COMMUNITY PARTNER That’s So Tampa has been the most trusted local resource for discovering All Things Good in Tampa Bay — Members of Congregation Rodeph Shalom said they are struggling to stay at their home on Bayshore Boulevard Membership for the Temple dropped off in recent decades “We have had to make a lot of adjustments with our staffing really scrape what he had to do to make this place stand,” said temple treasurer Jim Baker That’s why they want to sell off part of their land to a Miami developer with plans for a 16-story condo tower “This is the way for the foreseeable future that we will be able to remain in our current location,” Baker said While several other condo towers have gone up along Bayshore Boulevard in recent years some in the Bayshore Gardens neighborhood and leadership at The Tampa Garden Club said this project just doesn’t fit “You keep approving these outside the box the realm of what the comprehensive plan allows and the zoning allows Then these developers are coming from Miami and all over the place are going you let them do it You let them do it,” said Garden Club President Paula Meckley This group said they are not against development but just want to keep it to low-rise buildings “If they want to stay within the current zoning where they could build an 8-story building You can start construction tomorrow as far as we are concerned,” said Tim Everitt has failed in its previous attempts to get approval for the project with the Tampa City Council “Interesting there are about seven towers that are around this project And the project is right around the medium height of all of those Five of the towers have actually been approved since 2020 and constructed So we are seeing a rapid transformation of this neighborhood specifically,” said attorney Nicole MacInnes somebody has to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough,” said Meckley The Tampa City Council is set to vote on rezoning again on Tuesday and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Hillsborough County News from ABC Action News Report a typo Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) is proud to announce the opening of the Manatee ER at Palma Sola the new freestanding emergency department will be unveiled Located at 633 75th Street West in Bradenton the new Manatee ER at Palma Sola will be open 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide care for all ages three rapid medical spaces and full-services laboratory The ER at Palma Sola is expected to see its first patients in early October This will mark Manatee Memorial’s second freestanding ER in Manatee County after opening the Manatee ER at Bayshore Gardens in April of 2023 and its third overall with the ER at Sun City that opened in 2022.The beach themed event is open to the public and will include tours of the facility refreshments from Kona Ice and remarks from community leaders including SCF President Tommy Gregory Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and an introduction to Manatee Memorial’s new CEO Explore an integrative approach to wellness with local practitioners Local Author Kristine Casart Shares her Journey to Healing in New Book Celebrate the sprit of our hometown with SRQ Magazine boutiques and philanthropic hearts of Sarasota Bradenton Area and the Barrier Islands on the West Coast of Florida We invite you to experience living and loving local - in print and online SRQ Media transforms what it means to live and love local through its portfolio of hyper-local print and online publications including its flagship city regional SRQ Magazine and video production division Moving Stories and non-profit development division Story Project The SRQ Media team leverages its strong audience footprint to catalyze visionary community programs such as SB2: Regional Symposia Series SkillSHARE and ProjecThinkby engaging individuals to positively impact their hometown of Sarasota and the Bradenton Area situated on the vibrant West Coast of Florida cultural and education organizations and not-profits throughout the year with custom programs and sponsorships BRADENTON – Florida Highway Patrol reported one person died after they were involved in a car accident Monday afternoon The accident happened as a 76-year-old man from Palmetto FL was in a sedan parked at driveway located at 6152 14th Street West As the man from Palmetto was waiting for traffic a 28-year-old man from Bradenton was driving a sedan westbound in the inside lane of Bayshore Gardens Parkway approaching the intersection with the driveway attempted to cross the westbound lanes of Bayshore Gardens and drove his sedan directly into the path of the oncoming car The front left of the car driving westbound on Bayshore collided at speed with the left side of the sedan as it traveled across the lanes FHP stated that the driver from Palmetto was taken to Blake Medical Center for emergency treatment and later pronounced deceased During his time as a public attorney for the State of Florida Bernard Walsh developed a passion for defending the legal rights of Florida's citizens Having seen many people being taken advantage of after being injured and the financial harm that can cause for families he committed himself fully to helping injured clients get justice by fighting to make greedy insurance companies pay what they owe An original Queen Palm midcentury modern home in Bayshore Gardens Image: David Bruce Kawchak Back in 2021, we published an article called "Six Sarasota Tourist Attractions From the Past." In it writer Robert Plunket included Bradenton's Bayshore Gardens neighborhood for its come-hither call to those fwho wanted to live in a midcentury modern But the article also highlighted Bayshore Gardens' more recent fall from grace and concluded with a challenge from Plunket: “I’ve found it odd that it has never really caught on as a place for hip people who want a nice little midcentury house to restore bought a nice little midcentury house on Florida Avenue and restored it even her neighbors across the street say they found their house a more attractive buy since it faced hers Brown also added a small office building on her property. She owns a boutique brokerage called Florida Life and specializes in manufactured housing Bayshore Gardens is located on Sarasota Bay in Manatee County between Bradenton and Sarasota roughly two miles north of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport The 3,200-acre neighborhood has its own taxing district which goes directly to Bayshore Gardens Park and Recreation District That gives us exclusive access to a Junior Olympic-size pool and clubhouse the amenity-rich living was a huge selling point The area continues to include all its original perks—like a playground a ball field and a fishing pier with a cleaning station A marina with a private boat ramp along with a recreation hall is available to residents at reduced rates one of seven model homes built in the master-planned community in the late '50s When Brown purchased it for $165,000 in 2018 I always like driving through Bayshore Gardens and I love midcentury modern style," she says "The house was a rental and they just didn't maintain it I could see the whole vision as soon as I saw it That's the artist in me." With roughly $60,000 with a new roof and air conditioning and an extensive terrazzo floor rehab after she found an inch of the precious stuff behind the stove peeking out from beneath a sad white tile job "I delved into creativity." Brown is originally from St Image: Courtesy Photo The fact it came with a water well cinched the deal for her. An avid gardener (she used to be a florist at The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort in the '80s) she knew lots of water would be needed to grow her tomatoes “It's very 'florific' back here,” she says Other than the little slice of Eden that sweetens the streetscape she added a bench on the front side of the home for passersby Some residents were angry about what Plunket wrote about their neighborhood being a bit shabby “I think what he wrote was true,” she says but I'm here to be an inspiration and hope that others will start to see the value in the neighborhood It's a working-class neighborhood and the kids actually still play outside and ride their bikes I've washed off a couple of skinned knees in my day Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa City Council will hear a second pitch Thursday from Miami-based the Related Group on a proposal for a new high-rise condo along Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard The city council rejected the group’s proposal after its first pitch Their new plan reduces the number of condo units reduces the height of the tower and adds more green space to the property than city code requires Bayshore Gardens neighborhood residents have collected more than 1,500 signatures on a petition to block the high-rise The development is being proposed at the current site of Congregation Rodeph Sholom The property owner wants to sell half of the land to the developer Right next door, the Tampa Garden Club features three acres of green space for the Bayshore Gardens neighborhood Its wedding business helps fund Tampa Garden Club’s philanthropic work across Hillsborough County and it is usually booked 18-months in advance “We are worried about the impact this building is going to have on our wedding and event business,” said Tampa Garden Club President Paula Meckley the Tampa Garden Club stands behind the community and the community came to us and said we need your help the Related Group said its new plan would lessen the environmental impact of the high-rise development compared to its first proposal and it would improve sidewalks and resurface two nearby streets They would also add a crosswalk to improve pedestrian safety along the busy Bayshore Boulevard Manatee County offers rebates of up to $100 per toilet (max 2) for replacing older high-flow toilets (3.5 gpf or higher) with high-efficiency models (1.28 gpf or less) to conserve water and the old toilet must be retained until approval Manatee County offers outdoor water conservation rebates to help property owners reduce water usage and save money Receive money for your school through the Splash Bring water conservation to life in your classroom with our Water Conservation Program Manatee County’s LCRR Service Line Inventory provides an interactive map and resources to help residents identify water service line materials and ensure compliance with federal lead and copper regulations The new WaterWise Manatee program is designed to improve water-flow detection and enhance customer service and support for Manatee County's nearly 150,000 households.  Manatee County Extension Service offers free landscape and irrigation evaluations to help reduce water waste and improve landscape health Access Florida-Friendly Landscaping resources for expert-recommended plants from the University of Florida/IFAS Manatee County residents and businesses can purchase rain barrel kits and arrange for pickups Manatee County Extension Service offers free landscape and irrigation evaluations and Florida-Friendly Landscaping resources to promote water conservation and sustainable gardening They also recognize water-wise landscapes through awards and provide additional conservation resources via the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Manatee County Extension Service offers free landscape and irrigation evaluations They also recognize water-wise landscapes through awards and provide additional conservation resources via the Southwest Florida Water Management District Manatee County's Water Conservation Program offers expert speakers for schools and community groups and educational workshops through UF/IFAS Extension Resources include Florida-Friendly Landscaping guides Water-Wise Awards for conserving landscapes and conservation tips from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.  Every customer who owns a backflow prevention assembly is required to have the assembly tested annually Log into your Manatee County Utilities online account to find out when your backflow preventer was last tested and the result of your test Fill out the form to submit a complaint about a backflow prevention assembly service provider Our purpose is to provide University-based information to residents so they may learn to reduce their usage of drinking-quality water for irrigation while maintaining attractive The Mobile Irrigation Lab performs FREE landscape irrigation evaluations that can help residents save water and money.  Learn how to have your landscape irrigation system evaluated Some other services we provide to Manatee County residents include: View the Water Conservation page on the University of Florida IFAS Manatee County Extension website For more information, please contact:Melanie StokesWater Conservation Program Specialist(941) 722-4524 ext. 1827[email protected] You must have your backflow preventer tested by a company from Manatee County's Authorized Testers list within 30 days Failure to comply may result in the County scheduling the inspection at your expense submit a petition to the Cross Connection Control Office for approval Week of Welcome 2022 BullsConnect Homecoming Student Services Campus Expansion Student Government Study Abroad Hurricane Season Highlights at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus include: For more on Week of Welcome, visit the WOW website.  To download the app and for other information, visit the BullsConnect website Visit the Homecoming page for more events on all three campuses Do you need a student ID card or a parking permit Do need an academic tutor or just someone to talk to USF Sarasota-Manatee Nursing/STEM building rendering New student government leaders Gov. Evelyn De Oliveira and Lt. Gov. Madison Sosa are not afraid of big ideas To learn more, click here You can also sign up for AlertUSF notifications to stay informed and safe during emergency situations Nearby off-campus dining spots (and their distance from campus) include: Return to article listing Campus News, Events, Students and Student Life from around the Sarasota-Manatee campus Copyright © 2025, University of South Florida. All rights reserved This website is maintained by USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus The accreditation of this USF branch campus is a part of and depends on the continued accreditation of the University of South Florida HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — In a meeting that ended in the early hours of Friday, the Tampa City Council rejected a plan for a high-rise development on Bayshore Boulevard overnight. council members voted 5-2 against the proposal after concerned residents showed up in droves to push back This is the second time the proposal was rejected A 2023 meeting similarly drew a packed house Jake Cremer, a lawyer representing The Related Group explained some of the key differences compared to last year's version of the plan so we’ve gone down from about 29 stories to 26,” Cremer said He added that the new proposal would have scaled back the size of the building to 42 units said the building does not fit in with the neighborhood “This neighborhood of Bayshore Gardens is surrounded by townhomes and low-density housing and it is just out of scale with the entire neighborhood,” she said MANATEE — Manatee County detectives have confirmed that Andre S Bryant was involved in a fatal shootout in Bayshore Gardens in August Three people were killed after an argument erupted into gunfire a man imprisoned for nine years and released in October 2015 after new evidence created doubt about his conviction and the Innocence Project of Florida took on his case "We have suspected from the get-go that Andre Bryant was involved that he was at the scene," Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow said "We had enough circumstantial evidence to pretty much tell us Cell phone records put Bryant at 1103 Harvard Ave. where an argument escalated into gunfire on Aug Bryant was found several hours later in Sarasota apparently left by the curb on Bahia Vista Street west of U.S Bryant was the subject of a Herald-Tribune investigation in 2014 he was released from prison after having served nine years of a 30-year sentence for armed robbery that he always maintained he did not commit He was convicted of robbing a deputy’s wife and her children at gunpoint in 2006 The State Attorney’s Office said in September 2015 that new evidence in the case raised doubts about Bryant’s involvement in the robbery and that Bryant’s conviction should be set aside The Sheriff's Office is looking for two other suspects that were at the scene "We do have possible IDs on those two — we are waiting on a lot of physical evidence from results of lab work," Bristow said "We have not confirmed those two being there but we are certainly leaning in that direction." — The Tampa City Council met until early Friday to ultimately vote down a proposal for a new residential condo tower on Bayshore Boulevard ending with a 5-2 vote against the condo proposal This was the second time the council shot down Miami-based Related Group on a proposal for a new high-rise Despite revisions to the plan, Bayshore Gardens neighborhood residents have collected more than 1,500 signatures on a petition to block the high-rise. The development is being proposed at the current site of Congregation Rodeph Sholom Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak said in her opinion that the structure just didn’t fit that part of Bayshore “It (the proposed tower) is not appropriate for this particular cultural area of Bayshore boulevard,” she said MANATEE COUNTY – A rooster is on the loose in a Bayshore Gardens condo community that is no stranger in recent weeks to unlikely wildlife The rooster announced its presence before dawn on Thursday according to early risers at the Fourth Bayshore Condominium on Canal Drive The redheaded bird was still at large in a parking lot on Friday An animal control worker indicated the agency would collect the rooster if it can be caught.  More: 10 best waterfront restaurants for outdoor dining in Sarasota Some residents said they fear for the fowl’s well-being Two coyotes camped for two days on the condo’s broad greenspace during Thanksgiving week roaming freely around the clubhouse in broad daylight That event also was called in to local and state authorities without resolution Manatee County amended a land code ordinance in 2013 to allow backyard chickens in some residential areas turkeys and peafowl) and fines are possible.  at 941-756-9451 or fouthbayshore@yahoo.com.  SRQ DAILY FRESHLY SQUEEZED CONTENT EVERY MORNING Fifth Third Bank opened their brand new office of Bayshore Gardens at 5942 14th Street West in Bradenton.  The office is the new modern and sleek look Fifth Third banking is bringing to all the new locations in Sarasota and Bradenton.  Many local business organizations and employees came out for the festive ribbon cutting ceremony.  The Bayshore High School band provided great music and had the crowd dancing to the beat  Bayshore Nutrition offered healthy drink options Skyway Classics showed some beautiful collector cars cookies were offered by BiteMe Cookies and lunch was catered by Chick-Fil-A The Manatee Chamber of Commerce and Board of County Commissioners were among the many attendees.  It was a very great way to celebrate the new location as well as marking the 30th Anniversary of Fifth Third operating in  Florida Taking the Pulse on the Next Generation of Medical Professionals Plant Struck: Your Guide to Plant-Based Healing S-One Holdings Corporation Builds Itself Through Strong Workplace Culture Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Names Laura Ansel Director of Communications In 1927, Tampa resident Genevieve Stringer was having tea with friends when she suggested they form a garden club. Her friends agreed, and the Tampa Garden Club was born Originally founded in a little house on Platt Street the club has occupied its now-famous Bayshore Boulevard headquarters since purchasing the enviable piece of property back in 1964 The 3,200-square-foot building can accommodate parties of up to 1,300 people and thanks to its beautiful landscaping and stunning views of the bay the facilities are booked years in advance chances are you’ve been there for a wedding reception or special event But what you might not realize is that proceeds from the building’s rental help support the club’s mission to educate Anyone interested in gardening can join one of the 10 garden circles that make up the club but others cater to more specific needs — like the Moonlight circle which holds its meetings in the evening so gardeners who work 9 to 5 can attend “Each circle sets up its own programming and chooses its own service project and runs fundraisers to support it,” says Wallace In addition to providing a place where like-minded plant lovers can get together to practice flower arranging skills or discuss gardening challenges the Tampa Garden Club also cultivates a love for gardening and the environment with young horticulturists They sponsor photography and scholarship competitions for teens and summer camps for elementary school children Though the club was originally formed as more of a social endeavor Wallace explains that its aims have shifted to focus more on the environmental benefits of gardening “The Tampa Garden Club is committed to providing opportunities to the youth of our community to explore their interest in the environment and all aspects of nature We have recently revised our mission statement to more clearly express our dedication to education,” said Wallace floral and landscape design and civic and environmental responsibility by providing education resources and opportunities for our members youth and the community.’ Our recent scholarship awardees have all completed their education Several of them have completed advanced degrees and are making a difference in areas of environmental conservation and horticulture More than 2,000 youngsters have attended our summer camp We have teens who came to the camp in elementary school who now come back to volunteer as counselors.” who joined the club after retiring from the Hillsborough County school system in 2004 says the best part of being a member of the club is the people she’s met “Gardeners are very interesting people who care about the environment.” All events held at the Tampa Garden Club (2629 Bayshore Blvd.) except the garden tour (locations TBA) More than 65 plant-related vendors will be at GreenFest selling any and everything you might need for your garden The theme for this year’s flower show is “The Sporting Life.” Wallace says they expect about 400 entries The nature related mini-camp is open to elementary school children in grades 1 through 5 Take a tour of five private gardens and then enjoy the Musical Tea Party Classes on floral design are open to the public Show Breaking News BarCloseFoodAnthony Talcott Publix is a staple grocery chain for many in Florida with close to 900 locations scattered across the state According to the company’s store locator 22 locations are listed as “Coming Soon,” but only one of the locations has had its opening date released so far That new location is set to come to Jacksonville — the city with the third-most Publix stores in the state — at 11341 Normandy Blvd It’s scheduled to open to the public on Aug the full list of locations — both current and upcoming — can be found in the map below: More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group — Tampa City Council will once again consider a high-rise development on Bayshore Boulevard The previous hearing drew a packed house as the community pushed back on the idea the developer is back at the table with a revised plan The plan is to build a high rise on the property of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, just north of Bay to Bay Boulevard. The synagogue would sell part of its property to The Related Group for the project Last year council voted no after hearing pushback from community members explained the key differences in this proposal He explained the new proposal scaled back the size of the building to 42 units He said they are also removing their waiver requests so this proposal meets what is already allowed by code we're proposing an agreement with the city to contribute $150,000 to Fred Ballpark He said they also plan to fix up other aspects of the neighborhood like resurfacing several streets and adding some lighting Paula Perry is the vice president of the Tampa Garden Club They are right next door to where the building would be built Perry said the building does not fit in with the neighborhood Perry worries it would hurt business at the Garden Club since most of their revenue comes from the money they make while holding events or weddings She said they will lose that if the building goes up “Can you imagine the shadows that would cast over We reached out to Congregation Rodeph Shop for an interview but have not heard back If council decides to move forward with this project there will still need to be a second hearing HCA Florida Blake Hospital broke ground Dec. 4 on a free-standing emergency department in south Bradenton at 6215 14t Street West, roughly a month after it started construction on a new free-standing ED in Palmetto. Both Manatee County emergency departments are anticipated to open in the summer of 2024 HCA is currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Blake Medical Center which it purchased in 1980 and rebranded in 2022 The facility will feature 12 exam rooms and is part of the 383-bed HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Manatee County “We are excited to expand our emergency services into South Bradenton and the Bayshore community,” Steve Young “HCA Florida Blake Hospital continues to grow to meet the needs of the communities we serve and to ensure residents can receive quality health care services close to home.” The 11,500 square foot  facility will be on the east side of 14th Street just south of Saunders Road – which becomes Bayshore Gardens Parkway on the west side of U.S The South Bradenton ED will be relatively close to the main campus of State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota How will it be staffed?The $15 million facility will offer full-service emergency care It is expected to serve more than 10,000 patients annually The facility expects to add 32 new full-time positions including nurses pharmacy technicians and housekeeping staff The annual impact of the salary and benefits of these new positions is estimated at more than $3 million annually Dan van der Kooy and his wife Leah were surveying Hurricane Milton damage on Oct 10 when their vehicle slowed for traffic on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton A Bradenton police officer drove by and stopped his patrol car after seeing an American flag in the road "The flag had been torn from a nearby pole and was covered in mud," Dan van der Kooy said this scene shows the respect that the police officer and the National Guardsman had for the important meaning behind the flag even in a very difficult situation," said van der Kooy a former CNN videographer who captured the moment with a Leica Camera "Nothing pulls together this country more than our beloved symbol of freedom and coming together in tragedy." Dan, 48, is a video producer for The Ocean Cleanup with a mission to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040 "I believe this is an important photo to keep in mind as we approach an election in 2024 that appears to try and divide us," van der Kooy said for the remainder of that day and the days following the storm I witnessed countless acts of neighbors helping neighbors – one American moment after the other." The van der Kooys grew up in Bradenton – Dan graduated from Bradenton Christian School and Leah from Manatee High – and married in 2000 on Anna Maria Island "Many of us demonstrated our own acts of patriotism" after Milton felt thankful for the linemen who got our power back on and we took the time to be true Americans again." Emrich and Murphy were serving as members of Manatee County's two Tactical First-in Teams for Milton "There appears to be no hurricane strong enough to take that from us."  All Faiths Food Bank will hold a popup hurricane relief food distribution on Sunday from 11 a.m at the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee campus All residents in need of food are invited to receive a variety of groceries The Jewish Federation also will be distributing Amazon gift cards to people on a first-come "We want area families struggling in the wake of the storms to know that we are here for them," All Faiths Food Bank CEO Nelle Miller said "We are proud to stand with the Jewish Federation to help community members in need while they work tirelessly to get back on their feet and return their lives to normalcy." The YMCA of Southwest Florida announced that the majority of its YMCA branches are open as free Community Hubs to provide essential services and a welcoming space for those affected by Hurricane Milton and shelter from the elements for all community members who need assistance A valid photo ID is required but no YMCA membership is necessary As additional branches are cleared and powered, the YMCA said it will continue to open its doors to communities across Southwest Florida. For more information on the YMCA of Southwest Florida, visit ymcaswfl.org Around and about· Tide Loads of Hope, powered by Tide Cleaners, is offering free laundry and dry-cleaning services to first responders through Oct. 25. Police officers, firefighters, electric utility workers, and FEMA staff can bring their laundry to 12 locations across the Gulf Coast. Facilities in Sarasota include 8452 Tuttle Ave., 1760 Main St., and 4325 S. Tamiami Trail. tidecleaners.com/locations · Better Together, a local nonprofit dedicated to children and families, is mobilizing teams of volunteers to aid families across the Gulf Coast with resources and essential supplies. Volunteers and regional churches are needed to assist. BetterTogetherUS.org/Hurricane-Relief · Airbnb.org, a nonprofit that provides temporary housing in times of crisis, is supporting Milton communities in partnership with FEMA, the Florida Department of Emergency Management, and 211. For information, visit Airbnb.org. The platform – independent from Airbnb Inc. – is seeking more hosts and is accepting 100% matching donations until Nov. 1. Visit Airbnb.org · Town Square University Parkway, 8450 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, is extending support to families, seniors, and caregivers impacted by Hurricane Milton, offering free access to air-conditioning and Wi-Fi during operational hours. TownSquare.net; 941-277-5048 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSARASOTA (WWSB) - ABC7 is continuing to gather more information from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) about a crash that has occurred in Bradenton Troopers say the crash took place around 1:40 p.m when a Toyota sedan was entering the lot of the Bank of America located at 6160 14th Street West the 90-year-old driver of the sedan pulled into a parking space located directly in front of the entry doors of the bank when he inadvertently accelerated forward and crashed into the glass doors of the bank Troopers say the man inadvertently continued moving forward into the lobby of the bank and struck three people (an 85-year-old man 57-year-old woman and a 66 year old man) with the front of the Toyota the sedan traveled 75 feet into the bank lobby prior to coming to its final stop inside of the bank Troopers say that an elderly man crashed his vehicle a Toyota Sedan into the Bank of America branch at Bayshore Gardens Parkway and U.S the driver and passenger of the car are doing fine but the 85-year-old man was seriously injured and transported to Blake Medical Center He became stuck under the car and troopers say that this man was already in a wheelchair ABC7's Daniela Hurtado speaks with FHP trooper as he provides the latest on the crash in Bradenton where a 90-year-man drove inside of a Bank of America branch The woman was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital with serious injuries while the the other man who was injured refused to go We have a crew that is still on scene continuing to gather more information Manatee County officials braced for the worst in the days leading up to Hurricane Ian's landfall when many forecast models predicted the storm could smash straight into Tampa Bay.  A new map by Manatee County shows that most of Hurricane Ian's structural damage occurred in western Manatee County where winds battered more populated areas in older parts of the community and many manufactured home parks.  More Hurricane Ian: Farmers, others in Manatee County face millions in damage from Hurricane Ian Hurricane deaths: Hurricane Ian-related deaths climb in Sarasota, Manatee counties. Here’s what we know. And: Aerial video shows massive flooding in Manatee County, Florida The map is still being updated with new data but it shows that 1,791 residential buildings and 273 commercial buildings were damaged by the storm countywide as of Wednesday afternoon Manatee County is among several local governments using Crisis Track disaster management software to track hurricane-related damage and report it to state and federal agencies The county is able to produce a map with the data that sorts damaged buildings into four categories: destroyed Manatee County Code Enhancement Supervisor Kris Weiskopf said officials had to use a pen and GPS-enabled cameras during previous storms but that the new software has made the process faster and more streamlined "We were much more effective in being able to report damage and dollar amounts of damage than the old ways," Weiskopf said The map shows many of the buildings that sustained "major" damage were located in many of of the county's mobile home communities like Trailer Estates Park, Heather Hills and Twin Oaks in Southwest Manatee County and Coach House Mobile Home Park in Palmetto anywhere from that south county area to U.S those are heavily populated areas," Weiskopf said the county was lucky in the minimal damage that we sustained," he said a building department official with the city of Bradenton, said most buildings in the city were spared He did not see any flooding or much of the wind damage sustained in communities just south of the city limits He said most of the debris in the city was from damaged trees He said storm damage can sometimes be confounding and unlike the nearby manufactured home parks that sustained significant damage, he said the two parks inside the city limits were largely spared.  "The Manatee Mobile Home Park and Braden Castle I only heard of one trailer that lost its roof," Wenzel said "Braden Castle seems to have gotten by with nothing MANATEE COUNTY — Three people are dead after an argument erupted into gunfire early Saturday morning at a Bayshore Gardens home Manatee County authorities confirmed Saturday that they are investigating whether Bryant was among those at the Bradenton home when an argument escalated into gunfire at 3:55 a.m Bryant’s body was found several hours later in Sarasota A neighbor saw the body and called authorities Bryant had been convicted of robbing a deputy’s wife and her children at gunpoint in 2006 the State Attorney’s Office said that new evidence in the case raised doubts about Bryant’s involvement in the robbery Manatee sheriff’s spokesman Dave Bristow said Bryant’s last known address was Palmetto He lived in Manatee County at the time of his arrest and conviction Relatives of the deceased could not be reached for comment Saturday Authorities are still seeking suspects and possibly a witness to the events And the names of other potential witnesses have not been released Detectives are trying to determine whether Bryant was at the Harvard Avenue house when the shooting occurred According to Manatee County authorities investigating the shooting a woman reportedly returned to the Harvard Avenue home at around 3:55 a.m who took her inside the house and forced her into a bedroom and possibly a third unknown man then arrived at the house and were confronted by the intruders The woman told deputies that the men argued and three of the men got into a car and fled the area The woman escaped from the house and called 911 Deputies responding to the scene found bullet casings outside the house a neighbor went outside to see what the commotion was and saw a man jumping over a fence into his backyard “He was looking out there (in the yard) and he was scared — he was real scared — the poor guy,” said Santiago Herrera a Harvard Avenue resident who moved in four months ago “I smelled him and I thought he was drinking After a while he just disappeared and he went away The next thing I knew all kinds of police cars are out there.” police were called to the 1900 block of Bahia Vista after neighbors reported a body lying by the curb Manatee County sheriff’s spokesman Dave Bristow identified the deceased as Bryant Harvard Avenue resident Paul Hennessey said his street is a “nice friendly neighborhood.” It’s not known for the violence that erupted at his neighbor’s house Saturday morning I don’t like it,” said the retired electrician who has lived in the neighborhood over 40 years CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Keith Lamar Jones was a boyfriend to the woman confronted at the house Authorities are also investigating a link between Bryant and the Bayshore Gardens shooting incident An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that Keith Lamar Jones Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsAnthony Talcott with locations scattered all across the state The city with the most Publix stores is in South Florida with Miami having nearly 40 locations within its city That grows to 47 when including the neighboring areas of Miami Beach and Jacksonville comes in third with 30 locations in all But Publix’s hometown of Lakeland fell just outside of the top 10 the rest of the top cities for Publix stores are as follows: Publix’s store locator also revealed 22 upcoming stores across the state The next store opening is scheduled for Aug 15 along Normandy Boulevard in Jacksonville there are new stores being planned for Orlando no dates have been released for their expected openings the full list of upcoming Publix stores is as follows: The full list of locations — both current and upcoming — can be found in the map below This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Maru, which opens this weekend, is the first Tampa foray by the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, a Charleston, South Carolina-based hospitality company with more than 30 restaurants across the Southeast. The company is bringing two innovative dining concepts to Bayshore Gardens at 2909 W. Bay to Bay Blvd. There will be cocktails with a view at Maru, where they will serve small plates inspired by both Japanese and Peruvian tastes. And opening later this year in an adjacent building will be O-Ku, a modern Japanese concept that Indigo has launched in more than a dozen locations across the South. Maru, which has 124 seats inside and outdoors with a view of Tampa Bay from the seventh floor, is a brand new concept for the company. It focuses on culinary traditions that emerged from Japanese immigration to Peru in the early 20th century, in a “Nikkei”-style setting. “I don’t want to call it ‘fusion’ because that leads to con-fusion,” chuckled Indigo’s culinary director, Masatomo “Masa” Hamaya, who oversees all of the company’s locations. “Nikkei,” the term used to refer to Japanese emigrants and their influence on communities outside of Japan, provided the base for his vision, Hamaya said. Masa, who was head sushi chef at the James Beard-winning Texas restaurant Uchi and the Michelin-starred Ame in San Francisco, is also overseeing the opening of O-Ku, the high-end restaurant opening later this year that promises a fresh take on Japanese cuisine and sushi. The food at Maru is all on the lighter side to set the stage for the cocktail menu, said Vonda Freeman, Indigo’s head of beverage programs, to make a relaxing backdrop for a date night or happy hour with friends. There is a strong focus on champagnes and sparkling wines, Freeman said, with 25 different bubbles sold by the bottle and at least six different champagnes and sparkling wines sold by the glass. Subscribe to our free Do & Dine newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. “People are drinking less these days but what they are drinking is higher quality,” Freeman said. “They have been making wines in the Champagne region for 1,500 years and we think it shouldn’t just be consumed on a special occasion. We think it should be consumed anytime because it’s beautiful and special.” But Freeman said they also focused their cocktails (which range from $16-$23) on the mixed theme at Maru. You’ll find tropical ingredients like lime and coconut and cocktails that make use of Peruvian Pisco, a grape brandy considered the national spirit of Peru, plus Toki Japanese whiskey. The new rooftop lounge Maru off Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard and indoor space and also a landscaped outside bar with cozy lounge furniture criss-crossed with patio lights. [ SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE | Tampa Bay Times ]“You won’t find them overly sweet with simple syrups but more nuances and the actual spirit that may be infused with pomegranate or something like that,” Freeman said. There is a lot of construction going on around the building, so it may be hard to spot the entrance, which is next to chef Jeannie Pierola’s Counter Culture on Bay to Bay Boulevard. But once on the seventh floor, the wide windows capture a view of the sparkling bay. The inside design is sleek, with comfortable seating in shades of yellow, gold and earthy tones. There’s a row of small cocktail tables along the balcony outside and a heavily landscaped outside bar with cozy lounge furniture criss-crossed with patio lights. Steve Palmer, founder of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, said the idea for the space, which does not take reservations, is as a place to start the night with a cocktail and shared plates at sunset. “There’s an ease and elegance to the space that feels right at home on Bayshore,” Palmer said, “and we’re so excited to join such a lively community.” Sharon Kennedy Wynne is a reporter covering events, things to do and family experiences through the region. Reach her at swynne@tampabay.com. An 18-year-old was arrested Wednesday in a fatal Bayshore Gardens hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian Christopher Quezada-Cerros was traveling north in an SUV on U.S.-41 in the middle lane and approaching 63rd Avenue West at 10:32 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol reported. Meanwhile, a 62-year-old man was walking with his bicycle east on U.S. 41 and entered the northbound travel lanes. The front right of the car collided with the man, according to a crash report from the FHP Quezado-Cerros stopped the car and briefly checked on the man He and his 17-year-old passenger weren't hurt during the crash but the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene He later returned to the scene but was placed under arrest for leaving an accident involving a death and was booked into the Manatee County Jail 'Left too soon:' Sarasota man remembered by family, friends after fatal hit-and-run crash The arrest marks the second hit-and-run arrest this week. Deputies arrested the driver in a Bradenton hit-and-run pedestrian crash on Tuesday that seriously injured a 33-year-old man As of Nov. 21, there have been 1,242 hit-and-run crashes in Manatee County. Of those, there have been seven deaths and 295 injuries, according to the Florida Crash Dashboard there have been six deaths and 260 injuries Located in the Cedar Hammock section of south Bradenton Bayshore on the Lake is a condo community with nearly 800 The neighborhood takes its name from the fact that more than half of the buildings wrap around a large central lake offering spectacular views to many of its residents There are also a few buildings that lie east of Lake Bayshore Drive which runs along the back of the waterfront units “It’s great for people who want to buy and not spend a lot of money,” said Judy Durant “You can own a part of Florida and still have your home up north.” There are two points of access to the neighborhood which winds north from Cortez Road by the Smuggler’s Cove Adventure mini golf course The other is at the intersection of 38th Avenue West and 24th Street West where a simple white name sign indicates the entrance to the community close to shopping and restaurants,” said Judy Dunn and the Sarasota-Manatee Airport are all within easy driving distance the area became a place for truck farming early in the 20th century By the time Bayshore on the Lake was developed from the 1970s to 1980s the vicinity had become increasingly residential The builder had considerable experience with condo construction having created Bayshore Gardens a decade earlier 4- and 5-story buildings instead of two-story dwellings and had the screened-in lakeside lanais run the entire widths of the apartments Development took place in three phases with single letter names for each building section – B Several have their own private clubhouses and swimming pools Condo fees run from $225 to $245 per month depending on the association Most of the condos have two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms with 900 to 1,350 square feet of living space 1-bath units with around 750 square feet under air The lakeside apartments command the highest prices “A lot of the units have been updated and upgraded,” said Judy Durant She has two active listings and a pending sale in Bayshore on the Lake 2-bath unit at 4145 Heron Way #E208 with 1,144 square feet of air-conditioned space it has newer kitchen appliances and ceramic tile flooring throughout The screened-in lanai overlooks a grassy area with a beautiful shade tree Judy Dunn’s listing at 3198 Lake Bayshore Dr #404 an updated kitchen and hardwood laminated floors,” she said “My building has a very engaged group of residents with a very active clubhouse,” she added “It also shares a fishing dock and kayak rack with another building.” about a third of the owners live in Bayshore by the Lake year-round Demographics are older because all but one of the condo communities are 55+ Only the “C” building accepts residents of all ages some of the associations decided to put strict rental rules in place,” Durant explained “You have to wait two years after purchase before you can rent your unit out Then it’s one time a year with a minimum 3-month lease.” the neighborhood has more stable residents than many condo developments on the keys people decide to sell their properties up north and move here permanently,” Durant said “For people who want a small place that keeps its value Bayshore on the Lake is a terrific opportunity,” she continued “There is always a continuous market there are only four units for sale – half of them one-bedroom condos; the others two-baths – ranging in price from $59,000 to $109,990.  Image: Courtesy Google Maps recently purchased 19.6 acres of Bradenton property that contains its Bayshore Gardens store and surrounding businesses from the New York-based company Bay-Gard The Publix market is located at 6030 14th St the Tampa Garden Club had more than 1,400 members and two dozen neighborhood groups the club’s membership is down to around 400 and their ancillary organizations to eight “It’s been a struggle to keep the lights on,” club president Michele Vatalaro said “But we survive through our clubhouse that is a small event and wedding garden facility” on 3 acres at 2629 Bayshore Blvd But the Tampa Garden Club’s board says that a proposed neighboring 60-unit 29-story condominium tower now threatens its revenue stream the board is concerned that the noise caused by construction and new resident neighbors might force their 95-year-old organization to close “People have the right to develop their property,” club vice president Paula Meckley said “But when it starts negatively impacting our property A rendering of the Related Group’s condo proposed for Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa [ Courtesy of the Related Group ]There’s irony to the situation The tower would be built on land sold by Rodeph Sholom. The 119-year-old synagogue’s leadership says the deal will allow them to survive for another 100 years. Rodeph Shalom owns 2.12 acres at 2713 Bayshore Blvd. They are negotiating to sell 1.48 acres of the property to a developer while maintaining ownership of the remaining land. “We want the synagogue to stay,” Vatalaro said. “What we want is a builder who is going to come in and take care of the neighborhood.” The board said they relayed concerns to the developer, the Related Group, but they did not seem to care. That was news to Julia Mandell, the GrayRobinson attorney representing the Related Group. “I’ve personally been involved in those conversations,” she said. “We have indicated we are willing to do whatever it is that will make them feel more comfortable. I don’t know that the idea that this will kill their business has ever been stated to us.” The nonprofit’s mission statement, according to its website, is to promote “the cultivation, preservation, and improvement of the urban landscape through educational programs and direct financial support for organizations dedicated to environmental conservation and civic improvement.” According to the nonprofit club’s tax filings for 2021 available through propublica.org, their annual expenses were $174,567. They earned $188,898 through rentals. “Now we have to start telling brides: ‘When you come here in 2024, they may be putting pilings next door,’” Vatalaro said. “They may have cranes up.” The Tampa Garden Club's backyard available for event rental. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]The board understands that construction, whether via the proposed tower or something else, is inevitable. Their main concern is perpetual noise once the tower is complete and they have new neighbors. Plans include a fourth-floor outdoor pickleball area facing the club’s property. “We have wedding ceremonies put on by a minister,” Vatalaro said. “Will there be a language code when they play?” The board is concerned that rentals will slow down to the point that they cannot pay the bills. Mandell said they shouldn’t be worried. The condo property only directly abuts the club’s parking lot. Rodeph Shalom will continue to be the event space’s direct neighbor. “We’re talking about units that are 2,700 to 4,600 square feet that are selling in the $2 million, $3 million, $4 million range,” Mandell said. “We’re not talking about a group of people that are going to be throwing naked pool parties ... keeping in mind that they are located next to a synagogue.” A bridal room at Tampa Garden Club. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]The Related Group already is discussing ways to accommodate Rodeph Shalom during services and are willing to do the same with the Tampa Garden Club, she said. The club also is concerned that the Related Group is asking the city to change the property’s Future Land Use category from one that allows for up to 35 dwelling units per acre to one that allows up to 83. That means the condo tower could include up to 111 units. The club board said they will fight to prevent that from happening. “It’s not our intent to build anything that massive,” Mandell said, “Without the change, they could erect only 50 units, not 60. A painting of the Tampa Garden Club’s first club pictured in a groom’s room at the Tampa event venue. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]“We’ve always wanted to be good neighbors and hope our neighbors want to do the same,” Vatalaro said. “We’ve had our ups and downs over the years, but if you’re in a room with six people, there’s going to be two people who have attended a wedding here or somebody whose parents or a friend was married here. Everyone has a memory of this club.” Paul GuzzoFormer Culture and Hillsborough Reporter MANATEE COUNTY — Spanning from the ranch house subdivision of Bayshore Gardens to newer gated communities off Lockwood Ridge Road and from the commercial strip of Cortez Road to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Manatee County Commission District 4 is an area with a mix of assets and socioeconomic challenges the four candidates vying to replace District 4 Commissioner Robin DiSabatino talked to about 70 residents at the Bayshore Gardens Recreation Center about how they intend to serve voters they hope will be their constituents for the next four years posed rapid-fire questions that largely focused on neighborhood issues • Mark Black Republican: The owner of a plumbing company for 20 years emphasized his “small business background.” Black said he wants “accountability of our government” in terms of spending He said the county needs to make a priority of replacing aging infrastructure in the district He favors higher densities if it creates more affordable housing “for working people who live paycheck to paycheck” and infill development that “brings people and jobs together.” He thinks more industry can be attracted to U.S • Laurie Galle Republican: Galle said her family has spent more than 30 years in the district She emphasized that she has spent two years attending county meetings to gain knowledge about the workings of local government She learned that balancing the county budget is not like a business or household budget Galle wants to encourage more manufacturing jobs which she said are not vulnerable to red tide and hurricanes such as tourism-sector jobs She said she will push the Florida Department of Transportation to resolve lingering flooding issues on U.S And she emphasized that the region's opioid addiction problem has "not gone away" and still affects crime noting that her home has been broken into twice Galle said she wants to see more "mixed-use" development in the district with "shopping on the bottom and housing on the top." She disputed allegations that she owes money to the Internal Revenue Service waving documents she said prove that past liens were paid off • Melton Little who grew up in Bayshore Gardens and graduated from Bayshore High stressed that he has regarded the district as “my home” for more than 30 years Little said he “watched District 4 go downhill year after year.” He noted the need for sidewalks He encouraged voters to check the resumes of all candidates He claimed his community service shows he can build the “public-private partnerships” needed to rebuild the district as a place that attracts young families and new investment “We need a leader who knows how to build coalitions,” Little said "We need a leader who knows how to compromise.” The lawyer acknowledged that he faces a possible Florida Supreme Court reprimand because his firm gave Tampa Bay Rays baseball tickets to a judge presiding over a case involving one of his clients He stressed that a Lee County judge assigned to make a recommendation regarding the Florida Bar complaint concluded that he had “no intention to influence the judge.” “Don’t believe everything you read in social media,” Little said “Don’t believe everything you read in the papers.” • Misty Servia Republican: A county land-use planner for 18 years Servia said she will leave the job she has held with King Engineering for 12 years for a lower salary as a county commissioner “because I love this community.” She described District 4 as “a gateway to Manatee County” with underutilized assets such as the bayfront grid street patterns and neighborhoods such as Whitfield and Bayshore with “architecture you don’t see anywhere else.” Delays in replacing infrastructure because of the recession no longer apply “Now is the time to make those improvements.” As the county works on updating its land-use regulations Servia wants to see “a strong focus on infill development” and looking at a 30-year planning horizon “What I know how to do well is manage growth,” she said She said she has become “personally frustrated” with county code enforcement involving a Bayshore home with an overgrown lot and junk vehicles She commended developer Harvey Vengroff as an example she would like to see duplicated of someone who converted a former motel into affordable apartments for low-income tenants Although they were not initially invited to speak other candidates in the audience were welcomed to the dais County Commissioner Carol Whitmore a Republican seeking re-election countywide stressed her experience as a mayor of Holmes Beach and that she is still a working nurse She emphasized that a special south county finance district that has been setting aside property taxes will enable significant reinvestment in infrastructure She disagreed with the “misconception” that commissioners are “bought” by developers Her Republican challenger, James Satcher emphasized that he wants to give the Sheriff’s Office the funding it repeatedly says it needs for deputies to serve the county’s expanding population He said current commissioners are too willing to change development rules for those with “the right last name.” a Republican candidate for County Commission District 2 said he wants to create “a new agenda for our youth” that encourages them to stay in the county a Democrat seeking the State House District 71 seat said she wants the Legislature to stop raiding an affordable housing trust fund restore environmental protections and work with the federal government on helping Manatee prepare for sea level rise because he was appointed nearly three years ago his experience on the bench is “less legitimate” than that of an elected jurist He read a lengthy list of current and former 12th Judicial Circuit judges who were appointed School Board candidate Alice Kaddatz said she wants to devote more resources to the classroom, get teachers properly trained for helping children with learning disabilities and make the district more fiscally accountable. Saying she also wants to restore “professionalism,” she noted that “our board members have been acting like a bunch of children lately.” A Bradenton man will serve 50 years in state prison for the murder of his wife last year. Nicholas Hartmann, 40, pleaded no contest Monday to the charge of second-degree murder. Hartmann was arrested on May 15, just hours after his wife, Alisa Hartmann, was found bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat in their Bayshore Gardens home. While detectives were investigating at the scene, Hartmann allegedly pulled up to the scene in his pickup truck and said, "I did it. I want to die. Kill me now," according to his arrest report. During his time at the Manatee County Jail, Hartmann was examined by a psychologist because of the possibility of an insanity defense. But the case will not go to trial with the plea agreement. "The defense approached me and asked if there was any possibility of a plea; He would take anything short of a life sentence," said prosecutor Art Brown. "I discussed that with the family and we looked at a couple of factors. There was a great desire on the part of the family to avoid the children of Mr. Hartmann having to testify." Franklin Roberts, assistant public defender, did not return calls for comment on Wednesday. A close friend of the family is adopting the two Hartmann children, said Sherri Kinser-Shumaker who was friends with Alisa Hartmann for 12 years. "They just want to have normal lives," Kinser-Shumaker said. "The plea was accepted to protect the children and not cause them any further pain or suffering after all they've been through." State law requires Hartmann to serve at least 85 percent of the 50-year sentence rendered by Judge Peter Dubensky, which would put Hartmann in prison until his early 80s. "We're putting him in past the average life expectancy for a white male, which is 76," Brown said. "It should keep him in there for the rest of his life." The State Attorney's Office did not intend to pursue the death penalty in the case because of a lack of aggravating circumstances, Brown said. Kinser-Shumaker, who talks regularly with the victim's family, said she has been dramatically affected by the slaying. "My life has changed, and it will never be the same," said Kinser-Shumaker, who listed a litany of things she will miss about Alisa Hartmann: "Her loving, caring friendship. The love she carried for my child, me, her family, the children she cared for. Her bubbly personality. She was a genuine person. "It has been really hard. She will be in our hearts forever." Publix Super Markets, an eager buyer of shopping centers it anchors in Southwest Florida, has bagged another one. Publix paid $17.9 million for the Lakewood Ranch Gateway in the sprawling master-planned development. The Lakeland-based grocery chain earlier this month acquired the 20-acre property at the southeast corner of State Road 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, according to court documents. Publix is the largest store at the plaza, which totals about 70,000 square feet. Other tenants include Verizon, Beef O'Bradys, Bank of America and McDonald's. The plaza, built in 2001, was sold by a subsidiary of DDR, a publicly traded real estate investment trust in Beechwood, Ohio, that also owns the Cortez Plaza and Creekwood Crossing centers in Manatee County. It says it owns and manages 273 retail properties totaling 92 million square feet. In recent years, Publix has been buying up shopping centers where it operates stores in Southwest Florida and across the state. It paid $86 million in 2014 and 2015 for a half-dozen centers, from Parrish to Port Charlotte, including two in Lakewood Ranch. Publix spokesman Brian West said the grocer now owns about 10 shopping centers that it anchors in the Sarasota-Manatee region. "There's just no better investment than investing in ourselves," he said. In 2016 the chain paid $42 million for Bayshore Gardens, the Bradenton center where it has been a tenant since it opened in late 1959. Publix said this month in its annual report that it plans to invest $1.5 billion this year in buying shopping centers with Publix stores as the anchor tenant, remodeling existing supermarkets and buying information technology hardware and software. CanadaChevron British ColumbiaChevron VancouverChevron Any fun stories to tell about its history?In 1972, the Bayshore received its 15 minutes of fame when reclusive germaphobic billionaire Howard Hughes checked into the penthouse suite—substantial security detail and all—for a mysterious six-month stay. Blocking off the top four floors for himself and his entourage, he remained unseen for the duration, even though the Bayshore was thoroughly staked out by the international media. Cool, we're interested. If we're looking into booking, is there anything we should keep in mind about the rooms?The harbor views are spectacular, and you’ll definitely want to book your room with this in mind. For those who want the full Hughes experience, book Suite #2091, which is the one the eccentric billionaire occupied for half a year; it comes complete with panoramic views to Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains, as well as archived articles about Hughes' time here. Howard Hughes aside, who are we likely to see staying here?Intrepid conventioneers in town for business. How does the hotel fit into the surrounding area?When it first opened, the Bayshore was its own neighborhood. Now, with the adjacent Coal Harbour development—most of the industrial land nearby is now occupied by swanky condos and restaurants—the hotel is less dominant. But it’s still a great location at the mouth of Stanley Park, and only two blocks from the beginning of the West End’s vibrant Denman Street. Any other amenities of note?The Bayshore prides itself on its wellness programs, from guided running and biking tours, to Liquid Yoga, an in-the-water yoga class. Bottom line: Why would you recommend the Bayshore?The hotel's 1960s bones are still there, and it’s an excellent location for exploring Stanley Park and Denman Street. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world — Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the addition of eight red light cameras to two busy Bradenton intersections Four red light cameras will be coming to the intersection of State Road 70 and Lockwood Ridge Road Four additional cameras will be placed at Bayshore Gardens Parkway and U.S These cameras are in addition to 10 that are already functioning in seven different locations throughout Manatee County -You cross the stop line after the light has turned red -Don’t stop completely before turning right on red -Turn right at an intersection with a ‘No Right on Red’ sign Every violation recorded is reviewed by a Manatee County Sheriff's deputy to determine if you'll receive a ticket If you run a red light and are caught by the camera it will cost you $156 if paid within 30 days No points will be added to your license. ​ 2012 at 10:28 pm ETA 39-year-old Bradenton man was arrested on murder charges this afternoon after his wife's body was discovered inside their Bayshore Gardens house according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Her body showed signs of blunt force trauma her husband Nicholas Hartmann arrived at the location shortly after noon Deputies said that Hartmann made some statements at the house about his wife's death He was then taken into custody and is being questioned further about his involvement in her death He was then taken into custody questioned further before he was charged with murder Deputies didn't immediately find any calls to the house for any recent domestic violence before today The Sheriff's Office is asking that anyone with information about the case call the Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. As anyone who has driven North Tamiami Trail from the Fruitville intersection and up past the airport can attest and had driven or ridden the bus up and down that stretch of road five days a week for two years the only places I had been to were Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf which is awesome if you love pirate ships (who doesn’t) smokey but cool if you like the history of tiki bars in America I turned to New College students and their friends at Ringling and USF Sarasota-Manatee I discovered that when it comes to North Trail 4900 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-359-9500; sunnysidecafesrq.com by a colleague who had described their chickpea pancakes as the perfect breakfast for lunch raved about about their Hungarian specials I first assumed it was another derelict motel I realized a cheerful restaurant was nestled alongside the lobby of the former hotel and is an example of the gems that are hidden in plain sight along the North Trail 8431 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-203-9798; mamagscoffee.com Just south of USF Sarasota-Manatee’s campus “Mama G” excels at creating her German-style Waffle Wednesday) which are not only exceptional a New College student who spent last January volunteering at a hotel catering to refugees in Germany I could bring 10 euro to a bakery and buy 10 different things the same amount of money at Starbucks only gets you two things.”  6032 14th St. W., Bradenton; 941-755-3568; samohjungsushi.eat24hour.com  Hidden in the Bayshore Gardens Publix complex Sam Oh Jung serves both Japanese and Korean entrees I now constantly crave bibimbap: a bowl of rice topped with a mix of sauteed vegetables (meat optional) and a fried egg My students steered me toward Sam Oh Jung’s dolsot or “stone pot” bibimbap which takes it to another level by being served in an oven-hot bowl The rice continues to cook inside the bowl leaving slightly crunchy bits to be savored at the end a meal at Sam Oh Jung is more than filling 6830 14th St. W, Bradenton; 941-751-0333; vertorispizza.com The students I talked to were emphatic that I visit Vertoris Pizza House Located just past Sarabay and the Trail's Anna Maria Oyster Bar in a desolate strip mall sandwiched between Bingo Land and a Dollar Tree this is the kind of place that were it in downtown Sarasota their menu that focuses on brick-oven pizzas and pasta dishes is extremely customizable The range of gluten free and vegan options from starters to dessert is comparable to what you might find at a wholly vegan restaurant 5025 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-706-4047; coffeeloft41.squarespace.com  students have jokingly requested to have our class meetings at Coffee Loft Coffee Loft reminds me of the coffeeshops of my own college days in Santa Cruz in the sense it is perfect for finding a nook in which to study or write; however unlike my Santa Cruz cafes the furniture is not mismatched thrift store chic While their food options are not as ample as their excellent coffee selection the brie and pear panini is worth stopping for in and of itself New College student James Esposito described Memories Lounge as “Sarasota’s Mos Eisley Cantina,” which if you are a “Star Wars” fan Fellow student Melissa Rettig helpfully translated for those unfamiliar with “Star Wars”: “Do they have a central casting equivalent for locations Because this is a dive bar straight out of central casting.” Like many things on the North Trail the familiar conversations between regulars straightforward drinks make it worth a visit 2831 N. Tamiami Trail , Sarasota; 941-487-7373; growlersonline.com  While Growler’s Pub doesn’t have the largest craft beer tap list in town what they do have is thoughtfully and carefully curated Students told me they love the themed nights especially trivia Wednesdays (all players receive free pizza) While the idea of playing trivia against my students is terrifying (what happens when they realize I am fallible!) the neighborhood watering hole is a welcoming spot for students 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; 941-359-5700; ringling.org The most well-known fixture of the North Trail is The Ringling which during season is inundated with tourists students mentioned they enjoying walking through the Ringling grounds The Museum Cafe located upstairs in the Visitors Pavilion above the Museum Store serves Joffreys’ Coffee and taking a cup to go and walking is a relaxing way to start the day or take a stress-relieving break from studying/work is priced beyond what most students want to pay the well-stocked bar there has become a popular after-work happy hour spot for faculty The museum's most popular event for students is the (mostly) monthly Ringling Underground live music series held in the courtyard It's $15 for the rest of us but free for college students with I.D Astro Fun and Skate Center; 3611 3rd. St. W., Bradenton; bradentuckybombers.com “Margaret Scratch-her”) is a New College student by day and Bradentucky Bombers roller derby athlete on many Saturday nights She recommended I come watch a game because of the constant action but ““People shouldn’t expect to see big fake hits; there is no punching in the face or throwing elbows; seeing girls in fishnets and miniskirts has become more of a rarity.” She was right: it was the most unironic fun I’ve ever had at a roller derby match but free beer is provided outside the venue by the up and coming Little Giant Brewery and at every home game the proceeds from a raffle are donated to a local cause