.
July 1, 2008... Byline: ANTHONY CORMIER anthony.cormier@heraldtribune.com Officials charged Bruce A. Donath, 49, with a felony count of misusing a laser, a crime that has gained notoriety after a string of episodes around the country. In this case,...

Agency approves Glades land deal Water district will work with U.S. Sugar.
July 1, 2008... Byline: KATE SPINNER kate.spinner@heraldtribune.com The 6-0 vote Monday also allows the water district to spend $7 million previously allocated for restoration work on appraisals, environmental surveys and other costs associated with...

POLICE BRIEFS.
July 1, 2008... Wylie Billups, 31, of Belle Glade, and his friends were driving down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way when his .22-caliber pistol went off in the back seat, authorities say. Kelvin Jones, 28, was struck and had to be hospitalized. The...

BEST BETS.
July 1, 2008... The public is invited to a July 4 celebration, starting at 9:30 a.m., at Gillespie Park, corner of 10th Street and Gillespie Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Patriotic music and songs will be part of the program, with keynote remarks by Sarasota...

Obituaries.
July 1, 2008... Oct. 2, 1924 - June 28, 2008 Dr. C. Richard "Dick" Bowers, formerly of Anderson, Ind., passed on to his Creator on June 28, 2008. Arrangements for a family memorial will be made at a later date. There will be no local funeral service....

GET IN THE SWIM Don't be a statistic. Be water-savvy.
July 1, 2008... Byline: WALKER MEADE CORRESPONDENT "I thought that if only these children could do what I'd seen my 2-year-old daughter do in the water," she says, "maybe they would not have drowned." Mann, who has lived in Florida with her family for...

Our nation is free. Too bad gas isn't.
July 2, 2008... Byline: TONI WHITT toni.whitt@heraldtribune.com And for the first time this decade, AAA is predicting a decline in the number of Americans who are traveling for the Fourth of July holiday: an estimated 40.45 million will travel, down 1.3...

In hard numbers, a clearer view of an industry's hard fall.
July 2, 2008... Byline: DOUG SWORD doug.sword@heraldtribune.com That the local construction industry has fallen on tough times is hardly news, but the official July 1 figures released by property appraisers place precise numbers on the downturn. For...

New flexibility to No Child law Florida is part of a pilot program that offers a reprieve to some schools.
July 2, 2008... Byline: TIFFANY LANKES and CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL STAFF WRITERS No Child calls for schools that have been out of compliance five years in a row to be taken over by the state or turned over to private companies. But with Tuesday's change,...

Red Sox press for details of deal But city and county have yet to secure land for a spring training ballpark.
July 2, 2008... Byline: ROGER DROUIN roger.drouin@heraldtribune.com But the city and the county have still not secured the land for a new stadium. They want to build a 12,000-seat ballpark on Fruit-ville Road, but first will have to convince the fair...

Rays arrive Tampa Bay turnaround is already one for the record books.
July 2, 2008... Yet, no matter what the score of last night's game at Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays are in first place. The Rays and first place -- a scarcely stated combination of words, until recently written or uttered as rarely as phrases like,...

Auto break-ins revisited Burglaries show that owners haven't learned their lesson.
July 2, 2008... Eighteen vehicles were burglarized, only one of which was locked, said Dave Bristow, Manatee County sheriff's spokesman. "We've been hammered by vehicle burglaries for some time now," Bristow added. Vehicle owners can't say they...

PEN IS MIGHTIER Rays' depleted bullpen rises up to seal victory, beat Red Sox again.
July 2, 2008... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com J.P. Howell warmed up twice Monday, before he came in and got the final out. Dan Wheeler pitched in the three previous games and was unavailable. Despite some...

FORMER MCC STAR FINDS NEW LIFE IN EUROPE.
July 2, 2008... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT But it was Washington's loyalty to James Life that helped resurrect the basketball career of the career and single-season scoring leader for Manatee Community College. After completing his career at MCC...

When Matt toes Garza Strip, opposing bats go silent.
July 2, 2008... Byline: Doug Fernandes Don't ever accuse Joe Maddon of failing to possess a sense for the dramatic. After Matt Garza had thrown 102 pitches through seven innings, after another sterling effort by the 24-year-old right-hander had tilted the...

Rams' Showalter signs with Florida.
July 2, 2008... Byline: PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENT She finished 16th in the 400-meter freestyle on Monday and will compete in the 800-meter freestyle on Friday. Showalter, a member of the Sarasota Family YMCA Sharks, will join at least four other...

O'Neil, North Port unbeaten in 10-11s.
July 2, 2008... Byline: DONNIE WILKIE CORRESPONDENT "I think we can go all the way, because we've got a good team and good players," said O'Neil, who struck out nine (throwing only 71 pitches) and went 3-for-4 at the plate Monday, before sliding over to...

Manatee Central improves to 3-1 in pool with 11-1 win.
July 2, 2008... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT Carter went the distance on the mound allowing only four hits with seven strikeouts to spark Central to an 11-1 victory over Manatee American Tuesday night at the Buffalo Creek Park baseball complex. ...

RAYS NOTEBOOK.
July 2, 2008... Percival reinjured his hamstring backing up a play at third base in the ninth inning. The stint will cause him to miss 12 games, since it will run into the All-Star break. The Rays recalled RH Mitch Talbot from Triple A Durham, where...

Twins shut out Reds, 4-0.
July 2, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT Tyler Ladendorf was 2-for-5 with an RBI double for the Twins. Samuel Vasquez was 2-for-3 for the Reds. * At Pirate City in Bradenton, Roberto Feliz hit a two-run home run to cap a four-run third inning as the...

Business Buzz.
July 2, 2008... Wheeler new manager at Gateway Bank Alicia Z. Wheeler has been appointed banking center manager at the downtown Sarasota branch of Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida. She most recently worked as client support specialist in the private...

SinoFresh says nasal spray may help fight MRSA.
July 2, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT The reservoirs are believed by some public health experts to be a significant source of MRSA infections. Dr. John Todhunter, an outside consultant hired by SinoFresh, said that having a high nasal load of MRSA is...

Starwood names regional president.
July 2, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT "Mike is an extremely entrepreneurial and versatile professional whose vast network of relationships and deep residential land investment experience will be invaluable to the company," said John Peshkin, Starwood...

Obituaries.(Obituary)
July 2, 2008... April 16, 1934 - June 25, 2008 Bruce A. "Tiger" Bryan, 74, Englewood, formerly of Rochester, N.Y., died June 25, 2008. The memorial services were private. Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel, was in charge of arrangements. ...

BEST BETS.
July 2, 2008... The Venice Symphony is sponsoring a Venice Summer Music Camp offering instrumental instruction, music games, music theory, music history and an introduction to conducting. On the last day, there will be a concert for parents and friends. Camp...

Regatta shows off crew camp knowledge.
July 2, 2008... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT "We focus on fun and fundamentals," said Coach Phyllis Walton, who has been leading the camp for the past five years. "Teaching rowing techniques, terminology and body positions comes first, then the...

Venice health care group awards 37 scholarships.
July 2, 2008... Byline: KEN HAGGERTY CORRESPONDENT HVV, which has been around since the '50s, continues to help aspiring students reach their professional goals. Sharon Robinson, who works full time as a certified nurse assistant in the medical...

Obituaries.
July 2, 2008... March 24, 1921 - June 29, 2008 Mary Elizabeth Feeney, 87, Bloomington, Ill., formerly of Venice, died June 29, 2008. Visitation was Tuesday at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in El Paso, Ill. Services will begin at 1:30 p.m. today at Holy...

Livingston gets work as Reds fall to Jays.
July 2, 2008... Byline: PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENT Dunedin right-hander Ray Gonzalez (6-3) was the star of the game as he worked eight innings of four-hit ball, walked two and struck out three while his Blue Jays teammates put together 11 hits off three...

Pool perils put focus on safety Two Manatee children are rushed to the hospital; one is known dead.
July 2, 2008... Byline: HALLE STOCKTON halle.stockton@heraldtribune.com This nightmare became reality for two Manatee County families after they lost track of their children for mere minutes. In the most recent case, a mother scooped her 3-year-old boy...

Talks stall as teachers' union skips pay hearing.
July 2, 2008... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL chris.odonnell@heraldtribune.com The meeting Tuesday morning in front of a special magistrate was supposed to resolve the growing pay dispute between the Manatee teachers union and district officials, who are...

IN BRIEF.
July 2, 2008... The donor gave Jean Sundstrom a Buick LeSabre. The man asked that his name not be made public. "You see all the time that the victim is the one left to pick up the pieces while the criminal is let off the hook," he said. Sundstrom...

POLICE BRIEFS.
July 2, 2008... Havoc resulted Monday afternoon when a man stripped off his clothes in front of a woman using a public rest- room in a downtown store. When a manager confronted him, the man strolled naked into the street and caused a traffic crash. ...

BEST BETS.
July 2, 2008... Storyteller and guitarist Preston Boyd will be featured at a summer reading program for school-age children at 2 p.m. at the Palmetto Branch Library, 923 Sixth St. W., Palmetto. For details, call 722-3333. CALENDAR TODAY Caregiver...

Bradenton resident wins HGTV home.
July 2, 2008... Byline: STAFF REPORT "I'm so excited. I can't tell you," Coulthard said in a printed statement. "I entered almost every day trying to win the home." Coulthard, whose name was drawn from more than 21 million entries, previously lived...

Obituaries.(Obituary)
July 2, 2008... May 25, 1943 - July 1, 2008 Jean R. Teune, 65, Bradenton, formerly of Daytona Beach, died July 1, 2008. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bradenton Christian Reformed Church. The Good Earth Crematory in Bradenton handled...

Don't look now: Africa is waving.
July 2, 2008... Byline: ANNA SCOTT anna.scott@heraldtribune.com If the tropical wave turns into a storm, it will mark a record early arrival. Usually, African waves develop closer to the height of the Atlantic season in September. It is still too...

Starting cyclists face new requisite Motorcycle law calls for extra preparation.
July 2, 2008... Byline: JOE FOLLICK H-T CAPITAL BUREAU Floridians applying for a motorcycle license must still pass a written test and basic skills test, but will now be able to take those at the same time and location as the newly required course. ...

Recent rain brings some relief to a river parched by drought.
July 2, 2008... Byline: KATE SPINNER kate.spinner@heraldtribune.com The increased flow has bolstered the river depth past Arcadia, where the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority draws water to supply faucets in Charlotte, DeSoto and...

IN BRIEF.
July 2, 2008... The 17th Annual Freedom Swim will begin at 1 p.m., near the mini-golf course on the Port Charlotte side of the U.S. 41 southbound bridge. Those new to the event may want to arrive at 12:30 p.m. to find a swim partner. Swimmers will cross...

POLICE BRIEFS.
July 2, 2008... Authorities say William Aron, 25, convicted in 2003 of two sex crimes, showed a 10-year-old North Port boy pornography before molesting him. Aron is in the Sarasota County jail on charges of lewd or lascivious child molestation and...

Obituaries.
July 2, 2008... June 30, 1951 - June 30, 2008 Layton Eugene "Gene" Dawson, 57, Sarasota since 1980, formerly of Myrtle Beach, S.C., died June 30, 2008. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. July 12 at Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton....

Y volunteer was a role model for his generous ways.
July 2, 2008... Byline: MARK ZALOUDEK mark.zaloudek@heraldtribune.com Herbert, who died June 9 at 95, received the organization's highest award for volunteerism in 1992. "At age 79, Sid is an incredible role model for troubled teens as he cheerfully...

Residents ponder fair as possible neighbor.
July 2, 2008... Byline: ROGER DROUIN roger.drouin@heraldtribune.com To Gilbert the move seemed improbable because she thinks there is not enough room in the 112-acre park without making major changes such as filling in one of the two large lakes or moving...

Coffee shop aims to get you going Need a bike repair? Need a good cup of joe? In a former gas station is a solution for both.
July 2, 2008... Byline: CATHY ZOLLO cathy.zollo@heraldtribune.com One bay holds a bicycle shop where customers can pick up cycling accessories, buy a used bike, have one repaired or rent one to hop on the Legacy Trail 10 minutes down the road. The other is...

At heart of South Gate, hopes of restoration.(Interview)
July 2, 2008... Byline: CATHY ZOLLO cathy.zollo@heraldtribune.com Spear sat down with a reporter to talk about his hopes for the building and for the community in general. Q: What are among your first priorities for the community center that is the...

Veggie Magic rescues the taste buds.
July 2, 2008... Byline: ROBERT ECKHART robert.eckhart@heraldtribune.com I thought I was in for one of those days because the restaurant I wanted to review this week was closed Saturday afternoon, and my backup fell through. I was running out of ideas...

Regatta punctuates crew camp.
July 2, 2008... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT "We focus on fun and fundamentals," said Coach Phyllis Walton, who has been leading the camp for the past five years. "Teaching rowing techniques, terminology and body positions comes first, then the...

Hard-hitters at the beach.
July 2, 2008... After a week off for the July Fourth holiday, the tour continues July 12 and 13 in Fort Lauderdale. The tour returns to the west coast of Florida Aug. 23 and 24, when it revisits Clearwater Beach. For more information, visit...

Kulfi The best of ice cream and granita.
July 2, 2008... Byline: LINDA BRANDT linda.brandt@heraldtribune.com Kulfi to-go is not an option here, "unless you want to eat it in the car," joked Chutney's co-owner Denise Shukla. It is an option, however, at the recently opened Peterbrooke...

A tranquil setting for fusion cuisine.
July 2, 2008... Byline: JACK WINNER CORRESPONDENT The menu at Ophelia's changes regularly, offering a good, if pricey, range of selections with a decidedly fusion approach. Seafood figures prominently, often with an Asian twist, as in the appetizer...