Sarasota Herald Tribune articles from March 2006

Sarasota Herald Tribune archives from March 2006

Others guzzle our gas taxes; Area drivers pay for road work in other parts of the state, a study finds.(A SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com Every time they buy gas or renew their car tags, drivers in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties are heavily subsidizing road and bridge projects elsewhere in Florida. Meanwhile,...

The movie wrangler; Theater manager tracks the comings and goings of celebration's celluloid.(A SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: BILL HUTCHINSON bill.hutchinson@heraldtribune.com For all the stars and lights and whoop-de-do planned for the next two weeks, it's movies that make the Sarasota Film Festival, and Damen Shaqiri is the man with the movies. ...

A rising tide; New form of jean therapy will bring comfort.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 31, 2006... Women in America can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief. Waistbands on women's jeans, which have hovered near a danger zone the past few years, are rising. It's official: The fashion police and manufacturers have declared the era...

Another alarm; Too many examples of national insecurity.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 31, 2006... The Department of Homeland Security certainly isn't lacking in confidence. Security? Still a bit of a problem. But confidence? Plenty to spare. Consider what happened at two U.S. border crossings -- one in Texas, one in Washington state...

Tough task; Service providers are handicapped by low pay.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 31, 2006... It's hard to find good help these days. Ask employers. So imagine how difficult it is to recruit workers to care for adults with severe disabilities. Then consider the difficulty of attracting, and keeping, workers in this critical but...

Determined Ordaz will do anything to make this team.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- Sunday, he opened in center field. Monday, he made his first start at third base this spring. Luis Ordaz also has played second base, shortstop and left field....

McLouth saves best for last in trying to make club.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: TOM BALOG tom.balog@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Nate McLouth doesn't know whether he's coming or going. Triple-A Indianapolis? Or Milwaukee for Opening Day? What about his car? A truckload of luggage and duffel bags bound...

Passionate; It's the only way to describe Billy Donovan's love of the game.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: DOUG FERNANDES doug.fernandes@heraldtribune.com GAINESVILLE -- Billy Donovan may convey intensity standing in front of the Florida Gators bench. There's just no place for the stuff in his locker room. The Gators head...

Lake Brantley deals Erickson 1st loss.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT ORLANDO -- Eric Erickson dropped his first game of the season on Thursday, but it was the Sarasota bats that let the team down. In a classic pitchers' duel that lasted just 1 hour and 20 minutes, Lake Brantley...

Back in action, Bertinelli helps Charlotte to crown.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI dennis.maffezzoli@heraldtribune.com ENGLEWOOD -- Eddie Bertinelli is getting a chance to compete athletically during his senior year. And he's determined to take full advantage. After his football...

Florida subs have made key plays.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: MIC HUBER mic.huber@heraldtribune.com INDIANAPOLIS -- They sit, watch, and wait. They are sometimes the forgotten four on a team whose four sophomore stars calls themselves the 04s. They obediently take a seat on the bench at...

Correction.(BUSINESS)(Correction notice)
March 31, 2006... Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority Chairman Robert Waechter voted in favor of approving an amended lease for Innovation Green. A Tuesday article in the business section gave an incorrect vote tally.

On the road or water, but still connected.(BUSINESS)
March 31, 2006... This summer, you will be able to outfit your car, van, motor home or boat cabin with high-speed wireless Internet, using an Internet receiver from KVH Industries plus a monthly subscription to MSN TV Service. The KVH hardware consists of...

Still a job-seeker's market; State, Manatee jobless rates up slightly; Charlotte, Sarasota down.(BUSINESS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT The labor market in Sarasota and Charlotte counties tightened even further while Florida's overall hot job market slowed in February, leaving 3.2 percent of the state's work force hunting a paycheck. Manatee...

New player jumps into realty mix; Prudential Florida WCI buys Prudential Village.(BUSINESS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STEPHEN FRATER stephen.frater@heraldtribune.com Watch out Southwest Florida Realtors, there's a huge new player in Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Florida's largest Prudential Realty franchisee -- Prudential Florida WCI...

Business Buzz.(BUSINESS)
March 31, 2006... Rohaty joins Habitat as development chief Deborah Rohaty has joined Habitat for Humanity as director of development. She is responsible for the development and implementation of the fund-raising program for the organization that helps...

Teltronics reports big profit in '05, thanks to one-time gain.(BUSINESS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT MANATEE COUNTY -- Teltronics Inc. posted a 2005 profit that was multiples of its 2004 performance, but included a large one-time gain. The telecommunication switching equipment maker reported a profit of $3.8...

FDLE reports on 'dirty cop'; Report tells of former deputy giving tips about raids, smoking crack.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: KRISTEN KRIDEL kristen.kridel@heraldtribune.com CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- A deputy recently fired from the sheriff's office was accused of being a "dirty cop" in a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report released Thursday. ...

We're a rich -- and a poor -- county; Excited over recent news about millionaires? Don't forget the homeless.(B SECTION)(Comment)(Column)
March 31, 2006... Byline: Eric Ernst Charlotte County has 8,164 millionaires, which equals about 12 percent of the population, the newspaper trumpeted. Wow! That makes us the 224th wealthiest county among 3,140 counties nationwide. No wonder the news...

Punta Gorda studies parking problems; A firm commissioned to look into the situation says the city has enough parking for now.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: SARA LUBBES sara.lubbes@heraldtribune.com PUNTA GORDA -- When an empty lot in the heart of downtown is developed, more than 100 people are going to have to find a new place to park, a study shows. "We have to take those...

Mobile home bill fails again to win approval; Rep. Nancy Detert of Venice puts a hold on her bill, designed to give mobile home residents more rights.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: CORY SCHOUTEN cory.schouten@heraldtribune.com TALLAHASSEE -- Supporters of a bill that would ensure mobile home residents get a shot at buying their parks aren't giving up, despite another disappointing setback. The...

Artwork strikes a delicate balance; Local porcelain artists will show and sell their works at the Visual Arts Center.(B SECTION)(Englewood Spotlight)(Column)
March 31, 2006... Byline: Amy Abern Artists will tell you, "It's all about the journey." Some journeys take longer than others. Some require more money. And patience. The creation of original porcelain art, for instance, involves up to a weeklong...

Church offering first-time art show.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: AMY ABERN STAFF WRITER Artist Robert Purdy decided that Charlotte County was running a little low on fine art shows. He contacted Jeff Jordan, the coordinator of worship and the arts at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, and...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 31, 2006... CHARLOTTE COUNTY Charlotte Boursiquot Charlotte Boursiquot, 66, Port Charlotte, died March 25, 2006, at HealthSouth Hospital in Sarasota. She was born Nov. 22, 1939, in Lavallee Jacmel, Haiti, and came to the Charlotte County...

Muralist adds artistic touch to Venice's windows.(B SECTION)(Arts Around Town)(Column)
March 31, 2006... Byline: Francine Milford While driving around town, you may notice a hand-painted scene on a storefront window here and there. I'm not talking about the ones boasting one-day-only sales or markdowns. The scenes I mean are of the...

College Club of Venice to honor academics.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: FRANCINE MILFORDfrancine.milford@heraldtribune.com The College Club of Venice has set aside April as Academic Month. Chairing the Academic Month program is College Club member Joan Schum. To celebrate the designation, the club...

North Port plans to hire an architect; The city wants an expert to ensure new buildings uphold the Mediterranean design guidelines.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: LIZ BABIARZ liz.babiarz@heraldtribune.com NORTH PORT -- To help ensure new businesses along U.S. 41 are built in the city-mandated Mediterranean style, North Port is looking for expert advice. The city plans to spend up to...

Ode to North Port rediscovered; 'We Are North Port,' written in '99, to be played at new City Hall.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: ERIN BRYCE erin.bryce@heraldtribune.com NORTH PORT -- Jerry Sawyer didn't exactly strike gold in his attempt to immortalize this city in song. Indeed, his tune -- "We Are North Port" -- appeared only on cassette and sold...

News Updates.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Trapper removes gator near U.S. 41 SOUTH VENICE -- Alligator Drive lived up to its name Wednesday afternoon when a trapper carted off an 8 1/2-foot gator found near the U.S. 41 intersection. A woman in the area had reported on March...

Wrongful death lawsuit settled; Venice, county to pay $370,000 to family of woman who died in jail.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: CHRISTINA E. SANCHEZ christina.sanchez@heraldtribune.com VENICE -- The Venice City Council this week approved one of the largest settlements in city history in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a man whose wife killed herself...

Two women accused of filing fake returns.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT SARASOTA COUNTY -- Two Sarasota women are accused of stealing $300,000 from the federal government by filing false tax returns in the name of prison inmates. Laureen Sue Hill, 23, and Erika Hill, 21, were...

Boosters open scrapbooks for NPHS.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: BETSY WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT Karie Rawlings and Darlene Wilson, members of the North Port High School Athletic Booster Club, held a Crop-N-Shop Scrapbook Expo in the school gym in hopes of raising money for the athletic...

Outreach Committee seeks seniors for open mic nights.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT The Senior Outreach Committee of the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Open Mic Nights for Seniors on the first Tuesday of April, May and June, from 7 to 8:00 p.m. at Cafe Gelato, 1401 S Sumter Blvd.,...

Trustee known for fund raising.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: HILDEGARD SCHEIBNER hilde.scheibner@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Cynthia Waltman Schember, 59, whose talents soliciting donations and organizing parties benefited many of Sarasota's charitable and civic organizations, died of...

Blood donor set to hit 100-gallon mark; Dell Ward has been donating since 1958.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: JENNY LEE ALLEN jenny.allen@heraldtribune.com BRADENTON -- Dell Ward sees strangers running around this city and can't help but wonder: "How many have my blood in them?" He wonders because he's donated more blood and...

Scouts turn down 'Dream' offer; Foundation had offered council $6.5 million for Flying Eagle.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL chris.odonnell@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- On the face of it, the offer seemed too good to turn down: The Boy Scout group that owns Camp Flying Eagle would get $6.5 million and would still be...

Correction.(B SECTION)(Correction notice)
March 31, 2006... A photograph on Wednesday's Community Central page incorrectly identified Robert Greer as Captain Jack. Jack, of Tampa, will entertain children at the Gamble Plantation Festival this weekend.

County, cities get public's input on growth, condos; Residents show officials places where growth is acceptable and learn about problems facing Manatee County planners.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL chris.odonnell@heraldtribune.com PALMETTO -- Where should condos be built? What should they look like and how high is too high? That's what residents were asked to address at two public workshops...

POLICE BRIEFS.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Teenager seriously injured when his ATV hit by truck BRADENTON -- A 15-year-old riding an all-terrain vehicle was seriously injured Wednesday in a crash after he ran a stop sign and was struck by a pickup truck, the Florida Highway...

Bus stop shelters getting a new look.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: YVETTE KIMM yvette.kimm@heraldtribune.com MANATEE COUNTY -- Keep Manatee Beautiful has a new program, Adopt-A-Spot, for the covered, bright blue bus stop shelters that have been popping up all over town. The new shelters...

Boy Scouts start drive for The Food Bank.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT Southwest Florida Council of Boy Scouts of America wants to help fill the shelves at The Food Bank of Manatee for the spring and summer months. The Scouts distributed designated bags to hold nonperishable foods...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 31, 2006... MANATEE COUNTY Doretha Atkins Doretha "Ma Feedie" Atkins, 83, Parrish, died March 21, 2006. She was born July 31, 1922, in Ocala and came to Parrish many years ago. She was a housekeeper. Survivors include daughters Helen...

Bolts fend off Atlanta.(SPORTS)
March 31, 2006... Byline: JODY ROYCE jody.royce@heraldtribune.com TAMPA -- With one of their top scorers sidelined, it was up to Dmitry Afanasenkov to fill a void. Did he ever. Afanasenkov was rewarded for his spot among Tampa Bay's top two lines,...

K-9 officers' pay investigated; Overtime, other hours put in when dogs were at boarding kennel.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: TODD RUGER todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Five of Sarasota's canine unit officers got paid to care for their dogs on days they didn't work and didn't even see the animals, an internal investigation found. The...

Artist responds to glitz of film fest; He hopes to create a buzz about racism, intolerance in Sarasota.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: MIKE SAEWITZ mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Tonight, movie stars will dance into Sarasota during the once-a-year film festival that captivates this mid-sized town with big-city ambitions. Just a few miles away,...

Legislators tackle ban on drilling; Despite strong support, bill faces uncertain future.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: JOE FOLLICK CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- Florida lawmakers took the first step toward enacting their own ban on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday when a House committee unanimously approved a bill that proponents...

Man stabbed outside club.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STAFF REPORT SARASOTA COUNTY -- A 31-year-old man was stabbed in the chest early Thursday morning outside of a Siesta Key nightclub, deputies say. Jason F. Cockrell, of Sarasota, was in stable condition Thursday afternoon at...

Honored officers also had trouble in past.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: TODD RUGER todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- The two officers who witnesses say punched and fired a Taser at a homeless man during a March 24 arrest have previously been cleared of accusations of using excessive force....

Group speaks up for hearing impaired.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: JOSH ORR CORRESPONDENT Ralph Intorcio didn't hear the police loudspeaker instructing everyone to evacuate his neighborhood before a severe storm last summer because he is practically deaf. Later that day, the storm tossed a...

Children use event to fight diabetes.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: PATTY ALLEN-JONES patty.allen-jones@heraldtribune.com Staff at An Apple A Day Preschool converted the driveway in front of their facility into a miniature track for students to ride their tricycles or skateboards and raise money...

Cable legislation isn't likely to be approved this year.(B SECTION)
March 31, 2006... Byline: LLOYD DUNKELBERGER CAPITAL BUREAU TALLAHASSEE -- The legislative fight over cable TV services might not be settled this year. The House is moving forward with a bill (HB 1199) that would make it easier for telephone...

OBITUARIES.(B SECTION)(Obituary)
March 31, 2006... SARASOTA COUNTY Mildred Mae Drummond Mildred Mae Drummond, 92, Venice, died March 29, 2006. She was born Jan. 28, 1914, in Holden, W.Va. Survivors include a daughter, Jacqueline Masulli of Bethany, Conn.; and a brother,...

More than movies available this week.(TICKET)(Column)
March 31, 2006... Byline: Rod Harmon Although this week's issue of Ticket gives a lot of love to the Sarasota Film Festival (and what's not to love?), there's more going on this week than star-studded parties and hundreds of movie screenings. In...

Falling for film; Chevy Chase kicks off Sarasota Film Festival with 'Funny Money'.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: KEVIN O'HORAN kevin.o'horan@heraldtribune.com There's just a hint of blur in the words; a slight trailing away as the consonants and vowels fall from his lips. And the sentences and paragraphs that Chevy Chase rolls into...

Festival jam-packed with films and stars.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: CHARLIE HUISKING charlie.huisking@heraldtribune.com There's a big sign at the Sarasota Film Festival box office that reads: "'Prairie Home Companion' is sold out. Sorry. We have lots of other great films, though. Ask us." ...

Penelope Ann Miller varies roles to fight typecasting; Versatility is key for Miller.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: STEVE ECHEVERRIA JR. steve.echeverria@heraldtribune.com Penelope Ann Miller's acting career has been all about proving herself. After perfecting girl-next-door roles on the stage and big screen, Miller decided to shift gears...

Gene Simmons promises to get his licks in.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: ROD HARMON rod.harmon@heraldtribune.com Gene Simmons has been called many things during his 30-plus career as the tongue-wagging, fire-breathing bass player for the rock band KISS. "Modest" has never been one of them. ...

High schoolers get in on fest action.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: KEVIN O'HORAN kevin.o'horan@heraldtribune.com There was no fire burning in the belly, as it were, no deep-seated passion that pushed Hali Gardella to the viewfinder of a video camera looking for stories to make into movies. ...

Film frenzy too overwhelming? A little planning smooths the way.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN CORRESPONDENT Ten days. 185 movies. A slew of star-studded premieres and parties. Without a plan, navigation of the Sarasota Film Festival may be enigmatic, to say the least. So what's the best, most economical...

Put on your best duds, it's a week of parties.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: MARY AWOSIKA mary.awosika@heraldtribune.com The Sarasota Film Festival red-carpet flurry begins tonight with a screening at the Van Wezel, followed by a gala at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. And that's just...

No amount of sexual healing can save 'Basic Instinct 2'.(TICKET)(Movie review)
March 31, 2006... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT The last 14 years, since she last played femme fatale novelist Catherine Tramell, have been good to Sharon Stone. In addition to becoming the poster girl for forgetting to wear good underpants,...

'Ice Age: The Meltdown' delivers mammoth laughs.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT When you complain about the insanely large number of Hollywood remakes and sequels, you probably ought to leave out the "Ice Age" movies. With a standard cast of stock-but-interesting characters...

'ATL' ups the ante for urban movies.(TICKET)(Movie review)
March 31, 2006... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT It's easy to dismiss teen movies such as "ATL." Like other music-based entertainment of the past, it's got unproven film performers, a low budget and an obvious ambition to make money more than art. ...

Plenty to 'eww' and 'ooh' about in horror spoof 'Slither'.(TICKET)(Movie review)
March 31, 2006... Byline: MARTY CLEAR CORRESPONDENT Giant high-speed slugs from outer space. Flesh-eating zombies who kill with their vomit. A woman who is kidnapped and force-fed possums until she grows to the size of a barn. Those are among the...

Despite gay theme, 'Imagine Me & You' is pretty predictable.(TICKET)(Movie review)
March 31, 2006... Byline: GEORGE MEYER CORRESPONDENT If the two lead characters in the movie weren't women romantically attracted to each other, "Imagine Me & You" would seem as conventional as all get-out. Actually, it's pretty conventional anyway,...

Seafood Fest expands its entertainment with Emerson Drive.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN CORRESPONDENT Stepping up the entertainment was a priority for this year's De Soto Seafood Fest. The 66th annual weekend bash in downtown Bradenton, with its two stages and 12 bands, has secured a national act as...

Derringer signs on for 'Giving Hunger the Blues'.(TICKET)(No Cover)(Column)
March 31, 2006... Byline: Steve Echeverria Jr. Before gearing up for the annual onslaught of movie stars, filmmakers and groupies this weekend, don't forget about local events -- especially those supporting good causes that showcase local music. With...

Morningwood is in-your-face punk.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: MARY AWOSIKA mary.awosika@heraldtribune.com It's not a surprise that the first song recorded by the band Morningwood is called "Take Off Your Clothes." But it is interesting to note that the band's female lead singer, Chantal...

The Sounds go boom, but Chicago goes bust with latest.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... The Sounds, "Dying to Say This to You" (New Line): Sweden's The Sounds blend the best elements of garage rock, punk and new wave popularized by bands such as The Ramones, The Cars and Blondie on its sophomore release. The album has more...

Sarasota's Odium immortalizes itself on disc.(TICKET)(Making Noise)(Column)
March 31, 2006... Byline: DAWN E. SCIRE CORRESPONDENT Musicians serious about their craft eventually immortalize sounds on a recording, committing to plastic the very essence of their existence. Without record company backing, independent musicians...

Old Florida through explorers' eyes; South Florida Museum reveals Europeans' view of the New World.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: TRAVIS WILDS CORRESPONDENT Who knows what indigenous Floridians really looked like? The closest we can get are Europeans' depictions made in the centuries after Columbus' first contact. But these depictions are warped by the...

Symphony's off to play for the Wizard.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: CHARLIE HUISKING charlie.huisking@heraldtribune.com A Munchkin and an Emmy Award-winning producer are helping the Florida West Coast Symphony stage its "Oz With Orchestra" concert Wednesday. At the 7:30 p.m. performance, the...

'Dreamgirls' performer has a dream of her own: stardom.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: JAY HANDELMAN jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com As she tries to build her career as a singer and an actress, Teresa Stanley has found a role that's an almost perfect match for what she's trying to achieve. Stanley plays Effie...

Alexandre approaches perfection.(TICKET)(Restaurant review)
March 31, 2006... Byline: SHARYN LONSDALE sharyn.lonsdale@heraldtribune.com After dinner at Alexandre Fine Cuisine and Spirits at the Southbay Center in Osprey, my friends and I were discussing what we liked and didn't like about the experience. It...

Air show looks to reach new heights.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Byline: ABBY WEINGARTEN CORRESPONDENT Grand aerobatics and sky stunts have pulled thousands to Punta Gorda for the past quarter-century. Since 1981, the three-day, not-for-profit Florida International Air Show has been one of...

Somebodies.(TICKET)
March 31, 2006... Somebodies Narrative, USA, 89 min. The story of Scottie (Hadjii), an everyday, church-going, party-hopping college student looking for a good time with his friends and a little luck with the ladies. Unfortunately for Scottie, his path to...

Are some lenders steered by competitive pressures? Perhaps, but even in a frenzied market, risky loans never make sense, local bankers say.(A SECTION)
March 30, 2006... Byline: JOHN HIELSCHER john.hielscher@heraldtribune.com Neil Mohamed Husani had no trouble getting bank loans. During a real estate boom in which Southwest Florida lenders were duking it out for deals, Husani and his partners have...

HOT FOR HOOPS; Gators find new fans with Final Four run.(A SECTION)
March 30, 2006... Byline: LATISHA R. GRAY latisha.gray@heraldtribune.com Up until the last decade, Florida Gator basketball fans could show up 10 minutes before a game and choose their center-courtside seats. After all, this has long been football...

Is there no limit? Don't surrender to speeders on I-75.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 30, 2006... Frequent accidents cause long traffic tie-ups on Interstate 75. Would reducing the speed limit to 60 mph from 70 mph enhance safety? The question was recently posed by the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. I-75...

Crossing the river; Manatee's least-objectionable option for a bridge.(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 30, 2006... Ideally, the Manatee River near Fort Hamer would remain undisturbed. But a new river crossing is needed to accommodate traffic from existing and approved developments on both sides of the river east of Interstate 75, and the Fort Hamer site...

Getting around downtown; Why not let volunteers experiment with alternatives?(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 30, 2006... Buggies. Pedicabs. Free bikes. "Duck" trolleys. Your own two feet. Those were some of the ideas that surfaced this week when City Manager Mike McNees challenged his blog readers to think up interesting ways to get around Sarasota's...

Job opening; Who wants to be a council member in Venice?(A SECTION)(Editorial)
March 30, 2006... ***** CORRECTION: The following correction was published on Monday, April 3, 2006: When Venice Mayor Dean Calamaras leaves office before his term ends, the City Council will appoint a member to serve as mayor until the November 2006...

Spot opens, Hatteberg steps right in; Reds' trading, shifting works perfectly for veteran first baseman; Aurilia's versatility puts him everywhere.(SPORTS)
March 30, 2006... Byline: JASON SWANCEY jason.swancey@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- When Scott Hatteberg signed with the Cincinnati Reds in February, he figured he'd get a chance to back up Adam Dunn at first base and serve as a solid left-landed hitter...

Can Reds end the local curse?(SPORTS)(Comment)(Column)
March 30, 2006... Byline: Chris Anderson So the Cincinnati Reds are interested in staying in Sarasota for another 20 years, huh? Well, here's some advice. Pack up. Get out. And don't ever come back. Sarasota is cursed. Cursed, I...