Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from June 2007, page 6

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from June 2007

Schlumberger and your gas-guzzler.
June 22, 2007... Byline: Lauren Rudd Now before you go and give that gas-guzzling SUV an affectionate pat on the hood, here is the rest of the story. Oil imports to fuel China's booming economy rose by 11.5 percent in the first five months of the year....

Save those dry-cleaning receipts!
June 22, 2007... Byline: David Grimes Both of these items mean quite a lot to me, though at the moment I can't recall exactly what those reasons might be. Not that it matters. In today's society, if you are aggrieved, then you are entitled to money. And,...

Passionate about bicycling.
June 22, 2007... Byline: CHRISTINE HAWES CORRESPONDENT As co-founder and leader of the Alliance for Responsible Transportation, Noune has gathered signatures on bike-related petitions; published a quarterly newsletter; organized bike drives, repairing old...

Water view, and room to park Oystercatchers build a nest in an unlikely spot -- a beach parking lot.
June 22, 2007... Byline: KATE SPINNER kate.spinner@heraldtribune.com Oystercatchers, stocky black and white birds distinguished by their long, bright-red beaks, rarely build nests in Sarasota County, said Jerris Foote, supervisor of county Parks and...

POLICE BRIEFS.
June 22, 2007... Marjorie McKenzie, 72, died when her vehicle crossed the intersection of Sandhill and Deep Creek boulevards and traveled into the path of another vehicle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The other vehicle's driver, Mario Alberto...

BEST BETS.
June 22, 2007... SATURDAY Lemon Bay Summer Baseball Program fundraiser. Saturday car wash, yard sale and barbecue lunch. Come out and support the kids and the adults who work so hard to keep this program going. They will be at the Key Agency, 1201...

Budding beauties compete for titles.
June 22, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT Her response, "Oh my gosh, she's so pretty." A recent graduate from Deep Creek Elementary School's fifth grade, Toya stood on stage last weekend at the Punta Gorda Women's Club Historical...

American Legion conducts ceremony to retire old flags.
June 22, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT Still, a flag disposal ceremony June 14 included readings by Acting Post Commander Don Grudt and a prayer by Acting Chaplain Cathy Spyrie before "Taps" was played. "We were asked not to actually...

Harbor a reliable fishing spot.
June 22, 2007... Byline: Steve Gibson It was in the early 1980s when Sarasota guide Pete Greenan took us deep into Bull Bay. There were no other guide boats around. The only other vessels we saw were a couple of mullet skiffs. Redfish seemingly were...

OBITUARIES.(Obituary)
June 22, 2007... Aug. 16, 1924 - June 19, 2007 Wilbur R. Weaver, 82, Venice, formerly of Bremen, Ind., died June 19, 2007. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. June 30 at Grace United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife of 61 years,...

Student drawn to teaching art to kids.
June 22, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT In fifth grade, Schwaner made up her mind she wanted to become an artist. She is particularly interested in commercial drawing, with plans to start her career with such companies as Hallmark or...

Charlotte Players workshop offers 'Acting for Adults'.
June 22, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT The workshop is geared for those preparing for their first experiences on stage or to improve their existing skills. The eight-week course will be taught by drama teacher and artistic director...

North Port rolling back fees Commissioners hope financial incentives will attract builders.
June 22, 2007... Byline: JOHN DAVIS john.davis@heraldtribune.com The cuts, which come in the wake of a local home building collapse, do not stop there. North Port is poised to delay a 54 percent impact fee increase for single-family homes. The...

BEST BETS.
June 22, 2007... The Sociables meet at 11:45 a.m. every Friday to play bridge and pinochle and to enjoy friendships over dessert and beverages at the San Pedro Activity Center, 14380 Tamiami Trail, North Port. Bridge lessons are available. Call Helen at...

Block Party kicks off program.
June 22, 2007... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT "The Block Party also served as a welcoming to the volunteers," said Trinity volunteer Audrey Norman. She was referring to the six teens and one adult who traveled from Marietta, Ga. to run the...

Jewish Family & Children's Service nets $100,000 grant.
June 22, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT This grant will allow JFCS to provide prevention and intervention services to all families in Englewood, North Port, Nokomis and Osprey. JFCS will also provide additional group programming about substance abuse, and...

THE GAMES ROLL ON.
June 22, 2007... Complete schedule of events, see www.lawgames.org. Basketball: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Booker High, Pine View High and Sarasota Middle schools; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Brookside Middle School; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McIntosh Middle School. ...

2 officers quit during inquiry Bradenton police refuse to release any details.
June 22, 2007... Byline: ANTHONY CORMIER andMICHAEL A. SCARCELLA STAFF WRITERS The police department refused to release any information about the investigation Thursday, including a complaint filed last year against officers who worked closely with the...

Tallevast in need of more testing? Environmentalists say not enough study has been done at contaminated site.
June 22, 2007... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL chris.odonnell@heraldtribune.com "They have not done a thorough investigation; I don't think they've yet found all the chemicals," said Wanda Washington, FOCUS vice president. "They've got to step backwards...

POLICE BRIEFS.
June 22, 2007... The robbery happened shortly after 9 a.m. at SunTrust, in the 6100 block U.S. 301 North. The note demanded cash. The woman is described as white, about 5 feet, 4 inches and 18 to 30 years old. She wore a white, short-sleeved shirt, blue...

News of Record.
June 22, 2007... JUNE 6-12 Allaman, John William and Carla Maria Thomas. Antilla, Collin Ray and Jennifer Joan Redline. Bentley, Joshua Scott and Daphne Ann Browning. Boles, Charles Donald Jr. and Ryan Michele Boulton. Camus, Brian Louis...

Relatives let 10-month-old boy drink gin, the police charge.
June 22, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com An aunt, Heather L. Moore, 21, and an uncle, John D. Bell, 45, were arrested Wednesday on felony-level child abuse charges and could not be reached for comment. Both were...

Parents warned of TB exposure in school.
June 22, 2007... Byline: FRANK GLUCK frank.gluck@heraldtribune.com Health officials refused to say whether the suspected TB carrier is a student or a school employee. Preliminary tests for that person are positive for TB, though a final determination is...

Organists bring the music to happy hour.
June 22, 2007... Byline: YVETTE KIMM CORRESPONDENT Moyer and several other musicians will perform that afternoon. They are members of the Bradenton Chapter of L.I.F.E., which stands for Lowery is Fun and Easy. They all play Lowery organs and use their...

Community Foundation awards 236 scholarships.
June 22, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Local students among those receiving scholarships for 2006-2007 include: * Abraham Educational Fund, $2,000 each: Luisa Castano, Lakewood Ranch High, plans to major in pre-med and theology at Southeastern...

Aid groups warned subsidy cuts ahead Manatee County will feel tax-cut bite and pass it on.
June 22, 2007... Byline: FRANK GLUCK frank.gluck@heraldtribune.com County Administrator Ed Hunzeker on Thursday told representatives of organizations that help the poor that statewide property tax cuts have hamstrung county budget planners. In the...

Boomers remain young at heart.
June 22, 2007... Byline: CATHY ZOLLO cathy.zollo@heraldtribune.com Tuerpe took up snow boarding at 30, surfing at 40. At 45, her only regret is not doing those things sooner. "If I had started younger, I probably would've been better at it," she...

OBITUARIES.
June 22, 2007... June 5, 1965 - June 17, 2007 Zina Y. Cruz, 42, Bradenton, formerly of Clarksburg, W.Va., died June 17, 2007. Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Woodland Baptist Church. Arrangements by Brown & Sons Funeral Homes, 26th...

Gratefully embracing a dodge over gates.
June 22, 2007... Byline: Tom Lyons After all, CDDs are governmental units authorized by the county. Their limited powers include collecting taxes to pay for roads, which saves the developer money. But dang it, the residents paying the taxes tend to get...

FARMING'S NEW FACE Public as shareholders? Old MacDonald never had this kind of farm.
June 22, 2007... Byline: CHRISTINA E. SANCHEZ christina.sanchez@heraldtribune.com Purchased two years ago by Manatee County, Geraldson was viewed as a 20-acre plot ideal for joining a relatively new kind of farming in Southwest Florida called...

News of Record.
June 22, 2007... MAY 7-20 Almasy, Nancy and Michael. Amerchih, Ahmed and Edith. Anderson, Nicole and Michael. Archer, Valerie and John. Ball, Donna and Charles. Banos, Graciela and Gerardo. Blum, Justin and Sherry. ...

Police and firefighters compete in state games.
June 22, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT TODAY'S EVENTS Basketball: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Booker High, Pine View High and Sarasota Middle schools; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Brookside Middle School; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McIntosh Middle School. Baseball: 8...

POLICE BRIEFS.
June 22, 2007... The fight happened Sunday night shortly before 11 p.m. in the Hampton Inn lobby, 5900 block of Cattleridge Boulevard. The deputies were walking back from a nearby Chili's when Richard Marshall, 22, and Michael Kowal, 25, started an...

BEST BETS.
June 22, 2007... ACT NOW Get your event considered for the Herald-Tribune community calendar. Items must be submitted online using a form at www.heraldtribune.com/calendarform. Please include how frequently your event occurs. Items without that...

Salvation Army's new majors hope to expand their services.
June 22, 2007... Byline: PATTY ALLEN-JONES patty.allen-jones@heraldtribune.com "We have known the Tanners for many years -- our children grew up together," Phil Murphy said. "We served in the same divisions. We were all in Texas together." The...

Sarasotan volunteers for Peace Corps post.
June 22, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Mullaney graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School and recently earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida State University. She worked for 211 Big Bend in Tallahassee, a crisis counseling information...

OBITUARIES.(Obituary)
June 22, 2007... Nov. 17, 1928 - June 17, 2007 Retired Marine Lt. Col. William D. Anderson, 78, Sarasota, formerly of Quantico, Va., died June 17, 2007. A gathering for family and friends will be held later at the residence. Robarts Funeral Home...

Historian loved Palmetto and preserved it.
June 22, 2007... Byline: MARK ZALOUDEK mark.zaloudek@heraldtribune.com Her knowledge of the people, politics and businesses that shaped Palmetto since it was incorporated in 1894 "was somehow hardwired into her brain," said Palmetto Mayor Larry Bustle,...

Masked gunmen rob jewelry store.
June 22, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT The men were last seen in the alley behind the store. They left in an unknown direction, possibly in a dark blue Chrysler Sebring. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 366-TIPS or at...

Model plan Hotel proposal has features that should be emulated.
June 21, 2007... The plan also calls for more open space and landscaping than required by the code. Also, the buildings would be set farther back from the road than required. It's no surprise that Venice's Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend...

Adjustment boards are girding for appeals Think your '07 assessment will fall? Think again.(PROPERTY TAXES FALLING VALUES)
June 21, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL BRAGA and PATRICK WHITTLE STAFF WRITERS County property appraisers say it is far more likely that residents will see an increase, something not likely to make the majority of them happy. A rise in taxes at a time when...

Schools can expect lower FCAT grades Poor science scores could cost districts millions.
June 21, 2007... Byline: TIFFANY LANKES tiffany.lankes@heraldtribune.com In that analysis, obtained by the Herald-Tribune on Wednesday, more than one in four schools saw their grades drop by at least one letter. By comparison, 1 percent of schools saw...

Reds' stadium deal is on 'life support' Amid tax reform and budget cuts, Sarasota officials voice shrinking interest in project.
June 21, 2007... Byline: DOUG SWORD and CAROL E. LEE doug.sword@heraldtribune.com County Administrator Jim Ley described the stadium deal as being on "life support." "And maybe it's time to give the family notice to be in attendance," he added. ...

Richer veterans could get access to more health care.
June 21, 2007... Byline: CORY REISS WASHINGTON BUREAU Anthony Principi, then the VA secretary, stopped enrolling veterans in a category known as Priority Group 8 to accommodate Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and budgets that were insufficient to care for...

WHAT WILL YOU SAVE? A proposed constitutional amendment that will be put before voters in January would allow residents to keep the Save Our Homes property tax break or switch to a new "super exemption." To calculate how each would affect your home's taxable value through the years, go to www.heraldtribune.com/calculate taxes.
June 21, 2007... WHAT WILL YOU SAVE? A proposed constitutional amendment that will beput before voters in January would allow residents to keep the Save Our Homes property tax break or switch to a new "super exemption." To calculate how each would affect your...

DEP, miners back in business Ruling shows that phosphate industry has nothing to fear.
June 21, 2007... An appeals court thought the DEP's "Peace River Cumulative Impact Study" -- completed early this year -- was relevant enough to warrant the department's reconsideration of a pending application to mine phosphate near a tributary of the river....

Best friends welcome 'Doggy dining' option is a treat for owners and pets.
June 21, 2007... The phrase is misleading, of course. It is humans, not canines, who will be doing the dining. The new rules -- strict about cleanliness -- are intended to prevent dogs from touching restaurants' dishes or silverware. So forget licking the...

A Dream worth saving Boy Scouts' deal should protect disabled children's camp.
June 21, 2007... One topic that deserves more attention is Dream Oaks Camp, a program that gives sick and disabled children in our region and throughout Florida a chance to enjoy and learn about the outdoors. The program's leaders, who have leased 10...

Ex-Chief battles bad rap Defensive tackle Ryan Sims is grateful for fresh start with Tampa Bay.
June 21, 2007... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com The former No.6 overall pick of the 2002 NFL draft is fighting for a roster spot with the Buccaneers. For now, the most mammoth presence among the Buccaneers' nine defensive tackles in...

Nine area players entered in Florida State Amateur.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Mark Cardon Besides Leetzow, other qualifiers are Byron White, Charlie Walters, Nick Clark, John Hewlin, Chris Kennedy, Max Kem, Stephen Slocum and Devin Spies. Leetzow has also won six City of Sarasota Men's Amateur titles....

CHIP SHOTS.
June 21, 2007... Mike Lavalliere and Drew Mitchell won this past weekend's City of Bradenton 2-Man Championship in a playoff over Joel Beaver and Scott Yow. Both teams shot 132. Brian Schmidt and Eli Nogiec were one-stroke back. Rich Kunzie and Chris...

AREA COURSE PROFILE.
June 21, 2007... * PHONE: 355-7621 * OPENED: 1968 * OWNERS: CT Rolling Green, LLC (privately owned) * HEAD PRO: Joe Mann * SUPERINTENDENT: Cindy Payne * WEB SITE: www.rollinggreengc.com * GENERAL MANAGER: Mark Halter * COURSE...

AREA NOTEBOOK.
June 21, 2007... SARASOTA -- Nick Saban, Alabama's head football coach, will be here. So will Wayne Fontes of the Detroit Lions. What's the occasion? Herb Haygood has gathered an impressive list of major football celebrities to play in his Charity...

SaraReds win first-half finale over Clearwater.
June 21, 2007... Byline: PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENT Sarasota, which clinched the West Division title Monday night, spotted Clearwater a 4-0 lead after two innings before rallying for seven consecutive runs in front of 1,291 Kids Camp Day spectators at Ed...

Tarnow's hit lifts Orioles 3-2.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Cole McCurry pitched two hitless innings of relief for the win, walking one and striking out three. Elvin Polanco added a single and a double for the Orioles. Darren Blocker was 2-for-5 and drove in both Red Sox...

Slusar in top 10 of championship tournament.
June 21, 2007... Byline: Bill Herald Kari ranks eighth in Division 2 all-events at 1,798. Shanti Schrock of Sarasota is in eighth place in Division 1 (195+) singles at 686 and tied for 19th in all-events with 1,842, in addition to pairing with Kim...

CCI owner says he has plan to pay off debts Judge tells the home builder's creditors to brace for bad news.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com At a May creditors meeting, Battle said that private equity firm Holton Capital LLC lent or will lend him money to buy the park with the goal of building about 190 residences. ...

Superior Bancorp is cleared to take over People's bank.
June 21, 2007... Byline: JOHN HIELSCHER john.hielscher@heraldtribune.com "We've already got 75 percent back, and all are in favor of it," he said. Superior will swap 2.9 shares of stock for each share of People's Community Bancshares Inc., with its...

Business Buzz.
June 21, 2007... SCORE is seeking volunteer counselors The Manasota chapter of SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business is seeking counselors. The nonprofit organization, which offers free advice to small start-up and existing businesses, wants...

Charlotte panel develops wish list Dozens of leaders setting goals for future and future spending.
June 21, 2007... Byline: ZAC ANDERSON zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com With the state placing limits on property tax collections, officials say Charlotte County will be even more dependent on sales tax money to fund future construction projects. But...

Punta Gorda hunts for budget items to cut.
June 21, 2007... Byline: PATRINA A. BOSTIC patrina.bostic@heraldtribune.com The City Council will hold a budget workshop June 29. "It was just a combination of the city manager, finance department and other departments finding ways that we could cut...

No prison time for mover charged with theft.
June 21, 2007... Byline: KEVIN DALE kevin.dale@heraldtribune.com Consumer complaints against McGathey, who was ultimately charged in Charlotte County, extend over more than a decade. Many of McGathey's victims have said they would rather have seen...

Charlotte County development director quits.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Loucks said Konefal did not give a reason for his resignation, which was effective immediately. Konefal frequently found himself defending his planning policies in recent months against developers and...

Two exhibits present a feast for eyes at Visual Arts Center.
June 21, 2007... Byline: MARILYN D. CARPENTER CORRESPONDENT Pastel artist Fran Hines proved her well-known talent for portraiture equals by her landscape work when she was awarded first place for her 18-inch-by-24-inch pastoral scene "Summer Rai," at the...

Playhouse season ends with 'Moon'.
June 21, 2007... Byline: MARILYN D. CARPENTER CORRESPONDENT During its New York run, Clive Barnes of the New York Post wrote, "'Moon Over Buffalo' is hilarious. Ludwig stuffs his play with comic invention, running gags and neat sense of absurdity. An...

Butler starts and stays on top.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Butler, the 2002 TBARA points champ, came into the race ninth in points. He finished 15th the first time the series was at CCMP this year in April. Fort Myers' Scotty Adema, who grew up racing in Punta Gorda,...

Obituaries.(Obituary)
June 21, 2007... April 24, 1922 - June 19, 2007 Mary Anderson, 85, of Griffin, Ga., formerly of Englewood, died June 19, 2007. Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lemon Bay Funeral Home Englewood Chapel. A service is at 11 a.m. Saturday...

BEST BETS.
June 21, 2007... Lemon Bay Summer Baseball Program fundraiser. Car wash, yard sale and barbecue lunch. Support the children and adults who keep this program going. They will be at the Key Agency, 1201 McCall Road, Englewood, from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday....

Students awarded money for college.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT The following is a partial list of the 236 scholarships for 2006-2007: 2006-2007 Scholarship Recipients Traditional Students, by fund: From the Abraham Educational Fund, $2,000 each: Stacey Caravella,...

Venice High graduate commissioned as naval officer.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT At the Naval Academy, Hess was active in the Catholic Midshipmen Club and served as the president of the Campus Girl Scouts. Following graduation, she will report to Naval Air Station Pensacola, where she will begin...

Vocal public swayed Manatee on gates On several traffic-related issues, the county has yielded to coordinated opposition.
June 21, 2007... Byline: FRANK GLUCK frank.gluck@heraldtribune.com Community development districts, neighborhood tax districts that build and maintain their own roads, should set their own policies about public access through their gated entrances, the...

Owners trying to sell stake in hotel.
June 21, 2007... Byline: ANTHONY CORMIER anthony.cormier@heraldtribune.com Richard Ade, Ocean Properties' vice president, said the company would continue operating the hotel as it tries to find a "joint venture opportunity." He did not explain why it...

Insanity defense set in family deaths.
June 21, 2007... Byline: MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA michael.scarcella@heraldtribune.com Insanity defenses are rare in the criminal justice system and are reserved for cases in which there is little doubt about a person's role in a crime. If Davis is found not...

Board to seek tech school grant Members plan new campus despite county's disapproval.
June 21, 2007... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL chris.odonnell@heraldtribune.com It also will likely allocate $15.4 million from its own budget for the campus. But with the project's future hinging on the outcome of two lawsuits between the School...

Gospel music, games combine for old-fashioned fun.
June 21, 2007... Gospel music provided a backdrop as people played games under the old oak tree and on porches of the historical buildings. Featured musicians were Jimmy Pierce, Gary Masengale, Sam Lane and Clayton and Evelyn Allen. For more information...

South Florida Museum launches search for executive director.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT The position has been filled by an interim executive director since early 2006. During this time, the museum's board of directors developed a strategic plan, including a comprehensive description of the...

Obituaries.
June 21, 2007... Nov. 26, 1924 - June 15, 2007 Earl Brunson, 82, of Palm Bay, formerly of Sioux City, Iowa and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died June 15, 2007. There will be no services. Arrangements by Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory. Survivors...

Sheriff could turn to governor Balkwill will likely ask Crist to overrule the county's planned cuts.
June 21, 2007... Byline: DOUG SWORD doug.sword@heraldtribune.com Unlike any other local official, a county sheriff can ask the governor to intercede in a budget dispute with county commissioners. In neighboring counties, sheriffs are not talking about...

Resident fights City Hall and wins damages check Howard Berna got Sarasota to reconsider after his parked SUV was hit during a police chase.
June 21, 2007... Byline: LATISHA R. GRAY latisha.gray@heraldtribune.com The officers used a "tap" maneuver, which causes a fleeing driver to lose control and spin out. It worked, but the driver hit two parked cars, including Berna's SUV. Berna filed...

Police and fire games rolling on.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT TODAY Basketball: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Booker High, Pine View and Sarasota Middle schools; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at McIntosh Middle and Brookside Middle schools. Baseball: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Sarasota and Venice...

Program gives teens a taste of research.
June 21, 2007... Byline: PATTY ALLEN-JONES patty.allen-jones@heraldtribune.com "You actually really learn a lot from larvae," said Jacob Hyppolite, 15, of Lakewood Ranch High School, who was partnered with 15-year-old Yuliya Shchavlinskiy of North Port....

Community Foundation awards 236 scholarships.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT The total includes adult learners and renewal scholarships. North Sarasota County scholarship recipients for 2006-2007 are: 2006-2007 Scholarship Recipients Traditional Students, by fund: From the Abraham...

New tax considered by county.
June 21, 2007... Byline: STAFF REPORT Sarasota and Venice levy 10 percent taxes, and North Port a 2 percent tax on electric bills, according to county budget officials. The county does not levy a tax, but may do so as part of efforts to close its budget...

Obituaries.
June 21, 2007... Sept. 1, 1910 - June 19, 2007 Ethel Bauer, 96, of Sarasota, formerly of Queens, N.Y., died June 19, 2007. Toale Brothers Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Ortner and Janet Brisbin,...