Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from March 2005

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from March 2005

Most storm victims forgo loans from SBA; Less than 20 percent of those who got Small Business Administration applications have returned them.(A SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- The federal government didn't find many takers when it offered low-interest loans to people whose homes and businesses were damaged by Hurricane Charley. ...

Gridlock looms on the horizon; Panel: Reliance on 'more asphalt, more concrete' must change.(A SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com In 25 years, the region is expected to be a major metropolitan area with more than a million people. That kind of growth is certain to lead to one thing: gridlock. On Monday, frustrated...

Sarasota could test first special needs shelter.(A SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: VICTOR HULL victor.hull@heraldtribune.com TALLAHASSEE -- Southwest Florida could test a new model for sheltering people needing special medical assistance during and after hurricanes. State health officials are working with...

Clear and present dangers; More warnings about insecure maritime ports.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... If terrorists ever manage to infiltrate one of America's 361 maritime ports, there will be little need for Congress to appoint a commission to investigate what went wrong. The shortcomings in port security were well-documented long ago -- and...

Name for a legacy; Mary Watts is due appropriate recognition.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... If the Sarasota County School Board's members don't want to name a new elementary school in the eastern suburbs in honor of former educator Mary Watts, that's their prerogative. But it would be a shame for the School Board to end its...

Youth, low payroll spell modest goals for 2005.(SPORTS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- The Pittsburgh Pirates will field one of the youngest teams with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball this season. Not surprisingly, the team's general manager and manager are...

Campbell ready for next step.(SPORTS)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Dennis Maffezzoli Larry Marsh first heard of Wayne Campbell Jr. in the early 1980s from Wayne Sr. when both coached at Tallahassee Rickards High School. While they kept in contact, Marsh saw Wayne Sr. three years ago at the...

Net gain; What began as a small tennis school has grown into a sprawling sports academy.(SPORTS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: MIC HUBER mic.huber@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- In the beginning there was tennis. And it was good. Then tennis begat golf. Golf begat soccer. Soccer begat baseball and baseball begat basketball. On and on it went until...

Bollettieri's sheer will made it all happen.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: MIC HUBER I had never heard of Joe Rizzo when he called way back in 1978 to tell me I really needed to come out and see what was going on at the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort. But then, I had never heard of Nick Bollettieri...

Franklin wins season-opening LLM feature at CCS.(SPORTS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENT PUNTA GORDA -- On his seventh try with his present team, Ocala's Mike Franklin Jr. won Saturday night's first of 10 races in the Limited Late Model Pacifier Series at Charlotte County Speedway. ...

Lancers slip past Lake City.(SPORTS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON -- Shortstop Ryan Kennedy had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead Manatee Community College to a 4-3 win over visiting Lake City CC Monday at Robert Wynn Field. Sophomore left-hander Brian...

Falcons stop Tigers, 5-1.(SPORTS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT BRADENTON -- A two-run single by sophomore catcher Garrett Gregory sparked a five-run second inning as Saint Stephen's topped visiting Palmetto High 5-1 in high school baseball Monday. Aaron Gankofskie picked up...

Westfield plans 'major' construction at two local malls.(BUSINESS)(What's in Store)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Lauren Mayk Details may be scarce, but plans to renovate two Sarasota malls are still in the pipeline. The Westfield Group listed both Westfield Shoppingtown Southgate and Westfield Shoppingtown Sarasota among nine "future...

Carbiz takes a partner; The joint venture is helping finance a car-lot rollout.(BUSINESS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com SOUTH MANATEE COUNTY -- Carbiz Inc. has formed a joint venture to speed up the company's entry into the operation of buy-here-pay-here used car lots. The south Manatee County...

Downtown Partnership picks chief.(BUSINESS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: KEVIN McQUAID kevin.mcquaid@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Amid a wave of change that is rapidly transforming the city, the Downtown Partnership of Sarasota Inc. on Thursday is scheduled to unveil a new executive director. ...

Legacy mirrors a trend.(BUSINESS)
March 1, 2005... Byline: RICH SHOPES rich.shopes@heraldtribune.com ***** CORRECTION: The following correction was published on Wednesday, March 3, 2005: Correction: * The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort provides unit owners with access to their...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
March 1, 2005... Gravely joins Corvus as development partner Jeff Gravely, former executive vice president and chief executive officer for Bradenton-based Buskirk, Summers & Gravely, has joined Corvus International as a development partner for its Florida...

Prequel needs an exorcism.(FLORIDA WEST)(DVD Watch)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Philip Booth The scariest thing about "Exorcist: The Beginning" (Warner, $27.95), easily the worst sequel (okay, "prequel") of 2004, is how cavalierly director Renny Harlin besmirches the name of William Friedkin's 1973 horror...

The brain's second wind -- at age 50.(FLORIDA WEST)
March 1, 2005... Byline: SUSAN L. RIFE susan.rife@heraldtribune.com Suzanne Braun Levine has some bracingly good news for women as they enter midlife. Brain researchers have recently discovered that there are two points in the human life span in which...

PHOTO-PHILES; No more boxes filled with photos under the bed: Put them and others on the Web for family and friends to share.(FLORIDA WEST)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Abby Weingarten Shoe boxes stuffed with old photos still linger in many people's homes, buried under beds, unlabeled, disorganized and basically obsolete. These dusty, neglected collections may never make it into the pages of...

'Male Intellect' comes to Gompertz Theatre.(FLORIDA WEST)
March 1, 2005... Byline: CHARLIE HUISKING charlie.huisking@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Rob Dubac and his alter-egos are returning to Sarasota in "The Male Intellect: an oxymoron?" Dubac wrote and stars in the comedy, which explores the differences...

Diana Ross pulls off surprise at Van Wezel.(FLORIDA WEST)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Marjorie North A weekend of surprises, with Diana Ross pulling off one of the nicest, getting to the Van Wezel in time to be pulled out on stage Thursday night by Tony Bennett and wowing a crowd that was already blown away by Mr....

Partners in preservation; Conserving land and financial resources in Charlotte.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... Charlotte County and the Lemon Bay Conservancy have a good thing going. The latest fruit of their partnership will be the preservation of 80 acres along Buck Creek off Placida Road. The conservancy will buy the land, and the county has...

New player in anti-drug battle could confuse rather than infuse.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Eric Ernst First comes the Charlotte Alliance for a Safe and Drug Free Community, whose primary purpose is to educate the community and summon the resources to battle substance abuse. Now comes the Substance Abuse Education...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Today is last day to apply for tax help CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Today is the final day to apply for property tax relief that is available for people whose homes were made unlivable by a hurricane last year. On Monday, the waiting line at...

Tradition not established with brick and mortar.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: MARILYN CARPENTER CORRESPONDENT With two-thirds of her freshman year completed, Rachel Wotitzky, daughter of Hal and Allison Wotitzky of Punta Gorda, is the latest in a long line of Wotitskys to become part of the Charlotte High...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Scholarships available The Rotonda West Woman's Club is offering two scholarships of $500 to local residents interested in pursuing advanced education, retraining or enrolling in a college or vocational school. Send resumes to Yolanda...

Sisterhood card party a success again.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... The Temple Shalom Sisterhood Annual Card Party and Luncheon was once again a big success. More than 100 ladies and even a few men showed up at the temple, 23190 Utica Ave., Port Charlotte, for squash soup, Asian chicken salad, and...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 1, 2005... CHARLOTTE COUNTY James E. Cater James E. Cater, 82, Rotonda West, died Feb. 24, 2005. He was born Jan. 20, 1923, in Dover, Ill., and came to the Rotonda West area in 1979 from Rock Falls, Ill. He served in the Army during World...

NEWS UPDATES.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Arts and crafts show looking for vendors ENGLEWOOD -- The Rotonda Woman's Club is looking for arts and crafts people to exhibit and sell their wares at the Don Pedro Arts and Crafts Show on April 2. The show will be held at the Rotonda West...

Reed enjoys many sports, excels at skimming.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: KARIN CLEMONS CORRESPONDENT Joel Reed, 18, always tries to stay one step ahead of the crowd. Before he began wrestling his freshman year at Lemon Bay High School, he went to pre-season training. Before he began competitive...

Recycling a boom business in Englewood.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... For the past 25 years, Bill Twardosky and his workers have been accepting recyclable aluminum from Englewood residents, of course paying them for their non-ferrous metal items. Twardosky claims he has put two daughters through college...

Longing for the big top; Signs of support for a circus museum in Venice.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... Between 1960 and 1991, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus used Venice as its winter home. A subtropical climate made the small city a suitable place for camels, elephants, monkeys, tigers, lions and other animals, as well as for...

Venice has bench strength.(SPORTS)(At Home)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Perry Pentz When the Venice High girls basketball team walks into a gym, head coach Joe DiGiacomo already feels they have an advantage. One reason is that sitting beside him on the bench, are longtime coaches Cayll Smith, 53,...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Police trying to ID man killed in crash VENICE -- Police said Monday they have yet to identify a man who veered off southbound Tamiami Trail in Venice Sunday, striking two trees and killing himself. They believe the driver may be a...

Dome sweet home? Builder says dome-shaped homes offer storm safety.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: ERIN BRYCE erin.bryce@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- In Southwest Florida, domed houses are about as rare as snowmobiles. But Kevin O'Brien is betting last season's record four hurricanes will convince more buyers to call concrete...

EDUCATION NOTES.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Multi-school chorus concert Chorus students from Venice High School will be joined by Venice Elementary and Venice Middle School singers at a concert tonight. The hourlong event, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the VHS auditorium, 1...

Kalynna is young at art.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: FRANCINE MILFORD francine.milford@heraldtribune.com You never know, when you introduce new things to a child, whether a little exposure will light a spark in that young person's life. Pine View student Kalynna Thompson, 8, fell...

Beryllium victim eligible for federal help after all.(A SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: CORY SCHOUTEN cory.schouten@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- The federal government changed its mind: Tim Brady will get help after all. When the government denied Brady's request in December for assistance in treating a...

A plot to buy; Purchasing west Manatee farm is worthwhile.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... In the last two years alone, Manatee County has lost more than 23,000 acres of agricultural land to other uses. Today, the County Commission will have an all-too-rare chance to preserve a tract of farmland at a reasonable price. The owners...

It's that time of year at BC.(SPORTS)(At Home)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Alan Dell At Bradenton Christian, they call it February Madness. It's similar to a masquerade party. The Lady Panthers basketball team comes into the month looking somewhat like a lamb and leaves like a lion. This year was...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... ATV crash kills man; girl critically injured EAST MANATEE -- A 21-year-old man was killed and a 16-year-old girl critically injured after an all-terrain vehicle they were riding crashed into a car Sunday. Daniel J. Guth III, of...

Watching over the flock; For four years, 'Ms. Cheri' has been escorting kids to and from the bus stop.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: MELISSA L. WILLIAMS-ROBINSONmelissa.robinson@heraldtribune.com TALLEVAST -- It's not her job and she doesn't get a dime for doing it. But shortly after daybreak each morning, and then again in the afternoon, she walks to the...

Brand-new school to be expanded; The School Board unanimously decides to build a 5,000-square-foot addition to Prine Elementary.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: JENNY LEE ALLEN jenny.allen@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- Growth and the potential trouble it causes isn't just isolated to schools in East Manatee County. Two months ago, Prine Elementary in Bradenton moved into a new...

National Merit Scholarship finalists.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: YVETTE KIMM yvette.kimm@heraldtribune.com Seven Saint Stephen's Episcopal School semifinalists in the 2005 National Merit Scholarship Competition have been named as finalists. They are Neal Addison, Erin Beach, Susan Butler,...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)(Campus Notebook)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Melissa Williams Robinson Dean's list * Clare Elizabeth Hector of Bradenton has made the dean's list for fall semester 2004 at Wake Forrest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a freshman. * Ashley Brooks...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 1, 2005... MANATEE COUNTY Jose Maria Castillo Jose Maria Castillo, 71, Bradenton, died Feb. 27, 2005. He was born Aug. 4, 1933, in San Rafael, Dominican Republic, and came to Manatee County in 1989 from Miami. He was a packer for Harloff...

Coalition to fight for affordable housing for all.(A SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA COUNTY -- A coalition of churches and faith-based organizations used the power of the pulpit Monday night to proclaim that it intends to become a rallying force behind the...

Sarasota schools' big night.(SPORTS)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Chad Brockhoff Tonight is an historic night for Sarasota boys high school basketball. Booker, Riverview and Sarasota High will all hit the road to play in region semifinals, marking the first time that all three have advanced...

Police department's silence on disabled man's beating feeds concerns.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
March 1, 2005... Byline: Tom Lyons This is another time when the uncommunicative nature of the Sarasota Police Department is troublesome. Quite a few local folks have been upset about the beating 10 days ago of a disabled man by teenagers who used...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Rain dilutes effects of sewer line break SARASOTA COUNTY -- Bacteria levels along a canal that drains into Phillippi Creek are registering at normal levels despite a major sewer line break on Friday, county officials said Monday. ...

School naming triggers debate; Some are upset with a community group's choice.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: CHRISTINA DeNARDO christina.denardo@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA COUNTY -- The builders haven't yet finished Sarasota's newest elementary school, but a controversy is already brewing over what to name it. A committee of...

Fruitville Backlot arts project is back on track.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Byline: CHARLIE HUISKING charlie.huisking@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- The curtain hasn't fallen on the Backlot theater project after all. After resolving differences with city officials, developer Harvey Vengroff says he will...

Education Notes.(B SECTION)
March 1, 2005... Category winners at the science fair Category winners at the Sarasota Regional Science, Engineering and Technology Fair are as follows: High School (first place, second place, third place): * Behavior & Social Sciences: Estefany...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 1, 2005... SARASOTA COUNTY Alvin F. Chudwick Alvin F. Chudwick, 88, Venice, died Feb. 27, 2005. He was born June 6, 1916, in Clinton, Iowa, and came to Venice a year ago from Boynton Beach. He worked for 30 years at Wells Fargo Bank in Los...

ONLY GENIUSES NEED APPLY; The skunkworks at Pro Design Solutions takes on tough challenges for some big customers.(A SECTION)
March 2, 2005... Byline: MICHAEL POLLICK michael.pollick@heraldtribune.com EAST MANATEE -- Alan Taylor scrunches his 6-foot-3 frame down next to a gopher tortoise burrow. Without further investigation, he can't be sure whether the hole is still...

Walking the risky streets; Development patterns make roads increasingly dangerous in Florida.(A SECTION)
March 2, 2005... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA-BRADENTON 3.18 pedestrian fatalities occurred for every 100,000 people, according to 2002-03 data. PUNTA GORDA AREA The pedestrian fatality average was 1.3, which has...

Aerial assault? Afghans fear an invasion of a different sort.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 2, 2005... Late last year, the White House asked Congress for $152 million to fund an aerial-spraying program designed to combat the opium trade in Afghanistan. The request was later withdrawn, but farmers and shepherds in the war-torn country aren't so...

Persistence pays off; Finally, partial recognition of a beryllium worker's plight.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 2, 2005... When federal officials denied Tim Brady's request for help with his medical bills a few months ago, the decision prompted an obvious and disturbing question: What's it going to take for beryllium workers to get assistance? The answer,...

Strict construction; A Bush nominee stands for separation of powers.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 2, 2005... President Bush professes a commitment to nominating judges that strictly interpret the Constitution and refuse to engage in "judicial activism." Despite that avowal, his administration intends to appeal a ruling by federal District Judge...

Lugo has new deal and new optimism.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com ST. PETERSBURG -- Julio Lugo came into spring training camp with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with a goatee, a little more money in his bank account and a new attitude. "We're...

Sailors let lead slip away, lose in overtime.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: DONNIE WILKIE CORRESPONDENT LANTANA -- Ask a high school basketball coach how his team's switch can flip from "on" to "off," and you'll often get a puzzled look. Sarasota High's Steve Cavallaro had as good an answer as any...

BC's Civil has proven she's a survivor.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT BRADENTON -- Christine Civil was five years old when her mother was released from prison and deported to Haiti. It began an arduous journey for the now 19-year-old Bradenton Christian School senior, who...

Up off the canvas; Three Venice seniors hope to wash away memories of tough season.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- It's been more than two years since the Venice girls basketball team wrapped up one of its worst seasons in school history. Now the three players who remain from the squad...

Reds give Renick one more shot.(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
March 2, 2005... Byline: Doug Fernandes SARASOTA -- A small laundry area separates the Reds' spring training clubhouse from the organization's minor-league equivalent. On one side of the metal door exists dreams realized. One room has padded chairs,...

Bucs release four; Salary purge begins as Tampa Bay releases Brad Johnson, Joe Jurevicius, Ian Gold and Mario Edwards.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Brad Johnson and Joe Jurevicius, who hooked up on the most famous play in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, were released together Tuesday along with linebacker Ian Gold and cornerback...

Gomes, Cantu shine in Rays squad game.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com ST. PETERSBURG -- Another phase of Tampa Bay Devil Rays spring training has come and gone. The Rays packed their equipment following the second of two intrasquad games...

Sailors defeat Pirates.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: STAFF REPORT SARASOTA -- Twin sisters, Kellie and Kristie Sirus, led the Sarasota High girl's softball team over Port Charlotte on Tuesday night, 6-2. The sisters each went 2-for-4. Katie Haab got the win on the mound...

Rams outplayed by Lakes.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com WEST PALM BEACH -- Too good, too deep, too fast. That was the type of boys' basketball team Riverview High had to face Tuesday night. The Palm Beach Lakes Rams verified its ranking as the...

Venice coach resigns.(SPORTS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: PERRY D. PENTZ perry.pentz@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- Venice High boys basketball head coach Tom McLaughlin has resigned from coaching duties after 16 years, according to school officials. According to the letter to the...

Correction.(BUSINESS)(Correction Notice)
March 2, 2005... * The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort provides unit owners with access to their condominium-hotel units anytime during the year for 30 days. A Tuesday story gave incorrect information.

Price hikes likely after minimum-wage boost.(BUSINESS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: LAUREN MAYK lauren.mayk@heraldtribune.com Higher prices appear to be the weapon of choice for retailers looking to soften the financial blow of the rising minimum wage this year. Almost one-third of retailers surveyed by the...

Big profits for Sun Hydraulics; Improved productivity in 2004 leads to tripled earnings from 2003.(BUSINESS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: JOHN HIELSCHER john.hielscher@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Profits soared last year at Sun Hydraulics Corp. on booming sales and improved productivity. On Tuesday, the manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds...

Wachovia shutting down 9 area branches.(BUSINESS)
March 2, 2005... Byline: JOHN HIELSCHER john.hielscher@heraldtribune.com Wachovia Corp. will close nine local branches when it absorbs SouthTrust Bank in June. Customers of three branches each in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties will be...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
March 2, 2005... Nancy Hobson joins Senior Friendship Nancy Hobson, a licensed nursing home and assisted-living administrator, has joined Sarasota's Senior Friendship Centers as social services manager. Hobson most recently worked as community director for...

Exercise in vanity has good result.(FLORIDA WEST)(Sampler)(Recipe)(Column)
March 2, 2005... Byline: Linda Brandt After reading David Grimes' recent column in which he talked about "Googling" his name to see how many times it turned up on the Internet, I did the same thing just out of curiosity. In an advanced search at...

Fresh & flavorful; U-pick farms offer produce and prices that are down-to-earth.(FLORIDA WEST)(Recipe)
March 2, 2005... Byline: KARA CHALMERS CORRESPONDENT On a recent, brisk winter morning, Cheryl Woolman walked the length of a row of tomatoes at Hunsader Farms in Bradenton, leaning in every few steps to pluck a red, ripe fruit from inside a tangle of...

Pianist Biss brings pure bliss to Sarasota listeners.(FLORIDA WEST)
March 2, 2005... Byline: GAYLE WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT SARASOTA -- We all grow inured to publicity hype that claims every young musician to be the next great master, but there are times when we really must pay attention. At 23, pianist Jonathan Biss...

SEEN & HEARD.(B SECTION)
March 2, 2005... Get 'em in; get 'em out Paul Hyatt serves as vice president on the Lemon Bay Playhouse board of directors. His is a three-year term, which is fine by him. After all, the Lemon Bay Playhouse is a nonprofit organization. As far as...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
March 2, 2005... 4,800 seek tax break after hurricanes CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- More than 4,800 county homeowners applied for property tax refunds by Tuesday's deadline, property appraiser Frank Desguin said. Tax relief of up to $1,500 is available to...

Goodbye to Mount Trashmore; The last of the Charley debris is hauled away from the entrance of Windmill Village.(B SECTION)
March 2, 2005... Byline: PATRICK WHITTLE patrick.whittle@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- A muddy river runs outside the entrance to Windmill Village Mobile Home Park and there's a pile of twisted scrap metal across the street. Residents at the park...

Students learn sign language, make paper hats.(B SECTION)
March 2, 2005... Students in first through fourth grade at Seventh-Day Adventist School, 2100 Loveland Blvd., in Port Charlotte, spent last Wednesday sharing their craft time with some very special guests. Members of the Hearing Impaired Persons of...

Labrador retriever has busy schedule as volunteer.(B SECTION)
March 2, 2005... Byline: MARILYN CARPENTER CORRESPONDENT Sunshine, a black Labrador retriever, is not just another friendly face and lovable personality. With the help of Karin Stewart, his owner, friend, trainer and human assistant, he is a working canine...

Obituaries.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 2, 2005... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Flossie Louise Baker Flossie Louise Baker, 95, Punta Gorda, died Feb. 28, 2005, at Charlotte Regional Medical Center. She was born Jan. 21, 1910, in Oklahoma City, and came to the Punta Gorda area in 1967 from...